5100 Jog Road, Boca Raton, FL 33496 Issue 6 Volume 25 May 2009

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

NEWS 1, 3 OPINION 5,6 FEATURES 9, 11 FEATURE FOCUS 12, 13 ENTERTAINMENT 15,16 SPORTS 21, 22, 24STUDENT LIFE 18, 19

FOR IN-DEPTH STORIES, BLOGS, VIDEOS AND MORE, VISIT WWW.GALLEONNEWS.COM

In a move which sparked controversy among families and teachers, the Palm Beach County School Board de-cided that August 18 will be the fi rst day of the 2009-2010 school year. This decision bypasses a Florida law passed in 2006, which states that the earliest the school year can begin is August 24. Superintendent Dr. Arthur Johnson proposed the change due to requests from teachers, stu-dents and parents who want fi rst semester exams to be taken before winter break. “It’s better to get exams over with before break,” Eng-lish teacher Amanda Dalva said. “This way, the students don’t forget everything they reviewed for.” In order to enact the change, the School District sent a waiver request to the State Board of Education, asking permission to start school up to a week earlier then Au-gust 24. According to the Sun-Sentinel, the State Board approved their request, allowing Palm Beach County schools to start as early as August 17 this year. The school district’s choice of August 18 as the starting date upset some students and parents. Students attend-ing camps or summer programs that do not end until late August will be forced to cut their schedules short. “I signed up to be a counselor before they released the new due date,” freshman Victoria Devine said. “Now I have to leave camp a few days early. They shouldn’t have sprung it on us so late in the game.” Conversely, teachers are optimistic about the change. Because of the earlier start date, they will receive payment for the period of August 7 - September 4, district calendar coordinator Van Ludy told the Palm Beach Post. “I think the new start date is benefi cial for educators, but I understand the frustration of the students and par-ents,” art teacher Mr. Ladrach said.

School board moves up next year’s start date

By LEE GINTONSTAFF REPORTER

Amidst the current economic recession, state revenues and real estate values have plummeted, creating a billion dollar defi cit in Florida’s budget for education. Florida’s total budget has shrunk by nearly ten per-

cent from the $72 billion initially

approved in 2007. Education has been one of the most heavily impacted components of the budget. As a result, schools are forced to accomplish their goals of academic achievement with less money. Although Spanish River has not undergone the same severity of budget cuts than other schools have endured, it will still be impacted. Principal Dr. Susan Atherley has said that she does not want to lay off any teachers, but a district decision has been made. “Three regular and two ESE [Exceptional Student Educa-tion] will be cut, we will make sure that by next school year everyone will have a job,” Atherley said.

However, there are still uncertainties because teacher re-tirements and relocations have not been announced, ac-

cording to Atherley. Also affected by the economy will be class

sizes. Next year, core classes will have an increase in average class size

from 24 students per teacher

to 25 students per teacher because of the rising enrollment rate and a smaller budget, according to Atherley. “If class sizes increase, I wouldn’t learn as well,” said fresh-man Danny Dadi. “I would probably get less attention from my teacher. That could really affect my performance.” Not only will increasing class sizes create more work for teach-ers, but some feel pressured to take up an extra class period. “I defi nitely feel that there is a lot of pressure for teachers to take on a sixth period class,” biology teacher Kim Baxter said. “I think the state needs to step up and put more money for educa-tion.” In Tallahassee, Governor Charlie Crist is trying to do just that. Florida is betting on receiving stimulus money for its educa-tional system from President Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. However, Florida is only eligible for educa-tion stimulus money if its current spending on education is in proportion to previous years’ spending. “Our educational system should be entitled to stimulus mon-ey,” junior Teddy Egers said. “Success in education is one of our country’s major goals, and Florida needs more money to do that.” Florida’s budget has been slashed by 100 million dollars in the past year and a half. Because of this, the Spanish River com-munity will need to work even harder to fund its scholastic pro-grams and maintain its standard of excellence.

District fi ghts layoffs, class size increases to be caused by budget cuts

Source: cia fact book, U.S. Department of

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On Thursday April 23, Spanish River hosted its own award ceremony for underclassmen. Awards were pre-sented to a large number of students in the areas of the science, biotechnology, social studies, mathematics, Eng-lish, world languages, physical education, and fi ne and performing arts. The awards in each category were given to students who showed academic excellence or improve-ment in those categories. In addition to the eight categories, select students were chosen as nominees to receive book awards from uni-versities. The fi ve book awards were given to sophomore Leonie De La Cruz and juniors Samantha Shavell, Jesse Solomon, Jamie Ginberg and Matt Chan. The universi-ties that provided the awards include Cornell University, Norton College, Harvard College, Smith College, and Brown University. “I am really surprised I won it, it was really unexpect-

ed,” sophomore Leonie De La Cruz said. “I still can not believe it. I am really happy about it, especially because it was such a privilege to be the only sophomore chosen [for a book award].” Additional awards were given out to the top 5 percent of ninth graders, tenth graders, and eleventh graders ac-cording to their grade point averages. Also, the top ten ranked people of each grade were given a metal. An addi-tional award for the Credential Spirit of Community was awarded to junior Katya Ungerman. Students who received recognition were excused dur-ing second and third periods to attend the ceremony and watch themselves, as well as their peers, receive awards for their hard work in each subject matter. “It was really nice to see my classmates get recognized for their academic achievements, because they deserved it,” sophomore Taylor Dabbah, who received recognition for being part of the top 5 percent in her grade, said. The annual award ceremony was a success because the effort of diligent students was acknowledged and award-ed.

By LINDSEY GOLDSTUDENT LIFE EDITOR

Florida’s total budget has shrunk by nearly ten per-

US budget for education by percent

2006 2007 2008 2009

US gross domestic productby percent

versus 1%

2%

3%

4%

5%

6%

-1%

-2%

By MAX MORGENSTERNNEWS EDITOR

Students awarded for academic excellence

PHOTO BY LEE GINTON

Principal Dr. Susan Atherly and the four guidance counselors proudly await the next student to receive an award at the ceremony.

SUCCESS FOR DHH STUDENTS SPORTS GAMES AXED?Take a look at what sports to fi nd out what is in store for next year.SPORTS 21

Read about the students who overcame incomprehensible odds to succeed in academics and extra-curriculars.FEATURES 9

ARE GRAPHIC NOVELS IN YOUR DNA?Check out why graphic novels are becoming

so popular. ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT 16

Senior editSMay 2009the Galleon 10

As i sit down to write my senior edit, i am amazed at how fast these four years have gone by. i can still remember my first day of freshman year and won-dering how i was going to make it through Spanish river. Well the years have passed, and i have survived. of course, this all did not happen on its own, i was

fortunate enough to have great t e a c h -ers and f r i e n d s and my family to help me t h r o u g h it. thank you to my friends for always be-ing there and re-

minding me to still have fun in high school. Blake, i am so lucky to have you in my life, thank you for al-ways listening to me and supporting me throughout the year. And to my brother, Josh, good luck as the only Lieberman at Spanish river, remember that this time goes fast and to enjoy it. i would like to thank Mr. Horal, Mrs. Stenner, Mr. Smalling, Mrs. Scharnweber and Mrs. Kurtz. i cannot begin to thank you enough for all the help and sup-

port throughout my time in high school. each of you played a pivotal role in my high school experience. i am so grateful to have had each of you as my teachers and mentors, thank you for everything! to my senior year teachers, thank you for putting up with seniors and for making my senior year memorable. And to Mr. Burkey, thank you for introducing me to economics.

By JENNIFER LIEBERMANGRADUATING SENIOR

Create your own path through life

i can honestly say that i am an almost completely different person than the girl I was when I first entered Spanish river, changed for the better. Seemingly in the blink of an eye, my high school days are dwindling down to the last few and these have definitely been years i will never forget, full of memories and lessons that i will carry with me for the rest of my life. My years as a shark have undoubtedly taught me that through each new experience, there is always something even deeper to gain. i advise anyone that even though things might not always work out the way you would plan or hope, or life may throw you an unexpected

curveball, do not give up, because there may be something even better waiting for you and e v e r y t h i n g happens for a reason. As a last piece of advice, i believe it is imperative to know that you should never, ever

lose sight of yourself. You must always remember where you come from and who you really are, not changing anything about yourself for anyone else. there are a few people who i must point out and truly thank for making these past four years such a great experience. First and foremost, to the Galleon staff, the years in this class have been so rewarding and i have gained so much more than i ever thought i could in one single classroom, both academic and life lessons. to all of my closest friends, as we all go off to college, i would like to leave with the thought that, “we each take different paths in life, but no matter where we go, we take a little of each other everywhere.” Although it took a few years to find most of you, I am so incredibly happy and fortunate to have met and become such good friends with the most amazing girls at Spanish river; you all know who you are. it

is definitely bit tersweet to be leaving the one place where we all have each other, but i know that in real, true friendships, distance does not break bonds. to

Always keep the eye of the tigerBy ELIANA NEWMAN

GRADUATING SENIOR

Steven, my favorite “Jeets,” i am so lucky to have such an amazing person in my life and cannot thank you enough for all that you have given me, which can never be described in words. to my family, thank you for being

there for me through it all and for being my ongoing motivation and inspiration in life. i would not have been able to accomplish anything if it were not for you all by my side. i’ll always remember “ojo de tigre,” and am sure i will keep the saying with me for the rest of my life. Karina, you are now the last of the family at Spanish river and i have complete faith that you will have nothing short of incredible years here; i still cannot believe you are going to be a sophomore! Finally, to the class of 2009, congratulations and good luck!

Since tak-ing your class, i have de-v e l o p e d an inter-est in the s u b j e c t and want to pursue it and study it further in col lege , t h a n k you! Lastly, i want to give some advice to underclassmen. in addition to being a proud Shark, get involved in something outside of school. Whether it is sports or art classes, do some-thing that makes you happy! i had BBYo as part of my high school experience which made the past four years more enjoyable because i had this whole other thing in my life. do something you are pas-sionate about and dive in head first. Good luck to all you underclassmen, especially my brother, Josh! Congratulations to the class of 2009 and good luck! As for me, i am off to the University of Florida, Go GAtorS!!!!!!!

FEATURES 1160 buckets of paint

600 feet of duct tape 800 volunteer hours1000 feet of cables

... and it’s all

Voices From Backstage What do you like most about working backstage?

“The gratifi cation of a fi nished production.”

-Michelle Rich, 11-Michelle Rich, 11

“Creating what I invisioned.” -Ross Blitz, 10

“The quality of team work. We become a family when we work together backstage.”

-Taylor Cowell, 10

Behind the Scenes

Lighting, costumes, set design, oh myThey devote numerous hours to prepare and set up all the props and make sure everything is in order for the play. “I have great pride in the work me and my team accomplished and I am really happy and just overall proud,” junior Ashley Peters said. So much goes on behind the curtains that the audience may not understand, but work of the stage-craft members’ is imperative. A cast cannot be with-out a crew and a crew cannot be without a cast. The dedicated Spanish River stage crew members learn important skills such as working as a team. “Stagecraft is like a basketball or football team, where everyone is very close to each other,” sopho-more Ross Blitz said. “You can’t not love a stagecraft person.” Alongside intensive teamwork come lifelong friends and skills. “There is defi nitely bonding, and relationships grow [between] the students who work the shows,” stagecraft teacher Dianna Vacco said. “My students

May 2009The Galleon

By KATHY LONGSTAFF REPORTER

The lights are dimmed, the curtains are pulled back and the scenes are changed swiftly. To the audience, this may seem like enough to keep the stagehands’ busy, but only a fraction of the their responsibilities are moving props on and off the stage, changing the set, controlling the microphones and designing the sound. The hard work of a stage crew makes a show run as smoothly as possible. The stage crew works to-gether as a team to prepare for the show and execute it. Weeks before the curtains open, the stage crew can be seen designing the lighting, constructing the set and and setting up stage effects like the fog and haze machine. Their dedication shines through. Being a part of the stage crew is a very rewarding job; new friends are made and the feeling of getting the job done are just two perks of being a stage hand.

are taught a trade in stagecraft and they fi nd their own niche when they get comfortable and focus on one job. Everything is hands on, and they operate all the technical equipment.” Their previous production, “The Wizard of Oz” made use of the largest crew ever employed in a Spanish River production; they had 33 stagecraft workers. The show was driven solely by students and was the fi rst time the stage crew built their own sets. This was also the fi rst time that the higher level classes designed the show. The students were very committed and spent three weeks after school for four days a week prepping for the show, and held dress rehearsals everyday for two weeks before the opening show. Stagecraft has many tasks that have to be put together to work in harmony. Being behind the curtains is a hard and rewarding job; not anyone can do it. It takes time and commitment, which are two qualities that our Spanish River stage crew possesses.

PHOTOS BY NATALIE DEUTSCH

ART BY MARLA MUNRO

PHOTO COURTESY OF DIANNA VACCO

Stagecraft students aim and focus lights.PHOTO COURTESY OF DIANNA VACCO

Sophomores Yoni Moore and Joe Castellano help bring the scenes in “The Wizard of Oz” to life.

The GalleonMay 200912 FEATURE FOCUS

Goodbye paper, hello impending electronic With continuing advances in comput-er technology, the use of paper is steadily being replaced by more modern means of communication. Computers allow us-ers to access a variety of information, such as news, magazines, books and blogs. Numerous websites have been created for things that have traditionally required the use of paper. For example, dictionaries and encyclopedias can now be accessed through the Internet. “I use the Internet daily,” web design teacher Pat Belcher said. “It’s where I can read the news for free at my own lei-sure.” More recently, books are being digi-tally converted. In 2000, the concept of a digital bookstore was introduced when eBooks broke out on the Internet. At fi rst, only 50 titles were available. Now it holds over 100,000 titles of varying categories that can be downloaded to computers, PDAs and mobile phones. In 2007, Amazon.com gave eBooks some competition when they created Kindle: a small, portable, handheld soft-ware platform for reading books elec-tronically. Users can buy and instantly download a variety of books. In addition to the Kindle’s advertised convinience, if more books in the future are bought and

Electronic librariesgaining ground

By JOEY GOLDMANSTAFF REPORTER

read this way there is potential to signifi -cantly reduce the use of paper. This de-vice could be a prerequisite for a future of electronic libraries. “I believe that all libraries will be elec-tronic in the future,” freshman Nishad Ramasar said. “Technology is progress-ing and printing books will soon be out-dated.” Even school textbooks are making their way to the Internet, so students can access them from home and complete assignments. With all these technological innova-tions, the replacement of paper could also have environmental consequences, good and bad. Deforestation could eventually be-come a thing of the past, and according to Waste Management Inc. landfi ll use could be reduced by 10 percent by the year 2015. But, too much dependence on tech-nology could create energy shortages and a rise in costs. Michael Blum, medi-cal director of information technology at the University of California, has stated that people will eventually have to create a solution that balances the need to con-serve energy and prevent deforestation. Another issue that could arise is the loss of jobs of workers in paper companies. “Many people would be out of work,” freshman Glenn Marks said. “The entire paper industry would disappear.”

Where the Paper Trail Ends...

Goodbye paper, hello impending Internet users per 100 inhabitants Computer glitches cause panic

Internet users per 100 inhabitants in developed countries

11

17

24

3136

4246

54 5659 62

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

01997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

10

01997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

SOURCE: INTERNATIONAL TELOCOMMUNICATIONS UNION

Top 10 Most Visited Websites

SOURCE: ALEXA.COM

Year2007

The Galleon May 2009 13FEATURE FOCUS

PHOTO BY SID BAJRACHARYAThe ultimate computing set up. Paper? Who needs it?

ART BY BRITTANY SPRINGSTED

With the arrival of the infor-mation age, technology and the internet revolutionized the way man looked at his daily tasks. Suddenly, monotonous daily paperwork became streamlined and minimized with the use of computers. With the modernization of com-puters came the ease of access of doing multiple, once paperwork involving tasks online. The ever-consuming colossus of paperwork that was the tax return eventually became a manageable task with computer software and online con-sultancy. Paper consuming tasks such as using the paper ballots that were once spotted at voting booths eventually became replaced by computerized voting machines. But every blessing comes with a curse; the shift away from paper ballots is not necessarily a good thing. As noted in the reality web-comic XKCD.com, a problem in the

Goodbye paper, hello impending electronic United States voting machines occurred when the antivirus software on the ma-chines malfunctioned. Nothing about that statement is calming. First, the elec-tronic voting machine malfunctioned, which inhibited any voting on it, and secondly, it was because of anti-virus soft-ware. The only reason for anti-virus software on a voting machine is to protect the virus-susceptible machine from ma-licious virus infec-tions in the fi rst place; a virus that would essentially be used to skew the vote counts in the election anyway. Either way, it doesn’t leave you with a calming picture of the modernized future. To an extent, the widespread use of computers and the loss of the paper trail can in fact come back to haunt you on a personal scale. I mean, you have to love not having any sort of paper backup when a 50 point works cited assignment and 50 point rough outline for your Eng-

lish research paper is due is the next day. Especially when that works cited list and outline you spent two hours on over the course of the week - because of course, you’re trying to reform the pro-

crastination habits and take initiative to get your work done early - is suddenly not on your laptop anymore. Nor is it on your sister’s laptop. Or the computer in the den. Or any of the twelve fl ash drives in the house. Speaking from personal expe-rience, it was a fun

three hours of panic and suffering I had to live through while piecing together the assignments from scratch again, just be-cause someone deleted my fi les off every known computable surface in the house. But look not at only my personal pain and suffering, look to history. In ancient times the libraries at Ninevah and Alex-andria preserved ancestral records that spread the culture and knowledge of the past through time. If all of our knowledge now is solely on the internet - don’t get

By SID BAJRACHARYACOMMENTARY

me wrong, Wikipedia is my best friend too - what happens when there is a mal-function? If, heaven forbid, the internet is to crash globally at one point, where will I fi nd the precious information on the Belokranjska povitica? You know, the rolled cake which, according to Wikipe-dia, is a Slovenian national dish. Slove-nian pastries aside, when slightly more important information, like tax returns, business accounts, medical procedural notes and records, are hosted exclusively online, the information becomes increas-ingly more diffi cult to track, especially if any sort of malfunction should occur. The ramifi cations of losing a business record could be catastrophic. The loss of a medical study could lead to pandemics that we wouldn’t know how to treat any-more. The potential for massive losses of knowledge is scary, and sometimes a bit too real to comprehend. But either way you look at it, as the days go by and society progresses into modernization and the future, the loss of the paper trail might become an inconsequential no-tion, or it might doom the fate of man-kind, in a very dramatic, Nicholas Cage movie way. But nothing can be known for certain, all we can do is look to the

Many of the documents, photos and other valuable data which students hold dear are now being stored in “virtual vaults”, ranging from hard drives to USB storage devices. These devices are not perfect though. The fi les contained with-in them are prone to computer malfunc-tions or viruses. Coming in many forms, computer vi-ruses have been known to cause loss of data and total crashes, wiping out any trace of data contained on the machine unless a copy is saved elsewhere. “I got a virus from one of the advertise-ments on Myspace,” sophomore Kathryn Zells said. “[I] didn’t know it until my computer didn’t start up at all one day.” A person’s computer can contain

thousands photos of them with their friends, perhaps taken during a birthday party, school event, or just an afternoon of fooling around. A computer crash can result in the loss of these pictures and memories. Social-networking sites such as Face-book receive more than 850 million im-ages per month, according to the statis-tics page, It is a widely used service with over 200 million active users who up-load these photos of friends where they can easily be recovered after a computer is restored. Individuals who use computers to store sensitive information, such as so-cial security numbers or bank website passwords, risk losing their data to an individual with ill intentions. Data loss is not just attributed to viruses and Trojan horses however. Crashes can also result from a few rogue clicks as well. “I accidentally [deleted] one of my sys-

tem folders and could not save my com-puter in time,” junior Matthew Hetelson said. Power loss due to electrical overloads or lightning storms may result in the loss of any unsaved data. According to school librarian Kay Owen, this situation has occurred before in the library during a student evaluation test. Test progress was lost and the test had to be retaken, causing many inconveniences. “This kind of loss sets teachers back,” Owen said. “What’s worse is the fact that a minor setback such as this translated into class time being lost for make-ups.” Even though virtual data can be taken for granted at times, it still has the abil-ity to cause panic and annoyance in the hours of cleaning up the virtual mess.

Computer glitches cause panicBy RICHARD BORGESTAFF REPORTER

Where the Paper Trail Ends...

BACKGROUND IMAGE COURTESY OF MICROSOFT

ADVERTISMENTS14

Lagaan tells the story of local Indians who are forced to give up their crops each harvest to the rajahs. As drought and hunger spreads throughout the region, rebellions led by leading character Bhuvan are start-ed against the harsh British rulers. Adversity, injus-tice, dignity and courage are just some of the topics explored in this 2009 Academy Award nominee for Best Foreign Film.

May 2009The Galleon

Arts & entertAinment 15

0

march 2009the Galleon

By MARLA MUNROSTAFF REPORTER

the average American watches more than four hours of television each day, according to the A.C. nielsen Company. this statistic has left many won-dering how much TV influences its most vulnerable viewers: teenagers and children. in various studies, TV has been proven to cause increased violence, pro-miscuity and drug and alcohol abuse. Some Spanish river students have noticed a party culture resulting from watching popular tV shows. “i think that when some of my friends watch shows like The Hills and see the party scenes, they try to replicate them because [they] seem exciting,” junior Jackie Green said. not only does watching tV increase the rate of dangerous behaviors exhibited by teens, but it has

TV violence causes corruption in youthalso been linked to an increase in violence in children. According to The Sourcebook for Teaching Science, the average child views 8,000 murders on TV before they finish elementary school. The overwhelming number of killings witnessed leads to concern about their futures. With all of the negative repercussions of violent tV programming on young people, controversy is stirring over whether or not violence should even be broadcasted on public stations. “I do not think that violence should be allowed to be shown on television because young children are so easily influenced,” freshman Matt Beck said. in 2003, the Kaiser Family Foundation reported that 47 percent of surveyed parents with children ages 4 to 6 admitted that their children have imitated aggressive behaviours shown on TV. TV has also been associated with higher rates of

teenage pregnancy.

music is a pervasive force in the world, as it has the power to bring people together, provoke passion, and define an era. There is nothing more personal or subjective. Whether it is the lyrics or the rhythm, music leaves one with a feeling of eu-phoria. Music has always been a defining aspect of generations and what those generations epito-mize. Our generation’s music has been especially significant. “Fitty cent said ‘get rich or die trying’. this gave me my life’s purpose,” junior Steven Free-land said. Words of wisdom, meaning, and intellect, as one can plainly see, are infinite within the lyrics of today’s raps. there is no truer, deeper message than one based on greed and the fact that money is worth dying for. Another big hit making its way into modern music is Nickelback. Thank god! Who can resist an album where all of the songs sound exactly the same? After all, we do need some consistency in our lives, what with these unstable economic times. Disney Channel’s High School Musical has risen in popularity over the last few years. this comes as no surprise, seeing as everyone loves a musical about twenty-five year old men pretend-ing to be high schoolers who love to dance and sing flamboyantly during class, basketball games, in the hallways... Another vital addition to the music scene are the Jonas brothers. Some are even calling them the next Beatles! Yes, well, perhaps they are an oddly feminine,

By SAMANTHA SCHAUMCOMMENTARY

tight pants and scarf clad version of the Beatles who sound nothing remotely like the Beatles…but we love ‘em! Bands that made it big throughout the 60’s and 70’s, revered as classics, are virtually immortal due to their prevailing popularity, as many kids in today’s society still appreciate their music. But, who needs the classics? “I love Bob Dylan and all the bands from the Woodstock era,” junior Alli England says. Why? Classic music is really just an obtrusive annoyance, seeping into this generation like a plague. Music played by artists from various gen-erations of our past such as The Who, The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, and Bob Dylan were filled with pas-sion, rage and the need for peace in a time of war and human injustices. Some may call them bril-liant, and even lyrical geniuses, but we have more important things to worry about than political cor-ruption and human welfare around the world. Hannah montana, a role model for young girls all over America, makes sure to teach kids that having the “hottest styles, every shoe, every color” is the top priority! What’s that, Appalachian children? Poverty keep-ing you from getting cool clothes? not our problem. As one can see, we are obvious-ly defining our generation with meaningful, and innovative music, and making a name for ourselves in musical history. Looking back, people may call us the materialistic, narcis-sistic one-hit wonder era, but at least they will remember us. Good work, generation!

Superficial music takes limelight

According to the society for the Promotion of Community standards inc., teenage girls who watch shows like Sex and the City and Gossip Girl, which showcase racy dialogue and scenes, are twice as likely to become pregnant over the next three years as girls who did not watch such shows. AP Psychol-ogy teacher Tom DiFiglio believes that television can definitely influence teenagers negatively. “the average teenager watching all of the violence and promiscuity on television is not likely to be able to discern the risks and downsides to what they are watching. this leads to many risky decisions that may affect a young person’s life forever,” DiFiglio said. Although there are risks associated with excessive TV watching, it still has its merits. TV is celebrated as an excellent medium for news, entertainment and advertising.

HISTORY IN THE MAKING Vera Brandes, the world’s first musical pharmacogist, is launching musical therapies in Germany and Austria. At these treatment facilities, the doctor will diagnose a patient then write them a perscrip-tion for certain music.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF GOOGLE IMAGES

ART BY BRITTANY SPRINGSTED

Arts & ENtErtAINMENtMay 2009the Galleon 16

By SOPHIE LEVINENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

The “graphic novel” in the United

States, the “album” in Western Eu-

rope and the “manga” in Japan have

become more and more popular over

the last few decades. The closest to

home, the graphic novel, is a type

of comic book with a lengthy and

complex storyline similar to those

found in novels. Many readers pre-

fer graphic novels to ordinary com-

ic books because they are longer in

length and have a full story.

continue reading ->

Pulitzer-Prize winning comic book

artist Art Spiegelman dislikes people

referring to Maus, his most famous

work, as a graphic novel because he

finds it misleading. He even told Lon-

don’s Institute for Contemporary Arts

that he loves comic books but hates the

term “graphic novels”.

“I’m called the father of the modern

graphic novel. If that’s true, I want a

blood test,” Spiegelman told the Econ-

omist. “[Comics] is a dumb word, but

that’s what they are.”

Lately, graphic novels are attracting teen-

agers through Hollywood. V for Vendetta, the

2007 movie, is based on Moore’s comic book

by the same name. According to Newsroom,

the week the film came out, V for Vendetta the

graphic novel was #4 on the Barnes & Noble

Trade Paperback Fiction List. Wanted, star-

ring Angelina Jolie and James McAvoy, is based

on the comic book by Mark Millar. According

to movieweb.com, The Dark Knight and Iron

Man were America’s top two grossing movies

of 2008.

“I liked Maus more than other books

I’ve been required to read for school

because I was able to think about the

Holocaust in a new way,” sophomore

Eric Pelz said. “I never knew [graphic

novels] could be sophisticated.”

Watchmen, one of the most popular

graphic novels, was published in 1986 as

a 12-issue comic book but later reprint-

ed by DC comics in a collected form and

labeled a graphic novel. It is set in an

alternate reality that mirrors America

in the 1980s. Instead of athletes and

religious figures, superheroes grace

the pages of daily newspapers. Readers

discover how the presence of these cos-

tumed crime fighters drastically alters

the outcomes of real-world events such

as Vietnam.

Though most graphic novels, such

as Watchmen, are read mainly for plea-

sure, Spanish River has long used an-

other graphic novel as a teaching tool.

Students in English II Honors are re-

quired to read Maus: A Survivor�s Tale

by Art Spiegelman. It is a memoir on

the life of Vladek Spiegelman, a holo-

caust survivor, and his son Art.

Comic books: “not just for nerds anymore”

PHOtOs COUrtEsY OF GOOGLE IMAGEs

“Movies like The Dark Knight,

Ironman, and Hellboy are making

comics cool to the general pub-

lic again, and more acceptable to

read openly. Comic books aren’t for nerds anymore,” junior sar-

ah Kaplan said.

TIME MAGAZINE’S TOP TEN GRAPHIC NOVELS

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1963-1964

PHOTO BY LEE GINTON

ART BY BRITTANY SPINGSTED

One of the basic fundamentals of economics is the concept of opportunity costs. As the wise Brett Burkey says, “There is no such thing as a free lunch.” This principle relates back to the idea that nothing is ever “free”; something must be lost in order for something to be gained. Whether it is time, money, or sleep, you, as a consumer, make the conscious de-cision as to what is the best option for you. Consider-ing that the American government legally recognizes me as an adult, I can sagely say that nothing has ever been given to me. I’ve had to work hard to get to this point in my life. In a d d i - tion to being diagnosed w i t h an incurable disease, I lived in fi nancial destitu-tion w i t h

The art of being audacious, loquaciousmy mother for years. When times were tough, she would always say “don’t dwell on the past. Focus on what lies ahead. You have the power to decide your future.” Because mothers always give the best advice, I took her words to heart. In high school, I seized ev-ery opportunity available. When something sparked my interest, I did something about it. Whether it was creating a club, joining an organization or calling people, I exhausted every chance given to me. And because of this tenacity, I now have options. I cannot take full responsibility for having options without giving credit to those who helped me along the way. Skylar, our relationship is now at a point where I consider you to be more than a just best friend but a sister. I come to you for everything and talk to you more than my own family. Katiana, every time I’m with you, I laugh till I cry. You’re an amaz-ing friend and person, and I don’t know what I’ll do without you next year. Nadine, I love how every time I am with you, we come up with yet another weird inside joke. It took us way too long to become such great friends but no worries, we’ll make up for lost time during the next four years. Jessica, you are the most inspirational person ever and I appreciate all of your help. Emily, I’ve shared way too many funny, awkward,

By ALISON SIKESGRADUATING SENIOR

SENIOR EDITS 17May 2009The Galleon

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and amazing moments with you and I look forward to sharing more. Jason, I couldn’t have been paired with a better co-editor. Thank you for all your hard work and for putting up with me. All of my non-Gal-leon friends, I don’t expect you to read this but just know, you mean so much to me. The Rich Family, thank you for everything. The last three years have been truly memorable thanks to the opportunities you have given me. Mrs. Stenner, Mr. Turner, Mrs. Boerstler, Mrs. Scharnweber, Mr. Dybas, Ms. Sanders and Mr. McEnroe, thank you for loving what you do and making a signifi cant impact in my life. Stephen and Courtney, though I will be miles away, always remember that I am your big sister and will be there for you whenever you need me. Linda, thank you for always being there and for always sup-porting me. And fi nally, mom, you did a great job. I couldn’t have asked for a better mother. As I embark into an uncertain future, I’ve never been more certain in my life: my future is fi lled with opportunities. Don’t wait around for options, create them. Success is not made without sacrifi ces. Snatch every opportunity given to you and never let go.

Always remember “there is no such thing as a free lunch,” and I should know; nothing is free in New York City.

ing that the recognizes me as an adult, I can sagely say that nothing has ever been

me. I’ve had to work hard this point in my life. In

tion to being diagnosed an incurable disease,

in fi nancial destitu-

inside joke. It took us way too long to become such great friends but no worries, we’ll make up for lost time during the next four years. Jessica, you are the most inspirational person ever and I appreciate all of your help. Emily, I’ve shared way too many funny, awkward,

every opportunity given to you and never let go. Always remember “there is no such thing as a free

PHOTOS COURTESY OF GOOGLE IMAGES

STUDENT LIFEMay 2009The Galleon18

Start SAT or ACT work! This summer is a perfect time to be proactive and start studying for the SATs or ACTs that you will most likely be taking junior year. You can also do a college program and major in classes you are interested in. It is also smart to get your obligatory community service hours completed so you do not have to worry about completing them rising senior summer or before the community service sheets are collected in the fi rst semester of senior year. Current senior Melanie Feldman did a community service program in Costa Rica her rising junior summer. “It was important for me to do my Costa Rica community service program before my junior year because I was able to help others in need while also allowing me to improve my Spanish speaking skills in preparation for the next school year, as well as completing and exceeding the required twenty hours of community service for graduation,” Feldman said.

A summer of success: make it yours BY LINDSEY GOLDSTUDENT LIFE EDITOR

Anthony Robustelli: For the last ten years, junior Anthony Robustelli has taken Tae Kwon do classes. Every afternoon after school Robustelli practices and endures extremely strenuous workouts. Robustelli recently participated in the national competition held in Las Vegas and in the summer he will go to the world competition in Arkansas. At nationals, he came in third for sparring; at worlds last year he came in third for form. “I feel really good about my accomplishments in Tae Kwondo, but I know I can do more,” Robustelli said.

Kate Heffernan: When she is not participating in Winter Guard or Color Guard, sophomore Kate Heffernan volunteers as a member of Key Club. Heffernan was recently elected secretary. She was also active in the Obama campaign. After her practices for guard, she came home to enter data for the campaign and go around canvassing. Her motivation: helping people and making more friends. “I’ve met all my friends through extra – curricular activities,” Heffernan said. “They make high school more bearable.”

Melanie McCormick: Known for her “Mouth Watering Muffins,” senior Melanie McCormick is involved in leadership all through Palm Beach County. Her leadership throughout our district gave her the once in a lifetime opportunity to be interviewed and to watch one of the debates for the 2008 election on ABC News, in New York. “Leadership is service back to others. We have to give back to our school and our community,” Melanie McCormick said. “Being involved in leadership has given me so many opportunities to give back and help others.”

Kristen Harding: For the last four years, senior Kristen Harding has taken T.V production. Harding has just participated in the Palm Beach International Film Festival and has been awarded a $5,000 Burt Reynolds Scholarship. “Mr. Weddle thought that I could do well at this competition so I just went for it,” Harding said. The scholarship is only awarded to two students in all of Palm Beach County.

Highlights of student achievements

After the bell rings, students are still out and about pursuing their personal interests. Four students: Anthony Robustelli, Kate Heffernan, Melanie McCormick and Kristen Harding have a lot to show for

their success.

By NICOLE ELINOFF STAFF REPORTER

Summer before sophomore year:

Relax! You have time before you start worrying about preparing for the SATs and other ordeals high school entails. Be a day camp counselor and work for community service hours, getting a head start on the 20 community service hours Spanish River requires to graduate. Spend your summer pursuing a hobby, maybe something you are interested in as a career. Current sophomore, Ana Galvan, did an engineering scholars program at FAU rising sophomore summer. “I felt like this program would give me a better idea of engineering since it is a subject I have always been interested in,” Galvan said. Summer before sophomore year is also an ideal time to enjoy the last few years of sleep away camp. “Freshman year I went to camp which is always a great way to spend a summer because it completely removes me from anything even remotely related to school,” sophomore Joshua Cohen said.

START COLLEGE APPLICATIONS! Of course applications are generally due over the senior school year, however, save yourself from drowning in work. Simply starting the essays would be benefi cial. In addition to starting college applications, it would also be helpful to visit colleges that you have any interest in attending. Summer before senior year is also a crucial time to fi nish the last of your required community service hours before fi rst semester of senior year comes..

The thermometer gradually climbs and eventually hits the big “90.” The fi rst sign that summer has arrived. Summer is two months in which one can be proactive and prepare for the following school year. Here are some useful ideas to make each summer more

productive:

Summer before junior year:

Sophomore Josh Cohen and team quickly cheer before engaging in Color War at camp.

Summer before senior year:

Use this summer to get a job, complete summer sessions for colleges, or spend time with family. Getting a job would be extremely benefi cial by accumulating money to pay for college expenses or to get a head start on supporting one’s self. Take a family vacation or just bond with family at home before going to a distant school. Florida schools require at least one summer session and it is highly recommended to utilize your summer preceding your freshman year to do this. “Taking the summer semester at FSU [this upcoming summer] allows me to become more familiar with the campus and meet new friends,” current senior Anthony Saker said.

Following senior year:

Photo courtesy of Josh CohenPhoto courtesy of Melanie Feldman

Seniors Sammi Ellman and Kelsey Mulligan visited the University of Florida and attended a Gator game.

Photo courtesy of Sammi Ellman

Senior Melanie Feldman at Costa Rica program.

STUDENT LIFE May 2009The Galleon 19

Imagine yourself in this situation: you have been out of school for a week, been loving summer, chilling out, no teachers and no worries. One morning, you are all pumped up to hit the beach with your friends. On the ride to the beach, you check out your wallet and see absolutely nothing there, not one cent. You realize you have no money to pay for the entrance fee. It suddenly hit you: it is time to get a job. Let us hope this will not happen to you. Waiting until the last minute to score that extra summer cash can be inevitable for some. “I want a job this summer so I can have money to spend on my girlfriend,” junior Joshua Mizrachi. Unfortunately, in this tight economy, those easy to get summer jobs will not be there for much longer, due to cut backs. According to The Bureau of Labor,

teens have an unemployment rate of about 21.6 percent oppose to 15.4 percent in 2006.

Looking at the Spanish River student parking lot, it is no mystery why most teens are going to need to work, according to many Spanish River students.

“The minute I can contribute money to buy myself a car, I will be driving to school,” freshman Lila Stallone said.

Not only are teens looking to pay for gas, some just want a car. Many students that are not yet in the

parking lot, want to be. Some students have applied early, looking for a jump on the competition. Sophomore Nikki Kessler secured

herself a position by applying early as a camp counselor. “It is benefi cial [to be a camp counselor this summer] so I have something fun to do while getting paid,” sophomore Nikki Kessler said. Students will be working hard this summer, each hoping to make a suffi cient amount of money allowing them to gain some freedom.

BY PHOEBE DINNERSTUDENT LIFE EDITOR

Summer jobs playing hard to get

art by marla munro

Voices in the crowdWhat are you doing this sum-

mer?

“I plan to go to Australia and go to a surfi ng camp.”

-Jacob Verkerk, 11

“I am working at Jamba Juice to get extra spending money.”

-Sarah Katzin, 10

“I am working locally.”-Anna Bruno,12

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As I grew up, people told me to leave the ideals of Disney princesses behind. Life was not a fairy tale and if I did not stop dressing up in blue parachute pants, moccasins, fi sh tails and tiaras, I would be in for a rude awakening. However, looking back on my life, without the lessons that the princesses taught me, I would not be who I am today. Jasmine, Poca-hontas and Mulan were three princesses who gave me a manual on how to be strong. And somehow at seventeen, even without the pants, I still fi nd myself trying to employ the lessons I learned from them in my life every day. Jasmine refused to ever marry a man that her father

chose for her. She refused to marry a man chosen by her father and upon falling in love with Aladdin, she changed the rules, which was revolutionary. From this, I learned not to be a pushover, and to stand up for what I believe in. This is the same lesson that teachers, parents, and so many try to instill in you as a teenager. When she was unhappy, she escaped. While this may have been a bit rash, it too teaches a valuable lesson: never give up. There is always a way to fi x a problem, as long as you remain true to your-self and your beliefs. Pocahontas stood up to her culture, as did Mulan. Both these Disney icons went against the will of their society. Pocahontas embraced the Englishmen upon their arrival, while her family and tribe knew them solely as savages. She tried to live harmoniously with them. Mulan took her father’s spot in the army. She

fought for her country and herself. Both of them helped taught me to be brave and strong. Pocahontas made me realize at a young age that human nature is to be judgmental, and it is the reason for so many of the world’s problems, even today. Mulan taught me to stand up for what I think is right, even if it comes at a high price. Without our values, what are we? Why is it that people tell us to stop idolizing cartoons and princesses and fairy tales? True, their overall messages of “happily ever after” may not re-fl ect reality, but look at the little things. The impact that the small lessons have is the one that stays. I’ll be eighteen and heading to college in a few months, and now more than ever I need Disney to help guide me. So Spanish River, I’d like to offer a piece of ad-vice. Never lose sight of your inner-princess, you never know when you might need her advice.

By HILLARY LANGSAMGRADUATING SENIOR

Role models from childhood remain prominent in high school

Educational Excellence was founded by Nancy Polin. Nancy holds a B.S. in Education, and M.A. and completion of Ph.D. coursework in Clinical Psychology. She is a certifi ed teacher and guidance counselor with 25+ years experience in education, guidance/college counseling and administration. Nancy provides all aspects of college planning and a broad array of other direct and consultative educational services, to students and parents on an individual basis, with a high level of person-alization and customization, in accordance with the unique and specifi c needs of each student. Nancyís top priority is that her students make wise college choices, be accepted to the college of their choice and suc-cessfully achieve other important goals.

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SPORTS 21High school athletic board may reduce num-ber of games

By RENEE SIEGELSPORTS EDITOR

insurance that student athletes pay is predicted to rise from fifty dollars to sixty dollars, while football’s insurance may be as high as eighty dollars. “I think the biggest effect is that [the cut back of games] is taking away opportunities for the student athletes to play and excel, as well as to have fun,” Athletic Director Kevin McEnroe said. “We are now training just as hard to play less, which is a shame.” McEnroe believes that cutting back on the num-ber of games is pointless since the money is not going back to the county, and the games are what kids love about sports. “Some places like Broward County are discussing cutting out certain sports entirely like boys volleyball and girls waterpolo,” sophomore Mikey Heneks said. “Even if these sports are not cut in our county, it will

affect our state tourna-ments since a signifi-cantly less number of teams would partici-pate.” The FHSAA is try-ing to avoid these out-comes. “The FHSAA is con-sidering the cutbacks of games so that school boards will keep all sports at all levels,” Executive Director of the FHSAA Roger Dearing said. “The

thought is that all sports sacrifice some, so some sports do not have to sacrifice all.” The economy is already affecting the high school sports world by tightening funding in many areas, and it seems that there are even harder times to come ahead. More specifics about the cutbacks will come out from the FHSAA in upcoming weeks.

The team walks onto the field, excitement rag-ing, fans cheering, as the players’ hard work during practice is about to pay off. Next year this may not happen as often because a recommendation has gone before the board of the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) to cut the number of games in varsity sports by twenty percent and the number of games in junior varsity sports by forty percent for the 2009-2010 school year. The specifics of the cutbacks would vary from team to team. The Spanish River Athletic Department is scheduling in anticipation for the decrease in games allowed from the FHSAA, although official rulings have not been decided on. For example, girl’s volleyball previously had twenty-five games while next year the team will only play twenty games. A similar cut will be made in boy’s and girl’s soccer with a twenty-four game season moving to a twen-ty game season. The only team to not be affected is boy’s football. “I play Varsity Soccer and my favorite part is the games,” junior Danielle Irwin said. “We practice really hard, but matching up against other teams is the fun part; they are the high-lights of any high school sport.” Cutting back on the number of games is thought to save money on traveling, costs of officials, and secu-rity. Even though these numbers would go down, the

This gun needs more...paint?

“Say hello to my little friend!” Tony Montana said in the movie Scarface, filmed over twenty years ago. Montana was referring to his weapon of choice, but it was no semi-automatic Dangerous Power G3 SE Paintball Marker. This newest invention can sometimes be considered an Excalibur for paintball fanatics everywhere. “I use a Spyder Victor and the padding i s n ’ t that complex; I wear some jeans, a hoodie, a long sleeve shirt and a mask, which is so very important,” sophomore Nicolas Salam said. Paintball enthusiasts call these latest paintball machines, along with gloves, pants, jerseys and pro-tection, a culmination of improvements ever since the start of the sport in the early 1970’s. It all started when a group of friends decided to use “paint guns,” turning a device originally used to mark trees and livestock into a worldwide phenomenon. Professionally, tournaments sprung up near the beginning of 1983, but many play just for the fun of it. “I see a variety of age groups here, usually ranging from ten to 18 years old,” Spent Paintball employee Sergio Fraguela said. “Usually, the kids who come and play form their own teams with kids of their own age group, but I also see younger kids playing with older kids; many of the younger kids even beat them. Others who come here practice for tournaments like the World Cup or other major competitions in big cit-ies such as Atlanta.” An eye-catching tournament was held in Missis-sippi in August of 2007, called “Operation: Paintball Island” with an unheard of $1,000,000 in prize mon-ey, proving that paintballers can, in fact, make a de-cent sum of money through this ever-more popular sport. Upcoming tournaments for avid paintballers include the 2009 MAO Fieldwalk, the Malaga Field-walk and the USPL Huntington Beach. “Paintball is an easy way to make friends and socialize with different people,” junior Alex Mazza said. “I really want to feel the adrenaline rush while running around hoping not to be shot. It feels as if I am playing for my life, which adds to the fun.” “My best experience was one time, when I was playing, my friend happened to drop her hopper, which is used to hold the paintballs, and she didn’t realize it for a couple minutes and I shot her,” Nicolas Salam said. “I am currently trying to get a paintball club started.” Salam wishes to gather a community of Spanish River paintballers so that they can all revel in the mo-ment together. Cars and the surrounding can also be splattered with blue, yellow, orange or whichever color of paint matches the mood. “My friend decided to shoot my car up while I was still on the field,” junior Zack Chikovsky said. “When I found out, I got everyone who was playing to light him up for shooting my car.” Despite the injuries to his car, Chikovsky stated that it was one of the best times he has ever had. Like

Chikovsky, Mazza and Salam, others consider paintball a prime alter-

native to the accus-tomed beaches, movies

and malls of the traditional Boca lifestyle.

By MATT CHANSPORTS EDITOR

Po p C u l t u r e G r i d THE

ATH-LETES

TURI REEVESTrack

ALYSSA BARON

Water Polo

JOSH KATZMANLacrosse

____ should be on the cover of Sports Illus-trated Swim-

While I pro-crastinate, I like to ______

Most annoy-ing thing in my

life.

I predict that the ___will

win the NBA

My girl-friend’s momDenver

Nuggets

Sean FarisGo to the beach

Boys

Kim Kardashi-an

Sleep

BostonCeltics

My Coach

Sit on the couch and watch TV

My parents nagging me

Philadelphia76ers

SHEENA SANILTennis

Le

Bro

n

May 2009The Galleon

ArT By BriTTAny springsTed

SPORTS 22Winterguard takes second place title at world championship

By EMMA GRUBMANSTAFF REPORTER

Many have witnessed the Spanish River Color Guard perform with the Silver Sound Marching Band during the half time show at the football games held in the shark pit. However, most people do not real-ize the season that follows this is strictly devoted to color guard. This is called winter guard, also known as the sport of the arts. During this season, the Ju-nior Varsity and Varsity Winterguard teams create a show, which is performed at many ma-jor competitions including the Winter Guard International World Champi-onships (WGI) in Dayton, Ohio. “The Varsity guard’s show this year was an eye catcher,” sophomore Jillian Montague said. “From their outfi ts to the choreography it was all unique.” This creativity was evident as the varsity winterguard earned fi rst place at every local competition and second at the WGIs. “The best part of the season [was] last month,” coaches Devin Gladstone and Brian Horan said. “Everything comes together, and your visions be-come reality.” Anyone who has ever seen the winterguard show can tell you that it looks effortless, but each member of the team had to give more than just ef-fort to creating a stunning show. The team had to give

up many hours during the week so that they could at-tend long, tedious practices. “At guard we start off having a lot of fun by goofi ng off. Then its time to learn our show which is still fun but a ton of hard work,” sophomore JV winterguard captain Kat Leary said. All of this hard work paid off though when the team basked in the glory of becoming second in the

world. “It feels good to see the fi nal show after weeks of prac-tice,” varsity win-terguard member and sophomore Alexa Samuels said. “I feel like we have accomplished so much. Practicing isn’t the greatest, but having a great show makes it all worth it.” As well as many practices, the team had a competition almost ev-ery weekend. They attended many competitions including some at lo-cal schools like John I. Leonard, Stoneman Douglas and Flanagan. They also went to the South Florida Winterguard Association (SFWGA) Championships which was also held at Stoneman Douglas.

“Competitions are nerve wracking and stressful,

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but the thrill of the audience’s cheering is the adrena-line rush that keeps you going,” senior varsity winter guard cap-tain Debbie Spears said. Competition days are not only stressful, but extremely long. On a typical competition day, the team starts their morning at six when they eat breakfast. Follow-ing this, they go to practice at Spanish River for three hours. On their way to the competition is when hair and makeup are done, and when they arrive they unload their tarp, and do several different warm-ups before they perform. Sometimes the team

does not get dismissed until midnight, but whatever time it may be, they always go to the Ale House to celebrate their many accomplishments. This year, the varsity winterguard chose to do their show to the song “Clair de Lune,” while JV picked John Mayer’s cover of “Free Falling.” When performing their shows, the teams get judged on cre-ativity and execution. One important aspect of cre-ativity is how the team decorates their tarp, which is used to cover the fl oor when the guard performs. The varsity guard decided to paint their tarp like the painting “Sunday at the Park’ by George Seurat. “As you watch the show there was always some-thing happening no matter where you looked,” said Montague. “I truly think they deserved all their fi rst places and they always looked stunning .”

Winterguard takes a team picture after earning second place at the WGI Championships. Photo Courtesy of Marissa Tata

The team warms up by practic-ing their routine before the WGI Championships. Photos Courtesy of Marissa Tata

May 2009The Galleon

Boys GirlsHow far did

they go?

Regionals

States

District Finals

Swi

mming

V b o a l l l l e y

Regionals

States

District Finals

- Both boys and girls tennis went undefeated- Madison Pressel is #1 in the state for golf- Boys lacrosse went from winless in ‘08 to 12-6 this year- Brett Swider sets a new Palm Beach County record for number of yards ran- Boys volleyball is having a really strong season, we wish them the best of luck in the playoffs!

Track

Tennis

Bowling

Tennis

Lax

Swi

mming

Soccer

Golf

C Cr oo us ns t r y

Tennis

Advertisements 23may 2009the Galleon

Alex D’AugelliPosition: Right Side

Hero: AquamanBest Thing About Volleyball:

Team Bonding

Denis RogenmoserPosition: Strong Tackle

Pump-up Music: I’m Comming Out Pre-game Relaxation: Team Cuddling

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Jake GoldbergPosition: Libero

Good Luck Charm: Listening to the Hava Nagila

Worst Injury: Broken Heart when Ian broke up with me

Ian LyngsePosition: Middle BlockerPre-game Drink: Red Bull Favorite Team Ritual: Singing to JourneyBiggest Rival: Douglas

Tim HeneksPosition: outside hitter

Good Luck Charm: My Pjs Post Game Celebration: Singing

Little Sally Walker

NEWS 3

The Galleon 2009-2010

The Galleon is a member of Quill and Scroll Honorary Society for High School Journalists, Florida Scholastic Press Association, Columbia Scholastic Press Association, Southern Interscholastic Press Association, National Scholastic Press Association.

CONTRIBUTING STAFF REPORTERSRichard BorgeNicole ElinoffJoey Goldman

Lee GintonEmma GrubmanJosh Lieberman

Kathy LongMarla Munro

Lee GintonBrittany Springsted

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITORS

Sophie LevinSamantha Schaum

ADVISER Suzanne Sanders

The Galleon is a public forum.Principal Dr. Susan Atherley

FEATURES EDITORSNatalie DeutschNicole Granet

FEATURE FOCUS EDITORSid Bajracharya

NEWS EDITORSMax Morgenstern

Abby Solomon

SPORTS EDITORSMatt Chan

Renee Siegel

PHOTOGRAPHY EDITORLee Ginton

EDITORS-IN-CHIEFAlban Harrison

Samantha Shavell

ART EDITORSMarla Munro

Brittany Springsted

ASSOCIATE EDITORNatalie Deutsch

Field trips terminated if alcohol is available for sale

The Palm Beach County School Dis-trict has recently cancelled many school-sponsored field trips. The School Board has issued this ban because certain school trips occur where alcohol is being served. According to Palm Beach School Board, this is imposing a terrible influence on stu-dents. Spanish River plans to keep its grade of an ‘A’ for overall academic excellence. In order to continue in achieving this high standard, Principal Dr. Susan Atherley and the administration agreed that all field trips must have a purpose. The student can ex-perience a real life connection while still learning the given material in class.

“Although it is important for students to learn while in school, we will be missing out on so many other opportunities to learn outside the classroom because of this new policy,” sophomore Jenna Shapiro said. School trips are now being analyzed to see if they are academically based, and if they meet standards. Many looked forward to the Hallow-een Horror Nights annual trips at Universal Studios due to the spectacular exhibition of horror and fright. However, the trip has been cancelled due to this new standard. If students are being supervised, and there is an opportunity to purchase alcohol, the field trips will be denied, said Ather-ley. “As standards are being enforced, field trips will be limited,” she said. Students were shocked as the

news spread like wildfire across the cam-pus. “I believe that this new standard is unnecessary because students can handle the responsibility of being around alcohol without having the urge to join in on the party,” junior Brad Stoll said. The School Board believes focus-ing on AP exams, preparing for state tests such as FCAT and leading students down the path for graduation serves as the bigger picture. In May 2005, a similar standard was approved. The District approved a Drug-and-Alcohol Free Workplace policy to enforce the rule of no drugs or alcohol on campus. The School Board’s objective is to maintain a safe environment for students and faculty by promoting this policy.

By BRITTANY SPRINGSTED STAFF REPORTER

Berklee School of MusicUC BerkeleyDuke UniversityUniversity of FloridaUniversity of MiamiUniversity of MichiganNew York UniversityUniversity of Central FloridaUniversity of PennsylvaniaPrinceton UniversityYale UniversityAND MANY MORE!

Many people believe that the econ-omy will be a decisive factor as fami-lies choose whether to continue send-ing their children to private schools, or transfer them into the public school system. Althought she did not know exactly how many, Principal Dr. Susan Ather-ley said the school is expecting more students next year. “We won’t know until June, when new students register,” Atherley said. “We will be ready for more students if they come.” A freshman, that requested to re-main anonymous, said she switched to public school at the beginning of this school year. “I went to private school my whole life, and it was time for a change,” she said. “The money definitely came into account because I could get the same education in public school and save a

Economic trouble may lead to wave of new student enrollments

lot more money.” Private school enrollment has de-creased from about 11.4 percent in the fall of 2000 to about 10.3 percent in the fall of 2008 according to the United States Department of Education. Private school administrators are closely monitoring economic trends. St. Andrews’ Director of Marketing and Communications, Carlos Barroso, said that applications to the school, which costs $22,000 a year, have increased, despite the tough economic times. However, the school has noticed more students asking for financial aid, Barroso said. According to the National Associa-tion of Independent Schools (NAIS), financial aid requests have increased from 140,000 in the 2007-2008 aca-demic year to 146,000 in the 2008-2009 year. NAIS anticipates that the number will climb in the upcoming school year. “I’m sure we will lose some students,” Barroso said. “But we are certainly pre-pared for anything.”

By ABBY SOLOMONNEWS EDITOR

On Friday April 24, 13 Spanish Riv-er Silver Sound band members par-ticipated in a concert featuring band members from schools throughout the district and a composition written by famous composer Robert Sheldon. Over 800 relatives and friends of the band members gathered in the the-atre to listen to a two hour long per-formance, according to band teacher Craig White. “Some of my friends were part of the band, but the others came and encour-aged me and wished me luck,” junior Kristine Yhang, who participated in the concert, said. Many audience members were wooed by the harmonic sounds of the highly acclaimed Silver Sound band. The band’s distinction had been con-firmed on February 10, when it took home 11 “superior” rankings at the Florida Bandmaster’s Association Solo and Ensemble competition (FBASE). The band puts intensive work into practices and performances, and that work pays off.

Band exhibits excellence in all-district concert

VOICES IN THE CROWD

How do you feel about the new requirements for

school field trips?

“This rule might take the fun out of field trips, but it’s nec-essary for our safety.”

- Aaron Tell

“Trips should be educa-tional, but it’s good to have fun as well and enjoy it as well.

- Wendy Peralta

“ I think that the alcohol rule should be en-forced, but the trips shouldn’t have to be strictly educa-tional.” - Jenna Levy

SHARK NEWS

Sharks devour top colleges

“I would have to say that it wasn’t very challenging participating in these two events,” sophomore Ian Picard, who won two “superior” rankings at FBASE and participated in the con-cert, said. “As an active band member, I compete in almost all these activities, and it has grown on me.” To audition for the concert, band members traveled to Wellington Mid-dle School. The select few who were chosen practiced all day on Thursday April 23, the day before the concert. At 3:30PM band members arrived at the theatre, and at 7:30PM the concert began. “It was exciting, not because of the people, but because of the composer,” Yhang said, referring to “Danzas Cuba-nas”, the piece that Sheldon wrote spe-cifically for premier at the concert. Sheldon was eager to write the piece because he is from Palm Beach County and has a special connection with the area, according to White. With a composition by an artist of the highest caliber ever commisioned by the honor band and a full theatre, the concert was a success, but accord-ing to band member junior James Ko-bayashi, it was “just a step”.

By ALBAN HARRISONEDITOR-IN-CHIEF

May 2009The Galleon

STUDENT LIFE EDITORSPhoebe DinnerLindsey Gold

WEB EDITORSJoey Goldman

Josh Lieberman

SENIOR EDITSMay 2009The Galleon4

“Woooop! You’re gonna lose!” Freshman class president speech. Words spoken to me by the infamous and audacious then senior Andrew Stein. I had just ended my campaign address with my dazzling slogan (Oh, yes, you may remember it: “Have no fear, Katiana is here!”) fairly confident I had done a nice job, when I heard these words and felt my face turn a shade of deep tomato red. Fifteen laughing seniors sat and stared at me, while the set lights shone so brightly in my face I nearly fainted right there on the spot. Looking back on this dreadful experience, I often ask myself if it was a mistake to run for class president. I made a fool of myself in front of the entire school and nearly passed out in front of a bunch of intimidating seniors. And how did anyone let me get away with that slogan?! What I’ve come to realize is this: high school is a time of growth. Anyone will tell you that. But growing does not mean that everything in your life is going to run smoothly from the first day of freshman year until your long-awaited graduation day. Every day you will be faced with inevitable challenges that will maybe make you cringe, make you laugh or make you want to crawl into a hole and stay there. Whatever you do, don’t run away. Instead, embrace these challenges with the outlook that just another bump in the road will make you a stronger person. Before you know it, you’ll be laughing about these experiences and feeling fortunate enough to have had them. Did I tell you I unsuccessfully tried out for

cheerleading…. twice (mainly because my toe-touches looked like exaggerated spasms), and I had to wear a bright gold one-piece body-suit for my performance as a fork in Beauty and the Beast? Besides, if I hadn’t lost the presidency or failed at cheerleading, I wouldn’t have found my way to The Galleon - the most challenging, rewarding, thought-provoking experience that has allowed me to grow into the person I am today, and I feel very lucky to have had such an opportunity this early in my life. Thank you, firstly, to Brittney Winters who encouraged me to pick up an application during freshman year, when it didn’t seem important to me at the time. You changed my life without knowing it. To our fantastic staff this year, for continuously striving to make this paper the best that it could be and for carrying on The Galleon’s legacy of excellence. Alban, I have no doubt that you’ll be able to do whatever you set your mind to, whether it’s working in graphic design or doing undercover investigative reports

about gangs in Chicago. Sammi, your attention to detail and getting things done efficiently and accurately will certainly take you places and make you an excellent journalist. Natalie, you impressed us with your persistence in going to great lengths with your stories, and your approachable manner

makes you a fantastic friend to many. Ms. Sanders, thank you for not just being our adviser but a great friend. I don’t know how you’re able to handle Lacrosse and Galleon, let alone raise a child - three huge undertakings for someone who must also teach four English classes and lifeguard during the summer. Thank you, as well, to all my teachers for allowing me to miss class for Galleon emergencies! Mrs. Blanco, Mrs. Hoffman, Mr. Burkey, Dr. Friedmann, Ms. Cangelosi and Mr. Marks- for constantly challenging

me to do better, and being my favorites throughout high school. Jessica and Emily: you two are so smart and talented, I think we could all learn a little bit from you. Jennifer: I’m so happy we’re going to college together where we can continue our chats deep into the night over a good cup of coffee. David: my partner in crime. Your drive to succeed is inspiring to the rest of us, and $2,000 in Jamba Juice sales later, I am still amazed by your persistence to get things done. Alison: You have the rare ability to cheer up anyone around you with one of your random jokes and immediately ease tension. Our times together keep me laughing for days. Lizzie: our crazy adventures

kept life spontaneous when our senioritis became inflamed, and I am thankful for that! Taryn: my best friend, my sister, thank you for running for class president too and reminding me that life is always full of hilarous moments. Nadine: we’ve had

our ups and downs this year, that’s for sure. But one thing remains certain and that is that you are one of the best friends anyone could ask for. Staying in the backroom until 11 PM might simultaneously be one of the worst but best memories of my high school experience. Your passion for Galleon is contagious, and I am so thankful I got to share this most challenging experience with you. A word to my parents and my Grandma, who have dealt with my constant jabber about Galleon and have been the catalysts behind my motivation to succeed. Your incredible advice and lasting support this year have made me come to appreciate you more with each passing day. Oh…and one last thing. Thank you to EVERYONE who has ever driven me anywhere. I finally got my license a few weeks ago because, well, I embarrassingly failed my permit test five times and had to delay getting my license. Yep. I said it. SENIORS ’09! Congratulations! We did it.

Life is embarrassing: here’s how to dealBy KATIANA KRAWCHENKO

GRADUATING EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

September 2005- a senior on the swim team told me that his high school years had flown by. As a freshman ripe out of middle school, I couldn’t help but laugh. There was no way that four years, 1,461 days, or 35,063 hours could possibly “fly by”. Just the thought of hundreds of tests, assignments, and textbooks looming ahead convinced me that, if anything, these four years would seem much longer. Needless to say, I was very wrong. I remember the first day of freshman year like it was yesterday—from first period in Mr. Horal’s class to becoming very well acquainted with my school map to exactly what I was wearing. And now, almost four years later, I am about to leave a place that I can easily say changed me for the better. I can now say that I know how to get to and from anywhere on campus blindfolded. And I can proudly say I know all the courses Spanish River offers, and that I have taken a great number of them myself. But more importantly, I have changed on a deeper level. Coming from a small private school, Spanish River forced me out of my bubble, and by doing so, gave me confidence and a more open-minded perspective of the world. And while I give most of the credit for that to River, I must say my teachers, friends, and family made the transition and the experience itself so much better. Jessica: I’m not sure ‘best friend’ would be the

appropriate phrase. But ‘same person’ might be. I have no idea what I’m going to do next year without you but let’s just say there will be many trips between Philadelphia and New Orleans.Taryn: We’ve been friends since freshman year, and you have been there for the laughs, the cries, and the utterly embarrassing moments. Swim team didn’t last for us but our friendship will. You are such a dedicated and disciplined person, I know you will go far wherever you go.Katiana: Being your co-editor definitely had its ups and downs (undoubtedly more ups than downs),

but naturally, that’s what is to be expected when you have to spend 12 consecutive hours with each other. Thanks for being such a big part of one of the most rewarding experiences of my life, and one of my best friends.Alison: I don’t think anyone could understand our friendship if they tried. We’ve laughed until we cried and have more memories to count. And if perseverance were a person, her name would be Alison Sikes. Can’t wait for Phila-Bosnywash!David: My fourth brother. Thank you for always

being there. As devastated as I am that we won’t be going to the same school next year, I do know that we’ll stay friends.Emily: I’m so glad we’ve grown so close and I really will miss you next year. I expect to see your name in the Forbes list of 100 most influential people one day. Don’t let me down.Jason: I think I can contribute most of the confidence I have in myself to you. You are one of the smartest and funniest people I know, but we’ll see who’s laughing when GE’s stocks skyrocket. Dr. Friedmann, Mr. Turner, Mr. Horal, Mrs. Stenner, and every other teacher I had, thank you so much. Even though I may have been quieter than most students, you have impacted me greatly. Ms. Sanders: Thank you for putting up with the craziness that was Galleon this past year. You are the best adviser I could have asked for, and next year’s staff is very lucky to be working with you. And to my family: Mom and dad, thank you for supporting me in everything I do and for encouraging me to always do my best. Ezi: I would be completely lost if I hadn’t had such a great role model to look up to these past 18 years; thank you for always being there and for keeping me grounded. Shawn and Noah: I may not be home as much next year, but know that I’m always here for you, no matter what. And even though you may think otherwise, I love you both more than anything. May 2009- I am graduating. And as I recall my experiences over the past four years, I can’t help but think of that minor conversation almost four years ago. The years did fly by. And another four years await.Many complain about the traditional senior chant towards the freshman. And these words certainly do hold truth. Freshman do have four more years; but what nobody tells them is that they are some of the most rewarding and memorable four years of their lives. So freshman—FOUR MORE YEARS. Enjoy every minute of them.

By NADINE ZYLBERBERGGRADUATING EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Time flies, take my word for it

FACEOFF 5

The Galleon brings home tro-phies at Palm Beach Post High

School Journalism Awards

Best Overall- 3rd Place

General Excellence Adviser - 1st Suzanne Sanders

General Excellence Student - 1st Katiana Krawchenko

Column Writing- Honorable Mention Emily Yin

Feature Writing - 3rd Katayani Jhaveri

Sports Writing - 2nd David Estrin

Geography class, what is it good for? Absolutely nothing. A student learning

at the high school level you would assume knows the basics of all courses: divi-

sion/multiplication, adding/subtracting, gravity laws, portions of topography,

some base of literary device usage and of course geography. In this economic

recession, borderline depression, the last thing the school board needs is an

extra course that undermines the prior education every high school student

should have. Junior, Josh Mizrachi said “Geography class is unimportant in

high school for me because I took a Geography class in elementary school. I

switched out after about two weeks because I felt the regular class was a waste

of time. I ended up switching into Visions and Pursuits and acing the course.”

Josh Mizrachi in this case was lucky, what about the kids required to stay in

the class because of a lack of available courses?

I personally was stuck with Mr. Lindley (primary occupation: Volleyball

Coach) for my entire freshman year. I can honestly tell you I learned more

about volleyball formations than geography, and in the end I did not receive

credit for a history class but for an elective. Yes, the current Geography teach-

er (if reading this) will defi nitely disagree with my opinion; he may say that

some kids weren’t taught the same curriculum.

However, I can promise you that every student learning at the normal

high school level knows the location of the 7 continents; and even if he or she

doesn’t, it defi nitely would not take an entire year to locate them and have

some insight of what is going on in every continent. Even during high school

throughout other history related courses we are shown multiple maps and

asked what happened in that area and in some cases what is currently hap-

pening (Current Events). During my experience in geography class, I felt that

it was so easy that why not step it up to AP the next year. If I had been required

to take the class Visions and Pursuits maybe I would have been prepared for

the journey of Ms. Woodmore’s AP World class, ultimately (I regret to say) I

constantly struggled to maintain a B and did not pass the AP Exam.

Unlike junior Andrew Barnard who took Visions and Pursuits freshman

year and went on to World History Honors maintaining an A average. Overall

the requirement of Geography class is primarily a waste of tax-payers money,

a waste of approximately 165 hours of every person in the class, and of a teach-

er who could be teaching a different subject.

FACE OFF Geography: it’s not just state capitals anymore. Simply put, everything relates to geography, from where seniors choose to go to college to different cultural confl icts around the world. Geography is loca-tion, but it’s also the economy, jobs, homes, sports, food, and culture. Our world today is getting smaller, and things that happen in sub-Saharan Africa directly affect things that happen in our backyard. It is absolutely vital that we teach geography to students! It’s true that subjects like chemistry and calculus will help you pass your FCATS and SATs, but then again, that’s all they’ll do. Geography is practical. It’s applicable to nearly every aspect of our lives. We feel the effects of globalization daily, from the economy to cultural sensations. As our economy is becoming increasingly globalized, jobs are being shipped overseas to developing nations, such as India and China, and it is essential that we, as the future workforce, understand not only where jobs are being shipped, but also the reasons why. And as we interact with people, we will inevitably experience some form of cul-tural confl ict. Geography teaches not only where people come from, but the reasons for their actions and beliefs. Training in geography ensures that stu-dents are aware of the world around them when they fi nally enter it. So even if I can’t name the capital of Burkina Faso off the top of my head, at the very least I’ll wind up a little less ignorant than when I started. Geography even affects everyday things like sports. The famous Gator-Seminoles rivalry is basically a geography lesson in itself. Say Tim Tebow were to walk into a restaurant in Tal-lahassee; geography teaches us that there would be a 75% chance he’d be run out of town. So kids, put down those chemistry books and crack open a National Geo-graphic! While zealots will claim that the soft sciences are less then useful, the fact remains that learning geography today is more important then ever. Our won-derfully paradoxical world is getting smaller, thanks to technological advance-ments, and geography is the essential key to understanding and being a part of that world.

geography class.SHOULD IT BE REQUIRED?

By MARISA STROMJUNIOR

By RYAN LANDISJUNIORYES! NO!

May 2009The Galleon

EDITORIALS 4 December 2008The Galleon SHARK ATTACK6 May 2009

The Galleon

S H A R K S

outRETAWLetters to the Editor

THUMBS DOWNNo extra summer money beca-sue of recession

Dress code at grad bash

Winless Boy’s JV Lacrosse season

THUMBS UPSchool over in a few weeks

New Galleon staff

Empty senior parking spaces

In reality, we are one among many. But The Galleon always seeks to differentiate and elevate itself into a category of its own. As the new Editors-in-Chief, we will be implementing many new ideas that strive towards this goal as well as continuing the tradition of excellence which has been passed down to us by 2008-2009 Editors-in-Chief Katiana Krawchenko and Nadine Zylberberg. This issue of The Galleon contains much exciting content. Be sure to read “District fights back against budget cuts” (News, pg. 3), in which Max Morgenstern exposes teacher layoffs to occur next year. Next year is also when we will publishing the next issue of The Galleon. Teacher layoffs and a new issue. You can’t have it all.

From the Editors’ Desk...

Advertise with the Galleon Named the Best Overall High School Newspaper in Palm Beach, Martin and Broward Counties 3 of the last 4 years.

Download an ad form at galleonnews.com or email general@galleonnews.com

What I think about this issue is that [nei-ther] school nor faculty should know about our out of school personal lives. By making fake pro-files, they’re investigat-ing what we do, seeing our pictures and lurking. I don’t think this is fair because we don’t know about them. We don’t investigate them, and we’re also not hurting anyone. This is an inva-sion of privacy and I’m pretty sure it’s illegal.

Daniella Aserri

School administration gains access to Facebook, checks student profiles

I agree that there are some valid reasons administrators or anyone from the school district should gain access to your personal profiles on the inter-net. If they happened to come across a students’ [profile] that had something bad they better have a very good rea-son they looked in the first place. The students here and at all schools would be complete morons if they would put something they could get in trouble for on their profile. Once you have put something on a website there is a very large chance that it will come back to haunt you. If the content on their profile had nothing related to school it should not be disciplined in school.

Christina Freed

Student drug dealers infiltrate hallways

Alban, I read your interesting article about student drug dealers in Spanish River High School. First, I was surprised that there are actually drug dealers among the students. Second, It was shocking and sad to be informed that freshmen are the best customers among the four different classes. Before I started to criticize those corrupted dealers who target naive freshmen, leading them to the way of addiction, I started to wonder several things: 1. How can young freshmen afford those expensive drugs? 2. Do their parents ever have any communication with their child? How could they be completely oblivious about their child’s addiction. Do they ever supervise them as parents? In my personal opinion, it the parents of drug dealers and addicts who hold the most responsibility. Ac-cording to your article, some parents ignore the drug addiction of their child and even smoke marajuana together. For me, these drug dealers and addicts are both the victims of society, which is responsible for failing to provide them a secure family background and concern. The drug dealings and addictions could have been prevented by communication and a little concern from family members or friends. When was the last time you talked to your parents for advise about your personal issues or dilemmas? When was the last time you talked about drugs with your friends?

HanSoul Lee

Without taking the warning seri-ously we are all going to die. What I have just read is not only true but needs to be taken higher in the ranks of consideration. Global warming is a very vital issue that continues to get worse everyday. The article I read is about how we can assist this legitimate global problem by following Earth Day, which began in Australia in 2007. It’s also performed in New York and San Fransisco. Earth Day is when the selected cities turn off their power for an hour to prove to the world that we do not always need electricity to survive. In or-der to save Mother Earth, we all need to be dilligent about con-serving energy, from turning off our lights and computers to un-plugging small appliances, etc. I believe we can make it.

Derek Ferrari

Earth Hour promotes global warming awareness

I personally disagree with Chernoff about the students fight-ing [being] due to stress. He said it was because it was a “Tense time of year, with FCATs, SATs and ACTs all looming.” I disagree; I think the only reason that the amount of fights that occured this year happened is because people are trying to be recognized, and for the wrong reasons. I think children should try being recognized for some-thing bigger and more important, like their brains and how smart they are.

Anonymous freshman

Student fights rise in school

ofPHOTO BY LEE GINTON

Courtney LaBelle and Michelle

Gorrin paint the little shark mural. PHOTO COURTESY OF KELLY AIKENSKelly Aikens mingles with Ethio-pian locals

Alban Harrison and Samantha ShavellEditors-in-Chief

PHOTO COURTESY OF REBECCA KESSLER

Danny Belford and Rebecca

Kessler at Prom.

Send letters to general@galleonnews.com with the article name in the subject

SENIOR EDITS 7May 2009The Galleon

Mulan, Dr. Yin: ready to save the world

Everyone has a central lesson they learn in high school. For some, the lesson is to learn as much as possible and take advantage of the resources avail-able. For others, it might simply be to live above teenage gossip and drama. And still others might remember high school as a time when they learned exactly how much they could get away with, without getting suspended or arrested… although perhaps they learned the hard way. Yet my high school experience has taught me that every day, we are presented with numerous opportu-nities and decisions. Sure, we may pass up most of these opportunities, and we might make the wrong

decision nine out of ten times. But no worries

– tomorrow, new opportuni t ies will be ripe for

the picking, and new decisions

will give

us another chance to make the right choice. If I’ve learned nothing else in high school (but no fear, teachers – I have), I know that we cannot let our mis-takes and initial failures hold us down. It’s not always easy to stay motivated; we need outside encouragement. There isn’t enough room in this paper for me to rant about how wonderfully supportive my teachers have been. Mrs. Stenner and Mr. Horal have not only contributed greatly to my improvements in writing, but they have also shown incredible faith in my ability to succeed. Mr. Dybas, your associations between chemistry and David Has-slehoff made for a bizarrely interesting class which made chemical equations seem fascinating. And Mr. Adams, though you may never read this, you have instilled in me a love of science that has led me to pursue a career in the fi eld. “Dr. Yin” may have been your joking term of endearment, but I truly would love to fulfi ll this nickname, and I can’t wait to let you know if and when I do. As it is often said, there is nothing more important in life than family and friends. My parents often raise the bar to what may seem to be impossible heights, but without this unwavering confi dence in my poten-tial, I would never have reached where I am today. My sister has endured the pain of trial-and-error so that I may have an easier path, and she has acted as a stunning role model. And throughout these four years – and for some, up to twelve – my friends have been a great source of support. It means a lot when when one shares excite-ment in your success, but even more when they are there to empathize in your losses. Just last year, my friends avoided all Asian-related allusions, fearing I might take offense; yet I now endure daily references to Bamboo Wok and Panda Express and receive com-ments such as, “Mulan, shouldn’t you be busy saving China?” High school has been an exciting four years in which I have learned, matured and evolved. Spanish River has provided me with countless opportunities, academically and otherwise. My life plans are vague

at the moment, but I know that my past experiences will help me pave a successful road ahead. It won’t be easy – smooth interstates miss the scenic beauty of the obscure dirt path – but I am ready to set out, full speed ahead, on the bumpy path that is my future. Next year, I will be 1300 miles away in New Haven, Connecticut, at Yale University - far from the familiar comforts of the Boca Raton bubble. Still, I will never forget the lessons learned here and the memories formed. Good luck, Class of 2009, in all your endeav-ors! I can’t wait to see what we accomplish.

By EMILY YINSENIOR WEB EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

decision nine out of ten times.

the picking, and new

will give

I remember my fi rst day at Spanish River like it was yesterday, and I can pretty much sum up the entire experience in two words: terrifi ed and intimidated. I was this shy little 5’1” girl, coming from a relatively small and secluded middle school, surrounded by a sea of HUGE high schoolers. And of course, of the fi ve people I knew, I had no classes with any of them. I was completely on my own. I remember shaking, literally shaking, as I walked into each of my classes for the very fi rst time, thinking to myself “I am going to hate high school.” But in the days and years following this terrifying and new experience, things took an unexpected upward turn. Spanish River coaxed me out of my shell, however reluctant I might have been. It forced me to be more outgoing and assertive, friendly and open-minded. It offered me opportunities that I had never thought possible, and it handed me friendships that will last a lifetime. Nadine: I don’t even know where to begin. “Best friend” just doesn’t seem to do it. You have been there for me through every major high school experience and the vast majority of the minor ones. For the last four years you’ve been my shoulder to cry on and the fi rst person I

call with good news. We are the same person, you’re my other half and I will miss you so much. Don’t be a stranger next year; I’m not sure what I’m going to do without you.Sydney: You are truly one of the greatest friends a girl could have. You don’t even know how much I have appreciated your kindness and understanding and friendship throughout the last four years. You also introduced me to the wonders of having a social life. Laughing together, stressing together, crying together—high school would not have been the same without you. Taryn: My comedic partner in crime. I do not think that there has been a single time that I have been with you and we haven’t laughed about something absolutely ridiculous; things that are only hilarious to you and me. You are always there to listen to me kvetch about my problems and give completely honest advise; I am confi dent that our reality show “Golf Gladiators” will be a prime time hit some day. You have been an incredible friend to me and you’d better

visit me when the frozen tundra that is Chicago gets to be too much for you. Emily: I am going to miss our daily Galleon chats, our scavenging for prom dates and texting even though we’re sitting two seats away from each other. We have had so much fun together for the last four years, and I have cherished every moment. I am so lucky that we have been such close friends.

Have an amazing time at Yale and I expect to see you during Mardi Gras!!David, Jason and Alison: I am condensing you three because I am running out of space but cannot leave you out. The three of you have been amazing

friends: giving me advice when I need it, helping me navigate the ins and outs of high school when I am ill equipped to do so, and just being amazing, fun, caring friends. I know that you will have great experiences next year and I expect you all to keep in touch. Mrs. Stenner, Mr. Horal, Mrs. Mitchell, Mrs. Riedel and Ms. Sanders: You have all contributed greatly not only to my high school experience as a whole, but to the person that I have grown into since I fi rst walked on this campus. Your guidance and confi dence have had an unequivocal impact on me and I thank you for that. I am positive that I will remember my last day as a Spanish River shark as vividly as I remember my fi rst. However, I do not think that feeling “terrifi ed” or “intimidated” will be present in that memory. Those words have been replaced instead with “confi dent”, “nostalgic” and “grateful”. I have had an incredible experience at Spanish River, and will take the lessons that I learned here with me to Tulane University next year. To my freshmen sister Lila—get the most you can out of your SRHS experience, take advantage of the plethora of oppotunities, both academic and extra curricular, and enjoy every minute of it.

By JESSICA STALLONESENIOR ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Lessons learned from an interesting four years

Photo courtesy of Yale University

SENIOR EDITSMay 2009The Galleon 8

One of the best analogies about life I have ever heard comes from the British philosopher Alan Watts. Life, says Watts, is like music. As a society, we have been conditioned to believe that somewhere in the future we will reach success, and when we reach success, we will feel completed and purposeful. But what is success? And where does it say in the rule book of life that I am guaranteed it? According to Watts, we have misinterpreted the point of life the whole way, shaped it into a race to the end, when instead, it is a musical thing; you are supposed to sing or to dance while the music is being played. With the light at the end of the tunnel that is known as graduation ahead, there’s one question that is continually plaguing me: How am I supposed to know what I want to do with the rest of my life? The idea of being eighty and regretting the past sixty years is almost enough to make me hyperventilate. That is my greatest fear. I want to experience things.

And as cliché as it is, you really do only get one life. It’s imperative to realize that education is important, it’s vastly important, but so is your life and happiness. Study for your test, get good grades, but don’t stress yourself out to the point where all you think about is

school work. Unfortunately, I became victim to what I just preached. For me, high school was all about getting perfect grades and getting into a good college. Somewhere between freshman and senior year, I got sucked in and almost forgot how to live and how to have fun. Now, with my fi nal goal achieved, I can’t tell you that I am not happy, because I really am. However, I feel like I skipped over my last remaining years of true childhood trying too hard to get to the

Life ahead: Proceed with cautionBy SKYLAR KLAGERGRADUATING SENIOR

point where I am at. Looking back, I would have done things a little differently, taken life a little less seriously. And that’s the whole idea. Life is not about reaching an end point; we all know what we have in store for us there. Instead, enjoy the moment. Don’t map it out. Play it as it comes along. If you are miserable, fi x it. In the end, all I want to remember is how happy I was in my life. Money won’t matter, neither will connections nor job titles. It’s about whom you meet, where you go, what you experience. I have been fortunate enough to have had some great friends and teachers at Spanish River, people who have helped shaped me into the person I am now. The next four years will supposedly be the best times of my life, and I am prepared to make the most out of every moment of them.

Senior Edits are an annual tradition for the Galleon newspaper. Heartfelt goodbyes that tell inside jokes no one gets and too often, references to teachers who did not like them in the fi rst place. If only there were a senior edit that everyone could enjoy and understand? A goodbye that every person at school could cherish? Well that is impossible. Which is why I have chosen to write a goodbye that only my fellow Advanced Placement students will understand. Take that, Honors classes! Mrs. Hoffman, for those of you who have

her now: don’t tell her I am writing this! I would like my favorite little Australian to fi nd this editorial on her own thank you. Although all of my teachers

By ELIZABETH MOSESGRADUATING SENIOR

What was high school without my favorite Australian teacher?

have had a signifi cant impact on my learning these past four years, Bettina certainly stands out. Who else can reprimand a student for missing an essay

because they were deathly ill and then have a classroom sing-along only months later? Or not allow their students to watch A River Runs Through It because Brad Pitt is “too distracting” (Hoffman 3)? From her ability to clear a path through the main hallway as she rushes to her mailbox, as if a baby were crying inside it, to her effortless skill in writing a recommendation letter that could bring you to tears (I had something in my eye!), even when you came to her a week before it was due, she is one of Spanish River’s brightest stars. So if I am to leave you with one piece of advice, after these long four years of laughs and tears, especially these last few months of rejection letters and tough college decisions it is this: take Mrs. Hoffman’s class and No, there is no swimming pool on the second fl oor of the 8000 building. Good night, and good luck Spanish River.

preferences, loss of enthusiasm for Disney World, and more importantly, my career goals. Distressingly, I have regressed from the certainty that I would one day sport an apron and stand behind Publix’s bakery counter, distributing free cookies to children and birthday cakes to harried parents, to absolute ambivalence. This year alone, my University of Michigan admissions essay discussed my plans to become a journalist, while in my Pathfi nder interview, I addressed my prospect of a career in law. Still, I assured the University of North Carolina of my ambition to impact the world as a writer or artist. Is my multi-pathed concept of my future a function of indecision or responding as I think I should? When, then, will I make defi nite decisions for myself? It is true that I might change my major in college so many times that my parents might begin to fear (without warrant, of course) the prospect of having to dish out fi ve years’ college expenses instead of four. I am confi dent, however, that gradually pinpointing my career goals is just another challenge of development for me that I will surmount, in due time. And who knows; in this economy, landing a job as a Publix lady is looking better and better every day.

Well, at least, not anymore. But still, when interrogated about my future, it is diffi cult to forget a childhood story that my mom recounts inexhaustibly to anyone who will listen. At three years old, I regarded none godlier than the woman in the green apron who awarded me a free cookie for every visit to Publix with my mom. Nibbling colorful sprinkles out of the breaded part while rattling down the aisles on a grocery cart, I developed a level of respect for the store that was comparable to that of Disney World. However, at Publix, no one, including the bored, hair-netted lady behind the bakery counter, seemed interested in signing my autograph book. But that was all right, because such was my reverence for “the Publix lady” that I reportedly used to proclaim, while clutching my golden-baked prize, that I aspired to be a Publix lady when I grew up. Much has changed since then, especially my cookie

When I grow up, I want to be a Publix ladyBy CARLY COLEMANGRADUATING SENIOR

ART BY CARLY COLEMAN

FEATURES 9

Imagine going to school without being able to hear the excitement in the hallways, the buzzing bells or the teachers’ lectures. Luckily, due to the Exceptional Stu-dent Education (ESE) program at Spanish River, the six Deaf/Hard of Hearing (DHH) students at Spanish River this year, and many in the past, have had the opportunity to attend a mainstream school with ac-commodations that allow them to succeed. Spanish River and all other Palm Beach County schools have an ESE program that allows gifted, im-paired and disabled students to have a valuable learn-ing experience. According to Spanish River ESE Co-ordinator Karen Musser, the school provides special in-class arrangements for DHH students, such as hearing aids, extra time for tests and assignments, closed captions on all videos shown in class and in-terpreters in class and at school assemblies. In addi-tion, there are many assistive technologies provided by the school district such as a special microphone system, the Phonak Hearing System, which transmits the speaker’s voice directly to the student’s hearing aid. This system is carried by the student, who decides when and where it should be utilized. “The special microphone really helps me learn in class and understand the lesson,” DHH sophomore Darren Holness said. “Because I am hard of hearing, I also sit in the front of the class room so I can keep eye contact with the teacher. I have to always pay at-tention.”

DHH sophmore Jose Torres said that his interpret-er is a major benefi t to his experience at Spanish Riv-er. Much like the majority of Spanish River students, DHH students have a regular, seven-period day. The only exception is one class with DHH Resource Teach-er Frances O’Connor. “I reinforce what they do not get in class,” O’Connor said. “We work on their Individual Education Plan (IEP) goals, reading comprehension, vocabulary and graduation requirements.” The quality of Spanish River’s support for DHH stu-dents goes beyond the classroom. Accommodations are made in school-related extracurricular activities. Holness’ passion for soccer has not been limited by his hearing impediment; school support and coopera-tion have allowed Holness to become a Junior Varsity soccer player. Since the coach is very far away during games, there is a person with good hearing stationed on the opposite side of the fi eld to relay the coach’s message to Holness. His junior varsity teammates will also run next to him to share the game plan or the coach’s words. Although there are some facilitating adjustments for these students, they have lives that are very similar to non-DHH teenagers. “They are typical kids,” Musser said. “They are not treated any differently by their peers and they are ca-pable of the same, if not more than other students.”

Against the odds, deafstudents excel

By NICOLE GRANETFEATURES EDITOR

Jose Torres needs to concentrate on his interpreter, his work and the teacher during class.

From the East to the West

East and West are far more than just descriptions of distance from the sun. Western civilizations seem to focus more on human rights while in the Middle East, more decisions are based on religion. Civilians are only allowed to act within the parameters set by their government or religion; some of these parameters are drastically different than those in the West. Dress, religious practices, politics, social status and hu-

man rights are all strictly monitored by the government.

ART BY MARLA MUNRO

Middle Eastern National Dishes

Majbooschicken, mutton or fi sh placed over a large plate of rice

Saltahbrown meat stew with a salsa and sometimes rice, potatoes, scambled eggs and vegetables

Chelo Kebab

Middle Eastern National Dishes

kebabs with rice

PHOTO COURTESY OF GOOGLE IMAGESSOURCE: “TEEN LIFE IN THE MIDDLE EAST”

PHOTO BY LEE GINTON

May 2009The Galleon

PAGE COMPILED BY NATALIE DEUTSCH AND NICOLE GRANET

Iraq Yemen Kuwait

On April 1, in Je-rusalem, Iran and Israel signed a peace treaty. This is suprising given Iran’s recent threat of nuclear genocide.

In Lebanon, the family income determines where and when families shower. Poorer families shower in public baths, often only once a week.

In Syrian politics, all power is in the hands of the president. The only accepted groups are the socialist, communists and panarabists.

Saudi Arabia has one of the highest driving ages in the world at 25.

The voting age in

Iran was recently increased from 15 to 18 years old.

InTurkey, girls are mostly in charge of household chores and cooking, whereas the boys work with the father.