The Lion's Tale- Volume 52, Issue 5

LION’STALE

OVIEDO HIGH SCHOOL • 601 KING STREET • OVIEDO, FL • MARCH 7, 2012 • VOLUME 52 • ISSUE 5

Find out how senior Erik Glenn supported his friend after cancer diagnosis. pg. 16

R E K A E R B T R A E H t in o p e n o y b e s lo s n io District champ

pg. 25

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( news sports )

THE LION’S TALE

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MARCH 7, 2012

Students save lives

Beta Club gets involved

THE SCOOP

The next blood drive will be on Thurs, March 29. The last OHS Blood Drive accumulated 135 units of blood. These units could potentially save over 400 lives.

There will be a competition between each grade to see which can donate the most.

The National Beta Club is collecting food for the Oviedo High School food pantry, used prescription eyeglasses, and used inkjet (no laserjet) cartridges.

On March 3, the club took part in the Walk at UCF for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

New bill for Governor Scott There is currently a bill on Governor Rick Scott’s desk that would allow “non sectarian and non proselytizing inspirational messages” or even prayers at non-compulsory school events like football games.

Proponents of the bill believe that school prayer will somehow stunt the ‘moral decay’ they believe is occurring in public schools.

Band members compete The band received a Music Performance Assessment (MPA) report. The symphonic band performed on Fri., March 9, and the wind ensemble permformed on Sat., March 10, led by band director Dennis Line.

Each band presented three pieces in front of a panel of judges.

The wind ensemble earned the highest rating, a Superior, while the symphonic band got an Excellent.

all photos/KHAN, MASON

WORK IT OUT. (above) Junior Shawnee Doling-Tye works on one of the competition projects, a three-dimensional model of Madagascar. (right) Junior Danyela Rojas and senior Cesar Rivera practice the play for the French competition. The play is a comedy about a family attempting to travel for the first time.

French Club members prepare for upcoming competition

by Arianna Ray

The competition extends over a period of unior Danyela Rojas chants her lines three days. in her head, stepping into the cleared “The competition is three days long. We area in the center of the French teacher have a banquet at the beginning. You can do Corrine Torres’s classroom. vocabulary, read a poem, speak, or do reading Practicing for a play, Rojas and her comprehension. There’s a dance on Saturday cast mates joke together, mingling fun and as well,” Rojas said. activity. This year French students will head Junior Brandon Wilks decided to compete to Congrès de la due to his interest Culture Française en in the French I thought it was a good Floride from March language. opportunity to work on 15 to 17.

“I love French “I’m super and I wanted to French. Some of my friends are excited. AP French actually be around also going. I’m very passionate and French III are people who love about French. doing a play. It’s French, too. It about a family also sounded kind Shawnee Doling-Tye, ‘13 traveling for the first of cool [to go to time and they’re sort competition]. It’s of helpless. They’re trying to pick where to definitely an interesting class. I love learning go and how to do it. It’s a comedy. Seven about other cultures,” Wilks said. people are in the play. It’s really good,” For the competition, Wilks intends to Rojas said. perform a poem entirely in French.

Torres choose to go to competition, unlike “My goal [for the competition] is to not her predecessor former French teacher Sandy come in last place for the poem reading and Bierken. Bierken’s retirement allowed the to memorize my lines for the play. Most French students to compete. likely it’ll be difficult but it’s worth it. It’s “I decided to go to competition because not something you do everyday. I’ll probably it’s a fun experience. I did it when I was do it again next year,” Wilks said. young. It’s a great motivator to keep learning The last day of the competition falls French,” Torres said. on junior Shawnee Doling-Tye’s birthday, Torres and her students will travel to a during spring break. hotel for the competition.

“I’m pretty excited. The competition ends “It’s at a Double Tree hotel. The conference on my birthday. I wish it was a day earlier takes up almost all of the conference rooms but it can’t be helped. I like doing a lot of in the hotel and it’s packed all day long,” academic competition. I’m making a 3-D Torres said. model of Madagascar for the competition,”

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photo/ARIANNA RAY

PLAYING THE NOTES. Senior Drew Freeburn marks on his sheet music during a band practice on March 7.

Doling-Tye said.

Doling-Tye’s French background inspired her to compete.

“I thought it was a good opportunity to work on French. Some of my friends are also going. I’m very passionate about French. I have French-Canadian ties and backgrounds.

I like being around others who also love French,” Doling-Tye said.

Doling-Tye holds no particular goals for her first French competition.

“It’s my first time doing this. I have no expectations. Other people may have been working for a long time on this competition. I just want to enjoy myself,” Doling-Tye said.

Rojas, however, aims higher.

“Hopefully we’ll get first. I’m competing in reading comprehension and vocab. It’s a state competition so any school can go. I think I’m capable of getting first, though.

You can’t practice for this sort of thing, though. You either know the words or you don’t. I want the group to get first place in all of the categories or at least second. I want our play to win best overall. Once we finish practicing, it’ll be good,” Rojas said.

Wilks practices every day for the competition.

“I really have no idea how I’ll do [at the competition]. I’m pretty confident in myself.

It’s a new experience. We’ll see how I do. I could either do really, really good or really, really bad. I spend a minimum of 30 minutes a day memorizing parts of the poem. I also practice for the play on weekends,” Wilks said.

ariannar@thelionstale.com

MARCH 7, 2012

| news |

THE LION’S TALE

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Tensions build over dress code enforcement

by Rachel Lo

code sweeps, when first period teachers are n the way to her sixth period, security required to check for any students violating dress guard Bonnie Presley stops junior Amrita code and send them down to discipline.

“I think the dress code sweeps are stupid.

Patram. Presley gives her a dress code infraction, causing Patram to have to wait half an They distract from class and take time away from learning. Teachers should be paying more hour and miss part of class.

“One time on my way to sixth period, I got attention to learning. Administration has more a dress code from Ms. Presley. I had to wait important things to worry about than short shorts, like 20 minutes for my mom to come drop off like graffiti or fights,” Patram said.

Hernandez agrees with Patram. another pair of shorts, and then I had to wait like “They’re a waste of time because, at the end another 10 minutes for Ms. Presley to write up my referral. So I got to class late and I had a of sixth period, I still saw students wearing short test, and I completely failed it because my mind shorts. Teachers don’t even care. I think dress was preoccupied. Dress code distracts from code takes time away from learning because they [teachers] are more preoccupied on checking if learning,” Patram said. someone is dressed Dean Drew Morgan okay than actually explains the policy for People are all different teaching,” Hernandez violating the dress code, said. which was mandated by shapes and sizes, so you can’t American Sign the county last year. enforce the same rules for Language teacher “The dress code policy everybody.

Kathy Bingham feels is if you get a dress code, that dress code sweeps you receive a Wednesday Taylor Trier, ‘13 do not take that much school. If you get more, time to accomplish. the punishment ramps up “[Giving out dress code] can be done for each additional infraction. We have three different ways of dealing with a dress code. The quickly. It’s something you don’t spend a lot of first way is if you get a dress code and you have time on. ‘There you go, go,’ and be done with a change of clothes on campus, you are allowed it,” Bingham said. “Whenever we do the dress to change, and you still get a Wednesday school. code sweeps, I’m always surprised—pleasantly The second way is your mom or whoever can surprised—when I don’t have anyone that needs come and drop off a change of clothes. The third to be sent down.”

According to Morgan, the dress code sweeps way is you go to in-school suspension for your dress code. We’re not going to send students back but will be used more frequently with the out into the population if they’re not complying approach of summer weather.

“At the beginning of the year, we really with dress code,” Morgan said.

With the warmer weather, Morgan observes informed students about the dress code. It was that dress code is becoming more of an issue. in the planner, I taught about it when I went to Morgan is beginning to give out more dress classes, and students did a pretty good job of codes, particularly for short shorts or skirts complying with it at the beginning of the year. on girls. Many female students think that the And in the winter months, we didn’t give many dress codes, because students were covered up. school’s dress code is somewhat unfair.

Freshman Mary Deglimene feels that she was Now, it’s either students forgot about it, or maybe it’s the warm weather,” Morgan said. “It was wrongly punished for wearing athletic shorts.

“I got dress code for Nike shorts—athletic definitely helpful. We had a significant amount shorts—by Ms. Riley. They’re like the ones I of students come down after [the sweeps]. We’ll wear in dance. They’re middle thigh and perfectly be doing that again in the future.”

Many girls think that wearing shorts in the fine. I got a referral but not a Wednesday school.

It was unfair because everyone wears Nike shorts summer should be allowed as long as they look and they weren’t short on me either. It was appropriate.

“I don’t dress really badly. I’ll wear a pair of ridiculous,” Deglimene said.

Patram notices inequalities when girls receive shorts once in a while. If it’s really hot outside, I’m not going to wear jeans in like 90 degree dress code.

“I’ve gotten dress code before for shorts, but weather. We’re in Florida; it’s really, really hot I feel like my legs are kind of short compared to most of the time,” Patram said. “If your butt my arms. Some of [the dress codes I’ve gotten] is hanging out, you shouldn’t be wearing those are fair, and then other ones I don’t feel are very shorts. But if it’s reasonable and decent and justifiable because I see other girls wearing nothing is hanging out, I don’t see a problem like really short stuff—shorter than mine—and with it.”

Deglimene expresses a similar opinion. they don’t get dress code because their arms are “It’s a good point. It gets so hot. The air shorter,” Patram said.

Junior Taylor Trier thinks it’s unreasonable conditioning can’t keep up with the heat. We for girls that wear the same article of clothing to should be allowed to wear shorts at that time. It depends on what your size is, how it fits you, and get different punishments.

“People are all different shapes and sizes, so if it’s not too tight. I think the main key for shorts you can’t enforce the same rules for everybody. is that it’s not too tight,” Deglimene said.

Bingham shares a different viewpoint than I can understand having a general idea, but you can’t have the same rules for someone who’s six Patram and Deglimene on the issue of shorts.

“I don’t think short shorts are going to be feet tall compared to a short girl,” Trier said.

Patram shares the same feelings, particularly any cooler or more comfortable than schoolabout the school’s decision to implement dress appropriate shorts. The appropriate length shorts

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illustration/WESLEY WYNNE

LOOK LIKE THIS. The figures above illustrate the accepted dress code at OHS. are just as cool and comfortable as the short shorts,” Bingham said.

Bingham believes that a good dress code is helpful for learning.

“I think it’s very important. It’s too many distractions for other people if someone is dressing inappropriately. For example, if the jeans are too low and people are looking at students being exposed, it can cause distractions in the class room,” Bingham said.

Students like Hernandez believe that if a

student is dressed decently, she shouldn’t be punished.

“Administration has more things to worry about than checking if girls are wearing short shorts. Dress code gives a good basis for what to wear to school. People who dress inappropriately should be punished, but people who look decent shouldn’t be punished and administration shouldn’t waste their time,” Hernandez said.

rachell@thelionstale.com

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THE LION’S TALE

| news | MARCH 7, 2012

Research class designs experiment for NASA

photo/HARRY TRABER

MANNING THE COCKPIT. Sophomore Pranshu Bhardwaj and juniors Steven Schilke and Madison Greco practice the different positions inside the shuttle cockpit for the competition.

Team explores nutrient absorption during flight simulation in May

by Stephanie O’Sullivan

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he research class gathered around lab tables in advisor PJ Kreahlings classroom trying to finish their application to the NASA program on time.

“We kind of just sat around and brought up a bunch of ideas. We figured that we couldn’t test the psychological effects of things on astronauts, because that included asking the astronauts to put themselves at risk. We weren’t hyperactive, but we were definitely working on a deadline,” junior Steven Schilke said.

Brainstorming was a group effort, according to sophomore Pranshu Bhardwaj.

“We read in to it a little bit before we

started brainstorming. We tried to go a different direction from where we thought the other teams would go. We figured most of the other groups would try to work with physics, so we decided to stick to biology and see the effects of biological functions in zero gravity. We had four days to do it, total, and we had to send them our concept, the complete research plan, and the application,” Bhardwaj said.

The experiment will focus on nutrient absorption.

“NASA had this challenge for high school students to design an experiment that NASA could test in no gravity. We would give them the procedure, and they would basically test it in zero

gravity. We’re going to be testing the process of osmosis and diffusion using dialysis tubing to simulate how astronauts would absorb nutrients while up in space,” junior Madison Greco said.

The group will be testing their experiment in a flight simulator in May. To prepare for the simulation, the group will be using a variety of preparation tools.

“We’re going to practice using a program they sent us. ROTC also has flight simulators that we’ll be using to prepare. NASA will also send us a flight simulator, but we don’t know when that will be. It’s important that we practice using these simulators because when they give us the problem while we’re in flight, we have to know how to use the parts and how to fix the problem,“ Greco said.

According to Kreahling, over 25 groups applied for this program and only eight groups will travel to Cape Canaveral in May. “It’s a huge accomplishment for us to get this far. I’m excited to get there and perform the experiment,” Schilke said.

Only five members will be allowed to perform in the actual simulation in May. Each member tested out the different positions before they finalized each position on March 6.

The pilot will be senior Harry Traber, the copilot will be Bhardwaj, the mission specialist will be Schilke, and sophomore Carson Smith and Greco will be the mission control.

Bhardwaj looks forward to liftoff.

“I think the most exciting part will probably be liftoff. You know you’ve done everything right if you can take off properly. That’s probably when they’ll throw the technical problem at us as well, so if we can handle a problem during liftoff, than we can handle any problem. It’ll probably take us about 20 minutes to do the liftoff. In a real liftoff, it takes the astronauts about 45 minutes, ” Bhardwaj said.

4 Parts of the

Competition 1.

Each participant takes a 100 question multiple choice test about the parts of the spaceship.

2.

The teams face an engineering challenge in the shuttle simulator.

3.

The teams present an experiment they designed to a panel of experts.

4. The teams fly a simulator

and finds out the answer to their proposals.

stephanieo@thelionstale.com

State makes PERT test mandatory for all juniors, seniors

by Arianna Ray

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he Florida Department of Education mandated the Post Secondary Education Readiness Test (PERT) assessment. This test must be taken by all juniors and seniors to prove college readiness in reading, writing, and mathematics.

“Now it’s mandatory for all juniors and seniors who are not college-ready to take the PERT test. SSC (Seminole State College) uses the PERT and we have to be in alignment with the tests for our local county. The county told us we had to do PERT. The test will occur on campus. It’ll be from March 27 to 30,” assistant principal Greg Register said.

Students may be exempt from taking the test if they have taken the ACT, SAT or CPT. A minimum score of 17 on English, 18 on Reading, and 19 on Math is required for the ACT while 440’s for verbal and math is required for the SAT. To be exempt through use of the CPT, a student must have earned at least an 83 on Sentence Skills and Reading Skills, and a 72 on

Elementary Algebra. bringing [their scores] in,” Register said.

However, some students, especially juniors, Junior Marilyn Drummer suggests another find this policy unfair as they have not yet taken possible way of testing for college readiness. the tests that release them from PERT testing.

“I think they could put us in some sort of “I’ll probably college atmosphere take the next SAT with college students.

The test [PERT] takes kids out that’s offered.

I They could see of school. It’s during school just procrastinated. how we are in that Nobody ever informed environment. It’s one time. Kids are taken out of me that I have to take thing to be amongst honors or AP classes to take the test. Otherwise I high school teachers, the test. would have done it students, and friends Morgan Faust, ‘13 before. It’s stupid. than having a college I’m kind of mad about professor lecturing it. I don’t see why it’s you,” Drummer said. necessary. Obviously I plan on going to college.

Faust believes that registration for the SAT I’m going to take the SAT either way,” junior should be sufficient to prove college readiness.

Morgan Faust said.

“I’m not exactly sure how else they could Register realizes that some juniors have not [test for college readiness]. If you’re signed up yet taken the ACT, SAT, or CPT. for the SAT and you have exact information “Most juniors are signing up now to take the then it should show that you’re college ready.

SAT. But we have to prove everyone’s college Just because it’s not at a certain time doesn’t ready. The list [of who takes the PERT] is at mean that people aren’t going to prepare for Mendez’s desk in the front office. Kids are college,” Faust said.

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Register reports that, for students who fail the PERT, the alternative testing exemptions are still applicable.

“If you don’t pass the PERT, it is strongly recommended that you take MCR [Math for College Readiness]. It is mandatory that you take it. The number of students who take MCR will probably grow. We have to plan for that.

But if you fail the PERT and still take and receive the required SAT, ACT, or CPT scores then that can still prove that you are college ready and it is not required that you take MCR,” Register said.

Faust notes that the PERT will detract from students’ learning time.

“The test takes kids out of school. It’s during school time. Kids are taken out of honors or AP classes to take the test. They should not be taken out. It’s disruptive. Dedication-wise, they’re clearly dedicated to their classes and school.

That should speak for itself. It’s hard to make work up for AP classes,” Faust said.

ariannar@thelionstale.com

MARCH 7, 2012

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THE LION’S TALE

| news | MARCH 7, 2012

Freshmen to have human sexuality and HIV/AIDS education in biology

by Harry Traber

according to Zimolzak-Coe. She expects the his year will be the first year that content of what she teaches to be similar to biology teachers in Seminole County what the Biology teachers will be teaching.

“Basically we talk about reproduction, will be teaching human sexuality and HIV/AIDS education to freshmen. On Feb. 2 how fertilization occurs, the anatomy of it. the county sent a letter home informing parents We talk about basically abstinence-only.

We don’t talk about birth control. There are and students of the change in curriculum.

In the past, students were required to take some things I’m not supposed to talk about,” Life Management Skills as freshmen where Zimolzak-Coe said.

However, if they would be introduced students have to these topics among I know a lot of people who questions about others. However Life are sexually active right now as contraceptives, Management Skills is no Zimolzak-Coe is longer a required class. a freshman and they need to open to answering Biology teacher know about those decisions. any questions Lynn Klemann attended Koltton Kizer, ‘15 that come up in a meeting two years ago the class. where the idea of adding “I feel that a human sexuality I would rather and HIV/AIDS unit to someone come to me and ask ‘Why did you biology was discussed.

“They talked about it at the meeting but teach this?’ than have a student come to me and nothing ever came of it. I assume that, at that ask, ‘Why didn’t you teach this?’” Zimolzaktime, they were deciding what class to add it Coe said. “If it’s a legitimate question, I will answer it. If a student feels uncomfortable, I to,” Klemann said.

The unit will be discussed after the End have them anonymously write their question of Coarse exam and will take up the last two on a piece of paper.”

Freshmen Caleb Mallory is glad weeks of the school year.

Life Management teacher Erica Zimolzak- that students will be taught about this Coe still teaches the class at Oviedo High information.

“I think it’s important because they need School.

“I feel it is one of the most important to know what they can get if they aren’t safe subjects because it can affect their entire life. and what they can give other people if they I’m happy to hear that, even if life management aren’t safe,” Mallory said.

Zimolzak-Coe would agree with Mallory isn’t required, they are getting the education as she is often surprised by what students do somewhere,” Zimolzak-Coe said.

Even in Life Management, the unit not know about the subject before having her covering human sexuality and HIV/AIDS class.

“It’s surprising what a lot of them don’t prevention only lasts two to three weeks,

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know. With the reproduction and fertilization, It’s surprising a lot of them don’t know how pregnancy happens. They think they know but they don’t. And STDs, it’s important that they [biology teachers] cover that,” Zimolzak-Coe said.

Freshmen, like Koltton Kizer think that understanding the consequences of actions is important for students to know.

“I know a lot of people who are sexually active right now as a freshman and they need to know about those decisions,” Kizer said.

In the letter the county sent home the county allows students to be excluded from learning this information if they chose.

However, Kizer doesn’t think parents will want their children to miss this information.

“They [parents] would probably like it [the unit]. It keeps me safe. They are worried about their children being sexually active,” Kizer said.

Klemann feels that the class would be more suited to a personal fitness class that a biology class. Mallory agrees with her saying he would prefer to take Life Management instead.

I think it should be a class by itself, because if you’re in the class every day you will remember [the information] better,” Mallory said.

Kizer disagrees with Mallory. He thinks it’s a good idea to add it to the end of biology.

“They [the county] should just add it on.

Because me, I don’t want to take another class. It [biology] is required. To me it’s easier to just add it on to the end of biology,” Kizer said.

What to expect out of human sexuality

and HIV/AIDS education v The class will focus on

HIV/AIDS as well as other STD education and prevention. v Setting and respecting

sexual limits as well as pregnancy prevention will be taught.

v All lessons will emphasize

the importance of abstinence from sexual activity.

v If you have any questions,

Dr. Trent Daniel can be contacted at 407-4844008 or Trent_Daniel@ scps.k12.fl.us

harryt@thelionstale.com

Brief history of STD’s Up into the 1960’s, syphilis and gonorrhea are the only major STD’s being reported among the U. S. population.

Gonorrhea accounts for the most common infection over syphilis

In 1981 the Center for Disease Control makes the first officially documented case of HIV/AIDS in the United States.

Statistics show that about 40 million people are currently living with HIV.

1996 marks when Human Papilloma Virus is recognized as the cause of 90 percent of all cervical cancer in women.

According to the Center for Disease Control, HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection.

From the 1980’s to present day, eight new STD’s have been discovered in the United States alone.

These new diseases have arisen from sexual activity with multiple partners. info corurtesy/CARENETABQ.ORG

(opinion sports )

A NEED TO OUR WORD

MARCH 7, 2012

Abstinence-only education neglects students

ver 70 million itty-bitty people come into the world every year. Despite extreme policies like China’s one-child limitation, the world population continues to surge ever upward. The massive numbers of people on our planet strain nations’ welfare and Earth’s limited resources to unreasonable levels.

The United States certainly has plenty of room for improvement. The U.S. alone contributes almost 3 million babies to that world total growth every year and taxpayers suffer millions upon millions in child support to unprepared parents.

In a fantastic step towards educating Americans about sex and pregnancy early, Florida schools plan to introduce a human sexuality and HIV/AIDS segment at the end of Biology classes.

The course-within-a-course includes information on anatomy and abstinence, two major components to improving citizens’ understanding of sex.

However, just this may not be enough.

The information certainly does a fair job by just putting off the issue – but if students don’t receive education about effective birth control and prevention methods, there’s no backup illustration/ WESLEY WYNNE whatsoever when abstinence falls through. difficult life on Earth will be when resource use increases – with Education systems should at least attempt to explain at least three of our planet necessary for most students’ lifestyles. alternatives just in case.

A more in-depth sexual education would improve this dire Often this proposal creates a moral or ethical dilemma overpopulation issue (as would environmental education, but that’s for those insistent on abstinence. However, when abortion is another story). a commonly available option, do obliterated fetuses really Cornell University hosts a document detailing overpopulation outweigh a short talk on contraceptives? and carrying capacity of Earth. The report announces an estimated The latter certainly does less physical damage, if not mental, average of 10-15 billion people as the absolute maximum population making the whole religious opposition to contraceptives a bit Earth could carry. hypocritical.

To completely avoid this limitation Abortions and (if the pregnancy continues If students don’t receive – on its own just optimistic guesswork to term) welfare certainly create a more costly education about effective – is the ideal, and sexual education scenario than contraceptives. Title X already keeps the population well away from accounts for availability of contraceptive birth control and prevention the catastrophic results of exceeding services for those of low welfare, so that cost is methods, there’s no backup Earth’s resources – mass starvation, accounted for. whatsoever when abstinence pollution and shortages among the When the numbers add up, there’s no reason worst consequences. to dodge contraceptive education. falls through.

With devastating consequences Even worse, the United States lost out on both economically and being the first to implement such education: environmentally, avoiding a full Iran instituted a comprehensive contraceptive reproductive education for Florida’s students completely fails in the program in 1993, including a required contraceptives course prior real purpose of sexually educating at all. to marriage.

Abstinence-only education creates a hypocritical dilemma that Should the United States really slip behind Iran in such only winds up spitting in the face of its supposed ethical goals. affairs? It’s a bit ridiculous that we won’t keep up with others in While the Florida legislature deserves credit for a bold, very the world just because we’re a little reluctant. important first step, there’s a long way to go before real, effective Especially as other nations improve living standards and progress is made. consume more resources, overpopulation increases its damaging We at The Lion’s Tale urge an improved, more well-rounded effects. education for the sake of the planet and country.

Myfootprint.org provides an interactive display of just how

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THE LION’S TALE

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“It is the mark of an educa ted mind to be able to enter tain a thought wit hout accepting it.”

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LION’S TALE

OV I EDO H I GH S C H OOL • 6 0 1 K I N G S T R E E T • OV I E D O, F L 3 2 7 6 5 • M A R C H 7 , 2 0 1 2 •VO L U M E 5 2 • ISSUE 5

Editors-In-Chief Arianna Ray Stephanie O’Sullivan News Editor Harry Traber Opinion Editor Brandon Koller Features Editors Hafsa Hussain Zoe Lyon-Goldman Diversions Editors Olivia Davila-Finch Carly Ford Sports Editor Andrea Dobo Advertising Editor Drake Dickerson Web Editors Amanda Ferguson Justin Mang Photographers Linsey Duca Colton Jaqueth

Willow Mason Staff Artists Jonathan Bohinsky Wesley Wynne Staff Reporters Leigha Bennett Andy Bosley Trevor Khan Rachel Lo Ellen McCormack Chris Moskal Courtney Rothermich Alexis Sherwood Sarah Tripp Jessi Whitacre Faculty Adviser Deborah Jepson Admin Adviser Marcia Haskel Principal Robert Lundquist Oviedo High School 601 King Street Oviedo, FL 32765 Phone: 407-320-4199 Fax: 407-320-4213 Population: 2223 Students 165 Staff

Mission Statement

The Lion’s Tale is the student newspaper of Oviedo High School, located in Oviedo, Florida. Our mission is to provide news, feature stories, editorials and opinions relevant to our readers while upholding the highest professional and ethical standards. The Lion’s Tale follows copy standards outlined in the Associated Press Stylebook, 42nd Edition, published in 2007 by the Associated Press, and is a member of the CSPA, NSPA, FSPA, and SIPA. Distribution

2500 copies of The Lion’s Tale are distributed free to all students and staff at Oviedo High School. Subscriber information is available upon request.

Reader Contributions

Letters to the Editor are accepted and may be sent by post, e-mail, or dropped off in Room 5-020. The Lion’s Tale does not accept guest columns, and reserves the right to edit letters to the Editor. Full policy is available on request.

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The views of the staff do not necessarily represent the views of the administration, staff, or faculty of Oviedo High School.

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THE LION’S TALE

RACHEL LO

| opinion | MARCH 7, 2012

STAFF REPORTER

Three tips to be a better person

H

igh school sucks.

I’m pretty sure those three words cross every teenager’s mind at one point or another. If you really never, ever hate your adolescent years at least once, you must live in a bad Disney Channel sitcom.

We high school students do way more than watch bad MTV shows about Italians living in New Jersey, after all. We have homework, jobs, and a whole bunch of petty drama.

So, to help with high school survival, I’ve compiled a list of tips based on my experiences as a teenager.

1. Don’t obsess about what others think.

If you’re one of the many who cares too much about what people think, stop for a moment and try to remember someone you saw today who also has a zit on his or her nose. Can’t think of anyone in particular? That’s my point.

You don’t care enough to remember that about someone (even though this is high school, and the likelihood of seeing someone having a zit is 100 percent certain), so chances are someone else won’t care enough to remember a flaw about you. Whether you like it or not, not everyone is going to notice you when you walk into a room.

2. Don’t make hasty generalizations.

I’m just saying, if you see a girl wearing a skirt smaller than a dish towel, it doesn’t necessarily mean she’s a tramp (although it often does). Don’t assume that the jock is a jerk, the cheerleader is stupid, or the Asian is a genius—those are all just high school clichés (although one of them is almost always true).

There’s always more than meets the eye, so don’t commit a fallacy.

3. Take chances. Do things outside the norm.

Isn’t that what high school’s about, after all? Yes, I am aware that sounds like something straight from a teenage cliché movie. Step outside of your comfort zone. If you’re one of those people who does absolutely nothing every day after school, join a club (Glee supposedly accepts everyone). If you’re really outgoing, stay home for a Friday night (although that’s kind of the opposite of taking chances). If you’re a freak about getting good grades, don’t study for a test (haha, yeah right).

You might find that you actually enjoy doing something you’ve never done before. For instance, join a club, audition for the school play, or try out for a sports team. If you end up embarrassing yourself, please refer to Tip one.

Remember students, we only have four years of high school to endure. So make the best out of your time here, or at the very least, don’t jump off a bridge.

rachell@thelionstale.com

illustration/WESLEY WYNNE

Computers will never replace human creative process

HARRY TRABER

M

NEWS EDITOR

oore’s Law dictates that every 18 months the power of the computer will double. This law, described in the 1965 paper written by Gordon Moore, has held true and is expected to stay true until 2015.

This doubling of power leads many scientists to believe that, someday, computers will be able to replicate human thought. I personally doubt this, and I doubt it for a lot of reasons. We don’t know enough about our own thought process to even adequately describe it. If we can’t describe thought, how could we recreate it?

Even if a computer could create its own abstract thought and carry out a conversation on some level, it was still designed and created by us humans.

Forget everything popular culture has taught you about computers and robots. Forget Terminator, I-Robot and every movie that depicts robots as becoming conscious and

immediately murderous. That is all science fiction and nothing else. Even if a computer were to become self-aware, a computer is still a computer and can be modified and nullified to whatever degree we deem appropriate.

We will be in perfect control for the foreseeable future.

Dr. Michio Kaku has spoken at length about what is called singularity, the hypothetical event where computers achieve conscious thought. Dr. Kaku remains skeptical to the idea of a singularity as well. He predicts that Moore’s Law will break down as we continue into the future because the basic properties of elements like silicon will prevent computers from reaching singularity. With this line of thought I agree wholeheartedly.

There are far too many things standing in the way of recreating the mind to achieve anything like singularity by the projected date of 2045.

Our current computer chips are made of silicon, which we know will lose its stability as a medium to increase the power of computers in the very near future. When that happens, we will replace the silicon chips with graphene chips, and then the next innovation, and so on and so forth, until a computer can process the most vast quantum equations in the blink of the eye.

Still, no matter how much power a computer has, I doubt abstract thought can be created by an equation, no matter how powerful. It is possible, however, that the future could reveal some more about how thought works.

There are many scientists who disagree

with me. They believe that with our coming understanding of the human brain and mind, we can create a conscious computer or even recreate ourselves. To them, I say the brain is a living thing, just the same as we are. Our brains can grow and compensate in ways that a computer never could.

One last, simple thing prevents me from believing the singularity will ever come: computers will always be subject to needing programming that we create. This programming did not arise through the rough means of evolution and trial and error. We gave it to the computers, and everything we give to them we can know and understand.

Their creation process is in actuality our own.

It is not new. It’s us. Even if a computer could create what we deem a random original thought, that work is still the reflection of its creator.

Every “thought” it generates can be analyzed and understood. Every action backtracked. Every socalled emotion simulated and resituated.

Even if a conscious thought does happen, it’s not the computer’s thought, but our own. A program running artificial reflection of us is just complicated enough to give the illusion that it was capable of achieving an inception of thought.

The stumbling block for proving singularity is possible will be proving that any computer’s creation was actually an original idea that could not have come from some programmer somewhere, anywhere.

harryt@thelionstale.com

MARCH 7, 2012

|

opinion

|

THE LION’S TALE

09

New hope emerges as senior struggles with depression

BRANDON KOLLER

OPINION EDITOR

D

STRUGGLE PRESSURE DREAD SURE STRESS STRUGGLE PRESSURE STRESS DRED STRESS DREAD PRE SSURE STRUGGLE DREAD STRUGGLE PRESSURE

epression affects about 121 million people worldwide, according to the World Health Organization, and around 8.3 percent of U.S. adolescents suffer its consequences. Three times as many females as males are diagnosed with depression, and the high school years tend to be the most common occurrence.

I would know, after all. For years, I’ve struggled with my own case of chronic depression.

The National Institute of Medical Health became hikikomori (literally “withdrawal”), defines major depressive disorder as “a which the Times defined as “a person severely depressed mood and activity level sequestered in his room for six months or that persists two weeks or more.” A major longer with no social life beyond his home.” depressive episode makes life a nightmare That was me. An American hikikomori, where everything seems in immediate danger trapped by my own self against the pressures of falling apart and nothing seems worth of the real world, with no hopes of escaping doing. the situation. I got over it eventually, though, I dealt with this in my own way over and now I’m here, writing this article against time, but with little guidance and no idea the deadline because I couldn’t motivate of how to cope effectively with my qualms myself to write it. about life, depression often won out. I I hate that feeling: the feeling of dread spent half my sophomore year holed up that comes with in a beach side any obstacle. I room in California, I felt like the world was out to hate the idea of completely ignoring Americans finding the outside world get me and there was no point comfort in staying and putting off every struggling against it. Shutting in their rooms for bit of virtual school everything out felt like the best months, without any work I could. I kept outside contact. I myself pacified with option at the time, and every hated it, even as I mind-numbing video year I’ve missed days here and perpetuated it. games and wastes of there when the pressure hits The hikikomori time. trend can’t come I felt like the me like a brick. into America by entire world was anyone’s allowance. out to get me and Often the affected there was no point simply leech from government welfare and struggling against it. Shutting everything out felt like the best option at the time, and every mental disability payments to get by without the difficulties of work or communication, year I’ve missed days here and there when harming the rest of society. I don’t propose a the pressure hits me like a brick. Sometimes, shut-in witch hunt, but efforts must be taken it’s not a major breakdown and just a feeling to avoid a society that allows the Internet to of powerlessness or desperate worry over an enable this behavior. impending project or test, but the effect still What to do, though? Stress control comes through.

Things always somehow work out in their plays a major role in preventing a complete shut-in, shut-down behavior. Helpguide. own way, but it’s a rough path. However, shutting myself in against the world certainly org recommends “taking charge of your thoughts, your emotions, your schedule, your failed to help in my quest for inner peace environment, and the way you deal with while I coped with the real world. The problems” and recommends taking complete New York Times ran an article, “Shutting responsibility for any stress. I wouldn’t be Themselves In,” on a similar trend in Japan, stressed about writing this if I’d done it as youth gave up entirely against stress and

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photo illustration/FERGUSON, TRIPP

earlier, and the same goes for homework or projects or the majority of school-influenced stress.

Taking on a huge amount of work is another issue – know your limits. Going crazy with stress-inducing work will much more likely hurt than help in the long run.

Others can help immensely in the process, so reach out if you’re in need.

There are many guides full of such tips for those afflicted. Of course, the other side of this comes from everyone else and the attitude they maintain. The best attitude to take is one of helpfulness and friendliness in any situation, and that applies doubly here. If you notice someone withdrawn from the rest of the world, offer a kind word – it makes a huge difference.

Pity absolutely isn’t my goal here – nobody in his right mind would want that.

Understanding of the issue, though, and a push against any spread of depressionenabling behavior certainly works for everyone’s benefit. I’m not asking for help or any sort of different treatment – especially for me, who manages things well enough on his own – but the consequences of depression must be known before they can be prevented.

You might think I’m a bit of a hypocrite to write this, as I often fail to keep stress down – but I’m trying. The best thing to do in a situation of depression is to fight against it – to keep level-headed and positive despite the odds, and to keep trying. Like everything else, depression becomes a battle of will. To everyone keeping up the good fight, I wish for the best for you – you wouldn’t have the chance to read this if things really were impossible.

brandonk@thelionstale.com

TREVOR KHAN

STAFF REPORTER

Columnist ignores rumors, loses trust in certain people

I

can tell when someone is lying.

Everyone has their own little “tell,” and I can usually find one. But, when you have the whole school talking about you it’s not so easy.

About two months ago , I happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

A bunch of my friends (I tend to use the word loosely) had gotten into a big fight and they all began to tell rumors about each other, a very dumb idea according to everyone.

The rumors spread like a virus and before I knew it, I was hearing a lie from almost everyone’s mouth.

Now, where they start, I can’t tell you.

What really went down, I can’t tell you.

Nobody can, because it got to the point where anything could’ve passed as the truth.

Lucky for me, I’m already half of the things people say about me.

I am rude. I am very conceited and I am very honest. But, I’m not the person who was so bored with my own life that I had to corrupt someone else’s with just the power of spoken word.

A person like me has much more to do.

Anyway, eventually all of the lies got so bad that the police were involved. I’m happy to say that none of the rumors were about me, except the one about me spreading all of them.

People I’d once called my friends were stabbing me in the back with their painful glances and I had no idea why.

I’d known that this feud was going on with my friends but I didn’t know they’d actually drag me in to their stupid little problems.

This just goes to show what kind of people live in our society. They actually get so caught up in lies that they start to believe that those who are close to them would try to hurt them intentionally.

But I don’t have to worry about that anymore, because I know who my friends are and lucky they know I wouldn’t do something like that to them.

I have too much class for things like that. Unfortunately for some of you out there, you don’t, and you’re not even aware of it yet.

trevork@thelionstale.com

10

THE LION’S TALE

| opinion | MARCH 7, 2012

THE GREAT DEBATE:

PRO BRANDON KOLLER

Do colleges need the PERT?

CON HARRY TRABER

OPINION EDITOR

PERT innovates unlike other readiness tests

F

lorida legislature just implemented another fantastic tool for education: Postsecondary Education Readiness Test, or PERT. The PERT works very similarly to current reading-level tests.

Answered on a computer, PERT chooses questions based on alreadyanswered questions’ correctness. PERT will find limits of students’ knowledge in a very effective way for both students and colleges.

Some might argue the PERT skirts too closely to SAT territory.

Similarly to the SAT, the PERT examines college applicants’ skills in mathematics, writing, and reading through three individual sections geared towards each. Unlike the SAT, however, which measures students in comparison to one another, the PERT specifically determines the course level most suited for a specific student.

Not only this, but PERT provides colleges with an idea of performance on specific concepts in a subject. A 580 in math tells colleges a lot less than a spread of scores describing proficiency in geometry and algebra but room to improve in trigonometry.

Many top colleges provide exams that perform the PERT’s function.

Instead of accepting an AP Calculus class, an exam is provided to prove proficiency on a scale accepted by that college. The AP classes are to the college tests as the SAT is to the PERT: PERT provides much more information about a student’s ability.

Ideally, just one test could do both the SAT’s and PERT’s jobs, and the PERT could well fill that role in the future.

The PERT test also eliminates stress: no student can pass or fail the PERT. Colleges accept students prior to the PERT, so at worst, a lower math class might be required to be taken. To help students get a valuable college experience, the PERT eases the transition to college and allows colleges to provide according to specific strengths and weaknesses.

Even better, because the test is digitally assigned and submitted, many staples of testing become streamlined and many issues disappear. Cheating, already difficult, becomes nearly impossible on a computerized test. No longer can students inconspicuously flip back to a past section or sneak a glance at the answer sheet of another.

Students avoid waiting hours while time trickles away. The test only comprises 30 questions in each of the three sections - so tests shouldn’t take six hours, like some sort of waiting game. Following from this line of thought, student conduct during tests (the poorest of which often results from post-answering boredom), should improve drastically.

Cost and test presentation, issues deeply tied together, also hold great potential for improvement. Without physical tests to print and grade, the test’s costs come down to writing it.

Because this cost limitation effectively evaporates, a whole range of interactivity in tests becomes possible. Pixels display for free, so anything test creators feel could help students becomes possible. Rather than the dull tests of yesterday, students might look forward to vibrant, creative challenges to overcome –doing wonders for student motivation.

The PERT might appear at first as a mere knockoff of what we already have, completely useless in its entirety, but this is a fatal misconception more likely to freeze progress than to streamline things for the better. Rather, the PERT brings a slew of new features that absolutely need to appear in our current schooling environment.

Sure, nobody wants to take yet another test, but when that test is as ground breaking as the PERT, things change. Knowing the capabilities of the PERT and its enormous potential for improvements, I can say for certain that the PERT change is for the better.

brandonk@thelionstale.com

&

Ups Downs The best and worst sides of the PERT Ups: P Computer-based P Tests specific skills P Impossible to fail P Low-cost P Streamlined

Downs: O

Similar to SAT

O

Stressful

O

Few review books

O

Extra senior work

O

Unprepared teachers

NEWS EDITOR

PERT creates unneeded stress, wastes time

S

tudents do not need to go to the PERT test. There are plenty of tests that look to see if a student is ready for college or not already and it’s dumb to create a new one.

I agree that not every student is ready to test and work at a college level. That’s why tests that prove they can are so imperative. College needs to be a step forward, not a remediation of high school work.

You have to remember that when we get to college we will be competing against not only other American students, but against students around the world. Our colleges are great beacons of education that attract the best and brightest. This means colleges will expect the highest level of performance out of each and every one of us. Colleges will not slow down or take pity if we falter. When going to college, we have to be ready for long tests and essays. Large projects might require a sizeable monetary investment from us. If you are not ready for this then you will fail. If you fail, then you just wasted thousands of dollars that you will not be able to get back.

That is why tests like the SAT and ACT exist. They are already there to determine if you can perform on a college level. That is my point from the beginning. We have tests in place already to tell us if we are ready for college. PERT is just yet another test for students to worry about - though it is supposedly easy compared to the SAT. College prep courses will train students for this new test. But students have to deal with the SAT, along with the ACT, not to mention senior project. Are we seeing a pattern yet? Students who would be taking the PERT test already worry about so much. Adding to their list of tests only takes away from time they could be learning other things that colleges will expect them to know.

Oviedo High is a “senior project” school, much to the displeasure of more than one senior. Senior project consumes a lot of time. I have heard teachers throughout my time in high school lament that the senior English program is a year lost, when many students still struggle with basic English grammar.

Despite some student’s displeasure, the project requires a huge time committeement from the seniors enrolled in the class. A portfolio must be developed. Community service must be completed. Orals must be taken.

All of this takes time and time is something seniors have precious little of.

The PERT test is just another complaint to an otherwise full plate of things to take up a senior’s time.

When we already have the SAT and the ACT, along with the CPT, to place students in their respective levels of college performance, adding the PERT in replacement of the CPT seems silly to me.

Consider this: SAT, ACT, and CPT all have a long history, and teachers have tons of assistance available to those who chose to look.

PERT is a new test - there won’t be a ton of background and a ton of books for study. It’s kind of like a new monster, looming in front of student’s faces, obscured by a shadow more dangerous in its mystery than it actually is in practice. When taking the real test, students will find it is not so terrifying as they once believed - but that fear is still there.

Even when students practice for the test, the benefits that come from having someone with experience in the room are gone.

A change to college preparedness tests is not a great idea when we already have plenty of material to ensure that students are ready for college.

harryt@thelionstale.com

(features sports )

MARCH 7, 2012 |

Renaldo’s Hits 1. Go On

THE LION’S TALE

Makin

11

’

Music

2. Broken Promises 3. Why’d You Go 4. A Best Friend 5. Only One

illustration/WESLEY WYNNE

Watt puts out first lyrical soul CD photo/ERIN HOAG

by Ellen McCormack

A

string of rhythmic words flow out of senior Renaldo Watt’s mouth as he freestyles off the top of his head. When Watt enters the recording studio and starts composing music he instantly feels as if he is in another world.

“I feel really inspired. It’s just what I do. Usually when I write I listen to other types of music to get sparked. I feel like I’m in a different type of mind state,” Watt said.

Watt developed a passion for music as a kid.

As a child, Watt would bang and pound on pots and pans he took out of the family’s kitchen.

Even from an early age, Watt was intrigued with music. This fascination transformed Watt into an ambitious musician who is developing a career in the music industry.

Today, Watt is a line drummer in the marching band and an up-and-coming hip-hop/R&B artist.

Watt’s musician name is T.F. Music is an aspect that shapes Watt’s life on a daily basis. Watt writes music every day and records at least a few times a week. Watt produces songs at his mentor’s house, Dylan Charles. Charles is Watt’s mentor for his senior project, an educational program designed to challenge high school seniors and help them gain experience in the career they wish to pursue.

“I’ve known him basically all my life. He has always been musically inclined, and that’s why I wanted him to be my mentor so he could help me out,” Watt said.

Watt made a choice to pursue music further and produce an album called From the Ground Up. Watt’s album is going to be released on iTunes this March.

“Over the summer, I decided to make an

album. That’s when I decided to make music, booth and just freestyle off the top of my head. It but I didn’t really know where I was going to go usually turns out pretty good because that is one with it. I know what my style is now and how I of my strong points,” Watt said. “Writing a song depends on the beat. I usually write 16 bars for want to pursue it,” Watt said.

One of most fulfilling parts of making music my verses and varying bars for my choruses.”

Composing and being involved with music for Watt is listening to his finished product of a song for the first time. Watt believes that his first create a certain tension in Watt.

“The positives are that a lot of people just album is commendable.

“I feel like it is really a learning process and know you from your music and like what you do it is really good for what it is. Being the first if you’re good. The negatives are it’s really crazy album, you learn how to do things better,” Watt just performing. You get nervous.” Watt said.

Watt hopes to sell 500 copies and make a said. profit off his soon to Watt describes his be released album. music as lyrical soul.

I know what my style is now “It’s not my main Watt’s inspiration for and how I want to pursue it. plan for making music comes from other money, but it’s artists like; Common, Renaldo Watt, ‘12 definitely something Drake, The Weekend, that I want to pursue.

Boyz II men, ASAP Rocky, and Wiz Khalifa. Another source of I’m going to have a backup plan,” Watt said.

Completing the album had its challenges inspiration for the choruses in his songs is old for Watt. However, the biggest dilemma was R&B solos.

“I think R&B can definitely help artists with staying on deadline for the release date of the singing melodies because R&B has a lot of soul. album. Making the deadline was tough because When I listen to Boyz II men it definitely helps the incorporation of various people in the album me to make melodies and know how to change creating process.

“I don’t like when you have to deal with a lot my voice and how to make it sound,” Watt said.

Watt composed the songs from his album, of people. When you work with a lot of people, From the Ground Up. For Watt, the writing they don’t work on it as hard as you do. I could process feels simple and straightforward. Watt have been done with it now, but you have to deal said that in the writing process you start by with people who do the features and the make getting a beat and basically write to it. Then you album art. It gets annoying sometimes,” Watt brainstorm about your ideas, what you want the said.

Watt advertises his upcoming-album and song to be called, what it is about, and what it music mostly though twitter and Reverbnation, means to you.

“It’s not really that complicated. I’m good a website that allows musicians to share their at writing choruses. I can go in the recording music publicly through the Internet, where he is

“

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currently ranked 23 in the hip-hop charts from Orlando area.

“I have a Twitter and all the people send links to my music to other people, they say that they like it and share it with other people too,” Watt said.

Watt also promotes himself by performing at clubs and at the recent school recital. At the school recital, Watt presented his song, “A Best Friend”, from his new album.

Watt experiences conflicting emotions from the time he is about to perform to when he leaves the stage.

“I get really nervous before I even get on stage, but when I got on stage I mellowed out.

When I start to rap, all the nervousness goes away,” Watt said.

Watt’s family and friends support Watt to be involved in music “They really like it because I’m proactive and I stay out of trouble,” Watt said.

In Watt’s opinion, to be able to pursue music, an artist has to be extremely dedicated.

Watt said that if an artist going to pursue music they have to put the time in and promote it. For Watt, making an album has been a long process.

He said you can’t just tell two friends and expects to get famous.

Being an artist alters how Watt and other people view him, but it transforms Watt into a greater and more dynamic individual.

“I feel like more confident because I know that I’m an artist and people look at me differently, and so I have to be different,” Watt said.

ellenm@thelionstale.com

12

THE LION’S TALE

| features | MARCH 7, 2012

Improper use of birth control can lead to teenage pregnancy

by Jessi Whitacre

A

lone in her room, a f r a i d and confused, senior Miranda Betterley sits on her bed, at a loss of what to do. Although their plan was to tell her parents together, she couldn’t wait for her boyfriend any longer.

Betterley was crying, and her mother came into her room to try to comfort her. She was nervous, but she finally told her mother she was around one month pregnant.

“He [my boyfriend] was telling me that day about how much he wanted me to get an abortion, and I told him I couldn’t. I would consider adoption, but I couldn’t get an abortion. I was crying really hard one night and that’s when my mom came in,” Betterley said.

According to a survey done by the Women’s Law Project in 2009, 39 percent of teen who had sex did not use a condom the last time they had sex.

Betterley, however, had different reasoning. She explained that she and her boyfriend didn’t use a condom because neither of them thought pregnancy was possible at the time, as she was taking a birth control pill.

In a report by the New York Times, Center For Disease Control officials stated that in instances of unplanned teenage pregnancies, they didn’t believe the birth control was faulty, but instead that the young women failed to use them consistently or correctly.

“I was on the pill. It was really hard. I their peers.

A study completed by researchers wouldn’t recommend the pill for birth control because if you miss a day, you’re supposed Strouse, Buerkel-Rothfuss and Long (1995) to wait 30 days and then start over. Doubling found that there was a fairly strong positive up doesn’t work. That’s what I did, and I still correlation between high school juniors and seniors who are accepting of unprotected got pregnant,” Betterley said.

Betterley also explains that, although she and/or premarital sex and their exposure to participated in sexual education classes in MTV. Author of “16 and Pregnant? No Big school, she was never taught the proper way to use birth control pills, and was unaware Deal,” an article for newsbusters.org supports of just how much responsibility using it this theory, stating that MTV has a history of airing controversial material, including entailed. television series 16 “They basically and Pregnant, which just tell you not to Because sure, having a baby was first aired in have sex at all, or to can be very cute. But it is also June 2009, and has use a condom, but it been said to “glorify” isn’t helpful, really. a lot of work and huge step teenage pregnancy.

They don’t talk up in maturity.

“I hate Teen Mom. about the pill and They don’t show you how much you have Miranda Betterley, ‘12 what it’s really like to to stay on top of it be a mom; they just and be responsible, and they don’t talk about other forms of show you baby-daddy drama. They don’t show you [what it’s like] staying in the contraception, either,” Betterley said.

Public Health Reports explained that hospital, or when your baby is super sick and many teens aren’t using condoms because crying,” Betterley said.

Although Betterley doesn’t regret her teens fear their partner’s disapproval.

Recent state law takes sexual education pregnancy and love s her child, she explains out of the physical education curriculum and that if she could have the same baby, but later places the information into biology classes, in life, she would have made the decision to wait. beginning with the current freshman class.

“Basically, to the girls at this school, All standards dealing with sexual education are dictated by the state of if you’re having sex you need to make sure you’re being responsible and using some Florida.

Although the course will teach about type of contraception, and make sure you’re sexuality, as a whole, Seminole County using it the right way. Because sure, having classes do not address the issue of birth a baby can be very cute. But it is also a lot of work and a huge step up in maturity,” control, and teach abstinence only instead.

Despite attempts to educate teenagers Betterley said. and help them become aware of the benefits jessiw@thelionstale.com of abstinence through sexual education Editor’s Note curriculums, some sources say adolescents are still being influenced in their daily life This is the second article in a two part series about by music, television shows and movies, and teenage sexual activity.

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illustration/ WESLEY WYNNE

The Facts • Many of the girls used and say they were too drunk to use proper birth control.

• 49.3% of teen boys and 54.2% of teen girls agree that pressure from their partners is one main reason teens fail to use birth control/protection.

• One million teenaged girls get pregnant each year.

• 1/3 of girls who had gotten pregnant had been drinking when they had sex.

• 91% of them reported that the sex was unplanned. info courtesty/CRIHB.ORG

MARCH 7, 2012

| advertisements |

THE LION’S TALE

13

14 THE LION’S TALE

| features | MARCH 7, 2012

STRESSIN

On a scale from one to 10, how stressed are you?

OU

10

9

Classes plus social life create ‘perfect s 8

Courtney Puckett ‘15

Lauren Betancourt ‘15

7

6 Lyndsey Taylor

‘15

5 Kayla Busse

Pope, staff members are very busy, yet have unior Valentina Viecco walks into her responsibilites to take care of.

“We create something out of nothing. sixth period class determined. With no time to focus on anything else, she opens It has a lot of parts to it, photos, captions, stories, and story ideas. Everything has to her yearbook spread.

Nothing stands in front of her and the come together and we have a short amount of deadline she has to make.Viecco’s second time to do it,” Pope said.

Appleget’s stress affects her performance year on yearbook staff created stress on top in the classroom. She uses free time in certain of the AP biology class she struggled with.

Among all the difficult classes and dealing classes to her advantage.

“When I know we’re not doing anything with yearbook deadlines, Viecco considers in class, I ask to leave for yearbook. When her stress level to be fairly high.

The Washington Post reports that 54 I’m in class most of the time, I’m exhausted,” percent of Americans are concerned about the Appleget said.

Besides the struggle of balancing level of stress in their lives and an increasing number of teenagers and college students feel yearbook with difficult classes, Appleget’s stress continues stressed as well. at home.

Viecco manages her There’s a lot of pressure “I kind of stress by sticking to her on students in high school, bring it home. I schedule. From one class come home in a to the next, she stays especially if they are involved bad mood, not focused on one task at a in extracurricular activities. wanting to deal time.

Jill Loiars, ‘12 with anything. I “I have a set schedule have a big family and I just follow that because if I don’t do it, then everything gets so it’s hard to stay away from people when I want to be alone, which is how I handle my thrown off,” Viecco said.

Working on yearbook staff comes with stress,” Appleget said.

Appleget once lost four spreads all saved stress when having to make deadlines and make sure everyone else works at a diligent on a flash drive and had to start all over again. pace.

“I just get frustrated and feel like being “Making sure everyone is on their toes [is hard]. I’m always wondering ‘are they the minimal kid, not doing anything, seems getting their pages done, are they working like it would be so much better,” Appleget hard?’” Viecco said, “Being on yearbook said.

Among difficult classes and extracurricular staff is really difficult because we want to produce a good book and we want to get it activities, senior Jill Loiars balances a varsity sport as well as being a Thespian. done before deadline.”

“There’s a lot of pressure on students in Senior Allyssa Appleget considers her stress to be high as the only editor of the high school, especially if they are involved in extracurricular activities,” Loiars said. yearbook staff along with AP classes.

Loiars’ relationship with her boyfriend “Yearbook takes up so much of my time and I really care about it and want it to be at another school also weighs on the pile good. So I stress about the little things. of stress and amount of work she has to Because of yearbook, all my other classes accomplish.

Getting behind and having to make up struggle,” Appleget said.

According to yearbook advisor Alicia missed work affects life at home as well.

J

“

”

‘15

4

3

2

1

by Zoe Lyon-Goldman

Tyler Pac

‘15

“When I’m behin parents get e-mails f they stress me out eve me to get my work d stressed out enough,” However, Loiars’ helps her express her e communicate during s “I take out my ange said.

The stress in Loiars entered high school, in in.

“There’s a lot of life because everyone I don’t want enemies b my life even more stre Staying organized Small control her stres periodically.

“When I get stres emotional. Having to no time to do it,” Sma As secretary of Association, an act church youth group, a currently takes, it can feel overwhelmed.

“I try to be really out what I need to ge what is the most impor Small said.

Small’s mother’s some of the stress she e basis.

“I confide in my mo organized, so she help to get done. She works help me get things don Small has a more being under pressure i “I put it on mysel stress. I like knowing I I like that feeling of ac said.

zoe

MARCH 7, 2012 | features |

THE LION’S TALE 15

NG

UT

storm’

nd on my work, my from my teachers and en more. They motivate done when I’m already Loiars said. passion for volleyball emotions that she can’t chool. er on the court,” Loiars

s’ life peaked when she ncluding the need to fit

pressure in my social just wants to be liked. because that just makes essful,” Loiars said. d helps junior Amy ss levels, which change

ssed out, I get really do so much and having all said.

Student Government ive member of her and the AP courses she n be easy for Small to

y organized and figure et done. And figure out rtant thing to get done,”

support helps relieve encounters on a regular

om because she is really ps me with what I need s it into her schedule to ne,” Small said. e positive outlook on in stressful situations. lf. I like having some I have to get stuff done. ccomplishment,” Small

el@thelionstale.com

photo illustration/LINSEY DUCA

Sources of Stress

How to Alleviate Stress

A study named “Confronting Teen Stress, Meeting the Challenge in Baltimore City” uncovered the five main sources of stress reported by youths.

1. Meditate- Any repetitive action can be a source of meditation. This includes walking, swimming painting, and knitting.

2. Breathe Deeply- Stress evokes shallow breathing, while calm is associated with relaxed breathing.

v School work 78% v Parents 68% v Romantic relationships 64% v Friends’s problems 64% v Siblings 64% info courtesy/WWW.TEENHELP.COM

3. Drink Hot Tea- Coffee raises levels the stress hormone, cortisol. Chammomile is a traditioinal favorite for reducing stress, as well as black tea.

4. Make a List- Make a list of what stresses you, and systemically eliminate anything from the list that isn’t necessary.

5. Book a Vacation- Sometimes you just need a mental health day.

6. Do What You Like- Pick up your favorite book or put on your favorite music. Let yourself zone out and relax. info courtesy/WWW.WEBMD.COM

16

THE LION’S TALE

| features | MARCH 7, 2012

Fighting against c a n c e r Senior supports friend diagnosed with cancer

by Courtney Rothermich

O

ne phone call shattered senior Erik Glenn’s night. On the other end of the line, a friend was sharing the news that Glenn’s best friend, Chloe Zulcosky, a senior from Seminole High School, had just been diagnosed with brain cancer.

“I was at work. When I’m at work, my phones off, so nobody could contact me. I got home, forgot to turn my phone on, and hopped in the shower. When I got out of the shower I turned my phone on, simultaneously getting on Facebook. When I turned my phone on, I had upwards of 35- 40 missed calls from a couple of my friends. So I called one of them back to see what was going on. As she was telling me over the phone, I was reading it on Facebook photo/COURTESY OF ERIK GLENN at the same time. That night we ended up going CRAZY FOR CHLOE. Senior Erik Glenn wraps to the hospital. I was at the hospital until about his arm around his close friend Chloe Zulcosky. four P.M. the next day,” Glenn said.

The next few days were rough as well. to drive up there all the time to see her,” Glenn Three days after the diagnosis Chloe had to said.

Chloe getting sick hit Glenn hard. undergo brain surgery, which required her head “It just added on stress. I work all the time. to be shaved. After a conversation with her mother, Glenn and six of his friends decided to I have training all the time. I have school all the time, and then having to go to the hospital and shave off their hair for Chloe.

“Because of the surgery, when they cut her do all that stuff, and fit her into my schedule, because she skull, they shaved half became my number of her head. There was She [Chloe] is absolutely insane. one priority. She no point in having half She is the kind of person who, still is, to be a head of hair, so they two and a half weeks after having honest with you. shaved the rest of it. It It’s tough. She was all going to come invasive brain surgery, will go on a will call me in the off anyway when she roller coaster. middle of the night started the chemo and Erik Glenn, ‘12 upset Having to the radiation. I guess manage with that it was just sort of expected of us to shave our heads. We didn’t and everything else is rough,” Glenn said.

According to Glenn, Chloe’s health is really plan it. We all just sort of did it,” Glenn improving every day. said.

“Her surgery removed like 80 percent of The group took a trip to the barbershop to the tumor, but they didn’t get all of it out. They remove their hair in honor of their friend.

“She actually found out because my friend had to use the chemo and the radiation to get video taped it while we were at the barber the rest of it. Health wise, she is doing really shop. My friend showed her the video while well. Every MRI she has shows progress, but she was in her hospital bed, and she just burst emotionally she’s not on that level yet. She’s out laughing. I looked pretty ridiculous the done really well for somebody like her,” Glenn said. first time,” Glenn said.

Having cancer has not taken away the life Glenn, who is going in the Marine Core, had to shave his head around that time anyway. He that is in Chloe.

“She is absolutely insane. She is the kind feels that shaving his head is nothing compared to the hardships that Chloe has had to go through. of person who, two and a half weeks after “What she’s going through is a hell of a lot having invasive brain surgery, will go on a more difficult than me just shaving my head,” roller coaster. She shows up to all the football games. She’s a cheerleader. During the time of Glenn said.

Glenn makes Chloe a priority in his life, her surgery, she would still sit out there in her cheer uniform, with no hair, no hat, no nothing even after his hair grew back.

“She pretty much runs my life. Everything and with a big old scar on her head and sit in pretty much revolves around her. I took her her chair. She won Homecoming Queen along out on Valentine’s Day, spent all of my money. with Matt Myers, who also had cancer, as King.

She’s expensive, that’s for sure. We hang out She’s awesome,” Glenn said. courtneyr@thelionstale.com all the time. She lives up in Sanford so I have

“

”

OHS For Charity Senior Kim Segrest

According to The Seminole Chronicle, Segrest donated a total of $924.84 to Olive Garden’s Pasta for Pennies national fundraising partnership, hosted

by NJROTC. The campaign raises funds for leukemia and lymphoma research.

“

I was stunned when I realized how much money was in the bucket. I was happy that I donated it to a good cause. Mr. Wilkie inspired me to donate to Pasta for Pennies, because he’s really into all of this fundraising stuff and encouraged all of his students to donate. My dad had the coins in a bucket. He had been collecting them for years. We found it and chose to donate it.

”

Bioscience teacher Amy Demins

“

I enjoy running the races. And it’s a good cause. It’s a win-win, it keeps me in shape and funds cancer research.

”

Stand Up To Cancer Stand Up to Cancer (SUTC) is a cancer awareness foundation. Their mission is to raise awareness and funds for cancer researchers to find the cure.

1. Get Involved Go to their website at standup2cancer.org

2. Start a team Join an existing team or register to start a new one.

3. Bring the team to our school Once the team is made, with proper approval, a team can be brought to OHS and students can start raising money for the search for the cure. info courtesy/STANDUP2CANCER.ORG

MARCH 7, 2012 | features |

THE LION’S TALE

17

Saving

for College

Drew Freeburn, ‘12

all photos/COLTON JAQUETH

Students share their ways to save for college Tips for saving S money

by Alexis Sherwood

eniors Rachel Garcia and Jerald Huff watch their paycheck climb every week; Garcia and Huff share similar ideas on how to save money in a way that won’t hurt them financially in the future.

According to Garcia and Huff, putting about half of the money they earn into a savings account for college is the most effective way to save.

“More than half of my paycheck goes into savings. I’ll have more money for when I go to college and I won’t have to work as much,” Garcia said. “I just don’t touch any of that money. Once it goes in, it doesn’t come out.”

Garcia works at Tutus on Broadway in Oviedo and makes $12 an hour. Garcia has been working there for two years, has saved up at least a couple thousand dollars for college.

She is still unsure of any scholarships that she could receive yet, because she won’t be informed until April.

Huff saves half of his money for college and a car. He works at All Points Tile and Slate. He also does community service for Bright Futures Scholarship by participating in the Gift for God Computer Foundation, which also makes college less expensive.

Senior Drew Freeburn also saves half of his money in a bank account. For Freeburn, saving half of his money ensures that he is not spending it all.

“Every time I get paid or get money from a job or relatives, as a rule of thumb I always put at least half of it in my bank account,” Freeburn said.

Garcia learned how to budget her money by watching her parents and by learning as she goes.

“My mom taught me how to organize a lot

of my money. [The balancing of her paycheck] is a little different every time. Just growing up and watching my parents with their money, they’ve kind of gotten me into the pattern of saving and tithing and [knowing] what I can spend,” Garcia said.

Huff said, there are also ways of keeping track of what you have spent, and ways to cut corners on what most teenagers spend money on.

“I only spend half of what I make so if I plan on buying things, I only get what is necessary.

I don’t have a car. I bike since my work is right down the street. Since I don’t drive, I don’t need gas money and I do pay taxes. I keep a bin of all my receipts and sort them by date,” Huff said.

For Garcia, the economy is affecting her budget.

“I definitely notice I’ve been spending more on things like gas and it’s not so much affecting me because thankfully I don’t have to pay for a lot yet. I know my parents can’t afford to pay for a lot of things for me so I have to take up more expenses,” Garcia said.

Factors vary on how hard or easy it is for them to save and use their money for practical things. According to Freeburn, it’s “not that hard.” Garcia, however, struggles.

“It’s really hard sometimes because I want to spend a lot of it. It takes a lot of self-control to actually divide up my paycheck evenly and make sure I save it. It’s difficult if I just want to go shopping with my friends and I want to touch the money in my savings account, but I can’t. So it just takes a lot of self-control,” Garcia said.

In order to make college easier as far as working and budgeting goes, Garcia makes sure to save specifically for college.

“More than half of my pay check goes into savings, so for college if I wanted, I’ll have more money for when I go to college, and I won’t have to work for a semester,” Garcia said.

The money that Garcia is saving for will also help her for when she decides to move out and live on her own.

“I think [saving my money] will help a lot when I’m on my own living in the dorms and having the different expenses, and if I want to move into an apartment, I’ll have money for that too,” Garcia said.

According to Freeburn, it will be harder to spend his own hard-earned money when he is living on his own.

“Yes [it will be harder] because I’m going to have to use my own money for stuff and I can’t just rely on my parents anymore,” Freeburn said.

Huff uses smart tactics to make sure that he has money for his future plans.

“I only spend half of what I make, so if I plan on buying anything I only get what is necessary. The 50 percent that I save goes into savings for college and a car,” Huff said.

Huff does not plan on moving out of his house during college, since it will make being a college student less stressful financially.

“Moving out would mean I’d have to be a full time student and full time worker, so that’d be really stressful,” Huff said.

There are also ways to cut down on spending, according to Garcia.

“I definitely don’t buy a lot of name brand stuff anymore. I’m a bargain hunter, and I also try to save money on gas so I try to not drive as far anymore,” Garcia said.

alexiss@thelionstale.com

Asia Landenwitch

“

I have two jobs and I only spend my tip money. I work at IHop and Tijuana Flats.

”

Brennan Hietpas

“

‘12

‘13

I put money in my savings account and make homemade meals instead of going out.

”

18

THE LION’S TALE

| features | MARCH 7, 2012

The average person laughs 15 times a day.

sports ) ///////////(DIDYOUKNOW?

A jumbo jet uses 4,000 gallons of fuel to take off.

Sigmund Freud had a morbid fear of ferns.

Recycling one glass jar saves enough energy to watch T.V for three hours.

Like fingerprints, everyone’s tongue print is different.

Cheerleader Adoptee Optimist

Sherlock Holmes never said “Elementary, my dear Watson.”

It’s against the law to catch fish with your bare hands in Kansas.

Most Americans’ car horns beep in the key of F. Eyes are always the same size from birth, but noses and ears never stop growing.

The average person laughs 15 times a day.

Junior uses cheerleading as escape

photo/WILLOW MASON

by Leigha Bennett

by Jessi Whitacre

S

ince junior Darby Maniccia was eight years old, she has found solace in cheerleading.

Even in the darkest of times, being a cheerleader meant she had found a safe place to get away from all the turmoil that surrounded her, most of which was caused by her mother, Lauri.

Lauri disappeared for months at a time due to her struggle with an addiction to prescription drugs. Darby’s father, Jim, could see the toll that Lauri’s addiction was taking on Darby and her sisters. In an attempt to protect them, Jim tricked Lauri into going to a rehabilitation clinic.

Jim sent Darby and her sisters to live with their grandmother until after Lauri returned from rehab. Soon after she returned, Lauri relapsed into her old habits.

One night, she made the decision to set Jim’s bedroom aflame, in order to exact revenge on him for tricking her into attending rehab.

The fire engulfed the house completely.

Luckily, no lives were taken that night, however, something was taken from Darby; her entire childhood turned to ashes in a single night.

Lauri was later charged with arson and sent to prison, leaving Darby’s father with the responsibility of finding the family a new place to live.

Soon after the trauma of that night of flames had faded, Darby’s father suffered a fatal heart attack. Darby had been robbed of both of her parents.

A neighbor took Darby in so her older sister Jessica could finish college. When Jessica’s schooling was complete, she adopted Darby and

Senior Steve: by Jonathan Bohinsky

her younger sister, Shelby. Since then, Darby became determined to put a positive spin on her life.

Darby is now a varsity cheerleader for Oviedo High School. Cheerleading continues to be a positive influence in Darby’s life and Darby takes pride in being part of something larger than herself—the cheerleading squad.

leighab@thelionstale.com jessiw@thelionstale.com Editor’s Note

One by One features a selected student, whose story is told in only 300 words.

It takes a lobster approximately seven years to grow to be one pound.

“Dreamt” is the only English word that ends in the letters “mt.”

A toothpick is the object most often choked on by Americans.

The sound of E.T. walking was made by someone squishing her hands in Jello.

In the White House, there are 13,092 knives, forks and spoons.

dyk@thelionstale.com info courtesy/TEALDRAGON.NET

(diversions sport s )

MARCH 7, 2012

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THE LION’S TALE

19

Other websites to

look out for Tumblr’s rise in popularity fueled by bloggers’ passions

by Carly Ford

A

s the bell for lunch sounds, junior Brianne McGuire pulls out her cell phone and begins to scroll down through the dashboard of her Tumblr. She searches for pictures that fit the style of her blogs and posts them as she heads to her table.

“If I’m bored at school I’ll scroll through it a little, and a couple hours before I ago to bed at night I’ll reblog some things and check my blog, because I get about 5 to 10 new followers a day,” McGuire said.

Tumblr is a social networking site that has recently gained popularity among students.

A site used solely for the purpose of reblogging, or posting, visual media such as pictures or videos, Tumblr continues to rise in popularity. Users can also include music and choose from thousands of different themes to create a unique design for their blog. These themes can be downloaded on Tumblr or copied from other blogs.

The site tends to focus more on the emotional aspect of a person’s life. It allows for uploading photos, words, music, and videos that express personal feelings and sometimes a general theme representing one’s beliefs and personality.

Some users find Tumblr to be more of an outlet to express their feelings.

McGuire enjoys the site for the freedom it offers, “I like Tumblr because I don’t feel the need to act fake, I’m myself there and nobody sends me hate for it,” McGuire said.

Tumblr gives students a way to make their voices heard without feeling judged by their peers. Blogs can be ‘followed’ by other tumblr members.

“It allows you to express yourself with a greater variety, not only can you post whatever you want, you can customize your blog into yourself,” senior Conley White said.

Many blogs manage to attain thousands of anonymous followers.

Some blogs follow a certain central theme, including fashion,

black and white photos, beach, or partying. Users post pictures that relate to their theme.

McGuire’s blog doesn’t necessarily follow a strict theme, but she does favor certain types of pictures.

“I reblog pictures of couples and people in love. I post a lot of my own photos too,” McGuire said.

This factor of anonymity takes away the pressure of only posting pictures of what they think other people might like, and allow users to more freely express themselves rather than simply trying to fit a social norm.

Tumblr can act as a forum for strangers to communicate and even be used to assist each other with problems that friends or fellow students may not understand.

White appreciates Tumblr for its welcoming atmosphere, “The fact that you can blog about anything and there’s always people on there to help you or to talk.”

Each blog has an ‘ask’ button that allows followers to send the creator of the page questions or advice. It even has the option of posting these questions anonymously, just in case the asker wants to keep their identity hidden.

Tumblr’s appeal makes it a heavily used social networking website today, but even so, some remain skeptical over whether it’s a passing fad or the next phenomenon.

Critics of the site, and even some users of it, question whether Tumblr will actually become the next big thing, similarly to how Facebook overtook Myspace several years ago.

“It probably won’t get more popular than Facebook, even though its already really popular. And even though a lot of people from Facebook have been migrating to Tumblr, I don’t think it’ll replace Facebook,” McGuire said.

However, White seems to think that they will both rise in popularity together, without one overtaking another.

“I think they will stay about even seeing as how they appeal to two different styles of internet users,” White said.

Tumblr or Pinterest ?

“

Tumblr, good way to showcase artwork and meet other artists.

”

carlyf@thelionstale.com

“

Tumblr, it helps inspire everything. It fuels my way of life.

Gabe Cortese ‘13

Dani Hugh Sam ‘13

“

Pinterest, it inspires my brain. Art kids are desparate for inspiration.

”

Pamela Condly ‘13

”

Tumblr not really your style?

Here are three other websites to try out.

pinterest.com

Pinterest acts as a sort of online bulletin board where users can ‘pin’ items they like on their profile. It’s sort of a storage device that allows users to have an organized look at the things that interest them.

thefancy.com

The Fancy can best be described as a catalog of interesting items.

It’s a photo blog where celebrities post pictures of their personal belongings and the things they want to buy. Users can scroll through the pages and look at the items posted.

stumbleupon.com

Stumbleupon allows users to submit a list of what they find interesting and the site will respond with recommendations on web pages, pictures, videos and other items. all photos/COURTESY OF PUBLICITY WEBSITES

////Reviewed 20

THE LION’S TALE

| diversions | MARCH 7, 2012

Music, movies, books & more

VERY GOOD

OUTSTANDING

Kindred EP Burial Dubstep/House

Roses

by Jonathan Bohinsky

by Alexis Sherwood

B

DOWNLOAD THIS >> AshtrayWasp

jonathanb@thelionstale.com

Estelle Hip Hop/R&B

T

he Cranberries have not released an album for 10 years, and their music is still original and has not changed since then. The only thing that may have changed is that the band has found a sense of maturity; their music sounds less like pop, and more like alternative.

The best thing about this band is that they don’t give into the cliché type of music that has been released recently-they stay creative, and sound like The Cranberries should.

The beginning of the album starts out better than the rest, with more heartfelt lyrics. As the album goes through the tracks, it switches between a more upbeat tempo, and a calmer one. Towards the end of the album, the lyrics get less touching and meaningful, but the tune in every song is different.

However, throughout the whole album, there is a sustaining breezy melody with crisp guitar picking. Singer Niall Quinn’s voice remains dominant over the other instruments throughout every song.

The album was made to deal with relationships, both love and others. “Tomorrow” and “Show Me The Way” are both singles that were released from the album, that show how the base of relationships is used through emotional lyrics, and passionate instrumentals.

Any person who once loved The Cranberries when they were more contemporary would still love them just the same with their new album.

DOWNLOAD THIS >> Raining in My

Heart

alexiss@thelionstale.com

AWFUL

Fun Indie Pop

by Olivia Davila-Finch

by Trevor Khan

DOWNLOAD THIS >> Cold Crush

DOWNLOAD THIS >> Why Am I the One

H

ip hop/R&B singer Estelle released her new album, All of Me, on Feb. 24.

With a mix of hard rapping and softer singing, she brings several styles into this album. However, I definitely think she should stick to singing.

Several rappers are featured on this album, such as Trey Songz and Chris Brown.

Strangely, these are the songs she doesn’t rap on.

In “Break My Heart”, featuring Rick Ross, she sings to a slow, soft beat. While her voice is beautiful and fits the song perfectly, Ross’s deep voice more accustomed to rapping doesn’t fit nearly as well.

Estelle has an amazing voice, and she does R&B really well. In “Cold Crush”, her voice blends with the music beautifully, and her lyrics are meaningful.

She sings about missing an old boyfriend and wishing he’d come back to her, and conveys emotion in a way that you can tell she’s singing from experience.

The whole album is filled with emotional lyrics like this. She puts a lot of power into her songs, but her rap songs definitely lack the same meaning as the more sing-song ones.

In my opinion, this album isn’t her best.

The vastly different musical styles clash in a way that makes it difficult to listen to the whole album at one time.

I definitely think her older album, Shine, is much better than this one, and that, in the future, she needs to stick to singing.

oliviad@thelionstale.com

Upcoming Concerts

Mutemath Saturday, March 17 8:30 p.m.

House of Blues Red Hot Chili Peppers Saturday, March 31 8:00 p.m.

Amway Center

RUBBISH

Some Nights

All of Me

The Cranberries Alternative

urial is a dubstep artist that sticks with the roots of dubstep. His music is characterized by subtlety and emotion rather than the Americanized version of dubstep that artists like Skrillex have created.

This EP consists of three songs. The first song, “Kindred (12-Minute Symphony No. 1)” will be most recognizable to fans of Burial’s early work. It contains the same metallic beats, but overall it has a heavier feel to it. The track is ambitious by Burial’s standards and, thankfully, is a step in a new direction.

The second track, “Loner”, is akin to many of Burial’s sadder songs but it ventures into a genre Burial hasn’t explored before: prog-house.

The song is glossy as heck and has a driving momentum that builds and builds without really going anywhere.

The final track on the EP, “Ashtray Wasp”, is the best song on the album. Like “Loner”, it is constructed around a house loop. The sprawling muggy soundscape contained in this song is crammed full with intricate rhythms. At 11 minutes and 45 seconds, it could be Burial’s defining track.

Kindred EP contains some of the best music Burial has created in his career. He creates long epics that don’t feel longwinded and are mesmerizing the whole way through. He also experiments with house and prog-house music for the first time. It will be exciting to see what his new album has in store.

GOOD

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Thursday, May 3 8:00 p.m.

The Social

Snow Patrol Thursday, March 29 8:00 p.m.

Hard Rock Live

Van Halen Thursday April 12 7:30 p.m.

Amway Center

all photos/COURTESY OF PUBLICITY WEB SITES

A

fter their single We Are Young was redone by the Glee cast, Fun has been all over the radio lately. Sadly, “We Are Young,” despite featuring new artist Janelle Monae, is probably the worst song on their latest album Some Nights.

Though the band has been together since 2008, they are just now getting the recognition they deserve.

Some Nights is the second studio from Fun and has 11 tracks, one being a two minute intro and another one, “Out On The Town,” is a bonus track.

This alternative rock group is great together and I love their songs. They have a sound reminiscent of the early work of The Beatles but their songs are slightly faster paced.

The lead singer, Nate Ruess has an incredible voice and their musical style is hard to find these days.

My favorite song on this album is “Why Am I The One,” because it has it’s slow moments, but builds up to an amazing chorus of voices in unison.

My second favorite song is the bonus track, “Out On The Town,” because it tells a good story with an infectious rhythm.

The strong lyrics and well composed music is what makes this album so amazing.

Overall, I think that anyone who is a fan of ‘60’s rock would greatly appreciate this little indie band. They shouldn’t be too fond of Fun’s popular song until they hear the rest.

trevork@thelionstale.com

MARCH 7, 2012

| diversions |

THE LION’S TALE

21

Death of close friend inspires author to write touching novel Story of two teenage cancer patients in love sends out powerful, emotional message

by Sarah Tripp Hazel Grace Lancaster is a sixteen year old with clinical depression and cancer, and she is a grenade. She knows that when she dies, everyone close to her will get hurt. So the further away everyone is, the better.

This is her mind set until she meets Augustus Waters, and he is the only one she will let get close to her.

The title, The Fault in our Stars, is taken from Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar. “ The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars / But in ourselves, that we are underlings.”

Author John Green worked with terminally ill children and their families as a student chaplain at a children’s hospital.

Green later met Esther Earl. She inspired him to write the story because she was an “uncommonly empathetic person, particularly for a teenager.” Esther fought with thyroid cancer for years, and died at 16. Green dedicated The Fault in our Stars to Esther.

Like Esther, Hazel fought through a neardeath experience with thyroid cancer, and was

left with difficulty breathing and in need of an oxygen tank. Augustus had osteosarcoma, which claimed one of this legs, leaving him with a prosthetic one named Prosty.

Hazel and Augustus meet at a support group session and their relationship starts off with a conversation about Augustus’ fear of oblivion.

Hazel’s witty side is instantly shown through her response. She dismisses his fear, and goes on about how eventually everyone dies and nothing we have ever done will be remembered.

They quickly grow attached, fall in love and travel to Amsterdam to meet their favorite author, Peter Van Houten. They travel to Amsterdam through a Make-a-Wish type foundation called the “Genies” to meet Houten and ask him questions they have about the book.

I love the feeling you get at the beginning of this book. It starts off with a girl who hates the way her lungs are bad at being lungs. Then she meets a hot guy who likes her for her, not the cancer part.

Green makes it seems like a cute love story which made me have giddy little fan girl moments when Augustus was flirting with Hazel. It takes

your mind away from the fact that they are both cancer survivors, and Green portrays them as just regular teens.

Green’s sarcasm and humor brings a light and airy feel to the book that contrasts the normal assumption that cancer books will suck all the happiness you thought you had in your life.

Don’t get me wrong; I had my fair share of tears reading this book.

It’s not that the unexpected happened and I was caught off guard, it was the fact that I got so emotionally attached to the characters in the book that all I wanted was a happy ending. But it’s still a book about two teens with cancer. It’s inevitable that something bad is going to happen.

When I finished the book, I had a sense of closure, but I was still emotionally hurt. I’ve never read a book that has made me laugh and sob so hard before, and have never been so moved.

I can barely consider this a cancer book or a love story, because there is so much more to this book that just that. I think this is a book that deserves to be at the top of the New York Times Best Seller List.

saraht@thelionstale.com

photo/COURTESY OF PUBLICITY WEBSITE

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THE LION’S TALE

| diversions | MARCH 7, 2012

TRIPLE THREAT

Emmy nominated producer, Chuck Lorre, tackles television with three hit sitcoms

by Trevor Khan

The Big Bang Theory Starring: Kaley Cuoco, Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons Runtime: 21 mins Plot: An aspiring actress who moves in an apartment across the hall from strange scientists.

Broadcast: CBS Broadcast Date: Thursdays Broadcast Time: 8/7c

Two and A Half Men Starring: Ashton Kutcher, Jon Cryer, Angus T. Jones, Holland Taylor Runtime: 22 mins Plot: A divorced man moves he and his son into his bachelor brother’s home and life.

Broadcast: CBS Broadcast Date: Mondays Broadcast Time: 9/8 c

Mike & Molly Starring: Melissa McCarthy, Billy Gardel, Reno Wilson Runtime: 21 Mins Plot: A couple meet and bond at an overeaters anonymous meeting.

Broadcast: CBS Broadcast Date: Mondays Broadcast Time: 9:30/8:30 c

Before Lorre Actors’ careers before CBS and Chuck Lorre all photos/COURTESY OF PUBLICITY SITES

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azinga! I give my best regards to Emmy nominated producer Chuck Lorre for putting a show on television that makes me laugh like I haven’t since Friends was still in production.

The Big Bang Theory follows a young woman, Penny (Kaley Cuoco), a struggling actress who moves into an apartment building while working part time at the Cheesecake factory.

However, it’s the boys across the hall that make her life in this building interesting. There’s Leonard (Johnny Galecki), a nerdy near-sighted scientist whose affection for Penny gets him tangled in some very awkward situations.

Then there is Sheldon (Jim Parsons),

T

here once was a time when good comedies on TV were coming to a standstill. Seinfeld was over and there weren’t many shows that were just doing it for audiences. For a while Two and a Half Men changed that.

Two and a Half Men once centered around Charlie (Charlie Sheen), a jingle writing bachelor who loved the ladies, but fears commitment.

Charlie’s life soon turns upside down when his brother Alan (Jon Cryer) suffers a divorce and has to move him and his son, Jake (Angus T. Jones) into Charlie’s house. Along with Alan and Jake on his plate, Charlie also has his mother, Evelyn (Holland Taylor), and his housekeeper, Berta (Conchata Ferrell) to deal with.

However, at the beginning of season nine, the

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ompared to the other popular shows written or produced by Chuck Lorre, it upsets me that Mike & Molly hasn’t gotten the recognition it deserves. This show is hilarious, and the show has me hooked from the start.

Mike & Molly is a show about an overweight couple who meet at an overeaters anonymous meeting.

There’s Mike (Billy Gardel), an overweight police officer who is trying to watch his diet.

Then there’s Molly (Melissa McCarthy), an overweight teacher of a fourth grade class.

Some of the other characters in the show are Officer Carl McMillan (Reno Wilson), Mike’s smart-mouthed partner who often lets his words

Kaley Cuoco Played Bridget Hennessy on 8 Simple Rules from 2002-2005 alongside actor John Ritter

an obsessive compulsive physicist whose unawareness of sarcasm and brutal honesty makes his character funny and at times, a bit much to deal with.

Along with Leonard and Sheldon are their buddies. There’s Raj (Kunal Nayyar), an Indian nerd who suffers from selective mutism, a disorder which makes him unable to speak to women (without alcohol as his aid).

Then there is Howard (Simon Helberg) a perverted man, who’s convinced he’s knowledgeable about the ladies, and still lives at home with his mother.

This show is hilarious for several reasons.

The dialogue is not like that of many

others. It relates real world problems shared through the characters but with an educational and arrogant way of speaking.

Also, being it’s main characters are all scientists, we get to see some pretty amazing disasters caused by science.

Throughout the series we’ve seen an elevator shaft become inactive due to explosives, the mars rover being crashed and even a space toilet experience zero gravity.

Overall, this show is incredibly funny. I think there is something here that everyone can fine enjoyable. Everyone should give this show a chance.

audience tuned in to find that Charlie’s character was presumed dead and that he was replaced by Ashton Kutcher, who plays Walden.

Walden is an internet billionaire who is introduced to the cast by attempting to commit suicide trying to walk out into the Pacific Ocean.

To me, this show is actually pretty funny. It’s not my favorite show. In fact, I wouldn’t call myself a fan of it, but I wouldn’t say it’s bad either. I think the show is very well-written and even in the absence of Charlie Sheen, the show still keeps up the strong points.

My favorite character is Berta because she’s very snarky but says something very clever all the time and her delivery is great and her timing is always right.

Charlie’s character doesn’t much surprise me.

It’s a typical male character that I see in shows all the time. However, Charlie’s character is very funny. He is a chauvinistic person and he says things that are very racy at times, but hilarious, nonetheless.

One of my favorite parts of this show is that they always have amazing guest stars. Whether it be rock legend Steven Tyler or red-carpet goddess Megan Fox, this show has had an amazing line of guest stars.

Overall, this show is worth a look, but don’t expect to be dazzled off the bat. The show does manage to stay true after the lead has left but after such a long run on television, it gets to be a little bit old.

get the best of him.

Then there is Victoria (Katy Mixon), Molly’s thin, shallow ditz of a sister whose crazy antics often remind me of my friends, but keep me wondering how she is an adult.

And finally there is Joyce (Swoosie Kurtz) Molly’s crazy mother whose silly anecdotes and sometimes harsh criticisms are bound to leave the audience chuckling in their seats.

The writing and dialogue are fantastic. All the characters have their own witty and fun personality.

The two title characters are both snarky and funny in a realistic way. Not to mention, they make an adorable fake couple.

But, despite the cute sparks of the two title

characters, I’d have to say my favorite character is Victoria. Victoria is often shallow and silly and I enjoy to see an actress who can achieve this with such a comedic twist. I haven’t seen an actress pull a character off like this since Mila Kunis as Jackie in That ‘70’s Show.

Overall, this is a hilarious show. In my ranking it’s one above Two and A Half Men and one below The Big Bang Theory.

The hilarious dialogue, outrageous characters, and quirky situations are a perfect code for a good sitcom and in this bag of variety I wouldn’t be surprised if you end up like me: hooked from the first joke of the show.

Jon Cryer Played Bob in the show Partners from 1995-1996 co-starring alongside actor Tate Donovan

trevork@thelionstale.com Melissa McCarthy Played Sookie St. James in Gilmore Girls from 20002007 alongside actress Alexis Bledel

MARCH 7, 2012

| diversions |

THE LION’S TALE

23

all photos/COURTESY OF PUBLICITY WEBSITE

EYES ON ARRIETTY. Shawn(above) spots the heroine in the bushes while on a walk. A cat (left) ambushes Arrietty in the woods.

The Secret World of Arrietty impresses skeptical reviewer

Low expectations led to enjoyable experience shtick happens, which causes a conflict between Arrietty’s family, who believe know next to nothing about Japanese they should leave now that their secret animation. In fact, I’ve only seen is up. Another conflict is with Shawn’s two Japanese animated movies in my family maid, Hara, who wants to collect entire life, neither of which I really liked. the Borrowers for herself.

The story line is good, but the best But here’s what’s shocking — I actually aspect of the movie is the superb animation. enjoyed The Secret World of Arrietty.

At first glance, it The story is seems simplistic, about a 12-yearIt’s a nice little story with great like a photo of a old named Shawn animation. I can’t imagine nature scene you’d (David Henrie) see on a postcard. who has to go stay anyone flat-out disliking it.

But when you with his Aunt Jessica start looking, while awaiting heart you notice tons surgery.

His divorced parents live in the city of detail into each blade of grass, the and are extremely busy with work, so landscapes, and the world Arrietty lives in. his aunt told them she could take him to Nails in the floorboards become staircases the countryside to relax while he awaited and ladders, and animals like rats and birds become giants. Another interesting aspect treatment.

His first day there he thinks he sees a is that every sound that is quiet to us seems miniature woman in the grass, something gigantic to the Borrowers — one scene has a cuckoo clock ticking, which feels ten he heard only in children’s stories.

He is correct, and discovers that there times louder than it really is. The animators are a group of ten centimeter tall people did a truly impressive job and it wouldn’t called Borrowers, which live in hiding, surprise me whatsoever if it’s nominated borrowing supplies from humans to live. for Best Animated Feature next year at the You know, the same kind of borrowing that Academy Awards.

The main problem with the story that I you do when you ask for some paper in couldn’t get over was the villainous maid, math class.

Anyways, the Borrower Shawn saw Hara.

Her purpose in the story made no real was a 14-year-old named Arrietty (Bridgit Mendler), who lives with her mom and logical sense upon analysis.

Why would a house in the countryside dad and appear to be the only Borrowers in the region. Borrowers are supposed to with only two living residents need a maid move when they are seen, and now Arriety to assist them? Wouldn’t they be able to take care of their house by themselves? has caused Shawn to search for them.

Then the usual “they become friends” Also, her reaction to the Borrowers feels

by Chris Moskal

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too odd.

Apparently, when you see miniature people running around, rather than thinking “What was that?” she thinks, “I knew it all along! Time to put them in a glass jar by the mantelpiece!”

We don’t get any backstory information on her at all so we don’t know who she is or how she got there. That’s O.K. for somebody like Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty, who we know from the beginning is the villain, but here it just seems unbelievable that the little old maid turns out to be evil.

Her only purpose was to create suspense and move the plot along. In the pantheon of animated villains, Scar she is not.

That problem aside, there really isn’t anything else wrong with the movie. It’s only an hour and a half long.

The voice acting is good, and Disney did a really good job dubbing — I only noticed one moment where the audio seemed a bit off with the picture. It wasn’t enough to be bothered by it, unlike other Englishdubbed foreign films where their mouths move twice as fast as the audio.

It’s a nice little story with great animation. I can’t imagine anyone flatout disliking it, but if you’re a person who wants hard core action, you won’t find it here.

Considering how post-Academy Awards season is usually dry until the summer, you could do a lot worse than The Secret World of Arrietty.

Just don’t expect a Toy Story 3 and you’ll have a good time.

chrism@thelionstale.com

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illustration/WESLEY WYNNE

ACTUAL SIZE. Titular character Arrietty and her family stand just under four inches tall.

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THE LION’S TALE

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MARCH 7, 2012

Double Team S Players balance school with club team schedule

by Amanda Ferguson

enior Kelly McClain gets out a pen and with her parents by her side; she signs away Orlando Possums and has been playing for them her right to ever miss a dance practice. since middle school.

“The contract basically said we know we The club lacrosse season is over the summer have to pay $400, and that we are okay with break, in the off-season of lacrosse. missing school for practice,” McClain said.

“I play club lacrosse to continue improving McClain and senior Courtney Jensen are both in the off-season,” Strobl said. involved in the competition dance team with the Senior Lisa May plays club tennis through Orlando All-Stars. the United States Tennis Association. May has Neither dance for the school team. been playing tennis since she was six years old.

Missing even a single practice will result in “My parents play and so they signed me up being replaced as an All-Stars dancer. when I was six to keep me active,” May said.

Although missing school for dance doesn’t May still competes in competitions on the cause a big problem for McClain, Jensen’s weekends. However, if she advances far in the teachers get on her case about missing class. tournament, it might roll over onto Monday.

“Well, I have Mrs. “My parents Kelly who always don’t mind me I think all competitions should says ‘come to my missing school, calc class no matter especially if it is a be done outside of school what’,” Jensen said. big competition, but time. I don’t care what kind The team misses they try to keep it to of competition it is. It doesn’t school frequently for a minimum because travelling to and from school comes first,” matter. competitions. Some May said.

AP Calc Teacher Barbara Kelly competitions are as May also plays far away as Dallas, for the school tennis Texas. team, which can provide a scheduling challenge Absences for club sporting events are counted during the season as an unexcused absence until parents write a “Practice for club is during my [school] note excusing them. tennis practice and workouts so I have to skip “I think all competitions should be done them sometimes,” May said. outside of school time. I don’t care what kind of Junior Hank Morton plays soccer for the competition it is-band, chorus, drama, playoff Central Florida Kraze (CFK). He plays club games. It doesn’t matter,” AP Calculus teacher soccer during the fall and spring and plays for Barbara Kelly said. the school team during the winter.

On April 25-29, their dance team is going Morton has to miss school during the to The World’s Competition at Disney’s Wide club season to travel to games. The games are World of Sports. normally in Alabama, Texas, North Carolina, or Many school athletes join club teams as well California. as play on the school teams.

Morton doesn’t have any trouble missing his Freshman Andrea D’Alfonso started playing classes. He just asks his friends to keep him up to volleyball when she was 10 years old. date on class work.

“My mom told me I had to play a sport, and I Junior Gaby Rodriguez plays for the girl’s chose volleyball,” D’Alfonso said. team, Central Florida Krush. She has been D’Alfonso now plays for the school in playing since she was eight years old. addition to playing for The Volleyball Association “I picked it up as an extracurricular activity, (TVA). She continues to play for TVA to help but as I started getting older I started to really keep herself going during the offseason. love soccer and I want to continue to play in “Club team gets you in training for the high college,” Rodriguez said. school season so that you aren’t doing nothing Rodriguez rarely misses school for club for half a year, “ D’Alfonso said. soccer because the games are normally in Florida During the club season, from Nov. to May, and are over the weekend.

D’Alfonso misses a lot of school in order to go to “Sometimes I will leave if it is a big the weekend games. D’Alfonso goes around to all tournament to pack, but normally I don’t miss of her classes and gets any work she is going to school,” Rodriguez said. miss while she is gone. She normally completes the work in the car on the way to competitions.

Junior Greg Strobl plays club lacrosse for the amandaf@thelionstale.com

all photos/ ANDREA DOBO

SERVE AND VOLLEY. Senior Lisa May practices on March 5 before the Lake Howell High School tennis match at home. May plays as a part of a club tennis league, and also on the school team.

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PRACTICE HARD, PLAY HARD. Junior Greg Strobl practices his skills at school practice for their game on March 14 against Winter Springs High School.

MARCH 7, 2012

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THE LION’S TALE

25

Varsity falls short in semi-final

Boys basketball team pushes past district opponents to play in the 7A state semi-final game

by Andy Bosley

T

ime out! Coach Ed Kershner calls a time out with .6 seconds left in the state semi-finals 7A Basketball game at the Civic Center in Lakeland on March 2.

The score is 62-61, Oak Ridge. The team is one shot away from advancing to the final two.

Senior Kyle Wnek takes the shot, but misses.

Time runs out. Game over for the Oviedo Lions.

This is only the 2nd time since 1997 that the boys basketball teams has completed in the Final Four championship.

Before the semi-final game, Kershner and the team went to Lakeland early to practice and try to put the players at ease, and to reward them for their winning season that ended with a 20-11 record.

“They always say if you win 20 games, you have had a good season. Well, we have won 20, so that shows you how they have done,” Kershner said.

The boys varsity basketball team won eight games in a row and won in the elite eight quarterfinals.

Being this far into the playoffs means a lot to all of the players, according to junior Colby Bortles “We have never been this far before. I haven’t been this far, Oviedo has not been this far in a while.

It just means a lot,” Bortles said.

With 62.2 points average a game, the Lion’s accumalated 1,867 points total throughout the game. They also finsihed with an average of 8.2 steals, 27.7 rebounds and 11.9 rebounds.

The team practices during basketball class fifth period. Accoding to those interviewed, the players use all of that time to their advantage.

Kershner has been coaching for the past 16 years and has earned the affection of his team..

“He is the best coach I have ever played for.

He always puts the team in a position to win,“ sophomore R. J. June said.

Even though the team lost in the semi finals, Coach Kershiner believes they have had an amazing season by winning districts and competing in the quarter finals.

Kershner works behind the scenes to prepare for important games.

He sends former players, other coaches or even himself to scout the other team. They go and find out what their competitors are doing, the plays they are running and the defense they are playing.

“We want to know what they are doing so we can prepare. Not to be prepared is being prepared to fail,” Kershner said.

After the scouts report back, Kershner teaches

Top 10 scorers average points per game

1. RJ June

15.7

2. Matt Milon

12.6

3. Colby Bortles

7.9

4. Jurell Green

8.7

5. Dexter Graham

6.5

6. Thomas Wixted

5.3

7. Kyle Wnek

4.5

8. Chase Hogan

2.3

9. Quay Harper

2.2

10. Paul Monkarsh

.3 all photos/AMANDA FERGUSON

the team strategies that help the Lion’s learn the plays, and be aware of what the other team is trying to do, They walk through it to simulate how the other team will play. On the day of the game, the team “shoots around” to prepare physically and mentally for the game.

“The players have believed in what we are doing and they have matured and with experience comes the idea to get better and know what you are doing.

I think this has all come into play, also we have good players and so I think it is the combination of a lot of different variables,” Kershner said.

The team has had six big games in a row

including the Lakeland game and the team took on the challenge by preparing immensely through scouting and watching the tapes from this teams previous games. They had two district game, three regional games, and they had the final four Lakeland championship.

“I told them from the beginning that they could be good. It’s a situation that they have to believe. I can tell them a lot of things but they have to believe it and I think they have been able to do that and develop,” Kershner said.

There are three freshmen on the team and they helped take Oviedo to the semi finals. The

freshmen include Quay Harper, Jurell Green, and Matt Milon.

“Matt Milon is a deadly three point shooter and his three’s have helped us out a lot,” June said.

The team wins games by staying focused to working hard and listening to Kershner, according to the players.

“I am trying to get four or five baskets for our team, and try to take four or five away from the other team and we have been able to do that because we work and we take it seriously. That’s what’s been able to help us,” Kershner said.

andyb@thelionstale.com

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THE LION’S TALE

| sports | MARCH 7, 2012

Skaters dance on ice

by Andrea Dobo

tan.” ight years ago, freshman Emma Pelfrey Estimated by Pelfrey, a competition may touched with the blade of her skate on cost anywhere from about $300 to $700. A the ice at RDV Sportplex Ice Den in dress may cost anywhere from $100 to $500, Maitland. along with the competition registration fee, Today, she finds herself competing in figure which may cost up to $200. Skaters also skating competitions including performing in perform to a one to two minute song that costs Glee on Ice last June. about $20.

Glee on Ice is a skating show that features Junior Alicia Defeo also figure skates at songs from the Fox TV show, Glee.

RDV. She started about six years ago.

Pelfrey performed her portion of the show “I knew some friends who ice skated. They to the songs “Empire State of Mind” and got me started. In a competition in Tampa I did “Singing in the Rain.” a duet with my friend Katie Sword from The For Pelfrey, the best part of Glee on Ice Jungle book,” Defeo said. was the challenge.

Defeo has competed in three competitions “I like figure skating because I like being in the state of Florida, and finished third at the in a solo type sport so I can improve my own ISI Winter Classic in Clearwater, Florida in things and not worry about other people. Do 2009. my own thing and win,” Pelfrey said. “When “When preparing for competitons I stretch my mom enrolled and run through me in lessons. I the routine in my saw Disney on head,” Defeo said.

I like figure skating because I like Ice when I was “I usually practice being in a solo type sport so I can six or seven and Tuesday and improve my own things and not loved it.”

Thursday’s during “Thriving the summer.” worry about other people. Do my to be the best For Defeo, own thing and win. challenged me. one of her biggest Emma Pelfrey ‘15 And spinning accomplishments was a hard thing was landing her axel for me, mostly for the very first because I was dizzy. But there was a cool time off harness. Harnesses help the coach or breeze from the ice so I never got hot,” Pelfrey instructor control the skater so they may keep said. the skaters back straight and to help the skater Competing in six competitions in the when landing a newly learned trick. state of Florida, Pelfrey placed first in one According to ask.com, an axel jump is a competition last June for her technical routine figure skating jump where the take-off is on to a song from Frankenstein the Musical. the forward outside edge of the skate. After A technical routine, as opposed to an artistic jumping forward from the forward edge, the routine, is scored on how well a performer skater makes one and one-half revolutions in completes each move. In an artistic routine, the air and lands on the other foot on the back the scoring is based on the “wow” factor that outside edge of the skate. moves the judges.

“The hardest part is just like any other “For competitions, I practice twice a week sport, when you learn something and your body and sometimes on the weekends at RDV,” doesn’t feel comfortable you have to adjust to Pelfrey said. “Over the summer I went to camp that feeling of something new,” Defeo said. “I and it was every day except Sunday from two want to do it in the future, just for fun.” to six. I had no social life and I sacrificed my andread@thelionstale.com

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photo/COURTESY OF ALICIA DEFEO

ICE, ICE BABY. Junior Alicia Defeo stretches out her leg and glades on the ice on one foot at the RDV Sportplex Ice Den in Maitland, Florida. RDV hold summer camps for figure skaters. According to the RDVsportplex.com, Figure Skating Camp is a weekly camp that includes: Stretch Class, two Freestyle Sessions, Conditioning Class, and a Power Skating Class. The skaters eat lunch together as a group every day. RDV opens the ice den to public skaters on scheduled days (see website for details). Admission for regular skate sessions is $6.71 plus tax. Admission for Friday and Saturday night skate sessions is $9.53 plus tax. Skate Rental Fees are $3.29 plus tax.

Roar Board

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MARCH 7, 2012

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sports

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Next the team plays Evan on March 13 Uptat aci tis ad tetue dolore tem nonsed magna faccum quissis aliquatisl in exercipit lore High vel dignim molesto The boys tennis team currently has a 1-3 record.

Theetteam er si bla core minciduis adip et praesequis del doloreet, sumsandreet nos dolestrud ent laorper ipit wissis ate dolore tat nosto exer ipit defeated Lake Howell High School. lobortie magnibh eniamcore magniscidunt luptat euiscipon eliquis do erat. Dui te tat lum quis amconsequat, sequam quat nos dolorperit The girls lacrosse team played Lake Mary HighadSchool March nonsecte con henim in henitgave in hent veril etuerci blan henisi te eraesto odigna con vulluptatem quisi.

8. The girlscommy walkednibh out ea with a victory which the eniamet team a solid 6-1 record. Next the ladies move on to play Winter Springs High The boys volleyball team kicked off their season on March 7 with School on March 13. a game against Deltona High School. The boys defeated Deltona 3-0.

“It was a good warm up game for us to work out our kinks The boys lacrosse team opened their season with a game before our tournament this weekend,” senior Cory Rogers said. against Bishop Moore High School on Feb. 21. The team was Next the team goes on to play Spruce Creek High School on defeated 6-10.

March 12.

“The main thing that has changed is the players. We lost all of our starters and only a handful of kids actually played on varsity The baseball team is holding a 4-3 record going into a game last year and the majority of the players are sophomores,” junior against Lake Howell High School on March 9.

Hunter Nix said.

The team pulled off a victory against Evans, Seminole, Lyman, and The team currently has a 2-3 record, winning one game against Winter Park High Schools.

Trinity Prep School on March 2. The team walked away with a 16-6 Junior Andy Ward is Bright House Sports Network Athlete of the victory.

Week for his shut out pitching against Lyman High School.

The team also defeated Lake Howell High School on March 7.

The boys defeated Lake Howell on March 9. The final score was The boys won 19-3.

11-5.

The boys played Lake Mary on March 9 and lost 10-5.

Fast pitch takes on Evans High

Girls tennis team stays undefeated

Girls lacrosse destroys Lake Mary

Boys volleyball team slams Deltona

Boys lacrosse defeats Lake Howell

Baseball team beats Lake Howell

On the sidelines...

With

Keith McClellan

1. What is your favorite iPhone application?

Words With Friends because it is only one I’m good at.

2. Where do up want to go to college?

STRIKE ‘EM OUT.

Florida Tech University or NOVA Southeastern University.

Senior Keith McClellan pitches at the game on Tues. Feb. 28 against Trinity Christian Academy. The boys lost 2-7.

3. What is your favorite sport to watch?

Basketball because it is just more intense.

4. If you could time travel, what year would you travel to?

1969.

5. What inspires you?

Kyle Wnek.

photo/AMANDA FERGUSON

|

THE LION’S TALE

27

AMANDA FERGUSON WEBSITE EDITOR

Try new activities over Spring Break

W

ith Spring Break coming up, now is the time to have fun and be spontaneous. Everyone heads to the beach and heads to the lake. Why not take this opportunity to try something you don’t normally get to do?

So you are used to playing baseball?

Why not try something like kite boarding?

The conditions over Spring Break are perfect for catching some wind waves. This is not necessarily an activity you can just go and do.

Kite boarding is a difficult sport, and requires a lot of training. Kite boarding lessons don’t come cheap, though. The lessons generally run at about $100.

Not into the ocean? Try tubing. Tubing is the ultimate Spring Break activity. Flying around on a lake with all of your friends, getting air-borne and laughing the whole way down is a definite thrill.

However, make sure you take precaution in this activity. I have a friend who got their arm caught in the rope and nearly broke his wrist. So just make sure whenever anyone is being pulled behind a boat, that someone is watching for when they fall.

So you aren’t into water at all? Why don’t you try parasailing? Take a trip to Cocoa Beach and go parasailing. This is an expensive activity, but if you have some friends, take them ago. Prices generally run about $65 a person. The entire trip takes about an hour and a half to boat out to the area and then parasail boat back. You never have to step in the water.

Big Toho is a fantastic place to go parasailing. However, reservations are required. If you are afraid of heights, this might not be the activity for you.

So you don’t want to be anywhere near the beach or deal with that kind of traffic? Okay, why not try some adventure biking? There are wonderful biking trails in the area.

Really close by we have the Barr Street Trailhead, which is a 7.3 mile trail through all of Florida’s wilderness.

Now running all the way through the Oviedo- Winter Springs area we have the amazing Cross-Seminole Trail. Over the past few years we have watched as this trail got longer and longer. Now that it is almost all connected we have a 22.5 mile long trail. This a low price way to stay activity and be with all your friends.

During the summer, the construction will continue on the Cross-Seminole Trail.

The extensions will bring the trail through downtown Oviedo.

amandaf@thelionstale.com

28

THE LION’S TALE

| diversions | MARCH 7, 2012

Vera Invasion

OBSESSED WITH VERA. Junior Madison Chantigian looks through her Vera Bradley notebook. Chantigian owns a backpack, notebook, makeup kit, and watch. She loves the variety of designs offered for all types of products.

Popular designer sweeps campus

by Olivia Davila-Finch

J

unior Lauren Adams swings open her locker and her eyes immediately meet colorful designs and abstract patterns.

Her Vera Bradley lunch box and lanyard stand out against the dingy green of the locker, a mix of signature colors and shapes that made the brand famous.

“I use a Vera Bradley lunch box, wallet, and lanyard,” Adams said. “The material is soft and strong, and the lunch box keeps my food cold really well.”

Vera Bradley makes luggage, pencil and laptop bags and back packs.

The company recently released some new products for spring break including flip flops, beach towels, sarongs, sunglasses, and several new totes.

Two longtime friends, Patricia R. Miller and Barbara Bradley Baekgaard started the company.

Sitting in an airport, they realized there was a

distinct lack of feminine luggage and they decided to remedy that.

They named the company after Barbara’s mother and since then, it has grown into an internationally acclaimed company.

“I started using Vera Bradley in eighth grade because I loved the patterns they had,” Adams said. “I still love it. I plan on getting a backpack, a new strap wallet, and a satchel sometime soon.”

Their new beach towels sell for $38. They’re also now selling beach cover-ups in many of their most popular patterns for $58.

“I love seeing the new products and patterns they make,” Adams said. “I want one of their new beach towels.”

Some may find these prices too expensive, however others think the price is worth it.

“I think it’s worth the price because the designs are really pretty and it’s high quality,” Adams said. “You can’t put a price on beauty.”

1. all photos/DUCA, MASON

BACK IN BRADLEY. 1. Sophomore Hunter Greer opens up a Vera Bradley lunch box. The friends that sit at his lunch table also have Vera lunch boxes. 2. Juniors Lauren Adams, Ashley Sikes, and sophomore Cayla Shawfield talk at their lockers before going to lunch.

Adams has a lunch box, Sikes a backpack, and Shawfield a lanyard.

oliviad@thelionstale.com

THE BRADLEY BUNCH. Sophomores Madeline Roberts and Courtney Boaz visit during lunch. They and their friends own Vera Bradley lunch boxes that are displayed on the table.

2.