Pompano Beach High School For the students, by the students
May 2021 @TornadoTimes
Vol. 12, No. 4 thetornadotimes.org
Senior Mya Brown lands in the sandpit at the end of the triple jump during the district meet at Calvary Christian on April 15. Brown placed fourth, jumping for a personal best of 10.64 meters, and went on to set personal bests in all three events she competed in, qualifying for regionals in each. PHOTO BY EDUARDO ANDRADE
What's in the news? 4 5
April 2021 Volume 12, Number 4
Form-posal? Modified senior events mark end of school
Outta here Carlson, Melillo to retire at year’s end
11
Virtual freshmen face real issues
8
School recognizes 4 senior leaders
10 12 14
The Virtual vs At-school divide widens
Drew, Kurdziel, Vagelos, Montes de Oca
And the answer is ... Richards best of Jeopardy hosts
The new age of Marvel 'Falcon and the Winter Soldier' review
Climbing the ranks Senior finds passion after injury
Our Staff Eduardo Andrade, Editor-in-Chief Matthew Shanbom, Editor-in-Chief Emma Parker, Managing Editor Keanu Silva, News Editor Alisha Durosier, Opinion Editor Kayla Gayle, Student Life Editor Javier Garcia, Sports Editor Ashante Anderson, Brody Berrios, Isabella Castellanos Joa, Lucas Fields, Caleb Holness, Zoey Katz, Nicholas Rapalo, Brian Tang, Staff Interns Dr. Andrew Shipe, Adviser
2 | Table of Contents < May 2021 > @TornadoTimes
Calendar May
3. SAC Meeting 5. Cinco de mayo 9. Mothers Day 14. Senior Celebration 17. Senior top 10% ceremony 20. Homecoming Spirit Night 24-27. Final exams for seniors 26. Virtual senior awards ceremony 28. Senior Parade 31. Memorial Day: Schools closed
June
1-2. Last week of fourth quarter 3. Senior Breakfast, cap & gown distribution, mandatory graduation rehearsal 3-9. Final exams for grades 9-11 4. Class of 2021 graduation 9. Last day of school
From the editors-in-chief It’s tough to put into so few words how grateful I am for my time on the newspaper staff. Coming into high school, I always asked myself what kind of nerd would join a student newspaper. A year later I found out. Javi, Kayla, Shanbom, you guys are all awesome and watching y’all work and write amazing things always pushed me to do better myself. The three of you shaped my time at Pompano as much as just about anyone. Emma, Alisha, Keanu, what you guys have been able to grow into and learn after being forced into a virtual environment is seriously impressive, and I know that next year you guys are going to make an awesome paper. Dr. Shipe, you gave me the opportunity to succeed more than anyone. The time you took to help me, your wise advice and your funny stories shape me into a better writer, and a better person. And to the rest of Pompano, thank you. Thank you for having fascinating and inspiring and heartfelt stories that gave me joy to report on and pride knowing that I was part of something that hopefully made at least a few people happy. Thank you for reading, or at least flipping through the pictures of, our newspaper and supporting our work. Thank you for giving us crap when we deserved it and showing an interest. One of the first things we learn in English is to write with your audience in mind, and you guys have been one hell of an audience. Now on my way out I’m looking back on my time here and I can fully appreciate how important my involvement with the Tornado Times has been, and it’s all thanks to the people reading these words right now. Once again, thank you, and as Plankton once said, “Goodbye, everyone, I’ll remember you all in therapy.”
Eduardo Andrade
Joining the newspaper staff was one of the best decisions I made coming into this school. Originally I wasn’t planning on taking it, but I was encouraged by a family friend. We called the school and changed my elective immediately after that conversation, and I joined Journalism I as a shy little freshman where I met loads of new people who pushed me out of my comfort zone year after year. Joining the staff as an editor when I was a sophomore was one of the best decisions of my high school career. Being able to learn from over 10 seniors allowed me to gain experience that helped me succeed in larger leadership roles not only with the newspaper, but with other areas of my life as well. I began that year as a gray pages editor but I was asked by our editor-in-chief at the time to switch over to the color pages, our name for features, as a way to gain as much experience as possible. My junior year, I was promoted to managing editor alongside Eduardo Andrade. That year our team of editors shrunk from over 10 to only five. Due to this we merged our newspaper class with the Journalism I class in an effort to gain more staff members. This transition was tough, but allowed me once again to become experienced in a different area. Working together in our positions both junior and senior year, Eduardo was invaluable to making my leadership succeed. Whenever I didn’t have something covered he usually would. Wherever I may have overstepped, he would talk me down. Our leadership style worked to leave the newsmagazine a better product than we joined. My biggest accomplishment on the newspaper staff was redesigning the newsmagazine from the format when I joined, to a glossy full color newsmagazine. I’m confident this format hasn’t reached its full potential and can become award winning some day. I trust every member of next year’s staff to create the best newsmagazine they can with the resources available.
Matthew Shanbom
Tornado Times is produced by students at: Pompano Beach High School 600 NE 13 Ave. Pompano Beach, FL 33060 Phone: (754) 322-2000 Print issues in the 2020-21 school year are planned for October, December, February and April. For students, teachers and parents who need information on the school and events, Tornado Times is a quarterly printed magazine and a daily updated website that will report the news, lead the school and provide a public forum. Unlike social media, our product provides more insight on our school and events. By emphasizing coverage of what is happening, offering an outlet for students and providing a check and balance, we will promote dependability, responsibility, honesty, accomplishment, teamwork and success.
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. Advertising rates are available at estore.browardschools.com. Please contact us by email or by phone if you have any questions. Advertising which promotes illegal products under Florida law, includes false statements or is written in bad taste will not be accepted. The opinions in this publication are not necessarily those of advertisers, Pompano Beach High School or Broward County Public Schools. Tornado Times is a member of the Florida Scholastic Press Association, which awarded the newspaper a silver certificate for its 2020-21 issues.
For the students, by the students thetornadotimes.org < May 2021 > Calendar | 3
Form-posal?
Modified senior events to mark traditional end of school
By Javier Garcia, Sports Editor
GRAPHIC BY EDUARDO ANDRADE
4 | News < May 2021 > @TornadoTimes
Not all traditions this year have been lost to the pandemic. While they won’t look like what the Class of 2021 expected when its members entered school, many endof-the-year traditions will take place after weeks of discussion among senior class officers, school administration and district policy-makers. The list of senior events includes an in-person graduation, as mandated by former Superintendent Robert Runcie, and a car parade around school, an event established last year to replace the canceled in-person graduation ceremony. “There’s been a lot more additions for the seniors especially added at the end of the school year, though this year I would have expected to completely return to normal,” senior Joel Williams said. After 13 months of hearing no, many seniors wondered if they would experience any end-of-school traditions. “I didn’t have much expectations going into senior year because the pandemic really showed everyone how life is irrational and anything can change in a moment,” senior Andrea Castellano said. “I knew it was going to be very difficult this year compared to years past,” senior Davine Martinez said. Among the changes, the traditional prom has been transformed into the Senior Formal Celebration, taking place on the football field on May 14. Hotels and other venues were not an option, so this event was created to give seniors the opportunity to dress in tuxedos and evening gowns and have pictures taken. “We ended up realizing we could not do the indoor venue with kids eating and dancing, so anywhere indoors was out the window,” senior class vice president Gavana Bogle said. “We had to come up with some other options that followed CDC guidelines.” Along with Bogle, the rest of the senior class officers sent proposals throughout the year trying to conform, and each time was denied leaving the hope for some form of
prom dwindling. “It was really hard at the beginning, because earlier in the year they did not want to have a prom, period. We sent in proposal after proposal and they just kept getting denied,” Bogle said. When superintendent Runcie held a meeting where he allowed schools to host a prom while strictly following CDC guidelines, it paved the way for real work to be done at long last. “It was hard to secure some of the things like a DJ with there being so little time in advance once we got the go ahead,” Bogle said, “It’s not going to be identical to prom, we just got to do the best that we can with this confusing year.” Graduation will take place on the football field at 8:00 pm on June 4 with a maximum of two guests per student. The guests will be spread throughout the stands to follow countywide CDC guidelines on social distancing. “Walking across the stage and receiving my high school diploma is a once in a lifetime experience and I can’t wait to graduate,” Castellano said. Rehearsal for graduation will take place after the senior breakfast at 8:00 am on June 3. Attendance is mandatory and all obligations must be paid to receive a cap and gown after the event. No one is claiming that this year’s senior events are a perfect replacement for all the traditions that won’t happen. “I feel like I missed out on the senior experience a little seeing as we don’t get to end school early or participate in the end of the year Grad Bash,” Williams said. “I feel like college will grant me some of these wishes as I can choose my schedule a little more to my liking.” Even the traditional hope for the future beyond graduation is has changed for the Class of 2021. “I hope my freshman year in college isn't very disrupted from the pandemic so I can fully experience my first year. I’m very excited to go off to college and hope it's mainly in person,” Castellano said.
Outta here
Carlson, Melillo to retire By Matthew Shanbom, Editor-in-Chief
After a combined 88 years of experience in education, English teacher Sandra Melillo and Assistant Principal Lori Carlson will be retiring. Including other retirements, job changes, leaves and deaths, eight members of the faculty that started the year will not return in 2021-22. Carlson began her career as a music teacher across several schools before returning to her alma mater in 1983, two years before the school closed. “The school was smaller and there was talk about a closing,” Carlson said. “There was a feeling (of shock) … you really couldn’t close a hometown high
school.” Following the school’s closure, Carlson transferred to Northeast, where she met Melillo. Carlson eventually returned in April 2008 as an assistant principal, responsible for the logistical side of the school including creating the master schedule, analyzing testing data and organizing teacher planning week. “I just loved the school that Pompano Beach High School had become the shining school on the hill,” Carlson said. Melillo had come at the start of that school year, August 2007. In addition
Sandra Melillo ascends the climbing net during a faculty bonding exercise in 2011. PHOTOS COURTESY OF SANDRA MELILLO
to teaching English, she has taught TV production, advised the National Honor Society and even sponsored the senior class. “Everything went great that senior year,” Melillo said. “I mean, we didn’t have any incidents at the prom, you know, and Grad Bash. ... I said I’m never doing this again.” Among Melillo’s fondest memories from her time at the school are the faculty talent shows. “I have them all on tape,” Melillo said. “They’re pretty
funny.” Both Carlson and Melillo plan for a relaxing retirement. “I have three grandchildren,” Carlson said. “I love spending time with them, so that’s going to be a priority.” Melillo plans to continue her hobby of collecting and eventually selling some of those items on eBay. “We are going to have to go through our warehouses and clean up the house,” Melillo said. Even though the past year has been stressful, Carlson remains optimistic. “A year from now I don’t know exactly what I’ll be doing,” Carlson said. “I know for sure I’m going to have fun doing it and having a positive attitude because that’s my plan.”
Faculty members Andrew Shipe, William Strachan, Sandra Melillo, Lara Graves, Ann Wilson and Kristin Clark sing and dance on the stage during the faculty show in 2013.
Assistant Principal Lori Carlson sings on stage during a faculty show.
Assistant Principal Lori Carlson and English teacher Sandra Melillo sing together on stage during a faculty show.
thetornadotimes.org < May 2021 > News | 5
Stand up to state legislature’s disregard for youths' rights During the pandemic, the state legislature has interfered with almost every policy or plan that local jurisdictions have tried to enforce, especially when it comes to the reopening of schools. Not every county in the state is the same, especially in Florida, a large and diverse swing state. Each county has had a different experience when handling the pandemic. Even if COVID-19 cases are low in Leon County and they are moving towards the reopening of businesses and schools, this doesn’t mean that Broward County is having the same promising, immediate future. Back in August, when counties were trying to decide if they should reopen, Gov. Ron DeSantis fought back with full fire against local boards’ rights to determine whether to reopen for in-person learning. He went as far as announcing the withholding of school funding if superintendents failed to reopen. During uncertainty and fear, our governor, who is supposed to do what is best for every Floridian, threatened superintendents because they were thinking about the safety of their children instead of what would make DeSantis look good for his political party’s base. DeSantis even went as far to call people who didn’t want to open schools “today’s flat-earthers.” What qualifies him and Floridian congressmen to overule departments dedicated to the future and well being of students when it comes to the safety and security of Florida’s youngest citizens? All of them are in Tallahassee, six and a half hours away from our reality. He could not imagine what it is like down here in South Florida. Due to our large population and appeal to visitors, the numbers of infections, hospitalizations and deaths due to COVID-19 have been significantly higher than any rural part of Florida. It doesn’t feel like anyone who has the power to stop this is discouraging such behavior or actions. What is wrong with being cautious during a pandemic? Just because the former President Donald Trump is encouraging the reopening of states doesn't mean Florida doesn’t have to listen.
6 | Opinion < May 2021 > @TornadoTimes
Not only has DeSantis threatened to withhold school funding, but he is so determined to force Florida back to normal that in December he stated that all teach-
ers were to return to school in-person in the new year. He has not only completely disregarded the safety of the youth of Florida but also has expanded his control over teachers and staff. Some are in the older category or are at risk in some capacity. Some teachers were either forced to retire early or had to leave their jobs to preserve their health. DeSantis and the state legislature seem devoted to showing their base that they don't care about Florida's students. Not only have the two prevented local action to stop the spread of COVID-19, but Florida lawmakers are also proposing limits to the Bright Futures scholarship program, forcing many students to reconsider their hopes and plans. In February, state Sen. Dennis Baxley (R-Ocala) filed Senate Bill 86, which set regulations on both the 75% and 100%
Bright Futures Scholarship requiring students to select specific majors, which in his words would “lead directly to employment,” based on the decision of the Board of Governors and Department of Education. “As taxpayers we should all be concerned about subsidizing degrees that just lead to debt, instead of the jobs our students want and need,” Baxley said when proposing SB86. Baxley’s statement is, at best, both misinformed and Orwellian doublespeak. It’s misinformed because Bright Futures funds do not come from taxes but from the state lottery, and it’s doublespeak because he’s limiting students' choice of what to study on behalf of what “our students want.” It seems like the state government only wants to force us into conforming to those in power. As citizens of a country that prides itself on civil liberties and freedom of speech, we need to stand up to this abuse and call out these politicians on what their intentions really are. Conservative politicians pride themselves on fighting big government and promoting personal liberty. But the governor and the legislature are working together to weaken local control and limit students’ personal choice of what to study. Both need to reverse course and allow Floridians to make the choices that best suit them, their health and their future.
CARTOON BY BRAIN TANG
Post-graduation plans pressure seniors By
Kayla Gayle, Student Life Editor It’s interesting how something we’ve looked forward to all our lives suddenly turns into a sense of doom. With the end of the school year approaching, seniors are getting closer to graduation and the end of their high school lives. This looming date has forced us 17 and 18-year-olds to figure out what we want to do with our lives; especially with the recentley passed National College Decision Day. Some seniors weren’t, and still aren’t, sure if they even want to go to college in August. And even if they decide they don’t want to spend more years of their lives in school, they aren’t sure what they will do otherwise. Senior Tramel Brown currently has “no plans” as he chooses between not attending a post-secondary school and committing to Lynn University. What’s stopping him from attending Lynn and accepting the $72,000 in financial aid? Brown said, “The will to live.” As for me, I knew I wanted to go to college. I’m lucky enough to know what I’m passionate about and would be able to make a career out of. However, I was barely prepared for the admissions process; I had not even thought about applying to schools by the time my friend told me she had already committed to one. It was not that applying to schools was difficult, but it was a nuisance.
“I was pretty indifferent about the entire thing,” senior Shariah Curton said. “Just repeating the same information over and over again was annoying.” Not to mention the never-ending emails from universities I’ve never heard of, the essays, the need for recommendation letters, the fees simply to apply to a school, etc.
“I wasn't able to visit schools that I wanted to apply to, to get a feel of the campus which affected my decisions greatly,” — Danielle Neish I applied to five schools, was accepted by four and wait-listed by the other. It seemed as if fate had it out for me because the school that wait-listed me was the only one I knew I could commit to with no qualms. This put me in a dilemma for over five months trying to decide which school I would attend. It wasn’t until about two weeks before the decision deadline that I committed to the University of Central Florida. Even then, I made that choice solely because I know I can always transfer somewhere else if I’m not happy there. COVID-19 also caused additional worries and complications for seniors deciding what their next step is.
“I wasn't able to visit schools that I wanted to apply to, to get a feel of the campus which affected my decisions greatly,” senior Danielle Neish said. “I’ve gone back and forth about going to college down here or moving up to Orlando and getting a job for months," senior Shallon Noland said. "I finally realized that if I took a gap year that I wouldn’t go back (to school)." Of course, not everyone was as stressed as I was with the admissions process. Some seniors knew exactly what they wanted to do with their lives. “(The admissions process) was fairly simple for the most part," Neish said. "I was able to connect with friends and counselors to answer some of my questions.” Neish plans to attend the University of South Florida for two years to get her associate’s then the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University for her bachelor’s degree. Afterwards, she hopes to attend Howard University or New York University for medical school to become a pediatrician. The college admissions process is not the main issue, the idea that teenagers should have this all figured out is. We barely just turned 18 and are already deciding what career we want for essentially the rest of our lives. “It’s a scam … It is insane (that) there are literal children signing apartment leases for college,” Brown said. While some of us are able to handle that much responsibility, I still find it incredible that it’s presumed we have to do that. Granted, at this school,
we are lucky enough to have conscientious counselors and Mia McFadden as our BRACE Advisor. Some of us are also able to receive insightful advice and support from trusted individuals to help this transition in our lives. The financial aspect of college admissions is also incredibly ridiculous; to have teenagers pay thousands of dollars just to learn. (The whole capitalist/classist argument about education is a whole other conversation though.) “The expectation for us to pay large amounts of money for something this early on in life when we are not yet financially stable or knowledgeable on how to go about getting funding, scholarships, etc. is absurd,” Neish said. “It leads to a downward spiral of debt which can affect people for (the rest of) their lives.” Although some websites make applying for scholarships easier, such as bold.org and fastweb.com, it still takes time to fill out each form and write essays. Many essay prompts ask students to write about personal stories that at times seem too intimate. For example, one would ask students to recount a time in their lives when they were really struggling and how they’ve overcome it. I sincerely wish that seniors enjoy their transition from high school to whatever they decide to do next. We all have our own definitions of success and I hope that we all achieve them, regardless of others’ opinions and journeys. Don’t feel rushed; work at your own pace and know that what you’re doing is good enough. You are good enough.
thetornadotimes.org < May 2021> Opinion | 7
School recognizes 4 Outs
Senior Jeffrey Drew returns a ball during tennis practice. Drew was a captain this year after his fourth season with the team. "I like to hit balls and I like to yell at people," Drew said. PHOTO BY ZOEY KATZ By Alisha Durosier, Opinion Editor
Four seniors were given the Outstanding Senior Leader award, an annual honor that recognizes those who have demonstrated not only academic success, but also tremendous contribution to their school and community. This year’s winners from Pompano were Dairys Montes de Oca, Jeffrey Drew, Stephanie Vagelos and Emilee Kurdziel. “I was so honored to be nominated,” Montes de Oca said. Throughout high school, Montes de Oca aimed to acquire officer positions in the clubs she participated in and continuously climb up the hierarchy of officer roles. This ultimately led to her current position as president of the Film and Tech Association. “I am trying to grow my clubs so that when I am gone they can continue to prosper and be welcoming environments for students,” Montes de Oca said. “To see that I made it to the top four took me completely by surprise.” Like Montes de Oca, Drew said that his aim in his extracurriculars was not recognition. “The goal is to make a lasting impact,
8 | Feature< May 2021 > @TornadoTimes
Seniors Chela Gelfano and Stephanie Vagelos work together in their AP Computer Science class. “PBHS has brought me so many opportunities to grow, thrive and learn in a fantastic environment with amazing people,” Vagelos said. PHOTO BY ZOEY KATZ
not to win an award doing so,” Drew said. Drew aided in the organization of the last two international summits in 2019 and 2021 and launched a tutoring program in the wake of the pandemic. “I did not aim for it as much as I strived to make the community a better place,” Drew said. “But overall, Pompano would not be the same without the influence of every leader, and each deserves recognition.” Drew said. Vagelos said she was a little surprised about her nomination although she admitted, “I’ve been very involved on campus since pretty much day one.” After creating the Make Our Schools Safe club, Vagelos organized the fundraiser for stop-the-bleed kits and was involved in the arrangement of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas memorial garden and helped create the NHS remote tutoring program. Vagelos said she wishes her projects will continue and leave a long lasting legacy. “Gotta pass the torch,” Vagelos said. Kurdziel, who said she only became aware of the outstanding senior leader award last year, believed it was mainly her work as the student government president
that secured her nomination, though she recognized that her contributions in other organizations also helped. “All the hard work and dedication I’ve put into my PBHS community throughout high school has led me here,” Kurdziel said. As SGA president, Kurdziel aimed to make up for time lost during remote learning. “I really hope to work alongside our senior class officers as well as the other SGA officers,” Kurdziel says. “We have some special things planned especially for school spirit for the end of the year.” The winners agreed that leadership and making a difference has been particularly challenging this year. “I think this senior year didn't meet many of our expectations, but I am extremely pleased with the achievements I have made and how well everything is being handled,” Montes De Oca said. The winners also agreed that their experience has prepared them for the future. “PBHS didn’t just prepare me for college, but it prepared me for the real world.” Vagelos said.
standing Senior Leaders Where are they going?
Dairys Montes de Oca is going to attend the University of Florida. "I'm really excited to get out of my comfort zone and grow," Montes de Oca said. PHOTO COURTESY OF @PBHSNEXTCHAPTER21
Stephanie Vagelos is planning to attend Georgia Tech next year to study public health. GRAPHIC BY EMMA PARKER
Senior Jeffery Drew will be attending the University of Florida after he graduates. "(I'm excited for) the new setting, new classes, and new professors," said Drew. GRAPHIC BY EMMA PARKER
Emilee Kurdziel is commited to the University of Alabama. "It had like everything I wanted, the campus was beautiful... it's close enough to home and they offered me a really good scholarship," Kurdziel said. PHOTO COURTESY OF @PBHSNEXTCHAPTER21
thetornadotimes.org < May 2021 > Feature | 9
New group builds connections between students, law enforcement By Eduardo Andrade, Editor-in-Chief
Students have joined with teachers, police officers and members of the community to form Operation Establish Trust (OET), a group focused on building trust between local law enforcement and the neighborhoods they serve. “We want the Pompano community to gain back trust in law enforcement, and hopefully that will create a chain reaction for outside of the community,” junior Breah Campbell said. Campbell has been a part of the group since November. In the wake of the George Floyd murder and subsequent protests, ROTC teacher Lt. Col. Gregory Johnson helped found the group hoping to increase engagement, understanding and discourse between the police and the people they serve, with an emphasis on local change. “I contacted several individuals … to say, ‘Hey can we do something positive?’ You know, not for the whole world. But can we focus on Pompano?” said Johnson. “If we can work with the police that service this area, it may be unique from all these different cities, so they know your community, tailor to your community … It's very difficult for someone from Washington, D. C. to try to fix a problem here.” Many people of color have long felt insecure about their relationship with law enforcement, and the events over
the summer and this past year amplified those feelings. OET is hoping to provide a platform for students to not only express those feelings, but to actively work towards fixing the issues at their roots. “I never feel completely 100% safe at school or out and about,” sophomore Tasfia Howlader said in an essay she submitted to a survey put out by the group. “This is the first step and I thank everyone for the opportunity to speak out.” Since June, the group has met virtually each week and was originally composed of teachers, officers and other adults, with the first students joining the group in October. “Having the opportunity to help the community and the police department work together to establish trust was one I could not pass up,” social studies teacher Richard Nagy said. While being online has increased the challenge of getting students to join, Johnson says that it has also provided some benefits. “So it's a little harder in this environment to probably get some of the numbers that we probably could get. So that's another thing that's kind of hampering us a little bit,” Johnson said. “(But), this allows us to think, you know, be more deliberate and ask ‘Is that really going to work?’” On top of giving people the opportunity to speak directly with police officers in the
community, OET also gave students the opportunity to submit written works outlining their feelings and offered a survey where students could opt in to receive resources on how to become more involved with law enforcement. “Sometimes people just feel that it's hopeless. Things aren't really going to change, we can't have any impact,” Johnson said. “I think it gets too daunting if you look at … Washington, or Florida or something like that. But I think when you say Pompano, our school or something like that, we can do that,” Johnson said. Though the group does not plan on meeting again this school year, it has discussed plans for several projects when they reconvene, such as creating a panel to answer questions in a town hall setting, producing training videos to help police de-escalate encounters and helping young people get involved in the Explorers Program, which teaches about a career in law enforcement. “People should join regardless of how they feel about what occurred last summer prior to George Floyd’s death and where they stand,” Campbell said. “All sides and viewpoints are valued in order to work towards a resolution to fix the division that resulted in the events that occurred last summer … All we ask is for peace, patience and dedication.”
Hear their voices... "Our country was built upon freedom and liberty, our law upon trust and justice, our people upon love and kindness, and our government upon people. So why is it without freedom and trust, justice or love, or even people? Our nation is politically divided, our people oppressed and without trust, and our law no longer with justice. I've met officers of the law -- they are kind people within. However, life happens, and unfortunately, they use their
job as a therapy session. The media is ruthless to respond. A perfect reflection upon our world. That's why those who are attacked need to be better than perfect, flawless. Officers of the law need to separate their jobs from their lives and become unbiased towards people. That way others wouldn't feel oppressed and there would no longer be tension within our Country built upon freedom and liberty," ~ Anonymous student
10 | Student Life < May 2021 > @TornadoTimes
"Law enforcement officers are supposed to help citizens feel safe in our communities, but instead we fear them. Many thoughts occur through people’s heads when getting stopped by law enforcements: "Will today be my last day?", "Does my hair comb look like a weapon?" People should not have to fear the men and women who should be protecting
us. Not everyone is a criminal, so why are we treating everyone like they are. Is it because their skin color is different? Systematically oppressing people is why we are in fear. To all law enforcement officers out there, you are an inspiration to many people, especially young ones, so please set a good example,' ~ Anonymous student
Read more student produced content at thetornadotimes.org
Virtual freshmen face real issues By Brody Berrios, Staff Intern
According to a recent Gallup poll, three in 10 parents say their child’s emotional and mental health has suffered during the pandemic. Freshmen here are no different. “Once second quarter hit, I started to feel less motivated to do some of my work,” Camry Le said. Many freshmen, like Le and Maverick Quartiano came from their respective middle schools with straight A’s, but when they got to high school, things changed. “During online school it wasn’t necessarily motivation that I struggled with, rather concentration because of the amount of distractions available and coming to school has greatly helped with that,” Quartiano said. One of the issues some freshmen are facing is motivation. Sometimes, simply completing one assignment has become a challenge. “I’d rather lie in bed and watch a movie than do my math homework,” Le said. It has taken time for freshmen to get used to staying at home for school, but some have found that creating an everyday routine could help with motivating yourself to stay on task, such as homework or other activities. Lori Carlson, the ninth-grade guidance counselor, has many students reaching out to her. She recommends that students “set an alarm with plenty of time to get ready in the morning and to make your work environment look like it would if you were at school.”
Carlson also encourages students not only to come back to school to collaborate and socialize with other students but to understand teacher expectations a little better and navigate the campus. Unlike Le, Quartiano returned to in person learning. “I returned to school because I found it easier to learn in person and would’ve liked to see my friends again,” Quartiano said. Quartiano is getting the freshman year of high school he’s always wanted, while keeping good grades and living a mentally good life. Freshman Nick Rapalo has been at school since they allowed students to come back. “I find in person learning much better because I can interact with my friends,” said Rapalo. Times of crisis can have long term effects on a child’s behavior as well as their mental and emotional well-being. However research shows that with the right support, hard times can build resilience in young people, giving them the ability to better handle stress and rebound from a setback or challenge. Carlson said that any freshmen who are battling mental health issues should contact her for an appointment immediately. Other people to reach out to include family members, friends and teachers. “After reaching out to find help, I’ve watched myself get better mentally day by day,” Le said.
Freshman mental health check
62%
Online Freshmen
38%
In-Person Freshmen
Motivation In-person freshmen
71%
Reported feeling more motivated attending in person learning
Online freshmen
56%
Reported feeling less motivated attending in person learning
Stress & Anxiety In-person freshmen
43%
Reported feeling less stressed attending in person learning
Online freshmen
41%
Reported feeling stressed attending in person learning
Grades
59%
41%
In-person freshmen Reported an improvment in grades
Online freshmen Reported being pleased with their own grades
Based on a survey of 55 students conducted on between March 30 and April 1. GRAPHIC BY ISABELLA CASTELLANOS JOA Freshman Hunter Jenner and another student sit in Ms. Maharaj's classroom.
thetornadotimes.org <May 2021 > Student Life | 11
Richards best of Jeopardy hosts By Mathew Shanbom, Editor- in- Chief
The answer is: Ken Jennings, Mike Richards, Katie Couric, Mehmet Oz and Aaron Rodgers. The question is: Who were the first five guest hosts to replace Alex Trebek on Jeopardy? But the real question for fans is: Which one was the best? Jennings, who has served as consulting producer since the beginning of the season, hosted for the first six weeks of new shows after Trebek’s death. By the end of his run, he was coming into his own as a host. As an experienced contestant, Jennings knew how to read the context clues of when to interject and kept the game moving at a good speed. He was also intelligent enough to know pronunciations and many possible answers without the help of the judges, keeping the game moving so that the entire board could be finished. Richards, who has been a game show executive producer for over a decade, was next. He embodied a game show host perfectly. I could tell watching that one of his responsibilities as executive producer was to run rehearsals with sample questions. Additionally, a week into watching I discovered that he once hosted “The Pyramid” on Game Show Network. After the first day I was convinced he was the man for the job. He had the charisma of a gameshow host while still finishing nearly every board. I hope Richards is given the reins at some point. While some may not like not like that he is not a celebrity, I believe the fact that he is unknown is good because he is not established as one thing or another and can make the game what he wants it to be. Richards kept the game running well, finishing all but three of his boards all in his last two days which, respectfully, may have been as the result of the contestants those days. Couric, the third guest host, was the first from outside the Jeopardy show. All the outside hosts did so to raise donations to a charity of their choice following their two weeks. I thought this was a good way to get to know the guest hosts better. Couric, who has anchored TV and online news
12 | Entertainment < May 2021 > @TornadoTimes
Mike Richards hosts his first show of 'Jeopardy', which aired on Feb. 22.
Katie Couric hosts a show of Jeopardy, after two weeks. Her last show aired on Mar. 15. PHOTOS COURTESY OF SONY MEDIA VENTURES programs, did a fine job hosting, but my only gripe with her was the amount of boards that were left incomplete at the end of the round (5/20). I love seeing the entire board played because if a question is not read, we at home never know what it was. Initially, like any guest host Couric had to get used to the position, but by the end she had gotten the hang of the attitude and responsibilities of a Jeopardy host. Oz, a celebrity-doctor who was the fourth, was my least favorite. This may be because I have prior bias against Oz for his promotion of alternative medicine, but I also did not appreciate his tone and mannerisms throughout the game. He did keep the game moving, leaving only 2/20 boards incomplete, but at the expense of any sort of charisma. I hope for all of our sakes Oz is not even considered
Ken Jennings hosts his last show of Jeopardy after six weeks. It aired on Feb. 19. for the host position. NFL quarterback Rodgers was fifth nd left little impressoin on me as a viewer. As somone inexperienced with television, he was monotone and lacked the charisma necessary to be host. Overall, Richards was the best of the first five guest hosts. His game show experience came in handy to deliver a smooth and coherent show. His relatively unknown background allowed him to represent the Jeopardy brand rather than an already established personal brand as the other guest hosts have.
The new age of Marvel:
'The Falcon and the Winter Soldier' brings message with side of action
By Emma Parker, Managing Editor
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is known for great action and special effects, and “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” fits right in. But this series adds a necessary look at the history and future of race in the real America. The Disney+ series focuses on two Captain American franchise side characters, Bucky Barnes (a.k.a Winter Soldier) and Sam Wilson (a.k.a Falcon), as the unlikely duo teams up to go against a rising group of dangerous activists. The series takes place after “Avengers: Endgame.”A group of super soldiers starts a worldwide movement to fight against mistreatment from the nation’s leaders. Bucky and Sam come together and try to
stop the leader, Karil, from harming people in order to further her cause. The show is jammed packed with action, especially within the first two episodes, and if you’re a big action fan, with car chases and combat, this is the show for you. The first two episodes were slow and it was honestly hard to continue watching , though Marvel did pull through by the end with a strong balance of heart and action in the new plotline that set up a potential Captain American movie. This show introduces viewers to new characters, such as the new Captain America (John Walker) who can be compared to the Walmart version of our beloved Steve Rogers. Some old guest appearances come into the show including Sharon Carter and Baron Zemo. If you are a huge Marvel fan,
you will be able to appreciate the little references to past movies that the pair have been a part of. The most significant aspect of the new series was the strong discussion of race as Sam slowly accepts the title, changing it to “the Black Captain America.” Marvel ties in what is happening in the real world by including scenes like police racially profiling Sam as he is having a disagreement with Bucky. Even though this is a fictional universe, it still isn’t that different from our world. The discussion of race was furthered with the introduction of WWII veteran, Isiah Bradly, who was tortured, imprisoned and experimented on when he held the same power as Steve Rogers did during his time as Captain America. Due to the color of his skin, the government made sure everyone who knew him forgot who he was and continued to perform tests as if he was an animal. It was a strong message and reminder of the issues that America still faces and what it must work towards improving. Fictional or not, this show is another reminder that the fight to end racism is still going, and we still have a long way to go. “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” brought a good mix of action, heart and laughs and managed to include a great message by the end of the six part series. I definitely would suggest watching the series before the next Marvel series “Loki,” scheduled to drop June 11 on Disney+.
Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) and Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) in the second episode of the Disney + exclusive, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. The series premiered on Mar. 19. PHOTO COURTESY OF MARVEL STUDIOS
thetornadotimes.org < May 2021 > Entertainment | 13
Climbing the ranks:
Hurst finds passion after injury
Senior James Hurst warms up on a bouldering route while climbing at Dayton Pocket in Tennessee. “(It was) beautiful, the scenery was amazing. The sound of the river and smell of it was awesome,” Hurst said. PHOTO BY EDUARDO ANDRADE
S
By Javier Garcia, Sports Editor
enior James Hurst dabbled in athletics in middle school, playing common sports like baseball and basketball. For a time, basketball stuck around and Hurst committed to playing it even in high school, until fate cruelly intervened. “[Basketball] took over my life for a while until I tore a ligament in my ankle sophomore year,” Hurst said. “That ligament is kind of what led me to watching a lot of climbing videos on YouTube.” Suffering through the injury, Hurst remedied it with one
of the most influential web searches of his high school career. “I just kind of Googled it one day,” Hurst said. “I was always interested in the idea of climbing but I never knew how gymnastics/athletic it can be until I just walked in.” Through discovering this new passion, Hurst reignited old ones. With no places to climb in south Florida outside of playgrounds and “Mount Trashmore,” Hurst joined his family on frequent out-of-state camping, hiking and overall wilderness exploration, main-
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taining a connection to Earth’s natural creations. “I pretty much always thought climbing would be just like another thing to do so I tried it out,” Hurst said. “Once I climbed, I realized it perfectly embodied what I love, athletics and outdoors. Soon after I just fell in love with how it feels to flow on the wall. That feeling of just using every muscle in your body in sync was addicting.” After six months of training at projectRock, a bouldering and rock climbing gym, Hurst got a position as a staff member and, eventually, a competitor for the gym. Starting in 2019 Hurst went through a series of competitions, progressively landing higher and higher placements, until in December, he found himself competing against 40 athletes in regionals. He placed 17th, not high enough to move on to nationals. This year, he landed first overall for his age group in the qualifiers. Improving results and stiffer competition are the cause and effect of Hurst’s extensive workouts. On top of regular gym visits and climbing practice four days a week, he
also works on climbing-specific workouts five days a week, using weights, pull-up bars, calisthenics or minute fingertip grip strength. Hurst will be going to Birmingham, Alabama, on June 18 for the regional competition where the top four of each age group qualify for nationals. Based on results from the qualifiers, Hurst is currently ranked third in the region in his age group. Hurst would like to move somewhere that has more rock or nature overall for him to immerse himself in and will be attending FSU next year, where he will be closer to areas of Alabama and Tennessee where he frequently climbs outdoors. He plans on finding a job that will allow him to continue to develop. Hurst has engaged with some climbing gear brands about an eventual sponsorship as he continues to climb up the ranks and is a sponsored athlete for the ClimbIT Chalk brand. As a senior, Hurst is well aware of the future decisions fast approaching, but a year and a half into this newfound passion, Hurst is running with it and molding the future around this life. “I know (it) sounds dramatic but it’s seriously what makes me happy and is now a huge part of my identity,” Hurst said.
Senior James Hurst works on the V9 boulder “Riverdance” at Dayton Pocket in Tennessee. At the start of the climb, Hurst risked falling into the river below. “I was psyched but I know there’s more to come,” Hurst said.
Boulder difficulty scale V16-Hardest ever done V8-Hardest Hurst has done outdoors
V10-Hardest Hurst has done indoors V0-Easiest to climb, equivalent to a ladder GRAPHIC BY EDUARDO ANDRADE
Senior James Hurst attempts the V9 boulder “Honeycomb” while climbing at Dayton Pocket in Tennessee. “There’s always a very technical aspect to every roof climb, it’s never very straightforward. They often take a few tries to find out how to place your feet and use all the intricate features that are often on the roof,” said Hurst. PHOTOS BY EDUARDO ANDRADE
thetornadotimes.org < May 2021 > Sports | 15
The girls lacrosse team finished its season with a 6-5 record. “Overall, our season has been a good one, and I wouldn't change anything about it,” senior Aaliyah Gualberto said. “I will cherish everything from this sport.” Senior Erin Wheaton finished her high school career with over 100 goals. “I was very sad that it was my last season,” senior Virag Mahler said. “Having lots of fun and making great memories.” The boys lacrosse team finished off its season undefeated, with a 5-0 record. Despite of the shortened season, the team still found time for bonding. “I loved being out there with all [of] my teammates,” senior James Kassis said. “It was nice to finish my high school career on an undefeated record.” Along with Kassis the team had seven other graduating seniors in their final game at Taravella on Mar. 31. The baseball team ended its season 8-41, wrapping the regular season up with a loss against Deerfield at home April 23. This season went on for longer than last year’s due to complications with COVID-19.
Senior Mya Brown heads down the runway while competing in the triple jump during the district meet at Calvary Christian on April 15. Brown placed fourth, jumping for a personal best of 10.64 meters in her best of four attempts and qualifying her for regionals. PHOTO BY EDUARDO ANDRADE
“We have had to get shut down two times for two weeks because of players testing positive,” senior Hugh Green said. The team lost 3-2 against American Heritage for the district game April 27. “Players like Gio Caffro and Garrison Paillet definitely stepped up in the dugout and on the field, their performance this year stood out,” Green said. The spring football game is on May 19 at Westminster Academy. “This season is about development, and finding out which new or young players are going to step up,” Coach Johnthan Firth said. The flag football team won its first playoff game 31-0, against Boyd Anderson, but lost in the district championship against Dillard, 14-12. “We fell short, becoming district runner ups, but it was a great game that went to the wire,”Coach Johnathan Firth said. Coach Dominick Messano was confident about the boys tennis team going into the season, but believed that this year was more about rebuilding for the girls. “Even with this year's COVID restrictions, our team was able to practice and
train coherently as a team and delivered better results than we have in my past four years of high school,” senior captain Jeffrey Drew said. Drew felt that the season went great and wishes the team luck in the coming years. “Keep your eyes on the ball,” Drew said. “And move your feet every once in a while.” The girls water polo team started the season on March 2 with an away game 1713 victory against Cardinal Gibbons. “Being that we didn't know we had a season until about (a week before the season started) we haven't really set high goals for this season, but we want to play our best and hopefully make it to some championship games,” sophomore wing player Lorelei Bennett said on March 3, a day after the win. The team ended the regular season 1-0 and lost to Fort Lauderdale High 20-16 in its March 30 district game. Boys volleyball team coaches and members did not respond to multiple requests for information The softball team won its district with a 7-3 victory over Jensen Beach on April 30.