Miriam-Obvs delete the quote from Ms. Russell and the last paragraph filled with deadly capitals. I just wanted you to see how funny she is. I feel like a lot more can be deleted, especially in the last paragraph with all of the statisitics about the FCAT but ill leave that up to you. Also, check out that sentence with the stem cell research field trip. Honestly, I left a lot in here becuase I think its a pretty exhausting article to read and I thought you might enjoy…like the funniness….not the exhaustion youll experience from trying to figure out the point of the article. Anyyywaayysss, I think I got rid of all the exclamation points (all 11 of them) and the capitals. Let me know if you want me to go through it again, or if you want me to go through it with you. I’m getting the picture from her tomorrow during 4th.

“AVERAGE,” BECOMES “AWESOME”

By Mrs. Jennifer Russell, Teacher and Scarlet Riviere, 10^th Grade AVID Student

Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) is a new academy in its second year at Miami Beach Senior High. The purpose of the academy is to target middle-achieving students who, while possessing high test scores, may struggle with upper-level college-preparatory coursework without the appropriate support.  The AVID program seeks to establish this support as students begin their high school experience, first by providing rigorous curriculum and teachers and tutors, who inspire students to reach for the top. Everyone works together to build each student’s individual foundation for success at Beach High and later in college.  Secondly, AVID teaches students the tools needed to be successful, such as organization, how to conduct student-led Socratic seminars, how to manage study groups, and how to achieve open discussion with teachers about learning techniques.

 Ideally, by the time students reach the 11^th grade, they have been trained and prepared so that they may successfully participate in a wide variety of courses including Advanced Placement, and the soon to be implemented International Baccalaureate, curricula.   In fact, AVID which is an internationally recognized program with schools across the United States, boasts a highly esteemed college acceptance rate of 90% among all students affiliated with the program. 

In addition to improving student academic success, AVID encourages students to become better citizens through a variety of extracurricular opportunities.  This year alone, students have organized teams and participated in events such as the national ECOMB Beach Cleanup, Suicide Awareness, and Breast Cancer and AIDS Walks. In December, AVID students organized a visit to Jackson Memorial Hospital where they sang songs, read books and distributed donated gifts to the children in the cardiovascular ward.  Not only did they organize the event, but they also recruited students from other AVID programs throughout Broward and Dade to participate.  Further, AVID teachers arrange for fieldtrips for the entire academy, both academically enriching as well as college and career-oriented experiences. AVID has also hosted four evening parent meeting to help parents learn how to support their children in encouraging their success.  Recently, Russell took 90 students to Shark Valley in the Everglades and 30 very top students to the VA Hospital to meet researchers in seven different labs studying stem cells and their rejuvenating applications for the nervous and cardiovascular systems.  Finally, the AVID family is having a potluck picnic on May 31 to celebrate an amazing and accomplished year together. 
AVID’s success has already shown through higher honor rolls numbers, higher GPA’s, higher levels of student stability, higher attendance rates, and higher numbers of student participation in activities both in and out of school.  For example, AVID has just received news that EVERY student in AVID scored 3.5 or higher on the FCAT Writing exam; one student even scored a 6.0. A further testament to AVID’s success is the interest that the rest of the student body has taken as AVID has grown in popularity due to its positive reputation.  Many students state that they have watched their peers undergo a major transformation into self-motivated, high-achieving, and confident young people whose future success is in plain sight. 

Here are some recent teacher comments about students in AVID:

Ms. Jennifer Russell:  “When the school year started I was very worried about the lack of study skills and lack of follow-through when it came to completing assignments.  These kids have completely turned around in their time management, note-taking, and study skills.  They are now poised for success.  I am tremendously proud of them.”

Mr. Jonathan Nelson:  “I have experienced the same phenomena with my Avid World History Class. It really helped when all of the trouble makers were removed from our class. The kids responded magnificently. My most dreaded class has now become my favorite [and] they said it is now their favorite, too. I even asked to teach an AVID class next year. Originally, I shunned the thought. 3 Cheers for Avid…”

Q: Dear Harry,

Sometimes I feel like I don’t belong. I have a couple of great friends, get decent grades, good family, you know live a regular life, but sometimes when I’m in large groups I can’t seem to be myself. I have a few friends, but cannot call myself popular. Some call me shy, but what can I do to feel like I belong when I am not surrounded by my best friends?
Sincerely, Normal Me

A: Dear Normal Me,

I know that sometimes big crowds don’t give us the opportunity to show our true colors and can make us feel intimidated. However, from what you have told me, I do understand that you do have good friends that care about you. Remember just because someone may have a million “friends” that person may not have someone by their side when problems arise. Be grateful for the few friends that will catch you when you fall. On another note, if you want to socialize more, just show everyone your true personality. Speak up a little more, and hey, what’s the worst that can happen? They might walk away, or you might meet new people that will introduce you to new ideas and new customs. Sometimes we have to throw ourselves out there to see what the world has to offer.
Best of Luck, HiTide Harry

Q: In the span of two years my boyfriend has cheated on me several times. Now, he says he really wants me back and is extremely sorry for what he did. He says he can’t live without me. I miss him, but he has hurt me too much. I do not have the strength to forgive him because he was the one that took my virginity. What should I do?
Sincerely, Heart Broken

A: Dear Heart Broken,
I am sorry to hear what you’ve had to go through. I want to commend you on your bravery for breaking up with him. There is a line in a song that says; “you don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone.” Obviously, this person did not realize how much you’re worth until the day he lost you. As a lady, you have to demand the love and respect you deserve. Forgiveness is not an emotion, but a decision one makes. When you forgive someone, you choose to excuse the persons fault or mistake. This does not mean you let the person take advantage of you. Because you were sexually involved with him and he has cheated on you several times, I advise you to go to a clinic and make sure you do not have a sexually transmitted disease. If you choose to not get back together with him, you should get rid of the things that remind you of him and cut him out of your life. The cheater is not feeling a sense of repentance but remorse.  You are young, and believe me, there are plenty of fish in the sea. If the break up is too much for you to handle, you should also seek professional help from a trust counselor or psychologist.
Good Luck, Hitide Harry

Vegetarianism on Campus
By: Hannah Kramer
Steaks are juicy and McDonald’s BLT sandwich is delicious, which is why most people include these foods in their diet. Vegetarians, though, don’t. A vegetarian is someone whose diet does not include meat, poultry or fish. Annabelle Pfeffer, a freshman, has been a vegetarian for almost six years. “I feel bad for not really liking [the taste of] animals, and because the thought of eating another living thing grosses me out.” says Pfeffer, on being on a vegetarian.
According to The Vegetarian Resource Group’s website, in a poll of 1978 men and women, 24% follows some type of vegetarian diet; 11% does not eat meat, 6% does not eat poultry, and 7% does not eat seafood of any kind.
Pfeffer includes fish in her diet, because “…even the thought of it dying doesn’t over-power the amazing taste,” she says. “I could never, ever give up my sushi!”
Nutritionist Dr. Ronni Julian explains the health concerns that come along with being a vegetarian. “There is a right way and a wrong way,” states Julian. “Vegetarianism, when not educated about, leaves several serious nutrients deficient in the daily diet. Oftentimes, people just eliminate whole groups of food such as meat and chicken, sometimes even whole animal products.”
Eliminating all animal products is called veganism. A not only does not eat animals, but they also do not eat their by products; such as dairy or eggs. Around 2.5% of Americans are considered vegans.
Julian suggests that in order to become a healthy vegan, one needs to get the proper intake of proteins and iron by eating sufficient amounts of fruits, beans, vegetables and nuts. It is important to make sure to intake necessary vitamins that are normally found in meats, milk, and eggs; such as B-12, which is vital in the production of blood and functioning of the nervous system.
Freshman, Annie Rudd is a vegan and has been all her life. “I was disgusted by meat in general,” she states. “Something happens every time I eat meat.” She mostly eats fruits.
Deciding to become a vegetarian or vegan is the easy part. Maintaining this lifestyle is the difficult part. It is important to eat healthily, acquire the necessary nutrients, and if needed, take supplemental vitamins.

Vegetarianism on Campus

By: Hannah Kramer

Steaks are juicy and the BLT sandwich at McDonalds is delicious, which is why most people include these foods in their diet. Vegetarians, though, don’t. A vegetarian is someone whose diet does not include meat, poultry or fish. Annabelle Pfeffer, a freshman, has been a vegetarian for almost six years. “I feel bad for not really liking [the taste of] animals, and because the thought of eating another living thing grosses me out.” says Pfeffer, on being on a vegetarian.

 A poll of 1,978 men and women, according to vrg.org, states that twenty four percent follows some type of vegetarian diet; eleven percent doesn’t eat meat, six percent doesn’t eat poultry, and seven percent doesn’t eat seafood of any kind.

Pfeffer eats fish but nothing else. “Fish is so good that even the thought of it dying doesn’t over-power the amazing taste!” she says. “I can never, ever give up my sushi.”

Dr. Ronni Julian, a nutritionist explains the health concerns that come with being a vegetarian. “There is a right way and a wrong way”, states Julian. “Vegetarianism, when not educated about, leaves several serious nutrients deficient in the daily diet. Oftentimes, people just eliminate whole groups of food such as meat and chicken, sometimes even whole animal products.” 

This brings up the next topic; veganism. A vegan is someone who not only does not eat animals, but their by products; nothing that comes from them.

Julian suggests that in order to become a healthy vegan, someone needs to get the proper intake of proteins and iron by eating sufficient amounts of fruits, beans, vegetables and nuts. Also, to make sure they get the proper vitamins such as B-12.

If someone considers becoming a vegan, they can kiss goodbye the Johnny Rocket’s milk shake or the butter on that morning bagel.

Another website, accidentalhedontist.com, suggests that .5 percent of all America is considered vegans.

Beach High freshman, Annie Rudd is a vegan. She has been one all her life. “I was just disgusted by meat in general,” she states. “Something happens every time I eat meat.” She mostly eats fruits.

Julian suggests that in order to get the proper intake of proteins and iron it is necessary to eat sufficient amounts of fruits, beans, vegetables and nuts.  Also, to make sure you get the proper vitamins such as B-12.

The decision to become a vegetarian or vegan is easy. How to maintain it is a different story. If someone wants to become one, they need to make sure they eat healthily and get all of the necessary vitamins.

The Day of Silence with the Gay Straight Alliance

By Carmen Kelly

Imagine a day when no one spoke; when students come together to take a silent stand, to fight for what they believe in; fight for people who couldn’t fight for themselves. April 17 is that day: the Day of Silence.

The Day of Silence is an event where students take a vow of silence for one day to bring attention to the harassment, bullying, and name calling experienced by LGBT – lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender – students and their allies, according to DayOfSilence.com. Students put themselves in the place of these students, who because of the harassment, are silenced.

Miami Beach Senior High’s Gay Straight Alliance was inspired to participate in the event. The GSA aspires to raise awareness about gay, lesbian, and transgender students at Beach High. According to their website, they hope for equal-rights for everyone, no matter the gender or sexual preferences.

“I participated last year with GSA,” said GSA Vice President of Fundraising Tyler Morrow, a sophomore. “The experience was eye opening.”

The Day of Silence participants will gather together on April 17 to count down the seconds until the 7:30 morning bell rings. From that moment on, each participant will take a vow of silence.

“It is supposed to replicate, and it does, how hard it is to be taunted by others who perhaps don’t empathize with who you are,” said GSA sponsor, Nina Duval.

Last year, the students at Beach High who didn’t participate in the event could not always be counted on to encourage the Day of Silence participants. “They tried anything to get you to talk, to break the silence,” said GSA Historian Isis Garcia, a sophomore. “It takes patience and maturity, but it’s really rewarding to see their faces when you don’t give in.”

Several teachers also showed “disrespect” to the students involved, according to Duval. “Last year, there were some members of staff who actually tried to taunt students and we’re not particularly empathetic to the cause,” said Duval. “I was quite surprised by what would appear to be some degree of intolerance on the part of some members of staff.”

Speaking cards are issued to Day of Silence participants. These cards are used in place of words to explain the circumstances of the event and why they have taken a vow of silence.

“Even though we are the Gay Straight Alliance and we promote gay and straight equality, not all our members, including myself, have actually experienced first-hand the frustration and isolation of not being able to express yourself and talk openly and freely to your peers,” said Garcia.

The school dismissal bell rings, but three girls don’t go home. Instead, they prepare themselves for the intense second part of their daily routine, hours of dancing. They make their way over to the Miami City Ballet Company where they attend their lively ballet classes. The day is far from being over.

Keryn Breiterman-Loader, Tegan Rich, and Stephanie Silva are these devoted girls. They go from spending long hours in school to spending long hours in dance class. Their lives are based on exquisitely constructed balancing techniques, both in the dance studio and out. What the girls choose to do is all based on their own personal time management.

Many hours a day are consumed by dance and when they arrive at home, they all must complete their homework.  Each girl is enrolled in several Advanced Placement and Honors classes and they each participate in various clubs and organizations. Their school work, along with other activities, is not taken in a light manner. “The hardest part is time and energy, or rather coming to terms with the fact that those two things are limited, and my aspirations are not” said Breiterman-Loader.

Each girl has a distinct and passionate reason as to why they keep up with this overloaded lifestyle.

“The fact that I want to become a professional ballerina keeps me going in dance and the fact that I need to graduate from school with good grades also keeps me going, “explained Rich.

“My favorite part of dance is performing,” added Silva. “I love being on stage and when I dance for others it just gives me an amazing feeling and it feels like there is no other place I’d rather be.”

The other main concern in the girls’ lives is whether to pursue dance, an education, or a combination of both. Each girl has a wide variety of options to select from, leaving them all in a pensive state of mind.

“Both worlds—ballet and school—require a serious commitment, and therefore there is always the struggle of each one wanting more from you,” said Breiterman-Loader, “Each involves a high expectation on its own.”

Breiterman-Loader is a senior at Miami Beach Senior High. She is in the top one percent of her graduating class and is an active member in various Honor Societies offered at the school. She has applied to various colleges that contain extensive, high level dance programs and has been accepted into Stanford University, the first student in over a decade from Miami Beach Senior High. Breiterman-Loader revealed that her decision to attend school and dance at the same time “has already paid off.”

 Rich and Silva are juniors and are both still debating their future situations. Both girls excel in their classes and other school activities. Additionally, they both are considering professional careers in dance or attending college full-time and pursuing dance later on.

Since a young age, Rich has been dancing in local studios and performing in minor recitals in her hometown of Stuart, Florida. Before she moved to Miami Beach, she was not progressing forward in dance and was not able to apply her ability to the fullest. A few days before entering her sophomore year in high school, Rich and her mother moved down to Miami Beach so that she could carry out what she had always intended to do, dance. She would be attending a well known ballet school while still successfully graduating from school.

Rich explains, “I think that this all benefits me because going to school makes me smarter and able to relate to smarter, more interesting people, and dancing exposes me to a culture that not many people are used to,” explained Rich. “Without dance, I would not be at all the same person that I am, and that would be sad.”

Silva has been dancing in ballet classes for several years at the Miami City Ballet. When she had the opportunity to keep moving up to higher levels, she took complete advantage of it.

Breiterman-Loader, Rich, and Silva all have one word in connection: dance. Whether faced with triumphs or obstacles, balancing out school and ballet is part of their lives, and each girl is completely sure that no matter how big the sacrifice is, it is all worth it.  

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Features group is:

Madison

Bianca

Carmen

Hannah

Gwen

Planners are due Friday before class (7th period)!

To my features writers (Patrick, Bianca, Hannah, Madison, and Katrina)-

Congrats! You’ve made it into the wonderful world of features writing; in my opinion (and I guess yours, judging by the choices you put on your blog) the most fun and interesting type of article.

Features are thought of as human interest pieces. They are pieces that are not time sensitive and therefore can be put on hold for time (this doesn’t mean it’s okay to miss deadlines!). These are pieces people can relate to and become interested in. Sometimes they are timely in that they talk about current trends (be it fashion, or the whole “green” movement that is currently going on). Features pieces are places for writers to have fun and talk about things they care about.

My email address is margaret.cohn@gmail.com. My cell phone number is (305)332-0146 and look for me on facebook  as Margaret Cohn. I have an iPhone which means I am alwayssss accessible. Please feel free to contact me with questions or if you need help or anything. Mr. Weiss knows im constantly checking email, facebook, texts and taking calls no matter when (esentially-don’t call me past 11 pretty much) so he’ll know that you’re lying if you tell him you’re having trouble getting in contact with me.

I’ve come up with some article ideas. I’m not sure how Mr. Weiss will run class today (Tuesday), whether he’ll have you guys get together as a group and decide who wants to write what, or he’ll choose, but by the end of class you should all have an assignment. If you come up with your own idea, please pitch it to Mr. Weiss and myself. I have AP Econ with Spiegelman 8th period so it’s not outrageously easy to get in contact with me during that time, but I do check my phone a few times during class and I’ll probably look at my phone right after school. Like I said, if you have your own idea, feel free to pitch it; I love creative ideas.

Now that I’ve written you all a novel, get to work and once again, congrats and I’m really excited to work with you all!

-Margaret

Article Ideas:

-GSA Safe Sex Campaign

-Teen suicide

-Being a vegan/ vegetarian

-How students are affected by pop culture

-Teachers in the music department

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