Senior Prom 2018
May 04, 2018.
The enchanting venetian masquerade night began with the double doored entrance, marble floors and high ceilings… the Colonnade hotel located in Merrick Park created a venue for a beautiful night filled with memorable photos, dances and laughter. The Senior promenade dance, also known as “prom”, an American tradition that has dated back to the 19th century rooting in colleges and later evolving to high school senior or at times junior prom.
Many attendees were asked with what is known as a “prom-posal”, the play on words is the joining of prom and proposal which is exactly that. Banners, balloons, food, and many, many puns are included.
The senior class which you would typically find in a relaxed sweater and their navy blue “senior” sweat pants were dressed as the kings and queens of the night, girls became women and boys became men. Grandiose gowns floated around the dance floor and fitted tuxes laughed and swayed around the room.
Dinner was served as a buffet style, as well as a dessert tables that ranged from delicious cakes to cookies, ice-cream, etc… Soft music played in the background as conversation was made and students waited for the announcement of the 2018 Prom King and Queen…which were the beloved Matthew Roca and Nina Perdomo that ran together as friends. Following the celebration, everyone slowly joined on the dance floor and came together as a class, opening a circle in the middle for people to show off their moves and enjoy themselves.
The school offered a photo booth and a single ticket to print out one of the pictures, though others could be sent to your phone number. The green screen as a backdrop allowed for the different backgrounds and scenery to create beautiful photos.
The night ended with giggles, never ending smiles, and memories that will last a lifetime.
The enchanting venetian masquerade night began with the double doored entrance, marble floors and high ceilings… the Colonnade hotel located in Merrick Park created a venue for a beautiful night filled with memorable photos, dances and laughter. The Senior promenade dance, also known as “prom”, an American tradition that has dated back to the 19th century rooting in colleges and later evolving to high school senior or at times junior prom.
Many attendees were asked with what is known as a “prom-posal”, the play on words is the joining of prom and proposal which is exactly that. Banners, balloons, food, and many, many puns are included.
The senior class which you would typically find in a relaxed sweater and their navy blue “senior” sweat pants were dressed as the kings and queens of the night, girls became women and boys became men. Grandiose gowns floated around the dance floor and fitted tuxes laughed and swayed around the room.
Dinner was served as a buffet style, as well as a dessert tables that ranged from delicious cakes to cookies, ice-cream, etc… Soft music played in the background as conversation was made and students waited for the announcement of the 2018 Prom King and Queen…which were the beloved Matthew Roca and Nina Perdomo that ran together as friends. Following the celebration, everyone slowly joined on the dance floor and came together as a class, opening a circle in the middle for people to show off their moves and enjoy themselves.
The school offered a photo booth and a single ticket to print out one of the pictures, though others could be sent to your phone number. The green screen as a backdrop allowed for the different backgrounds and scenery to create beautiful photos.
The night ended with giggles, never ending smiles, and memories that will last a lifetime.
World Cup
The last World Cup that International Studies Preparatory Academy experienced was two years ago in 2016. Luckily, this year the sporting event was brought back earlier in April, with four teams competing for glory: Teams U.S.A, France, Italy, and Spain. Almost the entire school was transported on buses from the school all the way to Tropical Park to witness the intensity on the soccer fields. While the players were focusing on winning the matches, the ISPA Spirit Squad were located on the sidelines to cheer the competitors and show some school spirit. The students came prepared, with many bringing water bottles, sunglasses, sunscreen, and various snacks (Cheetos, Takis, Cape Cod chips, Cheese-itz, Ritz crackers and more). Although the sun was shining bright that day, this did not take away the energy of all the athletes, who were using all of their strength and talents to pass the ball from teammate to teammate, trying to get the soccer ball into the net without the goalie intercepting it. The initial matches began with Team Spain against Team Italy, and right after Team U.S.A. against Team France were playing upon the grassy terrain. The final match was without a doubt in anyone’s mind, the most intense match of them all. Team Spain was matched up against Team U.S.A, and the crowds were going wild. Every time U.SA scored a goal, everyone on the sidelines became ecstatic (except of course for Team France and their supporters, for very obvious reasons). The entire field trip lasted a couple of hours, and by the time all the students were back in the school building, the majority if not all of them were hungry, sweaty, and tired, especially the players. Overall, it was a day filled with excitement and laughter, and hopefully World Cup 2019 is bigger and better than the last.
AP & EOC Testing
After their year-long work, both students and teachers are getting ready for the tests in May which they have long awaited for, the Advanced Placement and End of Course exams. There are various AP classes provided to students by ISPA, including AP math classes, AP social sciences, AP Capstone, AP English, AP foreign languages, AP science, etc. Many students have sacrificed their weekends and weekdays in order to study and cram as much information as possible, since many of these scores will count in their overall grade of the selected course. There are many tips that have worked for students to pass with the minimum score of 3 (out of 5 possible points). These include: purchasing an AP Review book to read thorough notes over the content, completing practice exams available both online and in textbooks, create study groups amongst their friends, become organized and give themselves time to study and much more. EOCs are often times required for graduation, however, AP courses are recommended to take because these may give you credit for future college classes. Even if one does not pass the AP exam, he or she is given the opportunity to experience hardship that they will go through in college, in which this hands-on experience could possibly help them excel in these same classes for their selected college. Students can expect to receive their AP test scores sometime in July, although release dates vary depending on states. It is of utmost importance that under these times of stress, one must not be sleep deprived the night before since this is not only very unhealthy but it will affect their performance on these exams. In fact, students should not be worried if they get a low score, these numbers do not reflect their worth.
ACT & SAT Preparation
Whether you are a freshman, a sophomore, or a junior, you will have to take the SAT and possibly the ACT exams as a requirement for your college applications. One tip that I would give to the lower-classmen prior to taking these tests is to first take the PSAT. It will give you a sense of what the SAT is really like, and you can gather your strengths and weaknesses in math, reading and writing based on your results. That being said, let us get into the nitty-gritty details. Starting off with the test that is more commonly taken, the SAT is based on a scale of 1600, contrary to the old 2400-point system. Half of the points are calculated from the reading and writing section, while the other eight hundred are based on the math questions. You will earn points for any correct answers, while those that are wrong will not affect the overall outcome at all, so guessing on questions that you do not understand or do not have time to figure out is always a good option. The reading section will give you different types of passages, sometimes from earlier time periods, and you will have to answer questions that ask you to refer directly to the text, or you will have to make inferences based on a specific portion of the entire story. The writing section is about grammar and sentence structure. You will have to know the difference between similar words such as their and they’re, decide whether or not a particular phrase fits with the main idea of a reading, and much more. As for the math, there are a total of two sections with questions that range from pre-algebra all the way up to algebra II. Furthermore, the shorter math section is supposed to be done without the use of a calculator, and the longer math section allows the use of a calculator that is appropriate to use (because certain calculators may not be permitted for the test in case of cheating or other serious matters). The SAT is usually recommended for people who are strong in the subject of math since they tend to get a higher score. Conversely, the ACT is better suited for anyone who is above average in English. There is also an essay that is included in both exam formats. The SAT’s grading criteria is based on reading, writing and analysis, and each dimension is scored on a scale of 2-8, so there are three overall scores for the essay. When it comes to the ACT essay, four domains are being scrutinized: Ideas and analysis, development and support, organization, and language use. The main idea to acing these essays is to ultimately carefully read the prompt and craft a well-thought out answer that is detailed and shows understanding of the subject being dealt with. Tutoring is available through online programs such as KHAN Academy, or real life tutoring through Kaplan, as well as other alternative solutions. At the end of the day, it is important to remember that these two exams will not determine the rest of your life, and what matters is that you tried your best, because no matter what score you get, you will end up going to college.
Junior Ring Ceremony
On Thursday, February 15th, eighteen students from ISPA’s class of 2019 reached a milestone in their high school lives, receiving their junior class rings. Before the ceremony began, students excitedly arrived to receive their rings, and parents, friends, and family members were excited to watch it happen. The cafeteria was decorated with a balloon arch with blue and white balloons and large silver balloons of the year 2019. The ceremony began with Mr.Bravo giving a beautiful performance of a song on his violin. Next, the class president, Ignacio Olmos, gave a speech on the meaning of the rings, followed by a speech by class vice president , Victoria Fernandez, on the history of the ring. After the two officers delivered their speeches, the officers of SGA, including Mathew Roca, Isabella Menoyo, Javier Diaz, and Giorgio Grassi, delivered their own speeches, each adding a special meaning to the rings and their history and future with the class of 2019. Finally, Dr.Blanco gave a final speech wishing the students a great rest of their high school years and a congratulations on their rings, and the ceremony had officially begun. SGA officer William Morgan called out the names of each student, one by one, and they each walked up to Dr.Blanco and received their ring and a white flower. Once each student received their rings, Dr.Blanco once again congratulated the students and then gave them the cue to officially put on their rings. Each student was ecstatic and pleased with their rings. Once the students put their rings on, the ceremony was over. The students later stayed with their friends and families to take pictures and commemorate the ceremony. The students can now wear their rings with pride and excitement for what’s to come in the near future in the most exciting part of their high school lives: senior year.
Black History Months
From February 1st to February 28th, the United States commemorates Black History Month, an annual celebration of achievements by black Americans and a time for recognizing the central role of African Americans in U.S. history. This 2018, Miami Dade County Public Schools holds its annual essay contest, and the topic is the role of African Americans in times of war. It is important to remind ourselves that social justice can only be achieved through awareness and celebration of not only the obstacles faced by minorities, but also their victories throughout the course of history. It is also important to be mindful of the roles of African Americans, or any other ethnicity, in times of war, for their input shapes the formation of the nation and embellishes, with their traditions, our society, which no matter the situation always finds a way to unify. The beauty of racial diversity is embedded the in the idiosyncrasies of the people that characterize the hereditary succession and the cultural patrimony of ethnicity as a notion that is inexorably pertinent to humanity. African Americans have played an unequivocally primordial role upon the course of history, for they mark the conviction of self-empowerment. In times of war, African Americans have not only fought for the respective belligerent country, but also for the protection of their own identity. From Powhatan Beaty’s story, a man born a slave that enlisted in the Union Army when the Civil War commenced, achieving a Medal of Honor for his heroic role in Richmond, to Jesse Brown, the first black pilot in the U.S. Navy who honorably died in combat, to General O. Davis Jr., a U.S. Air Force general and commander of the World War II Tuskegee Airmen and the first African-American general officer in the United States Air Force, to Nadja West, an African-American woman that graduated as a doctor and served as a captain in the 1990-91 Persian Gulf War, currently being the surgeon general of the army and the first black female three-star general and the highest-ranking female graduate of West Point, the active role of this minority group is outstanding and inspiring, proving by their place in the past, present, and the promising future. However, the achievements of the aforementioned individuals were not rid of obstacles and tribulations. The racist and unequal atmosphere that prevailed the past, troubles the present, and serves as omen for things to come, certainly was an adversary for the success and personal growth of these heroes in belligerent times. But it was their perseverance, tenacity, and grit that allowed for them to prove resilient and help the country become a stronger nation —one that upholds values of tolerance and equality. The value of the contributions of these individuals cannot be quantified by the magnitude of their work. It is the esteem and regard we give these characters for their legacy that are truly important for acknowledgement of their place during times of war. It is this notion that will persist throughout history and generations of people that aim to embellish and amplify the cultural, social, political, and military atmosphere of this country, celebrating the past in order to have a better future.
Women's History Month
Women’s History Month is a celebration of what women have accomplished up till now and what is yet to happen. In homes, in schools, in politics, in businesses, in society, women have come a long way from the weak, feeble-minded beings that were portrayed as from what literature, art, music, and history has shown and have flourished into the strong, independent, fearless, motivational females that are of the 21st century. Women’s History Month is a celebration of the contributions that women have made to history and society. As well as, the fight back against discrimination, stereotypes and misconceptions of the modern woman. This month is commemorated in March in correlation to International Women’s Day on March 8th, by the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia; which recognize when women had suffrage in Russia, March 8th, 1917. This festivity was later adopted by the United Nations in 1975, but again celebrated on March 8th. There is another version of a theory as to why International Women’s Day is memorialized in March, because of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire that killed 146 European immigrants, 129 women and 17 men in the 18-minute tragedy, on March 25th 1911. The conflagration was heart felt throughout the world and the women were recognized, which was something remarkable for the time period, the recognition of working women and the tragedy of their losses of life. In the 1980’s the National Women’s History Project (NWHP) was founded and established by the American Molly Murphy MacGregor, Mary Ruthsdotter, Maria Cuevas, Paula Hammett and Bette Morgan meant to exhibit the national accomplishments of women. And in 1987, the NWHP organization petitioned Congress to designate the specific month of March to the history of women. Later, state departments pushed for schools and jobs to celebrate this month in order to promote the equality within classrooms and the workplace Recently, 2016 presidential election where Hilary Clinton was one of the leading candidates running for president along side Donald Trump was a triumph for women all around the United States. It demonstrated to young females a woman of power and leadership, a role model to look up to and diminishing the limitations that have been set before them in the 21st century. Women’s History Month works to empower women, to motivate and influence girls of all ages, to reach out to those from all over the world and showcase the talents, achievements, and possibilities. This particular month has inspired movements such as the Women’s March for equal rights, rallies and riots. Women are taking back their minds and bodies of which they had succumbed to society and the standard set by it. To those from older generations, this might be a culture shock from their childhoods and many times their adulthoods, but as many fail to recognize and refuse to accept, as times are changing and younger generations are taking their power back, women are growing alongside.
Behind the Scenes
The screen that every student here at International Studies Preparatory Academy peers at in the morning for their news is run by none other than the students themselves! Have you ever wondered just how the production occurs? Here’s what happens behind the camera for the ISPA Morning News Crew daily. Firstly, teachers can freely submit an announcement request to Ms. Acevedo, who puts them clipped on the front of her door. They are usually found on a brightly colored sheet of paper; along with the dates it should be aired, along with a brief (and sometimes long) message. In the morning, a representative checks to see if any new sheets are posted there, and if so? They are taken to a side room in the school’s library, where all of the magic happens. A green screen, a camera, a single desk with chairs, and some tech in the back. It seems quite simple, but the possibilities are nearly endless. The background aired every morning could be any possible desired image. Mr. Skehan, the librarian, assists in gathering reports on the weather, and daily international news to be stated. Along with the crew, he troubleshoots the machinery out of view from the camera. Whenever something goes wrong, he is always there to be of help, playing the pledge of allegiance tape on all of the screens on campus. Finally, there are those who report the news. Every year there are auditions held, seeking students with admirable public speaking talent to take the microphone every morning at 7:20. This year is no exception; expect more information on that soon! The next time you see the broadcast, take the time to consider just what goes into it. "Thank you teachers and students, and have a wonderful day!”