The Lion's Tale - Volume 50, Issue 6

Page 1

Up for a spicy challenge? See how our reporter did when he took on the Buffalo Wild Wings Blazin’ Challenge.

page 16

Universals Studios’ magical Wizarding World of Harry Potter is due to open mid-June. Check out this sneak peak.

pages 12 and 13

LION’S TALE A p r i l 16 , 2 010

Volume 50

Prom date forces AP students to balance fun with studying for exams Carly Brower co-diversions editor

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he biggest social event of the year, prom, held May 8, lands directly in the middle of AP week, upsetting some teachers and students. “[Biology teacher and junior class council PJ] Kreahling will come to me with all the information regarding prom and we will try to work out the best date available. We didn’t think it was going to interfere with advanced placement exams,” said principal Robert Lundquist. The scheduling of prom has to take into account the many different aspects. “It’s complex to schedule. We have to find a place that meets all the needs and availability of the school. It has to be large to accommodate everyone, be able to supply the food, and be a place that everyone will enjoy,” said Lundquist. “It’s difficult because all the schools in Central Florida are planning their prom around the same time so we have to find an Didi Gibbs appropriate date, and this happened to be the date available for Epcot,” said Lundquist. When the date was announced, many AP teachers had mixed feelings. “It’s happened before and I thought it would never happen again,” said AP art history teacher Didi Gibbs. “The students work so hard and they shouldn’t have to choose between having to study or have fun. I know most teachers are upset, especially the AP teachers whose exams are on Monday or Tuesday after prom.” While many teachers feel like Gibbs, Lundquist feels that the placement of prom should have little affect on the students. “I don’t think this will hurt the advanced placement students because the course is a yearlong process. You can’t cram in one see PROM, page 4

Issue 6

Oviedo High School

601 K ing Street

Oviedo, Florida

Teens under BRIGHT lights New law to restrict underage tanning Hallie Lavery

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staff reporter

he climbs into the shuttle-like capsule in a bikini and goggles, lies down, and is concealed in a tight space. Suddenly, blinding lights flicker on around her and she lies still as her skin slowly tans. Sophomore Morgan Mosch has been performing this tanning ritual ever since she can remember. But this routine might change with the proposal of a new tanning law affecting teens that use tanning beds. According to the Orlando Sentinel, legislators have proposed a bill prohibiting tanning for those under age 13 and requiring parental consent, in person, for those age 14 to 17. The law sparked different responses from high school students. “That is really stupid. I didn’t even know they were making a law,” said Mosch. But some teens are more accepting of the proposal. see TANNING, page 4

photo/KEVIN VELOSO

Teachers celebrate Crist’s veto of Senate Bill 6 Jordan Hugh Sam, Nirvani Khan co-opinion editor, staff reporter

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photo/COURTESY OF KITTY BREED

TO THE RESCUE. Governor Crist fans a demonstrator who felt sick at a rally aganist merit pay in Tavares on Sat., April 10. Teachers held rallies across the State to protest Senate Bill 6.

-Districts must dedicate 5% of their funding to student tests and raises. -Districts would have three years to figure out how to measure student growth with end-of-course exams. -Students would be tested with standardized end-ofcourse exams, aside from those taking AP classes, FCAT, IB, Advance International Certificate of Education tests or national industry certification tests. “I vetoed SB6 because this bill is contrary to my firmly held principle to act in the best interests in the people of Florida,” said Governor Crist in the April 16 edition of the Orlando Sentinel. The bill received nearly universal condemnation from Florida Teachers. Reading teacher Sandy Traeger expressed concerns over many unanswered questions the bill raised. “I was very excited and pleased that [Governor

eachers throughout the state heaved a sigh of relief following Governor Crist’s decision to veto the teacher merit pay bill Friday. “[Yearbook advisor Alicia] Pope ran into my room and said Crist vetoed the bill. We high fived and shouted ‘hallelujah,’” said journalism teacher Deb Jepson. Music teacher Dennis Line said, “I’m relieved mostly because of job security and the lack of clarity in the bill. If the bill passed I probably wouldn’t be teaching anymore.” Senate Bill 6 stated: -By 2014-2015 school year, a student’s learning gains must account for over half of a teacher’s salary. -Teaching certificates would only be renewed after a teacher is evaluated to be ‘effective’ or ‘highly effective’ in four of the preceding five years. see MERIT PAY, page 3


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