March Issue 2020 by Karla Soberon

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Cypress Bay High School • 18600 Vista Park Blvd., Weston, Florida 33332 • Vol 19, Issue 5 • March 2020

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY BY JENNA FRIEDMAN AND DREW ROACH

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF AND MANAGING EDITOR

International Women’s Day falls on March 8, and it signifies the campaign for equality between genders while also celebrating the achievements of women in history. Although this day is recognized globally, former Feminism Club adviser Ches Kanno said he feels there should be an event held at the Bay dedicated to International Women’s Day. Although this typically would have fallen in the hands of the Feminism Club, Kanno said the club dissolved this year due to low turnout. “I absolutely think there should be a celebration for this day. The question is who needs to take the reins on this project, whether it’s administration, teachers or students,” Kanno said. “It should have been the Feminism Club, but unfortunately we don’t have that anymore. If we’re going to feel inclusive, we have to talk about issues that affect women.” Similarly to Kanno, sophomore Tina Choundhry said she believes being inclusive of women and spreading awareness about female empowerment is essential in creating an equal environment. She said she does this herself by posting inspirational quotes on social media. “Personally, due to my age, I can’t do a lot regarding encouraging women empowerment, but I do a lot on social media. I love posting positive [media] towards women,”

Choundhry said. “Whether it be a quote or just even a picture, I wanna give motivation to others and show other girls and women that no matter what your situation [is] you can do anything your heart desires.” Kanno said as a history teacher, he has noticed how history has been written by the people who have the power, which are always men. He said although women make up 50 percent of the population, it is difficult to see their stories being told, which is why International Women’s Day is important to share these experiences. “It is extremely important for our school to encourage women empowerment because we need to encourage women to tell their stories and not be overlooked like they have in the past,” Kanno said. “When you look at the global reality and movements like #MeToo, you can see how important it is for women to speak out and be heard.” Speaking from personal experience, Choundhry said living in Pakistan until she was about 12 years old exposed her to the impact a society strictly run by men can have on women. She said living in a patriarchy can lead women to believe they are inferior to the male population. She said moving to the United States made her realize this problem resides all over the world, not just her home country. “[Pakistan] on its own is just such a maledominated country and women are treated like pure trash. Women all over the world are dying at the hands of their husbands from being shamed for what they wear, raped and assaulted,” Choundhry said. “Even if I am just posting on social media, I feel like that’s a lot better than doing nothing.” Senior Antonella Criscola said empowering women not only makes an impact externally for her, but also internally. She said since she was little, her aunt has inspired her to make a difference in the world and serves as a major role model in her life. “Empowering other women makes me feel good because it impacts other lives for the better,” Criscola said. “What motivated me to make an impact is a personal experience I had and I decided to help not only women, but anyone who is feeling like they aren’t enough.” Criscola said she believes following this movement is vital as it influences people’s mindsets to become more accepting of everyone within a community. She said although people may think feminists work to make men inferior, it is in fact opposite of the goal they are truly trying to achieve: equality. “My biggest accomplishment throughout the past few years is having been able to change some people’s perspective about being a feminist. Many people believe that feminism is to make women superior instead of men, yet that’s not the point,” Criscola said. “I have been able to teach people that feminism is about equality for all; you don’t have to be a woman to be a feminist.”

Similar to Criscola, Kanno said he believes feminism is a necessary and powerful force in the world. He said one of the reasons he decided to marry his wife is because he was inspired by her passion for helping and empowering women. “My wife is a social activist and a feminist, and she works with women who have suffered with domestic violence,” Kanno said. “Being with her, I’ve learned a lot about what women do in our community and how important their role is in our society.” When she grows older, Criscola said she hopes to receive a higher position in government in order to have more power to make a difference. She said because she is extremely passionate about women empowerment, one of her biggest goals in life is to truly leave a mark on the world around her. “In the future, I hope to become a House Representative in order to create the change that is necessary in society for everyone to be equal,” Criscola said. “I hope everyone can learn to adapt an accepting mindset because the world really needs that.” Kanno said between history and current politics, there are always men leading the way. He said it was recognizable that although former Democratic candidate Elizabeth Warren had a similar track record to her male counterparts, she was not nearly as popular. “[Warren] doesn’t have the negative connotations like ‘womanizer’ that her opponents have, yet she underperformed in all aspects of her campaign,” Kanno said. “This has been true for a lot of women candidates; women need to be treated equally.”

ILLUSTRATION BY JENNA FRIEDMAN

FEATURES Students

and teachers

SPORTS

Athletes

and fans

express their opinions remember and honor on Black History Month. Kobe Bryant’s legacy.

A&E

Editing

displays

creativity through social media platforms.

OPINION School-

wide web

filters restrict further learning in classes.

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March 2020

A DAY F SERVICE AND L VE SGA implements activities in honor of the MSD tragedy.

photos courtesy of sga

HELPING HANDS: (Clockwise from bottom) Student Government Association (SGA) utilized the “Dollar Day” program to purchase, sort and pack meals for Feeding Children Everywhere. Volunteers painted “Pinwheels for Peace” to celebrate the opening of the rock garden implemented later in the month in the bus loop. Students participate in a wellness activity to alleviate stress and anxiety. SGA creates a banner with roses to resemble the purpose of the Day of Service and Love on Feb. 14.

by chloe wain news editor

To commemorate the second year anniversary of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas tragedy in Parkland, the Student Government Association (SGA) prepared A Day of Service and Love at the Bay on Feb. 14, introduced by Broward County Public Schools. The earlyrelease day enabled students to participate in various activities which were service-oriented, focusing on wellness and kindness. SGA adviser and Interior Design teacher Danielle Nascimento said the goal of the school-wide event was to promote assisting the community and honor the unfortunate loss of loved ones due to the tragic circumstances. “The community Service Day is implemented to memorialize the students of Parkland by providing for the community and individuals deprived of assistance,” Nascimento said. “As the day was filled with sadness and hate, the focus of the activities are to provide special services and activities in order to create a physical and mental day of healing.” To begin A Day of Service and Love, the Bay gathered students who were present in the auditorium to observe the performance of pop song “Rise Up” by junior Sydney Quildon, and have a moment of silence at 10:17 am to commemorate the students who had passed away two years ago. In addition, SGA assigned participants a “passport” to visit several classrooms, the cafeteria and the Wave to complete wellness activities which were rotated throughout the day. Quildon said it was an exciting yet humbling honor to sing an uplifting melody to recognize and remember the victims of the tragedy. “The events designed throughout the day were special [as they] spread warmth and [developed a] sense of a community; the Service Day attempted to create a difference and assist students who were affected,” Quildon said. “I am pleased to have participated in an event with such a strong meaning towards the

well-being of the residents residing in Broward County.” Activities during the day included Feeding Children Everywhere, a non-profit organization dedicated to supplying healthy meals for families, as SGA collected donations from students during the month of February through the “Dollar Day” program; each dollar students donated enabled the organization to purchase five meals for families in need. With the donations, the organization purchased food items and gathered necessary components to enable students to participate in the activity. Nascimento said it was surprising students can assist the community in such a short amount of time. “The activity is a direct contribution to the surrounding neighborhoods, as edible meals will be provided to families in poverty, unable to purchase necessary items for stability,” Nascimento said. “It is important to implement activities such as Feeding Children Everywhere to promote friendship and wellness, as students work together to distribute meals.” In addition, other implemented activities were associated with dealing with stress and anxiety, such as breathing exercises and yoga. In addition, a service project involved students to cut-out posters of adolescents holding hands and asked the participants to write a kind and special message to hang above the peace garden at the Bay. Sophomore and organizer Whitney Ribnick said the goal of the station was to focus on kindness and raise student spirits by developing mental stability. “The project impacted the day because it showed to spread kindness, as activities can impact a student by developing a different outlook and creating happiness,” Ribnick said. “The individual service may not affect individuals in the long run, however, it increases general well-being throughout the Service Day and the anniversary of the tragedy.” Furthermore, an activity students participated in to promote kindness was

creating dog toys to be donated to animal shelters to provide mental stimulation and appropriate chewing habits, as puppies are utilized as a relaxing stress-reliever for students. Sophomore Martin Aguerrevere said his favorite activities of Service Day was constructing toys for dogs and assisting in the Feeding Children Everywhere organization. “The activities were purposeful in comforting students during a day of tragic memories, as each station implemented serene activities to alleviate hardships,” Aguerrevere said. “Feeding Children Everywhere and formulating dog toys are direct contributions to the community through the donation of items needed for families in difficult financial situations.” To install a memorable garden in the bus loop, a project implemented during the Day of Service and Love was rock painting, which illustrated heartwarming messages. To celebrate the opening of the rock garden, participants decorated “Pinwheels for Peace ‘’ to be placed throughout the week later in the month. SGA member and project chair senior Beau Simon said the activity was impactful as it honored the victims of the tragedy and it will be a beautiful way to revamp the outside of the school. “The Day of Service and Love is an event truly special not only for the students of the Bay, but especially for our teachers and faculty to experience an event of repayment,” Simon said. “The event transpired a great and peaceful way to honor the tragedy of MSD by assisting society in participating in various beneficial activities of wellness.” Ribnick said her favorite part of the Service Day was participating in numerous service projects, as it was a personal contribution to the community through time and extensive effort. Ribnick said the activities successfully promoted kindness and assisted the wellbeing of students by distracting them from the reminder of the hardships and misfortunes of past events. “I am happy to have cooperated in the Service Day because it is a wonderful idea to develop a well-earned day off from the stressful activities of school, as goals were achieved,” Ribnick said. “The focus on arts, kindness and meditation readjusted the frame of mind of students by developing positive, beneficial thoughts.” Quildon said the overall goal of the event inspired her to be an element in the process, as the purpose of her performance was to inspire students through lyrics to assist the community. Quildon said her favorite part of the Service Day was seeing students attend the special services held throughout the day to assist students in coping with depression and

anxiety, as it is meaningful and heartwarming. “The ability to sing to an audience is special, as the message is genuine and can potentially better the future outcome of such tragedies,” Quildon said. “To speak to an audience with uniqueness and depth and to see the students creates a memorable experience.” Aguerrevere said the event encouraged the organizers involved to have a joyful attitude due to their involvement, and allowed them to give back to the community and appreciate their classmates. Aguerrevere said although the events were an amazing idea, due to lack of information, publicity and creating an optional school day, the Bay had a low turn-out rate of students involved in activities. “Specific classmates did not find knowledge about the special day until after the commemoration activities passed; therefore, the Service Day should have been required,” Aguerrevere said. “It is necessary to develop compassion and appreciation towards classmates to create beneficial friendships and relationships throughout the community.” The event contributed to creating 600 dog toys and resulted in a total of 25,000 meals to be packaged and delivered to children less fortunate. Simon said his favorite part of the Day of Service and Love was implementing activities that allowed the community to gather for a great cause to show support in remembrance of the tragedy. Simon said to create a more impactful event, students should be required to attend school and participate in wellness activities to be inspired to spread kindness and thankfulness. “The Day of Service and Love should alter the student stigma of not attending school, as members of the community should participate in activities to spread kindness and promote honor and strength,” Simon said. “The activities provided by the Bay are promoted to assist students in coping with the tragedy and to not be fearful of past events by spreading love and kindness.” Nascimento said the Service Day was a success, as students who participated attained wellness by performing numerous heartwarming activities to promote the community. Nascimento said it is crucial for students to remember the tragedy to assist in preventing future, similar events from occurring. “The activities will impact students, as it is a unique day; rather than learning school subjects taught on a daily basis, it will be a day where participants will see value of the activities presented and participate in activities,” Nascimento said. “At the end of the day, it is hopeful for students to appreciate their contributions to society such as Feeding Children Everywhere.”

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MARCH 2020

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DECA hones in on business skills at competition by chloe wain news editor

The annual DECA Career Development Conference (CDC) competition is allocated for the top 16 students of numerous business-related categories from the districts competition to compete against qualifying members of the state. The testing portion of the competition was held at the Bay on Feb. 22, while the presentation and roleplay portion of the competition was held on March 5-8 at the Hilton Orlando in Lake Buena Vista for students to compete before judges in their assigned category. DECA adviser Grant Cavalier said throughout the competition, he enjoyed viewing and assisting the students in preparing for their presentations and roleplays to be performed in front of DECA members and other advisers. “Seeing the amount of students who were successful in competing and qualified for higher-level competition announced at the award ceremony is exciting as an adviser, as the members of the club have displayed dedication and passion towards competing,” Cavalier said. “To acknowledge the progression of competitors each year, striving to become future entrepreneurs and witnessing the joy and excitement on the faces of the members when awarded is heartwarming and enlightening.” As students compete, the combined score of the testing and presentation portion of the top three students from each category advance to the International Career Development Conference (ICDC) at Nashville in May, as the top six competitors advance. Seniors Rudolfo Eyl and Alejandro Benedetty performed in the category Financial Services Team Decision Making. The partners tested and designed a roleplay about cybersecurity in finance, specifically credit card fraud. Eyl said to prepare, the colleagues completed practice exams, researched articles, studied vocabulary from the textbook and developed sample presentations. “Competing has assisted in developing a strong passion for finance and the investing world, therefore, DECA is perfect to demonstrate my interests through testing and roleplays, aiming to increase knowledge about business-related careers,” Eyl said. “The faculty and students in the club are useful in providing assessment and opinionated critiques, beneficial for competition and higher-educational purposes when pursuing such occupations in the future.” Sophomore and Co-Director of Finance Amanda Hernandez, along with sophomores Fabiana Jimenez and Andrea Solorzano, competed in Franchise Business Plan category and developed a business manual on how to franchise the apparel retailer, Zara. To prepare, the members created a presentation to cover the guidelines and intricacies of the store. Hernandez said working with partners developed opportunities to strengthen friendship and essential trust between members and promoted a hard work ethnic, as the idea won second place at the competition. “To begin, time-management is essential because writing a manual can be time consuming and require patience in order to develop award-winning ideas,” Hernandez said. “As each partner is strong in a specific area, such as creativity, uniqueness, operations and the financial aspect of the roleplay, the presentation is smoother.” The DECA program requires students to take mandatory practice tests weekly

prior to competition to be graded and ensure heightened performance. Seniors Ariana Ceant and Sydney Kron participated in the Marketing Team Decision Making category and placed 6th place overall. Ceant said DECA has influenced her future career choice in business and introduces practical information utilized for higher education. “As [Kron] and I have a strong friendship, it has benefited our results in competitions because of our ability to inspire each other to study sample questions for tests, provided by DECA,” Ceant said. “The club enables networking and connecting with students by creating bonds; the club, through practicing for competitions, assists in developing necessary opportunities for career-related endeavors in the future.” Director of Executive Council Joey Milberg said he prepared for the competition season by reading performance indicators and reviewing practice tests provided by DECA to assist students. Milberg said the club overall has assisted with teaching students different aspects of business for higher-education. “The club has enhanced the development of communication, time-management and organizing skills that are crucial when speaking to judges during the presentation portion of the score,” Milberg said. “The competitions and club introduce new activities and workshops that will promote high-education in future years by developing business-related skills.” Eyl said competing in districts prepared members for higher competitions by increasing competitiveness and encouraged them to strive for CDC, as motivation enables further preparation and time-management through the competitors. Eyl said although districts develop similar concepts and business-related material through means of testing, roleplay and demonstrating presentations, the competition is intense. “It is exciting to participate, as the competition environment and the comradery gained from states is incredible, as it involves special preparation,” Eyl said. “I am appreciative of the wonderful support structure the advisers have implemented to the Bay; the advisers sacrifice their time and are driven to promote the well-being of students.” The Executive Officer Board of DECA handles workshops such as ‘professional dress’ and presentation workshops to prepare students for competition season. Hernandez said the most influential contribution to the club is assisting members in and formulating a proper presentation or business manual to present to judges. Hernandez said DECA had an impact on the development of skills the students have gained and also allowed them to blossom into influential public speakers and encourage confidence necessary for presenting. “Being able to compete in an event that mimics business in the real world is helpful because such competitions enhance communication skills in order to promote expertise in said category through developing presentations as well as written manuals,” Hernandez said. “The events are crucial to please the judges, as presenting roleplays are essential in future business careers, as it is similar to a job interview and demonstrating potential ideas to firms.” An important workshop crucial to the members is Operation Preparation, held on Feb. 22, where students competing in CDC attended the exam required for scoring purposes. In addition, participants schedule

News Calendar

General

St. Patrick’s Day, March 17 Florida Primary Election Day, March 17 Early Release Day, March 19 Spring Break, March 23-27 Easter, April 12

Club Meetings

PHotos courtesy of deca

business as usual: (From top) competitors participate in bowling to relax from preparing for competition. Seniors Sarah Lewis, Daniela Duarte and Daniela Ruffoni attend the opening ceremony to be introduced to other members of DECA throughout the state.

mock roleplays to present to volunteers throughout the community within numerous business career fields. Cavalier said the preparation necessary for CDC is different compared to districts, as it involves qualifying students from across Florida competing for a position at ICDC and judges intensely critique and evaluate the presentations and roleplays. “When presenting, students must remain calm, be professional and through the roleplay, ensure the sale is made to the judges, as it is crucial in order to place,” Cavalier said. “In addition, remember to enjoy yourself; after competing, members are able to relax and decompress because it is stressful for students, as competing for CDC involves more time and effort than other competitions.” Due to the Coronavirus disease, ICDC has recently been cancelled due to the possibility of spreading the illness to participants, as competitors are introduced from around the world. Ceant said after competing in CDC, she was looking forward to competing with Kron for their last competition as members of DECA. “I am saddened by the cancellation of the competition, however I understand the health and security measures necessary in order to prevent the virus from widening in the

PRIDE, March 12 Jewish Student Union, March 31 Habitat for Humanity, April 1 Law and Justice, April 1 English Honor Society, April 6

Events

community,” Ceant said. “It is unfortunate for the seniors, considering it was the last opportunity to compete in a competition; however, it has been such a pleasure to have participated in DECA and competitions, meetings and preparation experiences will be memorable for years to come.” Milberg said each year, he looks forward to the award ceremony to witness how the competitors in the chapter placed in their individual events. However, Milberg did not place in his category, but was awarded a testing destination medal for his high score during the testing portion of the competition. Milberg said if students do not place, loosing should inspire them to begin preparing for the next competition season by reading sample questions and brainstorming ideas for roleplays and presentations. “It is crucial to understand although students may not be as ecstatic to participate in following years, it should motivate members to work diligently to have the privilege in participating at ICDC,” Milberg said. “Members can speak to advisers about critiques in their roleplay and presentations from the judges, while emphasizing timemanagement skills by studying past sample tests to be well prepared.”

AMT 3 Rock of Ages, March 11-12 Track Varsity Invitational, March 20 Dance Marathon, April 9 Blood Drive, April 14-15

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NEWS

MARCH 2020

CLUBS AT THE BAY Clubs are organizing activities to practice skills for competition and events to raise awareness.

HAAPE

BY gowri abhinanda news copy editor

The Helping Adults with Autism Perform and Excel (HAAPE) is a club that strives to solve the unemployment rate that adults with autism face by raising awareness. To fundraise, HAAPE is holding a Softball Classic event on April 3. Senior and President of HAAPE Isaac Grapin said planning in advance is vital to the club’s success as it allows for individual funds towards their total donations. “The event being planned thoroughly is important in order to maximize success by contacting sponsors months in advance to provide funding,” Grapin said. “HAAPE is future-focused and looks forward to making a significant impact for years to come.” Adviser and Speech Therapist Kathleen Gard said the efforts in organizing is affecting the community positively by generating donations to allow adults with autism to receive occupations, such as data processing. “The executive board has been working hard to find sponsors, purchase shirts and find venues; the prior organization ensures a large turnout to earn proceeds, which is important to achieving our mission,” Gard said. “The

Mu Alpha Theta By julia winton

a&e / opinion copy editor

Mu Alpha Theta (MAO) attended a statewide competition in Tampa, Fla. at Palm Harbor University High School from Feb. 2123. MAO placed fourth overall out of about 40 teams; however, junior Tomer Shmul placed second in the statistics category. MAO adviser Richard Farmer said the results were amazing considering the size of the competition. “I am proud of my students for the results of the competition because MAO involves extensive hard work and practices after school,” Farmer said. “In the competition classes, the members complete more work than other traditional classes.” In order to prepare for the competition, MAO members complete practice tests and team rounds during the competition math classes. In addition, extra practice is scheduled after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Senior and President of MAO Marissa Farmer said a vast amount of effort was put forward

photo submitted by Issac Grapin

contributions will provide assistance to individuals with autism who deserve the opportunity to work in society.” HAAPE holds multiple events and fundraisers each year, such as car washes and partnerships with companies such as CycleBar, to earn proceeds. However, Grapin said the Softball Classic fundraiser is requiring greater support than previous projects due to the number of sponsors involved. “With the Softball Classic, members are encouraged to provide valued input that is taken into account when planning,” Grapin said. “HAAPE is encouraging membership involvement in order to promote the project and to ensure operations run smoothly.” Gard said the club is valuable to members because it promotes the opportunity to engage in a cause that is prevalent in the community. Gard said the interaction between the members and autistic individuals through the program is priceless. “Our club is important, as we participate in fundraising projects that help outside organizations assist functioning adults with autism to be employed,” Gard said. “The interaction members have change lives for the better forever on both ends.”

PHOTO submitted by marissa farmer

in preparing for competition and planning the trip. “The trip was largely due to our amazing officer board and sponsors and the hard work of the members,” Marissa Farmer said. “Officers work tirelessly on paperwork and running practices to ensure the math team can compete and have a chance to show off their mathematical skills.” Marissa Farmer said the competition was a great experience and she learned useful, valuable information, such as how to solve certain types of mathematical problems. “I love attending and planning competitions because it is a great opportunity to develop relationships with friends,” Marissa Farmer said. “The [MAO members] make for a great team and I do not know where I would be without the students during competitions.”

DECA

BY isabella grogan

features / sports photo editor

For the DECA club, February consists of Career Technical Education Month (CTE) and DECA Advocacy Month. Junior and DECA Director of the Executive Council, Joseph Milberg, said the club is reaching out to public policy makers and meeting with restaurants. “Every event the club implements is important, since each activity affects our DECA chapter by making it better,” Milberg said. “The most important activity is reaching out to public policy makers because this connection could help DECA in many ways such as getting our brand more out there.” To advocate for CTE month, the club informed the students by incorporating a booth during lunches, which educated students about business careers to entice new members. Milberg said the booth was successful and the members enjoyed organizing information for future potential DECA students. “The booths can be helpful because students can hear from DECA officers directly about the club,” Milberg said. “I am excited to execute the plans of the months because the

NAHS

BY gabriella barraza

Members from the National Art Honor Society attended the Young at Art Festival on March 7 at the Young and Art Museum. At the event, members sold used t-shirts, pins and other supplies for the purpose of raising awareness about the club. President and Senior Lauren Ros said the purpose of the event is for individuals to unite to support several art topics. “By attending the event, members can earn points in the club that attribute to their required amount of points for a certificate from the club, which shows a student was an official member for the year,” Ros said. “The event is important because by attending such events, the club is able to introduce the arts to more people.” Ros said during the festival, members were able to interact with other young individuals who enjoy art, see their art pieces and hear their opinions on art-related subjects. Ros said members attend to show support and

photo submitted by corbin bouvier

activists will be interactive and successful.” In addition, DECA held various workshops to prepare for states on March 5-8 such as dress-attire workshops to prepare outfits. DECA adviser Grant Cavalier said the activities assist students in learning what to expect at the annual states competition, such as meeting new competitors and welcoming judges. “States allows the students to experience something new and enjoy themselves,” Cavalier said. “Members network with other students who have identical interests with them, which is beneficial for students because it allows them to form relationships with new members that can be helpful in the future.” Cavalier said a main focus of DECA is ensuring students are ready to compete. Cavalier said attending competitions allows the participants to expand their businessrelated knowledge and gain experience with various DECA activities such as networking. “Attending states allows students to create new friendships in addition exercising their DECA skills,” Cavalier said. “Competition is bonding and making new friends by experiencing the comradery competition withholds.”

PHOTO submitted by viviana castillo

interest in the club and community because it showcases their efforts to contribute to the growth of the arts. “Having the National Art Honor Society attending the event shows how the club is involved in the arts, not only at the Bay but in the community as well,” Ros said. “Members are eligible to view a variety of other booths that showcase art, which enables students to see different perceptions of art, therefore allowing members to introduce creative ideas to the club.” Adviser and art teacher Elizabeth Jenkins said it is important to support the arts because it is the culture of humanity. Jenkins said without art, life is duller and less enhanced through illustrations because of the lack of creativity and imagination. “Art provides students an important outlet to release their creativity and allows them to think outside the box,” Jenkins said. “By allowing members to teach outside the box, students are able to create their own solutions and build their creative mind.”

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MARCH 2020

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Committed efforts fail to result in new class BY SANDRA TALLEDO GRAPHICS EDITOR

Philosophy Honor Society adviser and Philosophy teacher Ralph Cannizzaro submitted a course request to the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) Bureau of Curriculum and Instruction in 2016. The class requested was a Philosophy Ethics half-credit course to be paired with the current Philosophy half-credit course. Cannizzaro said the class was approved by the local district prior to the state, as is standard, but then was rejected at the state level. “The request was forwarded by Dr. Louise Ball with ten other courses; however, I received a phone call from Dr. Ball, and the state rejected all ten courses; therefore, I wrote the district and asked for an explanation,” Cannizzaro said. “First, the state said it was because of rigor, but the course met the necessary requirements; then, the state said essentially students should be enrolling in college credit courses.” Cannizzaro had discussed with different state officials to understand what requirements are crucial so he could alter them in order for the course to be approved. Assistant Principal Jeffrey Nelson said he is unsure where the disconnect is, due to the course having been approved by the district and since it met the outlined requirements. “Mr. Cannizzaro is a passionate and dedicated teacher; Cannizzaro is continuously attempting to improve and create additional options that enhance the curriculum, as it relates to philosophy,” Nelson said. “The particular class has been attempted to be added for several years; the Bay is patiently waiting for approval from the state level.” Senior Kyle King enrolled in the Philosophy Honors Ethics and Philosophy

II Honors courses. In the ethics course, an assignment King completed was to read the correspondence between Cannizzaro and a state official. King said he was tasked with refuting the claims of the state official who gave a catalog of alternative courses. “The alternative coursework the state suggested as being similar to the proposed philosophy class was only tangentially related to Philosophy, thus not a valid replacement,” King said. “I was appalled by the insistence that more students turn to Advanced Placement classes, as honors alternatives are necessary for adolescents not yet ready for college coursework.” According to Nelson, proposed classes must be linked with another in the same subject area. With Cannizzaro, the current Philosophy course is a social studies course, therefore the class must be associated with another social studies course. Before being paired with the Comparative Political Systems half-credit course, Cannizzaro said he originally taught a half-credit World Literature class with the half-credit Philosophy course. “The Bay has comparative political systems honors and local honors; I teach the course through a philosophical lens, but I am limited,” Cannizzaro said. “The course was better aligned with the literature course because I can teach the great literary-philosophical works; it could be Eastern philosophy, or about Plato’s Republic.” In addition, state officials cited rigor requirements as a reason for the class not being approved; however, Cannizzaro cooperated with Dr. Ball in order to ensure the course met requirements. Press Secretary of the FLDOE Audrey Walden listed the official rigor conditions for honors classes. After the completion of the course request packet, Walden said the request enters a

PHOTO by sandra talledo

PERSISTENT PROJECTs: Philosophy Honor Society adviser and Philosophy teacher Ralph Cannizzaro works on getting the Philosophy Ethics half-credit course approved by the Florida Department of Education Bureau of Curriculum and Instruction. After several attempts, the course has yet to be added to the curriculum at the Bay.

series of curriculum specialists before the Commissioner of Education determines if the course is approved or denied. “Academic rigor is more than simply assigning to students a greater quantity of work,” Walden said. “Through the application, analysis, evaluation and creation of complex ideas that are often abstract and multifaceted, students are challenged to think and collaborate critically on the content they are learning.” Cannizzaro said the course meets specific standards through written essays based on philosophical works. As the projects are written individually or in small groups, the written assignments are presented and open for discussion. Cannizzaro said the essay prompts force students to analyze the text and be applied to real-world situations. King said the class is beneficial to any type of student willing to learn about philosophy and is concerned with the response from the state. “I felt philosophy teaches the broad structures of life; with known knowledge, a student can better perform in any subject

area,” King said. “I would hesitate to suggest individuals in the Department of Education have bad intentions; more likely, it is easier for board members to refuse work than to educate students.” Walden said no limitations are implemented to courses within a subject area, but the FLDOE edits enrollment for courses and may remove courses with historically low state-wide enrollment. However, the subject area has grown substantially at the Bay, with over 21 classes. Nelson said students wish for increased opportunities to enroll in philosophy classes, as there are only three currently at the Bay. “The philosophy program has benefited students as I receive feedback about the outstanding instructors; the thoughtprovoking component inspires students to think and address issues along with engaging in debates,” Nelson said. “It is healthy, and the Bay certainly is an advocate for developing that kind of discussion and debate in certain classes.”

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MARCH 2020

Members exhibit appreciation for clubs

the members decided on the details as a club,” Rosado said. “For example, the club was going to illustrate a plant to symbolize our succulent fundraiser, but members drew inspiration from our club shirts to represent ourselves on a broader level instead.” Junior and President of Spanish Honor Society Maria Veronica Macias said her club decided to participate to spread the word about Hispanic culture. Macias said banners assisted in communicating the goal of uniting the Spanish-speaking community of South Florida and to educate students on the language and culture. “Our club appreciates how students are attempting to learn Spanish and to assist the Hispanic community,” Macias said. “It is crucial to voice our ideology that non-Spanish speaking students are equally welcomed to join the club.”

by agavni mehrabi

The Student Government Association (SGA) held its 10th annual Club Love Day celebration, in the form of a banner making competition, to spread awareness about student organizations active on campus on Feb. 21. SGA adviser and Interior Design teacher Danielle Nascimento said the purpose of the event is to further encourage school spirit across the community. “Clubs are important in the lives of our student body since they provide students a different aspect than academics to focus on and hopefully provide fulfillment and value,” Nascimento said. “The event is an attempt to honor the outlets that allow students to practice their passions on a daily basis.” Club Love Day involved hanging vertical banners created by individual participating clubs from the courtyard catwalk. Sophomore and project chair Liz Bagatini said she and her committee partner and Junior Maya Dahl decided to organize the event differently from last year’s utilization of booths, music and activities to provoke a greater interest through paper. “Our committee wished to create an event to include every club and show students how many unique aspects each club has to offer,” Bagatini said. “SGA wished to make the idea possible in a more visual way than just a lunchtime activity; therefore, Dahl and I implemented a banner competition.” Senior and First Vice President of SGA Sydney Kron said she has personally felt the positive impact of clubs from her involvement in National Honor Society, Habitat for Humanity (HFH) and Helping Adults with Autism Perform and Excel. Kron said her responsibility in regards to the orchestration of the event tied back to memorable experiences from each association. “I appreciate and love being involved as much as possible, as well as to create awareness about what events are occurring at school,” Kron said. “Being in [HFH] has allowed me to partake in the building homes for impoverished individuals in order to provide basic necessities.” Preparation consisted of getting the idea approved by Nascimento, presenting a PowerPoint to notify clubs at an InterOrganizational Council meeting and distributing paper to create banners to each interested club. Nascimento said a benefit to the distinctive organization of the event is the ability to include more clubs than prior years. “The new implementation of banners has allowed SGA to achieve the goal of attracting as many clubs as possible, since members have been open to a more efficient project,” Nascimento said. “Asking clubs to illustrate an image on a banner and wear a shirt to promote the club is less demanding than asking them to develop a booth.”

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-junior Maria Veronica Macias

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The friendly competition and possibility to attract new members provided incentives for more clubs to participate next year. Similar to the Lightning Oscars Awards, SGA successfully put a spotlight on the clubs and announced how much the school appreciates extra-curricular activities.

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-senior Sydney Kron

Sophomore and Ecology Club Recycling Chair Nicolas Rosado said his club joined in the banner competition because of its ability to attract new members for the next school year and to spread awareness about preserving the environment. Rosado said he encourages other

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photo submitted by sydney Kron

Our club appreciates how students are attempting to learn Spanish and to assist the Hispanic community. It is crucial to voice our ideology that non-Spanish speaking students are equally welcomed to join the club.

photo submitted by maria veronica macias

feelin’ the love: (From top) clubs at the Bay hang custom banners for a contest for Club Love Day on Feb. 21 in the courtyard in order to promote their club. Juniors Kristin Smaltino, Melanie Rojas and Chloe Griffin and senior Rachel Levitz create the Spanish Honor Society banner for the banner competition.

clubs to utilize this opportunity in the future to impact students through illustrations and gain further participation. “The members wish to spread the important message of needing to take action to improve the environment of the school by taking matters into our own hands,” Rosado said. “Club Love Day is useful for smaller clubs, such as ours, that do not have as much popularity because it brings visibility to the

forefront.” The Ecology Club banner consisted of the club name painted in large letters and the earth logo surrounded by heart-shaped recycling icons over light green paper. Rosado said the finished product was the result of collaboration between members, President of the club Shannon Sin and Rosado. “The club never would have created such a great banner without collective effort, since

The Spanish Honor Society banner utilized the colors of the flag of Spain: black, yellow, and red, to depict a girl holding the motto, “unidas por una misma lengua”, or “united by the same language.” Macias said the phrase reminds students all individuals are connected to the Hispanic language in some way. “Each student has a tie to Spanish origins, whether it be because an adolescent once resided in a Latin country or has a close friend who has,” Macias said. “Students are responsible to assist members of the community when a peer is in need because we are more similar than we sometimes think.” Despite a simpler preparation design to assist more clubs in participating, Bagatini said uncontrollable factors such as the weather still posed as potential obstacles. Bagatini said SGA can always make progress later on by further involving a greater number of clubs. “As weather is out of our control, the wind did create a challenge to hang the banners,” Bagatini said. “Another spot open for improvement is to reach out to the clubs ahead of time so that they have more time to brainstorm banner design ideas.” In addition to the Spanish Honor Society, clubs such as United Nations Children’s Fund, Art Honor Society and the Marine Honor Society created banners. Bagatini said members of SGA voted for Italian Honor Society as the winner because of its skillful depiction accurately embodying the meaning of the club. “SGA came to the conclusion of awarding the Italian Honor Society, as the club created a simply stunning representation of one of the nation’s historical monuments,” Bagatini said. “Italian Honor Society expressed the meaning of the club in an extremely beautiful way by clearly communicating how much time and effort was put forth.” Kron said Club Love Day was an overall success because of its accomplishment of involving more clubs in a new way. Kron said she is looking forward to having greater numbers representing themselves next year. “The friendly competition and possibility to attract new members provided incentives for more clubs to participate next year,” Kron said. “Similar to the Lightning Oscars Awards, SGA successfully put a spotlight on the clubs and announced how much the school appreciates extra-curricular activities.”

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MARCH 2020

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Course selection cards spark decision-making To begin the third quarter, students from ninth to eleventh grade received course selection cards to choose from the Bay’s hundreds of options in search of future classes. An introduction of new selections includes: Contemporary History, AICE Drama and Organic Chemistry Honors. Guidance Counselor Christine Banach said overseeing the process is essential to ensuring students complete high school requirements while maintaining a balance of classes in their schedules. “Counselors check to assure the students are taking classes needed to graduate, while implementing electives,” Banach said. “In addition, counselors oversee the classes chosen are not too overwhelming for the students by keeping an eye on how many higher-level classes students are jumping into.” Junior Patricia Succurr said the most difficult aspect of the course selection process is attempting to minimize her choices from endless options. Succurr said it can be challenging to remain focused on strengths and level down to only eight selections. “I created a positives and negatives list of the drawbacks and benefits posed by each class,” Succurr said. “After, I would weigh my options and see the classes I was interested in participating; I chose the classes that would benefit me while providing the optimal challenge level.” Sophomore Lauren Rio said the most challenging part for her is deciding the validity of the recommendations from her peers. Rio said it can be challenging to receive advice that is compatible with intelligence and work ethic in determining important decisions for classes. “Sometimes, I would contemplate a teacher may have underestimated the student or overestimated the course difficulty when providing a description,” Rio said. “In addition, peer pressure is a factor students develop when comparing yourself to other schedules.”

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College level courses are difficult classes and require time and effort; students should truly have an appetite for the subject to meet a certain degree of committment. During the selection of courses is the time to reflect whether difficult classes will be best fit for the rigor.

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-sophomore Ryan Xu Banach said her advice to students who wish to meet social demands is to enroll in courses for personal interest rather than the insistence of peers. Banach said an important tool for success is to practice moderation in an increasingly competitive academic environment. “I stress upon students to not feel the need to enroll in numerous AP courses,” Banach said. “Whatever is comfortable for

the student is what the counselors wish upon adolescents, since the courses will allow you to be as successful as possible no matter what path chosen.” Broward Advisors for Continuing Education (BRACE) counselor Shari Bush said a commonly asked question relates to whether selected courses appear satisfactory to specific universities. Bush said providing a variety of courses is effective, as academic integrity depends on a schedule tailored to specific interests, strengths and weaknesses. “Students should select what feels appropriate, as students are more likely to be successful in the classes that create happiness through interests,” Bush said. “If a student is not interested in history, maybe AP United States History is not the proper selection of a future course; it is crucial to think about proper placements.” Bush said students should be careful to choose the right courses before next year, as a common misconception is students can simply adjust their schedules in the following year. “With around 4,800 students enrolled at the Bay, schedule changes are not an option,” Bush said. “To choose courses at the beginning, that develops interest, is important because there is no guarantee students can switch into the school year.” Banach said the schedules of students in each grade will appear different in regards to difficulty and focus. Banach said underclassmen are encouraged to utilize their time to discover their passions, while upperclassmen should specialize in their interests through selecting courses. “Students are unaware of their path even in adulthood; freshmen should begin high school with a mindset for exploration and minimal pressure,” Banach said. “The greater amount of courses and elective space are accessible to juniors and seniors, as the schedule provides the freedom to delve more into what is appealing.” Banach said the level of rigor in high school should coincide with plans for college, depending upon the student. Banach said students who wish to attend any high-level university should focus on achieving their best, while students striving for a specific school should research admissions requirements. “The process comes down to the planning for future education point of view versus the flexible point of view,” Banach said. “There is a spectrum of how actively the two levels of education can interact; as a counselor, students should have a balance in between rigorous and relaxing classes.” Succurr said she finds the process of course selection entails more than scholasticism. Succurr said students should gauge time that will be allocated to college-related pursuits such as service projects, extracurricular clubs and sports in addition to self-care activities such as social interaction, family time, sleeping and exercising. “It is easy to forget there are only 24 hours in a day due to the diverse selection of classes,” Rio said. “Students should think about how much time is necessary to implement and utilize ideas to decide what courses are suitable for their schedule and which may not.” Sophomore Ryan Xu said he urges fellow students to take college-level courses because of the interest and challenge rather than college credit. Xu said students are more likely to

graphic by sandra talledo

study until concepts are firmly understood and to work diligently towards positive academic performance. “College level courses are difficult classes and require time and effort; students should truly have an appetite for the subject to meet a certain degree of commitment,” Xu said. “During the selection of courses is the time to reflect whether difficult classes will be best fit for the rigor.” Xu said the answering of many questions can be aided by the assistance of effective counseling. Xu said students should not be fearful to approach their counselors with questions about what courses students can handle and the best path possible. “It can be difficult for counselors to help each student that needs help,” Xu said. “However, some peers do not understand how much of a difference can be made by sharing questions, comments and concerns with one another.” Rio said keeping an open mind is beneficial for students in choosing difficult courses because of rumours about the instructors.

Rio said her own experience with taking AP Psychology with Dr. Sheryl Sugerman has proven that such preconceived notions do not always reveal themselves to be true.

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The process comes down to the planning for the future education point of view versus the flexible point of view.

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BY Agavni mehrabi

-Guidance Counselor Christine Banach

“Participate for the classes you are interested in, since most teachers are doing their job to benefit students rather than hurt,” Rio said. “Past students attempted to frighten me to not choose AP Psychology; however, it has become one of my favorite classes to engage and participate in.”

8 THE CIRCUIT

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As vending machines provide students with a variety of selections of food and beverages throughout the school day, sophomore Chris Jones said eating these products may not be in the best interest of the student due to unhealthy options. “Students are purchasing multiple items from the vending machines and are not accepting of the ingredients in certain products,” said Jones. “Majority of selections are filled with unhealthy ingredients, such as high fructose corn syrup and artificial sweeteners, which do not assist students in staying focused during class instruction.” Throughout the Bay, items implemented in the vending machines consist of Pop Tarts, Rice Krispies Treats, Cheez-Its, Smartfood Popcorn and numerous flavored chips. Geometry teacher Marc Macias said snacks in the vending machines do not provide students with necessary nutrients throughout the school day and hopes for healthier options for the future. “Students continue to enter my classroom with sugary snacks and beverages such as Sprite Zero,” Macias said. “Although said drinks have zero calories, other chemicals are utilized to provide students with special flavors and no nutrition.” For students attempting to eat healthier throughout the day, Jones said vending machines can create difficulties for students throughout the school day. He said he has been attempting to consume healthier products, however, the vending machine provides

NEWS

MARCH 2020

In this issue’s recurring segment that explores current event topics affecting the student body, Samantha Reichstein speaks to students and teachers about whether school vending machines should provide healthier options.

Graphic by Isabella loschiavo

limited options to sustain a healthy diet. “Often between classes I attempt to purchase a healthy snack, but the vending machines offer a lack of nutritious products,” Jones said. “Products such as dried fruits, salads and protein bars should be added because it is a useful, quick and healthier option.” In an attempt to place healthier snacks in the vending machine, the Bay offers the baked version of numerous chips such as Lays and Cheetos. However, the alternative option provides higher sodium to account for the loss of flavor. Sophomore Isabella Buitano said vending machines should contain unhealthier

snacks because she likes to have some sugar during the day. “Vending machines are known for being able to purchase a snack or beverage in a quick and easy way, however options can contain sugar,” Buitano said. “The snacks located at school attempt to be low calorie and healthier versions of snacks for students who want to be mindful of what they are consuming.” Although vending machines at the Bay have modified versions of snacks, Macias said the health of students continues to be at risk. He said hazards include diabetes, obesity and a lack of proper nutrition. “Obesity has become common among

adolescents because of the variety of unhealthy foods offered in vending machines and in grocery stores,” Macias said. “Schools should influence students how to eat healthy to implement habits to continue off campus.” The Bay is continuously restocking vending machines due to high demand for food and beverages. As healthier options are often more expensive to process and be delivered, Buitano said the transition to nutritious products can potentially create financial issues for students and faculty. “Adding healthier snacks can have a negative effect on students because the costs of frequently buying snacks can add up quickly,” Buitano said. “Healthier snacks such as fruit are more expensive to preserve and deliver than current products, which purchasing can become unaffordable and expensive to restock.” Healthier ingredients can be more expensive to produce, which can affect the amount items cost. Junior Tessa Alexander said the price increase is ideal in order to have a wide variety of new options. “The health of students is more important than the extra dollar a snack may cost,” Alexander said. “Healthier options should be implemented regardless of the price to ensure students feel their best and remain healthy.” Alexander said the ability to purchase unhealthy snacks in vending machines can be a major distraction for students, as it affects choices made when healthy options are available. Alexander said such foods should no longer be available for purchase on campus. “It can be challenging for students to choose a healthy snack when the school provides numerous delicious temptations,” said Alexander. “If sugary snacks were removed, this would prevent students from having the ability to choose unhealthy foods when needed.”

LIA car wash offers new opportunities By Sabrina Olivieri Buisiness Manager

The Latinos in Action (LIA) club held their second annual car wash on Feb. 29 were provided for available scholarships given to senior members of the club at the LIA Ball on April 9. Senior and head of the Social Committee Antonella Carpico said it is exciting to look forward to such events because it is a way to educate students about teamwork, in addition to fundraising and creating friendships within the club. “The car wash is enjoyable [to participate in] because I can enjoy such events with fellow club members because of the opportunity to strive for an important cause,” Carpico said. “Such events assist the members to spend time together and have a great memorable experience while raising money to fund scholarships for our fellow seniors.” Senior and President Juani Sanchez said the event was an incredible benefit for students to participate in because of the opportunities students were provided to be educated about the hard work and effort required to reach a specific goal. Sanchez said the event was a special bonding experience for members because the members all worked towards the same goal of receiving money for essential scholarships . “The community is benefitted through the event by allowing families to clean their cars at a low price and creating new friendships throughout the day,” Sanchez said. “The LIA program has a great opportunity to grow through such events and reach students by creating awareness about the club and the Latin community.” LIA teacher and adviser Dr. Kristina Taylor said as the event is organized by students, the funds earned go towards an important cause of the club, which is to collect funds

photo courtesy of Latinos in Action

squeaky clean: On Feb. 29, senior Giuseppe Petruso assists washing cars at the annual Latinos in Action (LIA) car wash. Money raised at the car wash will be utilized for senior members of the club to fund scholarships at the LIA Ball on April 9. Senior Juani Sanchez said that members have the opportunity to bond and create awareness for the club while working towards a similar goal.

for the seniors’s scholarships and funds for the club. Taylor said through such events, it is a possibility that as much as $3,000 can be awarded to each senior of their club through the numerous available scholarships. “From the donations of materials, to the selling of tickets to the actual washing of cars, all of the car wash is all completely made and organized by our members,” Taylor said. “It is exciting to provide the opportunity for our seniors to receive scholarships with money

earned from the car wash, in addition to utilizing funds to assist growth as a club.” Sanchez said the event became an annual tradition since it was first created as an additional event opportunity to develop club friendships and aid in reaching goals through collecting funds to provide for scholarships. Sanchez said the event enables members to meet outside of school premises and demonstrate to students and faculty the benefits of learning the intricacies of the club.

“The LIA event occurs to help the club out with any funds possible and it is a tradition to create an event for the members to enjoy themselves,” Sanchez said. “Being organized by the Fundraising Committee of LIA, the committee plans for the event to earn as many funds as possible; members implement a considerable amount of time to plan the event and organize the supplies needed in order to ensure a well-planned event.” Carpico said it is crucial for members to attend the annual car washes offered for participants to view the importance of such gatherings. Carpico said it is amazing how members can assist in fundraising for fellow seniors to earn scholarships, as it provides a sense of giving back to the club and Latin community. “The event is to create more enthusiasm towards the club, as fundraising is exciting for students to further benefit the club,” Carpico said. “The funds earned throughout the day is a way to show members the importance of working as a club to having enough funds to award our seniors and promote the club in order to gain membership.” Taylor said it is worth implementing such events to improve the knowledge of unity and partnership within the club to promote togetherness. Taylor said the annual car washes are important to assist students in understanding the benefits of earning money for the club. “The annual car washes is a critical event, as it is an amazing way for LIA to raise money and develop the “famiLIA” further by creating unique friendships created from memories from such events.” Taylor said. “The car washes are worth implementing each year because it is always successful in earning funds to assist additional club events.”

MARCH 2020

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New Year spreads cultural awareness by agavni mehrabi

The Chinese Honor Society and Chinese Culture Club held its fourth annual Chinese New Year celebration to connect and educate Chinese and non-Chinese students about the country’s traditions. The event was held on Feb. 28 during all lunches in the courtyard and during fourth period in the auditorium, the event was open to all students and faculty. International Studies Literature, Chinese language teacher and club adviser, Jialian Li, said the event is held every year to keep the tradition alive away from home. “Our club strives to spread the word about Chinese culture and to promote the program offered at the Bay,” Li said. “It is vital for the school community to be familiar with festivities and events such as the Chinese New Year celebration, as it promotes interest in the Chinese language classes as well.” Sophomore and member Ryan Xu said the school event is distinct from the original celebration in the homeland of China in regards to how the school event does not last 15 days. He said other aspects that make it different are its inclusion of modern hip hop dance performances, as well as traditional dragon and umbrella dances, during the fourth period after party. “Chinese New Years is a time filled with colorful fireworks and exchanging meaningful red envelopes with family,” Xu said. “With this in mind, the event here is a smaller version of what goes on in the mainland.” In addition to the implementation of a selection of Chinese snacks and candies during lunches, the fourth period performance included catered food from Masan Asian Grill for all attendees. Senior and Chinese Honor Society Historian Zhuoqi Cai said the presented foods were reminiscent of the Chinese custom of family gathering during the Chinese New Year celebration. “In China, families on break will come from near and far ends of the country to reunite for a feast, extensively prepared for during the holiday season,” Cai said. “The food the Chinese Honor Society offers provides students a taste of a Thanksgivinglike component for families to gather and enjoy their meals.” Other features of the celebration included lunchtime activities such as the Spicy Ramen Challenge, Ping Pong, chopsticks tasks, calligraphy writing and Chinese yo-yo games. Cai said the event also included an afterparty program consisting of live guzheng, violin, piano instrumental music, hip-hop and traditional dance performances. “My favorite lunchtime activity was the Spicy Ramen Challenge, since students receive a meal of free noodles for the sake of the competition,” Cai said. “Each year, I look forward to the after-party program because of the opportunity to participate in it as Master of Ceremonies.” The origin of the holiday stems from an ancient folktale about a monster named Mien, who threatened to attack rural Chinese villages and towns. Sophomore Valentina Diodato said the firecrackers, the color red and other festivities linked to the modern-day custom in China were utilized originally to fight the monster. “It is special how the holiday has grown from its initial state as a story to involve more culture and new practices,” Diodato said. “Not only will our celebration continue to assist the old to evolve into the new, but the event will educate students on information such as the ancient beginning of the Chinese New Year to keep members in touch with the old customs.”

The celebration has been visited by figures across the country, such as the Foreign Language Coordinator, the AP Event Studies Coordinator, an official from the Confucius Institute, the Curriculum Supervisor of World Languages and a member of the Dual Language Program. Li said the presence of important individuals in the Chinese society highlights the significance of the event. “The event is the most important holiday in China and the participation of the Chinese community creates more importance for the Chinese members residing in the United States,” Li said. “The attendance of highranking officials acknowledges the event as a valuable way for students living away from the mainland to remember their childhood, families and ancestors.” Diodato has involved herself in the event by volunteering as a performer in the longsleeve, fan and umbrella dances. Diodato said her creative aspirations and the desire to discover cultures beyond her own Argentinian upbringing has intrigued her to participate in numerous dancing activities. “I was interested in learning more about culture in non-Hispanic regions,” Diodato said. “I have developed a passion for performing arts, therefore the Chinese New Year celebration was a perfect experience towards the musical training I wish to receive in the future.” Xu said another reason to lend a hand in the celebration is to battle the stigma created by the recent eruption of the Coronavirus in the Asia continent. Diodato said it is during harsh times students should learn that Chinese culture should be revered, rather than feared. “Students need to come together and be kind, especially with the Coronavirus outbreak,” Diodato said. “The celebration is a way to show pride in my culture at a time when there can be quite a bit of racism against Southeast Asians.” The club has begun to prepare for the Chinese New Year celebration since last September by formulating Pocky Stick fundraisers and organizing the practices of different dance groups under individual leaders three days each week after school. However, Li said minor obstacles such as member availability have limited the time available for the decoration of the event. “Since members have busy schedules, the event could have not been made possible without the determination of the officers and students from each Chinese class,” Li said. “Members have contributed and volunteered substantially from the decorations, to the performances and cleaning afterwards.” Cai said she agrees with Li, as practice and hard work are essential for a smooth-running event. Cai said the event had a successful outcome, as the Chinese New Year celebration is an attempt to aid people in realizing the importance of preserving Chinese heritage and identity for students. “It is important to celebrate Chinese heritage because it is essentially a one billion or so people population,” Cai said. “The Chinese community is part of a population of the United States and a majority of the global count, therefore it is crucial for the event to help play a role in making our voices heard.” breathing fire: A Chinese dragon is waved throughout the auditorium displaying the mythical creature that has been present in Chinese culture throughout the decades. Members run with the giant puppet making it appear to fly and dance across the room. The dragon appears almost everywhere in China and acts as a sign of luck as the New Year arrives.

year of the rat: (From top) on Feb. 28, the Chinese Honor Society and Chinese Culture Club collaborate to hold their annual Chinese New Year Celebration. In the courtyard, the members display common Chinese activities for students to participate. Members of the club educate Chinese and non-Chinese students of their culture with games, crafts and food tastings. In the auditorium, dances and music demonstrate typical arts and festivities utilized in China on the day of the New Year.

photos by agavni mehrabi

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MARCH 2020

Academic night educates rising students By francisca giuliani

In order to educate Falcon Cove Middle School students and parents about the Bay, the Student Government Association (SGA) held Advanced Academics Night on Feb. 12. The event promoted a selection of classes and clubs through booths with information available to intrigue incoming freshmen. Senior and chair Sydney Ure said she was excited to be able to organize the event and inform new students.

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It was exciting to speak to parents and students about the different clubs and organizations, specifically SGA, as the club wishes to make our program larger.

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-SGA adviser Danielle Nascimento

“I enjoyed chairing the event because while organizing the intricacies, I remembered how important and informative Advanced Academic Night was for students such as I, prior to entering high school,” Ure said. “It was the gratitude I developed for the purpose of the event that motivated me to chair the event.” Ure, along with her committee, incorporated banners in the event, created to represent various clubs and assist students and parents. Ure said families were able to ask questions to faculty and club members, which strived towards the goal of assisting students

in making important decisions about what extracurricular activities to participate in. “As the event was the first experience for incoming freshmen viewing the Bay, the students were able to feel excited for new beginnings, while feeling welcomed, which in return can create a less nerve wrecking transition,” said Ure. “The incoming freshmen are just beginning their high school career and have various options that could have impacted their decision.” Junior and member of SGA Alexa Binder said she put forth much effort in creating a successful project by assisting the organization with the event and contacting clubs to participate. Binder said her favorite part of Advanced Academic Night was speaking to parents and students about a variety of classes, which benefited individuals in becoming more informed about the Bay. “It was amazing to be able to work on such an amazing project; the attendees are the future of the Bay and the night overall is helpful,” Binder said. “Prepping for the event went smoothly due to the hard work of members and faculty; the organizers were able to witness how incoming freshmen benefited from the club and class booths.” Binder said implementing the booths of the clubs in the Wave can be crucial in the attempt to acquire more students and parents to view extracurricular activities the Bay has to offer because the booths can provide outlines for the clubs. Binders said that the booths can then inform students about what the clubs have to offer, and provide pictures of club projects, which can create a deeper interest. “Being able to speak directly to families ensured their preparedness for the next four years of education for their child,” Binder

photo by francisca giuliani

new horizons: Student Government Association (SGA) holds Advanced Academics Night on Feb.12 for Falcon Cove Middle School students. The purpose of the event is to promote the several different classes and clubs offered at the Bay to the future freshmen.

said. “I enjoyed assisting parents and students in choosing the perfect classes and clubs to participate in; it feels great to know I was able to relieve stress about high school for students and parents.” SGA adviser Danielle Nascimento said that through Falcon Night she hopes to be able to develop the SGA program. Nascimento said SGA receives the opportunity during the event to inform students about the class and club. “It was exciting to speak to parents and students about the different clubs and organizations, specifically SGA, as the club wishes to make our program larger,” Nascimento said. “The school and Falcon

Cove Middle School have completed a wonderful job on informing their students and parents about the event.” Students in SGA assisted during the event by handing out informative class and club flyers to promote their cause and increase membership. Nascimento said overall, faculty and staff were able to set up informative tables and stands which provided nice decorations. “It is amazing to see many families attend, as SGA completed hard work to organize the night and prepare for the event,” Nascimento said. “The event requires time to prepare and it is pleasing to witness students exploring the classes offered.”

SGA ‘Won’t Stop’ Dance Marathon preparations by julia winton

a&e / Opinion copy editor

The Student Government Association (SGA) has begun the preparations for their fourth annual Dance Marathon event, a nonprofit organization that raises money for children in hospitals through the Children’s Miracle Network. As the event occurs April 9 in the gym, SGA officers and members are preparing for the event prior. SGA adviser and Interior Design teacher Danielle Nascimento said the event has a motivating purpose and members put forth much effort to ensure it runs smoothly.

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SGA is trying to educate the student body and raise the attendance by making banners, setting up a booth to sell tickets and having members share the news about the event on social media.

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-senior Silvia Zervos

“The key aspect of Dance Marathon is that [participants] stand for six hours; there is no sitting, only dancing,” Nascimento said. “The goal is to stand for the children located in hospitals who cannot have normal lives due to illnesses.” Dance Marathon typically features activities

to assist participants when standing. SGA has not planned for the activities yet, however in the past, it has implemented a DJ, sporting games, creating bracelets and cornhole. Senior and Fundraising Coordinator Jack McMahon said his favorite time-consuming game during the event is the line dance, a high energy dance learned by participants through a team called Morale. McMahon said Morale is a group of students who teach a dance to participants in an attempt to energize the members in an exciting way. “The [line dance] is a physical dance taught to participants to take their mind off standing up for long, as it connects us all,” McMahon said. “I have been part of the Morale team for years now and I continue to look forward to the dance because of how enjoyable it is.” Last year, about 350 attendees participated in Dance Marathon. Senior and chair of the event Silvia Zervos said this year, SGA is trying to promote Dance Marathon further to gain more participants by starting to promote the event earlier. “SGA is trying to educate the student body and raise the attendance by making banners, setting up a booth to sell tickets and having members share the news about the event on social media,” Zervos said. “It is important students know to enjoy themselves while assisting children in need.” The organization groups students into special committees, such as fundraising, activities, decorations and sponsors to work together and prepare Dance Marathon efficiently. McMahon said since the well-liked event is solely planned by SGA, it is essential the meticulous work is divided among committees. “From food, to shirt design to activities at Dance Marathon, every detail is perfectly

photo by julia winton

For the kids: Student Government Association (SGA) begins preparations for the fourth annual Dance Marathon.The event will take place on April 9 in the gym and participants will stand for six hours.Throughout all lunches there is a booth that has tickets for students, a bubble machine and candy to encourage more participants.

planned out,” McMahon said. “As I plan the fundraisers necessary for Dance Marathon, the money makes benefits for the Children’s Miracle Network.” Zervos said she is attempting to change the layout of Dance Marathon to attract more students by adding more activities and elements to the event. She said being a chair of the event is permitting her to be more involved in planning how the event pans out. “I have enjoyed [Dance Marathon] in the past years, but my goal is to help make it better this year,” Zervos said. “I want to encourage more of [the Bay’s] student body to attend to have a great time, while simultaneously raising money for the kids.”

Since the purpose of Dance Marathon is to raise money and awareness for children in hospitals who cannot have normal lives, SGA attempts to surpass their fundraising quota from previous years. Nascimento said because of the extra hard work and dedication of her students this year, she expects Dance Marathon to raise substantially more money than years prior. “I am proud of what my students have completed and the committees are going to implement a great Dance Marathon,” Nascimento said. “[SGA] has made significant progress and I am confident the members will continue in an attempt to surpass the quota of raising over $20,000.”

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MARCH 2020

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Distinctive cultures promoted at festival pr manager

The Weston World Festival event was held at Weston Regional Park from noon to 4:00 p.m. on March 1, where the City of Weston partnered with the Arts Council of Greater Weston to celebrate international cultures in the community. The event included booths from various countries, such as Israel, Japan, Greece and France to celebrate diversity. Junior and Miss Weston Briana Farnsworth said she was pleased to have attended the event because of the opportunity to have a mass introduction to citizens throughout the community where there were numerous diverse cultures. “The Weston World Festival was an eyeopening experience, as I was unaware of the different countries so heavily practiced in Weston, as diversity is prevalent,” Farnsworth said. “It was interesting to witness the festival because it is interesting to learn about the citizens in the community.” The Broward County Board of County Commissioners funded the Weston World Festival in order to make a reasonable entrance fee. In addition to Farnsworth, junior Sophia Nino said she attended the event to appreciate the various cultures and be educated about their identities. “I was pleased to view the different cultures located in Weston, as the community involves such distinctive customs through food, clothing and art,” Nino said. “It was amazing to see citizens interacting as one community, which is sometimes rare in Weston.” Farnsworth said she recommends additional publicity to promote the festival through social media by posting frequently in preparation for the event. Farnsworth said she is looking forward to utilizing her platform as Miss Weston by promoting the event through social media platforms such as Instagram. “Before my position as Miss Weston, I unfortunately was not aware the event had been implemented prior; although this is my first year attending, I gained useful experience by meeting diverse members of the community,” Farnsworth said. “Volunteers educated numerous participants from just one afternoon, and I cannot wait to come back next year.”

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I loved the costumes implemented at the Indonesia booth, as the clothing was beautiful and resembled Indonesian culture; I was unaware of their rich culture and it was interesting to see how the Indonesians embrace their heritage.

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-junior Sophia Nino

The Weston World Festival included an Art Village with live entertainment, such as new bands on the center stage and art collections from the representatives of each country. Attendee and parent of junior Grace Paindiris, Kirsten Paindiris, said she planned on attending the event for a short period, but stayed longer after witnessing the colorful booths demonstrating various cultures. “I viewed the event posted on Facebook and the post was interesting; I was pleasantly surprised by how well the City of Weston organized the project this year,” Paindiris said. “I attended the Art Village, looking around and listening to the music; I am interested in art, therefore, the event was amazing to see how different cultures have unique styles.” The project involved about 20 booths set up around the parks for individuals to be

educated on various countries, celebrating through utilizing country flags and native foods. Participants were handed a passport and were able to collect stamps from around the world. Nino said each booth had a special activity for the children to engage in such as making bracelets or painting a canvas. “I loved attending the festival to view the different, creative booths; it was heartwarming to witness the children participate in various activities associated with different cultures,” Nino said. “It was good to see how not only did the adults enjoy the art, but how the children were into the festival as well.” Participants at each country’s booth meet once a week to get together and share ideas for future events such as the Weston World Festival. Paindiris said she would recommend the event to individuals residing in the community, as it is a wonderful opportunity to be educated about cultures through interactive experiences like art, food and entertainment. “I am grateful the city of Weston includes such diverse cultures; it is amazing how participants from different countries can gather and celebrate their variety of culture; the event is important, as volunteers were able to incorporate entertainment and education for the community,” Paindiris said. “I am looking forward to attending the Weston World Festival next year; it is important for students to be educated about Weston and the amount of diversity included throughout.”

“

I am grateful the city of Weston includes such diverse cultures; it is amazing how participants from different countries can gather and celebrate their variety of culture; the event is important, as volunteers were able to incorporate entertainment and education for the community.

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by courtney levinson

-parent Kirsten Paindiris

The Young at Art booth at the event included arts and crafts to entertain children to become involved with various cultures. Farnsworth said the festival enabled participants to be educated about cultures; in addition, she said she connected with foundations that sponsored various countries such as the Young at Art booth. “It was a great opportunity for organizations to participate and receive recognition because they work so hard to give back to our community,” Farnsworth said. “Organizations such as Young at Art should continue to be exposed to children and families because projects assist the enrichment of the culture of art from various countries.” Nino said the Weston World Festival was an exciting event that provided useful information about the cultures residing in Weston. She also said she would recommend everyone in the City of Weston to come out and show support in the following years. “I was grateful to have experienced the cultures and customs of the countries I was unaware about to learn more about the community,” Nino said. “In the following years, an additional amount of various countries should implement booths to provide students with useful knowledge about the diversity in Weston.” Nino said some of the countries she was familiar with since a lot of her friends and family are from all around the world, but she also got introduced to new information about countries like Indonesia and Russia. “I loved the costumes implemented at the Indonesia booth, as the clothing was

photos submitted by Briana farnsworth

melting pot: (From top) junior and Miss Weston, Briana Farnsworth, said she thoroughly enjoyed her experience at The Weston World Festival that took place as there were a variety of lively, eye-catching cultural displays through colorful ethnic costumes and high energy dances. Junior Nicholas Sanchez poses with dancers that portray European and South American countries through their dancing. The Weston World Festival held many performances to showcase different cultures as their source of live entertainment, which was the Art Village.

beautiful and resembled Indonesian culture; I their heritage,” Nino said. “The volunteers at was unaware of their rich culture and it was each booth were welcoming and excited to interesting to see how the Indonesians embrace teach participants about their unique culture.”

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FEBRUARY 2020

Students take time to recognize and appreciate the work of famous black Americans.

by colin crawford features editor

Every year, across the United States, February is celebrated as Black History Month. The month is specifically dedicated to recognizing and applauding black leaders for what they have contributed to America. It’s also a time to appreciate black culture and honor the achievements of black pioneers. For junior Chelsea Neysmith, the month elicits a mixed emotional response. She said she is conflicted over whether the month is necessary. “On the one hand, I understand why we have [Black History Month]; I appreciate it and I enjoy it, but why do we only have one month dedicated to black history, the shortest month of the year no less,” Neysmith said. “We should be celebrating black history every day of the year; that should just be our normal. We shouldn’t just have one month specifically for that.”

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It just serves as a nice reminder that even if it only is one month of the year that we’re still here; we’ve been here the whole time. We’re just as important; we’ve made just as many accomplishments and I think people just need to be reminded of that.

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-junior Chelsea Neysmith Neysmith said while she wishes the month could be longer or bigger, she believes the month offers people the opportunity to learn and increase their cultural awareness. She said it is important to educate people who might overlook or fail to acknowledge the impact of black people in America throughout history. “It just serves as a nice reminder even if it only is one month of the year that we’re still here; we’ve been here the whole time,” Neysmith said. “We’re just as important; we’ve made just as many accomplishments and I think people just need to be reminded of that.” Neysmith said she believes it is imperative to celebrate black culture because if people don’t, then it is like black people aren’t really there. She said it’s important for people to recognize who they are and celebrate themselves for what makes them unique. “There’s no really one way that I celebrate black culture,” Neysmith said. “I just live my life

how I want to live it, embracing everything that makes me me, acknowledging the history, all of that.” Similarly, junior Sebastien Bourjolly said he believes Black History Month is a time for black people to come together and reflect on what has happened to them throughout history. He said he celebrates the month by looking to past leaders for guidance on how to act. “To me, Black History Month is a time to be proud of our accomplishments and reflect on how far we’ve come,” Bourjolly said. “I think it’s important because it reminds us of those who came before us and helped and fought to get us to where we are now.” According to Assistant Principal Jennifer Roca, the Bay tries to infuse black history into every aspect of curriculum. She said while she does evaluations, she is surprised by how teachers have included black history in a variety of subjects like math or English. Roca also said there is always more that can be done to celebrate the month. “Somehow, someway, we infuse [black history] in there so that it becomes a meaningful experience for our students, so as far as that direct

taking on this leadership role. “The good thing about our administration, and I don’t think a lot of people perceive it that way, is that we are open to all ideas and we like when students take on these roles, these leadership roles, and they take on these tasks on their own and they create something. We’ll always invite students to come and do something,” Roca said. “You guys are essentially the core of our school; we don’t want to be the ones saying, ‘ok, well, we’re going to do this because we think it’s important;’

Neysmith said it is also important to recognize more recent black history like police brutality. Neysmith said while living in Weston is like living in a bubble, she is still afraid of racial discrimination, or worse. She said last year, when her dad was pulled over by the police while on their way to school, she couldn’t help but think he could be the next headline. “On the news, you always see all this drama with the police, and I couldn’t do anything. I was just sitting there thinking ‘is this the last time I’m going to see my dad?,’” Neysmith said. “I wanted to break down into tears [and] on the way to class, I was shaking; I was so scared.” Roca said recent role models can help connect people and help make Black History Month a chance for everyone to come together and make it a learning experience. She said she believes some of her personal childhood heroes can still inspire others to walk the path of open-mindedness. “We always have leaders that we look up to and one in particular that I embrace that I remember as a kid and still see her now is Oprah Winfrey. I think that she’s symbolic of bringing and connection keeping I think it’s that history made and it’s alive through done very well in the the things that classroom,” Roca said. she does,” Roca “I think there’s always said. “First of all, room for improvement in other she’s our modern-day areas. We have a club, the Black Unity Club, leader. She keeps that that does a few things during Black History history alive in some way Month, but there definitely is always room through her experiences, bringing people, for improvement to do more for any specific other leaders, to her platform and sharing that month or recognition.” wealth of knowledge. I think that just giving Bourjolly said he doesn’t believe the back, having that mission of ‘I am a leader, Bay does enough to celebrate Black History but I am giving back’ makes her that much Month. However, he also said he isn’t upset by more significant this, instead he’d rather have the month be a for modern day, we want to more personal experience. or our new see it through your eyes, so we highly “I don’t think [the Bay] does a good job [of generation.” encourage all our students to come.” celebrating], but I don’t really care because it’s According to Bourjolly, the rise in more of a personal thing to me. It’s celebrated the use of racial slurs as colloquial among those who believe in it, and not language is strange because he everyone in school cares about it and it’s not said he believes there are various like you can force anyone to either,” Bourjolly other ways to convey the same said. “I celebrate the month by message without using being knowledgeable of that kind of language. our past and where we stand Bourjolly also said today; I remember those who he doesn’t came before us and what approve they did as well as what of we can do today.” Roca said she believes the students themselves should come up with any ideas they people want to implement, using and administration derogator y would be happy to terms or phrases help students realize to hurt others because their goals. She said of how far society has come administration in terms of race relations. would never take on “In my opinion, if anyone that responsibility wants to use a racial slur, and would instead I think it’s their choice. prefer students There are thousands of other words to use, but if you absolutely have to say it for some odd reason, then that’s sad, but it’s their choice,” Bourjolly said. “However, I don’t like the use of racial slurs to purposefully insult other people because it is degrading and rude.”

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Irish heritage promotes a sense of pride and culture by gabriella barraza

In order to stay connected with her roots, senior Sarah Gibson said she engages in several practices such as Irish dance lessons in order to stay in contact with her Irish heritage. Gibson said it’s important to celebrate her heritage because it is part of her identity and it allows her to connect to her family. “My Irish heritage links me with my grandparents on my mom’s side of the family as well as gives me a rich and fulfilling experience of my culture and helps me identify with who I am and who my ancestors were,” Gibson said. “I love being able to do Irish traditions and customs that ties me to them because it gives me insight into my past and helps me relate to my ancestors.” AICE Classical Studies teacher Declan Lyons said he feels extremely proud of the legacy of the Irish culture in America because it is an immigrant nation that has accomplished a lot. Lyons said Ireland has a lot of accomplishments he can reflect on.

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Ever since I was little, I have been doing Irish dance lessons and have only gone up from there.

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-senior Cameron Tovin

“I’m extremely proud of the number of United States presidents who have an Irish background as well as Ireland’s excellence in politics and literature,” Lyons said. “It is important to remember all of the

accomplishments Ireland has when thinking about my Irish past.” Gibson said since she was ten years old when she began participating in Irish dance lessons with her sister. Gibson said she would compete at a statewide competition called Feis, a celebration of Irish culture and heritage, alongside other Irish dancers and has been participating in Irish dancing ever since. “The lessons allowed me to celebrate my heritage with my sister and let us share something special between us that we can always relate to and look back on for the rest of our lives,” Gibson said. “I was also able to communicate with dancers who have Irish heritage, which is extremely important to me because it gives me an awareness of how other people with Irish heritage live and experience their culture.” Senior Cameron Tovin has been participating in Irish dancing since she was five years old and said she is extremely passionate about the activity. She said she thinks it is a big part of her identity and it is an important part of who she is. “Ever since I was little, I have been doing Irish dance lessons and have only gone up from there,” Tovin said. “So, [Irish dancing] is a big part of who I am and I am absolutely connected to it.” Gibson said she expresses her heritage in several other ways, such as cooking. She said she follows traditions in her household that represents a critical piece of her heritage, which allows her to obtain a better understanding of her heritage. “One tradition we have in my family is to make special Irish foods such as Irish soda bread,” Gibson said. “I always do this on St. Patrick’s Day with my grandmother and it is

photo SUBMITTED BY CAMEron Tovin

luck of the irish: Senior Cameron Tovin celebrates her Irish heritage through traditional dance. Tovin started dancing at age five and continues to develop her skills by participating in competitions in Ireland. Tovin also gives presentations about Irish dancing at her local Irish heritage clubs and aims to spread the meaning behind her culture.

extremely special to me because it lets me bond with her and she is also able to share something with me that is important to her as well.” Tovin said she has been to Ireland four times through international Irish dance competitions. She said she also has given presentations about her Irish dance story to local Irish heritage clubs, which is important because it spreads awareness about Irish heritage and its meaning. “I believe that Irish culture is extremely unique and important to preserve in order for people to understand the culture and

how it is important to us,” Tovin said. “I think it has a significant history that not many people realize or understand because it is not celebrated as much.” Lyons said he is proud of his Irish heritage because of Irish people’s friendly manner. He said he feels Irish people are extremely successful in social situations. “Among being the most literate people in the world, Irish culture deals an important hand in humanity,” Lyons said. “I express my roots by being naturally kind, reaching out to others and supporting them.”

Yoga serves as lifestyle for enthusiasts ONLINE FEATURES EDITOR

For students such as senior Savannah Carlton, yoga is a vital aspect of daily life. Carlton said yoga serves as a stress reliever in her chaotic life. “Practicing yoga is truly one of the best parts of my day,” Carlton said. “I think it is important to practice yoga because it can make individuals forget about their stress.” Similar to Carlton, senior Ryan Ames has been practicing yoga for eight years. He said over the past two years, his love for yoga has grown tremendously as he enjoys the difficulty of the poses. “The stretches I do in yoga feel great especially if I am sore after a different workout,” Ames said. “I love how the strength poses can be challenging and force me to push my body.” Ames said his favorite part about yoga is the strength poses. He said he believes it is important for others to do yoga to increase their range of motion. “The increased flexibility, balance and photo submitted by savannah carlton core strength can be translated to a variety of physical activities,” Ames said. “It is find your zen: Senior Savannah Carlton uses yoga as a stress reliever to manage highly fulfilling when you can finally hold a her life. She said not only does it allow her to reflect on her day, but it also lets her challenging pose that you worked towards for de-stress. She said she is fortunate to have the opportunity to take yoga at school and a while.” hopes to continue her passion after high school. AICE Global Perspectives teacher Michelle Seiler said to her, yoga isn’t about Seiler said she believes yoga and philosophy how everyone remains silent. She said she has the poses; it is about the practice. She said it is important for individuals to understand the provide the wisdom to find inner peace and been doing yoga for seven months through her P.E. honors class at the Bay. purpose of practicing yoga is to ultimately get end suffering. “Yoga provides both practical and spiritual “I love that I have been given the opportunity to meditation. “Meditation is paramount in life and you guidance on how to live a purposeful life,” to practice yoga through a class at school,” can’t practice yoga without it,” Seiler said. Seiler said. “It allows me to find my truth, love Carlton said. “I definitely plan to continue practicing yoga as it allows me to look forward “This leads to the practice of truth and the and light in this chaotic world.” Carlton said her favorite part about yoga is to something throughout my day.” mind and spirit alignment.”

Ames said while he doesn’t use yoga for stress management, it could definitely aid others in managing stress. He said increasing the range of motion allows an individual to have time to reflect. “Any form of physical activity that forces you to clear your mind is great for relieving stress,” Ames said. Because of what she has learned through practicing yoga, Seiler said she became certified to teach it 10 years ago. “To me, yoga is simply the lighted path to align my chakras and awaken my spirit,” Seiler said. “It is not about touching your toes; it is what you learn on the way down.”

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The increased flexibility, balance and core strength can be translated to a variety of physical activities.

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BY RACHEL ALEXANDER

-senior Ryan Ames

Seiler said from any yoga class, something can be learned. She said she sees kids practicing meditation, and all the while, are blissfully unaware of the true underlying healing power of the yoga gurus that penetrates American culture. “I have always believed mediation is where true healing takes place,” Seiler said. “It’s a beautiful thing to know that they are the promise of the future.”

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by sophia zapata

As people are becoming more environmentally aware, there has been a significant increase in brands that offer vegan options. It is not only food products that are continuing to go vegan, but clothing brands as well, one being the sandal company Birkenstock, notable for their contoured cork and rubber footbed. Senior Savannah Delano has been wearing Birkenstocks for over three years. “I bought my first pair when I was six, and have been obsessed with them ever since,” Delano said. “I loved how comfortable they were when I first tried them on.” Delano said she is not surprised the shoes have become so popular because of how versatile and snug they are. She said she loves how the sandals can be worn on any occasion and go with many different outfits. “I feel like whatever style you have, whether you consider yourself to be grunge, hippie or anything else, these shoes will go with your aesthetic,” Delano said. “There are not many shoes on the market right now that I can say the same about.” Delano said she likes the retro look the shoes have while still having a simple design. She said putting on a pair of Birkenstocks can make any outfit look better effortlessly. “If you look in my closet, you can tell how much I love them,” Delano said. “I own five pairs and want to get more; I wear them almost every day.” Like Delano, junior Katia Coste said she likes Birkenstocks because of the minimalistic design and contoured fit. Coste said the shoes fit her feet perfectly and she feels secure when she’s wearing them. “With a lot of other sandals that I have, I constantly feel like they are gonna fall off my foot,” Coste said. “I can run in these shoes and they don’t budge.” Despite the many positive attributes the shoes have, Delano said there is one aspect she wishes she could change about them. She said she cannot wear the shoes when it is particularly wet or rainy outside because the sandals get damp fairly easily. “Here in Florida, it rains a lot, so there are a lot of days when I can’t wear them because they will get wet and the soles will wear down,” Delano said. “It is not a big issue, but it does bother me because I live in such a humid and moist climate.” Coste owns one pair and said she was inspired to buy them when she saw many other students on campus wearing them. She said she noticed the shoes are much more popular among girls than boys. “I think girls are much more open to trying new trends and wearing new clothing styles than boys are,” Coste said. “The shoes are unisex, so there is no reason boys can’t be wearing them too.”

MARCH 2020

Coste said when she went on the Birkentock website to buy a pair, she was pleasantly surprised to see the brand offered vegan options. She said she already knew she wanted to purchase the shoes, but after seeing some of the sandals were vegan, she was positive she wanted to support the brand. “There are many people I know that are vegan, and there are plenty of vegan food options available, but hardly any clothing or shoe brands have that option,” Coste said. “It makes me so happy to see that brands like Birkenstock are helping to normalize vegan shoes.” Environmental and Marine Science teacher Lynn Rodseth said the production of vegan shoes uses much less energy than the normal production process. She said shoes that use real leather are damaging the world’s ecosystems and contributing to global warming. “Leather comes from livestock like cows, and raising cows to be used for leather is very costly both in monetary value and in terms of energy,” Rodseth said. “Not to mention, the horrible abuse those livestock are subject to.” Rodseth said with the current climate crisis, it is important companies pay close attention to their carbon footprint. She said even though Birkenstock offering vegan options may seem like a small step, it is nonetheless a step in the right direction. “When companies offer vegan options, it tends to start a domino effect,” Rodseth said. “Capitalism is all about competition, so companies must match prices and production of their competitors, and I won’t be surprised if other shoe companies start going vegan after Birkenstock.” Rodseth said more young people are becoming environmentally aware and doing their part to help save the environment. She said it is a smart business move for companies to show they are doing the same because it appeals to their target audience. “I haven’t bought a pair of Birkenstocks because I am not very ‘in-the-know’, but I definitely want to look into purchasing a pair,” Rodseth said. “I would love to support an environmentally-friendly company.” Rodseth said she tries to purchase vegan products whenever she can, but that option is rarely available when buying clothing and shoes. She said if this trend of making vegan products continues, the environment will benefit greatly. “It’s not only leather that is the problem, but also plastic because plastic comes from oil, which is a natural resource that is extremely harmful to the ozone when used in manufacturing,” Rodseth said. “Birkenstock is doing everything right by not using real leather.”

Gus Lanz senior

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Future leaders have entrepreneurial spirit BY Isabella Grogan

Features / Sports photo editor

Many students at the Bay like senior Jack Racicot aspire to do something in the business field in their future. Racicot said he strives to work in a business related field when he graduates college. He said he wants to major in business communications. “I have always been interested in doing something in business because it fascinates me,” Racicot said. “I understand business; it makes sense to me and I enjoy it.” In order to jumpstart his dream of being an entrepreneur, Racicot started a cookie selling business this year. He makes cookies to sell at sports games and sells them for a dollar each. “All my friends always compliment my mom’s homemade cookies whenever they come over; so one day, I had the idea to sell them,” Racicot said. “I make two containers worth of cookies and go to parks around Weston where sports games are going on to sell them, and it has been very successful so far.” Junior Joseph Milberg said he wants to go into business in the future. He said he sees a bright future in the field and he knows he can succeed. “I think business is good because it allows people to be their own boss and do something they believe in,” Milberg said. “That is why I want to do something in business because I can be my own boss.” Junior Hartley Glardon said she is becoming closer with her father because of their shared interest in business. She said her dad is an entrepreneur and she admires him because of his business expertise. “I found [a] love for business through my dad; me and him are very close and he always teaches me about business things,” Glardon said. “I have learned to enjoy the topic and talking about it and I can see myself having a good future in the field.”

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I hope to see my students that I taught when I first started teaching DECA prosper in the business workplace. I always tell my students that they get out what the put in; I hope that sticks with them and aids them to do amazing things.

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-senior Jack Racicot

Glardon took a business trip to China last summer with her dad. She said this trip was an eye-opening experience because it allowed her to see how business people operate. “Watching my dad and his business associates was really interesting because they were so professional and had such a deep understanding of the topic at hand,” Glardon said. “Taking the trip to China is what made me certain I want to be a business woman.” Milberg is heavily involved in DECA at the Bay. DECA classes are based on teaching students about business related subjects. “DECA helps with learning about business since it puts you into an environment and stimulates real business,” Milberg said. “I am

currently in the virtual enterprise class where we run a business called Phoenix.” DECA adviser and CTE Marketing teacher Grant Cavalier said he thinks it is a great idea for students to take DECA classes. He said it gives students more knowledge about business that regular core classes do not give them. “We try to give students the life skills to help them succeed outside of school, so they all get industry certifications which are extremely valuable in the workplace and for their resumes,” Cavalier said. “The students may not see how the certifications are valuable now, but in the future they will.” Cavalier has been teaching DECA classes for three years now. He said he has enjoyed teaching the courses and plans to continue for years to come. “I hope to see my students that I taught when I first started teaching DECA prosper in the business workplace,” Cavalier said. “I always tell my students that they get out what they put in; I hope that saying sticks with them and aids them to do amazing things.” Racicot is enrolled in one of Cavalier’s DECA classes. He said he has learned a lot from Cavalier. “Cavalier has taught me many helpful tips for selling my cookies,” Racicot said. “The first person I went to was Cavalier when I wanted advice for selling cookies; he helped me make prices for them.” Racicot said his parents do not do anything business related in their field of work. He said he would like to do something different from his parents when it comes to what he wants to pursue in life. “I like the idea of having a business related job because it is different from my parents and it makes me unique in my family and have my own thing that is separate from my parents,” Racicot said. “It also helps that I am interested in business too and all it can do for my future.” Milberg said he is interested in the stock market, which is a part of the business field. He said he likes to know how certain company’s stocks are doing and whether they are up or down. He said he helps his family members to better understand the stock market. “I think having an understanding of the stock market at my age will help my future in business,” Milberg said. “It helps understanding how money flows and how the numbers in business go up and down.” Glardon said she has an idea for a business that she has been working on since last summer. However, she said she doesn’t want to reveal a lot about the business until it is a reality. “Going to China inspired me to want to start a business of my own, being surrounded by successful people in business made me want to be the creator of a successful business,” Glardon said. “I am not telling anyone about my business plan just yet because I actually want it to work out and I do not want people to steal my idea.” Glardon said she has since been working closely with her father, coordinating on how to make her future venture a success. She said she has been preparing the logistics of her business and a plan that works. “It has been kind of challenging putting together the business proposal and figuring out all the details because I am new to all of it,” Glardon said. “My dad has made the process go by a little less stressful and confusing by explaining in detail some aspects of business that I have yet to grasp.”

photo by isabella grogan

photos submitted by Joseph Milberg

let’s get this bread: (From top) senior Jack Racicot counts the money he made from selling cookies at the park. He attended a local baseball game and sold cookies to people watching the game. He said he made around fifty dollars selling at one game. DECA students go bowling while in Orlando for their state competition. Junior Joseph Milberg said he met many new friends while competing. He went to Universal Studios with his DECA teammates.

16 THE CIRCUIT

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MARCH 2020

THe things they carried FEATURING Chelsea neysmith AND Her BACKPACK “The Things They Carried” is a recurring segment that examines the personalities of students through the contents of their backpacks. This month, Online Sports Editor Darian Trabold interviews junior Chelsea Neysmith to discover the meaning behind five items.

UNICEF Lanyard As a member of the UNICEF Executive Board, Neysmith said she proudly wears her lanyard around campus to represent the club which she is grateful to be a part of at the Bay. She said she loves to wear her lanyard because UNICEF is an organization that does a lot of good in the community and she hopes maybe people will see her wearing it and want to join as well to help the club grow. “UNICEF is an organization that provides humanitarian aid to children all over the world and knowing I am a member of such a helpful and valuable organization makes me feel good, since everything we do has the power to change lives,” Neysmith said. “The executive board can be time-consuming but every hour we put in is significant in helping UNICEF, which is why I wear my lanyard with pride because all of the hard work we do is important. I hope me and the other members inspire others to join since many of us wear our lanyards with joy.”

Sketchbook Art is something Neysmith does on a daily basis, which is why she said she always carries her sketchbook around. If she has a moment to spare during the day or after school, she said she likes to draw whatever pops in her head, whether it be an animal, person or the room she is in. She said she never knows when inspiration will strike, so she wants to have her sketchbook ready to capture the moment. “I get a lot of my ideas from Pinterest. I follow many artists on there and to see how they draw; tutorials they post helps improve my sketching and sometimes I try to recreate what they draw with my own spin on it, which is why I always like to have my sketchbook ready to help me grow as an artist,” Neysmith said. “Sometimes I will just be sitting at lunch and an idea will pop in my head of something I would like to draw, so having my sketchbook in my bag allows me to do that because by the time I get home, I will forget what I wanted to sketch.”

Rasta Keychain Go When she was little, Neysmith’s dad gave her a Rasta keychain, which reflects her Jamaican heritage and culture. She said the keychain is a daily reminder of where her family is from and something she gets motivation from when she feels down, since her family is a great source of inspiration. “When my dad first got me the Rasta keychain, I did not realize that it represented my family history; I initially loved it because it was a gift from my dad. However, once I realized the significance of it, I saw it in a new light,” Neysmith said. “Whenever I have a bad day, I look at the keychain and it instantly brightens my day since family means a lot to me and this keychain represents family.”

Scrunchies Considering the weather can be unpredictable in South Florida, Neysmith said she likes to always have a scrunchie on her in case she needs to put her hair up if it gets windy or during a test when she does not want her hair to bother her. She said she has many scrunchies at home and she likes to use them as an accessory to go with any outfit. “Whenever the weather gets bad or my hair does not agree with me and keeps getting in my face, I like to have a scrunchie ready to use because it is really uncomfortable during the day if I am having a bad hair day,” Neysmith said. “Scrunchies are easy to use; for me, they are a lot easier than regular ponytails, and they are more stylish because they go with every outfit since they have many different patterns that I like to incorporate.”

Marvel Comic Book On any given day, Neysmith said she loves looking through her Marvel comic books. She said her favorite is “Ms. Marvel,” since the main character is someone she can relate to and the plot is fascinating. While she does have her favorites, Neysmith said it is hard to choose which one to read from her collection since she enjoys all of them and loves the Marvel franchise. “Comics have always been something I have enjoyed reading, but Marvel comics always have an amazing storyline and many of the characters are relatable since they are teenagers trying to navigate life,” Neysmith said. “I have a collection of Marvel comics at home, but I usually like to travel with at least one with me since I never get tired of reading them. In between the next big Marvel movie, it is nice to look at the comic book that inspired it and watch the movie having an idea of what happens based on the comic.”

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Whenever I have a bad day, I look at the keychain and it instantly brightens my day since family means a lot to me and this keychain represents family.

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-junior Chelsea Neysmith

MARCH 2020

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Future Politicians by sandra talledo graphics editor

Sophomore Nicole Ortiz said she has been eager to get involved in politics since the 2018 election cycle. She said she has gotten involved by campaigning for Representative Richard Stark and joining the Bay’s Political Awareness Club (PAC). She said she is surprised with how much she has learned in such a short time. “I have made so many new connections since I joined the Stark campaign,” Ortiz said. “I would not have this opportunity without Representative Stark. I have learned a lot about the ins and outs of politicians, which is pretty cool.” Stark said he has worked with alumni from the Bay for over eight years. He not only works with current students, but also assists graduates with university and job recommendations. “Students have assisted in my legislative office, political campaigns and my private business,” Stark said. “They get an up-close look at what politics is really like by canvassing door to door and meeting people at events. Several students have worked as messengers and pages in the Fla. House of Representatives where they see the state government at work.”

Photo submitted by nicole ortiz

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Ortiz also works with senior Joseph Mullen on Stark’s campaign. Mullen started working with Stark in 2017 and first met him through the Bay’s PAC president at the time. Mullen said he was grateful to be introduced to Stark and the opportunities it has brought, as he is the head student volunteer for Stark’s mayoral campaign. “I’ve learned so much about the nittygritty process of politics,” Mullen said. “For me, it hasn’t made me any less excited to do it even if it may be at times a little dirty. If you maintain your optimism, it’s fine; at the end of the day, it’s about helping people and fighting for them.” Mullen has worked with Stark for over three years, and has gone from canvassing for him to interning for him at the state capital. Mullen said they also went to March For Our Lives together. He said he is thankful to have gone from volunteering for him to working with him outside of canvassing. He also said he has gotten much more involved with the community due to his canvassing. “I’ve learned so much about talking to people, especially people with differing

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-senior Joseph Mullen

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I have learned a lot about the ins and outs of politicians, which is pretty cool. -sophomore Nicole Ortiz

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I’ve learned so much about the nitty-gritty process of politics. For me, it hasn’t made me any less excited to do it even if it may be at times a little dirty. If you maintain your optimism, it’s fine; at the end of the day, it’s about helping people and fighting for them.

people know about their government,” Marks said. “Members do their own research; they prepare their own presentations; some people do powerpoints or speeches. We’ve had speakers come in and it’s all geared to inform, invite questions and discussion.” As a member of PAC, Ortiz has given a speech along with participating in DIA. She said she was glad to give her speech at PAC on mass incarceration because it assisted her public speaking abilities. Ortiz said she wants to be able to help people through politics just as Stark does. “I get really nervous when it comes to public speaking, but I pushed myself to speak at PAC since it’s something I care about,” Ortiz said. “It was great talking about something I genuinely care about.”

Photo by sandra talledo

Pursuits: (From top left) Political Awareness Club (PAC) adviser Laurie Political Marks, sophomore Nicholas Cardenas, Rep. Rick Stark, senior Gus Lanz, sophomore Nicole Ortiz and junior Maia Dahl celebrate their success with Democracy in Action Senior Joseph Mullen gives a speech about Russian relations at PAC on Dec.13. He informs members about how leader Vladamir Putin has stayed in power and how they are involved with U.S. affairs.

political views, thanks to canvassing,” Mullen said. “When you’re an elected official, you’re there to solve everyone’s problems, not just people who belong to your political party. It’s important to listen to people and how their concerns are valid.” Mullen said he became inspired to get involved in politics after joining PAC in his freshman year, but has been interested in politics since he was a child. He said he is hoping to have a future in politics, but isn’t planning on running for a position until he is thoroughly experienced. “I saw what the state representative can do to fix issues for their district and it inspired me to do the same,” Mullen said. “After the 2016 election, I saw how young people can get involved; we have an huge impact on the vote.” Similar to Stark, PAC adviser Laurie Marks said she has worked to create opportunities for her students to get fully involved in politics through Democracy in Action (DIA). DIA is a program where students can propose a bill about something important to them and

compete against other bills to get to the Florida Legislature. DIA works through Stark and his legislative aids to assist the team in creating the bill. She said she’s proud of how much work the students do on their own. “I love any opportunity I have to expose students to the law-making process and to show them how what they do can have an impact on what happens in Tallahassee,” Marks said. “I’m all in because to me, that’s the greatest way to teach students the government. It’s incredible how they work together and put so much effort into their bill.” As the adviser of PAC, Marks said she is dedicated to creating a space for students to express their views without judgment and to learn about different issues. She said she’s happy to be able to create a forum to empower students to discuss issues that matter to them, and also for them to ask questions without being embarrassed. “You can’t ask for a better opportunity [than PAC] not only as a teacher, but also just as a citizen who cares about making sure

Stark said he enjoys working with students because they are energetic and want to learn. He said he even wanted to be a teacher before becoming involved in politics, since he enjoys working with students. “The best advice is to complete your education and make sure you have job skills. It is difficult to obtain political jobs and earn a good living,” Stark said. “Many do it because they love it anyway, yet politics can wait. I waited until my own children were in the workforce before deciding to run for a political office. Understanding how the business world operates is a must.” Marks said she also likes seeing students grow into their passion for politics. She said she appreciates being able to support students who are interested in politics through PAC and DIA, especially their future with politics. “There’s a lot of kids that have the potential. Whether they’ll pursue it or not, you never know,” Marks said. “There have been some solid leaders in the past. I’ve seen some students who didn’t really think they had it in them and then wound up finding out how much they liked [politics] and how interested they were in it for their future.” Mullen said he wants to continue with his path in politics, while working his way up until he eventually runs for office. He said he wants to continue volunteering and interning, eventually earning higher positions, until he feels prepared to run for office. “You have to learn how the process works and being a volunteer has offered greatness insight into exactly how it works,” Mullen said. “It’s important as an elected official to be able to solve problems for everyone you represent; in order to do that, I need to learn more. I have to stay as an assistant for now to learn the skills I’ll need one day to run for office.”

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With spring break coming up, students at the Bay like sophomore Andrea Farel are planning their vacations and looking forward to taking time to relax. She said she can’t wait to go on her yearly family trip to the Dominican Republic and soak up some sun. “My family has been planning this trip for a while now and I am looking forward to all the excursions we have planned,” Fadel said. “We have a lot of fun plans including snorkeling and a bunch of boat rides within the two weeks we are there.” Fadel said she is excited to spend time with all her cousins and relatives she doesn’t normally get to see. She said they are all looking forward to seeing each other and catching up on everything going on in life. “We are staying at a super nice resort and they have a relaxing private beach attached, so we are going to spend a majority of our time there,” Fadel said. “I’m mostly excited to branch out and meet new people from all over because everytime we go, there are so many people to socialize with.”

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There aren’t that many places you can go down here in Florida and just hold birds if you want to, but in the Dominican Republic we get the chance to take pictures and see trained animals. In Florida, we get to see ducks and sometimes iguanas, but holding monkeys and parrots is such a fun experience and something you really can’t do on a regular day.

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make more friendships.” Fadel said another part of traveling she enjoys most is being able to hang out with her siblings. She said they don’t always get along, so vacation is a time they all come together. “My younger sister and I sometimes fight but when we are on vacation, we always get along and I have fun hanging out with her,” Fadel said. “I also love going on vacation with my brother because he makes every situation so much funnier.” Sophomore Molly Cubeta said she and her family are going down to the Florida Keys for a few days. She said she is going with her parents, brother and sister and may meet her cousins there. Spring break is one of my favorite breaks from school because we usually do something tropical,” Cubeta said. “Being able to have fun and spend time in the sun with my family is so much better than being in school.” Cubeta said while they are in the Keys, her and her family plan on doing local activities and getting a chance to relax. She said she is excited to try new experiences she can’t do on an everyday basis. “We have plans to go jet ski riding, so I’m looking forward to that because I don’t get to do it often and it’s something I really enjoy doing,” Cubeta said. “We are

gonna spend the day at the beach after we ride and just chill out in the pool or hotel area with each other.” Cubeta said her and her family are staying in a resort that has a pool and beach attached. She said the resort offers excursions including parasailing, so they are planning on trying the activity during their stay. “My siblings and I were always super adventurous and love trying new things, so we are going to go parasailing,” Cubeta said. “I think it’s gonna be super fun because it’s something new and something I have never done before,” Fadel said the resort she and her family are staying at has a variety of wildlife, some who they can interact with and others who are wild. She said seeing how different the environment is compared to Florida is something to look forward. “There aren’t that many places you can go down here in Florida and just hold birds if you want to, but in the Dominican Republic we get the chance to take pictures and see trained animals,” Fadel said. “In Florida, we get to see ducks and sometimes iguanas, but holding monkeys and parrots is such a fun experience and something you really can’t do on a regular day.”

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-sophomore Andrea Fadel Fadel said part of why she loves to travel is because she gets to socialize with new people and branch out. Her being able to experience different cultures people come from is interesting, as she is able to observe their differences. “When you travel, you get to meet so many different people along the way and form new friendships,” Fadel said. “Some of my closest friends came from being social on a trip I have taken, so I’m looking forward to being able to

Photo submitted by andrea fadel

soaking up the sun: (From top) sophomore Andrea Fadel takes a Spirit airlines plane flight to her destination. She said she enjoyed spending her time sunbathing on the sunlit shoreline sands, taking a dip in the warm Caribbean waters and relaxing in the palm tree-lined shade. She said she also enjoyed exploring the sidewalks and walkways of the hotel grounds. Along with this, she said she enjoyed discovering many of the ammenities and features offered there, like the pool and the spa, along the way of her daily excursions. She said the voyage, the beach and the hotel itself combined to make this a fun trip and mark it as a truly memorable experience.

Fadel said one of her favorite parts of traveling is getting to experience new cultures and learn how other people live their lives. She said even though she is on vacation, there is such a difference between the mannerisms of the people she interacts with on trips and the people in Florida. “Even though we are staying at a hotel, you can see a difference in the culture and the different lifestyles,” Fadel said. “The language is different and people there are so much more laid back then over here.”

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I have gone snorkeling a bunch of times, but it never gets old and is always something to look forward to. My siblings and I always have a fun time jumping off the boat and seeing all the fish; it’s something we have been doing since we were little.

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-sophomore Molly Cubeta

Cubeta said something she is the most excited about is snorkeling. She said they go out on their boat to a famous spot in the Keys for snorkeling where there is a trail underwater. “I have gone snorkeling a bunch of times, but it never gets old and is always something to look forward to,” Cubeta said. “My siblings and I always have a fun time jumping off the boat and seeing all the fish; it’s something we have been doing since we were little.” For English 2 teacher Christy Wagner, her spring break plans are more relaxed, and she is excited about staying in town during the break. She said she is going to take the time to catch up on life. “I have been so busy lately so having time off to settle down and relax is just what I need,” Wagner said. “I enjoy going around town and having off, so I am looking forward to a week or so to just treat myself.” Wagner said she doesn’t have any set plans for the week, but she said she intends to get a lot of much needed rest. She also said she is planning on getting together with a few friends. “I love going out to lunch with friends or myself and not having any stress or obligations,” Wagner said. “I think taking time off is important and spring break allows you to relax a little.”

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Black inspirations shape future generations by sabrina blandon

features/ opinion web copy editor

Inspiration can be defined as the power of moving intellect or emotions. For senior Taylor Tieder, she said she believes inspiration is important because it causes a person to be motivated and passionate about a task. In light of Black History Month just passing, she said a lot of her inspiration comes from black icons in the world. “I think inspiration is best created when someone faces constant new experiences,” Tieder said. “The more different forms of media and places and people we interact with, the greater the chance of being inspired.” For Creative Writing 4 and 5 and AICE English Language AS and A level teacher Shawntee Herring, she doesn’t think she inspires people, but she hopes if she does, it is through her outlook on life and her enthusiasm for something she’s passionate about. As for Herring, her inspiration is her mother. She said her mother is someone she aspires to be every single day because she is strong, yet graceful and intelligent, yet willing to learn. “[My mother] gives great advice; she is very direct when she has to be and she is passive when she has to be,” Herring said. “She’s very loving and she’s a fighter and so I strive to be like her every day because she is someone who went out into the world for 30 years and everyone can speak highly of her. Everyone loves her company, loves her work ethic, respects her and that’s all I ever want.”

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It’s their labor; it’s their sweat; it’s their sacrifice; it’s their pain; it’s their loss that we stand upon all of us today and any other country that also had members of servitude be their workforce, so to not acknowledge that is a part of your history and to not acknowledge both the benefits and the worse I think is criminal.

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-Creative Writing 4 and 5 and AICE English Language AS and A level teacher Shawntee Herring

Senior Biannella D’alessandro said inspiration is the key to being successful as well as having confidence. Inspiration, to her, means being able to look up to others when she is lost. As a person, D’alessandro said she has different inspirations for various reasons. She said this encouragement can come from people of all races. “In life, we all need inspiration. It doesn’t matter if that person is black or white,”

D’alessandro said. “In the end, we, as people, are trying to be successful in the world so we need motivation to do our best. In writing, I often look to [Herring] because she is able to inspire truth in words, which is something not everyone is able to do.” For Black History Month, Herring said it is important to recognize people like Harriet Tubman because people forget the historical figure was an actual person. Herring said every person believes every group has only one story, which is absurd. “We’re so varied, all of us; we all have our own stories,” Herring said. “But we also have so many similar stories and it’s just nice to see people rally around those stories that they didn’t know existed or haven’t had the chance to be told.” Herring said she believes the stories she hears aren’t just for the sake of history. She said she believes by keeping the history, the person who did the great act lives on. “Someone like Harriet Tubman or some of these newer stories that are coming out about [are] either some sort of cultural benefit that person may have provided for a culture that they changed, a revolutionary act or revolution they may have started or even just a victim of an injustice,” Herring said. “Knowing those stories keeps us in check as a people and makes us take care of each other, and [Harriet Tubman] was a real boss.” In order to recognize the achievements of black people, Tieder said it’s important to honor events such as Black History Month, since black people deserve just as much appreciation as much as any other race. “Black people are underrepresented in history, and in media such as movies,” Tieder said. “So, Black History Month focuses on the accomplishments black people have achieved so that they are not overlooked.” When it comes to those who are born to lead, Herring said she believes a person should be exemplary. Herring said since that particular person will be in charge of something much bigger than the followers themselves, they must be exemplary role models. “I think if people have deemed you to be a leader, then it is your responsibility to lead them well and lead them in a way that not only is your legacy reserved,” Herring said. “The human race can still continue to move forward because of that example.” For people who are inspirational to others, D’alessandro said being motivating is often accompanied by pressure to constantly succeed. She said the inspiration itself is not important, but also the person being inspired. “It’s not just up to people who are an inspiration to others to have something successful. The person who is an inspiration motivates the one trying to get something done,” D’alessandro said. “The artist is giving back to the community what that person feels at the moment thanks to his or her inspiration. For people who are African-American inspiration, it’s the same. We are all human; it’s just a matter of how one person impacts the other.” Black History Month is throughout the month of February; it is a month which is dedicated to recognizing the achievements of black people in America. Herring said sometimes it is unfortunate to have a

photos by sabrina blandon

captivating chats: (From top) senior Taylor Tieder talks to Creative Writing 4 and 5 and AICE English Language teacher Shawntee Herring about ways she can improve her writing as well as offer tips on how to turn something mundane into an extraordinary aspect. Tieder said, for her, Herring is a person she looks up to when she is finding ways to be a better writer. Senior Biannella D’alessandro said Herring gives the best advice since she is truthful and down-to-earth with everyone, especially her students.

conversation with students about having to celebrate the month or not since black people were responsible for building an entire nation. “It’s their labor; it’s their sweat; it’s their sacrifice; it’s their pain; it’s their loss that we stand upon, all of us today and any other country that also had members of servitude be their workforce, so to not acknowledge that is a part of your history and to not acknowledge both the benefits and the worse I think is criminal,” Herring said. “Black History Month is important because we learn the history of our forefathers every single day and

not of those who assisted the forefathers in this country, so they deserve their say.” When it comes to a specific inspiration, Tieder said she mainly looks to black writers such as Toni Morrison. Morrison’s mastery of English and literary elements inspires Tieder to create stories like that of her own. “Inspiration keeps people motivated because it acts as a foundation, a positive reminder that can be referred to when a person encounters doubt,” Tieder said. “If someone is not inspired, then there’s no meaningful reason to move forward.”

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In this issue’s recurring segment that gives students an opportunity to learn more about the teachers they see every day, Ad Designer Jake Miller interviews AP English Language and Composition/AICE Global Perspectives A level teacher Robin Amparo. so there were not many opportunities to go into teaching. So I started off as an accounting person, but I just didn’t like the whole idea of one right answer; I prefer the world of What is your preferred teaching possibilities, so it was not for me. So, later in life, I had the chance to go to school for the style and why? My preferred teaching style is other degree which became my mid-life career through conversation. I don’t believe change. in the teacher being the talking head What is the most memorable experience because I have found if you push students to struggle a little bit through you have had from teaching? [The most memorable experience I have their thinking and through their conversation, they often get to a much from teaching is] seeing a former student deeper understanding of whatever the of mine become a teacher at the Bay: Mrs. Machado. It wasn’t me alone that caused concepts being discussed may be. her to end up becoming an English teacher, Did you have any other career but watching a former student grow into interests before teaching and if so, adulthood and develop so much as an intellectual is really inspiring. She is one of what were they? I call the careers I had before teaching the many examples of the fact that I think I my first life. One of my first-life careers contribute something to this world in some was actually accounting. When I first little way. I additionally have a former student started college, I wanted to teach, but I who is running for government office right came to the realization that I would not now. There are others as well that maybe did be supported forever and I needed to not shine or stand out so much in the crowd, study something where I could make a but you could see their confidence grow living. However, there was a surplus of and you could see them understanding that teachers in New York City at the time, they could think for themselves.

What is an important lesson that your students have taught you? One of the most important things I have learned is to not be too quick to judge. My best days are the days I learn from my students, which is why I like the discussion aspect so much. I think my students have humbled me and reinforced the idea that I do not know everything. Another thing that they have taught me is the fact that you never really know what is going on with someone personally. Teachers set expectations: we have standards [and] assignments; we are on a system where accountability happens through numbers. My students have taught me to stand back from that and understand that no one is represented by a number that is put at the top of schoolwork. That is not who they are. Do you have any memorable learning experiences from when you were in school: either college or high school? High school was interesting for me because there was the first teacher strike that year. Albert Shanker was the president of the Teachers’ Union for New York City and my senior year was disrupted horribly by these

events. I was really upset that I did not have school to attend. Some of the teachers crossed the picket line and set up space in a church that donated rooms, but it was not real learning, [it was] more chaos than anything else. By the end of that year, the Vietnam War protests ramped up and the tragic event of students being murdered at Kent State University also took place. It was a really turbulent time and I got caught up in that activism. What do you think is the most important lesson you have ever taught? [The most important lesson I have taught is] social justice. I think in some cases it stuck and some cases not so much. At the moment, students will get caught up in the spirit of that concept, but then they walk out that door and life turns back into their normal routine and it doesn’t stick. In a few cases, it has and I am proud of that impression I have been able to make on students’ lives.

New club, helps mentors peers in need by colin crawford features editor

Mentoring Tomorrow’s Leaders or MTL, is a new club at the Bay whose mission is to uplift students who may be struggling and need a guiding force in their lives. The club was spearheaded by Peer Counseling teacher Jennifer Cook, who said she is holding preliminary meetings this year to prepare students to be mentors for the 20202021 school year. She said she wants the program to be about upperclassmen helping underclassmen. “MTL is a peer-to-peer mentoring program that pairs successful upperclassmen with underclassmen who may be struggling with academics, behavior, attendance or socialemotional issues,” Cook said. “The format of MTL allows mentor students to develop their leadership skills, while also helping other students so everyone benefits. It’s another way for students to build academic and personal success.”

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I am excited and kind of anxious that it’s happening in our school mainly because we’re so diverse. It’s exciting to be able to help others and even offer it.

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-junior Sebastian Bourjolly Junior Trinity Williams said she believes MTL will be a core part of her high school experience at the Bay. She said she feels this club will give her a sense of community that is unique and not found anywhere else. “[I love] coming together with students who look like me and can relate to what I experience as an African American, it’s so awesome to be surrounded by people who understand where you’re coming from,” Williams said. “Being able to help students that are struggling in school will be so fulfilling to me.” Cook said administration approached her

photo by colin crawford

mentor minds: Peer Counseling teacher Jennifer Cook explains the principles of the Mentoring Tomorrow’s Leaders (MTL) club during their first meeting. Juniors Gbemi Awonusonu and Chelsea Neysmith watch Cook as she explains through a PowerPoint how the club was founded and college tour opportunities, which are available to members. Cook said the format of MTL allows mentor students to develop their leadership skills, while also helping other students so everyone benefits.

to facilitate the creation of MTL at the Bay because the club’s main purpose is similar to what she already does with peer counseling. However, Cook said there are various activities that are open to club members that wouldn’t be available to other students. “We will be attending a Heat game in the upcoming weeks and are putting together speakers for our meetings, and I also hope to plan a college tour, including HBCUs

[Historically Black Colleges and Universities] for early next fall,” Cook said. “Members have a fulfilling way to work together, better themselves, make important connections and earn service hours and other rewards.” MTL is just getting started and Cook said she is still looking for new members. Junior Sebastian Bourjolly said he hasn’t joined the club yet, but may join in the future because he said he agrees with its message.

“I feel like MTL is a good club to have at our school to help anyone who may need it,” Bourjolly said. “I most likely would join the club because I like to help people with anything.” Bourjolly said he believes MTL would be able to benefit the black community at the Bay. He said the club could also branch out and help other minorities. He also said he feels nervous about how successful the club will be, but he said he believes the Bay is ready for a club like MTL. “I am excited and kind of anxious that it’s happening in our school mainly because we’re so diverse,” Bourjolly said. “It’s exciting to be able to help others and even offer it.” Cook said there are officer positions members will be able to apply for, including president and vice president. She said because the club is still just getting started, it’s hard to manage everything herself without an officer board to help. “The hardest part [of creating MTL] is finding time to fit everything in; as soon as I started speaking to students about the club, they were very interested,” Cook said. “We still have work to do to form a leadership board and finalize some of the details, but it has been smooth so far.” Williams said she would be extremely interested in becoming an officer because she has a vision for what she wants the club to be like. She said she lives what the club has already done with its early meetings, but she said she thinks it could be even better. “I love the energy that everyone has. At the first club meeting it was so much fun, we talked, laughed and just had a good time. I’m glad to be in this kind of environment where I’m surrounded by people like me that want to see change,” Williams said. “I think I’d like to run for an officer position because this club is still in the developmental stage so there’s a lot of room for change and ideas to be shared regarding the direction of the club, so I’d definitely want to be a part of that conversation.”

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Concussions prompt rehabilitation efforts by gowri abhinanda NEWS COPY EDITOR

At the Bay, some students have faced physical hardships that affect their cognitive abilities; however, students like sophomore Whitney Ribnick have recently improved in the face of these struggles. In 2018, during her freshman year, Ribnick sustained a concussion. Concussions cause brain injury, which causes negative effects in cognitive abilities and hinders the brain from functioning as efficiently as it previously did. Ribnick said she acquired a concussion through an accident at color guard when she dropped a flag on her head and consequently hit her head on the pavement. She said this incident left her struggling because she had many difficulties as a result. “I was constantly nauseous and even now have headaches, which led me to have doctor appointments three or four days a week, which is a hassle and an exasperating ordeal,” Ribnick said. “It was unfortunate because I couldn’t go to school for a month and got removed from harder classes I was taking, and instead of hanging out with my friends, I was hanging out with electrodes that were strapped to my head to see if my brain was functioning alright.”

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Taking classes like psychology really broadens your perspective on topics like these, and I encourage people to listen and understand that concussions are important to seek treatment for because you can go through major personality shifts, thinking could get hard, doing simple things will not be [simple] anymore; it’s just phenomenal how much control your brain has over you.

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-sophomore Whitney Ribnick Ribnick said not only did she have issues with classes due to her headaches, but she also said she faced many social ramifications. She said this was due to being absent from classes where she used to interact with her friends often. “I still get dizzy very easily and I feel like my memory has been damaged, and it takes me longer to think things through such as math problems, chemistry problems or writing an essay, but the social issues hurt more,” Ribnick said. “Socially, [the concussion] removed me from being part of the initial friend groups of going to high school, which has been tough as well because you need a support system in a competitive environment like that.” Sophomore Asher Bejar said after experiencing a concussion just after the New Year, he realizes how hard functioning at the same capacity may be. Bejar was biking in his neighborhood when he suddenly fell off his bike, causing him to hit his head against the road. “With concussions, it’s common to suffer from migraines, nausea and dizziness, all of which I had, which really made life difficult and painful at times,” Bejar said. “You know how you would usually act before [a concussion]

were to occur, but after it’s like night and day, a complete switch, and sometimes you lose a little bit of your personality too.” Bejar said after his experience with suffering from minor brain trauma, he wants to be more careful in the future. He said this is because he knows what the consequences are if his brain is damaged again. “I know how bad it was when I first got the concussion, and getting another one would probably only make it even worse because my brain would suffer more damage,” Bejar said. “I have become more aware and careful of my surroundings, and I definitely make sure to wear my helmet whenever I go out to bike because I know how the brain reacts to any injuries that it may sustain.” AP Psychology teacher David Geller said the stories of Bejar and Ribnick are not uncommon to him. He said during his previous years of teaching at Piper High School as well as his current years teaching at the Bay, he has encountered many students who have suffered severe trauma to the brain from accidents that led to a concussion. “Years ago at Piper [High School], I had a student who had a concussion due to a car accident and not wearing a seatbelt, and this was an incredibly great student who was taking honors classes, but afterward, her cognitive abilities changed, she couldn’t acquire information and had to drop the class; she also became aggressive in nature from being timid,” Geller said. “At [the Bay], I had a student who had several concussions due to soccer and this student went from being gifted to being a below-average IQ, turned to drugs, alcohol and they finally had to drop out of school to go to a facility in a different state; it just goes to show you how much the concussions can alter a person and for the worst.” After experiencing the effects of a concussion and reading up on several cases in her psychology class with Geller, Ribnick said students should engage in the proper precautionary activities to ensure a concussion does not occur, or at least so its negative symptoms are reduced. “If you are taking part in something that could potentially damage your brain, you should do everything in your power to make sure you can take the preventative steps,” Ribnick said. “It’s good to do these things so that you can curb its effects or just completely stop it all from happening in the first place because having brain trauma is not helpful to any capacity.” Geller said he is well-versed in what a concussion is and it’s caveats. He said with the information he disseminates in his classes, he wants to offer advice and awareness to students to show how damage to the brain is important and must be treated. “I’ve been teaching the psychology course for years now, and concussions really hinder people cognitively and I’ve seen it; so kids need to use their head more, not literally, but in the sense that they should pay more heed to what happens to it,” Geller said. “With my class, I want to be able to give takeaways to my students, like how they should wear a helmet even though it may not be cool because what’s not cool is having a concussion and going through all of the cognitive disabilities that come with it. In my class, I tell them that brain damage is dangerous and should be treated with care and regarded just like any other injury, so I hope they get those lessons.” Ribnick said she feels there is some stigma regarding mental health’s importance. She said although a concussion may be internal and is not necessarily visible to the eye, the consequences are serious, as the brain controls

Photo BY gowri abhinanda

photo submitted by Whitney ribnick

Healing Heads: (From the top) sophomore Whitney Ribnick continues to recover from her brain injury which took place in 2018. She said although her concussion causes her to experience pain such as migraines, dizziness and nausea, she has been able to overcome these physical impairments to achieve her academic goals.

most of our body and emotional aspects as well. “It’s super important to take care of your brain and make sure you don’t harm it, and just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it’s not there; it’s like an invisible scar, and if you don’t take care of it, it’s only going to get worse,” Ribnick said. “Taking classes like psychology really broadens your perspective on topics like these, and I encourage people to listen and

understand that concussions are important to seek treatment for because you can go through major personality shifts, thinking could get hard, doing simple things will not be [simple] anymore; it’s just phenomenal how much control your brain has over you. We all definitely need to not turn a blind eye towards our brain and prioritize it and nurture it.”

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MARCH 2020

Class of 2017

‘The Bay made me realize how uniquely diverse the cultures in the world are’

Alumnus Cole Kauffman travels with his friend to Japan, South Korea and Taiwan before studying abroad in Australia. food of his entire life. Specifically, he said he loved the kimchi, bibimbap and Korean barbecue. He said he has been eating with only chopsticks for three weeks straight and has become better at using them. “I found that using chopsticks was very enriching for my knowledge about Asian culture,” Kauffman said. “I didn’t realize just how much they were used until I arrived in Asia.” He said he did not spend much time in Seoul and quickly departed to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. He met up with one of his friends who had originally planned to go to Vietnam. He said they drove motorcycles through the streets, checked out Vietnam war memorials and tunnels and boated to floating markets on the Mekong River Delta.

by devin pabian

sports copy editor

Alumnus Cole Kauffman graduated from the Bay in 2017. Since then, he has attended the University of Michigan and more recently embarked on a trip with one of his friends across Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. After his time traveling in Asia, Kauffman has been studying abroad in Sydney, Australia since February. He said he decided to study abroad to attain a better understanding of Australian culture. “My friend was planning on studying in Shanghai and I was home since the end of the first semester, so I decided to join him,” Kauffman said. “My semester didn’t start until February 17, so I wanted to have something to fill my time, and this fit in perfectly.” He said he arrived in Tokyo in the middle of January. Kauffman said Tokyo was the most exciting city he has ever been to. He said in contrast to the daytime, the nighttime is a neon, anime obsessed arcade. “I have never experienced anything like what Tokyo had to offer,” Kauffman said. “I was completely astonished at what I was witnessing before my eyes.” During the day, he said he went to various temples and classic tourist sites in Tokyo. At night, Kauffman went to izakayas, Japanese bars, and different arcades around the city. Kauffman said one night, he wore a Pikachu onesie and drove through the streets of the city in a go-kart. He said he had no idea prior to his trip of how some of the activities he participated in even existed. “Since Pikachu is from a Japanese company, I thought it would be fun to dress up like him and explore the city,” Kauffman said. Kauffman said he traveled in Japan by way of the bullet train, venturing to Mount Fuji, Nikko, Kyoto and Osaka. In Kyoto, he went to Arashiyama Monkey Park where he was on top of a mountain with monkeys roaming around them. He said it was a cool experience and was excited to be entirely surrounded by nature.

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So much of this trip was filled with things that I never thought I would ever do.

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As a foreigner in Asia, getting accustomed to their lifestyle was a challenge but overall, I loved having the opportunity to experience a new culture and make great memories.

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photos submitted by Cole kauffman

travel time: (From top) alumnus Cole Kauffman visits a temple in Japan to see the cultural differences this country offers. During his time in Australia, Kauffman said he “The monkey park was definitely one of visited Queenstown, New Zealand. Kauffman rides a semi-submersible inflatable shark while enjoying the scenery of the country before he studies abroad in Australia.

-alumnus Cole Kauffman

my favorite parts of the entire trip,” Kauffman said. “I have seen monkeys before but have never been indulged in the experience of hanging around them.” While in Osaka, Kauffman said the Coronavirus was getting out of hand. He said he had to wear protective face masks for the entire time he was in Japan and ultimately decided to not go to China. He said he did not want to risk his ability to enter Australia after his time in Asia. “I was disappointed that I was not able to go

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-alumnus Cole Kauffman

to China, but I thought that if I did go in then I wouldn’t be allowed in Australia,” Kauffman said. “I later found out that my concerns would have become true had I gone into China.” Kauffman’s roommate had his program cut short in Shanghai because of the Coronavirus. He said his roommate ended up studying in Berlin, Germany instead. Kauffman said the

Coronavirus threw a lot of his plans off and he had to make many adjustments for his trip. “I feel bad for him because I know how excited he was to experience life in China,” Kauffman said. “He was sad for a little while, but is now extremely happy in Berlin.” After he left Tokyo, Kauffman traveled to Seoul where he said he had some of the best

“Before coming to Vietnam, I had no idea that there were markets on the river,” Kauffman said. “Vietnam has been filled with surprises everywhere I have gone.” Kauffman said he went to Dong Hoi, a spot with many famous caves, where he went sandboarding in the dunes. There, he said he found a Vietnamese karaoke place where he said the locals were very happy to have them. “I have done karaoke in the past, but this place was so different,” Kauffman said. “So much of this trip was filled with things that I never thought I would ever do.” After his time in Vietnam, Kauffman flew to Queenstown, New Zealand to meet up with the rest of his friends who were studying in Sydney. Kauffman said Queenstown was the most beautiful city he has ever seen. “I would say Queenstown is the perfect blend of Colorado, Lake Tahoe and Hawaii,” Kauffman said. “New Zealand’s South Island is the definition of paradise in my eyes.” Kauffman took a five-hour drive from Queenstown to Franz Josef and he said it was the most beautiful drive of his life. He said there were sheep all around him until they arrived on the coastal cliffs. Once they arrived, they got on a helicopter and went to a giant glacier on a mountain and hiked it for a few hours. “The hike was extremely surreal,” Kauffman said. “The views from the top were some of the most amazing sights I have ever seen.” Kauffman said traveling through Asia was an eye-opening experience. He said he was living out of a backpack, eating only with chopsticks and sleeping in shared hotels for a month. He said it felt odd being unfamiliar with his surroundings and being the minority. “I had food that I didn’t know was food until it was served to me,” Kauffman said. “As a foreigner in Asia, getting accustomed to their lifestyle was a challenge but overall, I loved having the opportunity to experience a new culture and make great memories.”

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MARCH 2020

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MARCH 2020

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PRESIDENTS AT THE BAY JACK ROSS SGA PRESIDENT BY RACHEL ALEXANDER ONLINE FEATURES EDITOR

For SGA (Student Government Association) President and senior Jack Ross, becoming president of a club at the Bay has given him the ability to truly facilitate as much change as possible at the highest level. “I decided to apply to SGA in eighth grade because I have always had such a strong passion in leadership, government and service,” Ross said. “I believe SGA is the perfect platform to create change throughout our school and community.” Similar to Ross, senior Aubrey Rutz said being the president of PAWS has allowed her to make her mark on our community. She said she joined the club sophomore year as historian and progressed to treasurer her junior year before becoming president. “From a young age, I have had a passion for working with animals,” Rutz said. “I always knew becoming involved with PAWS was the ideal way to spend time doing what I love the most.” Rutz said she hopes to encourage members to get involved with projects in the community because there are many local animal-related rescues that need help. She said she hopes the events and socials offered will inspire members to get involved on their own time, even if it is not through PAWS. “Most individuals our age don’t know how to help,” Rutz said. “Through PAWS, we can inspire them and give them opportunities to help through supply drives, volunteering and fundraisers.” Ross said he hopes SGA can continue to be one of the leading forces behind the student body at the Bay. He said the highlight of his year as being president is the planning of homecoming, as he said he had been pushing for the Weekend in Wynwood theme since his freshman year. “Fulfilling my dream of being president has been amazing because it had been something I had been building up towards for the longest time,” Ross said. “I want to leave the Bay knowing that I accomplished what I had set in mind: creating change.” SGA adviser and Interior Design teacher Danielle Nascimento said Ross is extremely enthusiastic, which can help motivate others. “Through his constant enthusiasm, I truly think he is someone who cares a lot about what he does,” Nascimento said. “When you have heart in something, it has the ability to make a change.” Nascimento said Ross has great suggestions about how to modify SGA and has been able to identify areas where the organization has been weak. “He has created new solutions behind the scenes about how to modify how we do things,” Nascimento said. “This has allowed us to make things more efficient and effective.” Rutz said the biggest accomplishment for PAWS this year was winning Club of the Month after their dog toy making project. The dog toy making project was a social in which members used old t-shirts to make strips to tie onto rope toys. She said they filled a box and she later on donated the toys to a local rescue. “The local rescue let me deliver the toys directly to the dogs, which truly made my heart melt,”

AUBREY RUTZ PAWS CLUB PRESIDENT LAYOUT BY SOPHIE GAER

Rutz said. “Seeing the dogs eager to play with their new toys showed me that all my hard work was worth it.” Rutz said being president of PAWS has allowed her to use her leadership skills to make a difference in the lives of local shelter animals. She said she hopes to leave a legacy that inspires this year’s officers and members to continue being passionate about helping animals. “I will take the experiences I have gained through PAWS and continue to fight for animals in my future,” Rutz said. “My goal is to make as many people as I can passionate about changing the lives of animals in need.” AICE Marine Science teacher and PAWS adviser Maria Rozenberg said Rutz has done a fabulous job leading PAWS this year. “Through her work, we have won Club of the Month and the members are active and involved in community service,” Rozenberg said. “She really cares about the welfare of the animals, and I love to encourage that.” Rozenberg said this year there have been more events the members can participate in and these events can also allow members to relieve stress. “With all of the pressure that many students have, our club wants them to relax and enjoy their time at events,” Rozenberg said. “I also love the easygoing spirit Rutz has along with the rest of the board that work hard to create these events.” Similar to Ross and Rutz, senior Sarah Andersen said a large part of her high school experience has been centered around the club: Students Helping Achieve Philanthropic Excellence (SHAPE). Andersen said she originally became involved in the club due to her desire to make a positive impact on her community, especially in the lives of young children. “SHAPE gives me the platform to inspire my peers to spend their free time making someone else’s day,” Andersen said. “Seeing the smiles on the kids’ faces when we have events makes all of the work we do worth it.” Andersen said as president, she enjoys running meetings, planning events and holding socials to maintain member spirit. “I have always encouraged members in the club to get to know each other as I want the club to be more like a family,” Andersen said. “If everyone is comfortable with each other, we are able to work together more efficiently to make a change and make lifelong friends.” According to Andersen, the club has done many projects this year to give back to the community. She said one of her favorites was the Collin’s Elementary holiday party as they were able to spend time with underprivileged kids and provide a magic show, cookies and presents. “Going out into our community and seeing the impact we can make always amazes me,” Andersen said. “We were able to show these kids that they are loved not only during the holiday season, but all of the time.” Andersen said SHAPE also had a Children’s Harbor Boutique event in which they held a clothes drive and used all the donated items of clothing to set up a boutique for foster children. “I loved watching the kids look around at the clothing and even getting to pick new items for themselves,” Andersen said. “I hope that the officer board next year continues these projects as they truly bring joy to kids in need.”

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MAMBA MENTALITY

BY GOWRI ABHINANDA NEWS COPY EDITOR

On Jan. 26, a tragedy occurred after a helicopter crashed and claimed the lives of nine passengers,

one o f them being Kobe Bryant, the 18time All-Star who won five NBA championships and made a monumental impact in basketball during his time being on the Los Angeles Lakers. Another life was cut short on this fateful day, 13-year-old Gianna, Bryant’s daughter who was also killed in the fatal accident. The abrupt ending of Bryant and his daughter’s life took the world by surprise and left many in mourning and sorrow. Sophomore and member of the Bay’s boys basketball team, Maxwell Gordon, said Bryant’s passing filled him with great sadness as he was an influential figure in his life and many others. “Kobe was like many would say the [Michael Jordan] of our era, his life and work ethic was displayed to everyone and even after his career; he would just attack anything positively like with coaching or even being a father,” Gordon said. “If you watched him play basketball or just paid attention to his life he would have inspired you.” Gordon said when he first found out about the death of Bryant and his daughter, he was taken aback and was in denial for a period of time. He said this was because he first found out about the news over an article on TMZ, a tabloid news company. Gordon said news from this site is often over-dramatized for more viewer-ship, and because of this, he started to convince himself that what he had read was not real. However, it was not until he turned on the television and saw confirmation of the news that he realized Bryant’s death was real. “I thought it was fake because TMZ was the first to state it and it is known for fake news so I kind of ignored it and just told myself that it was fake and they’re just doing it for click-bait,” Gordon said. “However, the tables turned when I was watching TV later that day ESPN said it, I knew it was real, but even then, I still just couldn’t believe my eyes because it’s like Kobe was almost a god in the basketball community, and he just couldn’t die, it was too soon, so it was just shocking.” Like Gordon, junior and other basketball player for the Bay, Alex Williams, said he was distraught when he first heard of the unfortunate accident that claimed the lives of the Bryants. Williams said he has been a fan of Bryant and has followed his career through the Lakers, so when he heard that one of his idols in basketball had perished, he was deeply affected by the untimely passing. “I was a huge fan of Kobe Bryant, and I still am, he really inspired me to play due to his amazing work ethic and how exciting and passionate he was about the game,” Williams said. “I loved his mentality, and it was what really hit me and motivated me to

become the best I can possibly be, he made a great impact on my life, and seeing what happened was incredibly disheartening because he would no longer be a present inf luence in my life.”

Not only did Bryant’s death affect Williams, but he said that Gianna Bryant’s passing from the helicopter crash was just as impactful. He said he had great respect for Gianna Bryant as she had a lot of motivation and drive to excel in basketball just like her father. “I didn’t really see his

daughter play much, but watching her take after her father in terms of basketball showed me she was a hard worker and was willing to do something great in her family name,” Williams said. “It’s not easy taking after a player as good as Kobe, which means she had the drive and confidence.” Similarly to Williams and Gordon, Marina Andreoni-Stewart, the coach of the tennis team at the Bay, said she was also impacted by the news of Bryant and Gianna’s death. She said it was a tragedy as they both were so young and had a lot of life left to live to continue making an impact in and outside of the basketball community. “They were really young to have passed, I know Bryant was in his 40s and Gianna was only 13, they both were leading very impressive careers and Gianna was blossoming into a budding athlete, and Kobe was continuing his ambitions in basketball,” Andreoni-Stewart said. “They both had so much talent in basketball, and even though my members on my team play tennis, they were inspired by Bryant’s work ethic in sports, so after his passing, it was clear that he influenced some of them.” Andreoni-Stewart said the news was disheartening to watch and she wishes the circumstances could have been different. She said this helicopter incident was shocking to her because of how sudden the accident carried out. “It was depressing to see, at first it was saying that nine people died, and it was sad as it is, but then when the news started showing pictures of Kobe Bryant, it was shocking because it just became more magnified,” Andreoni-Stewart said. “Lots of life was lost on that day, and I just wished it hadn’t happened in the first place. I don’t know why it happened, there’s no reason for it, but I know it’s bad and it was all too soon and I wish whatever went wrong didn’t happen so that all these innocent people aren’t gone today.” Gordon said after the events of Jan. 26, his outlook towards life has changed. He said instead of taking life with a grain of salt, he knows it is vital to take every moment seriously and make it worthwhile as life is short and cannot be taken for granted. “When life gets cut short like this, it just shows that life isn’t just given and can be taken away at any time,” Gordon said. “As individuals, we should try to do everything we can to succeed in the things we love to do and have as full of a life as possible because every day should count.”

MARCH 2020

The Kansas Jayhawks are destined to secure a title this year March Madness is among the most entertaining periods in all of sports. Nothing else, both professional and collegiate, can compare to the atmosphere that surrounds the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) basketball tournament. Whether it is simply because many of the players will not have another chance to showcase their skills on a national level, or because of school spirit, the determination and passion that surrounds each and every game is indescribable. This year, the Kansas Jayhawks have great potential to go all the way and come out of the bracket victorious. The Jayhawks are extremely equipped with the weapons necessary to make a run in the tournament. With a dominant guard like Devon Dotson, and a menace in the paint in Udoka Azubuike, the team is simply too great of a force for their opponents to handle. Dotson is currently averaging about 18 points, four rebounds and four assists per game, proving his invaluable worth to his school. On the other hand, Azubuike recently led Kansas to a massive win over the previously ranked one seed in Baylor. His 23 points and 19 rebounds was just enough to trump one of the other best teams in the nation. In addition, head coach Bill Self is going strong in his 17th season with the Jayhawks and has absolutely lived up to the hype in past years with the team. Self knows what it takes to win, as he has a title under his belt. He is the perfect person to lead this group of talented players to a national championship. On the other side of the bracket, however, will exist three more of the best teams in the nation: the Duke Blue Devils, the Louisville Cardinals and the Florida State Seminoles. All of these schools pose real threats to the title, no matter who comes out of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) on top. When it comes to the Blue Devils, there is not much to speak of that has not already been said. They are undoubtedly a top five team this year. Tre Jones, averaging about 15 points, four rebounds, and six assists per game has a year of experience behind him. After suffering a heartbreaking loss to Michigan State in 2019 in the Elite Eight, he absolutely holds a grudge and has something more to prove this year. He, alongside center Vernon Carey Jr., Cassius Stanley and best-of-the-best “Coach K” will definitely be fierce competition against any team they face. In conclusion, Kansas has the best shot at winning the NCAA men’s basketball championship this year. Although they must beat some tremendously talented teams to get there, and literally anything can happen during March Madness, the Jayhawks are undoubtedly prepared for that. Their guardforward combination and elite coaching is the perfect mixture to create a winning team this season. They have already proven they can defeat a top team in the nation after beating Baylor, so there is not anything else that seems it can keep them from securing a title in 2020. No matter who Kansas plays, what the opposing fans are like and what other obstacles the team has to overcome, the Jayhawks have the winning spirit surrounding them this year, and they will become the champions.

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Girls basketball defeats rival team in playoffs By FRANCISCA GIULIANI

Victory was declared for the Bay’s varsity girls basketball team on Feb. 13 against Western High School with a final score of 61-50. The girls had been preparing for the regional games and freshman Aicha Keita said she was thrilled to have a successful game and beat Western. She said the previous games had many ups and downs, but the girls have risen to the top and ended on a high note, scoring many points throughout the game. “It felt great, with them being our rivals, having beat Western and having beat them by that many points,” Keita said. “It was such a great experience to have with all of the teammates, and it really made us feel good, which made us be able to power through the finals.” Wing Shooting Guard and freshman Eden Uanatta said that the games are truly special to her and her teammates are as well. She said she enjoys working with the team both in and out of the game. “I like the team and getting to spend time with all of my teammates,” Uanatta said. “I also really enjoy working hard and getting a good workout through basketball games and practice.” Keita said she believes practice makes perfect and the team has been constantly training for next season at the end of the current one. Keita said the team begins each game by a set warm up which has a main focus of training to shoot the basketball into the hoop and doing a set of stretches and warm up exercises. The exercises consist of practicing, having control over the basketball and passing it to tall teammates. “We prepared for the final games with a lot of shooting and scoring, as we are a

shooting focused team, which made us shoot the ball a lot in practice,” Keita said. “Practicing shooting would make our performance better during the games.” Uanatta said basketball will continue playing a prominent role in her life even after high school is over because it is important to her. She said that she wants to continue her growth in the sport for the next seasons. “The season ended on Feb. 18, and I am definitely going to continue playing travel basketball, as I love to compete in the sport,” Uanatta said. “I will hopefully continue playing for the Bay’s basketball team for future years to come.” Keita said like Uanatta, basketball is important in her life and she still has three more high school years to continue getting better and showing growth. Keita said she hopes to continue her basketball journey with her team. “I will also continue playing travel basketball during my own time,” Keita said. “I want to continue playing with my team at [the Bay] next year, as I really enjoy the sport and my teammates.” The boys basketball coach, Jason Looky, was present to watch the girl’s game and he said he was excited to be able to see the girls beat Western. Looky said that as a coach, he roots for many of the Bays sports teams, and the girl’s basketball team is one of them. “I thought it was a great game. The fact that they were able to stay focused and engaged, even though [the Bay] had already beaten Western a few weeks back, and still come out with victory was very impressive,” Looky said. “I think that with hard work and dedication the program is going to grow.” Looky said that the team will need to fill the shoes of senior Sofia Jones, a skilled player on the team who is graduating. He

phOTOs BY fRANCISCA GIULIANI

shootin’ hoops: (From top) senior Sophia Jones plays in the regional tournament against Western High School. The Bay’s girls basketball team defeated Western 61-50 to advance in the playoffs. Coach Jason Looky said he was elated to watch the girls succeed since they had a hard season last year.

said that the girls had a great outcome and that they were able to advance into the playoffs because of players like Jones. “I know that the girls had a tough season last year and the fact that they were able to

advance into the deep playoffs of the state tournament was pretty awesome,” Looky said. “Sofia Jones is a great player on the team who is leaving, and the team has to work extra hard to fill in her shoes.”

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The Florida Panthers have not performed their best during this NHL season. Prior to the NHL All-Star break, the Florida Panthers set themselves up to make it to the playoffs for the first time in four years. They led the NHL in goal scoring and were third in the Atlantic division. However, after the allstar break, everything fell apart. The Panthers are now 5-11-2 following the all-star break and have lost seven games in a row at home following their loss to the Calgary Flames. A playoff spot seems out of reach with only 20 games left in the season. At a time when the Panthers should be playing their best, they are playing their worst, making it seem like they do not care about making the playoffs.

Bottom Line: The Florida Panthers have given up on their season The Panthers have a talented team that rivals the league’s best like Auston Matthews. Captain Aleksander Barkov is coming off a career year in which he had a career high in points. Recently, however, Barkov is non-existent on the ice, not producing offensively the same way he did at the beginning of the season. The only player who has been half-way decent is Mike Hoffman who has been the only one scoring goals in the Panthers atrocious offense. The problem with Hoffman is now the Panthers are dependent on the “Hoffman one-timer,” which works, when it is not every single play they use. The Panthers have a talented team that has the potential to light the lamp but right now, they are just not doing that during the most important stretch of the season. This is a time they should turn it on but instead, they look deflated on the ice like they

want the season to end. Goalies Sergei Bobrovsky and Sam Montembeault have been doing the best they can to try and keep the Panthers alive during games. They make bold stops at timely moments that should invigorate the Panthers, but instead have no affect on them. Against the Flames, Montembeault made a huge stop on superstar Johnny Gaudreau on his penalty shot. While that should inspire them, the Panthers ended up getting shut out. Just because they finally have solid goaltending does not mean they should be putting pressure on the goalies to perform when the offense cannot score, and the defense is awful. The Philadelphia Flyers were able to capitalize on phenomenal goaltending, propelling themselves to first in the metropolitan division from a similar spot the Panthers were in prior to the break. The Panthers need to be playing as a cohesive unit rather than just a bunch of guys skating around as if they have never played hockey and rely on the goalie to score for them. The fact of the matter is, the Panthers do not want to make the playoffs. During the game against the Flames, fans were so fed up with the Panthers they booed them. They tell the media they need to play better but that is not translating into on-ice play. If they truly wanted to be better, they would shoot the puck on a powerplay or actually play defense but instead, they rely on the goalie to do everything for them. If they do not turn their lackluster season around soon, they can say goodbye to the playoffs and spend yet another offseason watching the teams that actually care about winning compete for the Stanley Cup

MARCH 2020

It is not likely to predict every NCAA game perfectly during March Madness. Since the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) College Basketball Tournament started in 1939, there has never been a dull moment. Two years ago, the number one seed, University of Virginia, lost against the number sixteen seed, University of Maryland for the first time in tournament history. In fact, there has never even been a perfect bracket for the tournament, proving the impossibility of predicting what will transpire during any of the games. The chance that someone does get a perfect bracket is a whopping one in nine quintillion. There is a higher chance of someone becoming a professional basketball player, winning the powerball jackpot, dating a supermodel, getting struck by lighting and getting a hole-in-one than picking a perfect bracket.

Bottom Line: It is impossible to predict the winner of March Madness and have a perfect bracket The reason that this task is so hard is because of the immense number of teams in the tournament. In the first round, there are 64 teams competing for spots in the next round. The best bracket ever has predicted the first 39 games correctly, which is barely into the second round. There are a total of 63 games played in the tournament, and a game decided by two points could completely ruin an otherwise perfect bracket. Even though it is practically impossible to predict every game perfectly, something drives people every year to take their time and fill out a bracket, knowing of their inevi-

table failure. Some people post on social media, saying they have a feeling that “this is the year”, “I don’t care about numbers” or “I have a sense that it’s going to happen.” These people then proceed to have their spirits crushed when they get that notification or when they watch the final seconds of the game that busts their bracket. And after that, the excuses start to pile up; “The refs missed so many calls” or “the coach should have put him in.” Currently, the top five teams in the nation are the Kansas Jayhawks, Gonzaga Bulldogs, Dayton Flyers, Florida State Seminoles and Baylor Bears. Kansas is the current favorite to win the national championship at +600. The Duke Blue Devils are ready for another title as they have a great young core in Tre Jones, Wendell Moore Jr. and Vernon Carey Jr. that will all play sufficiently in the tournament and lead the Blue Devils to the promised land. After a relatively disappointing season, they will be looking to make a statement against top teams as they will make a deep run and walk away with the title. The biggest surprise in the tournament will come from the Florida Gators. They will not win the title, but the Gators are in place to have a surprising run. The Gators’ head coach Mike White will have to lead his team far in the tournament since he is currently on the hot seat. The Gators will need freshman Scottie Lewis, sophomore Keyontae Johnson and senior Kerry Blackshear Jr. to step up in order to win games and knock off top opponents. For all the tournaments to come, there will be shocks, upsets and wellfought games, but no one will ever be able to predict a perfect bracket.

FACE OFF YES Referees should be penalized for poor judgement calls they make during the games. Throughout the history of the NFL, referees making calls of this nature has become a part of the sport. The issue is that the NFL wants their referees to be unbiased and only make calls when necessary, but humans are innately biased. There are a few ways the NFL can penalize its referees. Some of the ways are suspensions, fines and even losing their job. There are few cases in which the NFL fires a referee for a call that was clearly unnecessary or biased. Referee Hugo Cruz missed a false start penalty call against the Los Angeles Chargers’ offensive linesman Russell Okung in a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The penalty was so severe that the NFL fired him the next day. Referees should either be fined for the horrible calls made during games or fired. The players, coaches and owners are all held accountable for their actions and the referees should not be any different. If there is evidence a poor call was made, the referee should be fined. It would make referees think twice before making a call that could impact the game. Over the past couple of years, the league average has gone from 13 penalties called per game to 15, which is a major difference. Poor calls not only affect the game, but also players and bystanders; just like any other job, when the quality is lacking, serious problems occur. - Reece Kauffman

Should NFL referees get pentalized for making poor calls?

NO Nobody is perfect. This also applies to NFL referees since they are constantly under fire for making unagreeable calls or missing clear penalties. Although they may make mistakes, they should not be fined or suspended for making bad decisions in games. Even though the actions of the referees can be catastrophic for a team, they cannot be expected to get every single call right in all of their games. With all of the pressure they receive from the players, coaches and fans, it is almost expected that referees will make a mistake or two in a game. Also, it is not easy being a referee in this industry. They are constantly running around the field watching every single move made by both teams, making sure there are no fouls committed. They also have to be attentive to every pass, catch and run to see if there are interceptions, incomplete passes or fumbles. They are presented with these challenges while being under complete scrutiny from everyone watching and playing the game. Thanks to new technology, the referees are aided by replay systems to confirm or overturn their calls, making sure they are as accurate as possible. These new replay systems give assurance to the referees, fans, coaches and players that they are getting the fairest game possible. If anything, it should be mandatory for referees to take classes on how to do their job rather than receive a fine for it. These courses would serve as a refresher for the referees that have been in the NFL for a long time and have forgotten the fundamentals of refereeing. - Devin Pabian

SPORTS

MARCH 2020

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ATHLETES TO WATCH CARSON FIDJE How old were you when you started playing lacrosse? I started playing lacrosse when I was 13. My dad got me into the sport because he used to play for John Hopkins and I got inspired by him. What are your strengths and weaknesses? My strength is my work ethic; I’m always on the field playing as hard as I can. My weakness is becoming tired and not playing as well as I could; I try my hardest to keep going. What is something you and your teammates can improve on this year? My teammates and I can improve on our communication and bonding as a team. We play very well together, however we can work more on teamwork during practice and games. What inspired you to start playing lacrosse? My dad played lacrosse when he was younger, so I got inspired. Also, the sport seemed a lot of fun to play. I knew once I began playing, I would want to continue.

-Dani Shapiro Class of 2020 Height: 6’1’’

GOAL: BECOME CAPTAIN HEIGHT: 5’11” TEAM: BOYS LACROSSE CLASS OF 2022

GRACE LANCELOT What inspired you to start playing lacrosse? My brother plays lacrosse and I really enjoyed practicing with him, so I decided to play for [the Bay]. A lot of my cousins also play lacrosse so it just runs in my family a lot. What position do you play and why? I play attack because that is where my coach thought I would be best placed. Although I have tried other positions before, attack is definitely where I feel most confident. What is the most difficult part about being on the team? Why? Definitely balancing my time and schoolwork in between daily practices. I take a lot of hard classes and with that obviously comes lots of work and homework so I had to learn how to manage my time wisely. What do you think you can improve on in the future? I can improve on developing more stick skills and getting faster. Do you plan on continuing this sport in the future? Yes, I plan on playing through high school.

-Alexa Braxton Class of 2020 Height: 6’1’’

GOAL: DEVELOP SKILLS HEIGHT: 5’4” TEAM: GIRLS LACROSSE CLASS OF 2022

SPRING SEASON STATISTICS Varsity Girls Softball (3-5)

Varsity Boys Baseball (5-1)

Fort Lauderdale

South Plantation

Pembroke Pines Charter

Cooper City

Coral Springs Charter

Deerfield Beach

Pompano Beach Park Vista

W L

Varsity Boys Lacrosse (3-2) St. Thomas

McArthur

Boyd Anderson

W W

Varsity Girls Lacrosse (4-3) Western

Coral Glades

Coral Springs

Western

Plantation

South Plantation

Plantation

South Plantation

W W

Cardinal Gibbons

30 MARCH 2020

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COVID-19 pandemic postpones annual Ultra Music Festival

by hannah grogan ad designer

Social media plays a big role in the way people live their day to day lives and has been a platform where people can express their creativity in different ways. For junior Janey Marsh, she said something she enjoys doing in her free time is editing pictures to add more life to them, while also displaying her personality. “Sometimes I take really cute pictures but they are super basic, so there is so much I can do to one photo to make it more fun and fit my style,” Marsh said. “I like to add cute filters and stickers to add more variety and see how I can change them to look different than any other generic photo.” Marsh said she uses multiple editing apps, including VSCO for different filters and Picsart to add cool effects, lighting and stickers. She said Picsart offers a variety of stickers and features to add, so one photo could have several different looks depending on what the creator is trying to achieve in a design. “I usually edit the filters on VSCO first because it’s much easier to do before you add anything else because the filter might affect the way the sticker color comes out,” Marsh said. “I love how Picsart has so many stickers and effects already made, so all I have to do is search what I want and use them.” Junior Sofia Angel said she also uses Picsart and VSCO to edit her photos and add other elements into them. She said a majority of her inspiration comes from Instagram, friends and apps like VSCO where creativity has no limit. “It usually doesn’t take me more than 15 minutes to edit one picture, but to be honest it depends on how I’m editing them and whether I am drawing on the picture or not,” Angel said. “Sometimes, if I’m drawing on designs, [it] can take up to 40 minutes to get it perfect,

and if I want to cut out my own sticker from a saved photo, that can also take time as well.” Marsh said photo editing is more than just spending time on the phone, but allowing creativity to be expressed in so many different ways. She said taking what most people think is an unhealthy habit and making it a way of self expression can actually be good for the mind and expand the imagination. “I like to edit pictures because it gets my mind off of things when I have a lot going on, and I think that it is important to take time off and do something you enjoy,” Marsh said. “It’s a good distraction because it allows me to be creative and relax when I need to while enjoying what I am doing.” Angel said she finds joy in editing pictures because it takes them to another level of creativity and shows another side of a photo that may not have been noticed. She said it brings out other pieces within a picture that may not have been observed through a regular photo. “Editing allows me to bring more life to a picture and to express other elements within it,” Angel said. “I think it makes everything all the more vivid and attractive or pleasing to the eye when you add a variety of components.” Marsh said photo editing can be time consuming, but in a positive way. She said it is important to take time doing something enjoyable, and taking that time to learn something new can be beneficial. “Each picture usually takes me about 20 minutes to edit depending on how complex the look I’m going for is,” Marsh said. “Finding the filter and style that I think fits best with the certain photo can take long, but once I find one I like, it’s easy to add on to that.” Marsh said seeing how other people edit inspires her and allows her imagination to grow further because she is feeding her mind with new ideas. She said there is so much creativity being showcased through social media, so just scrolling through and seeing

new styles is inspirational. “I get a lot of my inspiration from trendy posts I see from just scrolling through social media and saving what I think looks cool and just adding my own touch to make it something to fit my personality better,” Marsh said. “Social media is a huge part of our generation, and there are always new trends to get inspired from so you can never get bored.” Studio I Art teacher Gretchen Marfisi said it is important for students to showcase their artistic creativity in different ways. She said it allows them to go above and beyond normal with no limits. “Creating art in different ways inspires students to be proud of the work they create because of the diversity that is shown in all their pieces,” Marfisi said. “Creating forms of art allows students to think outside the box and further their imagination.” Marfisi said every student is different in so many ways, so seeing what each individual comes up with is inspiring and refreshing. She said whether it be art on paper or digital art, like photo editing, it still allows students to create different pieces using their creativity. “I am used to teaching studio art and seeing masterpieces coming to life on paper through paint and colors,” Marfisi said. “But I understand the thought process with any kind of art including technology based pieces, and I think it is cool how they think of those different edits.” Angel said social media is a huge topic of discussion because of the overuse and time frames others spend on their phones. She said she does not think having hobbies on her phone is unhealthy, but another way of showcasing creativity. “It is not unhealthy unless you allow it to get to the point where you need to be on your phone,” Angel said. “If you have self control and practice it in a controlled fashion, it can be something good.”

With COVID-19, commonly known as the Coronavirus, rapidly spreading both nationally and internationally, many individuals are taking health precautions to hopefully avoid contracting the illness. With the global outbreak, many are reducing travel, sanitizing public surfaces like shopping carts and avoiding shaking hands with others. However, on the extreme end of precautionary measures, the yearly Ultra music festival, set to be from March 20-22, has been cancelled for the year of 2020. In lieu of the outbreak, the city of Miami could not secure the intended venue of Bayfront Park for the festival, resulting in the unfortunate cancellation. This decision affects a large slew of people and economies: concert attendees, performers, South Florida Hotels, airline companies and Ultra’s sponsors. For music festival lovers and those who often travel to see their favorite artist, the breeding grounds of Ultra’s 70,000 attendees would not do South Floridians any favors in terms of protecting themselves from contracting the virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns citizens that the virus is poorly manageable in crowded settings. This would mean a concert of any type could help to spread the virus even further. As Ultra draws in many tourists, the music festival typically boosts the economy of South Florida as hotel capacity numbers are elevated, driving services like Uber or Lyft are used more frequently and restaurants are flooded with reservations. Without this draw of 70,000 individuals, the city of Miami will not be receiving these economic advances, proving that cancelling Ultra may not have been the best idea from an economic standpoint. It may be true that pushing the event back a year was too vast of a measure, and they simply could have postponed by a month or two until the epidemic dies down. Making festival goers wait about a year is rather extensive, and perhaps Ultra should have considered pushing the event back until the virus is rather contained. A treatment for the virus may be created, or the outbreak may die down before the postponed date. Ultra needs to consider running the event as soon as possible, in a healthy way of course, to please their customers While Ultra Music Festival attendees must be at least 18 years of age, many seniors from the Bay have attended the event yearly. With the sudden cancellation, and Ultra pushing the event to a time when many Bay students will be in college, this is extremely disappointing. Not only is Ultra something Cypress seniors have looked forward to, it is also something that they may not even be able to attend as they may have taken their studies elsewhere post graduation. While the intention behind cancelling Ultra Music Festival was one that was meant to reduce harm by eliminating a setting in which COVID-19 can spread, the cancellation of such a mass event may has done more harm than good. Ultra could have had an extensive medical team on site, implemented several hand-washing stations near restrooms or merely pushed the event further back to a point where it could still occur in Miami; instead, no efforts were made to save the signature-Miami music festival. Obviously a world outbreak of a virus is something that should be taken seriously, but jumping to such a quick decision to cancel the event was not a good choice, as the city of Miami will suffer economically, and many students from the Bay will be affected negatively financially.

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MARCH 2020

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AMT I production brings fairytale to life Beauty and The Beast Jr. was held in the Bay’s auditorium on Feb. 19-21. This show was a production of the American Musical Theatre (AMT) I class, with months of preparation leading up to it. Freshman Gianna Gomez played the lead role of Belle and said she was ecstatic about receiving the part. “Singing and performing has been my passion for so long, and it felt like all my hard work paid off when I found out that I received the part,” Gomez said. “I have always loved Belle as a kid, and I was so happy to see I would get to play her in real life.” The cast list was released in October, and since then, an abundance of work has gone into preparing for the show. Sophomore Victoria Noble worked closely with the cast and was one of the tech directors for the play. Noble said there was a lot of planning that went into the show and everything was pinpointed to perfection. “My job during the show was to run all the songs up in the sound booth, and doing this was a lot more stressful than I thought it would be,” Noble said. “I was always on my toes waiting for my cues and making sure I played the correct song on time.” Each AMT class puts on one production each year, each directed by AMT teacher Cynthia Lutwin. Lutwin said she is extremely proud of the freshmen for pulling off the show so well, as it is their first time performing in a production at the Bay. “They were all so professional, and the show truly looked like a real Broadway performance,” Lutwin said. “The show was packed all three nights, and it makes me so happy as a teacher to hear good reviews about their performance.”

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They were all so professional and the show truly looked like a real Broadway performance.

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-AMT teacher Cynthia Lutwin Rehearsals first began in October after the cast was selected and occurred every other day during AMT I class. Gomez said every single rehearsal was taken extremely seriously, and there was no time to waste. “There is so much that goes into preparing for a show because it is not only just learning music, we have to act out our lines with each other and make it look real,” Gomez said. “Even though we have dancers that are a part of the cast, we all have to learn some choreography and be in the correct formations.” Noble said although there are intensive rehearsals, there are still mistakes that can be made. She said it is tech’s job to make sure the show runs smoothly, but there is always something that might not go as planned. “We try our hardest to make sure there are no slip ups, but with so much movement and cues that we have to hit, there’s always room for human error,” Noble said. “Thankfully, we did not have any major problems during rehearsals or during any nights of the show, other than minor

problems with the mics being too low or not working at all.” Tickets go on sale about a month before the show, and ads are bought by students and local companies to be put in the show’s playbill, or “Baybill.” Lutwin said messages of encouragement are put in the booklet for performers to see. “We encourage everyone to buy their tickets during the presale, online or during lunches rather than buying them at the door since there is assigned seating, and I’m sure they want a good spot for the show,” Lutwin said. “It is truly so important we get enough tickets sold in time for opening night, otherwise we would have to cancel all nights of the show.”

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At that moment, looking at the audience and hearing the applause, I felt complete and like all of our hard work had paid off.

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by anamaria camara

-freshman Gianna Gomez The show is promoted by the students in a multitude of ways, such as social media, wearing a T-shirt with “Beauty and the Beast Jr.” printed on it, performing a song from the show at Weston Town Center and playing the show’s soundtrack during lunches while selling tickets. Gomez said all these methods are great ways to get people excited and interested in seeing the production. “A few days before the show, we performed a little bit of the choreography from ‘Be Our Guest’ during all the lunches to give students a little sneak peak of the show and to encourage them to come watch it,” Gomez said. “I feel like to really get our show out there, proper promotion is super important.” As opening night approached, rehearsals started to be scheduled after school along with the ones during class. Noble said this was easier for her, as she is a sophomore and not in the AMT I class. “As the show started nearing and the choreography and songs were down, the other upperclassmen techies and I began to stay after school until 5:30 and run through the whole show,” Noble said. “Running the show behind the scenes is a lot harder than it looks, and it is important we get a lot of practice.” Lutwin said every single rehearsal is essential to how the show turns out, and it is important that students do not miss out. She said it is a lot harder to make up for lost time than one would think. “We manage our time very wisely during rehearsals, and when there’s days where there is no school or when many students do not show up to class, it just sets us back,” Lutwin said. “It does not matter how major a student’s part is, every student is essentially vital to the process.” Gomez said in every big production, there are great memories to accompany it. She said she will never forget her first lead role at a new school. “The feeling you get once you take your very last bow on the last night of the show is honestly like none other,” Gomez said. “At that moment, looking at the audience and hearing the applause, I felt complete and like all of our hard work had paid off.”

photos by anamaria camara

be our guest: The Beauty and the Beast Jr. production takes the animated storyline of the original movie and makes it a live play performed by mostly underclassmen. American Musical Theatre I class, directed by teacher Cynthia Lutwin, incorporates singing, dancing and theatrical acting for three nights.

32 THE CIRCUIT

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FEBRUARY 2020

Strut your style

runway ready: (From top) sophomore Sophia Magette arrives at the French Fashion Show as a performer to sing and entertain the audience on the runway. She prepares to sing with a fashion show inspired outfit. During the fashion show, multiple students display their own unique style with jewelry and headpieces. Sophomore Ana Rosile models her ruffle top with floral accents. Accompanying her outfit is a flower inspired headpiece. She models infront of the art wall created by the French Honor Society, who stayed after school to paint and make decorations. By francisca giuliani

The French inspired runway was captured at the Bay as the French Honor Society developed a fashion show open to all students. Student fashion enthusiasts and models were called to sign up and display their own chosen outfits. Algebra II Honors and Geometry Honors teacher Evonne Pankowski was a judge at the event who said she had the opportunity to see all of the student-developed outfits at the event. “The influence of fashion at school allows students to express their individuality, and I think that fashion is likable by people depending on their own personal fashion style,” Pankowski said. “Therefore, it gives people the advantage to be themselves and allows them to decide what is trendy for them, as students find their own take on fashion.” Whether it is based upon cultural heri-

tage, background or own personal preferences, students were not restrained to any fashion rules and could exhibit any style they liked for the show. Students who participated were encouraged to think out of the box and use their creativity to create amazing fashion statements. Junior French Honor Society member Ines Helguera helped in the production of the event. “Fashion has made a great impact at school, and it is a way for students to express themselves and their own creativity,” Helguera said. “Fashion can unite people together and make them feel part of something really special. Students can produce their own personal statements at the fashion show.” French Honor Society students prepared decorations, and they stayed after school to create their own designed walls. Junior Antonella Serapiglia said the hard work put in by

of a school fashion show that she participated in when she was in high school, and it was one of the most exciting events of the year. She said she is excited that the Bay gets to experience a similar event. Sophomore and club member Natalia Preciado said that the event is not only exciting, but it is also nerve wracking as it is the biggest event for the French Honor Society of the year. “It’s been a great experience to be a part of the show because not only was it fun to put together, but I also got to see how students took fashion to the next level at the event,” Preciado said. “Now [French Honor Society] gets to see our hard work pay off and enjoy the event; I hope to see students and families having a great time.” Preciado worked backstage during the event and made sure that all of the fashion models were ready once the show began. Preciado said that she was able to see fabulous outfits put on the runway. “The club had a dress rehearsal that took place a couple days before the event, and a rose wall was also put together for the fashion show,” Preciado said. “For the first event of this size that has been put on by the club, everything looked amazing.” Vazquez said she hopes to use the experience from this year’s fashion show to execute a greater event in the upcoming years. Valquez said that the decorations made the event even greater, and it helped create the environment of a real fashion show.

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Fashion can unite people together and make them feel part of something really special. Students can produce their own personal statements at the fashion show.

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Photos submitted by Paola Vazquez

many clubs and class members paid off in a remarkable way. “It was rewarding to put together such an event, as it has never been done before at the school,” Serapiglia said. “The event itself came out amazing, and it felt great to be part of it.” Junior and French Honor Society Historian Paola Vazquez helped coordinate the event and ensured the plan for the fashion show was executed correctly. Vazquez said her favorite part of the event was making the decorations because it was such a great way for all of the members to interact in a creative activity. “The event was a lot of fun, yet stressful to prepare; we had to do lots of preparing and buy many materials,” Vazquez said. “We had to find the time and people to help prepare, but it was definitely worth it.” The club members prepared not only by creating decorations, but with dress rehearsals and by promoting the event through ticket sales and posters. Serapiglia said that club members put in some of their best work ethic to create beautiful decorations for the event. “The decoration ideas presented by French Honor Society club and class members were original,” Serapiglia said. “The designs on the black and gold walls elevated the event, and highlighted the models outfits.” This event was the French Honor Society’s first fashion show. Helguera said members of the club want to continue the event for future years at the Bay. She said the event helps make the club stand out. “We definitely want to carry out the idea for upcoming years to bring more school spirit, and it is a great way for students and parents to gather and have fun,” Helguera said. “It is amazing as students and the audience get to see different creative sides and fashion styles.” The show included many teacher judges that would then analyze and pick their favorite looks of the night. A winner was chosen at the end of the night, who left rewarded with a $50 gift card. The show also includes student performers including many singers. Pankowski said she had a great time as a judge. “I love getting to judge, and I am so excited to get to see what my students produce and what they picked out to wear at the show,” Pankowski said. “I am also excited to get to see some of my students sing, and just get to show their talents that I don’t get to see inside of the math classroom.” Pankowski said that the event reminds her

-junior Ines Helguera

“I would love to do this again next year, and even though it was a lot of work, I think it would be great to create such a beautiful event again, as it showcases the French Honor Society,” Vazquez said. “In the end it was incredible to be able to see our decorations displayed at the fashion show, as it provided a feeling of satisfaction.”

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MARCH 2020

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Young artists utilize outlets to express themselves The word art can be defined in many ways. For junior Sofia Angel, art means the expression and freedom of it. Angel is involved in photography, painting, drawing and writing. “Art is the ability to express yourself freely and in the manner you choose,” Angel said. “To me, art is the most beautiful form of expression there is.” Ceramics teacher Alan McKnight said he thinks the arts are powerful because they all promote right brain thinking that balances out the logical thinking in the left side of the brain. He said this encourages creativity in people. “Studies have shown that students and people that engage in activities dealing with the arts prove to be smarter and better problem solvers,” McKnight said. “I think being involved in the arts and using that right brain thinking makes students better equipped to handle life.” Angel said she likes art because it calms her and helps her think about the task at hand and block out everything else. She said she is able to express her thoughts easily and in a manner she pleases. She said she reaches people without using words through her artwork. “Art has allowed me to connect with other people and make deeper connections with myself,” Angel said. “I have used art as an outlet to express my emotions and help me calm my mind.”

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Studies have shown that students and people that engage in activities dealing with the arts prove to be smarter and better problem solvers. I think being involved in the arts and using that right brain thinking makes students better equipped to handle life.

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-Ceramics teacher Alan McKnight Junior Danielle Cerutti said she enjoys the arts because it is versatile. She said she did not seriously start doing art until a year ago, and since then, she has entered her artwork into contests and exhibits. Cerutti draws and does art similar to drawing. “Art has affected my life by opening up a whole new world to me,” Cerutti said. “Getting my art out to the world makes me feel a sense of accomplishment and makes me feel like I am making an impact on the world.” McKnight said art has been a part of his life ever since he could remember. He said he has always been participating in activities dealing with the arts, whether it was performing arts or visual arts. “I don’t think I could live without the arts, that is why I chose a career that dealt with art,”

McKnight said. “I really like spreading art concepts to students and kids and seeing how they enjoy and take pride in what they make.” Cerutti said being an artist can have some drawbacks, but also tremendous benefits. She said the worst aspect of art is the pressure artists place on themselves, and the best feature is the freedom it gives a person.

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Creating art allows me to let all my feelings out without someone interrupting me or trying to change my mind. I have used my art to try and provoke thought by incorporating beach trash into my artwork to raise awareness about

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By isabella grogan features / sports photo editor

-junior Danielle Cerutti “In art, there are no rules and so many possibilities, which make creating fun,” Cerutti said. “Everyone really can just do whatever they feel like, which is super freeing and lets you express yourself however you want, which outweighs the negative aspects of art.” Angel said her favorite aspect of the arts is the creativity and expression it gives artists. She said she uses her art as a way to express how she feels or let go of feelings she may not want. “The best thing about art is all the creativity and expression you find in different pieces,” Angel said. “[There are] so many different emotions, cultures, styles, etc.; it’s such a diverse thing that really has no end or specific style to it.” Art is said to have a purpose. Cerutti thinks art’s purpose is to get people thinking about the world and the way it works. “Art is a great opportunity to make people feel a certain way, and to get a message across,” Cerutti said. “Art is used in festivals, exhibits, etc., all for the goal of creating an impression on people, and in doing this, the pieces work to spread the ideas and feelings of the creator.” Cerutti said art serves as a perfect outlet to let out feelings and ideas in a way that words cannot. She said she uses art as a therapist. “Creating art allows me to let all my feelings out without someone interrupting me or trying to change my mind,” Cerutti said. “I have used my art to try and provoke thought by incorporating beach trash into my artwork to raise awareness about environmental issues.” For Angel, art is used to draw attention to ideas, themes or situations going on in the world. She said it brings beauty and attention to life, but ultimately serves the purpose that the viewer wants it to serve. “Art is able to inform people about a drastic problem in a way that is very understandable for all,” Angel said. “It can be used to create an impact, a change or a call to action, which is one of the most beautiful things about it.” There are many different types of artists, from contemporary artists to cartoonists.

photos by isabella grogan

work of art: (From top) sophomore Diego Valdes Rengel practices playing the drums in front of the band room. Valdes said auditory art is just as prominent in the world of creativity as the visual arts in his eyes. Because of this, he said he makes music every day as a way to express his feelings and ideas. He said the syncopation of the drums also play a role in mixing up an otherwise routine day and keeping life interesting. He said all of these factors come together to make this hobby essential to life. Likewise, junior Sofia Angel poses in front of a mirror to reflect her own image in its glass. She said she cannot imagine a world without photography, as it is a medium that provides her with an endless array of opportunities to capture the moments important to her.

Cerutti said her favorite artist is Keith Haring, who does pop art. “A lot of [Haring’s] work is super bright, and his pieces are really clean and fun,” Cerutti said. “He has his own style that is unique to him, which sets him apart from other artists and makes his work recognizable.” Cerutti said there are no limitations to art. She said she feels it is too broad of a subject to put a limit on.

“There are so many directions you can take art in and so many styles to explore,” said Cerutti. “The art world is always evolving and growing, and because of that, I’d have to say that art is limitless.”

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MARCH 2020

MOTIVATING MUSICIANS The Circuit’s staff reviews six albums by empowering women artists.

“Lemonade”

“thank u, next”

by colin crawford

by Jenna Friedman

Beyoncé’s incredible and revolutionary Grammy award winning album, ”Lemonade,” was released in 2016. The album takes the listener on an audible journey through her experience as a woman whose husband cheated on her. Radically different from her previous releases, “Lemonade” marks the beginning of a new era in Beyoncé’s career, an increased artistry in her music focusing on lyrics and unconventional music videos. She made her story known through her music and was not afraid to share her most personal feelings about her life. Beyoncé usually toes the line between pop and hip hop; however, in ”Lemonade,” she crosses over into several different genres like rock on the track “Don’t Hurt Yourself” and folk/soul on the song “Daddy Lessons,” but for the most part the album is R&B and hip hop. On “Sorry,” Beyoncé comes to a realization that she is not at fault for what she is going through and on “6 Inch” she sings about female independence and strength. Not only did she empower women with this album, she also promoted black culture. For example, in the song “Formation,” Beyoncé sings about what she loves about African American people and black excellence; the feel-good, hype song is truly one of the best on the whole album. Also, on “Freedom,” the theme is breaking barriers and being powerful; the upbeat track features rapper Kendrick Lamar, who really completes the song with his rap bridge. Overall, “Lemonade” might just be Beyoncé’s magnum opus, a magnificent masterpiece that cannot be silenced.

Filled with hits preaching self-love and girl power, Ariana Grande’s pop album “thank u, next” incorporates elements of incredible vocals and catchy beats. Before this album was created, Grande experienced some extremely difficult life changes, such as a breakup with fiance Pete Davidson, a bombing at one of her concerts in Manchester and the death of her exboyfriend Mac Miller. The incredible lyricism of “thank u, next” demonstrates her struggles and how she pushes past them by appreciating herself and her values. Therefore, while not only providing an amazing listening experience, it is also incredibly inspiring to hear how she put her life into song. Upbeat tracks, such as “thank u, next,” “break up with your girlfriend, i’m bored” and “7 rings,” have formulated into girl-power anthems, and they are energetic tunes with extremely infectious beats and lyrics. On the other hand, Grande incorporates some slower ballads, such as “ghostin” and “needy.” These tracks truly demonstrate her deeply felt emotions, while also highlighting how talented she is as a singer. Her incredible vocal range is displayed throughout the entire album, but most notably on opening track “imagine,” where she includes whistle notes and powerful choruses. Overall, Grande’s fifth album is nothing like any of her previous ones; the raw emotion that shines through each track on “thank u, next” sets Grande’s status as a powerhouse in the pop world. It empowers women and proves that although life can be difficult, it is healthy to be vulnerable and express feelings.

“Breakout”

“Anti”

by Jen Silverman

by Karla Soberon

Filled with throw-back favorites, Miley Cyrus’s 2008 album, “Breakout,” includes a variety of music styles in each track. As this album was created during her career as an actor, the songs are all childish but in a good way. While the music is rather immature, it is perfect for the target audience, and it is well composed. The album consists of both original songs and covers, such as “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun,” originally sung and made famous by Cyndi Lauper. The combination of covers and original tracks creates a diverse album open to a larger audience. Some of the most popular songs on the album are “Breakout,” “7 Things” and “See You Again.” All three of these tracks are energetic and upbeat pop, with fun and engaging lyrics. The lyrics inform readers that Cyrus had hardship with love in the past, but also includes how she is going to improve upon her actions in the future. The lyrics of these songs have the ability to teach and expand upon understanding feelings and emotions and how to reflect on actions to better improve them. Beyond the meaningful message Cyrus sends, the album also demonstrates how talented she is as a singer. Tracks like “Goodbye,” “Bottom Of The Ocean ‘’ and “Full Circle” are full of impressive vocals sung beautifully by the teenager. With the wide range of music of which this album consists, its amazing vocals and unique message, “Breakout” is truly an impressive album.

Rihanna’s eighth studio album, “Anti,” was released in 2016 and features 13 songs. The general theme for the songs composed on the album is Rihanna asserting her dominance in relationships and being the partner with the power. However, through the song “Love on the Brain,” Rihanna expresses her weak spot for a particular person, who makes her feel like she is in heaven and would do anything to be with him. The themes of being powerful can be taken as encouraging and send a great message, yet “Love on the Brain” is a great shift to demonstrate that it is okay to have weaknesses. In contrast, “Needed Me” hits the central topic of Rihanna being strong and independent, saying she does not need a man, they need her. All the songs on the album have different sounds, rhythms and overall tones to them; the variety of ballads and energetic tunes provide something for everyone. While “Needed Me” is slowerpaced and more intimate, “Work” is fast-paced and more seductive, which offers a variation in the album from the slower and R&B songs. Furthermore, “Anti,” being an album three years in the making, is everything expected from Rihanna because it demonstrates her vulnerability and raw emotions. Overall, “Anti” is the perfect embodiment of women empowerment through the lyrical strength that Rihanna provides, which makes the album a great installation into Rihanna’s disc work. Additionally, the diverse sounds of the album add an amazing variety and show Rihanna’s musical talents and abilities.

“Invasion of Privacy”

“21”

BY JULIA WINTON

by Roxy Carr

Through a combination of pop and rap, Cardi B reveals her unique flare in her debut studio album “Invasion of Privacy,” released on April 6, 2018. Although the album is primarily her own, it does feature many other famous rap artists, such as Migos, 21 Savage, Bad Bunny, J Balvin, SZA and Chance the Rapper. The addition of these artists adds an extra, distinctive element to the songs. “Bodak Yellow” is one of the best and most well-known pieces from the album. The way Cardi B raps and sings in this track makes it extremely chantable and popular. Another track that truly stands out from the rest in the 13 song album is “I Like It.” Rather than it being just a pure rap or pop song, “I Like It” is a Latin trap song, meaning it is composed of both a salsa and rap element. The song repeatedly alternates between English and Spanish verses, giving it an eccentric twist. Besides its Latin components, the song also contains an extremely infectious, high-energy rhythm and beat. Even though, overall, Cardi B does an excellent job with the album, some of the pieces tend to sound a bit repetitive in lyrics and rhythms at times. However, Cardi B’s powerful voice is always present in every track, which implies and shows she has a lot of confidence in her music. This incredibly dynamic album is a must-listen, and the mixture of various music genres and styles really enables the album to stand out.

“21,” Adele’s second studio album, was released on Jan. 24, 2011. Named after her age at the time, Adele’s album is filled with powerful ballads about love, loss and regret. Her poetic lyrics and strong vocal range are what make the album a classic. For example, “21” won two Grammy Awards for “Album of the Year ‘’ and “Best Pop Vocal Album,” which is difficult to achieve, especially considering that “21” was only Adele’s second album. The album contains the well known hits “Rolling in the Deep,” which is about Adele ending a toxic relationship, “Set Fire to the Rain,” which discusses Adele’s feelings of heartbreak and taking action against it, and “Someone Like You,” a sad song about Adele coming to peace with her emotional breakup. All of the songs in the album were impressively written and sung by Adele herself about her experience with relationships. However, “Lovesong” is a cover of The Cure’s 1989 original piece with the same title. “21,” unlike Adele’s older albums, shows personal growth due to her age and her personal struggles with love since her first album. “19” is more positive, as it talks about the joys of loving someone instead of suffering from heartbreak. “21” is also different from Adele’s first album because it incorporates different musical instruments, while “19” mostly uses the piano. Overall, Adele’s powerful voice brings authentic passion and emotion into her music, which can possibly help listeners empathize with her and heal from their own struggles.

features editor

Arts & ent. Editor

A&E / oPINION cOPY editor

Editor-in-chief

Online editor-in-chief

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Bieber bounces back with emotional album his tracks. “Confirmation” explains how Bieber does not want to rush his new love with Hailey Bieber. The lyrics “we got the rest of our lives” demonstrate this newfound patience Bieber has found, letting life take its course and cherishing every moment by slowing down. “Intentions” is a more upbeat and fun song. Still continuing the topic of his new love, he expresses how he intends to marry her and give her all his best. In his documentary, Bieber explains how his new wife is his rock, and he would not have made it through his downfall without her.

“Changes” By ANNABELLE DANIELS-ROSENBERG online MANAGING EDITOR

After years of struggling with internal conflicts, Justin Bieber returns to the music industry with the release of his album “Changes” on Feb. 14 after accidently announcing this on The Ellen Show. Along with his new album, Bieber came out with a documentary series on YouTube called “Seasons,” where he shows viewers a closer look into his personal life throughout the past few years. His songs represent the problems he has struggled with, including anxiety and depression as well as drug addiction. He tells the story of how he has overcome these conflicts with the help of his new wife Hailey Bieber, formally known as Hailey Baldwin. Bieber explains his growth and accomplishments with his stripped down feelings in a slower album. Bieber released his single “Yummy” earlier on Jan. 3, attempting to gradually excite fans about the new music. The song has an uptempo beat; however, it is repetitive and quickly becomes annoying after being overplayed. When the rest of the album dropped, most of the songs took a more mellow approach with calmer beats and deeper meanings. Bieber explains in his documentary that his wife also had a big part in the album making process. Her input and opinions were highly valued, and she even chose some of the songs that would be included on the album such as “E.T.A.” A neat part of the “Changes” album are the multiple collaborations with modern

Bottom Line: “Changes” has soulful, raw songs that show how much he has grown while incorporating fresh collaborations

photo courtesy of google images

day pop stars. Although an extremely personal album, Bieber includes songs with Post Malone, Quavo, Travis Scott and Kehlani. By including these artists, the album becomes more diversified and incorporates multiple genres. They bring in a variety of rhythms and flares, but Bieber allows the sounds to come together in a form that all flows perfectly. The featured stars also keep the vibe of the album alive and still make it seem as if it truly is Bieber’s album. “At Least For Now” shows another side of Bieber’s life in which he needed a break from romance in order to focus on himself. A

main theme in his life, as portrayed through the album, is the fear of disappointment. Whether it be feeling disappointed with another heartbreak or caring too much about what others thought about him, his life or his new music, Bieber did not hold back from expressing anything. “That’s What Love Is” is one particular song that stands out from the rest. It goes through the journey of Bieber’s mind as he eventually recognizes he has learned how to love and what it means to care for someone else. This song is also more eccentric and does not follow the traditional pattern of

“Changes” truly encapsulates Bieber’s transition into being a better person for himself and for others. His lyrics “sometimes I wanna push further” and “some days I wanna do nothing” demonstrate that life is not always easy and even being famous does not mean life is perfect. He ends the song by almost talking and saying people can change as well as circumstances, but also his faith to god and his value in religion. This seemed to make the album seem more stripped down and personal, which is often an important, but it lacked quality. Overall, Bieber delivered an album that does not sugar coat the battles he has faced in life. Even though some of the songs have a redundant beat, it flows nicely and seems as if Bieber put his heart and soul into creating a form of art rather than a chaotic, miscellaneous album.

The circuit recommends

“FAXTS” 2KBABY Hip-Hop

The new Hip-Hop artist, 2KBABY, creates a fast beat track with a simple tempo. His lyrics encompass his love for a girl who does not want him back. 2KBABY’s struggle is heard through his well-written and powerful lyrics.

“I Found You”

Cash Cash & Andy Grammer EDM

Pop-star Andy Grammer collaborates with electronic group Cash Cash to make the perfect EDM song. The energetic beats and the catchy lyrics combine flawlessly to make an uplifting and fun track.

An ongoing feature that includes lesser known songs by popular artists and songs from up and coming artists. This month’s playlist was compiled by Online Arts & Ent. editor Hannah Lassner.

“Moral of the Story” Ashe Alternative

The slow and moving track incorporates the piano for most of the three minute song. Ashe’s emotional lyrics address mistakes that are made in relationships. The calm tempo with little-to-no beats creates the perfect relaxed song.

“Sad Tonight”

“Cry”

“No Going Back”

The uplifting tone in Cutler’s voice in “Sad Tonight” makes it far from a tear-jerker. The infectious rhythm combines with the contagious chorus to create the ideal singalong song.

Singer, rapper and songwriter K. Forest produces a swift R&B track that is diverse from others. He utilizes his rapping talent in order to include fast verses and a heartfelt chorus.

The light beat and high-pitched vocals make “No Going Back” a pleasant song. The innovative track is unique due to the rhythmic flow and sweet lyrics Yuno composes perfectly.

Chelsea Cutler Pop

K. Forest R&B

Yuno Indie

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Underwater story develops classic tale

of how the sea is part of everyone. While the sea theme is relaxing and thoughtful, the book is slow paced, especially since Henning writes excerpts from Evie’s past, which often interrupt the events happening in the novel. Due to its slow nature, it is sometimes hard to keep reading because it feels as though Henning is dragging out the story. Even though the novel is slow paced, Henning does a wonderful job in developing the events and prepping the readers for what’s to come. In doing so, the novel becomes more interesting, especially when Annemette is introduced, since she becomes a new element in the plot of the novel, and Henning intertwines both Evie and Annemette. Henning did an excellent job in giving Annemette a backstory because it gives the reasoning behind why Evie wishes to help her new friend who somehow looks similar to Evie’s dead friend.

“Sea Witch” by sabrina blandon

features / OPINION WEB Copy editor

“Sea Witch” by Sarah Henning is a carefully written novel about what happens before the prince saves the mermaid in the classic fairytale: “The Little Mermaid.” This book follows outcast Evie, a witch, in her town ever since her best friend drowned. Besides Evie, there is Nik, the crown prince, who she is friends with even though this makes Evie even more of an outsider since the village believes she is not worthy to have Nik as a friend. Also, when a girl who looks similar to her dead best friend appears from the sea, Evie believes her friend somehow survived due to her frequent spells to the sea goddess, Urda, to return her best friend. As the story moves along, both girls catch the eyes and hearts of two princes, and Evie believes she finally has a chance at her happy ending. Once Evie finds out the mysterious girl, Annemette, cannot stand on two legs, she does everything in her power, including risking her magic, to save her. “Sea Witch” is uniquely written in the sense of how it gives readers a different perspective on the classic fairytale of “The Little Mermaid” since it is set before the timeless story. In “The Little Mermaid,” the tale focuses on Ariel, the mermaid, instead of Ursula, the sea witch. In “Sea Witch,” Henning focuses more on the sea witch, Evie, than the mermaid, Annemette. In “The Little Mermaid,” the villain is the sea witch, Ursula. In “Sea Witch,” Henning does a great job in writing the backstory to the “villain” in the fairytale, but she does so in a way that she is describing Evie as the main

Bottom Line: “Sea Witch” gives an entertaining new perspective on the classic fairytail, yet has a slow-paced writing

character in her own story instead of the side one. By writing Evie’s story, Henning explains why Evie is untrusting and worried about everyone. Henning does a great job incorporating aspects of history without making the story solely about the subject, which is perfect in the sense that Henning included reality into fantasy to tell Evie’s story. “Sea Witch” is set in 19th century Denmark, where Henning incorporates many parts of Danish history, including the killing of witches. Henning is able to hone in on the history and embed

phOTO COURTESY OF GOOGLE IMAGES

it into Evie’s story, which combines the fear witches had on land as well as the story of the sea witch, which comes from the popular fairytale. By describing the sea as alluring and generous, Henning incorporates incredible visual imagery to show how the sea is not just a source which takes, but it is a source which should be honored and worshipped for its beauty and giving nature. Henning’s writing is exquisite because she writes how everything in the novel seems to have a sealike essence, which incorporates the theme

However, what makes the book surprising is the sense of plot. By giving Evie her desire to learn more about magic, it shows how Evie’s connection to the sea is deeper than expected. In addition, Henning’s writing in the book is thoughtful in the sense that she uses real world events and places them in her novel, which introduces fantasy into the real world. The “Sea Witch” is not a thrilling and adventurous sort of book; it is a gentle read in a sense. It cruises through Danish history while giving a lovely backstory to the antagonist in “The Little Mermaid.”

THE music in your ears “The Music in Your Ears” delves into the music taste of students at the Bay. Ad Designer Jake Miller interviewed four students who enjoy listening to different types of music. “Rest in Peace Freddo” by Playboi Carti

“What I Know Now” by THEY

“The song is cheerful, energetic and, even if you are in a bad mood, the song will bring you up.” -freshman Tomas Munoz

“The song is about the unknowns in life and regrets. This song’s lyrics were relevant to my life and helped me feel better.” -junior Asma Ansari

“Clandestino” by Shakira

“Symphony” by Switch

“I admire Shakira as a role model and always listen to all of her songs because her lyrics and her style inspire me to have confidence.” -sophomore Natalia Rodriguez

“The line ‘even in the madness there is peace,’ reminds me that even when you are overwhelmed by fear, relationships and school, you should consider the brighter perspective.” -senior Mark Rowles

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Chorus members’ performance evaluated at annual MPAs A&E / opinion copy editor

The Bay’s chorus hosted and participated in the Musical Performance Assessment (MPA) on Friday, March 6 in the auditorium. MPAs are when different chorus levels, such as Beginners Women, Intermediate Women and Men’s Choir, from schools across Broward County get assessed for their skill levels. Freshman Liana Friedman is in Beginners Women chorus and said she and other members have been preparing nonstop for this event. “We practiced our two songs almost every class, and I made sure to go home and practice my section part on my own, so I could perfect it,” Friedman said. “Since we’re in beginners, none of us know how to sight read, unless you’ve had previous training, so Mrs. Gill has been teaching us throughout the year so we could perfect the sight-reading portion of the competition.” Each group being evaluated can receive one of four scores based on their performance: fair, good, excellent or superior. They get scored based on singing two songs and sight reading, which is when students read sheet music. Chorus teacher Tina Gill said she tries to choose appropriately challenging songs that her students will excel at in order to receive the best scores. “I choose the songs for my classes based on their potential and what I think will correctly fit each level,” Gill said. “It does not matter how easy or hard the songs are, I just pick the ones I think can potentially sound the best.” This year was the first year there was a combined men and women’s choir class to compete at MPAs. Sophomore Ryan Schmidt, who is in Chamber Choir, said this combined class encouraged him to put in more effort and

try even harder at MPAs. “I thoroughly practiced my sight reading because it is a huge part of [the Chamber Choir’s] score,” Schmidt said. “[Chamber Choir] did a lot of practice to make sure the songs sounded great and that our voices blended together nicely, since we are a combined boys and girls choir.”

“

I am really proud of each class’s performances. Each class works incredibly hard to perfect their music, so I am proud of everyone no matter what scores they received.

“

by julia winton

-Chorus adviser Tina Gill Friedman said being a freshman at photo by anamaria camara MPAs was slightly nerve racking because she, along with many of the other beginners, singing sensations: The Bay’s Men’s Choir warms up for their Musical Performance did not have as much experience at MPAs Assessment (MPA) performance on March 6 in the auditorium. Chorus members can as the upperclassmen. She said despite this receive a score of fair, good, excellent or superior based on their MPA performance. disadvantage, she sang her heart out and it Chorus adviser Tina Gill said she is proud of her students for all their hard work and dedication to their work. She said she is extremely proud of everyone’s scores. showed in the Beginner Women’s results. “I was really nervous and pretty intimidated since there [were] so many talented choirs at MPAs and is extremely excited to have the received the highest scores possible, she is still from different schools that came out to opportunity to go to the state competition. extremely proud of everyone’s achievements, compete against [the Bay],” Friedman said. “This is [the Bay’s] first year having a and she believes her students will definitely “This was my first MPAs, and I’m so happy combined choir class, so I think we had a improve from the experience. [Beginners Women’s] hard work paid off, and really high expectation set for us,” Schmidt “I am really proud of each class’s we received straight superiors, allowing us to said. “We got straight superiors, and we get performances,” Gill said. “Each class works go to states.” to go to states so I’m really happy about that. incredibly hard to perfect their music, so I am Chamber Choir was one of the groups Gill said most of her chorus classes did proud of everyone no matter what scores they that received straight superiors on their extremely well, and it was reflected in their received.” performance. Schmidt said he had a fun time scores. She said although not every group

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Dramatic film falls short of expectations “The Turning”

By jen silverman Arts & Ent. editor

The PG-13 thriller film “The Turning,” directed by Floria Sigismondin, has a typical storyline for this genre. Flora Fairchild (Brooklyn Prince) saw her parents pass away tragically in a car accident at the gate of their private residence when she was little. This is presented in the beginning of the movie, setting a sad and upsetting tone from the start. They live in a beautiful and remote mansion, which is old and run down: a typical setting for horror and thriller films. Fairchild lives with caregiver Mrs. Grose (Barbara Marten), who has worked for the family for a long time. Fairchild’s recent teacher and babysitter, Jessel (Denna Thomsen), has mysteriously left, leaving a job opening. When first grade teacher Kate Mandell (Mackenzie Davis) hears of the situation that Fairchild is in, she has decided to pack her things, leave her life and move in with Fairchild to become her teacher, friend and babysitter. Upon her arrival, she struggles to enter the mansion. It takes her a while to truly get into the house, which was a waste of time in the movie. This detail was definitely a boring and unnecessary aspect of the film. Something that the director did that was rather clever was to dress Mandell in multiple colors. She has a unique style that is reserved, yet colorful and fun. This makes Mandell really pop as the other color schemes in the film are bland, pale and cold. It is a representation of Mandell’s bubbly character versus the dull and colorless house, Mrs. Grose and Fairchild. The lack of color helps set the tone and illustrates hardship and sets the stage for an outsider entering a creepy environment. Despite the losses that young Fairchild has encountered, she is extremely pleasant and welcoming to Mandell. This is a bit odd because she is so little and has already encountered so many hardships in her life. She witnessed both of her parents die tragically, her babysitter left her and her older brother, Miles Fairchild (Finn Wolfhard), was away at boarding school. As all of these things happened recently and left Fairchild alone, it is unrealistic for her to be this pleasant. When Mandell enters the home with Mrs. Grose, she asks where Fairchild is to finally meet her. This is odd as it takes a while before Mandell actually gets to meet her. Mandell takes an apple from the kitchen, places it in her pocket and is told that Fairchild is to be found in the stables with horses. When Mandell walks in, Fairchild is hiding, and there is suspenseful music and dim lighting, which is typical of a thriller film. Then, Fairchild pops out, which truly was not scary at all, meaning there was a large build up for a minimal event. The idea was far too dramatic and had way too large of a build up for such a minimal scene. The execution of this element of suspense was unsatisfactory. In the movie, the actors did not play their roles to their fullest potential. Pronounced childhood actor Finn Wolfhard is truly the only actor in the movie that demonstrates great acting. He is the second youngest actor in the movie, but his performance and acting skills clearly outweigh every other character. While his role was not exciting in itself, he did an amazing

job playing Miles. The other actors and actresses played their roles well but did not demonstrate any phenomenal acting skills. It is rather embarrassing that a child actor outperformed adult ones, and the mediocre performances truly took away from the film experience. Through the movie, Mandell is tormented by the children she cares for, and the pieces of the people that came before her. Multiple times in the movie, Mandell experiences emotional flooding and is unable to handle her emotions. Her various mental breakdowns become rather redundant and appear too often in the film. If she was that miserable, she could have quit her job. It can be interpreted as self inflicted pain as she is keeping herself in this situation. While spending time with the troublesome children, Mandell learns of the people that came before her in immense detail. When she found out of the dark and unsafe past that occurred, she should have realized that these dangers still persist. It makes her character look ignorant and unlikeable, as she continues to stay in her job despite her mental state and knowledge of the immense dangers that exist at the property. Without likeable characters, the film becomes even more difficult to watch. Another terrible aspect of this movie is that the story line is insanely unorganized. Story lines should be well thought out and considered, but it is clear that “The Turning” lacks that. Scenes seem to change quickly, and it seems unorderly. Additionally, with the jumping from scenes, the movie has a long run time of one hour and 40 minutes. It is a difficult movie to follow as the scenes are quick and unorganized, and the movie has a long duration. There was no clear story line or ending, and the movie was confusing in many aspects. Between the multiple failed attempts of adding suspense, a terrible storyline, awful acting and a horrendous ending, this movie was far from good. It is amazing how this was a professional production as there were so many flaws. It was a terrible ending for a horrendous movie. Overall, “The Turning” was not well thought out, and its intentions are not clear.

Photo courtesy of Google Images

MARCH 2020

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Dancer finds passion through performing ad designer

Students at the Bay use many different platforms to display individuality and share what they love most. For sophomore Ana Paulina Estevez, she said dance is her way of expressing herself. “Dance is so important to me because it allows me to feel like myself and be free, and I use it as an escape to get away from the real world,” Estevez said. “It is a great way to let out all my feelings, and it de-stresses me from everything I have going on.” Estevez said the result that comes from all the time and hard work she puts into her passion is rewarding on so many different levels. She said there are always goals to work towards and always room to grow in whatever it may be. “I know that if I work hard it will all be worth it in the end, and it gives me so much to work towards,” Estevez said. “The result I get after working hard always reminds me why I do dance and continue to pursue my passions.” Estevez’s mom Maria Garcia said watching her daughter dance is always pleasurable and brings so much joy to her. She said seeing her accomplish so much makes her feel so proud. “Seeing her movements and emotions all come together on stage brings me so much happiness,” Garcia said. “Hearing the music and just watching her enjoy herself on stage makes me so happy for her.” Estevez said coming from the gymnast world and having somewhat of a similar experience to dance allowed her to find her passion. She said floor was her favorite event in gymnastics, so she was interested in trying a sport that revolved all around that. “Floor was my favorite event and it is super similar to dance, so I thought trying something that was based on what I like to do full time would be a good change,” Estevez said. “Having fun is important because it allows you to get your mind off things and gives you something to work towards.” Estevez said she started dancing five years ago and has been competing for four of those years. She said through all those years she has learned so much about herself and continues to learn more about her limits and goals in dance and life. “Without dance, I don’t think I would be the same person I am today because of all the meaning it has to me,” Estevez said. “Dance plays a huge part in who I am today and has shaped me into what I never thought I could be.” Estevez said there is such a wide variety of styles within the dance world, so being able

to experience and try all of them taught her a lot. She said each style allows her to feel a different way. “Of course I have my favorite styles, which include jazz, lyrical, ballet and freestyle,” Estevez said. “Jazz is definitely one of my top favorites because it allows my sassy side to come out and show my attitude and personality through it.”

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Dance plays a huge part in who I am today and has shaped me into what I never thought I could be. Dance has so much meaning to me.

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BY HANNAH GROGAN

-sophomore Ana Estevez Estevez said dance is not just a physical sport, but also a way to clear her headspace. She said lyrical is a style where she can listen to lyrics and relate to the song, which helps her let go of issues. “When something isn’t going the best in my life, I feel like I can find songs I relate to and allow myself to dance out [the] emotions that are going through my head,” Estevez said. “Ballet is also one of my favorites because it teaches good discipline.” Estevez said she has many dance teachers who are different in ways of dealing with situations. She said learning how each teacher processes was a challenge, but she now knows how each of their strategies work. “Ballet is a very technical style, so there are so many rules I have to follow which helps me focus,” Estevez said. “There are so many specific rules and strategies to remember, so there is always something to learn from every ballet class.” Estevez said competition season usually starts in February and runs all the way through the end of June. She said she starts preparing in August because a lot goes into what she performs on stage. “Some things I do to prepare for the competition season are making sure I change my diet and eat healthier because that can have a huge impact on my performing results,” Estevez said. “Another major thing I do during competition season is take care of my body and make sure I keep stretching.” Garcia said she loves when competition season comes around because she gets to see what Ana has been working towards. She said all the performances allow her

Photo submitted by Ana paulina estevez

leaping toward success: Estevez poses for a photo that was taken outside, showcasing her firebird jump. She said she loves taking photos of her skills because it is rewarding to look back and see her improvements over time.

Photos submitted by Ana Paulina estevez

Jumping For joy: (From top) sophomore Ana Paulina Estevez showcases her dance move at a photoshoot. Estevez performed in a jazz group routine at Onstage dance competition.

to see everything come together and the dances in full effect. “Seeing Ana on stage with the girls she dances with is so rewarding, and I can see the joy within her dancing,” Garcia said. “No matter the score or place, as long as she is enjoying herself that is all I care about.” Estevez said time plays a big part in the dance world, especially when competing because she wants everything to be perfect. She said since there are judges criticizing her, it sets goals and allows her to want to be better each time she goes out on the stage. “After every competition we get judge feedback which allows us to see mistakes we weren’t catching ourselves,” Estevez said. “We make minor changes to each routine in hopes of getting a better score each and every time.” Estevez said dance has taught her many life lessons about how to deal with certain situations. She said there is more to dance than just the physical aspect. “One of the biggest life lessons I have learned through dance is that if you really want something, all you have to do is work towards that goal,” Estevez said. “It might take time but seeing improvement as I go is so rewarding.” Estevez said dance takes up a lot of time, so she had to find ways of balancing her schedule to be able to fit school work and everything else. She said it is important to stay organized and plan ahead of time to ensure she has time for life. “I usually try to do my homework before dance and it sometimes goes over into after dance as well,” Estevez said. “Sometimes I have to miss classes if I have a lot of homework because grades are also

important.” Estevez said one of her biggest challenges is finding the proper balance of what to put first. She said she has an agenda she writes in to keep herself on track and makes sure she can give her best in everything she is involved in. “There is always something going on so I write everything down,” Estevez said. “Sometimes I have important rehearsals when competition season is here but school is definitely my first priority.” Sophomore Nicole Perez, who used to dance with Ana, said she enjoys learning dances with Ana because she is so determined and helpful. She said she can always count on Ana to make sure she is doing everything right. “I admire how Ana is always so focused and works hard in any class she is taking,” Perez said. “She is very motivated, which makes everyone around her want to pick up on the same energy.” Perez said dancing with Estevez makes her push herself because she sees how hard Ana works. She said she sees the improvement that Estevez makes and encourages her to do the same. “When we would have rehearsals I would always try to match the effort Ana would put into every move she would do,” Perez said. “I learned a lot dancing with her and she would always help me improve my skills if I was not too sure on a certain move or facial.”

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MARCH 2020

Romantic sequel captures essence of novel “To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You” By Sabrina OLIVIERI bUSINESS mANAGER

On Feb. 12, the entertainment streaming service Netflix released the movie “To All The Boys: P.S. I Still Love You.” The movie is a sequel to “To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before,” and both movies have a plot derived from the trio book series written by Jenny Han. “To All The Boys: P.S. I Still Love You” continues the story of Lara Jean Covey (Lana Condor) and Peter Kavinsky (Noah Centineo) with a new and intriguing plot twist to determine if love can truly conquer all. The movie expresses the book’s plot well and illustrates how one’s feelings can be difficult to comprehend in a relationship. In the first movie, Covey’s younger sister Kitty (Anna Cathcart) sent five love letters written by her sister to crushes she had in the past. However, Covey never planned to send these out, as they were an outlet for her to privately express her intimate feelings about five different boys. In the second movie, Covey is currently dating Kavinsky; however, character John Ambrose McClaren (Jordan Fisher) also received a letter but decided to act on it. As the movie unfolds, viewers watch Covey struggle to understand her feelings and emotions towards McClaren, while maintaining her current relationship

with Kavinsky. This is a unique and creative take on the story line that accurately depicts a complex teen relationship that many may be able to find relevant. An interesting aspect of the film is in the first movie, after, the credits, there was a short clip that introduced McClaren. In this clip, the role of McClaren was not played by Jordan Fisher, but by Jordan Burtchett. This is a bit confusing as the audience expected the character to be the same in the second movie, but a totally different actor took on the role, and Burtchett was left out of the sequel entirely. While the reasoning for the shift in the cast is unknown, Fisher did an incredible job portraying the role of McClaren. Adding him to the cast was a plus to the movie, as his acting skills elevated the movie as a whole.

Bottom Line: “To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You” has strong character development that reflects The characters’ wardrobes were clearly well planned and thought out. Covey’s wardrobe is packed with bright colors, illustrating how she is becoming more mature about her decisions and how her bubbly personality is developing as well. McClaren’s wardrobe was rather dark, bringing a mysterious effect to his character. However, this is beneficial as it allows viewers to become intrigued by his enigmatic persona. The careful consideration of colors presented in characters’ wardrobes remains

constant and impacts the characters’ personalities immensely. Characters had well evolved since the first movie. Kavinsky and Gen were the characters that changed the most by becoming significantly more mature and understanding of their real feelings about conflicts in their lives. Kavinsky developed due to his relationship with Covey, and he understands the depths about their love. He became determined to find ways on how to make her happy while also respecting her limits, which sends a positive message about how relationships should be. Gen also stops attempting petty drama after she reunites her friendship with Covey. It is understandable why Gen was always moody and not well understood; however, she grew out of it by talking and expressing her real feelings about her problems. The movie also illustrates the importance

phOTO COURTESY OF GOOGLE IMAGES

of the ability to better understand one’s feelings, and the benefits of doing so. This is a great message to include in the movie as the audience for the film is teenagers. In the film, through letters and conversations, characters are able to learn the emotions of others and rekindle relationships due to this knowledge. The movie is an example that viewers can follow to try and reconnect with people they have drifted from. The movie brings out the importance of being mature when reconnecting, and it does so in an entertaining and well put together way. “To All The Boys: P.S. I Still Love You” is an great film jam-packed with incredibly talented actors, creative plot concepts and good morals and messages. This is not a typical romance film, as it truly goes above and beyond the average cheesy romantic comedy. It is clearly a well thought out and produced movie.

New restaurant offers globally inspired crepes “Saffrano Crepes” by HANNAH SHULBY

Saffrano Crepes is a new restaurant located in Plantation with a unique concept. This restaurant is based around different styles of food from across the world. Each of the crepes are inspired by different cities. These cities cover the across the world theme with places ranging from Stockholm, Sweden to Mumbai, India. This restaurant has crepes based on all three meals of the day. This allows customers to grab a quick bite whenever they are craving a crepe. Saffrano has a large selection of crepe styles, such as lunch and dinner savory crepes or sweet dessert styled ones. The waffles and crepes are not of traditional style; instead, they have specialized toppings and fresh fruit ingredients as a flavorful touch.

Bottom Line: Saffrano Crepes offers a variety of crepes in a comfortable atmosphere Alongside the breakfast crepe, customers can get home brewed coffees. Saffrano has many different coffees, such as espressos, cappuccinos, mochas and lattes. Their coffee prices range from $3 to $6. This cafe could be a perfect place for a quick coffee run with inexpensive drinks. Other drinks include various styles of tea and other natural drinks.

The restaurant is spacious and provides customers with their own space to have a relaxed experience. They have a variety of seating options which includes wide booths as well as normal chairs. This creates a comfortable setting for customers to choose their preferred seating and enjoy their time. Saffrano menu provides a wide variety of meals beyond crepes, such as waffles and french toast. The waffles are loaded up with many toppings, which can be seen through Saffranos’ “Farigliano” waffle. This dessert comes with nutella, strawberries, bananas, pistachios and an ice cream scoop of the customer’s choosing. They also have other waffles made for different tastes, such as the “Velez,” which is made with guava and cheese. Saffrano has a limited selection of six ice cream flavors to choose from. All of the ice cream is homemade and includes the flavors of salted caramel, red berries, mango and vanilla coconut. The ice cream can be served on its own or to top off other dishes. The employees at this establishment are friendly and willing to help customers find the best meal for them. They provide quick and efficient service, so customers never have to wait long to begin eating. Besides the dessert based options, Saffrano also has healthy options. This restaurant has soups, salads, smoothies and healthy crepe dishes. The smoothies cost about $6 and come in a significant portion. Saffrano has only two different soup and salad dishes. Both of the soups are made with creamy bases and vegetables. For customers who want to eat healthy, Saffrano does not have a sufficient selection of meals, which may limit the amount of customers who may enjoy these options. The crepes for lunch and dinner are vastly different than the others. These crepes are served with different meats, such as shrimp,

photo by Hannah Shulby

Holy crepe: Saffrano Crepes has an eccentric atmosphere, with photo worthy walls. Along with the comforting ambiance, Saffrano offers crepes from all over the world including Stockholm, Sweden and Mumbai, India. Together the stylish decorations and worldly cuisine make Saffrano a cute and relaxing place to hang out and get work done.

chicken and sirloin or vegetables including mushrooms and zucchini. For example, the “Osaka” crepe is made with smoked salmon, cucumbers, avocado and other sauces. This dish has a decent portion size for its price of $15. The whimsical ambiance of the restaurant is a nice bonus. The neon signs and photoworthy background can appeal to customers. As one orders and gets seated, the ecoenvironmentally atmosphere becomes apparent. Saffrano is making an effort to help the environment through many aspects; for example, the trays and silverware are all recyclable products.

The decorations throughout the restaurant add a unique element to the layout. All of the menus and drawings are hand drawn across the walls. A chalkboard wall covers one side of the restaurant and has aesthetically pleasing pictures drawn across. The theme of decorations in the restaurant are simplistic and all follow the same color pattern, which makes Saffrano’s decor eye-catching. Overall, this restaurant could be an excellent spot for people looking to have a relaxing atmosphere to get work done. They provide free wifi and have a comfortable setting. Saffrano is not overly expensive and has good quality dining for all times of the day.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

MARCH 2020

THE CIRCUIT

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Hollywood award show sparks controversy BY anamaria camara

The 2020 Oscars aired on ABC on Feb. 9, and the most critically acclaimed actors and movies were nominated for the highest honor in awards. Sophomore Gisella David said she was quite surprised by some of the winning movies and actors. “I knew ‘Parasite’ was a great movie, having watched it myself, but no way did I think it was going to take home four Oscars, including ‘Best Picture,’ since 1917 won that award at the Golden Globes,” David said. “‘Best Picture’ is the highest honor there is for a movie, and its cast and I am so overjoyed to see a foreign film, especially an Asian one being Asian myself, get the recognition they deserve for their hard work.” Although the awards ceremony considered all the material from 2019, some of the winners just did not add up, according to junior Isabella Montano. Montano said a lot of the winning pictures did not make sense to her.

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There was almost no representation in Hollywood some time ago, and I think all these recent wins and nominations surrounding people from all over the world, especially all of ‘Parasite’s’ big wins, gives hope to other young people of color wanting to make it in the entertainment industry.

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-sophomore Gisella David

photos courtesy of google images

male counterparts.” In agreement with Montano, Del Valle said some talents in the film industry were not nominated that deserved to be. However, Del Valle believes some actors and movies received one too many nominations.

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I think there’s been a lot of controversy with having a host; I know a lot of people have been angry that the past hosts have been predominantly white and male.

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“‘1917’ won for ‘Achievement in Cinematography,’ even though it’s just like the many other war movies there are, instead of ‘Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood,’ which had a super cool 60’s theme going on,” Montano said. “It’s the same with ‘Little Women’ winning ‘Achievement in Costume Design,’ even though the costumes were just plain dresses and suits.” The movies nominated in the “Best Picture” are the top movies of 2019, but not according to Geometry and Algebra 1 teacher Tatiana Del Valle. Del Valle said there was a lack of variety in this year’s “Best Picture” category. “‘Parasite’ was a wonderful movie, and I am so glad it got the recognition it deserved because honestly, the storyline was the most interesting and creative out of all the other movies that were nominated alongside ‘Parasite,’” Del Valle said. “‘Marriage story’ and ‘1917’ had phenomenal acting, but movies about divorce and wars are just so common that those movies just don’t live up to the honor of that category.” According to David, although she did not personally agree with some winners, she can see why they won. David said no matter how much one likes a movie or actor, facts and statistics win over opinions. “Personally, I think ‘Into the Unknown’ from Frozen should have won ‘Best Original Song,’ but then again, Elton John is a legend and deserved the win for ‘Love Me Again,’” David said. “‘Avengers: Endgame’ had some really cool visual effects, but ‘1917’s’ effects seemed much more real and authentic.” Montano said some movies and actors were robbed of their deserved nominations. She said she was shocked by the repetitiveness of the nominations. “Just like the Golden Globes, there were no women nominated in the ‘Best Director’ category, even though Greta Gerwig did a fantastic job with ‘Little Women,’” Montano said. “Although the man who won is an Asian man, which I am really proud of for beating out the others, I am tired of seeing talented women not even being nominated against their

-teacher Tatiana Del Valle “Even though ‘Joker’ had a high rating from Rotten Tomatoes, it still had a lot of backlash and mixed reviews; it still received 11 Oscar nominations, including the highest

honor of ‘Best Picture,’” Del Valle said. “‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’ received many negative critical reviews, yet it still picked up some nominations.” Earlier in time, it was rare to find a person of color amongst the nominees for the Oscars, but that has changed as the years have passed. David said she is really proud of the entertainment industry for coming so far in nominating people of different ethnic backgrounds. “There was almost no representation in Hollywood some time ago, and I think all these recent wins and nominations surrounding people from all over the world, especially all of ‘Parasite’s’ big wins, gives hope to other young people of color wanting to make it in the entertainment industry,” David said. “I believe Hollywood still has some work to do, but I am really happy with all of the progress that has been made so far.” Ahead of the Oscars, Montano predicted who she believed would win in certain categories. She said most of her predictions were a combined mix of ratings and the popular public opinion.

“Even though Brad Pitt’s performance in ‘Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood’ was not top notch, I think his overall popularity and the hype of this big comeback of his won him that Oscar for ‘Best Supporting Actor,’” Montano said. “Scarlett Johansson was nominated for both ‘Best Actress in a Leading Role’ and ‘Best Supporting Actress,’ which is very impressive, but Renee Zellweger from ‘Judy’ and Laura Dern from ‘Marriage Story’ totally deserved the awards that they received.” Like last year, the Oscars did not have a host for the show. Del Valle said even though it is traditional for award shows to have hosts, she sees why the ceremony has once again chosen not to have one. “I think there’s been a lot of controversy with having a host; I know a lot of people have been angry that the past hosts have been predominantly white and male,” Del Valle said. “These past two shows have been great without a host and there’s been no problems, so I think the show should stay hostless to avoid any bad blood with the viewers.”

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

MARCH 2020

expression enthusiasts At the Bay, there are many students who use their sense of style to express themselves and help others. Junior Shannon Sin said she started organizing clothing drives with her friends, where they exchange unwanted clothes amongst themselves instead of throwing them away. “From participating in these drives, I have gotten so many interesting clothes,” Sin said. “Trading, instead of throwing old clothes away, is so much better for the environment because it does not contribute to landfills.” Sin said she also enjoys shopping at thrift stores and sustainable companies, like Los Angeles Apparel. Sin said she prefers quality over quantity with clothes and having a basic piece that will never go out of style is more important to her because it can be worn over and over again regardless of any current trends. “The fast fashion industry is highly polluting, and I believe it is my duty to stop supporting companies that are responsible,” Sin said. “I try not to subscribe to trends that come and go, as these are huge contributors to textile waste.” Similar to Sin, Holocaust History teacher Leslie Rheingold said she helps the environment with her fashion by holding on to clothes that have been passed down to her instead of throwing them away. Rheingold said she still has decade-old cashmere sweaters, jewelry and hats that were given to her by her mother and grandmother. “Styles always return, so I make sure to keep all my hand-me-downs, so I can eventually wear them again,” Rheingold said. “I do not really participate in trends, and I shop in places that sell many different styles because I do not want to look like everyone else.” However, unlike Rheingold, sophomore Gabriel Zuniga said he loves participating in trends because he enjoys coordinating his outfits with friends. Zuniga said his favorite trend this year is pre-distressed Golden Goose sneakers. He said they are more expensive than the average shoe, but they are better quality and are not produced in a sweatshop like shoes from other major retailers. “Golden Goose shoes are produced in Milano, Italy, not in a Chinese sweatshop,” Zuniga said. “Unlike Golden Goose, in Chinese factories workers are given extremely inhumane conditions, little pay and ridiculous hours, which is why anything produced there is so cheap.”

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Besides the environmental benefits, thrifting is also a lot cheaper than buying clothes from any retailer; my favorite Levi’s were only three dollars opposed to the usual $100.

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-junior Shannon Sin

Like Zuniga, Sin’s favorite item of clothing was ethically sourced. She said she bought a pair of black, vintage Levi’s jeans from a thrift store for a fraction of a price than she could have paid for them at a Levi’s store. Sin said she hopes to break the stigma of people believing thrift stores are “gross,” and not as

stylish as retail stores. “Whenever people ask me where I buy my clothes, they are surprised to find out that almost everything I own is secondhand,” Sin said. “Besides the environmental benefits, thrifting is also a lot cheaper than buying clothes from any retailer; my favorite Levi’s were only $3 opposed to the usual $100.” Rheingold said when she receives compliments about her outfits it boosts her mood and inspires her to compliment others, spreading happiness all around. Rheingold said she likes to wear sparkly clothes with a lot of bling. She said she usually customizes her clothes with rhinestones if they feel dull. “Since college, I have been embellishing my clothes with various studs and stones to express my originality or rejuvenate an old piece,” Rheingold says. “Old habits do not die, If I dislike my outfit one day, I will be in a bad mood for sure.”

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Unlike Golden Goose, in Chinese factories, workers are given extremely inhumane conditions, little pay and ridiculous hours, which is why anything produced there is so cheap.

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BY roxy carr

-sophomore Gabriel Zuniga

photo submitted by shannon sin

Zuniga is also quite particular about his outfits, and said he always makes sure to pick them out the night before school because he tends to be indecisive in the morning. He said he always tries to look good for school because it makes him feel confident throughout the day. “When I have a really fantastic outfit that I have been planning for a while, I feel especially self-assured at school,” Zuniga said. “I love the way I dress because not only do my clothes help others and the earth, they also make me feel the most like myself.” Sin, like Zuniga, said she uses her clothes to express herself. Sin said she believes no one should be afraid of wearing what they truly want in an attempt to suppress their creativity and blend in with others. She said she is proud of standing out from others and being an individual with her clothing choices. “As cliche as it sounds, you are only given one chance in life, so do what you want and wear what you want,” Sin said. “At the end of the day, it is not about impressing people or fitting in with common social standards.” Like Sin, Rheingold said she wishes more people were unique in their fashion choices. She said that seeing someone dress uniquely makes her smile, which is one of the reasons why she said she dresses the way she does. Rheingold said she believes her clothes spread positivity to students and staff at the Bay, and she wants others to feel like theirs do the same, which is why she encourages those who are nervous about dressing differently to step out of their comfort zone. photo submitted by Gabriel zuniga “The best piece of advice I could give to someone afraid to dress differently is to ‘dress passion for fashion: (From top) junior Shannon Sin sports the clothes she to express, not impress,’” Rheingold said. “Share your personality with the world instead acquired from thrifting. She said she enjoys wearing off-brand clothing as it suits her style and is beneficial to the health of the environment. Sophomore Gabriel Zuniga of being like everyone else.” flaunts his custom leather coat and his Golden Goose shoes. He said he prides himself on this particular footwear as it is economical, while still staying current with all of the contemporary fashion trends.

OPINION

MARCH 2020

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Restrictive web filters hinder learning Web filters are a software that restricts or controls the content an Internet user is capable of accessing. All public schools across the nation utilize the required web filters to restrict a student’s access to potentially unsafe, distracting or disruptive online content. However, many schools add extra, unnecessary web filters into the mix. While these filters may intend to be in place for a beneficial reason, sometimes, they are too restrictive, which is harmful to students and their education. According to titanhq.com, The Child Internet Protection Act (CIPA) and The Neighborhood Children’s Internet Protection Act (NCIPA) required public schools to adopt an Internet Safety Policy in 2001 in order to block websites that were deemed inappropriate. However, most schools have web filters installed on more websites than were initially required for what seems like no reason, as these websites would only help further develop a student’s education. By limiting the websites to which students have access, schools are depriving them of learning to be an individual and make their own decisions. Without web filters, students would be forced to learn to not get distracted, which would teach them an extremely valuable life lesson. However, with the web filters in place, this decision of whether or not paying attention in class is crucial is no longer in the students’ hands. This may seem like a benefit of web filters; however, as a result, students are missing out on learning a key lesson. Another reason why web filters are too extreme is because they make learning difficult. Sometimes, research-based sites

illustration by sophie gaer

or informative videos can be used as an educational tool, but they are unfortunately blocked most of the time. This tends to interfere with a student’s ability to not only get work done, but to learn as well. It also forces students to use these websites at home instead of during class time, which can be adding to their already crippling workload.

FLASH OF BRILLIANCE

YES Compared to other high schools across the country, the Bay is one of the few that discourages students other than seniors from attending prom. Although it is not given the official title of ”Senior Prom,” it is an unspoken rule that underclassmen, especially juniors, do not attend prom unless they are going as a senior’s date. It would be extremely beneficial to the school, in terms of funding, to allow more students to attend, as it would not only lower the cost of the venue due to a higher volume of students, but it would also make tickets cheaper. Prom is an investment for girls and boys attending, with the costs of dresses and suits, hair and makeup and buses. Allowing those in 11th grade, at least, the liberty to attend will make this night overall less of a financial burden for those who may struggle to pay for it. It is understandable that prom marks the official end to senior year, but why not share the night with other classmates who have been supportive of the graduating class. For those juniors who do attend prom as dates, having other people and friends their own age allowed into prom may ease the tensions between the different grades. In general, many younger grades attend prom for multiple years anyways, so why not give them a real opportunity and attend. -Karla Soberon

Certain websites, like video game websites, have a reason behind being blocked. This is because schools want students to have their full attention and focus on the teacher, rather than getting distracted in the learning environment. However, most web filters are put on sites that would do the opposite of distract the user. The websites that are blocked can be extremely

Should prom be open to underclassmen?

graphic by Annabelle daniels-rosenberg

random. According to theatlantic.com, AP biology students were blocked from accessing information they needed to prepare for the AP exam. If schools are going to block websites it should at least be for a reasonable purpose, unlike in this situation where students’ education and success were suffering because of extreme web filters. These harsh filters also act as an invasion of privacy to students. According to the New York Times, students, “complained how ‘absurd,’ ‘ridiculous,’ ‘stupid,’ ‘suffocating’ and ‘creepy’ they thought their school filters were.” Students want to be ensured they are trusted by their school because they want to stay out of trouble and keep their online actions private. Sometimes, kids only rebel because they do not feel trusted when these web filters are in place, controlling their web searches. They want to be able to have the freedom to go on any website. Another downside to these web filters is that any of these web restrictions can be easily hacked by some students. In this case, it makes the filters purposeless, as they are no longer working or in place. Also, it causes students to become less focused on their work. By spending time trying to hack and remove web filters, students are losing valuable time that could be spent on learning or completing assignments. Overall, there is definitely a need and purpose for web filters, but only on the legally required websites. When they are invasive, they limit a student’s ability to gain knowledge, take time away from educational purposes and become way too restrictive and problematic.

NO Prom at the Bay has always been a way for seniors to celebrate the end of their high school career and have one last memorable experience with their best friends. It has always been a tradition for prom to be exclusive for 12th graders, even though other schools may incorporate 11th graders as well. Although junior prom is more inclusive of the student population, prom is a night to reminisce on the last four years as one last hoorah. With over 1,000 students in each grade, by allowing more than one grade to attend, prom would be an overcrowded event. Homecoming is also open to every grade which still allows for each to have at least one dance per year. Since the Bay is such a big school, it often lacks the typical high school events or school spirit, so prom should be a special, once in a lifetime experience. There is often a struggle to find unity among such a large grade, so prom allows for seniors to have this chance. Seniors, however, are allowed to bring any guest, so underclassmen or juniors are still able to attend if they have a senior date. Prom is also over $100, creating a high expense for students who choose to go as both a junior and senior. Having one prom also makes it more special and memorable. If a student has multiple proms it takes away the significance of the event and excitement beforehand. Juniors should have to wait for their senior year to experience prom. -Annabelle Daniels-Rosenberg

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OPINION

MARCH 2020

Service animals comfort victims of school violence Following the tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas (MSD) in 2018, the school brought in emotional support animals, including 20 dogs and one pig, to help the students cope with their Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. For many, animals are a source of happiness and relief that can help them manage a mentally taxing school day. Schools across Broward County should allow emotional support animals to help improve students’ mental health and increase attendance. Animals provide an immediate source of relief and are more effective than some strategies used by therapists. Not everyone feels comfortable talking to someone about their issues, but with animals, there is no talking necessary, just the comfort of having the emotional support animal there. People do not feel lonely or like they have to talk when they do not feel like it. Animals allow students to be in the moment, rather than dwell on the past; support animals give them something to focus on other than their bad day or the issues they may be facing. Animals listen in a supportive manner which allows students to vent without the typical response they receive from counselors, which can be more helpful in the long run. Giving students the option to visit animals during the day has the power to combat the current mental health problems many teenagers face with the pressures placed on them to succeed. For many students the long school day is draining to the point where they want to just stay home or leave early, causing them to miss

valuable learning time. However, knowing they have the opportunity to visit an emotional support animal could be the motivation to get students to school. The bonds they form with these animals could be a driving force to help them wake up in the morning and get to school. Junior William Olson, a survivor of the MSD shooting, said prior to having the dogs at school he would often leave early not wanting to be at school, but with the dogs there, as he felt “safe.” The dogs were so popular at MSD that both students and staff wanted to bring them back for the following school year. River, the emotional support dog, was a new addition for the 2019-20 school year and has been a ray of sunshine for many students. Knowing that The emotional support animals are trained no matter what happens, the animals will be to stay calm and quiet in any situation. Many at MSD tell stories of how the dogs could sense someone struggling and would place their Bottom Line: head or paw on the person, providing comfort both subtly and gently. The calm presence of More schools should an animal provides peace and happiness at implement service animals times when many need it the most. Many schools are already integrating into daily schedule in order emotional support animals into daily school to aid students with mental life. MSD is integrating River in their library health and create a sense and they are looking to add another dog by of security among school the end of the school year. Furthermore, 42 schools in New York are part of a test program grounds in which dogs provide emotional support and are integrated into the school. So far, these programs have been extremely successful in there could provide a huge boost in attendance improving the mental health of their students. and help many students improve not only Considering that so many schools have loved emotionally but academically as well. emotional support animals, they should

Graphic by Julia Winton

integrate the program across the country. At MSD the emotional support dogs were so helpful and popular they have their own page dedicated to them in the yearbook as a tribute for helping students get through the painful time following the tragedy. The comforting presence of a trained therapy animal gave many students the outlet they needed to recover from what happened. The profoundly positive effects at MSD indicate how successful having emotional support animals can be. With the current initiative in Broward surrounding mental health, incorporating support animals into schools will be extremely beneficial to both students and staff alike. Everyone needs someone to rely on when they are not feeling their best, and emotional support animals provide that with just the soothing touch of their paw.

Letters to THE EDITOR There should be an equal amount of ‘A’ and ‘B’ days in order to get sufficient learning experience During the second semester this school year, three ‘B’ days have been lost, at the very least, caused by the Day of Service and Love, an infrastructure test, and the SAT for all juniors. While each of these days are important for various reasons, it results in ‘B’ days being irretrievably lost. The current design of the block schedule plans everything out for a rigid, unmoving schedule throughout the course of the school year. However, this is not fair to many AICE and AP teachers who won’t have their exams moved back, yet are still supposed to teach as deadlines loom and their classes are repeatedly cut short. What the school should do is have a policy of flexibility; that is, when an ‘A’ or ‘B’ day is missed by itself and the other day that comes with it is not missed, we begin on the day that we missed. For example, if we miss another ‘B’ day and we do not miss an ‘A’ day along with it, then the calendar should be changed so that we do not have two ‘A’ days in a row and instead make up that ‘B’ day. Granted, we would still be losing a day at the end of the year, but at least some semblance of balance would be put into the schedule, especially for teachers with more than one prep and students in AICE and AP courses. -Charles Horowitz, junior

The School Board needs to invest in hygiene products to prevent virus from spreading further

Due to the Coronavirus spreading quickly, a school environment seems like it could be a fast breeding-ground. There should be an installation of hand sanitizers throughout the

Bay in hallways, classrooms and the cafeteria especially. Students need to ensure they are staying extra sanitary not only for themselves but for the entire student body and faculty. There staff and custodians should also be consistently adding soap to the bathroom dispensaries for a cleaner and safer school. -Anna Wilentz, senior

Although the Coronavirus should be taken seriously, it should not interfere with milestone events for seniors

courtyard too because they could just poop all over me or my lunch, and then instead of eating I would have to worry about getting clean. Maybe the school should invest in a habitat that attracts the grackles so that they stay in one concentrated area instead of going everywhere. Or maybe they should have a designated individual to monitor the birds from coming inside the cafeteria. -Srija Alturi, sophomore

If someone from the Bay becomes infected by Coronavirus, the school needs to be shut down immediately Throughout my high school years, I feel to ensure safety from disease as though most things seniors look forward to have been less emphasized this year. When I Schools across the country have recently was a freshman, I looked forward to cheering been shut down due to the Coronavirus. This at Friday night football games with my virus is extremely contagious and people friends. While I still had the opportunity to do traveling are being quarantined. The Bay is a this, I think school spirit has gone down a lot large school where a disease like this could as time has gone on. I also think a lot of school spread like wildfire. If someone attending the events do not get much attendance because no Bay caught this virus, the Bay should be shut one is really interested in being involved in down immediately for a minimum of two our school. Also, with Coronavirus becoming weeks. Someone can have this virus for two extremely impactful, I’m nervous that events I weeks before knowing that they have it. This have looked forward to my entire life, such as is known as the incubation period, once the prom and graduation are gonna be altered or infected person has run their course through canceled entirely, and that would honestly just the virus then school should be reopened. be the worst ever. So many of us seniors may -Sam Shulby, sophomore not be able to experience milestones in life due to the school board and the media over- More efficient action should be emphasizing this virus that is going around. taken rather than the current -Sophie Solarana, senior Canvas courses available online if people want the vaping epidemic to Due to overwhelming amount of end birds in the cafeteria, more security precautions should be put in place I understand there is a vaping problem There are often a lot of birds in the cafeteria with our generation and needs to be that are let in and there is no one at the school addressed, I don’t think these Canvas courses that regulates it. It’s kind of a hassle having the that are taking up class time are doing birds inside the cafeteria or just outside in the anything for anyone. Most people don’t read

through all of the articles that are posted so the entire purpose of it is really let go. I think the school board can do a better job of finding ways to prevent vaping and smoking within teenagers because as of now, it is not very effective. Also, since this course is available online, anyone can just do it from home and bypass all of the actual instruction it gives while still getting the credit for every course. Since this is spread over multiple days, it is just taking away from class time especially when exams are coming up so soon, which can be really detrimental to someone’s grades. -Jen Blardonis, junior

Letters to the editor are encouraged as part of The Circuit’s mission as a public forum. Submissions should not exceed 300 words; they should be dropped off in Room 360 or mailed to the school to the attention of adviser Eileen Manella. The author will have the final say in phrasing of the letter, but letters are subject to editing for length, clarity, punctuation and grammar. Anonymous letters will not be printed and the writer’s identity will be confirmed prior to the publication. Any material deemed libelous, obscene, disruptive or unlawful to minors will not be published.

OPINION

MARCH 2020

Human activities, ignorance create detrimental effects on environment As more and more global issues continue to develop, the urgent need for aid in countries is shifting the political agenda to neglect endangered species. A 2018 report, prepared by the World Wildlife Fund and the Zoological Society of London, discovered the population of numerous species around the world dropped by 58 percent between 1970 and 2012. As the crisis intensifies as a result of human activities, such as poaching, habitat damage and pollution, legislation pertaining to the safety of species is essential to ensure the future survival of ecosystems and their food chains. Global biodiversity, due to inhumane interests, is declining at an alarming rate; therefore, the attention from countries through legislation is necessary to halt the dangerous decrease in species if the world wants to prevent animals from going extinct. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, more than 30,000 species are threatened with extinction; as of 2020, more than 41,415 species are on this list. Therefore, the amount of endangered species has increased by 16,118 in the last year. The sudden increase could be attributed to the lack of legislation in support of preserving animals and plants. Although natural forces can strain species population, activities such as human activities leading cause of extinction. The damage of natural habitats is due to the increased urbanization of building structures, highways, roads, agriculture, dams and canals. As a result of urbanization, the rise of environmental pollution through the use of pesticides and other chemicals for the business and agricultural sector has endangered numerous animals. In addition, the overuse of non-biodegradable resources, such as plastic, aluminum and glass, allows individuals to not dispose of waste properly. Therefore, such waste enters oceans and creates effects of halting breathing techniques for wildlife. Furthermore, the exploitation of natural resources has caused a significant amount of species to decline. Resources include the extraction of oil for the purpose of economic growth, overfishing, grazing pastures and the

extermination of forests, can lead to resource destruction, thus leading to extinction. As the populations of humans increase, it is difficult for countries to terminate the epidemic. The decline and extinction of a species can trigger cascading effects within an ecosystem and region, obliterating other species in the process. Endangered species not included in the IUCN Red List are data-deficient species, animals that have eluded scientific study and have not been properly researched to understand what legislation is beneficial to help conserve their breed. In addition, food chains and ecosystems are disrupted; an extinct species can alter the food supply of certain animals by creating overeating, eventually leading to overpopulation or adding another endangered species to the IUCN Red List. Potential political reforms in an attempt to decrease the number of endangered species include environmental legislation to decrease the amount of harmful pollutants in the atmosphere. In addition, the implementation of ecofriendly, renewable resources, such as electric vehicles and solar-powered panels can produce less debris entering the ocean. Limiting debris can halt marine wildlife from suffocating on plastic and prevent further harm to species. Impacts of utilizing such options can benefit the environment and prevent pollutants from affecting species. Furthermore, legislation can be implemented to utilize visual markers to facilitate zoning and demarcation of territory for local wildlife. Therefore, it provides the responsible management of natural resources by strictly protecting rainforest boundaries to ensure habitats cannot be destroyed. Overall, the amount of endangered species continues to rise as humans continue to exploit natural resources and damage sacred habitats. The global community should act through policy to reform food and energy systems by meeting global guidelines on addressing climate change, protecting biodiversity and supporting sustainable development. With the assistance of a global conference, such as the United Nations, to implement said reforms, the survival of endangered species and habitats can be preserved.

Restricting homework would promote academic performance in students

As students make the switch from elementary school to middle school, they have to quickly adapt to the major change from one class to six. With this change comes the addition of a heavier workload and extracurriculars, which can result in unnecessary premature stress. Although this issue is established in middle school, it only intensifies as a person enters high school, where an extra two classes are added to his/her schedule along with an abundance of activities to add to one’s resume.

As high school should be a time for one to get involved with sports, clubs, organizations, and focus on standardized testing, such as the SAT and ACT, there should be less emphasis on homework. Many teachers assign homework because they might believe it will assist students in forcing them to practice materials needed for tests, but in reality, homework is usually just copied from class to class, resulting in a lack of learning at all. High schoolers

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Disney+ displays homophobia by restricting series from streaming platform “Love, Victor” is a spinoff series of the 2018 film “Love, Simon,” a movie that explored teens understanding their sexuality. However, the Disney produced series, which is set to air in June 2020, is being restricted from debuting on the new streaming service Disney+ due to “adult themes.” While Disney+ CEO Bob Iger never mentioned the incorporation of different sexualities as one of these themes, the streaming service is being heavily criticized for this decision due to its homophobic nature. Although “Love, Victor” will still be streamed on Hulu, many people are outraged that they will have to subscribe to an entirely different service just to watch a Disney produced series. It is quite unfair for Disney to restrict this series from Disney+ subscribers, as it is costly to afford these streaming services and this requires viewers to spend even more money. Also, as it is a Disney produced series, it is difficult to understand why it cannot be streamed on the popular service itself. Although Disney+ has repeatedly explained that this did not occur because of the themes of homosexuality, it is hard to believe that when it is the main idea of the series. “Love, Victor” follows the story of high school student Victor (Michael Cimino) who is trying to understand his sexuality and struggling to discover his true self. Disney+ claims the series is being restricted due to its “mature themes,” such as alcohol use and sexual exploration, but it seems as if Disney is just shying away from facing outlash against the theme of homosexuality. While it may be true “Love, Victor’’ contains themes that may be too mature for young audiences on Disney+, it is no different from many of the other films and series that are aired on the service. The difference, however, is the new series also follows a main character who is gay; it is disappointing how this is the detail that makes it “inappropriate.” Although it is irritating that this is being censored from Disney+ viewers, it can also be considered beneficial that it will be streaming on Hulu. Hulu will allow the creators of “Love, Victor” to have the freedom to do whatever

they wish to with the series. If they want a second season, they are more likely to obtain this opportunity if the show is on this lesscensored, more liberated service. The most concerning aspect of this situation is that Disney+ has no doubt that adult themes, such as homosexuality, must be censored, but the brutal violence that accompanies several films, such as “Avengers: Infinity War,” multiple “Star Wars” films and “Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl” is completely fine to remain on the service. If these violence-packed movies are considered “family-friendly’’ enough to be on the app, it does not make sense for a simple high school drama series like “Love, Victor” to be discriminated against. Although violence and sexuality are two separate ideas, they are equally as mature for children to be viewing, so it is confusing that Disney+only tries to take action against one of the two themes.

would benefit from only needing to complete unfinished classwork at home, rather than having to complete three to four hours of busy work, every night, for a completion grade. This only hinders a student’s performance throughout his/her schooling career because some do not get home until 7 p.m., due to commitments with clubs and sports, and have tests for which to study. Furthermore, with the Bay specifically, since the schedule has been altered to 90 minutes per class rather than 50, teachers should plan to give out meaningful work with ample time to complete it in class so their students can focus on mastering the content on the upcoming exams. This would be extremely effective in the school environment because it would motivate people to get their classwork done efficiently in order to not have homework. Since the teacher is present, he/she can also ensure there is no cheating occurring so each individual soaks up as much information as possible and excels on not only quarterly exams, but also assessments given out to receive college credit for certain classes. As college admissions have become more reliant on extracurriculars and leadership positions, many students choose to focus on that in order to receive acceptances to as many schools as possible. Sometimes,

students may be an officer of three different clubs, have practice for a sport four times a week and various meetings each month. With these positions come many responsibilities as countless hours are put into planning projects and running clubs with an extensive membership pool. Although these students do prioritize school and put extreme effort into their academics, it is simply not feasible to expect these teenagers to fit busy work into their schedule. While trying to maintain a social life, a high GPA, a job, extracurriculars and eight hours of sleep, the last activity teenagers want to do is take up precious time to write down 20 vocabulary words or fill out a graphic organizer. These activities have the potential to be much more useful if completed during class for a classwork grade rather than a homework grade. This way, the benefits of the assignments will still be taken into account without hindering one’s mental health. Overall, it can be argued that homework would be much more efficient if it was just turned into classwork. It is understandable classes, such as math and science, consist of material that needs to be practiced in order to be mastered, but students should not be given busy work when they have so many aspects of high school to balance in the process.

Bottom Line: Although Disney+ explained the reason for restricting “Love, Victor” to be “mature adult themes,” it is difficult to believe that there was no homophobic undertone to the action, as the series explores different sexualities Overall, the action that Disney+ is taking to restrict “Love, Victor” from being streamed on the platform is completely unnecessary if they are doing it based on the premises of “mature themes.” There are several other movies and shows on the service that contain scenes that are not appropriate for young audiences, so it seems homophobic and discriminatory to take action against a show that is primarily about sexuality.

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OPINION

MARCH 2020

Leadership conference facilitates growth Sophomore Devin Pabian expands on his leadership skills through meeting in Gainesville, Fla.

Leadership is one of the most prominent characteristics in my life. On Feb. 7 I embarked on a three day trip to one of the largest public universities in the country, the University of Florida (UF), in Gainesville, to attend an esteemed leadership conference, nationally known as the Young Leaders Conference (YLC). On Feb. 7, I drove four and a half hours to Gainesville until I finally got to the J. Wayne Reitz Union on the UF campus. When I arrived, I checked into the program and proceeded to a ballroom where I found 30 tables filled with high school students. When I arrived at my table, group number 15, I was greeted by my Small Group Leaders (SGL). The purpose of the SGLs was to guide the groups in discussions meant to improve our leadership skills. After getting to know everyone in my group a little bit, the conference directors started opening ceremonies. We were all given a schedule of what we were going to do for the weekend and they talked about the purpose of YLC. During their speeches, I felt very excited for what was about to come because I did not know what to expect. I was thrilled to finally know what we were doing so my anticipation could be over. After the opening ceremonies, each group went on a tour of the campus directed by members of the UF Cicerones, an organization that serves as the official student ambassadors of the school. Going on the tour made me feel excited about the possibility of attending UF because I got exposed to the atmosphere of the school. As soon as the tour ended, we went to a special room in the Reitz Union where we would complete all of our workshops in the next two days. During the first night, everyone ate dinner at Gator Dining, a food service for students attending UF. We ate for an hour and proceeded to walk to Flavet Field, a sports field open to the public in Gainesville. At the field, everyone gathered in a circle, and we participated in an activity about discrimination which made me feel closer to the other people at the conference. We left the field, went back to our room and completed the second workshop. While doing the workshops, everyone in the group felt extremely connected to one another because we were discussing personal issues and experiences that made us consider ideas we never had before.

After the activity, all of the groups met outside of the Reitz Union and started walking to our hotel. Once we got to the intersection, since it was fairly large, the police came and shut it down. We got to the hotel, went up to our rooms and went to get a good night sleep for the next day. The next morning, we woke up and had about 20 minutes to get downstairs and then another 25 minutes to eat breakfast. After everyone was done, we walked to a public sports field and stayed there for a few hours doing various team building exercises. We played games to remember our names, improve our communication and work together toward a common goal and I enjoyed all of them because they were challenging yet enjoyable. I enjoyed getting to know everyone better since I knew I was going to be spending more time with them. After we finished those, delicious sandwiches were delivered to us and we sat at rows of tables for lunch. We then went back to our room for the third and fourth workshop and proceeded to go to dinner at Gator Dining again. The meal ended and the groups that were eating went back to their rooms to finish the last workshop. After that, each group went to the main ballroom for a rave, which consisted of neon lights, glow sticks and a lot of party music. Everyone was dancing and having a great time together. The rave ended, and we started the whole process of returning to the hotel again. I loved the rave because it gave us the opportunity to have fun with each other outside of the normal activities which let us see each otherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fun side. We finally got to our rooms and passed out from exhaustion. On Sunday, we went to the Reitz Union for the last time. We had paper plate awards within our small groups and took some pictures before closing ceremonies. When the parents arrived, the directors began the closing ceremonies. They gave out awards to the other directors that did an amazing job managing the entire weekend. At the end of the ceremony, they showed a video of all of the small groups to the parents, and then everyone left. Overall, this conference was a huge success and really taught me the values of leadership and what it takes to be a leader, making me feel extremely fulfilled with my experience at YLC because I got a lot out of it and had a lot of fun doing so.

Photos submitted by devin pabian

in the swamp: (From top) sophomore Devin Pabian embarkon a three day trip on Feb. 7 to Gainesville, Fla. for a leadership conference at the University of Florida (UF). He meets up with his group at the UF baseball stadium to take a break from the day. Pabian said one of his favorite parts of the trip was attending the various workshops held throughout the day which allowed all of the attendees to congregate and discuss leadership qualities such as exemplary communication skills. Pabian and his new friends have one last gathering before departing home from the conference.

OPINION

MARCH 2020

This past February, I embarked on BBYO’s annual International Convention (IC), in which 3,000 Jewish teens from over 50 countries congregate to learn, grow and expand upon their movement. This convention was held in Dallas, Texas, and it was the third IC I have attended. At IC, participants have five actionpacked days of field trips, amazing speakers who are politicians, leaders in movements, actors ect and splendid musical performances. This magnificent convention took an immense amount of planning, and according to the International Office, it takes up to three years to plan each IC, as it is such a wide scale event with a plethora of factors and logistics. BBYO is a teen led organization and offers an abundance of leadership roles both in everyone’s home community and at the international level, which allow teens to have a helping hand in planning BBYO’s largest event of the year. In September, the International Office released International Leadership Network (ILN) applications. The ILN is made of multiple committees and positions that allow BBYO members to become involved internationally. Some international positions include coordinating a summer program, being a steerer at International Convention, being an Captain at International Convention or being an Administrative Assistant at International Convention. I decided to apply for the Programming Administrative Assistant position as I am currently the Vice President of Programming in my local BBYO

community. The application was grueling and took me time to complete, since the International Board wants to ensure that they have the right candidate for the job. In some time, I heard from the International Vice President of Programming. She informed me that I was not selected for the Admin position, but they offered me the position of Separates Captain. This position entailed

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writing all five separate programs for the BBG’s (female participants). Separates is a recurring BBYO program that happens for both the female and male participants at every convention. It is a one hour program that is proposed to be meaningful, inspire its participants and create a sense of sisterhood/ brotherhood. As I was just seeking a role in planning IC, I accepted the position and was thrilled to have the opportunity to be in charge of one of the most meaningful programs at this amazing convention. Shortly after I accepted the position, the planning began. I worked closely with both of the Programming Admins who warned me of due dates and checked in here and there to keep me posted with important information. I had weekly Zoom calls with my counterpart, junior Marlie Thomphson from Birmingham, Ala. She was the other Separates Captain, and she and I worked vigorously to assemble five different separate programs. As there were 1,500 females in attendance at the convention, each Separates program was run in three different rooms, meaning there were about 100 attendees in each room. We decided to structure the numbers this way, so the two

photo submitted by jen silverman

bumpin’: DJ duo Loud Luxury performs top-hit “Body” for their encore during the annual concert at the International Convention in Dallas, Texas. The duo plays an hour-long set consisting of songs such as “Fill Me In,” “See it Again” and “Love No More.” Junior Jen Silverman said the concert served as a break from the chaos of holding an International position and the responsibilities that come with it.

EDITORS

The Circuit is the student newspaper of Cypress Bay High School. The opinions expressed in the paper are not necessarily those of the adviser, administration, or advertisers. The publication of advertisements in The Circuit does not imply endorsement.

THE CIRCUIT

HYBRID EDITORS

Editor-in-Chief: Jenna Friedman

A&E / Print Opinion Copy Editor: Julia Winton

Managing Editor: Drew Roach

News Copy Editor: Gowri Abhinanda

News Editor: Chloe Wain

Features / Online Opinion Copy Editor: Sabrina Blandon

Features Editor: Colin Crawford Arts & Ent. Editor: Jen Silverman Sports Editor: Robbie Solomon Layout Editor: Sophie Gaer Ad Designer : Jake Miller, Hannah Grogan Ad Organizer: Chloe Nowack Business Manager: Sabrina Olivieri Adviser: Eileen Manella

ONLINE EDITION EDITORS Editor-in-Chief: Karla Soberon Managing Editor: Annabelle DanielsRosenberg News Editor: Sophia Handley Features Editor: Rachel Alexander Sports Editor: Darian Trabold Arts & Ent. Editor: Hannah Lassner

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steerers facilitating the program were able to really take control of the room and successfully lead the programs. I had an amazing experience working with Thompson, and she and I were able to complete all five scripts and supply lists before the convention began on Thursday, Feb. 13. All members of the ILN were invited for Advance week, meaning that we were asked to go to Dallas early to help plan and set up the convention center. My position and title allowed me to go up on Tuesday, giving me two days to settle in before 3,000 other teens arrived. Advance week was perhaps my favorite part of the convention. All of my work was done prior to, giving me the opportunity to reconnect with friends and help in other areas when needed. I enjoyed being done with my work because I rarely get to see my BBYO friends. Another perk of serving on the ILN was I was given the opportunity to attend the meet and greet for some of the amazing speakers and special guests. I met and got a picture with YouTube Star David Dobrik and DJ Matoma. I have been a Dobrik fan for years now and I would have never had the opportunity to meet him if it was not for BBYO. BBYO has opened more doors for me than I can think of, and I am forever grateful for all that this organization has provided me. I have been given multiple once in a lifetime opportunities that I will cherish forever. The Separates were run after dinner on Friday. Thompson and I had given paper bags with scripts, room locations and materials to all the steerers who were to be facilitating our programs. Feedback from the event was extremely positive as BBG’s raved about the experience and claimed they felt empowered. This made me feel good, as the work that I did was very rewarding. Overall, holding an International Position has exceeded my expectations and was a rare experience I will hold on to forever. It gave me a different perspective on International Convention and an inside look at all the work that goes into it. I had a blast writing the Separates, and it was a rewarding experience for me as I was able to inspire thousands of girls globally.

STAFF WRITERS Gabriella Barraza, Ana Boix, Alexa Braxton, Anamaria Camara, Roxy Carr, Marc Forrester, Francisca Giuliani, Isabella Loschiavo, Reece Kauffman, Agavni Mehrabi, Alexa Morchelies, Samantha Reichstein, Dani Shapiro, Sophia Zapata

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MARCH 2020