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The award-winning student news site of Olympic Heights High School

The Torch

  • Staff Member of the Month - James Cappello
  • September Teacher of the Month - Jessica Natoli
The award-winning student news site of Olympic Heights High School

The Torch

The award-winning student news site of Olympic Heights High School

The Torch

Erica Cheva, engineering teacher at Olympic Heights

Fostering a Caring Environment for Student Success in Engineering

Jacob Yaciuk, Staff Writer January 23, 2025

Whether it is building balsa wood gliders, assembling water-powered generators, or repurposing cardboard into chairs, everyday students learn a new skill set in Erica Cheva’s engineering classes.  An...

Beloved Singer Liam Payne Passes away at 31

Beloved Singer Liam Payne Passes away at 31

Isabella Conrado, Staff Writer January 21, 2025

Beloved singer Liam Payne died at age 31 on Oct. 16, 2024, after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina.  Payne was best known for his part in the boy band One Direction, a group...

The competitive OH Debate Team

Word Warriors: How Debate Can Bolster Students’ Confidence

Ethan Taines, Staff Writer January 16, 2025

Debate is a battle of brains and wits and is highly competitive; it is one of the most popular electives at Olympic Heights, though not too long ago, it was not even offered as an option to students....

SWAT is Florida’s statewide youth organization working to mobilize, educate and equip Florida youth to revolt against and de-glamorize the tobacco industry. SWAT is a united movement of empowered youth working towards a tobacco free future.

Students Working Against Tobacco

Alexandra Ciliberti, Staff Writer January 14, 2025

About 1.63 million students vape in the United States, according to the CDC, which no doubt creates problems in school. According to the most recent data available, the Palm Beach County School District...

Swinging into History

Swinging into History

David Hoyos, Sports Editor January 8, 2025

Girls’ Golf Team Makes History with Regional Qualification The girls’ golf team at Olympic Heights reached the fabulous milestone of qualifying for regionals for the first time in the school’s...

Erik Menendez in 2016 and Lyle Menendez in 2018. Photo: California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation/AP

A Deep Dive into the Infamous Menendez Brothers

Skylar Cuenot, Staff Writer December 12, 2024

In October 2024, Netflix released The Menendez Brothers, renewing interest in one of the most notorious and violent murder cases in American history. Erik Menendez (b. November 27, 1970) and his brother...

A holiday favorite, The Nightmare Before Christmas has been a beloved film for over twenty years. 

Photo Cred: JacksonJournal.news

The Perfect Movie for the End of the Year

Arianna Phillips December 10, 2024

Twenty one years ago in October, one of the most well-known Halloween movies was released: The Nightmare Before Christmas. The movie is filled with fun characters, wonderful music, and meaningful lessons...

The winter holidays look a little different in South Florida. 

Photo Credit: Travel + Leisure

The Holidays without Snow

Isabelle Dimant, Staff Writer December 4, 2024

Florida is known as the tropics of America. While we don’t ever get a true white Christmas, that doesn’t mean that you can’t still get into the holiday spirit! No matter where in South Florida you...

The design of the entrance to Lotus Edge, Boca's newest G.L. Homes neighborhood.
Photo credit: https://www.glhomes.com/lotus-edge/

Is the G.L. Homes Expansion Worth It?

Tori Scaglione, Staff Writer December 2, 2024

Boca Raton is popularly known for its luxurious neighborhoods: The Bridges, Seven Bridges, and Valencia, to name a few.  These modernized homes include a variety of amenities consisting of swimming pools,...

The Florida Department of Education determines the grade of each school using a variety of data including, state/EOC test scores, yearly student improvement on state/EOC tests, graduation rate, and the number of students taking and passing college-level classes (AICE, AP, IB, dual enrollment).

Olympic Heights Regains Its “A” Status

Jacob Yaciuk, Staff Writer November 19, 2024

The Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) announced the annual school ratings in August 2024, and Olympic Heights High School has regained its “A” school status. This comes after last year when the...

Club Rush: A Catalyst for Student Success outside the Classroom

Club Rush: A Catalyst for Student Success outside the Classroom

Bianca Carbo November 11, 2024

On August 30, 2024, Olympic Heights’ students gathered to showcase the multitudinous clubs and honor societies that our school offers, carrying on our school’s annual Club Rush tradition. This occasion...

Fishermen at work in a flood-affected area of Sylhet, northeastern Bangladesh, June 21, 2024. (AFP Photo)

Millions of Lives Affected By Floods in Bangladesh

Tabassum Chowdhury, Staff Writer November 7, 2024

Summer is the typical “hurricane season” for countries all over the world, so heavy rain is expected, but it usually entails no more than the usual brief warning of “Stay inside and carry an...

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