Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts | 501 S. Sapodilla Ave, WPB, FL 33401

THE MUSE
Chemistry teacher Anushka Larkin was educationally affected by Hurricane Milton. Several of her students grades fell during the break.
Missed Days of School Impact Teachers’ Lesson Plans
Smiling at her students, English teacher Carmen Gallardo hosts a class discussion about the AP exam. It is one part of the routine that Ms. Gallardo has to ensure that students learn and understand the subject matter. “She gives us a schedule at the beginning of every quarter that breaks down what we're going to do each class.” strings junior Kayci Estelle said. “I think her sticking to such a regimen not only reflects her navy training but who she is as a person.”
A Salute to Veterans
Photo courtesy of communications senior David Sanchez taken in Wellington, FL.
Students and Their Communities Impacted by Hurricane Milton
Dressed as a psych ward patient to scare students in the haunted house, band sophomore Hinav Kour Ahmad jumps out and screams at theatre junior Reese McCobb. The Student Government Association (SGA) members and student volunteers put on costumes and acted in the asylum-themed haunted house to create an immersive experience.
Fall Dance Frights
Image courtesy of NOAA
School Canceled Due To Hurricane Milton
[BRIEF] Hairy Details Hosts First Performance
[BRIEF] Hairy Details Hosts First Performance
Chemistry teacher Anushka Larkin was educationally affected by Hurricane Milton. Several of her students grades fell during the break.
Missed Days of School Impact Teachers’ Lesson Plans
Photo courtesy of communications senior David Sanchez taken in Wellington, FL.
Students and Their Communities Impacted by Hurricane Milton
Image courtesy of NOAA
School Canceled Due To Hurricane Milton
[BRIEF] Students Register to Vote During Lunch
[BRIEF] Students Register to Vote During Lunch
[BRIEF] National Honor Society Inducts New Members
[BRIEF] National Honor Society Inducts New Members
Chanting in unison, the cast of “Twelfth Night, or What You Will” bands together in the Brandt Black Box theater before the theatre preview.
[BRIEF] “Twelfth Night, or What You Will” Cast Performs Theatre Preview
Visual senior Claire Natanek sits on the astroturf outside Building 9 during lunch to draw keyframes for her latest project. In animation, a keyframe is a drawing showing the beginning or end point of an action. These keyframes allow the motion to flow smoothly in the final product.
Animating with Intelligence
Dancing together in the Brandt Black Box Theater, the “Drowsy Chaperone” cast members practice their routines. This production incorporates numerous dance numbers with the entire cast. “There are so many of us in the cast, (so) it's important for all the dancing to look very specific and sharp,” ensemble member and theatre senior Erin Duran said.
Bringing a Show to Life
Acting as a mother awaiting a kiss on the cheek, communications senior Emily Singer performs her Dramatic Interpretation (DI) titled “Girls & Boys.”
The Figures Behind the Speeches
Arts after Dark
Arts after Dark
Visual senior Maia Derrevere displays her artwork for the annual Portfolio Day. The event occurred during periods five and seven on Jan. 17.
Curating Their Futures
Vocal seniors Brian Trompeter, Brianna Tejada, Angelina Castillo, and Aileen Pereda perform “Frosty the Snowman” at the 2023 Winter Arts Medley (WAM).
Celebration of Collaboration
Anticipating the ball, visual junior Tora Cooper stands on the court in front of a crowd of students and parents. “My favorite part of being on the team is having a community that is always supportive of one another,” Cooper said. (Photo courtesy of Lotta Cooper)
‘Setting’ Up For Success
Conversing with a group of students, new biology teacher Richard Zullo instructs them on how to complete an assignment about the properties of water.
The Tooth Fairy in Building 4
Checking her email and the school district portal, new musical theatre and vocal guidance counselor Christelina Milan views new student information. Since it was Ms. Milan’s first year, she dedicated time to familiarize herself with new students and school procedures.
From Corporate to Creative
New assistant principal Drew Dawson supervises the cafeteria during lunch. Mr. Dawson’s duties on campus include lunch supervision, metal detector duty, and door-holder for building three during class changes. “It's a school where everyone seems to just welcome you and make you feel like you're a part of the culture and a part of the school,” Mr. Dawson said. “I just feel like everyone has a place here, and that's really cool.”
A New Dawn for Dawson
Mrs. Waugh watches her students as they work on graphing data from the lab that took place during class. Prior to becoming a teacher, Waugh worked as a fire protection engineer. ”I thought it would be most impactful if I could teach science here [at Dreyfoos].” Mrs. Waugh said. “And I had loved my physics teacher. He was part of why I became an engineer,”
Breaking the Surface Tension
Surrounded by his students, Mr. Angulo demonstrates the process of developing an image in the darkroom. He transferred the paper from the developing chemical to the stop bath using a pair of tongs. To protect the light-sensitive paper in the darkroom, students must leave their phones, watches, and other devices with lights outside.
The Angles of Angulo
The donations received for Dona Por Amor include clothes, non-perishable foods, and more. Once the donation window ends, the items will be organized into groups based on the type of donation and packed into boxes. Spanish teacher Lori Brown explained that shipments going into countries with political turmoil, like Venezuela, often get stolen in the process. To combat this, the boxes will be dropped off at a non-profit organization that brings the boxes directly to Venezuela, ensuring the safety of the items.
Doing More with Amor
Digital media junior Sabastyan Henriquez wears a thrifted t-shirt and thrifted jewelry.
Secondhand Styles
Pumpkin cinnamon rolls bake in the oven, ready to be frosted with cream cheese icing.
How to: Fall (Recipe)
This depicts two t-shirts and a sweatshirt sold by SHEIN and manufactured in China. In order for SHEIN to keep up with fast moving trends, 35,000 to 100,000 items are produced daily, according to Design Life Cycle, releasing 6.3 million tons of carbon dioxide every year.
Behind The Seams
Some seniors pose for a group photo at the municipal beach near the Worth Avenue Clock Tower for “Senior Sunrise.” The event was unaffiliated with the school but organized by senior class presidents and digital media seniors Olivia Le and Joshua Molnar. (Ashwin Kishor)
Here Comes the Sun (and Senior Year)
Looking towards the audience, Ben Krieger sing his original song “Burden On Me” during his set at Sunfest.
‘Me, My Guitar, and My Notebook’: Ben Krieger performs at SunFest
Professor AI
Professor AI
This depicts two t-shirts and a sweatshirt sold by SHEIN and manufactured in China. In order for SHEIN to keep up with fast moving trends, 35,000 to 100,000 items are produced daily, according to Design Life Cycle, releasing 6.3 million tons of carbon dioxide every year.
Behind The Seams
Photo illustration of two hands representing rock and scissors.
[SATIRE] How To Win Rock, Paper, Scissors
Photo by Sofia Hennessey-Correa
[SATIRE] The Muse’s Guide to Last Minute Spirit Week Outfits
[SATIRE] Spirit Week: Written in the Stars
[SATIRE] Spirit Week: Written in the Stars
This photo illustration, of the opinion story writer Gavin Leser, is meant to highlight how society pressures people to seem happy even when they don’t feel that way. Often someone’s external positivity may contrast their inner feelings.
Don’t Smile Through the Sadness
Anticipating the ball, visual junior Tora Cooper stands on the court in front of a crowd of students and parents. “My favorite part of being on the team is having a community that is always supportive of one another,” Cooper said. (Photo courtesy of Lotta Cooper)
‘Setting’ Up For Success
Preparing to enter the field, number 15 and communications senior John Markee watches his teammates from the sidelines. On Friday, Sept. 20, the Forest Hill High School varsity football team played in their fourth game of the season, ending in a loss despite winning their first three games.
Jaguars on Forest Hill Boulevard
Dreyfoos on Ice
Dreyfoos on Ice
Watching the boys soccer team prep, French Teacher Mr. Ruth prepares the team for their upcoming games.
The Faces Behind The Teams
[BRIEF] Boys Basketball Wins Close Game
[BRIEF] Boys Basketball Wins Close Game
Strings sophomore Gavin Chandler leaps up in the air to pull off a jump shot, practicing for upcoming lacrosse tryouts at Palm Beach Atlantic High School.
Game-changer
Nestled behind trees, the storefront of Maman in the Square, located at 473 S Rosemary Ave.
Not Your Maman’s Coffee
Yelling into his microphone, country musician Noah Hunton performs at SunFest as part of his mini south-Floridian tour, across venues from West Palm Beach to Key West.
Tuning Up SunFest
Nelly performs at SunFest 2024.
The Appeal of SunFest
Image courtesy of Taylor Swift
Give ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ Another Listen
Spirit Week Mini Crossword #3
Spirit Week Mini Crossword #3
Spirit Week Mini Crossword #2
Spirit Week Mini Crossword #2
The Muse Has...
The Muse Has…
Muse Talks: The Ivy Illusion
Muse Talks: The Ivy Illusion
Artist Market Recap
Artist Market Recap
Muse Talks: Lovesick or Sick of Love
Muse Talks: Lovesick or Sick of Love
Behind the Camera: Film Association's Upcoming Projects
Behind the Camera: Film Association’s Upcoming Projects
Welcoming Mrs. Richardson
Welcoming Mrs. Richardson
Dancing along to the song “Toledo Surprise,” Drowsy Chaperone dance captain and theatre sophomore Sofia Gianetti participates in the Drowsy Chaperone flash mob. This surprise performance in the cafeteria aimed to promote the upcoming musical and showcase the work and time students put into the musical. “The experience is so much fun, getting to make up all the dances with (theatre teacher Sandra) Christie, assisting her, and helping anyone who has questions,” Gianetti said.
Photo of the Week 10/21
Looking at the phlebotomist, dance junior Finleigh Townsend gets blood drawn for her first time. On Oct. 16, National Honor Society (NHS) held its blood drive in the school parking lot. Oneblood Donation and its Big Red Bus visited the school campus to find volunteers for blood and plasma donations. Their mission is to replenish and maintain a healthy blood supply in the community. “It makes you feel really good to have had an impact on so many people by doing something that didn't take much time and didn't hurt me at all,” said Townsend.
Photo of the Week 10/16
Waving his baton to the rhythm of the music, band teacher Evan Rogovin leads the Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble musicians as they focus on their parts during the Fall Band Concert. On Oct. 1, the music department held its first band performance of the year in Meyer Hall. “After not getting to play in front of people all summer, it was refreshing to be back on a stage with an audience and with my band family,” band sophomore Luna Schneider said.
Photo of the Week 10/7
Vocal junior Emilie Paul and digital media junior Isabelle Phillips sing “Sleepwalk” by Betsy Brye. The duo performed at the Seeds Open Mic, which was held Feb. 2 in support of the literary magazine.
Photo of the Week 2/5
Observing potassium pomegranate droplets react with an acid, piano sophomore Mili Dagan engages in a chemistry lab in Ms. PH’s class. During the experiment, Dagan conducts a titration — a technique in which a solution of known concentration is used to ascertain the concentration of an unknown solution.
Photo of the Week 1/29
Flipping through visual senior Ella Smith’s sketchbook, a representative from Moore College of Art & Design reviews her portfolio work. On Portfolio Day, a variety of arts college representatives travel to review the work of visual and digital media majors. The students participating have the opportunity to learn about different colleges and explore options for pursuing the arts in college.
Photo of the Week 1/22
  • Thanksgiving Break: Nov. 23-Dec. 1
  • Multicultural Potluck at Lunch: Nov. 22
  • Orchestra Concert at 6:30 p.m. in Meyer Hall: Nov. 20
  • Jazz Concert at 6:30 p.m. in Meyer Hall: Nov. 19
  • Boys Basketball Away Game at 7:30 p.m.: Nov. 19
  • Girls Basketball Away Game at 6 p.m.: Nov. 19
  • Club Photos: Nov. 21-22
  • Boys Soccer Game at 7:30 p.m: Nov. 18
  • Girls Soccer Game at 6 p.m.: Nov. 18
Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts | 501 S. Sapodilla Ave, WPB, FL 33401

THE MUSE
Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts | 501 S. Sapodilla Ave, WPB, FL 33401

THE MUSE
Isaac Ochoa

Isaac Ochoa, Editor-in-Chief

Communications senior Isaac Ochoa is a third-year journalist on The Muse. He hails from south of the border where life is much more mellow yet dangerous. He is president of the Latin-Hispanic Heritage Club and has a passion for the environment that has led him to become a vegetarian. Now reflecting on his four years of high school, he wonders why he joined The Muse. After spending countless hours behind a desk writing, editing, designing and solving last minute setbacks, Ochoa has come to the conclusion that only masochistic students join school newspapers. Fortunately, he doesn’t mind the extra work. Ochoa hopes to continue to raise the standards of The Muse through experimental work. Sometimes he fails miserably, but it’s okay.

All content by Isaac Ochoa
This is the road near communications senior and Editor-in-Chief Isaac Ochoa"s house. This is the fifth home where he has lived in the last five years.

Craving an Authentic Community

Isaac Ochoa, Editor-in-Chief
July 6, 2016
Piano alumni Ian Lao (left) and Cara Harbaugh (2014) visit Dreyfoos two years after their graduation. "The advantages of dual enrollment and APs should be reported. You don't realize how helpful dual enrollment is. I could have saved more than $1000," Harbaugh said. "If we were told more that in high school, it would have been very profitable."

Question of the Day: What would you like The Muse to cover in its upcoming issues?

Isaac Ochoa, Assistant Managing Editor
March 10, 2016
"I would change all days because I have to carry too many textbooks. Plus, it's a lot of homework due on the same day," dance freshman Sophia Echeverry said. "We have to go to too many classes. It's simply inconvenient."

Question of the Day: What would you change at Dreyfoos?

Isaac Ochoa, Assistant Managing Editor
March 9, 2016
"We should review gender identity, sexism, and other controversial topics because kids must learn about everything around them," visual sophomore Roanne Kopacz-Ried said. "Kids should not be sheltered. When you shelter a kid, you damage their future as information equals preparation and success."

Question of the Day: Should high school publications cover controversy?

Isaac Ochoa, Assistant Managing Editor
March 8, 2016
"A high school publication is important to have because students should be informed of what's going on. It gives us something to look back on and see how much our opinions and behaviors have changed," strings junior Veronica Dziak said.

Question of the Day: Why are high school publications important to you?

Isaac Ochoa, Assistant Managing Editor
March 7, 2016
Communications junior Britania Cameron (left) and theatre junior Krystina Toledo make heart-shaped crafts for 4-year-old kids at the New Pines Development Center in West Palm Beach. Toledo and Cameron attended the trip with the Latin-Hispanic Heritage Club during lunch.

Photo of the Day: 1/22

Isaac Ochoa, Assistant Managing Editor
January 22, 2016
Vocal sophomore Madison Cuellar (R) and members of the Latin-Hispanic Heritage Club visit the New Pines Development Center for an arts and crafts activity with three-year-old children. The club made hats and goodie bags with the kids.

Photo of the Day: 11/19

Isaac Ochoa, Assistant Managing Editor
November 19, 2015
The PTA and Dreyfoos organizations sold merchandise for new students.

Dreyfoos’ 2015-2016 Orientation

Isaac Ochoa, Assistant Managing Editor
August 14, 2015
As high schoolers, we glorify college. It becomes a symbol for our newfound autonomy after four years of depending on our parents for rides home or groceries. Going into my junior year, I decided to taste the college life. I enrolled in an economics class at Georgetown University for 5 weeks, hoping to experience the independence of an undergrad student. My mom would not be needed for me to complete any tasks or berate me for not cleaning my room. I would be free. However, the college life without any sense of responsibility can lead to chaos. There is much to keep up with when no one keeps track of you, and with this new knowledge, I have compiled 7 facts about college.

7 College Facts

Isaac Ochoa, Assistant Managing Editor
August 13, 2015
For the first time in 16 years, I had to cook my own meals if I wanted to spend fewer than 10 dollars on a barely satiating dish. My cooking stage only lasted a week until the roaches and flies reached the communal kitchen. Plates began to stack over each other as a pungent odor intensified with each meal. Most of my floormates cleaned the kitchen during the first week because there was always a second person present nearby who could blame whoever forgot to wash the dishes. After we all gained a relatively solid schedule of everyone’s day, the lazy discovered the dorms were vacant at certain hours. Filth could now accumulate without the cook experiencing any consequences or guilt. Therefore, the plates piled on until flies made their home in the unwashed dishes. One does learn a lot about a person’s personality when discussing food, and in the kitchen everything came to light, such as the identity of thieves. The kitchen is a battlefield, especially when Ben & Jerry’s ice cream or rice cookers are stolen.

The photo says it all. When mom isn’t around, roaches will pillage the crumbs you leave on the floor and shelter themselves in your soiled clothes.

Construction might not be a nuisance when you attend a university, but it will be an incessant bother if you plan on becoming a Georgetown bulldog. Georgetown is undergoing a renovation until 2017 , so all applicants should consider this before adding Georgetown to their college list. The persistent blocking of walkways and building entrances will force you to take the scenic route to all of your classes, and not only will the noise of construction workers be a peeve, but their entry into the college bathrooms will incentivize you to find the farthest restroom from construction sites.

College classes usually require a midterm, a final and a project which allows the procrastinator to dedicate his or her leisure to advocating, sleeping or socializing. Gauging from my days at Georgetown, free time tends to be a mix of the three with a few exceptions. Due to recent controversies surrounding planned parenthood, pro choice protests reverberated their chant on campus as students joined in to help the cause. On the other hand, there were people on my floor who never left their rooms. They were like legends, discussed and hyperbolized at times but never seen to attest the truth. Some of my friends told stories of roommates who decided to skip showers for a week. As I said, everyone decides to dedicate time to different activities in college, showering may not be one of them.

This blurb won’t be written from experience because alcohol is an activity for adults 21 and older, but I found it to be a topic worth discussing due to the numerous red solo cups dispersed around campus. The fact that college students consume alcohol becomes incontestable after a tour of the university grounds. Bottles of Jack Daniel’s, Absolut Vodka and other alcoholic beverages are in almost every recycling bin near the dorms and public bathroom stalls have tips about responsible alcohol consumption taped to their doors.

The regular old bus with its sexagenarian drivers or the trek to tri rail on rainy days will be part of the past. Once in college there will be no free transportation. Fortunately, everything is within the fringes of campus if you are okay with cafeteria food that stains your plate or a few cafes. Any other cuisine will require a trip to the city or your college town. Uber will become your best friend if you are okay with a hefty price tag. A bike will most likely suit college students who are either on a limited budget or supporting eco friendly transportation.

You know you are in a college laundry room when you come across a thong on the cement floor. The underwear of unknown individuals is solely one of the many articles of clothing one might encounter. Sometimes you will find dirty men’s underwear, and dirty as in feces stained dirty. At first, I refused to use the same laundry machine as the owners of those objects but washing one’s clothes is inescapable. One must pray for the cleansing power of febreeze and tide, and throw the dirty clothes in the washing machine.

Guna indians from the San Blas Islands in Panama sell artisanal cloths known as molas and jewelry at a market in the capital's old quarter. The Gunas' work is praised across the Panamanian isthmus for its bright colors and strong ties to Panama's indigenous culture.

Photo of the Day: August 12th

Isaac Ochoa, Assistant Managing Editor
August 12, 2015

Advocating the Easy Way

Isaac Ochoa, Assistant Managing Editor
July 27, 2015
Searching For My Roots

Searching For My Roots

Isaac Ochoa, Assistant Managing Editor
June 29, 2015
(L-R) Strings juniors Kevonna Shuford and Maria Fernandez laugh while discussing the good and bad of journalism. “Journalism [reminds me of] being sneaky and deceptive because the news can be altered slightly depending on the source. The stuff that we hear is normally a little sugarcoated or exaggerated,” Shuford said. “Journalism reminds me of the truth and exploited pieces of the truth because [journalism] may be completely accurate and a good portion of journalism is that way. However, there is a lot of yellow journalism going on now. Many events are exaggerated and unreliable sources nowadays take little portions of the truth and twist them for public appeal,” Fernandez said.

#SJW2015: What do people associate with journalism?

Isaac Ochoa, Arts Staffer
February 27, 2015
"A great journalist is someone who is not afraid to ask anything, someone who listens attentively. They give people a chance to answer without putting in their own opinion. They report and illuminate what is real and going on around us, addressing different kinds of problems that are going on around the world," visual senior Karen Polanco said.

#SJW2015: What makes a great journalist?

Isaac Ochoa, Arts Staffer
February 26, 2015
"I'm probably going to have to say the 'American sniper' case. It's been so controversial because it was a marine veteran that killed two navy seal veterans, Chris Kyle and Chad Littlefield. As of last night the 'killer' was found guilty of Capital murder. It was crazy to think they survived all the fighting in war, and end up being killed by one of their own in their home country," communications freshman Mercedes Gonzalez said.

#SJW2015: Influential stories of 2015

Isaac Ochoa, Arts Staffer
February 25, 2015
(L-R) visual freshman Tiffany Breen and dance freshman Madison McCue discuss media censorship. "It is not censored if it involves us because that is all [the press] cares about," McCue said. "People say to go view British news because it is not biased toward the United States," Breen said.

#SJW2015: Is the press censored?

Isaac Ochoa, Arts Staffer
February 24, 2015
"I do think the media is censored because there are a lot of issues we don't know about until the situation escalates to the point of no return. We are then confused because the press didn't inform us about it when it first started," dance senior Tyra Trotman said.

(L-R) Parker Wall and Paul Pain enjoy a comfortable embrace for the camera. "I do think the media is censored. It is a lot better in the United States than in other countries, but there is a lot of work to be done for ultimate freedom of speech," Wall said.

“Journalism is giving people information on topics so they can formulate their own opinions on [world issues]. It enlightens people on the different events, opinions and issues occurring across the globe,” Piano sophomore Sophia Oaks said.

#SJW2015: What is journalism?

Isaac Ochoa, Arts Staffer
February 23, 2015

Scholastic Results Released

Isaac Ochoa and Remi Lederman
February 3, 2015

‘Once Upon A Time’ falls flat

Isaac Ochoa, Entertainment staffer
October 23, 2014
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