The Bolt

Top Ten Reasons We Can’t Wait for Summer

Adviser — Thu, 17 May 2012 13:15:07 +0000

1.Relax/Sleep in:

We never sleep enough during the school year. Summer vacation gives us the opportunity to turn OFF our alarm clock and catch up on much needed sleep. Summer vacation= Beauty sleep

2.Travel:

Whether it’s a month in San Francisco or a two-week-cruise in the Mediterranean, traveling is a great experience. There is a special feeling when being away from home, an opportunity to get out of the normal routine.

3.The Great Outdoors:

We live in Florida so whether it’s going to the beach and getting a tan, fishing one of our world class fishing spots, camping in a park on the river, or just going for a run, it’s tough to beat the Florida lifestyle.

4. Summer Movies:

Summer is the time of year when the best movies come out and we can catch a matinee during a rainy summer day. Look for some of the most anticipated films this summer such as “The Dark Knight Rises” and Will Ferrell in “The Campaign”

5. Learn/Invest in Yourself

Besides being great for sleeping in, traveling, and movies, summer is the perfect opportunity to invest in yourself. Read a book, apply for an internship, think about what you want to do with your life. Summer is the perfect opportunity to reflect and ponder the meaning of life

6. Meet new people:

You won’t be the only one with summer off or the only one traveling. Why not take the time to get to know new people from new places? These opportunities do not happen every day and summer vacation is a pressure free time to get to make new friends

7. Intern/Job:

Ready to make some extra money? Looking to better your chances of getting into the college of your dreams or landing your dream job one day? Summer is the best time to utilize your free time to make money or get experience in a a line of work that one day you can call your own

8. Summer Camp:

Participating or volunteering for a summer is a timeless tradition. With the chance to break loose away from home and get into some adventurous activities summer camp is the ultimate playground for children of all ages

9.Read a Book:

“The Hunger Games”, “Twilight”, or a box set of Harry Potter books all offer a great opportunity for you to sit back relax and dive into one of a number of popular books that students rave about. Don’t think that summer can’t include personal reading choices over required books for school. Whether you need to stay busy on a transatlantic flight or just want to catch some rays at the beach, summer is a great time to enjoy your break reading one of your favorite novels that you won’t find on your summer reading list

10. Play:

We are still kids so why not act like it? Go to a water park, get out on the water, or just hang around the house with your friends. Summer is every student’s favorite time of year so you can relax, do what you feel like doing without any pressure, and enjoy yourself.

Thunderclap Podcasts

Adviser — Thu, 10 May 2012 13:10:54 +0000

Stay tuned for more podcasts for the 2012-2013 school year!

Picture of the Day

Adviser — Thu, 10 May 2012 12:52:32 +0000

Can you find your tile?

Fact of the Day

Adviser — Thu, 10 May 2012 12:36:55 +0000

Did you know…a hummingbird weighs less than a penny?

ODA Student Selected from National Pool for Exciting Summer Program

Adviser — Thu, 03 May 2012 18:22:12 +0000

Summer is drawing nearer, and students everywhere are beginning to get restless for the time off from the pressures of school to begin. Many students already have their activities planned, from vacationing to summer programs, or just relaxing. However, one Out-of-Door student has something planned that stands out from the rest. From June 25 to July 1, upcoming junior Josh Simon is attending the Youth Education Summit run by the NRA in Washington D.C.

This prestigious program accepts only 45 upcoming high school juniors and seniors to travel to Washington D.C. for a unique and fun educational opportunity. By learning about the Constitution and Bill of Rights, and the federal government, these students are taught how to become more active and knowledgeable members of our society. There are many exciting activities set up for the students on this trip, such as listening to guest speakers at the NRA headquarters, partaking in competitive debates, taking tours of the historical sites and monuments around Washington D.C., and getting the chance to meet national leaders.

As well as giving students the amazing opportunity to learn about our government and become active citizens, another goal of the NRA’s Youth Education Summit is to support the graduates of their Y.E.S. program in their efforts to finance their college career. Since the program was founded in 1996, $340,000 of scholarship money has been awarded to the 630 graduates of Y.E.S. Roughly $10,000 is awarded after the completion of each Y.E.S. week, and another $20,000 is given to those who complete the Grand Scholarship application.

The admissions to this program are not taking lightly, and the application process for Josh consisted of many components. Josh was required to write an essay on what the second amendment means to him and how it applies to his life, make a personal statement (which he chose as sharing the story of his life spent doing outdoor activities), give a list of his accomplishments, and get teacher recommendations.

When Josh stumbled upon this program in an NRA catalogue, he did not realize that it was something that could change his outlook on life and the course of his future. When describing the program to me, he told me it would be the perfect fit for him, because of his past with shooting and genuine interest in politics and government. He even thinks government could be a potential career for his future, and this will be a great way to find out. Josh could not be more excited to start this amazing opportunity, and we at the Out-of-Door Academy wish him the best of luck on his endeavors.

To see the video that Josh submitted as his application for the program, click on the link below. Way to go, Josh! We’re proud of your success.

watch?v=zuFSg2JW0Uw&feature=g-upl&context=G2b5a1b9AUAAAAAAAAAA

New Student Council Waved In

Adviser — Thu, 03 May 2012 12:55:35 +0000

Last Friday the new student council office election results were announced. Zachary Lang won Student Body President; Cheyenne Kerekes is the new Vice President; Gabby Costa was voted Secretary; Natalie Chait is the new Treasurer, and lastly, Gabby Maraia was voted as Social Coordinator.

Zachary Lang thanks his fans for their votes saying he is excited to accept the responsibilities that come with being Student Body President.

Mr. Brewer, an advisor to ODA’s Student Council, notes that these guys have big shoes to fill!

Because the seniors have an open campus and are not expected to be at school for the last three weeks of classes, the new Student Council officers will be hosting the morning assemblies from now on.

Congratulations to the new Student Council officers. The Bolt staff wishes you the best of luck!

Freshmen and Sophomores Meet a Kennedy

Adviser — Tue, 01 May 2012 15:19:43 +0000

Was Ethel Kennedy, Robert Kennedy’s widow, a horse thief? Yes, she was! But it’s not as exciting as it seems. There was actually a sticky lawsuit against her involving the horse’s owners. She became involved in this plan when she came across two starving horses while walking with two of her children near her property. She couldn’t leave them there, so she took them! Horse-theft was a hanging offense at that time in Virginia, but fortunately, she was the wife of a very significant man who got her out of any trouble.
On Monday, April 16, the freshman and sophomore classes were invited by the Sarasota Film Festival to watch the documentary film, Ethel, a story about the wife of the late Robert F. Kennedy. In the film, Rory Kennedy, the youngest of Ethel’s eleven children, interviewed Ethel and eight of her siblings. Their stories, like the one above, were documented for all to see. As part of the festival, Rory Kennedy came to the area to answer questions about her film and gauge audience response. At the end of the ODA presentation, students were treated to having her speak about her film and her role in the Kennedy family. Although she was born six months after her father was assassinated, hearing her mother’s story about their life together made her feel closer to her family, who were grateful to have experienced his affectionate disposition.
Ethel was born into a Republican family as Ethel Skakel. The Skakels were not known for their involvement politically and mainly focused on outdoor activities. The Kennedys, profoundly Democratic, were also big on sports and exercise. The two met during a ski trip to Mont Tremblant Resort in Quebec, Canada, after Ethel and Bobby’s sister, Jean, became friends and roommates. At the time, Bobby was dating Ethel’s sister, Patricia, but when this ended Ethel and Bobby began seeing each other.
As the wife of the Attorney General for the United States and the sister-in-law of President John F. Kennedy, Ethel became a very important figure politically. To learn more about Ethel and the famous Kennedy family, Rory Kennedy’s documentary will be on HBO in October. Many noted that it isn’t your usual, boring documentary. It was surprisingly moving and amusing. Ethel Kennedy is a one-of-a-kind woman.

This year’s festival was featured April 13-22. The festival resumes each spring. Hopefully underclassmen can look forward to this treat again!

Test

snoadmin — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 21:21:01 +0000

Test Content

Picture of the Day

Adviser — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 14:30:20 +0000

Quiet day on the courts

Athlete Profile: Fred Porter

Adviser — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 14:13:30 +0000

Fred Porter is a senior at Out-of-Door and is going to states in the 200m dash. This is his first time going to states in track. Fred is psyched for this meet and has some high goals at this meet. He has to come in the top two in his heat during preliminaries, then he will be able to qualify for finals. He would not have gone to states if he had gotten surgery on his knee, thankfully the coaches talked him out of having the surgery in the middle of the season. Fred went to regionals in the 200m dash, 400m and the 4x400m relay. That is a great accomplishment to go to regionals in three events, but he only qualified to go to states in one.