RHS Knight Writers Vol. 64 Back-to-School Issue | Aug. 2023

Robinson Is Restored ... Basically

Story by VIKRAM SAMBASIVAN, CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Photos by CECILIA CHENG, PRINT MANAGING EDITOR

Since 1958, T.R. Robinson High School has graced South Tampa. A distinguished past and a historic legacy left behind for current students of the school, but that wasn’t the only thing left behind. Until recently, a majority of Robinson had not undergone major updates, leaving students dealing with old buildings and faulty air conditioning.

What may be the largest upgrade, for any subject, is the new culinary-run restaurant. To replace their portable classroom and kitchen, culinary will have a full restaurant with a professional-grade kitchen as well as a front-of-the-house restaurant. The restaurant is available to all students and faculty and will be available for rent by the surrounding community for events.

This restaurant is seen by many culinary students, like Wilton Rollins (’24), as a natural progression from Knights Tavern, the mini-café run by Culinary.

“I’ve seen first-hand how the Knights Tavern has impacted the student body,” he said. “Even with the little store we had last year, people would come in and purchase snacks and drinks. The addition of new kitchen appliances will be used to create a wide variety of dishes that will certainly attract customers.”

While construction was mainly focused on the central area of the school and the main buildings, its impacts can be seen throughout the campus. Athletic programs will see many improvements in their facilities, the largest being to the football field and surrounding track.

“The new track and field have definitely been the number one feature of the new school that I’ve been looking forward to,” said Rollins, who is also a wide receiver for the football team.

10, the locker rooms, and sections of the auditorium, will not be finished until Aug. 30, and construction is set to continue throughout the first semester.

“Construction is probably going to continue through Thanksgiving, just like with any other type of building project, there’s going to be things that are going to need to be addressed as we go through the year,” said Principal David Brown in a voicemail sent out to parents on July 30. “But, all construction, starting on Aug. 10, will occur after school hours when students are not in the buildings.”

In an attempt to solve the AC issue, school officials obtained consultation to install a new heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system. They then learned that the underlying problem was not the HVAC system, but the cracked and leaking windows, lack of insulation and a sinking building. Confronted with the information, the county approved a $57 million project from what was supposed to be a simple seven-million-dollar HVAC replacement.

The rebuilding of Robinson was not a typical construction project for the parties involved, in large part due to the obstacle which continuing to educate students in a construction zone posed.

“This project was different than other projects because it was a large redevelopment project,” said Lauren Campo, Engineer of Record for Campo Engineering. “We had to make sure the existing school could stay fully operational during construction.”

Almost all areas of the school have been outfitted with new HVAC systems, which will now be more effective due to the insulation and energy efficiency of the new buildings. Large black shades have also been attached to the outside of buildings to help cool the interior.

While cooling was a very general improvement, certain subjects received specific additions to their classrooms in order to improve their learning environment.

The art room, in addition to receiving new sinks, cabinets, a new kiln and lots of outdoor lighting, was also given an outdoor patio so that students can paint while having a grand view of the courtyard.

The journalism room has a large main area outfitted with a wall of windows and lined with new computers, couches and tables. The TV studio, located within the journalism room, will receive all new equipment for broadcast production as well.

The field, which was formerly grass, has been replaced with turf and now has a branded Knights logo in the center of the field and both end zones. The track, formerly concrete, has been replaced with rubber. Additionally, there is a new long jump and shot put area, as well as a new practice field where the portables were formerly located.

“Having a rubber track means no more shin splints caused from running on concrete,” said Tamala Jerson (’24), girls head captain and a sprinter for track & field. “It also means that we’ll get to host more meets this year which is exciting.”

Outside of the track and field, the locker rooms and weight room have been completely renovated. The training room will have both, tables, in case of injury during a game, and a hot tub for muscle recovery. Two tennis courts and outdoor basketball hoops are also being installed adjacent to the stadium.

Unfortunately, while most of the school will be complete by Aug.

With a new school, one of the concerns largest concerns is the graffiti, which is prevalent across Robinson, and is especially seen in bathrooms. While there are no new plans to curb this issue, other than students reporting the crime, in the absence of the portables, there is now less ground for the administration to patrol, making it easier to catch vandals. Additionally, with renovations made to the bathroom, the textured polymer from which the stalls are constructed makes them more difficult to vandalize.

“So, I do like this [the polymer],” Brown said. “It does hopefully help with graffiti, and it’s hard to write on.”

Even though the school has a more modern look, it still nods to its history.

“There’s a big ‘Robinson High School’ concrete sign that was left by the class of ’89, and they’re [the construction company] going to have a place for that inside the courtyard,” Brown said. “And then there’s the senior seal that used to be there. Same thing. They’re going to have a place. So it’s going to remain.”

As a new school year approaches, and for Robinson, a new school as well, Brown thanks students for their patience and hopes that Knights will have pride in their new home.

“Thank you for being patient, especially you juniors and seniors who have had a non normal experience because of all the construction.” Brown said. “Hopefully you’ll take great pride in this school because it is new, so you’ll take care of it like it’s your home. We want to keep it looking nice, we want to take care of it, we want to protect it.”

The almost two-year rebuild of Robinson has reached its final leg.

A new empty classroom in the second floor math hallway. Photo by C. Cheng

The new black shades on the second floor just outside of the English hallway. Photo by C. Cheng

The culinary room under construction as seen in mid-July.

Photo by C. Cheng

The new turf field adorned with the Knights logo and surrounded by the new rubber track. Photo by C. Cheng

A new polymer stall door intended to curb graffiti. Photo by C. Cheng

Veteran Educator and District Official Van Ayres Named

HCPS Interim Superintendent

In the wake of former Superintendent Addison Davis' abrupt resignation, Van Ayres, Chief of Strategic Planning and Partnerships for HCPS, has

been

named Interim Superintendent.

By VIKRAM SAMBASIVAN, CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Addison Davis, former Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) Superintendent, resigned from his post on Wednesday, June 14, leaving the school district without a leader. Six days after Davis’ announcement, Van Ayres, was named as HCPS Interim Superintendent.

As a long-term Hillsborough County educator and administrator, Ayres was the obvious choice. He began his teaching career as a chemistry teacher at Howard Blake High School from where he jumped to administration positions, including being the Principal of Thomas Jefferson High School. He eventually gained positions at a district level, most recently being the Chief of Strategic Planning and Partnerships.

As Interim Superintendent, Ayres will serve an initial 12-month term before the school board will make a decision to determine whether or not to appoint him to serve a full four-year term.

“I’m at the place now, where I was offered the opportunity by the board in this interim role. But, whether you’re interim or not, you’re still superintendent, so that’s kind of my mindset of how I’m going about this year,” Ayres said. “But, for me to have the opportunity to lead this district [for a full four years], with all the great history we have, would be an honor.”

In his current one-year term, Ayres is faced with a multitude of issues affecting the district, one of the most being large numbers of students receiving Certificates of Completion.

These certificates are handed out to students, in place of a diploma, who complete all the high school credits required by the district and have maintained at least a 2.0 GPA, a C average, but were unable to pass their Florida Standards Assessments (FSAs). Depending on the type of certificate received, the student is able to take the Post Secondary Education Readiness Test (PERT) and may be placed at a community college. However, these certificates are generally unsatisfactory for

their FSAs] walk across the stage and nobody really can tell the difference, [at the time], but they’ll go to the back to receive their diploma and get a piece of paper which says, ‘Certificate of Completion,’ which, basically, is worth nothing more than the paper it’s printed on,” Ayres said.

This disparity between passing district standards, but not the state ones, can be attributed to the method with which state standards are tested. There has been a long debate over whether standardized testing is an effective method with which knowledge is tested.

According to the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, such tests have been shown to be biased towards higher-income students who have had more experience with testtaking strategies, and only test a narrow measure of skills. It is for these reasons that score reporting of nationwide tests such as the SAT and ACT has been made optional by most leading United States universities.

Ayres stands proudly in front of his offical supterintendent headshot. “The main goals really revolve around our strategic plan, which number one is positive culture, school culture; two is around academic excellence; three is [centered] around recruiting and retaining exceptional talent in the school district,” Ayres said. Photo by V. Sambasivan

offering more test-taking strategies classes as an elective or before/ after school club and providing students with practice tests,” she said. “Additionally, schools can provide students with more resources such as tutoring, online tools, and the right practice books to help them succeed.”

Another large issue facing the district is the issue of teacher pay, which has been a point of contention between the district and the Hillsborough Classroom Teachers Association (HCTA).

Since many modern schools allow teachers more freedom in their methods of teaching and grading, students may be receiving a more holistic education, but perhaps are not as well prepared for standardized exams.

“A lot of students don’t know,” Ayres said. “They don’t realize that when they get to be seniors and they haven’t made that score, it hasn’t really hit them that ‘I might graduate in May, but if I haven’t made my score, I’m not going to get my diploma.”

One of the solutions to this issue, which the district feels may work, is to simply help students practice more for these standardized tests.

“A lot of it is making them [students] aware and bringing it to their attention early so that they practice,” said Ayres, whom as former Chief of Strategic Planning and Partnerships helped implement the Academic Excellence piece, among others, of the district’s 5-year strategic plan. “[We have to] create those opportunities for students to get better at those particular skills.”

Sanjna Madabushanam (‘24), a member of Robinson’s Political Science Club shares a similar sentiment.

“I believe that schools can increase state exam pass rates by

CEP Fuels Students with Free Meals

All students at Robinson will receive free lunch for the upcoming school year.

By CECILIA CHENG, PRINT MANAGING EDITOR Hillsborough County Public

Schools recently announced that they will be offering the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) for the 2023-2024 school year. This allows every student at Robinson to join the breakfast and lunch program free of charge, without the need for a meal benefits application.

Alongside the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and the School Breakfast Program (SBP), the CEP was created through the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. Schools across the US with at least 40 percent of students recieving benefits from programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TNAP) and Medicaid qualify for this program. There are currently 174 schools in Hillsborough County that are eligible for the provision.

"Our students spend a lot of time at school working on rigorous classes or they spend over 12 hours here at school through athletics and extracurriculars ... so they shouldn't have to worry about bringing money and updating their lunch accounts," said David Brown, Principal of Robinson High School.

48% of students recieved free lunch (2022-23).

Approximately 48 percent of Robinson's students received free or reduced lunch during the 2022-2023 academic year. Interestingly, this number was lower than the average percentages observed in previous years.

"The year prior, everyone received free lunch due to

COVID.  So last school year, some families just forgot or didn't reapply for free/reduced lunch," Brown added.

The provision not only emphasizes the issue of food security, but also provides nutritious food options to all students, ensuring that individuals will have the energy necessary for optimal learning.

"Children need healthy meals to learn," said Van Ayres, Hillsborough County Public Schools Interim Superintendent, in a statement letter, which will be coming home with students on the first day of school. "Hillsborough County Student Nutrition Services offers nutritious, well-balanced meals for students of all ages and backgrounds. Please encourage your child(ren) to participate in the school meal program."

Long-time consumers of school lunch, such as Sabrina Gonzalez ('24), are eager to learn about this new provision.

"In my opinion, school lunch is important because it allows those who don’t have much time or even the resources to make lunch for themselves at home to be able to get nourishment throughout the school day," said Gonzalez who has been purchasing school lunches for the past three years. "Even if you did bring your own lunch, school lunch provides a great alternative and balanced meal. They also have allergy accommodations and there are many different meals to choose from daily, even if you're picky."

However, even with the program, many students, such as Katie Angular ('25), prefer to bring lunch from home.

"Personally, I think the portions are small and I also feel the

On Wednesday, April 5, the Hillsborough County School Board voted to award teachers and staff with a salary increase, or as seen by many teachers, some of the “pay steps” that they’ve earned. Despite this agreement, according to the HCPS job listings website, as of July 26, there are still 1,240 unfilled positions within the school system, 600 of them being instructional.

Starting the school year with so many instructional vacancies poses a large issue in instructing students. However, those who have worked with Ayres in the past believe that he has the experience to help deal with these issues.

“That [teacher vacancies] is a huge obstacle for Mr. Ayres to climb,” said Jennifer Orjuela, a Teacher Mentor and former Social Studies Teacher under Ayres while he was Principal at Thomas Jefferson High School. “But, because he has made so many connections in this county, he has a core of teachers and people in different positions that he trusts, and maybe together as a community of Hillsborough County Educators, we can bring back and elevate our [district] to where it should be.”

At the beginning of his first term, Ayres leaves a message for students approaching the upcoming school year.

“We’re excited to have all students back on the first day of school. All of our principals and teachers are excited, and there’s nothing like the first day of school,” Ayres said.

food that is given to the school isn’t fresh," Angular said. "When I pack my own lunch, I always look at the nutrition in it so I can have energy and stay focused for school. Having a healthy lunch can make going through the rest of the day bearable."

The benefit will continue to be offered at Robinson until the 2026-2027 school year, as it is renewed on a four-year cycle.

"The only drawback to students not having to complete a Free or Reduced lunch application is that students [already] on Free or Reduced lunch get other benefits. They get a free SAT and ACT test paid for, athletes also get the insurance paid for or reduced based on their meal status," Brown said. "However, we will have a different form for these students and their families to complete in order for the student to qualify for these benefits.”

This balanced and delicious meal came with mash potato and gravy, chicken bites, a bread roll, apple slices and served with a juice box. Photo by C. Cheng

Welcome Home Knights

Students look forward to the new school and all it has to bring.

Story by YESENIA ROSARIO, NEWS & FEATURES EDITOR

Photos by CECILIA CHENG, PRINT MANAGING EDITOR

After two years of construction and portables, many students and faculty are beginning to feel the excitement of a new school as the new year approaches. Students are looking forward to many different things the new campus has to offer. While the layout has largely remained the

same, the facilities which the new buildings have to offer, allow for an environment more conducive towards academic and athletic success. From new classrooms optimized for air conditions to a new turfed field, students look forward to their new campus.

THE JOURNALISM ROOM "I'm really excited for the journalism room because I've heard that we're going to be having some extra spaces for things like lounging and a TV room. Also, just extra space in general; last year, we were super cramped in our old room and I look forward to seeing how much space we're going to have to do stuff there," said Yearbook People Editor Monica Cabezas ('25).

THE NEW FOOTBALL FIELD "[I'm looking forward to] the turf field because now I won't be covered in dirt after soccer or lacrosse practice. This should help make soccer easier and less annoying because there won't be random bounces from the soccer ball," Leyton Perkey ('24) said.

THE LOCKER ROOM "I don't really know anything about how they're gonna look or be, but I hope they [locker room and weight room] will have nice equipment that every athlete can benefit from and airconditioning because the one we had [didn't] have air, once the building is finished," Yani Or ('25).

THE COURTYARD Overlooking the courtyard from building C, the English building, commotion commences to get the school prepped and ready for Thursday, Aug. 10. There is a positive, yet hectic, energy in the air as teachers are beginning to prep classrooms and pieces of furniture are getting moved in.

Expanding the Robinson Family

Robinson welcomes new teachers and administrators for the 2023-2024 school year.

By VIKRAM SAMBASIVAN,

Rolling into the 2023-2024

CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF &

JADYN GRAYES, A&E AND MULTIMEDIA EDITOR

QUINTEN NAGLE, World History & Critical Think

"I’m ready for something different. I was at [Stewart] middle school for four years and I’m ready to try something new and decided it was time for a change," Nagle said. “I heard about the culture here and I like the IB program so I eventually want to teach that. Hopefully, I get to coach athletics and leave a footprint here.”

JASON KOCHALKA

Spanish 1 & Spanish 2

“It [Spanish] is important but it’s also such a tool that can open so many doors for you that you don’t even know that are there," Kochalka said. “We live in Florida... so Spanish is such a useful language in everyday life.”

AN

"[I'm looking forward to] the classrooms. A nice environment I feel would be easier to pay attention in. The portables were really small and got hot and sometimes it got hard to pay attention because I hear everyone's conversations next to me. [It's] better AC and more room, not just desks in lines where you can barely walk down," Ava Booker ('25) said.

JESSIE DORSEY, American Sign Language

“There are a myriad of reasons why someone would be interested in taking ASL. Anybody has the ability to lose one of their physical abilities including their sense of sight, sound, anything,” Dorsey said. “But the desire [to learn ASL] has to come from within you.”

The official Robinson High School Sign at the front of the main building. The main building will contain the main office, Knight Tavern Restaurant, business labs and the Robinson journalism classroom.

THE HALLWAYS Lockers are making a comeback and are being put up around the school.

EMPTY CLASSROOM

(From left to right) Kochalka, Nagle, Dorsey and Shannon Chamberlain, the new media specialist. (Not pictured: Zachary Van Deman and Ruth Rondon.) Photo by V. Sambasivan

Say goodbye to summer and hello to the 2023-2024 school year with this Back to School Bingo.

By CECILIA CHENG, PRINT MANAGING EDITOR

New backpacks, new clothes and new pencils, it’s finally that time of the year again. Whether you are a new or returning knight, all of us feel those first-day jitters and butterflies in our stomachs. Luckily, the beginning of school is filled with introductions and games, allowing teachers to get to know you before the learning begins.

Things You Need

Must-haves for the new school year.

By CECILIA CHENG, PRINT MANAGING EDITOR

As Target fills its isles with Back to School supplies, it’s time to start preparing for the enjoy Back to School shopping, it can be an overwhelming experience for many of us. pens, who knows what else you’ll need throughout the year? Fear no more, because here this upcoming school year that are not on your supply list.

But even if you have been playing ice-breakers all day, be sure to play this Bingo to see how prepared you are for the upcoming school year. Don’t forget to post your results on your Instagram story by Thursday, Aug. 10 and tag us @rhsknightwriters.

2.

This is by I have in number of soaking wet outside. Now, having to backpack, soaked when As of July on Amazon

1. A Sturdy Water Bottle

If I have learned anything from my time at Rob- inson, it is that you will get thirsty throughout the school day. You will need a sip of water after speed- walking across the school in five minutes under this Florida heat and of course, staying hydrated is super important for your health. I recommend getting a 32 oz insulated water bottle; your water will stay cold throughout the day and 32 oz is the perfect size. If you ever need more, there are always water fountains around the school (for the coldest water, use the one in the science hallway).

Collapsible

Need to Gear Up for Success

the new school year. While some may Sometimes it’s not just notebooks and here are five essentials you will need for

Collapsible umbrella

by far one of the most important things my backpack. I cannot describe the of times that I have walked into class wet because it started randomly pouring Now, I understand it might be a hassle to carry around one more thing in your backpack, but, this will save you from getting when it’s raining cats and dogs outside. July 28, you can get a collapsible umbrella Amazon for under $10.

3. A Planner

This has made handling my heavy work load much more manageable and was what saved me during my junior year. Personally, I prefer using digital calendars when orga nizing my schedule, especially Google Cal endar. I like having the flexibility to easily color-code due dates and test dates, along with the convenience of accessing it from any of my devices.

5. Headphones/Airpods

I never leave my house without my Air- Pods. This might not be an essential you would have thought of, but I needed them on so many occasions last year. Sometimes, you just need a break from all the chaos hap- pening at school. Putting in my AirPods and blasting music at lunch, or a break, always helps me de-stress, whether it’s before a big presentation or a test.

4. Laptop and a charger

Especially after COVID, I feel many things for school have moved digitally. Submitting assignments, checking for important updates and even taking tests are all online now. I would advise you to invest in a laptop (and case) that you can bring to school because your laptop will become your best friend. I’ve used a laptop almost every day of my junior year and I can most definitely say it has saved many hand cramps. Many stores are also having sales for laptops for students right now. I would recommend a Microsoft Surface Pro 8 or a MacBook Air. Even though this is a big investment, it will be worth every penny in the end.

Dear Freshmen... From a Seasoned Senior

Hello, Fresh Meat!

By KEIRRA McGOLDRICK, OPINION EDITOR

A new school year means new be ginnings, new friendships and new experiences. To my dear freshmen, this coming school year can be an extremely scary time. However, there’s no need to fret; my senior self is here to assist you with an intro to your first year of high school.

The first thing that needs to be discussed is the topic of destruction around the school. In previous years, it seemed to have turned into a trend for lowerclassmen to be somewhat destructive around here, especially in the bathrooms. Let’s be extremely clear: destroying things around school does not make you cool or funny. We have a brand new school and your predecessors have endured “portacity” for almost two years. We deserve the beautiful new school we are receiv ing without having to worry about whether or not it will be ruined within a few months.

Adding on to things that do not make one cool or likable: running full speed down the halls like this is the Olympics. There is plenty of time to get between classes without having to sprint across campus. I somewhat un derstand the need to run though since there are some that decide to stand in the middle of the hallway with

zero sense of self-awareness. Don’t be that person either, it’s just as bad if not worse than running around

Yet another important thing to heavily consider is personal hygiene. This of course is not directed to every incoming freshman, but to the select few that don’t think showering is necessary in this great Floridian heat and humidity. Please do this, if not for yourself but for the well-being of those around you, just please shower.

You may also think freshman year grades don’t matter that much and I hate to be that person to say “don’t let your grades slip,” but it must be said. In your position four years ago, I also thought they didn’t matter all that much, but I could not have been more wrong. Don’t do what I did and

I remember my first day of freshman year, absolutely terrified, and constantly getting lost.

As a part of this year’s freshmen, however, you have the benefit of a new school where everyone will be lost, so you won’t be alone. If you are confused at any point, don’t be afraid to ask, we upperclassmen won’t bite, I promise.

An amazing way to get into the groove of things pretty quickly is to get involved. Join clubs, sports and just other programs around the school. It may be cliché to say, but getting involved is the absolute best way to meet new people and be part of the bigger picture. The experiences from this will stick with you forever.

You’ve now come to the near end of this “letter” and may be thinking “none of this will be me, I’ll be different.” Trust me, you’re not, which is totally fine and expected. Everyone needs their weird freshmen phase and I say embrace it for the time being and learn who you are.

Let’s just face the facts for a moment: who you are now, no matter how great you are, will change over the next four years. In my opinion, high school is the most amazing time to change as a person. My thought process as a senior is completely different than it was back in August 2020. I’m a completely different person. I’ve matured during my time here, and so will you. If you’re nervous to start the new year, know you’re not alone on that, it will be all be fine, and if it’s not, you’ll recover. Welcome to Robinson.

Graphics created by Canva

A worried freshman on her first day of school during the 2022-2023 school year. Photo Courtesy of G. Hilton

Students are able to find their homerooms posted on the papers at the front of the school. All students will report to homeroom at 8:30 a.m. on the first day of school. Photo Courtesy of G. Hilton

Johan Scott-Rodríguez (‘26) walks around with his schedule in his hands on his first day of freshmen year. Photo Courtesy of G. Hilton

“Barbie” Is Kenough

The Barbie movie shatters both records, and expectations.

By CHARLOTTE STONE, CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

That’s one of the many amazing things about the movie: Director Greta Gerwig was able to turn a movie about dolls into a movie for everyone. A movie for all ages, a movie for the ages.

She was able to completely transform the stereotypical perception of Barbie into something much deeper, a symbol of female empowerment.

The film is set in Barbie Land, a fictional world where all Barbies live. In this alternate reality, full of different Barbies and Kens, Barbies run everything. All of the doctors, the president, the Supreme Court Justices, even the construction workers are women. However, the Kens don’t seem to have any occupations or dream houses like the Barbies.

as a doll coming to life in the real world. Although the real world is far from perfect, Barbie sees the beauty in everyday humanity and finds herself unable to fit back into the fake reality of Barbie Land. In the end, she chooses to accept all of the challenges and hardships of being a human and return to the real world permanently.

Although Robbie gives a dazzling performance, she isn’t the only one worth mentioning. Her co-star Ryan Gosling (Ken) shined just as bright, but for different reasons. His job wasn’t to get the audience to empathize with him, but to depict the hypocrisy of the patriarchy, which he does extremely well.

Knight Writers Back to School Playlist

1. “Pyramids” by Frank Ocean

2. “Redbone” by Childish Gambino

3. “LOVE. FEAT. ZACARI.” by Kendrick Lamar & Zacari

4. “Is There Someone Else?” by The Weeknd

5. “Smooth Operator” by Sade

6. “Cruel Summer” by Taylor Swift

7. “The Spins” by Mac Miller

8. “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)” by ABBA

9. “Pink + White” by Frank Ocean

10. “Money Tree” by Kendrick Lamar & Jay Rock

11. “Miss Americana & The Heartbreak Prince” by Taylor Swift

As a kid, I was never allowed to have Barbies because my mom thought that they set unrealistic beauty standards. She didn’t want me to feel bad for not being as skinny or perfect as a Barbie. As a result, I never felt a real connection to Barbie, or any of the Barbie movies growing up. Since I never had that personal connection, I viewed them as cheesy and shallow.

But, despite my lack of knowledge of the previous Barbie movies and “Barbie’s Dream House,” I had been looking forward to this movie since the announcement of its release, and it did not disappoint.

The movie focuses on stereotypical Barbie played by Margot Robbie who lives the perfect day every day in Barbie Land, until one day everything changes when she starts having irrepressible thoughts of death. This worrisome “defect” sends Barbie on an adventure to the real world with the mission of returning her life to normal.

While on her journey, Barbie has a wake up call. Much to her surprise she realizes that the real world is nothing like Barbie Land, but the exact opposite. She finds a world where men hold all of the power and she is constantly talked down to.

Robbie does an amazing job of bringing a literal doll to life. It’s incredible how much emotion she was able to invoke in audiences

Not only was this movie emotional and relevant, but it was funny as well. While tears were shed, laughter was much more common. There were many moments when the entire theater was giggling, usually because of Ken.

It’s no wonder that the Barbie movie broke so many records, such as having the best US opening ever for a film directed by a woman. Therefore, proving that it actually achieved its goal of empowering women. It’s a movie by women, about women, for women.

I think the Barbie movie is an important movie for everyone to see. It clearly depicts the everyday challenges that women face in their day to day lives in a funny, ironic way. If you haven’t already, you should head to the theater as soon as possible to see it.

“Speak Now” Returns To Her Mother

Taylor Swift Re-Releases Her Third Studio Album.

By ASHLYN MILLER, SPORTS EDITOR

Taylor Swift continues her journey, reclaiming the magic in her early albums with the release of “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version).”

Being the highly-anticipated follow-up to her acclaimed sophomore album, “Fearless,” the Speak Now Era solidified Swift as, in my opinion, one of the most influential musicians of all time. With one of the highest-awarded country albums in her rearview mirror, she had set a high bar for herself. A lot of people in the industry didn’t want to see her live up to the hype, but as always, Swift came out on top.

Coming off of previous success, she created a poetic album, masterfully crafting stories of wistful romance and heartbreak. Swifties everywhere are ecstatic at the chance for their queen to finally reclaim another one of her titles, 13 years later.

The original 16 tracks, to the blind ear, are virtually the same; however, a more seasoned Swiftie

can pick out the small differences in lyricism, production and tone. Her faux country accent is also absent from the re-release. I will definitely miss these subtle details of the original, but for me, they aren’t the reason why “Speak Now” is one of my favorite albums; I love it because of the storytelling. I just don’t understand the fans who are upset over a missing breath at the end of a song.

Along with every re-release, Swift puts out tracks labeled as “From the Vault.” Although these songs are completely new to us, she wrote them years ago, along with the rest of the original album. “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)” had six songs fresh from the vault.

For me, one of the most memorable songs “When Emma Falls in Love.” Not because of how amazing it was, but because of how much its stunning mediocrity stood out from the rest of the album. Swift has such a good song writing ability,

Green Lane Gets a Green Light

New health food destination, Green Lane, opens for the summer.

By ASHLYN MILLER, SPORTS EDITOR

Over the course of the summer, you’ve likely seen the green, bunny-clad building that houses a drive-in salad shop every time you

ment that offers nutritious green food choices for those in the South Tampa area. On the current menu, there are eight signature salads, which can also be made into wraps. I was able to try two of their salads: the Creamy Caesar and the Golden Greek.

The Creamy Caesar’s ingredients were standard, having just croutons, grape tomatoes, cheese and grilled chicken for toppings and caesar dressing. Immediately, I hate the name of the dish. ‘Creamy’ is the worst possible way to describe a salad. It’s so unappealing and I don’t know how they

allowed that to happen to their menu. Aside from the name, the salad was just average. I liked that the toppings were dice cut, which improved the texture once it was all mixed in. However, there should have been more protein based on the price of the salad. The majority of the bowl is just lettuce, with what looked like one tender worth of chicken. I would not go to Green Lane for something that can easily be replicated at home, such as a Caesar Salad.

The Golden Greek on the other hand was very special. This salad came with a choice of chicken or tofu, grape tomatoes, cucumbers, feta, kalamata olives, mini croutons and a red wine vinaigrette for dressing. All of the produce and

12. “Pursuit Of Happiness (Nightmare)” by Kid Cudi, MGMT, Ratatat

13. “Out of Time” by The Weeknd

14. “The Thrill” by Wiz Khalifa & Empire of the Sun

15. “3005” by Childish Gambino

16. “Anti-Hero” by Taylor Swift

17. “8TEEN” by Khalid

18. “Nonsense” by Sabrina Carpenter

19. “Satellite” by Harry Styles

20. “Long Live (Taylor’s Version)” by Taylor Swift

and she has showcased that throughout her ca reer, but this song is not, at all, representative of what she can do. It’s vague and just doesn’t have the same emotional depth which other songs on the original album have. This song should have just stayed in her teenage diary.

That was perhaps the only bad song. My personal favorite, although it was hard to choose, is “Electric Touch ft. Fall Out Boy.” I wish she made more songs in this style. I enjoy the romance ballads, but sometimes it feels repetitive. This song provided a much needed reprieve from Swift’s core songs. If it had come out back in 2010, Electric Touch would have been a fan favorite to both of the artists.

Overall, “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)” is just as amazing as it was in its debut, but she would’ve done everyone a favor if she kept some songs locked in the “vault.”

vegetables tasted so fresh. If the movie “Mamma Mia” was a salad, it would be the Golden Greek because it just tastes like summertime. My only complaint is that once again, there was not enough protein for the price. However, this one was worth the money I spent. If I go again, this is definitely what I want to order.

I also got their Passion Black Tea, which was more bitter than I expected. I have not had a chance to try their other drinks, but I would skip that one if I went again.

Overall, Green Lane will be a good addition to the Gandy landscape and I am very happy to have a healthier drive-by option in South Tampa.

A Nuclear Display of a Movie

Was “Oppenheimer” truly the best movie of the summer? Yes.

By KEIRRA McGOLDIRCK, OPINION EDITOR

The highly anticipated Christopher Nolen film, Oppenheimer, was released on July 21, and to say the least, it was well worth the wait. With a 93% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 8.9/10 on IMDb, this film hit every mark.

Nolen is no stranger to directing blockbuster World War II movies, such as the 2017 film Dunkirk. This one, however, was very different from Dunkirk, it’s more fast paced and leaves you wondering what comes next. Some call this film the best one he has ever directed, and I can’t seem to disagree with that.

release poster for “Oppenheimer.”

The effects, acting and storytelling are all aspects that make this film simply groundbreaking. In a movie about a bomb, one might expect CGI everywhere.. Read the rest on knightwriters.org.

Theatrical release poster for “Barbie.” Photo from IMDb

The official album cover for Taylor Swift’s newest re-recording “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version).” Photo from The Official Taylor Swift Store

A Green Lane Passion Black Tea outside of their new location on Gandy.

Photo by A. Miller

Theatrical

Photo from IMDb

Pre-College Programs Don’t Make Your College Application Perfect

These expensive programs are not beneficial and are a waste of time.

By CELILIA CHENG, PRINT MANAGING EDITOR

College. For students who are looking to pursue a higher education, they are doing everything they can in order to attend a top-tier college. Besides taking vigorous classes, juggling multiple sports and volunteering every weekend, many students have decided to attend pre-college summer programs.

Pre-college summer programs allow high school students to attend college-level classes and experience the college campus during the summer. There are currently over 150 colleges offering these programs to high schoolers. While some colleges offer them to students for free, a majority of them cost thousands of dollars. Considering the amount of money people are paying to attend these special programs, one cannot help but wonder if they are even worth it.

These universities make millions of dollars each year from these programs. According to The Washington Post, “Harvard’s two-week session costs $4,600, while Brown charges $2,776 for one week and $6,976 for a four-week residential version.”

A collection of college brochures from prestigious universities.

Many colleges clearly state that these programs do not guarantee you admission or improve your chance of getting admitted to their college, and while it may allow you to demonstrate an interest in a particular field, this time and money could be spent on other opportunities. Nevertheless, these summer programs allow you to take higher-level courses and show colleges that you are challenging yourself, but with thousands of kids attending these programs yearly, participating in them won’t guarantee

Editors’ Letter

By VIKRAM SAMBASIVAN & CHARLOTTE STONE, CO-EDITORS-IN CHIEF

that you will stand out from other candidates. An alternative option, to take higher-level courses, would be to enroll in some online college courses. Stanford offers this option free of charge and from the comfort of your own home.

Top-tier colleges also look for a “spike” in your application. They want individuals that would make a positive impact, especially one that will also demonstrate long-term growth. Pre-college programs will not

help you make a lasting difference in this world. This “spike” doesn’t have to be as monumental as curing cancer either, but it could be anything from a passion project to engaging in research or an internship - the key is to find something that you feel passionate about.

While obtaining the opportunity to participate in an internship or research project is more difficult than paying a few thousand dollars, if you can afford it, or filling out a scholarship application, they help colleges see that you’re taking initiative to professionally pursue your interests.

At the end of the day, whether you decide to attend these pre-college programs is up to you. While costly, they allow you to meet people around your age with the same interests as you, and give you the chance to see if the college is a good fit for you. But make no mistake, there’s no magical formula for getting into the most prestigious colleges, and attending pre-college summer programs will not be what makes your application stand out.

SOUND OFF

Opinions of Robinson Students

“I applied to attend a pre summer college program but I ended up not going. I just didn’t think it was worth going for the cost to attend even without including travel. It kind of hurt at the time because it felt like I was passing up a great opportunity, but it goes to show how much about applying to college is relative and rests on things like socioeconomic status.”

Cereza Perez (‘24)

“I applied for a research based summer program because research is something that I am passionate about and is something that I would want to do in the future. This program that I am doing allows me to get some prior experience by working on ongoing research projects with professors.”

Sanjna Madabhushanam (‘24)

Have Robinson students ever attended a pre-college program?

Yes, they have.

No, they haven’t

Data collected from a poll on @rhsknightwriters on Instagram.

Summer Homework Shouldn’t Exist

There’s no real benefits when it comes to summer homework, so why have it?

By YESENIA ROSARIO, NEWS AND FEATURES EDITOR

In every student’s life, there comes a time when they are burdened with summer homework. Whether it’s a reading or a work packet, no one wants to do it.

With a new school year on the horizon, students and parents alike feel that familiar mixture of emotions associated with great change. The anxiety felt when one has their future bearing down upon them, but the happiness in seeing fellow classmates once again. The longing for summer’s freedom, yet the feeling of excitement when you claim your seat at the lunch table.

Every year, Knight Writers publishes a Back to School Issue to help ease this transition into a new school year and give both parents and students, a

warm embrace into the Robinson community.

Our predecessors, Juno Le and Zoe Thaxton, have left us with large shoes to fill. However, with a brand new staff, editorial board and our veteran journalism advisor, Mrs. Webster, we come into this year with renewed journalistic vigor and hope to inform, inspire and invigorate the student body.

As the newly minted CoEditors-in-Chief of Robinson’s storied newspaper, we welcome all Knights, returning and new, back to school.

After a hefty, homework-filled school year students need those invaluable two months to decompress and reset. Assigning homework unnecessarily shortens the students’ time away from school. I’ve gotten dozens of summer homework assignments during my years in high school, including this past one. Going through the never-ending pages of a book I need to annotate is always a dreary task, causing me stress in a time designated for relaxation.

I think in doing this, teachers are already setting themselves, and their class, up for failure. Forcing students to continue working over the summer, after many already being burned out from the past school year, causes many to lose motivation and come into the school year just as tired and stressed as they were and the end of the previous year.

There’s been a multitude of research done about students’ stress when it comes to homework, and while there is no spe-

cific number for all children, in Stanford University News, it states that 56% of students’ primary stress comes from homework. Summer vacation is a time to let go and relax, but with summer homework that’s not possible at all.

On top of that, if anyone needs assistance, a teacher will most likely be unavailable to help guide them until students return to school and by then it’s too late. Without the proper guidance, students may end up with poorly completed work, and have spent hours of their summer time incorrectly reinforcing concepts, ultimately harming their learning.

Even if it’s done correctly, summer homework doesn’t give much benefit to the overall group of students it was assigned to. Teachers don’t understand that over half of the students lack integrity and will either copy from classmates or the internet, rather than do it themselves, so there’s really no benefit in assigning work.

it’s fair to force students to participate in their hobby. All summer homework leads to is a burned out, stressed and unmotivated student body, none of which help students learn.

Photo by C. Cheng

Students typing in a messy workspace with pencils, books and highlighters scattered across a wooden table. Photo by A. Miller

Let The Games Begin

The RHS football team walk into another season with a new coach and a new stadium.

By ASHLYN MILLER, SPORTS EDITOR & ARAYA STERNS, SENIOR STAFF WRITER

With a new head coach and several star players gone, the Knights football team is starting this season with a fresh mindset. This summer, they had to overcome adversity with not only the new coaching staff, as well as finding a field to practice on.

Michael “Mike” Williams, the new head coach, is a Plant High alumni. After graduating high school, he went on to play Division 1 (D1) football at the Univer sity of Southern California, then played in the National Football League (NFL) from 2005-2011. Williams wanted to replant his roots in Tampa by contributing to his hometown with his passion.

“I’m excited, I grew up in this community, I learned how to swim in Bobby Hick’s pool and grew up on Rembrandt every summer. I played with the Barrier Raiders for my last season of youth league. I’m happy in the sense of being in a familiar community ‘cause I never coach in a community that I came up in before,” Williams said.

Preparing for the 2023-2024 season has been a different environ ment for the coaching staff and the players. The Jack Peters Field was closed over the summer due to a much-needed renovation. Using their surrounding resources, the team has been practicing mainly on the RHS softball field, at Chiaramonte Elementary and at the CrossFit gym just down the street from Robinson. Not to mention, Williams has implemented a new practice regimen that he believes will lead to a successful season.

“We [have] been preparing this group by making the important things the most important. Effort, focus, teamwork, just really building on those variables that are necessary to make a good team,” Williams said.

Running Back Allan Lewis (‘24) believes that this new area of focus will be good for the team overall.

“Our first off-season has been a big change from what we’ve seen in the past and for the better. Coach Mike and our coaching staff are training and conditioning us to be a dominant team this season,” Lewis said.

Despite the challeng es, players like Starting Quarterback Eric Archield (‘25) aim to continue to grow his skills and hopes to build a stronger brotherhood within the team.

“The coaches set a standard for us and we got to make it. We are going to find people that can and a lot of us responded to that challenge because we are the Knights,” Archield said.

This fall, on Thursday, Sept. 14, the Robinson Knights will face off against the Plant Panthers in the most anticipated game of the season. Despite the high stakes, the players themselves are walking into the game like they would any other.

“Even though Plant is our rival, they are like any other team, an obstacle towards our ultimate goal. We obviously plan to beat them, but both mentally and physi cally we need to win,” Lewis said.

Cross Country Chases Their Goals

Q&A with Volleyball CoCaptain

Mina Kuklen ('24) answers questions concerning her team this year.

By ASHLYN MILLER, SPORTS EDITOR

Q: What are your expectations for the team this year? How far are you hoping to go into the competition in your senior season?

MK: To improve individually and as a team. We have many new people entering the program and it is important to focus on understanding how the program works, how to set an example, how to play volleyball and to have fun. I’m hoping the team makes it as far as we can and is able to compete at a high level of volleyball, but no matter what I’ll always be proud of the team which will make my senior season a blast.

Q: What is an achievement you are most proud of looking back on your time with Robinson volleyball?

MK: An achievement I am most proud of is being able to expand my love for volleyball to younger girls. I love watching girls fall in love with the sport along with creating a new relationship with them. As a senior, I want to make sure I spread the love I have for this sport to the new girls entering the program.

Q:  Who will be your top competition going into this season? Are there any new teams on your schedule?

MK: Our toughest competition will be Plant this year, however, tough games are always a good learning experience. We are excited to play them and are always excited to learn and improve. The newest team on the schedule is Palm Harbor University High School. We are excited to play new teams and to play with different levels of volleyball.

The girls and boys cross country teams have been dedicating lots of time an effort to prepare for their upcoming season.

By CHARLOTTE STONE, CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

While most teenagers spend their summers sleeping in, the cross-country team members have been getting up bright and early to practice. These runners have been meeting at Ballast Point Park daily since June 1 at 7:30 a.m. From there, they continue their run down Bayshore in the scorching heat.

Since cross-country is such a demanding sport, consistency is very important. The girls' and boys' teams have been running every day to build up their endurance and keep their minds and bodies in shape.

Although the current members are very diligent in their preparation for the season, physical obstacles are not the only ones they have to overcome. Both teams have grown pretty small due to runners who either left Robinson or stepped

away from cross-country and are looking for potential new recruits who will be committed to the team.

"Our team is pretty small, so it's important that we all stay healthy and injury-free," said Bryn White ('25), captain of the girls cross country team.

While this is a challenge that both the girls and boys face, it is not the only challenge facing the boys team. On top of adjusting to new runners, they are still lacking a coach.

"I think it will be challenging for us to get used to an almost entirely new team... and potentially a new coach as well, depending on how things play out," said Jack Wittmer, a senior member of the boys cross country team.

Despite being confronted with adversity, these teams refuse to let these challenges slow them down. Both teams have big goals for the upcoming season which they are determined to achieve, such as returning to the Florida High School Cross Country State Championships in Tallahassee at the end of the season. Additionally, the girls hope to compete for a district title and the top ten in the state.

The runners are optimistic about the upcoming season, hoping to achieve their goals despite losing many seniors last year.

"[I'm] looking forward to this team which has immense potential to set the tone for the next few seasons as there are no seniors," said Mark Altimari, who is the head coach for the girls’ team.

White shares Altimari's sentiment, believing the largely underclassmen team has a great season ahead.

"I think our team will perform well this year. This is our rebuilding year and it's already looking great for us. Our returning sophomores and incoming freshmen are strong and I have full faith that we are going to crush this season," White added.

Bryn White ('25) runs in the Rogers Park Golf Course Cross Country Meet during the 2022-2023 season.

to Courtesy of Makayla Canino

(From top to bottom) Starting Quarterback Eric Archield ('25), Head Coach Mike Williams and Running Back Allan Lewis ('24) . Photos by K. McGoldrick, C. Rodriguez and A. Miller

Kuklen serves the ball in the air during the Plant game in the 2022-2023 season. Photo Courtsey of Isabella Cuevas