The Lion's Tale - Volume 50, Issue 6

Up for a spicy challenge? See how our reporter did when he took on the Buffalo Wild Wings Blazin’ Challenge.

page 16

Universals Studios’ magical Wizarding World of Harry Potter is due to open mid-June.

Check out this sneak peak.

pages 12 and 13

LION’S TALE A p r i l 16 , 2 010

Volume 50

Prom date forces AP students to balance fun with studying for exams Carly Brower co-diversions editor

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he biggest social event of the year, prom, held May 8, lands directly in the middle of AP week, upsetting some teachers and students. “[Biology teacher and junior class council PJ] Kreahling will come to me with all the information regarding prom and we will try to work out the best date available. We didn’t think it was going to interfere with advanced placement exams,” said principal Robert Lundquist.

The scheduling of prom has to take into account the many different aspects.

“It’s complex to schedule. We have to find a place that meets all the needs and availability of the school. It has to be large to accommodate everyone, be able to supply the food, and be a place that everyone will enjoy,” said Lundquist. “It’s difficult because all the schools in Central Florida are planning their prom around the same time so we have to find an Didi Gibbs appropriate date, and this happened to be the date available for Epcot,” said Lundquist.

When the date was announced, many AP teachers had mixed feelings.

“It’s happened before and I thought it would never happen again,” said AP art history teacher Didi Gibbs. “The students work so hard and they shouldn’t have to choose between having to study or have fun.

I know most teachers are upset, especially the AP teachers whose exams are on Monday or Tuesday after prom.”

While many teachers feel like Gibbs, Lundquist feels that the placement of prom should have little affect on the students.

“I don’t think this will hurt the advanced placement students because the course is a yearlong process. You can’t cram in one see PROM, page 4

Issue 6

Oviedo High School

601 K ing Street

Oviedo, Florida

Teens under BRIGHT lights New law to restrict underage tanning Hallie Lavery

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staff reporter

he climbs into the shuttle-like capsule in a bikini and goggles, lies down, and is concealed in a tight space. Suddenly, blinding lights flicker on around her and she lies still as her skin slowly tans.

Sophomore Morgan Mosch has been performing this tanning ritual ever since she can remember. But this routine might change with the proposal of a new tanning law affecting teens that use tanning beds.

According to the Orlando Sentinel, legislators have proposed a bill prohibiting tanning for those under age 13 and requiring parental consent, in person, for those age 14 to 17.

The law sparked different responses from high school students.

“That is really stupid. I didn’t even know they were making a law,” said Mosch.

But some teens are more accepting of the proposal. see TANNING, page 4

photo/KEVIN VELOSO

Teachers celebrate Crist’s veto of Senate Bill 6 Jordan Hugh Sam, Nirvani Khan co-opinion editor, staff reporter

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photo/COURTESY OF KITTY BREED

TO THE RESCUE. Governor Crist fans a demonstrator who felt sick at a rally aganist merit pay in Tavares on Sat., April 10. Teachers held rallies across the State to protest Senate Bill 6.

-Districts must dedicate 5% of their funding to student tests and raises.

-Districts would have three years to figure out how to measure student growth with end-of-course exams.

-Students would be tested with standardized end-ofcourse exams, aside from those taking AP classes, FCAT, IB, Advance International Certificate of Education tests or national industry certification tests.

“I vetoed SB6 because this bill is contrary to my firmly held principle to act in the best interests in the people of Florida,” said Governor Crist in the April 16 edition of the Orlando Sentinel.

The bill received nearly universal condemnation from Florida Teachers.

Reading teacher Sandy Traeger expressed concerns over many unanswered questions the bill raised.

“I was very excited and pleased that [Governor

eachers throughout the state heaved a sigh of relief following Governor Crist’s decision to veto the teacher merit pay bill Friday. “[Yearbook advisor Alicia] Pope ran into my room and said Crist vetoed the bill. We high fived and shouted ‘hallelujah,’” said journalism teacher Deb Jepson.

Music teacher Dennis Line said, “I’m relieved mostly because of job security and the lack of clarity in the bill. If the bill passed I probably wouldn’t be teaching anymore.”

Senate Bill 6 stated: -By 2014-2015 school year, a student’s learning gains must account for over half of a teacher’s salary.

-Teaching certificates would only be renewed after a teacher is evaluated to be ‘effective’ or ‘highly effective’ in four of the preceding five years. see MERIT PAY, page 3

2

April 16, 2010

The Lion’s Tale

News .

Sexting?

NJROTC’s Plop-a-Palooza to include Cow-Pie Bingo, games, prizes NJROTC’s Plop-a-Palooza fundraiser will help raise the approximately $560,000 needed to install new turf on the football field for next season.

Activities inclde a dunk tank, student vs faculty dizzy izzy races, watermelon-seed-spitting contests, music and other games.

The main event will be cow-pie bingo on the football field. The person who has bought the winning square can win up to $2,000 - and the adjacent squares may also win prizes of up to $250 each.

Squares cost $10 each, and may be bought in the cafeteria or at NJROTC. The Plop-a-Palooza will take place on May 22 on the football field at 4 p.m.

Admission is free to anyone who has bought a bingo square, $1 for those who have not.

Drama earns three Best-in-States at state competition in Tampa The thespians competed in state competition in Tampa for five days during spring break. Seniors Harrison Bobo and Joseph Schmidt performed a duet scene from Shakespeare’s Comedy of Errors and received an Excellent.

Senior Amanda Eifert did Publicity Design on Steel Magnolias and was awarded an Excellent. Seniors Mark V. Harriot, Spencer Moothart, and Harrison Bobo earned a Superior for their ensemble scene from The Bible: The Complete Work of God Abridged. Moothart also won a Superior and Best-in-State in monologues for his monologues from Brighton Beach Memoirs/The Laramie Project.

Senior Sandia Ahlers and junior April Sullivan sang a Duet Musical called “Teacher’s Argument from Fame: The Musical” and earned a Superior and Bestin-State.

Moothart and fellow senior Claire Shakleford acted in an original Pantomime called Delta Airmimes and received a Superior and Best-in-State, bringing OHS’ total to three Best-in-State performances.

New bill proposes changes to cyber crime consequences a teen can be charged for distributing ‘child pornography’ they took of themselves. news editor The bill (HB 1335), sponsored by Rep. his month, Florida legislature joined Joseph Abruzzo, D-Wellingston, proposes 14 other states in rethinking the legal that both parties involved in sexting will be ramifications of sexting. According prosecuted. While the charges will be less to a recent study, many as one in five teens severe than being placed on the potentially in America have engaged in sexting – or ruinous sex offender list, they are still very sending explicit photographs of themselves to strict: first-time offenders would get eight someone else via text message. hours of community service and a $25 fine, Under present law, sexting is a felony but the second offense would equal to child pornography. be a misdemeanor and could The new bill was inspired ‘Consistency is Key’ cost the teen up to 60 days by the case against Orlando At the moment, lawyers across in jail and a $500 fine. As teen Philip Albert. In 2007, the country are debating the the offenses rack up, so do then-18 Albert sent naked creation of a federal sexting the consequences: continued pictures of his 16-year- law. This law would be very sexting could land a teen with old girlfriend to numerous similar to Florida’s HB 1335 up to five years in prison. people, including her family, in that it would make sexting a In the name of clarity, following an argument. misdemeanor, not a felony. If a an ‘offense’ is any number He was charged with and federal law were to go into effect, of text messages sent within pled guilty to distributing sexting would have a consistent a 24-hour period. So a child pornography, and and predictable punishment that conversation would count was sentenced to five years is the same in all states. simply as one offense rather probation and ordered to than multiple counts of register as a sex offender. distributing child pornography, as it currently It’s a common scenario; racy pictures are stands. posted on social networking sites or sent to Nebraska, Utah and Vermont have already mobile phones, and they eventually spread passed a similar set of laws which serve to and the person who sent the photos will face differentiate between sexting and being a legal consequences. Ironically, the person sexual predator, and Florida seems poised to who distributes the photo is often also the follow their lead when the vote is tallied later subject of the photo, and they are usually this month. self-photographed – meaning that currently,

Victoria Persampiere

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CENSORED

Summer school changes

For the 2010 summer school sessions, classes will be available for remediation only. No students may take classes for advancement.

All students who would like to take courses for acceleration are encouraged to sign up for Florida Virtual School at flvs. net.

New bill may make it harder to graduate Miranda Harmon

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staff reporter

he Florida Legislature has passed new graduation requirements for all Florida high school students in the form of a graduation bill.

The new bill includes mandatory geometry, algebra II and either chemistry or physics classes, most of which will be followed by a complete end-of-course exam that must be passed to earn credit for the class.

Starting for freshman during the 20102011 school years, the end-of-course exams will replace the math and science sections of

the FCAT. AP chemistry teacher, Kathy Savage isn’t sure that requiring more science classes will change student’s attitues toward science.

“I think the nature of the science courses themselves have to change. Courses have to be relevant and open to inquiry rather than test-driven,” Savage said.

With the new requirements, will science courses be redesigned?

“Science is about discovery and venturing into the unknown, and students are very uncomfortable with that. Science education itself needs an overhaul. I do worry that requiring more science class will only make students more resentful,” said Savage.

For some incoming freshmen, the required chemistry or physics classes may be a challenge.

“Not everyone is pursing science majors, it’s unfair to students who want to go into an english or history major,” said senior Michelle Collins.

Sophomore Abby Wakas agrees.

“I know a couple of people who are really incapable of understanding chemisty.

It requires patience and memory skills that unfortunately I don’t believe every student has,” said Wakas.

Experts agree that understanding science is part of being an educated person.

“The positive side of requiring more

science classes is that it has the potential to create a more scientifically literate population. Many of our political issues today, such as climate change and the space program, require at least a basic knowledge of science to understand. It is imperative that the public is scienfifically literate,” said Savage.

Theoretical physicist, Sean Carroll, said recently in the New York Times, April 20, that schools need to find a new way to teach physics. He believes the current curriculum waters down what professional physicists do. Carroll suggests that students learn about the expansion of the universe and “cool things in atomic physics and lasers.”

50

The Lion’s Tale

Blast

April 16, 2010

News

from the

Past

3

Check out these newsworthy headlines, hot off the press from past editions of The Lion’s Tale!

Mu Alpha Theta Hosts Hot Legs Contest

Years

The Lion’s Tale celebrates half a century of news

1.

Emily Cottrell really good at cutting and pasting and he co-diversions editor would paste the pages up,” said Jepson.

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he Lion’s Tale celebrates its 50th The newspaper staff was limited by their year in print, after participating in a lack of technology. whirlwind of technological changes “The staff had to borrow a printer from since its first publication during the 1959- the front office. Then the staff and I would 1960 school year. come in on Saturday mornings and print,” The biggest change throughout the years, said Jepson. however, has been the technology.

The staff ran the paste-up pages through The newspaper has come a long way the waxer, placed them in a special box, in technology, beginning with and physically transported them a typewriter and without page to Central Florida Publishing, now design software. something done electronically.

English teacher Don “Having wax in my room proved Cadwallader acted as the advisor to be tempting to one staff member of The Lion’s Tale from 1984 to who rolled it into balls and threw it 1987. out of the bus - I wasn’t amused,” During his first two years, the Miranda Ghali ‘10 said Jepson. staff would print out articles and With this technology, The Lion’s in strips and paste them down, in Tale developed into an awarda method known as paste-up. winning paper, receiving the Gold Crown, “During this time, it was very difficult to Columbia Scholastic Press Association’s design the pages and print photographs. Color highest award in 2009. was practically unheard of. The newspaper The Lion’s Tale currently runs under the has certainly grown since my time,” said direction of junior Carson Bailey and senior Cadwallader.

Miranda Ghali.

Cadwallader’s era also saw the first “Newspaper has consumed a lot of my program for page design, called PageMaker. time in high school, but it is always worth it The current advisor, Deborah Jepson, to see the final product,” said Ghali. watched the newspaper equipment grow Assistant Principal Leon Merck, an OHS from a solitary Macintosh 528 to a 25 station employee since 1970, watched The Lion’s 1. 1982 Mac lab equipped with a laser jet printer Tale evolve.

2. 1980 capable of color, tabloid size printing.

Said Merck, “The Lion’s Tale is a great “In the ‘80s, we had to paste each column piece of work. The articles seem much more 3. 1983 and headline separately on each page. I used current, and students can relate to them. It’s 4. 1984 to select the one student who proved to be really great – better than local newspapers.” from MERIT PAY, page 1 Crist] saw the flaws the bill had. It had some good elements teaching skills are terrible and she never explains anything. $50,000. but wasn’t put together right. I think that Congress was I would definitely do bad on my end-of-course exam to get According Seminole County Lobbyist Darvin Boothe, unprepared to put this bill on the floor because they don’t back at her,” said sophomore Maria Howard*. more than 530 tests would need to be developed to cover all have answer to questions. How much is the pay? How much Teachers thought the bill would have discouraged courses. This would have led to Seminole County paying is progress?” said Traeger. individuals from entering the around $26,500,000.

Other teacher wondered whether standardized tests were teaching profession.

Chemistry teacher Kathy Savage said, “I think that [the idea of merit pay] “I think the problem is there has been no effective for measuring teaching competency.

“I think that this is According to English teacher Thomas Jesse, “Learning something very harmful to is something that is very harmful to easy solution. No solution that works is such a complex thing. If you are going to measure teaching. First off, I don’t for everybody and I don’t really see one teaching.” something, my whole theory is that the measurement like the provision that doesn’t either. I understand the need to want to Mary Woods, evaluate teachers so that you’re keeping instrument that you use should be at least as complex as the take account one’s years of AP American History teacher the good teachers and not keeping on the thing you are measuring. And for me a test is a very simple service. I’ve been teaching for thing, you either pass or fail. You either get a one, two, 30 years and I can tell that I bad teachers. But how to do that, it’s just three, four, or five that’s it. That can’t measure something am a far better teacher than I was when I first started,” said a real mystery.” as complex as dealing with all these different students, all American History teacher Mary Woods. “They try to claim The Florida Legislature remains in session till April 30, the different pressures of emailing parents, of getting back that the research says that you’re as good as you’re going to which does not leave enough time to revise the bill. to students, and hormones, and everything else that goes get in your first five years of teaching and I pretty well know But several bills remain on the floor, including one that on in high school. There’s just no way. No way a test could that that’s not true in my case and in a lot of other cases that seeks to revise teacher’s retirement. measure all of that.’’

I see. I have supervised a lot of student interns and I’ve done The teacher merit-pay bill’s sponsor Senator John But students also contemplated the fairness of evaluating a lot of work with young teachers, mentoring and I know Thrasher vowed to continue the fight. teachers based on standardized tests. that it takes at least five years before you really know what According to the April 16 edition of the Orlando Sophomore Cassidy Reeser said, “[Teachers] have you’re doing.”

Sentinel, “Major legislation like this sometimes takes years no control over their students’ learning abilities or The Seminole County School Board was among the to pass. This is not done overnight. I’m confident this is an determination in school. Some students aren’t as good test many to send Governor Crist a letter stating the bill was idea that’s going to sweep across America. And one day, it takers as others.” “unworkable” and “disruptive”. They estimated the cost will be the law of most states in this country.”

“I absolutely hate my science teacher this year. Her of developing a single valid and reliable test to be around

2.

3.

4.

Publication Year...

*name withheld

4

News

April 16, 2010

The Lion’s Tale

Prom under the Big Top causes big stress

mom found a bunch or newspaper articles and recorded shows on T.V. about how harmful tanning was for you. She made me watch a show on “60 Minutes” about a girl who used tanning beds when she was a teenager, and was about to get married when she found out she had melanoma- the deadly kind of skin cancer. It really scared me, and now I won’t ever use tanning beds again,” said Hill.

Hill’s perspective on the harms of tanning beds is shared by many scientists and doctors, as well as some teens’ parents.

“My parents allow me to tan, but they rather I didn’t. Cancer runs in my family,” said Dennen.

If teens know the risks of tanning, then why do they continue to put themselves at risk? The factors include confidence, parents, and appearance. “[I tan] because I think I look better with

Your stop for affordable Graduation gifts!

407-365-6546

photo/KEVIN VELOSO

touches added in.

“There are lights everywhere, a huge room that will appear smaller with these funky spandex walls and white partitions,” said Kreahling. “It’s really neat. There will be acrobats and stilt walkers and instead

of having a designated meal there will be a buffet with chicken, salad, sides, and some carnival/circus food. This way whoever the students come with, they can sit with, so we don’t need to know beforehand the names of each group.”

a tan. It’s a confidence thing,” said Hartwig.

Senior Brittanie Olavarria’s reasons fall along the same lines as Hartwig’s. She tans because she is really fair skinned and doesn’t like the way she looks when she’s pale.

“My older sister got me into tanning because she used to always give me free passes to go. I now usually buy the unlimited one month deal and go a couple times a week,” said Olavarria.

Dennens visits vary.

“I pre-tan before summer and spring so I don’t burn. I tan in winter every other day for about a month, and in spring one time a week,” said Dennen.

But Mosch got into tanning as a bet with her mom.

“I started tanning mainly the summer before eighth grade because I made a bet with my mom that I could get darker than

her,” Mosch said.

Both of Mosch’s parents tan in tanning beds and outdoors. According to her, the new law won’t affect her because her parents don’t care if she tans.

As well as confidence, appearance, and pre-tanning a reason to tan is an upcoming special occasion.

“I used to tan before homecoming to get more color, before I found out how bad it was,” said Hill But her methods changed.

“I could get just as much color at the beach, and it’s a lot more fun with friends,” said Hill.

Sun Safety

Indoor and outdoor tanning have been linked with a plethora of negative health conditions, including...

Malignant Melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer.

People who have tanned in indoor beds before the age of 20 are 75% more likely to get melanoma. And using a tanning bed regularly - more than 10 times a year - makes you over 300% more likely to develop malignant melanoma.

Conjunctivitis, corneal infections, and serious retinal damage. Always wear protective goggles or sunglasses when tanning!

Photoaging - including premature wrinkling, loss of skin elasticity and permenant discoloration.

FOSTER & LEE JEWELERS

Class rings starting at $169!

PROM PLANS. Junior Ryan Fast and senior Kaitlyn Thilmony check our their prom reciepts.

Located in the Publix shopping plaza, just one block from school! jfoster5@cfl.rr.com

IRANDA H ARMON

from TANNING, page 1 “I think that [the new law] is perfectly fine. Why would a 12 year old need a tan, and maybe they could lower the age to 16,” said sophomore Alexandra Hartwig.

Hartwig has been tanning for about six months, and tans four to five times a week.

“I started tanning before homecoming because I didn’t want to look like a ghost in my white dress,” Hartwig said.

For those who don’t know, there are a few steps and precautions involved in using a tanning bed. First, it is important to liberally apply sunscreen and wear tanning goggles, because of the UV rays in the bed, according to www.mastertanning.com.

For beginning tanners, its also important to keep the time in the tanning booth to a minimum, no more than five minutes. It’s also a good idea to start at a low setting, so you don’t over do it.

But even with precautions taken, tanning still has high risks. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, tanning is caused by exposure to ultraviolet radiation, which damages skin cells. This can lead to premature skin aging such as winkles, lax skin, brown spots, as well as skin cancer itself. A branch of the World Health Organization, The International Agency for Research on Cancer has linked tanning bed use among young adults to melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer.

If this new law is put into effect, the number of minors walking into tanning salons could decrease.

“I think [the new tanning law] would stop a lot of teens from fake tanning because a lot of people tan without their parents knowing.

It’s really bad for you and some parents don’t want their kids to do it,” said junior Lauren Dennen.

Senior Jenna Hill had a change of opinion about tanning beds after talking to her parents about it.

“I tanned a couple times before homecoming to get more color. But then my

Oviedo’s prom has never been held at Epcot before, but Epcot wasn’t Kreahling’s first choice.

“I originally wanted the Disney Contemporary Hotel but you can’t book a year in advance and hotels tend to prefer corporate events because prom is mainly just for the venue and not many students stay the night,” said Kreahling. “I really wanted a Disney hotel and when I talked to the coordinator he suggested Epcot and I was hesitant at first but once I saw it, it was amazing, completely different from anything we’ve done before.

It’s located on an indoor pavilion but the only small inconvenience is that the students have about a 10 minute walk to get to it because you have to walk through the park to get there” Going with the theme “Night Under the Big Top,” which will have the atmosphere of circus and carnival, there will be unique

illustration/ M

from PROM, page 1 weekend. You either know it or you don’t.” said Lundquist. “I don’t believe the success will be any less.”

Junior Luke Pearson, who is currently enrolled in six AP classes, shares the same view.

“I don’t really care because the exams are a build-up of the information over time. It’s information from the past,” said Pearson. “You can’t just cram over the weekend. I’ve tried that before with human geography and I studied all weekend but I only ended up with a two on the final exam,” said Pearson.

Biology teacher and head coordinator of prom, Kreahling, explains that she tries hard to find a date, but no matter what weekend she chooses something would be affected.

“I do try and keep in mind about the dates but it’s difficult because there is Grad Bash and Grad Night and we don’t want anything earlier than April so it is hard to find a suitable date,” said Kreahling.

The Lion’s Tale

Opinion

April 16, 2010

5

“Eighty percent of success is showing up.”

- Woody Allen

Our Word

The Lion’s Tale celebrates 50 years

After 50 years of presenting a top notch newspaper, The Lion’s Tale remains committed to our readers-the students.

And both former and current staff members should feel pride in our accomplishments.

An award-winning school publication, The Lion’s Tale covers controversial topics including teen pregnancy, sexting, bullying, and shoplifting.

The administration plays a major role in making the newspaper successful by supporting our goal of keeping students informed about issues that might affect them.

Principal Robert Lundquist makes himself available for interviews and consistently supports student press.

The administration allows us to cover the kinds of stories we do so that students become informed.

Since we are considered a major source of news for students, staff members need to report accurately and check facts. Giving students valid information and entertainment is our top priority.

Administration also provides the staff with a 25 station Mac lab and the professional layout software programs we need such as Photoshop and InDesign.

Anna McCarthy, the administrative advisor to The Lion’s Tale, reads the paper and advises us on accuracy.

Her guidance over the years is greatly appreciated.

Because our readers are our number one concern, we have held focus groups where students tell us of what they value most in the paper and what can easily be excluded.

To further improve our paper, staff members attend conventions where we learn techniques in photography, layout, writing, and ethics.

Staff members attend the Florida Scholastic Press Association (FSPA) conference yearly and take classes to brush up on skills, participate in competitions, or learn business skills to fund production of the paper.

The Lion’s Tale belongs to National Scholastic Press Association, Columbia Scholastic Press Association as well as FSPA. Each year the newspaper is evaluated by these organizations.

It costs approximately $11,000 to print the paper every year. Because the school does not fund printing, students must sell ads over summer or during the school year.

In addition to the advertisement sales requirement, editors also require staff members to attend work nights.

Work nights can range from two to six hours after school.

Every edition, the staff spends about 15-20 hours outside of the school day working on the paper..

Through all the hard work, we get to celebrate 50 years of The Lion’s Tale.

May we have 50 more.

LION’S TALE Staff

Editors-in-chief Carson Bailey Miranda Ghali

News Editor

Victoria Persampiere

cartoon/WESLEY WYNNE

19%

POLL : Should teachers’ salaries be tied to test scores?

YES

80% NO

1%

128 students were surveyed on 4/14/10.

I DON’T CARE

Tips to cope with stress night. I’ve also found that I only sleep best with that music playing.

Sleep is important with coping with stress.

“If you can’t cope with it, sleep on it.

Sometimes sleep can help you regulate your nervousness and offer you an escape from stress,” said Dr. Avi Sadeh at Tel Aviv University.

According to www.bettersleep.com, 65% Tiffany Ray features editor of Americans lose sleep due to stress. Some tips suggested by the site to sleep better tress: a word we all know. Stressed: a word that describes every senior at the begin with making sleep a priority. Keep a consistent bedtime, and by all means, don’t moment. It’s not just seniors that are stressed, but this is a particularly stressed out stay up later than absolutely necessary.

Though I must admit that I am guilty of time for us.

Even in this moment my neck, shoulders, staying up later than needed. I could add and back are creaking and moaning - stiff as another hour of sleep, and maybe even two. a board. All my stress goes to those muscles, It’s astounding that some of my peers stay up until two in the morning, or go out at three and creates quite a painful dilema to deal a.m! with all the time.

Keeping electronics out of the bedroom is I get out of bed and *crack.* I sit up in also suggested, though that is tough for some my chair and *creak.* I do some homework people. If all you do in your bed is sleep, then and *ache.* your brain will trigger your body to sleep The pain used to be worse, but now it’s when you lay in bed. manageable. I’ve picked up some tips on According to www.health.com, experts dealing with stress over the years. suggest that creating a worry journal is According to www.mayoclinic.com, beneficial to better sleep, and with dealing “Stress is a normal psychological and with stress in general. physical reaction to the demands of life.

I am not a great journal keeper, though When your brain perceives a threat, your I try to be, and I don’t enjoy writing about body releases a burst of hormones to fuel my troubles. But I keep a drawing journal your fight-or-flight response.” that contains random scribbles, and some Stress fights my muscles, and my ability serious art. It’s a good thing to have in times to sleep. I lay awake fretting, and even of stress. though my eyes are closed, my mind won’t It’s suggested to also include what can be shut down. But I found a solution: music. done to help the issues that are stressing you, “Today, we believe music’s ubiquity and increasing portability make it the number one and to add a few positive things.

The most recommended daily suggestion, stress buster,” said Tom Miller, director of the study by Roper Starch Worldwide, which however, is to laugh. Just laugh.

According to www.mayoclinic.com, found that 56 percent said music minimized “A good laugh has great short-term effects. stress.

When you start to laugh, it doesn’t just If I listen to classical music with rain in lighten your load mentally, it actually induces the background, my mind eases, and I fall physical changes in your body.” asleep quickly, staying asleep the whole

The pursuit of happiness

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Opinion Editors

Sports Editors

Photographer

Features Editor

Advertising Editor

Miranda Betterley Jordan Branch Caitlyn Braswell Angiee Carey Amanda Ferguson

Jordan Hugh Sam Julia Thorncroft Tiffany Ray

Diversions Editors Carly Brower Emily Cottrell

Connor Bailey Lindsay Knox

John Campbell

Staff Artists

Miranda Harmon Wesley Wynne

Kevin Veloso

Staff Reporters

Nirvani Khan Hallie Lavery Kaitlyn Loughlin Curtis O’Brien Stephanie O’Sullivan Kimberly Segrest Jennifer Wakas

Just think about it. You already feel a little better when you smile, and a laugh is even more powerful.

“Laughter enhances your intake of oxygen-rich air, stimulates your heart, lungs and muscles, and increases the endorphins that are released by your brain,” mentions the Mayo Clinic.

The released endorphins lift your mood, and alleviate a moment of stress. Also, laughing cools down stress responses, and increases your heart rate. It can ease the pain of stress, leaving a good feeling all over with natural painkillers.

So all of us could take a moment to shed some of our stress. Just take some time to relax. It’s possible, even when you feel like your life is in fast motion.

Just laugh.

5

most stressful careers in the USA

• President of the United States • Firefighter • Senior corporate executive • Race car driver • Taxi driver

Faculty Advisor Deborah Jepson

Administrative Advisor Anna McCarthy

Oviedo High School

601 King Street, Oviedo FL 32765 • Phone: 407-3204199 • Fax: 407-320-4213

compiled from www.ehealthmd.com

Online

The Lion’s Tale is accessible through the OHS website.

The Lion’s Tale reserves the right to refuse ads. The views of the staff do not necessarily represent the views of the administration, staff, or faculty of Oviedo High School.

6

Opinion

April 16, 2010

The Lion’s Tale

Running red light risks consequences

Jordan says

Miranda Writes

Jordan Branch

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Miranda Harmon

Glamorizing tanning pushes teens to extreme

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staff artist

he other week I got a ticket. A driving ticket. Me. This has been both a terrifying and eye-opening experience, or at least I feel like it should have been.

In actuality, it’s just been really annoying. I was stopped for a minor traffic violation and was charged 231 dollars.

I’ve mentioned it here before, but I’m very lame. That is to say I don’t drink and drive, don’t party every weekend, don’t skip school illegitimately more than once a year, and in general I tend to steer clear of breaking the law.

I am therefore by standard teenage definition, “lame.”

And then one night, driving a friend home, I turned left on a yellow light in downtown Oviedo. The light turned red before I passed through. I technically ran a red light.

I understand why I was pulled over. I ran a red light. I could of stopped, but didn’t.

What gets to me is that this is my first traffic violation, and instead of getting off with a warning, I was charged 231 dollars.

illustration/MIRANDA HARMON

Not 230, but 231.

Maybe I’m a tad bitter about this, but I don’t deserve it. People my age take illegal drugs and drink too much and get thrown out of clubs with little or no consequence. I turned on a yellow light a little too late and was charged 231 dollars.

Later I understood that this man was simply trying to fill a quota. He probably had a family to feed, so I really can’t blame him. It’s the way things work.

I’d like to say I took something from this experience, some valuable bit of wisdom.

The thing is that I consider myself to be a pretty safe driver. And given that in the real world people run red lights much more often than once, there isn’t much I learned in that department.

So instead, I learned that life is not fair.

Just because I don’t sneak out and do

illegal things on the weekends doesn’t make me impervious to traffic violations. When a cop pulls me over (and I’m sure this won’t be the only time this happens), he or she can’t possibly know me beyond my license and registration.

Of course I realized this before. It’s one of the first things our teachers tell us. After lecturing on how to be kind to our fellow classmates, share our toys and play fairly, we’re quickly lectured on how life isn’t fair.

I have certainly experienced unfairness before, and do indeed recognize the unfairness experienced by others. But this is the first time I literally had to pay for it.

Either way, life is messy and imperfect.

And the fact that it’s taken me this long to truly grasp this concept proves that I am a messy and imperfect person, or at least a person.

Sibling rivalry leads to lifelong friendship

realized that he has influenced me in so many ways, and has made me the girl I am today.

His dedication to school inspired me to try hard in school, and the determination he instilled in me from those early childhood days, are still with me now. His drive to learn, and his insane random knowledge of the world, makes me want to learn more and more everyday, too. Thanks to him, my Nirvani Khan staff reporter education is the most important part of my e grabbed my hair and slammed life. my face against the wooden floor In addition. we spent a lot of time in the living room. I couldn’t stop playing together as young children,. Every crying for hours. The salty tears burned my single day, for hours onzuld be outside in bruised and blistered face. my backyard, playing cricket or baseball, Okay, so, I have to admit, I did steal rain, or shine. twenty dollars from his wallet, so I guess I In fact, he was actually the one who partially deserved it. taught me how to play in the first place.

Fights like these were very common Thanks to him, I was able to play softball on between my older brother, Jason, and I, a decent team, as pitcher and shortstop. when we were young children.

And thanks to him, I have gotten We always got in each other’s hair. through the most traumatic times of my life.

He would tease me, call me names, boss For instance, he was the me around, and I would take things from one who was home him that weren’t mine, and annoy him every with me when my chance I had. grandmother had We said we hated each other on a daily passed away, basis and we were constantly yelling, and my screaming, and hitting each other. parents were at I think the time I was most infuriated the hospital with my brother was when he smashed the with the new Britney Spear’s C.D. I had received rest of my for my fifth birthday on the floor. I don’t family. exactly remember what I did to him I had afterwards, but I can promise you there were many tears, slaps, and punches.

In fact, I still have some of the remaining pieces of that Britney Spear’s C.D. In simplest terms, when we were children, we fought, like most young siblings do.

Today, my brother Jason, now 20, still gets on my last nerves at times, but at sixteen, I am beginning to understand what a close relationship we really had together and that we have today, even if our relationship is sometimes violent. I have

NIRVANI’S NOTIONs

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staff reporter

never before lost anyone, so I didn’t take the news well at all. But he broke the news gently, and was there for me. Although my brother didn’t hug me or hold me in his arms like my parents would have done, he was there for me, when no one else was home. Thanks to him, I learned how to be strong, through the worst of times.

In addition, because of my brother, I learned to have good morals and how to be a good kid to my parents. My brother was always incredibly obedient, and still is today. Thanks to him, I have stayed true to my values, and always listen to my parents, no matter how hard that may be, and no matter how much others may pressure me.

Today, I am proud to say that my brother is one of my best friends. We get along really well now, and we hardly ever fight.

We have a lot of the same topics of interest and so much to talk about. Sometimes, we hang out and go places together.

He’s the easiest person to talk to, and we always make each other laugh. Even though I don’t tell him this, he is my biggest inspiration and my best friend. Thank you for everything, Jason.

illustration/MIRANDA HARMON

ur culture tortures itself for beauty. We bake in an oven for satisfaction in our own skin.

Culture is constantly redefining beauty and the latest is the infamous sun-kissed tan.

A bill is currently going through the legislature that aims to make individuals more aware of the dangers tanning beds carry.

According to the skin care foundation, in the past people believed tanning beds were safer, because the risk for a burn that often leads to skin cancer is eliminated.

Our world has a long history of fair skinned elegance. Darker skin used to be looked down upon as being lower class, because it meant you were working under the sun.

In Thailand today, women still believe a pale complexion is a sign of beauty and class. In markets products meant to make the skin appear lighter are widely sold.

I have a hard time understanding how either skin shade could be more appeasing to the eye than the other or, for that matter, how we ever bought into this fad in the first place.

I believe less emphasis should be put on outside beauty and more on inside beauty. Everyone grows old. Looks will not follow your body into old age, only your spirit will.

However, this is simply not a practical belief. We all want the confidence that comes with catching a guy or girl’s eye.

As human beings we crave attention from the opposite sex.

The question is, do we take the natural sunbathing route or take a hazardous tanning bed session?

It has now been proven medically and scientifically that tanning beds lead to skin cancers, such as melanoma. A UV Radiation specialist has brought these facts to the FDA who is trying to shed light on the matter.

I believe these very real facts are under-publicized. In fact, we glamorize tanning on shows like “Jersey Shore” where a tan makes the total package.

Teenagers susceptible to new trends take the simple day at the beach tan to a new extreme, sometimes visiting tanning salons four or five times a week.

I encourage this bill to pass and prohibit children 13 and under from tanning and require those 14-17 to have parental consent.

Even if parents are willing to sign for their children, it is my belief that the seriousness of signing a document saying you understand the risks may make some think twice.

Parents may not see the importance of skin care clearly now, but I am convinced when asked to take a second look they will really evaluate how unnecessary these superficial machines are.

Furthermore, I think it is ironic we live in the “Sunshine State” and can’t make our way down to the local beach with some sun tan lotion for a more safe tanning experience.

Florida is a peninsula. We are surrounded with the beautiful ocean.

Some may argue that fake tanning is a convenience. However, the sun shines daily right outside Floridian’s homes.

The Lion’s Tale

April 16, 2010

Opinion

7

End of course exams cause debate exam should be twenty-five percent of the student’s final grade for the course. This is modeled after the Pennsylvania averaging system which happens to be thirty percent.

The reason for doing this is to not put the pressure on students of having the exam be something they absolutely needed to pass to graduate.

By going about the scores this way, Courtney Sullivan guest columnist it also gives students who might not do as well as they hoped an opportunity to n 2002 the United States Government make up for it with how they perform with enacted the No Child Left Behind assignments in class.

Act, which set higher standards and These exams should not be designed measurable goals for the improvement of for students to fail or to be something this country’s education.

Sadly, many believe that this act has not impossible to pass. They are simply a method used to hold both students and been properly enforced. teachers accountable for learning required Though Florida implemented a information and a tool to help prepare standardized test into its education students for college. system, which improved its nation That being said, the exams would education ranking, there are better options be something that students at both an for standardized tests then the Florida honors and standard level have the ability Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT). of passing provided that they have paid One of these options is to give end of course exams, which I believe will be a step attention and learned during the school year.

In the end, theses exams are better then in the right direction for Florida’s education the FCAT. Students would be tested over system.

In recent years, many states have begun material that a student would be learning in to implement end of course exams into their that particular school year, not a compilation of things they have learned years ago. curriculum and with good reason.

They will also allow teachers to teach Fairtest.org explains that states without having to stop in the middle of the including Pennsylvania, Ohio, Alabama, year to cover possible FCAT topics. This and North Carolina have recently adopted coupled with everything else I have stated end of course exams into their curriculum proves that Florida should switch from requirements. giving FCAT exams to giving Their reasons for doing so were because they saw a failure of their previous end of course exams. graduation tests and they wanted to ensure that students were better prepared for college level work.

This means that it will be less of a shock, or rather struggle, for students to perform well on their final exams upon completion of their courses in college since they have been taking final exams during their high school years.

Furthermore, Ncpa.org states that students in both New York and North Carolina, both being state with end of course exams, are about half a grade level ahead in math and science and about 2/3 of a grade level ahead in reading.

In essence, these exams will be a good measure of a school’s education system as a whole.

As greatschool.org explains, these exams are a measure of student achievement and are important in assessing student learning.

These tests will also hold teachers accountable for effectively teaching all the appropriate material that must be covered over the course of the school year.

By doing so, schools can discover possible flaws or weaknesses in their systems and improve upon them for the betterment of the student body. illustration/WESLEY WYNNE The score a student obtains from a single

Time to embrace exams

I

pay a company to write the tests and grade the tests every single year. My guess is that if the Florida government cannot hire their own people to write the FCAT, they will not hire its own people to write end of year exams.

So in all likelihood, the same company that writes the FCAT will write the proposed end of course exams. The difference will Courtney Sullivan guest columnist be that instead of being tested on a yearly basis in two classes, you will be tested in all ne of the biggest and most hyped problems of the day is education. It seven of your classes.

Not to mention that the FCAT stops is a system that is said to be broken, unfair, and in need of urgent and immediate after sophomore year, excluding the FCAT science which is not a requirement for care. graduation.

Supporters believe that end of year With end of course exams, students will exams are the answer, that somehow take FCAT-like tests for all four years of they will effectively replace standardized high school. Therefore, end of course exams tests such as the Florida Comprehensive will not be a replacement of the FCAT. They Assessment Test (FCAT) in measuring are merely an expansion of the FCAT. schools and students educational But one may ask, what’s wrong with the performances.

FCAT? Doesn’t it make sure that teachers However, this claim is a lie. The fact of are teaching, and students are learning what the matter is, end of year exams are not a replacement or substitute for the FCAT, it is they are supposed to learn?

Not quite. an expansion of the program.

The biggest push for the end of course Let me explain. exams is not to evaluate the top ranking Today the FCAT is comprised of three students. The best students in our schools parts: math, reading, and writing. These can compete with anyone in the world. subjects are covered primarily in two Standardized tests like FCAT and end of classes, math and English. course exams are meant to help the worst Now FCAT is a multimillion dollar performing students and students in poor industry. The Florida government has to school districts.

When the No Child Left Behind Act was enacted, one of its main goals was to achieve one hundred percent proficiency in both math and reading by the year 2014.

However a nationwide study by the Civil Rights Project at Harvard University reports that No Child Left Behind “has not improved reading and mathematical achievement nor has it reduced the achievement gap.”

In fact, the study went on to say that in the year 2014 less then twenty-five percent of poor and minority students will be reading on grade level, and less than fifty percent of poor and minority students will able to achieve grade level in math.

So if standardized tests such as the FCAT have failed, then why would we expand them?

Standardized tests have not proven to be the answer.

In order to reform our schools so that every child can achieve an adequate education we need to look in another direction, not expand the failed policies that have held us back for the past decade.

Standardized tests not the answer

O

Poll was taken out of 100 students on 4/14/10.

In honor of the 50 anniversary of The Lion’s Tale... th

The most pressing national issues facing the future of the graduating classes of 1987 and 2010

2010

1987

battle substance abuse halt Communist intrusion moral/ethical values sexually transm. disease economic instability control unemployment threat of nuclear war

10% 7% 6% 24% 13% 6% 24%

education immigration 6% health care war on terrorism 1% economic instability climate change 4% abortion 1%

21% 22% 40%

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April 16, 2010

The Lion’s Tale

The Lion’s Tale

Features

Car Crazy:

April 16, 2010

9

Young mechanics spend big bucks on auto upgrades

“My dad has been a mechanic my whole life, so that really got me interested in cars at a young staff reporter age,” said Merzoian. “I also have gone to a lot of unior Blaine Rehrig has waited for the moment he could car shows.”

On weekends, Merzoian can be found spending drive since he was a year old, pushing toy matchbox cars hours on end working on his vehicle. On the other across his carpeted living room floor. Now, at seventeen, hand, after school oftentimes he only he is living his dream. spends around thirty minutes.

“There’s not a single thing I don’t like about my “My dad gave me my car back in car,” said Rehrig. “I spend every second outside of 2007,” said Merzoian. “Since then I’ve school on it. It’s my baby.” put in about $2500 worth of parts.”

In April of 2009, Rehrig purchased his first car, a Correspondingly to Rehrig, silver 2005 Subaru for $10,000.

Merzoian has added numerous new “I wanted to get a Subaru because they’re parts to his car. not very common. It’s the overall package,” said Blaine Rehrig ‘11 “So far, I’ve put in an intake, a Rehrig. magnaflow exhaust system, new tires After spending four years in Coach Robert and rims, tinted headlights with eyelids, a 12Dove’s auto class, Rehrig has expanded his knowledge on inch kicker sub, interior L.E.D. lights, glowshift how to work on cars. photo/LINDSAY KNOX gauges, and re-did the headliner,” said Merzoian.

“I got into cars just by simply researching online about VROOM, VROOM. Senior Razmeek Merzoian fixes up his car after school, taking time away every little aspect about different cars,” said Rehrig. “Then “Also, the Beetle has limo tint and we painted the from other activities to pursue this hobby. dashboard.” when I came to high school, taking auto just made sense.

Along with features that have already been I love cars, why wouldn’t I want to be in a class all about Although Orchard doesn’t spend as much time on his added onto the car, Merzoian has future plans for his them?” blue 2008 Ford F150 as Rehrig and Merzoian do on their Over the past year, Rehrig has spent over $2000 dollars Beetle. cars, he has found a way to put it to good use.

“My brother and I plan to put a full body kit on my car, worth of parts for his car. He has added Borla Headers “Initially I chose my truck because I needed to haul my (exhaust header), a Tsudo cat-back system (exhaust), an STi and hopefully soon after supercharge it,” said Merzoian. “I dirt bikes when I used to race all the time,” said Orchard. front bumper, a V limited front lip, an S Ti wing, power- want people to notice me and my car when I drive down the “But when I entered my senior year, I realized what I wanted coated WRX rims, Hella supertones (strong, attention street.” to do for my senior project.”

Merzoian, senior Dustin Orchard learned everything he grabbing horns), ’06 WRX interior, tinted taillights, 15% Entering his senior year, Orchard decided that for his tints on the windows, K&N short ram intake, and purple HID knows about cars from his father. senior project he would lift his truck.

“I remember ever since I was little I had an interest in headlights.

“I got a 6” Fabtech suspension lift on my truck in February. cars and trucks,” said Orchard. “I guess it was just a natural “If I had to choose the best thing about my car, it would Since then I’ve also installed 35” Nitto Mud Grappler tires have to be my exhaust,” said Rehrig. “No car can beat the thing.” and 20” Rockstar rims,” said Orchard.

Subie rumble with my exhaust.”

Since purchasing his truck in the mid $20,000 range, After perfecting and transforming his car into his vehicle Orchard has spent around $6500 towards lifting and detailing of choice, Rehrig has plans to trade his Subaru for another it.

Subaru S Ti with a new transmission within the next year.

“I love everything that I’ve done to my truck and I still “It’ll cost around $5000 to do the swap, but hopefully plan to do more to make it even better,” said Orchard. “The the car I will be getting will have an STi gauge cluster,” said worst thing about my truck is the gas mileage.”

Rehrig.

In addition to all the hard work they put into their vehicles, Similarly with Rehrig, senior Razmeek Merzoian spends Rehrig, Merzoian, and Orchard have all entered their cars much time working on his yellow 1999 VW Beetle. into car shows.

Lindsay Knox

J

How to

c

1 Removal

ha

nge a

Secure the vehicle.

Put on the emergency brake, and place a heavy object behind the wheels of your car (front, if you’re changing the back tires, and vice versa) so that your car will not roll.

Loosen the Lug Nuts With your tires still on the ground, loosen the lug nuts with a wrench by turning counter clockwise, but don’t take them all the way off. Because your car is still firmly on the ground, you’ll be able to turn just the lug nuts, and not the entire wheel. You may have to remove a hubcap to do this step. If you find that the lug nuts are on very tightly, you can stand up and put your weight on the wrench.

Jack up the car Now, use your jack to raise the car until it’s about six inches off the ground. Be very careful that you place your jack at an area of your car which is secure metal frame, and not plastic or a door joint. The best place to put a jack is different on every car; consult your owner’s manual for specific locations.

Remove the Tire Fully remove the lugnuts, and pull the tire free from the wheel base. compiled from www.dmv.org

e r ti

2 Replacement

Secure the new tire to the wheel base Now line up the new tire so that the lug nut posts align with the holes in the tire. Push the spare all the way onto the wheel base until it can’t go any futher.

Tighten the Lug Nuts Now reposition the lug nuts and tighten them. In the beginning, it is best to use your hands until they are secure; then, simply use the wrench but turn in a clockwise direction. To ensure that your tire is balanced, don’t tighten the lug nuts all at once - instead, move in a star pattern, giving each lug nut the same number of turns, and not ever tightening two adjacent lug nuts.

Lower your vehicle and replace the hubap.

Some things to remember!

Spare tires (donuts, space savers) are not as secure as normal tires! Do NOT exceed speeds of 50mph while driving on a spare. They are also not deisnged to be used for an extended length of time - the general rule of thumb is to never drive over 70 miles total on a spare tire without replacing it with a standard-size tire. They’re to get you to a repair shop, not to actually use.

10

Features

April 16, 2010

The Lion’s Tale

Patience key when building computers Jennifer Wakas

R

how to fix it. They are completely customized. I get to make them however I want, and they look a lot better,” said Kassik. ather than saving up to purchase store-bought computers, Huff also agrees that having his own built computer is some people, like sophomore Jerald Huff, have put beneficial. themselves ahead of the market by building their own.

“It enables me to understand my machine inside and out. They “I have made many computers. So many, in fact, I’ve lost have better performance, can include software like Ms. Office and count. I make them when I’m stressed, bored, or wanting a new Photoshop, and they’re very cool looking,” said Huff. “It also puts computer,” said Huff. He has been making computers since me ahead of the market because I can just build one for my needs middle school. instead of buying an entire new machine every time software Huff began building computers in the summer of ’06 when he becomes more demanding or I get a virus.” received his first computer, a Gateway E-2100. Because his family Both Huff and Kassik like to build certain types of computers; could not afford to repair it, Huff learned how to fix it himself. gaming computers. A gaming computer is built to produce 3D “This later led to building computers for my brother and sister graphics and simulated environments in video-games. They are who couldn’t afford their own.” designed to play PC games that demand many resources; games For some people, like Huff, building a computer can be quite such as Call of duty or Crysis. affordable. It usually costs him nothing.

The amount of time it takes to successfully build a computer “I get free computers and parts from older machines from can vary. family and friends. Otherwise, buying a hard drive or processor “It really depends on what I have and what I’m trying to do. It can cost at least $100 for something decent,” said Huff. can take me about six to eight hours to build a computer from bare For others, like freshman Dellis Kassik, the price can be quite bones to a full working system, if I have all the parts,” said Huff. expensive. His computer building can cost him anywhere from It could take days and sometimes weeks if the right parts are $450 to $1,500 depending on the quality of the equipment. But not in handy. according to Kassik, the price is well worth it.

“The ones that take a longer time to build are the one’s I “It’s definitely worth it because I know modify an operating system, like OSX Leopard, to run on a Dell or what’s in the computer and I know other PC,” said Huff.

Along with building a computer, there will come some complications. Most of the complications deal with software. A computer needs specific software called drivers to understand how to use a piece of hardware.

“Many times, I have trouble finding the correct drivers for my hardware because I don’t know the brand for it, or it is outdated and it’s not compatible with its new operating system,” said Huff.

Kassik also experiences complications due to equipment that is not compatible with the operating system.

“Patience is the key to success. A lot of time spent with a computer is waiting for operating systems and drivers to load.

Other than that, it’s pretty simple; ‘trial-and-error’ procedures,” said Huff. “I make computers because it’s fun, interesting, and best of all, my own creation. It’s also well worth it. You can’t put a price on learning or a smile on a friend’s face who receives their first computer.”

D

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staff reporter

photo/MIRANDA GHALI

How to replace a hard drive Ever had your laptop crash and became thrust into the world of technology?

Using these steps you can learn how to replace your hard drive, without pulling your hair out.

Before doing anything put all your important files such as photos and music on a USB drive or some other form of file storage to later put on your new hardrive. Finally, unplug the laptop and turn it off.

Locate where your current hard drive is (usually on the bottom of the laptop) and take a small screwdriver and loosen the screws over the removable panel protecting the hard drive.

Carefully remove the current hard drive and if you are unsure of the process refer to the users manual or the official website to help you.

Once you have safely removed the hard drive carefully replace it with the new drive in the same manner the old drive was in. You may hear a faint click when it is inserted.

Once the new hard drive is safely installed plug the laptop back in and turn it on. It should take around an hour for the new hard drive to run the set-up and then should be ready for use.

illustration/WESLEY WYNNE

The Lion’s Tale

April 16, 2010

Features

11

Teens help out family businesses and not have to be told to

with his father at the security company, Stephanie O’Sullivan Crime Prevention and Enforcement, enjoyed do it,” said Miller. staff reporter the chance of learning about security.

Stonebreaker gets the

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hat started out as hanging out at “It was good for me. I learned some stuff, her mother’s office turned into a like what it’s like to be in the hot sun all day. steady summer and weekend job It’s no joke, it’s the real world. My job was for freshman Tori Stonebreaker. basically making sure that everyone was safe “My mom just asked me if I wanted and secure,” said Hyde. to help her out at her office, and over the Hyde enjoyed the extra time he got to summer, it became a regular thing,” said spend with his father.

Stonebreaker.

“It was a really good experience for me.

Stonebreaker, whose mother works as a I prefer working with my family because I real estate agent with the Winter Springs Exit know then, and in the long run, being with office, enjoys working with her mother. family helps. I grew closer to my father.

“It helps me because I get to go out and We got to talk about things we hadn’t talked take pictures with my mom of the houses, about in a while, because we were alone.” and I want to get into photo journalism in the Sophomore Andres Vera shares the same future.” experience.

Freshman Amy Small shares a similar “I work with my dad and two brothers [at story.

Bouncing House Orlando] on the weekends.

“My dad is a lawyer for Wilson Garber I enjoy it because I get to spend time with and Smith. My responsibilities are mainly to my dad, and at the same time get experience. file papers and help It has really opened my him organize for trial eyes to the working “[Working with my family] has by making copies world,” said Vera. of papers. I enjoy it, Sophomore Cody really opened my eyes to the though, because in the Miller, who has been working world.” future, I would like to working with his go to the University parents at Florida Pet Andres Vera, ‘12 of Florida and then to Research (FPR) since law school, just like he was in the seventh my dad,” said Small. grade, enjoys his job.

Small has been helping her father out “It’s a great way to spend time with my with his work since she was nine. parents, and at the same time achieve an “At first, it was kind of weird because income. Also, I have grown closer to my dad, my dad was my boss. But now it’s cool. I’ve because he is my boss, and we are together been going there since I was little, so I knew more,” said Miller. everyone already.”

Although Miller and his father have Junior Glorida Lozano shares a slightly grown closer, Miller doesn’t believe he gets different experience. any special treatment at work.

“I don’t work with my parents, but I do “I’m a maintenance worker, so I have work for them, at the Goldenrod branch of to drive the tractor and spray the fruit and Twistee Treat,” said Lozano. vegetables to protect them from disease. But Senior Justin Hyde, who no longer works my parents expect me to know what to do

same treatment as Miller at work.

“My mom expects whatever she tells me to do to get done on time, more so than when she just makes a comment to everyone. I’m the youngest one there, and I’m not just my mom’s little helper. If someone needs help, that’s what I’m there for. Nobody ever said work had to be fun,” said Stonebreaker.

Lozano sometimes feels the pressure while at work.

Working is not always an easy ride for Stonebreaker. photo/KEVIN VELOSO “It can be stressful sometime because I have A ‘MOM AND POP’ SHOP. Juniro Glorida Lozano works at her parents’ to listen to my mom like business, the Goldenrod branch of Twistee Treat, an ice cream shop. a boss, and like a parent.

We don’t butt heads that much, though. In have my phone out whenever I want, and the end, she’s happy I’m there and I’m happy I’m pretty much friends with everyone who I’m there,” said Stonebreaker. works there,” said Stonebreaker.

One of Small’s favorite aspects of her job Stonebreaker’s lenient schedule agrees is the lenient scheduling, which Stonebreaker with her sometimes hectic after school hours of playing lacrosse five days a week, and and Miller agree with.

“I am the only teenager there, and I get to taking care of her horse.

Stonebreaker suggests teens working choose my hours. I work whenever possible, which is pretty much only over the summer with their parents.

“I would definitely recommend other and on the weekends. But I think I could people to work with their parents because handle working more,” said Small.

Stonebreaker enjoys the flexibility that it’s really helpful. You can learn a lot more from your family and faster. Plus, if you comes with working with her mother.

“There aren’t as many restrictions as mess up, they might fire you, but at the end working at other places. I can dress in of the day, your parents are there for you,” whatever I want to, eat whenever I want, said Stonebreaker.

Missionaries spread ‘the Word’ in Brazil Kimberly Segrest

O

staff reporter

viedo High school students traveled to Brazil this spring break with the First Baptist church of Oviedo to talk to the Students there about God. “The purpose of the mission is to go share God with people who wouldn’t necessarily be able to know God any other way,” said junior Sarah Owens.

They do this by performing a series of four different skits.

“They [the skits] show people’s lives before and after [they find] God and how he helps them become better people and love themselves more,” said Owens.

Due to the language barrier the skits had no words and were performed instead to to music.

“We had three translators with us but when we went to the high schools a lot of them spoke English. So we could interact with them without having translators,” said Schmidt.

The missionaries preformed primarily for schools, ranging from elementary to high school.

“There wasn’t really a difference [between elementary and high school] but there was a maturity level. Some of the little kids were really rowdy and some of the high school kids were really rowdy,” said junior Luke Pearson.

Once the skits started their young audiences usually calmed down.

“Most of the kids were pretty rowdy at times but once we started doing our skits and performing it was amazing how focused they were and how much they paid attention to us and thanked us for what we did,” said Schmidt.

In fact, the highlight of the trip for many of the missionaries

was their interactions with the kids they talked to. exited to have us there and wanted us to come back,” he said.

“Playing with the little kids was the best part,” said They chose to do missions to Brazil beacuse their minister Pearson. is from there and it seems that the students found it to be a good Schmidts’ favorite part also involved the students they choice. talked to.

“It’s definitely a place that embraces religion and will “[The best part was] when later in the week one of the kids accept us said Owens. in our group told me that two of the kids had gotten saved During the time they spent traveling between schools they at one of the schools we went to earlier in the week,” said were able to see a lot of the countryside.

Schmidt.

“Its beautiful there were mountains and green vegetation Those two weren’t the only ones who were grateful for every where. I really enjoyed it. If I ever get the chance to what they did. go back I definitely will” said Schmidt.

“There was probably at least one kid per Besides sight seeing another great thing about school who would come up to us after we the trip was getting to hang out with the other preformed and would thank us for what missionaries. we were doing and for coming to their “They’re all kids from our church so we all school,” said Schmidt. know each other,” said Owens. “We all grew up Most of the schools were happy to have going to the same church.” the missionaries, however, some were not.

Having the same beliefs in common helped to ‘10 “A lot of the schools would be open to us Daniel Schmidt bring the missionaries closer together. performing for them because of how bad the areas are “It was great being around a strong group of and our message is good for them to hear,” said Schmidt.

Christians,” said Schmidt.

“But one of the schools we went to, some of the teachers Owens continued that, “They’re some of our best friends [there] were atheist and told us not to come back,” he because some times its easier to be with people who believe continued. in the same things that you do rather than kids you just see Owens, who has been on missions to Brazil twice and at school.” to the Bahamas once, says that this is not an unheard of It was having these things in common that brought them thing to happen on missions. all to Brazil.

“There are people who don’t want to hear what “I love serving other people and I really enjoyed we have to say. [They] don’t want to give us the presenting the Gospel to the Brazilians,” said Schmidt. time of day,” she said.

“Because I believe it’s important that even if they don’t Despite this set back their spirits weren’t want to accept Jesus Christ that they at least hear the word dampened. and know that God loves them.”

“We felt pretty good,” said Schmidt, “because that For whatever reason it was enough to draw them all means we were getting done what no one wanted to get to Brazilian schools for spring break rather than Floridas done, reaching out to those kids to show them what God sunny beaches. can do for them.”

“I decided to go because I felt I could really help those After this one incident things went a lot smother. people get to know God the way I know him and I felt like “That was the only school. The other schools were very he [God] wanted me to go,” said Owens.

12

Diversions

April 16, 2010

The Lion’s Tale

Wizarding World brings movies, books to life Miranda Ghali

M

co-editor-in-chief

uggles, rejoice! The highly anticipated Wizarding World of Harry Potter is set to open this summer at Universal Orlando Resort.

The fantasy book series that children and adults have come to know and love has been adapted into a theme park and has been in the works since 2007. With three new rides and an entire city based off of the scenes and places in the movies and the books, the park promises something for every Harry Potter fan.

As visitors walk into the world, they will first enter through Hogsmeade, the town just outside of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardy that students are able to take weekend trips to during the school year. There they will be welcomed by the iconic Hogwart’s Express, the train that takes young wizards to and from Hogwarts.

Hogsmeade will feature multiple stores and restaurants created by author J.K. Rowling including Ollivander’s Wand Shop, Zonko’s Joke Shop, The Three Broomsticks tavern, and more.

Senior Shelby Maniccia, who has been reading the Harry Potter series since she first heard about it in her third grade year, plans on making her first stop at the interactive Ollivander’s Wand Shop.

There, the wand will “choose you” much like the scene in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone when Harry gets his first wand as a young wizard. Visitors will be able to buy the wand that was selected especially for them or buy other wands that are featured in the books and movies by the main characters.

In The Three Broomsticks Tavern and the Hog’s Head Pub, muggles will be able to try the famous Butterbeer drink that the characters of Harry Potter enjoy so much.

Senior Mackenzie Gill is most excited to try the novel drink.

“I want to know if it tastes like cream soda or not because that’s how I always thought of it,” said Gill.

The park doesn’t only consist of stores, but will also present three new and adapted rides: Flight of the Hippogriff, Dragon Challenge, and most anticipated Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey.

While Flight of the Hippogriff and Dragon Challenge are both adapted rollercoasters from original Universal Studios rides, the experiences will be completely new for returning visitors.

Originally The Flying Unicorn, Flight of the Hippogriff is an interactive ride that is presented by Hagrid, the gamekeeper of Hogwarts. Before visitors will be allowed to ride the Hippogriff, they must first learn how to approach them. The magical half-bird, half-horse creatures that were presented in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban will fly over Hagrid’s pumpkin patch and past Hagrid’s hut.

The second rollercoaster, once known as Dueling Dragons and now called Dragon Challenge, will recreate the Triwizard Tournament event from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Two different rollercoasters in one, riders will be able to select to ride either the Chinese Fireball or the

Hungarian Horntail.

“I never went on Dueling Dragons when it was there and I heard that it was really great then. Now that it has a Harry Potter theme, it will be even better,” said senior Paige Lenssen.

Senior Taylor Nevin shares the same excitement.

“I can’t wait to see the rollercoasters. I love riding rollercoasters and the Harry Potter theme sounds just awesome.”

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey promises to be the most innovative ride at Universal featuring 12 different scenes from the movies and books. With state-of-the-art technology created especially for this ride, muggles will get the chance to visit Hogwarts, the school that every Harry Potter fan awaited their acceptance for as children.

The line itself will present scenes from the entire Harry Potter series and will take riders throughout Hogwarts classrooms and grounds before people even set foot on the actual ride. People will be entertained with talking portraits, Dumbledore’s Office, Gryffindor’s Common Room, the Room of Requirement, and more.

Maniccia said, “I have always imagined going to school at Hogwarts, it’s my dream college that I am still waiting for my acceptance from. They’re replicating Hogwarts Castle and Dumbledore’s office almost exactly from the movie set, which is what I am most excited for aside from the wand matching.”

The ride will also allow muggles to travel by Floo Powder through more scenes including a Quidditch match and the Whomping Willow.

“I can’t wait to see how their interpretation of the books and movies is going to be. I think they’re going to have a lot of really cool special effects,” said senior Beau Hogan.

For students that have spent most of their childhood awaiting the next Harry Potter book or movie, the theme park is just one more way to perpetuate the series.

“It is the greatest escape I have ever experienced. J.K. Rowling created a world, not a story like Twilight, a place and a time that is so palpable that it envelops you from the moment you get on the Hogwarts Express in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” said Maniccia. “My heart races every time I think about the incredible magic Rowling created.”

What attractio Jorden Pugsley ‘11

“I cannot wait for Hogsmeade. From the owlery to Ollivander’s! Every little detail is going to be fantastic.”

Sh

The Lion’s Tale

April 16, 2010

Diversions

all photos/© 2009 Universal Orlando Resort. All rights reserved.

TOIL AND TROUBLE. 1. The main thoroughfare through the Wizarding World of Harry Potter will be familiar

to Potter fans. Hogsmede will feature shops found in the books, including Zonko’s, The Three Broomsticks, and Honeydukes. 2. & 3. What was once Dueling Dragons and The Flying Unicorn have been converted to fit the Potter theme, incorporating the dangerous Hungarian Horntail and the Hippogriff. 4. The Three Broomsticks will serve up Hogwarts-themed fare to Potter fans, including real Butterbeer (developed especially for the park) and lots of traditional Hogwarts dishes. 5. Ollivander’s wands will be available for purchase - after they choose you, of course.

on are you most excited about?

helby Moniccia ‘10

“Getting my wand at Ollivander’s.

Everything is going to blow my mind.”

“I’m excited for the merchandise, I need a new wand.”

Tim Johnson

‘10

“I am most excited to see the inside of Hogwarts. I think it’s going to be glorious.”

Tova Kranz

‘11

“I’m excited to see the Three Broomsticks and other shops in Hogsmead. It will be cool to see Megan Stanforth ‘10 them life size.”

13

April 16, 2010

The Lion’s Tale One by One

S

enior Tyler Dudley spent seven months gaining the trust of a 1,100-pound steer named Clutch as part of his senior project.

A steer is a castrated bull male that is sold and used for his meat and hide, also known as skin. Their hide can be used for a range of things from leather to chewing gum.

“Having a 1100 pound animal trust you, and only you is just really cool,” said Dudley Because Dudley used to race dirt bikes, he wanted his steer’s name to reflect that activity, hence the name “Clutch”.

Dudley’s childhood was filled with pets such as a hamster, fish, two chow dogs, and an English bulldog.

He has always loved animals and enjoyed going to his grandpa’s farm over the summer in Perry, Florida.

Dreaming of being a rancher Dudley came to love being on the farm and being around animals. He enjoyed seeing the cattle on the ranch.

“It [ranching] has always been an interest to me and I’ve always wanted to be involved with the cattle industry,” said Dudley To follow up on this interest, Dudley bought Clutch for $500 from Duda & Sons Ranch in Cocoa, Florida on Aug. 14, 2009.

Dudley kept Clutch on his friends’ property in Black Hammock, a rural area not far from Oviedo High School.

He had to go out there every day after school for about an hour to an hour and a half to feed and walk Clutch. Walking Clutch every day for an hour kept clutch in shape.

Cost of care for the steercost approximately $50 a week.

In order to finance Clutch, Dudley had to take out an $1800 loan.

“Having a 1100 pound animal trust you, and only you is just really cool,” said Dudley Although Clutch and Dudley were close, Clutch gave him a hard time.

For example, Dudley got a rope burn from him because while trying to get Clutch into the chute, the holding pen used for farm

Did

you ? know?

?

Half ton steer sells for profit

?

?

Amanda Ferguson

?

14 Features

Horses can’t vomit, cashew shells itch

photos/COURTESY OF TYLER DUDLEY

TONS OF FUN. Senior Tyler Dudley shows his prize beefmaster cross steer, Clutch, who weighs over 1100 lbs. Clutch took

1

Energy is being wasted if a toaster is left plugged in after use.

2

A cucumber is 96% water.

3

Horses can’t vomit.

4

A plastic container can resist decomposition for as long as 50,000 years.

5

Diamonds mined in Brazil are harder than those found in Africa.

6

Head lice actually prefer to live on clean heads, not dirty ones.

7

All of the Peking ducks in the United States are descendents from three ducks and one drake imported to Long Island, New York in 1873.

8

The first Lifesaver flavor was peppermint.

9

Cashew nut shells contain oil that is extremely irritating to human skin

10

The longest game of Monopoly played underwater is 45 days.

3rd place in the 4-H competition and earned his owner over $600 in profits.

animals, Clutch got scared by something outside and ran off, pulling the rope through Dudley’s hands.

Also, Clutch managed to get out during the second weigh-in. He broke through three fences and nearly injured a man by throwing the man over his head.

The goal of the senior project was to show Clutch at the 4-H competition held at Central Florida Fair grounds and to finally to sell him.

During the four days that Clutch was at the fair grounds, Dudley drove out to the grounds every day to care for Clutch.

Dudley showed Clutch in three events at the fair, showmanship in the morning on Saturday, then later that day in the beef class.

Sunday afternoon was the auction.

Clutch was in the blue ribbon class, which is the highest class of meat, and means it is highly priced and desired.

Blue ribbon qualifications include muscle definition, straight back, low fat, and

proportional body mass.

Clutch took 3rd place in the beef class which placed him in the blue ribbon class.

“It made me feel really good to place. I wouldn’t have cared if I didn’t place, but it was great just being able to do it,” said Dudley.

On March 7, Clutch was sold to ten different buyers for a total of about $2,463.

The buyers will share the meat they want from the steers’ body.

Dudley’s profit totalled about $663, which he plans to use to get his truck working.

Raising a steer turned into learning experience for Dudley. “Raising a steer taught me patience, dedication, and leadership. It has made me an all-around better person being in the 4-H this year, by learning what is it like to be in the real world,” said Dudley.

Dudley enjoyed raising a steer and plans to go to ABAC (Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College) to learn about becoming a rancher.

Dudley intends to have steers as well as dairy cows on his future ranch.

I SEE YOU. Tyler Dudley

Jelly

by Miranda Harmon

trains his show steer with a halter and rope. The steer showed in the 4-H blue ribbon class, which is the highest class for cattle.

Editor’s Note: One by one appears in every edition of the Lion’s Tale, and features a randomly selected student. This edition a staff reporter interviewed the first person seen wearing silver.

compiled from/WWW.STRANGEFACTS.COM

Diversions

The Lion’s Tale

Brighten Up Your Lips Defined lips are great, but make sure the liner matches the lipstick or gloss. Dark liner and light lips are tacky. For “plump” lips, apply liner just outside your natural lip line. This Watermelon Lipstick keeps its just-applied look for hours. It won’t feather, creep, stain or dry out.

Watermelon Lipstick $14

Implement Concealer Apply a little bit of concealer under the eye to take away circles from under eyes. It also prevents the darkness you see under your eyes in pictures. This quick drying formula is easy to blend. Ophthalmologist tested.

Concealer-Quick Corrector $14

Makeup specialist at the Clinique counter in the Oviedo Marketplace applies powder blush to the cheek of Junior Lindsay Broadhurst. photos/JULIA THORNCROFT

Find Jelly!

When putting on blush, make sure you look into the mirror and smile. This helps you figure out where the ‘apple’ of your cheek is.

Also, always sweep it in one direction. Going over & over or around and around causes streaks & can hurt your brush.

Soft-Pressed Powder Blusher $19

Emphasize Your Lips

Superfine Liner $13

*All makeovers and makeup courtesy of Clinique Department in Dillards, located in the Oviedo Marketplace

Experts provide tips on how to look your best at prom Smooth Out Your Acne Use this quick corrector under makeup only.

It clears up acne so that you won’t even see if through the makeup you have on. Gentle, soothing formula provides natural-looking coverage as blemishes heal. In three skin tone shades to wear alone, under makeup or for touch-ups. Plus, a green tint to visually correct redness. Oil free.

Acne Solutions Clearing Concealer $13.50

Sunkissed Skin To give yourself some color for prom, make sure you apply this Bronzer Sunblushed to your forehead, cheeks then your chin. Try to go with a natural color since natrual is what this year’s prom is all about.

Bronzer Sunblushed $24

Exotic Eyebrows

Brush On Some Blush

Always use soft and featherlike strokes from the inner corner of the eyebrow till the arch to outline them. Use light upwardoutward strokes, as you draw fine lines between the brow hairs. Apply a bit more pressure when you define the underside of your brow.

15

A small image of Jelly has been hidden somewhere in the paper.

Last edition Jelly was hidden on page 24.

T S I L K C E H MAKEUP C FOR PROM

TIME TO SHINE.

April 16, 2010

PROM MAKE OVER. Senior Erika Manning’s prom make over includes defined lips, a must for an evening event.

Always use soft and feather like strokes from the inner corner of the eyebrow until the arch to outline them. Use light upward-outward strokes, as you draw fine lines between the brow hairs. Apply a bit more pressure when you define the underside of your brow.

Superfine Liner $13

16

Diversions

April 16, 2010

The Lion’s Tale

Ranch dressing saves day Reporter risks taste buds with Wild Wing challenge

Sizzlin’ HOT Caribbean Jerk was the hottest I had ever dared to go. But staff reporter Caribbean Jerk is only half way up BWW’s ladder of flame, tomachs are exploding, guts are busting, and mandibles with the Blazin’ sauce seated at the top. While hot, there are are masticating. In restaurants around the world, definitely more difficult challenges out there than this one. patrons are taking on glutinous food challenges. Go to Neglecting to heed my waiter’s warnings of grown men Fudrucker’s and force down a five-pound burger. Go to Lazy crying and blistered tongues, I made the order. The cooks Moon and eat a pizza the size of a car windshield. were probably laughing about it at that very moment: “Look!

Or go to Buffalo Wild Wings and scarf down 12 chicken Another idiot wants to try the challenge,” yells a cook from wings spicy enough to make anyone defecate hot coals for across the kitchen. the next week.

The time had come, six minutes and counting. I began In a lapse of proper judgment, the newspaper staff decided with the conventional route of bringing the searing meat to to entertain readers by taking on a local food challenge. my face and biting it directly off the bone. But the burn in Faced with limited options in the immediate area, I chose between each successive wing was ridiculous. to take on the Buffalo Wild Wing Blazin’ After about three wings, I decided to Challenge.

Want to try the challenge? switch to the method of stripping the meat The challenge is to consume 12 of their The Buffalo Wild Wings in off of the bones and eating it all at once. hottest wings in under six minutes without Casselberry (900 State Road By not wasting time in between wings, the using napkins, drinks, or anything else. 436) offers it. Good luck! idea was to reduce the amount of time that To my dismay, I discovered that Oviedo’s this ungodly hot sauce was in direct contact BWW doesn’t offer the challenge. But the Casselberry with my bare taste buds. location, only five minutes away, was there to save the day.

The only problem: Blazin’ sauce indiscriminately burns Since my last incident with hot sauce involved an ill-fated fingers and taste buds alike. dare Tijuana Flats’ Endorphin Rush, I made sure to properly Eventually it was over. Six minutes up and I was the new protect myself. I brought along a bottle of maximum strength winner of the Buffalo Wild Wing Blazin’ Challenge. In an Tums and a bag of throat lozenges to ease the burn. attempt to gargle out the pain, I grabbed friend’s cup of ranch I had hoped that the oral anesthetic in the throat lozenges dressing proceeded to rinse my mouth out. This was probably would relieve the coming pain like a shot of morphine before one of the most disgusting scenes ever witnessed. a battlefield amputation.

There I sat, tears gushing from my eyes, face smeared But it didn’t. with hot sauce, and a mouth full of ranch dressing and The minor numbing of taste buds, if any, was virtually chicken bits. nonexistent. The best I could do now was to preemptively Not only did I win a place on the wall with my picture on shovel Tums into my mouth and hope to God I wouldn’t it, I won whole afternoon of stomachaches the next day. In burn a hole in my stomach. hindsight, maybe eating a windshield-sized pizza wouldn’t For the record, I am an admitted hot sauce lightweight. have been so bad.

S

teen holds up his legal pad prominently and begins to sing his song. It was just as lame and cheesy as a Robert Pattinson movie.

I quickly lost interest in the song. Sitting at my table, I couldn’t help but notice how many people were crammed into this tiny coffee shop. Questions and conspiracies Julia Thorncroft co-opinion editor permeated my mind. How many people can this building facilitate? What if there was a Just say ‘no’ to Starbucks fire? People would stumble over each other just to get out alive. Trampling over each t’s 5:00 on Friday night. At the request other, a barista is bound to get murdered, of my editors, I shuttled two of my friends into my car and sped over to the just like the Wal-Mart employee from the Black Friday incident.

Willa Springs Plaza. Enticed by the sight Then I look over and notice an of a twin-tailed siren, my friends and I ventured off towards the local watering hole overweight businessman eyeballing me. I could only imagine how of the superficial. he felt about spending a Friday It was Open Mic night at Starbucks. night alone at a Starbucks filled In a nation overwhelmed and addicted with teenagers. He was probably to Starbucks, I have no interest in going to thinking, “If there is a fire, I’m one. The thought of spending five dollars pushing you out of my way, on a 100+ calorie drink bewilders me. little girl.”

Regardless, I happily grab my chai latte Great, not only has the shrill and find a table, watching teenagers set up sound of emo-acoustic begun microphones. to haunt me. Now I’m scared out Now it’s 6:30, and the place is getting of my mind that obese Samuel L. crowded. Teenagers from different high Jackson is about to go O.J. on me. schools go up to the microphone, each Fortunately, that was only a figment of fashionably wearing a guitar around their my imagination. In reality, the businessman neck as if they’re Kurt Cobain. Then one

Pop Culture Column

I

Popular hot sauces by ranking of Scoville units (method of measuring spicy heat).

photo/KEVIN VELOSO

Kevin Veloso

700,000

250,000

The Slap Heard Around the World eighth Buffalo Wild Wings Blazin’ Sauce

33,390

Endorphin Rush

2500

Original Tabasco Pepper Sauce

500

was looking for his colleague who walked in about five minutes after my caffeineinduced hallucination. Relieved, I chimed back into whatever pointless conversation my friends and I were having as another pair of students walked over to the microphones.

My friends and I sat there, empty cups in hand, feeling slightly bored from watching teen after teen play song after song.

Questioning the relevance of being there, we left shortly afterwards.

The

Frank’s Red Hot Sauce information/CHILLIWORLD.COM illustration/MIRANDA GHALI

evening was an epic waste of time. To be fair, the music wasn’t completely horrid. In all honesty I think it’s nice that teenagers have a place like Starbucks where they can play their music and spend time with friends. It’s just not my ideal way of spending time.

If I want to drink coffee and listen to music with my friends, I’ll invite them over to my place where we can brew up some Folgers and listen to Neutral Milk Hotel or The Runaways. Plus, I make a better cup of Joe than any snotty green-aproned barista.

Starbucks is truly a fantasy world, where people get sucked in and spend all their money on a simple beverage. The iconic logo for Starbucks is a nude siren.

And if you know anything about Greek Mythology, you know that sirens are bad news. A siren is the same thing as a femme fatale, something that lures someone in and eventually leads them down a dangerous or deadly path.

And let me tell you this, when someone refers to herself as a coffee addict and their favorite drink is a Caramel Frappuccino with whipped cream on top, they’re not a real coffee drinker.

No, a real coffee addict can drink black coffee without having a hissy fit.

Waiting Game: The Lion’s Tale

Tiffany Ray

J

April 16, 2010

Diversions 17

Parents make strict rules about dating

Robillard doesn’t worry about the features editor of the theater, and she will sit right behind dating restrictions either. us,” said Robillard.

unior Rayah Gutek scoots closer to her boyfriend, a book in hand.

Gutek’s parents pass by the scene with disapproving looks, unhappy that the two teenagers are sharing an intimate moment.

“My boyfriend of two years and I were reading, and cuddling on the floor, sitting apparently ‘way too close.’ I was told later on by my parents that it was inappropriate, and to never do it again,” said Gutek. “I think that should be acceptable after three years of dating.”

Gutek is not surprised by her parents’ behavior, due to the strict dating rules they have decreed.

“My parents’ number one rule is that any first date has to be a double date with them, and if they don’t approve of the guy, I can’t date him anymore,” said Gutek.

Sophomore Mirysa Robillard can empathize.

“My mom really doesn’t want me to date anyone. People say that their dads are scary when it comes to dating, but it’s my mom that’s strict. If I find anyone that I want to date, my mom will follow us around for the first five dates,” said Robillard.

Robillard’s mom will follow no matter what kind of date it is.

“If I go to the movies on a date, we can’t be in the back

Even with the inconvienance, Robillard understands her mother’s mentality.

“I’m her eldest child. She knows she kind of made a lot of mistakes raising me, and she wants to do one thing completely right as a parent,” said Robillard.

Freshman Amanda Brown* thinks that gender plays a role in strict rules about dating.

“I can date when I turn 15, but I’m about to turn 15, and my mom changed her mind.

Now I’m not allowed to date until 16. My brother dated at 14 because he’s a boy, and he can’t get pregnant. My parents are more protective of their girl. It’s not fair that their trust is based on gender,” said Brown.

Junior Michelle Bateman agrees.

“Girls tend to get attached to a relationship more than guys, and there’s a worse aftermath after a breakup. Some parents might worry about that.” Bateman.

Sophomore Arjun Babuji knows that parents aren’t only protecting their girls.

“I’m not allowed to date because my parents don’t want me to be distracted by a girl. School is for studies, and that’s all,” said Babuji.

Babuji thinks that the Asian culture drives his parents to push his studies.

“They want me to be able to go to good colleges, and to do well in life. I’m used to the idea. I guess I can date after college, without fear of distraction. It’s the Asian culture. First in our class is Asian, and we’re all used to it,” said Babuji.

“It’s weird knowing my younger peers have had tons of dating experience, and at 17 years of age I’ve never even had a boyfriend. But I’m not rushing out there to date, so I’ve let it go. My mom wants me to make sure he’s a quality guy, and she’s right because that’s important,” said Robillard.

Though some find ways around the rules.

“I’m not allowed to date, but I began seeing this guy who wasn’t allowed to date either. Our parents found out, and broke us up.

We were only allowed to be friends, but we hid a continued relationship,” said Brown.

Gutek considers herself lucky that she can date, knowing the restrictions can be worse, but her parents rules still get to her.

“I’m not a bad person for wanting to be close to my boyfriend, or to want to be intimate at all. It’s just not fair,” said Gutek.

Brown wishes that her parents would let her date.

Said Brown, “They don’t realize that I can be trusted in a relationship. My parents never gave me a chance to show them that.” *name withheld

illustration/MIRANDA HARMON

Fuse

Literary Magazine

On Sale Now!

$5

Money can be delivered to Mrs. Jepson in room 05-020, Carson Bailey, Julia Thorncroft, or any of the newspaper kids!

18

April 16, 2010

Diversions

The Lion’s Tale

‘Clash of the Titans’ crashes, burns despite 3D effects

Movie Reviews

Angiee Carey

photos/TOUCHSTONE.MOVIES.GO.COM/THELASTSONG

‘The Last Song’ actors disappoint audiences unnatural.

the troubled teenager with her own history with the law.

In this small town in Georgia, secrets are he Last Song is the typical “summer immediately puts on the attitude of “don’t very hard to be kept. Which is probably why romance” movie, following the know, don’t care,” ignoring her father as she it seems as if everyone’s lives intertwine standard plot; Boy meets girl, boy brushes past him on her with one another; Will loves Ronnie, who Rating: PG tries to win girl over, they fall in love, walk to the beach is friends with Blaze, who is dating Lance Time: 107 min (Michael Jamorski), who often tries to credits roll.

She immediately Grade: CRonnie Miller (Miley Cyrus) gets sent stands out as the only pick a fight with Will, at any opportunity. to her father’s house for the summer after a one not clad in a Don’t fight fire with fire is a recurring brush with the law, sees the light, and tries bathingsuit and instead wearing black boots moral in the movie. Secrets ignite the flame to stop her illegal ways. and jeans. and rumors spread like wildfire, clashing But that’s exactly what Cyrus’ character It is there that the two teens first fall for together to set the last 45 minutes of the was missing; a light, a spark of emotion. each other, literally. Will Blakelee (Liam movie in flames. Cyrus’ acting seems to go Throughout the entire movie, Cyrus’ Hemsworth) crashes into Ronnie and they up in flames in those last 45 minutes, which acting had me thinking “called that,” and both tumble to the ground, knocking her I didn’t think would be possible.

I wondered when her acting was going to strawberry shake all over Ronnie. After Once again, Cyrus proves that start. I will admit, she did have a few good sidestepping Will’s apologies with a “lets ‘Nobody’s Perfect.” moments in the movie, but for the most part, not and say we did” attitude, Ronnie walks I couldn’t wait for the last song to be her movements were over-rehearsed and around and meets Blaze (Carly Chaikin), sung.

Stephanie O’Sullivan Ronnie arrives at her father’s (played staff reporter by Greg Kinnear) beach house, and

T

Music Reviews

Smoke and Mirrors

LowCountry

Miranda Ghali

Congratulations

Envy on the Coast

Caitlyn Braswell

I

staff reporter

n recent years, listeners have become enthralled with lyrics. Often, the melodies and basics of a song are even put on the back burner for close-to-home lyrics. It takes true talent to mix both lyrics and melody into a genius combination many could call Lowcountry.

Three albums later, Envy On The Coast has matured their unique sound moved away from their fast, heavy beats on their sophomore album Lucy Grey, Lowcountry moved the band into a southern rock masterpiece. Deep bass mixed with frontman Ryan Hunter’s High pitched screams are perfected on standout songs like “The Devil’s Tongue.” This album is truly something to keep in any collection.

DOWNLOAD THIS> Numb

Wednesday, April 28 6:30 p.m House of Blues

Tim McGraw

Friday, May 7 7:00 p.m Ford Amphitheatre at Florida State Fairgrounds

staff reporter

o the disappointment of many, the recent breakout duo MGMT took a ride on the failure wave with their most recent album Congratulations.

The band that sent its listeners on a journey through the decades through Oracular Spectacular has faltered and fallen down into a spineless mass of notes and lyrics. While the band attempted to grow into a more mature psychedelic band, songs like their 12 minute long “Siberian Break” gives it’s listeners more false endings than a bad soap opera. Though the band failed to get their lyrically intellectual point across this time, perhaps they will cycle around to album gold once more.

DOWNLOAD THIS> It’s Working

Upcoming Concerts

Thirty Seconds to Mars

She & Him Alternative

Caitlyn Braswell

T

Drake

Wednesday, April 21 8:00 p.m UCF Arena

Motion City Soundtrack Sunday, April 25 5:30 p.m House of Blues

Lifehouse Alternative Rock

Volume Two

MGMT

Julia Thorncroft

T

staff reporter

Looking for a movie that’s all about Greek Gods showing off their swords and sandals? Then this is a movie for you.

Think this movie is going to retell the stories of Greek mythology? Then this movie is going to be a big disappointment.

Just about the only cool thing in this movie is that it’s in 3D. It has a standard plot, just like in all the rest of these ‘mythology’ movies. Gods, princesses, heroes and don’t forget about the weird looking creatures that are always Rating: PG-13 trying to eat people.

Time: 106 min But that Grade: D happens to be exactly what this movie features. There’s a hero, Perseus (Sam Worthington), who, of course, doesn’t even find out that he’s a demi-god until a tragic event occurs. He wants revenge on the god of the underworld, Hades (Ralph Fiennes) for killing his mortal parents. So that’s really the main plot throughout this whole film.

Then there’s always a girl, Lo (Gemma Arterton), whom the hero falls in love with and ends up saving from deadly situations.

But I must say that the acting was actually quite entertaining. They did a really good job pretending that the monsters they were killing were real, especially when Perseus runs into giant scorpions, Medusa and they even release the Kraken as the conclusion of the movie.

Pretty impressive.

co-opinion editor

he world immediately fell in love with actress Zooey Deschanel (Almost Famous, 500 Days of Summer) and folk troubadour M. Ward when they first collaborated as She & Him on their debut album in 2008. Their new album, Volume Two proves they haven’t lost their quirkiness.

Volume Two hardly disappoints fans.

Lighthearted songs such as “Lingering Still” combine country twang with pop and a smidge of flamenco, their sophomore album brings out bright and sunny feelings.

Full of sing-a-long tunes like “Over It Over Again” and “In the Sun”, this album radiates both nostalgia and hope. Anyone could easily mistake it for something out of 1960s AM radio, especially on songs “Don’t Look Back” and “I’m Gonna Make It Better.”

“Home” is a pitch-perfect piece of Carole King-style piano pop, and a version of Skeeter Davis’ “Gonna Get Along Without You Now” has a sweetly shuffling country-soul groove.

It would be a challenge to not like She & Him. When it comes to song deliverance, Deschanel is unconventionally genuine. The opening song full of heartbreak, “Thieves” proves to be the most powerful song on the record.

Sophisticated yet understated, this is the sunniest sad album you’ll hear in your life.

DOWNLOAD THIS> Thieves

L

co-editor-in-chief

ifehouse has done it again. With the highly anticipated release of the band’s fifth album, Smoke and Mirrors, Lifehouse has created yet another amazing set of songs.

The band, which first became known 10 years ago for their single “Hanging By a Moment,” took three years to put this album together. In gaining a new band member and working with some other famous singers, the album was well worth the wait.

Whether in the mood for a pop-y tune (“Falling In”) or a classic rock beat (“Nerve Damage”), the 12 songs on the standard release album includes one for most any music tastes, with each new song being completely different from the one before it.

Fans of Chris Daughtry, “American Idol” alum, should take notice of the third track on Smoke and Mirrors, “Had Enough.” Not only did he co-write the song with Lifehouse leader Jason Wade but, he even joined in the background vocals.

The bands are even currently on tour of the U.S. and Canada together but unfortunately aren’t making a stop in Florida.

In yet another surprise, bassist Bryce Soderberg sings lead vocals for “Wrecking Ball” as the first time Lifehouse has ever had a lead singer other than Wade. Though skeptical at first about a different singer, Soderberg pulls if off effortlessly and brilliantly.

Lifehouse’s attempt at a new connection with fans through a new style on Smoke and Mirrors proves perfect and fans of Lifehouse will already be looking forward to another album.

DOWNLOAD THIS> All In

The Lion’s Tale

April 16, 2010

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April 16, 2010

The Lion’s Tale

Sports

A. Bolen

N. Patel

C. Hensley

R. Ireland E. Hedberg

C. Perry D. Mueller

Polo team dons zebra stripes Jordan Branch

A

staff reporter

new year brought a more confident team in zebra Speedos. The boys water polo team now wears a zebra pattern to make their victories sting a little more. The defeated teams take the embarrassment that comes with being beaten by a team in Zebra.

“I picked them out for the team. We did it, because three years ago the Oviedo boys water polo team had pink leopard Speedos and we wanted to carry on the tradition,” said Colin Perry. “We also wanted to humiliate our opponents when they are defeated by a bunch of guys in Zebra.”

Many members of the team sit together at lunch. They also come together for group activities that help them in the game to be a more bonded team.

“We have team dinners together at some of the team member’s houses. We watch recordings of our previous games to learn from mistakes,” said freshman Alex Persampiere.

Working with a team proves to be a great difference from flying solo.

“I am currently the only member of the boy’s diving team and it feels good to go to water polo and have a team behind me, supporting me. It’s like one big family,” said junior Ryan Ireland.

The team continues to succeed in their goals to win this season with their new style.

“We are undefeated in our district with three wins and zero losses,” said Awestyn.

The team credits a lot of their success to coaches that attend their practices to work with them individually and make the team better as a whole.

“I consider us lucky to have two junior coaches who have played their whole life. They get in the pool with us and give us one on one tutoring and show us how to perfect certain techniques,” said Persampiere. “I think that having three young coaches is much better than having a middle aged man who played water polo many years ago, because they are more active.”

This year, the team lacks a senior push. The boy’s team

instead comprised of underclassmen.

“I am the only freshman on the team out of a group of sophomores and juniors. I feel really lucky to have the opportunity to play with teammates that are able to teach me new and advanced techniques. I am happy to be a freshman and already have a lot of experience under my belt,” said Persampiere.

Many members have bonded from past seasons, and are continuing to build on that bond this season.

“The team is really close knit. Our team was pretty close to begin with before this season started. We all also play club together for the Blue Dolfins for the Oviedo city league at the Aquatics Center. Most of us have played together for about two years,” said Persampiere.

What sets this particular team apart from others includes their lion heart team spirit and team inside jokes.

“Before every game we scream ‘for Ian Kinsher,’ our man crush, or ‘Aslan’ from Narnia. We chant for a lack of someone better to chant for and because as a professional athlete, we look up to him,” said Persampierre.

“We have nicknames on our team for some players.

They are office supplies. We use office supplies, because we always mean business,” said Perry. “Luke Pearson is the scissors, and A.J. is the paperclip, because he holds our offense together.”

Now that the team has a new look they are looking forward to the rest of the season, and the team hopes to make it to the end in districts.

“We are really confident this year. This season, in a game vs. Hagerty, Eric Hedberg scored ten goals and brought us the win. Players like Eric and I were sick during the Hagerty game and we still came up with a 20-7 win,” said Perry.

After defeating Hagerty, the boys faced Lake Brantley.

They lost; but the district tournaments are quickly approaching and the boy’s water polo team wants a rematch.

“I think our team has a unique style and our new uniforms are unique. I mean, who would think of that,” said Ireland. “Right now we are second in district, and hopeful for a win at the tournament later this month.”

Wacky Speedos • Dolfins Winners ZAZA racer $18.95

• Dolfins Winners Viva racer $18.95

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The Lion’s Tale

April 16, 2010

Sports

21

Players christen new tennis courts

Miranda Betterley

T

“Coach said we are going to do more

staff reporter advertising for next year, because last

he Oviedo Lion’s tennis teams ended their season looking ahead to improving next year.

The girls Varsity team is 0-4 and the boys Varsity team is 1-4.

Coach Robert Dove has been coaching the team here at for 11 years, as well as teaching the auto class.

“He does a good job teaching us practice, teaching strategy, and form,” said Brandon Glenn, a senior on the boys Varsity tennis team.

The girls’ also agree on Coach Dove’s coaching.

“I think he gives some really good pointers, and good ideas and techniques to use during a match,” said Carly Mellen, a player on the girls’ varsity team.

Like most sports, players have to put in the effort in order to get better both during practice and on the off-season.

“If you want to get better then you have to train hard and commit. Then you just put the hours in the court and get better,” said Dove.

The players practice every day that they do not have a match, but since they have matches three or four days a week, it is hard to get in adequate practice during the week. To get extra practice and to help strengthen their game when the season ends, players usually join local leagues, or get lessons from pros.

“When we’re not in season I usually just go to the Tuskawilla Country Club with, [junior ] Margaux Milon, and we hit there,” said Mellen.

With the seniors leaving next year, both teams are getting ready to start advertising for more players for next year.

year we didn’t advertise much at all and hardly any girls tried out,” said Mellen.

Players returning from both teams, however, are ready for next year’s season.

“You get really diverse people. People who try out in jeans, people who come without a racket, and even some people who can’t count,” said Mellen.

The teams are also preparing to say farewell to their senior players. “[With the seniors leaving] it’s going to be interesting. They were really good.

We’re just going to have to make due with it,” said Mellen.

After playing districts against Mainland High school with final scores of 10-14, the boy’s took the title of district runner-ups, and are going to regionals as runner ups.

“Our number one doubles team is Dillon Kumar and Brandon Glenn,” said Dove.

This year, both teams received the opportunity to practice on new courts, constructed by BE&K. “We are looking forward to BE&K fixing the cracks in the court. The new court surface is a true USTA acrylic court, which means a slower surface. It allows the players to see where the ball lands,” said Dove.

Although this season has not been a winning season, Dove says that the scores do not adequately reflect the players’ efforts, and that each match was a close

FIRE AT WILL.

photo/KEVIN VELOSO

Senior Brandon Glenn returns the serve. Glenn is one of two players on the the top doubles team who game. made it to States. “It’s really exciting beacause it’s the first time, since 2001, that someone from Oviedo made it to states,” said “We have a very young and competitive Glenn.

team this year. They show a lot of promise,” Dove says.

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Sports

April 16, 2010

The Lion’s Tale

Team wins division despite getting lost Caitlyn Braswell

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Andrew Vidot, ‘12

staff reporter

ours of tiring practices with new assistant coaches, six days a week seems just the thing to make a group of players into a team family.

And with all the additional oneon-one the members managed to get a hold of, the Oviedo volleyball team managed to win their division in a Miami tournament.

“Team building is essential in every sport. I think that traveling 300 miles together and playing in a tournament with so many great teams brought about a camaraderie. You can’t usually get from local games and tournaments,” said senior James Telson.

According to Telson, the players competed against some of the top teams in the state such as Southwest, Douglas, and Christopher Colombus.

“The first day we didn’t perform as well as we should have, we lost the opening games. But on the second day, we won all our games and took the copper division plaque,” said Telson. “The trophy didn’t matter, however. It was showing the heart, emotion and determination to play like we had practiced.”

“We are one of the most skilled teams in the state with talent bursting through the seams. It’s just a matter of bringing everybody together to achieve something much greater.

We want to districts and more,” said Telson.

While in Miami, the players made sure it became a memorable trip.

“We witnessed a lot of things when we were in Miami. Apparently a lot of the kids didn’t know how to navigate and we managed to get lost in downtown Miami in the middle of the night. We even had a GPS. It was sad,” said Telson. “We also happened to see someone get hit my a car on their bike.

At least it was a trip that gave us a lot of interesting stories to tell.”

While on some teams, players come and go throughout their high school careers, a majority of the varsity volleyball team have been together and played among each other for all four years of high school.

“When I was a freshman, my brother was a senior and played varsity. He told me

to at least try volleyball and see how I like.

Turned out I loved it because four years later I’m still on the team and even captain,” said Telson.

Even opposing teams encouraged Oviedo students to join the volleyball team.

“I was actually encouraged and pushed to join the team here by a lot of my old friends over at Winter Springs. I’m glad I listened to them and joined,” said senior Hyung-Jin Kim. Although the seniors remain close to each other as a long-running team, they make sure to include the newcomers to varsity as well.

“They’re doing really well this year. Each of them is talented and has a lot of promise.

We all kind of mentor them and give them tips so that the team can be even stronger than it is,” said senior Tyler Schiner.

For the returning members, making this

“Team building is essential in every sport. I think that traveling 300 miles brought about a camaraderie.”

James Telson, ‘10

year even better than the last is goal.

“We have a lot of meets in the middle of the week, so our practice stay light sometimes. But usually we practice hard.

We’ve been doing this one thing in training called bread and butter. Two people serve and one person hits. I like this one a lot because it makes me work on my passing, which is what I’m needed for on the team,” said Kim. Along with practices six days a week, including Saturdays for three hours each, the team practiced throughout the summer.

“The group’s a lot more coercive [this year]. Our biggest change has been in the commitment, especially over the summer.

We entered multiple tournaments and placed fifth at the AAV Nationals,” said volleyball coach Rafael Valle.

Valle also commented that many of the top players on the team are also member of their club team, the Duda Sods, which also helps make a stronger team.

“I started our club team, the Duda Sods,

last year to help get extra practice in and improve their volleyball skills. When we went to come up with the name, we wanted it to be something that only true Oviedians would understand,” said Valle. “All of our plays were named after grasses like crabgrass, Bermuda. The team just had a lot of fun with it.”

This year, Valle decided to add extra coaches to the team in order to get more individual attention to the players.

“This year, we added Scott Rodman and Jason Myers to the group. They came over from the girl’s team and we are really excited to keep Jason McDonald who has been with us here for a few years, now,” said Valle. “They were available and are really good coaches. They really help the team get more one on one with the things they need to work on.”

Many of the players agree.

“I have really enjoyed having the extra coaches there with us during practices.

They’ve helped me with my passing and the other things I needed to get a good handle on,” said Telson.

For many of the seniors, four years in volleyball impacted their growth as they grew up and matured through high school.

“I would love to play volleyball in college, it’s been something I’ve done for years and I want to continue doing it further.

I would love it if I could play at Ohio State, they have a great volleyball program,” said Schiner.

Even though college volleyball is a dream for Schiner, he still prefers simply playing beach volleyball to anything.

“I do tournaments on my own for beach volleyball. Beach is actually where I was introduced to the game. I like it better because it’s more one-on-one and its all up to either you or him to play and win,” said Schiner.

Telson agrees. “I love volleyball at the school but chances are I won’t be doing it in college. I know I will play beach volleyball on my own time but I’d rather focus on my studies in college.”

As for Valle, coaching volleyball is more than just winning games and tournaments.

“Seeing the transformations of my athletes as they develop character skills and grow up is most rewarding for me, it keeps me coming back every year,” said Valle.

Varsity players work on gaining experience John Campbell

T

staff reporter

he lady lion’s softball team works hard to rebuild their new team.

“This year we have a young team,” said Coach Williams. “There are only three juniors and one senior on the team this season.”

For many of the varsity players, this is their first season of playing on the high school team.

“We have a new team this year,” said shortstop Chelsea Wildey. “A lot of the girls on varsity are playing their first year of high school ball.”

Though many of the girls are new to the team this year, many of them have played on various leagues and teams.

“A couple of us have already played together on other teams,” said pitcher Phoebe Bell.

A few of the new players have played together in the local Babe Ruth League, but agree that playing in high school is much different.

“There are a lot of tough teams in high school,” said Bell. “High school ball is a lot more competitive and the teams have a lot more experience.”

So far this season, Oviedo has played many teams, including Lake Howell.

“Lake Howell was a tough team to play. They are a good team, but definitely beatable. We played to their level but, ended up giving them some runs at the end,”

said Williams.

While playing Lake Howell, Oviedo kept it an even game for more than three innings.

“We have a hard time playing error free ball,” said left fielder Kaila Hamm. “We make a lot of physical errors which gives the other team an advantage.”

Unlike Oviedo, Lake Howell’s team is made up of mostly seniors and has a little more experience as a team together.

“Since a lot of us are new, we make a lot of errors that we wouldn’t make if we were a more experienced team,” said Bell.

Despite making some errors, Oviedo is working to improve with off season training and physical workouts.

“We train a lot over summer and off season. We run the trail and lift weights,” said Bell.

With the majority of the team being made up of under classmen, many of the girls are expected to return next year.

“Next season we will be a lot more successful, our players will have the experience and the skills they need,” said Williams.

In all, the season goal has been to rebuild and prepare for next season.

“Next year we’ll play a lot better. Our team will have photo/KEVIN VELOSO the experience and will already have played together,” BATTER UP. Junior Paige Matthews drives the ball into center field during a regular said Wildey. season game.

Roar Board

The Lion’s Tale

April 16, 2010

Sports

23

The

Roar

Lindsay Knox

co-sports editor

Flashy suits make boys team unforgettable

O

photo/KEVIN VELOSO

FIGHT IT OUT. Sophomore Alec Sanzone dukes it out against a Lake Howell opponent to block a goal attempt. The boys defeated Lake Howell with a score of 17-7, bringing their record 12-3 for the season.

Baseball looks to improve

Lacrosse girls end season

The varsity boys baseball team currently holds a record of 11-11. During Friday night’s game against Lyman, senior Brad Graham controlled the boys with two hits and two stolen bases. Senior A.J. Cole also added two hits, bringing the final score to 4-0 Oviedo. Junior Connor Stanley pitched five-plus innings to contribute to the win. During practices, the boys focus on their pitching and batting skills in order to improve their overall record for this season.

The Lady Lions ended their 2009-2010 season as district three runners-up, losing to Winter Springs High School in the final.

The team kept the game close, tied at half time but the Bears pulled away holding the Lions scoreless for 20 minutes. The final score 21-11. The team showed strong moments throughout the season beating Winter Springs 19-18 in overtime and beating Lake Mary High School 12-7. With only four seniors graduating this year the team looks to be a strong competitor next season.

Girls take down Olympia

Track and field looks to lead

In the game on Friday, Apr. 16, the girls water polo team defeated Olympia High School 3-2. Olympia, with a record of 13-3, was a great match-up for the girls who also have an impressive record of 14-3 for the season.

At the Seminole Athletic Conference at Lake Brantley, the girls track and field team placed fifth out of eight schools, scoring a total of 69 points. Senior Kristy Foto won the triple jump field event with an overall score of 34 feet, nine inches. Junior Victoria Tanzi also won her field event, the high jump, with a jump of four feet, ten inches. The boys team ranked seventh out of eight teams, with 47 points total. In practices, both boys and girls are focusing on their individual events in which they participate in order to excel at future events.

Bowling teams finish strong The girls bowling team ended this season with an impressive 16-0 record. The girls defeated other teams at the Oviedo Invitational Championship Match 2-0, guaranteeing a first in the district spot and seventh in state. The boys placed fifth in this district, with a 10-6 overall record.

Five

Questions with junior Victoria Tanzi

photo/KEVIN VELOSO

OVER THE TOP. Junior Victoria Tanzi works hard in practice to

strengthen her jumps and improve her technique for the high jump event.

1 2 3 4 5

Junior Victoria Tanzi is the leading high jumper for the girls track and field team.

She has been on the team all three of her high school years, and plans to continue doing the high jump event.

How many push-ups can you do?

Probably about 50.

What is your favorite game day snack?

Goldfish-my favorite is the pizza flavor.

What track and field events do you participate in?

The high jump and the long jump. I’m better at the high jump.

What is your personal best jump?

ur boy’s water polo team dedicates itself to making its presence well known. The guys sit together at lunch, have an outstanding morale, and perform to the extreme at every game.

But, by far, the most prominent feature of the boy’s water polo team are the legendary zebra-print Speedos. These flashy fashion statements distinguish our team from others and make the players unforgettable at every single match.

Every year, our sports teams perform exceptionally well during all seasons, earning us a much-deserved respect throughout our county.

But to get recognized and to be remembered are two completely different spectrums.

In order to be recognized, you have to do something better than somebody else. To be remembered, you have to do something nobody else would do.

If our sports teams worked to make themselves memorable, our school would have more of an impact than any other. An impact that would last forever.

I can see it now: our team walking out onto the field and hearing the opponents claim, “That’s them,” while they mentally prepare to be demolished by our players.

I can see it now: being at the top of the district and forever being known as a legendary, unique, and renowned school as we strut our stuff year-in and year-out, shamelessly beating rival after rival.

I can see it now: laying our pride out on the field, in the pool, on the green, or on the track, because we know we will always be remembered for what we do, what we’ve done, and what we will continue to do.

While the water polo boys have already guaranteed their place in the history books, other team sports could come up with their own ways to make their mark and make OHS an extraordinary school.

Football players, for example, could also make their own statement. The starting lineup could spell something out on their helmets, maybe some words of encouragement. D-E-TE-R-M-I-N-A-T-I-O-N wouldn’t look so bad posted all along our guys’ gear.

Lacrosse players could paint their sticks bright, neon colors to cause distraction on the field and dart in and out of opponents, scoring goal after goal, without a hint of difficulty.

The way our players leave their footprints in OHS history determines whether we are individuals to be recognized, or always be remembered.

Our water polo players are the first to initiate a new trend, one where our opponents will always remember who we are and what we have always stood for.

Whether it’s a win or a loss, we can guarantee that nobody will ever forget the name Oviedo High School.

Upcoming Games Boy’s Varsity Baseball

Five feet.

• 04.22 @ Olympia 4:45 p.m.

• 04.24 @ Forest 6:30 p.m.

If you could have a superhero power, what would it be?

Boy’s Varsity Volleyball

I would want to be able to fly-Superman style.

• 04.22 @ Hagerty 7:00 p.m.

• 04.26 @ Lake Howell 7:00 p.m.

• 04.27@ Spruce Creek 6:30 p.m.

24

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