An independent news publication produced by students at Bak Middle School of the Arts

The Portfolio
On this digital career decision making app, students can go through a variety of lessons.
A new career education program is here, and here’s what students have to say
May 3, 2024
As the party begins, students pour into the cafeteria to experience the thrill of this new event. “My favorite part of the dance was probably getting to spend time with my friends and dance, socialize,” Aria Shessher, eighth-grade dance major said.
The School Dance Mashup
April 23, 2024
Artsgiving: The Story Behind the Stage
Artsgiving: The Story Behind the Stage
December 12, 2023
Luke Bryan performs during the Stagecoach Country Music Festival in Indio, California, on April 28, 2012.
Making an Influence Through Music
November 30, 2023
On Saturday October 21nd 2023, a group came together to take a photo while waiting for their cars after the Fall Thriller. Courtesy of Jaylah Diaz
Behind The Scenes of the Fall Thriller
November 28, 2023
Students wait as the 7:20 AM train arrives in Delray Beach. “ I like Tri-Rail because it provides a convenient transportation system for students that can’t get to school any other way,” Sherman said. Photo by Marton Papp
A look into how Tri-Rail serves students
May 15, 2023
Writing down musical terms, Daniel Goldberg, eighth grade band major, prepares for his high school audition. “I want to try to focus on academics and my instrument in my high school,” Goldberg said. Photo by Mabruk Alam
Eighth graders take steps to prepare for high school
January 23, 2023
A total of 100 students were surveyed. Graphic by Monica Chirolde
Winter plans leave students excited for the break
January 3, 2023
Loading Google Meet, Isabella Monte, seventh grade dance major starts a conference. “Sometimes the Google Meet could get blurry,” Monte said. “Or, you could get kicked out of the meet.” Photo by Shrenik Keshava
Students reflect on virtual auditions
October 10, 2022
Utilizing her study hall class, Lyra Radashkevich, eighth grade communications major, works hard to finish a history worksheet. “I plan to achieve my goals by having good time management, so I am able to finish all my work and still have time to do other fun activities. I even set alarms on my phone, so that way I could stick to a schedule,” Radashkevich said. Photo by Cassie Glomann
Students create goals to thrive this year
October 10, 2022
Vocal Students gather around to perform at Louisville, Kentucky.
Chorale Students Showcased Musical Talents on Kentucky Field Trip
May 3, 2024
Students travel to Orlando for communications convention
May 15, 2023
2D animation instructor Ashley Monastra helps a student with their project. “We're getting to see that sequence of images and what kind of personality they're putting into their animation,” Monastra said. Photo by Jaya Ramanujan
Visual Arts Department introduces 2D Animation Class
May 15, 2023
Bak’s production of footloose incorporates popular songs for everyone to sing along to and follows the heartwarming story of a young boy searching for his father. “My favorite part is how all of the cast must come together to put on an amazing show and seeing that happen through the process. Every person in this show is important to create a show with high stakes that captures the audience’s attention.” Said musical theater teacher, Ms. Caperna. Photo taken by Malina Asnani.
Theater show, ‘Footloose,’ takes the stage
May 15, 2023
Science fair participants brew up unique experiments
Science fair participants brew up unique experiments
January 23, 2023
“No, because there is more advanced technology now, such as Google. However, kids nowadays have a lot of parental pressure,” Angelique Suarez, sixth grade communications major, said.
The Difficulty of School Through the Generations
May 3, 2024
Katherine Kossove, sixth-grade visual major, Devin Jackson, eighth-grade theater major, and Izzy Ford, sixth-grade dance major finish up their homework in Ms. DeSilva's class. “Music would help me enjoy studying and doing work online.”Ford said “Listening to music helps me focus and I believe music will encourage learning in general”
Bringing the beat back into Bak
December 12, 2023
Life Skills Classes Are A Necessity In Schools
November 30, 2023
Kanishka Khungar sixth grade communications major, Adrian Wenceslaus sixth grade communications major and Steven Xue, piano major, get on bus R33 at 6:50 a.m in the morning. “I wake up at 5 a.m. I take a shower and get ready. Then I eat breakfast, and I leave the house by 6:35, to get to my bus stop at 6:40,” Khungar said.
Opinion: The cons of later universal school start times
October 25, 2023
Editorial: Mandated Physical Activity Can Cause Hardships for Students
October 25, 2023
Tiffany McIntosh
Teacher Feature – May Edition
May 3, 2024
The Toth brothers, Zak and Max, along with the Lewis sisters, Sasha and Samaya share their ups and downs as twins who spend their days together whenever they can. “It’s fun to be a twin because whenever you feel lonely you always have someone to hang out with, Samaya Lewis said. Twins are expected to always be there for their other half and with these twins, there’s no exception.
Unfolding the Mysteries of a Twin
December 12, 2023
During a practice, the step team led by Captain Ireanna Linder, 8th grade dance major, did warm ups such as stretching, jumping jacks, and more. “We practice every week, and we do everything over and over and over again,” Linder said. “Sometimes I get tired of it because we have to do the same thing every week. We just practice a lot to make sure that everyone knows what they’re doing.”
Step Team: Behind the Scenes
December 12, 2023
“The Dawes Rolls,” also known as the "Final Rolls,” are the lists of individuals who were accepted as eligible for tribal membership in the "Five Civilized Tribes: Cherokees, Creeks, Choctaws, Chickasaws and Seminoles,” said Michelle DeSilva, sixth grade history teacher. “My ancestors are the Byrd Family which you can see on my family's roster.”
More than just a month: History teacher reflects on her diverse culture
November 28, 2023
On Sept. 14th, students warm-up and rehearse their lines during the beginning of class, making sure to be well-prepared and ready to get the class rolling. “I have them work on the show all the time and one of the big things we do is that we warm up as a group,” said Eric Fredrickson, theater teacher. Photo by Alani McCrae
Behind the curtain of ‘The Brothers Grimm’ production
November 28, 2023
The temporary “Mammoths: Ice Age Giants” exhibition at the Phillip & Patricia Frost Museum of Science displays a 10-foot-tall mammoth skeleton, as well as other interesting things regarding the creature. The woolly mammoths roamed Earth during the Ice Age until they became extinct due to climate change. Photo by Cassie Glomann
Bioscience company attempts to bring back woolly mammoth
May 15, 2023
Tesla CEO Elon Musk speaks during an event to launch the new Tesla Model X Crossover SUV on Sept. 29, 2015, in Fremont, California. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images/TNS)
Tesla sued over self-driving claims
May 15, 2023
Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Hollywood is an invitingly colorful theme park land. (Dania Maxwell/Los Angeles Times/TNS)
Super Nintendo World arrives in Los Angeles
May 15, 2023
Day in a life of a Technology Coordinator
Day in a life of a Technology Coordinator
March 1, 2023
USDA approves genetically modified purple tomatoes
USDA approves genetically modified purple tomatoes
January 23, 2023
Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (33) Aston Martin Red Bull Racing RB15 and Sebastian Vettel of Germany driving the (5) Scuderia Ferrari SF90 battle for position into Turn 1 at the start of the F1 Grand Prix of USA at Circuit of The Americas on November 3, 2019 in Austin, Texas. (Charles Coates/Getty Images/TNS)
The New Age of Racing: Formula 1
May 3, 2024
Halle Bailey as Ariel in Disney’s “The Little Mermaid.”
Making the Unimaginable Imaginable: Disney Live Actions
December 12, 2023
From left to right: Lord of the Flies, The Maze Runner, Between Shades of Gray and Divergent, Heartless. Graphic made by Michael Meidan
Good reads for the season
December 12, 2023
A scene from "Five Nights at Freddy's."
A Review of ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s
November 30, 2023
Ryan Gosling, left, and Margot Robbie in “Barbie.” (Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures/TNS)
Review: ‘Barbie’ accurately depicts the Ups and Downs of being a Woman
October 25, 2023
Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (33) Aston Martin Red Bull Racing RB15 and Sebastian Vettel of Germany driving the (5) Scuderia Ferrari SF90 battle for position into Turn 1 at the start of the F1 Grand Prix of USA at Circuit of The Americas on November 3, 2019 in Austin, Texas. (Charles Coates/Getty Images/TNS)
The New Age of Racing: Formula 1
May 3, 2024
Caitlin Clark (22) of the Iowa Hawkeyes reacts in the second half during the 2024 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament National Championship game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Sunday, April 7, 2024, in Cleveland. (Steph Chambers/Getty Images/TNS) Paige Bueckers (5) of the UConn Huskies puts up a shot against Tessa Johnson (5) of the South Carolina Gamecocks during the second half at Colonial Life Arena on Feb. 11, 2024, in Columbia, South Carolina. SC won 83-65. (Lance King/Getty Images/TNS)
From Brackets to Battle
May 3, 2024
Gymnastics Championship
Gymnastics Championship
November 30, 2023
An illustration of a man playing pickleball on an asphalt court. (Graphic by Catherine Ruple and Siarra Pierre Charles)
The Pickleball CRAZE
November 30, 2023
Giorgio Chiellini (14) of Los Angeles FC battles against Lionel Messi (10) of Inter Miami CF during a match between Inter Miami CF and Los Angeles Football Club at BMO Stadium on Sept. 3, 2023, in Los Angeles. (Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images/TNS)
Messi brings new buzz to South Florida
November 28, 2023
An independent news publication produced by students at Bak Middle School of the Arts

The Portfolio
An independent news publication produced by students at Bak Middle School of the Arts

The Portfolio
Cole Hoffman

Cole Hoffman, Editor-In-Chief

Cole Hoffman (8) is an Editor-in-Chief for the Portfolio Newspaper. He enjoys acting, watching reality television, competing in Speech & Debate, playing tennis, and listening to/reviewing music.

All content by Cole Hoffman
Tiffany McIntosh

Teacher Feature – May Edition

Cole Hoffman, Editor-in-Chief
May 3, 2024
“No, because there is more advanced technology now, such as Google. However, kids nowadays have a lot of parental pressure,” Angelique Suarez, sixth grade communications major, said.

The Difficulty of School Through the Generations

Landon D’Alessandro and Cole Hoffman
May 3, 2024

Life Skills Classes Are A Necessity In Schools

Cole Hoffman and Landon D’Alessandro
November 30, 2023
Gymnastics Championship

Gymnastics Championship

Cole Hoffman, Editor-in-chief
November 30, 2023
Singer-songwriter Taylor Swift performs onstage on the first night of her "Eras Tour" at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on March 31, 2023.

Taylor Swift and Beyoncé; two cultural phenomena

Cole Hoffman, Editor-in-chief
November 28, 2023

Editorial: Mandated Physical Activity Can Cause Hardships for Students

Cole Hoffman and Landon D’Alessandro
October 25, 2023
While on her computer, Rossana De La Roche, the principal’s secretary, responds to emails and reminds herself of what she needs to accomplish for the day. “Some days are smooth and some are hard, but I always put all my effort into everything I do,” De La Roche said.

Retiring administrative assistant reflects on her career

Cole Hoffman, Arts & Academics Editor
May 15, 2023
Tesla CEO Elon Musk speaks during an event to launch the new Tesla Model X Crossover SUV on Sept. 29, 2015, in Fremont, California. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images/TNS)

Tesla sued over self-driving claims

Cole Hoffman, Arts and Academics Editor
May 15, 2023
Photo 1 Caption: Brainpop is an educational website geared toward children that hosts well over 1,000 short animated videos paired with quizzes and other resources. Some subjects that Brainpop covers include science, math, social studies, arts, music, and technology. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Lego’s acquisition could change BrainPOP’s use in classroom

Cole Hoffman, Arts/Academics Editor
January 23, 2023
At tryouts, Madelyn Horner warms up by throwing a ball to her partner. “Warming up, stretching, and throwing to each other at the beginning of practice is necessary so you are ready to work and play hard for the entirety of it,” Shah said. Photo by Cole Hoffman

Softball returns to Bak for the first time since the pandemic

Cole Hoffman, Arts/Academics Editor
October 10, 2022
Sylvia Douglas, Eric Bolanos, and Jaya Ramanujan are new members of the Original Oratory event, which is where you write a 7-10 minute speech about a topic that is important to you. Bolanos, eighth grade vocal major, listens attentively to his event captain as she explains how the event works. “I chose to do OO because personally, I love giving speeches,” Bolanos said. Photo by Cole Hoffman

Banging the gavel once again: Students return to in-person Speech and Debate tournaments

Cole Hoffman, Arts/Academics Editor
October 10, 2022
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