The Lion's Tale - Volume 57 Issue 3 - Oviedo High School

OVIEDO HIGH SCHOOL • 601 KING STREET • OVIEDO, FL • 32765 • DECEMBER 6, 2016 • VOLUME 57 • ISSUE 3

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LION’STALE

Bursting Bubbles

Ge Shape Join a Gym Lose Weight Learn a New Language Be Healthy Join a Gym Improve Relationships Get Better Grades Get in Shape Learn a New Language Join a Gym Join a Gym Improve Relationships Get in Shape Join a Gym Lose Weight Learn a New Language Be Healthy Join a Gym Improve Relationships Get Better Grades Get in Shape Learn a New Language Join a Gym Join a Gym Improve Relationships Get in Shape Join a Gym Lose Weight Learn a New Language Be Healthy Join a Gym Improve Relationships Get Better Grades Get in Shape Learn a New Language Join a Gym Join a Gym Improve Relationships Get in Shape Join a Gym Lose Weight Learn a New Language Be Healthy Join a Gym Improve Relationships Get Better Grades Get in Shape Learn a New Language Join a Gym Join a Gym Improve Relationships Get in Shape Join a Gym Lose Weight Learn a New Language Be Healthy Join a Gym Improve Relationships Get Better Grades Get in Shape Learn a New Language Join a Gym Join a Gym Improve Relationships Get in Shape Join a Gym Lose Weight Learn a New Language Be Healthy Join a Gym Improve Relationships Get Better Grades Get in Shape Learn a New Language Join a Gym Join a Gym Improve Relationships Get in Shape Join a Gym Lose Weight Learn a New Language Be Healthy Join a Gym Improve Relationships Get Better Grades Get in Shape Learn a New Language Join a Gym Join a Gym Improve Relationships Get in Shape Join a Gym Lose Weight Learn a New Language Be Healthy Join a Gym Improve Relationships Get Better Grades Get in Shape Le a r n a New Language Join a Gym Join a Gym Improve Relationships Get in Shape Join a Gym Lose Weight Learn a New Language Be Healthy Join a Gym Improve Relationships Get Better Grades Get in Shape Learn a New Language Join a Gym Join a Gym Improve Relationships Get in Shape Join a Gym Lose Weight Learn a New Language Be Healthy Join a Gym Improve Relationships Get Better Grades Learn a New Language Join a Gym Join a Gym Improve Relationships Get in Shape Join a Gym Lose Weight Learn a New Language Be Healthy Join a Gym Improve Relationships Get Better Grades Get in Shape Learn a New Language Join a Gym Join a Gym Improve Relationships Get in Shape Join a Gym Lose Weight Learn a New Language Be Healthy Join a Gym Improve Relationships Get Better Grades Get in Shape Learn a New Language Join a Gym Join a Gym Improve Relationships

PG 10

STUDENTS LOSE FAITH IN NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS

03

SHOWCASE: BEHIND THE SCENES

11

FOSTER CHILDREN FIND SECOND CHANCES

22

ULTIMATE FRISBEE TEAM REBUILDS

2 | NEWS | THE LION’S TALE | DECEMBER 6, 2016

The month in photos

The

Photo’s Of

The Month

SGA creates stress-free environment before exams WRITTEN BY MAKAILA COWART Exams bring on a load of stress that is, for many students, unbearable. On top of that, everyone is anxious for the winter break. Student Government Association (SGA) decided to create a “stress-free” week of events for the fist time.

“When exams come around students get really stressed,” said junior Sam Finnegan. “So we’re just trying to relieve that stress so they can focus more on exams and not cry.”

This week, which started Dec. 5, includes hot chocolate and candy cane sales, dress-up days such as “Crazy Sweater Day,” and a play-date with puppies.

To play with the puppies during either lunch, students must donate at least $1, or a dog toy.

“All of the donations of the money and dog toys go to an organization called Pet Alliance,” Finnegan said.

“Stress-Free Week is good, but they should’ve had more days with animals,” said sophomore Lena Head.

“Animals are a great stress-relief.”

Several students seem pretty excited about the Stress-Free Week and the activities taking place.

“There’s no such thing as a stress-free week when you have a week to study for four honors and three AP exams,” said junior Samiyah Uddin. “But it is nice to have some holiday spirit in the midst of the stress.”

SGA is waiting to see how students like this first stress-free set of events, but are willing to consider doing it again if it is successful.

“If it does well and makes profit, we’ll keep doing it,” Finnegan said.

PHOTO BY MAKAILA COWART CANDY AND COCOA. Sophomore Sam Finnegan and juniors Camile Powers and Maria Davilla sell hot chocolate and candy canes in the Commons for Stress-Free Week.

Stress-Free Week Events

PHOTO BY FERN SILVA

BRINGING

CHRISTMAS JOY. NJROTC’s collection of donated toys grows by their Christmas tree. Toys will be accepted until Dec. 8 and will be picked up by the Marines for Toys for Tots.

Monday: Hot Chocolate & Candy Cane sales Tuesday: Dress Like Your Favorite Holiday Wednesday: Play with Puppies Thursday: Holiday/Ugly Sweater Day Friday: Hot Chocolate & Candy Cane sales

Location of golf team practices expected to close WRITTEN BY PAMELA CHAPMAN The future practice and competition location for the golf team is currently unknown, as Twin Rivers golf course faces a potential shut down in 2017.

This change could have both positive and negative effects, including the positive logistical aspects of moving.

“Moving courses would allow us to have more tournament-like practice, more practice time, more range time, and also hopefully more hospitable management,” said junior August Kinder.

Not only is management an issue at Twin Rivers, but also course maintenance, according to senior Reilly Fennell.

“Playing at Twin Rivers gives us a disadvantage because the course isn’t really maintained as well as it could be,” Fennell said.

Junior John Michela also dislikes the course.

“Moving courses would provide us with a better place to practice and improve,” Michela said.

Head boys golf coach Shawn Knaub sees Twin Rivers as being good for the community. However, he notes potential positives of moving to a closer course.

“If we could move our course to Tuskawilla, that would be nice because it’s closer and in a little better condition,” Knaub said.

Head girls golf coach Joel Freund also notes proximity as a potential advantage of moving courses, however cites the excess number of teams utilizing Tuskawilla course as a negative of potentially moving there.

Despite the logistical disadvantages Twin Rivers poses, Fennell said that there are positives of playing

PHOTO BY FERN SILVA

DONATIONS FILL SHELVES. School secretary

Patti Blake sorts food in the food bank. Hundreds of items were donated during the competition that Student Government Association hosted in November.

PHOTO BY TWINRIVERSGOLFCLUB.COM

COURSE OF CLOSURE. TheTwinRiversGolfclubmay not be utilized for future golf practices. However, according to many golfers, it remains a hallmark of Oviedo sports.

at that course.

“Playing on Twin Rivers gives us an edge because it gives practice playing on narrow fairways,” Fennell said The Golf Club is an 18-hole championship Orlando golf course, constructed by Floridian Joe Lee. The Golf Club, according to its website, twinriversgolfclub.com, has been awarded many accolades for its mission of environmental preservation.

Fennell said the team has made so many amazing memories.

“It will be hard to leave,” Fennell said. “From photo shoots on the 9th hole to losing infinite balls on the island hole, Twin Rivers has become a staple for Oviedo golf.”

Wherever his team plays, Freund is confident in his team.

“My team has gotten to know Twin Rivers, but I think they will adapt to any golf course we have to play very quickly,” said Freund said.

PHOTO BY NIYATI SHAH

CONGRATULATORY HANDSHAKES. National Honor Society officers present certificates to new inductees on Nov. 17 in the auditorium.

FRONT PAGE DESIGN BY DECLAN MCCOY

DESIGN BY JESICA LITTON

DECEMBER 6, 2016 | THE LION’S TALE | NEWS | 3

THE SHOWCASE SHENANIGANS.

(clockwise from bottom left) Freshman Grace Windterfeldt rehearses “On My Own” from Les Misérables, receiving a grand applause after her solo. The Bravo choir group warm their vocal chords through the song “Cantante Domino.” Dance Technique 3&4 channel their inner Beyoncé as they dance to “Queen Bee.” Senior Adam Roberson plays the xylophone as band director Dennis Line conducts the band. Senior Daniel Butterfield and Drama Group #2 interpret “When I Grow Up, from Matilda” on the apron of the stage. Sophomore Cameron Garrow gestures during his duet with Butterfield as he presents “Dear Theodosia” from Hamilton.

Behind the Curtain

Fine arts department channels backstage energy into iconic performance PHOTOS BY NIYATI SHAH WRITTEN BY DANIELLE GRIFFITHS Tension runs high backstage, the lights shine brightly, and music fades in over the speakers. The performing arts department is putting on its annual Lion’s Showcase from Dec. 9 to 11.

“Showcase is a compilation of every group that makes up the fine arts department, from choir to theater and band to dance,” said senior theater and choir singer Alexander Estes. “Each of us shows off a handful of our different performances that we will be doing during this time of the year. Choir does a selection of a few of their songs from their winter concert. The band does part of their marching showcase, and the theater does lots of small-group skits.”

One different aspect of this performance, compared to other performances, is the positioning of the performers.

“The show itself is unique in that we use all areas of the auditorium to perform, including on the stage, in the aisles and around the back and sides of the auditorium,” said dance director Angela Futato. “It gives

DESIGN BY NIYATI SHAH

our audience 360 degrees of entertainment from their seats.”

Band director Dennis Line said there are going to be many performances taking place within a short period of time.

“We will have 52 performances take place throughout the auditorium in around two hours,” Line said. “It is also unique as the concert has current and popular music, in which the audience is encouraged to participate in either singing, clapping, dancing or whatever they fancy.”

Another unique element about this performance is the fact it is live-streamed backstage.

“The performance is live-streamed for us so we know where we are at, and performers are given a number,” said senior colorguard member Carrie-Lynn Gross. “Moms sit with numbers and when yours is up, you have a couple performances till your own, so then you start getting ready. There are always little things like people not in place at the right time, but for the most part everything is run pretty smoothly.”

Since Showcase is large event, especially for the band, Line said that each student

must learn three new pieces of music in about two weeks.

“Each section will perform its own section piece: the wind ensemble, symphonic band, jazz ensemble, percussion ensembles,” Line said. “Winter guard and marching band are also working on different pieces of music. At the end of the performance, the marching band comes in and performs their halftime production in surround sound.”

Futato said students feel nervousness and excitement before going on stage.

“Many performers amp each other up (quietly) from backstage,” Futato said. “We also have to be very organized in the order of performance, so we try to clear the backstage area for props, chairs and performers to move on and off the stage smoothly.”

Showcase has been a running tradition for the past 20 years. Estes and chorus singer junior Victoria Butler have been part of the experience before.

“The atmosphere of Showcase is very energetic because while we aren’t on stage, each group is in their own holding area, like choir in choir room, and band in band room,” Estes said. “Everyone is anxious to get on

stage. We are all feeding off of everyone’s energy and preparing.”

Butler said that they must remain very quiet while off-stage.

“People aren’t really supposed to pay attention to us until it’s our turn,” Butler said.

Just before entering the stage, the dance team has a running tradition.

“The Mane Attraction has a tradition of saying prayer and doing a team chant before each performance,” Futato said. “The ‘MA’ chant has been a long tradition that we continue each year for motivation before they dance.”

While Showcase provides entertainment for the audience, it also gives students the ability to show off their passions.

“Being in choir and going to Showcase are just fun things to do; I think it’s a really nice break to have since I’m taking all my other hard classes,” said sophomore Olivia Harshey. “Choir is just what I really enjoy.”

Butler also enjoys performing at Showcase.

“The audience will be amazed at some of the things our fine arts department can pull off,” Butler said.

4 | NEWS | THE LION’S TALE | DECEMBER 6, 2016

Teachers still face shortages, large classes midyear WRITTEN BY CONNOR COMPTON Substitutes and changing names keep students guessing in some classes as the school--and the region--continue to struggle to find permanent teachers.

English III teacher Ellen White said she has noticed a difficulty in retaining and recruiting good teachers the past several years.

“They don’t pay teachers like other professionals,” White said. “Some of these inspired teachers are being told what they have to do to teach to a test; I would say it degrades their thinking process.”

Culinary teacher Karen Stapleton also believes excessive testing affects the hiring of teachers.

“How the students do reflects on my evaluation; if students do poorly, more teachers have to come in,” Stapleton said. “If I am teaching an ESE class, that reflects on my evaluation-they cannot score as high as the other standard and honors students, regardless of if that student has a disability.”

Stapleton said this stress causes a loss of teachers.

“Many of them go ahead and quit or don’t come into the field at all because of the low pay,” Stapleton said.

“Why subject myself to that controlled and, in a way, feared lifestyle?”

White said testing takes away from creativity.

“You can learn from an author or a story, and if I am there putting some passion and drive into what I am saying about the story, you are more likely to understand because I am letting my creative voice speak,” White said. “But when I am teaching to a test, you’re not likely to retain the information-because it’s the same information every year, just expanded upon, and has nothing to do with the real world.”

White says every person, from teachers getting released to students being held back a grade, is affected by this testing.

“This testing outlook on teaching is what is driving away some aspiring teachers, which is why I think we have a lack

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY CONNER QUINLAN LESSONS OF UNCERTAINTY. Students continue to learn despite teacher shortages and transitions. of them in the first place,” White said.

Stapleton faces other difficulties in her class, due to the overabundance of students and the lack of teachers.

“Over the past several years the class sizes have increased immensely, and this is an inconvenience due to the fact that our labs are set up for no more than five people,” Stapleton said.

Stapleton has had to reduce teaching certain skills.

“There is only one of me,” Stapleton said. “It’s very difficult to monitor and keep track of all of them. I don’t use knives very often because of this.”

Stapleton said the school and the district are trying to

recruit more teachers.

“There are programs where workers from the industry, or without teaching a degree, can teach certain C.T.E. classes,” Stapleton said. “They are able to work through the county to get their certificates.”

White said she wishes there were ways to call more people to teaching.

“But right now, I would not even recommend it for the fact that it’s not what it used to be,” White said. “I have been teaching for 20 years, and there is such thing as a pendulum swing in the testing and teacher shortages, but I just feel that it has been getting worse instead of better.”

DESIGN BY CONNOR COMPTON

Showcase gives students credit for their talent

Every winter, Oviedo High School’s fine arts department displays their wide array of talent in the annual Winter Showcase. Showcase is compiled of choir, theater department, band, and dance team--each group displays a select handful of performances.

We believe Showcase is an intricate and vital part of the school year, as Showcase displays the diversity of talent found in the student body.

While athletics, namely football and basketball, normally take center stage as extra-curricular emphasis, Showcase allows students who posses other talents to take the spotlight.

We believe this is an important aspect of the school’s sterling reputation in the fine arts department, as Showcase ensures the various fine arts departments all can perform for not only the student body, but also the local community, giving the fine arts department the recognition it deserves community-wide.

In order to put on such a difficult event such as Showcase, leadership is crucial, and we at The Lion’s Tale believe it is important to credit those who help produce Showcase.

Band director Dennis Line is the

DECEMBER 6, 2016 | THE LION’S TALE | OPINION | 5

IN YOUR FACE

What is your opinion of Lion Showcase?

Erik Lindsey, 9

“The Lion Showcase is good for students because they can express themselves through their talents.”

“leader” of Showcase, in charge of everything from rehearsal times to the stage crew to the order of performances.

Line has done an excellent job ensuring Showcase fully displays the immense talent of the fine arts department, along with chorus director Bill Shult, theatre director Tim Carter and dance coach Angela Futato, who all ensure Showcase lives up to its full potential.

The students in all branches of the fine arts department, we believe, deserve credit for all the hard work they put in to make Showcase happen, as each branch continually brings accolades and success in not only Showcase, but the various competitions each branch respectively competes in throughout the year.

Additionally, students who are not officially part of any of these groups can audition and perform their talents in front of an audience.

We encourage all students and faculty to attend this year’s winter Showcase if possible; we promise you won’t regret it, as the fine arts department is sure to deliver a captivating performance, as they have done year after year.

Beeta Daryadel, 10

“I think it’s nice. It is a good thing to do to show everyone’s unique and different talents.”

Kayla Thompson, 12

“I think that Showcase is a great time for everyone to get together in the arts, and it’s a really great performance.”

OUR WORD

Lena Head, 10

“It’s a great opportunity to display something they love. The school should support that because creativity is big in our culture. “ PHOTOS BY SAADHANA SRIDHARAN

Showcase Info Friday, December 9 at 7:00p.m.

Saturday, December 10 at 7:00p.m.

Sunday, December 11 at 2:00p.m.

All performances $7 Online Manager Doug Chiodini Business Manager Makaila Cowart Tech Manager Trey Hargis Editors-In-Chief Nathan Haddad Niyati Shah

Photographers Olivia Bastone Aaron Nedlan Fernand Silva

Print Managers Paige Simpson Faiz Uddin

Artist Alex Sayavong

Reporters Stacia Ahlers Pamela Chapman Connor Compton Nevada Cullen Bryn Garick Danielle Griffiths Gillian Landwehr Jesica Litton Julian Rios John Speer Saadhana Sridharan Emily Vernikos Jessica White Abigail Wydra Christina York

ILLUSTRATION BY JULIAN RIOS Designers Declan McCoy Joyce Ng Conner Quinlan Faculty Adviser Elise T Carlson Admin Adviser Tanya Cameron Principal Joseph Trybus

Oviedo High School 601 King Street Oviedo, FL 32765 P: 407-320-4199 F: 407-320-4213 Population: 2530 students 29 staff members

Mission Statement The Lion’s Tale is the student newspaper of Oviedo High School, located in Oviedo, Florida.

Our mission is to provide news, feature stories, editorials and opinions relevant to our readers while upholding the highest professional and ethical standards. The Lion’s Tale follows copy standards outlined in the Associated Press Stylebook, 42nd Edition, published in 2007 by the Associated Press,

and is a member of the CSPA, NSPA and FSPA. Distribution 1800 copies of The Lion’s Tale are distributed free to all students and staff at Oviedo High School.

Subscriber information is available upon request.

Reader Contributions Letters to the Editor are accepted and may be sent by post, e-mail, or dropped off in Room 5-020.

OVIEDO HIGH SCHOOL • 601 KING STREET • OVIEDO, FL • DECEMBER 6, 2016 • VOLUME 57 • ISSUE 3

DESIGN BY JULIAN ROIS

The Lion’s Tale does not accept guest columns, and reserves the right to edit letters to the Editor.

Full policy is available on request.

Advertising Policy The Lion’s Tale reserves the right to refuse advertisements. The full advertising policy of The Lion’s Tale is on file in Room 5-020 and is available upon request.

OVIEDOJOURNALISM.COM

6 | OPINION | THE LION’S TALE | DECEMBER 6, 2016

staff writer

GILLIAN LANDWEHR

Social media easily enables connection Many adults claim that social media is causing the downfall of human interaction. However, social media actually promotes interaction.

Social media platforms like snapchat, twitter, and Instagram are great way to keep in touch with people. Personally, I use snapchat almost every day to keep in touch with people that I don’t usually see consistently.

When I first transitioned from middle school to high school, most of my friends were zoned for a different school than I was. Because of this, I needed a way to keep in touch with these friends somehow, so I looked into social media.

The easiest form of social media, to me, is snapchat. It’s a fast way to keep in touch with each other by sending pictures back and forth and adding whatever text I wish.

I know that spending too much time on a phone is “unhealthy” because one can get too consumed by staring at a small screen for hours. But it’s one of the fastest and cheapest ways for me to socialize. I don’t have that much spare time or money to hang out with my friends. So, I use these social media platforms because they are so convenient. As lazy as it sounds, I don’t have to leave the house to have a conversation with a friend.

Some may disagree with the idea of social media, but I think it’s a wonderful thing. So many people have been able to reunite with friends that they haven’t seen in years online, or even meet new friends, and that’s the beauty of social media.

With the touch of a finger, I have access to all the information I desire.

The fact that I can access all of this information so quickly is sometimes overwhelming. As creepy as it sounds, if anybody has an account on any form of social media, I am able to look them up, and their account will--more than likely-appear. It’s so much easier to send somebody a “follow” request than ask for their phone number.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a mindless tech robot. I don’t walk around on my phone 24/7. I still converse with others in person and I still hang out with friends on the weekend. I’m not that person that can’t carry out a conversation because I get too distracted by my phone. I just believe that social media is the easiest way to interact when it’s an unreasonable time.

ILLUSTRATION BY JULIAN RIOS

Black Friday ruins holiday spirit

print manager

PAIGE SIMPSON Traditions are customs that have been upheld throughout the ages. From holiday traditions to simple family and friend traditions, traditions bring stability and comfort in our everchanging world.

Some of my fondest memories involve my family and I sitting around our dining room table--with fine china plates decorated by scraps of savory, decadent food on top of finely lined, seasonally themed tablecloth as we exchanged embarrassing stories and laughed as much as our filled bellies could take.

From the dawn of its birth, Thanksgiving has always meant something. The roots of Thanksgiving come from the time of the Pilgrims, where an extravagant feast involving Native Americans symbolized thanks for their camaraderie and success throughout the year.

In modern times, Thanksgiving is still known as the day of thanks and a time

for family and friends to come together to reminisce over old memories and make new ones.

But every year, Thanksgiving has been further downgraded to a meaningless dinner before the new main event, Black Friday.

Black Friday began its origin to the time of the 1950s, when the police force used the term to describe the massive flood of shoppers on the day after Thanksgiving. They would have to be wary of shoplifters, direct traffic, and survive expanded work hours as shoppers enjoyed the discounted prices.

Black Friday, in a sense, seems like a good idea. Prices on everyday items and, most importantly, Christmas gifts, sink to astronomically low prices on the day after Thanksgiving.

Seems great, but Black Friday has been creeping up closer and closer to Thanksgiving day each year, which is something we shouldn’t allow.

Thanksgiving is a time for thanks for the things we have, not gluttony over the things we don’t. The biggest aspect of Black Friday that bothers me is how the start time is now on Thanksgiving Day. People should be humbly celebrating with their friends and families, not joining the Hunger Games and fighting over a discounted chicken wing.

It’s also not fair to make employees work--employees who would rather spend that time with their families than break up a fight between two customers.

Black Friday irks me for a multitude of reasons, including the drastic lengths

people go to for frivolous materialistic desires. We, as a society, put too much emphasis on materialistic items that are not necessary.

The fact that most are willing to put a discounted cashmere sweater over limited valuable time with loved ones baffles me. You’ll outgrow sweaters, but memories will last a lifetime.

But still, every year, Black Friday rolls out with new stories about people getting trampled or punched, people snatching or fighting over products, and for what? A TV marked down by $30?

With Black Friday, there’s no respect for any other human being; the mentality is “it’s all about me.” I believe it’s just a day to show our true colors.

As a society, we preach about acceptance for all races, genders, colors; about forgiveness to those who wrong us; about love for everyone; yet, when the kettle turns black and the opportunity arises, it’s all about ourselves.

No care about others, no care about the world, only care about ourselves.

We need to stop looking at how to better ourselves, and focus on how we can better others. Thanksgiving is a time for thankfulness; we need to be thankful for those who surround us.

We need to come together to better those in our communities who need it: the less fortunate, the pain-stricken, the needy.

Once we come together as a whole-as a society, as a people--that will begin the best tradition our world has ever seen.

DESIGN BY JOHN SPEER

DECEMBER 6, 2016 | THE LION’S TALE | OPINION | 7

staff writer

BRYN GARICK

Respecting others’ beliefs should not be difficult

ILLUSTRATION BY ALEX SAYAVONG

Food industry misinforms consumers

staff writer

SADHANA SRIDHARAN Organic! Paleo! Gluten-free! Vegan!

Includes superfoods! Artisanally crafted!

These are the numerous claims we see on countless food labels, from canned tuna to chips to pasta to granola bars. These days, food companies have mastered the art of lying to consumers; by using healthysounding words to describe not-so-healthy products, marketers have rocketed sales through the roof.

Often, the public has no idea how to decipher the false claims from the real.

Many people end up googling these, hoping to find answers. But many websites are also filled with misinformation that misleads readers.

Many of these websites are either sponsored by food companies themselves, or the creators and writers are simply misguided.

For instance, many companies have founded “science institutes” that employ scientists and medical professionals to create white lies, half-truths, and outright falsehoods that promote a product as healthy.

DESIGN BY SADHANA SRIDHARAN

One infamous example is Gatorade’s Sports Science Institute, where there are papers stating that drinking Gatorade is better than drinking water for hydration during exercise. These papers and reports are not backed by sufficient evidence, and there are more statistics pointing to water being the best to drink during exercise.

Other food companies, such as CocaCola and General Mills, have institutes of their own, complete with “objective” scientists and health professionals that talk to the media and give press conferences.

It’s crazy that this is occurring.

It’s even crazier that this is all legal.

Yes, this is legal. The formation of so-called science institutes to promote a product as healthy--without substantial factual base--is legal.

Like these, there has been a plethora of other initiatives to target healthconscious consumers.

After these findings, I felt like I was never going to eat again. Or that I should move to a farm and just grow all my food.

Some science journalists have also realized that America’s food industry is an unreliable mess.

They, in fact, set up an elaborate hoax to trick the media into thinking chocolate helps with weight loss.

In an interview with CBS News, John Bohannon, the journalist directing this fake experiment, said that pseudoscience has flooded media outlets with false information. He stated that both journalists and scientists should be doing a better job.

Bohannon and his collaborators ran an intentionally flawed trial, in which a group of people ate chocolate on a low-carb diet every day for a short amount of time.

The scientists and doctors measured

18 different factors in a small number of people, a method destined to catch a false-positive result.

When Bohannon received the flawed data showing that chocolate helped with weight loss, he created a fake health organization (Institute for Diet and Health) and published his results in shady journals. It didn’t take long for news outlets and other media (from Huffington Post to a television station in Texas) to snap this up.

A handful of headlines proves that the hoax worked well: “Chocolate Proven To Help Weight Loss,” “Slim by Chocolate,” “Why You Must Eat Chocolate Daily” and “Excellent News: Chocolate Can Help You Lose Weight!”

Many of the media outlets that published the results barely included scientific analysis, or bothered to even check the truth of the study.

Bohannon and his collaborators had made their point. Food companies and media outlets were incredibly careless with the handling of dietary studies.

Instead of relying on unbiased, accurate, well-constructed studies by reputable researchers and organizations, we have resorted to falling for far-fetched and biased claims, simply because “Science Says So.” The issue is clear. The science, nutrition and food community needs to reorganize itself. With all the lies, halftruths, and misinformation floating around, consumers are being misled every single day. There must be stricter guidelines and laws passed to help regulate mass amounts of information.

This may sound like a lot of work, but knowing what to eat (and what we eat) is not too much to ask for.

Everyone has beliefs.

I don’t believe in the majority of the religious beliefs my friends have. While I don’t agree with what they say, or believe in it myself, I will never attack their opinions or beliefs.

Because that’s what they are: beliefs.

My agreement or disagreement with my friends’ statements will not change their opinions. It will only drive a wedge in my friendship with them.

While laws and regulations allow people to express these beliefs freely, the ultimate expression of free speech is the juxtaposition of views. Unfortunately, such clashing often ends in arguments and loss of friendship.

When topics such as religion or politics are brought up, I cower and bite my tongue in order to avoid conflict among my peers.

Censoring myself with methods of tongue biting and sitting on my hands are not only damaging to my tongue and hands, but to my mind. Suppressing my emotions and thoughts limits me because I am not saying what I believe--and why.

I’ve often wished I could believe in their religion, partake in conversations and relate to their stories of church, but I can’t. There is very little I can do to solve that issue.

Instead of shutting down others’ beliefs, people need to learn how to respect them. I am talking about beliefs on subjects such as religion and culture, not beliefs that are rooted in hate for other people.

There are about 4200 religions in the world, not to mention an uncertain number of cultures.

It is not up to others to decide if a belief is true--only the believer can decide that. It is instead up to the non-believer to respect others, on the grounds that we are all humans; thus, we are all equal and all deserve respect.

To have free speech and good discussions, yet to avoid arguments and cause ruin to friendships, we must respect one another. It is impossible to ask that everyone has the same beliefs, but it is possible to ask for respect.

Rather than attacking those who do not believe what the same things, you must simply accept the fact that everyone is different and thinks differently. And you must pay them and their cultures respect; it is as simple as that.

Maybe, I can stop biting my tongue and sitting on my hands when topics of religion and politics are brought up.

HEAD to HEAD

8 | OPINION | THE LION’S TALE | DECEMBER 6, 2016

Does personality type impact classroom success?

Introverts display talent in subtle ways Extroverts excel in promoting connections WRITTEN BY EMILY VERNIKOS As an introvert, meeting new people and socializing can take some time, including in the classroom.

Everyone, at least once in their lifetime, knows that feeling when they’re are asked to pick a partner for a certain occasion, but they don’t know anyone. For introverts it’s not new. It can be hard and awkward when having to socialize and work with someone you don’t really know, especially with projects.

People usually look at introverts as weird, strange, shy and awkward, but I don’t. We’re all different, and as an introvert, I have strong bonds with a few carefully selected people, while extroverts have a very wide circle of friends, which isn’t entirely bad; however, most of the “friends” are really just casual acquaintances.

Introverts tend to perform better when we’re working independently and in more subdued environments. Extroverts tend to create loud environments when working which leads to getting off topic and not finishing work. As for introverts, we can get work done, even though loud learning environments are hard to work in. According to Ernweb.com, silence is important in classrooms when working because it helps increase inner reflection, dramatic impact, focusing and creative space.

Most introverts study a lot and write assignments because it gives us an opportunity to reflect on topics that matter to us, and express ourselves, which usually results in good grades. Listening is a great quality of introverts, which is important for college classes.

Because introverts spend so much time in our minds, it is only natural that introverts take self-improvement to the next level.

We are deep thinkers and put a lot of effort and discipline trying to understand their emotions and how to deal with them.

However, being an introvert in the classroom can be a struggle. When it comes to participating and raising our hands, it’s not easy. On the other hand, extroverts call out the answers and enjoy hearing themselves. The biggest struggle for an introvert like me is public speaking.

Having the spotlight on me and trying not to make a mistake is tough.

However, most everybody has a class that they enjoy, and in classes like those, introverts may participate more. Introverted is not the same as shy. If someone faints due to a speech they have to do in front of the class, they may have been introverted, but it’s most likely due to shyness and anxiety.

The way in which certain instructional trends--like “collaborative learning,” “partner work” or “flipped classrooms”--are applied often neglect the needs of an introvert.

These trends can be appealing; however, overdoing them can undermine the learning of students who are inward thinkers.

Students with an extroverted personality may gain a lot from studying with a buddy or tutoring with another student, but there won’t always be someone available to study with. Introverts can learn and study easier alone. Extroverts also tend to carry on conversations, which isn’t a bad thing, unless you’re supposed to be working in class.

Introverts may not be strong with socializing but can be strong when it comes to learning and studying.

INTROVERTS RECHARGE BATTERY BY BEING IN SOLITUDE WORK THROUGH IDEAS IN THEIR HEAD BEFORE SPEAKING TRIGGERED BY PARASYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM TO CONSERVES ENERGY

WRITTEN BY JOYCE NG Extroverts make sure to include themselves in the classroom. Being an active participant may be tiring for introverts, but for extroverts, it’s not a big deal--and they actually enjoy it.

According to Google.com, an extrovert is a person who is energized by being around and interacting with people, but is drained when alone. Because of this, extroverts tend to seem more outgoing, talkative, and engaged with whatever is going on around them.

In the classroom, being able to immerse themselves among their peers can allow them to openly discuss topics and share ideas as soon as they come up with them. For extroverts, they tend to naturally share their ideas and thoughts out loud with others, which enables them to learn from each other in class, and see where they stand in their understanding.

Extroverts tend to ask teachers more questions, which may be what the introverts are asking themselves in their heads.

They can definitely be actively understanding and learning while expressing it to everyone in the room at the same time. This is definitely a benefit of being an extrovert in a classroom.

Another key part of the extroverted personality is being more easily outgoing with people in general. Whether you are the “new kid” in class or just a stranger, the extrovert near you will most likely try to engage in a conversation with you.

This makes making new friends a lot easier for extroverts. In a classroom environment, a good working group relationship between their classmates

may be more important than friendships.

Being able to get along with their teammates may be that key factor that allows them to get an A on the assignment. If their teammates hate them, maybe they won’t be getting such a good grade.

Aside from all the benefits of being an extrovert, there are some setbacks their personality can cause. Not being able to stay in their cold, lonely and dark room to focus and study for an important test can cause their grades to be in critical condition. Instead of staying in the comfort of their home alone to study on a Friday night, they will make time to party and hang out with friends on a Friday night.

Being an extrovert may seem reckless, exciting, and spontaneous, but still, most extroverts will set some time on the side to study--with friends. Although studying with friends or companions may not seem like the ideal way to study for introverts (with all the possible distractions), for extroverts, studying with others means sharing thoughts and ideas that can help each other understand topics and points.

They can also ask each other questions, which help extroverts solve problems or clear up misunderstandings they may have about the material they are learning. This shows that extroverts aren’t necessarily lousy students. In the classroom, extroverts can be active learners, fully immersing themselves into the lesson. With classmate interactions, extroverts build beneficial relationships for their academic career while demonstrating great teamwork skills on difficult projects. Extroverts definitely have an advantage in the classroom.

EXTROVERTS RECHARGE BATTERY BY BEING WITH PEOPLE WORK THROUGH IDEAS BY SPEAKING

TRIGGERED BY SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM TO ACTIVATE “FIGHT OR FLIGHT” SYSTEM INFOCOURTESYTHEUNDERCOVERRECRUITER.COM

DESIGN BY ABBIE WYDRA

DECEMBER 6, 2016 | THE LION’S TALE | FEATURES | 9

Teachers nominate finest for award

THE PROCESS OF TEACHER OF THE YEAR

WRITTEN BY ABBIE WYDRA Principal Trybus held a potted bouquet over his head at a faculty meeting and announced the winner of the Teacher of the Year: “Sadie Griesemer!”

Griesemer's cheeks turned a light red as she accepted the bouquet and thanked everyone for the recognition. She started to tear up as her husband and parents congratulated her.

However, that isn’t the end of the process for the new Teacher of the Year (TOY); it is just the beginning.

The TOY competition starts off at the school level.

“The Teacher of the Year is nominated by their peers, so other teachers vote for teacher,” Trybus said.

The students don’t get a say in who becomes the TOY, unlike the Teacher of the Week, where students do vote.

All of the teachers are able to nominate one another. Once the results are in, assistant principal Tanya Cameron and Trybus narrow it down to six to make the voting process easier for the teachers.

Then the teachers vote again, and then the teacher with the most votes wins at the school level.

The teacher receives balloons, flowers, and a gift card. Then, the next step begins.

“The Teacher of the Year for each school will complete a packet to submit to the district, which consists of information about how the teacher involves parents and the community in education and their plans to improve their teaching profession, along with three letters of recommendation and a photo,” Cameron said.

The school then submits the packet, photos and recommendations to a committee at Seminole County Public Schools (SCPS). It is the committee's turn

Teachers nominate each other for school level Teacher of the Year

PHOTOS BY FERN SILVA

County representatives evaluate school winners

ILLUSTRATION BY CONNER QUINLAN

Teacher wins recognition & prizes DESIGN BY CONNER QUINLAN

Paul Brown Previous TOY

How was your experience as teacher of the year?

The experience itself was a positive one. It was great [since] I got to represent our school; I got to represent the high school level. And it has been celebrated in our county and I appreciate the support I have gotten from our faculty, staff and administration here about it.

Do you have any advice for the next TOY? Seek wise counsel, especially ones that have come before you, in order to get through the process. Know that regardless of whatever happens, this does not need to validate you as a teacher. Good teaching is good teaching and it shows in whomever.

It’s going to be fun, you’re going to win some money--all of those are good, but you also represent a positive profession. Just continue to be who you are.

to narrow down the competition, which consists of 67 teachers from 67 different schools.

“They then go out to each school and go into the classroom to see the teachers teaching and sometimes they videotape it,” Trybus said.

The teacher and the principal attend a banquet with all of the teachers and principals from the whole county on March 13 where the TOY for the county is announced.

The teacher that wins at the county level wins a plethora of prizes.

“Last year’s SCPS Teacher of the Year finalist received a ring from Herff Jones; a Mousecar from Walt Disney World Resort--their version of the Oscar--and a Disney Annual Pass; and $1,000 from the Foundation for SCPS," Cameron said.

"Plus, a year’s lease of a 2016 Buick, courtesy of Carl Black Chevrolet/Buick/ GMC." After the teacher wins at the county level, the teacher then advances to the state level, where he or she competes against teachers from the whole state.

Teachers are evaluated, and then the list is narrowed down to five finalists to represent the state of Florida. A committee at the state level decides who is the next TOY for the state.

TOY doesn’t go past the state level.

After the TOY is selected for the state of Florida “s/he serves as a goodwill ambassador representing the Department of Education (DOE) and teachers throughout the state” according to the DOE. This means the teacher is pulled out of the classroom for a year to represent the DOE and teachers throughout the state.

Even though the TOY leaves the classroom for a year, the DOE repays the district for the teacher's salary.

Saida Greismer Current TOY

How did you feel when you won?

I was absolutely surprised when I won.

It was very overwhelming, I didn’t think I was going to win.

How would you feel about winning for the county?

I would just be honored if I won, it’s not something I need to do. I wouldn’t say it’s my ending goal, but I am honored to be representing Oviedo. If I do, that would be great, but if I don’t I wouldn’t be devastated because there are so many wonderful teachers in the application process.

How do you think you improve as a teacher?

Every year I try to get better and try and do what’s best for my kids. If I’m trying to make myself better it’s only making them better, so everything that I’m doing I’m always centered toward my students; every year I’m going to be a learner. I will always be a lifetime learner.

10 | FEATURES | THE LION’S TALE | DECEMBER 6, 2016

Foreshadowing the Future Students speculate success, failure of New Year’s resolutions WRITTEN BY DANIELLE GRIFFITHS The clock counts down, and the clock chimes midnight, switching from 2016 to 2017. The New Year brings new opportunities and about 45% of Americans create a New Year’s resolution, according to StatisticBrain.com.

Among the those who make New Year’s resolutions is senior Kadi Tao, and she strongly believes in the running tradition.

“I think New Year’s Resolutions are kind of just a reason for people to take a step back after a year of ups and downs and just try something new,” Tao said. “It’s just a nice little refresher to remind you that you can control things in your life even if it doesn’t seem like it all the time and it’s a really small, but good thing to try.”

Although some decide to make resolutions, many people don’t believe in making them.

“I don’t like to make New Year’s resolutions because they don’t usually happen, and you want to think you are going to follow them, but you end up not,” said sophomore Ryan Kurtz.

Senior Olivia Thompson also doesn’t make resolutions.

“I consider New Year’s resolutions as a complete waste of time,” Thompson said.

“People typically aren’t eager to change aspects of themselves. They make these promises, but never keep them, then come up with excuses to justify their lack

41% of people who make New Year’s resolutions classify themselves as not happy

of commitment. The phrase ‘new year, new me’ promises new beginnings, but in the end, people fall to old habits.”

Because of this, Thompson doesn’t make New Year’s resolutions.

“I’m happy with myself and my habits, and I really don’t think there’s anything I need to put effort into changing or improving,” Thompson said.

Although most people never make or complete their resolutions, senior Megan Margadonna says she enjoys the idea of this tradition.

“I think New Year’s resolutions are a good thing because they help people start the year off on a good note,” Margadonna said. “People usually don’t stick with their resolutions, but at least they are being positive.”

Timing is also a large factor in whether it’s a good time in one’s life to create a resolution, according to Tao. “New Year’s resolutions are great if you hadn’t really had the time to do whatever it is yet,” Tao said. “It’s a good time to do something for yourself.

Especially as teens, right now, it feels like you can’t control anything that is going on in your life, but a New Year’s resolution is something for you and something you can do.”

The keeping of a resolution is a huge confidence boost for junior Myranda Spruck.

“I see resolutions as a good thing because they give you a goal for the year

and years to come, and if you achieve them, your confidence level is amazing,” Spruck said.

Even though a little less than half of Americans make resolutions, just 8% of Americans only ever achieve them, according to BrainStatistics.com.

“I am never successful with my New Year’s resolutions,” Margadonna said.

“They last for like a month and I am so proud of myself, and then I get back to the same old routine. The resolutions just don’t stick with me.”

People aren’t able to follow through with their resolutions for many reasons.

“I never kept any of my New Year’s resolutions,” said sophomore Summer Drew. “We use to have to write them in elementary school. Mine were always cliché, like to exercise more, so I didn’t take them seriously.”

Just like Drew, junior Yelizza Mercedes was influenced to make resolutions she wouldn’t keep.

“My parents always told me to make resolutions, so that was really the only reason I used to even make resolutions,” Mercedes said.

Even though most Americans never complete their resolutions, it comes down to the individual to decide if they want to create one or not.

“New Year’s resolutions can be great if you choose something for the right reason and if it’s something you are passionate about,” Tao said.

The Babylonians are said to be the first people to make New Year’s resolutions

45% of Americans make New Year’s resolutions

New Year’s Eve is the most popular drinking day

Men are more likely to succeed in their New Year’s resolution

For romantic resolutions, San Francisco is the best city to fall in love, as it has the highest single population Over 6,000 New York Police Department officers were deployed in Times Square to ring in 2016

In 2015, the most popular New Year’s resolution was to lose weight

INFOCOURTESYHISTORY.COM,NETSCAPE.COM,BRANDONGAILLE.COM,WSJ.COM,STATISTICBRAIN.COM

DESIGN BY NIYATI SHAH & DANIELLE GRIFFITHS

Fostering Hope

DECEMBER 6, 2016 | THE LION’S TALE | FEATURES | 11

Children find families through foster care, adoption WRITTEN BY PAIGE SIMPSON

Insufficient parenting, abandonment, death of family members, teen pregnancy, and non-desire for children are some of the many reasons children are left without families.

Children who are caught in the cycle have a variety of paths they can go down: they can be put into an orphanage, placed into a foster home, or adopted at any age (up until 18).

No matter what path life takes them down, the Department of Child and Families (DCF) ensures the child’s best interest is in mind.

“If a person suspects that a child is being abused in any way they call DCF an investigation then begins; if the system believes the child is not safe, they remove the child,” said algebra 2 teacher Malisa Brill, who has fostered a total of three children.

Around the age of six to seven months, junior Kathryn Graham experienced a similar sequence involving the DCF. “One day, DCF found me on the side of a highway playing, and I was in a bad area; I was [then] located in a foster care when I was six to seven months old,” Graham said. “I was in the orphanage because my mother couldn’t take care of me; she chose drugs over me.”

Though she said most of her memories from then were concealed from her because she was so young, Graham said that she was evicted from her home, separated from her mother and siblings, and put into the endless cycle of foster care.

But eventually, Graham’s struggle turned out to be worth it when she was

later adopted; she believes it was for the biological parents because the parents best. were not taking care of them properly,” Brill “Being adopted was the best thing that said. “The girls were immediately placed in has ever happened to me: I was put in a separate foster homes; a week later, they way better home, with a loving family,” were brought back together when they Graham said. “I loved my family from the came to us. The third child came to us at beginning. I picked them; they didn’t pick 13 days old, her name was Aurelia. Aurelia me.” was taken from her biological mother right Sophomore Hailey Kingsland, who was from the hospital because there were adopted at birth, believes, like Graham, drugs in her system at birth.” that adoption was the best result for her.

As time went on, Brill ultimately had to Although Kingsland and Graham’s return Aurelia to her birth father just short endpoint was the same, their roots tells of her first birthday, but Brianna and Harlie different stories. still remained under her wing.

“My mom’s not able to have children Since Brianna and Harlie were still because she has polycystic ovarian merely fostered, there was a chance syndrome, but they wouldn’t they’ve always e v e n t u a l l y It’s the greatest gift you can give a wanted kids,” become a part of child, and the greatest blessing you Kingsland said. the family. will ever receive.

“They thought “Because we

Teacher Malisa Brill adoption was were concerned the best option.” that the girls might Since she was given to her adopted go back to their biological parents, we parents at her birth, Kingsland was never wanted to make them as self-sufficient as granted the knowledge of knowing her birth possible,” Brill said. “We taught them to take mother, but to she believes she didn’t miss care of themselves more at a young age. out.

[That’s the] disadvantage [of fostering], To her, her adopted family feels the having to let go of the children if the court exact same as any other “regular family.” sends them back, and not knowing if they “It doesn’t feel any different, they’re all are being taken care of and loved like you I’ve ever known,” Kingsland said. “Being want them to be, or even if they are safe.” sisters with my [adopted] sister is all I’ve In the end, at the ages of five and two, ever known, since she was adopted at birth Brianne and Harlie were given a happy as well; to us it’s normal.” ending, by becoming known as Brianna As an adult, Brill fostered three girls and Harlie Bland. who shared a similar problem: they were in “We had to fill out a huge packet about need of a roof over their heads. ourselves and the girls, then we went “The first two came to our home when before a judge who told us that the girls they were two [Harlie] and four [Brianna]; would now be ours as if they were born Brianna and Harlie were removed from their to us and receive all the same rights as a

FOSTER - vs - ADOPTION Foster parents are given monthly payments from the government to cover expenses of raising the foster child A temporary home, usually until the age of 18

DESIGN BY JOYCE NG

Removes legal rights and responsibilities from birth parents Provides and moves it to the a home adoptive parents

to a child

A more permanent home

biological child; we agreed and they were pronounced ours,” Brill said.

Brill said there were lots of tears full of joy, both her own happiness and her newly adopted children’s happiness.

“It’s the greatest gift you can give a child, and the greatest blessing you will ever receive,” Brill said. “Children are a blessing; we instantly fell in love with them.

We were their mommy and daddy from day one, and extremely happy to know they would always be safe and taken care of. They were excited to get to know they would have the same last name as mommy and daddy.”

Although Brianna and Harlie found the path to happiness, many children, who tragically lose their families, don’t.

Shortly after her homecoming to her biological father, Aurelia passed away, leaving Brill rubbed raw by the tragedy.

“Losing Aurelia was the hardest thing I will ever endure,” Brill said. “It physically felt like a piece of my heart was cut out when I heard the news. I cried for weeks and still cry every time I visit her gravesite, I visit her site three to four times a year now just to spend quality time remembering her, but I think of her daily. She was my daughter; in every possible way she was a part of me and always will be.”

Although all Aurelia’s loved ones, especially Brill, felt the damaging impact of her passing, Brill believes there’s always a rainbow behind every storm.

“Losing her helped me realize how precious life is and how quickly things can change,” Brill said. “It taught me to cherish every moment and always tell the ones you love that you love them. Her life was so short, but she changed mine forever.”

About 400,000 American children are in foster care

21% of adoptions are transracial

63% of Americans view adopted families favorably

1

12 | | THE FEATURES | THE| LION’S TALE | OCTOBER 2016 12 LION’S TALE FEATURES | DECEMBER 6, 26, 2016

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FEDERAL RESERV

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on holiday shopping, both online & in-store

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CHRISTMAS TREES

are sold annually in the United States

Consumerism Solution: The White Elephant Gift Exchange 1.

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First player selects a gift from the pile.

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OCTOBER 26, 20166,| THE TALE TALE | FEATURES | 13 | 13 DECEMBER 2016 LION’S | THE LION’S | FEATURES

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MATERIALISTIC SOCIETY INFLUENCES HOLIDAY SPIRIT

WRITTEN BY GILLIAN LANDWEHR

“Here comes Santa Claus, here comes Santa Claus...

Fill your hearts with Christmas cheer / ‘Cause Santa Claus comes tonight.” The Christmas season is just around the corner, and that means that Santa is bringing his cheer for everyone to hear.

Some people, however feel this cheer is less from holiday spirit than commercial materialism in today’s culture. Around early November, stores start to advertise for Christmas, and students have mixed opinions about this commercialization.

“One time I went into Michael’s and it wasn’t even Halloween yet and there were already Christmas decorations everywhere,” said sophomore Sarah Cox. “The holidays have changed because Christmas is lengthened now,” said junior Melissa Mirands.

“After October, the Christmas season starts, and that frightens me,” Miranda said. “No one celebrates Halloween or Thanksgiving anymore, they just jump right into Christmas.”

Sophomore Jonas Allen, however, believes that these advertisements aren’t early enough.

“When I walk into a store and see Christmas decorations and gifts, I feel the joy of Christmas, and it makes me excited for the holiday season,” Allen said.

AP Language and Composition teacher Kate Kammeraad has seen this commercialization take place even before school starts in the fall.

“This July, I found aisle after aisle of Christmas decorations, ornaments, and full on Christmas tree displays at Hobby Lobby,” Kammeraad said. “The stores are trying to capitalize on the market, but I just see how impressive that holiday spirit and feeling is to so many people.”

Christmas is one of the most commercialized holidays.

Hanukkah, on the other hand, is rarely commercialized.

“I honestly don’t think Hanukkah is advertised at all,” said sophomore Cassidy Delbango. “I’ve never seen a commercial for it. Sometimes I find a menorah in the dollar store.”

Not only have stores become more commercialized, gifts

have also become more advanced. At first, presents were small items. Now, presents are iPhones, smartphones, laptops and other big-ticket items.

“The day and age has changed to where kids see these electronic devices in TV commercials and store advertisements and they think that it’s perfectly okay to ask for these things for gifts,” said freshman Sophie Gill.

“Kids nowadays can ask for whatever they want and their parents will give it to them.”

Through the years, presents have degraded from meaningful gifts to cheap, manufactured goods.

“My parents (who are in their 70s) say that they would only receive a handful of items from Santa: a small toy, a bit of candy, and an orange,” Kammeraad said. “They would receive two to three wrapped gifts-from their parents only. Why have they changed? Materialism, for sure.

We have cheaper and more readily available presents.”

Although the stores have changed, quality of products have become better.

“When I was young in the 1980s and 1990s you would never shop for gifts at Target and Walmart,” Kammeraad said. “Now, the quality is just as good and the price is better than in the mall stores.”

Miranda feels the Christmas spirit is dying out because Christmas has become more commercial, but sophomore Ethan Terrell believes that the Christmas spirit is still alive and thriving.

“The Christmas spirit isn’t gone, Terrell said. “There wouldn’t be people gathered around the tree in New York if Christmas spirit is gone.”

Some students like the holiday season as is, even if it seems that it is changing.

Junior Phoenix Coleman spends the holidays at home with her family to enjoy the spirit.

“I celebrate the holidays with my family and we sit around the fireplace, roasting marshmallows and talking about what we are thankful for,” Coleman said. “Every year, my family does a white elephant and it’s really fun. We always have hot chocolate with the cute, mini marshmallows and it just makes me smile.”

1

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DESIGN BY GILLIAN LANDWEHR & NIYATI SHAH

14 | FEATURES | THE LION’S TALE | DECEMBER 6, 2016

Gifted program not as significant in later part of education system WRITTEN BY JESSICA WHITE

With the introduction of Advanced Placement (AP) and honors classes, the gifted classes are diminishing throughout the high school curriculum.

Sophomore Kayla Bachellor notes that gifted classes have become less apparent.

“When I signed up for my classes in high school I didn’t even know I had the option to take gifted classes,” Bachellor said. “I remember gifted classes being so hyped up in elementary and middle school and always wondered why it wasn’t the same way in high school.”

Gifted classes, otherwise known as GATE, are a broad term for special practices, procedures, and theories used in the education of children who have been identifies as gifted or talented.

To be classified as a gifted student in Seminole county, students take a test that evaluates whether they have the skills to be classified as one.

The gifted program varies throughout elementary, middle, and high school.

Gifted coordinator Erica Segrest explains how the programs are different.

“Most elementary schools have a pullout program, regular classes for 5 days a week then for part of one or two they get pulled out to do work with other gifted students,” Segrest said. “With middle school they have separate classes for all the different subjects, so they are in classes that are full of other gifted students.”

There are more gifted students

in elementary school and middle in comparison to high school, so its hard to have full Gifted classes.

“In the high school level we incorporate gifted students into our honors classes because we don’t have enough students to just have gifted classes,” Segrest said.

Honors Algebra II teacher Saida Griesemer notes that the gifted math courses are incorporated into honors classes because of the scarce amount of gifted students.

“Incorporating students into honors classes allows the student to benefit from different types of instruction,” Griesemer said. “In the math classes we differentiate our styles of teaching to meet the needs of the students needs.”

Students should be re-tested every four years, so students would rather take the AP route rather than retake the test.

“It is recommended to have the student re-tested every four years,” Griesemer said. “It is recommended because the county still wants to see if students still have the skills to be able to be in gifted classes.”

A main factor to the decreasing appearance of gifted classes is the availability to take AP and honors classes.

“The gifted classes have so called ‘died down’ because now in high school there are so many AP classes to be offered,” Segrest said. “Those gifted students are taking the AP route and they are still in the highest-level classes possible, it’s just not really sectioned as a gifted course.”

ILLUSTRATION BY ALEX SAYAVONG AP and honors classes allow students to still take the highest level of classes possible without having to be a gifted classified student.

“Now that there are advanced placement and honors classes available I suppose students would much rather take that route,” Bachellor said. “ Now that you have the ability to take a high level class without having to take a test it is much more appealing to students who want that

education.”

Even though these gifted classes have become less apparent in high school, the type of instruction given to the students may benefit certain people who want to be instructed that way.

“The students who are enrolled with the gifted classes feel much more comfortable with the teaching styles, which leads the students’ grades to increase,” Griesemer said.

DESIGN BY JESSICA WHITE

DECEMBER 6, 2016 | THE LION’S TALE | FEATURES | 15

ENERGY STYLE

THINKING STYLE

Are you more comfortable with:

other people, in busy spaces

Extrovert

Do you process your emotions:

small groups, in quiet places

by basing facts on direct experiences

Introvert 51% of people are introverts

49% of people are extroverts

Sensor

Combine both of these to understand your comfort level and emotion processing

by relying on intuition, reflection

iNtuitive 27% of people are intuitives

73% of people are sensors

Personality characteristics influence classroom dynamic WRITTEN BY STACIA AHLERS Some students like to work quietly, while some prefer to talk through the challenges.

Personalities are fundamental pieces of each person’s natural tendencies and behaviors that are displayed in every aspect of their lives.

According to psychologists, there is a limited variation of people’s basic tendencies.

Psychologists have declared 16 different personality types, which can be identified by a set of four letters.

Junior Hannah Dennsion, an INFJ, thinks she is “definitely introverted.” “[I am] not very comfortable in social situations,” Dennsion said.

Dennsion said that it’s very difficult for her talk to strangers and connect with many people, including in the classroom.

She thinks that her role in a classroom is “the quiet one that doesn’t do a lot but still participates.”

Conversely, people elected to Homecoming and Prom Court tend to be very open and confident in their classrooms.

The variety of people helps maintain a balanced society, even beyond the classroom. According to AP Psychology

teacher Zachary Densberger, there’s no one way to evaluate personality, and no one type of personality is better than another.

“There [are] several different attempts at it and there [are] different scales,” Densberger said.

One of the most widely accepted ways of determining personality is using the MyersBriggs scale, which Densberger encourages his students to use.

In the scale, each “personality type” is expressed by a set of four letters; each letter expresses a choice between two opposing traits and describes specific peoples’ process of emotions and perceptions. These initials help people identify their source of energy and reflect on how they implement information that is processed unconsciously.

Densberger said that there are interesting differences in behaviors of various personality types.

“We’re always playing off of each other,” Densberger said. “There’re things that one person can do in a class that would work, and then another personality type would try the same thing and it wouldn’t work.”

The typical classroom is made up of an assortment of all different personality types, which helps create strong bonds and,

VALUES STYLE

LIFE STYLE

Do you make decisions based on:

your logical conclusions

Thinkers 40% of people are thinkers

INFOCOURTESYPAULSOHN.ORG

DESIGN BY BRYN GARICK

Which do you prefer:

your beliefs, emotional views

organized work environment

Feelers

60% of people are feelers

occasionally, worrisome clashes. According to Densberger, it’s important for people to understand each other as well as their individual, innate differences.

“I give all my classes a personality test as soon as I can so they start to look at themselves a little more before they try to figure out, for instance, what they’re going to do with their life,” Densberger said.

Mixing personality types can cause severe conflicts--and also strong friendships.

For example, a messy perceiver may clash with the judger who sits next to them, creating two fundamental differences that can vex people in a personal, unsolvable way, according to 16personalities.com. However, if everyone keeps an open mind and react rationally, knowing people’s personality types truly helps people understand one another.

“There’s a little bit of understanding, maybe [because] you’re a little more empathetic, and you’re able to put yourself into someone else’s shoes and see how they perceive things,” Densberger said.

“We all kind of assume, especially when we’re younger, that everyone sees the world through our eyes. They don’t, and I think as you start to realize that it helps you stop judging and start cooperating.”

Judgers

Combine both of these to understand your decision-making and your work ethic

flexibility, freedom

Perceivers 46% of people are perceivers

54% of people are judgers

FOR A PERSONALIZED TEST, CHECK OUT: 16PERSONALITIES.COM/FREE-PERSONALITY-TEST

16 | FEATURES | THE LION’S TALE | DECEMBER 6, 2016

Video games strengthen relationships among family members videogame relationship. his father.

“I remember one day, I was just sitting on the “We would usually play some shooters together, Video games, ever since their creation couch, reading,” Hague said. “My brother came in and maybe some RPGs,” Trevino said. “We would decades ago, have been affecting the daily and was like, ‘You know what, I’ve been a horrible stay on there for hours and hours, getting lost in it lives of people. Video games have brought the brother, we should do something together. You can honestly. It’s really fun.”

Trevino thinks it gives them a better connection. same emotions out of people for decades. A pick a game.’ That was the first day my brother really “We work together within the game, then bring connection can be formed when two people play interacted with me, so I was of course surprised by that outside into reality,” Trevino said. videogames together. Freshman Jennifer Hague it.”

This type of relationship-building isn’t limited Video games can become a true linking point, uses videogames to enhance her relationship to a few people; many people across campus use according to Trevino. with her brother.

“I don’t think we would have gotten as close as we “Before we started playing video video games as a means to build relationships with are today,” Trevino said. “We definitely wouldn’t have games, we really didn’t have anything people.

Freshman Luciano Trevino uses video games as been as cooperative. But playing videogames, I can to connect to each other with,” Hague said. “We didn’t share any common a center point for the relationship that he has with tell that it has really brought us closer together.” interests before we started to play games together.”

PERCENT LOADED Video games range in genre, theme, and overall gameplay, allowing a huge mix of 54% of the most frequent gamers play with others possibilities.

“We tend to play multiplayer games, like Gang Beasts together,” Hague said.

41% play with friends “But usually we play Skyrim together.”

Hague remembers a definitive moment that began her

WRITTEN BY FERN SILVA

21% play with family members

ILLUSTRATION BY CONNER QUINLAN

INFOCOURTESYTHEESA.COM

DESIGN BY FERN SILVA

DECEMBER 6, 2016 | THE LION’S TALE | FEATURES | 17 CAMPUS HERO

CAMPUS HERO

CAMPUS HERO

CAMPUS HERO

CAMPUS HERO

Rapper sheds light on social issues, life decisions WRITTEN BY AARON NEDLAN

PHOTO BY DORIAN BEAUPIERRE

DESTINED TO INNOVATE. Junior Dorian Beaupierre, also known as Lowkey Dori, released his latest song, “Back Then,” in November.

CLUB FEATURE

CLUB FEATURE

Junior Dorian Beaupierre, also known as Lowkey Dori, self- identifies as an aspiring hip hop artist and creates all of his music straight from his room.

Beaupierre’s goal, according to him, isn’t to make millions of dollars, but rather to be able to reach people and touch them with his music.

His latest song, “Back Then,” strikes a personal note for Beaupierre. “‘Back Then’ is based off of a question, ‘Would the seven-yearold me be proud of the me today?’”

Beaupierre said.

“Back Then” illustrates Beaupierre’s childhood and the present.

According to him, it expresses how his viewpoints and his choices have completely changed from when he was young.

It also asks a central question around which he focuses his life.

“If that me would be proud of the me that I am today, if that me would have made the same decisions and choices that I made throughout my entire life?” Beaupierre said.

Beaupierre has released a total of four tracks that are available on SoundCloud.

He believes what makes him

CLUB FEATURE

different from other rappers is he is able to express all of his rhymes without the use of curse words.

Beaupierre’s most viewed song is “Where’s My Freedom,” a song that focuses on the Black Lives Movement and the perceived injustices done to those killed from cop shootings.

“The song was created so that I could express my feelings on police brutality and the state of black people in America,” Beaupierre said.

Beaupierre wanted to perform the song “Where’s My Freedom” in front of the entire school at the talent show, but was told no because it was a controversial issue.

Beaupierre disagrees with the school’s decision.

“I understood why they didn’t want me to perform, but I found it wrong because kids walk around with Trump flags and have Confederate flags on their cars; I wonder how that’s not a controversial issue,” Beaupierre said.

The meaning of the song, overall, is intended to center around change and self-betterment.

“The whole song expresses that it’s okay to be different than what you pictured when you were young, and how all your decisions change under certain circumstances,” Beaupierre said.

CLUB FEATURE

CLUB FEATURE

French Club home to diversity, friendship, food

Gregg values the club’s diversity and views it as a strength of the club.

The French Club is home to diversity and good times, “Being able to appreciate a different culture and according to senior Monica Gregg, who looks forward to having diversity in the club is a positive,” Gregg said.

French Club meetings as the highlight of her month.

Sophomore Ruth Tufts also notes the diversity “We are a very large club, with about 20-30 people, amongst club membership. and it makes for a great time,” Gregg said.

“Many students from different cultures are in French French Club is one of the most well-attended clubs at club, and we spend time not only learning about French, the school, and the club prides itself on its diversity and but about each other,” Tufts said. educational value, according to French Club sponsor The diversity in the club allows a variety of friendships Victoria Huffman. to be made, Tufts believes.

Huffman, who also teaches “It’s a connection for different French Club is a place for students to French 1, 2, 3, and AP French, friends from different areas,” come and learn about other people views her sponsorship of Tufts said.

French Club as a continuity of and cultures.

Junior Jessica Bland enjoys tradition.

Teacher Victoria Huffman the club, even though she isn’t “The club was already in in any French classes. existence when I started at Oviedo, so I just continued “My friend Sara got me into it,” Bland said. “It’s more the tradition,” Huffman said. a community, a family, than a club. We go outside and French Club, along with Italian Club and Latin play games, we watch movies and hang out. It’s just a American Club, are clubs that correspond with foreign really good time.” language courses.

Huffman also notes the value in learning about global Subjects covered in French Club span all French- cultures. related topics imaginable.

“We live in a global world and it’s important to be “We learn about the French culture in the club, and informed about other people and their practices,” then we learn the language in the class, but we are Huffman said. able to apply what we know from the class to the club,” Huffman always encourages students to join French Huffman said.

Club, as the club is open to everyone, according to Diversity and cultural awareness are an emphasis of Huffman. the teaching done in French Club.

“Anyone can join French Club, and we eat at almost “[French Club] is a place for students to come and every meeting,” Huffman said. “I personally would love learn about other people and cultures,” said Huffman. to have more students join.”

WRITTEN BY JESICA LITTON

DESIGN BY CONNOR COMPTON

PHOTO BY FERN SILVA

FRENCH CLUB FELLOWSHIP. Juniors Sydney Utzig, Olivia Mauga, and Caroline Folsom enjoy fellowship as they recite sentences in French.

////Reviewed Quick Review

RWBY

Youtube Series Action

SUPERLATIVE

ADMIRABLE

ADEQUATE

HEARTHSTONE Video Game

////

18 | ENTERTAINMENT | THE LION’S TALE | DECEMBER 6, 2016

GRIM

ATROCIOUS

REVIEWED BY JOHN SPEER RWBY, the hit animated series

by Roosterteeth, has swung back around for its fourth volume with new revelations and new characters.

As their stay at Beacon Academy is cut short by an invasion of Grimm, the characters’ story begins with them mourning the death of their principal, Professor Ozpin.

As some deal with family issues, others deal with much more serious ones, like saving the world of Remnant. Each character, however, seems to be deeply combating PTSD from the last season, with various levels of success.

Though the new installment introduces a wide collection of new characters, the story focuses mainly on Ruby, Yang, Blake, and Weiss, each on their own separate paths.

Ruby travels with her new team across the continents of Remnant on their way to Mistral, saving towns and people all the way. Weiss returns home to her worried father, and finds him in questionable business with the army general for Atlas. Blake escapes on a ship to visit old friends and family, but is found by an old comrade.

Yang remains home with her father, dealing with flashbacks and her new life with only one arm, and Cinder is newly found in the company of the series’ newest crew of villains, led by Salem. No more than the faces of each in the group are known of Salem’s gathering, but more will soon be revealed.

MOANA

Movie

REVIEWED BY CHRISTINA YORK

I was filled with excitement when I saw that there was going to be a new Disney princess movie, called Moana.

I was so drawn to see it just by the interesting trailer.

The scenery was absolutely amazing.

The graphics made it so surreal. It was set was on a small island in Hawaii, where everyone on it was close as if they were one big family.

The movie is centered around a

Mean Streets of Gadgetzan makes needed changes PHOTO BY BLIZZARD ENTERTAINMENT REVIEWED BY D.MCCOY&D.CHIODINI Released on Dec. 1, Blizzard’s new expansion The Mean Streets of Gadgetzan added exciting new mechanics to spice up a stale competitive experience.

The most prominent additions are the new Tri-Class cards, each of which can be used by three of the nine total classes.

The three factions, the Grimy Goons, the Kabal, and the Jade Lotus, each add a fresh mechanic to the game.

With the Grimy Goons, the Paladin, Hunter, and Warrior classes receiving cards that buff their hand, it made their future turns stronger.

While Hunter focuses on after-death effects, Warrior focuses on weapon buffing and combat. Paladin’s minion buffs show the most potential.

With cards such as Smuggler’s Run and Grimestreet Outfitter, which give the minions in your hand +1/1 (one attack and one health), you are able to swarm the board with low cost, powerful minions.

In the Kabal faction, the Mage, Priest, and Warlock classes utilize potions and

spells to retain control of the board. Priest benefits the most from this expansion, jumping from one of the worst classes to one of the best through the addition of increased synergy with the Dragon Priest archetype.

Cards like Dragonfire Potion, which deals five damage to all non-dragon minions, and Drakonid Operative, a synergy card for the Dragon Priest archetype that allows you to discover a card in your opponent’s deck.

Despite the increased viability of Priest by way of the major draw of the Kabal seems to be a failure. The card Kazakus, which rewards only running one copy of each card in your deck, seems to be too inconsistent to make an impact on the meta game.

While the Grimy Goons and the Kabal have their advantages, the Jade Lotus seems to have the tools to dominate the competitive field.

While Druid, Shaman, and Rogue all have ways to summon Jade Golems, which grow in strength as you summon more of them, Druid is by far the most dominant of the three. The card Jade Idol gives the player the choice of summoning one Jade

Golem or shuffling three copies of Jade Idol into their deck. This not only ensures that Druid will never run out of cards, but also allows them, in theory, to summon infinite Jade Golems.

The flexibility of this one card, coupled with other ways to summon Jade Golems, should lead to their complete dominance.

Outside of the three factions, there are plenty of other new cards to experiment with.

The Aggressive Warrior deck got buffed through Patches the Pirate and Hobart Grapplehammer, which allow the player to deal damage faster to their opponent.

Finally, Murloc decks, especially Murloc Shaman, received buffs with the addition of Finja, the Flying Star, which summons two Murlocs from the deck when it destroys another minion.

While the expansion seems to favor the Jade Lotus faction, the other classes received enough tools to not only compete but have an amazing time doing so.

The minor downfalls of Mean Streets of Gadgetzan are overshadowed by the innovation Blizzard has shown in creating this masterpiece.

young adventurous girl named Moana who sails out on a daring mission to save her island and people.

During her journey, she meets the demigod named Maui who guides her in her quest to become a master way-finder. They sail across the ocean in a crazy ocean voyage being face-to-face with monsters and impossible odds she didn’t think could happen.

Along the way, she fulfills her quest and saves her island along with her people like she was chosen to do.

Her spiritual grandmother had a feeling about Moana being the “chosen one” of the sea.

She had great faith in her and she knew that Moana could complete the task, as her grandma follows along with her through spirit.

Moana herself has long brown curly hair and wears an outfit you would think

any ordinary Hawaiian girl would wear.

Moana has a kind heart and all she wants is to explore beyond the reef. She also has a small dull “side-kick” chicken, Hay-Hay who journeyed with her on her long life-changing mission.

The girl who played Moana in the movie is Auli’I Cravalho. She is a 16-year-old singer and actor who was born in Oahu, HI. This was her dream to be able to be a Disney princess and her dream was finally fulfilled with a princess a lot like her.

The voice acting was done perfectly and it was an amazing movie that I definitely recommend to any audience.

DESIGN BY STACIA AHLERS

DECEMBER 6, 2016 | THE LION’S TALE | ENTERTAINMENT | 19

Movie

Sun & Moon Game

Role-Playing

REVIEWED BY DOUG CHIODINI

PHOTO BY FUSE.TV

Movie takes viewers on crazy adventure WRITTEN BY JULIAN RIOS Magical castles, Quidditch, wands and super-complicated spells: these are all things that make up the Wizarding World (aka the Harry Potter universe).

And now, there is a new addition to the magical world, Newt Scamander. He is briefly mentioned in the Harry Potter books because he wrote Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, a textbook that Harry and his friends use at Hogwarts.

The book is an A-Z listing of all the magical creatures in the Harry Potter universe. The book was released to the public in 2001 and now, 15 years later, we have the movie version.

The movie is very different from the book. For example, if the movie was just a listing of the magical creatures, then it would be boring. Thankfully, the film has a story behind it.

The movie follows Newt (Eddie Redmayne) on his journey through New York City in the 1920s. Fresh off the boat from England, all he has is his wand and suitcase.

But the suitcase isn’t filled with clothes, it’s filled with magical creatures like the Bowtruckle, ThunderBird and Niffler. Newt saved and collected them, being like a magical zookeeper to these creatures, some never before seen by the human eye. The creatures are beautiful in their own way, some taking on physical

features from actual animals.

Some are big, some are small, but all eagerly want to get out of the case.

Eventually, one greedy little creature does get out, and causes Newt to expose the Wizarding World to human Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler), which throws this storyinto a whole diffrent spiral.

Because of this exposure, Newt and Kowalski are taken to MACUSA (the American Ministry of Magic) by Porpentina Goldstein (Katherine Waterston). They soon find out that an invisible creature has been causing chaos and fear in the New Yorkers. Soon, all three are on an adventure chasing the beast while outrunning the magical police.

But disaster strikes. All the creatures in Newt’s case escape and ravage through the streets of New York, causing them to sidetrack from their initial journey and deal with the escape of Gellert Grendalwald.

They are forced to return all the animals to the case before anyone sees them. Throughout this journey, viewers find out some interesting new things about the Wizarding World and about the American magic association.

The movie and book are wacky, suspenseful and mysterious. It’s an amazing family-friendly movie that leaves an great bubbly feeling in moviegoers and is a wonderful new addition to the Harry Potter universe.

Up-And-Coming: Gaming

The Last Guardian

Nine years in the making, The Last Guardian, published by Sony Interactive entertainment and designer Fumito Ueda, finally hits stores on Dec. 6.

Filled with action-packed thrills, puzzling mind games,and third-person perspective, The Last Guardian is a vital addition to a gamer’s world.

DESIGN BY PAIGE SIMPSON & DANIELLE GRIFFITHS

The run time for Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is minutes

132

The movie made

$473.7million

globally

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them 2: coming to theaters, Nov. 2018

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them 2 will be set in Paris

Pokémon Sun and Moon pay homage to the series’ past entries while creating an enjoyable game for both new and old players alike.

As the game begins, you are immediately immersed in its vibrant visuals and introduced to the game’s antagonists, Team Skull. After seeing them fail at stealing Cosmog, a rare Pokémon and a key part in the plot, your character is dropped into the Alola region.

The first half hour of gameplay is packed with cut scenes and tutorials, which, while appealing to new players, can be tedious to veterans who already know most of the information. Despite the wait, when you are finally allowed to explore, the game is breathtaking. The vibrant Hawaiian visuals make exploration fun rather than tedious, and the new Pokémon have a perfect balance between being cool, cute and powerful.

With the inclusion of Alola-Form Pokémon, new versions of the original 151, Sun and Moon offer a welcomed twist to the originals. Ranging from the surfer-hair Dugtrio to the ice-typed Sandslash, these forms create a new element of strategy and depth in the game. Coupled with the creation of Z-Moves, ultra-powerful attacks that can be used once per battle, the game easily makes up for the lack of new of mega-evolutions, as seen in X and Y. The most important change to the gameplay is the removal of the gym system. It was replaced by the Island Challenge, a series of trials that tests the trainer’s problem-solving abilities along with his battling skills. Despite the change in a major mechanic, the transition is made seamless through the new tip system that tells the player were to go and what to do next without infringing on the game’s exploration.

These new mechanics and the overall upbeat atmosphere overshadow the game’s few flaws. This is, so far, the best addition to the Pokémon series and should serve as the building block for the series’ future.

INFOCOURTESYOFROTTENTOMATOES.COM

Up-And-Coming: Events

2nd 9 Weeks Exams

10th Annual Candy Cane 5K December 10, 8a.m.

Period 7: 12/16/16 Periods 1 & 4: 12/19/16 Periods 2 & 5: 12/20/16 Periods 3 & 6: 12/21/16

20 | ENTERTAINMENT | THE LION’S TALE | DECEMBER 6, 2016

One Page Low-down

App Review: Ink Hunter REVIEWED BY AARON NEDLAN InkHunter is a tattoo-friendly app that allows you to choose--or even upload--a tattoo design to then put on your body. It uses Augmented Reality (AR) from your camera. Users can look at a tattoo on their body in full color without making the fatal mistake of getting it on their body and praying someone can do a cover-up later.

Once an InkHunter tattoo has been put onto the user, a picture can be captured in order to save the look and see it under different filters provided by the app; there are also options to resize the tattoo and even move/rotate it on the captured image.

The app comes with hundreds of different tattoos designed professionally by well-known artists. If that doesn’t fulfill your tattoo needs, you can even upload designs you find on the Internet,

or even something you drew up yourself.

The app comes with major customization options, allowing the user to easily master the app and enjoy it at the same time.

I think the app brings a simple idea to life and is an excellent app that should be downloaded by people looking for their next tattoo. The only downside of the app is that it has errors sometimes and shuts down. I also would like to see future updates expanding on the customization of the tattoos.

This app is available for iPhone and Android users, completely free.

Album Review: A Pentatonix Christmas REVIEWED S.SRIDHARAN The acapella group Pentatonix (PTX) released their much-awaited new holiday album on Oct. 21.

A Pentatonix Christmas features modern covers of traditional carols and Christmasthemed music by other artists.

Pentatonix was first created in 2011, when the members Mitch Grassi, Scott Hoying, Kirsten “Kirstie” Macdonaldo, Kevin Olusula and Avi Kaplan entered and won “The Sing-Off.” They then found success on YouTube, with over 11 million subscribers, as well as three world tours and five more albums.

This is the third holiday album Pentatonix has released, with PTXmas in 2012, That’s Christmas to Me in 2014, and now A Pentatonix Christmas.

Songs from the most recent

album include many classics: “Up on the Housetop,” “Merry Christmas,” “Happy Holidays,” and “The Christmas Sing-aLong.” These songs are warm, comforting, and bright. In them, people decorate Christmas trees and string lights across the streets while snowflakes dot the sky. I instantly was transported to the December holiday time.

Carols such as “Coventry Carol,” and “O Come All Ye Faithful” are included as well, and are reminiscent of earlier songs Pentatonix has covered.

For instance, “Hallelujah” has the same somberness as their version of “The First Noel.” “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” has the same background rhythm as their previous cover of “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.”

PTX has won the Grammy for Best Arrangement, Instrumental, or Acapella two years in a row, for “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” and “Daft Punk.”

While much of the new music is merry and bright, some songs are more emotional and cold.

For example, in their version of “Coldest Winter,” chill and loss is emphasized in this winter song.

The album represents a warm, yet modern, Christmas, perfect for Pentatonix’s main fanbase (mostly teenagers and millennials).

Overall, A Pentatonix Christmas is a great album to listen to this holiday season.

SOUL OF AN ARTIST Dancer Junior Brianna Guillory INTERVIEWED BY JOHN SPEER Q: What initially interested you in dancing?

A: I’ve been dancing since I was little, so it’s always been what I loved to do. The passion I have for it keeps me going.

Q: How long have you been dancing?

A: I’ve been dancing since I was three years old. I took a break around fifth grade, then got back into it in seventh grade.

Q: What was your favorite show to do so far?

A: My favorite show was last year’s Mane Attraction spring show.

Q: Do you have any stories from your time in dancing?

A: I have a lot of stories, but my favorite is last year. During our competition, our music stopped playing in the middle of our dancing. It was a really memorable experience because we all had to push and remember the music to keep the time.

Q: Who has supported your interests?

A: My biggest supporters are probably my parents, and a lot of my friends that I dance with and have been dancing with for a while are big supporters.

Q: What styles have you learned?

A: I’ve learned hip-hop, ballet, tap, jazz and musical theater.

Q: What are your plans for your future in dancing?

A: For the future, I don’t really want to dance, but I would love to choreograph and still be around the dance community as much as I can.

Local Review: Illuminating Oviedo REVIEWED BY BRYN GARICK

PHOTO BY BRYN GARICK

The 13th Annual Winter Springs Tree Lighting fesitval took place on Dec. 3, 2016.

The parade contained many clubs, businesses and important faces of Winter Springs, including Integrity Dance and the mayor. Candy was thrown at the watchers, and beads and information cards from various businesses were handed out.

The parade concluded with a visit from Santa Claus, who rode on a firetruck and threw mints at the parade watchers.

The Tree Lighting began with an introduction of the important people of the town. An acapella choir sang “Carol of the Bells,” which led into Santa rearriving on a firetruck to light up the tree.

Overall, the tree lighting event fit perfectly with the holiday season and created a great atmosphere for families.

DESIGN BY BRYN GARICK

DECEMBER 6, 2016 | THE LION’S TALE | SPORTS | 21

PREPPING FOR PROGRESS

Basketball team looks to build off constant success PHOTO BY OLIVIA BASTONE WRITTEN BY DOUG CHIODINI

As the boy’s basketball team begins another hype-filled season, they remain focused on one goal—exceeding expectations.

With the pressure of their previous seasons mounting, the team embraces the challenge to push for their first state title in three years.

“I expect us to win districts like we did last year,” said junior William Przystup. “If we could win states, it would mean that Oviedo, even though we haven’t performed for the past few years, could come back up out of the blue, be the underdogs, and win it all.”

Even with their combined 5318 record over the previous two seasons, winning districts both years, the players came into the season as hungry and confident as ever, working to ensure they were ready to pursue their goal.

“We went through a lot of

DESIGN BY DOUG CHIODINI

conditioning, and a whole lot of running,” said senior Ivan Smith.

“We had a lot of practices over the summer.”

That preparation, paired with the team’s experience, gives the team the confidence they need to succeed.

“I feel like this year’s team is better than last year’s team,” Smith said. “Most of the scoring from last year came back.”

The team’s time together has allowed them to develop greater chemistry both on and off the court.

“The team’s real close this year,” said senior Earl Baker.

“We’re all like brothers. Off the court, we never pass each other without saying ‘Hey, what’s up?’ or something and we always chill outside of school. Because we like each other, we have no problems passing the ball [in the game].”

Even with their confidence and chemistry, the team suffered an early setback, losing to Windermere Prep 71-53 on Nov.

26. The loss forced the team to regroup and fix their mistakes.

“We lost one game, but we’re going to get back on track,” Baker said. “We tightened it up in practice after the loss. We’re serious now.”

Following the loss, the Lions rattled off two straight wins against Winter Springs and University, winning by a combined 37 points. Baker attributes the team’s success to both its hard work and its fans.

“I love the crowd,” Baker said.

“The positive energy, the student section, there’s something about it that motivates me.”

Even with the recent success, assistant coach Shawn Knaub knows the team must keep pushing to maintain their winning ways.

“Last year’s team overcame some obstacles to win our fifth straight district championship,” Knaub said. “This year’s team is more experienced than last year’s. Winning will take care of itself if we focus and improve.”

22 | SPORTS | THE LION’S TALE | DECEMBER 6, 2016

online manager

DOUG CHIODINI

College basketball more appealing than NBA

As the NBA season drudges along, with the Orlando Magic having yet another losing season, the UCF basketball team has stepped up to the tall task of making basketball relevant in Orlando again.

Led by 7’6” center Tacko Fall, UCF has blazed off to a 6-1 start, losing their only game to top-ranked Villanova, despite “experts” predicting they would finish near the bottom of their conference.

This unpredictability is the reason college basketball is better than the NBA. In the NBA, everybody knew the Warriors, Cavaliers and Spurs would be good. Those teams currently have the three best records in the league.

Going into the NCAA season, Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, Villanova and Oregon were thought to be the top five teams.

Now, while Villanova, Kansas and Duke are in the top five, previously 16th-ranked UCLA and previously unranked Baylor are ranked second and fourth, respectively, while Oregon has nearly dropped out.

This level of turmoil keeps fans on the edge of their seats. It brews passion for the present and hope for the future, giving every team an opportunity at success through coaching and recruiting, rather than through a ping-pong ball driven lottery.

The biggest aspect that puts college basketball ahead of the NBA, in my mind, is its unparalleled energy. When unranked Fort Wayne pulled off a miraculous upset of then-third-ranked Indiana, the sheer joy displayed by the fans and players as they stormed the court shows that people are actually invested in their college teams.

College fans stay with their team through the good times and the bad, whereas NBA fans and professional sports fans in general will turn on their once-beloved franchise in hopes of a higher draft pick.

Even though college basketball is seen only as a stepping stone to the NBA, the emotion and intensity in every college basketball game allows it to outshine its competition.

THE BLITZ Nowak Djokovic’s reign of terror on the tennis world may be coming to an end.

In early November, he was surpassed

by Andy Murray as the top ranked tennis player in the world. The news caused some serious racket around the tennis world.

While the five major college football teams in Florida all made bowl games, both the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Miami Dolphins have winning records, both currently at 7-5 on the season. As for the Jacksonville Jaguars, at 2-10 they will once again expect next year to be “the year.”

A NEW BEGINNING Ultimate Frisbee team overcomes loss of seniors LOOKING LONG. Senior Edward Berman prepares to throw the disc at the Romp in the Swamp tournament in Gainesville on Dec. 4.

PHOTO BY FAIZ UDDIN WRITTEN BY DOUG CHIODINI

Last year, the Ultimate Frisbee team was led by their seniors to a third-place finish in the state. This year, they face the challenge of finding new leadership.

“We lost a lot of seniors last year,” said junior Ryan Hart. “We have to teach the new people everything, but I believe we will do well.”

This influx of players is a challenge readily accepted by Hart, as he recalls the club’s humble beginnings.

“When we first started, it was really just 12 people and none of us really knew what we were doing,” Hart said. “The last couple years, we’ve had some really good instruction and growth and more people have joined.”

The growth of Ultimate is explained by its simplicity. The goal of the sport is to move a Frisbee down the field, into the end zone, by passing it to teammates. With the similarities it shares with other sports, including football, soccer and handball, Ultimate has been able to draw a wide variety of players.

“A lot of athletic, competitive people are getting burned out by the traditional sports,” said coach William Furiosi. “When you have played soccer or football for 10 years of your life, you might be interested in trying something new. The skills from other

1972: The first college Ultimate Frisbee game played between Rutgers and Princeton.

sports transition really well to Ultimate, and “It’s hard,” Konrardy said. “You can’t the camaraderie is amazing.” expect everyone to just come out and play, While the concept of Ultimate is simple, but we’re getting there.” the sport is much more intense than others.

Even through the rough patches filled “I’ve played other sports before, and with miscommunications and missed the physical level of Ultimate is completely throws, the improvement shown by the new different,” said senior Edward Berman. members gives hope for success in the “You need so much more conditioning and near future. you go through so much more pain. In any “[The new members] are getting there,” other sport you only play one game. In this Berman said. “That team that we had last you play five.” year, that team started from day one, they As the players overcome physical had two years of growth together. Now we soreness from have a brandtheir preseason new team, and There are definitely plenty of roles to tournament while it will be fill, so it’ll be an exciting year seeing on Dec. 4 in hard to get how we do with so many new faces as Gainesville, the there, over time starters. team is working I think we will get

Coach William Furiosi to overcome it together.” the loss of 12 While the seniors, including club founder Elliott team continues to face its obstacles, Furiosi Nasby. remains optimistic for the club’s future.

Without last year’s seniors, the team “I am tremendously impressed with has looked to its returners for leadership. the fact that we are able to have a team “Some of the players have really comprised of players solely from one stepped up in the off-season and developed school,” Furiosi said. “It bodes well for the skill sets that I’ll be looking forward to sport in terms of it’s visibility, as people utilizing this season,” Furiosi said. “There know Ultimate and want to play.” are definitely plenty of roles to fill, so it’ll be an exciting year seeing how we do with so many new faces as starters.”

Those returners, including junior Kiersten Konrardy, embrace the task of helping the new members develop.

2001: Ultimate Frisbee introduced to the World Games as a medal sport.

2012: The American Ultimate Disc League (AUDL) formed.

2014: The Oviedo Ultimate Frisbee team began to play.

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DECEMBER 6, 2016 | THE LION’S TALE | SPORTS | 23

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KEEP ON GRINDING. Junior Lindsey Lee performs a lift during a meet in the weight room Nov. 16.

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Weightlifter works hard to overcome injury WRITTEN BY NEVADA CULLEN People may look at junior Lindsey Lee and see a very fit high schooler. What they don’t see is the amount of effort and drive she has to get that way.

Lee takes weightlifting seriously, and her passion towards it is expressed by her actions. When Lee isn’t studying, she can often be found it the weight room, doing all she can to improve.

“She is a hard worker,” said weightlifting head coach Daniel Evans. “She always puts in the extra time to get better and stronger.”

Lee will, unfortunately, not be unable to work as much: she fractured her pinky before the Powderpuff game, prior to the girls’ weightlifting team’s first meet.

The injury is an obstacle she must overcome by working harder than ever, she said. It will have a huge impact on her workout routine.

“I can’t lift because I can’t hold the bar with my left hand,” Lee said.

“So now I can only do cardio.”

Overcoming an injury to be able to work out is as difficult as it may sound. One small injury, such as a broken pinky, can affect so many different lifts and exercises.

“It’s very difficult to have an

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injury and lift,” Evans said. “Since she hurt a finger it is hard for her to grip and hold the bar, and that is a really big part of doing one of our competition lifts, called the clean and jerk.”

Not only do injuries affect a competitor’s physical ability to work out, but they create mental and emotional stress as well.

“With weightlifting, not being able to lift can lead to a loss in strength which can lead to stress and anger for the lifter,” Evans said.

Since injuries have lots of negative effects, it is a weightlifter’s job to work extra hard in order to maintain strength and to take rehab seriously.

“Although my injury might set me back for a couple of weeks, I will come out stronger from it because I will work hard,” Lee said.

Lee’s words express her passion for working out and commitment to get better. Along with breaking her personal records, Lee has some even bolder goals for the season.

“Lindsey’s goal this year is to advance to states in her weight class,” Evans said. “Last year she advanced to regionals and was one of the first lifters in a few years to do this. With her work ethic and determination, she can do it.”

PHOTO BY OLIVIA BASTONE

Q: Which part of your game do you take pride in?

A: All of it. I try to do my best at each part; passing, setting serving and hitting.

Q: What drives you to become a better at volleyball?

A: Mostly my love for the sport, because I started at a young age. I started playing when I was four, it’s always been what I do.

Q: What do you think you bring to the team?

A: Most of the time, people see me as someone they can come to if they have a problem. I can be a leader in the right situations.

Q: What obstacles did you have to overcome this season?

A: We had a little drama on the team near the end of the season, but then we were all able to come together by the state finals. We ended up being even closer as a team at the end of the season.

Q: What was it like to play in the state championship game?

A: It was one of the best experiences [for me]. You’re with your team, and you’re about to possibly win a state championship.

All the hard work you put in is about to pay off.

Q: How will you prepare to win a possible state title next year?

A: Work hard. Most of us are trying to get better through club volleyball.

PHOTO BY OLIVIA BASTONE

PHOTO BY OLIVIA BASTONE

PHOTO BY NEVADA CULLEN

DOWNING THE HAWKS. Senior wide receiver Toby Alexander lines up in formation in the Lions’ win over Lake Howell on Nov. 4 at John Courier Field.

RAISE EM’ UP. Junior wrestler Trey Cox breaks into celebration before the Orange & Black Match on Nov. 16 in the old gym.

CARRYING THE LOAD. Powderpuff senior cheerleaders hold up “Let’s Go Seniors” signs during the Powderpuff game on Nov. 2 at John Courier Field.

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24 | FEATURES | THE LION’S TALE | DECEMBER 6, 2016

TIPPING POINT Students attempt to balance cost of high school activities WRITTEN BY OLIVIA BASTONE

that you’re doing absolutely everything you can and The public education system in Florida covers you’re still not making ends meet.”

Students aim to do better for themselves, but all the bases when it comes to receiving that shiny diploma at the end of four years of high school. even those opportunities came at a cost.

Towards the end of an average high school However, if students want a few bells and whistles during their high school career, they have to be student’s career, a student will most likely take the American College Testing (ACT) assessment or the willing to fork over some money.

As widely recognized by conservatives and Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). With the expectation liberals alike, the top 1% of the country owns 40% being to get the highest score possible, there are of the wealth in the USA, according to CNN. For hundreds of ways to improve scores, including many, like junior Ryan Hart, that number seems tutoring.

“I was very fortunate to have a tutor for the ACT outrageous, but believable.

“This wage gap is something that needs to this year,” said junior Julia Cyrkel. “I knew it didn’t be addressed,” Hart said. “The people who are come cheap.”

Tutoring for standardized tests can range hardworking are barely making a living, and they deserve to have a chance to make a better life for upwards of $1,000 an hour, a high price tag to pay for admission into a college. their families.”

However, senior David Son feels even Extracurricular activities have fulfilled students’ passions for decades, but some students are held though additional parts could help a student back by personal economic restrictions. Most clubs succeed throughout school and could encourage and sports require a fee in order to be admitted, achievement, it is definitely is not necessary for something a few students, like Hart, feel should be success.

“I never had any tutors,” Son said. “I’m going to reconsidered.

“The idea of how expensive sports are deters do everything for myself because I want to genuinely students from playing,” Hart said. “It doesn’t give get better at what I do.”

Son said that it is important to understand that a fair chance to lower-class kids who want to play, even though some students may be able to afford because they can’t afford it.”

Junior Victoria Butcher feels similarly, especially extra help, it won’t guarantee a spot at the top.

Son has put hundreds because she has a of hours into his high first-hand account of The people who are hardworking are school career in order the problems that arise barely making a living; and they to achieve his goals, all from living paycheck to deserve to have a chance to make a without spending money paycheck. better life for their families. to improve.

“My boyfriend’s family

Junior Ryan Hart And for seniors, there is fairly well off and I think are extra things such the disparity [in income] is noticeable when he talks about how buying some as senior portraits, homecoming, and prom that things, that seem expensive to me, is no big deal,” students ofent expect to do because it’s their senior year. However, with each of these events being Butcher said.

According to United States Census Bureau, in more than $20 each, the price tags can create a 2015, 13.5% of Americans were living under the huge bill to pay.

“This ridiculous amount of expenses adds up,” poverty line. In other words, a family of four was earning $24,000 or less a year. In a study done by Barbery said. “And now the amount of expenses are two Harvard professors, people tend to becoming a reality because I have to start saving underestimate the difference in the money for college.”

College is the next frontier of costs and those, wealth gap, while their ideal gap estimates are “even further from as Hart explained, “can hinder the student’s experiences in high school.” reality.”

“As young adults, we have the power to change That is the reality for thousands of Americans, including the 23.5% this,” Cyrkel said. “Yet next to nobody is doing of children in the state of Florida anything.”

Looking to the future, some like Cyrkel and who live below the poverty line.

“I can’t wrap my Barbery hope for every student to be able to mind around that,” experience all that high school has to offer. They said senior Erin feel that a discrepancy in income amongst student’s Barbery. “I think families should not stand in the way of creating it’s extremely wonderful memories throughout these discouraging to four years.

“I mean, isn’t that the know American Dream?” Hart said.

Richest 1% The top owns 34.5% of 2-10% wealth owns 38.5%

The bottom 90% owns 27% of wealth

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23.5% of children live below the poverty line in Florida An average CEO makes 380x the average worker’s pay

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Florida is 5th in the nation for most citizens living paycheck to paycheck

INFOCOURTESYCNN.COM,THEFINANCIALPROFIT.COM,FORBES.COM

DESIGN BY OLIVIA BASTONE