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The student news site of Robinson High School

Knight Writers

The student news site of Robinson High School

Knight Writers

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The Marching Knights Take on MPA

Robinson’s Marching band and Starlets showcase their halftime performance at MPA
Reese+Sheldon+%2826%29+playing+the+flute+during+the+halftime+show.
Photo Keirra McGoldrick
Reese Sheldon (’26) playing the flute during the halftime show.

Robinson’s marching band and starlets attended the Music Performance Assessments (MPA) at Gaither High School on Oct. 28, where they received an overall superior rating. The marching band, along with those of many other schools in Hillsborough County attend this event every year to showcase the halftime show that they spend all of the summer and fall months perfecting.

“We performed the same show as always, but it got really great because we have done band camps since June and put in around six hours of rehearsal a week since August,” Drum Major Julia Barrett (’24) said. “To prepare for MPA we worked on the final aspects of the show, like musicality, during rehearsals.”

A majority of the members of the marching band are returners, and after dedicating themselves to crafting their shows for years, MPA is an opportunity to see and relish in their growth.

“Doing marching band for four years was not always easy, but being able to say I continuously did it for four years without quitting and have gotten superiors for those four years is rewarding. It was also bittersweet because it was my last one, and I wasn’t ready to say goodbye, but I’ve grown so much through this program and I would do it all over again,” A’mrah Edmond (’24) said.

Bands are assessed on multiple categories, all of which are combined to determine an overall rating. Robinson received a superior rating in the music 1, music 2, visual effect, general effect and percussion categories, and an excellent in the auxiliary category as compared to last year’s rating of straight superiors. Although the rating in one of their categories went down by one rank, they plan to come back next year stronger.

“We worked really hard over the season to earn superior at MPA but we’re aiming to improve our music skills even more over our upcoming concert season and get our newer members more comfortable with their instruments. Along with Mr. Revett’s lessons, we have instructors that will come in through the end of the year,” Catie Powell (’25) said.

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About the Contributors
Jadyn Grayes
Jadyn Grayes, A&E and Multimedia Editor

Jadyn Grayes is a senior at Robinson and the A&E and Multimedia Editor of Knight Writers. This is her third year on staff and her second year as an editor.

This year, Grayes decided to continue journalism because she enjoys the experience, her classmates and the environment.

“I chose journalism, because, well, one, I'm an editor and two, I really liked the environment and the group of people that I've come to know in my years in journalism,” Grayes said. 

In an ideal world, she would be an immigration attorney, after witnessing her mother's experiences as an immigrant. 

“Yeah, career-wise, I would be an immigration attorney because my mom is an immigrant. When I was little, hearing about her experience, like coming to America, made me want to help people going through the same thing. And growing up finding out that there was a career that enabled me to do that. It just kind of like set a fire in my heart," Grayes said. 

Outside reporting for Knight Writers, Grayes is also on the cheerleading team. She tutors younger children in her spare time.

"Because kids who have been through a lot of stuff, big time, they kind of have like a wall that you have to get through. So, it also helps me learn to like to put myself in other people's shoes, especially when you're teaching and it gave me a lot of respect for teachers because I never realized how tough it could be getting through to kids," Grayes said. 

If there was one thing she could teach the world, it would be to treat each other with respect and kindness.

“Honestly, you just never know what people are going through. Like I would say I'm pretty emotionally intelligent. But I never realized that people tend to hide so much so well. So I think just having empathy for everyone, no matter how they treat you, is one of the biggest things I'd have to face," Grayes said.

Profile by (Winter Carbajal)
Keirra McGoldrick
Keirra McGoldrick, Opinion Editor
Keirra McGoldrick is senior at Robinson and the Opinion Editor of Knight Writers. This is her third year on staff and her second year as an editor. McGoldrick, as an editor, must provide a sense of direction and help for those coming into newspaper who may not quite know what they need to be doing. She must also make sure that all stories written by staff writers are up to par with that of the standard for the newspaper. “I edit all the opinion stories and make spreadsheets for opinion writers," McGoldrick said. McGoldrick may like writing in journalism, though nothing trumps her love of photography. She lists photography as one of her favorite hobbies and pass times outside of journalism. “I like photography," McGoldrick said. "I take pictures of anything I find interesting." Though McGoldrick has to keep up a balance of her academics and the needs of newspaper, she hopes to have enough time to join the photography club.  She wishes to do this in order to interact and convey her love of photography with other like-minded students at Robinson. Being the academic achiever that she is, McGoldrick keeps up with all of her classes. The two of these classes that she holds closest to her heart are journalism and history. However, she probably favors journalism a little more because it has her favorite teacher, Ms. Webster, who leads her to improve herself in all manner of things, especially photography. Outside of journalism, one of McGoldrick’s pastimes is to listen to music. As we know everyone needs a little bit of music to pull them through a slow school day, or just a slow day in general. “I like R&B and pop," McGoldrick said. “Taylor Swift, Kendrick Lamar, Ariana Grande, etc." High school isn't all McGoldrick has mapped out to do. Seeing as she is an academic achiever, McGoldrick already has plans for her future. She plans to keep her academic streak going through college. “I plan on going to university and majoring in criminal psychology and then after I graduate from normal college, I’m going to go get a PhD,” McGoldrick said. (Profile by Coleton Rone)
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