Now or Never by Student Publications and Multimedia Projects

SHOUT OUT. Senior Marcelo Arteaga cheers for the Raider football team during the â&#x20AC;&#x153;White Outâ&#x20AC;? game against the Belen Wolverines. The team ultimately beat Belen, as part of their undefeated season. Students saw a marked increase in school spirit. Photo by Julian Concepcion

NOW r e v e N or

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NOWor Never Raider 2020

Gulliver Preparatory School 6575 North Kendall Drive Pinecrest, Florida 33156 Phone: 305-666-7937 Fax: 305-665-3791

Miller Drive Campus 8000 SW 56th Street Miami, Florida 33155 Phone: 305-274-9535 Fax: 786-294-6184

www.gulliverschools.org

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CELEBRATION. Freshman Alessandra Genovese participates in a traditional conga dance during the “It’s a Small World” event on Mar. 4. She danced in front of the entire faculty and student body, accompanied by the rest of her Spanish 3H class and other teachers. The multicultural event featured projects, food and performances. Photo by Valentina Graziosi

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BLUE ZOO. Sophomore Ryan Noyes chants “Let’s Go Raiders” on Aug. 28. The football team beat Belen Jesuit Preparatory School, 45 to 16. “I go to a lot of football games to support the team but this was by far the best game of the season,” Noyes said. Photo by Julian Concepcion

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NOW is the time to... TAKE ACTION.

Do the things that are DIFFICULT. Step outside your

comfort zone.

Life is uncertain. It can change at any moment. When you have a chance to make a difference or take on a challenge, YOU NEED TO DO IT. Junior Pedro Schmeil decided

to embark on a 330km bike ride through Europe. Freshman Cassandra Kraft took a

stand against plastic straws for the environment. Sophomore Jason Fieler decided to share his original compositions with the world. Senior Julianna Portillo del-Valle used her talent for drama to stand up for what she believes in.

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WHITE OUT. Junior Sophia Hernandez stands in a crowd of loud Raider fans with juniors Natalie Mendez and Natalie Gonzalez. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was super excited for the game, especially since most of my friends were going. I had so much fun and was super happy that we won,â&#x20AC;? Hernandez said. Photo by Julian Concepcion

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NEVER will you...

LIVE the same moment twice. So savor each minute and grab onto

memories

Whether it was senior Chiara von Gerlach leading a roaring group of seniors at the first pep rally, who filled the senior section with red. Or Junior Brian Hernandez running down the bleachers to join the conga line during “It’s a Small World.” And chanting along with Coach James Callier and hundreds of fans as senior Jaime Perez-Bedmar Merello scored the winning goal in overtime.

TAKE A CHANCE. Don’t let the moments

pass you by.

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FAN. Sophomore Oliver Pratt screams “this is our house,” during the football game on Aug. 28. “I love watching our school come together and cheer on our football team as they sauced up Belen. G PRIDE!” said Pratt. Photo by Julian Concepcion

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Just when we thought we had all the time in the worldâ&#x20AC;Ś life as we knew it came to a halt. OUR WORLD SHIFTED. Our mindset changed. And we faced a new REALITY. Those things that seemed trivial and mundane, became the things we cherished most. Walking into Publix to buy hand sanitizer. Picking up friends for a day in the Key. Stopping at Pinecrest Bakery before school. Driving to the Academy for baseball practice. So, you NEVER KNOW when things may change and a chance will PASS YOU BY. Do you decide to apply to your reach school? Do you try out for the team? Do you take a chance and learn something new? Do you make the best of an impossible situation?

The time is NOW...

NOW r e v e N or

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NEVER ay sNEVER JUNIOR PEDRO SCHMEIL SET OFF TO A 330 KILOMETERS JOURNEY THROUGH GERMANY Junior Pedro Schmeil didn’t think he would complete a 330-kilometer bicycle ride through Europe when his parents first suggested it. But he learned that all it took was one pedal and the rest was easy.

Reporting by Olivia Martin-Johnson Photo by Kimberley Cruz

“

Although the journey seemed endless we pulled through. My parents started biking through towns in Europe ten years ago. My parents’ love of the outdoors and exercise inspired them to begin this tradition. Two years ago, my sister and I joined them on a ride. They were so excited to introduce us to their passion, and after my first trip, I too fell in love with the experience. This past summer, we traveled to Germany, to embark on the longest trip we’ve ever done. We started in Munich, and by the end of the trip, we had biked 330 kilometers (206 miles). The scenery in Germany was gorgeous. We went along all the different lakes, and when we started to feel hot, we jumped in the water and took a break for awhile. What I love the most about these trips is the sense of disconnecting and doing something different. During the summer, some of my friends stay home, enjoying their time off or are connected to their electronics. I love that my family encourages me to get up, do something wild, and make memories that I will remember forever.

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Q1 August-October

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LIVING IN the moment STUDENTS TRAVELED TO THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC TO

HELP COMMUNITIES OBTAIN CLEAN WATER AND FACILITIES

s senior Peter Carbonell carefully hammered the nail into the wood beam with the purpose of building a latrine, dozens of people were patiently waiting for their lives to be positively changed. With Blue Missions, he had the opportunity to travel to the Dominican Republic on June 12 as a service volunteer, and watch how his work made a direct impact on the lives of others. “I’m really happy I was able to go to Blue and live it for myself. It opens your eyes and shows you what people are going through; the best part is that you are able to help them,” Carbonell said. Blue Missions provided students with the opportunity to work in a remote rural community in the mountains of the Dominican Republic, to help the residents acquire safe drinking water and sanitary waste facilities. Twenty-five students participated, making it the largest group attending in the past three years. “Watching this program grow has been really amazing since it’s something I hold very close to my heart. I hope it only keeps getting bigger from now on,” said senior Sara Ferrer who has been part of Blue Missions for three years. While on the trip, students built aqueducts in order to control the flow of water. The aqueducts were constructed along a slight

MONDAY

downward angle within channels of stone, brick or concrete. They also built latrines -- toilets that are usually found in rural areas. Within an 8-day period, volunteers saw a community go from no access to clean water to having a source right next to their home, and with 15-18 new latrines available to them. Volunteers had to learn quickly in order to meet their goal. “To build the latrines we were first given different sizes of wood and nails. For the first one that we built, the leaders and the residents showed us how to do it, which helped a lot because they are really experienced. But after that, we continued doing it on our own,” junior Sofia Mueller said. During their time with Blue Missions students stayed within the community they were helping, with no electricity or cell phone reception. “The trip is a great opportunity to disconnect from life back at home and reconnect with yourself, the group, community, and the project,” said Mueller. “The reason why I keep going is because it always reminds me of how lucky I am to live this life. It is a week that is filled with pure happiness unlike I’ve experienced anywhere else,” junior Bianca Delgado said. Article by Adriana Leyba

What’s in

YOUR

Camelbak?

Volunteers use Camelbaks to hold water, sunscreen, and anything else they could fit. Senior Russell Busso filled his Camelbak every morning with plenty of water and mosquito spray. “I always had a Cliff bar in my bag in case I got hungry,” junior Olivia Duncan said.

VOLUNTEERS USED INSTAGRAM TO SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES AT BLUE MISSIONS

BLUES

Every Monday, students posted stories on their Instagram accounts. The majority of the posts took place on the first Monday back, when students returned home and reminisced about their time with Blue. First time volunteer, junior Sofia Mueller, posted a picture with a little boy she grew close to while in the DR. “I posted on Instagram so that others could see how amazing blue is and hopefully I can inspire them to go on a Blue trip too,” Mueller said. Photos provided by Bianca Delgado, Sara Ferrer, Sofia Mueller, and Fiorella Polit.

BLUE MISSIONS

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MAKING CONNECTIONS. During “Kids Day” volunteers put on shows and color with children from the community. Seniors Ricardo Pierdant and Carlos Acosta dressed up as magicians and put on a magic show. “I loved showing the kids magic tricks and watching their faces light up, it was such a great part of the trip,” Senior Ricardo Pierdant said. Photos by BLUE Missions

CONSTRUCTION. Volunteers

learn how to use hammers and nails to build latrines. Senior Peter Carbonell hammered the nail into the wood in order to secure the two pieces together. “Learning how to hammer was something I had never done before but I was satisfied when I saw the finished product,” Peter Carbonell said. Photo by BLUE Missions

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A Q&

WITH SOPHOMORE LAUREN BARTEL You worked at several labs. How was the environment and lab etiquette compared to what you were used to? “Way more lenient than I expected, and these were professional labs for actual research. I wore my hair down, gloves were optional half of the time, I never wore goggles; I only wore a lab coat at Fairchild when powders could ruin clothing.” How would you describe the process of studying the cells of bait fish? “I had to take tissue samples from the fish like the heart, liver, brain, and homogenize them with metal beads. Certain chemicals had to be measured to the precise amount of moles and ph levels in order to attempt to isolate the mitochondrial DNA alone. After everything was added and spun, I had to run a gel to view the DNA and try to identify the mitochondrial DNA from the rest of the DNA.”

OFFICE HOURS FRESHMAN NINA CASTRO ALVES INTERNED AS A GRAPHIC DESIGN COORDINATOR AT PAVIN COFFEE IN ITALY

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MAKING THE BASE. Sophomore Lauren Bartel starts her morning by mixing chemicals in which to grow orchids, during her summer internship at Fairchild Tropical Gardens. Since the fungi in which orchids grow best was unavailable, Bartel chemically created several bases in which to plant the orhids. “I got a lot of lab experience, and I want to go into something with biology,” said Bartel.

Wake Up Head into the office Meet with managers Drafting posts & designs Break Back to the office Present to Managers Editing and Perfecting Work day ends

Photo provided by Lauren Bartel

SUMMER INTERNSHIP

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Working World SUMMER INTERNSHIPS OFFERED A GLIMPSE INTO FUTURE CAREERS

n Aug 18, in a humid greenhouse laboratory, sophomore Lauren Bartel added chemicals to a glycerin-based solution to create a fungus in which to plant orchids. At the Orchid Lab at Fairchild Tropical gardens, Bartel’s summer morning began. In addition to working at Fairchild, Bartel also interned at the genetics labs at the Rosenstiel School of Marine Biology. For Bartel, internships helped her gain experience and a new perspective. “I got a lot of valuable lab experience. It gave me the opportunity to learn how to use tools that wouldn’t even be available to me at school. It even helped me understand my chemistry class better,” Bartel said. At Fairchild, Bartel chemically created several mediums to plant Orchids in, since the fungi that is known to be the best for growing orchids wasn’t available.

“I was working with Orchid Propagation so I got to work with the genetics in those orchids,” Bartel said. At the Rosenstiel school, she worked with many different types of bait fish. Bartel had to identify cells and separate their working parts. “I got to take DNA from fish and isolate the mitochondrial DNA from RNA and its nucleus DNA,” Bartel said. For some, internships helped gain experience in the business world and try out career paths for their future. “I worked at a private equity firm as a summer analyst. So essentially I worked with the deals team, in terms of looking at properties and to invest money. I was inspired by the business class at school and I probably want to go into business,” senior Declan Molloy said.

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ON THE BEAT SOPHOMORE OLIVIA MARTINJOHNSON FOLLOWED HER PASSION FOR JOURNALISM

BREAKTHROUGH MEMBERS LED SUMMER SESSIONS

Over the summer, Breakthrough club members worked as teachers, teaching many different subjects to student participants.“It seemed like a rite of passage to be able to put myself in the position of a teacher and work with kids,” junior Craig Constentino said. Along with academic subjects, students also coached sports, such as soccer which varsity player senior Annabelle Kang led. Senior Joey Elsbernd taught the art elective. Photos by

“

I love medicine and the human body and I want to be a doctor or researcher. This year I wanted to expose myself to different aspects of the career.

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TEACHER

Joey Elsbernd

Sophomore Olivia Martin Johnson took her three years of prior journalism experience and did an internship the Miami Herald. “I got to shadow professionals and sit in at meetings, where they discussed what was going to be written about. I learned that you have to start small. You’re not just going to graduate from college and become the biggest newscaster on CNN. You have to start at a local news organization and work up from there,” said Johnson. Photo provided by Olivia Martin-Johnson

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-- Senior Bridgitte Isom

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ATTENTION. Mr. Memory played by sophomore Edward Bannon stands up to reveal a secret about The 39 Steps but is shot and killed by the ringleader. “The best part was playing Mr. Memory and making his qualities pop out more. I enjoyed playing that specific scene because it was really funny, and I love seeing the audience laugh and react.” Bannon said. Photo by James Fox

Pamela Edwards, played by senior Gabriela Hagenlocker, meets up with Richard Hanny, played by alum Brandon Dunningan, in a hotel room to reveal information she has discovered about The 39 Steps to create a plan to catch the Professor. “I got to play with such an amazing cast. Fun side note, Brandon Dunningan and I have done a handful of shows together and played each other’s significant others in every show without fail.” Hagenlocker said. Photo by James Fox

Alum Brandon Dunningan, senior Gabriela Hagenlocker, sophomores Brandon Alvarez and Edward Bannon sit through a train ride. They continue switching hats, to represent different characters. “In this scene I am arguing with Ned. I enjoyed it so much because it was crazy and fun.” Alvarez said. Photo by James Fox

Richard Hannay, played by alum Brandon Dunningan, was on the run because he was being framed for a murder he did not commit. In this scene, Richard Hannay went to the police station. He told his side of the story to an officer at the station, played by sophomore Nalani Brown. The officer was secretly working for the man framing Richard for murder. Photo

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FINAL words

DOWN TIME. Drama department students took a break from performing at the Fringe Festival and took in the sights of Edinburgh. The visited numerous castles including the Royal Tattoo. “I loved having the opportunity to visit a foreign country with my friends, Traveling is a much different experience when done with close friends; with all the sightseeing we did together, it quickly became a trip I will never forget,” junior Anya Paiz said. Photos by James Fox

DRAMA DEPARTMENT UNFOLD MURDER AND MYSTERY OVER THE SUMMER IN SCOTLAND

r. Memory, played by Edward Bannon, caught characters’ attention and spoke about the top secret formula, which was for a silent engine that the professor made him memorize to facilitate his master plan. The drama department qualified to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival on Aug. 2. “I have worked with the drama department before and they are an awesome group of kids. I had the privilege to travel with the talented students to Europe over the summer,” science teacher Luis Luis Fayat said. At the Fringe Festival, the drama department performed a spoof on the 1935 Alfred Hitchcock parody film “The 39 Steps” based on John Buchan novel, on the Fringe streets and at the Central Hall venue. Shows were sold out for all four of their performances. “The 39 Steps” is about a man named Richard Hannay, played by alum Brandon Dunningan, who accidentally gets swept up into a international spy mission and travels through out Europe trying to protect the secrets of his own country. “I really enjoyed the story of this play. My favorite part of this performance was the train scene where Ned and Brandon play all the different characters by switching their hats, ” junior Anya Paiz said After performing, actors received positive comments from audience reviews online. “It was exciting to see feedback on the web for the students because this is not a high school festival, it is the largest art festival in the world so for people to see the students perform, then go online and write positive, encouraging feedback is really important.” Drama teacher Jessica Fox said.

“

In this scene, I played a maid but I played over five characters in the show. My favorite part was getting to grow a bond with the cast over seas and the experience we received and scenery we saw.” -- sophomore Nalani Brown

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TEAMWORK. Freshmen Louis Tapie and Connor Gephart built a boat and test the balance of the boat on their heads. Freshman Alexander Gilling and Ian Gill build the base of their boat. They used pool floats and plastic in order to allow the boat to float in the pool. Photos by Kiara Kamlani

feeding Frenzy FRESHMEN GRAB PIZZA AFTER A LONG DAY AT THE SLEEPOVER

ORIENTATION

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Freshman Jake Getson smiles as he grabs the first slice of pizza. Freshmen Josh Trattler, Emiliano Hernandez, and Matias Romero each ran to beat the crowd and grab their slices. The smell of pizza filled the gym as they ate after a long day. Photo by Kiara Kamlani

STAYING AFLOAT. Esther Enekes paddles through the pool in her make-shift boat, racing against freshman Alexander Carey. The two freshmen competed to see which boat would win. Both sank though, before reaching the finish line. Photos by Cindy Vega

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. Camila Sandaal, Max Bendex, Sofia Azari, and Allison Bonnemaison, build a boat for the boat racing activity. The next day, each group competed against each other. “Building the boat was fun, but being able to see if the boat would float was more fun,” freshmen Sofia Azari said. Photo by Kiara Kamlani

Fresh Start TEAM-BUILDING ACTIVITIES HELPED FRESHMEN EASE INTO HIGH SCHOOL

reshman Camila pulled out the tape with freshman Max Bendex ready to cut. It was Aug. 12, the day freshmen would participate in a variety of teambuilding activities, before sleeping over in the gym. Their task was to build boats using a limited, specific set of materials, that they would later compete with at the pool. The class was grouped together by freshmen advisors, and had 40 minutes in which to complete their boats. “We had to all decide together what would work best and how to complete the boat. We were finally able to build and complete our boat by the end,” freshman Camila Sandaal said. After the boat-building activity, the class had dinner from Chicken Kitchen and then assembled in the gym for a movie, “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” before settling in for the night. Students also had the option to play cards or video games in the library. “I’ve seen that movie so many times, that I wanted to go the library and play games. It was actually fun to see all of us having fun together,” freshman Louis Tapie said.

Students awoke at 6:00am to cartoons playing on the televisions surrounding the gym. After breakfast, freshmen were grouped together with their Link Leaders who led them in several icebreaker activities as well as showing them around the campus. “I was so excited to be a Link Leader, I wanted to help the new incoming class of freshman so they can understand the high school better than I did when I was a freshman,” junior Cecilia Derlon said. The boat competitions took place later that day, at the pool. Each group chose someone charged with paddling across. Even before the competition began, some boats sank or tipped over into the water. By the end, all boats had sank, resulting in no winner. “My arms had never hurt so much, I paddled so hard, but all that hard work did not pay off. My boat ended up sinking right at the end, causing me to be soaked for the rest of the day,” freshman Ester Enekes said.

ICEBREAKER

IB JUNIORS SPENT A DAY OF FUN AND GAMES AT ORIENTATION

PIECE BY PIECE. Freshmen Audrey Svendson and Mia Suarez built a triangle out of foam lizards shapes. The two girls participated in the timed activity during the freshmen sleepover. “It was fun to see how quick we could do it and how well it would come out,” freshman Mia Suarez said. Photo by Kiara Kamlani

Victoria Naranjo, Andrea Park, and Deven Kamlani play games while at the IB orientation for juniors. As the juniors prepared for the year ahead, the orientation gave them a chance to spend time with members of their class. “I really enjoyed IB orientation and seeing everyone I would be having classes with,” junior Deven Kamlani said. Photos by Lucie Duchene

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first in 3 wordsday STUDENT DESCRIBED THEIR FIRST DAY IN 3 SIMPLE WORDS Fresh New Welcoming

freshman Grace Verde Again Relieving Exciting

sophomore Tomas Avalos Fun Refreshing Stressful

junior Chloe Hernandez

Finally Almost There

senior Anabelle Kang Exciting Fast Loud

art teacher Fabienne Rousseau

“

I encourage students to think about what it means to be a leader and take chances,” -- Principal Jonathan Schoenwald

Day one

FRIENDS REUNITED AND GOT PUMPED FOR THE NEW YEAR AT THE FIRST DAY PEP RALLY

roups of students of all grade levels ran down from the bleachers to represent their classes when Activities Director Danielle Bowen announced the “rock, paper, scissors” game during the first-day pep rally on Aug. 15. Each person had to compete with another until only one remained. “The pep rally was significantly more fun than the ones at the Academy, so I knew already that these were going to be a good four years,” freshman Juan Mendoza said. People who were eliminated then cheered for the person who defeated them. The victor, senior Marcelo Arteaga, had a sea of students crowded around him, cheering loudly when he won. “The game was a really fun way to start the year because all of the seniors were backing each other up. Then it ended with me competing against a freshman so it was basically freshmen versus seniors,” Arteaga said. Preparatory campus Principal Jonathan Schoenwald spoke, encouraging students to be leaders in their communities. He told a lighthearted story about a single monkey teaching an entire group of monkeys how to clean their food so that it was easier to eat. He encouraged the crowd to become leaders among each other and to take chances. “Be the first monkey, the second monkey or the hundredth monkey,” Schoenwald said, while the crowd cheered in response. Article by Julia Rosenthal

PLAYING GAMES. 1. Freshmen Gabrielle Gleason and Ainsley Kling laugh during the “rock, paper, scissors” game. 2. Senior Amanda Gonzalez competed against science teacher Monica Avalos. Gonzalez became a finalist after her win over Avalos and her “cheerleaders” continued to follow her around the gym. 3. Senior Ignacio Garcia-Morillo competed against freshman Connor Gebhart. The game was a way for the classes to interact. Photos by Lucie Duchene and Morgan Vasquez

FIRST DAY

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COMPETITION. Freshmen Alexander Carey and Juan Mendoza competed against each other during the “rock, paper, scissors” game at the pep rally. It was an opportunity to help them meet new people and create friendships. The first day assembly offered the incoming freshmen a spirited start to their high school experience. Photo by Morgan Vazquez

61%

39%

YES NO DO YOU LIKE THE NEW VERACROSS WEBSITE?

GRAND ENTRANCE. The senior class enter the gym together, making a loud entrance at the pep rally on the first day of school. They entered the gym dancing to music and made their way to the senior section of the bleachers. “The senior entrance was super fun, it was a great start to our last year,” senior Kiara Kamlani said. Photo by Lucie Duchene

Returning students learned of the new Veracross online grading and course communication system during the first week. Many had mixed opinions about the system’s new look. Out of 70 students polled on Sept. 9, 39% said that they liked the update. However, the majority expressed that they preferred the previous platform. After a few months, students got used to the new website, with some changing their minds. “It‘ was a little hard at first to adapt, but I think that it looks more professional. Overall, I like it better,” sophomore Kate Perez said.

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PREP TIME. Seniors Mattie Owencroft and Maria Gomes carefully decorate their crowns before the first day. This represented a new time for them in high school. “There’s so much more to experience”, Owencroft said, “decorating our crowns was the best part because we could express our individuality.” Picture by Kiara Kamlani.

DECORATING. Senior Veronica Mayoral decorates her crown using gold glitter glue. Mayoral took the opportunity to share this unique moment to showcase her personality along with her friends with whom she had spent so much of her high school time. “I liked how we got to show our personalities, and it was fun because I got to do it with my best friends,” Mayoral said. Pictures by Kiara

“

“I was a little nervous on the first day, but I’m excited to spend this year with my friends!

-Senior Catherine Bettridge

SENIOR CROWNS

Kamlani

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CROWNING BEFORE THE FIRST DAY, SENIORS DECORATED THEIR RED CROWNS

efore their first day, seniors Maria Gomes and Mattie Owencroft sat cross-legged on a glitter-filled ceramic tile floor, carefully sticking their names in gold letters on their red crowns. They prepared for the beginning of their last year, decorating with the excitement of the first day that is paired with the anxiousness of what was to happen next. “I was so proud of myself for finally getting to this year,” said Gomes, “I was really excited to be decorating with my friends, although I am nervous to think that I will be off to college soon.” When it came time to sit down and decorate, students used their crowns as an opportunity to showcase both their personalities and their interests. Seniors painted their known interests, as well as their clubs and activities that had meant so much to them throughout the years. For example, drama student Gabrielle Hagenlocker decided to showcase her

Achievement

passion brightly on her dark red crown using glittery letters against white acrylic paint. “I used the glitter to spell ‘Senior,’” says Hagenlocker. “Because of my interest in drama, I also spelled out ‘Take A Bow,’ and used acrylic paint to paint a rainbow on the inside.” On another hand, some students painted their known nicknames along with colorful decorations. “On my crown, I wrote my nickname that my friends call me, which is ‘Juliuli,” senior Julianna Portillo said. In an effort to join the students together on their first day, student body President Chiara Von Gerlach made sure to express her school pride. “I am so excited for us,” Gerlach said, “I’m so happy to be a part of the 2020 class, and I’m so excited that, as seniors, we get to continue to be a part of traditions like this.”

Article by Valentina Graziosi

WHAT’S seniors IN commented on YOUR what they used for decorations BAG? “I used pompoms I bought from Michael’s.” senior kiara kamlani

“I used paint that dripped from the top, and made my letters flames.” senior andres alvares

“I glued stickers to my crown.” senior audrey apollon

Graphics by Lucie Duchene

How do I look?

SENIORS CELEBRATED WITH A SELFIE Seniors Sarah Keeler, Paulina Muñoz, Katia Perez, Kelly Ziggelboim, Valeria Pieschacon, Laura Loeb, Isabella Quiñon, and Daniella Tosca gather for a celebratory selfie while wearing their senior crowns. Seniors Paola Acosta and Andres Alvares take a selfie in class during their first and last crown day. “It was fun decorating our crowns with our friends,” Senior Paola Acosta said, “it reminds me that small memories like these are the most important ones.” Pictures provided by Isabella Quiñon and Paola Acosta

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TELL ME MORE. Junior Jacob Stein gives freshmen Lucas Sullivan and Cort Snyder some information about the Scuba Club during Club Rush. Students had the chance to sign up for a variety of clubs, including special interests. Club officers also had the chance to promote their clubs. Photo by Julian Conception

PROMOTION. The night before Club Rush, club officers spent their time baking treats and designing their posters for the next day. “I went to Michael’s the night before and spent two hours designing my poster; if there is an ugly poster no one will join my club” junior Deven Kamlani said. The posters and treats help draw attention for students to join their clubs. “I spent three hours baking cookies for my club and by Lunch A they were all gone.” senior Isabella Quiñon said. Photos by Julian

“

Conception

Club rush was a really fun and great experience. Last year I did not join that many clubs, but this year I wanted to get more involved with clubs and do things that interest me.” -- sophomore Madeleine Hughes

CLUB RUSH

JOINING. Everyone gets to sign up and learn about their favorite clubs along with new ones during Club Rush. Club representatives also had the opportunity to share their club with the student body and recruit new members. “ Signing up for clubs was a really nice experience and the officers promoting their clubs were super nice and welcoming,” sophomore Teresa Ariza said. Photos by Julian Concepcion

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e h t l e e f

RUSH ?

What’s Your

FAVORITE

Club

“Blue Missions because it seemed really interesting to me and I would love to go on one of the trips.”

-- freshman Alessandra Genovese

“Achieve Miami because I get to help my community in so many ways.”

-- sophomore Ronan Colak

“TWI because I enjoy teaching the Breakthrough scholars about the human body.”

STUDENTS HURRIED TO THE GYM TO SIGN

UP FOR CLUBS DURING CLUB RUSH

reshmen Pote Otero, Lucas Sullivan, and Cort Snyder spoke to the representative of the Scuba Club to learn more about what they do, as well as their other favorite clubs during club rush on Aug. 28. The gym was filled with colorful posters for each club, sweet treats to draw in kids, sign up sheets, and special displays. “I thought it was really great how there were so many options because I found so many clubs that I was really interested in. I thought there was something for everybody,” sophomore Maddie Hughes said. There was a large variety of clubs to choose from, with more than 40 clubs for students to join. These include new clubs such as Helping Hands and Generation S.O.S, and returning ones such as Victory 4 Kids. Students could join clubs that allowed them to pursue their hobbies, explore new interests, and find ways to get involved with community service.

-- junior Alex Ramirez ”We gave out goodie bags with candy for every student who joined. We also had brownies and candy for everyone else.” -- Junior Sophia Guitar

“My favorite club I joined was Breakthrough Miami. I have been a part of it since my freshman year and I really enjoy helping out the scholars.”

-- senior Catherine Bettridge

“It broadens the students’ horizons when they encounter so many different clubs. I enjoy club rush because I love my club, Victory 4 Kids and what it represents and sharing that with my peers and encouraging them to sign up for a good cause is special to me,” Victory 4 Kids club president senior Jenna Kaplan said. Walking into the gym, the arrays of colors from each poster and the loud noises coming from every corner made set the atmosphere for a welcoming event. Club officers used bullhorns or just shouted out, encouraging new members to sign up. Treats at each club table offered sweet encouragement for students to stop and learn more about different clubs. “Club rush was a fun experience where I got to see the new clubs and choose which fit my interests. It was also great to see the student involvement in our school,” sophomore Mercedes Vargas said. Article by Kate Perez

TAKING THE

BAIT

CLUB REPRESENTATIVES SHARE THE BEST WAY TO ATTRACT STUDENTS TO THEIR CLUB TABLE.

”We had cookies and brownies at our table for everyone who signed up.” -- Senior Jenna Kaplan

“We had lollipops and Skittles for the students who signed up.” -- Sophomore Lucie Duchene

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IT’S A ZOO.

Seniors Sebastian Paz, Marcelo Arteaga, and Oliver Massolo cheer on the football team at the game vs Coral Gables in the fan section newly dubbed “the Blue Zoo.” “It was a great feeling having all of my friends together at one place having fun and showing school spirit to support our team,” Paz said. Whenever the team scored, students jumped and shouted in celebration in the packed section. Photo

by Julian Concepcion

RAIDER RIVALRY THE FOOTBALL TEAM BEAT ONE OF THEIR BIGGEST RIVALS, BELEN JESUIT PREP.

The football team made history with a win against major rival Belen Jesuit Prep. They easily beat Belen, with a score of 45-16. The game was also the first ever Prep Bowl, and to accompany their win, the football team received the Prep Bowl trophy. “For the simple fact that we have a Prep Bowl is super exciting! We aspire to make winning the crown a priority,” football coach James Callier III said. Photos by Julian Concepcion

BLUE ZOO

LOUDER. Students show their spirit at the game against the Belen Wolverines on Aug. 28. The first 150 students received free t-shirts, and student council passed out thunder sticks. Fans danced to a mix of popular songs while cheering on their Raiders. “The merchandise is part of what the student government is doing to try to invigorate school spirit because in years past it was lacking,” sophomore class president Samuel Cano said. Photos by Julian Concepcion

Check This Out!

Scan the QR code to watch a video made by freshman Lucas Figueroa of the game.

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Spirit

RENEWED

CELEBRATE. Before the game began, Student Council handed out powder to fans. Fans threw into the air whenever the team scored, filling the air with colorful clouds of powder. “The powder was a really fun and cool aspect that was added to the game,” senior Olivia Connor said. Photos by Julian Concepcion

STUDENTS BROUGHT THE SPIRIT AT SOME OF THE FIRST FOOTBALL GAMES OF THE SEASON

GAME ONE. The football team’s first game against Coral Gables set the tone for their season. Students packed the new “Blue Zoo,” fueling the team with their spirit. New additions of a DJ and

eniors Oliver Massolo, Marcelo Arteaga and Sebastian Paz waited with anticipation and screamed with excitement as they watched the team score. Students started to bring energy and cheer on their football team at the home games. Their season opening games against Coral Gables on Aug. 23 and Belen Jesuit on Aug 28 had some of the biggest student turnouts compared to past years. The bleachers were flooded with students cheering the team on to victory. “This season is much different than last year because we have a lot more energy now and a crowd to perform in front of instead of just playing in front of family and friends,” senior Dante De Rosa said. With the theme of the Belen game being “white out” the- first 150 students received free “white out” t-shirts to wear. The school spirit was definitely one for the books, as almost the entire student body showed up with great enthusiasm to watch the first ever Prep Bowl on Aug. 28. “It felt great to win the first ever Prep Bowl because we worked very hard as a team all off season to beat our rivals and showed that our hard work paid off,” sophomore Will Bettridge said. The new official name for the outdoor student fan section was the “Blue Zoo.” The student body voted on the name they thought fit best, and “Blue Zoo” received the most votes. “It feels amazing to see more spirit at football games. It makes us play with more confidence and energy seeing our friends rooting for us,”De Rosa said. The addition of a DJ and mascot helped to pump the crowd as well as the team. “The atmosphere was electric. Our student support is proving to be an important part of our success this year,” Football coach James Callier III said.

Article by Kate Perez

mascot added to the spirited fun. Photos by Julian Concepcion

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FAST LANE in the

SWIMMERS FOCUSED ON ACHIEVING THEIR GOALS

unior Isaiah Jimenez emerged from the surface, pulling his arms through the water and propelling himself forward. Jimenez started off the season strong with his performance in the 100-yard butterfly, contributing to the Raiders’ victory against Miami Country Day in the first meet of the season on Aug. 29. “Going into the first meet of the season felt really good and smooth. Thanks to the coaches and the training process, I am able to look forward to dropping time in my events and looking to possibly win states,” Jimenez said. As swimmers’ abilities improved, many varsity 2 swimmers, who are typically less experienced athletes, started transitioning to varsity 1, which consists mostly of year round swimmers. These “varsity 1.5” swimmers trained with varsity 1 several times a week. This contributed to the unification of the entire team, as borders between the different groups were torn down. “As a team we are all cheering for each other at meets and doing a great job of supporting each other.” head coach Chris George said. Swimmers worked long hours all season in preparation for the postseason championship meets. Led by team captains junior Benjamin Carey and senior Phillip Meira, the team trained nine times a week for a total of 24 hours of training each week, consisting of cardio and strength training in the pool, as well as running and weight training outside of the water. The team’s hard work paid off; the boys advanced to the state championships, where they finished fourth. “You earn your medals at practice, you just receive them at the meet. All of the hard work is put in at practice, and then at meets it all pays off,” sophomore Mateo Jaime said.

BREASTSTROKE. Sophomores Matias Jaramillo and juniors Bruno Rabessi and Benjamin Carey swim breaststroke at the home meet against Archbishop McCarthy on Oct. 3. The boys’ performances contributed to the team’s win. “My breaststroke has improved a lot since last year so I am very optimistic about this season,” Jaramillo said. Photos by Fox Mar

Article by Julia Rosenthal

what NOW? OVERCOMES CHALLENGES SENIOR JAIME ESQUENAZI DURING A RACE

“

At regionals, my goggles fell off when I dived in for the 100 yard breaststroke. I was super disappointed at first, since I trained so hard for this race, but I tried not to let this affect me. I swam the entire race with my goggles over my mouth, but I still tried my best to swim well, and in the end, I went a best time. Photos by Julia Rosenthal

BOYS SWIMMING

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BUTTERFLY. Junior Isaiah Jimenez demonstrates perfect butterfly. His head remained low in the water and his eyes were facing down as he took a breath, keeping him fast and streamlined. “My stroke felt very graceful yet powerful, and I’m excited to see how much I can improve throughout the season,”Jimenez said. Photo by Lucie Duchene

meetessentials SWIMMERS ALWAYS HAD THESE ITEMS IN THEIR BAGS

b ne ergy

goggl

FREESTYLE. Senior Phillip Meira and sophomores Joao Pedro and Felipe Brick Lenz Cesar swim freestyle at the meet on Aug. 29. Senior Taylor Quintero and sophomore Matias Jaramillo cheered their teammates on. This showed the team spirit that the boys focused on building. Photos by Fox Mar and Lucie Duchene

“

My stroke felt very graceful yet powerful, and I’m excited to see how much I can improve throughout the season. -- junior Isaiah Jimenez

swim

e Gatorad

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BACKSTROKE. Sophomore Margaret Miao swims the backstroke during her 200 yard individual medley at the meet against Miami Country Day on Aug. 29. This is one of her favorite events. “I am really excited to see how far I can go in the 200 I.M. this season. Last year I made it to regionals, and I’m hoping that this year I can go all the way to states.” Miao said.

“

We really focused on details and even though not everything was perfect, it gave us a chance to learn from and work on our mistakes.

Photo by Julia Rosenthal

Coach Chris George

MAKING WAVES. Sophomores Carina Villanova and Margaret Miao and freshman Camila Saporta compete at the meet on Aug. 29. Villanova swam the 200-yard freestyle, while Miao and Saporta swam the 100-yard butterfly. All three girls qualified for the postseason.

Photos by Fox Mar, Lucie Duchene, and Julia Rosenthal

GIRLS SWIMMING

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fish out of

WATER FIVE-TIME STATE CHAMPIONS TRAINED HARD TO OVERCOME NEW CHALLENGES

nvigorated by the rush of cold water on her skin, sophomore Margaret Miao pulled through the water at the first meet of the season against Miami Country Day on Aug. 29. Every stroke inched her closer and closer to victory. She could see her competitor in the corner of her vision, and the satisfaction of being ahead in the race made her pull even faster, kick even harder. In a final burst of energy, she buried her head under the strong current of water and drove her arm into the wall. “I think we did excellent at our first meet of the season. We really focused on details and even though not everything was perfect, it gave us a chance to learn from and work on our mistakes,” head coach Chris George said. The team, led by captains senior Kayla Kraft and junior Chloe Hernandez, trained nine times a week to ensure that they would be prepared for the FHSAA 2A State Championships on Nov. 8. Following the graduation of many members of the team, the girls had to rise to the occasion and work

IN THE NOW. Miami Country Day’s team showed up an hour late to the meet on Aug. 29. Rather than considering this hour as wasted time, junior team captain Chloe Hernandez and freshman Aria Torretta, along with the rest of the girls, took advantage of the extra time. “We decided to fit in a practice before the swim meet. It was very challenging to swim in the meet right after but, we all overcame the challenge and it made us better in the long run,” Hernandez said. Photos

by Lucie Duchene

even harder to make up for the loss of these swimmers. “We have a pretty young team this year, but everyone is training hard and performing really well at the meets,” senior Kayla Kraft said. The girls also faced new competition this season, as new schools with elite swim teams moved into the 2A division. However, the raiders were confident that their hard work would be enough to carry them through the post season. “We train really hard and getting up at 4:30 A.M. is grueling, but it all pays off at the swim meets,” sophomore Margaret Miao said. The girls finished third at states, breaking their five-year winning streak. While they were hoping for another first place finish, they recognized that this would be a difficult feat to accomplish due to the circumstances. However, the girls did not let this setback discourage them. With many underclassmen on the team, they were optimistic that these young swimmers would continue to improve and that the team would be back on track to win states next season. Article by Julia Rosenthal

POLL:

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE STROKE? A poll of 20 swimmers 20% fly revealed the strokes people enjoy the most. Freestyle 30% back was the most popular, while breaststroke was the least 15% breast popular. Photo by Lucie Duchene 35% free

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STACKED totally

SANDWICHES WERE THE GO TO LUNCH AS IT GAVE STUDENTS MANY OPTIONS TO CHOOSE FROM

ophomore Leanza Perusquia’s face lit up as she took a big bite from her sandwich. Daily, Leanza Perusquia used tomatoes, turkey, cheese, and lettuce to build her sandwich. Perusquia is one of many who opted towards the sandwich bar. “I like sandwiches because I get to individualize my food with a ton of options that makes it tastier for me,” sophomore Perusquia said. “I eat them everyday.” Students had many food options for lunch, including a variety of hot food selections, pizza, soup and salads. Chicken tender sandwiches and burgers were a new addition, being that a choice of one or the other were offered every day. “I believe that having the options of the burgers is better because if there is nothing good to eat or nothing I like from the main section, at least there is something there for you to eat as a backup, ” junior Rachel Simmons said. However, the sandwiches turned out to be the most popular among students, offering endless possibilities. From cold cuts, to prepared salads such as chicken or tuna, to simple grilled cheese, sandwiches satisfied individual tastes. “Sandwiches were great for when I do sports after school. It’s nice knowing that I don’t have to worry about being hungry, because it will have protein if I make it myself,” sophomore Sasha Boyers said. Article by Victoria Poliak

&Hangout

Eat

Lunch offered a chance to catch up with friends. Open campus spaces were popular aside from the usual cafeteria and student union, which was designated for juniors and seniors. “I love that I have the freedom to walk around anywhere I want but I have priority to eat in the student union too,” junior Jasmine Vega said. Photos by Kate Perez, and Kiara Kamlani

LUNCH

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CREATE YOUR OWN. Junior Craig Cosentino and sophomores Joao Trius, Melis Sanal, and Nina Starvaggi enjoy making and being creative with their sandwiches. Sandwiches were a favorite and the sandwich bar was always crowded with people. Students opted for the sandwich bar most out of all the options offered in the cafeteria. “I love making my own grilled ham, cheese and tomato panini,” junior Kimberley Cruz said.

Photos by Lucie Duchene

In or Out

SENIOR PRIVILEGE ALLOWED SENIORS THE OPTION TO LEAVE FOR LUNCH

CHEW ON THIS. Sophomore Leanza Perusquia enjoys her daily sandwich. She was among many students who customized their lunch at the sandwich bar. “Making a sandwich is so effortless, you can use whatever you like,” Perusquia said. Photo by

Victoria Poliak

FAN

FAVORITE

27.8%

SANDWICH BAR VOTED THE NUMBER ONE FOOD OPTION

Not all seniors took advantage of the privilege to leave campus for lunch. “I stay at school because my parents haven’t signed the papers to let me leave school,” senior Lucas Zion said. Zion was one of many who stayed at school but all for different reasons. “I go out for lunch unless I am held up with school work. There are a couple of nearby places I go to like, Diced, Pinecrest Bakery, Wayside Market, ” senior Ruben Krys said. “They have great food and they’re usually pretty quiet around that time of day,” Krys said. Still, for those that could go out, it was a chance to go to a local food spot they enjoyed. Diced, Shake Shack, Starbucks were all popular destinations.

32.3%

25.6%

“I don’t like to leave for lunch since I already pay for the lunch at school.”

14.3% Meat or Chicken Hot Burger Meal

Salad

-- Senior Leonardo Gorgatti

“I go to Diced and get poke bowls because it has healthier options.”

-- Senior Fiorella Polit

“I leave for lunch sometimes and I love to go to Starbucks, Akashi, and Chicken Kitchen.”

Panini

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1.) Swing Freshman Victoria Paesano focuses on her shot. According to Paesano, concentration was key in golf. 2.) Focus Senior Melanie Michaels zones in. Although games can be tough, Martinez said the satisfaction of a perfect shot kept her going. 3.) Concentrate. Sophomore Charlotte Carraz finds herself on the green. Carraz played her first match of the season at the Biltmore golf course. Photos by Fox Mar

Club of Choice

GOLFERS DISCUSS THEIR FAVORITE CLUB

“My favorite club is “I really like my driver because chipping so I can always rely on probably my lob it to give me a lot wedge” of distance” -- Sophomore Victoria Hagenlocker -- Senior Melanie Michaels

GIRLS GOLF

“My favorite club is my five iron.” --Sophomore Charlotte Carraz

SWINGING. Sophomore Victoria Hagenlocker swings her way out of a sand trap. The girls golf team’s first match took place on Sept. 11 on the Biltmore golf course. Many of the golfers felt as though they did not perform their best. Nevertheless, the golfers pushed through the match and identified areas to improve on. Photo by Fox Mar

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Staying the Course

THE GIRLS GOLF TEAM PULLED THROUGH FOR A STRONG SEASON

“

to grow with more opportunities to get out on the course,” said Hagenlocker. “Everyone on the team was able to improve and we were able to pull through.” Coach Kelly Mulligan also felt that her first season coaching golf was up to par, but has high expectations for next year. “The girls will continue to train on their own and should be more competitive next year,” she said. “I’m also hoping that next year we get more girls interested in playing for the team.” Their overall performance brought the golf team to a positive season conclusion, and they learned what can be achieved through dedication, positivity, and love for the game. Article by Katie Lewis

What’s New

THE GIRLS DISCUSSED WHAT WAS NEW FOR THEIR TEAM Photo by Fox Mar

t is difficult to be a successful golfer without two qualities: dedication and a positive attitude. Despite many changes since throughout their season, the girls’ golf team put both these qualities on the course and led the way to a success, ending at regionals. Sophomore Tori Hagenlocker has been playing on the girls’ golf team since sixth grade. Every season has been different, but Hagenlocker said she felt that it was crucial to always put in hard work and commitment regardless of the circumstances. This season, although the team lost the many seniors who made up last year’s team, Hagenlocker led a successful season with her team, even qualifying for states herself. “This golf season was an amazing experience, as the team was able

Sophomore Victoria Hagenlocker, freshman Victoria Paesano, sophomore Charlotte Carraz, and senior Melanie Michaels took a break from the heat and relaxed after their day on the course. What was different this year for the girls golf team? According to player Victoria Hagenlocker, it was the team spirit. “The team was really close this year. We all wanted to see each other improve and it was really fun,” said Hagenlocker. According to coach Kelly Mulligan, the team was young, but, nevertheless, their team spirit won them top spot in the district. “They were a close team and highly spirited,” said Mulligan.

I really enjoyed coaching the girls, and can’t wait to see their improvement next season,”

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ECURITY measures

“

STUDENTS HAD MIXED VIEWS ON THE NEW SAFETY MEASURES IMPLEMENTED SCHOOLWIDE

s part of new campus-wide security measures, students received ID tags and lanyards that were required as part of their uniform as of Sept. 13. They also had to get used to locked classroom doors. Students reacted to the new procedures differently, as senior Valentina Graziosi, junior Jiani Huang, sophomore Samuel Cano, and freshman Athena Tsialas discussed. VG: I feel safer wearing my ID. After Parkland, a lot of people were scared and started talking about security, so I think it was a good move by the school to start implementing new security measures. JH: I agree one hundred percent. I’m new this year, so I am not used to it, but I just go with the flow because I’ve heard a lot about school shootings in America and it makes me scared. AT: Yeah, safety is extremely important but the reality is that lanyards are super annoying. I mean they are itchy and if you accidentally forget it at home then you have to serve a detention. SC: I agree, they could be super useful. They are said to open doors in the future. VG: When the IDs start opening certain doors then there will be more of a purpose to having them. SC: I actually like the lanyards and the IDs.

If I see someone I don’t know, I check their lanyard color for their grade and ID for their name. VG: Yeah, it’s so convenient cause if I forget someone’s name I can just look down and read it off their ID. SC: Also if I need someone from my grade it is super easy to identify sophomores out of the rest of the students. AT: The IDs are annoying because it’s hard to get into the habit of bringing them every day, but I understand why the school enforced the rule. SC: On a different note, a security measure that I found annoying was locking the doors, especially for the student that sits by the door in class. VG: I understand, but there is a flipside to everything. Locking doors would prevent someone who doesn’t belong in the school or your class from just walking in. AT: I agree. If anyone were to come in to the school that is not authorized to be here, the teachers always have their doors locked, so it just keeps us safer. Even though it’s annoying to open it, I think it’s better for us. JH: I believe that in the end it’s necessary and I would rather be safe and annoyed than not prepared.

”

Article by Olivia Martin-Johnson

ALL DAY EVERYDAY. Sophomores Teresa Ariza and Omalaa Sharma and freshman Lucas Figueroa wear their lanyards during class. Each grade wore a different color lanyard for identification purposes. Students were required to wear their new IDs and lanyards at all times while on campus. The new rule took some adjustment. “I wasn’t used to having the responsibility to wear a lanyard and ID every day. I forgot it a few times but I eventually adapted to the new rule,” sophomore Valeria Cedeño said.

Martin

Photos by Olivia Martin-Johnson

SECURITY

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VIEWPOINTS. Senior Valentina Graziosi, junior Jiani Huang, sophomore Samuel Cano and freshman Athena Tsialas discuss the new security measures. Besides identification, ID cards also provided access to certain areas during operational hours. Students had differing opinions on the requirement of having to wear their badges every day. Photo by Julian Concepcion

SENIORS SAID... “It’s inconvenient; it’s usually in my backpack and I have to dig for it.”

Martina Lasen

“I think showing our lanyards is a great way to keep the school safe.”

Russell Busso

“It makes me feel safe that they know if I’m at school or not as a precaution.”

“I don’t like it because I never have it on me and then I have to look for it.”

Viviana Gutierrez Armand Rabassa

CHECKPOINT. “The new protocol, ‘fast pass system’ allows us to see a student’s information and restrictions, if any, when we scan the ID. It’s super convenient,” security guard Juan Carlos Santos said. One new protocol was to have seniors show their ID to security when leaving campus for lunch and upon their return. Some felt the new measure was inconvenient. “The only issue with having to show my ID when I leave for lunch is that if I forget it then I will have to back out and hold up traffic,” said senior Kiara Kamlani. Photo by Olivia Martin-Johnson

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FOCUSED. Senior Catharina

Giacian goes in for the perfect serve. The ball was just short, hitting the net and falling on the Raider side. Although the team lost this point, they gave their all against Doral at the game on Sept. 19. Photo by Victoria Poliak

ALL IN. Senior Isabella Sakran and sophomore Kate Perez score multiple points during the game against Doral Academy on Sept. 19. All players were set on winning and put everything out on the court. “It was really fun playing Doral Academy because we have a strong rivalry and we were all determined to win,” Perez said. Photos by Victoria Poliak

SKILL. Junior Kalei Ganser, sophomore Olivia Martin-Johnson, and junior Carlota Aristizabal pass the ball to the target position during their game against Doral Academy on Sept. 19. All players were focused on their precise plays, trying to make as few mistakes as possible. Even though they lost, the team felt good about how they played. “We were very focused and communicated well, which translated into success in future matches,” sophomore Kate Perez said. Photos by Fox Mar

VOLLEYBALL

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BounceBACK

TEAMWORK AND COMMUNICATION WAS KEY FOR GIRLS VARSITY VOLLEYBALL

enior Catharina Giacian’s arm pulled back into the bow and arrow position, she leaped slightly and swung her arm to hit the surface of the ball. The ball hit the edge of the net before falling back onto the Raider side. Point, Doral. After a hard-fought game, the girls varsity volleyball team lost against Doral Academy at their match on Sept.19, 23-25. “Of course I was frustrated, I just lost a point for the team and gave it to Doral. Serving is the one thing in volleyball where the player has full control. After that point, I really tried to forget my mistake and just keep trying the rest of the game,” Gaician said. Although the game ended in a loss, the team worked well together displaying a fierce determination to win. The teams were tied going into their fifth set, allowing Doral the win by only two points. “Our coach used to coach high school volleyball at Doral Academy and he really motivated us to give it our all on the court. Since we put so much emphasise on playing well and trying to win, it fueled our determination for future games,” sophomore Paola Avazian said. The team used their frustration from losing to work harder and try to improve before their season ended. “We practiced hard every day, including Saturdays. We all got a lot better throughout the season,” senior Catherine Bettridge said. The team continued to improve their teamwork and communication, leading to future wins. “After Doral we went on to beat Key West, Sunset, and Country Day, and made it to districts,” senior Alessandra Bonadies said. Article by Olivia Martin-Johnson

“

We took some losses but since we all came together as a team to talk and learn from our mistakes, we started winning and the positivity went up ever since.”

-- sophomore Paola Avazian

A Q&

WITH TEAM CAPTAIN ISABELLA SAKRAN What is the difference between being a team captain and a player? “I like being in a position to lead and it makes me play better however it does not make me any less stressed than being a player.” Is there planning that takes place behind the scenes? “I have meetings with the coach sometimes to give him me feedback on practice or what I think will help us in the next game.” What do you like most about being captain? “I like being in a leadership position. Being captain versus not being captain doesn’t really change much because either way I go on the court and play the game with my teammates regardless of who’s captain or not.”

Has your relationship with your players changed?

“It hasn’t changed at all because we all have the same level of respect for each other no matter who is captain and who is considered the leader.”

Fresh Face

VARSITY COACH JULIO ARNAIZ BROUGHT NEW VISIONS TO THE TEAM

The varsity team welcomed Julio Arnaiz as their new coach. Arnaiz brought so much to the team according to the players. “His strict teaching style paid off, we had never had to do so much conditioning and warm ups, but we improved and it showed in the games,” junior Alexandra Ramirez said. Being new to the team, Arnaiz felt comfortable even though it was his first year. “The girls buying into what we were doing made the transition much smoother,” Arnaiz said, “I am happy on how we competed for our first year together,” Arnaiz said. Photo by Fox Mar

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tep by step

GIRLS VARSITY CROSS COUNTRY WORKED HARD TO IMPROVE THROUGHOUT THE SEASON

ophomore Olivia Torres kept focused and calm to help motivate herself to complete her run on a hot Friday afternoon at the Dade County Youth Fair Championship meet on Sept. 20. Her focus helped her see the race to the end, where she placed 35th overall. “For me personally, it was really hard mentally to keep running. It was really hot and humid that day, it was at 4:00 in the afternoon and there was not a cloud in the sky,” Torres said, “it was not only a physical struggle but also mentally, as I had to keep pushing myself to keep going throughout the race.” According to head coach David Suarez, the purpose of the meet was to see which teams were the best in the county. It also gave the team an opportunity to settle and improve for future competitions. Senior Natalie Varela and sophomore Kyra Gardner were the team’s top performers, with Varela finishing 2nd and Gardner finishing 8th overall. “It was a big race and I was nervous because it was really important. I ended up doing better than I expected; I 38 managed to keep myself together and finished around the 20-minute mark,” Gardner said. After the meet, the team continued to improve and move up in the rankings. On Sept. 27, they traveled to Lakeland, Florida where they competed in the FLrunners Race, racing against teams from all across Florida. “I was scared at first because it was my first time running the course where the meet was held. It was amazing to see all the best teams of Florida in one place. Even though it was intimidating, my adrenaline was super high and I did well,” said junior Karela Palazio. Article by Adriana Leyba

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"I make the most out of every step when I'm running."

CROSS COUNTRY

-- sophomore Kyra Gardner

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UNDER THE MARK. At the end of the meet the team posed together for pictures and cooled down to prevent any injuries. Sophomore Anne Bannon finished the race in under 24 minutes and Charlotte Clivio finished in under 28; the average cross country runner finishes in 25. Photos by Fox Mar

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Senior Season NATALIE VARELA FOUND HERSELF AT THE TOP OF THE CHAIN AS A SENIOR ON THE TEAM

As part of the cross country since freshman year, senior Natalie Varela is an example for many of her teammates. “It feels great that I’ve been a part of the team all four years, I’ve seen how we have improved and become more dedicated since the start. I started running because I was a fan of the sport, now it has become a big part of my life,” said Varela. Photos by Fox Mar

it's about

time

GIRLS VARSITY PLACED 4TH WITH A TOTAL TIME OF 1 HOUR AND 49 MINUTES The varsity team finished with an average of 22 minutes in the 5K at the Dade County Youth Fair Championship. Senior Natalie Varela, and sophomores Kyra Gardner, Olivia Torres and junior Karela Palazio both ran the race in under 25 minutes, helping the team place 4th overall at the meet. Each runner contributed to the team’s success. Photos by Fox Mar

Karela Palazio

Charlotte Clivio 105th Place 27:25.51 FAST AND RELAXED. Sophomore Olivia Torres runs on Sept. 20 at the Dade County Youth Fair meet. She finished the race 35th place overall. Torres was happy with her performance, even though she was nervous. “Every time I’m running I repeat the slogan ‘fast and relaxed’ in my head, it somehow always manages to calm me down and motivate me,” said Torres. Photos by Fox Mar

63rd Place 24:18.04

Anne Bannon 35th Place 23:04.75

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raising the

INTENSITY THE BOYS CROSS COUNTRY TEAM RAN AT THE

Q&A

DADE COUNTY YOUTH FAIR ON SEPT. 20

WITH TEAM CAPTAIN FERNANDO NOTARI What is your main goal as captain for the year? “My main goal is to try and keep the team happy and dedicated which would lead to success. What is another goal you have for the team overall? “Being my senior year, I would love to make it to states this year as it would be the first time in a decade. Making it to states would make cross country more appreciated through the community.” How do you keep yourself in the right mindset when running? “Since running is 90% mental, having the feeling that you are racing for your school is very beneficial to making sure you get all the way through”

unior Daniel Thompson ran through a crowd of people as he made his best time of 19:34.71 at the Dade County Youth Fair meet on Sept. 20. “It was hard because it was really crowded so running in the middle of those people was definitely a challenge,” Thompson said. Overall, the team performed above average at the meet. The team’s top runners were senior Fernando Notari, sophomore Gabriel Bendix, junior Sebastian Stephens, junior Daniel Thompson, and freshman Lucas Guerrero. “Considering that it was a meet that we were using as training we did rather well, as we did not focus on our times,” coach David Suarez said. Throughout the season, the team

RUNNER’S FUEL

“

RUNNERS SHARED THEIR TOP PICKS FOR THE BEST ENERGY BARS BEFORE A RUN.

“My favorite granola bar is MadeGood. They are important because we need extra calories from healthy food since we burn so many while running in practice and in meets.”

-- junior Sebastian Stephens

“Cliff Blueberry is the best because it gives me the fuel I need for a good race day.”

--sophomore Gabriel Bendix

BOYS CROSS COUNTRY

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”

focused their training on improving times to qualify for districts. “Florida is one of the Cross Country powerhouses of the United States, accomplishing this would mean a lot to us,” senior Fernando Notari said. The Dade County Youth Fair was just the beginning of a successful season for the team, as the races continued to intensify and the team continued to succeed. The team went on to the Cross Country Invitational where they placed 12th overall, with an average time of 19:48.91. “The season was great and I’m really excited to see how the kids will perform when the state series comes around and the races really get intense,” Suarez said.

Article by Kiara Kamlani

Anatomy of a runner BREAKDOWN OF RUNNING ESSENTIALS

Gulliver uniform is of course must for all meets.

Quads are the power house of the body when running. Strong quads make all the difference.

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The mind is everything, being in the right head space is important during a race. Many runners get shin splints from overuse of the shin bone. Running shoes are the most important aspect to running. Shoes are the game changer.

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RUNNING THE 5K. Junior Daniel Thompson ran the 5K at the Dade County Youth Fair meet on Sept. 20. Although challenging, he was happy with his performance. “It was definitely a hard race but I was really happy with the outcome; it was one of my best races this season,” Thompson said. Photo by Fox Mar

Senior Fernando Notari runs straight ahead at the Dade County Your Fair meet. “I love having the feeling of racing for your school,” Notari said. Junior Sebastian Stephens and Daniel Thompson ran the 5k race. Photos by Fox Mar

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ACTING

OUT

STUDENTS ACTIVISM HIT THE STREETS OF MIAMI BEACH IN THE CLIMATE STRIKE

n front of a large crowd, freshman Maya Gowda took a step forward with her handmade cardboard sign and spoke up about her beliefs at the Youth Climate Strike on Sept. 20 held outside of the Miami Beach City Hall. “I was motivated to speak because I’ve been a part of the GenCLEO group for a year and I’ve done a lot of research on climate change,” Gowda said. The international event was intended to raise awareness on the need for science-based climate policy. Students took initiative by making flyers promoting the local climate strike informing others on ways they could participate. “I think it’s important for everyone to get involved because the time to make a change is now. I assumed only me, my friends, and the organizers would attend the strike, but when I arrived, there were hundreds of people and I was really happy that this issue had received so much attention in just a few months; it really exceeded my expectations,” senior Laura Attarian said.

On campus, students received reusable water bottles as part of a recycling and climate awareness initiative by the Student Council. This provided one way for students to get used to trying an eco-friendly alternative. “Whenever I get the chance like at lunch and stuff I encourage my friends to recycle any plastic cups or paper plates that are still clean. I think it’s important for young people to get involved, after all it is our future,” senior Rafael Reyes said. The local climate strike attracted many who wanted to stand up for change. The number of youth surpassed the number of adults who crowded the steps of Miami Beach’s City Hall. “Attending the climate strike opened my eyes about the issue we are facing and made me realize how much youth activism has grown. I had never seen so many teenagers gather and talk about such a serious issue,” senior Erick Clemente said. Article by Isabella Quiñon

sign oftimes the

Science teacher Alan Piggot, freshman Isabella Bonafasi, and senior Alessia Bianco show off the signs they made for the climate strike. Bianco’s sign specifically emphasized biodiversity and how crucial it is to our environment. “Making signs is one way I try to help people learn about environmental issues,” Bianco said. Photos by Emilia Odife and Laura Attarian.

CLIMATE STRIKE

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GOING GREEN

STUDENT COUNCIL PROVIDED REUSEABLE CONTAINERS TO FACULTY AND STUDENTS

In an effort to encourage faculty and students to be more eco-friendly, the Student Council gave a welcome gift of water bottles and lunch boxes to faculty and students to help reduce waste around campus. “I use my water bottle every day. It’s convenient because it helps me stay hydrated and keeps me from using disposable products,” senior Kelly Zighelboim said.

INVOLVEMENT. Students from schools across Miami- Dade County attend the climate strike in an attempt to make a change. “I never realized the urgency of this situation until I got to the strike and felt the energy of the people and how moved they were by the topic,” senior Nina-Marie Cielo said. Channel 7 News made an appearance and interviewed a few students including freshman Ian Gill. “Being interviewed was a great experience. I loved being able to share my views and do my part to help resolve the climate crisis,” Gill said. Photos by Photo by Laura Attarian, Emilia Odife and Ainsley Kling.

A large crowd gathered on the steps of Miami Beach City Hall for the Youth Climate Strike on Sept. 20th. Science teacher Emilia Odife took a group of students to participate in the international event. The event raised awareness on the need for sciencebased climate policy. Photo by Ainsley Kling.

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saturn tree

STUDENTS IN VIGNOLA’S MEDIEVAL STUDIES WORKED WITH TROTT’S CHEMISTRY CLASS ON THE

hemistry teacher Ryan Trott’s class and Paige Vignola’s Medieval studies class collaborated on Sept. 28 to perform a lab called the “Saturn Tree.” The collaboration led to different interpretations of the experiment. “Saturn Tree was a lab used as proof that you can give life to things and that life was an element that you could infuse things with to create something that looked like associated with Saturn,” chemistry teacher Ryan Trott said. Both the chemistry and medieval classes studied alchemy, looking at it from the scientific and medieval perspectives. The study of alchemy was central to the experiment, since it was an ancient scientific form of purifying certain materials. “We were learning about the medieval culture, and when Ms. Vignola told our class we would be working with Mr. Trott’s class I was super excited,” junior Eric Brook said. During the experiment, the students used lead, an element associated with the element of Saturn, to create an object resembling a tree. Students later added in a zinc-nitrate solution into the lead, and let their experiment run for 24 hours. “Although my experiment did not work I really enjoyed it, especially because I was able to work with some of my friends that were in the chemistry class,” sophomore Jonathan Gonzalez said. After the experiment, the students discussed their interpretations. “Students completed a post lab that emphasized that the interpretation of observations is affected by the perspective of the observer. Our interpretations are colored by our own experiences,” Trott said. Article by Kimberley Cruz

SCIENCE

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EXPERIMENT. Junior Julian Ruiz-Luzio uses a tweezer to place each piece of zinc on the scale. Students measured the amount of zinc they needed to use to put into the solution. “We always wear our lab coat, gloves, and goggles while doing a lab. For this specific lab we worked in groups to nucleate the tree,” Ruiz-Luzio said. Photo by Kimberley Cruz

PRE-LAB. Sophomore Anna Silberwasser finished reading and writing the pre-lab procedures and notes that were given to the class by chemistry teacher Ryan Trott. Trott always had his students read the pre-lab before they did the experiment. “Reading the prelab before we started the lab really helped my lab group and I get a better understanding on what we were doing and what I had to do.” Silberwasser said.

ANALYSIS. Junior Kevin Toplas and Joaquin Porras tie zinc to a pencil using a piece of string. After this they lowered it into the solution so it would react. “We were each other’s partner in the Saturn Tree lab. Group work was key in this experiment.” Porras said. Photo by Kimberley Cruz

Photo by Kimberley Cruz

MEASURE. Sophomore Jonathan Gonzalez bends down to transfer the lead nitrate powder into a wave plate to measure the right amount using a scale. “I love doing labs in Mr. Trott’s class because it’s fun and interesting.” Gonzalez said. Photo by Kimberley Cruz

PREPARING materials STUDENTS SORTED THEIR MATERIALS FOR THE LAB

Chemistry teacher Ryan Trott helps juniors Joaquin Porras and Julian Rizo -Luzio pour the correct amount of lead nitrate into a wave plate.”Although the Pre-lab says the materials we need I always double check with Mr. Trott to make sure that I have all the right materials.” junior Joaquin Porras said. Photo by Kimberley Cruz

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salsa

time to

STUDENTS AND FACULTY JOINED IN TO MAKE SALSA NIGHT A SUCCESS

he World Language and Dance departments combined to arrange the Salsa Night event on Oct. 1. Everyone followed dance teacher Gerri Barreras’s instructions to learn Salsa’s fundamental steps. “My experience was awesome seeing everyone trying to learn how to dance Salsa. Later on, we all danced around and it was a lot of fun; dancing Salsa just puts me in a good mood, and makes me feel connected to my home, Puerto Rico,” visual arts teacher Maribel Toledo said. Students from different groups mixed and danced together. Some came directly from sports practice to the dance floor, while dancers and Spanish class students helped set up from the end of the school day until the start of the multi-cultural event. “I really enjoyed how everyone was coming together to learn more about a culture that is present in much of our school’s community. I had lots of fun and laughs with friends while

also learning how to Salsa,” senior Brian Behnjad said. Faculty members outside the organizing departments also showed up to have some fun after their day at work. Latin food was also available to showcase different Latin cultures. “It was fun to have a quality moment with friends and teachers after school. Moreover, the food was very good,” junior Jasmine Vega said. The event introduced Hispanic Heritage Month with a great outcome. The organizers were pleased with the turnout. “What better way to start off Hispanic Heritage Month by bringing a Salsa Night and engaging with the World Languages Department. Ms. Antonella La Tegola and I came up with how it could come together. I was ecstatic with the outcome as there were so many students and teachers who came out to participate in what hopefully will become an annual event,” Barreras said. Article by Lucie Duchene

STEP IT UP. Seniors Gabriel Reiter, Diego Lamonica, and Brian Behnejad follow the beats and dance teacher, Gerri Barreras’s, instructions. The rhythm accelerated gradually and they learned at a fast pace in order to keep track of the moves. Eventually, they understood the basic idea and were able to stay in sync. Photo by Joao Carvalho

all the right

moves

STEP BY STEP CUBAN STYLE SALSA

1. step forward with right foot

SALSA NIGHT

break forward with left foot

rock back onto right foot

shift weight to left foot

step back with left foot

break back with right foot

SALSA SMILES. Seniors Audrey Apollon, Kiara Kamlani, and Maria Figuerira de Mello Gomez broke into laughter between their dance moves. They said they were happy to learn together, as a team. “Learning salsa with my friends was so fun, we laughed at each other trying to learn the moves,” Kamlani said. Photo by Joao Carvalho

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shift weight to right foot

rock forward onto left foot

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FEELING GOOD. World Languages students show their spirit during the learning process. It was not always easy to follow the correct step or keep up the rhythm. However, they did not give up and got the hang of it after repeating the routine multiple times. “It took me a while to understand the dance, but when I finally got it, I really enjoyed it,” freshman Esther Enekes said. Photos

by Joao Carvalho and Julian Concepcion

“

I really enjoyed Salsa night because I love Salsa and Miss Gerri taught us well. What made me enjoy it most was that I was with my friends,” -- senior Anna Zakharia

last minute preparations

SPANISH 3H STUDENTS FINALIZED THEIR POSTERS In preparation for the event, Spanish classes created colorful posters to decorate the gym. These were informative, explaining the different components of Salsa. Students displayed their posters throughout the gym during the Salsa event. “I enjoyed decorating the poster and I think I did a nice job,” sophomore Omalaa Sharma said. Photos by

Lucie Duchene

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EDITING. Seniors Russel Busso, Sofia Silberwasser, and Adriana Lemus sit together at a table in the Student Union. Busso and Lemus and helped Silberwasser with her writer’s block. Students loved how at mission submission they were not restricted to only the help of their counselor, they could talk to peers and other counselors. “As a whole, attending mission submission made me feel more confident about my writing supplements and college list,” Busso said. Photos by Isabella Quiñon

how SENIORS

SENIORS SHARED WAYS TO WIND DOWN WHEN THINGS GOT HECTIC

relax

19.2% watch YouTube 19.2% hang out with friends

MISSION SUBMISSION

*out of 50 seniors polled

“

-- senior Sebastian Pazb

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19.2% eat 42.3% sleep

I worked really hard throughout highs school, both in the classroom and on the field, which is what helped me commit to Bucknell for soccer and I’m so glad that I have the reassurance of where I’m going to spend the next

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MISSION:

asser, he

SUBMISSION

loved icted talk to nding dent ,”

SENIORS ATTENDED A COUNSELOR ORGANIZED EVENT GEARED TOWARDS COLLEGE ADMISSIONS

“I liked that it was a fun environment but at the same time it was a good place to focus because there wasn’t so much pressure. The upbeat music motivated me to stay on task,” senior Fiorella Polit said. Looming deadline days were often stressful for students, since many had a lot of applications to submit in a small amount of time. The “Mission Submission” event helped them feel more relaxed as deadline day approached. The event helped students manage time and make some progress with their applications. Completing the process represented a milestone for some that signaled the closing of their high school career. “So far it has been a very bittersweet experience. I’ve had to deal with a heavy amount of stress but at the same time I’ve enjoyed being a senior and have tried to cherish every moment,” senior Armand Rabassa said.

eniors rushed into the Student Union early on Oct. 16 while Truth Hurts by Lizzo played on the speakers. “Mission Submission,” as the guidance counselors called it, was a day where seniors had the day off from school in order to work on getting their college applications ready for the Nov. 1 deadline. Students took advantage of the opportunity, making a lot of progress on their applications, with some even submitting their first applications. “I thought mission submission was super helpful. I had the opportunity to share my essays with other teachers and having them give me an outside perspective really helped me feel much more confident about my applications,” senior Sofia Sacco said. This was the first time counselors organized the event, which received a lot of positive feedback. Students loved the space that the counselors set up for them, and the opportunity to work one-on-one with teachers and counselors on their essays and applications.

BAL

ANC

BANG A GONG. Sofia Sacco hits the gong and then picks out a sticker and pin at a table in the center of the Student Union after successfully completing college applications. Counselors set up the gong and stickers as a fun way to recognize those who submitted college applications during the event. “Submitting my first application was really satisfying. Immediately after clicking submit I felt a wave of relief over me, it’s unexplainable,” senior Ashley Ubalijoro. Photos by Isabella Quiñon

Article by Isabella Quiñon

N G

ACT

SENIOR CATHERINE DISHINGTON SHARED HOW SHE MANAGED ALL HER RESPONSIBILITIES How did you handle balancing workload between two dance teams, IB, and college applications? I’m a big planner. I tend to plan all of my activities weeks in advance so that I always know what I have to do. Out of all your activities, which one took up the most time? Dance took up the most time; on average I danced for 15- 20 hours

a week. What was one time management strategy that helped you the most? Writing everything down in my planner and completing most of my homework over the weekends. Working in advance helped me so much since I was so busy during weekends. Photos by Isabella Quiñon

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JU MPAround FRESHMAN GOT A BREAK TO RUN, JUMP AND SOAR

reshman Marco Rojas released the dull silver bars and flew through the air trying to reach the next trapeze before falling onto the red tarp below. Rojas was one of many freshmen who attempted the trapeze during the freshmen class trip to Planet Air Miami on Oct. 2. “Trapeze was really fun because I got to watch my classmates do things that I didn’t think they were capable of doing,” Rojas said. Trapeze was a favorite for many students. “It was really cool to go flying and I had never really done anything like that before,” said Paulino Mercenari. Other freshmen had the agility and strength to take it to the next level at the second bar, not everyone shared the same experience. “I tried but I didn’t make it. It was scary at first but it was fun at the end,” freshman Madison Aguilera said. Many students felt that this was more than just a simple field trip where they

“

could exercise. “It was a fun experience for my friends and I think that many of the freshmen needed this break,” said freshman Analia Freyer. The trip wasn’t just enjoyable for the students but also for faculty members. “It was cool to see all the different trajectories they took on the trapeze. It was nice to see them all come up laughing,” said Dean of Students, Tyrone Sandaal. When the loud speaker announced it was time to leave, groans of those not yet ready to leave were heard throughout the facility. Boarding the buses, students reviewed the pictures they took with their friends, reminiscing about the time they had together. “Overall it was a fun day but we were so tired and wanted to go home. Almost everyone fell asleep on the bus.” freshman Chiara Zecchini said.

Article by Morgan Vazquez

UPSIDE DOWN. Freshmen Mateo Acosta-Rubio, Dylan Duran and Lucas Guerrero attempt front and back flips to impress their friends while jumping on the trampolines. “It feels cool when you flips because your body rotates in the air and you can feel all the air like rushing by you,” said Guerrero. Photo by

Morgan Vazquez

It was a bonding experience that made it much easier to relieve the stress from high school.”

-- Freshman Sienna Alonso

PLANET AIR

Photo by Morgan Vazquez

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AIRBORNE. Freshmen Adam Kleinman, Amanda Shaffer, Dylan Bardelas, and Gabe Villa try crossing the high and low rope courses. The types of obstacles ranged from large stepping stones to thin vertical pillars. “It was scary because I don’t like heights but I did it for my friends,” said Bardelas. Photos by Morgan Vazquez

A Q&

WITH ACTIVITIES DIRECTOR DANIELLE BOWEN

How long have the freshman been going to Planet Air? “This was only year two of doing this, and the sleepover, but we think it will be the second of many.” Why send them off campus? “We wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to have them do something as a class because they’re brand new to the school, we want them to get to know each other and understand high school, because it is stressful.” Were there any complications choosing an activity? “In trying to find something fun for 260 kids, that’s within a bus drive away, that’s fun and they wanted to do -- there were just so many logistics, and this is what we found.”

SOARING. Freshmen Freshman Marco Rojas attempts to reach the second bar on the trapeze. He fell quickly on his first try. After several similar, but slowly improving attempts, he finally reached the end and flipped around the second bar to land on his back. “It was a really nice break for the freshman, especially for those who were already feeling stressed,” Rojas said. Photo by Morgan Vazquez

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Spread the

Speak up STUDENTS SHARED PRESENTATIONS ON TOPICS OF THEIR CHOICE

IB GLOBAL POLITICS SHARED THEIR PASSION FOR ACTIVISM AT PASS THE MIC

Word T

Seniors Carlos Acosta, Laura Attarian, Emma Wang, and Yuan Fang spoke about their presentations during the “pass the mic” event. Topics ranged from international conflicts, such as the human righs crisis in southeast Asia, to local takes on issues such as the September climate march. Senior Laura Attarian, a climate enthusiast, created a magazine devoted to showcasing different perspectives on the climate crisis. “I made this because not only are activism and the environment important to me, but I think this is an effective way of letting the government know we need to take action,” Attarian said. Photos by Valentina Graziosi

he drama room stage was illuminated by a single bright stage light in the afternoon of Oct. 3. Senior Stanley Marjenburg stepped slowly up to the podium, underneath the light, holding his poem in his hands and projecting his voice through the microphone. He had practiced this before. He had read it to his teacher, but now in front of the crowd he would be able to share his voice with his peers. This was his chance to raise knowledge and awareness for another generation. “My poem was about the HIV crisis in Eswatini,” Marjenburg said, “I really think this is important because it is a worldwide health concern; many people cannot get the healthcare they need because of bias and sociological barriers.” Throughout the timeline of a string of unfortunate tragedies in 2016, Global Politics teacher Dr. Michael Kokozos and his colleagues at Princeton University were part of an organization entitled “Leadership enterprise for a Diverse America,” which helped students answer questions about what could be done in response. Kokozos and his colleague Dr. Maru Gonzales then spent individual time with students, allowing them to ask questions about what they could physically do to create

change. Pass the Mic has since become a rich collaboration with NC State, branching out into social media platforms, podcasts, etc. The idea of expressing issues of urgency has since taken hold of educators and youth alike, both who feel that something must be done to create a peaceful environment for all. The event was made possible by Teaching Tolerance and its connection with NC State Extension. “To me,” Kokozos said, “Pass the Mic means that -- even as an adult who has taken a lot of time in my life to think about what these issues mean to me -- I can hand the stage to someone else. This is not my time to tell you how I think things should be done, this is about passing the mic to the youth.” In preparation for the big night, students planned in order to ensure that enough people would be there to hear their message. Senior Alessia Bianco worked with teachers and students to coordinate the event. Her passion for her hometown of Venezuela, as well as her dedication to speak for those who are not freed from oppression, inspired her to participate. “Teaching tolerance gave us the opportunity to do something really special; having an outlet for youth activism is invaluable,” Bianco said. Article by Valentina Graziosi

SPREAD STUDENT | October | October PASS THETOPIC MIC | |Student LifeLIFE

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out of 23 polled...

BEHIND THE

SCENES

Seniors Carlos Acosta, Alessandra Bonadias, Monica Leandro, Sofia Cancio, and Russell Busso decorate the stage. The event took place immediately after school so volunteers had to hurry to get the room ready in time. “Pass the Mic is an important part of promoting youth activism, so I tried to help out as much as I could,” Busso said. Photos by Valentina Graziosi

others care about issues within their country or others

said climate change is their biggest concern

said they care about

equality

“

To me, Pass the Mic means that, even as an adult who has taken a lot of time in my life to think about what these issues mean to me, I can hand the stage to someone else.

-- IB Global Politics teacher Michael Kokozos

SPEAKING OUT Senior Stanley Marjenburg presents a poem he wrote about the HIV crisis in Africa. He chose his topic in order to bring attention to the worldwide crisis. “People are not getting the health care they need because of unfortunate bias and sociological barriers,” Marjenburg said. He read his poem during the Pass the Mic event. Photo by Valentina Graziosi

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a matter of

TRUST

THRILLED. The team celebrated after executing their new routine for the first time on Oct. 4. “We had such difficulty when we were practicing the routine so we were so happy when we hit all the moves,” sophomore Alexa Latham said. “It felt amazing.” Photo

CHEERLEADERS EXECUTED NEWLY-LEARNED ROUTINES AND PERFORM THEM WITH PERFECTION.

reshman Flier Isabela Rezk was carried up to a half by four bases at the Breast Cancer Awareness football game on Oct 4. With only a few weeks of practicing their routine and learning new choreography, the cheerleaders were anxious about their performance. “It’s not really so much nervousness but more a feeling of excitement, especially after spending all week practicing and just seeing the crowd get hyped up; it’s all very exhilarating,” senior and co-captain Nicole Krolak said. For the first time, the team hit their routine with the new stunts and choreography perfectly. Once they completed their half time routine, the girls rushed to

hug each other, proud of their performance. “I was really nervous as I walked onto the field but we all hit our stunts and motions very well. The routine came out very clean. Although at the end we were all very tired, this didn’t stop us and we continued to cheer for the next two quarters until the game was over,” sophomore Alexa Latham said. While their main performance was over, the girls continued their different cheers, like “Defense” and “Go Raiders” on the side of the field, to hype up the crowd. “With our cheers and routines, we get the crowd more excited about the game and it makes cheerleading so much more fun,” Rezk said.

AWAY. Cheerleaders travel with the football team, in a separate bus, to all of their away games. “Although I love performing for different schools, it is difficult getting ready for the game, as the bus ride is really bumpy and we are typically getting our hair and makeup done,” sophomore Florentine Bullrich said. Photos by Julian

by Julian Concepcion.

STANDING TALL. Sophomore Alexa Latham performs during the halftime routine on Oct. 4 as a base. As a base, she carried one of the fliers during the performance. “It was so amazing performing at the breast cancer awareness game,” Latham said. “I enjoyed being part of the game for a special cause.” Photos by Julian Concepcion.

Article by Nicole Hellmund

steps to a perfect partial ponytail FRESHMAN CIMMIE OWENCROFT SHOWS HOW TO CREATE THE POPULAR CHEERLEADING HAIR STYLE

Brush your 1 hair to give it a silk-like effect and remove any tangles so that it looks smooth.

Concepcion.

Start combing back your hair and collect it behind your head.

Make sure there are no bumps or any imperfections and start tying the ponytail.

Clip your bow on to make your ponytail is perfect.

Photos by Kiara Kamlani

CHEERLEADING

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UNIFORMS GAVE CHEERLEADERS A FRESH

CHOREOGRAPHY. Team captains decided to update the cheerleading routines, rather than use the same ones in place since the 90s. “This routine was actually one of the first we’d ever learned completely new and it turned out to be really fun because as we were learning it we would give our feedback and if my coaches and all of us agreed that we liked it we added it to the cheer,” sophomore Alex Rovzar said. Photos by Julian Concepcion

newlook

At the start of their new season, the cheerleaders received new uniforms. A white bow embroidered with their names, completed the outfit.“I’m so happy with the new uniforms,” senior Nicole Krolak said.

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TAKING

Shot

THEIR

SWING Sophomore Alexander Dalmau concentrates before he swings. “It’s always nervewrecking to hit the ball, but once you feel it against the club, it is one of the best feelings,” Dalmau said. Photo by Fox Mar

BOYS VARSITY GOLF KEPT THEIR EYE ON THE BALL FOR A CHANCE TO COMPETE AT STATES

s Alexander Dalmau swung his club, he watched as the ball went far into the field, at the Columbus Invitational at the Crandon golf course on Oct. 7. Due to bad weather, the team ended up having to miss a portion of the game. “No scores were kept for the match as we only got a few holes before it was called. We made up for that game, winning our next one,” junior player Lucas Zayden said. The Columbus invitational did not cloud the team’s focus or determination. From that point on the team continued training, determined to win has many games as possible, hoping to end their season at states. Their hard work led them to placing 2nd in the Palm League Tournament and finishing 4th in the South Florida Region. “Right until the very end we continued playing our hardest, becoming more determined after every game. We wanted to win as many games as possible,” senior team captain Jason Kleinman said. The team ultimately reached their goal of competing at states, satisfied with their strong season performance. “We won more matches this year than we have in three years, and qualified as a team to the State Championship which hadn’t been done in six years,” Coach Jim Piggot said.

Article by Cindy Vega

Step by Step Step 1:

Cantillo holds the club and positions it, to hit the ball. “I’m making sure I set up the ball correctly.”

BOYS VARSITY GOLF

Step 2:

Step 3:

Cantillo brings the club back and gets ready to hit the ball. “I’m taking the club back and winding up my body.”

Cantillo then swings the club and hits the ball. “I’m unwinding my body and swinging through the ball.”

Step 4:

Cantillo hits the ball and stays in position, watching the ball as it goes. “After finishing the hit, I have to follow through.” Photo by Fox Mar

FOCUS. Senior Jason Kleinman, junior Sebastian Perez, and sophomore John Marshall concentrate as they each prepare to hit the ball. Before they can swing, they line up the club with the ball. “In order to have the perfect hit in golf, there has to be complete silence and we have to be in complete concentration,” Perez said. Photo by Fox Mar

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THE PERFECT SWING WITH AIDAN CANTILLO

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What NOW

COACH PIGGOT AND GOLFERS DISCUSS POST-SEASON STRATEGIES

“I would encourage the kids to be playing more tournaments during the off-season, so they are better equipped to handle the pressure of States.”

Coach Jim Piggot “I would practice putting more because the greens were running fast and difficult to read.”

Junior Aidan Cantillo I would be more patient and prepare more efficiently in practicing my swing.”

Sophomore Alexander Dalmau

DOWN TIME. During breaks sophomores John Marshall and Alexander Dalmau show each other memes, in order to pass the time. “We competed on who’s meme was best,” Marshall said. Then when the meet started again, it was time to focus. Photo by Fox Mar

COACHING. Junior Sebastian Perez speaks to coach Harry Gordon. Perez asked Gordon on strategy. “When I was about to hit the ball, Coach Gordon was explaining to me how to ensure that we got the score we needed,” Perez said. Photo by Fox Mar

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TIK TOK

hype

QUICK DANCE. Seniors Sofia Silberwasser and Tyson Beckford make a Tik Tok to the song, “Obsessed,” by Mariah Carey before 5th period starts. Before filming, Sofia Silberwasser taught Tyson Beckford the entire dance. “I was really frustrated because we only had five minutes to upload it and Tyson wasn’t paying attention but eventually he got it,” senior Sofia Silberwasser said. Photos by

Isabella Quiñon

Tik Tok was a popular social media platform that grew among students. Students used the app to connect with new friends, upload their own videos, and as a source of entertainment. Juniors Sophia Hernandez and Francisco Beretta gained thousands of followers. “I started using Tik Tok as a joke because I thought it was cringy but after uploading my first video I realized I had gone viral over night,” junior Francisco Beretta said.

TRENDTakeover

STUDENTS MADE SURE THEY KEPT UP WITH DIFFERENT TRENDS, FROM SOCIAL MEDIA TO NEW FASHION STYLES

sweet

Sneakers

Converse, Vans, and Golden Goose were a necessity for all students. Brands like Vans called the attention of many because they had so many options to choose from and were free to be customized in whichever way. Converse and Golden Goose also came in so many styles and patterns that students couldn’t get enough. “I own multiple pairs of Vans and never get bored of them because each pair has a different design and is shaped differently,” senior Russel Busso said. VARIATION. Seniors Russel Busso and Ricardo Pierdant sit outside by the Student Union and talk about how Russel Busso painted his own sneakers to make them unique. Senior Alina Jimenez Cala calls her friend to tell her about her new Golden Goose shoes. “I love that we have the freedom to wear whatever shoes we want to school because I think it lets everyone show their sense of style and it makes our uniform unique,” Jimenez Cala said. Photos by Adriana Leyba and Isabella Quinon

TRENDS

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College

3 4

Bound

College hoodies were especially popular with seniors as a way to show off their colleges. Students also saw this as a way to express themselves through their uniform. In the hallways there were a large variety of colleges represented, including international schools.

EXPRESS YOURSELF. Sophomore Milo Suarez, Seniors Claudia Scheuren, Kelly Zighelboim, and Sebastian Paz wear their comfiest college hoodies on a daily basis. College hoodies were allowed as part of the uniform for all students. “I like that we are able to wear college hoodies because it’s interesting to see where my classmates are going or want to go. I usually wear my Bucknell hoodie to show everyone where I’ll be spending my next four years,” Paz said. Photos by Isabella Quiñon

ARMCandy

Bracelets, necklaces, rings, and earrings were accessories used as a way to personalize the school uniform and keep up with the latest trends. Talking about the latest jewelry was a common conversation among students.

BLING. Juniors Sofia Navarro and Carlota Aristizabal work on an art project while showing off their arm candy. Senior Sara Ferrer wore a popular pair of star dangling earrings and multiple stud earrings on both ears while sophomore William Bettridge and senior Ulises Sarria wear wrist bands from different events they have been to. “I wear rubber bracelets, in order to represent my favorite sports teams, organizations, and in order to show support,” Sarria said. Photos by Cindy Vega

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Q2 October-December

DIVIDER

Now is the Time | Quarter 2

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the NOWisTIME FRESHMAN CASSANDRA KRAFT DID NOT WAIT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE COMMUNITY

Reporting and Photo by Kimberley Cruz

Freshman Cassandra Kraft stood alone in front of the Pinecrest Village Council to address the issue of removing plastic straws from the community. Although the process took long, she was able to get the law passed and take one step towards saving the environment.

“

It was time to pursue my passion and eliminate plastic waste. This summer, I was scrolling on social media and came across a few videos about plastic waste and the effects it has on our environment. I never realized how horrible plastic is for our environment and began to think about ways I could make a difference before the issue grew worse. After much research, I created a community project called ‘Ditch Disposable’ to reduce single plastic waste in the school community and eventually, all of Pinecrest Village. It started with my swim team, setting up recycling bins at all the meets until my eighth-grade science teacher Cristina Telepman inspired me to take it further. She helped get me on my feet and gain the courage to take a stance. She reached out to the Pinecrest Village Council on my behalf by submitting an ordinance to ban the distribution, sale, and use of plastic straws. Once the ordinance was on the agenda for the meeting, I had to start writing a speech to present in front of the council. The first meeting took place in September, and thankfully it was passed unanimously, allowing me to speak about the topic again in October. Many people from our community came to the second meeting, and the law went into effect on January 1, 2019. The law prohibits the use, sale, and distribution of plastic straws in Pinecrest. Through this project, I learned that raising community awareness and involvement is very crucial if you want to step up and make a difference.

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New BEGINNINGS THE BOYS BOWLING TEAM HAD A SEASON OF FIRSTS

nder the dim lighting of the bowling alley on Oct. 17, senior Wallace Hallot threw the bowling ball down the lane hitting all the pins down. Cheers erupted from behind him, teammates jumped up from their seats, clapping and congratulating. Hallot was the highest scorer of the game but in the end, they lost to Coral Reef. “I do think I’ll miss bowling here, because it’s been a part of my life for so long,” Hallot said. Despite ending the season with a loss at districts, the players had their heads held high and were in good spirits knowing the new connections and memories they made. “I am very proud of everyone, they are disciplined and devoted to academics and sports,” Coach Yary Roman said. It was a season of firsts for many, with nearly the entire team having never played competitively before; one of those players being senior Matthew McKean. After joining because of Coach Roman’s persistent requests, he found a

real passion for the sport. “I regret not starting earlier because it surprisingly turned into something I am passionate about,” McKean said. With so many new players, they formed new traditions as well. At every game during the season assistant Coach Frye bought mozzarella sticks for the boys and freshmen Miguel Murciano and Valentino MarinhoDelzoppo brought cartons of chocolate chip cookies for the team. Without fail, during each meet, the boys were at the snack bar digging through their pockets for spare change. “It all started when Mickey got hungry and bought some and we all had some. Now we get them because they’re the best -- so good. I don’t even know why, it’s like magic,” freshman Valentino Marinho-Delzoppo said. With a 3-8 season, the record may have been littered with losses, but for the students the camaraderie and sportsmanship of the team was a win. Article by Morgan Vazquez

Both hands in

Senior Celebration

THE TEAM CELEBRATED THE SENIORS AT THE LAST HOME GAME After warming up and taking team pictures on Oct. 17 the team threw a small party for their senior teammates. They gathered in a huddle, while Coach Yary Roman read a speech dedicated to each individual senior about how their time on the team was unfortunately coming to an end. “When Coach Roman was making the speeches it made me happy and I was appreciative that she recognized my efforts during the season,” senior Matthew McKean said. At the lanes, they were met with cupcakes, balloons, and flowers. “I am very proud of how much all the seniors improved in their averages and in the matches,” Coach Roman said.

BOYS BOWLING

PROS

CONS

• There’s more power in the throw

• It is less accurate

• It creates a larger collision area

• It doesn’t let you have a free swing

• The amount of revolutions increases

• It makes your body smaller

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WALLACE HALLOT DEBATES TWO-HANDED BOWLING

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How it is DONE

A GUIDE TO BOWLING SCORES WITH FRESHMAN MIGUEL MURCIANO

1.There are ten slots on a 2.When you don’t finish 3.If you get a spare 4.If you get a strike 5.A perfect game is hitting all the pins, then scoreboard because in (knocking down all (knocking down all when you get all each meet there are 3 games, and in each game every player go ten times,

your score is the number of the pins that you knocked down.

the pins on your second try) then you receive 10 points.

the pins on your first try) then you get 10 points.

strikes and the end score of that game is 300 points. Pictures by Connor Gebhart

INTENSITY. Senior Wallace Hallot concentrates down the lane as he takes a step froward to gather momentum for the throw. After hitting his third strike, even members of the coral reef team cheered him on. His four strikes of the game gave him the highest score among his teammates. Photo

GETTING READY. Freshman Miguel Murciano, and Valentino Marinho-Delzoppo and seniors Matthew McKean, and Wallace Hallott practice their form before going into the meet. They arrived prior to all of the other teams and had almost the entire building to themselves. “To bowl correctly you need to take four steps,and then on your last step you need to point your non dominant foot towards the pins and then you throw it,” said freshman Connor Gebhart. Pictures by Morgan Vazquez

by Morgan Vazquez

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RIGHTyourUP alley GIRLS BOWLING TEAM PREPARED FOR THE BIGGEST TOURNAMENT OF THE SEASON

reshmen Hadley Bowen locked her eyes on the pins and took a deep breath before she stepped forward and let go of the ball at the Youth Fair Tournament at Bird Bowl on Oct. 4. Her bowling ball glided straight down the middle of the lane and knocked down most of the pins, leaving an opportunity for a spare on her next throw. “This match was much more important than any other because it was a big tournament. There were about 12 other girls’ teams competing and only the top four made it to the second half,” Bowen said. “While placing 6th does not sound good, we played really well.” After competing at the Youth Fair Tournament, the team continued their season and qualified for Districts on Oct. 29, finishing the season with a 4-5 record. “Coaching challenges on our varsity team are retaining the players so they can develop skills and strategies needed to become competitive. Each year we have 4-5 new bowlers in each team. If the

students will commit to staying in this sport I know they can improve a lot more as a team,” Coach Yary Roman said. As a returning player, sophomore Ajah Mallary played the highest game of season with a score of 222, and used her past experience to teach techniques to new players. “I think my experience was helpful towards the team because as a freshman I played so I took a leadership role,” Mallary said. Despite only having nine players, the team compensated for the small size with enthusiasm, holding “Family Fun Nights” to increase interest and private lessons from the house pro bowler at Bird Bowl, Micheal Hamilton. “Having only nine girls in bowling was a little hard but it only brought us closer. The majority of the girls on the team, including me, were trying out for the first time this year and I could honestly say that I have learned so much this year,” sophomore Valeria Cedeño said.

Article by Morgan Vazquez

KEY POINTERS. Coach Yary Roman gives senior Megan Shoffner some strategies and pointers about how to improve her game. Roman made decisions based on her players’ strengths and weaknesses. “Although bowling may not seem difficult or complicated, the sport requires a lot of skill and we really have to practice and commit time to get better,” Roman said. Photo by Morgan Vazquez

GIRLS BOWLING

GIRLS BOWLING TEAM SPOKE ON THE CHOOSING THE BEST BALL WEIGHT.

D’Shandra Perry picked out her bowling ball according to the weight. According to Coach Roman, the weight of a bowling ball could be a great determining factor in the strength the pins are hit with. “I’m normally an 8 or 9; it depends on which ball I get to first,” sophomore Emily Alonso said. The weight of the ball must be just enough to be manageable by the bowler but as heavy as physically possible. “I use an 8 because my fingers fit in them and usually the heavier the ball the better it is,” sophomore Valeria Cedeño said.

Photos by Fox Mar

SPORTS | October

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HIGH ENERGY. Sophomore Andrea Ponce competes in the last home game of the season. The energy of the entire team was high as they wanted to make the most out of the game. “The energy this game was different, we all wanted to enjoy the last game with the highest energy possible,” Ponce said.

All in the WEIGHT

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Hadley Bowen, the only left-handed bowler and did very well as a newcomer according to Coach Roman. “Hadley’s consistency helped her improve throughout the season,” Roman said.

WINNING. Bowlers compete against Coral Reef on Oct. 17, at the last home game in the season. With several wins earlier in the year, the girls bowling team was proud of their successes. Senior Megan Shoffner, sophomore Ajah Mallory, and junior D’Shandra Perry were all focused on winning. Photos by Fox Mar

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WHAT TIME do you get up

SOME STUDENTS HAD TO WAKE UP VERY EARLY TO MAKE IT TO SCHOOL ON TIME

According to a survey of the student body, approximately half woke up at 6:00am in order to make it to school at time, while 15% woke up at 5:30. Those that lived further away had to make sure they had enough time to make it to school considering traffic congestion. “Waking up early is actually really nice, I feel more alive when I get to school because I have already been up for a while,” freshman Morgan Vazquez said.

COMMUTE. Sophomore Santiago Tirado waits for the bus to take off. Tirado took the bus daily because his parents work and are not able to drive him from Key Biscayne every day. “I hate having so much homework when I get home, because it’s already so late,” Tirado said. Photo by Olivia Martin-Johnson

TRANSPORTATION

STUDENT LIFE | October

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Going the

STUDENTS DESCRIBED THEIR LENGTHY DAILY COMMUTE TO SCHOOL

DISTANCE

eeking out to see the heavy traffic in the distance, sophomore Santiago Tirado reflected on the long rides he took to school. His commute from Key Biscayne each morning took over an hour. “Living in Key Biscayne is so annoying, I have to wake up super early every day and it makes me feel like I don’t ever sleep,” sophomore Santiago Tirado said. Other students like Santiago shared the nuisance of having to deal with a long commute to school. Sophomore Daniela Chiarini was accustomed to waking up early and studying during the hourlong bus ride. She traveled half the time from Key Biscayne and the other half from Brickell. “I hate having to wake up at 5:30am. I have to be ready for the bus that comes at 6:30. How am I expected to do all my work and sleep if I have to spend an hour of my time going to school?” Chiarini said. Based on data collected from a student survey, 45% complained that they lived far and had long morning and afternoon commutes. This survey also showed the different areas students travel from, including Homestead, Key Biscayne, Brickell, Doral, West Kendall, Miami Beach, Broward, Coral Gables and Pinecrest. “Even though I am used to it, I still have to wake up early, and having soccer practice in the morning is the worst because I have to wake up even earlier,” junior Julia Hornstein said. Students had to learn to work with their limited time, making sure they used it wisely as daunting assignments had no mercy for individual schedules. Some made their commute productive, by getting a head start on assignments. “I try to do homework on my way to school because I just have so much time. I prefer just listening to music but I can get lazy at night, so I focus on being productive,” sophomore Teresa Ariza said.

45 min

Lucie Duchene

50 min

Max Neuhaus

Sofia Andrade

55 min

Taylor Quintero

MAP IT. Students commute to school daily, but some commute longer distances than others. “Going home after school takes me about an hour and a half after practice (rush hour), which means I get home late and still have to do my homework,” sophomore Lucie Duchene said. Many students used their commutes as down time or to complete work. “I use the bus rides [from Doral] to either catch up on sleep or on homework,” sophomore Max Neuhaus said. “Living far from school poses a lot of problems because of traffic. I wake up at 5:00am to get to school on time,” senior Taylor Quintero said. Others didn’t mind as much. “Living in Key Biscayne has more benefits than negatives. Even though it’s such a long drive, it’s worth it,” freshman Sofia Andrade said.

New Freedom

Article by Olivia Martin-Johnson

STUDENTS SHARED THEIR EXCITEMENT ON GETTING THEIR DRIVER’S LICENSE

“I feel a lot more free, but at the same time it’s a lot of liability. Getting your license is a big step into adulthood.” SENIOR ALESSANDRA BONADIES “After finally getting my license, I realized how much more freedom I had and how much I was missing out on.” SOPHOMORE MATTHEW SKWERES

“The feeling was really good. It felt like I could do anything but it’s also scary realizing you’re growing up.” JUNIOR CECILIA DERLON

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Professional Guidance STUDENTS IMPROVE THEIR SKILLS BY LEARNING FROM PRINT AND BROADCAST JOURNALISM EXPERTS

enior Valentina Graziosi sat focused at her computer, listening to the ideas Walsworth Publishing Co.’s Special Consultant Jim Jordan had to improve the design of her spread. On Oct. 8 Jordan, a 35-year veteran yearbook adviser and former national Yearbook Adviser of the Year, spent the day with the yearbook staff for a design intensive in order to finalize the design of their book. Jordan covered everything from design trends to spread critiques was covered throughout the eight-hourlong day. “Having Jim Jordan critique my spread was honestly so helpful, the spread I had in the morning was completely different than by the time he had left in the afternoon,” Graziosi said. The day started at with Jordan’s presentation on current design trends and innovative copy ideas. Jordan also held

an In-Design mini-lesson on customized layout grids, which transformed the look of the publication. “He taught us so much about different ways to layout out spreads. At first he showed us examples, but by the time he left we had a new grid and our book looked completely different,” junior Kimberly Cruz said. In addition to design, Jordan discussed innovative copy and coverage ideas. These included alternative modular elements, spin off phrases and fonts as design elements. The staff spent the rest of the afternoon incorporating everything Jordan had taught into their pages. “Having a fresh perspective on design and layout helped the staff in developing their visual theme. We had a long, extensive workshop but it was highly informative and productive,” yearbook adviser Monica Rodriguez said. Article by Kiara Kamlani

RIORS R A W D N E K DUCTION WEE E AND TV PRO

E ONLIN N GOBLE RAIDER VOIC H EXPERT DO IT W D N KE EE SPENT A W

JOURNALISM

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Former National Broadcasting Teacher of the Year, award-winning Multimedia Instructor, International speaker and published author Don Goble held a two-day intense workshop with the Raider Voice Online news and TV Production groups on Oct. 18-19. Goble, who currently advises television and film production at Ladue Horton Watkins High School in St. Louis, MO, spent the weekend teaching essentials of podcasting and news packages from a professional standpoint. Students had two days to go out around campus, conduct interviews, and shoot and edit a complete 30-second news package centered around one of three topics Goble assigned. The teams learned how to work on a tight deadline. Freshman Lucas Figueroa and sophomore Kathleen Lewis collaborated on a piece about Breakthrough Miami that aired during the Raider Vision broadcasting the following week. “I learned a lot from Goble and I had fun incorporating it into my work for our online newspaper,” Lewis said. Other pieces included freshmen Ava Seymour and Nina Castro Alves’ “Cheerleading” news package, and Ainsley Kling’s “Athletes and Yoga.” Photos by Monica Rodriguez

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CRITIQUE. Senior Valentina Graziosi listens as Jim Jordan shows her ways to improve her spread design. The main component, to a yearbook spread is design and Jordan brought his new ideas to the table when helping Graziosi with her spread. “He gave me so many great design ideas I never would of thought of, having a pair of professional eyes was so helpful” Graziosi said. Photo by Kiara Kamlani

DESIGN. The yearbook staff listened as Jordan showed them examples of spread ideas they could incorporate in their publication. The staff used these new spread ideas to improve the quality of their design. Junior Cindy Nicole Vega worked on her spread as Jordan critiqued the design elements on her page. “The quality of my spread improved so much after I incorporated the tips Jordan gave me. I spent the day incorporating every little suggestion he gave me, and by the end of the day I had made one of the best spreads I had ever designed,” Vega said. Photos by Kiara Kamlani

PRACTICE. Local Channel 10 Sports Producer Myron Williams worked with the Raider Vision team on how to conduct sports interviews. Freshman Lucas Figueroa practiced these skills as he interviewed athlete senior Gabriel Taylor, with Williams looking on. “Myron has a lot of experience in the field and has picked up many tricks that I was able to use to get more out of my interview,” Figueroa said. Photo by Michael Sylver

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ROAD

STUDENTS DRESS UP EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK TO CELEBRATE HOMECOMING

TRIPPIN’

MONDAY

Seniors Maria Figueira de Mello Gomes and Mattie Owencroft blow their whistles on “Raider Day” during Homecoming Week on Oct. 25. Students came dressed up Monday through Friday representing a different destination each day in order to match the Homecoming theme “Road Trip.” “Raider Day is always my favorite every year, I love dressing in blue and showing my school spirit,” Gomes said, “my friends and I all bought whistles to help show our spirit.” With Road Trip being the homecoming theme, each day students came representing a different day on the trip. From Florida to Midwest to West Coast everyday represented a new stop. “My favorite day was West Coast day because I was able to dress up as a tacky tourist and I wore my grandparents’ clothing and took a lot of cute pictures,” senior Alessandra Bonadies said. Over the summer, Student Council spent days trying to come up with a

CLASS COLORS TUESDAY

FLORIDA WEDNESDAY

MIDWEST THURSDAY

theme that would get the most students to participate. “We eventually decided to do a trip across the country with a different location every day; we thought it would participation, which it did,” said Student Council Vice President Olivia Connor. As opposed to other years, there were two pep rallies scheduled during the week. During the first pep rally on Wednesday, the grades competed against each other in tug of war, resulting in the seniors as winners. In addition, each grade, except for seniors, revealed their skits. “I loved watching the skits because everyone seemed in high spirits and had a good time filming them,” English teacher Andrew Woodbury said. On Friday, everyone came together for the final pep rally, where senior and faculty showed their skits. Afterwards, the spirited crowd took the bleachers to support the Raiders at the Homecoming game. Article by Kiara Kamlani

HIGH ENERGY STUDENTS BROUGHT THEIR ENERGY

SPIRITED SKITS EACH CLASS PREPPED FOR HOMECOMING

AND SPIRIT TO THE PEP RALLY

WEEK BY FILMING THEIR PEP RALLY SKITS

WEST COAST FRIDAY

RAIDER

HOMECOMING

Photos by Julian Concepcion

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The week leading up to Homecoming Week, students work hard in order to create the best skit for their grade. Freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors each came up with a concept and created the video to show at the pep rally on Wednesday.“I had so much fun filming it; my friends and I stayed after school two days to work on our skit and make it the best possible.” junior Pablo Lizarazu said. Photos by Kiara Kamlani

Sophomores Victor Quirch, Nicolas Aday and Sofia Solar pull the rope during tug of war against the freshmen to win. Juniors Michael Simon, Nicolas Rengifo, Joshua Gonzalez and Gabriel Almeida cheer on their classmates during the tug of war against the seniors. “We were all cheering our class on and getting excited in the stands,” junior Gabriel Almeida said. The Sundancers performed their dance “Burnin’” to open the pep rally.

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WHISTLES. Seniors Mattie Owencroft and Maria Figueira de Mello Gomes blow whistles on Raider day during break. Many students brought whistles to add to the creativity of their outfit. “During break my friends and I were taking pictures and using the whistle to create a happy energy,” Owencroft said. Photo by Kiara Kamlani

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Kiara Kamlani

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seeing

DOUBLE

IB AND AP ART STUDENTS VISITED YAYOI KUSAMA’S “THE ALL ETERNAL LOVE I HAVE FOR THE PUMPKINS” EXPOSITION

he installation mesmerized the student’s eyes as the multiple pumpkin reflections glowed in the dark. On Oct. 22, AP and IB art students visited Yayoi Kusama’s exhibition at the Institute of Contemporary Art in Miami’s Design District. The experience consisted of each individual spending one minute in an “infinity room” created by Kusama who is known for her diverse colorful rooms throughout the art world. “The Kusama exhibit was super well executed and I loved how it incorporated the viewer directly,” junior Karela Palazio said. Young artists took advantage of the short amount of time they had in the room by taking multiple pictures and videos, capturing the short experience. Later, some posted them on different social media platforms. “I loved the overall experience of seeing such a famous artist’s work; it was very interesting,” sophomore Bailey Quintero said. The exhibit was a success among the students who enjoyed the day. Moreover, they were also able to go around the artsy neighborhood to get lunch. This leisurely day was a nice break in the middle of the week. “I enjoyed the trip around the Design District because we saw different types of modern art that are extremely influential in the art scene at this time. It was an amazing experience and I got to experience Kusama’s world,” junior Jasmine Vega said.

artist

about the

WHO IS KUSAMA?

Yayoi Kusama is a contemporary Japanese artist born in 1929. She usually works in sculptures and installations, but also dabbled with many other media. Pumpkins represent comfort and security to the artist, moreover, their “solid spiritual balance” appeal to her. This is certainly why she named her installation “all the eternal love I have for pumpkins.” Also, Kusama experienced hallucinations since she was a child which positively influenced her pieces. “We believe Kusama is one of the most important living artists. “By exposing our students to her life’s work we help them understand her legacy and the world of contemporary art,” art teacher Fabienne Rousseau said. Illustration by Lucie Duchene

Article by Lucie Duchene

Social Media point of view

STUDENTS POST ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE IN THE INFINITY ROOM

Check This Out!

Scan this QR code to experience Kusama’s world. Video by Chloe Hernandez

Young artists shared pictures of the installation on social media. “I posted a picture of myself in the infinity room because I thought that the art was breathtaking and wanted my followers to be able to see it too,” junior Chloe Hernandez said. Photos by juniors Chloe Hernandez, Karela Palazio, and Joshua Gonsalves

ART TRIP

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swinging around

STUDENTS HAD TIME OFF TO ENJOY THE DAY

Art students relax at the center of the Design District after observing the exhibition. They were able to have lunch in various restaurant. Later, they had leisure time on swings where they could socialize and talk about the art they saw. “It was sunny, and nice to visit the Design District,” senior Ashley Ubalijoro said.

Second

experience

YOUNG ARTISTS VISIT MORE INFINITY ROOMS On Jan. 24, IB, AP Art history and Advanced Honors Art students visit the Rubell museum to observe more art. They got to experience two more of Kusama’s infinity room. “The art was interesting and inspiring, also I loved being in Kusama’s infinity rooms,”sophomore Nicholas Aday said. Photos by sophomore

Lucie Duchene and senior Taylor Quintero

ETERNAL LOVE FOR PUMPKINS: Hundreds of yellow pumpkins covered the room’s floor. And, the mirrors made it seem as if thousands were present. “The optical illusion amazed me,” said senior Anabelle Kang.

Photos by Sophia Marshall

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HOME bringing it

HOMECOMING GAME

-- senior Phillip Meira

Article by Olivia Martin-Johnson

JUNIORS PAULINA POSADA & BORIS JUSIDMAN “Winning was “It was weird and really nice. I did unexpected to not think that win. I really did it was going to not think I would happen but it win and I found was fun to go up it really funny on the field.” afterwards,”

--junior Boris Jusidman

--junior Paulina Posada

Student Life | October STUDENT LIFE | October 25

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-- senior Amanda Gonzalez

Homecoming Court was announced. The cheerleaders cheered the team throughout the game and performed a stunt routine as well. “I loved watching the cheerleaders and Sundancers, as I have friends in both. They are so fun and bring up the spirit immediately,” said freshman Isabella Bonafasi. Also during halftime, students were able to sign up for a “balloon bumper” game. Aside from the action of the football game, the different activities kept the crowd engaged. “This game was one like no other. I personally loved the half time game, watching the students knock themselves around was hilarious,” said senior Olivia Connor.

JUNIOR

KING&QUEEN

SENIORS AMANDA GONZALEZ & PHILLIP MEIRA “Winning King was “Winning Queen so fun, it was so was great, it was a unexpected but moment that I will such a memorable remember forever moment and made in high school. I spirit week even felt straight out of better for me. It was a movie. My mom a great experience even cried taking for the both of us.” pictures of me,”

SENIOR

ans filled the bleachers to maximum capacity on Oct. 25 to watch the battle between the Raiders and Chaminade Madonna at the Homecoming game. “I did not want to get over confident. When I walked onto the field and saw the amount of people in the stands, I knew this game was worth fighting for,” said sophomore Will Bettridge. The team found motivation through the support of the crowd. “Honestly, I had never had so many friends come to one of my games,” said senior Ulises Sarria. The game marked the culminating event of Homecoming Week. During halftime, the Sundancers performed and the

PRINCE&PRINCESS

BREAKING BOUNDARIES. Football team run out and start the game by breaking a banner that the cheerleaders made. Cheerleaders stood on the outside as they watched and cheered on as they ran into field. “Seeing them get hyped up in the tunnel was a moment that none of us will never forget, the team is like one big family,” said sophomore Florentine Bullrich.

RAIDERS END THE WEEK WITH A WIN AT THE HOMECOMING GAME

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INTERCEPTION. Junior Gabriel Nealy and senior Anton Hall jump in the air after intercepting the ball. The interception along with the crowd’s cheers pumped the team. “After catching that ball in mid air, I could only hear the loud cheers coming from the bleachers and I was so proud of myself,” said junior Gabriel Nealy. Photo by Julian Concepcion

“Winning was a cool memory to have in high school. I am excited to be able to look back when I am older and remember that moment. It’s something I will never forget,”

-- sophomore Ryan Noyes

“I could not have been more surprised, I never in a million years expected it. I felt really good and it was super cool to go up on the field. All my friends took pictures,”

-- sophomore Olaia Rackauskas

PRINCE&PRINCESS

SOPHOMORE OLAIA RACKAUSKAS & RYAN NOYES

FRESHMEN

SOPHOMORE

PRINCE&PRINCESS

ENJOY THE SHOW. Sundancers and varsity cheerleaders perform for students and faculty during homecoming halftime show. Sundancers, Amanda Gonzalez, Ciara Schweitzer, Melanie Pozo, and Gabriella Machado gave a rousing performance, while cheerleaders Isabela Rezk, Savannah Reed, and Cimmie Owencroft kept the spirit up. “It was a lot more fun performing at the homecoming game compared to other events. It was such an important game and we were able to perform a dance we really loved,” said junior Ciara Schweitzer.

FRESHMEN ALESSANDRA PENA & JOSH TRATTLER “To actually win “Winning was such and be on the a surprise to me. I homecoming was so happy and court was so it made me even surprising but it more excited to go was an amazing to the homecoming experience that I dance the next wouldn’t trade,” day,”

--freshman Joshua Trattler

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--freshman Alessandra Pena

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PUMPED. Seniors Diego LaMonica, Gabriel Taylor, took to the dance floor at their first Homecoming dance. Many joined, jumping up and dancing the circle. “I ran to the middle of the circle, and started screaming at the top of my lungs,” LaMonica said. Photo by Fox Mar

All -in-

one

RAISED. A group of boys lift freshman Alexander Carey on the dance floor. The large group in the middle, while dancing, lifted a different person each time. “Being lifted off the ground, to me was the best part. It felt like I was a king,” Carey said. Photo by Fox Mar

HOMECOMING DANCE

HYPED. Senior Chiara von Gerlach takes time to emcee with the DJ. The DJ played different song styles throughout the night that kept the crowd dancing. “I wanted to make the night as memorable as possible,” von Gerlach said. Photo by Fox Mar

POSE. Juniors Andrea Park, Julia Hornstein, and Mica Einhorn, prepare to have their picture taken using props. Every student, had the ability to remember the night with a picture. “I had never moved so quickly for a photo,” Einhorn said. Photo by Fox Mar

SNACK. The buffet was filled with a variety of foods. Juniors Mica Einhorn, Andrea Park, and Julia Hornstein, took a break from dancing to get something to eat. “I was exhausted from dancing and went straight to the buffet, to feel better,” Hornstein said. Photo by Fox Mar

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STUDENTS ENJOYED THE DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES AT THE HOMECOMING DANCE

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LOCOfor

HOCO THE HOMECOMING DANCE RETURNED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THREE YEARS

s Senior Diego LaMonica threw his hands up at the Homecoming Dance on Oct. 26, everyone around him cheered. After three years the dance came back to start a new tradition. “Our Parent Association chair wanted to bring the Homecoming dance back and she worked with the Student Government on making it a success,” Activities Director Danielle Bowen said. Besides the main party on the dance floor, stations throughout the gym provided other activities. There was a buffet filled with food and drinks along with a photo booth. The main attraction, however, was the music that got everyone hyped. “The DJ had me so amped up that I ran over to the group in the middle of the dance floor and just jumped up and down,” senior Diego LaMonica said. This dance became memorable for seniors,since it was the first and only Homecoming dance they’d attend before graduating. “This dance for me, was beyond memorable, and by far one of the best ways to end my senior year, by experiencing my first and last Homecoming dance,” senior Laura Loeb said. Article by Cindy Vega

DANCE TILL YOU DROP. Senior Julia Izquierdo and Andre Soler-Baillo, and I.T. staff member Aaron Gray dance in the big circle on the dance floor. People took turns dancing in the middle. “I had no idea what the song playing was, but I put my hands up and began to jump and down to the beat, while everyone just kept on cheering,” senior Julia Izquierdo said.

Insta-Craze

Photo by Fox Mar

STUDENTS CREATED INSTAGRAM ACCOUNTS TO PREP FOR THE DANCE Students flocked to social media in the weeks leading up to the dance. Two Instagram accounts allowed students to post their hoco proposals and share their outfits. The best proposal came with a prize. Seniors, Bella Suarez and Tyson Beckford took home the $100 Amazon gift card prize. “I was in shock when we won, I never actually believed we would win; I jumped up and down with joy when I found out,” senior Bella Suarez said. Photo by Cindy Vega

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POSE: Juniors Cecilia Derlon, Julia Hornstein and Gabriela Machado gather for a selfie during break on Halloween. The girls enjoyed being able to dress up and celebrate the holiday at school. “It’s super easy and a cute way to be spirited at school,” Machado said.

“

“I used the Miami Beach tourists as my inspiration for my costume, so then I went around pretending to be one myself.”

CHARACTERS. Students walked

around school and in their classes dressed up in their costumes. Costumes ranged from simple, thrown together costumes to more carefully planned disguises. “My friends and I planned to be sleeping beauties,” senior Victoria Alfonso said, “we had a lot of fun planning.” Pictures by Cindy Vega.

Principal Jonathan Schoenwald

HALLOWEEN | Student Life | October

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spooked! J

uniors Gabriela Machado grabbed her phone and called juniors Julia Hornstein and Cecilia Derlon over to get close and take a selfie. On Oct. 31, students came to school dressed in different costumes to celebrate Halloween. “I bought he Winnie the pooh onesie when I went to Disney World probably freshman year and since then I have always worn the onesie as a costume to school on Halloween. It is very cute and comfortable,” Derlon said. Many students planned their costumes with friends ahead of time and dressed up in groups. Some departments also participated with the trend. The World Languages department dressed as witches and came to school dressed all in black with tall hats. “It is our goal in the languages department to use our magic potions and

STUDENTS AND FACULTY TEAMED UP FOR HALLOWEEN

motivate our students on their journey. We ‘witch’ everyone a happy Halloween,” Spanish and French teacher Alicia Cofiño said. Throughout the day there were different activities on campus. A costume contest took place during both lunches while the Parent Association lined tables outside the cafeteria with sweet treats such as brownies, cupcakes, and donuts for the students. “I love when the parents bring us food. My favorite treat was the Publix cookies and the tequeños,” sophomore Lucie Duchene said. NEHS passed out “Spooky Grams” during first block to different classes. “I loved seeing everyone’s reactions when they received a spooky gram they didn’t expect,” sophomore Olivia MartinJohnson said. Article by Kimberley Cruz

DOUBLE

trouble

STUDENTS TEAMED UP TO CREATE THEMED COSTUMES Many decided to match costumes with their friends. Juniors Mario Diaz and Eric Brooke came as Mario and Luigi and juniors Pablo Lizarazu and Juan Carlos Varela came as killer bees. “We decided to be killer bees because we were trying to think of something that would be different then other people we did it last year and we loved it,” Lizarazu said. Juniors Craig Cosentino and David Gonzalez dressed up in costumes representing decades that matched their personalities.

hoenwald

Group costumes were popular also among faculty. The English department dressed up as English teacher Judd Shapiro while math department dressed up as characters from “Toy Story.”

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LAUGHS

&Crafts

CRAFTS. Senior Carlos Acosta helps and laughs while decorating pumpkins alongside his buddy. On Nov. 1 the club held a Halloween themed event where students and their buddies got to play games and do crafts. “I had a great time. Seeing the kids happy and running around meant a lot to me. Knowing that you are helping someone’s happiness is the best feeling,” senior Diego Rodriguez said. Photos by Nicole Hellmund

STUDENTS GOT TOGETHER WITH THEIR BUDDIES TO DO HALLOWEEN CRAFTS AND PLAY GAMES

eniors Carlos Acosta and Sofia Cancio decorated pumpkins and celebrated Halloween with their buddies, who are teenagers with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). On Nov. 1, Best Buddies held an event in the Prep cafeteria where students played games such as Bingo and decorated pumpkins with their buddies. “It was so rewarding seeing the kids so happy and excited while decorating and even when playing the Halloween games. When one of them would win at Bingo, they would stand up and start cheering; the most simplistic things seem to mean the world to these kids, it’s really amazing to know I’m part of making them smile,” senior Diego Rodriguez said. Students expressed that what they loved most about the Best Buddies club was the fact that they were forming real friendships and relationships with the participants in the program during all the events that took place. “What made me interested in joining was the idea that it wasn’t a club where you help from a distance, but instead it gives you opportunities to make real, one-on-one connections,” junior Sadie Rey said. The main concept behind Best Buddies was to integrate everyone from students to people with IDD, and have them create bonds over activities and games. “The club is special because it allows high school students to create new friendships with other teenagers that struggle with special needs in a space where everyone can feel safe and collaborate,” senior Kelly Zighelboim said, who has been a member of the club since her freshman year. Article by Adriana Leyba

FUN TIMES. Sophomore Ana Mendes talks to her buddy about their pumpkin decoration. During the Halloween event, club members and their buddies made crafts and shared food and candy. “I met a bunch of really nice kids. We played games, decorated pumpkins and ate snacks. What I enjoyed the most was seeing all of them so happy,” sophomore Harrison Garfinkel said. Photos by Nicole Hellmund

BEST BUDDIES | Clubs | November

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Time to getUGLY THE CLUB’S MEMBERS WRAPPED GIFTS AND GOT INTO THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT On Dec.9, Best Buddies wrapped gifts and celebrated an early Christmas. Students wore ugly sweaters, decorated cookies, and also brought presents for the event. Club members got to play with the their buddies and spent time together. "My favorite experience with Best Buddies was the gift wrapping event we did. We all worked together and had so much fun; getting into the holiday mood was awesome. The kids were so happy doing such an ordinary activity, it was heartwarming,” senior Veronica Mayoral said. Photos by Valeria Cedeño

Behind Best Buddies

BEHIND ALL THE EVENTS THERE WERE STUDENTS WHO COMMITTED AND HELPED THE CLUB GROW Senior Alexandra Cueto, one of the club’s officers, was built a strong connection with the club’s purpose. Being around kids and spending time with them was one of the most rewarding experiences Best Buddies offered to its members, according to her. “I love the impact the club can have on people. I know that when we have events we are making the kid’s day or week or even month. Knowing that you are improving someone’s life is what the club is about,” Cueto said. Photos by Nicole Hellmund

Best Buddies members seniors Alexandra Cueto and Sofia Cancio hang out with their buddies at an event on Feb. 9 at Palmetto Mini Golf. Aside from golf, participants also played games and sang karaoke. “We made unforgettable memories,” Cueto said. Photo by Gerri Barreras

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Dailylife

The play opened with the stage manager, played by faculty member James Mulder, describing the town of Grover’s Corner in New Hampshire. He introduced two neighboring families: the Gibbs and the Webbs. During the first act, the audience watched both families rush through the activities of daily life. The set was simple, with minimal props. “In the first act we used no props; everything was pantomimed. My favorite part of the first act was the scene with Emily on the stairs where we talk about George and then the moment after church when Brianna, Andrea, and I were all looking at the moon. I also really enjoyed pantomiming making breakfast and stringing beans. Made for a good acting exercise,” senior Gabriella Hagenlocker said. Photos by Fox Mar

LOVE

Marriage

Three years later, a romantic relationship formed between Emily Webb and George Gibbs. The audience finds out George was a great baseball pitcher, but he’s decided to give up playing to get married. The second act also emphasized the importance of relationships and connecting with others.“I loved the second act especially the scene where Ned and I talk about my character’s marriage. Ned and I made it funny and I enjoyed being able to act with him,” said sophomore Brandon Alvarez. Photos by Fox Mar

after

THAT

In Act Three, nine years have passed, and the stage manager described how things had changed in the town. There were less residents in Grovers Corners. He walked into the cemetery and pointed out Emily Webb’s gravestone. Through her death, Wilder examines the meaning of life and the importance of living each day. Lighting played a significant part in the set and scenes.“I was part of the lighting crew and watching Mr. Mulder work with the cast was inspiring. After a few days of working on the show, I really enjoyed learning how to set the lighting for it.” said lighting technician sophomore Esther Enekes. Photos by Fox Mar

SPREAD |TOPIC DRAMA Academics | SECTION | November | Month

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Meaning life of

DRAMA STUDENTS EXAMINED COMPLEX THEMES IN WILDER’S “OUR TOWN”

potlights brightened the faces of “Our Town” cast members during the drama department’s fall production on Nov. 8 and 9. The cast featured one faculty member and students from all grades. “I absolutely love the original play and enjoy working with younger people because their dedication is so inspiring,” said faculty member James Mulder. The audience watched as the cast unraveled the story of George Gibbs, played by sophomore Brandon Suarez, and Emily Webb, played by junior Alina Hernandez and senior Julianna Portillo. “The main focus of the play was about love and death so we discussed those topics a lot. One day Mrs. Fox asked the entire class something that made me realized I could physically connect to my character, Emily Webb, so acting became easy,” said Hernandez. Students in the advanced classes selected the play as their fall production. They performed for two nights before a sold-out audience, receiving standing ovations for their performances. “It was really surprising to me to hear that my students chose this play for our fall production because I would have never thought high school students would want to pick ‘Our Town’ but they did. I was not worried because I knew if they were going to do it, they would do it well. They handled the maturity of the piece very beautifully,” drama teacher Jessica Fox said. Article by Kimberley Cruz

ADVICE. Emily Webb, played by Alina Hernandez, strings beans while she asks her mother, played by senior Gabriella Hagenlcoker, for relationship advice. Emily does not believe she is pretty enough to be with George Gibbs.“When I saw I got the part I couldn’t believe it. I was so excited to be able to play her and make her my own character,” said Hernandez. Photo by Fox Mar

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G.O.A.L. for

WIN

the

MEMBERS OF G.O.A.L.S CAME OUT AND PLAYED SOCCER WITH CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER

ophomore Max Roitberg cheered loudly after one of his kids scored a goal. On Nov 9, members of the Get Out and Love Soccer (GOALS) club came together to host an event to play soccer with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Club members engaged with the kids and created special bonds while teaching them how to play soccer. “I love working with the kids and whenever I come back to events some kids remember me and the connection is inexplicable. I love spending time with them. It impacts me because I look forward to doing more events with the kids,” officer junior Cecilia Derlon said. To start off the day, members set up obstacle courses, jump ropes, hula hoops, and other activities to get the kids excited to play. Even volunteers joined the fun and participated in the obstacle courses with the kids. At the event, volunteers were able to work one-on-one with the kids, and after the warm-up activities, club members set up the goals and started playing with the children. “This year it’s not just focused on soccer, it was about being outside, running,jumping. Not just soccer,” sophomore Max Roitberg said The club worked with kids from the organization Movement Works. GOALS’s main focus is working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and giving them an opportunity to play soccer. The organization provides exercise opportunities for kids with autism, and to achieve this GOALS provides soccer and other activities. Volunteers use their passion for their favorite sport to aid kids in need. “I get to do something I love while at the same time helping people. It’s great to kids develop social skills, play soccer and incorporating something I’ve been doing my whole life”, sophomore Olaia Rackauskas said.

Article by Kate Perez

GOALS

CELEBRATE. Sophomore Max Roitberg cheers on one of the kids after he makes a goal. The kids would get into lines and one by one attempt to make a goal. Volunteers gave the kids another try if they didn’t make it, and if they scored a goal the volunteers cheered them on. “I love seeing the kids happy and enjoying it. I love the sport and would like for others to enjoy it too,” Roitberg said. Photo by Kate Perez

SMILE. Freshman Grace Verde laughs and bonds with the kids during the jump rope activity. Volunteers were able to work oneon-one with the children and this sparked tight bonds between them. Club members joined in on the fun, and enjoyed watching the kids play. Photo by Kate Perez

RUN. Junior Sophie Sims runs with one of the participants during the soccer activity. The children were able to jump around and run for exercise to get ready to play soccer with the volunteers.“They were very enthusiastic and excited. It made me happy to see how much fun they were having,” Sims said. Photo by Kate Perez

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with e re able cise the usiastic to see ,” Sims

PLAY. Volunteers play with the kids through warm up activities with jump ropes and hula hoops. Volunteers played mini games, such as Limbo. “Presoccer activites are always fun to do, the kids always have fun,” sophomore Christine Lezama said. Photos by Kate Perez

Why

GOALS? MEMBERS OF G.O.A.L.S SHARE WHY THEY JOINED THE CLUB “I joined GOALS because I love soccer and I feel like I can use my hobby to help other kids. I share my happiness when I play soccer with them.”

-- Sophomore Adriana Leyba

“I joined GOALS because of my passion for soccer. I wanted to use my passion for soccer to help kids in need.”

-- Sophomore Catalina Garcia

JUMP. Kids and volunteers jump rope as a warm up activity.The main goal of the event was to give everyone an opportunity to exercise while having fun. “I love teaching the kids how to play soccer,I get to use my hobby as a way to improve the lives of others,” Sophomore Olaia Rackauskas GREET. Volunteers play and run around with said. Photo by Kate Perez participants during the morning warm-ups to get them ready to play soccer. Before the children arrived, club members set up obstacle courses and other fun activities. Even the volunteers had fun, watching the children run around and complete in the obstacle courses.

“I joined because I love working with the children. The connection I make with them is extremely special to me.”

-- Junior Cecilia Derlon

Photo by Kate Perez

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COMEDY ACT. Senior Gabriel Reiter performs stand-up comedy accompanied by English teacher Timothy Bielawski who hits the cymbals after every joke. Reiter read the jokes off his phone then pointed to Bielawski to signal the drums. “I think I did really good because after every joke everybody laughed which was cool, but really I just did it for fun,” Reiter said. Photo by Morgan Vazquez

SONG. Senior Andres Alvarez sings “Sand Castles” by Beyoncé for his piece.“I have always loved that song and the lyrics are beautiful, I wanted to be able to share with everyone,” Alvarez said. Senior Brianna Romero sang “50 Percent” from the musical “Ballroom” for her performance. Senior Julia Izquierdo sang “City of Stars” while senior Mathew Garcia played the cello. Photos by Morgan Vazquez

Uniteen Talent TALENT SHOWShow | Clubs | Student | November Life | November

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SHOW T I M E STUDENTS PERFORMED AT THE UNITEEN TALENT SHOW TO RAISE MONEY FOR HURRICANE RELIEF

he bright stage lights shone down on senior Gabriel Reiter as the audience laughed and clapped at his latest joke. As one of the last acts of the Uniteen Talent Show on Nov.12, Reiter performed stand-up comedy accompanied by English teacher Timothy Bielawski who would hit the drums and cymbals after every joke. “I had found a bunch of funny and smart jokes that I wanted to share. I had people laughing the whole time; it was great,” Reiter said. Reiter’s act was a fan favorite among the audience members, and as he walked off the stage his friends clapped him on the back. “My favorite act was the comedy because the dad jokes were so funny and I even put it on my story,” freshman Gabriela Lemus said. The only dance act in the show was performed by seniors, Kiara Kamlani, Maria Figueira de Mello Gomes Audrey Apollon, Sofia Cancio, Carolina de Laurenzio, Adriana Lemus, Veronica Mayoral, Mattie Owencroft, Sofia Silberwasser, Alexandra Cueto and Valeria Tormo to Abba’s “Dancing Queen.” The girls danced in outfits inspired by the fashion in the movie “Mama Mia.” “None of us can really dance but we put together simple choreography and ended up having so much fun with our routine. ‘Mama Mia’ is my favorite movie which made it so much better,” Gomes said. The rest of the show ranged from solo acts such as freshman Victor Giraldez playing instrumental Led Zeppelin songs on the drums to a duet by seniors Alessia Bianco and Gabrielle Hagenlocker. “I feel really good because I didn’t mess up and did everything right. The only time that actually made me anxious on the stage was before I started and had to set up the stand. I would definitely do it again,” Giraldez said. The show raised $700, which the Uniteen club officers donated towards hurricane relief in the Bahamas. “We decided to give where we saw there was most need,” Bielawski said.

DANCING QUEENS. Seniors Audrey Apollon, Kiara Kamlani, Sofia Slberwasser, Maria Figueira de Mello Gomes, Mattie Owencroft, and Veronica Mayoral perform a group dance to the Abba’s “Dancing Queen.” To add to the performance, the girls wore clothes to mimic the style from the “Mama Mia” movie. “We thought it would be fun to all choreograph a dance to one of our favorites,” Kamlani said. Photos by Morgan Vazquez

Article by Morgan Vazquez

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endless rivalry R

GIRLS VARSITY SOCCER PLAYED A TENSE GAME AGAINST THEIR BIGGEST RIVAL

estlessness filled the air as the girls varsity soccer team competed in their home season opener against Our Lady of Lourdes on Nov.12. The girls awaited this game for a while and promoted the excitement throughout the school, but as it was still early in the season they had not developed a strong team dynamic. “We started off the beginning of the season with a strong lineup with 12 seniors on the team, but we did not have much connection. Although we were good individually we did not play together as a team. As the season progressed, the girls became closer, and we quickly learned to play together which led to our success on the field,” senior Samantha Ashbel said. The rivalry between the opposing teams resulted in great tension as the girls fought throughout the game under the blinding afternoon sun. Players did not think that the end score of 2-3 reflected their overall performance. “The score didn’t reflect our effort in the game, as we had our hearts and minds completely into it. We truly tried our best

and left everything on the field. The energy was there for the season opener, and it was upsetting that the score did not reflect that but I know that the players -- and even people watching -- knew that it shouldn’t have ended like that. It was a close game and could’ve gone either way,” sophomore Olaia Rackauskas said. The team grew from this loss and kept up their work ethic to have a great season. They proved themselves with a 3-1 win against MAST academy on Jan. 14. The game had a starting lineup filled with the team’s seniors as it was the senior game. Senior goalkeeper Samantha Ashbel scored a penalty kick in the last five minutes. The tension was high among the players and fans, but a sense of relief and excitement came as the ball hit the back of the net. “I was nervous as anyone is during a penalty kick, but I also really hoped Sam would score since she wouldn’t typically, as she is a keeper. I was very happy when I saw the ball going in the goal,” senior Anabelle Kang said. Article by Lucie Duchene

major accomplishments

GETTING IT DONE: 1. Senior Samantha Ashbel practices ball clearances during warmup. 2. Senior Julia Cili fights for the ball over a header in the air against her rival. 3. Sophomore Christine Lezama sprints away from the rival team’s captain as she controls the ball. Photo by Fox Mar

THE GIRLS WON DISTRICTS AND THE FIRST EVER PALM LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP

On Jan. 15 the girls’ varsity soccer team won the Palm League Championship, beating North Broward Prep 4-0 at Oxbridge Academy. “This was the first year of the Palm League Conference, so we are the firstever Palm League Champions,” coach ChiChi Nwadike said. Moreover, senior Anabelle Kang also received the Scholar Athlete of the Game award. On Feb. 5 they also won the district championship against MAST Academy. These accomplishments motivated the team to continue playing at their best. “Winning a championship and districts with your team as a freshman was new and fun, but also very heartwarming,” said freshman Grace Verde. Photos provided by David Hartnett and Gulliver Athletics.

GIRLS VARSITY SOCCER

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ritual

pre-game PRIOR TO THE GAME STARTERS GET TOGETHER

The starters get together on the field prior to each game. They huddle and say a few words a few minutes before the whistle. “We get together to hype each other up in order to be more positive during the game and play at our best,” junior Cecilia Derlon said.

OUR

seniors SENIORS CELEBRATED BEFORE THE GAME

HEAD TO HEAD: Senior captain Daniela Correa sprints to the ball blocking her opponent. After winning the ball, she ran up the field attempting a shot. “It was a rough game against our biggest rival,” Correa said. Photo by Fox Mar

Seniors Julia Cili, Samantha Ashbel, Isabella Garcia, Camila Capriles, Gabrielle Davis, Nina-Marie Cielo, Alejandra Giammatei, Isabella Suarez, Mekayla Frazier, Daniela Correa, and Anabella Kang gather for picture after their celebration. “I’m very sad to see them leave because they have been my sisters for the past three years and since there is so many of them it’s going to be weird without them,” junior Katelyn Hartnett said. Photo by Julian Concepcion

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dealing DIPLOMACY in

MODEL UN TRAVELED TO MONTREAL FOR THEIR SECOND CONFERENCE

COLLABORATING. Junior Nicholas Olazabal and sophomore Matteo Akl discuss strategy before the conference. Freshman Julia Bueno represented Rakshata Chawla, an Indian scientist.“Without collaboration you won’t be able to do anything since directives require a majority and people have different abilities,” Bueno said. Photo by Manuel Santelices

ophomore Natalia Lopez held her placard high in the air waiting to be called on to speak during her conference. On Nov 13, a group of 18 Model UN students traveled to Montreal, Canada after consistently attending tutorials to tweak and perfect their strategies. “To prepare, I had to do a ton of research on my topic. It was especially hard for me because I did not have a lot of previous knowledge on the subject,” said Lopez. Students were placed in different committees, ranging from “A Series of Unfortunate Events” to “Paris Peace Conference in 1919.” Each committee focused on a different topic. “My committee was called Ad Hoc. In Ad Hoc committees, no background information or topic is given, so there is no way to research before getting to my committee. Once I got in the room, they told everyone the topic and had us prepare for only 10 minutes. It is a lot harder not knowing your topic beforehand, as there is no way to prepare. All I could do was come up with possible strategies,” said junior Cecilia Derlon. After this conference, the team then traveled to Columbia University on Jan 16. There, they applied the same strategies from Montreal, resulting in eight students winning. “This conference was so fun. I loved my committee which was fictional, and the stressful preparing is all worth it in the end. You truly feel accomplished and enlightened about a new subject after a conference,” said sophomore Matteo Wakeman. Following their positive performances, the team looked forward to possibly attending additional conferences, including Boston, Dartmouth, and Northwestern. “MUN develops leadership skills which exercises research, public speaking, and teamwork. This is what makes it so important and critical,” said club sponsor Mr. Santelices. Article by Olivia Martin-Johnson

top honors “Since freshmen year I have been doing this and so to win was one of my highlights of high school..”

- junior Alejandra de Leon

MODEL UN

MEMBERS REACT TO WINNING AT THE MONTREAL CONFERENCE “Winning really showed me that my early mornings were worth it." -sophomore

Olivia MartinJohnson

“What I learned was that in order to win, I had to maintain good relations with everyone in the room. ”

-freshman Ian Gill

“I did well because I read through the material given on my character and the background info." -freshman

Julia Bueno

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BEING HEARD. Sophomore Natalia Lopez raises her Bangladesh placard to get called on to speak. “Throughout our discussion of resolutions, I was able to get called on a variety of times and it was an overall good moment for me in the committee,” said Lopez. She worked in the committee to improve health conditions for women in Bangladesh. Photo by Manuel Santelices

DISCUSSION. Junior James Haskett and sophomore Carina Villalona listen and observe their separate committees. Haskett was very excited to do a committee on one of his favorite topics, the Medici Family in medieval Italy. “I was very happy when Santi told me that I was doing the Medici committee. I love that time in history and I am so much more invested in things that I enjoy,” he said. Villalona represented the country of Bangladesh during the committee. Villalona debated the topic of “Weatherman,” a Communist uprising in the United States during the 1960’s. Photo by Manuel Santelices

ARGUMENTS. Subcommittees argued on a variety of world issues at the Columbia Model United Nations Conference during the week of Jan.16. Junior Cecilia Derlon’s committee argued on the topic of climate change while senior Michael Sejas’s committee discussed the Minute Men of the American Revolution. “I love being in MUN. It allows me to use critical thinking while addressing world issues, and I learn so much from the wide variety of topics,” Derlon said.

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WORKING TOGETHER. Sophomores Duru Oezdursun and Madeleine Hughes screw on the last bolt on their bike handle at the sophomore class event. All teams collaborated to get the job completed. “I enjoyed building the bike, it was a great event to be a part of.” said Hughes. Photo by Victoria Poliak

UNSCRAMBLED. Anna Silberwasser and Mia Romanach use the gold coins they earned to buy more bike parts. Meanwhile, Florentine Bullrich and Alexandra Rovzar worked to unscramble their world puzzle to buy what they needed to build their bikes. All the teams rushed to earn more coins. “We had to buy, the bike parts, tools, a helmet, and things to make the poster,” Silberwasser said. Photo by Julian Concepcion

SOPHOMORE TEAM BUILDING TRIP

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Student Life | November

“

It felt really good to know that little kids would be happy with the new bikes we built.

-- sophomore Constanza Capriles

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CHAINEDtogether SOPHOMORES ASSEMBLED BIKES FOR TOYS FOR TOTS

BUILDING. Sophomores Kurt Junkers, Marcos Tobi, Max Roitberg, and Victor Quirch assemble boys bikes at the sophomore team building trip. Teams of six built different parts to then collaborate to put the bike together. “I think it was a good idea to work together with our friends to build the bikes, it made me realize how fortunate we actually are and plus it was fun,” Roitberg said. Photos by Julian Concepcion

Article by Victoria Poliak

What About It

Photos by Julien Concepicion

iving the screw a few last turns, sophomore Duru Oezdursun tightens the handlebar of her team’s bike. On Thursday, Nov. 14, the sophomore class traveled to Tropical Park to develop stronger relationships and trust among each other, and build bikes for Toys for Tots. “I really enjoyed working on building the bike and bonding with my friends while doing something good for my community. I think we were all in need of a break and the games and building bike activities were the perfect release,” Oezdursun said. In order to build two bikes, teams had to go through three challenges and play several games. Based on the points they earned from each game, students received coins with which they could “buy” the parts they needed. Activities took place outside, and, although it rained, groups stayed motivated, not slowing down. “Although it was raining while we were building the bikes, I had fun while still knowing I was helping out the less fortunate,” said sophomore Olivia MartinJohnson. Not only did students have to earn enough coins to purchase parts, but they also had to “buy” tools and a helmet. Activities Director Danielle Bowen thought the activity was a great way for sophomores to spend a day of service while also getting closer to their classmates. “We wanted to give the sophomores an opportunity to give back to the community, while having fun,” activities director Danielle Bowen said. “Building bikes is an easy activity for everyone to involve themselves in, and it benefits at least 40 other children.”

“My team and I had to slingshot a ball into plastic pools with two people holding it on both sides. It was very hard just because the pools were so far away.” --sophomore Axel Nino

“The beanbag toss was a game where we had to throw a beanbag in a hole, and got points depending on where you hit it. My team had a really big advantage because we had a baseball player. Though we struggled, just trying made it so much fun,” --sophomore Sam Cano

Touch

Personal

SOPHOMORES WROTE CHRISTMAS CARDS FOR THE TOYS FOR TOTS Student builders wrote holiday cards to go along with the gift bikes. Sophomores Mercedes Vargas, Mauricio Luzardo, Ludovica Enrico, and Carolina Di Blasio made festive cards to put on the bikes they made. Each card was decorated with colorful designs. “Making posters for the bikes was my favorite part of the trip because I got to showcase my talent with my skills while making something for a good cause and bringing happiness to children,” Vargas said. Photo by Victoria Poliak

“We all had to stand behind a line and throw these strings with balls and have them wrap around a ladder. Our communication improved as we encouraged and cheered each other on.” --sophomore Emma-Grace Delvillar

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TACKLE. Senior Dante DeRosa and senior Wesley Neal, with junior Mathew Antazana, tackle down Booker T. High school player. The three defensive players tackled the opposing player at the first game for playoffs and last game of the season. “This tackle made the game for me, I was able to sack another player along with my brothers,” senior Dante DeRosa said. Photo by Joao Carvalho

Spotlight SENIOR 5 8

photo by Joao Carvalho

Anton Hall Jr.

POSITION: Running Back/Safety STATS: Total Rushing Yds: 1057

Average Rushing Yds: 8.5 Carries: 125 Per Game: 96.1 Rushing TDS:16 Total TDS: 16

MEMORY: “For me having the first undefeated season in Gulliver Football history.”

FOOTBALL

A HIGHLIGHT ON SENIORS ANTON HALL, AMIN HASSAN, GABRIEL TAYLOR, AND DONELL HARRIS.

Amin Hassan

POSITION: Slot back/Wide

Receiver/Cornerback

STATS: Total Rushing Yds: 43

Average Rushing Yds: 10.8 Carries: 4 Rushing Yds. Per Game: 3.9 Rushing TDS:1 MEMORY: “My favorite memory of football, at Gulliver was just creating a team bond, during two days in the summer.”

Gabriel Taylor

Donell Harris, Jr.

POSITION: Safety STATS: Solo tackles: 27

Total tackles: 43 Tackles per game: 3.9 Sacks: 1.0 Interceptions: 9 Caused fumbles: 1 MEMORY:“Being able to have one last final battle with my brothers, against Booker T. High School.”

POSITION: Defensive End STATS: Solo tackles: 39

Total tackles: 60 Tackles per game: 5.5 Sacks: 19.0 Caused fumbles: 1 MEMORY:“For me the best memory I have at Gulliver The sack I had in the Belen game in the final quarter.” photos by Joao Carvalho

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Striving for

PERFECTION THE FOOTBALL TEAM TOOK ON BOOKER T. IN THEIR FIRST GAME FOR PLAYOFFS.

efensive players, seniors Dante DeRosa, and Wesley Neal alongside junior Mathew Antazana tackled members of the opposing team at the last game of the season on Nov. 15. The three defensive linemen, pulled down on the Tornadoes running back while in the lead, early on in the game. The sack caused the opposing team to have to punt the ball, and change possession. “That tackle for me was by far the best one. This play became my favorite, I have ever done,” Antazana said. For the first time in Raider football history, the team went into the playoffs with an undefeated season behind them. The Raiders were up by one touchdown in the last quarter, with a score of 31-28. With four minutes left on the clock, the Tornadoes scored one final touchdown, bringing their score up to 34. “The loss was devastating because we all believed that we would come out on top; but we fell short in the end,” Coach Earl Sims said. Despite the loss, each player and coach gained knowledge from this near-perfect season. “Though we experienced a defeat we stayed together and felt like we still earned our respect,” Sims said. Article by Cindy Vega

ding Way Leathe

WITH SOPHOMORE QUARTERBACK CARSON HAGGARD

In his second year of high school sophomore Carson Haggard took over as quarterback. Haggard led the team to an undefeated season. “Being quarterback for me is an honor, but also stressful, because I have to lead the team and not get nervous in the middle of a play,” Haggard said. Photo by Joao

DOWN THEY GO. Senior Donell Harris sacks a Booker T. High school player. The team then set up their defensive play. Sophomore Jayvon Only tackled the other team when the team took defense. “In that game, I did my best to make as many tackles as possible, while trying to stay focused,” Only said. As offensive player Jaylon Brown was tackled, he held the ball to finish the play. Photos by Joao Carvalho

Carvalho

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APPRECIATION. Art Teacher Maribel Toledo flips through her students’ work with visitors. Both students and parents were invited to Books & Books on Nov.15 to see the showcased art. All three Advanced Art teachers attended the event. Sophomores Adriana Leyba and Eva Mesa observed pieces with their fellow students. Since the classes were divided in two, many students didn’t have a chance to see their classmate’s work until the show. “I went to go support my friend and I was really proud of her work,” Leyba said. Photos by Mauricio Luzardo

SHOWING OFF Senior Roberta Salles Santos de Macedo shows off her art piece to family and friends. The prompt for the piece was “fold-able creature” to be made into a creature of her choice out of paper. The piece was done with ink and colored pencil. Photos by

Sophomore Mauricio Luzardo

Rea

listi

STUDENTS IN ADVANCED ART TOOK A POLL ON WHICH ART STYLES THEY PREFER

Art Show

42.9%

57.1%

olor

c ater

Sty liz

Stylized

ting

Pain

28.6%

...

cryl

Choice

42.9% A

Artist's

Drawing or Painting

wing

ra 71.4% D

57.1%

Acrylic or Watercolor

c or

tic

lis Rea

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Booked Fully

ADVANCED ART STUDENTS DISPLAYED THEIR WORK AT PINECREST’S BOOKS & BOOKS

enior Roberta Salles Santos de Macedo showed off her project to parents and friends, while scattered pieces of conversation drifted through the small bookstore as students exhibited their work. For the past weeks, visual arts students had been working on their artist book pieces, in preparation for their show at Books & Books on Nov. 15. According to Advanced Art teacher, Stacy Goldman, the show marked their highest participant turnout. After many weeks of hard work the artists’ dedication paid off. The art show was no small effort. According to sophomore Lucie Duchene, the piece she made required a long and difficult process. According to Duchene, she added the final touches the night before the show. “Really last minute, like the night before, I put all together,”Duchene said. Like Duchene, most of the artists experienced some difficulty with their projects. Sophomore Sofia Soler found

herself redoing her project completely. “I was originally going to do a tunnel project, but ended up injuring myself and got rid of the whole idea,” Soler said. Soler’s piece contained 337 paper hummingbirds. “Was it a mistake? Yes. Does it look cool? Yeah it does. It did take three days straight though,” said Soler. Other artists, such as sophomore Allison Keepax, learned entirely new skills in the creation process of her piece. “The most challenging part was probably learning how to 3D model, and rig my character to put it into any position I want,” said Keepax. Keepax’s piece was made almost entirely using 3D modeling software. At the end of it all, The artists were satisfied with the work they’d done. “I’m satisfied, I think it turned out good,” Keepax said. Although some underwent some challenges, the art show was a success.

PLASTERED FACE

Article by Maria Sofia Latour

SOPHOMORE TOMAS DAVALOS CREATED A MASK FOR HIS ART PIECE

Sophomore Tomas Davalos took a sculptural spin to his project. Using plaster cast, Davalos created two separate masks of his face over the span of two class periods with the help of art teacher Stacy Goldman. The masks were then painted to model two periods of art history, Egyptian and modern, in his final piece. Photos by Maria Sofia Latour

SEQUEL. Sophomore Sophia Soler’s piece drew attention at the exhibit. Soler’s piece was actually a continuation of a previous project. The final piece included 337 paper hummingbirds and three Easter eggs from her previous work.

INSPIRED. Sophomore Allison Keepax’s piece was originally inspired by the story of a sculpture by Leonardo Da Vinci’s younger brother. The piece was made using 3-D technology. It also included research on sculpture and 3-D modeling. Photos by Mauricio Luzardo

RUSHING. Sophomore Lucie Duchene’s piece stood tall at the art show. According to Duchene, the process was set back due to its arms falling off multiple times and was eventually assembled last minute. Despite setbacks, Duchene was pleased with the final results, “I’m really satisfied, I love it,” Duchene said.

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ball

KICKIN’ IT: Junior Maha Adnan kicks the football towards a giant inflatable goal. The football team led this activity that encouraged students to participate in the sport.”I loved being able to relax and spend time with friends while supporting all of our different clubs at the same time,” Adnan said. Photo by Julia Rosenthal

STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN A WATER POLO GAME IN POOL FLOATS

IN THE POOL: Sophomore Bailey Quintero and junior Valentino Agnelli created their own water polo game among the other pool activities occurring at the Raider Fest. Making the game more official, coach Carroll Vaughan coached the players from the sidelines, making calls and keeping track of both time and scores. “It was nice to get to play just for fun rather than at an actual practice or competition,” Quintero said. Photos by Julia Rosenthal. COOLING OFF: Students enjoy various energizing treats to continue a long day of activities. Seniors Jaime Esquenazi and Anabelle Kang enjoyed a cup of boba tea, served by senior Mekayla Frazier. “After working at Breakthrough all day, it was so nice to be able to get boba tea, especially since it was only $1,” Esquenazi said. Photos by Julian Conception and Julia Rosenthal.

RAIDER FEST

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KICKING off the festivities STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES PARTICIPATED IN GAMES, ACTIVITIES AT RAIDER FEST

FUN TIMES: Junior Julia Hornstein kicks a soccer ball towards a giant inflatable target, and a unicyclist glides across the field. The HEAL club, led by senior Bridgitte Isom, also led a “meteor in a bag” science project. Students had many opportunities to both learn and have fun through the various activities at Raider Fest. Photos by Julia Rosenthal and Julian Conception

unior Maha Adnan ran towards the football to prepare for her kick at Raider Fest on Nov. 16. The family event included pool activities, arts and crafts, sports contests, and various booths. School clubs, such as HEAL and GOALS, set up booths with activities promoting their clubs. “All of the different games were so much fun. I loved being able to relax and spend time with friends while supporting all of our different clubs at the same time,” Adnan said. The Raider Fest served as a school fundraiser. Admission was free, but participants purchased food and activity wrist bands, with proceeds

going towards a variety of school programs. Activities ranged from football and soccer games, to tug of war competitions and water games. “I stayed at the Raider Fest the entire day and I never ran out of cool things to do,” sophomore Parker Rosenthal said. A variety of vendors were also onsite offering food and refreshments, including ice cream, snow cones and boba tea. “The food, especially the ribs, was what I enjoyed the most. The game sponsored by the football team where we had to try to kick a field goal was really fun,” freshman Madison Aguilera said. Article by Julia Rosenthal

furry friends

Sophomore Natalia Arroyo and a Breakthrough representative play with different animals at the Raider Fest. Several dogs and cats were available for adoption during the event. By the end of the day, all of the animals found new homes. Photos by Julia Rosenthal

and Julian Conception

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BAKE. Sophomore Andrea PerezRetes gives some of the kids chocolate chips during the cooking activity. Breakthrough Miami gave scholars the opportunity to take a variety of elective courses at the Prep. “We were making pancakes as part of the cooking class. Mostly everyone wanted chocolate chips in their pancakes,” Perez-Retes said. Photo By Julian Concepcion

CREATE. As some of the main activities, scholars participated in cooking and arts & crafts. As part of one of the cooking classes, scholars made pancakes as part of a holiday activity. “We also made marshmallow snowmen for the holidays. ,” Perez-Retes said. Photos by Julian Concepcion

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BREAKTHROUGH MIAMI

-- Senior Jaime Esquenazi

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“

We just need to savor the moment sometimes, especially since we don’t see each other every day like we did over the summer.”

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On the

DAILY

BREAKING BREAKTHROUGH VOLUNTEERS CREATED EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES FOR SCHOLARS

he smell of chocolate chips filled the air as Breakthrough scholars made their chocolate chip pancakes on a Breakthrough Saturday on Dec. 14. After a productive morning of learning, scholars and student volunteers took a break to make the holiday treats. “As a part of Breakthrough Miami, I have the opportunity to help others and give back to my community.” sophomore Andrea Perez-Retes said. During the day, most of the activities that took place involved Christmas songs and multiple seasonal traditions. Scholars also made cookies and enjoyed the festivities. “As a new volunteer it’s really cool to see the energy everyone has and seeing the kids happy and doing what they do best, which is to learn,” freshman

THE DIFFERENT ELECTIVES OFFERED ON A REGULAR SATURDAY

Barriers

Victoria Paeseno said. Breakthrough Miami was an academic enhancement program, that incorporated students teaching other students to give middle-school students an opportunity to achieve excellence in high school. There were 14 Breakthrough Saturdays during the school year, and during those Saturdays, volunteers led electives of their own choice and mentored the young participants. “I really love Breakthrough’s objective as a club. I find that their goal is very strong and positive. It gives children the opportunity to advance their education and succeed in school and eventually college, regardless of their background,” Breakthrough representative Fred Porter said.

king

Coo

Science

Art

Chess

Article by Kate Perez

Bio-M

FIRST DAY FEELS. On the first day, new and returning volunteers and scholars were welcomed to the program. Returning scholars met the new volunteers and started off the year “the right way” according to club director Dilsy Mendez. “From the first day, I knew my experience in Breakthrough was going to be very eventful and fun,” sophomore Mercedes Vargas said. Photos by Julian Concepcion and Victoria Poliak

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COMPETING in the

CAPITOL

JOURNALISM AND VIDEO PRODUCTION COMPETED AT THE NSPA FALL CONVENTION IN WASHINGTON D.C.

ournalism students walked through The Washington Post printing plant on Nov. 21, led. Students learned about the process of printing one of the most extensive newspapers in the world. They also gained new perspectives regarding the newspaper industry from directors and employees. “I was very surprised after the tour because I was no sure exactly how the printing industry worked,” senior Isabella Quiñon said. Journalism and Video Production students attended the National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA) conference, along with 6,000 other participants. At the conference, students attended sessions covering various media-related topics. Sessions ranged from video editing to layout design to political writing. In addition to attending classes, students competed amongst there peers in several competitions. All students participated in for a contest. Eight out of twelve students who competed received honorable

mentions, and one student, freshman Nina Castro Alvez, won an excellence award. Publications also competed with the 2019 edition of “Reflections” literary and arts magazine taking 6th place in the “Best in Show” category. “I was very nervous about competing. I could not believe at first that I had received an honorable mention out of all the other submissions. But I think being in Newspaper truly helped me prepare because it allowed me to try something new, mess up, and then perfect it,” junior Pedro Schmiel said, after winning honorable mention for his news package. The group took a break from sessions to visit the Smithsonian National Zoological Park. “I was exhausted from the competition and all the sessions, so taking a break during lunch and visiting the zoo was fun; although we couldn’t see the panda because it was eating.” said senior Valentina Graziosi Article by Kimberley Cruz

CHUCK TODD CAME TO THE NSPA CONVENTION AS THEIR

speaker

KEYNOTE

Emmy Award Winning Journalist and Miami Native Chuck Todd served as the keynote speaker at the National Scholastic Press Association fall conference. Todd is the NBC News political director and serves as on-air political analyst for “Nightly News with Lester Holt” and “Today.” As part of his keynote address, Todd also answered questions about the importance of journalism in today’s political climate. He discussed his own hardships in the journalism field and urged students to focus on local news and pay attention to what’s happening in their communities. “I really respect Chuck Todd and I thought it was cool to receive some advice from a celebrated journalist,”sophomore Kathleen Lewis said. Photos by Julian Concepcion

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NSPA FALL CONVENTION

Conception

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TOUR. Journalism students toured the Washington Post printing plant. Students witnessed a range of different printing processes and machines. “It was very cool at the end when we walked into the basement and saw all the giant rolls of paper. They were huge; you could literally hide behind them and play hide and seek” freshman Morgan Vasquez said. Photos by Monica Rodriguez and Julian

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QUESTIONS. Junior Cindy Vega asks the Washington Post Production Manager John Bratt a question about the robotic machines that were used to move the paper to their position on the press floor. “I thought it was really cool how the machines operated on thier own and knew exactly where to go,” Vega said. Photo by Monica Rodriguez DESIGN LESSON. Newspaper staff junior Pedro Schmeil, and sophomores Teresa Ariza and Kathleen Lewis watch as SNO technical expert Thomas Sugatt shows them how to utilize specific design tools on the “Raider Voice” website.“I enjoyed NSPA because it gave me an irreplaceable experience. It allowed me to not only bond with my classmates but meet new people nation wide. I never realized how much my skills improved after the sessions I attended.” sophomore Teresa Ariza said. PHOTO SHOOT. Sophomores David Haisch and Julian Concepcion look over video production teacher Michael Sylver shoulder as he shows the how to change the camera setting for a contest photo. “I am kind of new to these things but for the first time, it was really amazing. I feel like I learned a lot and gained important skills that will help me in the future,” Conception said. Photos by Lucas Figueroa

MONUMENTS AT NIGHT. Students bundled up for an evening bus tour of some of the most iconic United States monuments. The tour included the Capitol building, White House, Lincoln memorial, and others. “I have been to Washington D.C. a few times but every time I come i never have enough time to see the monuments. Seeing them lit up at night offered a beautiful perspective,” senior Isabella Quiñon said. Photos by Julian Conceptcion

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NOW WHAT

SENIORS TAKE IN THEIR LAST WINTER SHOW Seniors Amanda Gonzalez, Gabrielle Hagenlocker, Catherine Bettridge, Sarah Keeler and Valeria Pieschacon were some of the seniors who performed in their last winter dance show. From tap to Latin, the seniors dancers each performed at least two dances. “Performing for the last time in a show, was bittersweet. I was excited but also nervous because I had a few more dances to learn than I usually do,” senior Catherine Bettridge said. Photo by Fox Mar

ORIGINAL. Dancers in the Advanced class perform “Pure Imagination,” choreographed by senior Gabrielle Hagenlocker. Hagenlocker felt that choreographing helped to portray her ideas on stage. “I love to tell stories through movement and music,” Hagenlocker said. Photo by Fox Mar

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HOLIDAY DANCE SHOW

STUDENT Student Life LIFE | December | December

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the light within

DANCERS SHOWED CREATIVITY IN THEIR ORIGINAL CHOREOGRAPHY

T SHOWCASE. Valeria Cedeño, Isabella Gonzalez, Daniela Rabassa, Theodore Ciperski, and Gabriella Machado perform in the holiday dance show along with rest of the dance program on Dec. 9. The show featured a variety of dance styles. ”The dances represented different cultures, for example, I danced Bollywood which was so fun,” sophomore Daniela Rabassa said. Photos by Fox Mar

GIVING

Back

SUN DANCERS AND BASEBALL TEAM GIFT WRAP TO RING IN THE HOLIDAYS SEASON Members of the Sundancers and baseball team join students at the Academy to wrap holiday gifts. The gifts were donated to children at a local, underserved elementary school. After the gift-wrapping event, the Sundancers performed. “It felt really good doing that for the community because it taught us to give back,” freshmen Victoria Serrano said, “I would do it 100 times again,” Serrano said. The dance club also participated in other community service events, including performing at retirement homes. Photos by Daniella Tosca

he lights dimmed and the auditorium silenced. Thirteen dancers quickly took the stage to set up their dance, entitled “Pure Imagination.” The Prep dancers took the stage as they presented at their holiday dance show on Dec. 9. Unlike some of the other dances, “Pure Imagination” was choreographed by senior Gabrielle Hagenlocker. “The idea came at the end of last year. When I first heard the song, I immediately started choreographing the routine in my head,” Hagenlocker said. The other dancers supported Hagenlocker and respected her as not only a choreographer but also as a fellow classmate. “Having Gabi put our dance together gives us more fresh choreography,” junior Natalie Gonzalez said, “I like having different people choreograph dances because everyone has a different style,” Gonzalez said. The other routines represented various cultures and religions, through a variety of dance styles. These included jazz, lyrical, tap, contemporary, pointe, and hip hop dances. All the dances focused on a central theme -which was also the name of the show -- “The Light Within.” Dance director Gerri Barreras’ said the theme told the story of what greater light there is within everyone. “I brought in different cultures such as Bollywood, African, as well as different religious aspects,” Barreras said. Article by Victoria Poliak

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RACE: Seniors Valentina Graziosi and Nina Shalom look back at their competitors as they race through the water. Students raced around the perimeter of Tigertail lake in teams of six. Two students at a time would be in the kayak, and once they finished their lap, they would switch positions with two of their teammates. Photo by Valentina Graziosi.

FLYING HIGH: Seniors Laura Attarian, Ashley Ubalijoro, and Eda Aker complete ropes courses of varying heights and levels of difficulty. Some of the courses were completed individually, while others were races. Students were able to participate in any course they desired, so some walked across a wire 20 feet in the air, while others opted to climbing tires closer to the ground. Photos by Valentina Graziosi.

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SENIOR FIELD TRIP

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coasting through the year S

KAYAKING: Seniors Nina Shalom, Valentina Graziosi, Eda Aker, and Stanley Marjenberg throw on their life vests and jump into their boats, commencing their race across the lake. “The kayaking took a lot more energy and coordination than I expected. I had to paddle at the same pace as my partner so our paddles didn’t crash. It took a while to get the hang of it but it was a lot of fun,” Marjenberg said.

SENIORS TOOK A BREAK FROM COLLEGE STRESS TO GO ON A TEAM BUILDING FIELD DAY

eniors Valentina Graziosi and Nina Shalom gripped their paddles as they raced through the water at the senior field day at Broward College’s Tigertail Lake Recreation Center on Dec. 12. The team-building field trip gave seniors a break from the stress of school and allowed them to participate in various small group activities. “The field trip was a great way for me to celebrate finishing applying to my early deadline schools and relieve the stress of the first semester,” Shalom said. Students were split into three groups, each one participating in one of the three activities offered. Within these smaller groups, students then split into groups of six. These six student teams then competed against each other in all of the activities. One of the activities was a ropes course. There were several obstacles with different heights and levels of difficulties for students to choose from. People raced their group members to see who could reach the top the fastest. However, none of the ropes courses were mandatory, so

students were free to be as daring or as cautious as they desired. “I was scared to climb through the narrow tubes, but I was so proud of myself when I made it to the top,” senior Kayla Kraft said. Another activity was a kayak race. Students raced around the lake with two people per kayak. The race was three laps long, and each pair would switch with teammates after each lap. Afterwards, students were able to swim around the lake. The final activity was a rocket building challenge. Each group built two rockets out of plastic bottles. In order to receive the materials needed to build their rockets, groups completed a series of puzzles. Once all of the rockets were built, they were filled halfway with water, which was then used as fuel to launch them. Whichever rocket stayed in the air the longest was the winner. “I loved watching all of the rockets launch. The water sprayed out of them and everyone got super wet, but it was still so much fun,” senior Roberto Lugones said. Article by Julia Rosenthal

Photos by Valentina Graziosi

LAUNCHED BLASTINGoff STUDENTS ROCKETS THAT THEY BUILT Seniors Kayla Kraft, Roberto Lugones, Kyle Bramson, and Christopher Purcell build and decorate their rockets before finally shooting them into the air. Team “Space X” experienced some technical difficulties as the parachute of one of their rockets never opened, but their other rocket managed to stay in the air for several seconds. “I wish both of my rockets could have stayed in the air longer, but it was still really cool to launch them,” Senior Kyle Bramson said. Photos by Julia Rosenthal

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Slam “ Dunk We have great team spirit, we support each other and we all have the same goals in mind.

-- Senior Kaitlyn Sanders

enior Kendall Haymore leaped towards the basket and scored a shot against rival, Terra Research Institute on Dec. 13. Raiders took the win with a score of 65-39. “The game went well, we all played together as a team and got the win,” said senior Kaitlyn Sanders. The team entered the game under the leadership of their senior captains Kendall Haymore and Kaitlyn Sanders. “We have gone through a lot of adversity as a team this season, but we are playing well. The girls are playing hard, together and we feel that they are playing really well right now,” coach John Zambolla said. According to coach Zambolla, each captain had an average of 16.8 and 19.5 points per game, respectively. Despite their great game the team had some adjustments this season. According to Haymore, a schedule

In December, the Girls Varsity Basketball team visited New York City to play against several New York high school teams. Aside from the games, the team had some down time which helped make them feel closer. “It really helped us bond more,” said Haymore. The team visited New York City attractions such as Times Square, Central Park, China Town, and many museums.. Photos by Senior Kaitlyn Sanders

sneaker

favorites

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GIRLS VARSITY BASKETBALL TEAM DRIBBLED AND DUNKED THROUGH A NEW SEASON

“

“My favorite sneakers are the Derrick Rose 10s. It’s been by far the best shoe to wear for me,”

-- Senior Kaitlyn Sanders

“

change allowed them to play more skilled teams, challenging the team to play better. “This season our schedule changed. We are playing very good and strong teams now,” said Haymore. Although the girls faced many different challenges, they pulled together for a successful season. “Our basketball season had some ups and downs because of unexpected injuries, but we are going to fight until the end,” said Sanders. Later in the season, girls had the opportunity to play Wagner High school, Penn Charter, and Notre Dame Prep in New York City. “The trip to New York City was an amazing experience. Not only did we get to play the sport we love, but we were able to bond with each other and do a lot of exciting activities,” said Sophomore Riana Doctor.

“My favorite sneakers to use are Lebrons,”

-- Sophomore Riana Doctor

Article by Mari Sofi Latour

“

“My favorite shoes to play in would be my custom Kyrie 5 with my grandfather’s name in them,”

-- Senior Kendall Haymore

Sports | December

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ALLEY-OOP. Senior Kendall Haymore scores a point at the game against Terra on Dec. 13. The Raiders beat their tough opponent, 65-39. “The basketball season has been going well, we faced some adversity this year but it has only made us work harder and want to be better,” said

VICTORY. On Dec. 13 the team went up against one of their challenging opponents, Terra Research Institute. The players communicated well on the court throughout. Sophomore Brianna Santoro reached for the basket, scoring for the team. Freshman Madison Aguilera dodged her opponents. Sophomore Riana Doctor dashed across the court. “The game was extremely fun to play because everyone had the chance to score,” said Doctor. Photos by Fox Mar The Raiders beat Terra, 65-39.

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COMMUNITY. Eighth grader Allison Podvin jumps and scores while three rivals surround her. Allison enjoyed being on the team. “I always wanted to play for the JV team and become closer to everyone,” said Podvin. Photos by Fox Mar

CONTACT SPORT . Eighth graders Jayden Jagolinzer and Priyanka Alibhai keep the ball from opponents and fight to get a shot in. The team defeated Pinecrest Glades 82-12. “It was a rough game but we managed to stay together and get the victory,” Jagolinzer said Photos by Fox Mar

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GIRLS JV BASKETBALL

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Practice Makes

PERFECT

THE GIRLS JUNIOR VARSITY PRACTICED HARD DURING THEIR SEASON TO IMPROVE IN EVERY GAME

ighth grader Allison Podvin dribbled past three opponents and scored on a runner helping the team win by a score of 82-5 against Pinecrest Glades Academy on Dec. 13. The JV basketball team came from winning a home conference game against St. Brendan; so they were ready to face their new rival. The victory did not only boost the team’s confidence but also helped them test out new tactics and strategies. “The game against Pinecrest Glades was really fun, especially because we played well. We got to try out all of our different offensive and defensive plays that we do in practice, some for the first time,” Ella Barras ‘24 said. The team was made up of eighth graders who played at the high school level; most of the players were 13 to 14 years old playing against opponents who were up to three years older than them. However, even though the girls were younger than most, they had a

strong sense of competitiveness and a lot of ambition. “Playing for the prep as an eight grader is awesome and gives us new challenges; especially playing at the next level, it makes me a better player,” Priyanka Alibhai ‘25 said. Coach Jose Rioseco was encouraged by the future of the program and was gladly surprised with how much promise the girls showed. “You never know how playing with young athletes will do to their mental makeup and if they’re up for the challenge. Considering they are all in 8th grade we are having great success in implementing our program’s culture and ‘team first’ attitude,” Rioseco said. The girls were definitely up for a challenge; the first game of the season came with a victory over Coral Reef by a score of 59-21. This trend continued with an average 40-point margin of victory throughout their season. Article by Adriana Leyba

WORK HARD

PLAY HARD

INTENSITY WAS NOT ONLY LIMITED TO THE

GAMES BUT IT WAS ALSO PRESENT AT PRACTICES

Much of the team’s success was thanks to the work and effort the players put in every practice. On occasion, JV practiced alongside Varsity; something that pushed the girls to play better. Most exercises revolved around passing, shooting and keeping possession. However, they also focused on fitness and staying on their feet. “Against Pinecrest Glades Academy we were well prepared and ready mostly because of how well practices went. The coaches had a lot to do in the team’s success,” said eighth grader Allison Podvin. Photos by Adriana

Leyba

goals

reaching for higher THROUGHOUT THE SEASON THE PLAYERS CHALLENGED THEMSELVES TO KEEP IMPROVING INDIVIDUALLY AND TOGETHER The team’s success was no coincidence as they pushed themselves in every practice and grew from their hardest games. “The biggest challenge our team experienced was playing Keys Gate; they were a very good team with great shooters. It was a close game but we fought hard until the end,” eighth grader Priyanka Alibhai said. Coach Jose Rioseco had some challenges of his own. “Coaching a JV team you always know you’re going to get new girls every year and that sometimes can be difficult. This year was no different as we had an entire new group of kids come and play for us,” Rioseco said. Photos by Fox Mar

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PERFORM: The string and wind sections played different classical holiday songs. “For me this marked an exciting beginning of the program for us and for our new director Dr. Jones,” senior and violin player Bridgitte Isom said. It was fun, memorable, and made me a bit nostalgic while I thought about the past concerts,” Isom said. Each section presented different renditions of a variety of classical musical pieces, before performing together as a full orchestra. Photos by Fox Mar.

feelin’

jazzy

THE JAZZ BAND PERFORMED AFTER THE MAIN SHOW

warm

welcome

After the main show, the smaller-sized jazz band put on their own performance for the audience. Many of these performers were seniors who were experiencing one of their last moments on stage with their fellow musicians. Senior Joshua Hamburger has been playing with the band for several years as a drummer. “I have been playing in the holiday music concert for years, and I really wanted to play the best I could for my last one; I felt pure adrenaline and nostalgia for how far I have come”, Hamburger said.

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HOLIDAY MUSIC SHOW

-- Dr. Rufus Jones

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“The biggest highlight from the Holiday concert was how well everyone performed and the well reception I received from everyone who attended. I am excited about the future of the music program, I believe it has the potential to be one of the best in the country.”

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holiday

CHEER

STUDENTS SET THE MOOD FOR THE SEASON AT THE HOLIDAY MUSIC CONCERT AT GUSMAN HALL

n Dec. 13, the music program sat anxiously in their chairs, waiting for their performance to start. As they sat, the lights of University of Miami’s Frost Music Hall flickered on, and the eyes of the audiences widened with the sounds of Christmas carols that began to play. For some, they held their positions bittersweetly. This was the case for students who had, for years, poured their souls out on that very stage. Senior Julia Izquierdo stood in the front lines, showcasing her soprano voice as powerful as she did her love for music. “Music has always been a passion for me,” Izquierdo said,“and I feel so blessed that I have had the opportunity to sing with this particular music program for as long as I have.” For her teacher, Dr. Rufus Jones, however, it was a different experience. While his senior students reminisced about their times performing with the program, Dr. Jones was

HOLIDAY SOUNDS. Performers in the wind ensemble had their moment in the spotlight as they played their renditions of holiday favorites. Students, such as senior Melanie Michaels, serenaded the audience with their musical talents. “This concert was important to me because it showed how far we have come, new students and old. We could really show what we were capable of.” Performers played brass instruments such as the trombone, and combined their musical skills with the string ensemble to play renditions of holiday songs such as “A Christmas Festival.” Music teacher Samantha Tamayo conducted. Photos by Fox Mar

witness to a whole new world. During what was his first concert, he rejoiced in the warmth with which he was received. “One of the highlights of this show,” said Jones, “was how well everyone performed, on top of the warm reception that I received.” Jones noted that his strategy in preparation for his first show had been to carefully map out the music for each ensemble since each had different sounds and offered different contributions to the overall performance. During the show, students shared their own unique experience. Some freshmen, who had played in the middle school band, decided to make their first performance with the advanced high school band their best yet. “I thought it was different, playing with the high school students,” freshman trombone player Pedro Graziosi said. “Many of the kids have a lot of talent, and I wanted to play my best in order to be on the same level.” Article by Valentina Graziosi

solo

performance two juniors performed in the first stand

Juniors Anthony Aparicio and Jacob Kantor play as first-stand cellists. At the Holiday Concert the two juniors played solos’, the first chair representing the importance of these two players. “For my solo, I played as well as I could and to me I believe I showed how much I have improved since my first year,” junior Anthony Aparicio said.

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HEAT. Dean Of Students Tyrone Sandaal demonstrates his cooking skills during an after school lesson for the Life Skills club. He made picadillo, a classic Cuban dish. “It was such a different type of teaching but it was really enjoyable and gratifying to see all the students learn and like the food,” said Sandaal. Photo by Morgan Vazquez

Q&A

WITH JUNIOR and CO-PRESIDENT ANTONIA TRIUS Why did you and the other officers decide to start the Life Skills Club? “Because we felt that students need to know the basic needs to survive in college, such as cooking healthy foods, first aid, and financial literacy. The club was really important to us since it offered real skills students could use in the future.” In terms of financial literacy what activities did you do? We brought in Economics teacher Alex Melchor to teach students how to save money, maintain a budget, and properly prepare tax returns. What’s next for the club? “We look forward to having the club grow for next year, and hope to have our course dates set early on, so its more organized for students who want to attend. Anyone could attend our courses, so we want to get the word out sooner.”

Sweet Treat

Freshman Hernan Rodriguez made a French vanilla croquembouche and took home first place. Scan the QR code for the winning recipe! Photo by Morgan Vazquez

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LIFE SKILLS

PESTO PASTA. After school on Nov. 18, science teacher Ryan Trott held a cooking lesson outside of the Student Union for the Life Skills club. His lesson focused on making fresh pesto and pasta. He demonstrated how to pick and choose herbs for the freshest pesto. “It was so different than the pesto I’ve always had from the container and it was really good,” sophomore Bailey Quintero said. Photos by Sophia Guitar

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Life Lessons LIFE SKILLS CLUB TAUGHT COOKING TECHNIQUES AND HELD AFOR A BAKE OFF

T SIZZLING. After school on Oct 15, Dean of Students Tyrone Sandaal taught members of the Life Skills clubs how to make picadillo with turkey. He demonstrated different ways to cut onions such as a chop, dice and mince. Spices such as paprika and cumin were passed around for students smell, as Sandaal made rice and browned the turkey with the onions, peppers. “It was super successful for our first class; the food he made was so healthy and delicious,” said sophomore Sophia Guitar. Photos by Morgan Vazquez

SUPER SWEET. After the Bake-Off contest, all treats were taken to the field and distributed to students. Co-Presidents, juniors Chloe Hernandez and Antonia Trius helped with passing out the desserts. Freshman Jaedon Rich took a bite of a caramel coated creampuff. “I wish I was able to get more than one because they were so good,” Rich said. Photos by Morgan Vazquez

he smell of spices filled the air as Dean of Students Tyrone Sandaal adds fresh tomato sauce to the pot of caramelizing onions and turkey for his homemade picadillo. On Oct.15, the Life Skills club held their first cooking class. They designed the lessons to teach students simple recipes that they could make while they’re in college. “It was weird at first to cook for an audience but it was actually really fun, I watch a lot of cooking shows and it was my first time in that kind of situation and walking people through recipes,” Mr. Sandaal said. After a couple of lessons, the club members put their skills to the test in a Bake-Off competition held on Dec.18 during Community Block. Participants made their desserts at home and brought them to school for the competition. The three contest winners all received $50 Amazon gift cards. First-place winner, freshman Hernan Rodriguez made a croquembouche, a cream puff tower coated in caramel. “I made a croquembouche to be extra and all the extra work meant that I would probably win, so it was really satisfying when I did after the three days of baking that it took to make,” said Rodriguez. After voting everyone had the opportunity to spend time with their friends and drink hot chocolate on the field. “It was super nice because with the cold weather and the hot drinks it really made it feel like it was winter even in Miami,” sophomore Allegra Simon said.

Article by Morgan Vazquez

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PASS. Freshman Mateo Acosta Rubio passes the ball to his teammate in an attempt to get closer to the opponent’s goal. The team worked together and played their hardest to avoid the defeat. “I was proud because we improved and learned from our mistakes throughout the game,” Acosta said. Photos by Fox Mar

PEP TALK

THE COACH SPOKE TO THE TEAM AT HALFTIME WITH THE PURPOSE OF IMPROVING IN THE SECOND HALF In the game against Archbishop McCarthy, the team improved greatly after halftime and got a goal in. Coach Kameron Clark talked and motivated them during the break. “I like them to focus more on the tactical part and I made sure to talk about that, but I also needed them to have some type of emotion during the game,” said Coach Clark. Even though the players were tired, they went out to the field in the second half motivated, and played hard until the final whistle. Photos by Fox Mar

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BOYS JV SOCCER

-- sophomore

Eduardo Roth

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“

The team has helped me grow as a player and as a person.”

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growing

TOGETHER THE BOYS JUNIOR VARSITY BOYS WORKED TO IMPROVE THROUGHOUT THE SEASON

reshman Mateo Acosta-Rubio ran and disputed the ball in order to win possession and continue attacking in a desperate attempt to tie the game in the last minutes. On Dec.18, the JV soccer team faced Archbishop McCarthy where they lost 1-2. Acosta-Rubio explained what he believed were some of the advantages and disadvantages the team had during the 90 minutes. “The mistakes mainly came defensively with communication and positioning. The two goals they scored on us were mainly that; we also missed some opportunities when it came to finishing in the first half. Some of the team’s highs on the field came when we started playing more like a team and less individually. We were able to get a goal in, played to the whistle, and didn’t let emotions carry us away,” AcostaRubio said. Being part of the team helped students shape themselves as players and people. They had two-hour long

TEAMWORK . The boys JV team run and play at their top level in order to win the game. Even though the team lost 1-2 they came close to the victory, scoring a goal in the second half. “We kept our mind cool and really worked on getting that goal in; it was a team effort,” said sophomore Edward Bannon. Photos by

Fox Mar

practices six days a week, while managing to stay on top of their school work and personal life. “My team supported and helped me a lot during games and practices, but also outside the field. Practicing with other great players pushed me to work harder to reach their level of intensity. I was also able to make a lot of new friendships that I will maintain for the rest of high school,” sophomore Ghilherme Berenguer said. Junior Paul Kuemmel was the captain and goalkeeper and he played an important role inside the field, and also when it came to motivating and uniting the team. “One of the hardest things about playing goalkeeper is dealing with the pressure. Any mistakes that you make could cost your team the win, meaning that you always have to keep a cool head and stay calm. Being captain was a huge responsibility because I had to not only focus on how I played, but also on me teammates,” Kuemmel said.

Article by Adriana Leyba

Shoes

walk in my

DIFFERENT CLEATS HELPED PLAYERS STAY ON THEIR FEET AND PERFORM THEIR BEST DURING THE SEASON

Cleats were a soccer player’s most personal and important possession; it helped them kick, run, and overall perform better. Four students discussed why they felt so connected to their shoes and why they chose a particular shoe style or design.

“

I think Adidas is the best brand for cleats, so that’s why mine are from there. My design is COPA, and a lot of legendary and good players have used them so I really like that,”

-- sophomore Axel Nino

“

To be honest I bought my cleats in a rush, I am not really picky when it comes to shoes. They are really comfortable and overall look good so I am really happy with them,”

-- junior Cisco Beretta

“

I’ve had these cleats for over two years so they have been through everything with me. All my tryouts and games; I have a strong connection with these shoes and they still feel just as new,”

-- sophomore Nicolas Puttre

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POSSESSION: Freshman Ana Andrade dribbles through her opponents. She had to concentrate and make smart choices to get the ball up the field. “It was difficult for me to play in the rain, but I still kept my head in the game,” Andrade said. Photo by Fox Mar

VS weightyoga training

time to

GRIND

PLAYERS HAD MANDATORY MORNING WORKOUTS FOR THE FIRST TIME In addition to their usual practices, the girls had yoga and weight training sessions every Mondays and Tuesdays before school. “I like yoga more because it’s more relaxing,” sophomore Eva Cazar said. While some enjoyed yoga better, others preferred weight training’s benefits more. “I thought that weight training helped me and my teammates grow stronger to play better during games. I also liked training with my teammates because we got closer,” sophomore Kathleen Lewis said.

JV GIRLS SOCCER WENT ON A TEAM RETREAT TO IMG ACADEMY From Nov. 8-10 the JV girls embarked on a trip to IMG Academy for a weekend retreat with the boys’ varsity and JV teams. The teams trained and held scrimmages mornings and afternoons, and then participated in several teambuilding activities that helped establish season goals and build friendships among the players. “I am grateful I got to train in such great facilities, and it was fun to grow closer as a team and as a program during and after practice,” said sophomore Daniela Chiarini. Photos provided by coach Natalie Anderson

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GIRLS JV SOCCER

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setting new

goals T

KICKING THROUGH: Sophomore Kathleen Lewis dribbles away from the opponents. Freshman Camila Sandaal took careful steps while she dodged her rival. Sophomore Laura De La Fuente prepared to kick the ball up the field as her opponents pressured her. Photos by Fox Mar

GIRLS JV SOCCER TEAM FOUGHT AGAINST RANSOM UNDER HARSH WEATHER CONDITIONS

he rain poured over freshman Ana Andrade as she dribbled around her opponents to get the ball up the field. The meteorological conditions were not the best on Dec. 19 as the junior varsity girls team faced against Ransom Everglades, but they still managed to play at their best. The two teams were old rivals and after facing a defeat last time, Ransom engaged with determination. But, the JV girls prepared to fight for their last game before winter break. “It was a rough game because it was raining the whole time and was really cold but everyone was able to play their best and the game was fun,” freshman Sofia Cancio said. This was an experimental game in which middle school, JV and varsity players participated; they learned to play together and find chemistry in a short amount of time. The new harmony created between teammates permitted

them to play the ball up the field and make combos to attempt goals. Players had a good overall performance ending with a tied score of 0-0 as the game finished 20 minutes early due to the wet conditions. “To me, this game was a lot more since we played with both middle schoolers and varsity players which I really enjoyed,” De La Fuente said. The game was meaningful to De La Fuente, being her last before moving to Chile. The team had a small celebration for De La Fuente, who played for the program since sixth grade, which included giving her a framed version of her jersey, along with a team photo signed by her teammates. The celebration offered a touching moment after a competitive game. “Saying our goodbyes to Laura after the game was very emotional,” head coach Chichi Nwadike said. Article by Lucie Duchene

PERSEVERANCE: On Dec. 4 the JV girls faced Saint Thomas Aquinas. Although they were losing they did not stop giving maximum effort. Sophomore Daniela Chiarini showed determination while fighting in a one-on-one for the ball. The team was losing 2-1, so every ounce of energy had to be carefully used. Chiarini’s pressure permitted her to win possession. Sophomore Natalia Del Cueto raced to the ball to kick it up the field. This gave the team an opportunity to have a shot at a goal. But, the ball was later intercepted by a rival. Sophomore Eva Cazar ran into the action. After she pressured her opponent, she gained possession of the ball. Cazar then cleared the ball from the defensive third.

Photos by David Hartnett.

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Ringing

in the

season

STUDENTS GOT INTO THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT THROUGH AN ARRAY OF ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT DECEMBER

n Dec.11, freshmen and sophomores built gingerbread houses in their advisory classes for a fast-paced competition. Each group received a gingerbread house kit and had 20 minutes to complete the challenge. When completed, all advisory groups brought their houses to the atrium, where a group of chose the top three. “It was really fun experience. It helped us bond as an advisory group and it brought us into the holiday season,” sophomore Yvette Chamoun said. Students had several opportunities to get into the holiday spirit throughout the month. On Dec. 18, students gathered around the field for sweet treats and hot chocolate. The sweet treats were offered by the Life Skills Club, after their Bake-Off. Everyone enjoyed time outside for the event. Faculty got to have some fun too, while handing out hot chocolate to students. “It felt nice just to be on the field, talk to my friends, and enjoy some hot chocolate,” junior Lilly Enekes said. Students got to show their holiday spirit with other events, such as Pajama Day, where they came to school in comfortable and festive clothes, as well as participating in a variety of “Secret Santa” gift exchanges.

GIFT EXCHANGE. Sophomore Adriana Leyba gives a gift to junior Cindy Vega. On Dec.19, the yearbook staff exchanged gifts during their Secret Santa gift exchange. Each staffer was assigned a person and kept it a secret until the day of the exchange. To embrace the holiday spirit, each staffer gave a small speech about their person before handing them their gift. Prior to the event, each staffer created a wish list to make it easier for the “Santas.” “I loved seeing Cindy’s reaction to my gift. I gave her a candle like she asked, and then I decided to surprise her with lottery tickets. She loved it,” sophomore Adriana Leyba said. Photo by Monica Rodriguez

Spirit

Spreading

Article by Kate Perez

STUDENTS ORGANIZED SEVERAL EVENTS TO GET THEIR CLASSMATES IN THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT

On Dec. 20, students organized the “Children of Faculty Holiday Party” to celebrate the holiday season. At the party, students volunteered to help decorate cookies and make holiday crafts with the faculty’s children. This is an annual event, where teachers were able to bring their children and have them enjoy an afternoon of food, arts and crafts. Photos by Dorielys Guerra

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HOLIDAY SEASON

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DECORATE. Freshmen students try and save their gingerbread house while it collapses. The gingerbread kits provided frosting as glue, so it was difficult to keep all the decorations on. “ It was sad but funny to watch our gingerbread house fall, and even funnier to watch my friends try to save it,” freshman Amanda Spencer said Photo by Julian Concepcion

BUILD. As one of the many advisory activities, students use team work skills to make gingerbread houses. Freshmen and sophomore advisory groups rushed to get their houses built within the 20-minute timeframe. Building the houses was fun, but some found it difficult to make it stay together. “Our house looked really good. But once we had to take it to the atrium, it started to fall apart,” sophomore Isabella Palacio said. Photos by Julian Concepcion

WARM&FUZZY

STUDENTS UPDATED THEIR UNIFORM DURING THE HOLIDAYS WITH FUN FUZZY SOCKS As the holidays rolled around the corner, students displayed their holiday cheer with fun and colorful socks. There were a variety of socks seen around the school, from short and fuzzy, to longer styles. Students wore fuzzy socks all year round, but they became more popular around the holidays. They added a touch of personality to the uniform. “I love wearing fuzzy socks to school, especially my holiday-themed ones. It’s definitely become a trend this year,” senior Catherine Bettridge said.

WINNERS. The advisory classes for Dr. Maxwell, Ms. Artzt and Mr. Ganser won the gingerbread house contest on Dec. 11. Each group received tickets for free bagels and pizza. “It was a really cute team-building experience,” said sophomore Teresa Ariza.

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NTIME o like the SOPHOMORE JASON FIELER TOOK ON THE CHALLENGE AND CREATED HIS OWN INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM

PRESENT

Sophomore Jason Fieler got tired of listening to other artist’s music so he decided to create his own. At the age of 16, he already has created an album and has a plan for his future pursuits.

Reporting by Olivia Martin-Johnson Photo by Olivia Martin-Johnson

“

“Why should I experience someone else’s work when I can just make my own? Ever since I began playing the piano in fourth grade, I realized my passion revolved around music. I did not want to be constrained with playing other people’s work when I could add my personal touch. During 5th grade, I began writing my own music. I attended the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music summer camp and took a composition class. Since then, I have realized that writing music is something I see myself doing in the future. I carry around a staff paper notebook with me almost everywhere I go, and during extra time in class, I like to jot down some ideas; maybe like a tune I come up with in my head. From there, I build onto that idea based on my favorite song at the time. My music ranges in mood and tone because I like to listen to different genres. If I become obsessed with a more upbeat song, then I will draw inspiration from that song and incorporate it into my own work. Once I have a piece written out, I record the different parts of the piece at home using different sounds and instruments. I learned how to play the drums and the guitar in order to apply them in my song writing. I also had to learn how to use a difficult software in order for the song to sound really good. Now that I realize that music composition is something I see myself doing, I want to continue publishing songs on Spotify and promote myself in order to get the most listeners and followers possible. I am excited to create a real name for myself by doing what I love, one song at a time.”

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DIVIDER

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Q3 December-March

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On the BALL

THE BOYS VARSITY BASKETBALL TEAM BEAT S.L.A.M. BY A LANDSLIDE

n Jan. 8, the boys varsity basketball team defeated S.L.A.M. 85-45 in the Blue Dungeon. The team made a comeback after their tournament in San Diego, where their record was 1- 3. However, they thought that these losses actually helped them in the long run and contributed to their win against S.L.A.M. “I think that our trip to San Diego was great for the boys because now they have revenge on their minds and with the coaching change brings a lot of experience and changes in styles,” coach Gary DeCesare said. Since the team went into the game very motivated, they thought it was an actionpacked game that allowed the players to perform their best. Seniors Gabriel Taylor, Tony Sanders, and Connor Sazant put up over 60 points altogether. “We played pretty well against S.L.A.M. Our team chemistry and selflessness is why we went into the game so eager and willing to work to win. Everyone was supportive of each other the entire time,” senior Eddie Jackson said.

While the team made many impressive plays throughout the game, there was one play in particular that students said really grabbed everyone’s attention, including the crowd of the opposing team. “The highlight of the game was definitely when Tony Sanders dunked on one of the S.L.A.M. players. That play got everyone excited because it reassured us that we were going to win. The gym was filled with cheering and clapping from the crowd,” senior Nikolas Aixala said. With so many wins already under the team’s belt, the players stated that their focus for the rest of the season was to work together to defeat their upcoming opponents and to reach their ultimate goal of making it to states. “As a whole, we all have the same goal of going to states and performing the best that we can. I try my best to push everyone during practice and before games so that we can get as close to states as possible,” senior Diego LaMonica said.

Article by Isabella Quiñon

LEARNING THE

VOCAB.

THE BOYS VARSITY BASKETBALL PLAYERS DEFINED SOME IMPORTANT TERMS THEY USE FREQUENTLY

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BOYS VARSITY BASKETBALL

“A layup is when you dribble until you’re super close to the basket and make a shot,” senior Connor Sazant said.

“An assist is when you pass the ball to someone else on your team and they end up making a basket,” senior Diego LaMonica said.

“A player is considered traveling if they take too many steps without dribbling the ball,” junior Joshua Messinger said.

Photos by Fox Mar

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“An air ball is when you shoot a basket but it just ends up hitting nothing,” senior Nikolas Aixala said.

PUSHING. Senior Connor Sazant dribbles the ball across the court and towards the basket. Senior Tony Sanders blocked one of the S.L.A.M. players and kept him from scoring. “I loved the adrenaline rush I got during the game. I was so excited to bring home another win,” 8th grader Amare Sanders said.

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THE GRIND. Senior Eddie Jackson pushes through his opponent in an attempt to score. Jackson took advantage of the growing energy on the court from his supportive teammates. “As a team at the beginning of the game we didn’t come out too hot, but we eventually got it together and hyped each other up” senior Jackson said. Photos by Fox Mar

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pulling their

weight THE GIRLS WEIGHTLIFTING TEAM WORKED TO QUALIFY FOR DISTRICTS DESPITE THEIR SMALL SIZE

ophomore Krysten Sanders smiled as she successfully lifted the weight above her head at the competition against Key West, Doctors Charter, and Marathon in the Prep weight room on Jan. 8. The team consisted of only seven athletes, making it difficult for them to win competitions against larger teams. While they were defeated at this competition, finishing their season with a 0-5 record, coach Curt Johnsen believed that the girls all performed very well. “The team did an outstanding job both competing and representing the school as a whole. We had multiple girls win their weight class and put up some really big numbers,” Johnsen said. The team hoped to finish the season strong as they went into the

postseason. Five girls qualified for districts, which is more than ever before. “Yelling and cheering for each other helped us a lot in getting throughout the meet and in bringing us all together,” junior Alyssa Jensen said. The team’s success did not come easily, however. The girls trained three times a week for 90 minutes in order to prepare for their competitions. “The girls come in and work through a very specific warm-up for the movements that they will be asked to do in the workout that day. They then begin a fairly lengthy workout that takes as much focus as it does raw effort. After the workout, the girls work on individual weaknesses before stretching and calling it a day,” Johnsen said.

PRESS. Junior Kalei Ganser does a bench press while junior Porter Bowen stands ready to assist. Bowen then lifted weights herself, lifting the bar above her shoulders as she set up her clean and jerk. Both girls’ performances qualified them for districts. Photos by Julian Conception and Danielle Bowen

Article by Julia Rosenthal

postseason success

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GIRLS WEIGHTLIFTING

The girls team competed in the district championships on Jan. 25. Five girls qualified for this competition, making it the largest team the Raiders have ever sent. Junior D’Shandra Perry finished 1st in the unlimited weight class. In the 119-pound weight class sophomore Krysten Sanders placed 4th and Junior Kalei Ganser placed 5th, while in the 129-pound weight class, Porter Bowen finished 3rd. Perry, Sanders, Ganser and Bowen qualified for the regional championships on Jan. 29. Perry advanced to the FHSAA Class 1A State Championships, where she placed 7th overall in the unlimited weight class. “This group of four is the most we’ve ever sent to the regional meet. It’s going to be an exciting post season and I can’t wait to see what they are able to do,” Coach Curt Johnsen said. Photos by Alyssa Jensen

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ATHLETES QUALIFIED FOR REGIONALS AFTER DISTRICT PERFORMANCES

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CLEAN AND JERK. Sophomore Krysten Sanders completes a clean and jerk, lifting the weight over her head at the competition on Jan. 8. Her performance at this competition qualified her for the district championships. “I was so happy to qualify to be a part of the district team, and I’m excited to see how far I can advance,” Sanders said. Photo by

Julian Conception

king back

“

Practice, being able to have fun and take our workouts seriously at the same time.

ATHLETES SHARE THEIR FAVORITE MOMENTS OF THE SEASON

Junior Alyssa Jensen

“

Just being there with all of the girls each practice and each meet meant the world to me.

“

Sophomore Cristal Silva

My favorite moment of the season was my first meet, I came in kind of nervous but left not only dominating everyone in my weight class but with a closer relationship with my teammates.”

Junior D’Shandra Perry

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FIERCE&

FOCUSED THE BOYS VARSITY SOCCER TEAM PUT UP A GOOD FIGHT AGAINST SAINT ANDREW’S

uspense filled the atmosphere on Jan. 9 when the boys’ varsity soccer team tied St. Andrew’s on the Sean Taylor Memorial Field. Although they did not win, the team was very proud of their performance and energy as a whole. “Our energy was for sure the best part of the game because we were winning at first so we were super motivated and hyped each other up the entire time. This also pushed everyone to play their best which also made the game so memorable,” senior Cole Ritzenthaler said. The Raiders were up 3-1 until the last 10 minutes. They were confident that they were going to bring home another win, but the Scots quickly caught up to them in the final moments, leaving the players disappointed. “I was disappointed when we lost since we were so close to winning and we really should not have slipped up

like that but we grew from this game and learned from our mistakes just in time for districts. I hope that we make it to states because as a team, that is our common goal,” senior Marcelo Arteaga said. The team was very happy with what they had accomplished throughout the season, but their success did not come easily. They were faced with morning workouts both before school and on weekends, and they also had to adapt to a new coaching style and several new teammates. “I think this season was a very mentally challenging one. We had a bunch of very talented players that had never played together before, we also had to get used to 6 am practices. We had a very rough start to the season but we have now finally found our form and are playing better than ever,” senior Maximilian Clivio said. Article by Isabella Quiñon

ROADto STATES

STUDENTS, FACULTY ANDPARENTS GATHERED FOR A TEAM SEND-OFF Athletic Director Ira Childress wishes the boys the best of luck before heading off to Deland, Florida, for the states game against Mariner. Seniors Cole Ritzenthaler and Marcelo Arteaga walked past cheering fans holding posters as they boarded the bus to states. “Walking out and feeling the support from everyone was so nice. It really hyped up the entire team and got us in the right mindset.” junior Hugo Ortega said. Photos by Julian Concepcion

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KICKING IT. Senior Jaime Perez- Bedmar Merello jumps over his opponent to regain control over the ball. Freshman Alex Ferenczi got in the zone and prepared to make a goal against St. Andrew’s. “It was a tough game, but the team was able to work together and push through it. Unfortunately, we ended with a tie but we definitely learned and grew from it,” senior Eduardo Mendes said. Photos by Fox Mar

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IN THE ZONE. Junior Marco Gutierrez dribbles the ball across the field before the game. Senior Jaime Perez- Bedmar Merello worked on his passes and penalty kicks with teammates. “Warming up is always stressful. If I don’t have a good warm up it usually effects how I play and sometimes can get the best of me,” senior Schuyler Davidson said. Photos by Fox Mar

Q&A

WITH JUNIOR CAPTAIN JUAN LAZCANO What did it feel like when you were given the position as captain your junior year? “I felt very proud of myself to be picked as captain for my junior year and mostly just excited to be able to lead the team.” How have you helped the team improve? “Although I play an important role as captain I haven’t done anything to help the team improve that they would have done on their own. It’s been a team effort, the credit goes to the entire team.”

WARMING UP. Senior Ignacio GarciaMorillo works on his footwork moments before the game. Garcia- Morillo was hungry to win alongside his teammates. “Every player on the team has an overwhelming drive to push for states, that is our common goal. We train every day, including some days before school, I’m confident it will pay off,” Garcia- Morillo said. Photos by Fox Mar

What was this season like for you? “This season has been a challenge, especially considering the difficulty of our schedule but that challenge has been entertaining.”

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STUDENTS VOLUNTEERED AT ACHIEVE MIAMI TO HELP YOUNG STUDENTS WITH THEIR READING AND WRITING.

toachieve

unior Lauren Garcia-Stille stands with her buddy who presents his work to his peers and volunteers. Students like him are some of the many who came to read with their big buddies at Achieve Miami, a service learning program club of students who share and want to invest in a love of reading. With the mentoring of their older buddies, the young students did not only begin to improve their reading and writing, but they could also have meaningful friendships with their high school mentors. “I look forward to spending time with my buddy and I like to think he thinks the same about spending time with me. I think the most exciting part of Achieve is watching students grow a love for reading and making progress,” Garcia said. The organization began as a way for students to connect with older volunteers. School coordinator Linde Barrett helped create a curriculum for these students to work on reading comprehension and writing skills. Since then, the organization has worked with several schools around Miami, providing high school volunteers as teachers, mentors, and support for

younger students who continued to want to improve their learning. In addition, Earlington Heights elementary held its uniqueness as one of the only inner-city schools with an ealy years IB diploma program. The IB track continued childrens’ education in a way that allowed them to be knowledgeable and open minded students, and this provided a connection with IB students who volunteered as “big buddies” within Achieve. “One of the highlights is watching the reading scores and comprehension grow with the elementary school children. The high school students, on the other hand, feel a sense of maturity and responsibility because they are constantly dedicating themselves to an activity,” Barrett said. Some new students started to join in as well in order to serve the community. Senior Russell Busso began his committment to the organization after wanting more experience in local events. “I wanted to try something different, and now I continue to go because of the difference I see I can make in the students’ learning,” Busso said.

Article by Valentina Graziosi

“

It’s always nice to listen to what the kids have to say, to see the world from their perpective. It reminds me of the days where I was in elementary school and my teachers would do the same for me.”

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BE BRAVE. Young students spent time with their big buddies re-analyzing what they learned in their books so as to answer the prompt of the day. During writing sessions, the students worked on their grammar and spelling, as well as their reading comprehension skills.”I see my buddy applying increasingly complex sentences and producing better quality writing,”senior Emma Wang said. Afterwards, students who demonstrated concentration during writing time were chosen to stand and present their work in front of their peers. Photos by Valentina Graziosi

--Junior Gerardo Naranjo

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SETTING GOALS: Junior Lauren Garcia Stille stands with her buddy as he reads aloud what he wrote about his book. He worked with Lauren for several weekends, showing massive improvements. “We’ve made great progress, he now seems more interested in reading than ever,” Garcia Stille said. Photo by Valentina Graziosi

RELAX. Students and their buddies take time outside after reading. Inside, students played with board games and showed their creativity by constructing Lego structures. Outside, buddies and students kicked and bounced around soccer and basketballs, creating friendly competitive matches. “The activities for the students show them that we are not just there to teach them, we are there to also mentor them and to foster friendships,” junior Sabrina Sharma said. The volunteers looked forward to these activities so that they can continue to create meaningful relationships with their buddies, so they can know more about what they can accomplish as volunteers. Photos by Valentina Graziosi

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DUMMIES. BioMedical Students had the opportunity to see simulation dummies that real doctors and nurses use in the New Fetal Care Center at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital. “My favorite part was learning about the different simulations that the doctors and nurses may encounter with the different babies,” Biomed teacher Laura Keepax said. Photo by Kimberley Cruz NEW TECHNOLOGY. The last thing the students toured was the virtual medical area. Here doctors could remotely deliver health care via satellites to different countries using camera-equipped medical devices that could be used by patients and other doctors far away. “I was really impressed. They allowed me to listen to the heartbeat of a woman on the other end of the connection, and it sounded even clearer than the rhythm given by a normal stethoscope. Beyond that, I think it’s amazing to see how technology has been changing how we diagnose patients. This really shows how we can improve the quality of care for patients,” senior Bridgette Isom said. Photos by Kimberley Cruz

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BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE

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h OBABY BIOMED STUDENTS WERE INVITED TO TOUR A NEW FETAL CARE CENTER AT NICKLAUS

TOURING. On Jan. 22, Biomed students had the opportunity to witness the life of a medical professional. They toured the New Fetal Care Center at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital. “After going on the biomed field trip I learned so much about the NICU and neonatology. I also learned about different paths and careers in the medical field and the business that goes on behind many different decisions made in a large hospital. In addition, I also got the global political perspective on the field of medicine,” senior Andrea Perez said.

iomedical Science students set off to tour the New Fetal Care Center at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital on Jan. 22. Multiple doctors and nurses who cared for both the mother and the child before, during, and after birth led the tour. “Not only was it cool to tour the new facility, it was nice to have real doctors and nurses answer any questions we had. It was extremely educational,” senior Paola Acosta said. According to Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, the Fetal Care Center was devoted to the care for infants per-diagnosed with medical needs in utero that will require intervention at birth. “Fetal Care Centers are important because the United States, despite all its global advancements, still has a large infant mortality rate that could be lowered substantially,” junior Evelyn Patterson said. Students saw a variety of different things, including the delivery areas and the operating rooms. Doctors and nurses also showed the students simulation dummies of different babies that they all use to train for all different types of emergencies. “I thought the tour was great and educational. I learned how they practiced simulated births and got to see the new facility,” junior Alex Cunill said. Article by Kimberley Cruz

Photo by Kimberley Cruz

Q&A

WITH BIOMED TEACHER YOLY MCCARTHY What is your favorite topic you cover in your class? Why? “My unit on diabetes and nutrition. It opens the students’ eyes to the importance of nutrition and the impact of this disease on the medical profession and our society. Also, it is the first opportunity they get practice cool diagnostic lab skills and a chance to diagnose patients based on symptoms.” What is it about biomedical science and medicine that fascinates you? How do you share that passion with your students? “The fact that they can have such an impact on someone’s future and well being. I am able to guide students towards their passion to help others and improve their lives. I share that with my students through stories, relevant topics and real-world scenarios to bring it to life for them.” What does the H.E.A.L Club do to serve the community? HEAL focuses on bringing awareness to different health topics such as the need for nutrition and sleep information and organizes blood drives to help our local community. HEAL also works to develop health curriculum to educate younger students in Breakthrough Miami about body systems, nutrition and dental health.

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CULTURAL SHOW Senior Emma Wang plays the Chinese zither as a part of duo act to kick off the opening ceremony. She performed the traditional song “Blossoms in Spring.” “I love hearing her play because she represents our culture so beautifully,” Chinese teacher Zoe Chen said. Photo by Morgan Vazquez.

“I loved being able to challenge myself and make new friends,”

--Junior John Jack Madsen

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GAME TIME. Before the second day of testing Gulliver students taught and participated in games to relieve stress. Amongst the games were chopstick contests with marshmallows, racing with skateboards pulled by plungers, Chinese yo-yo flips, Chinese sack races, etc. “I really liked teaching people how to do Chinese yo-yo because it’s my favorite activity that we do in class,” freshman Jonas Carvalho said. Pictures by Morgan Vazquez.

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Lead a chance to

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STUDENTS ORGANIZED AND PARTICIPATED IN THE FLORIDA STATE CHINESE COMPETITION

DANCE. Junior Susan Luo performs a traditional dance at the opening ceremony. She was the second act introducing the schools to the competition. “I didn’t know that she was going to dance and it was so different to everything I usually see but it was still so good,” sophomore Sofia Toledo said.

Picture by Morgan Vazquez.

n Jan. 31 light, springy music played with junior Susan Luo as she performed a traditional Chinese dance under the stage lights at the 14th annual Florida Chinese Competition. Just a few hours prior, she and the other participating Raiders rushed to set the event up in time for the other schools. “It wasn’t work to me because I got to be with my friends and have people look up to us,” junior Cisco Berreta said. Students designed the graphics and posters for the event, and they set up all of the games and performances. But once the opening ceremony was over, the real challenges began. Two multiple choice and one speaking test were spread out throughout the course of the two days. “It took me weeks to memorize my speech but I still was worried and reciting it over and over before it was my time to be tested,” sophomore Ren Goto said.

In order to relieve stress and connect with the other schools, students participated in a variety of games and contests. The level one freshmen participated in Jeopardy games on Chinese culture and history, winning their division and placing fourth overall. Another way people had fun was through the bonfire, making s’mores. “I loved making the s’mores because I haven’t done it in forever and it’s so delicious and gooey and fun,” freshman Athena Tsialas said. The other contest began months before the convention. The Chinese Culture Art Project gave one student from each school an opportunity to create art that incorporated all kinds of Chinese culture. Junior Deven Kamlani won the contest with an illustrated children’s book written entirely in characters. “When I won I was so happy; it really happened because Mrs. Chen pushed me to be my best,” Kamlani said.

WITH CHINESE TEACHER ZOE CHEN As president of the Florida Chinese Teachers Association what are some of your jobs? “I have to organize the Chinese competition and other events, and create opportunities for the students to learn and have creative ways for this wonderful language to be presented to them. It may not sound like much but it really is a huge honor.” What was the process for organizing this year’s competition like? “Especially with something that’s worthwhile it’s going to be stressful to put it together and the competition was, but my wonderful students were always there to help me and I don’t know if I could’ve done it with out them.” How did you feel after the competition was over? “It was such a feeling of happiness and relief, like so much that was on my shoulders went away especially since it went really well. My favorite part was seeing my students really shine and show their leadership and organizational skills.”

Article by Morgan Vazquez

Good To Go

STUDENTS PREPPED FOR COMPETITION

PRACTICE. On weekends prior to the competition several students came in to practice a dragon dance. It was also performed at G.O.A.L.S. “It was a lot of work but I think we made a lot of people happy with the performance,” freshman Nina Castro Alves said. Photos by Cisco Berreta

Freshmen Hernan Rodriguez and Morgan Vazquez prepare for the competition. Rodriguez practices his characters with ink & brush. Vazquez filled up red envelope with lucky chocolate coins to give out as gifts for the Lunar New Year. “I don’t get the chance to work with ink often and it’s always super fun,” Rodriguez said. Photo by Morgan Vazquez.

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eco-friendly

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ARCHITECTURE 02 DRAFTED AND DESIGNED SUSTAINABLE HOMES

GUEST SPEAKERS TAUGHT AND HELD WORKSHOPS

Through workshops and demonstrations, architect and classicist David Case, architect and urbanist Phillip Rhea, and UM professor Teofilo Victoria, visited the Architecture 01 and Architecture 02 taught and presented the students with new ideas and valuable information. Each held three-week workshops that allowed students to learn and apply their work into their projects.“Every single presentation was very interesting, they all taught us things that I can use now,” freshmen Naomi Liberman said. “They all specialized in different areas of architecture and so it was such a great way to learn a variety of things from their own areas of expertise.” Liberman said. Pictures by Emily Wilson and Kimberely Cruz

n Feb. 10, Eva Cazar and the Architecture 02 students drafted layouts for their sustainable homes. Throughout the length of the year, level two designed, built, and tested their sustainable homes. “There’s more to it than adding some solar panels to the roof and that’s it, we used building materials of renewable energy sources to strive for efficiency and harmony with the surrounding environment.” sophomore Eva Cazar said. Drafting layouts is the one of the first steps to have the designed homes built in 3D. “In our models, we are adding such things like green roofs and green rooms,” junior Raphaella Egas Pazos said, “it’s a significant project because we want to help the environment. Architecture students won top awards in the Regional Scholastic Art awards in the category of Architecture and Industrial Design. The students’ work was on display at the Rubell Museum from Feb. 15-25. Article by Victoria Poliak

PRECISE WORK. Junior Giulia Egas Pazos, sophomores Tiago Abreu, and Norberto Lamenca start drafting their sustainable home layouts. They use tools like pencils and rulers to measure exactly. After multiple presentations and demonstrations, the students applied those skills into their projects. Pictures by Kimberely Cruz

FIXED EYES. Sophomore Level 2 students, William Bettridge, Dylan Toplas, and Matteo Akl, use their class time to work on measuring, drawing, and coloring their layouts for their sustainable homes. “You have to be so precise when drafting your layout for the home because if you’re not, it throws off the whole project,” Bettridge said. Staying concentrated by listening to music or blocking everything out by not looking around helped students. Pictures by Victoria Poliak

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HANDS ON. Sophomore Eva Cazar concentrates on drafting her layout for her sustainable home. “As hard as it is to work on measurements and layouts at the end of the day it is so fun and rewarding because it’s the first step to your project coming to life.” Cazar said. Picture by Kimberley Cruz

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NUMBER ATHLETES SHARED THE MEANING BEHIND THEIR JERSEY NUMBERS

Diego Rodriguez#20

“

“In baseball, I wear number 2. Ever since I was 2 years old, I have always considered #2 to be my lucky number. It is now my favorite number and It is the only number I have worn on the field.” -- Freshman Brixton Lofgren

I chose to wear the #20 on my lacrosse jersey. When I was in 8th grade, one of my teammates, CJ Hassan, wore #20 on his jersey. Hassan served as my role model and leader, and he inspired me every day to be a better lacrosse player. When I first started playing lacrosse, I looked up to Hassan and hoped to one day be as good as he was. When he graduated, I decided that wearing the same number would motivate me to be just like him. I am happy with the decision to make my number 20, and it has become my favorite number. Ever since then, I have worn #20 on my jersey, and I’m proud that I represent that number. It is comforting to know that I play with the number on my jersey that inspired me to grow as a player, and that I’m carrying on his legacy in Gulliver Lacrosse. The number ‘20’ reminds me of how much I’ve grown as a lacrosse player and teammate, and I love it.”

“I wear number 3 on the basketball court. I chose number 3 because it’s family legacy, as I am the third Allen in my family to play basketball.” -- Freshman Walter Ray Allen III

“I chose to be #12 in lacrosse because it’s the day of my, my sister’s, and my Dad’s birthday. Also, I have always had this number for everything, in soccer and volleyball, so it’s my lucky number.” -- Sophomore Mercedes Vargas

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R STORIES Isabella Sakran #15

“

On the volleyball court I wear #15. Ever since I started playing volleyball, I have worn that number in every school season. I first chose it because my birthday is on the 15th, but it has become more than just a birthday. Ever since my first year on Varsity in 8th grade, I chose the number 15 and have only worn that number since. As I am going to college for volleyball, I will be wearing the number 15 on my college jersey. With just finishing my senior season, this number has been on every jersey of mine. It has become my favorite number, and all my teammates know 15 as my number. Bringing this number with me to college is like bringing a piece of my high school season with me. Even though my volleyball career is changing as I get older, it is comforting to know that my number will always stay the same, since the beginning, and throughout my career:”

I am number 17 in football. I chose that number because one of my favorite football players that I look up to wore that number. It also means a lot to me because it was the same number that my Dad used to wear when he played.”” -- Sophomore William Bettridge

“Since I started playing soccer, I have always worn #19. My best friend Javi and I used to joke about who wore 19 better. After he passed, it meant a lot more to me because I now play for the both of us.” -- Junior Cecilia Derlon

“When I played basketball I was assigned the #10. It became a significant number for me because I started playing when I was 10 so I wanted to carry it over to water polo to continue the legacy ” -- Junior Juan Carlos Pompa

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STEP by STEP

THE GIRLS TENNIS TEAM PLAYED A TOUGH MATCH AGAINST RANSOM EVERGLADES ON FEB. 25

he Girls tennis team kicked off their season with their first win against North Broward Prep on Feb 11. The girls hoped to continue their legacy from last season, with a new state championship. The team worked hard to gain their first win, with outstanding performances from each player. “I am so excited to start playing with the team again and work as hard as possible this season. My teammates and I are very ambitious to have a successful season this year as we did last year,” sophomore Katie Lewis said. The girls anticipated another state championship in the books. With the season just starting, the girls knew they had a lot of work to do to keep their impression as state champions. They had a very rigorous schedule, with many tough opponents that will be hard to beat. On Feb. 13, the team played a tough match against the 2019 3A State Champions Doral Academy. The girls suffered a tough loss, but they saw it as a challenge to work harder.

Pre-Game

“My favorite pre-game snack is usually a granola bar or a sandwich,”

- Freshman Mia Suarez

GIRLS TENNIS

2. 3. 4.

“My Favorite pregame snack is definitely a Cliff bar,”

“I usually always eat a banana before games,”

- Junior Sophia Hernandez

- Sophomore Kathleen Lewis

1. First, do your pre-serve routine. Make sure your grip on the racket is tight and correct. 2. Toss the ball, and align your body with the ball and prepare to swing 3. Take your arm back and follow with a swing. While swinging your arm, jump to create momentum 4. Follow through and finish your swing. “I always drink Gatorade before, during, and after a match,”

- Senior Katerina Navarro

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JUNIOR SOPHIA HERNANDEZ EXPLAINS HOW TO SERVE

PLAYERS SHARE THEIR FAVORITE ENERGIZING SNACKS

FUEL

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“I am very proud of how the season is going so far. But, it’s only the beginning and we have a lot of work to get done in order to secure another championship,” freshman Mia Suarez said. On Feb.25, the girls played an intense match against Ransom Everglades. While the game ended in a loss, the girls hoped to redeem themselves in future matches. It was a hard-fought game, against a tough team, but the team played without their captain and key player, senior Chiara Von Gerlach. The winning team from last year was almost the same, with a few new freshman and middle schoolers. The girls were excited to bond and create good relationships that would translate onto the court during the games. They all shared a passion for the game and love for the competitive atmosphere, which made playing with one another much easier. “It is exciting to start the season knowing we are State Champions, but with that comes the pressure of trying to achieve it again,” head coach Kelly Mulligan said. Article by Kate Perez

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FOCUS. Senior Captain Chiara Von Gerlach watches the ball and prepares to swing. The girls had to stay focused, as they played a tough competition. Von Gerlach kept her eyes on the ball and prepared to take a powerful swing. Photo by Fox-Mar

Top: Sophomore Victoria Hagenlocker gets ready to forehand swing. She stayed calm and focused in order to get a strong swing. Top Middle: Freshman Mia Suarez takes a sturdy swing. The girls had to take powerful and strategic swings in order to compete against Ransom. Bottom Middle: Senior Katerina Navarro aggressively serves the ball. Despite the tough opponent, Navarro was determined to fight and serve hard. Bottom: Junior Sofia Restrepo prepares her backhand swing. Restrepo was strategic with her ball placement in order to win the point. Photos by Fox-Mar

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VARSITY BOYS LACROSSE BEAT RANSOM EVERGLADES AT THEIR FIRST GAME

enior Diego Rodriguez cradled the ball and sprinted to goal before finally scoring on the Ransom goalie at the first game of the season on Feb. 19h. The team defeated Ransom 16-3. Even when they won their games, the team always focused on finding ways to improve in order to grow and become stronger. “The first game of the season went really well. I still want to focus on my small mistakes and expand my skills,” Rodriguez said. The team had three goalies, with senior Rafael Reyes being the head goalie, and juniors Wyatt Kraft and Quinn Murgo as backups. During the Ransom game, Kraft was the lead goalie and blocked several balls. The opposing team was only able to score three goals on him. “I was so excited to be able to play against Ransom, and be able to block several goals, and only let in three. For the rest of the season, I’m going to focus more on my stick work and get better, but for my first game of the season I played well,” Kraft said. Head coach Jim Piggot focused on several different aspects of the game, but during this game he believed that both the offense and defense played well. For Piggot, even with a win, he still focused on the small mistakes made just as his players do. He believed that this helped him get better as a coach and made the entire team stronger. “We focus on getting better and fixing our mistakes so we are well prepared at the end of the season to finish strong. Right now, we are trying to be students of the game,” Piggot said.

&A Q

WITH SENIOR GOALIE RAFAEL REYES What was it like being goalie for the team the last four years? “The last four years of lacrosse have been amazing. I have been able to do something that I love and play with a team that for me is like family.” What is your best memory from being goalie? “My best memory from lacrosse has to be beating Columbus this year. We had gone a couple of years without beating them, and it was the best feeling when we won -- especially my senior year.” How are you making your last season as goalie memorable? “I’m doing my best to enjoy every second I am on or off the field. I may never play lacrosse again. So I am doing my best to be present and play every game like my last.”

Article by Cindy Vega

JV LACROSSE TEAM PLAYED

JV BOYS LAX COLUMBUS ON MAR 4

The JV boys lacrosse team played the JV Columbus team on Mar 4. Although the team had a tough loss of 6-2, they saved 2 goals with the help of their goalie, junior Quinn Murgo. “I tried my best in that game, and saved as many as I could, but in the end we lost. So for right now I am focusing on more stick work,” Murgo said. Photo by Fox Mar

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SPRINT. Senior Diego Rodriguez cradles the ball with one hand as he goes sprinting down towards the goal. Rodriguez does the face-off before the game begins for the team. “For this face-off and for every face-off I always get down low, so I can get to the ball before the other guy does,” Rodriguez said. Photo by Fox Mar

RUN IT. Left. Junior Tanner Jenkins jumps through two Ransom players to make a shot. Middle. Junior Joshua Messinger pushes through a Ransom midfield player in order to get to goal. Right. Sophomore Ryan Noyes stands open for the ball while a defensive player came running to block him. “I faked going right and then went running left in order to lose that defense player,” Noyes said. Photo by Fox Mar

TAKE YOUR SHOT. Far Left: Sophomore Ryan Noyes, goes under the defensive player, and goalie to make a shot. Middle: Junior Tanner Jenkins jumps up high to get over three defensive Ransom players. Left: Martin Pinilla ran through on a defensive player, while a midfield player hit him with a stick, and shot the ball. “I jumped up as high as possible to get over those three players on top of me. To make this shot count for my team,” Jenkins said. Photo by Fox Mar

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TRAIN: Players Harrison Garfinkle, Jonathan Rivero, and Colin Lewis help set up for practice. The team usually helped the coaches set up batting, where players practice hitting and pitching the ball. “I think having more time for practice gave us an opportunity to improve before each game”, Garfinkle said. Photos by Valentina Graziosi

BATTER UP. Freshman Jonathan RIvero practices batting during a routine training session. These lessons helped build him up as a team player. “I prefer playing games, but this seasons’ practice has made me a better player,” Rivero said. Photo by Valentina Graziosi

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back at

jv baseball continued to work hard despite having a canceled season

home F

reshman Jonathan Rivero stepped up to the plate during his routine baseball practice. With news and word circling of canceled practices and games that would not be re-scheduled, Jonathan knew he must make practice count, for it was all he had. The practices were designed to make the players stronger, better, with more pressure added than during regular training hours. This is where the players rehearsed and practiced, as they could not continue to do so on the field and in games. “During practices, we sometimes play live games, practice different scenarios”, Rivero said, “that is what makes us better players.” The Raiders started the year off strong, winning their first three games. Many dual role players made a statement early that they wanted to compete at the varsity level. “You lose your job in the game, but you earn it in practice. The practice routines have been much tougher than in the past, I expect more from the this

“

Given the new circumstances, the idea was to keep working on our craft and seek out coaching to help us with anything we needed to work on.”

year and every year from here on out,” Coach Manny Crespo said. The coach added that he wanted to make structured practices part of their culture, and was, therefore, able to show in games the competitive atmosphere that the team could still bring to the table. “We have something to prove and there is no time to waste. Regardless of the impending season cancellation, the Raiders continue to work hard and find a way to improve every day,” Crespo said A lot of the teammates took the opportunity to correct their mistakes in practice. This included players such as freshman Stephano Luis, who wanted to make the most out of his training, even by allowing for mistakes that he could not always afford during a game. “In the game, errors can cost you the game. In practice we are able to learn from our mistakes so they don’t happen in the game,” Luis said. Article by Valentina Graziosi

RECOGNITION Sophomore Colin Lewis won a pair of batting gloves as a team award for demonstrating leadership and initiative. From that, he learned to be more competitive for himself and for his team. “Playing on junior varsity is a fun experience, I really believe it has made me a better player so far in the season,” Lewis said. Photos by Valentina Graziosi

-- freshman Aiden Aparicio LAYOUT DESIGN

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Standard

a new

GIRLS LACROSSE SET A HIGHER BAR FOR THE SEASON

n a chilly spring day during the second home game of the season on Feb. 27 as a defensive player, senior Juana Davin steps towards an opponent and holds out her stick to stop a shot on goal. “I played on the team since it started and throughout I’ve seen myself and the rest of the team get a lot better,” Davin said. The close game marked a new era for the team who had never come as close to beating Key West, much due to the stricter rules and harder practices. The changes started at the first lacrosse interest meeting on January 14th, where the coaches gave each girl a three page packet detailing every change from the previous season and the new expectation each player was to meet. “I was really surprised when I got the packet because of how much stricter it was going to be than last year but since we’re doing so much better already, I know that it was important.” sophomore Bella Peterson said. The first week of practice was designed to condition and test the girls that were committed to the team. On the very first day everyone ran a timed mile and did two 1 minute planks. “I’ve never really liked running but from the start of the season my mile time has gone down from 13 minutes to 10 and it was because of all the hard work,” freshman Sammy Diaz said. From the very first district games the team’s improvement was skyrocketing with a 10-9 win against Coral Shores and a close game with Key West. “I was shocked and like so happy when we won and it was crazy when we only lost to Key West by one when last year they would beat us by like 20 points,” junior Jess Medwin said. A breakout star that shone was junior goalie Cindy Vega. After facing much adversity with equipment and communication she would have as high as a 50% save rate. A training technique to develop reflexes was taking away her stick and practicing steps towards the ball. “Her rate of improvement was just incredible, her skill level from the start of season until now, really just skyrocketed, it beyond anything I expected” assistant coach Rush Bowles said. Like many spring sports, the girl’s lacrosse season was cut short. “I was sad when ended so suddenly but sometimes you have to look on the bright side and say that the time we had was better than nothing,” senior Laura Attarian said. Article by Morgan Vazquez

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“

The most important thing is that even if you are new to something, if you put your greatest effort towards it everyone on the team can accomplish all their dreams.” -- Senior captain Martina Lasen

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HOLDING YOUR GROUND.. Senior Juana Davin crashes into the 8-Meter zone to prevent a shot on goal. Davin was a key part in building a strong defense. “I played on the team almost since it started and throughout I’ve seen myself and the rest of the team get a lot better,” Davin said. Photo by Jennifer

Uccelli.

57%

43%

YES

DO YOU LIKE THE NEW HELMETS?

For the 2020 season the FHSAA introduced new regulation helments. Florida was the only state that required players to wear helmets and as such had to work out the safest design. This year’s model featured a harder head and tighter stabilizers on the side. “I use goggles on my club team and I like them better because they’re not as tight on my head and they’re easier to put on,” junior Natalie Guillamon said.

PLAYING HARD 1. Sophomore Maddie Hughes winds up to take an eight meter shot during the second half of the game. 2. Junior Caro Hassan works on redefending at the midfield to get the turnover. 3. Junior Natalie Guillamon wins the fight for the ball against Key West. “Even though we lost it was the closest we have come to beating Key West and I think we played really well and we will beat them next time I know it.” Hughes said. Photos by Jennifer Uccelli.

Holding The Rope

TEAMATES MAKE A PACT FOR THE SEASON At the kickoff team dinner every girl agreed to hold each other up and ‘hold the rope’. To demonstrate the metaphor and as a team bonding activity a ball of pink string was passed among each player and every person woud a small section so that every girl was connected. After affirming that they were now a community and would be each other’s strength, the rope was cut and tied on the cleats so that it would always be with them. “I had never played a team sport before so even though I wasn’t sure what to expect; it was still reassuring,” freshman Athena Tsialas said.

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Right onTrack

THE GIRLS TRACK TEAM STARTED THE SEASON STRONG AND CONTINUED TO IMPROVE IN LATER EVENTS

why we

RUN...

. SOME STUDENTS JOINED TRACK AND FIELD FOR THE BENEFITS RUNNING OFFERED

the thrill

"In races, when you feel yourself running fast, it’s exhilarating. Competitions are thrilling, that’s the main reason why I love the sport.”

-- sophomore Anne Bannon

confidence

“Not only does running help my physical health and make me look better, but how good I feel after. I enjoy doing it and I also better myself.”

-- sophomore Olivia Torres

endurance “I’ve always been a fan of the sport. The main reason I run is the see how far can I go and how good I can be.”

-- senior Natalie Varela

focus

“I enjoy running because it takes my mind off things. It calms me down and I love experiencing that.

-- sophomore Nina Starvaggi

TEAMWORK . Sophomore Nina Starvaggi runs and passes the baton to sophomore Anne Bannon in the 4X400 meter relay finals. The girls were able to finish 3rd overall in the race with a time of 4:15:34 minutes. “When we run relays we all depend on each other. So it feels good to know that if you win or lose you do it as a team,” said Starvaggi. Photos by Fox Mar

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enior Natalie Varela remained focused as she sprinted to get to the finish line in the 4X800 meter relay on Feb. 29. The Spartan Invitational was one of the first meets of the season, making it important for the runners to see the competition and test their potential. “A relay is always more fun than an individual event because you get to compete alongside your teammates, we were all focused and worked hard in finishing strong. We know that the season is long and we get better in every practice,” said Varela. The girls track team finished second overall in the relay with a total time of 10 minutes and 15 seconds, giving the team a sensation of success but also leaving room for improvement. Natalie Varela also finished first in the 800-meter race, where she was competing against 37 other girls. Freshman Sofia Cancio competed in both the 100 and 200 meter race. In both races she met a new personal record. “It was a challenge because during the time of the race I was struggling with calves cramps, not to mention that the meet was about 12 hours long so I was tired,” said Cancio, “still we were all able to perform our best and ended up making really good times.” Sophomores Kyra Gardner, Olivia Torres, and Nina Starvaggi competed in the 3200-meter run finals, where Gardner was able to finish first overall. “The 3200-meter race is really long and it has a lot to do with mental toughness. I started strong and was able to keep my pace up and that’s the main reason I did well,” Gardner said. The team continued on to compete in the Sam Burley Hall of Fame Invitational on Mar. 6 where the girls were able to finish 5th in the 4X800 meter race, against 25 other schools. Article by Adriana Leyba

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FAST. Natalie Varela’ 20 finishes the race to help the track team finish second overall in the 4X800 meter relay on Feb. 29 in the Spartan Invitational. She had an outstanding performance in the meet as she also finished first in the 800-meter race. “This meet was a good start to my last track season. Now I just want to keep improving and focus in what’s coming up,” said Varela. Photos by Fox Mar

JUMPING TO IT

. KYRA GARDNER MASTERED POLE VAULTING, HELPING THE TEAM EARN POSITIVE SCORES AT MEETS Sophomore Kyra Gardner was the one only pole vaulter on the team and it became one of the most important events for her. She trained year-long to be ready for the season, even visiting Duke University in the summer to specifically train for pole vaulting with other high school students from around the country. “I was focused on improving and pushing myself to be able to jump as high as I could,” Gardner said. Photo by Fox Mar

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NEVER ts op SENIOR JULIANNA PORTILLO-DEL VALLE USES DRAMA TO SHARE HER VOICE

Reporting and Photo by Kiara Kamlani

Senior Julianna Portillo-Del Valle has continued her passion for drama for seven years. She uses the skills from drama and expresses them through activism.

“

Theatre truly is an excellent avenue to tell a multitude of different stories, those of which may be political or special narratives with the power to impact the audience. Theatre has taught me how to effectively communicate a specific message to an audience, both in delivery and in how a piece or message is written. The summer between lower school and middle school, I found my passion for it. I have always stuck with it because it’s at its essence incredibly liberating. Anyone who knows me knows I am not one to speak out often and that I for the most part keep to myself, but acting allows me to really express myself in so many different ways. It has also created a space in which I have been able to more clearly understand the stories of others, by forcing me to identify with them. My love for theatre has grown into something more, especially in today’s world where activism is essential. I have used my theatre skills and turned them into a form of youth activism through events such as “Pass the Mic,” where I spoke and performed about my Latin identity. I live in the moment through my acting and feel that it is valuable to discover as much of my artistic tendencies while I have space and liberty to do so before I go off to college. In college, I intend to major in English or Psychology and either of those fields professionally require skills and qualities that I have further developed through theatre: communication, public speaking, empathy, critical analysis. There is no better time to prepare for my future than now.

”

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CONCENTRATE. Junior Daniel Thompson remains focused as he finishes the race. His performance helped the team finish 8th overall in the relay. “Running in the relays is really different from running any individual event because you have to not only worry about running but also about exchanging the baton. But I really enjoy it because you get to form part of something bigger than yourself while running with your teammates,” said Thompson. Photos

by Fox Mar

SPEED. Sophomore Gabriel Bendix runs as fast as he can while holding the baton in an attempt to beat his competition in the 4X400 meter relay. Junior Sebastian Stephens and sophomore Matthew White also participated in the relay in which the team finished 8th overall. “We have a lot to improve but the boys are capable of putting the work and the effort. We are all getting better with every practice and meet,” said Bendix. Photos by Fox Mar

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Speedy recovery

THE BOYS TRACK WORKED TOGETHER AND HARD TO IMPROVE THROUGHOUT THE SEASON Junior Daniel Thompson kept his pace up and his eyes on the finish line as he ran as fast as he could in the 4x800 meter relay. On Feb. 29 the team attended the Spartan Invitational where they competed against more than 20 other schools. “While running in the race, I cleared my mind and got into my head that I was going to have a good performance,” said Thompson, “it’s really important to remain focused during the relays and not give in to the pressure of competing so many other good runners.” Sophomore Gabriel Bendix competed in the 800-meter race and finished it in 2 minutes and 11 seconds, being the fastest runner of the team in that event. “The 800 meter is only two laps and I enjoy how fast it goes. Long distance and short distance are two completely different things, long takes more of a strong mentality, but in shorter distance you only have to focus on sprinting,” said Bendix. The season continued to go uphill for the boys. They competed in the Palm League Championships on Mar. 5 and in the Sam Burley Hall of Fame Invitational Mar. 6. In both meets students competed in most of the meet’s events from discus to the 1600-meter run. Since the team had such a different variety of athletes they were able to perform well.

breaking

records THE BOYS TRACK BROKE DIFFERENT

SCHOOL RECORDS THROUGHOUT THE SEASON Sophomore Gabriel Bendix, and juniors Sebastian Stephens, Emilio Posada and Daniel Thompson broke the school record in the 4x1600 meter relay on Feb. 22 at the Belem relay. “The 4X1600 meter takes a lot of focus, specially when it comes to keeping your pace and not slowing down. We were competing against good schools like Belen; even though we were able to break the school record I think that we will keep improving,” said Stephens. After that the boys continued to compete in different meets and get better times. Photos by Fox Mar

Short Distance

VS Long Distance

STUDENTS OPINIONS VARIED WHEN IT CAME TO DECIDING BETWEEN RUNNING LONG AND SHORT DISTANCE

Runners ran different distances throughout the season depending on what the excelled at. Short distance races could be sprints varying from 100 to 400 meters, while long distance races could be up to 5,000 meters long. While some runners liked the momentum of being fast and winning, others liked the patience and perseverance it took to run a long distance.

“

I enjoyed running the short distance way better. The 800-meter race was only two laps around the track and it’s easier to pace yourself.”

-- sophomore Gabriel Bendix

“

Even though it was harder to do, I was better at running long distance. When running I try to keep patient and focus in my goal.”

-- sophomore Matthew White

Photos by Fox Mar

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UNITY. The Sundancers perform a large ensemble choreographed by captain Catherine Dishington. This dance symbolized a lot to the team, and although placing was not their main focus, they still won first place. “We were all so happy to win especially with this dance. Performing it together and feeling so unified was already enough, winning was just a plus,” senior Catherine Dishington said. Photos by Contest of Champions.

PASSION. Sundancers perform with passion to fully capture the themes of each dance. In “Beige,” the dancers exaggerated their facial expressions and closed their eyes. “The dance is about working together to reach a goal and being there for each other. We worked hard to send that message to the judges,” senior Paulina Munoz said. Photos by Contest of Champions.

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DANCE COMPETITION

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Contest of Champions THE SUNDANCERS TOOK HOME FIRST PLACE AT THEIR FINAL DANCE COMPETITION

s the announcer at the Contest of Champions National Dance Team Competition in Orlando, FL, awarded the winners of each division on Mar. 1, the Sundancers prepared by holding each other’s hands nervously, and hoping for the best. To their surprise, their large ensemble number that was choreographed by senior Catherine Dishington, took home the title of first place. “We all really liked this piece and having such a strong connection with it made our performance come natural and easy. Since we hadn’t seen any of our competitors, we didn’t know what to expect which made hearing our name for first place so much better, all our hard work had paid off,” junior Ciara Schweitzer said. The team held several intense practices on weekends and after school for weeks leading up to the competition in order to prepare. The Sundancers competed a total of 20 dances including group dances, solos, duets, and trios. “The extra practices really benefited us as a team because they allowed us to drill our dances and have them completely solid before we headed to the competition. By the time we got there and took the floor we were beyond confident and ready to perform,” senior Catherine Dishington said. Seniors Paulina Muñoz and Valeria Pieschacon performed a duet together to the song, “The Day Has Come,” which they worked on for about three months. “I loved finally being able to perform our duet together our senior year because it’s something Paulina and I have wanted to do since we first started dancing together as kids,” senior Valeria Pieschacon said.

spotlight

senior

The senior Sundancers compete their small ensemble called “Coastline.” The girls were very proud when they placed 3rd. “This dance was special to all of us and was about leaving behind an impression for our teammates, friends, or family,” senior Daniella Tosca said.

Photos by Contest of Champions.

Article by Isabella Quinon

final goodbye

SENIOR CO-CAPTAIN AMANDA GONZALEZ PLACED 5TH OUT IN A HIGHLY COMPETITIVE DIVISION

Senior Amanda Gonzalez performed to the song, “My Way,” by Frank Sinatra. Gonzalez had an emotional connection to the song as it was a celebration of all the years she had devoted to dance. “I felt it was such a special moment being able to perform on stage in front of an audience of thousands and it be the last time performing during my high school career,” senior Gonzalez said. Photos by Contest of Champions.

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celebration GLOBAL

THE WORLD LANGUAGES DEPARTMENT REPRESENTED DIFFERENT COUNTRIES AND CULTURES AT THEIR “IT’S A SMALL WORLD” EVENT

On Mar. 4, the World Languages department held their “It’s a Small World” event with the theme of “Carnivals and Festivities Around the World.” The event showcased the different cultures represented by students at the school. Language classes set up tables around the atrium to display history, games, and traditions of a variety of cultures. At the annual ceremony, students walked with flags and performed according to the languages they studied. Many brought food from their own cultures for the Parent Association to set up.

fab projects ON DISPLAY. Every language class set up a table in the atrium which demonstrated projects and artifacts related to the topic of carnivals and festivities that usually take place during February and March. “It’s a time to eat, drink, and be merry before the rigorous fasting and sacrifice during Lent,” Spanish teacher Maria Eva Molina said. Sophomores Natalia del Cueto and Leanza Perusquia Ruiz stopped to read and look at the Mexican holiday table. “Being both from Mexico, we were very intrigued by the table display,” Perusquia Ruiz said. Photos by Victoria Poliak

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IT’S A SMALL WORLD

REPRESENT. For the first event, the World Language department had students parade into the gym holding flags from different countries. The Brazil flag was held by juniors Alissa Pascual, Lucas Berto, Eduardo Guimpares, Lucas Goes Pessoa Mendonca, and sophomore Dylan Toplas. Sophomores William Bettridge, Carson Haggard, and freshmen Sasha Davenport, Sofia Cancio, held flags from other countries during the ceremony. “It was fun for those few short seconds that I walked through the gym,” freshman Sofia Cancio said. Photos by Victoria Poliak and Valentina Graziozi

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ON STAGE. Various cultures and countries were represented through students and faculty performances. The Chinese Club performed their third annual dragon dance. “The most difficult part was getting everyone together since it’s a teamwork project, but we did great at the end,” Chinese teacher Zoe Chen said. The Japanese level four honors students showcased Japan’s roots by performing a traditional Japanese dance. Teachers teamed up to salsa to Puerto Rican music played live. The Sundancers performed a samba routine. Photos by Valentina

Graziozi and Victoria Poliak

“

“It was scary at first having everyone looking at you while you’re performing something so unfamiliar but in the long run, it was a memorable experience.”

-- frehsmen Sophie Podrog

food

fine arts “Performing in front of the whole school for my Spanish class made me very nervous at first, but I ended up having fun and all my fear went away.”

-- sophomore Mia Romanach

“Doing this dance was fun and an enjoyable, in and I actually had a lot of fun dancing with my class..”

-- senior Jeremy Trattler

YUMMY TREATS. The Parent Association provided food from all over the world for students to enjoy. Throughout the day, the students ate food from different cultures and countries. Senior Valentina Graziozi and sophomore Eva Cazar had tequeños and alfajores. Photos by Victoria Poliak and Kimberley Cruz

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SWING. Sophomore Will Bettridge swings at the ball while at a tied score. “I was thinking that I had to get the ball in play to help my teammates out and I was making sure that I moved the runners over so we would have a better chance,” Bettridge said.

Q&A

Photo by Julian Concepcion

WITH COACH MANNY CRESPO What is the difference between this season and last season? What do you predict for this year? “This year, we have young but experienced players and solid group of upperclassmen to lead the way. Our culture is changing fast and it’s improving our development significantly. I’m excited. Instead of being in a survival mode, we finally have players that are more ready and not as young. Our development is growing fast and overall this year will be more exciting as I see us playing and fighting until the end.” What do you enjoy most about coaching this group of kids? “I love the perseverance I see in these men. To play on the varsity team is not just an extra-curricular activity, it demands responsibility and dedication to be a part of our baseball program, and they are starting to understand that. That makes them exciting to watch.”

“W W

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VARSITY BASEBALL

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all about that

BASE THE BASEBALL TEAM CREATED A CULTURE OF HARD WORK AND DEDICATION TO REGAIN THEIR LEGACY

n Feb.19, the varsity baseball team played its first game of the season against Hialeah Gardens. The team started low but regained momentum and got the score up to a tie. The team persevered through the leadership of captains junior Luis Aparicio, senior Cole Macau, and Daniel McAuliff. Being the leaders of the team brought several responsibilities but was rewarding as well. “It’s a blessing and privilege to be one of the leaders on this team. I love watching my brothers succeed. On the field we work together and I have my teammates’ backs on and off the field,” Aparicio said. These captains used different methods to demonstrate leadership qualities on the field, as they had to keep the team ready for future seasons as well. “I work closely with the juniors who will be the leaders of the team next year. I make sure everyone is on time for practice and games. I also set an example during practice to make sure everyone is taking things seriously,” Macau said. Their season, however, was cut short due to the coronavirus outbreak and social distancing. This signaled the end to high school sports for the seniors on the team. HONOR. Senior Cole “This group of guys are really special. They come in every Macau, junior Luis Aparicio, and senior Daniel day ready to work hard and put in the effort. I’m really upset McAuliff are the team’s that our season is cut short from this virus, as I only saw good captains and leaders. “To lead is a privilege that one things coming out of this team. I wish them all the best next must uphold by showing year. I will always remember this team as being the team I constant commitment,” would most want to go out and battle with,” McAuliff said. said coach Crespo.

ALUMNI GAME. On Feb. 1, the baseball team held a game for alumni. Alumni, students, and coaches were able to play ball, get their face painted, and enjoy a barbecue. “The alumni game was a lot of fun; it was cool playing with previous Gulliver players,” said sophomore Harrison Garfield. Photo by Fox Mar

Photo by Manny Crespo

Article by Olivia Martin-Johnson

“WHEN YOU LOOK GOOD, YOU FEEL GOOD WHEN YOU FEEL GOOD, YOU PLAY GOOD.” -- Coach Manny Crespo

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The varsity baseball team sported new uniforms on the field. Coach Manny Crespo felt the new look added to the team’s confidence. “When you look good, you feel good. When you feel good, you play good,” Crespo said.

Olivia Martin-Johnson

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FOCUS. Junior Antonia Truis attempts to shoot and score for her team. The girls had to take aggressive and powerful throws in order to score. Truis stayed focus and attentive as she tried to bring her team to victory. Photo by Fox-Mar

PLAY. Sophomore Paulina Hernandez gets ready to pass the ball to one of her teammates, while avoiding the defense from the opposing team. The girls had to make quick and strong passes in order to score and move past the defense. The players’ strategic offense helped them achieve another win for the books. Photo by

Fox-Mar

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GIRLS WATER POLO

SCORE. Junior Captain Alissa Pascual watches the other teams defense and gets ready to pass the ball. To win, the girls had to be strategic when passing and scoring. Players had to think fast and make smart decisions. The girls also had to trust their teammates, and rely on one another to make good choices when passing and shooting. Photo by Fox-Mar

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SHOOT. Sophomore Emily Miller moves towards the goal and gets ready to take a shot. Miller stayed calm and focused while moving as fast as possible so she could score. The team’s hard work and focus resulted in a big win against TERRA. The girls scored a total of 19 goals. “I’m very proud of our win, as we all worked really hard and had fun,” Miller said. Photo by Fox-Mar

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t e G SOAKED

THE GIRLS WATER POLO TEAM PLAYED AN IMPRESSIVE MATCH AGAINST TERRA ON MAR. 5

he Girls Water Polo team kicked off their season at the St. Andrews Invitational on Feb. 21 and 22 with an end result of two wins and two losses. The team lost to Boca High and Olympia by 1 goal, but they gained two victories over Suncoast and St. Thomas. With their success so far this season, The team believes they will win their District and hope to advance to States. “We should win our District games, and we will face our toughest competition at the regional level. This season we hope to advance through Regionals and make it to states,” Head Coach Carroll Vaughan said. The team was led by Captains Junior Kalei Ganser and Junior Alissa Pascual at their St. Andrews Invitational tournament. Pascual is the leading scorer, and First Team All Dade athlete in both swimming and water polo. The girls played tough competition, but pulled through with hard work and confidence. “So far, this year is going great.

Whats in

We’ve had our ups and downs, but we’re getting closer to our goal. We want to get to states, but for now we’re working to get as far as we possibly can,” Ganser said. Continuing their season, the girls played a great match against TERRA on Mar 5. The team achieved a huge win, with a score of 19-1. “It was a very good game, because we all played very well. We also got to work on our offense plays, since we had a huge lead the whole game,” Sophomore Paulina Hernandez said. This year, the team is filled with young players, as most of the starting lineup is underclassmen. With only one senior, the team is very young and will continue to have their best players for future seasons. “ We are a young team this year, with only one senior Milla Busso. Our starting lineup is 2 freshman, 2 sophomores, and 2 juniors. We are young,” Vaughan said. Article by Kate Perez

Photos by Fox-Mar

your bag Su

cr ee

PASS. Senior Milla Busso, Sophomore Margaret Miao, and Sophomore Paulina Hernandez think fast and pass the ball to one of their teammates. The girls had a lot of trust in each other, making playing with each other much more fun and easy.

THE GIRLS WATER POLO TEAM NEEDED SPECIFIC ITEMS IN THEIR BAGS ON GAME DAYS. 1. On game days, apart from my game suit and towel, I always pack sunscreen, goggles, extra caps, a jolyn, and moisturizer.”

- junior Kalei Ganser

Snacks Water

2. “On game days, I always pack sunscreen, game suit, and swim caps. I also always bring a towel, and especially snacks and Gatorade. And of course a speaker to get hype in the locker room!”

- freshman Girogia Pascual

Goggles

Swim Cap

Towel

3.“On game days, I make sure to put sunscreen, eye drops, my suit, goggles, and my cap in my bag. I also can’t forget my water bottle and sandals.”

- junior Antonia Truis

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KEEPING POSSESSION: Junior Jeronimo Dacharry focuses all of his energy on safely passing the ball at the game against Terra on Mar. 5. The opposing team attempted to steal it, but they were unsuccessful. Sejasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; performance contributed to the teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s victory in which the opposing team did not score a single goal. Photo by Fox Mar

SHARP SHOT: Sophomore Parker Rosenthal, Senior Michael Sejas and junior Bruno Rebessi prepare to pass the ball to their teammates at the game against Terra. On defense, junior Awwal KayRamos reached up to block the opposing team from scoring a goal. Offense and defensive players worked together to maintain a strong team dynamic and win the game.

PASS THE BALL: Sophomore Felipe Lyra and Junior Kamal Kay-Ramos take turns guarding the goal. They blocked the opposing team from scoring and threw the ball back into the hands of their own teammates. Senior Taylor Quintero swam the ball to the other side of the pool in the hopes of scoring a goal. Photos by Fox Mar

Photos by Fox Mar

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BOYS WATER POLO

Sports | March

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unior Jeronimo Dacharry gripped the ball tightly as he fought to keep it in his possession at the game against Terra on Mar. 5. Led by captains, juniors Hayaat Kay-Ramos, Bruno Rebessi, and Juan Carlos Pompa, the team won 25-0, making the boys confident about their upcoming season. “This was a really exciting game for me. We had a lot of great plays and I think that we all played very well together,” Sejas said. The boys water polo team went into the season with high expectations after earning the State Championship title last year. With the addition of many new players to the team, the boys were optimistic that they could carry their previous success into their new season. “We gained a lot of new freshmen players as well as players who previously were on

THE BOYS WATER POLO TEAM WORKED TO KEEP LAST SEASON’S MOMENTUM

the swim team, which should add depth to our team and make us stronger as a whole,” junior Bruno Rebessi said. This success did not come easily, however. The team trained six times a week for twoand-a-half hours. In addition to the pool component of the practice, the team also participated in injury prevention, which was weight training that aimed to strengthen specific muscles to decrease the athletes’ chances of being injured. The boys were hopeful that they could win the state championships again if they continued to put in the same hard work and dedication as they had the year before. “We have a very strong team this year and I am confident that we will be able to win states,” sophomore Parker Rosenthal said. Article by Julia Rosenthal

ATHLETES BREAK DOWN THEIR positions explained POSITIONS AND WHAT THEY ENTAIL goalie

junior Kamal KayRamos

ker c a tt a y t lef

junior Hayaat KayRamos

r e d n e f e d r cente senior Taylor Quintero

“ “ “

Goalie is one of the most challenging positions. I control the defense, anticipating the movement of the opponent’s offense, and block shots, creating opportunities for our team to go to offense. On offense, I am like the quarterback of the game, calling the plays and making the passes.

Being a lefty is a rare trait that few players possess. This gives me an advantage in that I can play on the right side, on the 4/5 side, where I would have a better angle at goal than right-handed players. My job is to create opportunities, be an option as a shooter, and put the ball into set.

My job is to defend the other team’s center and call out defensive plays. The center defender is basically the leader of the defense, and the rest of the defense will adjust to what the center defender does.

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PLAYING THE FIELD. Junior Natalia Melendez, sophomores Andrea Delgado and Ajah Mallary, and junior Porter Bowen warm up to defend the diamond. They practiced fielding and catching the ball at numerous different angles to be prepared for anything. “I always concentrate my hardest during warm-ups because starting varsity pitcher is such an important role,” Mallary said. Photos by Fox Mar

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PURE FOCUS. Junior Paulina Posada concentrates on making a catch that could set the tone for the rest of the game. The ball sailed right into her awaiting glove. “Just doing anything that’s beneficial for the team is a good feeling but really it’s a team effort, which is one of the things I love about softball,” Posada said. Photos by Fox Mar

SOFTBALL SPREAD TOPIC | Sports | Sports | March | March

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to plate STEP UP SOFTBALL HAD A NEAR-PERFECT SEASON RUN

n Mar. 6 during the first hit of the Terra game, junior Paulina Posada pursed her lips and splayed her fingers wide as she concentrated on making a catch that could set the tone for the rest of the game. The ball sailed right into her awaiting glove and in a split, second the batter was out; a play that set the precedent for the win over Terra. “Just doing anything that’s beneficial for the team is a good feeling but really it’s a team effort, which is one of the things I love about softball,” Posada said. Teamwork, especially in a sport with a variety of positions, was key as junior catcher Porter Bowen had learned in over four years of being behind the batter. “I have to communicate and be involved in every play, I call the pitch and watch all the runners. It can be a challenge sometimes but I love it,” Bowen said. With improved communication, batting skills, and faster reaction time, the team had a near-perfect record with an 8-1 season before Spring Break.

“It went really well, our hitting improved a lot from the previous years and I hit my first home run and we were off to a really amazing overall season. We had only lost one game so it was really disappointing when it was canceled so abruptly. And as a team we were all working well together,” junior Natalie Melendez said. Such a close team dynamic opened opportunities for younger players to stand in the spotlight. “I got to start in a couple games which is something I never would have thought I could do in my first year playing at the Prep. It was so exciting and gave me such a thrill,” freshman Alexis Roades said. Despite the unexpected pause to the season, to the players the sport never really stopped and the lessons learned were taken even beyond the field. “I like softball because I’ve learned so many new things through playing it that could help me in the future,” sophomore Andrea Delgado said. Article By Morgan Vazquez

Going

BATTY

I use an Easton Ghost because with it I hit the ball harder and farther.”

-- Sophomore Carmen Hall

Q&A WITH SENIOR

MEKAYLA FRAZIER

What makes you want to play softball at the collegiate level? “I honestly love the competitive aspect as well as the sportsmanship of softball so being able to take it collegiately is such a dream come true and it will be an amazing experience.” What kind of work has it taken for you to get this level? “Throughout the years I have learned that practicing hard, giving it my all has prepared me to get to the level that I’m at right now. I really learned that you always have to put in the time and effort to get anywhere.” What kind of legacy are you looking to leave behind? “I strive to leave a legacy beyond wins and losses. I look to leave behind a positive impact on the younger athletes and show them the value of hard work and teamwork.”

I use a Fast Pitch 2018 because it allows me to have more control which causes the ball to reach farther distance.”

My favorite is a Ghost cause it gives me the most power.”

-- Freshman Johanna Ernsberger

--Senior Elizabeth Gabriele

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TALKING FINANCE: Freshman Sedrick Irvin, Sophomores William Bettridge and Carson Haggard, and Junior Austin Berman pay close attention to the finance exhibitor. They were very interested by what the Financial Advisor from Wells Fargo told them. “I learned that you need a mentor and a person to look up to grow in the business,” Bettridge said. Photo by Lucie Duchene

SMILING AT THE FUTURE: Senior Maria Figueira de Mello Gomes shows interest to the architecture booth. The professionals gave her advice about the career. “The Career Fair really helped me get in contact with architecture companies and since I want to be an architect it was good to talk to professionals in the area,” she said. Photo by Victoria Poliak

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CAREER FAIR

FOCUSED: Freshmen Paulo Nasrallah, and Louis Tapie stop at an interactive booth. The presenter was an Environmental Studies student from Auburn University. “The booth was very interesting,” Tapie said. Photo by Lucie

Duchene

Student Life | March

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LAUGHING IT OUT: Juniors Daniel Hughes, Jordan Cicero, Andrea Gil, and Preston Manna laugh along with the sports career representative from Kamps Fitness in South Miami. They learned many things about the facility and its purpose during the day. “He told us about the different types of workouts Kamps proposes to its clients and how there are days for different focuses (legs, arms, or abs),” Manna said. Photo by Lucie Duchene

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Q&A

STUDENTS SPOKE TO PROFESSIONALS ABOUT POTENTIAL FUTURE CAREERS

n Mar. 11 the Business Club hosted the Career Fair. The event included 25 exhibitors. The fair represented careers from the artistic fields to the sports industry and many more. International Business and Entrepreneurship teacher Daniela Brenha orchestrated the event. “This year’s Career Fair was definitely an improvement from the previous years. As we gain experience in planning and executing, we keep improving. We always count on our alumni and current parents to give their time to the Career Fair. The student leadership was incredible, which made all the difference in the world. They used their business skills in marketing to make the Upper School aware and excited about the event. I would say that students’ engagement with the exhibitors was amazing,” Brenha said. During the event, students visited the different displays around the gym and connected with a variety of professionals, which included several alumni. The career fair helped many students understand what they could do to enter their prospective career field. “I think it’s great to connect with alumni and hear about the success they have had post high school. It is a great opportunity to learn about what you may want to pursuit,” senior Jenna Kaplan said. Moreover, even some students had their own booth where they promoted the business they created in their entrepreneurship class. This was an opportunity for them to publicize their business and maybe find more sponsors. “It was interesting between the having a booth for Spondooli, which is a company that a group of classmates and I have created through the entrepreneurship class where we got to see the questions that people asked about what we did, to the different booths that included a wide spectrum of fields from the Bloomberg program to fitness-oriented companies,” sophomore Victor Diaz-Gessner said.

WITH SOPHOMORE ANTONIA LEMMAN Euro Challenge was a national macroeconomics competition for 9th and 10th graders. Teams were asked to make presentations answering specific questions about the European economy and the euro. They were also asked to pick one member country of the “euro area” to examine an economic problem at the country level, and to identify policies for responding to that problem. It was sophomores Antonia Lemman, Elizabeth Rivabem and Alex Gilliland’s second year competing in the challenge. After winning third place among ninety teams in nationals last year, they were ready to do even better. What topic did your team choose for this year’s competition? “Our team is going to be talking about Germany’s innovation for long-term growth and future work.” Why did you choose this topic? “It deals with the future of work and we are the future. This generation has to learn how to adapt to new technologies and economic changes that will make our lives look very different in a few years. It is a fun challenge that is very relevant. Much like Germany is a major player in the European economy, the U.S. is one of the largest economies in the world. It makes the topic even more relatable and applicable.” What are your goals for this edition of the Euro Challenge? “Our goal is to be the best and also learn more about macroeconomics and the Euro Area.“

Article by Lucie Duchene

call?

what’s your 73%

STUDENTS TOOK AN ONLINE QUIZ TO HELP THEM FIND A POTENTIAL CAREER

27%

disagree

agree

The Business Club designed a quiz that would suggest to students the booths to visit during the career fair according to their interests. Some ended up with results that fit their interests, while others thought that the career they were told to look into was not what they imagined. In a poll of 40 students, 29 said the answer they obtained was accurate while 11 did not agree with the suggestion they received. “I got entertainment and production and I think that fits me,” sophomore Nicholas Aday said.

WINNERS: Sophomores Elizabeth Rivabem, Antonia Lemman, Alex Gilliland and Junior Sofia Restrepo hold their third place trophy from the 2019 edition of the Euro Challenge. The team was happy that their effort paid off. They were ready to work even harder for their upcoming event. Photo provided by Antonia Lemman

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STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN ENGAGING ACTIVITIES IN THEIR CORE ACADEMIC CLASSES

eniors Connor Valdes, Sebastian Quintero, and Christopher Purcell lean over the railing and smile as they prepare to throw their Barbie doll, which was attached to several rubber bands, over the rail on Oct. 16. “The Barbie activity was a lot of fun and I liked being able to do something different than our typical classroom routine,” Valdes said. This “Barbie Bungee” activity was part of Ms. Teruel’s AP Statistics class. Students tied their Barbies or small dolls to rubber bands of varying lengths and recorded the distance the doll fell each time. The goal was to get the doll to fall as far as possible without actually hitting the ground. “This lab allowed us to actually see

the effects of the things we learned in class, which I really enjoyed,” Wang said. After bouncing all of the Barbies attached to the rubber bands of different resistance, students returned to the classroom and calculated the longest possible length that the rubber band could be while still keeping Barbie safe. They accounted for all of the variables in the experiment and graphed their results before finally selecting the perfect length of the rubber band that would maximize the distance Barbie bounced. “This assignment definitely made performing calculations a lot more exciting, and overall I found it a lot of fun,” Quintero said. Article by Julia Rosenthal

Turning The Page

MR. SHAPIRO’S AP LITERATURE CLASS READ NUMEROUS BOOKS INDEPENDENTLY AND IN CLASS

HIGH TENSION: Seniors Sebastian Quintero and Christopher Purcell watch as Senior Connor Valdes drops Barbie over the railing of the 400’s wing. They repeated this several times with varying rubber band lengths to adjust the amount of tension there was pulling the Barbie back up. Their goal was to make Barbie drop as low as possible without hitting the ground.

Seniors Anabelle Kang and Joshua Hamburger read and annotated “The Kite Runner” for Mr. Judd Shapiro’s AP Literature Photo by Olivia Martin-Johnson class. Students independently read a different novel each grading period of the year and shared their thoughts on them through blog posts, which were available for Mr. Shapiro and the rest of the class to read. The “Kite Runner” was the final independent reading novel of the year, and for many students, it was their favorite one. “The ‘Kite Runner’ is a really great book. It is easy to read and I find it very interesting,” Kang said. Photos by Julia

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CORE CLASSES

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SOLDon the idea

MS. POTT’S ECONOMICS STUDENTS CREATED MODEL BUSINESSES

Junior Nico Renfrigo, junior Jasmine Vega, senior Gabby Davis, and junior Julia Hornstein presented their fictional business, which was a vegan ice cream sandwich company, to the class. Students in Ms. Potts’ economics class studied different kinds of market structures while learning about micro-economics, and then created an ice cream business with differentiated products. This allowed students to gain a sense of what it was like to run a business in the real world. “I liked that I was able to create something that was unique and personally interested me,” Davis said. Photos by Julian Conception.

BUNGEE JUMPING: Seniors Taylor Quintero, Oliver Wang, and the rest of Ms. Teruel’s AP Statistics class work diligently on their “Barbie Bungee” calculations. They threw their Barbies or dolls over the railing of the 400’s wing attached to varying rubber band lengths and calculated the distance Barbie fell. They then determined what the best rubber band length was to maximize the distance Barbie could fall without hitting the floor. Photos by Olivia Martin-Johnson.

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worth their

WEIGHT

THE BOYS WEIGHTLIFTING TEAM WORKED TO ACHIEVE NEW HEIGHTS

enior Ulises Sarria threw his weight over his head, successfully completing a clean and jerk at the competition on Mar. 11, defeating Marathon High School. “Our last meet was a historic day. Our team won its first boys weightlifting match,” senior Dante De Rosa said. “We have a lot of room for improvement, but, overall, we did solid as a team.” Athletes competed individually in their respective weight classes, making weightlifting a more individual sport. Regardless, the athletes all needed to perform well in order for the team to succeed. “Each athlete is scored against the other athletes in his weight class. That determines the individual

Warming Up

Sophomore Justin Neyra stretched his arms before the competition against Marathon High School on Mar. 11. Athletes utilized different muscle groups to prepare to lift heavy weights during competition. “Our warm-up consists of exercises to get our upper body muscles prepared for the bench press, and then exercises to warm up our legs for the clean and jerk.” sophomore Carson Haggard said.

placement for each weight class. The team scoring is based off of a point system given to each placement. Those numbers are tallied up and both individual winners and team winners are awarded,” coach Curt Johnsen said. The benefits of weightlifting spanned far beyond the actual season. Many of the athletes also played other sports, such as football and track. The strength the athletes’ gained from weightlifting was universally beneficial. “Weightlifting is helpful for me because it prepares me physically for football and gets me much stronger in all aspects for the season,” sophomore Carson Haggard said. Article by Julia Rosenthal

STUDENTS EXPLAIN THEIR WARM-UP ROUTINE

BENCH PRESS: Sophomores Carson Haggard, Justin Neyra, and Brandon Brana work on their bench presses. One athlete would complete the exercise while the other would stand by ready to assist. This ensured that all of the athletes could lift the maximum amount of weight safely. Photos by Julian Conception.

Photos by Julian Conception.

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BOYS WEIGHTLIFTING

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CLEAN AND JERK: Senior Ulises Sarria completes a successful clean and jerk at the competition against Marathon High School or Mar. 11. His performance contributed to the team’s victory. This took place at the last competition of the season before the school was unexpectedly closed due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Photo by Julian Conception

“

“It feels great to be a senior, seeing this program progress as much as it has since my sophomore year is amazing. Being a leader for the younger guys and showing them the ropes really motivates me.”

-- senior Ulises Sarria

POWERING THROUGH: Sophomore Bakari Edwards and junior Gabriel Nealy show their strength at the competition against Marathon High School. Athletes competed in two events: the clean and jerk and the bench press. Their performances were then ranked according to their weight class and their points were totaled to get the team’s overall score. Photos by Julian Conception.

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STATE

CELEBRATION. Moments after their win

the boys pose for a picture holding up a commemorative jersey honoring their former teammate Javier Cañedo. “Knowing that we did it all for Javi makes it even more special as we miss him every day. Holding him up with us during the pictures felt really special,” junior Gabriel Almeida Fortuna de Oliveira said.

Seniors Sebastian Paz, Cole Ritzenthaler and Oliver Massolo posed for a picture while seniors Eduardo Mendes, Marco Gutierrez and Jaime Perez-Bedmar Merello held up their medals. Photos by Julian Conception The whole team came together on the field after their victory. Photo by Ariel Acosta-Rubio

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CHAMPS

BOYS VARSITY SOCCER TEAM WINS STATES IN OVERTIME

oments after senior Jaime Perez-Bedmar Merello aimed and scored the final goal, the boys varsity soccer team rushed to the field and posed for a picture with their trophy. It was a nail-biting game on Feb. 27 with the team ultimately winning the state championship title, beating the Mariner Tritons with a score of 4-3, in overtime. “It felt like in that moment all our hard work had paid off. We won because it felt like we wanted it more than the other team,” junior Captain Juan Lazcano said. At halftime, the Raiders were down 2-0. Early in the second half, senior Sebastian Paz scored, and about ten minutes later, Paz scored again bringing the game to a tie, 2-2. With ten minutes remaining, the Tritons scored, beating the Raiders by one point. The fans held their breath as senior Maximilian Clivio scored, with three minutes remaining after an assist from Paz which tied the game 3-3. “I knew that being down 3-2 with only a couple of minutes left, it was now or never for us to score. With only two minutes left, my teammate Sebastian Paz flicked the ball over their defensive line and I ran through and scored, which took us to overtime,” Clivio said. With four minutes left at overtime, Perez-Bedmar Merello scored with an assist from senior Cole Ritzenthaler. “When I scored it felt like all the effort was worth it to be able to be the state champions,” Perez-Bedmar Merello said. The boys rushed to the bleachers to celebrate their win with their fans, who had traveled in fan buses to cheer them on, and received their championship medals and trophy. “This was one of the most enjoyable experiences of my life. To have the vantage point of watching these boys work extremely hard, challenge themselves, each other, create a fun environment, and playing calmly under extreme pressure was a joy,” Head Coach Christopher Bart-Williams said.

Article by Kiara Kamlani

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break

POINT THE BOYS VARSITY TENNIS TEAM DOMINATED RANSOM EVERGLADES

unior Gaston Menendez served with all his strength as he started his game on Feb. 25 against Ransom Everglades. This was an important match for the boys varsity tennis team because of the longstanding rivalry. However, along with the rest of his team, Menendez ended up dominating, adding to the team’s overall wins. “That was a tough match, but I am very happy I won. I had to put my mind in the game and focus to win it,” Menendez said. Both single and double matches were close during the meet between the rivals. This showed the perseverance that every player needed as it was anyone’s game. One player stood out, however, playing a perfect game. Freshman Pierce Garbett beat his opponent 8-0. He did not rest for a second and gave every ounce of energy he had.

senior SHOUT OUT “The legacy I want to leave behind is to always fight for what you want no matter how hard it is and no matter how many balls you have to hit.”

“This was a very big win for me since it’s rare to completely beat someone, especially as a freshman. I am happy I could help my team with another win during that day,” Garbett said. The day was warm on the court and it was not always easy to play under a harsh sun, yet the boys still managed to pull through, winning 5-2 out of seven matches. This added to their record and motivated them to keep playing at their best throughout the season. After this game, their record improved to 3-2, setting a good tone for the rest of the season. “The Ransom game boosted our confidence even more after winning 7-0 against Belen. We never give up and even though it is an individual sport our team is close,” sophomore Diego Cedeño said. Article by Lucie Duchene

SENIORS LEFT LEGACIES TO THE UNDERCLASSMEN “The legacy that I want to leave behind is that no matter the level at which you stand, you can always push yourself to be better and while pushing yourself, you can have fun.”

--Tomaso Enrico

BOYS VARSITY TENNIS

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“The legacy I want to leave behind is that I hope the new players could trust me and learn from me.”

-- Armand Rabassa

-- Rodrigo Hernandez-Pons

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FULL INTENSITY. 1. Junior Francesco Di Mise bends down to reach the incoming ball. He needed agility and keen reflexes to play it back to his opponent in the hope of scoring. 2. Freshman Oliver Lee rushes to the back of the court to hit the ball. He successfully caught it close to the floor as he bent his knee. 3. Freshman Pierce Garbett extends his body to reach the high ball. His action permitted him to score. Photos by Fox Mar

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MOTIVATED. Junior Gaston Menendez uses his strength and height to serve the ball to his opponent as the match starts. A few exchanges occurred until he won the point. This match was crucial for the team’s overall win on Feb. 25.Photo by Fox Mar

A Q&

WITH JUNIOR CAPTAIN ERIC BROOK When did you start playing tennis? “I was five years old the first time I picked up a tennis racket at a summer camp in Key Biscayne. I had recently moved to the United States and I immediately made new my friends at that camp. We began to play all the time at clinics and small tournaments. It was competitive and lots of fun. As time went by, most of my friends stopped playing and it made it more difficult to continue to play. But the fire had been lit inside me and I had grown passionate about the sport. I began taking private classes and going to tournaments on the weekends and practicing as often as I could. I see myself playing tennis for the rest of my life.” How does it feel to be captain? “I was surprised and incredibly happy to be chosen as captain of the team. I’m still a junior and that’s typically a role for seniors. What I’ve learned is that being captain is not about being the best player or the star athlete. I enjoy being captain because I see it as an opportunity to support my teammates and bring us together. When we are out there playing individual matches I’m proud to hear each of us cheering for one another. This is an individual sport but we are a team and I’m honored to be our captain.” What are your goals for the team? “Last year, we won the State Championship, an amazing accomplishment and one we did not expect to achieve early in the season. Although tennis is an individual sport, what we learned that year is that it truly takes a team to succeed. It’s about having each other’s back, picking each other up and truly rooting for the individual wins of your teammates. Many times we make difficult tactical decisions without worrying about an individual match but instead focusing on the team...the family. A leader is crucial and we have Coach Fernando for that. We began this year with many new faces and we lost excellent players from last year’s state championship team. To win states again will require hard work, sacrifice and courage. We are building that courage and we are coming together as a family once again. Playing as team, we can absolutely be state champions again.”

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Steps to

SUCCESS

ENGINEERING STUDENTS CELEBRATE THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE CLASSROOM AND COMMUNITY

Q& A

WITH SOPHOMORE ALEJANDRO ANTORCHA

What do you mostly focus on in your team? I focus on a yearly competition called the FIRST Robotics competition where teams compete in cooperative challenges. What project have you been working on? We build a robot that goes with FIRST guidelines that aims to complete challenges in the most effective way possible. The challenge is presented in January and we must go through the entire design build and test processes before the competition in mid-March. What would you say was the most challenging part? The most challenging part was designing an efficient and effective robot. It’s often the most difficult step since it determines the end result. How did the team overcome the challenge? We overcame it by putting numerous hours into its production.

unior Joao Carvahlo added finishing touches to the team’s robot. He and his team revealed their robots at the Engineering Department’s annual potluck dinner on Mar. 4 The event was held after school, celebrating a successful year of engineering projects and events. Students had the chance to show off all the work they had completed to their friends and family, and parents had the chance to enjoy the food and impressive accomplishments. “It’s the FIRST robotics reveal, which basically means we gather with the community, parents, and students interested in robotics for half an hour. Then we display our robot, testing it in front of everyone at a field,” engineering teacher Claude Charron said. The Engineering Department saw

the construction of several impressive projects, including a robot created for the FIRST competition in mid-March. The team tested it for the first time in front of an audience at the potluck. According to freshman Jaedon Rich, the test was successful. “Everything we tested worked successfully, but we made a few changes to the parts we tested since then,” Rich said. The department showed off their other big engineering projects. “The three big team projects are the solar car we’re building for a competition in April. We also have an innovation competition, which includes several projects involving helping with the environment, energy, and health needs. The last one is called the Woody project that helps individuals with disabilities in wheelchairs,” Charron said. Article by Mari Sofi Latour

NEW Generation

STUDENTS PASSED ON KNOWLEDGE TO FUTURE ENGINEERS IN THE COMMUNITY On Feb 28 engineering students rode to CARE elementary for a service trip. students showed children how to create designs using coding skills for three hours, introducing g them to valuable skills becoming more and more prominent in the modern world. “Teaching programming to the children of care elementary made me feel like I had made a difference by opening up their minds to new opportunities,” sophomore John Schappert said. The CARE trip was one of many service opportunities the engineering department offered on Fridays. The Engineering Department organized other service programs besides CARE, including middle school events and teaching a course through Breakthrough Miami.

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BUILDING. Junior Joao Carvahlo finalizes work on the robot he along with his teammates sophomore Victoria Hagenlocker and junior Porter Bowen, while president Cliff Kling looks on. According to Carvahlo, a lot of studying and planning took place prior to beginning work on design. “It all starts with understanding the game; we first spent a lot of time reading the game manual,” Carvahlo said. Photos

by Claude Charron

COMPETITION READY. Engineering students go through different stages of building and design for their robot. Although tested before family and friends on Mar. 4, it still needed work to be competition-ready. “Usually we have to troubleshoot a lot to ensure all systems work, but to our pleasant surprise we had some really good debut testing and almost everything worked to plan,” said junior Joao Carvahlo. Photos by Claude Charron

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SPEED. Seniors Karen Liberman and Kyle Bramson lean back while holding tightly to the sailboat in an attempt to find balance. Not only did students get to enjoy the sport, but also got to experience the sea life and their surroundings. “One of the things I like the most about doing sailing is that you can see fish, manatees, and even dolphins sometimes,” said Liberman. Photos by Fox Mar

ROUGH WATERS. The sailing team practice on a cloudy and windy day to prepare for a regatta. The team jumped in the water and sailed, fighting the difficult conditions. “Sailing is a sport that can be done in any weather condition. As though it might not seem like it, the times sailing is most enjoyable is when it’s either super windy and when there is a rainstorm. If we lived in the Northern states we would even sail in the snow. We have been to regattas that we have had to take out ice sheets from our boat,” said senior Roberto Lugones. Photos by Fox Mar.

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riding the wave

THE SAILING TEAM COMPETED IN THE SAISA SOUTH POINTS ON FEB. 29

Seniors Karen Liberman and Kyle Bramson sailed and worked together on a cloudy day in practice as they prepared themselves for a regatta they had the upcoming weekend. On Feb. 29, the sailing team competed in SAISA South Points #6 hosted by the Youth Sailing Foundation of Indian River in Vero Beach, FL. Nineteen schools were in attendance, making for great racing. The teams arrived in sunny skies and a building offshore breeze with cool temps. The breeze filled into a fresh 20mph as racing got underway in the Intercoastal waterway and would remain windy all day for fast racing. The team finished 3rd overall in the regatta, which officially qualified them for the district championships. “Lately our team has really excelled, we currently rank 5th in the South Division and we are now moving on to Districts, which is actually a multistate event, to push for a spot at the National regatta. It feels good to see all of the hard work paying off,” senior Roberto Lugones said. Junior Daniel Hugues and senior Christopher Purcell had an outstanding performance, placing 2nd overall in the A division. “The day wasn’t marked by who was the best sailor; rather who was most prepared both physically and mentally. It was far colder on the water than anyone expected, and being stuck in shorts and a thin shirt, I was freezing. I didn’t let it get to me, though. All in all, it was about keeping our heads in the game, doing our pre-race work, and then executing the original plan we had devised, which worked out more often than not,” Purcell said. Sailors practiced how to cooperate and work with one another. “One of the hardest parts about sailing is synchronizing with your partner, because the boat has two people you have to learn how to work as a team and be patient.”

Article by Adriana Leyba

mast

“The purpose of the mast is to keep the sail up and helps with the weight of the boat.”

Sailing Terms TO BE A GOOD SAILOR FIRST THE TEAM MUST UNDERSTAND THE PARTS OF THE BOAT Sophomore Abigail Sharp pointed out and explained the purpose of the parts of the boat. “In sailing, it’s important to understand the boat’s anatomy because it helps you use its capabilities to their own potential, Sharp said. At regattas or at practices, the team always worked using the vocabulary and knowing the parts of the boat. Photos by Fox Mar

jib

“The jib helps with getting more wind and helps with weight distribution.”

hull

“It helps balance the boat as it moves in the water”

mainsail

“It’s the larger sail of the boat and by catching all the wind it makes it move and go faster.”

boom

“Sailors can rotate the boom in order to get the mainsail to catch as much wind as possible.”

stern

“The stern helps keep the water out and it’s the end part of the boat.” LAYOUT DESIGN

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CPR. Sophomore Virginia Bryan demonstrates how to revive a person via CPR to freshman Samuel Lichtenberger. After a demonstration and a written test. Students became CPR and First Aid certified. “We got certified, plus it was a nice time. I enjoyed it,” Bryan said. Photo by Monica Rodriguez

Staying Zen

HIP

DAY

YOGA TEACHER MARY ZEMAN EXPLAINED WAYS TO DE-STRESS

Students used their new Muse Meditation Devices in Mary Zeman’s Yoga class. The headband tracked the wearer’s brain activity and guided their personalized meditation that they heard on their headphones. While the school was closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, many students found themselves in need of ways to de-stress. Anxiety ran high in the community, which highlighted the importance of movement and exercise as a form of relaxation. “I think the most important thing right now is to move your body,” Zeman said. “Even though we are quarantined in our homes, our school day is different; you must still get a minimum of 20-30 minutes of physical exercise a day. Get out of that chair, especially during school days. This daily movement will take your body and your mind back to something that is so normal. You do not need fancy workout equipment; all you need is a small space, run in place, jumping jacks, dance, put on a YouTube exercise channel. This will temporarily get you away of all the craziness and keep your immune system strong. Hopefully this will be a lifetime normal for you,” said Zeman. Photos by Maria Sofia Latour.

HIP Peer Health Educators (PHE’s) enjoy themselves with music and festivities for HIP day on Mar 10. After educating freshmen on health and wellness topics, PHEs were able to let loose with other peer educators during the event. “It was pretty fun, there was a lot of music and booths with lots of information about different health organizations. There were also a lot of fun activities they did so that they would meet kids from other schools that were also in HIP,” said junior Victoria Naranjo. Photo provided by Karela Palazio

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HEALTH

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and

Body SOUL HEALTH CLASSES BECAME CERTIFIED IN CPR AND FIRST AID

Q&A

ophomore Virginia Bryan practiced her lifesaving skills during her health class’s CPR and First Aid certification exam on Mar 3. “The purpose of the lesson is to certify the students in First Aid and CPR, which is a very important life skill. According to health students the class was very successful,” Landsom said. Students were taught CPR through a video lesson and a hands-on demonstration. Following the hands-on lesson was a written test portion, in which students answered questions pertaining to first aid. “The test was a bit more stressful, but I was pretty confident,” senior Roberta Macedo said. Health students also had the opportunity to learn many other concepts related to health and wellness. These topics included mental health, family and peer relationships, sexually transmitted diseases, smoking and vaping, effects of drug and alcohol use, and nutrition and exercise.

ia Bryan vive a man After written CPR We a nice n said.

WITH HEALTH TEACHER SUZANNE LANDSOM

What do you suggest students should do to stay healthy in light of the coronavirus pandemic? Social distancing. I feel that since the younger population is not as greatly impacted as far as illness is concerned, that they need to be aware that they can be carriers to their parents or grandparents. Do you have any standings on the stress caused by Covid-19? We are unaware of what to expect since this is nothing any of us have witnessed in our lifetimes. I think it is natural to fear the unknown and that causes stress levels to increase dramatically. The students are also being asked to adapt to new learning styles which can also increase anxiety. I think the students need to understand that we are all in this together and are here to help each other to ensure this transition is a success.

Article by Maria Sofia Latour

CERTIFICATION. Students practiced CPR skills on a plastic dummy during their certification class on CPR Mar. 3, led by paramedic Rick Reboso. Before doing so, students saw a presentation and took a handwritten test. The purpose of the lesson was to teach students the correct way to perform CPR on a patient. According to health students the class was very successful.“I thought it went well, we had a of fun too,” senior Roberta Macedo said. Photo by Monica Rodriguez

HEALTH FOCUS

GENERAL CLEANLINESS, PERSONAL HYGIENE AND BUILDING IMMUNITY WERE KEY TO STAYING HEALTHY After the spread of the worldwide coronavirus virus, all campuses were shut down as an attempt to protect students and the rest of the community. Education was switched to an online platform, for students to continue their learning. “We had to first consider the safety of the entire Gulliver community. That’s always our top priority. When we realized that moving to remote learning meant we would give everyone the best possible opportunity to stay safe, we made the decision,” Prep Principal Jonathan Schoenwald said. Good hygiene became very important. From hand washing to rest, exercise and vitamins for immunity, maintaining good health was of primary importance as everyone stayed home. “It’s a major pain to be isolated in our houses, but there’s no real alternative. We need to stay home and stay safe,” sophomore Anne Bannon said.

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MAKINGit

JUNIORS KYLIE O’DAY AND JESSICA MEDWIN WORKED TOGETHER TO RAISE AWARENESS FOR UNDERPRIVILEGED CHILDREN

“

HAPPEN

Juniors Kylie O’Day and Jessica Medwin decided to use each other’s passions to create a non-profit organization called Children for Children.

Imagine creating a non-profit organization with your best friend who shares the same passion you do. We did, and we called it “Children for Children.” We saw a presentation about Tikva Children’s Home, a Jewish orphanage in Odessa, Ukraine, which inspired us to create a club. I was shocked after seeing Jewish children in Odessa living on the streets or living in squalid conditions. We knew we had to do something. Aside from wanting to help Tikva, we decided we also wanted to make an impact in our own backyard. Children for Children works hand in hand with His House Children’s Home in Opa Locka, a local foster home for at-risk children, to provide them with the resources they need in terms of school supplies and clothes. We work to spread the message that everyone is the same on the inside -- no matter their circumstances or background, gender, religion, or orientation. Our mission is to foster cultural awareness, tolerance, and commonalities through

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Reporting and Photo by Kimberley Cruz

connection, social media and guest speakers. We have partnered with local businesses such as Chill-N Nitrogen Ice Cream and Jeremiah’s Italian Ice, as well as the Share Foundation to raise awareness. We have also held multiple activities like car washes, different drives, and 5k races as fundraisers. So far we have raised $10,000 to help our cause. Through our community involvement we now have expanded to multiple private schools in Miami including Belen Jesuit Preparatory School, Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart, and Christopher Columbus High School. We’ve been also working on trying to get publicity beyond the state on national television platforms. Our goal is to spread our mission beyond Miami-Dade so that our organization can continue to touch the lives of children in difficult situations throughout the U.S. and maybe the world.

”

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PEOPLE

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Spring Break in

QUAR NTINE

STUDENTS SHARED ACTIVITIES AND THINGS THEY DID TO FIGHT THE BOREDOM OF SOCIAL DISTANCING

As a global community, our lives were turned upside down in a moment’s notice. On Mar. 14 the school made a decision to close its doors and move all classes online. As the news updates changed daily, and local businesses began shutting down, we knew our days of social distancing and quarantine were going to last longer than we expected. Students made the best of it, taking time to do the things they put off or decided to try something new.

DYE JOB. Keeping a safe social distance, senior Laura Attarian, juniors Pedro Shmeil, Sofia Mueller, and Sophia Marshall went out to their closest CVS or Walgreen’s and bought temporary pink hair dye. “I’ve always wanted to dye my hair a different color, and since I’m always bored on ‘quarantine’ I decided to dye my hair a different color to pass the time,” Shmeil said. Photos provided by Sofia Mueller, Pedro

Elena Schiavo, Laura Loeb, Kelly Zighleboim, Catherine Dishington

Schmeil, Laura Attarian, and Sophia Marshall

VIRTUAL DATES. Students decided to use Facetime and Zoom to communicate with their friends. Junior Bianca Delgado and her friends met up with each other through Zoom between virtual classes while senior Sara Ferrer and her friends used it to socialize during lunch. Sophomore Nick Aday used Facetime to talk to sophomore Landon Biscombe. “My friends and I are trying to work around the situation so we meet up together in between our online classes just like we do at school,” Delgado said. Photos by

Bianca Delgado, Isabella Quiñon, and Nick Aday

TIK TOK. Sophomores Adriana Leyba and Ronan Colak stay busy duetting each other’s videos on Tik Tok. Many other students used this app when they were bored. “Basically it’s my favorite app and I just think it’s cool how you can have two followers and still get thousands of likes. While quarantined I use it a lot because there’s not much to do and also like to see my friend’s dances and their funny tik toks,”Leyba said. Photo

BINGE WATCH. Senior Fiorella Polit, Kiara Kamlani, and Andrea Perez, started watching new shows. Polit watched “Gilmore Girls,” Gomez watched “The Royal,” and Perez watched “All American.” “I was able to catch up on a show I recently started,” Kamlani said. Photos by Kiara Kamlani, Andrea Perez, and Fiorella Polit.

provided by Adriana Leyba

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PAWS. Students used this time to spend quality time with their dogs. Senior Alessandra Bonadies and freshman Alessandra Peña shared some pictures of their dogs while taking them on a walk. Senior Isabella Quiñon, juniors Jessica Medwin and Natalie Gonzalez smile for a picture with their dogs. “Even though the circumstances are horrible, I’m glad I get to spend time with my new dog and train him,” Gonzalez said.

n to dates we ng to taking g new.

Photos by Jessica Medwin, Alejandra

Bonadies, Olivia Pena, Isabella Quiñon, Natalie Gonzalez

FAMILY TIME. Senior Jaime Esquenazi spent time with his older sister who was in town from college by cooking with her. Senior Paola Acosta read a bedtime story to her little brother every night. “Although social distancing stinks because I can’t leave my house and see my friends and teachers, I get to spend more time with my little brother and make some new memories with him before I leave for college,” Acosta said. Photo by Paola Acosta and Jaime Esquenazi

SWEET & SOUR. Baking and cooking were popular activities for students. Junior Ella Zelaya baked a cake with junior Sadie Goldstein. Freshman Esther Enekes made cinnamon buns from scratch. Junior Deven Kamlani made a Margherita pizza for his family. “Since I can’t leave anywhere to buy sweets like cinnamon buns I decided to learn how to make them from scratch,” Enekes said. Photo by Sadie Goldstein, Lilly Enekes, and Kiara Kamlani.

TEST PREP. Some juniors took advantage of the extra time to study for their SAT and ACT exams. Junior Cecilia Derlon spent two hours a day studying for the SAT. “I had a lot of time on my hands so I decided to use it to study for my standardized test,” Derlon said. Photo by Cecilia Derlon

FRESH AIR. Many students decided to take advantage and go outside and enjoy the water and fresh air. Freshman Emily Aparicio did some yoga outside. Junior Natalie Mendez went for a swim in her pool. Junior Paulina Posada enjoyed a boat ride with family. Senior Connor Sazant went for a ride on his jet ski. Sophomores Gonzalo Miranda and Jack Epstein went out fishing at Grove Key Marina. Photos by Natalie Menendez, Paulina Posada, Gonzalo Miranda, and Connor Sazant.

GAME TIME. Playing video games was a huge hit for many during their free time. Sophomore Oliver Pratt, juniors Brian Hernandez and Alexander Cunill played Fortnite. “I love playing video games but I also used this to play and socialize with my friends,” Hernandez said. Photos

provided by Oliver Pratt, Brian Hernandez, and Alexander Cunill.

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OUTDOORS. Seniors Sofia Silberwasser and Valeria Tormo took a biking trip around a park while senior Javier Concepcion skateboarded around his neighborhood. Senior Alexandra Cueto also practiced her skateboarding skills in her backyard. “I really enjoy skating to school but since now we have online school I use this time to practice and learn tricks,” Concepcion said. Photos by Sofia Silberwasser and Alexandra Cueto, and Julian Concepcion

TRAINING. Sophomore Nick Aday and freshman Samuel Lichtenberger trained for their sports. “It feels super weird. Usually I practice with my friends or on an outdoor court, but having to go to an indoor court by myself felt off,” Lichtenberger said. Photos provided by Nick Aday and Samuel Lichtenberger

MOVIE MARATHON. Many students started watching different movies. Juniors Sebastian Perez and Sofia Gomariz watched different movies during their free time. “Since I was super bored I started watching a lot of Netflix original movies,” Perez said. Photos by Sebastian Perez and Sofia

Gomariz

BOOK WORMS. Senior Mattie Owencroft and sophomore Olivia Torres caught up on their reading. Owencroft finished reading “Small Island while Torres finished reading “Little Women.” Photos provided by

Mattie Owencroft and Olivia Torres

SPRING CLEANING. Junior Ciara Schweitzer, sophomore Natalia del Cueto, and freshman Lucas Figueroa used the time to clean. Schweitzer and Figueroa cleaned out their rooms while del Cueto helped around the house. “In a regular week I barely have time to sleep, much less clean my room. This break has given me the opportunity to get organized,” Figueroa said. Photos provided by Ciara Schweitzer, Lucas Figueroa, and Natalia del Cueto.

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ARTSY. Sophomores Olivia MartinJohnson and junior Clara Meyer painted the walls in their room. Sophomore Lucie Duchene and junior Julian Ruiz-Luzio worked on art projects. “I’ve been working on this painting for weeks now and even though school closed it was still due. So I guess quarantine allowed me to concentrate and finally get it done. I was very excited when I finally finished,” Duchene said. Photos provided by Olivia

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EXERCISE. Math teacher Michelle Frye and sophomore Kathleen Lewis enjoyed a stroll in her neighborhoods. Juniors Jordan Cicero and Preston Manna walked together while Senior Diego Rodriguez and sophomore Giovanna Antoniassi Aires Gacia did too. Sophomore Cassandra Kraft and senior Kayla Kraft walked their dogs. Photos by Michelle Frye,

Giovanna Antoniassi Aires Gacia, Jordan Cicero, Kathleen Lewis and Kayla Kraft

WORKING. Yearbook staff worked virtually over spring break on spreads to make sure they met their deadline before the publishing plant in Missouri shut down. “It was super stressful but we got over 300 pages done in a week,” Kamlani said. Photo by Kimberley Cruz

SNACKING. Sophomore Teresa Ariza munched on chips while sophomore Joao Trius ate popcorn. English teacher Inelissa Artzt fought for the last piece of banana nut bread. Many students and faculty snacked more than usual while quarantined. Photos by

HELPING. Chemistry teacher Monica Avalos and field studies teacher Emilia Odife began sewing masks for a group that is collecting them and bringing them to hospitals, clinics, and vet centers to be used over the main one. “Monica Avalos got me started. I have only made like three, she has made tons! Just trying to help a little,” Odife said. Photo by Monica Avalos and Emilia Odife

Teresa Ariza, Inelissa Arzt, and Antonia Trius

SALTY HAIR. Junior Carolina Hassan and sophomore Emily Miller went water skiing along the coast. “ I love the ocean and with all this extra time I have on my hands, theirs nothing I rather do than be water skiing,” Hassan said.

Photos provided by Carolina Hassan and Emily Miller.

SPECIAL MOMENTS. Many seniors took this time to spend quality time with their parents before they leave for college. Seniors Dante de Rosa, Valentina Graziosi, and Alessia Bianco shared pictures with their parents and siblings. “I let my mom feed me as much as I can now because in college she won’t be cooking for me,” de Rosa said. Photos by Dante de Rosa, Valentina Graziosi, and Alessia Bianco

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THE

Staff

SO HERE WE ARE...

384 pages later, after all the late work nights, ordering food, mental breakdowns, listening to MRod’s wedding playlist, hearing each other’s constant “chisme,” dancing to the end of deadlines, finishing all the M&M’s in one day, duck therapy sessions, and endless laughs and smiles; we cannot believe we made it. We wanted this year’s yearbook to stand out from all the others. Our goal was to search for those students who were not procrastinating, and instead were starting new things, taking advantage of the opportunities, and making a difference. With starting a new decade we thought that it was time for our generation to live with the mindset of “Now or Never.” Through our interviews we realized that there were multiple students who had this same mindset of living in the moment so we decided to have our dividers

as profiles to showcase them and how they were making things happen. Our publication features a blue color palette and fonts that capture our theme. We loved Pantone’s color of the year which happened to match our school color and used it throughout the book. We used ANDERSON GROTESK BLACK and the Secret as our headline fonts. We used Helvetica Light for our copy and ANDERSON GROTESK BOLD for our decks and folios. The pages are printed on FSCCertified 100# Legend Gloss paper with a 150-PT board weight. Its dimensions are equal to 9x12 inches. The Raider is a hybrid publication, providing an interactive, multimedia experience while using QR codes as extended coverage for various events. The end-sheets, dividers, and page layouts were all original designs created by yearbook students, using Adobe InDesign CC,

I don’t even know where to start. We finally finished the book after crying, screaming, procrastinating, dancing, gossiping over boys, and Sunday workdays. I enjoyed “KKfying” spreads with you and being your partner in crime in the yearbook world. You helped me pull spreads together last minute; I couldn’t have done it without you. Sad to say, but yearbook brought us closer together, and I am happy it did. Never forget “DODGA,” spilling coffee all over the keyboards after MROD said to be careful, going to lunch A instead of class, listening to music while we worked, regretting having dividers as profiles too late in the game, and dealing with your “senioritis” which lasted the entire year. I wish you the best of luck in college. You are going to kill it. I will miss you!

Photoshop CC, and Illustrator CC. Our book was printed by Walsworth Publishing Company at their plant in Marceline, Missouri. All of our pages were submitted as certified PDF documents via Walsworth’s online PDF submission server. We had a press run of 1,150 copies. Our customer service representative was Lana Kilmer and our sales representative was Veronika Levine. We used Fox Mar Studios for student portraits as well as several sporting events. All photography by yearbook staff members were produced with Canon EOS Xsi and T3i cameras. Other equipment utilized included 16 20” iMacs, Canon Lide 110 Scanner, and HP LaserJet 9050dn printer. The Raider is a nationally-recognized, award-winning publication, having earned four CSPA Silver Crown Awards, and NSPA All American and FSPA All Florida Ratings. The Raider is consistently recognized as part of Walsworth Publishing’s Gallery of Excellence and featured in their Possibilities idea book. It is also consistently featured in NSPA’s “Best of the High School Press” publication. So as your editors, we would like to congratulate you on creating another

Kiara,

COLOPHON

Theme

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sincerely,

your editors

Kimmy

From ranting about different fonts to boy talk and our road trips to Disney to flights to New York, I love you endlessly. We not only became so close while struggling to come up with a theme, but also our laughs in the Uber in New York, when we found out that our new cover had stripes, or eating pizza in the conference room in Orlando. No one understands our humor except each other and that is what I love about our friendship. Thank you for being my co-editor, my little sister and the K to my K. I could not have made a 384-page book or do life without you. I am gonna miss you and our dead Sundays so much! Keep eating M&M’s and talking to the duck. Best of luck next year, you got this girl.

FIRST DAY

-KIMMY

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beautiful book. We would also like to thank you for your dedication and commitment to the staff. We know it wasn’t easy. On a moment’s notice, on March 13, we had to figure out a way to take our remaining 250+ pages home and decide on a plan that would work virtually. Decisions were made in a split second, and before we knew it, all school was canceled and we had to attend school online. Somehow we managed. We learned to navigate the online tools and complete our spreads, we conducted interviews via Zoom and shared our work through Google Drive. We even celebrated as a group with deadline awards, synchronized lunch parties, and hoodie distributions, while maintaining social distancing. You can’t lie; it is the best feeling seeing all your hard work pay off. To the future staff, we wish you good luck. It is now your time to create another excellent book—lots of love to all our girls.

LAST DAY

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-KIARA

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3/22/20 4:32 PM

Lucie,

| senior ads |

our design artist. Thank you for always creating beautiful art that adds so much to our spreads. Your dedication to the senior pages also helped us immensely. We could not have done any of that without you. we love having you on our staff for the second year. You took on the effort to make your spreads the best. The days we stayed late and had our gossip circles were always the best.

Cindy, | copy editor |

having you grow with us on the staff has been great. We love reading your articles and you are always there to help us edit everyone’s writing; none of it would be the same without you. Good luck in college.

Julia,

| clubs editor |

you always have a smile on your face and a contagious positive attitude. We can always count on you to get your work in on time, and help someone out if they need it. We loved having you on our staff.

Vicky, | business manager |

you were an amazing addition to our staff this year. You always radiate a positive attitude and create amazing spreads. We created an entire social media platform for the first time and could not have done it without you.

Adri,

you always have us laughing and entertained with your constant “chisme” and college app. deadline tears. We know the sports section is challenging and you were able to pull through and always have beautiful spreads. We loved having you on our staff these past few years. Good luck in college.

Isa,

| staffer |

from the first spread you ever submitted we knew you would be great. Your spreads are always up to standard and you take on even the most creative topics like your jersey and holiday spreads. Thank you for everything you added to our book.

Kate,

| managing editor |

Olivia,

the people and index section take up so much of the book and we could not have done it without you. Thank you for all the times you had to reflow, edit profiles and add in sections. We really appreciate your hard work and wish you the best next year. | index | people editor |

| sports editor assistant |

| staffer |

we are so proud of | photographer | how much you have accomplished this yearbook would not have a since your first spread. We single good picture know it is hard but with each spread we see so much without you. We are so thankful to always see you in the hallways growth and improvement we knew you were an amazing constantly taking pictures, you staffer. really saved us. Keep up the | sports editor | amazing photography. Thank you so much No one who is not on the staff for your can genuinely understand how help with much you mean to us. The writing profiles and only words we can think of to describe you is interviewing students “second mom.” From the road trips to Disney, at a moment’s notice. You were always the flight to Washington, or the late work nights willing to help us and when you ordered us pizza or Shake Shack never failed. We truly just so we can get our pages in, we are forever could not have done thankful. Not only did you push us every day it without you.

Mari Sofi,

Julian,

| advisor |

to create the most beautiful spreads and finish the book on time, but you also taught us to work together, appreciate one another and become better people. This year we even got to see you get married. We will forever remember getting distracted by looking at your gorgeous dress and invitations, picking your flowers, looking through pictures, and jamming to your wedding playlist. Thank you for everything you do for us, nothing would be done without you.

| staffer |

we knew the second you came to Elite Weekend with us you had amazing worth ethic. Our little freshman, you always stepped up to the plate and we are so proud of how fast you caught on and grew.

Morgan,

Katie

Mrod,

Valen,

you always manage to put a smile on each of our faces and make us laugh like when you dropped your airpods in the toilet. We are so proud of the effort you always put in and the days we stay late and order pizza because we always want food. We love you.

“THERAPY DUCK” “DEADLINE MUNCHIES”

LAYOUT DESIGN

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| contributor |

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Kimberley Cruz

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3/22/20 4:32 PM

MEET-UP. Junior Cindy Vega attends a Zoom meeting with the yearbook staff to plan to finish over 300 pages of the book virtually while the school was closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Zoom is a fun way to still be able to see my classmates and work together to get our book done in time,â&#x20AC;? Vega said. Photo by Ciara Schweitzer

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CLOSING

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3/25/20 10:44 PM

Little did we know how true it would all be... On Friday, March 13, our lives changed as a student body and a global community. The school closed and we moved to remote learning due to the Coronavirus pandemic -- and we all took shelter in our homes. From one moment to the next, the chances we thought we’d have were gone.

seniors

realized that March 13 may have been

their last day of high school as they knew it. Grad Bash -- canceled. Prom -- postponed. Graduation Ceremony -- uncertain. We switched to a NEW WAY OF LIFE. And made the

best of it.

WHAT ELSE COULD WE DO? We planned virtual “lunch” dates with our Took the time to get some Spent time with our

fresh air.

friends.

family before going to college.

WE DISCOVERED WHAT REALLY MATTERED

it's

There’s is no time like the present …

NOW r e v e N or LAYOUT DESIGN

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Kiara Kamlani

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3/25/20 10:44 PM

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

We were in disbelief and relief, it was a very nervous game but we lived in the moment. Juan Lazcano

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3/22/20 4:37 PM

sometimes it seems

impossible

to get started

but all it takes is

JUST

ONE STEP...

CHEER. Junior Tyler Cancio leans back as he cheers for the Raider football team at the game against the Coral Gables Cavaliers on Aug. 23. It was the first regular-season home game, and the bleachers were packed with fans. â&#x20AC;&#x153;That game was my favorite because everyone went out; our spirit was better this year,â&#x20AC;? said Cancio. Photo by Julian Concepcion