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Robinson High School 6311 S. Lois Ave., Tampa, FL 33616
Volume 58, Issue 4 |April, 2018
news
What’s inside
opinion
REad the Open letter from natalia Mccalla
sports
Take a look at a photo gallery of boys basketball and read about the cheer team’s recent success
feature
Saying goodbye to our senior staffers
A&E
pg 2
Find out why physics students are frustrated with their class
Prepare for Spring with these new fashion trends
pg 4
pg 6
pg 5
pg 8
ONE CAMPUS, TWO SCHOOLS
Students feel a disconnect between the IB and traditional programs
By Macy Mclintock & Natalia McCalla Managing Editor & Staff Writer hen the bell rings signaling the end of class, only about 66% of students step out into the hallway. Not because others refuse to leave, but because there are two separate sides to Robinson; it is not one cohesive high school. Out of the 1,638 students at Robinson, approximately 500 make up the International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme that runs much differently than the traditional program. Because of this, Robinson seems to hold two different schools, divided by scheduling and coursework. According to the American Psychological Association, 27% of teenagers endure “extreme stress” during high school-- only 21% of adults experience “extreme stress” due to work and home life. Even if not in an accelerated program like IB, students are loaded with hard tests, homework and the general stress of high school. So, why is the IB program so distant from the rest of Robinson and receive so many additional privileges? The IB program runs on a “block schedule,” so that students have four 90-minute classes a day, while the traditional students have seven 50-minute classes. This calls for a completely different bell schedule and lunch period. The only times during the day when a traditional student and IB student see each other is during traditional electives that an IB student can opt to take, clubs which meet once a month and afterschool activities, such as sports, theater and band. Despite sharing one campus, segregation is ever present. But the issue of separation delves much deeper than the layout of the school day.
W
In December, after the freshman IB Spanish teacher suddenly left, traditional Spanish teacher Fernando Tudanca immediately vacated his class to pick up the IB position. This same problem occurred in March, when past AP Environmental Science (APES) teacher Sarah Sanford left her job as a teacher in the traditional program to transition m. mcclintock into the freshman IB IB student Nicole Perdigon (‘20) and traditional student Nathalie Monroy (‘19) stand for a phoscience department. to ilustration depicting the stereotypes for their respected programs. A substitute teacher student interactions. The Foundation focuses taught APES for a month until a replacement more on school improvements, such as funding was hired. the refillable water stations and the blue tarp at “There’s a big misconception that there’s a the school and PTSA offers student scholarships big gap between traditional and IB students, but and provides teachers with appreciation meals when it really comes down to it, kids are kids and grants. and they are going to behave like kids,” Sanford On certain ACCA days, once-a-month days said. “There is a little more pressure on this side with no classes for IB students, RIBLI brings to do well, but one of the downsides is that there in USF psychologists to lead IB students in is no planning time on the IB side.” meditation strategies that can reduce stress. IB has its own fundraising event and parent IB students have to pick up a ticket from their association, Robinson High School IB Link Inc. homeroom in order to get into the meditation (RIBLI), which has sponsored ice cream socials, sessions. Traditional classes are not provided raffle drawings and special meditation days-with tickets. exclusive to IB students. Last month, a parent came to the school asking Although there are parent organizations for to buy the IB yearbook, not realizing that the both programs, like the Parent Teacher Student school has one book, not one per each program. Association (PTSA) and Robinson Foundation, With these differences the programs seem to RIBLI is the only one geared toward direct be rivals, with students feeling discrimination. Continued on page 2.
TOP OFFeaturing THEIR CLASS the Best of the Best By Cassidy Williams Staff Writer
CATHERINE JOHNSON IB VAL. “I just took classes enjoyed doing and important because you’re not dreading the extra work.”
that I that’s then doing
EVE GLENN TRAD. VAL.
“My friends helped me to maintain my social life, they also helped me maintain my academics because we studied together a lot. We all helped each other get here”
MILIN KURUP IB SAL.
“[Finding out]was a grateful moment. I wasn’t expecting it. I had always wanted to become one of the top in the class and I finally became one”
LANE JOHANSEN TRAD. SAL.
“I can’t not do my work. I’m a huge perfectionist so I just made it my mission to turn in every possible assignment were given and study really hard for tests”
SAVE THE DATE April 23
Senior Meeting (3rd period)
April 24
Cap and Gown Pick Up
April 25
IB Senior Send Off
April 28
Grad Bash
April 30
IB Exams Begin
May 5
SAT Test Day
May 7
AP Exams Begin
May 23
Class of 2018 Graduation
May 25
Last Day
Extended Coverage Want to read more on the valedictorians and saludatorians? Use Snapchat to scan this QR code.