The Sunshine Issue

Near the end of every school year, the Bay hosts its annual Underclassmen Awards Night where freshmen, sophomores and juniors are honored for their outstanding academic performance and commitment to learning. School counselor Vanessa Longhi organized this year’s ceremony which will take place on April 24 in the Bay’s auditorium. Media

As final exams and graduation are nearing, some students and teachers at the Bay said they are looking forward to their summer travel plans. Senior Maria Arruda said she is going to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for almost three weeks to kick off her summer break.

“My immediate family and I try to visit Rio as often as possible, as most of our extended family and old friends still live there,” Arruda said. “I am most looking forward to spending time with my cousin, Rafaella, and her friends. Rafa is a year younger than me, and we always have the most fun together. I also love getting to know people, so hanging out around her friends is usually very entertaining.”

Arruda, her parents and her little brother are making the trip to Rio together. She said she used to live in Brazil and always enjoys spending time there visiting old friends. While she has lived

Specialist and Freshman Class Sponsor Brian Kelly said that having this night is instrumental in providing students with encouragement and acknowledgment throughout their high school careers.

“The school does a lot of hoopla for seniors because of the colleges and the scholarships and because they are leaving and it has been four years,” Kelly said.

here for the better half of her life, Arruda said she still looks forward to reuniting with the people in her previous home and having experiences she would not normally get to go through back home.

“My best friend Mari, who used to live in Weston but later moved to São Paulo, Brazil, will be going to Rio to spend four days with me, which is something I’m also really excited about,” Arruda said. “While there, I’ll be staying at my cousin’s apartment in a section of Rio called Jardim Oceânico. After she comes home from school, we typically walk to the beach, which is one block away from her apartment, to drink coconut water at one of the many stands along the boardwalk.”

Aside from the entertainment aspects of the trip, Arruda said she is excited about the sights and other aspects of the city. The restaurants and architecture highlight the remainder of her visit to Brazil. Read more on page 18

“But I think it is important to do the Underclassmen Awards Night because I feel like, especially for freshmen, it is easy to get lost in the shuffle. It is important to recognize them for their hard work and resilience because they do make the effort all four years, not just in senior year.”

Read more on page 7

On April 7, over 18 million viewers tuned in to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Women’s Basketball Championship between the Iowa Hawkeyes and South Carolina (USC) Gamecocks. These viewership numbers made it the most-viewed basketball game of the last five years and out-ranked the 2023 National Basketball Association (NBA) Finals average of 11 million viewers. The sudden jump in viewership could be attributed to anything; USC’s perfect season, the Iowa

versus USC rivalry or perhaps to Iowa’s very own Caitlin Clark. Freshman Logan Lamey said she is an avid watcher of college basketball and fan of Clark.

“I watched the championship with my family,” Lamey said. “I’m upset that Iowa lost, but Caitlin’s college achievements will be very encouraging for the younger generation and eventually, her impact will lead to a lot of success for women.”

Although Iowa lost the NCAA Championship by a score of 87-75, Lamey said Caitlin has become a symbol of growth

for the entire sport. Standing at six feet tall and 155 pounds, Clark scored 21 points against the University of Connecticut Huskies in the NCAA Women’s Final Four the first week of April. This season, Clark also made many memorable shots as the NCAA Division I all-time leading scorer. This includes a half-court buzzer-beater against Michigan State in January. In the NCAA Championship, she alone scored a team-leading 30 points. Freshman Elexys Mataele said she is not only a fan of Clark, but also her influence on the sport.

Read more on page 11

Cambridge Diploma Night

The Bay is filled with many aspiring students each with different goals, 251 of these students being Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) Diploma recipients. AICE classes are structured in a way that reflects collegelevel rigor while simultaneously preparing students for their final exams. Those who receive a passing grade earn a college credit in Florida, among other states. On April 11, students who completed all of their AICE Diploma requirements had the chance to walk across the stage in the auditorium and receive their physical diploma. Senior Sofia Pomillo was one of these students. She has taken a total of nine AICE classes and said that AICE Classical was her favorite out of all of them.

“I love Greek and Roman culture and mythology. The stories that I heard in class every day were very interesting,” Pomillo said. “The easiest was AICE Spanish as it is my first language, and the hardest was AICE Environmental Management, as there is a lot of calculations and chemistry involved that makes it hard to enjoy.”

Senior Jacob Egozi, on the other hand, has a different take on the matter. He said that he felt as though each class provided a different key concept that he could use when he goes to college. Egozi took a total of 10 AICE classes including AICE Business, AICE English Language AS level and AICE Global Perspectives, one of the required classes needed in order to receive the AICE Diploma. The student body has many options for AICE Global Perspectives, as it can be taken through many subdivisions including business and Holocaust studies.

“AICE Business was my favorite because Ms. Reid was an amazing teacher and the curriculum was easy to comprehend, while AICE Lang AS level was my toughest because I had a re-

ally involved and strict grading teacher, and it was at times stressful because of the workload,” Egozi said. “I think that AICE Global [Perspectives] was my easiest because it is mostly self-paced, so you are able to manage your time effectively as opposed to most other classes which assign a lot of busy work.”

Students can take several paths to get to the same destination of receiving the diploma. Some may have taken the minimum requirement of achieving seven credits, while others went above and “bayond,” earning the AICE Diploma with Merit or Distinction. Either way, every recipient was able to earn their well-deserved diploma. Teacher Assistant Melanie Zuckerman has three sons, two of whom have graduated from college and one who will soon be a freshman at Florida State University (FSU). By the time her son Lenny Eiglarsh graduates from the Bay, he will have also received his AICE Diploma.

“I feel that the AICE program is an excellent opportunity for students to take classes of interest at a higher lev-

el and become avid writers,” Zuckerman said. “Students and their parents can feel the satisfaction and feeling of accomplishment at the end of the program as they receive their diplomas. As a professional at the Bay and a parent, I think it is an excellent program.”

Pomillo said her parents and sister felt a similar way about the program as they saw her walk across the stage. The Cambridge AICE Diploma is recognized by over 500 colleges in the United States, including all Ivy League schools such as Harvard and Yale. However, most of the colleges that recognize AICE credits as college credits are in Florida, with the rest being overseas. Pomillo will not be studying in the U.S., but she said she still believes that this diploma will help her in ways that are not college related.

“The diploma will help me by providing me with a better background in my education. Not only that, but I also learned lessons that I can take with me to Argentina and use in my daily life,” Pomillo said. “My family came to watch me and

they were very proud of me for receiving [the diploma] as not everyone earned it and it takes a great effort to achieve it.”

Egozi’s parents also attended the ceremony and he said that they could not be more proud. Receiving the AICE Diploma also comes with the Bright Futures Scholarship, which pays for tuition in Florida colleges. Egozi said that his parents are very grateful for this.

“My parents watched the ceremony and I was glad to have them with me,” Egozi said. “They said that they were proud of me and happy that I helped them pay for college with the AICE diploma. All the other students seemed proud of their success.”

As a mother of a soon-to-be AICE Diploma recipient, Zuckerman said that she also is grateful for the Bright Futures Scholarship. Tuition average for the annual in-state tuition for a public university in Florida is $6,071 for full-time students. With the AICE Diploma, 100% of this tuition is covered. Zuckerman said that this program not only offers financial aid, but it also helps students develop as people.

“My children have greatly benefited from the AICE program. I have personally watched my children transform into mature students that have the ability to compose information through writing, presenting and collaborating with others while learning subjects of interest. The teachers Marchetti, Warenick, Dubrow, Lorie, Machado, Cohen, Stoklosa, Stuzynski as well as Mrs. Maisel have all been outstanding,” Zuckerman said. “As a parent of 3 boys, college tuition, housing and food expenses can be overwhelming. Bright Futures is a tremendous help financially. Simultaneously, my boys learned how to work on a team and think critically while earning their AICE diploma.”

Club Brief: Unlock Your Inner Decorator

Interior Design is a club and career education class at the Bay where students can learn design principles and architectural styles, practice sewing skills, work on projects like mood boards and design mockups. Junior Eva Oklin is the treasurer of the Interior Design Club and has been in the class for three years.

“We learn about different design elements, and then we are able to apply these to our projects,” Oklin said. “I am in interior design three, and this year we were able to build our dream rooms with our friends, which was really fun.”

Interior Design is a co-curricular club, meaning club members are required to take the four-level Interior Design class. Oklin said that as students progress, they will learn new information and have more opportunities for handson experience with in-depth projects.

“I was in the club for my fresh-

man year, and then I became an officer sophomore year as the treasurer,” Oklin said. “We have been learning about different architectural techniques and different styles throughout the years, and I find it really interesting.”

The Interior Design club was started in 2010 for students interested in home design and architecture. It is now led by Interior Design teacher Denise Jacks, who said she has always loved design and enjoys leading her students in growing their love as well.

“To be an interior designer, you have to be open to designing a home in a style you do not necessarily prefer, so students have to learn to be very open and flexible. They also need to make sure that they are active listeners and they listen to their clients wants and needs,” Jacks said. “It is also good to have to have a creative side, because there is some creativity involved, making it a good option for artistic students.”

Jacks said her experience in design, including in her home and her daughters’ rooms, helps her develop well-rounded, practical and thorough design students. Jacks implements the same software she uses in her own designs in the classroom, such as RoomStyler. Students learn to use these programs under the guidance of an officer or teacher, who helps them to understand the inner workings of the systems.

“The most common design mistake I see is that oftentimes, students forget about accessories,” Jacks said. “When students are designing a house, they think about the flooring, the paint, the furniture, but they forget that the accessories are what really make the design. It is so important to decorate every surface.”

Club Spotlight: Baking Club

Every year, several clubs at the Bay are created, each appealing to different student’s interests and passions. This school year, a baking club was formed. To join, there is a starter fee, but once paid, students are able to attend regular meetings, bake days and bake-offs, as well as receive their own apron. Junior and President Andrea Marino Hermoso founded the club in June of last year. She said she continued to build a group of board members and shape it into what it has become today.

“We do our best to vary the activities for members to be constantly learning. We do bake days where, depending on the recipe, we have a presentation and demonstration ready to help the members execute the recipe in the best way possible, and the officers and ambassadors go around helping as well,” Hermoso said. “While baking, we do activities like Kahoots or talk to our members individually to be involved like a team.”

People use various hobbies to eliminate stresses in their lives and distract them from everything going on. Hermoso said this club can allow for baking to do the same and create a refuge from this daily stress for each member.

“One of the numerous things I love about the club is the fact that it is a safe space to let creativity flow and share ideas, and there is no type of judgment. The Baking Club is a way to release stress from the school day and turn it into something positive and delicious,” Hermoso said. “I would encourage anyone to join the Baking Club because no matter your previous knowledge in the kitchen it is a fun experience which you can do with your friends or make new ones there. Also, baking has

cook-offs, they change up the style.

“On bake days, we have a signup to control the amount of people that come and to do our math for the recipes and ingredients. Members show up and sit at tables in Mr. Wises’s room that has big tables in groups. Then, we either have a presentation with the recipe or have Andrea demonstrate and people follow through,” Moiseeff said.

“Then, members approach the officers by the ovens, and depending on how much time each recipe takes, they get to eat the things and/ or take them home. In the meantime, we either prepare a Kahoot game or let the members socialize.”

helped greatly with mental health and it is a very important tool for others.”

The head of socials in the Baking Club is senior Maria Moiseeff, who joined after Hermoso told her about the club and the ideas for it. Moiseeff said that the club partakes in different activities depending on the type of meeting being hosted. During meetings, there are presentations to introduce upcoming events along with Kahoots and the distribution of candy and service hours, but on bake days or

Moiseeff said she is so grateful for all the members who joined this year, as they are what make up the club’s spirit. She said she thinks club gatherings are a great place to relax, eat and do something fun after a stressful day. They do not have a point system or any binding requirements, the club is simply an outlet for people to have fun and have a nice time, so she is excited for the club to attract members and grow.

“It is the club’s first year, so this was definitely a year of experimentation and trial and error, and the future presidents and board is open for suggestions and plans to improve and expand upon lots of things,” Moiseeff said.

Why Wait For Elections?

As the school year comes to an end, the Student Government Association (SGA) prepares for their annual election for the 2024-2025 class and SGA officers. The new board is expected to lead and plan events for the student body. To promote their platform in the election, candidates advertise themselves to the student body to convince their peers that they are the best option for the role. They attempt to gain votes by wearing custom t-shirts, promoting themselves on social media and engaging in small talk with students. Sophomore Gabriela Campos is utilizing these strategies, as she is running for SGA treasurer in the election.

“My goal is to become treasurer and therefore be able to help SGA even more. I want to reach out to as many people as possible and introduce myself. My methods will include frequent social media posts, handing things out and personally talking to individuals to vote for me,” Campos said. “I will have flyers for people and I have created a catchy theme so people can easily recognize me. I am currently working on post ideas and ordered flyers to hand out which now have to be personalized. I also have to start thinking about the campaign video and how we are going to wear my shirts.”

Running for a class or SGA officer position takes planning and consideration.

Reaching out to the stu dent body and making connections with them is useful, since they are the voters and determine who wins.

Planning certain methods that will be used ahead of time while run ning in the elec tion is another tac tic many candidates use. Campaign methods are planned and ready before the elec tion starts so that candidates can advertise themselves for as long as they can and use the time that they have wisely. Junior Eli Collin said he is plan-

ning out what he needs to do before the election so he has the best chance at winning. running for recording secretary. I am making sure that I have a catchy slogan and a friendly attitude to the student body to secure their votes. So far, I have planned out a theme for my campaign, as well as having a team around to help me,” Collin said. “The overall goal is to obviously win, but to also have a good, fun time while doing it. I want to look back at this process as one of the most memorable moments of my high school career. I decided to run because it is a spot on the SGA board that pops out the most to me and where I think I can contribute the most.”

Working behind the event, SGA advisor Danielle Nascimento oversees the campaign and voting process. As the only staff member in charge of the event, she said she makes executive decisions for the election and plans out the event to ensure that everything is correct and ready.

“I oversee the entire election process. I establish rules, dates, the election and the campaign guidelines. I oversee each candidate’s campaign and I make sure everyone follows the rules and plays fair,” Nascimento said. “I set up ballots and announce the winner. To prepare, I sit down and make a calendar in order to choose dates. I have a meeting to go over candidate information, and then the election starts. I keep it organized and ready to go, and I make sure I know the potential candidates and who has turned in their application.”

Yearbook Takes On FSPA

On March 18, the Bay’s yearbook “The Storm” editorial team arrived at Florida’s Scholastic Press Association’s (FSPA) annual convention. Each year, both “The Circuit,” the Bay’s newspaper team, and “The Storm” attend FSPA in an attempt to win recognition awards for their pieces, compete with other Florida schools and make unforgettable memories with their teams. The following days consisted of instructional workshops for students to take to learn more about different aspects of journalism. Junior Natalia Roca said FSPA allowed the yearbook team to connect

deeper level since most of the time they are preoccupied with deadlines.

“Coming from an editor who has no previous experience at FSPA, a day at FSPA is chaotic but also life-changing. As someone who has a passion for this and wants to pursue something in this area in college, I felt that it was truly amazing to be a part of the sessions with guest speakers, fun activities and competitions,” Roca said. “For instance, every morning would be an early morning for us, and we attended the opening ceremony, where we got to meet the state chair and other guest speakers at the assigned sessions.”

The guest speakers played a role in Roca’s experience, as she said that listening to them taught her lessons about working on the yearbook along with life lessons that she will carry with her as she works toward her future career. FSPA could have also benefited editors’ time management skills and overall independence. Senior Elisabeth Hadzic said she faced challenges while trying to complete her prompts in a short amount of time, but the results were worth it.

“All my entries were due back to back, so I only had two hours to complete and submit everything. I got the op-

portunity to write a sports story, which I had never done before. Although it was difficult to get the hang of it, I was proud of my final piece,” Hadzic said. “Other than competition, there were also several activities, such as a lipsyncing battle, that we participated in. It was a fun way for the group to let loose and enjoy a fun night af ter a long day of competition.”

One of the student’s goals when attending FSPA is to win awards and acknowledgement for their work and dedication. Ju niors Jonah Feldman and Paulina Vallecillo won third for “Module Design” in a state category they competed in. Feldman who is the Managing Editor for the Storm said that although this win was very memorable to him, his fa vorite part of FSPA was the day of consistent sessions; he enjoyed the versatility of the classes and the free time he got to spend time with his fellow editors.

“Next year, when we return to FSPA, I hope to make more lasting memories. Time was very hard to keep track of when completing our assigned prompts as the day flew by, so we had to manage our time accordingly between the three submissions we had,” Feldman said. “A day at FSPA for me started with waking up and getting breakfast with friends, then the rest of the day was filled with

competitions and speakers. Between all of that, students are also given downtime to hang around the hotel property.”

Each year,advisors and teachers at the Bay chaperone this field trip. Anatomy and yoga teacher Eva Rothel said she enjoyed all FSPA had to offer and made memorable moments with students in journalism. Rothel originally went on this trip with the Bay’s CBTV (Cypress Bay Television) and then continued chaperoning with the journalism classes. Rothel said she kept the tradition going since it’s such a positive experience for the students that competed.

“I have chaperoned for various clubs with Cypress Bay; the kids are amazing, especially those in journalism. I spoke to a student this year who really enjoyed the workshops; the speakers are truly inspiring,” Rothel said. “It is so cool to see how these students are developing and will be the next generation of journalists.”

A Wave Into History: The Bay’s Pop-Up Museum

On April 9 and 11, the Bay held a pop-up museum in the Wave, called the Mel Fisher Museum, inspired by the real one in Key West, Florida. The museum took students and staff back in time through Florida’s history and presented them with items that were used decades ago, as well as slideshows that showed videos explaining them. Freshman Ananya Pathak visited the museum with her peers and said she enjoyed her time.

“It was very interesting, I thought it was really cool to see Florida’s history and what it was like decades ago. Seeing how much Florida has changed over time was really fascinating,” Pathak said. “I went during

my class and afterward did an in-class activity at the museum. I feel that the school did a very good job transforming the Wave into a museum. I thought it was a great experience overall.”

The museum presented the technology and science equipment, such as radiology, that was used decades ago and how it shaped Florida’s past. It educated students and staff about how the technology that is used today was once revolutionary. Over time, as technology improved, science equipment such as radars and microwaves altered to fit this generation today, which is how technology became an accessible and easy thing to use.

Sophomore Roberto Infante said this

information was very interesting and changed his perspective on technology.

“I walked around the museum, looked and analyzed the scientific equipment that was there. I thought it was neat to see what was used in the past and how people used equipment that we use so easily now,” Infante said. “Seeing how equipment has changed over time and what it could be if technology had not improved is very shocking to me. I feel that this museum has taught me a lot of new information that I didn’t know before, and I feel ten times smarter than I was before.”

With several years of this museum taking place at the Bay, it changes and develops each time. The media team works to build and provide

this museum to the students and staff, and they transform the Wave from a media center to a time machine. Media Specialist Brian Kelly worked with his staff to plan and execute the Mel Fisher Museum.

“I planned the pop-up museum, this year it was called Florida’s Hidden History. I incorporated laptops and slideshows showing Florida’s history. I think it was a fun thing that taught about Florida’s history, and many classes used it,” Kelly said. “I do wish more kids got the chance to see it, so I tried to open it before the bell rang. My favorite part was the slideshows, it changed from Google Slides to Canva, which I am also planning on doing next year.”

Class of 2024 Takes on New Prom Location

Prom at the Bay was a success. This formal dance has been a tradition for years, serving as a way to celebrate students’ academic year and give seniors their last hoorah before they go off to college. This year, the class of 2024 decided to switch it up and host prom at a different venue than years prior. It was held at the Diplomat Beach Resort in Hollywood, Florida.

Senior class President Hunter Rabinowitz said prom is a once in a lifetime memory that no senior should miss out on.

“This year’s prom location is much better than others from past years. It was held at a nice hotel called the Diplomat.

Everything from the ballroom, to the pictures you take in the hotel, to the food being served was on a better level this year,” Rabinowitz said. “My favorite part about this new venue is the great beach view.”

This year’s prom theme is “Meet Me at Midnight,” and the expectation was to create a classy and enchanting experience by implementing disco light fixtures and dim romantic lighting. Many inspirational pictures of decorations were posted on the senior class Instagram account which gave students a glimpse into what they were going to see at prom.

“The location benefited the overall theme since ‘Meet Me at Midnight’ is supposed to be an elegant

night, and at this new location we feel it gives off that vibe more,” Rabinowitz said. “This location was picked by the help of our school’s administration like Mr. Wasserman. There are only a few locations that house the amount of space needed for a Cypress Bay prom.”

The Diplomat Beach Resort is a four star hotel and has won awards for being one of the top resorts in Florida. The architecture of the hotel can allow the overall prom theme, “Meet Me at Midnight,” to come to life. Senior class Vice President Lenny Eiglarsh said that the stunning looks of the Diplomat allow it to be more appealing than any other venue.

“The luxurious theme of the hotel fa-

cilitates the theme of ‘Meet Me at Midnight,’” Eiglarsh said. “I was most excited about walking in the Diplomat and seeing how beautiful the decorations were.”

Being one of the last events of the highschool experience, prom can be a memorable event. Senior class advisor, Nicole Arnold, said she wanted the seniors to enjoy a beautiful night and make long lasting memories with their friends.

“A Cypress Bay Prom is like no other high school prom around, we strive to provide our students with the best, and we hope that having a new location near the beautiful ocean and the modern chic look enticed students’ curiosity,” Arnold said. “You only get to go to your senior prom once, and I hope it was memorable.”

A school the size of the Bay requires a venue that is large enough for the population, while also remaining pleasing to the eye. Arnold said since the Bay is one of the largest high schools in Broward County, it was more difficult to find a location.

“We wanted our prom location to have a more modern and chic look. In addition, we decorated from floor to ceiling giving us way more creative freedom,” Arnold said. “My favorite part about this new location was that it was near the beautiful ocean, and the entire third floor was ours.”

A Night in the Park: Grad Bash

Grad Bash is an event held each year for high school seniors in Florida to enjoy their last trip as a class together and celebrate the upcoming graduation. During Grad Bash, Universal Studios Park shuts down for visitors and lets the students ride the attractions, eat food, shop around and hang out with friends by themselves until two in the morning. Senior Clara Neves Aguiar said she was skeptical coming into the trip, but was glad that she went.

“I thought that being at the park that late was kind of strange, but I would love to do it again if I had the chance,” said Aguiar. “Although some of the lines were longer than usual, I had a lot of fun running around the park with my friends and being able to ride all the rollercoasters. I wished we had planned out better what we were going to do in the park because we were just running around the whole place.”

Schools from all over Florida take part in Grad Bash, resulting in thousands of teenagers being able to enjoy the park that was specially altered for them. Supervision is a must, and that is why Financial Literacy teacher and senior class adviser Hana Casey was a chaperone on the trip.

“As the senior class sponsors, it is our event, so Ms. Arnold and I will always be at Senior events including Grad Bash,”

Casey said. “As one of the senior class sponsors, I am the lead person on the Grad Bash trip. I am responsible for all students and chaperones. Any issues with students, whether health issues or behavior, are my responsibility, although it is a lot of work. I enjoy seeing the seniors as they are in the park and at the end hearing them tell me how much fun they had.”

Other than the rides, shops and restaurants in the park are open until the students leave early in the morning. Senior Ryan Van Smith said he decided to try something new during this time, as he had a Butterbeer and ended up loving it. The park usually closes at 7 p.m., but for the field trip it stays open an extra five hours.

“I was really tired by the end, I wanted to go to bed, although, we were not able to go in VelociCoaster because the line was two hours the whole time we were there,” Van Smith said. “But it was really nice to be there overnight, because since we are in Florida, it is so hot during the day and we did not have that problem.”

Outstanding Academics: Underclassmen Awards Night

Near the end of every school year, the Bay hosts its annual Underclassmen

scholarships and because they are leaving and it has been four years,” Kelly said.

“But I think it is important to do the Underclassmen Awards Night because I feel

Awards Night where freshmen, sophomores and juniors are honored for their outstanding academic performance and commitment to learning. School counselor Vanessa Longhi organized this year’s ceremony which will take place on April 24 in the Bay’s auditorium. Media Specialist and Freshman Class Sponsor Brian Kelly said that having this night is instrumental in providing students with encouragement and acknowledgment throughout their high school careers.

“The school does a lot of hoopla for seniors because of the colleges and the

like, especially for freshmen, it is easy to get lost in the shuffle. It is important to recognize them for their hard work and resilience because they do make the effort all four years, not just in senior year.”

Honorees of the night can earn different nominations including Top Scholar, University Book Awards, the Citizenship Award and subject nominations within each department. Each award exemplifies different traits or positions students hold, such as class ranking (Top Scholar), dedication to service (Book awards) and outstanding character (Citizenship award).

How to play Sudoku step by step: Each row, column and square (9 spaces each) needs to be filled out with the numbers 1-9, without repeating any numbers within the row, column or square.

Freshman Sophia Fontes is an award nominee, and she said that knowing her teachers believe in her and chose her as one of their nominations inspires her continued pursuit of excellence in the classroom.

“I am really grateful that I was chosen for any award. Being recognized by my teachers makes me feel seen and it gives both me and my other classmates the incentive to work harder,” Fontes said. “I believe constantly participating in your classes and building relationships within your classroom is a good first step when trying to form connections with your teachers. Your teachers need to know who you are if they are going to recognize you like this.”

In order to make the night special for nominees like Fontes, Longhi begins planning the ceremony in December; the night will include a performance from the American Musical Theater (AMT), the presentation of colors from the Bay’s Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) and, for the first time ever, a photo montage of the underclassmen and their events from the past school year.

and self-reliance. Teachers choose from a variety of students to find which are truly prepared for their future endeavors and enjoy learning,” Zhai said. “The award represents the hard work I have put into my studies and that it has been noticed by peers and teachers, but you must be willing to sacrifice time and effort to work towards your academic goals.”

While Zhai and Fontes said that working toward an Underclassmen Award inspires them, junior Rebeca Greco said that she draws inspiration from the people around her, regardless of the nomination. She said standing out to your teachers while being surrounded by other incredible and qualified students should be celebrated because it shows a history of hard work and the passion behind learning.

Freshman honoree Lucas Zhai said having such a well-put-together ceremony to recognize and appreciate students is important to morale. He said teachers valuing certain characteristics in students shows them what they should strive for.

“Quality character traits of a student include perseverance, honesty, creativity

“My greatest inspirations at Cypress are definitely my classmates and the student body overall,” Greco said. “Coming into school everyday and seeing so many people excel across so many different areas really inspires you to find something for you. Something that you want to thrive in and work towards being one of the best in.”

When and why did you start playing softball?

I started playing softball when I was six years old. My parents are the ones who inspired me to play. My dad played collegiate baseball for one year at the University of Miami before a career-ending injury, and my mom played softball growing up.

What motivated you to keep pushing yourself in your sport?

What motivates me to keep pushing is my family, friends and teammates. I want to make them proud of what I have worked so hard for.

What are some challenges you have faced, and what are your goals for the season?

Some challenges I have faced are not having enough confidence in myself. Softball is a game of failure because you are going to fail way more than you succeed. You can be the best person on the field and still fail no matter what. My goal is to work on my mentality more.

Do you see yourself playing softball in the future, such as college and beyond?

Yes, it has always been my dream to play at the collegiate level. I hope that one day I will be able to be a part of the very few women to play pro softball.

What position do you play and why?

I am a catcher, I was put into it at a very young age. My biggest mentor, Tatiana Fernandez, was a catcher and played at Auburn University, so I take after her.

When did you start playing softball, and what inspired you to play?

My parents put me in softball when I was seven and I have played ever since. Watching the high school team play when I was younger encouraged me to keep playing and be like them one day.

What position do you play and why?

I play second base but I have played every position throughout my softball career. This year, my team needed me at second base, so that is where I played.

What motivates you to keep pushing yourself in your sport?

My teammates motivate me to push myself and get better as a player. We keep each other accountable and are always there for one another.

What are your challenges so far, and what are your goals for the season?

This year we have played some tough games but the team has stuck together to come back. My goal for this season is to win the district championship.

What is your greatest accomplishment so far in your softball career?

My greatest accomplishment so far in my softball career is simply being there when my team needs me. Before junior year, I had barely played second base but, because I knew my team needed me there, I kept practicing to get better.

SLATKIN

The Road to the Stanley Cup

It is finally the time of year that National Hockey League (NHL) fans either anxiously anticipate or painfully dread; the Stanley Cup playoffs. The first round of the playoffs began on April 20, with 16 teams split between the Eastern and Western conferences. This annual competition consists of series with a best of seven games to progress. Students such as senior Zoey Levinson said they are excited to see their team compete in the playoffs. Levinson said that she started watching hockey in sixth grade because her father would always have NHL games on in their family room television throughout her childhood. Although her father is a die-hard Islanders fan, Levinson found that she enjoys supporting the local Florida Panthers more.

“I like watching hockey because of how fast-paced it is. There is never a dull moment during a game because it is very action-packed,” Levinson said. “With the Panthers playing in an arena less than 20 minutes away, rooting for them is a no-brainer.”

Proximity is not the only reason Levinson said she enjoys watching the Panthers. She said that their games are some of the most fun to watch in all of sports because of the highly skilled

players and game techniques. Levinson said that she could see Florida making a great run in the playoffs and even winning the Stanley Cup. She plans on attending many of the games they play in the postseason and has already gone to the first game of the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning series.

“I think the Florida Panthers are going to win the Cup because it’s Florida, they are the best team,” Levinson said. “The team is so good both offensively and defensively with key players that constantly make great passes, score amazing goals, block shots and make game-winning saves.”

Zoey is not the only Levinson to develop a love for the NHL. Her brother, sophomore Max Levinson, also became an avid hockey fan. Max Levinson however, was influenced by his father to become an Islanders fan. He said that he enjoys bonding with his father while watching the games together.

“One of my favorite things to do with my dad is watch an Islanders game,” Max Levinson said. “I’m really glad that they made the playoffs this year because it allows us to continue watching them for even longer.”

Max Levinson said that he also enjoys the rivalry of rooting for two separate teams created with his sister. Both the Panthers and Island-

ers advanced to the postseason.

“It is so fun that both of our teams made it to the playoffs this year. I hope they both advance and eventually play each other,” Max Levinson said. “If the Islanders don’t win the Cup this year, I hope the Panthers do.” Teachers are no exception to cheering for teams in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) Classical Studies and Women’s Studies teacher Tori Warenik, is a long-time Panthers fan. She has also started and co-hosts a podcast with a friend and teacher at Piper High School Guillermo Torrente. The podcast is called “Sunrise Celly,” where they release weekly episodes to discuss the highlights of each Panthers game.

“We met at a conference for the Jason Taylor Foundation almost two years ago where we got paired to do a mini podcast together. We started talking and realized we love the Panthers and we joked about doing a Panthers podcast together,” Warenik said. “Over a year later we went to another meeting and I said you still want to do the podcast? And we’ve done a weekly episode that drops every Tuesday on all podcast-

ing platforms for the past 11 weeks!” Warenik said that she believes hockey is the most entertaining sport to watch—live and on television. As a Panthers fan, she believes they will win the Stanley Cup as well.

“Hockey is seen as having the best playoffs of any sport—ask any athlete, hockey player or not,” Warenik said. “I think the Panthers have a great shot at winning because they’re hungry from their defeat in the finals last year, the team has the depth it needs to go on another long run, and ultimately they want it more.”

The Race to 2025

A record 15 Formula 1 (F1) drivers are out of contracts this season and with some of the most coveted seats up for grabs, the grid might be making a full 180 by the start of the 2025 season. Before the 2024 season even started, some of the biggest news since four-time champion Sebastian Vettel’s retirement shook the world of Formula 1. Lewis Hamilton, the most decorated driver in the history of the sport, who shared 11 dominant years with Mercedes, has signed with Ferrari. Speculation of Hamilton’s departure from the team started to make its way through the paddock at the end of the 2023 season. Hamilton had assured reporters and fans that he was eager to

see Mercedes dominate once again, living out his F1 career until retirement. Mercedes won seven consecutive driver and constructors championships leading up to the 2021 race in Abu Dhabi where Verstappen defeated Mercedes’ aspirations of winning a ninth straight driver’s championship, but still took home the title for constructors. Since then, the team has not been performing anywhere near where they need to be to outplace the top teams. Perhaps needing a change of scenery, Hamilton turned to the most successful team in the history of the sport.

With 26-year-old Monaquasque driver Charles Leclerc having already renewed his contract with the team, Hamilton’s arrival means Carlos Sainz’s departure. As one of the standout drivers from the 2023 season and the only non-Red Bull driver to win a Grand Prix the entire season, it feels unnatural for him to be the only driver starting the year without a seat for 2025. Eager to prove his worth, Sainz has put on a stellar performance with only four out of the five races competed. This was

due to his sudden appendicitis surgery needed in the middle of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix weekend. Having successfully completed the surgery and with non-stop efforts to get back in the car, Sainz pulled off a miracle performance taking home first place in Australia, once again putting an end to the “indestructible” Max Verstappen win streak. Sainz is reportedly linked to rumors surrounding Audi’s 2026 induction, causing excitement among many teams for his potential seat in the upcoming season. Some teams have their eyes on fresh faces from Formula 2 (F2) looking to build up their team, and the ties to Audi may cause these teams to steer clear of Sainz.

Apart from the drivers, one of Formula 1’s biggest names will be looking for a new team to join next year. Red Bull’s Chief Technology Officer, Adrian Newey, will be departing from the team following the 2024 season. Newey is widely recognized as the one of the greatest F1 engineers the sport has ever seen, and with the hunt for a new team next year, his presence could be the so-

lution to make the races not as predictable as the past couple of years. Hamilton has already spoken out about the excitement Newey would bring to Ferrari next year if that is where he ends up, and with that switch, Hamilton might have made one of the best decisions in his career to secure his eighth world championship. With numerous seats still unconfirmed for next season, the remainder of the year will be filled with questions and uncertainty of the driver lineups for next year. Will we see new faces? A rotation of drivers within the teams or perhaps almost a mimic of this year’s grid with further resignations? Regardless, the 2024 season will be filled with excitement, not only on track but off the track as well.

Should the Oakland Make the Move to Vegas

The relocation of the Major League Baseball (MLB) team, the Oakland Athletics (A’s), to Las Vegas presents both opportunities and challenges to the franchise. Despite being rooted in Oakland’s history, the A’s are facing many issues regarding their stadium and financial insufficiencies that are hindering their ability to thrive in this area. The A’s home stadium, the Oakland Coliseum, is outdated, which is affecting the team’s revenue from low ticket sales and lack of profit from concessions. However, relocating to Las Vegas would allow the team to build a new ballpark equipped with everything they would need to attract more fans to their games and increase revenue. Las Vegas has an immense tourist population and has generated traction to its other sports teams, like the newer but successful Las Vegas Golden Knights, by relentlessly supporting them. Las Vegas is also known for its extravagant nightlife and year-round events. With the help of the city’s notorious entertainment traditions, the A’s would have further opportunities to expand their fanbase and engage with an entirely different community, creating

a loyal following in its new home. Critics believe that their relocation would sever the team’s long-standing relationship with Oakland, but the fan base should not waive their loyalty simply due to a move that would only benefit their beloved team. Their allegiance should lie in the team’s ability to play and their successes. Although there are challenges that could arise from the relocation, remaining where they are now could only lead to the A’s downfall- eventually no longer being an MLB team. There can be no fanbase in Oakland or Vegas if there is no team to support.

Bottom Line: The Oakland A’s migration to Las Vegas is beneficial to the organization’s success.

The Oakland A’s Vegas move is muddled with controversy and several possible hurdles. There are such an abundance of things that are off-kilter about the move, so much so that it seems like a hastily done project due at midnight that same day. Even the mayor of their new destination said their new location in Las Vegas “doesn’t make sense.” The Oakland A’s may have low attendance numbers and a sleepy fanbase, but they showed up at the most dire moment. Oakland A’s fans “reverse-boycotted” the season opener, purchasing tickets to the game to organize a block party outside the stadium. Ranging from childhood die-hard fans to “Moneyball” bandwagoners, nearly 28,000 supporters sent a message to the A’s owner,

John Fisher, urging him to sell rather than move to Las Vegas. When you have some of the best attendance in a season out of protest, you have to rethink your choices as club owner. Baseball is supposed to be America’s favorite sport, tailored for the people; Fisher seems to be focusing only only on the business side and ignoring the real heart of the operation. Las Vegas may be a rising location in the world of sports, what with their hosting of the Formula 1 Grand Prix and relatively new but buzzing hockey team of the Golden Knights. But contrary to popular belief; it is not all just about location, location, location. You can put a dying team in a thriving sports town but it will not magically revive it.

Bottom Line: The Oakland A’s should stay in Oakland, any move would betray the fans that form the core of their team.

Lightning Football Springs Into Action

The Bay’s spring football season kicks off on April 28. This additional period is used to prepare for the upcoming fall season, and the team continues to practice throughout the year. Sophomore Zachary Collin said he is excited to continue practicing despite the regular season being over.

“I am looking forward to having a fun season with my teammates,” Collin said. “I still find ways to improve at my position every day and am constantly learning from other players, and this new season will just reinforce that.”

Collin said that he has been consistently preparing for this season to perform the best he can. He said he not only puts in his best effort at practice, but also off the field and in the weight room.

“I’m working out almost every day to get in shape, and I know my other teammates are as well,” Collin said. “I am working on creating smoother movements and cuts for the games.”

Financial Literacy teacher and head coach Brett Hood said he is interested to see which athletes will step up and become leaders of the team during upcoming practices and games. He said that a large portion of the team will be leaving for college and the younger teammates will have to fill their shoes.

“As a team, we have been training hard to become better, stronger and faster. We will be playing in a few seven-on-seven tournaments to gel together as a team,” Hood said. “Every year we have a new

group of kids, so it’s important to see who has the drive to lead their team to success.”

Hood said he has high expectations for next school year’s season and is using the

spring as a way to try out new plays and see what works for the team. He said that he can form connections with the team during pre-season, which will help the

Flag Football’s Epic Finale

As the varsity flag football team approaches the end of their season, they can reflect on the challenges, goals and successes of the past year. After a spring season of fighting for the District Championship title, their time was concluded in their defeat by Cooper City on April 9. Freshman rusher Peyton Wise said this season was the ride that made it all worth it in the end.

“The season overall went so well and everyone was so welcoming,” Wise said. “I wish we won the District Championship, but it’s okay because we truly tried our best in every game and that’s all that matters.”

Despite the Lightning’s season ending with a loss, Wise said countless highlights are much more memorable than the final result. She said that the team played West Broward on March

4, extending their five-game winning streak with an incredible outcome.

“Winning 46-0 [to West Broward] was probably the best moment of the entire season, it made us think that no one could beat us,” Wise said. “After that victory, we started our losing streak, but nothing could stop the amazing feeling we were still experiencing from that West Broward game.”

Each year, teams must adapt to changes, having to account for the different skill sets of different players, and this team is no different. Assistant Coach Craig Wise said there were plenty of new faces who joined the team this year who did not have much experience but exhibited all of the characteristics of a good flag football player.

“One important goal I think we accomplished this year was getting a lot more younger kids to play,” Wise said. “We had more underclassmen this year, and we tried to give them experience to be able to reach their full potential.”

With highs, there come lows, and the Lightning experienced both ends of the spectrum this season. Wise said one of their biggest challenges was a lack of knowledge of the game, and for players that were well-versed in game

knowledge, they had a lack of speed.

“To overcome the challenges we faced we came together and focused on play designs and planning their implementation,” Wise said. “I also made sure we got back to the fundamentals because they are just as important.”

The entire team was able to grow together by learning new strategies and adopting new skills, and Wise said many players also faced personal growth throughout the season. Junior wide receiver and cornerback Sydney Port said she was able to improve her strengths and

team be a more cohesive unit next year.

“I am really excited for this season, I would like to see the boys win districts, make it to the playoffs and see what happens. But all of that comes from the relationships I build not only with coaches, but the players,” Hood said. “It is really special when past students come to visit and we can pick up the same connection that was formed while they were on the team.”

Junior wide receiver and quarterback Eain Hersh said he enjoys having control during the games as he can get the ball whenever he is open. He said that playing wide receiver gives him a lot of time playing on the field which helps him become a better player overall.

“I’m looking forward to having a better season and seeing how much I improved since last year,” Hersh said. “I have been preparing all year for the spring game by going to the gym consistently.”

Hersh said that this team is more to him than just playing football, as he has been able to create great memories with the other players and create bonds that cannot be replicated. He said that being on this team has brought him many opportunities for improvement.

“My favorite memory of last year was definitely the University of Central Florida (UCF) tournament,” Hersh said. “It was not only a great game, but I got to learn a lot of new skills and interact with my teammates.”

set goals for her next season on the team.

“I learned more about playing on the offensive side of the ball and was able to sharpen my receiving and routerunning skills,” Port said. “With everything I learned being on the team and the hard work I put in, I hope to be able to step up and make an even bigger contribution next year when many of the current seniors leave.”

Women’s Sports Are Young and Growing Fast

Sophia Smith. Caitlin Clark. Tiare Jennings. Three that athletes have taken the world by storm in recent months with their performances on the field, court and diamond. These are just a few of the women who are leading the charge in women’s athletics. With the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Basketball Tournament coming to a close in April, the world watched Caitlin Clark break dozens of records with ease. The competition for both the women’s and men’s March Madness was fierce, reaching an intensity unheard of before. Entertainment and Sports Programming Network (ESPN) announced the viewership numbers shortly after both of the men’s and women’s championship games. A total of 24 million people tuned in to watch Kamilla Cardoso and the South Carolina Gamecocks complete their perfect season against Gabbie Marshall and the Iowa Hawkeyes. This was followed by just 14.8 million people watching the men’s title game which featured the Connecticut Huskies defeating the Purdue Boilermakers. This was the first time the women’s championship game had a larger audience than the mens, dating back to the first women’s March Madness in 1981. While this year’s women’s college basketball tournament generated record shattering numbers, it is not the only

part of women’s sports that is on the rise. The United States Women’s National Soccer Team (USWNT) has been a historically prolific club. With four World Cup trophies, four Olympic gold medals, nine Confederation of North, Central and Caribbean Association Football Women’s (CONCACAF W) trophies and one CONCACAF W Gold Cup title, they are known for their countless accolades. In recent years, stars Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe headlined the USWNT for their work on and off the field. The two forwards helped the team win the 2015 and 2019 World Cups while also being at the forefront of the equal pay dispute with the U.S. Soccer Federation that ended in contracts being reached that paid the women the same amount as the men. Younger athletes have been coming

in and competing for starting roles. Sophia Smith, 23, and Trinity Rodman, 21, are two of the new faces of the USWNT since a handful of the veterans departed. Even after the more popular names left the U.S. roster, the success did not stop. The team recently won the SheBelieves Cup on April 9 against Canada in a close game that went into penalties and ended with the U.S. winning five shots to four. The game was tied two to two at the end of regulation time, with both of the USWNT goals coming off Smith’s foot. Clearly, the new generation of soccer can carry on the legacy of the USWNT. Basketball and soccer have proven to be one of the more popular sports across the world, especially in comparison to one that has not received nearly as much exposure: softball. Specifically,

NCAA women’s softball. The sport did not officially receive recognition by the NCAA until the 1981-1982 school year. The Women’s College World Series averaged nearly one million viewers per game, and the sport saw a three percent increase since the year prior. With Tiare Jennings and Jocelyn Alo leading the Oklahoma Sooners to a 2023 National Championship title, the duo played a major part in putting college softball on the map. The Sooners beat the Florida State University Seminoles in the Women’s College World Series Finals coming off of a 53 game win streak, which was then extended during the following season to 71 games. Jennings, now a senior, has seen her name in the record books her entire college career. During her freshman campaign, she recorded 92 runs batted in (RBI), the most by a freshman in college softball history. Alo also had an impeccable career at Oklahoma, racking up 122 home runs and 761 total bases, both NCAA all-time records. All of these feats were accomplished by the time the Sooner duo were just 20 and 24, respectively. The talent that makes up women’s sports is improving every year, but not many people are aware of it. Some of the top athletes have not even turned 25 but have already cemented their names in the record books. If the competition and athleticism keeps up at this pace, women’s sports are in good hands.

Caitlin Clark: A Legacy in the Making

On April 7, over 18 million viewers tuned in to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Women’s Basketball Championship between the Iowa Hawkeyes and South Carolina (USC) Gamecocks. These viewership numbers made it the most-viewed basketball game of the last five years and out-ranked the 2023 National Basketball Association (NBA) Finals average of 11 million viewers. The sudden jump in viewership could be attributed to anything; USC’s perfect season, the Iowa

versus USC rivalry or perhaps to Iowa’s very own Caitlin Clark. Freshman Logan Lamey said she is an avid watcher of college basketball and fan of Clark.

“I watched the championship with my family,” Lamey said. “I’m upset that Iowa lost, but Caitlin’s college achievements will be very encouraging for the younger generation and eventually, her impact will lead to a lot of success for women.”

Although Iowa lost the NCAA Championship by a score of 87-75, Lamey said Caitlin has become a symbol of growth for the entire sport. Standing at six feet tall and 155 pounds, points against the University of Connecticut Huskies in the NCAA Women’s Final Four the first week of April. This season, Clark also made many memorable shots as the NCAA Division I alltime leading scorer. This in cludes a half-court buzzerbeater against Michigan State in January. In the NCAA Championship, she alone scored a team-lead ing 30 points. Freshman El exys Mataele said she is not only a fan of Clark, but also her influence on the sport.

“I am a huge fan of Caitlin Clark and the work she has put into women’s basketball,” Ma taele said. “I think that she has done a wonderful job promot ing hard work. She has shown her younger crowd that it is pos sible to overcome adversity and reach goals that many believed were impossible to achieve.”

Mataele said Clark is not just admi

rable on the court, but also in the public eye. Clark exhibits an appreciation for her teammates and embracing pressure is something she has publicized in her views. Having this mindon and off the court is something Jason Looky – head coach of the Bay’s boys’ basketball team – said he admires.

“Caitlin is changing the game,” Looky said. “High school is when most girls stop participating in sports, but with her success, younger girls will be drawn to basketball. Already there are more middle schoolers and girls as young as eight being inspired and getting involved and it’s great to see.”

Following the end of the college basketball season, the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) was just around the corner. Analysts predicted the number one overall pick would undoubtedly be Clark. Ultimately, Clark was drafted to the Indiana Fever. However, some, like Lamey, said they would have liked to see Clark playing for another team like the (Chicago) Sky alongside Angel Reese or the WNBA’s 2024 reigning champs, the Las Vegas Aces. Clark’s first WNBA game will be in Arlington against the Dallas Wings and as the season progresses, Lamey said there

are big expectations for the point guard. “Women’s basketball is growing and getting the proper recognition,” Mataele said. “This would not have been possible if it weren’t for the hours and the dedication put into the game by those women. Women like Angel Reese, Caitlin Clark, Paige Buekers, Alissa Pili and many others have built a great name and reputation not only for themselves but for women’s basketball in general.”

IMAGE COURTESY OF GOOGLE

Lightning Baseball Swings for Success

With the Bay’s varsity baseball season in full swing, players are practicing daily and preparing for the playoffs. Head coach Bo Diaz said the team is very young this year, which brings them many advantages, but also many challenges.

“The team is really passionate and hungry, they want to learn and are determined not to fail,” Diaz said. “We took the off-season as an opportunity for us to get prepared for the spring season. We worked on developing the right hitting for ground balls, hard line drives and how to avoid hitting flat balls.”

The team is heading for the district tournament, and Diaz said the players have the determination to bring home a win. He said that although the players are dead-set on winning, he feels the game itself and the drive inside the players are much more important.

“My biggest expectation of the players is to keep their spirits high. The one thing that no one and nothing can take away from you is the energy and hustle that you bring to whatever it is that you’re doing,” Diaz said. “By the end of this season, my goal for them is to understand that regardless of what the score is and what their stats for that day are, they can continue to push forward, show up, press and hustle.”

There are only five seniors on the team this year, one being center fielder Christopher Discala. He said the

team is building chemistry over time, and accumulating trust to get them through important games ahead.

“We’ve been in a little bit of a slump, but we’re catching more rhythm lately,” Discala said. “It was a rough start to the year, but our record doesn’t matter in the playoffs, so we can still make it.”

Junior pitcher Max Cabrera said team-building activities and a supportive environment are key to developing this rhythm. With a cohesive unit on the field, the team hopes to translate their strong relationship into wins.

“This team is a fun group. We have more of a bond than last year,” Cabrera

said. “Right now, our main focus in practice is hitting because we’re lacking in that right now, but pitching and defense-wise, I would say we’re doing pretty well.”

The pitcher said the chemistry between the players on the baseball team has been a constant source of their success this season. However, even the most cohesive teams can face challenges. He said that mental blocks, where athletes struggle to perform at their usual level, can strike even the most talented players.

“My biggest challenge this season was my mentality. I really try to not beat myself up if I get into a bad spot,” Cabrera said. “This season I’m looking for-

ward to just having fun and playing.”

Diaz said that the team is playing a very good game of baseball, but their opponents will get tougher and tougher as the season nears playoffs. With this, he said the team is preparing to try their hardest and test the limits of their athletic abilities.

“In our next game, we are going to play a team that is going to be a battle, we are going to be tested,” Diaz said. “This is going to give us an opportunity to play a playoff game prior to getting to playoffs, which means that we’re going to get to see where we’re at and make sure we are pacing ourselves properly.”

Baseball Fans Gear Up For This Year’s MLB Season

With this year’s Major League Baseball (MLB) season underway, students and teachers at the Bay said they have been anticipating its start. Freshman Ranveer Patel said he is a huge fan of baseball and has been supporting the New York Yankees for a long time.

“I started watching the MLB the moment I was born, mainly because of how close the Yankees were to my family,” Patel said. “Since I was born in New Jersey, being a Yankees fan was practically guaranteed, especially since they won the World Series in 2009, the year I was born.”

Even though the season just started, students said that numerous games have already taken them by surprise and left a lasting impression. Patel said he is very proud of how the Yankees played in the series against the Houston Astros. He said that in the past, the Astros have cheated and gotten away with it, and he has wanted to beat them for some time.

“So far, my favorite moment this season has been sweeping the Astros in Minute Maid Park,” Patel said. “Since the cheating scandal in 2017, the Astros have been the main enemy of many Yankees fans, including myself. They have commonly owned us in both the regular season and playoffs since then, so winning against them was crucial this season.”

Whether a team wins or loses, it

largely depends on which players are involved in that game. So far this season, there have been many trades made by the Yankees. For example, Greg Weissert, Richard Fitts and Nicholas Judice were traded for Alex Verdugo before the season commenced. Patel said he is sad to see some great players go, but is excited to see how the new ones might benefit the team to make it to the World Series.

“We lost a lot of players like Mike King and prospects Randy Vasquez and Jhony Brito. I thought King and Brito were very exciting to watch, but losing players like them helped us get other players like Alex Verdugo and Juan Soto,” Patel said. “Soto could easily be a star for the Yankees in the next couple of years. I think this season, the Yankees have a chance to make the World Series.”

Physical science and chemistry teacher Salvatore Grilli, helps train the Bay’s baseball team, and played baseball in college with head varsity baseball coach Bo Diaz. Grilli said he is disappointed in the Marlins’ performance so far this season, but finds the games very interesting to watch.

“I grew up watching and playing baseball. I usually cheer for the Marlins, but they have had a disappointing start. I’m rooting for the Cleveland Guard-

ians. A former student is in the Minor League system, so I want them to do well,” Grilli said. “I like to watch games to understand what the players are thinking. It’s not easy hitting a 90 plus miles per hour fastball, I enjoy the challenges that baseball can present.”

In addition to Grilli, other students said they like that baseball is much calmer than other sports. Junior Carly Port grew up watching the Yankees play since her mom is from New York and has always been a fan. She said she enjoys the family bonding time when watching

the MLB and finds it more peaceful to watch and understand than other sports.

“My whole family is sports fanatics, so we watch all the games together and enjoy each other’s company,” Port said. “During spring training, my family and I went to a Pirates versus Yankees game and the Mets versus Yankees game in Tampa. When we attend games, we really enjoy how chill it is and how less intense it is than other sports. Even if you’re not crazy about sports, it’s easy to follow and not as fast-paced as others. You can easily understand what’s going on.”

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

Summertime Films

My Girl

“The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” is a 2005 romance and adventure movie that is based on a book series by Ann Brashares. This movie revolves around four friends who find a pair of jeans that fits each of them perfectly, even though they are all different heights and have different body types. Each friend then embarks on their own adventure, taking the jeans with them one at a time. Carmen (America Ferrera) travels to South Carolina to spend time with her dad and learn about her family’s secrets. Bridget (Blake Lively) goes to Mexico for a soccer camp and experiences a summer romance. Lena (Alexis Bledel) visits Greece and falls in love with a local boy, and Tibby (Amber Tamblyn) stays home and has a transformative summer working at a local store. Each character’s journey is filled with challenges they must face, but they all end up growing and learning from their experiences. The movie’s plot can keep anyone hooked with the multiple adventures the girls go on. The jeans symbolize their friendship and how, even if they are far away, they always have each other. The movie has an amazing theme of the power of friendship and finding yourself. The pants become a source of confidence and empowerment for the girls. When they wear the pants, they feel the support and spirit of their friends, giving them the help they need to get over any challenge. The movie is very entertaining and a great summer movie to watch with friends.

Jaws

“Jaws” is a cinematic masterpiece directed by Steven Spielberg himself. Set on Amity Island, the film begins with a late-night scene in which a mysterious creature pulls a woman into the water.. The medical examiner informs the new police chief, Martin Brody (Roy Scheider), that the cause of death was a possible shark attack. Chief Brody wants to shut down the beach, but the mayor refuses, as he does not want to lose tourist money. He even challenges the chief to fabricate her death as a mere accident, disregarding the potential consequences for the island’s residents. Chief Brody then teams up with Matt Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss) and Quint (Robert Shaw) to get to the bottom of what is truly terrorizing the island. I liked how the sound plays before any real scene begins, keeping the black screen up but covering it with instrumentals that pair with the overall tone of the film, in this case, suspense. This horror film created a suspenseful atmosphere through the use of ominous music that notably sounds like “duuunnnnnnnn dun, dun dun.” The sound effects and melodies worked together in such a harmonious way throughout every scene, whether it was to create a peaceful or frightened atmosphere. It did so perfectly. The camera work also encapsulated the intensity of each segment, using various zooming or cutting techniques to emphasize the sudden yet frightening events that would occur. As “Jaws” played, I realized I was unable to look away and was never bored of what was on the screen, as each scene contributed heavily to the ultimate resolution. If you enjoy watching horror and thriller movies like me, I recommend giving this a watch.

The Last Summer

“The Last Summer” is a romantic comedy directed by William Bindley, starring KJ Apa as Griffin Hourigan and Maia Mitchell as Phoebe Fisher. It tells the story of a group of recent high school graduates navigating their “new life” as adults, applying to college, following the right career path and choosing the right person to love, while also trying to enjoy their last summer before college. Each character reveals a unique inner story, replete with real and raw issues.For example, Phoebe and Griffin break off their relationship after finding out his dad and her single mother were having an affair, or Audrey Jarvis(Sosie Bacon), a working-class student, finds out she was rejected by all but one of the colleges she applied to. These real-life issues help the movie seem relatable and allow audiences to reminisce about their own experiences and childhood memories. One special scene in the movie showed Griffin on a bus, remembering a special moment he shared with Phoebe when they were together. They were swimming in a lake, so happy with each other, making the most of the time they had left. I enjoyed the scene, especially because of the sunset in the background. You can see how it symbolizes the intensity and emotion of the scene. It was very refreshing to see how well the film was able to accurately match the style of camerawork and soundtrack to each specific scene. I found “The Last Summer” to be lighthearted and fun, so anyone looking for a deep and profound film will not be satisfied. Although I enjoyed watching it, I thought it felt like any coming-of-age movie, so it really depends on the audience. This is the perfect movie to watch if you are looking for something relaxing and carefree; otherwise, it might not be the one you want to pick on movie night.

The 1991 film “My Girl”, directed by Howard Zeiff, takes place in a small town in Pennsylvania during the summer of 1972. This coming-of-age story, starring Anna Chlumsky (Vada Sultenfuss), Macaulay Culkin (Thomas J. Sennett), Jamie Lee Curtis (Shelly DeVoto) and Dan Aykroyd (Harry Sultenfuss), navigates through themes of love, friendship and grief. Chlumsky’s performance effortlessly embodies her character, 11-year-old Vada’s, wit, emotional maturity and simultaneous innocence. Alongside her, Culkin further complements her character through Thomas J’s geeky but charismatic personality. Their on-screen chemistry adds authenticity and creates a believable and captivating dynamic, creating a true relationship that pulls at the hearts of the film’s audience. The film’s cinematography flawlessly encapsulates the atmosphere of the era it takes place in.It is simple yet effective in portraying the nostalgic and freeing feeling of the 1970s, and it evokes a sense of charm that audiences of all ages are able to resonate with. The film, feeling like a look into the past through an at-home camcorder, enhances its provoking storyline and plot development. “My Girl” unveils its gripping narrative with humor, pain and tense moments, allowing the audience to empathize with the characters in the film. Ultimately, the classic beautifully captures the spirit of love, loss and the innocence behind childhood and youth, which leaves a long-lasting effect on its audiences and makes it a must-watch on everyone’s list.

Monte Carlo

The 2011 film, “Monte Carlo”, is a beautiful love story that revolves around a teenage girl named Grace (Selena Gomez) and unveils the obstacles of navigating through relationships, love and self-discovery as she finds herself in the breathtaking city of Paris, France. Grace is joined by her best friend Emma (Katie Cassidy) and her stepsister Meg (Leighton Meester.) As they take in the new city, Grace is mistaken for a British heiress, Cordelia Winthrop-Scott (Selena Gomez.) Because of this, she and her friends are invited on a trip to Monte Carlo, where the real adventure begins. This movie is mainly made for families and young high school girls who desire the experience of the dauntless and free life in Europe. As the girls continue to venture through Paris, new characters are introduced, Theo (Pierre Boulanger), Owen (Cory Monteith) and Riley (Luke Bracey.) This introduction moves along the classic love story we’ve seen time and time again. Although the girls go through so much together, the film ultimately focuses on how the three girls go through separate paths and following their own journey to finding love. The on-screen chemistry and plot is so inspirational, as the girls are set to handle and overcome the different situations they are placed in throughout the film. Selena Gomez’s performance as Grace and Cordelia are incredible as she perfectly embodies the differences in the girls. This movie has a perfectly crafted plotline and shows how youth and adventure can bring love and new realizations in even difficult situations.

(500) Days of Summer

The 2009 romantic comedy “500 Days of Summer” written and directed by Marc Webber follows the course of Tom (Joseph Gordon Levitt) and Summer’s (Zooey Deschanel) relationship in an unconventional way. This film delves into the less charismatic aspects of relationships, depicting their time together as a slowly decaying appreciation for one another. Levitt gives an outstanding performance as the nerdy greeting card writer, who spends his downtime, fantasizing about his love life. When Summer was first introduced to Tom’s company, it was love at first sight for him. After weeks of pining, they finally run into each other during the iconic elevator scene where Summer asks if he’s “listening to the smiths” and from there on out, Tom couldn’t get Summer out of his head. What makes this film so entertaining is the timeline in which the film plays out. Instead of the usual chronological order a film takes on, the film flips back and forth from a specific day in their relationship, to present day. This allows the audience to engage with the film more as they wonder, if he was so in love with Summer in the beginning, what could have possibly happened to make him the way he is presented in the present. One of the outstanding aspects of this film for me was the soundtrack. It includes songs like “Sweet Disposition” by The Temper Trap and many songs such as “There is a Light that Never Goes Out” and “Please Please Please Let me Get what I want” by The Smiths. These songs add such character to the film, perfectly capturing Tom’s view of Summer in the moment. Overall, the first time I watched this movie, it was an immediate favorite and I would highly recommend this movie to anyone in favor of a rom-com with a little bit of an edge to it.

“CONFIDENCE” BY OCEAN ALLEY

“WIND

This Childish Gambino track resurfaces on the top music charts every year, just as the weather begins to get warmer. Perfect for a day at the beach or a calm afternoon with friends, it effortlessly captures the season’s spirit.

UP MISSIN’ YOU” BY TUCKER WETMORE

This new country hit is making its way up the charts, and there is no doubt as to why. This not-so-heartbroken breakup song is relatable in its lyrics, catchy in its melody and just right for lifting your spirits.

“JAMMING”

BY BOB MARLEY

“Jamming” is a must-have on any summertime playlist. This laid-back tune is a portal to relaxation and fun, making it the ideal song to unwind after a long day or liven up a summer day.

“HOT WINGS” FROM THE RIO SOUNDTRACK

“Hot Wings” by Anne Hathaway, Jamie Foxx, and will.i.am is a vibrant song with infectious rhythms and melodies, making it the perfect pop song to get you into a summer mood. It is lively, fun and a great throwback to one of Gen Z’s classic childhood films.

“SUMMER OF 69’” BY BRYAN ADAMS

This Bryan Adams song is a timeless classic that captures the nostalgia and excitement of summer. “Summer of ‘69” feels like a drive down the coast with a cool ocean breeze blowing through your hair– the essence of summer.

“FEELS

LIKE SUMMER” BY CHILDISH GAMBINO

This Childish Gambino track resurfaces on the top music charts every year, just as the weather begins to get warmer. Perfect for a day at the beach or a calm afternoon with friends, it effortlessly captures the season’s spirit.

“Illicit Affairs” by Taylor Swift

“‘Illicit Affairs’ is my favorite song because it shows how other people can bring you down and undermine your accomplishments, but getting back up is what is important. The lyrics also tell a story of what Taylor went through, and many people can relate to it.”

-Sophomore Sofia Renna

“Feel It” by D4VD

“This song is from one of my favorite shows right now, and it is just such a good song. The vibes you get from it are immaculate. Being an alternative indie rock song, it is an amazing song.”

-Junior Keith Kanefsky

“Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride” by Mark Kealiʻi Hoʻomalu

“This song makes me feel relaxed and puts me in a very good mood. I also love to play this song when I am around my friend Mara because she hates it so much.”

-Senior Nicole Chen

“Seasons” by wave to earth

“The feeling I get when I listen to this song is unexplainable. Though I discovered this recently, it is already my number one song. It also helped me discover a new genre of music, which led to a new me: alternative/ indie.”

-Freshman Pradhyumma Pradeep

At the Bay lies a collection of performing and visual arts programs, from musical theater to creative photography. These courses allow students an expressive outlet where they can de-stress, channel creativity and focus on creating different projects. Jill Malone and April Beckenhauer Pino teach ceramics and pottery at three levels in some of these art classes. Malone’s student, junior Gianna Nicosia, is currently in Ceramics 3, president of Ceramics Club and an aspiring AP 3D Art & Design student. Nicosia said ceramics gives her a laid-back and relaxed environ ment where she can even out her heavy Advanced Placement (AP) schedule.

“Since we go to a school that is very competitive with many difficult class es, having a class where you can just have a break, relax and really express yourself is incredibly important so you do not get burned out or lost in all the APs,” Nicosia said. “It is especial ly important for me because ceramics is the only non-AP class that I take, so it gives my school day a little balance.”

As a member of the Ceramics 3 class, Nicosia said she starts new projects about every three weeks and has more creative freedom than in Ceramics 1 and 2, where students focus on building up their skills. Despite this, every class level is automati cally placed in the Ceramics Club, where junior Jillian Lang, public relations (PR) manager of Ceramics Club and Ceram ics 3 student, said there is more freedom to create in spite of varying skill levels, and being a part of it opens the door to more original pieces and presents the idea

“It is so important to be a part of the Ceramics Club and the class because it gives you so many more artistic liberties. In class, you are doing a specific project with a specific theme for a grade, especially in Ceramics 1 and 2,” Lang said. “Ceramics Club allows you to make whatever you want, and it is a great way to introduce yourself to ceramics and scope out if you would be interested in the

directly relate to his future and teaches him the importance of inspiration. “Gathering inspiration wherever you can, whether it is in nature, online or somewhere else, is extremely important. From that inspiration, you have to take the ideas and turn them into your own, both so you don’t plagiarize and to continue with the creative process, making your own inter

While Belouehi uses ceramics as a way to help reach future career goals in engineering, April Beckenhauer Pino, Ceramics 1 and AP 3D Art teacher, said the field that ceramics translates most to is medicine. She said the process that her students follow when constructing and planning, as well as the skills they learn, are applicable in both the classroom and in the real world, depending on the careers they are looking to pursue. “Students always plan out what they are going to do, and then they have to learn the techniques. In the case of Ceramics 1, that is coil building. Then, when they have to build it or mold it, the kids have to apply whatever technique they are using,” Beckenhauer Pino said. “If you are going into prosthetics, dentistry or plastic surgery, there is a lot of modeling that has to be done, and ceramics just helps you hone those skills with its process.”

THE CIRCUIT ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

The Bay’s Cypress Bay Television (CBTV) program has been traveling to various competitions in order to compete against other schools and show what they have learned throughout this school year. The most recent competition took place on March 14th through 17th and was hosted by the Standard Television Network (STN). Throughout this, students work on pre-sent and on-the-spot competitions in order to place above the other schools. Junior Zain Vidal said she had an amazing time during this competition, which had a lot of moving parts.

“This competition was a lot to un-

derstand. The pre-sent competition was called ‘Excellence,’ where schools submit weekly and monthly shows. We submitted Aftershock, where we received an award,” Vidal said. “We also did onthe-spot competitions, where we had a certain number of hours to write, film and edit. These on-the-spot competitions were scheduled over three days. Some people competed on Friday, and some on Saturday. The whole team competed in two competitions on Thursday.”

When the team was not working on their submissions, they were able to work on strengthening their bond. Vidal said that being in close quarters before and throughout the trip has allowed her to make long-lasting friendships.

“I made stronger bonds with my peers during this trip. We rented vans while we were there, and I became really close with the people in them,” Vidal said. “We spent so much time in it since traffic is horrible in California, so we played many games and talked for hours.”

CBTV’s sponsor, Taiwo Cummings, has been with his students every step of the way when it comes to these competitions. They have been practicing every Saturday from October to March, and he said that it has shown groundbreaking results.

“For STN, I am the advisor. I make sure that everyone is placed in the correct competition and is ready for their competitions,” Cummings said. “The V.Ps of Competitions, Ava Pounder and Tailyn Cummings, are the people responsible for holding practices every Saturday leading up to competitions. This year, they broke records. Won or placed in ten out of 12 competitions with six first-place wins.”

This year’s competition is the second time that Vice President of Competitions

senior Ava Pounder has been able to attend, and she said that she is grateful to have this experience. These couple of days allow students to work and strengthen important skills, and Pounder said that it challenges her to be the best she can be.

“STN for me has been amazing. I was so lucky to attend for two years, and it was so fun to make so many connections with other students and test my abilities to the fullest,” Pounder said. “I was able to improve my skills of working under pressure and managing a team since I worked as one of our producers, and we are set to really high standards.”

Along with STN, CBTV is attending Skills USA. This competition blends with various other programs, such as Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) and engineering. Pounder said that it took a lot of prepara-

tion and coordination to get to where they are now, but it was all worth it.

“Skills USA is one of my favorite competitions because I love how it merges our Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs,” Pounder said. “I compete in video news production, where we have to create a script and rundown and then record a broadcast news show. I am super happy with how it went and am hopeful for the results. To prepare for this, I had to practice with my team at technical directing, anchoring and coordinating all the teams.”

MANUELA CORREA

This year, the Bay’s American Musical Theater club (AMT) has done productions on various musicals, including “Chicago” and “Moana Jr.” Recently, students and teachers in the club have been working on the production of “High School Musical,” a 2006 American musical television film directed by Kenny Ortega. It is a popular film among teenagers and was record-breaking when it first aired. Now, it is being performed in the Bay’s auditorium. Senior Vivek Variar is playing Zeke and said it is difficult to balance both school, work and the play, but that does not take away from his favorite parts of participating in one.

“To prepare for the musical, I have to get my costume on and my microphone up. We make sure to do some vocal warm-ups so that we are ready to give a great performance. It’s a time commitment both inside and outside of school, so sometimes I get sidetracked,” Variar said. “My favorite part of doing musicals is being able to perform with people I enjoy spending time with. It’s one thing to do a boring group presentation with people I barely know. Here, I get to do something I love with people I spend much of my time with.”

From director to actors to sound tech-

nicians, everyone in a musical has their own role that affects production. Preparation for a musical means each role must be up to par, whether it be acting, ensuring microphones are working, or fixing stage lights. Junior, Nicole Porto, is playing Ripper in the musical, and she said the cast has become closer as they have continued to practice for their show date.

“I play Ripper, who is a skater boy, and he is one of the ‘rebels’ that speak up during ‘Stick to the Status Quo’. His main redeeming feature is that he plays the cello,” Porto said. “For some time at the beginning of the year, you might have some awkwardness, but at the end of the school year, we’re like a family. The whole process of preparing for the musical gets so much better with these people.”

Other than students, teachers play a huge role behind-the-scenes that the audience does not see. AMT’s sponsor, Cynthia Lutwig, said there are both ups and downs to working on a musical, but in the end, the final production is worth it.

“We start day one of class; we come in, we talk about the dates and then we start this huge audition process where the students do monologues, songs, dance choreography and cold readings. Then the cast list comes out, and we start working. Learning music, locking, choreography and characters. So it’s

a lot of work, but it’s awesome,” Lutwig said. “I think my favorite part is opening night, when the curtain goes up and we have an audience, and seeing the stu-

dents just come to life. We’ve rehearsed and rehearsed and rehearsed, but when you are performing in front of a live audience, there’s nothing like it in the world.”

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Released in March 2024, Ariana Grande’s seventh studio album, “Eternal Sunshine,” brings many emotions to the table, such as growth, love and selfexploration. This album spent two consecutive weeks at the number one spot on the Billboard 200 album charts. This is Grande’s first album since 2020, containing 13 tracks in the original release and 17 in “Eternal Sunshine (slightly deluxe).” This album goes through the ups and downs of being in a relationship and the process of healing afterward.

It opens with “Intro (end of the world),” which shows the confusion Grande experienced in her relationship, not knowing whether it was a good idea to stay or leave. It shows how her emotions would be reflected if she took a step back from the relationship. This song has a soothing beat that blends effortlessly with the tone in her voice. The introduction to an album is the most important part, especially since it has been four years since her last album release. This song was the perfect choice for her first track on the album.

Her second song, “Bye,” begins with the same flow as the previous, then begins to build up into a more upbeat tone, coinciding with her lyrics about breaking off from a relationship with a significant other. Grande has incorporated songs into this album that many members of her fan

base, as well as first-time listeners, could potentially relate to. The addition of the electric piano in this track gave the song life, adding to the few pop-style songs in

this album. This song helps to keep listeners engaged and wanting to hear more. The thirteenth and final track, “Ordinary Things,” is a heartwarming song

featuring Nonna, also known as Grande’s grandmother. In this song, Grande expresses how much the non-materialistic things in a relationship mean to her and the importance of quality time. At the end of this track, Nonna speaks about her relationship with her husband, saying that seeing him is equivalent to seeing daylight. She continues by giving advice that if you are not comfortable in a relationship, you should leave as soon as possible. The messages conveyed in this song are important and beautifully written. Being a part of this song, Nonna has been recognized for being the oldest person in history to appear on the Billboard Hot 100. Being that this song closes out the album, it is the perfect ending that leaves listeners with a positive message and inspiring words to take with them.

Overall, “Eternal Sunshine” is a powerful album that brings a lot to the table in the music industry. Grande has been putting out music for over 10 years, making a huge impact and never disappointing when she releases new work. The mixture of music genres and emotions created the perfect blend for a timeless album that can be listened to for many years.

The Irish film “The Quiet Girl” is adapted from the short story “Foster” by Irish novelist Claire Geoghegan. With its camera work’s delicacy and moving details, it was nominated for Best International Film at the 2023 Oscars. The film

tells the story from a child’s perspective, specifically in Irish Gaelic, restoring the use of a declining language and speaking to children neglected in large families.

Cáit (Catherine Clinch) is a nine-yearold girl born into a loveless family in rural Ireland. Not only was she treated indifferently by her parents, but she was also regarded as an alien in the eyes of her classmates. With the arrival of sum-

mer, she stayed with her distant relatives temporarily after her mother gave birth. Those two months proved to be transformative for her, as she experienced a newfound sense of inner warmth and a deeper connection to her soul.

Director Colm Bairéad has devoted considerable time to establishing character connections and demonstrating the kindness of people. Each character adds depth to the narrative, showcasing the complexities of relationships and individual growth.

With that, the movie stands out as one of the most authentic, natural and exquisite Irish films ever produced. The cinematography effectively uses light and shadow to

convey emotions, capturing the mood and feel of each scene.Setting in a serene summer landscape, the lush greenery, clear skies and gentle sunlight not only serve to evoke emotional resonance with the audience but also enhance the themes of warmth and tranquility.

“The Quiet Girl” is mainly about healing and growth as it goes deeper into life’s essence. The intricate imagery and scenes may evoke memories of the famous Belgian film “The Kid with a Bike,” which delves into the concept of purity beyond childhood. Cáit’s quietness

may perhaps reflect the hidden facets of her as an abused victim, or even because she knew that it’s better to keep quiet, for silence is gold. Fortunately, as the movie progressed, Cáit redid simple tasks in life, her distant cousin Eibhlín taught her how to cook, clean and gather water from the well. Through re-interacting with people, Cáit’s weariness soon melted into trust.

In addition, by capturing the repeated shots of the kitchen, the walk to the well and daily chores, a repetitive cycle that seemed monotonous was created, yet it gave a peek into Ireland’s calm rural life. While the film presents clear value judgments in its storyline, it also juxtaposes the characteristics between Cáit’s biological family’s reckless nature and her cousins’ peaceful essence. As Cáit returns to her biological family towards the end, the peaceful atmosphere initially present in the film shifts back to chaos.

In short, the movie shows the duality of how families can heal and love while traumatizing one another simultaneously. The movie shows how being quiet can sometimes make people seem strange in schools or workplaces due to society’s chaotic nature by highlighting the loneliness and isolation experienced by Cáit. Therefore, it suggests that being misunderstood and feeling lonely is one of the most common experiences ever.

As final exams and graduation are nearing, some students and teachers at the Bay said they are looking forward to their summer travel plans. Senior Maria Arruda said she is going to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for almost three weeks to kick off her summer break.

“My immediate family and I try to visit Rio as often as possible, as most of our extended family and old friends still live there,” Arruda said. “I am most looking forward to spending time with my cousin, Rafaella, and her friends. Rafa is a year younger than me, and we always have the most fun together. I also love getting to know people, so hanging out around

her friends is usually very entertaining.”

Arruda, her parents and her little brother are making the trip to Rio together. She said she used to live in Brazil and always enjoys spending time there visiting old friends. While she has lived here for the better half of her life, Arruda said she still looks forward to reuniting with the people in her previous home and having experiences she would not normally get to go through back home.

“My best friend Mari, who used to live in Weston but later moved to São Paulo, Brazil, will be going to Rio to spend four days with me, which is something I’m also really excited about,” Arruda said.

“While there, I’ll be staying at my cousin’s apartment in a section of Rio called Jardim Oceânico. After she comes home from school, we typically walk to the beach, which is one block away from her apartment, to drink coconut water at one of the many stands along the boardwalk.”

Aside from the entertainment aspects of the trip, Arruda said she is excited about the sights and other aspects of the city. The restaurants and architecture highlight the remainder of her visit to Brazil.

“I might see the Christ the Redeemer statue this time around, as I have never been despite living there for eight years,” Arruda said. “My favorite restaurants to eat while in Rio are ‘Balada Mix,’ which sells Brazilian plates, and ‘Gurumê,’ a Japanese restaurant.”

Advanced International Certif-

icate of Education (AICE) Classical Studies teacher Tori Warenik is also traveling this summer, but unlike Arruda, she is staying in the United States. Warenik will be working for Westcoast Connection, and she said this is a trip of a lifetime.

“I will be traveling across Hawai’i! Oahu, Maui, Kaua’i, and Big Island. I work for a teen tour travel company over the summer, and they chose my destination for me,” Warenik said. “I will be the program director, but I will be there with three other staff members and 24 kids.”

Warenik will be working, but she said there is a fun itinerary planned for her 20-day trip across the country. Despite having been to Hawaii on a previous trip, she said this time would be more educational and informative.

“I am looking forward to really soaking in the island culture and spending more time learning about native Hawaiian culture and language,” Warenik said. “We will be surfing, scuba diving, snorkeling, going to the beach, learning to hula, making leis, going to a luau and hiking a volcano.”

Like Warenik, senior Allison Contreras said she will be exploring the outdoors and enjoying her time with the people around her. She said she is counting down the days till the trip to Costa Rica commences, and it has always been on her bucket list to visit.

“I’m going with my family. We’ve always loved going on family vaca-

tions because it brings us closer,” Contreras said. This is my last trip with my family before I go to Florida International University (FIU), and I’m looking forward to the whitewater rafting and zip-lining through the jungles. I also can’t wait to just relax on the beach.”

At high schools across the country, one component of course selection is choosing from the various selection of electives. These are classes that may spark a student’s interest, besides the core classes they are required to take to graduate. Here at the Bay, the course selection process is no different. These electives vary from athletic-based activities like weight training to specific interests like coding and career-oriented courses, one of which is Advanced Placement (AP) Psychology. The AP Psychology course is designed to introduce students to the study of human behavior and mental processes, with their most recent focus: the serial killer project. Sophomore Hatten Ali is taking AP Psychology and participated in this project. She said each group, including hers, was

assigned a famous serial killer to analyze.

can easily hurt those same people that trust them and show little to no remorse.”

“We’re in the clinical unit of psychology right now, and we’re ‘diagnosing’ these serial killers with the mental health disorders that were given to us in AP Psychology,” Ali said. “We first do a general background on the serial killer’s genetics, childhood and crimes, then dive into our ‘diagnosis’ of the poten disorders the se rial killer has.” The first step in com pleting their project was research ing the life of the serial killer they were assigned. For Ali, that was John Wayne Gacy. She said she was able to discover the roots of Gacy’s story. She learned facts about him, such as that the reason he was nicknamed the “killer clown” was because he volunteered at children’s birthday parties as his alter ego, “Pogo the Clown”. In addition to the details about Gacy, she also learned how different factors contribute to people’s psychological states in general.

“I learned about how genetic and familial dispositions can lead to people ultimately going crazy, affecting the different parts of their brain. This project introduced me to new mental health disorders I didn’t know about, like antisocial personality disorder,” Ali said. “Contrary to its name, it occurs when someone is charming and easily gains the trust of others because of their charisma but

Ali said that despite the grave nature of the topics discussed in courses such as AP Psychology, there are important lessons to be learned that make the class worthwhile. AP Psychology teacher Sheryl Sugerman said she has been teaching the course at the Bay for over 10 years, and throughout the year, students learn to approach the explanations for behavior through a biopsychosocial lens, and this project allows for the culmination of that concept.

“The topic is serious, but doing this project helps students see beyond just looking at ‘evil’ in terms of the serial killers they learn about,” Sugerman said. “There are mental health reasons for people’s behaviors and tendencies, which is the most important concept for them to grasp.”

The curriculum in AP Psychology not only has the ability to help students better understand the outside world around them, but it may also influence the way they look within. Junior Nicholas Yokana, another student in AP Psychology, said over the course of the year, he was able to understand concepts that helped him grow as a person and as a student.

“Some valuable things I have learned in the class are being able to understand

where emotions come from. Before, I thought that the brain just used electrical signals to make you do something, but now I know the real reason why we cry or feel a specific way,” Yokana said. “Another valuable thing I learned in psychology was how to get what I wanted using the foot in the door phenomenon or the door in the face in order to help me improve my skills in everything I do.”

At the Bay, some students participate in a sport, and it can serve as an opportunity to express their personalities, challenge themselves and work towards their goals. One of the many examples of this is horseback riding. Sophomore Ruby Lauria said she has been riding for around 10 years, six of which have been at her current riding spot, Grassy Ridge Farm.

“My favorite part of this sport is being able to work with different people and horses. Every time I go to the barn, we work on something new, so I am always interested and involved,” Lauria said. “When I was younger, I tried almost every sport. My mom offered to take a riding lesson, so I tried it, and it just stuck with me all these years later. It is something I plan to do in college.”

Competitive sports like this can require a lot of commitment and travel. Exploring new locations and different ranches can bring new opportunities, and Lauria said it can even be more exciting for riders. Additionally, she said that riding horses necessitates a constant need to go to new locations.. She has visited Wellington, Ocala and North Carolina.

“For competitions, I wear my breeches with my white collared shirt and a belt that has my initials. I also have my green show jacket,” Lauria said. “For

doing it consistently for about four years.”

This sport, like most others, necessitates a lot of practice and training. To be more comfortable while training, Ely packs a bag with necessities and clothes to change into after riding.

“In my bag, I pack my helmet, horse riding gloves, fly spray, treats for the horses, a pair of crocs to change into when I’m done riding and a pair of jumping boots for the horse,” Ely said. “I’ve never traveled for a competition before, but I have competed in hunter/jumper when my barn hosted a horse show. I do travel wherever my friends show to support them.”

Riding horses can be for professional purposes, but it can also be a fun activity to do in your free time. With proper training and communication between the horses and riders, riding can go smoothly. Spanish 1 and 2 teacher Julia Eskenazi says if she could give one word to describe this sport, it would be freedom.

both practice and competitions, I have a bag, and in there I pack my helmet, vest and gloves. I also have a little pouch with hair nets, ties, deodorant and mints.”

Horseback riding can form a special connection between riders and their horses. Different horses come with different riding techniques. Freshman Veronica Ely rides at Silver Lining Equestrian, which is

named after her trainer's first-ever horse.

“I love the partnership you gain with the horse you ride because every horse has its very own distinct personality and way you have to ride them,” Ely said. “I’ve been riding horses on and off ever since I was about three. My mom would always get worried whenever I fell off and would pull me out of it for a while, but I have been

“I rode a horse when I was younger with my boyfriend at the time, and I felt really adventurous and free. It was scary in the beginning, but it was a nice experience, and I would recommend horseback riding to anyone,” Eskenazi said. “When my daughter was in college, she was in a club for horseback riding, and they definitely had to be safe and train their horses well to work with the riders, as well as wear certain gear.”

FEATURES

As the night of prom approaches, the stage is set for many seniors to start preparing. This years theme is Meet Me at Midnight, which was released in January, and there are a variety of different ways that students are planning to spend their memorable night. Senior Kathlyn Buckley said she plans to spend the afternoon before prom with her friends.

“We’ll probably spend the whole afternoon hanging out,” Buckley said. “Prom is a classic American high school experience. You’re most likely never going to go to an event like this again. From crazy prom-posals to dressing up and dancing with friends from your entire grade, prom is truly a unique experience.”

Some students have had their formal attire planned for this night months in advance so that the afternoon leading up to prom can be smooth and enjoyable. Others are waiting until just a few weeks before to start searching. Buckley said she found her dress a month in advance and plans to reveal it to her friends on prom night.

“To find a dress, I went shopping with my mom at different bridal boutiques, and I found one that I love,” Buckley said. “My friends and I aren’t showing each other our dresses until the day of, so we can surprise each other with our different beautiful outfits.”

Hair and makeup may also be a crucial step in getting ready, and a hair or makeup appointment can take hours. Co-sponsor for the senior class and Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) General Paper teacher at the Bay, Nicole Arnold, said she un-

derstands the need for so much time.

“If you’re doing everything the day of, like getting your nails, hair and makeup done, that could take a while depending on where you’re going and how many other people are doing the same thing,” Arnold said. “There’s also a lot of photo taking, which takes forever. Parents want to take so many photos with good lighting and scenery, and it is all so time-consuming.”

The prom serves as an end-of-senioryear celebration, and Senior Santiago Bonilla will be attending it with his friends in honor of their final year together at the Bay. Bonilla said that while he hasn’t found the right outfit yet, he has planned out most of what the day will look like.

“Before prom, I’ll be hanging out with my friends. I just want to get ready, maybe do some makeup, wear nice clothes and just have a sweet treat before going,” Bonilla said. “I know for a fact that no matter what, I’ll be blasting Tatto Musica before I leave for the night.”

Prom is an exclusive event that only seniors and guests of their choice are invited to attend. Some students have waited their entire high school career to attend and want to make the most of the opportunity. With the event set for May 11 at the Diplomat Hotel, students are finalizing plans now for that night so when the time comes they can focus on having fun.

“It is not a night to stress about. Yes, we should look good and put effort into our outfits, but in the end, we should just have a good time,” Bonilla said. “We’re graduating soon; let’s enjoy the time we have left at the Bay.”

zoe kahn

Just one year ago, alumni Hannah Ackerman sat in the classroom seats at the Bay, wondering what she was going to do once she graduated. She said she has always had an itching for film and knew she wanted to pursue that in college, but something else was telling her to take a different path, one to Israel. Ackerman has spent what would have been her freshman year in college in Israel, participating in a program called Year Course with Young Judaea. “In my

program, I spent half the year in Jerusalem and the other in Tel Aviv. In Jerusalem, I took ulpan (Hebrew class), Jewish studies and elective courses,”

a person throughout this experience.

“My favorite memory is definitely traveling around the country and seeing all the different aspects of Israel,” Ackerman said. “I just went to Akko and got to jump off a cliff, and all my friends hyped me up because it took me way too long to jump, but it was definitely one of the best feelings.”

Ackerman said. “In Tel Aviv, I have an internship at Shuffll, an artificial intelligence (AI)-based video creation studio.”

Educational opportunities are not the only thing this program provides. Participants get to travel and experience a new culture for an entire year.

Ackerman said that this program was one of the only chances she had to experience all these things at once.

“I took a gap year for many reasons. The first being that the program I am on, Year Course, is a Young Judaea program, a community I grew up in, so I have always wanted to go on it,” Ackerman said.

An experience like this can create many memories. Ackerman said that her favorite memory came from a very nerve-racking moment, proving that she has grown immensely as

Though college can provide young adults with many growth opportunities, Ackerman said that this experience was the best decision that she could have made for herself. As this gap year could have only been done during her first year out of high school, she plans on attending the University of Texas in the upcoming fall semester.

“I have definitely grown as a person here. Besides feeling more independent and responsible, I feel like I understand myself better as a person. I have created connections to both my friends here and the country that will never leave me,” Ackerman said. “I honestly do not think I can even compare myself to my peers. This experience has forever changed my life, and I think it was definitely the best decision for me, but everyone is on different tracks, so we are all thriving in our own ways.”

As the school year begins to wind down, students at the Bay may start to think about their summer plans, and while doing so, some may reminisce about their time at sleepaway camp. Sleepaway camps allow children and teenagers to have the opportunity to experience summer away from their families and gain more independence. Sophomore Max Sherman said that when asked about camp, he emphasizes the importance of being outgoing to make lifelong friendships.

“When I first started sleepaway camp, I was nervous as I didn’t know any of the other kids there,” Sherman said. “But once the summer began and I became more comfortable with my cabin mates, it became really easy to make friends.”

Sherman went to Camp Chestnut Lake in Pennsylvania and said that even though his time as a camper is over, he still holds on to the memories he made with his friends and makes sure to stay in touch with them.

“I am one of the only people in my cabin who lives in Florida, so I barely get to see my camp friends,” Sherman said. “But, throughout the five summers of living together, the time spent apart does not

even matter, and we are still able to stay just as close as we were this past summer.”

Math teacher Ari Novick fondly recalled the summers he once spent at Camp Ramah Darom in Georgia. He said that the best thing going to a sleepaway camp had taught him was independence.

“There are some people who finish high school and have never spent

fore the sun came up,” Novick said. “We baked monkey bread, had a salsa lesson led by the director of the camp and then went back to sleep for the rest of the day.”

Junior Chloe Brown, who went to Blue Star Camps in North Carolina, said that what she most enjoyed about camp was the simplicity of the daily routine. She said that at her sleepaway camp,

any amount of time away from home before they go off to college,” Novick said. “At sleepaway camp, you learn to be independent, look out for your objects and work with one another.”

Novick said he looks back on sleepaway camp as some of the best experiences of his childhood. He said that he was able to try many types of activities, and had a full schedule every day at camp.“I can still remember that during my last summer, my age division was woken up before the sun had even risen to complete a whole day’s worth of activities be-

What do you teach at the Bay?

“I currently teach all Peer Counseling classes. I started teaching in 1996 as an English teacher and have taught pretty much every level of it that we offer at the Bay. I moved to Peer Counseling around five years ago.”

Do you have any advice or techniques you give students to succeed? (academically and non-academically)

“Specific to my class, we talk a lot about desire, dedication, motivation, discipline, how to problem-solve and deal with the situations that we encounter in life, and all of those things can help students be successful.”

If you did not teach Peer Counseling, what could you see yourself teaching? Or is there another job that you would have pursued?

“I actually joke, even now, that I do not know what I want to be when I grow up. I am one of those people for whom there are so many things that I think would be fun or interesting, but I would probably work with a non-profit.”

What advice would you provide to incoming freshmen?

“It is much easier to start out right than it is to try to fix things later. If you start out doing the right thing and giving time and effort to studying, joining extracurriculars and getting involved, it makes the whole process much smoother.”

You were going to retire; how come you changed your mind?

“I was all set to retire; I was planning on cashing it in this summer, but I have decided that I am not ready. I do not think that I am prepared to walk away from teaching and my students; I think I still have a lot to give to the school.

What have your students taught you in your years of working here?

“To expect the unexpected. You never know what is going to happen, and whatever it is, you have to roll with it and readjust while doing so with grace and humor.”

If you could live anywhere in the world,wherewouldyouliveandwhy?

“Specifically in the United States, I would definitely love to live down in the Florida Keys. Wherever I want to be in the world, I would have to be somewhere close to water, like Bali or the Maldives.”

electronics were not permitted, so she was able to take a step away from her phone and be present in the moment.

“To me, camp wasn’t all about the wide range of activities my camp offered, but the connections I made with my cabin and age division,” Brown said. “One of my best memories at camp is simply sitting with all of my friends and telling funny stories to one another.“It was really great that nobody had their phones because I was able to make such deep connections with people in such a short time.”

From My Perspective: Journey To Portugal

In December I traveled to Fátima, Portugal for three weeks, where I had an eyeopening experience. Portugal has a lot of religious history and historical buildings that contain old stories of how the Virgin Mary appeared in the city of Fátima and spoke to the three kids who were given the chance to talk to the Virgin Mary: Francisco, who was nine years old, his 7-year-old sister, Jacinta and cousin Lucia, who was 10 years old. In the story, the Virgin Mary appeared in Fátima and said that Francisco and Jacinta would die soon and go to heaven but Lucia would live a long life, which eventually turned out to be true. Later, many people would go to see these children pray to the Virgin Mary even though they couldn't see her. People believed in her presence and believed she sent a sign when she made the sun blink during their prayer. After that, they never saw her again and those three kids were considered angels from heaven. Going to the temple where this story originated, and just simply seeing the graves of these children sent a shiver down my spine and opened my eyes.

the people gather in groups to sing, especially during Christmas. People play the guitar, sing along and simply bond with those around them no matter their differences. Most Portuguese residents are Roman Catholics which can be inferred by the impressive Sanctuary of Christ that resides in the capital city. Inside the statue is a church and the view from the top of the statue is beautiful and ultimately unforgettable.

The Church was beautiful and grand. Behind the church, there was a walkway where people would walk through a

trail on their knees if someone close to them was ill or sick. Staying there for a few hours made me feel a way that I had never felt before; I felt calm and protected. Once I got back to Almada, another city in Portugal, I stayed in my room, reflected on my visit and prayed. Besides their diverse religious and cultural history, Portugal is also home to beautiful natural sights. The city Nazare is home

to some of the largest waves in the world. Many famous surfers travel there from around the world just to experience these huge 20-foot waves. Sometimes, the waves get to 80 feet and are very dangerous for any surfer to ride, but simply the sight of the waves is extraordinary. Lisbon, the country’s capital, was also a beautiful sight to experience during my time there. The nightlife is amazing and

Portugal’s welcoming population and incredible meals bring its visitors a sense of calmness and peace. Each city has its own type of historical beauty and importance. I felt that the country’s residents cherish their country and think very highly of it. Those who live there always seem so content, even at work. They enjoy and take advantage of every second of their day; something you don't tend to see that often in the United States. Portugal is a place everyone should visit for the religious, cultural and historical figures and lessons that the country has to share. Portugal has beautiful sights that contain vast amounts of history leading to learning new things about their religion and new ways of life itself. It is an eye-opening experience and I recommend this trip to anyone who finds pleasure in history and new viewpoints.

Parking Panic

At the Bay, many people drive themselves to school and park in the student parking lot. With close to 5,000 students, the parking lot gets crowded quickly. Sometimes, it can take 30 to 45 minutes to leave at the end of the day, and in the morning, spots are packed with no spaces free.

Those who are not able to get a spot when they go on sale at the beginning of the year, end up having to park at the Weston Branch Library or in the parking lots at Vista Park next to campus, where their parking isn’t secured or large enough for the remainder of students needing to park.

If there was more parking allocated on campus for students, the mornings for many of them would be much less stressful, getting rid of the worry of having a parking spot close enough to school or finding a spot at all.

It can create a lot of stress for students if they have after-school commitments and cannot get out of the lot, or when they get to school and realize they will not make it to class on time because they cannot find any available spots. Along with additional parking, if a better system with more rules were in place, there would be less traffic and overall be safer because students would not have to rush to their cars.

The process of trying to buy a parking spot is not pleasant either. Trying to check out quickly and being seconds behind an-

other person can mean that you are much further down the list from them. You do not have any choice as to where your spot is, which makes the entire process even more stressful. An alternative method to this is to have students, in a random order, manually choose their spots so that it is fairer and less based on technology. At Vista, it is just as packed as the school lot and can take just as long, sometimes longer, to leave. Drivers are aggressive, and especially with many students

being new drivers, it can sometimes be dangerous and scary trying to exit the lot. Often, drivers are speeding and driving on the opposite side of the road in an attempt to try and get out quicker. Although, it is extremely helpful that there are two entrances to the Bay right next to the Vista Park parking lots and students have easy access to them in both the mornings and afternoons. This year, when students were not able to park at the Weston Branch Library, Vista Park lots were fuller than ever, with absolutely no empty spaces.

Overall, the Bay needs much more parking space to accommodate the many student drivers. One suggestion is to convert the grass area where the portables used to be into an additional parking lot for students. It would help the overflow of cars in the current student lot and allow for more people to obtain spots, including sophomores who are currently unable to buy a spot even though they may start driving that year. Also, students would not have to run out of school to try and get in their cars quickly to beat the traffic. It would also allow more student drivers to park at the school rather than other places close by, which may help students get to class on time.

Is Summer Clothing the Height of Fashion?

Summer attire is often considered more practical for hot summer days because of the rising temperatures and the sun beating down, leading people to wear more revealing clothes. However, summer clothes are another stress that many people have to worry about when it comes to being outside on hot days. Summer attire is often made from thin layers of materials that may not protect you enough to be outside in the sun’s higher UV levels. Another reason, especially in Florida, is the mosquitos that can bite you when too much skin is exposed. Individuals may prefer the winter months

and their attire because it provides their skin with more protection, preventing sunburns and skin poisoning that can lead to a lot of pain. Winter clothing is more comfortable to be in and there are many ways to style different items used when putting together an outfit.

Conversely, there are fewer options to choose from summer style because it can be limited to shorts, sandals and tank tops that can become repetitive. Wearing summer attire can be especially uncomfortable when you are out in the sun for a long time and your clothes begin to stick to your skin because of sweat.

Lastly, many people may look better and feel more confident in winter clothing as they have more freedom to be creative and original in their own outfits. While wearing summer attire may be light for summer days, it does not provide enough protection from the sun especially when the UV is above five as it becomes harmful and can lead to sun poisoning. Overall, winter clothing beats summer in many different ways and can benefit more people.

Warm weather, bright colors and the sounds of summer. The best time of year in all aspects. Watching films like “Monte Carlo” and “Mamma Mia” when I was younger, convinced me that summer was the peak of fashion. Colorful bathing suit strings sticking out of a tank top, eccentric patterned swim shorts and always looking like you have just come back from the beach is a good look for anyone. Summer is the time to explore your creativity with different styles and patterns as it’s the time for adventure and exploration. When I think of summer fashion, I immediately think of plac-

es like Spain, Greece and the south of France. Spain specifically plays with a great deal of vibrant colors like red, orange and yellows while Greece and France tend to lean more towards softer colors and pastels. I love incorporating these styles into my everyday outfits, embracing the chic, laid-back look while still looking put together. These vibrant colors not only look fantastic against the sunlight, but they are also used as a reflectant, making sure to keep you as cool as possible under the summer sun.

The element of summer style that I think is the most crucial by far is the fabrics. Silks, cotton and knits are especially popular due to their breathable quality. My appreciation for summer fashion also stems from the difficulty that spring, winter and fall bring in regards to coming up with a new outfit every day due to the ever-changing weather. The difference in the weather day by day makes it much more difficult to plan ahead for the day.

Overall, I believe that summer style is effortlessly stylish, adding to the laidback aura thissummer has to offer.