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All the work I have done for Hi-Lights newspaper during the 2011-2012 school year.
Citation preview
Lindsay Alexander
Portfolio 2011- 2012
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Lindsay AlexanderApril 25, 2011
Renee Burke Publications Adviser Boone High School 2000 South Mills Avenue Orlando, FL 32806
Perhaps the Hi-Lights Newspaper is seeking a well-qualified and responsible individual who can work well in groups and independently to fill the position of Editor in Chief. If this is the case, then please accept the accompanying resume for your review and consideration for the position of Editor in Chief in which these strengths will be of value. As a Hi-Lights staff member in the 2010- 2011 school year, I wrote stories, made every deadline, conducted interviews, edited Journalism I stories and was able to help other staff members with their stories. With this background in writing and experience in editing, I received the position of Copy Editor for the 2011- 2012 school year. I wrote my own stories each deadline, including the un-bylined editorial, the Our View, and edited every story in the paper multiple times for its improvement. As Editor in Chief, I would bring my experience in editing and writing to better the copy of the Hi-Lights newspaper. I would lead by example by continuing to meet deadlines. As a team player, I will also be able to help any staff member with deadline constraints. I enjoy reading professional publications such as National Geographic to gain inspiration for design and graphic ideas to be used in the Hi-Lights newspaper. My love of reading professional publications exposes me to a multitude of creative ideas which can be used in Hi-Lights. In my first year on staff, I was able to learn and adapt quickly to new responsibilities. These abilities plus the skills I acquired as Copy Editor like learning how to edit effectively and promptly, make me a capable and qualified candidate for Editor in Chief. Although the accompanying résumé showcases my abilities and accomplishments, I would love a personal interview to explore this further and I feel it would be the best way to show my capabilities to fill this position. I would appreciate the opportunity to meet with you at any time of your convenience. Thank you for reviewing my résumé. I look forward to hearing from you.
Respectfully,
Lindsay Alexander
Enclosed: résumé
4383 Carolwood Street Orlando, FL 32812 [email protected] @lindzalexander (407) 697 2162
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Lindsay AlexanderOBJECTIVETo edit, revise and improve all copy and design in the Hi-lights Newspaper and lead the staff by example as Editor in Chief.
EDUCATIONCompleted three years at Boone High SchoolGraduation date: June 2013G.P.A 4.0 unweighted, 4.97 weighted, Top 1% of classS.A.T. 1870
EXPERIENCENewspaper Staff Copy Editor, Boone High School• Aug.2011-June2012.AoneyearCopyEditor.ReadandeditedallcopyintheHi-LightsNewspapermultiple times for each issue, wrote the Our View every issue, and wrote other stories. The Our View is an un-bylined editorial describing the staff ’s stance on an issue relevant to high school students.Newspaper Staff Member, Boone High School• Aug2010-June2011.Aoneyearstaffer.ResearchedandwrotestoriesfortheHi-Lightsnewspaper.
RELEVANT HIGH SCHOOL STUDIESNewspaper providing knowledge of InDesign and Photoshop programs; English 1; English 2; Advanced Placement Language and Composition.
HONORS, AWARDS, AND MEMBERHSIPS• HonorableMentionFloridaScholasticPressAssociationFor quality of writing for a sports story appearing in the December 2010 Hi-lights Newspaper.• “NewbieoftheYearAward”Hi-Lights Newspaper staff newbie of the year, selected from eight newbies. • FirstPlaceinInDesignFirst place for an InDesign yearbook spread at Camp Orlando.• QuillandScrollHonorSocietyHonor Society admittance based on academics and membership to a publication staff.• SpanishHonorSocietyAdmittance based on academic achievement in Spanish classes and involvement in Spanish club.• NationalHonorSocietyAdmission based on GPA, service and leadership.• FellowshipofChristianAthletes(FCA)Officer2010-2012,FCACaptain2012-2013 Planned and organized FCA huddles, bible studies and other FCA¬¬ events.
REFERENCES
• PamMcCoy407-345-6789• CollynHarper407-123-5456• CarolynCaplan321-898-1624
4383 Carolwood Street Orlando, FL 32812 [email protected] @lindzalexander (407) 697 2162
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Lindsay Alexander
Hi-Lights NEWSPAPER Editor in Chief
4383 Carolwood Street Orlando, FL 32812
[email protected] @lindzalexander
407-697-2162
Lindsay Alexander
Hi-Lights NEWSPAPER Editor in Chief
4383 Carolwood Street Orlando, FL 32812
[email protected] @lindzalexander
407-697-2162
Lindsay Alexander
Hi-Lights NEWSPAPER Editor in Chief
4383 Carolwood Street Orlando, FL 32812
[email protected] @lindzalexander
407-697-2162
Lindsay Alexander
Hi-Lights NEWSPAPER Editor in Chief
4383 Carolwood Street Orlando, FL 32812
[email protected] @lindzalexander
407-697-2162
Lindsay Alexander
Hi-Lights NEWSPAPER Editor in Chief
4383 Carolwood Street Orlando, FL 32812
[email protected] @lindzalexander
407-697-2162
Lindsay Alexander
Hi-Lights NEWSPAPER Editor in Chief
4383 Carolwood Street Orlando, FL 32812
[email protected] @lindzalexander
407-697-2162
Lindsay Alexander
Hi-Lights NEWSPAPER Editor in Chief
4383 Carolwood Street Orlando, FL 32812
[email protected] @lindzalexander
407-697-2162
Lindsay Alexander
Hi-Lights NEWSPAPER Editor in Chief
4383 Carolwood Street Orlando, FL 32812
[email protected] @lindzalexander
407-697-2162
Lindsay Alexander
Hi-Lights NEWSPAPER Editor in Chief
4383 Carolwood Street Orlando, FL 32812
[email protected] @lindzalexander
407-697-2162
Lindsay Alexander
Hi-Lights NEWSPAPER Editor in Chief
4383 Carolwood Street Orlando, FL 32812
[email protected] @lindzalexander
407-697-2162
J ournalism is an incredible subject. It has a vast variety of facets. I enjoy writing the most, but the other elements contribute to my love of journalism as well. Meeting people one would never meet otherwise through interviews,
researching subjects that one would never think about, designing eye catching spreads to draw readers in and maintaining constant communication with the staff are all things that keep me enthralled with journalism. The spirit that comes along with being a journalist, a hunger for more information, a desire to ask another interview question, despite your interviewee’s annoyance, a struggle to come up with the perfect introduction, is something I hope I will always keep. However, I doubt I’ll ever lose it. My family is filled with writers of various occupations. I guess one could say writing, regardless of whether it’s journalistic, is in my blood. The reason I decided to try journalism and join the newspaper staff was because of my mom. My mom was editor-in-chief of her high school’s Red and White newspaper, and I wanted to follow in her footsteps. I suppose I kind of have to a tee. Succeeding in newspaper is not the easiest thing I have done. My first year on staff was a huge learning curve, and it involved late nights, long work days and countless rewrites. I bring a driven spirit and dedication to the newspaper staff. I am not sure if my future plans involve journalism exactly, but anything I major in in college will have some element of journalism. I’ve considered Communication Studies, English, Journalism, History, Business Administration and several others majors. All of these involve writing, the first three especially. History holds journalism’s investigative qualities, and Business Administration recalls journalism’s need of constant communication.
PERSONAL ESSAY
T his year I have learned how to write a solid editorial. Writing the Our View every week meant I had plenty of chances to practice writing my opinion in a clear and concise manner. My thesis statements, mention of
counterarguments, refutes and conclusions all improved this year. My grammar and editing skills also improved as I tackled editing the copy of Hi-Lights. In actual production, I have become better acquainted with InDesign. Designing the Our View each issue definitely helped me shake my fear of designing. In deadlines, I learned that being on time is nice, but being early is better. In regards to teamwork, I learned that I will not always get my way. When working in a team, sometimes ideas clash and there has to be compromise. For example, I wanted the timeline in the senior issue to look differently, although part of its appearance was because we were pressed for time, I still had to respect what Lia and Bridgette wanted because it was more their responsibility than mine. In advertising, I learned the early bird gets the worm. I will be selling my ads in June this year. Many of the places I visited in August for ad sales were taken by other staffers. Regarding journalism ethics, I learned that you always keep your evidence. Even though the error about learning communities in my Our View’s secondary coverage for the November issue was my fault, it helped that I kept my phone call records so Dr. McMillen at least knew my statistics were factual. I also experienced a higher level of dedication this year because I was an editor. I learned it’s easier to be positive and dedicated rather than negative and dedicated. When your heart is in something, everything goes better. Aside from maybe InDesign, I will use elements of all these skills in the future. In college, I will be able to use my want to “beearly”tofendoffprocrastination,Iwillusemyfamiliaritywithcompromisingwhen I’m in a group setting, I will use my public relations skills learned from advertising in any kind of work environment that is remotely social, I think having a working knowledge of journalism ethics is a life skill that one should have, and I can apply a positive outlook and dedication to essentially everything I do.
SELF - ANALYTICAL EVALUATION
M y most significant piece this year was my December Our View, “CommunityCollegesBenefitAttendees.”Thisismymostsignificantpiecebecause I think it’s something that really needed to be said. The student body
needed be enlightened, and I needed to hear myself verbalize that kids who go to community colleges are just as good as anyone else. This was actually an easy story for me because it was something I was passionate about. I knew what I wanted to say, and it all just came spilling out of my head onto the paper. My basic contentions stayed the same throughout the piece, but I had to make my argument more believable. Saying that Harvard, an Ivy League school, and Valencia College are equal would have been an arrogant argument. I had to admit there were pluses to going to a school like Harvard and in turn, I stressed that people who go to Ivy League Schools and community colleges can have the same potential, and community college goers can also save a lot of money. My published piece was more informed and had a better argument than my first draft. My driving force behind this article was making sure students who are going to community colleges know they are just as good as everyone else but since this is a more personally and emotionally driven argument, I learned that the use of facts from various articles helped strengthen my argument because it gave readers fact and not just opinion. I particularly like that I know this article relates directly to many students, even if they didn’t read it. I also like that I was able to defend something I believe to be true, even though it doesn’t directly apply to me. Though I will not be attending a community college, I still felt it was necessary to support those who are.
REFLECTION ONE
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hilights.org page 5December 14, 2011
View Community colleges benefit attendees
Community college suits full schedulesPeople tend to think that only “brand name” schools are credible and think poorly of a college simply because it is small, local and generally not as difficult to be accepted to. Community colleges are wonderful opportunities for adults who have kids to work, or [for] students who can’t afford to attend a state university. The requirements are typically the same to get an [Associates of Arts] degree at any school you go to. For people who can’t put their life on hold for four years, community college is great for people with full schedules to earn a degree.
- spencer cotton, senior
Valencia does not meet UCF standardI believe the opinion [that community colleges are not as good as State or Ivy League schools] is credible because I dual enroll at Valencia and my friend dual enrolls at UCF. My
classes [are] a lot easier than his, which supports the fact that community colleges are less adequate than state schools.
- monica stauffer, senior
Community colleges offer broader baseI have always considered community colleges on par with state colleges. I know plenty of very intelligent people who have gone to Valencia. I think community colleges are very well rounded, perhaps at the expense of having a select few exceptional programs. Community colleges offer a broader base, which can help people who don’t yet know which field they want to go into find their calling.
- charles glazer, senior
Cutting expenses is practical optionGoing to a community or state college is smarter than starting
out at a private or Ivy League school. I’m going to Valencia because it’s more practical. I get to live at home and cut college expenses. I believe that everyone can get the same quality education if not better. Community college classes are smaller than other college classes, and that means more attention from your professors and more one-on-one help.
- raina edmondson, senior
Apply knowledge to future experiencesIt doesn’t matter what college you go to. It is how you apply and use the information that you learned in college for the rest of your life.
- william mckillop, freshman
We would love to hear from you! Feel free to comment online at hilights.org
Forum DO COMMUNITY COLEGES OFFER EQUAL LEARNING EXPERIENCES?
VALENCIA: LOW COST, HIGH QUALITY
Despite the tenacity of common phrases uttered throughout Central Florida high school hallways like, “Valencia is a school for losers,” Valencia is an accredited learning environment.
Valencia College, Florida state universities and Ivy League universities all offer accredited four year degrees. Community colleges primarily offer two year degrees. However, Valencia Community College is now Valencia College as of Fall 2011. Valencia offers a Bachelors in Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology and Radiologic and Imagery Science.
The popular belief that State and Ivy League schools are better than Valencia is false. Community colleges and Valencia offer more student- professor interaction, budget conscious tuition, and while graduates of Harvard are presented with a different career market due to their frilly diploma, Valencia graduates have the same potential.
More than twice as many local high school graduates attend Valencia than all public state universities combined.
Research schools are no place for undergraduates. Well known
professors are often
not in the classroom but instead are doing research. Classes are then taught by student aids. For an incoming freshman, an auditorium filled with 300 pupils and one teacher is an intimidating learning environment.
In “10 Things Every Parent Should Know About College” by Michelle Crouch, published in the September 2011 edition of Reader’s Digest, Crouch found students at Harvard did not have a strong enough relationship with their professors for them to write their graduate school recommendations.
According to communitycollege.com, the average community college class size is 30 students. With smaller classes, professors are devoted to teaching and working with students.
Ivy League and State schools can cost a fortune. A designer degree is not worth years and years of paying back college loans. An in-state freshman taking 15 hours of classes each semester for two semesters living on campus, with a meal plan will pay around $20,000 regardless of the state school he attends.
At community colleges, one can pay for classes hour-by-hour, allowing flexible payment options. Students at Valencia pay $99.06 per credit hour.
Students who do not have the financial means to pay for college without the help of student loans are
better off going to an affordable school. In “10 Things Every Parent
Should Know About College,” it is said that in 2010, almost two thirds of undergraduates borrowed money, and student loan debt outpaced credit card debt for the first time. College Board says the average senior who took out college loans graduates $24,000 in debt.
Do not let fancy lion statues and ivy covered walls be fooling. While it is true a degree from an Ivy League school can open doors for elite job positions down the road, the vast majority of college goers are not looking to be presidential advisers or Nobel Peace Prize winners.
There is no data showing Ivy League graduates achieve higher levels of success than other college graduates. According to “10 Things Every Parent Should Know About College,” out of the 900-odd 1973 Princeton graduates, there are only a handful of recognized names. If a student puts his talents to use, he can succeed to levels higher than graduates of Ivy League colleges.
While the student life of State schools and the preppy-high-society air of Ivy League is appealing, there is nothing inadequate about community colleges. They offer similar, if not the same degrees, with more involved teaching, better pricing and equal opportunities after graduation.
Tuition, fees and cost of living for University of Central Florida freshman for two semesters: $14,710
Tuition, fees and cost of living for Florida State freshman for two semesters: $17,604
TUITION, FEES LINE UP
Your Thoughts
They’re okay, but I like bigger colleges. I feel like you get a better education at bigger colleges.
- shea outar, freshman
It’s a good alternative because you save money and get more attention in class.
- kimgiau dang, junior
It’s a good way to get into a four-year college because you already know the basics.
- nathan perroux, sophomore
I think it’s the worst alternative because you don’t get the full college experience.
- kevin lopes, senior
What do you think about community colleges?
Tuition, fees and living costs for University of Florida freshman for two semesters: $19,830
Tuition, fees and cost of living for University of South Florida freshman for two semesters: $20,590
Cost per credit hour at Valenicia College: $99.06
M ypiecethatcouldstilluseworkismyFebruaryOurView,“TESistimeconsuming,unnecessary.”ThisstorywasdifferentfromotherOurView’sI had written because it dealt with a touchy subject. It began with a lot
of research because I needed to understand the Teacher Evaluation System’s background and goals. After that, I needed opinions, but finding opinions was a littlebitdifficultbecausefacultyIinterviewedwereafraidtosayhowtheyreallyfelt. Also, it was hard for me to come up with convincing arguments that the new Teacher Evaluation System is unnecessary because this is the first year it has been implemented; no one really knows how it will work once schools and teachers have adjusted. From this, I learned that one needs to be educated on a topic before he forms an opinion about it, and one needs to get as many different viewpoints as possible on the subject. This helps for a more informed, believable editorial. From first to published piece, I expanded on one of my points, that there is not enough time for the new system to work because class periods are only 49 minutes, and Ialsomademythesisclearerbecauseinmyfirstdraftitwasn’tofficiallystateduntil paragraph nine. The reason I think this piece could still use work is because I don’t think I emphasized the right things. I mainly discussed how the system was unfair to teachers because it took up time they didn’t have. I think I should have taken a different angle and emphasized how the system does not aid students. The new Teacher Evaluation System’s scale methods have not helped me in anyway. I also should have discussed how TES cannot be easily applied to subjects like art or classes like newspaper and yearbook. I think this piece is informed and well written, but I think it would have been stronger and better served the student body if I had more heavily emphasized how it affects students, and not how it affects teachers.
ReFLection TWO
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hilights.org page 5February 10, 2012
View TES is time consuming, unnecessary
One year to date after his election, President Barack Obama said, “It’s time to stop just talking about education reform and start actually doing it.”
In 2009, The U.S. Department of Education distributed a $4.35 million grant to 12 states to spearhead Race to the Top, a reform program that is a part of the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Florida is a Race to the Top recipient based on its current plans for reform and past ability to increase student achievement.
Race to the Top is meant to help solve Florida’s teaching woes; however, its requirement of a Teacher Evaluation System has done more harm than good. Orange County, and other counties in Central Florida, have chosen Dr. Robert Marzano’s Teacher Evaluation System. This system’s time consuming methods are unhelpful to teachers and students.
The main goal of TES is improving teaching strategies and student understanding. A key difference between TES and the old system is the latter required one teacher evaluation yearly and passed 99 percent of its teachers.
With the old system, teachers on tenure could have been excluded from this requirement because administration expects those teachers to be able to teach effectively. If a teacher was to let his professional edge slip, his ineffective behavior could potentially go unnoticed for years. Even so, the Robert Marzano Teacher Evaluation System’s cons outweigh the pros.
The new system requires four informal evaluations and two formal evaluations for all inexperienced teachers.
Veteran teachers will have two informal and one formal. An informal evaluation consists
of a campus administrator observing 15 minutes of a class period. The new need for administrative “surveillance” in classrooms can leave veteran teachers feeling demoralized and frustrated, which can hurt teacher morale.
Formal evaluations require time teachers do not have. Teachers receive questions to answer about how they think they are doing as a teacher. After these questions are answered, an administrator and the teacher will meet to discuss them, probably during said teacher’s planning period. Then, the teacher will have a class period evaluation and a debriefing with the administrator in another planning period.
The evaluation is based on six categories: Lesson Segments Involving Routine Events, Lesson Segments Addressing Content, Lesson Segments Enacted on the Spot, Planning and Preparing, Reflecting on Teaching and Collegiality and Professionalism. What is especially new is Lesson Segments Involving Routine Events. This category includes the new use of learning goals and a scale system.
While this could potentially help students learn, currently it is not. Guidelines for an effective learning goal are not clear, and honestly, the scale concept is dumb. No student wants to raise his hand with a one to five rating on it to show how much he understands. No student wants to record this in a journal or on an assignment either.
Students mentally know where they are. If they do not understand, they ask questions. The scale system is meant to emphasize student understanding. However, teachers can simply ask their classes, ‘are there any questions?’ This eliminates time wasted copying down scales on assignments and re-referencing the scale in class.
Teachers are given 49 minutes per class period, which is not enough time for this system to work. Teachers already work hard to teach students, and asking them to create a learning goal and scale for every lesson is excessive when they
Forum HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE TEACHER EVALUATION SYSTEM?
Your Thoughts
It’s taking away from what teachers are trying to accomplish and changes their
attitude.- cornelia martinez, senior
It makes teachers more focused on [TES] than what they want [students] to learn.
- carly larr, junior
In a way, it’s good because students focus more on studies, [and] they don’t focus on distractions.
- pedro sarmiento, sophomore
I think it’s kind of good because [teachers] can know how the students progress everyday.
- isaias gayahan, freshman
TES makes learning boringI don’t like the new Teacher Evaluation System. Learning is easier for me when the teacher makes the material interesting. The new systematic rules not only turn students off toward their classes, but also makes the teachers have to worry about passing the evaluation rather than just teaching.
- jonathan pendleton, senior
Evaluation system cripples teachers I think [TES] is a waste of time. It should be optional. [Administrators cannot] expect teachers to enjoy their jobs and perform well when [they] constantly tell them how to do their job. I don’t like it and nor do the teachers, so it should be optional.
- alexyz hernandez, freshman
TES is not suitable for different class levelsI think the new Teacher Evaluation System is an example of ignorance on the part of OCPS. Not only are classes different
in the level of rigor and style of teaching, but the teachers don’t have the same way of teaching. Oftentimes the best teachers use unorthodox methods that can’t simply be evaluated in such a one-dimensional way. The evaluation system is forcing many teachers, particularly upper-level teachers, to dumb down parts of their lessons.
- thomas mcclane, senior
TES keeps students on trackThe new Teacher Evaluation System helps students more than it does teachers. At least, it helps me understand where I’m at and what I’m struggling with. . . . It’s good way to keep your grades up because you know the specific areas to focus on. - kaitlin renaud, freshman
System fails adequate teachersWhile a good intention, the new Teacher Evaluation System has more drawbacks than it does positive changes. I have seen fantastic teachers, who have literally changed my life and way
What is your view on the new TES?
of perceiving the world, belittled and bullied by these new evaluations.
- brandon dalzell, senior
Teachers do not follow through The Teacher Evaluation doesn’t change the way teachers are actually teaching. Most of them just prepare for the one evaluation, then return to their natural ways of teaching.
- monica marulanda, junior
New system belongs in elementary schools I believe the new Teacher Evaluation System is a very misplaced idea. I believe this idea belongs in elementary schools, not high schools. Putting fingers up is a waste of class time because high school students don’t need to be babied more than they are. If a student doesn’t get something, it’s his responsibility to ask the teacher for help.
- le-roy mormontoy, senior
SYSTEM IS HELPFUL FOR NEW TEACHERS, HINDERS SEASONED
have created other practices known to reach students like calling on a student to answer another student’s question to ensure classroom understanding.
For first year teachers, this system can be effective because it covers essentials for running a classroom, but for an experienced teacher who knows how to do his job, it wastes time and is unnecessary. As for the ineffective tenured teacher, a thorough yearly evaluation would make sure he is teaching adequately.
Florida Race to the Top Survival Guide
- Design and implement teacher and principal evaluation systems
-Include a comprehensive range of ratings
-Conduct multiple evaluations for each first-year teachers
-Establish an Individual Professional Development Plan for each teacher
T his is picture is of senior Alexis Mauerman. The picture captures her mood. In the picture, she is very focused, but she has a slight smile on her face, like she has just been talking to someone. While I took photos of her, Mauerman
was busy painting and she never took her eyes off the canvas, but she also chatted with the people sitting next to her the whole time. This photo also shows that she is hunched over her work, showing how focused she is on her painting. The viewercanalsoseehereyes,whichisdifficultwithartpictures.Also,thecolorof Mauerman’s shirt, her painting and her neighbor’s painting catch viewer’s attention. mauerman 3-2_lindz50.jpg
ReFLection THREE
I am especially proud of this picture because it was published in the yearbook. The picture has good color and viewer’s are automatically drawn to the subject, junior Willow Cheek, because of the bright geometric patters of
her shirt. Cheeks is the center of visual interest because she is the largest object in the picture, and she is also the brightest. The photo also exhibits the rule of thirds, with Willow occupying the left third. Depth of field is present too. The glass bottle at the front is blurry, and Cheek is in focus. 107-101_cheek-Copy.jpg
ReFLection THREE
l acrosse is a sport full of action, and when games move fast, they move really fast. However, when games move slow, they move really slow. This pictures captures a slow moment. An ideal sports photograph has the ball
initandsomesortofaction.Thispicturehasneither.Yet,Ithinkitcapturesthetension of the moment. Number nine hunched over, waiting for the referee to blow the whistle. Number 21 stands on tip toe, anxiously waiting for the game to resume. There is also an element of depth of field because the players are stacked down the field toward the goal, and they get more blurry as the recede. The players in a line also form a leading line. lacrosse 4-12_lindz9.jpg
ReFLection THREE
I was an asset to the Hi-Lights newspaper staff first and foremost because I wrote educated, informed editorials on deadline. Second, I was an asset to staff because I tried to make my edits prompt, and I tried to make them
thorough. Third, I was an asset to Hi-Lights because I was a team player by taking on responsibilities that weren’t necessarily my own. I interviewed several people for fellow newspaper and yearbook staffers. I photographed an art class for a yearbook spread. I was part of the rewrite process for Ruben’s October golf story,andIwaspartofRuben’sredesignprocessforhisMarchYouTubestory.These actions also grouped with my aid to others at work days and the afternoons and evenings I stayed at school to make sure the paper went to press exhibit my commitment to Hi-Lights.
ReFLection FOUR
T his year was my junior year and junior year is known for being the hardest academically. Knowing this, I tried to make my course load manageable but still competitive enough for colleges, and I also tried to limit the activities
I was involved while still trying to experience new things and meet new people. Trying to keep my schedule balanced, competitive and fun meant I had to make a lot of tough decisions. Making these decisions has been the hardest part of my year. Since I received the position of Copy Editor at the end of last year, I decided taking four Advanced Placement classes would not be in my best interest. However, this meant my college applications, academically, would be slightly less competitive. Being Copy Editor and deciding to take three AP classes also meant adding a research class to my schedule. While this didn’t raise my GPA, I decided it would be best because the grades I would achieve with the extra time to do my work would raise my GPA more than taking another AP class. My dedication to newspaper and school meant I had less and less free time. At the beginning of the year, I had to make the hard decision not to play Lacrosse. While I was upset I couldn’t play, it turned out to be a wise decision because I was able to keep my grades up and be far less stressed than many of my friends. I also experienced constant pressure from colleges and counselors for academicandextracurricularperfection.Collegeemailsurgingmeto“GetInvolvedandStartaClub!”myjunioryear,andcounselor’stellingmetotakeaharder course load meant well. However for me, these things served as a source of stress. In the end, I had to decide that only I really knew what was best for me, and I learned I needed to do things because I wanted to, not because some outside sourcetoldmeitwould“lookimpressiveonaresume.”Ihadtotrustthatmy decisions would be the best for my academic competitiveness and my emotional well-being. Although I sometimes feel like colleges and counselors are overbearing, annoying and the farthest thing from emphatic, their advice paired with my decisions resulted in an enjoyable junior year. I dealt with my junior year successfully and if I had to repeat this year over again, I wouldn’t change a thing because I’m confident that I did what was best for me.
ReFLection FIVE
A t the mid-term, I said my greatest weakness was ad sales, and I’m happy to say that I improved in that area. In April I sold two ads, both half pages, for our May issue. One issue I had with selling ads prior to April was that I
always had school work competing for my time; this is why it would have been easier if I had sold them during summer vacation. However, I took the long weekend that juniors and seniors had off for FCAT and went all over Orlando trying to sell ads. I went to six places and two bought advertisements. These were pretty good results. Even though they were late, the sale of ads to The Smoothie Room and First Pres. Orlando added $150 to my previous ad sales for this year, meaning I sold $341 in advertisements. This is 85 percent of the $400 I was supposed to sell. While that’s still not all of the ads I was supposed to sell, it’s a lot higher than the less than 50 percent I had sold by the first
ReFLection SIX
N3. Editorial Writing. “Community colleges benefit attendees” page 5, December 14, 2011.
I want this piece to represent me because it’s about something I am passionate about. I think it’s important that people value and feel proud of their education no matter where they go. I also think I combined personal opinionwithsolidfactsfromcrediblesourceslike“10ThingsEveryParentShouldKnowAboutCollege”byMichelle Crouch from Reader’s Digest September 2011 into a perfect balance. This balance between emotion and logic gave my editorial a strong argument.
ReFLection SEVENopinions
hilights.org page 5December 14, 2011
View Community colleges benefit attendees
Community college suits full schedulesPeople tend to think that only “brand name” schools are credible and think poorly of a college simply because it is small, local and generally not as difficult to be accepted to. Community colleges are wonderful opportunities for adults who have kids to work, or [for] students who can’t afford to attend a state university. The requirements are typically the same to get an [Associates of Arts] degree at any school you go to. For people who can’t put their life on hold for four years, community college is great for people with full schedules to earn a degree.
- spencer cotton, senior
Valencia does not meet UCF standardI believe the opinion [that community colleges are not as good as State or Ivy League schools] is credible because I dual enroll at Valencia and my friend dual enrolls at UCF. My
classes [are] a lot easier than his, which supports the fact that community colleges are less adequate than state schools.
- monica stauffer, senior
Community colleges offer broader baseI have always considered community colleges on par with state colleges. I know plenty of very intelligent people who have gone to Valencia. I think community colleges are very well rounded, perhaps at the expense of having a select few exceptional programs. Community colleges offer a broader base, which can help people who don’t yet know which field they want to go into find their calling.
- charles glazer, senior
Cutting expenses is practical optionGoing to a community or state college is smarter than starting
out at a private or Ivy League school. I’m going to Valencia because it’s more practical. I get to live at home and cut college expenses. I believe that everyone can get the same quality education if not better. Community college classes are smaller than other college classes, and that means more attention from your professors and more one-on-one help.
- raina edmondson, senior
Apply knowledge to future experiencesIt doesn’t matter what college you go to. It is how you apply and use the information that you learned in college for the rest of your life.
- william mckillop, freshman
We would love to hear from you! Feel free to comment online at hilights.org
Forum DO COMMUNITY COLEGES OFFER EQUAL LEARNING EXPERIENCES?
VALENCIA: LOW COST, HIGH QUALITY
Despite the tenacity of common phrases uttered throughout Central Florida high school hallways like, “Valencia is a school for losers,” Valencia is an accredited learning environment.
Valencia College, Florida state universities and Ivy League universities all offer accredited four year degrees. Community colleges primarily offer two year degrees. However, Valencia Community College is now Valencia College as of Fall 2011. Valencia offers a Bachelors in Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology and Radiologic and Imagery Science.
The popular belief that State and Ivy League schools are better than Valencia is false. Community colleges and Valencia offer more student- professor interaction, budget conscious tuition, and while graduates of Harvard are presented with a different career market due to their frilly diploma, Valencia graduates have the same potential.
More than twice as many local high school graduates attend Valencia than all public state universities combined.
Research schools are no place for undergraduates. Well known
professors are often
not in the classroom but instead are doing research. Classes are then taught by student aids. For an incoming freshman, an auditorium filled with 300 pupils and one teacher is an intimidating learning environment.
In “10 Things Every Parent Should Know About College” by Michelle Crouch, published in the September 2011 edition of Reader’s Digest, Crouch found students at Harvard did not have a strong enough relationship with their professors for them to write their graduate school recommendations.
According to communitycollege.com, the average community college class size is 30 students. With smaller classes, professors are devoted to teaching and working with students.
Ivy League and State schools can cost a fortune. A designer degree is not worth years and years of paying back college loans. An in-state freshman taking 15 hours of classes each semester for two semesters living on campus, with a meal plan will pay around $20,000 regardless of the state school he attends.
At community colleges, one can pay for classes hour-by-hour, allowing flexible payment options. Students at Valencia pay $99.06 per credit hour.
Students who do not have the financial means to pay for college without the help of student loans are
better off going to an affordable school. In “10 Things Every Parent
Should Know About College,” it is said that in 2010, almost two thirds of undergraduates borrowed money, and student loan debt outpaced credit card debt for the first time. College Board says the average senior who took out college loans graduates $24,000 in debt.
Do not let fancy lion statues and ivy covered walls be fooling. While it is true a degree from an Ivy League school can open doors for elite job positions down the road, the vast majority of college goers are not looking to be presidential advisers or Nobel Peace Prize winners.
There is no data showing Ivy League graduates achieve higher levels of success than other college graduates. According to “10 Things Every Parent Should Know About College,” out of the 900-odd 1973 Princeton graduates, there are only a handful of recognized names. If a student puts his talents to use, he can succeed to levels higher than graduates of Ivy League colleges.
While the student life of State schools and the preppy-high-society air of Ivy League is appealing, there is nothing inadequate about community colleges. They offer similar, if not the same degrees, with more involved teaching, better pricing and equal opportunities after graduation.
Tuition, fees and cost of living for University of Central Florida freshman for two semesters: $14,710
Tuition, fees and cost of living for Florida State freshman for two semesters: $17,604
TUITION, FEES LINE UP
Your Thoughts
They’re okay, but I like bigger colleges. I feel like you get a better education at bigger colleges.
- shea outar, freshman
It’s a good alternative because you save money and get more attention in class.
- kimgiau dang, junior
It’s a good way to get into a four-year college because you already know the basics.
- nathan perroux, sophomore
I think it’s the worst alternative because you don’t get the full college experience.
- kevin lopes, senior
What do you think about community colleges?
Tuition, fees and living costs for University of Florida freshman for two semesters: $19,830
Tuition, fees and cost of living for University of South Florida freshman for two semesters: $20,590
Cost per credit hour at Valenicia College: $99.06
opinions
hilights.org page 5February 10, 2012
View TES is time consuming, unnecessary
One year to date after his election, President Barack Obama said, “It’s time to stop just talking about education reform and start actually doing it.”
In 2009, The U.S. Department of Education distributed a $4.35 million grant to 12 states to spearhead Race to the Top, a reform program that is a part of the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Florida is a Race to the Top recipient based on its current plans for reform and past ability to increase student achievement.
Race to the Top is meant to help solve Florida’s teaching woes; however, its requirement of a Teacher Evaluation System has done more harm than good. Orange County, and other counties in Central Florida, have chosen Dr. Robert Marzano’s Teacher Evaluation System. This system’s time consuming methods are unhelpful to teachers and students.
The main goal of TES is improving teaching strategies and student understanding. A key difference between TES and the old system is the latter required one teacher evaluation yearly and passed 99 percent of its teachers.
With the old system, teachers on tenure could have been excluded from this requirement because administration expects those teachers to be able to teach effectively. If a teacher was to let his professional edge slip, his ineffective behavior could potentially go unnoticed for years. Even so, the Robert Marzano Teacher Evaluation System’s cons outweigh the pros.
The new system requires four informal evaluations and two formal evaluations for all inexperienced teachers.
Veteran teachers will have two informal and one formal. An informal evaluation consists
of a campus administrator observing 15 minutes of a class period. The new need for administrative “surveillance” in classrooms can leave veteran teachers feeling demoralized and frustrated, which can hurt teacher morale.
Formal evaluations require time teachers do not have. Teachers receive questions to answer about how they think they are doing as a teacher. After these questions are answered, an administrator and the teacher will meet to discuss them, probably during said teacher’s planning period. Then, the teacher will have a class period evaluation and a debriefing with the administrator in another planning period.
The evaluation is based on six categories: Lesson Segments Involving Routine Events, Lesson Segments Addressing Content, Lesson Segments Enacted on the Spot, Planning and Preparing, Reflecting on Teaching and Collegiality and Professionalism. What is especially new is Lesson Segments Involving Routine Events. This category includes the new use of learning goals and a scale system.
While this could potentially help students learn, currently it is not. Guidelines for an effective learning goal are not clear, and honestly, the scale concept is dumb. No student wants to raise his hand with a one to five rating on it to show how much he understands. No student wants to record this in a journal or on an assignment either.
Students mentally know where they are. If they do not understand, they ask questions. The scale system is meant to emphasize student understanding. However, teachers can simply ask their classes, ‘are there any questions?’ This eliminates time wasted copying down scales on assignments and re-referencing the scale in class.
Teachers are given 49 minutes per class period, which is not enough time for this system to work. Teachers already work hard to teach students, and asking them to create a learning goal and scale for every lesson is excessive when they
Forum HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE TEACHER EVALUATION SYSTEM?
Your Thoughts
It’s taking away from what teachers are trying to accomplish and changes their
attitude.- cornelia martinez, senior
It makes teachers more focused on [TES] than what they want [students] to learn.
- carly larr, junior
In a way, it’s good because students focus more on studies, [and] they don’t focus on distractions.
- pedro sarmiento, sophomore
I think it’s kind of good because [teachers] can know how the students progress everyday.
- isaias gayahan, freshman
TES makes learning boringI don’t like the new Teacher Evaluation System. Learning is easier for me when the teacher makes the material interesting. The new systematic rules not only turn students off toward their classes, but also makes the teachers have to worry about passing the evaluation rather than just teaching.
- jonathan pendleton, senior
Evaluation system cripples teachers I think [TES] is a waste of time. It should be optional. [Administrators cannot] expect teachers to enjoy their jobs and perform well when [they] constantly tell them how to do their job. I don’t like it and nor do the teachers, so it should be optional.
- alexyz hernandez, freshman
TES is not suitable for different class levelsI think the new Teacher Evaluation System is an example of ignorance on the part of OCPS. Not only are classes different
in the level of rigor and style of teaching, but the teachers don’t have the same way of teaching. Oftentimes the best teachers use unorthodox methods that can’t simply be evaluated in such a one-dimensional way. The evaluation system is forcing many teachers, particularly upper-level teachers, to dumb down parts of their lessons.
- thomas mcclane, senior
TES keeps students on trackThe new Teacher Evaluation System helps students more than it does teachers. At least, it helps me understand where I’m at and what I’m struggling with. . . . It’s good way to keep your grades up because you know the specific areas to focus on. - kaitlin renaud, freshman
System fails adequate teachersWhile a good intention, the new Teacher Evaluation System has more drawbacks than it does positive changes. I have seen fantastic teachers, who have literally changed my life and way
What is your view on the new TES?
of perceiving the world, belittled and bullied by these new evaluations.
- brandon dalzell, senior
Teachers do not follow through The Teacher Evaluation doesn’t change the way teachers are actually teaching. Most of them just prepare for the one evaluation, then return to their natural ways of teaching.
- monica marulanda, junior
New system belongs in elementary schools I believe the new Teacher Evaluation System is a very misplaced idea. I believe this idea belongs in elementary schools, not high schools. Putting fingers up is a waste of class time because high school students don’t need to be babied more than they are. If a student doesn’t get something, it’s his responsibility to ask the teacher for help.
- le-roy mormontoy, senior
SYSTEM IS HELPFUL FOR NEW TEACHERS, HINDERS SEASONED
have created other practices known to reach students like calling on a student to answer another student’s question to ensure classroom understanding.
For first year teachers, this system can be effective because it covers essentials for running a classroom, but for an experienced teacher who knows how to do his job, it wastes time and is unnecessary. As for the ineffective tenured teacher, a thorough yearly evaluation would make sure he is teaching adequately.
Florida Race to the Top Survival Guide
- Design and implement teacher and principal evaluation systems
-Include a comprehensive range of ratings
-Conduct multiple evaluations for each first-year teachers
-Establish an Individual Professional Development Plan for each teacher
N3. Editorial Writing. “TES is time consuming, unnecessary” page 5, February 10, 2012.This piece should represent me because it reflects my dedication to staff with the immense amount of research I did. Even though no one is quoted because it’s an editorial, I interviewed four teachers and many students to understand their opinions on the Teacher Evaluation System. This understanding helped me form my own opinion with a more open mind because I had heard from many sides of the argument. This story also involved lots of research to make sure I understood what the Teacher Evaluation System required, and I also had to be certain my facts were right because the conflict over the Teacher Evaluation System is affecting many school districts and many states, not just Boone.
N13. General Feature. “Legacy carries pride” Section B, page 3, May 11, 2012.I want this story to represent me
because it combined four different families’ generational experiences at Boone. It also includes a quote from Dr. McMillen. Even though it was a challenge for me to incorporate the different families, this variety of sources made the story’s message, that Boone is a community, more believable because it describes the experiences of several people, not just one person or one family. I also think it portrays the value of a school that belongs to a larger community without being cliché.
ReFLection SEVEN
special
hilights.org page 3May 11, 2012
By LINDSAY ALEXANDERA sidewalk square, an old track
sweatshirt, a shared field, a similar classroom. The physical remnants of generational campus families are small, but memories, shared experiences and overwhelming community support strongly span the decades.
Among faculty, 10 are solely alumni, 34 have children who attended here or are currently enrolled and nine are graduates and have children who attend or have attended the school.
“The thing I’m most proud of [about being a graduate] is that kids who go to Boone now are just as proud to be Boone braves as my class was,”Dr. Margaret McMillen, 1966 graduate, said.
Junior John Townsend, freshman Thomas Townsend, 2011 graduate Clay Townsend, and their father, Clayton Townsend, have not only attended the same high school, but also share an athletic team. The Norton Baker stadium is 39-years-old, and it has hosted all of the Townsend’s home varsity football games.
“There’s a lot of Boone spirit [in my family]. All [of] my brothers have gone [here] and my aunts and uncles. My dad graduated from here, and my parents would take [my brothers and I] to the football games. We were coming [here] before we thought about high school,” J. Townsend said.
J. Townsend and his father both participated in Spanish Club, called
Pan American club in C. Townsend’s campus years. Following its motto, “All are Welcome,” junior Megan Tracy and her father, John Tracy, a 1983 graduate, were members of Spanish Club as well.
While the stadium remains the same, other aspects of school have changed. Sophomore Ashleigh Simmerson’s relatives who attended school here (her mother, grandfather and aunt) all report how much the school has grown in size.
With the school’s growth, traditions and landmarks have been lost. Traditions like not stepping on the Bravehead in the 100 building and landmarks like the “infamous,” according to J. Tracy, “dippin’ tree” where students would go to dip tobacco are gone, but others remain, such as the football team sporting mohawks on Edgewater game days, students directing lost freshmen to the upstairs 300 building and rallying at the bonfire during spirit week.
Campus community also continues as a constant between family members. Simmerson’s grandfather still attends school football games, and her parents, along with C. Townsend, support the school through advertising fund raisers. C. Townsend has also served as a contact for Law Magnet interns.
“[There is] great tradition and sense of community. This is really apparent with people I went to Boone with whose kids are there [now]. The pride in being a brave is still huge,” C. Townsend said.
Remnants of M. Tracy’s father’s days
Legacy carries prideon campus are throughout campus. M. Tracy occasionally wears J. Tracy’s 1983 track sweatshirt, and shares his 11th and 12th grade English classroom, which is currently Merrideth Buchanan’s.
For M. Tracy, the last line of the National Anthem, “Home of the brave” is permanently “Home of the Braves,” due to her father and aunt attending here and her mother’s Atlanta roots.
“I think it’s pretty awesome to go to the same school as my dad. Sometimes I will mention a class or building, and he will tell me about what it was like when he was at Boone,” M. Tracy said.
Academically, school is harder, with the institution of Advanced Placement courses, but the school still prepared past generations for the outside world.
“Friendships, community and a diverse group of people prepared me for my future at University of Florida undergrad law school and my restaurant and law careers,” C. Townsend said.
Continuing the same school tradition, son Clay Townsend is currently a freshman at UF.
Senior Morgan Gregory and sophomore Sydney Gregory’s uncle Todd Reese, graduated in 1984. M. Gregory shares this pride in the school.
“We’re not the same as other schools. You can’t hate it. Our morale and pride in our school— no other school has it. [Being a legacy] reaffirms the fact that [I’m part] of something special,” M. Gregory said.
Field days gave seniors a chance to show their athletic ability. The events were on the football field and the games included water balloon tosses, chicken fighting and wheel barrel races.
The Sophomore Class Council designed Class Olympics as a project representing the four classes competing in a school- wide event.
In 1971, David Harper was in the first year of the school Hall of Fame, pitching a record of 23-1, losing only in the state semifinals. Later, he advanced to play for the Texas Rangers.
Student beating the drum before the Edgewater game.
During the 80s, singers such as Madonna, influenced fashion.
Londa Jones, Alexa Schaefer and Sharmin Winkle compete in the Polyester Paradise dance competition.
Joseph Buono and Timothy Sellers perform as Barney Rubble and Fred Flinstone in a skit for Braves Brawl.
Senior class participates in a float during the homecoming parade.
ROYAL FAMILY. At the homecoming football game versus the East River Falcons, junior John Townsend mirrors his father’s homecoming experience from 29 years prior.
i n this class, I have further advanced my familiarity with InDesign and Photoshop, which has led to a less flawed portfolio. Last year, not being as familiar with design as I am this year, I chose a font that was very hard to
read for the titles of my portfolio pages. Also, the typewriter font I used for my reflection paragraphs didn’t coordinate very well with the cursive script font I used for my titles. Also last year, there were errors I couldn’t have caught because I didn’t know to look for them. I had uneven gill clears, text that ran over and reflection paragraphs whose text boxes didn’t have a uniform width on every page. These small, easy to fix errors will not occur in this year’s portfolio because I have become much better acquainted with design editing through my copy edits of this year’s paper. Last year my design was relatively non-existent. I had a theme, but all I had to do was place pictures. This year I designed a graphic that carries over on every page, and I was more creative with my cover. This year, it isn’t just a picture. The writing in my portfolio this year includes more specific examples than last year, which better support my reflections.
ReFLection EIGHT
De
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opinion 2campus & local 4special 6sports 10entertainment 12features 13photo essay 14
A NIGHT TO REMEMBERProm invites will be distributed Feb. 14 to all juniors and seniors. Prom tickets go on sale March 24-27. Prom is April 26. Location to be announced.
SOAP AND BUBBLESTo kick off the Valentines Day season, local Simoniz car washes and sister brands Sparkling Image, Eager Beaver, and Sonny’s are offering customers holiday savings. Customers visiting any of those locations before Feb. 14 will receive a full service car wash at half price. All offers can be redeemed Feb. 15 through March 31, 2008.
CAT GOT YOUR TONGUE?On Feb. 12-15, sophomores will partake in FCAT writes.
NOT TOO LATEThere is still time to apply for scholarships. Applications and additional information concerning scholarships are available in College and Career.
CAT GOT YOUR TONGUE?On Feb. 12-15, sophomores will partake in FCAT writes.
DID YOU KNOW?More than 35 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolate will be sold for Valentine’s Day.
Please see CONVERSE, page 7
Friday, November 4, 2011 Volume 60, Issue No.2
2000 South Mills AvenueOrlando, Florida 32806
For Students, By Students
Tyler Patrcik, “This is a quote from my column this issue alallalalalala”
Austin Hall“This is a quote from my column this issue alallalalalala”
Sam Holleman “This is a quote from my column this issue alallalalalala”
Please see ART, page 9
More b rthdays please
TEAM COMPETES FOR FINAL DISTRICT TITLE
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Please see RELAY, page 12
Please see SPORTS, page 8
Portrait’s sketch student’s pasttttBy RENEE BURKE
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LEAD IN. I am a present tense sentence telling who and what is happening in the photograph, bt I do not begin with
photo/CATHERINE PORTER
Three columnists debate issues
RELAY IMPACTS CAMPUS LIFE, COMMUNITY
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LEAD IN. I am a present tense sentence telling who and what is happening in the photograph, bt I do not begin with a name. “I am an amazing quotable quote,” Burke said. I am a past tense sentence telling something that cannot be seen from the photo, like stats.
photo/CATHERINE PORTER
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“I listen to “Raise your Glass” by P!nk because it gets my adrenaline pumping.
- taylor swift, junior
“I listen to “Raise your Glass” by P!nk because it gets my adrenaline pumping.
- christina perri, sophomore
“I listen to “Raise your Glass” by P!nk because it gets my adrenaline pumping.
- niki minaj, sophomore
“I listen to “Raise your Glass” by P!nk because it gets my adrenaline pumping.
- john mayer, freshman
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os n
ulla
ore
mod
o co
nseq
u is
isci
dunt
num
zzr
it ni
s ni
m q
uisi
m
quat
, vel
do
cons
ecte
dol
orem
zzr
it al
is
dolo
bor
auga
it la
n he
niss
im a
cidu
nt
ut d
olut
et l
aore
rcid
unt
iriu
re t
atum
my
nos
non
veliq
ui s
cilla
orem
ing
eug
iam
, si
m iu
re m
ing
et in
cipi
ssi b
la fa
cipi
t nib
h eu
giam
zzr
il il
utat
.G
iam
etum
mod
mag
nim
ad
duis
im
vel
ut
aut
init,
ve
raes
equa
m
iure
m
dole
ndre
ro c
ore
dolo
re d
io c
onse
ctet
vo
lore
fa
cipi
s ac
cum
ve
nim
ve
ndit,
co
mm
olor
ipi
t no
s di
pit
eseq
uip
ero
dolo
re v
ulla
n ut
patu
msa
n ut
alis
is a
t ve
l ea
co
nsec
te m
agna
atie
dol
utpa
t. U
t au
te
dunt
ve
liqui
bl
an
utem
ve
ndio
od
it el
enib
h er
cidu
nt
iusc
inim
ip
it ve
lent
no
nullu
pta
tuer
os a
te m
odol
orem
et,
Et
dipi
sl u
llum
vel
ut
am il
lupt
atin
ute
ta
tet
ulla
ore
feum
qui
p ea
acc
um ir
iure
de
lit n
os a
lit n
isci
lit a
dio
od d
olor
pero
co
re
tate
ta
t, qu
amco
m
mol
upta
t, su
scill
am,
com
mod
olor
e m
agni
amet
no
n ve
ndre
r ae
stis
sed
tat
am,
con
heni
m ip
it, q
uipi
t ius
to d
igni
m v
el iu
sto
etum
ius
tie m
in I
gent
em a
dit
esci
pit
aten
dior
e op
tatiu
scia
m h
arum
rer
a co
n cu
s ea
quia
vol
upic
tor
alia
e so
lupt
atum
, no
nseq
uat
que
pore
sequ
e m
olup
tate
m
elig
nat
iam
usto
ea
vo
lupt
a pe
ritis
tis
nusa
api
enia
pa
quat
atqu
i co
mni
hici
a pl
iqui
bl
abor
i ul
labo
re
nia
dolu
pti
busd
aect
o qu
e et
us
inve
nih
ilign
iet
volu
pti
assi
ta
volu
ptas
do
lupi
dunt
es
sers
ped
mod
i do
lor
sam
, qu
o id
unti
blam
har
i bla
ut d
ist v
olup
tas
ex e
s no
bit,
cus
sunt
em f
ugit
ut a
cim
us q
uae.
Et
volu
ptae
den
impo
r se
quia
pre
pre
m e
t ut
et
dole
ndu
ndia
sim
in e
s ex
erfe
rum
si
mos
ac
ero
min
verr
o co
nseq
uodi
os
et,
coru
ptat
alib
eate
m d
itae
susc
il el
in
t fu
git,
od q
uatq
uiam
dol
upti
quia
m,
nem
pori
a es
tiata
tq
uatq
uidi
ti do
lupt
a qu
ibus
ip
idis
ut
do
lupt
a do
lupt
a si
t la
bo.
Ut
es a
ut m
olec
us v
endi
bla
ntio
cu
s ex
pera
t em
pore
, vol
upta
t por
ia e
aris
m
olor
ecte
t vo
lor
rem
in e
stiu
m h
arum
, qu
atiu
m
expl
it qu
atqu
i ss
uste
m
aut
quas
ite n
imill
ab i
pict
ur a
turi
t, sa
des
t, ea
dio
nese
vol
upta
tet
ad q
uias
pe l
icia
m
seca
bori
t oc
cupt
as
et
eatq
ue
mod
it,
tect
ior
roru
mqu
e vo
lupt
aspi
s en
is
et
vella
bo.
On
ero
mili
tios
posa
peru
m i
l iu
m e
sequ
i tem
est
alia
mus
.Pa
del
lece
rch
illes
t qu
ist
es m
odis
ti um
quam
ent
mod
qui
om
nim
et a
pidu
nti
dolu
ptat
urio
do
lore
mpo
s ve
ntis
imin
es
tota
tem
qua
tum
qui
s ap
ideb
i si
nihi
l et
, si s
itam
qui
bus
mol
orer
ibus
dand
ent
abor
e no
n no
nseq
u ia
sim
us im
axim
ossu
s ex
ex
ped
ulpa
rcia
vo
lora
est,
sapi
eni
hict
em
re
vent
ibu
sdan
dit
pore
s eo
s pa
rior
aliq
uo ea
asit
inis
t reh
enie
nih
icid
it,
ulle
stio
cor
aut
mai
o oc
cate
m f
acca
te
net
il is
et
eum
dis
tota
t eo
s ex
pliti
squi
bl
abo.
Et
fugi
taq
uiam
us m
ilia
iur
adia
si
blab
ore
int,
inih
iliqu
e so
lori
s vo
lori
bus
dolu
pta
sim
us
re
re
cone
t in
no
bis
mo
ella
bor
epta
tasp
editN
empo
rem
au
ta c
upta
m q
uam
ra
cusc
id e
t fa
cien
d iti
osam
fu
gitio
re
es
nem
qu
i do
lori
t et
urit
ulla
bor s
ante
m a
ut p
orep
erem
que
cu
s qu
ae e
t fa
cept
atur
, si
nien
i m
odic
ia
cons
eque
qui
des
ilibu
sam
com
nihi
llor
aliq
uam
vit
pori
onse
qui
ipsu
s ei
umqu
e no
ssi
te q
uam
ust
ions
equ
isim
us c
upid
en
is v
ent m
olup
icab
ori o
mni
s alis
inum
et
LEA
D IN
. I
am a
pre
sent
ten
se s
ente
nce
telli
ng w
ho a
nd w
hat
is h
appe
ning
in t
he p
hoto
grap
h,
bt I
do n
ot b
egin
wit
h a
nam
e. “
I am
an
amaz
ing
quot
able
quo
te,”
Bur
ke s
aid.
I a
m a
pas
t te
nse
sent
ence
tel
ling
som
ethi
ng t
hat
cann
ot b
e se
en f
rom
the
pho
to, l
ike
stat
s.O
pta
eos
aut
odit
la
end
am, i
ncte
cat
re iu
m v
ene
nons
edit
ior s
equa
m re
ctem
fug
ia v
olup
ta e
stio
sa d
it, o
ffici
des
dem
pe n
onse
rnam
, qua
s en
tiun
t.
phot
o/C
ATH
ER
INE
PO
RT
ER
By
RE
NE
E B
UR
KE
Hen
dre
tat
ulla
cor
e do
dol
essi
ssed
er
illa
m v
olen
dign
a co
nseq
uat,
seni
am,
cons
ecte
dit
lort
inc
idui
psum
vel
in
ea
feu
feug
ait
eugi
amet
, qu
isis
it do
lore
co
mm
odi p
sum
san
drer
iust
inci
eui
psum
eu
gait
ut l
obor
tie f
eugi
am c
omm
odo
cons
ecte
t nu
m
augu
eros
tie
tisse
d el
iqui
sit a
lit n
os n
ulla
ore
mod
o co
nseq
u is
isci
dunt
nu
m
zzri
t ni
s ni
m
quis
im
quat
, vel
do
cons
ecte
dol
orem
zzr
it al
is
dolo
bor
auga
it la
n he
niss
im a
cidu
nt
ut d
olut
et l
aore
rcid
unt
iriu
re t
atum
my
nos
non
veliq
ui s
cilla
orem
ing
eug
iam
, si
m iu
re m
ing
et in
cipi
ssi b
la fa
cipi
t nib
h eu
giam
zzr
il il
utat
.G
iam
etum
mod
mag
nim
ad
duis
im
vel
ut
aut
init,
ve
raes
equa
m
iure
m
dole
ndre
ro c
ore
dolo
re d
io c
onse
ctet
vo
lore
fa
cipi
s ac
cum
ve
nim
ve
ndit,
co
mm
olor
ipi
t no
s di
pit
eseq
uip
ero
dolo
re v
ulla
n ut
patu
msa
n ut
alis
is a
t ve
l ea
co
nsec
te m
agna
atie
dol
utpa
t. U
t au
te
dunt
ve
liqui
bl
an
utem
ve
ndio
od
it el
enib
h er
cidu
nt
iusc
inim
ip
it ve
lent
no
nullu
pta
tuer
os a
te m
odol
orem
et,
Et
dipi
sl u
llum
vel
ut a
m il
lupt
atin
ute
tate
t ul
laor
e fe
um q
uip
ea a
ccum
iri
ure
delit
no
s al
it ni
scili
t ad
io o
d do
lorp
ero
core
ta
te t
at,
quam
com
mol
upta
t, su
scill
am,
com
mod
olor
e m
agni
amet
non
ven
drer
ae
stis
sed
tat
am, c
on h
enim
ipit,
qui
pit
iust
o di
gnim
vel
ius
to e
tum
ius
tie m
in
nly
one
left
sta
ndin
gggg
gggg
rlan
do n
ativ
e w
ins
By
RE
NE
E B
UR
KE
Hen
dre
tat
ulla
cor
e do
dol
essi
ssed
er
illa
m v
olen
dign
a co
nseq
uat,
seni
am,
cons
ecte
dit
lort
inc
idui
psum
vel
in e
a fe
u fe
ugai
t eug
iam
et, q
uisi
sit d
olor
e co
mm
odi
psum
san
drer
iust
inci
eui
psum
eug
ait
ut
lobo
rtie
fe
ugia
m
com
mod
o co
nsec
tet
num
aug
uero
stie
tis
sed
eliq
uisi
t al
it no
s nu
llaor
e m
odo
cons
equ
isis
cidu
nt n
um
zzri
t nis
nim
qui
sim
qua
t, ve
l do
cons
ecte
do
lore
m z
zrit
alis
do
lobo
r au
gait
lan
heni
ssim
aci
dunt
ut
dol
utet
lao
rerc
idun
t ir
iure
tat
umm
y no
s no
n ve
liqui
sci
llaor
em i
ng e
ugia
m,
sim
iure
min
g et
inci
piss
i bla
fac
ipit
nibh
eu
giam
zzr
il il
utat
.G
iam
etum
mod
mag
nim
ad
duis
im v
el
ut a
ut in
it, v
erae
sequ
am iu
rem
dol
endr
ero
core
dol
ore
dio
cons
ecte
t vo
lore
fac
ipis
ac
cum
ven
im v
endi
t, co
mm
olor
ipi
t no
s di
pit e
sequ
ip e
ro d
olor
e vu
llan
utpa
tum
san
ut
alis
is
at
vel
ea
cons
ecte
mag
na a
tie d
olut
pat.
Ut
aute
du
nt
veliq
ui
blan
ut
em
vend
io
odit
elen
ibh
erci
dunt
iu
scin
im
ipit
vele
nt
nonu
llu p
tatu
eros
ate
mod
olor
em e
t, E
t di
pisl
ullu
m v
el u
t am
illu
ptat
in u
te t
atet
ul
laor
e fe
um q
uip
ea a
ccum
iri
ure
delit
no
s al
it ni
scili
t ad
io o
d do
lorp
ero
core
ta
te t
at,
quam
com
mol
upta
t, su
scill
am,
com
mod
olor
e m
agni
amet
no
n ve
ndre
r ae
stis
sed
tat
am,
con
heni
m i
pit,
quip
it iu
sto
dign
im v
el i
usto
etu
m i
ustie
min
E
xeru
m u
t re
sant
vel
ium
et a
utem
. Dun
ti re
s et
vol
upta
t qu
isiti
s de
ro b
laut
ilia
e.
Ut
quid
unt
es r
em v
olo
ea d
olor
e id
qui
s
dica
bor
aper
nate
mqu
i ab
orem
et
ut
este
mol
or a
s do
lore
m q
ue q
ue p
arum
as
der
erum
ut
in p
a do
lupt
atur
e et
ad
que
vel
lata
ecu
llabo
r m
olor
estio
s eo
s et
ut
odis
cit
et e
t di
orei
c ili
tatii
s es
equa
e re
rfer
um a
tibus
.R
um n
es a
d qu
as q
uid
mol
oris
aut
ut
repu
di si
men
dam
et a
peru
nt e
rupt
ae
esec
tur
sam
, qui
qui
opt
ium
num
que
lant
. Duc
iis a
ut l
a pe
rum
et
essu
sda
ndes
tis in
cius
inct
is
iunt
, om
nit,
expe
ro e
runt
ota
estia
e m
agni
mol
esto
ip
sus
none
ctae
la
non
eum
quis
it do
lore
s m
axim
por
atur
, id
mod
i su
nt,
ulpa
id
i co
nsed
i re
ctat
ias
rem
aru
m q
uae
aute
lib
usti
dem
pore
pl
abor
ibus
Pe
non
nus
exer
ior
rovi
dis
vitis
t fu
ga.
Lori
osam
har
chic
iene
mqu
aeri
t as
pedi
id
unt
la
et
volu
pti
cons
ent
et
et,
audi
ilit
hic
ten
dam
vel
lest
iun
dusa
nt
emqu
aIgn
ihit
evel
esci
d qu
am,
site
mpo
ria
cum
lab
in
cusa
pici
l iu
m
et m
odis
sit
aspi
cte
dolu
ptat
em f
uga.
Se
que
cons
eque
vo
lora
e ce
aquo
d io
reru
ptat
e om
nim
agna
m
imax
ima
expl
ab
imen
t vo
lupt
atur
ar
ibus
, co
ne p
a do
lo t
et v
olup
ta t
ibus
dam
nu
s de
nden
d am
endi
a si
mpe
rum
qu
i cu
sdam
do
lupt
a tu
repe
l ip
sust
i ve
leca
tus
solu
ptat
ap
ictiu
sam
no
ne
plan
t ip
iti s
it de
liqui
re
volo
rate
m r
e re
ro v
enda
m q
uos
dus
etur
?A
que
ilia c
onse
nec
tio. E
pele
ssun
tia
nim
i, vo
lore
scit
vend
a qu
o es
el
Ani
mal
P
rint
is a
di
sgus
ting
tr
end
that
ne
eds
to d
ie
a sa
d an
d lo
nel
asdf
sadf
asdf
asdf
sadf
asdf
asdf
asdf
asdf
asdf
asdf
y as
asdf
asdf
asdf
asdf
asdf
sadf
asdf
asdf
asdf
asdf
asdf
asdf
asdf
asdf
-a
be li
ncol
n
juni
or
Thi
nk f
ast
linds
ay a
lexa
nder
, ju
nior
Ani
mpo
sae.
Nem
cor
enim
qui
s que
et i
n re
per
um a
m id
eat
i is
eoss
um v
olen
dae
pliq
uod
iate
m. U
t dun
dam
est
ias s
i res
re
saeL
upiti
nven
e pa
pliq
uae
sum
cup
tisc
iisqu
aes
et la
ut in
ctur
em a
s ve
llent
.C
iet
dent
vo
lore
s ea
tatu
s ap
eliq
u at
empo
reiu
m
rerr
um
exce
pro
vitis
si
quam
, so
lupt
at
mai
orum
fa
cerf
e rf
ersp
edi
a co
mm
olo
repu
dior
re
m
quae
rum
do
less
um
sunt
emqu
am
nos
ut e
um e
a pr
e co
n ni
mpe
rf e
rspe
rspi
et
rae
etus
do
lori
s do
lo
ipid
m
agni
sto
eate
m v
olla
m q
ui u
t pa
com
nim
vita
t ac
est,
sim
us v
olor
estia
ea
apel
ips
ant
la
nim
etum
ent,
cone
m au
t fac
caep
reiu
sciis
et
ur, s
imus
qui
vol
orat
ur, e
icae
aud
aece
pe
rcia
nob
it, u
lpa
por a
s na
tur?
Ugi
tatio
et
qua
s eo
ssita
s id
is d
erch
ictis
aut
end
is
net
ut
odi
dele
nt
dolo
run
tem
pore
pr
e vo
lupt
ate
min
re
pre
omni
mil
id
ma
a ve
rovi
tem
nes
sed
el m
a vo
lore
h en
ecab
o. N
am e
x et
aut
atet
and
is d
olor
e pr
ores
t iun
tem
si q
ui in
end
is d
olup
tam
, su
nt f
accu
s au
t la
m l
a pe
reni
m i
ncia
m,
que
parc
hic
itibu
s do
lore
m e
nim
qui
no
bita
ent
ibus
andi
dis
rer
cips
um v
olen
i re
stiu
m in
velit
ate
cta
non
etur
?U
di d
olup
tate
laut
as
dole
s su
m a
ut
as i
nien
t es
torr
um n
us m
illum
res
eque
co
mni
sum
quia
con
ex
eos
dolu
ptas
a
nect
i cum
quam
ent
iistiu
r?U
r au
t et
vel
est,
sam
la
volo
rum
vo
lore
po
repr
a te
ndit,
un
tiati
cus
com
nis
elic
ture
m a
pit
od e
a au
tet
quis
ea
tisqu
ideb
is is
exp
lia c
or r
es v
olup
tate
na
tia q
uunt
lan
dest
ibus
as
auta
tecu
sa
quam
usap
iet
vent
quo
que
dol
ut a
si a
s ve
ndig
enit
et a
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member. This worked out for me. I went to a couple of Young Republican meetings my sophomore year with little interest in politics, [but] now as a senior I am hoping to make a career out of politics. After one signs up for a club, if a club advisor believes one has not been active, one should get a warning of dismissal. If one remains inactive, he should be asked to leave.
- andrew dickerson, senior
Students are busy, need leeway I agree with inactive membership. Some people can only make a few meetings because of other obligations; they need to prioritize. I think clubs should have a required amount of meetings one has to attend to remain an active [club member].
- alexa barrett, junior
hilights.org page 5October 7, 2011
View Club members lack devotion
illustration/LINDSAY ALEXANDER
For more information about students who are passionate about their clubs, check out the “Behind the Scenes” double page spread on pages 13 and 14.
Baking Braves, Spanish Club, Math Club. Check, check, and check. The student thinks these three clubs will please an admissions counselor, proving he is well rounded, involved in school, and has varied interests.
Unfortunately, the counselor cannot see that the applicant attended five of the weekly meetings for Math Club all school year, and only attended the holiday parties for Spanish Club and Baking Braves. The counselor does not know the student dislikes math, but simply joined the club for an academic extra-curricular on the application.
Across campus clubs are being taken advantage of and it needs to stop. A club has become something to write on a resume or an application. Clubs are activities that can be fun, help students discover their passions, and practice important life skills like leadership.
Hundreds of students flow through the numerous tri-fold boards and excited representatives of Rush Week to sign up for clubs, but one can be in too many clubs. Students have good intentions when joining clubs. However, students are busy and can lack the time needed to attend meetings and be involved. This does not excuse taking credit for a club they never
participated in. When one takes
credit for clubs he is not involved in, he loses an opportunity to learn, a college admissions counselor has been given false information, and the club is left with fewer people to accomplish a task they planned based on the number of people registered as “members.”
Having friends sign in for people at meetings or showing up to only the “fun” events does not give one the full club experience and is unsatisfactory and irresponsible.
Clubs need to begin implementing stricter attendance schedules and incorporating roll calls, or instituting minimum number of attendances in a semester or quarter. Measures need to be taken to make sure club members are actively involved and participating.
The Spanish Club and Boone Animal Rescue Club are prime examples in the use of these tactics. While “are all welcome,” to advance to Spanish Honor Society a member must attend enough meetings and other Spanish Club activities, to reach the point value necessary for admission to SHS. Attendance is tracked through a sign in sheet, and points are tracked through a log officers keep all year.
BARC institutes the three strike rule. If a member misses a meeting, does not come to an event he signed up for or fails to meet the eight hours of community service with animal related causes, he acquires a strike. BARC has found the system affective, and as a result, members are more actively involved in the club.
Clubs can be an enjoyable and
constructive use of time when the right ones are chosen. Joining clubs can help members find out how much they like a certain cause, culture or activity. In Social Justice Club there are future humanitarians; in Student Government there are future politicians.
When students become too busy to dedicate time and effort to all of their clubs, they are overcommitted. With that said, dropping a club is okay, especially if one finds himself lacking the time needed for dedication and real
commitment to the club. Clubs are not meant to make
a high school experience more hectic but they can diversify a high school experience and make it more enjoyable, but only if the student is willing to be dedicated. No dedication leads to no benefits for anyone, and claiming to be a well-rounded applicant while really being good at signing in at the minimum number of meetings is unacceptable.
Forum HOW CAN CLUBS REDUCE INACTIVE MEMBERSHIP?
Your Thoughts
Is club membership criterialacking?
Most clubs are not as strict as they should be. There’s no requirements. It’s not fair [to
those involved].- gené trujillo, senior
Yes, if you’re going to join a club you need to be dedicated and not just join it.
- desiree vinson, junior
It’s lacking. Some people just sign up the first meeting to have it on their college transcripts.
- olusegun akinwolere, junior
Yes, it should be more mandatory. I think there should be a warning at first.
- daniel barr, sophomore
Rewards offer creative incentive One way clubs can cut down on inactive membership is before officially allowing a person to join, one has to sign a commitment contract with consequences for only joining the club for fun events instead of actually participating. Also [clubs can have] rewards for students who show interest and are constantly involved in their clubs.
- sharibel monegro, senior
School wide recognition needs loyaltyThere is a lot of pressure on students to join clubs for
acceptance into colleges. That is why many may fake or cheat the true commitment of being involved in an extracurricular activity. For a club to gain school wide recognition it needs to be involved with students who show their interest and dedication of time to the organization. The students who
JOINING CLUBS ENRICHES HIGH
SCHOOL EXPERIENCE
[don’t invest time in the club] but need it as a credential on a college resume, hold the potential of the club back. To eliminate this problem, club sponsors or founders can make a checklist of all meeting and activities and do monthly checks to see who is attending. Those who don’t meet the required attendance are put on probation, then are dismissed from the club.
- austin weller, senior
Club inspires future career choiceThere are many different clubs and organizations at
Boone; so there has to be at least one that really interests a student. If a student isn’t interested enough to attend the meetings; it’s a waste of time to join the club. The first couple of weeks of a club, one should be able to attend the meetings and then decide whether or not he wants to be a
no
ve
mb
er
opinions
hilights.org page 5November 4, 2011
View Two is the magic number
The Rowdy Crowd at Friday night football games, the ridiculous costumes and endless hype about the perfect dresses for homecoming, no matter how horribly cliché and High School Musical-esque these and other activities may seem, they are the events that make the 34 hours of school a week bearable for students.
Students balance social and extra-curricular activities like clubs, sports, and dances with academic subjects. Since the high school scene is such a social one, students are often over-committed to their social activities and their grades, the true priority of high school, can drop.
Hence, Orange County Public Schools has created a new rule that came into effect this school year. Like the 2.0 grade point average policy to participate in sports, students must now have a 2.0 GPA to be in clubs and attend school dances.
In some respects, this rule seems unfair. It separates the student body into “adequate” and “in-adequate;” it verges on elitist, and does not take in to account extenuating circumstances like learning disabilities and home issues. While the rule is the not perfect, it is made as fair as possible and lends students incentive to do well.
Freshmen are exempt from the rule for homecoming because they will not have GPA’s until after semester exams. For the rest of the student body the GPA is cumulative. However, any seniors who do not meet the requirement cumulatively to attend homecoming but their quarter GPA meets it, can ask to speak with Dr. Margaret McMillen about their situation and this can be handled case by case.
Also in the realm of fairness, students are required to have a 2.0 GPA to graduate. If
a student is not meeting this requirement, he should not be attending a school dance, or playing a sport or be involved in a club. Social events make high school enjoyable, but students’ main priority should be receiving their diplomas.
According to Dr. McMillen, a student cannot have hours and hours to give to clubs, sports and other extra-curricular activities while not passing their classes. Students needs to find a balance in passing their classes and being a part of activities that are meaningful to them.
This rule also creates an incentive to make better grades and achieve higher grade point averages to avoid being borderline during a sport season or right before dance ticket sales. It will also contribute to a higher school grade.
The rule is not created to cut students off from the more enjoyable aspects of high school; it is put in place to make sure students have their priorities straight, with grades first, before they engage in any kind of extra-curricular activity.
There has been concern among the Student Government Association’s Junior Class Council regarding the possibility of smaller homecoming attendance. The excess revenue from homecoming ticket sales offsets the price of prom. The possibility of fewer homecoming attendees would hike the price of prom and make SGA’s budgeting more difficult.
“We planned around our budget. We played around with numbers and dropped things if they were too expensive,” junior class secretary Merrie Harding said.
Furthermore, 87 percent of students have at least a 2.0 or higher. Attendance should not be a considerable issue for the Junior Class’s budget this year or in future years.
Dr. McMillen claims this policy sends the positive message to students that academics come first. Dr. McMillen and administration want students to have a great time at school, but grades come first.
This new policy is achievable for students and will help
Forum WHAT IS YOUR VIEW ON THE 2.0 G.P.A. POLICY?
Your Thoughts
If students want to have fun, they should do good in school and make sure their grades
are positive.- brandyn cross, senior
If people want to be a part of a club or organization
they need to have good grades.
- benny borrero, junior
It’s good because it encourages people to get better grades and have a higher GPA.
- kayla tercero, sophomore
I think it’s good because if you don’t have good grades you shouldn’t be able to attend
events. - ciara mccoy, freshman
Policy presents benefits, doubtsI have a mixed view on this policy. I can see both pros and cons. On the positive side, I think this will encourage students to keep their grades up and to try hard academically; also, oftentimes those students who have the lower GPA’s tend to be the ones who cause behavioral issues at school functions. However, on the negative side, I think oftentimes students with lower GPA’s are the ones who need extracurricular activities after school to keep them out of trouble.
- jenna harrison, sophomore
Policy lends extremesThis new policy may seem like a good idea on paper but can actually be harmful to students who do not have a 2.0. It is understandable to implement this policy on some school activities, but to make it apply to all activities seems somewhat extreme. It is telling students that they may not be part of the school if they do not live up to status-quo. Some students may actually improve their academic levels if they are allowed to
POLICY CREATES STUDENT INCENTIVE, POSITIVE REMINDER
participate in things they enjoy.
- emily auschwitz, sophomore
Requirement is productiveThe 2.0 average requirement to participate in extracurricular activities is logical. This requirement provides an incentive for students to care about their grades if they want to have fun. Also, if the students maintain the average, those participating will be responsible, causing attendance to be regular and extracurricular activities to be more active and effective.
- amy bonilla, senior
Policy does not consider little thingsThis new policy really is not fair because high school dances and clubs are supposed to be fun and not something kids should worry about. You never know what can be going on personally with the kid causing them to get below a 2.0.
- amal omar, sophomore
Student athletes must represent name I think the new 2.0 policy is good because I believe grades and performance in school comes before extra activities and sports. [My] coach always says, “You’re a student athlete. What’s the first word?” School needs to be a higher priority in life than any sports or after-school activities.
- james dawson, sophomore
School activities better societyI think students should still be able to participate in school activities even if they have less that a 2.0 average. Participating in activities encourages getting involved in society and [being able] to function in a community.
- marissa mcgregor, freshman
We’d love to hear from you! Feel free to post a comment on hilights.org, or
drop a letter off in Rm 224
Is the 2.0 GPA policy fair or unfair to students?
give them incentive to keep up with their grades. Freshmen have been given a free ticket, and seniors can receive leeway for dances based on circumstance.
This policy will positively impact the campus, making grades the priority but still allowing students to enjoy the social activities.
Students attended homecoming
By the numbers
Percent of students agree
Percent of students disagree with 2.0 GPA Policy
Schools in Boone’s learning community required a 2.0 for homecoming
Students have a 2.0 or above
2 out of 6
2125
945
61
39
299 students polled, Oct. 26
The T
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Som
ali
peop
le re
cove
r. H
owev
er, S
omali
a’s c
orru
pt g
over
nmen
t has
ke
pt it
from
the p
eopl
e. A
ccor
ding
to
the
Uni
ted
Nat
ions
ten
s of
tho
usan
ds o
f pe
ople
have
died
in
Som
alia
due
to s
tarv
atio
n an
d up
to
750,0
00 co
uld
starv
e to
deat
h in
the c
omin
g m
onth
s.
Add
ing
to th
e So
mali
a’s li
st of
com
plex
ities
, on
Oct
. 18,
Keny
an f
orce
s en
tere
d So
mali
a to
fig
ht t
he S
haba
b. K
enya
de
clare
d A
l Sha
bab
was t
oo m
uch
of a
thre
at to
their
coun
try
to n
ot in
terv
ene i
n So
mali
a. Th
e Som
ali g
over
nmen
t sig
ned
a co
mm
uniq
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enya
n de
legat
es st
atin
g th
at th
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abab
wa
s a
thre
at t
o bo
th c
ount
ries.
Whe
ther
or
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Som
alia’s
gr
iefs
will
cont
inue
to
esca
late
with
the
ent
ranc
e of
Ken
ya
rem
ains a
que
stion
.
OCCU
PY W
ALL
STRE
ET
MOV
EMEN
T GA
INS
MOM
ENTU
M
By L
INDS
AY A
LEXA
NDE
R
“We a
re 99
per
cent
,” is
a slo
gan
bein
g use
d by
the O
ccup
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all S
treet
mov
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t’s p
rote
sters
to e
xpre
ss th
e ha
tred
of
corp
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eed,
gov
ernm
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bailo
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and
the
unch
ecke
d po
wer o
f Wall
Stre
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d W
ashi
ngto
n.Th
e O
ccup
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all S
treet
mov
emen
t is
horiz
onta
lly
orga
nize
d, o
r ba
sed
on t
he c
omm
on v
iews
of p
eopl
e. Th
e m
ovem
ent h
ad it
s firs
t pro
test
on S
ept.
17, i
n Li
berty
Plaz
a in
New
Yor
k, N
ew Y
ork;
appr
oxim
ately
200
0 pe
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ralli
ed.
The
mov
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ks to
the
Ara
b Sp
ring
as a
mod
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r re
belli
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gain
st go
vern
men
t aut
horit
y an
d sta
ndin
g up
for
what
“99
per
cent
” of
Am
erica
ns d
esire
. Lik
e A
rab
Sprin
g, pr
otes
ts ar
e be
ing
orga
nize
d th
roug
h Fa
cebo
ok,
Goo
gle
calen
dar a
nd o
ther
socia
l med
ia ne
twor
ks an
d we
bsite
s. P
artic
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ts of
Occ
upy
Wall
Stre
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eliev
e th
e sta
te
and
corp
orat
ions
are
cor
rupt
ing
powe
r. C
itize
ns n
eed
mor
e fre
edom
, an
d eq
ualit
y ha
s be
en c
ompr
omise
d ex
pres
sly
beca
use o
ne p
erce
nt o
f the
pop
ulat
ion
hold
s 47 p
erce
nt o
f the
we
alth.
Crit
ics sa
y th
e m
ovem
ent n
eeds
goa
ls an
d lea
ders
to
crea
te a
subs
tant
ial p
latfo
rm to
stan
d on
.Th
e m
ovem
ent
has
gone
glo
bal
and
take
n pl
ace
in 8
2 co
untri
es. T
he m
ost
rece
nt lo
cal r
ally
was
on O
ct. 1
5 an
d cir
cled
down
town
Orla
ndo,
inclu
ding
a sto
p at
City
Hall
. To
day
at 7
p.m
. Eas
tern
Tim
e, th
ere
will
be a
“G
ener
al A
ssem
bly”
held
again
in L
iber
ty P
laza i
n N
ew Y
ork
City
to
educ
ate o
ther
s abo
ut O
ccup
y Wall
Stre
et’s
belie
fs an
d ex
plain
to
pro
teste
rs w
ays t
o sp
read
the m
ovem
ent.
By M
ARK
VAG
ELAK
OSN
early
a ye
ar af
ter G
reec
e’s fi
nanc
ial c
ollap
se, t
he c
lassic
be
hem
oth
is dr
owni
ng in
nea
rly $
400
billi
on o
f int
erna
tiona
l de
bt an
d im
poss
ible
auste
rity p
aym
ents
from
Eur
opea
n lo
ans.
The
crisi
s ste
ms
from
low
int
eres
t lo
ans
Gre
ece
has
take
n ou
t ove
r the
pas
t dec
ade.
How
ever
, the
se lo
ans c
ould
no
t be
paid
bac
k af
ter t
he g
loba
l mon
etar
y co
llaps
e of
200
9 wh
en G
reec
e’s e
cono
my
cras
hed.
Now
the
cou
ntry
reli
es
on in
tern
atio
nal s
uppo
rt to
bail
out
its
econ
omy
but
it is
strug
glin
g to
mak
e pay
men
ts on
the b
orro
wed
fund
s. Pr
ime
Min
ister
Geo
rge
Papa
ndre
ou i
s at
tem
ptin
g to
re
duce
the
defic
it wi
th u
npop
ular
pro
perty
taxe
s and
pub
lic
work
er p
ay cu
ts an
d lay
offs.
Euro
pean
don
ors
have
bro
kere
d a
large
r de
al, g
iving
G
reec
e th
ree
year
s to
catc
h up
to it
s deb
t. H
owev
er, G
reek
of
ficial
s will
still
nee
d to
incr
ease
taxe
s, ca
usin
g co
untry
wide
pr
otes
ts an
d lar
ge sh
ifts i
n po
litica
l par
ty p
refe
renc
es.
illus
tratio
n/LI
NDSA
Y AL
EXAN
DER
By L
INDS
AY A
LEXA
NDE
R
Hait
i’s in
frastr
uctu
re an
d go
vern
men
t con
tinue
to b
e in
a co
nsta
nt st
alem
ate
afte
r the
dev
asta
ting
earth
quak
e Ja
n. 1
0, 20
10, c
ostin
g m
ore t
han
250,0
00 li
ves.
The
2010
ear
thqu
ake,
the
wors
t on
e in
the
reg
ion
in
200
year
s, re
duce
d ca
pito
l Por
t-au-
Prin
ce t
o m
ere
rubb
le.
Cur
rent
ly, 6
00,00
0 H
aitian
s stil
l live
in re
fuge
e ca
mps
whi
le th
e reb
uild
ing o
f the
city
has b
een s
lowe
d by p
oliti
cal c
onfli
ct.
Am
erica
n en
voy
form
er, P
resid
ent B
ill C
linto
n, h
as b
een
work
ing
with
new
Hait
ian P
rime
Min
ister
Gar
ry C
onill
e to
en
d m
onth
s of p
oliti
cal g
ridlo
ck an
d fo
cus o
n im
prov
ing
the
envir
onm
ent,
job
crea
tion,
stat
e of l
aw, e
nerg
y and
educ
atio
n.D
espi
te go
od in
tent
ions
, Hait
i fac
es ba
rrier
s to
rebu
ildin
g. In
add
ition
to b
urea
ucra
tic p
robl
ems,
the
chol
era
epid
emic,
wh
ich b
egan
in N
ovem
ber
2010
, has
evo
lved
to e
ncom
pass
47
0,000
case
s, ki
lling
6,60
0, ac
cord
ing
the U
nite
d N
atio
ns.
CITI
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S RE
BUIL
D. H
aitia
n re
side
nts g
athe
r lum
ber t
o re
build
the
rava
ged
Port
au
Prin
ce a
fter
the
7.0
eart
hqua
ke. T
o da
te, 6
00,0
00
Haiti
ans l
ive in
refu
gee
cam
ps, w
aitin
g fo
r rep
air.
phot
o/M
CT C
AMPU
S
HAIT
I STR
UGGL
ES T
O RE
BUIL
D
GREE
K DE
BTS
PILE
UP
Jan.
14, 2
011:
Tuni
sia
over
thro
ws d
icta
tor
Ben
Ali
Jan.
23,
201
1: Eg
yptia
n ci
tizen
s pro
test
in T
ahrir
Sq
uare
Aug.
21,
2011
: Rev
olut
iona
ries
take
con
trol
of T
ripol
i, Lib
ya.
Mar
. 17,
201
1: Th
e Un
ited
Natio
ns s
anct
ions
air
strik
es
agai
nst M
ubar
ak re
gim
e.
Feb.
18, 2
011:
Mub
arak
re
sign
s in
the
face
of E
gypt
ian
rebe
ls.
Feb.
20,
201
1: 14
0 Li
byan
pr
otes
ters
kille
d by
Qua
daffi
sn
iper
s.
Aug.
23,
201
1: Re
bels
ov
erth
row
Qua
daffi
Oct.
17, 2
011:
Quad
affi
kille
d by
Lib
yan
rebe
ls.
Oct.
23, 2
011:
Firs
t Tun
isia
n vo
te in
dec
ades
take
s pla
ce.
ROAD
TO
REVO
LUTI
ON
14 W
est G
ore S
tree
• O
rland
o, F
L 32
806
Orla
ndo
Tel:
(407
) 423
-381
5 •
Fax
: (40
7) 42
3-38
17
Alb
erto
F. P
adro
n, M
.D., F
.A.C
.S.G
ener
al Su
rger
y
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mbe
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ichae
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reela
nd, M
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WE PROUDLY SUPPORT THE
BOONE BRAVES
phot
os/M
CT C
AMPU
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de
ce
mb
er
opinions
hilights.org page 5December 14, 2011
View Community colleges benefit attendees
Community college suits full schedulesPeople tend to think that only “brand name” schools are credible and think poorly of a college simply because it is small, local and generally not as difficult to be accepted to. Community colleges are wonderful opportunities for adults who have kids to work, or [for] students who can’t afford to attend a state university. The requirements are typically the same to get an [Associates of Arts] degree at any school you go to. For people who can’t put their life on hold for four years, community college is great for people with full schedules to earn a degree.
- spencer cotton, senior
Valencia does not meet UCF standardI believe the opinion [that community colleges are not as good as State or Ivy League schools] is credible because I dual enroll at Valencia and my friend dual enrolls at UCF. My
classes [are] a lot easier than his, which supports the fact that community colleges are less adequate than state schools.
- monica stauffer, senior
Community colleges offer broader baseI have always considered community colleges on par with state colleges. I know plenty of very intelligent people who have gone to Valencia. I think community colleges are very well rounded, perhaps at the expense of having a select few exceptional programs. Community colleges offer a broader base, which can help people who don’t yet know which field they want to go into find their calling.
- charles glazer, senior
Cutting expenses is practical optionGoing to a community or state college is smarter than starting
out at a private or Ivy League school. I’m going to Valencia because it’s more practical. I get to live at home and cut college expenses. I believe that everyone can get the same quality education if not better. Community college classes are smaller than other college classes, and that means more attention from your professors and more one-on-one help.
- raina edmondson, senior
Apply knowledge to future experiencesIt doesn’t matter what college you go to. It is how you apply and use the information that you learned in college for the rest of your life.
- william mckillop, freshman
We would love to hear from you! Feel free to comment online at hilights.org
Forum DO COMMUNITY COLEGES OFFER EQUAL LEARNING EXPERIENCES?
VALENCIA: LOW COST, HIGH QUALITY
Despite the tenacity of common phrases uttered throughout Central Florida high school hallways like, “Valencia is a school for losers,” Valencia is an accredited learning environment.
Valencia College, Florida state universities and Ivy League universities all offer accredited four year degrees. Community colleges primarily offer two year degrees. However, Valencia Community College is now Valencia College as of Fall 2011. Valencia offers a Bachelors in Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology and Radiologic and Imagery Science.
The popular belief that State and Ivy League schools are better than Valencia is false. Community colleges and Valencia offer more student- professor interaction, budget conscious tuition, and while graduates of Harvard are presented with a different career market due to their frilly diploma, Valencia graduates have the same potential.
More than twice as many local high school graduates attend Valencia than all public state universities combined.
Research schools are no place for undergraduates. Well known
professors are often
not in the classroom but instead are doing research. Classes are then taught by student aids. For an incoming freshman, an auditorium filled with 300 pupils and one teacher is an intimidating learning environment.
In “10 Things Every Parent Should Know About College” by Michelle Crouch, published in the September 2011 edition of Reader’s Digest, Crouch found students at Harvard did not have a strong enough relationship with their professors for them to write their graduate school recommendations.
According to communitycollege.com, the average community college class size is 30 students. With smaller classes, professors are devoted to teaching and working with students.
Ivy League and State schools can cost a fortune. A designer degree is not worth years and years of paying back college loans. An in-state freshman taking 15 hours of classes each semester for two semesters living on campus, with a meal plan will pay around $20,000 regardless of the state school he attends.
At community colleges, one can pay for classes hour-by-hour, allowing flexible payment options. Students at Valencia pay $99.06 per credit hour.
Students who do not have the financial means to pay for college without the help of student loans are
better off going to an affordable school. In “10 Things Every Parent
Should Know About College,” it is said that in 2010, almost two thirds of undergraduates borrowed money, and student loan debt outpaced credit card debt for the first time. College Board says the average senior who took out college loans graduates $24,000 in debt.
Do not let fancy lion statues and ivy covered walls be fooling. While it is true a degree from an Ivy League school can open doors for elite job positions down the road, the vast majority of college goers are not looking to be presidential advisers or Nobel Peace Prize winners.
There is no data showing Ivy League graduates achieve higher levels of success than other college graduates. According to “10 Things Every Parent Should Know About College,” out of the 900-odd 1973 Princeton graduates, there are only a handful of recognized names. If a student puts his talents to use, he can succeed to levels higher than graduates of Ivy League colleges.
While the student life of State schools and the preppy-high-society air of Ivy League is appealing, there is nothing inadequate about community colleges. They offer similar, if not the same degrees, with more involved teaching, better pricing and equal opportunities after graduation.
Tuition, fees and cost of living for University of Central Florida freshman for two semesters: $14,710
Tuition, fees and cost of living for Florida State freshman for two semesters: $17,604
TUITION, FEES LINE UP
Your Thoughts
They’re okay, but I like bigger colleges. I feel like you get a better education at bigger colleges.
- shea outar, freshman
It’s a good alternative because you save money and get more attention in class.
- kimgiau dang, junior
It’s a good way to get into a four-year college because you already know the basics.
- nathan perroux, sophomore
I think it’s the worst alternative because you don’t get the full college experience.
- kevin lopes, senior
What do you think about community colleges?
Tuition, fees and living costs for University of Florida freshman for two semesters: $19,830
Tuition, fees and cost of living for University of South Florida freshman for two semesters: $20,590
Cost per credit hour at Valenicia College: $99.06
fe
br
ua
ry
opinions
hilights.org page 5February 10, 2012
View TES is time consuming, unnecessary
One year to date after his election, President Barack Obama said, “It’s time to stop just talking about education reform and start actually doing it.”
In 2009, The U.S. Department of Education distributed a $4.35 million grant to 12 states to spearhead Race to the Top, a reform program that is a part of the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Florida is a Race to the Top recipient based on its current plans for reform and past ability to increase student achievement.
Race to the Top is meant to help solve Florida’s teaching woes; however, its requirement of a Teacher Evaluation System has done more harm than good. Orange County, and other counties in Central Florida, have chosen Dr. Robert Marzano’s Teacher Evaluation System. This system’s time consuming methods are unhelpful to teachers and students.
The main goal of TES is improving teaching strategies and student understanding. A key difference between TES and the old system is the latter required one teacher evaluation yearly and passed 99 percent of its teachers.
With the old system, teachers on tenure could have been excluded from this requirement because administration expects those teachers to be able to teach effectively. If a teacher was to let his professional edge slip, his ineffective behavior could potentially go unnoticed for years. Even so, the Robert Marzano Teacher Evaluation System’s cons outweigh the pros.
The new system requires four informal evaluations and two formal evaluations for all inexperienced teachers.
Veteran teachers will have two informal and one formal. An informal evaluation consists
of a campus administrator observing 15 minutes of a class period. The new need for administrative “surveillance” in classrooms can leave veteran teachers feeling demoralized and frustrated, which can hurt teacher morale.
Formal evaluations require time teachers do not have. Teachers receive questions to answer about how they think they are doing as a teacher. After these questions are answered, an administrator and the teacher will meet to discuss them, probably during said teacher’s planning period. Then, the teacher will have a class period evaluation and a debriefing with the administrator in another planning period.
The evaluation is based on six categories: Lesson Segments Involving Routine Events, Lesson Segments Addressing Content, Lesson Segments Enacted on the Spot, Planning and Preparing, Reflecting on Teaching and Collegiality and Professionalism. What is especially new is Lesson Segments Involving Routine Events. This category includes the new use of learning goals and a scale system.
While this could potentially help students learn, currently it is not. Guidelines for an effective learning goal are not clear, and honestly, the scale concept is dumb. No student wants to raise his hand with a one to five rating on it to show how much he understands. No student wants to record this in a journal or on an assignment either.
Students mentally know where they are. If they do not understand, they ask questions. The scale system is meant to emphasize student understanding. However, teachers can simply ask their classes, ‘are there any questions?’ This eliminates time wasted copying down scales on assignments and re-referencing the scale in class.
Teachers are given 49 minutes per class period, which is not enough time for this system to work. Teachers already work hard to teach students, and asking them to create a learning goal and scale for every lesson is excessive when they
Forum HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE TEACHER EVALUATION SYSTEM?
Your Thoughts
It’s taking away from what teachers are trying to accomplish and changes their
attitude.- cornelia martinez, senior
It makes teachers more focused on [TES] than what they want [students] to learn.
- carly larr, junior
In a way, it’s good because students focus more on studies, [and] they don’t focus on distractions.
- pedro sarmiento, sophomore
I think it’s kind of good because [teachers] can know how the students progress everyday.
- isaias gayahan, freshman
TES makes learning boringI don’t like the new Teacher Evaluation System. Learning is easier for me when the teacher makes the material interesting. The new systematic rules not only turn students off toward their classes, but also makes the teachers have to worry about passing the evaluation rather than just teaching.
- jonathan pendleton, senior
Evaluation system cripples teachers I think [TES] is a waste of time. It should be optional. [Administrators cannot] expect teachers to enjoy their jobs and perform well when [they] constantly tell them how to do their job. I don’t like it and nor do the teachers, so it should be optional.
- alexyz hernandez, freshman
TES is not suitable for different class levelsI think the new Teacher Evaluation System is an example of ignorance on the part of OCPS. Not only are classes different
in the level of rigor and style of teaching, but the teachers don’t have the same way of teaching. Oftentimes the best teachers use unorthodox methods that can’t simply be evaluated in such a one-dimensional way. The evaluation system is forcing many teachers, particularly upper-level teachers, to dumb down parts of their lessons.
- thomas mcclane, senior
TES keeps students on trackThe new Teacher Evaluation System helps students more than it does teachers. At least, it helps me understand where I’m at and what I’m struggling with. . . . It’s good way to keep your grades up because you know the specific areas to focus on. - kaitlin renaud, freshman
System fails adequate teachersWhile a good intention, the new Teacher Evaluation System has more drawbacks than it does positive changes. I have seen fantastic teachers, who have literally changed my life and way
What is your view on the new TES?
of perceiving the world, belittled and bullied by these new evaluations.
- brandon dalzell, senior
Teachers do not follow through The Teacher Evaluation doesn’t change the way teachers are actually teaching. Most of them just prepare for the one evaluation, then return to their natural ways of teaching.
- monica marulanda, junior
New system belongs in elementary schools I believe the new Teacher Evaluation System is a very misplaced idea. I believe this idea belongs in elementary schools, not high schools. Putting fingers up is a waste of class time because high school students don’t need to be babied more than they are. If a student doesn’t get something, it’s his responsibility to ask the teacher for help.
- le-roy mormontoy, senior
SYSTEM IS HELPFUL FOR NEW TEACHERS, HINDERS SEASONED
have created other practices known to reach students like calling on a student to answer another student’s question to ensure classroom understanding.
For first year teachers, this system can be effective because it covers essentials for running a classroom, but for an experienced teacher who knows how to do his job, it wastes time and is unnecessary. As for the ineffective tenured teacher, a thorough yearly evaluation would make sure he is teaching adequately.
Florida Race to the Top Survival Guide
- Design and implement teacher and principal evaluation systems
-Include a comprehensive range of ratings
-Conduct multiple evaluations for each first-year teachers
-Establish an Individual Professional Development Plan for each teacher
ma
rc
h
opinions
hilights.org page 5March 16, 2012
View Communicating cultural recognition
Americans steam roll cultural beauty For hundreds of years, the English (and American) culture has consumed native cultures. We forget the beauty of other cultures as we steam roll through them. By learning other languages, we gain insight into the nature of other cultures. By choosing not to, we close our minds to possibilities and continue to subjugate others with the full force of American culture. - adam kobert, freshman
Free country equals language choiceNope. If students or adults wish to learn other languages they have the ability to choose that and the resources to do so because we live in a free country. It should not be required for students in our country to have to learn another language
when half the people here can’t speak proper English. - shannon gresosky, senior
English speakers must take initiative American students should be forced to learn other languages. European countries make it a key aspect of their education for children to learn English because it is so important to the world, considering America [an English speaking country]is a super power. If kids were forced to learn European languages, it might help in the future or just make us a more well-rounded country. - jennifer whitlock, senior
Foreign languages broaden worldview I think all American students should learn at least one other
language growing up. Even though English is arguably the most popular language, it is important to be able to communicate with people of other tongues and cultures. I was raised speaking two languages and believe that it has helped me understand other cultures and people as well as broadened my world view. - hannah ausen, senior
Language classes specific to location I think Americans should learn another language. [Learning a language in school could be based on] geographical location sush as Florida students could learn Spanish while Pacific States could learn Chinese.
- kendal martinez, senior
Forum SHOULD ENGLISH SPEAKERS LEARN FOREIGN LANGUAGES?
LANGUAGES HELP BUSINESS, BRAIN
English is the lingua franca of the world. It is the language of international business transactions. However, the business world is changing and English speakers who learn foreign languages benefit not only economically but culturally and intellectually as well.
International business calls and transactions take place every minute of every day. Calls from Saudi Arabia to the United States and from the United States to China are here-say in the realm of international trade and commerce. Face-to-face meetings and interviews are also conducted on a regular basis.
While translators can be used, the international business employment market is becoming more competitive. Graduates of top business schools in America compete with global graduates who know several languages. International businesses, as well as local businesses, will take multilingual employees over monolingual ones, as long as both employees are equally qualified in other areas.
At New York University in Abu Dhabi, students from around the world taking classes ranging from Chemistry to Anthropology, learn, speak and study i n languages not of their native
tongue. This educational
attempt at experiencing a diverse global society is preparing students for the real world of international business.
International business is not the only occupation where multilingualism comes in handy. Anyone flirting with an espionage occupation will find benefit in speaking foreign languages for jobs with the State Department or the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Still, citizens looking for conventional jobs will find speaking another language helpful in public relations, social services and health care.
Knowledge of a foreign language is especially helpful in states like Florida, New York and California where immigrant and ethnically diverse populations are high.
English speakers who learn other languages improve themselves culturally as well. People around the world learn English, which is a convenience for English speakers. If English speakers in turn attempt to learn other languages, they communicate a kind gesture. In the year 2011, 1.3 billion people spoke Chinese natively and 341 million people spoke English natively. Even a small percentage of English speakers learning Chinese is a wise decision both economically and socially.
Furthermore, languages are art forms. Marcel Suarez-Orozco, a globalization professor at NYU and editor of Educating the Whole Child for the Whole
World, a series on globalization and education, says, “Aristotle is turning in his grave.” Using a lingua franca is progressive, but society cannot forget the beauty of different languages. Speaking a language allows people to connect culturally and relate to each other. Conversing with a person in his own tongue beats roughly conversing through a lingua franca any day.
A little known fact about multilingual persons is their gray brain matter, a component in brain tissue that passes along sensory information to different parts of the body, is denser than the
Your Thoughts
If you want to talk to people in another language, you do it because it’s your own choice.
- christhian charria, senior
It’s a waste of time. We live in America; all we need to know is English.
- cameron truex, sophomore
I don’t think it should be forced in schools, but it’s good to know.
- arielle baba, junior
I’m excited to learn [Spanish] because everyone assumes I know it, and it will help me later in life .
- julia collazo, freshman
What do you think of learning languages?
rest of the world’s monolingual inhabitants, indicating higher levels of intelligence. According to the Center for Applied Linguistics and webmd.com, researchers have discovered being bilingual changes brain structure, especially in the left brain’s gray matter density.
Whether it is to advance in the business world, to advance one’s social graces through the art of learning a language or trying to boost brain power, English speakers who study and learn a second language will reap the benefits.
For student opinions on English speakers learning languages, go to hilights.org and search Reservation Conversation. Also see pages 14 to 15 about other cultures
illustration/ LINDSAY ALEXANDER
ma
y
approval also known as the Wise Giving Alliance Seal.This seal means a charity has gone under investigation by
the Better Business Bureau, and the Bureau found that the charity’s governance, fund raising practices, solicitations and information materials, as well as expidentures, were up to par. A list of charities who have this seal can be found on the Better Business Bureau’s website.
However, if a charity does not have this seal, it can still be a valid organization. Charities that receive the Wise Giving Alliance Seal have to apply for it. The possibility remains that a charity without the seal did not apply. It is also possible the charity is local; the seal is only given to national
charities. Those seeking further assurance of a charity’s credibility should check charitynavigator.com. The site provides accurate reviews of a charity’s financial credibility as well as the charity’s accountability and transparency.
Furthermore, even if a charity checks out as financially sound, it does not mean one should automatically donate. Giving to causes which are close to one’s heart allows givers to reap more benefits by knowing they helped someone they have personal ties to. A plausible example: a local student’s father passes away of cancer. If the student gives to The National Multiple Sclerosis Society, he does well, but his
opinions
hilights.org page 5May 11, 2012
View Careful research lends better results
Charity supports deserving childrenI care about Give Kids the World because all the kids there have been through way more than they deserve to at their age, but they still manage to [deal] with their everyday lives.
- jileiska ross, junior
U.S. based charities are priority Without a personal source of income, I do not currently have any charities that I donate to, but I love to be able to help others in need. I favor projects that help those in the U.S. It’s not our responsibility to take care of the world, especially when so many have to suffer.
- jackson upperco, senior
Marching with local charities[I care about] March of Dimes and MS Awareness. [I go to] walk-a-thons and [raise] funding from local businesses.
- alexis olijnyk, senior
Nike charity leads to collectionI support the Doernbecher charity. They’re signed with
Nike. The kids in the charity design their own shoes /
-jose delgado, junior
American Cancer Society aids relativeI care about the American Cancer Society because it’s one of the largest growth charities for cancer. They help all people whose lives have been affected by cancer including cancer
patients, patients’ family members, cancer survivors and research programs to help find a cure. This charity especially hits home for me because my grandma is fighting cancer currently and has survived three different types of cancer. This charity gives my grandma hope that she still has a fighting chance against this terrible illness. Every year I participate in Relay for Life, a big fund raiser for the American Cancer Society, and I support the greatest grandma in the world.
- dalles black, senior
We’d love to hear from you! Please send a letter to Rm. 224 or go to hilights.org
Forum HOW AND WHY DO YOU SUPPORT CHARITIES?
GIVING REQUIRES THOUGHT, NOT BLIND DONATION
The students currently walking the halls, cramming books in lockers and entering class rooms, all receive one name: the Me Generation.
While this title does ring true in some aspects of teenage lives, the Me Generation does have the ability to focus on others. A University of California Los Angeles study by the Higher Education Research Institute found that in 2006, 67 percent of students entering college thought it was important to help others in difficulty. This is the highest percentage in 26 years. A majority of college students who think helping others is important does not reflect a generation consumed in itself.
Since teens have concerns for those in need, it is important for them to know how to correctly donate time and money. Research is an important first step.
Before one blindly gives to a charity, one needs to research it. Honest charities with the best interests for their causes and their donors in mind will have ways donors can discover more about them. For example, The American Cancer Society’s website is highly informational and includes pages that tell readers about the charity’s goals and practices. The site also offers contact information for those with further questions.
Most importantly, one needs to look into the financial aspects of a charity. Any credible charity should practice transparency. Their sites will have monetary documents recording the money received the prior year and the areas it went to like production and administrative expenses. An IRS 990 form ensuring the charity is a non-profit organization should also be among the site’s accessible documents.
An easy way to discover if a charity is credible is to look for the Better Business Bureau’s stamp of
Your Thoughts
They should know what the cause is for and depending on what they feel is right, they should
give to the charity.
- joseph perez, freshman
They should research it before just so they know how it impacts who they’re giving it to.
- bashari james, senior
I don’t like it when a certain person gives to a bunch [of charities] because they don’t have a
motive behind it.
- geraldine irizarry, junior
People should follow up. If people see how it affects people’s lives, they’ll be more willing to
give. - margaret brown, sophomore
How should people go about giving to charities?
effort could have meant more to him if he donated to a charity like The American Cancer Society.
Then, the student is not helping just someone. He is helping someone like his Dad, and helping a family who has experiences similar to his. Another benefit of giving to ACS is that the charity has local events like Relay for Life, which is on campus May 18. Being involved in a charity, as well as giving money to it helps one reap the benefits of the giving process because the experience becomes more hands on.
In the same vein as giving to a charity close to one’s heart, giving to a local charity can be of greater value to the donator.
Since local charities are close to the home, they are easier to become involved with. In this case, one can give his time, not just his money. Habitat for Humanity is a perfect example which emphasizes personal service through building houses and not just giving.
According to a British Broadcasting Company news article, “Charity ‘makes you feel better’,” “it is not having lots of money that makes us happy— it is spending it on others.”
There is science behind the statement, ‘giving makes you happy.’ A University of British Columbia study of 630 people found the ones
who spent money on others were happier. Dave Ramsey, host of The Money Game, a talk-radio show with hundreds of thousands of daily listeners, says giving helps people realize the world does not revolve around them.
Giving, when done responsibly with careful research and thought, is an experience even the Me Generation can benefit from.
For more information on local charities like Habitat for Humanity, Clean the World and Relay for Life, turn to the Special Section on pages 14 and 15
One University of British Columbia study of 630 people found the ones who spent money on others were happier.
spec
ial
spec
ial
hilig
hts.
org
page
2M
ay 11
, 201
2hi
light
s.or
gpa
ge 3
May
11, 2
012
By L
INDS
AY A
LEXA
NDE
RA
sid
ewalk
squ
are,
an o
ld t
rack
sw
eats
hirt,
a s
hare
d fie
ld,
a sim
ilar
class
room
. Th
e ph
ysica
l re
mna
nts
of
gene
ratio
nal c
ampu
s fam
ilies
are
small
, bu
t m
emor
ies, s
hare
d ex
perie
nces
and
ov
erwh
elmin
g co
mm
unity
su
ppor
t str
ongl
y sp
an th
e dec
ades
. Am
ong f
acul
ty, 1
0 are
solel
y alu
mni
, 34
hav
e ch
ildre
n wh
o at
tend
ed h
ere
or a
re c
urre
ntly
enr
olled
and
nin
e ar
e gr
adua
tes a
nd h
ave c
hild
ren
who
atte
nd
or h
ave a
ttend
ed th
e sch
ool.
“T
he t
hing
I’m
mos
t pr
oud
of
[abo
ut b
eing
a gr
adua
te]
is th
at k
ids
who
go to
Boo
ne n
ow ar
e jus
t as p
roud
to
be B
oone
bra
ves a
s my c
lass w
as,”D
r. M
arga
ret M
cMill
en, 1
966 g
radu
ate,
said
.Ju
nior
Joh
n To
wnse
nd,
fresh
man
Th
omas
Tow
nsen
d, 20
11 gr
adua
te C
lay
Town
send
, an
d th
eir f
athe
r, C
layto
n To
wnse
nd,
have
not
onl
y at
tend
ed
the
sam
e hi
gh s
choo
l, bu
t als
o sh
are
an a
thlet
ic te
am.
The
Nor
ton
Bake
r st
adiu
m i
s 39
-yea
rs-o
ld,
and
it ha
s ho
sted
all o
f th
e To
wnse
nd’s
hom
e va
rsity
foot
ball
gam
es.
“The
re’s
a lot
of B
oone
spiri
t [in
my
fam
ily].
All [
of] m
y bro
ther
s hav
e gon
e [h
ere]
and m
y aun
ts an
d unc
les. M
y dad
gr
adua
ted
from
her
e, an
d m
y pa
rent
s wo
uld
take
[my
brot
hers
and
I] to
the
foot
ball
gam
es. W
e wer
e com
ing
[her
e]
befo
re w
e th
ough
t abo
ut h
igh
scho
ol,”
J. To
wnse
nd sa
id.
J. To
wnse
nd a
nd h
is fa
ther
bot
h pa
rticip
ated
in
Span
ish C
lub,
call
ed
Pan
Amer
ican
club
in C
. Tow
nsen
d’s
cam
pus y
ears
. Fol
lowi
ng it
s mot
to, “
All
are W
elcom
e,” ju
nior
Meg
an T
racy
and
her f
athe
r, Jo
hn T
racy
, a 1
983
grad
uate
, we
re m
embe
rs o
f Spa
nish
Clu
b as
well
. W
hile
the s
tadi
um re
main
s the
sam
e, ot
her
aspe
cts
of s
choo
l hav
e ch
ange
d.
Soph
omor
e A
shlei
gh
Sim
mer
son’
s re
lative
s who
atte
nded
scho
ol h
ere (
her
mot
her,
gran
dfat
her a
nd au
nt) a
ll rep
ort
how
muc
h th
e sch
ool h
as gr
own
in si
ze.
With
the s
choo
l’s g
rowt
h, tr
aditi
ons
and l
andm
arks
have
been
lost.
Tra
ditio
ns
like
not
step
ping
on
the
Brav
ehea
d in
the
100
bui
ldin
g an
d lan
dmar
ks
like
the
“infa
mou
s,” a
ccor
ding
to
J. Tr
acy,
“di
ppin
’ tre
e” w
here
stu
dent
s wo
uld
go to
dip
toba
cco
are
gone
, but
ot
hers
rem
ain, s
uch
as th
e foo
tball
team
sp
ortin
g m
ohaw
ks o
n Ed
gewa
ter g
ame
days
, stu
dent
s di
rect
ing
lost
fresh
men
to
the u
psta
irs 30
0 bui
ldin
g and
rally
ing
at th
e bon
fire d
urin
g sp
irit w
eek.
C
ampu
s co
mm
unity
also
con
tinue
s as
a co
nsta
nt b
etwe
en fa
mily
mem
bers
. Si
mm
erso
n’s
gran
dfat
her
still
atte
nds
scho
ol fo
otba
ll ga
mes
, and
her
par
ents,
alo
ng
with
C
. To
wnse
nd,
supp
ort
the
scho
ol t
hrou
gh a
dver
tisin
g fu
nd
raise
rs. C
. Tow
nsen
d ha
s also
serv
ed as
a c
onta
ct fo
r Law
Mag
net i
nter
ns.
“[
Ther
e is]
grea
t tra
ditio
n an
d se
nse
of c
omm
unity
. Th
is is
reall
y ap
pare
nt
with
peop
le I w
ent t
o Boo
ne w
ith w
hose
ki
ds ar
e the
re [n
ow].
The p
ride i
n be
ing
a bra
ve is
still
hug
e,” C
. Tow
nsen
d sa
id.
Rem
nant
s of M
. Tra
cy’s
fath
er’s
days
Ritu
als
cont
inue
, sur
vive
tim
eBy
BRI
DGET
TE N
ORRI
SFr
om
hom
ecom
ing
even
ts
to
shou
ting
“bra
ve”
at t
he e
nd o
f th
e N
atio
nal A
nthe
m, t
radi
tions
are b
oldl
y ex
isten
t and
visi
ble a
roun
d ca
mpu
s and
in
the c
omm
unity
.“T
radi
tions
mak
e it m
ore m
emor
able
beca
use
no o
ne e
lse h
as tr
aditi
ons
like
our
scho
ol.
I lo
ve i
t wh
en w
e ye
ll br
ave a
t the
end
of th
e nat
iona
l ant
hem
be
caus
e it
show
s we
are
the
dom
inan
t sc
hool
, and
you
can
not m
ess w
ith u
s,”
soph
omor
e Iva
n Ka
led sa
id.
Trad
ition
s th
at h
ave
beco
me
non-
exist
ent a
re C
lass O
lym
pics
, wee
kly p
ep
ralli
es a
nd t
he u
ntou
chab
le Br
aveh
ead
in th
e dow
nsta
irs 1
00 b
uild
ing
hallw
ay.
“Whe
n tra
ditio
ns ar
e elim
inat
ed, it
is
not o
nly
beca
use o
f the
adm
inist
ratio
n.
It is
beca
use
of l
ack
of p
artic
ipat
ion
and
abus
ing
the p
rivile
ge,”
Seni
or C
lass
spon
sor S
arah
Kitt
rell
said
.C
lass
Oly
mpi
cs
are
wher
e th
e cla
ss c
olor
s du
ring
hom
ecom
ing
week
or
igin
ated
. Ea
ch c
lass
had
a co
lore
d fla
g. Th
e wi
nnin
g cla
ss g
ot t
o ha
ng
the
flag
at t
he t
op o
f th
e sta
dium
af
terw
ards
. Th
e O
lym
pics
too
k pl
ace
on th
e fiel
d, w
ith ga
mes
and f
ood.
Som
e ga
mes
play
ed w
ere w
ater
ballo
on to
sses
, ob
stacle
cour
ses a
nd m
usica
l cha
irs.
The
even
t in
volve
d ga
mes
bein
g pl
ayed
in f
ront
a la
rge
crow
d. P
eopl
e wo
uld
pay
to w
atch
, eve
n do
nate
, and
th
e pro
ceed
s wen
t to
a cha
rity.
The w
eekl
y pe
p ra
lly o
ccur
red
ever
y
Frid
ay i
n th
e gy
m b
efor
e a
foot
ball
gam
e. Th
e fo
otba
ll co
ach
woul
d gi
ve a
sp
eech
to
the
stude
nts.
Juni
ors
woul
d sit
on
one s
ide o
f the
gym
; sop
hom
ores
on
the
othe
r an
d se
nior
s wo
uld
sit o
n th
e cou
rt in
chair
s.As
for
the
Bra
vehe
ad p
ainte
d on
th
e flo
or o
f th
e 10
0 ha
llway
, it
was
cons
ider
ed “
off-l
imits
” an
d wa
s no
t to
be
walk
ed u
pon.
Sen
iors
had
a
toot
hbru
sh at
hand
s rea
ch an
d if a
seni
or
spot
ted
an u
nder
class
man
walk
acr
oss
the
Brav
ehea
d, t
hey
woul
d m
ake
him
sc
rub
the B
rave
head
with
a to
othb
rush
.“I
t wa
s a
pret
ty a
maz
ing
conc
ept
and
it wa
s a
mat
ter
of r
espe
ct [
to t
he
scho
ol],”
for
mer
stu
dent
gov
ernm
ent
spon
sor
and
teac
her
Ann
ette
M
ontg
omer
y sa
id.
How
ever
a
num
ber
of
even
ts
cont
inue
to
take
plac
e, su
ch a
s Br
ave
Aid,
sit
down
din
ner
at p
rom
, sen
ior
snak
es a
nd n
early
all
of t
he e
vent
s du
ring
hom
ecom
ing
week
: the
par
ade,
Brav
es B
rawl
and
powd
er b
owl g
ame.
“All
of th
e act
s aro
und
hom
ecom
ing
[are
impo
rtant
]. T
hat i
s whe
n yo
u se
e th
e m
ost
unity
and
par
ticip
atio
n. I
t is
neat
to se
e the
com
mun
ity ra
lly ar
ound
an
d se
e th
e cr
owds
at
the
para
de.
The
fam
ilies
are
inv
olve
d an
d th
at i
s im
porta
nt,”
Mon
tgom
ery
said
.Br
ave A
id h
as b
een
occu
rring
for 2
6 ye
ars.
It sta
rted
when
the
sch
ool a
nd
the
com
mun
ity w
ere
insp
ired
to r
each
ou
t by
a cele
brity
ben
efit
conc
ert c
alled
Live
Aid
.O
ther
end
urin
g tra
ditio
ns i
nclu
de
the
sit d
own
mea
l at
pro
m, w
hich
is
inclu
ded
in th
e tick
et p
rice.
“Whe
n I f
irst c
ame t
o Bo
one,
ther
e wa
s no
sit
down
din
ner
[at
prom
], ki
ds a
rrive
d at
all
hour
s. Ju
nior
Clas
s wo
rked
har
d an
d go
t it a
t a n
ice p
lace;
the f
irst y
ear w
as d
ifficu
lt to
set u
p, b
ut
it ha
s bee
n a n
ice th
ing t
hat h
as ev
olve
d.
It se
rves
a g
ood
purp
ose
beca
use
our
stude
nt b
ody
is so
dive
rse
and
they
ar
e ab
le to
be
the
sam
e an
d en
joy
the
com
pany
of e
very
one,”
Kitt
rell
said
.N
ot
only
ha
ve
som
e tra
ditio
ns
surv
ived
thro
ugho
ut t
he y
ears
, ne
w tra
ditio
ns h
ave
form
ed li
ke d
ecor
atin
g pl
ante
rs d
urin
g ho
mec
omin
g we
ek a
nd
buyi
ng se
nior
bric
ks.
Dur
ing h
omec
omin
g wee
k, ea
ch cl
ass
woul
d de
cora
te a
hallw
ay d
esig
nate
d fo
r th
eir cl
ass.
It ha
s alte
red
into
dec
orat
ing
plan
ters
now
, loc
ated
in th
e Ke
mos
abe
com
mon
s.“S
tude
nts
woul
d ta
ke t
he h
allwa
y an
d de
cora
te i
t wi
th t
he d
esig
nate
d ho
mec
omin
g th
eme.
[The
y de
cora
ted]
th
e ceil
ings
, doo
rs, a
nd it
took
hun
dred
s of
hou
rs to
put
it a
ll to
geth
er. W
e ha
d to
set a
tim
e fo
r the
m to
leav
e be
caus
e th
ey w
ould
kee
p ad
ding
ont
o it.
The
te
ache
rs a
nd s
tude
nts
from
diff
eren
t ha
llway
s wo
uld
yell
at e
ach
othe
r an
d ch
ant
oran
ge a
nd w
hite
fro
m h
all t
o ha
ll. I
t wa
s am
azin
g. Th
e fir
e m
arsh
al to
ld u
s we
cou
ld n
ot d
o it
anym
ore
Lega
cy c
arrie
s pr
ide
on c
ampu
s are
thro
ugho
ut c
ampu
s. M
. Tr
acy o
ccas
iona
lly w
ears
J. T
racy
’s 19
83
track
swea
tshirt
, and
shar
es h
is 11
th an
d 12
th g
rade
Eng
lish
class
room
, whi
ch is
cu
rrent
ly M
errid
eth
Buch
anan
’s.
For
M. T
racy
, the
last
line
of t
he
Nat
iona
l Ant
hem
, “H
ome o
f the
bra
ve”
is pe
rman
ently
“H
ome
of th
e Br
aves
,” du
e to
her
fat
her
and
aunt
atte
ndin
g he
re an
d he
r mot
her’s
Atla
nta r
oots.
“I
thin
k it’
s pre
tty aw
esom
e to
go to
th
e sam
e sch
ool a
s my d
ad. S
omet
imes
I wi
ll m
entio
n a c
lass o
r bui
ldin
g, an
d he
wi
ll te
ll m
e abo
ut w
hat i
t was
like
whe
n he
was
at B
oone
,” M
. Tra
cy sa
id.
Acad
emica
lly, s
choo
l is h
arde
r, wi
th
the
insti
tutio
n of
Adv
ance
d Pl
acem
ent
cour
ses,
but
the
scho
ol s
till
prep
ared
pa
st ge
nera
tions
for t
he o
utsid
e wor
ld.
“Frie
ndsh
ips,
com
mun
ity
and
a di
vers
e gr
oup
of p
eopl
e pr
epar
ed m
e fo
r m
y fu
ture
at U
nive
rsity
of F
lorid
a un
derg
rad
law sc
hool
and
my r
esta
uran
t an
d law
care
ers,”
C. T
owns
end
said
.C
ontin
uing
th
e sa
me
scho
ol
trad
ition
, so
n C
lay
Town
send
is
curre
ntly
a fre
shm
an at
UF.
Seni
or
Mor
gan
Gre
gory
an
d so
phom
ore
Sydn
ey G
rego
ry’s
uncle
To
dd R
eese
, gr
adua
ted
in 1
984.
M.
Gre
gory
shar
es th
is pr
ide i
n th
e sch
ool.
“We’r
e not
the s
ame a
s oth
er sc
hool
s. Yo
u ca
n’t h
ate i
t. O
ur m
orale
and
prid
e in
our
scho
ol—
no
othe
r sch
ool h
as it
. [B
eing
a leg
acy]
reaf
firm
s the
fact
that
[I
’m p
art]
of s
omet
hing
spe
cial,”
M.
Gre
gory
said
.
thou
gh,”
Mon
tgom
ery
said
.Th
e m
ost r
ecen
t cha
nge
in tr
aditi
on
are
seni
or s
idew
alks,
which
are
bein
g tra
nsfo
rmed
into
seni
or b
ricks
.“S
enio
r sid
ewalk
s ha
ve
been
a
tradi
tion
and
this
year
we
are
alter
ing
it,”
Kittr
ell s
aid.
“We
will
be s
ellin
g br
icks t
o se
nior
s, if
som
ethi
ng h
appe
ns,
we c
an p
ick t
hem
up
and
mov
e th
em.
I am
hop
ing
this
will
beco
me
a ne
w tra
ditio
n an
d wi
thsta
nd ti
me.”
Sher
on B
alee
, ho
mec
omin
g qu
een,
ge
ts k
isse
d by
the
foot
ball
team
cap
tain
. Ho
mec
omin
g co
urt d
id
not e
xist
unt
il 19
55. I
t w
as p
revi
ousl
y cal
led
“Foo
tbal
l Fro
lic.”
Pow
der B
owl b
egan
in 19
71.
Fiel
d da
ys g
ave
seni
ors
a ch
ance
to
sho
w th
eir
athl
etic
abi
lity.
The
even
ts w
ere
on th
e fo
otba
ll fie
ld a
nd
the
gam
es in
clud
ed
wat
er b
allo
on
toss
es, c
hick
en
fight
ing
and
whe
el
barre
l rac
es.
ATH
LETI
C FL
ASH
BACK
. In
the
juni
or va
rsity
gam
e ag
ains
t Uni
vers
ity,
juni
or M
egan
Tra
cy
lock
s her
eye
s on
the
ball m
idst
ride.
Tra
cy
refle
cts h
er fa
ther
’s
athl
etic
expe
rienc
e on
the
cros
s cou
ntry
te
am fr
om 19
78 to
19
83.
The
Soph
omor
e Cl
ass
Coun
cil
desi
gned
Cl
ass
Olym
pics
as
a p
roje
ct
repr
esen
ting
the
four
cl
asse
s co
mpe
ting
in
a sc
hool
- wid
e ev
ent.
Jour
nalis
ts s
ort t
hrou
gh p
ictu
res
and
rem
inis
ce.
In 19
55, S
opho
mor
e Cl
ass o
ffice
rs c
lean
up
deco
ratio
ns fr
om
thei
r car
aft
er th
e Fo
otba
ll Fro
lic p
arad
e.
Vars
ity c
heer
lead
ers p
ose
for t
heir
year
book
pic
ture
. Dur
ing
the
time,
che
erle
ader
s’ u
nifo
rms c
onsi
sted
of l
ong
shirt
s and
lo
ng sl
eeve
d sh
irts.
In 19
71, D
avid
Ha
rper
was
in
the
first
year
of
the
scho
ol
Hall o
f Fam
e,
pitc
hing
a re
cord
of
23-
1, lo
sing
on
ly in
the
stat
e se
mifi
nals
. Lat
er,
he a
dvan
ced
to
play
for t
he T
exas
Ra
nger
s.
In 19
61, B
etty
Sm
ith w
ore
cat e
ye
glas
ses,
pop
ular
dur
ing
that
tim
e.
Form
er a
lum
ni sh
ow o
ff th
eir c
loth
ing
styl
e du
ring
the
60’s.
Stud
ent b
eatin
g th
e dr
um b
efor
e th
e Ed
gew
ater
gam
e.
Durin
g th
e 80
s, si
nger
s suc
h as
M
adon
na, in
fluen
ced
fash
ion.
Lond
a Jo
nes,
Ale
xa S
chae
fer a
nd S
harm
in W
inkl
e co
mpe
te in
the
Polye
ster
Par
adis
e da
nce
com
petit
ion.
Jose
ph B
uono
and
Tim
othy
Sel
lers
per
form
as B
arne
y Rub
ble
and
Fred
Flin
ston
e in
a sk
it fo
r Bra
ves B
raw
l.
The
first
bon
fire
occu
rred
afte
r the
Fo
otba
ll Fro
lic g
ame.
Seni
or c
lass
par
ticip
ates
in a
floa
t dur
ing
the
hom
ecom
ing
para
de.
ROYA
L FA
MIL
Y. A
t the
ho
mec
omin
g fo
otba
ll gam
e ve
rsus
the
East
Rive
r Fal
cons
, ju
nior
Joh
n To
wns
end
mirr
ors
his f
athe
r’s h
omec
omin
g ex
perie
nce
from
29
year
s prio
r.
De
sig
ns
oc
tob
er
opinions
member. This worked out for me. I went to a couple of Young Republican meetings my sophomore year with little interest in politics, [but] now as a senior I am hoping to make a career out of politics. After one signs up for a club, if a club advisor believes one has not been active, one should get a warning of dismissal. If one remains inactive, he should be asked to leave.
- andrew dickerson, senior
Students are busy, need leeway I agree with inactive membership. Some people can only make a few meetings because of other obligations; they need to prioritize. I think clubs should have a required amount of meetings one has to attend to remain an active [club member].
- alexa barrett, junior
hilights.org page 5October 7, 2011
View Club members lack devotion
illustration/LINDSAY ALEXANDER
For more information about students who are passionate about their clubs, check out the “Behind the Scenes” double page spread on pages 13 and 14.
Baking Braves, Spanish Club, Math Club. Check, check, and check. The student thinks these three clubs will please an admissions counselor, proving he is well rounded, involved in school, and has varied interests.
Unfortunately, the counselor cannot see that the applicant attended five of the weekly meetings for Math Club all school year, and only attended the holiday parties for Spanish Club and Baking Braves. The counselor does not know the student dislikes math, but simply joined the club for an academic extra-curricular on the application.
Across campus clubs are being taken advantage of and it needs to stop. A club has become something to write on a resume or an application. Clubs are activities that can be fun, help students discover their passions, and practice important life skills like leadership.
Hundreds of students flow through the numerous tri-fold boards and excited representatives of Rush Week to sign up for clubs, but one can be in too many clubs. Students have good intentions when joining clubs. However, students are busy and can lack the time needed to attend meetings and be involved. This does not excuse taking credit for a club they never
participated in. When one takes
credit for clubs he is not involved in, he loses an opportunity to learn, a college admissions counselor has been given false information, and the club is left with fewer people to accomplish a task they planned based on the number of people registered as “members.”
Having friends sign in for people at meetings or showing up to only the “fun” events does not give one the full club experience and is unsatisfactory and irresponsible.
Clubs need to begin implementing stricter attendance schedules and incorporating roll calls, or instituting minimum number of attendances in a semester or quarter. Measures need to be taken to make sure club members are actively involved and participating.
The Spanish Club and Boone Animal Rescue Club are prime examples in the use of these tactics. While “are all welcome,” to advance to Spanish Honor Society a member must attend enough meetings and other Spanish Club activities, to reach the point value necessary for admission to SHS. Attendance is tracked through a sign in sheet, and points are tracked through a log officers keep all year.
BARC institutes the three strike rule. If a member misses a meeting, does not come to an event he signed up for or fails to meet the eight hours of community service with animal related causes, he acquires a strike. BARC has found the system affective, and as a result, members are more actively involved in the club.
Clubs can be an enjoyable and
constructive use of time when the right ones are chosen. Joining clubs can help members find out how much they like a certain cause, culture or activity. In Social Justice Club there are future humanitarians; in Student Government there are future politicians.
When students become too busy to dedicate time and effort to all of their clubs, they are overcommitted. With that said, dropping a club is okay, especially if one finds himself lacking the time needed for dedication and real
commitment to the club. Clubs are not meant to make
a high school experience more hectic but they can diversify a high school experience and make it more enjoyable, but only if the student is willing to be dedicated. No dedication leads to no benefits for anyone, and claiming to be a well-rounded applicant while really being good at signing in at the minimum number of meetings is unacceptable.
Forum HOW CAN CLUBS REDUCE INACTIVE MEMBERSHIP?
Your Thoughts
Is club membership criterialacking?
Most clubs are not as strict as they should be. There’s no requirements. It’s not fair [to
those involved].- gené trujillo, senior
Yes, if you’re going to join a club you need to be dedicated and not just join it.
- desiree vinson, junior
It’s lacking. Some people just sign up the first meeting to have it on their college transcripts.
- olusegun akinwolere, junior
Yes, it should be more mandatory. I think there should be a warning at first.
- daniel barr, sophomore
Rewards offer creative incentive One way clubs can cut down on inactive membership is before officially allowing a person to join, one has to sign a commitment contract with consequences for only joining the club for fun events instead of actually participating. Also [clubs can have] rewards for students who show interest and are constantly involved in their clubs.
- sharibel monegro, senior
School wide recognition needs loyaltyThere is a lot of pressure on students to join clubs for
acceptance into colleges. That is why many may fake or cheat the true commitment of being involved in an extracurricular activity. For a club to gain school wide recognition it needs to be involved with students who show their interest and dedication of time to the organization. The students who
JOINING CLUBS ENRICHES HIGH
SCHOOL EXPERIENCE
[don’t invest time in the club] but need it as a credential on a college resume, hold the potential of the club back. To eliminate this problem, club sponsors or founders can make a checklist of all meeting and activities and do monthly checks to see who is attending. Those who don’t meet the required attendance are put on probation, then are dismissed from the club.
- austin weller, senior
Club inspires future career choiceThere are many different clubs and organizations at
Boone; so there has to be at least one that really interests a student. If a student isn’t interested enough to attend the meetings; it’s a waste of time to join the club. The first couple of weeks of a club, one should be able to attend the meetings and then decide whether or not he wants to be a
no
ve
mb
er
opinions
hilights.org page 5November 4, 2011
View Two is the magic number
The Rowdy Crowd at Friday night football games, the ridiculous costumes and endless hype about the perfect dresses for homecoming, no matter how horribly cliché and High School Musical-esque these and other activities may seem, they are the events that make the 34 hours of school a week bearable for students.
Students balance social and extra-curricular activities like clubs, sports, and dances with academic subjects. Since the high school scene is such a social one, students are often over-committed to their social activities and their grades, the true priority of high school, can drop.
Hence, Orange County Public Schools has created a new rule that came into effect this school year. Like the 2.0 grade point average policy to participate in sports, students must now have a 2.0 GPA to be in clubs and attend school dances.
In some respects, this rule seems unfair. It separates the student body into “adequate” and “in-adequate;” it verges on elitist, and does not take in to account extenuating circumstances like learning disabilities and home issues. While the rule is the not perfect, it is made as fair as possible and lends students incentive to do well.
Freshmen are exempt from the rule for homecoming because they will not have GPA’s until after semester exams. For the rest of the student body the GPA is cumulative. However, any seniors who do not meet the requirement cumulatively to attend homecoming but their quarter GPA meets it, can ask to speak with Dr. Margaret McMillen about their situation and this can be handled case by case.
Also in the realm of fairness, students are required to have a 2.0 GPA to graduate. If
a student is not meeting this requirement, he should not be attending a school dance, or playing a sport or be involved in a club. Social events make high school enjoyable, but students’ main priority should be receiving their diplomas.
According to Dr. McMillen, a student cannot have hours and hours to give to clubs, sports and other extra-curricular activities while not passing their classes. Students needs to find a balance in passing their classes and being a part of activities that are meaningful to them.
This rule also creates an incentive to make better grades and achieve higher grade point averages to avoid being borderline during a sport season or right before dance ticket sales. It will also contribute to a higher school grade.
The rule is not created to cut students off from the more enjoyable aspects of high school; it is put in place to make sure students have their priorities straight, with grades first, before they engage in any kind of extra-curricular activity.
There has been concern among the Student Government Association’s Junior Class Council regarding the possibility of smaller homecoming attendance. The excess revenue from homecoming ticket sales offsets the price of prom. The possibility of fewer homecoming attendees would hike the price of prom and make SGA’s budgeting more difficult.
“We planned around our budget. We played around with numbers and dropped things if they were too expensive,” junior class secretary Merrie Harding said.
Furthermore, 87 percent of students have at least a 2.0 or higher. Attendance should not be a considerable issue for the Junior Class’s budget this year or in future years.
Dr. McMillen claims this policy sends the positive message to students that academics come first. Dr. McMillen and administration want students to have a great time at school, but grades come first.
This new policy is achievable for students and will help
Forum WHAT IS YOUR VIEW ON THE 2.0 G.P.A. POLICY?
Your Thoughts
If students want to have fun, they should do good in school and make sure their grades
are positive.- brandyn cross, senior
If people want to be a part of a club or organization
they need to have good grades.
- benny borrero, junior
It’s good because it encourages people to get better grades and have a higher GPA.
- kayla tercero, sophomore
I think it’s good because if you don’t have good grades you shouldn’t be able to attend
events. - ciara mccoy, freshman
Policy presents benefits, doubtsI have a mixed view on this policy. I can see both pros and cons. On the positive side, I think this will encourage students to keep their grades up and to try hard academically; also, oftentimes those students who have the lower GPA’s tend to be the ones who cause behavioral issues at school functions. However, on the negative side, I think oftentimes students with lower GPA’s are the ones who need extracurricular activities after school to keep them out of trouble.
- jenna harrison, sophomore
Policy lends extremesThis new policy may seem like a good idea on paper but can actually be harmful to students who do not have a 2.0. It is understandable to implement this policy on some school activities, but to make it apply to all activities seems somewhat extreme. It is telling students that they may not be part of the school if they do not live up to status-quo. Some students may actually improve their academic levels if they are allowed to
POLICY CREATES STUDENT INCENTIVE, POSITIVE REMINDER
participate in things they enjoy.
- emily auschwitz, sophomore
Requirement is productiveThe 2.0 average requirement to participate in extracurricular activities is logical. This requirement provides an incentive for students to care about their grades if they want to have fun. Also, if the students maintain the average, those participating will be responsible, causing attendance to be regular and extracurricular activities to be more active and effective.
- amy bonilla, senior
Policy does not consider little thingsThis new policy really is not fair because high school dances and clubs are supposed to be fun and not something kids should worry about. You never know what can be going on personally with the kid causing them to get below a 2.0.
- amal omar, sophomore
Student athletes must represent name I think the new 2.0 policy is good because I believe grades and performance in school comes before extra activities and sports. [My] coach always says, “You’re a student athlete. What’s the first word?” School needs to be a higher priority in life than any sports or after-school activities.
- james dawson, sophomore
School activities better societyI think students should still be able to participate in school activities even if they have less that a 2.0 average. Participating in activities encourages getting involved in society and [being able] to function in a community.
- marissa mcgregor, freshman
We’d love to hear from you! Feel free to post a comment on hilights.org, or
drop a letter off in Rm 224
Is the 2.0 GPA policy fair or unfair to students?
give them incentive to keep up with their grades. Freshmen have been given a free ticket, and seniors can receive leeway for dances based on circumstance.
This policy will positively impact the campus, making grades the priority but still allowing students to enjoy the social activities.
Students attended homecoming
By the numbers
Percent of students agree
Percent of students disagree with 2.0 GPA Policy
Schools in Boone’s learning community required a 2.0 for homecoming
Students have a 2.0 or above
2 out of 6
2125
945
61
39
299 students polled, Oct. 26
de
ce
mb
er
opinions
hilights.org page 5December 14, 2011
View Community colleges benefit attendees
Community college suits full schedulesPeople tend to think that only “brand name” schools are credible and think poorly of a college simply because it is small, local and generally not as difficult to be accepted to. Community colleges are wonderful opportunities for adults who have kids to work, or [for] students who can’t afford to attend a state university. The requirements are typically the same to get an [Associates of Arts] degree at any school you go to. For people who can’t put their life on hold for four years, community college is great for people with full schedules to earn a degree.
- spencer cotton, senior
Valencia does not meet UCF standardI believe the opinion [that community colleges are not as good as State or Ivy League schools] is credible because I dual enroll at Valencia and my friend dual enrolls at UCF. My
classes [are] a lot easier than his, which supports the fact that community colleges are less adequate than state schools.
- monica stauffer, senior
Community colleges offer broader baseI have always considered community colleges on par with state colleges. I know plenty of very intelligent people who have gone to Valencia. I think community colleges are very well rounded, perhaps at the expense of having a select few exceptional programs. Community colleges offer a broader base, which can help people who don’t yet know which field they want to go into find their calling.
- charles glazer, senior
Cutting expenses is practical optionGoing to a community or state college is smarter than starting
out at a private or Ivy League school. I’m going to Valencia because it’s more practical. I get to live at home and cut college expenses. I believe that everyone can get the same quality education if not better. Community college classes are smaller than other college classes, and that means more attention from your professors and more one-on-one help.
- raina edmondson, senior
Apply knowledge to future experiencesIt doesn’t matter what college you go to. It is how you apply and use the information that you learned in college for the rest of your life.
- william mckillop, freshman
We would love to hear from you! Feel free to comment online at hilights.org
Forum DO COMMUNITY COLEGES OFFER EQUAL LEARNING EXPERIENCES?
VALENCIA: LOW COST, HIGH QUALITY
Despite the tenacity of common phrases uttered throughout Central Florida high school hallways like, “Valencia is a school for losers,” Valencia is an accredited learning environment.
Valencia College, Florida state universities and Ivy League universities all offer accredited four year degrees. Community colleges primarily offer two year degrees. However, Valencia Community College is now Valencia College as of Fall 2011. Valencia offers a Bachelors in Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology and Radiologic and Imagery Science.
The popular belief that State and Ivy League schools are better than Valencia is false. Community colleges and Valencia offer more student- professor interaction, budget conscious tuition, and while graduates of Harvard are presented with a different career market due to their frilly diploma, Valencia graduates have the same potential.
More than twice as many local high school graduates attend Valencia than all public state universities combined.
Research schools are no place for undergraduates. Well known
professors are often
not in the classroom but instead are doing research. Classes are then taught by student aids. For an incoming freshman, an auditorium filled with 300 pupils and one teacher is an intimidating learning environment.
In “10 Things Every Parent Should Know About College” by Michelle Crouch, published in the September 2011 edition of Reader’s Digest, Crouch found students at Harvard did not have a strong enough relationship with their professors for them to write their graduate school recommendations.
According to communitycollege.com, the average community college class size is 30 students. With smaller classes, professors are devoted to teaching and working with students.
Ivy League and State schools can cost a fortune. A designer degree is not worth years and years of paying back college loans. An in-state freshman taking 15 hours of classes each semester for two semesters living on campus, with a meal plan will pay around $20,000 regardless of the state school he attends.
At community colleges, one can pay for classes hour-by-hour, allowing flexible payment options. Students at Valencia pay $99.06 per credit hour.
Students who do not have the financial means to pay for college without the help of student loans are
better off going to an affordable school. In “10 Things Every Parent
Should Know About College,” it is said that in 2010, almost two thirds of undergraduates borrowed money, and student loan debt outpaced credit card debt for the first time. College Board says the average senior who took out college loans graduates $24,000 in debt.
Do not let fancy lion statues and ivy covered walls be fooling. While it is true a degree from an Ivy League school can open doors for elite job positions down the road, the vast majority of college goers are not looking to be presidential advisers or Nobel Peace Prize winners.
There is no data showing Ivy League graduates achieve higher levels of success than other college graduates. According to “10 Things Every Parent Should Know About College,” out of the 900-odd 1973 Princeton graduates, there are only a handful of recognized names. If a student puts his talents to use, he can succeed to levels higher than graduates of Ivy League colleges.
While the student life of State schools and the preppy-high-society air of Ivy League is appealing, there is nothing inadequate about community colleges. They offer similar, if not the same degrees, with more involved teaching, better pricing and equal opportunities after graduation.
Tuition, fees and cost of living for University of Central Florida freshman for two semesters: $14,710
Tuition, fees and cost of living for Florida State freshman for two semesters: $17,604
TUITION, FEES LINE UP
Your Thoughts
They’re okay, but I like bigger colleges. I feel like you get a better education at bigger colleges.
- shea outar, freshman
It’s a good alternative because you save money and get more attention in class.
- kimgiau dang, junior
It’s a good way to get into a four-year college because you already know the basics.
- nathan perroux, sophomore
I think it’s the worst alternative because you don’t get the full college experience.
- kevin lopes, senior
What do you think about community colleges?
Tuition, fees and living costs for University of Florida freshman for two semesters: $19,830
Tuition, fees and cost of living for University of South Florida freshman for two semesters: $20,590
Cost per credit hour at Valenicia College: $99.06
fe
br
ua
ry
opinions
hilights.org page 5February 10, 2012
View TES is time consuming, unnecessary
One year to date after his election, President Barack Obama said, “It’s time to stop just talking about education reform and start actually doing it.”
In 2009, The U.S. Department of Education distributed a $4.35 million grant to 12 states to spearhead Race to the Top, a reform program that is a part of the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Florida is a Race to the Top recipient based on its current plans for reform and past ability to increase student achievement.
Race to the Top is meant to help solve Florida’s teaching woes; however, its requirement of a Teacher Evaluation System has done more harm than good. Orange County, and other counties in Central Florida, have chosen Dr. Robert Marzano’s Teacher Evaluation System. This system’s time consuming methods are unhelpful to teachers and students.
The main goal of TES is improving teaching strategies and student understanding. A key difference between TES and the old system is the latter required one teacher evaluation yearly and passed 99 percent of its teachers.
With the old system, teachers on tenure could have been excluded from this requirement because administration expects those teachers to be able to teach effectively. If a teacher was to let his professional edge slip, his ineffective behavior could potentially go unnoticed for years. Even so, the Robert Marzano Teacher Evaluation System’s cons outweigh the pros.
The new system requires four informal evaluations and two formal evaluations for all inexperienced teachers.
Veteran teachers will have two informal and one formal. An informal evaluation consists
of a campus administrator observing 15 minutes of a class period. The new need for administrative “surveillance” in classrooms can leave veteran teachers feeling demoralized and frustrated, which can hurt teacher morale.
Formal evaluations require time teachers do not have. Teachers receive questions to answer about how they think they are doing as a teacher. After these questions are answered, an administrator and the teacher will meet to discuss them, probably during said teacher’s planning period. Then, the teacher will have a class period evaluation and a debriefing with the administrator in another planning period.
The evaluation is based on six categories: Lesson Segments Involving Routine Events, Lesson Segments Addressing Content, Lesson Segments Enacted on the Spot, Planning and Preparing, Reflecting on Teaching and Collegiality and Professionalism. What is especially new is Lesson Segments Involving Routine Events. This category includes the new use of learning goals and a scale system.
While this could potentially help students learn, currently it is not. Guidelines for an effective learning goal are not clear, and honestly, the scale concept is dumb. No student wants to raise his hand with a one to five rating on it to show how much he understands. No student wants to record this in a journal or on an assignment either.
Students mentally know where they are. If they do not understand, they ask questions. The scale system is meant to emphasize student understanding. However, teachers can simply ask their classes, ‘are there any questions?’ This eliminates time wasted copying down scales on assignments and re-referencing the scale in class.
Teachers are given 49 minutes per class period, which is not enough time for this system to work. Teachers already work hard to teach students, and asking them to create a learning goal and scale for every lesson is excessive when they
Forum HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE TEACHER EVALUATION SYSTEM?
Your Thoughts
It’s taking away from what teachers are trying to accomplish and changes their
attitude.- cornelia martinez, senior
It makes teachers more focused on [TES] than what they want [students] to learn.
- carly larr, junior
In a way, it’s good because students focus more on studies, [and] they don’t focus on distractions.
- pedro sarmiento, sophomore
I think it’s kind of good because [teachers] can know how the students progress everyday.
- isaias gayahan, freshman
TES makes learning boringI don’t like the new Teacher Evaluation System. Learning is easier for me when the teacher makes the material interesting. The new systematic rules not only turn students off toward their classes, but also makes the teachers have to worry about passing the evaluation rather than just teaching.
- jonathan pendleton, senior
Evaluation system cripples teachers I think [TES] is a waste of time. It should be optional. [Administrators cannot] expect teachers to enjoy their jobs and perform well when [they] constantly tell them how to do their job. I don’t like it and nor do the teachers, so it should be optional.
- alexyz hernandez, freshman
TES is not suitable for different class levelsI think the new Teacher Evaluation System is an example of ignorance on the part of OCPS. Not only are classes different
in the level of rigor and style of teaching, but the teachers don’t have the same way of teaching. Oftentimes the best teachers use unorthodox methods that can’t simply be evaluated in such a one-dimensional way. The evaluation system is forcing many teachers, particularly upper-level teachers, to dumb down parts of their lessons.
- thomas mcclane, senior
TES keeps students on trackThe new Teacher Evaluation System helps students more than it does teachers. At least, it helps me understand where I’m at and what I’m struggling with. . . . It’s good way to keep your grades up because you know the specific areas to focus on. - kaitlin renaud, freshman
System fails adequate teachersWhile a good intention, the new Teacher Evaluation System has more drawbacks than it does positive changes. I have seen fantastic teachers, who have literally changed my life and way
What is your view on the new TES?
of perceiving the world, belittled and bullied by these new evaluations.
- brandon dalzell, senior
Teachers do not follow through The Teacher Evaluation doesn’t change the way teachers are actually teaching. Most of them just prepare for the one evaluation, then return to their natural ways of teaching.
- monica marulanda, junior
New system belongs in elementary schools I believe the new Teacher Evaluation System is a very misplaced idea. I believe this idea belongs in elementary schools, not high schools. Putting fingers up is a waste of class time because high school students don’t need to be babied more than they are. If a student doesn’t get something, it’s his responsibility to ask the teacher for help.
- le-roy mormontoy, senior
SYSTEM IS HELPFUL FOR NEW TEACHERS, HINDERS SEASONED
have created other practices known to reach students like calling on a student to answer another student’s question to ensure classroom understanding.
For first year teachers, this system can be effective because it covers essentials for running a classroom, but for an experienced teacher who knows how to do his job, it wastes time and is unnecessary. As for the ineffective tenured teacher, a thorough yearly evaluation would make sure he is teaching adequately.
Florida Race to the Top Survival Guide
- Design and implement teacher and principal evaluation systems
-Include a comprehensive range of ratings
-Conduct multiple evaluations for each first-year teachers
-Establish an Individual Professional Development Plan for each teacher
ma
rc
h
opinions
hilights.org page 5March 16, 2012
View Communicating cultural recognition
Americans steam roll cultural beauty For hundreds of years, the English (and American) culture has consumed native cultures. We forget the beauty of other cultures as we steam roll through them. By learning other languages, we gain insight into the nature of other cultures. By choosing not to, we close our minds to possibilities and continue to subjugate others with the full force of American culture. - adam kobert, freshman
Free country equals language choiceNope. If students or adults wish to learn other languages they have the ability to choose that and the resources to do so because we live in a free country. It should not be required for students in our country to have to learn another language
when half the people here can’t speak proper English. - shannon gresosky, senior
English speakers must take initiative American students should be forced to learn other languages. European countries make it a key aspect of their education for children to learn English because it is so important to the world, considering America [an English speaking country]is a super power. If kids were forced to learn European languages, it might help in the future or just make us a more well-rounded country. - jennifer whitlock, senior
Foreign languages broaden worldview I think all American students should learn at least one other
language growing up. Even though English is arguably the most popular language, it is important to be able to communicate with people of other tongues and cultures. I was raised speaking two languages and believe that it has helped me understand other cultures and people as well as broadened my world view. - hannah ausen, senior
Language classes specific to location I think Americans should learn another language. [Learning a language in school could be based on] geographical location sush as Florida students could learn Spanish while Pacific States could learn Chinese.
- kendal martinez, senior
Forum SHOULD ENGLISH SPEAKERS LEARN FOREIGN LANGUAGES?
LANGUAGES HELP BUSINESS, BRAIN
English is the lingua franca of the world. It is the language of international business transactions. However, the business world is changing and English speakers who learn foreign languages benefit not only economically but culturally and intellectually as well.
International business calls and transactions take place every minute of every day. Calls from Saudi Arabia to the United States and from the United States to China are here-say in the realm of international trade and commerce. Face-to-face meetings and interviews are also conducted on a regular basis.
While translators can be used, the international business employment market is becoming more competitive. Graduates of top business schools in America compete with global graduates who know several languages. International businesses, as well as local businesses, will take multilingual employees over monolingual ones, as long as both employees are equally qualified in other areas.
At New York University in Abu Dhabi, students from around the world taking classes ranging from Chemistry to Anthropology, learn, speak and study i n languages not of their native
tongue. This educational
attempt at experiencing a diverse global society is preparing students for the real world of international business.
International business is not the only occupation where multilingualism comes in handy. Anyone flirting with an espionage occupation will find benefit in speaking foreign languages for jobs with the State Department or the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Still, citizens looking for conventional jobs will find speaking another language helpful in public relations, social services and health care.
Knowledge of a foreign language is especially helpful in states like Florida, New York and California where immigrant and ethnically diverse populations are high.
English speakers who learn other languages improve themselves culturally as well. People around the world learn English, which is a convenience for English speakers. If English speakers in turn attempt to learn other languages, they communicate a kind gesture. In the year 2011, 1.3 billion people spoke Chinese natively and 341 million people spoke English natively. Even a small percentage of English speakers learning Chinese is a wise decision both economically and socially.
Furthermore, languages are art forms. Marcel Suarez-Orozco, a globalization professor at NYU and editor of Educating the Whole Child for the Whole
World, a series on globalization and education, says, “Aristotle is turning in his grave.” Using a lingua franca is progressive, but society cannot forget the beauty of different languages. Speaking a language allows people to connect culturally and relate to each other. Conversing with a person in his own tongue beats roughly conversing through a lingua franca any day.
A little known fact about multilingual persons is their gray brain matter, a component in brain tissue that passes along sensory information to different parts of the body, is denser than the
Your Thoughts
If you want to talk to people in another language, you do it because it’s your own choice.
- christhian charria, senior
It’s a waste of time. We live in America; all we need to know is English.
- cameron truex, sophomore
I don’t think it should be forced in schools, but it’s good to know.
- arielle baba, junior
I’m excited to learn [Spanish] because everyone assumes I know it, and it will help me later in life .
- julia collazo, freshman
What do you think of learning languages?
rest of the world’s monolingual inhabitants, indicating higher levels of intelligence. According to the Center for Applied Linguistics and webmd.com, researchers have discovered being bilingual changes brain structure, especially in the left brain’s gray matter density.
Whether it is to advance in the business world, to advance one’s social graces through the art of learning a language or trying to boost brain power, English speakers who study and learn a second language will reap the benefits.
For student opinions on English speakers learning languages, go to hilights.org and search Reservation Conversation. Also see pages 14 to 15 about other cultures
illustration/ LINDSAY ALEXANDER
ma
y
approval also known as the Wise Giving Alliance Seal.This seal means a charity has gone under investigation by
the Better Business Bureau, and the Bureau found that the charity’s governance, fund raising practices, solicitations and information materials, as well as expidentures, were up to par. A list of charities who have this seal can be found on the Better Business Bureau’s website.
However, if a charity does not have this seal, it can still be a valid organization. Charities that receive the Wise Giving Alliance Seal have to apply for it. The possibility remains that a charity without the seal did not apply. It is also possible the charity is local; the seal is only given to national
charities. Those seeking further assurance of a charity’s credibility should check charitynavigator.com. The site provides accurate reviews of a charity’s financial credibility as well as the charity’s accountability and transparency.
Furthermore, even if a charity checks out as financially sound, it does not mean one should automatically donate. Giving to causes which are close to one’s heart allows givers to reap more benefits by knowing they helped someone they have personal ties to. A plausible example: a local student’s father passes away of cancer. If the student gives to The National Multiple Sclerosis Society, he does well, but his
opinions
hilights.org page 5May 11, 2012
View Careful research lends better results
Charity supports deserving childrenI care about Give Kids the World because all the kids there have been through way more than they deserve to at their age, but they still manage to [deal] with their everyday lives.
- jileiska ross, junior
U.S. based charities are priority Without a personal source of income, I do not currently have any charities that I donate to, but I love to be able to help others in need. I favor projects that help those in the U.S. It’s not our responsibility to take care of the world, especially when so many have to suffer.
- jackson upperco, senior
Marching with local charities[I care about] March of Dimes and MS Awareness. [I go to] walk-a-thons and [raise] funding from local businesses.
- alexis olijnyk, senior
Nike charity leads to collectionI support the Doernbecher charity. They’re signed with
Nike. The kids in the charity design their own shoes /
-jose delgado, junior
American Cancer Society aids relativeI care about the American Cancer Society because it’s one of the largest growth charities for cancer. They help all people whose lives have been affected by cancer including cancer
patients, patients’ family members, cancer survivors and research programs to help find a cure. This charity especially hits home for me because my grandma is fighting cancer currently and has survived three different types of cancer. This charity gives my grandma hope that she still has a fighting chance against this terrible illness. Every year I participate in Relay for Life, a big fund raiser for the American Cancer Society, and I support the greatest grandma in the world.
- dalles black, senior
We’d love to hear from you! Please send a letter to Rm. 224 or go to hilights.org
Forum HOW AND WHY DO YOU SUPPORT CHARITIES?
GIVING REQUIRES THOUGHT, NOT BLIND DONATION
The students currently walking the halls, cramming books in lockers and entering class rooms, all receive one name: the Me Generation.
While this title does ring true in some aspects of teenage lives, the Me Generation does have the ability to focus on others. A University of California Los Angeles study by the Higher Education Research Institute found that in 2006, 67 percent of students entering college thought it was important to help others in difficulty. This is the highest percentage in 26 years. A majority of college students who think helping others is important does not reflect a generation consumed in itself.
Since teens have concerns for those in need, it is important for them to know how to correctly donate time and money. Research is an important first step.
Before one blindly gives to a charity, one needs to research it. Honest charities with the best interests for their causes and their donors in mind will have ways donors can discover more about them. For example, The American Cancer Society’s website is highly informational and includes pages that tell readers about the charity’s goals and practices. The site also offers contact information for those with further questions.
Most importantly, one needs to look into the financial aspects of a charity. Any credible charity should practice transparency. Their sites will have monetary documents recording the money received the prior year and the areas it went to like production and administrative expenses. An IRS 990 form ensuring the charity is a non-profit organization should also be among the site’s accessible documents.
An easy way to discover if a charity is credible is to look for the Better Business Bureau’s stamp of
Your Thoughts
They should know what the cause is for and depending on what they feel is right, they should
give to the charity.
- joseph perez, freshman
They should research it before just so they know how it impacts who they’re giving it to.
- bashari james, senior
I don’t like it when a certain person gives to a bunch [of charities] because they don’t have a
motive behind it.
- geraldine irizarry, junior
People should follow up. If people see how it affects people’s lives, they’ll be more willing to
give. - margaret brown, sophomore
How should people go about giving to charities?
effort could have meant more to him if he donated to a charity like The American Cancer Society.
Then, the student is not helping just someone. He is helping someone like his Dad, and helping a family who has experiences similar to his. Another benefit of giving to ACS is that the charity has local events like Relay for Life, which is on campus May 18. Being involved in a charity, as well as giving money to it helps one reap the benefits of the giving process because the experience becomes more hands on.
In the same vein as giving to a charity close to one’s heart, giving to a local charity can be of greater value to the donator.
Since local charities are close to the home, they are easier to become involved with. In this case, one can give his time, not just his money. Habitat for Humanity is a perfect example which emphasizes personal service through building houses and not just giving.
According to a British Broadcasting Company news article, “Charity ‘makes you feel better’,” “it is not having lots of money that makes us happy— it is spending it on others.”
There is science behind the statement, ‘giving makes you happy.’ A University of British Columbia study of 630 people found the ones
who spent money on others were happier. Dave Ramsey, host of The Money Game, a talk-radio show with hundreds of thousands of daily listeners, says giving helps people realize the world does not revolve around them.
Giving, when done responsibly with careful research and thought, is an experience even the Me Generation can benefit from.
For more information on local charities like Habitat for Humanity, Clean the World and Relay for Life, turn to the Special Section on pages 14 and 15
One University of British Columbia study of 630 people found the ones who spent money on others were happier.
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my
fam
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of] m
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rticip
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ish C
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ears
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ange
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Sim
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the
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dver
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raise
rs. C
. Tow
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d ha
s also
serv
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r Law
Mag
net i
nter
ns.
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t tra
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nse
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pare
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with
peop
le I w
ent t
o Boo
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ith w
hose
ki
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re [n
ow].
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n be
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Rem
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fath
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BRI
DGET
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even
ts
to
shou
ting
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at t
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f th
e N
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nthe
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radi
tions
are b
oldl
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isten
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visi
ble a
roun
d ca
mpu
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in
the c
omm
unity
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radi
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ore m
emor
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beca
use
no o
ne e
lse h
as tr
aditi
ons
like
our
scho
ol.
I lo
ve i
t wh
en w
e ye
ll br
ave a
t the
end
of th
e nat
iona
l ant
hem
be
caus
e it
show
s we
are
the
dom
inan
t sc
hool
, and
you
can
not m
ess w
ith u
s,”
soph
omor
e Iva
n Ka
led sa
id.
Trad
ition
s th
at h
ave
beco
me
non-
exist
ent a
re C
lass O
lym
pics
, wee
kly p
ep
ralli
es a
nd t
he u
ntou
chab
le Br
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ead
in th
e dow
nsta
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uild
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hallw
ay.
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n tra
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ns ar
e elim
inat
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is
not o
nly
beca
use o
f the
adm
inist
ratio
n.
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beca
use
of l
ack
of p
artic
ipat
ion
and
abus
ing
the p
rivile
ge,”
Seni
or C
lass
spon
sor S
arah
Kitt
rell
said
.C
lass
Oly
mpi
cs
are
wher
e th
e cla
ss c
olor
s du
ring
hom
ecom
ing
week
or
igin
ated
. Ea
ch c
lass
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lore
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g. Th
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nnin
g cla
ss g
ot t
o ha
ng
the
flag
at t
he t
op o
f th
e sta
dium
af
terw
ards
. Th
e O
lym
pics
too
k pl
ace
on th
e fiel
d, w
ith ga
mes
and f
ood.
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e ga
mes
play
ed w
ere w
ater
ballo
on to
sses
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stacle
cour
ses a
nd m
usica
l cha
irs.
The
even
t in
volve
d ga
mes
bein
g pl
ayed
in f
ront
a la
rge
crow
d. P
eopl
e wo
uld
pay
to w
atch
, eve
n do
nate
, and
th
e pro
ceed
s wen
t to
a cha
rity.
The w
eekl
y pe
p ra
lly o
ccur
red
ever
y
Frid
ay i
n th
e gy
m b
efor
e a
foot
ball
gam
e. Th
e fo
otba
ll co
ach
woul
d gi
ve a
sp
eech
to
the
stude
nts.
Juni
ors
woul
d sit
on
one s
ide o
f the
gym
; sop
hom
ores
on
the
othe
r an
d se
nior
s wo
uld
sit o
n th
e cou
rt in
chair
s.As
for
the
Bra
vehe
ad p
ainte
d on
th
e flo
or o
f th
e 10
0 ha
llway
, it
was
cons
ider
ed “
off-l
imits
” an
d wa
s no
t to
be
walk
ed u
pon.
Sen
iors
had
a
toot
hbru
sh at
hand
s rea
ch an
d if a
seni
or
spot
ted
an u
nder
class
man
walk
acr
oss
the
Brav
ehea
d, t
hey
woul
d m
ake
him
sc
rub
the B
rave
head
with
a to
othb
rush
.“I
t wa
s a
pret
ty a
maz
ing
conc
ept
and
it wa
s a
mat
ter
of r
espe
ct [
to t
he
scho
ol],”
for
mer
stu
dent
gov
ernm
ent
spon
sor
and
teac
her
Ann
ette
M
ontg
omer
y sa
id.
How
ever
a
num
ber
of
even
ts
cont
inue
to
take
plac
e, su
ch a
s Br
ave
Aid,
sit
down
din
ner
at p
rom
, sen
ior
snak
es a
nd n
early
all
of t
he e
vent
s du
ring
hom
ecom
ing
week
: the
par
ade,
Brav
es B
rawl
and
powd
er b
owl g
ame.
“All
of th
e act
s aro
und
hom
ecom
ing
[are
impo
rtant
]. T
hat i
s whe
n yo
u se
e th
e m
ost
unity
and
par
ticip
atio
n. I
t is
neat
to se
e the
com
mun
ity ra
lly ar
ound
an
d se
e th
e cr
owds
at
the
para
de.
The
fam
ilies
are
inv
olve
d an
d th
at i
s im
porta
nt,”
Mon
tgom
ery
said
.Br
ave A
id h
as b
een
occu
rring
for 2
6 ye
ars.
It sta
rted
when
the
sch
ool a
nd
the
com
mun
ity w
ere
insp
ired
to r
each
ou
t by
a cele
brity
ben
efit
conc
ert c
alled
Live
Aid
.O
ther
end
urin
g tra
ditio
ns i
nclu
de
the
sit d
own
mea
l at
pro
m, w
hich
is
inclu
ded
in th
e tick
et p
rice.
“Whe
n I f
irst c
ame t
o Bo
one,
ther
e wa
s no
sit
down
din
ner
[at
prom
], ki
ds a
rrive
d at
all
hour
s. Ju
nior
Clas
s wo
rked
har
d an
d go
t it a
t a n
ice p
lace;
the f
irst y
ear w
as d
ifficu
lt to
set u
p, b
ut
it ha
s bee
n a n
ice th
ing t
hat h
as ev
olve
d.
It se
rves
a g
ood
purp
ose
beca
use
our
stude
nt b
ody
is so
dive
rse
and
they
ar
e ab
le to
be
the
sam
e an
d en
joy
the
com
pany
of e
very
one,”
Kitt
rell
said
.N
ot
only
ha
ve
som
e tra
ditio
ns
surv
ived
thro
ugho
ut t
he y
ears
, ne
w tra
ditio
ns h
ave
form
ed li
ke d
ecor
atin
g pl
ante
rs d
urin
g ho
mec
omin
g we
ek a
nd
buyi
ng se
nior
bric
ks.
Dur
ing h
omec
omin
g wee
k, ea
ch cl
ass
woul
d de
cora
te a
hallw
ay d
esig
nate
d fo
r th
eir cl
ass.
It ha
s alte
red
into
dec
orat
ing
plan
ters
now
, loc
ated
in th
e Ke
mos
abe
com
mon
s.“S
tude
nts
woul
d ta
ke t
he h
allwa
y an
d de
cora
te i
t wi
th t
he d
esig
nate
d ho
mec
omin
g th
eme.
[The
y de
cora
ted]
th
e ceil
ings
, doo
rs, a
nd it
took
hun
dred
s of
hou
rs to
put
it a
ll to
geth
er. W
e ha
d to
set a
tim
e fo
r the
m to
leav
e be
caus
e th
ey w
ould
kee
p ad
ding
ont
o it.
The
te
ache
rs a
nd s
tude
nts
from
diff
eren
t ha
llway
s wo
uld
yell
at e
ach
othe
r an
d ch
ant
oran
ge a
nd w
hite
fro
m h
all t
o ha
ll. I
t wa
s am
azin
g. Th
e fir
e m
arsh
al to
ld u
s we
cou
ld n
ot d
o it
anym
ore
Lega
cy c
arrie
s pr
ide
on c
ampu
s are
thro
ugho
ut c
ampu
s. M
. Tr
acy o
ccas
iona
lly w
ears
J. T
racy
’s 19
83
track
swea
tshirt
, and
shar
es h
is 11
th an
d 12
th g
rade
Eng
lish
class
room
, whi
ch is
cu
rrent
ly M
errid
eth
Buch
anan
’s.
For
M. T
racy
, the
last
line
of t
he
Nat
iona
l Ant
hem
, “H
ome o
f the
bra
ve”
is pe
rman
ently
“H
ome
of th
e Br
aves
,” du
e to
her
fat
her
and
aunt
atte
ndin
g he
re an
d he
r mot
her’s
Atla
nta r
oots.
“I
thin
k it’
s pre
tty aw
esom
e to
go to
th
e sam
e sch
ool a
s my d
ad. S
omet
imes
I wi
ll m
entio
n a c
lass o
r bui
ldin
g, an
d he
wi
ll te
ll m
e abo
ut w
hat i
t was
like
whe
n he
was
at B
oone
,” M
. Tra
cy sa
id.
Acad
emica
lly, s
choo
l is h
arde
r, wi
th
the
insti
tutio
n of
Adv
ance
d Pl
acem
ent
cour
ses,
but
the
scho
ol s
till
prep
ared
pa
st ge
nera
tions
for t
he o
utsid
e wor
ld.
“Frie
ndsh
ips,
com
mun
ity
and
a di
vers
e gr
oup
of p
eopl
e pr
epar
ed m
e fo
r m
y fu
ture
at U
nive
rsity
of F
lorid
a un
derg
rad
law sc
hool
and
my r
esta
uran
t an
d law
care
ers,”
C. T
owns
end
said
.C
ontin
uing
th
e sa
me
scho
ol
trad
ition
, so
n C
lay
Town
send
is
curre
ntly
a fre
shm
an at
UF.
Seni
or
Mor
gan
Gre
gory
an
d so
phom
ore
Sydn
ey G
rego
ry’s
uncle
To
dd R
eese
, gr
adua
ted
in 1
984.
M.
Gre
gory
shar
es th
is pr
ide i
n th
e sch
ool.
“We’r
e not
the s
ame a
s oth
er sc
hool
s. Yo
u ca
n’t h
ate i
t. O
ur m
orale
and
prid
e in
our
scho
ol—
no
othe
r sch
ool h
as it
. [B
eing
a leg
acy]
reaf
firm
s the
fact
that
[I
’m p
art]
of s
omet
hing
spe
cial,”
M.
Gre
gory
said
.
thou
gh,”
Mon
tgom
ery
said
.Th
e m
ost r
ecen
t cha
nge
in tr
aditi
on
are
seni
or s
idew
alks,
which
are
bein
g tra
nsfo
rmed
into
seni
or b
ricks
.“S
enio
r sid
ewalk
s ha
ve
been
a
tradi
tion
and
this
year
we
are
alter
ing
it,”
Kittr
ell s
aid.
“We
will
be s
ellin
g br
icks t
o se
nior
s, if
som
ethi
ng h
appe
ns,
we c
an p
ick t
hem
up
and
mov
e th
em.
I am
hop
ing
this
will
beco
me
a ne
w tra
ditio
n an
d wi
thsta
nd ti
me.”
Sher
on B
alee
, ho
mec
omin
g qu
een,
ge
ts k
isse
d by
the
foot
ball
team
cap
tain
. Ho
mec
omin
g co
urt d
id
not e
xist
unt
il 19
55. I
t w
as p
revi
ousl
y cal
led
“Foo
tbal
l Fro
lic.”
Pow
der B
owl b
egan
in 19
71.
Fiel
d da
ys g
ave
seni
ors
a ch
ance
to
sho
w th
eir
athl
etic
abi
lity.
The
even
ts w
ere
on th
e fo
otba
ll fie
ld a
nd
the
gam
es in
clud
ed
wat
er b
allo
on
toss
es, c
hick
en
fight
ing
and
whe
el
barre
l rac
es.
ATH
LETI
C FL
ASH
BACK
. In
the
juni
or va
rsity
gam
e ag
ains
t Uni
vers
ity,
juni
or M
egan
Tra
cy
lock
s her
eye
s on
the
ball m
idst
ride.
Tra
cy
refle
cts h
er fa
ther
’s
athl
etic
expe
rienc
e on
the
cros
s cou
ntry
te
am fr
om 19
78 to
19
83.
The
Soph
omor
e Cl
ass
Coun
cil
desi
gned
Cl
ass
Olym
pics
as
a p
roje
ct
repr
esen
ting
the
four
cl
asse
s co
mpe
ting
in
a sc
hool
- wid
e ev
ent.
Jour
nalis
ts s
ort t
hrou
gh p
ictu
res
and
rem
inis
ce.
In 19
55, S
opho
mor
e Cl
ass o
ffice
rs c
lean
up
deco
ratio
ns fr
om
thei
r car
aft
er th
e Fo
otba
ll Fro
lic p
arad
e.
Vars
ity c
heer
lead
ers p
ose
for t
heir
year
book
pic
ture
. Dur
ing
the
time,
che
erle
ader
s’ u
nifo
rms c
onsi
sted
of l
ong
shirt
s and
lo
ng sl
eeve
d sh
irts.
In 19
71, D
avid
Ha
rper
was
in
the
first
year
of
the
scho
ol
Hall o
f Fam
e,
pitc
hing
a re
cord
of
23-
1, lo
sing
on
ly in
the
stat
e se
mifi
nals
. Lat
er,
he a
dvan
ced
to
play
for t
he T
exas
Ra
nger
s.
In 19
61, B
etty
Sm
ith w
ore
cat e
ye
glas
ses,
pop
ular
dur
ing
that
tim
e.
Form
er a
lum
ni sh
ow o
ff th
eir c
loth
ing
styl
e du
ring
the
60’s.
Stud
ent b
eatin
g th
e dr
um b
efor
e th
e Ed
gew
ater
gam
e.
Durin
g th
e 80
s, si
nger
s suc
h as
M
adon
na, in
fluen
ced
fash
ion.
Lond
a Jo
nes,
Ale
xa S
chae
fer a
nd S
harm
in W
inkl
e co
mpe
te in
the
Polye
ster
Par
adis
e da
nce
com
petit
ion.
Jose
ph B
uono
and
Tim
othy
Sel
lers
per
form
as B
arne
y Rub
ble
and
Fred
Flin
ston
e in
a sk
it fo
r Bra
ves B
raw
l.
The
first
bon
fire
occu
rred
afte
r the
Fo
otba
ll Fro
lic g
ame.
Seni
or c
lass
par
ticip
ates
in a
floa
t dur
ing
the
hom
ecom
ing
para
de.
ROYA
L FA
MIL
Y. A
t the
ho
mec
omin
g fo
otba
ll gam
e ve
rsus
the
East
Rive
r Fal
cons
, ju
nior
Joh
n To
wns
end
mirr
ors
his f
athe
r’s h
omec
omin
g ex
perie
nce
from
29
year
s prio
r.
hil
igh
ts.o
rg
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