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

THE MUSE
Huddling up, digital media senior Joshua Molnar communicates game plans and strategies with the boys volleyball team. “The most challenging part this year was finding ways to stay connected and motivated when we hit a slow patch mid-season or end season," Molnar said. "We weren’t clicking as a team for a while…I tried to help by setting the tone in practices, bringing the energy even on the off days and making sure no one felt alone in the struggle.”
Serving Up for Senior Night
Graphic by Maja Milovanovic
The Art of Testing
Clenching his hand into a fist at the beat drop of a song, piano junior Matthew Reyes gets lifted into the air by vocal junior Jason Robins.
Prom at Gatsby’s Mansion
Photo illustration of a piggy bank sitting on top of a stack of books and money.
The Cost of Success
Substances Gone Social
Substances Gone Social
Celebrating a win at the Pep Rally after the relay race, the class of ‘25 abrupts into cheers.
A ‘Wicked’ New Take on Pep Rally
Playing on stage, Maximum Friction band member Jaden Garcia strums his guitar. Garcia started learning the guitar at the age of 9, and joined Jasmine Marchi’s band Maximum Friction in February of 2021. “I have played a wide variety of instruments, from bass to keyboard,” Garcia said. “I am able to play basic stuff on those other instruments, but my main (instruments I play) are guitar and drums.”
[BRIEF] Stars in the Spotlight: Student Runs Metal and Mayhem Concert Event
Applauding the other actors dancing around her, Oliver sits in the middle of the Black Box Theater during the musical piece “Gaston” from the musical “Beauty and the Beast.”
[BRIEF] Broadway Backwards: Ballads for a Cause
Closing her eyes as she performs, communications sophomore Carly Cantor sings the song “Climbing Up the Walls” by Radiohead.
[BRIEF] Coffee and Creations
This piece, titled “Transience,” features two separate paintings with strings of beads connecting the two into a singular piece.
[BRIEF] “Threads of Time” Gallery Opened for Display
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
Holding hands, theatre freshmen Sofia Carbone and Kayla Brown perform their musical theatre piece, “Who Will Love Me As I Am” by Henry Krieger and Bill Russel.
Welcome to the Final Show
Graphic by Maja Milovanovic
The Art of Testing
Jumping into the air and kicking his legs out, theatre freshman Devin Jackson, playing the character Mike, explains his backstory.
‘One Singular Sensation’
Dance junior Arielle Montopeirous poses during the finale of the in-school performance of “Be Our Guest.”
Springing Onto the Stage
Performing an 80’s style dance routine, dance senior Parker Sheehan participates alongside other senior dancers during Generations Day.
A Step Back In Time
Visual senior Angelina Gustafson reflects on her journey in the visual arts department and the impact of drawing on her social life. “I've always had a love for illustrations and everything like that,” Gustafson said. “It's always just been something that I cared about and liked doing. Being surrounded by so many people who are also my friends, it's hard to even think of them as competition. I always find myself rooting for them and hoping for their success.”
4 Years in the Making
Hosting a lunch study session, math teacher Joshua Millstein explains how to calculate equations to his students. Outside of class time, Millstein hosts study sessions for students during lunch, in which he targets their shortcomings.
Where the Classroom Meets the Court
Between School and Sky
Between School and Sky
Patel, Pacheco, and Burgess pose for a photo. While they all discovered basketball at a young age, Patel and Pacheco began their journey playing recreational basketball throughout elementary and middle school. Burgess started playing her freshman year on the team but grew her skills over the years with the help of her teammates.
Dribbling Through Time
Band junior Anderson Spellman poses with his tenor saxophone.
Spellbound by Jazz
While participating in a lunch practice for Powderpuff, juniors put their hands up as a part of their choreographed dance.
Powderpuff: A Different Rhythm
Sitting in his art classroom, visual teacher Ryan Toth explains his ideas and process for creating his new Spirit Week costumes. According to Mr. Toth, some costumes are planned days in advance, and others are made the night before each dress-up day, utilizing items like taxidermied skunks and “old wigs found in (his) house.”
Lesson Plans and Lookbooks
Holding hands, theatre freshmen Sofia Carbone and Kayla Brown perform their musical theatre piece, “Who Will Love Me As I Am” by Henry Krieger and Bill Russel.
Welcome to the Final Show
Huddling up, digital media senior Joshua Molnar communicates game plans and strategies with the boys volleyball team. “The most challenging part this year was finding ways to stay connected and motivated when we hit a slow patch mid-season or end season," Molnar said. "We weren’t clicking as a team for a while…I tried to help by setting the tone in practices, bringing the energy even on the off days and making sure no one felt alone in the struggle.”
Serving Up for Senior Night
Reaching for a graduation cap, dance senior Lilly Foster and strings senior Vincenzo Serra hold their pointe shoes and violin, respectively. According to Foster, getting to graduation has been “a challenge” because of her extracurricular commitments. “After school, I go to the dance studio, and I'm also (part of my studio’s) dance company,” Foster said. “It's both of those things together, attending (dance) classes at school every day and going to the dance studio (right away) from (4 p.m.) to (9 p.m.) most nights, (that) is really difficult.”
Brushstrokes, Burnout, and Balance
Leaning towards the microphone, cultural club presidents finish the annual show with a closing speech.
One World, Many Stories
Performing for the senior class in Battle of the Bands, an event hosted during lunch on Tuesday of Spirit Week, communications senior Emma Yela Bueno and vocal senior Giuliana Siqueira sing a medley of songs which fall into the Y2K music genre.
Spirit Week Goes Full Volume
Multimedia staffer Mabruk Alam demonstrates the usage of “Starface” brand pimple patches
Pimple Patches: The Spotty Truth
Politics is BRAT
Politics is BRAT
Located at the back of the beach, the lifeguard tower at Ocean Reef Park oversees visitors both on land and in the water. Lifeguards on this beach work for the Palm Beach County Ocean Rescue division, which is USLA (United States Lifesaving Association) certified. USLA’s website reports that the “chance of drowning while at a beach protected by USLA-affiliated lifeguards is 1 in 18 million.”
Finding the Perfect Palm Beach
Holding up “Ws,” the class of ’25 cheers and celebrates after winning the Mario Kart game.
Terrifically Themed Teams
Illustration of Liliana Kirby surrounded by book pages.
We’ve Lost the Plot
We Have No Shock Left
We Have No Shock Left
Two girls record themselves using TikTok, a social media platform. Under House Bill Three (HB3), children younger than 14 are outlawed from using TikTok and 14 and 15-year-olds need parental consent to use it. Photo courtesy of Reuters (Reporting by Dawn Chmielewski in Los Angeles, Nandita Bose on Air Force One, Kanishka Singh and Jeff Mason in Washington; additional reporting by Milana Vinn; Editing by Matthew Lewis, Chizu Nomiyama, Kenneth Li and Christian Schmollinger)
[EDITORIAL] We Need Access to Social Media — It’s No Surprise the Florida Government Wants to Take It Away
Huddling up, digital media senior Joshua Molnar communicates game plans and strategies with the boys volleyball team. “The most challenging part this year was finding ways to stay connected and motivated when we hit a slow patch mid-season or end season," Molnar said. "We weren’t clicking as a team for a while…I tried to help by setting the tone in practices, bringing the energy even on the off days and making sure no one felt alone in the struggle.”
Serving Up for Senior Night
Tennis Team's Senior Night
Tennis Team’s Senior Night
Crossing the ball between his legs, dance junior Zackary Chodor plays basketball as one of the members of the recreational sports club. The club, led by band senior Drew Arfa and theatre senior Kenneth Quinter, meets monthly to play sports.
Lunch League Of Their Own
Patel, Pacheco, and Burgess pose for a photo. While they all discovered basketball at a young age, Patel and Pacheco began their journey playing recreational basketball throughout elementary and middle school. Burgess started playing her freshman year on the team but grew her skills over the years with the help of her teammates.
Dribbling Through Time
Jumping toward the net, girl's basketball coach and math teacher Joshua Millstein attempts to dunk the ball.
King of the Court
Surrounded by players, tennis coach and Spanish teacher Marina Ratchford talks about pre-practice plans, upcoming games, and match-ups between students in determining game-day lineups for both the boys and girls teams.
‘Keep Your Head in the Game’
Photo courtesy of Tribune
Why Some Movies Last Forever
Photo courtesy of Pix4free
All I Want for Christmas: A Holiday Gift Guide
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
Tennis Team's Senior Night
Tennis Team’s Senior Night
Clenching his hand into a fist at the beat drop of a song, piano junior Matthew Reyes gets lifted into the air by vocal junior Jason Robins.
Prom at Gatsby’s Mansion
Seniors Reflect on Spirit Week
Seniors Reflect on Spirit Week
Muse Connections: 3/19/2025
Muse Connections: 3/19/2025
Musele: 3/17/25
Musele: 3/17/25
Students Share Tri-Rail Experiences
Students Share Tri-Rail Experiences
Muse Connections: 3/19/2025
Muse Connections: 3/19/2025
Musele: 3/17/25
Musele: 3/17/25
Muse Connections: 3/12/2025
Muse Connections: 3/12/2025
Musele: 3/10/25
Musele: 3/10/25
Muse Connections: 3/5/2025
Muse Connections: 3/5/2025
Musele: 3/3/2025
Musele: 3/3/2025
Standing in third position, theatre sophomore Sophia Caputo smiles toward the audience in the theater. From April 9-12, the musical’s showings took place in the Kravis Center Helen K. Persson Hall theater. “My favorite part of being in ‘A Chorus Line’ was all the rehearsals and learning all the choreography,” Caputo said. “It was so fun being able to put on this amazing show, with an amazing story, with all of my friends. And I just love doing it so much, especially in theatre performance.”
Photo of the Week 4/10
Holding each other’s hands, theatre senior Guilbrhea Pacheco and communications junior Micaela Suage dance together at Prom. Hosted by the junior class council, the 2025 Prom was held at the Palm Beach Convention Center. The theme for the dance was “A Party at Gatsby’s” based on the novel “The Great Gatsby.”
Photo of the Week 4/5
Attending the communications department film event Streaming Canvas, visual sophomore Marcalix Lemene watches a silent film titled “Return of Silence” created by communications senior Isabella Ward and starring communications seniors Daniela Peñafiel, Jason Monaco, and communications junior Carter Dytko. The event took place Friday, March 14 with students, staff, and family in attendance to watch student-made films on the big screen in Meyer Hall. “It was really cool to see this kind of work from the communications department,” Lemene said. “The event brought light to their hard work and dedication.”
Photo of the Week 3/14
Yelling into the microphones, communications freshmen BellaDonna Petersen and Monica Chirolde perform their speech “Playground” at the Figure of Speech showcase on March 6. In this speech event, called Duo Interpretation, participants base their performance on a previously written piece of work of their choosing.
Photo of the Week 3/6
The rock band "The Interlude" — featuring communications sophomore Carly Cantor as the vocalist, visual freshman Emmy Harkin as the bassist, visual sophomore Christina O'Grady as the guitarist, theatre freshman Callahan Fernandez as the drummer, and founder of the band and vocal senior Isabella Besin as the keyboardist — practices the Arctic Monkeys’ song "505" in Principal Blake Bennett’s office. Besin had established the band as a club this year. “I’ve always had a love for performing and listening to live music,” Besin said. “So I wanted to give students at Dreyfoos the opportunity to perform (in a band). (Principal) Bennett loved the idea of putting a group together and offered us the front office to practice whenever we needed (it).”
Photo of the Week 2/28
Being held in the air by ensemble members, theatre seniors Melanie Simmons and Shane Rainsburg look at each other while performing the Greek tale of Ceyx and Alcyone in the spring play “Metamorphoses.” Opening night took place Feb. 21 in Meyer Hall, and the show portrayed Greek myths and legends such as those about King Midas and Erysichthon and his Mother. “I love it (the show) so much,” ensemble member and theatre junior Kylie Mraz said. “Portraying (the) magic of Greek gods and goddesses into lights and sound was so difficult but so worth the effort.”
Photo of the Week 2/21
  • Last Day for Students: May 30
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
Kaja Andric

Kaja Andric, Content Team Editor

Kaja Andric is a third-year staffer and Content Team Editor on The Muse. If Andric isn’t writing about Florida, planning her great escape from Florida, or riding her bike around Florida, she is reading… currently The Neapolitan Novels, by Elena Ferrante. Andric wants to live in New York (like Lady Bird) and write (like Eve Babitz).

All content by Kaja Andric
Class of 2021 seniors pose with the Spirit Stick on campus after emerging victorious in Spirit Week 2020.

The Story of A Stick

Kaja Andric, Content Team Editor
March 10, 2022
Through Thick and Thin: A Family Sticking Together

Through Thick and Thin: A Family Sticking Together

Kaja Andric, Coverage Editor
May 5, 2021
Mrs. Zietz’s high school graduation in Bloomington, Illinois. Her friend Leslie is second-left, Mrs. Zietz is in the middle, and Buffy is third-right. The friends since “have a monthly Zoom call, plus three more not pictured,” Mrs. Zietz said. “Every one of these girls were in the cornfields that night!”

The Cornfields, The Classroom, The Chronicles

Kaja Andric, Coverage Editor
February 3, 2021
What We Learned from the Invisible

What We Learned from the Invisible

Sam Cohen and Kaja Andric
December 17, 2020
Sex traffick ring leader Jeffrey Epstein notoriously lured teenage girls into his mansion and sexually abused them for almost two decades on the island of Palm Beach. Since then, the compound has become a hangout for teenagers to boast about on social media.

Don’t Visit Jeffrey Epstein’s House. And No, Don’t Post About It.

Kaja Andric, Coverage Editor
December 4, 2020
Protestors cross the street.

RAIN OR SHINE, PROTECT BLACK LIVES

Kaja Andric and Alissa Gary
September 21, 2020
Watson, left, and Inayat Sood, right, geared up and ready to go to work. At the Medical Examiner Office of Palm Beach County, Watson worked closely with those involved in the field of forensic pathology as a summer job, shadowing medical examiners in autopsies and accompanying investigators to crime scenes. “I am so grateful for the opportunity that [Dr. Wendolyn Sneed has] given me,” Watson says, reflecting on her unique job during the summer. Photo courtesy of Alex Watson’s VSCO.

ALEX WATSON TELLS ALL

Kaja Andric, Coverage Editor
September 5, 2020
“Outer Banks” Review: Kooks vs. Pogues

“Outer Banks” Review: Kooks vs. Pogues

Kaja Andric, Coverage Editor
May 28, 2020
Anthem of the QuaranTEENS

Anthem of the QuaranTEENS

Kaja Andric, Coverage Editor
April 30, 2020
CLIMATE POLICY TURNED CLUELESS

CLIMATE POLICY TURNED CLUELESS

Kaja Andric, Coverage Editor
April 28, 2020
"ONE WORLD: TOGETHER AT HOME” CONCERT SET TO OPEN ONLINE APRIL 18

“ONE WORLD: TOGETHER AT HOME” CONCERT SET TO OPEN ONLINE APRIL 18

Kaja Andric, Coverage Editor
April 15, 2020
REVIEW: TO ALL THE BOYS

REVIEW: TO ALL THE BOYS

Kaja Andric, Culture Writer
April 1, 2020
INFECTION PREVENTION

INFECTION PREVENTION

Kaja Andric and Veronica Longoria
March 17, 2020
Students smile in school halls as digital sophomore Natalie Macadar takes their photo. Macadar’s film archive, displayed on Instagram, has provided her with a creative space to display her art. Taking film photos “feels more valuable, in a sense,” to Macadar, due to the time it takes for film to be developed. She captures moments of “cool things [she] see[s]”. The film rolls start blank, but later fill up with the memories that Macadar will discover with their development.

NATALIE MACADAR: THE FACE BEHIND THE FILM

Kaja Andric, Arts Writer
February 19, 2020
“Radium Girls” is set to debut on Feb. 21 in Meyer Hall. Combining the art of acting and the science of chemistry, the play takes on the controversial story of young factory workers who were poisoned by the radium in watch dials.

THE ‘CHEMICAL’ PRODUCTION OF RADIUM GIRLS

Kaja Andric, Arts Writer
January 23, 2020
On Dec. 4, students, families, and alumni filled the Dreyfoos Hall at the Kravis Center of the Performing Arts for the 30th annual Prism holiday concert. Through donations from the family of novelist James Patterson, this performance has been held at the Kravis for the last eight years. This year, the music department added interactive elements to the display, such as the Grinch swiping presents off of the stage and vocal senior Ben Myers, dressed as Santa, sprinkling tinsel over singers during an a cappella piece. “The show has only gotten better since I've been in Dreyfoos,” piano alumnus Hunter Fani (‘08) said. “It was [a] really amazing experience to see, and brought up a lot of memories of stuff that we used to do during Prism time and doing the Prism concert series. It was a real experience.”

FROM GYM TO KRAVIS: A MERRY PRISMAS SPECTACULAR

Annabella Saccaro and Kaja Andric
December 7, 2019
STUDENTS PERFORM WITH THE ALL-COUNTY JAZZ BAND

STUDENTS PERFORM WITH THE ALL-COUNTY JAZZ BAND

Kaja Andric, Arts Writer
November 23, 2019
Dreyfoos’ founding principal, Edmund Duhy, dances after dinner is finished. Guests danced to a Dreyfoos Alumni band performance during the sparkler show as well.

ANNUAL DREYFOOS IN WHITE EVENT IS HELD AT ORIGINAL PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

Kaja Andric, Arts Writer
October 28, 2019
PHILHARMONIC CONCERT

PHILHARMONIC CONCERT

Kaja Andric, Arts Writer
October 15, 2019
BROADWAY ALUMNA CRISTA MOORE VISITS THEATRE DEPARTMENT FOR MASTER CLASSES

BROADWAY ALUMNA CRISTA MOORE VISITS THEATRE DEPARTMENT FOR MASTER CLASSES

Kaja Andric, Arts Staffer
October 1, 2019
A TREK THROUGH MICHAEL LAURITO'S SKETCHBOOK

A TREK THROUGH MICHAEL LAURITO’S SKETCHBOOK

Kaja Andric, Arts Staffer
September 9, 2019
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