The Oracle 2.0 George M. Steinbrenner High School - 5575 Lutz Lake Fern Rd. - www.oraclenewspaper.com
June 2012 - Volume I, Issue
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Prescription pill problem strikes schools by Hannah Crosby Page 5
Graphic by Cristina Iglesias and Tiffany Napoli
Open JUNE 2012
Journalism I Editorial Staff James Flaskamp Editor-in-Chief Sam Bequer News Editor Charley Pitcher Opinion Editor Zealand Shannon Centerspread Editor Emily Goldbach Sports Editor Ally Laliotis A&E Editor Tiffany Napoli Front Page Editor Brooke Deal Back Page
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Letter From the Editor
F
amous newspaper editor Horace Greeley once said, “Journalism will kill you, but it will keep you alive while you’re at it.” If I didn’t know better, I would think our dear friend Mr. Greeley came up with this quote while observing the past month of my Journalism I class. Alas, this is impossible, as Greeley passed away nearly 140 years ago. Nevertheless, it’s interesting to consider the truth of his statement though so many years have passed since he first said it. Engaging in journalism—good journalism anyway—is a highly invigorating experience. It is also highly stressful. It can be frustrating. It can be lots of thankless work. It can be disappointing. It can hurt. So it is no surprise that those who succeed in the field also happen to be those who are most passionate about it and would likely do it for free if they were not being compensated. The publication you are currently enjoying is the product of that type of passion. When presented with the possibility of having their work published on The Oracle’s website, my introductory journalism class embraced that possibility without hesitation. They began to work harder than I’ve ever seen. Unexpected leaders stepped up to the plate. A class became a publication staff, and that staff has produced something of which I am quite proud. Within this publication, you will find the harrowing story of a teacher attacked by machetewielding thugs in Nigeria (page 12), an explo-
James Flaskamp Oracle Newspaper Adviser ration of the prescription pill epidemic affecting our nation’s high schools (page 5), several mustvisit summer attractions and restaurants (pages 10-11), a closer look at the financial turmoil involved with being a high school student (pages 8-9) and much more. For a first effort (yes, there will be errors here and there), I don’t think these dedicated journalism students could have done any better. I hope you enjoy the fruits of their labor.
Writing Staff
Tiffany Napoli Graphics Editor
Evan Abramson
Brooke Jolley
Emily Goldbach Graphics Assistant
Darin Bell
Francesca Maurici
Clara Brandon
Austin Root
Hannah Crosby
Zach Schmedt
Tyler Himes
Angela Sexton
Cristina Iglesias
Alex Troutt
Kirsten Povolny Chief Copy Editor
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Juniors prevented from driving to school in 2012-2013 year
S
Staff Writer
ince Steinbrenner’s existence, juniors and seniors have been allowed parking passes, but just recently it was decided that juniors would be denied that right. In late February, guidance counselors gathered sophomores in the auditorium for an informational assembly regarding their junior year. It was at this assembly where sophomores chose electives for the upcoming school year, were given advice about AP classes, and were also informed they would not be permitted to drive to school next year, with the exception of juniors that have after school sports and some choice students. As counselors then tried to maintain the sudden increase of volume in the room, guidance counselor Staci Rupp, explained that there are 400 spaces in the parking lot and over 1,100 juniors and seniors in the 2012-2013 Steinbrenner class. Senior Alli Knoeppel has experienced firsthand some of the problems regarding the student parking lot, given that she has driven to school both her junior and senior year. “If it was just seniors [driving], there
wouldn’t be as much traffic,” said Knoeppel. “If there are enough parking passes, then juniors should be able to get them but seniors should definitely have first priority,” said Knoeppel. This will be the biggest class Steinbrenner has ever had. Some students are still against denying juniors parking passes, however, students are parking in the visitor’s lot and the McKitrick parking lot every day. Some incoming juniors aren’t as understanding about this new rule. “[I’ve] definitely been looking forward to getting my license and being able to drive to school my junior year for a while,” said sophomore Kina Robinett. “I’m definitely surprised by this new rule, it doesn’t seem to make any sense. It will definitely be a hassle for my family to need to drive me to school when I’ll already have my license, since my mom will be working,” said Robinett. Knoeppel will be graduating this year but even she can agree that incoming juniors would be upset by this news. Administration is not able to provide more parking spaces and juniors are not happy having to find other transportation to school. Unless more parking spaces appear, or fewer juniors find the need to drive, then students may remain unhappy.
Evan Abramson /Staff Writer
Senior drivers take up more parking spaces than the junior class. Next year will be the same, preventing more juniors driving to school.
Q & A with ESOL student Luis Llano Staff Writer The ESOL (English Speakers of Other Languages) program has been at Steinbrenner since the school first opened. Currently, Mr. Dillon is head of the ESOL program and has been since last year. Louis Llano is a student currently in the ESOL program. What languages do you know? I fully speak English and Spanish also I understand Italian and Portuguese. Where did you previously live? Colombia, [I moved here] half a year ago. How did you come from Colombia? I flew here What’s different in Colombia?
[The weather pattern] Summer is in december because Colombia is in the south, and the seasons are switched. Why did you come to Florida? I have family here, and I want to get my citizenship, and finish my studies. What are some of the challenges when learning English? Mostly listening because people here speak really fast, well at least for me. How has the ESOL program helped you? The ESOL program brings me a lot of words that I don’t understand and it’s going to help you in your other classes. For example, it helps you with all the grammar that would be kind of stupid to ask.
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Summer volunteer opportunities Many students in high school enjoy summer because it’s the end of school... but there are others that need to keep working. According to guidance counselors Ann Ferguson and Jaclyn Capello most students prefer volunteering in places such as: • St. Joseph’s Hospital- to learn about nursing, • Metropolitan Ministries • YMCA • MOSI
• • •
Assisted living communities Humane Society Aquarium “These opportunities are usually looked for because of interests in different subjects, or because of friends,” said Ferguson. These activities teach different social skills and responsibilities to high school students, such as following orders and working with other people. This will help them for different scenarios later in life.
Little things to keep you from graduating There are some little things that keep some students from graduating- and it all starts in freshman year. According to an interview with guidance counselors Ann Ferguson, and Jaclyn Cappello and success lab manager Zenia Robertson the biggest thing that keeps students from graduating begins with no motivation. Once the student decides success is
Kirsten Povolny/Chief Copy Editor
not necessary, that will lead to low grades and not meeting a requirement of a 2.0 GPA. In turn not all credits are gained, and students do not have enough time to gain more by their senior year. “Sometimes there are students who enter high school with no motivation and don’t even want to try
to succeed, but we try to encourage them in any way we can,” said Cappello. According to both guidance counselors, overall students need to stay motivated in order to want to succeed for the four long years of high school, and then they will be better prepared for the road ahead. Kirsten Povolny/Chief Copy Editor
Rising gas prices add stress to teens Brooke Jolley
Staff Writer As of May 17, gas prices are at $3.56. Many parents are reluctant to pay the extra forty to sixty dollars per tank of gas to give their teenagers the freedom to drive because they cannot afford that luxury. Across America, teens are now taking on part time jobs and balancing those responsibilities on top of schoolwork and extracurricular activities. This is to provide the necessary income to pay for the gasoline that gives them the freedom to use their cars. About 8.1 percent of people are unemployed which causes financial problems. Therefore, many teens are left trying to fill the void and figure out ways to afford gas. Sophomore Madison Traina weighed in on the topic and claims, “I’m in the process of looking for jobs to help with assisting my parents in paying for gas. Although, I feel that having a job will be more of a hassle for me personally because I’ll have to balance school work along with a job. The main things teens want is freedom, but some must now take on new responsibilities which recent generations have not had to do. However, with the economy, surpluses of teens are not even getting cars, much less a full tank of gas. Traina said that she tries to save as much gasoline as she can, but the high gas prices don’t limit her driving. The only other alternative for students whose parents don’t pay for their gas is to carpool. Carpooling is an efficient way to get to and from places, yet it can be slightly inconvenient at times for some students. Junior Chantal Singh carpools every morning with two fellow classmates. “Carpooling is good if the people you ride with are reliable. If they aren’t, though, it can be a big pain. Sometimes you might even have to worry about having no ride at all. Overall, I’d say carpooling can be a tremendous help to struggling teens,” Singh said. On the downside, though, Singh states that the consistency of carpooling isn’t always certain (i.e. if someone is sick or absent one
day then you’ll have to find other forms of transportation). The current economic state that is facing teens has had a profound effect on how they deal with the issue of rising gas prices. This has forced teens to make conscious choices of finding ways to fund paying for gas to support their desire to have freedom through transportation.
Brooke Jolley / Staff Writer
Michael Jolley pumps gas at a local Shell gas station. Michael Jolley has noticed that rise in gas prices and hopes to see a change sometime in the near furture.
“I waited two extra years to get my license because of my current financial state. I just can’t afford to be burning through gas every weekend because having a car can be so tempting,” said junior Chris Davies. A benefit of this reality is that teens are facing the needs to be more responsible for their driving habits.
Brooke Jolley / Staff Writer
Gas prices have gone up since May 17 by three cents. It’s predicted by Bottomline on msnbc.com that prices should increase to $3.79 per gallon.
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PRESCRIPTION PILL PROBLEM STRIKES SCHOOLS Hannah Crosby Staff Writer
I
n schools across the country, prescription pills have become some of the most commonly abused drugs by teens and young adults, according to the 2011 Monitoring the Future Survey. These potentially fatal pills are quickly sweeping through schools, and took the lives of nearly 370,00 people between the ages of 15-24 in 2011, according to the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The survey also said prescription pills were the fourth most commonly abused drugs by 12th graders, after alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco. Teens who report to abusing prescription pills are more likely to become users of other drugs as well. Since some prescription pills are meant to be taken to subdue pain in the patient, this also makes the symptoms more difficult to spot. Coach Jennifer Graham has had various encounters with students under the influence of prescription pills while at school and is considerably knowledgeable on the effects of the drugs. “It’s much easier to mask the abuse compared to, of course, alcohol, or marijuana, or other illicit drugs. That’s why a lot of students could be walking around and we [do] not even know if they’re abusing the pills until it’s too late,” said Graham. With this hazardous trend of prescription pill abuse rising in schools, Graham had much more to say about the issue. “I am fearful that it’s becoming the number one abused legal drug and that it’s being used illegally by students that
STEINBRENNER TEACHER ARRESTED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING Hannah Crosby Staff Writer
Steinbrenner foreign language teacher Lamonte Hambrick was arrested Tuesday, May 15 on charges of drug trafficking and grand theft. According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, Hambrick, 30, has been accused of removing bottles of Courtesy of Hillsborough prescription Hydrocodone and County Sherriff’s Office. Alprazolam pills from the CVS pharmacy at 813 Bearss Ave. W. in Tampa between March 1 and May 11. Hambrick, who worked a second job at the local CVS as a pharmacy technician, was found to have stolen 9,200
have easy access to get it,” said Graham. She also estimates that at least 50% of students at Steinbrenner are or have abused prescription pills in the past. The school’s Resource Deputy Anthony Bennett was also able to share some information concerning the widespread issue. “We’re not catching them because it’s a hard thing to catch. Kids know that they can’t be caught in possession of the pills and that it’s basically a cat and mouse game, so they’re actually doing them before they come onto campus and that way they’re not in possession of the pills. But if they’re acting a little bit off, how do we definitely confirm if they’re under the influence?” said Bennett. His explanation of how kids cannot be arrested unless they’re caught in possession is also one of the many factors contributing to why so many abusers go undetected on campus. “A lot of these kids who aren’t very honest, or just wanna get a good buzz off some pills have easy access when they go to a friend’s or relative’s house, because the pills are easy to come by,” said Bennett. In regards to the school, Bennett added it’s on the “lower tier” of schools affected by prescription pill abuse. Freshman Gordon Rojo had similar points as Graham and Bennett as far as the reasoning behind why prescription pill abuse seems to be so common a trend in teens. “Yeah it’s pretty cheap, easier to get and less expensive than other drugs,” said Rojo. He also agreed with the statement regarding the abuse of pills being “on the rise” at Steinbrenner. Among the most commonly abused by teens, according
to NIDA (National Institute on Drug Abuse) is the narcotic Oxycodone. Also referred to as just “Oxy”, the pain reliever works by altering the way the brain and nervous system respond to pain. It has been referred to as “legal heroin” by users of the drug and as one can imagine, the substance can be highly addictive and resulted in over 1500 deaths in the state of Florida alone during 2009. For many, the idea of a tiny capsule, sometimes no bigger than a thumbnail, but with all the ability to take a life, can be difficult to grasp. That is why so many teens underestimate the power of these life-threatening pills, nearly 2000 of them, using pills without the guidance of a doctor. With an estimated 100,000 people in the U.S alone falling victim to prescription pill overdoses, it’s a real epidemic taking hold of high schools throughout the nation.
Hydrocodone pills and 7,200 Alprazolam pills in total. He had allegedly been removing the pill bottles from the CVS pharmacy and providing them to a friend, who would then proceed to sell them, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. Steinbrenner principal Brenda Grasso explained that prior to his arrest, Hambrick had notified the Hillsborough County School District that he did not plan to return for the 2012-13 school year in a formal resignation submitted in March. In response to the arrest, Grasso sent out a letter on May 17, explaining to parents that Hambrick would not be completing the school year. It also explained students would continue the curriculum in other Spanish II classes and would be taught by certified teachers on the school’s staff. Hambrick is awaiting his fate in the Hillsborough County Jail on a $252,000 bond with an unknown court
date looming in his future.
Photo courtesy of www.drugabuse.com
Above, one of Hambrick’s former Spanish II classes that was divided into Claudia Quintana’s third period class work on semester reviews. Samantha Szatyari (right) looks over her work along with Tessa Childress (far left).
Opinion JUNE 2012
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Too much testing No Child Left Behind forces excessive exams on students
EOC’s prove unrealistic Zealand Shannon Centerspread Editor
Y
Alex Troutt
Sophomore Dakota Dixon sits down in front of computers in the Media Center to take an EOC exam. Many students had to take these exams along with AP exams during the same two-week span.
Alex Troutt Staff Writer
W
ith AP Exams and EOCs in full swing recently, one can’t help but notice the raised tension in the halls. People studying, giant textbooks left and right, noses to the testing grindstone. Doesn’t it feel like this has been going on all year? It feels like there are zombies in the halls roaming from class to class learning and preparing for their next test, then taking it, only to do the same thing next week. It’s like this weight is being put on students’ shoulders at the beginning of each week in the form of a new chapter and then removed at the end of the week when they take the test. This cycle seems to consume a good part of the 36 weeks we spend at
school during the school year. When I went to interview junior Craig Wustt, he had his nose deep in an AP Biology study guide. He nearly thanked me for providing a reason to get his eyes off the bulky study . He said he was going to be taking three AP Exams this week. Collectively, he has spent about 30 hours of his time so far studying for his exams which he deemed as a “decent” amount of time. When asked if he felt that he has been studying and testing more than learning this year, he agreed. This rise in testing frequency could be the result of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). It states that 100% of students will be on grade level in the United States by 2012. This act is ridiculous. The state government has already, technically missed their deadline. It is 2012, and I think the politicians in Washington are testing students to see how far away they are from their objective.
“You can’t expect every student to be above average any more than you can expect every baseball player to make the pros,” said Hillsborough County School Board member Candy Olson. Her quote explains perfectly why the NCLB Act is defective. Hillsborough School Board member April Griffin suggested at a recent school board meeting that our school board could join with the Palm Beach County School District, which has asked the state to reexamine accountability systems and use multiple forms of assessment instead of so many tests. President Obama has revisited portions of NCLB and the states are currently waiting to see how these changes will affect each state. In addition, the standards or requirements for courses are changing as well. All of these political agendas will be changing the educational system during the next decade. It doesn’t look like the end of testing any time soon.
ou just spent a year working for your local law firm. At the end of the work year you are taken into a room and sit down next to your peers who all gaze wondrously into a computer screen. That screen has been designed to test whether you know what you’re doing or not, no ifs, ands, or buts about it. Regardless of how many cases you’ve handled that year, this test will decide whether you get to keep working at the firm. If you’re having a bad day, you fail the test, you get fired. On the other hand, if you recognize a flaw in the system and simply sit in your room and study the law books all year, without ever even going to work (hypothetically of course, hopefully your boss would fire you), you could pass and keep your job. Fill in the blanks with whatever makes more sense to you, but this scenario is creeping up on us high school students, getting ever closer each year. “EOC’s came about as a result of state legislature,” said Kelly King, AP of curriculum. “They were looking for a way of implementing some sort of an assessment that would guarantee that students across the state are receiving the same learning, the same education in a particular subject.” She went on to say that EOC’s are a better option than semester exams because the semester exams are issued county by county, allowing for a bigger variation in the national standard of learning. The EOC program is being instituted currently in multiple state school systems King is making the best out of what has been presented to her, because a state wide exam keeps everyone up to standards which is what the school board wants of its schools. But, I believe that a much simpler idea would be to take the idea of uniform exams to the semester arena, eliminating the prospect of an end all be all test at the end of the year. This would keep the situation the same or close to it for students and accomplish the states goals. Easy right? Remember we’re dealing with the school system here.
Opinion JUNE 2012
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Time to ditch traditional scheduling and move to block Tyler Himes
A
Staff Writer
t the conclusion of a typical school day many students wonder how much time was actually spent learning. High School administrators around the country constantly attempt to formulate the most efficient schedule design for their school, in order to optimize student daily learning. Block Scheduling is a very popular method that many high schools across the nation have adopted, over the past few years. Steinbrenner High School should follow this trend. The traditional seven class schedule that Steinbrenner High School and many other high schools operate under is simply outdated. Steinbrenner students attend seven, 50 minute classes per day, a 50 minute lunch, and seven, 6 minute passing periods in between classes. This adds up to an astounding 92 minutes spent outside of class. This does not even include all of the time wasted taking attendance, setting up the class, and cleaning up at the end. This wasted time is truly an atrocity. Another flaw with the seven class schedule is
the after school work load. On any day, a student could be expected to do seven different homework assignments and prepare for multiple tests at one time. Sometimes, there simply aren’t enough hours in the day to finish all of the school work that is required, creating a balancing act with all classes. “By the time I get home from practice and eat dinner, sometimes I don’t even have enough time to do all my school work,” said sophomore Zach Johnson. If administration expects students to get involved in clubs, community service, and athletics, then something needs to be done so students can complete more work during the school day and less at home. Block scheduling, which is exercised in some school districts is an interesting alternative. Block scheduling consists of students completing four classes per semester, each consisting of what a typical full year of the course would have included. Each class would be approximately twice as long, which would reduce time between classes, teacher administrative duty time, and would allow for more time to be spent in class doing class work, rather than having this work required to be done outside of class. Clearly, many of the short comings of the traditional school schedule presently utilized
by Steinbrenner High School could be easily overcome with block scheduling. Block scheduling would afford instructors with ample time to focus on subject matter, rather than spending excessive time tending to clerical and administrative duties. Block scheduling would also serve students best interest, by allowing them more classroom instructional time for a more in depth analysis of the material presented by the instructor. Carrollwood Day School Junior Jake Gersten has had the unique opportunity of experiencing both traditional and block scheduling. “Block scheduling allows me to focus on less subjects at one time. I don’t feel rushed to learn too many things at one time,” said Jake. Block scheduling better prepares students for college, by requiring them to manage their time, focusing on four classes at one. This is similar to a college student who typically takes four to five classes per semester and often must balance their academic schedule with work and extra-curricular activities. Steinbrenner High School has a mission to prepare its students for continuing education. If this is in fact the case, why would this school deviate from scheduling that best prepares for current and future success?
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“On May 8th, the student debt clock reached
Student Fin
$1 Trillion” -Finaid.org
Major Problem •
Since 1982 the cost of college tuition has increased by 400% (New York Times)
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Roughly two thirds of students graduate with student loans (Wall Street Journal)
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It is estimated that 206,000 Americans graduated from college with more than $400,000 dollars in student debt during 2008 (The project in student Debt The Institute for College Access & success)
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Students who attended public universities borrowed an average of $9,800 in private student loans (cbsnews.com)
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In 2008 61% of graduates had an average of $24,000 of debt from student loans. This percentage increased to 67% the following year (Project on Student debt)
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The cost of Education is increasing by two to three times the overall rate of inflation (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statics)
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Student loan defaults have doubled since 2005 (U.S. Department of Education)
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In the last 10 years, between 1-1.6 million students did not go on to college because of financial constraints. In the coming decade, this will increase to between 1.4-2.4 million (education-portal.com)
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Over $580 billion of the $870 billion in outstanding student loan debt is owed by persons under the age of 40 (new.edu)
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Student debt is steady increasing by about $2,853.88 a second (finaid.org) Info compiled by Staff Writer Darin Bell
Our View Zealand Shannon
Centerspread Editor
Financial education in high school has been lacking in recent years. Students and parents have lost faith in a system that recently has decreased students’ probability of success in the real world. “[Financial training] comes mainly in the student’s senior year of high school,” said Assistant Principal of Curriculum Kelly King, after being asked when students receive their preparation for college and the real world. “Economics... a lot of that has to do with personal finance, as well as the senior survival course that students take.” It’s good that we students have a small amount of real world preparation in school, but there are more and more kids who have bank accounts and credit cards at the age of 16, the earliest time you can legally get an account. To me, those two years from 16 to 18 seem like plenty of time to get ripped off by a bank or credit card company. Today’s financial situation is like starting a game of tag and learning what base is after 3 games. King went on to say that she thinks putting bank-account type trust in a high school student is a family deci-
sion and that she hopes a parent would take part in guiding his/her child at the start. But the problem is, during the four years students are in high school, they spend the majority of their waking hours in school. So what’s more important in your adult life, Algebra or finances? This all leads me to believe that finance education classes should take precedence over less relevant topics, like Calculus or Biology for example. Those types of courses are tailored towards specific career paths and probably would require less than a semester course to cover the relevant day-to-day knowledge found in these classes. Everyone has to deal with finances in their life, not everyone has to solve a parabola or identify the five classes of fauna to maneuver in the modern world, barring a bank teller out of Monty Python. The school does have courses that cover the topic of finances predominantly; King was kind enough to refer me to an economics teacher named Jason Levy here at Steinbrenner who has taken the initiative with a project he does with his students.
“Th ated one y 19-ye in life thems have partic get fo (budg what t up cal locate care o parent Levy. Bec is bett financ ticalm
Financial Help available for College For most parents and students, going to college is expensive. However, incoming college freshmen have the opportunity to reduce their tuition fee with financial aid. Financial aid varies depending on income. Seniors are suggested to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASFA). According to the Classes and Careers website, students fill out a form requiring their “social security number, driver license, income tax return, bank statements and investment records.” Through FASFA, students will receive options to understand how to pay for college. One of these options is the Pell Grant. The maximum amount a future undergraduate can receive from the Pell Grant is approximately $5,500. In some cases, FASFA
may offer work study programs where undergraduates obtain part-time jobs during their time in college. “Apply to all the schools you are interested in, then see what financial aid is offered to you before you make your final decision,” said Success Center Manager Zenia Robertson. On the other hand, Bright Futures is merit-based and helps cover tuition in college during fall and spring semesters. The highest honor is the Florida Academic Scholarship; the next honor is Florida Medallion Scholarship and finally, the Florida Gold Seal Scholarship. These achievements are awarded to students who have a certain number of community ser-
vice hours, transcripts demonstratin required GPA and coursework, and sp SAT or ACT scores. For more detai
“In some cases [y dream school ma cheaper than you th
Floridastudentfinancialaid.com Scholarships supply the opportun decrease the overall tuition costs o school a student plan on attending. S arships can be based on athletics, background, religious affiliation and munity service to name a few. O
erfold
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nance 101
Staff writer
Tiffany Napoli / Graphics Editor Graphic By: Tiffany Napoli
cause of educators like King and Levy, Steinbrenner ter off than most schools in teaching the basics of cial education. According to a survey on www.pracmoneyskills.com, only 5% of people say that they
received most of their financial education in high school or grammar school. In fact, in the same survey, 89% of people said that no form of school was any help in picking up the majority of their financial education. Good luck everyone, you’re going to need it.
Charlie Pitcher / Opinion Editor
Jason Levy teaching his Economics Class. He has created multiple progressive financial excercises for students.
Senior Michael Lindo applied for the Gates Millennium Scholars Program at the beginning of the second semester of his senior year. The program provides students of minority backgrounds the opportunity to compete for marginally lower college tuition. The Gates Millenium Scholars program selects 1000 students each year to earn a scholarship to the school of their choice. The Angela Sexton / Staff Writer winner’s reward is based on cost of tuition, books, fees and housing that can be used for any U.S. accredited university. In order to be selected for the scholarship, applicants including Lindo completed the application and eight essays by January 11, 2012. “One of my mom’s patients told her about it, then she told me and that’s it,” said Lindo. Lindo wants to study music at Berkely College in Boston which is one of the top music colleges in the country. It offers specialized majors in music for students. “I love music; it’s what I love to do,” said Lindo. Lindo received the letter saying that he was one of the students picked to receive the Gates Millennium Scholarship. He was selected along with 999 other applicants. In the fall of 2012, Lindo will be attending Berkely College of Music in Boston. Lindo plans to double major in audio production and engineering as well as music business management.
Angela Sexton
Staff Writer Steinbrenner Edline website, there is a link to available national and local scholarships for all high school students. Senior Thomas Mazzetti found an athletic booster scholarship on Edline and applied for it. He earned the $500 scholarship and plans to use it at FSU. “Yeah, I was just searching through the Edline website and found an [SHS] athletic booster,” said Mazzetti. “Students often would like to attend a particular school but assume that their school of choice is too expensive for them,” said Robertson. “Apply for your dream school despite the costs; in some cases, the dream school may be cheaper
your] ay be hink”
nity to of the Scholmerit, d comOn the
Real Life Connection: Lindo Earns Gates Millenium Scholarship Angela Sexton
he scenario I’ve painted for them is they’ve graduhigh school, they’ve gone to college, they have year of college under their belt so they are about ears-old and then some unexplained thing happens e---forcing them to have to drop out and fend for selves,” said Levy. He explained to me how they to find an apartment and a job to pay rent on that cular apartment, and how his students have to budor utilities, entertainment, etc. “When they’re done geting), they can’t be spending more money than they’re taking in, and a lot of times it’s a real wake ll to a lot of kids because…especially at a school ed right next to Cheval where kids have been taken of by their parents very well, what happens if their ts aren’t there to take care of them anymore?” said
ng the pecific ils, see
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than you think.” Many private colleges like Duke, Georgetown, Harvard, Penn and Stanford have financial need scholarships for incoming students. For instance, Stanford costs $56,760 per year including tuition, room and board, personal money, books, supplies and the campus health service fee. If a student and his/her family cannot afford this cost and have a limited income, according to Stanford University’s pamphlet: “Parents whose total annual income is less than $60,000 and those who have assets typical for their income level will not be expected to contribute toward educational costs.” When not enough scholarship money is
available to cover college expenses, students can take out loans to help pay for their college tuition. There are two main types of loans called subsidized and unsubsidized loans. Subsidized loans have a lower interest rate and students do not have to start paying it back until after they graduate. Unsubsidized loans require that the recipient pay interest and repay as soon as they receive it. The thought of “(I) tell students what resources are available going to col- to get- like making sure to tell students about lege and pay- Bright Futures, scholarship bulletin and how to ing for it may apply for financial aid. My main goal is helping seem daunt- students to find money for college.” ing, but with the help of financial aid it -Judy Pressley (College and Career Manager)
Voice your opinion at w w w. O r a c l e n e w s paper.com/category/ opinion
A&E
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Cool attractions to visit over summer vacation Ally Laliotis
A&E editor
Bok Tower Gardens
1151 Tower Blvd. Lake Wales, FL 33853 Need a breath of fresh air? Then Bok Tower Gardens is an elegant attraction of Lake Wales, FL. Edward Bok founded the gardens in 1929 with President Calvin Coolidge present for the dedication. The gardens are a national landmark with a 205 foot tower in the middle. The tower holds one of the world’s finest carillons. Activities at the Gardens include 5k runs, concerts, and
three Bok Bonus Trek geocaching stations. Geocaching is a global treasure hunt using GPS (Global Positioning System) where you get to take an item out and put an item in the geocaching station and log about it. Children 5-12 years old get in for only $3 You can learn more about Bok Tower Gardens and their activities on their website, boktowergardens.org, or call them at 863.676.1408.
Courtesy of Bok Tower Gardens
NEW
Goal Line Sports
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5824 W. Linebaugh Ave Tampa, FL 33624
Ally Laliotis/A&E Editor
Many have noticed the new soccer-painted building on the corner of Anderson Road and Linebaugh Ave. They call it Goal Line Sports. This attraction is not yet open but plans on opening sometime in the summer. When it does open, you can expect three indoor soccer fields, an arcade room, four separate party rooms and a lot more. It will also feature a soccer store with soccer balls, socks, and much
more for your necessities. But wait! It’s not just for soccer players. Team registration for kids ages 4-17 is $850 and for adults ages 18 and up is $175. Goal Line will also include a batting cage for those who play baseball. Visit their website at goalline-sports.com or call them at 813-402-2930 for any additional questions.
Fantasy of Flight
1400 Broadway Blvd. S.E. Polk City, FL 33868 Have you ever wondered about the plane on the side of I-4 while heading to Orlando? It’s for Fantasy of Flight, “The World’s Greatest Aircraft Collection”. “[Fantasy of Flight] features the world’s largest private collection of vintage restored aircrafts,” said public relations representative Mary Deatrick. Activities and rides that are offered year-round include
biplane rides (as shown at the right), Orange Grove Tours, hot-air balloon rides and much more. General admission costs $28.95 and children under 5 years old are get in for free. Admission for kids ages 6-12 is $14.95. To learn more about Fantasy of Flight, visit their website, fantasyofflight.com, or call their phone number at 863-984-3500.
Courtesy of Fantasy of Flight
Safari Wilderness Ranch
10850 Moore Rd. Lakeland, FL 33809
Courtesy of Safari Wilderness Ranch
Safari Wilderness Ranch is the place to go if you would like to see a new twist on zoos instead of the same-old boring animal attractions. They provide a variety of transoportation thorouhgout the ranch including a vehicle, a camel, or a horse-drawn carriage safari through the ranch to see wild game from all parts of the world.
The ranch also offers a chance to feed their lemurs or budgie parakeets for no more than $25 extra! Admission costs $60 for children under twelve and $70 for adults. To learn more about Safari Wilderness Ranch, visit their website at safariwilderness.com or call their phone number at 813-382-2120.
A&E
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JUNE 2012
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The 5 most interesting restaurants in the area Clara Brandon
Staff Writer
HOT RODS
One word -- iPads. The Carmel Cafe is one of the first restaurants in Florida to swap out boring old paper and plastic menus for high-tech tablets. “Menupads” allow you to view detailed photos of menu items with just a touch of your finger. The place is 14306 N. Dale Mabry Hwy Tampa, FL 33618 perfect for a casual Clara Brandon lunch out or a fancy dinner with friends. Plush couches give the place an inviting, warm feel. It’s not all just about looks and design, though. The Carmel Cafe possesses a large variety of options such as flatbreads, seafood, pasta and meats. Meals vary in price, but no matter what you order, you can rest assured it will come beautifully served.
CARMEL CAFE
It Isn’t always easy to find a restaurant with a nice atmosphere that serves healthy, yet tasty, foods. Well look no further than Seasons Fresh. This little cafe serves a variety of paninis, wraps, soups, salads and much more. Guests have the option of dining outside 2816 East Bearss Avenue Tampa, FL 33613 on a wooden deck, Clara Brandon shaded by oak trees and surrounded by blossoming flowers. The restaurant also offers a variety of fresh gelato -- perfect for a hot, Florida afternoon. SEASONS FRESH
18430 Livingston Ave Lutz, FL 33549
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Clara Brandon
f you’re feeling adventurous, Hot Rods is the place to go. With everything from a 15 lb burger to fried swamp bat, the menu is anything but boring. Don’t worry though, if bat isn’t quite your style, the menu offers more traditional BBQ dishes such as ribs, steak and grilled chicken. Freshman Jackson Lockaby is a regular customer and says his favorite meal is the pulled pork sandwich. “It reminds me of home,” he says. But his favorite thing about the restaurant? “The decor”. Shelves of tabasco sauce, rubber bats and even real gator heads cover the walls. Customers can also opt for outdoor seating in a garden behind the restaurant and even purchase unique candies and fanciful hot sauces at the front entrance.
TACO BUS
913 East Hillsborough Avenue Tampa, FL 33604 Clara Brandon
Who would have ever thought tacos and buses would go so well together? Apparently owner, Chef Rene did, creator of this unique chain. Taco Bus is exactly what it sounds like: A bus that sells Tacos. The menu also includes other mexican foods such as burritos, quesadillas and flan. Outdoor seating is available, as well as a very ethnic feeling indoor area, or if you prefer you can just grab your taco and go. “I’ve only been there once, but I would definitely go back,” sophomore Cassidy Wiewiora says “It’s unlike any place I’ve ever eaten!”
Fantastic food, mellow music, and an awesome atmosphere -- Ella’s American Folk Art Cafe has it all. For those who love dinner and a show, go on a Friday or Sunday night to see live bands perform. Or, if you prefer a more peaceful meal, you can opt for outdoor 5119 N. Nebraska Ave Tampa, Fl 33603 seating on a large Clara Brandon wooden deck. The food consists of All-American dishes such as soups, salads, pizzas and burgers. For dessert, customers can order applewood smoked bacon dipped in dark chocolate and sprinkled with roasted peanuts. Local artwork covers the walls and gives the place an extremely unique and folksy feel. ELLA’S AMERICAN FOLK ART
News
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JUNE 2012
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Got swag?
Students create and lead Bible discussion group
Brooke Deal /Staff Writer
Staff Writer SWAG is a student-led bible study group that meets every Tuesday and Thursday during both fifth and sixth lunch periods in an assigned classroom. SWAG is an acronym that stands for “Students Who Admire God.” “SWAG is a getaway for those who might feel alone. It’s a place for Christians and non-Christians,” said SWAG leader Isaiah Goncalves. “It just started off as an idea. Now, each session averages about 45 students and growing.” At first the number of students was very little and then each week more and more students began to show up until all the desks were filled regularly. Topics such as persecution, love, honor, sex, and more are discussed using the Bible as a guide. “SWAG is a bible study that allows you to grow together as one family,” said junior Brianna Rainone. Freshman Morgan Mendoza, said, “To me SWAG is a time of fellowship with peers you feel comfortable with.” As the school year comes to a close, so does senior classmen Isaiah’s leadership. Next year’s plans are promising with new leadership along with new ideas. Far left: Elijah Goncalves leads a group discussion during fifth period lunch about their topic of the day. Goncalves leads every SWAG meeting. Top right: Matt Burnside and Ross Klempin read and play music during their SWAG session. These two put on a special performance to end the year at the second to last meeting. Bottom right: Bailey Hooker and Annie Goodfellow talk during SWAGabout the daily topic. These two plan to continue going to SWAG next year.
Back in the day with Ade Austin Root
Staff Writer Kehinde Adejumo teaches chemistry here at Steinbrenner High School. The Nigerian native talks about the unlikely opportunity of coming to this country and having an interesting and deadly encounter. Would you share one of your most wild experiences growing up in Nigeria? Once I was attacked by machete wielding thugs, they wanted to rob me of my belongings. It was a harrowing experience. I refused; [to give up belongings] it was a dumb thing to do. However, I still lived to tell the tale. I have the scars to prove it! [I] was right out of college and I thought I was Jackie Chan! (Chuckles) When were you attacked by the thugs? I think 1994-95 maybe? I was 30 something (laughs) it’s been a while, but what I can tell you is that I just graduated from college and there’s what they call youth service in Nigeria like every graduate, you work for the state government for a year. I was coming back from a state to my home state when I was attacked, I traveled by bus…when I got back to Lagos I tried to take a cab from
Lagos to my house and that is when I was attacked. The cab that I entered, a driver and a passenger in the car before [I entered] were part of the [gang], I had another one enter after me so I was sandwiched between two thugs and the driver was in cahoots with them. We moved over to a bridge, and then the passenger to my right held a machete to my throat and demanded to have my property. How did you get out of there? I’ll be honest with you, I thought I would be killed but I had one thought at the back of my mind and that was that, “I will not die alone today” (laughs) it’s a stupid thing, but when you’re young you do stupid stuff. I thought I was some Jackie Chan or something like that, the fight lasted for two or three minutes but it felt like eternity. Eventually, they overpowered me because I was losing a lot of blood; I had two deep machete cuts in my thigh so they made away with the bag anyway. How did this change your life going forward? Well, when I came to the US I still have that mentality that “nobody’s going to get my stuff from me” and when I came over here, I worked at a gas station where I was
Samantha Bequer/News Editor
also attacked twice, not in Florida, when I first came to the US I was in Greensboro, North Carolina. There’s a gas station there that I was working at were the attacks took place and in that I got to kick some but (laughs) you lose some you win some.
Sports
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JUNE 2012
Greatest Sports Moments of the Year
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Emily Goldbach
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Sports Editor
Megan Forde/Oracle
Girls golf knocked off the Sickles Griffins with a game winning score of 161-248. The team went 10-0 this season winning them their first undefeated season in Steinbrenner history. “It meant a lot being able to have an undefeated season after losing our best player,” said sophomore golf player Andi Milan. “The whole team really stepped up and we were able to come out with a successful season.”
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Courtesy of Steinbrenner Basketball
Courtesy of Tim McClain
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Courtesy of The Laker/Lutz News
Warrior receiver junior Jon Marc Carrier caught two touchdown passes that helped seal the win against the Chamberlain Chiefs. The first was a diving catch received from quarterback sophomore Curtis Fitch all the way from the 42-yard line with only 42 seconds left in the last quarter. That touchdown helped the Warriors tie the game and earn overtime. In addition, Carrier received another pass, also from Fitch, that won the game with a final score of 34-27. When asked what was going through his mind at the time, Carrier responded with, “I felt more excited that I could come through [for the team], and that all the hard work had paid off as well as the practicing.” That game gave the team its first winning season since the school’s opening.
While in double overtime against the Freedom Patriots with less than a minute to spare, freshman Remi Brantley scored the winning goal that sealed the game for the Warriors. “I was so happy I wanted to fall down and cry,” said Brantley when asked how she felt right after the scoring. “I had such a superstar feeling.” In addition to Brantley’s contribution, sophomore Miranda Gonzalez’s tight defense also played a huge part in the game. Together, they both helped seal the victory and won the third straight district title for the girls soccer team.
Girl’s basketball won their first district championship against the Freedom Patriots with a final score of 51-39. As they pointed at their banner high up on the wall that symbolized “Forever” (pictured above), the team was glad that all their hard work had paid off. “I had a real sense of joy for the girls,” said Coach JR Allen, “they really stayed together and won the whole thing as a team.” The total record for the groundbreaking season was 22 wins to 3 losses.
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Courtesy of Steinbrenner Volleyball
Warrior volleyball went up against the Plant Panthers, a defending championship team. They played a rough game, but after only winning two of the five sets, the team lost. “It was a heart breaker [to lose] because Plant has always been a big powerhouse and we wanted to be the first to take them down,” said Coach Jennifer Graham. Even though they lost, they held their own and made a great game attempt . “But we’ll get them next year,” said Graham.
Sports
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JUNE 2012
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Do you have what it takes to be a champ? The Girls basketball team is hosting a summer basketball camp open to all young athletes Evan Abramson fter finishing their season, bringing home a district championship and having a record of 22-3, the Steinbrenner girls varsity basketball team isn’t done playing yet. On June 25-28, the members of the team will host a program where they will teach all they know and more to young athletes who wish to learn and play the game of basketball. The event will take place during summer from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in our very own gym (and possibly the Martinez Middle School gym) for boys and girls ages 8-16. The cost for the camp is $80 per player, $140 for two siblings and $200 for three siblings. The program will include various activities such as: learning the rules of bas-
ketball, basic fundamentals (dribbling, passing, shooting, etc), and completing different drills. The campers will also engage in several 3 on 3, 4 on 4, and 5 on 5 scrimmages against each other. In addition, each day of camp will include special contests that will vary upon age and gender for all the campers to participate in. As a result of this special offer, only the first 80 registered campers will be allowed into the camp. Each child should either bring a bagged lunch or $5 per day for a school provided lunch. If there are any unanswered questions, Coach Allen can be contacted at (813)-7925131. If any student wishes to register, they can email warriorbasketballcamp@gmail. com. Make sure that all forms are complete and bring them on the first day of camp.
Courtesy of Steinbrenner Basketball
A
Asst. Sports Editor
Next year’s football season shows high expectations Francesca Maurici
Asst. Sports Editor
With a constantly improving record, new uniforms, and high demanding coaches, the Steinbrenner Warrior Varsity football team thrives for a successful upcoming season. Over the past few years, the Warrior Varsity football teams records have improved. Last year’s season finished with a 5-5 record and the players finished this year’s season with a record of 7-3. The coaches and players both feel confident that after working hard in the spring season they can easily get back into the fall season when they return and continue to succeed. Before the spring season began, the players had a morning workout session before school which mainly focused on fitness, speed, and agility training.
“We stress fundamentals,” said the defensive coordinator Coach Joseph Ross. “Once fundamentals are improved, we hope that carries on to the game situation.” Both the returning players and new players on the varsity team are continually coming to the spring workouts in order to improve their skills for the season. Ross said that returning players such as Trey Johnson, Amiri Brown, Tyler McClain and Logan McKnight stood out to him as essential players for the upcoming season. “I expect great things from those boys.” “With the seniors leaving it will give us room for a few new players,” said Head Coach Floyd Graham. “I think it will actually make our team better.” As for the new uniforms, the team put together a car
wash in the local area and also received funds from the county. “Fundraisers like the car wash we had really help with our team bonding and also are for a worthy cause—the much needed new uniforms,” said starting quarterback sophomore Curtis Fitch. Although the new uniforms may make the players feel more confident or stylish, they have no effect on how they play. “You still have to tackle, you still have to block, and you still have to run,” said Ross. With all the effort and preparations for next year’s season, the Warriors Varsity football team is looking forward to a successful year. Francesca Maurici/Asst. Sports Editor
“Our defense has improved a lot this year and we hope to have lots of shut-outs and interceptions.” Junior Trey Johnson, Defense
“Next year, I think we will continue to improve our skills individually and as a team and be able to win districts.” Sophomore Curtis Fitch, Offense
“We worked hard in the off-season and had a good outcome at spring workouts, so I feel like we will have a better season next year.” Junior Amiri Brown, Defense
Sports
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JUNE 2012
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Hockey left out in the cold Samantha Bequer
T
News Editor
he Steinbrenner Hockey club team is continuing their battle to be recognized as a sport by the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) and be considered a part of the school’s athletic program. Steinbrenner’s Hockey club team has had three complete seasons. Their most successful was when they placed second at a state competition in the 2010-2011 season. The team plays almost year-round, with the season starting before school in August and ending in February. After February, they start training for the spring season in April. Their commitment to the team only adds to their aggravation of not being seen as a sport in the eyes of FHSAA. Although when players were asked, many did not know the concrete reason for hockey not being considered a sport. “I don’t know why it’s not a sport. They say it’s too violent, yet football is just as violent,” said junior John Michael Buchs, who has been a part of the team for two seasons. The “they” being referred to are the members of FHSAA and Athletic Director Eddie Henderson. Members of the team say they have tried to negotiate numerous times with school authorities like Principal Brenda Grasso and Henderson. They’ve even tried reaching out to Deputy Anthony Bennett in hopes for his coaching experience. The team has been turned down over and over again, but still pursues their hopes of being considered a sport to the school, as this is an important goal for the team. “Without it being seen as a sport, it seems like less people care,” said junior Austin Schmitz, one of the three captains of the team. “We don’t get the same benefits as sports do. We’re not mentioned on the morning show or allowed to put dates of our games on the wall.” “It’s a club; therefore it has to be treated like a club,” said Henderson in response to the issues. Being treated as a club exempts them from school funding, participation in sports banquets, and partaking in pep rallies. Despite the team’s efforts to become a sport Henderson gave a direct answer to them. He mentioned the top three reasons
for why it cannot be a sport: the problems with the expense of participating and funding hockey, lack of venues and trying to compete for time on the ice, and the liability for how violent the sport can be. He doesn’t believe it will change or be recognized as a sport anytime soon. FHSAA representative Justin Harrison confirmed that while it may be difficult to earn the title of being a sport, it’s possible. What the hockey team would have to do is gather 32 schools from two sections in the state of Florida. To explain, Florida is broken up into four sections. Starting with Jacksonville and extending all the way down to Key West. This would not only involve the entire hockey team having to gather a petition from 32 different schools in our section, but in one of the two surrounding sections as well. When this was discussed with Schmitz, he said that it would be too much work to find 32 schools to sign the petition. The benefits of being a sport (having a playoff system, state championship, etc.) wouldn’t help the team. They already have those playing under the Lightning Conference, which is what high school club teams play under in Tampa. Playing under this league gives them the ability to have playoffs, play other teams, and go to two different state championships. The benefits the team are really looking for are within the school. They want to see their posters for games on the walls, be on the morning show, and have more people to recognize the sport and come to their games. The drawbacks of being considered a sport in FHSAA would just be on the school. According to Henderson, these would be cost, time, location, and liability. As for now, the hockey team has no further plans of becoming considered a sport after hearing the requirements for it. “We’re good where we’re at. We get noticed from selling our shirts or mentioning our games to people. Maybe we’ll continue this in the future, but not for now. It’s not worth it,” said Schmitz. This may leave the hockey team where they were before but with a better perspective into FHSAA’s decision making and less resentment towards the organization as a whole.
Photos Courtesy of Dan Cieck
Top: The team huddles before their game against Wharton. The team went on to win the game 2-0. Middle-Left: Senior Troy Pilawski prepares for a face off against Wharton. He was a valuable leader to the team during the season. Middle-Right: Freshman Matt Geier tries to score against Wharton. His first year on the team was a successful one. Bottom-Left: Freshman Toby Hase gets really close to scoring for the Warriors. The team had a great overall season.
Close June 2012
16 www.oraclenewspaper.com
Relay stirs up Steinbrenner Relay For Life is an overnight event meant to raise money to fight back and help to find a cure for cancer. A luminaria, survivors lap, a fight back ceremony, and much more take place during the event. Participants stay up all night to symbolize that cancer never sleeps.
Angela Sexton/ Staffwriter
Courtney Loughry, Sydney Spencer and Eleanor Wilson enjoy walking the track. They relayed for the next few hours.
Angela Sexton/ Staffwriter
Melonie Zuercher and Steven Todorowwork together to mix Monster Energy drinks into test tubes. The duo are warriors for the cause and won second place for the best decorated stand.
“It’s a fun way to fight cancer and it was a momentous event that brought everyone together. I’ll definitely do it next year.” -Maythavee Tjhang
Angela Sexton/ Staffwriter
Steinbrenner’s marching band triumphantly walks along with Sickles ROTC while displaying the American flag. The ROTC marched one lap hoisting the flag high into the air.
Angela Sexton/ Staffwriter
David Paloscio and Mathavee Tjhang strum their guitars and sing for everyone. They raised around $100 each.
Compiled by: Brooke Deal (Editor) Brooke Jolley (Assistant editor)