Issue 2, 2015 by Galleon News

The Galleon

Spanish River Community High School’s award-winning student-run newspaper

Volume XXXII Issue II @The_Galleon galleonnewsonline.com

Bowling with a Buddy event blends bowling and fun Kent Burkman Staff Reporter

On October 19th, Spanish River’s Varsity Bowling team and Special Olympics team came together at Strikes At Boca for a fun event known as “Bowling With a Buddy.” River’s Special Olympics team consists of River students with developmental disabilities who come together and compete in different events. The event is organized by Special Olympics USA, a national organization that provides disabled students with the opportunity to compete in various sporting events. They also have the opportunity to win medals and prizes, while enjoying teamwork, success, and celebration. “The goal of the event was to create awareness,” ESE teacher and Special Olympics coach Crystal Ranfone said. “We wanted to unify our Varsity bowling team and our Special Olympics team as one since we share a common goal and love for the sport.” In addition to awareness, the event was started to offer new friendships for the Special Olympic athletes. “We had this event so the Special Olympic athletes would be able to

make new friends while bowling,” senior bowler Joey Littman said. The event started with a group huddle consisting of both teams and coaches Crystal Ranfone and Barbara Jones. After players introduced themselves and shared common interests, the teams shared lanes, each having two varsity players and one Special Olympic athlete. The Varsity Bowlers were able to give tips and encouragement to their fellow athletes throughout the event. “I couldn’t be more pleased with the Varsity Team,” Ranfone said. “The Varsity players were hugging, high-fiving, helping, and realizing they had the same goals as the Special Olympic athletes. This is the second year the Bowling team and the Special Olympics team have held the Bowling with a Buddy event. Both teams hope to make it a tradition every season. “I definitely think we should do this event next year,” said senior bowler Gabby Millman. “It is a good way to have fun and get the Special Olympic athletes to socialize.” The varsity players came to the game thinking they would be helping the athletes, but it is safe to say that the Special Olympic athletes

Participants pose for a picture after a great day of bowling.

Kelsey Sanders and Jane Polyakov enjoy each other’s company while bowling.

also helped the varsity team allow- “This event was a great experience ing them to gain humility and an for both the Bowling team and the understanding that they both share Special Olympians.” a common interest, a passion for bowling. “From the amount of smiles and laughter I saw coming from the Olympians, I would say the event was a big success,” said Littman. PHOTOS BY Kent burkman

New methods increase parent participation Laney Ciaccio News Editor

Throughout the year, students may receive an unexpected call from the school. Principal William Latson has suggested that in addition to calling the parents of students who are failing their classes, teachers should also call the homes of students who have a C average. However, it is up to the teacher’s discretion whether or not they should call. “If the child is normally an A or an A/B student, and they drop down to a C, then there is something going on,” Latson said. “So, in an effort to communicate with parents, because it is the parents and school working together, it would be a good idea to let the parent know that there is something going on.”

The main goal of calling home for C’s contact the teacher through a phone or below is to keep parents updated call or an email and then the teacher on how their children are performing should respond back,” Pre-Calculus in school and Algebra and to 2 teacher try and Robert Tufo prevent said. their grades Along f r o m with the dropping new calling below their requirements, normal how teachers averages. post grades H o w e v e r, has also parents and changed. This students year, Edline should look u p d a t e s on Edline automatically for their Mr. Lampan calls parents to update them on their child’s every two grades and performance. w e e k s , not wait meaning for a call to get updates or discuss that students get to see their current concerns. grades regardless of whether teachers “If the parent is concerned, let them sent them out or not.

“Hopefully, we are supposed to have a new system in place within the next year that updates the grades in real time,” Latson said. “The more updated information the parents have on a daily basis I think is the best.” Keeping parents aware about how their children are performing and what is happening around campus is one of River’s main objectives. Mr. Latson has set up a Remind group chat where he can contact parents in case students ever have to leave the campus due to an emergency or if an event like a power outage ever occurred. Staying up to date is vital to having a successful school year; phone calls, Edline updates, and Remind text groups are helping students and parents do just that.

PHOTO by rachel horn

THE GALLEON NOVEMBER 2015

SHARK ATTACK

It’s Fall, Y’all!

November is here and our staff is getting into the fall spirit. Check out our thoughts on the generation gap in Halloween costumes on page 9 and River’s favorite fall festivities on page 12. On a serious note, check out pages 10 and 11 to see River students’ haunting experiences with verbal abuse and on page 18 read about a sports player’s inspirational story. Despite all of the upcoming cheer, our staff is feeling more thankful than ever. We are grateful for a smoother issue two, working computers, and unbeatable teamwork. We hope you enjoy issue two as much as issue one, so sit back, grab a Pumpkin Spice Latte and fall into issue two!

Letter to the Editor: Dear Editor, I think the news paper has done nothing but improved and has gotten really interesting, I love looking at all of the details on it and I can only imagine how much work goes into it. - Aryanna Henry, 12

Thank you to all of our Veterans!

a Remember

to honor them on November 11th.

NEWS

THE GALLEON NOVEMBER 2015

Assembly raises awareness of dangerous drugs

Kent Burkman Staff Reporter

On October 7th, Spanish River hosted an informational meeting discussing the newest trends in illegal drugs and the devastating side effects they have. The meeting was presented by Living Skills In the Schools, or LSIS. Throughout the meeting, LSIS Executive Director, Suzanne Spencer, discussed new ways teens are accessing drugs and the cunning ways students are using them. One of South Florida’s largest drug epidemics is due to the new drug known as “flakka.” Derived from the spanish word, Flaca (which means “skinny”), the new drug is selling for much less than most people would expect. “Flakka is a cheap drug,” Spencer said, “Dealers go after teens willing to try it and vulnerable adults of all ages. Most of the time they give it away for free, knowing it is so addictive they will have to be back for more.” The question every parent and teacher wants to know is why can you get these drugs so easily. “The truth is, these are synthetic products originating in a chemistry lab,” Spencer said. “By the time you

regulate the drug in question, Some signs people show after one chemical component can be consuming flakka are high energy, changed and it is now a new designer extremely high body temperatures, drug with new consequences.” and profuse sweating. The crystal-like drug leaves the In addition to flakka, LSIS also user powerless discussed a and is known new trend in to cause e-cigarettes. hallucinogenic E-cigarettes e f f e c t s are rising in comparable popularity, to those especially with produced by the younger bath salts. generation. Flakka rapidly “What most raises the body people don’t temperature realize is that to upwards of many kids using 106 degrees, e-cigarettes giving the user have toxic drugs, a feeling of like flakka in being on fire. Steve, a recovering addict discusses the negative the machine,” As seen in local effect of drugs on teens. Spencer said. and national They are news, flakka users strip their clothes becoming a very popular diversion and run rampant in public. Doctors tactic. Many people question why say this is the body’s way of trying can’t we smell the nicotine and or to fight the drug and cool down. drugs in the machine. The drug has also been known to It is because users simply go to a decompose muscle tissue leading to local vapor store and purchase “vapor kidney failure and death. flavors.” These flavors are known to “It’s a serious drug that no one smell and taste exactly like the food should be messing with,” Spencer the label states (such as vanilla or said. chocolate), allowing users to inhale

flakka through the e-cigarette in public without others having the slightest idea. “The worst part about the e-cigs is that civilians could be inhaling the toxic drug in public without even knowing it,” Spencer said “It is a scary thought but it is something everyone should think about when they come across an e-cigarette.” Parents heard a mother’s journey through her teenager’s addiction and how their family overcame it. To learn what resources LSIS has to help, check out their website at www.crossroadslsis.org “We were happy to be able to sponsor the Living Skills in School (LSIS) drug presentation for our community this month,” Sheryl Stiefel said. Next time you are offered flakka, or see an e-cigarette on the street, consider the facts. Drugs kill roughly 200,000 U.S teens each year.

Florida’s Alcohol & Drug Abuse Helpline: 1-800-821-4357 Living Skills In The Schools: 561-278-8004 ext. 102 PHOTO BY Kent burkman

•NEWS BRIEFS•

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Congrats to the Marching Band for coming in 1st place at University Class Marching Band Competition in Orlando! PHOTO COURTESY GOOGLE IMAGES

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TheGalleon 2015-2016 Co Editors-in-Chief Michael Benrubi Amanda Paige

News Editors Rachel Horn Laney Ciaccio

Associate Editors Rachel Horn Sydney Luntz

Features Editors Noah Zylberberg Max Kozlowski

Tech Editor and Face-Off Jack Altman

Sports Editors Bradley Thomas Justin Haber

Arts and Entertainment Editors Natalia Galicza Zoe Brand Jared Goodman Feature Focus Editor Sydney Luntz

The Galleon is a public forum.

Artists Aryanna Mugnatto Erin Turner Adviser Website Editors Suzanne Delaney Lily Choi Lillian Zhang Principal Staff Reporters William Latson Kent Burkman Burak Pala Ethan Weinstein

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THE GALLEON SEPTEMBER 2015

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FACE-OFF

THE GALLEON NOVEMBER 2015

TAKING THE “PEP” OUT OF “PEP RALLY” Jack Altman Commentary Spanish River has been drama-free for years, however just last month, the campus was rocked with a surprising and upsetting lunchtime fight. This immediately led to rumors of more violence during River’s Homecoming week. With this news, parents and administration became concerned that holding a school-wide pep rally at the end of Homecoming week was not a prudent decision. After careful deliberation, River’s Principal William Latson cancelled the annual pep rally just one day before it was scheduled to take place. Since then, the decision to cancel the pep rally has been a source of heated debate on campus. Administrators argue that being cautious and cancelling the pep rally even when dealing with rumors is a sensible course of action. It is also widely known that parents had

been openly upset with holding a rally so soon after a violent altercation. Principal Latson, however, gave a different reason for the event’s cancellation. “I am cancelling the pep rally scheduled for Friday not because we think anything is going to happen, but as a way to eliminate any negative press about Spanish River,” Latson said. “We have added more security to Homecoming events as a precaution and to stop the talk about our school.” This puzzled many, as it is a totally different explanation for the pep rally’s cancellation than teachers and administrators have provided in the past. While it has been consistently reported, even by Latson himself, that the events were affected only by student rumors and parental concerns, this new response was a complete turnaround. It also begs the question whether

cancelling the pep rally would actu- in situations like this, rumors will ally get rid of negative press toward only continue to spread, leading to unfortunate outcomes like this one. the school. “If the administration wanted to get rid of negative talk about River, they should have let the pep rally go on as planned,” Junior Ana Alexander said. “By cancelling the rally, they have confirmed the suspicions of students and parents that there was in fact a threat.” On the other side of this issue are the administrators who bear all responsibility if any students were put in harm’s way. With that said, it is understandable that they would want to avoid any possible danger by cancelling the rally. What this issue ultimately comes down to is communication. If administrators truly want to avoid negative press and parent concerns about violence on campus, there needs to be an open and honest discussion regarding any rumors. If communication is overlooked

SHARKS SPEAK Was it the right decision

to cancel the pep rally?

Yes: 25 Students No: 70 Students ***Out of 95 Students Polled

IT MAKES SENSE

no way of telling. The viral stories of students planning to ruin the celebration with lethal violence were allowed to linger and the result left too many questionable outcomes. As a result, some parents even decided to keep their children at home for the day because they were not comfortable sending them to school. Look on the bright side though, even without the pep rally, Homecoming week was still a success. The Homecoming dance

Anonymous Sophomore Many students cannot wrap their minds around why the pep rally was cancelled. Every student has their own reason; Leadership students do not want their work to go to waste, freshmen want to experience their first pep rally, and seniors do not want to miss out on their last few pep rallies. The reason the pep rally was cancelled is simple; safety comes first. Yes, the pep rally being cancelled meant we had to go to class and learn, but the choice had to be made. Would everyone safely celebrate at pep rally or would someone make the school administration regret letting the show go on? There was simply

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Art by Erin Turner

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resumed as planned, everyone still decked out in their class colors and powder puff was still tons of fun. Simply put, I’m glad the pep rally was cancelled.

Ana Alexander Junior The cancellation of the pep rally was not a good idea as the whole basis for cancelling it was on rumors which led to parental complaints. The whole issue started over two boys fighting in school and one of them getting so

badly injured that he ended up in a hospital. This led to a handful of students videotaping the fight and posting the video on social media. With this and the other incident that occurred at Regency, it created bad publicity for River right in the middle of our Homecoming week. With all of the questioning coming from concerned parents, Mr. Latson took to the morning announcements to tell the whole student body at River that there is no threat at all and that the rumors were just getting out of control. About a week later,

there was more news that Mr. Latson had cancelled the pep rally as a precaution due to parent complaints even though there was no legitimate threat. At River, students say that their safety should be the number one priority of the administration, but was safety really the reason that the pep rally was cancelled. I think that all the parental complaints and concerns along with the rumors going around pushed the school to finally cancel the pep rally. It only makes it worse that leadership was planning this event since May of the previous year. Even if cancelling the pep rally was simply a precaution to ease concerns, why was the pep rally the only Homecoming event that was cancelled? There were many other activities that still went on as planned. I think it was a complete mistake to cancel the pep rally, and I feel sorry for everyone who spent so long to plan this annual event.

OP/ED

THE GALLEON NOVEMBER 2015

Ramblings of a Redhead Amanda Paige Editor-in-Chief

The Iowa Caucus is less than 100 days away. The Florida Primary Election is less than six months away. Come this time next year, all students who are 18 in the Class of 2016 will be able to cast their vote for the next President of the United States. So, do you know the 17 candidates running for the most important office in the nation? Even though the Presidential Election is one year away, it is imperative to pay attention to the news and learn about the people who are hoping to be the next Commander in Chief and leader of the free world. It astonishes me when people who are of voting age or will be by next November can not name more than two candidates. Most peo-

ple are able to name Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton and Republican candidate Donald Trump, but do you know their stance on the major issues that face our nation? We are fortunate to live in a country where we have the right to vote, so it is our job to be informed and not make the decision based on looks or name recognition. As the Presidential campaign continues, the candidates have to present their stance on the various issues that are important to the country. Each of the candidates shares their opinions through different mediums including televised debates, print, and all forms of social media. In addition, candidates hold rallies and town hall meetings to let voters have the chance to personally meet and question them.

Some of the prominent issues the candidates have been debating include immigration, national security,

and gun control. If you know anything about any of the candidates’ stances on immigration, it is most likely Donald Trump’s because he is going to build a wall along Mexico’s border and it is going to be “huge”. Democratic candidates have a more relaxed view on immigration wanting to create an easy pathway to citizenship. Another talking point of the candidates is national security. With the rise of ISIS, increasing tensions in Syria, and the controversial Iran Nuclear Deal, there are varying opinions on what steps to take.

The frequent tragedies of mass shootings continue to ignite the gun control debate. The debate is heated between supporters of the Second Amendm e n t a n d those w h o w a n t tightening of gun regulations. These are just a few of the two dozen topics candidates are expected to state their opinion on. It is important to determine which candidate your views are most consistent with before deciding who receives your vote. An entertaining way to learn more about the candidates’ personalities and hear their views is by watching the Republican and Democratic televised debates scheduled on November 10th and November 14th, respectively. Your right to vote is a serious responsibility that should not be taken for granted as Americans have fought and died for this right. PHOTO COURTESY OF GOOGLE IMAGES

The Sounding Of the Horn Rachel Horn

Associate Editor While I go about my days which mostly consists of going to school, going to cross country practice, and then getting my homework done, my family in Israel is living in fear due to the constant terrorist attacks occurring in their country. Since October 3rd, Israelis are being injured or killed by random acts of terror. Israelis are being stabbed, gunned down, and run over by terrorists; the entire country is living in panic. It was just this summer that I was given a great opportunity to study in Israel for six weeks. My learning did not just consist of classroom study, but actual visits to ancient and holy sites that I have only read about in books. In addition, I finally met some of my family members who live in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. I spent my free weekends at their homes and experienced what it

feels like to live in Israel. Terror attacks in Israel are nothing new, but while I was there I did not have a fear in the world. It was peaceful and the people were in great spirits enjoying their summer break. Our group spent a portion of every week visiting busy touristy locations and participating in typical summer activities such as going on hikes and attending concerts. One would think that all of these areas were being guarded by the Israeli Defense Force due to the assumption that Israeli citizens live in fear at all times. This was not the case, I did not notice any soldiers patrolling these areas. When my study program ended, my new friends and I discussed our future plans for getting back to Israel as soon as possible because it was the best time of our lives. Fast forward to October 2015 and I think to myself that I can’t believe that I stood in some of

the very same locations where many of these terrorist attacks have just occurred. Even though I am over 6,000 miles away from Israel, I began to feel fear. I could have been the person that was attacked, I could have seen someone that was terrorized, or my classmates or family could have been killed. I have become overwhelmed with thoughts about my family in Israel. I wish that someone could put an end to the terrorism. I used to feel far removed from these events, but now I feel so connected to that country that it feels as if these The sunrise after hiking to the top of Masada. attacks are happening in my PHOTOS BY RACHEL HORN own community. Even though I am feel sad and fearful about what is going on, there is nothing that will keep me from going back and visiting. Terrorism will not win and I plan to be back in 2017.

Afternoon camel ride through the the Negev Desert.

OP/ED

THE GALLEON NOVEMBER 2015

Mike’s Mind Michael Benrubi Editor-in-Chief

High school can be a scary place, especially when you enter as a freshman without any friends. Luckily, I was not alone as I ventured into this new chapter in my life. Just like in elementary and middle school, I had my best friends with me. Being that we all lived in west Boca Raton at the time and were not zoned for Spanish River, we were the new kids in a school filled with students from Omni, Saint Andrew’s, and Pine Crest. This was a change for us as we went through elementary and middle school basically knowing the same kids throughout. That was when we

were nervous, innocent, little freshmen. Flash-forward 4 years. We are now grown men, some of us with beards (hopefully mine will come in before college). We have now spent 12 long years together. 12 years of menacing teachers. 12 years of challenging and rigorous classes. 12 years of countless laughs and memories. I have spent almost every day of my educational life with these kids. 12 years is a very long time, a time period long enough for friendships to fall through. Although some of us may have found separate friend groups and other interests, we all know that our original squad is unconditional. We may get on one another’s nerves

often, but we have still managed to stay close through thick and thin. I could not imagine how different my high school memories would have been if not for them. Whenever I have a problem, I come to them for advice because they know me the best and always have my back. It has been amazing to see each of them progress and mature through different stages of their lives from show and tell in kindergarten to driving cars and applying for colleges. As we move on through our senior year, we understand that it will be time to finally go our separate ways. Sure it will be odd not having them around, but I know that we will stay

2003

in touch and continue some of our cherished traditions such as our annual fantasy league. With graduation around the corner, there are still plenty of memories yet to be had with this group. As I write this, I think back to all the awesome times we have had together and how I need to live in the moment because it won’t be long before we head off to college. To the underclassmen, stay close with the friends that have been with you from the start because they are the ones that will be with you until the end.

2016 PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHAEL BENRUBI

Sincerely, Sydney Sydney Luntz Associate Editor

If you know me, you probably know I would rather be at an elderly home right now. I guess you could say I don’t have your typical friend group; whereas my “bffls” range from about 80 years old to 104 years old. I’ve definitely seen many of the elderly defy the narrow minded, overly conservative, we-thinkanyone-under-the-age-of-60-is-adelinquent, stereotype. However, I will tell you that you can’t escape the classic, “back in my day...” line, because every story tends to start out with that one. During my time with the residents, I have found myself to become fond of that line, just itching to know what it was exactly like back in their day. I also think there is something the elderly can offer almost anyone, no matter who you are, so I’m going to share with you.

A couple of weeks ago, my 85 year old friend and I were simply slipping in a time machine revisiting her past (with a few stories I would not be able to share in print) and I’ll tell you something, it was wild. She had one good story, a really good story actually. She was almost in tears laughing as she shared with me that in the 1950’s, when she was in her 20’s, all her good friends would spend hours primping their hair, doing their nails, dressing in their finest clothing, and staring in the mirror from early morning until dinner time when their date arrived. Nonetheless, it was like prom every Friday and Saturday for these ladies. I found myself so enthralled, and then she hit me with the best part of the story. The guys would come pick up their red carpet ladies, just to drive them up the street to an empty parking lot...and that was it. Just a cheap date, a cheap date after

all that effort and primping. Then of course, all the girls would come back with messy hair and smeared makeup. Clearly, someone had a good time. So it got me thinking, why do girls (and boys) seem to glorify relationships in the past? Why must the past be so romanticized? Why do girls rant that boys should be like the gentlemen in the 1950’s? You know, when they opened doors for you and took you to quirky diners with a drive in movie to finish off the night. Maybe you would get a kiss at the door, maybe not. All I know is, it was never like the movies Grease or Dirty Dancing; if the guy wasn’t into you, he just wasn’t into you. Times have changed, but let’s be real, girls usually still spend hours getting all dolled up before a date and boys still have not learned the ropes of being an all around gentlemen. Contrary to popular bias,

those gentlemen do exist and have existed in each generation, you just have to find the one one that will open the door for you, and simply kick the others to the curb.

ART BY ERIN TURNER PHOTO COURTESY OF GOOGLE IMAGES

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

THE GALLEON NOVEMBER 2015

Time Traveling through TV Jared Goodman

Arts & Entertainment Editor ‘90s kids, rejoice! If you want to feel nostalgic, now is your chance. Channels and streaming services such as Nickelodeon, Netflix, and Hulu are bringing back some of the classic shows from the 1990s, including favorites like Rugrats and Catdog. Why are they doing this? Well, it has actually been a long time coming. Many people would argue that the shows on television nowadays are just not as good as they were only a short time ago. Most teens would rather watch Drake & Josh reruns from over ten years ago than watch an episode of Victorious or Sam & Cat, the latter of which only lasted for a little over a year before being cancelled. Back in the ‘90s, shows were arguably funnier, cruder, and overall more enjoyable. Take the

show Seinfeld, for example. Seinfeld ran from 1989-1998, pretty much during the entire ‘90s decade, and was deemed “the greatest television program of all time” in 2002 by TV Guide. It is no secret why the ‘90s seemed to be a golden age in television history, and that is why many people want to bring back their favorite shows. Online groups have even been created for the sole purpose of trying to get ‘90s shows back on television, such as the Facebook group, “I Want My 90’s Nickelodeon Back.” Recently, these wishes have been fulfilled. In the beginning of October, TeenNick introduced “The Splat,” a programming block that starts at 10 P.M. and replays many of Nickelodeon’s most beloved shows from the ‘90s and early 2000’s.

The name is even a tribute to Nickelodeon’s old logo, an orange splat. During the day, you can also catch reruns of Zoey 101 and Drake & Josh on TeenNick, which although are not ‘90s shows, are still considered some of Nickelodeon’s best shows from the early 2000’s. “As much as I love many of the shows on television nowadays, one of my favorite shows of all time is Drake & Josh,” junior Jackson Dalton said. Netflix is even getting in on the bandwagon, introducing a show called Fuller House set to premiere in 2016. This show is a spin-off of the classic ‘90s show, Full House, which will feature many of the main characters from the original series, as well as some new ones too. Hulu also purchased every Seinfeld

episode, and is currently streaming them on their website. “I am a huge fan of old shows,” senior Andrew Balsamo said. “I like the fact that many old shows are coming back to TV, but I wish Cartoon Network would bring back my personal favorite, Johnny Bravo.”

ART BY ARYANNA MUGNATTO

River Adopts Annie

Natalia Galicza

Arts & Entertainment Editor The Spanish River drama department is thrilled to announce the upcoming Annie Jr. play which will be showing in November. The cast is greatly anticipating this musical production. “Annie is one of my favorite plays and I’m very excited for this show,” senior Adrian Alvarado, who plays Oliver Warbucks, said. “I feel that our cast is very talented and I’m looking forward to the performance.” The Annie Jr. version differs greatly from the original Annie. It presents new challenges for the cast members. “The characters we play are usually done by a much younger cast which is an interesting challenge,” senior Gabriella Riveros, who plays Annie, said. “This show is usually done by elementary and middle schoolers, which I think is a positive challenge to test our abilities.” Annie Jr. is a family friendly, shorter version of Annie, which allows smaller children to see the production as well. “The junior version is an hour long version which is an appropriate time

for kids to be sitting in a chair,” theater teacher Steven Bunin said. The cast and crew intend to expand their audience by putting in effort towards promoting the show and telling close friends about the production.

The cast of Annie Jr. during rehersal week.

“We use a lot of social media like Twitter or Instagram,” Riveros said. “We might also utilize PSAs on WSRH.” Apart from social media, cast members are also personally informing others about the show. Ensuring a decent audience is difficult, thus, cast members are doing anything they can to spread the word.

“I make sure to tell all of my friends and family and try to spread good word,” Alvarado said. “I hope that those who I tell, will continue spreading the word and increase our audience size.” The particular production was chosen by Mr. Bunin, who has put much consideration into the decision. “This production is a great opportunity to let underclassmen have some roles. Also, musicals sell well and we are hoping for a large turnout,” Bunin said. “Another important factor is that it is a known entity. A classic play like Annie will attract more people than if we were to put on a play that most people have never heard of.” The dates for the show are November 6th at 7pm and November 7th at 2pm and 7pm. Tickets are available at www.spanishrivertheater.org for $15.00 if purchased in advance. At the door tickets are $20.00 for non-students and $5.00 for students. Be sure to go out and support our thespian sharks!

PHOTO COURTESEY OF DANIELA VILLASANA

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

THE GALLEON NOVEMBER 2015

WEARING less and Then vs. Now giing iut mire Zoe Brand

Arts & Entertainment Editor Commentary Halloween is a holiday many teens look forward to. It is the one night where you can dress as silly and stupid as you want and earn candy for it. But Halloween costumes have changed drastically in appearance over the decades. Try comparing a picture of your parents when they were our age on Halloween to a picture of you on Halloween from recent years. The two photos would look as if they came from different dimensions. Of course we know that style and fashion has evolved from the days our parents wore legwarmers and teased their hair, but setting evolution aside, Halloween costumes for a 21st century teen have been taken a step further. So how have we come to this style we know best? Teenagers have always tried to mimic the style of their favorite celebrity or public figure in the media. It is the style of these influential people that has changed and become more provocative throughout the years, which in turn has evolved the style of teens and people everywhere. With public figures today such as Miley Cyrus and Kylie Jenner, teenagers around the globe try to mimic their mature fashion choices. Our shorts have gotten shorter and our shirts do not cover our stomachs. “It is the job of teenagers to push the envelope and flirt with the boundaries,” Visions and Pursuits

teacher, Kim Green shares. This flirtation with boundaries especially transfers into our Halloween costume style. “I believe that with any style, fashion or idea, ideas are intermixed,” senior Brandon Gin claims. On Halloween we can be anything we want and this fantasy drives teens to take their style a step further. By this extra step I do not mean the involvement of short-shorts and crop tops, the fantasy of Halloween drives teens to push that envelope to the breaking point. “It [Halloween] is an excuse to be more provocative and sexual,” Green said. No more are the days of ghost costumes made of bed sheets; today we see a range of sexy costumes on Halloween, like sexy nurses or sexy cops that expose a teen’s body in an adult manner. To a different extreme, costumes on Halloween can be offensive. These offensive costumes stem from ignorance. Costumes that portray a sexy Native American, or a sexy Arab, or even donning blackface are extremely racist and offensive. “I do think sometimes people take their costumes too far, sometimes they discriminate against certain people,” senior Harley Jacobson states. Determining if a Halloween costume is too provocative or racist is up to the interpretation of the viewer. It is important that on Halloween you do not wear a costume that needs interpretation.

Teacher, Faith Collins, dresses up as Pochohontos as a child.

Academy coordinator, Jill Rockwell, dresses up as an old lady with her high school sweetheart.

English teacher and Galleon advisor, Suzanne Delaney dresses up as Ms. Piggy as a child. PHOTO COURTESY OF GOOGLE IMAGES, SUZANNE DELANEY, JILL ROCKWELL, AND FAITH COLLINS

Back to the Future In 1985, Marty Mcfly used his DeLorean time machine to travel to October 21, 2015. Although the future did not turn out to be exactly what the people in 1985 thought it would be, there were a few things that did, in fact, come true. Let’s explore them! PHOTO COURTESY OF GOOGLE IMAGES In Back to the Future II, it was predicted that we would have hoverboards in 2015. Although this is not exactly true, we do have a new device called the Hendo Hoverboard, which many refer to as a fancy skateboard or segway, and not an actual hoverboard. Nevertheless, progress is progress!

In Back to the Future II, the Chicago Cubs were predicted to win the world series against Miami. Although they did not make it as far as the World Series, they did make it to the third round of the playoffs, which is impressive considering the Cubs have not won a World Series since 1908.

In a diner in 2015, Marty Mcfly can be seen playing a video game. A small child sees this and says, “You have to use your hands?” This suggests that they have controller-less video games in the Back to the Future universe, similar to the Xbox Kinect used today.

One of the most memorable scenes in Back to the Future II is when we got to see Marty Mcfly’s shoes tying themselves. Well, these shoes were just recently created by Nike and 1,500 were just auctioned off on eBay and $4.7 million went to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s research.

FEATURE

THE GALLEON NOVEMBER 2015

t r a e F t ’ n d l u You Sho Have you ever been hurt by negative words? 54%

of students surveyed said

YES

46%

of students surveyed said

Sydney Luntz

Feature Focus Editor As teenagers, or all humans for that matter, we tend to neglect that words are usually what prompt fists in the air. Not only do we fail to acknowledge this, but we also rarely understand the permanence and power of words- unless the words are directed towards you. Unfortunately, it is usually too late until we realize the drastic influence our words have on others. “People speaking negatively is inevitable, but can be regulated based on who you surround yourself with,” freshman Dani Sakkal said. “You’re only as good as the company you hold.” Whether you are the victim of verbal abuse, or the speaker yourself, it is detrimental to both

parties. Words have limitless boundaries; scars can heal, wounds can heal, bruises can heal, but do we not carry internal, permanent scars from the words we have heard in the past? “I think verbal abuse is even more powerful than physical abuse,” senior Matthew Salguero said. “The words of others can live inside of you and pick at your deepest insecurities, verbal abuse has lead others to suicide and self abuse.” Furthermore, verbal abuse is one of the easiest ways to provoke physical abuse. We hear about it all the time, it comes in an array of ways including: gossip, rumors, break ups, and destructive criticism. Both Sakkal and Salguero believe that verbal abuse

originates within the insecurities of the speaker. Despite this being the most stereotypical motive for a bully, and a phrase every one has heard for as long as they can remember, it should still be acknowledged. “I think it is important to acknowledge the situation and remember miscommunication is relevant in these situations,” Sakkal said. “Whether we admit it or not, we know whose friendship is counterproductive or not in our heart.” Salguero emphasizes the necessity in surrounding yourself with people who you know to be pure, true, and loyal. “There have been times when people would take advantage of the fact that I am open about my sexuality,” Salguero said. “People

would make up stories and rumors but I have never let the gossip affect me because my close friends, family, and I know it is untrue and that is the extent of people I care about knowing my personal life.” The ability to not be affected by other’s words does not go unrecognized, for it is a difficult hardship to overcome. “I have fortunately experienced the whole bullying epidemic go down rapidly, especially in comparison to my family’s experiences,” Sakkal said. “I take pride in being part of such a game-changing generation.” Here at River, it is important to take part in a decline of negative speech among yourself and peers. Never should a student be afraid to intervene when someone is being spoken to poorly. No matter how tamed or brutal the conversation

may seem to you, different words hurt different individuals. The foundation of River begins with the student body, and it is our job to use our voice for the welfare of everyone around us. “The most powerful tool to overcome verbal abuse is confidence and self assurance,” Salguero said. “By knowing yourself and what you are truly worth, it makes it easier and easier to brush the seemingly permanent words of others off.”

FOCUS

THE GALLEON NOVEMBER 2015

r a e H u o Y s d r the Wo

Words we will never forget:

The following consists of anonymous River students’ verbal abuse experiences “I hated myself so much because of what other people said to me, I hated going to school, and I hated seeing people.” “I remember when people made rumors about me being pregnant, I thought it was funny at the time, things changed when my guidance counselor and strangers began to confront me.”

“People bullied me, told me as it was, and called me ugly, worthless, and fat.”

“I remember someone calling me the dumbest person they’ve ever met.”

“I remember being told you’re not going to get anywhere in life.”

“No one should be told they’re ugly, those words will follow you, even during the days you feel pretty.”

“I used to have a basketball coach and everything was okay until I began to make mistakes. He started to call me weak and tell me I won’t become anything, this destroyed my confidence at the time and ever since.”

A Message From Principal William Latson: We have all dealt with aggressiveness in our relationships at one point or another. Aggressive communication is four times more likely to occur than physical aggression and both the aggressor and recipient are hurt by it. Aggressive communication is a method of expressing needs and desires that do not take in to account the feelings of others. Verbal aggression happens more in schools as students are developing their sense of self and are still maturing so they do not handle conflict, embarrassment, or being shunned appropriately. People who are aggressive are usually trying to hurt others, exact revenge, or do not know how to handle the situation so they lash out in defense. Our goal is to teach students how to communicate effectively honoring others feelings and get to the root of the problem to correct it.

SPEAK POSITIVElY, TO HEAR POSITIVITY

ART BY ARYANA MUGNATTO PHOTO COURTESY OF GOOGLE IMAGES

FEATURES

THE GALLEON NOVEMBER 2015

Animals are Friends, NOT Food Max Kozlowski Features Editor

Around River there has been an emerging trend. Whether this trend is a lifestyle or a phase, it is up to the participants to decide. By now, you have probably heard some of your friends promote veganism or perhaps try it out for themselves. Despite their overwhelmingly good intentions, many surfacing vegans are not aware of the proper and healthy ways to execute this diet. According to a study from The International Journal of Applied and Basic Nutritional Sciences, the sufficient and appropriate way to follow this lifestyle is through a high carb, low fat diet. In this experiment, subjects were randomly given one of five diets throughout a six month peri-

od (ranging from vegan to meat-eating). The results revealed that those who followed a proper vegan diet, with instruction and education about the appropriate way to implement it, were rewarded with the most impressive post-diet health. Over this time period, vegans lost the highest percentage of their body weight (4.3%) and greatly decreased the amount of saturated fats they consumed. In addition, the vegan group had lower BMIs and an entirely better balanced diet in terms of nutrients. Senior Sarah Bagnall has followed this diet long before River’s vegan movement. She recognizes the difficulties that transitioning from a typical high schooler’s diet to that of a vegan can pose, but is ultimately content with her decision to make the change. “It would be dismissive to say veganism is super easy. And while it might be tempting to become a vegan because Beyonce or whoever is doing it, keep in mind that veganism is an entire lifestyle change, from the foods you eat to the clothes you wear,” Bagnall said. “On the other hand, meat, dairy, and egg alternatives have come such a long way that I never really feel deprived or left out.” Another attraction to dieters arises from a moral perspective. The vegan

diet consists of absolutely no animal products or by-products, and as a result many of its followers are avid supporters of the ethical treatment of all creatures. Senior Rachel Greenberg has a strong opinion when it comes to this matter, and her skepticism of the animal meat industry is a large reason why she adheres to the vegan diet. “Being vegan is important to me because I think the institutionalization of animal meat is corrupt. The industry confines animals and malnourishes them to have less overhead costs and make a higher profit,” Greenberg said. “The industry has become inflamed, and somewhere along the line, animal care stopped being a priority.” Bagnall recommends veganism to others, but does so with caution and an understanding that it is not right for everyone. “Being a vegan has made me more sensitive to the value of even the smallest of animals’ lives and surprisingly, to the feelings of other people,” Bagnall said. “However, veganism is an inherently privileged way of living and not everyone is in the position to partake in it, which I completely understand. Food-wise, you should talk to your parents about the possibility of transitioning to an animal-free

diet. I found that slowly dropping animal products was much easier than immediately becoming a fully-fledged vegan.” The vegan diet clearly has an abundance of unique and promising aspects to it, and presumably as a result has seen an uptick in students around River attempting to follow it. When done correctly, the vegan diet is a healthy and powerful movement. Nevertheless, partake in diligent research before deciding to make this lifestyle change. According to Bagnall, Vegan Outreach is an activist site with ample free resources providing information on a vegan lifestyle.

Art by erin turner

River’s Favorite Fall Treats Fall Festivities - Go to a pumpkin patch - Visit Bedner’s Fall Festival

Flannel shirts

Pumpkin spice lattes

Baked pumpkin seeds

- Get spooked in a Haunted house - Watch a football game each Sunday - See a Halloween themed or scary movie

Candy corn

UGG Boots

Art by erin turner Photos courtesy of google images

FEATURES

THE GALLEON NOVEMBER 2015

Students Have a Sweet Time at Homecoming Lillian Zhang & Lily Choi Staff Reporters

Homecoming is the first of many amazing memories made every year in high school, and brims with festivity. The week is a great morale and school spirit booster. “I feel like this week has a little something for everyone to enjoy no matter what their interests are,” AP Psychology teacher and SGA Advisor Kristen Skelton said. With so many events planned, the student government puts great effort into organizing everything and utlizing their creativity to the max. The process begins in May and continues in August when school starts again. During this time period, Mr. and Ms. Spanish River present several of their themes to the class and receive feedback from student council members who later present their ideas and ask students outside the council for opinions. All these new ideas have to constantly be generated to keep the student body interested in participating. In addition, an extensive amount of time is spent on planning. This year’s dance has been long in the making due to the fact that the student council has wanted to hold a “Candyland” themed dance for several years. Since this year’s

Homecoming theme week was board games, it fit perfectly. “It is a very lengthy process but it is worth it in the end to make sure that everything is planned out perfectly,” Skelton said. Most importantly though, is what events like homecoming do for our school. It brings life to the hallways through the expression of the specially themed days and lifts the spirits of the people present. Furthermore, it creates a unity greatly appreciated by both students and staff. “Everyone is just happier during this week and it brings the students and faculty together as one big shark family,” Skelton said. Homecoming consisted of several events every day of the week, with a board game theme every day to show school spirit. There was an explosion of color throughout the halls showing students’ individuality and school spirit. Many students took time to dress up for the occasion. “My favorite part of the week was seeing everyone dressed out in red, white, and blue on Monday,” said Ms. Spanish River Taylor Lipsich. “It was a great way to kick off an awesome week.” The first day’s theme was based on the game “Battleship” and students showed up decked out in patriotic

colors. “Operation” arrived the second day and nurses, doctors, and patients filled the halls. On the third day, students transformed into jungle explorers and animals in response to the “Jumanji” themed day. The fourth day was reserved for Powderpuff t-shirts and the final day wrapped up the week by allowing students to dress in the class colors for the pep rally. Unfortunately, the pep rally scheduled for Friday was canceled as a precaution due to the complaints of many parents about the safety of the school. The security for the remaining events, such as the homecoming football game and the homecoming dance, was also heightened by the Boca Raton Police and School District Police. Luckily, an alternative spirit rally was organized in time for lunch for the students to see. A roped off area stood in the middle of the courtyard where the football team, dance team, Mr. and Ms. Spanish River, and the cheerleaders put on a performance. “I think canceling the pep rally originally crushed a lot of spirit but Arthur and I teamed up with our Leadership class to do everything we could to bring some kind of pep rally back,” Lipsich said. This year’s Homecoming was a very festive week despite the minor setback, and almost everyone could say that it was a memorable occasion.

Mr. and Ms. Spanish River dress up for Battle Ship day.

Junior Homecoming Court poses at the football game.

Seniors get rowdy at Powderpuff Photos courtesy of Mrs. riedel Art by aryana mugnatto

River weighs in on the Presidential race Kent Burkman Staff Reporter

November 2016 will bring a highly anticipated event we experience every four years: The Presidential Election, and River is buzzing with excitement. The political campaign for the two parties has been very unusual to say the least. Rather than the standard four to five candidates from the Republican Party, this year has brought 12. Even more surprisingly, the top three candidates have no political experience. The common word that strikes Americans today when they think of the two front-runners in both parties: controversy. Both candidates, U.S. Senator Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump, have so much controversy that it is hard to

believe they are the front-runners of their respective parties. Clinton’s email scandal arose in March of 2015. While she was secretary of state, Clinton made the decision to use her personal email to send government communications Clinton says she used her personal email out of convenience, but many Americans believe she put U.S government information at risk to hackers working for foreign governments. Billionaire Donald Trump has also had numerous eyebrow-raising moments in his campaign for the presidency. Trump kicked off his campaign by stating in a September press conference “They’re [Mexico] sending people who have lots of problems, and they’re bringing drugs, they’re bringing crime, they’re rapists, and some I assume are good people.” In addition to his over-generalizition of immigrants, Trump has also made insults to

democratic candidates

Hillary clinton

Bernie sanders

influential women including Carly Fiorina and Megan Kelly. Clinton’s biggest rival in the democratic party is U.S Senator Bernie Sanders. The Republican top tier candidates include retired doctor Ben Carson, former CEO of HP Carly Fiorina, and Florida Senator Marco Rubio. “I really don’t have a favorite candidate at this point,” history teacher Kimberly Green said. “I think it’s too early in the race to know, especially since not all the candidates have joined the field yet.” However History teacher Aaron Lampman is confident with his choice. “My favorite candidate is Bernie Sanders,” Lampman said “He goes after corporate greed and is consistent in his views.” Teachers are not the only people picking their favorites. It seems that some students are thinking about

which candidates they prefer as well “It’s important to be an informed citizen,” sophomore Zoe Gruen said. “I’m looking for a candidate that is courageous and composed, as well as not holding themselves above the people who vote for their election.” Even though she is not of voting age, Gruen is confident she knows who she would vote for today if she could. “My favorite candidate would have to be Carly Fiorina,” Gruen said. “She exhibits great strength and confidence. I feel she would be able to lead our country well.” All signs point to the 12 months remaining in this election to be filled with social media frenzy. The real question is, who will be the final two candidates?

Republican candidates

Donald Trump

Ben carson

Art by erin turner Photos courtesy of google images

THE GALLEON NOVEMBER 2015