5100 Jog Road BocaRaton,FL33496 @The_Galleon galleonnewsonline.com Volume 31 Issue 4 of Spanish River Community High School’s award-winning student-run newspaper • February 2015
River teachers are nominated for Dwyer Award Rachel Horn News Editor
Each year, the Dwyer Awards, an annual program supported by the business community, recognizes outstanding achievement by teachers from public and private schools in Palm Beach County. Teachers are nominated by their peers in the following five categories: elementary education, middle school, senior high school, career education, and special programs. This year, River has two teachers that are Dwyer nominees. AP Human Geography teacher Kevin Turner is nominated for the high school category and Math teacher Marion Jackson is nominated for the special programs category. “It is nice when parents and students think highly of you, but the respect of other professional educaters is the
highest praise any teacher could receive,” Turner said. Over the last 15 years, Turner has made AP Human Geography a very popular and high achieving class. This class has grown from 50 students to over 180 students with AP exam scores predominately in the 4’s and 5’s. “What I value most is when kids start to see the real world applicability of geography,” Turner said. Turner also makes a positive impact in the community. His girls’ soccer team raises money every year for breast cancer research and treatment by participating in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. Jackson has been nominated a total of five times. Jackson’s goal is for students to have a positive feeling about school and to be proud of their accomplishments. Her students often return to visit
her at River to show their appreciation for how she helped them be successful. “What makes me proud about teaching is building self-confidence in students, raising academic achievement, guiding students to reach their fullest potential, and being a good role model,” Jackson said. Jackson believes that being approachable and caring has made a positive impact on the students that she has taught. She feels that the most rewarding part of being a teacher is when students come back to thank her for all that they have learned from her. “One of my proudest accomplishments was when I worked with a student that was told by a private psychologist that they were not capable of taking a high school math course, but after working with this student for two years, in the right
Marion Jackson: math teacher
environment, this student earned 4 math credits and will be graduating with the class of 2015,” Jackson said. Jackson is just as dedicated to her community as she is to her students. She volunteers 5 hours a week at the Florida Humane Society in Pompano Beach where she helps abandoned and surrendered companion animals. Both of River’s nominees display a love for teaching and a passion to make the world a better place. If they win, they will receive $3,000 and
Kevin Turner: AP Human Geography teacher
a personalized plaque, and if they make it as a finalist, they will receive $500 dollars and a framed certificate. Each school with a winning teacher receives $1,250 to be used to support educational needs. Jackson and Turner, together will all the nominees, finalists, and award recipients will be honored at a reception and ceremony on Wednesday, May 6th, at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts. Photos By Carly Mackler
River Remembers Beloved Student often say, “with a class room full of those we could teach another 30 years.” Dylan Wohlgemuth -William Harvey, baseball was an incredible student, coach “Death is a sad and tragic teammate, son, and friend. event. The sudden passing Only 15, he was taken from of Dylan touched the hearts the world too young. On our January 28th, 2015, Dylan of s t u d e n ts, lost consciousness after faculty and being in a coma for three weeks. Although he is gone, community he will never be forgotten. as no one Thanks to the many people can truly be he positively influenced p r e p a r e d this throughout his time at for i n e v i t a b le Spanish River, his memory event. One will live on forever. “To Spanish River High. that is much We have lost one of our harder when true beacons of light. Dylan it is a child your Wohlgemuth was one of and s t u d e n t . my baseball players. He was From the a really good player, but a standpoint “great” kid. I will simply say, a Spanish River student we can of a principal, Dylan’s passing all be proud of. I have taken is the hardest to handle and great pride in hearing how the least prepared for as we each one of his teachers had consider ourselves a family. nothing but glowing remarks We were in the process of for his effort and demeanor preparing him to live life to in the classroom and with his its fullest and his time was fellow classmates.. Dylan was cut short and we will never one of the good ones we so understand. Regardless of the time spent with us at Spanish
Ashley Roth Editor-in-Chief
River, Dylan Wohlgemuth has left an indelible impression on us as he is a remarkable young man, student and friend. He will be missed but not forgotten.” -Principal William R. Latson “I had the
pleasure of teaching Dylan twice- first in seventh grade life science and then, this year, in sophomore chemistry. In the years between, he grew and changed, as all children do. But one thing that didn’t change was the kindness he showed to others. He was a good, loyal friend who was
easy to talk to and pleasant to be around. I loved having him in class. As a student, he was quiet, but he was always respectful and responsible. He did what he was asked to do and then some, always p u s h i n g himself to improve. As an athlete, he was a rising star who was committed to his team and to honing his talent. He juggled a busy schedule, but he loved what he did. Dylan was a young man with a lot of promise and much to offer the world. With his passing, we certainly feel an emptiness. But while Dylan may be gone, the light and love that he offered to us during his all-too-short time on this earth will remain.” -Charlotte Eames, chemistry teacher “Some people
change our lives because of how they live their lives. It does not matter whether that person is 70 with years of experience or 17. Dylan Wohlgemuth is that person for me. Dylan’s love of people and enthusiasm for life reminds me each day to smile at people and make their lives a little happier. His desire to work hard and grow to become better, inspires me to always be at my best and not settle for less than what I am capable of doing. Dylan’s love for his mother and father reminds me of my priorities and to show as well as tell the people I love how special they are to me. Forever, Dylan- you have a piece of my heart, and I will always have these life lessons to share. Whether you knew Dylan or not, may his short, beautiful life lessons remind you of the best in your life.” - Marcia Kunf, English teacher “Dylan was a committed baseball player and a great friend and brother to all of us on the baseball team.” -Ian Morton, senior and teammate
Photos Courtesy of Tiburon and palmbeachhighschoolbaseball.com