COMING TOGETHER FOR THEMED LUNCHES

By Lyssa Goldberg and Alessia Pizzorni

An anonymous donor gave $50,000 to the Parent Teacher Student Association of Miami Beach Senior High on Nov. 12, with one condition: that the students decide how the money be spent.

Throughout the week of Jan. 3, The PTSA distributed an open-ended survey asking students where they thought the money should go. Included was a letter from the benefactress. The ballot listed suggestions such as class trips, classroom supplies, student scholarships, and concerts for the school. 

The PTSA reviewed and counted the ballots and set up posters on Jan. 14 with the the results. Lunch improvements topped the chart with 19% of the student vote, followed by school-based scholarships with 13%, classroom needs with 12%, and new elective choices with 12%. 

Under each category contains a list of further suggestions from students, such as as outside lunch vendors, financial support for senior class activities, metro bus passes for students, a more affordable yearbook, an aquarium, a driver’s education class, and a fashion design class. 

The U.S. Grant Committee, titled U.S. after the initials of the donor, is comprised of four students from each grade, four teachers and four parents from Beach High, who are currently in the midst of deciding where the money will go. Their next meeting will be on Wednesday, Jan. 27.

“I think it’s very generous and I look forward to see what comes out of it,” said Cary Diaz, Spanish and English teacher.” My curiosity is defiantly piqued.”

If the donation is successful, $20,000 will be given to the school every following year. “We’re inventing something new. [The donation] is all a work in process,” said Carla Oxios, track and field officer for the PTSA.  

According to Patricia Kaine, PTSA President, the benefactress hopes to encourage students to believe in the value and importance of their opinions.

“When we’re asked to make a choice, we sometimes shut down… but there are times when we rise to the occasion,” said the donor in her anonymous letter to the students, “…we, alone, are responsible for the results.”

According to Kaine, the donor wanted to remain anonymous because she did not want others to feel “indebted” to her or give her “preferential treatment” due to the amount of her donation. “Such anonymous giving is of the highest order of charity and is a rarity in our society today,” Kaine said.   

The PTSA explains they are available for any questions students, teachers and parents may have. 

“I’m really excited about this [grant],” said Phillip Cohen, junior. “It’s a great opportunity for students to actually get involved in the school. We are the ones who know what is best for students.”

ANONYMOUS DONATION

By Kelsey Sumalla

An anonymous donor gave $50,000 to the Parent Teacher Student Association of Miami Beach Senior High on Nov. 12, with one condition: that the students decide how the money be spent.

Throughout the week of Jan. 3, The PTSA distributed an open-ended survey asking students where they thought the money should go. Included was a letter from the benefactress. The ballot listed suggestions such as class trips, classroom supplies, student scholarships, and concerts for the school. 

The PTSA reviewed and counted the ballots and set up posters on Jan. 14 with the the results. Lunch improvements topped the chart with 19% of the student vote, followed by school-based scholarships with 13%, classroom needs with 12%, and new elective choices with 12%. 

Under each category contains a list of further suggestions from students, such as as outside lunch vendors, financial support for senior class activities, metro bus passes for students, a more affordable yearbook, an aquarium, a driver’s education class, and a fashion design class. 

The U.S. Grant Committee, titled U.S. after the initials of the donor, is comprised of four students from each grade, four teachers and four parents from Beach High, who are currently in the midst of deciding where the money will go. Their next meeting will be on Wednesday, Jan. 27.

“I think it’s very generous and I look forward to see what comes out of it,” said Cary Diaz, Spanish and English teacher.” My curiosity is defiantly piqued.”

If the donation is successful, $20,000 will be given to the school every following year. “We’re inventing something new. [The donation] is all a work in process,” said Carla Oxios, track and field officer for the PTSA.  

According to Patricia Kaine, PTSA President, the benefactress hopes to encourage students to believe in the value and importance of their opinions.

“When we’re asked to make a choice, we sometimes shut down… but there are times when we rise to the occasion,” said the donor in her anonymous letter to the students, “…we, alone, are responsible for the results.”

According to Kaine, the donor wanted to remain anonymous because she did not want others to feel “indebted” to her or give her “preferential treatment” due to the amount of her donation. “Such anonymous giving is of the highest order of charity and is a rarity in our society today,” Kaine said.   

The PTSA explains they are available for any questions students, teachers and parents may have. 

“I’m really excited about this [grant],” said Phillip Cohen, junior. “It’s a great opportunity for students to actually get involved in the school. We are the ones who know what is best for students.”

COMMUNITY CHEST

By Patrick Quinlan

The Beach High Community Chest will allocate approximately $1,500 of a $2000 grant from the Student Support Foundation to clubs, sports teams, and teachers at Miami Beach Senior High School at the end of January. The remainder of the grant will be distributed by the end of the year. 

BHCC distributed its grant application, which was due Dec. 4, among students, administrators, teachers, clubs, and sports teams in early November. Grant applications for ankle braces for the football team, rewards for students completing homework in Earth Space Science teacher Jesse Glickstein’s class, a breakfast for honor roll students, chess timers for the Chess Club, a Texas Instruments Presenter for Ms. Perez’s students and a video camera for the film and television program and club were selected for funding out of the 14 total submissions.

“We had a lot of applicants and it was extremely difficult to cut it down to just a few recipients,” said Jason Albert, BHCC Treasurer. “Two of the main criteria we focused on were the number of students the projects would benefit and how long the projects would last.” 

The BHCC  expects to put the remainder of the Student Support Foundation grant toward a “green” project, as required by the foundation. “We haven’t made a final decision yet, but we have a few ideas,” said Gabriela Gerinska, BHCC Grant Manager. “We are considering purchasing a Royal Poinciana for the grassy quadrangle between the cafeteria and the auditorium.”

According to Leslie Coller, BHCC sponsor, the grant money comes from the Student Support Foundation, a branch of the Morgridge Family Foundation, a philanthropic foundation which distributes money throughout the nation in order to “provide students with the opportunity to practice giving back to society by supporting their school communities.”

INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE ORGANIZATION AUDITS BEACH HIGH FOR AUTHORIZATION

By Rachel Coller and Nadine Goldberg

A three-person team of volunteers from the International Baccalaureate Organization visited Miami Beach Senior High School on Dec. 7 and 8 as part of the school’s application process for IB authorization.  

If the school is authorized, the IB Diploma Programme will be offered at Beach High beginning in 2010-2011 school year. This two-year program consists mainly of advanced education in six subject areas: English, foreign language, social studies, science, mathematics, and the arts. As part of the curriculem, students are required to complete an Extended Essay, conduct a Creativity Action and Service Project and participate in a Theory of Knowledge course.     

Volunteers Dave Roylance, Elaine Chambart and Linda Blair, who have worked at IB schools as educators and coordinators, toured the school and held interviews with prospective IB teachers, students, and parents.

The team’s job was to “make sure there is a discernable relationship between [what is written in] the application and reality,” said Roylance.

According to Dr. Rosann Sidener, principal, the visitors had to verify that the facilities are sufficient for the courses the school plans to offer, that the community is supportive, and that prospective students and teachers are interested and knowledgeable about the program.

“At the student interview, I think [the visitors] saw that the students were enthusiastic about the program,” said Gabriela Gerinska, prospective IB student, “and that it would make a great addition to our curriculum.”

Based on the team’s report back to the IBO, a recommendation is made to the director general of the IBO, who recommends whether the school’s application be approved, denied or delayed.  Beach High will receive a final decision in the spring.

“I expect we will be approved based on the reactions of the site visit team,” said Samuel Brown, prospective IB English teacher, “and based on the resources of time, energy, and funding that have been devoted to starting the program well.”

According to Sidener, if the application is approved, current sophomores who have taken at least one Advanced Placement course and either passed the exam or received a recommendation from their AP teacher will be eligible to apply for Beach High’s IB Diploma Program. The application deadline was Jan. 22.

If the school is not authorized, it can extend its application for one year. “[The IBO would] give us very specific feedback,” Sidener said. “And then we’d have the opportunity to go back and do what we need to do to bring those items up to par.”

In preparation for the visit, prospective teachers reviewed information from the IB training sessions they attended and presented their potential curricula. Sidener shared the interview schedule and possible interview questions, while students developed posters promoting the ten characteristics the IBO values in students.

SILVER KNIGHT NOMINEES ANNOUNCED

By Alessia Pizzorni

The nominees for the Silver Knight Awards are in. Miami Beach Senior High nominated six students who will be interviewed by a panel of judges in late March: Taylor Calibo, Athletics; Miriam Kolker, Journalism; Kylie Montero, Speech; Julie Rivo, Social Science; Hannah Snitzer, English & Literature; and Daryl Stein, Music. Each senior has at least a 3.2 unweighted GPA and a strong record of school and community service.

According to Beach High’s Silver Knight Coordinator, William Presswood, a project should be original and long lasting, but does not have to coincide with the category. Last year, former MBSH student Claire Austin won the county-wide award in the Journalism category with her project starting the school’s recycling program.

Snitzer’s project, which she has participated in for years, brought teens and adults together to dress up as clowns and visit children in residential shelters.

“We’re not looking for validation because the community service that we have done is already enough of a validation,” she said.

Notwithstanding, the awards ceremony will take place on May 19. Silver Knight winners receive $2,000, a trophy, as well as a medallion presented by American Airlines.

MOVE OVER FCAT

By Wendy Goya and Lyssa Goldberg

Beginning in the 2009-2010 school year, the Florida Department of Education will no longer assign letter grades to schools based on FCATscores alone. In addition, the FLDOE will begin to consider high schools’ graduation rates and the college readiness of their student bodies, according  to Florida Senate Bill 1908.

“By signing Senate Bill 1908, the Governor has kept Florida  on a path to increased student achievement,” said Eric Smith, Florida Commissioner of Education. 

The bill dictates that only fifty percent of the school grade will still be based on student FCAT  scores, which are currently used to grade secondary schools. While the details are yet to be finalized, the  other fi fty percent will include graduation rates and student scores on tests to measure postsecondary  readiness such as the SAT and ACT. In addition, the state will begin to measure student participation and  performance on Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate exams, dual enrollment and industry certifi cation. 

 According to the Florida School Counselor Association, the change is intended to create higher expectations, more rigorous curriculum, respond to student needs, and ensure that students are suitably prepared for college and the workforce.

At Miami Beach Senior High, news of the  change was greeted warmly by students in honors and AP classes.

“It should hopefully take a lot of heat off the importance of the FCAT,”  said Darren Richmond, senior. “Especially with top students, the way to tell if  they’re doing a good job is with AP tests.”

“I never liked that  the FCAT played such an important role in the way a school was looked upon,” said Leanna Rodriguez, Miami Beach Senior High alumna. “FCAT scores do  not refl ect what the teachers can truly offer to their students.”

 However other students questioned how well Beach High would respond to the measurement criteria. In 2007, the average SAT score was 970 out of 1600, compared to a national average of 1070. Beach High students passed just under 50% of their AP exams, compared to 59% nationwide.

 ”I don’t really judge myself as a teacher based on how my students do on the AP test,” said Kenneth Spiegelman, who teaches AP European History and AP Government and Economics. “I like to see them pass, and I push them to, but it’s not what’s going to change what I do in the classroom.”

Spiegelman stressed the importance of balancing performance on exams against participation in the rigorous curriculum. “One of the goals of teaching Advanced Placement is you want to see your students pass your AP test,” he said,”but that’s not the only goal. There’s definite data out there that tells us that students do better in college regardless of how they do on the AP test.” Students at MBSH took over 550 AP exams in 2007, or approximately one for every four students.

The new grading system’s exact standards have yet to be worked out. Bill 1908 mandates the Department of Education to come up with different models and methods of measuring data before passing a fi nal version in May 2009.

“The Florida Department of  ducation is still reviewing how this will be implemented,” explained Dr. Martin Karp, School Board member of Miami- Dade County Public Schools. “A large portion of the data has not been collected.”

“The idea that we’re going to look at schools in a more holistic sense is fairer than simply grading the school based on how the kids do on one day in March,” said Principal Rosann Sidener. “The concern that I have, and that is shared by my fellow administrators across the state, is that we’re jumping into a grading system before anyone knows what the rules are.”

According to the bill, once the new criteria are determined, FLDOE will publish two sets of school grades at the end of the school year: the official grade, using the old criteria, and an “FYI release of new school grades” that is unofficial and will utilize the new criteria. The new criteria will be used officially for school grades for the first time in 2010.

“The implementing of the grading system this soon is a bit disconcerting,” said Sidener.

According to Karen Rivo, PTSA President, inadequate funding for Miami-Dade County Public Schools poses another problem for implementing the new grading system.

“Until the state properly funds this new mandate, including increased funding for additional AP/ IB classes and free SAT or ACT tests, it will only promote more inequity in our schools,” she said.

SUPER SPIRIT

By Maria Guzman

A red wave of seniors, a multitude of Supermen, and teachers dressed in drag took over Miami Beach Senior High the week of November 3 for the annual Spirit Week. Along with dress-up themed days, students were encouraged to participate in a series of class- war challenges all week.

Students disguised themselves as superheroes and cartoons at the start of Spirit Week on Monday. In addition, each class competed in the Jell-O eating contest, where the seniors were crowned champions.

A parade of mismatching outfits took over the school for ‘Wacky Wednesday.’ To continue the wars, the senior class showed the most muscle at the tug-of-war competition.

Students dressed with a ‘Viva Las Vegas’ theme on Thursday in honor of Homecoming. Once again, the seniors won the daily challenge in the obstacle course.  

“We start to prepare the moment we find out the theme,” said activities director Marysol Rivero. With her help, the Student Government Association planned the events. “There are so many things that are going on,” she  explained. “All these things happen this month, and it’s a lot of preparation for it all.”

Crown and Capers was also part of the festivities. The Body and Soul dancers hit the stage, and the cheerleaders performed in the auditorium. Edward Cobin lip-synced Elvis Presley’s “Viva Las Vegas,” while faculty members Kerim Yalim, Carlos Rodriguez, Steven Gonzalez, Samuel Brown, LaRosa Legree, and Principal Rosann Sidener dressed in classic  Las Vegas costume as Cobin’s backup  singers.

The crowning of the Homecoming Court was the main event of the assembly. Carlos Macias and Jennifer Rodriguez won Freshman Prince and Princess. Jeffrey Martinez- Malo and Calypso Gibaldi took the crowns for Sophomore Prince and Princess. Juniors chose Adolfo Roche and Sofia Delgado to represent them.

“I was very happy and I liked the experience,” said Freshman Princess Jennifer Rodriguez. “It was something different.”

Homecoming King and Queen  were not revealed until the homecoming game Friday night, where Martin Iglesia and Angela Castro took the crown.

On the last day of Spirit Week, Beach High was filled with waves of black, white, gray, and red for the final class war event. Each class wore their assigned color to display the most Hi- Tide pride.

A pep rally topped off the week, preparing students for Friday’s Homecoming game. The rally included a surprise performance by rapper Bizzle. “I think that this year is unlike any other; excitement is at an all time high,” said Master of Ceremonies Adam “DJ Classik” Haas, a senior.

UNITED ALL THE WAY

By Alessia Pizzorni

The United Way student campaign sparked class rivalry at Miami Beach Senior High during the last week of October. The annual campaign consisted of ongoing and daily competitive events, including penny wars, senior auctions, faculty pie-in-theface, and donation collections in every classroom.

The Student Government Association held meetings every Monday prior to the campaign to brainstorm fundraising strategies.

“The activities were really fun and encouraged students to give back to their community while showing lots of school spirit,” said sophomore class representative Gabriela Lins. “It started to get competitive, which was exactly what we wanted. That way, more and more money was donated.”

Miami-Dade County Public Schools have the largest United Way school campaign in the nation, according to Ana Martinez, Director of Development of United Way of Miami-Dade.

“Thanks to all of our contributions last year, United Way re-invested $13 million back into programs that serve our schools,” said Jacqueline Tedaldi,  evelopment Officer at United Way of Miami- Dade.

According to Martinez, the money students raise assists three main areas in the community: education, income, and health. Volunteers decide where the funds are directed. They conduct a thorough procedure of auditing, processing, and interviewing to make sure that the money is well invested within the community.

The United Way school campaign works to improve quality of life by funding over 150 programs, including the American Red Cross of Greater Miami and the Keys, Aspira of Florida, Inc., and Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Greater Miami. United increases the impact of student donations by matching 95 cents for each dollar raised.

“We feel that every gift counts and every gift matters,” said Martinez.

HISPANIC HERITAGE FESTIVAL SPICES UP BEACH HIGH

By Maria Guzman

Fifteen flags rushed down the aisles of the new auditorium in celebration of Hispanic Heritage on October 22. The Hispanic Club’s annual demonstration of cultural pride included a variety of performances from tango dancing to reggaeton to a Celia Cruz impersonation by senior Angela Castro. The classes that were invited to the assembly were chosen based on how many cans they donated to a food drive benefiting Hurricane Ike victims in Cuba.

The main event of the festival was Miss Hispanidad, a beauty contest that featured a representative from each of 15 Spanish- speaking countries. “The contestants first signed up for the country they wished to represent,” explained Hispanic Club President Rhobynette Sala, a junior. “These contestants went through a short interview with foreign language teachers who then determined the best candidates for those countries.” The contestants dressed in native costumes  and were asked questions  about their heritage.

“It was very hard [to judge the  contestants]because they were a    very talented,” said French teacher Elena Rivas. “They all  had a very positive attitude and I think that they represented  their individual countries very well.”

The judges chose the winner of Miss Hispanidad  based on originality and complexity  of the traditional dress, catwalk, dance, interaction  with the public, charm and wit, and fluency in Spanish during the question and answer portion. 

Miss Dominican Republic, sophomore Adrisha Diaz, was crowned the winner. “I was so surprised, I was completely speechless, and I felt like crying. It was such an amazing feeling!” she said. Sophomore Melanie Veizaga, Miss Bolivia and First Princess, won for the best traditional dress. Senior Alma Ramirez, Miss Honduras, sang “Algo Mas” by La Quinta Estacion and won Second Princess.

“We’re all individuals and we all have our cultures,” said Assistant Principal Miguel Flores, another judge of the contest. “The more we educate others the better the chances we have of eliminating things like racism, and that’s what thi  whole thing is about: individuality and understanding that we all come from different places.”

OBAMA-RAMA

By Joshua B. Dermer and Patrick Quinlan

With a final win of  365 Electoral College votes, Democrat Barack Obama was declared President-Elect at 11 p.m. on November 4. Exit polls suggest that the key to Obama’s win was an outpouring of support from young voters, who constituted the margin of victory in Florida and six other states lost by Kerry and Gore. The youth vote came out for Obama in numbers not seen since 1972, when the voting age was lowered at the height of the Vietnam War.

“In his speeches, he was able to capture the youth in a way that Kerry couldn’t,” said Carlo Fassi, senior. Kerry won voters aged 18-29 by 10 points in 2004, but they broke decisively for Obama in 2008: 66% of young voters supported the Democratic nominee, compared to only 32% for Arizona Senator John McCain.

Obama’s relative youth helped him connect with a new generation voters who came of age during the Bush presidency. “I noticed that kids were more connected with him than with McCain because he was younger,” said Piero Caceres, sophomore. In a national election that  ften centered on Obama’s age and race, he found a way to turn the concerns of some older voters into rallying points for young people and minorities.

“For the first African- American to get this far, I think the youth wants to be part of something like that. This is a different generation,”  said Fassi. “If I asked my Italian grandfather who moved here in the early 1920s if a black man had ever  considered running, no one would have ever thought of it, and I think our generation  is completely 100% on board.”

“I’m a person of color, so of course  it was a very, very emotional time,” said Chris Mayorga, senior. “My whole family was very excited about it. We believe in his policies.” 

 The Democrats were also able to mobilize young voters with an  elaborate network of text messages and social networking websites. In Miami’s Bicentennial Park, 30,000 people came to see Jay-Z perform in support of Obama, after word of the concert spread by text message and over the Internet. Voter registration drives were held th  ughout the concert grounds.

“Obama is the first candidate to use technology to reach  out to voters, and I think that that is a great idea,” said Jason Albert, freshman. “We are the next generation, and technology  is a very important way of communication.”

The Democratic victory has young conservatives wondering whether  2008 is a signal of a long liberal trend, or whether Republicans can replicate the bama youth outreach tactics in 2012 and  beyond.

“The Republicans have the right policies but they failed in their campaigning,” said Sean Burstyn, senior. “They failed to communicate and level with the youth. The Republicans will absolutely be able to regain the White House, but they need a total party makeover.”

Part of the answer will depend on how Obama delivers on the issues that matter to young voters. “He said he would give you $4,000 for college if you did some sort of community service so he should stick with that,” said Caceres, “because some of us do need the money, and it’s not easy to pay it back  

“He knows and understands that he owes his campaign promises,” said Fassi. “He knows that without the youth or without the enthusiasm of all the 18- year-olds from his rallies, he knows that he wouldn’t be where he is right now.”

Burstyn was skeptical that Obama would be able to stick to his ambitious agenda in the midst of the current economic crisis and international turmoil. “We haven’t been around long enough to think of times when war was necessary,” he said. “Obama will have a very difficult time keeping up on his promises.”

Some Obama supporters expressed their hopes in the sweeping language favored  by their candidate. “He’ll change our world and make it better,” said Nicole Campbell, sophomore.

However, others were more tempered and tentative in their expectations. “I think that there are some people who are going to want him to fulfill every campaign promise, with such high expectations, which I believe is not very possible,” said Albert. “Some will be disappointed because he set the bar pretty   gh, but I think that he will meet his goals.”

According to Fassi, Obama will have to build coalitions outside of his core supporters. “He needs to figure out a way to make his decisions help the 18 to 25- year-olds, but still help small businesses, still help veterans,” he said. “He needs to make sure that his policies are helpful to everybody.”