The Miami Lakes K-8 (MLK-8) Center Chess Club finished off a great year of strategic competition at the final District Chess Tourney on April 12 and narrowly missed placing among the county’s best schools.The Chess Club is composed of 17 players from second to eighth grades. The team coach and advisor is Oscar Badillo.The team meets to practice and hosts intra-school competitions twice a week and competes on weekends against schools...

The North Region Title 1 Chess Tournament held at Hialeah Gardens Senior High School during February was a thriller for Spanish Lake Elementary (SLE) Explorers’ Chess Team. The 4-5 team placed fourth out of 20 schools. Out of 97 participants, third grader, Max Martinez placed second in individuals for the 2-3 category. Five students competed and represented SLE in the District Championship on April 27. Support for this newly formed team comes...

On April 14 the varsity cheerleading team from Barbara Goleman Senior High (BGSH) attended the USCA US National Cheerleading and Dance Championship. This is only the second competition the cheerleading team has attended in 11 years. With a new team and a new attitude led by their great coaches they finished their routine with zero deductions from judges and great comments, falling just a point short from first place coming in at second place...

Band students from Miami Lakes K-8 Center (MLK-8) performed solos during the Florida Bandmasters Association District 16 solo and ensemble event on February 23 at Coral Reef Senior High. The solo and ensemble event is a part of the Music Performance Assessment for middle and high school students. Young musicians prepare a solo to perform with piano accompaniment in front of a judge. Judges comment on the musician’s performance regarding...

Lifelong Miami Lakes residents Carlos and Keven Garcia are again collecting new basketballs to benefit the children at the Overtown Youth Center OVC).The brothers, who are avid basketball fans 17 and 14 years old, started the campaign in 2013 and have collected hundreds of basketballs that were donated in an effort to keep kids physically active and engaged.By “spreading the love” of basketball, the brothers have turned their passion for the...