On August 11, the Hillsborough County school board unanimously decided to drop attendance-based exam exemptions, due to the H1N1 hysteria.

The person to recommend the change, was Mary-Ellen Elia, superintendent of the school board. At a press conference discussing the issue, she stressed that the student’s health should take top priority. Elia also highlighted the fact that keeping the exemptions as they were would only send the wrong message to sick students. “We wish we weren’t facing the H1N1, but we are,” Elia commented. With the imminent spread of the swine virus, rewarding high schoolers for outstanding attendance has become too risky.

The goal of taking away exemptions is to ensure the safety of all students in Hillsborough County, not to punish them. However, this sudden surprise has

aroused much uproar from students and parents alike.Many upper classmen are confused by the chang-

es they are facing with exams, especially now that the tests are being administered at later dates. Not to fear though; member of the school board, Dorothea Edge-comb, assured the public that the decision is tempo-rary, and suggested data be collected to see just how much the adjustment will affect high schoolers. Also, seniors will still be able to exempt second semester if grades and behavior permits.

So how will this change be accepted at Bloom-ingdale? “The absence of exam exemptions hasn’t af-fected the school much so far. There’s some discontent with the upperclassmen, but that’s all,” states Princi-pal Mark West.

The administration says the main objective is

that sick students stay home, so that those who are virus-free can continue participating in class. So far it is difficult to tell whether or not the lack of attendance incentive has kept the swine at bay. Student responses to the exemption deal have been mixed. Some say that the virus will spread despite the extra precaution, while others think the school will be empty of all disease now that many people aren’t going for perfect attendance.

“It also depends on the students class load,” re-marked senior, Noelle Miller, “I will probably come to school even though there are no more exemptions. I can’t afford to miss my AP classes.”

Then there is the issue of what to do if students, who are perfectly healthy, start to stay home too often. Will there be other incentives? Will there be different rules? As for now, there seems to be no need.

“We (the administration) have been told not to have an attendance incentive persay, because this is hopefully a temporary thing,” answers Mr. West.

Regardless of what your view is on the matter, it is a fact that the change was made to protect the stu-dents and teachers by attempting to keep a healthy school environment. Exam exemptions will be missed, but at least some of us still have our health.

You know what they say… you can’t have your cake and eat it too.

crimsontimesdiscover. tomorrow. today.

What's Up With Exam Exemptions?

Although the Golf Team here at Bloomingdale is not recognized as often as other sports are, its members are working diligently to ensure a great season with a victorious record. Daily practices are just a small por-tion of their efforts towards triumph. Golf players also spend countless hours at the local driving ranges, take lessons, and play rounds over the weekends.

So far, the team has had a somewhat rough start, facing schools with very strong teams, but players are confident that their hard work is going to pay off, and they will be very successful in their endeavors.

Brandon Placke, a senior on the team, says, “The team is looking pretty good and we’re looking for-ward to what should shape up to be a good season.”

Optimism is a key factor in the game, as with any other sport. Players need to believe that they are ca-pable and will win. Confidence, just as well, is another major aspect of playing a great round.

According to sophomore Cassidy Erickson, “Believing that you can do it is probably one of the best

things you can do for your game. Golf is 90% mental and only 10% physical.”

In golf, there are several components that trans-form a player from good to great, from fine, to fantastic. The main two, however, seem to be driving and putting. The best way to begin a hole is with an outstanding drive, heading straight down the fairway. Drives with direction are essential to playing a low number of shots on any given hole. Furthermore, putting has proven to be even more important than having a perfect drive.

As said by senior, Ryan Smitz, “Putting is the most important aspect of the game. If you are not hit-ting your driver and irons as well as you should be, you can always make up for it on the greens.”

All in all, the golf players here at Bloomingdale are ready for an exciting season full of victory, and are ready to display their Bull Pride against every school they face.

What Was The Prior Exemption Policy?

The exemption policy allowed students to opt out of four exams 1st semester and 3

exams 2nd semester, if they attended all classes achieving

perfect attendance.

Sophomore, Kathryn Haase and Junior, Kelsey Lay double check their tests before turning them in.

Chipping It In

Senior Griffin Isabel putts in a par, while team mate and fellow senior, Brandon Placke converses with him over the shot.

By: Sloane Hovan

By: Tracy Mare

Bloomingdale High School1700 E. Bloomingdale Ave., Valrico, FL 33596

Volume XX September/October 2009

Faced with the threat of a swine flu outbreak, Hillsborough County decides to modify the exam exemption policy

in-briefshort. sweet. to the point.

2

The revival of a dying art: creativity. You have probably never heard of Imagine before. It was hanging by a thread last year and the year before it was nonexistent. Imagine is an art maga-zine consisting of drawings, stories, poems, and photography; anything you can think of really, it doesn’t matter as long as it lies within a creative genre. Currently, Imagine staff members are having a cover contest. If you submit your work and win, not only will your art be featured on the cover of the Imagine magazine, but there will be a prize too! A new addition this year is the place-ment of a lock box in the Media Center. This is to ensure your artwork will be safe. There will be a slit in the top of the box for you to put your submissions through. If your art work is too large, please bring it to room 272. There is no limit on submissions, so do your best and submit as much and as often as you like.

Aries: (03-21/04-19)Explore the open.

Go out and do something for you, get away from the constant grind of everyday work. You may want to shelve your ordinary rou-tine for the day and explore your options. Whatever you do, make sure you do it with you in mind. Ultimately, re-lieve yourself of stress.

Taurus: (04-20/05-20)

It takes great effort to listen and understand oth-ers’ point of view. If your focus is on others, your understanding will enable you to fit into any group. This ability is helpful in any job. If you do not make this effort, your day will most likely be filled with difficul-ties.

Gemini: (05-21/06-21)

You are unique and you should appreciate the fact that you are different. When given a gift that can help your life, use it or you will have wasted a great op-portunity. Understand this and use it accordingly so you don’t fret about today and tomorrow.

Cancer: (06-22/07-22)

Take time for both your social and self fulfill-ing needs. On one hand you need to hang out with friends, but on the other you need to focus on you and all the things in your life that need a little taking care of. Today plan a nice day out with a couple of friends, but also find some space where you can spend a couple hours alone.

Leo: (07-23/08-22)Prove to someone

you have what it takes, to do what they are asking of you. Go into it knowing that you are confident enough in yourself, and in your work. Humbly, show what you have without overselling it, and everything should work out fine.

Virgo: (08-23/09-22)You are the man (or

woman) in charge. This is your time to take control of your future and do some-thing good for you. It is a ample time to push forward with something new. You will find yourself really ef-fective out in front, lead-ing your peers by example. Take control.

Libra: (09-23/10-22)Make up your mind.

Overanalyzing situations will not help you out this week. Need a simple solu-tion? Try making quicker, more efficient decisions, even on things in your life that do not hold the utmost importance.

Scorpio: (10-23/11-21)

When things in your life are cluttered and cha-otic it is hard for the stars to shine through the mess. Clean your windows, and clean your head. Calm down and allow fate to take its course. Allow things to happen, or on the contrary, not happen. Everything does happen for a reason.

Sagittarius: (11-22/12-21)s

Today you need to fo-cus on all of your short term and long term endeavors, because they could really pay off. Instead of slacking off because you think you have won the game before it is over, take the time to double check your position in the game and if you can improve, do so. Go the dis-tance to complete the race.

Capricorn (12-22/01-19)

Don’t allow your pride to stand in the way of your success. When you are stuck, sometimes the only way out of a tough rut is to get some help. Those who take advantage of the help around them have a higher success rate because they do not waste time trying to figure out how to free them selves.

Aquarius (01-20/02-18)

Every now and then, things can really hit home and cause you to seriously examine your place in the world. Perhaps it is time to set your sights even high-er. If you make commit-ments, however, you must stay determined and follow through with them.

Pisces (02-19/03-20)Pushy people may be

pushing you beyond your limits. It is wise to remem-ber that no one can take ad-vantage of you unless you allow them to. If you find that everyone is taking you for granted and expecting more and more, speak up and voice your opinion.

Horoscopes By: Kelsey Rodriguez

Compiled By: Kathryn Haase

Imagine: Literary

MagazineBy: Sierra Reynolds

advertising3

in-briefshort. brief. to the point.

4

Fresh faces, fresh attitudes. Here at Bloomingdale we have acquired new teachers, with dominating resumes. First, I would like to introduce Mr.Chatman. He graduated from Kathleen High School in Lakeland, with a scholarship to the University of Florida. While attending, Mr. Chatman studied Sociology and played basketball for the Gators. He is currently in his sixth year of teaching and enjoys cooking and reading materials about restaurants and business. Although Mr. Chat-man does not have any children, he expresses the love for his students and adopts them as his own. When I asked Mr. Chatman what he would like to say to his stu-dents and others attending Bloomingdale he explained the need for all here at Bloomingdale to “take advantage of the good situations and opportunities here, and don’t take things for granted.” All of the members and writers on the Crimson Times staff, and all Bloomingdale students and staff should extend their hellos and welcome Mr. Chatman.

Welcome New Teachers!By: Kelsey Rodriguez and Sloane Hovan

Ms. Howard graduated from Carman-Ainsworth High School then the Uni-versity of Michigan-Flint in 2003. Also, while attending the University of Michigan, she studied English, and now joins our forces here at Bloomingdale as a freshman English teacher. She enjoys cooking- specifically Indian food, and reading Science Fiction novels. Aside from cooking and reading, she enjoys taking photos in black and white of England’s castles. Ms. Howard would like to share with the bulls at Bloomingdale some words of encouragement, “It’s not the critic that counts- there is always going to be a critic, but allow your own voice to guide you.” All of the members and writers on the Crimson Times staff, and all Bloomingdale students and staff should extend their hellos and also welcome Ms. Howard.

Mr. Chatman

Ms. Howard

Mr. Booth

Mr. Booth teaches American History and helps coach the football team as the Offensive Coordinator. His brother, known to most students as Coach Booth, is the Head Football coach and also a Physical Education teacher.

Booth is an alumni of MidAmerica Nazarene University and says his pastimes include playing flag football and watching Michigan Wolverine football games. When he was in high school his favorite class was World History and he participated in football, basketball and track.

The passion for academics and sports seems to run in the family. “My twin brother teaches and coaches, and I have a sister that teaches in Hills-

borough County,” states Mr. Booth. Granted, having two new teachers/coaches with the same last name can be quite

confusing; usually this Mr. Booth is referred to as “The Social Studies one”. Again, all of the members and writers on the Crimson Times staff, and all Bloom-

ingdale students and staff should extend their hellos and welcome Mr. Booth.

sports&clubs.practice. play. engage.

5

What is a great way to spend your Friday nights? Supporting your Bulls football team, of course! Come out with your friends and family and help cheer on our team. They are off to a rough start, but with their hard work and dedication, they are ready to lead their team to a winning season.

Junior, Christian Kerr, offen-sive left tackle, discusses the work they put into the new and improved foot-ball team: “With as much work as we put into the summer, I’d be shocked if we didn’t do even better than last year. The team as a whole is, by far, more disciplined and organized this year.” Kerr also says, “We believe in ourselves and refuse to lose.”

The football team has extremely high expectations this year. Although the offense may be struggling right now, they are only going to get better from here. The Bulls are determined to have a winning season.

The Bulls are also ready to take on new teams every week through their strong defense. They have been work-ing on their defense all summer. The Bulls have been lifting weights numer-ous amounts of times in order to gain strength so they can win against other schools. Between pushing tires and running sprints, our Bulls are ready to

take on the new school year with a new attitude.

“We are definitely going to have a winning season,” says sophomore, Jackson Smigiel, defensive end. Smigiel adds, “The head coach is strong in believing in us. Coach Jen-kins is a very intimidating coach, but is making us better athletes.” The de-fense is extremely proud of the way they played in the pre-season game against Wharton, as well as the first game against Lennard.

The support of the fans is a must. Every Friday, come out and wear red, white, and black to show your support for the football team. With the loud cheering of the fans, the football team gets energized and pumped up for the game. The louder you cheer, the more energy our Bulls will gain!

Senior, Sean Sullivan, safety, said, “I really think we will be better than last year. We put a lot of work into this past summer. All of the kids on the team have changed their atti-tudes and perspectives about every-thing.” He is extremely excited for the new season.

After a summer of hard work, the Bulls football team is ready to charge to victory for the 2009-2010 season!

The volleyball team, though off to a rough start, is expecting a good season this year. Their first two games against Durant and Newsome High School were very close, but just not close enough. The team also has two injured players, Brittney Sterling, and Sierra Gonzales. Both of which will hopefully be back and ready to play mid season. Not only do they have injured players, but the team lost over half of its players who were all seniors last year. Even with these elements working against them, the girls are determined to fight all year long.

First year varsity player and sophomore, Lind-say Miller says, “We work so hard at practice every single day, and it really helps that all the girls are such great friends. I think it really shows on the court.”

The fan support also helps at games. With games bringing in an al-most full student and parent section, the girls are being supported each and every step of the way. Senior, Kevin

Albert, even went as far as to dance around in a gorilla mask to get the girls psyched to play one of Bloom-ingdale’s biggest rivals Newsome High School. After Newsome won the first two games, the Bull’s made a mas-sive come-back by winning the third

game. But by the time the fourth game came around, the exhausted girls slowly lost their lead letting the Wolves win the extensive, ac-tion-packed game.

Returning varsity player and sophomore, Allie McFee says, “It’s really great to be with the team again. Even outside of school we do a lot of things together, and have team bond-ing stuff all the time. I’m close with all the girls on the team, and I think that our relation-ships help with com-

munication on the court.” When it comes to the game of

volleyball it’s about talking and be-ing ready for anything on the court, and our Bull’s have all of that. If they continue to work hard at practice and leave everything on the court. This will be one great season.

Are you interested in joining a club where you work with others to leave lasting impressions on the world we live in today? To make a difference in the lives of others and in the com-munity? Formerly known as the “Fel-lowship of Christian Athletes”, Bloom-ingdale’s “Legacy” is an organization similar to FCA, but with a fresh new outlook on the purpose of the club. Last year, FCA was headed up by Coach Hess. While changing club names, the club sponsor has now changed too. Coach John Booth is the new spon-sor of Legacy, and holds the position of

Head Football Coach for our Bulls. When asked about his experience

with Legacy so far, Booth responded, “I’m really excited about it. I think it still has that FCA feel to it. Our purpose now is to incorporate everyone, not just athletes, teaching morals, ethics, and how to become upstanding citizens, while strengthening our faith at the same time.”

Club meetings are usually set up to simulate youth services that take place at some of the local churches. Meetings include band performances, student singers and guest speakers.

Aside from club meetings, Leg-acy has many other activities that its members may participate in. “See You At The Pole” is an event taking place around 6:30 AM, out at the football stadium. Students gather to pray about anything that is on their minds, for po-litical leaders, and for their school. An-other function that Legacy engages in, is a breakfast once a week before school with other members from the club.

Junior Sam Landrum spoke about his feelings toward the club and its activities. “I’m very excited for the opportunity to have a church-like set-

ting in school. The encouragement is great because you’re reminded of what you stand for, even at school, where it is sometimes easy to forget.”

When joining a club at Bloom-ingdale, it is important to look around and discover what interests you. Being around others who support you proves extremely beneficial to high school stu-dents, and is also a great way to make new friends. Before you join a club, ask yourself what you stand for and what you want to be remembered for when you leave this school.

The girls volleyball team, playing their opponents on our home court.

The Bulls went on defense, to hopefully stop the ball and force a turnover. Unfortunately, they loss to Wharton in their pre-season game.

Refuse to Lose

Serving Up Success

Something Worth Leaving Behind

“I’m close with all

the girls on the

team, and I think

that our relation-

ships help with

communication

on the court.”

-Allie McFee

By: Kelsey Lay

By: Kathryn Haase

By: Tracy Mare’

entertainmentwhat. really. matters.

6

Welcome Back Stress for the Dress

By: Emily Guthy

By: Kelsey Lay

What look are you going for this year? How are you getting your hair done? What col-or are you getting your nails painted? Who are you going to the dance with? Everyone wants to look their best for homecoming. Trying to find the perfect look is extremely hard whether you are female or male.

Most of the students cannot wait until homecoming because they are ready to show off what they bought.

Senior, Kelly Johnson says, “I am wearing a purple animal print dress. I absolutely cannot wait to eat dinner and go dancing with all of my friends.”

A l t h o u g h many students have already had their dresses for a while, the ma-jority of Bloomingdale’s students are buying their homecoming dresses from Windsor (in the Westfield mall). This trendy store has numer-ous people buying all kinds of dresses.

Junior, Taylor Lipsey stated, “I found my dress at Windsor. It is white with a black band around the dress and green at the bottom.” Make sure you get your favorite dress before time runs out!

Deciding if you are going to homecoming

The Sound of Music will be Bloomingdale’s musical this year. It will be directed by Mrs. Buck, who is taking over for Mrs. Radebaugh, who has been in charge of the musical productions in the past. Rehears- als have taken place nearly every day af- ter school for the main cast since audi- tions were held in late August.

According to the cast, rehearsals have been productive so far. “It’s a lot of hard work,” said Tony Buckley, a senior, who will play Max, in the show. “When November 19 rolls around, it’s gonna be great.”

Students with smaller parts have been working hard as well. “I have a minor role, but it’s still a lot of fun to see all of the tal- ent we have in the show,” says Bran- don Nelson, a sophomore. Nelson will play Franz, the butler.

Jillian Bo- yar, also a sopho-more, who will be one of the festival contestants, said that despite prior misgivings she was “so excited to be in The Sound of Music. It really isn’t lame at all.”

For many of the cast members, The Sound of Music will be their first time on stage. Colin Neal, a freshman, will be playing Kurt in the musical. Neal said, “I love get- ting to come after school every day. We have some very good singers and ac- tors in the musi-cal.”

Unlike last year, of course, The Sound of Music will be performed in the fall, on No- vember 19th, 20th and 21st. “I hope a lot of people remem-ber to come see the show, since it’s not going to be in the spring like it usually is,” said Buckley, who is also a publicity representative for the Thespian Club.

The Sound of MusicBy: Emily Guthy

with a date or with a large group of friends is a hard decision to make each year. Many teens go on a date with their boyfriend or girlfriend and have a great time. Although that may be fun, going in a group is equally fun. Dancing and having a great time with

many friends is excit-ing, as well.

Senior, Devon McFayden decided, “I am going with my bros and some fine looking women.”

Many students are not only pumped up for the homecom-ing dance, they are also extremely excited about the whole week. The homecoming football game against Plant City is going to pump up our Bulls for an awesome

Friday night. Make sure you participate in the fun-filled week that is ahead by coming out to the game dressed up to show your school spirit.

Homecoming 2009 is going to be the best yet. Even though some might be stressed to find the perfect dress, or to decide who to go to the dance with, in the end, it’s all about having fun. Have a rockin’ homecoming, Bulls!

opinion&editorialtalk. think. voice.

7

Dear Crimson Times...By: Sloane Hovan

Ask and you shall receive. Advice that is.A school newspaper should not only inform the

student body, but communicate with them as well. This means we want to hear from you!

Two staff writers, Kathryn Haase and I, are resurrecting the advice column from the dead. It will be a special portion of the paper set aside for the stu-dents and their questions.

Why bring back an advice column? High school is challenging. Every day teenagers face situations that require a wide range of decision making. Whether it be choosing how many times to take the SAT, or decid-ing whether or not to eat the questionable lunch your mom keeps packing you, we all face the same obstacles at this age, so why not write about them?

Best of all, the advice would be coming from peo-ple like you, who could understand your perspective on things. Behind in make-up work this week and feel-ing a bit stressed? Been there, done that. The staff here is ready and willing to give you honest, thoughtful, and

possibly hilarious responses.Each edition of the Crimson Times will select a

few reader submissions to be featured in the paper. The rest of your submissions will be placed online. However, we need people to ask for advice first! There can be no advice column without advice seekers.

Questions or concerns can be dropped off in room 272, preferably during 4th period, or in room 244 throughout the day. Names are in no way neces-sary. An anonymous question is perfectly fine!

So, next time you’re sitting at lunch ruminating over that second failed math test or that spat you had with a close friend – write about it and submit your stories or questions! We’d love to tell it like it is.

Hey Bulls! This year the Newspaper Staff will be introducing a few new ideas to better the paper and get you involved! The staff is looking forward to having an interactive paper that helps the students and involves everyone attending Bloomingdale High. Here are some of our new ideas: Classifieds: Looking to sell, buy, or find something? This is the place for you! In this section you can place “For Sale” ads or “Looking For” ads. This is a perfect place to advertise anything you have for sale. Need to sell your car? Find a new home for your beloved pet? Or find something you have been longing for? This is the perfect opportunity to get the word out to our student and faculty base in order to

sell or find a product! The pricing is 10¢ a word, and we will print an efficient and eye-catching ad that will surely get you noticed. See Ms. Melton in room 244 or 272 for details! Shout Out’s: The Newspaper Staff is also introducing a Shout-Out Column, where you can send a message to your friend, teacher, or boyfriend/girlfriend. This is perfect for birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, or any special occasion, with the low price of 10¢ a word. If you would like to purchase a shout-out, see Ms. Melton or any one of the Crimson Times staff members. Be Involved!: If you have an awesome picture, interesting story, or opinion on any one of our

articles, don’t be afraid to let us know! Submit your picture, story, or opinion to Ms. Melton in room 244 or 272 and see it possibly printed in the next issue of the Crimson Times. This is an excellent opportunity to get your voice heard by all at Bloomingdale High School! These are just a few of the new ideas the Crimson Times will be implementing in order to create a better newspaper for everyone here at Bloomingdale. If you have a new idea for an article or want to see something covered in more detail, submit all of your ideas for consideration to Ms. Melton in room 244 or 272 or any member of the Crimson Times.

New Ideas For A New YearBy: Sarah Binkerd

Complied By: Emily Guthy

Looking for H2O

focus on youschool. work. life.

8

By: Sarah Binkerd

Nothing is more heartbreaking for a teen-ager than finding the perfect purchase; the cutest heels, the rarest football jersey available, or the perfect gift for a significant other, and realizing that this great buy cannot be yours for the simple fact that you are broke. It is extremely difficult for a teenager to find a job in today’s economy, as peo-ple are holding tight to their jobs in order to pay the bills. Here are a few tips and an interview with a Manager that can give you rare insight into the world of business. Whether applying at McDon-alds or Olive Garden, these tips will help you find a job.

Create a resume: A resume says on paper everything that you are capable of. Construct a resume using a simple Word Document, using concise and clean sen-tences that answer the question at hand. You want to come across as a professional, dedicated worker who will deliver the ut-most level of skill. When you fill out an ap-plication, bring your resume and a paper clip with you so that you can attach your resume to their application. This will make you stand out from the other applicants.

Go-Sees: Get out there! Drive around in your area and look for potential work-places. Once you have spotted a place of interest, go inside and ask to speak to the Manager of the establishment. If the Man-ager is not present at the time, politely ask when he/she will be available, and come back at that time. If the Manager is avail-able, introduce yourself and ask if applications are available. You want to let the Manager know you exist, let them meet you, or else you will just be another name on a piece of paper. Be sure to dress professionally, slacks and button-down shirts are perfect. Girls: Wear clean-looking makeup, noth-ing too dramatic.

Call Back: Once you have filled out an appli-cation and have turned it in to a Manager along with your resume, you will either be asked to

come back for an interview, or thanked for coming. If the Manager thanks you for com-

ing in, return the gesture by thanking him/her and shaking hands. Go back 1-2 weeks later and ask again to speak to a manager and talk about a potential job opening. Bug them! If they are look-ing for a committed employee, they will take your perseverance as a good thing, and you might be offered a position. If asked to return for an inter-view, get ready!

Interview Tips: Dress professionally. Boys and girls alike should wear formal slacks with a button-down or semi-formal shirt. Girls, same make-up tip. Clean and simple, don’t be too dra-

matic. Practice answering potential questions with a parental figure, as they likely have practice be-ing the subject of an interview. Make sure that you have clean, concise answers ready for your poten-tial boss. That way when you go to your interview, you will be prepared and ready for anything they will ask.

Don’t Give Up!: Even if you never get to the interview stage, or don’t get offered a position af-ter an interview, think positively! Keep trying at

different places until you find the right place for you. You will never get a job unless you keep trying and being persistent, so don’t lose hope.

Now that you have some tips to get you on your way to being an employee, you need to know exactly what a Manager is looking for in an em-ployee. Here is an interview with Christine Kei-jers, Manager of the Valrico Dunkin Donuts.

SB: Thanks for sitting down with me off the

clock! It’s great that you want to help our news-paper!

CK: No problem, Sarah.SB: So what do you look for in a potential

employee?CK: I look for a hard worker, someone

who will show up on time and cover their shifts. I don’t mind hiring teenagers, but I ex-pect them to act like adults when they come in to work.

SB: What do you read off of a person by the first impression?

CK: I get an overall opinion of a person from a first impression. I see how they dress for an important opportunity, and how they will carry themselves in a work environment. How they talk to me and answer my questions is also something I pay attention to, because that is how they will talk to the customers. I generally have an idea of if I want to hire someone or not after they first interview, so it is very important for potential employees to come prepared.

SB: Do you have any advice for teenag-ers looking for a job in today’s economy?

CK: Get out there and apply, apply, apply. Keep trying until you are successful. Be mature and respectful to any potential manager, and pre-pare for an interview you may have. Eventually, will patience and dedication, you will find a job.

SB: Well thank you for your insight! This is going to be very helpful to any teen looking for a source of income.

CK: You are very welcome, Sarah.

Taylor Booker, 12, prepares an order at the Valrico Dunkin Donuts

How to Land a Job

ACT and SAT News

By: Kelsey Rodriguez

As our junior and senior years continue we are all faced with the grueling task of taking the SAT and/or the ACT. I’m here to give you some general information about each test to guide you in making the correct choice on which test would best fit you.

Let’s begin with the SAT. The cost of the SAT is $43.00 per test, and includes a mandatory timed writing. This test is approximately 3 hours and 45 minutes long; the 45 minutes are reserved for the writing portion. This test penalizes you for guessing, so if you can’t eliminate at least 2 of the answer choices, omit the question. In each of the sections the questions descend from easiest to hard-est. This test entails Critical Reading (sentence level reading), Mathematics (numbers and operations, algebra 1& 2, functions, geometry, statistics, prob-ability and data analysis), and also Writing (mul-tiple choice grammar and usage). Throughout the test sections, you collect a number of points (you earn more points for answering the harder ques-tions correctly), totaling your final score in the end. The maximum score is 2400. The SAT is a difficult test, which measures your academic achievement

in Critical Reading, Mathematics, and a required timed Writing. If you are not a good writer, chances are you would be more interested in the ACT.

The ACT does not require you to write an essay but includes a section on science. If you opt to take this test, the cost is $30.00; it is an additional $14.50 to add the writing portion. Remember the writing portion is strictly optional, and if you chose not to participate in the writing, it does not affect

your score whatsoever. The ACT is entirely multi-ple-choice, with no guessing penalty. Each section has either easy or hard question, but are not in any order. The difficulty of questions is mixed through-out each section. This test time is approximately

3 hours without the writing portion. The ACT has more to do, essentially. This test includes sections on the following: English (usage/mechanics and rhetorical skills), Mathematics (pre-algebra, el-ementary algebra, intermediate algebra, geometry, and trigonometry), Reading (humanities, natural science, prose fiction, and social studies), and last-ly Science (biology, chemistry, physics, and earth space science).

If you chose to take the SAT here are some dates for you to arrange your early Saturday wake up, 10/10 (Bloomingdale campus), 11/7, 12/5(Bloomingdale campus), 1/23, 3/13 (Bloom-ingdale), 5/1, and 6/5(Bloomingdale campus)

And for those of you interested in the ACT, here are some dates for you to rise with the sun -- 9/12 (Bloomingdale campus), 10/24, 12/12, 2/6, 4/10, and 6/12.

Each test has a deadline for registration, so choose the day you want online at www.college-board.com/testing.

Whether you take the SAT or the ACT (or both), remember that you have help all around you to make the outcome successful. Take advantage of every opportunity available. Colleges’ look at both SAT and ACT scores. So, if you have a particular col-lege in mind you might want to check and see which test they prefer, some do not mind and others look for a certain test and a certain score. Taking both tests is an advantage. Keep in mind that you can take these tests as many times as you need to obtain the score you want to send out on your transcripts. If you have any questions see your guidance coun-selor or ask a teacher for answers. Good luck.