round Campus
6
each grade would put on a dance or skit performance for the
parents and invited guests. It was a wonderful time, and all of
the kids had a lot of fun.
With the hundreds of children that attended this camp,
there were many Ransom Everglades students and faculty who
helped make it happen. Many Ransom Everglades students
were counselors who watched over a group of children, took
them to their activities, and developed a special bond with
every one of them. There were also some students who were
in charge of activities such as the sailors who took the children
sailing and tubing. This was the first year that we were able
to use our new Olympic sized pool in the camp, and so there
many Ransom Everglades students were life guards. Nikki
Court-Ruess (11th grade) who was one of the lifeguards at
the camp described what their role was; “We basically got in
the pool with the little ones like the kindergartners and taught
them how to swim and the different strokes. With the older
ones we just helped them with their different strokes and did
relay races.” All of the kids had a great time with all of these
activities and it was these Ransom Everglades students that
made it happen.
The Ransom Everglades Day Camp 2012 was a huge
success in that it was a great time for the kids to make friends,
and most of all, have fun. The Olympic theme, the aquatic
center, the many special events, and the over-all cheerful
environment helped make it the marvelous camp that it was.
While Ransom Everglades was busy with our many
summer activities, some Ransom Everglades students did
some very interesting and educational things as well. A great
example of this is that Steven Lang (9th grade) worked in a
chemistry lab at FIU over the summer. At the SERC lab in
FIU, Steven conducted various experiments and researched
the ecological conditions in the Everglades and Florida
marsh ecosystems. He has been affiliated with this lab for
about a year now and all together has volunteered almost 100
hours of laboratory time. As a laboratory assistant, he works
preparing samples for analysis, recording data, and any other
work needed to be done to make sure the lab runs smoothly.
Steven’s time at FIU has equipped him to study other interests
he has, and has taught him things that he can use later in life
in the science profession.•
Mia Lennon, Freshman
In March, middle and high school students from Oviedo,
Spain came to Ransom Everglades for two weeks. They
stayed with Ransom Everglades families, toured the school,
and were showed what it was like to live in Miami. In June,
with the guidance of Mr. Urbina and Mrs. Naranjo, about 13
Ransom Everglades students went to Oviedo and stayed with
Spanish families. It was a wonderful enriching experience for
them, and really opened them up to the Spanish language
and culture.
Since the students from Spain were still in school studying
very hard for their finals, our Ransom Everglades students got
a look at their school, San Ignacio, by going to their classes
with them. Marina Pataro (9th grade) and Teddy Murphy
(11
th grade) said that the schooling is fairly different than
what we have here at Ransom Everglades. Also, the classes
are much larger, so they can get chaotic. On the weekends
and in their free time, the Ransom Everglades students went
many places with their host families. Marina and many other
students went to the village to eat lunch, and Teddy went to a
little town, Pola Somiedo. The Ransom Everglades students
also went to Spanish discos, to the mall, and sightseeing.
The trip was two weeks that none of these Ransom
Everglades students will forget. Marina, who loved this
experience and everything that it taught her about the
Spanish culture, said, “I was super excited to go because I
knew it was going to be an amazing experience. It was great
to be able to go with my friends.” The trip to Oviedo, Spain
was an incredible time, and the students who went couldn’t be
more eager to go back again with the school in March to be
reunited with their Spanish “brothers and sisters”.
Back in Miami, this summer Ransom Everglades hosted
its annual Summer Day Camp for children of Pre-K ages to
children going into seventh grade. Since the London 2012
Olympics were approaching, this summer was “An Olympic
Summer.” All camp groups had the name of a different
country, and there were constant Olympic-themed activities
and competitions. There were three sessions spanning from
June 11th until July 20th, and it was such a great summer. At
the camp, there were countless daily activities such as archery,
sailing, canoeing, dance, swimming, karate, art, and tennis.
There were tons of other exciting activities planned for all
of the kids like a carnival day. At the end of every session,
Some RE Summer Activities
7.
Witness a political debate involving Anthony Abinader
and/or Emilio Lamar
8.
Get lost trying to find your way back from the locker rooms
because of construction
9.
Eat in the Pagoda
10.
Eat on the deck
11.
Eat outside
12.
Eat
13.
Have Dr. Bufkin as a teacher
14.
Take debate
15.
Wonder why everyone else isn’t leaving after ninth period,
only to realize there’s still two periods left
16.
Use the bathroom in the VA building
17.
Hear J-Rod speak
18.
Be the first one to get to assembly
19.
Then make an announcement in assembly
20.
Get kicked off the deck
Angela Anthony, Senior
As college application deadlines are drawing ever closer
and as it seems that graduation is just around the corner, it
struck me that there are certain things I’ve accomplished
during my Ransom Everglades career and I believe these
are things that every Ransom Everglades kid should hope to
accomplish during their four years here.  Unfortunately, there
are others that I haven’t been lucky enough to get done.  So I
decided to write a list of those things. This is the list of things
to do before you graduate.•
1.
Paint the cannon
2.
Fall down the stairs next to Ludington
3.
Meet Mr. Kutsenok
4.
Leave campus during a free period
5.
Get the weirdest counselors possible during
Outward Bound
6.
Capsize during sailing class
Things to do before you graduate
PHOTO PROVIDED BY DARA WEISS
PHOTO PROVIDED BY DARA WEISS