Volume 62 Issue 14 - Fort Myers High School

Landscaping class learns to care for individual gardens
by Melissa Hubble and Corinne Bowden
Landscaping class works outside.
The Landscaping class here at Fort
Myers High School began in August 2007
Congratulations to the
following Academy of
Finance students
Danny Cheng has been selected to attend
the Minority Summer Residency Program
(sponsored by Florida Institute of Certified
Public Accountants) at USF this summer.
Samantha Nolet has been selected to
attend the CEO Academy (sponsored by
Junior Achievement) at FGCU this summer.
when they began to clear
out the greenhouse or “The
Jungle” as many call it.
The class helps
students learn to grow
and maintain a variety of
lawn and garden plants.
Each student is to plant
and care for his or her
individual garden inside
the greenhouse. Mr.
Hebner is the instructor for
the two classes, which each
consists of ten students.
In the class, the students
work around the school,
and maintain ornamental
plants and establish garden areas. They
cultivate plants for campus and maintain
a personal garden plot in the greenhouse.
In the greenhouse, they plant seedlings
and vegetable plots. The three main areas
they work on include the small garden on
the North end of the G-wing, outside the
windows of the Art Department, and around
the pond area. The biggest project they have
completed so far is a $1,259.25 project to
beautify the “grassy knoll” in front of the
science building. Students are evaluated on
their garden plot (general care and condition)
as well as task completion and initiative.
All of the work is done on the school
campus, but Mr. Hebner says that he must
leave campus to secure the supplies necessary
for the class. The students work hard to
maintain their potted plants and greenhouse
plots. The landscaping students are
working hard to make FMHS even greener.
Dancing with the stars!
Aries, March 21-April 19 - This week will be full of ups and downs. You may be graduating or maybe you’re just trying to make it through
the next few weeks of school. Try to stay positive when things aren’t going your way, and appreciate it when they are.
Taurus, April 20-May 20 - You are going to find this week that, everyone around you seems more approachable and friendly. If you have
been trying to work up the nerve to ask someone out, or just start talking to a new person, this is the week to do it!
Gemini, May 21-June 21 - It’s time to stop stifling your creativity. Open your eyes to what’s around you and you will discover a world full
of inspiration for your next creative project. Don’t let the monotony of everyday life stop your originality from shining through.
Cancer, June 22-July 22 - This week is going to bring you much unexpected excitement. You will find yourself trying things you never
thought you would do, and participating in fun extracurricular activities.
Leo, July 23-August 22 - You may be more emotional this week, getting upset over little things may occur. Don’t let it worry you; you will
be back to normal again in no time at all.
Virgo, August 23-September 22 - You will find that people around you are going to be getting on your nerves this week. They aren’t
necessarily behaving any different, so maybe you should take a look at what might be changing in yourself.
Libra, September 23-October 22 - Make sure you pay attention to details this week because if you don’t you might not complete the task
at hand. If you get the small details you will be sure to get the big picture. Stay on task and stay focused and everything should go exactly as
planned.
Scorpio, October 23-November 21 - You are in a playful mood and should hang out with the people that are willing to play along. You
may not always be this outgoing, so take advantage of this and do things you won’t normally do, talk to people you don’t normally talk to. It
will be a fun experience for you and maybe this feeling will start to grow on you.
Sagittarius, November 22-December 21 - A life changing event has happened to you. It may be for the better or even for the worst, but it
certainly has changed you view on life. Take time to soak it all in and learn to cope with this change. Everything may not be the same but
you will be just fine.
Capricorn, December 22-January 19 - You have to learn to let go. Something has happened that you just can’t stop thinking about.
Everything happens for a reason so just accept that and move on. It might be a certain event that has happened or even a person. Learn to
move on and make the best of every situation
Aquarius, January 20-February 18 - As the end of the school year approaches, you are starting to slack off a little on your school work. It
happens to the best of us, but what you need to do is try and keep up. Don’t let your grades slip too much or you will have nothing to show
for all your previous hard work.
Pisces, February 19-March 20 - This week is not going well. Your mind seems to be in a whole other place. Stay on track and don’t lose
focus. The week will be gone before you know it and your mind will wonder back to reality.
Eric Ambert, Laura Bisbee (Editor), Caleb Boulton,
Corinne Bowden, Jordan Brown, Noelia Cruz,
Amina Forrest, Morgan Frink, Eddie Hardiman,
Alex Hillberry, Melissa Hubble, Brittany Idlette,
Michele Kappas (Editor), Drew Kelly, Lynanne Lowry,
Louis Mausser, Dakendo Michel, Jessica Norris, Dan-
iela Patino, Annisha Price, Brittany Ratliff,
Michael Resnick, Monika Simic, Jonathon Swanson,
Jay Valentine, Austin Yorski
Tidal Wave Newspaper
Published by
FMHS Journalism Classes.
For more information about
advertising in the
Tidal Wave Newspaper,
please contact
Mrs. Carmen Weigel,
Newspaper Advisor
at 239-334-2167, ext. 159.
Principal, David LaRosa
Athletic/Activities Director, Joni Logan
2635 Cortez Blvd
Fort Myers, FL 33901
Copyright 2008
Newsweek has named
Fort Myers High among the
nation’s best 1,300 public schools.
Fort Myers High School
ranked 135th.
FMHS Choral Department CD’s
For Sale!
Falling Through Ceilings
by Influx and Verdigris
If Interested Contact:
Mr. Matthew Koller, Director
239-334-2167 ext. 126
or by e-mail at
matthewcko@leeschools.net
CD’s are only $10.00
Come out and support our
Green Wave Football Team
Spring Football
Home vs. Riverdale
Tonight!
7:30 p.m.
The Top Ten SMART GOALS
for summer vacation:
10. Swim a mile.
9. Mend a broken heart.
8. Arrange a blind date for a
friend.
7. Respect your parents.
6. Teach a child to read.
5. Get a life.
4. Order a pizza with everything
on it and really enjoy it.
3. Apply for a summer job or
volunteer.
2. Learn a new skill.
1. Say something nice to some
one everyday, and smile!
May 30, 2008 Volume 62, Issue 14
Mock Trial team finishes 5th in the state
Members experience justice first hand
by Monika Simic and Corinne Bowden
Natalie Watson, SGA President
Goals for next year: “My goals for
next year are to make SGA stand
out more and to have more
participation from everyone.”
Why did you want this position?
“SGA’s my thing, and I had prior
experience in middle school.”
Quote: “We’ve already started
preparing and hopefully it will
be one of the best Homecoming
weeks and we will leave a mark!”
Jillian Moore, SGA Vice President
From April 10 to April 12 in Orlando, FL, the Florida Law Related Education
Association held a Mock Trial Competition. This year’s case involved the defendant,
Marla Manning, being charged by the state with possession, manufacturing or
cultivating cannabis, along with child neglect. “When you’re given a case, you
have to set up a strategy for both sides of the case,” says junior Haley Hudler.
Teams of students throughout the state were organized, along with their teachers and attorney
coaches and were to build arguments for both the prosecution and defense sides
of the case. They then presented their opinions to a board of judges. “Not only
do students experience how justice is administered, they also improve on
their speaking, analysis, and critical thinking skills,” said Noel Lawrence,
president of the Florida Law Related Education Association, Inc. board of
directors. The Fort Myers High Mock Trial team finished 5th in state. After
four rounds, four teams were 3 and 1, while only one team was 4 and 0. The
winner of the finals will advance to represent the state of Florida in the National
High School Mock Trial Competition. That will be held this month in Texas.
“It is very entertaining, fun, and intellectually stimulating presenting
a case. We were the first team in Lee County to go to states. We are
very pleased with our performance overall,” says junior Steven Waldorf.
During the Senior Awards Program held on April 29, 2008, Ingrid Tojanci
was awarded the Henderson Franklin Law Academy Scholarship. During
her four years here at FMHS, Ingrid participated in the mock trial
competition, completed two college law courses at Edison College,
and a judicial internship. She plans to continue her education this fall
at the University of Florida and would like to attend law school.
To become part of the Mock Trial team, you must take the Law
Studies course offered here and you must take two classes at
Edison or FGCU. If you have any questions regarding the Law Academy, you may see Mr. Wright in room F230.
Principal Mr. LaRosa congratulating Senior Ingrid Tojanci for winning the
Henderson Franklin Law Academy Scholarship.
SGA officers plan for 08-09 school year
by Michele Kappas and Louis Resnick
Left to Right: Carl Rios, Brittany Idlette, Jillian Moore, Natalie
Watson, Michele Dueease, Barbara DePena
Goals for next year: My goals for next year are to have a good homecoming week and more
school participation.” Why did you want this position? “I like having a part in the school,
I’m excited to work with the students, and have this leadership role.” Quote: “I’m looking
forward to a good senior year!”
Brittany Idlette, SGA Secretary
Goals for next year: “My goals for next year are to bring more diversity to SGA and to unite
the staff and students bringing everyone together to focus on FMHS.” Why did you want
this position? “I felt like I could make my goals happen. I see where there are needs and I
want to fulfill them!” Quote: “I would love for this to be a year that’s never forgotten!”
Barbara DePena, SGA Treasurer
Goals for next year: “My goal for next year is to make it the best year for everyone in the
school and to meet needs of everyone here at FMHS.” Why did you want this position?
“I’ve been in SGA since 9th grade, and I really liked the program. I’m enjoying myself. It’s
a really big honor to help around the school.” Quote: “I think this will be our best year yet!”
Michele Dueease, SGA Historian
Goals for next year: “My goals for next year are to make the homecoming week a big
success and help to improve Pasta for Pennies.” Why did you want this position? “I didn’t
run. I got appointed because the president felt I would do a good job.” Quote: “I’m excited
for homecoming; it will be good this year.”
Carl Rios, SGA Historian
Goals for next year: “My goals for next year are to make the 08’-09’ year excellent and the
events that SGA is responsible for such as homecoming, Toys for Tots, Pasta for Pennies,
and Mr. Greenwave.” Why did you want this position? “Initially I had run for SGA vice
president, I did not win. I was elected as a representative and was chosen by the current
officers to take on the position of historian, to whom I am thankful for.” Quote: “I can’t
really tell you much about it, but I can say that next year will be the best year ever.”
FMHS
Graduation
Tomorrow!
May 31, 2008
7:30 p.m.
Lee County
Civic Center
Senior Michele
Kappas tries
on her
cap and
gown
O n
M a y
31, 2008,
graduating
seniors and
their families
are to
congregate
at the
Lee Civic
Center. The
center is located
about three miles East down Bayshore
Road at 11831 Bayshore Rd., North Fort
Myers, Florida 33917. Graduation begins
at 7 p.m. Speakers at the ceremony
will be Valedictorian Rachel Grattan,
Salutorian Lindsay Harenburg, and this
year’s IB speakers will be Adam Wright
and Frank Mysliki. The ceremony is
open for all and no tickets are needed.
Congratulations graduating Greenies!

Don’t bunt. Aim out of the ballpark. - David Ogilvy
What are your plans for the summer?
Brandon Boils, Freshman
Matt Helsel, Junior
Kiyanna Wingate, Sophomore
Taryn Shaw and Cheyanne Winebrenner, Freshman Jean Ventose, Freshman
“I am going to Kentucky for the summer.” “I am going skydiving with some friends and “I am working on my CAS hours and going to “We are hanging out and being best buds.” “I am going to summer football camp.”
rock climbing in Colorado.”
Miami to visit family and go shopping.”
Girls’ lacrosse team finishes
with a 10-1 record
by Morgan Frink and Daniela Patino
Girl’s lacrosse team comes together for half time photo by Morgan Frink
The girls’ lacrosse team, though not
officially a sports team here at FMHS, has
wrapped up another great season. The girls
ended with an amazing 10-1 record. The club
sport is an intense field game that some might
compare to hockey. This team sport is played
using a small, cement ball covered in rubber
and long handled lacrosse sticks with loose
netted pockets. Offensively, the goal of the
players is to get the ball into the opponent’s
net by passing and carrying the ball with the
crosse. The players also do a technique called
checking, which is bringing the lacrosse
sticks down on the opposing sides sticks to
knock the ball out of the other sides’ crosse.
When asked how senior captain, Bethany
Norman feels about lacrosse being a club,
and not an official sport, she says, “It’s hard,
because we have to pay a lot for the refs
and lining of the fields. Fortunately, lacrosse
is a growing club sport in SW Florida. In
a year or two it may become a sanctioned
sport, because it is the farther north you go
in Florida, like around the Orlando area.”
The girls’ lacrosse club, aka LAX, has had an
amazing team this year. With a mix of JV and
varsity, the players consist of, senior captain,
Bethany Norman at center mid., and junior
captain Kayla Delle at A-wing (mid). The rest
of the A-wing players are Mary Stufano (10),
Maggie Main (11), Lauren Dickenson (11),
and Alyssa Mauro (10). Madeline Thomas
(11), Alana Yallof (11), Ginny Goff (12),
Natasha Salman (12), Nicole Eagleston (12),
Amanda Hobbs (10), and Casey Hobbs (12) all
play home. The D-wing players are Katie Cole
(11), Taylor Mountain (11), Natasha Clinton
(9), Amber Mauro (11), Kristen Boothby (10),
Allison Gray (11), and Sydney Scodras (10).
Deep defenses players consist of Ashleigh
Dellinger (12),
Heather Griffith
(12), Staci
Belcher (10),
Trish Woolfe
(10), Madeline
Summa (10),
Molly Oak (9),
Kim Greenplate
(10), and
Melissa Flanjack
(9). The teams’
two goalies are
s o p h o m o r e s ,
S a m a n t h a
Miller, and Erin
M a c A r t h u r .
This season,
the girls played,
and defeated
Bishop Verot,
Cape, Riverdale, Gulf Coast, and Palmer
Trinity, with only a single loss to Barron Collier.
According to senior captain ,Bethany Norman,
“Everyone worked really well together as
a team this year.” Bethany has seen a lot of
improvement in their offense; they were taking
the ball to the goal a lot more and setting it
up behind the goal. The team had hoped to
make it past districts, but was defeated by
Bishop (their rival team), partially because the
captain was injured during practice, and many
of the girls were out of town for spring break.
After Bethany graduates, she plans to
continue with lacrosse in college. She will
be sending her stats to the University of
Florida and is going to try and walk on their
club team, which will be D1 soon! When she
leaves for college, she is expecting junior
captain, Kayla Delle, to step up and take her
place. “She will keep our defense strong along
with our “star” attack wing, Mary Stufano.”
Congratulations to the girls’ lacrosse team.
Summer camps help prepare for next season
Volleyball and Basketball summer camps will be at FMHS this summer... sign up now!
by Morgan Frink and Daniela Patino
As the school year comes to an end, clubs are
having their final meetings, seniors are saying
their goodbyes, and sports teams are packing up
their equipment…but wait! They aren’t packing
it all away. Volleyball and basketball are
going to be holding summer camp
programs at the high school so
interested students can improve
their skills in either sport.
The volleyball camp is
going to be run by the
FMHS volleyball coach,
Mrs. Stephanie Martin.
She sometimes brings in
college coaches or other
high school coaches to
run the camp as well.
Coach Martin has
been actively working
in the volleyball summer
camp program since
1995. The camp will run
July 30-August 1, from 8:00
a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Only middle
school and high school girls will be
permitted to attend the volleyball camp.
Coach Martin warns, “We have limited
space between the two gyms. We try to keep it
around 30-40 campers. It fills up quickly too!”
All the skills of volleyball will be practiced, as
well as team concepts of how to play the game.
The camp is meant to prepare you to be on the
high school team and improve your skills.
Dress code for the camp should consist of
volleyball apparel: shoes, knee pads, etc.
Bringing your own lunch and drinks
will be the responsibility of each camper.
If you are interested in participating in
the camp, you can see Coach Martin for
a brochure, or visit the school website.
The basketball camp run by Coach
Guttery, the FMHS basketball coaching
staff, and the varsity players will be held
June 23-26, from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.
Boys and girls entering grades 4th through
9th are welcome to join. Coach Guttery has
been working with the basketball camp for
four years. The basketball
c a m p teaches the fundamental
skills necessary for competing at the high
school level…and of course to have fun!
The 70 to 100 campers that will be
expected are going to be practicing a
variety of different basketball related skills.
They will be doing drills such as shooting,
defense, passing, rebounding, and dribbling.
Three on three games as well as five on
five games will be held, and “hot shot”,
“knock-out”, and “milcan” shooting
competitions will take place.
As for as the camp rules,
according to Coach Guttery,
“Campers should plan to
attend all four days. There are
no refunds for days missed.”
The proper attire will
be basketball shorts,
shoes, and a t-shirt.
As with the volleyball
camp, the campers should
either bring money to purchase a
lunch, or “brown-bag it.”
Interested students
can find brochures
for this camp at the
FMHS main office, or they
can register for the camp online at www.
summershootout.org. Both camps hope to
see many excited campers this summer!
drawing by Gabby Savoia
Coach O’Brien returns to
FMHS basketball
by Brittany Idlette
Former head varsity boys’ basketball
coach at Fort Myers High School, Ed O’
Brien( known as Coach OB) has decided
after taking a year off of coaching to return
as head girls’ varsity basketball coach.
Last year’s female basketball players were
called to the principal’s conference room
to hear the news first hand from Coach OB.
After waiting anxiously since the retirement
of their previous coach, the girls were
thrilled to find out who their new coach was.
“We can start working out earlier and go to
camps. It’s just a relief, and to know that Coach
OB has experience and is not someone just to fill
in the spot,” says upcoming senior, Sarah Cornell.
After coaching FMHS boys for six years,
he is very exited about working with his new
team. There were many who wanted to know
what urged Coach OB to return to what he has
done for several years. He responded with, “I
was itching to get back into coaching, it is a part
of me and why not coach at a school I love.”
Everything worked out for the best on
both ends. Coach OB returned to a passion,
gift and something he loves, while the girls
received a dynamic coach. Guard, Quanitra
Reid speaks with confidence saying, “I
am exited and confident about us having a
good season, Mr. LaRosa gave us a great
coach and I’m willing to work hard.”
Coach OB want the girls to come to
workouts, get in shape and have a positive
Coach Ed O’Brien
attitude because he wants to have a fun
season. The team responds, “Work us hard,
we are looking forward to a fun season!”
Once a Greenie, always a Greenie
by Louis Mausser
This year’s freshmen have successfully completed their first year of high school. Emma Denholtz
says, “Freshmen year was scary at first, but it wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be.” Remember
that sophomore year will be your easy year. So next year come back to school happy and
cheerful because you are no longer the new kids on the block and you don’t have to be called
“freshmen” anymore. This is unfortunate for the upcoming juniors who have just finished their
easy year and are about to enter their most important school year, academically of course.
Sophomores, hopefully you have all enjoyed your second year of high school. Most of you
learned how to drive your cars this year, and started to go out on your own without a ride from your
parents. Taylor Garret says, “The best part of sophomore year is not being a freshman anymore.”
Next year you can look forward to the invigorating AP-IB classes that you may or may not be taking,
and your chances for making the varsity sports teams significantly increases. Keep up the good work.
Juniors, congratulations you get to rule the school next year as seniors. This year you finished your
hardest school year. You have gained full respect as Greenies and you get to park in the senior lot.
Have fun next year and enjoy being the best and the most respected. Get into the college you
want and try not to fall under a serious case of senioritis. Adam McCain says, “Junior year
was extraordinary.” Gabby Savoia proclaims, “Junior year was Extra-Awesomely-Amazing!”
Seniors, even though you are off to graduation, have fun on your own, and be successful in
college and always remember, once a Greenie always a Greenie. Good luck in all that you do!
Have a great summer everyone and see you in August. Be sure to pick up your first issue of the
Tidal Wave when you get back to school in August and be ready for another fantastic school year.