The
TIMBER CREEK
Send letters to the Editor: email kimberly.dobson@ocps.net, tweet us at @TheTCTribune, or visit Mrs. Dobson in 560B.
Volume XIII
Tribune
CONTENT:
2 Features 4 Breaking News 5 Brain Food 6 Central Florida Holiday 8 Sports 9 Opinion 10 Entertainment
Let’s talk about sex
A Student Publication
Issue II, December 2013
Clutch goal wins nail-biter Todd Akroyd Entertainment Editor Entering the Dec. 4 game against University High School, the boys soccer team had a record of 4-1-1. Last season the team played the Cougars at home and won with a final score of 4-1. But this season the game would be even more heart pounding. The team fell behind early when University kicked a goal to go up 1-0 in the 10th minute, but due to an admirable team defensive philosophy they were able to prevent additional scoring the rest of the game. Continued on page 8
Public goes bonkers for "Bangerz" Cristina Toppin Guest Writer Annie Magee Copy Editor While high school may be filled with nerve-racking and uncomfortable rites of passage, one of the most memorable and dreaded is Sex Ed. While educators mean well with their teachings, results show that only instilling fear of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) has not fixed the major issue they are trying to fix: teenage pregnancy and in-
fection rates. Both America’s STI and pregnancy rates among teenagers are the highest in the industrialized world, a trend that can be directly related to the ineffective sexual education programs in much of the country. Only 22 states (Florida is not among them) and the District of Columbia have passed legislature requiring Sex Ed to be taught to students in public schools, and only 19 of those mandate that the material must be “medically
accurate” according to health professionals. Instead, many states are focused on teaching “abstinence-only until marriage,” even in the case of student rape victims and teenage parents, where other information would be more useful. These courses teach only failure rates of contraceptives and STI dangers, both of which are practical and necessary to be taught. Continued on page 9
She no longer wants the “best of both worlds.” As she trades her long, golden (faux) locks for a much more edgy cut, Miley Cyrus is in the process of severing ties with her Disney-fied self, a tedious task many former child stars fail to accomplish. Her latest album, “Bangerz” (released Oct. 4) is an album that vastly differs from her past ones. “Vastly differs” might be a mild adjective to describe it. Continued on page 10
Novembeard Results are in page 5
FEATURES & HIGHLIGHTS
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Rain couldn’t stop the One act Shakespeare takes the JROTC annual field day stage at District Competition
The squadrons do their chants under the bleachers while waiting for the rain to lighten up. PHOTO donated/Ashley Larkin
Brittany Crary Sports Editor The annual field day of the Junior Air Force Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JAFROTC) was held Friday, Nov. 29 on the football field. The intention was to bring all students together to create a sense of camaraderie. Every Friday, students participate in physical training including activities such as running, situ ups, and pushups, with each squadron (Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, and Echo) working together. When field day came around, these skills were put to the test as squadrons competed against each other. The events kicked off with a baton relay race on the track, then lead into other events such as Tacky tourist, Australian Trolley, Three legged race, Sponge race, Tug of War, and Water balloon toss. “My favorite part is just
doing the whole thing. We get a free day to go have fun, run around, exercise and be competitive,” said senior Supporting Group Commander Trent Hart. This year’s planning began at the end of the 2012-2013 school year. “We have to get all the paper work together, like all the permissions slips and check if they are eligible to go due to their grades. And we have to fill out the teams of what squadron goes against which and that goes into the brackets of flag football, tug of war, and the relay races,” said senior MWR officer Jaeleen Roman. According to Roman, over 200 of the 370 students in the JAFROTC were unable to attend due to low grades. While the weather took a turn for the worst, the activities continued under the bleachers. “They got together underneath the bleachers and they did their chants. Each squadron did a special, one guy did a beat box, one guy did a crazy dance,” said Senior Aerospace Science Instructor Major Brian L. Humphrey. The Bravo Squadron, who referred to themselves as the Bravo Bees, took the victory and celebrated with the bee buzzing chant. “What I hope the students got out of this was fellowship. They grow on each other, like JAFROTC, were big on we stick with each other, we are basically a family so we want them to know we have each other’s backs,” added Hart.
Contest encourages students to read
A poster in the media center displaying the books students need to read for the competition. PHOTO/ Tyanna Guzman
Tyanna Guzman Opinion Editor School media specialists have been using the Florida Teens Read contest to motivate students to read. The competition helps the state of Florida pick excellent young adult novels. Grades nine through twelve may vote for their favorite of fifteen books by May 1, however they must have read at least three of the books prior to voting.
Genres range from apocalyptic fiction to romance tragedies. After reading each book, participants are tested on their story knowledge by an expert on that novel. A list of teacher experts is listed outside of media specialist Pat Franklin’s office in the media center. After talking to an expert on the book, a form is completed and placed a green box labeled with the contest name outside of Franklin’s office. At certain milestones, students are rewarded with prizes like free beverages and movie tickets. This contest was created in 2005. Last year approximately 100 students participated, with only eight winners (students who read all of the Florida Teens Read books). Franklin encourages students to participate by going into classrooms and speaking directly to students about the books. “I like to talk to them about a good book. It helps them find the right book for them,” Franklin said.
Drama students during their production of a Midsummer Night’s Dream. PHOTO/ Brittany Crary
Annie Magee Copy Editor On Thursday, Nov. 21, the Thespians and drama students began the three-day District Competition. Over 60 Timber Creek students will compete, enacting theatrical performances and showcasing talents for technical theatre work. Technical events showcased schools’ work with costume design, set building, and playwriting, among others. Moreover, dramatic events performed by student actors take the form of monologues, complete scenes, and solos, with the biggest production being a one-act retelling of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The play was cut down to one 40-minute act from its original five, while retaining the original Elizabethan style and plot. “It is very difficult to cut Shakespeare down to that short of a time,” said drama teacher Elizabeth Horn. This was the first exposure many of the actors had to performing Shakespeare, as it was Timber Creek’s first attempt at staging the classic playwright’s works. “I think we were all a little hesitant,” said senior Chris Newton, who portrays bewitched teenager Lysander in the play. “As we spent more time with the script, and learning about the language that Shakespeare used in his plays, it finally clicked for us.” The story follows the intermingled tales of four love-struck youths and mythical creatures in the woods outside Athens. “I thought Midsummer would be Students who enjoy reading (and prizes) have been enthusiastic about this opportunity. “It’s easy because reading is cool,” said sophomore Nina Jones. Jones hopes to read all 15 books this year. She has already read some of the books, and Ashes is her favorite so far. “It gets crazy,” Jones raves about Ashes, “and I like free stuff.” Students can go to the media center and ask the specialists for more information, including the list of books and prizes.
a good play to start with because it is a comedy and the characters are teenagers, fairies, and other characters I thought the students could relate to. We incorporate a lot of physical comedy to help the audience understand the text,” said Horn. Preparing a play for competition is different from standard plays. “For competition shows we have to be a lot more serious and professional backstage since there are backstage judges,” said junior Renee Ramcharan, who plays the mischievous (and sometimes bumbling) faerie Puck. Helping to bring the story to life are technical elements which were incorporated into the storytelling. Elaborate costumes lavishly distinguish faeries from modernized Athenian mortals. In addition, “storytellers” emphasize the magic spells and romantic tones to the poem via projections on the set’s screen backdrop, including a green elixir for when Puck casts love spells, which drive the story’s plot. Requirements are in place for set size, time limits on getting actors into their makeup and costumes, and time limits for setting up the stage, as well as the 40-minute length maximum for the production. Previous shows brought to District competitions by the Thespians include works such as Metamorphoses, Doubt, Oedipus Rex, and last year’s original play Wait. Three of these shows advanced to State competition, a goal the drama department hopes to achieve again after qualifying at the District level. “When you just having the acting it is great… but when you add the set and the costumes and the technical elements, you have a show. That feeling when all the elements of a production come together is the most fulfilling thing. All the hard work that you have been putting in for however many months pays off,” said Newton.
20/20 Experience review page 10 3
Timber Creek’s Book Club will be meeting in the Media Center on Jan. 10 during A and B Lunch to discuss the book Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. The story follows a girl’s freshman year of high school after a traumatic event the summer before which leaves her isolated from her peers.
Submit original poetry, short stories, drawings, paintings, photography, and photographs of sculptures to FLOW, Timber Creek’s Literary and Art Magazine. The submission deadline is Feb. 28. Submission forms are available from your Art or English teacher, or from Mrs. Dobson in room 560B.
Specialize, Specialize, Specialize with Academies Business Academy The Academy of International Business is devoted to supplying the best work environment for our students. We have computerized electronic offices where students will work in specialized areas to prepare for the school-to-work transition. Students have the opportunity to experience what the ‘‘real world’’ workforce is like through academic, business, technological, and professional skills we offer in our programs (Computing for College & Careers, Accounting, Personal Financial Planning, Business Co-Op/Guided Workplace). Students will also have the opportunity to gain work experience in one of our on-campus businesses. While working in the business, students will not only receive a grade and class credit, but the work experience they gain can be placed on a job resume/application. Each business is affiliated with an outside business. They are student-run with a TCHS International Business Academy teacher coordinating and overseeing the process. Elizabeth DiGiovanni: elizabeth.digiovanni@ocps.net
Early Childhood Education Academy
The Timber Creek High School Early Childhood Education Academy is designed for students who are interested in a classroom career. The Early Childhood Education course focuses on the first 40 hours of DCF childcare training. Students are required to take six exams, and in passing those exams, will earn six childcare training certifications. Students who have passed all six exams and have a B average, have the opportunity to apply for ECE 2, where they will continue their education in teaching strategies, lesson planning, and implementation. If students continue on to ECE 3-4, they are able to work in the Wolf Pup Learning Center and have the opportunity to implement the strategies and techniques they learned in ECE 1-2. Jennifer Houston: jennifer.houston@ocps.net
Journalism
Veterinary Assistant Program
Graphic Arts Program
The Timber Creek Vet Assist Program
The classes included are Foundations of Game and Simulation, Game and Simulation Design 1 & 2, Communication Technology 1, 2, and 3. Michael Jones: michael.jones@ocps.net
is a hands-on program that teaches students the techniques used in animal care. As vet assistants are one of the
most important jobs in a vet clinic or hospital, this program gives students
the opportunity to work with various
animals, such as cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, and dogs. One highlight of the program is the doggie daycare. Faculty and
staff of Timber Creek have the opportunity to bring their beloved canine
to school with them for a minimal fee. The program teaches the students
how to use the tools that they will encounter everyday within a vet office,
giving them a hands-on opportunity for
students wishing to gain experience of what really happens when are working in the veterinary medicine field.
Zuleika Hubble: zuleika.hubble@OCPS.net
Service Learning Wendy Doromal : wendy.doromal@ ocps.net
Academy of Information Technology Kyle Denker: kyle.dencker@ocps.net
Project Lead the Way
Newspaper and Yearbook
Television Production
Engineering
The purpose of this course is to enable students to extend fundamental skills in the production of journalism across print, multimedia, and the web, and to develop further knowledge of journalism history, ethics use, and management techniques related to the production of journalistic media. Journalism 1 is a prerequisite for the yearbook and newspaper courses where these skills will be applied. Kimberly Dobson: kimberly.dobson@ocps.net Samantha Bell: samantha.bell@ocps.net
This program offers a sequence of courses that provides coherent and rigorous content aligned with challenging academic standards and relevant technical knowledge and skills needed to prepare for further education and careers in the Arts, A/V Technology and Communication career cluster. The content should include, but is not be limited to, communication and emploment skills, safe and efficient work practices, and preparation to assume responsibility for overall production of television studio activities including. Such responsibilities include overseeing scripts, lighting, filming and directing, electronic news gathering, and field production. Cameron Stevens: cameron.stevens@ocps.net
This four year engineering program has a variety of classes that range from Introduction to Enginneer and Design to Engineering Design and Development. The program is extremely hands on, with practical applications after each lesson. They will have exposure to various types of engineering throughout the span of courses. Students must have successfully completed Algebra 1 before entering the program, along with completing an application. Jennifer Kane: jennifer.kane@ocps.net
Biomedical Sciences Biomedical Sciences allows students to explore the concepts of Human medicine and are introduced to topics such as physiology, genetics, microbiology, and public health. They also explore the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease. Students who complete three courses will not only recieve college credit but will also be eligible to take the University of Florida Biotechnician Assistant Credentialing Exam. Anna Stevens: anna.stevens2@ocps.net
ACADEMIC SPOTLIGHT MIDTERM SCHEDULE: JAN. 13 - JAN. 16
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Monday, January 13th 1st Period 2nd Period 3rd Period 4th Period A Lunch 5th Period 6th Period Exam
7:20 - 8:07 8:12 - 8:59 9:04 - 9:51 9:56 - 10:43 10:43 - 11:15 11:20 - 12:07 12:12 - 2:12
1st Period 2nd Period 3rd Period 4th Period 5th Period B Lunch 6th Period Exam
(47 min) (47 min) (47 min) (47 min) (32 min) (47 min) (2 hrs)
REMINDERS
(55 min) (2 hrs) (55 min) (47 min) (2 hrs)
• Business Co-op Students are expected to be in class for their exams even at the end of the day. • We are having school-wide lunches during the last three days. • Classes with a state EOC exam do not have a separate semester exam. • This schedule is subject to change. Please check the school website for updates: www.tchs.ocps.net.
Wednesday, January 15th 1st Period Exam 7:20-9:20 2nd period 9:25-10:20 SCHOOL WIDE LUNCH 10:20-11:07 3rd Period Exam 11:12-1:12
(2 hrs) (55 min) (47 min) (2 hrs)
Thursday, January 16th 4th period 7:20-8:15 5th Period Exam 8:20-10:20 6th period 10:25-11:20 SCHOOL WIDE LUNCH 11:20-12:07 7th Period Exam 12:12-2:12
(47 min) (47 min) (47 min) (47 min) (47 min) (32 min) (2 hrs)
IMPORTANT
Tuesday, January 14th 1st period 7:20-8:15 2nd Period Exam 8:20-10:20 3rd period 10:25-11:20 SCHOOL WIDE LUNCH11:20-12:07 4th Period Exam 12:12-2:12
7:20 - 8:07 8:12 - 8:59 9:04 - 9:51 9:56 - 10:43 10:48 - 11:35 11:35 - 12:07 12:12 - 2:12
(55 min) (2 hrs) (55 min) (47 min) (2 hrs)
FEATURED COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM:
The Bridges to Success Program (BSP) will pay for tuition at Valencia Community College for 2 years. It is a competitive application process, and the deadline is Jan. 29. The application packets are available in guidance. The application process includes reporting your scores for the ACT, SAT, or PERT exams. The PERT exam is Valencia’s entry exam and is administered on a walk-in basis at its Assessment Centers. You will also have to receive two recommendation letters, one from a teacher and one from your community service counselor. You will have to submit your current and final transcripts, along with filling out the FAFSA application for 20132014. Lastly, you will have to write three essays that are at least 500 words each. If you need more information on the BSP, type http://valenciacollege.edu/bridges/ into your browser or contact Allison Reichert, M.S, Professional School Counselor at allison.reichert@ocps.net.
NEWS BITES
Winter Break Saturday Dec. 21 through Sunday Jan. 5
m
End of second marking period
p
Thursday Jan. 16
Begin Second Semester/ Tuesday Jan. 21
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Martin Luther King Jr. Day Friday Jan. 17 Four day weekend Jan. 17-20
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UPCOMING TEST DATES TEST DATE (SIGN UP DEADLINE)
ACT FEB. 8 (JAN. 10) APR. 12 (MAR. 7)
SAT JAN. 25 (DEC. 27) SUBJECT TESTS AVAILABLE
MAR. 8 (Feb. 7)
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BRAIN FOOD
MEET THE TIMBER CREEK
TRIBUNE
STAFF Sponsor: Kimberly Dobson Editor-in-Chief: Reyna Perez Copy Editor: Annie Magee Page Editors: Todd Akroyd, Tyler Andreala, Brittany Crary, Tyanna Guzman, Lauren Trevino
Poetry slam yields district competitors Reyna Perez Editor-in-Chief
HOLIDAY WORD SEARCH
Timber Creek’s annual Poetry Slam competition for spoken word performances took place on Friday, Dec. 13 after school in the Media Center. Each of the six student poets performed an original work of poetry for a small audience of students, teachers, and guests. The Poetry Slam was open to all students, and the purpose of the competition was to determine which three poets will represent Timber Creek at the “Say Word!” county poetry slam competition on May 1, where the winners from all high schools in Orange county converge to compete. Inspired by a growing movement of young poets, such as those featured on the HBO series “Brave New Voices,” the teen competitors wrote original poems and then practiced performing them with a focus on adding gestures and vocal techniques to enhance their presentation of the piece for the school competition. The winners of the Poetry Slam in ranking order were: junior Hanna Stegman, sophomore Alaina Scapicchio, and junior Zaus Streete. For the next four months each of these poets will be writing, memorizing, and practicing the performance of three original works in case they make it to the final round of district competition. Orlando Spoken Word Open Mic Events Di-Verse Word Tuesdays, 8pm Dandelion Communitea Cafe 618 N Thornton Ave, Orlando, FL 32803 The Write First Saturday of each month 8pm, J.B. Callahan Recreation Center 101 N Parramore Ave, Orlando, FL 32801
6 It’s the most wonder
Celebrating the Season Annie Magee Copy Editor
Light up UCF
-Nightly from Nov. 15 through Jan. 5 -Located outside of the CFE Arena on the main UCF campus (purchase tickets on site) -Events include: -Ice Skating ($12 per person) -Select carnival rides ($4.25-$6.40) -Photos with Santa ($12-$39) -Carriage rides ($5-$10 per person) -Holiday Light Show (Free) -Holiday Film Festival (Free) - 7:00 and 9:30 pm showings -Dec. 18: A Christmas Story -Dec. 20: Elf -Dec. 21: Home Alone
ICE! Featuring Frosty the Snowman
Macy’s Holiday Parade
-Daily from Dec. 7 through Jan. 4 -Dec. 7 through Dec. 25 at 5:00 pm -Dec. 26 through Dec. 31 at 8:00 pm -Jan. 1 through Jan. 4 at 5:00 pm -Universal Orlando Resort -Free with park admission -Florida Resident tickets from $92 -($86 for children) -Events include: -Many classical balloons from Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade, as well as floats -Tree lighting ceremony
Annie Magee Copy Editor Snow falling from the sky, Christmas lights hanging on all the buildings, classic carols playing throughout stores, and children sipping hot cocoa are all sights awaiting visitors at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom. On select nights in the months of November and December, the Magic Kingdom stays open until midnight for a holiday event featuring special Christmas-themed shows and events. The party started with a stroll down the timeless Main Street U.S.A., complete with traditional Christmas decorations and vintage carols. While a nostalgic look back at holidays-past is nice, all eyes were on the end of the street. The star of the show was Cinderella’s castle. The entire structure was covered in blue and white lights, giving the palace a snow-covered and icicle-collecting appearance (perhaps a nod to the recently-released Frozen). Making up for the lack of dining choices, several event-only desserts and snacks were available throughout the park, including gingerbread-topped cupcakes, a “Very Merry Cherry” slush, and holiday waffle sundaes. More notably, at several treat stations, hot chocolate and Christmas cookies were handed out, free of charge, to party-goers. Holiday performances included the stage shows “Celebrate the Season” at Cinderella’s Castle, and “A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas Show” featuring characters from Pixar’s Monsters University. Additionally, “Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmastime” parade was held twice throughout the night.
While the parade routes were crowded, and obviously a focal point for most visitors, the wait was well worth it. A unique and festive way the parks featured the holiday theme was the remodeling of the classic ride, the now deemed “Jingle” Cruise. A Disney original, the ride features kitsch and puns galore, but sailed this time with decorative holiday flair. While the line was long for a short ride, the novelty was perfect for any true Disney fan. The highlight of the night was easily the “Holiday Wishes” fireworks display. Red, green, and gold fireworks were launched in time to holiday tunes. A new feature allowed for viewers to become part of the showcase: Glow with the Show ears. A modernization of the classic Mickey Ear hats, these ears light up in time with many performances and attractions at the Disney World Resort, the holiday fireworks included. While the streets, shows, and restaurants were busy, the ride lines remained short throughout most of the park, almost all less than 30 minutes. As the night went on, the crowds thinned as the younger party-goers returned to their hotels for the night. By 11:00, there were virtually no lines, and still plenty to do before the park closed. To make sure you get the most out of your night, take advantage of when special events are happening, and plan accordingly. Hit high-interest rides during the first or second parade, eat dinner early, and don’t expect to go on every ride if you want to participate in the holiday shows. Rating: 4 out of 5 stars: While the tickets are pricey (averaging around $70 for adults), the event is well worth the time for any Disney or Christmas fan.
White Christmas 1945 Starring: Bing Crosby A romance occurs at a Vermont Inn after two young men meet two sisters on their search for a white Christmas after W.W.II.
A Christmas Story 1983 Starring: Peter Billingsley A young boy named Ralphie dreams of getting a Red Ryder B.B. rifle for 24 straight hours every Christmas day.
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Classic Movies
-Select dates from Dec. 7 through Jan. 4 -Orlando’s Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center -Tickets start at $29.99 ($24.99 for Florida Residents) -Events include: -Sculptures made from 2 million pounds of ice -Depictions of classic Holiday figure Frosty the Snowman -Ice Slides -A live carving zone to watch the artists work
Mickey celebrates the holiday
rful time of the year! 7 season with Christmas cheer Brittany Crary Sports Editor
Last-Minute Gift Ideas
Phone Cases
Phone cases are on the top of everyone’s list. Case-mate.com lets you personalize a phone case for all Apple, Samsung, HTC, Blackberry, and LG devices for only $35.
Clothing
Get your friend the latest trend from stores like Holister and American Eagle, but if the budget is tight you can still get the same trends from Plato’s Closet. Cinderella’s Castle at the Magic Kingdom was lit up to look like a fresh snowfall, complete with icicles. The colors changed over the course of the night in response to several shows and displays. PHOTO/ Annie Magee
Contemporary Movies
Favorite Holiday Movies Past and Present
The Polar Express 2004 Starring: Tom Hanks A boy who no longer believes in Santa takes a surprise journey to the North Pole on Christmas Eve aboard a magical train, The Polar Express.
Love Actually 2003 Starring: Hugh Grant The ensemble romantic comedy centers around the lives of several U.K. residents as they try to find love, young and old, in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
Movie Night Box This is perfect for the movie buff in your life. Pick up a popcorn container from Party City ($2.49) and add their favoite snacks and movie!
Baked Goods Baked goods are always a fan favorite on the holidays. Make your friend a batch of your best cookies and package them in a clear jar with a note to show them your love on the holidays.
Miley Cyrus’ Bangerz review page 10
Jonathan Martin bullying incident page 9
SPORTS & ATHLETICS
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Lady Wolves run Cougars off the field Girls hope to lift their way to
another undefeated season
Coach Stevens rallies girls during halftime. PHOTO/ Lauren Trevino
Todd Akryod Entertainment Editor The girls soccer team had a disappointing end to the 2012-2013 season, losing a close match to Winter Park in the semi-finals of district playoffs 1-2. The 2013-2014 season, however, has started strong with a 3-1-0 record, and they are poised for success. Entering their game versus University, the girls had wins over Dr. Phillips, Ocoee, and East River. Each of these wins came easily, and they would need to play at a high level if they were going to beat their cross town rival. “We should win. We’ve beat them two years running. They might be our rival, but we should handle them,” said junior Carrie Lawrence. That is exactly what the Lady Wolves did Nov. 14 in a shutout victory with a score of 6-0 over University. Five different players scored, including two goals by senior Chelseanne “Chelsea” Keymont. Offensively, they were unstoppable as usual. In four games, they have scored 32 goals and outscored their opponents by 28.
Clutch goal wins nail-biter Continued from page 1 Senior goalie Tyler Richards has done an excellent job all season shutting teams offenses down, but he doesn’t take all the credit. “It’s not just me. Most of the credit goes to my defenders who have been so solid all year. We take pride in holding the other team to as few goals as possible. Our philosophy is to defend as a team, because if we shut the other team down, we can score only a goal or two and still win,” said Richards. And that’s exactly how they won. After falling behind early, the team fought back and eventually senior forward Sebastian Tamayo kicked a goal at the end of the first half tying the score at 1-1 going into halftime. The score stayed that way until about five minutes left in
Coach Cameron Stevens predicted the Cougars would not be able to stop his team’s fast passing offense. “They have a few good players but we match up well against them. We’re great at passing the ball quickly and they struggle to play fast sometimes,” said Stevens. The win was a big one, as they advance to 4-1-0 for the season and 1-0 in district play. Winning district games against big rivals like the Cougars is important to the girls. “Beating a rival team means a lot more to the team. We all work hard at practice to make it happen. You know you earned the win when you beat a school like University,” said junior Sierra Garcia. The rough play throughout the game showed just how much beating University really meant to the girls. The Lady Wolves look to compete for a district championship. However, if they want to take that next step and be district champions, they will have to be ready to beat current District Champion and true rival, Winter Park High School. the match when again Tamayo kicked a goal to put the Wolves up 2-1. “It’s pretty indescribable. You get a rush of triumph and it’s just a great feeling to get the win against a district rival like University,” said Tamayo. His teammates were not surprised though. They felt like they should have won by even more. “We were the better team and we deserved to win that game. We definitely left goals out on the field,” said senior midfielder Christian Funes. After a win against the Cougars, the boys beat another chief rival, Winter Park, on Friday Dec. 6, but then lost to West Orange Dec. 10. Their record is now 6-2-1. With their headstrong defensive philosophy and clutch offensive play, the boys have established themselves as a force to be reckoned with within the district.
The girls cheer on their teammates as they complete an event known by weightlifters as the “clean.” PHOTO/ Brittany Crary
Brittany Crary Sports Editor The girl’s weightlifting season kicked off on Nov.7 with the first meet taking place at Spruce Creek High School. The season opener, which was held on Nov.6 in the school’s cafeteria, consisted of all 30 girls competing against each other. Last season Junior Kjayla Martin broke the 230 for 183 record, and Junior Angelica Figueroa broke the 205 for 199 record. As a team the girls placed 3rd at the state championships. Expectations for the season run high. “I expect to be undefeated in our conference again and win another conference championship as well as another top 5 finish at the state championship,” said coach Tyrone Harvey. With Spruce Creek as Timber Creek’s biggest rival, practice is essential. “For preparation, they do squats to strengthen legs and lower body, pressing to strengthen shoulders, and technique work on the Olympic portion if the competition,” Harvey added. The practice meet first called for “the Jerk.” Competitors had to lift the
weight above their heads and hold it until instructed to drop. While there were a few fumbles, the girls held their winning status, receiving a handful of good lifts. Not wasting a second of precious practice time, some girls perfected their clean and jerk on the sides as they waited to be called, or conversed with the crowd of friends and family for some words of encouragement. To calm her nerves junior Taylor Stagnolia listened to music while a friend played with her hair. When the meet came to a close, State Champion junior Kjayla Martin said, “I felt I did good but there is always room for improvement.” Cheers from family and friends filled the cafeteria, hugs and compliments were found all around, and the girls had victory faces on ready to take the season. With pre-season success and determination the girls plan to make it far and dominate this season. “They will do fine this season. Tonight is a pre-season for them to see how a competition works and for them to know what to expect. And it’s also good for the new people to see how competitions will be,” said Harvey.
Academic program info. to help you register for classes page 3
Winter Comic page 11
OPINION & EDITORIAL
9
Letters to the Editor
Bullying or babying? Academic spotlight Pep Rallies leave Todd Akroyd impact on students helpful Dear Lauren Trevino, I like your use of both teacher and student comments to get your point across on both the positive and negative sides of the argument. This article is very appealing as I would like to better understand the issue of pep rallies better. ~Kayla Greaux, Junior
Dear Editor, The academic spotlight was extremely helpful. Honor cords are a great addition to graduation attire! They’re like the new beanies. ~Lorina Morton, Junior
Recommendations for entertainment Confusion over Rabbit pieces headline Dear Editor, I think this article was very informative and made me feel like I wanted to be there in the moment. But the only thing was that I don’t understand the title. How does it relate to the play? I’m confused. ~Kayla Mashburn, Senior Dear Editor, I don’t understand how “the Rabbit is not in the Hole.” I saw the play. If there was a rabbit, it was very much in the hole. Your title confuses me. Please, no more confusion. But you guys are talented creatures. People. People. ~Megan Peterson, Junior
Let’s talk about sex
Continued from page 1 However, they must be accompanied with several other factors and subject areas, including the long-term benefits of contraceptives, such as prevention of bone thinning and ectopic pregnancy. This lack of complete sexual education has left many young Americans over several decades with a limited, almost ignorant knowledge of sex, as well as its risks and benefits. Perhaps even more harmful has been the creation a stigma of immorality around sex, especially concerning young people. Without proper education, rates of infection and pregnancy in teenagers are shown to be significantly higher. In a study performed by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in 2011 showed that 40% of teenagers did not use a condom during intercourse, and 30% of girls will become pregnant before they turn 20. In 2009, Florida had
Dear Editor, I like how the paper mentions Lazy Moon. Their pizza is delicious. My recommendation would be that you should review Arctic Monkeys & Cage the Elephant for entertainment because they are perfect. ~Claudia Rodriguez, Senior
To send letters to the Editor, drop one off in room 560B with your letter, name, and grade or e-mail it to Mrs. Dobson at kimberly.dobson@ocps.net
the sixth highest teenage birth rates in America, and in Orange County alone in 2010 there were 485 cases of new HIV infection, and 6,094 reports of chlamydia infection, not to mention over 1,200 births by teenage mothers. Many who oppose holistic sexual education in schools feel that teaching “obscene material” to children will undermine moral, ethical, or religious beliefs. However, teaching sexual education is no more undermining to religion than teaching evolution (and is probably less subverting), a benchmark that became mandatory in Florida schools in 2008. For those who believe exposure to such topics through education will cause an unwanted spike in teenage sexual activity, there is no way to prevent teenagers from being sexually active. According to the CDC, 47% of teenagers 14-19 are sexually active, with or without sexual education. It is simply an unavoidable truth. Another common argument against sexual education is that the programs
Entertainment Editor Bullying has become one of the most controversial and sensitive topics in America. And today, teens are constantly reminded how damaging bullying can be. We’re told to tell an adult if we are being bullied or if we see someone being bullied. But what happens when the one being bullied is the adult? Miami Dolphins offensive lineman Jonathan Martin finds himself in that exact position. Martin felt he was being bullied by teammates, one of whom was fellow offensive lineman Richie Incognito, and took a leave of absence from the team Oct. 30. To take a leave of absence for this reason was unprecedented in professional sports. No other professional athlete in sports history has taken a leave of absence from their team just to escape a locker-room bully. Professional athletes, and in particular offensive linemen, are known as tough guys, but Jonathan Martin isn’t the only pro-football player coming forward about being bullied by teammates. Former offensive lineman for the Philadelphia Eagles, Shawn Andrews, accused former Eagles quarterback, Donovan McNab, of bulling him throughout his seven years with the team. For grown men such as Martin or Andrews to say they were bullied is outrageous. As adults, they should stand up will add a burden on an already strained budget in public schools. However, there are many sources for funds going towards comprehensive sexual education. In 2011, the Florida state legislature turned down over $2.8 million in annual funding allotted from the Affordable Care Act in support of sexual education reform. Other sponsors include Planned Parenthood, but these nonprofits are often ousted or overshadowed by larger conservative sponsors. And if the cost of education still seems too high to support, consider the $6.5 billion in taxpayers’ money that goes towards treating STI-infected teens, and the $10.9 billion spent on supporting teenage parents. With all this talk of preparing young Americans for their adult life, which is not so far away, educators have left a huge gap in the minds of their students. Sex will come to affect them either directly or indirectly in the first years of their adult and adolescent lives, and they must be knowledgeable about what situation they are putting them-
for themselves. They need to be clear about what exactly is bothering them and explain the difference between joking around and being hurtful. When Martin took his leave, the team was confused. He hadn’t faced the issue head-on. Perceived “bullies” sometimes don’t even realize they are being hurtful. What might be a hilarious joke to two friends might not be so funny to someone else. And therein lies the major problem: everyone’s definition of bullying is different. The line between bullying and making a joke is unclear. A teasing comment when you’re in a good mood is funny, and is then “bullying” on a bad day. Yes, there are people who frequently and purposely hurt the feelings of others. However, it seems that most cases of bullying are accidental. The accused bully’s intent and the reaction of the “victim” are everything. I have crossed the line and not realized it, and once made aware, I apologized and said that I was not trying to hurt their feelings. That is the way adults should handle this type of situation. The term bullying gets tossed around too much. There isn’t a course in school teaching us how to deal with problems in the real world; we have to learn through experience. In the real world, you can’t just tell an adult if someone is bothering you. In the real world, you have to solve your problems yourself. Instead of thinking about being victims, we need to think of mature ways to deal with bullying. And these don’t include taking a leave of absence.
selves in. However, even complete physical education on the subject would lack the edification of students on the spectrum of situations they may encounter, such as the emotional components of sex. Especially controversial topics such as homo-, bi-, and pansexual encounters as well as masturbation are completely ignored. These are topics that need to be explained and unstigmatized, both of which start with education. It is obvious that sexual education must be examined and reevaluated in the public classroom. If sexual education was complete and realistic in high school, or even middle school, classrooms, perhaps issues of teen pregnancy and sexual disease would not be such a pressing matter in society. As citizens, we have a responsibility to the current and future generations of students to give them a complete, and realistic view on sex as one of the most prevalent fixtures in society.
Review of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party page 6
ENTERTAINMENT & REVIEWS
Enthusiasm over Justin Timberlake’s 20/20 Experience short-lived Reyna Perez Editor-in-Chief On Sept. 27, The 20/20 Experience – 2 of 2 was released for the public to hear. Both part one and part two peaked at number one in the US, however part two sold significantly less copies than part one. In my opinion, The 20/20 Experience should have been the only album released by Timberlake. There were just a few songs that became my favorite: “Take Back the Night,” which was the album’s first single, “Only When I Walk Away,” and “You Got It On.” Rappers Drake and Jay-Z are featured on the album, but their verses aren’t worthy of positive attention. I bet Jay-Z and Timberlake decided to make songs together, resulting in “Murder” and Jay-Z’s single “Holy Grail.” Timberlake made the latter much better than it would have been if Jay-Z was by himself. “Murder” was sort of a hack-‘n-slash song, though. The best part of Drake’s rap in “Cabaret” was when it ended. When he first popped up into the music scene, I was excited because “Wheelchair Jimmy” became a rapper. Now I don’t like him because he thinks he’s so hardcore; it seems artificial considering he was on a Canadian TV show before his emergence into rapping. A technique I last saw in Timberlake’s previous album FutureSex/LoveSounds was carried over onto the compilation. The majority of the songs are divided into two parts: the main song and its postlude. I actually thought a lot of the postludes were better constructed than
As a book enthusiast, Veronica Roth wowed me with her new novel Allegiant, the final book in her Divergent trilogy. In Allegiant, there are twists and turns with the characters’ actions and relationships. At the end of the previous two books, Roth throws curveballs with revelations that left me, and other the other rabid readers of Divergent and Insurgent wanting more. The entire plot of Allegiant is a curveball. It was like being told I was going on a surprise trip; I had no indication of where it would lead. In the beginning, I had to reference the previous novels to follow the difficult twists. After clarifying these, the rest of the
BREAK IT DOWN - Cyrus’ album peaked at Number 1 in nine different countries, including the U.S., the U.K., and Canada. - In its first week 270,000 copies were sold. - On Oct. 16, the record officially debuted at Number 1 on the U.S. Billboard 200.
Public goes bonkers for "Bangerz" BREAK IT DOWN -The album debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200. -In its firsrt week 968,000 copies were sold. -The lead single “Suit & Tie” peaked within the top five in
several countries worldwide.
the actual songs. What I wished the producer had done again was make each postlude blend into the next song. Instead of making the entire album seem like a very long (but good), one hour song, it seemed like a bunch of chopped up songs that were painfully long. I’m hoping after the tour for his compilation ends in 2014, Timberlake will jump back into the studio instead of grabbing scripts for movies. While I love his acting, I missed his music dearly. You can catch JT live at the Amway Center on Dec. 19. Rating: 3 out of 5 stars:Only three out of the nine songs wowed me, the rest was just kind of fluff.
Allegiant closes the Divergent trilogy Tyanna Guzman Opinion Editor
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book flowed smoothly. Roth puts forth new adventures and struggles for protagonists Tris Prior and Tobias Eaton. In Divergent, Tris switched her place in society and met Tobias along the way, setting up a relationship between the two. In Insurgent, Tris and Tobias’ relationship is constantly being put to the test. Tris, putting the most strain on the relationship, went against Tobias’ wishes countless times. When all goes wrong, utter chaos gets even worse with the revelation of a different life than they know. My devotion to the main characters, and the conflicts presented by the corrupt leaders of this dystopian society kept me entertained while reading. The future I had pictured for all the characters differed from everything
Continued from page 1 Cyrus’ most recent chart-topper, “Wrecking Ball” became her first number one song on the Billboard Hot 100. Her new, signature “urban/pop” melody plays in the background during the verses, however the chorus smashes through the soft beat with a hard rock tone and Miley’s warrior-like cry. This is one of a few ballads on “Bangerz” that truly displays Miley’s remaining habit of showing deep emotion in her songs. Although the other singles do not possess the same qualities as “We Can’t Stop” and “Wrecking Ball,” there are a few other “ear catchers.” “Someone Else,” a romantic, stylized rock ballad that effectively mixes her new urban/rap image, reflects the burning and passionate love that is displayed in “Wrecking Ball.” The vocals in “Someone Else” certainly remain on the same pedestal as the captivating yet beautiful beat; so shockingly fair (compared to her moderate singing in other singles) that I could just barely hear her “Hannah Montana-country twang “ that refuses to disappear. This single is one of few that separate the “new Miley” from similar artists such as Rihanna and Lady Gaga. “Do My Thang” is a single that prac-
Roth wrote in the end, but the quality of Roth’s writing is consistent throughout this excellent trilogy. Roth included an epilogue to give insight on the future of the characters’ lives. She wrote it well enough that I was still able to create a vague extended ending of my own for the characters. Rating: 4 out of 5 stars- It was exciting and pure genius. The events left me a little upset, and many readers will not find the conclusion satisfying. I read Allegiant within the course of four days because I just couldn’t bear to put it down. The movie comes out in spring and I hope it follows the example set by the Hunger Games franchise, and keep the movies close to the books.
tically presents Cyrus’ goal to grow up on a flashing billboard. The tune, what sounds like a male’s voice humming in the background, is catchy and different, yet resembles the beats commonly used by Rihanna in her songs: a catchy and often slightly tribal. Even the clapping tune, used in Rihanna’s “Where Have You Been” plays behind Cyrus’ voice that restates, “Imma do my thang”. This jumble of shouting, a weird beat, and one lyric repeating can even be compared to Rihanna’s “Rockstar 101,” where she also repeatedly states, “I told you I’m a rock star”. Despite the obvious similarities of Miley’s latest album to other female pop artists, I can’t help but hum along to all of “Bangerz” thirteen songs. Setting aside the negative publicity Miley Cyrus’ frequently protruding tongue and “twerking” has earned her, “Bangerz” is definitely an album that is worthy of the public’s consideration, and appropriate for her older fans. No Hannah Montana aficionados allowed. Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars: Although “Bangerz” contains singles heavily blessed with catchy beats, that’s just about it. With “Wrecking Ball” and “Someone Else” being exceptions, the quality of Cyrus’ lyrics and singing is a tad cheesy and one-note.
Last Minute Gift Ideas page 7 11
It’s called Catching Fire, not The Hunger Games 2 Lauren Trevino Front Page Editor On Nov. 22 the long awaited second installment of the Hunger Games trilogy was released in public theaters, and racked up a record $161.1 million on opening weekend. Expectations ran high, with questions as to whether or not the film would accurately follow the book’s plot that many had come to know and love. You can distinguish a devoted fan from a pretender by the way a person refers to the film, as Catching Fire or The Hunger Games 2. So let me tell you about Catching Fire. The movie started with a sense of déjà vu, capturing Katniss Everdeen (academy award winner Jennifer Lawrence) in the woods hunting, her preferred setting. The film orients the audience to changes in Katniss’ life since becoming a victor of the Hunger Games, along with her District 12 partner, Peeta Mallark (Josh Hutcherson). The tension resulting from a confusing romantic predicament between these two, as well as Katniss’ other love interest, Gale, provide an awkward love
triangle. Katniss’ mother and sister (Primrose “Prim” Everdeen) play important roles in the book, but barely make an appearance in the movie, which was a disappointment. The film then launches into a tale of survival not only with the upcoming Games, but also with the associated media exposure. President Snow (Donald Sutherland) stops by right before the Victory Tour to inform Katniss of a growing rebellion and her role in it, and issues her a warning, spurring the central conflict of the second film. Throughout the tour, the victors see bits of the rebellion and do their best to become a distraction, as instructed by Snow. In the end, the effort is not enough, and new Head Game Maker, Plutarch Heavensbee (Philip Seymour Hoffman), gives Snow the idea to pull contestants for the next Hunger Games (which happens to be the 75th anniversary known as the Quarter Quell) from the pool of past victors. Jennifer Lawrence’s interpretation of the stoic teen who reluctantly becomes the symbol of a revolution is nearly flawless. She allows her own personality to
BREAK IT DOWN Rating:PG-13 Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth Director: Francis Lawrence Rotten Tomatoes: 90% shine through when Johanna (Malone) strips down naked in front of she, Peeta, and Haymitch in an elevator, and the audience is allowed one last comedic moment before the suspense intensifies with the Games. The training arena was enhanced from The Hunger Games film, with electronic simulations to aid in practices as opposed to dummies. With the more experienced fighters in the gym, the displays of combat were a bit more advanced, and Katniss’ archery wowed other tributes, causing them to ask for her hand in alliance. Katniss and Peeta, spurred by their mentor, eventually form a ragtag unit with unfamiliar allies, and Katniss suspects there is more going on, as Finnick (Sam Claflin) and Johanna (Jena Malone) make sure they stay a pack.
She is right, of course, and the resulting complications and twists will take us into the highly-anticipated two-part presentation of the third book, Mockingjay. Overall, Catching Fire was better than the original, satisfying fans by staying true to the plot of the book and showing the main characters (minus Prim and Katniss’ mother) as most of the fans imagined them. Slight additions, such as conversations between Plutarch and Snow in scenes that were not a part of the book, were forgivable. Small details (like the poisonous fog and jabberjay segments of the arena) were beautifully portrayed, and exceeded my expectations. Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars:This high score is for book accuracy and execution.
Local Live Music Give the gift of entertainment
-Queens of the Stone Age -Feb. 7 -Hard Rock Cafe -Starting at $46.60 -Fifth Harmony -Feb. 27 -House of Blues -$20.00 -Miley Cyrus -Mar. 24 -Amway Center -Ticket prices TBA -Cher -May 16 -Amway Center -Starting at $25.50
Comic by Tre Blodgett