The Point - October 16, 2013

Vol. 4 Issue 1 2300 S. Poinciana Blvd. Kissimmee, FL 34758 PoincianaPoint.comOct. 16, 2013

When can I use my device in class? Pg. 3

Mr. Hodges: Principal. Marathoner. Poet. Pg. 4

Moment of Truth. Pg. 6

Photo Illustration by Arlene Roque

Halloween Horror Nights is back. Pg. 10

2CalendarOctober 2013 PoincianaPoint.com

Arlene RoqueEditor in Chief

Rebecca PierreEditor at Large

Sierra BarberManaging Editor

STAFFRonquaya Andrews

Brandon AgrontRosangely Hernandez

Emily KerseyKhalil Oliver

Jayleen OrtegaSkye Meagan Pagan

Roseline RomanJasmine Rosell

Elijah ThelusmaKatrina Wickham

Kiari Williams

[email protected]: (407) 870-4860 X03653

2300 S Poinciana Blvd.Kissimmee, FL 34758

The Point is a member of the Florida Scholastic

Press Association and

McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

C a L e N d A r EVENT WHEN WHERE MORE INFO

Teen Read Week

Individual Events Showcase

FOOTBALL: Eagles vs. Tenorac High School

SENIORS: Halloween Horror Nights

Twelve Angry Jurors

Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration

FOOTBALL: Eagles vs. Mulberry High School

Marching Band Extravaganza

FOOTBALL: Eagles vs. Aburndale High School

BOYS SOCCER: Eagles vs. Gateway

BOYS SOCCER: Eagles vs. St. Cloud

Senior Sunrise

Talent Show Auditions

FOOTBALL: Eagles vs. Liberty High School

Veteran’s Day

BOYS BASKETBALL: Eagles vs. Winter Haven

Talent Show

Thanksgiving Break

Week of Oct. 14Thurs.

7-9 p.m.

Thurs.7 p.m.

Sun. 6:30p - 2 a.m.

Oct. 23-267:15 p.m.Oct. 25

Pds. 2,4,6Oct. 257 p.m.Oct. 287 p.m.

Nov. 17 p.m.

Nov. 56 p.m.

Nov. 7 6 p.m.

Nov. 86:00 a.m.

Nov. 83-5 p.m.

Nov. 87 p.m.

Nov. 11

Nov. 197 p.m.

Nov. 217 - 9 p.m.

Nov. 25 - Nov. 29

Media Center

PHS Auditorium

Tenoroc High School

Universal Studios

PHS Auditorium

PHS Auditorium

Mulberry High School

Osceola High School

Poinciana High School

PHS Soccer Field

PHS Soccer Field

PHS Football Field

PHS Auditorium

Liberty High School


PHS Gym

PHS Auditorium


Check with Ms. Cobb for book list.

Ticket prices for this event are $5.

Tenoroc High is located at 4905 Saddle Creek Rd. in Lakeland.

Ticket prices starting online at $42.99.

Student ticket prices are $5, adult ticket prices are $10.

Information for reservations will be emailed to teachers. Contact Ms. Garay for more info.

Mullberry High is located at 1 Panther Pl. in Mulberry.

Ticket prices for this event are $7.

Senior Night - Student ticket prices are $5.

Ticket prices for students are $2.

Ticket prices for students are $2.

For seniors who haven’t paid senior dues, tickets for this event are $2.

For more information contact Mr. Thompson.

Battle of the Boulevard. Student tickets $5.

Student holiday. No school.

Junior varsity begins playing at 5:30 p.m. Adults $4, students $2.

All Tickets are $5.

School holiday for students and teachers.

3PoincianaPoint.comOctober 2013

Cover

Personal Devices To Be AllowedRebecca PierreEditor at Large

A student rushes out the front door to catch the bus to school with her smartphone, iPad and laptop. The electronic extras might make for a heavier load, but without them she might fall behind in her classes. In Algebra 2, she uses her iPad to multiply polynomials. In language arts, this student types Cornell notes into her laptop. And in Biology, she answers questions to a timed quiz about reptiles and birds on her smartphone. This is not the ac-tual day in the life of a student at Poinciana High School – yet. But if school officials have their way, this digital experience could become a reality for students here. Implemented in other schools

across the district “Bring Your Own Device” or BYOD, is a “way to increase the number of devices to be used for students,” according to Assistant Principle Michael Meechin. The BYOD program will be implemented in Poinciana High School this school year, with pilot classrooms implementing the policy later this month. The BYOD policy challenges the accepted norms of school districts

nationwide, which have largely banned phones in the class-room. Indeed, Osceola County has oper-ated under a similar policy until

this summer when BYOD was first rolled out. School officials said they adopted this new digital policy to increase the “professional devel-opment” of students. “BYOD will prepare students

for college and their future ca-reers,” Meechin said. Once a student graduates from high school, they enter the real world, and BYOD helps join the gap between the two for an easier transition, he said. Poinciana junior Arikae Roch-ester said the new policy just makes sense. “BYOD gives students a head start for their future, since we live in a world of technology that is constantly evolving,” Rochester said. The BYOD policy is only meant for academic purposes in-side the classroom and appropri-ate places throughout the campus, school officials said. Students will connect to the district’s wireless connection, which means the same rules and restriction that are in place for Poinciana’s own devices, such as computers in the media center, would be in place for personal devices as well. Because of this district oversight, and the added responsibility that students will have to display, not every one en-rolled at Poincaina High School is warming up to BYOD. The sad reality is that no mat-

ter what rules are put in place, BYOD and other programs like it will be misused, said senior Taj Greene. Other Poinciana High School students do not feel as strongly as Greene. Senior Brian Mosquera said that he believes BYOD would benefit students. BYOD would be reliable and up to date compared to more re-sources like textbooks, which are quickly becoming outdated means of delivering course information,

Mosquera said. Unlike textbooks, which tie up a great deal of a school’s bud-get each year, BYOD costs the district virtually nothing, since students would bring in their own devices. Even if a student did not have their own device to bring to school, there are alternatives. Students could take advantage of the technologies already provided for them, such as computer labs and computers placed in various classrooms.

Senior Sound Off

“I believe that bringing your own device is an amazing way to experi-ence learning on a whole different level.”

Marlon Jones

“Letting our fellow stu-dents use smart devices during school hours for educational purposes would be both a good and a bad thing, but more bad than anything. Putting our trust to a majority of students that have yet to mature would be a bad idea.”

Sergio Navarrete

“The idea of having our personal electronic devices is completely genius and will help us students do our work a lot smoother and comfortably.”

Jose D. Hernandez

“I think it would be good to have our own devices because that would help us stay focused and access online resources during class.”

Darian Dickson

“Having our laptops and iPads with us during class would make everything easier. We would not need to tie up the computer lab. It would also be more effi-cient as students would be familiar with the settings on their own devices.”

Zachary Hunt

Compiled by Rebecca Pierre

Photographer Arlene RoqueTeacher David Ivey tutors student Janelle Jnbaptiste in a geometry honors class using computers in the Media Center. Under a new program, students will bring their own devices to school, which may lessen the need for teachers to use computer labs.

New Policy: Students can bring their smartphones, iPads and laptops into the classroom

“BYOD gives stu-dents a head start...since we are living in a world of technology...”

~ student Arikae Rochester

Principal Hodges’ Not So Average Hobbies4

PoincianaPoint.comNews

October 2013


When then principal of Profes-sional and Technical High School, Peter Hodges, stepped to the podium during that school’s 2013 graduation ceremony, teachers, parents and graduating seniors had no idea what to expect. What would he say? The outgoing Hodges already knew he was to replace Belynda Pinkston as the new principal of Poinciana High School the following school year, and this would be his last chance to ad-dress the students there. So he read a poem he wrote himself – a poem written spe-cifically for the seniors he had watched become young adults. And so it goes with Principal Hodges. The man who was on the wrestling team in college, runs marathons in exotic locations and drives a black pickup truck also writes poetry. “I think his poetry is the sweetest thing ever,” said Theresa

Pascual, language arts instruc-tor at PATHS who served as a teacher while Hodges was princi-pal there. “I remember him also writing several poems for one of our professional development meetings.” And now Hodges returns to Poinciana High School, the school he helped open in 1991. Before the first brick was even laid on PHS’ current location, Hodges was hired as the school’s first math instructor. The students were bused to a collection of por-tables near Gateway High School. The follow year, after con-struction was complete, teachers and students were relocated to Poinciana’s current location. “The greatest difference between Poinciana then and Poin-ciana now is the number houses and people,” Hodges said. “There wasn’t anything here before. It was all cow pastures.” Education has always been a big part of Hodges’ life, getting his degree in mathematics early on, and proceeding to get his master’s degree in educational leadership after he moved to Florida in 1989. His first job in education was at St. Cloud High School as a math, physics and computer teacher in 1990. In 1991, Hodges moved to Poinciana as the only standing math teacher to the small class of students that consisted of only freshman. The school took on an-other class of freshmen each year until all four high school grades were represented. The inaugural class that Hodges taught gradu-ated in 1995. Hodges stayed at PHS for 10 years. “Seeing the first graduating class at Poinciana receive their diplomas after being there from the very beginning was special,” Hodges said. In 2001 he returned to St. Cloud to pursue his degree in

Educational Leadership, and then proceeded to become a dean and assistant principal at St. Cloud. After five years, he moved to Harmony High School to become an assistant principal. It was after his post at Harmo-ny that Hodges accepted the posi-tion of principal at Professional and Technical High School. Poinciana social studies in-structor Mike Palfy worked with Hodges at St. Cloud High School. “He brings consistency and communication to the school,” said Palfy, speaking on Hodges’ return to Poinciana. “And we need it. I’m excited to be working with him again.” Palfy said he has high expecta-tions. “Mr. Hodges collaborates well, and he sticks to his word,” Palfy said. As for the students he left at PATHS, many said they were sad when he left. “No one compares to him,” said Sabrina Cruz, a junior at PATHS. “His leadership skills are amazing and any school is lucky to have him” she said. When Hodges is not at Poinciana, he is often training for his next marathon. He has run 22 of them. His personal best at the 26.2-mile footrace is three hours and 41 minutes. He ran track in high school and college and was also on the wrestling team. In 2000, Hodges joined the Orlando group, Mara-thon Fest, and began training for his first marathon in Space Coast, Melbourne.

“I’m always looking to chal-lenge myself, and I just thought what could be a greater challenge than running a marathon,” he said. And since running 26 miles in the continental United States must not be challenging enough, Hodges has upped the ante.

He’s run a marathon on every continent. Hodges said the An-des Moun-tains was the most interesting place he’s ever run a marathon. Longer than the typical

marathon, the race extended to 27.5 miles. “There are no roads, and you can’t stop at 26 miles because you’ll be stuck in the middle of the jungle,” he said. “The race finishes on top of a mountain overlooking Machu Pichu. It’s pretty awesome.”

Photographer Jasmine RosellJuniors Emmanuel Pacheco and Stefan Ragbeer chat during lunch with Principal Peter Hodges about an airplane flying over.

Photographer Skye Meagan Pagan

Principal Hodges watches from the sidelines as the Poinciana High School football team chal-lenges Gateway High School during the season opener.

“The race finishes on top of a mountain overlooking Machu Pichu. It’s pretty awe-some.”~ Principal Peter Hodges

Poinciana’s newest principal runs marathons and writes poetry

Machu Pichu is a historic site of the Inca civilization located in Peru. Hodges is a member of the Boston-based Seven Continents Club, which is a group that has as its goal to complete marathons on every continent. “I’ve run a marathon and half marathon in all seven continents,” Hodges said. “So, I’ve been to Antarctica twice, ran in Tanzania, Kenya, on the Great Wall in China, north India near the Himalayas – pretty much all over.” Many Poinciana students said they are warming to the change in school leadership. “So far Hodges is proving that he is a good principal,” PHS senior Michael GrahamRodriguez said. “There seems to already be more order around Poinciana ever since Hodges arrived. If things continue, my senior year is going to be a breeze”

Story ExtensionRead one of

Principal Hodges’ poems on pg. 11.

5PoincianaPoint.com

NewsOctober 2013


“I’ve loved teaching ever since I was young,” said Johana Santiago, one of the newest additions to Poinciana’s admin-istration. “It’s what I’ve always wanted to do. As one of three new assistant principals, Santiago sees her role at Poinciana High School as her chance to feed her need for a challenge and put her education knowledge to good use and get rid of the school’s negative reputation. She comes from a 13-year educational background in which she has been an English teacher, AVID teacher and coordinator, learning resource specialist and dean, all at Osceola High School. She said she can bring just what Poinciana needs, focusing first on academics but not forgetting the student perspective. “The students need to exhibit more school spirit,” Santiago said. “I love school spirit. We need some up in this place.”


“I hated my boring teachers growing up, so I decided to be an educator and never have my kids complain that their teacher was boring like I used to do about mine,” said Michael Meechin, one of three new assistant principals at Poinci-ana. Meechin said he brings with him new ideas about how to improve PHS. “I’m focused on growing with the students all four years and being able to see them move on,” he said. Meechin spent nine years at Celebration High School as a social studies and AVID teacher, dean and testing coordinator. He comes to Poinciana from Creekside High School in Atlanta, where he served as an assistant princi-pal. He said he is more than ready to take on PHS. “I want the students to have the best educational expe-rience possible,” Meechin said. Meechin added: “I’m driven like no other to destroy every other school to be on top.”


“The thing I love most about teaching is the connection you make with the students,” said Assistant Principal Kim Manion. “Since I’m not in a classroom anymore it’s harder to do, but that’s not going to stop me” In her 15-year career, she’s served many roles in edu-cation. She has been an elementary school teacher and an intensive reading teacher. She’s also served as the reading coach at Professional and Technical High School, as well as the International Baccalaureate coordinator at Celebra-tion High School. “I want to make a lasting impact” she said. She said that building a connection and letting the stu-dents know someone is there for them is important to her. She wants to know what students want to see, she said. “I want students to want to come here,” Manion said. “I don’t want students to be miserable.” Manion added: “I want to help students see the value of education and obtain a passion for learning.”

Santiago: ‘Let’s bring school spirit back.’

Johana SantiagoMichael Meechin

Meechin: ‘Let’s Put Poinciana on Top.’

Kim Manion

Manion: ‘Students, find passion for learning.’

Three new assistant principals ready for PHS

Green Crowned Homecoming QueenRoseline RomanNews Reporter

Two students emerged Friday with enough votes to take the homecoming prize. Ron Lubin and Haylee Green were selected as the 2014 Poinciana High School Homecoming King and Queen. The votes were revealed during the halftime on Friday. “I was in shock when they announced my name,” Green said. “This feels good. I didn’t put any post-ers up, and I still won.” Guidance Director Devyani Balladin organized homecoming and said that Green and Lubin exhibit the qualities that a king and queen should possess. “Haylee and Ron have a huge impact on the school and they have school pride and are involved at Poinci-

Photographer Brandon AgrontThe 2014 senior class voted Haylee Green (left) and Ron Lubin as Homecoming King and Queen on Friday.

ana,” she said. Balladin added: “I think the seniors made a great choice.” Lubin acknowledged that being crowned homecom-ing king means even more because of who he was nominated with. “All the contenders are excellent people - Manny, Josh and Brian,” Lubin said. “To win against them makes this honor all the better.” Lubin is referring to the nominees for king: Brian Mosquera, Manny Sosa and Josh Lopez. Green was nominated with Adlin

Hernandez, Kiara Fuentes and Priscilla Carpintero. Balladin said she hopes

the success Lubin and Green experienced Friday will motivate more students and even teachers to increase their school spirit. “That’s one of the things that is lacking at Poinciana - school spirit,” Balladin said.

File PhotoSeveral students dressed up in mix-matched socks and shoes on Wacky Tacky Day during Spirit Week.

Spirit Week DelightKhalil OliverEntertainment Reporter

Whether it was wearing a cape or applying face paint Poinciana students engaged in dress up and showed school spirit during homecoming week. Sophomore Gianny Matias dressed up as Dorothy from Wizard of Oz on Character Day. “I have an outfit for every day of the whole week,” Matias said.

6 CenterspreadOctober 2013 Eagles Look AheadKiari Williams & Elijah ThelusmaSports Writers

The Poinciana Eagles enter the most crucial part of the sea-son with three district match ups over the next three weeks and a shot at the playoffs on the line. But to make that happen, the Eagles will need to regain the footing they enjoyed earlier in the season when the team blasted through two back-to-back wins and became the first Poinciana team to accomplish that since 2000. The latest loss came Friday during the homecoming game against the Space Coast Vipers. In a high scoring battle of of-fenses, the final score was 38-63. The Eagles took the lead at one point in the first quarter when running back Josh Lopez scored two touchdowns, leaving the score 14-7. But for the rest of the game the Eagles were trailing and trying to recover. This loss came after another pair of losses, leaving the team 2-4 for the season. With only four season games left and three of those district match ups, the

Photographer Emily Kersey

Eagles can’t afford anymore losses if playoff hopes are to become a reality. On Thursday, Poinciana travels Tenoroc High School and is favored to win against a team who hasn’t won a single game this season. And there are other factors that make this Poinciana team differ-ent from those in the past. Many of the players have played on the same team since the Poinciana Predators in the pee wee football league. In fact, even Assistant Football Coach Joseph Marcheggiani has been with this group of players since flag football at Discovery

Intermediate School. Indeed, the bond that teachers and students witness today among the athletes is a bond that has been built and strengthened over many years. Quarterback Johnathan Lind-strom, Wide Receiver Darian Dickinson, Tight End Maurice Anglin, and Defense Back Aaron Meade have played on the same teams since age five when they first met playing for the Poinciana Predators. These four players then continued playing football under Coach Marcheggiani at Discovery Intermediate.

After back-to-back wins and string of losses, Eagles face three district games When the four then graduated and came to Poinciana, it was the same year Marcheggiani switched schools as well. “We were all surprised when we were freshman and we walked onto the field and saw Coach Marcheggiani standing there,” Lindstrom said. Even though it’s the first year Head Coach Jeff Mathis is with the team, he said he notices a bond between the players and at-tributes the focus on the team and not the individual as the reason for the success earlier this season. The Eagles began the season

with a powerful start, winning back-to-back games against Cele-bration High School and Brooks-ville’s Central High School. “I’m especially proud of how the players performed after los-ing the first game to Gateway,” Mathis said. “Given Poinciana’s history, it would have been easy for this group to think the same way, but instead, they came back and won the following two games.”

Centerspread 7PoincianaPoint.com

Eagles Look AheadAfter back-to-back wins and string of losses, Eagles face three district games

Playoff BoundRosangely HernandezAssistant Sports Editor

The Lady Eagles could be serious competitors in the district playoffs later this month if the team shakes off some mental mistakes and focuses on playing together, said Head Volleyball Coach Kim Harrison. “When they are on, they are on,” said Harrison, who is a first-year coach and who doubles as the head softball coach later in the year. “When they are playing at their best, they rock the court.” The Lady Eagles are expected to take on Lake Wales in the first district match up, but final sched-ules have not been set. District playoffs kick off Oct. 21. The volleyball team is fifth in a seven-team district, but most of the losses have been mental and not based on actual talent, Har-rison said. “They beat themselves up so

much after a mistake that later in the game, they’re still focused on something that happened earlier,” Harrison said. “If they could fo-cus and be more positive, they’d win more.” Senior Ninoshka Cortes, who plays middle and has been playing volleyball since the sixth grade, said that all the hard work they do during practice is paying off. “We start practice of by run-ning a mile, then stretching for 10 minutes and finally warming up with partners,” Cortes said. Players then practice bumping, setting and spiking, which is a set of three moves used in volleyball in which one person bumps the ball, another sets the ball in good position for a third to then spike the ball. Finally, practices are made up of scrimmages. One of the key items to the girl’s success is dedication.

“I’m an athlete. It’s what I do, it runs in my blood,” said Cortes, who Harrison called the most improved player after a string of penalties at the beginning of the season in which Cortes was touching the net. Cortes worked hard in prac-tice to overcome the problem and has been playing great ever since, Harrison said. “Ninoshka is really killing the players now,” Harrison said. Senior Carolina Rivera, who plays setter and outsider, said for her it’s all about the team. A set-ter is the second person in bump-set-spike series of moves. “It really is amazing to play with these girls,” Rivera said. “I play because it’s one of my favorite sports, and all of us share the same passion.” One standout on the team is sophomore Lizmarie Nieves. “Nieves is a player with a lot of natural ability,” Harrison said.

Photographer Emily Kersey

The first in a series of bumps in the road came at the end of September when the Eagles lost a game against Lake Placid High School. “The team’s biggest strength would be not to give up and to accept every challenge as it’s given,” Mathis said. Mathis, who graduated from West Virginia, played football and baseball there on a scholarship. He then coached on a handful

teams throughout Florida before landing at Poinciana High School. He said he readily accepts the challenge to change the decades old tradition of losing and that most of the change is mental. “If the players can shake off one loss like they did after Gate-way and play like I know they can, we’d win games,” Mathis said.

Ronquaya AndrewsAssistant Eagle Life Editor

Poinciana students, teachers and staff were shocked last month when authorities reported that longtime Girl’s Basketball Coach Jamerson Jones was found in his apartment dead from unknown causes. He was 41. Despite leaving Poinciana High School last year to accept a position as an assistant principal in a Brevard County elementary school, Jones’ impact remains on many current and former students. Brandi Walker graduated last year and played on Jone’s basketball team.“I remember always trying to impress him,” Walker said.

8SportsOctober 2013 PoincianaPoint.com

Bucs Make Right Call Over Freeman The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ coach-ing staff finally made a decision to release the team’s starting quarterback Josh Freeman. Why did they take this long to

figure this out? Aside from the recent reports of drug use, Freeman has been more than lack-luster in his performance, completing just 58 percent of his passes over four seasons with the Florida franchise. Latest reports are that the Minnesota Vikings will pick up the troubled player. Nothing productive has come from having Freeman since he was drafted by the Bucs back in 2009. Freeman is inaccurate when passing the ball since he has been with the Bucs. He’s not able to keep the total of wins consistent and not able to put his team on his back and get them to the playoffs. Now that Freeman is released we can finally win games with rookie quarterback Mike Glennon.

Despite Freeman’s being tested 46 times for drugs and passing them all, rumors still linger. The Buccaneers initally attempted to trade Freeman but nobody wanted him, so the coach ing staff decided to release him.

The Vikings picked up Freeman as a free agent. The Bucs also fined Freeman twice for missing at least one team meeting and participating in an unauthorized media interview. And it’s this public feud that has caused more of a circus than a dedicated and focus team leader, which the Bucs need. He lacks the necessary NFL throws, field vision, and comebacks in the fourth quarter. Freeman had a record of 24-35 since he signed with the Bucs back in ’09. Glennon, a rookie from North Carolina State, needs to be molded into an NFL quarterback. I agree with the decision to move Glennon in this position because what is important right now is winning games and Freeman couldn’t accomplish that. Glennnon, drafted in the third round in 2013, is a young 23, but he can be coached, seems to be a team player and is hungry - all qualities that Freeman lacked. The Bucs deserve a leader who can rally and unite, not someone who is the focus of a media circus.

Daniel Wallace/Tampa Bay Times/MCT

Josh Freeman (5) has been released from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Elijah ThelusmaInside with Elijah

Submitted Photo

Former Coach Leaves Impact

9Take Stage: ‘Jurors’ debuts next week

PoincianaPoint.comOctober 2013Eagle Life

Eagle Automotive offers teachers and staff vehicle repairs and detail service for a reasonable price.

For more information or to schedule an appointment call:

Automotive instructor Anthony Price

407-870-4860.

FYI:Senior Class Song: Forever Young

Senior Class Colors: Black & Gold

Senior Class Flower:Gardenia

Senior Class Motto:“You cannot live for

yesterday or yesterday’s dreams but only for today and

tomorrow’s reality.”

Are you connected?

@PoincianaPoint

Story idea?

[email protected]

Katrina WickhamEntertainment Editor

There is only one week left before the Poincaina auditorium will host the fi rst production of the year. The Twelve Angry Jurors is a play that consists of an enthusiastic mixed cast of male and female students, hence the name change from the famed fi lm, 12 Angry Men. The actors portray jurors forced to decide the guilt or innoncence of a teenage boy on trial for killing his father. The production was fi rst adapted to the big screen in 1957 and featured actor Henry Fonda as Juror #8. There’s a little bit of each of the char-acters in all of us, said James Thompson, director of the high school production. A total of 15 actors were cast in the play and have been rehearsing throughout most of September and October. Senior Sara Ezzitoni is cast as juror #8, the same role made famous by Henry Fonda in the fi lm version. The role is the sweet spot of this dramatic production due to the juror’s understanding heart, belief in justice and

the willingness to fi ght for the teenage boy whose life hangs in the balance. “The script shows that you have to fi ght for what you believe in,” Ezzitoni said. “You’re only innocent until proven guilty” This is not Ezzitoni’s fi rst time on stage. When she was at Horizon Middle, she performed as one of Santa’s elves and even had a singing role in a musical production of Evita. Thompson said even the small details are important, such as following the exten-sive dialogue between jurors and tracking the character development of all twelve actors as they deliberate over the verdict that they must render. Thompson said he chose the courtroom drama after a nationwide focus fell upon Central Florida and the George Zimmer-man trial. Many questioned that jury after deliber-ating several days only to return a verdict of not guilty after Zimmerman confessed to the killing of Trayvon Martin, a Miami teenager visiting his father, who lived in the area.

“A lot of people have different ideas and thoughts about the Zimmerman trial,” Thompson said. He added: “And the jurors in this story have trouble fi guring out what actually happened to the boy’s father.” The only witness in the Zimmerman case was the killer himself and the only

witness in the play is the potential killer, Thompson said. The real life event and the play share many similarities, he said. Show dates start Oct. 23 through Oct. 26. Tickets will be sold the second week of October. Student tickets are $5 and adult tickets are $10.

Photographer Jayleen Ortega

The actors in The Twelve Jurors often rehearse by sitting in a circle reading their lines. Here, Juror #12, played by senior Brandon Schefstad (left) reads his lines as (left to right) senior Danelia Morales, who plays juror #11, junior Daniel Pratts, who plays juror #3 and sophomore Taryn Cooper, who plays juror #6 look on.

Eagle LifeOctober 2013

10PoincianaPoint.com

By Nancy BlackTribune Content Agency

Aries (March 21-April 19) A blissfully insightful moment interrupts mundane affairs. Add some creative spice to the pack-age. Listen and watch. Pay atten-tion. Keep any secrets. Balance your interests. Learn as quickly as possible. Friends help out.

Taurus (April 20-May 20)You work well with others, and your attention is in demand. Visu-alize solving a work-related prob-lem. Stand firm. Follow a definite strategy. You land right side up. Take it slow. Stay in tonight.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) Make creative, inexpensive repairs. Report on your activities. It may take preparation. Go for the raise or status rise. Watch out for hidden agendas. Don’t assume the new way is better yet. Take careful action.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) You see the direction to take. Get farther than expected. You may need to scrape change for gas money. You feel somewhat com-pulsive; improve organization. Provide excellent service. A crazy assignment is quite profitable.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Remain open to new ideas as you provide well for family. Store provisions for the future, and use what you’ve kept. Order some-thing that you can’t obtain locally. Consider an investment in your own education. Plan ahead.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Pay back a debt. Postpone travel. Spend time with an attractive per-son, and let deadlines ride. You’ll have more help. It could be very nice. Don’t spend impulsively. Harvest your earlier efforts.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)Don’t fret about household expenses. It’s not good timing to

shop either, but worrying is futile. You see what needs to be done. Clean up messes. People vie for your attention. State your case clearly. You’re earning admira-tion.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Increase your profits through or-ganization. Make up an outline to minimize confusion. Follow the money trail, and provide value. No need to be hasty. Your life gets easier. Make more time for love and fun.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Form a solid communications connection where it was missing. Choose faith over doubt. You’re entering a more domestic phase. Review objectives. Projects at home offer fun and beauty to balance the recent workload. Get creative.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Get ready for another great learn-ing experience. Ask for more and get it. Expand your territory. Meet-ings could conflict with family time. Keep your wits about you. Discover talents you didn’t know you had. Love wins again.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Manage finances over the next two days. Keep it simple and organized. It could be quite prof-itable. Suddenly you understand someone else’s view. Make your feelings public. Find the right handyman and go for durable quality. Explore the neighborhood for a quick break.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)Give yourself time for feelings and logic to mesh. Review the facts before taking action. Listen to all the considerations. You’re getting more sensitive. Rest up and enjoy simple plea-sures, like playtime and peace.

Distributed by MCT Campus.

Horoscopes:

Arlene RoqueEditor in Chief

The moment guests enter Uni-versal Studios in Orlando, hordes of flesh-eating walkers emerge from nowhere onto the theme park’s main street. The zombies, some of which were extras in the actual award winning television series Walking Dead, bite teeth and lick lips and growl in the face of guests. All this before entering any of the eight haunted houses featured this year at Universal Orlando. The haunted houses are themed by some of today’s top names in horror such as Resident Evil and AMC’s “The Walking Dead,” as well as from popular movies like “The Cabin in The Woods,” “Evil Dead” and “An American Werewolf in London.” There are also two live shows and various independent scenes throughout the park, such as props from The Walking Dead. The Poinciana senior class is slated to attend the event Sun-day, said class president Jasmine Mercado. “This will be a way for the class to spend time together out-side of school,” Mercado said. One of the creative directors, Mike Aiello, works behind the scenes all year long to create the seasonal event. “Cabin in the Woods and An American Werewolf in London

are two of my favorite mazes,” Aiello said. “Cabin in the Woods has clowns, witches, surgeons; it literally expands the entire horror genre as far as what’s inside this maze.” Aiello said that he’s already two weeks into planning Hallow-een Horror Nights for 2014. Poinciana High School stu-dents, such as Sophomore Jailin Figueroa, have already descended upon this year’s event. “You never know when some-thing will pop up unexpectedly or could be walking right beside you,” Figueroa said. Senior Emily Medina also recently attended. “The creatures looked so real,” she said. “I felt like I was in an actual scary movie,” Senior Richard Zaldivar landed a job this year working as one of the clowns in the Cabin in the Woods. Zaldivar confesses

that it was the most unlikely posi-tion since he has his own fear of clowns. “It’s the perfect job to get to meet people, get over your own fears and it’s fun to see the guests’ reactions,” Zaldivar said. “It’s a cry now, laugh later experience.” Actors cast in the event must pass an interview like in any other job. They must also attend a set of rehearsals where they will be informed of their location on set of the mazes and be given act-ing lessons from professionals. In addition to the eight haunted houses, guests can attend the theme park’s well known attractions such as Men In Black, Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, and their newly added attraction, Transformers: The Ride- 3D. Universal Orlando’s Hallow-een Horror Nights is open until Nov. 2.

Halloween Horror Nights offers hair-raising fun

Zombies!Photos by Rebecca Pierre

Halloween Throwback

File PhotoChemistry teacher Steve Virkler channelled the “Pirates of the Caribbean” last year when he dressed as a swashbuckling pirate.

11PoincianaPoint.com

OpinionOctober 2013

Column: Facial Piercings Should Not Be BannedErica CardonaGuest Columnist

Expressing oneself is a major thing to the teenagers of America in 2013 and one way teens today express themselves is through facial piercings. Why do I have to hide who I am from the world? Teachers and staff at Poinciana High School were once our age and expressed themselves in their own way – just as the students do today. Some students express themselves through poetry, music or dress. Some alter their uni-forms and some wear tattoos and still some adorn outrageous hair styles or hair colors. And one way that a majority of the student body at PHS like to express themselves is with facial piercings. Teachers and administrators see facial piercings as distractions and look upon this form of self expression as unprofessional and a dress code violation, but these piercings are not a distraction in the eyes of the students who at-tend this school. In today’s culture, facial pierc-ings, tattoos and wild hair and even wild clothing is accepted. For example, well known celebrities, such as famous rapper Lil Wayne and well known tattoo artist Kat Von D express them-selves with facial piercings. If these celebrities are ac-cepted by society, why can’t our administration and teachers accept students who have pierc-ings? I have a septum piercing, which is the piercing that goes on the little skin in between the nostrils – a bull ring – and I don’t think it’s fair that if I went through the process of having this piercing done and feel I am ex-pressing who I am, that I should have to hide it. This policy makes me feel as if I am hiding myself from the

world. And I’m not alone. Several students feel as I do. Take Jeffrey Dela Cruz, a senior with his own facial piercing, for example. “We are just trying to express ourselves,” Dela Cruz said. “Why is the school telling us to cover our piercings? It’s ridiculous. We paid for it and we have to hide it?” Yes, this is high school and we are being molded into profession-al individuals, but what about a student who has decided to go to an Ivy League university and has a facial piercing? Does that make that student unprofessional? I don’t think it does. We are young and we are kids. Administrators and teachers should let us be who we are and who we want to be. Repeal the rule that bans facial piercings. It isn’t about what we do or how we look; it’s about how far we get and who we become.

Senior Erica Cardona disagrees with a school policy that bans facial piercings. She is pictured here with a “bull ring” piercing.

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Editorial

Photo Illustration (TSgt Samuel Bendet/USAF/MCT)

Florida drivers can now be ticketed for texting on their cell phones, after state legislation went into effect earlier this month making the act illegal while the car is in motion. Drivers can still text at red lights, stop signs and when the vehicle is stopped In congested traffic. A first offense carries a $30 fine and is increased to $60 for a second offense. Additionally, the texting ban is a secondary offense, which means a driver would have to be pulled over for some other violation, such as running a red light, to get ticketed for texting while driving. The Point commends the Flori-da legislature for passing such an act and believes it is a positive first step to changing the cur-rent mindset that many drivers in Florida have. Indeed, many driv-ers see texting as no big deal – a minor distraction equal to rolling down the window or tuning the

radio to a different station. But that faulty mindset is the same as those who believed decades ago that seat belts were unnecessary. Change takes time – just as it did when seatbelts emerged and there were no state laws mandating its use. However, few question the importance of seatbelts today. In 2011, nearly one in four auto accidents involved cell phones, according to textingand-drivingsafety.com, a website devoted to the issue. Furthermore, studies suggest that a driver that is distracted from the road just five seconds traveling at 55 miles per hour can drive the length of a football field without looking at the road. That’s quite a distance to cover without paying attention. If this law makes just one driver think twice about texting while driving and a life is saved because of it, it will be worth it.

Driving While InTEXTicated

Graduation PoemEditor’s Note: In one of his last acts as principal of Professional and Technical High School, Principal Peter Hodges wrote and delivered the following poem during that school’s graduation ceremony in May.

Peter Hodges

Today we gather to say goodbye,We scratch our heads and wonder

why,Four years have gone by far too

fast,When we began this journey we

knew it would not last.For tomorrow begins a brand new

day,You are ready for the obstacles

that might come your way.You’ve shown us all what you’re

capable of,Now it’s time to send you on with

all of our love.We will miss your smiling faces

each and every day,But the road to success is only a

day away.

Take comfort in knowing the memories will last,

For the impact you’ve had has become quite vast.

You’ve lived up to the potential that we saw in you,

Now build on it, is what I’m sure you’ll do.

It’s been a great honor to lead you on this journey we took,

But it’s time for the next chapter of the book.

We celebrate your accomplish-ments that you’ve had so far,

But there are many more to look forward to as you raise the bar.

You’ll cherish the time that you had here at PATHS,

And hopefully you’ll leave with some memories and laughs.

For when you leave here today at the end of the show,

It’ll be the very last time I’ll say, “It’s time to go.”

Birds WordsHALLOWEEN: What is your costume going to be this year?

Valerie GarciaSophomore

“I”m going to be Minnie Mouse this year because we have so much in common. She likes bows. I like bows. She likes pink. I like pink.”

Alexis VicenteSenior

“I am going to be Hello Kit-ty because I have the whole collection of merchandise. I have the belt, the bracelets, the rings. I even have Hello Kitty curtains, bed sheets and cups.”

Edgar LopezJunior

“I’m going to be one of the members of Kriss Kross that rap group from the 90s. They have the coolest out-fits. I loved the style, wear-ing the pants backwards. I actually used their song, “Jump,” once in a dance performance. I basically already have the outfit.”

Daniel CabreraJunior

“I’m dressing up like a zombie from the TV series, Walking Dead, and I’m go-ing to wear my costume to Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios. Maybe if I look like them, they won’t try to scare me.”

Diamond BonetJunior

“I know what I’m going to be - a porcelain doll. I’m going to paint my face white and have really rosy red cheeks. I got the idea from my sister, who has a large collection of dolls in her room. I think they’re beautiful.”

Nicholas OrtegaJunior

“I’m going to be a beat-up boxer with a black eye and a busted lip. Maybe when everyone sees me, they’ll see that I’m not playing around.”

Sydney WatermanSophomore

“I’m going to design my own full body suit and dress up as a panda. I fell in love with pandas when I was eight years old and went to the zoo.”

Klarissa AppenzellerSenior

“My favorite super hero or villian is cat woman, so that’s what I’m going to dress up as this year. She’s tough as nails and always one step ahead of batman.”

Jaileen MenaSenior

“I’m going to Halloween as Michelangelo, one of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. My sister is dress-ing up as one of the other characters.”

Chris JohnstonSenior

“I’m going to dress up as a robber. People won’t know what to think. If I carry the candy over shoulder, maybe everyone will think I stole it.”

Compiled by Katrina Wickham

Documents

The Point - October 16, 2013