10101 SW 152 Street Miami, FL 33157February 2015 Volume 16 Issue 3

BAITLINE Get Ho ked

Coral Reef Sr. High School

http://crhs.dadeschools.net/

Mr. MenaschePriority List writer and former

teacher passes away

- page 3

Seniors anxiously await letters- page 8

- page 6

Mega MoviesThe year in movies

by: Mariela Jimenez Going down memory lane was a very exciting experience for all juniors and seniors. They got to relive many pep rallies with MC Adrian and So You think You Can Dance winner and coral reef alumni Ricky Ubeda. “Having them back here at Reef felt like it was last year at any other pep rally just without the freshman and sophomores. But Ricky’s surprise had to be the best, no one expected it!” said junior from medical academy, Samantha Iglesias. Many were very excited to be a part of this pep rally, although they were very disappointed that Ricky didn’t get to wow them with a last performance Not only did they have surprises, this was also just like every other pep rally. The Varsity Cudettes, Cuda Stomp, Band and Color Guard and the cheerleaders also did new performances to wow the crowds. “I think they all performed great. I loved the Cudettes and Cuda stomp performance

the best.” said Randall Mejia, senior in the engineering academy. Winter sports, including soccer, basketball, and wrestling , also took the famous walk around the gym to show off their sport with Cuda pride. “I believe we all felt special to be a part of this pep rally. They had this just for us and to be a part of it was awesome. I think we all miss Adrian as the MC he always made it fun to be there.” said junior, Aaron Robles from the engineering academy. M a n y sophomores and freshman were very happy about not being a part of this pep rally

but it was the juniors and seniors moment to have this time to themselves to have fun and remember the pep rallies from last year.

Flash Back Friday Peprally

Cudettes regain their national title at UDA

Inside

College Life

by: Mariela Jimenez Both Varsity and Junior Varsity Cudettes started off 2015 with a bang, showing of their dance skills and proving that they are the best! The Cudettes continue to astonish us with their dancing and their results when going to competitions. Junior Varsity won in both the hip-hop and jazz category, making both the sophomore and freshman year class very proud. Varsity also had a clean sweep winning both in the hip-hop and jazz category in the competitions the last two weekends, making both the senior and junior class proud of their results. All of Coral Reef was showing their Cuda pride and routing for them in our hearts while they were away at competition, we are certainly proud to say we have the best dance team! The Cudettes really put their mark at the Regionals and ADA. But they certainly, left their mark at UDA this weekend. At the last two competitions, which happen to

be Regionals and ADA States, both teams happen to have a clean sweep in all the categories they competed in, coming in first place. Continuing to make us proud and showing their hard work at UDA this weekend, Junior Varsity has won the jazz category and coming in second place in the hip-hop category

and Varsity came first in Jazz and second in hip-hop. But, we all know that they are the best. They worked as hard as they could to get to the top and they succeeded. Making sure all the competitors that this wouldn’t be the last time they would see them! “It was such an indescribable feeling we worked so so hard to get here and in the end, the sweat and blood and 8 hour rehearsals were worth it. We walked off crying tears of joy because we finally made it here to this point, and even with all the things that happened,” said Brianna Melo, VPA academy and Junior Varsity Cudette. After what both teams went through to get to where they are, they finally got through it and came out winning in the end. They really left their heart

and souls out on the dance floor and came out with good results in the end. They surely made Mrs. Santalo and all the VPA Dancers proud. But not only them, they made us all proud here in Cuda Nation! Keep up the good work everyone and congratulations on the win!

The Varsity Cudettes proudly show off their trophy after winning nationals at UDA.

2 Coral Reef Sr. HighFebruary 2015

Baitline strives to provide quality student-led publications to the student body providing the school community with an open forum of public expression. In the publications class, students will make all editorial decisions including, but not limited to: generating story ideas, writing copy, editing copy, laying out copy, taking photographs, and handling all aspects of running the business end of a school publication. Because of this, any comments or concerns should be addressed to the editorial staff. It should be understood that the newspaper is not a professional publication; therefore, students will make mistakes during the learning process. As a staff, we will make every effort to learn from these mistakes and continually improve the publication. While our primary goal is to inform and entertain the school community, we also strive to maintain high journalistic standards. All opinions expressed in the publications are the students’ or the individual sources, and not the staff’s as a whole, the advisor, or school officials. Letters to the editor are appreciated and can be delivered to room 305 or e-mailed to cmitchell@dadeschools.net. All letters submitted may be condensed or edited for grammar and spelling. Libelous material will not be printed. Information about submitting ads can be obtained by e-mailing cmitchell@dadeschools.net. Past issues can be viewed at http://crhs.dadeschools.net.

BAITLINE2014-2015 Staff

AdviserCheri Mitchell-Santiago

Editor Myrella Lopes

Principal Adrianne Leal

Staff WritersArtamendi, Alexis Bedoya, Amanda Holtzman, Rachel Labiste, JeselynLapaix, Nicanor Lastre, Emily Orozco, KristinaPerez, AshleyPhillips, BrianRodriguez, DerekRomain, Iloria Sanchez, Analexis Talledo, Carlos

News

Coral Reef Sr. High School

By: Derek Rodriguez Have you ever been bored while painting? Whether it would be a fence or an entire house, painting has been nothing but a nuisance to us. But how about a different kind of painting, perhaps one that was actually exhilarating? A company known as Life in Color, which has over 200 shows yearly both in the United States and internationally, hosts an event that is basically a giant “paint party.” They have been to major cities all around the world and are planning many other events; some of these places will be in Buenos Aires, Argentina; Rio, Brazil; and Denver, Colorado. This event includes thousands of gallons of nontoxic paint, which is sprayed throughout the entire audience in different ways, such as hoses from the stage and personal paint-filled water bottles. The makers of this made a statement saying that everyone joining should wear a plain white T-shirt (but they aren’t forced to do so) in order for the audience to be the “canvas” of the event. Life in Color was founded in 2006 by several college students attending Florida State University after throwing “super extravagant house parties.” Life in Color has had major guest

appearances like Calvin Harris (singer), 2 Chainz (rapper), and Afrojack (DJ); and they plan to be including more and more inspirational figures as they continue this series of life-changing experiences. “It sounds very fun and is great as a recreational activity,” said Isabella Casanova.She’s not wrong about this, 60,000 other teenagers and adults follow Life in Colors’ Facebook page and they also have successful “paint parties” each year. The last interactive show that they hosted

was in Miami, Florida on December 26th and December 27th. If you would like to attend one of these events, keep in mind that it is a little pricey. At up to 179.99$ per ticket. The other thing about this extravaganza is that you must be 16 years of age or older; sorry freshman, not this time. However, anybody who goes (no matter the price) will say that it was a blast and one of the best nights of their lives.

Recap of Life in Color 2014

Juan M. Saiz, Esq.Immigration Attorney

Coral Way Law Center6780 Coral WayMiami, Florida 33155

Tel: (305) 261-4000Fax: (305) 669-5020

By: Ashley Perez David Menasche was one of Coral Reef’s beloved English teachers. He taught AP English Language and was known throughout the school as an awesome teacher and person. In 2006 he was diagnosed with a brain tumor the size of a lemon called glioblastoma multiform. The tumor was located in his right temporal lobe and was classified as Stage IV brain cancer; doctors said he was given months to live. He underwent three surgeries, two and a half years of chemotherapy, and 30 rounds of radiation. He was in remission, but then 2012 rolled around and he suffered a seizure that reduced the peripheral vision in both of his eyes and weakened his left side causing him to stop teaching. He wanted to make his last days worth it so he went on a journey to reconnect with a few of the 3,000 students he taught during his 15 years of teaching. Mr. Menasche called it the “Vision Quest” and started to post his quest on social websites like Facebook. Within three days he has already heard back from 73 of his old students. On November 2, 2012 he began his journey with over 150 houses to visit across the country. During his travels he filmed his journey

until it was complete in February 2013, he was on the road for 101 days and had visited 31 cities. After his trip, he published an autobiography which he called “The Priority List: A Teacher’s Final Quest to Discover Life’s Greatest Lessons”. As his book became more and more popular it was picked up by Warner Bros, to

become a movie with Steve Carell as the main character. Mr.Menasche passed away on November 20, 2014 at age 41. The Coral Reef Cuda family will never forget Mr.Menasche and the greatness he brought to his students everyday, his legacy will live on.

3Coral Reef Sr. HighFebruary 2015News

Mr. Menasche:Once a Cuda, Always a Cuda

Reef CornerNew FBLA District 26 Preisdent- Daniel Weiland

FBLA Competiors Qualifying for StatesAccounting II- Daniel WeilandAgribusiness – Alyssa Love, Jeffrey CabanzonBanking & Financial System Team 1- Demarco Cisneros, Victor SaavedraBanking & Financial System Team 2- Michael Angrand, Andrea Barreiro, Jesus MendezBusiness Calculations- Brian ReyesBusiness Financial Plan – Julian Brizuela, Adrian Harmon, Annalie GarciaBusiness Plan – Alexander Alonso, Joshua Nazario, Daniel Cohen, Patrick MartinBusiness Procedures- Jonathan Scotto, Isabella PellonComputer Applications- Zain Hussein, Alexia LynchCyber Security- Elica TerronesDesktop Publishing- Nicole Picon, Myrella LopesDigital Design & Promotion- Sevignaz Kiroglu, Valeria Velasco, Mariam LeonDigital Video- Adrian RegaldoE-Business Team 1 – Jeannette Bode, Alexi Hamilton, Sarah AbellaE-Business Team 2- Ashley LeyvaEconomics- Claudia Perez-BritoEntrepreneurship Team 1- Jaipal Silla, Eduardo Paredes, Chaitanya LokireddyEntrepreneurship Team 2- Elena Lopez, Deridre EdwardFBLA Principles & Procedures- Miranda GongFuture Business Leader- Nicole RegaldoIntroduction to Business- Leonard Seth Wooten, Zachary CravezIntroduction to Business Communications- Jessica MozingoIntroduction to Information Technology- Giancarlo Ruiz, Camilo Romero, Eric Baugh Management Information Systems- Mark Martin, Roberto GreenMarketing Team 3- Jake Sirota, Drew Fishman, Andres PerezPersonal Finance- Claudia EnamoradoPublic Service Announcement- Alanis BrownPublic Speaking I- N’maya Bryant, Rayen AriasPublic Speaking II- Isabelle SaintjeanSports & Entertainment Management Team- Nicholas Jimenez, Michael Martinez, Arturo ParejaSpreadsheet Applications- Jeselyn LabisteWeb Design Team- Sebastian Espinoza, Juan Archuleta

2015 National Achievement Program Finalists Oriana Gamper Leila Abdelrahman Daniel Monteagudo Olivia Bosquet Zachary Pierce Reuben Joseph

‘Orgullo de Nuestra Juventud” Award Amy Meltzer

2015 National Merit® Scholarship Program Finalists Drew Fishman Kshitij Kulkarni Chaitanya Lokireddy Amy Meltzer Brian Ransom.

Coca-Cola Scholars Program Recepient Leila Abdelrahman

2015-2016 Comcast Leaders and Achievers® Scholarship Program Recipient Shakeyla Flores

Torres, JoseEtienne, OliviaReyes, ErikRodriguez, EmelySu, IvyVeras, KimberlyJosephs, MelissaGaitan, RachelWood, VictoriaRibler, JacksonMesa, JonathonReid, ShanelleMaysonet, BrendenReyes-Valiente, EmanuelRuisanchez, AndresSandino, AdrianaValera, CristhianPalau, ChaveliGomez, AshleyMachado, LaurenOlivert, ClaudiaZevallos, NicholeHarrell, KortniMcdonald, AnaePeart, BelieneRodriguez, ArmandoWilliams, TelithaAviles, JessicaCrair, DanielGranade, AxlTezara, DiegoBryant, KameronCalderon, JacquelineSanchez, AnthonySegovia, NanyoungRodriguez, SarahOrdonez, GiovannyBurnett, MelanieDemps, TyliaJoseph, DjimyEscobarsanchez, CrystalGrant, LaurynCanteli, KaseyLopez, SabrinaMarin, SarahLopez, JoseMuro, GabrielMiranda, Juan

Llizo, AshleePozo, KimberlySanchez, GabrielleSands, CelestrialMompoint, JasmineRobles, VictoriaBurga, ArianaCortina, LauraEmily, FundoraHerrera, SashaRodriguez, LeticiaNewton, EmilyFernandez, VictoriaLugo, GiancarloMartinez, NicoleRilo, NatalieBrown, AnalieseRomero-Ramos, VanessaChaviano, AngelloMaguina, MelissaLage, NatalieLondono, BridgetteDiaz, ShellaMaglasang, MicahFernandez, VivianAbdo, NatalieBetancourt, PeterDieppa, ValerieGwilliam, SamanthaMaya, MariaMendez, AndreaPadin, JaimeHandal, DanielleArabitg, AlanaArtamendi, AlexisFiorilo, AdrianaHorback, ErikaLavega, JulissaRivero, MichelleStockburger, BryanTravieso, TatianaWilliams, JessicaCorrea, HermelindaVasquez, JuliaBurwick, TurnerCampbell, CharlesFernandez, JeremyZevallos, Christian

Levers, JadaMoore-Mangone, JasmineMoreno, VictoriaJean-Baptiste, BrittneyTalledo, CarlosCorvinton, Julianna

Hosa State Competitors

4 Coral Reef Sr. HighFebruary 2015 New Years

by: Jeselyn Labiste A new beginning, a fresh start, the possibilities are endless. 2015 is starting out with a bang. Movies are lining up to appear in a theater near you. State-of-the-art car models are ready to park into driveways. Technology trends are ever evolving. People are also getting ready to begin a new chapter of their lives. Kristen Meneses, an Academy of Finance sophomore, is kicking off the New Year with a bang. She will “drop everything and start from the beginning,” hoping that she can improve upon her grades and spend more quality time with her family members. Academy of Finance senior, Juan Calle is extremely excited for this upcoming year. “Looking forward to college and obtaining my independence,” expressed Juan. He is waiting upon his application status for the University of Florida that will be posted in their website on February 13, 2015. We wish him the best of luck. Many are anxiously waiting

for the arrival of this year’s most anticipating movies coming to date. Avengers: Age of Ultron and Jurassic World will be premiering early spring with high hopes. It has been three years since the last Avengers movie and fourteen years since the final Jurassic Park movie. VPA sophomore, Erika

Cantin is more than ready for the arrival of the Avengers. “I have always been a huge fan of Marvel comics and movies.” “They bring superheroes to life with their creative writing. I know the newest Avengers will be better than the last,” exclaimed Erika.

Jurassic park will premiere nationally on June 12th and Avengers: Age of Ultron will show near a theater near you starting May 12th. During this upcoming year, big technological trends are expected to catch on like wild fire. Beware on the lookout for smart watches. Companies such as Microsoft, Apple and Google are working on their own brand of smart watches to revolutionize modern technology as we know it. Also Google is further revolutionizing glasses that connect to the internet. Battery life will be increased as well as their accessibility to the public. Academy of Finance sophomore, Jaylin Labiste can’t wait to get her hands around these Google glasses. “Not only will I see clearly with them, I will have the luxury to get all

the information I need right in front of my eyes,” explained Jaylin. 2015 comes with high hopes and promise. Many expected and unexpected things are on the brink of arriving to blow our minds. You know what they say “New Year, New You!” anything can happen.

What’s to Come in 2015

By: Amanda Bedoya Like always, Christmas Break has come and gone too soon. With Christmas chaos and the excitement of the New Year, many spent the holidays out of town. After interviewing several students, I was able to narrow it down to just a few destinations. Emily Lastre went on a family vacation around the Caribbean for five days after her Christmas spent with family. Her cruise ship stopped by Cozumel, Mexico and Princess Cay’s, Bahamas. When asked about her favorite moment she loved the fact that she “…got to spend time with my family and the all-you-can-eat buffet!” The ports offered various exotic excursions for the passengers like zip-lining through the forest in and horseback riding on the beach in Mexico, as well as snorkeling the clear waters of the Bahamas. For others like Alejandra Sobrero, an eight day trip to Trinidad to visit family was a great way to spend the holidays. Most of her trip consisted of going to the different beaches, watching movies, and going bike riding around the neighborhoods. “I really enjoyed seeing my family considering I don’t go very often and loved the fact that I was able to spend New Year’s Eve with them on the beach,” She continued saying “the beaches are beautiful over there” and was

glad that she was able to spend time in the sun than bundle up further north. While some spent time on the water, others like Alexis Artamendi took a road trip with family to Tennessee. There, she “went hiking

in the Smoky Mountains National Park and spent a day at Dollywood Amusement Park.” On her way down, she went to “the Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, and passed by Stone Mountain,” she continued saying that “this had to be the most memorable trip I’ve been on and I’m glad I had the opportunity to spend this vacation with them. Being able to celebrate New Year’s Eve out of state for the first time was a pretty cool experience too.” It seems Coral Reef’s holiday season has been a fulfilling and satisfying break. We all anticipate a holiday break but not many of us get the chance to find adventure. What students seem to

forget is, that it’s not where you make your memories; it’s the company you spend it with. Holiday break is over but don’t fear, because Spring Break is near.

Winter Break Excursions

Emily Lastre and her family take a picture with their cruise ship during their winter break cruise.

5Coral Reef Sr. HighFebruary 2015New Years

New Years Resolutions fall flat quickly

By: Rachel Holtzman Hanukkah: “The Festival of Lights.” Hanukkah is celebrated for eight days to cherish the miracle of how the oil lasted eight days in the Temple. There are many traditions that families celebrate during Hanukkah including playing Dreidel, a game in which there is a four sided top that you spin around and there are four different Hebrew letters on them, people play for money or for some Jewish chocolate called gelt. Another important holiday tradition is for everyone to cook together! Typically the Jewish families cook tasty deep fried foods in oil to commemorate the last drops of oil that saved the people of Israel long ago. One of the most famous Hanukkah dishes is Latkes. Latkes, or potato pancakes are made out of potato and onion usually into the shape of a tiny pancake; it is typically served with applesauce to add some sweet flavor. Here is a traditional Latke recipe:

What to do:1. Peel the potatoes and put them into a food processor to chop them up nicely or just shred them into tiny thin pieces.

2. Put the potatoes into a big bowl and stir the eggs, flower, and salt with it. 3. Add oil to pan4. Roll the Latke mix into a flat pancake and carefully add it to the sizzling pan. 5. Halfway, flip the latke until it is crispy or golden brown. 6. When they are golden brown, place them on folded paper towels with a spatula and pat them so most of the oil can come off.7. Add apple sauce or sour cream into serving bowls.8. Wait till the Latkes have cooled off and then you are ready to serve!Now you’re ready to make these delectable Jewish treats! This super simple recipe is easy to make by yourself or with the family as a tradition.

Ingredients:• Potatoes• 1 Onion• 3 tbsp. Matzo Meal• 1 Egg• 2 tsp. Kosher Salt • Oil• Apple Sauce or Sour Cream to serve• ¼ Cup of Flour

Hanukkah celebrations begin with Potatoes

by: Ashley Perez As 2014 came to a close, students all over Coral Reef Senior High were thinking about what changes they were planning to make for the big year in 2015. New Year’s resolutions are a common tradition in American culture and so many people are notorious for not complying with their resolution. About 49% of Americans that make resolutions don’t succeed. Some resolutions include hardly any effort at all but others like Medical Academy senior Erik Olsen take a village (literally) to follow through. Olsen said he would like to “give back to society and make the world a better place by creating an organization that provides food for third world countries that don’t have the resources.” New Year’s resolutions don’t have to be as extravagant as Olsen’s but they can be little gestures that can contribute to improving yourself. Resolutions range from getting a gym membership to “not eating fast food,” as told by Emily Astiazarain, a junior in the VPA academy. Studies show that one of the reasons it’s so hard for people to keep their New Year’s resolutions is because it’s hard for people to change. It’s easier to start out with a small do-able goal and then as you become an expert in completing them to challenge yourself more and more each time with larger resolutions. That in itself can be a long time resolution by creating goals that are more elaborate each year. Sophia Cue a senior in the IB Academy said she wants to improve her dental health because she got two cavities this year and that has never happened to her before.

6 Coral Reef Sr. HighFebruary 2015 A&E

by: Brian Phillips Right off the line, January starts off with horror films such as the sequel to Women in Black: the Angel of Death comes to theaters. The action thriller movies start off with the ending to the action packed trilogy Taken. Comedies such as Paddington, Mortdecai, and Strange Magic fill out the month along with plenty of other movies. February includes movies such as Fifty Shades of Grey, a movie based off of the popular novel. Jupiter Ascending, with cast members including Mila Kunis and Channing Tatum. SpongeBob: Sponge Out of Water, splashes into theaters more than ten years since SpongeBob’s last movie. During the month of March we will see movies such as Chappie, Heart of the Sea; based off of the novel Moby Dick; and the 5th Paranormal movie: Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension. The highlights include a remake of the classic Disney movie Cinderella and the next movie in the Divergent series: Insurgent. The seventh film to the Fast & Furious franchise: Furious 7 starts off the month of April. Following movies include the comedy Paul Blart, Mall Cop 2 and Little Boy. The summer months start out with one of the jewels in movies this year. In the beginning of May, The Avengers will assemble for the second time in their new movie Avengers: Age of Ultron. Other movies, which will have to battle

out of the Avengers shadow, consist of Pitch Perfect 2, Tomorrowland, and San Andreas. The days of June will have dinosaurs walking among us. Jurassic World enters theaters as the 5th film of the Jurassic series. Inside Out is this year’s Pixar movie, meet the emotions inside your head on June 19th. Ending the month is the Ted sequel: Ted 2. The summer months end with on a high point. Magic Mike, Minions, and Marvel’s Ant-Man fill in the days of the month. Pan, the remake of Peter Pan, flies into theaters July 24th. Humanity fights for survival against the machines in Terminator Genisys, the fifth film of the series.

Before school starts in the month of August, make sure to see the rebooted Fantastic Four. Other movies coming out then are Me before You, Regression, and for the horror film fans, Sinister 2. In the month of September, the Maze Runner returns with Scorch Trials. Looking to be the number one movie in America, Everest, and the Scorch Trials, come to theaters September 18th. October is around the time when a remake of the Jungle Book comes out. With movies such as Victor Frankenstein, a Frankenstein movie with actor Daniel Radcliff as Igor, Vacation, and Jem and the Holograms, it looks as though the movies in October will not disappoint.

November is an exciting month as Pixar releases their second movie of the year, The Good Dinosaur. Other movies that month: Friday the 13th, The Peanuts Movie, and Midnight Special. But the highlight of November will be the conclusion to the Hunger Games series with Mockingjay Part 2. The final month of 2015 will be one to remember. Not because of Alvin and the Chipmunks 4 or Mission Impossible 5, but because of the seventh film in one of the most famous movie series all time. Star Wars: The Force Awakens comes to theaters December 18th.

Movies to come in 2015

By: Carlos Talledo In our modern society we are mentally dulled down with the slurry of different mindless apps or video games that do not provide us with anything except a few dead brain cells. In the past few weeks everyone at Coral Reef and the rest of the world, has been clamoring about the newest sensation to hit the App Store, “Trivia Crack.” A trivia game compromised of a spinning wheel decorated with several different categories of questions, from science to entertainment. Whenever the wheel lands on a category, a question arises and if the player gets it correct, they may spin again. “Trivia Crack” stands out from the rest of the hum drum, mind-numbing games that we are plagued with in the twenty first century. As a matter of fact, “Trivia Crack” does the complete opposite. In my opinion, this game actually boosts the knowledge of players in a fun and competitive manner. Most teenagers, will pretty much try their hardest to win anything if it means they

can have bragging rights over their friends and yes I mean absolutely everything. Others may suggest that “Trivia Crack” is just another member of the Hall of Fame of ridiculous games that will only distract and have no fruitful benefits to reap, it is quite the opposite. Unlike “Angry Birds,” “Clash of Clans,” or “Farmville”,

“Trivia Crack” puts knowledge to the test with a myriad of questions varying from elementary to doctoral, yet fun all the way. While, “Trivia Crack” is distracting, we are being distracted by a well of facts, that have actually helped out a few of my friends in school, when writing an essay or two and they need some random fact or statistic to make that essay

meatier. The fact of the matter is, “Trivia Crack” Is the number one game on the Apple App Store, Google Play store, and the top game in the U.S. and twenty other countries. The previous statistic, while daunting, only proves that people are hungry to learn more and test their smarts and if it means beating a few friends on the way, no problem. If the world is learning from “Trivia Crack,” then what is the problem? At least it is better than flinging a few birds

into pigs or starting a war against others. In all honesty I believe that games like “Trivia Crack” will only serve to help make us smarter, well-informed about the world around us, and get us to be more rounded out with what we know. Knowledge is power, information is liberating, get with the program, and download “Trivia Crack,” I already did.

Trivia Crack Epidemic

7Coral Reef Sr. HighFebruary 2015Technology

By: Nicanor Lapaix There are many video games to look forward to this year, but there will only be a few that I will talk about. The honorable mentions for this though are, Kirby, Mario Party, Dead Island, Halo, etc. The games that I will be talking about are Monster Hunter 4, and Legend of Zelda Wii U.

On January 26, 2014 an enhanced edition titled of Monster Hunter called Monster Hunter 4G was announced for release in Japan in fall 2014, and will allow players to utilize Monster Hunter 4 save files. This version will be released in North America and Europe as Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate in early 2015. The newest installment promises to be different from its predecessors. This game plans to emphasize three-dimensional movement as well as being able to climb walls. Furthermore you will now be able to grab monsters and attack them as well as attack in midair. The monsters have also been improved they are now terrain-aware and use the environment to their advantage. Two new weapons have been added into the game the

Insect Glaive and the Charged Axe both of which were fan made weapons entered into one of the creator’s contests. “I’m really excited for the Insect Glaive; it’s one of the most unique weapons I’ve seen in the game,” says Giovanni Medina. Monster Hunter 4 is the first Monster

Hunter game appearing on a handheld that features fully integrated online multiplayer. No other previous Monster Hunter game had this, if you wanted online play you would need to connect to your counsel. This game doesn’t have a set release date but it will be released early 2015, which means we don’t have that long to wait for it. The Legend of Zelda Wii U, is another highly anticipated game for this year and why shouldn’t it be when the creator has said that it will be slightly different from most Zelda games we have seen. Nintendo states that this installment will take place in a fully connected over world, similar to the original Legend of Zelda, but with less emphasis on defined entrances and exits to dungeons. Designer Eiji Aonuma stated that this is intended to give players more freedom, letting them decide where they want to go and how to get there. The over world can be traversed on foot or on Link’s horse Epona. Unlike Epona from other games this version uses artificial intelligence to avoid obvious obstacles and free Link to aim at enemies. Link can also leap off Epona and enter slow motion to better aim at enemies. During last year’s E3 a sneak peak of what the game play looked like was shown to the viewers who were there and most were amazed at what they’ve seen. “I can’t wait for this game; I got a Wii U just for this and Smash Bros” says Louis Dorta.

New Year, New Video Games

Action Figures within video Trivia Crack Epidemic By: Nicanor Lapaix

Over the span of a couple years, action figures that you would purchase as an add on to a game would now enable you to use them within the games. Disney Infinity, Skylanders and Smash bros, all have a figurines that could be used in game. Why would people spend extra money, usually $10-15, on a figurine that would be sitting on your shelf? “It just looks cool,” Matthew Diaz says “ plus it unlocks characters for you within the game, what’s there not to love?” In Skylanders the figurine can help you unlock new parts of the levels and get unlockable stuff that you can’t get with the figures you start out with. There are 10 different element types a skylander can be aligned to, so if you want to unlock anything in the game you need to have at least 10 figurines. Within Disney Infinity the different characters come from different playsets that unlock different worlds that you can explore and story modes. Say you had spider man toy, you would unlock

the spider man universe for you to play and create things in. “Disney Infinity is kind of like the Gary’s mod of consoles very fun, very creative, and always interesting” Giovanni Medina says. Furthermore the Amiibos, work in several different games including but not limited to Smash bros and Mario Kart 8. In smash your Amiibo is its own character that you can make stronger and fight against. It learns your moves and eventually will be able to beat you after studying how

you play. In Mario Kart it allows you to get more costumes for whichever Amiibo you have. “ I love being able to see how my Amiibo grows and learn how to get better. I once did an eight player battle with 7 of my friends and my Amiboo and in the end the Amiboo won none of us could believe it. Whether or not buying action figures is your thing or not each figure has some kind of aspect in enriching your experience with the game, so much so that

skylanders has come out with 3 more games each with new sets of figurines. Disney infinity has come out with a lot more installments further enhancing the game, and more Amiboo’s are announced to be coming out. In a sense these figurines are like DLC that you could hold and play with, and do more then just stay on your shelf. It’s an ingenious idea and I continue to be amazed by how video games keep improving over the years.

8 Coral Reef Sr. HighFebruary 2015 Seniors

By: Analexis Sanchez

Now with ending the first semester, senior students are patiently waiting for the anticipated acceptance letter from the colleges they had applied to. Most senior students are very anxious about finding out what their future will be and where they will be going. This is one of the hardest decisions seniors have to make this year. Within the decisions are colleges like FIU [Florida International University], FSU [Florida State University], and much more. Students have the tough time of choosing where they really want to go and what is an affordable place to go. An affordable college that many people plan on going to is FIU [ Florida International University]. For one it’s a lot cheaper due to the fact that many people will be living in the comfort of their own homes. One student who got accepted into FIU is Chaniece Reid, senior of the medical academy, who plans on going there in the fall. Other students who have received letter from FIU is Courtney Heiden, senior of the medical academy, and Samara Charlotin, senior

of the legal academy, but both them stated they are waiting for more schools to reply back. While many student are waiting on decisions, other have already decided on going somewhere. Like Kristen Colon, senior of the medical academy, who was awarded the Posse scholarship for the school Franklin and Marshall. She said that she was “excited to go away for college and having a new experience”.” She was one of the few that were awarded this scholarship in the school. December 15, 2014 was a stressful day for many students; the FSU [Florida State

University] decision was electronically released. Students like Britany Jean-Louis, senior of the medical academy, and Cyrus Owens, senior of the engineering academy, had decided that they are going to attend FSU. They both stated that FSU was their top choice. When Cyrus Owens was asked what school he was attending he started to happily sing the FSU chant. With all these acceptances, students are now pressured into making their decision. Students have to take into account if they can afford it because of the fact that tuition, room and board, fees, and book are

extremely expensive especially if going out of state. Also another thing students should take into account is the fact if they want to be traveling many miles away from home or even if they want stay at home. As the year is slowly coming closer to graduation day for seniors they will have to know where they are going to college and soon they will be moving into their dorms and starting class all over again.

College Acceptance

FSU ACCEPTANCEBy: Jeselyn Labiste Since 1851, Florida State University has been a prestigious institution where students from all over the world have come to learn. The landscape, community and learning environment attracts the attention to all those who come and visit. Florida State is dedicated to excellence in creativity as well as education. Their mission is to “instill the strength, skill, and character essential for lifelong learning, personal responsibility, and sustained achievement within a community that fosters free inquiry and embraces diversity” to someday become one of the world’s premier institution of higher education. On December 15, 2014, those students who applied for early decision in October received news of their status of acceptance to Florida State University. Seniors throughout Miami-Dade County were eager to receive an acceptance letter. Decisions were not to be posted till three o’clock in the afternoon, making those who applied on edge for the entire school day. Visual preforming arts senior, Naya Schere said, “The

whole day was dedicated to the Florida State portal, and I just kept on refreshing the page until my status popped on the screen. It was extremely nerve-racking.” She was accepted into the Department of Political Science. Naya is waiting for her out of state choices before she makes any final decisions. Legal Academy senior and recipient of Posse for Davidson College, Melech Maglasang also received great news of his acceptance to Florida State University. “I was glad to hear that I was accepted to one of my back-up schools, if I didn’t already get in to Davidson, FSU would have been one of my other contenders for college”, expressed Melech. Countless seniors in Florida, especially Coral Reef are longing to attend Florida State. They can vision themselves walking around the campus, blending with other students and thriving in their academics. Aura Moreno, Business & Finance senior will be attending Florida State University next fall.

Since she arrived to the states, FSU has been her number one choice. “Earning a business degree at the place that I have dreamed of for a long time is going to be exciting. I can’t wait to head off and begin my own journey”, voiced Aura. On the other hand, this year, many students were not as fortunate. Florida State University openly states that they deferred significantly more students than past years. Those who are deferred are encouraged to retake standardized

tests such as the SAT and the ACT to make a better impression on the Florida State faculty members. Final decisions will be posted on March 18 for those who applied for regular decision as well as those who were deferred. Just remember to not slack and keep working hard. Congratulations to all of those who got their acceptance into Florida State University. Becoming a Seminole is the next step to achieving a successful career in the future. It will be an experience that you will never forget.

Seniors 9 Coral Reef Sr. HighFebruary 2015

By: Carlos Talledo After four arduous years in high school, through the plethora of exams, teachers, and homework assignments, rises the victorious senior. While high school itself posed as a formidable challenge, the college application process is no laughing matter for the soon to be humbled senior. The various essays, nit-picky questions, and the location of the university are all nettlesome processes that must be traversed before entering the realm of adulthood at a major university. While the aforementioned details are difficult, no other aspect of the college process is as imposing as the cost of receiving an education in the United States. Many in-state colleges are somewhat affordable to the average student, but for those that have hopes of attending out-of-state universities the economic waters become increasingly choppy. Many universities nationwide, such as the nearby University of Miami have tuition rates that soar above forty thousand dollars a year, without adding on the cost of books, cost of living on campus, food, and personal expenses. In an instant, what seemed to be a happy go lucky experience of becoming an adult and living the ever so famed college life is shattered by a black cloud of debt. Incoming students could easily expect a bill surmounting sixty

thousand dollars, for only a single year of schooling. The solution for this situation is attempting to garner a scholarship that could help or even eliminate the expenses associated with collegiate freedom. At Coral Reef Senior High, we are no strangers to hearing of friends going to schools far and wide, from sea to shining sea. We also come to hear of students that not only managed to make it into a great school but also succeeded in winning a scholarship that will exempt them for having to pay a single dime for their

education. One such student is Kristen Colon, a senior in the Medical Academy, who has won the Posse Scholarship for Franklin and Marshall College. A small liberal arts school, known for their outstanding science programs, will serve as a stepping stone for Kristen who plans to go on to medical school. When I first began speaking to Kristen the excitement simply oozed out of as she went on and on about the neuroscience program at F&M College and the research associated with it. Kristen will be receiving a scholarship

that will pay for her entire tuition at Franklin and Marshall, something to be excited about for sure. Kristen plans on majoring in Neuroscience, an excellent choice given the scientific prowess of F&M College. I then flipped the script and asked Kristen what she would miss most from Miami as she prepares to move to, what seems to me, a Floridian, as the frozen tundra of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Kristen explained to me that she would miss the fantastic beaches here in South Florida, the

scrumptious delicacies offered at Sergio’s Restaurant, and most importantly her family. My following interview was with softball star, Carsyn Gordon, also a member of the Medical Academy at Coral Reef. Carsyn is going to be attending the home of the Seminoles at Florida State University, a school known for their excellent athletic and academic programs. Carsyn is receiving a full ride scholarship, which will pay for tuition, books, and housing, leaving Carsyn without a single dime to pay for her college experience. Carsyn is exuberant about having the opportunity to play college softball and she stated “that she cannot wait”. I asked Carsyn what attracted her to Florida State as opposed to other schools. Carsyn stated that the coaches, facilities and campus were unparalleled and are what made want to sign with FSU. While the college search may seem costly and excruciating, there are many scholarships that can be won if hard work and effort are instilled in academic and even athletic life. Many say that hard work pays off; this is true, hard work and lead to a bountiful scholarship, such as the ones given to Kristen, and Carsyn who undoubtedly put in the blood, sweat, and tears to accomplish their goals.

Seniors get Scholarships

Kristen Colon and Lorena Kanzki show off their new swag for their college of choice.

Senior events around the cornerby: Jeselyn Labiste, Analexis Sanchez, and Rachel Holtzman

Seniors, the events that you have been waiting for are around the corner. From Senior Breakfast all the way to graduation, seniors have an action packed rest of the year waiting for them. The first event that seniors will attend to is Senior Breakfast. This year senior breakfast will be held on March 17, 2015 at the Rusty Pelican in Key Biscayne. Tickets have already been sold and there are no more left. On the day, seniors are to report to the cafeteria and sit in alphabetical order to be seated on the bus. When interviewed Kirsten Cherry, senior of the legal academy, stated, “Senior Breakfast is going to be so much fun and I can’t wait for it to come since its only a month away.” Senior week begins the week before Grad Bash. On Monday its Senior royalty, Tuesday is Disney Day, Wednesday is College Day, Thursday is Senior Take Over Day, and Friday leads us to Grad Bash. Grad Bash this year will be held in Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure on April 17, 2015. The tickets will be sold on the end of February during the week of the 17th to the 23rd, they will be sold for $135. Tickets are limited so senior get your tickets fast. Ebony Turner, senior of the legal academy, said “I can’t wait to see Trey Songz performing at Grad Bash. Its going to be a great night.” It is the moment all seniors have been waiting for, GRADUATION! The graduation ceremony for the Class of 2015 will be held at the Bank United Center on May 29, 2015. It will be the final day the entire senior class will come together and prepare a new chapter of their lives. VPA senior, Naya Schere is more than ready to receive her diploma and move out of state. “I am so anxious to go to an out of state university, Florida is great but it’s not for me,” express Naya. On the other hand, many are staying in Miami a little while longer to ease their way into the college life. Business senior, Michael Angrand, will be attending Florida International University next fall, “I am not ready to head off on my own yet, just need some time to adjust before I make any rash decisions about my future”. Just remember seniors, right after graduation, you must return your gown to receive your diploma to become an official Coral Reef graduate!

Senior WeekApril 13th - 17th

Monday 4/13Senior Royalty Day

Tuesday 4/14Disney Day

Wednesday 4/15College Day

Thursday 4/16Senior Take Over Day

Friday 4/17Grad Bash

Seniors

Coral Reef Sr. HighFebruary 2015 Around10

by: Analexis Sanchez S o m e t h i n g that many seniors (and soon many juniors) know about is the Posse scholarship. What is the Posse Scholarship? The Posse Scholarship is a youth development program that recruits selected students from highschool who possess leadership qualities and sending them to one of the top universities and colleges in the world. Around the United States from schools in Atlanta, Los Angeles, New Orleans, and many other locations students are nominated by teachers, guidance counselor, or even self-nominated; in which from there they go through many interviewing processes. In Posse Miami there are seven universities that students may choose from Davidson College, Franklin and Marshall College, Hamilton College, Mount Holyoke College, Pomona College, Syracuse University, and University of Pennsylvania. The colleges then after many months of interviewing and observing the student chosen whether they want the student to attend their college. Coral Reef has the most recipients in ALL OF MIAMI-DADE, for the first year ever! Some of our original 18 students who made it to the finals, but who were not selected as actual

“Posse Scholars” were given either full or partial tuition scholarships to their schools. From Coral Reef out of all the people that entered into the Posse scholarship 9 students to the schools stated above. Those students are Taylor Burey – Davidson (International Baccalaureate – IB); Simone Burns – Syracuse (IB); Kristen Colon-Franklin and Marshall (Medical); Shakeyla Flores – Franklin and Marshall (IB); Annalie Garcia – Hamilton College (IB); Aysha Habbaba – Pomona (IB); Lorena Kanzki – Syracuse (Engineering); Melech Maglasang – Davidson (Legal); and Elijah Shama – Syracuse (Visual and Performing Arts – VPA). These nine student were selected and have received a full-tuition to the school. What does Posse look for when choosing a student for their school? Generally when looking for student Posse looks for someone that they can see attending their school and flourishing within their four year there. Having a strong academic performance

through highschool and maintaining well balanced grades is also something that they look for. One student who won the Posse nomination was Melech Maglasang, of the legal academy, who will be attending Davidson College in the coming fall. When asked

what his initial reaction towards receiving the scholarship for a school that he wanted to attend he said “When they called me they were like ‘Oh you’re missing something for your Davidson supplement. You didn’t indicate what size sweater you wanted’ At first my reaction was fear and disbelief to elevation, it was unreal.” What drew Melech into wanting to attend Davidson is due to the “reputation of having one of the best undergraduate education and also its in a very small town which is appealing to me.” Now in the fall, Melech will be studying biology on a pre-med track, which is his intended major. Posse is a great scholarship that helps gear students in the right direction for their future. Posse creates a network for students that possess great leadership skills and also demonstrate qualities that the schools want to see in their campus. So again congratulations to the Posse scholars and good luck!

Posse scholars: leaders of tomorrow

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Around 11Coral Reef Sr. HighFebruary 2015

by: Ricardo Chavez There are numerous clubs offered within Coral Reef Senior High School that arouse the curiosity of each individual student. The Key Club offers community service opportunities for students willing to partake in an array of intriguing events. Black Student Union is a fundamental necessity for those who intend to grasp a sense of unity and perseverance, all the while being surrounded by scholars of color. However, “We The People” serves a purpose that is not obtainable without experience and education. Knowledge pertaining to the United States Constitution, as well as the unprecedented skill of rhetoric, are two principles that can make or break this academic faction. Just recently, Coral Reef’s “We The People” organization participated in a nationwide competition in which their eloquence and political comprehension were put to the test. “I am proud of what our “We The People” Chapter has accomplished. Not every teenager would stay after school every week, twice a week to practice. This program has taught us our civic duty in abundance as well as our government and its roots, which is something not many people our age are generally interested or knowledgeable in,” said Aryory Mejia–Vargas,Vice President of Coral Reef Senior High “We the People.”

Despite our loss in the competition, Coral Reef Senior High School presented a remarkable and undisputable determination in both preparation, and action. After spending countless hours rehearsing for the upcoming competition, Coral Reef put forth a tremendous effort in ensuring that their knowledge of political reasoning was witnessed by the schools they had competed against.

How Politics Has Shaped Our Students

QuestBridge is pleased to announce that 501 outstanding high school seniors from across the country have been selected as this year’s 2014 National College Match Scholarship Recipients. Now in its 11th season, the QuestBridge College Match Program (“College Match”) has successfully linked over 3,000 high-achieving, low-income students with admission and full scholarships to QuestBridge partner colleges since 2003. Two Coral Reef Senior High School seniors are recipients for the National College Match - Early Decision scholarships: Monica Tunez (Visual and Performing Arts - Dance) and Andres Zambrano (Visual and Performing Arts - Orchestra). Monica will be attending Yale University and Andres will attend the University of Pennsylvania. The College Match program is particularly relevant now, as recent educational research shows that talented students from the lowest income quartile remain highly under-represented on selective college campuses, despite the generous financial aid that exists at these schools. These students, who hail from every part of the United States, experience more barriers to obtaining a top-tier education than

their higher income peers, and are often f i r s t - g e n e r a t i o n college students. QuestBridge partners with premier colleges, who are committed to socio-economic diversity. “We are thrilled to share the news with our largest group of College Matches in QuestBridge’s history, and are so pleased that our partner colleges continue to offer such generous aid to our students”, said Ana McCullough, co-founder and CEO of QuestBridge. The College Match program is unique in that it not only educates students on the opportunities for them at top colleges, but it also provides a step-by-step early admissions process to connect students with the nation’s best schools. The QuestBridge application, which helps to highlight the unique backgrounds of

high-achieving, low-income students, serves as a college and scholarship application to 35 colleges and universities. Students selected for the College Match are admitted with a guaranteed full, four-year scholarship— including tuition, room and board, and other expenses— provided by the college. This year’s College Matches are academically exceptional, with an average unweighted GPA of 3.91. Additionally, 77% are among the first generation in their families to attend a four-year U.S. college.

The Reef

QuestBridge College Match

12 Coral Reef Sr. HighFebruary 2015 Sports

By: Illoria Romain

“After entering the season as the defending national champions, The Florida State Seminoles fought to up hold their tittle. With a whopping 29-0 record the team, led by fifth year head coach Jimbo Fisher, managed to hold their position at the top by being the only team from a power conference to have such a long winning streak. The Seminoles, however, were not able to match their 14-0 record from the previous season

and were defeated in the inaugural College Football Playoff semifinal by Oregon. The Seminoles commenced the second half losing 18-13. During the second half of the game, freshman running back Dalvin Cook, who had game-winning touchdowns against both Louisville and Miami, fumbled the

ball. After the fumble the game took a turn for the worst with multiple turnovers and touchdowns leaving the Noles down 32-20 midway through the third quarter. Cook then fumbled again resulting in another big Oregon play. Jameis Winston had a one-yard touchdown but it was taken back after referees watched a replay that showed his knee hitting the ground before the ball made it into the end zone on fourth-and-goal.

In the end the Seminoles were defeated 59-20 and were stripped of their undefeated tittle. After the game, star quarter back Jameis Winston said “just be real with yourself right now. We beat ourselves. This game could have gone either way…We turned the ball over, we beat ourselves.” At the beginning of the 2015 season, Winston was constantly in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. It began with a “crab leg” incident where he stole crab legs from a supermarket. Then he was seen jumping up on a table on Florida State’s campus and yelling an expletive-laced phrase. He was suspended for half the game but it was later found that he lied to officers about the incident so he sat the whole game out. He was even involved in an alleged sexual assault case in which he was later found to be not responsible. Despite all these events, Jameis was able to lead FSU to victory in the 2014 National Championship and help maintain their 29 game winning streak. Winston most recently announced that he will be heading to the NFL in hopes that his teammates and bring the team to the top once again.

FSU FOOTBALL SEASON ENDS

by: Kristina Orozco

As the whistles blew, players alternated to their next opponent, making this one of the most intense competitions of the year. The ping pong tournament from this past December included many students, and even set place for a family reunion for Coach Plyler and his son, both ping pong enthusiasts. As the day came right before the holiday break, competitors prepared for one of the largest school competitions of the year. Separated into teams, every competitor sported a colored jersey –red, yellow, orange, blue, green, and purple – while assisting students wore black jerseys. Each team waited anxiously as they watched fellow team mates play against opposite teams. As they nervously shouted and cheered, those playing managed to block out distractions and focused on making their next move. Like watching an exciting game of volleyball, competitors used strategic techniques and moves that made a stereotypically boring game into an ESPN worthy sport. Everyone played amazingly that day, but those that displayed exceptional skills and had a score to match were placed in the next rounds. Excited competitors ran to the score board, where Aiyanna Patterson – a senior in the Business Academy – kept count of everyone’s score. “It was a lot of rounds and

A LOT of kids. It was stressful at times when they were all yelling at once,” Aiyanna recollects. “I like helping though, it was fun.” This non-stop play didn’t stop until shortly before lunch, where competitors took an early break and proceeded with the tournament right before the beginning of the last block. “I got to miss class, which was almost the best part,” Aiyanna says jokingly. As the last rounds concluded, the energy was noticeably diminishing. Once fierce players were now almost too tired to function. The amount of losses increased, distinguishing the best players. “I never thought that ping pong could get so competitive,” says Fanisleidy Martin, a senior in the Legal Academy.

Finally the time came and the last opponents competed. The ping pong ball swiftly hit traveled to each side, with the audience and the all the former players’ heads following suit. “I couldn’t keep my eye off the ball!” Fanisleidy, and many others agreed that the game was suspenseful. When the ping pong

ball took its last bounces, the gym roared with praise and excitement. The tournament was finally over. Johann Alvarez – senior in Engineering – says that he enjoyed participating in the tournament. “It was cool, and I’m happy for those who won.”

Coral Reef’s 1st Table TennisTournament

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