• Click me for the daily SAC Announcements!
  • • 02/10: Mandatory Powderpuff Meeting (one lunch, auditorium) •
  • • 02/11: SWEnext Exec Board Meeting (one lunch, library) •
  • • 02/12: Ballroom Dance Club (one lunch, Rm. 250) •
  • • 02/13: Girls Tennis Preseason Meeting (one lunch, Rm. 250) •
  • • 02/13: NHS Tutoring (one lunch, Blue/Gold) •
  • • 02/17: President’s Day (no school) •
The Student News Site of Ocean Lakes High School

The Current
The Student News Site of Ocean Lakes High School

The Current
The Student News Site of Ocean Lakes High School

The Current
News
Ten and a half inches of snow was measured in the southeast corner of Virginia Beach on Feb. 19, 2025. The highest snowfall recorded in Virginia Beach history was on Dec. 27, 1892 with 18.6 inches.
The science of snow: winter storm hits Hampton Roads
February 20, 2025

Up to 10 to 12 inches of snow fell in the Hampton Roads area on Wed., Feb. 19, 2025, followed by another 0.5 to 1 inch of snow Thursday, which marks this...

The last six-planet alignment took place on June 3, 2024. Each of the six planets could be seen at night, with some requiring a telescope to be viewed. (Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic)
Planets align in annual occurrence
February 16, 2025
The International Space Station was launched in 1998 and was fully operational in 2009. It is a home for astronauts in space and can hold up to six astronauts at a time. (The International Space Station and the Docked Space Shuttle Endeavour/europeranspaceagency/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY-SA 2.0)
Researchers’ findings about space travel and its negative affects on the brain
February 16, 2025
From left to right: sophomores Rowan Smith, Tristan Domanski, Vihaan Shah, Michael Blackmore, Smit Kothari, Drew Halter, Van Helgren and Bisaj Shrestha on the bottom, take a group picture after a game at the Virginia Beach Field House on Jan. 25, 2025. The Crushers are an off-season team designed for OL sophomores to improve their skills. Photo used with permission of Drew Halter.
Co-ed Crushers kick into action
February 16, 2025
Juniors Selina Zhang, Aanya Patel, and Anisha Warusavitharana gather in the library as they celebrate Valentine's Day on February 12, 2025.
The mysterious history of Valentine’s Day
February 14, 2025
Features
A neighborhood dog enjoys a snowy walk on Jan. 23, 2025. Some dogs tend to enjoy activities such as running, jumping and playing in the snow.
Walking in a winter wonderland
Anna Orchard-Hays, Staff Writer • February 19, 2025

Grey skies and frigid temperatures. Falling snow. A warm cup of hot chocolate waiting back at home. A walk with your pup slowly turns into a beautiful winter wonderland.  A...

Senior Jaxon Vizzi poses after a workout on Dec. 3, 2024. Vizzi usually works out at OneLife gym on Princess Anne Road in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Photo used with the permission of Jaxon Vizzi.
Chasing fitness goals with Jaxon Vizzi
February 16, 2025
The design depicts one of the few emotional struggles teens face with opioid addiction and mental illness. Both teens are placed on opposite sides to reflect the isolation and battle they independently face in their minds. Image created on Feb. 4, 2025.
Drug abuse and isolation diminish teenage mind
February 16, 2025
Nyzier Gary-Privott (left) and Nilufer Karahan (right) package food for an Interact service project at Eastern Shore Chapel Episcopal Church. The service project occurred in two sessions, and the first date was on Jan. 7, 2025, and the second date was on Jan. 18, 2025. Photo used with permission with permission by Nyzier Gary-Privott.
Junior lends a helping hand through Interact club
February 11, 2025
Sponges are one of the dirtiest, bacteria-infested things in the household. More bacteria live on dish sponges than on toilet seats. Photo taken on the kitchen counter on Jan. 29, 2025, by Chris Litto.
Microbe mansions: everyday items crawl with hidden pathogens
February 11, 2025
A&E
Jose Arcadio Buendia (Diego Vasquez) is tied to a tree in the Buendia courtyard after going insane. In the series, fate leads each character to eventual solitude with Jose Arcadio Buendia as the first instance. Courtesy of Netflix.
Netflix gives stale adaptation of “One Hundred Years of Solitude”
Dominic Zdan, Entertainment Editor • February 20, 2025

Alex Garcia Lopez and Laura Mora’s eight-episode adaptation of the classic 1967 novel “One Hundred Years of Solitude” is faithful in story, but not in spirit.  Both...

From left to right, Griffon Yetter, Andrew Friedman, Gillian Gutierrez, Eleanor Strader, Amanda Morris, Lyla McGowen and Marty Hester stand onstage before the talent show begins. The show happened on Saturday, February 15, 2025. Photo used with permission from Sophia Phaneuf.
Dolphin Dash and OLTC revive annual talent show
February 14, 2025
Lee Jung Jae (Gi Hun) attempts to end the games by majority vote after the first game in episode three, but falls short of one vote. Adversities between players begin to stir up after this first vote, and Gi Hun tries to make it out alive with his alliance. Photo courtesy of Netflix.
Return of Squid Game leaves audience with plot twists and cliffhangers
February 12, 2025
Students in Fara Wiles English class in block 1 display their poems, on Oct. 15, 2024. The students wrote animal poems to better understand symbolism, and the illustrated them with watercolors.
Poetry deserves more attention
January 24, 2025
Countdown to President's Day!
Have a great holiday!
Opinion
Illustration shows President Trump holding his signed executive order to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Agreement on Jan. 20, 2025, alongside other environmental rollbacks. The burning forests behind him symbolize the Earth's suffering under detached policymaking.
U.S. takes a giant step backwards on climate progress
Khadija Sissoko, Editor-in-Chief • February 20, 2025

One day. Six detrimental climate actions.  On January 20, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order to begin the one-year process of pulling the U.S. out of the Paris Agreement after calling it a “ripoff.” The U.S. had previously withdrawn...

On the average day, each American generates 4.9 pounds of waste, according to American Campus. Only around 32% of that waste gets recycled or composted.
Every can counts
February 19, 2025
ZeroGPT, a popular generative AI detector, identifies a text as 100% AI written. Students and teachers alike might utilize an AI detector. Photo courtesy of ZeroGPT.
AI creates human incompetence
February 16, 2025
Poll taken on Instagram out of 45 students shows that more students would rather save when they can.
From paychecks to piggy banks
February 16, 2025
Geometry teacher Stephanie Gentile shows her class their daily warm-up on Jan. 30, 2025. It took Gentile around five minutes to gain the class’ attention to the board.
Teachers’ hard work goes largely unrecognized, they deserve more
February 13, 2025
Sports
Junior Jasmyn Miller watches as the opposing team, Kellam High School, shoots from the free throw line at Ocean Lakes High School on Dec. 13, 2024. The Dolphins took a loss with a final score of 43-68. Jasmyn scored a total of 19 points.
Junior shoots to the top
Anna Daubenspeck, Staff Writer • February 11, 2025

Every Friday night, crowds file into the gym to watch the top scorer in the Beach District crush the competition.  Junior Jasmyn Miller averages 13.5 points per game,...

Sophomore Kennedy Walls and senior Madeleine Fisher prepare to sub in against rival Kellam High School on Dec. 13, 2024, at Ocean Lakes High School. The final score was a slight defeat of 68-43.
Girls basketball progresses through the season
February 11, 2025
Senior Chris Castillo battles for a win at the John Kelly Invitational. At the end of the tournament, Chris placed fifth overall. Jan.25, 2025. Photo used with permission by Eric Aamodt.
John Kelly Invitational makes its mark on wrestling
February 6, 2025
Seniors celebrate senior night before competing against Princess Anne High School at Bayside Recreation Center on Jan.17, 2025. Photo taken with permission from David Bostic.
Dolphins swim to success on senior night
February 6, 2025
Sophomore Van Helgren competes in the 1-mile run during the VA Showcase on Jan. 17, 2025, at the Virginia Beach Sports Center. He finished with a time of 5:02.72. Photo used with permission from Ann Magnant.
Indoor track races past competition
February 5, 2025
VA Beach Weather


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February 20
32°/ 27°
Moderate or heavy snow showers
February 21
42°/ 24°
Sunny
February 22
38°/ 26°
Partly Cloudy
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Trending Stories
1
Junior Jasmyn Miller watches as the opposing team, Kellam High School, shoots from the free throw line at Ocean Lakes High School on Dec. 13, 2024. The Dolphins took a loss with a final score of 43-68. Jasmyn scored a total of 19 points.

Junior shoots to the top

2
From left to right, Griffon Yetter, Andrew Friedman, Gillian Gutierrez, Eleanor Strader, Amanda Morris, Lyla McGowen and Marty Hester stand onstage before the talent show begins. The show happened on Saturday, February 15, 2025. Photo used with permission from Sophia Phaneuf.

Dolphin Dash and OLTC revive annual talent show

3
Sophomore Kennedy Walls and senior Madeleine Fisher prepare to sub in against rival Kellam High School on Dec. 13, 2024, at Ocean Lakes High School. The final score was a slight defeat of 68-43.

Girls basketball progresses through the season

4
The design depicts one of the few emotional struggles teens face with opioid addiction and mental illness. Both teens are placed on opposite sides to reflect the isolation and battle they independently face in their minds. Image created on Feb. 4, 2025.

Drug abuse and isolation diminish teenage mind

5
From left to right: sophomores Rowan Smith, Tristan Domanski, Vihaan Shah, Michael Blackmore, Smit Kothari, Drew Halter, Van Helgren and Bisaj Shrestha on the bottom, take a group picture after a game at the Virginia Beach Field House on Jan. 25, 2025. The Crushers are an off-season team designed for OL sophomores to improve their skills. Photo used with permission of Drew Halter.

Co-ed Crushers kick into action

6
Geometry teacher Stephanie Gentile shows her class their daily warm-up on Jan. 30, 2025. It took Gentile around five minutes to gain the class’ attention to the board.

Teachers’ hard work goes largely unrecognized, they deserve more

Multimedia
Ocean Lakes 16th Annual Talent Show
Ocean Lakes 16th Annual Talent Show
February 16, 2025
Rescue animals in the Ocean Lakes community
Rescue animals in the Ocean Lakes community
February 9, 2025
Fall Fest 2024
Fall Fest 2024
November 6, 2024

Reporter of the Month
Coach’s Spotlight of the Month