LightningStrike Taking Miami-Dade by Storm
Dr. Michael M. Krop Sr. High • 1410 Countyline Road • Miami, Florida 33179
September 26, 2013 • Issue 1 • Volume 16
EXTRACURRICULARS
New clubs established at Krop Dina Bendayan staff writer
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY ABIGAIL DUFFY
Out with the Old, In with the New: Common Core to replace Sunshine State Standards and FCAT
Arie Hariton news editor Fourty-five states and the District of Columbia have collectively developed education state standards which they will adopt over the next few years called the Common Core State Standards. The standards are completely voluntary and meant to raise nationwide standards and help enable comparison. Common Core standards are also meant to reduce the size of English and math curriculum to enhance the depth in which it is covered. The English curriculum will focus more heavily on non-fiction, looking for career readiness. A shorter curriculum will allow teachers to cover material in depth. The standards will not mandate specific class literature, extending the choice of curriculum to individual teachers. Students will be expected to draw inferences, analyze tone, and determine author’s purpose. In writing, students are expected to incorporate well-known American historical documents, like the Constitution or Lincoln’s Gettysburg address as a part of argumentative writing.
In math, questions will focus teacher Mark Butler. on integrating distinct topics “Setting nationwide and working toward real-life standards is great. Our students applications. These topics include are competing internationally algebra, geometry, functions, and grading is always done statistics and probability and relatively,” said Butler. “Students number systems. Common Core have to compete with everyone. looks to “apply mathematical This is the way to compare apples ways of thinking to real world to apples.” issues and challenges.” The Testing, however, is a new standards expect to “link concern among teachers and classroom mathematics and administration. statistics to everyday life, work “Assessment is the variable. and decision-making,” according The test aligned with Common to the Common Core Standards Core is the PARCC (Partnership website. for Assessment of Readiness for Principal Dawn Baglos College and Careers) and we do recognizes some familiarity in the not know whether we will use new standards. that one,” Baglos said. “Common Core will initially English teacher Audrey be challenging because it is Silverman questions the rapid slightly different in some ways. shift to higher standards. Reading standards are like “When the Common Core they have been in past years: is introduced as a gamut of benchmarks like knowing the more rigorous and elevated author’s purpose,” said Principal requirements, I have to ask myself: Dawn Baglos. “It’s going to raise how many kids who already the standards for all students. have tremendous difficulties Common Core raises complexity with the requirements for testing by roughly one and a half grade as they are now will fail and be levels.” relegated to even more torturous The prospect of nationwide remediation?” Silverman said. standards which will provide ► see “QUIZ” on page a baseline to compare students page 2 for PARCC nationwide appeals to math
sample questions
Another look at the ‘other side’ of Miley Page 5
Back to school is always a shock. With summer reading tests looming and waking up early, it is hard for students to get through the dreaded 180 days. But better days are ahead with the addition of new clubs. The process of creating a club is far from easy. Students must fill out a request form that must be approved by Activities Director Michelle Russell as well as Principal Dawn Baglos. Students must also state the purpose of the club, why it is needed, what the service project will be, provide a constitution or bylaws and find a sponsor. Not all clubs are accepted. The club must have a unique purpose but if a club idea is pitched and is similar to another one, Russell strongly urges the established club to create a branch that includes the interests of both clubs. A budget cannot be set aside for a club that will benefit only a small portion of the student population. With roughly 41 clubs, Russell considers Krop to have one of the largest activities programs in all Dade County. She believes so because Baglos makes it a
priority to set aside budgets for clubs. On Friday Sep. 13, lunch buzzed with the excitement of the club fair, which gave the clubs an opportunity to display their purpose and recruit new and old members. One of the new clubs this year is the Red Cross Club, sponsored by Spanish teacher, Jorge Ortega. It hopes to raise money for the American Red Cross and teaches survival skills, which include lifeguard certification, learning to perform CPR, knowing what to do in case of natural disasters and becoming a trained instructor who can then teach others. Red Cross Vice President Johana Wiznitzer says that the club prepares teens for emergency and natural disasters. Another new club is BioMedical Exploration Club, sponsored by biology teacher, Lolitha Otero. Club president Rebeca Apel says that because of her passion for biology, she hopes to create a club that will assist all types students interested in the subject. “Students that participate
► see “CLUBS” on page page 3
ABIGAIL DUFFY
PERFECT FCAT: Principal Dawn Baglos congratulates (left to right) freshman Angel Wallace and juniors Laura Katz and Charity Waweru, who hold certificates which include personalized letters from Governor Rick Scott congratulating them on perfect scores on the FCAT 2.0 Reading.
50 years later, More Inside:
Where are we now? Pages 10-11
• Guide to upcoming concerts - page 7 • How anxiety affects dreams - page 15 • Mr. Ball goes to Washington - page 17