Monique Capille News Editor
Q: What is Mrs. Russell’s legacy?
A: “She’s been a part of Spanish River since a year after the school opened. She’s always been a backbone of the school and the language department. She also still keeps in contact with old students.”
Q: What made you want to follow in Mrs. Russell’s footsteps?
A: “Her relationship with the kids and her coworkers and how Spanish River is like a family all made me feel passionate about teaching.”
Q: What’s one fun fact about Mrs. Russell that students would love to know?
A: “Mrs. Russell was a talking Christmas tree at a department store for a few years! She would sit inside a big, decorative Christmas tree and talk to people as they walked by. A true Christmas queen!”
“Even though a lot of the class was at home for most of the year, you always made an effort to make class entertaining for us; thank you for that,” Gabriel Brandao, 12.
“My favorite memory is when Mrs. Russell congratulated me on making DECA nationals last year. She was the only teacher to do that and appreciate my work as much as I did,” Gavin Blythe, 11.
“Mrs. Russell always lends out a helping hand and helps me when I need it. Even though I had her online, I still learned a lot because she is a great teacher,” Peyton Blythe, 11.
“I think Mrs. Russell is a great Spanish teacher. She helped me learn Spanish 2 and 3 and I think that she really helped me succeed,” Julia Massarella, 11.
“I’ve had Mrs. Russell for the last 2 years. She’s such a great teacher for many reasons. She makes learning fun and interesting, but she also teaches the content in a way that I am able to understand and learn. I wouldn’t be where I am in learning Spanish if I didn’t have Mrs. Russell as a teacher,” Riley Cope, 11.
“Mrs. Russell is amazing, and being able to learn and laugh in her class has been one of my favorite parts of this year. She makes every class interesting and always makes sure she understands her students. She is constantly making her students laugh, and I will definitely miss her next year,” Anna Armistead, 10.
• He has been teaching for fourteen years.
• He teaches math in the Exceptional Student Education (ESE) department.
• He went to the University of Florida and has a degree in Sociology.
• He has coached football and girls flag football.
• He has been married for thirty-six years and has three children.
• He played offensive guard on the Gainesville Pitbull Terriers.
• His favorite part of teaching is when students who are interested in learning make a difference in the classroom through lively discussions.
• His favorite class is Wilson Just Words, where he teaches students in the Intellectual Disability (InD) Program.
• He was accidentally hired for an intern position for ESE nine weeks after applying for social science position at Lake Worth High School.
• Tampas “teaches for understanding, not method.”
Allyson Greenberg Currents Editor
The New College of Florida has for years been a public liberal arts college located in Sarasota, Florida. With a student body that is over one half female, and a prominent LGBTQ+ community, it has been a paradise of acceptance and open mindedness. Different from most other institutions, they do not give out letter grades; the majority of the curriculum is self-directed. This college that was once deemed a sanctuary for progressive and freethinkers is now being revised due to the conservative plans of Governor Ron DeSantis.
This is all in efforts to revamp this institution and prevent the takeover of the “woke.” The Governor and his staff are looking past intervention of the extreme progressivism of the college, and focusing more on trans-
forming the school into Hillsdale College (Christian conservative college located in Michigan).
They are hoping to restructure both the school’s curriculum and culture through a top-down approach. As of January, DeSantis and his supporters have rammed through the college with full force. To start, he has completely disrupted the board members and replaced trustees with more conservative figures. Not long after the new board members took their seats, replaced President Dr. Patricia Okker with Republican politician Richard Corcoran, serving as interim President.
This is all in alignment with a bill proposed by DeSantis that is aimed to ban gender studies, abolish diversity programs, weaken tenure protections, and leave faulty staffing to the opinions and judgment of the board. DeSantis wants to change curric-
ulums, police literature, and dictate the extent to which certain subjects are spoken. This leaves many students of The New College of Florida feeling distraught as their institution will no longer provide their major. Some of the new board members have even said that if students and faculty could not follow the changes,
then they must leave the institution.
As the rising senior class prepares to begin their college search, it will be interesting to see the impact this will make on applications. According to CollegeTuitionCompare.com, 1,650 students applied last year, with a 74% acceptance rate.
Kaylee Terry Currents Editor
Islandtown, South Carolina very few people, 49 to be specific, call home. In this town reigned a highly prominent family: Alex Murdaugh, his wife Maggie, and two sons Buster and Paul. The power this family holds originally derived from Randolph Murdaugh, a district attorney back in the 1920’s. Now the family name is known for Murder.
In 2018, the first major incident had occurred on Murdaugh property where the housekeeper, Gloria Satterfield, had died due to a fall. The family claimed that she tripped over dogs. At the time, this seemed reasonable and the case was ruled as just an accident. Throughout the case, Alex Murdaugh had taken initiative and acknowledged the role his property held in her death, and, in turn, promised Satterfield’s sons money. Later, it has been revealed that Statterfields’ sons actually never received these reparations
About a year later on February 23, 2019, Paul Murdaugh, took a
couple of friends out on his boat late at night. These friends now reflect back on their friendship with Paul in a Netflix Documentary claiming that when he would get drunk, Paul’s personality transformed completely. After everyone had been drinking for a while that night, Paul insisted
on the boat, was missing.
After days of searching, officials found her body and declared her dead as a result of this crash. This was a terrible incident, and while Paul’s friends were in the hospital, they recalled Paul’s father, Alex Murdaugh, making sure no one said anything that
as he and his mother were mur dered on June 7th, 2021. Many were questioned in the process, but Alex Murdaugh’s alibi was not aligning with investigators. Before his trial, Alex Murdaugh had tried to stage his own murder so his son could gain access to a $10 million insurance policy. The plan failed, posing even more reasons to question Murdaughs involvement in not only this case, but other cases as well.
During recent trials, Alex Murdaugh openly admitted to stealing money at his law firm, as well as lying to investigators about his whereabouts on the night of the homicide, but did plead not guilty.
on driving the boat back even though his friends questioned his ability. They also recall Paul leaving the wheel at times, and at around 2:00 a.m, Paul had run the boat into a bridge. It was shortly after the crash where they realized Mallory Beach, a passenger
incriminated his son. Paul had even claimed that it was another friend, Connor, who was driving the boat, but this was just one of many lies to be uncovered in the Murdaugh family history.
Paul Murdaugh was never able to make it to his trial, however,
After a long and highly public trial, it was concluded that Alex Murdaugh was guilty of both embezzling $8.8 million dollars and the double homicide of his wife and son. Now the other unsolved mysteries are taking center stage.
February 2011
After meeting through their publicity managers in 2009, Justin Beiber and Selena Gomez begin dating two years later. The pair makes it official by arriving together on the red carpet at the 2011 Vanity Fair Oscars party.
April 2013
Following their several months apart, Gomez and Beiber are spotted together again. The two make it official that they have gotten back together by appearing at numerous events and locations together.
December 2015
Approximately another year after the breakup, more theories come forward suggesting that Hailey and Justin have become a couple. On New Year’s Eve, the two post photos on Instagram which officially announces their relationship to the public.
October 2017
Both Selena and Justin are seen together in paparazzi photos starting in October of 2017. In March 2018, Selena posted on Instagram wishing Justin a happy birthday, confirming that the two were together; however, many fans believe that they took a break soon after. The post has since been removed from Instagram by Selena.
A month before the photos were taken, Hailey cleared the air online and explained that when she dated Justin prior to getting married, “I can say, period, point blank, I was never with him when he was in a relationship with anybody — that’s the end of it,” on Alex Cooper’s CallHerDaddy podcast.
London Bedell Associate Editor
November 2012
Almost two years later, the two break up in late 2012. Both explain that there was no bad blood in the split, but their extremely busy schedules did not allow for them to remain together, according to a source close to the ex-couple.
November 2014
Just over a year later, rumors spark that the couple has split up once again. Selena Gomez confirms these theories by releasing “The Heart Wants What It Wants,” a new single. Over the course of several interviews, Gomez admits that the song is about the breakup between the two.
February 2016
After a year-long relationship between Justin and Hailey, Hailey explained how they “are not an exclusive couple,” in an interview to E! News.
July 2018
Hailey and Justin went public about their engagement in July 2018. Justin posted a photo of them two together on Instagram with a caption stating, “You are the love of my life Hailey Baldwin and I wouldn’t want to spend it with anybody else.” Several fans were happy for the newly engaged couple, while others exclaimed their distaste online about Justin moving on from Selena so soon.
March 2023
Hailey posted on her Instagram story saying: “I want to thank Selena for speaking out, as she and I have been discussing for the last few weeks how to move past this ongoing narrative between her and I.” Hailey and Selena have also followed each other on Instagram after they spoke out. With this recent announcement from both Hailey and Selena, there seems to be a reconciliation between the two and a final end to the drama.
The newspaper has given me experience that I will always be grateful for and memories I will always cherish, but the true thing that made the Galleon special to me is Mrs. Delaney. I never had any interest at all in journalism or the newspaper starting high school. I liked creative writing which was why I took Mrs. Delaney’s creative writing class. I loved stories- not articles. I never would have thought to join the staff had Delaney not asked me. To be quite honest I joined to have her as a teacher again, being on the newspaper was secondary to me. The love I have for this paper was not immediate, it took years, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. So thank you Mrs. Delaney for seeing me and believing in me.
My start on staff was extremely
unusual because of the pandemic at the end of my freshman year. When we first got assigned stories for Issue 1 of my sophomore year, I was like a deer caught in the headlights. I completely and utterly clueless. I remember the subject too. I was on News so I was writing about the new technologies that teachers were using during the pandemic. Not exactly the most exciting subject, but I wrote that article. It may have been the worst thing I’ve ever written, but it was a start. I learned InDesign via Google Meet. It was slow and tedious but I never forgot what my editor Julia taught me. She would always correct me about how I justified my articles and now I do the same. Always Left Justify! But to be quite honest, as a sophomore I never put my all into the paper. I did articles because they were assignments to do, without putting much thought into them. It showed in my work. My articles and layouts were extraordinarily
Brooke Styka Co Editor-in-Chief
These past four years at Spanish River have been eclectic. When I first stepped foot in River’s hallways, I would have never envisioned the life I have lived while being here.
As a freshman, all I focused on was survival. Surviving the transition. Surviving the friendship drama. Surviving the unfamiliar college-level material. Surviving the pandemic. Surviving amid a student body who was only looking out for themselves. And I did.
In initially seeking an elective that would offer me relief from a rigorous schedule I found my passion for writing. Simple creative exercises led to me joining The Galleon during my sophomore year, where I thrived.
mediocre. So at the end of the year, I knew I wanted to be Editor-inChief but Mrs. Delaney put me as Associate Editor. Which made complete sense, considering I never truly put the effort in. So I changed. My junior year I jumped into the paper with a renewed vigor. I was supervising Currents and Face-Off, two sections that I loved. Immediately, I tackled a difficult subject for my Currents article: the removal of US troops from Afghanistan and the fall out. That was the story that I fell in love with reporting. I loved being able to hear everyone’s stories. I interviewed one student who had family in Pakistan and she was familar with the region and its politics. I learned of different realities I never knew existed from my reporting. Junior year was also the year I began to see layout as art in itself rather than just a tool to place articles. I tried to be as creative as I could with my layouts on Currents. One of my favorite
layouts and favorite articles of all time was the article I wrote about Koalas getting chlamydia and I had a cute piece of koala art on the page. The article was a nice change of pace from the usual seriousness of Currents and it most definitely got people’s attention.
But Currents was still a section about news and didn’t give much room for creativity on the layout so for my senior year, I knew I wanted to do Feature Focus. This section gave me the freedom to lay out in any possible manner. I loved it and I have absolutely loved teaching and working with our Feature Focus Editor Riley this year. Teaching is one of my favorite parts of the paper, so thank you for making it so much fun, Riley.
Four years. An impossibly small number for all the paper has meant to me. Thank you for everything.
I had the privilege of working with a veteran editor who I admirednot only for his creative ability, but for his leadership, confidence, and outgoing persona. Under his wing, my success earned me the title of Editor-in-Chief just my second year on staff. Now, I was free to address global phenomenons and social injustice as the Feature Focus Editor while designing the center spread with Adobe InDesign. I could bring my passions to the forefront of my high school, and make a difference.
Through The Galleon, I found my place in a community within our pre-existing Shark nation.
Aside from nurturing my writing and designing ability, I became a leader where I fractured the fear and insecurity that held me back from embracing my strong-willed nature.
The Galleon molded me into a driven individual that is now ready to take full advantage of life’s gifts and seek
the light within any tunnel.
Upon reflecting on my past four years at Spanish River, I realize how quickly my time here has flown by. Four years transformed into two and a half years due to the detriments of the pandemic, and now I have merely a month left as a shark. Honestly, my senior class lacked a normal high school experience. For almost two years we were confined to the walls of our homes rather than that of a classroom, and were forced to embrace each other through screens- our only distinction being the name icon located on our google meet cells.
In spite of the immense isolation, I feel more bonded with my peers and teachers than ever. We can relate to each other’s hardships. We support each other’s ambitions. We do our part in ensuring a more prosperous future for ourselves and for our community. I only hope to find a
community that mirrors the one we have built at Spanish River, with teachers and peers who urge me to be the best version of myself.
Regardless of the sweat, tears, and eyebags that led me to this very moment, I can say I am grateful for the lessons I have learned at Spanish River both in and outside the classroom. I am even more grateful for the opportunity to share a piece of passion with my fellow staff members and the rest of Shark nation through The Galleon
As my time here comes to an end, I only grow more excited to embark on the journey that will allow me to find my place among the chaos of the world. To those who have believed in me- you know who you are- thank you.
I must admit that the overwhelming emotion I feel at the idea of graduating from high school is relief. My junior and senior years have been a time of burdensome stress and droll monotony, with assignments appearing like moles in a whacka-mole game and my trying to get ahead on my work a distant dream. However, I do not want to remember my high school experience as merely four years of a rigorous and soulcrushing academic schedule. No, I would rather record the memories that - ten, twenty, or thirty years from now - I might wWake up within before I realize my past is no longer my present. I want to remember these precious moments that will appear long after I walk the stage, the faces of those who have changed my life, and the feelings of pride and triumph that emerge when I recall these past four years.
I arrived at Spanish River during my sophomore year, muddled by the confusion of moving states during a global pandemic and missing the friends I had known for eleven years back home. Back then, I had no idea of the changes I would undergo,
of the realities of high school I had not experienced, of the struggle and sacrifice for knowledge, of the bonds and ties I would make to individuals who so deeply enriched my life. I joined Mrs. Delaney’s Creative Writing class that year, and at that moment, my life changed. From there, I became a Guest Writer on The Galleon and an Associate Editor on Pieces of Eight, two ventures I, at first, had absolutely no clue about. However, I grew into this role of a leader and adviser and worked alongside the most talented and friendly group of people I could have ever hoped to meet, people I trust will continue to bring joy and greatness to the newspaper long after I leave.
I can only be grateful to the people who made these experiences so fulfilling. I want to thank Mrs. Delaney for guiding me through these past three years, for pushing past the boundaries of what I thought I could accomplish to achieve my potential, and for being a much-needed source of humor and wisdom at the unexpected occurrences life brings. I want to thank Ms. Lewis for helping me make Spanish River my home, for teaching me to see the optimistic roses and realistic thorns of each day, and for being a listening ear when I was so isolated from others behind a computer screen.I want to
thank Ms. Kalman for constantly supporting me throughout these three years, for providing me with so many opportunities I truly cannot believe I deserve and for which I am forever indebted. I want to thank Mrs. Macleod for her continuous support, for believing in me and my abilities, and for always providing me with much-needed encouragement. Though I have only known them for one year and wish I had known them for longer, I also want to thank Mrs. Singerlie for bringing so much fun to each class period and for making me feel more comfortable to ask questions, Ms. Shonty, for deepening my understanding and appreciation for literature and making each day an enjoyable adventure, and Ms. Cutrona, for her invaluable assistance and enthusiasm in making this year’s Pieces of Eight a success.
High school can sometimes feel neverending, with the mountain of homework assignments and anxieties of each school day, and sometimes, you may pray for each class period to end. However, though education can be a tedious process, though we may never use the Pythagorean theorem or speak
Lyndsey Roth
Co Editor-in-Chief
Since my first day at Spanish River High School, The Galleon newspaper with Mrs. Delaney has been a homebase. It is so surreal to think this will be the last article students and staff will read from me. Freshmen year, I genuinely believed my superficial problems would never get better, and that I was destined to be miserable forever. Rather than sympathizing with me, I always wished someone would tell me to get over myself, and that I was being overdramatic, so here is what I will tell you:
Avoid sweating the small stuff. I know better than most that in the moment it may be hard to realize
the problems we have in our social lives will not last forever. My niche was to dwell on every problem, and with that, I stopped focusing on what really mattered: my academic career. I am not the first to tell you all that academics matter, however, I know from personal experience that it is hard to work your way up from the bottom. When I say bottom, I mean your rank and GPA. If it was not obvious already, Spanish River is quite competitive in regard to academia. DO NOT spend your freshman year slacking off. I spent my entire high school career working towards making my C in Geometry look like a freak accident. College admissions boards do not care about your drama. You will be mad at yourself when you are rejected from your dream school because your GPA
proper Old English beyond these gates, it is crucial not to simply view these years as an accumulation of useless trivia. It is the knowledge we gain that truly defines our high school education. It is the exercise of our brains, the neural connections we make, and the critical thinking and problem-solving skills we practice that remain with us and form us into stronger leaders, methodical thinkers, and individuals of action. However, it is just as important to realize that there is more to our experience than the grades and scores this knowledge begets. We are so much more than a couple of digits, and we too often forget that those who love us do so for more than these academic prizes. Take the time to truly enjoy these unique years, as they pass by all too quickly.
Though I am still unsure of my future, I am excited to enter this new stage of my life and education at the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College at FAU, and I will fondly remember this time of my life as one of beautiful change and treasured friendships.
is 0.5 away from their required statistics.
With that being said, do not let other people tell you who you are or what you want. Your life is your life for a reason. That does not mean you are to make bad decisions and excuse it as you being you, however, it is important to remember that life changing decisions involve no one other than yourself. Also, hardships are inevitable, if anything, they are learning experiences… not to mention, a good college essay topic!
Moreover, get involved in extracurricular activities. Colleges are looking for what makes you an exceptional student beyond your grades, hence SAT and ACT scores, extracurriculars, and your college essay. I did not care for school my
freshman year, and slacked off because of it. My advice, think of what you want to do after high school and where you want to be, with that, change whatever you are doing that is holding you back.
Lastly, take care of yourself. Try hard, but don’t let it burn you out. We are all going at our own pace. Let high school be as enjoyable as possible because it truly is one of the last times you get to experience being a kid. As dreadful as it may seem now, it only goes up from here. Thank you to everyone who helped me get to where I am today, my freshman year self would never have made it without the extra push.
Caroline graduated from River in 2013. After highschool, she went to Yale which she graduated from in 2018. From there, she worked with different government agencies to provide low-income mothers with mental health services. As of now, Caroline is working towards a master’s degree in social work at the University of Chicago. When asked what her best Galleon memory was, she responded with: “I loved the hours the editors spent in the back room finalizing layouts before each new issue — I always enjoyed the puzzle of putting the pages together and the focus and energy that went into it. And also how we’d start to get kind of goofy after working for too long (think: making everything comic sans, adding ridiculous Photoshop effects, riffing terrible puns for headlines)”.
David was a class of 1992 graduate. al manager of the Baseball Team and builder. David’s staff. He noted sports editor interactions and the daily my memory and more than 30 years”.
Jared graduated from River in 2017 and then continued on to the University of Florida which he graduated from in 2020 with a bachelor of science degree in business administration. After that, Jared worked at Nestle as a sales representative and then a sales manager for Nestle. Now, he works as a category management analyst. As for favorite memories on staff, Jared recalls and is thankful for “the opportunities and friends that they provided [him] with. [He] felt extremely prepared for college”.
Ashley graduated from River in 2015 and now works as a senior associate at Teneo. She specializes in investor relations advisory and strategic communications. Ashley’s favorite memory of her time on the Galleon is “meeting [her] co-editor Lindsay, who [she] now lives with in NYC”.
Maya graduated and went on to relations London. Her memorable being on Galleon staff with Tali doing layout”.
Krakower
graduate. He is now the generLafayette Aviators a professional bodybest memory is his that “[he] was the and the with [his] team banter have lived in in [his] heart for
Bryant graduated in 2021 and is currently a sophomore at Rice University where he is majoring in Health Sciences and Neuroscience. As well as being a student, Bryant founded a health science journal, is a research assistant for a project on Alzheimers on Latinos, and is a member of the Rice Emergency Medical Services. One thing he remembers about being on the Galleon staff is how much fun he had “just cracking jokes”. He also “loved our small food parties and how we would all get so excited and huddle around to see our work when a new issue was printed”.
Lindsey graduated in 2011 and is now a finance attorney in New York City. Lindsey’s favorite memory from being on the Galleon staff is “a culmination of [her] time on The Galleon - the editing in the back room with [her] co-editors and good friends, sneaking in and out of the window to get snacks from the outside and going around campus to interview people”.
from River in 2019 study public abroad in most part about the is “laughing Nesbitt while
Joey graduated in 2012 and he now lives and works in Richmond, VA. He has a daughter named Chloe and a wife named Emily and works as a corporate attorney. His best memory on staff is “putting in the time in the back computer room with [his] friends to make the paper as good as it could be”.
Compared to many other states in America, Florida is supreme to all. The flora and fauna alone make it a fairytale to many northerners looking for a warmer climate, hence why the population rate of Florida itself has increased so much so. Growing up in Boca Raton, Florida, and having the opportunity to travel to numerous states in the United States, I have grown to appreciate it more each time the humid air hits me as I
there’s always a beach nearby,” said senior Sander Greenfield.
Alaina Kosier Face-Off Editor
be attributed to COVID-19, leaving parents and young adults to work virtually. If corporate America is able to work virtually, why not do it on the beach?
For me, thinking of the state of Florida itself, I only really consider Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami Beach. What’s crazy about that statement is that many northerners would feel as though I just listed a large portion of Florida, however, there is so much more to discover! Most states have just a couple tourist attractions to choose from, however Florida has numerous ones in every city. The beaches alone are reason to visit, even if it means my friends and I have less parking spots to choose from.
“What’s not to love about South Florida, it has great weather, great people, and
Beyond the sites to see, Floridians have collegiate opportunities others states gasp over. For instance, with Florida Prepaid, residents have the chance to pre-pay for their children’s in-state tuition, regardless of inflation. This attributes to the hundreds of thousands of kids who attend in-state colleges such as the University of Florida, Florida State University, and suggest.
Known for its juicy oranges, wild stories about men, and alligators spotted on the street, Florida just so happens to be one of the worst places to live despite the utopian fantasy the rest of the country has about it. It sounds glorious when picturing the Sunshine State as just a place with beautiful beaches and clear skies. Ironically, there is such a thing as too much sunshine in this overcrowded and muggy state. However, besides the million-degree temperatures, Florida is still quite a trainwreck. With new contentious laws being passed by the day, we’re headed straight for chaos. Just weeks ago, Governor Ron DeSantis and The Florida House signed a bill that now allows one to carry concealed guns and weapons without possessing a permit or training. DeSantis has also been open about making open-carry legal if the legislature were to pass the law, too. This new measure is devastating to people around the entire state, including students at Spanish River.
“The new gun law, which has recently been passed by our governor, [puts] me at risk every day at school and while walking around Boca trying to live and do daily activities,” says junior Tristin Dasse. “I now know I have a higher chance of being shot or seeing someone
School shootings and public places are already a big problem in the state of Florida; just five years ago, 17 innocent lives were taken by a school shooter at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School -- which is just twenty minutes from Spanish River. Despite this happening, It would not be surprising to see the death toll or the number of unprovoked shootings rise due to this new law. The godawful laws that have been passed in the state don’t stop here, either. The “Stop WOKE” act, passed just last year, has banned teachers and employers from discussing instructional lessons regarding race relations and diversity because conversations about the topic could supposedly make people feel guilty or uneasy about the past. This act violates the First Amendment due to speech being barred based on what can and cannot be said in schools and the workplace. Further, DeSantis also passed a law last year, known as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, which states that teachers may not discuss or teach classroom instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity in grades K-3 as it is not “developmentally” or “age appropriate.” Much backlash was received from other government leaders, representatives, and residents in Florida as the law marginalizes the LGBTQ+ community and suppresses their presence in society no matter their age. DeSantis is also looking into expanding this law to grades 4-12 as well.
As it seems, Florida is not the place to be in terms of the amount
of discrimination and danger that the state possesses.
Even more so, Florida is unappealing because of the overcrowdedness during the winter season and the rising population year-round. Notice how “winter season” was mentioned -- actually, there are no seasons in the state. Anyone who lives here or visits knows that they are in a constant state of sweat and stickiness from the absurd temperatures and high humidity levels throughout the state. Personally, I’m counting down the days until I can feel the crunch of snow beneath my feet and see colorful leaves during the fall. With winter being nonexistent, snowbirds from New York, New Jersey, and elsewhere fly down for months at a time and cram the roads and beaches. This wasteland of tourists makes the beaches, which are already trash-filled, unpleasant to be at because they are loud and oblivious. The state of the environment affects students at our school, too.
“I’ve noticed in the past few years, thousands of people have flooded into the south Florida area and the littering on the beach has been noticeably increased ever since,” says junior Elena Ferbeyre. “We need to do a better job at taking care of our beaches and the overall environment we live in.”
Besides the unpleasant environment and weather, the attitude of the people that live here are also quite unnerving. Pop! There goes the Boca Bubble. In my experience, South Florida has one of the largest populations of people who are entitled and impolite and I think a primary factor that contributes to this is the difference in economic classes. On one hand there are people from the middle and lower classes who are respectful and kind, and on the other, there are people in the upper class who are more snobbish and notso considerate. It is unclear that this is because of the way they were used or just an attitude that was adopted from those they surround themselves with, but it is prominent in schools, the workplace, on the road, etc. It’s something that for sure has driven me away from the love I used to have for Florida as a kid, and I’m sure this can be said for many other Floridians.
With that being said, my stance on Florida remains due to the sticky weather, outrageous laws, and the people that I cannot wait to leave. Maybe make the decision to move elsewhere some day, or perhaps do your part in redirecting the antiFlorida position that myself and many others hold.
Our dream lineups:
Jacinda’s Day: Colleen’s Day:
Amelie’s Day:
JULIE PHOEBE BRIDGERS TITLE FIGHT HUM
BLEED SUPERHEAVEN MODERN BASEBALL NARROW HEAD
DEFTONES FOO FIGHTERS THE CURE GLARE RADIOHEAD ALEX G MAC DEMARCO THE SMASHING PUMPKINS GRACIE ABRAMS THE SMITHS WHIRR
TAYLOR SWIFT PHOEBE BRIDGERS CLAIRO
HARRY STYLES CIGARETTES AFTER SEX THE LUMINEERS
GRACIE ABRAMS BRUNO MARS COLDPLAY ARCTIC MONKEYS
THE NEIGHBOURHOOD OLIVIA RODRIGO THE CURE FRANK OCEAN STEVE LACY GIRL IN RED BOYGENIUS THE 1975 DAYGLOW
ALEXANDRA SAVIOR ARCTIC MONKEYS
CHASE ATLANTIC GLASS ANIMALS PHOENIX STEELY DAN
SAINT MOTEL GALDIVE EASHA PEACH PIT YOUNG THE GIANT
TWENTY ONE PILOTS FOSTER THE PEOPLE BENEE JIWOO MGMT MILKY CHANCE
LUKE CHIANG ORION SUN
T he T heater Department Presents - River’s Spring Showcase
Although they just began their season in the spring, both the junior varsity and varsity boys’ volleyball teams are already killing the court. Led by Coach Youell, the volleyball team is off to a fantastic start, both in practice and in game.
“The games have been really fun so far,” says junior Derek Max, a member of the JV team. “Our team is currently 4-2, but our losses have been to the top teams in the state. We are getting better every single day. I always look forward to practice so that we can improve as a team”
“As a team, our games are going alright so far,” says junior Ethan Luce, a member of the varsity team. “We are currently 3-4 but we are definitely improving fast. We are a really young team, so as the season goes on, we’ll surely get better and betWter.”
Last spring, the volleyball team was on a roll. They placed well in the top one thousand schools nationally, as well as in the top fifty schools in Florida. Ethan Luce continuously appeared on
the leaderboards, placing top three in several categories such as hitting percentage, kills, total blocks, and digs. Renzo Reid, the team’s current student captain, also often placed in the top three in total blocks and hitting percentage. Both players are still members of the team this year and plan to help guide the team to victory.
Being a player on the volleyball team, however, involves so much more than just playing the game as a unit or playing on the court.
“Being on the volleyball team means being a part of something bigger than yourself,” says Derek Max. “Being on the team has introduced me to so many new friends both on and off of the court”
“Joining the volleyball team means joining a brotherhood of athletes who are together through the highs and the lows,” says senior
Being a part of the volleyball team calls for a strong suite of hands. Playing and working together with your teammates to strive to be the best requires a handful of skills partnered with a very strong work ethic.
“Volleyball takes more than just being able to execute the skills necessary on the court,” says Coach Youell. “It takes communicating, listening, understanding, and implementation of instruction.”
“A good heart and a strong mind can take you a long way when on the team,” says Renzo Reid.
Coach Youell, in her seventeenth year of coaching volleyball as a whole, has been coaching the boys volleyball team at River for five years.
“I like the long-term
connections that are created with my players,” says Coach Youell. “Watching them grow not only as players but as athletes is a tremendously rewarding feeling. Players handle the lessons and struggles we encounter freshman and sophomore year with such class and calmness when they are older.”
Renzo Reid shares a similar experience as a long lasting member of the team who this year became student captain.
“Ever since I joined the team sophomore year I was looking up to the older guys and becoming captain,” says Reid. “To me, being captain means leading as an example not only as a player but as a person.”
The boys’ volleyball team, both JV and Varsity, provides players with the opportunity to have fun during games as well as join a team with their soon-to-be very best friends. Accompanied by a great coach and a strong student captain, the team is sure to succeed this year. Tune in to the boys’ volleyball team’s games and, if students are interested in joining the team - they can reach
“Winning the districts game felt great,” says Joey Silberfarb. “We completed our starting goal to win the district championship. I wouldn’t want to be part of any other team.”
“This year was a good year for our boys tennis team,” says Coach Henrichs. “We have a lot of young talent. Districts were a little disappointing as we came in second, however, we moved on to regionals and won our semi-finals match. Dante Massetta and Andre Coopersmith were our top two players and came in first in districts and qualified for states. Our future goals are to make it to states and grow as a team.”
Peyton Blythe Sports Editor
e Spanish River Boys Baseball team is taking over Boca. With a record of 9-3, the boys have de ed the odds and have improved by a landslide thanks to the addition of Coach Patrick Abbondandolo and the outstanding e ort of the whole team. e team is now up to seventh place of all baseball teams in Palm Beach County.
behind almost all game to come back in the 6th to seal the deal and win 5-4. A er not beating Boca High in four years, this win boosted the whole team morale and proved to many how talented the roster is for the 2023 season.
e Sharks also scored a huge win over rival, Olympic Heights, in extra innings where senior Jonathan Guardascione hit a walk-o single securing the game for the Sharks. Guardascione says that he goes by
So far this year, the Spanish River Girls So ball team is ranked sixth in the Palm Beach County rankings, and is expected to only improve over the remaining course of the season.
e girls team has done extremely well, with a record of 9-2 so far this season.
e girls have picked up right where they le o from last year and have continued their winning record into this year. Unfortunately they lost last year in the regional semi nals, but this year they are going for gold. Sophomore Giselle Portanova, the main pitcher for the Sharks, has helped secure wins for the sharks on multiple occasions. With her partner Emma Iovene as catcher, the duo form the backbone that holds the team together. Playing together for two years now, the chemistry these two have is an incredible sight.
this team as well, as she has hit a home run in almost every single game she has played in! Despite being injured for a couple games, she has bounced back in great fashion.
Santos said, “Getting to play for our so ball team is something i’ll forever be grateful for. I get to surround myself with the best girls amd coaches for 3 months straight.” “I cannot wait to see how far we make it this year!”
e girls team has a bunch of talent this year and they have had their share of comebacks this season, including a 9-8 win over Seminole Ridge, one of the best teams in the county this year. e comeback started late in the 7th inning when they were down 2 runs, where Emma Iovene hit a double to secure 2 runs.
Last year the team’s season ended too soon with a loss to Santaluces in the District Quarter nal. On March 14th, the teams faced o again, and this time the Sharks pulled away with the victory, showing true perseverance from the squad. Better yet, with the Sharks only being halfway through the season, they already have a higher record than last year, and it’s only looking up from here.
“ is year the team is full of talent, and I think we can make it far in the playo s this year,” says Junior Joseph Santone.
e rst year varsity coach, Coach Abbondandolo says, “My favorite thing about the boys is their ght, they never give up. e boys are truly amazing and awe-inspiring”. One of the biggest accomplishments for the team thus far is beating their cross town rivals, Boca High. On March 8th, the Sharks came from
one quote, “If you can dream it, you can do it.” He also said “ e team is amazing, and we work together and are like brothers in a family. Beating Olympic Heights in the Shark Pit felt so good.”
Two of the seniors on the team, Jonothan Guardascione and Marco Fernandes will be continuing their academic and athletic careers while playing baseball in college. ey are hoping to win a title for the Sharks before they graduate this spring.
e team has a long road ahead of them but, once the playo s begin, the Sharks have a real chance of winning it all. Hopefully they will bring back a title to Shark Country by the end of the season.
Junior Emma Iovene says,“ e team goes through everything together, whether it’s a win or a loss. e team is always there for each other and I cannot wait to see what happens at the end of the season.”
One standout this season is Isabella Santos, the third baseman who is committed to play college so ball at Auburn University at Montgomery. Santos has been a key player for
Junior Taigen Callahan also hit a sacri ce pop y to secure the W for the Sharks.
With that, the team is ranked one of the best in the county and continues to prove their worth throughout regular season play. At the end of the season, the girls are looking to secure a District Championship this year!
“You were one of the first persons that I met at Spanish River, when I simply came on as coach. I appreciate the fact that you believed in me as I moved into the role of head coach and took my advice on other volleyball related hires or even playoff bracket set ups. I will not forget the countless hours we have spent in the gym at the breaker box, trying to fix bleachers. But most importantly I’ll always remember your support. Always being there. Taking the time to know my athletes names, coaches names and complaining about the refs you dont like haha. You’ve seen it all and I’ve been a sponge trying to absorb the information.
Thank you as always for all that you do and what you have done!!”-
Alain Bazile“It is always fun to be with Coach Mac at Grad Bash but my favorite memory of Mac was when we got stuck on the Jurassic Park ride for almost an hour at the part of the ride where the Velociraptors were breaking out of the crates, with an alarm style sound ge ing on everyone’s nerves. Coach Mac may be the only reason we were able to survive because of his positive spirit and sense of humor.”- Angela
DonninoMac FINALLY embraces technology and has a robot paint the fields!!- Kevin Turner
“I live to hear Coach Mac’s Irish laugh, there is nothing like it. And there are few like him that live to serve and make each and every day about the ‘kids’ as he would say. An icon at River and one of River’s finest!”- Allison Castellano
“Universal, going on Jurassic Park, Mac and I started bringing trash bags or ponchos to take on the Universal water rides! We got smart after many years.”- Tara Rothberg
