Category Archives: Featured

In Tough Political Times, Love Comes First: Opinion Piece

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By Molly Flynn

“In our nation, we owe loyalty not to a president, or a party, but to the Constitution of the United States.” – Kamala Harris’s Concession Speech, November 6. 2024.

The election this year was controversial, to say the least. However, this doesn’t mean we need to fight at the dinner table over our opposing points of view. Just because one party won and the other lost, doesn’t mean we need to fight people or leave the country. 

Many of us just celebrated Thanksgiving. Christmas is coming up. I personally have family members with a range of political views, ranging from extremely conservative to very liberal, yet, at Thanksgiving, we talked about our interests, my dancing, my cousin’s golfing, and not about our political views. Want to know why? Because we love each other regardless of our political ideologies. That’s what you should care about. Now, I have some tips on what to do if the dinner table gets political. One thing I like to do is to tell a joke. This will hopefully distract people and start a new conversation. For example “Why couldn’t the sailor learn the alphabet? Because he got lost at ‘C’” A real knee-slapper. You could also tell your family about something new or exciting that happened to you. Maybe you just saw Wicked, you could talk about that. Hopefully, this guides the conversation into something less controversial. 

Now, I have heard of a lot of people saying that they’re going to leave the country. However, that is a terrible and immature response to the results. Instead of only focusing on the parties of America, we should focus on keeping America as the great country it is. Political parties are one singular part of America. There is so much more. And even if you oppose the current administration, there’s always another election in 2028. 

I will leave you with this fact: There is a 1 in 400,000,000,000,000 chance that you were even born on this planet. We should be grateful for even being here, and even more grateful that the number one thing we’re worrying about is politics. Stop worrying, and think about what you do have, not what you don’t have.

As you can clearly see, we shouldn’t let our political parties interfere with our day-to-day choices, especially how we view our family members. When you’re at the dinner table with your family, don’t forget that you love them for who they are.

Epic Season for Breakers Girls

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By Nora Weber

This year’s soccer season was one of our best in recent memory, with a final record of 5-3-1. We won five games, lost three, and ended one in a tie. The tie came against H.W. Mountz, a team we hadn’t beaten in years. Going into the match, we knew we had a real chance of coming out on top.

Early on in the game against H.W. Mountz, Kayley Kremen scored our first goal within the first 10 minutes. We erupted in excitement, celebrating with high-fives and cheering. Our confidence soared, and we felt sure we could win. But just before half-time, with only a few minutes left, the opposing team scored, bringing the game to a 1-1 tie.

After the break, and a pep talk from Coach Courtney Hammell, we returned to the field determined to retake the lead. Kayley, once again, made an incredible play, dribbling past several defenders and getting into a perfect position to shoot. She fired, and the ball hit the back of the net! We celebrated, but we knew we still had work to do. We quickly shifted our focus to defense, determined to hold onto our lead.

Photo courtesy of Mrs. Vitale

Unfortunately, with just 10 minutes left in the game, one of the H.W. Mountz players made a strong run down the field, evading our defenders and taking a shot. Our goalie made an initial save, but the ball slipped through her hands, and Mountz ran through her, scoring to tie the game once again. Both teams gave it their all in the final minutes, but neither could find a winning goal. The game went into overtime, but despite our best efforts, the score remained tied. In the end, we left the field feeling annoyed that we didn’t win, but proud of our hard-fought effort.

While our games were exciting and full of highs and lows, I think the best part of the season was the bus rides. We had a blast on the way to every game, with Kamila Stewart keeping the energy high with some great hype music. Even when we lost, we always kept our spirits up. The good times and fun we shared off the field were just as memorable as any win or loss.

This season may not have ended with a perfect record, but it was undoubtedly one of our best in years. We learned, we grew, and we had a lot of fun along the way.

Clubs Team up at Green Fair

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By Nora Weber

The Bradley Beach Green Fair is an annual event held in Riley Park to honor Earth Day, set up by the Bradley Beach tourism director, Amy Hall. This year, there were about 30-35 community groups and businesses at the green fair on April 21, and BBES was one of them.

At our table, we sold pottery vases that we made at Lovelight Handmade planted with marigolds. We also sold vegetable seedlings that we grew from seed in Mr. Sauer’s classroom. Environmental Club members presented information about the new aquaponics system BBES purchased this school year with the help of a grant from the state. The students from the Environmental and Garden Clubs worked in shifts to sell the pottery and plants. Mrs. Sauer, Mr. Cosgrove, and Mrs. Dizefalo also helped us out with our sales. Mrs. Dizefalo stopped by to set up and display the second graders’ recycled art project made with the help of green artist Lisa Bagwell. Even our mascot Bradley the Seagull was there to show his school spirit for Earth Day.

Since the pottery was made for free at Lovelight by the student club members, and they were our biggest hit, we raised $411, a good amount of money for the Garden and Environmental Clubs.

Two years ago, we also sold plants at the green fair supervised by the Environmental and Garden Club teacher, Mrs.Bialek. That year, we prepared by getting seedlings for popular vegetables and plants like tomatoes, beans, mint, and flowers. Kids were going around asking people if they wanted to buy plants, and it was a fun time. We sold almost all the plants we had.

Hopefully, in the future, we can continue this Earth Day tradition.

The “Best of BBES” Writing Contest

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We are pleased to announce the winners of the 2024 “Best of BBES” Writing Contest!

Last month, teachers nominated the three best writing pieces created by students in their grade levels this school year (members of The Tides were not eligible). Our newspaper staff judged the work on the following criteria: conventions, creativity, organization, craft moves, and details. Please click on the titles below to enjoy the work by our talented writers!

In first grade, Stiles Butler for “Planetarium.” Judge: Max Gast.

In second grade, Kailey Garcia Zuniga for “Uniforms.” Judge: Lillian McClaren.

In third grade, Beau Bartlett with “Ben Currso and the Flying Torch.” Judge: Molly Flynn.

In fourth grade, Yara Mohammed Sorour with “Personal Narrative.” Judge: Nora Weber.

In fifth grade, Saul Jose-Cruz with “One Day in D.C.” Judge: Kaitlynn Cook.

In sixth grade, Jazzelle Dockery with “Boat Ride.” Judge: Layla Katz.

In seventh grade, Dean Llolla with “Why Space Exploration Shouldn’t be a Priority.”  Judge Max Gast.

In eighth grade, Diana Montes-Santiago with “Amor Eterno.” Judge Brynn Hopf.

A New Spin for Bradley Bleach Laundromat 

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by Max Gast and the staff of The Tides

You are a little kid waiting for your parents to do their laundry, but all you can do is sit on a bench off to the side thinking about what you’re going to do when you get home. Watching clothes revolving in the large, stainless steel machines, you notice something new in the corner: a colorful rug, a child-sized table, and a bookcase loaded with brand-new books! 

The Laundromat Library at Bradley Bleach is the first such library in Monmouth County at 615 Park Place Avenue. Installed in October with a $5,000 grant obtained by the Bridge of Books Foundation, the Laundromat Library allows books to be taken home by kids. And you don’t need an I.D. or a library card.

“The idea is to expose children to literacy at an early age,” said Ursula Ayers, a former math teacher who owns the laundromat with her husband, Victor Ayers. “Children take books home to keep. We want children to have books to call their own,” 

The books range from early childhood to middle-grade reading levels, and there are even some for adults. This library was set up with help from the nonprofit Bridge of Books Foundation, which obtained a $5,000 grant from The Burlington Foundation for equipment and an ongoing supply of books. 

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The Skiing Trip: A Personal Narrative

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By Dmytro Matsko, winner of The Tides Fourth Grade Writing Contest 2023-4

“Let’s go!” yelled Dad.

“I’m scared,” I whispered.

“Come on,” Dad answered.

I was trembling with fear because it was my first time going skiing. When I was getting off the skiing lift, I jumped off the chair. It was so comfy and warm that I did not want to get off. My skis hit the ice. It was time to go. My dad was going down the skiing trail so easily. It was a sunny day, But it was cold. The sky was as blue as the ocean. I was frightened. And at the same time, I was delighted.

I was starting at the skiing trail. My dad was yelling, ”You can do it! You can do it!” My heart was beating so fast. I was trying to keep my balance. I was falling so many times, but I did not give up. When I fell in the snow, it was pitch black because my head was deep in a pile of snow.

I was shivering and shaking uncontrollably when I got down.

“I’m never going to do this,” I thought to myself. But….

I closed my eyes for the 15th time. I started to go down the skiing trail. I opened my eyes and yelled, “I’m doing it! I’m doing it!” I felt so proud of myself.

“I did it, “ I thought to myself

When I got to the end, I exclaimed, “Let’s go again!”

My dad said, “ Let’s go one more time.” But… 

When we got down to the ID scan, it was closed. I said, “Come on!”

But my dad said, “We will go tomorrow.”  I felt super displeased. I held my head low because I knew we were leaving today.

Making Art Work! a Q&A with Mrs. DiZefalo

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By Jennifer Hernandez

Here at BBES, we all know that Mrs. Jennifer DiZefalo is a talented teacher, but did you know she is also a working artist, showing and selling her paintings all over the country? Here is a Q&A I conducted with Mrs. DiZefalo via Google Docs earlier this year.

From left, Mrs. DiZefalo works on the Kingsley Street Mural; with her son Henry at the Sea Hear Now Mural 2022; Earth and Air; and Fire and Water.

Q: What are some recent art pieces you’ve made outside of school? And where can we find them?: 

A: I worked in collaboration with photographer Sara Stadtmiller on a mural for the Sea Hear Now festival. We created an abstract version of a seascape. That mural is now on its way to the Asbury Park Train Station for permanent display.

My painting, Earth and Air, was selected to be part of  The Invincible Visible – Transformer Gallery’s 19th Annual Exhibition & Benefit Auction at American University in Washington D.C. last month. I also have paintings at Parlor Gallery in Asbury Park.

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Legendary Journalist Returns to Her Roots at BBES

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By Molly Flynn

It’s not every day that a living legend visits our school, but last May, we were honored by a visit from iconic courtroom journalist Linda Deutsch, a graduate of BBES and member of our “Hall of Fame” who wrote about some of the most gruesome trials in modern history for the Associated Press during her 50-year career.

Ms. Deutsch, who now lives in California, talked to students about some of her famous cases such as the Night Stalker, Charles Manson, O.J. Simpson, and Michael Jackson, along with memories of her years here in Bradley Beach.

She was in town to deliver keynote addresses at Monmouth University, and receive an honorary degree, “Doctor of Humane Letters.” Ms. Deutsch graduated from (then) Monmouth College in 1965. In 1996, she received the Distinguished Alumni Award. In 2018, she established the Linda Deutsch ’65 Scholarship for Communication Students, and in 2019, the university celebrated the naming of the Linda Deutsch ’65 Student Journalism Center, according to a Monmouth University press release.

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Get Hyped for The Next Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Movie

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By Zamantha Munoz Morales

Since the early 1990s, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, or TMNT, have had some of the most recognizable characters in pop culture. The four turtles have seen many reincarnations over the past three decades, whether in TV shows, or movies. This year they’ll receive another reimagining with the new movie, Mutant Mayhem. Since the movie is two months away, let’s look at what to expect for the future of TMNT.

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