The Muse Issue 3 Vol. 11

the the Volume 12

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Issue 3

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December 2014

THE PICTURE OF

STRENGTH Dreyfoos students work to overcome serious illnesses and better their communities.

Pages 17-19

Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts

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TABLE

OF

CONTENTS ON THE COVER

IN PRINT

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ARTS Unconventional art

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SPORTS Grnja’s goals

Members of the Dreyfoos community express themselves by permanently inking their bodies.

Photo by Rowan Bennetti

This cover story shares two students' experiences with illness and how they overcame all odds to give back to their communities.

Through friendship and family, they epitomize the picture of strength.

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NEWS

Photo by Julia Horneck

A.R.T.S. Club threw their annual Title One Holiday Party, renamed Jefferson's Jolly Jubilee, for the children of migrant workers on Dec. 3.

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OP ED The panhandling pandemic

This staff editorial explores panhandling and the homeless problem in West Palm Beach.

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NEWS The safety situation

Read about A.R.T.S. Club’s Title One party and its renaming to Jefferson’s Jolly Jubilee.

ON THE WEB

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Theatre senior Diana Shilling attended the Luciano Martinez Day Care Center when she was a 3-year-old immigrant from Cuba. Now she returns as a volunteer to give back to the school that gave her so much.

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COVERSTORY Fighting for the future

Dreyfoos students overcome serious illnesses to make a difference in their communities.

www.themuseatdreyfoos.com

LIFESTYLE Fashion for the feminist

This is a QR code.

Scan it with your smart phone and it will take you directly to The Muse website.

FEATURES Cosas de la Vida

A special one-on-one with English teacher Valerie Bauer about feminism’s role in the fashion industry and how you can help end negative stereotypes from your computer.

Learn how communications senior Alana Grnja manages her time between national soccer playing and school.

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LIFESTYLE Holiday guide

If you don’t know your way around the holidays, read this guide to shopping, eating and entertaining yourself.

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ENTERTAINMENT A premiere full of watchers

Communications senior Christopher Oh works with peers to create an original film.

FEATURES #OOTD

OP ED Low prices, high stakes

As the prices of oil plummet around the country making them accessible to student drivers, the collateral damage to domestic and foreign economies could be catastrophic in the long run.

Photos by Julia Horneck

Bottom row: Communications senior Jonathan Zyto (l-r) and digital media freshman Holger Bradburn.

Top row: Dance freshman Margaret Van Wieringen (l-r), band senior Hayden Lamb, digital media sophomore Ali Munden, theatre sophomore Valentina Diaz showcase their winter fashion.

Cartoon by Adrian Casanova

STAFFEDITORIAL HANDLING THE PANHANDLING PROBLEM

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ri-Rail is the combination of Henry Flagler’s industrial ambitions and South Florida’s ‘80s crack epidemic. It’s an unromantic version of the Hogwarts Express, where a vibrant cast of commuters interact with students. At the historic West Palm Beach station, though, some of these encounters with homeless beggars and eager hawkers are less-than-savory. And as soon as students step off the train, they realize that this homeless problem—and, in turn, panhandling problem—extends beyond the station.

Panhandling, or publically asking strangers for money, is no rarity in West Palm Beach.

At the train station, disoriented Amtrak passengers often ask students for directions to CityPlace. Less innocuous are panhandling commuters and homeless people hanging out by the coral-colored façade of the station, in search of a dime or two.

The CityPlace Publix, a stone’s throw from the school gates (and from the Red Cross shelter), features its own share of panhandlers. However, the homeless aren’t at the top of Publix’s safety concerns—lately, false bomb threats and larcenous Dreyfoos students occupy that niche.

West Palm Beach nonetheless has a homeless problem. Along with the shelter

across the street from the school parking lot, there’s a soup kitchen by Publix, but both cannot single-handedly change the homeless situation. Florida legislators should be the ones helping lift the homeless out of poverty. Instead, they’ve adopted a mission to eliminate homelessness entirely—through unnecessary and draconian methods.

In Fort Lauderdale, a 90-year-old activist feeding the homeless in a park was arrested.

Many of the homeless were actually veterans.

In a concerning development, our own county has eyed such harsh measures. The Palm Beach Post reports that Lake Worth city officials voted unanimously on Ordinance No. 2014-34. This measure seeks to ban “aggressive panhandling” in all “downtown areas,” which ostensibly affects the nearby train station as well.

Panhandling may be a nuisance to students and commuters in general, but it shouldn’t be a crime to request money, homeless or not. Anyone who’s ever started a Kickstarter or any other crowdfunding project has essentially panhandled. At any rate, stopping more “aggressive” forms of panhandling is difficult as it encourages the trampling of civil rights. Crackdown initiatives such as Ordinance No. 2014-34 affront the First Amendment rights of the

homeless, as proven last year. In 2013, a federal appeals court overturned Michigan’s similar attempt to ban statewide panhandling and begging. Hopefully, a similar position will halt Ordinance No. 2014-34 and encourage legislators to find more humane approaches in tackling homelessness.

Inevitably, Tri-Rail, like any form of public transportation, is not completely safe.

However, it—and the surrounding bubble around Dreyfoos—are, through gentrification, secure and reliable enough for the school district to entrust so many students. Tri-Rail even has its own privately contracted security force, so commuting students should be more concerned about crossing the street to school—or eating the hygienically dubious pizza from the train station’s restaurant.

Therefore, while Tri-Rail is no Disney Monorail, the only thing goofier than its commuters is the unrelenting crusade on the rights of the homeless. g

Contributors: Felipe Bomeny and Kayleigh Rubin

OP ED

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COSTS OF GOING TUITION-FREE Going to college for free in Germany comes with sacrifices commentary by MorgaanJessell

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he higher education landscape of the United States is littered with intense application processes, a depleted workforce and, most notably–an insurmountable amount of debt following graduation. Sky-rocketing costs of a college education are leaving many students wondering whether or not it is worth the investment. Typically dubbed the “gateway to the Middle Class,” college is leaving more and more graduates with swollen debts and no way to pay back those pesky student loans. The sad truth of the situation is that too often the financial return on college isn’t giving back sufficiently to support graduates. German students, on the other hand, don’t have this struggle because the state subsidizes the entire cost of their education.

This year, all of Germany got completely rid of any form of public university tuition, meaning anyone can attend college for free, given they qualify. Hamburg’s Senator Dorothee Stapelfeldt felt that the current fees students were obligated to pay were unjust. The typical German student used to spend roughly $630 per semester, less than what an American student spends on books alone. German students, however, are not the only ones who get to reap the benefits of free tuition. If you happen to speak German fluently and also want a bargain on

your college education, you too can bid “Auf Wiedersehen” to the USA. Before you start packing your bags, however, it is important to note that there are some distinct differences between the American college experience and the German parallel. Dorm life, sports and the other amenities that come with the typical American university experience won’t be found in the land of schnitzel. Not only that, but German universities offer admittance typically under the condition that you will graduate in the major you initially indicated as your preference. The U.S. is one of the only countries where young adults have Cartoon by Jose Castillo the freedom to explore a variety of topics. From computer engineering to art history, most American students aren’t required to declare an official major until their junior year. Also, don’t count on having the same level of academic advisement that you’d expect while

attending a college in America. In Germany, you are expected to know what classes you need to take and are pretty much on your own.

It’s important to remember that this doesn’t make the German post-secondary education inferior, just different. The truth of the matter is that although the costs of a college degree in the United States are exorbitant, you do get a lot of bang for your buck. College offers many benefits.

Past the educational expansion and higher knowledge accumulated, many students leave with lifelong friends and a solid network that will become important as they enter the workforce. While the costs could definitely afford to be lowered, tuition-free learning would cause many to take advantage of what college has to offer. Free tuition would mean losing many of the benefits that make college so enjoyable. Still, there are plenty of mature, autonomous, self-motivated learners in our country who can’t afford college and, maybe for them, a German education would be greatly beneficial. g

ASSUMING THE ‘MOM’ FRIEND ROLE Calm, cautious and controlled friends lose fun reputation commentary by BriPosner

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n every friend group you see around school, there are different roles each person fulfills.

Like “The Breakfast Club,” each group has the brain, the basket case, the jock, the princess and the rebel. But the personality that most overlook is the “mom” friend.

Each of the previously known personalities has a Bri Posner set of behaviors that identifies them as such, but the mom friend is never shown. I have faced the unfortunate task of being known as the mom friend, which is characterized by being way too cautious and controlling.

Whenever I’m out with my friends, I am always the one who keeps them in control and

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makes sure that we don’t draw any negative attention. If they get too loud and rowdy, I’m the one who tells them to calm down and take a literal time-out in a corner. Teenagers have the bad reputation of being known to steal or annoy other customers, so I work to avoid that attention. This behavior is appreciated by the sales people and other shoppers, but my friends think of it as a joke and tend to mock me.

Being the mom friend gives my friends an excuse to laugh with me about things I do. I tend to step out of my teenage shell and enter into mom-mode. No more will I laugh and mess around; it’s time to get serious. Instead of encouraging the practical jokes my friends try to pull off, I’ll do everything I can to keep them from acting like idiots. They don’t appreciate it and think I’m just being a party killer, but I’ve probably saved them from getting kicked out of the mall on countless

occasions.

I know how to have a good time, but when I’m in public I like to carry myself as a mature young lady. Teenage boys don’t understand that type of thinking, so I usually end up redfaced while they act like 5 year olds and pull everything off the shelves. The day leads to them slouching their shoulders and whining “you’re no fun, mom” while I drag them out of the public’s eye.

Being involved with several honor societies also keeps me in the mentality of maturity. I don’t want to run the risk of a bad word of my behavior finding its way back to the school in order to keep my reputation in good standing.

My own mother seems to be the most appreciative of my behavior, always thanking me for being a “proper young lady.” If only my friends saw it the same way. g

STOP : AN ARGUMENT AGAINST

TRYING PSEUDO-INTELLECTUALS commentary by JuanRamirez

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t doesn’t take long to spot a pseudointellectual. Every class has at least one.

He’s the one who ever-so-carelessly places his Kafka short story collection on the outer edge of his desk. She’s the one who relates every single discussion to “the media” and how “people don’t communicate anymore.” If you still haven’t identified them, just wait for someone to correct you for using an improper “who” when it should’ve been “whom.” That’s the one; and in my opinion, these people are the vilest of high school society. In a community where we are encouraged to learn, not just from textbooks, but from our actions and each other, there is always the special snowflake who feels the need to act, speak and think superior to the rest. That snowflake is the pesky pseudo-intellectual.

We all, of course, have a natural need to stand out, and in a setting as notoriously petty and competitive as high school (needless to say, an art school), behavior like this is only intensified. If you’re speaking

privately to one of your teachers in an attempt to appeal to their grade books, by all means, show off your knowledge in a certain subject.

But if class is in full swing and you suddenly feel the need to drop in a fascinating tidbit of information from the aimless Wikipedia scrolling you did last night, ask yourself the following series of questions: “Is what I’m about to say contributing anything of importance to the class?”

“Am I speaking solely to attempt to undermine my fellow classmates and seem intellectually superior?”

“Will anyone–teacher included–have any interest in what I’m about to say?”

Consider these questions, then reconsider your actions.

The most perplexing, though not the most infuriating, aspect about pseudo-intellectuals, however, is their motive. In the time it takes to reference an obscure sonata or French New Wave film, these people could actually be advancing their knowledge rather than parading their unwarranted opinion to a

group of uncaring individuals. Why bother flaunting your disdain for the “mainstream” and criticizing someone’s tastes instead of simply accepting that re-reading Walden for a filtered Instagram picture isn’t everyone’s idea of a fun time? Is the satisfaction you receive when asking a question you already knew the answer to worth the thousand eye rolls going on around you?

The true mark of a pseudo-intellectual is reflected not in their introversive ways but in their unique way of condescending to anyone from classmates and peers to teachers and prospective employers. A pseudo-intellectual will stalk around, waiting for any vulnerable conversation to swoop in and interrupt with a half-remembered headline they saw on Reddit. You try to continue your respectful conversation but the pseudo-intellectual will dismiss your opinion and enforce his own.

This form of convenient intellectualism is central to a pseudo-intellectual’s being, as they are only as good as the last Facebook post they misread. g

SPLITTINGUPTHESUNSHINESTATE Why the idea of a solo SoFlo would be catastrophic commentary by MichaelWang

T

hrough the political turmoil, beyond the corruption, past the partisanship and neglect of future generations, there has been one idea South Floridians fixate on (besides juice diets, that is): the creation of a 51st state.

Not only is it unfeasible in every way, but it also detracts from the pertinent controversial issues across Florida.

On Oct. 7, the city commission of Miami passed a resolution that “advocated the legal separation of Florida into two separate states.”

South Florida under this resolution would include Orlando down to Miami.

In order for this to become law, it would still have to go through state and national legislatures.

The last time a new star was added to “Old Glory”, Elvis Presley was (allegedly)

still around. Since the ‘60s, the United States adopted a “No New States” policy and refused to admit relevant and deserving territories like Guam and Puerto Rico. The United States has never separated a state into two, and it is unlikely to do so now. For separatists, the path from a City Commission to national legislature is a long and unlikely one.

Even if the United States decided on admitting a 51st state, South Florida wouldn’t be at the top. Territories such as Guam and Puerto Rico are basically functioning states, and Puerto Ricans are more likely up for statehood than Florida. A 2012 referendum found that 61 percent of Puerto Ricans favor statehood. With controversial issues like immigration and healthcare weighing on the minds of congressmen, the idea of a new statehood won’t rear its head.

The separation of South Florida and North Florida would doom the bustling star of the Sun Belt to relevance comparable with North and South Dakota. Not only would it force everybody to buy new flags, but it would also destroy Florida’s economy.

Florida thrives on a tourism economy with a “double whammy” of Orlando, (home

of Disney and turkey legs) and Miami (home of neon and grumpy Cubans). The proposal created by the Miami City Commission would cast North Florida into irrelevance.

Many economic ties between the two regions, with the agricultural economy in the north and the consumer economy in the south, would be complicated by separate statehood. There simply isn’t enough momentum from willing politicians to make this proposal happen.

With terrorist threats abroad and controversial domestic issues at home, the United States cannot afford to put political momentum behind things that will never happen. Even though the idea of a progressive SoFlo might sound appealing, this is a prime example of a proposal that will never come to fruition. g

Cartoons by Jose Castillo

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Dreyfoos Auditions Januray 13 - Febuary 11, 2015

The majority of auditions will be held on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday mornings For any questions please contact Magnet Coordinator Patrick Marshall at (561) 802-6018 or Patrick.Marshall@palmbeachschools.org

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AD

News

JEFFERSON GIVES Social studies teacher Lea Jefferson expands her desire to help far past the classroom

Social studies teacher Lea Jefferson embraces a student from Pahokee Elementary School as they give her a handmade Christmas card to express their gratitude.

by MackenzieWhite

I

n the midst of excited chatter, the noise of A.R.T.S. club members subsides and students crowd around the entrance of the media center. They create a path as a mentor arrives. The preparation for the Title One Holiday Party, recently renamed Jefferson’s Jolly Jubilee, paused for a moment as A.R.T.S. club sponsor and social studies teacher Lea Jefferson entered.

Jefferson’s Jolly Jubilee, A.R.T.S. club’s annual holiday festival, was held on Dec. 3.

The club dedicates itself to helping children and bringing the love of arts to their lives.

IN THIS SECTION:

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Band senior Katie Meyers receives the Posse Scholarship.

After two incidents involving security, the need to report on-campus issues is vital..

“Several years ago, she took on A.R.T.S. club. It’s a job. The preparation alone is months and months,” social studies dean Thomas West said. “You have to have a lot of hands and a lot of energy. She has both.”

Ms. Jefferson has supported the A.R.T.S. club for five years, making it her intent to help and care for others, always remaining resolute in her focus on her students and the children of A.R.T.S. club.

“Title One is a holiday party that A.R.T.S. Club throws for migrant children ages 3 to 5 who cannot afford to have a Christmas on their own,” A.R.T.S. club co-president and strings senior Miriam Wagner said.

At the party, Dreyfoos students give gifts and perform. The children participate in crafts that allow them to bond with the older students of Dreyfoos.

“In the Glades, there are migrant families and there are programs set up so that their children can get early childhood education.

Photo by Julia Horneck

This is one of the most rewarding things we do,” Ms. Jefferson said. “They come in to the holiday party. The children select four presents. And they are so humble in choosing the most basic things shoes, socks, or whatever and it is also instilling early values in them. So it is like we are a part of that community to expose them to early childhood wonder. It is one of the best things we do and the beauty of it is that the students and faculty members adopt a child.”

Today, A.R.T.S. club maintains its prominent status as one of the largest clubs at Dreyfoos. Though their primary event is a week-long arts club for children in June, A.R.T.S. club hosts an annual Christmas party where students and faculty adopt an underprivileged child’s Christmas wish list and gives them what they asked for. They entertain the children with crafts, small gifts and a show. continued on page 8

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JEFFERSON continued from page 7 “I’ve never seen kids in a club work so hard. [Ms. Jefferson has] made something out of nothing. Something people want to be a part of,” social studies teacher Jeffrey Stohr said.

Her passion for children does not just stop at A.R.T.S. club. She loves her students and what she teaches them, and tries to get them to find a passion in what she’s teaching.

“She is the salt of the earth. She is what people want in a friend and what a parent wants in a teacher,” Mr. West said. “[She’s a] person who takes the welfare of her children to heart. It’s not just a job, it’s an avocation.”

Her teaching style far surpasses satisfactory. She helps every individual student excel in the class.

“She teaches so that everyone understands,” Mr. Stohr said. “Her students love her. She’s so humanitarian. Hanging out with her makes you a better person.”

In her lessons, Ms. Jefferson not only exemplifies her giving spirit, but reinforces to her students that there is always someone who needs help and someone who needs to help others.

“She can’t not help others and she has passed that on to her students,” guidance office secretary Naomi Wagner said.

The holidays are a time for people to be with family and Dreyfoos clubs make a happy holiday available for children who might not be able to have the quintessential Christmas at home.

“I just think one thing about A.R.T.S. club that makes it so different is that community service changes your life. The kids that participate in A.R.T.S. club don’t do it just to get some community service. It is an introduction to a way of life,” Ms. Jefferson said. g

Photo by Julia Horneck

Communications senior Maria Grosso plays with two boys as they shake their sleigh bells at A.R.T.S. club's Jefferson's Jolly Jubilee.

Photo by Rowan Bennetti

Communications senior Danae McDaniel plays with a student from Pahokee Elementary School and his new toys at a table in the media center during the party.

Photo by Julia Horneck

Social studies teacher Lea Jefferson and Principal Susan Atherley read a handmade thank you card together.

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Photo by Julia Horneck

A little girl from the Pahokee elementary school adjusts her glasses, a gift from A.R.T.S. club.

THE REASON TO REPORT With increased levels of theft, students are encouraged to report suspicous activity and remain aware on campus Photo by Bailey Van Puttten Vink

Assistant Principal Leo Barrett overlooks the student parking lot. and bus loop. Barrett spends his mornings making sure students get to school safely via car, bus orTri-Rail.

by UmaRaja

F

rom stolen dresses to possible intruders, the need to report suspicious incidents on campus is stronger than ever.

When it comes to the world of drama, Jean Valjean isn’t the only one who’s stealing. A theater thief has been robbing multiple items in the theatre department.

“Many personal items were stolen from teachers and students. It’s been going on for months and it’s aggravating,” theatre sophomore Rebecca Suskauer said. “Last year at ‘Legally Blonde,’ [a dress] was stolen. It was a costume piece dress that was worth a lot of money. [Many items were stolen, including] a watch, phones and iPads. A credit card was stolen from the dressing room.”

It is unknown if the thief is one person or a group, or simply unrelated incidents.

Theatre students have claimed that things have been going missing since the end of last year, yet nobody was reporting the incidents.

“I had $100 dollars stolen from my wallet a couple months ago,” theatre sophomore Hannah Thompson said. “I didn’t really find it necessary to report the incident to Officer [James O’Sullivan]; it seemed ridiculous to try and track and identify stolen money. Even though my wallet was inside my backpack, I felt it was partially my fault for having that much money to begin with.”

While some students feel like reporting is useless, others find it beneficial.

“There was an incident where a friend [and I] were messing with [another friend’s] phone,” theatre junior Marshal Tobias said. “My friend put it in his backpack and forgot that he put it there. He told Officer [O’Sullivan] and the phone [was located and returned to its owner.]”

Officer O’Sullivan has located various

items, including laptops and cell phones. He spends time on every reported case, dealing with issues on a priority basis. If the value of a stolen item is equivalent to a crime, the thief could be charged with felony.

The theater thief is not the only suspicious occurrence. On Oct. 23, Dreyfoos had a scare when a strange man was caught on campus.

“I went to the bathroom during English class and I saw a strange man walk out of the women’s restroom,” communications sophomore Julia Bonavita said. “I reported it to guidance counselor Mark Carson. He led me to a room and took a report. Towards the end of third hour I filed a police report with [Officer O’Sullivan.]”

It turns out that the man was a janitor.

The women’s restroom was locked, so a janitor went in to unlock the facilities, check for leaks and ensure that all items were restocked. The folds of his shirt hid his Dreyfoos identification badge from view.

“The janitors don’t have uniforms, so I can see how [Bonavita] would have been confused,” Officer O’Sullivan said. “[The janitor was] just making sure that the bathrooms were properly supplied.”

Bonavita reported the incident during first hour and by fifth hour she was informed that the incident was resolved and the janitor was identified.

“The school handles things quickly even if [the report was a misunderstanding],” Bonavita said. “They don’t make you feel stupid. When I realized it was just a janitor, I felt stupid but they thanked me. I really want to commend the school for the way things were handled. They completely worked with me, they were really accommodating and really supportive. I’m very happy with the staff. I feel safe here. It gives me confidence

that if anything were to happen, I would be protected.”

Because the janitor incident was reported, Officer O’Sullivan was able to reaffirm the safety of Dreyfoos students and staff.

“Any time anything happens, report it to Officer [O’Sullivan] or an administrator immediately,” Assistant Principal Leo Barrett said. “We want our students to feel comfortable on campus. I don’t want to say that some scary thing [will] happen, but it’s more likely [to occur] if people keep things like [spotting strangers on campus] to themselves.”

Mr. Barrett emphasizes that Dreyfoos is a secure campus that requires a formal process for even alumni to have access to the campus, let alone strangers. He believes that safety comes first, and that student reports are crucial.

“There’s no such thing as a bad report,” Mr. Barrett said. “We keep everything anonymous and it’s about [security.] I think that if students understand they have as much of a role as faculty [when it comes to safety], they’d report anything out of place.

Students are valuable eyes.”

With “unknown” figures lurking on campus and items being purloined straight from students’ backpacks, speaking up is essential. Officer O’Sullivan and Dreyfoos faculty will continue to ensure that Dreyfoos is the secure place it is today. The biggest way to help is to report anything suspicious.

“The security is improved by people maintaining awareness of anything of concern. Even if it’s a dead end I [investigate the building],” Officer O’Sullivan said. “I wish people would come forward and [report things to me.] It’s a lot easier to stop people when I know [about the incidents].” g

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ON THE PATH TO POSSE Scholarship aims to act as college match-maker for students

by LexiMarcellino

K

ate Meyers is a band senior, and the only Dreyfoos student to receive the Posse Scholarship this year.

The Posse Scholarship is a full tuition scholarship that gives exceptional and diverse students from all over America the opportunity to be matched to a university suited to their career Kate Meyers interests and work ethics. Students are nominated or nominate themselves to participate in the program, and go through an eight month workshop.

“The scholarship is primarily aimed at students who would not normally show up as strong on applications,” visual dean Jennifer Gifford said. “They are really finding the hidden gems.”

Ms. Gifford first heard of the Posse Scholarship from a friend, and decided to talk to administration about making it available to students.

“We are not a ‘nominated school’ which is actually a good thing because students can nominate themselves and our school can have unlimited nominations,” Ms. Gifford said.

In other “nominated schools” students must be nominated by someone else to participate in the program, and the school has a restriction on how many of their students are allowed to enter.

The process leading up to getting the scholarship is divided into three separate trials, or as the Posse officials like to call them, “daps.” Before the first dap, students are contacted for the first time and find out where they will be meeting over the next eight months. Meyers met with other nominated students in Miami at the Posse Headquarters, where they completed the first dap, an informal leadership exercise with other student nominees.

“This year we were told to build with straws in groups of five; we were only allowed to use one hand. They want to see how you work in a group and communicate with other people,” Meyers said.

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Once the students pass the first dap, they move onto the next one, dap two.

“Dap two is an interview with two members of the Posse staff. We had to tell them our career interests for them to match us to a school,” Meyers said.

In between dap two and three, students are told if they are finalists based on their work ethic in the workshop. If they make it to dap three, the officials will help the students with the essay component required.

“Dap three [is] a combination of dap one and two and is observed by officials from each of the colleges,” Meyers said.

Meyer’s assessment took place in Miami on Dec. 2, and she was told that she received the scholarship that night. Meyers will start at Franklin and Marshall this fall, but until then will continue to meet once a week with Posse officials.

“I’m just in awe; the process started back in August and has been an amazing journey.

I’m extremely thankful to be a part of this opportunity,” Meyers said. g

the

BRIEFS

PATHFINDER NOMINEES

a collection of bite-size, noteworthy stories

A scholarship competition held by the Palm Beach Post

Photo by Bailey Van Putten Vink

Administration staff met with Chinese delegates on Nov. 7. The delegates traveled here to learn about American teaching methods and to gift Dreyfoos with pieces of art from their schools. Principal Susan Atherley hosted a luncheon in the cafeteria with the delegates. This photo features the delegates with the art they gave to Dreyfoos.

YOUNG ARTS FINALISTS

A national competition where students submit art within their own individual categories and compete to attend a conference with professionals and win scholarship money

Academic Excellence Jacqueline Chen

Art Madison Bloch

Business Emily Gerstein

Communications Claudia Zamora

Community Involvement Miriam Wagner

Drama Olivia Dei Cicchi

Foreign Language Taylor Hendrickson

Forensics/Speech Haley Lickstein

History/Political Science Mackenzie White

Literature Felipe Bomeny

Mathematics Taisuke Yasuda

Music/Instrumental Rebecca Tozzie

Music/Vocal Virginia Mims

Reach for Excellence Rey Aguirre

Science Ximena Hasbach

Sports Steffan Gawlikowski

BLUE KEY FINALISTS

A national debate tournament held at the University of Florida from Oct. 31 - Nov. 2.

International Congressional Extemporaneous Debate Semifinalists

Dance

Photography

Visual Arts

Alexander Gordon

Finalist

Finalist

Matthew Nadel

Eddieomar Gonzalez Modern

Finalist

Yu Hua Golnick

Merit

Daniela O'Neil Ballet

Tessa Gomez

Merit

Jazz

Darius Hickman Modern

Honorable Mention

Gianna Theodore Modern

Tyson Jackson Jazz-Percussion

Daniela O'Neil Modern

Voice

Amanda Davis Jazz Brianna Rodriguez Jazz

Theater Finalist Talia Suskauer Musical Theater

Merit Sophia Marques Jazz Voice

Design Arts Finalist Jessica Baldinger Seanna Harris

Catrina Crawford Melissa Posner Zachary Rapaport

Riley Freese Taylor Rich Madeleine Fitzgerald Haley Lickstein

Speaking Top 24

Michael Wang

Impromptu Supplemental Event Semifinalist Uma Raja

Madison Bloch

Lincoln-Douglas Debate

Mackenzie Rattray

Top 32

Brianna Steidle

Delaney Cotton

First

Top 16

Jessica Taylor

Merit

Meredith Padgett Lauren Posner Cheyenne Otocki Lauren Posner

Honorable Mention Catherine Chen

Seventh

Extemporaneous Duo Original Oratory Interpretation Top 28 Kayleigh Rubin

Jake Perl

Fifth

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VIDA: LIFE

DE LA

Cuban-born student returns to her underprivileged preschool as both a volunteer and inspiration

Photo courtesy of Diana Shilling

Celebrating her birthday, theatre senior Diana Shilling stands among her classmates as a preschooler at the Luciano Martinez Child Development Center. “Activities such as making a hand turkey may seem simple, but they can actually impact a child's life beyond making them smile for a couple of hours,”"Shilling said.

by TaylorHendrickson

I

Photo courtesy of Diana Shilling

Theatre senior Diana Shilling emigrated from Cuba when she was 3 years old. She embraces her Latin culture through fundraisers and volunteering as President of the LatinHispanic Heritage club.

IN THIS SECTION:

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Theatre alumna Franchesca Ramsey applies the skills she acquired at Dreyfoos to her successful new career as a YouTuber.

Social studies dean Thomas West tells the courageous story of his battle with cancer as he reaches five years of being in remission.

t is 1997. Spanish teacher Barbara Smith is giving a 15 minute rundown of her Spanish class during Open House when a parent proposes a partnership with her Spanish Honor Society (SHS).

“A lady raises her hand and says ‘Have you ever been interested in volunteering at a daycare center?’” Mrs. Smith said.

It is 2000. Theatre senior Diana Shilling is grabbing for markers as Diana Shilling she colors in a picture for Halloween, practicing the words “spider” and “araña” with her classmates.

“I came from Cuba when I was 3 years old,” Shilling said. “I realized that the Spanish Honor Society visited the same daycare center that I went to when a teacher recognized me and showed me a picture that she had of my class in the back of the room.”

Thrown into an entirely new culture as a young child, the language, customs and people Shilling had been accustomed to suddenly changed once she moved to South Florida. She enrolled in the Luciano Martinez Child Development Center, a preschool for underprivileged children in West Palm Beach that focuses on supporting Spanish-speaking children, specifically immigrants, in their transition between two cultures.

“I learned English at the same time that

I learned Spanish,” Shilling said. “It was difficult because I would mess up a lot of things involving pronunciation and diction: especially with words that included the letters ‘ch,’ ‘r,’ and ‘l.’ ” As the sponsor of SHS, Mrs. Smith began a partnership between the preschool and her Honor Society students. In 1997, she adopted a class and the partnership has remained, with two adopted classes per year.

“The purpose is to help the community and in doing so, learn speaking skills that take Spanish outside of the classroom. We need to get students in situations to talk with children and teachers in Spanish in a place where they don’t feel intimidated,” Mrs. Smith said. “These are underprivileged kids with parents mostly born in a different country.”

During the trips that the SHS takes throughout the year to the preschool, Dreyfoos students bring holiday themed crafts that expose the children to cultural elements that may be new to many of them.

“For many kids, Christmas, Halloween or Thanksgiving, seem like an obvious and expected practice, but to a foreigner they are completely new concepts and ideas,” Shilling said.

The Luciano Martinez Child Development Center aided Shilling in her development as a child. Through lessons and cultural exposure, she was able to bring back lessons and perspectives to her parents, who had less interaction to cultural elements as adult immigrants.

continued on page 14

FEATURES

13

CHESCALEIGH CHALLENGES STEREOTYPES

Dreyfoos alumna becomes YouTube sensation after receiving 11 million views

by MaryRasura

Y

ouTube is the modern version of an art gallery. Instead of paintings housed on gallery walls, the website features videos with the capacity to inspire. Theatre alumna Franchesca Ramsey (’02), known online as Chescaleigh, began a career on YouTube after gaining popularity from her 2012 viral video, “...White Girls Say to Black Girls.” The comical video has over 11 million views and illustrates the racism that can arise from everyday interactions.

“I really didn’t expect it to go viral or start the conversations that it did. I got so many awesome opportunities from [it]; my current manager [hired me after viewing] and [I’ve been able to] speak at high schools and colleges across the country,” Ramsey said.

After the success of her video, Ramsey quit her job as a graphic designer at Ann Taylor and pursued YouTube full-time for two years.

Ramsey believes that her video was not just a comedy video, but a tool for inspiring social change.

“I got emails around the world from people who said ‘I’m the only black person in my entire school. I watched this video and it completely spoke to me. I showed it to my classmates and we started a conversation about the way they talk to me and it helped me so much,’” Ramsey said. “They were able to connect with my video and use that as a way to educate someone else. That’s amazing.

No one can tell me that video has not done positive things.”

Earlier this year, Ramsey began working full time at Upworthy, an online media source that focuses on sharing viral content pertaining to progressive social and political issues.

SHILLING

continued from page 13 “Through my art projects, my parents were actually able to grasp the idea and activities that each holiday represented so that they could recreate that same feeling at home and continue the illusion and excitement,” Shilling said.

Shilling has a prominent role on campus: she’s in theatre shows, in AP classes and in many clubs. She epitomizes a successful student, but at the same time, brings a unique perspective and voice to the campus as a first generation immigrant. Shilling attributes a lot of her success to the preschool and her teachers, who offered their support and gave specific attention as she juggled two cultural identities. Through the Latin-Hispanic Heritage Club, she decided to help others with situations similar to her own.

“The goal with the daycare visits through the Spanish Honor Society and the Latin-

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FEATURES

Photo courtesy of Franchesca Ramsey

Theatre alumna Franchesca Ramsey stars in her video ''.. White Girls Say to Black Girls.'' Wearing a blonde wig, Ramsey personifies her definition of a 'white girl'' in order to confront and refute racial stereotypes. Ramsey has produced other videos as well, such as ''Here's Why Racism's Not 'Just Comedy'''.

“We try to find stuff that we think has a message. I really like talking about diversity, women’s issues and LGBTQ issues,” Ramsey said. “I’m always looking for new, creative ways to broach these subjects and Upworthy really gives me the opportunity to do that. I can find a gift set or a comic and then share that with 7 million people on Facebook.”

Ever since Ramsey left Dreyfoos, she’s continued pursuing art. As a graphic designer, a YouTuber, a comedian and a content curator, her career has never lacked creativity.

“Sometimes it takes longer for your art to become your career than you want and sometimes it becomes your career in a

completely different way than you realize,” said Ramsey. “When I was in high school, YouTube did not exist. So I couldn’t even imagine where my career is now, but I’m really happy with where it is.”

As Ramsey continues to achieve her aspirations, she fondly remembers her experiences at Dreyfoos.

“I really loved being inspired by my classmates. Everyone was so hard working, talented and creative,” Ramsey said. “I feel like our teachers really cared about the students.

I’m still close with a bunch of teachers from Dreyfoos.” g

Hispanic Heritage Club is for these students to receive the same care and attention, that I received from my teachers and from various groups of people so that they know how important they are to us,” Shilling said.

As the only Dreyfoos SHS student to ever attend the Luciano Martinez Child Development Center, Shilling understands the value of the trip from an intimate viewpoint.

Photo courtesy of Diana Shilling She sees the children for their Theatre senior Diana Shilling (second from right) stands with her preschool teachers who helped her develop her English-speaking skills. potential, beyond an exercise dollars. in Spanish and volunteering, “For many of the children, this is their which is the true intent of the partnership. first time seeing dancers, cameras [and] Every year, the SHS makes donations to the musicians,” Mrs. Smith said. “We want to give preschool, funding their supplies to support them a piece of what their futures could be their education, totaling in thousands of like.” g

LIVES WHEN THINGS

GO SOUTH

MR. WEST

FINDS

HIS WAY Social studies dean celebrates 5 years of being in remission

by StarrCourakos

I

t was mid-November in Tallahassee and social studies dean Thomas West had just finished watching a Florida State Seminoles football game with his daughter at the stadium. The father and daughter began the short hike to their apartment, less than a mile away. They didn’t get far before Mr. West began to feel very weak. Over the following days, the shocking news was revealed that he had abdominal cancer.

“My daughter urged me to call my wife; she scheduled an appointment with the family doctor. Results from the blood tests came back [and] I had Stage 3 abdominal cancer,” Mr. West said. “Two days later I was in Good Samaritan hospital.”

Mr. West remained in the hospital from Nov. 26 to Dec. 23 of 2004. The duration of his stay even included Thanksgiving. Beginning that January, he received chemotherapy and radiation treatment every Friday for five months.

“Honestly, the chemo was rough,” Mr. West said. “All the credit goes to my wife, Sam. I owe my life to her. I never would have gone to the doctor without her and she was always there to lift my spirits.”

Mr. West was declared in remission shortly after the therapy was done. He returned to his doctor every six months for the following five years, and received nothing

“

I have really come to appreciate everything since then. I still love what I do everyday and I still like the kids.

”

-social studies dean Thomas West

but good news.

“You’re never really ‘cancer-free,’” Mr. West said. “But you can be put in remission, which I have been since 2009. It’s actually 10 years this month since I was diagnosed.”

The entire experience has taught Mr. West a lesson that he could never teach in a classroom. After 38 years of teaching spanning across five different high Photo courtesy of Thomas West schools, Mr. West Social studies dean Thomas West with his wife, Sam. She was there to encourage and inspire him throughout his entire battle. "She's been there through everything," Mr. West. has been able put said. all of his years into perspective, which ‘thank you for everything you have done truly reflects on the students. for me over the last four years. Thank you “He is always there if you need advice and for always supporting me in all my crazy is willing to support you in your ideas,” digital ideas and always believing I could achieve media alumna (’14) Emily Greentree said. them. I don’t know what I would have done “He loves to joke around with his students at Dreyfoos without you to help guide and and you never leave a conversation with him inspire me.’” without either laughing or feeling like you Inspiring students is something that Mr. have gained deeper insight about life.”

West has done and plans on continuing to Through all the struggles he has been do. Similar to how he never gave up during through, all the pain he has endured and all his battle with cancer, he has never given up the stress he has had, Mr. West continues or quit on a student. Every day he comes to to teach with the same passion he had when school with a positive attitude to do what he he began teaching. The hardships ultimately enjoys. made him a stronger person and teacher after “I have really come to appreciate it all. everything since then,” Mr. West said. “I still “I wrote him a note, expressing how love what I do every day and I still like kids, thankful I was,” Greentree said. “I wrote even the seniors.” g

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LUCIFER: SO GOOD THE DEVIL WOULD READ IT Visual junior Catherine Chen self publishes graphic novel on Amazon

by DanielMontoya

F

or some visual students, summer assignments are a way to create a piece without time constraints or creative limitations. However, visual junior Catherine Chen took the summer assignment and ran with it. At the end she had turned a simple summer assignment into a 50-page graphic novel entitled “Lucifer.”

“This was my homework for my visual arts assignment and I made publishing my personal goal,” Chen said. “It’s a visual book, so it took one and a half months to complete.

I went back and forth on deciding whether or not to both draw and write the story, but I decided to illustrate it in the end.”

Chen spent a month formatting, scanning and digitizing the book by herself. She had to replace handwritten text with type and digitize the book to publish it through Amazon. “Lucifer” is a two-part series; the second part will be tentatively released next year.

“The book is a dark, medieval story about a ghost seeking revenge. It’s really about fight-

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FEATURES

ing fire with fire,” Chen said.

One of Chen’s inspirations for the book was the neo-noir comic book “Sin City” by Frank Miller. The story was also inspired by old American literature and the setting of the graphic novel was inspired by the theme of seclusion in gothic novels.

“I didn’t really like making stories in the [gothic] genre, but I am glad that I at least did something,” Chen said. “I want to make more graphic novels in the future. It is hard for me to draw comic pages with multiple panels, so I drew the book in a vertical storyboard style.”

Chen’s book can be found on Amazon under the penname ‘C R Chen.’

She has sold 13 books so far through Amazon and four in person.

“I plan to work on other genres and styles in the future,” Chen said. g

Photo by Rowan Bennetti

Visual junior Catherine Chen stands in front of her original drawings that she then scanned to put in her first graphic novel. The originals are being kept as an art installation in Building 9.

Graphic by Maddi Fitzergerald

UNMASKING ILLNESS

Vocal freshman Hailey Kennedy and theatre junior Jaycie Cohen overcome illnesses to live a normal life and give back to their communities.

S

by TiffanyAbreu

he wakes up and the warmth of her bed tries to convince her that was a terrible decision. Her mother reminds her to get dressed, even if she is not feeling well. Not feeling well has become the norm. With shaking hands, she puts on her makeup so she will feel good when she looks in the mirror. She reaches up to do her hair before remembering the chemotherapy took that away.

From there she drifts to the bathroom and swallows back 74 pills. The bottles line her bathroom’s medicine cabinet like trophies for a competition she never wanted to enter. Her mother takes her to the hospital, where she is wheeled from appointment to appointment.

She is given chemotherapy that will save her

life eventually but makes her nauseous now.

From 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day the hospital is her second home; the nurses, her siblings and patients, her family. This was reality for vocal freshman Hailey Kennedy in 2013.

Another girl measures her energy out before she starts her day. Others can race through their lives. Others can think of what they want to do and instantly complete the task. She is careful and calculating with her energy, rationing it because she knows it is limited. Bad nights lead to tough mornings and weary days. Her mother has to hold her back from overworking herself; she is willing to fight to do the things she loves and perform on the stage where she belongs. She borrows energy from the next day to keep her

going today, and from the next, and the next.

She wants to do so much, but she cannot do it all. She has just enough energy to last her a lifetime and sometimes, that is still not enough for a day. This is the reality for theatre junior Jaycie Cohen.

People overcome illnesses every day. There’s an overwhelming sense of how easily life can be stolen away that is often glossed over. Those who have experienced it, wield it as an asset in the fight to give back and the fight to live a normal life. They hope to help others the way others have helped them - with kindness, determination and the understanding that comes with loss.

COVERSTORY

17

HAILEY The Girl in the Mask

A

t the age of 13, before she became a member of the Dreyfoos family, vocal freshman Hailey Kennedy had become a member of the St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital family. She was diagnosed with Acute Myloid Leukemia (AML) in Jan., 2013, when her parents’ worries about her weight drove them to take her to the hospital. In the year and a half that followed she fought off cancer twice while growing closer to the patients and staff at St. Jude’s.

“St. Jude’s was amazing. My doctors really cared about me, about how I felt and [what] the treatment meant to me,” Kennedy said.

“They talked to me first about everything, as if I was an adult. They let me in on all their decisions.”

The environment provided at St. Jude’s was loving and understanding. Kennedy was often brought gifts by nurses, doctors, even custodians. The gifts ranged from a bag of oranges to a cross necklace that belonged to her nurse’s great grandmother.

“I’m an only child so my nurses were like my siblings. They took care of me and brought me gifts when I wasn’t feeling well.

They don’t have to do that, but they do,” Kennedy said. “Once you go to St. Jude, you’re not just a patient, you’re a St. Jude family [member]. Everybody knows each other and you don’t think of it as a hospital. It was like a second home.”

Her favorite memory at St. Jude’s was during an overnight checkup when she had a sleepover with her best friend and fellow patient Breanna Bercegeay. The two shared experiences and talked about things they were missing.

“What we talked about most was how our moms are our best friends, because we both got marrow transplants from our moms,” Kennedy said. “And they’re our heroes because they gave us not only one chance at life but two.”

Bercegeay passed away Oct. 2. Kennedy wore a shirt in her honor at a St. Jude’s

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COVERSTORY

Walkathon Nov. 22. The money raised went to funding the treatment of patients, not paying the staff or maintaining the hospital.

Kennedy’s experiences at St. Jude’s and with friends like Bercegeay has changed her outlook on life. “[This experience] has made me stronger.

It’s made me look at life differently, and know that it can be taken away from you in an instant. I’ve met lots of people and I’ve lost lots of friends to the battle of cancer,” Kennedy said. “People don’t realize that it’s out there and it’s not some imaginary thing.

It’s real, it’s reality. People my age die from cancer.”

Armed with this new outlook and her enthusiasm to help others with similar lives, Kennedy became Freshmen Key Club Director. She hopes to give back to St. Jude’s through events like the walkathon.

“I think I’ve always cared about [giving back to the community] but I don’t think that I’d be the person I am now, so aware of my surroundings [without my brush with cancer],” Kennedy said.

“When I see sick kids, I think of when I was like that, too and I know how they feel. And it’s not that I have sympathy for them, but it’s that I think of them as a hero. And I don’t think that I would have if it

weren’t for what I’ve gone through.”

Kennedy takes her role as Key Club Director seriously and looks forward to the work the club has ahead of them. She intends to keep up with any opportunities to help out.

However, one of the most important things to her as a cancer survivor is to resume a “normal” life and do her best as a Dreyfoos student. “[The most important thing to me right now is] being normal. Not having to wake up and go to the hospital every day and talk about how I’m feeling and what medicine I’m taking,” Kennedy said. “Being able to just go to school and be surrounded by normal kids and have fun. At St. Jude’s I did [have fun] but [I want to] do the things that kids who don’t have cancer can do.”

Photo by Tiffany Abreu

Vocal freshman Hailey Kennedy holds up her award from St. Jude's Medical Center. She was awarded the Highest Fundraising Individual in 2014 for Palm Beach County.

JAYCIE The Girl with the Spoons

T

heatre junior Jaycie Cohen is most comfortable on stage. She was born to perform and nothing could get in the way - not even her connective tissue disease or Common Variable Immune Deficiency (CVID), or the other smaller diseases she has a result of those two. She is determined to foster a support system at Dreyfoos for students with similar illnesses. The start of this is her club, Spoonies. “[The goal of Spoonies is to] spread awareness and fundraise for certain foundations that have helped all of [the club members] in the past and will in the future,” Cohen said.

The club derives its title from The Spoon Theory, a model by Christine Miserandino, a Lupus patient who runs the blog “But You Don’t Look Sick”. Ms. Miserandino actively advocates a support system for those with chronic illnesses. The model uses spoons as a symbol of energy, and explains how tasks like “getting ready for work” can be divided into “showering, getting dressed, and making breakfast” - the loss of three spoons. Ms. Miserandino’s close friend goes through a hypothetical day, ignoring some tasks in favor of others, making sacrifices and planning ahead how to spend her “spoons.” The model explains that the energy of those who are sick is limited, and easily lost. In comparison, healthy people have an “unlimited amount of spoons” and never have to think ahead of how they will spend this energy.

Cohen sympathizes with The Spoon Theory and uses it to describe her own symptoms. However, she does not view her illnesses as a negative aspect of her life.

“Personally, I am very thankful for my illnesses. My life would not be the same at all - half the things I do or have done was for them and I’m thankful for that,” Cohen said.

“And I know people are like, ‘oh that sucks’ but it really doesn’t.”

Cohen believes her illnesses gave her amazing opportunities. One was to attend

Photo by Tiffany Abreu

Theatre junior Jaycie Cohen explains the Spoon Theory to members of her club, Spoonies. Each spoon represents energy, and the theory shows that when you are sick, doing day-to-day activities requires much more strength.

Camp Foggycreek, a camp for children with life-threatening illnesses, where she met wonderful friends she still contacts. Another was visiting Australia to be a zookeeper for a day as her Make A Wish foundation wish. “[Australia] was the most amazing place I have ever seen in my whole life,” Cohen said.

“One of my goals in life is to go back there one day.”

With her club Spoonies, Cohen seeks to create a support system at Dreyfoos for students with similar illnesses. She does not see the club as a “support group” but as a place for the students to be there for each other and listen. She often pulls from her own experiences to give club members advice.

“[Club members will ask] ‘Hey I had this situation, have you ever gone through it?’ and I usually have gone through it because I’ve been dealing with my illnesses since I was 7 years old,” Cohen said. “I definitely can pull from my experiences and help them get through what they need to get through.”

Cohen has taken several measures to ensure she has enough energy to last her throughout the day.

“One of the members asked ‘How do you make it through a whole day?

What can I do, what do you do?’ and for me, what I had to do, was go part time hospital homebound.

You get to stay in the school and still do your arts and you just do your schoolwork outside of school,” Cohen said. “If you’re tired or something, rest, and go to the nurse and lay down for five minutes. If you lay down for five minutes, and you feel better, that’s better

than going home.”

Cohen’s upbeat attitude and determination keeps the Spoonies club going. She hopes the club will continue when she graduates and maintains a support system within Dreyfoos for students with illnesses. Moreover, they are eager to return as much to the community as was given to them.

“We all want to give back to those people who helped us before,” Cohen said.

“We’re trying to get some fundraisers and go to hospitals and volunteer and just make someone’s day.” g

COVERSTORY 19

Arts

THE

BODY AS A

CANVAS Dreyfoos students and teachers express themselves through body art

by BrittanyMcKenzie and ElliotHacker

V

isual senior Sophia Chessman goes home every day, crawls into her bed and begins to draw. Her marks are eclectic.

Dance sophomore Darius Hickman commutes to the Florida School for Dance Education for three hours of rehearsal after school. His marks are emotional.

Hours before school begins, social studies teacher Thomas Ruth can be found in his classroom, grading both French and history assignments. His marks are irrational.

These people have different interest and daily activities, but they have one thing in common: marks of liberal and unconventional expression which can be eclectic, emotional or irrational. These marks are tattoos.

“I feel like some people, whether it’s religion or just personal opinions feel like you shouldn’t scar your body for the rest of your life,” Hickman said. “They may judge you differently but others also may think it’s a cool way to express yourself and love for others.”

IN THIS SECTION:

21 22 23 24 20 ARTS

The theatre department preformed the childrens play ''The Ugly Duckling''” on Nov. 15 and 22..

Students had the opportunity to go to the Kravis Center during the day to watch students prepare for their annual Prism concert.

See what happened at this year's Prism concert held by the music department in this issue's photo package.

Read about what the other art areas are working on in this issue's Arts Index.

Photos by Rowan Bennetti

(From left to right) Dance sophomore Darius Hickman(top left, bottom left), visual senior Sophia Chessman (center left, bottom center right) and social studies teacher Thomas Ruth (top center right, right) show off their tattoos. All three have a deep connection to the meaning behind their body art.

Though others may judge individuals who get tattoos, many people tend to get them for personal and emotional meaning, regardless of what others may find appropriate or attractive.

“It’s fine if people have subtle tattoos, but if they›re too big there or too many I don’t like them,” theatre sophomore Tess Gaynor said.

One reason some people dislike tattoos is because they go against certain religious beliefs. For instance, in the Jewish faith it is prohibited to mark the body if that person wants to be buried in a Jewish cemetery.

“My family has brought me up in a way that discouraged me from getting tattoos because of my religion,” Gaynor said.

While Gaynor’s family discouraged her from getting tattoos, Hickman felt that the only way to express his love for his mother was to permenantly tattoo it on his body.

“One of my tattoos has my mom’s name and her birthday, it’s just expressing the amount of love I have for her and everything she has done for me,” Hickman said. “I can never forget how lucky I am to have her.”

The idea of getting a phrase or picture inked on your body permanently can seem odd to some, but it can just be a symbol for who they are as a person.

“I do [think that tattoos are a sense of expression] because you see something you like, and then you go through the pain of getting it etched into your skin,” Mr. Ruth said. “It becomes something more than just art but something that you really care about.

It can really be a stamp of individuality and show who a person is.”

Tattoos can be a symbol of who an individual is, but to some students like Chessman and Hickman, it is also viewed as art. continued on page 21

‘THE UGLY DUCKLING’ IS BEAUTIFUL ON STAGE

by TomKapitulnik

F

ive year olds are shifting around in the Black Box Theater. Three huge eggs dominate the center of the stage. Students bellow out their best quack and waddle onto the whimsical set for the play “The Ugly Duckling.” For the first time in Dreyfoos history, the theatre department put on a show directed towards children.

“Everything has to be ‘larger than life,’” theatre dean Bruce Linser said. “To captivate this type of audience, everything is bigger, brighter and more exaggerated than a regular production might be.”

“The Ugly Duckling” cast has performed two out of their four shows so far. The first shows took place on Nov. 15 and 22. The next ones

are to take place on Jan. 10 and 17. The show has been sold out so far, with many families crowding into the Brandt Black Box Theater to watch this production. “[The show] took a month or two to produce,” theatre sophomore Connor Powers, who played the Ugly Duckling said. “It was worth the effort. “ The theatre department brought in guest director, Marcie Gorman to help produce the show. Ms. Gorman has been Photo by Julia Bonavita Theatre sophomore Connor Powers hatches from his egg as the Ugly Duckling. involved with the He played the title role in this play for children. The Ugly Duckling had Saturday department since matinee shows and will be returning in January.

2008, and has been that children would be entertained when nicknamed the “department angel.” watching this show. Their acting techniques With her help, the show has become a were a little different than usual, with huge success. exaggerated and childish movements, ending “I have always loved theatre, and I with an interactive chicken dance with the love teaching,” Ms. Gorman said. “When audience.

I wanted to get involved somewhere, I “In ‘The Diary of Anne Frank’ we wanted knew I wanted to teach talented kids who all of the characters to be as honest and true loved to sing, dance and act. What as they could to the character,” Mr. Linser better place than Dreyfoos?” said. “In [‘The Ugly Duckling’], the characters The cast produced still have to be real, but they have to be larger bright costumes and a than life.” colorful set to make sure “The Ugly Duckling” has allowed families

Photo by Julia Bonavita

Theatre sophomore Emma McAvoy plays the cat that is trying to eat the ducks. Her role was mainly comedic in nature.

with younger children to enjoy the magic of Dreyfoos theatre. g

THE ART OF TATTOOS continued from page 20 individual which is great,” Chessman said.

Even though an individual who has a tattoo sees it as an extension of who they are, it can sometimes taint a person’s perception of another. Students like Chessman have been criticized for having tattoos.

“I feel like there is a lot of stigma around tattoos. I have definitely been judged by people even from my own family for having tattoos,” Chessman said. “Some may think it is trashy, but I think it is beautiful.”

Chessman got her first tattoo the fall going into her junior year and although she received judgment she continued to get more. She feels that body art is a sense of expression that people should not discriminate against.

“I have five tattoos. My first tattoo is a matching tattoo with my older brother who is my best friend, it is a phrase that means a lot to me and it is an old Arabic proverb,” Chessman said. “I am middle eastern so it ties into my heritage. It says come live in my heart and pay no rent and it is my handwriting on the back of my shoulder.”

Hickman also has multiple tattoos with different meanings that serve as tributes to his family.

“The other is a nickname that my brother gave me before he left our house and I have not seen him since and it always reminds me of him and it keeps him in my thoughts,” Hickman said.

Mr. Ruth’s tattoos are sort of unconventional, but are still dear to him. One of the tattoos has emotional meaning for him because he got it for his daughters. He currently has two and received his first one in the 90s. “[I got my first tattoo] right out of college in the early 90s, I was young and I just made up my mind and said I am going to do it,” Mr. Ruth said. “One is just a zodiac sign and then the other is something my kids loved and it’s a unicorn, and I love both of them.”

Chessman’s art represents personal ties.

“It is actually kind of funny because the partner and I are no longer together,” Chessman said. “Going into that I told myself

it was okay even if we did break because I still have respect for that period of my life.”

Regardless of the consequences, a reason for a person to get tattoos is unique to them.

“I thought that it would be cool, I was attracted to being able to express my creativity and having a special symbol on your skin,” Mr. Ruth said. “I am a proud supporter of tattoos and I think it’s just a great way to express yourself.”

Tattoos are just an extension of a person’s passion. Students like Hickman, Chessman and social studies teacher Mr. Ruth personally feel that inking your body is just another form of art.

“Don’t let anyone tell you that what you’re doing with your body is wrong,” Chessman said. “If you feel so strongly about something that you want it permanently on your skin don’t let anyone deter you from that. Even it is just for aesthetics to look good if its beautiful why would you not want it on your body.”g

ARTS

21

Vocal senior Kayla Martin (L-R) and vocal junior Macartney Ewing sing ''Noel'' in the Prism dress rehearsal for the entire school.

PHOTO

SUMMARY T

by JuliaHorneck

PRISM

he annual Prism concert took place on Friday, Dec. 5 in the Kravis Center. For the first time in Dreyfoos history, students were dismissed from their classes the morning before the performance to enjoy the show. This allow more students to attend the concert.

Students from all music majors were invited to perform, some chosen by an audition process and others required for their class grade.

The performers consisted of students from the vocal, keyboard, percussion, band and strings departments, which ultimately unified the school and gave everyone a taste of what happens within each major.

The concert took place at the Kravis Center. World renowned author James Patterson spoke before the concert, commending the students on their hard work and explaining how success can be achieved.

The song choices consisted of Christmas and Hanukkah songs, seasonal medleys and popular tunes from Disney’s hit movie, Frozen, performed in both large and small groups, resulting in numerous fantastic covers.

Prism is a Dreyfoos tradition that unifies all music majors and results in an extremely successful holiday showcase of talent. We continue to look forward to seeing the concert get better every year. g

Strings senior Vincent Moore plays the bass in the jazz combo rendition of ''Jingle Bells'.'

(L-R) Music teachers Eric Rucker, JandaTaylor, Pedro Hernandez, Arlene Sparks, Stefanie Katz-Shear, Evan Rogovin, Wendell Simmons, Naomi Wagner and Olga Middleton take their final bows after the students completed their dress performance for the school.

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ARTS

A VIP INCLUSIVE PERFORMANCE

Students attend the Prism concert dress rehearsal at Kravis

Band teacher Evan Rogovin (center) conducts the Prism finale piece ''Jingle Bells.'' The piece included every strings, vocal and band student.

by MichelleBirch

D

espite the vast array of talented students here at Dreyfoos, many students are not able to see their classmates perform. Tickets for this year’s annual Prism concert sold out within two hours of being online, leaving lots of students disappointed. Administration found a way to remedy this by having the entire school attend the Prism dress rehearsal. Pahokee Middle School and Bak Middle School of the Arts were also able to take time out of their academic day to go to the Kravis Center and witness the concert firsthand.

Originally performed in Meyer Hall and now moved to the Kravis Center for the third consecutive year, Prism is quickly becoming one of the most talked about music concerts of the year.

Although the performance that students and staff all attended was a dress rehearsal, the music students performed their best.

“I loved the opportunity to see my peers outside of the classroom,” communications senior Shane Meyers said. “Before going to Prism, I never really got to see how talented and passionate the music majors are.

This was their last rehearsal before the actual concert, which meant that they had to ensure everything was perfect for the sold out show.

“I think because there was more going on and so many different groups were playing the teachers had to be more on edge so that everything would go smoothly,” band freshman Jamie Lynch said.

Along with staying organized and controlling the larger group of people, the department’s teachers and students alike

had to be more focused because this dress rehearsal would have a live audience. While nerve-wracking, the experience gave the music students a better idea of what their performance would be like.

“Having a rehearsal with an audience was very beneficial because it helped [us] perform better at the real [show],” band junior Molly Lynch said. “Getting reactions from an audience is a great way to improve for the next performance because you can see what people thought. It also gives you more confidence that you have already gone through the process of performing.”

Going to the Kravis Center and watching the concert was part of the planned school-wide SRA. This allowed students to experience the concert that they otherwise might not have been able to attend. “[The SRA] is a good idea because it gives the students a chance to get a glimpse of what their peers are doing in their art areas even if they don’t have the time or opportunity to after school,” digital media senior Amanda Chaplin said.

The new SRA was welcomed by students and teachers alike.

“I think it’s important for all the students to see what the different departments do, and for them to experience their performances,” science teacher Elyce Hill said.

Although the SRA did take away from teaching time, only morning classes were affected and teachers did not take negatively to the event.

“I did lose time with my even periods that day, but the afternoon schedule was only a little bit shorter in the afternoon and was not

as affected as I thought it was going to be,” Mrs. Hill said.

The undertaking of moving an entire school to the Kravis Center by foot was a new idea this year that went smoothly and will most likely be a continuous event.

“Technically it was not a field trip, teachers just walked their students to the Kravis and we had direct supervision at all times,” Assistant Principal George Miller said.

“The kids were excellent and well behaved,” Mr. Miller said. “If [they] were bad or acted out, then we wouldn’t do it again; it only takes a few to spoil it for the rest.”

The new idea was an overall success providing students with an artistic perspective different from the confines of their own major.

“It was a nice break from the stresses of the school day and it gave me a greater appreciation for arts besides theatre,” theatre junior Matthew Dickinson said.

The SRA was a fun way to give students ample perspective of their fellow classmates’ work.

“Everybody at this school is extremely talented,” Mr. Miller said. “Overall I think they got to have an appreciation of what others get to do.” g

Photos by Julia Bonavita and Jade Lenkersdorf

For more photos and videos, go to: THEMUSEATDREYFOOS.

ARTS

23

Arts Index

www.themuseatdreyfoos.com This is a QR code.

Scan it with your smart phone and it will take you directly to The Muse website.

A guide to what's going on in the art area classes

Photo by Jade Lenkersdorf

Dance senior Jazmine Colon [(center)} is being pushed to the front of the row during the senior dance. The last opportunity the seniors have to dance together is the Spring Dance Concert, which is seniors only.

Music M

usic students collectively prepared for their annual concert, Prism, held at the Kravis Center on Dec. 5. Tickets for the event sold out within hours, making it a highlight of the musical year. Students prepare by participating in school rehearsals during and after school along with practicing in smaller ensembles.

Piano ensemble students participated in a concert in which they collaborated with other instrumentalists. Jazz combo students also participated in a concert on Nov. 24.

Vocalists focused on Prism preparation but also on their Holiday concert, which was on Dec. 13.

Students from each musical major auditioned for the Florida Orchestra Association’s annual All-State competition. Selected students received their sheet music during the first week of December, and both the orchestra seating auditions and the AllState event itself will take place in January.

Students from the vocal department continued to prepare for the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) competition which will also take place in January. g

Photo by Julia Bonavita

[L-R} Theatre freshman Ethan Izenwasser, theatre junior Eva Schuckman and theatre sophomore Danielle Francois take their final bows after ''The Ugly Duckling,''

24 ARTS

Communications

T

he Speech and Debate team attended a local tournament on Nov. 15, sweeping the competition with first place victories in over six categories. The creative writing classes welcomed a new artistin-residence; Donovan Ortega. The TV production and journalism departments attended the National Student Press Association (NSPA) convention on Nov. 6-9, where the students participated in a multitude of events and seminars, winning awards in multiple categories that allowed them to advance their journalistic abilities. g

Theatre P

erformances of “The Ugly Duckling” were held on Nov. 15 and Nov. 22. Vocal rehearsals for the spring musical “Thoroughly Modern Millie” began on Dec. 1.

The department has been donating to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids by selling red ribbons at their performances. On Dec. 1 the department raised funds and spread awareness for World Aids Day. “Over 20,000 people in Palm Beach County alone are fighting HIV/AIDS,” theatre sophomore Zak Biggins said. “This year our department has made it our priority to raise money and awareness for this life threatening disease. We asked everyone we could to wear red to support and we had an incredible turnout.”

The district competition for the International Thespian Society was held on Dec. 6. Students represented troupe 4990 at the District Thespian competition. The troupe received 12 Excellent ratings, 24 Superior ratings,14 Critics Choice selections and two pieces were chosen as District Representatives. g

Visual and Digital Media

T

he visual and digital media departments went on their annual trip to New York City on Nov. 19-23.

They toured various art institutions such as Pratt Institute, Parsons The New School for Design, Columbia University, New York University and Cooper Union.

Students also had the opportunity to have their work critiqued by many of the schools they toured.

Students sat down with admission officers and department deans, showed them their portfolios or sketchbooks, and explained the concepts of their artwork. The reviewer would explain what the students could improve on, their strengths and where they would fit best at the school.

Even without fully completing her application, visual senior Sophie Chessman was accepted to the School of Visual Arts (SVA) during her portfolio review. g

Dance T

he annual “Fall Back to Dance” concert sold out. All grades performed with original pieces choreographed by guest dancers. After the concert, dance students have now gone back to practicing technique and the standard ballet, modern and jazz they normally learn. Dance sophomores Sasha Lazarus and Darius Hickman and dance juniors Morgan Aumick, Maia Kaimakliotis and Paul Rispoli will be given a dance ballet piece that will be performed at the Kravis Center. They will perform in the upcoming weeks. g

Photo by Jade Lenkersdorf

The dance department performs the contemporary piece,"''Alienated''" at the ''Fall Back to Dance'' recital on Friday, Nov. 21.. Choreographed by Ryan Redmond, the dance incorporated sophomores, juniors and seniors.

ARTS

25

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Sports

GOALS

EXTEND BEYOND

FIELD

THE

GRNJA’S

Communications senior overcomes injury to pursue passions

by JackYan

I

n 2008, communications senior Alana Grnja and visual senior Nadira Davis, with the Magic Jack Hot Shots, won the Gothia Cup in Sweden, the largest youth soccer tournament in the world. The team was coached by Jayson Chung and sponsored by Dan Borislow, inventor of the Internet phone service known as Magic Jack.

In 2010 and 2011, Grnja played on the U.S. national team. She received verbal offers from the University of Florida and University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill to play on a

scholarship, but since then, she has not been able to play at the same level.

“I had to quit playing soccer because I got in a car accident [in the eighth grade] that resulted in me having a herniated disk,” Grnja said. “I tried playing with it at first, but I couldn’t sprint or jog.”

Doctors explained to Grnja that due to her injury, she would never be able to move as fast as before. She took a year of physical therapy and extra training.

“My inspiration to continue playing at that level has always been, and always will stem Photo by Rowan Bennetti Communications senior Alana Grnja with from self-motivation,” her first place medal from the Gothia Cup. Grnja said. “I have Each year, around 1600 teams from 80 countries all over the world compete for always trained and the Gothia Cup champion title. worked my hardest because I had a goal that I wanted to fulfill Nothing in this world for myself: playing will ever compare to college soccer on a full the feeling I get when scholarship.”

The summer after playing soccer. the injury, Grnja trained Photo by Dana Miller - communications senior Alana Grnja for seven days, five Communications senior Alana Grnja's dedication to the Dreyfoos Jaguars over the past four years has helped her become one of the team captains. As captain, she helps hours a day, with former mens national keep up spirits, morale and devotion to the team. since I can remember and soccer was starting team player Mark to get in the way of my schoolwork, so I had Chung. to prioritize, and soccer didn’t make the cut.”

“I admit I did cry a lot and [my trainer] Grnja has played on the girls soccer team made fun of me for it, but it made a difference. for four years. She is now one of three coVocal senior Craig Carrier works Coming off an injury, even my coaches could diligently to become a better athlete. captains on the team, coached by science dean tell the difference,” Grnja said. and girls soccer coach Stephen Anand.

Grnja was forced to quit playing for Read our Jaguar Profile on band senior “Mr. Anand has helped me with my Nolan Mallet, who has been recruited Boca Untied, her travel soccer team, due to

by Georgia Tech University with a mindset.

In my freshman year, I was at my a heavy load of school work. In her junior diving scholarship. peak, I was on the national team. Then I year she switched majors from theatre to came to Dreyfoos and thought I was better.

Catch up on what is happening with communications to free up time for school the girls and boys soccer teams and [Anand] would sit me [down] and tell me soccer. the boys basketball team in the Sports ‘you can’t think like that it spreads to the rest Briefs.

“I was taking four AP classes and I had of the team,’ ” Grnja said. “I’ve gotten better to practice seven days a week and your body because of him.” can only handle staying up until 4 a.m. for so continued on page 28 long,” Grnja said. “I’ve wanted to be a doctor

“

”

IN THIS SECTION:

28 29

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SPORTS 27

PERSEVERANCE PAYS OFF ON THE COURT

After three years of rejection, vocal senior makes basketball team

by AdamNir

T

his year was his last shot to make the back and trying out.” team. He had put up with rejection Mr. Stohr understood the and trained his hardest long enough; this dedication it took to make the was the final decision. As he reached basketball team and sympathized basketball coach and social studies with Carrier. teacher Jeffrey Stohr’s room, he saw the “I was cut in eighth grade [from list of names on the roster. As his eyes my school’s basketball team], and went down the list he saw something he though I made the high school team, hadn’t seen ever before: his name. After I didn’t play a lot,” Mr. Stohr said. “I three years of rejection, vocal senior understand what it’s like to get cut Craig Carrier achieved his goal of making and what it’s like to sit on the bench the basketball team. and not play.”

“I walked up to Mr. Stohr’s room on With Carrier working harder than the Monday he posted the team, and ever, Mr. Stohr found the perfect when I saw my name on the list, I was opportunity to give Carrier the overjoyed,” Carrier said. “I was so excited empty spot on the team. to have finally made it and to be a part of “I appreciate the fact that he the team.” never quits and wanted to try out For three years, Carrier had come up again,” Mr. Stohr said. “We had a to Mr. Stohr’s room to look at the team spot, and he worked his butt off to roster, and for three years, his name was earn it.” not on the list.

Carrier feels like his work has “I kept thinking that maybe I wasn’t finally paid off and is happy with his good enough or that I didn’t work hard new role on the team. enough to make the team,” Carrier said.

“I’ve worked on the skills that I Despite these negative thoughts, need to do and I’ve gotten in better Carrier continued practicing with the shape. I am now a shooting guard on basketball team and putting in hours of the team,” Carrier said.

Photo by Bailey Van Putten Vink work to improve his skills. His hard work Carrier’s resilience earned him Vocal senior Craig Carrier prepares to shoot a lay up at practice. Carrier paid off as he finally earned the spot on has worked resiliently for the past four years to obtain his spot on the boys not only the satisfaction of achieving basketball team. the roster that he wanted so badly. his goal, but also the experience of Though the fact that he wasn’t on the team “I did open gym so that I stayed being part of a team. hurt, Carrier was driven by his love for the involved with the players,” Carrier said. “If “The feeling of being on the team is really sport to continue practicing. you don’t make the team, the best way stay fulfilling,” Carrier said. “Being out there with “I love the sport of basketball; I love active is to play with the actual players that the guys and playing a sport that I love is a playing and watching it,” Carrier said. “Since I are on the team; then you get better.” great feeling.” g love it so much, I decided to continue coming

GRNJA’S GOALS

Continued from page 27 Grnja has been struggling with injuries students usually do. Being able to look recently playing for the Jaguars. Towards back on previous seasons has allowed her the end of the 2013-2014 season she was to continue to progress.” injured. This year she has been injured Even after the accident, Grnja still with a cracked holds a strong kneecap. Even passion for soccer.

Soccer was and always so, she has still She still believes in will be the thing that I have been influential her dreams, even if both on and off of her priorities have the most passion for. the field. switched.

“As a young player, “The biggest - communications senior Alana Grnja [Grnja] was easily regret of my life was frustrated. When [she] quitting [travel] soccer,” Grnja said. would get frustrated on the field I would “Nothing in this world will ever compare have to pull her off. As she changed, the to the feeling I get when playing soccer. team changed,” Mr. Anand said. “She’s It was and always will be the thing that I grown up and matured, as high school have the most passion for.” g

“

”

Photo courtesy of Alana Grnja

Communications senior Alana Grnja steals the ball from another player. Grnja has been playing on the school team for four years.

28SPORTS

FROM

POOL DECK TO

GEORGIA TECH Band senior Nolan Mallet commits to Georgia Tech with a diving scholarship

by AlanaGomez and TomasCabezas

D

iving between three and five times every week has paid off for band senior Nolan Mallet. He has risen above the expectations of a regular Dreyfoos athlete, creating a lasting legacy and achieving a rare goal among Dreyfoos athletes: a sports scholarship. Mallet has committed to Georgia Tech University after being offered a diving scholarship.

“It’s unique. It makes me feel special,” Mallet said. “I had a feeling it was [going to] happen. Georgia Tech was my first choice.”

At the end of Mallet’s junior year, he started emailing college coaches videos showcasing his diving. He caught the attention of Georgia Tech and the admissions officer emailed him back. “[Some universities] will email you back and they’ll probably offer you a trip [there] at the beginning of your senior year,” Mallet said. “Then they will either offer you a scholarship or not.”

In his junior year, Mallet placed second at states in the class 2A on Nov. 14 in Stuart. He has been competing at states since freshman

year.

“I was focused on winning but it was enjoyable because it was my last [high school competition]. I was nervous [but] I was [also] sentimental,” Mallet said.

Mallet had high expectations at states this year, hoping to place in first, but unfortunately won’t have another chance to do so in high school.

“I was eight points away,” Mallet said. “I did pretty well [overall but] it was just [this] one dive that I messed up a little.”

As well as being the co-captain of the Dreyfoos swim and dive team, Mallet is also a part of the Coral Springs Dive Team. His coach, Michelle Sandelin, admires Mallet for his diving skills and strong character.

“He is a natural athlete. He has a great ability [for] somersaulting and he gets in the water clean. He has a fantastic entry [and he] works hard at anything he does.” Sandelin said. “Talent is one thing, but you have to have a good attitude and work ethic, too.”g

Photos courtesy of Lifetouch

Band senior Nolan Mallet showcases his diving skills, performing a somersault and a smooth entry. Mallet is one of the captains of the Swim and Dive team.

SPORTS 29

SPORTSGUIDE A play-by-play of this season's meets, games and tournaments

WINTER

Girls Soccer

by AlanaGomez

T

his season the girls soccer team has a 4-1 record. They won two straight games against William T. Dwyer High School on Nov. 17 and Blanche Ely High School on Nov. 19. The team lost against Suncoast on Nov. 21.

Many players on the girls soccer team are also involved in travel teams. The girls have to balance both practices and games in and out of school.

“In terms of them being prepared to play, [participating on travel teams] is good for the season, but they have missed some critical games,” science dean and girls soccer coach Stephen Anand said.

“I continually have players missing more [so] than any other season.”g

Basketball

by AdamNir

W

ith the graduation of last year’s seniors, the basketball team started the season with many questions as to how they would fare and who would become a key player. “[Our players are] young this year so we have to build confidence and experience,” social studies teacher and basketball coach Jeffrey Stohr said.

With a pre-season loss to Trinity Christian by 25 points, the team rallied together and won by two points in their home opener. In their most recent game against FAU High School, the team’s inexperience showed as they lost by 15 points.

“They just outplayed us,” Stohr said. “They won by 25. We’re improving slowly but surely.”

Despite their inexperience, strings junior Josh Ewers, vocal junior Josh Johnson, communications sophomore Elliot Hacker and communications junior Rotavious Johnson have played well.

“The [team] is going to take their lumps,” Stohr said. “But those guys have really had their moments.” g

30SPORTS

Photo by Bailey Van Putten Vink

Communications senior Steffan Gawlikowski (right) attempts to steal the ball from the opposing team, Inlet Grove High School. The boys soccer team won 4-0, their first win of the season..

Boys Soccer

by JackReagan

T

he boys soccer team was able to reach their first victory against Inlet Grove High School at home with a final score of 4-0, winning their first home game. Communications freshman Zack Stoloff scored the first goal in the first half. Communications seniors Steffan Gawlikowski and Michael Santomaso and visual junior Vicente Arredondo scored the remaining goals in the second half.

Although they were able to obtain their first win, the Jaguars still seem to be having a rough start to their season after losing five games in a row against Palm Beach Lakes, Lake Worth, Dwyer, Suncoast and Olympic Heights, as well as a loss at Forest Hill High Schools. At Palm Beach Lakes, the Jaguars had their closest game with an ending score of 3-4. Theatre

senior Nicholas Hoff scored on a penalty kick and Gawlikowski scored twice in the second half. At Lake Worth, the boys saw their toughest loss with a five-point deficit and an end score of 1-6 with the only goal scored by Gawlikowski. Dwyer was a tough fight for the Jaguars as they lost with a score of 1-5 with Gawlikowski once again avoiding a shutout with a goal.

Against the rival team, Suncoast, Stoloff scored his first goal of the season, ending the game with a 1-4 loss for Dreyfoos.

Gawlikowski scored once again against Olympic Heights although the game ended in a losing score of 1-4. Forest Hill saw the return of Hoff as he scored on a penalty kick in the first half. The Jaguars hope to work harder in the future to improve their 1-5-0 record. g

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31

Lifestyle

GUIDE HANDLING TO

A

THE

HOLIDAYS

Ways to help you avoid the frantic feeling the holidays can bring

by DanaThomas

I

t’s the most wonderful time of the year… kind of. The holiday season is filled with treats, gifts and festivities, but while December can be fun, it can also be overwhelming. Here’s your guide to navigating the holiday season.

Foods

What would Christmas be without a Christmas cookie? For chocolate lovers, there is nothing better than the chocolate crinkle cookie.

If you’ve never had this gooey treat, you’re surely missing out. Taking only 10 minutes to bake, they’re quick and easy, making them a great holiday goody.

A more non-traditional “cookie” is the peppermint Oreo truffle. The name alone is enough to make you drool; this cookie is a must-try treat. A recipe from Gaby Dalkin, who created the Oreo-brownies, shows these treats are extremely easy to make and may be even better than the brownies. Throw

Photo by Millward Brown Digital

32 LIFESTYLE

some Oreos, cream cheese and candy canes into a food processor, roll into balls, dip into chocolate, cool and shove into face.

While holiday dinners and desserts are not the best addition for those on a diet, there are many healthy alternatives to side dishes and even desserts for health gurus.

A great alternative to the traditional mashed potatoes, mashed sweet potatoes are a lot healthier Photo by No Empty Chairs and taste just as good. Add all natural maple syrup, cinnamon and coconut milk to keep calories down, while still enjoying a sweet and festive side dish.

For dessert, peanut butter cookies (they’re actually gluten-free, but hardly noticeable.)

Gluten-free eaters, and even those who are not, will love the flourless peanut butter cookie. You can even add chocolate chips or peanut butter chips.

expect flooded stores for Christmas gift returns and door-buster deals.

As for the online shoppers, if you missed out on Cyber Monday, Dec. 18 is “Free Shipping day”, making it a great time to order last minute gifts for the holidays.

Giving back

The holidays are all about giving back and spreading joy. While it can be easy to get caught up in the gifts and parties that come along with December, it is important to remember what the holidays are for, and there are tons of ways to contribute this season.

Charities like the Salvation Army, Little Smiles and Red Cross all have programs that need donations for the holidays. The Salvation Army, every year runs the Christmas Toy Drive, in which you can donate toys to underprivileged children. Little Smiles, as well as the Children’s Medical Service’s Toy Drive, provide children in hospitals toys for Christmas. Red Cross’s Holiday Mail for Heroes program allows people to send holiday cards and letters to soldiers. Getting involved and donating to these foundations is a great way to celebrate the holidays this season. g

Shopping

If you didn’t wake up at 3 a.m. to go Black Friday shopping and feel you missed all of the deals, fear not. There are even better times to shop this season, and they don’t involve camping out in front of Walmart.

This year the day after Christmas falls on a Monday, meaning all stores are open for shopping. Similar to the concept of Black Friday, stores are offering sales up to 60 percent off.

According to deal experts from websites such as Deals and Offers, the day after Christmas is the best time to shop at stores including Nordstrom, Apple, Target, Best Buy and more. You can

Photo by Huffington Post

SWEETENERS AREN’T AS SWEET AS YOU THINK The negative effects of artificial sweeteners are now being researched many people don’t know the consequences that come with consumption of them. Sweet ‘N Low, Equal, Splenda and Truvia are just a few of the hundreds of artificial sweeteners that people use to replace sugar in anything from their coffee to their baking.

Artificial sweeteners are approximately 200 percent sweeter than sugar, according to the American Cancer Society. People opt for them when trying to lose weight, because they can use less of the sweetener while still achieving similar taste with far fewer calories.

Though sweetener users think they are doing their body some good by ingesting fewer calories, they may be unknowingly hurting themselves. Sugar is a natural compound that the body needs in order to function, but Photo by Julia Horneck chemically-altered fine powders fail to provide the body the same Students who drink coffee may sometimes use artificial sweeteners not knowing the negative consequences. benefits that sugar does.

by JessicaRalph

W

e live in a society that has continuously put an unhealthy emphasis on body image and the importance in maintaining an ideal weight. This same society, however, is often lackadaisical in achieving this ideal image through healthy means. We have turned from hard workouts and persistence to crash diets and surgical corrections. People often assume that the “healthiest” foods are those lowest in calories, fats and sugars, but scientifically, this is not the case.

Artificial sweeteners have become one of the most common food substitutes, and yet,

High school is a time noted for unhealthy consumptions of caffeinated drinks, whether it is coffee, energy drinks or soda. We were born in a time where these sweeteners were no longer a taboo, and we adopted them into our everyday diets without allowing ample time for research. The long-term effects on the body of the manufactured sweeteners that appear mostly in diet sodas have not been studied enough to publish conclusive results.

Scientists are still unsure how they affect the body and in what way. Scientists however, know the use of artificial sweeteners often result in side effects such as severe migraines, heartburn, indigestion and even mood swings.

Because it is impossible to say directly how good or bad they are, it is best to avoid them completely until further findings are released.

If you are a frequent user of artificial sweeteners, try cutting them back if it seems impossible to cut them completely out of your diet. Sweeten your coffee with one packet of Equal instead of two, or add more cream instead of more “sugar.” Besides, weight loss is always more rewarding when you accomplish it yourself, instead of through the use of chemicals. g

MEDITATING MINDS CREATE A CALM CLASS

English teacher uses meditation techniques to focus students

by GerniseGregoire

C

ardiologist Dr. Herbert Benson, founder of the Mind and Body Institute at Harvard Medical School, believes that relaxations from meditation help lower blood pressure and improve heart rates. Creative writing and English teacher Brittany Rigdon not only shares her professional English knowledge, but also uses meditation in her teaching methods.

“I use meditation sometimes for creative writing when I want my [students] to quiet their minds and just think about the challenges they face Photo by Gernise Gregoire Students practice meditation with the help of English teacher everyday,” Ms. Rigdon said.

Brittany Rigdon.

Ms. Rigdon specifically practices selfWhile balancing emotions, the selfguidance meditation, where she focuses on guidance meditation provides a way for removing stress and replacing it with inner Ms. Rigdon’s students to focus less on their peace. personal issues and more on lessons they are “I lead them through the self-guided learning in class. meditation sometimes when I’m teaching the “What helped a lot is when she told us to novel Siddhartha,” Ms. Rigdon said. “I use it imagine all of our stress and bad energy as a since that’s what [Siddhartha] was using, too.”

ball of light and imagine it lifting out of our bodies,” digital media junior Gabby Rohan said. “I feel like I accomplish Nirvana like the [Buddha himself ].”

After shutting off the classroom lights, Ms. Rigdon has students imagine any problems they may be facing. During the process, each student sits quietly with his or her eyes closed.

“Even though it may sound ridiculous, her method really works. I never had a teacher who used meditation in her class until now,” communications senior Michael Rahrig said. “I’m in her creative writing class, so before she even teaches a new lesson, we clear our minds first to focus on it more.”

These techniques not only focus the students, but will also improve their health in the long term.

“The soothing power of repetition is at the heart of meditation. Focusing on the breath, ignoring thoughts and repeating a word or phrase, a mantra, creates the biological response of relaxation,” Dr. Benson said. g

LIFESTYLE 33

Entertainment

A PREMIERE FULL OF 'WATCHERS' Digital media seniors screen their film after a year in the making

Photo courtesy of Christopher Oh

Theatre senior Stephen Eisenwasser (L-R), theatre senior Riley Anthony, theatre sophomore Katie Wilhoit and Wellington High School senior Zachary Kent act in a scene of "The Watcher" at the former Taco Vida on Clematis.

by JadeLenkersdorf

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high school film maker struggles to keep his feet on the ground as his life crumbles beneath him. Every day is something new; Ryan Pierce deals with the trials and tribulations of being a teenager, including the ones no one talks about. This is “The Watcher,” a student film that has premiered after over a year of production Organizing groups, getting actors and filming require time, organization and dedication, digital media senior Christopher Oh and digital media junior James Moores know this all too well. Oh was director, writer and producer of the film, and Moores was cinematographer, editor, director and assistant script writer.

“It’s such an intimate story, and a really

IN THIS SECTION:

35

With the winter season in session, learn how to take your mind off the hot weather and enjoy.

36

2014 has been a year full of scandals and surprises, but the entertainment industries has had its highlights.

37

The holidays can be stressful, and with pressure rising the entertainment staff shares the songs that relieve their stress.

34 ENTERTAINMENT

large scale production that requires so much cinematography and editing consistent, along communication [and] cooperation between with your characters and continuity, has the cast and crew,” communications junior, shown to be really difficult,” Moores said. script supervisor, assistant director and “There were a lot of things that obscured the producer of “The Watcher” Bennett Morgan process of completing the film.” said. “It’s been a really great adventure.” continued on page 35 Oh wrote the story based on a large part of his life, and used script writing as a sort of therapy.

“Events in ‘The Watcher’ were taken from events that happened in my real life,” Oh said. “It’s basically about a struggling artist who wants to pursue his art, but all these things keep getting in the way.”

Oh used the talent available to him by incorporating aspects of multiple art areas, such as using theatre majors as actors.

Theatre senior Riley Anthony stars as Ryan Pierce. “The Watcher” also features music made by keyboard students. Students involved with the film say that the experience gained from working as a team has relit a passion for their art form.

“I met a lot of interesting people that I normally wouldn’t have spoken to,” said communications senior Konrad Czaczyk, who acted in “The Watcher.” “It was inspiring to work [as a team] because you could tell that everyone put in a lot of effort to make it as good as it could be. It was nice having so many people working toward the same goal.”

However, producing such a large Photo by Jade Lenkersdorf project posed quite a few problems during Kaos Productions, consisting of digital media senior Christopher Oh and digital media junior James Moores, made "The Watcher," the process. which premiered on Dec. 10 at the Lake Worth Playhouse.

“Trying to keep all your

A SANDY WINTER WONDERLAND Floridians try to find entertainment in the winter season Commentary by AlexisPinchuck

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he holidays are approaching fast and with the seasons changing, a beautiful white blanket will engulf most of America.

The holiday season, with its winter fashion, nonstop holiday carols and festivities leave Floridians with a love for winter as they spend it sweltering in the heat while tanning at the beach.

When layers of fuzzy socks and red and green knit sweaters do not help Floridians face the cold, it becomes time to Alexis Pinchuck take extreme measures.

We turn to holiday classics and cheerful winter songs as we try to ignore the white sandy beaches and imagine blankets of snow.

Floridians might sit themselves in front of a home fire place and listen to “Jingle Bells,” so they can stray away from the teeth-chattering 75 degrees. They may even cocoon themselves in scarves and snowman blankets while thawing out to holiday songs like “White Christmas” on the radio. Floridians gather around the blazing fire as the sip on their hot cocoa and watch multiple holiday movies such as those featured on ABC Family’s 25 Days of

Christmas. Rudolph and Charlie Brown specials flood TV channels, opening the world to winter entertainment.

Even though the mall’s inventory is changing from short-shorts and crop tops to jeans and furry winter coats, Florida’s temperature remains hovering around a “chilly” 80 degrees.

Of course, this means that it is time for individuals to break out their poofy winter jackets and bundle up in wool sweaters. This winter mania leaves Floridians clambering to change out of their wet bathing suits and into their knee high boots, chic Abercrombie reindeer sweaters, fur covered coats and stylish leggings as they trudge through the unbearable tropical weather. When snowbirds find Floridians huddled together during a cold front watching Miracle on 34th Street and playing holiday songs such as Santa Baby in the background, they are basking in the warm glow of this perfect winter day.

With the tiny sun-bathed children growing up without ever encountering snow, CityPlace has a perfect solution. Once again, families can grab their gloves and fuzzy socks and get ready for a night playing in the “snow”—

Graphic by Bennett Morgan

bubbles. The 80 degree low, matched with floating bubbles, teaches children exactly what building a snowman or seeing their breath is like; CityPlace solved it all. After that extremely cold night full of soapy, winter fun, Floridians can run back home and warm up next to the fire as they watch their favorite Holiday classics and dream of a white Christmas. g

‘THE WATCHER’ continued from page 34 Although some problems were difficult to overcome, the whole cast and crew were motivated to see the project come to life. A team of over 30 students made the film a priority until completion.

The effort of all those involved impressed communications teacher Ancil Deluz, who supported the project throughout the production process.

“I told him [Oh] that there’s no way that someone would find the time and the effort to bring this project to completion,” Dr. Deluz said. “I shouldn’t have done that, because it motivated him to try his best to finish it. He’s done that.”

To complete this large scale film, Oh and Moores had to get approval to film in various locations, including a real hospital.

“Shooting in a real hospital was really awesome because we had to be taught how to use the equipment,” communications senior and assistant director Aleya Zenieris said.

“Everything turned out really cool and it looks real.”

Even though it was a long road, Oh is grateful for the experience everyone has given him, and has grown to appreciate his art form

Photo courtesy of Chistopher Oh

Theatre senior Riley Anthony plays "The Watcher" main character Ryan Pierce in a scene filmed at a hospital.

further.

“I want to make films that mean things to people and change their perspectives on life,” Oh said. “’The Watcher’ is my story. I put my whole life into it for a year, and I know [Moores] has too.”

“The Watcher” premiered on Dec. 10 at the Lake Worth Playhouse. g

For a follow up of “The Watcher” premiere, visit

themuseatdreyfoos.com ENTERTAINMENT35

2014:A YEAR IN REVIEW

by IsaacOchoa

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Photo by The Fault in our Stars Movie

Ansel Elgort (L-R) and Shailene Woodley play Augustus Waters and Hazel Lancaster in "The Fault in Our Stars.”

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Music

014, also known as the year of the booty, brought curves to music, and artists have jumped on the new trend celebrating fullfigured women. Nicki Minaj sparked an Internet sensation with her new single “Anaconda,” which is renowned for its appreciation of behinds. The music video borders on inappropriate because of the unbridled butts that take over the screen, but its innovative veneration of the Gluteus Maximus adds a new perspective to the music industry’s lyrics.

However, with Jennifer Lopez and Iggy Azalea joining in on the action in their provocative music video “Booty,” the trend has turned into an excessive sexual mockery.

Earlier this year, Australian rapper Iggy Azalea released her hit song “Fancy,” which reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 and entertained teens across the nation. Adding to the

multicultural trend, “Bailando” by Enrique Iglesias hit home in South Florida due to its Spanish melody and Iglesias’s tempting lyrics.

“All About that Bass” by Meghan Trainor attempted to display the beauty of full figures, but its execution defamed skinny girls across the nation. Taylor Swift released her fifth album, “1989.”

According to the British Broadcasting Corporation, Swift became the first female artist to succeed herself as number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Her song “Blank Space” replaced “Shake It Off.” Both songs were off of “1989.” The album officially recognizes Swift’s departure from country pop and immature teenage breakups.

Heavy metal aficionados will be upset to know that Mötley Crüe, a band established in 1981, terminated with their farewell tour on Nov. 22, elongating the list of liquidated heavy metal bands. g

Student Shortlist

by BriPosner

Which day of ABC Family's 25 Days of Christmas are you most looking forward to?

36 ENTERTAINMENT

Movies

he rise of dystopian movies peaked in 2014. The long awaited film “Mockingjay, Part 1” finally hit theatres, and with it came a realization that the “Hunger Games” Era will soon conclude. This year crowned many new dystopian movie series based on books such as “Divergent” and “The Maze Runner.”

“The Fault in Our Stars,” based on John Green’s book about teenage cancer patients, received praise from audiences. The movie revolved around protagonist Hazel Grace Lancaster’s relationship with Augustus Waters, whom girls worldwide worshipped up to the movie’s

Matt Pennestri vocal senior

“I’m looking forward to Sunday, Dec. 21 because they are showing ‘Little Drummer Boy.’ The claymation was on point, which is why I love it.”

Graphics by Dana Thomas

depressing end.

Not all films fulfilled their expectations. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s newest movie, “Sabotage,” failed miserably, grossing $17 million worldwide and Tom Cruise’s sci-fi tale, “Edge of Tomorrow,” cost a whopping $200 million, yet it earned a pathetic 37 percent of its cost.

Academy Awards maniacs kept watch for “Gone Girl,” “Boyhood” and “Interstellar.”

The three contenders for Best Motion Picture of the Year received praise for their originality, especially “Boyhood,” which was filmed over the span of 12 years to tell the story of a boy growing up. g

Photo by NY Daily News

Taylor Swift's "1989" features the Billboard topping hits "Shake It Off" and "Blank Space.”

“I can’t wait for Wednesday, Dec. 17 to watch ‘Santa Baby’ and ‘Disney’s: A Christmas Carol.’

This day is showing all of my favorites.”

Kaleigh Hanley theatre freshman

TV

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n “How I Met Your Mother,” it concluded with a confusing episode that left fans bemused and eager to find an explanation. The series ran for nine years on a flashforward and flashback structure, much like that of “Lost.” Yet the finale’s flashforward to a future marriage between two main characters contradicted the purpose of the show. “Psych” terminated on March of this year with positive responses.

America’s most watched TV shows, “The Big Bang Theory” and “The Walking Dead,” continue to stay on

top of the TV scene with ratings reaching more than 20 million viewers. The nerdy astrophysicists will continue to create laughs until 2017, when the “The Big Bang Theory” will reach its tenth season.

New murder mystery, “How To Get Away With Murder,” featuring Viola Davis and Batman spinoff, “Gotham,” are a must watch for this 2014-2015 season along with “American Horror Story’s” new season, which takes place in the close-to-home town of Jupiter, FL. The season features freak shows and human deformities in a circus. g

BriPOSNER

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s the holiday season approaches, overly-lit department store windows, filled with all too cheery reindeer and Santa Clause mannequins, advertise blowout sales on winter clothing for our “just a bit nippy” winter season. Holiday shoppers bombard the mall, singing Photo by Immortal Records about a white Christmas and building a talking snowman—and I’m not talking about Olaf from “Frozen.” While the seasonal madness ensues in every place that gift wraps, I enjoy curling up with my iPod to avoid being trampled by a grandma with reindeer antlers on her sweater. “Yule Shoot Your Eye Out” by Fall Out Boy is the star on top of my Christmas season. g

RebeccaBULLOCK

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he approaching holiday season brings more than fresh-baked goodies and time away from school.

My stress level peaks as work piles up and my favorite places become crowded with overbearing holiday shoppers. Unresolved problems show their faces again and add to the chaos, Photo by Last FM making the transition to the new year unpleasant. When the stress level gets too high, especially during “the happiest time of the year,” I always put on my headphones and listen to “Auld Lang Syne,” originally written as a poem by Robert Burns. As the song says, out with the old and in with the new. g

Photo by ScreenRant

Sarah Paulson plays conjoined twins Bette and Dot Tatttler in "American Horror Story: Freakshow.”"

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Celebrities

s the sexting trend reaches teens and young adults, more exposing photos leak onto the Internet, including those of celebrities. In August, 200 intimate images of various celebrities such as actresses Jennifer Lawrence and Kaley Cuoco and model Kate Upton leaked on 4chan along with personal celebrity snaps. Adding to this nude trend, Kim Kardashian decided to bear it all for Paper Magazine, a rather hypocritical action considering her TV breakdown after her nude photo shoot for W Magazine a couple

AlexisPINCHUCK years before. Nevertheless, her nude photos received mixed criticism and have been a source for comedic photoshopped images of celebrities like Nick Jonas.

In an exponentially growing surge of celebrity indecencies, Emma Watson restored faith in humanity with a speech demystifying the confusions surrounding the feminist movement.

Unfortunately, celebrity comedienne Joan Rivers died on Sept. 4. Along with the 80-year-old diva, actor Robin Williams and writer Maya Angelou passed away in 2014. g

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hen I hear winter, I imagine snow, icicles and dropping temperatures that leave me in a hopeful trance. This is why when I remember I live in the Sunshine State, I cannot help but feel bitter. “White Christmas”

by Bing Crosby helps me enter a world where snowmen and snowflakes are possible. I can escape the white, sandy Photo by Desert Book beaches of Florida and bundle up in my mind. “White Christmas” takes me back to sledding down the slick mountains and the cold weather that swallows me whole.

When I listen to this song, I cannot help but look up at the sky and pray for a white Christmas. g

IsaacOCHOA

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ines. People. Gifts. Bright Lights.

Christmas and the holiday season are the bane of my existence. Traffic augments in exponential numbers as stores fill up with parents trying to buy last minute Christmas presents, and I do not understand the purpose.

While teens observe their parents and family members sporting ridiculous Photo by Universal Republic Christmas sweaters and fake Santa Records beards, I’ll be on a plane to tropical Panama City to rejoice in my cultural vibe. Listening to “Bailando” by Enrique Iglesias reminds me of the vivacious celebration that is associated with the holiday season in Panama. g

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THESTAFF

EDITORIALPOLICY

Editors-In-Chief Taylor Hendrickson, Remi Lederman, Claudia Zamora Managing Editor Madeleine Fitzgerald Website Editor Maria Grosso Assistant Managing Editors Kayleigh Rubin, Samantha Rose, Ximena Hasbach Layout Editor Jessica Ralph Assistant Layout Editor Morgaan Jessell Layout Staff Carsen Jessell, Chloe Krammel, Daniel Montoya Cover Story Editor Tiffany Abreu Op/Ed Editor Felipe Bomeny Op/Ed Staff Michael Wang News Editor Mackenzie White News Staff Alexa Marcellino, Alexis Pinchuk, Uma Raja Features Editor Starr Courakos Features Staff Frances Landrum, Jade Lenkersdorf, Nathaniel Leonard, Karai McLean, Riley O’Connor Arts Editor Michelle Birch Arts Staff Elliot Hacker, Tom Kapitulnik, Brittany McKenzie, Mary Rasura Lifestyle Editor Dana Thomas Lifestyle Staff Gernise Gregoire, Krystal Sundar Sports Editor Tomas Cabezas Sports Staff Alana Gomez, Jack Reagan, Adam Nir, Jack Yan Entertainment Editor Bri Posner Entertainment Staff Rebecca Bullock, Oscar Hamilton, Isaac Ochoa Photo Editor Rowan Bennetti Photo Staff Julia Bonavita, Julia Horneck, Bailey Van Putten Vink Business Manager Marlena Houck Business Staff Delaney Cotton Head Copy Editor Bari Bossis Copy Editors Riley Freese, Ricky Morris, Taylor Rich Graphics Editor Bennett Morgan Blogger Erica Maltz Website Managing Editor Juan Ramirez Assistant Website Editor Erik Ridd Cartoonists Adrian Casanova, Jose Castillo Adviser Stephen Moore

EDITORLETTER

The Muse is a student publication produced by Journalism IV, V and VI classes at Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts.

Opinion is limited to editorials and columns. We welcome and will print letters to the editors, which should be submitted to the Pressroom (1-305). We reserve the right to edit letters for grammar and space restrictions and will publish no letters that are libelous or defamatory to any staff, students or members of the community. We also accept guest editorials, although we reserve the right to edit or to decline at our discretion.

The Muse gratefully accepts advertisements from community businesses as well as donations from interested readers. Yearly subscriptions can be purchased for $35. Please make checks payable to Dreyfoos School of the Arts and send to:

Dreyfoos School of the Arts 501 South Sapodilla Avenue West Palm Beach, FL, 33401 or call (561) 805.6252

ABOUTUS

The Muse is a national award-winning newsmagazine. The publication has won numerous awards from the National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA) including a Pacemaker in 2004, 2008, 2011, 2012 and a Silver Crown from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association and was recently awarded with a 2013 Pacemaker. In 2013, The Muse placed fifth for the newsmagazine and second for the website in Best of Show at NSPA . This publication is completely funded and created by its staff, advertisers and donors. Over 1,300 students and a multitude of subscribers receive copies of the magazine annually. All aspects of the magazine from the cover to the Exposure on the back page are written and designed by the students. There are 61 staffers, grades 10-12, from the communications department and some from other art areas, as well, including cartoonists from the visual department, who work during and after school to make this publication possible. We would like to thank the School of the Arts Foundation for their continuous support. Your donations are greatly appreciated by everyone on this staff. Please visit our website at www.themuseatdreyfoos.com. g

I

n honor of the holidays we crafted a carol to the tune of “Deck the Halls” that describes a classic Dreyfoos experience.

Deck the halls with bells and holly, falalalalalalalala You’re late to class, you missed the trolley, falalalalalalalala Now it’s dawn and we’re still working, falalalalalalalala It’s not the pep rally, but you’re still twerking, falalalalalalala...la

Photo by Jessica Ralph

Communications seniors Taylor Hendrickson (L-R), Remi Lederman and Claudia Zamora look forward to a restful and productive winter break.

Despite the festivities and celebrations that come with the holidays, this season is also a time to reflect on our lives. We all

face obstacles that can seem impossible to overcome. In spite of this, we must take the time this holiday season to be thankful for the simple things that we often take for granted. In this issue, we highlight the inspiring ways that students and teachers have overcome the ultimate battle—the battle for health. Many members of our Dreyfoos community are battling serious illnesses and in this issue we featured Mr. West, Jaycie Cohen and Hailey Kennedy.

Their fights to not only get well, but to also make a difference in their community, will hopefully inspire us to appreciate all that we have and give back to those who don’t. g

39

EXPOSURE

Photo courtesy of Jessie Baldinger

"”Sweeney Todd”

Jessica Baldinger Theatre senior

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by TaylorRich

S

ince she auditioned for Dreyfoos, theatre senior Jessica Baldinger has had a passion for creating set designs.

Baldinger’s pictured set design was based on the musical thriller “Sweeney Todd”, which she created to be used for competition at the district and state Thespian festivals.

“Sweeney Todd” is set in Victorian London at the end of England’s Industrial Revolution.

The show follows a barber who was wrongly imprisoned by an evil judge, as he teams up with a struggling pie baker to get revenge

on the judge and the world.

“The script utilizes mechanical imagery throughout the show, with Sweeney’s mechanical chair, the song lyrics and the comparisons between Sweeney and a machine,” Baldinger said.

“My design overlaid the image of a rusty Victorian factory with that of a gritty London street. The idea was that London was becoming so mechanized and inhuman that morals were no longer applicable.”

To create this world, Baldinger used thick, industrial-looking pipes, and overlaid them with sections of dilapidated brick walls, or wooden slats, combined

with cogs and street lamps. She decorated the floor of the stage with cobblestones, gears and metal plates.

“The [set design] is made to look like two gears on a spindle.

The top level is Sweeney’s barber shop and the bottom level is Mrs. Lovett’s pie shop,” Baldinger said.

“The whole unit spins to change the scene and tracks offstage when it is not in use. The model is in one-half inch [equal to] onefoot scale, and it is made out of crescent board, wooden dowels, watch parts, air-dry clay, wire and acrylic paints.” g