By Nicky Macias

Chief of Graphic Design

Courtesy of Tijuanaflats.com

     When you walk into Tijuana Flats located at 14633 Miramar Parkway Miramar, FL 33027 you are immediately greeted and given a menu, you have many Tex-Mex items to chose from. You can dine in on the unsupported high stools or on the low-to-ground uncomfortable chairs or just simply take-out, the choice I recommend.

    Appetizers price ranges from 2 dollars to 4 dollars; all Appetizers include crunchy, fresh, perfectly salted chips. I recommend you order the Chips & Queso- $3.49 (Chips with a Jalapeno seasoned melted cheese)

   All entrees are made to order. If you are new to Tijuana Flats I recommend you order the ‘Pick 2’ deal- $8.99. The deal includes 2 choices from the following items: Burritos, Tacos, Chimichanga, Quesadilla, or Enchiladas. All dishes are served with a choice of Rice and Beans or Chips. Note that if you chose steak or carnitas as your meat it is an extra charge of $1. If you like your tacos Plain Jane like me, make sure you point out not to put any sauces on your tacos(all Tacos, Enchiladas, Burritos, and Chichangas have a secret sauce on it, quesadillas don’t have sauces on them) I ordered the Chicken Burrito and the Steak Chimichanga. Out of the two I preferred the Chimichanaga. The chicken burrito was a bit soggy and had a mystery sauce in which I didn’t like on my burrito, though the sauce went perfect with the steak.

   If you like sauces on your burritos, you should take a visit to the “Hot Bar” with over 15 sauces from ‘Sissy Sauce’ to ‘Death Wish’ located next to the register.

   A kids menu if available, all “Little Lizard” meals are $4.99 and includes chips, a soft drink, and a choice of Mott’s applesauce or a sweet treat. Items on the kids menu consists of: Burrito(beef, chicken, or bean), Taco(beef, chicken, or bean), Chicken Fingers, Quesadilla, or Nachos. If you are looking for a healthier choice try to make it PowerLite with low-fat cheese & fat-free sour cream on any item on the menu absolutely free! You can also make your flour tortilla, a whole wheat tortilla.

  Desserts are available: Churros or Cookie Dough Flautas. The Cookie Dough Flauta is a chocolate chip cookie dough loaded into a flour tortilla, lightly fried, and topped with powdered sugar, it is served with a hot fudge dipping sauce. I personally recommend getting the churros because the Flauta is a little to much, if your not one of those people, like I, who get stomach aches easily go ahead and order it!

 For service, the cashiers and managers were very friendly, though the chefs in the kitchen were very obnoxious and shouted and sang very often and were very distracting. Overall my experience at Tijuana Flats was enjoyable, I loved the food and the service was mediocre.

By Nicole Lage
Journalism Class Reporter

          Mr. Mireles has transitioned from being a teacher to being a counselor and is temporally taking over Mrs. Estomba’s job just until Mrs. Bermudez gets back from finishing her master’s degree.
          He said said he chose to be teacher because he loves children. He loves to help kids in their life. What he loves about counseling is that he gets to help kids out. Mr. Mireles says that he felt he had something to offer kids and that he had gone threw things that he can help other kids with. “You kids make me feel young!“ he said.

Most students who have had Mr. Mireles say they love him as a teacher and they also talk about how awesome he is.

“Mr. Mireles is one of the most amazing teachers that I have ever had. He touched my life in a way that no other teacher has,” said eighth-grader Matthew Bonachea.

He said his secret is to just love your job and to teach not what you find interesting but what the kids find interesting.

Mr. Mireles misses being a teacher and misses seeing kids every single day. The most challenging things he thought while being a teacher was doing things that the administration required. He didn’t really like it because it would stop him from teaching.

He taught Civics and Career Planning last year and has also taught African-American History, Law Studies, and U.S. History.

Before becoming a teacher, he worked down the street in Taco Bell for a few years. When he was studying to become a youth pastor, he went to college for 5 years, 1 year in Virgina in Liberty University 2 years in Miami-Dade College and 2 more years at Florida International University.

While talking to different kids every day, Mr. Mireles said he has gone threw every emotion you can think of, but he is an understandable person. If you ever need to go talk to Mr. Mireles, his office is in the main office upstairs, the last door to the right.

As a guidance counselor it depends on how many kids Mr. Mireles sees every day. If one day he has a lot of work and he is presenting something he may not even see kids for the whole day. If he is going to be in his office for most of the day he may see about 15 students.

By Matthew Bonachea
Chief of Web Design

    The taste of crisp, warm thin noodles, the sound of Chinese music playing in the background mixed with the sounds of people talking about their day, people coming over and filling up glasses with cold water. This is the everyday dinner service of Dragon Gate: Authentic Chinese Restaurant located on the southwest corner of Hiatus Road and Pines Boulevard.
    As you walk in you are greeted by seeing fish flapping their tails happily in the water. To your right, you can see some of the ornate dishware that this restaurant has for sale.
    After speaking with the host/hostess, he/she happily walks you to your table. Before I could blink, I had someone coming over to fill my glass with water. Moments later, our waitress came over to the table.
    I ordered the wonton soup for $2.25. My family and I love Chinese food, and this one for sure, is the best wonton soup I have ever had. There was a perfect balance of salt in the soup.
    For my entree I ordered 6 BBQ Ribs for $9.15. The rest of my family ordered Chicken with Deluxe Vegetables, $9.50, Sweet and Sour Pork, $10.25, and Chicken Lo Mein, $9.15.

Something that I really liked is when my Grandma ordered her Chicken with Deluxe Vegetables and asked for no MSG, the waitress said, “I’m sorry but that dish only comes with MSG.” My grandma was so happy that she didn’t just say OK and walk away, so this way she knows to go light on other high MSG foods.

When our entrees arrived one of the first things I realized was that my ribs needed more sauce. Even though it was my fault to not ask for more sauce on my ribs, I still feel that the amount that was on there was a little low. Besides that, the meat was amazingly cooked with a perfect tenderness to the meat.

The rest of the table summed up their meals with words like “Amazing.” and “Fantastic.” The only thing is that my Grandma said that her Chicken with Deluxe Vegetables could have used more of the white sauce.

So what do I say about this restaurant, well based on the fact we have ordered in from Dragon Gate twice already, it was really good. I would say 4.5 out of 5 stars.

The atmosphere was well kept, unlike many other Chinese restaurants. The food was amazing, and the staff was friendly and informed.

So if you get the craving for some Chinese food, go to Dragon Gate: Authentic Chinese Restaurant.

By Kayla Cueto
Journalism Class Reporter

New Somerset Panther teacher Alysha Casablanca describes herself as an energetic person. If Ms. Casablanca was compared to an animal she said she would be a “dolphin because they are playful, smarter than they look and they love the water.”

She takes that energy to the classroom by using interactive games and having a fun environment when she teaches Earth and Space Science, Biology,and Anatomy and Physiology to high school students. She plays the Animal Cell Game with her biology students.

“It is a fun way to review and learn about the functions and parts of an animal cell. I got a lot of positive responses about the game from my students and they were very competitive while playing,” explained Ms.Casablanca.

“The animal cell game was a crossword puzzle competition between two teams on each side of the room. The game helped me understand the animal cell better,” said Thalia Garcia a student Ms. Casablanca. Ms. Casblanca is teaching biology students about the history of a cell and how microscopes aid in the history of biology.

But school is not all fun and games for Ms.Casablanca. Some challenges she faces are classroom management, time managing, lesson plans, and meeting all the needs of her diverse learners.

“My favorite grade to teach is the 11th- and 12th-graders. I feel like it’s more of a responsibility to lead them to the right direction. I get to leave a last impression before they go to collage and start setting goals for their careers,” said Ms. Casablanca.

A quote Ms. Casablanca used when she was in high school was “fail to plan, plan to fail.”

“It made me realize you have to have good organization skills and time management in order to accomplish goals that may seem far from reach,” Ms.Casablanca said.

What got her interested in biology was that she was a pre-med student at Barry University. Ms. Casablanca also enjoys dissecting small insects and amphibians with her students in that subject.

           Ms. Casablanca was introduced to Somerset Academy when she came across the school while researching job openings on the computer. She has been teaching for three years.

“I enjoy the family setting, support from employees, parent interaction, diversity, and the safeness and organization of this school,” Ms. Casablanca said.

           “She is a outgoing, nice, funny, and talkative person,” said Thalia Garcia. “She let’s us talk and she gives alot of examples about the subject”. Ms. Mercier is another new panther here at Somerset.“ She is a very nice person and I think she is going to end up being great teacher at Somerset,” explained Ms. Mercier who teaches physical science, marine science, and earth science.
When Ms. Casablanca is not in school she said she “loves going to the movies, doing outdoor water activities, dancing to spanish music, and styling outfits for her friends”. Her favorite color is turquiose, and she enjoys eating asian food.
“ I like listening to the song “L.O.V.E.” by Frank Sinatra and watching the movie ‘The Color Purple,’” said Ms.Casablanca. Ms.Casablanca is from Brooklyn, New York and her background is Puertorican. She is excited about the new school year, and she insists on any students that seek advice to see her. “My main focus is for my students to succeed in and out of the classroom,” said Ms.Casablanca.

By Camila Rivera and Brianna Murphy
Journalism Class Reporters

      Tenth-grader Andrew Beltran uses the school’s computers every day for Cognitive Tutor. He says that he uses it at school because it helps him focus on what he’s learning in math. Beltran is one of 1,700 students in the school that use computers for work each day.

The school’s computer supervisor Ms. Prieto said, “Technology is fascinating. It allows me to reach out to students from afar, in one word ‘Innovative.’” Ms. Prieto said she thinks even though she loves technology there are also a few  issues.

She said the computers or netbooks are outdated and their wireless lags. “It is critically important for the wireless connection to be stable and robust enough to support what our teachers/students/staff want to do in the classroom,” she says.

IT specialists Fabian Hernandez and Jeff Garcia said that sometimes the Internet goes down and that’s another problem with our school’s computers.

There are many purposes for the technology we use ever yday, for example many people use it for typing, cognitive tutor, research, online courses,and even checking grades.

You might think it is easier writing it down on paper but if you use the computers for projects or research it’s easier to get the information and then write it down.

We may need more technology, but with more technology comes more responsibility. Jeff Garcia and Fabian Hernandez said that “it’s a great idea to buy more technology because its more up to date.”

Mrs. Prieto thinks that “technology represents a major commitment in time and money. Buying new technology because you need the time and the money, for it is such an important step.

By Adrian Cadavid
Journalism Class Reporter
       
SAFE

If you are tired of seeing kids bullied, join the SAFE club. SAFE stands for Student Advocating For Equality. SAFE club was created by two students who were trying to find a difference. SAFE was known as the GSA or Gay-Straight Alliance.

“Everyone, even the coolest kid in school, at some point in their life feel that they don’t fit in,” Mr. Mireles said. If you are interested in joining, the club meets up every two weeks on Fridays in room 100 in building B.

Newspaper Club

The goal of Newspaper Club is to express the opinions of everyone as a whole, said Ms. Ridal, the club’s sponsor. “Students need a voice and this club shows that specific voice,” Ms. Ridal said. “All students are welcome,” eighth-grader Matthew Bonachea said. The club meets at 2:30 after school every Thursday in 319, Mr. Ricard’s room.

ONE Club

ONE Club is an organization that fights extreme poverty & preventable diseases, particularly in Africa. The club raises public awareness, promotes effective policies, and runs programs that are saving lives. “Sponsors of the club are extremely proud of board members,” said Claudia Papadopolo, the club’s sponsor. “The kids are wonderful & the members are awesome.” The club meets in room 410 or 411 in building F every other Monday.

Film Makers Club

The Film Makers Club, also known as film club, is for students who have a passion for film making. “There is a film club because I wanted to open film in Somerset. I wanted to open the beauty of it,” says Albert Tong, the president of the club.

In film club, they throw out ideas and they make them come to life. The club enters video contests to help Somerset as a whole. The club meets every Tuesday and Thursday in room 312. For more information, contact Coach Parker, the club’s sponsor.

Chess Club

The Chess Club is where students meet regularly to play chess. “I think it is a wonderful idea and feel that there are a lot of benefits for students who learn how to play chess, however, it was really an idea created by a core group of students. I don’t even know how to play chess very well myself. I am just facilitating their grand plan. Their dedication and interest is what propels me,” said Ms. Sakay, the club’s sponsor.

The group gathers weekly in the Media Center to play chess. The first 15 minutes is used to review “club business” and the rest of the time is used to participate in chess matches against one another.  We plan on securing an experienced chess coach, participating in some local tournaments, and possibly hosting a tournament on campus. The Chess Club meets from 2:45 to 3:45 every Wednesday in the Media Center.

By Christina Vazquez

Journalism Class Reporter

            When it comes to electives here at Somerset Academy, there is something for everybody. According to Ms. Aguayo, the 6th and 7th grade guidance counselor, this school is one of the schools in Broward County that offers the most electives.

            Creative Photography is a new elective this year available to high schoolers.

    The Creative Photography teacher Mrs. Mayorga said her favorite part of the class is being able to use Photo Shop because her major in college was Graphic Design and she is “inclined to edit photos.”

            For her creative photography class, you must be able to know how to use a professional camera beforehand.

            “Pictures record things and send messages to others when we are not able to do so,” she says. “When we have a magazine or a newspaper, you would only want to read it if there is a picture. As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words!”

            In Creative Photography, students are expected to “actually enjoy taking pictures and manipulating them by using the computer to edit and fix the pictures.”

            Students do all sorts of activities involving picture taking — and it doesn’t always involve a camera.

            Mrs. Mayorga’s students use a method called “photography appreciation,” which is taking photos at school or at home and bringing them back to class where everyone can critique them.

            In her class, you can take a photo and edit the picture with touch-ups and all that jazz.

            She also teaches all art classes (2D and 3D Art) for middle school.

            “I love the activities. We did a scratch art where we made cool designs on the paper,” seventh-grader Nicole Quadros said.

            Next year Somerset will be offering Italian classes to all grades. Questo è tutto per ora! (That’s all for now!)

By Veronica Macias

News & Features Co-Editor

                With Spring’s arrival, we can renew our wardrobe with floral prints, color, and attitude.

Stripes,tribal/abstract patterns

               Incorporating abstract patterns or stripes to an outfit can make it more interesting. I recommend you mix this look with big accessories and bold colors to create a fierce look. Don’t be afraid to mix and match, but don’t overclash patterns.

Colorful Plaid

                For a laid-back look, wear fitted, long-sleeved polos or short dresses with a plaid pattern that has a splash of color. You could also pair the polos with high-waisted shorts and a thin belt. The combined look can be comfortable and Florida weather-friendly.

Flowy tank tops

                Burnout tank tops are perfect for the warm and breezy weather during the spring. With a variety of patterns and colors (floral, stripes, bright solid colors), you can pair these tops with shorts or cropped jeans to create an outfit that you can wear at home or out with friends.

High-waisted bottom wear

                For a touch of edgy sophistication, try wearing high-waisted shorts, skirts, or jeans, which can add flavor to any outfit. From chic, edgy, or boho, the possibilities are endless. You can use thin or bulky belts on your shorts/jeans, or add them on top of your skirt.

Gladiator sandals

                While these sandals have been out for two years, newer versions can still add an exotic feel to an outfit. Pair with high-waisted shorts or a long skirt to create dimension and style. I recommend buying these abstract sandals in monotone colors (black, white, gray, brown).

Flowy and long cardigans

                You can add flowy, open-cut and long cardigans to tight outfits with shorts. Wear these cardigans in either monotone colors or in a bright color to satisfy your attitude, it adds contrast in colors and can make a great with a lot of variety.

Edgy Military

A popular Michael Jackson inspired style is the new kind of military look. Now, adding a flavor to cardigans (making them short with sequins or bold colors), the new look is something different. Adding a baggy military jacket and high waited shorts adds different dimensions creating the perfect outfit. The best elements of this look are stripes, gold buttons, royal blue color and white, electric red, yellow, and black.