Volume 62 Issue 1 - Fort Myers High School

Cross country team
running uphill!
by Sara Gelb
Top Ten Reasons It’s Great to be
a Greenie
10. Most people know how to mix blue
and yellow.
9. It’s much better than blue and orange.
8. Others are green with envy.
7. Because Thursday’s are Pizza with the
Principal.
6. Because we have friends in high
places.
5. Being part of the Lee County tradition
4. Excellence is expected.
3. “Ma Office!”.
2. A+ school says it all.
1. The entire Greenwave Nation can’t be
wrong.
Friday, May 24, 2007 Volume 62, Issue 1
For most, the year is about to begin. For
With a packed season
the Green Wave Cross Country Team, it already
has. Since June, the girls and guys have
been conditioning six days per week, in rain
ahead, including an opening
meet at the University
of Florida, the Green
Welcome back!
or shine, putting more miles under their shoes
each day. At the end of the summer came the
ultimate opportunity for the team to prove
that they have what it takes—that all of their
hard work has paid off—to train at altitude.
For six busy days, the team would head off
to Red Lodge, Montana to conquer mountains,
rocks, thin air, and yes—even rattle
snakes. From the moment the vans
were unloaded, the group got straight
to work. The first evening’s road
run was a challenge for all, but each
running shoe pounded in
unison with the o t h e r s
until everyone
crossed the
finish line. It
was all uphill
from there ( l i t e r a l l y ) ,
Wave Cross Country
Team boasts ten proud seniors
who are ready for action
this year. Brenna Williams,
Brooklyne Berry, Jennifer
West, Sara Gelb, Jacob
Brooks, David Smiley,
Alex Hyyti, David
Roberts, Andy King,
and Blake Sobszak are proud to
be an integral part of the team after
years of hard work. The team as a
whole looks forward to a year of
even more dedication, teamwork,
personal records, and lots and lots
of sweat. Much appreciation goes
out to Coach Kelly Britton for her
hard work, dedication, enthusiasm
and company on runs after just
Naomi Davies and Morgan Kirk, both FMHS grads, come to home to teach English.
Welcome home alumni!
As you walk the hallways of FMHS, you may room dancing, and the Miami Hurricanes!
see some unfamiliar faces standing outside the The second Fort Myers grad is Ms. Nao-
classroom doors. This is because Mr. LaRosa mi Davies. Ms. Davies graduated from
hired thirteen new teachers this summer. Two Fort Myers High in 2003 and attended the
of these teachers are graduates of Fort Myers University of Florida. At UF, she majored
Parent Open House
Monday, September 17
7:00 to 9:00 PM
College Night 2007!
Come to College Night and speak to
reps from over 100 postsecondary
institutions. Whatever your interests
they can help answer your questions.
Join us September 5, 2007
7:00 - 9:00 PM at
Harborside Event Center.
Admission is FREE
Welcome back students of FMHS to the 2007-
2008 school year. I am looking forward to a great
year, both academically and athletically.
Not only do we have one of the best schools in Lee
County, but one of the best in the nation. Welcome
back to the Greenwave Nation! Remember, winning
attitudes give us champion results.
Mr. David LaRosa, Principal
Get ready Greenies!
by Laura Bisbee
In order to provide a more secure envi- Sophomores began on
ronment for FMHS, the administration is Thursday, August 16th,
now using a new identity card system. The and the Freshman on
new color I.D. cards were issued to most Friday, August 17th. A
students before the school year started. make-up session was held,
This year, students were introduced to a also on Friday, for the students
Charlotte Davies and Laurie Simontacchi inspect
their new ID’s.
Tasha Boileau waits to pick up her books
during Get Ready Greenies.
whenever a student arrives to school late.
Students will present their school I.D.’s when
they sign in at the attendance office. The system
will automatically print a personalized
pass to class. Eventually the new cards
will be used for checking out textbooks
and the team continued to work
hard throughout their trip, each making
great improvements in his or her running
both physically and mentally.
recently giving birth to her second
child, and also to Pat Biel for always
believing in us and making us laugh.
Brooklyne Berry knows that
cross country takes determination
and hard work.
High School and are now back as teachers.
Ms. Morgan Kirk graduated from FMHS
in 2002 and attended the University of Miami.
Ms. Kirk holds the record for the most
points earned on the IB Diploma and graduated
#1 in her class from Miami. She will
be teaching English II Honors and Pre-IB
in English with a minor in Secondary Education.
Ms. Davies will be teaching Pre IB
English, Honors English, and English I.
Some of Ms. Davies hobbies include playing
and teaching tennis, reading, and cooking.
Welcome to all of our new teachers. We
are excited to get to know all of you in
Grads Earn IB Diploma
The most prestigious award given to
high students in the world, the International
Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma,
was awarded to 152 graduates from
the Fort Myers High School class of
new method of getting ready for the school
year. Get Ready Greenies provided students
with a chance to pick up their Student ID,
which is mandatory for this school year, their
locker, parking decal, and any textbooks they
needed with the exception of the freshman
who only received their books at the desig-
who could not make it on their
designated time and day.
A senior, Rachel Grattan
stated “It was really
and library books as well as for signing
in and out of school. Not only will
the cards improve safety on campus
but they will also orient
students to a system used in
almost every business and on
all major college campuses.
VB spikes to win
by Laurie Gegen
After last year’s heartbreaking loss to Tam- “NO-GOs.” A NO-GO occurs when no one
pa Plant High School in the state finals, this tries to pass the ball. When a NO-GO occurs,
years volleyball team is setting their goals a tally is marked on the whiteboard and at the
high. The Wave lost six players to graduation end of practice, the number of tallies is the
but that doesn’t worry them. “We have several number of suicides the team must run. Al-
strong returning players and also strong underthough the team doesn’t enjoy it, they know
English. Ms. Kirk enjoys running, ball- the upcoming issues of the Tidal Wave.
Jamboree Tonight! Bring a Friend!
2007. Students were assessed by
examiners in more than 90 countries
around the world. For students
continuing their education in the
Florida university system, the IB Diploma
guarantees them full tuition,
$600, and course credit. Many of
the students are starting college
with 30 semester hours of credit
thereby giving them sophomore
registration status.
nated time. Students began with checking
in at the auditorium and then continuing to
each station to collect what they needed.
Each class had 2 1/2-3 hours and they were
told that they could arrive at any time. The
Seniors’ and Juniors’ chosen time was on
Wednesday, August 15th , with the Seniors in
the morning and the Juniors in the afternoon.
hot standing
in every line and I wanted
to get out of there
as fast as possible.”
The cards have a barcode
and will be used
According to Mr. LaRosa,
“When students arrive at college the
first thing they will need to do is get
a Student I.D. Most of our students
that work already have an I.D., so
the idea of carrying one is not new.”
In the future the cards will be used in the
cafeteria and possibly at sporting events.
classmen that will help us,” says Senior Captain
Brittany Potanovic. The team this year is
split with seven seniors and seven underclassmen,
four of which are freshman. “Don’t let
their age fool you, they can hold their own,”
assures Senior Captain Rachel Antonucci.
With a young team Coach Stephanie Martin
realizes it’s all about intense practice and
keeping focused. This year unlike past years,
she gives the team an inspirational quote everyday.
She writes it on a whiteboard easel
which she keeps in the gym throughout the
duration of practice. But the quote isn’t the
only thing she writes on the whiteboard. To
make the team more aggressive, she invented
they will be in better shape for long matches.
Of course the girls aren’t hoping for any
long matches, but with this year’s rigorous
schedule, there is always a possibility. The
team starts off the season with a game against
rival Bishop Verot, the second day of school.
It’s part of a two game preseason classic taking
place in Venice. The second game of the
classic will be against Venice High School, a
5A school which the girls could possibly see
in state play. The preseason games don’t count
for the overall record but it will serve as two
great warm-up games for the actual season
which commences in the Wave Cave on Au- Seniors Mico Manarite and Kai Oliveira prepare for tonight’s Jamorbee
gust 28th against Cypress Lake High School.
The FMHS Football Team has big goals for the 2007 season. The team has been working
hard this summer in hopes for a successful season. Kai Oliveira, running back and
Mico Manarite, defensive end, both seniors for the Greenwave are excited to put in the
new offense this season. The team is ready for tonight’s Jamboree game against Ida Baker.
They will be playing at North Fort Myers High at 6 p.m. Coach Sammy says, “The
Most of the students involved in this
most recent IB testing have been in
the Fort Myers IB since their freshman
year. Curriculum demands are
strong, and assessments range from
oral examinations and portfolios of
best work to essays and multiple
choice tests. In its eighth year of
testing at Fort Myers High, the IB
continues to grow at the high school
and around the world. Florida hosts
55 IB programs to date, and ranks
number one for receiving IB diplomas
in the U.S. Florida IB schools
prove that education in Florida is
strong and world-class, boasting
several of the top IB programs of the
1500 in the world.
SGA leads the
way to 07-08
school year
meet their classmates and enjoy the music of
DJ Ron Riis. Food and drinks will be served!
Other events will be sponsored by Student
Government throughout the year including
Pasta for Pennies, the Sweetheart
Auction, and Mister Greenwave. Everyone
should be looking forward to the homecom-
jamboree is a chance for us to get a trial run before our first regular scheduled game on
ing events coming soon as well as many
the 31st. We are able to evaluate our progress and treat the jamboree as a dress rehearsal
for the season.” Everyone come out tonight and support the Greenwave at the Jamboree!
by Amanda Griffin, SGA President
more activities that will be announced
throughout the school year on the morning
announcements and Wave TV! SGA welcomes
you to the 2007-2008 school year!
Coach Stephanie Martin meets with her captains, Rachel
Antonucci, Laurie Gegen and Brittany Potanovic
Coach Schwochow
works with the backs.
Coach Sammy
Tidal Wave Newspaper
Published by
FMHS Journalism Classes.
For more information about
advertising in the
Tidal Wave Newspaper,
please contact
Mrs. Carmen Weigel,
Newspaper Advisor
at 239-334-2167, ext. 159.
Principal, David LaRosa
Athletic/Activities Director,
Joni Logan
Student Government is just starting their
busiest time of the year. The club is responsible
for many student activities throughout
the year, including the homecoming festivities.
These events include The Premiere,
Powder Puff Football and Volleyball, Greenie
Growl, Taste of the Greenies, and the homecoming
dance. The Premiere night is when
everyone gathers on the football field for a
movie on the big screen. Powder Puff football
is a game between the junior and senior
girls, while Powder Puff Volleyball has the
junior and senior boys battling out against
each other on the court. Greenie Growl is a
tradition at Fort Myers High School in which
every class comes up with a humorous skit to
present the Wednesday night of homecoming
week. There are guest judges who determine
which class has the best skit to represent the
school. Taste of the Greenies is held on the
football field during the school day. There
will be competitions between classes, games,
and food. Friday night of homecoming week
is the homecoming football game against
Charlotte High School. The homecoming
court will be presented that night at half time.
The homecoming dance will be held on
September 29th at Germain Arena. Student
Government has been working with Balloons
Over Fort Myers all summer to plan the decorations
in order to make a memorable evening.
The members of the club voted on the
theme of homecoming to be “A Night on
the Nile.” The spirit days for homecoming
week are still to be determined, but
there will definitely be an Egyptian day!
SGA is excited to welcome the incoming
freshmen. Once school is underway, the freshmen
will be voting for officers and representatives
as well as planning for their freshmen
social. At the freshmen social the new ninth
graders at Fort Myers will have a chance to
See Page 3

Band Director wins national award
Mark Dahlberg received the Distinguished
Music Educator award from Yale University
on Wednesday, May 30th, 2007. He received
this honor through the recommendation
from Yale Alum Steve Colgate. Mr. Colgate
is a graduate of the Yale Class of 1957 and a
Lee County residence. This recommendation
then went before a review committee
and recipients were notified this past April.
Mr. Dahlberg had the opportunity to be recognized
at the international symposium. The event
celebrated the Yale - College Class of 1957 and
their reunion gift of a $5 million endowment supporting
music education in the public schools.
The symposium was titled MUSIC: A
Child’s Birthright. Academic concerns appear
paramount throughout our society with
increased emphasis on tests, accountability,
home schooling and so on. Yet in most situations
it is precisely an individuals or group’s
inability to positively interact that causes the
gravest problems. The session presented
the point of view that all education and especially
music education ought to re-emphasize
social as well as academic behavior.
Guest speakers from around the world addressed
concerns in social and academic behavior
in their own countries and how music
has influenced their culture. Professor
Wang Cizhao, China’s President of Central
Conservatory of Music and Professor of Musicology
and Music Aesthetic, educated the
listener in regards to their own culture. The
Chinese student will receive nine years of
music education prior to graduation. The
musician graduates’ understanding how to
work as a team player in society and has the
ability to express themselves emotionally.
Not only did Mr. Dahlberg cherish the symposium
and the honor received, he also enjoyed
the town of New Haven. He did have
the opportunity to walk the city streets admiring
the quaint town, the beautiful brick college
buildings and the lively campus atmosphere.
Mr. Dahlberg thanks you, the family of the
Greenwave, for the many years of success and
joy that he has received as your Music Educator.
He desires all Greenies to be involved on
campus and says, “Get involved socially; learn
to develop yourself as a person in society”.
Mr. Mark Dahlberg, Band Director
FMHS Band works hard this summer
by Desiree Fernandez
While you were enjoying your last week
of summer vacation, the 2007-2008 Greenwave
Marching Band was already at school,
rehearsing and practicing in the heat in preparation
for their first football game and new
season. Upcoming freshmen were even at
school with the band’s leadership a week earlier,
getting to know each other, learning the
marching commands and having a great time.
Shannon Moore said that band camp was “a
lot of fun, I like the games and everything”.
Band camp officially began on Monday,
August 13th, at 8 in the morning until 5 p.m.
Reshmie Punwasi, a ninth grade flutist, expressed
that she found band
camp “fun in a way, a
little tiring, but you
learn a lot”. During
the week, the focus
is not only in the
physical work, but
also about marching
with pride.
Camp runs from
Monday through
“Green Wave Nation” soars right from the first week of school!
How to survive the extended essay
by Laura Bisbee
It’s been called the bane of rising I.B senior
existence. Some when they hear of it cower
in fear, some go into self-denial, and some are
just plain annoyed. Actually, 5 out of 5 IB students
agree that it is the most daunting thing
they have faced in their high school career.
Of course, we are referring to none other than
the 3500-4000 words of sheer terror, the Extended
Essay (popularly known as the E.E).
Every year, students crazy enough to slave
away through the IB program are required the
summer before their senior year to compose a
3500-4000 word essay on a topic of their interest
according to IB guidelines. According
to the International Baccalaureate website,
the extended essay is “an independent, selfdirected
piece of research” that “develops the
capacity to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate
knowledge.” (*1). Yet what is the experi-
ence of writing the Extended Essay truly like?
Most students remember first being told
about the extended essay their freshmen year at
Fort Myers High as an administrator at orientation
first spoke of it as a requirement to pass the
I.B program. Hearing that we did not have to
tackle it until the end of junior year, my fellow
freshmen and I jumped for sheer joy. Yet freshmen
become sophomores, and sophomores become
juniors. After three years of blissful and
ignorant existence, all of a sudden there it was,
being shoved at our faces on all sides. Everywhere
you went and anywhere you would go,
the very idea of the extended essay would stalk
you. Think of the mantra “you can run, but you
can’t hide.” It was being talked about everywhere,
in the rooms and in the corridors, on the
news and at the dinner table. It was everywhere,
ominously looming or annoyingly present.
Thursday. On the final day, the marching band
has their first two performances. They will play
for freshmen orientation in the afternoon, and
in the evening they will perform for friends and
family. The performance is followed by dinner,
catered by Nino’s Italian Restaurant, and time
to relax and unwind from the intense week.
Although band camp is very demanding,
it is also a rewarding experience, and a great
place to make friends. “It’s been exciting and
really fun. There is a lot of team work between
different grades and I don’t feel out of
place, everyone is friends with each other” said
Jacob Jansen, who will be a freshman this year.
In fact, the marching band set
up social gatherings, such as a
beach day, during the summer
to hang out with friends, enjoy
time getting to know freshmen,
and catch up on each
other’s summer vacations.
The marching band is
especially excited for
the end of the year trip
to New Orleans in
March. During this
trip, the band will
be marching in
the St. Patrick’s
Drum Majors Nilushi
Karunamuni and
Alex Zambito
Was the extended essay as horrifying as every
makes it out to be? To tell the truth, it was
not. I did not eat, sleep and breathe my essay,
but we still spent plenty of quality time with
one another. Yet for all those Junior I.B students
out there, here is some advice and consolation.
“Definitely pick a solid topic” says
senior Rosanne Arevedo, ”and do extensive
research in something you are really interested
in.” Another senior Anton Dapcic advises students
to, “get a topic as early as you can, and
starting at the beginning of the summer, read
as many books as you can about the subject.”
Overall, do not level at one of two extremes,
procrastinating until the end of summer to
write one word or obsessively spending every
hour of the day at the library researching. Do
everything in moderation, and trust me, you
will conquer the much-feared extended essay.
Day Street Parade as well as touring the historic
city. The band hopes to be able to donate
their uniforms from last year to a marching
band from New Orleans that was affected by
Hurricane Katrina.
DJ Danley, an IB senior leadership band
member commented “the show is going
to rock, the crowd will love it”. The band
expects about 115 members this year. The
drum majors this year are Alex Zambito
(12) and Nilushi Karunamuni (12). Both are
very pleased with the dedication of the band
If you are interested in
signing up for
Marching Band, please
see Mr. Dahlberg.
and believe “this is one of the best years
we have had, everyone is learning fast and
getting along, it is a very cohesive group”. It
is a great way to get involved and pump up
our school. Mr. Dahlberg is “very excited
with student leadership” and “looks forward
to this coming year supporting the cheerleaders
and football team”. If you have not signed
up for marching band, and are interested,
please see Mr. Dahlberg in the band room!
Coach Sam will never be forgotten at FMHS
Have you noticed the construction going on
near the east end of the football stadium? The
Sam Sirianni Memorial Courtyard is well on
its way to being completed by the first home
football game of the season. The first home
football game is traditionally designated “Sam
Sirianni Day.” The official proclamation was
made by Fort Myers’s mayor, Jim Humphrey,
to honor the selfless dedication of FMHS’s be-
Thousands of Coach
Sam’s former students
and athletes, raised the
money to build the
memorial.
loved football coach who passed away in the
fall in 2002. Thousands of former students and
community leaders have donated many hours to
raising the money needed to build the memorial.
The memorial will consist of an arched portal
entry paved with memorial bricks and will
feature a life-size bronze statue of Coach Sam.
Coach Sam in the mid 1990’s
The memorial walkways will be paved
with brick pavers bearing the names of
all those who donated to make it possible.
The annual Sam Sirianni Golf Tournament
is another way the Greenwave community remembers
Coach Sam. The sixth annual tournament
will be held this year on Saturday,
November 17, 2007. The proceeds from the
tournament benefit the Sam Sirianni Athletic
Scholarship Fund for Lee County student athletes.
106 student athletes from all over Lee
County have received over $134,000 in scholarship
awards. Last year, FMHS seniors Alli
Babes and Ryan Weekley were honored as
scholarship recipients
Coach Sam became the FMHS head football
coach in 1969.
New Students get oriented Senior Ashleigh Dellinger was one of many SGA members that provided new student tours on
the afternoon of August 16. Hundreds of new students, mostly Ninth Graders, filled the halls of FMHS. Each new student received a Greenwave
Nation t-shirt. After the tour the students gathered in the gym and were entertained by the cheerleaders and the band.
Under his leadership, the Greenwave was
one of the most successful high school teams
in the State of Florida. Coach Sam won his
200th game in 1994 and was inducted into
the Florida Athletic Coaches Association Hall
of Fame in 1998. The Greenwave posted its
fourth undefeated season with Coach Sam in
2000.
Mr. LaRosa has helped organize the Sam
Sirianni Memorial. “Coach Sam dedicated his
whole life to the young people of FMHS. He
was one of the most remarkable citizens of our
community and we will always have him in
our hearts.”
Coach Sam dedicated
his whole life to the young people of FMHS.
He will always be in your hearts.
If you are interested on
receiving a Sam Sirianni
Student Athlete Scholarship,
Please see Mr. Sizemore for
information.
OPENING THIS FALL IN FORT MYERS