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Makayla Martindale

Makayla Martindale, Staff Reporter

Makayla Martindale is a sophomore and a first year staff reporter with the Brantley Banner. While her writing interests are diverse, she enjoys working with student athletes and sharing the impact that sports have on their lives, as they have always been a major part of her life. Martindale grew up playing fastpitch softball and spends much of her free time coaching her 7 year-old sister’s softball team, while still focusing on school. In the small amount of time she has between schoolwork and coaching, Martindale can often be found reading the most recent book of her interest. She hopes that her writing will give her the opportunity to further connect to the student body and contribute to school spirit.

All content by Makayla Martindale

A Full Course Production

April 22, 2021
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After the children are seated at their appropriate spots for lunch, the high school student-teachers go around to each of their assigned preschoolers to fill out a form regarding their day “We have a Sunshine Report where we have to ask them about their day and what they have been doing,” sophomore student-teacher Mayson Cooney said. “We also fill out a lunch form where we record what they are eating and how much of it. It’s important for their parents, so that their parents know what they did during the day, how much of their lunch that they ate, and what they need to pack or not pack in the future.”

Little Patriot Lunch

April 22, 2021
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The preschoolers dive into their meals after they return from playing outside. Their meals are all prepared and brought in by their parents, but they receive a list of recommended healthy foods from Early Childhood Education teacher Andrea Lesko. “We give them recommendations of healthy items that we would like them to have, which is why every child’s lunch is different,” Lesko said. “Their parents decide, at the beginning of the school year, what type of drink they would like their child to have and we get those from the cafeteria every morning, so they all have different things, whether that is chocolate milk, water, white milk, or juice.”

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April 22, 2021
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Before sitting down to eat lunch, the preschoolers wash their hands. The preschoolers have learned to form habits early of self-hygiene early on. “We bring the kids in from outside and wash their hands,” sophomore Mayson Cooney said. “It's important for the kids to wash their hands because when they're outside, there are a lot of germs. They touch a lot of stuff with their hands, so we have the children wash wash their so that they don’t get sick.”

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April 22, 2021
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While the children are outside playing on the playground or with Play-Doh at the tables when it is raining, Early Childhood Education teacher Andrea Lesko and her teaching assistant removes the preschoolers’ lunch from their lunch boxes and prepares their food. This can include heating, cutting, and plating the food. “We just do it that way because we feel it’s more important for them to interact with the children, rather than worry about the kitchen things,” Lesko said. “Usually my student assistant and I take care of getting everything prepped while my high school student teachers take care of getting the preschoolers focused on getting some free time before lunch time, then we have nap time.”

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April 22, 2021
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Every student on campus has a lunch routine, including the children at the Little Patriots Preschool. This class consists of the main teacher Andrea Lesko and a group of high school students that work in the preschool during their elective periods. “This class is a lot of fun because we get to interact with the kids and imitate real teachers,” sophomore Mayson Cooney said.

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April 22, 2021
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Sports JAM: Superbowl

April 6, 2021
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Unlike years prior, the ability for tennis players to receive instruction and practice before the start of the tennis season was lessened because of the onslaught of restrictions regarding COVID-19. Sophomore Delaney Taylor on the girls’ varsity tennis team has felt the effects firsthand, but found a way to improve and compete with the competition. “Last week we won both of our doubles and singles games,” Taylor said. I believe the doubles score was eight to one and the singles score was eight to two.”

Game, set, match

February 28, 2021
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Katie Turkelson’s Yearbook class watched the Inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on Jan. 20, 2021. Allowing students to become involved with this monumental event reflects the importance of American values and the idea that all citizens are permitted to have and express their personal opinion. “I feel that Biden's speech benefits Americans who want to see a change in this country, especially coming from him,” senior Isaac Abdelmessih said. “Personally speaking, I did not agree or stand with Joe Biden this past election season; however, I think his speech went smooth and he addressed the points he wanted to. I know that his supporters most likely valued his speech and saw it as a difference maker in this country that some saw as becoming hateful and derogatory towards others.”

Inauguration day 2021

January 30, 2021
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Katie Turkelson’s Yearbook class watched the Inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on Jan. 20, 2021. Allowing students to become involved with this monumental event reflects the importance of American values and the idea that all citizens are permitted to have and express their personal opinion. “I feel that Biden's speech benefits Americans who want to see a change in this country, especially coming from him,” senior Isaac Abdelmessih said. “Personally speaking, I did not agree or stand with Joe Biden this past election season; however, I think his speech went smooth and he addressed the points he wanted to. I know that his supporters most likely valued his speech and saw it as a difference maker in this country that some saw as becoming hateful and derogatory towards others.”

Inauguration Day 2021

January 30, 2021
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Jan. 6, 2021 was a historic day in American history, as a pro-Trump protest at the Capitol, while the Senate was in session to certify Electoral Votes for President-elect Joe Biden, escalated and became destructive. In light of these tragic events, people of faith around the United States were called upon to pray over the unity of the country and safety of those involved.

Prayer amid protest

January 26, 2021
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On the last week of school before Winter Break, Robert Payne II and the Latin classes hold their annual celebration of Saturnalia. Although COVID-19 has thrown off many events this year, Payne did not allow this holiday festivity to be deterred. For returning Latin students, the age old tradition of dressing in togas, gift-giving, singing, and sharing a Saturnalia feast has been modified, while first year Latin students made the best of their circumstances. This year, the Latin 1 class got to participate in a small gift giveaway, sing festive holiday songs translated to Latin, decorate the classroom, and watch Frosty the Snowman. The continuation of these Latin traditions has helped spread the joy of the holiday season to many around the school.

[Photo] Saturnalia: the gift that keeps giving

December 20, 2020
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Dancing to the drumline’s performance during the Lunch Pep Rally on Friday, Nov. 6, sophomore Angelina Joseph shows her school spirit for this year’s modified homecoming activities. Although COVID-19 restrictions caused homecoming week to be altered by moving the pep rally outside during lunch, changing the homecoming dance and Powder Puff game to a later date, and limiting the number of people that attended the football game, leadership still found ways to allow students to have a week to celebrate homecoming. “Even though I didn’t like it [pep rally] as much, I’m still glad that we were able to show school spirit in at least one way,” Joseph said.

Students “pepped” up for homecoming

November 20, 2020
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Although COVID-19 has caused many plans to be cancelled this year, Corley and her family were undeterred in their vision of spreading joy during the holiday season. This has caused the number of decorations that grow every year, along with their holiday spirit. “We have way too many [decorations] to count,” Corley said. “Usually we add more decorations each year, both inside and outside.”

[Photo] Making “spirits” bright: a Corley tradition

November 2, 2020
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French foreign exchange student, Jeanne Fabert, is an avid artist who loves to experiment with different styles of drawing. Prior to studying abroad, Fabert had visited the United States multiple times and had an aspiration to become more immersed in the culture and art. “One of my favorite pieces of art is my digital drawing of a jellyfish,” Fabert said. “I’m passionate about drawing and I would love to work at the Disney Animation Studios later.”

Once in a lifetime opportunity

October 26, 2020
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Sophomore Mayson Cooney prepares to spike the ball while warming up for the Junior Varsity volleyball game against Seminole High School on Thursday, Sept. 10.

Q & A – LBHS Sports Opinions

October 8, 2020
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Junior Ella Christopher gets ready to score from third base during a showcase tournament in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina this past summer. Travel softball was at a standstill to slow the spread of COVID-19. Tournament organizations implemented new regulations to get the athletes playing again, as summer is a crucial time for college recruitment. “I went to Myrtle Beach in South Carolina because I’m trying to get recruited for college,” Christopher said.

Student athletes stay active during quarantine

September 28, 2020
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Softball traditions

April 18, 2020
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Assisting kids with special needs in America’s favorite pastime is a way that Reagan Sienkiewicz, a junior on the Varsity Softball team, and many of her teammates give back to the community. The Bambino Buddy Ball league provides the kids with an outlet to meet new people and teaches important social skills. “The most surprising aspect I have experienced is that I can have a big impact on the kids I help out,” Sienkiewicz said. “It might not seem like much, but I know it means the world to the kids and their parents.”

Softball players buddy up

April 9, 2020
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Makayla Martindale