May/June 2016

LightningStrike Taking Miami-Dade by Storm

www.lightningstrikenews.com May 2016 • Issue 6 • Volume 18

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

rop expands to house new Prep

Mayan Derhy, staff writer Michael Katz, editor-in-chief

The largest controversy of the year ended swiftly when Superintendent Alberto Carvalho promised to build the iPrep annex on Krop’s main campus.

Since last December the location of the annex, an academy for blended online and classroom learning, has been under close watch by students, faculty and the surrounding community.

Both traffic concerns and fears of splitting Krop’s campus kept everyone involved for over six months. Yet when Carvalho visited Krop on May 5 to announce his revised plan for the construction of the iPrep annex, smiles spread across the faces of everyone present.

“I am determined to build an iPrep academy to be on site here at Krop,” Carvalho said.

“We felt that there is significant support for all the ideas we were pushing to occur right here.”

Not only did the Superintendent share his plan for the intended location, but he also promised that no investment would be made on building another school in the Highland Oaks area, regardless of future developments. He also announced that an additional seven to eight million dollars would be allocated for renovations on the main campus— 11 million more than what was allocated by the original bond.

“The investment will be more than Krop was expecting in terms of capacity amplification,” Carvalho said.

The intended plan is to rid the main campus of its portables and expand the building to hold 200 additional students. In addition, the iPrep will be built on Krop grounds and house another 500 stu-

dents, amounting to 700 new seats— which, if not filled by students in Krop’s attendance boundary, can be filled by students from other counties.

Designs will be drawn by the end of 2016 and construction will begin in the spring of 2017. The iPrep is set to open by the start of the 2018-2019 school year.

“We want to do everything to maintain the excellent standards at this school,” school board member Dr. Martin Karp said. “I’m just happy to be here and bring the good news.”

Krop’s campus won’t be the only one experiencing capacity amplification. Bond money will also be put towards constructing a building for students at MAST FIU, adding an additional 500 to 600 seats.

“If a choice is good for some, it has to be available to everyone,” Carvalho said.

MAYAN DERHY / THE LIGHTNING STRIKE

WHY NOT KROP: Superintendent Alberto Carvalho speaks with seniors Dzidula Boney, Victoria Louisdon and Alexandra Auguste. On May 5, Carvalho announced his plan to build the iPrep at Krop and expand the main campus.

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TAKEN FROM SFL CW

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION: English/Journalism teacher Mary K. Sullivan speaks to sophomore Nathaniel Manor. Sullivan was featured on SFL CW as the “Super Teacher of the Week” on May 18.

Sullivan named SFL CW “Super Teacher of the Week” *Mary K. Sullivan is an incredibly humble woman— so humble that we had to hide the fact that she is on the front page to keep her from stopping us.

At nine at night there are only two people left at school— the gatekeeper and our beloved Newspaper and Yearbook teacher, who acts more like an advisor and mother. Sully, as many of us call her, devotes her life to her students, spending countless hours hacking away at our writing with her dreaded red pen and editing our publications to perfection.

Sullivan’s 22 years of teaching caught the eye of SFL CW, who featured her on TV as the “Super Teacher of the Week” on May 18. This honor is given to South Florida teachers who go above and beyond for their students. Principal Allison Harley, who nominated Sullivan to be featured, came to share the excitement as the news crew filmed the hustle and bustle of Room 2233.

“I see the amazing things she does and the way she has chronicled the school for the past 18 years,” Harley said. “Half the time I don’t know what’s going on until I read the newspaper.”

The video featured Sullivan’s love for her students as well as her ability to push them to greatness by featuring junior Michael Katz, who won the Al Neuharth Free Spirit Award this year.

“She’s my inspiration,” Katz said. “I don’t know a single person that’s as sweet, as wise or as dedicated as she is. She reminds me of Robin Williams in Dead Poets Society.”

But Katz isn’t the only student touched by Sullivan. Classes upon classes of her alumni students remember her years later, to this day.

“The newsroom was my safe space in high school, and the foundation Sully provided helped me become the journalist I am today,” Taylor Silver, Class of 2012, said.

She’ll never say it, but many owe their achievements to her compassion. “[Sully’s] love guided me through my worst days in high school,” Nicolas Aleman, Class of 2015, said. “I can honestly say I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for her unwavering love and support.”

Congratulations, Sully— from the Strike staff to you.

Struck by Lightning We’re burnt-out

More inside: • Battle of the oppressors- page 4

• Healing the wounds of depression- page 5

• Debo ‘closes the gate’ on his career- page 7

• A day in the life of Daniel Ponkey- page 9

• Netflix revives Gilmore Girls- page 12

• Guns N’ Roses reunites- page 13

• Insta declassified: finsta survival guide- page 16 • The psychology behind scent- page 16 • Badminton team in jeopardy once again- page 18 • Coaches’ expectations for next year- page 19

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PAGES 10-11

News

tops Page 2

KROP’S

Krop’s NJROTC Lightning Battalion earned its first “Distinguished Unit” award and was named “Most Improved Unit” Junior Maya Levy won fourth place at the International Science Fair for her biomedical and health sciences project.

Crime Educators and its president junior Andres Sabo were named MiamiDade County Youth Crime Watch Student and Club of the Year.

Senior Noam Bendavid received a $1,000.00 scholarship from the Miami-Dade County PTSA. Krop’s tennis team placed first in Miami Herald’s All-Dade team competition.

Seniors Denny Benoliel and Francesca von Krauland earned certificates of achievement for U.S. History and AP Human Geography, respectively.

Seniors Victoria Louisdon and Elias Rosenfeld recieved Honorable Mentions for Silver Knight in Drama and Speech, respectively.

Senior Casimir Lesperance recieved the Gates Millenium Scholarship, the Provost Scholarship Award and the Presidential Scholarship Award.

Dates to look forward to: Prom- May 28 Graduation Ceremony- June 7 Compiled by Mila Sicorsky

The Lightning Strike • September The Lightning Strike • May2008 2016

From local to global: TAMPA, FLORIDA: A man in Tampa was accused of impersonating an Illinois Senator in an effort to avoid paying a home loan. The official indictment consisted of five counts of impersonating a federal officer. The loan has been paid, but the man faces up to 15 years in prison.

TAIPEI, TAIWAN: The nation saw its first female president elected on Jan. 16, and Tsai Ing-wen was sworn in on May 20. She is also the first female leader elected in the Republic of Taiwan, and her main goal includes strengthening the relationship between Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, and Beijing.

TURBO, COLOMBIA: Colombian police have confiscated the largest haul of illegal drugs in domestic history. The drugs were found on a banana plantation and police say they found nearly eight tons of cocaine.

Police believe that the drugs belonged to the criminal gang Clan Usuga. Police have also stated that three suspects escaped, but three more were apprehended.

ROME, ITALY: In the midst of building a new metro line, excavation workers discovered barracks and tombs from the 2nd Century A.D., when Roman emperors were in power. Italian officials saw the findings so interesting that they plan to have an archeological site in the heart of Rome.

What’s going on around the world?

PRAIA, CAPE VERDE: The Zika virus that was responsible for the outbreaks in Brazil is on the verge of invading Africa.

It is currently said to be in Cape Verde, a small island of the northwest coast off Africa. The World Health Organization has stated that pregnant woman in Africa should be the most attentive to this outbreak.

DES MOINES, IOWA: Authorities instituted one of the nation’s largest recalls on frozen food, including 11 vegetable products. The recall happened when eight people got sick from listeria, a life-threatening illness. sources: NBC, BBC

Compiled by Ethan Curtis

STUDENT LIFE

Students host first Krop Globe Awards Michael Katz editor-in-chief

The lights dimmed, the curtains peeled away and the crowd roared as the first annual Krop Globe Awards began.

“I’ve been planning the ceremony since March,” junior Destiny Juste said. “I spent hours every day designing the categories, selling tickets and counting votes.”

Juste was inspired to start the event after attending the Miramar Award Ceremony, which featured awards modeled after superlatives. She then created her own roster of awards, which included Best Friend Goals, the Real MVP, Best Dressed and 11 others.

“We sold over 200 presale tickets,” Juste said. “They each cost five dollars. We raised over 1000 dollars before the ceremony even started.

And then we sold around 150 more at the door for seven dollars each.”

In total, the event raised over $1500 for the Class of 2017, making it one of the most profitable fundraisers the class has held. But what really made the event special was the excitement it brought students.

The energy in the auditorium was electric. Students from all grades— elementary to college, came to watch their siblings participate and perform.

“I’m here to support my sister,” Jade Piper, a sixth grader at Highland Oaks Middle, said. “She’s going for Best Friend Goals.”

The event featured five different performances from artists such as Loaded Ambition, Trill Society and Lajan Slim and was hosted by 13 emcees.

“They all had to audition for their roles,” Juste said. “I think

MICHAEL KATZ / THE LIGHTNING STRIKE

SHOWING TALENT: Sophomore Joshua Altenor dances while he raps to his song “Look at Me.” Altenor performed at the first Krop Globe Awards, a student-run event.

the hosts did a really good job.

Their energy really hyped up the audience— people were extremely responsive.”

But Juste’s favorite part of the event didn’t happen until it was over. The digital footprint

the event left on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter was larger than LeBron James’s, but not bigger than the smile it brought to Juste’s face.

“It was so lit,” senior Sophi Baptiste said.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

First sitting U.S. president to visit Hiroshima after 71 years Mila Sicorsky news editor

During a visit to Asia in late May, President Barrack Obama will visit Hiroshima, Japan.

In doing so, he will become the first sitting president to visit the site where the United States dropped an atomic bomb during World War II. It is difficult to flip through a history book without glimpsing information about the 71-yearold bombings—including another at Nagasaki—that literally shook the world. Former president Harry Truman made the call to pull the trigger in August 1945 in order to speed up Japan’s surrender and

prevent additional casualties on the frontlines. Once the bombs were dropped, the war ended.

The attacks stand as the only time atomic weapons were ever dropped on attack.

Obama’s upcoming visit to Peace Memorial Park, which commemorates those killed in the Hiroshima attacks, hits close to home for JapaneseAmericans, like sophomore Manami Maehama.

“The visit shows respect, like ‘Yes, I know this happened, but let’s leave it in the past and move forward,’” she said.

Maehama, who moved from Chiba, Japan at eight years old, learned of the attacks while reading a children’s story in

second grade. Unlike American children, Japanese children are taught of the bombings from early on.

“I was too young,” Maehama said. “I never really understood them until I came here.”

The Obama administration made clear that the presidential visit is not an apology. Instead, it sees the upcoming trip as a “forward-looking vision” for Japan and the United States, as Benjamin J. Rhodes, a national security advisor, put it.

But the Hiroshima visit isn’t Obama’s only act of diplomacy towards a once-hostile nation.

In March, he travelled to Argentina, where Americans

funded a brutal dictatorship in the 1970s and 80s. And in 2015 Obama opened diplomacy with Cuba, a previous U.S. enemy.

“I think Obama’s amazing,” Maehama said. “I don’t really know that much about him because I don’t watch politics, but he cares a lot about his people and about engagement with other countries.”

Obama’s trip to Peace Memorial Park is a big step forward for Americans, many of who remember the hostility faced between Japan and the U.S. during World War II. “People have to move on one day,” Maehama said. “You can’t hold a grudge forever and have peace at the end.”

News Page 3

September The Lightning Strike • May 2016 2012

Miami-Dade awards NY lawmakers propose new junior for work in “textalyzer” bill Crime Educators LEGISLATION

CLUBS

Naela Foureau opinion editor

Jacob Singer online managing editor

When junior Andres Sabo heard that he and the Crime Educators club had been named Miami-Dade County Youth Crime Watch Student and Club of the Year, he knew that it was not simply because of what he had done in his two years in the club, but because of his lifelong passion of helping others.

Sabo believes that he was drawn to the club by fate. “I didn’t actually even sign up for Crime Educators,” Sabo said.

“At the club fair two years ago, my friend told me that he saw this club he knew I would love, so he signed me up for it and the rest is history.”

As a member of Key Club, Sabo saw a perfect opportunity for Crime Educators to work with Key Club and help the community. He organized an anti-bullying campaign in which students from both clubs would pair up and give presentations about the harms of bullying to students at Madie Ives Elementary.

Sabo’s lifelong passion for helping the community most directly shows through his campaign to stop drug use. Since elementary school, he has been involved in the

I’ve had several friends damage their lives because of drug abuse, so I think it’s really important to educate students about it.”

–ANDRES SABO, junior D.A.R.E program and still continues to emphasize the importance of living an abusefree lifestyle, especially as a teenager.

“I’ve seen what drugs can do to people firsthand,” Sabo said. “I’ve had several friends damage their lives because of drug abuse, so I think it’s really important to educate students about it.”

Crime Educators’ laundry list of community services includes giving presentations on how to prevent human trafficking, getting speakers to discuss how committing crime ruined their lives and promoting gender equality through the “Proud To Be a Girl” campaign.

“I feel like there’s a stigma about community service,”

Sabo said. “People think it’s a burden to get hours for college, but in reality, helping people is the greatest feeling.”

To Sabo, winning the award is bittersweet. “While I’m really glad I’ve won this award, I hate to make this a competition,” Sabo said. “Everyone who was nominated for this award has done great work for the community and they all deserve recognition.”

In the future, Sabo hopes to be a politician and continue to affect change. “There’s a lot of talk about the problems with U.S. politics,” Sabo said, “but if this country elects good people with good intentions into office, there is no doubt in my mind that we can make the country and the world a better place.”

Most may know of the “breathalyzer,” the device that police officers make drivers blow into to determine their alcohol level. But lobbying group Distracted Operators Risk Casualties (DORCs) is asking New York lawmakers to institute a “textalyzer” bill, which will determine whether drivers involved in an accident were texting at the time of the crash.

The bill would be named “Evan’s Law,” after the son of DORCs co-founder Ben Lieberman. Lieberman’s son was 19 when he was killed in a 2011 car accident. The teen driver at fault was acquitted of all charges but sued by Lieberman’s family when it was discovered he had been texting at the time of the accident.

The textalyzer was created

by Israeli technology firm Cellebrite in 2011 after Lieberman personally asked them to create a device that would detect distracted driving. The roadside device works by scanning the driver’s cellphone at the accident scene.

The textalyzer would only access call history and text logs. It excludes conversations, audio, application, photos and private data protected by the fourth amendment’s “right to privacy.” Drivers

who text at the time of the crash would be subject to a $200 fine, and those who refuse to let officers scan their phones would be subject to license revocation.

Senior Samantha Zimmerer admitted that she checks social media while driving.

“Regardless of whether the bill becomes law or not, people will continue to do it,” she said. “It’s not a preventative measure because it doesn’t stop any injuries that may have happened from happening.”

Cell-phone use and distracted driving account for one in four car accidents in the United States. According to a study conducted by the Car and Driver Magazine, distracted drivers had slower response times than drunk drivers when testing the amount of time the driver took to brake.

“I think the bill could be helpful in some ways,” senior Nelson Gonzalez said.

“But it’s not like it would stop any accidents that happened beforehand from happening. Those who were injured from the accident would still be hurt.”

Florida and 46 other states currently outlaw texting-anddriving. If the textalyzer bill passes, New York will be the first state to enforce such a law. Like other major state bills, it may find its way into neighboring states as well.

NEWS BRIEFS “Mirrorless Mondays” continue Imagine looking in the mirror and seeing what you are instead of what you aren’t. Imagine focusing solely on positives rather than fixating on negatives.

Freshmen Sophia Sigal and Mellissa Kringle tried to help students by running SGA’s “Mirrorless Mondays,” an initiative to boost self-confidence during testing season.

Sigal and Kringle covered bathroom mirrors in the history and Spanish hallways and the bathrooms near the patios using construction paper during during one testing Monday.

Inspiring messages were written on the paper such as “No need to look in the mirror--you’re beautiful.” A pen was attached for students to continue to write positive messages.

Sigal believes Mirrorless Mondays were successful even for that one day. If only one person was touched, Sigal feels she and Kringle made a difference.

“The idea is cheesy,” said Sigal. “But I feel students reacted positively to Mirrorless Mondays by writing encouraging messages to each other.”

-Shoshana Sommer

Editorial Page 4

The Lightning Strike • May 2016

ACTIVISM

Stick to your own cause: animal vs. human rights IN MY OPINION naela foreau

opinion editor

A baby calf is stolen from his mother. He is then hung upside-down and hacked at the neck until the bucket beneath him is overflowing with blood and the calf’s legs stop jerking, all so he can become packaged product in the produce section.

Watching this take place on my computer screen makes me nauseous, but what makes my stomach really churn are the arguments made by animal rights activists comparing meat-eating to complex historical events such as the Holocaust and slavery.

Now, I am in favor of animal activism. I condemn the cruel treatment of animals who are being crammed into spaces where they cannot move, fed antibiotics to multiply their size and transported under inhumane conditions to a place that will fulfill their life’s destiny — becoming the centerpiece of a dinner plate.

The attempt to promote the plight of one group by downplaying the troubles of another is misguided. Relating racism to speciesism is an oversimplified argument that generalizes all carnivores as animal abusers. Activists who shun carnivores based on these beliefs don’t consider the cultures that consume meat but also appreciate the lives

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of animals in their own way.

For example, the Indigenous Algonquin tribe practices Animism, placing high value on the spirit of animals and other natural objects and sometimes even holding the spirit of animals to a higher standard than their own. Animists believe that animals and other natural objects possess spirits that can be feared or worshipped. However, Indigenous Algonquians also perform rituals where captured game is celebrated and thanked for its offering. These meat-eaters don’t believe their species is superior. Instead, they consider all aspects of nature as a part of the “circle of life.”

It is easy to judge the diet choices of others when living in a first-world

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

MICHAEL KATZ, Editor-in-Chief SOPHIE MUCHNICK, Print Managing Editor JACOB SINGER, Online Managing Editor ETHAN CURTIS MILA SICORSKY Sports Editor News Editor MEGAN ORLANSKI NAELA FOUREAU Lifestyle Editor Opinion Editor KEVIN BAUERNFEIND NICOLAS CHMIELEWSKI Spread Editor Online Video Editor ALAN IMAR NATHANIEL MANOR Feature Editor Online Editor MARY K. SULLIVAN CORBIN BOILES Entertainment Editor Adviser SUN COAST PRINTER Printer STAFF WRITERS DZIDULA BONEY, MAYAN DERHY, SEBASTIAN KUZAK, GAL MINTZ, MIKAELA MENDEZ, ALEJANDRO PRESCHEL, SHOSHANA SOMMER 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.

country with the luxury of knowing where your next meal is coming from or the ability to afford a smartphone that was made from slave labor. Activists who compare carnivores to slave-holders do so while consuming products that are the result of modern slavery.

According to a research documentary produced by the Pulitzer Center, Congolese children as young as seven work for under two dollars a day and sometimes as long as 24 hours straight extracting cobalt for companies such as Apple, Samsung, Dell and HP. Those materials are then sent to another teen labor camp in China where workers are forced to work two to three times China’s 36 hour-per-week overtime limit.

Those child laborers are never compen-

sated for workplace injury and often don’t have the liberty of replacing their Starbucks latte’s milk with soy.

Vegan advocatesmay also be unaware of the modern slave labor used to produce one of their staple dairy substitutes: soybean. According to the Biofuel Watch Center’s Brazil report, 41 cases of slave labor in soy production units were uncovered between 2004 and 2010. Today, soy producers make up nine of the companies named on Brazil’s Ministry of Labor and Employment’s official list of companies profiting from slave labor.

The ultimate goal of activism is to reach a point where equality exists for every group. However, the exploitation of other groups does nothing but avert potential supporters away from the cause. True activists should never undermine the plight of one group to advance the agenda of their own, especially when they sometimes directly benefit from the same oppression they compare their missions to.

Comparing a carnivorous diet to other historical atrocities only takes away from the discussion society should be having on our relations with animals.

This debate shouldn’t provoke a “battle of the oppressors,” but should instead raise solutions that will promote better coexistence with the animals we share this planet with. Society will not reach this point if animal-rights activists continue to promote their cause by exploiting other causes, that in itself is an assumption of superiority.

LETTERS That extra push can go a far way Over this past school year I was given the opportunity to do research through my AP Capstone Research class. I chose to conduct my research on the relationship between teachers and students in a classroom setting.

My results showed that higher levels of teacher encouragement and support in a classroom setting correlates directly with higher student performance. The support, compassion, and encouragement students may feel from their teachers can make the difference between success and failure in a class.

I feel that it is imperative for our teachers at Dr. Michael Krop to truly understand and appreciate the impact they personally have on each and every of their student’s academic success.

Jordan Gottlieb Grade 11

Pesky Parking Our school’s parking arrangement for students without a decal is getting more intolerable by the minute.

Students have come face-toface with the struggle of finding parking every morning. There are plenty of student drivers who are unable to pay the $20 parking decal fee. It literally takes the begging of homeowners and sometimes slashing of tires just for a parking space. Students will go as far as parking in the Teacher’s parking lot because they can’t find parking spaces and won’t risk having their car towed. Irt has come to a point where Sudents are not guaranteed a parking spot if they don’t arrive an hour early.

There are reckless parents and students driving to and from our school everyday. Students would be safer if they were allowed to park in the teacher’s parking lot. I suggest the school board allow students to park inside of the student parking lot with or without decals.

Raniya Henry Grade 10

Opinion

The Lightning Strike • May 2016

Page 5

POLITICS

Don’t judge a nominee by the media’s portrayal IN MY OPINION megan orlanski

nathaniel manor

feature editor

In today’s media, Donald Trump is the next Hitler and Hillary Clinton is a lying war criminal. Big broadcasting networks have turned the 2016 elections into more of a reality show than a presidential race.

The media makes the leading 2016 presidential candidates seem like monsters, as they highlight their flaws and shadow their benefits. The mainstream media chooses to report on popularity of candidates over the cold-hard facts.

This election has been dramatically affected by the media, more than any in history. From helping them campaign for voters and delegates, to altering American’s perception of the remaining candidates, the media has played a vital, negative role in the 2016 elections by failing to report on what matters.

The Republican Party’s frontrunner, Donald Trump, seems to be the media’s biggest target. Since his initial remarks about Mexican immigrants, Trump grabbed the spotlight, being labeled a racist and sexist through outof-context quotes and misinterpretations. Although Trump has his obvious flaws, his profound lack of political correctness is used against him by the media. He is referred to as unprofessional and inexperienced. But despite unbalanced media treatment, Trump has still secured the GOP nomination.

Trump is often demonized and compared to World War II-era dictators, such as Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini and Joseph Stalin. Fans of the comparison call him a fascist and a racist, terms used against the three leaders in the 1930s. Yet Trump’s comments about immigrants and Muslims do show similarities to those of Hitler against Jews in Nazi Germany.

Trump may be a different form of candidate and may have radical

MENTAL HEALTH

Depression is not sadness IN MY OPINION Anonymous

guest writer

Depression and sadness are often confused. They replace one for the other as if they are synonymous, but in reality they have two completely different meanings. Sadness is an emotional pain dealing with grief.

It leaves you on top of a dark cloud and washes away with the rain. Depression, on the other hand, is a mood disorder in which you feel no pain. The numbness creates thoughts in your mind telling you that you are a waste of space and have no value.

It sucks you into

treat depression so lightly. Because for those suffering from it, it is the heaviest burden that they carry. Healing from the pain is the most serious use of their time. People who misunderstand the concept of depression and use it in all of the wrong contexts make it more difficult for society to understand the seriousness of the side effects to this mood disorder and how it affects so many people. Because the term depression is shown in such a gruesome light, it is frightening for people to talk about it.

What is missing from society is the education about mood disorders such as depression.

The best people to teach are teenagers. Teenagers and young adults suffer the most from mood disorders as they continue to develop and start their lives as independent individuals.

All of the changes teenagers face (such as puberty, switching schools etc.) come with emotional disruptions.

That’s why I wrote this article. So whoever reads this can be educated on mood disorders and understand how those who are affected by it feel on a daily basis. I also wrote this so those who do suffer from depression realize they are not alone, that their feelings are valid, and that there are many people like them who go through this every day.

The numbness

creates thoughts in your mind telling you that you are a waste of space and have no value.” a black hole that seems never-ending. The constant trips to the therapist, drowsy side effects from the medication and effort it takes to stay positive around others is exhausting. It follows you around like your shadow and haunts you when you sleep. Your own thoughts become your worst enemy while depression acts as the facilitator that (in extreme cases) turns those thoughts into action.

It is hard to hear people mock those who self-harm and

JUANA ARGIRO

beliefs, but Trump is not a fascist, Trump is not a dictator, and Trump is not a murderer. Until he attempts to racially cleanse an entire continent, conquer the world, and lead to the death of over 60 million people, the media should refrain from comparing the Donald to the faces of WWII. On the other end of the political

spectrum, the Democratic Party’s frontrunner, Hillary Clinton’s media portrayal highlights her tendency to flip-flop on issues and accuses her of lying and taking part in scandalous activity.

From Benghazi to the email scandal, the media continues to shine a poor light on Clinton, throwing names

around such as “war criminal,” “killer” and “compulsive liar.” Overlooking her vast experience, successful management of the State Department and solid plans to reform America, the media overlooks the positive and emphasizes the negative.

Throughout this election year, the media presents candidates in harsh stereotypes, instead of featuring their achievements. Whether it’s Trump’s toupee-like hair or Clinton’s terrible wardrobe, the media covers it all — ignoring the better side of the presidential hopefuls.

When most think of how the media portrays candidates, you think of Clinton’s scandals or Trump’s unconventionality -- not their successes or achievements.

It’s time Fox News and CNN grow

up and report on the issues and accomplishments of the candidates instead of gossiping about which one has the best fashion sense and the most followers on Instagram.

EDUCATION

Collge preparation leaves students unprepared IN MY OPINION

megan orlanski

megan orlanski

lifestyle editor

We live in a world where a student’s worth is measured on a four point scale, a world where children measure another’s successes as indicative of one’s own failure.

Almost from the womb, determined students are pushed to their limits and tested on how many formulas and historical dates their brains can hold. Curriculums stress college readiness as early as elementary school and increasingly replace young people’s free time with homework.

But this mentality robs kids of their childhoods. Even if it may help them in the long run, it’s not worth the stress.

According to the Federal Student Aid, students should begin preparing for college no later than middle school.

This pressures students as young as 11 and 12 to plan their future.

There is nothing wrong with wanting to do well in school and prepare for the future. But when one in five parents report that children ages five to ten already experience stress from school, something must change.

Students should be able to enjoy their time in school and gain new experiences without having to think about competing against their peers. Science department chair David Buncher believes challenging students is important, but with measure.

“Sometimes, we just need to let kids be kids,” Buncher said. “The pressure to get into a good college is a double-edged sword. On one hand it’s the system that influences students to push themselves; on the other hand, students can pile on more work than they can handle.”

When students take on four, five or even six AP classes, they lose time they could have been spent taking art classes or other enriching experiences. And that’s without ACT and SAT prep, sports and extracurriculars. Most students today don’t have enough time in their days to breathe, let alone discover their passions or develop a skill.

Sophomore Eli Navarro is planning on taking five AP classes next year, but is concerned with how much time he will have to learn new languages and practice his instruments.

“I think the ideal goal of education should be to create a well rounded person capable of thinking,” Navarro said. “Over emphasis on college prep is an obstacle that keeps schools from doing that.”

Not only do students have little to no time to develop new skills,now they have less time to get a full night’s sleep. According to the Huffington

Post, only nine percent of students get the nine hours or more of sleep recommended by the National Institutes of Health. Sleep deprivation can cause heart problems and mental issues in the future, darkening student’s already nerve-racking future.

Another survey conducted by the American Psychology Association showed that 31 percent of teens felt sad or depressed from school related stress. In other words, about one in three teens have fallen victim to the competitiveness and necessity to perform well in school.

There’s a time to study and a time to relax, but America’s education system seems to forget that, leaving no time for play for students. The whole idea of adolescence is to find your likes and dislikes,passions and values, but our schools make the pathway to academic success seem like an endless maze leaving students on their own to fend for themselves.

Recreation Time BY THE NUMBERS: 1/3

teens feel sad or depressed from school-related stress

64%

of students report getting 0 to 40 hours of free-time per week Compiled by Naela Foureau

84%

of teens report being stressed

1/10

students get the reccomended nine hours of sleep per night Sources: usatoday.com, huffingtonpost.com American Psychology Association

Keith Singer, JD CFP is a well-known financial advisor in Florida and is the host of the daily radio program “Prosper!”

Singer Wealth Management is a resource for South Florida educators. Feel free to contact one of our advisors for questions about the Florida Retirement System including: •DROP •Retirement Accounts •Life and Disability Insurance •Rollovers and IRA’s •Customized Retirement Plans Tune into Prosper! on Sundays at 10 AM and 5PM on 610 WIOD.

Call 561-998-9985 for complimentary consultations for Krop employees.

Keith Singer Singer Wealth Management 1515 S. Federal Hwy. Suite 211 Boca Raton, FL 33432 561-998-9985

Securities licensed through: Investacorp 4400 Biscayne Blvd.

11th floor Miami, Florida 33137

Securities by licensed individuals offered through Investacorp, Inc. A Registered Broker/Dealer. Member FINRA, SIPC Advisory Services offered through Singer Wealth Advisors, Inc. Singer Wealth Advisors, Inc. and Investacorp, Inc. are not affiliated.

Feature

The Lightning Strike • May 2016

Page 7

RETIREMENT

Deebo closes the gate on his career Alan Imar online editor Gate open or not, security guard James Robinson, better known as “Deebo,” is there, waiting for his latest victim to send to CSI. Deebo’s student parking lot gatekeeping will soon come to an end when he leaves Krop in June after 13 years.

The student parking lot, through Deebo’s eyes, is an entirely different world from what most would think. On a regular basis, Deebo encounters anything from Uber drivers picking up students to teenagers leaving school in the trunks of their friends’ cars.

Born in East Orange, New Jersey, Deebo moved to Florida in 1972. He attended the University of Florida to study architecture and design. He then opened The Formalwear Store in July of 1998 with his wife.

When he found out from a friend who worked in the school’s office that Krop lacked security, Deebo took a job as a part-time security guard.

About ten years ago, he broke up a fight. While doing so, someone yelled “Deebo!” because he looked similar to the buff, 6 foot 5 inch Friday character. After that, the

nickname stuck.

Deebo, known for catching students skipping school, encounters anywhere from four to twenty students leaving a day.

Nearly everyone at Krop has a story or two about Deebo, whether it be about a conversation they shared or about an unfortunate time they got caught skipping. The latter makes for quite some funny tales, some of which were shared by the students below.

Rachel Mizrachi, 11 “It was the day of my AP Human Geography exam and we finsihed so I wanted to leave early.

My mom couldn’t come so I got in a friend’s car. We showed Deebo fake passes from like two years ago and he noticed. He grabbed his radio and paged Ms. Torano and Mr. Ponkey. It’s like we tried his life. I was about to pee my pants. He told us to go park immediately and to report to CSI. Ms. Torano was mad because Deebo called us ‘the kids who showed me fake passes.’”

Candy Perchick, 10 “I was begging my mom to come pick me up beacuse I was having the worst day at school but she wouldn’t budge. So I looked for a friend with a big trunk who was leaving and got in. I covered myself with anything I found. When my

ALAN IMAR / THE LIGHTNING STRIKE

KEEPING WATCH: James “Deebo” Robinson stands by the student parking lot gate, waiting for students trying to leave early. Deebo will retire as a Krop security guard in June.

friend pulled up to the gate, Deebo asked to see everyone’s passes and the trunk. He checked and didn’t see me, so I was relieved. But right before he was about to close the trunk, I sneezed and he pulled the blanket that was covering me and made me go to CSI.” Juan Quinones, 11 “A friend and I were leaving school through the math hallway.

Right as we open the door, Deebo

STUDENT LIFE

Mor, Nurieli, Vaknin to serve in the IDF

comes out from behind the door and yells, ‘What are you doing?’ We told him that we were just waiting for our moms to come and pick us up, but he didn’t believe us and said, ‘No you’re not.’ I knew we were in trouble, and he sent us to CSI.” Emmanuel Vega, 9 “I was hopping the fence with some friends in P.E. when Officer Dunn rolled up in his car. We jumped the fence to avoid him, but

then Deebo pops out of nowhere and says ‘C’mon guys, we’ve got cameras everywhere.’ He clearly saw us and sent us to CSI.” Even though Deebo may be the scariest security guard on Krop grounds and stops plans to ditch school, he and his famous white truck will be missed.

Robinson has one simple piece of advice for the next gatekeeper at Krop — “Keep everything locked.”

FACULTY

Mayan Derhy staff writer ALAN IMAR / THE LIGHTNING STRIKE

Leaving home at the age of 18 isn’t easy, especially when it means moving to the other side of the world to enlist in the military, which is exactly what seniors Yuval Mor, Ariel Nurieli and Dean Vaknin are doing this July when they move to Israel and enlist in the IDF, or Israeli Defense Forces.

“I love my mom more than anything,” Vaknin said. “The hardest part of leaving is leaving her.”

The trio is part of the Tzofim Israeli Scouts where they counsel kids and connect with their Israeli and Jewish heritage. But Scouts wasn’t enough for them. They felt that they needed to do something more for their country and that the army would help them do just that.

“I feel like it’s what’s right for me,” Mor said. “I love my country, and I want to protect it.”

Similar to other kids’ dreams of going to Ivy Leagues or taking a semester abroad, Mor, Nurieli and Vaknin have dreamt of enlisting since they were kids.

“I like to do what everyone else doesn’t do,” Nurieli said. “My sister put her acceptance from NYU aside to enlist, and it inspired

DEDICATION: Irma Leal takes time out of her class to explain a Spanish language concept to a student in her third period class. Leal plans to travel to Spain to earn her Master’s degree.

Leal to complete Master’s in Spain Mila Sicorsky news editor

MAYAN DERHY / THE LIGHTNING STRIKE

FRIENDSHIP: Ariel Nurieli (left), Yuval Mor (center), and Dean Vaknin (right) laugh with each other and reminisce about their high school experience. The trio will travel to Israel to serve in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).

me to do the same.”

Mor, Nurieli and Vaknin are three of over 950 lone soldiers to move to Israel each year. To make their transition easier, the three signed up for Garin Tzabar, a program dedicated to helping lone soldiers by creating friendships and ensuring a home for each teen.

“I think the fact that so many people are moving with me makes the move that much easier,” Mor said.

Though moving away from home is hard, their biggest fear is

not getting the position they want.

“It’s like applying to a dream school and not making the cut,” Nurieli, who wants to be part of search and rescue, said. “My first goal isn’t to kill people, it’s to save them.”

The trio is so excited for the army that delaying college plans doesn’t bother them.

“There’s nothing more valuable that I could do with my time right now,” Mor said. “People talk about partying in college but I know I’m going to be making a difference.”

When the Spanish embassy’s Chief of Education told Spanish teacher Irma Leal in 2012 about a program for Spanish teachers to earn degrees in Spain, Leal planned her trip. Three years later, Leal will attend the second phase of her Master’s program at the University of Salamanca this summer.

Leal departs on Jun. 24 to Salamanca, Spain where she will stay at an Airbnb near the University.

She begins her courses on Jun. 27.

“I always wanted to be directly connected to Spanish culture,” she said. “Everyone says that when you go to Spain, it’s like arriving at your grandmother’s house because Spain is our motherland.”

Even though courses are offered throughout Spain, Leal decided on Salamanca because of

its rich history. She explained that it’s the location where “Gramatica de la lengua Española,” the first Spanish language dictionary, was written.

This summer is not the first time Leal is visiting Salamanca.

She stayed there last summer, where she completed the first part of her Master’s degree.

“I learned about how Spaniards live and how to talk to them,” she said. “We even had a course on how to order tapas at a Spanish restaurant.”

Last summer Leal completed 200 of the required 480 hours to be eligible for a Master’s degree and will finish the remainder this summer. Leal will begin her dissertation to officially receive her Master’s degree after this summer.

“I was thinking of doing a paper on why students choose online Spanish courses over ones offered in schools,” she said. “But I’m still undecided.”

Feature Page 8

The Lightning Strike • May 2016

STAND OUT

TALENT

STUDENT LIFE

Johanna Mouyal

by Sophie Muchnick

COURTESY OF DONOVAN CANALES

TATTOO TRAINEE: Junior Donovan Canales creates a tattoo on a client’s arm in his shop Ink Daddys. Canales is working as an apprentice in the shop with the hopes of developing his career as a tattoo artist.

Canales finishes training as tattoo artist

Corbin Bolies entertainment editor

While students express their creativity through outlets such as music, art and writing, junior Donovan Canales has a different method – he’s an apprentice at Ink Daddys, a tattoo shop in Ives Estates. He creates tattoos, a career he initially didn’t want.

On a trip to the Wolfsonian Museum during his freshman year, Canales walked around the Art Deco district and entered a tattoo shop to inquire about the profession. Yet, when he started asking questions, he was dismissed.

“The employee at the shop was really rude,” Canales said. “He discouraged me. I would’ve probably had a head start had I not gone there.”

Despite this initial setback, Canales renewed his interest and started to experiment. That summer, he bought a tattoo kit to practice his

skills at home. When he couldn’t get it to work, he went to Ink Daddys for help, where an artist there, Ryan Vincent, offered him an apprenticeship.

“People buy these cheap tattoo kits and all it does is encourage them to do it at home, which is illegal,” Vincent said. “I thought it was better to have him in there and learn how to do things right.”

Canales spent two years learning how to create a proper tattoo. He worked under Vincent, who taught him the correct ways to give tattoos.

After his 18 birthday, Canales was allowed to work independently, an experience that terrified him.

His first subject was his dad, who wanted a tattoo of an “EKA” symbol to match his friends. When Canales prepared the needle for the job, he was overcome with fear.

“Everything I knew went out the window,” he said.

Canales regained his confidence,

having done seven tattoos in the past three months. He hopes to build a clientele, as that would allow him to transition from an apprentice to a full-fledged tattoo artist and reach his goal of 100 tattoos for the year.

He uses the profession as an extension of his love of art. For his AP Studio Art portfolio, Canales added samples of his work at Ink Daddys, an initiative that impressed teacher Ernesto Montes.

“I thought it was a great idea,” Montes said. “It shows versatility and shows that people have faith in his abilities.”

Despite his ambitions, Canales tries to keep a level head. Vincent describes him as a friendly and capable worker, eager to improve his abilities as much as he can.

“He’s already progressing and he’s shown good ability in his tattoos,” Vincent said. “He’s definitely going to be a great artist.”

Prom is supposed to be the most magical night of a high-schooler’s life. But the expenses of dresses, shoes, nails, jewelry, tickets, hair and makeup can add up to become too expensive and make the most magical night of high school non-existent. That’s why junior Johanna Mouyal created her “Prom Ready” program.

“Prom Ready” is a service initiative that allows any girl attending prom to have their hair and NATHANIEL MANOR / THE LIGHTNING STRIKE makeup professionally done for HELPING OUT: Junior Johanna Mouyal just 15 dollars, gratuity included. passes out information about her Prom Girls are also given the choice Ready program during lunch with her friend Julieta Freitas. Mouyal began her between silver or gold jewelry to program last year. go with their dress.

“My mission is to make this special night accessible to as many people as possible,” Mouyal said. “Income shouldn’t be an issue on how you will look and feel inside that night.”

Mouyal has partnered with Beauty School of America NMB. The work is done professionally by soon-to-graduate makeup artists and hair stylists.

In freshman year, Mouyal’s close friend was excited for her senior prom. She had the cost of the ticket, dress, shoes, hair and makeup all accounted for. However, the money for prom had to be spent on a college course for her sister. She had to choose whether the price of professionally done makeup was that important. She no longer wanted to attend. She knew she wouldn’t feel or look as pretty as other girls and felt it wasn’t worth it anymore.

“At that instant, I knew I had to help,” Mouyal said. “Prom is one of those American high school experiences. Most people look forward to prom. However, not everyone can afford the costs that prom carries.”

Mouyal plans to expand her program to other Krop events like Homecoming and the JROTC Military Ball.

Follow @prom.ready on Instagram to show support for Mouyal’s program and look through inspirational pictures with ideas for hair and makeup if you plan on doing it yourself. Sign-ups for ‘Prom Ready’ are open during both lunches.

EDUCATION

Feilich, Buncher to participate in annual AP reading conference Alan Imar online editor

Each June, teachers from around the world gather in office buildings throughout the country to read Advanced Placement (AP) Free Response Questions (FRQ). This year, science teachers Gary Feilich and David Buncher will attend the conference as AP Biology and AP Research readers, respectively.

2016 marks the 19th year that Feilich will attend the conference as an AP Biology reader. He was chosen as a “table leader” and will oversee eight to ten other readers.

Feilich will miss the last week of school and will travel to Kansas City, Missouri to conduct the reading at a secure facility. The trip is being fully paid for by the College Board.

While most teachers read for one week, Feilich’s table leader position requires him to stay for two weeks.

“I’ll try to get there a little earlier,” Feilich said. “I have to compile and get a detailed understanding of the material to make sure it runs smoothly.”

As a reader for a subject that was never tested, Buncher will travel to Salt Lake City, Utah to read FRQs for AP Research, a class which requires students to

write research papers on topics they choose. He will read essays that students in the AP Research classes have submitted. Since this is the first year AP Research is taught, Buncher is not sure what to expect.

“It’s the first year the course is being offered,” Buncher said. “I don’t know what the exact criteria for the scoring is quite yet.”

In order to be accepted to read, teachers must apply to the Educational Testing Service (ETS). In his application, Buncher included a large resume of research and supervision through his overall teaching career, including his extensive

work in science fairs.

“I’ve been conducting research for over 30 years,” Buncher said. “This will help me become a better teacher by seeing where my teaching was lacking.”

According to College Board, more than 13,000 teachers read essays in the 2015 AP exam reading. As AP Readers, teachers become familiar with scoring standards. They exchange material, lessons and ideas with other instructors from across the world, and thus expand their knowledge base.

“I’m looking forward to meeting new teachers,” Buncher said. “I want to come back and

see where I was lacking.”

For eight hours a day starting June 3, Feilich and Buncher will be hard at work, reading hundreds of exams. Buncher is optimistic that even with little knowledge on the AP Research scoring guidelines, his classes did better on the exam than most of the country.

“My students performed above and beyond my expectations. I’m confident that other readers will see that,” Buncher said. “It’s an honor to be selected to read for the first year of the course. I’m at the ground level of grading these papers to see how I can help my students in the future.”

Feature

The Lightning Strike • May 2016

Page 9

FACULTY

Perez sisters share more than just last names Dzidula Boney staff writer From ages six and seven, Irma Perez and her younger sister Margarita Perez dreamt of teaching. Both studied English and ended up at the same school, right next door to each other.

They attended Interamerican University of Puerto Rico in San Juan where Margarita majored in secondary English and received her Master’s degree in Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). Irma has her Bachelor’s in elementary education, certification in English grades 6 through 12 and Master’s in TESOL. Before Krop, Irma and Margarita taught at what is now Georgia Jones-Ayers Middle School, in Miami. In 2000, Irma received a position as an English as a Second Language (ESOL) teacher at Krop.

“I was so nervous to tell my sister about leaving,” Irma said. “When I did, she told me not to worry because she’d join me soon.”

Sure enough in 2001, she did. At Krop, Irma teaches English 2 Honors and Margarita teaches English to ESOL students.

As children, Irma and Margarita were told to make a positive impact on their community, no matter what they do.

“Our mother raised us to be helpful,” Margarita said. “It’s something we still value to this day.”

Teaching isn’t the only way they’ve impacted their community. As a teacher, Margarita was named Puerto Rican Teacher of the Year in Miami Dade County Public schools in 2006 and the Teacher of the Year at Krop in 2012. She also served in the army for eight years in order to challenge herself and bring these experiences into the classroom.

“I wanted to travel, meet new people and experience life,” Margarita said. “I was offered a position to be a translator in the military, but turned it down because I wanted to work with the youth.”

Although they are very close, the Perez sisters do have different hobbies. Irma loves to bake and cook, something she discovered when she had children. She believes that if she hadn’t become a teacher, she might have opened up a bakery.

“When I retire I plan to open a bakery in Nisswa, Minnesota,” Irma said.

During her days in the army,

MEGAN ORLANSKI / THE LIGHTNING STRIKE

SISTER SISTER: Irma Perez (left) and Margarita Perez (right) share a conversation about their classes before the bell rings. The Perez sisters’ rooms are right next to each other.

Margarita travelled to Indiana, back to Puerto Rico and Alabama for military occupations, annual training and leadership courses. She also helps the unfortunate.

“My dream is to one day be come a missionary and help others,” Margarita said “I guess that’ll happen when I retire as a teacher.”

Even with their differences, they still share life together

and try to include each other in whatever they do.

“I always bring in my sister when I bake,” Irma said.

“I even taught her how to make French macaroons.”

Outside of Krop, the sisters keep the theme of togetherness intact and are part-time professors at Broward College teaching English to international students, thanks to their TESOL certification. However, Margar-

ita works at the central campus while Irma works at the north campus. They even married men with the same last name.

Years ago, they both had a passion for teaching. Now 35 years after the start of their teaching careers, their passion is still strong.

“It leaves you with a sense of accomplishment,” Margarita said. “The student’s success is your success.”

ADMINISTRATION

A day in the life of Daniel Ponkey Nicolas Chmielewski spread editor From cleaning the hallways of skipping students to working with department heads in their rooms, assistant principal Daniel Ponkey is all over the school.

But working in a school setting wasn’t always his calling.

After high school, Ponkey became a criminal justice major with the hopes of working for the FBI. He wanted to “stop bad guys” and create a better community within the Miami area.

But when Ponkey began dating a woman who made him rethink his future, those aspirations ended. After giving it more thought, Ponkey realized he didn’t want to worry his family and put his life in danger.

“She was studying to be an education major and I thought, ‘Well, I like kids. Maybe I could

help people be better and not have to catch them when they’re bad,’” Ponkey said. “Maybe I could stop them and help them to be good.”

Ponkey began his career as a teacher at Highland Oaks Elementary School for six years, and later became a science teacher at Highland Oaks Middle for seven years.

“I kind of just gradually progressed from one stage to the next stage,” Ponkey said.

For the past four years, he has worked the demanding job of Assistant Principal at Krop.

Ponkey arrives to school at 6:45 a.m. and kicks off his day by unlocking the doors to the main building. He then checks his emails, meets with parents waiting for conferences, sets up testing locations and has other impromptu meetings with students and teachers as he walks around the campus. Meanwhile,

ALAN IMAR / THE LIGHTNING STRIKE

PONKEY’S PATROL: Assistant Principal Daniel Ponkey drives a golf cart around the student parking lot to stop students from skipping school. Ponkey began working at Krop four years ago.

Ponkey receives texts from facility heads as his walkie-talkie constantly chirps.

“And that’s only within the very first 20 minutes of my day,” Ponkey said.

After the first period bell rings, his day contiues with even more meetings, checking in on

the CSI office and talking to students with referrals. By noon the school day tends to reach a climax. Ponkey works closely with activities director Michelle Russell to make sure all lunch activities are prepared and the janitors are notified. From setting up club tables to preparing band perfor-

mances, lunch is action-packed.

But with class skipping and student fights, lunch often becomes more hectic by the minute.

The day then settles down and Ponkey checks in with other administrators to make sure all testing or facility complications are dealt with. He contacts department heads to assure technological networks and restrooms are functioning properly.

Since a large part of Ponkey’s job is assisting students with academic or behavioral problems, he likes to build relationships with them first. Before pressuring or disciplining the students, Ponkey wants the students to know that he’s coming from the right place.

“I try to wear a smile all day,” Ponkey said. “Trying to find the positive in each situation - even if you’re mad, and you have to deal with things – is important, especially when you’re dealing with teenagers.”

Page 10

The Lightning Strike • May 2016 http://www.LightningStrikeNews.com/

HOME

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Struck by We’re burnt-out

Nev

Silver Knights punished for attendance

Mikaela Mend staff writer

Getting to seniors – the seven hours. underclassme Security G after hearing blocking all Seniors just trackers, and view their loc for $9.99 on Invisibilit herself after A room privileg easy paymen silver, along Robot M

Mikaela Mendez staff writer Two words, say them and you can leave any class at any time: “Silver Knight.”

Or at least that’s what 14 nominees thought.

On May 16, teachers decided enough was enough and formed the Golden Peasants -- a resistance against the Silver Knights and their absenteeism.

The Knights were shocked to discover that it was science teacher David Buncher who lead the traitorous revolt.

“I thought he was on our side,” Knight William Millington said. “He let me leave his class early every day.”

Buncher has taught Silver Knight nominees for years, but this year he had enough.

“I wrote my first referral in 35 years last week,” Buncher said. “It took me an hour to figure out how to fill it out.”

It turns out that Buncher’s trips to Colombia were not to visit his wife, but to organize the Golden Peasants’ meetings. He sent a faculty email to recruit teachers and held inductions by the swimming pool on the third floor, where no student would ever find them.

Among attendees were Test Chair Sandra Lilavois, AP Literature teacher Michael Kelly and Principal Allison Harley.

“We first had to make an oath to never permit a Silver Knight to leave early, and then we each took turns smashing the machine that prints the sign-out passes with a baseball bat Ms. Clappier confiscated from a baseball player,” Harley said.

“It was a great way to destress.”

When senior Nicole Szomstein tried to leave class Wednesday with the usual “Ms. Rosenfield sent for me” excuse, Buncher told her off.

“He said if I touched the door handle he’d write me a referral and that it wouldn’t take him nearly as long to write it this time” said Szomstein. “So I told him that maybe he’d heard me wrong, that I was a Silver Knight -- and that’s when it got really bad.

Buncher enraged, he let out a ferocious growl.

English teacher Michael Kelly, sensing the commotion, ran to the rescue.

Szomstein was able to escape Buncher’s class, only to be blocked by Kelly, who was waiting to escort her to CSI. But once inside CSI, she realized it was full of nominees. Amy Torono closed the door and locked it behind her.

“I was freaking out,” Knight Nataly Wittels said. “But two minutes after Nicole got to CSI, Ms. Russell and Mrs. Rosenfield broke down the door and saved us.”

The Grinch who stole Deebo’s job Mayan Derhy staff writer Anyone who walks by English teacher Michael Kelly’s class knows that they better have a hall pass or they’ll get sent to CSI. Kelly, who taught at Krop since its opening, has grown increasingly angry about the ruckus in the halls and disrespect from students.

“This school is devolving,” Kelly says.

“The noise level is absurd.”

This year, Kelly became the self appointed hall beast in an effort to combat the disregard for rules. He started by chasing noisy students in the halls but eventually began teaching with his door wide open so keep a watchful eye for violators.

“Hey you!” Kelly growls. “You better not be walking in my halls without a pass.”

Kelly strictly enforces every school rule in

his classroom, and his passion for them drove him out of class and into the halls. Then, he got the welcoming news: James Robinson, known as Deebo, was retiring, leaving an opening for Kelly to follow his lifelong dream of chief security guard.

“I will be more strict with violators than I was with my AP Lit students,” Kelly said.

Since becoming a security guard, Kelly has stopped 195 seniors from skipping, given 205 parking violations, written 274 referrals and sent 697 students to CSI. Deebo worried about his replacement, but says that he has complete faith in Kelly’s abilities to scare the life out of delinquents.

“He makes me look like the nice guy,” Deebo says. “Kids will actually miss me.”

So instead of Deebo’s white Ford truck hanging by the gate, look for Kelly’s mustang.

Beware. Then hide.

Page 11

The Lightning Strike • May 2016

f

Lightning

ver fear - Senior products are here

dez

o school at 7:20 a.m. is already a mission for most only thing worse is having to stay there for another . Fortunately, seniors invented new devices to help en get around the system and skip class.

GPS: How many times have you sped to your car g the gate was open, just to find Debo’s white pickup possible escape routes? Well those days are over. bugged all the security guards’ vehicles with GPS d created an app that would allow all students to ocations. The app, Debo Ain’t Much, will go on sale Friday, May 20. ty Cloak: After senior Dzidula Boney urinated on AP Literature teacher Michael Kelly withheld bathges, seniors invented an Invisibility Cloak. For three nts of $19.99, you can take home a cloak in black or with lifelong bathroom privileges.

Mom: If your parents are too lazy to come sign you

out, then Robot Mom is perfect for you. Our Robotics Team just finished their prototype, which can sign out up to five people at a time. All you have to do is program your name, I.D. number and desired signed out time.

Freedom Jumpers: There’s nothing in your way - Debo’s nowhere to be found, and Clappier is busy with testing. All you have to do is get over the gate. Thanks to Freedom Jumpers, the all-new springed sneakers that allow students to jump at heights over 10 feet, liberty is yours – on sale for $69.99 in the P.E. lockers.

Fake Eyes: It’s happened to all of us – you doze off in class, just to be rudely awakened by the slam of a textbook or the too enthusiastic nudge of a neighbor. But thanks to Fake Eyes, the “eye-opening” three-dimensional stickers, you can now sleep your way through the Cold War, Trigonometry or Shakespeare… unless that pesky teacher calls on you.

“Ponkey Fan Girl” club opens next year Mayan Derhy staff writer

When Assistant Principal Daniel Ponkey walks through the halls, he is almost always trailed by a mob of love-struck girls.

“He’s drop dead gorgeous,” senior Jane Doe said.

“You can’t help but stare at him when he walks by.”

Generations of girls have dreamt about the assistant principal, but can now channel their imagination.

The official “Ponkey Fan Girl” club, opening August 2016, will meet as often as possible in front of his office.

The club’s goal is to create a therapeutic outlet for

students to channel their emotions and love for Ponkey.

“Before this club I felt so alone,” a junior club member said. “Now I know there are others who feel the same way I do.”

Though many students are excited for the club’s opening, Ponkey was shocked to discover that 50 members have already signed up.

“I’ve always been nice to students, but I never expected it to go this far,” Ponkey said. “My office door has been broken down twice this week, and I found a spy camera hidden in my office’s fire alarm.”

Tenacio’s identity as Danny DeVito exposed Shoshana Sommer staff writer

It’s no coincidence that Danny DeVito and Mr. Tenacio have never been seen in the same room together.

For the past year, Danny DeVito was absent from all tabloids, news sources and big screens and it’s not due to his lack of talent.

At the same time Danny DeVito went missing, Krop Senior High hired Arturo Tenacio. Tenacio’s background story was shaky. His resume claims he was a teacher, farmer, pilot and entrepreneur - but students never thought to question how one man did it all.

Just last week, students uncovered the truth behind Arturo Tenacio’s fictitious life. Senior Zachary Reich realized that most of Tenacio’s anecdotes were taken from roles that star Danny DeVito.

Reich always had a feeling that Tenacio’s lectures were staged since they lacked vital information to the course. “He stayed spewing about macro and gov but the lectures made no sense,” Reich said. “ It just seemed so fake.”

Assistant principle Clappier confirmed that DeVito was hired to teach macroeconomics and government in order to prepare for a sequel to Matilda. Instead of caring for a misbehaving little girl, DeVito is going to care for misbehaving high school students.

After hearing about how awful the incoming seniors were, DeVito felt that teaching disobedient AP macroeconomics and government students would be perfect training for the role.

“The opportunity cost of losing my role was greater than lying to my students,” said DeVito.

Harley opens shoe line Mikey Dogz staff writer

Principal Allison Harley was severely injured last week after being chased by the second floor security guard, who wanted to see her hall pass.

“I sprained both ankles,” Harley said. “It’s because I was wearing those damn heels.”

After three days in the emergency room, Harley’s doctor told her that she should never wear another pair of heels again.

“I was devastated,” Harley said. “My heels are a part of me. I couldn’t just give them up, so I called Mr. Montes and had him and his classes start working on a design for a pair of sneaker heels.”

Montes and his classes worked on a prototype for the entire week. Their AP exam was postponed because they were designing different models, and Harley repaid them by pardoning their compensation hours.

The shoe line, dubbed AH Kicks, is set to launch this coming August. It will feature 180 different models of sneaker-heel fusions— a special request by Harley, who wanted to wear a different pair every school day.

Sneakerheads from all over the world are anticipating the release. Even DJ Khaled is already sporting his own pair of Nike Free Run/Jimmy Choo’s.

Harley told TMZ during an interview on May 16 that if sales go well enough, she’d quit her job as principal to become a full-time sales rep. As of right now, though, she’s just happy to be back.

“There was no way I was giving up my heels,” Harley said. “I just wanted to save myself before I ended up like Feilich. I hate wheelchairs.”

Prom Fights Mikaela Mendez staff writer

After years of fighting and broken friendships, the boys decided to make a Facebook Page called ‘Krops Tuxs’ to ensure that no two guys would go through the horror of repeated outfits.

Just last week, the page proved its effectiveness when Nickodoe posted his Calvin Klein ‘X Fit Ultra Slim Fit Charcoal Suit’ on the group. The post blew up with comments once people noticed JGoodridge uploaded a photo of the same suit two months ago.

The best friends battled it out of Facebook with hate comments calling each other an “outfit stealer” and “unoriginal wannabe.”

Class of 2016 President Saloman Levy finally stepped in to end the feud.

“Bro chill out, it’s only a suit,” Levy said. “Its #PromSZN and we need to stop stressing tuxes and think about how lit it’ll be.”

JGoodridge and Nickodoe decided to both show up in the same tux and let the ladies decide who wore it best.

Entertainment Page 12

The Lightning Strike • May 2016

MUSIC

Guns N’ Roses reunite for summer tour Nathaniel Manor feature editor

For ‘80s hard rock fans, dreams came true on Apr. 1, 2016, when Guns N’ Roses reunited, despite their rocky history, and kicked off their “Not In This Lifetime... Tour” at the iconic Troubadour in West Hollywood, as a pre-tour warmup.

The show marked the first time in 23 years since the band’s original members played together. They picked the Troubadour on the Sunset Strip as a nostalgic flashback to their first performance in 1985 at the same venue.

They busted out a 17-song setlist, packed with fan favorites including “Welcome To The Jungle,” “Sweet Child O’ Mine” and “Paradise City.”

In early April, they officially launched their tour at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Guns N’ Roses performed a 22-song setlist to a sold out 20,000 seat arena and were praised by fans.

Those who exclusively listen to Y100 probably don’t know who Guns N’ Roses is or why a group of guys who look like they just came out of a bar fight are so important.

Guns N’ Roses is a 1985 band formed in Los Angeles in the heyday of hard rock, amid others such as Metallica, Bon Jovi and Van Halen. They shot to fame when they released their first album “Appetite For Destruction” in 1987, the biggest selling debut in history with 30 million copies sold.

They later released four more

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 Corbin Bolies (Naomi Watts), the woman who reads his letters. The movie’s entertainment editor 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 tosequels the intentional of what life once Comedy are gen-“demolition” and Sanders’ ownthat insecurity erally bad. Studios want them subplots that supplement was.

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Corbin’s Critique

Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising

COURTESY OF FUSE

ROCKER REUNION: Original Guns N’ Roses members Axl Rose (left) and Slash (right) perform as the headline act of Coachella 2016. This was one of their first live shows since reuniting for their “Not In This Lifetime... Tour.”

albums and departed on three live tours, rising to become one of the most famous rock bands of all time.

After their last recording together, the members of Guns N’ Roses couldn’t cooperate with one another and were forced to cancel plans for a new album. In 1996, Slash left the band because of creative differences and by August of 1997, McKagan left as well.

Although Guns N’ Roses remained alive after their break-up, their success halted and fans were convinced a reunion was impossible.

The tensions between the greatest rockers of all time seemed so bitter and nearly permanent that Rose and Slash couldn’t bear to share the same stage together.

With a year full of reunions from Fleetwood Mac to Mötley Crüe and Black Sabbath, rumors spread about

a possible Guns N’ Roses reunion. It seemed likely after the band’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame that the two former enemies would be on speaking terms again.

Despite what most fans thought, the band announced its reunion on Jan. 4, with an additional announcement that they would be headlining Coachella 2016.

To the excitement of headbangers and rock n’ rollers alike, they then announced their “Not In This Lifetime...

Tour” with 32 dates and blew the roof off the Troubadour and the T-Mobile Arena. The tour is expected to be the highest grossing tour of 2016, according to Billboard.

Wherever you are, grab your Zippo lighters and ripped bandanas and join Gunners around the world in welcoming Guns N’ Roses back to the jungle.

TELEVISION

Netflix continues revival trend with Gilmore Girls Mayan Derhy staff writer Every so often, there comes a show that is so real, funny and personal that it resonates and moves you to your core. That was Gilmore Girls for me.

That being said, I am now on my fourth binge-watch of the TV series and still can’t get enough of the mother-daughter duo of Lorelai and Rory Gilmore, played by Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel.

Set in the fictional town of Stars Hollow, Connecticut, populated by a mix of everyday folks and lovable lunatics, the multigenerational series follows the life of Rory and her mother.

At 16, Lorelai ran away from home to raise Rory on her own. Since then, her goal was for her college-bound daughter to have a better life than she had. This is often easier said than done, considering that the two share the same interests, intellect, eyes and coffee addiction.

The show is best known for its fast-paced dialogue and pop culture references, from Lorelai’s obsession with classic movies to Rory’s love for books - 339 of them referenced throughout the seven seasons. But the ultimate reason that fans worldwide fell madly in love with the show was the endless, witty humor and home-y feeling that followed each episode.

MOVIES

COURTESY OF NETFLIX

RETURN TO STARS HOLLOW: Above is a picture from the new season of “Gilmore Girls.” The revival consists of four 90-minute films that center around the seasons, debuting later this year.

The show’s only fault was that it ended too soon.

Creator Amy Sherman-Palladino left the show before the seventh and final season due to budgeting disputes, and so Sherman-Palladino’s final episode was never brought to life. That is, until now.

Netflix’s trend of bringing back shows like Full House and Arrested Development is continuing by giving Gilmore Girls fans a chance to return to Stars Hollow.

Almost the entire original cast is returning for the four 90-minute movies, including Scott Patterson (Luke Danes), Keiko Agena (Lane Kim), Sean Gunn (Kirk Gleason), Liza Weil

(Paris Geller) and Melissa McCarthy (Sookie St. James).

According to Sherman-Palladino, Rory will be dating but not married as the series returns, and all three of her former boyfriends will return in the revival, meaning Matt Czuchry (Logan Huntzberger), Milo Ventimiglia (Jess Mariano) and Jared Padalecki (Dean Forester). As for Lorelai, she and Luke are still together after eight long years, but not yet married.

More details will be revealed as the release date approaches, which is rumored to be either Thanksgiving or New Years, which gives fans plenty of time to watch (or rewatch) the series before it officially ends.

(Kiersey Clemons) and Nora (Beanie Fidelstein), co-founders of Kappa Nu, bring lots of laughs with their antics to anger the Radners and establish their sorority. In one sequence about midway through the film, the sorority girls attempt to turn the Radners against each other through their phones. The results are hilarious, as the new sorority sisters do everything they can to mark their territory.

But the action isn’t limited to the new actors - the returning characters are still on their A-game. Efron and Rogan’s chemistry carries the film, where they develop plots to remove Kappa Nu from their home. Gags like the Radners’ bad parenting of their daughter

between. As Shelby, Moretz makes an attempt at the “rebellious college freshman” type, a role that doesn’t appear comfortable for her. In scenes where Shelby comes face-to-face with the Radners, Moretz lacks the gravitas to mark her presence.

That’s not to say Moretz is a bad actress, but her skills don’t transition well from drama to comedy.

Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising isn’t the best comedy film.

It’s not the best comedy sequel.

But that doesn’t take away from what it is - an entertaining film that will more than satisfy your comedy cravings for the summer.

Rating:

Entertainment Page 13

The Lightning Strike • May 2016 FILMS

Look out for these summer movies Nicolas Chmieleweki spread editor The movie theater is a great alternative to a boring summer day. From action to drama, the summer movie season has films for everyone to enjoy. Here are some movies you may want to add to your summer bucket list.

Finding Dory Another childhood favorite revival, Finding Dory explores the kindhearted yet forgetful Dory and her journey in trying to reunite herself with loved ones. Marlin and Nemo help Dory along this journey as they each come to learn a few things about the meaning of family.

The underwater adventure will take moviegoers back to the astonishing computer animated scenery from the original film, Finding Nemo.

The BFG Roald Dahl’s popular novel comes to the screen with the pioneering mind of Steven Spielberg. The film stars a young orphan girl, Sophie, who encounters a Big Friendly Giant (BFG) that happens to be gentle and kind. This mustsee movie will showcase remarkable computer-generated graphics that will help bring the movie to life.

Jason Bourne Matt Damon returns after nine years in the popular role of Jason Bourne, a former CIA assassin who experiences unusual memory loss and becomes interested in finding out who he is. As the CIA continues to hunt down Bourne because of previous life mistakes as an assassin, the former agent sprints away. In this sequel, Alicia

Vikander, the Academy-Award winning actress in Ex-Machina and The Danish Girl, plays the female lead alongside returning actors like Julia Stiles and new additions in Tommy Lee Jones.

The Founder Have you ever wondered how McDonald’s became the largest food chain in the world?

The Founder, a biographical film of the creator of the McDonald’s chain, explores the growth and upbringing of this international chain. Ray Kroc, a 50-year old milkshake machine salesman, receives orders from two McDonald brothers who have a small restaurant chain in San Bernardino, California that are trying to make food quick and inexpensive.

Kroc becomes interested and obsesses about the idea of making the food chain “The New

American Church.”

Suicide Squad The third film in DC’s Cinematic Universe, Suicide Squad brings characters such as Batman and the Joker in this new superhero epic. The movie surrounds a group of imprisoned supervillains - each with distinct powers - who accept secretive government suicide missions that may result in their deaths in exchange for shorter prison sentences - thus their name, the “Suicide Squad.” With an award-winning cast including Jared Leto, Margot Robbie, Will Smith and more, this film will have performances unlike any other.

Summer days are long, hot and unusually humid. Why not spend the vacation making friends with characters like Jason Bourne, Dory or The Joker?

Release Dates Finding Dory

Date: Jun. 17, 2016

The BFG

Date: Jul. 1, 2016

Jason Bourne

Date: Jul. 29, 2016

The Founder

Date: Aug. 5, 2016

Suicide Squad Date: Aug. 5, 2016

COMPILED BY CORBIN BOLIES

MUSIC

TECHNOLOGY

“Screening Room” brings theater to your home Kevin Bauernfeind staff writer Over the past three weeks Screening Room, a video-on-demand service by entrepreneur Sean Parker, has caused controversy in Hollywood.

This service lets people view the latest hit films without waiting in line at the movie theater.

But the convenience carries a price tag. The service requires a $150 installation fee and gives you access to new movies. Each movie costs $50 to rent and last 48 hours until it is removed.

Directors and producers like J.J. Abrams, Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson, known for Star Wars Episode VII and Jaws support Screening Room “As the world evolves, all of us are evolving with it,” Abrams said during a panel at CinemaCon 2016. “We need to meet that challenge with excitement and create solutions and not fear.”

However, directors and producers like Christopher Nolan, James Cameron and Jon Landau, famous for films like Interstellar and Avatar have spoken out against

Screening Room.

“Both James Cameron and I remain committed to the sanctity of the in-theater experience,” Landau said to Yahoo News. “For us, from both a creative and financial standpoint, it is essential for movies to be offered exclusively in theaters for their initial release.”

Directors fear that Screening Room would strip viewers of a unique experience.

“The movie theater experience is so amazing,” sophomore film club member Zachary Weinberger said. “The sounds, the popcorn and the atmosphere are what make taking a trip to the movies so special.”

Theaters are also don’t like the idea. The introduction of Screening Room would close the theatrical window, the time a movie is in theaters, which would directly hurt ticket sales.

AMC, the world’s largest theater chain, stayed neutral in the conversation. The CEO of AMC, Adam Aron, said they’re still committed to theater windows and Screening Room is only an idea.

The success of Screening Room as a product and an idea has yet to be seen and within the next few years, we will see its impact on the movie industry.

COURTESY OF THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE

WISH YOU WERE HERE: David Gilmour, lead vocalist of Pink Floyd, performs a live show. He is currently on a world tour to support his recent release, “Rattle That Lock.”

Pink Floyd lives on in solo career Alejandro Preschel staff writer Pink Floyd was a psychedelic rock band known for their profound, mystical lyrics, ornate style and sonic experimentation. Although the group is broken up and was founded over 50 years ago, their music is still well known and well played.

Their music set a standard for all experimental genres. They were not only musicians, but innovators as well.

Today, the group’s lyricist and bass player, Roger Waters hosts his live show known as “The Wall,” based on one of Pink Floyd’s most popular and influential albums which was released in 1979. The continuous tour features perhaps one of the band’s greatest albums, yet many

of their other great albums and songs have not been played in a live setting for over a decade.

To fully experience the effect of Pink Floyd’s music, the music must be heard live. Thankfully, the band’s lead singer, guitar player and musical mastermind, David Gilmour recently released his new album, “Rattle That Lock.” It’s being supported by an extensive world tour in which he will play some of the band’s greatest pieces from the famous album, “Dark Side of the Moon” which has been hailed by critics as one of the greatest albums of all time.

Senior Andres Preschel was lucky enough to attend one Gilmour’s shows in Chicago, Illinois.

“My parents, my brother and I flew all the way to Chicago to see him.” Preschel said. “We are huge fans of him and Pink

Floyd music.”

Although Gilmour’s tour does not -include any other band member, his performance is definitely an authentic Pink Floyd experience.

“The experience wasn’t only musical; it was visual as well,” Preschel said. “There was a giant, circular screen set over the entire band that displayed abstract visuals that complemented the music and colorful laserbeams bursting from the front of the stage.”

Gilmour’s tour is set to end with a performance at the famous, “Royal Albert Hall” in London, England in September.

Any fans of Gilmour or Pink Floyd should buy their tickets to one of his shows before they are sold out. This most likely will be one of the very last opportunities to have an authentic Pink Floyd experience.

WANT TO BE A PUBLISHED WRITER? REPORT FOR THE LIGHTNING STRIKE ONLINE! TEXT US @ (847) 361 - 6733 OR VISIT ROOM 2233 FOR MORE INFO

Lifestyle Page 15

The Lightning Strike • May 2016 HEALTH

Childhood foods prove unhealthy Kevin Bauernfeind video editor Lunchables, Hot Pockets, juice boxes and other snacks have helped raise a generation of American youth.

These tasty treats left us with suspicious taste in our mouths and left us wondering what actually went into our lunch boxes as kids.

Lunchables

First up, every middle schooler’s favorite lunch, is Lunchables.

On the box it looks like a nice meal. You get crackers, ham, cheese, a juice box and a variety of dessert options.

But when taking a closer look you find you were not eating what you thought. The cheese which you thought was all-natural was actually all-chemical.

You also you get a healthy dose of folic acid, smoke flavor and partially hydrogenated cottonseed oil, free of charge.

Fruit Snacks

Just because it says fruit

in the name doesn’t mean it’s healthy. The Fruit Snacks we snacked on as kids weren’t the fruit treats we thought.

They were actually sugarfilled capsules in the shapes of fruit to make us feel healthy. Some ingredients include corn syrup, sugar, modified corn starch, gelatin, citric acid and lactic acid.

Sounds healthy.

Hot Pockets

Ah, the infamous shrink -wrapped snack filled with bologna, both literally and figuratively. The nutrition facts for a Hot Pocket rival a Roddy email. These include great ingredients such as calcium sulfate, salt, l-cysteine hydrochloride and maltodextrin just to name a few. So the next time you reach for a Hot Pocket, stop it.

Kid Cuisine

The quick meal on a blue tray, Kid Cuisine was all the rage when we were young.

The “cuisine” consists of pasteurized macaroni and cheese, chicken breast infused with rib meat and pudding. A meal fit for a king.

Totinos Pizza Rolls

Almost everyone loves pizza, espcecially in microwavable rolls. These bite-sized snacks are filled with great ingredients like mechanically separated chicken, rehydrated enzyme modified cheese and artificial coloring. Yum.

Kool-Aid

VACATION

Summer Bucket List

LIKEM BONEY/MONICA WANG

Who would’ve thought artificial flavoring could taste so good? Kool-Aid is so cool that it’s spelled with a K instead of a C. A single serving of Kool-Aid is packed full of sugar, red and blue food coloring and ascorbic acid, a fitting drink for any child’s lunchbox.

So when we are reminiscing about our youth, remember the food we ate was in fact more chemicals than actual food. It was filled with complicated chemicals most people can’t even pronounce and an unnatural mixture of “meats.”

But who can blame us? It did taste good.

INVENTIONS

Top 6 ways to live the “Miami Life” Mikaela Mendez staff writer On Jun. 7, all the high school shenanigans will come to an end as seniors leave their “Miami Life” behind once they graduate and begin college.

After they walk across stage and receive their diploma, they have one summer left to experience what is unique in Miami. Here are five suggested venues:

Wynwood

Wynwood Walls is the epicenter Art District where curated murals by artists from around the world are displayed on former warehouses.

Senior Valeria Muñoz, an advanced placement photography student, enjoys the unique art and culture associated with Wynwood Walls and uses the setting for her photo shoots.

“The Walls represent a new generation of art,” Muñoz said.

“Back then graffiti was called vandalism and frowned upon, but upcoming generations call it what it really is—art.”

For those not familiar with Wynwood Walls, there are tours students can take such as the ‘Wynwood Walls & Street Art Tour’ ($20), Underground Tours that occur on the second Saturday of every month ($22) and the ‘Bake house and RAW Project Tour’ ($25 per person).

Among the tours, the Art Walk on second Saturdays is the most appealing to students. It takes place between 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. But even better, check out monthly events at wynwoodmiami.com.

Strawberry Picking

Even though there is always a Publix within a ten mile radius of wherever we are, nothing compares to fresh picked strawberries.

During May, when strawberries are in season, go with a group of five to ten friends and pick fresh strawberries in places like Natural Wonders in Coconut Grove and Fuller’s Farmers Market in Davie which open on weekends, or make the trip to Homestead, South Florida’s premier farmland. Make sure to enjoy authentic American food afterwards.

Drive-in Theater

For students who grew up watching Grease re-runs on ABC Family, they know the drive-in theater was the first place Danny made a move on Sandy.

Whether you go with your significant other or a group of friends to watch new movies, the experience is nothing like theaters.

At a drive-in, the audio is played from car speakers and you could talk with those in your car while the movie is

playing without ruining the experience for the people around you. Plus, you can bring your pets with you to enjoy the movie.

Tickets are $6 for adults (over 11 years old) and it takes place in the Florida Swap Shop in Sunrise.

Beach

Miami is known for its beautiful beaches, but life in the city is so fast-paced we rarely take time to appreciate the little things Miami has to offer.

For one day, discard your hectic lifestyle and unwind at the beach. Reading a summer best seller while listening to the sound of the waves or floating on ocean is a great way to relax on an afternoon.

Visit the beach often, especially if you are going north for college.

Food Trucks

The only thing better than running the Hollywood Young Circle is seeing multiple food trucks lined up outside with foods ranging from Mexican to Indian.

Miami is known for its cultural diversity and food trucks represent them all. Young Circle has food trucks every Monday night from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Haulover Beach on Tuesday’s from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and Wynwood every second Saturday of the month.

TAKEN FROM INHABITAT.COM

MAGIC MECHANICS: The newly invented WaterMill condenses air to create water that is safe for drinking. The sensors on the machine detect the most efficient time to condense air to make the most water.

New technology makes water out of thin air Alejandro Preschel staff writer Who ever thought it’d be possible to make something out of thin air? Well, the Watermill can. The Watermill is a water generator that utilizes air to create fresh water. When air temperature becomes saturated with enough water, it begins to condense. The Watermill collects this water and makes it available for you to use.

At a cost of about 3 cents per liter, the Watermill can provide water to areas where clean drinking water is not available in even eco-friendly homes and is a clean alternative to bottled water.

The WaterMill was in-

vented by Jonathan Ritchey, the CEO of Canadian Technology Company known as Element Four.

As CEO, Ritchey’s mission is “to provide clean drinking water from the air we breathe.”

And they do just that. The Watermill doesn’t just convert air into water. It does it intelligently. The Watermill tests the air every three minutes to pinpoint the best time to convert the air into water.

No matter where it is, whether it’s in a rainforest, a desert or even your kitchen , the Watermill adapts to its environment in order to function most efficiently and provide you with fresh, purified water.

Lifestyle Page 16

The Lightning Strike • May 2016

SATIRE

Insta declassified: finsta survival guide Sophie Muchnick managing editor What could be more important than the air we breathe and the Starbucks caramel frappuccinos we drink? Oh, that’s right — Instagram!

Those perfect little squares lining our feeds act as windows into other people’s worlds. Windows which we can use to stalk others without having a restraining order filed against us, unless we accidentally double tap that selfie from 56 weeks ago, which is basically a death sentence.

Thanks to Insta, #tbt pics have become the highlight of my Thursdays and for the 10th Wednesday in a row, I know your girlfriend is your #wcw. Wednesday’s also leave millions feeling lonelier than ever. Without this life changing app, we would be back in the Middle Ages. Charlemagne? More like #charlelame.

But we are in the midst of an evolutionary miracle.

Just as we evolved from the Australopithecus over three million years ago, Instagram accounts are taking a new shape as well. This generation has witnessed the rise of the “finsta” (#rinstatofinsta).

In case you are confused, there are now two main categories of Instagram accounts, apart from the ever so important food and photography accounts. There are the “rinstas,” also known as “real Instagrams,” and “finstas,” or “fake instagrams.”

For all you non-millenials, a “rinsta” is where you post those super cute selfies with perfect lighting and all the life-saving filters.

A “finsta” is a safe haven of sorts where you post your most embarrassing photos without persecution from future employers or society in general— just make sure to keep your account private and only let your #homies follow.

After all, we all need a place to post the selfie of ourselves with the puppy Snapchat filter. I know it’s not “Instagram worthy,” and I can’t put it on my Snapchat story because that’s #conceited, but I NEED people to see how

life,” said anyone who’s ever made a finsta. “Before I had this account, I felt alone. All I had was an actual Instagram and a giant hole in my heart.

But once I clicked that ‘create account’ button, my heart mended itself. Colors are

All I had was an actual Instagram and

a giant hole in my heart. But once I clicked that ‘create account’ button, my heart mended.”

–ANYONE WHO’S EVER MADE A FINSTA attractive I look as another mammal, so finsta it is!

Finstas allow you to #expressyourself — thanks Madonna. Without my finsta, I would have never been able to find out who I truly am.

Don’t believe me? Read for yourself.

“My finsta changed my

SENSES

brighter, my smiles are bigger and I finally feel like I have a purpose in life.”

There are two kinds of finstas out there. There’s the “I’m going to post pictures of myself trying to look ugly even though I know I look cute, but I’ll post blackmail of my friends” or the “I’m go-

ing to post whatever I want because I think I’m funny and I don’t care if I offend you.”

If you’re lucky, you may even come across a combination of both— yet the odds are about the same as a boy breaking free from the #friendzone.

Don’t talk about Fight Club? More like don’t talk about someone’s finsta. If you ever reveal that controversial post from someone’s private account, you’ll be black listed just like in the 1950’s. Red Scare: Finsta Edition.

So the next time you’re wondering what to do with that ugly picture of your best friend’s double-chins, a Snapchat face swap or a meme you think is funny, post that on your finsta because the people following your rinsta probably don’t care. But PLEASE post your #artsy picture of your organic kale/ flaxseed oatmeal because we definitely care about that.

Hope this helped and that it was #relatable.

HEALTH

The psychology behind scent Seniors try “Military Diet” before prom Megan Orlanski lifestyle editor

The saying “stop and smell the roses” has a deeper meaning than just taking time to enjoy the moment - it actually shows the importance of smell on brain functioning and triggering memories.

How smell works Every human being has millions of sensory neurons, each that recognize a particular scent. These neurons match up with specific molecules like locks and keys that come in contact with scents and send signals to the brain where the smells are processed and recorded.

Scent is vital to remembering one’s past because it is the first sense triggered when you’re in an unknown place. This explains why you can’t recognize accustomed scents, such as the one of your home. If your brain was stimulated by the scent of your home every time you entered, your brain would be overloaded with information, which is why our brains accustom themselves to certain scents that we encounter everyday.

How perfumes are made Scents like soaps, perfumes and deodorants are made using essences, or high concentrations of

extracts from natural ingredients like flowers and woods. These ingredients are mixed together to create unique scents, and can come directly from a natural source or made synthetically.

Stimulating scents The human brain can process and remember thousands of scents, bringing back events like childhood memories or even what breakfast smelled like this morning.

“I remember when my grandmother used to make food for me when I was sick,” sophomore Aya Tekieddin said. “The spices she used from native country Syria smelled like heaven.”

According to neuroscientist Rachel Herz of Brown University, scent can be associated with one’s particular culture, although the widespread use of scents in everyday life is universal.

“An odor has no personal significance until it becomes connected to something that has meaning,” Herx said to Psychology Today.

Although the scents we use and recognize everyday are often ignored, our brains are constantly keeping record of everything that passes through our nostrils, allowing us to connect hundreds of memories to the scents we encounter every day, whether it be in the locker room or in the cafeteria.

PERFUME BY THE NUMBERS:

1.6

30

billion dollars in revenue made from perfumes yearly

square inches of sensory neurons in the human nose

57%

1/3

of men and women report using perfume daily

of perfumes solf are floral scented Compiled by: Megan Orlanski; Sources: www.statisticbrain.com

Gal Mintz staff writer Prom is one of the most anticipated events in a teenager’s life. The event creates lifetime memories with high school friends preserved through prom photos taken by parents, friends and professionals.

The emphasis on image during prom season is intense especially for teen girls. So it’s no surprise that some teens search Google for quick-fix solutions to weight loss.

One popular prom diet, known as the Military or the Three-Day Diet, is a fast way to lose up to 10 pounds a week. The diet plan suggests food for every meal which includes a slice of toast and fruit for breakfast, lunch and a small portion of protein and vegetables for dinner.

The food combinations are designed to burn fat and kick start your metabolism, so you can lose weight fast.

Senior Taylor Wells started

the military diet two weeks before prom.

“I haven’t seen immediate results yet, however I do feel a difference,” Wells said.

Senior Ana Cerzosimo also pursued the military diet but included juicing to cleanse her body.

“I would make all my juices at home and when I didn’t have time to I would go to Raw Juice to buy my juices for the day,” said Cerzosimo.

To prepare for the cleanse, Ana ate lightly and mentally prepared herself to only drink cold-pressed juice for the week.

“It’s surprisingly easier than I thought it would be. I got cranky though because I am hypoglycemic,” said Cerzosimo.

Hypoglycemia is the deficiency of glucose in the bloodstream. Prior to starting a diet, consult with a nutritionist to make sure you’re a suitable candidate and pursuing a healthy diet plan.

Whether it be for the Power Smoothie coupons or the stories themselves, the Lightning Strike staff thanks you for enjoying our hard work. Month after month, us journalists spend many hours and many nights writing stories and laying out pages all for our amazing readers. If it weren’t for you all, we wouldn’t have stories to tell or newspapers to create. Sorry that Power Smoothie raised their prices and didn’t give us the “Free smoothie with a purchase of a wrap” coupon (trust us, we begged and pleaded), but we hope you all continue to appreciate our paper. Thank you for facilitating our jobs as writers and reporters and turning us into editors and dreamers. Have a great summer and see you next year!

Sports Page 18

tops

KROP’S SPORTS

Senior Deborah Vainstein was selected as a member of the FHSAA 2016 Academic All-State Team and as a 2016 Orange Bowl Scholar Athlete.

Senior Vanderick Verdier placed first in the Discus Throw at the District Track Meet.

Senior Spencer Tate placed second in the 1,600 meter run and placed third in the 3,200 Meter Run at the District Track Meet.

Senior Tiffany Allenger placed first in Long Jump at the District Track Meet.

Junior Vantae Williams placed first in the Discus Throw and Shot Put at the District Track Meet.

Sophomore Correena Saintilmond placed second in High Jump and Long Jump at the District Track Meet.

The following girls placed third at the District Track Meet: Jahairah Joseph, 100 Meter Dash, Aisha Ambrister, Discus Throw and Weedjie Atis, Long Jump.

The girls 4x100 Meter Relay team placed second at the District Track Meet.

The boys 4x800 Meter Relay team placed third at the District Track Meet.

The softball team placed second in the District and reached the Regional Playoffs.

Senior Deborah Vainstein was selected as a 2016 Orange Bowl Scholar Athlete.

Karl Jeanty will play basketball at Daytona State College.

Felipe Souza will continue his basketball career at Nova Southeastern Compiled by Ethan Curtis

The Lightning Strike • May 2016

YEAR IN REVIEW

Baseball team finishes season with loss, gains coach Ethan Curtis sports editor The baseball team didn’t end the season as they hoped, but did get something they’ve lacked for four years — a dedicated head coach found that in Bryan Medeiros.

The Lighting placed fourth in the district but lost three to two in the district semifinals vs. Hialeah Gardens.

Despite the loss, the players felt this was the best game they played all season. Senior Wesley Foster pitched six innings with 13 strikeouts, and the Lightning out-hit the Gladiators nine to three.

“We were playing great baseball, but just weren’t able to score runs in big spots,” senior Jordan Landman said.

“Everything started to click at the right time, but it just wasn’t enough that day.”

The team’s performance in their final game left them hopeful for next season. A majority of the team will be returning, many of whom are freshman who witnessed the team’s stellar performance.

One player who will need to step up is junior outfielder Jason Girardi who led the team with a .383 batting average and in districts with 16 stolen bases.

“Next year, I need to be a leader and help carry the team, performance-wise,”Girardi

said. “We learned to go 100 percent every day and not to take anything for granted.”

The Lightning have had four coaches in the past four years, but this may be the coach that in the longterm, takes the team to a district title.

“For next year, I feel the team will already be used to [the coach’s] ways and will have no problem getting back into the swing of things,” Foster said.

Instead of a set lineup, Medeiros plays certain players based on performance during practice. Those who hustle may play, but slackers may find themselves on the bench.

“Going into next year, figuring out the mental aspect of the game is going to be a big focus,” Medeiros said. “Controlling emotions and narrowing in on each play, and not worrying about outside distractions is what we need to do.”

Long term coaches’ jobs are usually tied to their performance, but Medeiros adds a strong relationship with the players. The team hasn’t felt this way about a coach since former coach Brian Larsen left four years ago.

“I feel like this year was just a warm up year,” Foster said. “Sadly it had to be my senior year that took the fall, but he [is] a great coach, and I respect the hell out of him.”

COURTESY OF FOXMAR

FOCUS: Senior Wesley Foster warms up on the mound before the district semifinals game. His determination to be a leader for the team has lead Foster to his success this year.

TEAMS

Badminton team in jeopardy once again Michael Katz editor-in-chief School was back in session. Swimmers couldn’t wait to soak their Speedos, golfers were itching to swing their clubs, and cross country runners were waiting to break in their new sneakers -- but Badminton rackets remained packed away as the team struggled to find a coach.

“We were getting desperate,” junior Molly Shacter said.

“It was already December and we still didn’t have a coach.

Administrators were talking about cutting the team.”

Six months later, the team brags of a 3rd place district finalist and a strong connection inspired by their shared memories.

“On our way back from a field trip, a friend and I convinced Ms. Funcia to coach the team for us,” Shacter said.

“We were ecstatic when she

agreed. We had finally found a coach, and the fact that it was Ms. Funcia made it even better.”

Funcia, who had never coached Badminton before, hoped to bring structure to the team.

“There was a history in

a ton of Youtube videos and memorized all the rules of the game.”

The team trained Tuesdays and Thursdays for an hour and a half, plus Funcia brought in ex-Dolphin player and past coach Larry Ball to help train the players.

It was already December,

and we still didn’t have a coach. Administrators were talking about cutting the whole team.

–MOLLY SHACTER, junior

the past years of the team being more like open gym than an actual team,” Funcia said.

“Since I didn’t have any experience coaching, I took it really seriously. I made sure people were actually at practice and devoting themselves. I watched

“We had a good season with about 15 new players,” said junior Lauren Ruiz, 2-year team captain. “Although we didn’t win every game this year we did improve a lot and had fun while doing so.”

But the team’s performance

left a different impression on Funcia.

“It was really hard to get the kids to be serious about the team,” Funcia said. “Most of them would have a ton of other engagements, and I’d get texts at midnight from students telling me that they couldn’t go the next day’s game. They’re great kids, and when they put in the effort, they get results -- but they have to learn not to stretch themselves too thin.”

Funcia’s frustration with the team’s lack of dedication led her to deciding against coaching next year. Also, she plans on retaking her position as head teacher of the magnet department, which won’t leave her with too much spare time.

Funcia is the the third coach in as many years for the badminton team. Many see the the sport as a joke, and if the team doesn’t stop treating it as such, their rackets may end up packed away permanently.

Sports Coaches’ expectations for next year The Lightning Strike • May 2016

Page 19

EXPECTATIONS

BASEBALL:

BASKETBALL:

FOOTBALL:

SOCCER:

SOFTBALL:

‘‘ ‘‘ ‘‘ ‘‘ ‘‘ Coach Bryan Medeiros

We’re going to have a young team because we only have a couple juniors and some sophomores coming back. I expect the maturity level to improve going into next year, and expect to be a young small team. Hopefully, I can turn these younger guys into fighters and competitors. I also hope to get the more games in the fall to get the team more play time, and more at bats to better prepare for the regular season. Even though we didn’t have that great of a record, it’s something that can be fixed when we take out the off-field distractions.”

Coach Chris Garcia

Coach Steven Farley

This year, we went to the state finals which hasn’t been done since Shakey Rodriguez was here. Each year, over the past three years, we have gotten better and better. Next year, we young (sic), so it will be a rebuilding process, but the six guys understand the system, and I’m looking forward to reach the district championship again and win it. We are short a few pieces of the puzzle to make the state championship, but the group I have works very hard. The goal [next] year is to go deeper into the state playoffs and to win a district championship.”

I’m expecting our young men to do well in school, get some homework done every night, and to get a team grade point average over 3.0. I expect them to go to every class and to be on time.

When they do this, the things on the football field will take care of themselves. I’m most concerned with developing each young man to become a productive member of society and learn how to take care of themselves in the big picture.

The expectations on the field are to show that we, as a team, are a product of what we do off the field and if we do well off the field, then we’ll do well on the field.”

Coach Tomas Gonzalez

I expect to definitely win more games than this past season because the team continues to rebuild and get experience.

The team was much younger this year than in recent years as there were six freshmen.

For next year, they will have more experience. It’s not going to be an easy season because we are still in the middle of rebuilding a program that was good for such a long time. For next year, I expect the team to win the district finals and get even a little bit farther after losing this season in the district semifinals.”

Coach Krista Latessa I lost a big group, so I’m going to have to find replacements, which is going to be very hard because the new girls are going to have big shoes to fill. So it’s going to be a lot of regrowth. It’s hard to say now what I’m expecting in terms in wins and losses because of how many people leaving. It will all depend on the new players that I’ll get, who I put where, and the production I’ll get from the returning players. I’ve got to find the right pieces to the puzzle.”

Compiled by Ethan Curtis

S PORTS BRIEFS Gulfstream Park breaks record LOCAL EVENTS

with most expensive horse race

Softball team ends season with regional playoffs

Jacob Singer online managing editor Since its construction, the giant statue of a Pegasus slaying a dragon at Gulfstream Park has done little besides turn the heads of those who passed it, but with the recent announcement of the Pegasus World Cup, the statue now serves some purpose.

The Stronach Group, the world’s largest thoroughbred racing company, announced on May 11 that starting next year, Hallandale Beach’s Gulfstream Park would host the Pegasus World Cup. This 12-horse race will be the richest race in the world with a purse of $12 million.

To put that in perspective, the most well-known horse, the Kentucky Derby, has a purse of $2.4 million, and currently the world’s richest race is held in Dubai and has a purse of $10 million. It is safe to say that Hallandale Beach does not exude the opulence of Dubai, the home of 11 billionaires. But the Stronach Group believes that the race will showcase the best that the sport has to offer.

The entry fee for the race is a cool $1 million, which means that entrants will want to run

COURTESY OF EMILEE TENNEN

EXCITEMENT: Seniors Deborah Vainstein and Kassidy Klein share their excitement with junior Emilee Tennen as she made the game’s final out. The seniors have possessed this excitement and passion each game for four straight years.

TAKEN FROM THE FLYING SHETLANDS

BREAKING RECORDS: Gulfstream Park will host the richest horseracing event in history next January. The race will bring in a revenue boost in Hallandale Beach as some of the biggest names in racing are expected to attend.

the world’s best horses like Kentucky Derby winners Nyquist and California Chrome in order to win. Although the fee is a pretty penny, entrants can take sponsorships and split the fee with others. The entrants will also split 100 percent of the money from the betting handle, media rights and sponsorships.

There is, however, potential flaws in the race. It is scheduled to take place on January 28, during a time when many jockeys take a break from racing.

There are also some problems with the track such as half of the horses not being able to turn outside corners. This puts those horses that enter, at a disadvantage which can severely hamper their chances of winning.

While the entrance fee and conceivable problems will deter entries, if this race proves successful, it will be a historic feat in the racing world and the statue that once puzzled many, will be a symbol of remarkable achievement.

This class of softball seniors has a bond like no other and finished their fourth season together with a trip to the regional playoffs.

In their second season the team was able to accomplish an undefeated season, something that has never happened before.

Each year, the players grew closer, creating stronger friendships with one another as they close out their high school careers.

“This is the fourth year that I’ve been playing with some of these girls and we’re having a good time,” senior Kassidy Klein said.

Their relationships with not only each other, but also Coach Krista Latessa is another reason for the team’s success in recent years. She is almost like a second mother to the players.

“I’m going to be losing my girls,” Latessa said. “I never have to repeat myself, I know things are going to get done, and I don’t have to worry about the little things.”

With a rebuilding year coming to the softball team, the returning players know that they were exposed to at least one year of strong senior leadership.

-Ethan Curtis

Fun & Games Page 20

The Lightning Strike • May 2016

Senioritis Crossword Puzzle ...for those of you who are still here.

Across:

2. Makes and keeps promises 5. Favorite senior lunch 8. Who we all go to when we’re in trouble 10. Both an administrator and a motorcycle manufacturer 11. Statewide time wasting 12. Cockroach heaven

15. Krop’s rehab center 16. The best time of the day 18. Avoid _____ when out of uniform 20. Found on the third floor 21. Best reward for sticking around for four years 23. Date for dolls 24. Most common excuse for not having homework

25. Unofficial hall monitor 26. Best way to clog your inbox 27. A.M. hunger solution

Down:

1. Best way to stretch: Ask for a ________ pass.

3. Best teacher’s room to skip in 4. Game for hall lovers: ______ hockey 6. Word for freedom: ____ in fence 7. Another name for a refugee camp

9. Worst time of the day 13. Hardest song to sing 14. Senior ____ day 17. Stand in ____ for prom tickets and obligations 19. If Krop were a cruise, _____ would organize the dances 22. When trying to escape, look out for _____

ACROSS: 2. Carvalho, 5. Chicken, 8. Ponkey, 10. Harley, 11. Testing, 12. Bathroom, 15. CSI, 16. Two Twenty, 18. Clappier, 20. Pool, 21. Graduation, 23. Prom, 24.

Printer Problems, 25. Kelly, 26. Roddy Emails, 27. Bagels DOWN: 1. Bathroom, 3. Buncher, 4.Tongue, 6. Hole, 7. Auditorium, 9. Seven Twenty, 13. Alma Mater, 14. Skip, 17. Line, 19. Russell, 22. Debo *Spaces between words are not included in answers*

SPOT THE DIFFERENCES: The two pictures of the newsroom contain a total of seven differences. Try to see how many you can identify (Answers can be found on the bottom of this page).

1. Water bottle flipped upside down, 2. Baby poster missing, 3. Nathaniel’s headphones gone, 4. Mayan’s posture changed, 5. Page near computers turned around 6.

Computer background changed (second from left), 7. Scissors missing