The Muse Volume 12 Issue 5 by The Muse at Dreyfoos

Volume 12 n Issue 5 n April 2015

FOREVER IN OUR

HEARTS ''We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give.'' Ms. Jefferson Pages 15-17

Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts

TABLE OF CONTENTS IN PRINT

ON THE COVER

OP ED Marzano the moneymaker

As teachers begin to implement the new education model, many are realizing Marzano costs more money than it is really worth.

NEWS In the blood business

Blood drives hosted by National Honor Society provide scholarship opportunities to senior donors.

FEATURES Moms making a difference

This story features three moms who go above and beyond to make our school the best it can be.

COVERSTORY Celebrating the life of Ms. J

Students and faculty share their memories in this tribute to beloved social studies teacher Ms. Jefferson.

photo provided by Stephanie Weil

Social studies teacher Lea Jefferson smiles during A.R.T.S. Camp.

SPORTS The Muse football stars

Two Muse staffers participate in football. One plays football and the other coaches.

LIFESTYLE Got GMOs?

Genetically modified foods are everywhere and may not be beneficial to our health.

ENTERTAINMENT Jumbo Shrimp

Dreyfoos members of the band Jumbo Shrimp Inc. prepare for their show at SunFest Music Festival.

Photo by Jade Lenkersdorf

Dance sophomore Darius Hickman won the first title of Mr. Dreyfoos at the A Prom to Remember event on March 26.

ARTS Millie madness

The theatre department concluded a successful run of “Thoroughly Modern Millie.”

www.themuseatdreyfoos.com

This is a QR code. Scan it with your smart phone and it will take you directly to The Muse website.

Photo by Rowan Bennetti

Theatre senior Elisabeth Christie sings ''Only in New York'' as the character Muzzy Van Hossmeer in ''Thoroughly Modern Millie.''

ON THE WEB ARTS Lorenzo’s photos

ARTS Scholarships and Auditions

Digital media sophomore Lorenzo Romano explores his passion for pre-Columbian history on a National Geographic sponsored expedition to photograph Peru. View the photos from his trip on our website.

While the traditional college application process is used among most students, there are the select few that dedicate time to audition for the art. Check out the story of two students taking the path towards college auditions.

Cartoon by Adrian Casanova

STAFFEDITORIAL

INVESTING IN OUR EDUCATION by TheMuseStaff

ducation, as we currently know it, is a commodity. The state outsources tests and evaluation plans, with questionable results. After all, Florida’s ongoing standardization crusade indicates that those sitting in the classroom aren’t the ones benefitting. The Marzano Teacher Evaluation Model — another state-sanctioned model — illustrates the tragedy of for-profit education. The Marzano Teacher Evaluation Model is a product of research compiled by educator Dr. Robert J. Marzano at his Marzano Research Lab in Colorado. Marzano, whose for-profit Marzano Center is located just a stone’s throw away in West Palm Beach, designed an educational evaluation plan that Tallahassee legislators adopted. Marzano’s research features rehashed comprehensive findings on education, all of which are presented in a conveniently marketable package. Our school has readily invested in Marzano’s teaching methods as a “test school,” but it is too early to gauge the system’s effectiveness. There is no doubt, however, that some of the methods and learning techniques included in Marzano’s model are viable and proven.

The real problem is its implementation. In 2012, The Orlando Sentinel ran a story in which veteran Central Florida teachers decried the Marzano system as a “humongous checklist” of “artificial gestures.” One teacher went on to attack the rigidity of the model, citing it as “humiliating for a lot of extremely accomplished people.” At Dreyfoos, it is obvious that some teachers change their presentations to accommodate the observation committees, before reverting to their usual teaching styles. Such shifts effectively defeat the purpose of a teacher evaluation system, especially when many such systems (including Marzano) in other states are directly tied to standardized test performance and correlating teacher salary. Additionally, the Marzano system may restrict in-class student discussion — an important aspect of a collegiate environment — especially in AP courses, where teachers already face a challenge in covering the entire curriculum. By establishing strict guidelines in a class where the material is already clearly delineated, any extracurricular discussion may be forfeited for a more streamlined lesson plan. And if AP courses are supposed

to simulate a collegiate environment, then compartmentalizing information along Marzano’s guidelines will not prepare students. It seems, then — as seen in the various training videos for Dreyfoos teachers — that the Marzano ideology is better suited for elementary and middle school settings. If Marzano isn’t perfect, though, then neither is The College Board’s AP program. Marzano’s issues are merely symptoms of the larger problem of for-profit education. For example, The College Board charges students to take exams that are crucial for college decisions. SATs and SAT II Subject Tests require payment, as well as AP exams — although our school district handles the cost for the latter. Even outside testing and Common Core, the economic incentive of for-profit education has encouraged the strengthening of charter schools in Florida, as approved in a March 2015 bill. As CEOs and lawmakers continue to dictate and design curriculums, tests and lesson plans, one thing is clear: from Marzano to The College Board, we can’t hate the players, but the game. g

Contributor: Felipe Bomeny

OP ED

FCAT/FSA

THE MULTIPLE CONCERNS

MULTIPLE CHOICE by MichaelWang

quinting at the small print of the question, the student can only discern two somewhat correct answers: A or C. He quickly looks back at his column of pencil marks, and sees that the last three answers have all been A. Quickly, he bubbles in C and moves on to the next question. Rather than the conventional way of knowing the actual answer to the question, teachers and students alike have been moving towards test-taking strategies of finding the correct answer without having to know it. When only one step of the “Five Steps To a Five” review book is learning the material, and the other four are tips on passing the test, it is apparent that there might be multiple problems with the multiple-choice system. Filling in a Scantron makes me feel like a factory worker more than a student. With more desks crammed into classrooms every year, teachers have struggled to manage a heaping pile of homework and tests. Multiplechoice tests along with Scantrons expedite this process, but with significant harm to the personalization of tests scores. With traditional tests, teachers had a firsthand view on what each student didn’t understand,

Graphic by Remi Lederman

but the only indicator on the Scantron are the cruel pink marks that litter the paper. Unless the teacher poured over each Scantron with a copy of the test in hand, they couldn’t measure a student’s individual progress, and it hinders a teacher’s ability to tailor lessons and classes to each individual. Furthermore, a person’s success after high school doesn’t depend on them knowing what King Louis (insert random Roman numeral here) did in his tenure; it matters how said person can apply the concepts they learned on a macroscopic level. Most multiplechoice tests do not address critical thinking issues, and don’t reward students who can link multiple answers together to create the big picture, but rather they reward testing strategies of cramming information and dumping it immediately after. New steps like revised standardized tests and AP curricula make progress towards incorporating these skills, but it is still hindered by the structural limit of multiple-choice tests. While multiple-choice tests may improve handeye coordination, they definitely do not help critical thinking skills. A majority of test-prep, from AP tests to the SAT/ACT, covers the subject of figuring

out the answers to multiple-choice tests. Since these prep classes are usually not affordable to lower-income students, it only artificially inflates others’ tests scores, as they are more accustomed to the format. Tests like these are heavily influenced by the amount of “prep” they have done, not their ability to perform in college and in a career setting. This means people whose parents can invest in incredibly expensive classes have artificially higher standardized test scores, because their private tutor can help them with their mistakes and create a customized plan to score higher. Multiple choice tests also usually test only basic knowledge. Simply memorizing facts to score well on tests doesn’t mean you understand the material; being able to connect complex ideas and understand why things happen instead of knowing just that things happen. While streamlining tests and grades is the usual response to heightening workloads for teachers, it is important to realize that multiple-choice is not how it is in the real world. We have to search for another way to test besides multiple-choice, and hint: the answer is not ‘C’. g

SENIORS DON’T APPRECIATE TESTS by MorgaanJessell

or many seniors, a heavy workload of classes culminating with an AP exam at the end of the year has been the norm since freshman year. Every spring, we invest in fat workbooks, devote ourselves to color-coding notes and make more flashcards than we eventually know what to do with. This ritual of immersing ourselves in the material we have spent all year learning is so that, come May, we can receive a passing score on our exams. However, many seniors are choosing not to reap the benefits of passing AP exams by opting not to take them seriously after receiving acceptance to a university and graduating. Senior year comes with a lot to do: from college applications to financial aid to the fun senior activities we’ve been looking forward to for three years. All this takes its toll on us. Too often we see that by the time May rolls around, seniors would rather put their heads down and sleep for several hours rather than

4 OP ED

put pen to paper and show what they’ve Not only is treating AP exams like a joke learned. a financial disadvantage to Dreyfoos (since Writing song lyrics instead of an the school receives money when students appropriate pass,) it is also disrespectful Document Based to the teachers who invest Question (DBQ) an exorbitant amount of might sound time teaching the material outlandish now, and giving practice tests. but for most, once Teachers rightfully want they get everything their career to reflect a high else done, the idea passing rate. of intense studying Too often, as seniors, the and taking a test for sensation of getting burned multiple hours is too becomes too overwhelming daunting. Seniors and makes the prospect are burned out, and of sitting down and taking once they cross that that test too exhausting. If stage at graduation seniors can stay organized they don’t want to go and ambitious about what back, not even for the they need to accomplish, then Illustration by Gabriella Marcarelli potential prospect of perhaps by May they will a passing grade, and more importantly, college be in a better frame of mind to take their AP credit. exams. g

FRQ

TH E

ART

CUTTING

CORNERS

by RileyO’Connor

ot now, I’ll do it later. It won’t take long. It can wait. Suddenly, it’s Sunday night and there’s a project due tomorrow. Scatterbrained panicking, paper shuffling and unhealthy coffee binges ensue. Fortunately for an art school student, there’s a simple way out of this: using artistic Riley O’Connor talent to help surpass procrastination. Each major has its own way for students to receive an A by the merit of their artistic capabilities. Visual majors, for example, can sketch a drawing in ten minutes with ease. To an English teacher’s untrained eye, it looks like a masterpiece. On one hand, as an arts school, teachers encouraging students to use their art should

Is it fair to grade art as academic projects?

not be a problem. It provides a way to express their talent in an atmosphere that’s not limited by their art teacher’s rules. It also helps expose students to other arts at the same time. However, it’s not clear if art has a place in academic classes, and more importantly, in the grading system. The problem falls in how students can disguise hard work with a shadow of their talent. Not only do academic teachers most likely know very little of the work they are grading but they cannot compensate for the inequality involved with grading different majors. “[Speech and Debate] gives me an advantage over other students [because I am] able to use the skills I’ve learned about enunciation and making strong points,” communications sophomore Nicole Colome said. I have a simple solution to guarantee myself the highest grade possible on projects with broad instructions. As a communications

major, I find filming easy, and with little work I can make an A-worthy project. Despite this tried and true method, I realize it can be unfair if everyone is limited to making a film. It gives students in my department an advantage over those with little experience in camera work. It’s similar to a native Spanish-speaking student competing with a monolingual English student in a Spanish class. The same can be said for producing a visually appealing project, song or monologue for a theatrical performance in class. Dance majors might have a bit of a problem here. Creativity is a difficult topic to grade when there is no distinct right or wrong. The art school environment further exemplifies the imbalance in grading art related assignments. Students will continue to breeze through project requirements (and suffer through those stressful Sunday nights) until a more equitable system is implemented. g

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News WILL SELL BLOOD FOR

MONEY Blood drives provide scholarships to donors by AlexisPinchuk

his year, $8,000 was raised for the Blood Drive Scholarship, twice the amount raised last year. Seniors who have donated blood at four past school blood drives, correctly filled out an application and have a letter of acceptance from a college are able to apply for this scholarship. “Every blood donation equals two saved lives,” English teacher and National Honor Society (NHS) sponsor Carly Gates said. The first Blood Drive Scholarship was offered last year. Four students applied for the scholarship last year and three received it. One student was rewarded $2,000 out of the $4,000 fund for scholarships and the other two recipients were given $1,000 each. According to Ms. Gates, the money earned from the blood drive does not have to go towards scholarships, but all of it does. “It’s about the students,” Ms. Gates said. For every unit of blood donated by students, $20 is given to the school. “The money is used only for the good of students,” Assistant Principal Leo Barrett said. The money that is put into the Blood Drive Scholarship funds has doubled from last year to this year. “About 100 students [donate] every time [there is a blood drive],” Mr. Barrett said. Not only are scholarships a positive result of students donations, but blood drives also reward community service hours. “Students have a real opportunity to see the benefits of community [service in] action,” Mr. Barrett said. To receive this money however, students have to be willing to donate blood and while almost all donations are executed well, some

IN THIS SECTION:

Read about English dean Richard Ehrlich's arts-infused teaching style.

Inconsistencies in signs around campus are surprisingly common, the Florida Standards Assessment is given and the Black History Show is a success.

Theatre senior Jake Poser waits patiently as his blood is drawn during a blood drive.

complications occur. “A lot of students feel queasy,” said guidance counselor Olga Middleton, who assisted in organizing the February blood drive. “Just a couple [of students] faint.” Some students, however, feel more than queasy. “I think the person who fainted and actually fell to the ground and chipped their teeth [was the most serious blood drive related incident],” Mr. Barrett said. “[He received] first aid and [his] parents had taken him to the dentist.” During this year’s February blood drive, communications senior Alana Grnja said she began feeling very hot and sweaty. Her vision became unfocused just before she fainted in class after returning from giving blood. “I was sitting in my desk and fell over, hitting my head on the desk beside me and again on the floor after,” Grnja said. “I woke up to Mr. West snapping his fingers in front of my face and everyone in the class surrounding me.”

Photo by Rowan Bennetti

Grnja said she went to a doctor that day and was told she had a concussion. Other than feeling nauseous and having a headache, Grnja made a full recovery in a couple days. Much like Grnja, communications senior Gianna Delgado said she noticed her surroundings becoming blurry and her inability to speak before experiencing a seizure while donating blood during the second blood drive of last year. “I tried to ask for help, but I couldn’t get the words out,” Delgado said. “It all went black.” After an extra hour of resting and eating, Delgado said she was escorted back to class where she later began feeling nauseous and uneasy. When coming back from splashing water on her face in the bathroom, Delgado said she slid down the wall as the awful feeling she had had before her seizure earlier that day came over her. She was escorted to the nurse and left school early. “Students’ safety is always the first priority,” Ms. Gates said. g

TEACHINGWITH Teachers implement the arts into academics by RileyFreese

s English dean Richard Ehrlich clicks to the next slide, an outburst of stimuli appears. An animated version of Edvard Munch’s “The Scream” is accompanied by a student-made graphic, a musical sound byte and a new understanding of author’s mood. With zany PowerPoints chock-full of art in many forms, Mr. Ehrlich’s students can expect to gain an interesting and memorable educational experience. “The modern world is a true mix of artistic mediums. No one tends to see the world from only one direction,” Mr. Ehrlich said. “For example, an English teacher should not just have students read a piece of literature, but reach into the past, present and future of a piece through video, artwork, music and any other technology that could bring the medium alive.” Mr. Ehrlich’s idea of implementing the arts in his academic teachings was fostered out of necessity. Because he has taught such a diverse group of students, he realized the arts could bring them all together. In the early ‘90s, Mr. Ehrlich taught at a secondary school outside of London, England where he began this artfocused ingenuity. “I have been very fortunate to have taught multiple grades and multiple levels, both at this school and beyond… so I had to learn ways for all grades to see the literature from multiple

perspectives,” Mr. Ehrlich said. In addition to teaching abroad, Mr. Ehrlich has held communications-related jobs in the United States. After writing for publications such as The Observer and The Tampa Tribune, Mr. Ehrlich noticed journalism was not where his full passion lied. “I found that journalism was leaving me less than satisfied, and I soon realized it wasn’t the journalism that I loved, but the art of language,” Mr. Ehrlich said. “It was difficult to decide to leave journalism as a field, but I still write and continue to be published. My last published piece was on cyber-predators. It was in the SunSentinel’s magazine South Florida Parenting, which has a readership of around half a million people.” In school, Mr. Ehrlich’s students complete multiple projects throughout the year that give them the ability to showcase their artistic passion. They have been focusing on Photo by Isaac Ochoa English dean Richard Ehrlich motions toward the class. He Shakespearian works such as “Romeo and presented a powerpoint about AP exam readiness. Juliet” for the past several weeks. philosophy of art as a fundamental for “Recently, I had both my ninth grade and education. twelfth grade students examine themes in “The arts, in all their forms, brings the world Shakespeare’s plays through art, video and into perspective. [They let] us not only read dance. My [classroom] literally looks as if an about life, but experience it like shadows on explosion of art has invaded every corner,” Mr. a cave wall,” Mr. Ehrlich said. “This awakens Ehrlich said. within the audience the reader, the idea and Through the years, one thing has understanding of cultural perspectives.” g remained the same for Mr. Ehrlich: the

THE LOST AND NEVER FOUND by TomKapitulnik

chool: a place where students come to learn, socialize and occasionally, lose their belongings. Every year, students lose everything from school supplies to clothing items. Student Services Secretary Lynn Berryman’s office at Student Services is not merely a closet full of late passes and attendance records, but old tennis racquets, homework assignments and week-old lunches. “The most common things left in lost and found are books, clothes and lunchboxes,” Ms. Berryman said. While the majority of things left at lost and found are ordinary, Ms. Berryman has seen her share of unusual items, including a roller blade, car keys and even animals. “[Once] there was only one roller blade at lost and found,” Ms. Berryman said. “Really one of anything that should come in a pair is weird. Also, one time a student found a baby chick in the trash so they brought it to lost and found. There were also three kittens left at lost and found recently.”

8 NEWS

All of the animals were taken to shelters Ms. Berryman keeps them in a blue box on her where they could be taken desk. Whenever someone turns care of. in these special finds to lost and With students found, she adds those to her box of misplacing items so often, keepsakes. the Dreyfoos lost and “[I’m amazed] that so many found fills up quickly. people lose something as important Ms. Berryman has to find as their car keys,” Ms. Berryman ways every year to get rid said. of the items that would Ms. Berryman has her share of otherwise fill up her office. interesting stories regarding the lost “Most of the stuff and found. that isn’t claimed by the “Once, a kid who had graduated end of the year will go to [from] the school found his Goodwill,” Ms. Berryman glasses when he came back,” Ms. Photo by Julia Bonavita said. “I keep some school A box in Student Services Secretary Lynn Berryman said. “The year after he Berryman's office filled with long lost items supplies such as binders such as jewelry, glasses and contact lenses. graduated he came back to visit. I or index cards to give to had a bunch of the lost glasses on the students that need my desk and he saw his. He was so them the following year. I also give away the excited to have found his glasses after they had glasses to an organization that gives the glasses been lost for so long. It was just funny seeing to people in third-world countries.” how excited he was to take his glasses home Some of the items, however, cannot be given after having lost them for years.” g away. Instead of just throwing them in the trash,

the

BRIEFS

BLACK HISTORY SHOW

a collection of bite-size, noteworthy stories

by MaryRasura

Photo by Jade Lenkersdorf

Strings junior Josh Ewers (L-R), theatre junior Jana Jackson, strings junior Maria Fernandez and theatre juniors Maddy Mackery and Dylan Thompson perform a song at the Black History Show.

ALL SIGNS POINT WHERE? W

From an administrative standpoint, e pass them daily. The majority of us these inconsistencies pose a major issue. do not glance at them, save for the Elevator signs in all buildings say that rare occasion we get lost (or enter the wrong students will receive a Saturday detention restroom). Dreyfoos is home to hundreds for using the elevator without a pass, except of signs, many of which suffer from glaring for in Building 9 where there is no sign. inconsistencies. This makes it more difficult to enforce Why are all signs on campus brown consistent rules. Having consistent signs except for in makes it easier Building 6, for students which has and guests turquoise to navigate signs? All our complex the signs are campus. Many written in the classrooms same font are labeled as except for signs resource rooms in Building Photo by Julia Bonavita or teacher The signs showing two different spellings of the same room are just 6 and outside workrooms. inches apart from each other in Building 7. social studies “When we teacher Kristin Prusinksi’s room. Why do first moved here, the school was designed all buildings on campus say “Restroom” for us to have a population of 1150. Over (singular) except for Building 2 and the time, we’ve grown to a population of girl’s bathrooms in Building 9, which say 1370,” Assistant Principal Leo Barrett said. “Restrooms” (plural)? The Brandt Black Box “There are rooms that were once teacher Theatre has three different names according workrooms or a teacher planning room, but to multiple signs. that’s all changed now.” “Some sign content is regulated. For Dreyfoos has one of the oldest campuses instance, the braille on signs [is] for in the county, originally opening as Palm individuals who are blind or visually Beach High School. Building 3 was built in impaired,” said Kathy Burstein, Palm County 1915, followed by Building 1 and Building 2 in School District Media Relations Specialist. 1924. Building 9 was built in 1941. Building 6 “Signage is regulated by the Building was built in 1958. Building 4, Building 5 and Department. As codes and room use change, Building 7 were built in 1995. Building 8, the the signs will change accordingly.” newest, was built in 2002. g

by JackYan

mages of influential African Americans such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Barack Obama flashed across a movie screen on the Meyer Hall stage during the Second Annual Black History Show. Special guest Rev. Canon Winston B. Joseph gave a speech detailing the importance of Black History Month. The free showcase, held on March 13, was student-run. It was held in honor of social studies teacher Lea Jefferson. The event featured performances from all art majors, including a jazz band, dance pieces and monologues. Highlights included a contemporary dance paying solidarity to victims of the slave trade and an a cappella timeline of influential songs in African American history. “Black history is something that deserves its own show, and I’m proud that this has become an annual production that is supported by everyone here,” student director and theatre senior Elisabeth Christie said. g

ISSUES WITH FSA by SamanthaRose

reshmen and sophomores started to take the Florida Standards Assessment (FSA) in early March and will continue through April. However, technical difficulties with the computerized tests throughout South Florida forced testing to be pushed back a few days in areas including Palm Beach County. According to CBS Miami, Education Commissioner Pam Stewart and Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Rick Swearingen suspected that some of these problems, including a white screen appearing after students logged in, were the result of cyberattacks. Although juniors were initially expected to take the FSA for English language arts, Gov. Rick Scott issued an executive order to suspend it this year at the suggestion of an investigation on standardized testing led by Ms. Stewart. According to the Miami Herald, Gov. Scott expects that “the Florida Legislature this spring will pass a law that permanently eliminates” the eleventh grade FSA. In response to statewide complaints of over testing, Gov. Scott and Ms. Stewart aim to continue to lower the number of standardized tests administered. “There is, without a doubt, an excess of testing in Florida schools, and I look forward to working with Gov. Scott and the Legislature to ensure we strike the appropriate balance between accountability and instruction,” Ms. Stewart said. g

NEWS

Features

JAGUAR

MOMS Powerhouse Dreyfoos parents volunteer their time to create successful events for their children and students

Photo provided by SOAFI

Kelly Kupi (second from left) poses with other moms as they gather at the Dreyfoos In White event hosted by the School of the Arts Foundation.

$140,000 for the department.” “I have dedicated unlimited hours to Dreyfoos,” Mrs. Kupi said. “Honestly, I always feel like I could do more.” All of Ms. Kupi’s hard work paid off when she won the Palm Beach County School Board’s Adult Outstanding Volunteer of the Year award. She was also honored by the state as the Region Five winner for the Florida Department of Education Outstanding School Volunteer of the Year award. “The award is Kelly Kupi based on Mrs. Kupi has been the number involved with the Visual of service Arts Parent Association hours, years (VAPA), and has been of service, an influential parent type of volunteer during the Photo provided by Kelly Kupi contribution time her daughter has Digital media senior Alexandra Kupi's mother, Kelly Kupi, is one of and been at Dreyfoos. the most involved parents in the Dreyfoos community. She assists uniqueness in putting on the annual College Fair, the organization of Project “I started Graduation and raising funds for the departments. of the [volunteering] four services years ago, when my daughter, [digital media senior Alexandra Kupi], was a freshman,” Mrs. rendered,” Mrs. Kupi said. “It is very exciting to have been chosen for this amazing award.” Kupi said. “One day I was at the school and Mrs. Kupi has made a lasting impact decided to ask ‘Does anyone need any help?’ ” on Dreyfoos, and is touched by students’ Mrs. Kupi’s involvement in projects such appreciation for all the work she has done. as College Fair, Project Graduation and the “I really like interacting with the students, VAPA auction led to her establishment as one faculty and parents,” Mrs. Kupi said. “It is such of the most involved parents in the Dreyfoos a great feeling when a student understands community, helping to raise plenty of funds and appreciates the help.” for the visual arts department.

by TomKapitulnik

elly Kupi spends her days at Dreyfoos working with the visual department to help organize multiple events. Julie Dolce has been an influential part of many Dreyfoos events such as College Fair and Project Graduation. Patrice Fitzgerald assists the communications department as well as being a role model for others. Mrs. Kupi, Mrs. Dolce and Mrs. Fitzgerald are all parent volunteers at Dreyfoos. Each work in their respective majors while also helping the entire Dreyfoos community.

“Mrs. Kupi has been part of the core auction committee for the past four years,” parent volunteer Stephanie Stoloff said. “Over the past four years the auction has raised over

10 FEATURES

Julie Dolce

Mrs. Dolce has spent the last four years volunteering at Dreyfoos in order to make a positive impact on her daughter, Sarah Dolce

and other students at Dreyfoos. “I was volunteering at Bak MSOA one day when I heard that Dreyfoos was going to have a college fair in the fall, when my daughter was starting as a freshman,” Mrs. Dolce said. “My sister, who is a former Dreyfoos parent, told me how hard the college selection process was so I looked for, and found, Mrs. Kupi at the freshmen event in June 2012. We put the college fair together over the summer.” Since then, Mrs. Dolce has been very involved within the Dreyfoos community. She has had an influential role in many other projects, such as Project Graduation 2014. “I believe there are important events that administration and students have neither the time nor the energy to implement,” Ms. Dolce said. “Volunteers can make those things happen.” Dreyfoos has definitely felt the impact of Ms. Dolce and other volunteers in their school lives. Ms. Dolce has dedicated time and effort into making sure that Dreyfoos and its students have the best time they can have. “I’m really proud of my mom because of all she does for Dreyfoos,” visual senior Sarah Dolce said. “There are some jobs that teachers continued on page 11

IN THIS SECTION:

Read about the efforts of two inspiring Dreyfoos students who are using their internship resources to create a better future.

Communications senior Diana Calderon wakes up at 4:30 a.m. each morning to embark on a 2 hour bus ride to Dreyfoos from her home in Belle Glade.

With an old and historical campus, Dreyfoos has many secrets. Read about the history of Dreyfoos' buildings.

JAGUAR MOMS continued from page 10 and administration can’t do and so that’s why my mom is here.”

Patrice Fitzgerald

Mrs. Fitzgerald has been volunteering at Dreyfoos to not only help out the school, but also to show her daughters the importance of dedicating yourself to a good cause. “I think it is so important for both of my daughters to see the importance of giving yourself to a fantastic organization,” Mrs. Fitzgerald said. “Volunteering [at Dreyfoos] was a good way for me to do that.” Mrs. Fitzgerald began volunteering four years ago when her daughter, communications senior Madeleine Fitzgerald, began attending Dreyfoos. Over the past years, she has become recognized as an outstanding volunteer within the communications department by becoming the co-chair of the Communication Art Parent Association (CAPA), helping with organizing events and coming up

with new ideas for fundraisers. “The parent volunteers are so helpful within the department,” communications dean Angela Weber said. “They do everything from helping with fundraising with the CAPA care packages, to making sure the annual showcase runs smoothly to judging at debate tournaments. [The communications department] couldn’t do a lot of what we do without the parent volunteers.” Mrs. Fitzgerald has been able to both have a job outside of school while still making sure she has enough time to be an influential part of CAPA. She spends around five to 15 hours a week at Dreyfoos working on Project Graduation and other projects within the school. “The best experience [is that] I get to interact with all of the teachers and students,” Mrs. Fitzgerald said. “I have gotten to know the whole department, which has been an amazing experience.” g

Photo provided by Parent Teacher Association

Project Graduation committee members, including Kelly Kupi (sixth from left), gather for a photo while planning for the 2014 senior event.

GOING GREEN IS THE NEW BLACK Businesses go green with help from Dreyfoos students

similar to theirs,” Schulman said. “They eople always say they want to change recognize green homes in Florida so we the world, but band juniors Aaron thought it may be more applicable on a Schulman and Daniel Stern are actually larger scale to businesses. We decided to doing it. Schulman create a project that would and Stern are helping target commerce here in the environment Florida.” by founding and The two began their developing an ecobusiness by starting off friendly non-profit small and contacting organization, the larger companies for South Florida Green assistance. They have made Business. tremendous strides so far “South Florida and hope to expand their Green Business is organization further. an environmental “We are trying to organization with a recognize people that are Photo courtesy of Daniel Stern goal of promoting a making a difference in green [lifestyle] and e-commerce here in the world. We are trying to popularize South Florida,” Schulman said. a way to be kinder to the environment,” Schulman and Stern created their Schulman said. organization at first as a project for their Stern believes that people should show Pine Jog internship at Florida Atlantic more concern for their planet. Through University, but were inspired to expand his projects, he hopes others will become their project after discovering their mutual more aware. passion for the environment. “The purpose of our company is “After a presentation given by the Boca to reward environmentally friendly Raton City Green Living Advisory Board, businesses,” Stern said. “We have had a lot we decided to create a program very of success so far.” g by BrittanyMcKenzie

Photo courtesy of Daniel Stern

Band juniors Aaron Schulman (L-R) and Daniel Stern created their organization in 2014 to promote eco-friendly businesses in South Florida..

FEATURES 11

THE OF

HISTORY

DREYFOOS’

CAMPUS

by UmaRaja

azy mist rolls over the somber gravestones of Woodlawn Cemetery in West Palm Beach. The full moon glistens overhead, and the sound of footsteps on wet grass fills the cool air. A single flashlight beam falls upon a stout grave. The grave is small and simple, yet it bears an important name: Guy Metcalf. While attending a historical Moonlight Cemetery Tour, the last thing I expected was to learn about the history of my high school. However, Photo provided by Dr. Ginger Pedersen What is now known as Building 2 of Dreyfoos School of the Arts was previously Central School, pictured in 1909. The tower was destroyed this is what happened. during a hurricane and reconstructed at a lower height. “Guy Metcalf was the School was ostracized,” Paul Majeski, a West Office Asked.” After recovering from an person who made sure Palm Beach pioneer said in “The Many Faces unknown illness, Metcalf went to the train [Dreyfoos] was built,” historian Dr. Ginger of Guy I. Metcalf.” “No one wanted their child station to pick up some science supplies Pedersen said. “He talked to the earliest family going to school way out there with the snakes for Central School. However, the supplies in the county, the Potter family. He convinced and alligators.” never made it back to the school. Metcalf them to donate their land so he could build a Despite the complaints, the school was was accused of stealing $333.49, which would school.” a success, and Metcalf became the school equate to $5672.95 today. Metcalf was still too Metcalf was born in 1866 in Niles, Ohio. He superintendent of Palm Beach County in 1916. sick to defend himself, and Sheriff Bob Baker was a sickly child who was carried to Florida The school was so popular visited his home at night. Baker asked Metcalf on a stretcher, but he had big that it became overcrowded to meet him at his office at 9 a.m. the next dreams. There was already a and an extension had to be day. Flustered, Metcalf agreed, but at 3 a.m. school in South Florida, however, added. Metcalf did everything that morning, he still couldn’t sleep. Telling it was a wooden shack built in in his power to make Central his wife that he would be home for breakfast, 1895. Metcalf believed that the School better and safer. Metcalf headed to the courthouse that is now children deserved something “At the time, between the the Johnston Palm Beach County History better. According to “The Many school hill and the hill where Museum. Faces of Guy I. Metcalf” by Palm Beach was, there was Metcalf then sat at his office desk and Henry E. Johnson, Metcalf built a swamp where CityPlace is shot himself in the brain with a .32-caliber a $65,000 school even though it now,” Dr. Pedersen said. “It colt revolver. Three hours later, janitor Henry exceeded the $40,000 budget set was a little swamp, but it was Horton stumbled upon the body. Police in bonds. filled in once the school was reported that death was instantaneous and “It was the first real school built.” there was no sign of a struggle. At only 52 [around] that was built with Photo provided by Dr. Ginger Pedersen “The Many Faces of Guy I. Pictured above is former years old, Guy Metcalf was dead. concrete,” Dr. Pedersen said. superintendent Guy Metcalf, Metcalf” reports that Metcalf While we will never know the truth behind “There was a three or four story founder of the first high school suggested the creation of Palm Metcalf’s actions, two things are clear. First, tower in the middle of the building in the county, Central School. Beach County, and is even the one who came Metcalf shaped South Florida. Second, without that blew down in a 1920 hurricane.” up with the name “Palm Beach.” Metcalf also his contributions, Dreyfoos wouldn’t be what Metcalf named the school Central School. started Florida’s first newspaper, Indian River it is today. Although Mr. Metcalf and Central Today, we call the building that was Central News, which was later retitled The Tropical School are no more than distant memories, I School a different name: Building 2. On Jan. Sun. However, Metcalf’s good fortune ran out. can’t help but feel a surge of gratefulness as I 1, 1909, Central School was completed. The On Feb. 7, 1918 the Palm Beach Post’s watch the wind whisper softly to his humble school was ridiculed for having a poor location headline read, “Guy Metcalf Arrested on grave. g and for being so large. Forgery Charge and His Suspension from “Everyone connected with the Central

12 FEATURES

Photo by Starr Courakos

Communications senior Diana Calderon boards her bus at 5 : 30 each morning to make the trip from Belle Glade to Dreyfoos.

THE LAST STOP Forty-seven miles away from Dreyfoos by StarrCourakos

t precisely 4:30 a.m. her alarm clock chimes loudly in the otherwise silent morning. She rubs her eyes and peers around her pitch black bedroom, the only source of light emanating from the harsh green numerals that tell her she’s wasted a minute already. She rolls out of bed and heads to the bathroom, where she continues to get ready for the school day. She brushes her teeth and uses a caffeine infused face wash to help her wake up. By 5:30 a.m. communications senior Diana Calderon is out the door and ready to start her near two hour bus ride to Dreyfoos. Calderon, along with 3 other Dreyfoos students, lives in Belle Glade. Dreyfoos is located 44 miles from Belle Glade. From Diana’s bus stop, it is 47 miles. On Monday March 2, I met Calderon at her bus stop at 5:45 a.m. Living in West Boynton, the journey was 1 hour and 2 minutes. Although the bus driver was apprehensive at letting me ride the bus, calling over my dad and checking in with the bus compound to make sure it was okay, the two of us were able to board at 5:58 a.m. The time it took us to get to school that day was 1 hour and 52 minutes. “I wake up at 4:30, and if I want to be rebellious I get up at 5 and hope to be ready

on time,” Calderon said. “The bus can be really late sometimes; it’s picked me up as late as 6:30 before.” Despite its inconsistencies, Calderon is ultimately grateful for her morning transportation. Other than its scenic views of sugar cane fields and being able to watch the sunrise every morning, Calderon has been able to make the most of her bus ride. “I guess I’m thankful [the bus ride] is so long,” Calderon said. “Honestly, I usually sleep. And since I’m a communications major, I can also work on a lot of my pieces with my laptop on the bus.” Her morning homework routine has proven to pay off. This school year, Calderon received one gold key, two silver keys and an honorable mention for the Scholastic Arts and Writing Competition. One silver key awarded piece, submitted as a Personal Memoir, was based off of growing up in Belle Glade and learning to speak English as a child with her mother. “Growing up, I knew Spanish. So did my mom, who used to work in the fields,” Calderon said. “We learned English together at the ‘Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County,’ which is now where my mom works,

teaching English.” Crafting stories and poems from the English language is the basis of Calderon’s art area. As a communications major focusing on creative writing, she uses this once barrier now as a medium to communicate art. For this opportunity, Calderon is very appreciative. “The fact that [Dreyfoos] is an arts school drove me to it as an eighth grader. But when I applied for freshman year, I actually didn’t get in,” Calderon said. “But instead of giving up, I decided to reapply for my sophomore year and I got in. They weren’t going to get rid of me that easily.” Now as a senior, Calderon’s persistence is still prevalent. Waking up every morning before dawn shows extreme dedication to her school and to her art. Some of us take the artistic freedoms Dreyfoos offers us for granted, but Calderon never will. And as she moves onto the next stages in her life, she will carry with her the tools Dreyfoos and Belle Glade have given her. “I was accepted to Columbia College in Chicago, an arts school,” Calderon said. “I know now that all my work has paid off.” g

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FEATURES 13

Photo provided by Mikeshia Lewin

Social studies teacher Lea Jefferson walks with students to raise awareness and money for breast cancer research.

REMEMBERING

MS. JEFFERSON by MackenzieWhite

nyone whose path crossed with social studies teacher Lea Jefferson has an anecdote or memory that they shared with her. These stories show aspects of Ms. Jefferson’s personality, whether they be her selflessness, bravery, sensitivity, humility or sense of humor. Ms. Jefferson died of breast cancer on March 27. But, she will not be remembered as a victim. Her strength, kindness, warmth, her monumental laughter and even bigger heart will be her legacy. “I think I can kind of consider myself her headache but I never doubted the fact that she loved me all the same. I knew I could always come to her whenever I needed help despite the circumstance,” band senior Tyson Jackson said. “She has always pushed me to work harder and attain the unattainable. I will continue to do just that.”

She was...

POSITIVE

“It was her first year doing A.R.T.S. Camp, and my first time meeting her,” digital media junior Frances Landrum said. “I remember Graphics by Jessica Ralph

the air conditioning being out all week and she was sitting in our staff room on the chair fanning herself and she kept going on about how worried she was for the children getting overheated and what we would do for the performance and what not.” Landrum, wanting to keep on the bright side, said that sweating is good for you, so it was okay that the school felt like a sauna. Ms. Jefferson broke into laughter, thanking God that she had someone who saw the best in the worst kinds of situations. “From then on I thanked God I had her, I had a woman that recognized my accomplishments and wanted me around,” Landrum said. “She set the expectations so high for [me] I promised I would never let her down. She set all my plans and goals for me, and now, more than ever, they are in motion. The sounds she made in rejoice, the queen of sassy facial expressions and the most eye bewildering laugh. I promise to continue her legacy, in camp, in the club, with my new family and within myself.”

PROTECTIVE

On top of doing all she did at Dreyfoos

with teaching and A.R.T.S. Club, Ms. Jefferson dedicated a lot of her life to helping those in need. On election days, she and her father would drive around and pick up people who otherwise wouldn’t have been able to go to a voting poll and take them to the polls. She also spent a large amount of time at the soup kitchen. “Ms. J was the one that introduced me to Thursday Soup Kitchen,” alumna Casey Taranella (‘14) said. “She had persuaded me to join in with a small amount of students every week to go help the underprivileged people around Dreyfoos. So one Thursday, we all drove over to the kitchen and we just started to prepare the food as the people lined up. Unfortunately, two men started pushing each other and an argument erupted. I had never seen Ms. J move so fast. She grabbed us all, brought us outside and got us into our cars. I was more than shaken up about the incident and she came to me after it happened. She assured me that she would never let anything happen to me because I was one of her babies. I instantaneously felt okay. So, even though that happened over three years ago, I still know that Ms. J is watching over me, and

COVERSTORY 15

will never let anything bad happen to me.”

PROUD

Theatre senior Elizabeth Christie is the founder of the Black History Show where African American students show off their pride in their heritage and the history of civil rights. “When I first got the idea for the Black History Show, I immediately went to [Ms. Jefferson] and asked for her advice,” Christie said. “She got on board as soon as I brought it up. She was the first person to believe in me, and she fought so hard to make sure that the project would get to happen.” Throughout the process of rehearsals, auditions and meetings, Ms. Jefferson helped Christie create the show in 2014, even when Ms. Jefferson was going through cancer treatments. This last Black History Showcase on March 13, 2015 was dedicated to Ms. Jefferson, even though she could not help this year. “Ms. J was the loudest person cheering in the audience on the day of the show [in 2014],’’ Christie said. “After the show, she was crying and dancing like crazy on stage in our soul train line. I had never seen her so happy or excited about something.”

STRONG

The memory and impact of Ms. Jefferson transcends the lives currently at Dreyfoos. “In life, you need that one person that will pick you up out of the gutters, dust off your shoulders and tell you that everything will be alright. Someone who can see the outline of the bigger picture but doesn’t tell you what colors to use or how to shade. Lea Jefferson was like a second mother to me and supported me the most when I felt like my personal life was falling to pieces,” alumna Mikeshia Lewin (‘13) said. “I can say that being involved with Artists Reaching Out to Students and Seniors (A.R.T.S. Club) saved my life. Learning to be selfless, to put others before myself, helped me figure out the meaning to life.”

SUPPORTIVE

“She was always my biggest supporter,” 2014 alumus Robert Langdon said. “It seemed that no matter what I was interested in she always encouraged me to pursue it. I remember I really wanted to join the army at one point and she was so supportive of me.” Ms. Jefferson passed along her contagious positivity to students who hold onto them long after graduation. She supported Langdon’s decisions and helped him grow as he was figuring out his future. “She brought out the best in me and I think I can speak for everyone when I say that,” Langdon said. “She taught me to always look on the bright side of life and stay positive, but above all, she taught me that whatever I do in life I need to do it with all my might and with 100 percent effort because it

16 COVERSTORY

won’t happen without it. I will remember that forever and never forget it. She was my angel then and she is my angel now and forever.”

KNOWLEDGEABLE

“In my senior year of high school, I had to take government and economics with Ms. J,” alumna Siena Del Mastro (‘14) said. “We practiced making budgets, completed the Life Project presentations and even made a college cook book with recipes under $10. She made the class personable and changed the way I would take on the world for the rest of my life.” Ms. Jefferson bolstered her seniors with kind words that helped them grow into adulthood. She also taught them the practicalities of being on their own. “She gave us the audacity to fuel our own fires and to make our place in the world,” Del Mastro said. “I learned the concept of ‘individuality’ and now believe that each person can bring something new to this world if we accept both our strengths and our flaws and just roll with it.”

SELFLESS

Ms. Jefferson was well known for her work with A.R.T.S. Club. One of their major events is the Title One party where club members host a holiday event for underprivileged children. In honor of her, the party was renamed Jefferson’s Jolly Jubilee in 2014. “We had worked so hard for the Title One Migrant Holiday Party and I was going over what we were going to do and how things were going to be executed with Ms. Jefferson over the phone,” strings senior Miriam Wagner said. “At the end of our conversation she told me that she loved me, but couldn’t make it to the actual event. Fast forward to the morning of the actual event and I was running around the media center checking all our ‘elves’ in and telling them what to do. We were all called to the front of the media center and in walked Ms. Jefferson. We made eye contact and just burst into tears and gave each other a big hug. It was such a huge surprise and it made the whole event that much more special.”

SASSY

Ms. Jefferson was feisty. She left everyone smiling and laughing along with her, but also never backed down from how she felt. “My favorite was that look of death she could give you if you crossed her. It would shut you up and it would crack me up. If you were trying to sass her she would sass you back with that look,” visual dean Jenny Gifford said. “She was a total sassafras.”

HUMBLE

In 2013, Ms. Jefferson was awarded the Dwyer Award for her excellence as a teacher, but she was reluctant to go for it. Teachers had to convince her that she deserved the award before she was nominated. “She did not want to do it, but for the right reason; she didn’t want the attention,” english teacher Geoffrey Johnston said. “She was humbling, which made her more endearing.” DVENTUROUS A Though Ms. Jefferson fulfilled a lot in her life, she was unable to complete certain things on her bucket list. Guidance secretary Naomi Wagner’s oldest son had Ms. Jefferson as a teacher. The day he graduated, he and Ms. Jefferson planned on going skydiving together. “Whenever they saw each other, they said, ‘So we’re going skydiving, right?’” Ms. Wagner said. “But they never got a chance.”

BEAUTIFUL

Many children enjoyed being a camper at the A.R.T.S. Camp, including communications dean Angela Weber’s niece. Ms. Weber offered to help Ms. Jefferson with anything she needed for the camp. “For the final performance, I was helping out backstage,” Ms. Weber said. “As a thank you, she gave me an orchid. I thanked her but I told her that I was going to kill it because I’ve killed every orchid I’ve owned. A few months ago, buds started to appear. I sent her a picture to show her I didn’t kill it. And sure enough now it has 10 blossoms. And that is how I am always going to remember Ms. J.”

Photo provided by Elizabeth Horner

Dreyfoos alumna Elizabeth Horner ('14) embraces social studies teacher Lea Jeffereson on her graduation day. Horner grew close to Ms. Jefferson during four years of work in A.R.T.S. Club.

DETERMINED

Ms. Jefferson inherited her role in the A.R.T.S. Club from media specialist Cookie Davis after Ms. Davis underwent knee surgery. “She just embraced it with such a spirit of wanting to bring in more kids, [to help] underprivileged kids,” Ms. Davis said. “That’s what I remember about her. She just wanted to help everybody. She wouldn’t stop, even when she was sick. She was driven. She still worked really hard trying to make life good for so many people.”

JOYFUL

Ms. Jefferson continued to joke with her children even after she left school due to her illness. “My favorite memory was the last time I saw her which was in the middle of the year. [Visual senior Rachel Rabinowitz, communications senior Alana Grnja] and I left school early one day to go to Relish and she was there with a friend,” vocal senior Matthew Pennestri said. “She looked at us and looked at her watch and said, ‘School isn’t over yet! What are you doing here?’ And I laughed and told her we got hungry. She said she wouldn’t tell anyone we left school as long as we didn’t tell anyone she was eating a burger and drinking a shake. I told her I’d see her soon and she left.”

She is...

“It became our private joke about the battle she was fighting and every time we repeated it, we would both smile that knowing smile shared between friends,” Mr. West said. “I loved Ms. J and the last time I saw her at hospice, before I left, I whispered in her ear, ‘This is not a support group.’ I could have sworn I saw a smile.” g

MS. J’S WORDS OF WISDOM LOVE CHANGES OUT EVERYTHING HELPING WORLD

IT'S ABOUT

ANOTHER HUMAN BEING WHEN WE SEEK TO DISCOVER

SO FILL

THE

AND

REACHING

WITH IT

JOY

BEST

FIND A LITTLE

BEST

ONCE EACH DAY

IN OTHERS

WE SOMEHOW BRING OUT

MY MEDICINE

LIGHT-HEARTED

The social studies department defines itself in one motto: “This is not a support group.” From the first time Ms. Jefferson was diagnosed with cancer in 2012 until she passed in March, social studies dean Thomas West would check in on Ms. Jefferson, but always ended the conversation with, “This is not a support group.”

THE

Ms. Jefferson had an innate ability to care for her students even when they leave the classroom. No matter what kind of student they were, she went out of her way to help them. “I skipped a lot of school last year,” theatre senior Andrew Borell said. “And it would really get under Ms. J’s skin that I wouldn’t show up to class. So we were talking about my absences after class one day and she said she would help me out. She said she would call me every day to wake me up. I thought she was bluffing, so I wrote my phone number on the white board. And the next day, at 6 a.m. she called me and she said ‘Mr. Borell, it’s time to wake up and I’ll see you in class today,’ and she did that every day that week.”

AT PEACE

THE

FORGIVING

Photo provided by Steffan Gawlikowski

Social studies teacher Lea Jefferson poses for a group photo with her class. She taught honors government, economics and United States history.

YOU GUYS ARE

Throughout her life, Ms. Jefferson did not need a reason to be happy, she simply was. She recognized that each day was a gift and celebrated justly. “I was walking from Building 2 to Building 3. I was in a great mood and looked at her,” social studies teacher Danielle Edwards said. “She said, ‘Good morning, friend’ and we just hugged because it was such a glorious morning to be alive. We both knew in that moment we were happy for our own reasons and loved sharing that joy with each other.”

IN OURSELVES

ANYTHING

AND SOON THE PAIN WILL

GO AWAY LIVING BY WHAT WE GET; WE MAKE A

THROW

WE MAKE A BY WHAT WE GIVE

LIFE

KINDNESS

AROUND LIKE

CONFETTI17 COVERSTORY

''MILLIE''ON

PRAISES The theatre department showcases talent in the spring musical

by LexiMarcellino

Photo by Jade Lenkersdorf

Theatre junior Drew Lederman plays the lead role of Millie Dilmount. In this scene she has just become a modern woman, flaunting her fashion-foward attire. Photo by Rowan Bennetti

Theatre junior Drew Lederman and theatre senior Olivia Dei Cicchi (LR) sing "How the Other Half Lives" in the first act at the Hotel Priscilla.

18 ARTS

amily, friends, students and Hal Luftig, the original producer of the show “Thoroughly Modern Millie” filled the seats in Meyer Hall to view the theatre department’s interpretation of the musical. They were welcomed by theatre junior Drew Lederman. Performing as the lead role of Millie, she entered between the aisle of audience members and up onto the stage during the show’s opening number, “Not For the Life of Me.” This classic romantic comedy set in 1922’s New York City, follows the story of a young, penniless women determined to marry her boss. “It’s a really great show, people are having a good time and it is really uplifting,” theatre senior Noah Jacobson said. “I think it sends a really good message because it’s about this girl who comes to New York City and doesn’t care about love and wants to marry rich and learns to really appreciate love and loved ones.” “I love Millie, [the character] she is so fun and optimistic I can totally relate to her, because I feel like that is going to be me,” Lederman said. The story takes an unexpected turn when she checks herself into the Hotel Priscilla. This hotel is run by Mrs. Meers, a woman who sells the guests into white slavery. The show is carried by strong, unique characters, catchy ballads and punctual comedic timing that earned the actors laughter and roaring applause from their audience. “I think it’s great, the dance numbers and singing and costumes were really amazing,” communications sophomore Mariana Pesquera said. “You can tell these students worked really hard to make it good.” The show’s cast list was announced in September, those selected, including Jacobson, started practicing the complicated dances and songs in December. “We started in December with vocal rehearsals and learned [the songs] in about a week and a half.” Jacobson said. “Then we had winter break and came back and immediately started dance rehearsals we started running different numbers, and about halfway into January we were doing scene work. It never felt like time was wasted, it was very organized and we got stuff done.” The on-stage cast was not the only group who wasted no time in beginning production. In early January the costume department started working on the intricate outfits that brought Millie to life. “We researched the styles of the time period and found all the dress models in that time, then we picked the wigs that matched the in time period cuts,” theatre sophomore Clara Savardi said. “It was very interesting, the 1920s changed for women after women’s suffrage, and their style changed too because they were entering the work force and drop waist dresses were coming into style because women wanted to hide their curves and have their clothes look more boxy like a man’s.” The cast and crew’s discipline was crucial to the show’s success. With the help from theatre teachers and the students, they were able to come together on this collaborative project. “You really grow close with everybody in the cast,” Lederman said. “The teachers and everybody in the theatre department are like a family; they really encourage you and want to see you succeed and I’m so thankful for all of them.” g

Photo by Rowan Bennetti

The actresses living in the Hotel Priscilla read a newspaper article detailing the horrors of white slavery in Southeast Asia.

Photo by Rowan Bennetti

Theatre senior Rachel Greenfeld plays the comedic role of Ms. Flannery, the manager of Sincere Trust.

Photo by Rowan Bennetti

(L-R) Theatre freshman Quinn Weis, theatre senior Kyra Gerber and theatre freshman Evan Kwon play Ching-Ho, Mrs. Meers and Bun-Fu. Ching-Ho and Bun-Fu work for Mrs. Meers in return for the passage of their mother into America. Photo by Jade Lenkersdorf

Theatre senior Noah Jacobson and theatre junior Drew Lederman are shown spending the night in jail. Jacobson is singing “What Do I Need With Love” as his character, Jimmy.

Photo by Jade Lenkersdorf

Theatre senior Kyra Gerber plays Mrs. Meers, the alter ego of Daisy Crumpler who sells young women into white slavery.

Photo by Rowan Bennetti

"Thoroughly Modern Millie" takes place during the prohibition era. After a night out, these club-goers found themselves spending the night in jail.

IN THIS SECTION:

20 21 22

Read about the intense stress and pressure that students undergo during college auditions and while applying for scholarships Once only alive in our imaginations, 3D printing has now become a mainstream form of production. Find out what is going on in each art area in this issue's Arts Index.

ARTS 19

THE VIEWING OF VISUAL VETERANS Visual faculty showcases their artwork by MichelleBirch

he typical arts education entails a teacher’s instruction, conversation, demonstration followed by student execution. However, rarely does a teacher put their own work on display. The Visual Arts Faculty Show, held on March 5 in the Building 9 gallery, subjected visual teachers to the same critiques and exposure typically only brought upon the students they mentor. The gallery was filled with installations by each visual arts teacher and artist in residence, giving the teachers an opportunity to display their individual concentrations of work. Each piece had an interesting story behind its conception. “These [works] are from my sketchbook, and they’ve been blown up. I took them to Fed-Ex, and they blew them up and put them on foam core,” visual dean Jennifer Gifford said. “They’re sketches that I did during the faculty meetings, so when you guys [had] the LTM meetings I would sit and draw those for five or six hours each. If you really look, you can see all of the different faculty members in there.” Each of Ms. Gifford’s drawings was inspired by everyday things, including to-do lists and the completed tasks she decided to portray. Ms. Gifford also personally noted similarities between herself and her students. “Those [sketches] are like little peeks into my brain, so they were really fun to do,” Ms.

Photo by Rowan Bennetti

This sculpture of a bald eagle by artist in residence Corey Daoust was featured in The Visual Arts Faculty Show.

20 ARTS

Gifford said. “What was funny was the principal came up behind me and sort of scowled at me and asked me some questions based on what was going on in the meeting. I answered her because I was listening and paying attention, and she said, ‘oh you’re just like your students, you’re doodling and listening.’” Each teacher took a different approach to the creation of their installations, using different stories and mediums. “I’m a musician. I’m also a sculptor, an artist and a photographer, so I was trying to put everything together,” artist in residence Photo by Rowan Bennetti Jade Henderson said. Artist in residence Jade Henderson (left) stands by his piece in The Visual Arts “This burnt wood piece Faculty Show, which symbolizes the progression of his work over the years. is kind of a throwback to work I was doing when I printmaking Artist in Residence; she is in was in high school here. I graduated in 2003 charge of all of the galleries this year. She [and] this center log is from my senior piece. decided she would have the faculty show,” Ms. It’s been at my dad’s house behind a garage, Gifford said. “She did a great job getting the and then he moved and I got it back. Now we work up and making labels. I think Ms. Odom got the chance to do the show, so I figured I helped and Mr. Grzymala helped hang [the better use it. It’s kind of like a tie-in back to pieces], so everyone was sort of part of it.” work I was making in high school as well as Despite the initial strangeness the teachers things I’m doing now. It’s like things I was felt with their students being able to see their doing in high school except much better.” artwork, it was also a satisfying experience “The four drawings I have of my feet are that allowed them to enhance motivation just pen ink and gouache–a chalky kind of among their young artists. paint, [that is] not as permanent. I do a lot “It gives you a little peek into the brains of layering and a lot of transferring with my of your teachers, which I think is sort of work so it’s really about layering and about interesting,” Ms. Gifford said. “It’s sometimes experience in time. It’s just like if you have a little bit dangerous for students to see experiences in your life and it just keeps teacher work because then they think that’s adding, compounding, compounding,” visual the kind of work you want, but it’s not true. teacher Lacey Van Reeth said. “My color We can like all kinds of work that is not like palette is all based around grapefruits right ours. You have to be careful students aren’t now so all of my colors are very ‘grapefruitty’ going to try to copy or be just like you.” related, because, a long time ago, I had “It’s always fun because I think that something medical happen to me and the [students], for some reason, think you’re kind [doctor] compared it to something grapefruitof full of it until you prove you can do what like, [and] ever since then, grapefruits have you’re teaching, so it’s interesting,” Ms. Van been a big thing in my work, it’s a little bit of a Reeth said. “Hopefully it will light a fire under personal connection.” their butts so they can see how nicely a show The show was an effort on the behalf can be put together if you put effort into it.” g of the entire visual arts staff, each teacher making contributions to the completion of the show. For more photos go to: “We had the opening on Thursday [March www.themuseatdreyfoos.com 5] at lunch; it was Ms. Foy’s idea. She is the

FROM A 2D DESIGN TO A 3D PRINTOUT Students merge art and science in a new dimension club’s necessities so Montoya filed a proposal n three decades, 3D printed homes have to the foundation for a Prusa 8” i3v printer been constructed in China, 3D printers in from Makerfarm, which can quickly generate university labs have generated kidneys and students’ designed objects for a low cost. prosthetics, and 3D printing food prototypes However, the club has not await their release into the market. The world produced any self-designed nears a future full of 3D printing and prints yet. last November, Dreyfoos joined Printing starts with the movement. making a virtual design The printing is simple, but the of the object you want actual product may take more to create. This virtual time to design than to make, design is made in a depending on the intricacy of the Computer Aided Design object. (CAD) file using a 3D “I’m there every day putting modeling program in a new print,” communications or with the use of a sophomore Daniel Montoya said. 3D scanner. Montoya “Sometimes after we get [the downloads most prints machine] back up and running, from the Internet. I set up a plan to be there in the “So far we’ve printed morning because some prints take mostly calibration cubes, a Graphic by Maddi Fitzgerald hours and hours to complete 3D printing is the process cube that shows if the printer so I want to have it printing of fabricating solid objects is working properly, because from digital models by laying for the whole day.” it takes time to get [the printer] dialed down successive layers of material until the entire object is in. When we had it dialed in, we Montoya and a few completed. friends from the Animation started printing replacement parts for and 3D Printing Club, the printer itself,” Montoya said. “The sponsored by digital media teacher Melissa extruder is made out of printer parts but the Glosmanova, commenced printing in January printer unfortunately jammed and I’m trying after two months of building. The club had a to repair it right now but it doesn’t seem so printer before, but it was not suitable for the possible.” by IsaacOchoa

The 3D Printing industry continues to grow into a multibillion-dollar business that may provide low costs products to the masses. Lynette Kucsma owns Natural Machines, a company that recently created the “Foodini”—an automated meal-assembly machine that creates homemade meals faster and more efficiently than human hands. “When people first heard about microwaves they didn’t understand the technology, but now 90 percent of households have microwaves,” Kucsma said. “We see the same thing happening with 3D food printing, but on a much faster scale.” Even though the Dreyfoos printer cannot print food, the usage of a 3D printer prepares students for the new generation of technology in which people will have access to homemade mugs, chargers, food and clothes that can be produced in less than 24 hours. “We’re all preparing ourselves for the future because it’s going to be the next big thing, because 3D printing is only limited by your imagination and your machine,” Montoya said. “I don’t know much about modeling but there are places online where I can find essentially anything to print, from random figurines to adapters for cameras. It’s truly a revolutionary technology that will change how the world works.” g

ARTS

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

Photo by Jade Lenkersdorf

Theatre freshman Alexis McCain takes on the role of a princess in this year's Disney Showcase.

Theatre

he theatre department started off the fourth nine weeks with a master class in the Black Box Theater. “[Former] Dreyfoos student named Megan Learer came in today for a master class,” theatre sophomore David Mendelsohn said. “She was a casting director and now casts for St. Louis Theater as well as produces other things. She also worked with some students on their pieces.“ Mendelsohn learned a lot about what it’s like in real world theatre. “I thought it was interesting hearing from someone who worked on Broadway,” Mendelsohn said. “I also got a feeling of what the theatre business is like.” Coming up in May, the theatre department will host their annual theatre collective. “The students put the show together and write it themselves,” Mendelsohn said. “But for right now we’re just working on juries and personal pieces in class.” g

Strings

trings majors prepared for the Music Performance Assessment (MPA). The Dreyfoos strings and philharmonic orchestras took buses after school to Bak Middle School of the Arts on March 12. They played in an intense competition where judges listened to the orchestra play three pieces and sight read a difficult composition together. The judges then rated the Dreyfoos orchestras a score of superior, excellent, good, or poor. The strings orchestra and the Philharmonic all received superiors. “Our conductor, [strings teacher Wendell] Simmons, picks certain pieces,” strings sophomore Emily Winters said. “We prepare for a few weeks before performing in front of an audience and some judges. [The judges] rate the entire orchestra based on how well they perform.”

22 ARTS

Dance

fter the Spring Dance Concert, the dance department is hitting the stage again for the senior showcase on May 8. Each year, the seniors showcase an array of pieces to highlight the individual talents of each senior dancer. Since the entire show is choreographed by students, the show will take more teamwork, time and dedication than guestchoreographed pieces. “There are probably about 15 choreographers which are all students,” dance senior Hannah Dayton said. “Everyday there is a specific person that designates time during class to choreograph their piece, as well as during lunch.” Since the show exclusively showcases dancers in the senior class, dancers are able to express themselves more freely and have a wider range of choreography in the show. “I’m excited because the dance concert only showcases seniors, so everyone in our grade is in more pieces and we are seen more. We have more freedom and opportunity to showcase our individual styles,” Dayton said. g

Communications

he Communications Showcase was held on April 10 in Meyer Hall. Students worked tirelessly to outdo their sold-out show presented last year. Film, television production, creative writing, speech and debate and the publications teamed up for one night to display what they’ve been working on all year. “It’s our traditional show where we showcase what we do in communications. It highlights the diverse areas of communications which is what makes it unique,” communications dean Angela Weber said. This year’s show had a few surprises in honor of the anniversary of our school. Additional performances were added to the show to add comedy and display different areas of communications. “We are celebrating our 25th anniversary of communications and Dreyfoos. It’s kind of a special year for us,” Ms. Weber said. The department worked on the show for months prior to the event. “We started planning during the first semester of school,” Ms. Weber said. “Everyone is already working on the various performances and films for the show. Production is underway.” g

Band

n Feb. 26 the band department had a combined performance with Bak Middle School band in the Black Box Theater. “They [performed] pieces from Nathan Daughtry, who is actually a composer and world renowned percussion preforming artist, so that [was] really exciting,” band director Evan Rogovin said. “He actually [helped] the band throughout the week leading up to the concert.” Shortly after this performance, MPA (a district music performance assessment) took place on March 11 and Dreyfoos’ wind ensembles and symphonic band were judged with other high school county bands at Park Vista high school. Immediately after having returned from spring break on March 26, 38 students who received superior ratings at the district solo ensemble festival went to state solo ensemble at Stoneman Douglas High School. g

Vocal T

he vocal department attended the National American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah from Feb. 24-28 as one of the three featured high school choirs. “It was so exciting to see snow and especially to go snow tubing with [vocal dean Arlene] Sparks. Most importantly, being chosen as an honor choir was an impressive accolade for our school and it took a lot of work and preparation to keep the bar high at the convention,” vocal sophomore Hannah Glas said. On March 5, the vocal department had a combined concert with Stetson University and The Bak Middle School of the Arts Chorale at Royal Point Sienna Chapel. The following day, the Dreyfoos choir participated in the District Choral Festival. “I always learn new methods by analyzing the techniques, program choices, and facial expressions of other choirs. From what I gauged at [Royal Point Sienna Chapel and the District Choral Festival] I was able to compare the other choirs to us and determine what I thought we were doing right and what [the Dreyfoos choir] could improve,” Glas said. The Dreyfoos music department performed at the POPS Concert on March 31. g

Piano T

he Klavier class performed their second recital of the year, “Recitál” featuring piano junior Laura Bomeny and piano seniors Dante Alvarado and Rudy Veiga on Feb. 23. “I started working on my pieces over the summer but got busy during the first semester by preparing for Impromptu and Prism. I performed with [strings juniors] Juliet Schreiber, Kevonna Shuford and Tomás Bruderer in a piano quartet in both Impromptu and Prism, so I knew that I wanted to perform with them for my recital,” Bomeny said. “Even though we only had two months to prepare the piece, we work really well together and have fun, so were ready by the recital date. My solo literature was shaped through studio classes and outside performances, so the biggest feat was memorizing them in time for my performance.” The Pianoforte class, which mainly consists of freshmen, performed on March 12 in the Brandt Black Box Theater. The recital was the Pianoforte’s first recital at Dreyfoos and it included pieces by Debussy, Bach and Kapustin. “Sometimes the piano department struggles but everything always turns out fabulously in the end, and especially this year, I personally feel like the caliber of our playing has skyrocketed,” piano junior Catherine Zeng said. “I have no doubt the pianoforte recital will be any different from previous recitals, but there are obviously things to improve. Part of every pianist’s journey at Dreyfoos is to further improve his or her tone, technique, and musical understanding.” g

Visual and Digital T

he visual and digital media departments hosted a faculty art show, which featured multiple photos, paintings and pieces from the various teachers who participated in order to share their art with the school. The show started on Feb. 28, and took place on the first floor of Building 9. “There [were] a lot of great pieces,” digital teacher Kenneth Grzymala said, “I think it [was] a great show because it [presented] each teachers’ talent and [demonstrated] the diversity within the department.” The Senior Art Show will have both visual and digital media pieces from Dreyfoos’ class of 2015, and will be held at the Armory Arts Center on May 23. “I am really looking forward to seeing the seniors work this year, it will be cool to see the work that students that I don’t have are doing,” Grzymala said. g

Photo by Jade Lenkersdorf

Vocal senior Sapphire Brereton sings ''I Know I've Been Changed''" at the second annual Black History Showcase on March 13, 2015.

ARTS 23

Sports

THE

FOOTBALLEXPERIENCE

Student athletes learn life lessons on the football field

lthough Dreyfoos students will never be able to experience the joy of cheering on their home team at a Friday night football game, a certain few have found ways to keep this sport in their lives. Whether playing flag football, or coaching a youth league, they have both found ways to not only participate in the sport they love, but also incorporate some of the lessons they have learned into their everyday lives.

Female Football Star commentary by AlanaGomez

As I grew up, I was the cliché definition of a girl, highly influenced by my mother and her

Photo provided by Alana Gomez

Communications sophomore Alana Gomez is congratulated by her teammates after a game in 2013.

IN THIS SECTION:

25 26

This issue's Jaguar profile features digital media junior Beatrice Hood who overcame an injury to play polo. Check out the Sports Guide to Spring and see what our athletic teams are doing this season.

cheerleading, baton-twirling, high school past. I got the small skirt, the pom-poms and even managed to tame my wild hair into a pony tail. It only took a few months of the whining cheers and the feminine aura for me to realize I wanted to be on the other side of the field. At the end of the season, I traded in my fluffy pom-poms for a football. When I first started flag-football, I was small, scrawny and couldn’t stay on my feet for very long. As a 7-year-old child, the excitement of participating in a sport pushed me to try my hardest. Despite my performance, I was optimistic. I knew that with practice came perfection and that I only had to believe to achieve my goals. Throughout the season, two things kept me going: my parents’ routine promises of ice cream after practice, and the fact that if I were to quit, I’d have to go back to cheerleading. Through years of practice and effort, I improved. Like many athletes, I found a lucky number that would forever adorn my uniform, as well as a suitable position. I became a quarterback. In football, the quarterback is the leader of the team. Second to the coach, a quarterback calls plays and directs the field. They are responsible for throwing the ball to their receivers, scoring touchdowns and giving exceptional pep talks. As a quarterback, I have learned to think quickly under pressure and how best to control a group of restless teenage girls. I came to a point in my life where I was engrossed in flag football. I spent my evenings and weekends year round on a football field; I played in recreational leagues, as well as co-ed and tournament leagues. As I grew up, being a girl in flag-football didn’t appear so normal any more. As one of the few girls who played flag-football in my middle school, it was easy to stand out in physical education. When it came to flag football, my performance proved to be beyond the standards of a teenage girl. Though I was never bullied, the curious stares from my peers and sidelong looks were enough to make me doubt my previous confidence. Now, my travel tournament league and recreational league, Acreage Girls Flag Football, takes up four out of the seven days in my regular week. I’m constantly on the move, and football keeps me busy. I could not, however, think of a better sport to be in. My passion for football is more than a weekly work out; it has provided me with a sense

Photo provided by Alana Gomez

Communications sophomore Alana Gomez has been playing flag football for nine years.

of self. My preconceived notion of female activities was difficult to let go of, but defying the stereotypes has allowed me to discover something that truly makes me happy in life: football.

Coaching Football commentary by AdamNir

They say those who cannot do, teach. Since I look nothing like an athlete of any kind, one would not be wrong in thinking that I do the latter. I coach a youth flag football team in Wellington called the Citrus Punch and plan to coach tackle once again in the fall. Football has been a passion of mine since I was a toddler and now my knowledge of it is paid off. I first got the idea to coach while playing the video game “NCAA Football 2012” with my friends. I figured that since I ran the continued on page 25

A PASSION FOR

POLO

Overcoming an injury for her sport by ElliotHacker

rowing up in Westchester, New York, she started riding horses at a very early age. Digital media junior Beatrice Hood moved to Florida at the age of 7, her mom, who also played polo, started her in a training program at El Sur in Wellington. “The first time I was ever on a horse I was 18 months old and my mom put me on a pony,” Hood said. “I started riding by myself at about 5 or 6 years old. When I moved to Florida it took a while to get back into it, so I only started up again about two years ago.” Hood, who suffered from a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) one year ago, has been rehabilitating her knee and is practicing polo. Her trainer, Heidi Hoover, trains with her once or twice a week. “I’m still adjusting and I haven’t been going to training as much but I have started working out to get stronger and healthier,” Hood said. There are two types of polo, outdoor and arena. The difference between the two is the size of the playing field. Most leagues in Florida are outdoor. Hood wants to pursue joining an outdoor league and playing more frequently but there are a few things holding her back. “Until I am fully versed in the entire

sport I am not planning on joining a league even though there are quite a few in Wellington. I try to go once a week, but I dislocated my knee and cracked part of my growth plate a while ago,” Hood said. “This has made riding difficult because it involves a lot of muscle work. Your knees are extremely important because you are only riding with one hand and your mallet is in the other.” Polo is a very expensive hobby to have. The average cost of polo equipment including a horse can range over $20,000. That does not include paying for entrance fees in a league or arena and, when taking those into consideration, the costs really add up. Until she can go out and play, Hood doesn’t want to gather new equipment and a horse. “Since it is my junior year it is definitely difficult to make the time,” Hood said. “Lessons are expensive and joining a league is expensive so although I would like to join a league in the future, I want to make sure I'm ready for it.” Hood is hoping to continue to pursue polo and has said she will continue with rehab and practice, making it possible to continue playing well into the future. g Photo provided by Beatrice Hood

FOOTBALL

continued from page 24 proper plays during the games and had a lot of knowledge on the sport over all, I might as well translate it to real life. I imagined breezing through the season with my future team, dominating every game on both sides of the field; I was very mistaken. I ended up splitting my coaching job with a player’s father because I had to balance my studies with football. I also had to scrap half of my playbook because it was too advanced for the 10 year olds I coach. Initially, patience was also an issue, as many things went wrong. Our quarterback was shaky and our defense gave up too many big plays. One at a time, however, I overcame each challenge and became a better coach and

Digital media junior Beatrice Hood receives instruction from her trainer during practice at El Sur in Wellington.

mentor to the kids. I gave the offense to my co-coach, and I focused on fixing the defense-our greatest weakness. I found leaders and motivated players within the batch I assigned myself to and, with their help, rebuilt our “D.” Interceptions became more frequent, and we started to shut out our opponents, winning the game both on offense and on a very disciplined, aggressive defense. Being a coach has taught me to slow down before diving into something. Much like I need to be careful and analyze what plays to run and where to position players, I need to plan things out in my life. Due to this, I organize my responsibilities better and now my life is linked even more to football. Coaching

younger children has also given me a more positive outlook on life. The kids always try their hardest to succeed and win their games. I try to apply this effort to my personal life, because if a 10-year-old can keep going despite numerous setbacks, I can too. It also feels good to be someone the children can look up to. By teaching them on the field, I am building leaders off the field. My defensive captains have really stepped up and even memorized the playbook, positioning other children themselves and reading an offense perfectly. They can apply these skills to their own lives, giving directions to their peers and grasping the concept of responsibility. g

SPORTSGUIDE a play by play of this seasons meets, games and tournaments

SPRING

Photo by Naomi Kelly

Theatre senior Andrew Borell (L-R), communications sophomore Makoa Beck, communications senior Adam Kelly and piano sophomore Paul Richter warm up before their track and field meet against Suncoast.

Track and Field by DanielMontoya

he track and field team finished their season off strong at their last meet of the season at King’s Academy on March 26. Three Dreyfoos runners qualified for the county championship at Dwyer High School on April 1. Communications senior and team captain Steffan Gawlikowski qualified for the 300-meter hurdles, piano senior Sean Fournier qualified for the 1600-meter run and 3200-meter run and vocal freshman Victoria Giol also qualified for the 300-meter hurdles. At the county championship. Fournier placed fifth in the 1600 meters with a time of 4:40.30 and third in the 3200 meters in 10:14.39. Gawlikowski placed ninth in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 42.77 and Giol placed 12th in the 300-meter hurdles in 52.41. “I knew I was not going to win it all but to just be able to compete at the championship is an amazing achievement,” Gawlikowski said. At Suncoast High School on Feb. 24, Fournier was second in the 3200-meter run and third in the 1600 meters. Gawlikowski placed fourth in the 300 hurdles event. Visual junior Heather Hart placed eighth in the 3200-meter run. After the Suncoast meet, the track and field team competed at the Dwyer High School meet on March 4. Fournier improved his fourth and third place finishes and placed first in the 1600 meters and 3200 meters with times of 4:45 and 10:16, respectively. g

26 SPORTS

Tennis by AdamNir

he Dreyfoos boys tennis team placed second in the district tournament and advanced to the region meet on April 7 where they lost to Merrit Island High School, ending the Jaguars season. In the district meet, the boys team finished second to Suncoast High School. Visual freshman Jared Amrose and communications senior Brandon Cohen advanced through finals in the singles bracket before losing to Suncoast players. Despite a valiant effort, the girls team ended up one point away from second place and a chance to move on in the postseason. Vocal sophomore Gabby Cowen and communications freshman Brianna Seaburg advanced to the finals for singles and Cowen and visual junior Nicole Lindner advanced to the finals in the doubles category. Earlier in the season against Cardinal Newman, keyboard junior Alexandra O’Brien won her match 8-1 leading to a 5-2 overall victory for the girls. On the boys side, visual sophomore and second seed Mitchell Del Mastro had the highest margin of victory, winning 8-2 and contributing to an overall boys victory of 4-3. g

AD 27

Lifestyle

THE RISKS AND REWARDS OF GMOS Genetically modified foods are evaluated by professionals by GerniseGregoire

magine only consuming food that has been artificially manipulated through genetic engineering. Genetically modified organic foods (GMOs) not only have unstable combinations of plant, bacterial and viral genes added to the existing genes, but are also a recent subject that many people should be aware of. GMOs include well-known food crops such as corn, sugar beets, apples and yellow summer squash. Studies have recently shown that GMOs are risky but also potentially beneficial. Benefits of GMO foods may be thought of as non-existent, but when it comes to the global population increase and massive Third World hunger, they play a huge role. According to “Inventing a GMO Apple That Won’t Brown“ by Tennille Tracy, the goal of genetic engineering is to give original organisms new characteristics such as disease resistance. Foods like the Arctic Apple, produced by Okanagan Specialty Fruits, have been genetically modified to resist browning when cut open or sliced. Under federal regulations, the apple has been officially approved since 2013 and sent

“I strongly recommend that patients to places like India and Africa. Not only do eat strictly non-genetically modified foods,” third world countries benefit, but sales do Dean said. “I used to test for soy allergies as well. One bad apple is not able to spoil all the time, but now that soy is genetically the others, which promotes longer shelf life. engineered, it is so dangerous that I tell Okanagan envisions a world people never to eat it.” where anyone cooking GMOs are made in the most can take their time effective and rapid way to slicing apples create a plant or an animal and not have to with a specific trait or rush due to the characteristic. They possibility of enable precise, specific the apple browning. changes to original DNA Although GMO sequences and change foods help save the functions that the apple appearances organism is capable for a long period of of. Compromising the time, there are many blueprint of the entire risks that come with organism, it is hard to consuming them. definitely say what can be The results of most directly manipulated with a studies on the GMOs technique developed only over show animal toxicity in organ Graphic by Dana Thomas the last 40 years. systems. Doctors such as Amy Consuming foods with unknown Dean, a Michigan internal medicine specialist, ingredients is definitely something to think talked about the harms of GMOs on May 19 at the American Academy of Environmental twice about. g Medicine (AAEM) Convention.

CHEMICALLY INFUSED COSMETICS quarters of the products tested, phthalates were found. rom the time of the Currently, the Toxic ancient Egyptians Substances Control Act (TSCA) to now, cosmetics is -- makes it nearly impossible for a multibillion dollar the Environmental Protection industry that thrives Agency (EPA) to take regulatory on helping women action against dangerous achieve a flawless, chemicals, even those that are beautiful appearance. known to cause cancer or other From wrinkle blasting serious health effects. Our face creams to eye culture dictates a need to look enhancing eyeliners our best but when we facilitate – there is a multitude the acceptance of using products of products that work Graphic by Madeleine Fitzgerald similar to those that keep wonders to enhance concrete soft, remove grime from auto parts appearances. Women are often criticized for and increase surface tension in paints and the extremes they go to in terms of beauty, lacquers, we are endorsing the sacrifice of even using makeup products that contain health in exchange for beauty. harmful chemicals. One of the most common chemicals According to the Campaign for in cosmetics are BHA (butylated Safe Cosmetics, in 2002 a coalition hydroxyanisole) and BHT (butylated of environmental and public health hydroxytoluene) which are closely related organizations contracted with a major synthetic antioxidants used as preservatives national laboratory to test 72 name-brand, off-the-shelf beauty products for the presence in lipsticks and moisturizers, among other cosmetics. The International Agency for of phthalates, a chemical which disrupts Research on Cancer classifies BHA as a the body’s hormone levels. In nearly three by MorgaanJessell

possible human carcinogen and in high doses can be toxic in mice and rats, since it causes liver, thyroid and kidney problems and affects lung function and causes blood coagulation. Yet still, our society condones the consumption of these products? An intense smoky eye, some winged eyeliner and a bright red lip can certainly do wonders and turn heads. But perhaps it is time we start to embrace the natural look and products that are made with natural ingredients instead so that consumers safety and health won’t be a victim to our toxic Graphic by Dana Thomas

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Entertainment

JUMBO SHRIMP TAKES

SUNFEST Photo from jumboshrimprocks.com

by ChloeKrammel

hen the annual SunFest Music Festival lineup was released, people throughout South Florida grew excited to vibe out to heart-pounding music and see their favorite artists. But members of the student band Jumbo Shrimp Inc. are eager to attend the week-long music festival for a much different reason. Theatre sophomore Ben Rothschild, band sophomore Austin Klewin, theatre junior Angel Leiser, Palm Beach Gardens High School junior John Cardillo III and Bak Middle School of the Arts eighth-grader Dylan Thomas will perform onstage instead of standing in the crowds on May 2. Jumbo Shrimp Inc. has played at venues such as Revolutions in CityPlace, Swampgrass Willys in Palm Beach Gardens and the RitzCarlton in Naples, but none can compare to SunFest, which draws 275,000 visitors yearly. “I think that it will really help us as a band

IN THIS SECTION:

31 32 33

Serial, an investigative podcast, explores the possible injustices of our justice system. A new deal between Marvel and Sony reimagines Spider-Man in the Marvel movie franchise. As exam season approaches, the Entertainment staff shares what songs help them study.

30 ENTERTAINMENT

Young band members play among some of the most well-known musicians for the annual SunFest Music Festival

because we will have a chance to play on a huge stage with a very large crowd,” Thomas said. “I think this show will motivate us to keep getting bigger and bigger and hopefully this will set us up for major success in the future.” While it may seem hard to land a show at such a large-scale and grand event, the process of applying for this gig was not difficult for Jumbo Shrimp Inc. at all. “I was just told [by our manager] that Jumbo Shrimp booked the act. But I have since learned that we had to send in an application and then [SunFest organizers] just listened to our music and chose us,” Rothschild said. Securing a spot on the lineup of a weeklong music festival is most musicians’ dream, and when the members of this young, wide-eyed band heard the news about their opportunity of playing at Sunfest, they were shocked. “When I found out I was on the phone in the middle of a movie theater, so I had to hold back my emotions, but I was very happy almost to the point of tears... I did not know what to think because I was so overwhelmed with happiness,” Thomas said. The importance of Jumbo Shrimp Inc.’s upcoming show at SunFest is monumental and is one that will definitely build up their reputation. According to the lead singer, Rothschild, there

is a possibility that the band will be opening for the folk duo Johnnyswim. “We do have some things different for this gig, but actually at our last practice our lead singer, [Rothschild], said that we should start treating every gig like it’s special because we never know who’s watching,” Leiser said. “So, I think from now on we’re treating all of our shows as big and special as Sunfest.” The band also hopes that playing at SunFest will help them gain exposure around the area and lead to even greater opportunities. “The biggest thing is that we’re just really excited to play. It’s going to be cool,” Rothschild said. “We’re also really scared, though, because it’s a lot of pressure, but it will be interesting.” continued on page 31

Photo by Jade Lenkerdorf

Lead singer and guitarist, theatre sophomore Ben Rothschild, plays at a local Jumbo Shrimp Inc. performance.

Jumbo Shrimp Inc.

JUMBO SHRIMP continued from page 30 aims to produce music with a more relaxed mood that is largely influenced by authentic rock groups. Rothschild works as the main songwriter, but there has been a joint effort in some cases when it comes to co-writing for songs like “She Walks By” and “Fall Apart.” With SunFest just around the corner, the group encourages their

peers to come to their performance as well. “I know the whole band is super excited to play at SunFest, and we are very grateful to have the opportunity,” Leiser said. “I personally still can’t believe we are going to play it. It’s been a big dream of mine ever since I was a little kid.”g

Photo by Jade Lenkerdorf

Palm Beach Gardens High School junior John Cardillo III plays the drums at a performance at Revolutions in CityPlace.

SERIOUSLYSERIAL

Podcast investigates murder and the trial of the accused truly knowing. be innocent if there was a witness saying n the United States, we are all innocent Nearly 15 years after the case, Koenig he was not strangling Lee when the state until proven guilty. This notion is worked to find any possible explanation for believed him to be. In the final episode, challenged, however, by the hit podcast the events that could trace back to Lee’s Koenig indicates that through all of her “Serial.” On January 13, 1999, Woodlawn High death in 1999. One person in particular, Asia findings and research, whether or not Syed School senior Hae Min Lee disappeared. McClain, recently rewrote her alibi after killed Lee is still unclear. Likewise, she made Weeks later, when Lee’s body was found witnessing the popularity of the podcast, connections with the University of Virginia’s strangled to death in a park, her ex-boyfriend saying that she finally understood the law department, where their Law Innocence Adnan Syed became a suspect for her murder. importance and severity of the case, and that Project has revisited Syed’s case, searching Ranked number two for U.S. for evidence worthy of a Podcasts on iTunes charts, retrial. Since the popularity “Serial” revisits the mystery of of Serial increased, McClain the case’s convictions, shining was inspired to update her a light on the idiosyncrasies alibi, bringing a needed in the American federal court revisit to the case. system. Perhaps what makes Narrated by journalist and the podcast so addictive radio personality Sarah Koenig, is Koenig’s style of format. “Serial” reveals ambiguities Different from the typical omitted from Syed’s sentence podcast, Koenig provides of life in prison 14 years after investigative journalism the conviction. In 12 episodes, through spoken word rather Koenig breaks down every than sheer commentary. miniscule detail that could Alternating between involve the murder. Syed’s sound bites of interviews peer at the time, Jay Wild, and her own opinion and attested that he was with accumulated research, Syed the day of the murder, Koenig maintains the admitting that Syed indeed Photos from news.com.au flow and structure of a killed his ex-girlfriend. While journalist, perhaps even a Adnan Syed (left)was accused of murdering his ex-girlfriend, Hae Min Lee (right) and was sentenced Syed agrees both in court and to life in prison. newspaper article. in recorded conversations with A captivating Koenig that he was with Wild the day that Lee her best memory of that day could help solve breakdown of events, “Serial” accents the idea disappeared, he completely denies murdering the mystery. McClain had, in her original of possible error in our justice system. As of her. The state’s case against Syed was for the alibi, attested to conversing with Syed at Feb. 6, their work has paid off. The Maryland most part, one man’s word against the others, the school library at the time the state said Court of Special Appeals agreed to grant Syed and Koenig points out that there is no way of Lee was killed. In other words, Syed would a retrial scheduled for June. g by BariBossis

ENTERTAINMENT 31

THE MARVELOUS

SPIDER-MAN Spider-Man is set to join the Avengers by ErikRidd

pider-Man is swinging back onto the silver screen. He is officially appearing in Marvel films, reuniting the movie versions of the character with their parent company. On Feb. 9, Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures Entertainment announced on Marvel’s website that they are teaming up to create a new adaptation of the popular SpiderMan character. The revamped Spider-Man will be appearing in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) franchise, the film series that encompasses all of Marvel’s superhero films, including “Iron Man,” “The Avengers” and “Guardians of the Galaxy.” According to Time, Marvel sold the rights to use Spider-Man characters in movies to Sony for $7 million in 1999. Three years later, the first film in the “Spider-Man” trilogy was released, creating the modern superhero film. The movie relied on computer generated imagery and the audience’s emotions to gain mass appeal. Sam Rami directed the three

films, and Tobey Maguire played the titular superhero. After “Spider-Man 3,” Sony decided to start the series from scratch; they rebooted it with 2012s “The Amazing Spider-Man” starring Andrew Garfield. While the first film was indeed a success, 2014s “The Amazing Spider-Man 2” made less money and was relatively unpopular. It earned a 53 percent aggregate rating from critics and a 67 percent aggregate rating from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. According to The Huffington Post, speculation on the future of the $4 billion franchise began afterwards. Leaked emails during the recent cyber-attack on Sony revealed that Sony and Marvel were discussing the future of the franchise, which led to the new deal. Under the collaboration between Marvel and Sony, Spider-Man will appear in one of the films in “Phase 3” of the MCU storyline before gaining a solo film on July 28, 2017. The release dates of the MCU films “Thor: Ragnarok,” “Black Panther,” “Captain Marvel” and “Inhumans” will be pushed back to accommodate the new Spider-Man film. The movie will be made by Kevin Faige of Marvel and Amy Pascal of Sony. While Spider-Man will appear in Marvel projects, Sony will continue to have financial and creative control over the film rights. The announcement of the Marvel-Sony collaboration is still shrouded in mystery. Before the deal, Sony

Photo by Marvel

announced numerous sequels to “The Amazing Spider-Man 2,” such as “Venom: Carnage” and “Sinister Six.” While it appears these movies will no longer be made as a new storyline emerging under the Marvel-Sony deal, they were not officially canceled when the deal was announced. In addition, the “Phase 3” MCU film that Spider-Man is set to appear in is being kept secret. According to Time and IGN, it is widely speculated that he will appear in “Captain America: Civil War.” This is due to Spider-Man’s integral role in the comic book plot line the film is based on. Another unknown factor in the movie is who will be cast as Spider-Man. While the new description indicates that neither Andrew Garfield nor Tobey Maguire will play the character, no actor was confirmed during the announcement. Some fans have also speculated that this Spider-Man might not be Peter Parker, the classic identity of the hero, because other people have been Spider-Man in the comics such as the star of “Ultimate Comics Spider-Man,” Miles Morales. Whatever the situation ends up being, fans can remain satisfied with the knowledge that Spider-Man is back where he belongs, with the rest of Marvel’s superheroes. g

DISNEY REBOOTS by JuanRamirez

s gritty reboots become the norm for post-2000 films, Walt Disney Studios has announced a slew of live-action projects aimed at keeping in touch with a rapidly maturing audience. We have already seen a significantly darker reimagining of a classic Disney (read: European folk tale) animation with last year’s “Maleficent,” and while “Into the Woods” is a non-Disney Broadway musical, it features an array of fairytale characters, many of whom have appeared in Disney films, exploring the darker side of “happily ever after.” With a live-action “Cinderella” released mid-March, a later release for a film based on the Disney theme parks’ “Tomorrowland” and an upcoming live-action “Peter Pan,” 2015 sees the first stage of Disney’s new plan to build upon the established success of their animated classics Photo by Walt Disney Motion Pictures Cinderella, played by Lily James, sits in her magical by casting popular contemporary coach in the live-action adaptation of the classic story. actors in the fabled roles. Emma installment in Tim Burton’s “Alice in Watson has already been confirmed Wonderland” series brings back Johnny as Belle in an upcoming “Beauty and Depp and Anne Hathaway and “The the Beast” remake. The role, which Jungle Book” will feature the voices of Watson claimed in a Facebook post, Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson, to “feels surreal” to play, fulfills her lifelong name a few on the star-studded cast. fantasy to “dance to ‘Be Our Guest’ and Never one to shy away from the sing ‘Something There,’” something prospect of making money, Disney might thousands of girls can relate to. also be retreading familiar ground as a Another reason to retell these tales, low-risk way of profiting from beloved according to “Beauty and the Beast” stories. The pre-established fan base for director Bill Condon in an interview these movies will undoubtedly flock to with Entertainment Weekly, is that new theaters to see how their contemporary technology “has finally caught up to that film stars fare in a nostalgic revamping treatment of the story,” bringing new of their favorite childhood movie, possibilities and visuals not previously bringing the whole family (and the available outside an animated feature. In family checkbook) along for the ride. this light, it seems reasonable for Disney Agendas aside, these films are sure to green-light live-action reimaginings to become box office hits, hopefully of past films, each starring at least one restoring the gritty edge with which the household name. “Pete’s Dragon,” a original tales were written along the somewhat forgotten 1970s production, way. g will star Robert Redford, the second

BariBOSSIS

here is nothing quite like the feeling of solving a math problem correctly. The impetus of my study sessions, “Defying Gravity” from the hit Broadway show “Wicked,” is and always will be my number one study jam. The lyrics offer a shockingly true parallel between “The Wizard of Oz” and finding a By Decca Broadway limit in calculus. Likewise, Stephen Schwartz’ lyrics channel my fifth grade-self, the one that did not wait until the night before to study for her test on derivatives. But like Elphaba said, “together, we’re unlimited.” g he comedic comparison JuanRAMIREZ between the word “studying” and “student dying” has been made before, so I’ll spare everyone the horrible pun and assume we all hate studying. However, it is a necessary evil (for the most part), so it is better to try to make the process as easy as possible to swallow rather than By Infectious fight the system. It might seem blasphemous to drag the soothing sounds of alt-J’s latest album “This Is All Yours” through the ugly mud of schoolwork, but the harmonious combination of pan flutes, guitars and muted vocals will help get you through even the dullest of textbooks. Once you have shut the book, keep the songs playing and drift off to the sounds of this underrated band. g

BriPOSNER

s my senior year approaches its end and with just a handful of weeks left, I only have to study for one AP exam. While fighting off senioritis with “inspiring” music from my iTunes library, playing “Get Me Out” by Falling In Reverse seems to be a habit. With lyrics talking about wanting to leave school, the feeling By Epitaph is bitter-sweet. The lyrics “So sick and tired, no desire to stay in this town, so hopefully my hopes and dreams will get me out” run through my mind while attempting to focus on studying for my final high school exam. University, here I come. g

ChloeKRAMMEL

othing brings me back to elementary school more than Green Day’s “American Idiot” album. My weird obsession that lasted throughout third grade resulted in me hanging up posters all over my walls and having a notebook with their Rolling Stone cover on it. Perhaps By Reprise everyone had their own angst phase; mine just took place in elementary school. I always find myself reminiscing to the time when I was eight years old and singing along to every song on “American Idiot” while alone in my room—but, then again, I guess things don’t really change, do they? g

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34 AD

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 Cover Story Editor Bennett Morgan, Tiffany Abreu Op/Ed Editor Felipe Bomeny Op/Ed Staff Oscar Hamilton, Michael Wang, Riley O’Connor News Editor Mackenzie White News Staff Tom Kapitulnik, Jack Yan Features Editor Starr Courakos Features Staff Brittany McKenzie, Alexis Pinchuk, Nathaniel Leonard, Mary Rasura Arts Editor Michelle Birch Arts Staff Isaac Ochoa,Uma Raja, Alexa Marcellino, Karai McLean Lifestyle Editor Dana Thomas Lifestyle Staff Gernise Gregoire, Frances Landrum Sports Editor Tomas Cabezas Sports Staff Alana Gomez, Jack Reagan, Adam Nir, Daniel Montoya, Elliot Hacker Entertainment Editor Bri Posner Entertainment Staff Chloe Krammel Photo Editor Rowan Bennetti Photo Staff Jade Lenkersdorf, Julia Bonavita, Julia Horneck Bailey Van Putten Vink Business Manager Marlena Houck Business Staff Delaney Cotton, Krystal Sundar 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

EDITORS'LETTER O

Photo by Rowan Bennetti

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

ur time on The Muse staff has finally come to an end. As we worked to finish this issue of the publication, we experienced many bittersweet emotions. This newsmagazine has provided us with many opportunities in high school, and we are incredibly grateful. As a school, we were recently struck with the tragic loss of our beloved social studies teacher, Lea Jefferson. We hope that you enjoyed the tribute for Ms. Jefferson—her legacy at Dreyfoos will always be remembered.

As we say farewell to our time at Dreyfoos, we are grateful for the experiences that we have shared with such an eclectic community. This school not only developed our talents, but provided the foundation we need as we move into our future endeavors. The entire senior Muse staff thanks you for your support and readership. We wish you the best of luck with all your goals. g

Editors-in-Chief communications seniors Remi Lederman (L-R), Taylor Hendrickson and Claudia Zamora wear their class colors for the senior photo on the last senior blackout day.

EXPOSURE You told me that you loved the color of your eyes, But that you didn’t love the way your face fluttered When you squinted your eyelids saying goodbye, Your words messy, your words always slurred. Tell me, was I the only one you had heard? Did you leave because of me, of him, of her? Sometimes with your eyes you don’t like to use words, But the iris, though deep, does not have the answers. I miss your voice, I miss your laughter, I miss everything about you I can remember. I was an alcoholic and you were my liquor, If our memories our junk, I am a hoarder. You loved the color of your eyes, and I loved you I should have known to watch out for baby blues.

‘‘Blue”

Jessica Taylor communications junior

by TaylorRich

hroughout her years at Dreyfoos, communications junior Jessica Taylor has developed a profound love and passion for her art. “My poem is about how when people come in and out of your life, it’s hard to understand the purpose behind it. It’s hard to understand why they may have left,” Taylor said. “In my poem, the narrator references someone they share this feeling with.

The narrator tries to ration this person’s departure from their life, and they let memories and emotions consume them in blunt, nostalgic language.” Taylor has been writing poetry since the fifth grade, but became more dedicated to it at the beginning of her freshman year. This year, Taylor won a Gold Key and honorable mention for her poetry in the Scholastic Art and Writing competition. She is currently entered in the National

Speech and Debate Association’s Light the Stage spoken-word poetry competition with her own poem titled “The Y-Word.” “Writing is an art that is so wonderful because of the freedom it permits,” Taylor said. “At any time, whether it be the ride home from school, or on the back of my homework during class, I have the opportunity to express myself through writing. It’s my passion. I’ll never let it go.” g