Issue 3 2011-2012

Issue 3 - December 2011

Young adult author visits River, shares her journey Julie Bergman Staff Reporter In Fall 2009, Rollins College student Michelle Madow watched Taylor Swift’s “Love Story” music video. The video initially inspired a class writing assignment, but soon transformed into the young author’s first novel, Remembrance.

On November 18, Madow visited River and spoke to students about her book.

“My favorite thing about writing is hearing the fans’ reactions,” Madow said.

Remembrance follows a young girl in a New Hampshire high school who has been unknowingly reincarnated from the English Regency Era. When a transfer student joins her school, she feels mysteriously connected to him. She cannot get him out of her head, and her fascination with him becomes hard to fight.

Between juggling schoolwork and sorority life, Madow set aside time to write at least 1,000 words every day for Remembrance, though she struggled to push herself to write.

“I would tell myself, ‘Sit down and make yourself write.’ If a doctor doesn’t feel like working, he can’t just not show up,” Madow said.

After ten months, Madow completed her first draft. She then attended Pitch Slam, a convention where writers meet agents and publishers faceto-face. Two months later, she was contacted by an agent who presented her with the final draft. Madow was on track to becoming a young published author.

Students had mixed reactions to Madow’s presentation.

“She [Madow] is very intelligent,” freshman Margurite Infante said.“I was definitely inspired to read her book because she put a lot of personality into it.”

Other students were not as impressed by Madow’s message.

“She was young,” junior Nick Ritz said. “I thought she was inexperienced and slightly awkward.”

Madow currently studies creative writing at Johns Hopkins University and plans on writing more young adult novels. For now, she is working on the next installment of the trilogy that began with Remembrance.

Back to Back Golf Attack Ocampo wins golf state title for second consecutive year. Read about her journey through River golf, and now onto UMiami.

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TheGalleon

Speed trap enrages students Jamie Brecher Staff Reporter All too often, students who drive to and from school leave class, get in the car, avoid the hazardous parking lot traffic, wait at the light and zoom off.

However, a problem occurs not long after passing through the traffic light.

A police officer emerges with a radar gun in hand and points it at his victim, signaling for him to pull over to the side of the road. After the typical "Oh, I didn't even know I was speeding" conversation, the student driver leaves the scene with a hefty ticket or, if he is lucky, just a warning.

The residents of Boca Raton have a major influence in controlling speeding students. Their report of student drivers sometimes determines how often the Boca Raton Police Department sets up shop to crack down on school zone speeding violations.

"They [the Boca Raton Police Department] have been very active because citizens call them and complain about students leaving the parking lot," River police officer Luis Santana said.

Students have had many com-

Photos by Nicole Granet

Two cars pulled over on the corner of Jog and Yamato in Spanish River’s school zone.

The fine for speeding in a schoool zone ranges from $156 to $606 depending on how far over the speed limit one is driving, according to the Boca Raton Police Dept.

plaints about these expensive consequences. One in particular involves the placement of signs and flashing yellow lights alerting drivers of the school zone area.

“The school zone sign isn’t visible at all when you’re leaving the school and the flashing lights are facing the

opposite direction so you can’t see those either,” senior Bella Comboni said, who recently got pulled over in the speed trap.

Other students have experienced the same problem.

“I didn’t know that it was a school *continued on page 3

New assessments test reading levels Joey Birchansky News Editor This school year, all students are required to take mini-assessments in a variety of classes. They consist of one or two reading passages related to their respective subjects, followed by five multiple-choice questions that test students’ reading comprehension skills. These assessments are intended to prepare students for the reading sections of the FCAT, SAT and ACT. Some students, though, do not think these questions are an adequate assessment of test readiness.

“The FCAT questions are much harder [than questions on the assessments],” junior Steven Jacobs said.

“All my other classmates find them to be really annoying. Also, the assessments waste time we could spend actually learning the material we’re supposed to be learning.”

In addition to measuring test readiness, the assessments are also following reading benchmarks implemented by the Florida Department of Education.

“The state wants to ensure that all

Spanish River Choice Awards From Adele to Twilight, find out students’ favorite music, movies and artists of 2011.

Page 12

students are exposed to benchmarks,” Assistant Principal Dr. Jon Prince said.

“We have made each department responsible for two benchmarks, [which are included] in these assessments.”

Photo by Lee Ginton

The reading assessments usually correlate with course subject. For example, this test about cancer drugs was administered in a Biotechnology IV class.

The results of the assessments will be used to evaluate which types of questions students experience the most difficulty with. English teachers will then expose their students to more of these questions. This will prepare underclassmen for the FCAT and will prepare upperclassmen for the reading sections of the SAT and ACT, according to Prince.

3,2,1... Blast Off How bright is your future?

Meet some River students who have already left the launchpad and are rocketing toward the future.

Page 10-11

“Students of all grades need to learn how to read and comprehend questions, whether they’re college entry-level questions or FCAT questions,” Prince said.

Though some students believe that juniors and seniors who have already passed the FCAT should not be required to take the assessments, Assistant Principal Rachel Amburgey wishes to have a “schoolwide focus” on the importance of developing reading comprehension skills.

“One of the reasons River lost its A is [that] we need to focus on all types of students,” Amburgey said. “We need to make sure that every student, no matter what level they are, will succeed.”

Students also benefit from these assessments because many of the passages included in the assessments are similar to passages found in the reading sections of the SAT and the ACT, according to Prince. Most juniors and seniors will take these tests in the near future.

With these goals in mind, teachers will soon be notified of how well their students scored. Students will take the diagnostic assessments next year in January and March.

Inside this Issue

Spanish River High School 5100 Jog Road Boca Raton, FL 33496 galleonnewsonline.com

News.............................1-3 Opinion.......................4-5 Features......................8-9 Feature Focus......10-11 Entertainment....12-13 Student Life..........14-15 Sports......................17-20 .

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December 2011 The Galleon

SHARK ATTACK

Letter to the Editor Dear Phoebe, Your story on the school’s bathrooms could not have been more true. Between the smell and the drawings that go from repulsive to heartfelt, you can’t help but want to steer clear of the bathrooms. My heart goes out to those poor girls writing on the stall walls as does yours. Something needs to be done about our bathrooms, and it needs to be done now. I think we as students have had enough.

Sincerely, Lauren Patton

Sharks out of water

Photo courtesy of Joey Goldman

Miguel Nelson’s AP and honors Physics students explore Busch Gardens theme park during Physics Day.

Letter From the Editors Can you believe that the school year is almost halfway over? We know that you are all looking forward to winter break, but finish the semester strong! Consider this issue of The Galleon the “read-while-you’re-procrastinating-for-examstudying” issue. There was no procrastination for The Galleon staff, though. Issue 3 is packed with interesting reads, including a guide to who you should know at River, an interview with Phantom Broadcast and a look at senior Christina Ocampo’s journey to her second-straight golf title.

There is something for everyone in this issue of The Galleon.

So sit back and relax, sip your hot cocoa (if the weather is cold enough, that is), and enjoy Issue 3.

Have a great winter break!

Joey Goldman, Nicole Granet, Phoebe Dinner and Lee Ginton

Photo Courtesy of Susan Stallone

Photo courtesy of Hanna Kivisto

River’s Varsity and Junior Varsity cheerleaders won first place at the True Spirit cheerleading championships on Saturday December 3.

Thumbs up

Theater Arts students pose with their superior-rating medals at the District Thespian competition held at West Boca High School. In total, the troupe earned 9 superior ratings.

Thumbs down

- Winter break - Midterms - College acceptances - College rejections - 4th period pep rally! - Dress code rumors

Editorial Board photos courtesy of google images

NEWS

December 2011 The Galleon

Academies enforce stricter regulations Students Whitney Sha News Editor Ten years ago, Florida was the first state to offer high school academies, small programs within schools that provide career-specific training to students. In Palm Beach County, students can attend an out-of-zone school if they are accepted to one of its academies. However, a new district-wide regulation effective this year has imposed harsher regulations on all high school academy students, including Spanish River’s Biotechnology, Entrepreneurship (DECA) and Gilder-Lehrman members.

Academy students at River are held to more rigorous standards than other students. They must maintain a “B” average in their Academy courses as well as a “C” average in all their courses, and they cannot receive more than two referrals. If students violate these rules, they are put on probation. In past years, students who remained on probation for more than a quarter were asked to leave the academy – and River, if they were not zoned for the school – at the end of the year.

Usually, students succeeded in seeking “reassignment” and were allowed to attend River without being in an Academy. Under the new regulation, however, these students would be forced to leave at the end of December and return to their home schools.

The policy has caused the most controversy for out-of-district seniors, who would have to leave River and graduate from a school they had only

attended for half a year.

“We used to allow ‘Academy senior privilege’, which meant that seniors who had to leave the Academy were allowed to finish the year and graduate at River,” Academy Coordinator Deb Stenner said.

“But we’re now Photo By Lee Ginton more diligent in A Biotech student strives to perform well on his test. A new policy limiting proba- mandates that academy students must maintain a B average or tion periods and face the risk of being expelled from the academy program. following the district policy on seniors.” because he “did badly on one quiz,” About 60 River students through- which lowered his grade. out the academies are now on proba“I don’t want to get kicked out [of tion, according to Stenner. Although the Academy] because I’m zoned for seniors have received the most another school,” Ramasar said. “The exposure since the policy has policy is honestly just ridiculous. surfaced, freshmen actually make up There are so many situations kids go about one-third of the students on through, and the rules shouldn’t be probation. so harsh.”

“I talk with parents and students However, competition to be about it at least once a day,” Stenner accepted into Academies each year is said. “But we try to work problems out stiff, and the policy may help River by by finding tutors, contacting teach- strengthening standards. ers, using planners and honing study “If you’re here and you get ‘C’s, skills.” there are a lot of people who want to The academy policy has contrib- be here and get ‘A’s,” Gilder-Lehrman uted to a tenser atmosphere among teacher Aaron Lampman said. academy students, according to The new Academy policy has stirred senior Nishad Ramasar, a fourth-year up controversy. Although it may Biotechnology student. boost River’s academic rigor, it has “A lot of kids are feeling threatened also triggered stress for students. and scared,” Ramasar said.

Ramasar is now on probation

Foundation continues to improve River Emily Bergman Staff Reporter The Spanish River Foundation was founded in 2003 when severe cuts in state funding concerned parents.

While it used to be run by volunteers, the Foundation two years ago voted to hire Janet Epstein, who participates in full-time fundraising, as Director of Development.

In order to raise money, the Foundation mails and emails written appeals. The Foundation also hosts special events for students’ families and members of the community.

Since the state mandated class-size reduction, which became a challenge for River, the Foundation funded “sixth-period supplements,” which pay teachers to teach six classes instead of the usual five. Other proj-

ects include paying for mobile laptop carts, as well as the tennis court resurfacing project that took place last spring.

“Last year we had to play all of our home matches at Woodfield [Country Club],” senior tennis player Zach Gross said. “Now we get to win in our own backyard.”

The Foundation also initiated a school-wide technology upgrade that has allowed every classroom to be comparable to some of the newer schools in the district.

“This year, Principal Latson is hoping to initiate a technology program enabling a laptop lab to be brought to students in their classrooms,” Epstein said. “It will provide greater flexibility for learning and teaching.”

This mobile computer lab will facilitate student participation in end-ofcourse exams.

Gifts to the Foundation support River because the Foundation provides funding for academics, technology, athletics and the arts.

“With the current economic climate and the severe funding cuts in school budgets, the need for gift support is greater than ever,” Epstein said.

The Foundation recently held a successful fundraiser at Woodfield Country Club that raised around $8,000, with around 125 people in attendance. Highlights included shopping, lunch, mahjong, a raffle and five-minute massages.

The Spanish River Foundation ensures that River maintains its academic excellence and offers the finest possible education to all of its students. The Foundation’s biggest fundraiser, the SRCHS Foundation Third Annual Progressive Dinner, will be hosted on February 11.

The Galleon 2011-2012 Editors-in-Chief Joey Goldman Nicole Granet Associate Editors Phoebe Dinner Lee Ginton Advertising Director Samantha Cohen Layout & Feature Focus Editor Ilana Weisman

News Editors Joey Birchansky Whitney Sha Features Editor Caroline Posner Entertainment Editors Ariel Brown Lee Ginton Sports Editor Josh Benrubi

Student Life Editors Phoebe Dinner Emma Grubman Art Editors Gali Deutsch Caroline Posner Photography Editor Julie Bergman Web Editor Claire Dykas

The Galleon is a public forum.

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ticketed

*continued from page 1 zone because when you exit the parking lot, you can’t see the sign that flashes and shows the time when the 20 mph speed limit is enforced,” senior Carly Block said.

Currently on Jog Road one sign faces south close to the corner of Yamato Road and another sign farther north faces north. However, there are no school zone signs facing student drivers as they exit the parking lot.

This presents a major argument in favor of students taking their speeding violation to court. According to Comboni and Block, a student who is not alerted of a change in the speed limit should not be fined for the violation. Both claim that this situation is unjust because of insufficient warning.

The underlying problem pertaining to the logistics of the school zone surrounding Spanish River is the issue of school zone time sessions.

The Galleon Insider

They [the City of Boca Raton] should change the hours to when school is officially over for the day, not when only a fourth of the school leaves.

Daniel Braff Senior "I thought the 20 mph zone didn't start until 2:40 PM," Comboni said.

Most students know that there is an active school zone and that it is not unusual to see police scanning radar, but a number of seniors find it confusing when they leave after period six.

“Technically, school isn’t even over yet when I leave,” Block said.

Students at River have a number of suggestions to clarify this confusing situation.

“They [the City of Boca Raton] should change the hours to when school is officially over for the day, not when only a fourth of the school leaves,” senior Daniel Braff said.

The allegedly “unfair” situation clearly has students upset about receiving speeding tickets just after leaving school.

"I'm definitely fighting that ticket," Comboni said.

Rather than argue about the circumstances at hand, students might just have to remember to slow down when exiting the parking lot.

Technical Editor Razvan Chiriac Staff Reporters Emily Bergman Shelaina Bloukos Jamie Brecher Zach Schlein Adviser Suzanne Sanders Principal William Latson

The Galleon is a member of Quill and Scroll Honorary Society for High School Journalists, Florida Scholastic Press Association, Columbia Scholastic Press Association, and National Scholastic Press Association.

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December 2011 The Galleon

Opinion

Irony for Dummies: Spanish River Edition halfway logged onto Edline on their phones. school in the past, don’t fret. It looks like River’s And after that, students continue to text away administrators have turned a cheek. Why else with their phones clutched to their sides or in would they put up a barcode that you need the concealment of their backpack. It’s incred- a phone to scan with directly underneath the When I hear the word “ironic,” I think of one ibly obvious,too. Some teachers may act mad, ‘NO ELECTRONIC DEVICES’ banner? It can’t just of two things. The first is Alanis Morissette’s but really their anger is just a facade. They too be for ironic purposes. song “Ironic,” which is hands down the most wish they could be texting; believe it or not, Exhibit B: the Opportunity Room, better annoying, idiotic 90’s song. If you’ve heard it I’ve witnessed a few teachers doing just that known at River as O.R. This might be the best before, you know what I mean. If you haven’t, during class. Those teachers soon became my case of irony at River. Students who get caught consider yourself lucky. My second – and prob- favorites. skipping class face a typical punishment of ably more normal – response to three days in O.R. Now, I’m not the “irony” is its definition and types. next Albert Einstein, but somehow High school English teachers the logic behind that punishment have a strange obsession with seems slightly flawed. Why would teaching irony. In fact, I can still a student who is skipping classes remember my freshman year be forced to spend three more English teacher (and every Engdays out of the classes he is missing lish teacher, really) constantly lessons in? For students who going over the different types of genuinely don’t care if they irony: verbal, dramatic and situmiss class, the system seems ational. more rewarding than anyYou don’t need to sit through thing. It might be time for a four years of high school English name change; instead of the to understand irony, though.

Opportunity Room, let’s call it the Photo Courtesy of Libby Koolik Just look around school.

Irony Room. It can be a hub of Exhibit A: the ‘NO ELECTRONIC DEVICES’ Don’t get me wrong, I’m not learning about irony, that way stubanners scattered throughout campus. If I criticizing teachers or administrators for being dents who skip class can at least learn about had a dollar for every time I saw students tex- too lax on the enforcement of the electronic the workings behind the current punishment ting directly underneath those signs, I’d be Bill devices ban. The policy is incredibly futile. It’s system.

Gates rich. Even better: I’ve sat in classrooms almost 2012, cell phones are as much a part of our If spending three days in the Irony Room which clearly display “No Cellphones” signs, society as Facebook and McDonald’s value seems too intense for you, don’t worry. Just yet before teachers can even finish muttering fries. spend a day at Spanish River, you’ll be an irony “I just updated Edline” students are already But if you have had your phone taken away at pro in no time.

Joey Goldman Editor-in-Chief

Is there light at the end of the tunnel?

Nicole Granet Editor-in-Chief Anyone who ever said that junior year is the hardest year was clearly never a senior.

Between the stress of college applications, AP classes, leadership in clubs, waiting for college decisions and trying to stay awake, enjoying senior year seems to be out of the question.

Throuhgout my entire high school journey, I have heard the “junior year” horror stories of SAT’s, rigorous classes, overextension in clubs, etc. I guess it was just always implied that once we switched bleacher sections at the final pep rally of the year, the stresses of junior year would fade away into a senior year of bliss, superiority, fluffy clouds and rainbows.

Well now I know what happens when you assume.

Disclaimer to everyone reading this who is not yet a senior: All of those hard classes, standardized tests, and extracurriculars don’t only extend into your senior year… they compound. Then add into the mix applications on applications on applications. If you don’t already know your HPA, social security number or school CEEB code - don’t worry, you will be reciting them in your sleep by November.

It may be a common rumor that senior year is just fun and games, but don’t let that propaganda cloud your perspective. Make sure you have fun along the way, in freshman, sophomore and junior years; don’t leave all your fun

for last because you may not have the kind of year you were envisioning.

Senior year teachers do not want to be washed out by the myriad of senior festivities and the all-too-powerful senioritis. Prepare yourself for group projects galore, too-high expectations, mountains of homework and days when you might just think about giving up.

As far as extracurriculars go, it’s a funny paradox: you’ve likely worked very hard since your freshman year as a part of a club or two, aspiring to hold some sort of leadership position by the time you become a senior. Well, the time has come and you want to fulfill your aspiration: be a president who makes a change, a treasurer who raises more money than was raised in previous years, a secretary who improves the communication between officers, members and the administration. The problem? The aforementioned classes and college applications are taking up so much time that you might be forced to underperform in the position you were so excited to obtain.

I have a confession to make. I truly do love everything I am doing. (Yes, including learning; I know, I’m a nerd). From newspaper, to drama to tutoring and NHS - I enjoy every piece. In my

senior year, I have friends, seniority, privileges, pep rallies, trips, spirit, leadership, prom - I have everything!

Except time. Time to do homework for Calculus BC. Time to write a detailed research paper.Time to organize meetings for 3 group projects that are assigned simultaneously.

Time to build a rat trap car for extra credit. Time to do your best in every facet of your h i g h school experience.

In my AP English Literature class, we are reading Shakespeare’s “Hamlet,” and studying the motif of “appearance versus reality”. Honestly, I am finding this to be the best way to describe my senior year. It’s not what it appeared it would be. If junior year was a desert, and I was hot, thirsty and tired - senior year was the mirage that kept me going, the hope that water and relief was just around the bend. Well, I’m beginning to realize that senior year is just a hotter desert, and I’m just the same traveller only more weary.

Art By Caroline Posner

5 I got 99 problems but dress code ain’t one OPINION

Lee Ginton Associate Editor I spent last summer at an art camp in New York City filled with campers from all around the world.

There was so much diversity at this camp, that I basically ate breakfast with someone from another country every day. Over the weeks I learned a lot about photography, but the most important lessons I brought home were those about universal tolerance.

Rumors of a new dress code have the halls screaming with stress and unease. At first I was a bit upset; I’m 18 - I can enlist in the army, vote and gamble, but I am still being told what to wear?

Then, I spoke to a camp friend, Alessandra, who lives in Curacao, an island in the Dutch caribbean.

She has always had to wear a polo shirt to school, but now administration added mandatory khakis.

Just like many students at River, she thought the new dress code was the end of the world. Now, she says, it is natural and she appreciates the time it saves. If someone who lives 1380 miles away can accept what is practically a uniform, then why can’t we accept our much-more lenient dress code?

December has arrived, which means exams are right around the corner. And it seems that, somehow, we always end up with a grade split - requiring endless cramming and stress in order to get an acceptable grade on the final exam. For many, those days before and during exam week, are

potentially the most sleep-deprived and stressful days thus far. But we’re not the only ones cramming and getting nervous. My friend Mariana, who lives in Mexico, gets nervous before every exam she takes. It doesn’t matter that my friend Phoebe lives in China, she is going to be cramming for her finals just like us.

There is the old adage “boys will be boys.” Perhaps it should be specified to “boys will be boys - regardless of where they are in the world.” As a teenage girl, I would feel safe putting money on the wager that “almost every girl at Spanish River has had to deal with relationship problems.” After meeting Marta and Francesca from Italy, and hearing their relationship dramas, I am now confidant enough to expand that wager to “almost every teenage girl, in the world, has had to deal with relationship problems.” Whether you are upset about a boy breaking up with you, cheating on you, or just not liking you, remember that you are not the only one with these problems. I can assure you that plenty of girls, on every continent, are going through the same thing.

Half of the problems my friends around the world have to deal with wouldn’t even cross many of our minds. My friend Roni, who lives in Israel, is getting ready to go to the army.

She is leaving her life and family to train soldiers for combat. And unlike those in America who volunteer for service, she is forced to go under Israeli law.

My friend Remi now lives in Africa and attends an

December 2011 The Galleon

International school in Zimbabwe, a country overwhelmed with poverty. Everyday she sees young children struggling to survive, who wish the stress in their life would be from exams and dress code.

While many inconveniences are sprung upon us during high school, we are not the only ones with these problems. Around the world teenagers are facing the same stress as we are, if not worse. We are not waking up and putting on an army uniform or skipping breakfast because we can’t afford it. We are putting on jeans and maybe skipping breakfast so we are not late for class; and quite frankly that doesn’t seem too bad.

You spelled attention-seeking girl wrong...

Phoebe Dinner Associate Editor Students at Spanish River have been misled.

This is a public service announcement to you, frustrated youth. The information below is designed to improve the relationships between the sexes at River.

The truth is, everything we know is a lie, and I cannot take the endless Facebook statuses concerning the current relationship status of said updater. So I this can help contribute to broken hearts, and decrease the number of depressing things on my news feed. Everything we know is a lie because everything we say is a lie. Before I continue, if you are reading this and have somehow found the relationship free of truth stretching or rule breaking, than feel free to contact me because from what I have seen, we are all lying. The truth is that girls are the ones lying because we don’t say what we mean.

Girls play mind games. As much as we want to say boys play the games and we are victims, the ball is actually in our court and our favorite play is faking a pass. It is because of our initial lie that boys have to further lie in order to give our desired

Graphic Art by Lee Ginton

answer. ask you to either compare us to another girl or One thing you can look out for is the next time comment on our ideas, do not tell us what you a girl texts you something with a period at the think unless you know it is the answer we are fishend of a sentence, you should ing for. This is a trap and you should watch your back because this proceed with caution. is a sure sign that a fight is on Lies spread like wildfire, they its way, and no one likes the tangle like webs and we get wrath of a 5 foot 4 girl with more burned and caught. Women lie attitude than the emoji on her because they want men to care. phone can cover.

The truth of the matter is ladies, if Then there is the classic, the boy cared he would not have “What is wrong?” And this is to lie. Based on the statuses that I when girls get excited because read though, these truthful men we are thinking that maybe, have not been around too often as Photo by Phoebe Dinner just maybe you care and pay of late. The point is not to blame the attention. Instead of telling you what is on our guys, but to think about what you are doing that minds though, we say “Nothing.” But this, my dear has brought you here. Being straight-forward takes oblivious men, is a fight or flight moment for you, courage that a lot of people do not have, which is because in this moment you have two choices, why we lie in the first place. This lack of courage proceed on with your life or get the truth out of this has everyone beating around the bush with people girl. If you choose the latter, the answer will most they care about. But if we are going to lie about our likely come sooner rather than later. But, if you get intentions ladies, we can not except the truth in rethe girl who does not answer and proceeds to tell turn. We are all going to have to try to find the couryou everything is ok but still acts different, I am age though, because if I read another Mariah Carey going to tell you, everything is not OK. The choice is lyric, I am reporting it as spam on Facebook. yours good fellows, stay or go.

Now when we ask you a question, if we

SWEET CHARITY AUDITIONS Come try out for the Spring Musical!

When: Thursday and Friday December 15 and 16 Where: Drama Room Who: Lots of guys and girls needed!

What to wear: Comfortable shoes&clothes for dancing What to sing: Any song from “Sweet Charity” More info: Visit www.spanishrivertheatre.org for the Spanish River Theatre Arts page on Facebook

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December 2011 The Galleon

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OPINION

December 2011 The Galleon

Dance Off

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Every year, seven seniors team up with U.S. History teacher Aaron Lampman to pump up pep-rallies with flips, tricks and dance moves.

Only now there’s a new crew in town. Marine Biology teacher Jon Spicer has recruited nine other senior males to compete against the Lampman 8 in a dance battle held in front of the entire school. On one side stands Lampman 8 senior Ryan Delawyer fighting to keep their long-held title. On the other is Spice Boy’s senior Lex Weiner with his shot for the title of River’s ultimate dance team.

Ryan DeLawyer Lampman 8

Lex Weiner Spice Boys

The Lampman crew has been working like a locomotive, a well-oiled locomotive, for the past few months. I can’t really disclose what happens in our “beat lab”, however I can tell you unspeakable things have occurred. The air is filled with the aromas of pepperoni and Vaseline, and Hernan can’t go four seconds without doing a back flip. The Lampman 8 crew is comparable to a Delta force team, however instead of killing insurgents, we’re killing dignity. The majority of Lampman 8’s infrastructure and budget has been invested in the scientific development of a ground breaking dance move known as “The Backward Summersault,” made famous by Ryan Delawyer, immediately throwing us into a swirling depression. However, Lampman 8 has a few things up its sleeve, and is prepared to throw down at the pep-rally. The horde is upon us.

As you may know, there is a new teacher on campus by the name of Mr. Spicer . But what you may not know is that he carries a passion for dancing with an intensity and desire for greatness. With this fire, he sought out nine of River’s finest students with whom he wishes to share and combine each of their unique talents in the new all-guys dance team “Spice Boys”.

This team consists of Mr. Spicer and his nine disciples. They are Lex “Steamy Spice” Weiner, Jake “Slick Spice” Rosen, Brad “Saucy Spice” Thele, Julian “Spirit Spice” Astrove, Adam “Sexy Spice” Feldman, Anthony “Sassy Spice” Petrone, Josh “Shaggy Spice” Brami, Jon “Slow Spice” Bolz, and Jesse “Silly Spice” Weinberger. These nicknames truly represent the serious nature of this group of big burly men.

Photos by Lee Ginton

Winter

Pep Rally Alisa

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December 2011 The Galleon

FEATURES

Spanish River dress-code is put to the test Shelaina Bloukos Staff Reporter

Walking through the halls of Spanish River, dress code may seem ambiguous. Some students strut by administration in tank tops and short-shorts without reprimand, while others receive punishments for holes in their jeans.

Despite recent rumors of dress code revisions, teachers and administrators insist that though changes are under way, no permanent new dress code has been set. Principal William Latson, with the help of administration, teachers and students, is continuing to make changes that will be announced later this year, according to Academy Coordinator Deb Stenner. For now, students should stick to the guidelines provided in their student handbooks.

For females, shorts must be at or right above her knees; for both genders, tank tops are not allowed, though administration tends to show some leniency toward the tank top rule.

"I wear tank tops to school pretty often," senior David Tubero said. "I've never really ever gotten in real trouble though, just warnings."

"If a girl is wearing a tank top and has a sweater to put on, then great," Assistant Principal Rachel Amburgey said. "We have really good students at

Physics Flash

student catapults

On November 22, Miguel Nelson’s AP Physics students launched water balloons across the courtyard from their 24 hand-crafted catapults. A crowd looked on at the extra-credit assignment as balloons splashed yards away - even hitting AP Calculus teacher Kevin McEnroe.

He reflects on the experience:

“There was really a lot of creativity out there with the physics students,” McEnroe said.

“It [getting hit] looked like fun.”

AP Physics student senior Abby Solomon said of her engineering success:

“The whole project used projectiles, tension, motion... it’s the laws of physics. And our catapult was amazing.”Photo By Nicole Granet

Spanish River...I like to talk to kids first and give them the opportunity to fix [their dress code violations] by providing the appropriate clothing."

Amburgey also thinks that some students may use weather and temperature as reasons to be out of dress code, even though students argue that classrooms are freezing.

"It's still so hot out," senior Emily Casey said. "I've already been to OR [opportunity room] for dress code."

The consequences for not adhering to the dress code may include a warning, a lunch detention, a one-hour after school detention or a referral along with in-school-suspension (ISS), according to the student handbook. However, ISS is rare for a dress code violation, according to Amburgey.

“Usually students are sent to ISS only if they’ve had repetitive and blatant violation of the dress code,” Amburgey said.

Latson is distressed by the idea of dress code violation.

"Dress code, for me, is basically first impression," Latson said. "We're at a school and there should be a standard of dress. Some styles today just aren't fit for school."

Latson respects all students' opinions of dress code and hopes to ensure this respect to every individual.

"At this moment, compliance is not so good,"

Latson said. "We need to respect everyone's backgrounds to make sure not to offend others."

Latson and the assistant principals are currently working on additions to the dress code that will further solidify its guidelines. Administration is planning on becoming more strict on the policy all together.

Three Galleon staff members decided to test just how strict the River dress code is. After wearing shorts that were far above the knees, and low-cut tank tops for three consecutive days, one journalist reported that she was only stopped once. Not only was it only one time, but it took until the second day during Lunch A for her to be stopped. However, she still was not sent to the office or told that she was not to wear a tank top again; rather, she was asked to wear a jacket. The other two staff members reported that they were not stopped at all.

Even though some students find the dress code unfair or even unnecessary, others do not mind it and find no issue with it.

"I never really dress out of dress code," senior Arielle Kaminik said. "I wear shorts, but they're not all that short and I always make sure to wear a jacket over me if I'm wearing a tank top. Other than that, I pretty much wear the same thing as what I would wear outside of school because I want to be seen with respect."

Cursive, a lost art

the map. It’s easy, it’s legible and it’s fast.

So why am I so miserable about the decline of cursive? I’m not bitter about the role technology plays in our daily lives. I assure you, I have enough Some of my least favorite words are “What does respect for typing that I’ve picked out my favorite that say?” You can label my handwriting chicken fonts (Adobe Caslon Pro bold and American Typescratch, call it scribble-scrabble; just do not tell me writer light). Instead, I find upsetting my peers’ lack my font is illegible. If modern students can’t read of respect for this ancient art form. While it is rarely cursive, what is to become of my looped, swirled, recognized today as a means of artistic expression, I crossed-and-dotted script in an increasingly am astounded to think that Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence was completely rewritten word-processed world?

Cursive has been my handwriting of choice because the cursive wasn’t presentable for display. since fifth grade, and for my decision, I’ve suf- And though I am concerned that my whole generafered. Sure, the benefits of my calligraphic style tion struggles to copy down the cursive paragraph are plentiful: I’m a quicker note-taker than most of on the SAT, I am also shocked by how little we know about handwriting. my peers and I get a geeky satisA little bit of faction out of each artistically fluid research reveals T and jagged Z. Yet it seems more that English script and more certain that my writing is about five cenwill be meaningless in the hands turies old, that of uneducated cursive readers. only twelve perEven Wikipedia warns me that cent of elementary “imitating print letter shapes or school teachers are using caps only is becoming more trained to teach prevalent among children.” cursive and that If Wikipedia isn’t credible people were still enough, I have proof from Spanish Photo By Ilana Weisman inventing styles River’s own classrooms that curThe Galleon staff proves that for now, cursive is still of handwriting in sive might be rapidly disappearing.

Sophomore Tyber Harrison tells alive and in use. Above, a few handwriting samples. the 1970s. Cursive is not just a methme that he has not known how to od of moving a pencil; it is a legitimate academic write cursive since about second grade.

“I really don’t remember, but I’m sure I used to field, which, like anything else, carries its own hisknow,” Harrison said. ”Half of my English class tory. Yet it is quickly growing similar to the world’s skipped reading an essay because it was in cursive.” other retired traditions. Though we know about the Half of the class is a pretty frightening statistic. telegraph and Cuneiform, cursive may too soon be I can’t seem to imagine how it got that bad. The confined, like those former practices, to the glass entirety of my fifth-grade class was expected to display cases of museums and archives.

I don’t mean to be pessimistic. Plenty of people write in script; to me, cursive was a rite of passage for elementary school graduation. But the more I can decipher my swirly letters, and even occasionthink about it, the more logical it seems. The last ally someone goes so far as to compliment my calessay I wrote, the last letter I sent, the last notes ligraphy. I confess I am more concerned than the I took in class: all typed. This article was the work average kid about English cursive handwriting, but of my computer keyboard. Though I’m ashamed I promise not to protest the users of block letters to admit it, I see why students fail to exercise their out there. No posters will display my disdain for cursive skills. When it comes to ranking speed, cur- print, and I will not march to oppose the all-capitals sive will always beat print, but type is like the first cause. You’re safe, even if the future of my beloved automobile that wiped horse-drawn carriages off cursive isn’t.

Caroline Posner Commentary

FEATURES Expressing pride for cultural diversity Phoebe Dinner and Lee Ginton Associate Editors In Syria, where junior Nour Ali’s family lives, merchants sell their products on horse-drawn wheel barrels, and women seldom leave the house unaccompanied by men. Yet, like most teenage girls, she enjoys Matt Damon movies and a big bowl of pasta.

Ali goes back to visit her family and friends in Syria whenever possible. She notes several cultural differences, specifically a divide in the roles of men and women.

“Usually the man goes out to work all day, and the woman stays home and takes care of the house,” Ali said. “It’s different from life here, but I find it pretty normal,” Ali said.

While River students can typically be found hanging out at the mall, beach, or parties, Ali adapts to a different way of socializing when with her family in Syria.

“A typical social event would be to go to a friend’s house, sit around and drink tea - it’s never a hangout without tea,” Ali said. “If you go to someone’s house around 8, you probably won’t leave until 2 in the morning because you are so busy talking.”

Despite the fact that Ali’s father is a Muslim priest, and her mother keeps Arabic traditions, such as cooking grape leaves.

While some might shy away from expressing cultural differences, Ali is proud of her heritage. When most girls wear yoga pants and t-shirts to school, Ali chooses to wear a hijab - a traditional head covering worn by Muslim women - as a reminder to be true to her religion and show her self-respect. The hijab helps her keep strong amidst high school’s social pressures.

Unfortunately, it has brought her some negative experiences in her life as well; several boys at her old-school accused her of being a “terrorist.” Ali maintained a calm composure and ignored them, aware that they did not know what they were talking about.

“A small number of bad people, like Osama [Bin Laden], have put a negative image on the Muslim culture,” Ali said. “But actually, these people are breaking the most important Muslim rules.”

The Muslim culture is focused around non-violence and tolerance to others, according to Ali. They are required to pay two percent of their income to charity, and at the end of Ramadan, they pay an additional percentage. With this in mind, Ali is able to stand up for her heritage, and know that despite peoples’ ignorant remarks, she is proud to be a Muslim.

Ali is practices one of the many religions represented in Spanish River’s halls. And like many students from diverse cultural backgrounds, Ali will continue to be proud of her heritage.

December 2011 The Galleon

9

Congratulations to the 2011 Pathfinder Nominees Noah Gardner Academic Excellence Jordan Schrager Art Hanna Kivisto Business Joey Goldman Communications Nicole Granet Community Involvement Thomas Baldwin Computer Science Lila Stallone Drama Anna Lee Robbins Foreign Language Taylor Fox Forensics/Speech Josh Williams History/Political Science Lainey Meiri Literature Rachel Newmark Math Melissa Codd Music/instrumental Nicollette Thaler Music/Vocal Lucas Henry Reach for Excellence Max Morgenstern Science Coltin Gelb Sports

Student Scientists

Spanish River seniors put their minds - and lab notebooks- to work on experiments for this year’s Intel Science and Engineering Fair.

Josh Lieberman TITLE:

Effect of the core and cover of a golf ball on its spin rate

PRE-LAB: “As a golfer, knowing the way a golf ball spins is really important to playing well,” Lieberman said.

MATERIALS:

SCIENCE FAIR! Michael Barth TITLE:

Vibration and Power of Tennis Rackets

PRE-LAB: Barth is interested in tennis, and is a tennis player himself.

PURPOSE:

Used six different golf balls that were made out of different core and cover materials.

The experiment was designed to measure the innate power and vibrations of two categories of tennis racquets: recreational and professional.

1. Hit them from a machine that measures the spin rate.

2. Did ten trials with each golf ball.

1. Put vice on each of the rackets and attached them to a post.

2. Aimed tennis ball machine at the center of the rackets and fired at a constant velocity.

3. Found the distance that each ball traveled (power).

4. Used a oscilloscope (measures electrical current) to measure the vibration of the ball when it hit the rackets.

PROCEDURE:

DATA & CONCLUSION

Softer core golf balls spin less than harder core balls.

PROCEDURE:

DATA & CONCLUSION: Using T score, he found that professional players have fewer vibrations and less innate power than recreational players.

Madyson Levinson TITLE:

Ultraviolet Absorption

PRE-LAB:

She wants to be a doctor in the future, and family members have had skin cancer.

PURPOSE:

Measure UV absorption of sunscreen.

PROCEDURE:

1. Looked up chemical background to find the composition of each sunscreen.

2. Found the right dilution for each sunscreen and put each sample under an ultraviolet spectrophotometer.

DATA & CONCLUSION:

Showed the different levels of SPF sunscreen and how UV rays affect each one.

Higher SPFs have a higher absorption rate of UV rays, so higher-SPF sunscreen gives better protection.

Students competing in the Intel Science & Engineering Fair:

Ariana Berlinsky, Akshatha Rao, Brittany Hernandez, Chase Wheaton, Divya Pandya, Donna Henry, Emery Weinstein, Joey Goldman, Josh Lieberman, Karina Newman, Lee Ginton, Madyson Levinson, Max Morgenstern, Matt Disalvo, Michael Barth, Rachel Newmark, Vasanti Jhaveri, Jordan Zeldin Graphic Art by Caroline Posner

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FEATURE

December 2011 The Galleon

s i t h g i r b w o H

Although life beyond high failure is not an option Tools needed to succeed easy to come by at River Gali Deutsch Staff Reporter Whether studying for a big test, practicing for an athletic team, or preparing for a job interview, success can be found by being invested and constantly looking for new opportunities to get ahead. At Spanish River, students plan for success through programs, such as On-the-Job-Training (OJT), Dual Enrollment and the academies.

Dual Enrollment serves as an opportunity for juniors and seniors to take college level classes. In this program, students can choose from a variety of college classes to take at Florida Atlantic University or Palm Beach State College. “[Dual Enrollment] is a great learning opportunity and prepared me for college,” said senior Michelle Ginsberg who has taken six classes at FAU. Furthermore, 854 students at River are enrolled in academies: Entrepre-

neurship, the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History and Law and Biotechnology. Students interested in business can enroll in DECA, a program based on marketing, finance, hospitality and tourism, and business management and administration. As indicated by its website, DECA members can begin their experience as early as the ninth grade by enrolling in a finance or business course. Students who enroll in this academy become academically prepared for college and careers in marketing or finance, community oriented, professionally responsible, and experienced leaders .

As for students who want to pursue a career in history, the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History and Law supports the study of American history through a wide variety of programs and resources for students.

“You have to really enjoy history to like it as you learn about the court system,” junior Susie Bernet said. “The teachers make it challenging, but a lot

of fun at the same time.

Designed for students with a passion for science, the Biotechnology Academy utilizes the manipulation of living organisms and their components, mostly manipulating DNA. “To be successful in biotech, I would say that lab work and practicing in the lab always help,” junior Cara Berner said. “My teacher always says that if students don’t get the chance to be hands on in the lab, they do not understand what exactly is occurring or how to do a procedure.”

On November 16, 2011, academy students attended Pathways to the Future after school. This event gave students who are curious about their futures the opportunity to question attorneys, businessmen, nurse practitioners, designers, psychologists, and other adults. The goal of the event was to introduce students to different careers they may be interested in.

“Networking is most important [in finding success]. You have to meet as

many people as you can so that they can spread the word [about your business],” attorney Paul Jacobs said.

An entrepreneur, Michael Rochelle, agrees with Jacobs but took the matter even further.

“You have to analyze what is not being solved and create a groundbreaking product that is relevant to your client,” Rochelle said. “It does not matter what you know, it only matters how you use that. If you have that ‘secret sauce’, you just have to make the most of it in the marketplace.”

Sometimes, that “secret sauce” can be found while in OJT - on the job training. The majority of OJT students actively learn the craft of success through actual employment opportunities.

Failure can be easily avoided with programs at River. OJT, Dual Enrollment and academies all provide opportunities for success.

How do you define success?

“ Just doing [well] in life. ”

Matthew Kessler, 11

“ Happiness. ”

Rachel Goodman, 10

Early flights: a look students whose Bloukos careers have already taken off Shelaina Staff Reporter Senior Nicollette Thaler has been singing since early elementary school, as young as six years old. Since then, music has been her guide through life.

“I sing and play guitar everyday and I love it more than life,” Thaler said. “It’s legitimately how I get through everyday.”

In early 2009, Thaler recorded three songs of her, own composed from poems and lyrics she had written in 2005. Although she only has three songs of her own, she has collaborated with other artists with their music, one of which is a producer. In 2010, Thaler switched from River to Florida Virtual School (FLVS) in order to concentrate more on her career.

“The main purpose was to focus more on signing,” Thaler said.

“I was going back and forth to California and didn’t want to miss so much school.”

To better promote her music, Thaler has a Myspace Music page, a Facebook page and a Pure Volume profile. Thaler hopes to attend a musicrelated college such as Musicians Institutes in Los Angeles, California or Berkley College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts.

FOCUS

December 2011 The Galleon

your futur school is still up in the air, for Sharks. Blast off!

11

e?

2011’s Best and Worst Paid Majors Theology

Median income:$38,000

Chemical Engineering

Counseling and Psychology

Median income: $86,000

Median income: $29,000

Math and Computer Science

Median income: $98,000

Information via TIME Magazine Photos courtesy Google Images

Growing STEMs overtake liberal arts in jobs, majors Ilana Weisman Commentary Even if you live in a cave you would know that our country’s economy is... going through a rough time. In case your cave lacks internet and cable, a quick review: there is too little money, there are too few jobs, unemployment rates are too high. Good news: there has been a gradual climb recently. Bad news: many are still struggling, and once we graduate high school and/or college, the job market is likely to be limited. There is one safe industry, and that is science; over the next few years, jobs for science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) majors are expected to be very available.

So if you are into STEM, you are in luck.

Science-oriented jobs are in demand.

Today, the most popular, fastest-growing majors with the highest incomes and employment rates include science, engineering and business. Even Bill Gates, creator of Microsoft and former world’s richest man, stated that

students should choose to study STEM - what he described as “well-correlated areas that actually produce jobs.”

Does that mean it is not okay to be a liberal arts major? Is it bad to pursue an education in English, history or art rather than a STEM field? I have heard students in the hallways discuss giving up hope of studying language in favor of the “better, safer option” of studying accounting, I have read countless interviews and articles discussing the disappearance of the once well-rounded liberal curriculum, and I cannot be the only one noticing that even history and English teachers hint that anyone interested in those subjects risks a lifetime of barely paying bills.

Say I want to study humanities and social sciences. Am I setting myself up for failure? I may be. Nine out of eleven least employable majors are liberal arts, according to the Wall Street Journal. Starting salaries are much lower with a humanities degree (art or philosophy) than with one in science (biology or chemistry). Some economists estimate that two-year associ-

ate’s degrees in STEM fields yield more income than four-year liberal arts, according to a Georgetown University study.

Does that mean I will give up my hopes of pursuing a liberal arts degree, be it history or journalism or underwater basket weaving? No. I refuse to sacrifice my happiness for a higher income or definite job offer. I would rather put in a few months as a barista at Starbucks counter or a even few years as an coffee-getting assistant than go for the STEM fad. A STEM major and career is not worth the money to me.

I am not alone in the “anti-STEM” movement, especially when the driving force for giving up a traditional liberal arts education is not money but instead is “safety” of STEM educations.

Label liberal arts useless all you want, but even technologically based professionals will disagree. You see, Bill Gates isn’t the only tech wiz who involved himself in higher education. Steve Jobs, the late founder and creator of Apple Inc., believed in a creative liberal arts education, as stated while introducing

Apple’s iPad 2 - a device praised for its creativity and scientific value - earlier this year.

“Technology alone is not enough,” Jobs said. “[It is] technology married with the liberal arts, married with the humanities, that yields us the results that make our hearts sing.”

Jobs was right; STEM fields rely on liberal arts (for publicity, buyers and usage) just as liberal arts rely on STEM (for products, new technology and an audience). STEM-oriented educations may be advantageous in the workforce, maybe they will garner more money and “success” in the long term. But success is not just about how much money you make or how quickly you find a top job. It’s liking what you study and what you do. And if you hate STEM, there are other options for success- it is not always better to be a STEM major. There are plenty of other workable, successcreating majors and jobs out there. If all goes well, there is a STEM-manufactured, liberal arts-innovated future job market for us.

Since opening Shea’s Bakery in November of 2008, junior Shea Gouldd has balanced a rigorous school schedule with a full work week of baking and decorating baked goods.

“I work just about every day after school plus weekends during the school year,” Gouldd said. “It’s anywhere from 35 to 50 hours a week.”

Although Gouldd admits that time management of school and work, including “prep work, setting employee schedules and delegating tasks,” is “an incredible amount of responsibility,” she says customers’ reactions make work worthwhile.

“Seeing customers’ reactions to the things I create for them is my favorite part of working,” Gouldd said. “It’s really gratifying.”

Over the past two school years, Sydney Solomon was FAU’s On-Field Coordinator. As part of her duties, Solomon directs all promotional activities that occur both on and off the field during football and basketball seasons, makes sure the announcer says everything correctly and runs all of the half-time events. During summer, Solomon worked a full work 40-hour week, and during the school year works on game days.

“There is not a more educational, interactive, hands-on, serious, but fun internship I could think of,” Solomon said. “The six hours I spend at stadiums at each home football game is a little exhausting, but it’s definitely worth missing going to dinner or to a party for.”

Solomon is the only intern in the FAU sports department and has found the opportunity extremely beneficial and reassuring for her future, as she one day hopes to own her own public relations firm.

Graphic art by Ilana Weisman Photos by Julie Bergman and Ilana Weisman

12

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Phantom Broadcast gives back to the community December 2011 The Galleon

Lee Ginton Entertainment Editor

they’re all valued.

A: We all have ideas, Caleb just knows how to put them into the best words.

The Galleon sat down with Phantom Broadcast, a student rock band composed of seniors Caleb Rice (vocals/rhythm guitar), Austin Brown (lead guitar) and Jordan Kowalchik (bass guitar), and got an inside look at how the band started, where they are heading and how they are using music to give back to the community.

G: What about the melodies?

C: Well we don’t all have the exact same music flavors, so sometimes it conflicts. But when you work past the conflicts and find a good medium, that’s what makes you stand out.

The Galleon: How was the band created?

Caleb Rice: Austin and I met in Mr. Bianci’s class freshman year, and started getting into music together. I sold him [Austin] one of my old guitars - the one I learned off of, and then he learned on it.

Austin Brown: It [the guitar] is kind of nostalgic. I have it hanging on my wall right now.

C: So, we always had the idea of starting a band together. We got a drummer and finally one day we actually did it.

G: How did Jordan become a member?

Photo by Lee Ginton C: Well, Jordan had no friends during lunch....

A: My friend knew we needed a bass guitarist and From left to right: junior Jorge Paez and seniors Austin Brown, Caleb Rice and Jordan Kowalchik. Phantom Jordan happened to be one, so he introduced us.

G: What genre of music do you play?

C: Mainly rock, but we’re getting into indie.

Jordan Kowalchik: A bit of modern.

C: We do old stuff; we do 90’s.

J: Pretty much everything.

C: Ultimately we play songs with lyrics you can actually hear - no screamo.

G: How does an original song come together?

C: Well, I’m the writer...but everyone has ideas and

Broadcast welcomed back Paez as drummer after a temporary leave.

G: From whom do you draw your inspiration?

C, A, J: Weezer.

C: Blur.

A: Muse.

C: We covered Zombie by The Cranberries. It’s a girl singer, so we put our own twist on it.

G: Where do you see the band going?

C: We do it for fun right now, I wouldn’t consider it

professional. All of our shows have been for charity events, we like to give back.

A: We haven’t been paid for any gig we’ve done.

C: Our music has a value that can’t be priced.

A: A lot of bands have lost the true meaning of music. We don’t care about money, we just like to entertain and give back.

G: What happens at a typical band practice?

C: OK, so Austin sets everything up while I’m still getting my amp out of the car.

J: I just stand around and talk to whoever’s in the room while they get set up.

A: Jordan’s the self-esteem booster.

C: So we’re messing around, everything is very unorganized and we don’t really sound like a band. Then out of no where we’ll start jamming off a song we like. Things start to come together and get structured - it’s our method to the madness. We’ll start arguing for a good hour, but after we sound amazing.

G: If you had to choose one animal to represent your band, what would you choose and why?

J: It has to be the giraffe.

C, A: The giraffe.

A: My little brother has a giant stuffed-giraffe that he puts in the background of every video we record. It’s managed to shove it’s way into our band.

J: It’s become an important part of us.

G: What do you have in store for the band?

C: We have another charity performance on March 3rd at Pompano Citi Center.

You can check out and support Phantom Broadcast by searching “Phantom Broadcast” on Facebook.

2011 has been a year filled with many new movies, musicians and TV shows.

The Galleon asked 250 Spanish River students who their favorite entertainers of 2011 were.

Song...

Artist...

The Motto - Drake

Adele

“The motto is a great song to dance to.” - Jeremy Galea, 12

“Adele has a unique voice that’s almost as good as Ours.” - Carly Reichstein and Carli Fogel, 9

New TV Show...

Actor...

New Girl

“[The main character] is so quirky; I feel like she relates to a lot of high school girls.” - Jaci Verity,11

Movie...

The Twilight Saga Breaking Dawn Part 1

“Breaking Dawn has a great surprise ending.”

- Siobhan Kelly, 10

Actress...

Adam Sandler

Emma Stone

“Adam Sandler is hilarious.

He’s funny without being offensive.” - Brooke Schultz, 12

“She [Emma Stone] is funny and a good actress; I like her because she is unique and quirky.” - Ben Romer, 10 Photos courtesy of Google Images Information compiled by Ariel Brown and Lee Ginton

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

13

December 2011 The Galleon

River’s Poets’ Society announces new online publication Ariel Brown Entertainment Editor Roses are red, violets are blue. The River Poets’ Society has a new online publication, and it is making its debut.

The River Poets’ S o c i e t y, founded at the start of this school year, has recently taken on a whole new dimension – an online poetry publication, titled The Current. Society President junior Jordan Zeldin decided that he wanted the opportunity to have both his and his peers’ original poems evaluated and seen on a larger scale.

“With our new online publication, the River Poets’ Society will continue to foster the thoughtfulness and specialized interest of the art of poetry,” society member junior Daniel Jaffe said. “We’re going to actively seek to spread our poetry work to the Spanish River community and beyond.”

However, the publication enables

many other creative voices to shine in addition to those of the society members. Anyone in Spanish River’s student body can utilize the online publication. Not only can students read others’ work on the website, but they can also publish their own work, which can then be seen by their peers and the entire online community.

“The members in the Poets’ Society have authored some poems which will be the first on the site, but poems from anyone in River, other high schools or anyone in the community are welcome too,” Zeldin said.

Although students cannot directly post their poems onto the website themselves, the process for submitting a poem is very simple. All one must do is give the poem to any River Poet Society member or put it in the mailbox of society sponsor, Deb Stenner. Society members will read the piece, and if it is acceptable, they will post it online.

“This is also for students who can’t take creative writing but are anxious to have their poems seen and heard,” Stenner said. “It’s all about true curiosity about poetry.”

This curiosity shared by all of the society members motivates them and centers them on a common goal – to share their enthusiasm and excitement for poetry.

“Many ignorant students have conformed to this false consensus that poetry is lame,” Zeldin said. “If people check out the site, they might find themselves captivated by some of the work and open their minds to a new genre of literature.”

The River Poet Society urges students who are either already passionate about poetry, discover this passion via the new publication or are simply just interested in finding out more, to attend a River Poets’ Society meeting. The club meets the first and third Tuesday of every month to discuss poetry and critique their work, as well as to brainstorm for the publication.

“What the society really represents is a place where poets can serve up their deepest feelings on a platter without fear of judgement or ridicule,” society member Kimberly Vought said. “Not only is emotion tolerated, but it is encouraged.”

This is reinforced through slam poetry, in which club members perform their own poems while exhibiting all the emotion that the poem embodies.

The Current will be located at riverpoetssociety.com and should be up and running within the next couple of weeks, according to Zeldin.

Art by Gali Deutsch

Theater Arts seeks to improve student interest Zach Schlein Staff Reporter As the Spanish River Theater Arts Department geared up to perform its most recent production, “God’s Favorite,” concerns mounted about its future in the face of low student interest.

“Between our ticket sales, playbill ads, donations and raffle items, we make enough money to cover the cost of each show’s production,” Theater Arts Booster Head Susan Stallone. “It’s like running a small business.”

For Theater Arts President senior Lila Stallone, it is more than a little disheartening to see such a lack of interest from her fellow students.

“It [the turnout] could always be better...it’s hard to get support from the students and community when it comes to straight plays,” Stallone said. “But that’s why I’m so looking forward to the musical.

Those always have an amazing turn out.”

Students, such as senior Taryn Grunes, believe that the low attendance stems not from disinterest in the Theater Arts department, but rather from a lack of shows that students would like to see.

“I’d probably be a lot more likely to go if they did plays I was familiar with,” Grunes said.

Others claim that the low attendance is due to a lack of successful advertising and overall awareness.

“I think a lot of students don’t make it a priority to attend the Drama Department’s productions because the school does not advertise the productions enough,” senior Brenna Hirshorn said. “If the school made more announcements about the productions, a lot more people would attend. Posters aren’t enough.”

Dianna Vacco, the technical director for the theater, had a different idea on how to boost interest in the Theater Arts department and its productions.

“If we could better coordinate the events taking

place on campus while the production is taking place, that would be great,” Vacco said. “Also, if other high schools could coordinate when their plays are taking place so they don’t interfere with one another, that would benefit everyone involved.”

What many students are not aware of is the amount of time and effort that goes into selecting which shows the Theater Arts department will produce.

“We try to pick shows that cater to both the actors and audience,” Stallone said. “We’d never pick a show that we didn’t have adequate people for, and we also want to pick shows that either have a big name or a famous playwright attached to them so we can get a big audience.”

Licensing fees (the amount of money the Theater Arts department has to pay to present a show) are also a large factor considered when choosing productions, as are requirements that come with each show. Such requirements limit the level to which each piece can be altered, according to Stallone.

This year, however, the Theater Arts department will be offering an alternative for those looking for more than just plays and musicals. Former drama teacher and current AP U.S. History teacher Aaron Lampman will be directing a show this February titled “A Night at the Movies.”

“We’re doing a collection of famous movie scenes,” Lampman said. “We want to diversify what kind of movies we sample from, so that it gives the students a lot of options.”

The origin of this endeavor stems from an incident two years ago when Lampman and Rocco D’Attolico, head of the Theater Arts department, had to step in for the former drama teacher who had moved, according to Lampman. When asked why he was returning to the world of drama after such a long absence, Lampman had a straightforward answer.

“I honestly just missed it,” Lampman said. “Direct-

ing is a passion of mine, and it’s great to be doing it again.”

There will be a number of elements distinguishing “A Night at the Movies” from past performances, according to Lampman.

“For one, we’re doing it at the Black Box Theatre in the drama room, so there will be less pressure to raise money for it and have through-the-roof sales.

We’ve also never done movies before, so it’s something different.”

If “A Night at the Movies” is a success for the Theater Arts department, do not be surprised to see similar low-key productions down the line.

“If it’s successful, I’d love to keep doing it. I love directing, and I would love to stay involved with the Theater Arts department any way I can,” Lampman said. “When you have it on this scale, its easier to have fun and get passionate about it.”

Photo by Lee Ginton

14

December 2011 The Galleon

STUDENT LIFE

FLVS students fret over cheating crackdown rumor Zach Schlein Staff Reporter As Florida Virtual School (FLVS) courses become a more commonplace option to take classes, many students are increasingly becoming frustrated at its operating p r a c tices.

This has

become so prevalent that rumors have spread regarding changes in policy.

One such rumor became so widespread that some students became discouraged from taking online classes. Said rumor, that certain classes, namely language courses such as Spanish or French, would begin to require testing in public areas overseen by a proctor, raised discontent with many students currently enrolled with FLVS. Even with the supposed reliable nature of the rumor, not all were initially taken by it.

“I didn’t believe it personally, but

I know a lot of my friends who are taking FLVS classes talked about it,” senior Abrielle Newton said. “It didn’t apply to me to begin with since I’m taking Algebra II, where the only tests I had to take with a teacher were over the phone, but one of my friends who is taking Spanish II was really worried.”

According to the Florida Virtual Schools’ Pamphlet on Academic Integrity, “Each teacher can request a scheduled proctored exam at any time for a student.” As of yet, there have been no changes in policy in regards to testing for FLVS courses, in any subjects, according to FLVS. However, this rapid spread of misinformation highlights what some students feel is a greater problem at hand for how FLVS operates.

“The time period for your assignments is really vague,” Newton said.

“You think you’re doing well, and then your parents get a phone call saying ‘Your child did not do what they were supposed to do,’ when you were never told in the first place. So that’s a really misleading portion of it.”

Still, others feel that FLVS is perfectly fine the way it is, and is actually a boon to them and their grades.

“FLVS is pretty straight forward,” junior Emily Damsky said. “If I get something wrong, I never see myself blaming the program. It’s aimed to be a user friendly program.”

As for the fate of proctored tests in the Florida Virtual School curriculum, anything is certainly possible. For now though, students can rest easy knowing they can continue to take classes in the comfort and privacy of their own homes.

Art by Caroline Posner

The four people you SHould meet at River The Galleon compiled a list of four Spanish River staff members that help guide students at River daily.

These four people are just some of the dedicated Sharks that contribute to succcess at River.

KEVIN MCENROE

ATHLETIC DIRECTOR

IRA SOLLOD

ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL

Galleon: What is a common mistake students make when they come to you?

Sollod: A lot of people think that they can change their schedules, and we are leniant with that, but only for What does your job class changes. We do not do teacher changes. specifically entail?

I’ve been a lot of different things, but being athletic What is something you feel director is a new challenge the most passionate about for me. I’m also still teaching at River? three sections of AP Calculus Academics are number one. which enables me to get to We have a great academknow the really gifted and ic program and everyone smart students at our school, cooperates. Students need to feel safe at school and they and I’ve always liked that. should not have to worry What advice do you have about looking behind their back. for students?

My best advice is that nothing is so great that it can’t be overcome.

Galleon: How is it beneficial for students to know you?

McEnroe: I’ve got a lot of personal experience. My experience here is my most beneficial asset to students.

PEGGY MORANZ

SECRETARY OF STUDENT SERVICES

joann Tarantino data processor

Galleon: How are you beneficial for students to know and have a good relationship with?

Tarantino: Seeing that all of the schedules, community service hours, GPAs, and test scores are put together into the computer, this is kind of like the hub of information for whatever they would What do you see the most need for graduation. people get in trouble for?

What does your job Definitely dress code. specifically entail?

What is a common On a daily basis we make sure misconception students that all students have the seven required classes that they have about Suite A? We don’t deliver! If your par- need and that all their grades ents drop something off, you have been entered correctly.

If they have a missing grade have to come pick it up. we notify their teacher and we make sure that all of the teachers have accurate class attendance records.

Galleon: How many blue passes do you give out a day?

Moranz: Between the three ladies at the front desk, including myself, we give 60-70 passes out each day.

People really abuse the blue pass privelage at Spanish River.

Photos by Julie Bergman

STUDENT LIFE DECA promotes community service Phoebe Dinner Student Life Editor On Wednesday, November 15, DECA put on a Comedy Night in the courtyard to raise money for Operation Smile. This charity sends doctors all around the world to repair childrens’ cleft lips.

Seniors Ryan Berger and Marissa Arimont were in charge of putting this night together.

Photo courtesy of Deb Carter

Finance teacher Deb Carter presents toys for the children in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

“Between this and our photo booth early on in the year we should be able to reach our goal of 1000 dollars for Operation Smile,” Berger said.

Junior Sammy Stephenson is in charge of the community service

chapter for Spanish River DECA. Each operation costs 240 dollars and she plans to present her community service book at future DECA competitions.

“A lot of students take smiling for granted,” Stephenson said. “When there are a lot of kids who can’t smile at all.”

Smiles could be seen on all the faces of the students at the comedy event.

Although there was not a large crowd, it meant a lot to Berger, Arimont and Stephenson that the people who did come out cared about putting smiles on the faces of disadvantaged youth.

Physics teacher Miguel Nelson got the crowd started with some riddles followed by seniors Lucas Feigenbaum and Ryan Delawyer who kept the show running with rhymes and music.

What River students may not know is that every year DECA dedicates their funds to a worthy charity. Only 10 percent goes towards sending the students to non-local competitions while the other 90 percent is sent directly to their respective charity of the year.

This past year DECA has been working not only with Operation Smile, but has sent 400 toothbrushes and

toothpaste, 250 coloring books and 120 stuffed animals to an orphanage in Cambodia.

“DECA is always helping with community service at school.” Carter said. “[Groups] should always let me know of community service opportunities because with 500 kids [in DECA] we can get a lot of stuff.”

They also plan to raise 1000 dollars for muscular dystrophy research.

The academy will again choose a

Photo by Phoebe Dinner

Seniors Ryan Berger, Marissa Arimont and junior Sammy Stephenson pose at Comedy Night.

new charity to support in the spring time that can either be local or international.

Blue pass system being abused pass is to go to medical appointments and family emergencies and too many people take them just because they don’t feel like going to class or Suite A is swamped. Each morning they go out to lunch.”

Students have gone to great lengths a line of students longer than that outside of the Apple store, trails out- in order to obtain these passes. Spanside the office. Larger than this line, ish River security guard Luis Santana however, may be the sky-high stack has witnessed students attempting to of blue passes that sit on Office Ad- skip class on numerous occasions.

“When students skip it hurts them, ministrator Lucy Staniewicz’s desk every day. In an average week, a few the school and the staff,” Santana said.

“There have been incidents in the past where students have left class early and gotten into car accidents.”

The most common abuses of a blue “If students abuse blue passes, pass have been students claiming to eventually it’ll catch up to them.” have one that they did not pick up, Matthew Marks students altering and printing out Government Teacher their own invalid passes, and in many cases, students calling in passes for hundred passes are called in for stu- their peers, according to Santana.

“What we do when students call dents; on some busy days alone, there have been over 200, according to Sta- in blue passes for their peers is we niewicz. With such a large number of recognize that it’s not an adult voice passes, the question raised is if these and we call the parents’ phone numpasses are being appropriately uti- ber,” Staniewicz said. “Most of the time when we do that we are correct and lized, or if they are being abused.

“The biggest abuse is just overuse,” it’s not a parent and as a result, the Staniewicz said. “The intent of a blue student doesn’t get their blue pass.”

Emma Grubman Student Life Editor

Many teachers have become especially frustrated by the large amount of classroom skipping.

“All disruptions to classroom teaching are difficult on teachers and students,” Government teacher Matthew Marks said. “Blue passes start to add up. They’re okay if they’re for a legitimate reason, but they’re often abused, especially on LTMs.” Senior Danielle Cooper frequently has blue passes called in for her, on average three per week.

“I think the system is very beneficial for students,” Cooper said. “In my fourth period class, at least two kids leave everyday to pick up lunch for the rest of the class. I’ve probably had Vinny’s four times in the past two weeks.”

Although Cooper uses the passes all the time, she never reuses old passes and has her parents call in new ones instead.

“Good students are going to be good students,” Marks said. “If students abuse blue passes, eventually it’ll catch up to them.”

December 2011 The Galleon

15

Pep-rally moved back to fourth period Nicole Granet Editor-in-Chief

In August, students returned to school braving a myriad of changes, including the infamous first period pep-rally. However, after the trial run of the new pep-rally schedule in October, it has been reverted back to its original time during fourth period.

Reasons for the original change to first period included the large incoming freshman class of over 700 students, and the illegal substance abuse during last year’s final peprally. By moving the pep-rally to the morning and making attendance optional, administration hoped that the amount of freshmen to fit in the bleachers would decrease to a more comfortable number. The change to first period was also intended to avoid any alcohol use at pep-rallies.

Once Mr. and Ms. Spanish River, seniors Lucas Feigenbaum and Lila Stallone, heard about the change to first period, they immediately took action.

“Before the first pep-rally took place, we already asked to have a meeting about changing it back to fourth period,” Stallone said.

In response, the administration promised a meeting after the October pep-rally. Feigenbaum and Stallone approached Principal William Latson with a pro and con list of first versus fourth period pep-rallies. Junior class Vice President Erin Ressler helped to compile the list, and felt strongly that the pep-rally should be moved back to fourth period.

“Mr. Latson said that if we as students came up with a plan, he would consider changing it,” Ressler said. “We want everyone to be involved in the spirit, not just sleep in.”

Some of the pros of having the pep-rallies during fourth period were that students in leadership, band and other groups involved in the massive production would not have to receive a TLE from their first period class. Additionally, lunch directly follows a fourth period pep-rally, giving students a chance to let out their excitement, and not disturb classes with rowdiness. As the pros of the fourth period pep-rally surfaced, the cons of the first period pep-rallies became more clear.

“After the first pep-rally, we realized that the goals of the change weren’t really being reached. All of the freshmen attended because the majority of them take busses and have to get to school on time anyway,” Stallone said. “And by making the pep rally optional, we were just decreasing school spirit.”

The winter pep-rally took place during fourth period on December 9.

16

December 2011 The Galleon

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Classes at 6:00 pm Here at Spanish River

December 2011 SPORTS The Galleon17 Ocampo wins second consecutive state golf title Josh Benrubi Sports Editor Senior Christina Ocampo stepped up to the last hole in the final round of the Class 2A Girls Golf Final, ready to attempt a championship-winning birdie putt. Numerous thoughts raced through her mind, but the one that stood out most was this - it would be the last putt of her Spanish River golfing career. Little did she know the putt would lead her to become the 11th golfer in tournament history, and second from Palm Beach County, to win backto-back individual titles.

Ocampo was introduced to golf by her father at a young age. He encouraged her to keep playing even though she did not have an instant love for the game.

“I started playing in small tournaments and I began to win them, and that is when I started loving it [golf ],” Ocampo said.

Ocampo has been playing varsity golf since 6th grade when she joined the team at Saint Andrew’s School. She was welcomed by the girls’ golf coach at River, Paulette Riedel, and later discovered that Riedel would be not only her coach but her mentor.

“I would consider myself to be both her [Ocampo’s] coach and mentor because she comes to me with questions about school, life, college, etc.,” Riedel said. “I like to think that she values my opinion.”

Ocampo has been a big topic in the press. She has been featured on CBS Channel 12 News as “Athlete of the Week,” and she was also shown practicing her swing on Channel One News.

However, it was not always smooth riding for Ocampo; she has faced many difficulties in her golfing career. One of the most challenging obstacles is trying to practice in the sweltering

Florida heat.

“The most difficult aspect of my career is definitely going out there and practicing when it is extremely hot, and it can sometimes get a little bit boring,” Ocampo said.

But according to the consecutive champion, the beneficial factor outweighs the difficulties.

“It is a reward knowing that when I compete that the preparation that I put in it pays off,” Ocampo said.

According to teammate Jaclyn Verity, Ocampo has been working extremely hard in improving her skills. “[Ocampo] practices all the time,” Verity said. “She would always be going to tournaments around the country and play for four days straight. Golf is a sport of knowing what to do and trusting your instincts, and she is a pro at that.”

While Ocampo has made her mark in River golf, she also travels extensively and competes in various tournaments nationally.

Two tournaments take place each month located in different states, according to Ocampo. With continuous practice each day, Ocampo hopes to improve her game to the best of her ability.

“Every day after school I try to get in at least three to four hours of practice, which might range from

Bowling team strikes at states tournament, and playing for the team at the state competition. Although the team did not do as well as they would have liked, Hull is optimistic.

“This year was a warm-up for next year,” Hull said.

This year’s boys’ bowling team made it to the “It gave us [the team] experience.”

Hull began bowling five years ago after he broke state competition, ultimately coming in 22nd place out of 32 teams. The girls’ team was represented his leg and was told he would never be allowed by junior Samantha Stephenson who competed to play football or baseball. So far, Hull has a few individually and came third in the district and 13th thousand dollars in scholarships, which he earned from different bowling in the state. tournaments.

Stephenson, who The bowling team is made came in 13th out of up of people with all different 250 competitors, levels of experience, and has been playing ranges from people who have since she was seven been playing for seven years and is looking to to people who just started get a scholarship for in high school. Additionally, bowling. the team’s success can be “I just love bowling attributed to the coaching because it is fun and of Rich Guerra, who will be I can socialize,” said retiring at the end of this year.

Stephenson.

Guerra has been coaching Sophomore Robert the bowling team for eight Hull, in his freshmen years and has led the team to year was the only the state competition seven male bowler from Spanish River to go Photo courtesy of Matt Geller times.

“The last few years have to states where he The boy’s bowling team came in 22nd at the state comth been a great experience,” said This petition; they hope to improve in the years to come. placed 50 .

Guerra. “The kids have done year, he started a great job.” strong by bowling a perfect 300 at the All-County

Claire Dykas Staff Reporter

Art by Gali Deutsch

going to the driving range or the putting green, or even just playing on the course,” Ocampo said.

The amount of time that Ocampo spends playing golf carries over to her summers as well.

“Over the summer I am usually never home as I am always travelling for tournaments, I believe I went to about ten different places this summer [for golf ],” Ocampo said.

Recently, Ocampo was offered an athletic scholarship from the University of Miami to play golf for the Hurricanes.

Without hesitation, she signed the contract to be part of the student body.

“After college, I am definitely going to try to go pro, but it will depend if my skills improve throughout college,” Ocampo said.

Being in River’s Entrepreneurial Academy since freshman year has lead Ocampo to a desire to collaborate her talent for golf with her interest in business.

“I would like to do something in the business field where I can use golf, as I know that golf can be integrated in the business world,” Ocampo said. “I always hear about business men playing golf with their clients, and I think it would be nice to build relationships out on the golf course.”

After winning this recent championship, Ocampo learned that through the ups and downs, hard work really does pay off.

Photo courtesy of Tiburon Yearbook

River Basketball takes the floor River 72 - Olympic Heights 30 1

3

2

1: River prepares to score a basket against Olympic Heights.

2: Senior Reggie Love sprints down the court to make an offensive play. 3 & 6: Spanish River’s Dance Team performs during halftime. 4: Love passes the ball over to a teammate. 5: Seniors Evan Kupferberg, Love and Ethan Goldman work together to defeat the Lions.

4

5

6

Photos by Lee Ginton

18

SPORTS

December 2011 The Galleon

Berger resigns as head football coach g n i l B ow Matt Geller, 9 First timer helps lead team to states “I had a great time. Even though we lost it was still a lot of fun and I would do it again.”

“The experience was great and I enjoyed hanging out with my teammates.”

C ro s

s

y r t n Co u

Nick French, 12 16:33 time in the 4A State Cross Country Finals

“I was just really happy for our team on making it this year. It was our goal to make states so I was proud of everybody when we did. I was happy to go there with a team.”

g n i m wi m

S

Shawn Zylberberg, 10 23rd in 500 freestyle and 15th in 4x100 freestyle relay “I was surprised and very happy to just make it to states. It went very well and it taught me what to expect next year; states itself was loads of fun. The experience was awesome because I saw what the competition was like outside of our region, and also going up to Orlando with part of my swim team made it a time I’ll never forget.”

Photos by Julie Bergman

team.

“We had a great year and won four games,” Berger said.

Reflecting back on his career as River football’s head coach, Berger noted that this season has been the climax.

“The best part about coaching is just being out there at practice and having fun with the team,” said Berger.

Players on the team have certainly noticed the hard work that Coach Berger put into the team.

“Coach Berger’s dedication to the football program really taught us all

how to deal with tough times and how to push through those times towards victory,” senior Thomas Mersch said.

Members also recognize Coach For the past three years, the River Berger’s strong motivating influence football team has been led by Coach on the team.

Ray Berger, but after this season he “He really motivates us to win,” has decided to step down from his senior Nathan Rippe said. “He tells us head coaching position. that our hard work in practice will pay “I have an elderly mother and a five off during the game.” year old son at home,” Berger said.

Assistant coaches have also “Football is very time consuming and “He is a very good coach, a great I want to be fair and give my one hunmotivator, and is very organized,” fordred percent.” mer assistant coach Mike The Spanish River footLillie said. ball team closed out the Although Berger will 2011 season with a record not be coaching next year, that surprised most. This he will still be teaching at year was different than River. The only connecmany before. In previous tion he will have to the years, the River football football team is teachteam has worked hard during students on the team ing practices and games, that might be in his class. but was rewarded with When asked about the few or no wins for the seafuture of the coachson. The 4-6 record is unPhoto courtesy of Riverfootball.com usual for the Sharks and After three years of coaching the River football team, Berger ing staff, Berger was unhas brought a great deal decided to resign from the football program due to family com- sure of who will be the next head coach. of attention to the football mitments.

Jamie Brecher Staff Reporter

Injuries sack students in pick-up football games Joey Goldman Editor-in-Chief Senior Gabe Alboukrek knew something bad had happened as soon as he made his tackle. Alboukrek, takes part in weekly Spanish River pick-up tackle football games with his friends, threw his arms around the ball carrier to “wrap him up,” the textbook tackling form. A cringing noise shot from his shoulder and he fell to the ground.

“I was trying to tackle a kid and my shoulder just popped out,” Alboukrek said.

Coincidentally, girl’s varsity soccer coach Kevin Turner was at the same park that day working with the soccer team. Turner rushed over and did his best to help stabilize Alboukrek’s arm, which was grotesquely twisted away from his body. But the pain in Alboukrek’s shoulder was too intense for him to even move it.

“I didn’t want to make a big show but getting up on my own was not happening, so we called the paramedics,” Alboukrek said. “It was definitely a new experience to say the least.”

While it was Turner who ultimately decided the course of action with Alboukrek, he was impressed by the other students at the field. “[Alboukrek] is lucky he has coolheaded friends,” Turner said. “They knew what to do and acted quickly.”

Although Alboukrek’s injury turned out to be nothing more serious than a dislocated shoulder, his classmate Carter Main was not as fortunate. In a similar pick-up game earlier in the year, Main fell victim to an injury that benched him for a while.

“I went out for a pass, pulled a stutter-

Jacobs referred to the recent injuries as “fluke occurrences.”

“Mathematically, for a game of tackle football, the injury rate is very low,” Jacobs said. “It is very unfortunate for [Alboukrek] and [Main], but in any sport, not just football, people are bound to get hurt.”

Although there is a real chance for students to get injured, seniors Nick Carbo and Adam Feldman look beyond the potential harm.

“It gives us something to do other than sit around inside and play FIFA,” Carbo said. “I don’t feel it’s dangerous, it’s just that freak accidents happen.”

For Feldman, the frequent pickup games are more than just good exercise on an otherwise uneventful weekend day.

“The games are an opportunity for me and my best guy friends to come together and bond on the football field,” Feldman said. “The teamwork of the game makes our friendship even closer.”

And the games are not just some laid back pigskin-tossing gettogethers. As Carbo put it, “they are pretty intense.”

Whether these Spanish River students play in the pick-up games Photo courtesy of Carter Main An X-Ray of senior Carter Main’s broken for exercise, recreation, or both, they clavicle in his shoulder reveals that pick-up are putting aside their injury worries games may have unintentional risks. and doing their best to reenact an NFL football game.

“There’s nothing like making a big recreationally.

Students take a play and having all my teammates gamble when they head out to the there to congratulate me,” Feldman park for a weekend pick-up football said. game.

“At first, I thought they were safe enough,” Main said. “But then I broke my clavicle and [Alboukrek] dislocated his shoulder, so I am less confident now.”

Not all students find the games to be dangerous, however. Senior Sam step and got past the defender,” Main recalled. “The quarterback floated one up, but when I caught it the defender jumped on my back. I landed on my shoulder and heard it pop. Turns out I broke my clavicle.”

Alboukrek and Main’s experiences highlight a recent string of injuries in Spanish River pick-up football games.

And while football is a physical sport, the protection of trainers’ assistance and school insurance is thrown out the window when students play

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December 2011 The Galleon

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Photo by Lee Ginton

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GIRL’S VARSITY SOCCER

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