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WINTER PARK HIGH SCHOOL'S INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE STUDENT NEWSPAPER
AlumnIB: Maxwell Clark
By Georgia Bernbaum
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Last year, MaeEllen Megginson and I inherited the IB Newspaper from the former Editor-in-Chief, Maxwell Clarke. Maxwell instilled in us the importance of IB Newspaper as a hub for the IB community and a source of connection. However, Maxwell’s legacy at Winter Park High School extends far beyond his work on the newspaper. While a student at WP, Maxwell competed on the Varsity Tennis Team, volunteered at the Winter Park Public Library, and founded the Eco Club to combat climate change. Through Eco Club, Maxwell collaborated with school board members and county sustainability coordinators to help make the school more environmentally friendly.
Maxwell Clarke now attends the University of Florida as a political science major. Maxwell is involved in an Election Sciences Working Group, in which he discusses Florida elections, investigates party registration changes, and examines demographic patterns. Maxwell also conducts research in policy for a fellowship with Florida Representative Omari Hardy. Using the experience he gained through Eco Club, Maxwell works with Hardy’s Environmental Committee. Maxwell has loved his time at UF so far, stating that “there are a lot of activities and fun events on campus". Maxwell especially enjoyed UF’s Recharge Day; professors canceled classes, and students were relieved, even for a day, of college work and responsibilities. Additionally, since starting at UF, Maxwell has reconnected with previous IB students from Winter Park, such as his friend Danielle Dietz.
Although Maxwell has since graduated from Winter Park, he often reflects on all he has learned from the IB Program. In fact, the skills Maxwell learned from his IB courses have prepared him for college. Maxwell is currently taking a course called The Good Life, a philosophy class much like Theory of Knowledge. Maxwell explains that TOK taught him to “analyze things from the context of knowledge instead of just trying to find the right answer.” Maxwell is now better equipped to explore ethical concerns and confront his personal biases. Mr. Arnold’s Global Politics class has helped Maxwell succeed in his required Introduction to International Relations course, further proving that IB has real-world applications. Aside from similar content, Maxwell comments that IB gave him “incredible analytical writing skills and taught [him] how to structure arguments,” valuable abilities that will last a lifetime. Maxwell appreciates the IB curriculum because it “focused more on comprehension rather than memorization”.
Reflecting on his time in IB, Maxwell says that “you can’t find that community anywhere else.” He reminisces about the excellent teachers who made learning enjoyable. Maxwell even mentions that some of his IB teachers, like Ms. Ponti and Ms. Patel, have continued to support him by writing recommendation letters for internships and jobs. For current IB students, Maxwell offers a few words of wisdom: explore various passions, cherish the experience, even though it may be stressful, and lastly, be proactive because a good work ethic translates directly to success in college. While at Winter Park, Maxwell Clarke played an integral role in furthering IB’s mission statement of creating a better world
Senior Advice from Christian Arnold
Jaedyn Lister and Leilina Patel
Senior year is filled with great memories, but it is also one of the busiest years of high school, especially if you’re in IB. Your EE, IAs, and college applications all demand your attention, often simultaneously, and it can quickly get overwhelming. What makes it all bearable is that you are not going into it alone, and of course, you have all the wisdom of seniors before you.
In order to get a better idea of what makes a successful IB student, we interviewed IB Senator and valedictorian of the class of 2021, Christian Arnold. When asked what advice he’d like to pass on that made him so successful, he offered us three pieces: “Know your syllabus. Develop study habits that work for you. It’s called procrastination for a reason. Only pros can do it.” Essentially, he wanted to convey that knowing the value of an assignment would help you understand the amount of effort you needed to put into it. For example, a twenty-point assignment should not take precedence over your IA, even if the assignment is six days late. He also wanted you to know in relation to study habits that “each person is different, so experiment.” Find what works for you, even if that is different from what other people settle on. Finally, while Christian didn’t exactly discourage procrastination, he did advise that you “don’t procrastinate so much that you stress over it.”
Another easily overwhelming aspect of senior year is the Extended Essay. Four thousand words on any topic you can think of is unlike any assignment you’ve been asked to do before, so we asked Christian about his process with the EE. He wrote a History EE focused on intelligence gathering during WW2. He arrived at his topic because he’s “always been interested in engineering and computer science” and “intelligence gathered during WW2 relied on a lot of revolutionary technology.” When asked how he conducted his research he told the IB Newspaper that it was mostly through books, so you should all be taking several trips to visit Ms. Nix in the media center. If you are not able to visit school or the local library for those resources, JSTOR and Gale are good alternatives that provide the same information. Now that we have established a starting point for your EE, we will go over tips that make writing a smoother process. One of the most common pieces of advice you will hear is to start your EE over the summer. For some people, that means having a complete first draft by the first day of school. For others, that simply means completing the research process. Regardless, “as you gather information, organize your research.” While it will still take you a significant amount of time to write, you will find that it is much easier to do so when your research is organized in a manner that makes sense to you.
Overall, no need to stress. Just keep yourself organized and maintain a good pace. In the end, it will all be worth it. Christian put it best when he said, “IB brings a lot of stress and hard work. It also rewards you with skills, knowledge, and friendships you never would have had otherwise. I’m happy I participated in the IB program.”
Night on Broadway During COVID
By Olivia Varan
Since 1999, the Winter Park High School Chorus Department performed
their annual Night on Broadway show. The first Night on Broadway was
inspired by the spirit of Tyler Rush, a student in Park Singers with a love for
musical theater who tragically passed away in 1998. Every student who has
participated in Chorus since then has dedicated time to keep the memory
of Tyler alive. From Ragtime to Titanic, students have performed full shows
and revues, complete with choreography, a fantastic set, and a pit crew.
Although the Chorus Department has been limited this year due to
COVID-19, directors Matthew Swope and Hollie Pratt are committed to a
virtual edition of Night on Broadway.
Virtual choir performances are nothing new; the Chorus Department traded a traditional Gig Season for privately recorded (yet professionally mixed) editions of holiday classics. Yet, a virtual Night on Broadway is the biggest virtual show to be held this year. With nearly 200 students and 10 ensembles, creating a learning environment for the entire department is quite the challenge. For students, a virtual Night on Broadway- or NOB as many have lovingly dubbed it- reinstills a sense of community that is integral to the Chorus Department. Because it has been difficult to sing in person, this is the first real chance that many students have to see other ensembles and truly understand the meaning of choir. Night on Broadway also provides closure to many students, especially seniors. Bonny Matejowsky, a senior, says, “although this isn’t what I expected for my last NOB, I’m so glad I get to have this opportunity.” Bonny, a member of Park Singers, also recognizes that a virtual Night on Broadway does have some benefits. “The best part is that I don’t have to worry about messing up choreography anymore!” Bonny says jokingly. A typical Night on Broadway can take up to 80 hours of preparation, largely due to learning and practicing dance routines, so this virtual experience is very different from prior years. Even though lots has changed, the premise of Night on Broadway remains the same. Every ensemble has a unique set, and the show will be a mix of traditional Broadway tunes that closes with “There Is Only One You”, a song the department performs every year to honor Tyler Rush.
With the pandemic, “There Is Only One You” has a new meaning. The past year has taught us the importance of individuality while maintaining strong relationships, a theme that is integral to Night on Broadway and the spirit of Tyler Rush. Night on Broadway is a testament to the resilience of the music department and its dedication to creating music. If you are interested in viewing Night on Broadway or donating to the Tyler Rush Memorial Scholarship Fund, follow the Winter Park High School Chorus Department on Instagram for more information!
