THE
lightningstr ke Taking Miami-Dade by storm
Dr. Michael M. Krop Sr. High • 1410 Countyline Road • Miami, Florida 33179
January 25, 2012 • Issue 4 • Volume 14
WASH F R CASH FUNDRAISER
By Dean Kaire staff writer Last year, Krop was fined close to $331,000 by the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) for providing falsified information of a student’s address to allow him to play for the basketball team. Along with the fine, the school was placed under athletic probation and the basketball team will not play in post season games for the next three years. If the school fails to pay half of the fine by this year and the other half the following year, the consequence could be
the termination of the school’s athletic program. This September, Principal Dawn Baglos attended a FHSAA legislative meeting in Gainesville and fines where reduced to approximately $53,000. The fines were subsequently reduced to 23,000 dollars. “Don’t worry, I don’t sleep at night,” Baglos said. She explained what she intends to do if athletics are terminated. “They will not get cut off; failure is not an option.” Baglos is working on rebuilding a positive relationship with the FHSAA legislative
board, and was asked to serve as a member. She referred to it as, “the building process for our school and our athletes.” Through several fundraisers Baglos hopes to pay off the debt. Currently, the school’s athletic teams are holding car washes to contribute to the fine. The first car wash was on Dec. 11, 2011. Fifty students attended the second car wash held on Jan. 8. Athletic Director Michael Kypriss says he was pleased with the outcome of the carwashes. The next car wash will be on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 5 at the Tire Choice auto shop on Ives Dairy. “It was fun to help out and
“
see all the sports teams come together to support a cause that effects us all,” swimmer Adam Tzur said. Along with the car washes, the sale of pillow pets and hoodies are also contributing towards the fine. Baglos intends to seek outside sponsors to assist paying off the debt, due to the fact the school is unable to pay out of its operating account Baglos reiterates that it’s not only the basketball team’s responsibility to help reduce the fines, but the school’s as a whole. “As a school you function as a family and a team,” Baglos said.
LIGHTNING PRIDE
“
Students fundraise to pay for school fine
AS A
SCHOOL YOU FUNCTION AS
A FAMILY
AND A
TEAM
PRINCIPAL DAWN BAGLOS
Principal tackles school spirit By Michael Behfar co-spread editor In the midst of the school’s multi-thousand dollar fine and the basketball team’s ban from playing competitively, Principal Dawn Baglos is busy trying to heal the school’s reputation.
Krop maintains its “A” status Pages 10-11
Instilling a sense of school spirit among students and faculty is one of her priorities. Baglos says that among her challenges, is the diversity of the student body, all of whom have varying interests. In a school of nearly 3,000 students, says Baglos, it is hard to host activities that appeal to
everyone, noting that being in a big city, students have better things to do after school than go to a school-sponsored event.
SHE’S GOT SPIRIT, HOW ‘BOUT YOU: Principal Dawn Baglos discusses the issue of school spirit during a press conference with the newspaper class. During the conference they brainstormed different ways to promote spirit and launch school activities.
►turn to Baglos rebuilds spirit in the face of adversity on spread page 10
A glimpse into the lives of our foreign exchange students Page 14
.. .
More Inside: Why our school is “unspirited”, page 5 Lisbeth Salander: an unlikely heroine, page 7 Tebowing, the latest trend, page 17