March/April 2016 by Lightning Strike

LightningStrike Taking Miami-Dade by Storm

www.lightningstrikenews.com March/April 2016 • Issue 5 • Volume 18

Dr. Michael M. Krop Sr. High • 1410 Countyline Road • Miami, Florida 33179

FEATURE

Battle of the Platoons Sam’s story Kevin Bauernfeind video editor Blasting music and sweat ﬁlled the air of the Ives Estates Park while the NJROTC cadets fought for victory in their annual Battle of the Platoons. The Battle of Platoons is one of the 15 events NJROTC hosts each year and is held to see which class, or platoon, is the best. Throughout the day, cadets compete in events ranging from the 100-meter relay to the egg toss, and the platoon who wins the most events at the end of the school day is awarded the Captain’s Cup. The event is a favorite of cadets, who are freed from their strict uniform policy and allowed to mingle with other platoons--something they rarely get to do. “It’s deﬁnitely the most fun and exciting event of the year,” freshman Joshua Senat said. The event is run and managed by NJROTC seniors who planned the events (along with

a few practical jokes) weeks in advance. It’s one of the biggest honors for the seniors, who describe it as “a fitting send-off.” The day began with the Color Guard, where cadets marched in with flags and presented the national anthem. When the ceremony ended, a roar of pride erupted from the cadets. After the ceremony, all 131 cadets marched a mile from the school parking lot to Ives Estates Park to begin the competition. “The sun was blazing, and I couldn’t wait to get to the water cooler,” sophomore Pawin Wittayanukorn said. “But that didn’t even matter because we were having too much fun to notice.” The most exciting event of the day was the 100-meter relay. Ten cadets from each platoon raced through the field as the cheers of their peers drowned out the thundering music, finishing the relay with no breath to spare. After a few more events and a quick bite of Little Caesars pizza, the cadets prepared

for their senior skits--one of their most beloved traditions. Cadets each played the role of a senior and poked fun at their personalities and attitudes. But seniors had planned for revenge, too. While cadets took a group picture after the skits, the seniors attacked cadets with an arsenal of water balloons. “The water balloon ﬁght was deﬁnitely the best part of the day,” senior Sebastian Esguerra said. “It was great to get back at the cadets, and it was a memory I’ll never forget.” After the long day of competition, the cadets returned exhausted, yet united. “We felt more like a battalion,” junior Michael Williams said. “After seeing each other’s strengths and weaknesses, there was more synergy and unity.” The cadets will not know the results of the Battle of the Platoons until Apr. 16 during the NJROTC Ball. Make sure to check back at http://www.lightningstrikenews.com for the results.

MAYAN DERHY / THE LIGHTNING STRIKE

COMPETITION: (clockwise) Freshman Andre Rodriguez participates in the egg toss with a fellow platoon member. Senior Nicholas Pryor races through the ﬁeld for the 100-meter dash. Freshman Sabrina Barasnevicius wheelbarrows freshman Alexander Reyes during a race.

Student returns to school after recovering from cancer Michael Katz incoming editor-in-chief

When Samuel Clarke began his sophomore year last August, most of his friends didn’t even recognize him. “By the end of summer, my face had started to swell up,” Clarke said. “I knew something was wrong. At first I thought it was allergies, and so did the doctors. They gave me some steroids, but those didn’t work for long. One Sunday, I was doing homework and my arm started to hurt like crazy - I didn’t sleep that night. It felt like someone was stabbing me in the shoulder over and over, all night long.” The next day, Clarke went to the hospital with his family to get some tests done. A few days later, Samuel’s mom got a call saying that he needed to be rushed to the hospital - what doctors had thought to be a case of severe allergies was actually a mass growing in Samuel’s chest. He had just been diagnosed with Lymphoma - a type of cancer in which tumors, or clusters of cancer cells, accumulate in the areas surrounding small veins. “When I first found out, I was like ‘Dang, I can’t go to school - and I won’t be able to play soccer this year’” Clarke said. “We discovered it pretty early, though, so it was still curable,” Clarke said. “I could’ve been in the hospital for years.” Instead, Clarke left school last September and was able to return, fully cured, after six months of treatment. He underwent six sessions of chemotherapy, which required a nurse puncturing his arm and guiding a tube through a vein into his chest, where the mass was, all while maintaining straight A’s in almost all of his classes. But he couldn’t have done it alone - even though he did find himself alone at times. “Everybody from church was coming to see me, friends were com-

MILA SICORSKY/ THE LIGHTNING STRIKE

BACK TO SCHOOL: Sophomore Samuel Clarke waits in front of his teacher’s desk. Clarke returned to school after a six month Lymphoma treatment.

ing to see me. My mom had just closed her restaurant to open up a food truck when this happened, but she put it off so she could be with me in the hospital. We weren’t making money. It was deﬁnitely a struggle period,” Clarke said. “There were times when I told my mom to leave me alone in the hospital so she could go work.” Even when he was alone, Clarke never lost his courage nor his hope. His positive outlook, he says, shocked the nurses and helped him get through it as fast as he did. “I wasn’t done yet. There was a lot of stuff I wanted to do, a lot of stuff I wanted to accomplish,” Clarke said. “This experience showed me that anything can happen - but it’s how you react that counts. Sometimes you just have to believe.” Today, Samuel is back and happier than ever - catching up with friends and enjoying the small things in life. “It’s good to be back. While you’re here, it’s kind of hard to appreciate school, but after six months of being home, you start to wish you were here instead,” Clarke said. “I’ve caught up with almost all of my friends, and my teachers have been really supportive. I’m starting to train so I can get my stamina back for soccer next year. I can’t wait to ﬁnally play.”

PAGES 10-11

More inside: • UF academies mislead students - page 5

• Ivy Leagues aren’t everything- page 5

• Levy, Plotnik compete in science fair- page 7

• Yossi--the freshmen entrepreneur- page 8

• TV guide to senioritis- page 12

• 10 things on Dr. Keating- page 13

• How to save money in college- page 15

• 5 things to learn from Donald Trump- page 15

• Thompson starts girls ﬂag football team- page 18 • Last season for softball seniors- page 19

News

tops Page 2

KROP’S

Junior Benjamin Manley was chosen as the District’s Sunshine State Scholar for Science and Mathematics and Technology (STEM). Sophomore Stephanie Morton placed 5th overall in the FBLA State Leadership Conference. Students Jhenneva Ybazeta, Karl Jeanty and Francky Jean-Louis won Best of Show Awards at the Miami-Dade County Fair and Expo. Students Jan Carlo Sevilla and Francesca Norelus won Special Awards at the Miami-Dade County Fair and Expo. Students Dylan Hopen, Harrison Garfinkle and Christina James qualified for the NSDA National Championship Tournament in June. Seniors Lital Hartzy, Alexis Sverdlik, Youssra Yemmas, and Gabriel Shlain received the Burger King Scholarship. Senior Youssra Yemmas received the GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship and the Gates Millenium Scholarship. Junior Mijhnir Vincent earned a Superior rating for her performance in the Jazz and Broadway category at the District Level in Solo and Ensemble. Freshmen Jordan Singer, Jacki Hatch, Cameron Ross and Jonah Muchnick won ﬁrst place at the AfterSchool Tournament for Speech and Debate. Compiled by Mila Sicorsky

The Lightning Strike Strike • September The Lightning • March/April2008 2016

From local to global: MIAMI, FLORIDA: The Zika virus poses a threat to Florida, especially Miami-Dade County. The Zika virus is a mosquito-borne disease that originated in South America and thrives in tropical climates. During the summer months, South Florida’s moist and hot climate is a perfect breeding ground for the mosquitos spreading the disease.

RALIEGH, NORTH CAROLINA: The North Carolina State Legislature passed a law blocking local governments from passing antidiscrimination rules on Mar. 24. The law bans regulations that would protect the LGBTQ community from discrimination due to their sexual orientation.

SOUTH CHINA SEA: China and the U.S. faced friction when a U.S. Navy warship came close to an artificial island in Southern China. China claimed that the U.S. entered illegally and endangered China’s sovereignty.

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM: Three terrorist attacks took place in Brussels Airport and Maelbeek Metro on Mar. 22. 26 people were killed and over 200 were wounded in both attacks. ISIS took responsibility.

What’s going on around the world? MUNICH, GERMANY: Süddeutsche Zeitung, an investigative journal, released over 11.5 million ﬁnancial and legal records on Apr. 3, which exposed multiple world leaders of tax evasion. The leaker of the Panama Papers, as the documents are called, is unknown. Putin and FIFA are just two of many to be found in the leak. ANTARTICA: The West Antarctic Ice Sheet, a glacier the size of Mexico, is melting faster than expected. The disintegration of the ice sheet can cause water levels to rise up to six feet. This will cause irreversible damage to low lying lands, including South Florida. sources: CNN, New York Times

Compiled by Kevin Bauernfeind

POLICY

Miami-Dade County eliminates outdoor suspensions Sebastian Kuzak staff writer

As kids, if we got in trouble we would be sent to “time out.” Now, when students mess up in school we get sent to “success centers.” At the start of the year, outdoor suspensions were removed from Miami Dade County Public Schools. Instead, students are sent to success centers for actions previously punishable by suspension. Although it’s new to MDCPS, the initiative began in other areas of the country. The thought behind it is that students are less likely to get into trouble if they are kept off

the streets and in controlled areas. According to a report by WLRN, suspended students are more likely to commit neighborhood crimes and get arrested. Superintendent of Miami Dade Schools Alberto Carvalho is a prominent supporter of the policy change. “Traditional outdoor suspensions and disciplinary actions don’t work,” Carvalho said. “We ought to understand the root causes of student misbehavior… to actually address the human being behind the behavior, rather than simply condemning it and applying a consequence to it.” On the surface, these success centers seem like

a smart move, but the idea is more complicated than it appears. Although $3.2 billion have been allocated to the movement, the success of the policy is not guaranteed. Senior Jacquan’te Pitts was assigned to a success center from Jan. 11 until Jan. 22 for a ﬁght he was involved in. He described his time at the success center as having “no point” and claiming that “it didn’t help at all.” In his two weeks at Andover Middle School, an allocated success center, Pitts was placed in an eighth grade classroom with a social worker by his side. During that time Pitts did the work assigned to the eighth graders and essays he had to

give to the social worker. The social worker was supposed to help Pitts reﬂect on what he had done, but the two barely spoke. “He didn’t care, and we didn’t talk,” Pitts said. “I didn’t even know his name.” Pitts had to turn in the work he did to the teacher of the eighth grade class with which he stayed. He failed to make up his work, which caused him to fall further behind. In theory, taking the suspended students and putting them in classrooms to reﬂect on their actions works by keeping them off the streets. Yet only time will tell if the new policy will actually work.

EDUCATION

Florida Senate passes controversial education bills

Megan Orlanski incoming lifestyle editor

In the Florida Senate on a hot Jul. 1, congress people convened in the chamber to pass two bills regarding minor pieces of legislation. But late in March, as the legislative session came to a close, the Senate brought the bills back to the table and added controversial topics, like teacher bonuses based on ACT/SAT scores and open enrollment for under-enrolled schools. The same day, the Florida Senate passed SB 542, which called for a statewide bonus for teachers based on their SAT and ACT scores. The bill gave teachers a bonus if they ranked in the top 20th percentile at the time that they took

either exam. Representative Erik Fresen conceived the bill, hoping to inspire students to improve test scores after they see their teachers receiving bonuses based on their exam scores in high school. Fresen also said that the bill was yet another way to reward good teachers. “It’s just another carrot, another incentive to try to keep the best teachers in the ﬁeld.” he said regarding the program. The bonus amounts to more than eight thousand dollars and is provided by the Best and Brightest Program. The Florida Education Association (FEA), the largest union of educators in Florida, accuses the program of “discrimination towards older teachers and minorities” because

both older and non- native teachers haven’t taken these exams, thus making them illeligible for the bonus. “I’m not saying it’s unfair,” co-science department chair David Buncher said. “But I think that there are better ways of judging the effectiveness of a teacher.” The FEA ﬁled a complaint against the program in hopes that it can be repealed and still awaits a response from the Senate. Another education bill, SB 1166, also passed on the same day allowed open enrollment in under-enrolled public schools. This means that a student can transfer to any public school that is under-enrolled, even if the student lives outside the school’s boundaries.

“It’s a nice philosophy for underprivileged kids to get a better education, but it’s an idea without substance if the kids can’t get transportation to the school,” Silver Knight coordinator Jean Rosenfield said. Rosenfield said that the bill does little to nothing to improve education and that it looks pretty on paper. She added that the piece is difficult to implement since good schools are usually never under capacity and students have no way of getting to schools that are long distances from their homes. Both test score bonuses and open enrollment for under capacity schools are bills that are unnecessary for Krop students and faculty because they have already been implemented in Miami-Dade county.

News Page 3

The TheLightning LightningStrike Strike• •September March/April2012 2016 CLUBS

Around the world in a lunch period: PeaceJam hosts International Day

Mikaela Mendez outgoing news editor In a school of over 40 nationalities, 12 were represented on Mar. 21 during International Day. PeaceJam, an organization that promotes peace and equality worldwide, hosted the event during both lunches. Students embraced 12 different cultures through traditional music, food and clothing. PeaceJam co-chair senior Sara Eghtessadi recruited diverse participation ranging from students, including both club members and non-members. “The mission of PeaceJam at Krop is to end racism and hate throughout our community,” Eghtessadi said. “By introducing International Day, we created a way for students in a melting pot to feel encouraged to share a part of their cultural identity with the rest of the school.” Twelve countries, including Monaco, Argentina, Ghana, Peru

and Dominican Republic, held booths at International Day. Students in charge of their respective country’s table brought in exotic foods and drinks, like tequeños from Venezuela and Inka Cola from Peru, for a taste of their country’s tradition. Aside from the food and drinks, band students played Haitian music for students on the packed North patio. One performer, senior Derby Accime, interacted with the crowd as he led the dancing band to Caribbean tunes. “I’ve never heard music like that before,” junior Paulina Kalantarov said. “Yet I couldn’t help but dance and sing along.” At the Brazil booth, sophomores Kamilla Leitao and Mayra Rodriguez joined junior Bruno Wesley to encourage students that passed by their table to try “brigadeiro,” a traditional Brazilian desert. Leitao said that at ﬁrst students looked disgusted and didn’t want to taste it. But once they

explained that the dish was made with condensed milk, cocoa, butter and sprinkles, they changed their minds. “It was really shocking to see how many people came to the Brazil table to learn facts and taste food from my country,” Leitao said. “The fact that so many students were open-minded and accepting of my culture made me happy.” At the Israel table students and booth representatives huddled together to sing and move along to the Horah, an Israeli dance. Meanwhile at the Jamaica table, students danced “Trop,” a modern reggae dance, while others sampled curry chicken. After she walked around all 12 tables, senior Valeria Muñoz, said she felt like she had traveled around the world in a lunch period. “For a person who loves to travel, it was a great experience to travel to 12 countries without ever leaving Krop,” she said.

FACULTY

Feilich resorts to wheelchair following foot injury Alan Imar online editor Three months ago, biology teacher Gary Feilich was informed by his doctor that he had to get off his feet. Today, he rolls around school in a black metal wheelchair. Feilich was diagnosed with type two diabetes over 20 years ago, but he only recently ran into serious complications. Feilich formed a callus from having diabetes and staying long hours standing up. To make matters worse, he picked at the callus and didn’t allow it to heal properly. “I was being stupid,” Feilich said. “I should know that as a diabetic, my healing

is compromised.” Though his doctor insisted that he stay off his feet, Feilich refused to change his teaching style. He is active in nature, spending the majority of the class lecturing at the board, which is why he was reluctant to get off his feet. “I can be more of an effective teacher than when sitting at my desk,” Feilich said. After months of ignoring his doctor’s orders, Feilich finally decided to address his wound. He now wheels into school every morning in his wheelchair. To his surprise, students that he passed were eager to help and push him on his way to the classroom.

(clockwise) ALAN IMAR, SOPHIE MUCHNICK, MIKAELA MENDEZ/ THE LIGHTNING STRIKE

AROUND THE WORLD: (clockwise) Senior Derby Accime dances to Haitian music played by the band. Next level band members Matthew Robilard (far left), Jonathan Hilel (center) and Ard Maneus (far right) play Haitian tunes in the South Patio for their student audience. Sophomore Alyssa Guzman stands the Peru booth and distributed papa a la huancaina to other students.

NEWS BRIEFS Trimmer retires after 42 years

MAYAN DERHY/ THE LIGHTNING STRIKE

ADJUSTMENTS: Biology teacher Gary Feilich wheels himself to class.

“I’m amazed by the students, some of whom don’t even know me,” Feilich said. “I’m sure it has something to do with the free elevator ride, but the students’ reactions have been the most gratifying.”

MILA SICORSKY/ THE LIGHTNING STRIKE

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT: Mathematics teacher Mary Trimmer bonds with her third period students. She retired on Thursday, Apr. 7.

Mathematics teacher Mary Trimmer retired on Thursday, Apr. 7. For over 42 years, she taught everything from Algebra 1 to IB Calculus to an estimated 8,000 students. This year marks her 15th year at Krop, where she taught Honors Geometry and Advanced Topics. “I’m going to miss the people I work for, the people I work with and the students who do their best to be the best they can be.” -Mila Sicorsky

PeaceJam travels to Tallahassee On Apr. 8, Krop’s PeaceJam chapter will be traveling alongside Assistant Principal Daniel Ponkey and Activities Director Michelle Russell to their yearly PeaceJam conference. The conference lasts three days and takes place at Florida State University. Each year, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate attends the conference to speak to the hundreds of attendees. This year, Rigoberta Menchu, the ﬁrst indigenous person to ever win the Nobel Peace Prize will be attending the conference. Among her achievements has been the restoration of rights to the Mayan people as well as the ending of a civil war in Guatemala that had been going on for 36 years. Not only will attendees get to hear her speak, but they will also get a chance to take part in skill-building workshops and community service projects such as distributing food to the needy and painting a mural at a nearby school. -Michael Katz

Editorial Page 4

The Lightning Strike • March/April 2016

POLITICS

Which Hillary are you voting for? IN MY OPINION naela foreau

incoming opinion editor

“They are not just gangs of kids anymore. They are often the kinds of kids that are called superpredators: no conscience, no empathy. We can talk about why they ended up that way, but ﬁrst we have to bring them to heel.” This is how Secretary of State and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton described at-risk child criminals in a 1996 speech by referencing “superpredator,” a term coined by criminologists who inaccurately predicted a wave of “brutally remorseless” children would triple the number of incarcerated juveniles. After activist Ashley Williams picketed at a Clinton fund-raiser, with a sign highlighting an excerpt from the 1996 speech, a new generation of millennial voters began to question other statements and scandals from Clinton’s previous political career in twitter hashtag-turned-movement “#WhichHillary.” The hashtag went viral in March and highlighted both notorious and overlooked events throughout Clinton’s career that contradict the progressive image she portrays during her 2016 campaign. Some disputes include the fact that Hillary was one of the voices in the Clinton administration warning against the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), a treaty that got rid of tariffs and encouraged economic activity between all three North American countries.

However, Clinton failed to mention how she initiated meetings to strategize NAFTA approval, helped block opposition from labor and environmentalist groups who opposed NAFTA in the 1990s, and even publicly praised NAFTA in 1996. At a February Democratic debate in Wisconsin, Clinton emphasized her stance against big banks when she attacked investment banks such as the now defunct Lehman Brothers (coincidentally top contributors to the Clinton Campaign). Referencing a 2007 statement made on Wall Street, Clinton bragged about scolding big banks by telling them to “Cut it out,” and “Quit foreclosing on homes.” But it turns out Clinton actually blames homeowners for causing the 2008 housing crisis in a actual speech claiming, “homebuyers who paid extra fees to prevent documenting their income should’ve known they were getting in over their heads.”

THE LIGHTNING STRIKE An NSPA All-American publication Winner of George H. Gallup Award NSPA Pacemaker Finalist An FSPA All-Florida publication Like us on Facebook Visit us online at www.lightningstrikenews.com

MAYAN DERHY, Outgoing Editor-in-Chief MICHAEL KATZ, Editor-in-Chief SOPHIE MUCHNICK, Print Managing Editor JACOB SINGER, Online Managing Editor MIKAELA MENDEZ Outgoing News Editor MILA SICROSKY News Editor NAELA FOREAU Opinion Editor NICOLAS CHMIELEWSKI Spread Editor NATHANIEL MANOR Feature Editor CORBIN BOILES Entertainment Editor SUN COAST PRINTER Printer

ETHAN CURTIS Sports Editor SHOSHANA SOMMER Outgoing Lifestyle Editor MEGAN ORLANSKI Lifestyle Editor DZIDULA BONEY Outgoing Copy Editor KEVIN BAUERNFEIND Online Video Editor ALAN IMAR Online Editor MARY K. SULLIVAN Adviser

STAFF WRITERS SEBASTIAN KUZAK, GAL MINTZ, ALEJANDRO PRESCHEL AD POLICY

The Lightning Strike solicits advertising but reserves the right to reject any material deemed libelous, disruptive, obscene or otherwise inappropriate.

EDITORIAL POLICY The Lightning Strike is the student newspaper of Dr. Michael M. Krop Senior High School: 1410 Countyline Road, Miami, FL 33179; (305) 652-6808 Ext. 238. Opinions expressed in the editorial section do not reﬂect the viewpoints or ofﬁcial policies of the school. The Lightning Strike welcomes readers’ opinions on all topics. However, we will NOT print anonymous letters. Please keep letters under 150 words and saved to a computer if possible. The editor reserves the right to reject, edit and condense letters. All letters should be turned in to Room 2-233.

JUANA ARGIRO

Also, Clinton’s views against Wall Street corruption contradict the fact that she received $675,000 in speaking fees from Goldman Sachs, an investment company. According to Goldman Sachs, Wall Street ﬁrms including Morgan Stanley, Deutsche Bank and Bank of America have also contributed to the almost $10 million Clinton racked in during 2013 for speaking engagements alone. Her anti-corruption stance also doesn’t hold up when considering her involvement in scandals such as Whitewater, where the Independent Council found evidence indicating Clinton lied under oath and destroyed material documents pertaining to her misdeeds. More contradictions were uncovered when Clinton’s campaign made misleading attacks on Bernie Sanders’ healthcare plan, suggesting that millions would lose health-

care under his plan. Those assumptions were proven false by several fact-checking websites including Politico.com Among Clinton’s list of half-truths is the notorious Clinton Foundation and its involvement in her failed efforts to reconstruct Haiti in the aftermath of the January 2010 earthquake. The Clintons’ vowed to rebuild Haiti through business by “immediately” creating 100,000 new jobs following the 2010 earthquake. Through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Clinton awarded Haitian pop star Michael Martelly’s political party $100,000 to reinstate his presidential candidacy. Clinton had previously threatened to discontinue U.S relief aid to Haiti if Martelly (who was on the verge of elimination) was not allowed to run in the 2011 election. This partnership between Martelly and the Clintons allowed for a garment factory called Caracol Industrial Park to emerge in 2012. After convincing lawmakers that cheap labor in exchange for cheap products would compensate for the country’s low productivity, the Clintons were only able to employ 5,479 of the projected 100,000 workers full-time. According to Mark D’Sa, senior advisor for Industrial Development in Haiti at the U.S. Department of State, many of the Clintons’ promises towards Haitians remain unfuﬁlled. I agree with Senator Bernie Sanders in forgetting about those “damn emails,” and focusing on the real issues. There are plenty of other discrepancies regarding Clinton’s ethics, or lack thereof. And now I ask, will the real Hillary Clinton please stand up?

LETTERS When my vote shouldn’t count

More than just my shade

The subject that is currently taking up all political discourse is that of the presidential campaigns, a process still underway and one that elicits much controversy. However, this incessant fixation on the campaigns is insufficient and perhaps even detrimental as a means of resolving issues of importance, whatever you perceive them to be. A necessary starting point to political action is a proper understanding of how we frame the discussion. What the presidential campaigns fail to do is ask essential questions regarding what we consider issues, why we consider them so, and whether or not our perspectives are justified. When we truly understand what it is we value and how the events of the world come about, we may find that many assumptions about our situation collapse in the face of factual analysis. Part of moving forward as a nation and global community entails developing perspective. This search for political awareness is essential, and it doesn’t have to begin with the question “Who are you voting for?”

“She’s pretty... for a black girl.” “Why are light skin girls so stuck up?” Young black women in our society are constantly scrutinized for their actions. We are constantly expected to adhere to societal norms and uphold the media’s standard of beauty. These standards manifest forms of self-destructive behavior and low selfesteem on impressionable black girls. It is time for us as a culture to recognize that we face unique challenges that have yet to be addressed. For example, telling someone that they’re “pretty for a dark skinned girl” is not and will never be a compliment. The phrase in itself is oxymoronic in that it tries to conceal a blatant insult as a compliment. A girl does not and never wants to be an exception to your bigoted standards. One of the greatest things about our country is the opportunity we’re given to form our own opinions. Commentary on issues unique to black women is somewhat of a taboo, avoided in the media that we as a society need to change.

Eli Navarro Grade 10

Kameron Clarke Grade 10

Opinion

The Lightning Strike • March/April 2016

Page 5

COLLEGE LIFE

UF’s “pathway to enrollment” misleads students

Programs including Innovation Academy and PaCE keep student population in Gainesville IN MY OPINION shoshana sommer

outgoing lifestyle editor

3,118 potential University of Florida students recently opened up their application status to a congratulations, but the next few words, “on your admission to the University of Florida through the Pathway to enrollment program,” read unexpected. The University of Florida launched the program “Pathway to Enrollment,” commonly known as PaCE, in 2015. The university claimed that the purpose of PaCE was to accommodate students who have academic potential but couldn’t be admitted traditionally due to lack of

space. The pro’s of PaCE include a 25 percent discount on tuition, as well as access to the universitiy’s libraries and student organizations. But here’s the catch: when students accept the PaCE program, they must complete a total of 60 credit hours online before becoming a full time student - a task that takes the average student two full years. Students do not have access to services such as student athletic tickets and the campus health care center. The university encourages PaCE students to move to Gainesville, but does not provide them with dorm space. This is the question that needs to be asked: is giving up a traditional freshman experience

SATIRE

Testing season yields (paper) cutting-edge technology IN MY OPINION michael katz incoming editor-in-chief

Ah, testing season - that time of the year where students jump in garbage cans to hide from Ms. Lilavois to avoid their yearly visit to the computer labs. That time where teachers keep students in class an extra ten minutes because they forget the bell doesn’t ring, and that time where afternoon announcements are made at 7:20 A.M. Most of the students who survived last year’s testing became obese - stress eating is a well-known side effect of AP Exams. That’s why administration changed the bell schedule - too many students were complaining about having to

I just

love seeing my math teacher for three hours - I was so happy when I woke up this morning.” –NO ONE EVER walk to six different classes a day. Or at least that’s what they’re telling us - I think it’s because my math teacher can’t get enough of me. Anyways, I’m just glad someone was smart enough to change the schedule - two hours weren’t enough of AP U.S. History. And besides, don’t you just love that way your chair molds itself to your butt after three hours of sitting in

it? There isn’t a single person I can think of that doesn’t like the schedule. “I really think that having three hour classes helps you develop your passion for the class. You get to learn so much more. I love my math block - it gets me excited when I wake up in the morning,” said No One Ever. As far as testing itself, it looks like we have something else to be grateful for. Since so many of us complained about having to type our essays, the school board put forth a new policy allowing students to write their essays on their computer screens - as long as it’s done with a number two pencil. “Technology is a must,” school board representative No Body said. “Promethean Boards were a smash hit, and tablets really help keep our students on task. That’s why we decided to take testing online. We understand that some students like pencils though, so that’s why we’re letting them write their essays on their computers with a pencil - so they can still experience the technology. That’s really what it’s all about, you know? Technology. That’s where the world is headed.” But students will still do anything to avoid testing. Last week, four students were caught having painted themselves as vending machines when a freshman tried to insert a dollar bill into one of their mouths. And testing chair Xandra Lilavois has had enough. Last week, she bought a bazooka which she uses to shoot FSA testing booklets at students whom she catches attempting to escape. So far, over 20 students have received severe paper cuts. “When I went to the ofﬁce to see a nurse, Ms. Daniels told me that there was no nurse - they laid her off because they needed the money for computer monitors. Apparently some morons had written their FSA essays on them,” No One said.

just to say that you go to UF worth it? If UF is a dream school, PaCE may seem like a blessing rather than a rejection. But students should be encouraged to consider alternative options like transferring from Santa Fe, a community college blocks away from UF. Seventy percent of Santa Fe students who apply to transfer to UF get in. Just like PaCE, Sante Fe tuition is discounted but rather than sitting in front of a computer screen students are offered a real classroom with a real teacher. Columbia University researchers found that students who took online courses were more likely to fail or drop out of the course than students who took the same course in person. The study concluded that stu-

dents with the most online credits were the least likely to graduate. If online studies are for you, then you should consider PaCE.

But weigh the consequences of online learning as a freshman and consider other universities before committing to a school based on popularity.

SOPHIE MUCHNIK

EDUCATION

Schools must offer vocational ed. IN MY OPINION alan imar

online editor

If I had the choice of spending the past two years of my life learning how to code a website instead of the pythagorean theorem, I would have chose the former. Vocational schools prepare students for a specific trade or career field, allowing them to graduate from high school with a diploma and pursue a well-paying job such as accounting or business administration. Although Miami Dade County Public Schools (MDCPS) already established schools dedicated to vocational education like William H. Turner Technical Arts High School, classes that prepare students for the workforce must be incorporated into everyday curriculum. Over 80 percent of high school dropouts said that relevant, real world learning opportunities would have kept them in high school, according to the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE). The national graduation rate for students with a Career and Technical Education (CTE) certification is 94 percent, compared to 81 percent graduation without CTE. Top ranking students usually go off to college, but regular students are not offered courses that will put them on a clear path to success. Vocational instruction allows students who cannot or do not want to go to college an opportunity to enter the workforce. Our school limits vocational education to two academies - finance and hospitality. These acad-

emies, which include courses such as accounting and digital design, can help students gain an advantage when seeking employment. “It’s important for me to take graphics because it teaches me how to use different machines and software such as Adobe Photoshop which can help me future jobs that I may have,” sophomore Alex Cazes said. “Technology is advancing every second, and I feel that it’s useful to have some background in this ﬁeld.” Even for those enrolling in a four year university, a high school that offers career education gives students an advantage. The National Assessment of Vocational Education (NAVE) found that students who took these courses produce better academic re-

sults. NAVE also concluded that these students earned higher paying jobs. According to salary.com, fast food workers in Miami make an average of $18,892 a year. An entry level carpenter in Miami, on the other hand, makes a median wage of $37,792. They both work with their hands, but what sets the two apart is their skill set - not much skill is needed to ﬂip a few patties at McDonalds. The difference is that carpenters have to master their craft - a craft that starts with a vocational education. More substantial courses need to be offered in high school that give students the potential to succeed. Job opportunities are evolving, and with it, so should education.

VOCATIONAL CAREERS

COMPUTER TECHNICIAN

CHEF

MEDICAL ASSISTANT

$68,570/yr

$34,400/yr

$57,300/yr

CONSTRUCTION WORKER

$26,300/yr Compiled by Naela Foreau

LIBRARIAN

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

$32,200/yr

$37,200/yr SOURCES: careerprofiles.info

Feature

The Lightning Strike • March/April 2016

Page 7

ACADEMICS

Levy, Plotnik compete in science fair

Sophie Muchnick incoming print managng editor Juniors Maya Levy and Brian Plotnik recently won ﬁrst place in the Miami-Dade County Science Fair and will be moving on to the State Science and Engineering Fair on Mar. 28 in Lakeland, Florida. Nearly one-third of Americans are projected to suffer from diabetes in 2050. Levy’s project will make the lives of people who suffer from diabetes much more comfortable. A common way to check blood sugar is to prick your ﬁnger with a needle or insert a 3-4 inch needle near your hip and change it every two to three days. This can become painful and inconvenient for all who are impacted. Levy wanted to discover whether or not invasive blood sugar monitors could accurately monitor blood sugar levels through the use of tears. Three of Levy’s grandparents have diabetes, and when she was young both her parents

suffered from pre-diabetes. “The chronic condition has become an epidemic,” Levy said. “I want to make a difference.” Levy plans on expanding her research to analyze tear sugar levels between different age groups, genders and before and after menopause. Levy discovered that the invasive continuous sugar monitoring nanosensors, made for sitting inside the body, can accurately work off of tears. So instead of diabetics having to leave a needle in their body, the same hair-thin needle could simply be put on a contact lens and work just as effectively. After the countless hours of sleep Levy lost, she is both happy that her project is over and excited to continue her research. “Nerds rule the world!” Levy said. But Plotnik took a very different approach when it came to this year’s Science Fair. His project was aimed at pre-

dicting the results of a soccer match. He wanted to determine whether or not a mathematical analysis called the Markovian Analysis could be used to predict the outcomes of soccer matches. Plotnik has always had a passion for sports and that’s what inspired him to conduct this research. “I was given a soccer ball before I was even able to walk,” Plotnik said. “This project allowed me to combine my passion for sports and mathematics to conduct research that had never been done before.” Plotnik is grateful that all his hard work was recognized and is excited about the next round of the competition in Lakeland, Florida. “Winning the science fair was truly moving,” Plotnik said. “It is great to see that the judges recognized the hard work that went into this project and that the research I conducted was truly groundbreaking and could change the way sports are played and analyzed.”

FACULTY

Jeudy replaces Otero on maternity leave Nathaniel Manor incoming feature editor As replacement biology teacher Gemima Jeudy lectures her new class on the nature of life, previous biology teacher Lolitha Otero experiences the subject first-hand. On Friday Mar. 4, Otero left school on maternity leave to have her second baby girl. She plans to leave for the remainder of the year and return for the 2016-2017 school year. Science teachers David Buncher and Gary Feilich interviewed and hired Jeudy the week before Otero’s departure. “When I met her for the first time, it seemed like she’d been teaching for 20 years,” Buncher said. “When I saw her resume, I was surprised she only had a few years of teaching experience. However, her array of backgrounds within the fields of both science and education impressed me the most.” In 2010, Jeudy graduated from the University of Miami as a biology major. Originally a chemistry major, Jeudy switched her major to attend medical school. During her time volunteering at Jackson Memorial Hospital, she realized that spending her days in a hospital wasn’t what she wanted to do.

MEGAN ORLANSKI / THE LIGHTNING STRIKE COURTESY OF NATHANIEL MANOR

IN WITH THE NEW: Biology teacher Ms. Gemima Jeudy helps students perform an experiment. Jeudy took on biology classes on Mar. 4 after Otero left on maternity leave.

“UM would send me ﬂyers every year saying they would grant me a scholarship towards my tuition if I minored in education,” she said. “I kept throwing them out until the year I was interested and ended up graduating with an education degree.” Before coming to Krop, Jeudy taught science at Sports Leadership and Management Charter School for three years and then moved to Downtown Miami Charter School to teach elementary for seven months Although Jeudy keeps her teaching style similar to Ote-

ro’s, she altered the phone policy. Unlike Otero, she conﬁscates any electronic devices out during class time and took nine cellphones on the ﬁrst day alone. Jeudy is excited to be working at Krop and will serve as a temporary replacement for Otero. Although Otero returns next year, Jeudy hopes to continue teaching at Krop. “I felt the support of the entire science department and school within my first few days teaching,” Jeudy said. “I love it here at Krop!”

MEGAN ORLANSKI/ THE LIGHTNING STRIKE COURTESY OF MAYA LEVY AND BRIAN PLOTNIK

ON TO THE NEXT ROUND: Junior Maya Levy (top) gets her ﬁrst place award at the Miami-Dade County Science Fair and Brian Plotnik (bottom) presents his project. Both will move on to the next round of the competition.

Student Court back in action Mikaela Mendez outgoing news editor Student Court is back in session as the gavel pounds away and the defense attorney goes head-to-head with the prosecuting attorney. The student who confessed to their guilt awaits their fate as the jury comes to a consensus. The student receives a sentence ranging from jury duty, to referral to mediation. The court implements methods to prevent the escalation of disruptive behavior and school violations. Social Studies Department Chair Connie Higgins’ Constitutional Law students defend and prosecute students much like how lawyers work with their clients. “All of the cases we receive are different,” Higgins said. “Cases range from a student skipping class to disrespecting attitude towards a teacher.” According to senior Mercedes Morgante, a ﬁrst year law student of Higgins, Student Court gives

Udi Manor

students a second chance to reevaluate themselves. But when they’re on trial, most students don't take it seriously. “I think if all students took it more seriously, it would be a lot more helpful to not only the student on trial but everyone involved,” Morgante said. Student Court proceedings involve students in a variety of roles such as prosecutor, defense attorney and jury members. Higgins oversees and works with the respective students involved to ensure a smooth operation of the Court. Senior Jake Shapiro who has taken law for three years says it’s one of the most rewarding programs the school offers. He sees the beneﬁts for both the law students and the one on trial. “It beneﬁts Ms. Higgins’ advanced law students by giving them real courtroom experiences and an opportunity to help give back to the school,” Shapiro said. “Being a student, I relate to the cases they have.”

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Feature Page 8

BUSINESS

Freshman entrepreneur shares success stories

Mayan Derhy outgoing editor-in-chief

Most kids grow up with dreams of becoming pop stars or astronauts, but freshman Joseph Cohen. known as Yossi, dreams of becoming a businessman. From a young age, Cohen’s mentality revolved around salesmanship. His first experience with sales was in kindergarten at Ojus Elementary School. Cohen’s teacher gave each student a box of 60 chocolates that they had to sell. That same day, Cohen went to the Shoppes at Waterways and sold the entire box. Though he was the first to finish the assignment, Cohen strived for more. He went back to class the next day and asked for two more boxes that also sold within a day. “No matter how successful you are, you’re always going to want more,” Cohen said. From that moment, Cohen found his love for business. Over the years, Cohen explored a variety of businesses and sales tactics. When he was just seven years old, a jewelry storeowner let him sell bracelets around Waterways, so he walked around the tables and shops with an arm full of bracelets. Both his age and sales lingo attracted customers, and he managed to sell all the bracelets he was given. Cohen went on to sell watches, electric scooters and homemade jewelry throughout middle school and, at one point, even sold robotic fish that he found online. Cohen ordered 4,300 electric fish and sold them to beach shops around Hollywood. He sold nearly everything he had ordered, but decided to take the last 400 and donate them to the University of Miami cancer treat-

STAND OUT

The Lightning Strike • March/April 2016

STUDENT LIFE

DR. ELTON LEWIS by Dzidula Boney

NICOLAS CHMIELEWSKI / THE LIGHTNING STRIKE

BUSINESS BREAK: Sophomore Joseph Cohen stands near the bicycle rack, explaining his success story as an entrepreneur. Cohen began his business in the beginning of his freshman year.

ment hospital for kids. “The Torah states that if 10 percent of your earnings go to other people, you are doing good,” Cohen said. “If you make a good bet you also want other people to enjoy it.” A lifetime of business experience led Cohen to become an entrepreneur in his freshman year. Along with sophomore Ali Hourany, Cohen started Yossi and Ali Enterprises, better known as YNDAE, where they sell a variety of trending items for lower than retail price, including hover boards, speakers and light up sneakers. “When you come to Krop you see 3,000 students,” Cohen said. “When I come to Krop I see 3,000 customers.” While the boys do want to further their business, their current priority is motivating other young entrepreneurs to have conﬁdence in the business world like they did. “I see a lot of people in school who don’t know what they want to do to be successful,” Cohen said. “Every morning you wake

up you should be motivated to do something.” To achieve his goal, Cohen contacted around 100 life coaches and local entrepreneurs, taking notes and assembling a list of advice. Finally, he decided to write a motivational book entitled “The New Cycles of Success” where he covers every topic from how to start a business to the conﬁdence needed to do so. “With this book, we could have success and motivate people,” Cohen said, “plus get a little advertisement for us.” Until the book is finished over the upcoming summer, Cohen decided to take an alternate route to motivation--Snapchat. Cohen frequently posts motivational speeches on his Snapchat story in a DJ Khaled fashion, inspiring viewers not to give up or let others bring them down. “Whether you make five dollar sales or 1000 dollar sales, an entrepreneur is an entrepreneur,” Cohen says. “The most important thing is having a goal.”

Teachers like Dr. Elton Lewis, who give advice and strive to help their students in every way possible can be scarce…but they do exist. Lewis taught for 12 years and established a counseling role with his students. He taught 8th grade Language Arts at Andover Middle School, and teaches 11th DZIDULA BONEY / THE LIGHTNING STRIKE grade AP English Language and HERE TO HELP: Dr. Elton Lewis aids Composition and 10th grade Ensophomore Darryl Dunn with editing an glish II at Krop. essay. Lewis played a big role in enhancLewis is quick to correct any ing Dunn’s writing skills. student or faculty member who might misinterpret his helpfulness. These relaships aren’t short-lived, either. “I have former students who are in college and still emailing me,” he said. Lewis tries to make each student feel comfortable and shows them his care a process that comes naturally. Every day, he greets his students at the door with a handshake. Lewis adapts easily to his classes, knowing which students he needs to be stricter with. He views his teaching as a catalyst to help his students reach their full potential. For sophomore Neolani Bernard, having Lewis in eighth grade helped her focus on school. “He was always ready to be there,” Bernard said. “He didn’t hesitate to help and gave me advice like ‘Keep your books before boys’ whenever he thought I wasn’t paying attention.” For others, Lewis not only gives advice, but holds them to high standards. For sophomore Darryl Dunn, Lewis’ strictness helps keep him on top of his work. “He keeps me on my A-game,” Dunn said. “When we’re in groups, he picks the person who’s most likely not paying attention to keep the everyone focused.” Other than textbooks and PowerPoints, Lewis provides his students with a different way of learning. He plays music while he’s teaching, color codes his papers and assigns creative projects to his students. For one such project, he had his AP students create a soundtrack for the book, “A Yellow Raft in Blue Water” by Michael Dorris. With memorable quotes like “#FWP” (Fail With Pride), Lewis strives to teach his students to accept and learn from their failures. He has impacted the lives of various students, whether he helped keep them from trouble or open opportunities previously unavailable to them. Lewis has beneﬁted from his own mentors. To this day, Lewis cherishes them, speciﬁcally his high school band director Dr. Shelby Chipman. “He was one of my biggest role models,” he said. “He taught me what it meant to be a leader.”

FACULTY

Patterson remembers past as Cuban freedom ﬁghter Corbin Bolies incoming entertainment editor Spanish teacher Enrique Patterson has experienced what those lucky enough to be born in the United States have not--ﬁghting for civil rights in a restrictive nation. Now ready for retirement, Patterson has done what he loves most--open up the minds of young people by expanding their thinking. Patterson was born in Cuba at an important time in its history. The Castro administration took power when Patterson was nine and with it came harsh regulations on the country. This included mandatory agricultural work, censorship and imprisonment without cause--qualities typical of a Communist nation. But Patterson never bought into the restrictions. His drive led him

to study history and philosophy at Havana University, where he became more knowledgeable about Cuba’s policies. “When the government tells you something, you have to say yes,” Patterson said. “I am not that kind of person.” This rebellious attitude led him to teach history and philosophy at the University, where he encouraged students to discuss certain aspects of Cuban political philosophy. “Ideas are more important than actions when you cannot act,” he said. But questioning young minds did not sit well with the government. Ofﬁcials arrested Patterson for teaching his students to think beyond government restrictions. After he spent months under interrogation and in jail, Patterson had his teaching li-

SOPHIE MUCHNICK/ THE LIGHTNING STRIKE

AT WORK: Spanish teacher Enrique Patterson uses his computer during ﬁfth period. Patterson moved to Miami after ﬁghting for civil rights in Cuba.

cense revoked. This enabled him to further his involvement in the ﬁght for liberty, where he went on to help establish the Democratic Socialist Current, a Cuban human rights organization. After his arrest, Patterson moved

to Miami in 1994, where he pursued his career in education. However, because of the language barrier, he was left to teach Spanish language and literature. That subject led Patterson to Krop last year, where he incorpo-

rates his methods from Cuba for students in his Spanish classes, building a foundation for his students and teaching them how to think. “Since this is a different subject, I can’t teach the idea here,” he said. “But I can teach discipline in their thinking.” But Patterson hasn’t forgotten his Cuban roots. He continues to write articles and essays on Cuban culture, history and racial discrimination. He hopes to publish a compilation of his works after his retirement. But Cuba is not the same as it once was. In 2015, relations between the United States and Cuba improved in an attempt to open up the isolated country. “Society is changing,” Patterson said. “The government cannot do what they used to do.”

Feature

The Lightning Strike • March/April 2016

Page 9

FACULTY

New head custodian joins staff Ethan Curtis sports editor When Jesus Diaz retired after 18 years of being the head custodian, nobody thought someone would be able to come in and do half the job he did. That was until new head custodian Orlando Rodriguez entered the building. Rodriguez was on the verge of being hired by Krop just over a year and a half ago but was asked by Superintendent Alberto Carvalho to clean Miami Sunset Senior High School, which was publicly shamed for having moldy juice and contaminated water. “Somebody who is that motivated to go clean a place that is under such high profile says something to me,” Assistant Principal Daniel Ponkey said. “That’s a guy who I would want working for me. Rodriguez’s main focus is to ensure that the students attend a school with a clean environment. “I’ve gone to so many schools and cleaned them because I don’t think it’s fair to the kids to go to a dirty school,” Rodriguez said. The white tile floor in the Magnet hallway has needed to be cleaned for some time with students repeatedly pushing carts and riding skateboards there. Half of the hallway had skid marks on the floor that have been there for about four years. Rodriguez got them out in what seemed like four minutes. Principal Allison Harley gave Rodriguez the freedom to order new equipment and supplies to help clean the school. He purchased standing pressure cleaners, also called a mini Zamboni, a machine that pressure cleans and waxes the floor.

Students share insight on acceptance to top universities NOAM BENDAVID Accepted to: Cornell, Duke and Rice University

“Don’t stress too much about getting into college, because at the end of the day you’ll have a great time and get a great education anywhere. It’s what you make of it.” VALENTINA TAFURT ETHAN CURTIS / THE LIGHTNING STRIKE

MR. CLEAN: New head custodian Orlando Rodriguez travels the hallways on his mini Zamboni machine, leaving the ﬂoors waxed and cleaned. Principal Allison Harely allowed Rodriguez to purchase the machine with the assurance

“He has been extremely progressive about ordering new machines that will do jobs in a more efficient and more sanitary manner,” Harley said. One of these new machines is a pressure cleaner that washes and cleans out the bathrooms by itself. This means cleaning the floors, sinks and stalls as the cleanliness of the bathrooms is what students question the most. Rodriguez’s knowledge of what to do and how to handle his custodial staff is unlike anything done in the school before. It’s the respect that his staff has for him that will help clean the school in a more efficient manner. “During his first meeting with the custodians, it was like I was learning something from an instructor since he was teaching like a professor,” Ponkey said. “He has brought in a whole new level

of knowledge.” His leadership skills and progressive approach are what guide him in making the school as clean as it can be. “He is a good guy to work for because he knows what he is doing--really knows,” custodian Alix Simeon said. “Best of all he knows how to talk to people and wants the job done right.” Rodriguez was upfront about what he will change for next year and how he will go about it. He arrives at 5:00 in the morning and starts to clean the patios because it’s what the kids see ﬁrst and where they conduct their morning hangouts. His nine hour workday proceeds as most of the major cleaning will happen during the summer. “You’re going to see the difference next year, trust me,” Rodriguez said.

Accepted to: Duke and New York University, University of Maryland and Michigan

“Whether in the community or in school, kids need to get involved as soon as they can and ﬁnd a speciﬁc area of interest.” MERCEDES MORGANTE Accepted to: Amherst and Swarthmore College, University of Pennsylvania and California, Berkeley

“The schools you get into don’t deﬁne you, it’s what you do with your college experience that does. Try your best, but enjoy high school while you’re at it!” DANIELA ROJZMAN Accepted to: Columbia University and University of Michigan

“Set your goals in the beginning of high school and work hard to acheive them.Find your passion and work to be the best you can be within it.” GABRIEL SHLAIN

Accepted to: Cornell, Vanderbilt and Rice University, Univeristy of Michigan and Georgia Institue of Technology

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“Being an immigrant, I had to ﬁnd my own way in high school with no guidance and had to ﬁnd my own way to the top, making me the leader I am today.” NATALY WITTELS Accepted to: Duke, Rice, Tufts and Vanderbilt University, University of Michigan and Maryland

“When I found out I got in, I was bouncing off the walls and yelling at the top of my lungs. High school may seem impossible, but it all pays off. ” Compiled by Nathaniel Manor

Page 10

The Lightning Strike • March/April 2016

“I like to doodle my name over and over again to waste time at school.” - Aaron Arriaga, 11th

e eyes “I draw anim red. I just when I’m bo ating with find it fascin ture and all the curva ssibilities technique po the kinds that make all of styles.” roden, 10th - Michael G

Naela Foureau, incoming opinion editor Megan Orlanski, incoming lifestyle editor Naela Foureau, incoming opinion editor We all know teachers aren’t big fans of doodling. But what teachers don’t know is that doodling in class actually improves retention by 29 percent. “I think doodling allows a person to express themselves either through small creation of stick figures or through detailed masterpieces.” senior Alia Pabon said. “I don’t think it should be frowned upon by teachers because it helps you absorb information.” According to Steven Heller of the Atlantic magazine, doodling is a way for the brain to organize thoughts and stay occupied during information-heavy sessions like classes. Heller also says that doodling brings forth subconscious thoughts, such as previous memories or what you ate for dinner yesterday. “For me, doodling is like letting your hand draw whatever is floating around in your brain at the moment,” sophomore Zlata Itkin said. “Sometimes is seems like the hand has a mind of its own.” Doodling also creates new networks in the brain that would otherwise go unused without external stimuli. According to a study done by psychologist Jackie Andrade, subjects who doodled while listening to a list of names retained 29 percent more than those who did not. Andrade believes this boost in memory is due to the absence of daydreaming.

“I like to doodle flo wers and eyes becaus e I think they’re real ly pretty and sometim es, flowers are the easi est things to draw.” - Nazla Lara, 11th

Doodles Compiled from: Ana Cotton, Vania Mishkin, Eden Assraf, Yuval Mor, Jessica Schlaen, Andrea Nunez, Carlos Solis, Samantha Pasetti, Kavahree Jones, A

Page 11

The Lightning Strike • March/April 2016

“I like d ra and col wing hearts ori ners of ng the cormy not ebo because it reliev oks es my stress.” Contrary to some belief, daydreaming actually requires a lot of brainpower. So when the brain is busy doodling, there is no space to forget information, thus improving retention. “I doodle in my photography and government classes as a means to do something more entertaining. It helps me focus in the morning by clearing my head,” senior Bismarck Corrales said. “The last couple of doodles I drew were of these foul-mouthed skeletons and a rendition of the NASA meatball saying FASFA,” he said. Several cutting-edge companies such as Apple Inc. and Facebook push doodling to promote creativity, productivity and communication throughout the corporation. Sunni Brown, an expert on doodling and its cognitive effects hosts workshops for large corporate companies to help them visualize their goals and get on the same page through doodling. By introducing whiteboards, chalkboards and writable glass to the workspace, companies such as the shoe retailer Zappos now encourage “visual note-taking” through doodling, and hire consultants who sketch what is discussed at meetings. According to philosophy professor Jesse Prinz of New York Graduate Center, doodling keeps people in a state of “pure listening.” Prinz explains that doodling also opens more avenues of thought, offering different ways to creatively seek out solutions. “It’s kind of like brain yoga,” Corrales said.

-Ana C

otton, 1

0th

“I like to draw fa ces using geomet ric shapes mainly be cause it brings ou t the artistic side of m e.” -Tomer Shkori, 9t h

“I like making logos because as a sports person, I have been exposed to many logos, so I like to emulate that when I’m channeling my inner thoughts. - Sam Rier, 12th

Abraham Garcia, Valeria Deng, Jacob Shapiro, Valerie Schraer, Stacy Olivares, Isadora Filgueiras

Entertainment Page 12

The Lightning Strike • March/April 2016 MOVIES

LEISURE

Corbin’s Critique Corbin Bolies incoming entertainment editor

TV guide to senioritis

Sebastian Kuzak staff writer

For seniors, the second semester can feel eternal. After three and a half years of hard work, all they want is for the torture of high school to end, and what better way to pass time than Netﬂix? Not only can a good show make time ﬂy, it can actually be a study tool. House of Cards is a thrilling show that depicts corruption within the White House. Congressman Francis Underwood does everything in his power to rise to the presidency including public dishonesty, bribery and the occasional murder. For any seniors planning on going into politics, this show will educate you on the importance of being able to push reporters in front of subways. The fourth season was released on Mar. 4, a perfect time since AP exams are around the corner. The show is a great way to review tactics such as manipulation, dirty tricks and other nefarious

means to get your way. The sixth season of Game of Thrones will be released on Apr. 24. This drama highlights the battle for the crown amongst leaders of different kingdoms and will help seniors brush up on their geography skills. Following characters across the globe from the lands of Westeros across the Narrow Sea to Casterly Rock is not an easy task. For those students who enjoy travel, riding dragons is both cheaper and quicker than airplanes. Although the in-ﬂight service may not be as great and it is far more dangerous, the convenience is undeniable. The show has a contract with HBO for at least two more seasons, meaning seniors can continue to enjoy all of its twists and turns well into their college years. Better Call Saul is a spinoff to Breaking Bad. If that’s not enough to get seniors to watch, it can help them better understand the legal system. Lawyer James McGill

builds his reputation as a small client lawyer in Albuquerque. This dramatic comedy intrigues viewers with its cliffhangers and the reappearance of many well-known Breaking Bad characters. For those students looking for representation in student court, Mr. McGill is only one call away. He deals with everything ranging from drug possession to money laundering and even the typical lunchtime ﬁght. Students can learn what it’s like to be a lawyer and how to defend those who don’t deserve to be defended. This prequel to Breaking Bad promises to keep viewers on their toes every step of the way. Throughout the second semester, seniors will climb through any hole in the fence and skip any class they have to in order to get through the seemingly pointless school days. Shifting their attention away from class and towards the television set can make the longest of days feel like a one hour episode.

BROADWAY

Hamilton redefines modern musicals Jacob Singer incoming online managing editor

“The Great White Way,” a nickname for Broadway, has long been indicative of both the bright lights that span the street and the racial demographics of its plays. But Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton leads the way for a new breed of musicals that coincides with the changing times. Miranda, who won a Tony award for his 2008 play, “In the Heights,” came up with the idea for Hamilton when reading Ron Chernow’s biography about the “ten-dollar founding father without a father,” Alexander Hamilton. Hamilton was born in the Caribbean in 1755 to a father with whom he never had a relationship and a mother who died when he was a young boy. Those who knew him saw that Hamilton was special and helped him immigrate to the colonies. He rose up through the Colonial military and became George Washington’s right hand man during the Revolutionary War. Hamilton went on to establish the United States’ ﬁnancial

system before being killed in a duel by rival and former friend, Vice President Aaron Burr. One component of the play that categorizes it as a new breed of musical is its casting. Miranda, born to Cuban immigrants, plays Hamilton.

of Arts alumnus Alex Lacamoire, developed a soundtrack inspired by hiphop. The soundtrack is ﬁlled with rap battles between founding fathers on policy and other songs with references to lines from 90’s rappers like the Notorious B.I.G. and Busta Rhymes.

But Lin-Manuel Miranda’s

Hamilton leads the way for a new breed of musicals that coincides with the changing times. Phillipa Soo, of Chinese descent, plays his wife, and the roles of Aaron Burr, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington and others are all played by black actors. This casting choice, while unconventional, considering that all of the characters were white, has provided a performance that has been critically acclaimed as “groundbreaking” and “historic.” The other thing that makes the musical so innovative is its music. The “show tunes” that have long been estranged from popular music are not found in Hamilton. Instead, Miranda, with the help of New World School

The intelligent word play, smooth flow, catchy hooks and beautiful instrumentals make the songs terrific in their own right, but even better when listened to over the progression of the play. Although the play is sold out for the 2016 season, tickets on resale sites like StubHub cost upwards of $600 and would also require a flight to New York to see it, but the Hamilton soundtrack album is Grammywinning and enjoyable in its own right. Soon, you, like Vice President Burr, will be wishing you were “in the room where it happened.”

Demolition When we go through loss, we grieve. We go through a process where we let our emotions get the better of us; it’s what makes us human. Demolition is a film where a man loses his wife in a car crash and, to cope with his loss, he vents his frustration in complaint letters to a vending machine company. It is this grief that sells the movie, as it allows you to experience the man’s journey from start to finish. Demolition centers around Davis Mitchell (Jake Gyllenhall), an investment banker in New York. It isn’t Gyllenhall’s best role, but he plays it to full effect. The film follows him as he deals with his wife’s death, something that happens in a variety of ways. He finds solace in a customer service representative, Karen Moreno (Naomi Watts), the woman who reads his letters. The movie’s premise seems to point to a romance, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Instead, the supporting characters play a part in Davis’ journey. We witness his stages of grief, from his attempts to continue his daily life to the intentional “demolition” of what that life once was. Through interactions with his late wife’s father (Chris Cooper) and Karen’s son (Judah Lewis), Chris, you see the transition Davis goes to from the moment his wife dies to the weeks and months later. In a world where movies like to play up death as the climactic moment without much focus on its aftereffects, Demolition shows us the path, not the endgame. The film owes its strengths to its script. When you a movie focuses on death, it’s easy to

write the characters as, well, characters. Their feelings and motivations are written to suit the story, with the humanity suffering as a result. What works with Demolition is that these characters aren’t just written as characters; they’re humans. In scenes between Davis and Chris, you believe that these are two actual people talking, not ones made up for the screen. Unfortunately, the ﬁlm’s weakest point is its ending. While we do see progress in

Davis, there is no payoff to his journey. In one specific montage, you are lead to believe that Davis seemingly reverts back to his life before his wife’s death. This could have been explained through a simple scene, but the movie mistakenly decides to take the easy way out. This leads to confusion and ultimately weakens its message. Despite these flaws, Demolition is an important film. It captures the gravity of a topic such as grief and delivers it in a human way, something many films seem to forget to do. It isn’t the best film you may see this year, but it may be the most personal.

Rating:

The Lightning Strike • March/April 2016

Entertainment Page 13

TECHNOLOGY

Virtual reality brings the world to your phone Nicolas Chmieleweki spread editor Technology is evolving faster than ever. With this expansion, students are able to go on field trips to Buckingham Palace, Machu Picchu and the Great Barrier Reef without leaving the classroom. - all with the use of virtual reality. Cheap devices like the $15 Google Cardboard allows schools to afford these experiences. The goal is to expose students to places they wouldn’t be able to see otherwise. After wearing the Google Cardboard headset for the first time, sophomore Alex Cazes was impressed. “It’s just weird,” Cazes said. “You can go flying or fishing in the middle of the sea. You can do anything that is out of your reach.” New startups and organizations are being paid to innovate technological devices that will make the lives of artists, scien-

CORBIN BOLIES / THE LIGHTNING STRIKE

STEP INTO A VIRTUAL WORLD: Sophomore Valeria Deng tries out a Google Cardboard virtual reality headset, looking into a virtual “plane” environment. These sets retail for as low as $15 and can pair with iPhones and Androids to glimpse into artiﬁcial scenarios and situations.

tists, teachers and others easier. The virtual reality works through a headset where a small monitor and a pair of lens work together in creating a three-dimensional world. The screen splits the image into two and the lenses create the illusion that the pictures are merged, much like the way our eyes function.

“I think virtual reality is a great idea,” senior Alan Lau said, a member of the Video Game Club. “It could be put to use not only in a recreational way, but in an educational way.” Like Lau said, most of VR’s current usage is for video gaming, yet education and training practices are also popular. The

MOVIES

Man of Steel, Dark Knight kick DC into gear Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice opens the way for the DC Cinematic Universe Nathaniel Manor incoming feature editor For the first time on the big screen, the world’s most iconic superheroes - Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman - teamed up in the record-breaking Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, released on Mar. 25. Despite a rocky run with the critics, who panned the film for being too dark and straying from the comics, Batman v. Superman has earned $682.8 million globally. During its opening weekend alone, the movie made $166 million, making it the seventh-highest grossing opening of all time. The film stars Ben Affleck as Batman, Henry Cavil as Superman and Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman. In the movie, Lex Luthor, portrayed by Jessie Eisenberg, pits Batman against Superman in a gladiator battle for the ages. As two of the most idolized heroes to have appeared on a comic book page brawl on screen for the first time ever, the movie brings together an array of DC superheroes including Aquaman, Cyborg and the Flash. DC Comics fans can argue all they want on who would win in a fight, but the movie isn’t about killing off onehalf of DC’s dynamic duo it’s about setting the stage for

US Navy, NASA and Medical Personnel use VR to simulate environments such as plane and space craft navigation. This saves organizations money and allows for better training. Artists also have a play in the new technology. Leo Castaneda, a Miami based painter, uses his computer programming and animation skills to create “living” virtual paintings. Castaneda crafts headsets that look like giant, glazed plastic bags and creates surreal virtual worlds that typically comprise of irregular objects and animals. His work is shown at galleries and exhibitions in Wynwood and New York, attracting numerous spectators. As virtual reality expands to a more domestic practice, applications, videos and games are being invented for anyone to use. YouTube, for example, allows people to upload 360° video. Popular YouTubers like Roman Atwood and “Devinsupertramp” have worked on

10 Keating

TELEVISION

1. 2. COURTESY OF WARNER BROS.

THE TRINITY UNITED: “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice” marks the ﬁrst time the superheroes Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman have come together on the silver screen. They are set to reunite in the team-up ﬁlm “Justice League: Part One,” to be released in 2017.

a much more anticipated line of movies. DC created the movie as a stepping stone for their long list of upcoming superhero sequels, reboots and team-ups. Joining the three biggest stars in the DC Cinematic Universe together was key to ultimately begin production on the long-awaited and overdue Justice League. As DC’s rival, Marvel, continues to thrive with huge blockbuster flicks, DC is stepping up its game. The Justice League is DC’s attempt to combat the groundbreaking success of 2012’s The Avengers and its 2015 sequel, Avengers: Age of Ultron. Like the Avengers, the Justice League is the union of DC’s most famous superheroes including Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman,

Green Lantern, The Flash, Cyborg and Aquaman. The director of the Justice League film, Zack Snyder, decided to split the story into two separate movies, giving us Justice League: Part One, set to release in 2017 and Justice League: Part Two, set to release in 2019. The DC Cinematic Universe and Warner Bros. Pictures are looking for a well-needed triumph of Batman v. Superman in order to launch their extended universe into full swing, with ten planned movies to be released through 2020. For now, DC fans can bask in the glory of the Man of Steel and the Dark Knight going head-to-head, kick back in their superhero-embezzled rooms and rest assured that their favorite heroes will end up on the silver screen soon enough.

videos that expose viewers to the new technology. And they aren’t difﬁcult to make either. These videos can be made with the popular GoPro mounts or the Ricoh Theta video camera, which costs about $260. Companies like Nintendo, Sony, Samsung and Google have produced new items that allow ordinary people to expand their realities. Samsung, for example, just released the Gear VR, which was given away with each purchase of the new Galaxy seven cellphone. Google on the other hand has been working with companies like Mattel and Mini Cooper to create a more local headset which ranges its prices from $15 to $120. “I think Virtual Reality would open a lot of doors to new people, especially those that are not really interested in modern technology,” Lau said. Check out a video of students experiencing VR at www.lightningstrikenews.com

3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Things you didn’t know about

He backed up Madonna for a commercial show and sang her hit song Vogue. He was also a backup singer for the Burger King jingle. Since he spent most of his life singing in places like the Miami Opera, his favorite thing to wear are suspenders with his tuxedo. Keating started the first gay choir in Florida in 1986. There are almost 90 members, ages 20 to 72. Keating was re certified in AIDS education. He prides himself in being a friendly face for anyone to come to with any questions. Dade-County’s AIDS diagnosis’ are rising rapidly and Keating wants to do anything to help educate students to make responsible decisions. Before he was a teacher, Keating was the executive director of the Tallahassee symphony orchestra for one year. Keating figure skated in college during the Boston Bruins hockey games. He previously taught at Florida International University and has worked at Krop for ten years. Keating raised $20 million dollars in five years when he was an intense development director for the largest services for AIDS. Keating trained horses in Florida and also in New England. Keating takes his students to Broadway plays like Motown and to the Opera because not all the music is part of their culture. He wants them to use Broadway as an example on how to be better performers. psychiatrictimes.com, parentstv.org, jacksonkatz.com

COMPILED BY SOPHIE MUCHNICK

Lifestyle Page 15

The Lightning Strike • March/April 2016

CHARACTER

Things to learn from Donald Trump

Kevin Bauernfeind incoming video editor

Clad with a head of fluffy orange hair and aggressive hand gestures, presidential candidate Donald Trump sure knows how to get his point across. Although Trump is constantly jabbed left and right from his many critics, there are a few things he can teach you about making your character great again. 1. Confidence When it seems as though you can never get any approval from your peers, do as the Trump does at each rally and tell everyone, “I will be the greatest president that God ever created.” Honestly, who cares about what others may think of you when your ego can fill the Republican convention? 2. Forgiveness Don’t forgive, just sue. Univision, a large Latin television corporation, dropped Trump’s beloved Miss Universe franchise after he used derogatory terms towards Mexicans. So, he did what he always does, “Trumped” the company by suing them for $500 million. Later the suit was settled out of court. Don’t worry, he didn’t forgive then

either, he got even. 3. Insulting Politics are no fun without verbal punches, and that’s Trump’s specialty. He has maimed his other opponents with the power of words. He has thrown shade at everyone from candidate “Lyin’” Ted Cruz to Pope Francis. Some of his favorite jabs are “lightweight,” “stupid,” “incompetent” and “weak.” 4. When you see an opportunity, take it Like Ms. Clappier in the hallway looking for uniform violators, when you see an opportunity you have to snatch it. Trump constantly looks for new ventures and investments. One of these investments was the purchase of the domain jebbush.com. For the month of February. Jebbush.com redi-

rected straight to Trump’s donation page. Trump kept the domain until Jeb dropped out of the race. 5. Never Give Up One quality Trump never flip flops on is his relentlessness, even after he’s failed. From Trump’s premium steaks to Trump Wine, he never stopped even after these ventures tanked. He believes in himself more than anyone need to. But if you are going to make a mistake, you better make sure it is a Trump steak. Trump is like the North Star. He may change his policies but he will never stray from the pedestal of fortune and fame that makes him so infamous. Let Trump take more than celebrity apprentice under his wing, Let him lead you to a life of immaturity and bigotry.

- ADVICE

How to...

Save Money in College Whether your parents give you money once a month or you work a part time job, budgeting is a vital skill not taught in high school that every incoming college student needs to learn. Here are tips to successfully live on a budget in college.

1. Create a budget.

The ﬁrst tip to living on a budget is to separate your needs and wants. While you may want a cute pair of shoes, what you need is to have food for dinner.

2. Keep track of your ﬁnances.

Websites such as FinAids Student budget calculator and Mint.com are free tools to help you keep track of your money. It’s harder to be frivolous when you know where your money is going.

3. Create a grocery list.

One of the worst things a college student can do is go to the grocery store hungry without a plan. To avoid spending your entire budget on food, only go to the grocery store with the amount of money you want to spend, this will help you choose between the things you can and cannot live without.

4. Buy used textbooks.

The yearly average cost for books and supplies for an undergraduate student at a public university is about $1,200. To lower this cost, rent or buy used textbooks. Websites such as Amazon and Valorebooks.com promise 90 percent off textbook prices.

5. Buy school supplies in bulk.

NICOLAS CHMIELEWSKI

Another way to save money is to buy school supplies at stores like Sam’s Club and Costco. Buying in bulk is not only cheaper, but it also gives you the opportunity to split the cost with a friend. -Shoshana Sommer

All-Natural Raw Juce opens in Aventura HEALTH

Naela Foureau incoming opinion editor With inspiration from celebrities like Nicole Richie and Blake Lively, the juicing craze has become ingrained in pop culture. Now, millennials have another unique store to add to their juicing “bucket list.” Now, students can take part in the phenomena as well. Raw Juce, a cold pressed organic juice bar that boasts of its’ 100 percent raw (meaning food cannot be heated over 118 degrees Fahrenheit), organic ingredients has opened for business in Aventura. “Other juice bars like Raw Republic are not certiﬁed Raw,” team member Gal Mintz said. “We don’t use high-pressure processing (HPP), and we get a fresh delivery of juices literally every single day,” she said. Mintz is referring to a potentially harmful chemical that allows for an extended shelf life of up to 20 days. This may protect ingredients from contamination, but it also means customers would be drinking juice that is 20 days old. Juices that use HPP destroy all ranges

GAL MINTZ / THE LIGHTNING STRIKE

RAW REVOLUTION:Raw Juce employee Leah Romano prepare vegan bowls and juices with organic ingredients. The juice bar opened their Aventura location on Mar. 11.

of bacteria, including nutritional bacteria that is natural and beneﬁcial to the body. “A lot of kids probably know us best for our Acai bowls, made with banana, mango and acai and blended together with our homemade almond milk and topped with different organic fruits and nuts,” store manager Casey Brown Said. Raw Juce’s juice is produced by extracting the juice directly from plant tissue. The fruits and vegetables used for

the juices are handled at a separate location and shipped out to - chains on a daily all Raw Juce basis ensuring that no fruit is ever stale or recycled. “People complain about how expensive the beverages are but never consider the quality of ingredients,” Mintz said. “You won’t get this quality or experience at any other juice bar,” she said. - apart from Setting Raw Juce other local juice bars is their concern for customer health

and safety. The restaurant calls back customers who participate in cleanses for health “updates.” It also has a health coach who is on standby at every location, guiding customers through each type of cleanse and helping them choose the cleanse that best ﬁts their lifestyle goals. “You have to get your body adjusted to the cleanse so we inform you on the variety of cleanses to chosose from, and show you how to go about each

cleanse,” Mintz said. “The cool - is the fact thing about Raw Juce that customers get to customize any cleanse to their liking,” she said. For example, if you want to do the “Ultimate Juice Cleanse,” containing spicy lemonade but you don’t like lemons, you can exchange it for a less tangy ingredient like almonds. - also offers a proRaw Juce motional points system for registered customers that gives customers points for every purchase they make. Once a customer receives 100 points, they win the most expensive item on the menu for free at any location. Also, customers are rewarded with a lifelong “juice shot” for taking a photo on any social media app using the geotag feature. Over the course of this year, Raw Juce have plans to open more establishments on South Beach and Weston as well. “If you’re new, don’t be afraid to ask questions,” Mintz said. “We’re here to help you and will coach you through the process so you’re not alone.”

Lifestyle Page 16

The Lightning Strike • March/April 2016

OPPORTUNITIES

Summer programs for a brighter future

HEALTH

from bank robberies to kidnappings with the help of professional FBI agents and experts. Students aged 16 to 18 with a 3.0 GPA or higher are eligible to apply. Submit the online application, consisting of two essays, on or before Jun. 3 to be considered. The program is free, with the exception of lodging and transportation fees.

Gal Mintz staff writer

Nathaniel Manor incoming feature editor Although summer break is a great time to relax and clear your mind from the clutter of the school year, it is also a great time to gain a competitive edge for colleges through internships and programs. Don’t let those precious ten weeks pass you by. Here are a few ways to make the most of your summer vacation with one-of-a-kind summer program opportunities.

New York Film Academy Summer Program

New York Film Academy Summer Program allows Broadway-hopefuls to engage in theatre experiences including dancing with TONY Award winners and performers, acting in a real Broadway theater and directing with New York’s top choreographers and producers. The two week program gives students interested in performing arts a ﬁrst-hand experience of what it takes to become a famous Broadway actor/actress. Instead of simply admiring the beauty and glamour of a Broadway performance, one can place themselves in the shoes of the performer to gain insight into the professional world through class work and industry showcases. Simply apply on the program

website before May 30. The program has an open-application policy with no further requirements. Tuition is based upon what program you choose, but prices begin from as low as $350, excluding airfare.

Diverbo Global

Diverbo Global is a program in which students live in Spainand other countries for two weeks to teach English to native Spaniard teenagers. Participants cannot speak Spanish, as the teens help teach each other their native languages. The program is designed to allow students of all experience levels to participate. Students must complete an application online in order to be admitted to the program. The only cost of the program is a roundtrip ticket to Spain. Once situated, all expenses are paid for by the program including housing and food, giving you some extra pocket money for touring Spain.

Future Agents In Training FBI Program

The Future Agents in Training FBI program is a weeklong summer program where students are offered the opportunity to experience how the Federal Bureau of Intelligence works. Based in Washington, D.C., the program allows students to experience a realistic look at how the FBI is run and how agents solve crimes. Students work out mock crimes

U.S. Civil Air Patrol Program

One of the best known high school aviation opportunities is the U.S. Civil Air Patrol Program, an official division of the United States Air Force. As students volunteer for the organization, they will engage in flying aircrafts, learn about aerospace education, respond in emergency situations, and immerse themselves in cadet programs. Mentored by past and current military members, students are given the opportunity of a lifetime to fly with true U.S. Air Force pilots. The program costs $100 and applications are due before May 14. It is open to students in all high school grades who have a 2.0 GPA or higher. Whether it’s belting out a high note on a Broadway stage or cracking a murder mystery case, there’s an opportunity for just about anyone. Take advantage of summer break and find a summer program that best suits you.

A new kind of exercise Piloxing is an innovative excercise that combines dance, pilates and boxing

As I walked into the Powerrumba studio on Biscayne Blvd., I thought I had entered a club. But, the sight of 12 sweaty people wearing one-pound weighted gloves and an upbeat instructor let me know I was in the right place. After 45 minutes of upper cuts, side jabs and fancy footwork, the gloves came off and the mats came out for the abdominal exercises. At the end of the hour, our toned instructor Stefanie commanded the class to shout the motto “sleek, sexy and powerful.” This new ﬁtness class is called piloxing, which incorporates pilates, boxing and dance. The founder of Piloxing, Swedish dancer and celebrity trainer Viveca Jensen wanted to ﬁnd a way for women to attain a self-image that’s both powerful and sexy. Her solution was to create an exercise

PILOXING

pair of weighted gloves

that uses weighted gloves and boxing movements to tone the arms, while incorporating the sculpting and flexibility of Pilates exercises. Piloxing is an extreme workout that uses all the body muscles. It helps you burn between 400-900 calories per hour and improves your speed, flexibility and vitality. Piloxing not only helps with weight loss, but also strengthens and tones muscles and develops coordination. The workouts combine cardio with periods of active relaxation. As a person who doesn’t particularly enjoy group fitness classes, this one really opened my eyes. Compared to ordinary fitness classes, piloxing’s upbeat atmosphere kept me going. Piloxing takes place in a flashy, vibrant and urban studio rather than a typical gym. Classes are every Monday from eight p.m. to nine p.m. Welcome to piloxing, a fitness class unlike any other, but you’ll definitely feel it the next day.

BY THE NUMBERS:

45 15 800

minutes of pilates and boxing per class

minutes of cardio excerise per class

calories burned per class

burgers in every 800 calories, or one class

Compiled by: Megan Orlanski; Sources: www.cleveland.com

TECHNOLOGY

Students express themselves through blogs

Alejandro Preschel staff writer There are many different ways to express yourself. Some people express themselves through music, art or ﬁlm. Others like writing, particularly blogging. Junior Salvatore Brinker created a blog called “bmwtimes” about BMW’s latest projects and issues concerning BMW. The blog includes an article named “What NOT to do your BMW” and a review on the collectable “BMW 507.” With years of experience and countless hours of research, Brinker’s words can be trusted. He has taken the time to learn about every twist and turn of BMW’s history. The site is designed and written completely by Brink-

er. Since December 2015 he has posted articles weekly. For as long as he can remember, Brinker has had a passion for the car. “My interest in the cars came about really because of my dad,” Brinker said. “I picked it up when I was around seven or eight.” Brinker’s dad has been driving BMW’s since his late 20’s, taking him out on occasional rides and explaining to him how the vehicle works. This has fueled his interest in the car brand. He has been taken on countless joyrides and ﬁnally being old enough to drive, takes joyrides of his own. Ads claim that driving a BMW is “the ultimate driving experience.” Like his father, Brinker’s general love for cars

has put him behind the wheel of countless different vehicles. Having tested different cars, it is easy for him to say that BMW truly is “the ultimate driving experience.” “The comfort and response you get from driving a BMW is unlike any other,” Brinker said. Brinker has great aspirations for his blog. Every day, he looks for ways to improve it and differentiate his blog from its competitors by meeting the right people. He hopes to work directly with BMW. Another blogger, junior Jordan Weiner, blogs about her life, her interests and her favorite musicians in her page “jordanxariel.blogspot.com.” “I started the blog because I wanted to do something creative and new,” Weiner said. “More than anything, it was a

creative outlet for me.” In one of her posts, titled “March Playlist,” Weiner shares her favorite tunes of the month, which include songs by “Hoodie Allen,” “Panic! at the Disco,” and “Twenty One Pilots.” “I don’t have a speciﬁc target audience” Weiner said. “I just write things about myself, hoping that someone else will ﬁnd it interesting.” Weiner continues to write in her blog occasionally and plans to improve it by posting on it more often. Raniya Henry created a blog called “Raniya2016.blogspot. com” in January 2016 with her target audience as teenage girls like herself. “I started my blog as a platform for girls like myself to express themselves,” Henry said. “Blogging is my therapy, and I

use it to connect with other individuals who are experiencing similar issues.” In many of her blogs, Henry speaks about self-love, happiness and having conﬁdence. Her goal as a blogger is to show people that they are not alone in the struggle that comes with being an adolescent. Currently, Raniya has big plans for the future of her blog. She plans to elect guest writers to share posts and attach videos and short ﬁlms. Writing in a blog is a great way to express your feelings and communicate with other people. It’s all about human expression and connection. You may have your own interests, but blogs give you insight into someone else’s world and someone else’s passions.

JOIN YOUR TO JOIN THE PTSA FILL OUT A MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION Applications can be found in the main ofямБce or on kropseniorhigh.org in the PTSA tab.

Sports Page 18

The Lightning Strike • March/April 2016

YEAR IN REVIEW

Something to take out of a loss

ACCOMPLISHMENT

When the seniors and head coach left, the boys’ water polo team didn’t expect much, but that didn’t keep them from having a successful season.

Bien, Vainstein named this year’s scholar athletes

Jacob Singer incoming online managing editor

Ethan Curtis sports editor

After making it to states last season, the water polo team’s expectations should have been high. But because the team lost its coach, essential seniors and one of the best players in the state, the team did not expect much. This season was the first in Krop’s history without coach Ann Gordon in charge of the team. Gordon was replaced by John Turnipseed, and, as with any change, the team was concerned. “When I found out that [Gordon] was leaving, I was worried,” junior and co-captain Eli Salk said. “I didn’t know what to expect; she was the only coach I’ve ever had.” Early in the season, big changes were apparent. The team was losing, and the games weren’t close. “A turning point in the season was when we got crushed by ATM,” Salk said. “They are our rivals and a team we’ve competed with in the past. That big loss really hurt us.” The Lightning then went to a tournament in Boca Raton with some of the top teams in the state. “To be honest, we expected to lose every game,” Salk said. “Up to that point we had been playing terribly and we had no confidence in our ability.” But for the first time that season, the players were wrong. They

This year, seniors Leeland Bien and Deborah Vainstein were nominated as FHSAA Student-Athletes of the year, one of the highest honors a student-athlete can receive from the school. Bien earned a 4.83 weight-

ture and goes about his work in the classroom and on the courts. He’s one of the ﬁnest student-athletes I have ever coached.” Vainstein has also balanced academics with athletics, such as swimming and softball, since freshman year. She has been captain of the swim team for the past three seasons along

I have always placed

my academics ahead of my athletics.” –LEELAND BIEN, senior

COURTESY OF FOXMAR

FOCUS: Junior Eli Salk gets past the defenders for a shot in a regular season game against ATM. His focus and leadership has helped the team turn their season around.

went 2-1 in the tournament with their one loss coming in a hard fought and close battle against St. Andrews, one of the best teams in the state. Salk said something ﬁnally clicked. “We were [angry]. Obviously nobody likes to lose, but this was different,” he said. “We couldn’t take it anymore and we decided to do something about it.” They continued their success after the tournament and despite losing again to ATM, this time it was much closer. Junior and ATM water polo player Felipe Lombello saw an improvement in the

Krop team. “After the ﬁrst game I remember thinking to myself, ‘Wow this team is terrible! How did they make it to States last year?’” Lombello said. “But in our second game against them, I saw a team that could really compete with us.” As they continue this season, Krop only looks to grow, and with a corps of juniors coming back next season, improvement should be possible. “We can’t look back at the past,” Salk said. “We know that in the future, we have a chance to succeed.”

ed GPA playing both tennis and golf at a varsity level since his freshman year. He was named captain of the golf team his junior year and, under his guidance, the team reached the regional tournament this past season. Individually, he qualiﬁed for regionals his junior year. “I have always placed my academics ahead of athletics,” Bien said. “Also, I make time to practice both golf and tennis even though both sports become difﬁcult to manage.” Coach Michael Kyrpriss, who is both the tennis and golf coach, has seen Bien grow in the classrooms and on the courts for the past four years. “Well deserved,” Kypriss said. “To me, he’s so ma-

with being the captain of the softball team for the previous two seasons while maintaining a 5.27 weighted GPA. She has been awarded both academic and athletic awards such as the Softball Coach’s Award, a three year regional swimming qualiﬁer, Wellesley Book Award, Rensselaer Medal Award and being named a National AP Scholar. “With time management, I am able to balance academics, service and sports, all of which are important aspects of who I am and who I will become,” Vainstein said. Both students will represent Krop as the FHSAA Scholar-Athletes. The state winners will be announced April 25th.

NEW BEGINNINGS

Thompson starts girls’ flag football program Alejandro Preschel staff writer After years of failed attempts, Coach Ray Thompson was given permission to start a girls’ flag football team. The team started conditioning in late February and the season officially began on Feb. 22, 2016. “I’ve been wanting the program for a while,” Thompson said. “The girls were interested, so the county allowed it.” Because the sport is new for the girls, they’re biggest goal is to learn the fundamentals. As of now training is tough, almost as tough as the boy’s varsity practices. Practices consist of indian runs where teammates run in a straight line and the last teammate sprints to the front of the line every few seconds. They also consist of karaoke runs which involve a back and forth movement foot pattern and suicides, which are back and

forth sprints Sophomore Dominique Hardy says the team focused on getting in shape for the season before they even picked up a ball. “Physically, we were ready, but we started practicing with an actual ball only ﬁve days before our ﬁrst game,” Hardy said. “It was kind of disappointing.” Even though starting a new team is hard, the girls work well together. “We’re like a big family,” junior quarterback Hunter Schechter said. “Out of 17 players, 12 of us came from the basketball team.” Thompson says that the team’s major issue is inconsistency. Players don’t show up to practice and sometimes miss games. “On our last game, 12 of the 17 players showed up,” Thompson said. The team currently has a re-

cord of two losses and one win. Despite this, Thompson remains hopeful.

“The main reason I started the team was because it was something the girls really want-

ed,” Thompson said. “Once they learn the fundamentals, things will get better.”

Flag Football BY THE NUMBERS: 1998

5,000

IS THE FIRST YEAR GIRLS’ FLAG FOOTBALL WAS RECOGNIZED AS A VARSITY HIGH SCHOOL SPORT. FLORIDA WAS ALSO THE FIRST STATE TO RECOGNIZE IT.

THE NUMBER OF GIRL FLAG FOOTBALL PLAYERS THAT PLAY THE SPORT FOR THEIR HIGH SCHOOL AT A VARSITY LEVEL.

481%

25,000

THE INCREASE OF GIRLS WHO PARTICIPATED IN HIGH SCHOOL VARSITY FLAG FOOTBALL FROM THE FIRST YEAR THAT IT WAS PLAYED Source: USA Football

THE TOTAL NUMBER OF GIRLS WHO PARTICIPATE IN FLAG FOTBALL PROGRAMS IN NON HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS. Compiled by Ethan Curtis

Sports

The Lightning Strike • March/April 2016

Page 19

Softball team seniors get one last run after storied careers SAYING GOODBYE

Ethan Curtis sports editor

It seems like the end of an era for the softball team with eight seniors leaving the team at the end of the season. Since the seniors started playing four years ago, the team has accomplished a district playoff run, qualiﬁed for regionals and won a district championship. “They’ve grown together since they started playing, gaining experience and leadership,” head coach Krista Latessa said. This group of seniors has seen several highs and lows together. The players experienced the grim emotions of a losing season all the way to having the thrill of an undefeated season with a district championship to top it off. “I’m losing eight players

that bring eight different things to the game,” Latessa said. “There’s a power hitter in Taylor [Coachman], an effective leader and catcher in Kassidy [Klein] and of course the passion in Deborah [Vainstein] that I’m losing.” With the current class of seniors, it’s easy. Latessa doesn’t have to repeat herself to the team because it’s the seniors using their leadership skills to run the team. Whether it’s time to ﬁeld ground balls or get the water cooler, the seniors are the ﬁrst to do so. All the girls know what they have to do in order to lead the team to where they want to be. “The season’s been tougher this year but it’s nice to know that I’m still playing with the same girls that I have been for the past four years,” Klein said. “So we’re having a good time

while winning games.” Life is full of contrasts and, unfortunately, Latessa acknowledges the fact that next year will be a rebuilding year. The team will focus on the basics of softball, doing more ground ball practice, batting practice and situational play. Practices may be longer, and the team will have to approach each game with a distinct mindset.Overall, the team will be different. “The way the group is now, we get into practice, do what we have to do and get out,” Latessa said. “There’s no frustration, it’s simple. Now, the younger kids are going to have to learn the ropes and what I expect.” Players that have to step up for next year include sophomore Marley Felder and juniors Karina Delarosa and Brooke Studnik who all play travel ball and will have more experience playing

COACHES

Krop introduces new head football coach Dzidula Boney outgoing copy editor

New head coach Steven Farley believes he’s found his new home within the Lightning football team. Having previously coached at schools in Fort Pierce, St Lucie and Fort Myers, Coach Farley believes Krop has the four AsAcademics, Arts, Activities and Athletics. He started playing football at ﬁve and continued through college. As a linebacker, he played for Marshall University. In 1995, his team, the Thundering Herd, became the National Champion Division I-AA runner up. Before Krop, Farley was the Interim head coach for ﬁve weeks at Lehigh Senior High and believes those experiences have prepared him for the position as a full time head coach. As a high school coach at his previous schools, including Fort Pierce Central, Farley experienced both the highs and lows of his sport. With some teams making it deep into the playoffs and others sporting a less impressive record, Farley recognizes that a team learns by both winning and losing. Farley’s main concern is helping players bulk up and get faster and stronger, while emphasizing agility. Every day of conditioning, the players go into the weight room and use

DZIDULA BONEY / THE LIGHTNING STRIKE

FRESH FACES: New head football Steven Farley uses the weight room as a meeting spot to introduce play schemes to the team. His new approach and mind set may help the team reach greater heights.

the various equipment, such as the incline bench press, and they lift 75 percent of their bodyweight. He has them split into groups of four so that they can spot each other and encourage teamwork. Farley prefers to look forward, rather than focus on Krop’s previous football record. He has nothing but good things to say about his predecessor coach David Hudson and hopes to build upon the foundation Hudson had set. Farley’s strategy to better the team is to focus on Krop as he pushes the team to challenge themselves. During conditioning, Farley stands among the

players and reminds them that the end goal is to be tougher than the guy across from you. With a straight-forward positive attitude and loud voice, Farley tries to teach success in football and in everyday life and the importance of trust. He realizes that he may not have the trust of all the players, but he is okay with that. “It’s all a process,” Farley said. For quarterback junior Matthew Bethel, trusting Farley came easily. “He was able to capture my attention with a few words,” Bethel said. “I could see his conﬁdence as a coach.”

COURTESY OF FOXMAR

LOCKED IN: Senior Kassidy Klein focuses in on her routine batting practice before the game against Hialeah. She believes her leadership and experience can lead the team to one last run at glory.

softball than the rest of the team. This will hopefully add the leadership and experience that the team will need. The seniors played with one another for so long that it seems that you wouldn’t realize they’re a team, rather it’s just a ADVERTISEMENT

couple of girls playing catch. “We’ve become more than just a team on the ﬁeld,” Vainstein said. “Although I know we won’t be on the same team, we’ll always be close and have each other if we ever need something.”

The Lightning Strike • March/April

Page 20

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