Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts

Volume 10Issue 5April 2013MUSET

HE

virtuallyeverywhere

The popularity of FLVS could threaten the arts.

Pages 17-19

Find out how Dreyfoos athletics break down by the numbers.

Increased prom prices are unfair for those students who cannot afford to pay.

Read about Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright’s visit to campus and her inspiring message for students.

Check out the Features section to find out why Southerly Shore, Bows for Babes, All My Metaphors and Bloch’s Beads are becoming the hottest trends on campus.

Read about the theatre department’s tranformation to the 1930s, a time of love, gambling and catchy songs.

Find out the truth behind some of the most common health myths and urban legends.

Quvenzhane Wallis breakes racial barriers and is casted as the next little orphan Annie.

After taking the Gold for Spirit Week 2013, the month

of April for seniors should be named “Senioritis Awareness Month” and for juniors “Wish I Was Graduating Month.” Although these are slightly broad and generalized assertions, we believe that the month of April is just a little bit more difficult than any other month of school.

With AP Exams just around the corner in May and FCAT tests, EOC Exams and SAT Subject Tests coming up, a heavy weight of standardized testing expectations has been placed on your shoulders. The last push of the fourth quarter is looming over our heads and Spring Break was, unfortunately, eight months too short. To help with the madness of exams or the stress of the last months of school, we hope the sixth issue of The Muse brightens up your day and puts you in a good mood to, hopefully, be able to push through the infamous month of April.

While this month feels like the longest and hardest month for most students, for theatre students this month will bring them a well needed break after completing their musical, “Guys and Dolls.” Make sure to check out the Arts section to find out

about the overall success of the show (pg. 23).

Have you ever wondered how to use your major in different ways? Take a look at Mack Schroeder’s Features column on Dreyfoos Fire Safety, to get the scoop on exactly how you can apply your skills from your major when placed in an emergency situation (pg. 12), and while on the topic of safety, everyone should check out this issue’s Lives article on Dreyfoos’ new police aide, George Prime (pg. 8).

Although we all want to forget about the stress that comes with the fourth quarter, for those taking an FLVS course it also means completing that course before the end of the school year. Everyone should definitely read this issue’s cover story on the affects of FLVS on Dreyfoos (pg. 17-19).

Without a doubt, this upcoming month will be stressful, but there are lots of activities that we all can look forward to that will help us get through the last few months of the school year. From Grad Bash to Prom and everything in between, we wish you all the best of luck. g

&

Photo by Elizabeth Lane

Every period of the day, more than 30 students crowd into the computer labs in Building 1 to work on their FLVS courses. Students can access their online accounts not only on their computers, but on their phones and iPads, using the increasingly popular goFLVS app.

Photo by Elizabeth Lane

Editors-in-chief Dominique McKenzie (left) and Shawna Bilton relax after publishing the fifth issue of The Muse and prepare for the stress that comes with the month of April.

ON THE COVER

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Anxious for the month of April

ENTERTAINMENT

ARTS

OP/ED

NEWS

FEATURES

SPORTS

WELLNESS

The athletic breakdown

The problems with prom

Meeting Madeleine

Trending topics

Behind the scenes of “Guys and Dolls”

Fact or fiction?

Breaking barriers32

4

8

14

26

30

23

Please recycle The Muse

For more Museworthy stories visit:

THEMUSEATDREYFOOS.COM

Correction:The Muse stated that the SAT would be administered on Thursday, Feb. 27, when in fact it was administered on Wednesday, Feb. 27.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

2

by MuseStaff

Throughout all of high school, students have

a number: a rank of how they stand in comparison to their peers. Once senior year comes around, this number finally becomes meaningful. It is the number that colleges and scholarship foundations want to know, and it is the number that will come to define the students on May 21, the anticipated date of graduation.

“I didn’t really consider rank until later in my high school career,” visual senior Daniel Shuter said.

On Dec. 21, the cut-off date for determining the student rankings, the school uses a software provided by the school district that labels all students in the senior class from numbers 1 to 315. At this time all grades are due, excluding dual enrollment grades, but including all completed Florida Virtual School class grades.

However, these rankings are not accomplished without hard work. Some students have been working since their freshman year, meticulously planning out their classes to ensure their spot in the top 20 students for graduation because of the benefits of being in the top 20.

“I like being in the top 20,” digital media senior Kira Nicolai said. “I get a lot of special perks. I had ice cream with [Principal Susan] Atherley and I get to graduate in a special section. Being in the top 20 is a good reflection of the work I’ve put into school.”

One of the major ways students try and “game the system” for determining these positions is by withholding grades from FLVS classes, specifically from Physical Education classes.

“Students either do not complete [P.E.] or they do not take it until after the seven semester break because it’s a regular course,” Assistant Principal George Miller said. “Also, some students could complete the course and

not turn in the grade so that it doesn’t count, but if guidance knows about it, then the grade will go in.”

Along with that, students have been known to load up on AP classes and AP exams, and then share their work with their friends in order to boost their HPA, not only throughout high school, but also specifically in the first semester of their senior year right before the cut-off date.

“Of course I’ve heard the stories of students taking AP courses online that we don’t offer here,” Assistant Principal Leo Barrett said. “When they get the ‘A’ [in the class] it adds an extra six points to their HPA.”

In order to prevent these students from cheating the school system and unfairly

being placed in the top 20, the school district should change the cut-off date to one that is closer to the date of graduation. Since student rankings are in constant fluctuation, the people who were named top 20 at the end of the first semester may not be the true top 20 by graduation.

“I think the cut-off date for determining the top 20 should be moved closer to graduation. I know that it is a little difficult to coordinate the top 20 for graduation, but I don’t think moving it to a closer date would be too tough,” communications senior Savannah Artusi said. “The way it stands, a student in the top 20 could theoretically slack off during the second semester but still sit in the top 20 for graduation. I don’t think this is an accurate representation of the actual class standing. Students should be rewarded for their hard work throughout

their high school career, and that includes the second semester of their senior year.”

The only down side of switching the date would be that students would not be able to report their official rankings to colleges.

“The universities want to know your rank when you are applying to schools at the end of the first semester [the end of your seventh high school semster], and since everything is based on those seven semesters, why should this determining date be different?” Mr. Miller said.

It would be more honest if colleges knew your true ranking. This way, they would be able to see if you either improved or regressed during your senior year. So, why not report both rankings? Show the colleges where you were at the end of the first semester and where you end up at the end of the third quarter. That way, the system is more fair and is a more accurate representation of the top 20. g

Contributor: Francesca Otero-Vargas

Illustration by Rebecca Shalloway

Rankings fail to representStudents could change rank between first semester, graduation

‘I think the cut-off date for determining the top 20 should be moved closer to graduation.’

-communications senior Savannah Artusi

STAFF EDITORIAL

3

Commentary by PaulaGalvan

After going through four years of sleepless and stress-filled nights, the time has

finally come for the night seniors have been waiting their high school careers for: prom. Formerly known as “promenade,” named for a dance which was the debut of young adults into society but shortened to “prom,” the dance has evolved into a rite of passage for graduating seniors. Yet, even with all the hype about prom, there are still some students who will not be able to attend due to the increase in the price of tickets. These students will not be able to end their high school career with a bang, but with a fizzle, and that is just unfair.

Last year, the price of prom was only $75. This year, the junior class council raised the price of prom up to $90 to cover security and the cost of prom necessities. But of course, if you bring a date, you have to pay at least $180, and if you need a dress or tux, add another $100 on to the bill. Suddenly, you and your date are out a minimum $300 and you still don’t have a ride. Since the idea of getting your parents to drop you off is somewhat uncool, you pay anywhere up from $100 per person for the limo. In reality, the price of cheapest limo is $200 or more.

For the students who will have trouble coming up with the money for the tickets, their dream of attending prom is now just about a mere $400 away.

Prom is more than just a dance; it’s the final hurrah, the last step before graduating for seniors. Carl Pickhardt, in his book “Surviving (Your Child’s) Adolescence,” writes. “For many young people and their parents, senior prom is a watershed event, a coming of age ceremony that separates the end of high school from whatever more worldly experience comes next. In both parents and adolescents there’s a desire to mark the occasion, to make it special, to make it memorable with the 4 grown up D’s—dating, dressing up, dining, dancing.” Yet is it really worth spending $75 or even $90 on prom?

“I think being a senior you kind of want to take high school

in and experience everything it has to offer and prom is part of that,”

communications senior Autumn Homer said. “Prom is fun, but

it’s not as great as movies make it out to be; it’s what

you make of it. It’s not the end of the world if you don’t go, but I’d want

the memories when I’m older.”

Arriving on the cement steps of the Harriet Himmel Theater is a Dreyfoos prom tradition. While changing the venue may reduce the cost, prom would not be as special. But prom would also

not be as special if all seniors were not able to attend.

We should make every effort possible (even setting up a small fundraiser would make a difference) to make April 27 a magical night for every senior. g

Commentary by TessSaperstein

In today’s society, anyone can be a thief. With commonplace

technology such as laptops, iPads and cell phones, people can steal thousands of dollars worth of music and movies without leaving their homes. But here is the problem: as much as I appreciate the FBI spending hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of taxpayer money on hunting down teenagers who like Megaupload, illegal downloading should not be that big of a deal.

According to a study conducted by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, in 2008, 95 percent of all the music downloaded was done so illegally. I’ll be the

first to admit, this number makes it seem like piracy is tearing the music industry apart, but by that logic, Taylor Swift should be singing about her empty pockets instead of Harry Styles. In fact, despite this

supposed online apocalypse, the London-based research firm Enders Analysis predicted a $5.35 billion rise in revenue for the music industry in early 2013.

The main argument against illegally downloading music is that artists lose massive sums of money. But the fundamental flaw with this argument is that the people

losing this potential revenue are already rich. According

to a report by David Blackburn of Harvard University, “File sharing reduces sales for well known artists relative to unknown artists.” If anything, online piracy provides a net benefit

to independent or relatively unknown artists because, as Mr. Blackburn goes on to say, these artists are being introduced to a new market of consumers.

Furthermore, illegally downloading movies and television shows should be considered an even less serious offense. Let’s be honest, the real crime here is the exorbitant prices we have to pay at the movie theater. ($9.50 for a matinee showing of “Spring Breakers?” Come on.) With all of this new and widely available downloading technology, it’s time that the movie industry catches up. According to the National Association of Movie Theater Owners, movie tickets reached an all-time high in 2012 when the average ticket cost was $8.12, and this cost has been on the rise since then. It’s Hollywood’s job to make its prices competitive. As Paul Tassi of Forbes said, “The primary problem movie studios have to realize is that everything they charge for is massively overpriced.”

Times are changing, and movie and music producers need to keep up. Entertainment isn’t cheap these days, and unreasonable prices and fast computers have turned many innocent teenagers to a life of crime. g

Illustration by Charlie Krumholz

Illustration by Charlie Krumholz

April not looking ‘prom’ising

Walking the plank for piracy

OP/ED

4

Commentary by ClaudiaZamora

I possess the highly

commendable ability to make downright ugly facial expressions on demand. Morphing and shaping my face into unpleasant and outlandish expressions has consistently been known as my forte. As a child, I would perch respectfully at my mother’s side while complete strangers ogled over how exceptionally angelic and obedient I was. I’m sure all witnesses would agree they were shocked when 3-foot, 4-year-old Claudia busted out a grotesque face like no other. As soon as an adult would praise me for being “momma’s little angel,” I would scrunch my face into a sour and unsightly double chin and stare blankly back at them.

I never believed my parents when they told me if I held an ugly face for too long, it would stay like that forever. But after 16 years of generating deformed and unsightly expressions, I have to admit my parents may have been on to something—my niche for making demented and erratic faces has become an unconscious habit.

The Grinch-FacedPhoto Bomber

The cultural hearth of my ugly-faced talent lies in what is coined as the “Grinch-faced Photo Bomber,” which I developed during my terrible 2’s. Although quite simple, the most accurate way to illustrate the expression that follows the GFPB is a hybrid between Jim Carey’s Grinch adaptation, a newly born pug and a crying infant. The GFPB can only be

truly achieved through film, and is the most effective way to spoil a perfectly good photograph. Disclaimer: the Grinch-faced Photo Bomber is a direct result of smiling too hard in a group photo.

The SubconsciousThis disgusted facial

expression comes naturally for me during awkward or offensive circumstances. In order to master the look you must: push the face as tightly to the neck as possible, curl the ends of your mouth southward, then stare aghast at the object of disapproval. Note: when especially irate, the nose or eye will twitch ever so slightly. I

encounter “the subconscious disgusted” while partaking in school activities. Just last week, as I was halfway through taking an SAT vocabulary quiz in my

English class, my teacher had no qualms about announcing to the entire class that I “looked as if I wanted to strangle my paper.” Upon further inspection, I realized that my English teacher was direct proof that “the subconscious disgusted” is truly working its magic.

The Overjoyed and ContentThe overjoyed and content, is

a direct correlation of overdosing on a chimerical and satisfied emotion. The OC is produced after a surge of pleasure is released from the nervous system. When performing the OC, the face extends ever so slightly as the eyes cheerfully chink up and the mouth shrivels into a contented line. The sight and aroma of Chipotle never fails to make me OC like no other. I’ll continue to express my emotional imbalance when I spot guacamole and cilantro-lime rice. I have absolutely no shame. g

Commentary by XimenaHasbach

Senioritis. Everyone is familiar with this chronic syndrome—it involves the seniors losing interest in classes and a lack of

concern for upcoming AP exams. Every underclassman expects to someday experience it for themselves. It’s a sign that a person’s days at Dreyfoos are coming to a close, and that we’re moving on to bigger and better things.

“Senioritis is when you leave your house late and you don’t do homework. It’s the lazy in you coming out,” band senior Blake Macqueen said.

However, there is a great threat to this beautiful system: the absence rule that if seniors are absent more than 10 times during the second semester they lose the privilege of having their fourth quarter grade count twice. Therefore, they are forced to come back after senior sign-out and take semester exams. With Dreyfoos’ block scheduling, however, being absent for one block period counts as two absences. One of the biggest concerns with the “10 absences” rule is that some seniors have been forced to come to school when they are not feeling well out of fear that they will have to return and take their exams otherwise.

“Everybody kept coming to school sick,” digital media senior Olivia Rodbell said. “They’re getting everybody else sick.”

This fear is less severe for freshmen, sophomores and juniors. Students in lower grade levels know that they have to take semester exams no matter what and, for the most part, are not afraid of failing them. If a particularly bad bout of the flu comes to town, it won’t take much to convince the underclassmen to stay in bed.

This regulation is unnecessary and serves the sole purpose of irking students who have achieved what is for many one of the most important goals of a high school career: being accepted into a college or university. Many students apply to schools in the early action/decision round and find out what school they’ll be attending before first semester is out. Once the wait is over, seniors not only deserve a break, but also check out of school weeks before the other grades. This means they are not around for end-of-year review.

One way to fix the problem would be to allow students to be absent when truly necessary. This would mean only counting unexcused absences towards the limited number. Then, there would not only be fewer germs multiplying on our desks, but seniors would get the breather they have definitely earned. g

Claudia Zamora

Illustration by Rebecca Shalloway

Quitting the count

Taking it at face value

The 10 absences limit is harming seniors

The good, the bad, the ugly (but mostly ugly)

Morphing and shaping my face into unpleastant and outlandish expressions has consistently been known as my forte.

Disgusted

OP/ED

5

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honored to support those that seek to discover and enlighten. We salute The A.W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts

on decades of doing just that.

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BRIEFSthe by JensenTate

Social studies teacher Lea Jefferson was nominated for the William T. Dwyer

Award, which recognizes outstanding achievement by teachers in Palm Beach county. It is awarded to those who have shown excellence in education, civic duty, leadership and business awareness. Ms. Jefferson was nominated by school staff and teachers in the

senior high category.“So for me [to have the Dreyfoos staff

and teachers nominate me] means I won. To have people you work with everyday say, ‘We think you’re of this caliber,’ it’s amazing to me,” Ms Jefferson said. “I think I’m just overwhelmed because people that I admire, teachers that have been teaching 12, 15,

30 years, I’m just in awe of that and I greatly appreciate it.” g

by JensenTate

James and Sue Patterson donated money to the school to give a select amount

of students free SAT tutoring through the company Score at the Top.

“Students were chosen very randomly,” Assistant Principal Nicole Daly said. “What we did was we took the PSAT testing scores and we kind of divided it into three groups like low, medium and high, and we were allowed to choose 45 people as a total and we

picked 15 randomly out of each, so all levels had a chance.”

The SAT tutoring began in March and continues for five weeks. The classes are on Monday, Wednesday and Friday during lunch and run about 30 minutes into the students’ fourth or fifth hour. The tutoring is held in the Media Center in three different groups of 15 students, and each group is taught by an instructor from the Score at the Top company. g

by RickyMorris

This academic quarter brought many awards and honors for students around

the school. Whether it was winning academic competitions or students getting accepted to prestigious programs, the accolades were achieved through a lot of hard work.

• Visual sophomores Madison Bloch and John “Alex” Baleno were both admitted to the Oxbow School in Napa Valley, CA. Oxbow is an intensive art program consisting of 45 to 48 students from around the world who are chosen to spend the fall or spring session living on the campus.

• The SECME team came in third place overall in the annual county-wide science competition held at Santaluces High School. The team placed in several other categories.

• Strings juniors Justin Velasquez and Ericsson Hatfield and vocal junior Pierce Connell won second place in the Brain Bowl trivia game.

• Visual junior Jessica Roses placed first in the poster competition.

• Communications junior Josie Russo placed second in the essay competition.

• In a county-wide competition, students represented the school at the Palm Beach County National History Day Fair.

Strings juniors Rachel Randolph and Alice Zhou placed second in the Group

Documentary division.Digital media junior

Emily Greentree placed second in the Individual Website division.

Digital media sophomore Abigail Greentree and band sophomores Sophie Press and Katie Meyers all placed first in the Group Website division.

• Visual junior Heather Grace won the Bertie-Green Travel Award and will spend a week this summer in Costa Rica. After writing an essay in Spanish, Grace was chosen by foreign language teacher Barbara Smith to represent Dreyfoos in the competition. Grace wrote another essay and recorded a five-minute video interview with Mrs. Smith and submitted it for a chance to win the award. Twenty-two students from Spanish Honor Society chapters across the country are chosen for this all-expense-paid trip.

• In a competition for the Health Occupations Students of America, Dreyfoos was represented by students from many

different majors. Communications sophomore Taylor

Hendrickson, digital media juniors Jordan Starkey and Alec Nguyen, keyboard junior Nicholas Natural and communications junior Sergio Rodriguez won second place for their public service announcement video regarding hypertension.

Visual junior Jordan Lane-Palmer placed third in the health poster category. g

Photo courtesy of Cookie Davis

Photo by Elizabeth Lane

(From right to left) Communications freshman Erik Ridd, theatre junior Manie Ocean, theatre freshman Iliana Robles, digital media sophomore Emma Hillman and visual sophomore Cuyla Brown. won the county-wide Battle of the Books competition beating out Boca Raton High School for the title.

A Score at the Top tutor gives SAT math strategies to the students during lunch. “The tips that are given during these tutoring sessions are incredibly helpful,” visual junior Luis Zepeda said.

Ms. Jefferson teaches to the top

45 students hit the jackpot with free SAT tutoring

Another day, another victory

‘To have the people you work with everyday say, “We think you are of this caliber,” it’s amazing to me.’

-social studies teacher Lea Jefferson

7

NEWS

by KayleighRubin

Principal Dr. Susan Atherley gathered SGA, reporters and administration in Building 2.

They stood in a straight line, anxious to greet the important guest. A strong, petite woman exited the elevator to applause and camera flashes. Within arm’s reach stood the true embodiment of an empowered woman: former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.

Before addressing students at Meyer Hall, Ms. Albright was handed copies of her book, “Prague Winter,” to be signed for administration and SGA. Although it took Ms. Albright seconds to autograph the books, the impact she left is ingrained in memories forever.

“I am currently reading a signed copy, and I absolutely love it. Being a fan of Ms. Albright, I am very happy and lucky to have a signed copy,” said vocal senior Jarvis Ramil, who is SGA co- treasurer.

Once finished autographing, Ms. Albright boarded Officer James O’Sullivan’s golf cart to be transported to Meyer Hall. There she discussed a variety of topics, including her difficult journey to become the highest-ranking female in United States government.

“When I was a student, I wanted to be

a journalist and I married a journalist. We moved to Chicago and were having dinner with an editor of a newspaper, and he asked me what I wanted to do. I said I wanted to be a journalist and he said you can’t, because your husband is a journalist,” Ms. Albright said.

Refusing to be discouraged, Ms. Albright

returned to school. There she discovered a new passion and, with that, her purpose.

“My passion is foreign policy. My passion is giving back. We live in a complicated time, but I believe in the possibility to make a difference,” Ms. Albright said.

Indeed, Ms. Albright has made a difference for people overseas as well as United States citizens. Her position as the first female secretary of state paved the way for women. Former Secretaries of State Condoleezza Rice and Hilary Clinton followed Ms. Albright’s path, reflecting the success of women in the workforce.

“I think being the first woman Secretary of State has shattered the glass ceiling,” Ms. Albright said. “My 7-year-old granddaughter said, ‘What’s the big deal about Grandma Maddie being Secretary of State? All of them are women.’”

At the assembly on Feb. 7, Ms. Albright imparted the secret behind her success.

“My motto is to interrupt,” Ms. Albright said. “If you’re in a meeting, you can’t sit and wait for people to call on you. I was sitting in a meeting when I realized, ‘If I don’t speak today, the voice of the United States will not be heard.’” g

by NatashaLeonard

After the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, schools across the

United States have begun focusing on the safety of their students. Because Dreyfoos

has such an accessible campus, the school has added a new member to the

staff, George Prime, who guards the gate to the teachers’ parking lot.

“The reason why I’m here is so we can cut down on the car traffic on campus. We can control who is inside, whether it’s parents that have meetings, staff or college students,” Mr. Prime said.

Though many think Mr. Prime is new to campus, he was assigned to Dreyfoos in the 2007-2008 school year. After the end of the school year, he was deployed to Iraq to serve in the military.

“I decided [to go into the military] two years before I graduated high school,” Mr. Prime said. “My mom signed my papers because I wasn’t old enough. I turned 18 in basic training. While overseas, I monitored poll sites, making sure everyone got a chance to vote. I think the most gratifying thing to see was females given the right to vote.”

While visiting different countries in the Middle East and Europe, Mr. Prime had the opportunity to see certain historical events take place.

“I’m grateful for the experience. I’ve done things in the military that most [people] wouldn’t have,” Mr. Prime said. “I got to see the world. I saw the Berlin Wall come down. I worked the Olympics in 1996 and the 2004 G8 Summit in Savannah, Georgia.”

His time in the military ended after serving 13 months overseas. Now that he’s returned to the campus, he has sparked an interest within the Dreyfoos student population and has even given advice to a few students who plan to entering the military.

“We talked about what the military needs, what it’s like to do your job and serve. You wouldn’t think he’d be the type of guy to

talk about this stuff with. He’s actually really quiet, but when you get him started he opens up to you,” communications senior Anthony Rodriguez said. “You can tell he probably

misses [the military] a lot. I usually talk to him about fitness, deployment, rangers school, special force selection. He’s a helpful guy. He doesn’t sugar coat. He’ll tell it to you straight.”

After spending time in the military, Mr. Prime is happy to provide information about the military to any curious students, but his main

concern is campus safety. Some parents, though, view

the addition of Mr. Prime as a hindrance when dropping off or picking up their children.

“We’re trying to get parents to understand it’s not a punishment for them,” Mr. Prime said. “We’re concerned about the students’ safety and keeping the chaos outside. Trying to keep what happened in Connecticut from happening here—that’s our main concern.” g

Photo courtesty of George Prime

LIVES

Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright addresses the junior and senior classes in Meyer Hall on Wednesday Feb. 27. She taught students to learn from history and tackle various issues in the world.

Albright empowers students

‘Prime’ary defense: keeping school safe New police aide returns to Dreyfoos after serving in mil itary

Officer aid George Prime sits on the chair of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. He visted the President’s Palace while on duty in 2007.

Photo courtesy of Bianca Simon

NEWS

8

by JosieRusso

On Feb. 20, math teacher Christopher Coombs received

a call from a neighbor telling him police officers were at his house. After leaving school, Mr. Coombs arrived home to find that a family friend, Krystal Caruso, had accidentally shot and killed herself at Mr. Coombs’ home.

“She showed me her gun the other night, actually, and she was complaining how the trigger was too hard to pull and it jammed,” said Jordan Coombs, Mr. Coombs’ daughter, in an interview with News Channel 25. “It very well could have been a misfire with the gun, but nonetheless she shouldn’t have been playing with

it.”Ms. Caruso had lived on and off

with the Coombs family for over three years, and while not a blood relative, she was like a daughter to them. Mr. Coombs took the rest of the week off to be with his family and help his son cope with the

tragedy he witnessed. “I just want to reiterate

what you have heard for years, because I am now living it,” said Mr. Coombs in a letter addressing students and staff members. “Tell your family you love them

every chance you get, because you really never know when it will be the last time you see them.”

A memorial service was held at the United Methodist Church of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach on Saturday, March 16 at 3 p.m. in order for friends and family members to pay their respects. g

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‘Tell your family you love them every chance you get, because you really never know when it will be the last time you see them.’

-math teacher Christopher Coombs

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In memory of KrystalAccidental shooting reminds Mr. Coombs of the importance of family

NEWS

9

by PhotoStaff

V isual students have taken over the campus with their handmade decorations

and installations. This past month the installation exhibition, “Approved,” was scattered around school, featuring the artwork of visual juniors and seniors. The earthly materials emphasized the idea of appreciating the world’s landscape. Each unique piece at the exhibition was approved by Assistant Principal Suzanne Smith. Fire torches, bungee cords and sawed plywood fill the patio outside visual teacher John Griffin’s classroom. Recently in the architecture design classes, students have been working on trailer constructions to attach to bikes, which will be raced through the bus loop. From cinnamon-filled jars hanging from trees and colored plastic balls stacked in bathroom sinks to decorative teepees, the visual students have transformed nature inspirations into 3D pieces. g

Visual senior Helen Lehrer rearranges the branches for her teepee in the “Approved” installation exhibition. “The construction was intuitive and free-flowing in congruence with the Native American philosophy,” Lehrer said.

Students have extended their installations to the second floor girls bathroom in the visual building. Ecclectic decorations of posed Barbie dolls and paintings on the mirrors make for an original exhibition.

Visual junior Mason O’Brien adds a clay face to his human form concentration pieces for his AP 3D Art class. “The abstract swirls protruding from the head represent something mentally going on with the figure rather than physical,” O’Brien said. “I’m using the physical form as a language to communicate something physiological.”

Visual senior Kylie McGinnis mystifies audiences at the “Approved” installation exhibition. “I am aiming for a visual representation of finding comfort in the Earth and what is natural,” McGinnis said. The jars suspended from a tree were filled with hair, flowers, cinnamon and gold leaf.

Digital Media junior Heidi Kiziah works on an ultra light trailer to be placed behind her group’s bike. “The challenge was using the lightest materials possible to make the fastest trailer, “ Kiziah said. At the end of the week, the Architecture 2 class had a race around the bus loop to see whose trailer would win.

Dirty Works

Photos by ElizabethLane, AubreyLevin and DanaMiller

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by MackSchroeder

As a student of a top tier arts school, you

are taught to hone the skills within your major so you can impress people with your talent. You learn to play the violin so you can serenade your friends with a cover of “Viva La Vida,” and you learn to sculpt so your mom can tell everyone that her child is the next Michelangelo. While these incentives may be real for many of us, we fail to realize the true purpose of these artistic abilities: using them for fire safety.

BandFlames surround you and your band

friends from all sides and there is no way out. You have a concert in 15 minutes. Since you all play brass instruments and possess more wind power than a category five hurricane, each of you gather enough air in your lungs to blow out the fire. You escape unharmed and make the concert on time.

DanceThe building is collapsing and your only

way to safety is by jumping over a giant gap on the second floor in an aerial pirouette. You glide through the air and land in a perfect split. There is a rafter blocking the exit so you bash through it with a 100 degree tilt. You perform a back flip off the second floor balcony and land in a cushioning bush.

CommunicationsScreams are heard from every direction

and you must guide your fellow classmates before it’s too late. You use your skills from speech and debate to speak clearly and organize a plan to lead the victims away from the fire. Once everyone escapes, you realize there is a camera attached to your waist that has been recording the entire time. The video

plays from the beginning and you notice a chipmunk playing with matches and starting a fire. You report the chipmunk to the police and they give you a generous check for your good deeds.

TheatreAs the flames dance around your feet, you

remember the choreography to a musical number from “Annie Get Your Gun” and perform it to keep your clothes from catching ablaze. As you look to the right, you notice

a pile of steel and power tools in the corner of the building, so you use what you learned in stagecraft class to build a bridge over the fire. You walk over the flames and escape unharmed.

VocalYou gather your chorus to sing “We Didn’t

Start the Fire” by Billy Joel, and the beautiful harmony of voices naturally extinguish the flames. As you exit the building still in song, you see your family waiting for you in the distance. You astonish them with an incredible vocal rendition of “Set Fire to the

Rain” by Adele as they embrace you with open arms.

StringsThe strings from a cello are unwoven and

thrown over the banister of a tall staircase. You tie these metal threads together and use them to swing through an open window. As you plummet through the air from the third story, you notice the members of the New York Philharmonic waiting on the street to break your fall. You land in their arms and

remain uninjured.

VisualYou pour a bucket of non-flammable

paint over the fire, but there is only so much paint to extinguish the flames. As you reach into your back pocket to obtain possible tools to help in your escape, you find a floor plan of the building from your architecture class. You read over the document to discover there is a secret trap door lying under your feet. You open the hatch and navigate to safety from the underside of the building.

Digital MediaBefore the fire even starts, you design

brochures on fire safety using graphics and photos. Once the pamphlets are printed, you run around school and distribute them

to everyone you see. The entire student body is now well-informed on fire safety and you are forever crowned a hero.

KeyboardAs you play “Moonlight Sonata” for

your grandparents in your living room during a family reunion, the grand piano spontaneously combusts and bursts into flames. As your relatives sit in shock and stare at the fire, you run into your bedroom to retrieve the portable keyboard you keep under your bed. Before the blaze can spread throughout the house, you bash the grand piano with your keyboard and the flames are extinguished. g

Mack Schroeder

Graphic by Kyle Bell

Graphic by Dana Thomas

‘Shawty’ fire safety on the dance floorWays your art major can help you survive an emergency situation

12

FEATURES

by ClaudiaZamora

The term “prom” is almost synonymous with “high school.”

Before students can depart from the dark halls of teenage angst to immerse themselves in the unfamiliar world of college campuses and their first jobs, they must first pass through a night of over-priced dress suits and unreasonably high six-inch heels. While the idea behind prom has remained consistent, over the

decades and generations the “high school prom” has evolved with the changing trends. Wearing a pair of Tommy Hilfiger trousers and loafers to a formal prom may have been perfectly acceptable in the ‘80s and ‘90s,

but today times have changed. Originally lengthy and elaborate chiffon prom maxi dresses have lost a great deal of their fabric and coverage. “Since I went to prom, the dresses have become shorter and are much more low-

cut,” communications teacher Christine Tieche said. “Much more clothing is missing in action.” There is always the one trendsetter student who dares to strut his stuff in an all-white suit and tie. The classic, “I’m going to pull the ladies with my super individual choice of tie” is never a shocking sight at the Harriet Himmel. “When I went to prom, I wore an all-velvet tuxedo,” Assistant Principal George Miller said. “I went all out, and I looked hot.” The competition for the perfect date has transformed into the competition to ask a girl in the most creative way. Back in the day, a prom date was a reflection of the affection between two students. Today, the real game is attempting to shock and ask your date in the most innovative way possible. As the dance evolves with the coming decades, Dreyfoos prom night may transform and experience some alterations, but the basic premise of prom will remain timeless. g

Horse-power (noun)Not to be confused with the mathematical measure of how much work can be produced in a given time, horse-power on the Dreyfoos campus constitutes the amount of Polo Ralph Lauren an individual can wear in one showing.

Top-dolla (adj)Synonymous with pimpin’, top-dolla characterizes the freshest and the realest brothas on Sapodilla Road.

Janky (adj)Basic; low quality.

Turnt up (adj)Analogous with the common phrase “to get live,” turnt up refers to the act of accelerating one’s personal style to the state of perfection.

Swerving (verb)Coined by Kanye West to describe the act of dodging something or someone in the hallway.

TFM/TSM (adj/lifestyle)An abbreviation for the phrase “Total Frat Move” or “Total Sorority Move” used by Dreyfoos students who don’t officially belong to a fraternity or a sorority but tag it in Instagram uploads to ensure all their friends know they are the epitome of a “frat bro.”

by ClaudiaZamora

Dreyfoos alumna (‘02) and communications teacher Christine Tieche poses in a white silk gown at her junior prom in 2001.

Assistant principal George Miller rocks an all velvet tux at his senior prom in the ‘80s.

Foreign language teacher Betsy Chrisy smiles in a green silk gown with her prom date in 1969.

If you ever find yourself in a conversation where you

feel out of loop, take a look at this one and only source for campus lingo.

Robert Langdonvisual junior

Scarlett Sloanetheatre junior

Science teacher WIlliam Wood poses in all black with an unconventional senior prom date.

Photo courtesy of William Wood

Phot

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Levi

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Phot

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Levi

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Phot

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Aub

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Levi

nPhoto courtesy of Christine Tieche

Photo courtesy of George Miller

Photo courtesy of Betsy Christy

Dondre Tucktheatre junior

Progression of PromDreyfoos prom over the decades

13

FEATURES

by DanaThomas and ToriFernandez

Before the economy hit an all-time low, getting a job used to be a rite of passage.

Going to school, working part time and spending extra cash on merchandise that you don’t need has always been part of being a teenager. Although jobs are hard to come by these days, especially for high-schoolers, many precocious students at Dreyfoos have found innovative ways to make money by creating their own businesses.

Southerly ShoreAlthough Florida is home to the

southernmost point of the continental United States, the Sunshine State is not considered “the South.” However, keyboard senior Robert Faber and visual senior Kyle Nordlinger are bringing Southern culture back to Florida with their clothing line.

“[Nordlinger] and I started the business to represent a lifestyle,” Faber said. “The Southerly Shore brand stands for good Southern values presented at an affordable price.”

Nordlinger and Faber’s company began in October 2012. Offering a variety of different colored shirts in long or short-sleeved styles, the demand for these simple, yet classy threads were high.

“The initial reaction to the launch of Southerly Shore was fantastic,” Faber said. “Everyone was so supportive of what we were doing. Our projected sales analysis for the 2013 calendar is roughly around $10,000.”

The Southerly Shore influence extends beyond its local roots. Southerly Shore’s products have stretched across the southern half of the United States through the use of the Internet and various social media outlets.

“Currently, we’ve sold products to multiple states in the South, including Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia and Virginia,” Faber said. “With the help of our family and friends, we’ve really turned an idea we love into a reality.”

All My Metaphors-EtsyCats, gifs and compromising pictures of

Benedict Cumberbatch aren’t the only things Tumblr has made famous. Communications senior Hannah Ragland has climbed the

Tumblr social ladder with her artwork, and many doors have opened up for her.

Like many young entrepreneurs today, Ragland operates an online Etsy store, which is a website dedicated solely to the purchasing and selling of handmade or vintage items other users have created or customized.

“I guess I was first inspired to open my Etsy because my little doodles were gaining some attention around the Internet, especially on Tumblr,” Ragland said. “Several of my followers told me they would be interested in buying my work. I always loved shopping on Etsy and I loved looking at all the neat things other people had made to sell.”

With the use of Etsy, Ragland has been able to spread her artwork across the nation.

“[Etsy] has a huge amount of shoppers, which means my

work is available to people from all around the world. I have original prints hanging in preschool classrooms in Texas and in teen girls’ bedrooms in Singapore,” Ragland

said. “Since starting my Etsy, I’ve actually been commissioned to do album designs and merch designs

for three different musicians, which has been an amazing

experience that wouldn’t have happened otherwise.”

Bloch’s BeadsAs you walk down the hallway, you may

see girls wearing some of visual sophomore Madison Bloch’s most popular jewelry, known as Bloch’s Beads, where she sells original bracelets, earrings and necklaces.

“Bloch’s Beads is a small business I put together just to see if I could do it, but it ended up being something I love to do,” Bloch said. “I spend hours weekly making and selling the jewelry.”

What makes Bloch’s Beads special is that

almost all of Bloch’s pieces are one-of-a-kind and she makes all of them by hand.

“I do a lot of vintage shopping and whenever I travel I try and get unique items,” Bloch said. “I usually visit a shop in Miami where I get most of my beads and materials.”

Bloch does not only sell her jewelry in school, but also in local shows, where she

was recently offered the opportunity to sell her bracelets in stores.

“I have sold bracelets in two different stores and currently I also sell them on the website, Etsy,” Bloch said. “Bloch’s Beads has gotten pretty successful and I could see myself doing this for the rest of my life.”

Bows for BabesTheatre junior Samantha Mueller has

put her own spin on the way bows are worn. Mueller has created her own business, Bows for Babes, where she makes and sells all types of bows and clothing for dogs.

“Bows for Babes originally started off just with bows as merchandise, but then I started making ties for boys, head bands, dog clothes and shirts,” Mueller said.

Mueller makes all of her products herself and sells them online to people all over the world.

“I first made an Instagram page for the bows where more and more people started seeing them and were asking me to ship them,” Mueller said. “So I ended up making a website where people all over the world can order them.”

Although Mueller has always loved making and selling bows, she never realized how successful her business would become.

“When I started making my own bows and then decided to make a business out of it, I wasn’t expecting it to be as big as it turned out,” Mueller said. “It’s turned into an international business and it’s awesome seeing people wear my merchandise.” g

Phot

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Photo by Elizabeth LanePh

oto b

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neRobert Faber and Kyle Nordlinger

piano and visual seniors

Hannah Raglandcommunications senior

Samantha Muellertheatre junior

Minding their own business

Check out www.themuseatdreyfoos.comto visit these students’ websites.

14

FEATURES

by PaulaGalvan and KloeeCiuperger

While most juniors and seniors are filling

out college applications and planning out their outfits for graduation, digital media senior Michael Tesch, communications senior Victoria Otero and visual junior Karina Maysonett are coming up with vows for their individual weddings.

Tesch proposed to digital media alumna Erin Ordakowski (’12) over Thanksgiving break and plans to get married this fall. Meanwhile, Otero is waiting until after she graduates college to tie the knot with band alumnus Robert Fox (’12). Maysonett plans to marry band alumnus Christian Marrero (’12) in 2015.

“The first day [of Thanksgiving break] we went on a swamp buggy, and during the ride we stopped to get firewood. Everyone got off, but he would not let me off of the buggy even though I kept asking,” Ms. Ordakowski said. “He moved me to the front where everyone was standing on the ground and he asked me to marry him. I cried and said yes.”

Otero was also proposed to just as unexpectedly.

“We rode bikes to the beach one day; it was a little bit before Thanksgiving. We stopped at this lookout over the beach and he stopped me from going down to [it],” Otero said. “I could tell he was really nervous, he was fumbling with his words. Then he got down on one knee and started talking about how he loved me and he asked me to marry him.”

Maysonnet was also asked at the beach. Mr. Marrero completely surprised her, but she didn’t hesitate to answer.

“We went to the beach and he just got down on one knee and asked ‘Will you marry me?’” Maysonett said. “I said yes. He had already asked my dad for permission and everything.”

To many, high school engagements are considered taboo, but the couples have

chosen to ignore the critics and wear their rings proudly.

“[My friends] were excited, I don’t think anyone had a bad reaction,” Maysonett said. “A couple of my family members don’t think it’s the right time, but it feels right. Just because it’s not a common thing anymore for people to get engaged at this age they feel like it’s wrong to do it, which it’s not—there’s nothing wrong with it.”

The couples are marrying out of love, but for Tesch and Ms. Ordakowski that’s not the only perk of the engagement.

“We have been together for five years and I am leaving for the navy,” Tesch said. “In order to see her I have to be married. My GI [Government Issued] benefits can be passed on to her and she can have her education paid for.”

While the couples now have support from their friends, Otero, Tesch and Maysonnet

also had to deal with getting their parents’ approval along with the approval of their fiancées’ parents.

“[My parents] were super happy,” Maysonett said. “Our families knew each other before we knew each other and his grandmother and my mom have been plotting this forever. They kept saying, ‘You’re going to go out someday,’ and when I met him freshman year he kept saying, ‘I’m going to marry you one day.’”

Currently, only Otero and Tesch are separated from their partners by distance. Mr. Fox and Ms. Ordakowski are away at college while their partners stay behind to finish off the remainder of high school. Mr. Marrero and Maysonett have managed to be together ever since he graduated last year.

“[Mr. Fox] asked me because it was hard for

me to be away from him and to have a long-distance relationship; it was hard for both of us,” Otero said. “He really wanted me to know that he made up his mind about who

he wanted to be with and that it was me. [I’m going] to [the University of ] Chicago, so I hope I’ll get to be with [Mr. Fox] more that way. A lot of people think I’m going just for him but [attending

the] fourth [ranked] college in the US isn’t settling.”

Otero still has a few years left before she marries Mr. Fox, but Tesch’s and Maysonett’s dates are getting closer and closer: September 2013 and March 2015, respectively.

“I am absolutely nervous. I realize I am young. Most marriages with kids our age don’t work out,” Tesch said. “At least we are trying. You can really tell when you love someone and you’ll make it work for someone you love.” g

Courtesy of Erin Ordakowski

During a camping trip, digital media senior Michael Tesch surprises his girlfriend, digital media alumna Erin Ordakowski (‘12), by dropping to his knee and popping the big question.

Something old, something new...High school sweethearts get engaged to show their commitment

‘He moved me to the front where everyone was standing on the ground and he asked me to marry him. I cried and said yes.’

-digital media alumna Erin Ordakowski (’12)

15

FEATURES

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Geoffrey Johnston, who is a member of the Employee Building Council. “It is a serious concern about the growth of FLVS access without any regulation.”

When students begin transferring out of an academic class on campus and into a virtual class, the staff and faculty are put at risk. For instance, if 100 students decide to take a senior English class online, the result is 100 less students in that class on campus, which then decreases the need for a teacher in school.

“The administration’s contention is that it won’t [cause staff cuts], but I know how the district works,” Mr. West said.

While most of the courses being taken in the labs are academic, FLVS could potentially impact the arts. According to Mr. West, approximately six art teachers are funded through the money the school receives from Advanced Placement tests that are passed.

According to US News, Dreyfoos, ranked eighth in the state, has one of the highest AP passing rates. When students choose to take a class through FLVS, they are selecting a separate institute to receive their education from, and if they do not pass the AP exam, Dreyfoos does not receive any money.

“It is not just about training, it’s about participating,” Mr. Johnston said. “When they’re online, they’re no longer a student at the school.”

Taking a class online can also hinder a student from staying on track for graduation.

Core classes require an End of Course exam to be completed and passed in order for a student to receive the credit for the class. For students taking the class online, FLVS is responsible for teaching a student the material, but Dreyfoos has to ensure they pass the exam in order to be on track for graduation. Dr. Atherley encourages students

by KloeeCiuperger

With no guidelines, restrictions or limitations, Florida Virtual School has

been free to roam Dreyfoos’ campus without any school or district policy to regulate it. Students took 680 FLVS courses during the 2012-2013 school year. Ever since FLVS was introduced to the school, the number of students taking online classes has increased each year, with over a hundred courses being completed each month in 2013. If the numbers continue to increase at their current rate, students may be trading in their art school experience for a virtual one.

“If it increases at the rate it does now, I see us no longer being an arts school,” social studies dean Tom West said.

Others believe that this new form of education has hit a plateau and will be contained.

“[I don’t believe FLVS] is going to get bigger than it is,” Principal Susan Atherley said.

The administration hopes that more students will choose to take the courses offered on campus. However, the current number of students enrolled in FLVS and the lack of policy to regulate which students are eligible for FLVS are proving otherwise. When students begin to fill their class periods with virtual labs rather than participating in the classes offered on campus, many believe the repercussions of FLVS may be the loss of academic and art teachers, the decrease in funding and support of the artistic culture the school provides and the deterioration of the student body’s integrity.

Where FLVS is todayWhen it comes to transferring from an

actual classroom into a virtual one, anyone is capable of making the switch at any time, even if it is just a day before the final exam. In a Muse survey, out of 550 students, 33 percent of students who have taken an FLVS course chose to take it online in order to avoid taking it in school. There are no restrictions put on FLVS and there are no set guidelines on FLVS for next year. This means students can transfer into a virtual class if they do not like a teacher, do not like their grade or for any other reason, and according to state law faculty cannot deny them the switch into an FLVS course.

“The School District is trying to refine and establish parameters of what students are eligible for FLVS,” said English teacher

(continued on page 18)

“If [the number of students taking FLVS classes] increases at the rate it does now, I see us no longer being an arts school.”

–social studies dean Tom West

“[Students are taking] FLVS classes when they don’t like a grade or a certain teacher. There is no student repsonsibility and no perseverance. It is like saying, ‘I quit.’ ”

–guidance counselorLaura Tomasello

“I think we will lose the standing of one of the best schools in the country because students are no longer receiving personalized education.”

–math dean andsocial studies teacher

Norman Adams

Graphic by Kyle Bell

Online classes are virtually everywhere

17

COVER STORY

to take their classes at school. “If you don’t pass the EOC exams, in order

to stay at Dreyfoos [we have] to put you in a remedial class,” Dr. Atherley said. “When you’re not getting one-on-one [from our teachers], you’re putting yourself at risk.”

In order to take the remedial class to fulfill the graduation requirement, students then have to eliminate an elective, in most cases their art class, from their schedule. This in turn decreases the number of students in the art classes.

Communications junior Pamela Graham is an example of a student who gave up her art class in order to complete an FLVS course. When she did not complete her Geometry class over the summer, she was required to complete the course in school by being in one of the virtual labs on campus for one class period. Graham decided to keep the class period designated for FLVS the entire year, rather than switching into the graphics class she originally wanted to take in school.

“It was like a study hall, so [after finishing Geometry] I decided to just take another course,” Graham said. “But this is bad because I am supposed to have two [art] classes and I only have one. I don’t know what that will do to my senior year.”

According to Patricia Cover, a guidance counselor at Suncoast High School, another magnet school with academically competitive students, Suncoast is not experiencing the abundance of students transferring into FLVS.

“When students come to Suncoast, they agree that there are certain academic courses that have to be taken on campus in order

to be ready for the next level,” Ms. Cover said. “Many students know it would not be advantageous to take [their courses] online.”

Many faculty members believe that if no guidelines are set, then the apparent

repercussions of fewer students in classes on campus and more students online will

begin to surface.“Hopefully between now and

next month, we will have some guidelines,” Dr. Atherley said. “I want to be able to set them on my own.”

Why FLVS began to expand“[Before I was principal], they saw

FLVS as a way to meet class size. That’s why it grew so large,” Dr. Atherley said. According to FLVS, the state saves $1,345

for every student who takes classes online rather than on a campus. The class-size amendment requires core courses to be capped at 25 students. Therefore, having a

student on FLVS saves the district about $64,000, which is the salary of a new teacher.

In 2011, Florida Statute 1002.37 was passed, which mandates a half credit course from a virtual school as a graduation requirement. While students can gain this credit from other online institutions, FLVS is the only one that is free to students. The statute also states that a school cannot deny a student from taking an FLVS course. However, the freedom to choose or transfer into an online class has resulted in students misusing the law in ways other than its original intention.

“[Students are taking] FLVS classes when they don’t like a grade or a certain teacher,” guidance counselor Laura Tomasello said. “There is no student responsibility and no perseverance. It is like saying, ‘I quit.’”

MoneyThe labs require a proctor, a teacher,

who in many cases, gives up a planning period and is compensated in their salary to watch over a virtual lab. The state pays an FLVS teacher to conduct the online

(continued from page 17)

“I don’t plan on taking FLVS again. It’s not my style of learning; I am more hands-on than computer stuff. I think you learn less.”

“In Hungary, [where I’m from], you can’t take any subjects online at all because it is not real education. You can’t really learn a subject online.”

Sarah Naylontheatre sophomore

Olivia Lamborvedance senior

Students share their opinions and experiences with FLVS.

by TaylorHendrickson

StudentShortlist

The Muse Student Survey1. Have you taken an FLVS course? a. Yes (62.5%) b. No (37.5%)

***STUDENTS WHO ANSWERED YES***

1. How many FLVS courses have you taken? a. 1 (46.3%) b. 2 (27.9%) c. 3 (15.1%) d. 4 or more (10.7%)

2. Are you planning on taking another course in the future? a. Yes (58.9%) b. No (41.1%)

3. Why did you take an FLVS course? Select one. a. Grade forgiveness (12.4%) b. To raise HPA (8.2%) c. Avoid taking it in school (33.5%) d. It is required (14.4%) e. Not available in school (17.1%) f. Did not like in-school teacher (14.4%)

4. Have you ever cheated (Ex. Using another student’s work, having another tab open while taking a test, lying about an assignment’s completion, etc.)? a. Yes (53.6%) b. No (46.4%)

5. Do you feel as though you learned more, less or the same while enrolled in an FLVS in comparison to an in-school course? a. More (17.5%) b. Less (47.0%) c. Same (35.5%)

6. Have you ever paid anyone to take an FLVS course for you? a. Yes (3.2%) b. No (96.8%)

***STUDENTS WHO ANSWERED NO***

1. Are you planning on taking an FLVS course? a. Yes (76.1%) b. No (23.9%)

2. If so, why will you be taking an FLVS course? Select one. a. Grade forgiveness (7.2%) b. To raise HPA (10.0%) c. Avoid taking it in school (36.2%) d. It is required (37.8%) e. Not available in school (6.0%) f. Did not like in-school teacher (2.8%)

*

*878 students surveyed

Have you evercheated?

YES 53.6%

NO 46.4%

18

COVER STORY

class and also a proctor to monitor the students in the school’s labs.

“People are starting to recognize that [we are] paying twice,” Dr. Atherley said. “We haven’t ironed that out yet.”

In order to keep up with the amount of students taking FLVS, according to Dr. Atherley, the cafeteria is being supplied with Wi-Fi so that it can also act as a lab for the 2013-2014 school year. The District is also providing the school with seven additional laptop carts with a total of 210 new computers.

“[There is] no way the School District will pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to transport kids to sit in front of a computer,” Mr. West said. “[I believe the state] wants charter schools, private schools and online education to replace bricks and mortar.”

CheatingIn the survey conducted, 54

percent of students admit to have cheated while taking an FLVS course.

“I disapprove of FLVS. I think that it lends itself to cheating, which lends itself to poor quality education,” science teacher Sherry Little said. “If a class was not offered at school, and students took it, it would be the only way it would work. It would be marvelous.”

The lab proctors often notice cheating amongst the students, but it is not their responsibility to monitor it. It is the responsibility of the FLVS teacher. Three percent of students surveyed also admitted to paying someone to take their class for them.

“It is frustrating to watch. You see a foreign language translator open on one window and then FLVS on the other,” said math dean and social studies teacher Norman

Adams, who is an FLVS proctor. Many agree that the initial

intention of FLVS, to accommodate class

size and to provide extra classes for students to choose from, is beneficial. However, government

encouragement and student

misuse of FLVS has many worried

that the structure of the school and public

education as a whole will suffer.

“I think we will lose the standing of one of the best schools in the country because students are no longer receiving personalized education,” Mr. Adams said. g

by EstherMendoza

An ever-growing empire, Florida Virtual School (FLVS) has

become a permanent fixture not only at Dreyfoos but schools around the state. It is now a graduation requirement for students to take at least one FLVS course during their time in school. With its growing popularity and importance, the program is becoming stricter and implementing several changes.

Most notably, FLVS recently dropped the number of consecutive days a students may be inactive on a specific course from 28 days to 14. If a student is inactive in a course for over the 14 day period and does not respond to the course teacher’s final prompt, the student could be dropped from the class without warning and receive an F for both the course and the final exam.

Another addition to FLVS’ policy is Florida Law 1002.321, which makes is a crime for any person to take an online course or examinations for another. This act will be a second-degree misdemeanor and punishable with up to 60 days in jail or up to a 500 dollar fine. g

“You learn a lot online because you have to study to do well on tests. I don’t think you can really cheat [because] you can’t go on a [new tab].”

“There are classes not available at school, but offered on FLVS. Like Chinese I want to take and Drivers [Education]. I’d rather learn now than somewhere else and have to pay for it.”

“I think it’s easier to take an FLVS class, but the way they are teaching it is not as well as they do here. The material is outdated.”

Alton Esauband junior

Danielle Chuavisual freshman

Phillip Ahnband junior

Graphic by Adriana Rahrig

FLVS Policy changesFLVS tightens its grip on cheating and slacking

a. grade forgiveness12.4%

8.2%

33.5%

14.4%

17.1%

14.4%

b. to raise hpa

c. avoid taking it in school

d. it is required

e. not available in school

f. did not like in-school teacher

Why did you take an FLVS course?

Do you feel as though you learned more,

less or the same while enrolled in an FLVS

course in comparison to an in-school

course?LESS

47.0%MORE

17.5%

SAME 35.5%

SECONDDEGREE,of

the

Misdemeanorany person who violates this subsection commits a

punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

on behalf ofanother person COMPENSATION.FO

R

take an online course or examinationknowingly and willfullyFOR ANY PERSON TOUNLAWFULIT IS

–Florida statute 1002.321, Digital Learning subsection (5)

“

”

19

COVER STORY

In March, the theatre department put on nine productions of “Guys and

Dolls,” one of which was performed for the School of the Arts Foundation. Theatre juniors Talia Suskauer and Branden Leonhardt and theatre seniors Stoan Maslev and Isabella Werber played the lead roles.

“It was such an incredible experience,” Suskauer said. “I grew so much as an actress through the character that I portrayed and learned that acting is exhausting. My character, Sarah Brown, goes on such an emotional roller coaster throughout the course of the show, so it was fun to take that journey every night.”

Currently, the theatre department is working on their individual monologues and performances as the time for juries approaches. On April 13-14, theatre students will put together a directing show in the Brandt Black Box Theater. The show is run by theatre teacher Bruce Linser’s senior directing class and theatre juniors in theatre teacher Sipiwe Moyo’s acting class. g

The band department’s wind ensemble, symphonic orchestra

and jazz ensemble performed at the Orlando Heritage Festival during spring break. The Heritage Festival is where schools from all over the state go to Orlando to compete and get validated by professional judges from colleges. For a break in the intense music competition, the students were given the opportunity to spend a day at the water park Wet ‘n Wild. The band department left on March 22.

“I’ve been practicing ever since winter break,” band junior Ronald Simpson said. “From concert music to jazz music, I spend about 30 minutes to an hour practicing every day.”

Band seniors who are a part of the Philharmonic music group travelled to New York to compete in a music competition at Carnegie Hall. Band senior Nikolette LaBonte will be featured in the competition playing the French horn. g

On March 15, Gold Key, Silver Key and Honorable Mention awards were announced to students who entered the Scholastic Art and Writing competition. All Gold Key

recipients are now being judged for National Awards.Seniors and juniors have prepared for arts sales that have taken place during lunch,

with a separate sale for the seniors after school. Students are preparing portfolios and doing class projects, such as building bike trailers out of metal rods in AP 2D Art.

“It’s called the ultra light project,” visual sophomore Kelly Creef said. “We have to try and build the lightest trailer possible that is still fast and efficient.” g

Band

Visual

Theatre

The vocal department is currently preparing for their Pops Concert by staging their pieces. The show will feature music from renowned musicals such as “Gypsy” and

“Thoroughly Modern Millie.” The jazz ensemble has been practicing their dancing and singing with theatre teacher Gary Lewis. They will be performing “You Can’t Stop the Beat,” a song from “Hairspray.”

“We have to have everything memorized before spring break,” vocal junior Juan Suarez said. “I’ve been practicing about one hour per day by writing the lyrics over and over.” g

Vocal

by ArtsStaff

Visual junior Robert Langdon

and visual senior Nicolas

Rabinowitz design a practical

innovation during their Architecture

2 class. “It’s a trailer attached

to a bike, so you can lounge

while you move,” Langdon said.

Photo by Dana Miller

Vocal junior Shawn Herriger (left) and vocal sophomore Tyler Blankstein practice for the upcoming vocal performances. On April 9, the students in the Palm Beach Pops group are performing a variety of songs such as samples from “Les Miserables.”

Photo by Alexandra Lopez

A guide to what’s goingon in the art area classesArts Index

ARTS

20

Digital Media

On March 1, the keyboard department held its Passionate recital that showcased pieces and performances from keyboard seniors

Savannah Flack and Cara Zhuang, keyboard junior Michael Dinh and keyboard sophomore Jackie Chen.

“The keyboard students did amazing and the time and preparation that was put in was truly displayed,” keyboard freshman Nicholas Baldwin said.

The Pianoforte recital was held on March 22 and showcased freshmen and sophomores in the Pianoforte class. g

Having just finished their annual dance concert in January, the dance department is beginning to prepare for its

smaller spring dance concert in April.Dance alumni Alex Anderson (’10), Ryan Redmond (’08)

and Lauren Carey (’07) have worked together to choreograph pieces in the recital. The alumni are Juilliard graduates or current Juilliard students and came back to school to teach classes. The Florida State University dance department is doing guest pieces, which the dancers had to audition for outside of their regular dance classes. They started learning the choreography in the beginning of March. g

Communications

Dance

Keyboard

The Philharmonic concert was held on March 21 and featured band senior Nikolette LaBonte on the French horn. Over spring break,

the strings department attended a competition at Carnegie Hall. “It [was] an experience of a lifetime to perform in Carnegie Hall,”

strings sophomore Britney Mumford said. “We [were] critiqued by masters in their field and [competed] against students from around the world.” g

Strings

The communications department will have their annual showcase on April 5. The teachers and students have worked together for

most of the semester to put together a variety of acts and montages. On March 9, the debate team hosted the Grand Finals Tournament

at Dreyfoos. The Grand Finals is the prerequisite to attend Nationals. This was the first time in several years that a debate tournament has been held on the campus, and the team had been planning the event for months. The students going to Nationals in PA include: communications sophomore Kayleigh Rubin, communications juniors Michelly Gonzalez, Micaela Fagan, Colin Duffy, Max Fields and Tess Saperstein and communications senior Hugh Dunkley, Jr.

“Every competitor and volunteer played a vital role in the success of the day. We put months of planning into the tournament,” communications sophomore Jordan McCrary said. “It was a great experience to host the tournament and not only represent Dreyfoos, but the Palm Beach Catholic Forensic League as well.” g

Students in AP Studio are working on portfolios for juries which are around the corner. A class project was assigned where students

must research a photographer and emulate their work with a roll of film.

“I want to do something from the ’20s,” digital media senior Heidi Kiziah said. “I like the work of Walker Evans where the photos are black and white and show issues like poverty.”

Gold Key, Silver Key and Honorable Mention recipients were also announced for the Scholastic Art and Writing competition. All of the Gold Key winners get their work displayed in New York and accept their awards at Carnegie Hall. g

Photo by Alexandra Lopez

Dance senior Diana Haber practices for concert in April. The dancers used their shirts as props, incorporating them into the choreoography.

ARTS

21

by ValeriaRivadeneira

In elementary school, I got myself through three years of violin by smiling and nodding

my head a lot. I would sit in the very back and pretend to play my instrument while actually reading a book that was very cleverly placed in my music stand. I graduated and moved on to middle school to pursue my passion for writing while promising myself I’d never touch a violin ever again, until my editor told me I had to try a strings class for my column. If my music teacher knew, he would laugh and tell me in his Russian accent that I should have paid better attention.

When I first walked into the strings room, I was intimidated by the well-organized semi-circle of string majors that sat surrounding strings teacher Wendell Simmons, who talked to them briefly about the composer Johannes Brahms. After awkwardly disrupting the aesthetic appeal of the perfect semi-circle of musicians, I set up a music stand and flipped to the page they were playing. I went through various instruments while realizing that, apart from the guitar, I am not very musically inclined.

BassThe bass was by far the hardest

instrument I attempted to play, and when I say bass I don’t mean the guitar-like

instrument used by rock bands. The type of bass used by the strings department is a classy yet massive version of the cello. It is so hefty that it can be only played while standing up. The strings were a little thinner than a pencil and after trying to play a couple notes, my fingers throbbed. The instrument was about a foot taller than I was and the body of the bass was so wide that I could hide behind it in order to avoid further embarrassing myself. I could barely wrap my hand around the neck of the bass and I found that cloaking my arms around the instrument in order to hold it upright was the biggest struggle.

CelloAfter struggling to keep the

bass standing, I decided to try an instrument I could actually lift: the cello. I’ve always appreciated the sound of the cello, therefore I thought I’d enjoy playing it. I was wrong. Playing the cello was awkward because I didn’t know where exactly on my collarbone to rest the cello, and to make matters worse, I am left handed. Every single one of the instruments I tried was tuned for right-handers, so not only did I have to try to play along with the philharmonic orchestra, I had to simultaneously teach my right hand how to function properly.

ViolinAfter excusing myself from the cello, I

went over to the fragile little violin section where strings junior Kaelin Espinosa kindly lent me her expertise and patience. Espinosa tried to tell me which strings to play while explaining to me that “forte” means to play louder and “piano” means to play softer. She

explained that, unlike the guitar, the violin has no frets that mark where one’s fingers should be placed. Strings majors learn where to put their fingers by continuously practicing when they are young and developing muscle memory.

The notes on the sheet music may as well have been a bunch of dots and splotches of ink, because the marks were as indistinguishable to me as a foreign language. Although I gave up on trying to understand which note called for which string, a group of friendly students taught me how to play

“Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” on all three instruments. One may not exactly call me a musician, but I did, in fact, learn something new that day. g

Communications junior Valeria Rivadeneira attempts to play “Mary Had a Little Lamb” on the cello with the help of many strings department students.

Photo by Elizabeth Lane

Photo by Elizabeth Lane

Communications junior Valeria Rivadeneira deciphers the foreign language of music notes with the help of strings junior Kaelin Espinosa. After trying both the bass and the cello, Rivadeneira feels most comfortable with the violin.

If you can’t beat them, join them: stringsI can’t paint or sing. My dance moves are limited to the traditional Colombian salsa and I don’t know how to hold a tuba. I do, however, know how to investigate and report. Join me on my adventures through every major at Dreyfoos.

22

ARTS

by MikeshiaLewin, AlexLopez and CamilleSanches

The theatre department took the audience back to the 1930s, a time when “dolls”

strutted around the city and “guys” were gamblers and gangsters. In a few short months, teachers and students worked hard to put together the musical “Guys and Dolls” and perform it a total of nine times.

“Guys and Dolls” showcased the vocal talents of theatre junior Talia Suskauer and theatre senior Isabella Werber as they sang songs like “I’ll Know” and “Adelaide’s Lament.”

The audience got to experience the lives of lovers Adelaide and Nathan (Werber and theatre junior Brandon Leonhardt) and Sarah and Sky (Suskauer and theatre senior Stoan Maslev). The audience saw the love-stricken couples go through heartbreak in Havana and crap shoot games on Broadway, experiencing the true lives of the guys and dolls.

Costumes A large part of the newest theatre

production of “Guys and Dolls” was the costumes. Staying true to the time period of the play, guys wore zoot suits—high-waisted, pegged pants with large shoulder pads—while ladies wore whimsical dresses—some modest, some vibrant—throughout the production.

Theatre teacher Penny Williams guided

students with design concepts from an inspiration board outside of the costume design room.

“The board was there to keep students on track just in case they wondered what a certain outfit was supposed to look like,” Ms. Williams said.

Costume design students laboriously created outfits, altered garments and made accessories for over 200 hours. For “A Bushel and a Peck,” a burlesque performance scene, students had to attach hundreds of feathers—one by one—to the lower half of the performers’ dresses.

“Making costumes took the longest because we had to make incised corsets—a tedious process because we had to wait for the materials and actor sizes,” visual senior Elianise Jean-Louis said.

Set DesignThe monumental skyline

of New York City is only one of the sets seen on the stage of “Guys and Dolls.” What the audience can’t see, whether they’re looking at the bright neon-like lights or the telephone booth, is the hard work done to design and build all eight sets used on the stage. This year, theatre

junior Lindsey Hasak and theatre senior Molly Block teamed up as set designer and technical director.

“I started designing the set at the end of winter break,” Hasak said. “I met with [theatre dean] Wade Handy and discussed the concept of New York City in the ’30s, which we did instead of the traditional ’20s setting.”

The ideas Hasak had regarding the way the set should look had to be built effectively by Block. From contrasting the colors of the set to figuring how to bring parts of the set together as a whole, it all came together after an effort of more than 50 hours per student. g

Photo by Dana Miller

The “Hot Box Girls” prance across the stage in unison as they portray New York City, NY life in the 1930s. (From left) Theatre sophomore Mia O’Neil, theatre junior Alexa Roosevelt, theatre sophomore Rachel Greenfeld, theatre senior Lexi Carter and theatre junior Alexandria Lowery are five of the many “Hot Box Girls” in the show.

Photo by Dana Miller

Theatre senior Isabella Werber leads the Hot Box performance as Miss Adelaide. She sang songs such as “A Bushel and a Peck” and “Take Back Your Mink.” Theatre students worked months to create these elaborate costumes.

Photo by Elizabeth Lane

Theatre sophomore Noah Jacobson adjusts to singing and dancing in a fat suit while performing a crowd favorite, “Sit Down You’re Rocking the Boat.”

The world of Guys and Dolls The theatre department revisits the 1930s in their new production

23

ARTS

by MadeleineFitzgerald

Once a year, communications students come together to create a showcase that

displays the talent of the department and hard work put in throughout the year. This year’s Communications Showcase will be held on April 5 at 7 p.m. in Meyer Hall.

“Our theme this year is Prime Time Communications, and it relates to a wide audience,” communications teacher Christine Tieche said. “This year the show is much more interactive with a lot of onstage performances. “

The students and teachers involved in the process of creating the showcase are dedicated to making it a success. The work done behind the scenes by the show’s co-producers, communications junior Sergio Rodriguez and communications senior Kimberly Carrero, will make the night a hit.

“We’ve made sure the theme we cooked up proves to be entertaining in how the students, teachers and parents alike can relate to it,” Rodriguez said. “Our writers have been working hard in making sure that our host has plenty of material for everyone to be

interested.”Not only have the students been working

on perfecting the show, but they have created advertisements to make sure the showcase has the support of the student body.

“I am expecting this showcase to run much more smoothly than ones in the past,” Carrero said. “This year’s show is going to be one of the best we’ve had, and the support and attendance from the student body would make it even better.”

The annual showcase is produced by the students and teachers. The prediction of the communications department is that the

showcase will have a stronger approval rating than others from the past.

“The showcase is going to be a snapshot of what we do in communications,” communications dean Angela Weber said. “It is a tradition to do one every year and it is important to our department, since it displays all of the hard work we do throughout the year. The showcase brings students from all of the departments together.”

The audience can expect a wide variety of enjoyable moments

throughout the show and a true display of the work the department can achieve.

“For this year’s showcase, students can look forward to plenty of pop culture laughs,” Rodriguez said. “Seeing their classmates in a different light will have everyone eager to see what’s next.” g

byTaylorHendrickson

Success comes to most student artists through Scholastic awards, art gallery

showings, their own solos or debate tournament plaques. Communications

freshman William Fritz’s

success comes from his own business, Fritz Films.

“I do music videos for record companies [and] record parties and events. I do commercials for corporations and I produce my own videos,”

Fritz said.At 10 years old, Fritz learned the basics

of film and editing from Brad Corn, who produced the film “Camp Winoaka” and the TV series “Studio A Entertainment.”

“I lived in Dallas and there is not much to do there, so I randomly decided I wanted to act,” Fritz said. “I quit after a week or two once I saw the production side; I wanted to go behind the scenes instead.”

Bagging groceries is a quick and easy way for teenagers to earn some of their own money, but Fritz turned something he is talented at into his own career. Through

his company, Fritz has gained experience. His profits are invested back into film by upgrading his equipment to enhance production and image clarity.

“I’ll go to party planners and say I’ll film if clients need a videographer, and ask if they will refer me,” Fritz said. “For commercials, I go out to business owners and convince them that they need a commercial to enhance their business.”

Work did not come quickly for Fritz until the start of his freshman year. Companies found it hard to take a 15-year-old business man seriously—until they recognized his talent.

“It took a while to get clients,” Fritz said. “They just didn’t think a kid could do the work.”

By starting the company himself, Fritz has received opportunities and acknowledgment from professionals. His mother and grandmother introduced him to party planners and business owners; from there he has built an impressive résumé. Fritz was the videographer for the music video “Final Call” by communications senior Matthew Baquero, also known as Trevian.

“After Trevian, a music company came to me asking to do music videos for their artists,” Fritz said. “I am going to do

commercials and music videos out in LA this summer; it’s about 99 percent confirmed that I’m having an internship with Jonas Akerlund. [Communications teacher Ancil] Deluz taught me about enhancing my storytelling and developing more interesting stories with deeper meaning.”

Fritz is still learning and teaching himself about film. Between reading directors’ blogs, getting field practice or paying attention in film class, there is always room

for improvement.“[Dr.] Deluz taught me about enhancing

my storytelling and developing more interesting stories with deeper meaning,” Fritz said.

By owning his own business, Fritz follows a different path than most high school students. Instead of staying up all night on social media sites, completing jobs and projects are what keeps him awake. He has had to master balance, and his maturity is apparent.

“[Fritz] is patient, humble, respectful and insightful,” Dr. Deluz said. “He demonstrates initiative. I think [it’s good] when one engages in venturing into the real world.” g

William Fritz

Photo by Elizabeth Lane

Communications senior Meghan Fisher utilizes old yearbooks to frame a steady shot. She was in charge of taping communications senior Carly Amado for a preview of the yearbook staff to play during the communications showcase.

Prime time communications: students prepare for showcase

Fritz founds a film enterprise

To watch some of Fritz’s films,go to www.willfritz.com.

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT‘It took a while to get clients. They just didn’t think a kid could do the work.’

-communcations freshman William Fritz

24

ARTS

by TimothyDiTocco

With the track and field team well into the season, track and field coach and

science teacher Stephen Anand continues to see improvement from the team as the season progresses.

“Our track and field team is developing nicely to date,” Mr. Anand said. “We have seen much progress in the running events as well as the field events. The team dynamic is improving as well.”

Track and field coach, science and gym teacher Geoffrey Waugh believes this year’s track and field team has proved to be very good. Strings junior Jenna Meyers-Sinett placed first in the pole vaulting event at the Martin County Invitational meet with a vault of 10’6”, and digital media senior Rachel Gibbons ran a season best time of 1:02 in the 400 meter event at Park Vista Meet 2, placing first overall. However, Mr. Waugh understands there is still more his players can do.

“The one thing we have been trying to work on this season is time management,” Mr. Waugh said. “Since we are at an arts school, practice is somehow secondary.”

This season, the boys tennis team is one

of the most experienced teams in Dreyfoos history.

“I like this year’s [boys] team because of their maturity,” said guidance counselor

and tennis coach John Webb. “They’re good individually and when they team up. They just go out there and do their job.”

Unlike the boys team, this season’s girls

tennis team is one of the youngest in recent history. They lost a majority of their top seeds, and the players on the team do not have the experience the boys team does.

As the veterans of the team, communications senior Carly Amado and digital media senior Emily Starkey are helping the team to develop as the season progresses.

“This year we have lost a lot of good players, so most of our girls are fairly new,” Mr. Webb said. “It’s the seniors that hold our team together. We don’t have the same number of girls that we’ve had in the past, but I’m still confident in our team.”

One concern Mr. Webb has with this year’s team is how they will perform at the district tournament.

“To improve this year we need to finish our games [better], and when we play at districts we need to

play at our best,” Mr. Webb said. “We missed districts by one point last year and we are striving to get in [to the regional tournament this year].” g

by BariBossis

For the first time in Dreyfoos athletic history, three players from the boys

basketball team have been nominated for The Sun Sentinel’s All-County basketball rankings. First chosen by their school coach, the players are later analyzed by The Sun Sentinel, where the final honors are chosen. Boys basketball coach and social studies teacher Jeffrey Stohr selected communications juniors and basketball co-captains Kevin Levine and Munashe Kwangwari, as well as band junior Jorge Ramos for this potential award. The Sun Sentinel newspaper will announce its annual rankings at the end of the month. These nominations highlight the best high school

sports players of the county for each sport.“The three that I nominated were very

consistent all year, not only in games but in practice,” Mr. Stohr said. “They’re leaders; two of them have been captains for two years.”

The All-County rankings are decided by each player’s statistics throughout their season, as well as recommendations from the coach who nominated them. For Kwangwari, the nomination has encouraged him to keep challenging himself. When it

comes to leadership, he tries to keep casual relations with his team

members to ease the anxiety of the game.“I played like a team player and a leader,”

Kwangwari said. “The nomination is just applauding me on my talents, but [the nomination] doesn’t necessarily mean I’m

good, unless I’m picked. It just means I did good this season, and all this is going to do is just make me push harder to be better next year.”

As the more reserved of the two captains, Levine prefers to work with the team behind the scenes.

“It’s just my personality. I hustle for every ball, I do all the stuff that the fans don’t notice but the coaches do,” Levine said. “It makes me a good team player, but I don’t stand out as much as an individual player.”

More than satisfied with his nomination, Ramos is happy to see his hard work pay off through this recognition. Ramos believes that his dedication to training every day was a big role in his success this season.

“It’s a great feeling [to be nominated]. All the hard work that I put in, countless hours in the gym training. To get nominated for All-[County] basketball is a feeling I won’t forget,” Ramos said. “If we [were] doing bad and losing [during a game], I would get the team hyped by doing a crazy play. I was a scorer. I was the backbone on the team.”g

Photo by Elizabeth Lane

Visual senior Alyssa Klein, theatre sophomore John Hench and strings freshman Kevonna Shuford run along the soccer fields in preparation for an upcoming track meet. Team members practice Monday through Thursday every week.

Photo by Elizabeth Lane

(Left to right) Band junior Jorge Ramos and communications juniors and basketball co-captains Munashe Kwangwari and Kevin Levine were nominated by social studies teacher and basketball coach Jeffrey Stohr to The Sun Sentinel’s All-County basketball team.

Track, tennis prepare for districts

Basketballin’ their way to the topBoys basketball team members nominated for county-wide recognition

25

SPORTS

Commentary by KevinLevine

This year, 252 combined athletes

competed across the 16 varsity sports teams the athletic program offers. That’s nearly 19 percent of Dreyfoos participating in a sport, from a school not known for athletics. Of these athletes, only two participated in three different sports teams in three consecutive seasons, and only 24 participated in two sports. One of the most fascinating things about the athletic program is how many different ways it can be broken down by the numbers.

If broken down by class, one would find that 78 athletes come from the junior class. That makes up over 31 percent, or almost one-third, of the total amount of athletes, which is by far the largest amount out of any of the classes. The senior class, with 63 athletes, has the second largest contribution to the sports program, with just over 25 percent of Dreyfoos athletes.

The athletic department can also be broken down by major. If each of the nine majors had an equal amount of athletes, then they would each account for about 11 percent of the athletic population. However, this is not the case. The communications department accounts for 25 percent of all student athletes and the visual department has 18 percent. The dance department does not have a single student athlete, and the keyboard and vocal departments combined account for 11 percent of all Dreyfoos athletes.

Yet, due to gender equity laws, the most important statistic is the male to female ratio of athletes. The Palm Beach County athletic division requires that each school’s athletic male to female ratio be within a predetermined percent of the school’s male to female ratio to get gender equity money.

“[Gender equity money] is money distributed to schools across the district to encourage equal participation for male and female athletes,” said athletic director and math teacher Christopher Burns.

This year, females accounted for 64.3 percent of student athletes,

with males accounting 35.7 percent of athletes. This falls within 2.5 percent of

the school’s overall student ratio of 66.8 percent girls and 33.2 percent boys.

“The percentages [we have to fall within to receive gender equity money] have changed from

the state level [over the years],” Mr. Burns said. “We do our best to let everyone participate, but we want this money to help aid the athletic program because the money goes quickly.”

If the school complies, the district allots the school $10,000 to aid their athletic program. Most schools have other means of income for their athletes, whether it’s from sporting events, athletic fundraisers or donations to the program, but since Dreyfoos is an arts school, it has no significant athletic fundraisers or donations allotted for the athletes. There is no football team that earns income like most schools have, and the basketball team is the only program that

makes any money. Even so, it does not earn enough each game to cover the referees it has to provide. The $10,000 that is provided

by the district is the only way Dreyfoos can keep its athletic program alive,

so if it fails to comply with the male to female ratio, it would lose

the athletic program altogether.

But due to Mr. Burns and the rest of

the Dreyfoos coaches keeping tabs on the ratio throughout

the year and checking that we are staying within range to qualify for the

gender equity, year after year we meet the requirements that qualify us to receive the money that keeps our athletic program alive. g

Kevin Levine

Major Paticipationin dreyfoos Sports

Band

Communications

digital media

keyboard

strings

theater

visual

vocal

dance (0%)

13%

25%

9% 6%

10%

12%

18%

7%

GenderParticipationin Dreyfoos

Sports

64% girls36% boys

ClassParticipationin Dreyfoos

Sports

21% Freshmen

23% Sophomores31% Juniors

25% seniors

13%

This one or this one

Graphic by Kyle Bell

Graphic by Kyle Bell

Graphic by Kyle Bell

Demographics of Dreyfoos athleticsBreaking down the numbers of gender, grade and major participation

“If I hit a really good serve or win a point, I have to use the same ball, because I feel like for that moment it has special powers.”

“I was on the sidelines of a game and I was looking through the grass, and then all of a sudden I spotted this four leaf clover so I picked it up. Now it follows me to every game.”

“I wear the same headband every time I have a game. I was wearing it when I won my first volleyball game, and now I feel like I have to wear it to win any volleyball game I play in.”

Carly Amadocommunications senior

Tennis

Ian Jonesvisual junior

Soccer

Madison Blochvisual sophomore

Volleyball

What are yourathletic superstitions?

by CharlesBonani, BariBossis and

KevinLevine

StudentShortlist

26

SPORTS

by CharlesBonani

Communications sophomore Steffan Gawlikowski was destined to be an

athlete, as he was born into athletic roots on both sides of the family: his father was a

college football player and his mother was a professional soccer player. Gawlikowski’s parents passed down their athletic passion, and now Gawlikowski is immersed in sports. This school year, Gawlikowski has been a member of Dreyfoos’ soccer, cross country, and track and field teams, while also playing for a travel soccer team outside of school in Palm Beach Gardens. Despite the colossal time commitment, Gawlikowski is grateful for the amount of sports that he’s involved in and believes that nothing in his life could trump his passion and commitment for athletics.

“If you took away sports from my life, it would probably be like taking honey from a bee,” Gawlikowski said. “Sports and I are inseparable. If I stopped doing it my life would be ruined. Sports make my life complete. I live for sports.”

Gawlikowski’s dedication is especially impressive when his schedule is taken into consideration. He has practice for his in-school sports every day of the week from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. This does not include Fridays, although Gawlikowski still stays after occasionally to practice independently on Fridays. The cross country season takes place in the fall, the soccer season takes place in the winter and the track and field season takes place in the spring, so he is able to attend all of the practices. Gawlikowski also has practice for his travel soccer team three times a week. His schedule is demanding and requires ultimate dedication. Cross country coach and communications teacher Ancil Deluz is a witness to the level of unwavering dedication that Gawlikowski has to his athletics.

“I’ve seen [Gawlikowski] compete in a cross country event, run 3.2 miles, then leave that event and go play soccer in Ft. Lauderdale and come back and tell me that he trained the next day,” Dr. Deluz said. “That’s the type of dedication that he has and it shows in his effort.”

Gawlikowski wishes to pursue soccer and track in college, but he hopes to go even farther in his soccer career. His goal is to become a member of the United States national soccer team and play for them in the Olympics.

“It’s the biggest goal I’ll ever have and I’m

getting close to there,” Gawlikowski said. “I try out every year for Olympic Development Program, which gets you to try out for the state team and once you make the state team you get to try out for the national team.”

Gawlikowski hopes that the ODP will provide him with his big break in his soccer career, but he has another opportunity coming up this summer to show off his skill set. His travel team is going to a tournament in England known as the Kilt Cup, hosted by the soccer club Manchester United. His team will be competing against other teams from all over the world, and college coaches and scouts will be present throughout the tournament wlooking for their next big star.

“The most exciting moment [for me] is going to England because it’s the biggest tournament I’ve ever been invited to play in and hopefully it brings me

farther [in my soccer career],” Gawlikowski said.

Although Gawlikowski is heavily involved with his travel soccer team, his dedication to

his in-school athletics has not faltered.“He rarely misses practice,” said theatre

junior and soccer teammate Ramiro Retes. “He has a lot of stuff going on but he’s still

going out there.”Visual junior Gabriel Munoz,

Gawlikowski’s soccer teammate, has the same level of praise as Retes to the commitment of Gawlikowski towards the soccer team.

“His commitment to the soccer team’s pretty great,” Munoz said. “If we need something on or off the soccer field he helps us with that.”

Gawlikowski has also been praised as a team player. Dr. Deluz

lauds him as being a motivator to both himself and all of his teammates in any sport

he is a part of.“[Gawlikowski] is highly motivated

when it comes to accomplishing his goals athletically,” Dr. Deluz said. “He sets personal

goals for himself and in that regard he’s very serious about what he’s doing but he wants to assist others to accomplish their goals as well.” g

Photo by Aubrey Levin

Guidance counselor and tennis coach John Webb watches keyboard senior Rafael Riera during a pre-season seeding match.

JAGUAR PROFILE

Goals for GawlikowskiGawlikowski immerses himself in an abundance of athletics in and out of school

Coach’s Corner: John WebbCommunications junior Steffan Gawlikowski runs during a track pracice.

Phot

o by

Eliza

beth

Lane

by MaxFields

With the tennis season in full swing, guidance counselor and tennis

coach John Webb has his hands full with mentoring the players during competition.

“Tennis is a sport that you have to understand and have to have strategy,” Mr. Webb said. “[Tennis] has a lot of different aspects you have to manage and account for that you wouldn’t for a contact sport.”

This aspect of tennis creates a unique experience for both the coach and the players.

“When I coach tennis, it is a very different experience,” Mr. Webb said. “I always have to plan out an individual profile for each player, since tennis is a sport that consists of individuals.”

When Mr. Webb has the chance to coach his players during a game, he has to make the most of the little time he has.

“[You] have to let [the players] have their space to work it out by themselves,” Mr. Webb said. “At the same time you have to know when to catch the player and say what needs to be said in order to correct them. As a coach, [you] have to know your players very well.” g

27

SPORTS

by JosieGraham

Half of a buoy. This is what separated visual sophomore

Samantha Dumala from winning either first or second place at the Junior Worlds waterskiing tournament in Mulwala, Australia. Dumala and fellow United States skier Erika Lang were tied for first after the final round of the slalom competition, resulting in a runoff to see who would come out on top. After 23 hours of flying, a four hour drive to the small town of Mulwala and countless hours of practice back home, half of a buoy was all it took for Dumala to win the tie-breaker and finish first in this competition of countries.

“We had to do a runoff to see who wins, and that’s when I got nervous. I knew exactly what score I had to beat and it was a lot of pressure,” Dumala said. “I ended up winning by a half a buoy, and two other USA skiers finished in second and third. After I knew I won the runoff, I was relieved and it was exciting that after all the hard training and the long trip there that I won it.”

Dumala competes in slalom waterskiing, which requires a combination of balance and strength in order to successfully navigate a course of six buoys on only one water ski. The buoys are set up in a zig-zag pattern, three on either side of a straight boat path, and the skier is pulled on an 18 meter rope behind the boat at speeds of up to 34 miles per

hour. Once the skier completes the course, the rope is shortened to the next pre-measured loop in the rope and the course is run again. This is repeated until the skier either falls or misses a buoy. As the rope gets shorter and shorter, it becomes more difficult for the skier to reach the buoys. Each skier’s score depends on the number of buoys the skier goes around. With water skiing, as with any other sport, practice makes perfect.

“I’ll ski three to four days a week off-season and five to seven on-season,” Dumala said. “Besides practicing on water, it’s important to work on balance and

strength training.”The top eight skiers on

the International Water Ski Federation ranking list are invited to the Junior Worlds tournament. Dumala is number two on that list, and was therefore picked to compete in the tournament. The opportunity to represent her country in a world competition was the experience of a lifetime for this 15-year-old girl.

“Getting to go to Australia to ski in the Worlds for the USA was probably the coolest thing I’ve gotten to do,” Dumala said. “In two years it’s going to be in Ukraine; [I] can’t wait for that one.”

This upcoming season, Dumala is looking forward to a number of tournaments all over the country, from Florida to Wisconsin. Although it may be easy to get caught up in the rankings and worldwide competitions, what Dumala enjoys the most about waterskiing is the challenging nature of the sport, as well as being around other skiers who share her passion.

“It’s a social sport. You get to hang around a lake all day and be with friends and family in between practice sets. Through tournaments and ski schools I’ve been able to meet amazing skiers and coaches from all over the world,” Dumala said. “What I probably enjoy most is the challenge of skiing. It takes technique, strength; it’s a mental game of being confident, and there’s always room for improvement.”

Dumala’s drive to be successful in waterskiing does not go unnoticed by those she is close to. Visual sophomore Victoria Cruz has seen this ambition in action throughout their four-and-a-half-year friendship.

“I’m so proud of her and I would not be surprised if I see her printed on a Wheaties box in the future,” Cruz said. “She is an inspiration to all to focus on what you want in life and never let the little things get in your way.” g

Dumala wins Gold at 2012 Junior World Waterskiing Championships!

!Samantha Dumala, DSOA visual arts student wins gold at 2012 Junior World Waterskiing Championships that took place this weekend in Mulwala, Australia and medals with USA teammates. In girls' slalom, Dumala, Wellington, FL won the gold medal, while Erika Lang and Kara MacIntyre earned the silver and bronze medals, respectively. After Dumala and Lang tied with scores of 1 buoy at 38 feet off, Dumala scored 1-1/2 buoys at 35 feet off to Lang's 1 buoy at 35 feet off in the subsequent runoff. MacIntyre earned the bronze medal with a score of 4 buoys at 35 feet off.!!!Athletes and teams from 22 countries competed in the Þve-day event as the world team title and world individual titles in slalom, tricks, jumping and overall were at stake.!

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The si

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o eleate

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usiness.

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Sets up in seconds!

Photo courtesy of Samantha Dumala

The United States won first place in the Junior Worlds waterskiing tournament. The top three places for the womens slalom competition went to United States skiers, with visual sophomore Samantha Dumala winning the gold medal.

World title in water skiingVisual sophomore wins first in the world for junior slalom

28

SPORTS

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WEL

LNES

S

by MackenzieWhite

There are hundreds of old wives’ tales about everything from preventing

illness to figuring out what you should be eating. This is where the truth comes to light.

You’ll catch a cold in the rainFiction. Everyone and their grandmother

has heard this one. When the rain starts to fall, you don’t have to stay inside and miss out on jumping in the puddles forming on the sidewalk. That fact is people don’t get sick when in the rain. It’s actually the opposite. People tend to get sick when it’s raining because they stay cooped up inside, incubating in a room of germs.

High-fructose corn syrup is worse for you than sugar

Fiction. The American Medical Association said, “High-fructose corn syrup does not contribute to obesity more than other calorie sweeteners.” All sorts of studies, such as one done by the Department of Human Biology at Maastricht University in the Netherlands, prove that there is no significant difference in weight gain between sugar and HFCS. That doesn’t mean people should live off fruit

roll-ups and cola, but there’s nothing wrong with maintaining a healthy diet and having a processed snack every once in a while.

Cracking your knuckles will cause arthritis

Fiction. Popping your knuckles simply means you are shoving your bone out of its joint and causing a gooey lubricant called synovial fluid to drop in pressure. That fluid then forms bubbles that expand and burst. So think about that the next time you go on a finger-cracking rampage during class.

Beans make you flatulate

Fact. Everyone’s heard the rhyme, and, in this case, it happens to be true. Beans really do make you toot. When you eat them, your small intestines use

enzymes to break your food down molecule by molecule. However, beans have chunks of sugars called oligosaccharides that slip through the walls of your small intestines. Sooner or later the leftovers meet in an area

in your lower gut full of over 700 species of bacteria. That bacteria breaks up the

sugars. All that activity creates gas and there you go: a really quick way to end a date.

White spots on your fingernails mean that you

need calciumFiction. It doesn’t

mean you’re short on zinc either. You have leukonychia;

read this before you run to the hospital claiming you have an

obscure disease of the fingernail. Almost everyone gets leukonychia. It means trauma occurred to your nail. No need to chug a gallon of milk for calcium or stuff your face with peanuts to get more zinc. Just be a little more careful with your hands. g

by KellyBerger

Over 2,000 years ago, ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans

prized asparagus for its alleged medicinal qualities. Today, research on the vegetable—a member of the lily family—backs up those claims. Asparagus is a great source of fiber, folate and vitamins A, C, E and K. It is also rich in antioxidants that help slow the aging process and glutathione, a detoxifying compound that helps break down cancer-causing carcinogens and free radicals. With high levels of the amino acid asparagine, it serves as a natural diuretic to help the body get rid of excess water and salt. Try a quick, waterless method of cooking (such as roasting, grilling or sautéing) to preserve the antioxidants and nutrients in asparagus, or enjoy it raw with a dip or in a salad. g

Photo by Elizabeth Lane

Graphic by Kyle Bell

Photo by Foxy Fresh Produce

Visual senior Fazida Yathali waters white radishes in the Alice’s Wonderland garden located between the gym and Building 4. “The garden began last year. We had to get school board and county approval, make the wooden boxes, rip the grass and weeds [out] and buy soil from a local company,” Yathali said. “The garden is a school effort, not only the Environmental Club. Everyone is welcome to come harvest and do projects with our garden.”

Fact or Fiction?

Superfood in season: asparagus

Cultivating crops on campus

Common healthmyths explained

30

WELLNESS

by SavannahArtusi

Hailed as the greatest musical comeback of the 21st century,

pop rock star David Bowie’s newest album The Next Day has

received raving reviews. Mr. Bowie was one of the most iconic musicians of the ‘70s, but has not released an album since 2003.

When the music video of the song “The Stars (Are Out Tonight)” debuted on Feb. 26, it raised some concerns about the rest of the album. At first, the song seemed a little lackluster—certainly not the awe-inspiring performance audiences expected from Mr. Bowie. However, after listening to the whole album, it became clear that this initial impression was simply due to the wacky and confusing music video, which focused too intently on Mr. Bowie’s aging face.

The songs on The Next Day are catchy and haunting, gritty and poetic and just the sort of amazing musical performance Mr. Bowie’s fans have been waiting for. But what was most striking about the album was the contrast—not between the individual songs, but between this album and some favorite songs from his ’80s albums. Even though Mr. Bowie has al ways been known for his thoughtful lyrics, it seems as though his

musical style has taken a turn from spunky and eccentric classics, like his 1983 hit “Let’s Dance,” to dark and somber songs, such as “Heat.” In some ways, this distinctiveness is one of the most attractive aspects of the album, and it does not detract from the overall quality.

The release of The Next Day was masked in secrecy at first, but once it was out in the open it became the focus of music fanatics across the globe. According to the Official Chart Company, the album sold 66,000 copies in just two days. This impressive opening has put The Next Day in the running for the fastest-selling album of the year, and it will only grow in popularity as word continues to spread.

Apparently, though, not everyone was pleased with Mr. Bowie’s album. Angie Bowie, who was married to Mr. Bowie from

1970 and 1980, publicly slammed The Next Day and Mr. Bowie in an interview with The Sun. She even went so far as to say that “every release since the first eight albums has been rubbish.”

One of the most shocking

facts about The Next Day is that it was produced in almost complete secrecy. In today’s society where the latest news about anything and everything can be (and is) shared with the entire world in a matter of seconds, it is simply remarkable that Mr. Bowie managed to almost completely record and produce an album without the general population finding out. Even now, decades after he made his career as one of the most influential pop stars of the time, Mr. Bowie has managed to make a big splash in the music industry yet again. g

by JarrodCarman

Bags of chips piled sky-high, a room that needs to be cleaned and a computer running low on battery. At first glance, none

of these images seem to have anything in common, but upon further reflection, the connection is obvious: they are all in the possession of the average “House of Cards” binge-watcher.

Released in February exclusively to Netflix, “House of Cards” has become the latest in a series of online programs to glue the viewer to his or her screen. Adapted from a British novel and TV series of the same name, the American “Cards” was brought stateside by creator Beau Willimon, the writer of “The Ides of March,” and David Fincher, the acclaimed director of films including “The Social Network.”

“Cards” follows the exploits of Machiavellian U.S. Congressman Francis Underwood (Kevin Spacey) as he, with the

help of his wife (Robin Wright), seeks revenge for being passed over as the new Secretary of State. As he lies and manipulates his way through Washington, Underwood teams up with an investigative blogger (Kate Mara) and the womanizing, alcoholic, drug-addicted Representative Peter Russo (Corey Stoll.) In a shark-eat-shark world, Underwood is the whale of the ocean.

Stylish and subversive, it is easy to heap praise upon the show. Despite what superficially seems to be a hackneyed premise, the show succeeds because of the, uh, new cards it brings to the table. The show’s most brilliant conceit is having Underwood turn to the camera and break the fourth wall, which, instead of being expository, is in fact often hilarious and brilliant. The performances are top-notch and the plot is very intricate, yet a tad convoluted. In fact, the show is designed as a 13 hour movie, which is both its biggest advantage and detriment.

The design of the program is what makes it unique. Once the script for the first episode was written in 2011, a bidding war broke out between cable networks such as HBO and Showtime. Out of seemingly nowhere, Netflix swooped in and snatched up 26 episodes of the show for $100 million.

Some deem the show’s subscriber-only access as the beginning of the end of broadcast television. However, such a claim is hard to make when Netflix refuses to release viewing data, noting that the success of the show can only be determined in the long run as a result of word of mouth and sampling. That success might come sooner than expected and with unexpected results because, according to investment firm Cowen and Co., 85 percent of Netflix subscribers say the show will make them more loyal.

The show’s place in history won’t be determined for a while, but the show’s brilliance must be enjoyed while it lasts. To avoid going through withdrawal after it’s over, don’t watch the show all at once. After all, to quote Underwood, “That’s how you devour a whale. One bite at a time.” g

Photo by Iso Records Photo by Netflix

Take a ‘Bow’ie House of CardsDavid Bowie’s new album rocks Netflix debuts first orginal series

TV REVIEW

ALBUM REVIEW

31

ENTERTAINMENT

by GabiCohen

If there’s one thing the public must know, it’s what you’re doing every minute of every

day in just 140 characters. Though Twitter has been around since 2006, its recent rise in popularity has enticed nearly everyone to create an account. This platform has enabled average folk to try and interact with the elites of society: celebrities.

Kanye WestPrior to Kanye West deleting and later

remaking his Twitter, it was essentially the Holy Grail of celebrity-run social networking accounts. Mr. West’s Twitter covered a variety of pressing issues from water bottles on airplanes to rugs with cherub imagery. It was also a good go-to for a last minute senior quote.

Justin Bieber This young swaggy singer has millions

upon millions of followers, so Justin Bieber’s tweets are bound to have some sort of entertaining spin to them. Though half of

his tweets are accepting love from his young fanbase and tweeting promotions for albums and tours, Bieber does have a few golden updates. Public favorites include a tweet that read “u jelly?” just after his performance on the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show aired.

50 CentCurtis Jackson III, better

known as 50 Cent, just tweets about the important things in life. He comments on pressing social issues, such as the funds in his wallet and the ladies all over the world. 50 Cent makes sure to remind us constantly that he is a rap superstar by constantly posting photos of himself with fat stacks of cash.

Shaquille O’NealIf there’s one thing that can properly

convey the mindfreak that is former basketball

star Shaquille “Shaq” O’Neal’s Twitter, it’s the bio of the Twitter itself: “very quotatious, I perform random acts of Shaqness.” Much

like his tweets, Shaq is probably the only one who completely understands what that means. His Twitter is an amazing combination of Shaq philosophy, uplifting quotes and comments on his daily antics. If “very quotatious” is synonymous with “very quotable,” then his Twitter bio tells nothing but the truth.

Britney SpearsMost would expect Britney

Spears’ exciting and hectic life to be reflected on her Twitter, but it seems to be the exact opposite. Not only does she tweet about daily commoner activities such as grocery shopping, she gets her assistants to do it for her. Brit, why can’t you just tweet about your mundane activities yourself like the rest of us do? g

by EricaMaltz

Do not follow the yellow brick road to “Oz the Great and Powerful.” Disney’s prequel

to “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” by L. Frank Baum, was filled with great animations, but left the viewer disappointed. It took the simplicity and magic away from one of

America’s classics. Although the movie had a great cast with Mila Kunis, Michelle Williams and James Franco (who inevitably still gets all the ladies), it had the audience questioning whether or not it was a comedy due to the cliché approach.

A redeeming

aspect of the movie was the flying bell hop monkey named Finley. Everyone wanted to take him home. Otherwise, viewers of the movie were puzzled as to how this was allegedly aimed at a younger audience. The movie revolved around Oz, who is greedy, selfish and all the things any parent would not want their child to grow up to be. The writers and director seemed to have tried to make it a love story, but it really ends up being about a guy who plays three girls. What happened to just a journey of friends conquering the hardships of travel and flying monkeys?

Yes, they were able to slide in references from the original 1939 film throughout the movie, but the story lagged and didn’t dazzle the audience. It’s amazing how Disney was able to sprinkle in references to so many movies without making any impact on the plot. They had a little “Snow White” in there,

using the scenario of taking a bite of an apple, turning Mila Kunis into who she was meant to be: a bad girl. Director Sam Raimi added a dash of Star Wars with the green and red power surges from the witches, almost like the light sabers used in “Star Wars II.” They added notes of “Harry Potter” to spice things up, incorporating British accents, a dark demon-looking-like ghost in a forest and a wand showdown, dueling good versus evil.

The 3D visuals made the otherwise contrived Oz prequel tolerable. The viewer felt more invested into the scenes and could almost touch the poppy flowers as the characters trekked through the fields. The 3D element added to the characterization. In the end, Oz makes the obvious 180 degree turn that is present in all Disney movies, leaving the audience with the typical “feel good” ending. g

“ ‘Storm Chasers.’ Natural disasters have this dark and evil property, they lure you in because of the danger and excitement.”

“It’s kind of old, but ‘Friends.’ They’re all entertaining, and every episode is on its own but they all come together in a big way.”

Murphy Aucampband senior

Kaitlin Bradwaytheatre junior

MOVIE REVIEW

Graphic by Twitter

What’s the bestTV show to marathon?

by MaggiePatterson

Don’t go over the rainbow, Oz

Celebrate ‘quotatious’ celebrity Twitters

StudentShortlist

32

ENTERTAINMENTENTERTAINMENT

by NicoleDonechie

For a typical 9-year-old girl, an Oscar nomination would be a

big enough achievement in itself, but for Quvenzhané Wallis, it’s just the beginning of her successful acting career. While the nation is busy getting over the shock of Wallis’ success that came on all at once, she is wasting no time moving forward to her next big break.

Just hours before Wallis appeared on the red carpet at the 2013 Oscar Awards, she was offered the lead role in the remake of the original Broadway musical “Annie.” Not only did her popularity draw the attention of major production companies, according to the president of production of Sony Pictures studio, but her well-rounded abilities to act, dance and sing did as well.

Wallis’ biggest claim to fame is her debut role in “Beasts of the Southern Wild,” where she is described by Deadline Hollywood as “cute-as-a-button” as the main character, Hushpuppy. When Wallis tried out for that role, it was her first acting job and she had to lie about her age. Wallis was only 5 at the time

and the minimum age requirement was 6. She ended up beating out thousands of other contenders, and it was the start of her booming career.

Because Will Smith and Jay-Z are the two main producers of the “Annie” remake, Willow Smith, Will Smith’s

daughter, was originally cast to be Annie. Instead, the part was given to Wallis. Because of the long development period, 12-year-old Willow was thought to have been too old to play the part of Annie. Sony Pictures and

Overbrook Entertainment are teaming up as the distributors of the new movie and with Will Gluck as the director, critics have assured audiences that the

movie will be a success. This modern-day

rendition of “Annie” defies traditional standards, straying far from the little girl known for her blue eyes and red hair. Wallis’ dark skin will certainly be a shock. The critics’ reaction to Annie’s new look is still yet to be announced, but it will hopefully be a crowd pleaser.

The highly anticipated remake of “Annie” starring Wallis is expected to be in theaters during the

holiday season of 2014. Hopefully, this time around, Wallis won’t go empty handed at the Oscars. g

“ ‘Awkward.’ It’s relatable to high school students and issues they face, and it’s funny.”

“ ‘Pretty Little Liars.’ You can’t stop watching, even during commercial breaks.”

When I walk up in the club on a Wednesday night (Ladies’ Night, duh), the DJ knows to play my track. I saunter in, we make eye contact and he nods his head at me. I swagger my way to the dance floor as the beginning of “Crazy In

Love” by Beyoncé and Jay-Z plays in the background; the whole club knows that I have arrived. Everyone is really excited that the track is playing, but they know to give me my space so I can move on the floor. Then, they see me dance and just feel a lot of secondhand embarrassment. The club is evacuated. This is how I like to party.

“Grove St. Party” by Waka Flocka Flame is the best because it gets you really pumped up and a little crazy. It’s the embodiment of fun. I can’t go to a party until I hear “It’s a party, it’s a party, it’s a party.” I found out about this masterpiece

from the president of my party prep team, Natasha “TashaCrakk” Leonard. We pump it on the way to everywhere and bring the party with us. Publix? Crank. Post office? Crank. Municipal park? Crank. The party never stops.

When Hannah Montana decided to shock Disney Channel and come out as Miley Cyrus, we all boom boom clapped. The country party rock anthem, “Hoedown Throwdown,” blew up about three years ago and, yes, it is still relevant. The single by Ms. Cyrus

is my number one song request for a DJ—I love to pop and lock it, along with all the other iconic dance moves in the song. Even though I could easily throw you down on the dance floor, I’ll try to keep my dance moves to a minimum so I don’t embarrass you dance majors.

Every once in a while, you might hear a song that inspires you to get off your feet and change who you are, inside and out, in an effort to improve your future. Unfortunately, I haven’t heard that song yet, but I don’t mind rocking out to “One Day More” from the

“Les Misérables” soundtrack. If I’m jogging, taking a calculus test or crying about my grade on said calculus test, “One Day More” always inspires me. Perhaps it’s because I understand what it’s like to go to jail for 20 years for stealing a loaf of bread, but it’s probably because Russell Crowe is the greatest singer of all time.

Carla Florescommunications freshman

Mia O’Neiltheatre sophomore

Photo by Rolling Stone Magazine

GabiCOHEN

MaggiePATTERSON

EricaMALTZ

JarrodCARMAN

Photo by Fox Searchlight Pictures

Quvenzahané Wallis wore an Armani dress and accessorized with one of her signature puppy purses at the 85th Academy awards.

Wallis set to play Annie

33

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The Muse is a student publication produced by Journalism IV, V and VI classes at Alexander W. Dreyfoos, School of the Arts. Opinion is limited to editorials and columns. We welcome and will print letters to the editors, which should be submitted to the Pressroom (1-305). We reserve the right to edit letters for grammar and space restrictions and will publish no letters that are libelous or defamatory to any staff, students or members of the community. We also accept guest editorials, although we reserve the right to edit or to decline at our discretion.

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About The MuseThe Muse is a national award-winning newsmagazine. The publication has won numerous awards from the National Scholastic Press Association including a Pacemaker in 2004, 2008 and 2011 and a Silver Crown from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association. In 2012, The Muse won First Place General Excellence Newspaper from the Palm Beach Post Excellence in High School Journalism Awards. This publication, and all six issues produced, is completely funded and created by its staff, advertisers and donors. Over 1,300 students and a multitude of in-state and out-of-state subscribers receive copies of the magazine annually. All aspects of the magazine from the cover to the Exposure on the back page are written and designed by the students. There are 53 staffers, grades 10-12, from the communications department (and cartoonists from the visual department) who work during and after school to make this publication possible. We would like to thank School of the Arts Foundation board members Lisa Marie Browne, Ralph Guild and Don Silpe for contributing generously to the 2011-2012 issues of The Muse. Your donations are greatly appreciated by everyone on this staff. Please visit our website at www.themuseatdreyfooos.com. g

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STAFF LIST

by AlexandraLopez

Visual senior Kathia St. Hilaire’s piece “Women From Jacmel”

helped make her one of 152 finalists for YoungArts this year. Learning, understanding and connecting to Haitian culture have been St. Hilaire’s primary focus for the past two years.

“A common view of Haiti is that it is a poor, oppressed and potentially

hopeless country,” St. Hilaire said. “I used to think this too, but hearing stories from my parents about their lives in Haiti and reexamining family photos made me see the beauty of Haiti.”

Through the medium of printmaking, St. Hilaire made large linoleum reductions with intricate patterns and collage. She stays inspired by listening to Haitian

music, looking at tribal patterns and hearing stories from her parents’ life in Haiti. St. Hilaire hopes to stay involved with the Haitian community.

“For my future plans, I want to open up a school in the Cité of Soleil, Haiti, to teach arts and academics,” St. Hilaire said. g

“WomenFrom Jacmel”

Kathia St. Hilaire

EXPO

SURE

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