Tornado Times, May 2015

Will your schedule be the same next year?

News 2 Opinion 4 May 2015 thetornadotimes.org

3

Flakka invades

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Find out what Sabrina says

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Vol. 6, No. 4 @TornadoTimes

What college are you going to?

Pompano Beach High School pbhsnewspaper@gmail.com

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Good signs to play D3 football

Superintendent, union debate change of high school schedule

By Rebekah Garretson, Staff Intern

As students and teachers rush towards the end of the school year, the change of seasons from spring to summer isn’t the only change on their minds.

In late March 2015, the Superintendent received a proposal from the Joint High School Task Force, consisting of Broward Teachers Union members and district staff, to change the functioning schedule of high school students for the 2015-16 school year.

The proposal, on which staff at each school would vote to accept, would would an eight-period, A/B block schedule, spread across two days.

The additional period for students would be allotted for a study hall with no additional grades or academic assignments.

The schedule had originally been discussed by the Superintendent High School Teacher Summit, a group of teachers chosen by Superintendent Robert Runcie, but the union insisted that the current contract requires all proposed schedule changes to be approved by a task force consisting of equal numbers of union and district representatives.

The proposal is intended to respond to staff and students stressed out by the current sevenperiod day.

The current schedule was implemented due to budget cuts and the district’s attempt to prevent the $8.6 million fine it paid in 2011 for violating state class size rules.

Under the proposed schedule, teachers would indeed be offered a bonus of $6,000 per extra class taught above the standard assignment of teaching six classes, including the study hall. Confirm-

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Page 2 • News

May 2015 • Vol. 6, No. 4

ing there is enough money to enact this proposal, however, is not so simple.

The budget of Broward County schools settling at the end of the 2013 school year was increased 4 percent when the first schedule change occurred across all district high schools. Implementing the proposed schedule might cost the district as much as $20 million.

Because the state house adjourned this year’s legislative session three days early without passing a budget, which would define the amount of money school districts receive, no one knows if having a schedule change for the 2015-16 school year is plausible.

Rheana Rochester, junior, believes that this possible change could be too severe for students who have already spent the past three years with the current seven period schedule.

“I feel that my current schedule is great. Over these past three years, I have grown used to this schedule with seven classes,” Rochester said. “I believe that an hour and 30 minutes for each class will give me more stress.”

The four blocks per day under the proposed schedule would be the same length, one hour and 50 minutes, as the blocks were under the “four by four” schedule PBHS had prior to 2012-13.

Mr. Matthew Holley, math and technology teacher, believes the proposed schedule would be less stressful for students.

“The current schedule of PBHS is stressful for students and teachers,” Mr. Holley said. “So much information is thrown at the students in a given day that it is difficult for the information to stick.”

Sophomores Beth Bruna and Valeria Pardo participate in the “Day of Silence” on April 17. The goal of the event was to express support for the LGBTQ+ community, who felt silenced by societal and cultural norms. photo by Minhny TRAN-Nguyen

Staying silent for voice of change

By Minhny Tran-Nguyen, Staff Intern

The Day of Silence was a day where people of the LGBTQ+ community and allies voiced their support for those who were silent, like Leelah Alcorn and Blake Brockington, teens who felt silenced by society’s bigotry.

The national Day of Silence occured on Friday, April 17 while the school observed the occasion the day before.

On April 16, students who participated wore black with a strip of duct tape in front. Throughout the day students remained silent.

Teachers were notified that they were participating in Day of Silence.

Allies were necessary for Day of Silence. Allies told LGBTQ+ classmates that they are not unwelcomed and they should not be

ashamed to be openly gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning.

Mr. Henderson, adviser of Gay Straight Alliance, said, “(The Day of Silence) is a great opportunity for PBHS to continue to make the world a better place.”

GSA Vice President Laura Botero said, “The Day of Silence is very much needed since it’s people of the LGBTQ+ community sharing a silence to signify those that can’t speak out and must live in fear of being judged or worse, harmed. It really shows how unified we are as a community and that while others suffer, no one can be free.”

Students who participated in Day of Silence were also welcomed to the “Break the Silence” pizza party where participants celebrated a successful day.

May 2015 • Vol. 6, No. 4

News • Page 3

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New drug hits streets

By Kara Purinton and Megan Mead, Assistant News Editors

Flakka is a new and dangerous drug in Florida and is most popular in Pompano Beach.

The drug is made from the compound alpha-PVP, which is related to an amphetamine-type drug that can be found in bath salts.

Dep. Smith, school resource officer, said Flakka can be smoked in a joint, snorted, swallowed as a pill or taken in a variety of other ways.

She also said that the main side effects are heart problems, anxiety, paranoia and severe hallucinations.

“Most of our students think that smoking weed is harmless,

“Most of our students think that smoking weed is harmless, but nine out of 10 times it is laced with something else that could be deadly.” -Dep. Smith but nine out of 10 times it is laced with something else that could be deadly,” Dep. Smith said.

Senior Ridgely Ahlgren said, “I’ve heard about Flakka through my friends. I don’t think this will last very long in the drug industry

because it is said to be similar to bath salts, and that didn’t last very long.”

Police across the country have filed several reports of people under the influence of Flakka displaying violent behavior. For

example, according to KPLR 11, a TV station in St. Louis, on April 7, a man on Flakka attempted to break into police headquarters, violently kicking it and throwing rocks, displaying “super human strength.”

Senior Sunshine Carlson said, “I remember seeing something about Flakka on the news. It’s crazy that this drug (is being made) here in Pompano.”

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration there were not any known cases in Florida in 2010, 85 in 2012, and 270 reported in 2014.

Ashley Voet, Editor in Chief Sydney Van Dreason, Managing Editor Megan Mead, Asst. News Editor Kara Purinton, Asst. News Editor Sabrina Conza, Opinion Editor Betsy Archelus, Asst. Center Spread Editor Brooke Henderson, Asst. Center Spread Editor Jesse Baker, Student Life Editor Kayla Sanders, Asst. Student Life Editor Michael Rice, Asst. Sports Editor Nicolas Gallardo, Graphic Design Editor Robert Barclay, Photo Editor Julianne Gross, Website Editor and Asst. Photo Editor Mitchell Horlick, Business Manager Jorgeandres Herrera, Asst. Business Manager Christopher Swan, Asst. Business Manager Dr. Andrew Shipe, Adviser Staff Interns Rebekah Garretson Millena Rodrigues Madison Steinkamp Minhny Tran-Nguyen 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 Issues in the 2014-15 school year are planned for October, December, March and May. The purpose of this newspaper is to inform and interest the population of Pompano Beach High School on the happenings of the school and beyond through the production of a student-run newspaper.

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. 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 2014-15 issues.

A/B schedule proposal too confusing In March 2015, a district task force proposed giving high schools the option of changing the current class schedule to an A/B block starting next school year.

This proposed schedule means that students would have four classes on Monday and Wednesday, and a different four classes on Tuesday and Thursday, with one of the eight classes being a supervised study hall.

This schedule should not be implemented for many reasons.

First of all, it will confuse many students. On days such as the first day of school, students may not understand which schedule to follow, even if it is explicitly stated. With classes every day on the current schedule, it’s easier to keep track of. Teachers might also assign more homework, which kids will leave until the last minute anyway.

There are also days that have altered schedules, such as professional study days and pep rally days. On these special days it may not be understood which schedule to follow or how to carry it out.

Although a 110-minute class period could be considered positive because the student is then able to learn more in one day, it would be very difficult to focus through the whole class without a break. The current 62 minutes is more than long enough.

Graphic by Christopher Swan

This new schedule may also cost the district up to $20 million. Because teachers would teach five periods instead of six, schools would have to hire more staff. To make up for the funding, classes and programs will be cut.

Not only will many students and staff have trouble focusing and staying on topic, but students with ADHD and other disorders that impair the ability to focus will not be able to learn as efficiently. Some teachers may not be able to teach as effectively either.

This schedule will also be much more difficult for students who want to participate in the dual enrollment program. A student

who takes a dual enrollment class is able to have no class for a certain period because he is taking the college equivalent at Broward College.

Sometimes the student needs that free period to travel, but with the A/B block schedule, students would have to make sure the dual enrollment class is scheduled for those travel days.

Therefore many students may have to forfeit the opportunity to participate in the dual enrollment program.

The implementation of the A/B block schedule will have a negative impact on the students and staff at our school and should under no circumstances be carried out.

Read this, then write

make it worthwhile.

Personally, writing can act as an outlet, as an escape from reality.

To write is to free Whether one writes about a fictional world or just about his worone’s mind and to ries and his day, writing can act as say what can’t be physically spoken. a distractor and can relieve stress Students particu- from a student’s hectic life.

Writing can also act as a mode for larly may groan at self-exploration and as a creative the mere thought of writing, but thetornadotimes.org outlet where one can easily express Page 4 • Opinion May 2015 • Vol. 6, No. 4 there are so many benefits that

By Sydney Van Dreason, Managing Editor

his imagination. When I write, I can be myself, and I can express my creativity easily.

Writing allows me to be free more than anything else can, and I feel like it’s very important that students make it a priority to write so that they can express themselves and learn more about themselves on the journey.

May 2015 • Vol. 6, No. 4

YouTube: not just cat videos

By Julianne Gross, Website Editor

When many hear the word YouTube, images of overweight, pale, bleary-eyed teenagers who have never seen the light of day living in their parents’ basement may come to mind. They may shudder at the thought of the millions of cat videos that are supposedly on YouTube. There are definitely cat videos littering the site, but YouTube is not the same as it once was nor are those who post.

Everyone has heard of YouTube.

It is the place to go to listen to music or laugh at the failures of humanity. Unfortunately that is all

this site seems to be known for.

YouTube now is a creative, intellectual platform. Most people wouldn’t put YouTube and intellectual in the same sentence unless there was the word “not” between them, but this site is changing.

With the creations of the channels Crash Course, Health Triage, Vertasium, MinutePhysics, C.P.G Grey and so many others, YouTube is now a place where teenagers can go for information.

School is important, but it doesn’t give you all the answers and teachers give boring lectures where you don’t understand a word they say.

YouTube’s fun videos explain topics in interesting, simple ways.

Crash Course is an excellent channel for studying for AP tests.

It has courses on Psychology, U.S

History, Literature, Chemistry, World History and U.S. Government.

YouTube is also a place to show your creative side. YouTubers can now make videos about their various talents, whether it’s singing, drawing, dancing or filmmaking.

Ordinary people who aren’t part of the filmmaking world can still make movies or shows. Obviously they may not get much attention, but their work is still posted and can be accessed by anyone for free.

One of my favorite channels, by Tim H, provides great content. He has skits, short films and even a four-episode show. Without YouTube, these stories that he created may not have existed.

Another great part of YouTube is the creator-viewer interaction.

Opinion • Page 5

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With TV you can’t talk with someone from the other side of the world about what you just watched unless you go on social media.

With YouTube, as soon as the video is done or during it, you can go straight into the comment sections without changing sites. This format allows for a community to be formed around specific channels and creates a place where you feel like you belong.

In all honesty, I feel like YouTube is moving up in the world. Soon it will be recognized as a legitimate platform. Sure it has its problems.

Not everyone is friendly and not every video is that good, but there is a huge amount of content that is creative, entertaining, educational or all three. The world needs to give YouTube a chance.

Sabrina says:

Reading helps improve vocabulary Participating helps learning We often hear how young people have smaller vocabularies than ever before. This may not be true, but increasing your vocabulary is beneficial in all situations.

As children, we are told that if we read, we will learn more words and therefore become a better writer. At a young age, this is definitely true.

As a four- or five-year-old, reading a book can expose you to new words, and as a result, your vocabulary increases and your brain’s capacity expands.

However, when you’re in high school, it’s not that easy. High school students already know simple words and increasingly difficult ones. Day-to-day experiences and the books teenagers like to read usually don’t offer anything more challenging than what our vocabulary already holds.

Reading an older book with a more outdated writing style such as “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen, would add a more classic twist to any student’s word bank.

The fact that a classic novel has Beginning in elementary school, older, and different, words is not students are told to participate the reason to read it. The reason is in class by answering and asking it will help you make a connection. questions.

Perhaps you’ll see a root or a This can be extremely helpful prefix in the novel and to students who learn by consciously, or even sublistening and find particiconsciously, link the words pating in class to be advanin your mind. This is extageous. tremely helpful in building When a student particia vocabulary because then pates in class, it is obvious when you see a word you that he is paying attention have never seen before, you to the material that is being may be able to see the rela- By Sabrina taught, and is engaged in tionship between that and Conza, Opinion the lecture. another and decipher the Editor This is beneficial because meaning on your own. listening and speaking Although having a large votranslates directly to understandcabulary is not the most important ing. Comprehending the material thing in the world, it is useful when makes it possible for the student learning another language, engagto spend more time learning new ing in job interviews and particimaterial instead of relearning the pating in everyday conversation. same thing over and over again.

I encourage all high school stuEven though many students learn dents to pick up a novel and read. well by participating in class, othIt doesn’t have to be a classic, but ers can learn the same material just it should be a higher-level novel by listening to lectures or reading a than you’re used to. Reading can do textbook or an online resource that wonders. explains the material.

A student who learns by listening can sometimes just absorb what the teacher is saying without needing to ask questions.

Students who learn by reading sometimes do not learn anything new in class, but then they go home and read the material in order to finally understand what was being taught. For these students, participation has nothing to do with excelling.

Even if participating in class does not help a student learn, he should participate if it is what the teacher requires.

Many teachers demand for students to participate in order to earn a good grade. If it could mean the student would have an A in the class instead of a B or C, there is no reason not to participate.

With all that said, participation is usually beneficial and cannot hurt those who learn in a different way.

Therefore, students should participate in class, especially if they learn in a conversational way.

COMM E N C E MENT poem by brooke henderson

Silver dirt and glitter Crawl between my toes I f g i rl s a re n ’t m a d e o f s u ga r, Who would even know?

They’ve got crude oil Pumping in their living rooms But underneath the waterfalls Everything else is just a boon.

Because who shor tlists the recipe Picks ingredients as they’re inclined Chooses elegant pastel garnish Over the raw and unrefined?

Is my flavor as it Does it sizzle on If I don’t set the W h o ’s t o s a y w h o

should be your tongue? standard does?

Am I the master of my fate?

Am I the captain of my soul?

I’ve f allen in the f orest And made no sound at all

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Page 6 • Lit mag

May 2015 • Vol. 6, No. 4

May 2015 • Vol. 6, No. 4

Lit mag • Page 7

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art by melissa stamm

photo by james sheff

Siblings share experiences

By Madison Steinkamp, Staff Intern

Siblings that go to school together, stay together — at least until one graduates.

Because admission to a magnet school favors applicants with siblings already attending, many older students have been guiding their younger siblings.

Sisters Julie and Amy Godfrey have been in the same high school ever since last year when Amy, now a sophomore, was a freshman.

Julie, a senior, said, “It’s cool being the older sibling and getting to talk to your sibling about what classes to take and give her advice.”

Julie said they do spend time together at school.

The girls have fifth period drama class together before lunch. They also sit together at lunch with mutual friends.

However, freshman twins Samuel and Felipe Rivera couldn’t be more different than the Godfrey girls.

Recent reviews online The 100: 5/5 stars Insurgent: 4/5 stars iZombie:4.5/5 stars Cinderella: 4.5/5 stars To read these reviews go to TheTornadoTimes.org

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Page 8 • Student Life

May 2015 • Vol. 6, No. 4

Samuel, the younger of the two, says, “We don’t even talk at school.”

The boys don’t have any classes together either, and that doesn’t bother them.

Kent and Petra Snelson just started attending together this year when Petra became a freshman. Petra said, “I hardly see him at school, but if I do it’s okay.”

Kent, a sophomore, also shares advice with his little sister. “I get help from him because he’s had these previous classes just last year,” said Petra.

Kent and Petra don’t have any classes together, but admit when they do see each other in the halls, they acknowledge each other.

Petra says she “kind of” enjoys seeing her brother at school.

Kent Snelson (left)and Petra Snelson (right) are siblings who share advice on how to succeed.

Photos

by Kayla Sanders

Colleges seniors will be attending

May 2015 • Vol. 6, No. 4

Student Life • Page 9

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1.

2.

3.

4.

Community College

5.

Data taken from a poll of 70 students on TheTornadoTimes.org

11. Undecided 10. Military 9. Other 8.

7.

6. Out of State

Last of the ’90s in Class of 2018

By Millena Rodrigues, Staff Intern

The era when everyone had a Game Boy, went to Blockbuster to rent a movie and watched SpongeBob every morning has come to an end. This year’s freshmen class holds the last few students born in the 1990s to enter this school.

“Being born in the ’90s meant that I can understand the references about it on Twitter and I’m also older than most of my friends (in the freshman class),” Alexander Skirvin said.

All over social media there are posts about the ’90s saying that only those who were born in this

Graphic By Nicolas Gallardo

time period would understand the references and relate to them.

“I was in the ’90s for three months, but it’s still cool to look at the jokes about it online,” freshman Nicole Sloss said.

Senior Haley Gulics was shocked to know that next year’s freshmen will all have been born in or after 2000.

“When I hear people say they’re born in 2000, I think it’s only five years ago rather than 15,” Gulics said.

“I see the types of shows kids watch today and they’re way different compared to what I watched.”

Good commits to Bridgewater

By Jorgeandres Herrera, Asst. Business Manager

Senior Fullback/Linebacker Zachary “Bowling Ball” Good has committed to the Bridgewater College, a liberal arts college in northern Virginia.

Good was on the varsity football team all four years and has been a captain since junior year. In his senior year, he scored 10 touchdowns and rushed for 735 yards, first among fullbacks in Broward County.

Good had many offers from a variety of schools but ultimately decided to head up north.

“It felt like home,” he said.

“Coaches were really cool.”

Good earned an academic scholarship close to $30,000 per year and plans to major in education.

The Eagles, which play in NCAA Division III, finished 8-2 last season and tied for first in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference, but missed the playoffs because the two losses were within the division.

Another major factor for Good’s choosing Bridgewater was his chance to start. He could bypass being redshirted and contribute right away.

“The fact I can play college football is a dream, and actually being able to start would be the greatest possible circumstance,” Good said. “Through hard work and dedication it is possible.”

“The fact (that) I can play college football is a dream...”

-Zachary Good

Color guard members gather after their halftime perfomance. This might be the last year with the color and winter guard program because the interim band director, Ms. Wites, could not find another instructor.

Photo courtesy of Mrs. Carlson

Color, winter guard face possible end

By Sabrina Conza, Opinion Editor

Winter guard came to a close on April 11 at the local championships. Winter guard placed seventh out of twelfth at the competition at Barbara Goleman Senior High School in Miami Lakes.

Sophomore Brianna Donnelly said, “We finished out the season and made it to championships but at the end we were having less and less practices.”

Color and winter guard may be can-

celled next year because there are no coaches willing to continue.

“From what I know, the instructors left because they were not getting paid,” sophomore Ariel Madan said.

Donnelly stated a differnet reason: “There was just no communication between our program and the school. It was really difficult when Jackie and Katie (the new coaches) took over for Anthony (the old color guard coach).”

Quick hits Boys volleyball was third out of four in the district and lost in the first round. The team finished 9-8. The team captain was junior Ryan Swart.

Flag football finished the season with 0-9-1. Senior Jessika Ruman scored the team’s lone touchdown in the last play of the last game against Pines Charter.

Softball lost in the first game of districts against Archbishop McCarthy and finished 9-11. Brooklyn Vincent led the team with a batting average of .444. Jessica Abramson had the most runs scored (13) and Ceejay Parker had the most RBIs (11).

Zachary Good announces his signing with Bridgewater, a Division III college in Virginia, as his parents and Coach Nagy applaud. He said he chose the school because he would have a chance to start his freshman year. He will be given an academic scholarship of $30,000 per year.

Photo courtesy of mrs. carlson

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Page 10 • Sports

May 2015 • Vol. 6, No. 4

Baseball finished the season 16-10. The team was eliminated in the first round of districts by Archbishop McCarthy, 10-0. Senior Hunter Stept led the team, batting .450. AJ Marcantonio had 24 RBIs and Garrett Hiott had 37 runs.

Track cancels Relays trip

By Mike Rice, Asst. Sports Editor

The Florida Relays is one of the biggest annual track meets Florida has to offer. However, this year the track team had to cancel its trip, due to a lack of funds.

The Florida Relays takes place in Gainesville and costs approximately $375 per athlete to cover the hotel and bus, but not food.

Senior runner John Collier said

much of the lack of funding can be attributed to inadequate facilities.

“The school is unable to host track meets because we don’t have a long jump/triple jump pit, no high jump staff, no pole vault staff, not enough hurdles, and barely a quality track,” he said. Without hosting meets, it is difficult to raise money, Collier said.

Junior Nichloas DiNapoli runs the 800-meter race against Cardinal Gibbons and Hallandale.

Photo courtesy of tierra george.

May 2015 • Vol. 6, No. 4

Sports • Page 11

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Kerr, Reising qualify for states at UNF

By Sydney Van Dreason, Managing Editor

The boys and girls track teams competed in regionals on April 22, with two of seven athletes qualifying for states.

Participating in regionals were juniors Alexis Kerr and Rheana Rochester; seniors John Collier, Andrew Reising, Brooke Henderson and Tierra George; and freshman Jakedra McEntyre.

Kerr competed in shot put and discus, in which she placed third and fourth, respectively. Collier placed fifth in the 100-meter hurdles, and Reising placed second in pole vaulting. Henderson, George, Rochester and McEntyre competed in the 400-meter relay and placed thirteenth.

To qualify for states, the athletes had to finish in the top four.

Kerr and Reising both qualified for states.

States were held May 1 at the University of North Florida.

Kerr finished eighth in shot put (35 feet, 2 inches), and Reising finished sixth in pole vault (13 feet, 6 inches).

Nicole Romer competes at a meet against Cardinal Gibbons and Hallendale on Feb. 18 at Gibbons. photo courtesy of tierra george.

W h e r e

i n

t h e

w o r l d

Traveling Tornadoes visit Costa Rica over spring break

By Sydney Van Dreason, Managing Editor, and Sabrina Conza, Opinion Editor

A group of students and chaperones traveled to Costa Rica over Spring Break where they learned about the culture and planted mangroves to help the environment.

The group departed on March 22 and returned on March 30. The trip was expensive, but the students did several fundraisers before the trip in order to help lower the cost. Emily Rubio, junior, said that the trip ended up costing between $2,700 and $2,900.

During their stay, the group engaged in a number of fun activities.

Taryn Booth, junior, said, “We went to a waterfall, went zip lining and saw monkeys.”

They also visited a Costa Rican school and interacted with Costa Rican students.

“Some people went horseback riding while others went to a chocolate plantation that also produced fresh chocolate, which was really cool,” Booth said. Other activities included kayaking and planting mangroves.

thetornadotimes.org

“I got to learn about mangrove trees and their importance to the ecosystem,” Rubio said.

The students were also able to walk around San Jose and visit hot springs. Besides participating in fun activities, students were enriched by Costa Rican culture.

“I learned that (Costa Ricans) really like rice and beans for every meal and that people still practice traditional dances,” Booth said.

Rubio described the Costa Rican people as “very easygoing and happy,” and she found significant differences between city life there and here.

“In the city, they have a yield-to-cars law instead of a yield-to-passengers,” she said. “I almost got hit.”

Rubio also said she had the opportunity to learn some Spanish vocabulary on the trip. “Their motto is “¡Pura Vida!” which means “simple life,” and they say it all the time,” she said. “If you say “thank you,” they respond with “muchas gracias” instead of “de nada.”

Not only did the students

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and chaperones get to interact with Costa Rican students, they were also given the opportunity to meet other U. S. students also visiting the country.

“There were eighth graders from Denver who went on our trip with us, who we got to know really well,” Booth said. “I know I am still talking to a few of them.”

This trip was an experience that will stay with the students forever and taught them many things about culture.

“What I took from this trip was to appreciate other cultures and maybe incorporate some of their ideals into our lives,” Rubio said.

The destination for the trip next year is still undecided, but possibilities include Switzerland, Poland and Asia.

“I would recommend other people go,” Booth said. “It’s an unforgettable experience that you wouldn’t get going on a trip with your family.”

Rubio agreed and urged students to go on next year’s trip: “You get to do a lot of things you normally wouldn’t do (in America).”

Photos courtesy of Mrs. Carlson