- Our Lady of Lourdes Academy

T H E
grotto
OUR LADY OF LOURDES ACADEMY MIAMI, FLORIDA VOLUME 51/ISSUE 1 OCTOBER 2013
www.olla.org/grotto/october2013
peek inside
OVER
EXPOSED
3
TENSE RELATIONSHIPS
Middle East news is complicated with the constant changing
of governments and leaders.
Here’s a guide (as of now) to the relations between countries.
12
APP-LY YOURSELF
Start off the new school
year with an organized
iPad. The latest iPad software for school is rated and broken
down in this handy guide.
15
JUST KEEP SWIMMING
Diving into the waters of a new
school year means plunging
into the new swim season as
well. Keep up with the team, its practices
schedule, and new updates.
2 news |
the grotto |october
december
2012
2013
50 Years
Years of
of Bobcat
Bobcat Blue
Blue
50
CAMILA
CARRILLO
Confident, bright young women have talked about
generations worth of trends and fashions in the halls
of the school for 50 years. The students have always a
reputation for being stylish and well dressed outside of
school, but how about during? Lourdes girls throughout the years can reassure you that their uniform was
not their outfit of choice, but they were a small price to
pay in exchange for the ability to attend Lourdes Academy. After years passed, uniforms eventually evolved.
This school has had its fair share of uniforms since it
first opened, but they seemed to drastically change each
time a new era was introduced.
When the ribbons were cut and the doors were opened
in 1963, the school’s newly built campus welcomed
1960 s
fresh faces amongst its corridors. Girls scattered around in
their pale blue knee-length skirts and church veils, excited
to take part in their new high school. In the 1960s, it was
accustomed that ladies should always dress lady-like. This
ideology was apparent through the neat, unrevealing and
feminine uniform worn by the first generation of Lourdes
girls. When the 1970s came around, the era introduced a
new uniform, one that was as free spirited as the time period. The uniform was made up of a shorter length dress—
at least shorter than the uniform worn in the ‘60s—with a
very in-style checkered collar. This uniform was a much
brighter shade of blue, coinciding with the happy era. The
most memorable of all uniforms, however, would have to
be the “smurf uniform.” It originated in the 1980s, and if
1970 s
Why Our School Celebrates the Golden Years
OLIVIA BAEZ
In 1963, ZIP Codes were introduced, JFK was assassinated, and
Our Lady of Lourdes Academy
opened its doors. As most students
know, this year is the school’s 50th
anniversary. The school is celebrating 50 years of educating young
women with Mary in all things.
Sister Kathryn Donze shared the
theme of the celebration with the
students, "Celebrating the Gift of the
Past, Blessings of the Present, and
Hope for the Future." Understanding our past, including the history
of our school, helps the students appreciate the present and have high
expectations for the future.
Fifty years ago, the school consisted of two all-girl home room
classes: one with Cuban refugees
and the other with Miami residents.
The first freshman class consisted
of 69 students and this year's class
surpasses 200 girls. Many of the
students are wondering: What is so
important about this golden anniversary?
50 years ago, the education process was much different than that of
today’s. For example, the school had
fewer teachers then. Some teachers
were responsible for teaching two
completely different subjects. Now,
most of the teachers soley specialize
in the subject they teach.
Technology from the 1960s does not
come advancely close to the teachnology students have become accustomed to today. The idea of using
iPads during school instead of textbooks and pens would have seemed
completely ludicrous to a student in
the ‘60s. The school has now transitioned from standard school supplies to technological materials.
Many may say that it is not possible
for the school to be primitive in its
teaching techniques. Although it may seem like events
from 50 years ago do not affect us
today, the past is known to shape
the future. The school’s goal for 50
years has been to educate women
and help them grow in their faith.
When asked why the 50th anniversary of the school is so important,
Sister Kathryn Donze replied with,
"I think 50 years of educating women is something to celebrate."
asked, many of the school’s faculty members would be delighted to share memories of the smurf uniform they wore
while attending Lourdes. It was a traditional jumper, worn
with a belt around the waist and a white polo underneath.
The bright blue color was attributed to the funky 1980s
style, and the well-known cartoon, “The Smurfs.” Eventually during the 2000s, times changed and it was evident
that the students were always moving quickly throughout
the campus, and the 1990s skirts were unacceptable. So,
the school’s students were given a refreshed and more masculine, comfortable and versatile uniform—the ones worn
nowadays—to fit the rushed and frantic lives Lourdes girls
endure each day. One thing never changes, however. The
students are always proud to wear this uniform.
2000 s
1980 s
word in the halls H ALLOWEEN:
WHAT WILL YOU BECOME THIS YEAR?
“I want to do “Clueless” but my friends don’t want to.”
FRESHMAN OLIVIA AYALA
“I want to be a Disney princess because I’ll feel magical with my
Prince Charming.”
JUNIOR ANNEMARIE JUDE
“I want to be a firefighter, i think, because its a cute costume and
red is one of my favorite colors.”
SENIOR KAYLEE CRISTOBAL
“I want to be Minnie Mouse because I like how she dresses. I like
her little polka dotted red dress.”
SOPHOMORE VALE CARDENAS
“My daughter wants to dress like the character, Struts, from Teen
Beach Movie so I think I’m going to dress in my 50’s costume. Poodle
skirt and everything!”
HISTORY TEACHER MRS. GIGANTI
Trouble in Syria Brewing: Choosing Assads
CATHERINE BUCKLER
Trying to summarize the current situation in Syria is
like trying to report on a horse race at the first turn. It’s not
clear who’s in the lead and the outcome is far from obvious.
As there are a lot of players involved, let’s summarize.
Iran has been backing the Syrian President Bashar
al-Assad, but recently accused Assad of using chemical
weapons against his own people, but it was not enough
of an issue to change sides. Iran has few allies without
Syria. Assad is against the Muslim Brotherhood, an
Islamic fundamentalist religious and political group that
is aligned with the opposition fighting to overthrow Assad.
The secular Syrian rebels are also now against the al-Qaida
Islamic State rebels who joined their efforts against Assad
but have their own agenda.
The Muslim Brotherhood and President Obama were
against General Sisi. Gulf States are pro-Sisi, so therefore
they are against the Brotherhood. The Muslim Brotherhood
is anti-American. Iran is anti-Israel and supports Hamas
and Hezbollah, the Palestinian Islamic movements that are
anti-Israel also. Hamas is predominately Sunni Muslim
and Hezbollah is Shiite Muslim, Iran is supporting Sunnis
fighting against Shiites in Iran.
The Egyptian Military and US see Hamas as a
Palestinian terrorist group since they attack non-military
targets, i.e., civilians. Hamas also supports the Muslim
Brotherhood and dislikes the US because the US supports
Israel.
Before Egyptians’ overthrew President Mubarak, the
president before Morsi, Egypt was Israel’s only Arab ally
in the Middle East. The Muslim Brotherhood is anti-Israel,
but the Egyptian Army is not. The United States backed the
democratically elected Morsi and Muslim Brotherhood in
Egypt unenthusiastically because the Muslim Brotherhood
is anti-American. The US always had strong ties with the
Egyptian military, but also wants to support democracies,
so when the military booted Morsi and the Muslim
Brotherhood, the US was, well, speechless. Hamas
supports the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, but is fighting
along side Assad in Syria against the Muslim Brotherhood.
The Gulf States are pro-US and Turkey is with the
Gulf States against Assad. Yet Turkey is pro-Muslim
Brotherhood and against General Sisi. Turkey and Iran
are trading partners, but so are Israel and Turkey.
The US and Russia are allies, but Russia supports Assad
in Syria. China will trade with anyone who wants to sell to
them. The US feels moral obligation to intervene in Syria
after they used chemical weapons, but also wants coalition
support. France, who did not support the US in Iraq, now
supports the US in Syria. Britain, who supported the US
in Iraq, does not want to get involved in Syria.
Republicans, who have supported every military
intervention for the last few decades do not support military
involvement in Syria, but also do not like the President’s
efforts to diplomatically resolve the problem with Russia.
Many anti-war (as of last election) Democrats support
military intervention. Though the US would like to see
Assad go (there is a strong al-Qaida faction in the Syrian
rebel force) any support could run the risk of arming alQaida, who are strongly anti-US.
If the US defeated Assad, we would have to maintain a
presence like in Iraq, or Iran could fill the void and Syria
borders Israel and Iran hates Israel....
Got it? What would you do?
issue 1 | the grotto | news
3
CONSTRUCTION UPDATE
All the permits have been obtained for the completion
of the gym. Concrete foundation has been poured on
site, with completion date expected by the beginning of
June.
After the gym is finished, soccer players will rejoice
in knowing that the field will be fixed and functional for
practice. It will serve as an all-purpose field for physical
education classes as well.
At the beginning of December, the new administration
building will be in full function. The second story is still
a work in progress that will be the future home of three
new computer labs, as well as a collaboration room for
students. After Christmas break, you will see a brand
new driveway. It will be dug up and re-laid during the
holidays.
fromthenewsdesk
Make Way for the Fresh Faces at OLLA
Walking Down OLLA Way; It’s About Time
VIVIAN GISLE
LIZZIE DELGADO
This year, in addition to the freshmen, 10 new teachers joined our school
and navigated the halls for the first time. Ranging in almost every academic
field the school has to offer, four of the new teachers shared some personal
insight into their lives.
One of the new faces that you might encounter would be the new theology
teacher, Mr. Cesar Baldelomar. While new to Lourdes, he isn’t new to Miami.
A graduate from Pace High School, he left for Boston to get two masters degrees from Harvard. Why Lourdes you may ask? “[Lourdes] is well respected
in the community for it’s academic, and as a teacher that’s something I was
looking for in the school along with a rigorous academics and the spiritual
side to it,” said Baldelomar.
The next newcomer to grace the halls of Lourdes is Mr. Stephen Hernandez. Native to Puerto Rico, Mr. Hernandez found a love for teaching and
decided to follow his passion right into our hallways as a Calculus and Algebra II teacher. He not only teaches but he’s also the new tennis coach. Mr.
Hernandez has always had interesting aspirations as well.
“I wanted to be a physicist. Albert Einstein is my intellectual idol,” Hernandez said.
The new personal financial management and economics teacher, Ms. Leslie McConachie, is no stranger to the teaching and the business world, which
allows her to bring real world experience of being a banker to the classes she
teaches. Little known fact about her? She’s also a lover of nature, A student
herself, Ms. Sheila McEwen teaches Anatomy and Biology, while attending
classes to receive her Masters degree in Microbiology.
“Today is a day of celebration and dedication; this is a landmark for students and teachers who have come before us and those who are to come,”
Principal Sister Kathryn Donze said.
This was the initial statement made at the dedication of 84th Street to
OLLA Way. It was a ground breaking day for the school as it received the
recognition it deserves after more than 15 years of trying to beginning the
process of construction and expansion. This event took place on Sept. 9 and
included not only county Commissioner Xavier Suarez but successful alumna
including CBS 4 news reporter Vanessa Borge.
“Being a Lourdes graduate from ‘05 I just want to say it’s about time. This
feels so surreal being able to see the OLLA community expand the way it is,”
Borge said.
“It was great to see such a positive development for OLLA because I
was able to bring my daughters here and it really set the foundation for the
women that they have become today,” Commissioner Suarez said.
Even under the scorching hot sun, active participants of the school’s community were able to come and watch an epic occasion. This event celebrated
50 years of the service that the school has provided to the Miami-Dade
County community; this is even more special because the school is the only
all-girl arch-diocesan high school. A special thanks is due to Lilian Acevedo
who made this event possible. She was the one able to coordinate and preserve the naming of the 84th Street.
Good things come to those who wait. This monumental event is only a
step in the positive direction of growth in which our school is headed.
the grotto | october 2013
THE
4 editorial |
Uncompromisable Trust in Government
Pre-Press Manager
Olivia Baez
Business Manager
Natania Quiros
Copy Editor
Sarah Marini
Photo Editors
Kathryn Mellinger
Diana Martinez
Reporters
Camila Carrillo
Elizabeth Delgado
Amanda Fuentes
Vivian Gisle
Sophia Oliva
Carolina Perez
Katerin Rodriguez
Adviser
Mrs. Elizabeth Perez
Editorial Policy
As the official student newspaper
of Our Lady of Lourdes Academy,
The Grotto strives to inform and
entertain its readers in a precise
and fair manner.
The Grotto is a forum for ideas
and opinions of the newspaper
staff, student body and faculty.
All information is gathered and
reported with the highest regard
for journalistic integrity. All content,
however, is subject to prior review
by the school principal.
Each column reflects the
opinions of the bylined writer.
Unsigned editorials represent the
opinions of the entire staff.
Students and faculty are
encouraged to send Letters to
the Editor to ollagrotto@gmail.
com. Unsigned letters will not be
published.
The Grotto reserves the right to
edit any letter for grammar, clarity
and space requirements.
Advertising Policy
All advertising requests should
be sent via e-mail to nquiros14@
bobcats.olla.org.
Spy agencies like the NSA were
created to discover our enemies’ secrets
to help protect the nation. Government
workers are duty-bound to the
government, and thereby to the citizens,
by law.
In an ideal world, citizens could be
trusted with all government information.
The reality is that there are dangerous
enemies. To keep secrets from those
enemies, secrets must be kept from the
citizens, and sometimes that necessitates
telling lies.
Our Founders constructed a system
of government with checks and balances
among three equally-powerful branches
to prevent abuses of power. Snowden
and those like him show disdain for the
system by presuming to take vigilante
action. Citizens must understand that
the society will not become a dystopia
because of secrets; the Constitution and
federal laws prevent from the government
becoming abusive.
oliva
Features Editor
Michelle Zogby
and experience of professionals in the
central government. Citizens understand
foreign relations not understanding foreign
histories and cultures and reviewing
intelligence reports, but through the
television and the internet. Citizens
experience nearly everything indirectly.
Before we put on our marching boots to
protest the government’s power, perhaps
we should evaluate our own arrogance.
Edward Snowden illegally released
classified information to the public about
several secret US surveillance programs.
He justified his actions by stating that US
citizens had the right to know. His detailed
explanations of the NSA’s operations have
created a momentous problem: Enemies
and allies know how the NSA operates.
In an Op-ed in The New York Times,
David Brooks wrote, “For society to
function well there have to be basic levels
of trust and cooperation, a respect for
institutions and deference to common
procedures.”
by sophia
Art & Design Editor
Alexandra Cabrera
Is ignorance truly bliss? Is honesty
always the best policy? We live in a world
not only of truth and beauty, but also of
secrets and lies, so we are accustomed to
discerning what is the truth. But we often
ponder; do we really want to know the
truth? Lies and secrets are occasionally
justified with the concept of loyalty.
Looking at loyalty on a larger scale: as
citizens, what do we owe the government
and what does the government owe us?
The purpose of the US government is
to protect citizens and their unalienable
rights. One of our government’s core
missions is to provide for the common
defense. Through the assurance that the
government is “for the people, by the
people,” citizens should trust that the
government is just in its actions, known
and unknown.
The staff feels that citizens should not
have the power to make decisions about
governmental secrecy because they do
not have the resources, information,
olla girl
Editors-in-Chief
Catherine Buckler
Sofia McGraw
Sophia
Oliva
Does Same-Sex Schooling Help or Hurt Us?
Beep! It’s 7 a.m. Wake up. Roll out of
bed. Brush teeth. Forget brushing hair, too
lazy. Bun it is. Grab backpack. Head out
the door. Any Lourdes girl would agree
that this is her daily morning routine. Just
the minimal steps to get ready and to get to
school on time. However, would a student
at a co-ed school get ready the same way in
the morning? Probably not.
I’m willing to bet that a female student
at a co-ed school will take a little (a lot,
actually) more time than we do. She has to
make sure every hair is properly in place.
She has to mask those dark circles under
her eyes. You get the drill.
Freshman Isabella Alvarez, who went
to St. Theresa for middle school, says that
when choosing her high school, the student
body gender wasn’t an issue.
“It’s definitely a change from what I’m
used to,” says Alvarez. “However, I would
say its different socially and I would agree
that it is less of a distraction.”
While many girls agree that they don’t
mind the all-girl environment, not all
students feel the same. I remember back
when I told my friends I was going to
Lourdes, they couldn’t help but ask me:
How can you possibly go to an all girl
school? That’s crazy, I can’t imagine it!
As if going to an all girl school was so
outrageous and impossible to survive.
Honestly, being a senior and having
been here for so long I’ve gotten used to
the female environment. It is something
I have grown to love. It’s such a relief to
know that if I’m having a bad hair day, it’s
okay, who do I have to impress?
On a serious note, it has been proven
that one of the benefits of attending a same
sex school is better class concentration and
grades. However, according to an article
in The Washington Post, authors Rebecca
Bigler and Lise Eliot argue that “singlesex schooling reduces boys’ and girls’
opportunities to learn from and about each
other.” They further explain that “boys and
girls must learn to work together and the
classroom is the ideal setting...because it is
both purposeful and supervised.”
Statistics and numbers only go so far.
At the end of the day it just depends on
what works best for each individual. I’m
extremely happy with the decision I made
to come to Lourdes. I’ve definitely created
life-long friendships with the girls I’ve met
here.
issue 1 | the grotto | viewpoints
Out in the Open
“Honesty is the best policy.” That is a
words. We’ve heard it from our parents and
teachers. Even more memorable, we’ve
heard it from our friends in their attempts
to get a secret out of us that we may or may
not want to share.
If kids are universally taught this motto
to teach the fundamentals of morality then
that must mean that honesty is something
of importance. As we grow older, we tend
to forget this vital lesson.
Why is it so important to be truthful
rather than to keep secrets? Why is it
so important to let secrets “out in the
open”?
According to the dictionary, the
is kept hidden, or concealed.
Have you ever heard the advice, “just
don’t tell her, it’s not that big of a deal”
or “it will only hurt him”? It is a universal
idea that a secret is hidden to avoid the
consequences or effects of revealing it. But,
no one ever wonders about the potential
effects of keeping a secret.
The feeling of being “eaten up inside”
or the need to explode is familiar to all of
us. This feeling is commonly caused by a
secret that you feel the need to share.
The truth is, keeping a secret for too
long will eat you
up inside. This is
one reason why you
should let secrets
out rather than keep
them bottled in.
According
to
the
website
truthaboutdeception.com, keeping secrets
often prevents people from dealing with
a problem at hand and leads to increased
stress and anxiety.
Revealing secrets in a proper manner
can reduce stress as well as can help people
let go of an issue.
The truth is that keeping a secret can
actually cause more harm than letting go
of a secret.
One of the most important reasons for
being truthful is that people prefer honesty
over everything. Through experience you
will realize that people grow stronger
relationships with those whom they are
open with.
Evidently, people are bound to grow
closer to someone who they talk to about
their personal secrets than to a person they
keep secrets from.
It is all about trust. If you are in a
friendship in which you share secrets
and issues with each other, keeping a
secret from the other person can hurt that
friendship.
You trust your friend with your secrets
and trust that he or she will tell you his or
her secrets. Once you or that friend crosses
counterpoint
that line of trust, the friendship could be
hurt drastically, depending on the secret.
But, a secret’s reveal is inevitable in
the end. Whether the secret is revealed
after 10 minutes or whether it is revealed
after 10 years, eventually it will be “out in
the open”.
The longer a secret is kept, the more
damage that is done either to the keeper of
the secret or to the people, if any, that the
secret may affect.
The way I see it, the faster a secret is
let out, the faster the issue the secret deals
with will be solved and the faster the issue
will eventually pass.
Similar to the domino effect, one secret
can lead to another and
another and before you
know it there are more
lies than you can keep
track of.
Once one lie is
revealed, the rest are
bound to follow. If the
secret affects anyone
negatively,
it
causes a bigger
mess and bigger
harm.
Seems
like a bad
Carolina
Perez
nightmare. In
that situation,
a n y o n e
would wish
for a rewind
button
to
change
the
decision.
A
person would
want to go
back to when
decided to keep
the secret and
instead decide to
reveal the secret.
Keeping
a secret because
of fear
of causing damage
or hurt is
not worth
it.
The
best
policy
regarding secrets is as
follows: a told truth
is always better
than a kept
secret.
5
Lock it Away
Our friends see that we are in a new
relationship on Facebook before we
even have the opportunity to tell them in
person.
We do not even have to tell our friends
what we did this weekend because they
already saw the picture that we uploaded
on Instagram Saturday night.
Nothing is a secret anymore. It seems
as though everyone knows every single
detail of everyone’s life.
Social media is to blame for that.
Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Vine
provide
forums for people to
express
anything
they wish and
sometimes it
is just too much
information.
With so much
information
about
our
personal lives
being public
knowledge,
there must
be
some
part
of
our lives
t h a t
w e
anything about them?
Instead, we rely on rumors and secrets
to formulate our opinions of some people.
They’re often based on what our friends
told us last week or on what they posted
on Facebook last night.We do not allow
ourselves the opportunity to create our
own opinion of a person. Rather, we allow
rumors to penetrate our minds, preventing
ourselves from formulating our own
opinions.
Another problem with sharing secrets
is that when we share a secret, no matter
putting our trust in another person to keep
our secret. If we cannot keep our own
secrets, how can we expect someone else
to keep our secrets?
Revealing a secret makes us completely
vulnerable. We are ultimately trusting
someone to keep it. In some cases, we are
asking that person to lie on our behalf.
Secrets are your own burden, do not
make them someone else’s as well. We
do not need to give someone else the
responsibility of having to lie for us. Most
people may not do it and even if they do,
we have just involved them in a situation
they would have probably preferred to not
be involved in.
When telling a secret to someone, we
trust that the person will
not only keep the secret,
but also will keep an
open mind and not pass
any judgement against
us.
This is important
because revealing a secret could change a
person’s perception of us. A lot of people,
though, are not as willing to keep an open
mind. Thus, it is better to not even tell the
secret.
In the end, our secrets are no one else’s
business. Most people often want to hear a
secret not to genuinely help, but to entertain
their own lives with some interesting
gossip about someone else’s life. Do you
really want to be someone’s entertainment
for the day?
Unfortunately, I know from experience
that secrets are very likely to heighten
stress. However, we must resist the
Sarah
Marini
want to be
kept secret
and locked
away.
As cliché
as it may
sound,
there are
s o m e
things in
life that
are just
better
l e f t
unsaid.
Secrets
m a k e
life more
mysterious.
Isn’t it
refreshing to
meet people
time and
not know
the stress that comes from keeping a secret.
Writing down the secret on a piece of
paper or saying the secret to an animal,
a living and breathing thing that cannot
share the information, may help relieve
that anxiety.
No matter what the temptation might be,
it is important, especially in the society that
we live in today, to keep secrets and lock
away some parts of our lives.
What’s wrong with having a little
mystery?
From: Kathryn Mellinger
To: Reader
Subject:
NSA: Protecting or Prying?
October 1, 2013 at 7:35 AM
“WAR IS PEACE. FREEDOM IS SLAVERY. IGNORANCE
IS STRENGTH.” Citizens of Oceania restrict their actions, words,
and even thoughts due to the constant fear of being perceived as a
traitor and exterminated from existence.
This dystopian society was described in George Orwell’s
novel 1984 as a warning to both those who govern and those who
are governed. Orwell’s predictions have become an eery foreshadowing of the present state of American Society.
Controls are becoming more apparent in modern day America through the actions of governmental agencies such as the NSA.
The NSA, formally known as the National Security Agency, is at the
center of a scandal that has revealed governmental privacy breaches.
These breaches have left Americans wondering whether or
not the US government has overstepped its authority. The major
function of the NSA is to protect US intelligence information and
decode information from other countries.
The NSA also works to protect Americans from possible terror threats. Recently, it was revealed by a former NSA employee,
Edward Snowden, that the NSA has been collecting and monitoring thousands of private emails from regular citizens.
Aside from revealing this privacy breach, Snowden leaked
top secret information from the Pentagon Papers. These leaks
have revealed that the government agency has been phone tapping
.....
...C..l ......
..a..s. s .....
....i.fi .....
...e..d
...
American citizens as well as foreign governments, such as those
of Brazil and Mexico. Pakistan has also been a major target of US
espionage. Snowden also revealed that Major US industries such
as Google and Facebook also worked closely with the Intelligence
Agency.
According to Reuters, these companies were, “used to gather data on people overseas.” The disclosure of this information has
left foreign governments and the American public appalled. This
presents the idea that the US government has directly violated the
Right to privacy of the American people which is protected by the
enumerated rights and secured by the Constitution.
It also degrades the images of the popular social media companies involved. Google has already started mitigation to help placate the situation, because the scandal has caused, “substantial
harm to Google’s reputation and business.”
Although many Americans find it shocking that companies
have access to so much information, many people forget that most
information is freely displayed through Facebook posts or Google
plus accounts.
“Over 56% of Americans have a social media account,” according to research obtained by Social Media Strategist Jay Baer. With more than half of the country involved in some sort of
social media site, it is becoming more difficult to keep any information private.
88% believe the de-
velopment of technology has made it harder to keep private
matter secret
70% feel the Nsa over-
stepped its authority by
monitoring americans
71% feel the verdict
of the Snowden trial
was unjustified
The Grotto staff conducted all surveys
on SurveyMonkey.com, where 159 faculty members and students answered several questions regarding social media,
the NSA, and online privacy.
79% believe we
need more privacy
protection
From: Michelle Zogby
To: Reader
Subject:
Social Media: Two Steps Forward or Three Steps Back?
October 1, 2013 at 7:35 AM
You meet someone, you get home, you look them up on
Facebook. Many, if not all, of your friends are on Instagram. People
follow their friends and favorite celebrities on Twitter.
Social media has created a second world in which social
interactions can take place without concern for the constraints of
physical reality, connecting people all over the globe. Because of
this, social media’s dark side of potential consequences can creep
up on a person and damage his or her reputation- before he or she
realizes it.
Participation in this world of social media seems to be more
and more of a necessity in today’s society, especially when you
consider that 98% of young adults ages 18-24 use some form of
social media.
This may not be such a positive thing, however, as a recent
study conducted by researchers from the University of Michigan
and the University of Leuven in Belgium suggested that checking
Facebook makes young adults less satisfied than do social interactions in real life. It may, in fact, decrease their life satisfaction.
If this is the case, why do so many young adults use social
media?
“I feel pressure to have a Facebook because not only do
people perceive you as strange if you don’t have an account, but
you also miss out on a lot if you don’t have one since most social
invitations are through Facebook,” senior Andreina Rojas said.
Students often get themselves into trouble for making inappropriate or negative posts about another student or person. When
this happens, the school may be called in to take action. Dean of
Student Affairs Annie Sanchez said that she gets at least three
anonymous complaints per year of inappropriate behavior on social
media by students.
52% of students regret
something they posted on
social media
52% have had an experi-
ence that made them change
the way they behave on social media
Design by Alexandra Cabrera & Michelle Zogby
“I think that kids today are much more image conscious than
previous generations,” Dean Sanchez said. “Social media has made
kids less social, but more transparent and superficial. It creates an
artificial reality.”
On a larger scale, a person’s use of social media may also
have far reaching consequences he or she cannot foresee. A major
aspect of social media that is often overlooked by its users is the
fact that employers often use it to evaluate possible employees.
Social media monitoring service Reppler found that 91% of employers polled check a possible employee’s social media profiles either
before or after hiring him or her.
As people become comfortable with sharing more and more
on social media, they may be putting their future careers at risk
without realizing it. This may cause regret later on, driving 74% of
18-34 year olds to delete posts they believe will negatively impact
their careers, according to a study by FindLaw.
Many public figures have experienced the downside of social
media. The most popular recent case was the Anthony Wiener sexting scandal, which serves to illustrate the damaging effects social
media can bring about.
Favorite celebrities have also fallen pitfall to scandals. “Hunger Games” star Josh Hutcherson experienced allegations of possible nude photos and a suggestive video found on an online “hookup” site. Female stars, among them Scarlett Johannson, also had to
face their own social media scandal in 2012 when a hacker illicitly
obtained nude photos of them and released the photos online.
Each time a public scandal takes place, social media users
are reminded that the Internet can often give a false sense of privacy; it cannot be treated in the same way as social interactions in
person.
30% feel pressured to
have a facebook or instagram account
42% of students have
considered deleting their
Facebook account
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must be related to Lourdes.
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THE
grotto
Miami teens
voicing their
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our editorials
today!
10 entertainment |
the grotto | issue 1
BOBCAT
BEAT
Out of Tune: What Are We Listening To?
AMANDA FUENTES
Music is often used as an outlet for an artist’s soul.
The music with catchiest tunes makes it to radio almost
instantly. Once people hear it, they first find themselves
humming it on the way to school, then in the middle of
class. A week later they are practically having concerts in
their room jamming to this song. But do people realize
what they are listening to?
“Blurred Lines” by Robin Thicke, the number one song
on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for 12 weeks straight, suggests a man desperately wanting to bring out that bad side
of a woman. This message may not be realized at first.
Mrs. Garcia-Bode, head of the music department said
after she payed attention to the lyrics, “I don’t know if I
want to jam to this anymore. You know it really caught me
by surprise.”
Many can find children singing this song, along with other songs such as “We Can’t Stop” or “I Don’t Care I Love
It,” and kids don’t know the meaning of what is coming
out of their mouths. How will that effect today’s youth?
“Children exposed to profanity in the media think that
such language is ‘normal,’ which may reduce their inhibitions about using profanity themselves. And children who
use profanity are more likely to aggress against others,”
said Brad Bushman, a media expert at Ohio State University who commented on a study done to examine the impact of profanity in the media.
This isn’t just because people hear this song once in a
while on the radio, or see it at an awards show once and it’s
over. The constant reference to the songs is a result of the
technology today. If a song is heard on the radio, a person
can instantly go to YouTube and look up it’s lyrics, and
performances. That wasn’t available decades ago. Teen-
agers stayed up all night just to see their favorite bands
perform on MTV.
But now that this era has the Internet, people all over the
world can instatnly watch and re-watch everything including musical performances.
For example, Miley Cyrus’s performance at the 2013
VMA’s seemed to be very controversial. The once Disney
Channel pop star teen performed in a nude, latex bra and
underwear while provocative dancing and “twerking.”
“I feel like she just wanted to put on this huge performance just to get her name out there. It’s becoming more
about the performance than the music at this point,” junior
Amelia Ferrer said.
Multiple artists today put on this big show and forget
that everything in that performance should be focused
on the music itself, not the excessive fireworks and vulgar dancing that seems to be everywhere. Artists seem to
be more concerned with getting talked about for the next
two weeks for controversial performances than for getting
talked about for the meaning and emotion in their performances.
“The good thing with that [popular culture] is that you always have an opportunity to be creative. It’s not like ‘this
is the one genre we’re sticking to and we’re not going to
change that,” Garcia-Bode said.
In the midst of the vulgarity of it all, there is something
good that has been learned about musical audiences everywhere. People are open to new styles of music and an artist
does not need to stick to one genre.
In today’s society, people are open to new things and
ideas and there is no exception with music. But then again,
does it need to go to an extreme?
“Burning Up” or
Burnt Out?
AMANDA FUENTES
The Jonas Brothers have returned! The music “Love
Bug” bit these brothers again and this group is back at
it.The trio Kevin, Joe, and Nick Jonas kicked off their
comeback tour in July with two new singles and an album making its debut in the fall. The band took a break
for three years. Now they are faced with the difficulty of
coming back stronger. But are they “old news” already?
Thankfully for the Jo-Bros, who came out with their
first album in ‘06, have a strong fan base and should be
attracting more fans with their new music.
“When I was at the concert, I felt like there were
old fans and new fans so that made the energy really
strong,” sophomore Alexa Janeiro said..
The Jonas Brothers are finally separating from the
Disney label, something that for some seems too hard to
accomplish.
”I think their image will always be ‘the little Disney
boys’ even if their music matures or not,” junior Alyssa
Garcia said.
It will be interesting to see whether the band will be
rocking out in success or sending an “S.O.S.”
Why Should You Like Pretty Girls? Because They Rock.
CATHERINE BUCKLER
When you are a new band starting out, and especially,
when you are playing your own music, it is a major effort to find venues to play in. Cover bands have it a little
easier-a killer set list that everybody knows already. But
developing your own sound and creating a following is a
tough gig.
Most audiences are just as ready to trash you as much
as they are to tune in to your band. Of course, when your
audience is comprised of Han Solos, Iron Men, Black
Widows, Eleventh Doctors and Storm Troopers--who’s to
judge?
This summer at SuperCon, over a sea of bobbing heads,
the three silhouettes of Kyla Bostick, Bobby Maloy and
Brandon Seymour, the Boca Raton based indie-surf-psychedelic-garage band, Pretty Girls, rocked out for an animated (get it?) crowd, who may or may not have been in
some alternate universe.
After their set, I had an opportunity to meet up with the
band backstage, i.e., next to the dumpsters in the alley near
the parking lot to talk up their musings and the band’s future. (Quick insight: meeting with a band in an alley? Cool
and gritty. Being in alley alone? Weird and gross.)
PRETTY GIRLS ROCK: Senior Catherine Buckler and band
Pretty Girls pose for a picture backstage at SuperCon. The
band and Buckler were chatting about Pretty Girls’ future
shows. Buckler asked what event they would like to play at,
such as a music festival. “
A prom...do they have a prom for summer school? They
should.” Maloy (suprisingly) said.
After all the equipment was stored safely, they laid
back against their station wagon and between their post
show cool down, we discussed Pretty Girls. The nice
thing about up and coming bands is they are not conceited,
and willing to talk out their whys and wheres.
Pretty Girls was no different. Kyla--vocals and bass.
Bobby--guitar and vocals. Brandon--drums. They were
enthusiastic about their rise in the South Florida music
scene.
Playing the local clubs, festivals, and competitions
up and down the So Flo coast, they have been building
a steady following with their retro reverbing Stratocaster
beach sound.
“The Suit” and “Wanna Go Home” (my favorites) are
a couple of their original songs that have a nice faraway
back of a dark venue vibe. They even fill out their set with
a laudable cover of Yeah Yeah Yeahs “ Maps.” This is definitely a band I would see again.
Between touring and real life, the band is working on
releasing their first EP “Daymares” which they project will
come out April, May, June, July, August, September, er,
late October. (If you want to take a listen to the singles
they have released so far, click here)
issue 1 | the grotto | entertainment
11
Come See What’s App-ening
LIZZIE DELGADO
Another year, another handful of apps. As
the new school year commences, students
and teachers must contemplate which
app is most convenient for them. What
are the current trending applications?
Well, Showbie has become one of
the easiest and most
convenient apps to
organize
yourselfno more forgetting
homework. It basically
acts as a class organizer where teachers
are able to upload assignments and
students must submit their homework
into the corresponding class file. Why
does this even matter? Well, after
revising your work, teachers can grade
and return your work automatically. It
has become an easy way to get things
done and it is one of the most trending
apps in the school at the moment.
“Showbie is one of my favorite apps; it
helps keep me so organized that I don’t
have to worry about missing any of my
homework” junior Sophia Carballo said.
Let’s not forget about Eclicker audience.
Some students may have used this app
last year, but for the new-bees Eclicker
lets you complete online quizzes. That
does not sound too appealing for stressing
students, but it provides another way to
digitally take quizzes and receive grades
almost instantly. Students should think of
this app as a way to keep
them motivated to stay on
top of their school work.
The real question is,
what is your level on
Candy Crush? The most popular game at
the moment is Candy Crush and if you
haven’t heard of it then I suggest you get
it as soon as possible. This game’s tedious
nature provides a challenge for players
as they cautiously attempt to match
corresponding characters with each other
in order to break the wall at the bottom
WHAT’S IN YOUR BAG?
OLIVIA BAEZ
The mystery of the shrinking book bags has
been solved. Now that our school has mostly
gone paperless, book bags have been getting
progressively smaller.
A few years ago, girls would carry almost
everything they need in book bags. Now, people
only carry the essentials. So what’s in the bag of
an average Lourdes student?
Basic necessities include: a pen, a stylus, an
ID, and the nucleus of our education-the iPad.
Because the students were not given agendas this
year, they have been left to plan on their own.
Fortunately, planners can be purchased at any
convenience store in the city.
“I bought myself a brand new agenda this
year. They had such cute ones at Target,” senior
Bernadette Gomez said.
It seems that students crave more than just their
lunch, so they carry snacks in their bags as well.
Snacks like chips or a granola bar are usually
carried to hold them off until they can get home
and devour anything in their fridge.
Calculators, headphones, and key chainwallets are other typical things found in a girl’s
backpack. Quite a few students don’t even carry
notebooks and binders anymore. Because the
school is almost completely electronic, students
save money on supplies and prevent themselves
from back pains all year round. No one is
complaining about the lighter load.
of the level. This sounds a little confusing,
but it is relatively similar
to the classic Bejeweled.
“I love Candy
Crush because it’s a
way in which I could
disconnect. When I use this game I
am able to just relax and forget all the
work I have to grade for a little while,”
theology teacher Carolina Ramirez said.
Who doesn’t have Netflix? If you
don’t, then that would be a clever way to
invest. It is an app with more movies and
shows than possible to see in a lifetime.
It is highly recommended to anyone who
wants to catch up on a current TV show
or just sit down on the couch and watch a
good movie. Anyone who enjoys watching
TV should definitely look into this app.
If you are looking to diverge
from usual tedious methods than
these applications are a place to start.
So, go ahead and get downloading.
12 activities |
“
the grotto | October
THE FRESHMAN
EXPERIENCE
is like being a small fish in a big pond. It was a bit
traumatizing navigating these new waters and trying to
get to all of my classes on time during my first few days.
When the Big Sister/Little Sister Getty finally arrived, I
was ecstatic.
Walking toward the grotto with my fellow freshmen,
we saw the seniors holding up signs with their little sisters’ names and calling out to them. I felt as if I was in
an airport where taxi drivers hold up the names of arriving passengers. I soon spotted my name, and after hours
of wondering what my big sister would be like, I was
excited to see that she was outgoing and friendly. She
greeted me warmly with a big smile, a hug, and a green
basket filled to the brim with goodies. There were oversized glasses, a bow tie, a tiara, green leis, and to complete the look, a decorated adult diaper. We found a place
to sit, in the halls near the grotto with other big and little
sisters so we could be dressed up in “freshie” attire and
eat our snacks. I was not embarrassed once I saw taht I
was not the only one dressed from head to toe with green,
goofy accessories.
Then, our big sisters decided it was time to have some
real fun. They rounded us up to dance and sing, making
complete fools of us. Kneeling on the floor, we hailed to
the seniors as we paid homage to the undisputed queens
of the school. The seniors circled around us screaming,
“Sizzle like bacon!” We freshmen watched in awe as they
gathered together to stomp to their famous chant, “OLLA,
OLLA, ay.” Before I left all the fun, I made sure to get a
picture with my big sister.
OLLA fest would be the next tradition I would discover. The senior skit-capturing SNL characters and our very
own from school-was creative and hilarious. My personal
favorite was the teachers showing off their old-fashioned
dance moves. I also enjoyed the dancers’ and cheerleaders’
performances.
Just when I started to wish I could do it all over again,
I realized I’m only a year away from experiencing all the
fun once more.
”
WELCOME
week
freshman gabriella mencio
senior alexandra cabrera
“
PURPLE HAS
NEVER
been my favorite color, but I don’t mind the royal status that comes along with becoming a senior. From the
first day of school the color purple has become a dominate factor in our lives. We are so committed to the color
purple that hints of our dedication were seen on some of
our hands from tie dying shirts.
As the Class of 2014, we made our first appearance
in the hallway that connects the new and old building
on Aug 20 in the “Seniors Only Zone.” Everyone understood that we, the seniors, were the royals, as we walked
the halls for the rest of the day wearing our golden senior
crowns. Although I loved being the queens, I have to say
it was weird to be experiencing all of these moments for
the last time.
The following day, I was finally able to become the
Big Sister I had waited three years to become. As I walked
around with my little sister, sporting all of her “Lourdes
Survival Gear,” it was great to see the freshmen’s reactions as they were introduced to life at Lourdes.
That Friday, Aug 23, the theme of showing off our royal colors continued as the Lourdes senior class showed up
in large numbers to Columbus Beach Bash. The party was
a great way to start off senior year. I think we went out in
style as we owned Beach Bash for our final time.
From decorating our little sisters beanies to senior skit,
welcome week was full of final takes. As the theme of the
year describes, this year is our final take as a senior class
to wear our school pride and the color purple with honor.
As we pulled into school that Friday at 6:30 a.m., we
all bonded over the sleepless night that was spent preparing for the OLLA Fest senior skit.
Senior skit proved to be a success, although the whole
grade didn’t get a speaking part in the skit, everyone became involved as we sang “OLLA OLLA ay.” As we continue on our final take, the memory of our royal grade, its
dedication, and the color purple can still be seen in the
halls from the purple feathers left behind. This was a great
curtain call for our final year.
”
SENIOR ALEX CABRERA AND
FRESHMAN GABRIELLA
MENCIO
SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES ON THEIR
FIRST AND LAST WELCOME WEEK
Fitness Craze: Vixen Workout
DIANA MARTINEZ
Janet Jones had a dream of using her love of dance to
empower women making every woman feel fierce, fit, and
beautiful. This dream became a reality when she started a
new dance movement called “Vixen Workout”.
It started out as a dance class for just a few girls a week
in less than one year it has turned into an army of confident
women.
Vixen Workout is a 60-minute dance class where women are pushed to their fitness limits while dancing to the
latest hip hop and club music. It gives women the confidence to express themselves and overcome insecurities
while simultaneously they are losing from 600 to 1,000
calories per class.
“I love Vixen because it gets my adrenaline pumping
and I already feel like a better dancer after just a couple of
classes,” senior Nicole Huhn said.
The workout consists of 60 minutes of straight choreography modeled after popular hip hop music videos. Although it might feel like you’re just learning a fun dance
routine, Jones has actually incorporated powerful body
strengthening cardio moves.
MOVE TO THE BEAT: A class
of women follow Jones’ high
cardio workout and hip hop
dance moves. ”It’s shown me
a new and girly way to workout
and gain confidence, ” senior
Ariana Abascal said.
Jones has background as a dancer touring with numerous artists, such as Jennifer Lopez and Pitbull throughout
her early 20s. When she reached the age of 26, she felt like
it was time to take on a stable career at a corporate job.
She then became pregnant and had the added responsibility to support her daughter.
“I’m an artist and I tend to be a dreamer so I hit rock
bottom when I was following what society was telling me
to do,” Jones said. “After years of performing and touring
in front of audiences, the ‘larger than yourself’ lifestyle
became my normal so at the corporate job, I felt completely invisible.”
After four years of working in finance, she was laid
off and went back to her dance roots. Jones made an impulsive move and opened up a dance studio named Street
Jamz, but this was just the beginning of a long thriving
career. Jones then reached her early 30s and felt an urge to
do something more with her dancing abilities. When she
went to the gym, it just felt like an extra chore in her day
and it didn’t feeling as enriching to her as dance did.
“None of my friends had ever lived the life that I had.
They worked at regular corporate jobs and had children
so they never truly experienced the other side of life, the
artistic side,” Jones said.
This inspired Jones to use what she learned as a dancer
and as a performer in order to help other women escape
from their daily lives and to dance like Beyonce while getting an amazing workout. “I thought as a choreographer
and as dancer, I can turn the regular two minute dance
routine into a 60 minute dance class that is made for the
general public, not just dancers,” Jones said.
Jones opened a class for women to dance to the latest
hip hop music which led to Vixen Workout. At first, Jones
had to beg her best friend and cousin to take her class and
on some days no one would show up.
“I wanted to quit a bunch of times, but my boyfriend
really pushed me and told me to keep trying because he
really did believe I had a great idea,” she said.
After two months, new people finally started coming to
the class. At this point, Jones decided that she was going
to completely commit herself and set a six month period
for her self to grow and develop Vixen.
CATHERINE BUCKLER
issue 1 | the grotto | activities
13
Jonesing for Sucess: Janet Jones, the creator of the
Video Vixen Workout, has always had a passion for
dance. “After years of performing and touring in front
of audiences, the ‘larger than yourself’ lifestyle became my normal so at the corporate job, I felt completely invisible,” said Jones.
Presently, every week Vixen Workout, in just Miami
County, brings in about 1,500 women of all different ages.
“You have such a good time that you want to share it
with your friends and that’s how Vixen has just kept growing and growing,” Jones said.
Not only is Vixen taking over multiple dance studios
in the Miami area, but it has also expanded to classes in
Tampa and two sold out classes in New York.
“I’ve surpassed the goals that I had a year ago for Vixen
and now I plan to keep expanding nationwide and then
maybe globally, to touch as many women as possible and
give them confidence,” Jones said.
SENIOR COLUMN
The Future: To Be Determined
Wow! That was one short summer vacation. Remember
those slow summer days outside playing with your friends
until it was dark without a care in the world? No?
Why is summer short? Because there is only so much
time to visit potential college campuses.
Campus guides are nothing less than unmeasurably
euphoric about everything involving their school. There
is no tragic event that could ever not bring out the best
in their school’s spirit. “When the science labs exploded
into a huge fireball, the Alpha Sig’s came out and roasted
hotdogs.” Or how, despite the fact that several of your
freshman year classes will be 400 student lecture halls
taught by TA’s, your professors are always available to
help you (2:30 to 3 on Tuesdays; schedule may vary).
I did observe several similarities among all the tours.
First, all college campuses are beautiful without the 20,000
students, parking is abundant and there is always room on
the “quad” for students to be playing Frisbee.
However, when I saw my sister’s dorm during her
college years, they were dens of iniquity, contrary to
the tour guides’ stories about students staying up late
discussing Proust and drinking coffee. Also, your tour
guide will appear stunned and hurt if you ask about any
crime on campus-as if! Then they will point out “Blue
Light” boxes every 20 FT, only provided if you decide you
randomly wish to speak with campus police late one night.
Hi guys, ya busy?
Another sign that you are a rising senior is the
avalanche of mailings you begin to receive towards the
end of your junior year. The only two things that are
keeping the US post office running are: ads for upholstery
cleaning and college mailings.From your first inquiry on
any standardized test, your personal information spreads
like influenza and suddenly East Dakota Ranching
College is interested in you. Hi, Catherine. Are you the
type of student who likes roping calves? Then EDC is the
school for you! There will also be a smiling picture of an
ethnically, gender, and racially diversified student group.
It is apparent that every school has a photogenic Asian,
Black, Hispanic, and White group of friends.
Well, summer’s over now and it’s time to decide on
which schools to apply. My last bit of advice for gaining
that special edge is you will always be able claim clerical
error later when they question if you are really Alaskan
Inuit. Alianaigosuktok angunasukpok!
14 sports |
the grotto | october 2013
CHAMPIONS
Gold Medals and Heavy Textbooks: A Typical Day in the Life of a 2013
Valerie Loraido’s Path to Olympic Glory Cheerleading World Champion
KATERIN RODRIGUEZ
Imagine balancing all of your
school work and an olympic training schedule. Balancing a school
team sport and school work is difficult on its own. It is hard completing all your work after you have
just come back from grueling practice times.
This is the daily struggle times
two for sophomore Valerie Loraido. She is
not only a
member of
the Lourdes
varsity
cheerleading
team,
but she is
also a competitor on
the national
level
for
Taekwondo
and is part
of the Nicaraguan
Olympic
team.
“My dad
was a grand
master
in
the
sport
and I started
when I was
three, so it
was something that I
was born into,” said Loraido when
asked about her beginnings in Taekwondo.
It has taken years of unwaivering dedication and intense training
for her to get to where she is now.
She is on the road to the Olympics
and all she needs to do is qualify in
a match preceding the actual games.
As far a training goes, Loraido is on
a strict schedule to fit in practice
NATANIA QUIROS
time for both her sports.
“I have my schedule planned
according to my trainings. Like if
I’m going to go to cheer leading
after school then after that for the
rest of the day I will train for Taekwondo and study after,” Loraido
said.
Loraido goes above and beyond
when it comes to her responsibilities. Often
times she
will miss
lunch and
go to the
library
to
finish school
work. In
addition
to her grueling
3
to 4 hour
practice
schedules,
Loraido
often travels to compete. This
m a k e s
keeping
up
with
school
work especially difficult.
Training
at such a high level can be tough,
so it is a huge accomplishment that
Loraido can balance Taekwondo,
school, and also cheerleading.
Competing in the Olympics is
the dream of many young athletes
around the world. It is amazing
to think that one of our very own
bobcats is only a qualifying match
away. Loradio really is a champion.
A new school year always
brings new talented students.
These include singers, dancers,
artists, athletes, and occasionally,
world champs, like the school’s
own freshman Tatiana Rosello.
She has climbed her way to the
top–literally by being crowned
a 2013 Cheerleading World
Champion.
Rosello, along with her cheer
all-star Top Gun senior large
coed team, placed first at the
Cheerleading Worlds Competition
in Orlando on April 26. The team’s
division consists of a standard
18 females and 18 males
generally seventeen
or eighteen years
old. Rosello is the
youngest member
at 14 years old.
“I’ve been at
Top Gun since
I was eight and
cheering since I
was about five,”
Rosello recalled.
In just about
nine years, she
has excelled in
cheerleading, even being
pinned by other athletes as
a “cheerlebrity.” With over 20,000
followers on Instagram and
companies selling signed bows
by her, Rosello is living in cheer
stardom.
“I’m just so grateful and also
for all the people that come up
to me at Worlds because of my
name,” she said.
The World Champion did not
earn her title overnight; the team
did not get their coveted bid to
the final competition until their
outstanding performance at
Cheersport, a preliminary
competition. A member even
dislocated his shoulder during the
performance, yet the team managed
to impress the judges and score high
enough to win.
In total, there were seven
competitions including
Worlds.
The team
worked
together
almost every day
for several months to
become champs. The
season went on for about
11 months starting with
tryouts in late May up
to the competitions
during April. Practices
were held Tuesdays
and Thursdays at the
gym from 7 p.m. until
10 o’ clock or even 11
o’ clock at night and
Fridays to Sundays
however often the
coaches wanted to see
them.
In
addition
to
the group practices,
each team member
had
private
oneon-one lessons to
work on improving
weaknesses. As a
flyer, Rosello had to
have these privates for
stunting and tumbling.
After celebrating
their Worlds victory,
the gym had tryouts for
the 2013-2014 season.
Rosello once again
made the team and
now looks forward to
a great season with
her new teammates
and hopefully, a
second title as World
Champion.
17
15
Mrs. Barreneche’s Tips To
Stay In Tip Top Shape
issue 1 | the grotto | sports
UP TO
Speed
Wednesday, October 2nd
- Swim @ Gulliver
Thursday, October 3rd
- JV & Varsity Volleyball vs.
Braddock @ Columbus
Friday, October 4th
- Cross-country meet @ Larry &
Penny Thompson Park
Wednesday, October 9th
- Golf vs. South Miami/Coral
Gables @ Granada
Thursday, October 10th
- JV & Varsity Volleyball @
Southwest
Saturday, October 12th
- Cross-country Pre-State Meet
in Tallahassee
Tuesday, October 8th
-JV & Varsity Volleyball @ Ferguson
1. 45-60 minutes of moderate activity
everyday.
2. Be careful with beverages such as
coffee, soda, and juices that are often
high in carlories or sugar.
3. Limit your intake of fat, carbs, and
fried foods.
4. Have basic exercise activities such
as jogging, weight lifing, and crunches
in your daily schedule.
5. Try to keep a low sodium diet.
Featured Sport of the Month: Swimming
SOPHIA OLIVA
Swimmers take your mark. GO! A
new school year means a new season for
fall sports. The varsity swim team is one
of the many fall sports the school has to
offer. This year, the swim team
begun its training the week
before school started with 6
a.m. practices at Tamiami Pool.
Up until about three or four
years ago everyone at school
seemed to ask “We have a swim
team?” Now with over 20 girls
on the team, swimming is no
longer in the dark. This year,
senior Janet Araque is the team
captain.
“I’m super excited for this
season,” says Araque. “We
haven’t had this many girls on
the team in a long time.”
It’s a bittersweet season for
the eight seniors on the team to
say the least.
“I’ve had so much fun being
on the team for three years.
I’ve made so many new friends and had
great experiences,” said senior Amanda
Gonzalez.
“I ‘ve been swimming with the team
since freshman year and I don’t want to
leave,” said Araque.
At the other end of the spectrum is
Isabella Alvarez, the team’s only freshman.
“I’ve always had a passion for
swimming. I love being on a high school
team and competing on a new level,” says
Alvarez. “I was so scared once I found out
I would be the only freshman on the team”
says Alvarez. “But once
I met all the other girls I
quickly befriended them.
I really love the bond us
swimmers have with each
other. Everyone on the
team is so friendly and
helpful.”
The swim team started
its season with an away
meet against Doral and
Coral Shores. The team
brought home a victory for
the Bobcats, having come
in second at the meet. The
team has continued to
compete in meets against
other schools and will
continue to do so through
out October. The final
districts meet is scheduled for November.
The finalists will then move on to compete
in regionals.
“Our team has really progressed and
I’m glad to have it end this way,” Araque
said. Overall, the team has really grown
and improved significantly over the past
three years.
“I’ve had so
much fun being on the
team for three
years. I’ve
made so many
new friends and
have had great
experiences.”
DIVING INTO NEW WATERS: Knee deep in a new season, the swim team doesn’t waste a
second. Above, junior Nicole Barrera is diving into the pool at practice in preparation for
the team’s first meet.
“My favorite part of any event is diving in. I get such a rush standing on that block waiting for the buzzer to dive in and begin my race,” Barrera said.
final thoughts
photo essay
Students Celebrate the Start of the New Year
OLLA
Fest
Students showed school spirit at
the annual OLLA Fest on Friday,
Sept. 13, 2013. The day started off with the senior skit followed by a surprise performance
by the teachers. Then, all of the
fall sports and athletes were
recognized during the pep rally.
The dancers, singers, and cheerleaders showed their talenta in
their performances. The scene
was then moved to the grotto, where the students enjoyed
dancing, snacks, and more.