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NEWS PAGE TWO THE LIGHTNING STRIKE SUMMER 2005 ADMINISTRATION Former AP returns as principal FORMER AP, from FRONT PAGE an assistant principal here (from the school’s opening in 1998 to mid-2003), and was recognized, in one of those years, as Assistant Principal of the Year for both the county and state. Also, Welker served as principal of Nautilus Middle School for the past two SCHOOL BOARD THE DAY THE LIGHTNING STRUCK PHOTO BY KATIA PHILLIPPEAUX Security guard Alex Belizaire rushes students to class with his megaphone and air horn while the school’s bell system and clocks remain broken Aug. 31. According to Assistant Principal Roger Miret, Lightning struck building two on Aug. 30, frying the annoucement system. Miami-Dade School Board shortens summers for FCAT By REBECCA STELLA Staff Writer This year, Miami-Dade County schools resumed classes a week earlier than the previous year. Students are disappointed with their shorter summers and an earlier return to school. The school year was altered because “it’s more in line with the rest of the state,” Assistant Principal Dawn Baglos said. “It also has something to do with testing.” The school board pulled back the school year in order to give schools more time to work on state mandated tests. years. “Someone o b v i o u s l y felt that he had the right qualifications WELKER to be successful,” said Melanie Megias, District Director, Administrative Staffing. Besides Welker and “We get an additional week to work on things such as FCAT [which is] needed to graduate,” Baglos said. The earlier-starting school year does have its advantages. “A pro is that we have more time to help students with FCAT,” Principal Matthew Welker said. “Also, this year was delegated by having the end of the semester before winter break.” But students feel the earlier starting school year and schedule is a hassle. “I think that it’s very inconvenient because it’s much hotter; we don’t have as much time to relax,” junior Jessica Núñez, numerous other county employees were affected by the reorganization. Three other senior high school principals were promoted to either region center superintendents or directors. “It improves morale when people know they have the ability to move up in the system,” School Board Member Martin Karp said. Levis said. “A con to the earlier return to school is that it is terribly hot this time of year,” Welker agreed. “I didn’t like the fact that our summer was cut short because students need more time to study for FCAT; we need our longer summers back,” junior Daniela Ferro said. Some students question if classes will resume even earlier next year. “It will either be a week earlier or the same,” Baglos said. The 2006- 2007 school year calendar has not yet been released to students. With a promotion, however, there is added responsibility. “I have 54 schools I’m responsible for,” said Núñez, whose region includes Northwest Miami, Doral, Sweetwater and part of Hialeah. For Welker, his new assignment will be different from that at Nautilus. “High school moves a lot faster than a middle school,” he By LINDSEY YOUNG Assistant Business Manager New assistant principal, Roger Miret made Krop history over the summer as the first a s s i s t a n t p r i n c i p a l to mow the lawn. MIRET When the custodial staff was on vacation, Miret did not wait for their return; instead he mowed the lawn himself in the July heat. “In 22 years of working in Miami-Dade public schools I have never seen an assistant principal cut grass,” Athletic Director Lori Nelson said. “I just did it, I didn’t think about it. I just did what needed said. But, according to him, his previous experience at Krop should help. As an assistant principal, he helped hire many of the teachers who still work here. “Being part of the team that brought this facility to reality gave me an insight about the operational components of the building, its strengths, its weaknesses,” he said. ADMINISTRATION New AP mows lawn CLUBS The Best Buddies club has long suffered from communication problems and anonymity. The club, dedicated to create friendships between students with intellectual disabilities and those without, wants to leave those problems in the past. “I didn’t join the club until my junior year solely based on the fact that I didn’t even know it existed,” current president, senior Heather Marcello, said. After attending the international Best Buddies leadership conference at Indiana University in June, Marcello hopes to utilize her training to reach more students with and without disabilities. The four-day conference taught Marcello how to conduct productive meetings, plan group outings and make efficient “Buddy” matches. “I got involved in Best Buddies club because I have heard nasty remarks aimed at the students at Krop with intellectual disabilities,” Marcello said. “I want to change their to be done. I was glad to help,” Miret said. Principal Matthew Welker agreed: “He just jumped right in, no questions asked.” Miret and Welker also worked to improve student hygiene: new urinals in the boy’s bathroom, a new program to install hand sanitizers as well as newer, cleaner vending machines to combat student illnesses. “I have noticed a greater sense of cleanliness,” Welker said. Before coming to Krop, Miret worked as an assistant principal at John F. Kennedy Middle School, where he also oversaw the custodial staff. However, the students at J.F.K. are very different from the students at Krop: “Here, they are very mature and independent,” Miret said. “I have really enjoyed working with them so far.” Best Buddies seeks new members, friends By NINA BARRACLOUGH News Editor attitudes and show everyone that just because someone is different doesn’t mean they can’t be a good friend.” Marcello’s buddy Jackie Rodriguez graduated last year. “Jackie and I got along very well because she loved reading, particularly the Harry Potter series. I learned many things from her and I hope she learned from me.” Although joining Best Buddies can be a rewarding experience, it takes effort to maintain contact, especially when these students are isolated from the rest of the school population for most of the day. The peer buddy must talk or write to their buddy twice a week and meet outside of school twice a month. In the spirit of friendship and fun, Marcello plans activities that include barbeques, costume parties, bowling and an annual trip to Disney World. To become a Best Buddy, members must fill out an application, take a buddy-match survey and be interviewed by the program manager and officers. Best Buddies meets in room 1- 131 and dues are ten dollars.
NEWS SUMMER 2005 THE LIGHTNING STRIKE PAGE THREE N E W S BRIEFS School board tightens hold over e-mail, gradebook This year teacher’s grade books and e-mail switched from an inschool, server based system to an IP system accessed from the internet, directly connecting Krop to school board headquarters in downtown Miami. This shift changes teachers email to [firstinitial][lastname] @dadeschools.net and alters the electronic grade book system. Blanco plans new club After working with international students for over two decades, foreign language chairperson Phyllis Blanco is forming a club to unite all nationalities. According to Blanco, no specific GPA or conduct grade is required; anyone can join. Activities will include guest speakers, food sampling, festivals and music from different cultures. Blanco hopes to form one global community. Time and place will be announced. COMING SOON Principal caps club, science, magnet fees Starbucks may get our bucks By ERICA SEMEL Staff Writer In addition to the seven Starbucks located in North Miami and Aventura, the coffee giant may move to Krop. Principal Matthew Welker has been working on bringing Starbucks to our school. “Everyone is very excited about the idea; it’s just a matter of talking to Starbucks and getting their approval on [it],” Welker said. Junior Mani Probkevitz says he is looking forward to the a.m. brew. “I think in the morning it would be a good idea to wake kids up,” Probkevitz said. NUTRITION Welker says Starbucks would be available in the mornings. “I want to try and have a mobile concession where Starbucks can just roll up in the morning,” Welker said. “Starbucks at Krop in the mornings would be so convenient,” junior Meredith Brook said. “I would love to be able to get coffee in the morning right on campus without having to go somewhere else.” Sophomore Adam Schwartz agrees, “Starbucks coming to Krop in the mornings would be awesome. I can never stay awake in my first class but a frappuccino could probably help.” Welker is working on making Starbucks available sometime during the first few months of school. Vending machines set to change By NICOLE HORWITZ Web Editor Student nutrition and money for athletics are Principal Matthew Welker’s motives behind overhauling the vending machines. According to a press release by Miami-Dade County School Aug .8, “The District’s strategic goal to improve the health of students [is] an important component to ensure the FIRE DRILLS Following a routine fire drill on Aug. 11, the air conditioners shut off, causing students and teachers alike to complain, as it seems this pattern will continue. Although the air conditioners shut off for student safety in case of a real fire, they are not designed to stay off after students have returned to class. “Air conditioning, the gas and all the alarms shut off, it’s an automatic thing so the problem doesn’t get worse,” head custodian Jesus Diaz said. If the air conditioning systems stayed active during a fire it could circulate smoke throughout the school. “We don’t have any people to cover all these schools, so it’s a problem, especially in the summer,” Assistant principal Roger Miret said. Despite these reasons, those who must deal with the heat are unforgiving. “I’m not the BATHROOMS Urinals updated to keep germs at bay By RYAN SPRECHMAN Managing Editor New urinals in boys’ bathrooms have shocked males with modern, environmentallyfriendly technology: they are flushless and waterless. The urinals were installed as part of a pilot application to determine their “acceptance” among students, Larry Roth, a manager in Miami-Dade Public Schools’ Energy Management Department, said. The district subcontracted both Falcon Waterfree Technologies and Uridan Non-Water System to potentially replace current urinals throughout the county. The Falcon urinals are located on the first and second floors’ north bathrooms. Uridan’s are situated in the freestanding bathroom across from the auditorium. “[They are] trying to make the urinals consume less water,” said Assistant Principal Roger Miret, who is in charge of the physical plant, including bathrooms. According to Falcon’s website, 40,000 gallons of water are saved per urinal per year for its urinals. The lack of water surprised students. “I’m surprised…there’s no water,” said freshman Jason O’Neill. “I think it’s a little messy.” On the contrary, Falcon claims that the urinals are cleaner and more sanitary than traditional flush urinals. The company said that PHOTO COURTESY OF FALCONWATERFREE.COM New urinals in the boys’ bathroom are the same type as those at Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, CA (pictured). The modern urinals do not require flushing or water. Fire drills leave students and staff hot and bothered By PALOMA PACHENIK Staff Writer ACTIVITIES By DREW LERMAN Editor-in-Chief In a campaign to curtail student costs, Principal Matthew Welker capped club and lab fees at five dollars. “The genesis of my thinking is based on a very simple philosophy: This is a public school. I think that in many respects students are asked to pay for things that I can pay for. And when I can, I will,” Welker said. Some students and teachers were worried that this fee cut would sacrifice the quality and integrity of these programs. Lab classes such as AP 2-D art, which had a semiannual fee as much as $30 in previous years, seemed especially vulnerable to this type of loss. As a result, Welker had teachers of these programs submit itemized lists which described achievement of high academic standards for all students.” Assistant Principal Roger Miret agrees because “a study by the Department of Food and Nutrition said that students who eat healthier do better on the FCAT.” However, the addition of more nutritious foods will not take place until there is “a team of students to get together and tell me what they want [in the vending machines]” Welker said. the necessity of fees greater than five dollars. In cases which Welker deemed necessary exceptions, he allowed the previous fees to remain. Such was the case with AP 2-D Art. “It holds us accountable, which is a good thing,” photography teacher Mirtha Funcia said. On the other hand, the science department was able to function with Welker’s new fee policy. “As long as all the science teachers encourage their students to pay the lab fee and follow up with obligation forms to students who don’t pay, the science department should have no problems with supplies or equipment,” science chairperson David Buncher said. Welker assured the teachers that if there is anything they need to upgrade, he will provide the money to purchase it, no questions asked. In addition to healthier options, the “addition of more vending machines in the gyms and locker rooms to raise monies” are in the plans Welker set since the funding for athletics is not adequate. The vending machines will no longer be kept in the outside halls by the stairways but inside the cafeteria for lunchtime use only. “Students buying food before and after classes cause them to be late to class and linger in the halls,” Miret said. zone mechanic or the head custodian. But, I can tell you the air conditioner is not working,” history and economics teacher Ellen Elias said. All joking aside, some students complained of feeling sick. Senior Jessica Epstein said, “I’m getting dizzy from the heat.” Unfortunately, relief may because of the small size of the drain hole, debris is less likely to cause blockages, a problem schools have faced in the past. Also, because there is no flusher, bacteria transfer is almost eliminated due to a lack of contact. The lack of water eradicates a potential breedingground for bacteria that is present with water-based urinals. Another concern that students have with the waterless urinals is the smell. However, according to Falcon’s website, “Urine is essentially odorless. A ‘urine odor’ is caused when urine reacts with water to cause ammonia oxide. No water means no reaction.” The University of Arizona conducted a study on the sanitary conditions of flush vs. waterless urinals. “In my professional opinion, I believe that the use of Waterfree urinals would result in a significant improvement in public restroom hygene,” Professor Charles P. Gerba, who authored the study, said. Some students question the necessity of the new urinals. “We need a day’s worth of paper towels instead of new urinals,” said senior Kevin Pan. As of now, the county will only make an assessment, which will be in mid-December, on how much students like the urinals. The county will test the urinals at three more undisclosed schools, but Krop is the only one so far. According to Roth, the district is “almost positive we’re going to keep them in your school.” take time; Principal Matthew Welker explains that we are “currently wrestling with some rather serious problems with our air conditioning plant. We have a team of professionals working on it right now. We are waiting for a part that has to be manufactured in another country, as odd as that sounds.”
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