Pharcyde, 44.6

Sounds of Spring, Strings, and Singers Fill Benjamin Hall

Amanda Duguay Staff Writer

The Benjamin School’s Spring Music Festival occurred at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, March 31 in Benjamin Hall at the Upper School campus.

This Music Festival featured the Middle School Performance Ensemble, Middle School String Ensemble, Upper School Concert Band, Chamber Ensemble, and Chorus.

One of the performers sophomore Sage Sorenson said, “I sang with the choir. We sang ‘Queen’s Bohemian’ ‘Rap City’, Leonard Cohen’s ‘Hallelujah’, and Olivia Rodrigo’s ‘Driver’s License’, which was really fun. The last song gave it a modern twist. My favorite piece was ‘Hallelujah’ because our voices sounded put together and there were a lot of techniques. We practiced that one the most.”

The Chamber Ensemble performed a string arrangement of Brittany Spears’ “Toxic”, a Korean lullaby called “Island House Baby”, and the song “Another Day of Sun by La La Land.”

The Upper School concert band performed “Chicago Melody” from the band Chicago, Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”, and a hip hop melody,”

A member of the Upper School Concert Band Colby Mack said, “I

really liked the “Chicago Melody”. It was a really fun piece to play, and it brought together a bunch of pieces from Bleed the Sixties that were just really interesting to play. The Music Festival was fun to play in. There were a lot of interesting pieces. It’s great to bring together the middle schoolers with the high schoolers. It provided different experiences playing with a new set of groups that we don’t normally get to play with.”

“My favorite piece was the hip hop melody it was a kind of modern song that we all already know it was fun to perform those songs we listen to on a day-to-day basis,” said junior Tristan Mack.

Upper School Music Director Mrs. Austin believed that the Spring Music Festival went great.

“I was super proud of all my students. The music that they were playing was very different than anything that they’ve played before. It was all popular music. It wasn’t classical, and that came with its own challenges their weird rhymes music in pop music sometimes there are weird harmonies, and they all gave 110%, and I was just really proud of them.”

After the first semester, Mrs. Austin has truly connected with all her students to make the best performances possible, but she is also sad

that her seniors will be leaving soon.

“It was really good. It’s always really cool to see both music teachers and music students from across all different campuses come together, and the parents seem to really enjoy it. The atmosphere was a little bit bittersweet because it was also our seniors’ last music concert.”

The Spring Music Festival was a great success and a fun experience for all that attended. It marked a great final departure for the senior class, and Mrs. Austin’s leadership this year provided an incredible conclusion.

Musicians from the Upper and Middle Schools gathered to perform on March 31st at the Spring Music Festival.

Top right: The US Band, under the baton of Music Director Mrs. Austin, performs “beneath the stars” on the big stage at Benjamin Hall.

Above left: Freshman Siu Park performs “Another Day of Sun” from the film La La Land on her violin.

Center: Sadie Weaver, Katherine Rodgers, and Xan Blount take a moment to smile for the camera before the show.

Above right: Senior Andrew Moffitt warms up on the piano before the show. Photos by Jeremy Ferris.

NHS Inducts 36 New Members Into Chapter Mayor Named Distinguished Alumna

Alex Perkins Staff Writer

Mayor Chelsea Reed, a proud graduate of The Benjamin School’s Class of 1988, returned to TBS on March 30 to accept the prestigious Distinguished Alumni Award and inspire the next generation of leaders. Mayor Reed, who has been serving as the mayor of Palm Beach Gardens, has brought significant change and improvements to the city during her tenure.

Olbers. “Mayor Reed’s speech was so inspiring. It made me realize that if I work hard and stay focused, I can achieve great things too.”

Mayor Reed’s visit also included a look at the campus, where she reminisced about her high school days and marveled at the school’s upgrades and expansions. She expressed her admiration for the school’s continued commitment to excellence in education and its focus on cultivating well-rounded students.

nections, once you get out, that you make with all of the alumni. It’s unparalleled. There’s no other network like that, especially for having such a small class in high school,” Mayor Reed continued.

Matt Marasco Sports Editor

On Tuesday, April 4th, 36 new sophomore and junior members were inducted into Benjamins’ chapter of the National Honor Society. Each new member received an application form from NHS if they had over a 3.8 cumulative GPA.

National Honor Society advisor Ms. Sara Misselhorn inducts the members through an application process each spring semester. Each member is interviewed by two students already inducted into NHS and Ms. Misslehorn herself.

“After they turn in their applications, the faculty comments on their application and they get interviewed. We look at their scholarship (academic rigor), leadership, character, and service, which are the four pillars of the National Honor Society,” said Ms. Misslehorn.

One new inductee, junior Adam Mahmoud, is excited to be inducted into the National Honor Society for the opportunies that he expects to arise from entrance into the society.

“I applied for the National Honor Society because I always try and push to be the best version of myself. I believe NHS is a place where I can better myself and be held to a higher standard. Getting inducted was fun and exciting because it was the beginning of a new part of my experience at Benjamin,” said Mahmoud.

During the assembly, the officers of NHS gave a brief biography of each inductee as the student came down to the center stage to sign their name. After the student was introduced, a current member of NHS placed a stole over the shoulders of the inductee as well as reciting the words of induction.

Article continues on page 5.

The award ceremony took place on stage, where Head of School Mr. Faus and the President of the Alumni Association presented Mayor Reed with the Distinguished Alumni Award. This honor is given to an outstanding alumnus who has achieved significant professional accomplishments and contributed positively to society. Mayor Reed was chosen for her unwavering dedication to improving Palm Beach Gardens and her inspiring leadership

“My favorite memory from The Benjamin High School was any science field trip that we went on. Every single one was completely immersive, and you walked away feeling like you were officially a biologist afterwards,” exclaimed Mayor Reed.

“Another one of my favorite memories was when Mrs. Benjamin would teach us about mythology. She would kind of act it out, something like flying around the room or an angry person up on a mountain. Something really cool about that is there are still teachers, such as Mrs. Hogan, who teach similarly.”

Mayor Reed’s visit to The Benjamin School was a testament to her dedication to the community and her passion for inspiring the next generation of leaders. The students and staff of The Benjamin School will surely remember this special day for years to come, cherishing the memories of another hometown hero who had gone to TBS and went on to make a meaningful impact on the city she loves. This event has undoubtedly left a mark on the school community, encouraging students to dream big and strive for success, both personally and for the betterment of society.

The Benjamin School welcomed Mayor Reed with great enthusiasm, as students, faculty, and staff gathered in Benjamin Hall to celebrate her accomplishments and hear her speak about her journey from a local high school student to the city’s top official. The audience eagerly awaited her arrival and the atmosphere buzzed with excitement as students applauded her for her accolades.

“It was amazing to meet our city’s mayor,” said freshman student Owen

During her speech, Mayor Reed shared her personal journey, recounting her time at The Benjamin School and the experiences that shaped her into the leader she is today. She spoke fondly of other alumni who she has kept in touch with, her participation in extracurricular activities, and her passion for public service. She also stressed the importance of “Go Benjamin, Go Anywhere.”

“There are two things that really stood out to me about Benjamin; first of all is the experience at this school really makes us into amazing, whole, well-rounded people so that we can do anything whether its art, science, math, or photography,” said Mayor Reed.

“The other thing that’s really amazing about this school is the con-

Palm Beach Gardens Mayor Chelsea Reed, an alumna of the class of 1988, accepts the Distinguished Alumni Award during a special assembly. Reed was honored for civic service and embodiment of the Benjamin values.

Photo by Alex Perkins

The Benjamin School was the catalyst for all the good things that happened in my life . . .

-Mayor Chelsea Reed, ‘88

Sophomore Anthony Viverito joins the other new inductees who were each inducted under one of NHS’s four pillars: service, leadership, character, and service. Photo by Alex Perkins

Happy Holidays!

How Benjamin Students Celebrated Passover In 2023

Caroline Groffman Staff Writer

The Jewish holiday of Passover, or Pesach in Hebrew, is a celebration of the Jews being freed from slavery. Back in Egypt, Pharaoh was holding the Jews captive for a very long time. The Jews were severely mistreated and degraded by the Egyptians for around 100 years. Freedom rang as Moses went to Pharaoh and gained independence for the Jewish people. It was a very long process, however. This is what is celebrated during the holiday.

In the Torah, the Jewish Bible, Passover occurred in the book of the Exodus. The story lives on as one of the most prominent parts of the Jewish religion, culture, and freedom. Moses was born to Jewish parents which, in this time, meant that Pharaoh wanted to kill him because he was the first male born in that family. The parents saved him and sent Mo-

ses down the Nile river instead. This is where Pharaoh’s daughter saw him and took him in.

When Moses grew up, he became a prophet who was told by God to force Pharaoh to let the Jews go. So, Moses went to the King and said, “Dayenu,” Hebrew for “enough”, This is supposed to mean enough of all of the pain and torture of the Jews. Pharoah said no, and Moses warned him by saying God will release the plagues among all Egyptians excluding the Jews if he does not change his mind.

These ten plagues include blood, frogs, lice, wild beasts, cattle disease, boils, locusts, darkness, and the killing of the firstborn. All of these plagues took place for the Egyptians since Pharaoh refused to grant freedom to the Jews.

The tradition of having a mezuzah started in this time. When the angel of death was going to each house to

kill the firstborn of Egyptian families, the Jews were told by God and Moses to put animal blood on the doorpost of their house. This is so that the Jewish children could be protected against the angel of death. Today, a mezuzah’s purpose is obviously very different. It is simply a symbol of a Jewish household with the purpose to remind the family of their faith and bless the home that they are in.

On Passover, Jews have a seder during dinner time. This is a ceremony that is supposed to be fulfilled on the first two nights of the seven or eight days. The Orthodox community celebrates for eight nights while seven is the standard among most other Jews.

The nightly routine for anyone celebrating Passover involves a long dinner with many rituals, called a seder. On a seder plate, there are six spots for specific foods. These items have a metaphoric purpose so that the people celebrating remember the horrors of how the Jews were treated. It puts a tangible item to the actions taken against the Jewish people during the Exodus.

The items on the seder plate include karpas, haroset, maror, hazeret, zeroa, and beitzah.

The karpas is a green vegetable which is usually parsley or celery. It is dipped in salt water to represent the tears of the Jews while they were taken as slaves in Egypt.

Haroset is a sweet fruit mixture usually made with apples, cinnamon, and nuts. This represents the mortar of the many bricks that the Jews had to lay in the Egyptian Kingdom.

Maror is a bitter herb that is often horseradish on the seder plate. The harsh flavoring of the maror is used to show the bitterness of slavery. The

Ramadan: Month Of Faith, Prayers, Discipline

Dev Maharaj Staff Writer

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection, and community. During this holy month, Muslims abstain from food, drink, and other physical needs from dawn until sunset. This year, Ramadan started on the evening of March 22nd and will last for 30 days.

remembrance of the mistreatment is crucial to the holiday.

Hazeret is used as another bitter herb for emphasis. Horseradish and romaine lettuce are the most commonly used items.

Zeroa is represented with some sort of bone which is usually a lamb shank bone or chicken leg or neck. This “arm” is supposed to convey the arm that God extended to save the Jews.

The beitzah is a hard-boiled egg. This represents the sacrifices that were made in the Old Temple in Jerusalem.

“My family and I celebrate Passover usually by having dinner together and eating brisket, matzo ball soup, and kugel. I love celebrating with my family and especially when my parents hide the matzo somewhere and whoever finds it gets money.” explains Marlee Schwab, a Freshman at the Benjamin US.

The afikomen is the half piece of matzah taken from the middle of the matzah plate that is hidden for the children to find at the end of the meal. The older relatives at a seder traditionally give a reward to the children who are able to find the afikomen.

“Passover is a fun holiday that I spend with my family. Usually, I go to my grandparents’ house, see family, and do the seder plate.” said sophmore Bella Marx, “We usually read and learn about the story of Passover and try all the special foods. My family always has fun trying to find the afikomen.”

To quote Schwab once again, the Passover holiday is a key part of Judaism that is for “Commemorating the Exodus and celebrating life!”

Easter, Fun Times Roll Around Once Again

Matt Marasco Sports Editor

Easter is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ in the Christian Church. Many Benjamin families celebrate the holiday with a wide variety of festivities.

The Walsh family celebrates Eas-

ter as a family by starting the day going to church.

“We go to church and then we go out to a nice brunch. After brunch we go home and spend quality time together and do a small easter egg hunt for my little sister,” said freshman Nickie Walsh.

Many Benjamin students are excited to have the four-day weekend including junior Reef Carroll.

“I hope there’s good weather on Easter weekend. I hope I can get out in the boat and spend some time with my friends and family. If the weather is not good, I’ll end up going to the gym a lot more,” said Carroll.

Two religious customs, coloring hard-boiled eggs and hiding plastic eggs with candies and surprises inside come with the holiday break. Some students, including …, enjoy easter egg hunts with their families.

Teachers also enjoy the Easter break as it gives them a chance to celebrate their religion with their families as well as relax over the four-day weekend.

“I have been celebrating Easter since I was a child. My family always dresses up and goes to mass which we follow up by having brunch. Now that I have children we do Easter bas-

with candies and bunnies. We also make sure to talk about the excitement around Jesus’s resurrection and how Easter is a celebration of new life. Lastly, we do neighborhood egg hunts and an inside-colored egg hunt that the Easter Bunny organizes,” said English teacher Mrs. Suzanne McCambridge.

Although Easter brings happiness to all, it also marks the end of the Lenten season in the Christian Church. This is a celebration for many as they can either return to

While The Benjamin School may have only a few Muslim students, it is essential to understand the significance of Ramadan and how it affects those who observe it. Ramadan is not only a time for Muslims to practice self-restraint and discipline but also to deepen their faith and connection with God. It is also an opportunity to give to charity and to perform good deeds.

As a non-Muslim, it is important to be respectful and supportive of those who are fasting during Ramadan. This means being mindful of scheduling events that involve food or drinks, such as parties or meetings, outside of fasting hours. Additionally, it is crucial to avoid eating or drinking in front of someone who is fasting, as it can be a distraction or temptation for them.

For those who are interested in learning more about Ramadan and its customs, there are many resources available. One way to educate oneself is by reading about the significance of Ramadan and how it is observed. It is also possible to reach out to local Muslim organizations or mosques to learn more about the Islamic faith and its practices.

During Ramadan, it is common for Muslim students to be excused from physical education classes or other strenuous activities, as fasting can lead to fatigue and dehydration. It is essential to understand that this is not a form of discrimination but rather an accommodation for those who are observing Ramadan.

Junior Adam Mahmoud, a Muslim student at Benjamin shares his strategies for staying in shape while maintaining his fast throughout the whole month.

“It can be hard but, after a few years of fasting you get used to it, every year I start to develop my own schedule,” Mahmoud said “As soon as I get home I do my homework and study and I work out after I eat so I have more energy,” Mahmoud added.

In conclusion, Ramadan is a significant month for Muslims worldwide, and it is important to be respectful and understanding of those who are fasting during this time. By being mindful of fasting hours and avoiding food and drink in front of those who are fasting, we can show our support and appreciation for our Muslim peers. Additionally, taking the time to learn more about Ramadan and its customs can help promote cultural understanding and respect within our diverse community.

doing what they gave up for lent or continue if they believe it benefits them. Easter also commemorates Jesus Christ for giving up his life for the sins of his people.

The Pharcyde hopes everyone had a happy Easter break as they spent time with their family and friends.

Junior Adam Mahmoud observes Ramadan by fasting during throughout the day.

Photo by Dev Maharaj.

Junior Hayley Womble participates in an Easter egg hunt, one of many fun activities that are part of Easter celebrations.

Photo courtesy of Hayley Womble.

Junior Ella Womble poses for a picture in her Easter Bunny ears. The Easter Bunny is thought to bring candy to households as part of the celebration.

Photo courtesy of Hayley Womble. kets filled

The Zur Family gathers for their annual Passover sedar. The dinner includes many courses and dishes including a seder plate that has karpas, maror, hazeret, zeroa, and beitzah. Photo courtesy of Chase Zur.

The Limits and Power of Artificial Intelligence

Student Council Elections Recap

Reid Waxman Staff Writer

During assembly on Tuesday, Feb. 21, Student Council advisor Mrs. Anne Franzen announced the students who will take office for Student Council next year. She told junior Talia Miller as Secretary, sophomore Vanessa Zito as Treasurer, junior Ella Womble as Historian, junior Hudson Byrne as Vice President, and junior Maggie Smith as President.

Elections opened on Feb. 15. New to this year’s election, faculty received a 25% share of the vote. A total of 263 students and 45 faculty members voted.

Miller ran unopposed for Secretary and won by default. Despite this, she still has plans to do her best to improve the School and bring her ideas to Student Council.

Caroline Groffman Staff Writer

As Artificial Intelligence continues to expand into new realms, many people are becoming more and more skeptical and worried about where they fit into a primarily technological future. While the new explorations can be nerve-wracking, many are also extremely interested and excited. Several innovations in AI include chatbots, social media, navigation systems, reasoning engines, and many more.

Because of AI, everyday life has been made much more convenient and enjoyable for mostly everybody. These new developments can be used in a positive or negative way. It all depends on how far creators and coders are willing to go. Mr. Soviero, our computer science teacher at The Benjamin Upper School, claims that “where there is money to be made, people aren't going to be stopped. Unless it comes to things like laws that are passed to prevent things. Take a look at stem cell research for instance and cloning. Cloning is done all of the time in the animal world for livestock, but there's the fact that human cloning is not done despite how we are probably technologically advanced enough to pull it off. I think if there is money to be made, people's morals go out of the window.”

In terms of finance, there are many questions being asked about the possibilities in the future of AI. Market analysts are becoming less and less necessary because of the amount of intelligence that is being computerized. One major question being asked in the finance world right now is will AI be able to predict the market accurately in the future? This question has many layers and is not simple to answer. However, the limits of AI are unknown in any sector. These limits are also unknown in the sense of how far humans are willing to go to extend the reach of AI. The concerns surrounding artificial intelligence are unwavering and consistently growing as the capabilities of computers only increase.

It is evident that with AI assistance, firms will be able to reduce trade errors, trigger trades at the best prices, customize accounts easier, and recommend investments based on risk patience. “People see automation as something that is typically only looked at as taking away unskilled laborers and blue-collar jobs. It is starting to get into sectors of you know stockbrokers and predictions of markets” says Soviero.

For finance specifically, algorithms, analysts, research, and investigations are the most important part of being successful in this world. If a computer is able to accomplish all of these tasks, even better than humans, where does that leave the workforce?

In a world with as much innovation as this one, where will people draw the line? Is it when they are officially

replaced? Is it when no human contact is even needed for a prosperous and thriving community? All of these questions are unknown to everyone, even to the creators of AI. As technology expands, many careers are put at risk and are being sent to extinction.

Other jobs like lawyers, tractor drivers, and endless others are all part of this worry about the future. The computer science teacher explains “With lawyers, there is a lot of legal contract writing that can be looked at by AI and corrected by AI. I think AI being sophisticated enough to create documents that really pass the test of looking like they were written by an actual person is amazing. The advent of self-driving cars and their abilities are also beyond amazing. They have self-driving Tesla tractor trailers that go through areas with highways and follow traffic patterns.”

Soviero offers another way to look at the situation. “There are a lot of jobs that are going to be made in terms of writing all of the AI scripts. I do think the downside to all of this are all of the jobs that are being taken, but that's the way that innovation is for anything,” he clarifies.

Within the English department, the new invention of Chat GPT, is stirring up some conversation. Ninth grade English teacher, Mrs. McCambridge sees it in the way that “It's going to make an impact on the way teachers instruct, but it doesn't have to be a negative impact. We in fact could use it to differentiate instruction or to further enhance our classroom planning.”

Turnitin has very recently put out a new program in which they are able to detect a ChatGPT originated statement. This program is said to be 98% accurate while detecting ChatGPT which will put many teachers at ease when they have to analyze a student’s work to check for plagiarism.

In case students were wondering, McCambridge states that it actually is identifiable if a student decides to use the program. Chat GPT brings a moral dilemma to the student body. If a student makes the choice to use the program, it goes against the Honor Code because it is not their personal work.

Mrs. McCambridge puts it in simple terms, “I've had it come up before and you can tell, at this point. I'm not sure if there is a program that you can send it through at this point. There might be, but I know that Turnitin is working on that. I can tell if it is used, at least as a literature instructor.”

The overarching point is that Artificial Intelligence is so advanced in today’s world that it constantly raises moral dilemmas. This struggle affects everyone whether they know it or not. That is true because of the many different uses of AI that people forget about, including e-payment, social media, recommendation algorithms, and more. It is almost impossible to avoid using AI in the modern world.

“Next year, I hope to make the Spirit Weeks more fun and keep everything organized in Student Council,” Miller explained, “Even though I ran unopposed, it feels pretty good to win. I am super excited for what next year brings.”

Like the Secretary election, Zito was the only candidate to run for Treasurer. As the only sophomore elected this year, Zito feels she can still impact the student body.

“I feel honored to be the only underclassman that is a Student Council officer,” Zito expressed. “I feel the significant responsibilities must be met with each officer's proper dedication. My grade believes that I can also handle this position's responsibilities.”

Junior Ella Womble won Historian over sophomore Scott Noble. After being a class representative, she feels ready to take on a more significant role for the Student Council.

“It feels rewarding [to win the election] because I’m moving up on

the Student Council and get to represent the students in a more impactful way. It means taking on more responsibility for the students,” Womble remarked with joy. “I will make sure to share teams who win games, people who win awards, and honorary things students do.”

Byrne won the Vice Presidential election over junior Hayley Womble.

Senior Leo Bryne, Hudson’s older brother, currently holds the Vice President position and is honored to pass the privilege of being Vice President to his brother.

“I feel like Hudson will keep the Byrne name strong at Benjamin. It means a lot to me as a brother, as I am both proud and hyped for him to take over my position. I think he will do amazing things, and I am so proud,” Leo Byrne proudly stated.

Keeping the Vice Presidency in the family, Byrne is excited for next year.

“I truly want to be able to make the best impact on the school that I can,” Byrne stated. “I will always be available to all students’ opinions to make sure they are included in the decisions made by the Student Council.”

The candidates for President were juniors Grace Havlicek, JP Walsh, Taylor Grande, and Maggie Smith.

After having just two candidates last year, the student body and teachers had four students to pick from this year. Smith has looked forward to becoming the Upper School’s President for years now.

“Being President of the Upper School has been a dream of mine since I was a little girl. Luckily, in Middle School, I was the President during my eighth-grade year,” Smith happily exclaimed. “Throughout high school, I have served many different roles; the one I most wanted was President. I have known that I would run for President since my freshman year. I am thrilled to be President because I genuinely feel I can represent the entire student body in the most positive way possible.”

To the Head of Upper School Mr. Fletcher Carr, having a Student Council is invaluable, providing the student body with a way to voice their opinions and make a difference in the wider Benjamin community.

“Any government led by the major constituents, the students here, is really important. It is a mirror of our own attempts at civic engagement and how to listen, make change, and do the things that we can hope to get done,” Mr. Carr stated.

Stanton Leadership Speakers Series Returns, Welcomes PGA’s Waugh To Campus

Evan Sluiters Staff Writer

Seth Waugh, the CEO of the PGA of America, visited The Benjamin School on February 28 to discuss the organization’s future plans and encourage students to pursue careers in the golf industry. Seth Waugh sat down with Darren Lowe to talk about a wide range of topics that had the audience intrigued at all times.

Waugh, who became the CEO of the PGA of America in 2018, has a passion for golf and has previously served as CEO of Deutsche Bank Americas and held various leadership roles at Merrill Lynch.

During the interview, Waugh discussed the PGA’s efforts to promote diversity and inclusion in the sport. He noted that while golf has traditionally been seen as a predominantly white, male sport, the PGA is working to change that perception. “We believe that golf is for everyone, regardless of their background or identity,” Waugh said.

To promote diversity, the PGA has launched several initiatives aimed at increasing participation in the sport. The PGA WORKS Fellowship provides paid internships and mentorship opportunities to individuals from diverse backgrounds interested in pursuing careers in golf. The organization has also partnered with the National Minority Golf Foundation to create the PGA WORKS Golf Management University Program, which provides scholarships and career opportunities to minority students pursuing degrees in golf management.

In addition to promoting diversity, Waugh discussed the PGA’s plans for the future. He emphasized the importance of innovation in keeping the sport relevant and engaging for younger generations. “We need to be more than just a golf organization,” Waugh said. “We need to be a lifestyle brand that offers something for everyone.”

To engage younger audiences, the PGA has launched several new initiatives. The PGA Junior League provides kids with a fun and accessible way to learn and play golf. The organization has also partnered with Topgolf to create the PGA TOUR Topgolf Swing Suite, which offers a virtual golf experience popular with younger audiences.

Throughout the interview, Waugh stressed the importance of education in pursuing a career in golf. He noted that there are many career op-

portunities in the industry, from marketing and event planning to course design and management. “Golf is a multi-billion dollar industry that offers many opportunities for young people,” Waugh said. “We want to encourage students to pursue their passions and explore all the options available to them.”

Waugh’s visit to our school was inspiring for students interested in pursuing careers in the golf industry. His message of inclusivity, innovation, and education resonated with many of us, and we are grateful for the opportunity to hear from such an accomplished leader in the field.

Seth Waugh’s provided clear insights on the importance of diversity, innovation, and education are essential for the future of the sport. We thank him for taking the time to share his thoughts with us.

Chairman of the Board of Trustees Mr. Darren Lowe engages CEO of the PGA of America, Mr. Seth Waugh during the Leadership Speaker Series on February 28th.

Photo by Jeremy Ferris.

Turnitin.com recently released a tool that allows users to see how much of a text could have been created by AI bots such as ChatGPT.

Photo courtesy of Turnitin.com

Students elected juniors Maggie Smith and Hudson Byrne as their leaders for the 2023-2024 school year.

Photo courtesy of the Yearbook

Wake Up! New Research Casts Doubt On Need For Traditionally Recommended Eight Hours of Sleep Per Night

Joey Tomassetti Managing Editor

Sleep is an important part of a high school student’s life. The busy day of a teenager leaves little time to rest during the school day. We hear it often: “At least eight hours of sleep leads to a productive day.” But how much truth is there in this “eight hours of sleep” quota?

In an article titled The Rule That Everyone Needs Eight Hours of Sleep is a Myth, published by QZ.com, five experts were asked if everyone needs eight hours of sleep per day. Interestingly, all five experts answered no.

Neuroscientist Chelsie Rohrscheib explains how sleep is essential to one’s health and lifespan, as sleep achieves many critical brain and body maintenance functions that cannot be performed while we are awake. Nonetheless, she argues the exact length of time it takes to accomplish these sleep functions is highly dictated by an individual’s genes.

“Some individuals, short sleepers, only need seven hours while others, long sleepers, will need nine,” said Rohrscheib. “Contrary to popular belief, it’s extremely rare for a person to require less than six hours of sleep per night, and those who make this claim about themselves are almost always chronically sleep deprived.”

The exception to this rule is individuals with a genetic variant that allows the brain to function more efficiently on less than six hours of sleep.

“This (variant) is extremely rare and very few people actually have this gene,” noted Rohrscheib. “So it’s best to allow your brain to dictate the amount of sleep it needs instead of believing you can get by on less than the average seven to nine hours.”

Sleep expert Crystal Grant shares how research has shown that the amount of sleep needed to function at your best varies between individuals. Most adults between the ages of 1864 need seven to nine hours of sleep per night. She points to overall mood and health as one way to determine how much sleep you need.

“If you are feeling sleepy during the day or need an extra caffeine boost, you may need to increase the amount of sleep you are getting,” stated Grant.

Sleep expert Gorica Micic describes how studies show that adequate sleep is essential for our overall health and well-being. However, she presents a quality argument that there are large individual differences in how much sleep each person needs. One factor that Micic explains is similar to what Grant shared.

“The best indicator of whether you’re getting enough sleep is how

you feel during the day,” remarked Micic. “If you feel sleepy, then you may need more sleep. Our sleep need also declines with age, so newborn infants may need between 12 and 18 hours of sleep whereas older adults may only need six or seven hours.”

Psychologist Hailey Meaklim credits genetics, age, medical conditions, and environmental and behavioral factors as the determinants of how much sleep you need.

“Certain people function well on less than six hours, and can actually experience insomnia when aiming for eight hours every night,” conveyed Meaklim. “However, short sleepers are rare and current guidelines recommend adults get at least seven hours per night regularly to prevent health problems, such as heart disease or depression.”

Finally, psychologist Stephanie Centofanti discusses how sleep need varies greatly between individuals.

“It’s important to know that sleep need changes throughout life; children and teens need much more sleep than adults, and as we reach older adulthood we may need slightly less sleep,” said Centofanti. “The amount of sleep we need to be functioning at our best can also change depending on prior sleep history. For example, a period of sleep deprivation, illness, or high stress may mean you need more

A Man’s Best Friend: How Pets Improve Mental Health

Matt Marasco Sports Editor

Have you ever been having a bad day and been comforted by a dog?

Studies done by the American Heart Association (AHA) show that dogs reduce stress, anxiety, and depression; ease loneliness; encourage exercise, and improve overall health. Along with those benefits, there is less chance of a cardiac event.

As dogs now roam around the DLC from time to time, many students have noticed a decrease in stress levels and anxiety when they are around a dog.

“I have dogs at home who always are around me, so when I see the dogs at school I get happy and I forgot about all the stressful things I have going on in my life,” said junior Hayley Womble.

The Upper School usually has a dog on campus about one day a week. The dogs Sherman and Winnie, belonging to Upper School Media Director Mrs. Kristen Hewitt and Student Services Counselor Dr. Yates are well-liked by all students.

Some students even try to find the dogs before their tests to help them prepare.

“I love seeing Sherman on campus. I try to find him before my quizzes or tests as I feel I do better when I am calmer,” said sophomore Rangeley Newmyer.

Mrs. Hewitt believes having her dog at school helps the students in the DLC study and work more efficiently.

“One of the things I noticed is it seems like every time Sherman comes, I have a student who has a bad day or there's somebody who's kind of just like down or they got a bad grade. Having Sherman here makes students just want to snuggle up and pet him, so he just brings a smile to their faces and makes things a little more easygoing,” exclaimed Mrs. Hewitt.

As the School is considered a workplace, the AHA backs Mrs.

Hewitt's claims as pets in the workplace reduce stress and invoke employee satisfaction. Pets also provide companionship which increases productivity, physical fitness, and togetherness.

Although dogs are a great stress reliever, 15 percent of Americans are allergic to dogs including junior Andrew Lappin.

sleep than usual for a little while.”

Interestingly, most students see a correlation between the amount of sleep and production in school.

Junior Christian Balistreri believes he gets an adequate amount of sleep each night.

“I would say on average seven to seven and a half hours of sleep per night. I try to get to bed by 10:45 p.m. and then wake by 6:30 a.m., but it usually takes me some time to fall asleep though,” said Balistreri.

“I would say that when I get less sleep, I’m unable to fully pay attention and work my hardest. But when I get my usual amount of sleep, my focus level is a lot better,” added Balistreri.

Similarly to Balistreri, freshman

Julian Luiz also feels that he gets a sufficient amount of sleep each night.

“Normally I get around eight to nine hours of sleep per night. I usually get to bed around 10:30 p.m. and then wake up around 7 a.m.,” said Luiz.

“When I get more sleep, I would say I’m definitely more locked in on my work. I also find that I can pay better attention to my classes, whereas when I get less sleep, I lose focus more easily,” added Luiz.

Even though the “eight hours of sleep” rule may not necessarily be true, it is still important for people, especially high school students, to make sure they are getting enough sleep each night to be able to properly function the next day.

“I have been allergic to dogs my whole life,” said a saddened Lappin.

“ Although I think they are cute and I hope they help the other students, they just do not help me. I have to find other ways to reduce stress like playing pickleball with my friends,” he added.

Although dogs are the go-to pet at Benjamin, it does not have to be a dog or a cat that helps your health. According to helpguide.org, owning a rabbit, a bird, or even a lizard or snake can be beneficial. Even fish can help reduce muscle tension.

Pets are great for other things than just reducing stress and anxiety, for example, pets can help you meet new people, add structure to your daily routine, and even help you lose weight. As a study at Northeastern University found that owners that regularly walked their dog had an increase in weight loss.

Along with pets being helpful in people's homes and at school, dogs are now being used in the medical field more often. The main contribution dogs make is aiding the blind and others by being service dogs.

For example, many service dogs know to lay in between the ground and their owner during episodes to prevent brain damage. Pets also aid to humans who have Alzheimer's disease and dementia as Research at the University of California at Davis concluded that Alzheimer’s patients suffer less stress and have fewer anxious outbursts if there is a dog or cat in the home.

Along with the many health benefits pets present, they can also aid in the raising of a child. Pets are proven to teach empathy, responsibility, and compassion. They also reduce separation anxiety and reduce the risk of allergies according to helpguide.org. Children with learning disabilities are also more likely to be equipped with handling in-school situations if they have a dog in their life.

Overall, pets are not only cute and friendly, but they are real-life superheroes as they help everyone from infants to senior citizens through everyday challenges. It is no wonder that more and more households across the world are adopting the idea of having pets inside their homes.

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Sherman, Mrs. Hewitt’s dog, sleeps during his off time after spending the day raising spirits around campus.

Photo by Mrs. Hewitt

Freshmen Reid Waxman dozes off during class. Getting the right amount of sleep each night is crucial to alertness during school and can even help you learn information faster. (Photo by Alex Perkins)

Senior Ingrid Corpus was named to the FHSAA’s 29th Annual Florida Dairy Farmers Academic All-State Team.

I love seeing Sherman on campus. I try to find him before my quizzes or tests as I feel I do better when I am calmer.

-Rangeley Newmyer

How Is Love Defined?

Lila Brodner Staff Writer

Stated by vocabulary.com, love is a noun meaning a strong positive emotion of regard and affection. Katy Perry sings in her song “Teenage Dream”, “I finally found you, my missing puzzle piece”, or The Hit Crew sings in their song l-o-v-e, “ L is for the way you look at me; O is for the only one I see; V is very, very extraordinary; E is even more than anyone that you adore can”.

Love is important because it shows how you feel emotionally and physically. You can show it by gift-giving, physical touch, quality time, words of affirmation, and acts of service. Showing affection makes one feel good and has multiple forms, including love for sports, partners, and animals. Love is just showing affection for something.

Dating is a part of life, and everyone should experience it to have someone they can trust and relate to always. Maggie Smith, a junior who is dating Micah Griffith, a junior, says, “Micah’s personality is like no one I have ever met. He is so shy but also has this amazing personality that only his family and friends see. He always puts me first.” Having a go to person and someone you can relate to is definitely something you should look for in a relationship. “I think that Micah and I click because we both have such similar personalities. He’s so shy, yet so outgoing when you get to know him. I think that makes us so good together.”

Loving includes animals too, furry friends is something everyone loves. Erik Nutter, a freshman says, “I have a dog named Remy, I love him so much, I love going home,

How Reading For Pleasure Affects A Student

Sage Ponchock Staff Writer

knowing he is waiting for me.” It is the best when you have had that furry friend in your family for a long time. Marlee Schwab, a freshman says, “I have had my dog Piper and she has been in my family for a while now. She protects me at every cost and is so cuddly too.”

Loving something is not just about a person, it can be about an object that you have played your whole life. Madison Jayson, a freshman varsity lacrosse player says, “I love lacrosse because it gives me a space to not think and just play. It shows a side of me that it different then everyday me.” Growing up with a sport is just a different astrosphere. “ I fell in love with volleyball when I was about 7 years old. Since my dad was the athletic director, I was always around the volleyball team, and they were literally my idols. I could name each and every roster from the past ten years without error. Volleyball raised me” says Smith.

Love is something you feel when you look at something or someone, it is something you know you will always have either a furry animal, sports, or a person. You express yourself with love.

Books, encouraged by every teacher, cherished by millions. But why? Why are we constantly encouraged to read? Does it really better our minds, improve our vocabulary, and help us in the real world? Yes.

The opinion of books varies for a multitude of reasons, and throughout history, playwrights have been constantly objects of debate. Even in Shakespeare’s time, writers were considered ridiculous for their supposedly unrealistic or scandalous creations. As time progressed, however, writers became the object of immense research, and their works fueled the imagination. Even in the nineteenth century, some believed reading to muddle the mind.

Now, however, studies have shown reading to improve vocabulary and expand creativity immensely.

Many recent studies have proven that standardized test scores in students who read for pleasure are much higher than those who do not. Studies have seen increased scores in vocabulary, reading comprehension, spelling, and world understanding among readers.

Students at the Benjamin School are assigned much reading as part of their curriculum, which also helps in these standardized tests. Students who read apart from assignments say that they believe themselves to be much better equipped in reading comprehension and vocabulary exams.

Unfortunately, fewer and fewer people in America read for pleasure today. Most spend time on social media or watching television which is often counter-productive in terms of bettering one’s mind. According to an article in the Washington Post,

the number of Americans who read for pleasure has dropped approximately thirty percent since 2004, majorly due to the rise of technology. Unfortunately, this study also shows people ages 15-25 read the least on a daily basis. The average American spends 2 hours and 45 minutes per day watching television, about 10 times the amount devoted to pleasure reading. Furthermore, the average teenager in America has screen time of over eight hours!

Even the majority of Benjamin students do not appreciate reading. Freshman Ava Reece states that she “doesn’t really read because it’s not interesting to me. I just watch movies or shows instead”.

There are many movies and tv shows that can broaden knowledge and maybe even vocabulary, but watching TV does not have nearly as many benefits as reading a book.

Finding The Motivation To Make A Difference

Chase Zur Staff Writer

In a world with countless issues that demand attention, it can be overwhelming to think about where to start when it comes to making a difference. Many people think that impact must be world-changing, but even the smallest actions can have a profound effect. Whether it's listening to a friend in a time of need or volunteering at a charity, each act of kindness has the potential to make a positive difference.

So why make an impact? Why go out of your way to try to make someone else’s situation a little bit better? Junior Zoe Cooper explains the immeasurable benefits that can come from choosing this path.

“Helping others and making an impact results in a joy incomparable to any emotion that will ever come out of doing something for only yourself. Impact makes you feel an unparalleled sense of accomplishment, and it also helps you grow as a person. By pushing yourself to make an impact, you start to understand new perspectives and gain a sense of gratitude for your own life,” Cooper said.

In a series of recent interviews, it's clear that both students and teachers at Benjamin have different ideas of what impact means and how they can make a difference in the world around them. Sophomore Darrow Becker believes the ability to have impact is inherent in human nature

“I think the best way to define impact is by using its verb form, to impact. To impact can mean providing growth to your community, or it could simply be bringing change you wish to see in yourself. In every definition, impacting relates to having some sort of effect, which I think people do naturally, but the type of

impact you’ll have is something that only you can decide,” said Becker.

Becker recently started tutoring underprivileged children through LearnToBe, an online website which helps provide free virtual tutoring to low-income families or those with learning disabilities. The experience has been meaningful for him and he has found that by helping others, he has enriched his own life as well.

“I have been tutoring a sixth grader named Mark, whose family recently moved out of Ukraine due to conflicts there, and has two parents that only speak Ukrainian. I join him every Sunday answering any questions he may have as his parents are unfortunately unable to help him with his english-based school work. Not only has the tutoring improved myself, but Mark has reached out to me to tell me that I have helped him improve his grade and have also helped him really enjoy school,” Becker remarked.

There are many ways, beyond tutoring, to make an impact. It can be as simple as having an extra conversation with someone to make them

more comfortable and confident. English teacher, Mrs. Suzanne McCambridge, did just this a couple of years ago when she helped uncover a learning disability in one of her students.

“At a past school I was working with, I noticed one of my students was struggling in English and it had been going on for a little while. I told her to come after school and I sat down with her, talked with her, and asked her to read for me some of the book we were discussing at the time.

As soon as she started reading, it was clear that she had a learning difference, so I contacted her parents and they took her to a doctor, and got her tested. The parents thanked me immensely after this and told me it had changed her life and gave her confidence that she didn’t have before,” McCambridge explained.

In addition to Becker and McCambridge, College Counselor, Mrs. Becca Goldberg also strives to make an impact on other people's lives but believes that personal connection is helpful to achieve the desired result.

“My philosophy as a counselor and a professional is to make my students or anyone I encounter feel seen and valued. I think that if you're going to have an impact on someone,

you have to be interested in them, get to know them, and develop a rapport and relationship before you can do any sort of guidance or mentorship to get them to think beyond what they are currently doing,’’ Goldberg explained.

The experience of sophomore Vanessa Zito echoes Goldberg’s claim that knowing someone well is an important factor for making a positive impact.

“I volunteer at the Holy Ground Organization where I help students struggling with poverty with their school work. I noticed that the girl I was helping had worn the same shirt each day I saw her. I quickly went back to my house and returned the next day carrying the shirts that I outgrew from when I was younger. She was so appreciative when I gave her those shirts because she saw that I was thinking of her and really cared,” Zito said.

The stories of Becker, McCambridge, Goldberg, and Zito show that making an impact can not only change someone’s world for the better, but it can also make the person who is helping feel a unique sense of purpose and fulfillment.

So what actions are being taken to combat this drop in reading for pleasure? Last quarter, Benjamin's teachers began offering extra credit to a student who read a book, one not assigned, and wrote a report on it. According to several students I spoke to, this was “really motivating. I don’t read much but I felt like it was worth it for the extra credit.” Benjamin's teachers are striving to bring back the joy of reading and are succeeding in doing it. Not only do they assign interesting and fun books for class, but they highly encourage independent reading for its many benefits. Since many students are less and less interested in reading, teachers have also begun assigning IXL’s which help with grammar and reading comprehension. Though not the same as a good book, IXL has also shown to be very helpful on SAT and PSAT’s.

NHS

Another inductee, junior Hayley Womble, enjoyed her experience of getting inducted into the National Honor Society.

“I applied because I wanted to continue my service to people around my community and by being a member I can help those around me. The induction ceremony was a fun experience because I got to sign my name and officially become part of NHS,” said Womble.

Once inducted into NHS, students are required to do at least 12 hours of community service each semester along with other requirements.

“The students have to meet all of the pillars. They contribute to the school and community by helping out whenever they can, tutoring, a group project, and other kinds of community service,” said Ms. Misslehorn.

Students are able to be inducted into NHS as early as sophomore year., as that is when they are first eligible to join the school’s chapter This year, Sophomore Scott Noble along with 16 of his classmates were inducted.

“I am happy to be inducted to NHS as a sophomore because I now can set an early example for the student body. I also like the group community service NHS projects that I can now participate in,” said Noble.

Although most students get inducted into NHS in the spring, there are also inductions in the fall for seniors who would like to be admitted into the society before they send their applications off to colleges later in the fall.

Juniors Maggie Smith and Micah Griffith pose for a picture while on a date.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, American Time Use Survey. Annual estimates obtained via retrieval tool at https://www.bls. gov/webapps/legacy/tustab11a.htm.

Junior Zoe Cooper, a member of the Care Crew Organization, helps an underprivileged student with her homework every Monday after school.

While volunteering at the Holy Ground Organization, sophomore Vanessa Zito teaches one of the children how to cut vegetables and shared a day at the Rapids Water Park with another.

Service Starts At Home: The Students Can Do More

On March 29, the Class of 2023 ventured to the Lower School campus to put on a carnival for the youngest children that are at Benjamin. The seniors brought joy, fun, and entertainment for the pre-K, Kindergarten, and 1st grade students through events, including but not limited to, Balloon Pop, Egg Hunt, Face Painting. This journey to North Palm Beach allowed the seniors to provide service within their own Benjamin community, something the School should strive to continue in coming school years.

The sense of school spirit and unity that was inspired from the seniors was incredibly positive and a trend that Benjamin should look to further. Empowering students to make an impact on this Grandiflora campus is step one to truly embodying service as a Benjamin student. While all of the service that our clubs do outside of school is fantastic, the idea of service should also be internal, as students should have a desire

to construct a positive atmosphere at the place that they call home for four years.

This year’s senior class gift were the orange and blue adirondack chairs by the lake. While the school appreciates this class gift, just like the awning from the Class of 2022, there could be more meaning put behind the chairs if they were made by the Benjineers. They should be involved with something as important as the senior class gift, a recently formed tradition of the Upper School. By involving members of the school rather than bringing the chairs from an outside company that Benjamin feels no connection to, the gift simply does not feel the same; students returned from spring break to just see the chairs by the lake with less sentimental value.

Students also returned to see new topiary and bushes. The Environmental Club should have had some say in which ones were picked, or perhaps

even they should have helped plant them. This sense of involvement and giving back really is more important than it may seem. The School should be able to take advantage of the resources that are placed in front of them, and that includes the Environmental Club. On a similar note, if the School must package mail to be sent somewhere, the students that the mail may pertain to -- or volunteers -- could help.

Too much is placed onto the maintenance crew that Benjamin students could be able to help out with. They spend a high quantity of time setting up the tables for exams at the end of each semester, but isn’t this really something that should be done by the students, the ones who are actually taking the exams? We students should be putting in time and effort for our main commitments such as exams and in-class activities. In the same vein, in productions such as the musical, why don’t we have students

help construct the set? Why don’t we have an all-student stage crew to help relieve stress off of the teachers like Mr. Peck, who have other major responsibilities? These productions are to highlight us students, so there should be a push for us to provide services for them.

The School could look for volunteers, particularly upperclassmen, to help with traffic duty in the mornings and after school. This would allow teachers and administrators to focus on their other work such as grading or meetings. Being such a short commitment at around 15 minutes per day max, it is something that could find interest. Additionally, Mr. Jacobsen could have each club have a few days or one week of traffic duty, effectively relieving the stress of this task from faculty and maintenance, especially since it is not something that they should have to worry about. Driving to and from school is a student-focused activity, so students should be

more involved with that. We students should be viewed as helpers. We do not just come and go each day and view school as a place where we are forced to come then quickly leave. We want the best possible high school experiences. There is much that we are capable of doing that would add value to the Upper School. The sense of community that is fostered from helping the school internally was demonstrated just a few weeks ago with the carnival that the seniors threw.

*This editorial is the opinion of The Pharcyde and therefore is not attributed to one singular person.

Male Cheer and Powderpuff, Long-Standing Benjamin Traditions Face Controversy, Not Being Allowed

By Dev Maharaj Staff Writer

Male Cheer and Powderpuff have been long-standing traditions at The Benjamin School. This provides students with an opportunity to participate in activities that may not have been typically available in other places. However, in recent years, these events have come under fire for promoting gender stereotypes and reinforcing outdated ideas about gender roles. Despite these criticisms, there are many reasons why Male Cheer and Powderpuff should not be banned.

Male Cheer is an event where a group of boys performs a coordinated dance routine in cheerleading uniforms for the entire school or homecoming game. Some argue that this event reinforces gender stereotypes by suggesting that girls cannot play “masculine” sports. Others contend that by allowing girls to participate in a sport that guys have traditionally dominated, this event fosters tolerance and acceptance and breaks down gender preconceptions that girls cannot play “masculine” sports. In fact, many boys have expressed an interest in cheerleading, and more and more males are joining cheer teams each year. By allowing boys to participate in cheerleading, Male Cheer can help

the PHARCYDE

create a more accepting and tolerant school community that breaks down gender barriers and allows students to express themselves in new ways.

Similarly, Powderpuff is a game of flag football played by a group of girls who assume the roles of boys. While some argue that this event reinforces gender stereotypes by suggesting that girls cannot play "masculine" sports, others argue that it promotes inclusivity and acceptance by allowing girls to participate in a sport that boys have traditionally dominated. In fact, in recent years, there has been a significant increase in the number of girls playing football all over the country. Many schools and communities have started to form girls' football teams, and several states have even established official girls' football leagues. By allowing girls to play football and participate in Powderpuff, schools can help create a more inclusive and accepting school environment.

Sienna Barboni, a ninth-grader, and participant in the Powderpuff event shares her thoughts on why it is unnecessary to ban the event.

"I thought that it was really fun and a good way to come together, to practice and compete against one another," Barboni stated. "I don’t see why it should be banned because I understand that it is a school tradition that has been around for many years and everyone looks forward to it every year and if they changed the

event it just wouldn’t be the same," she adds.

Furthermore, events like Male Cheer and Powderpuff can be a source of school spirit and community building. These events often involve a significant amount of planning and preparation, which can bring students and faculty members together. The events also create a bit of friendly competition and rivalry between grades. Events like Male Cheer and Powderpuff can help create a more positive school culture. Another reason why these events should not be banned is that they provide an opportunity for students to develop new skills and interests.

Male Cheer and Powderpuff allow students to step outside their comfort zones and try new things, such as learning a dance routine, practicing football, or coaching. These experiences can help students develop new talents, and may even inspire them to pursue these activities outside of school.

Moreover, banning Male Cheer and Powderpuff may have unintended consequences. For example, it could lead to a decrease in school spirit or an increase in harmful gender stereotypes. Students may feel discouraged from participating in other school events or from expressing themselves in ways that are seen as "unconventional" or "non-traditional."

It is important to note that these events are not the only ones that have

come under scrutiny for promoting gender stereotypes. Other events such as prom king and queen or dress codes have also been criticized for reinforcing gender norms. However, banning these events is not the solution. Rather, schools should work towards creating a more inclusive and accepting environment for all students, regardless of gender or gender identity. This includes promoting activities that break down gender barriers and encouraging students to express themselves in ways that are true to themselves.

Events like Male Cheer and Powderpuff can contribute to the development of a more tolerant school

community by promoting inclusivity, dismantling gender boundaries, and creating school pride. Schools should seek to ensure that they are inclusive and inviting to all students, regardless of gender or gender identity, rather than prohibiting these gatherings. Events like Male Cheer and Powderpuff play a significant role in building a more welcoming and varied school community as we work towards a more inclusive society.

of the writer or the majority opinion of The Pharcyde Editorial Board. They are not the opinion of The Benjamin School or our advertisers.

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A group of freshmen boys, dressed in sunglasses, bow ties, and tank top shirts, perform in the Male Cheer event during Homecoming week in the first semester.

Photo by Eclaire Solano

Reclassing: When Moving Backward Is Mistaken for Moving Forward

By Reid Waxman Staff Writer

As the school year ends, some students are faced with deciding whether to reclass. Reclassification is repeating a grade level to improve academic performance or athletic eligibility. Some believe better courses of action may exist. Students should not reclass for athletic purposes.

Reclassifying can provide students with numerous benefits that can lead to long-term success. It is innovative for students who are looking to gain an athletic advantage. By repeating a year of high school, students are given an extra year to develop their athletic skills, which increases their chance of playing their sport collegiately. This additional year of training and experience can significantly improve their performance and help them achieve their sports goals. For example, if a student-athlete is close to getting a scholarship but needs a little more time to develop their skills, reclassifying can be an excellent option for them.

While reclassifying may initially be seen as a setback, its benefits can make it a wise investment in a student’s future success. It could allow students to mature emotionally and socially, giving them an extra year to develop crucial life skills. It can give students more time to build friendships and relationships with teachers, coaches, and other staff members, which can benefit mental health. It also allows the students to compete at a higher level athletically, giving

them an extra year to develop their skills and physical abilities.

Reclassifying student-athletes who suffered an injury or illness during their high school careers that stopped their growth in their sport is brilliant. If they miss significant time due to an injury or disease, they may need more time to showcase their abilities to college coaches or scouts. Reclassifying can give them the extra year to get healthy and show what they can do on the field or court.

Lastly, reclassing can benefit students who need to improve their academic standing. Some students may struggle academically during their high school careers, and reclassifying can give them an additional year to improve their grades and test scores. This extra year can significantly improve their ability to get into the college of their choice and receive the necessary academic scholarships.

Although reclassification has its benefits, it has its negatives. It hurts the integrity of high school sports. The purpose of his school sports is to allow students to compete against each other on a level playing field. Allowing older, more physically mature students to play high school sports removes the competition’s fairness and equality. It gives an unfair advantage to those who reclass, which goes against the spirit of sports. No fifthyear senior should be allowed to play high school sports.

It not only hurts the competition but can also have negative consequences for students. Repeating a year of high school can impact a student’s mental health and self-esteem.

It could also disrupt their friendships and relationships.

High school is essential for students to develop academically, socially, and emotionally. Reclassifying sports can limit a student’s personal and academic growth opportunities. Delaying graduation can also set back a student’s ability to pursue college.

High school sports should promote teamwork, sportsmanship, and personal growth. While sports can provide valuable lessons and experiences, athletics should not take priority over personal growth and academics. Reclassification sends the team the message that winning is more important than the education and overall development of the student-athlete.

The culture of hyper-competitiveness and pressure to perform at the level of a college-bound athlete should not be allowed. Allowing and encouraging reclassification adds pressure on athletes. It encourages athletes to push themselves to the point of burnout and injury. It creates a culture where winning is everything, something that really isn’t a positive. Students should play for the enjoyment and ability to get better, not a toxic culture where winning is the only thing that matters.

While reclassing benefits student-athletes, the potential negative consequences outweigh the positives. High school sports should be about fairness and equality, not just their athletic abilities. Prioritizing education and personal growth over athletics will create a healthier and more balanced high school experience for all students.

How Having A Job In High School Has Its Major Benefits

By Joey Tomassetti Managing Editor

Many students are looking forward to joining the workforce after graduating college. Whether they want to be a doctor, a lawyer, or a professional athlete, there are hundreds of different jobs out there for the taking.

But what if students do not want to wait until after getting their degree? What if students want to start making money right now during their high school years? As studies show, it is very beneficial for students to have a job outside of school.

According to a study by waldenu.edu, nearly 30% of high school students are employed in a job for at least a portion of the school year.

For many, working a job provides spending money for a social life. For others, working is necessary to help the family manage their financial situation or to save for college. Besides earning money, being employed while learning has other benefits.

One benefit of students having a job is that it can teach the relationship between earnings and education. Most high school students work low-income jobs that require little to no education. This can help make it clear that schooling is essential to earn a good living, and in turn, students will strive for more and work harder both in and out of the clasroom to increase their grades.

Another benefit of students having a job is that it can teach them the value of money. Without a job, teenagers must rely on other people’s

money. Having a job gives students their own money and can help them understand the true value of the dollar. It can also teach the importance of budgeting, which allows students to see how quickly hard-earned money can disappear on frivolous things.

Another benefit of students having a job is that it can teach time management skills. Balancing a job with studies requires students to learn how to schedule their day. It can also build confidence in them, as holding down a job can make students feel more comfortable than they might otherwise feel.

One other benefit of students having a job is that it helps them stay out of trouble. In a study by science.org, it was shown that having summer jobs decreased the number of incidents of violence among youths by 43%. After-school jobs reap similar rewards.

Some may argue that having a job outside of school can hurt the student’s level of academic achievement. While the correlation between working and grades is not easy to measure, it still is an appropriate concern for this situation. But, it can be controlled by the student and their parents.

When a student first gets hired, it is important to keep them from overloading themselves with work. Initially, they need to minimize the number of hours they work. If they prove that they can handle the burden of being an employee while also keeping good grades in school, then they can increase their workload by a little more. It’s important to avoid being overworked and having grades suffer as a result of this mistake.

It all comes down to the student’s preference, though. If they are more comfortable working a certain amount of hours or only working on certain days, then that is perfectly fine. The fact that they are already working at a young age shows early signs of maturity, responsibility, and understanding of what being an adult is like.

As can be seen, there are more pros than cons of having a job as a high school student. Besides, who doesn’t want to make some profit as a fourteen to eighteen-year-old?

By Lila Brodner Staff Writer

Multicolored lights flashing overhead as the mosh pit fises and falls to the beats of the latest Drake song. Across the room, a sea of sparkling dresses and fitted tuxedoes surround a buffet of burgers, salads, and appetizers as another group scoops ice cream into bowls that look like glass shells. Who does not want to be part of this world?

On April 15, the upperclassmen were dancing the night away at prom. But why the limitation to only upperclassmen? Why can sophomores only attend if promposed to? Why can’t freshmen join in the fun as well? Why are we underclassmen not included in the fun?

Indeed, freshman should be welcomed at prom. It should not be an event that only includes juniors and seniors; further inclusion is important for a variety of reasons.

Dean of Students Mr. Kevin Jacobson, says, “For juniors and seniors and its designed for the end of the year because it is a right of passage for college or going into senior year. We, the administrators, look at it differently than Homecoming because prom is traditional for upperclassmen.” Freshman are not allowed because they have to deserve their time at this dance and have to prove that they are welcomed.”

Freshmen friends

It is important to have friends from all grade levels, including upperclassmen and underclassmen being friends. Olivia Martinez, a senior says, “I met underclassmen through cheerleading and seeing them through out the day and watching them grow up through the year or two I have known them is such a great experience and I like helping them as much as I can.” Prom is an experience that all friends should experience together, does not matter what grade.

Make memories

Taking photos, making tik toks, and getting ready together are all ways of making memories before and during prom. Freshman should be allowed to make those memories during prom, because when they are allowed to go to prom, their senior friends won’t be there anymore with them. Marlee Schwab, a freshman says, “Homecoming was so much fun being able to hang out with my friends from all grades. I would love to be able to have another dance with

my senior friends.”

The importance of community

High school is an experience to find yourself with different people and environments. The high school community helps you with that, and going to prom is another experience for freshman. They should be exposed to it earlier and it would give them more options to be able to be open to more things.

The upperclassmen are role models to the freshman and going to prom shows the freshman how they should act outside of school in other settings. The freshman are also examples to the upperclassmen, them being younger reminds the upperclassmen on how they used to be and how innocent they were.

Lower cost

Having more people go means more people will pay. It will cost less money for the people to pay to be able to go and then there could be better decorations, food, and overall experience for everyone to enjoy prom better.

More opportunities for dates

Freshmen going means wider variety for dates, because of class repeats, sophmores going and more friends going. If you do not have a date for prom and want to go with a friend, you can go with your teammate or classmate that is a freshman. Also, sophomores can ask their younger friends, so they do not have to depend on older peers.

Inclusive Afterparty

It would make the after party feel more exclusive and different than prom. Since freshman are so young and they are not allowed to go out yet, the after party will just be for upperclassmen and not feel like a second prom. It will be more fun for upperclassmen to go to the after party and would make people want to go

Freshman should be welcomed to prom to experience it, make memories, and help lower the cost of it. They are apart of the Upper School community and should be welcomed in every opportunity that comes their way, and prom is just one way to do that.

Florida’s Education System:

Introduction Potential Solutions To Fix Issues

As Florida Governor Ron DeSantis prepares to announce his campaign for the presidency, he has ramped up his involvement in Florida schools. Not only is he doubling down on existing legislation, he’s also introducing new rules and regulations — and making sure the Education Department follows through. While he largely focused on K-12 in the early years of his term, this year he has launched new plans to remake higher education.

- Review and change government education. The laws should be reviewed and changed to allow flexibility. Educators need to be given a supportive environment and allowed more autonomy rather than being forced to stick to scripted lessons. The primary goal of schools in the state should be to teach students valuable knowledge and not just for testing or test preparation.

- Improve salaries and benefits.

Fewer young people are choosing to become teachers and more veteran educators are leaving the profession. From 2010 through 2018, there has been a 35 percent decline in people taking teacher-preparation programs. Before Florida can experience an increase in teaching and non-teaching staff, there needs to be an increase in salaries and benefits.

- Implement multi-year conracts to increase job security.

Across the United States, there’s a huge decline in interest in teaching programs. Everyone is starting to perceive teaching as an undesirable career and before we know it, there will be zero teachers in schools. Lawmakers should implement multi-year contracts so teachers can boast of job security rather than face dismissal every year.

- Encourage dialogue between senior educators, government, and other stakeholders to advocate for solutions. The legislature can greatly improve Florida’s education system. Senior educators, members of the House, The Board of Education, and the government need to advocate for possible solutions. Some actions to advocate for include allowing multi-year contracts, fair and competitive pay for teachers, reduction of standardized testing, and removal of high stakes associated with tests.

- Encourage teachers to pursue further studies.

Florida’s education system would benefit from more influential voices. There is a shortage of leaders who can help to address these challenges in public schools. A doctorate degree in education can unlock new opportunities for teachers who are interested in leadership roles. Administrators, directors, and other educational leaders will then be in positions where they can better influence and improve the education system and make a difference not only for teachers, but also the students.

- Allocate more funding to improve school and teacher resources. The State government should allocate more funding to improve school infrastructure as well as teacher resources. Most districts need better classrooms, new teachers need mentoring support and non-teaching professionals also require professional development. Children from lower-income families need financial assistance and troubled kids require access to counseling services.

- Partner with community-based organizations, NGOs, and corporates to improve student welfare. Sometimes, it requires more than the government to improve the education system. NGOs, corporates, and community-based organizations can contribute to improving student welfare. They could solicit donations and grants to help provide books, materials, or school uniforms for homeless kids or those from low-income homes.

System: Broken or Booming?

Key Issues

- In January, DeSantis unveiled an aggressive higher education proposal; in late February, the Florida House followed the announcement by introducing HB 999, a bill that outlines specific changes to how public postsecondary educational institutions operate. If adopted, the legislation would take effect on July 1, 2023.

- Before this year, DeSantis had already signed a bill to ban transgender athletes from women’s and girls’ public school teams and banned more than 40 percent of math textbooks that publishers submitted for review, which he said contained “woke” ideology.

- He passed the Florida Parental Rights in Education Act that took effect in July 2022, which he called an effort to give parents more control over what their children learn at school. Critics have called it the “Don’t Say Gay” bill for how it bans talk about sexuality and gender in grades K-3.

- Earlier in his term, he passed a contentious bill that allowed more teachers to be armed at school in response to the Parkland shooting.

- Florida’s Individual Freedom Act, colloquially known as the Stop WOKE Act, took effect in July 2022 to “prevent discrimination in the workplace and public schools,” according to the text, but has caused confusion for educators who describe “walking on eggshells” in their classrooms so as to not violate the law.

- This year, DeSantis isn’t slowing down. He has picked a fight with the College Board over AP African American studies and has hinted at doing away with AP courses altogether.

- His laws against the teaching of race, sexual orientation, and gender have led to strict book bans in various school districts.

- In higher education, the governor is rolling back diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives; reducing tenure protections; and moving school leaders to review core courses to make sure they’re free of “liberal indoctrination.”

Conclusion

Overall, Governor Desantis has made a plethora of rule changes to Florida’s education system. Although some students and their parents are in favor of the new policies, there are also many who are against them. By potentially getting rid of AP courses, passing the “Don’t Say Gay” Bill, and passing the Stop WOKE Act, Desantis has created heavy controversy in one of the state’s most important systems.

Community Gathers To Raise Funds, Toast “The Magic of TBS” At BASH ‘23

Haley Roth Staff Writer

The BASH gala, held on Mar. 4, 2023, occurred at PGA National Resort and Spa. This annual fundraiser was attended by Benjamin parents, faculty, and community leaders. The theme of BASH this year was the Magic of TBS, highlighting how remarkable The Benjamin School and the people within it are.

BASH, or Building a Scholastic Heritage, is Benjamin’s largest annual fundraiser, first held in 1985. This gala contains food, drinks, events, and entertainment. All money raised at this event is put towards furthering The Benjamin School budget and facilities.

As the theme of this year’s BASH was magic, decorations and entertainment were over the top as well as full of classic tricks. Magicians and more made the night unforgettable and so much more enjoyable.

A mother of multiple Benjamin students, Mrs. Shannon Smith, shared, “BASH had magic tricks, dancing, laughing, making new friends, and creating the best community for our families. The auctions were spectacular and very exciting.”

As always, BASH held many silent auctions with various prizes. This helps the gala raise money as well as allows the guests to interact with BASH as well as each other in a fun way. For winners of the silent auction, there were many different rewards including a summer member-

ship to the Breakers Hotel on Palm Beach Island.

The 2023 BASH surpassed parents' and attendees’ expectations with the funds raised and the number of people in attendance. The fundraiser was better than ever before, and everyone present was excited by meeting other members of the Benjamin family.

“We had so many new faces and so much excitement in the room”, exclaimed Mrs. Smith, “We raised record-breaking funds for our school to support all areas to continue to make TBS the standard of excellence for schools”.

All guests of BASH enjoyed the gala and being around fellow parents and faculty. Each attendee had a different favorite part that made the night special for them. Whether it was the food, magic shows, auction, or conversations, the night was memorable for parents.

“BASH was fabulous this year. There was high energy and excitement throughout the evening. The highlights were the entertainment, the ability to mingle with parents, and the successful live auction”, said Mrs. Abbe Groffman.

Mrs. Smith stated, “My favorite part of BASH was seeing all of our community working together and making special memories to make the best possible school for all of the students.”

Overall, the 2023 BASH showcased “The Magic of TBS” with events, entertainment, and dancing.

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania Sets Stage For Marvel Future Successfully

Janet Van Dyne’s character is particularly interesting in the film. In the film’s prequel, 2018’s AntMan and the Wasp, her story while trapped in the Quantum Realm over two decades was left completely unscathed. This film finally covers what happened to Janet and how she spent those years trapped, detailing her past relationship with Kang, and it was a very interesting one at that, providing new complexities to her character. Janet was hesitant to even tell those closest to her about Kang because of how destructive he could be and because she wanted to leave these details in the past.

tivation to end timelines, blaming his other variants for sending him to the Quantum Realm, vowing revenge. It felt like more of his background could have been explored with more flashbacks, perhaps to the point where his variants banished him or of him destroying timelines. Regardless, he was likely one of the best MCU villains in any of the past few movies and shows.

BASH, or Building A Scholastic Heritage, is the School’s largest fundraising event. In addition to a silent and live auction, the event features a “Call from the Heart” to raise much-needed support; this year’s Call focused on safety and security improvements. Pictured above are this year’s BASH Gala Chairs, Head of School Mr. Faus, and Board of Trustees Chair Mr. Darren Lowe.

Both parents and faculty had fun getting to know each other and talking about their love for The Benjamin School. The auction, magicians, and dancefloor kept guests entertained as well as involved in the gala.

This year’s BASH was better than ever before while still keeping the traditions and well-known aspects

of the gala that have happened since the start of this fundraiser. No matter what made this event the perfect night for the Benjamin community, it is apparent that everyone enjoyed showing their orange and blue appreciation as well as dancing the night away.

Streaming Preview: Bel-Air Second Season Premiers on Peacock

Jackson Zentner Staff Writer

The second season of Bel-Air was released on Thursday Feb. 23, and consists of 13 episodes that are released sporadically. The show is streamed on Peacock and continues relatively the same plot as the last season.

On Feb. 17, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania was released in theaters across the world. The third installment of Marvel’s Ant-Man film series, Quantumania follows AntMan (Paul Rudd) in defeating the almighty Kang the Conqueror (Jonathan Majors) in the Quantum Realm.

Now a teenager after The Blip, Cassie Lang (Kathryn Newton) has become invested in quantum technology while Scott Lang was stuck in the Quantum Realm. This proves to be an issue, as her technology ultimately turns on her, sucking her, Scott, Hope Van Dyne aka The Wasp (Evangeline Lilly), Janet Van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer), and Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) into the Quantum Realm, trapping them there.

The climactic battle of the film was rather enjoyable. Seeing AntMan grow as large and angry as Marvel fans have ever seen provided for some great entertainment and excitement in a film that had its action lacking to that point. Seeing all of the Quantum Realm resistance, including Hank Pym’s genius ants, fight back against Kang alongside Scott, Hope, and Cassie reminded fans of the Avengers facing Thanos and his army. The scale of the battle made it very enjoyable to watch.

One common criticism of the film thus far has been MODOK. This film retconned MODOK from his comic book origins and instead brought back a character from the first Ant-Man film. Many found the appearance and actions of the character to be lackluster, but personally, I enjoyed the character. He was amusing, and he also brought forth an interesting subplot to the film with his background. Bringing this specific character back was also simply a very interesting callback.

Just as he did in Loki, it feels like Jonathan Majors stole the show. Kang was a complex character with his mo-

Rotten Tomatoes’ critic score is a 48%, the second lowest of any MCU film or show. Ultimately, I can’t find myself to agree with this score. Rather, the audience score of 83% feels much more accurate for the quality of film that it is. Although it doesn’t stack up to some of the best MCU films, it certainly has good, enjoyable moments. The critics’ consensus on Rotten Tomatoes states that the film “mostly lacks the spark of fun that elevated earlier adventures”, but this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, and it most certainly does not ruin the film.

Senior Aditya Jasti, who writes TV and movie reviews on Instagram page, feels that the film was “more sci-fi than superhero flick.”

“While it may not be the best in the series, it’s a totally fun installment and one that’s worth seeing on the big screen,” he wrote. “All of this makes the plot feel both murky and corny, while the action is less than convincing.”

Both the mid and post credits scenes set the groundwork for some of the future of the MCU, both of which tease the future of Kang’s variants. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’s quality felt similar to the MCU that it most directly followed, that being Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Upon that movie’s release, I gave it an 8/10, so it feels fair to give Quantumania the same score of 8/10.

The first season of Bel-Air is filled with laughs, drama, and heartwarming moments. Season one follows Will as he adjusts to his new life and tries to find his place within the family dynamic. He quickly discovers his aunt and uncle are completely different from his biological parents, but also learns how to appreciate their unique parental style. As the season progresses, Will has to learn to balance his old life with his new one, as he deals with feelings of guilt, confusion, and insecurity. He starts to form relationships with his cousins and the rest of the family, and the show does a great job of showing the growth and development of each character.

Will also faces typical teenage problems, like peer pressure, dealing with bullies, and navigating romantic relationships. The show does a great job of tackling these issues, with lots of comedic relief. Despite his rebellious nature, Will's family ultimately comes to accept and love him, and the show does a good job of showing the theme of family and redemption.

The show also features a diverse cast of characters, with many different cultural backgrounds and perspectives. This is important, as it helps to expand the scope of the show, and makes it more relatable to viewers of all ages.

Season Two brings a new approach to the show, but continues the storyline of season one. I loved

watching the dynamic between Will and his cousins in season one. He was the cool family member that could talk about anything and teach them about life. He showed them that there was more to life than just following the rules and expectations. He was the effect for growth and change in Bel-Air season one and I look forward to seeing what more he brings to the show in upcoming seasons.

The new season follows Carlton Banks as he continues to navigate life in Los Angeles’ wealthiest neighborhood. Also, Carlton was not very happy when Will first arrived because he saw Will as someone who gets off easy. Carlton struggles to find friends while Will has a charming appeal to everyone he meets.

The first season brought many exciting actions and was a great show overall. Ultimately, the characters learn valuable life lessons that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. I recommend watching the second season any chance you get.

While it was being released, Bel-Air Season 2 had new episodes come out every week, making it so that viewers couldn’t wait to see the next episode.

Photo from Peacock

Charlie Spungin Editor-in-Chief

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania introduced a new world to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The film has made over $473M at the box office.

(Photo from wikipedia.com)

Uncovering The Truth: How To Conduct A Productive Interview Maximize Your Studying

Matthew Marasco Sports Editor

Every good news piece is a bunch of good relevant information that is supported by quotations by people relevant to the article. If an interview by the author of the article is not conducted correctly, the article will not include the necessary information and will be bland to the reader.

Step 1: Research your topic and your interviewee

Before conducting any interview, it’s essential to research your topic thoroughly. This will give you a better understanding of the subject matter and allow you to ask informed questions. Additionally, it’s important to research the person you’re interviewing. This can include reading any articles or books they’ve written, reviewing their social media accounts, or conducting a quick Google search. This will help you make your questions relate to their background and experience.

Step 2: Prepare your questions

Once you’ve researched your topic and interviewee, it’s time to prepare your questions. Start with open-ended questions that allow the person you are interviewing to elaborate on their thoughts and experiences. Follow-up questions can help you dive deeper into specific topics. Be sure to prioritize your questions and keep them concise. This will help you stay on track during the interview.

Step 3: Set up the interview

Before conducting the interview, you’ll need to set up a time and place

that works for both you and the interviewee. This can be done via email or phone. It’s important to be flexible and accommodating to their schedule. Additionally, make sure to confirm the interview the day before to avoid any confusion or miscommunication.

Step 4: Conduct the interview

During the interview, it’s important to build a rapport with your interviewee. Start with some small talk to put them at ease. Then, dive into your questions. Listen carefully to their answers and ask follow-up questions as needed. Be respectful and professional throughout the interview.

Step 5: Take notes

It’s essential to record the whole entire interview. If an interviewee is not comfortable with being recorded,

Reading Goes A Long Way: Learn How To Enjoy It

Amanda Duguay Staff Writer

It can be beneficial and fun to read a book. However, it could appear difficult to certain people. Don’t worry if you find it difficult to enjoy reading. These are some steps to make it more enjoyable.

Step 1: Pick the appropriate book.

Choosing the correct book is the first step to enjoying reading. Think about your taste and interests. Which do you like more, fiction or non-fiction? Do you have a favorite genre such as romance or mystery? Take into account referrals from friends or relatives. You can also read reviews or summaries of the book online to acquire a better understanding of its subject matter and writing style.

Step 2: Locate a cozy reading area.

Find a place to read that is comfortable for you after selecting your book. This might be your bed, a comfortable chair, or a park seat. Make sure there is good lighting and few distractions. If you’d like, you can even do your chores or go for a walk while listening to an audiobook.

Step 3: Reserve specific reading time.

You must make time for when you want to give all your attention to the book. This can happen just before going to sleep or during your community block. To make reading books a habit, think about including reading in your daily schedule.

Step 4: Interact with the information.

It’s important to interact with a book’s content in order to properly appreciate it. Think about asking

take notes on a google doc or paper.. Be sure to record any direct quotes accurately and attribute them to the interviewee. Additionally, make note of any body language or nonverbal cues that may be relevant to the story.

Step 6: Follow up

After the interview, it’s important to follow up with the interviewee to clarify any points or ask additional questions. This can be done via email or phone. Additionally, be sure to thank them for their time and provide them with a timeframe for when the article will be published.

Conducting an interview for a news article requires preparation, research, and professionalism. By following these steps, you can ensure that your interview is successful and leads to a great news story.

Recommended Reads

questions regarding the story, the characters, and the concepts. Imagine the setting and people in your head. To further your knowledge of the text, you can also write down your thoughts or take notes.

Step 5: Take breaks.

While dedicating time to reading is crucial, taking pauses is also important. Long reading sessions may cause eye strain or mental tiredness. Every 30 minutes or so, take a break to stretch or do something else. You’ll feel renewed and focused when you return to the book after doing this.

Step 6: Join a book club.

Participating in a book club or discussion group might enhance your reading experience. You can talk about the book with others, share your thoughts, and see others’ points of view on the book. These clubs can also direct you toward new authors and books.

Caroline Groffman Staff Writer

For any student, especially at the Benjamin School, it is crucial to know how to study well and efficiently. Assessments are a large part of class grading and without studying, it would be extremely difficult to succeed. Here are several ways to update your study sessions and increase your productivity.

The first technique that can be used to study is the Pomodoro Technique. In this process, the student is supposed to focus on one task for 25 minutes and then take a 5 minute break. After this, one goes back to another 25 minutes of studying the same topic. Then, another 5-minute break occurs, this process should happen four times. After those chunks of time dedicated to studying the student is supposed to take a longer break, lasting 30 minutes. This process should be repeated for as long as needed by following the exact steps each time.

The Feynman technique can also be used for in-depth explanations and clear understandings of topics that need to be reviewed or studied. Involved in this method is reading the material and then writing down how you would explain it to a friend or anyone else. This explanation of the topic should be very simple and easy to understand. After writing this down, it should be reviewed and corrected in any parts where the information is even partially wrong. This process can be used in an extremely positive way for a further understanding on any type of topic. It can be used with math problems, literary issues, historical events, and endless other subjects.

For any subject with a text or book involved, a simple way to have a deeper comprehension is just highlighting and annotating the words that are read. As one is reading, they should be looking for any key terms that would be crucial to know for a following assessment or assignment. Using different colors triggers different parts of the brain to remember specific facts and words that go along with certain concepts.

Another easy way to be better at studying is to just move around. Let's say you need to study for spanish, math, and history. For Spanish, you may want to stay at your desk and learn there. When it's time to go to

math, you should move to any other place, this can be a different corner of your room, a different part of the house, or a completely different location. This should be repeated for history or any other classes that you have work for.

One study tactic that takes a little more work is mind mapping. This can be done online or on a physical piece of paper. This skill is very important for any type of person who learns by seeing things physically and clearly written out. On a piece of paper, you start by drawing a medium sized circle in the center of the paper. You write the main topic of whatever you are studying is inside of that circle. Next, draw a few lines from the outside of the circle to new smaller circles. On the inside of these circles should be subheadings or smaller topics within that main category. repeat the circle and line drawings until you have all of the information that you need on the piece of paper. By the end, you should be able to see the most important information of the topic.

A very common and useful way to study is to make up practice tests. These tests can be made by the student, the teacher, a parent, or even the internet. Taking a practice test can not only make you realize what you do not know about a subject, it also prepares you for the actual exam or assignment that is on its way. For people who are not good at time management during tests, this is a great way to study.

It is crucial that before an assessment, the studying is not started the night before or even the day of the test. Studying in order to fully understand something must be done for several days or even weeks before the assessment. This gives you time to either see a teacher or talk to friends about what you do not understand and how you can improve your knowledge.

Using a calendar or even just a list will go a very long way in completing homework. When you first sit down to get work done, you should take a piece of paper and a pen or pencil and go through each class and write down every single assignment that you have to get done. Even if you think you will remember everything that you have to get done, writing it down will guarantee that nothing will be forgotten or left out.

Student Art Highlighted In Mall

Freshman Abbey Trousdell reads one of her assigned English books in the Healey Gymnasium lobby. Reflecting step 2 of this guide, Trousdell has found a comfortable place to read.

Photo by Amanda Duguay

This Nobel Prize for Literature winning novel is about a group of boys that get stranded on an island and have to survive with no adults, leading to the boys turning violent.

This is coming-of-age novel shows the story of a boy involved with gangs in Tulsa, Oklahoma who struggles with finding where he belongs in society.

Death By Chocolate Cake

Haley Roth Staff Writer

The best chocolate cake. Ever. While many claim to have the best chocolate cake recipe, this one surpasses all. With its fudgy, chocolatey sponge and delectable rich flavor everyone will want another slice. This “Death by Chocolate” cake is unarguably the perfect bite no matter what time of the year it is.

The Batter:

• Start with a box of Devil’s food cake mix.

• Follow the instructions on the box, adding all required ingredients and mixing.

• Put the cake in a pan and bake for 25 minutes at 350 degrees. Take the cake out of the pan and place it on a cooling rack until room temperature.

The Ganache:

• Heat 1 and ⅓ cups of heavy whipping cream and 4 tablespoons of butter in the microwave until the butter is melted and the heavy cream has come to a boil.

• Take the heavy cream mixture out of the microwave and immediately add 16 ounces of chocolate chips (preferably semi-sweet).

• Let the chocolate chips melt for two minutes and then stir the mixture. Make sure the ganache is smooth and silky.

The Cake:

• Crumble the chocolate cake into small, one-inch cubes.

• Place the crumbled cake in

An Essential For Passover Seder: Making Matzah Ball Soup

Chase Zur Staff Writer

In order to have the perfect Passover Seder, there needs to be a delicious Matzah Ball Soup, which is a dish made with unleavened bread dumplings in a chicken broth. The unleavened bread symbolizes the haste of the Israelites leaving Egypt and brings warmth as well as tradition to the Seder plate. It has become a crucial aspect of the plate because it represents the comfort the Israelites were able to provide for themselves after their liberation. Additionally, matzah ball soup is an important and favorable part of the Passover Seder because it is a great representation of the history of the Jewish people. However, overall, whether your looking forward to a hot meal on a cold day or the seder on Passover, matzah ball soup is definitely the way to go.

Sophomore Emily Simon loves matzah ball soup and feels that it is a key part of the traditional Seder plate.

“Matzah ball soup is the first dish served during the Passover dinner, so I feel like it always sets the stage for an amazing meal. It is definitely my favorite part of the Seder because I love how the broth is salty and all of the vegetables in it. The combination of the bready matzah balls, the yummy broth, and the steamed vegetables make the soup a delicious dish that is packed with flavor,” Simon said.

Overall, whether your looking forward to a hot meal on a cold day or the seder on Passover, matzah ball soup is definitely the way to go.

The Perfect Choco-

late Chip Cookies: A

Step-by-Step Guide

Dev Maharaj Staff Writer

a bowl and add half of the chocolate ganache.

• Mix until the cake and ganache are combined. Line a springform pan with wax paper.

• Add the cake and ganache mixture to the springform pan.

• Place the cake into the freezer for one hour.

• Leave the remaining ganache in the bowl, you will use it later.

Finishing Touches: Take the cake out of the freezer and the springform pan and place it on the desired serving plate.

• Take the remaining ganache and pour it over the top of the cake.

• Decorate and top with sprinkles, whipped cream, or ice cream.

These steps should result in a delicious chocolate cake, which can be used for a variety of reasons, whether it be just for a tasty desert, somebody’s birthday,

Chocolate chip cookies are a classic treat that can be enjoyed any time of year. Whether you’re baking for a special occasion or just want to indulge in a sweet snack, the perfect chocolate chip cookie is an essential recipe to have in your baking arsenal. Follow these simple steps to create the ultimate chocolate chip cookie that is crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside, and loaded with chocolatey goodness.

Ingredients:

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 tsp baking soda

• 1 tsp salt

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened

• 3/4 cup white granulated sugar

• 3/4 cup brown sugar

• 2 large eggs

• 2 tsp vanilla extract 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Instructions:

• Preheat your oven to 375°F.

• In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

• In a large bowl, cream together the butter, white sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add in the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.

• Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter and sugar mixture, mixing until just combined. Stir in the chocolate chips.

• Drop spoonfuls of dough onto an ungreased cookie sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden brown.

• Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool on the baking sheet for 2-3 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Tips:

• Make sure your butter is softened to room temperature. If it’s too cold, it won’t cream properly with the sugar.

• Use high-quality chocolate chips for the best flavor and texture.

Don’t overbake the cookies, as they will become too crispy and lose their chewiness. Take them out of the oven when they are lightly golden brown around the edges.

By following these simple steps, you can create the perfect chocolate chip cookies every time. These cookies are a crowd-pleaser and are sure to become a staple in your baking repertoire. Happy baking!

Serve Like a Pro: How To Perform A Jump Float

Lila Brodner Staff Writer

In volleyball there are multiple types of serves including, standing float, top spin and jump float serve. For ages 12 and under most do a standing float, once you get into the higher levels you get into more com-

How Do I Shoot A Free Throw?

Joey Tomassetti Staff Writer

plex serves. The jump float is the most common serve in volleyball and is most useful because it is hard to receive. The ball moves in the air because there is no spin, and jumping gives you a higher advantage to hit it more down and place the ball in a better spot.

Part 1: Positioning Your Body

1. Stand behind the free throw line.

When you set up for your free throw, step up to the line without going over it. It’s fine if your toes are at the edge of the line when you set up your shot.

2. Place your shooting foot in-line with the center of the rim. Look at the middle of the rim and do your best to align your foot with it. Keep your toes pointed toward the basket to help keep your shot straight.

times to develop a shooting routine.

Most basketball players use a consistent routine when setting up a free throw so they get in a familiar mindset every time they shoot. You may dribble the ball two or three times or spin it in your hands. Whatever routine you choose, keep it the same every time you make a free throw to help you feel more in the zone and eliminate distractions.

3. Hold onto the ball with your dominant hand.

Steps for jump float

1. Line up your feet and put the ball in your non-dominant hand

2. Take your first two steps

3. Toss the ball up infront of your hitting ear after second step and before third step

4. Take your last two steps

5. Jump

6. Hit the ball with a flat hand

3. Angle your body so your dominant side is closer to the hoop. Keep your shooting foot and your dominant side closer to the line. Stagger your feet so your hips and shoulders are slightly angled to the basket. The angle of your body depends on what feels comfortable, so try out different angles to see what works best for you.

4. Bend your knees and shift your weight to your toes.

Squat down slightly so your legs make about a 45-degree angle. Make sure the knee on your dominant side lines up with the center of the basket. Rather than keeping your weight in your heels, lean forward slightly and balance on your toes.

Part 2: Holding the Ball

1. Line up your shooting arm and shoulder with the middle of the hoop. Extend your arm out in front of you and turn your upper body if your hand and elbow don’t line up with the basket. Once you’re in position, avoid turning or readjusting your stance.

2. Dribble or spin the ball a few

Position the basketball so the seams are horizontal. Spread out your fingers on your dominant hand and grab onto the ball. Point your fingers in the direction of the hoop, and shoot the ball at an angle.

4. Bend your shooting arm and wrist back to make a C-shape.

Extend your dominant shooting arm in front of you so your palm is face-down. Bend your elbow at a 90-degree angle so your hand points up. Then, tilt your wrist backward so it’s near parallel with your upper arm. The ball should be about the same height as your head.

5. Steady the side of the basketball with your non-dominant hand.

Position your non-dominant hand so your fingers point straight up. Place your hand on the side of the basketball so you’re barely touching it. As you shoot, you will not use your non-dominant hand to push the ball forward, but it will help keep your shot straight.

Part 3: Taking the Shot

1. Focus on the basket rather than the ball. Look at the center of the rim and don’t look away once you find it. Visualize the ball going into the basket so you’re more confident as you

The Skill of Hockey: Stickhandle Perfectly

Jackson

Zenter Staff

Writer Hockey is a fast-paced and exciting sport that requires a combination of speed, skill, and agility. One of the most important skills for any hockey player is stickhandling. Stickhandling, simply, is controlling the puck while maneuvering around the ice and avoiding opposing players. There are certain ways to stickhandle and the basics are key to advancing to dangling.

Before you can start practicing more advanced stickhandling techniques, you need to master the basics. Here are the steps to get started:

First, get in a comfortable stance: Start with your knees bent, and your feet shoulder-width apart. Keep your weight balanced on both feet.

Start to keep your eyes up while you stickhandle: Look up to see the ice and anticipate where the puck needs to go. Avoid looking down at the puck.

Slowly, practice moving the puck around: use your stick to move the puck back and forth, from side to side, and in a figure-eight pattern. Practice moving the puck while standing still and while skating.

Once the basics of stickhandling are mastered, it is time to start practicing different dangles. Dangles are advanced stickhandling moves that allow you to maneuver around opposing players and create scoring opportunities. Here are a few of the most popular dangles and how to do them:

Toe Drag: The toe drag involves pulling the puck back towards your body using the toe of your stick. This move can be used to fake out a defender and create space for a shot or a pass.

The Deke: The deke involves faking out a defender by moving the puck from side to side, either with your stick or with your body. This move can be used to create space for a shot or a pass.

The Backhand Deke: The backhand deke involves faking out a defender using your backhand. This move can be used to create space for a shot or a pass.

The Between-the-Legs Deke: The between-the-legs deke involves moving the puck between your legs while faking out a defender. This move can be used to create space for a shot or a pass.

on your footwork, body positioning, and puck control. With practice, you can become a more effective player and be able to outmaneuver your opponents on the ice, undoubtedly one of the most important components of the sport.

shoot your free throw. Avoid looking at the ball, other players, or the crowd when you are making your shot.

2. Breathe slowly to help you focus.

It’s okay to feel nervous or under pressure when you make a free throw. Once in the ready free throw position, take a deep breath through your nose and exhale through your mouth. Keep your focus on the rim and where you want the ball to go.

3. Straighten your shooting arm and legs to shoot the ball.

In one fluid motion, push down with your toes and straighten your knees until they are fully extended. At the same time, lift your elbow to straighten your shooting arm. Your arm should be extended by the time your legs are straight.

4. Snap your wrist to follow through with your shot.

Right as you fully extend your arm, quickly bend your wrist forward to help propel the ball toward the basket. Hold your follow-through position while the ball is in the air and wait for it to land before relaxing again.

Comings & Goings

Thank you, Welcome back,

Then, position your hands correctly: grip your stick with your dominant hand at the top and your non-dominant hand near the blade. Your hands should be about shoulder-width apart.

Finally, practice using your body: use your body to protect the puck from opposing players. Keep your body between the puck and the other team.

The Spin-o-Rama: The spin-orama involves spinning around while controlling the puck with your stick. This move can be used to create space for a shot or a pass.

Backhand Toe Drag: The backhand toe drag can be used to deke out a defender or create space for a shot. This move requires practice and coordination, but with persistence, it can become a valuable tool for a player.

Stickhandling and dangles require a lot of practice to master. Start with the basics and work your way up to more advanced moves. Focus

Tennis Team Steamrolls into PostSeason After Early Season Losses

Charlie Spungin Editor-in-Chief

The Benjamin varsity boys’ tennis team is set to enter the postseason shortly after having a more successful season than the one prior.

Last year, the Bucs were 7-8 and failed to win districts. This year, the 7-6 Bucs sit above .500 and have two pending regular season games (vs. St. Edward’s and @ Jensen Beach) before they enter the postseason.

After starting the season 1-5, the team has gone 6-1 and is riding momentum toward the season’s conclusion. The 1-5 start can be accredited to a difficult schedule, as three of the Bucs’ first six matches were against some of the most recent state champions, including St. Andrew’s.

A major part of what made the Bucs improve later on in the season, according to senior Aditya Jasti, was those tough matches early on, where the Bucs lost 7-0 in their first five losses.

“Playing those tough teams gave us a really good experience,” Jasti said. I really think playing all of those players early on helped us beat all of those players that weren’t as good as us later on.”

Although the start to the season was difficult, in addition to the schedule easing up, the team improved and became better together.

“We definitely improved,” senior and singles #1 Darian Salehi said. “As we went on through the season, the team figured out how to play quality tennis together, and now, we have really good chemistry.”

Throughout the middle part of the season, Salehi dealt with a groin injury that kept him sidelined. Only now

is he getting healthy, looking forward to the imminent postseason.

“The injury sucked, but I was still able to support the team off the court and help some of the younger players in practices and matches,” he said. “I expect to win districts and hopefully make it further.”

Part of what has led to the team’s success compared to last year is a sense of selflessness and leadership, according to Jasti. With four seniors -- Salehi, Jasti, Wils Davis, and Owen Gruner,--, there is a lot of maturity on the team’s plate.

“I feel as a team, we are more complete,” he said. We actually get along with each other, and last year, no one got along, and they just cared about their own sort of stats.”

With the team set to be much more youthful next season, the current seniors are taking it upon them-

Beach Weather: Volleyball Team Starts Season

selves to help mentor their younger teammates. For Salehi, this came as acting as a second coach to Head Coach Robbie Clouse while sidelined with injury. For Jasti, it came largely on the court, particularly as a doubles partner.

“I’m trying to be a better leader and show all of our younger players that next year, they will be a good team because of all of the experience they got this year,” Jasti said.

With the district championships approaching, Salehi, Jasti, and the rest of the team are holding high hopes to bring the district title back to Benjamin. Along with the expierenced seniors, the team hopes the new faces from the freshmen and sophomore class will be able to contribute in the postseason. Win or Lose, everyone will be proud of the tennis teams season.

Sage Ponchock Staff Writer

The Girl’s beach volleyball team kicks off their second season with a record of nine wins and one loss.

The regular season has now concluded, and the team is looking forward to the postseason. The district semifinals and finals will both take place at home on April 26. There are matches at 10:00, 12:00, and 4:00. If the girls win the semi-final game, they move on to the finals later the same day.

Captain, Maggie Smith believes this has been one of the most fun years of beach volleyball.

“This season has been a blast. Only being the second year as a sport at Benjamin, we have improved so much. The team is really connected and so are each of the pairs. Going into districts, I feel pretty confident, however, last year we fell short of a district title so each of us is working really hard to win,” said Smith.

Beach volleyball is a new sport at Benjamin, arriving with the beach volleyball court donated by Nellie

Miller and built for last year’s season. That makes this year only the second beach volleyball season at The Benjamin School, and they are already contenders for districts.

Beach volleyball seems to be very popular, especially among the court-volleyball players, as the team has six lines, a total of twelve players, three of them seniors. Beach volleyball differs from regular indoor volleyball in many ways, the most obvious being the sand court.

Freshman Lila Brodner states that games are enjoyable because “everyone is really nice and experienced”. The experience has certainly paid off, as the team currently has a great record 9-1.

Excitement spikes as the district postseason approaches. For beach volleyball, the season officially concluded on April 18 with the district matches kicking off on April 26. Volleyball players continue to work hard, hoping to make it not only to, but past districts on to states in just the second season in school history.

Making A Splash: Lake Propelling Swimming Legacy In Home Country’s Honor in National Events

Charlie Spungin Editor-in-Chief

At age three, senior Alex Lake didn’t want to get in the swimming pool in his home country in Anguilla out of fear of drowning. Now, nearly 15 years later, Lake has not only won Benjamin’s swimming MVP award in four consecutive years, but he is the first person in Anguillian history to represent the nation in an international swimming competition.

Before moving to St. Charles, Missouri at the age of 11, Lake lived in Anguilla, a small island in the Caribbean home to just over 15,000 people. After living just outside of St. Louis for two years, Lake moved to Palm Beach County and began attending Benjamin in 7th grade.

In the past six years, Lake has led the boys’ varsity swimming team to a district title for the first time in school history (accomplished this past fall),

as well as competed and done well in both regional and state meets. Benjamin varsity swim coach Ms. Sara Misselhorn has seen Lake grow and become a better swimmer since he joined the team in 7th grade.

“He’s very dedicated, and he perseveres through a lot of hard practices, wakes up mornings, afternoons, weekends,” Ms. Misselhorn said. “He shows up, does the job, and puts a lot of effort into it each and every day.”

As a senior and leader of the team Lake has taken responsibility to help for the younger swimmers. Sophomore Jonathan Vidal has found Lake to be a great mentor for him by helping not only with his technique and stroke but to constantly keep a positive attitude.

“One time when I did an incorrect dive in one of my swim meets and completely blew the race.” Vidal said. “Alex then took me aside and

really inspired me to keep my head up and to keep going. He taught me the lesson that you have to keep moving forward no matter what.”

For Lake, though, winning this district championship for Benjamin is not his greatest achievement in swimming. Rather, it was donning his country of Anguilla’s colors this past summer in two multi-sport competitions that were over 4,000 miles away from each other.

From June 29 to July 3, 2022, the inaugural Caribbean Games, a U-23 competition, was held in Les Abymes, Guadeloupe. It hosted over 800 athletes from 29 different countries. Lake, in this competition, officially became the first ever Anguillan swimmer to represent the country.

Just a few weeks following the conclusion of the Caribbean Games, Lake found himself in Birmingham, England for the Commonwealth Games, preparing to once again swim for his country. Taking place from July 28 to Aug. 8, over 70 countries competed in the event that has nearly a century’s worth of history.

“Representing my country means a lot to me really because I’m the first to ever do it,” said Lake, who swam the 50m freestyle, 50m backstroke, 50m breaststroke, 100m freestyle, and 100m breaststroke in both competitions. “At first, I was kind of nervous, but I was ready because I trusted myself and my training up to that point.”

Assistant Athletic Director Mr. Dave Bailey feels what Lake was able to do is something that should not be taken lightly, as he feels that Lake truly accomplished something amazing.

“I don’t think you need to really say any more than that just to be the first at something, that’s just ab-

solutely incredible. I think the pride that he gets out of doing that makes it even better. You don’t get that many times in your life to be able to just be that standout, represent people, represent your family.”

Mr. Bailey feels that Lake’s experience will inspire him to work even harder this year and in the future. According to Lake, his passion and dedication to swimming is something that has come naturally to him through the years due to his competitive nature. His drive to win pushes him to seek constant improvement.

“It’s the competitiveness for me,” he said. “I love to race, especially I love to beat people in races. It gives me a surge of adrenaline when I win races, and the feeling of losing a race and getting back in the water and working on what you did wrong and then going to race again is a lot of fun.”

Lake cites age 15 as being the time where he began to take swimming much more seriously. Before then, he only went to practice three times a week compared to what is now six. One day, his swim coach for his club team, North Palm Beach Swim Club, pulled him aside to tell him that he had potential to be very good and talented, which he took to heart and used to improve to the point where he has gotten today.

In order to maximize his ability in the pool and fulfill his utmost potential, Lake takes on a rigorous workout schedule. He swims six days a week for two hours per session. In addition, he also does dryland workouts in order to increase his strength, balance, endurance, and more.

“It’s really a lot of swimming, a lot of eating, a lot of miles every week,” he said.

Lake returns to Anguilla multiple

times per year, finding himself as a role model for the younger children of the island. With plans to move to Anguilla for about a year following his college graduation and his newfound reach on the island, he wants to be able to make an impact for the next generation.

“There’s all the kids that look up to me now back home,” Lake said. “My main goal for the future is to get a pool back home, so I can coach the kids and teach them how to swim and teach them how to represent Anguilla.”

Lake said he would prefer being able to give back to Anguilla with the construction of a pool rather than competing in the Olympics one day. With his selflessness and perseverance, he wants the youth to be able to be like him one day: swimmers for and from Anguilla.

The beach volleyball team poses for a team photo on the Miller Family Beach Volleyball courts that were built just two years ago.

Photo courtesy of Lila Brodner

Senior and Team Captain Wills Davis goes to hit the ball during practice. The tennis team likes to warm up against each other at practice to replicate a game style feel. Overall, the team hopes to make a run in the playoffs and believes it starts with working hard in practice.

Photo courtesy of Erika Sousa

During the first ever Caribbean Games in 2022, senior Alex Fleming Lake and his swimming team were recorded walking along the track during the opening ceremony.

Photo courtesy of Alex Lake

Can Anyone Catch Them?

Reid Waxman and Chase Zur Staff Writers

After a stellar season last year, the boys and girls track season is back in session, and are looking to make a state “run” once again.

So far, the team has competed in a total of eight meets; two at Benjamin, two at Dwyer, one at Jupiter, two at Kings Academy, and one at IMG.

The boy’s team, led by senior Micah Mays, has placed first in every meet except one and is ranked number one in the state by MaxPreps. The girl’s team, with senior Sophia Buller as captain, has placed in at least the top five in all of the meets thus far and is fifteenth in the state.

Despite what many may think, track involves a large variety of events to partake in such as javelin, long jump, jumping, sprints, distance, and hurdles all of different distances

Junior Joshua Luiz, who runs the 110-meter hurdles, the 400 meter hurdles and the 4 x 400 relay explains how important it is to have a well rounded that can excel in all the different events in the meets.

“Our team is looking strong and healthy and should have a chance of winning states again this year. We have players on the team that each have a certain event that they are good at which is amazing because it means that we always have a strong chance of winning that event, and getting more points,” Luiz said.

On Monday, April 3rd, the boys and girls track team participated in the county qualifiers, at Kings Academy, meaning that their top performers would advance to the county championship at Spanish River in Boca.

Luiz participated in this meet and

was one of the athletes that made it through the qualifier round.

“I was extremely happy to hear that I am heading to the county championship. I had times of 15.68 seconds on my 110 hurdles and 58.6 seconds for the 400m hurdles, both some of my best times doing those events,” Luiz said.

The Benjamin track team this year also has a lot of new members, with many freshmen and a couple of upperclassmen. One of them, sophomore Maddy Barakett, who competes in the triple and long jump, has enjoyed trying out a new sport and is happy with how her season is going so far.

“I’ve been surprised with how much I’ve been able to pick up because it is my first year on the team. Honestly, at first, I didn’t think that I would make it past districts, but after my past times and the help of my coaches I think that I may have a good chance,” Barakett said.

The track’s team success, however, is not only due to the amazing performances of the athletes but also from the coach’s instruction. The team practices from 3:30 to 5:00 every day of the school week with the track open to anybody during the weekend.

“The coaching is great; they know exactly what we need to work on as a team and individually. They also know the expected time athletes should run which keeps athletes motivated to always try their best. Without Coach Saunders, the team would not be where it is today,” Luiz said.

Overall, it seems that the Benjamin track team is having another extremely successful season.

The Team Behind Our Teams

What Do Our 3 ADs Do All Day?

Dev Maharaj Staff Writer

During this winter sports season over one hundred and fifty sporting events have taken place home and away; to make this possible are our assistant athletic directors. Events this year could not have been possible without our three Assistant Athletic Directors: Coach David Bailey, Coach Fredrick German, and Coach Alexandria Clarke.

Coach Bailey has worked at the Benjamin for more than twenty years starting as just a volunteer, to full director of sports performance here at the upper school. Coach Bailey helps create rosters, manage teams, mentor coaches, order and prepare equipment, etc. Bailey expresses his favorite part of working at Benjamin and how his career began here.

“I started off volunteering for the school in 1991 and then in 1998 Coach Ream invited me to begin working full-time at the school,” Bailey said. “My favorite part of working here at the Benjamin School is honestly talking to students, it’s the best part, it’s what makes my job so easy and fun to get to interact with such great kids every day,” Bailey added.

Coach Clarke has been working with the school for over fourteen years, starting as an Assistant Volleyball Coach at Benjamin while she was in college. Coach Clarke explains what goes on in her position and some of her responsibilities as US Assistant Sports Director.

“So in our office, we do a lot of scheduling of teams, organizing of teams, helping coaches, ordering equipment, and making sure that our teams have everything they need,” Clarke said. “We want to ensure that our teams can put their best foot forward and will be as successful as they can,” Clarke added.

Coach German is the third assistant athletic director and is also the

Lacrosse Teams Look Towards Playoff Success as Postseason Approaches

in the regular season which gives the team plenty of time to prepare for the playoffs.

The Benjamin girls varsity lacrosse team has started out the season with a mediocre record of five wins and six losses. The team had a much better season last year with 14 wins and five losses before they lost in the second round of the playoffs to Pine Crest.

Senior Tatiana Georgas is a star player on the girls lacrosse team who hopes to lead her team in the right direction.

Jackson Zetner Staff Writer

The Benjamin boys varsity lacrosse team has started the season with an impressive ten wins and two losses. After falling short in the state championship last season, they are looking for revenge this season.

The team is led by senior Brady Quinn who is committed to Loyola, a Division I school.

“My goal this season is to win a championship because it’s my last season” adds Quinn.

Freshman Tatum Little has taken the spot on the team as a goaltender after the seniors from last year went to college. Little has not been playing goalie his whole life, so the transition to play on varsity was difficult.

“I haven’t played goalie in almost four years, but it is not that different than being out on attack or midfield because you still have to catch the ball and have quick reflexes. It has been a pretty fun season so far and I

am hoping we can take home a championship,” mentions Little.

Sophomore Ford Cash has taken up a big role on the team even though he is an underclassman.

“I play defensive midfield and last year I did not play that much, but I play a lot more this year. I think we have a chance at the state title because our offense is really strong and our defense is solid. We have a lot of other sophomores on the team that show a bright future for our team,” said Cash.

The boys team lost a tough matchup against defending state champions Saint Andrews. They were down by six at one point, but were able to get the game close in the second half to only a two goal deficit. The game finished 15-13 with Benjamin losing by two goals. Benjamin also lost by two goals in the State Championship last year against St. Andrews. Hopefully, they will be able to prevail when they meet again.

There are still many games left

“We haven’t been playing well as a team which has led to problems with our team’s chemistry on the field. We need more communication and strategy as a team which I think will help us get our chemistry together. This is my last season and I want to bring home a championship not just for the school, but as a senior it just feels like a good way to finish my time as a student at Benjamin,” mentioned Georgas.

Freshman Piper Tuohey is a young athlete on the girls lacrosse team and the youth of the team shows promise for the team next season and future seasons.

“I feel like we got unlucky this season because we have lost really close games for the most part and that has brought us down. We have not been scoring when we need to in clutch time and we haven’t been stopping the other teams’ attack late in the game” says Tuohey.

The Girls Varsity Lacrosse team has a chance to turn their season around as they still have a month left before the season end. The Senior Captains look to increase the momentum going into the playoffs.

head coach of the wrestling team. German is the transportation coordinator at the upper school and organizes transportation for each team and ensures that they get where they need to be. German comments on his role as a transportation coordinator.

“I coordinate buses for field trips and sporting events, I make sure that buses are moving and people are going where they need to go,” German said. “Another function is I do all setup with fields, I make sure pylons are out, water coolers are filled, sidelines are prepped, pretty much the intangibles,” German added.

Not only does Coach German make a difference in the preparation for game day and the transportation to get there but he also runs the mats here at Benjamin. Coach German is the head coach of the wrestling team, and this season has led their team to one of their best seasons in a while.

“I think it’s great to coach the wrestling team, we’ve had a pretty good season this year and I get to relive my high school days on the mats, and both of my positions I enjoy a lot,” German explained.

Ninth Grader Drew Palmer and a member of the wrestling team tell about why he likes Coach German as a coach.

“I’ve improved a lot since I started last year and I can tell that because of Coach German our team will have a bright future,” Palmer said. “I know that he has a lot of responsibilities outside of wrestling ... and because of that I respect him for being able to coach and manage” Palmer adds.

Overall athletics here at the Upper School would not be the same without our three assistant athletic directors. When it comes to supplying and transportation, managing teams, mentoring coaches, or just making games happen, Coach Bailey, Clarke, and German will always be there to run the show on behalf of the school.

One for the Ages: Record Nearly Perfect as Baseball Enters April

Reid Waxman Staff Writer

After a short post-season run last year, the boys’ varsity baseball team starts their season off strong with a 16-1. As the Bucs are approaching the postseason, they look to knock the rest of their seven games out of the park.

The captains of this year’s team are junior Nick Banner and seniors Tristan Head, Freddy Beruvides Jr., and Parker McGraw. Banner feels excited about what is to come.

“The season is going very well. We are currently 16-1, and we have played up to our expectations,” Banner happily exclaimed. “I am very proud of how everyone is performing, and I hope we can take that same type of play to the postseason.”

Freshman Derek Rubin stated the captains ability to lead by example and create a positive environment.

“All four captains this year are supportive and keep the team’s energy up. They will hold you accountable for the mistakes but also build you up. They are great examples to learn from,” Rubin said.

The Bucs’ started the season by winning four straight, then suffering their only loss was versus John Caroll Catholic 5-4. Fortunately, they have been on fire lately, winning the past 13 games.

One notable win was versus the past state champions, North Broward Prep. The game was scoreless going into the eighth inning. Then senior Rocco Gaeta hit a walk-off home run, winning them the game 1- 0. Gaeta was thrilled about the win.

“It felt electric, and I knew I could do it, and I believed in myself greatly in that situation and just wanted to win it for the team and show all the

other teams that we’re a legit team and a team to be scared off,” Gaeta said with a smile.

Freshman Johnny Havlicek is confident that the team can make it to states and plans to continue to help that run.

“We have one goal on our minds. It’s simple. A state championship,” Havlicek said energetically. “The obvious answer to that is working very hard. Additionally, preparing mentally and physically before playoffs is extremely important, as it is overlooked. Also, the little things - picking our teammates up through adversity, constantly playing hard, and listening to our coaches. We know it will be challenging, but we are 100% capable. Control what we can control. Play hard, win, one game at a time.”

While the team has had a successful season already in terms of wins and losses, there is one key factor to this team that nobody sees on the diamond, their close dynamic on and off

the diamond. Junior Harrison Ashley feels the presence of this dynamic throughout each game.

“On the field, we all have each other’s backs, and we are always picking each other up if things go wrong,” Ashley said proudly. “We are always working to become better, which has strengthened our bonds. Off the field, we are a huge group of friends and spend our time together on the weekends. I think it has really strengthened our chemistry as a whole, and after all this time, we are all finally playing for each other, not ourselves. You can say that our team has formed as more of a brotherhood.”

This team is more determined than ever, practicing five to six times a week with optional batting practices on the weekends. They believe success comes with dedication, a motto they live by from the start to the end of the season.

Junior Harrison Ashley stares down his oppent on the mound before pitching his next ball. Benjamins sucess this year on the diamond has came from stellar pitching from their very deep rotation.

Photo courtesy of Harrison Ashley

Senior Grace Tighe mixes speed and agility to get past her opponents in a tense moment during the game.

Photo by Erika Sousa

the PHLIPCYDE

all these factors and a few other issues, the Mets have had a subpar start to the season.

Some fun sports events in April have already happened, such as the Men’s College Basketball national championship and the Masters. But April is not done yet. One sport that has events all throughout the month is the MLB.

The season started on March 30th and will go throughout April, summer, until October. When the regular season ends in October, the race to the World Series starts.

Since starting the season, some teams have been with fame and shame. One team that is starting off the season on fire is the Tampa Bay Rays, as they are 9-0. Although they do not have the best players in the league, they have the most heart. Some players that have significantly impacted this Rays team are outfielder Randy Arozerena and shortstop Wander Franco. The Rays look to keep this run going and have all eyes on the big prize.

Even though the Rays look like the best in the league, some teams are favorites for the World Series, but now they look like they have some work to do. The New York Mets have gotten off to a disappointing start to the year and are currently sitting at a 5-5 record. This is due to their inconsistent hitting and lackluster pitching from their ace Max Scherzer who has had two highly disappointing starts and is 0-2 on the year. In addition, hitters such as shortstop Francisco Lindor, the heart of the Mets’ offense, have started slowly and have struggled to hit with runners in scoring position. With

Like the Mets, the defending champs Houston Astros, have had a mediocre start to the season. Although people expected them to repeat, they are towards the bottom of the league, with being 4-6. With star players such as outfielder Jeremy Peña and third base Alex Bregman, they were at the top of the spectrum for favorites for the World Series. The Astros are starting shaky, but look to get back on track to the World Series.

Even though these teams either show their capability to be a contender or a pretender, they all wait till the post season to compete for the big prize. Even though it is still the start of the season, there is a lot of baseball to go. There are many games in April for things to change quickly, and it will be a very eventful rest of April.

Big Events In April

A cool new Easter friendly drink you can try ou this month is Peeps Pepsi. The soda mixes the taste of a traditional Pepsi with the “pillowy-soft and sweet”marshmallow flavor of Peeps. Peeps Pepsi comes in cans inspired by the colors of the three poular shades of peeps: pink, yellow, and blue, however, there is no change in flavor. If you are looking for a fun, flavorbale, and festive way to change up your meal, a Peeps Pepsi is the drink for you.

Words

HOP is a fun PG movie you can watch with the family is. This delightful animated film starring Russell Brand and James Marsden is about a bunny named E.B. who doesn’t want to inherit his father’s giant candy factory. But E.B. has no interest in the job and would rather be a drummer, so he runs away to Los Angeles, where he runs into a man named Fred O’Hare. E.B. tricks Fred into giving him shelter. There really is no better Easter-themed movie you can watch this month!

“The summer before my freshman year I was in a graphic design class with Ms. Perretta. My older brother always tole me how she was an incredible teacher and mentor and he would always talk about the Benjineer’s team. As someone who loves math and was interested in engineering, Ms. Perretta had an easy time convincing me to join the team. I wanted to be able to get creative and learn how to form engineering ideas and see them come to life. The Benjineers was/is an incredible program to be apart of. We compete in the VEX and TSA competitions competing in World Wide competitions. Each year we get a new challenge that our robot has to complete and it is a great learning opportunity to figure out how to adapt to new situatins, all with a single robot,” said Hilzenrath.

Kate Hilzenrath, Benjineer’s VP, and robotics team (World and national qualifying) captain.

As summer quickly approaches, what better way is there to spend a day than at an amazing waterpark? The Rapids Waterpark just reopened for the spring/summer season and will give you a day of fun, joy, and excitement with friends and family. The park opens at 10:00 a.m. and closes at 5:00 p.m., allowing for a full day of waterslides. There are forty total slides at the Rapids with all different speeds, lengths, drops, and heights. Not only are there amazing waterslides, but there is also food, a wave pool, and cabanas. Whether you riding on the crazy Brain Drain or relaxing in the lazy river, you are guaranteed a great day. Make sure to check out this fun spot, and you will have an awesome and refreshing day!

My goal has always remained constant while playing lacrosse, to go to one of my dream schools and compete at the division-one level. So, I did a lot of all America events including UA-150 and the Under Armor Command team which both are super hard.

I played super well in these events, but last summer right before communications with D-1 schools opened up for me, I started to play r eally badly. My terrible play set me up for failure on September 1st, and just like I thought when September 1st came around I did not get the eedback I wanted from universities. That was a very low place for me since I thought I was not going to be able to accomplish my dreams.

Instead of giving up, I decided to switch club programs for lacrosse from the team I played with my whole life to Florida select. I then put the most work I have ever put into the sport during the months of September and November and had a tournament every weekend in November.

I was able to recover from my slump and eventually got an email from Lehigh University late in October which set up an official visit for me. During my official visit, they offered me a spot, and I accepted it immediately.

These couple months truly taught me how to preserve and never give up on your goals.

Humans

Ava Shulties, Class of 2024