DECEMBER PAGE 3

News The Lightning Strike • November-December 2010 Page 3

News BriefsECO FRIENDLY

MICKY TRUJILLO

-CARLA HASSON

CLEAN FOR GREEN: Students pick up trash and take part in numerous events for Green week. Green week is one of the many events Krop will have this year as part of spirt week.

CORRECTIONS:

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.On last issue’s first page, we wrote Jean Rosenfeld, but it is spelled Jean Rosenfield.

In the article about Ms. Lorenzo’s grandchildren, the picture is of her son, Sebastian Alberto Ramirez Romanii, not her daughter.

Florida goes conservativeGovernor-elect Rick Scott’s victory over Democrat Alex Sink,

along with Republican gains in the cabinet and legislature, mark the beginning of a conservative stronghold in Florida’s state government. The Miami Herald outlined the multimillionaire businessman’s plans for a “new era” in education, involving an increase in taxpayer-backed private school scholarships, charter schools, home schooling and virtual education. Scott stated that more funding will not save an “outdated system.” He plans to invest in school choice and parent-oriented teacher evaluations, including merit pay for teachers. Since he controversially declared his support for Senate Bill 6, which was vetoed by Charlie Crist in April, he is expected to propose a new teacher tenure and merit-pay bill.

Krop goes green for spirit week

By Ariana Rogersfeature editor

A “Go Green” themed spirit week was launched the third week of Nov., designed to save the planet’s resources and raise awareness among the student body.

Activities director Michelle Russell brainstormed with SGA about ways to help the school "go green" and decided to involve the entire school in their mission.

“The purpose of this spirit week was to just get people to think about recycling and the state of our planet,” Russell said.

With combined efforts from clubs like Earth Club and Ecology Club, they decorated trash cans, held a recycling competition, cleaned portables and planted a tree in the butterfly garden to commemorate the

death of Cadet Edwin Gonzalez. The week ended with an Earth Day assembly.

Junior Jennifer Thelusma helped decorate a trash can for both Octagon Club and the class of 2012.

“The idea was that if we decorate trash cans we could encourage people to throw their trash away instead of on the ground,” Thelusma said.

Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) member Leah Behar spray-painted a trash can with SADD’s slogan, "Don't let alcohol be your last taste of life.”

"It's important to support our school in going green by helping promote safe environments and showing we prevent destructive decisions not only in drugs but in the environment," Behar said.

The clubs got involved by removing excess light bulbs in the hallways and placing thermometers

throughout the school to assess temperature variance.

Environmental science teacher Sue Green is also passionate about going green.

“Every human being needs to know where water comes from, where energy is produced that they get electricity from, and where their waste goes,” Green said.

As a participant of a Dade County program called Green School Initiative, Green helps the school join efforts to save the school’s energy, water and waste.

“Dade County wants schools to reduce their waste, their electricity and their water and that’s difficult because we are only one small part of that,” Green said.

She stresses the importance of students continuing to stay involved with the school efforts to “Go Green.”

“We all need to know how we impact the planet,” Green said.

Students and faculty alike were baffled by the outcome of the Magnet Program’s performance “Visions” on Dec. 9. With people sitting in chairs, on tables, and covering the floor, it was safe to assume that the Magnet Program did not expect such an amazing turnout.

“I’ve been to many of the magnet performances, but with the emphasis on Christopher Belle, I half expected this place to be packed,” former Krop student Mark Meneses said.

The performance took an especially moving turn when Belle’s own sister played the flute

during her brothers tribute, under the direction of Orchestra Director Bringle Cidel.

Its only once a season that the whole Magnet Program will come together to put together a jaw dropping performance. From the monologues, skits, and intermissions, to the dances, singing, and applause, the Magnet members put together a truly inspiring show to bring in the holiday season.

SAMANTHA MEISTER

-Devin Rosario

In the midst of a tightly budgeted year, an SGA paper drive was held on the week of Dec. 5, allowing students to bring in a ream of paper to gain admittance into the winter sports pep rally.

This drive was set up as an effort to benefit the school, as a creative alternative for those students who continually shell out cash in order to get out of class.

Activities director Michelle Russell praised the success of the drive which resulted in 750-1,000 reams of paper. The objective of the drive was to save funds that would normally go to buying supplies.

Besides entry to the pep rally, students are helping day to day operations of the school.

“Every school hasn’t been given as much money as past years for supplies,” Assistant Principal Pamela Clappier said. “Because of that, we’ve fallen short of things like paper.”

-Sebastian Elejalde

“Visions” attracts large audience

Krop solves own paper problems