Tornado Times, January 2019

Hello, World

Summit welcomes more guests than ever Pompano Beach High School January 2019 Vol. 10, No. 4

Junior JROTC member Colin Beadle holds the Brazilian flag during the rehearsal on Jan. 24 for the International Summit opening ceremony. Over 100 students prepared for the formal welcome of 155 visitors.

Microsoft Man

Be aware

Microsoft general manager Dan Ayoub wants to improve school technology

Learn to be more empathetic and stop being selfish

page 2 PHOTO BY ALEXIS SCHATTEN

page 4

Exit stage right Jessica Romer gets all Superiors at districts page 8

Big splash Mattheus Santos makes the SunSentinel’s All-County swim team page 10

PAGE DESIGN BY JULIA LATCHANA AND JESSICA BUCHANAN

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January 2019 • thetornadotimes.org

news

Keynote speaker aims to bring school technology to next level

By Charlotte Hood, Section Editor

Most students remember the days of SMART boards, projection screens, and those strange egg-like clickers that defined our earlier years of education, but now we are on the cusp of a new era of classroom technology in the form of virtual reality.

“I’ve seen this sort of gradual transition from the traditional whiteboard and marker to clunky smart boards to sleek smart screens,” junior Catherine Santiago said. “The technology in classrooms today sometimes seems like sci-fi compared to what I remember in elementary school.”

This trend of increasingly advanced and personalized scholastic technology continues to make headway thanks in part to the work of the Microsoft Mixed Reality and Education Department, headed by general manager Dan Ayoub. Ayoub was the keynote speaker at Monday’s opening ceremony for the 2019 International Summit.

Ayoub and his team have been working to progress the incorporation of devices like the Oculus and HoloLens into a classroom setting as a tool for teachers to better engage their students.

“At the end of the day, this is a tool for the teacher,” Ayoub said.

“This is, as I like to say, another arrow in their quiver. My hope for technology in the classroom is that we just create tools that empower educators to really unleash the potential of all of their students.”

Studies conducted by Microsoft have found that its virtual reality devices can improve learning for students, producing higher test scores and helping them better

understand and recall material.

“Augmented reality really helped me visualize how the parts of the body are interconnected and interact with one another,” said senior Kylie Severine, who used the HoloLens to study the anatomy of the human body. “It’s super cool because you can see all of the veins, the arteries,

and step closer to look at the

chambers of the heart without it being graphic.”

In the future, students may see technology beyond virtual and augmented reality in schools, such as artificial intelligence (AI), which would mark a significant step towards a truly individualized experience for each student.

“It’s pretty early days, and everything I’m working on right now is wrapped in a tight seal of secrecy, but...we are doing some work in that area (AI) as well,” Ayoub said. “I do think that’s going to be a magical convergence point towards that dream of personalized education.”

Ayoub said he wanted to focus his address on his company’s work on integrating technology into classrooms internationally to promote global unity and learning as it connects students to others around the planet.

“This is a type of technology that helps in a number of ways, if you’re looking at a worldwide scale,” Ayoub said.

“It’s…a great tool to bring different cultures and countries together.

It could be a great tool to start to bring the world together.”

Visit thetornadotimes.org for more information on the technology that has been used in schools in recent years.

Top left: Junior Steven Claytor uses the Microsoft HoloLens during his study hall.

The HoloLens was designed to provide an augmented reality experience for the user, allowing Claytor to interact with virtual objects while still seeing the classroom.

Top right: Senior Michael Cimilluca uses the Oculus to draw in a virtual world.

The Oculus Rift headset was designed to provide a lightweight virtual reality experience for the user.

Bottom: Senior Kylie Severine draws a picture using a Windows drawing tablet program during study hall in tech teacher David Holley’s lab. Holley’s study hall was designed for selected students interested in the latest technology.

GRAPHIC BY CHARLOTTE HOOD

January 2019 • thetornadotimes.org

Students manage stress and workloads

By Sophia Castagna, Staff Intern

Imagine having piles and piles of paper all over your room, tons of notebooks filled with lots of information, and a million thoughts about assignments and tests racing through your head. That is how many students spend every night trying to manage their stress and schoolwork.

“Students come to me overwhelmed with trying to figure out how to handle the pressures of Pompano and maintain the academic standards that they have for themselves,” ninth grade counselor Lori Carlson said.

Many students often struggle to handle the stress of rigorous courses.

Given that students must maintain a high GPA to remain in the magnet program, there is a lot of pressure to do well so that they don’t get kicked out.

“When I was a freshman, I had a hard time figuring out a schedule,” senior Lexy Vagasy said.

With eight classes over two days,

many students may a have rough time figuring out their schedule.

How much leisure time should they allow for themselves? How much time do they need to finish all their homework?

“Manage your time by prioritizing or estimating how much you think it’s going to take you to complete something and really try to set aside that amount of time, and if you can’t do it all in one block, then look at your week and find out when you can fit that in,” Carlson said.

For students, it could be hard to look at all their assignments and comprehend how much time they have to turn it all in. Assignments could take longer than expected, often throwing off the student’s schedule.

“To deal with stress, write out everything that you have to do. It sounds more stressful but it’s mostly calming because it organizes everything,” sophomore Kiyah Hall said.

In addition to just school work, many students have extracurricular

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activities such as clubs and sports to keep up with. For example, Vagasy plays a big role in chorus, theatre and Thespians.

“School does come first, but my activities outside of school do kind of help me cope with stress because if I didn’t have those activities, my life would just be school, and I would go crazy. Activities that make you happy relieve stress,” Vagasy said.

Depending on the individual student’s level of stress from just school, extracurriculars could either relieve their stress or just take away from the time they could be using to get other things done.

“Whether or not you should participate in after school activities depends on how stressed you are. If you are really nervous, not able to concentrate and not eating or sleeping well, you should get a handle on the academic part of high school first,” Carlson said.

There are a few small changes students may make to ensure better focus. For example, some students may argue that having their phones

news

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and listening to music helps them get their work done, but that is debatable.

“Having a phone near you is not beneficial,” Carlson said. “I think it’s too many distractions. Come home, unwind, check Canvas and Pinnacle, then put your phone in another part of the house and turn it off so you can really devote your time to doing the academics in front of you.”

If students can’t complete all their work throughout the week, it is extremely beneficial to have Fridays off from school.

“On Fridays, wake up and do your school work so that you have Saturday and Sunday off. Sometimes I’ll sleep in and relax and that’s ok too.

Do whatever works for you,” Vagasy said.

Teachers, mentors and counselors can guide them to better handle stress and workloads.

“Don’t be afraid to ask,” Carlson said. “Other people are probably wondering the same things. Recognize that there is help out there.”

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January 2019 • thetornadotimes.org

opinion

Era of empathy

Think about others We teenagers, trying to find our way through this terribly confusing labyrinth that is high school, are naturally selfish. It’s in our nature to worry about ourselves first and think about everyone else second. However, it’s 2019 and high time that we change our ways.

For reasons unknown, it’s “cool” to completely disregard what’s happening in your community and the world. Yes, it’s normal to sometimes become absorbed in your own little world, but it’s just childish and harmful to stay there.

We think that this bubble that we live in is permanent, but one day it’s going to pop and all of the things that we’ve been trying to ignore are going to come crashing down on top of us.

Let’s look at the now longest government shutdown in U. S. history, which has been going on for over four weeks at this writing. This shutdown has stemmed from the current U. S. president demanding $5.7 billion for a border wall against Mexico, and the Democratic party refuses to give it to him.

As a result of their inability to come to a middle ground, 800,000 people within the nine executive departments have been directly affected. Those 800,000 people have either been forced to take a leave of absence or continue working, without pay.

That means 800,000 people that can’t provide for themselves or their families, 800,000 people who have no clue if the situation is going to get any better.

Now you may ask, what’s happening to the president and the members of Congress who caused this?

The answer is nothing. Their pay is secure, no matter how long this shutdown drags its feet (due to a section of the Constitution and an appropriations bill that passed last fall).

What Washington doesn’t seem to realize is that the longer they continue to throw a temper tantrum,

the longer people like our parents, neighbors and family members will continue to suffer in the name of this so-called “land of the free.”

Sadly, our government’s inability to get over itself and come together reflects our worst selfish tendencies.

The shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas on Valentine’s Day last year brought this entire school, along with several other schools in the county and around the country,

together in grief, anger, and retribution.

We organized marches and walkouts, had conversations with mayors and congressmen, chanted until our throats closed up, and were just there for each other for about three to four weeks. Then, our sense of unity and justified retribution suddenly faded away and regressed into an overwhelming sense of division in the name of status, race and political parties.

The majority went back to worrying about their own lives and seemed to forget everything they had protested for. Granted, a lot of extraordinary progress was made in those few months and no one wants to keep reliving such a traumatic event that destroyed a lot of people’s lives. However, the one year anniversary is coming up and we have to ask ourselves: did we do all we could to contribute and fight back against an education system that treats its students as assets and not as human beings?

This doesn’t mean we all should change our lives’ direction and become a warrior for social and moral justice. Not all of us have the bravery to do such a thing.

There are things way bigger than us. Change your perspective.

Read more at thetornadotimes.org

GRAPHIC

BY JULIA LATCHANA

Jessica Buchanan, Editor in chief Alexis Schatten, Managing Editor Charlotte Hood, Section Editor Jordan Brown, Section Editor Emily Powell, Web and Business Editor Eduardo Andrade, Asst. Section Editor Andra Danu, Asst. Section Editor Javier Garcia, Asst. Section Editor Kayla Gayle, Asst. Section Editor Julia Latchana, Asst. Section Editor Matthew Shanbom, Asst. Section Editor Delaney Staples, Asst. Section Editor Madison Tappa, Asst. Section Editor Kimberly Scanlan, Staff Intern Dr. Andrew Shipe, Adviser Tornado Times is produced by: Pompano Beach High School 600 NE 13 Ave. Pompano Beach, FL 33060 Phone: (754) 322-2000 Email: pbhsnewspaper@gmail.com Website: thetornadotimes.org Twitter: @TornadoTimes Print issues in the 2018-19 school year are planned for October, January, March and May. Online issues are planned for September, November, February and April.

For students, parents and teachers who need to be informed about what’s happening in and out of the school that affects them, Tornado Times is a print and web publication that provides timely multimedia and interactive coverage. Unlike social media, our product is focused around school events from the perspective of the bigger picture.

Tornado Times is a public forum for student expression. The newspaper staff is responsible for determining what subjects are to be covered and warrant placement in the newspaper.

As a public forum, Tornado Times welcomes letters to the editor. Letters must be signed and sent to pbhsnewspaper@ gmail.com. The staff reserves the right to edit letters for poor taste, libel and space.

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The opinions in this publication are not necessarily those of advertisers, Pompano Beach High School or Broward County Public Schools.

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January 2019 • thetornadotimes.org

opinion

Are New Year’s resolutions worthwhile?

No Yes

Resolve to make a resolution By

Julia Latchana,

Asst. Section Editor The start of every new year always brings two things: the realization that you’re getting old and the question of whether or not you have a New Year’s resolution.

The answer to this question depends on your level of optimism or pessimism. A lot of people think that New Year’s resolutions are a waste of time.

Why make a goal for yourself when you’re just not going to follow through with it? Why put in so much work for a few moments of feeling hopeful and proud of yourself?

But resolutions are a good way to evaluate yourself. You are the only person who knows yourself the best, so you know how you feel about the things that you did or didn’t do in the year.

You also know what you would like to do or not do.

Making a resolution allows you to figure out what you didn’t like or do in the year and want to change it in the next.

A New Year’s resolution is a glorified regular goal. The only difference is that you want to do it at the start of the new year, so we slap a fancy name to it so that others think that we’re growing as a person.

But the fancy title doesn’t take away from the goal’s value. Of course, a goal means nothing if you don’t put in effort or have the motivation to do it, and if you feel as though it is never going to happen, then you’re likely to never accomplish it.

But change doesn’t happen overnight. It takes work and dedication.

You have to make a plan and can’t give up because you missed a day or failed once.

Obviously, if you make a stupid, unrealistic goal or a goal just to spite someone, then you’re probably not going to follow it, but that is okay because like any other goal it can be revised.

It may take a lot of time to accomplish, but it can be done and is worth it. Completing the goal isn’t the thing that is supposed to make you happy — actively doing it is what should.

Don’t waste time with resolutions By

Jordan Brown,

Section Editor

As we settle into the new year, everyone seems to have an extensive (if never-ending) list of New Year’s resolutions. People make these resolutions as a way to make themselves feel as if they’re taking the first step to becoming the person they’ve been too lazy to become in previous years, but that’s all resolutions are: hopes and dreams.

The problem isn’t making resolutions to be a better person, but that the majority of people make these goals with little to no fraction of a plan in place to carry out that goal.

Say that a person’s resolution is to eat healthier and cut out junk food completely. That resolution has a very high chance of failing if there’s not a meal plan in place to outline what to eat every day and how to effectively cut out junk food.

Also, this is simply unattainable.

Third quarter, worst quarter

By Matthew Shanbom, Asst. Section Editor

Three is not a charm when it comes to marking periods.

Third quarter is the longest quarter in the school year with 51 days including Fridays (41 days not including Fridays). This quarter is the longest by a full school week over the next highest quarter being fourth with 45 days. Keep in mind the 45 days of fourth quarter includes testing and finals. This increase in days means students stress out more due

to the extra days allowing for more quizzes and projects.

Wait, it gets worse. Third quarter consists of 73 calendar days. So teachers can assign more long-term projects.

Not only is third quarter the longest in terms of days, it is tied with fourth quarter for the lowest amount of days off at two, Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Presidents Day. Plus, it seems like the school is just now realizing the Florida Standards

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Using the previous example, no human can just quit junk food cold turkey and switch over to purely healthy foods if they weren’t doing that before without suffering some sort of consequences in their body.

It’s just not possible. A real resolution is something that’s attainable and takes a bit of time and not something that’s out of the realm of possibility and happens overnight.

Another huge flaw with New Year’s resolutions is limiting the ability to change habits and ways to the new year. Restricting yourself to start your goal the first day of the new year doesn’t give you the necessary breathing room to properly start your journey towards completing the resolution. It just makes it worse and way harder to keep going if you fall off the wagon.

All resolutions can be done at any point throughout the year, not just the Jan. 1. Waiting until the new year to make resolutions just allows us to do as much of what we want to change before suddenly transforming overnight into a better person, which is as unrealistic as it sounds.

Read more at www.thetornadotimes.org

What’s wrong with this picture?

Assessments will be given in April and May. Better spend the third quarter cramming as much test prep in as possible, and then cram more.

That was sarcasm, by the way. You probably didn’t notice because your brain’s already fried.

Anyway, I’m here on Friday, Jan. 25, putting the newspaper together with the rest of the staff.

Only 56 days until spring break.

GRAPHIC BY CHARLOTTE HOOD

6 centerspread

January 2019 • thetornadotimes.org

International Summ

By Alexis Schatten, Managinng Editor

By Alexis Schatten, Managing Editor

With over 150 guests attending from around the world, the school’s fourth International Summit, from Jan. 25 to Feb. 2, is larger than any has ever been.

Students, teachers and administrators from 20 schools in 12 countries (Brazil, China, Egypt, France, India, Ireland, Peru, Poland, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom and Zimbabwe) are attending, as well as Microsoft’s general manager for mixed reality education, Dan Ayoub.

“We started with one school,” Principal Hudson Thomas said.

“The first (summit) … we had three students from one school in Sweden.”

Thomas said that Julia Perlowski, former drama and English teacher, made the first summit in 2012 possible through the connections she made through a Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms fellowship.

GRAPHIC BY CHARLOTTE HOOD

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The name Brazil comes from a tree named Brazilwood.

“I was coming back to school one August, and Mr. Thomas was outside, and he said to me ‘I want to start an International Summit,’” Perlowski said. “(The summit) started really with my colleagues abroad.”

When Perlowski and Thomas worked on the first summit, they had no idea that it would grow to what it is today. Their idea of a summit was about allowing students to interact with others from around the world“Whenever anybody gets together from different culture to get a chance to talk, even informally, that makes the world a better place,” Perlowski said.

“We really do get to learn about each other, and that’s what so great about the summits.”

Three summits, seven years later, it has evolved to include technological aspects.

“I think the fact that we’re merging the technology part of our theme into it is the biggest change (regarding past summits),” Thomas said. “We want

If put together, all of China’s railroads could loop around the world twice.

Fun facts about our gue Shampoo was invented in India, the word derived from a Sanskrit word for “to knead” or “to press.”

Nicolaus Copern the first astronom to propose that t Earth was not th center of the uni was born in Pola

January 2019 • thetornadotimes.org

centerspread

mit grander than ever before to represent not just one side of our (magnet) theme, but both sides.”

One of the biggest ways that technology was brought into the summit was inviting Dan Ayoub as keynote speaker. His work has helped to further the use of technology in classrooms.

“Having a keynote, what it does, it bridges our theme,” Thomas said. “We used to just have the international part, with the kids coming from all these countries. Now, we have the technology part, which is the second part of our theme: information and technology. Now we have both being married into the International Summit.”

The guests will only be on campus for a week, so the schedule for that week has been made to include as many fun activities for everyone involved. The week will be packed full of events that allow both the guests and the stu-

dents to learn more about their peers and their different backgrounds.

“There’s more depth to (the summit) now and we have a better understanding (of other cultures) because of it,” Thomas said.

Since the first summit, one goal stuck out among the others: to “embrace the magnet theme by providing opportunities for students to obtain a broader understanding of the world around them,” as described on the school website.

“We are an international school, so doing the summit was one of things we thought would really bring the international piece to our school,” Thomas said.

The ancient Egyptians created one of the earliest peace treaties on record.

ests

nicus, mer the he iverse, and.

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Mainland France is known as “L’Hexagone” (“the hexagon”).

The infamous Titanic was built in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

The UK has been involved in the shortest war in history, The Anglo-Zanzibar War, which lasted only 38 minutes.

Three-fourths of the alpaca population live in Peru.

The Swiss consume the largest amount of chocolate per person in the world.

St. Nicholas is from Turkey.

PAGE DEISGN BY JORDAN BROWN AND JULIA LATCHANA

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January 2019 • thetornadotimes.org

student life

PHOTO COURTESY OF JESSICA ROMER Senior Jessica Romer performs before young birthday party guests as Belle. Romer’s acting talents helped her earn all superiors at the Florida Thespians district festival on Dec. 8.

Romer takes final bow with all Superiors

By Madison Tappa, Asst. Web and Business Editor

Senior Jessica Romer earned Superiors for three performances and one technical category at the Florida Thespians district festival on Dec. 8 at Taravella.

“Getting all Superiors at districts was the best feeling I’ve ever had,” Romer said. “I spent four years to get there, and it was such a feeling of euphoria.”

Romer now can compete at the Thespians States Festival at the Tampa Convention Center in March.

However, because of the success of the school’s troupe, Romer can only compete with two of her pieces at states in order for others to compete as well.

“I am competing with my group

number and my solo at states because I feel like those were my strongest pieces,” Romer said.

Romer’s solo piece is entitled “Changing My Major” from the musical “Fun Home,” and her group musical number is entitled “All I Want to do is Eat” from the musical “Disenchanted”. “‘All I Want to do is Eat’ is a song making fun of Disney princesses, which is perfect because I love Disney so much,” Romer said.

Romer’s success came after many years of dedication to her craft.

“I was four when I started theater, and I always have loved it,” Romer said. “I think sixth grade is when I realized it was my true passion.”

With graduation around the corner, Romer is beginning to finalize

her college plans. She has already been accepted into a few schools for theater but is still contemplating on where to go.

“I would love to go to college for theater and get a BFA in musical theater,” Romer said.

Besides doing theater herself, Romer enjoys watching musicals.

One day, she would even like to be part of some famous Broadway musicals.

“If I could be in any show on Broadway right now I would be Jenna in ‘Waitress’ or Anastasia in ‘Anastasia,’” Romer said. “It has also been my dream to be in ‘Wicked’ even if I’m ensemble.”

Romer has also taken part in some of the big productions in drama teacher Vaughn Henderson’s class.

Last year, she played the lead female role of Mildred in “The Hairy Ape,” and this year she will take her final bow in the auditorium as Tilly Evans in “She Kills Monsters.”

Aside from all of the theatre activities Romer engages with at school, she also has a job doing what she loves.

“I work at Party Princess Productions based in Fort Lauderdale,” Romer said. “I love my job and I already know most of the Disney princess songs, so it’s super easy.”

And for those who might be interested in joining the company, Romer personally extends the invite.

“We’re hiring so if anybody can sing and wants to be a princess, send them my way!” Romer said.

All-County band drums up attention

By Jordan Brown, Section Editor

Seven students were recently selected to participate in the AllCounty ensembles, three for the AllCounty Concert Band and and four for the All-County Gold Orchestra.

“When I discovered that I got selected for the band with two other classmates, I felt relieved,” senior flutist Kelly Zhang said.

Selection for the All-County High School Concert Band requires an audition before the Broward County Band Directors Association. Musicians must perform all 12 major scales and arpeggios from memory in under two minutes, a chromatic scale in two full octaves, a previously practiced and assigned musical excerpt, and a short piece no more than 30 seconds after seeing the score for the first time.

“Hundreds of kids try out and, in the end, they choose about 100-120 kids to perform in the ensemble,” junior bass clarinetist Sean Durham said.

The band rehearses only three times (three hours for the first two and all day for the third) before performing at the Coral Springs Center

for the Performing Arts. Its performance consists of five to six rigorous pieces that are usually played by college students and professionals.

The rehearsals are conducted by an experienced director, such as this year’s clinician, University of Miami alumnus Larry Shane.

“With little rehearsals as a whole ensemble, the All-County band’s success is heavily (reliant) on each student’s individual practice,” Durham said.

Fortunately, before auditioning, students had already built the habit of extensive practice.

“I started to practice a month before the all-county auditions,” Zhang said. “I practiced the audition material almost every night for that month for 45 minutes.”

Although a lot of practice and dedication are required to be in any of the All-County ensembles, the reward is worth it.

“The sweat and literal tears shed automatically bonds every member no matter their difference because we’re all there for one reason: music,” Zhang said.

January 2019 • thetornadotimes.org

student life

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Race forum held to quash discrimination

By Emily Powell, Web and Business Editor

Principal Hudson Thomas requested that SGA hold a race forum before winter break in order to address a big racial issue that occurred during the 2016-2017 school year, as well as other problems that have happened and are currently happening all throughout campus.

“There have been several instances this year already with students throwing racial slurs at other students,” senior SGA member Kennetra Harvey said.

The forum took place in the school’s media center, inviting administration, teachers and a few fourth period study hall classes to attend. The forum consisted of a panel of SGA members who discussed with students questions that senior SGA president Erin Connors had prepared.

The questions, including whether or not the attendees thought students were disciplined correctly when they made racial comments, were meant to make students think

and spark a discussion; however, there was not much discussion, leaving the panel to try and get students to participate.

“I knew that kids would be hesitant to answer some of the racial questions because it’s not a topic that’s brought up all the time,” Connors said. “No one wants to be a ‘snitch,’ so the outcome was what I expected.”

Despite the room remaining quiet at certain times, junior panel member Victoria Santa Lucia said the questions made the students stop and think and encouraged them to speak up and start a good conversation.

“Having a place where we can work these issues out and have different viewpoints on the subject made the race forum a good one,” Lucia said.

Harvey said although a few things could have been changed, the forum helped SGA and administration come up with various ways to prevent these issues from occurring in the future.

10 sports

January 2019 • thetornadotimes.org

Santos makesAll-County swim team

By Charlotte Hood, Section Editor

Making the Sun-Sentinel first-team All-County swim team hasn’t meant senior Mattheus Santos has been resting on his laurels.

“Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays I have double practices … Tuesdays and Thursdays I just have afternoons and then I have Saturday morning practice,” Santos said. “More recently, I’m doing weights in the morning from 6 to 6:40.”

Santos earned the honor due to his bronze medals at the state championships in the 200 and 500 freestyle.

His times in both events qualified him for USA Swimming’s Winter Junior national championships.

In addition to peak physical condition, Santos also stressed that keeping a positive mentality is a key.

“You have to have a positive mental-

ity and realize that some days you’ll do well at meets, while other days it won’t be as good,” Santos said. “I’d get frustrated, seeing that I’d practice so much and I wouldn’t win an event or that my time wouldn’t drop as much as I hoped for it, but then I came to a realization that it takes time and as I continue to swim I’ll be able to improve on what I’ve made mistakes on.”

Although swimming is a sport that mainly focuses on the individual’s own power and skill, having teammates just as passionate about the sports as him and equally eager to improve themselves motivates Santos to always give his best.

“The energy of cheering each other on at a swim meet is nice because you know that even though you’re doing this alone, you really have a

team cheering you on,” Santos said.

“It really helps you in the long run when you’re looking back at swimming and saying, ‘I did this for me, but I also did this to represent my school and those who also trained with me.’”

Santos’ hard work has earned him the respect of head coach Michael Judd, who has worked with him closely throughout this highschool swimming career.

“Matteus is a super hard working kid,” Judd said. “As far as training goes, I haven’t had anybody else that trains at a level he does.”

Santos plans to keep swimming as an essential part of his daily life with his end goal being representing his home country in the Olympics.

“That’s (the Olympics) ultimately the end goal, so as I go toward each

Senior Mattheus Santos dives into the water during the boys 4x50 medley relay during a dual meet versus Deerfield and Coral Springs on Sept.

20. Santos earned bronze medals at the state championships and was named first-team All-County by the Sun-Sentinel.

… higher level, aiming and looking at that future goal is something I like to keep in mind,” Santos said. “Even though it’d take a lot of continued time and commitment, being able to represent the country ... and going up to that level of swimming and challenge … it’d be something that I’d enjoy.”

While his high school career has come to an end, he appreciates all the school and his team have done to prepare him for the next steps in his life.

“I’m grateful for the experiences that I’ve had at this school, the friends I’ve made, the meets I’ve had, the challenges I’ve faced...I feel like its helped me be motivated for what’s left to come in the future,” Santos said.

PHOTO BY CHARLOTTE HOOD

C h e e r l e a d e r s h e a d fo r s t a t e s w i t h h o p e

By Alexis Schatten, Managing Editor

The cheerleading team placed seventh at regionals on Jan. 12.

The team qualified for states, as semifinalists instead of finalists.

“The day of (regionals), I was very upset and discouraged about the results, but it has pushed me harder

to do my job so that we can win what we have all been working so hard for,” freshman Brooke Sacca said.

Although the team didn’t place as high as members were hoping to, they haven’t given up. Their practices are the same length as before regionals, but focused more on stunts and

parts of their routine that they didn’t perfect prior to regionals.

“We have been going through the stunts we were unable to execute nicely … and running through the full routine instead of bits and pieces of it,” Sacca said.

As states nears, the team has begun

to work harder to ensure that it places high enough to compete against finalists for the state championship.

“I do believe we can place high at states because the team is very hardworking and we have what it takes to go to finals,” senior Chanieya O’Neal said.

sports11

January 2019 • thetornadotimes.org

Olsavsky twins heat up local hockey

By Javier Garcia, Asst. Editor

Matthew and Mike Olsavsky, senior twins with Canadian roots, bring their passion and after-school hobby of playing ice hockey to the hot and humid climate of South Florida.

“The ice quality is genuinely worse, and it even sometimes gets hot in the rinks during the summertime down here,” Matthew said.

Years of playing and traveling between Florida and Canada have honed their skills.

“We both could definitely attend D3 and D2 schools,” Matthew said. But they have committed to Florida State University for academics.

Fewer players and a warmer climate means more fields for soccer and baseball rather than ice rinks for hockey.

The brothers moved from Glacier Ice Arena to the Panthers Ice Den in an attempt to find a suitable rink.

“But it’s been a little better since the move to Panthers Ice Den since the quality is a little better with the upkeep being more important there.”

The girls basketball team had a rough season with no wins through 10 games. The team only had seven players this season.

Senior shooting guard Francesca Reyes looked at the bright side.

“Although we haven’t won any games, I believe me and my teammates have played to the best of our abilities,” Reyes said. “As the season comes to an end, I think that we have improved and have gotten closer as a team.”

The boys soccer team is 4-11-3.

With one game left in the regular season, the team heads into regionals on a hot streak, with four straight victories against Hallandale, Plantation, Piper and Coral Springs Charter.

“I don’t know how it happened,” sophomore defender Steven Katz said.

Despite the recent wins, to prepare for the playoffs, the team wants to improve in several areas.

The weather causes inconveniences for players as not only is the quality affected but the quantity and potential opportunities are also squandered.

“What really sucks is when the winter rolls around it does get a bit colder down here, but back up in Canada all the lakes and water freeze over outside, and then I can usually go to the

“The ice quality is genuinely worse (in Florida), and it even sometimes gets hot in the rinks during the summertime down here.” — Matthew Olsavsky

pond that is now frozen right outback and practice,” Mike said.

Still, the brothers are impressed with the local talent.

“It actually isn’t what a lot people think, just about everyone playing hockey down here is already from Canada or somewhere up North,” Matthew said. “So we all are still on the same level so the edge isn’t really there since everyone has it.”

The biggest difference they’ve noticed between the two regions’ players is the intensity.

“Up in Canada it’s like everyone is fighting for a spot, and scouts are there more often while down here it’s a bit more relaxed and not as competitive amongst peers,” Mike said.

Once they’re on the ice, it’s still the same game.

“It’s not that much different than it is in Canada,” Matthew said. “You really just get people who like to dump the puck more often instead of keeping it to make a play.”

Matthew (left) and Mike (right) Olsavsky take a break on the bench during hockey practice at the Panthers Ice Den Arena.

PHOTO COURESTY OF MATTHEW AND MIKE OLSAVSKY

“Communication, passing with force, putting on high pressure,” Katz said.

“Once we master that we’ll be able to take on anybody.”

The team has bonded over the season, and look forward to playing its last few games together.

“It’s like a family,” Katz said.

The girls soccer team has a record of 12-8-2. Senior, captain and fouryear letter-winner Katie Stept just played her final highschool game on Jan. 23.

“I learned so much from playing soccer since freshman year,” Stept said.

“Having to balance soccer, school, and friends was a challenge but I loved it.

It’s so surreal that I played my last game last Wednesday. It feels like the past four years have flown by.”

The boys basketball team won four of 17 games so far this season.

12 last look

January 2019 • thetornadotimes.org

Homage to hosts Families prepare for Summit guests

a Brown, sen i or

Georgi eung, senior Darian Ch

With over 100 students visiting the school for the 2019 International Summit, many families have stepped up to allow guests into their homes. Repeat hosts from the summit two years ago are looking forward to another enriching experience and have some advice for first-time hosts.

“It’s good to send out an email to get to know them so you can prepare food, know their hobbies, and do some activities with them,” said senior Darian Cheung, whose family hosted during the 2017 summit and is hosting four Chinese boys this year.

Families have several days to spend quality time with their visitors outside of school.

“Two years ago, I had three Chinese students, and my family and I took them jet skiing, had a beach day, and there was one night where we played ping pong and had a family dinner,” senior repeat host Georgia Brown said.

“Contact them beforehand and see if they have any ideas of what they want to do because most of the time they do, and ask them if they are comfortable with anything that might be a problem in your house such as pets.”

Students from 13 different countries are attending this year, many having never experienced U. S.culture before.

“They were so amazed they didn’t have to take their shoes off in our house,” Brown said.

Freshman Nathan Plancarte’s family is getting its first hosting experience, housing two male guests from China.

“I thought it would be interesting to see how other people lived,” Plancarte said. “We will probably go to the beach, the movies and just have fun with them.”

Two years ago, the host families learned from their guests while their guests learned from them.

“Something they thought was really cool was that they could look up at our sky and see the sun and clouds,” Brown said. “I just thought that was really cool because it is something we take for granted here.”

Senior Gracie Lorber, is “excited” to experience her first hosting opportunity.

“I think I will learn about their likes and dislikes, their culture and how life is different for them day to day,” Lorber said.

Host families prepared their homes and families for their international guests in order “to have the best time they can,” Brown said.

Nathan Plancarte, freshman

enior ber, s r o L ie Grac

By Jessica Buchanan, Editor-in-Chief

PHOTOS AND PAGE DESIGN BY ANDRA DANU AND JESSICA BUCHANAN