Knight Writers Special Back-to-School Edition | August 8, 2019

A new year brings 19 new faces to the hallways with a group of new faculty.

Robinson’s declassified high school survival guide.

A young team will meet new district rivals this football season.

Pg. 2

PG. 5

Pg. 8

School Grades are Out

By: Emersyn Brown Senior Staff Writer

Robinson received a B but don’t B discouraged just yet.

F

or the 2018-2019 School year, Robinson dropped from an A grade school down to a B. The scoring of the school is made as a marker allowing students to see where they have improved or declined throughout the year so that they can work on so students can work to improve the overall score for the school.

As a school the students hold the power for change to raise this grade.

Only two years ago Robinson held the grade of an A and the goal is that the student body works to raise the grade yet again. As they say,”where there’s a will, there’s a way. All that’s left is for the students to find a way.

With teachers and peers supporting each other, there is no way to fail. If every student improves just a little be more Robinson will make it to an A grade school once again. If every student buckles down just a little it is possible, Especially the seniors of the school. It seems like there’s no escaping it, the dreaded yet often times embraced senioritis, but every student must.

And with the support and dedication of teachers to teaching and encouraging the growth and knowledge of every student in and out of the classroom, there is no way to fail.

All that is left to say is, Good Luck!

Robinson welcomes 19 new employees Principal Robert Bhoolai looks forward to welcoming new teachers and staff to the Robinson team

R

obinson is introducing 19 new members to the faculty and staff this year. These new Knights are from around the country, including Maryland, Georgia and California.

“We have people coming from everywhere and I’m really excited that they’re on the team,” Principal Robert Bhoolai said.

Robinson has transferred some traditional teachers into the IB program which has opened up spots in traditional.

Combined with retirements and a growth in positions, there will be a number of new faces around campus, in both teachers and staff alike.

One of these teachers is Kimberly Harrell. Harrell did her final internship at Robinson last semester and is returning this year as a teacher. She will be teaching Algebra, Algebra 1A and Algebra 1B to traditional students. She’s excited to teach so that she can work with kids and give back to the community.

“I love working with kids and I just want to give back because I had so many really great teachers when I was in high school,” Harrell said.

02 NEWS

Another new teacher is Siara Espejo.

Espejo is a Robinson alumna and directs the Starlets. This will be her third year teaching, with experience at Coleman and Tampa Bay Tech. Espejo will be teaching Spanish 2 and 3 to traditional students.

She’s looking forward to coming back to the school as a teacher and inspiring students.

“I coached the Starlets right after graduating high school and realized that I wanted to help students succeed in other ways besides just dancing and twirling flags,” Espejo said.

These new employees will be working in a variety of subjects and are excited to work in a school they describe with a really great community feel and as one that is doing really great things.

“We’ve developed a dynamic group of new teachers from around the country...”

Bhoolai said. “They’re very excited to do the work we need to do and their interactions with our standing faculty and staff today only further help me understand that they were the right choice for those positions.”

By: Anna Woodward Online Managing Editor

New Spanish teacher Siara Espejo sets up her classroom in preparation for the 2019-2020 school year.

Espejo graduated from Robinson and is now returning to her alma mater to teach. Photo by Anna Woodward.

MAP YOUR WAY By: Nicole Perdigon Print Managing Editor

Senior editor Nicole Perdigon illustrates the best, and worst, spots at Robinson

Like what you see?

If you think this paper is cool, join newspaper.

By: Ella Wertz News Editor

O

ur newspaper staff is looking for more help in writing stories for our paper and website, RHSToday.com.

Newspaper is an elective class. It’s a great outlet for learning more about the school and current events in our community. The staff writes, photographs, edits and designs the newspaper and website with student editors.

The class helps you to get involved with your peers and the entire school staff, whether you are interviewing them or taking pictures at a pep rally.

The program is also a great way to meet new people around campus who will push you and motivate you to become the best journalist you can be and show you your worth in the program.

You never know, journalism might be exactly what you’re looking for.

If you are interested in becoming a newspaper staffer, talk to you guidance counselor or adviser Nancy Oben about how to join the class.

NEWS 03

Traditional isn’t dumb

In a school with two separate programs, there can be a lot of talk about one being better than the other, but that isn’t true.

When I was in eighth grade, I had applied for Robinson’s IB program and I remember being so nervous I wouldn’t get in. I thought I had to be in IB, not only to get into a good college but also to stay away from the “bad” kids in traditional. Now, three years later and no longer in the IB program, I realize I could not have been more wrong.

I had always gotten the impression that Robinson’s traditional program was full of students who didn’t care about their education and who wouldn’t behave in class and would make it harder for other students to learn.

I thought that if I was going to Robinson, I had to be in IB. The IB program was always presented to me as a golden opportunity to get into the best schools with lots of college credit and good scholarships- and that was exactly what I wanted. The people who talked to me about IB made it seem like the only way to do well in high school was to do IB and that if I wasn’t in the program I wouldn’t be able to go to a good college.

After two years in IB I started to really question this idea. Most schools don’t even have an IB program and those students still get into good schools, so why is Robinson any different? My mom and I ended up calling the colleges I was interested in, UF, FSU and USF, and we found that colleges are mostly interested in two things- GPA and SAT score.

Admissions offices told us that being in IB didn’t give you much of a leg

“

By Morgan Brazier Editor-in-Chief

up especially if your GPA and SAT were lower than they wanted. So I dropped out.

Since then I’ve been in Robinson’s traditional program taking AP classes and I’ve never regretted my decision. I’ve gotten better grades, I’ve been able to focus more on journalism, and I’ve gotten a part time job, all things I wouldn’t have been able to do in IB. But more importantly, I’ve learned that what I had thought about the traditional program and the student’s in it was wrong. The students I’ve had classes with aren’t any different than those in IB, most of them are normal, respectful students who care about their education just as much as people in IB. The classes aren’t much different either, I have still been able to learn a lot and my GPA is higher than it would have been in IB. Have I had some bad teachers in traditional? Yes. But did I also had bad teachers in IB? Absolutely.

I want to make it clear that, despite what I have said about IB it is a good option for some people, it all just depends on the individual and their specific goals. For me, it came down to this - I was probably going to end up at the same college regardless of if I was in IB or traditional, but if I dropped out I would have less work and more time, so why would I put myself through the stress of IB if it wasn’t going to get me anywhere special?

I’ve been in Robinson’s traditional program taking AP classes and I’ve never regretted my decision.

”

Why You should dress comfortable

By Nicole Perdigon Print Managing Editor

Dressing comfortably means learning comfortably.

When you Google what is the purpose of school the answer is very blunt. To summarize, the purpose of school is to educate and create a well rounded individual. How does this relate to fashion you may ask? The answer, it doesn’t.

For some people, dressing nice creates a more productive environment, while for others dressing comfortable allows them to focus more on learning.

Dressing comfortable is more conducive to a school environment where you’re sitting for hours at a time, allowing students to focus on the material being taught as opposed to how uncomfortable the material of their jeans is. When you can focus strictly on the curriculum, students get the most out of lessons.

You could say that dressing “nice” in school sets you up for the professional world however, high school standards are not the same as dress code standards at a professional job. At most professional

04 Opinion

jobs it is expected for men to wear a nice button down shirt or a suit and tie, and for women to wear a nice blouse or dress.

In school, wearing jeans and a cute trendy top (that doesn’t always follow dress code) is considered dressing nice. This in no way prepares you for the professional world.

When there is a focus in schools on dressing nice, trends tend to develop of wearing name brand clothing that not everyone can afford. Kids can be left out and bullied for not being able to buy or wear name brand clothing. This shifts the focus from learning and quickly creates an unhealthy environment.

In the grand scheme of things, it really doesn’t matter if you’re dressed in jeans and a blouse as opposed to sweats and a t-shirt as long a you’re still learning. But between you and me, why dress uncomfortable if you don’t have to.

Shirt from Forever 21

Pants from Adidas

How to stay organized

By Amelia Foster A&E Editor Only bring what you actually need I know that seems impossible when it feels like teachers ask you to bring something and never use it, but you have to figure out what really is necessary. If keeping your binder nice and tidy is a grade, then bring it everyday but if it’s not, maybe only bring the assignments you know you’ll need.

Put stuff away in the correct spot When the bell rings, don’t just shove papers in your bag, put your pens and pencils away in a pencil case, and put all your papers in a binder or folder. They don’t have to be neatly organized right then and there, but at least you’ll know where they are.

Actually use your locker, it’s there for a reason Sometimes, lockers are the only way to not be overwhelmed with all your school supplies. When you pick out your locker, make sure you get it somewhere that you’ll be a lot of the day so you can go to it in-between classes. Once you finally have it, keep it organized. Whether that is just cleaning it out every other Friday, or taking the time every day to make it neat, life will be a lot less stressful with an organized locker.

Robinson’s declassified FIRST DAY WALK THROUGH high school survival guide Want to know what your first day will be like? Here are the basics.

By: Anna Woodward Online managing editor

Disclaimer: You don’t have to follow this advice, but take it from multiple upperclassmen, this helps.

DONT:

-Walk slowly in the halls: We’re all just

DO:

trying to get to class. Find out where you need to go and go there. There are other people in the hall, and walking slowly just makes them annoyed.

-Be involved: Clubs and sports are a

-Skip class: This sounds cliche, but it’s

great way to make new friends and learn more about your school! It’s very easy to join a club thanks to the Club Fair.

Not only will being involved help you make friends within your grade, it’s a great way to get to know teachers and upperclassmen.

-Manage your time wisely: It’s really

easy to procrastinate, but don’t do it.

Managing your time wisely gives you more time to relax and sleep, and it can be as easy as making a to-do list in your phone.

important. If you start a bad habit as early as freshman year, it can just grow and come back to hurt you in the future. Just go to class and listen. It’s going to be a lot more interesting than just roaming the halls.

-Trash the school: The custodians are

people too. They shouldn’t have to clean up your easily-avoided and intentional messes. Throw out your trash. Flush that toilet.

-Take care of yourself: It sounds

obvious, but make sure that you’re getting enough sleep and taking care of yourself, physically and mentally. Your body and mind will thank you.

By Morgan Brazier Editor-in-Chief The first day of high school is probably going to be one of the most exciting and stressful days of the next four years of your life. Whether you’re in traditional or IB, that first day can be a whirlwind of new information and people and you may not know what to expect so here’s a walk through of what you need to know.

Traditional Your first day won’t be as complicated as it is for IB students but it can still be a little confusing. You’ll start off the day in homeroom for about an hour and then you’ll move on to first period. Normally you won’t go to homeroom at all, only on testing days, but the first day is just a little different. You probably won’t do much in your classes on the first day but you should be prepared with all your supplies just in case.

If you’re having trouble finding anything around campus, check out the map of the school on page 2.

-Don’t be afraid to ask for help:

Everyone has questions, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Robinson offers opportunities for students to stay after and get help from teachers, who are willing and happy to clarify what you’re not understanding. It never hurts to just ask!

The Knight Writers newspaper issue is published by the summer newspaper staff.

Editor-In-Chief Morgan Brazier Managing Editors Nicole Perdigon Anna Woodward

News Editor Ella Wertz Sports Editor Jack Kirk A&E & Multimedia Editor Amelia Foster

IB The first thing a new IB student needs to know is how to read your schedule.

You’ll notice that the class periods are

Opinion & Features Editor Jules Whitaker Senior Staff Emersyn Brown Publications Adviser

Nancy Oben

written a bit different than you may be used to because you’re on a block schedule where you have half your classes one day and half your classes the next day. The class periods will go from 11 to 14 and then from 21 to 24 but you should read this as one-one, one-two, one-three, onefour, two-one, and so on. The first digit tells you if you have the class on an A day or a B day, so for example class period 23 or two-three means that is your third class on B day. The first day of school will be an A day so for now just worry about those class periods that start with a one.

You’ll start off the day in homeroom for about an hour or so and then you’ll go to your first class, 11 (one-one). Keep in mind, homeroom will normally be after your first class, [before?] lunch and will only last about 20 minuets, it’s just a little different on the first day. From there you’ll go to lunch then you’ll go to your next class, 12 (one-two), then 13 (one-three), and then 14 (one-four). One of your periods will be a JA, which is just the IB term for study hall. It should be marked on your schedule as Research. During this period, you can work on whatever assignments you need to but you probably won’t have any your first day so you might want to bring a book or something.

Principal Robert Bhoolai

Population 1536 Students 150 Staff

Robinson High School 6311 S. Lois Ave Tampa, FL 33616 Phone: 813-272-3006 Fax: 813-272-3014 School hours: 8:30 a.m. to 3:25 p.m.

Mission Statement The role and goal of all RHS Media is to inform, interpret and entertain their viewers through accurate and factual reports, and be accurate, fair and impartial in its coverage of issues that affect the school

community. The staff of RHS Media will strive to report all issues in a legal, objective, accurate and ethical manner, according to the Society for Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics.

Policies For more information about the staff policies, follow this link rhstoday. com/about/staff-policies.

FEATURES 07

Word search through Robinson

By Anna Woodward Online Managing Editor

S

tarting a new school can be tough, especially if you don’t know that much about it.

Here at the newspaper, we made a fun and easy way for you to learn more about Robinson and the people who will help you get through the next four years.

1. Our school is south of this busy street (GANDY) 2. This event is scheduled for October 12th this year (HOMECOMING) 3. This team is known for winning multiple state championships (FLAG FOOTBALL) 4. The name of our school’s yearbook (EXCALIBUR) 5. The name of our school’s Online newspaper (RHSToday) 6/7/8. Our school’s colors-there are three! (BLACK, GREY, WHITE) 9. Our school’s mascot (KNIGHTS) 10. The name of Robinson’s school spirit club (KNIGHTMARE) 11. Our principal (BHOOLAI) 12. Our assistant principal for IB (JOHNSON) 13. Our assistant principal for traditional (ROSAGE) 14/15. Our assistant principals for student affairs-there are two! (PETTIT, BATISTA) 16. The name of our school (ROBINSON) 17. The name of our school’s print newspaper (KNIGHT WRITERS)

FRIDAY KNIGHT FASHION I

t’s the first football game of the school year, the team just ran out onto the field and everyone is hanging out in the stands waiting for kickoff. The game hasn’t even started and you’re already sweating in your jeans and sweatshirt - not the best way to start the night.

The hard part for many people in the stands when football season approaches is what to wear to the games. Everyone wants to look cute but with the Florida heat, that can be difficult.

To balance the weather factor I usually try to stay in shorts and a short sleeved shirt or even a tank top. This keeps your options open whether you want to wear running shorts for a more athletic look or jeans or dress shorts to amp up your outfit a little bit. The same goes with the shirt. You can either pair your shorts with a t-shirt or a more stylish option. When we start to get into the later months of the season, you might also want to bring a light jacket for when the sun goes down.

06 A&E

The most important part of your Friday night outfit is school spirit. School spirit can be shown through sporting a Robinson shirt or even just wearing our school colors: black, white, or grey There are so many ways to balance wearing school spirit with keeping your own style and personality in your outfit.

You can layer pieces, cut your shirts, or pair bold colored shorts with Robinson’s more monochrome colors.

Being creative with your outfits is important to maintain unique Friday night fashion. However, these outfits must remain under school dress code or you will be asked to leave and change.

Your football game outfit is an important part of keeping our school spirit up and maintaining the fun Friday night atmospheres at the game. No matter if you’re in band, a cheerleader, on the field or in the stands, school spirit can be found anywhere and a great outfit is the perfect place to begin.

By Ella Wertz News Editor

Jonnee Ward (‘21) at a Plant game in 2019. Photo by Kaitlyn Patterson.

a timeline of top movies you missed over summer

By Amelia Foster A&E Editor Multimedia Editor

“Rocketman” May 31

D

espite being released the day school went out, “Rocketman” still isn’t out of theaters, which just about shows you how good it is. Based around Elton John’s life and rise to stardom, including the trench-like lows that come with the highs, “Rocketman” is a musical that uses his songs not just as music that he wrote, but as the soundtrack to his life. “Rocketman,” although it incorporates a lot of fantasy elements, is occasionally shockingly realistic in how it portrays John’s life-- as it should, considering it was produced by John himself. Although based off real events, “Rocketman” is never predictable and will leave you with a newfound love for John.

A poster for “Rocketman,” a biopic about Elton John’s life.

“Men in Black: International” June 14

T

he new “MIB” isn’t a complete reboot of the original series like many people believe, but instead a continuation with Marvel’s Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson as Agent H and Agent M respectively. Hemsworth and Thompson’s chemistry brightens up the cheesy plot as they strive to save the universe and unravel the mystery of the modern Men in Black agency. Although maybe not the highest rated of the summer, sitting at a modest 22 percent on rotten tomatoes, it hits the spot if you’re looking for something to chill out to and laugh at.

Thompson and Hemsworth in a poster for “Men in Black: International.”

“Spider-Man: Far From Home” June 28

T

he first Marvel movie since “Avengers: Endgame,” Tom Holland returns as his version of Peter Parker in “Spider-Man: Far From Home.” Peter has to deal with the shocking events of “Endgame” on both his life as Peter Parker, and his superhero alterego. Although known for bring the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, Peter Parker leaves New York and fights against famous comic book villains on a global scale in “Far From Home,” where he’s recruited by Nick Fury to team up with Mysterio and fight the Elementals-- all while dealing with his personal life on a school trip to Europe.

A poster for the new Spider-Man movie “Spider-Man: Far From Home.”

“The Lion King” July 17

D

isney made possibly one of the most iconic films of anyone’s childhood with their original “The Lion King,” so it wasn’t a surprise when Disney announced a liveaction remake to be released in 2019, although people called into question how liveaction a movie about talking and singing animals could be. The new “The Lion King” pulled through with shockingly photo-realistic CGI, with each scene looking exactly like how it would if you saw these animals in the wild. Besides the jaw-dropping visuals, the new “The Lion King” has both old and new songs sung by popular artists such as Childish Gambino and Beyoncé. This movie is a visual masterpiece, and Beyoncé returned to film for this version, as if you need any other reason to see it.

Part of a poster for Disney’s new live-action version of “The Lion King.”

A&E 07

Football Preview Star The Robinson football team gears up for it’s second season under head coach Craig Everhart.

Showcase

Here are a few of the star studentathletes here at Robinson.

Matthew Hunter, Track Photo: Cady Studios

Head coach Craig Everhart gives a motivating speech to his team before the second day of training camp. Photo by Jack Kirk

By Jack Kirk Sports Editor

W

ith a new season on the horizon, the Robinson football team is reloading and aiming to build upon their first season with head coach Craig Everhart.

The Knights are in a different district this season, meaning they will have to play teams that they normally did not in previous seasons. These new district rivals include Booker, Bayshore, Chamberlain, and Gibbs. This change, however, doesn’t seem to affect the team’s outlook on the season.

“It don’t matter, we’re gonna beat all of them,” Carl “CJ” Augustin (‘21) said. “We’re just gonna do us.”

The Knights have lost 24 seniors from last season, leaving head coach Craig Everhart quite a few spots to fill for this year’s team.

“Throughout the summer we’ve made it clear that everything is open.” Everhart said “Anytime there’s competition that’s huge.”

Of these spots to fill, perhaps the most important one is the quarterback position. There are currently three players who are competing for this position: Quentin Burney (‘20), Kyle Muffoletto (‘21), and Rickeem Parks (‘22). Burney, who is coming off of an injury, feels like this is the year for him to really show out.

“In past years when I was under Kobe [Copple, 2018 Quarterback], I didn’t have the confidence to compete with him” Burney said. “But this year is my last chance, so I’m putting it all in myself.”

This will be Everhart’s second year as head coach, following his debut season in which he coached the team to a 5-5 record, the best record the team had seen since 2015. But Everhart isn’t working on a one-year plan.

“We don’t want to just have a good year,” he said. “We want to develop a program that will last a long time.”

Fall Sports are here Tryouts have concluded but you might be able to make a sports roster.

F

all sports tryouts have taken place but there is a slim chance you can still make the roster.

Fall sports consist of golf, football, cross country, swimming, cheerleading and volleyball. If you’re interested in one of these sports the best option is to talk with the head coach, a few are still looking for additions to their roster.

“They just need to talk to the coach first to see if it’s

By Emersyn Brown Senior Staff Writer

something they can do, then follow the rest of the steps,” said Amanda Batista, assistant principal who is looking over athletics during the athletic director vacancy.

You can find the coach’s contact information on the school website. If the coach is interested, you can download the athletic packet on the school website. The athletic packet needs to be cleared before tryouts.

Matthew Hunter (‘20) has been running track his entire time at Robinson, and for his last year, Hunter has goals that he aims to meet before he graduates.

“I’m excited to break ten minutes in the 3200-meter, and also to break four and a half minutes in the 1600 meter,” Hunter said.

But Matthew isn’t the only Hunter that will be looking to have a good track season. Matthew’s twin brother Ethan Hunter (‘20) is also on the team.

“I love my brother being on the same team,” Matthew said. “We help each other get better as we go through season after season.”

Matthew has gained a lot from his track experiences including a passion for running and a few important life lessons.

Mila Yarich, Volleyball

Photo: Kaitlyn Patterson

Volleyball captain Mila Yarich (‘21) is returning for her third year on the Robinson varsity team, and her second year as captain.

Despite this, she has no new expectations for her role this season.

“I have been a starter and leader on this team since my freshman year,” Yarich said. “Because of that I will continue to build my leadership skills on and off the court this season and the next.”

But for the second-year captain, competing isn’t the only thing to look forward to this season.

“I’m excited to be getting back in the gym with my friends and meeting and welcoming the new underclassmen to our team.” She said. “I love the camaraderie our team has always had and building on our success from prior seasons.”

SPORTS 07