Miami Beach Senior High PTSA ENewsletter
June 29, 2015 - Volume 21
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Miami Beach Senior High
Teachers, Club Sponsors, Parents and Students,
Please send your news and photos with captions
to newsletter editor marinagallian@hotmail.com.
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Special Edition: The Award issue
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Calendars
- August 13-14, Summer Institute, 8 am - 3 pm.
- August 19, Scholars Orientation for Freshmen (tentative date)
- August 20-21, no school, Teacher Planning Days
- August 20, Back-to-School Teacher breakfast
- August 22, New Student Orientation, 9 -11:30 am
- August 24, First Day of the 2015-2016 school year
- August 25, PTSA Board meeting. 7:30 - 9 am., room 306. Everybody is welcome!
- August 26, EESAC meeting, room 306, 2:30-3:30 pm.
Next Year Calendar: download it here (PDF).
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The Book Awards
At the 2015 Book Awards, on May 20, eleven students were recognized for their achievements in the Beach High Auditorium by alumni and outreach offices of the following universities. A committee of teachers and counselors made selections based on individual colleges' criteria and the applications submitted by students. Students were recognized for their academic achievements, community service and extracurricular involvement. Winners were invited to receive the Book Award at a ceremony held on May 20 at Beach High Auditorium.
Photos above, from left: Ms. Duval and the NJROTC.
The following are the students and which school recognized them for their achievements.
Barry University Cristina Hernandez
University of Pennsylvania Book Award Alexia Gallian
University of Miami Beth Cohen
Cornell Club of Greater Miami Diana Hernandez
Dartmouth Club Book Award Margherita Tonini
Florida International University Ivan Robles
Mount Holyoke College Andrea Tafur
Princeton Book Award Konrad Danzer
Stanford University Andrey Kosyrev
Wellesley College Sarah Shuler-Barwick
University of South Florida Marilyn Hurtado

Photos above, from the top: Cristina Hernandez with Ms. Perez; Alexia Gallian with International College Counselors founder Mandee Heller; Margherita Tonini; and Beth Cohen.
Additionally, the following students were recognized by the committee for their outstanding applications:
Kathy Bradley
Visual Arts
Digital.
Bay Harbor Islands Student of the Year: Margherita Tonini
Citizenship Award from Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schulz' office: Shay Weinberg
For the first time at Beach High, an 8th grader was recognized as a Math Winner for being ahead of 3 years in math: Jacob Rosenfeld, (in the photo below, with Ms. Perez),
an 8th grader at Nautilus Middle School, has completed the Algebra 2 course at Beach High and will start as a freshman in August with PreCalculus.
Photos above, from the top: Shay Weinberg and Jacob Rosenfeld.
The production of this event would not have been possible without the assistance of colleagues on the awards committee lead by Nina Duval, Patricia Haselmann, Pauline Lakanen, Carlos Rodriguez, CAP Advisor Maria Sahwell and Activities Director Gwen Villoch.
Special thanks go to David Schmidt, for his time and efforts in composing, designing and printing our certificates and award program. Thanks to captain Gallagher & the NJROTC Color Guard for their work in presenting. We thank our theatre department for the NYC backdrop which served as a set for our recent production of "Guys and Dolls". Thank you also to our stage crew working behind the scenes. Thanks to the stage members of our Combined Chorus, under the direction of Ms. Lesley Gent, for concluding our ceremonies with the singing of our Alma Mater.
Students, be proud of your accomplishments and be proud of your school!
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The Underclass Awards
AOHT 9 Amy Lopez
10 Carolina Dal Puppo
11 Serena Beze
AOIT 9 Annabel Herrera
10 Nathan Lerner
11 Juliane Alvarado
ESOL 9 Lesly Brou-Kouane
10 Daniela Dasilvadias
11 Montserat Perezbaldo
FOREIGN LANGUAGES
FRENCH Ambre Schnider
ITALIAN Katherina Aceto
PORTUGUESE Anthony Sarkiss
SPANISH/NON SPEAKERS Gabriela Ramesar
SPANISH FOR SPEAKERS Cristian A Nieves
WORLD LANGUAGES HUMANITIES
Eduardo Oliviera
LANGUAGE ARTS 9 Creneesha Davis
10 Alejandra Gomez
11 Sarah Schuler
MATH 9 Olivia Larder
10 Eric Pinto
11 Averell Hause
8 grader Special Mention - Nautilus Jacob Rosenfeld
PHYSICAL EDUCATION-GIRLS
9 Kyla Lestagez 10 DanielaRestrepo
11 Miiya Stubbs
PHYSICAL EDUCATION-BOYS
9 Joshua Garcia 10 Christian Sile
11 Kevin Melendez
READING 9 Tymaira James 10 Yusleidi Moreda
11 Valerio Doino
SCIENCE 9 Matia Aranguiz 10 Anthony Sarkiss
11 Monserrat Perezbaldo
11 Miiya Stubbs
SOCIAL STUDIES 9 Melanie Haber
10 Leila Adaza
11 Beth Cohen
SPED 9 Katie Bradley
ACADEMY OF EDUCATION & TRAINING
10 Amanda Garcia
11 Maria Zalazar
11 Andre Nodal
11 Jordan Mitchell
ACADEMY OF VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS
Photography Juan Buitrago
Drawing and Painting Franceska Tobar
Marjorie Gault
Stagecraft Nicholas Vazquez
Musical Theatre Leila Adaza
Acting Bleu O'Brien
Debate Benjamin Burstein
Sound Engineering Alejandro Garcia
Rock Ensemble Melvys Barrios
Stage Crew Paola Carballo
Guitar Marcelo Cox
Orchestra Valeria Andrade
Beginning Band Matteus Cobo
Concert Band Orlando Cartagena
Wind Ensemble Leonardo Cattani
Marching Band Ari Stfleur
Auxiliary Larissa Diaz
Jazz Band Theodore Braun
Chorus Matthew Almeida
Keyboard Tomas Galeano
ACADEMY OF COMMUNICATION AND DIGITAL MEDIA
Television Production Zoe Hughes
Film Production Pablo Reyes
Journalism Benjamin Bauman
Lea Tordjman
Creative Writing Yanni Klepak
Yearbook Tia Jackson

Photos above, from the top: a group of Underclassmen; the Math winners with Ms. Perez; Katie Bradley; Theo Braun; and the Combined Chorus.
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The Senior Award Ceremony
The 2015 Senior Award Ceremony was held on Friday, May 22 at the Beach High Auditorium.

Seniors Awards List
DEPT/ACADEMY NAME
AOHT Robert Berryman
AOIT Sharmin Akter
Robert Berryman
ESOL Flavia Perez-Perez
FOREIGN LANGUAGE
FRENCH Diego Delavega
ITALIAN Nahuel Casella
PORTUGUESE Hans Mahecha
SPANISH/NON SPEAKERS John Yao
SPANISH FOR SPEAKERS Christian Furman
WORLD LANGUAGES HUMANITIES
Jose Ballestro
LANGUAGE ARTS Agustina Varas
MATH Alec Goldberg
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
-GIRLS Manuela Castano
- BOYS Noah Davila
Joseph Cornejo
READING Robert Brown
SCIENCE Jessica Bras
SOCIAL STUDIES Alec Goldberg
SPED Jordan Saruski
ACADEMY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Nicole Rios

Photo above: Ms. Duval presents Celia Duran the English Honor Society Scholarship Award for students going out of state for college. Photo below: Ms. Lakanen presents Jordan Saruski the Senior Performance Award.
ACADEMY OF VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS Photography Jordan Miller Drawing and Painting Nikita Green Jaimesha Smith Stagecraft Celia Duran Musical Theatre Mary Figueroa Acting Travon Pierre Debate Charles Starr Bellen Mella S/Engineering Colby Lopez Guitar Kevin Pinto Rock Ensemble Gabrielle Walden Stage Crew Grace Hill Orchestra Kevin Pinto Chorus Noah Latner Keyboard Cinnamon Williams Concert Band Enrique Garcia Wind Ensemble Emily Groff Marching Band Eleanor Aristide Auxiliary Aileen Arce Jazz Band Lorenzo Tedesco ACADEMY OF COMM AND DIGITAL MEDIA Television Production Manuel Izquierdo Film Production Facundo Perez Eugenie Dufloo Journalism Anahi Hurtado Creative Writing Tiffany Burgos Yearbook Linnette Sabater Scholarships/Special Awards: Carole Taran Award for the Arts Mary Figueroa The Stephen Perell Award Emily Groff EHS Rose Scholarships Celia Duran Lucas Manso  Photo above: the recipients of the Hi Tides Alumni Association Award Scholarships.
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The AP Awards
Advance Placement Awards Art History Vanessa Arrieta Spanish Language and Culture Diego Rodriguez Spanish Literature Lilian Estevez Biology Christopher Ollikainen Calculus AB Marilyn Hurtado Calculus BC Alec Goldberg Chemistry Damla Akkemik U.S. History Nicolas Barone English Language and Composition Kevin Pinto English Language and Composition Monica Winkler English Literature and Competition Jennifer Mu�oz Environmental Anthony Sarkiss French Language and Culture Lea Tordman Psychology Jade Oliveira Statistics Alma Rodriguez Studio Art Max Mayoral Physics 1 Theo Braun Italian Language and Culture Eliana Scarpati Macroeconomics Benjamin Burstein U.S. Government and Politics Molly Chepenik European History Alejandra Gomez US History Emelie Shany World History Melanie Haber Physics C Alexander Nettesheim Enviromental Science Eric Tano World History Moises Coriat English Language and Composition Samuel Rynor Music Theory Theo Braun
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The IB Awards
International Baccalaureate Programme Awards
Spanish SL Ivan Robles
Spanish HL Belen Mella
Psychology Beth Cohen
Math Studies Olivia Pena
Calculus AB Averell Hause
Portuguese Natasha Kisiluk
French Aaron Afriat
English HL Charlie-Ann Hertz
History of the Americas Manuela Granada
Chemistry Junior Margherita Tonini
Chemistry Senior Alec Goldberg
Music Elena Gualda
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The Thespian Awards
The Thespian and Drama Banquet was held on May 15, 2015.

2015 Thespian Inductees Barrios, Melvys Bridges, Selena Cattani, Leonardo Espinoza, Emely Espinoza, Erick Hawayek, Tiffany Mendez, Fabiana Murray Giron, Arianna Perez, Facundo Pinto, Kevin Verblud, Catherine Lasa, Michelle


In the pictures above, from the top:
El Tigre cast and crew receive their medals for the production.
Sean Perreira reads part of the Induction Ceremony for the new Inductees into the International Thespian Honor Society
Mary Figueroa and Celia Duran present senior Noah Latner with one of the "funny awards" presented by students at the event. It is a chair to use when he helps at car parking during fund raising events.
Matthew Almeida proudly holds his trophy for Assistant Musical Director of Guys and Dolls.
Nicholas Vazquez: Set Design, "Dancing at Lughnasa"
Grace Hill: Stage Manager, "Guys and Dolls"
Luke Druckman: Freshman Actor, "Guys and Dolls"
Kevin Pinto: Musician/Conductor, "Guys and Dolls"
Nicholas Vazquez: Lighting Design, "Dancing at Lughnasa"
Travon Pierre: Choreography
Leila Adaza: Best Supporting Actress Musical, "Guys and Dolls"
Mathew Almeida: Assistant Choral Director, "Guys and Dolls"
Sean Perreira: Best Supporting Actor Musical, "Guys and Dolls", " El Tigre; Juan Darien"
Travon Pierre: Best Supporting Actor
Celia Duran: Best Actress, "Dancing at Lughnasa"
Mary Figueroa: Best Actress Musical
Danielle Drucker-Ortiz: Costumer, "Guys and Dolls"
Nikolas Rojas-Elcadi: Best Actor, "Dancing at Lughnasa"
Miami Beach Senior High School Drama Department - Director's Award
Excellence in Technical Theater: Celia Duran
Excellence in Performance: Mary Figueroa
Miami Beach Senior High School Drama Department - Best Thespian Award
Excellence in Performance and Technical Theatre: Travon Pierre
Freshman Leadership: Luke Druckman
Sophomore Leadership: Danielle Monico
Junior Leadership: Fabiana Mendez
Senior Leadership: Celia Duran
The second annual Carole Taran Award for Excellence in Performing Arts at Miami Beach Senior High School was presented to senior Mary Figueroa, a superbly talented performer who was selected for the award by the faculty of the Fine Arts Academy at Beach High.
"Mary is a shining star in musical theatre. She is extremely talented and has a phenomenal voice," said Nina Duval, Lead Teacher and Fine Arts Chair. Mary will be attending Columbia College Chicago and studying for a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre.
During high school, Mary performed in nine school productions, competed in the world's largest theater festival and was rated Superior as a Solo Artist. She has also performed in numerous public service, community and hospital events and has created a youth empowerment organization to inspire young people to positively impact the lives of others.
The "Carole Award" was presented to Mary Figueroa during the 2015 Senior Awards Ceremonies on Friday, May 22 at the Beach High Auditorium. Mary was presented with a plaque and a $500.00 scholarship check.
The annual award is presented by 1308 Productions, a non-profit and public service music education advocacy organization founded and led by former Beach High students Jason Novack and Allison Novack, Carole's nephew and niece. The award is in honor and memory of their aunt, Carole Taran Lee, who also attended Beach High. The award was presented to Hillary by Carole's son Adam Taran and her brother Paul Novack.
Photo above: Adam Taran (left) and Mary Figueroa. Read the Miami Herald article here.
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The Athletic Awards
Miami Beach Athletic Awards
Boys Bowling
Most Improved: Ethan Levine
Girls Bowling
Most Improved: Majorie Gault
Girls Golf
Most Improved: Jamila Gowdy
Most Valuable Player: Elizabeth Hopkins
Boys Golf
Most Valuable Player: Richard Brandon Lozano
Most Improved: Nathan Lerner
Boys Cross Country
Most Valuable Runner: Christopher Cruz
Best Rookie: Juan Gonzalez
Captains Award: Bryan Espinoza
Girls Cross Country
Most Valuable Player: Melanie Hernandez
Most Improved: Ana Gomez
Greatest Captain: Lauren Martino
Volleyball
Most Improved: Belen Aldecosea
Most Valuable Player: Laura Boone
Football
Most Valuable Player: Markel Anderson
Scholar Athlete: Kevin Casas
Boys Swimming
Most Valuable Player: Alexander AJ Reid Most improved: Adrian Hemmerde Rookie of the year: Bryan Quintero
Girls Swimming
Most Valuable Player: Natasha Kisiluk Most Improved: Toni Correa and Liv Friedman Rookie of the Year: Italia Wish
Boys Soccer
Rookie of the Year: Lucas Arellano
Best Defensive Player: Benjamin Faundez
Best Offensive Player: Guido Sosa
Coaches Award: Jesse Aguero
Girls Soccer
Best offensive Player: Samantha Wald
Best Defensive Player: Martina Moffat
Coaches Award: Iara Soto


In the photos above: Boys Soccer Best Defensive Player Benjamin Faundez (left) and Best Offensive Player Guido Sosa (right), as appeared on the Herald.
Boys Basketball
Co- Most Valuable Player: Nate Johnson and Francisco Galo
Defensive player of the year: Charles Goetz
Girls Basketball
Most Valuable Player: Llaci Henry
Best Defender: Zoey Nedrick
Best Rebounder: Elizabeth Hopkins
Wrestling
Beach Iron Wrestler (MVW): Tyler Moore
Most Improved Wrestler: Adrian Perez
Best Rookie Wrestler: Najat Morgan
Baseball
Most Valuable Player: Trent Bryan
Best Hitter: Themi Pineda
Best Pitcher: Javier Oses
Softball
Most Improved: Amber Diaz
Best All Around: Rosamary Machado
Most Valuable Player: Olya Seichrist
Boys Tennis
Most Improved: Jonathan Hirschenson
Top Newcomer: Omar Zarif
Co- Most Valuable Player: Daniel Bertak & Nicolas Barone
Girls Tennis
Most Valuable Player: Katalina Pineda
Rookie of the Year: Kailen Johnson
Boys Track & Field
MVR: Dylan Sedeno
Newcomer of the year: Antoine Labussiere
Girls Track & Field
Outstanding Sprinter: Kyla Lestagez
Outstanding Middle Distance: Tymaira James
Outstanding Distance Runner: Amina Sublaban
Most Improved: Creneesha Davis
Highest Academic Award: Dalisa Sims
Highest Academic Award: Haley Bryan
Boys Water Polo
Most Valuable Player: Axle Szwarc Offensive Player of the Year: Aaron Lowenstein Defensive Player of the Year: Michele Rizzi
Most Improved Players: Alejandro and Santiago Holz (photo below) Girls Water Polo
Most Valuable Player: Shannon Komisarchik Offensive Player of the Year: Elena Gualda Defensive Player of the Year: Kali Knight
Congratulations to the following student athlete's that were featured in the Miami Herald All-Dade teams for winter sports:
Boys Soccer - 1st Team All-Dade: Guido Sosa Senior Benjamin Faundez Senior (picture from the herald is attached)
3rd Team All-Dade Jesse Aguero Senior Joseph Cornejo Senior Honorable Mention Leonel Montero, Lucas Arellano, Bryan
Pais, and Diego Rodriguez
Girls Soccer - 3rd Team All-Dade: Samantha Wald Freshmen Honorable Mention Cristi Mejil and Maria Selva
Boys Basketball Honorable Mention Nate Johnson, Kennith Rolle, Miqueas Melendez and Francisco Galo
Wrestling Honorable Mention Christopher Cruz
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Honor Societies Officer Installation and Awarding of Senior Honor Cords
Click here here to see the program.  
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The IB/Scholars Brunch
The IB/Scholars Senior Brunch was Sunday, May 31st. Senior cords and tributes were presented.
IB Class of 2015 Students
Hanna Abal, Lennie Adaza, Aaron Afriat, Samantha Arampatzis, Ceylin Arias, Daniel Bertak, Elizabeth Betito, Jacqueline Budin, Jessica Burstein, Julie Cohen, Ines Dagnias-Peron, Valentina De Matteis, Gabriella Desaulniers, Isaiah Duque, Julian Fandino, Shellie Frai, Leah Francis, Gisell Garcia, Alec Goldberg, Lucia Golletti, Melissa Gonzalez, Frederick Gosdenovich, Manuela Granada, Juliette Gruener, Elena Gualda, Carina Henderson, Charli Ann Hertz, Grace Hill, Elizabeth Hopkins, Julia Jimenez, Pearl Keane, Natasha Kisiluk, Shannon Komisarchik, Sam Kramer, Arielle Kurkin, Michelle Lasa, Yunfei Liang, Dylan McCue, Belen Mella, Jacob Narson, Gabriella Nordlund, Isabella Oliva, Martin Ortega De La Paz, Marielle Panizales, Bryan Pinedo, Charlotte Robinson, Nicholas Robinson, Emilia Rojo, Nicolle Rosa, Gemma Sahwell, Nicholas Sampedro, Alexander Sayman, Brianna Schwartz, Max Shevlin, Charles Starr, Aileen Suarez, Artem Sviridov, Zoe Thoennes, Evan Vidal, Gabrielle Walden.
Scholars Class of 2015 Students
Jesse Aguero, Cloe Astor, Robert Barrios, Jessica Bras, Trent Bryan, Tiffany Burgos, German Capodiferro, Kevin Casas, Nahuel Casella, Taiane Castro, Murphy Cohen, Shlomo Dahan, Arielle Day, Danielle Drucker-Ortiz, Celia Duran, Julian Eisenberg, Sofia Faria, Mary Figueroa, Gina Figueroa-Cicero, Nikita Green, Emily Groff, Anahi Hurtado, Manuel Izquierdo, Brennan Jasso, Kali Knight, Alexandra Lampner, Harrison Lerner, Michael Lopez, Aaron Lowenstein, Lucas Manso, Miguel Marquez, Rochelle Martinez, Lauren Martino, Jamie Mayer, Maria Michelli, Leonel Montero, Melodie Morris, Melissa Munilla, Liora Namiech, Alexander Nettesheim, Ross Nobles, Darya Pavlova, Sean Perreira, William Peterson, Themi Pineda, Naomi Raffoul, Isabel Rodriguez, Nikolas Rojas-Ecladi, Hannah Sabin, Anthony Salerno, Melanie Santos, Danielle Schwartz, Jaimesha Smith, Mateo Solis, Sophia Stapleton, Marian Suriel, Micaela Szwarc, Camila Tasaico, Vivian Vallarino-Reyes, Angely Vindel, Samantha Vrielink, Banjamin Weisman, Hannah Werthamer, Nicole Zambrano, Michael Zaremba.
The Scholars/IB class of 2015 would like to thank all the teachers, administrators, and staff that we had for the past four years. Thanks to you, we have been able to have a successful school career that has set the foundation for our future endeavors in
college and beyond. Thank you all for your continuous support, compassion and caring. We will miss you all very much!
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The AOHT Graduation
The Beach High Academy of Hospitality and Tourism graduation was held at St. Thomas University on Thursday, May 21.

Photos above, from the top:
the Graduation at St. Thomas University;
Giovanna Zambrano (left) with Miami Beach Chamber Hospitality and Tourism Co-Chair Dee Ann Connelly-Graham (center) and Ms. Patricia Gregory, AOHT Lead Teacher (right);
Ana Harrington with Principal Mr. Donohue.
Photos below:
Robert Berryman, winner of the Best Over All award, with Ms. Gregory;
Josh Toro with Principal John Donohue;
Delano Kasischke with the Principal.

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The 2015 Miami Beach Senior High Graduation
VIEW and DOWNLOAD the Graduation Video, courtesy of the Miami Beach Senior High Film Club: miamibeachhigh.schoolwires.com
Questions: Contact MBSH Film Club at Mbshclassof2015@gmail.com
The Miami Beach Senior High 2015 graduation took place at the Fillmore Jackie Gleason Theatre on Thursday, June 4th at 3p.m.
Photo on the right, from left: Assistant Principal Mr. Gonzalez, Assistant Principal Mr. Barker, Principal Mr. Donohue, Felicia Mendez, Assistant Principal Ms. Larkin, Assistant Assistant Mr. Patrice and Assistant Principal in Residence Ms. Diaz.
Photo below: Jacob Narson with principal Donohue at the Graduation, and Grace Hill with her parents after the ceremony.
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Academic Excellence
Photos below: Commissioner Joy Malakoff, a Beach High graduate, at Miami Beach Senior High, presenting Miami Beach medallions for academic excellence to Leah Francis (top, GPA 4.1), Belen Mella (center, GPA 7.0), and Alec Goldberg (bottom, GPA 6.9, with his father Michael Goldberg). All outstanding seniors, heading to Duke, Harvard, & Wharton School at UPenn.
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