RHS Knight Writers Vol. 63 Issue 3 | March 2023

Teacher Pay Disputes in Stalemate

Current negotiations for Hillsborough County teachers continue in mediation.

By VIKRAM SAMBASIVAN, NEWS & FEATURES EDITOR

Every year, the Teacher’s Union and the Hillsborough County School District sit down and renegotiate teacher contracts. In August 2022, the Hillsborough Classroom Teachers Association (HCTA) and the district arrived at an impasse regarding demands, specifically teacher pay.

Due to the inability of both sides to reach an agreement, a mediator has stepped in to weigh in and make a decision. This decision, however, will not be binding, so it doesn’t mean that it will cause an end to disputes for the year.

“Right now, it’s a stalemate. So, you know, by contract every year, teachers negotiate pay. The two parties came together this year, early, and they could not reach a compromise,”

Principal David Brown said. “So, negotiations have stopped and…went to impasse and they [teachers and the district] brought in a mediator. Even when the mediator makes a decision, it’s still up to the school board to decide whether it’s approved.”

The teacher’s union demanded a total of $13 million in pay raises for the 2022 school year. The district promises teachers a pay schedule over which they will get raises over a period of time, however, the district claims to be unable to

DATES AND EVENTS AHEAD

March 6: Non-Student Day

March 8: Spring Signing Day

March 13-17: Spring Break

March 20: Club Day

March 23: Talent Show

March 24: End of 3rd Quarter

March 29-30: Night of One Acts

March 31: 7 Star Honor Band Concert

April 7: Non-Student Day

April 15: Prom

April 22: Grad Bash

April 25: Cap & Gown Distribution

April 25: Senior Awards Night

April 26: IB Seniors’ Last Day

May 1-12: AP Exams

May 18: Traditional Seniors’ Last Day

May 18: Graduation Rehearsal

May 26: Last Day of School

May 26: End of 4th Quarter

May 28: Graduation

keep up with said schedule.

The district agreed to pay teachers one step in their pay schedule as well as an additional non-recurring payment, which would be a supplement to their second step, but the HCTA says that this is not good enough and that teachers deserve their full pay.

“Right now, the school district has the money to give us the two steps that we have earned and they’re choosing not to which is one of the reasons why we’re at an impasse,” social studies teacher and HCTA site representative Naze Sahebzamani said.

The district, while admitting that they have received additional money in the form of COVID-19 relief funds, claims that the money is earmarked for programs and expenses other than teacher pay. If the parameters for this state-provided money are violated, then the money could be taken back from the county.

“Part of it is [the county] is not funded well enough by the state, and I know you’ll read the

paper and it’ll say ‘I’m giving a billion dollars to education’ but when you break down and look where that money is going, a lot of that is earmarked for different things, so it really doesn’t go directly towards teacher pay,” Brown said.

A large problem is the county not being funded well enough by the state.

The Florida Department of Education (FDOE) told Hillsborough County that in 2021 “its finances were at a critical level and, in fact, threatened to take over the district if it did not get its house in order.”

Due to the low level of funds, the county claims that even if there was a lot of money in their savings accounts, it would not be a constant income, so promising a lump sum to teachers is not possible.

“The issue is, even if that helped build up our reserves, the money that we have in savings, it doesn’t, it’s not a reoccurring fee,” Former sub-

OPINION

Disney Adults Need to Calm Down and Give Mickey a Break

These Disney Adults need to leave poor Mickey Mouse alone.

By YESENIA ROSARIO, STAFF WRITER

Letter from the Editors

stitute teacher and current Hillsborough County Board Member Jessica Vaughn told WMNF in an interview.

Teacher pay is especially important this year because of the rising cost of living in Hillsborough County and inflation rates still remaining high.

“Well, I think it’s always important to pay the teachers what they have earned. But, when you’re talking about inflation and the cost of living has gone up tremendously and we can’t afford to pay rent sometimes. It’s very hard to work in an industry where you’re living paycheck to week-before-the-next paycheck and have to get a second job and have to do other things just to make ends meet,” Sahebzamani said. “The teachers in Hillsborough County by large do this job because it’s their passion, it’s not a job, it’s a career, and they put everything they have into their jobs, and they’re not even being paid what they have earned, which is still not enough; but how are you supposed just to meet your basic needs when the district refuses to pay what

Fall in Love With the Spring Sports Pep Rally

Robisnon Student Government Association throws pep rally to get in spirit for spring sports season.

By ZOE THAXTON, CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

In crowds of pink and red and one George Washington, the Robinson student body gathered in the gym for the quarterly pep rally. It was themed around Valentine’s Day. Students were greeted with love songs like “Dark Red” by Steve Lacy and “More Than A Woman” by Wham!

and Biology teacher Diana Marazzo giving students heart stickers.

“We picked Valentine’s Day [as the theme] cause that’s kind of what people think of when they think of February so we wanted to incorporate the love them,” Junior Class President Tara Kuklen said.

To start, there was a moment of silence while the National Anthem played and the JROTC color guard presented the flag. Then, with Oscar Poland (‘23) on the microphone, all spring sports were called to stand up to be recognized by the student body...read the rest on knightwriters.org

Disney has existed for a century now and has released numerous amounts of movies, characters and content that many adults now, grew up with. During that time, amusement parks have been opened most famously in Florida and California known as Disney World and Disneyland. Though Disneys target audience aims towards children, adults seem to also enjoy Disney, maybe a little too much for comfort…

A lot of controversy surrounds Disney adults. Disney adults are people who love Disney so much, they own thousands of dollars worth of merchandise, spend thousands in hotels and may even shed tears when seeing the castle for the first time which seems weird, but to them, the norm. This is definitely weird to literally everybody else, including me.

Multiple videos circulate on social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram and Twitter where adults post themselves meeting characters, seeing the castle for the first time, buying thousands in merchandise every trip and so much more that many just don’t find normal, including me. This has created a wave of Disney adult ‘haters’.

I believe that Disney’s target audience should be children, not fully grown millennial adults. Though I can respect adults enjoying Disney rides and their awesome snacks and environment. What I can’t understand is how they treat meeting fictional characters like meeting an A-list

transportation, tickets, food or merchandise, repeatedly. It’d make sense if you’re taking a yearly trip and just want to have a good, memorable trip but if you’re going every week why treat it as if it’s your first time?

The average cost for an annual pass alone to Disney World or Disneyland is $399 without tax and doesn’t include the down payment you have to make. Honestly, it seems like money going down the drains to this huge company. If you want to enjoy Disney, going every week or even everyday, wouldn’t fulfill that. It’d become receptive and annoying. No one should be a “regular” at Disney.

Welcome back to another issue of Knight Writers. After a quarter of working together as co-EICs, we’re happy to share the latest work from the Robinson newspaper staff.

In this issue, the Knight Writers staff addresses some of the conversations we’ve been having in our own classes outside of Room 250. The front page of this issue highlights some of the Black literature taught in Florida’s high school curriculum and in Robinson English classrooms. On the back, the authors of banned books have been visualized in light of recent discussions of teachers removing books from their classroom libraries in the state of Florida.

celebrity. Usually, meet and greet lines for characters are hours long, and adults who wait to meet characters like Peter Pan and jump around, in anticipation or excitement, is childlike and embarrassing at their grown age. It also just calls for tons of weird, even concerned, stares.

Disney is not a cheap trip, whether it’s Disneyland or Disney World, these adults pay thousands for things like hotels,

Speaking of, adults go to Disney so much that the cast members and characters remember them. Honestly, this is concerning. Why are you going to Disney so much to the point where the cast members recognize you? Do these Disney Adults have no life or friends?

These adults can do whatever their hearts desire, but these choices they make will eventually catch up with them, financially and mentally. As of right now their oblivious to the fact that what their doing isn’t financially smart and overall, weird and concerning.

Class Rings Are A Scam - But Maybe That’s OK

Sometimes poor financial decisions are OK!

By ASHLYN MILLER, STAFF WRITER

The class of 2025 was recently called into the RHS auditorium to discuss “solidifying their high school experience” in the form of overpriced class rings and varsity jackets. sat there with my friends trying my best to not laugh, as a salesman tried to explain how a $1,000 hunk of metal is a good investment and not a total waste of money.

I do not see my parents or any of my peers’ parents agreeing to pay for them. Especially when their own class rings likely sit in a box at their parents’ house. The absolute worst part of this debacle is that so many people still totally want one.

In the catalog they give you, there is a page advertising a special deal on a

package for a certain ring. This ‘special’ is $389.95.  Keep in mind that the stone in the middle is ‘simulated’ and is not considered to be legitimate. Not only this but this ring is made out of a metal called Ultrium, which is typically the most affordable metal for class rings.

While neither of these options looks or performs poorly, they are just not as valuable as the price tag suggests. They get away with an upcharge on these items because of the sentimental value that comes with them, though I still feel like a scrapbook would do the same job for maybe $300 less.

The jeweler has hundreds of different designs you can get put into your ring.

On a lighter note, Spring has sprung. All spring sports are back and their respective seasons can be previewed on the centerspread. Also in the sports section is a profile of a winter sports athlete who set a record at Robinson, so check that out as well. Celebrating the start of the spring sports season was the Spring Sports Pep rally that happened on Feb. 24, which is covered on the second page of this issued along with some photos.

There are also a few concerts coming up this spring. Some dates can be previewed in the A&E section as well as a few concert essentials suggested by RHS students. From country stars like Morgan Wallen and Luke Combs to pop sensations like Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran, there’s a long list of artists to see now that the weather’s warmed up.

We hope you enjoy this issue and we can’t wait to see what’s to come in the fourth issue and our last with the Knight Writers staff. Don’t forget to check knightwriters. org for digital content and more consistent coverage. The year is almost over (we are both counting down the days until graduation), so let’s crank out these final weeks.

Anything you have ever done, ever, can be represented with one of the metal cutouts. The whole idea is to tell a story of who you were in high school, but is it really that serious? What you do in high school does not define you for the rest of your life.

However, so many people balance being in several extracurriculars, sports and keeping good GPAs for better opportunities at scholarships or college admissions. Even with all of that effort and extra time spent at school, we all end up in the same place on graduation day and in the same universities. Buying these rings is a small price to pay for some piece of mind, to know that you did get something out of high school. Nancy Webster’s class ring from the graduating class of ‘08. Photo by A. Miller

Knight Writers

This Knight Writers newspaper is produced by the Journalism II-V class at Robinson High School.

Editors-in-Chief Juno Le Zoe Thaxton

Print Managing Editor Charlotte Stone

News & Features Editor Vikram Sambasivan

Sports Editor Chelsea Rodriguez

Opinion Editor Keirra McGoldrick

A&E Editor Cecilia Cheng

Multimedia Editor Ingalls Witte

Fun Coordinator Jadyn Grayes

Social Media Editor Allie Barton

Senior Staff Writers

Whittaley Bowden

Araya Stearns

JC Thaxton

Staff Writers

McKayle McGoldrick

Shayla McIntyre

Ashlyn Miller

Janiece Mitchner

Malia Rodriguez

Staff Writers (cont.)

Yesenia Rosario

Faith Rowland

Grace Shafer

Ariana Smith

Publications Adviser

Nancy Webster

Principal David Brown

Mission Statement

The role and goal of the RHS News is to inform, interpret and entertain their viewers through accurate and factual reports, and be accurate, fair and impartial in its coverage of issues that affect the school community. The staff of RHS News will strive to report all issues in a legal, objective, accurate and ethical manner, according to the Canons of Professional Journalism developed by the Society for Professional Journalists.

Policies

For more information about the staff policies, follow this link https://knightwriters.org/about/ staff-policies/ Publication Memberships

Image of the front entrance sign of Magic Kingdom at Disney World, ‘The happiest Place on Earth.’ Photo By Y. Rosario

you’ve earned?”

“Even when the mediator makes a decision, it’s still up to the school board to decide whether it’s approved.”

- David Brown

James Atkins explains rate laws and kinetics in a junior IB Chemistry class. Photo by V. Sambasivan

Kelis Coleman (‘25) covers her mouth in shock after hearing one of the boys’ pickup lines.

Photo by C. Cheng

Joshua Kim (‘23) falls to the floor after chasing after the person who “goosed” him in Duck, Duck, Goose.

Adriana Williams (‘23) (right) drags Hunter Smith (‘23) back to their corner with their newly acquired balloons in the Hungry Hungry Hippos game. Photo by J. Le

(From left to right) Captains Issa Allbritton (‘23), Sophia Damore (‘24), Dominic Demmicco (‘24) and Liam Doyle (‘23) represent the girls’ and boys’ lacrosse teams in the Captains’ Tug of War. The lacrosse players lost this game of strength to the boys’ and girls’ tennis team captains. Photo by J. Le

Tammy Jerson (‘24) pulls on her end of the rope for the Spring sports captains’ game of Tug of War. The pep rally stirred excitement for the season ahead. “I can’t wait for flag season to start because love the sport and I’m excited to see how much the team and have improved since last season,” Jerson said. Photo by C. Cheng.

Zayne Amos (‘24) scoops up a few red balloons in his hoop to draw back to the juniors’ side.

Photo by C. Cheng

Sports

Flag Football Tackles Another Season

What to expect from Robinson’s legendary flag football team.

By CHELSEA RODRIGUEZ, SPORTS EDITOR

With eight state championships, five academic state championships and nine straight district championships, there’s just no other team at Robinson that does it like our flag football team. Along with the other spring sports teams, they’re back to kick off their ‘22’23 season.

After losing some vital players last year and having lots of new faces joining the team, the girls have been hard at work practicing new plays alongside their speed, agility, coordination and communication.

“Our off-season team has certainly been working through the fall and the summer, but now that it’s on the season, that team only plays two days a week or so,” Head Coach Joshua Saunders said. “So now that we are in season and playing five days a week, think we’ll see some serious growth especially out of the young kids.”

Last year, the team closed off another monumental season with a final overall score of 22-1 and a state, championship for their sixth year in a row. This year will be no different with the girls aiming for another one.

“Unfortunately for them [the girls] anything less than that is gonna be a disappointment to them, so that’s kind of where they’ve set that goal and they’ve been pretty good about getting there,” Coach Saunders said.

This year the roster is filled with strong play-

What’s In Their Bag?

Essentials

By CHELSEA RODRIGUEZ, SPORTS

Robinson Baseball Aims to Knock It Out of the Park

Players to watch as the team prepares for a memorable season to come.

By CHELSEA RODRIGUEZ, SPORTS EDITOR

After finishing a commendable season last year with their overall winnings at 1511, the RHS baseball team is back. They ended their 2021-2022 season at the district semi-finals where they were sadly defeated by the Dunedin Falcons 6-0. Since then, the team has been hard at work preparing themselves for this year.

“[We have been] balancing a lot of youth and new faces with the veteran experience and leadership. Trusting the process and knowing that if we are relaxed and who we’re capable of being things will work out just fine,” Head Coach Alexander Barron said.

Although nearly half of the players on the team were seniors and have moved on from Robinson, last year’s juniors have stepped up to the plate and made sure the team is still filled with plenty of strong players.

Jeremiah Henderson (‘23) has been on the team for the past four years; he is an outfielder who plays defense in the center field. This position in baseball requires great speed and agility and someone who can cover a lot of ground and be a leader in the outfield. Henderson concluded his last season with a batting average of .250, 14 total runs and

“[This season] I want more consistency on the bases and the plate and just doing my job on the field,” Henderson said.

Mitchner Makes History

Jasmyn Mitchner breaks the record for the most goals scored in a singular season.

By CHARLOTTE STONE, PRINT MANAGING EDITOR

With each new soccer season comes one very important thing: new players. This year the RHS girls soccer team lucked out with the addition of freshman Jasmyn Mitchner.

On Monday, Jan. 30, Mitchner tied the record for the highest goal scorer in Robinson history. During the water break of their game against Bayshore High School, Coach Vaughn Volpi informed the team that Mitchner was only one point away from tying the record for the most goals scored in a single season at Robinson. After hearing this, Mitchner went back in and proceeded to score another goal, matching the record.

“After I scored the goal [matching] the record I was just filled with excitement and felt so accomplished that all I could do was smile. And what made it even better was how my team ran up to me with excitement congratulating me and that just made it really special,” Mitchner said.

It is obvious that Mitchner fits right into the team and they were just as excited as Mitchner to match the record.

Softball Season In Full Swing

Spring has sprung, and so has the RHS softball team.

By ASHLYN MILLER, STAFF WRITER

Robinson softball has returned for another spring season.  They finished their 2021-2022 season first in their district, and second in the regional finals. The team is on the greener side this year with eight freshmen and only four seniors, but the returning players have been working to prepare them for their first season.

This year the team is being led by four captains, one of them being Kohana Pousson (‘23), a pitcher and outfielder.

tional teams throughout summer and being able to face higher competition. I’m also finally able to relax a bit and enjoy my senior year since I’ve committed which gives me a better feeling as well,” Pousson said. Another of the four captains is Riley Onisawa (‘23), the main catcher for the team. She has recently signed to play D1 for Florida Southern College. Onisawa finished last season with a .377 batting average.

-ready know,” Mitchner said. “Just knowing that there’s always more I can learn and perfect as I progress over the next years in playing soccer.”

However, before playing for both Robinson and Tampa Bay United, Mitchner played with the Minot Majettes varsity soccer team where she created some unforgettable memories.

“Strengths for this team are definitely skill and working to earn a spot..even though we are a young team now these freshmen have lots of skill... give them two years and Robinson will be phenomenal. Another skill would probably be the energy, even if we are losing most players are positive and keeping the energy up which is good to have,” Pousson said.

“We have good team chemistry and we all communicate well. We do have some weaknesses having a team with eight freshmen trying to work them up to a higher level of softball,” Onisawa said.

Having lost a lot of key players last year, captains have had to take on even stronger leadership positions.

ers being led by Head Captain Julia Guillermo (‘23). Guillermo has been on the team for two years now with her position being a running back. Running backs think quickly on their feet and differentiate run plays from passing plays and react accordingly. Last season, she completed 128 total passing yards averaging around six per game alongside seven receiving touchdowns and four tackles per game.

Another returning player to keep an eye on is Adriana Williams (‘23). Williams is just coming off a win from her amazing soccer season and next year will be furthering her athletics at Warner University. She has held her position of running back on the team for about two years now. She averages around 21 rushing yards per game, 55 receiving yards per game and has 29 total touchdowns.

“I just want to keep building on my experience so that I’m prepared for future flag football. We’ve just been focusing on improving our routes and really just catching the ball,” Williams said.

Last year’s quarterbacks were both seniors meaning the team had to find someone to fill the position and along came Haidyn Spano (‘25). This is Spano’s first year on the team and first year playing flag football.

“Being on varsity this year is a little nerve-wracking. There is certainly a lot of pressure. But I have an amazing team behind me to help me out. We all connect really well and my team has incredible talent and which relieves some stress put on me. Of course, my end goal is to win Robinson another state championship,” Spano said. “This team has its place in my heart, so staying committed and working to improve for them will never be a problem.”

“ I keep a nail file with me at all times because when I pitch it pushes back my nails so much and like it cracks so I gotta keep it

Nathaniel Jennewein (‘23)

Tucker Wehrman (‘23) is the third baseman and has been on the team since his sophomore year. The third baseman has the best arm on the team and the longest throw of any infielder. Based on the previous season, Wehrman has a batting average of .247, five total runs and 124 total putouts.

“Come out with a winning season, I think that’s a big team goal and individually I’d love to

pitcher plays one of the most important roles on the team; they have to have great accuracy, velocity and a healthy arm. This year will be Jennewein’s sec ond year on the team along with Sandefer’s third year. When looking at last season, Jenewein had a strikeout rate of 7 per game while Sandefer had an average of 29 per game. Next year, Sandefer plans to further his baseball career at Saint Leo University while Jennewein heads up north to play for the Big Red Bears at Cornell University.

“We got switched into a new district this year and it’s looking a lot better than what it was before so that’s definitely something we’re looking forward to,” Sandefer said.

With players like these and constant improvements being made, there is a lot to look forward to this baseball season at Robinson.

“We have been trying to hammer individual and team skills and situations and just making sure that no stone is left unturned as far as what we need to do to be ready to win against the other team,” Barron said. “No challenges, I have the best group of kids of any high school team in the state of Florida.”

“ We’re on the field of course so we have to have cleats to run. . . lotion because people be ashy. hairties of course,”

Katejion Robinson (‘23)

“

Every year the seniors get to pick a color and that’s the color we wear every

Julia Guillermo (‘23)

On the field, there’s a million mosquitos and termites and nobody ever has bug spray, so I just try to keepbug stray on me in case anybody needs it, because everyone asks for it but nobody has it,”

Adriana Williams (‘23)

“Jasmyn Mitchner was extremely beneficial to our team,” teammate Jazmine Afridi (‘24) said. “She is a very hard worker, and never gave up on a play. She is a team sport who made our team better technically and emotionally.”

It’s no wonder Mitchner broke the record with the amount of time she has put into the sport. Mitchner has been playing soccer since age four and has been competitively playing since she was seven.

With all of that experience, Mitcher has played on her fair share of teams. Outside of school, Mitchner is dedicated to Tampa Bay United and plays on the ECNL 08 girls’ team.

“I love that there are so many different styles of play and every team is unique in the way they play so when I play with new people and coaches I get to learn new styles or play to incorporate with what al

“My favorite memory from soccer would have to be when I scored my last goal in the state championship game for the Minot Majettes varsity soccer team in Minot, North Dakota and winning state back to back for 2021 and 2022,” Mitchner said. “I grew up with those girls that I played with and winning a state championship as a seventh and eighth grader has to be one of the best moments of my life.”

After graduating, Mitcher plans on furthering her athletic career. She hopes to gain a scholarship and play D1 soccer at either UNC or FSU. However, her dreams don’t stop there. After university, Mitcher hopes to fulfill her dreams of going pro or playing European soccer.

“Ever since I was little I have always dreamed of playing soccer in college and going pro, and those dreams have yet to change,” Mitchner said. “UNC and FSU are my dream schools and I would take a scholarship from either of those schools in a heartbeat. Playing D1 soccer for either of those teams has always been a dream of mine.”

Pousson has recently committed to play D1 at Alabama State University. She finished last season with a .343 batting average with 23 hits and three home runs scored.

Track and Field Season is Off to a Swift Start

The Robinson Track and Field team is prepared and fired up for their 2023 season.

By JADYN GRAYES, FUN COORDINATOR

This year’s track and field season has kicked off with full force alongside the rest of our spring sports and it has players and coaches itching with excitement. Robinson ended last season in the top ten in the district, but players felt there was more to be achieved.

“Last season wasn’t my best season honestly, but I do have some time to recover. I need a little more endurance times down overall,”

Rodrigue Demard

Demard is a seasoned runner, returning for his fourth

“We’ve been preparing with your normal preseason and conditioning workouts, which mainly includes going to the weight room and endurance workouts,” Tammy Jerson (‘24) said. “I specifically want to run sub 24 this year. That’s a pretty big goal but if I put in the work I can get there.”

Tammy Jerson (‘24) a returning runner at Robinson ranked top three in the district for the 200-meter race last season. She beat her own time from the previous year by almost two seconds leaving her record for the 200-meters at 25.65.

While the team is mostly made up of returning athletes from last year, there are a few new eager faces such as Soleil Olivio (‘24).

“I’m looking forward to just bonding with everyone else on the team and being a part of that family and I’m looking forward to seeing myself grow. Since I was doing competitive cheer, I wasn’t able to prepare by going to the off-season practices. However, I’ve been getting mentally ready for it because I knew it’d be a lot.”

Girl’s Tennis Steps Into The Frame

Tennis season is here with fresh faces and a bigger team.

By ASHLYN MILLER, STAFF WRITER

With spring just around the corner, the Knights women’s tennis has been practicing and preparing for another season. The competition is set to be harder this year with the Academy of Holy Names joining their district once again. This still doesn’t deter Robinson’s team from trying their hardest. Head coach Michelle Virdisco is happy with where her team stands.

“We have great chemistry between our players and that helps us at doubles and hopefully that will lead to many match victories,” Virdisco said.

The girl’s tennis program has been growing in terms of players over the past few years. Coach Verdisco attributes most of this growth to her senior captains, Ally Clement (‘23) and Mia Reineke (‘23).”

Ally and Mia have been four-year varsity players who helped grow the team from only five or six in 2020 to 24 players on both varsity and JV teams in the 2023 season,” Verdasco said.

This duo has shown their skills together on the court pulling wins for their team during their time together.

Sophia Le (‘26) is starting her first high school season as a starter and one of the team’s top players. Her coach expects her to not only excel in singles but also collect wins for her team during doubles.

“Sophie Le and Charlotte Stone are strong players individually and together in doubles and should help lead our team to many victories this season,”  Verdisco said

The transition into being a freshman in any varsity sport can be daunting, especially if you are one of the team’s top players.

“I am looking forward to having fun with my team and hopefully winning matches this season,” Le said.

Having plenty of talent on her team, Verdisco wants to

“I took a step up helping the team knowing we had a lot of freshmen coming in and I have been trying to help everyone and be a leader,” Onisawa said.

Orli Probasco (‘24) is one of the team’s top players this season. She finished last season with a .500 batting average. She has proven herself on the field with more than just her batting, Probasco’s fielding percentage last season was a whopping 1.000.

“We have a fantastic group of returning players who have stepped up to try and make the transition for the freshman a little easier.” Head Coach Ed Gallio said.

With a successful 2021-2022 season under their belt, the standards for the team

“As far as the biggest competition our schedule is full of top-tier teams, every game will be tough,” Gallio said.

Olivio said.

Although you’re competing alongside other people for a majority of the events, track and field is a very personal sport that requires physical and mental readiness.

“My only goal this season is to be better than when I started because with track it’s you vs. yourself so I just want to improve in any way I can,” Olivio said.

This year’s team encourages you to step out of your comfort zone and try track and field for future seasons, as they’re always welcoming new people.

“People think it’s just running but it’s way more than that, the connections and bonds you can build are just fantastic,” Demard said.

Their next meet will be held on March 4 at Leto High School.

keep a well-rounded group and collect wins as a whole.

“Winning matches this season will truly be a team effort. As in prior years, RHS has a huge depth on our girl’s tennis team. The girls who are #1-5 start and play singles, but I could truly slide in any of my #6-11 players who may be able to win at #5 singles on any given day against many of our opponents,” Verdisco said.

Coach Verdisco has a full season ahead of her, but she is confident that her team will perform well under pressure.

Photo By V. Sambasivan

Jeremiah Henderson (‘23)

Photo By N. Diaz

Photo Courtesy of S. Saenz

to ensure a winning season.

EDITOR

Robbie Blalock (‘22)

Photo By J. Le

Flag Football team poses for a team picture after winning the district championship for their ‘22 season.

Adriana Williams (‘23)

Photo by V. Sambasivan

Riley Onisawa (‘23)

Photo by Z. Thaxton

Photo Courtesy of Patrick Duffey

Illustrations By C. Rodriguez

Features

Heckman Reaches for the Stars

Robinson senior Payton Heckman writes and produces EP, “The Starchaser,” all by himself.

By CECILIA CHENG, A&E EDITOR

Music is a big part of everyone’s lives, but to Payton Heckman (‘23), it holds a special place in his heart. A lifelong music enthusiast, he did not hesitate when he came across an opportunity where he would be able to create his own music. Made from the comfort in the corner of his bedroom, “The Starchaser” is a poppunk rock EP that was released on Friday, Feb. 24 with an analogy for growing up.

“I guess the short story is that I’ve always had a love for music, and have always dreamed of being in a band, but it wasn’t until the last few years that I discovered that I could actually write music myself,” Heckman said. “So, I figured that it was worth a shot to at least try my hand at music production and put something

out before graduated.”

The process didn’t come easy for him. Like many, Heckman wasn’t familiar with the process of producing and recording music at all. Countless YouTube videos and tons of practice later, he managed to teach himself most of the basics; but being only a senior in high school, he had limited access to high-quality equipment as well as a tight budget for resources.

“When it came to recording, I ran everything off of [the] computer in my bedroom. I recorded all of the guitar and bass guitar parts during the day, and I would record all the vocals either at night when everyone is asleep. Some parts were simple and could be recorded in 30 seconds, and some parts took thousands of takes,” Heckman said.

“So, I figured that it was worth a shot to at least try my hand at music production and put something out before graduated.”

RHS Students Concert Essentials

Knight Writers ask students their must-haves at concerts.

“Water, I don’t want to get dehydrated.”

-Shokhina Afandikhonova (‘24)

“My tiny camera”

- Sabrina Perez (‘26)

“My phone, cash and a hairtie”

- Raksha Dharani (‘25)

A&E

A 2023 Guide to Concerts in Tampa

A look into your favorite artist coming to the Tampa Bay area.

By JC THAXTON, SENIOR STAFF WRITER

Top artists have been producing new music as the years go on. Now that COVID slowly gets better and restrictions are lifted, the question is, when will we be able to see our favorite artists live? Here are some artists that are coming to the Tampa Bay area in 2023 that you should look out for.

before moving on to the next chapter of his life.

Also, over the summer, Luke Combs will come to the Raymond James Stadium on Saturday, July 8 to perform his “The Middle of Somewhere Tour.”

His tickets start at $155 for the 300-level seats and go to almost $1000 for the pit. Along with Combs performing on his tour, he will be bringing guest performers like Flatland Cavalry, Brent Cobb, Ri

Not only were there technical difficulties, but Heckman also found it difficult to physically put his thoughts into words, as well as structure the EP to make sense altogether.

“The process is different for everyone, but I found that I struggled with lyrics a lot when it

Get to know more about the top two students of IB and Traditional.

By VIKRAM SAMBASIVAN, NEWS & FEATURES EDITOR

The Valedictorians and Salutatorians of the class of 2023 were revealed on Monday, Feb. 20.

The RHS Staff created a list of questions to gain a deeper insight into their journey toward academic achievement.

Q: What drove you to strive to achieve academic excellence?

Rahul Rajinthkumar, IB Valedictorian: “I’d say I knew what my goals were for the future, and knew it was important I started out well, and things worked out in the end.”

Praveen Prabaharan, IB Salutatorian: “I’ve always tried my best in school since I was really young. I guess that mindset carried forward and got me to where I am today.”

Isabella Cuevas, Traditional Valedictorian: “Not wanting to fail honestly. I knew that failing would make me feel like I wasn’t reaching my fullest potential in my academics and I knew I was capable of it so I pushed myself to get my work done, try as hard as I could, and have good communication with my teachers.”

Russell Vifquain, Traditional Salutatorian: “I always just told myself ‘A’s and B’s and I put myself in heavier weighted classes, but my parents were behind most of it.”

Q: Was the path you took worth the sacrifices made along the way?

RR: “Yeah I think it was. I see this as just the first step. Obviously it’s great to end high school in such a way and I think it’s equally important I try to do the same in college, I’d say it be pretty worth it then.”

PP: “Yeah, I would say it was worth it. I didn’t really think of it as a sacrifice ‘cause I’m a pretty curious person and already spend a lot of my free time learning new things anyway.”

IC: “I didn’t sacrifice much, if anything sleep.”

RV: “It was definitely worth it, for being part of the covid and construction class, I don’t see a lot that I could’ve done differently to get a better

came to writing about abstract concepts and feelings. I ended up creating a very literal, albeit brief, story that the EP follows,” Heckman added. Another important part of any song is the background vocals. When Heckman needed backup singers, his friends did not hesitate to step up to the challenge.

“I’d be lying if I didn’t say I made this EP for myself entirely. I didn’t write it to appeal to anyone else’s music taste or to show off; I just wanted to prove to myself that I could really commit to a huge challenge like this,” Heckman said. “So y’know, if it somehow blows up. then great. But if it totally flops, then that’s alright too.”

- Payton Heckman

“Being one of the background vocals was so much fun for me. It was amazing being able to help with the vocals, especially since I’ve been waiting to hear the EP for so long,” Jayden Fernandez (‘23) said.

“The Starchaser” serves as a special project for him. Not only is he doing this for fun, but he wants to be able to capture these last moments

Q&A: Meet the Valedictorians and Salutatorians of the Class of 2023

high school experience.”

Q: Looking back, would you have still taken the same path?

RR: “It’s hard to say, but I think it certainly would’ve been similar. I’d say it’s more important to work hard, and what comes as a result is secondary.”

PP: “Probably, I learned a lot of new things and I’m grateful I had the opportunity to take some extra classes and so I could explore my interests.”

IC: “Yeah I would, I did everything I needed to do and more so why not.”

RV: “If anything I wish I would’ve done more extracurriculars and put myself out there a little more, but I am thankful for how everything played out.”

Q: Would you say that you were able to pursue your extracurricular interests, if any, along with schoolwork and a social life?

RR: “I knew I had to find a balance with my extracurriculars and schoolwork. It was hard, and anyone would say that sleep was hard to come by towards junior and senior year, but I was able to find a balance that worked for me.”

PP: “Definitely. For the most part, I haven’t had a ton of trouble balancing school and extracurriculars. Sure, there are times when you’re under stress but if you plan everything well enough it should work out.”

IC: “Yeah, I still did a lot after school. I was still able to work, help with lacrosse and go out with friends to the beach, dinners and such. I had a very active social life with my good friends.”

RV: “I was more than able to do extracurriculars and have a fulfilling social life. I was a dual sport athlete and outside of that I’ve made some great friends along the way.”

Q: What is your message for any underclassman looking up to you?

RR: “I’d say it’s important to start well. Laying the foundation will inevitably bring more opportunities to pursue bigger things. It’s also equally important to maintain your well-being as much as your academics, and try your best to find a balance.”

PP: “Do whatever makes you happy and have some fun along the way. Don’t worry about things not going as planned cause everything always works out in the end.”

IC: “You don’t need to be the best at every subject, and you don’t have to stress yourself so much over a class that will always be hard to understand. Just try hard, do the extra credit and communicate with your teachers about your time.”

RV: “Just have fun and do you. Don’t put too much pressure and stress on yourself, high school is too short for all that.”

Q: What are your plans for the future?

RR: “It’s hard to say. While I haven’t decided on a specialty, I hope I’d have started my medical residency and just have a good group of friends and family, because that is what will matter more to anyone in the end as much as any job.”

PP: “I’ll probably have graduated from college with a degree in engineering and hopefully have secured a nice job. Most importantly, I want to be happy and healthy with some good memories to look back on.”

IC: “I plan to go to college after this year, hopefully a good university in Florida, then go into law school either in Florida or out of the state, not too sure yet.”

RV: “Go to college somewhere in Florida, and get my Masters in Data Science and Business.”

Photos Courtesy of Cady Studios.

Despite all the challenges, Heckman was still able to produce these pieces that showcase his musical prowess and creative vision. With his love for writing and producing, fans can anticipate more projects to be released in the future.

“I’ve been so excited for the EP ever since fall when it was supposed to be out. I’ve always had similar music taste to Payton and he’s asked me every now and then about the music, so finally being able to hear it will be a blessing,” Jake Hatton (‘23) said.

First up, coming to the Raymond James Sta dium is Taylor Swift from Thursday, April 13 through Saturday, April 15. Fans had access to tickets for the “Taylor Swift Era Tour” in mid-No vember, which sold out in split seconds, as it is one of the most anticipated concerts of the year. Due to Ticketmaster malfunctioning, many were not able to purchase tickets, but if you are one of the lucky ones, congratulations and have the best time! If you still would like to buy a ticket, ticket prices now vary from $300 all the way up to $1,000. For me, that is a lot of money but she is definitely worth it!

If you are a country music-loving fan, then here is what is upcoming for you.

Popular country artist Morgan Wal len is performing at MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre on Saturday, May 6 at 7 p.m. Performing his “One Night at a Time World Tour,” Wallen’s tickets are ranging from $400 to $500 for the lawn and almost $1,000 for the pit seats in front of the main stage. The lawn is normally really afford able; it just depends on who is performing and when.

A Mystery Blind Book Date with

Knight Writers

If you are looking for some “magic”

Taking place in a beautiful and ambient village on an island, this novel is about a group of lonely individuals that have a lot more in common than they think.

If you like video games and romance

They met each other for the first time in the hospital when they were little. Years later, the two remain friends and experience moments of life through their common grief and love of gaming.

If you like historical fiction

Based on the life of a boy sold to slavery, the novel is about two kids, locked away in an attic a hundred years apart from one another. Through many challenges, these characters go on a journey to regain their identity.

Tour.”

Some popular pop-punk artists are coming over the summer to the Tampa Bay area as well. These artists include but are not limited to Blink 182 and Fall Out Boys. Blink 182 will be performing at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, July 10 at Amalie Arena, while the Fall Out Boys will be performing at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 25 at MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre. I feel as if these artists are quite underrated, but people like who they like. These are just some of the many artists performing around the Tampa Bay area this year. I feel excited for Morgan Wallen and Taylor swift even though I can’t attend. So, if you see one of your favorites, buy your tickets sooner rather than later because they will sell out fast.

“YOU” Really Need To See This

“YOU” season four welcomes back our favorite psychopath, Joe Goldberg, with a twist.

By YESENIA ROSARIO, STAFF WRITER

This time, he’s called to London originally looking for Marianne (Tati Gabrielle) but finds himself in something completely different. At the end of the third season, we saw Joe fake his own death and create a new life in Europe. At the beginning of this season, we find out his name isn’t Joe, but Jonathan now, completely changing his identity yet again. This season, the scenario flips as our devious killer Joe, the hunter, is now being hunted, by an anonymous person.

The big topic this season is the ‘Eat The Rich Killer.’ like how this season and every other one always brings some sort of relevancy to what’s happening in the real world, kind of political but not controversial; it makes it feel more realistic.

Though Netflix has many psychological thrillers like “Bird Box” and “In the Tall Grass,” no one does it better than their hit series, “YOU.”

After a year and a half of anticipation everyone’s favorite killer, Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley), is back better than ever. “YOU” is back for a fourth season, split into two parts, the first being released Thursday, Feb. 9 and the second, Thursday, March 9. This season brings anticipation to a whole new level. From murders left and right, to parties that contain too much drinking and… other things…

Every season of this show so far has had a huge plot twist, but season four came to play. As in every season, Joe becomes transfixed on someone and goes through great measures to be close to them, even if it calls for killing, stalking or harming anyone that gets in his way.

Though Joe isn’t looking for it, he takes interest in Kate Galvin (Charlotte Ritchie), who is just one girl out of his new rich, popular friend group of five. At first, Kate is weary of “Jonathan’s” true intentions but a one-night stand slowly breaks her shell. This friend group is completely opposite to Joe’s true character and only creates problems all season long. I think this helped create an awkward environment for Joe and expressed his new character.

My favorite scene is when Joe discovers who is truly behind the anonymous face threatening him, which I won’t spoil. You’d expect it to be the last thing mentioned and leave you on a cliffhanger, as did I, but it actually creates more tense scenes later to come which I really enjoyed. Joe finds himself in somebody else’s shoes for once as he did to others, which is something I enjoyed seeing as the tables finally turned for once.

John Scott, the Director, amazingly brought on the right tone in every scene, as did the actors putting on great performances. Overall, the season is full of many emotions from frustration to happiness and I can’t wait to see what part two has to offer.

Joe Goldberg, the main character of the Netflix Original “YOU” in the season four promotional poster. Photo from Netflix

Will Ramos during a show on the “Pain Remains Tour.” Photo Courtesy of Ryan Jenkins

Leon Majcen at Gasparilla Music Festival 2021.

Photo by J. Le

A view of a concert at the MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre at a Big Time Rush Concert.

Photo by J. Thaxton

The official album cover for Payton Heckman’s EP “The Starchaser.”

Heckman playing his guitar while sitting on a stool. Photo by J. Le.

Rahul Rajinthkumar, IB Valedictorian

Praveen Prabaharan, IB Salutatorian

Isabella Cuevas, Traditional Valedictorian

Russell Vifquain, Traditional Salutatorian

Multimedia

Florida’s Empty Bookshelves

Following a slew of new bills, shelves across the sunshine state have been left barren.

Illustrations by Ingalls Witte

Alma Flor Ada (right), is a Cuban-American author of numerous children’s books. Her book, “My Name is María Isabel,” follows a Hispanic third grader growing up in the United States after immigrating from Puerto Rico. She begins to have trouble when her teacher refuses to call her by her real name, instead changing her name to “Mary.”

The children’s book discusses self-identity and biculturalism, while preaching acceptance for those that may come from different cultures.

“My Name is María Isabel” is a part of the Essential Voices Classroom Collection, a group of childrens books that aims to educate children on diversity and inclsion.

Ada’s book, alongside 175 others that are apart of the collection, were pulled from classrooms in Duval County. Florida.

-The LGBTQ+ community

-People of color

-Issues regarding race and racism

*PEN America

Authors banned from Florida Schools

Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé (below) is a Nigerian-British author of the award-winning “Ace of Spades.” Àbíké-Íyímídé’s work is a young adult thriller novel that follows two black students that are enrolled in a predominatly white private school. In their senior year, the two students have to face off against a secret society of bullies, who goes by Aces, that are targeting the two because of their race. The novel deals with themes such as racism, white supremacy, microagressions and violence against black people.

“Ace of Spades’ has been banned in the classrooms and school libraries of Florida’s Indian River County after Moms for Liberty, a conservative group that deals with parental rights in education, challenged the novel, due to its discussion of “Critical Race Theory.”

Toni Morrison (left), a Nobel Prize-winning author, had her book “The Bluest Eye” pulled from Florida classrooms and school libraries across Pinellas County schools at the start of this year following a parent complaint. Morrison’s work was banned due to its promotion of an “insidious agenda.”

“The Bluest Eye” tells the story of a young black girl growing up following the Great Depression. Morrison’s work tackles tough topics such racism faced in Amerian culture, oppression against women and depections of violence.

“The Bluest Eye” has been a prominent book in both Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate English curriculums for many years, only now facing backlash with the rise of book bans in Florida and other states.

There have been 566 books banned in Florida, with a majority of the titles involving: