the ORACLE Steinbrenner High School
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Fidgeting for focus (pg. 3)
May 2017 - Vol VIII, Issue 4
Senior uncertainty about life after high school (pg. 8) Star Wars Celebration comes in full force (pg. 9)
Political involvement among students increases (pg. 10-11)
Not your average sport Non-traditional sports become the new norm (pg. 16)
Open
December May 2017 2015
2014—15 FSPA Silver Rated Newspaper SIPA’s 2014 Best in Florida Joey Menendez Editor-in-Chief
Joselle Schaffer News Editor
Jillian Dradzynski Opinion Editor
Ariel Cox
Centerspread Editor
Melody Ocasio A&E Editor
Fernando Mallicote Co-Sports Editor
Adler Shannon Co-Sports Editor
Marielyssa Hernandez Backpage Editor
Katelyn Payne Copy Editor
Kayleigh Haight
Business Manager
Calvin McClarin
Senior Staff Writer
Mia Pettruceli
Senior Staff Writer
Alyssa Ruiz
Senior Staff Writer
Madeleine Coreen Staff Writer
Lauren Johnston Staff Writer
Jack Comiskey Staff Writer
Jordyn Dees Staff Writer
Kelyn Goff Staff Writer
Grace Becker Staff Writer
Hannah Makholm
Head of Graphics Dept.
Jo Hindle
Graphics Dept.
Erix Pizano
Graphics Dept.
Pauline Howard Graphics Dept.
Cameron Wingo Ad Designer
Kristen Crosby Advisor
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Letter from the Editor
Number four should have been number visit our Star watch page to see which athletes are featured in this edition (pg. 15). one. Thanks honey... Nintendo recently unveiled their newest Well, this is it, our last edition. I’m fortunate enough to be able to retain my position as Editor-in-Chief for next year, and I could not be more thankful for that opportunity. With that said, let’s get started shall we? Steinbrenner’s HOSA teams won their state competition and move on to the international level (pg. 5) while FBLA traveled to their State Leadership Conference in Orlando (pg. 5). Fidget cubes and spinners are the latest craze impacting the student body (pg. 3). As juniors begin to decide which colleges to start applying for, see how some acceptance rates are more shocking than you’d expect (pg. 4). Prom is claimed by many to be one of the best moments of high school, but is it really that bad to miss it (pg. 6)? Testing days usually mean free periods during some classes, but find out if teaching should still continue during days like those (pg. 7). Seniors will soon graduate and move on to start their post high school lives, but you still might be safe if you aren’t certain about your future yet (pg. 8). Read about some unique sports offered by several clubs here at Steinbrenner (pg. 16). Sports play a huge role in American society, but see the full extent of the impact sports has created in American culture (pg 14). Be sure to
console: the Nintendo Switch, be sure to read what our overall impression of the system was and how it lives up to Nintendo’s past efforts (pg. 13). Both our band and chorus programs received high marks and great scores during their state MPA competitions (pg. 13). Star Wars celebration recently occurred, providing all the newest Star Wars announcements our hearts could ask for (pg. 11). Check out our Celebrity watch page to see some of the finest talent Steinbrenner has to offer (pg 12). Students have become more politically involved within society throughout recent years, find out how this involvement can affect life both on and off campus (pg. 10-11). Finally, our seniors look back and reminisce about their newspaper experiences and their time within the program (pg. 17-19). My first year as EIC has been interesting to say the least. It’s been full of ups and downs, but overall, I’m glad I had the chance to experience this position. To our seniors leaving us, we wish you the best of luck as you move on to bigger and better thnigs. To our new and returning staff members, see you next year! v
- Joey Menendez, Editor-in-Chief
News
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Fidget Cube craze hits Steinbrenner Focus toy trend makes its mark in the classroom Jack Comiskey Staff Writer
Ever since the original fidget cube became the second most backed project on Kickstarter, fidget toys have quickly become universally recognized in schools. The simple toys, often molded from nothing more than plastics and a few moving parts, are designed to help people focus by giving them a tool with which to vent their fidgeting habits, but they have become a a craze; everyone wants one regardless of whether or not they actually need it. Walking down the halls, one can spot several instances of small spinning plastic devices, or cubes of all colors being
passed around. Some students have even begun to make money on the concept, buying them from cheap overstock sources and selling them to their peers. The toys range from button and switch covered cubes to simple bearing spinners, and their simplicity can be surprisingly entertaining. “I like to use my Fidget Spinner whenever I’m in class, so instead of my pen and annoying other people, I use it because it’s silent,”said Sophomore John Holloway Research seems to back up the concept behind them as well, with many studies pointing towards the conclusion that fidgeting is helpful. Fidgeting has always
It eases the mind, so it helps whenever you’re really stressed out.
Courtesy of Kristen Crosby
been regarded as a bad habit: in children it is seen as restlessness or hyperactivity, and in adults it as seen as unprofessional or childish. But despite the stigma, the seemingly unprofessional man chewing on his pen during a meeting may be unknowingly giving himself a major intellectual boost. As it turns out, fidgeting is a beneficial and important part of the human thought process. When a person finds a certain task, like listening to a lecture, to be boring, their level of engagement drops dramatically. “It eases the mind so it helps whenever your’e really Gr ap hic stressed out.” by Er said Holloway. ix Piz an As the natural o solution, fidgeting provides a little bit more simple stimulation for the brain allowing it to more easily focus on the task at hand rather than becoming restless. The fidget cube provides an alternative source to fidget with rather than nervous habits such as twidling one’s thumbs or biting nails. In an article by the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences of the University of California, T. A. Hartanto states that fidgeting can especially benefit the learning process for students with ADD or ADHD. Their study strongly linked the performance of students afflicted with ADHD on specific mental tasks, with the level of fidgeting they showed while solving them. The study gave strong evidence that fidget toys may be a very beneficial tool for students dealing with hyperactivity, as well as students without ADHD, allowing them to focus much more easily. Some research suggests this may
even be a leftover evolutionary effect, as humans’ brains are not fully accustomed to focusing solely on one mental task at a time. Most animals benefit from performing multiple tasks at once, because focusing only on one task leaves a creature unaware of their surroundings. This leftover effect isn’t quite as useful in modern society, but may help to explain why people focus much better mentally when also performing a mild physical task. The toys are harmless enough, but can become a problem when students start to pass them around and create a distraction for others. The devices are meant to be personal tools, kept to one’s self, and definitely should be regarded as a useful and constructive tool in the classroom as long as they remain discrete. Regardless of whether the toys are used for practical purposes such as surviving a long history lecture with a least some facts retained, or just for fun, the concept has become a craze. The craze of fidget toys in schools is strongly reminiscent of the 2009 “Silly Bandz” craze, with many copycat manufacturers making knock-off versions, consequently dropping the price and raising the popularity as they spread throughout schools across the country. One of the major popularizing forces for fidget toys was actually a knockoff version produced by an unnamed young entrepreneur who was looking to make a good deal of money off of the original Fidget Cube. He sent the costs of manufacturing to a factory in China, and later received the shipment of his Stress Cubes. Similar to those simple silicone wrist bands, the incredibly basic, yet incredibly enjoyable fidget toys will likely fade away into the memorable craze of early 2017.v
News
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College acceptance rates drop by record amount Kayleigh Haight Business Manager Many of the students of the class of 2017 were surprised about this years’ college acceptance rates. The college acceptance rates for public state universities have gone down this year by quite a surprising amount. While applying for colleges, many students at Steinbrenner High School applied to local universities such as University of Florida, University of Central Florida, Florida State University, University of Florida, and Florida Gulf Coast University. Not only have the requirements for being admitted into the universities gone up, but the expectations for incoming freshman are higher than ever. For example, Florida State University had standards that few applicants were successfully able to meet. The average GPA for admitted students is 3.88, which almost requires the applicant to be at the top of their class and well above average. The expected average new SAT score is 1280, which is considered a competitive score. The expected average ACT score is 27, making it moderately competitive. On top of these higher expected ACT and SAT scores, Florida State University also requires you to take the written portion of each standardized test. On a larger scale, Florida State
University as a whole is said to be a moderately competitive college choice, so having strong academic performance will almost guarantee you admission. Out of the 42,325 students who applied for Florida State University,
only 13,000 students were accepted, meaning that Florida State University only accepted 31% of the students that applied this year. University of Florida had higher expectations this year as well. More than 34,550 students applied for admission this year, while University of Florida only accepted 13,214 students, meaning that the school accepted less than 38% of the students who applied. The average newly admitted student had a GPA of 4.4, a SAT score of 1349, and an ACT score of 30. This year has been the most competitive year to enroll yet in University of Florida history according to their website. While this year has been one of the most competitive acceptance years in history, it is projected that it will only continue to increase. With the societal standards increasing each year and as the necessity of college comes to an all time high, the acceptance rates will get smaller and smaller, meaning that in the future, it will be almost impossible to get admitted into a state institution. v
Graphic by Jo Hindle
Student Sound Off
Courtesy of Jordan Dees
Sarah Boylan Zachary Kriz
Courtesy of Calvin McClarin
“I’m happy that I got accepted into the University of Florida, but a lot of my friends did not so I was hoping that they would get in too.”
“I feel really good knowing that I got into Florida State University when the rates were lower this year. My hard work from high school has paid off.”
News
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Courtesy of the Steinbrenner FBLA
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Grace Becker Staff Writer
On March 23 to the 26, the Steinbrenner FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) club took on the State Leadership Conference in Orlando. This was the final contest before deciding whether or not students will move on to the national conference. FBLA focuses on students building leadership, communication, and team-building skills, while allowing them to interact with other students who are interested in business and technology. “The goal is to educate students and get them ready for the business world. It teaches them how to speak in front of adults and other students, how to dress for success, interviewing skills, and more,” said club sponsor Virginia Scherch, District 13 Adviser of the Year. At the conference, students were able to attend workshops, listen to speakers, as well as participate in competitions. There were over 50 competitions to participate in ranging from economics, to journalism, to public speaking. While some were written presentations where students must present in front of judges, others were written tests where they had to answer questions. However, they all shared the common goal of preparing students for successful careers in business. The leadership conference provided students with the opportunity to bond with their fellow FBLA club members and gain new skills that they can use in their careers. v
Courtesy of Kaylah Marlynn
Courtesy of Pryia Kadia
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Joselle Schaffer News Editor
The Steinbrenner HOSA club is for students who plan on being future health professionals, particularly interested in the health science and sports medicine field. Since it is a co-curricular club, they use their knowledge and skills to compete in various health-care related conferences. “The nice thing about HOSA being a co-curricular club is that everything that we learn in our class allows the students to take those skills and transfer them into our HOSA competition, so it gives them an oppourtunity to compete using various skills relating to the healthcare field,” said HOSA sponsor Jasmin Wantuch. This year, after having placed in the top five in the state leadership conference, the medical innovation team and the PSA team will be advancing to the international conference in June. “Our competition required us to innovate our own medical innovation and create a presenation based off of it depicting financial effects, staff impact, and the entire medical process,” said Senior Priya Kadia, a member of the medical innovation team, who placed third in the state this year. It was a sweet win for Kadia and Senior Leila Reihani, who placed fifth in the same competition last year. With two teams making it to the International conference, it was quite a successful season for the Steinbrenner HOSA club.v
Graphic by Pauline Howard
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Katelyn Payne Copy Editor
Relay For Life, a fundraising event for the American Cancer Society, was hosted in the Steinbrenner gym on Mar. 31, and it was a huge success. Entertainment included everything from live music to Zumba dancers and assorted games. Walking laps around the gym symbolized the ongoing fight against cancer. Relay For Life raised $21,828.23 through Steinbrenner this year alone, and this amount would not have been attainable without the various Steinbrenner clubs that participated by fundraising and volunteering as well as the generous donors to the foundation. Attendees come together to raise money for cancer research and are connected by the inspiration behind the cause. “I love Relay For Life because it’s a great opportunity to spend time with friends, and make new friends, while enjoying what the other clubs have to offer as well,” said Sophomore Caroline Goodman. Goodman attended Relay with the GSA club, whose booth sold baked goods and coffee with all of the profit going to cancer research. Many clubs were present to sell food and drinks as well as other treats to participants walking laps. Overall, the event represents and supports a great cause through the American Cancer Society, many found the event inspiring and Steinbrenner did an outstanding job of hosting it this year. v
Opinion
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oraclenewspaper.com
October 2014 May 2017
Racial discrimination still proves prevalent in education Jordyn Dees Staff Writer The historic decision in the Brown vs. Board of Education case brought all races together in our schools and society, but, unfortunately, divides in our education system still continue to this day, particularly when it comes to the disproportionate amounts of expulsions and suspensions for students of color. In fact, a 2015 study done by The Center for the Study of Race and Equity in Education revealed that although black students make up only 24% of public school enrollment in K-12 in thirteen Southern states (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West
Virginia), they represent 48% of students suspended and 49% of students expelled in the same states. Hillsborough County itself didn’t do much better in the same study, as African-American students make up 21.5% of the population, but 42% of district suspensions. Black students are suspended at a higher rate, possibly because they are more likely to be perceived as older and less innocent as their white counterparts, even at the age of ten, according to a study on the dehumanizing of black children, published in the APA’s Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. As sad as it is, this country does still have strong racial biases towards its youth. Discrimination, subconscious or intentional, weakens the growth of black youth substantially, even for children as young as preschoolers. A 2014 U.S Civil
Rights Data Collection report revealed that black preschoolers represent 48% of out-of-school suspension while being only 18% of the enrollment. Such disparity at such a young age reaffirms the presence of an implicit bias in the American education system. A possible cause for the disparities in this data is cultural deficit thinking, which states that the poor performance of individuals from a certain ethnicity is due to their cultural background. While there are certainly cases in which the student deserves their punishment, implicit bias may cause administrators and teachers to have negative feelings or attitudes towards students of certain races or ethnicities, and, by extension, they are more likely to punish them more severely. In other words, it’s not that the student was completely innocent all the time, but rather that stu-
dents of color are typically punished more severely than their white peers. On top of the immediate issues of this way of thinking, cultural deficit thinking also reinforces the stereotype that black students are lazy or disrespectful simply because they are black. Cultural deficit thinking subconsciously strengthens the racial bias that many people have, and could be the reason for the supposed racial bias in schools. There are multiple ways to combat bias in schools, including providing service training that exposes all teachers and administrators to information about cultural deficit thinking, revising discipline policies to provide clear definitions of infractions, and creating a discipline supervisor in schools to ensure that punishments are distributed equitably.v
The great prom debate: whether the legendary night is worth it or not Madeleine Coreen Staff Writer Prom season is upon us... finally. Prom can be a fun event for some: it’s a chance to get dressed up for a night and go out with your friends, but there comes a question many ask themselves: is attending prom worth it? The prom experience has so many expectations: fun dancing, partying, great food, and the expectation that the entire night will be perfect. While this may be true for some people, for others, prom is not all it is cracked up to be. That produces the question- if these expectations might not be met, is prom even worth going? Do I have to go to prom in order to say I’ve fulfilled the high school experience?
Long story short, no; you shouldn’t feel pressured to go to prom if you don’t feel compelled. Prom is only one night out of all four years of high school. “I don’t think it matters... it’s basically homecoming with less people. It’s not worth spending the money on the ticket and an expensive dress... unless you go for the food, that’s pretty nice,” said Senior Hannah Weiner. Prom isn’t the pinnacle of high school- you don’t necessarily have to attend in order to feel like you’ve made the most out of these four years. Satisfaction can be achieved through many other activities such as friends, extracurriculars, and other fun activities that don’t cost hundreds. Two tickets to attend are $120, plus dress and tuxedo purchases and rentals, makeup and hair appointments and dinner. If you’re going the
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extra mile, adding a limousine rental is even more expensive. According to Visa Inc.’s annual 2015 prom survey, the average American family will spend around $919 on prom night and prom-posals. To put that in perspective, that is equivalent to nine tickets to Disney World, or 183 20-piece chicken nugget orders. You could eat nothing but chicken nuggets for a week on the amount of money it takes to go to prom. From what I’ve seen, it just seems excessive to spend so much money on one night, especially one that you’re not guaranteed to have the best time at. Prom is 100% optional. Pressuring others into attending prom is unnecessary. If you want to go, then good for you. It just simply isn’t for everyone.v
The Oracle Editorial Policy The Oracle is published by the newspaper staff at Steinbrenner High School: 5575 Lutz Lake Fern Road, Lutz, Florida, 33558 The Oracle works under the SPJ Code of Ethics, Which has been set down as our journalistic standard. The staff believes in freedom of the press, honesty, accuracy, impartiality, decency and equality: We will be observing these at all times. All the editorials will be backed up with facts and research. Staff editorials will never be by-lined, because they represent the opinion of the staff as a whole. Money for the publication of the Oracle will come from advertising sales. Any advertising rates are available upon request by calling the Steinbrenner newspaper staff at (813) 792-5131, ext. 258. Advertising which promotes illegal products under Florida law, opposes any religion or is of any sensitive nature will not be accepted. The Oracle is established as an open forum for student expression as outlined in the Student Press Law Center’s model guidelines for student publications. Opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the faculty and administration of Steinbrenner High School, but rather of the author or of the newspaper staff and its editors. As student journalists, the staff occasionally commits errors,; however, we will always correct the errors in an honest and timely manner. The Oracle welcomes letters to the editor on topics of interest to Steinbrenner High School and its surrounding community. We also welcome contributions from writers not associated with the newspaper staff. All letters submitted to the editor will require the signature of those who submitted them. All contributions need to be turned into Mrs. Crosby in room 215.
Opinion
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October 2014 May 2017
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Teaching through testing creates stress for teachers and students Marielyssa Hernandez Backpage Editor In recent years, the education system has seen an increase in the emphasis placed on standardized tests. These high-stakes tests now potentially impact student’s schedules, teacher pay, and even whether a student can graduate or not. Many would agree that testing days are stressful for students, however, many rarely stop to consider how these days might affect teachers as well. Testing schedules for the FSA and EOC are determined by both the state and the county. For each test the state sets windows while the county determines the order. Often times the testing schedules limit time in the classroom for both students and teachers and can lead to headaches amongst teachers.
On standardized testing days, the county still requires the teachers to continue teaching their lessons as if they were normal school days. The goal of the county may be to ensure that there is continuity of instruction for students, however, that does not always translate to the classroom. Many teachers find it difficult to make an effective lesson plan while testing is going on because their classes may move at different paces due to different amounts of time allotted for different classes. “I think it’s harder to plan. It’s definitely difficult to teach particular things,” said social studies teacher Jennifer Ordetx. Teachers also have to deal with the abundance of missing students due to testing. For example, a teacher may have one class that has only seven students, but the next class is com-
pletely full. Because teachers must keep teaching, many students tend to fall behind trying to teach themselves what they missed on top of having to learn the material they are currently learning. “I don’t think it’s really fair... you miss what the teacher is teaching, and then you’re behind,” said Junior Sydnie Sohlberg, “I can review on my own time but I can’t teach myself a new lesson.” In addition, some standardized tests, like the FSA, can make the situation worse because the go on for multiple days, making it even harder for the teachers to keep their classes synced. While county standards can be difficult to meet, Steinbrenner scheduling does its best to maximize student attendance in the classroom and minimize teacher stress. Steinbrenner schedules school days in a way that two blocks of testing are done in one day so that students are tested quicker and in class as much as possible.
While most teachers feel stressed, others find ways to work around both the county’s requirements and the tedious testing schedule. “The days that I only have a few students in each class period for weeks on end I have independent work for them to do,” said reading teacher Yvette Powell, “They are only responsible for the work while they are in my class.” Although standardized testing is somewhat of a necessary evil to decide graduation requirements among other things, the way some testing days are structured can be very confusing and cause strain amongst many teachers. One solution could be to have students test in different blocks for each day. For example have the students who tested in block A the first day test in block B the next. That way teachers feel less stressed when catching their students up and it allows for teachers to keep each class on the same lesson. v
Student Sound Off Do you think it’s benefical or harmful for teachers to continue teaching during testing days? “I think it helps because I’m still learning something about the curriculum, but at the same time I know that if I miss a day or two it’s not going to kill my grade.” -Sadie Testa-Secca, Sophomore Courtesy of: Jordyn Dees
‘It hurts students a lot when teachers continue to teach during a test. We don’t understand missed material, and there’s so much added stress when we have to catch up and study for our tests as well.” -Kaillyn Duenas, Freshman Courtesy of: Jordyn Dees
Opinion
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oraclenewspaper.com
October 2014 May 2017
Students face pressure when deciding their future Jo Hindle Graphics Dept. An pressing issue many students face upon entering high school is making decisions for the future. You’re in high school now, congrats; yet with relatives, a few questions are repeatedly asked by every person in your family and everyone they introduce you to: what are you going to do when you graduate? What career are you interested in having? What college do you want to go to? These are questions a student will hear from day one of high school and even following their senior year, and have no idea how to answer, which leads to an overly strong pressure to find that certain path right away to appease curious adults already past this big decision. I’m one of the lucky few who found their area of interest at a young age, but I’m surrounded by students of all ages; from freshmen just starting this long journey, to seniors about to enter college in a few months, all struggling under the same expectation they must have their whole lives already planned out. When I took a trip to the college I planned on attending for information on possible classes, I took away one thing from the entire day. One of the psychology professors told me, “So is this what you want to major in? Well keep an open mind, you may take this course and end up hating it by the third week. Things will change, and what people start out with is often not what they end with.” Very few people are certain on what
they want to do when they are older, even fewer of them actually end up doing so. While learning and gaining valuable experience, people’s passions change, and they find new things that inspire them, or pique their interests. “I always wanted to coach, after advice from some of my teachers they suggested if I wanted to coach high school I should teach, after entering college I was sure I was going to be a teacher and didn’t think I was even going to coach.” said Brandon Lingerfelt. Students who don’t have much of an idea of their future let unrealistic expectations weigh on them, and much to their surprise, the majority of high school students and many college students as well don’t have a set plan and don’t know where they are going yet. “In high school your perspective is different. A lot of people say they want to be a doctor, a lawyer, or an engineer, then life comes along and they realize, they may not be as interested in those things,” said Coach Noble, “I thought I wanted to be an engineer, I took math as my major but also volunteered as a coach in college. I really enjoyed it, and I found I wanted to be a teacher and coach.” Instead of being shown someone successful with a steady job and a clear path in life, students need to be provided with insight into how that person got there along with the choices and opportunities they took, which then they may see that even if they aren’t certain right away, all they need is an open mind. v
Comic
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A lot of people say they want to be a doctor, a lawyer, or an engineer, then life comes along and they realize, they may not be as interested in those things,
Graphic by Hannah Makholm
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Star Wars Celebration: the ultimate fan experience Hannah Makholm Head of Graphics Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center was swarmed with nerds from a galaxy far, far away for the annual Star Wars Celebration. The convention took place from April 13 to 16, and housed fans of the Star Wars franchise from all walks of life. Big names such as Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), John Boyega (Finn), and Daisy Ridley (Rey) attended. Every day was full of Star Wars enthusiasts attending the many panels offered over the four day convention. This year held a record-breaking 70,000 attendees, the most attendance out of Celebration which started back in 1999. If you weren’t in line at 5a.m. you weren’t getting into any of the panels. Only the die-hard fans got up early in full costume to attend the high attendance events. One of which was a tribute to Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia) during the opening ceremonies. John Williams, the composer who did the majority of the Star Wars soundtrack, was present at the tribute to perform Princess Leia’s theme with the orchestra. Anyone who was lucky enough to squeeze into the packed celebration
Graphic By Hannah Makholm
stage admitted afterwards that everyone was crying. Another panel that took place on Thursday of the convention was the “Animated Origins and Unexpected Fates” hosted by Dave Filoni (executive producer of Star Wars: The Clone Wars)and Pablo Hidalgo (Creative Executive in Story Development) This panel revealed a small scene from Star Wars: The Clone Wars that was in the canceled season seven. It showcased a western-like duel between Cad Bane and the teenage Boba Fett. It left the audience on a cliff hanger with both characters collapsing. Since Boba Fett does appear in the original movies, it is assumed that this is how Cad Bane dies. Fans went crazy a bit later in the panel when concept art for Endor Captain Rex was revealed. The theory of Captain Rex appearing in the original movies was proven to be true. It isn’t certain as to what the concept art was going to be used for, but it seals Captain Rex’s fate. There is no longer a possibility of Captain Rex dying during his last season of Star Wars Rebels. The trailer for Episode 8: The Last Jedi was revealed to the convention on Friday, and around an hour later for those at home. The lucky con attendees that arrived in the early hours of the morning got to see it in person, while the not so lucky saw a stream of it in a separate panel room, and the grand majority all huddled around a life size TIE Fighter in the middle of the exhibit hall to watch it on the big screen. The thousands of fans attending all watched in amazement as they got the first look into the new movie debuting this December. The trailer featured very interesting scenes such as Kylo Ren’s smashed helmet, Finn
healing in a bacta tank, a new character named Rose, and Luke’s jarring line: “It’s time for the Jedi
to end.” Not only is this a little out of character for the normally heroic Luke Skywalker, but it’s very ominous and vague as to what it’s specifically referring to. No one will know until it’s released later this year. Those who were lucky enough to make it into the panel got a hold of the convention exclusive poster. The red and black poster depicts Rey, Kylo Ren, and Luke Skywalker. If you weren’t one of the lucky ones, it’s going for over $200 on ebay. Poster holders went the extra mile and waited countless hours to get one of the many celebrities’ signatures. If attendees thought the panel lines were rough, the autograph lines lasted hours and required a fee to even stand in it. Standing in line also didn’t guarantee a signature, and many fans were rejected from meeting their idols. It was go big or go home for lines, and the dedicated fans didn’t bat an eyelash to stand in them (or sleep, if they were there before 5 a.m.). On Saturday, Star Wars Rebels season four’s trailer released, causing a bit of buzz due to the mention that this season is to be its last. It revealed the return of Bo-Katan Kryze from the television series Star Wars: The Clone Wars, a Mandalorian who is seen to be wielding the dark saber in one of the scenes. Fans of Kanan Jarrus and Hera Syndulla very much enjoyed the trailer as well, as it shows a tender moment between the two before a battle which earned many screams from the audience. The trailer carried a very dark and somber mood, narrated by Syndulla as she explains how her rebellion is coming to an end. Zeb Orrelios mentions, “At least we’ll go down fighting!” and Hera fearfully adds, “But we never imagined it would end like this.” Grand Admiral Thrawn, the antagonist introduced last season, is proving to put up quite the obstacle for the rebellion,
Graphic By Hannah Makholm
and quite possibly also the reason for their demise. The original films do not feature these characters, so season four holds the answers as to what happens to them. The trailer ends with Hera stating the iconic line, “May the force be with you.” and a graphic showing that it will premiere this Fall. The long awaited and anticipated “Battlefront 2” trailer was revealed at Celebration as well. The loyal fans of this neglected video game series were overjoyed. The first installment of “Battlefront” was released in 2004, a second game in 2005, and a remake in 2015. The version being released on Nov. 17 will include characters from Episode 7: The Force Awakens, and is rumored to include clones from Star Wars: The Clone Wars. An all new single player campaign option will be featured as well, which is a feature that many fans are very excited for. As another year of Star Wars Celebration came to a close, all of the fans left the convention excited for the newly revealed content, with both arms full of convention exclusive merchandise, autographs, and an memories from the Star Wars experience of a lifetime. The celebration was like no other and it will be hard to top in future years. It truly was the ultimate fan experience, and all fans in attendance enjoyed all of the opportunities the celebration had to offer. v
Centerfold
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A new era of student political involvement College students political participation Lauren Johnston Staff Writer
Since the beginning of the century, the political participation of college students have increased sharply compared to previous elections, causing a direct effect of the recent groundbreaking and controversial elections within recent years. Student involvement is so strong, many are noticing the same patterns as those seen in young adults of the 1960s. With the counterculture and the social turbulence of the time, students joined causes and took a stand on issues to show their resistance and participation of the movements in the world around them. The widespread leadership by young people distinguished those movements as more effective because it bridged the gap between all ages. One characterizing factor of this recent rising politi-
cal epidemic is that not only is awareness being brought forward about the issues but action is being taken by the students for those causes. These students are not only understanding what is going on in their world, but they are also actively trying to participate in it. Social media is a new major player that allows for college students to be more politically aware as it grants easy access for them in a common platform. They are able to follow political leaders and receive information through a medium that they already use on a daily basis. This allows them to stay informed and communicate about what is happening politically. Student involvement in activist movements has increased. These students attempt to influence a political, economic, environmental, or social change not just in their community but sometimes nationally as well. College demonstrations and protests are popular as students
form movements based on what they see in the world around them; they relate the issue to themselves as they take a stand in their own atmosphere. A study conducted by UCLA that interviewed first year college students all across America found that 1 in 10 students expected to participate in a student protest while in college. Compared to previous elections, student protests are on the rise. The 2008 election showed signs of student participation, but the most prevalent sighting of student participation occurred during the last presidencial election. Students held protests on their campuses and performed walkouts in order for their voices to be heard and to draw attention to what they had to say. These demonstrations, sometimes turned riots, only increased after Trump was elected president. However, while college students may be partly engaged, they are not fully participating. According to
“ I support most of the [Democratic party’s] agenda, but I don’t support everything. A lot of things the things they stand for I agree with,” said Junior Logan Welch.
Media misconceptions
“I really like their [Republican] conservative views... I feel that their views appeal to the majority of people and try to include everyone in a way,” said Junior Megan Schimmel.
Political involvment among students
Grace Becker Staff Writer
In the era of “fake news,” it’s hard to know when something is real without doing some extensive research, particularly when something is posted on social media. It can be especially tough to decipher whether or not the story is true. However, it’s a common habit that people will read something and believe it without doing any background research, especially if the story aligns with their political views. While a lot of times these stories just end up in contradictions and misunderstandings, some end up having drastic consequences. For example, the fake story spread by Wikileaks about Hilary Clinton running a human trafficking site out of a pizzeria. An enraged man saw the story, open fired in the restaurant, and was promptly arrested. These fake stories fly around social media and real life conversation without any evidence to back them up and can cause trouble, which sometimes is the initial intended effect. A lot of times, students are some of the biggest culprits of spreading news that they haven’t looked into. Often times, they go along with whatever their parents tell them or what they see on social media, then share it with their peers. “I try to teach all of my students that if they are going to engage in discussion, that they at least have evidence to back up what they are saying. I also teach my students that so much of the news today is actually just commentary, so it’s an analysis and opinion of someone else’s
USA Today, the voting rate among young adults has been historically underwhelming. Students don’t quite put their money where their mouth is so to speak, and take their opinions to the polls. The US Census Bureau conducted a study and found that younger voters aged 18 to 24 voted less than any other age group at every presidential election since 1962. The importance of this rise is the fact that college students have the ability to vote and educate themselves. This furthers their ability to make wise decisions for themselves and their peers politically. Because they carry a heavy influence on younger generations, this movement that they have created could carry on not only on their campuses but continue as the following students take over. v
Politics has always played a crucial role in the lives and matters of everyday Americans. Students develop their political views as they grow and learn more about the country they live in, and these opinions have the ability to heavily influence their lives. As a result of increased popularity, many students have started becoming more politically involved over recent years. “We are at a very sensitive time in politics where there is a lot of dissent against our current president, as well as a lot of political issues that we are all affected by,” said Senior Moshitha Ashoka, a student with strong Democratic views. In this day and age, politics have become seemingly inescapable. Social media sites and other forms of entertainment have continuously covered political topics within their platforms, and political subjects have dominated conversations among peers at school and family members at home. “Nowadays with all the ‘fake news’ going around, you really need to be informed and inform others about the truth and reality of American politics,” said Junior John Cowan, a student with strong Republican views. But even with all of this constant exposure, the majority of high school students remain unaware of many political events going on within our country. While this is not necessarily due to blatant ignorance, this widespread lack of involvement has the potential to drastically affect
take on an event. It’s important to go back and find the primary sources, if they are going to bring their point to class and say something about it,” said History teacher Shelli Barton. According to Pew Research Center, 64% of Americans use Facebook; half of users look to it for their primary source of news. The obvious problem with that, and other news on social media, is that anyone can post whatever they want on the site, without any evidence or fact checking. If such a large amount of the population is getting their information from sources that aren’t credible, it is much easier for fake stories to take center stage. The problem doesn’t end with unreliable news, even real news can get twisted when it’s shared. Whether it’s exaggerated to make a story more interesting or altered due to lack of understanding, after being shared several times the story could change completely. “Misinformation is harming students’ ability to evaluate the truth. I challenge students to question everything and find the sources of what they are saying. It’s okay to have a different opinion on something as long as you’re informed about it,” said Barton. Overall, while the problem cannot ever be completely solved, one can alleviate the issue by doing further research on the topic at hand. Locating further research on a subject can make a small difference in the spreading of unreliable media.v Courtesy of Madeleine Coreen
Joey Menendez Editor-in-Chief
future decisions. The general consensus among these individuals appears to be a lack of impact or influence, but there are still a number of individuals who feel otherwise. “It’s more of a choice to remain ignorant, not because there’s no accessibility,” said Ashoka, “there’s so much bias everywhere, there’s a lot of problems within our society and a lot of politicians taking advantage of our ignorance.” Even though most students in high school aren’t able to vote yet, is it necessarily a bad thing to still be somewhat involved? By observing and understanding what’s currently happening within office, students will be able to see how these decisions will influence them as they enter adulthood, where they will then have the ability to advocate for change if necessary. “Once I started getting more involved, I started seeing all the political discrepancies [how politics play into everything like how people treat each other, how decisions are made, everything] in school among teachers and students,” said Cowan. Although some students may not fully realize it yet, the decisions made in the government throughout these next couple of years will ultimately affect their generation the greatest. “If we don’t make a proactive stance right now, we will be left with a generation of apathy and people who are not going to do what’s best for our country,” said Ashoka. Graphics Courtesy of Erix Pizano and Jo Hindle
A&E
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Graphic By Pauline Howard
Kaylynn VanBuskirk
Courtesy of Madeleine Coreen
Katelyn Payne Copy Editor
Junior Kaylynn VanBuskirk has discovered a whole new meaning to creativity. Her artistic talents began at a young age, and she now designs and creates costumes for theater and her friends. She has participated in theater programs since she was three and began hand sewing when she was eight. Though she is fairly new to costuming, VanBuskirk picked up the process fairly quickly, and has gained lots
Nicole Leonard
Courtesy of Katelyn Payne
Lauren Johnston Staff Writer
Senior Nicole Leonard has had a passion for singing and is known throughout the school for her beautiful voice and her talent. She began singing at a young age because she found it fun. Her favorite type of music the singer-song writer genre and she enjoys singing pop music. Leonard has been a part of chorus programs since second grade. She uses it as a fun stress reliever to forget about what is going on outside of the chorus room. For the last chorus concert, Leonard
of experience through the process of trial and error. “I’ve always had an interest for how things are made and a fascination for clothing,” said VanBuskirk. While she takes a lot of costume inspiration from Disney, Kaylynn would describe her style as half princess, and half steampunk and Victorian style. VanBuskirk made twelve costumes this past Halloween for herself and her friends, who dressed up as Disney fairies together. “Every single piece of my costume was made my me, including the jewelry,” said VanBuskirk. She has also created a Rapunzel costume for another friend, which took about 100 hours finish, as it was the first costume she fully created. Kaylynn is considering majoring in historical costuming and pursuing her love for costume design future. Her talent in art of costuming is inspirational to everyone who enjoys art and theater.v
had a chance to showcase her talent not only through singing but also by conducting a piece for the concertwhich was the song, “I Loved All Lovely Things.” “I chose a song that I did at All-State and the words behind it had something to do that closely related to my life so it was a really touching piece to do,” said Leonard regarding her song choice. It was a fun experience for her and she enjoyed the connection she felt to the song. Leonard is planning on attending the University of Central Florida to further her study of music. “My sister goes there and I like their music department and the location of it in Orlando,” said Leonard. She plans on pursuing and studying music education as she attends college. “I grew up with really good chorus teachers and so it drove me to chorus,” said Leonard. Nicole wants to be a high school chorus teacher in order to inspire future students to follow their passion of chorus, just as she did. v
Skylar Mason
Courtesy of Katelyn Payne
Katelyn Payne Copy Editor
The position of Color Guard Captain takes a lot of devotion and hard work, and Junior Skylar Mason has fulfilled this role with outstanding loyalty and support towards her team this year. Skylar began dancing when she was little by trying out ballet and jazz, but took a break up until recently. She began dancing again her freshman year of high school, so she had about one year of dance background be-
Carli Wilste
fore she joined the Steinbrenner Legends. “I wanted to see my team to flourish and to get better and closer to each other,” said Mason. Skylar has a lot of influence on her team through this leadership position and her goal has been to make a change and leave a legacy behind for the future after she leaves. Her skills and personality have helped her lead the team to success which results from hours of hard work and dedication. She is diligent in providing her team with anything they may need, both inside and out of practice. “I have to provide anything my team needs, they’re like my babies,” said Mason. Mason plans on trying out for Captain again for next year, and has some plans for her future in dance team leadership for college. Her goal for the future is to join the USF Sundolls dance team and eventually try out for leadership there after a year to continue her love and passion for dance. v
can’t be resolved or is to big to handle then the director is our resort. But if its something we can handle among ourselves then the band director is our last option,” said Wilste. Putting in hours of practice, Wilste must be acquainted with all returning members and incoming ones as well. She says that having the role of drum major, you must be comfortable enough to take charge in uncomfortable situations. Obtaining this role with a lengthy interview process, she knew from the beginning that it would Courtesy of Alyssa Ruiz take a lot of time and dedication. Melody Ocasio “I couldn’t have gotten drum major A&E Editor without the help of former drum majors Senior Head Drum Major, Carlie Wilste, Sephanie,Amanda and Alex. They would finds band to be one of the best experibe considered my mentors,” said Wilste. ence’s high school has offered her. Drum Although Wilste does not plan on doing Major or the “leader” of the marching band, this in college, she does plan on attending has the responsibilities of not only making the University of Florida to major in psythe band look and sound the best they can chology, and does however find interest in but also being their mediator. participating in a club or group of people “If there’s a problem the students go to that have interest in music. leadership first, they don’t go to the band “If I can be in a practice group I will do director. If there’s any type of conflict it that because it allows you to develop your goes through me first, and if the problem skill,” said Wilste.v
A&E
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Nintendo switches up their console design Madeleine Coreen Staff Writer Once again, Nintendo broke the boundaries of the video game world and came out with the new gaming console, the Nintendo Switch, globally on Mar. 3, 2017. The system itself is around $300, not including the cost of the games and any add-on features. The way the switch works is very unique. Technically, it is a handheld gaming system. It combines the aspects of both the Wii U and the DS. The system is a screen with two small removable controllers (called Joy-Con controllers) on either side. The Joy-Cons are compa-
rable to the Amazon Fire stick, only a bit thicker. This screen can be connected to your television; hence the “switch” aspect of the Switch. After playing “Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” and “1-2 Switch,” two of the few games that are out for the system, I can say there are definitely some pros and cons. A difficulty I’ve certainly found is the battery life. As it is such a graphically heavy system, it can last anywhere from two and a half to six hours on its own. This is a problem that is being solved though, with the creation of the Switch-
Charge. The SwitchCharge is essentially a battery pack that adds an additional twelve hours of life. But just as any other tablet, there’s the issue of scratching. You can put on a screen protector, but that’s more money that you’re already spending on the system. While the Switch itself isn’t that expensive (compared to other gaming consoles) but you end up spending the same amount with addons. Other add-ons include the PlayStand (a stand that is more durable and taller than the already attached kickstand) a portable case, the pro controller, Ami-
ibos, and more. The Switch also has some major perks. It is a very graphically heavy system, meaning some of the games are absolutely beautiful. Legend of Zelda has never had such amazing visuals as Breath of the Wild currently features. It is also extremely multiplayer friendly, making it easy to connect and play with your friends. If you’re a big Nintendo fanatic, then purchasing the Switch is for you. If you’re only recently getting into video games or Nintendo products, I find it hard to recommend purchasing. Overall it’s a really fun system to play with your friends. v Graphic By Erix Pizano
Band and chorus dominate at state level Katelyn Payne Copy Editor Steinbrenner band and chorus recently attended State MPA (Music Performance Assessment) and achieved outstanding results. This is the first time band has attended States in all of Steinbrenner history. Chorus was represented by the Women’s Festival Choir and received two Excellents and one Superior rating, and band, represented by Wind Symphony, received straight Excellents. These achievements took a lot of hard work and dedication from both students and chorus director Mr. Poole and band director Mr. Allgair. There was an abundance of commitment from the Steinbrenner music team as there was a lot of work outside of school required in preparation for the State level competitions. The Steinbrenner Women’s Festival choir had to learn a third song before attending States which involved extra devotion on the behalf of all participants. “There was a lot of stuff we had to do at home and in class in preparation
for the competition,” said Senior Davis Dees, who attended States with the Women’s Festival Choir. Performing wasn’t the only exciting thing about State MPA, as many students enjoyed the performances put on by other schools. Steinbrenner chorus and band competed against performing arts schools which are entirely devoted to music, and this gives their significantly high ratings a whole new meaning. “MPA was really cool, the choirs that we saw there were amazing, and it was such a great experience,” said Dees. Chorus wasn’t the only group to represent Steinbrenner’s musical talents, as the Steinbrenner Wind Symphony poured their talent and hard work into their first State MPA performance to achieve straight Excellent ratings. They worked with well respected music educators from all over the county to prepare for their competition. “My favorite part personally was being able to perfect the music and continue working with new music edu-
cators and learning their style of teaching,” said Sophomore Rachel David. State MPA 2017 was a huge success for Women’s Festival Choir and Wind
Symphony, and their musical talents are sure to return to the competition next year. v
Courtesy of Steinbrenner Band
Sports
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May 2017
One nation under sports Adler Shannon Co-Sports Editor
America: a place where just as many people who vote for the leader of the free world, watch the Super Bowl. A place where using the terms “slide tackle”, “wicket”, or “bicycle kick” will get you blank stares. A place where you can go to a ballpark and get anything from “Nachos on a stick” to a “Chicken and cheese waffle cone” or even whatever a “Sausage Sundae” entails. In other words, Americans love their sports. A person may spend the rest of the week despising the community you live in or the people you work with, but come game time, everyone bands together to root for the teams they hold near and dear to their hearts. The prominence of sports in America is seen on full display in the Tampa Bay area. With two professional football teams, an on the rise soccer team, a dominant hockey team, and a baseball team across the bay, the Tampa Bay area is jam packed full of sports. Everywhere you look it’s a steady stream of banners, chants, or even car commercials with the faces of franchises on them telling you to worship the teams. Companies vie to sponsor whatever they can get their money to buy, and no things are out of their money filled grasps. Ladders to climb up victory stages, replays of replays, field goal nets; it is only a matter of time before the sponsors sell sponsorships to sponsor them as sponsors. Sports has an effectual and supreme grasp on all of American society, stories emerge every year of aging fans in their last days wishing only to see the field they grew up going to. To hear the familiar cheers and jeers rain down onto the accustomed field or court, to feel the booming sounds, and to smell the familiar air. Many American sports leagues are regarded as the best of their kind in the entire world. The NBA, NHL, NFL, and MLB are all the epicenters of the sport worldwide, leading to a multitude of intermingling between societies and cultures throughout not only the USA but the world as a whole. More than ever before foreign players have caught the eye of the teams looking for lesser known talent. Whether it be the new highly touted African and European players in-fluxing in large numbers to the NBA such as stars Giannis Antetekounmpo (Greece),
Kristaps Porzingis (Latvia), or Joel Embiid (Cameroon), or the MLB being composed of nearly a third of players of Hispanic heritage, sports brings not only players, but people of all creeds and ethnicity as well, together into one. Nowhere else in America can you find a community so unified, so centrally understanding and supportive, as that of a sports community. A community with one heart and one soul, a win bringing near ethereal joy, a loss of heartcrushing defeat, each time, win or lose, picking itself off and getting ready to support the team for the next game. A place where strangers embrace strangers, and sing songs of glory for their team, and their longstanding hatred for the rivals or players of another franchise. Perhaps the final true echelon not reached by the American sports fan, is that of perhaps the greatest socially unifying sport of all, soccer. The MLS is on the rise as one of the better leagues in the world, but has yet to reach among the elite leagues in the world, however that could change as America begins to embrace soccer more and more. The sport is quickly growing as the MLS is looking to expand from 24 to 28 teams by 2020. The MLS’ ever expanding brand has the US on a path to possibly become one of the best leagues in the world in the not so distant future. Soccer has a special ability to unify a nation as it hosts many more national matches and exhibitions than any other major sport, allowing for people to unify under one banner and one team more often than ever before. Instead of being split into communal teams and regions, it offers the ability to follow events such as the World Cup or the Gold Cup, and solely follow the national team as it faces other nations all over the world. Ironically perhaps the world’s most international game has the chance to unify the United States like never before seen. The devotion to sports in America compares to no other. Democrat and Republican; Black, White, Hispanic, and Asian; The richest of the rich; The poorest of the poor. All standing as one cheering for their city, their people, and their shared sport heritage. The sports craze in America is impossible to ignore, as it is not a byproduct of American society, it is one of the basic foundations of American society in the first place. America, the land of the sports crazed. v
oraclenewspaper.com
Spring Sports Update Boys Track and Field- The boy’s
track and field season is coming to a close. As regionals and states approach, coaches Michael Bosco and Robert Ennis hope to continue their post-season success.
Girls Track and Field- Like
the boys, the girl’s season is also coming to a close. They are still undefeated on the season as the postseason approaches and are coached by Ladd Baldwin.
Flag Football- The flag football
season has been a success going to the playoffs once again. They are led by Greg Puskas and Cathy Tintera.
Boys Lacrosse-
The boy’s lacrosse season turned their season around and ended up winning districts, but their season came to an end with a loss to Berkeley Prep in the first round of regionals. They are coached by John Kuebrich.
Girls Lacrosse- The girl’s lacrosse team had a phenomenal season. They won districts, but fell to Plant in the first round of regionals. They were led by Head Coach Ed Kay.
Boys Tennis- The boy’s tennis team
had a great season. They are led by Head Coach Chris Cary and look to continue their success they’ve had in the past.
Girls Tennis-
The girl’s tennis team had a good season going 112. They are coached by Head Coach Kelly O’Keefe. Graphic by Pauline Howard
Compiled By: Fernando Mallicote on April 25, 2017
Sports
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Graphic by Pauline Howard
Brett Bitter
Courtesy of Cameron Wingo
Cameron Wingo Ad Designer Senior Brett Bitter, has recently signed to Liberty University to become a member of the Flames in Lynchburg, Va. Liberty is a D-I school in the Big South Conference. “It was a Christian based school and it was a big school for football and I wanted to go to
Erika Peitersen
Courtesy of Calvin Mallicote
Cameron Wingo Ad Designer Senior Erika Peitersen, has recently committed to the University of Tampa to compete as a Spartan in the D-II Sunshine State Conference. Peitersen started playing soccer nine years ago with her best friend and was influenced by her father who is a big fanatic
the biggest school possible,” said Bitter. Bitter started playing football when he was 5 years old as a hobby, along with other sports. But now, football has been his main sport and a major part of his high school career. “It’s where I got all my friends and learned a lot of lessons and stuff,” said Bitter. During the last year of his high school career, Bitter accomplished, as well as achieved many things before he has left for Virginia. “I got to play with my brother; that was fun. I broke some school records: All time receiving yards, single season receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns,” said Bitter. He says he got jis inspiration for being the best he could be from Coach Joe Ross. “Coach Ross is someone I look up to. Coach Ross is an inspirational dude, and a motivating dude. He just shows you and he motivated me to be as tough as possible, as good as possible,” said Bitter. v
of the sport and played soccer all his life. “It kinda runs in the family and one of my best friends was trying to get into it so I wanted to start with her and I just stuck with it,” said Peitersen. She has made a great contribution to the team during her time playing for Steinbrenner and has gained many friends and memories through the experience. Her favorite moment being when she made the team her freshman year. “My favorite moment or what I thought was very important to me was making the varsity team my freshman year. I saw a lot of girls not make the team and it was unfortunate but to be representing Steinbrenner as a freshman, I thought that was pretty awesome for me,” said Peitersen. Peitersen has enjoyed the fun, chill attitude towards playing in high school with her friends but looks forwards to playing in college. v
Nichole McClendon
Courtesy of Calvin McClarin
Calvin McClarin Senior Staff Writer
Senior Nichole McClendon recently signed to Seton Hill University to continue to play softball at the next level. Seton Hill is a D-2 school located in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Growing up, the game of softball has meant a lot to Nichole and is a great way
for her to have the ability to go to college for free and play the game that she loves. She began playing the game at a young age because it kept her active and ever since she picked up a softball bat she has not looked back. Before she heads off to Pennsylvania, Nichole has one more season with the Lady Warriors and plans to leave with a bang. “I want to make it to states and win as a team,” said Nichole. Some of Nichole’s favorite memories were created this year with her team. “The team has been really close. That’s one of my favorite moment’s, just becoming close with the girls,” said Nichole. Nichole is excited for the chance to play for a team so far away from home and can’t wait for a chance at a fresh start. v
Jamaya Clemmons
Courtesy of Calvin McClarin
Calvin McClarin Senior Staff Writer
Jamaya Clemmons has decided to continue his football and academic career at Anderson University. Anderson University is a D-3 school located in Anderson, Indiana, while they compete in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference. The game of football means everything for Jamaya as it has been a part of his life for
as long as he can remember. “It’s a way of life for me. It’s what I grew up on it has always been around me and a part of me,” said Clemmons. Clemmons knew this was where he wanted to spend his next four years when he first stepped foot on the campus. He loves the environment, the coaching staff, and the players that will now be his teammates. Moving so far from home can be challenging for anyone to handle and the coaching staff at Anderson understand that so they will allow Jamaya to come home during the spring time to take a few classes at a community school in town. “I’m going to be home sick, I’m really going to be home sick a lot,” said Clemmons. Although this past season the Warriors did not have the success that Clemmons was looking for, he still enjoyed every moment spent with the football team and is going to miss all of it. v
Sports
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Unique sports take over Steinbrenner Different sports are on the rise as clubs try to make them become more popular Pauline Howard Graphics Dept.
Unusual sports have become much more popular at Steinbrenner and many other schools across the country over the past school year. Trap and Skeet, Ping Pong, and Quidditch are just a few of the unusual athletic additions to the club roster that have attracted a lot of popularity and are expecting to expand in the future. Trap and Skeet, headed by Freshman Ryan Ledbetter, has been especially active outside of Steinbrenner. Trap and Skeet, in simple terms, is a sport where individuals shoot clay discs that are projected through the air to score the maximum amount of points possible. Although Trap and Skeet is an individually ranked sport, members of the club train and work together to prepare for competitions, such as the Southern Grand Regional Tournament, where Ledbetter, Christopher Meeks, and Jake Johnson all participated this year. Additionally, Ledbetter qualified for the National Junior Olympics, which he’ll be going to Colorado Springs later this year. “The fun thing about trap and skeet is that it builds discipline and respect. Because, obviously, you have to know how to handle a firearm and you also have to be respectful with them.” said Ledbetter.
The Steinbrenner Ping Pong club, headed by Senior Talia Rodriguez, had an explosive start at club rush, with over five hundred student sign ups to kick off the year. As a sport that began simply as a family tradition for Talia, the popularity of the club has been surprising. “Honestly, I haven’t really seen any other schools playing. I believe that we’re the first ones to start like, a club just for ping pong,” said Rodriguez. The Steinbrenner Quidditch club has experienced similar popularity. Inspired by the Harry Potter book series, Quidditch is a sport similar to soccer, played while “flying” on broomsticks, with three hoops on either end of the playing field and rather complicated rules. Founded by Seniors Lilly Shaffer and Jessica Berringer, Steinbrenner’s Quidditch team has held several practices after school, and developed into a very tight knit group of friends. Unfortunately Quidditch, along with the rest of these clubs, has experienced issues finding competition, simply because the sport doesn’t exist at any other local schools. Club presidents are hopeful that their sports will pick up popularity among local high schools at time goes on. “I think that as awareness of Quidditch increases that people are going to start creating more clubs, because the main reaction I get from people that aren’t in Quidditch is, ‘Like,
from Harry Potter? That’s a real thing?” said Berringer, “So I think that once like, the League, which is the World Cup, starts to pick up speed and gain recognition that it’s going to become much more common for high schools.” v
Courtesy of Joey Menendez
Reflection
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ORACLE SENIORS REFLECT Graphics by Hannah Makholm
Jillian Dradzynski Opinion Editor
Choosing to join newspaper my junior year was actually an extremely blind decision on my part. I had never written any sort of news story, had never touched a camera, and didn’t know how to write much at all. Now two years later, I have found amazing friends, held two editor positions, and know my way around an actual DSLR camera (I still don’t know how to write, however). Newspaper has really brought out the unique side of me, and for that, I could not be more thankful. I have always been
pretty quiet, but having to hold my own in brutal roast sessions and Joselle’s disgusting infatuation with Taylor Swift has drastically changed that. As the year progressed, I found myself trying to ignore the fact that I graduate this year, and threw myself into every obscure Buzzfeed quiz I could get my hands on during lunch and the newspaper class period. These four years have been wild; memories including, but not limited to internally (and let’s be honest, externally as well) screaming during layouts, drinking far more than a safe amount of caffeine, FSPA banquets and dances (shout out to Kayleigh, my dance partner in crime), and a proud satisfaction on distribution days. I’d be remiss to not mention the band family I’ve stuck it out with for the entirety of my high school career- grueling practices, inside jokes, and the incredible band trips we’ve been on, you guys make it so much more worth it. A sincere thank you and adiosyou know who you are. I’m so thankful for the experiences newspaper has given me, and to K-Crozz: I will be calling you constantly in college during nervous breakdowns.v
Jo Hindle Graphics Dept. Well it seems this is it, its been a good two years on staff, and jeez it went quick; I feel if it weren’t for this class my last years at this school would have certainly felt longer, and no where near as fun. To be perfectly honest I’m not sure what to put here, so much has happened and so much has changed, what should I say? All the time I’ve spent here in and out of school, all the memories, all the strug-
Kayleigh Haight Business Manager
Three score and zero years ago (so three years ago I guess), I decided I wanted to do something unique and neoteric with my life... and that’s how the idea of joining Newspaper was born! People always told me that my extensive imagination and my exorbitantly creative mind would lead me places in life, but I never believed them. After all, I was just an ordinary girl, there was nothing significant about me. I didn’t think that I possessed or was capable of being so... extraordinary. gles, I just couldn’t have just typed out the first part to the bee movie script till I had 250 words, I’d rather say something meaningful than go out with a meme. I’m pretty certain if I didn’t join newspaper I wouldn’t be who I am now, and yeah that sounds cheesy, but its true. I’ve grown in many ways, especially in my art; looking back at my first graphic on staff, oh boy, yikes is the only word for it, and it took so long. With constant deadlines and the pressure of layout week to pump out good
So I turned in my application, blew through the interview process with pure confidence (this is a lie, I was honestly a nervous wreck, but lets go with the confidence thing anyway), and happily accepted when I was offered a spot on staff. Joining newspaper was the best thing I ever did. I don’t know where I would be if I hadn’t joined, probably off participating in the shenanigans or something like that. To say that I’ve learned some things in this class would be an understatement. How to photograph football games clearly and at the right angle without getting tackled into the sidelines, how to properly put down people and destroy them without them even so much as noticing (thanks Joselle for always giving me someone to roast), and how to pick the most amazing and loving friends (to Jillian, my favorite human being). I’ve learned that I am the ruler of my own life and that nobody can tell me what to do (except for K-Crozz, thank you for evolving me into a socially antisocial butterfly and pushing me to my limits). I’m not gonna miss high school, but I will definitely miss being apart of this staff .v graphics fast I learned to improve pretty quick; for the first time I felt genuine passion for what I created and took pride in it and for that I’m very grateful. I’m also grateful to everyone on staff, yet again it sounds cheesy and cliche but it really has been like a (meme filled, kinda dysfunctional) family for me, being able to escape to a place with so many good people really helped me at times. Thank you and good luck to you all in whatever comes next. v
Reflection
18
May 2017
Pauline Howard Graphics Dept.
Newspaper is the type of class where you can turn the silhouette of the state of Florida into a hunched over Christmas gremlin and get a grade for it, while simultaneously watching another member of the graphics staff draw a homeless Batman for a front-page thumbnail. Becky with the Good Hair (Erix), Jungus Hungus (Jo), and most importantly WeebLord (our Head of Graphics, Hannah) have been a fantastically funny and dynamic group to work
Fernando Mallicote Co-Sports Editor
I was never supposed to be here. As a sophomore, I figured the newspaper was interesting and wanted to apply. I had Crosby as my English teacher that year and I was not her favorite student by a long shot. I would joke around saying I was going to join the newspaper, and once I saw what was needed to be done for the application, that’s what it was; a joke. When we began course selecting for the following year, I made the decision to test things out and take journalism 1 to get my performing arts
with, and I’m glad that they were the people I got to scribble on digital tablets in complete silence with this year. I love our graphics team, along with the entire rest of the staff. Considering I was so late to join, everyone here has welcomed me with open arms and over the course of this year I’ve clocked more hours in Ms. Crosby’s room than any other in the school. I’ve felt comfortable with my job, the staff, and Ms. Crosby from the minute I entered the room on the first day of school. I honestly didn’t believe it when the staff tried to tell me that Ms. Crosby is like a mother to them, but she honestly is. She’s kind but stern when she needs to be, like when I came to school sick and she had to send me home or when I get distracted from my news deadlines. Both her and this class have taught me ethics, responsibility, and common sense through deadlines and the process of narrowing down story ideas. I couldn’t be more grateful and I got so much out of this year. I’ll miss it immensely v . credit out of the way and see if I would like that kind of stuff. By some freak accident, I was placed in the newspaper the following year without submitting an application or going through an interview. I went through that year and surprised everyone, including myself. I found myself with a group of people that were a bunch of different people that seemed to work. Even though I was never supposed to be in the class in the first place, I started doing very well in the class, and although they will never admit it, there was one point in the year where they thought to make me the EIC. But I took the next best position by becoming the Sports Editor this year. While I have to say last year was a lot more fun and our staff was much closer, being an editor has been fun. I have had some of my best memories during layout weeks. While this year on staff hasn’t been my favorite, my buddy Calvin has been there with me from the beginning. If there has been one upside of the newspaper, it’s Calvin. Last words from me are as follows. See you later, Calvin Mallicote. The ELCARO will rise! v
oraclenewspaper.com Hannah Makholm Head of Graphics
Last year I was in charge of drawing all the seniors that were leaving as the Head of Graphics, but now I have to draw myself. Wild, right? Ever since Marissa Hibble talked me into nervously handing in a 3 week late application with absurdly anime-style drawings attached to it, I’ve been met with only acceptance and open arms on this staff. I’ve grown so much as a person and as an artist through these three years, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Calvin McClarin Senior Staff Writer
I don’t really know how to write a senior good bye, but this was due a few weeks ago, so here goes nothing. I’ve been a part of newspaper for the last three years and my time on staff was alright, there were some moments that stood out more than others but as a whole I had a good time. One of my favorite things about this class was my good friend Fernando. Having someone in the class who is just like me was a huge gift, without
The newsroom became my second home, except with much more screaming over computer malfunctions. The blur tool will forever haunt my dreams. The newsroom, the paper itself, and the people that make everything happen are all easily what made my high school experience worth it. I have full faith in Erix and the new graphics weenies to continue on the legacy of the group of huddled, crying artists slaving over the pink strips of graphics requests until their art programs inevitably crash. You can do it, kiddos! I always get super emotional with this family because they gave me a place to fit in when I was lost in a sea of hormonal teens. To Momma Crosby, Pauline, Jo, Britt, Papi (Ricardo), Anthony, Luke, Logi-Bear (or Logurt, but mostly Logan), Gabby, Dillon, Andrew, Emily, Jordyn, and my sweet child Alyssa, thank you for all of the special memories, even if you’re not here to read this. To those who aren’t listed, I adore you and I can’t wait for you to embark on your own personal journeys with this family. Keep on writing, drawing, and remember to save! v him I would have went insane a long time ago. He was placed in the newspaper class when he was not supposed to be, I think it was fate that brought us two together. I’m fortunate to have made such a great friend in this class. As for the advisor Mrs. Crosby, she is one of the nicest people I have ever met and truly cares about her students (most of the time). Her jokes are funny for the mosr part, but they can be really cringy. Without these two people, I’m sure I would not be in newspaper and you would not be here reading this. Being a part of newspaper has taught me how to respect other people’s viewpoints even if I don’t agree with it. Well as I close this goodbye I would like to say BAD BOYZ FOR LIFE and the Elcaro will rise. Joey said I need to add more words to meet my word count ,which is another thing I learned about in newspaper and something that many others should lso if I were you I would stop reading this because it is just me rambling on so I can meet my word count five, four, three, two, one and done.
v
Reflection
19
May 2017
oraclenewspaper.com Melody Ocasio A&E Editor As my first year on The Oracle is coming to a close, the responsibilities of being A&E Editor must be passed down to the next person ready to take on the late layout nights, constant story editing and creative mindset for the section that must entertain. Never did I think that my first year on staff I would gain the title of someone with a whole section of responsibilities. It was new, and not easy, yes I love to write but guiding our staff writers to produce the most eye-catching section was a challenge. Having past editors pages as a building block, it was my goal to have the arts and entertainment section relate to every type of student at Steinbrenner. Have all tastes
Alyssa Ruiz Senior Staff Writer Two years, two years I have put my time and effort into newspaper, and it has been the best two years of my life. When I had first decided to join newspaper I didn't think i would make the friends that I have. Being on staff has been an amazing experience and I wouldn't change it for the world, from the roasts to making terrible jokes the memories that I have made I will cherish forever. At the end of the day though, I will miss everyone on staff terribly but I will be back they cant get rid of me yet. For me, being apart of this strange family has been very interesting, wonderful, and sometimes strange but
Joselle Schaffer News Editor Well here we go, I guess I’ll start my goodbye off with a confession. The truth is if you asked me three years ago about our school newspaper, I probably would have been shocked that we even had one. I know, I know... quite the scandal. But hey look at me now, struggling to find a way to say goodbye to something that has become so special to me. Don’t get me wrong, I’m excited to leave high school and start this new chapter in my life, but being apart of this staff has left its mark on me. Despite all of the Taylor Swift related roasting, I know that through this class I have made friendships that will last me a lifetime. I’ll miss taking daily(ish) pictures
Adler Shannon Co-Sports Editor When I take out an old box years from now, I am unsure of what I would want to see in that goodbye in my final newspaper. Something, perhaps witty, with a tinge of stale dad-esque humor to set the tone. Maybe sprinkle in a story of triumph over ever advancing deadlines while school work stows away in the back of your brain. Add in a idealistic overview of the greatness of every atom of every single person in newspaper, and round it all off with a progressively optimistic understanding of what lies ahead and how I will live the next 70-80 years of my life, then walk as an idled hero of Steinbrenner’s
and opinions in the music and movie industry displayed. With each publication I learned on how to improve not only my section but my writing as well, what not only I could handle but overall what our staff could complete with a deadline. When Celebrity Watch was introduced into The Oracle, it was something I hoped would allow Steinbrenner’s artistic students to be showcased, and I hope that the future A&E Editor will continue to fill that page with students who display a unique side to Steinbrenner’s spirit . My time spent on The Oracle has consisted of many learning experiences that I hope to carry with me into the next chapter of my life, and I would like to thank Mrs. Crosby and everyone on the Oracle Staff for a great first last experience. v that's what happens when you get a bunch of amazing people and put them in a small room. I'll definitely miss writing for the newspaper and seeing the paper and everyone's hard work pay off each edition. Most of all, I'll miss Mrs. Crosby, she has been an amazing advisor these past two years, always being their to guide and help me which kind of makes her a mom. Being a part of this staff has taught me so much, I've learned how to properly use a camera, which I know is a something I will still be able to use after I graduate, and I've learned how to be a better writer. All of this, is all thanks to the two amazing years on staff. I don't want to say goodbye cause I don't really like goodbyes so I'll say see you later newspaper, its been great! v with Ariel, and spontaneous Disney adventures with Kayleigh. Even though I won’t see my squad everyday, I know we will always stay connected (thanks Snapchat.) Jillian. I also want to give a shout out to Mrs. Crosby, one of the best teachers I’ve ever had. Thank you for being there when I needed someone to talk to and actually caring about what I had to say. It’s teachers like you that truly make an impact on your students. The truth is being on this staff has definitely been one of the highlights of my high school experience. I have so many great memories with the most wonderful people. From going to theme parks, FSPA, and having the ultimate computer struggles during layout week I’m truly grateful for this experience. v effervescent sports journalism lore, into the sunset. “Yet, was that enough?” I wondered to my future self. Is that all you had to say about the single most enveloping and interesting experience over a few years of my life? What of finding my passion in sports journalism and how it helped me get jobs before I even left? What of the seemingly endless layout weeks in which I would receive more sleep in the back of AP classes than in an actual bed? How did I leave out the true individuality seen in each and every person who graced the faces of the harrowed Oracle wall of quotes? I can’t believe I had left out my first place victory in the coveted sock hall relay races, my failed execution of a stairwell-railing-slide at FSPA, and literally gaining a brother from another mother. Surely my future self would mutter “I am disappointed”, well hi disappointed, I’m Dadler. v
Close
20
May 2017
oraclenewspaper.com
We wish you good luck ,Mrs. Jarrett
Beverley Jarrett has been teaching here since Steinbrenner was founded eight years ago. She has spread school spirit amongst teachers and students through Senate year after year, hosting all of the pep rallies and many Steinbrenner events with pride. Unfortunately, the 2016-2017 school year is her last year teaching. Courtesy of The Odessy Staff
Courtesy of The Odessy Staff Courtesy of The Odessy Staff
One of the biggest events she organized was the Kick it for Leist fundraiser. Kick it for Leist was one of Jarrett’s favorite events. Although she was sad for the purpose of the event, she was overjoyed to spread love to the Leist family and see all of the support shown from the students and teachers. Courtesy of The Odessy Staff
Compiled by Marielyssa Hernandez