Mods
Though overlooked and underappreciated, mods are one of the sweet consistent parts of the yearbook. They're short but are still impactful and tell a compelling story. Mods, for me, are a great way to try different diverse way to capture the theme and essence of your yearbook and student body.
A BUBBLY REACTION
Students share their thoughts and favorite parts of chemistry class with AP and Honors Chemistry Teacher Marilynn Pedek Howard
About (Sept. 16, 2025)
The perspective and insight emotions of students in both AP and Honors chem feel about one of our chemistry teachers and how her circulumm and activities resonates with them.
Reflection
This was one of my first mods, outside of the mod that we did during the summer, and I remember being intimidated by interviewing initially. I was mostly worried about getting the right answers and how I could convey a message through just their quote and nothing else. However, looking back on it, rookie Abby (still a rookie now) did pretty well in accumulating quotes about science where students are most passionate about their arts. I’m proud of this mod as they can be a bit difficult to quote and question, so it’s a win in my books.
“My favorite moment so far was the lab where we turned copper sulfate into iron sulfate because we got to see the reaction occur right in front of our eyes … I feel like AP Chemistry can be very difficult, but when you experience things through labs it gives you a greater appreciation for the material that you're learning.”
- communications sophomore Cole Hoffman
“I feel the good moments were the Kahoots. (The Kahoots) matters to me because they help me with test questions, and they make the class more fun and enjoyable, rather than just sitting there and taking notes. Ms.PH is very kind with her words. She's not one of those people who just point fingers, and she makes sure everybody can understand before she speaks.”
- band sophomore Gabrielle Castro
“(My favorite moment was) when we did our first lab that involved iron and copper. We were able to apply some good concepts that we learned in class. It was the first time we did a lab as complex, and we got to see a chemical reaction in real time.”
- strings sophomore Caden Siu
“My favorite moment so far in chemistry was the jet fuel explosion at the very beginning of the year. It prepared us for the fun things to come. We get to work with our peers a lot, and it gives a really fun vibe in the classroom. Being able to collaborate with people at my table and getting to know everyone is pretty cool.”
- vocal sophomore Addison Bracken
FOOD AROUND TOWN
Students local to the area share their favorite resturants and dishes that they had discovered during the break.
About (Aug. 29th, 2025)
This mod is a collection of quotes from certain food spots around Palm Beach County that students visted during the summer, talking about their favorite dish and the service.
Reflection
This was my first mod ever on the Marquee, and I remember not being very proud of it because of how random and out-of-place it felt, because I didn’t have any experience prior to Marquee. However, I saw it through, and I got some great feedback from my editor. My coverage editor gave me advice and guided me along the way because I had that “this is not good enough” thought. She was able to keep me going and pursuing without making it seem like it was unfeasible, and it turned out to be a cute and classic mod.
It’s a Pho-nomeal Dish
(Z Ramen in West Palm Beach)
Dance sophomore Jernique Brown describes her experience at Z Ramen
“I heard of (Z Ramen) through some friends and TikTok, so I wanted to try it out and it's so good. My order was their pork pho: I got pork, green onions, enoki mushrooms, corn, and chicken broth. I got something spicy on my pho, but I didn’t want that, so they ended up changing it for me within five minutes. Not only is it cozy, but they are attentive to what the customer actually needs. It felt like someone was making the food for you at home. ”
Salmon Says: Eat Sushi
(Aloha Food Truck in Loxahatchee)
Shedding light on an array of food trucks, communications sophomore Charlie Bastien shares her experience at Aloha Food Truck at The Yard
“The Yard is a little collection of food trucks, and they have outdoor seating where you can go and sit down and get menus. The presentation is the best part. It looks absolutely delicious and professionally done, like a five-star restaurant from Las Vegas. I ordered the Simone roll, which is rice paper with smoked salmon, cream cheese, avocado, and a spicy mayo sauce. When you’re at The Yard, you’re like family.”
- (Communications sophomore, Charlie Bastien)
Paris in Palm Beach
(Paris in Town in Palm Beach)
Having an unforgettable breakfast dish, communications sophomore Monica Chirolde went to a French cafe for the first time
“(Paris in Town) is pretty French-inspired. When you walk in, it’s like a Sunday morning in Paris vibe with a bakery-style cafe. It was very charming, cozy, quiet, and nice. I got avocado toast with a crepe. It was honestly one of the best avocado toasts I’ve ever had in my entire life. It was all freshly made and flavorful. The bread (tasted) like it was fresh out of the oven, it was a perfect mix of chewy and crispy.”
- (Communications sophomore, Monica Chirolde)
A PLACE FOR EVERYTHING
As the president of the songwriting club, communications senior Carys Coleman, talks about how to stay organized during the boisterous atmosphere of Club Rush in a few steps
About (Sept. 25th, 2025)
This mod is a perspective through the lens of a president of a club during my schools renowened club rush. Club Rush is the one day of the year, when our lunch is extended and our classes are shortened, and the student body pops into the gym to view the clubs offered this year. It goes by just as fast as it begins, with club presidents having to make the best of every minute to appeal to their audience.
Reflection
This mod was particulary fun to capture. I, myself, love Club Rush and love to witness all of the clubs my school has to offer. However, I never thought about it from the prespective of the presidents, were every detail has to be planned to a tee. Talking to Carys, I was able to capture that detail, that excitement, that nervousness, and that adrenaline, all in one short mod.
By Abigail Ricketts
Step 1: Have a plan: “If you don't have a plan, things could go wrong very easily. Club Rush comes and goes really quickly. If you don't have a poster ready, you don't have candy ready, or you don't have an idea of what you want to say to the people as they walk by, then things will very easily go wrong.”
Step 2: Have a board ready: “You need to have (a board) because that's the main visual appeal that people walk past. If you don't have a board with your club name and it's not visually appealing, people aren't going to stop and show any interest in your club) because of how fast-paced and how many clubs there are at Club Rush.”
Step 3: Know your targeted demographic: “Understand the intended audience you’re trying to advertise to. For us, it's mostly music majors or people that want to show a creative side of themselves. So, we make our poster colorful, or we have stickers on the table that people can decorate things with. It's important to know who your club caters to so you can set up properly and advertise yourselves.”
WHAT'S YOUR J*B?
With balanching school and employment, students provide insight into the two demanding worlds.
About (Oct. 28th, 2025)
These long quotes directly contrast with one another the very real and demanding reality of student employment. At my school, students have to balance not only their academics, but their fine art major, along with jobs. These quotes directly highlight the lights during such challenging obligations.
Reflection
Though these quotes have an underlying message as to how hard it can be to balance both a job, school, and a fine arts major, most students were able to shed light on the challenges. For me, I feel as though, I did a good job capturing that essence of emotion and precision that comes from it. I tried my best to reel out the ways that students can cope, rather than looking down upon the hard effort.
By Abigail Ricketts
“I work at Lovely Paws, and I wash and dry the animals and clean the facility. I feel that if you balance (having a job) well, you'll be fine. For example, I don't work on days or weeks when I have to stay home and do homework. If we do have a day off during the week, I do an extra day of work, and I get my schoolwork done during the week. It is a little bit difficult (having a job). I have classes I take online, and some teachers give a lot of work.”
- theatre freshman Marcus Seac.
“I work at Belluno Pizza as a receptionist. (Having a job) teaches you a lot of skills that you're going to need in your adult life. So, it's good to be exposed to these things (and) given the opportunity to develop these skills because it forces you to be responsible when you have to balance school, a job, chores, family, (and) life. (I try not to) overburden myself with extra things that I know I’m not going to be able to fit into my schedule. For example, a lot of people spread themselves too thin, and then they're lacking in every single area. By trying to do so many things, you just become disorganized.”
- communications sophomore Gabriella Barthelmes.
ACADEMICS IN ACTING
Different academics help students within the theatre department
About (Nov. 19th, 2025)
This mod directly contributes to the Ms. Gray feature that I wrote about how an english teacher contributes her background of acting in her curriculum. This mod was more so the opposite and how the academics are integrated withi the art of theatre.
Reflection
This mod was particularly the most difficult to capture. This was because the mod was originally supposed to get the point of view of how theatre teachers encorporate the academics in their arts. But, during this time of the mod, the theatre department was hosting and finalizing auditions for the spring musical and I couldn't get an interview with them. Thus, I recommended switching gears with the students because it's much easier to get a hold of them. Though it was hard to get some of the students in depth experience with the academics in theatre, they gave great quotes even with the transcription audio getting a little messed up.
By Abigail Ricketts
English: “English helps me build a character in acting because you have to go deeper and do background research on how to understand and portray that character. (Specifically), annotating helps because you write your side notes in your script book, and you get to read what's going on in that scene to help you understand the play and your character better.”
- Theatre freshman Asha Hall
History: “In AP World, we’re talking about the history of London, and it incorporates Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. The way my teachers teach history makes sense when you think about the deep contextual evidence and all the prospects of history, and it helped me develop my subtext I had to develop for my character.”
- Theatre sophomore Jonathan Williams
Math: “You need to know basic geometry and algebra in order to build a set because we have to make sure that the wood is the right measurements and the proper angles within a set, because the set has to be perfect, otherwise someone could get hurt. Knowing geometry helps to bring the set to life and to be able to put on a good show in the technical aspect.”
- Theatre freshman Chaelynn Allen
5 FILMS FROM 2025
Film goers recall their watching experience and favorite aspects of different movies released throughout 2025.
About (Jan. 20th, 2026)
We did this mod to cover all of the films that came out during 2025 and how many of them were hits when they were released to theatres and how 2025 was one of the most successful years in film history. Me and my coverage staffers covered about 8 people total, but this was my four.
Reflection
I absolutely loved covering this topic. Partly because of how simple it was but how it was amazing to capture all of the emotional aspects people have towards their favorite movies. When someone is deeply fascinated and endeavored to something they love, they spill out details, and facts, and takeaways, that they experienced and it made me look at all the movies mentioned in a different way. Especially since all of the movies differed themselves from each other so widely, but you can weed together the emotional aspects, the message, and themes that resonated with them. Which is the goal of every movie, to have the audience leave the theatre with a strong message resonating in their hearts.
“Superman,” communications junior Carly Cantor
The Performance: “David Corenswet’s performance was perfect. He captured the (right) amount of (actor) Christopher Reeve’s ‘Superman,’ and (director and actor) Tom Wellings’ ‘Superman.’ He kept the awkwardness but didn't overdo it.”
The Message: “Kindness is punk rock. I know that there was a big conflict because it was political, but every superhero movie is inherently political, and I feel like people don't understand that.”
The Characters: “I loved how they adapted (comic book character Lex) Luthor to the modern world. With all the technology, (they) made him a deeper character and they gave him so much more motivation.”
“Wicked: For Good,” communications sophomore Sophia Koo
The Connections: “(The script) brought me closer with my own family because they enjoyed it and (we) can (bond over it).”
The Sentiments: “The emotional factors of it show how friendship can persist even in dark times. Even if you hear all these bad things about somebody, you know what kind of person they are at heart.”
The Theme: “People tend to overlook the actual traits and they see people at face value. They’re like, ‘How popular are you? How well liked are you?’, instead of taking them for their personality and how good of a person they are.”
“Sinners,” theatre sophomore Kourtnee Allen
The Storyline: “It told a great story of how Black Americans were treated during the 1930s. It’s not just a horror movie about vampires.”
The Performers: “There's this one scene where the main character Miles Canton, who played the preacher boy, was singing this song. Then (all these) people from the past, the beginning, and different cultures were all in the same room, and it was so cool to watch.”
The Music: “My biggest takeaway was all about music and (the choices you have). Sometimes you don't always make the right choice, but you can still have fun and still enjoy yourself.”
“Avatar: Fire and Ash,” communications sophomore Bella Leon
The Visuals: “The special effects they had were so good together, and the CGI was so beautiful. I really felt like I was on that planet.”
The Message: “I am a big proponent of always sticking with your family, so this really resonated with me because that's all they did. They were always the Sullys, you know what I mean? So I want to be like that too.”
The Takeaway: “As young people, we cannot forget about our family who has been there since day one. They would have been there since we were babies, we can't just leave them in the dust. This movie, specifically, had its own message (of) bonding as a family and never letting anyone break that. That was really special to me.”
HOURS UPON HOURS
Honor society officers create new ways for students to get their hours
About (Feb. 23rd, 2026)
This was a mod that went with the honor society spread and story that I had to cover. This mod details the thought process of how honor society officers create ways for students to get their honor society hours. There was a wide range of honor socities that was able to tell how their way is special to their honor society.
Reflection
I really enjoyed this mod because as a sophomore, I'm not apart of any honor socities. And you hear on the morning annoucements that you can donate clothes, supplies, and blood, to get your hour, but I didn't know each club had their own unique way for their students to get their hour. It's very impertinent that the officers create these fun ways that students can get their hour because not only do they need it graduate but also provide insightful ways for students to have fun while also participating in their society.
By Abigail Ricketts
“We brainstormed Wordle and Connections in Spanish, and made vlogs of our daily lives. I had a lot of fun in that process. If you put passion and thought into these hours, you'll feel this connection with Spanish and Hispanic culture. I feel it's really important for (us) to try and come up with these ideas and connect with the culture more.”
- strings sophomore Catherine Chen
“We have (the hour opportunity), LaTeX, which is a software for writing out math to look good, rather than just in one line. They can work on math and also learn something that might help them in the future. If you (assign) fun activities that will actually help them in the future, or at least have fun now, it'll be more rewarding.”
- dance junior Oliver Chase
“We came up with ‘This Day in History,’ and we looked at events throughout history that seemed to align with the current times and today's social sphere. We try to make it relatable so students can connect their own experiences to the work they're doing for the honor society. I think people are easily discouraged if there's an assignment that doesn't seem to relate to them at all, so that’s why I feel like it's important to be innovative.”
- vocal senior Ella Theisen
A NOBLE CAUSE
Honor society members explain their favorite ways to get their hours
About (Feb. 27th, 2026)
This was a mod that went right along with the one about how officers get ideas on how to offer hour opportunities to their members. For the spread, it was imperative to get both point of views in regards to the honor socities and how to get their hours.
Reflection
Just like the previous mod, it was interesting to see the other side of the coin because I was able to get both point of views for the spread. This spread took a while because we tried our best to get people that weren't covered already and I had to interview in total eight people for the mods alone. I ended up running around the school campus during my second period yearbook class and try my best to pull people while not disrupting the class that they were in. We had to switch people out and things of that nature, but I'm more than content as to how the mod came out.
By Abigail Ricketts
“I like going to Dreyfoos events (for hours because) it gives me the excuse to stay after school. I love going to the volleyball games, those are always fun to watch. Going to the Dreyfoos events helps me stay connected in school. I knew some of the kids who were on the volleyball team, so cheering them on was fun.”
- communications junior Alani McDeavitt
“My favorite way (to get hours) was (going to) Westgate for the Spanish Honor Society. It's really fun hanging out with the kids and they teach you a bunch of new stuff, and I love doing that. It gives me a lot of time to practice Spanish because for the majority of the kids, their first language is Spanish, and that's what they're most comfortable with. …I think it's nice talking, going to different schools, and having fun with (them).”
- strings senior Kayci Estelle
“The blood drive (is my favorite). It's such a supportive, encouraging community of people. They are all there to help the same cause, so when I see color bandages around campus, there's this sense of pride and camaraderie that washes over me. For the blood drive, after the donations, they tell you how much of your blood would help people. They'd give you data (and) send it to you through email, and seeing that itself (allows you to) see that you’re doing this to help someone in need.”
- visual senior Amanda Wang
Everybody Dance Now
Powderpuff choreographers pull inspiration from different pop culture songs
About (Mar. 12th, 2026)
This was a mod that we did for Spirit Week, which is a week at Dreyfoos where there's an assortment of activities and dress up days that students can partcipate in. On Thursday, the week before spring break, is the Power Puff dances, where a group of boys from each grade learn a dance and perform it for the whole school. This mod details the planning and experience of working with the "boys."
Reflection
Spirit Week coverage can be super hectic to get and to cover. This is because a lot of the students are busy watching the different activities in the gym or just want to take pictures with their friends, so getting coverage during lunch is usually a no-go. Lucky for me, I got ahead and covered their experiences during my second period yearbook class, so I could ensure that I was able to capture the story so that I could enjoy my spirit week as well. This one was particularly fun to capture because each cheographer had a similar hectic experience when it comes to working with teenage boys and it ws fun to hear the story behind their pop culture song choices.
By Abigail Ricketts
Rhianna: ‘Pon De Replay’ Come, Mr. DJ: “We wanted to do something (fun and) relatable that a lot of people in the audience would know. Once you're having fun, the people watching you are having fun, and I think that's the most important thing when you're performing.”
- dance freshman Natalia Celestin
Katseye: ‘Garnly’ Hottie, Like a Bag of Takis: “Everyone in the stands will know these songs (because they are related to pop culture), and we definitely want everyone to get hype and get into it. I think representation matters for music because music is an instrument that brings everyone together. We asked the boys for their input so everyone can feel more connected.”
- theatre sophomore Kayla Leger
Beyonce, Megan Thee Stallion: ‘Savage’ Classy, Bougie, Ratchet: “We (as choreographers) worked together during lunches before Powderpuff started. (We chose these songs for) the audience because it gets them more hype, which will (also) make the boys more hype and do a better performance.”
- theatre junior Mykell Brown
Waka Flocka: ‘No Hands’ Do It With No Hands: “We wanted to incorporate a bunch of different styles and sounds that people would know instantly. When I have the music going, I get a creative mind, and I picture everything that's going to happen. For the teaching part, it's a little rough because sometimes the boys can be a little distracted, but we get the work done.”
- vocal senior Gabrielle Wiliams
From Big Brains to Big Hair
Each grade level describes the inspiration behind the accessories chosen for their clique
About (Mar. 12th, 2026)
This was a mod that we did for Spirit Week, which is a week at Dreyfoos where there's an assortment of activities and dress up days that students can partcipate in. On Thursday, along with the Powder Puff day, we covered students outfits, which was Clique Day. Each grade is asigned a specific category under the broad theme. For example, Clique Day: freshman were nerds, Sophomore preps, Juniors jocks and cheerleaders, and Seniors goths.
Reflection
Spirit Week coverage can be super hectic to get and to cover. This is because a lot of the students are busy watching the different activities in the gym or just want to take pictures with their friends, so getting coverage during lunch is usually a no-go. Lucky for me, I got ahead and covered their outfits during my second period yearbook class, so I could ensure that I was able to capture the story so that I could enjoy my spirit week as well. This one was spontaneous because I wen t off my original plan as to who I wanted to invite and was popping up to different grades classrooms as most classes weren't doing anything.
By Abigail Ricketts
- Nerds: “I came up with this outfit when I was going through my closet, scrolling on Pinterest, TikTok, and the sophomore's Instagram from last year. I had this white shirt from Halloween, so I was like, ‘Okay, we can reuse this.’ Then I had this black tank top that I could put under because I saw people had button-downs. Then I got jeans, and the tie is my dad's.”
- communications freshman Gabby Averso
- Preppy: “I wanted to think of something that was old money style instead of the preps. I decided to go with these black loafers, the button-up with the black skirt, and the polo sweater on top. I feel like this outfit is very different. It's not something I would wear every day, but I think it's still really cute.”
vocal sophomore Whitney Seneval
Jocks: “I asked a couple of my friends who are seniors this year what they wore, and then I went into my dad's closet (since) he had a bunch of jerseys, and I picked one out. I was excited to do jocks. I wanted to wear a hat and do a little more, but I was running late this morning. It feels very upperclassman-like to be a jock because they bully kids and rule the school.”
- visual junior Sienna LaRoque
Goth: “I was looking at inspo on Pinterest, but I was also asking my friend group because they know what's up. I was gifted a few of (these items), like these pants I have, but the rest of the stuff is mine. As a senior, I'm really stoked because the previous few years, I was like, ‘Oh my gosh. I can't wait to do the senior theme.’ I'm finally here now, and I was like, ‘I gotta go all out.’”
piano senior Josefina Ezcurra
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