GalleonThe GalleonVolume X Issue 1 of Spanish River Community High School’s award-winning student-run newspaper • September 2012 • galleonnewsonline.com

5100 Jog RoadBoca Raton, FL 33496facebook.com/galleonnewsonline

Volume 29 December

Internet crashes in back corner of 8000 bui lding Whitney Sha News Editor In the first week of Novem-ber, many teachers with class-rooms in the back corner of the 8000 building found the Internet down on their com-puters. Most affected teach-ers could not access the Web, their email accounts and Gradequick, which they use to record grades and take at-tendance. Losing Gradequick in particular was a blow to teachers. “I am so used to having

technology,” Algebra 2 teach-er Tara Rothberg said. “Prog-ress reports were coming out soon and students kept ask-ing me for their grades, but my hands were tied.” Rothberg was unable to display online graphs, which help her classes understand math concepts. Her comput-er also froze often even when she was not online, making it difficult for her to access her files. “I used another teacher’s computer during lunch, but I couldn’t get everything done,” Rothberg said.

The computer problems occurred because of a faulty network switch in the 8000 building, according to Span-ish River’s computer tech-nician, Matt Fechtmeyer. There are around 15 network switches, which distribute In-ternet bandwidth, through-out the entire school. “This [a faulty network switch] is a rare problem,” Fechtmeyer said. “Since I’ve been at River, it’s only hap-pened once.” Fechtmeyer estimated that roughly one-sixth of the classrooms in the 8000 build-

ing were affected. District-employed technicians visited the school and repaired the switch within two weeks. Though her classroom was one of the rooms affected, English teacher Chaela Mon-esterio was able to get In-ternet service temporarily. After discovering that one of the student computers in her room had Internet, she rerouted the Internet jack to her personal computer. “I got Internet back only a day before the switch was repaired,” Monesterio said. “Before that, I had to use my

photo by xia hernandez

home computer to get noti-fications and answer impor-tant questions by email.” So far, the cause of the switch failure is unknown and has not been attributed to Hurricane Sandy.

Monesterio was unable to run her lessons as planned due to the Inter-net crash.

3

In This Issue: News 1, 3 Op/Ed 6, 7 Features 8, 9 Feature Focus 10, 11Student Life 12, 13 Arts & Entertainment 14, 15 Sports 17, 18, 20

Brooke Levy Staff Reporter

“Superhero” walk-a-thon benefits hunger charity

Spanish River students lent a helping hand in the fight to end hunger on Friday, November 30. They formed teams of five and participat-ed in the DECA-sponsored walk-a-thon dressed up in superhero costumes. The entrance fee was ten canned goods, which will go to Boca Helping Hands, an organization that provides food to underprivileged peo-

ple. DECA teacher Deb Carter expected a minimum of 3000 cans of food to be donated and at least 50 teams of five - 250 students total - to par-ticipate. The turnout greatly exceeded her expectations; 468 students and 30 adults participated in the walk, and DECA collected 7258 cans of food. “We raised enough cans to feed people at the pantry for two months,” DECA member senior Lexi Swan said. Students earned one com-munity service hour per lap

that they walked, and DECA students earned up to three out of five DECA points required in the program. Spanish River DECA typi-cally works with international charities such as Heart to Heart and Operation Smile. “DECA is a global organiza-tion,” Carter said. “[In previous years] we wanted to get out there and work with some international charities.” This year, however, River DECA felt that it was impor-tant to help people in need in its own community, especial-ly during the holiday season. “The fact that our school came together to make such a difference is unbelievable,” Swan said.

Clockwise from left: juniors Joelie Fetterman, Amanda Scherer, Nikki Seligsohn and Christie Goldstein dress up as Batman and Spiderman; participants walk around the track in the Shark Pit; DECA collects donations of canned food (ten cans per partici-pant required), which will go to Boca Helping Hands.

photos by jeremy freiman

Molinaro to take over Drama DepartmentAshley Roth and Lindsay Mangines Student Life and Features Editors

Rocco D’Attolico, Drama Department Head at Span-ish River, is stepping down from his current position at the end of this semester on December 21. He decided to step down due to various issues including his health and the pressure of the “busi-ness like” atmosphere. Although D’Attolico will no longer be the faculty director of future plays at River, he will be an adviser to first year Eng-lish teacher and future Drama Department Head Kathleen Molinaro. He hopes to ensure a smooth transition between directors while maintaining his current position as drama teacher. “My hopes for the future are that everyone involved has a good time and that there is

a big audience,” D’Attolico said. “Of course, I will still attend every production.” D’Attolico is not the only one optimistic about the future. Molinaro, a recent graduate from the Univer-sity of Miami who majored in drama, theater and educa-tion, hopes to take advantage of this opportunity and bring her dramatic talents to the department. “I am really excited to take this job because it is a great opportunity,” Molinaro said. “It is a great offer, and I am both nervous and excited.” Molinaro’s main goal for the Drama Department under her leadership is expansion. “I want to reach out to more people who are not already involved in drama,” Molinaro said. “I hope to expand the department by including new students.” The Drama Department’s first production with Molin-aro as Department Head will be the spring musical How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. Auditions will be held on January 9 and 10, the Wednesday and Thursday after Winter Break. Students interested in singing, dancing and acting in the musical are welcome to contact Molinaro at kathleen.molinaro@palm-beachschools.org.

photo by jeremy freimanKathleen Molinaro, a first-year Eng-lish teacher, will be taking over Riv-er’s Drama Department.

Graphic Courtesy of Google Images

SHARK ATTACKDecember 2012The Galleon2

Happy Holidays!

Academic Excellence:Art:

Business:Communications:

Community Involvement:Computer Science:

Drama:Foreign Language:Forensics/Speech

History/Political Science:Literature:

Math:Music/Instrumental:

Music/Vocal:Reach for Excellence:

Science:Sports:

Technical/Vocational:

Congratulations to this year’s Pathfinder Scholarship Nominees:

Whitney ShaAndrea HoenigsbergShea GoulddIlana WeismanSarah DarwicheJason QueenMarcelle DabbahNina Van MaanenCaroline PosnerPhil EstermanCresonia HsiehElaine HanSarah WeinsteinLaura YanyAlexandra ScottClaire DykasLibby KoolikAlexandra Rockwell

Trust us— you’re not the only one who’s had Christmas jingles and “I have a lit-tle dreidel ...” stuck in your head since Thanksgiving. Why? It’s the most won-derful time of the year: a much-needed school vacation, awesome cool weath-er, twinkling lights literally everywhere. It’s winter break!

In celebration, we’ve got your end-of-year concerns covered. Think the world will end next week? Turn to 10-11. Ever wanted to meet an elf? That’s on 9. And if you forgot a present, our Galleon Gift Guide on 14 will help you out.

Happy reading (and, you know, holi-days)!

Ilana, Caroline, Whitney and JoshThe Editorial Board

Two weeks off school

Seniors’ college apps dueMidterm exam cram time

End of the world?

Fantastic weatherPeppermint everything

Dear Editor,

The obstacle course is a very interest-ing article. Students at Spanish River are very insane drivers, and everyone is in such a hurry to get out that they don’t pay atten-tion to the road, which is the reason for all the accidents. \ -Richard Espinosa

Dear Editor,

Honestly, I think this is the best Galleon so far this year. Each article caught my attention and none of the articles bored me. I didn’t even know that there was free breakfast, which is announced on the cover of the article. -Rebecca Bagnall

Exam Schedule Tuesday, December 18

Wednesday, December 19Thursday, December 20

Friday, December 21

Period 6Periods 1 and 2Periods 3 and 4Periods 5 and 7

All of the lights by Ilana Weisman

NEWS 3December 2012The Galleon

The Ga l leon 2012-2013Editors-in-ChiefCaroline Posner

Whitney ShaIlana Weisman

Associate EditorJosh Benrubi

News EditorWhitney Sha

Features EditorsLindsay Mangines

Kelsey Spyker

Feature Focus EditorJamie Brecher

Entertainment EditorsEllyn Snider

Nina van Maanen

Student Life EditorsEliana LandowAshley Roth

Sports EditorJosh Benrubi

Art EditorsAndrea Hoenigsberg

Ellyn Snider

Photography EditorsJeremy FreimanXia Hernandez

Advertising DirectorClaire Dykas

Technical/Web EditorZachary Senz-Kamler

Staff ReportersAlexis Dlugos

Stephanie GreenBrooke Levy

Lauren Villanueva

AdviserSuzanne Sanders

PrincipalWilliam Latson

The Galleon is a public forum.The Galleon is a member of the Quill and Scroll Honorary Society for High School Journalists, the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, and the National Scholastic Press Association.

NEWS BRIEFS

Every Tuesday and Thurs-day during lunch, River offers an opportunity for students to speak with members of the Marine Corps. Recruit-ers stand at an informational booth in front of the Biotech building, which has given them access to interested students. “Our ultimate goal when coming to River is to pro-vide information to students about what the Marine Corps has to offer,” Sergeant Lesley Parry said. Senior Alex Field has recently joined the Marine Corps division of the U.S. Armed Forces. It took Field three weeks to make his final decision; he officially enlisted at the Marine Corps recruiting substation in Delray Beach. “I decided to join because of the pride in knowing that people count on you to pro-tect their freedom and well-being,” Field said. Field plans on participat-ing in the Marine Corps for at least 20 years. In July of next year, he will begin boot camp for his position as a Reserv-ist. Field will report to a base in West Palm Beach for one weekend each month. “This allows me to go to college while being in the Marines,” Field said. “The Marines are paying up to $60,000 for college. I also have the opportunity to get the NROTC Scholarship, worth $180,000, which grants acceptance to any college that has the NROTC program.” The GI Bill provides for these scholarships because it allows today’s service mem-bers and veterans to attain higher education, along

Ashley Roth Student Life Editor

U.S. Armed Services recruits at River

with housing assistance, an annual salary to purchase books and school supplies and 100 percent tuition and fee assistance at colleges. “This would allow me to go to college and graduate with my Bachelor’s degree and also to be an officer in the Marines,” Field said. Before joining the Marine Corps, Field took the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB), a national test that potential members of the U.S. military must pass in order to enlist. The ASVAB, which tests math, vocabu-lary, reading and science, is offered at River to interested sophomores, juniors and seniors. Last year, 61 students took the test in the Media Center in November. Field did not prepare for the ASVAB because he was confident in his knowledge of the test’s subject areas. “It is a basic test that mea-sures your knowledge in almost every subject,” Field said. “I felt that it was an easy test.” Private First Class Richard Frier, who graduated from River last year, returns to

speak to students who are potential Marines - the posi-tion he was in last year. Frier is a Logistics Marine. He is currently on a leave for ten days, during which he returns home to spend time with his family. “After the ten days of leave I go to Marine Combat Train-ing, which is basically further training with weapons,” Frier said. “After MCT I go to Mili-tary Occupational Specialty school, which would be simi-lar to college in civilians’ per-spective. However, I will be attending school with other Marines on the Marine base.” If Frier shows interest in attending college while in the Marine Corps, he has the opportunity to do so for free. After serving time in the Marines, he can receive a scholarship to any college where he is accepted. “I really enjoy recruiting students at River,” Frier said. “My favorite thing about it is seeing all of my friends that I missed so much during boot camp. Everyone has inter-esting questions about the Corps and what we are all about.”

photo by jeremy freimanSergeant Lesley Parry stands by the U.S. Marine Corps booth during lunch. Parry and other recruiters offer brochures and often speak personally to in-terested students.

Spanish River’s PTSA Reflections Contest win-ners are seniors Destiny Martinez (Literature) and Sarah Rabinowitz (Visual Arts and Pho-tography). Martinez and Rabinowitz will now advance to the county-level Reflections contest.

Seniors can start their Florida Bright Futures Scholarship applications at www.floridastudent-financialaid.org after December 1. The applica-tion must be submitted before graduation.

THEY WANT YOU

The Harid Conservatory will perform at 3:00 PM on December 15 and 16 in the Countess de Ho-ernle Theater. Students can purchase tickets by calling 561-998-8038.

Attention Students:No Child Left Behind

undergoing changes

Palm Beach County School District Choice Programs allow students to apply to other schools’ academies and special programs, with one of these programs being the national No Child Left Behind (NCLB) school choice option. This program provides stu-dents zoned to Title 1 schools, schools that receive addition-al funding for underperform-ing or low-income students, the opportunity to attend a school that is not in need of improvement. If a student is zoned for one of these twelve Palm Beach County schools, he or she can opt into switch-ing to another school in dis-trict without applying to an academy program. Spanish River is one of the schools that can accommodate these

students, who are provided bus services and are allowed to join sports teams and clubs as any zoned student can. Starting next school year, students who opted to attend Spanish River through the NCLB program will no longer be provided bussing services. They may still attend River, but are responsible for their own transportation to and from the school. The new program is specific to Palm Beach County and will be known as the Opportunity Scholarship and be accessed through other School Dis-trict Choice Programs. Those with questions can contact Peter Licata, Assistant Super-intendent Division of Choice Options, at peter.licata@palm-beachschools.org.

Information compiled by Ilana Weisman and Brooke Levy

ADVERT ISEMENTS4 December 2012The Galleon

all styles welcomeIf you’re thinking about colleges, think about this: one of the most exhilarating,

inspiring, and international colleges in the country is right here in South Florida.

(Lynn students come from 84 countries and 41 states.)

To see Lynn for yourself, come to one of our Open House events or schedule a

personalized visit when it’s more convenient. You’ll find all the details online.

If you’d like to speak to someone in admission, call 561.237.7545.

We’d love to talk to you!

Lynn University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, disability and/or age in administration of its educational and admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, athletic and /or other school-administered programs. Lynn University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges (1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097; phone number: 404-679-4500) for questions about the accreditation of Lynn University.

Exciting majors, including:

Entrepreneurship

Psychology

Multimedia Journalism

Environmental Studies

Sports Management

Elementary Education

Forensic Science

Fashion and Retail

lynn.edu/visit3601 N. Military TrailBoca Raton, FL 33431

5December 2012The GalleonFACE-OFF

Chipotle MOE'sVS

It's the classic debate: which American

Chain serves the best mexican food?

We've Made our decision: Chipotle rocks. It tastes fresh,

there are great veggie options, and you get more food for your money. We admit the restaurants are awfully cold

inside, but Chipotle is a destination- we meet there with friends, stop by after

sports practice, and drop in for a quick pre-movie meal. Service is speedy and you

always get what you came for.

the editorial board

Chipotle.

" Chipotle is more Authentic

mexican food. "-- BLAKE JAMES, 12

" I Just love chipotle. They have better

burritos. "-- Gabor TApaszto, 12

if you're not a fan of either,Spicy substitutes are plentiful.

Students recommend These alternatives:

Taco Bell La BambaBaja Cafe Rocco's Tacos

If you’re a Moe’s frequenter, you’re probably used to the loud “Welcome to Moe’s!” you hear when entering. Though

we’re not fans, you definitely are. Here are Moe’s

highlights:

"If you’re going to get a steak burrito then

you should go to Moe’s because the steak is tastier there. Moe’s

also have really deli-cious queso.

"-- Ben Semel, 10

Yay burritos

and free chips

-- Gabor TApaszto, 12

" Moe's is better because they have

a soda machine that makes endless combina-

tions of beverages."

-- Megan rosenbusch, 10

OP/ED OP/ED6 December 2012The Galleon

Ramblings of a firewall- protesting lunatic

The rebellious confessions of Ilana Weisman

It is a Saturday night. There are a few parties, but nothing special. You are with your two closest friends, just hanging out and wondering what there is to actually do tonight. You are sitting there thinking to yourself, “Why Boca? What is there to do?” Interestingly enough, the question should actually be “What isn’t there to do.” For those of you who read my past statement and jumped to the conclusion of “Wow, this kid is just plain wrong,” let me ask you something. What are you actually looking to do? For a young teenager who is typically not of the drinking age, the default location tends to be the mall. Yes, the magnificent urban Town Center Mall. As both a social, and to some an exciting place, the mall is always there for something to do. But what happens when the mall closes at nine and you stand there again with hopelessness? Just catch a movie. Cinemark (which we all still call Muvico), Shadowood, and the elegant IPic are always open for an enjoyable experience. Another landmark that defines South Florida are the beaches. Delray, Deerfield, Boynton, Palmetto; the opportunities are plentiful. The beaches don’t only provide for a relaxing and enjoyable experience, but also the area surrounding the beach is always a nice place to dine or take a leisurely stroll. Atlantic Avenue happens to be the most popular as there are shops and restaurants on end. The possibilities, contrary to popular belief, are actually endless in this

Letters from the man CaveJosh benrubi finds

the places you’ll go

Art by Andrea Hoenigsberg

city of Boca Raton. In addition, we are even lucky enough to have a dining, shopping, and major concert location in Mizner Park. Bringing in artists such as Mac Miller, Akon, and Flo Rida is no joke. Especially since holiday season is right around the corner, the numerous parades, shows, and Christmas tree lightings that bring the festivities to Boca are very frequent. I suggest you go to a few holiday concerts if you could, or go to the week-long art show at Sugar Sand Park if you enjoy looking at magnificent pieces of art. The opportunities are endless. For those who complain that “Boca Raton has nothing to do” or exclaim “I can’t stand it here,” please tell me what another place has that we don’t. Ok, maybe other cities have the bright lights and the skyscrapers that attract people from around the world. We may not have that flashy kind of city, but we do have a city loaded with restaurants, concerts, clubs and shopping malls. Yes, I have heard the conventional joke “Oh I know where we can go when we are bored, lets just go to the Boca Ale House at 5 for the Early Bird Special so we can have a blast with all the seniors that engulf our city.” It is true. I agree that we do have a city predominantly run by terribly driving elders and bad-mouthed New Yorkers. But if you look at the positive side, if you have a car, a wad of cash in your pocket and an open mind, then the opportunities are endless here in our fair city of Boca Raton.

With FLVS second hour, I tend to end up researching one thing or another on the Internet. Recently, it was Googling lobbyist groups for my government class, and I was thorough-ly shocked with the blocked results. Your turn. Head over to the media center or pull out your phone (if it’s before 7:28 or after 2:40, of course). Now go ahead and connect to the school’s “public” Wi-Fi option - or bet-ter yet, “SDPBC Wi-Fi.” Go ahead and type in www.plannedparenthood.org. If you’re a teacher or other faculty mem-ber, you can probably see the bright blue-and-orange site. If you’re a stu-dent, you’ll see “The School District’s Internet filter has determined the site you are attempting to access may not be appropriate according to School District policies.” That’s what made me angry. Why should Planned Parenthood, an organization that provides invalu-able healthcare services to three million people in the United States alone, be blocked? Why should an organization with fewer than three percent of services being abortion- related and most money being spent on research and education, be blocked from schools in Palm Beach County, home to area with the fifth-highest national HIV rate and next to the coun-ty with the highest per-capita HIV rate in the nation? (Answer: it shouldn’t. Students have the right to health ser-vice information that they may be uncomfortable with or prohibited from accessing at home. But I digress.) At first, I thought the reason for the block may have been purely political - until I was able to open the NRA (National Rifle Association) website and the AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee) fundraising page. When I clicked a link to request a block removal from the county, I

was delighted by the prospect that my query would be addressed... in ten to twelve months. You know, after I’ve graduated. So I decided to do some research into Palm Beach County’s blocking habits. The School Board says the blocks are an attempt to “restrict access to web sites that contain lewd, lascivious, vulgar, obscene or plainly offensive materials,” as well as to those that “contain exces-sive violence, promotes hate, violence or racism, or encourages illegal activ-ity.” And that’s perfectly acceptable. Keeping harmful content from teenag-ers is proven to be an effective means to promoting well-being, but nothing is well when healthful and educational information is blocked. If you’re actually sitting at a com-puter right now, open up your Internet browser and type in www.facebook.com. It won’t work, as expected with a school wireless browser. But now type in www.calc101.com, a math help resource. It won’t work either. Try out some other sites - I know I can shop online at www.urbanoutfitters.com, but my favorite YouTube physics tutor is blocked. I can check out videos of violent crashes in Russian traffic, but send files to our newspaper publisher? Nope. We’ve all struggled with attempts to do a class project under the school firewall, tried to find games other than that green and black helicopter one to play post-SRI, but that infamous “This page cannot be reached” notification is everywhere, even where it shouldn’t be. Educational and lifestyle resources are blocked from our viewing, creating more lapses in information and gaps in knowledge. Planned Parenthood or calculus tutorials aren’t hurting anyone. When information is blocked because of “education”, something has gone horribly wrong.

Photo by Jeremy Freiman

I think I’m one of two people who bring their own computers to school. But seriously - we should start protesting the school board. No more computer usage until I can access Planned Parenthood! Though I do enjoy online shopping.

OP/ED OP/ED 7December 2012The Galleon

There are fun games, like Apples to Apples and Catch Phrase and Capture the Flag. Then there’s the HPA game, a race for grade point average-boosting courses and AP credits and top five percent sta-tus— a game that’s played with overwhelming popularity among Spanish River students. It’s Hunger Games meets The Social Network: lots of smart kids clawing at each other’s transcripts for the numeri-cal validation that might earn them a spot in the country’s best univer-sities, or at least serve to benefit their egos. But who masterminds the games in this dystopian educa-tional system? There are quite a few guilty parties, parents and college admissions counselors included, but Spanish River administration has basked in the glow of an HPA-obsessed graduating class. I walked onto River’s campus for orientation wanting to take Key-boarding and American Sign Language—class rank wasn’t my priority in eighth grade— and I told my middle school teachers just that. But they laughed, so I chose every AP class I could handle, devoted free time to schoolwork, and forgot what it’s like to have a non-academic conversa-

Whitney Sha’s fail-safe guide to currency acquisition

Caroline Posner on the River HPA craze

Recently I’ve realized that, because I’d like to attend college, I need money. Unfortunately, my parents can’t shell out $60,000 a year. Fortunately, I’m not a whiner. Thanks to a handy resource called the Internet, I’ve learned that merit aid programs and community or-ganizations and rich alumni are eager to throw gobs of money at me in the form of scholarships. The only problem? I have to answer yet MORE questions about myself. To be absolutely honest, filling out anything past my address and my GPA is exhausting after packaging myself for college applications. And these 2000-character “short answers” are needier than an insecure boyfriend or girlfriend. “Why would you like to win this scholarship?” Well, gee, I don’t know. It must be my love of crafting short anecdotes that re-veal my personal qualities ... or my close relationship with the transcript lady ... or maybe it’s the $4000 you’re so conspicu-ously advertising. Just maybe. “Why do you want to go to college?” You got me - I confess! Higher educa-tion doesn’t interest me at all. I apply to universities for the party scene. “What is your intended major?” I’m kidding; this one isn’t actually that

bad. English. “What do you hope to accomplish with your major?” Okay, I really don’t see any reason for you to be so passive-aggressive. I know my average salary and chances of steady employment aren’t that great after graduation. But goshdarnit if you don’t remind me of my future as a Starbucks barista every freaking day. “Where do you see yourself in ten years?” Serving frappucinos, according to you. For minimum wage. While dodging rent payments. And lamenting my empty, barren life. “Financially, what effect would this scholarship have on your educational plans?” What do you think? No. I can’t - I’m not even bothering. “What do you think is the most press-ing problem affecting society today?” SOME would say that it’s the COMMON TENDENCY to ask people lots of personal QUESTIONS before giving them your MONEY. The nerve …. “Describe a personal quality that sets you apart from other applicants.” My composure under stressful situa-tions. I think they’ll like me. I’m definitely going to be rolling in cash.

You have no idea:tion. Our school glorifies numeri-cal achievement over an exciting educational experience; it’s a sys-tem that tells students “Here’s what you need to do to go to college— and then grad school— so you can get a job. Childhood is overrated.” That’s a shame. They’re losing a brief window to make a meaning-ful and individual impact on stu-dents, in favor of mass-producing “high-achievers.” But like in any other game, you have to know the rules to win. The champions of the HPA game know the tricks of transcript sculpting. Do people put off the HOPE gradu-ation requirement until last semes-ter senior year, then cram it in on FLVS so it won’t drag down their class rank? Absolutely. Could I take easier versions of my AP courses at

FAU for the same inflated HPA cred-it? Sure. Should I give up my dream of learning piano in public school? Yessir, if you want to be in the top ten. If you don’t know the rules of the game, well, it’s like passing the football to the other team’s players. You’re not going to win. There’s no shortage of evidence that points to the HPA culture in our school, but we’re so accustomed to the game that few students take is-sue with it. AP applications are like a sporting event that warrants a shift in student attitudes for weeks. There’s even musical accompani-ment: Boyz IV Men’s “Drop Formz” has a special place in my heart, and in my iTunes library (sorry under-classmen, you missed out on an awesome, albeit AP-focused, music video). Students with the top ranks are rewarded systematically, and students whose HPAs fall below an arbitrary value are denied well-deserved academic opportunities

bservations

Photo By Jeremy Freiman

I really don’t understand the big deal about giving people money - especially when you’re giv-ing it to me. Why do you need to know what I’m going to do with your cash? Why do you need to know whether I’m an honorable person? All these questions only serve to make everyone’s job - my writing, your reading - more complicated.

and recognition. There’s certainly a sense of injustice in the Pathfinder nominations being selected in mul-tiple categories without interviews for the applicants— and (from many students’ speculation) with too heavy an emphasis on grades and scores. The kind of academic achieve-ment that our school encourages is a limited notion of success. With the exception of our sports stars, we hear quite a bit less about the rest of River’s population than we hear about our top-ranking schol-ars. Let’s glorify community service and activism and enthusiasm like we glorify college. Let’s recognize the teens that excel in all kinds of fields, above and beyond test scores and transcripts. That’s the only way we’re going to produce the passionate and balanced stu-dents that number so few in the HPA game.

December 2012The Galleon FEATURES

Lauren Vi l lanuevaStaff Reporter

Presenting: Little Sharks

7:00-8:15 Arrival of Children8:15-9:00 Circle Time9:00-10:00 Group Activities10:00-10:15 snack TIME 10:15- 10:45 Outdoor Play10:45-11:15 Story Time11:15-11:30 Hand washing11:30-12:15 Lunch Time12:15-1:15 Quiet Time1:15- 2:00 Music Time2:00-2:45 Outdoor Play2:45-3:50 Guided Free Choices3:50-4:00 Children Prepare for Dismissal

Check out some “awww”-inducing photos of river’s cutest Students

“I have the opportunity to work hands-on with children and

attain more experience in the education field.”

- Yesenia Haro, 12

“Helping them learn and seeing them grow is the best part of

this program.” - Shayna Solomon, 10

The GalleonThe Galleon

Lauren Vi l lanuevaLauren Vi l lanuevaStaff Reporter

The Galleon

Lauren Vi l lanuevaLauren Vi l lanuevaStaff Reporter

On “Academy Shirt Day,” Spanish River students must wear the appropriate color collared shirt that represents their academy. The sea of red, green and blue swallows up the few students who are not dressed in academy attire. But it is the glimmer of powder blue that sticks out most in the Crayola combination. These students work in the Early Childhood Academy. Not to be confused with Kinder Sharks (a kindergarten class from Calusa that is on River’s campus), Little Sharks is River’s 16-year-old on site preschool that it has been a part of the Academy Program for seven years. The creation of Little Sharks came about through strong lobbying by Margaret Engelhardt and then principal, Dr. Art Johnson. The case Engelhardt put forth was the importance of practical

application of classroom training. Taught by a multitude of educators, “Little Sharks” develop their � ne motor skills, learn cutting, letters, numbers and writing skills. The three- and four-year-olds enrolled have a full, typical preschool schedule, starting with free play at seven in the morning, circle and snack time, and learning centers in which they are divided up based on age and ability. After clean up time, the Little Sharks play on the playground behind their classroom, then move to story time, lunch, rest, more free play and circle time, then one last trip outside until four in the afternoon when the Little Sharks get picked up. What makes Early Childhood di� erent from other academies at River is the fact that it is an In-House Academy. This means that it is only available as an academy option to students who are zoned for River as opposed to choice academies that are open for students who are zoned elsewhere. However, any River student can opt into taking Early Childhood classes. These students are much appreciated by the instructors. “The Big Sharks [Early Childhood

students] are very helpful when they come in,” lead teacher Myra Brandwein said. “We can use all the help we can get with the little ones and the kids love them.” Brandwein has been teaching in the Little Shark classroom for four years. On scheduled days, students are assigned tasks to help the teachers and interact with the children. Students can be expected to follow whatever rules or assignments their teachers have assigned, such as interacting with the children, helping them fall asleep at nap time, or simply reading them a book. Volunteers after school can be expected to stack chairs, wipe down tables, and play with the children. “You get to learn from the children and it can be applied in the future,” sophomore Mondona Mortezai said.

Mortezai is not in the academy but has Early Childhood as a class and, after interacting with the Little Sharks, is considering a career as a teacher.

AP US History teacher Aaron Lampman is familiar with the functionality of Little Sharks having both his sons in the program.

Lampman had his oldest son in the program for two years, and then enrolled Ryan, his four year old, in 2009.

“I like having students who have the academy in my classes so they can tell me how Ryan is doing,” Lampman said. Any student who would like to volunteer after school is welcome to help in Little Sharks. “I go to Little Sharks because I can get community service hours,” sophomore Nick Smith said. “I completed over 120 hours in one semester.” But Little Sharks is not an outlet for quick and easy community service hours. If students are not working and fooling around, they will be asked to leave. “They [students] have to come in, wanting to help and do the work they’re assigned to do,” Brandwein said. Either way, “Big Sharks” greatly enjoy the opportunity to work with Little Sharks. “The kids are so adorable and I love playing with them,” sophomore Kelli Labelle said.

Photos by xia hernandez

8

7:00-8:15 A8:15-9:00 Circle Time9:00-10:00 Group Activities10:00-10:15 snack TIME 10:15- 10:45 Outdoor Play

Kelsey SpykerFeatures Editor It is the middle

of December and you are walking with

your friends in the mall on a Friday night. Sudden-

ly, you hear a loud “HO, HO, HO” and you think to yourself

“Santa?” No, it is not the “real” San-ta, but the one who spreads cheer in

malls every winter snapping pictures with giddy children. But who takes these

memorable photographs? Santa’s Helpers, of course.

Junior Heather Smythe is a helper who helps create these unforgettable moments with Santa.

Last November, Smythe received her drivers’ license and was in need of a job to earn gas money. Smythe

found a job working with Noerr Programs, a corporation that deals with employing Santa Clauses and the Easter Bunnies in

malls and taking pictures of them with customers. Smythe is enthusiastic about the holidays and loves everything

that comes along with them- bonding with family, baking goodies and listening to music.

“The holiday season is my favorite time of year,” Smythe said. “I just love the overall atmosphere it brings.”

So when she got a job as Santa’s Helper, it was a perfect � t. “I welcome guests who enter the Santa set, explaining to them our di� erent

photo packages we have to choose from,” Smythe said. “The customers then meet Santa and I take their picture together. Once they are happy with their photos I cash

out their purchase on the register.” Smythe added that her top priority is “to make sure our guests have a memorable

experience with Santa.” This past spring, Smythe also worked for Noerr Programs, but with the Easter Bun-

ny. She is continuing her job there this holiday season as Santa’s Helper again this year.

9December 2012The GalleonFEATURES

ABC: Easy as 1, 2, 3?

A recent TIME magazine article, “Why Kids Should Learn Cursive (and Math Facts and Word Roots),” points to research which suggests that “old school” teaching methods - memorizing math facts, reading aloud and practicing handwriting - positively contribute to the learning development of today’s students. The article states that 21st Century skills like collaboration, problem solving and critical thinking should be supplemented with 19th Century teaching methods. A question then arises: do Spanish River students today know how to perform basic academic tasks like long division, telling time and writing in cursive? And what other basic skills that were once considered routine can, or cannot, our students perform? Arithmetic is an apparent problem even for River’s best mathematicians. Of the four parts of the AP Calculus exam, two parts prohibit the use of calculators. “I would hope for an Advanced Placement student it wouldn’t have a negative e� ect, but they still do sometimes make silly calculation mistakes,” McEnroe said. Students readily admit that long division without use of a calculator is a challenge. “It’s hard to remember how to do long division without a calculator, but I’m required to do it for AP Environmental Science,” sophomore Sarah Grubman said. Sophomore Rachel Katzin sums up the sentiment of many fellow students. “Now that I can use calculators for every class, I haven’t had to think about [multiplication and division tables] and I forgot all of them,” Katzin said. And it is not just math that poses an issue: remembering alphabetical order without musical accompaniment seems to be a problem for students. While using a dictionary, most students must concede to singing the alphabet repetitively until they � nd the word they are looking for. “It is necessary for me to recite the ABCs many times while trying to look a word up in the dictionary,” sophomore Megan Meguire said. Sophomore Nicole Dao was of equal opinion, noting that reciting “A-B-C-D-E-F-G…” is easy, but it becomes bothersome repeating it over and over again to � nd a single word. The easy, common outlet is to Google the word. When it comes to writing in cursive, River students are equally challenged. The many years writing everything in cursive in elementary school are long behind them, and writing in print

or typing has taken over. It seems as if the only cursive most students remember is how to sign their name. “I can’t remember how to write the whole alphabet in cursive, so it was de� nitely a challenge on the SAT when I had to write out full sentences in cursive,” junior Jack Buggeln said. River students are the products of 21st century learning, and they are admittedly challenged by 19th

and 20th century skills. How does the typical student fare when it comes to even more traditional knowledge like telling time and tying shoes? The outlook is not great. Reading an analog clock might also be out of style for Spanish River students. “Of course, I can look at a clock and tell what time it is,” sophomore Sammy Boursiquot said. “But why would I? Everything is digital today and that makes it a lot easier. Isn’t that the point?” Boursiquot raises the central issue. In light of modern technology, is it necessary to learn outdated skills when our generation can employ technological advancement to more easily and quickly solve problems? TIME Magazine may disagree at least with respect to educational methods, but the voices of Spanish River Students draw the conclusion that modern technology largely eliminates the need to use basic skills of the past.

Lindsay Mangines Features Editor

Students admit to lacking elementary school skillsWe asked over 250 students to tell us which simple tasks they couldn’t do - here’s what they said.

ABC: Easy as 1, 2, 3?

The GalleonFEATURESFEATURESFEATURESFEATURES

ABC: Easy as 1, 2, 3?ABC: Easy as 1, 2, 3?ABC: Easy as 1, 2, 3?

FEATURESFEATURESFEATURESFEATURESFEATURESFEATURES

ABC: Easy as 1, 2, 3?ABC: Easy as 1, 2, 3?ABC: Easy as 1, 2, 3?ABC: Easy as 1, 2, 3?ABC: Easy as 1, 2, 3?

The Galleon 99The Galleon

girls

boys

cannot use a dictionary without reciting the ABCs in head

do not know the multipli-cation tables

cannot write or read cur-sive

cannot tie shoes

do not know how to tell time without a digital clock

do not know how to do long division without us-ing a calculator

Mee

t San

ta’s s

tudent

helper

Graphic art by Caroline Posner

by K

elsey

Spy

ker

F E AT U R E F O C U S10 December 2012The Galleon

End of the World

Jamie BrecherFeature Focus Editor

It was only years ago when news of the end of the world went

viral. A prediction made by the Maya thousands of years ago was

of sudden concern, and movies depicting this destructive sce-

nario quickly found their place on the big screen. The date for

the supposed global event is December 21, 2012 - only weeks away, and a great amount of attention will soon be directed toward the subject. Most of this controversial pre-diction relies on assumptions made from the Mayan calendar. The Maya created a system for keeping time and dates that had various detailed counts. These cycles revolve around thousands of years. The next “long count” period has been predicted to end on December 21.

Few have come to think of this as the end of the world. However, the Maya considered it as

the end and beginning of a new “Great Cycle.” Many others believe that this myth has been greatly exagger-

ated by the world of special effects. “The end of the world is a myth,” sophomore Carli

Fogel said. “They [the Maya] died off before they had a chance to finish it [the calendar].”

Leap years in our calendar provide reason why the predicted date is misinterpret-

ed. This simple concept proves why the end of the world is

not scheduled to hap-pen on

the next winter solstice. The extra day, occurring every four years, was cre-

ated many years after the Maya created their calendar. If society

removed leap days from the current date count, December

21 would have already hap-pened months ago. Logic

shows that this date, translat-ed from the Mayan calendar, does not mark the world’s ultimate demise. “I think it’s all hype, to be honest,” sophomore Austin Belrose said. “I’ve heard the Mayas predicted the end of

the world to happen many times before.”

The Mayan calendar has only been referenced to predict the

date, but the world ending event has not been specified. Galactic

disasters are some of the more pop-ular end of the world theories. They

include galactic alignment, pole shift, asteroids, and Planet X or Nibiru collision.

Scientists have ruled out all of these outer space predictions, considering the Planet X crash

course theory began with a woman claiming to have been contacted by aliens. Others believe the world will end from natural disasters, social uprisings, or population crises. Although most scientists have dismissed all of these, the media still features them for their popular appeal to viewers. December 21, 2012 does not appear to be the end of the world. Like always, only time will tell.

The

Real Truth

Behind The Date

If we told youthe worldwould end by a...

Jeremy Remland, freshman

December 21, 2012 is fast approaching and the end is near. Or is it? In this issue, we explore the background behind this predicted date, speculations about what

is going to happen, and what River students plan to do about it.

The background behind the Mayan calendar

I think if the world were to end due to a natural disaster, it probably wouldn’t be for a couple million years. When it happens, I think it would take place in Yellowstone National Park, with the volcano erupting. I think it would be a big enough eruption to knock out the entire population.

"

"

I think the world is likely to end in a social uprising sometime soon, based on everything going on in the world that we see on Channel One. I think one country will trigger the next coun-try and the next, and will eventually lead to a worldwide social uprising.

"

"

Graphics By Ellyn Snider

Alexander Romero, sophomore

Doomsday - we are all too famil-iar with the word. It has made its way into everyday culture, present in many recent movies, books and TV shows. The thought of the world ending on December 21, 2012, brings out many dreams and fears. We all have asked ourselves the question: if it were your last day on earth, what would you do? How would you want to go out? Not with a whimper, but with a bang.

F E AT U R E F O C U S 11December 2012The Galleon

These questions are the founda-tion of a bucket list, a compilation of all things you want to experience or accomplish before you die. Some buck-et lists have very strong personal rea-sons, and others are just for thrills and fun. They range from going on exotic trips to going skydiving or even swim-ming with sharks. If it truly were the last day on earth, nobody would not want to look back on life having any doubts or regrets. The bucket list helps you achieve everything you ever wanted to do before the world ends.

Alexis DlugosStaff Reporter

Students reveal bucket lists

The hype about the world ending has meant a wave of apocalyptic con-spiracies. From asteroids to dinosaurs, River students share how they think the world will end and what they plan on doing with their precious remaining time. Junior Jason Meikle believes that the world will end in a catastrophic fire caused by an increase in global tem-peratures due to global warming.

Brooke LevyStaff Reporter

“Temperatures keep getting hotter and hotter,” Meikle said. “Eventually our planet will not be able to withstand it any longer.” To protect himself from the fire, he plans to build a bomb shelter in his backyard and stock up on enough food to last him twenty years. “I’ll bring all non-perishable foods that do not need to be cooked,” Meikle said. “Stuff like chips, peanut butter and granola bars.” Meikle will bring his family in the bomb shelter with him. Junior Alexis Warshaw believes that

the world will end by technology tak-ing over. “We keep enhancing technology,” Warshaw said. “So soon robots will be able to think on their own and do what they want.” Warshaw fears that robots will start taking over in Apple Stores, and work their way around the world. She plans on hiding in an area of magnetic plates, where technology will not work. “Once I’m safe from the robots,” War-shaw said, “I’ll find a scientist who can stop the technology from taking over.” Junior Max Lennon has a different

Juliana DeLuca, freshman

JP Najar, seniorChris Carter, junior

Claudia Simervil, sophomore

- Eat two Big Macs in ten minutes- Meet Orlando Bloom

- Star in a movie with Johnny Depp and Chuck Norris- Own a Chinese restaurant

- Own a ferret named Parrot and feed it crackers

- Find a dinosaur- Go to the moon

- Start my own Zombie apocalypse- See snow

- Sky dive- Learn to drive stick shift

- Travel to space- Go to a Caribbean island

- Do a back flip off the Eiffel Tower

River prepares to face the end

Natural Disaster

Zombie Attack

Alien InvasionSocial Uprising

The Galleon surveyed River students to see if they think the world will end and, if so, how. Here’s what they said ...

Galactic Catastrophe

Global Pandemic

Students theorize about the end of the world

Graphics By Ellyn Snider

If so, How

will It end?

Photo Courtesy of Google Images

Alexander Romero, sophomore

- Own the biggest sneaker collection in the world- Dance on stage with 2 Chainz

- Travel to L.A., Las Vegas and Washington D.C.

idea of how the world will end. “I think the most likely way the world will end is by a giant asteroid hitting Earth,” Lennon said. “The initial impact could kill billions and then a giant glob-al dust cloud will make it impossible to grow crops to feed the rest of the world population.” According to Lennon and his research, this is can happen, due to a 390 mile wide asteroid called 99942 Apophis, which could hit Earth in the year 2036. Lennon plans on protecting himself by hiding underground.

21%

19%

5%

5%

21%

16%Other 12%

YESNO

35%65%

Will the

world end?

STUDENT L I FE12 December 2012The Galleon

Hallways and bathrooms: the new classrooms

Alexis DlugosStaff Reporter Students have all been in a situation where they dread going to their next class, whether it is because of an upcoming test, an incom-plete project or just the fact that class can be boring. The natural response might be opting not to attend, to skip the class instead of being tortured or receiving a lower grade. But where do these skippers go? How do they avoid being caught? Some skippers are easy to spot; some tell-tale signs are those who may be carrying a plastic pass from previous years instead of the new paper passes, spending way too much time in the bathroom and just aimlessly roaming the halls. Some students have hoarded the plastic passes in their lockers for their use anytime they need. Some desperate students even skip class to hang out in In-School Suspension, also known as Opportunity Room (OR). “Do you know how many kids actu-ally skip class to try and hang out with me in OR?” substitute teacher Glenn DeLuca said. “I had to get the assis-tant principals in here today. It’s ridic-ulous. They skip class and come to OR to hang out.” Some students decide ditching class and going to OR is worth the risk of getting in trouble. There are also the everyday tricks many students tend to use. Sitting in the bathroom seems to be a popu-lar pastime for those skipping class.

The bathroom is also a casual excuse kids use when they are close to being caught. “If I see a teacher get suspicious, and they tell me to go back to class I just go to the bathroom and continue to walk around,” junior Tori Witkowski said. Another popular occasion to skip is by sitting in on the other lunch pe-riod. Whether it is to see a boyfriend or girlfriend, to talk to your best friend or just to get away from that fifth pe-riod class, many students are guilty of going to the opposite lunch at least once. It is very easy to blend into lunch, especially with the paper pass-es that can be shoved into a pocket to keep hidden. But what happens when a student skips fifth period to visit A Lunch and the bell rings? “Last month, after skipping my fifth period to go to A Lunch, my friend and I skipped the rest of fifth by hid-ing out in a bathroom stall”, sopho-more Harrison Ackner said. Finally a custodian came and kicked us out telling us to get back to class. We are lucky that’s all he did.” Little Sharks has historically been another option, but that method was more popular last year. This year Little Sharks is closed to students through-out the day due to frequent “visitors”. Skipping class takes some smarts, but that special skill is the reason many students get into trouble and are often sent to OR. It may seem fun in the moment, but having that on a permanent record could come back to haunt any student when applying to college.

Photo By Xia Hernandez

Students go to great lengths to skip class

Here at River, joining clubs is a popular activity, whether it is to socialize or to look impressive on college applications. Clubs are designed for students with similar passions to unite with others in a fun school environment. Depending on how dedicated these students are to their clubs, they have a great oppor-tunity to expand and continue the clubs over time at River. “The clubs I participate in con-tribute to my feeling of belonging in the Spanish River community,” junior Allie Becher said. Recently, students have been creating clubs to appeal to specific interests. For example, junior Brianna Danois created Sea Life Forever. This club is about learning about the ocean through hands-on activities that include beach cleanups, Gumbo Lim-bo field trips and an end-of-the-year snorkel trip.

For all the fans of the Univer-sity of Florida, Gator Club is a per-fect chance to learn what UF is all about. Gator Club officer junior Mat-thew “Chui” Slootsky is interested in organizing a field trip to Gainesville to let members visit the campus and attend a football game. This club also gives students opportunities to explore the college scholarships that UF has to offer. “I love this club because I’m plan-ning on becoming a Gator and this club gives me a chance to remain updated with current events,” sopho-more Carly Reichstein said. For River’s chess fans, chess club provides a chance to fine-tune one’s skills. “Chess club is a fun, free club where students compete against one another in order to test their skills and master important chess tactics,“ junior Matt Yellin said. Each meeting involves learn-ing a new chess tactic, so students are prepared for their next upcom-ing match. The chess club is open

to any student, no matter how much experience he or she has. The club is slowly increasing in size, and now includes five to six members each meeting. The main objective is to teach students the basic rules of chess and help them improve their game. This gives all students a chance to learn some-thing new, and use it for the rest of their life. The club currently consists of nearly twenty members, all of whom are still learning. Joining clubs in high school is a great thing to add to a college resume, boost self-esteem and teach new skills. Many clubs are still interested in having new members. It is never too late to join in the fun. “The advantage of River is that just by joining clubs, you meet so many people that you would never know you would have been friends with,” junior Joelie Fetterman said. “I cannot tell you the amount of peo-ple I have met just by joining clubs.

Students bond over common interests at clubs around campusStephanie GreenStaff Reporter

Find the right club for you

1. What do you like to do in your free time?A. Hang out at the libraryB. Argue with your friendsC. Plan service projects for your community

2. How would you describe yourself?A. Quiet and sensitiveB. Loud and opinionatedC. Kind and compassionate

3. Which famous person do you admire most?A. William ShakespeareB. President ObamaC. Oprah Winfrey

If you answered mostly...A’s: Book ClubB’s: Model UNC’s: Key Club

a happy birthday.” Some teachers really embrace birthdays and enjoy them with their students. U.S. Govern-ment teacher Pau-lette Riedel, for

e x a m p l e , surprised her stu-dents Eisner and fellow sophomore Eliza Rosen-berg with a cake when she asked them to meet in her room during lunch. “She really surprised us,” Eis-ner said. “We ended up staying in her classroom for all of lunch along with our friends to cele-brate our birthdays with the treats that they made for me.” Many students, however, miss out on the opportunity for an in-school celebration due to a summer birth-day. Some clever students celebrate their half birthdays or celebrate early at the end of the school year. “I love having my birthday over the summer,” senior Niki Koukoulidis said. “Besides, half birthdays are way more fun to celebrate anyways. I celebrate

13December 2012The GalleonSTUDENT L I FE

Ashley RothStudent Life Editor

Rotten apples: caution when crossing student-teacher boundaries

Eliana LandowStudent Life Editor

River birthdays: celebration or competition?

When students walk through the halls of Spanish River, all eyes seem to be � xed on the rainbow cloud of balloons prominently � oating above their heads. Crowded hallways will not stop anyone from celebrating their birthday “River style.” From balloons to shopping bags � lled with cakes, cookies and brownies, it almost makes up for the fact that this day of celebration occurs in school. Students at River seem to go to any extent to assure that a friend’s birthday does not go unnoticed. “I once stayed up until one AM making cookies for my friend’s birthday, and I remembered to buy her a balloon the next morning,” sophomore Eliza-beth Ivey said. “I received ten bal-l o o n s , t h r e e c a k e s and an a s s o r t -ment of

brownies, cookies, cupcakes and can-dy on my birthday,” sophomore Tif-fany Eisner said. “I really enjoy having my birthday at school because I can spend the day celebrating with my friends.” According to school policy, stu-dents are technically not allowed to walk around school with bal-loons and baked goods. “This year the plan was to ban all baked goods from school; however, that rule has not been strictly enforced,” Assistant Prin-

cipal Doug Markwardt said. “Students are also supposed to keep balloons and � owers in the of-� ce or in a teacher’s classroom dur-ing school.”

Although balloons in class are a distraction, teachers are fairly tolerant when the time comes.

“I allow students to leave balloons and treats in my

classroom whenever they ask,” AP World History teacher Wendy Wood-more said. “I don’t have a

problem with it.” Students simi-

larly agree that teachers tend to not mind birthday-relat-

ed “None of my

teachers were annoyed with

what I had,” Eisner said. “They all

wished me

Teachers are often the most in� uential people whom teens have the privilege of getting to know. The works of a teacher can have a lasting impact on students’ lives, whether it is something as simple as encouraging students to spend an extra minute proofreading their college

essays or opening their eyes up to new career paths. As times have changed, so have student-teacher relationships, both in and out of the classroom. It was almost unheard of for anyone to go past professional contact. However reaching out beyond that barrier is nearly inevitable in present times. With the constant use of social media, teachers and students have more access outside of class than

ever before. Keeping in con-tact is actually encouraged;

Edline allows stu-dents to send and

receive messages with any teacher active on the site. Teachers

can now communicate through Facebook, texting

and instant messaging. This increased interaction can be bene� -cial to students. Students who have

positive, helpful relationships with

their teachers will be more accom-plished than those who are at odds. An innocent email question about homework or an upcoming project is always permissible. A student absent from school can easily catch up on missed assignments and be more informed about what was discussed in class that day. However, carrying out an instant message conversa-tion on Facebook about anything other than school does not meet society’s accepted standards. So when is the line considered blurred? When an exchange of emails turns into an exchange of phone numbers, when both sides are requesting and maintaining a strong social media relationship, the student begins to feel uncom-fortable around this teacher. A recent study at Harvard University has shown that out of about 4,000 high school students in 190 schools, nega-

tive student-teacher relationships contributed to students’ decisions to drop out of school. These students who experienced these poor relation-ships said that they dreaded going to class each day and in some cases, their teachers did not care about them when it came to their success in school. Some teachers � nd themselves unsure of what the law expects from them in the classroom. The Palm Beach County Code of Ethics shows that the district has a zero tolerance for any unprofessional situations. Guidelines are holding them to stricter conduct standards. Teachers who are unable to set boundaries have no place in the classrooms. Growing up in this world today, we need to ensure that we have what is best when it comes to educating future generations.

art by andrea hoenigsberg

my birthday early as well, but I get balloons and cake for my half birth-day.” Aside from early celebrations, students at- tempt to make a

friend’s sum-mer birth-

day as ex-travagant as their own. “I

a l w a y s bring either

cookies, cup-cakes or a balloon for

my friends when it’s their birthday over the summer

to celebrate their special day as they did for me,” Eisner said. Students can infer that the elab-orate birthday celebrations are blatantly a girl thing. Although spotting a boy with an assort-ment of balloons in the hallway

would be a rare occasion, one may wonder why boys do not receive as

many birthday treats as girls do. “I could never imagine any of my male friends baking me food for my birthday,” senior Jeremy Gozlan said. “How-ever, I do get food from my

female friends.” As the year progresses, it

will certainly be amusing to see how over- the-top

students will strive to be and the amount of balloons that will end up � tting through the classroom door-ways.

art by andrea hoenigsberg

STUDENT L I FESTUDENT L I FESTUDENT L I FESTUDENT L I FESTUDENT L I FESTUDENT L I FESTUDENT L I FEstudent-teacher boundaries

STUDENT L I FESTUDENT L I FESTUDENT L I FESTUDENT L I FESTUDENT L I FESTUDENT L I FESTUDENT L I FESTUDENT L I FESTUDENT L I FESTUDENT L I FEcaution when crossingcaution when crossingRotten apples

1313The GalleonThe GalleonThe Galleon 131313The GalleonThe Galleon

student-teacher boundaries

The Galleon

student-teacher boundariesRotten applesRotten applesRotten applesRotten apples

14

Jabberwock: in front of and behind the curtain

Belting out chart-topping songs in the shower or walking down a hallway acting like the main models for Fashion Week is typical for teens. However, not many teenagers get to indulge in these habits outside the confines of their own room. But two Spanish River students have taken their performances from inside their home to center stage auditions. Senior Laura Yany recently audi-tioned for NBC’s hit show The Voice, a multinational singing competi-tion. Yany hopes to have a career as a recording artist, which inspired her to audition for the show. “Music is basically my life,” Yany said. “I’ve been singing since I was two. My parents literally have a video of me singing Van Halen; it’s so embarrass-ing.” But auditioning was no joke. Yany needed to sing before a panel of cast-ing directors before any notice. Before her December 8 audition, Yany had been working with her voice teacher on possible song choices. Before landing her audition, Yany has been active voicewise by partici-pating in River’s talent show last year and singing at Tutti Frutti on Federal Road on Saturday nights. She also posts videos to her YouTube account “0littlemisslola.” Additionally, Yany is in the process of recording an album of cover songs. With all this musical experience, it is a wonder she still gets nervous. “I know that there are people who hate me who will be watching me and I’m going to do just as well to spite

Lauren Vil lanuevaReporter

them,” Yany said. “But

I know that people who love me will be watching me so I’m go-ing to do just as well to make them proud.” Unfortunately, Yany was not selected for the television round of the show. However, she is extremely thankful for the opportunity and enthusiastic about her singing career. Like Yany, fellow senior Evan Lucas will also be auditioning for a televi-sion show this year. Lucas is audition-ing for the 13th season of America’s Next Top Model. “I’ve always wanted to be in front of the camera whether I was singing, dancing, acting or modeling,” Lucas said. Despite his upcoming audition, Lucas is not nervous at all. To prepare for his audition he is reading fash-ion blogs and magazines to see how other models got their start and what made them stand out. However, these auditions are not formal. There is no panel of judges or driving to far-away cities, just a video camera. This season, auditions will be recorded as a three-minute video, and Tyra Banks, head judge, creator and host of America’s Next Top Model, will watch and hand-pick the contestants. “I love to be seen and I just want to be famous,” Lucas said.

Shark Style IdeasGiftfor your mom:

for your dad:

for your significant other: for your best friend:Concert tickets make

great gifts! They’re a pres-ent and a fun experience

all in one!Maroon 5, Neon Trees and

Owl City are coming to the BB&T (BankAtlantic) Center on March 29th!

Fill a wallet with gift cards and cou-pons to your favorite places!

Thoughtful, and it gives you an excuse to go out and use some of

those discounts.Find cute clutches and leather wal-

lets at Target for as low as $15!

A nice tie is a classic and timeless gift. Act now - Macy’s has ties on sale

online for less than $20.

Lush just opened in the Town Center mall! Pick up a beauty kit for only $25!

Pamper your mom with bath bombs, perfumes

and scented soaps!

Art by Ellyn Snider

Hopeful students audition for reality television shows

Being a part of the drama depart-ment is just amazing. I was a member of stagecraft for the first half of my junior year. In class, we learn about rigging, lighting and the other parts and functions of the stage. We sign up to help out with productions, and when we do, we work right alongside the actors constructing the set, paint-ing it and setting up the microphones. When you put on the play you have so much more to worry about than just the actors and lines. From the parents who deal with us running amok back-stage to the makeup and costume

Austin BothnerSenior

Savanna DeiserJunior

December 2012The Galleon ARTS & ENTERTA INMENT

Playing the part of “Mary Agnes Thurber” in Jabberwock is something I certainly won’t forget. This show was the first time I had a monologue to memorize and perform which was a daunting task in the beginning. Memorizing the lines was only half the battle, though. Then came the difficult task of what some actors and directors call “getting into charac-ter.” Mary Agnes is, for lack of a bet-ter word, crazy, so getting into that energized, fantastical mode was a challenge at every rehearsal. However, by the end of the pro-duction, I became quite fond of

Mary Agnes and her insanity. I know deep down that there is a part of her that will stay with me forever. I just hope it’s not the eccentricity. Overall, I found that playing Mary Agnes was an absolute joy and I hope to play parts like her in the future.

people getting actors to sit still, things always seem to be tumultuous up until the last minute when everything fits together. You can always count on stagecraft to be there to help make everything run nice and smooth. We put in a lot of work - three hours after school every day when we’re putting on a production - but working with one another is fun because everyone in drama is wholehearted and full of energy. Regardless of whether you are on stage, backstage or in class, being in any part of drama is always a blast.

Deiser poses in costume. Photo Courtesy of Savanna Deiser

Shakespeare, Dickens and Eyre live in the shadow of a Media Center bet-ter known for its computers, printers and copiers. The library at Spanish River High School is often overlooked, despite its convenient stacks of clas-sic stories. Most of the activity around the library is dominated by Credit Lab, meetings and AP testing, leaving the books untouched by students. “The last time I stepped into the Media Center was to take my year-book photo,” sophomore Bryan Vidal said. “I probably won’t even step foot inside again until exams.” Media Center Specialist Candice Federico notices that students do not take advantage of the library. “The number one reason students come to the media center is for the computers,” said Federico. “We try to encourage kids to read and use the library. At the beginning of each year, we get the top teen books put them on display, but no one seems to notice.” Whether the students have sur-rendered their passion for reading in preference to television and video games or if they simply do not have time for leisurely reading remains uncertain. However, the facts say that children are suffering increas-ingly from illiteracy. Fewer teenagers are reading daily for pleasure. The National Literacy Trust report has

printed some dismal facts, includ-ing a 10% decrease in the number of teens reading on their own time. As attention is lost to the onslaught of social media, illiteracy increases. Today, only one third of all students entering high school are proficient in reading, and two thirds of eighth grades do not read at grade level. They are predisposed to drop out of school, experience unemployment or work for low wages. As the world becomes more innovative, students who lack fundamental reading skills will not be able to compete in a future world that demands a cre-ative, forward thinking workforce. Not to mention, reading can be fun. Everyone has read that novel where they’ve been pouring over every word, clinging on to every sentence. Editor’s Note: Personally, it scares me to watch students reference the Chronicles of Narnia solely as the imaginative film starring Tilda Swin-ton or Alice in Wonderland as Tim Burton’s latest box office hit. How far are we from a Fahrenheit 451 society, where paper is irrelevant compared to computers, tablets and phones? If you haven’t, I highly recom-mend you take a trip to the Media Center during your lunch period and browse through the shelves. Want to read a classic nov-el, but you don’t know which one is right for you? Use the quiz to the right to find one that you will enjoy!

Media Center contains books, to students’ surprise

Ellyn SniderArts and Entertainment Editor Which Classic Novel Should YOU Read?

When you go to the movies, you push your friends to see

START the new thrill-er flick with the romantic,

brooding vampire

the comedy with the

dynamic duo

You can quote every line

from

Disney’s Aladdin

Your favorite drink is

a hot cup of

tea

a Monster Energy Drink

You believe the most in Your closest

friend

science the starsknows the

latest gossip is a cat

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

The Ultimate Hitch-hiker’s Guide to the

Galaxy

Pride and Prejudice

Alice in Wonderland

Nina van MaanenArts and Entertainment Editor

Sunday, November 4 at the Boca Town Center Mall, had wom-en wearing poodle skirts, men donning leather jackets, and Elvis Presley playing through speak-ers. Students from River’s National Honor Society (NHS) came to support the cause in order to fulfill member-ship requirements. “I was told that the people who are members at the wellness center, have art classes and I saw their paint-ings, and some are phenomenal,” NHS Co-President senior Helen Broad said. “Some of the people don’t even speak or know their own names.” Art classes at the wellness center are taught by 54-year-old Pat, who came to the United States eleven years ago from Argentina. “Every person came into this world to do something and this was what I came into the world to do,” Pat said. Her work is not limited to only the Wellness Center; she works con-stantly at other centers and will not

be stopping anytime soon. Her class is cramped with people, ranging from the meek stutterer to the class’s wise guy. Chanin, who is robust and square-jawed with curly white hair, is the class clown. He only paints as a hob-by and likes to sketch pictures of his trips to Africa. What he loves most, though, is causing a ruckus. He will paint a moon with a smiley face in it and crack jokes for the entire class. Anita, who is 78, has finally been able to recapture her love of drawing. After dropping out of Boston Univer-sity as an art major to marry her hus-band, she had to take up her family’s business. Thanks to Pat’s encourage-ment, Anita now paints for pleasure and hopes to give all her paintings to her children. “Now I can indulge in my passion,” Anita said. While they paint for pleasure, the class also paints in order to raise mon-ey for the center. They sell paintings

Walking for a cause was not the only reason Florida Atlantic University’s (FAU) Louis and Anne Green Memory and Wellness Center held its seventh annual Keeping Memories Alive Walk this year. It was an event to showcase pieces of art created by some mem-bers of the Center who do not even remember their first names. The Memory and Wellness Center was created in 2001. In 2004, it moved to FAU and received $51.5 million from Louis and Anne Green. Additionally, it was designed as a diagnostic clinic serving dementia-specific adults dur-ing the day by providing counseling, educational activities and research activities. Those who wish to use the services of the center must pay a certain amount and scholarships are offered to those who can not. The walk, which took place on

15December 2012The GalleonARTS & ENTERTA INMENT

photos by nina van maanen

Photos Courtesy of Google ImagesArt by Ellyn Snider

Star Wars

Alzheimer patients show creativity in artwork

at charity events such as the walk; one sold for $1,000. All the money goes back to the center to improve its services. Moreover, the Wellness Cen-ter painted tiles and formed the Wall of Love for members who had previ-ously passed away. “Here I give energy and receive it back three or four times greater,” Pat said.

Students are not taking advantage of books in on-campus library

Anita finishes her stillform painting.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S16 December 2012 The Galleon

gifts

.

Jeremy FreimanStaff Reporter

Coltin Gelb, Evan Kupferberg, Dante Scholl and Reggie Love are now faded memories of last year’s regional championship trophy. Still, this year’s varsity basketball team is churning out solid results, even with the loss of its entire starting lineup from last season. The team began this year with ambitious g o a l s and high expectations. So far, the team has tried its best to dazzle fans and win games, and given its record of three wins and two losses (as of December 10), it appears to be working. “This year’s team is a brand new team,” Coach Jones said. “It’s a work in progress, and because we have such a young team, we have a lot of growth. I think we’re going to be a much better team in the end than we are in the beginning.” Coach Jones is not the only one optimistic about the team’s performance and future; fans are pleased to have a winning team representing the school. “They’re doing really well this year,” sophomore Karla Majzner said. “We know they’re trying their hardest, and

that’s all we’re asking for.” Keeping with the trend from last year, members of the team are elated that they have someone to play for at every home game. “I like the support early in the season,” junior player (and yes, Evan’s little brother) Landon Kupferberg said. “As the season progresses, and our team gets better, I hope there is

a bigger turn-out.” With players

and fans o p t i m i s t i c , Sharks can r e j o i c e about this y e a r ’ s s e a s o n . In fact, if the team continues

their run, they could follow

in the footsteps of last year’s players - all the way up to state finals.

“I think we’re doing pretty well right now,

but we can’t be content,” senior team member Jorge Reyes said. “We have to keep getting better for February. When the district tournament starts, we’ve got to bring everything.” Be sure to go and support the Sharks Boys’ Varsity Basketball Team as it makes its run at the playoffs. The team’s stats, roster and schedule information can be found at http://www.pbgametime.com.

Sharks swim into states:Claire DykasStaff Reporter

“Swimmers take your mark!” The same announcement begins every race, but there is a new sense of ten-sion as the spectators begin to cheer and scream. The Shark Varsity Swim Team races as fast as it can, relying on months of training to take it to the top of Florida’s state competition. On November 9, 2012, five boys from the Varsity Swim Team travelled up to Orlando to compete in the FHSAA Swimming and Diving Cham-pionships for the second year in a row. Juniors Shawn Zylberberg, Austin Rei-ser and Christian Munro along with seniors Daniel Schneiderman and Adam Reiser each made it to the State Competition in individual events as well as in team relays. Unfortunately, only the relay teams made it past the

BASKETBALL TEAM BACK IN ACTION

Above: Sophomore Brandon Kemmerer provides height for the Sharks on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball.Below: Junior Jeff Demezier aggressively takes the ball to the basket and reaches the rim at a recent game vs. Olympic Heights.

Photos By Jeremy Freiman

With a fresh look, the Sharks hope to bui ld of f of last season’s success

qualifying round in the morning to compete later in the day. “I was just happy that we made it to states and I hope to place next year,” Austin Reiser said. The Sharks began training for this year’s season in early August before the start of school, but each of the boys also swim on club teams year-round. The Sharks Varsity Swim Team practiced everyday after school for two hours leading up to the FHSAA Championship, but those on club teams practiced twice a day, swim-ming both before and after school. “It’s hard to have practice at five in the morning most days before school,” Schneiderman said, “but hav-ing two practices a day keeps me at the top of my game.” At the state level, the boys placed ninth in the final 200 Freestyle Relay and, while a few were upset over not making it in their individual events,

they were pleased with their place-ment in the relay. “I could have swam better,” Adam Reiser said. “But it’s awesome we made it that far.” The swimmers and their coach-es are enthusiastic about improving

even more in seasons to come. “We saw more individual swimmers qualify for states this year than in year past,” Coach Nathan Hesse said. “We have established ourselves as not just a district/regional caliber team, but a state contender.”

Varsi ty swim attends state championship

S P O R T S 17December 2012The Galleon

Art By Andrea Hoenigsberg

The Shark’s swimming team continued their dominance and placed ninth in the final 200 Freestyle Relay.

Photos Courtesy of Shawn Zylberberg

Art By Andrea Hoenigsberg

s

SportS18 December 2012The Galleon

a SEMESTER IN SPORTS

FLIPS AND TRICKSThe cheerleading team had a terrific year and keeps working hard through this year-long sport.

NOT JUST SPLASHING AROUNDShark’s swimming reached its peak this year after sending five swimmers to the state tournament.

“She got no athle t ic ski l ls, so I cal l her a gir l”

Girls’ and boys’ sports — two sub-jects that should be completely simi-lar, but are perceived as extremely dif-ferent. It has dawned on me that this subject has arisen in multiple conver-sations and should be addressed. Before I begin, I would first like to state that I am not taking into account anybody else’s theories or beliefs but my own. The first component I would like to attack is the theory that male sports are more difficult and com-petitive than female sports. It is sci-entifically shown that males do have

an advantage when it comes to body structure and strength. However, this does not mean that male sports are better than female sports. In my opin-ion, if you were to have a boys vs. girls matchup, the boys’ team would win. That does not include the amount of effort put forth on both sides, which I feel is completely equal. When cheer-leaders give it their all on the side-lines, they are working just as hard as males do at their own sport. When our muscle-jacked, heavyweight men go out there to play football, it may be tougher than girls’ sports and more physical, but within their sport they are putting out as much effort as women would in their own sport.

However, there is a completely vis-ible line when it comes to the under-standing and knowledge of certain sports terms. Even though this does not account for all girls, it is typically perceived that females fail to learn or know common sports terms. No, a touchdown happens in football, not basketball. And yes, there are actu-ally field goals in football and not soc-cer. When females know their sports terms they either actually know what they are talking about or they are say-ing it to gain some sort of attention. In fact, I know one female who could name more players on the Miami Heat’s roster than most of my male counterparts who call themselves

Josh BenrubiCommentary

SHOOTIN’ SHARKSAfter just a few games, the success of last season seems to have carried on to this sea-son’s young team.

BRAND NEW SHARKSThe Shark’s football team finished with a disappointing 0-9 record while reshaping the team.

“Heat fans”. But for the most part, that is the only real difference that is vis-ible between male and female sports. Overall, I take no sides in saying that one gender’s sports are harder than the other, and so on and so forth. Truthfully, it all centers on theo-ries and perceptions. Female athletes have the right to get angry over how hard they work at their sport, and male athletes have the right to argue against it. There are plenty of ques-tion marks that surround this subject, and I will end it how I started it: girls’ and boys’ sports— two subjects that should be completely similar, but are perceived as extremely different.

SUPERSTITIONS, SPECIAL ITEMS, AND PRE-GAME

RITUALS. WHAT BRINGS RIVER

ATHLETES ALL THIS LUCK?

LUCKY CHARMS

“After last year, this pre-game snack has been a superstition.”

SARAH GRUBMAN, 10

ACHIEVING GOALSWith a record of 7 wins, 3 losses and 2 ties, the Girls’ Varsity Soccer team shows that they have something to prove.

DANCING DIVASThe girls of the River’s Varsity Dance Team bend over backwards to impress the pep rally crowd.

“This wristband gives me the strength and confidence

during my games.”

RYAN BERGER, 11

“I have to do three high knee jumps before every race or I can’t run it.”

LIBBY KOOLIK, 12

Society doesn’t like women’s sports, but I’m not sure why

WRISTBANDGRILLED CHEESE

Photos By Jeremy Freiman

ROUTINE

3

S0CCER BASEBALL TRACK

Photos Courtesy of Google Images and Josh Benrubi

Photo Courtesy of Zoe Unger

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S 19December 2012 The Galleon

FALL 20

12

SAT WORKSHOPS

Saturdays @ 8:30 amNov 17, Jan 19, Mar 2

Apr 13, May 18

SAT SimulationsSaturdays @ 8:30 amDec 1, Jan 12, Feb 2

Mar 16, Apr 20, May 18

ACT Simulations

Test Date: February 9 5 Tuesdays & Thursdays

Starting Jan 86 - 8:30 pm

Test Date: Apr 138 Sundays

Starting Jan 272 - 5 pm

Test Date: June 88 Sundays

Starting Apr 72 - 5 pm

8 SundaysStarting Nov 4

2 - 5 pm

Test Date: January 268 Wednesdays

Starting Nov 135:30 - 8:30 pm

or

8 SundaysStarting Jan 135:30 - 8:30 pm

Test Date: March 98 WednesdaysStarting Jan 165:30 - 8:30 pm

or

8 SundaysStarting Feb 2410 am - 1 pm

Test Date: May 48 Tuesdays

Starting Feb 265:30 - 8:30 pm

or

ACT WORKSHOPS

ACCREDITED BY THE SOUTHERN ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES & SCHOOLS

www.ScoreAtTheTop.com

Boca Raton561-241-1610

Coral Springs 954-510-0600

Palm Beach Gardens 561-626-2662

Wellington561-333-8882

Weston954-510-0600

SAT • ACT Preparation

More than 30 years ofTOP SCORE GAINS!

Learn test-taking strategies from experts

Private tutoring & small group workshops

Complimentary test simulations

Practice exclusively with REAL tests

Also Available:

Private Tutoring: SAT • PSAT • ACT

College Application Essays: Workshops & Private

College Counseling: Comprehensive & Hourly

DOC:

SCO

RE00

51A

Make checks payable to: Spanish River High School.

Stop by room #1144 to purchase your yearbook.

The 2013 Tiburón will be $100 after April 15th so buy it now!

$5 OFF

Expiration Date: 4/15/2013

TIME IS RUNNING OUT...BUY YOUR YEARBOOK TODAY!

Pre-order your 2013 Tiburón Yearbook for only $95! That’s $5 off the regular price!!!

TIBURÓN

VA

RS

ITY

LA

DY

SH

AR

KS

Sh

oo

tin

g t

o v

icto

ry

Galleon The GalleonSPORTSSPORTS

phot

o co

urt

esy

Jere

my

Frei

man