The C.H.A.T. October1 issue Pembroke Pines Charter High School

These Voters Speak for All of Us

In Memory: William Troha Pg. 14 - 15

For more on student voters, see page 12

Ainsley McCormick Editor -in-Chief Brittany Evelyn Managing Editors - Content & Layout Chatter Daily News Ariana Ortiz Web Managing Editor Ariana Ortiz - Content Maxine Martinez - Layout Business Managers Mr. J. Harris - Layout Mr. F. Fagen - Content Mr. J. Harris - Video Advisors Mr. P. Bayer Principal Caroline Kadir News Editor Paolo Barrera Student Life Editor Alan Mathew Technology Editor

Contents

The C.H.C. Staff

Jordan Alberti Sports Editor Florencia Azcurra and Emma Caulfield Features Editor Sofia Azcurra Entertainment Editor Rachel Rivera Lifestyle Editor

Student Life:

Sophia Cortez Voices Versus Violence Brianna Butler and Kiersten Warren Community Outreach Justin Dourvetakis- The CHAT Andres Alfonso - Web Photo Editors Justin Pierce Graphics Editor

A Government Official in the Making Student Shows Her Hospital Hospitality

Content Staff: Austin Basso, Brianna Butler, Emma Caulfield, Sophia Cortes, Rebekah Jacob, Caroline Kadir, Maxine Martinez, Michael Muela, Arianna Ozuna, Aidan Ryan Layout Staff: Monica Lazada, Rebekah Jacob, Caroline Kadir, Lillian McCormick, Brittany Evelyn, Ainsley McCormick Photography Staff: Nicholas Amad, Aijah Harper, Aryiel Bryant, Maya Cabrera, Francesca Brito GRAPHIC STAFF: Rosa Gomez, Henry Severe, Jasmin Bleus, Taylor Causey, Matthew Morales, Carolina Othon CARTOONIST: Mariana Riano The C.H.A.T. is an official publication of the Pembroke Pines Charter High School (PPCHS). The content of our newspaper is not necessarily the opinions of our advisers and administration.

The C.H.A.T. staff welcomes any comments to the editors and/or staff.

The C.H.A.T is a publication of C.H.C (Charter High Communications) sponsored by the Communications & Technology Department of PPCHS. Pembroke Pines Charter High School 17189 Sheridan Street Pembroke Pines, FL 33331 Phone: 954-538-3700 Email: ppchsnewspaper@gmail.com Twitter: @ppchsnewspaper Instagram: @ppchsnewspaper The CHAT welcomes letters to the editor. Letters must be signed. The staff reserves the right to edit letters for poor taste, libel, and space. Drop off letters in room C113 or send an email to ppchsnewspaper@gmail.com

Features: School Safety: The Biggest Trend in America CRT Profiles

News: Midterm Elections Make Way Hurricane Michael Hits the Panhandle

In Memorium of Mr. Troha

Pg. 10-11

News: Pg. 12

Sports:

Voices Versus Violence: Pg. 16

Lifestyle:

Sports Round-Up

Keep Your College Applications in Check

Baseball Profiles

How to do Havana Nights Right

Entertainment: How Do Jags Feel About the ‘Captain Marvel’ Trailer?

Is Iridescence Brockhampton’s Brightest?

Clubs: Walking Out to End Cancer Relay and Model UN Profiles

Technology:

Voices Versus Violence:

An Artistic Return to the Moon

BTS Inspires People to ‘Speak Yourself’

Instagram’s Inventors Move On

Student Voters Take on the Polls To Create Change

4

Student Life CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES

U.S. History Takes the Stage Sofia Azcurra

entertainment

I

t's not often that an individual receives the opportunity to personally hear one of the nation's leading voices speak out on one of the most important issues today: voting. It was a huge shock when junior Naveen Farook surprised A.P. U.S. History teacher, Mrs. Chevres, with tickets to see former First Lady Michelle Obama present at the University of Miami. The tight bond between the two goes far beyond Farook trying to impress Chevres with gifts, but she gave the teacher the chance to encourage her students to do the same as Michelle Obama encouraged her audience to do: register early.

It was early Thursday morning when Farook popped into Mrs. Chevres’s room and sparked up the question of hearing someone as influential as Michelle Obama talk.

“I said it'd be an amazing honor,” recalled the history teacher. When Naveen pulled out the tickets and surprised her close teacher, all formal relationships aside, she knew she gave her the opportunity of a lifetime to listen to one of her favorite advocates. “Mrs. Chevy is much more than a teacher but rather a mentor and confidante to me. She is always there when I need her, and she has been one of my biggest supporters in all my accomplishments since freshman year. I love having the chance to be her student again this year, and I hope I can continue to always make her proud and show others her capability of encouragement,” stated the ecstatic junior. Since last year, Naveen has been working with

Editor

an organization called Emgage, Empowering Engaged Muslim Americans. It works to amplify Muslim voices in the political world and strives to encourage civic engagement. Throughout the summer, Farook worked with them to help register voters for the upcoming election, where she received tickets to go see Michelle Obama speak.

Michelle Obama has been touring around the nation spreading the same clear message that most young teachers work in

“When we all vote, we’re able to spread a message to be more involved with voter registration.

There are so many Americans who aren't aware on how to register, and it takes everyone to increase that number. Low voters equal people winning elections who should not be winning.”

Mrs. Chevres spreading too: vote early. The former First Lady’s tour, When We All Vote, has increased talk around the U.S. about helping others learn how to register to vote. “When we all vote, we’re able to spread a message to be more involved with voter registration.

There are so many Americans who aren't aware on how to register, and it takes everyone to increase that number. Low voters equal people winning elections who should not be winning,” expressed Mrs. Chevres,

who took her youngest son to experience an important figure in history speak. The A.P. teacher claimed that she felt inspired to have been able to go and appreciated to have been Naveen’s first choice. “I feel that as a teacher with such influence and a big role model to students, with that knowledge and sort of empowerment from someone so important, she helps get the message to us on voting,” stated junior Vanessa Angel.

Mrs. Chevres teaches a rigorous course with hard working juniors. Often times, as influential as advocates like Michelle Obama are, hearing the determined tone in a teacher’s voice encourages the young kids to act and vote for the right reasons in a more touching matter.

Teaching young adults the importance to vote the right people into office and stay active is just as important as the next history lesson, which is why Mrs. Chevres took the chance offered to her. Similarly enough, juniors Ara and Ava Johnson jumped on the opportunity to see Michelle Obama present at the University of Miami in hopes to spread the message of voting to their peers. The event started at 4:00 pm, but the interested students got there around half an hour earlier to assure they wouldn’t arrive late. The Johnson sisters are known advocates at Charter for making their voices heard in topics like gun violence and cultural appreciation, so it's no surprise the involved juniors attended the event to hear Mrs. Obama’s remarks. “It’s inspiring to see teachers and other students being involved in our society this way. It assures

you that more people than you think take this matter seriously,” stated sophomore Aitana Arvelo.

Given the chance, both the students and Mrs. Chevres took advantage of how close the speech was being taken place and got a piece of wisdom from someone who experiences the situation first hand and has an impactful voice herself. As impactful as Michelle Obama’s voice is, Charter’s very own students and teachers hope to encourage others to take advantage of their resources and role as citizens to register and vote early.

Doanted By: Mrs. Chevres

A Government Official in the Making Maxine Martinez Business Manager

There are students at Charter who have

given thought to their future, and some have even started to take actions in order to transform their dreams and aspirations into a reality. Sophomore Vincent Toranzo is one of those PPCHS students that is part of this hardworking and determined group. From July 2 to August 9 the young teenager spent almost half of his summer interning for the City of Pembroke Pines under the City Manager, Charles F. Dodge.

From a young age, Vincent had always seen himself working in government. In 2nd grade when all the students had to write about what they wanted to be as an adult he put down President of the United States. Despite the fact that these were big goals for such a tiny kid, Vincent never stopped working for it. As the years progressed and his peers changed their visions of the future, he was still certain of what he wanted: a position of government.

Come the summer of 2018, it was time to start putting plans into action.

He took a chance and asked the City Manager if there were any internship opportunities available. Fortunately for him, Mr. Dodge was happy to make him an intern. It provided him with an opportunity to not only learn about what the department heads do but to also take part in helping with certain city-wide projects.

During his time helping out the City of Pembroke Pines, he had a chance to spend time with the City Manager, the City Attorney, the Pembroke Pines Police Department Chief, and the Pembroke Pines Fire Department Chief.

Doanted By: Vincent Toranzo

Student Shows Her Hospital Hospitality Brianna Butler Staff Writer

One of the largest requirements to grad-

uate high school is through volunteering, which serves as an incredibly beneficial way for students to learn how to establish a more selfless outlook and dedicate their time to helping others. Junior Chiamaka Osakwe demonstrates this twice every week, volunteering at the Patient Information desk in Memorial Hospital West. Her shifts are on Wednesdays and Saturdays, spanning from two to five hours long in total.

Chiamaka’s been waiting for this volunteer opportunity for months. Her first experience dealt with the requirement to go

through a waiting period of three months.

“The next step was an interview and a three hour orientation. It’s very informative and helps you learn more about what you’re planning on committing to,” she voices.

“There’s a lot of jobs to choose from, so anyone can find something they enjoy—from child care to fundraising. I chose handling the Information desk because I wanted to try to open up and interact with more people.”

The Information desk

By shadowing the department heads, he was able to slowly gain a better understanding of how a city government works. Vincent also was witness to operations within each department, such as Community Services, Planning and Development, and Parks and Recreation.

The reason for Vincent reaching out to the City was because he wanted to become more involved within his community and learn more about it what goes into running it. It seems he appreciates how he accomplished this. “I learned a lot about how much work and effort is needed to manage and operate a city government.” He added, “In a way, the City of Pembroke Pines’ government operates as a corporation, with the City Manager being the ‘C.E.O.’” His time as an intern offered many lessons beyond those involved with running a form of government. He also gained the knowledge of what real responsibility is, and gained more respect for the people running his hometown.

“Even though it may not seem so, all of us depend on our City and its operations. From transportation to our Charter school system to our safety and security, our City does an incredible job at supporting our everyday way of life,” he said.

Vincent Toranzo still has the rest of high school to gain more experience. He plans on spending much of it by serving the community, continuing to volunteer for the City of Pembroke Pines and helping out around PPCHS. Hopefully he continues on his bright path towards becoming a government official.

is one of the most active roles that requires attention and constant communication.

While the most important function is to handle patients being discharged, she also answers the phone and gives directions to others. Volunteering in the hospital serves as a very valuable experience, especially due to how she plans on pursuing a career in the medical field. For Chiamaka, it provides the opportunity to look into the inner-workings of a medical facility and be able to play a hand in its functioning.

The type of customer service for the role of handling the Information desk has benefitted her immensely, giving Chiamaka a chance to interact with others and

communicate better overall. “Working with so many strangers has really helped me to break out of my shell,” voices Chiamaka. “Most times, the Information desk is solely run by volunteers. Having them available helps to take a few burdens off of the nurses and security guards that work here. It's a very rewarding job that has multitudes of benefits. By volunteering, you’re making a large impact on many. I hope to continue working there throughout my high school years.”

Volunteering at the hospital is a great way for students to earn their required hours and be able to promote peace and kindness through helping the community in multiple ways. While it may appear to be overwhelming, Chiamaka firmly believes the benefits outweigh it all.

Photo By: Justin Dourvetakis

Features 5

CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES

Meet The PPCHS Critical Response Team

Maxine Martinez Business Manager

At Charter, we are always prepared for the worst. Each floor of each building has a designated Critical Response Team, a teacher who is prepared to ensure the safety of that floor if the worst were to occur. Here are some of their thoughts on school safety.

“For years PPCHS has relied on the civility of our fine neighborhood. Though our open campus has been an easy target, we are very fortunate to be incident free.

However, the times, they are a changing. Our new fence, increased security, and soon to be installed security cameras will help ensure our safety. But most importantly our faculty, administration, and students all need to practice common sense regarding issues of public safety, both on campus and at home.”

Mr. Kapela

“The increased safety measures in our schools provide more peace of mind to students, faculty, and staff.

Considering how tragedies continue to make the news, they are strategies put in place to avoid the possibility of one on our campus as much as possible. We are doing a lot about it.”

Mrs. Ferrer

“I am grateful that we have been able to increase security measures at our school in order to promote safety for all of our students. We are looking to enhance our gates around the school, add more security personal to our campus, and ensure that our teachers know what to do in case if an emergency. This will all be beneficial for our students and school as a whole.”

Ms. Ramos

“Increasing school safety is necessary to provide students, teachers, and staff with an environment that is conducive to maximizing a student's learning experience in and out of the classroom. At Pembroke Pines Charter High School, we are doing the following to increase school safety: - Enforcing uniform policies - Installing new fencing and reinforcing our existing fencing - Requiring all visitors and staff to wear visible identification - Hired a Security Specialist - Reducing points of entry - Enhancing surveillance and communication systems” Mrs. Fernandez

“I think it’s important for students to be more aware of their safety in school and in their lives outside of school. We have a platform here to help teach the students ways to respond to a sudden critical incident that might also apply outside the school setting. Having options and knowing ways to respond in a crisis is valid information. At PPCHS, we are engaged in that process and in practicing ways to respond to a critical situation for the benefit of everyone who might be involved or impacted.”

Ms. Wills

Q&A with Ms. Torres School Safety: The Biggest Trend in America Sofia Azcurra

entertainment

Sophia Cortes

Editor

How do you think school safety at charter could be reinforced?

I think we're in a good place with our safety plan right now and we need to make sure it's communicated repeatedly and practice with students and staff. We need to enforce it in the students and their everyday school routine.

Do you feel there should be more? Or is there enough?

I think it's a constant process of evaluating where we are and making improvements as needed. Things are always changing, so it's important to note that as they change.

Are the right resources available, both human (counselors) and physical (first-aid kits), to cope with safety challenges?

We have a great team of school counselors and newly created safety kits that are available in multiple classrooms, offices, etc. around campus. This is vital in ensuring students have these sources if any problem occurs.

Is there enough of an effort towards prevention of safety challenges? As in, are students taught safety procedures well enough?

We are practicing code red and fire drills every month. The administrative and safety teams are constantly meeting and discussing what we can do to further ensure the safety of our students and staff. We've implemented new procedures this year and will continue to make changes as needed. We rely on our teachers to practice safety procedures and share this information with students. It's important that students take these drills seriously and pay attention to all directions.

As much as the teachers and officers on campus have a duty to protect themselves, what do you believe is something the students themselves should be doing to assure school safety?

The most important thing is being aware of your surroundings and making sure to immediately report anything that seems unusual.

If someone else’s safety is compromised, it's important to speak up regardless if a student believes they may be wrong about someone being dangerous.

Voices Versus Violence

S

chool safety has become the center of attention and has been increasingly more important in America in the last couple of years than ever before. Teachers, parents, and staff have all been worried for the safety of not only themselves, but for the safety of the students. PPCHS will be implementing new security upgrades in an effort to keep students and faculty a bit safer than before.

Over the past three to four years, the school has undergone a number of drastic security related changes.

Fences were added around the school and cameras were upgraded into newer models. Policies on the dress code have also been made stricter with there being more of an emphasis on the ban of hoodies.

Faculty members are keeping a more attentive eye out on anyone who could be violating the dress code by handing out detentions more frequently.

Physical changes are not the only updates to PPCHS’ policy.

Before school started teachers were put through a lifelike simulation put on by local police officers to train them on how to proceed if there was ever an active shooter on the campus. “During the training I felt really scared, even though I knew it was just a drill,” said math teacher Ms. Salazar. “Although it was not a pleasant experience or something any of us wanted to think about, I do believe the training was absolutely necessary because it taught us all of different ways to protect students in case of a real life emergency.”

Teachers were also taught on how to organize the students in case of an attack, as many were told ways to barricade the door and to outline a section of the room where students would be able to stay low to the ground if there ever was an emergency. Teachers like the Phelps sisters and Mrs. Hyacinth have adjusted their rooms to be safe in

case of an attack. Students have only been in two code red drills, but the school plans on making it more present in campus life, even though it is currently set at one code red drill per month. “I really do believe we should do more code red drills,” says freshman Nicholas Chavez, “one per month is too little. For something like this where literally anything can happen on any day out of the blue, we need to be prepared, and only once a month won't help prepare us.”

Many other students also believe that we should do code red drills more frequently.

Sophomore Alexis Appio said, “Active shooter drills are really important, and we really should be doing more often, especially in this day and age when anything

can happen.”

Along with those changes, there are still many in the process of being made.

Teachers have now been told to keep doors locked at all times, something that was taken very lightly last school year. Entrances have been limited to only through the A building and through the student parking lot. As the year goes on, there will be many other alterations and upgrades made to the school. “We are currently upgrading our camera system, our bells and intercoms to the most modern state of the art technology. We will be adding a new fence between the stadium and school, by the Broward College parking lot, and are looking to improve the other gates,” Mr. Bayer said.“We have added an additional School Resource Officer (SRO), Officer Mulcahy, who will be working alongside Officer Scopa, and an additional Security Specialist, Mr.

Grant, to the school.” Principal Bayer says how the biggest change most students will notice that will be enforced the most is “uniform compliance” and code red training. While staff are required to wear IDs, students are only required to wear their regular uniform.

Most, if not all students, share a collective reassurance that their school will become a safer place. With new surveillance systems, which were added last year, and planned upgrades to various other areas of the school, many believe as if this is one large step closer to preventing any horrible tragedies from occurring. Junior Alisa Chavez says how she feels that these changes will help make students feel safer.

“I really appreciate how much the school is doing to keep us safe,” she says. “Even though it might cause some inconveniences for students, teachers, and staff, it’s much better to be safe than sorry, especially regarding the times we live in.” Senior Paige Gerson agrees with Alisa on the new upgrades. “I believe any new measures taken to increase security would help us be safer than we are right now,” she said. She believes that any security is good security. “I feel that right now our school is probably one of the easiest to break into, so any security that is considered is better than anything we have right now.” School safety is something that is constantly on the mind of everyone at the school. The newly implemented factors a very stark contrast to what most Charter alumni and current Charter seniors were used to.

Although one can never fully get ready for or anticipate every single possible tragedy, one can prepare to prevent the worst outcome. This is what many schools, including Pines Charter, are doing to protect those who walk through their halls each day.

Graphic By: Justin Pierce

6

Clubs CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES

Walking Out to End Cancer

Maxine Martinez Business Manager

As

students streamed out of their homeroom class on Thursday, September 27, each with a wristband dangling from their hand, two things were obvious: Relay for Life’s first annual Walk out to End Childhood Cancer would be a success and PPCHS students are a powerful group. The event, which could possibly become an annual traditions at PPCHS is part of Relay’s bigger event, pediatric cancer awareness week, which took place from 9/26 to 9/27.

The walkout took place at the football field and lasted the duration of homeroom.

In order to take part in the event had to pay one dollar and show that they were given the wristband in order to leave their classroom. Each person that attended represented one more dollar that will go to a local children’s hospital and to overall raise awareness about pediatric cancer. Andrea Vasquez, sophomore, said, “I went to the walkout because I think that it’s a very important, and everyone should participate.

The atmosphere was great and I think that everyone took it seriously.” Despite the topic being a severe one, the students that attended, albeit a smaller group compared to other events that have taken place at the school, were all smiles as they walked and milled around the area in which event took place. “I’m really excited for this walk,” expressed junior Dayerllise Carvajal. “I support it completely; this is for a great cause, and I’m happy to help and bring awareness to the children who really need

it.” The event gained a lot of support from those who took part.

Relay for Life had one goal for this event: to raise as much money as possible. With this in mind, the club incorporated other fundraising techniques in order to get PPCHS students to open their wallets and their hearts to children facing cancer. The club applied one of the most established and guaranteed ways to make raise money: a lemonade stand. When students entered lunch and walked up to the table Relay set up they were greeted by club members and had the opportunity to buy a cup of lemonade. This idea seemed to be productive and prosperous for the aim of the organization considering that all around the room people were sipping lemonade from the yellow cups.

Pediatric cancer awareness week is one of the first of many events that Relay for Life is taking part in and hosting this year.

All leading up to the final Relay event in the school year with all the other teams in the area. The club is definitely starting of the 2018 - 2019 school year with large aspirations and even larger plans in order to reach their goals. Senior captain, Elizabeth Bornmann said, “Like every year, Relay’s goal is to raise as much money as we can for the American Cancer Society. Beyond fundraising, the goal for Relay this year is for our team to bond s a family.” With all of their plans for the year, PPCHS’ Relay for Life is setting out to leave a mark.

Photos By: Andres Alfonso

Some “MUN” to Invest Time In

Alan Matthew technology editor

F

rom practicing diplomacy to traveling across the state – it’s definitely an uphill battle, but one that’s exciting by the moment and worthy to persevere. The students of PPCHS should look no further than the Model U.N. club right here on campus.

Still a relatively young club, Model U.N., or “MUN” as it is affectionately referred to within the club, seeks to expand the horizons of students by offering opportunities many have never experienced before.

In the words of co-president of PPCHS MUN senior Camila Peralta, “Model U.N. isn’t just a way for you to boost your college applications; it just happens to be an excellent booster as it stands. We take part in competitions, meet regularly to prepare for scenarios, and build lasting relationships within the club, all of which makes this more than just a reference for your dream college.” All aspects of the club have inherent benefits to them, and that happen to go hand in hand with the competitive nature of MUN. Model U.N. is, at its core, a way to create a simulated environment with a common theme of international issues, such as issues that would come up at a real United Nations conference. At MUN conferences students often pair up or group themselves to represent a country from around the world. This is done for a variety of reasons, primarily to facilitate a passionate, informed, and diverse take on the plethora of topics Model U.N. takes on every year.

This geopolitical element is what lures many students to the club in the first place.

Take sophomore Emily Danzinger for example. When asked what led her to join the PPCHS MUN, she said, “I’m certainly interested in the intertwining themes of

international affairs and relations that find themselves at the heart of the club. When I first found out that that was what the club dealt with, it certainly piqued my interest.”

The club, after all, prides itself on being relevant, amongst other things, which is a fact that many students can appreciate in today’s social and political climate.

Conferences aren’t just the sole focuses of the club, however. As the expression goes, it’s about the journey, not the destination, although the destination is arguably one of the most interesting parts in this case. Nevertheless, the weeks and months that build up to conferences are really what define the members of MUN and their relationships.

Junior Laura Montano says, “Even outside of [MUN], I know people who really bond during times of stress and fun, which seems to be what [MUN] is about.” Considering the sheer scope of possible topics, from science and heritage to English and math, preparation is key, but it’s definitely not something anyone has to face alone.

Member and dedicated officers from past years have set up a webpage for the club at ppchsmun.weebly.com that’s chock-full of resources, advice, and ways to communicate. Even beyond that, meetings and journeys to competitions give members an opportunity to practice and grow beyond what they were just a few months ago. For freshman Ruben Hernandez this is why he is interested in the club. After the meeting, Hernandez went on to say, “I think I’m interested in Model U.N. because it gives me the chance to get out of my shell a little.”

As any past member of the club can assure you, the club provides countless opportunities to do just that.

In addition, the club has decided to take

on a new challenge that they feel is a necessity this year. As senior co-president Katelyn Ramirez put it, “What do we do after discussing our topics, international or otherwise? Is there any action after the discussion?” Ramirez raises both an excellent point and an excellent opportunity for those who are willing to get involved beyond just discussing the issues. At PPCHS, Model U.N. is now set to be a club that both discusses the issues and begins to tackle them, even if only making a small impact.

Whether through volunteer projects, community outreach, or the gathering of donations for those who are in desperate need of outside aid, MUN is now dedicating itself to giving back when

Graphic By: Matthew Morales

they can. Needless to say, the club has surely expanded from what it was just a few years ago - just a few members with an idea but no effective plan.

Whatever the case, Model U.N. is now growing, and not just literally. With expanding scopes, dedicated officers, and the potential to do great things, MUN seems to be set for a brand new year with brand new goals and brand new ideas.

Graphic By: Jasmin Bleus

Clubs 7

CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES

Literary Mentors: NEHS Florencia Azcurra Co-Features Editor

but mainly consists of upperclassmen. It requires immense dedication, patience, and a love for kids as well. As school ends, at 2 p.m. on the dot, PPCHS students who signed up wasted no time in making their way to the FSU Elementary School campus to meet their assigned student and begin their “reading time.” In the time the NEHS members have with the kindergartners, the older mentors decide how they’ll teach their Students in Session: NEHS mentors partnered student to read. “I did are reading storybooks with their kids. the program for three years and Photo By: Justin Dourvetakis I was assigned with a little boy named Bryson last year and this very Tuesday at 2:15 sharp, close to year with a girl named Lulu,” says senior 30 students in the National English Honor Mani Wu. The high schoolers read to them, Society participate in the Kinder Reading go over words the child may not know, and Program. This quiet program’s the focal even play mini games to make the time goal is to teach kids how to read, enhance spent more fun and interactive. “For me, their reading levels, and to create bonds I would read one page, and have my kid between high school students and kinder- read the next. So we’d essentially alternate garteners. so they could listen first and then try it out The program was founded four years ago themselves,” continues Mani. The program

by Ms. Phelps, after realizing that all par- is more than just one and one time with the ents simply can’t find the time to sit with mighty learners. The mentors are allowed their children and read to them. After some to discuss the child’s progress with their thinking and creativity, the Kinder Read- parents and update them on what’s happening Program idea was born. Since the pro- ing at each session. They even have quargram was started, the number of students terly logs that the members fill out to show volunteering to participate has increased the parents and keep them updated. Each immensely. It went from around 6 or 10 log is personalized and unique to each kinstudents to over 27 signing up to be a part dergartener, as it identifies and lists their of a very transformative program. weaknesses and strengths. It includes their This program, hosted solely by NEHS comprehensive skills, how well they can members, ranges from freshmen to seniors, identify parts of a book, and even how they

E

can tie an idea in a book to a real life situation. It requires full attention Kids In Work Mode: Kindergardenand a good attendance on the high schoolers’ behalf to track er is diving for his storybooks and ready their partner. to learn.

The committee members Photo By: Justin Dourvetakis make an effort not to miss a single session out of the year unless an emergency comes up. With this after-school extracurricular activity being so demanding, the students are encouraged to prioritize this time. The program is much like a job. It teaches students how to manage their time, create relationships, and teach others new skills. “It’s an after school activity that’s er students and the high school mentors to genuinely fun and looks great on college think outside the box and push their own applications! It has taught me how to be a imaginations. better student myself and what it means to Every child is different. All they need commit to something,” says senior Gurleen is encouragement from someone to read Cambow. “But I also joined because see- more and level up. While the program reing them learn puts a smile on my face. It’s quires full attention and is very commitamazing to see their progress because they ting, many of the members who participate go from not being able to read to reading in it consider it to be a lot of fun and an multiple stories.” As it shares many com- amazing experience to live through. Junior monalities with the workforce, NEHS Danielle Porres also quotes, “It’s a lot of members help one another out when some- commitment but the outcome is really nice one can’t make it on an assigned session, and you’re with your child every step of much like how co-workers cover shifts for the way and you can see them improving each other. “Gurleen and I collaborated by the day.” All parties benefit greatly from specifically on the word games since it this. The kindergartners acquire important makes it more fun when there’s competi- skills, and the instructors leave a lifetion,” says Mani. “One of those particular changing touch on young hearts by helpgames is this vocab board game where ing them take a step towards their literature we use flashcards and a racetrack board future. to make it seem real and exciting,” adds Gurleen. This program calls for more than just attendance. It requires both the young-

PPCHS Teachers Success With Clubs

Mrs. Hyacinth

Kiersten Warren Community Outreach

Ms. Hyacinth. If you don’t know the name,

you don’t know about one of the most essential club advisors here at Charter. Not only is the AP Government and honors Economics teacher a dedicated and passionate teacher for countless students, but also the sponsor of an active club at Charter known as Relay for Life. Recently, the club hosted an entire week to pediatric cancer, where they conducted a variety of activities throughout the school, such as selling lemonade during lunch on Wednesday 09/26, or the school walkout that occurred on Thursday 09/27 during homeroom. “Relay for Life means so much to me. Knowing that I am helping in the fight against cancer is an amazing feeling,” Hyacinth quotes. In the last two weeks of September, the government and economics teacher sold breast cancer awareness shirts, where the proceeds were passed to research for the cure.

Mrs. Ferrer

She says, “Thankfully, none of my friends or family have been unfortunately diagnosed with any cancerous disease, and it’s truly a blessing.” As far as the club goes, there is definitely more to come in this rather new school year, as they have many ideas and activities planned in the upcoming months. “As of now, we are presenting our fundraising ideas and awareness events to administration, so you will definitely see some in the upcoming future.” Between teaching AP classes to finding the time to plan and oversee Relay for Life’s events, no one really knows how Ms. Hyacinth does it all.

The efforts that Relay for Life anwd its sponsor Ms. Hyacinth are contributing is truly amazing.

Maxine Martinez Business Manager

Over the years, Spanish Honor Society has

grown in numbers and in force. Well known throughout the school as being one of the most influential clubs, many students fail to realize that there is one driving factor behind the Spanish Honor: Ms. Ferrer.

When she first started teaching at PPCHS back in 2011, Mrs. Ferrer had no intention of sponsoring SHS. In fact, the organization had been inactive at the time. The club was being passed down from teacher to teacher with essentially nothing being done. It was not until a student sent her an email after her first year teaching, asking for her to be the SHS sponsor, that she considered herself the position. Making sure that the student was serious, she asked him to come up with a presentation that described her responsibilities and goals as sponsor.

Convinced, Mrs. Ferrer soon began working with 6 members of SHS to begin forming a work plan.

Fast forward almost 6 years later, the club has almost doubled in size and has impacted the commu-

nity immensely; yet some traditions have proven to withstand the test of time.

Jag Cup, one of the most anticipated activities at PPCHS, was started by SHS’ original board. Although this is one of the most successful events, Mrs. Ferrer finds that other events have more of a personal impact. “When we conduct a drive and we get to see a smile at the end, that’s my favorite part,” she expressed. “When the police department posts a picture of a kid holding a teddy bear, or when we see people in Venezuela being fed a meal we were able to provide, or even if it’s a pulsera that someone is wearing. Tangible things where we can see the hard work, time, and dedication are my favorite part of SHS.” While Mrs. Ferrer may not have known when she first entered PPCHS that she would become a part of such a powerful force, but students have no doubt that she was meant to hold this position. The future of SHS is bright as long as Mrs. Ferrer is there to lead them.

8

Sports CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES

Sports Round-Up

Volleyball

Swimming

Coming off of Senior Night on October 10th, the Jags are now 17-5, and working towards district and regional championships, hoping to continue their run at a state championship this year. Led by 8 seniors this year, the team is looking to capitalize on their momentum heading into the playoffs soon. They look to capture the school’s first volleyball state title.

Swimming held their Senior Night on October 8th and it was a huge success. Their last home meet will be held on October 10th. Senior Ethan Coello said, “This team is ready to make a deep run. I fully expect to get through districts and regionals and go to states this year.” Led

by Rafael Rodriguez and senior leaders such as Sebastian Sevilla, the Jags look to go far this year.

Photos By: Andres Alfonso

Football

The Jags hold a record of 2-5 going into their October 12th matchup with Coral Glades High who come into the game with a 1-5 record. The Jags have already had a great season, they look to continue it on Friday, along with the remaining schedule where they play at home every game.

Photos By: Lillian McCormick

Baseball

The Jaguars have started the year with a record of 4-1 and pitching for the Jags has been very effective. The Jags have given up no more than 3 runs in 4 of their 5 games, including a 2-1 victory over Flanagan. The offense for the Jags has also been dynamic, with Maxwell Romero having 2HR’s and Dylan Vega having 1 on the young season. The Jags will face Western at home on October 11th and Bucky Dent Academy on the road on October 15th. For more information on their schedule, go to www.jagsbaseball.org.

Photo By: Lillian McCormick

Photo By: Lillian McCormick

Softball Superstar CommitsM to Boston College M ichael

uela

Staff Writer

E

rika Andal is a junior hybrid player for Charter’s softball team. In the spring, she lines up at various positions throughout the field, becoming a do everything player for Charter. On September 8, Andal committed to Boston College.

“I have a lot of people, especially my friends and family, to thank to help me get to where I am today. So many people believed in me and helped me along the way, and for that I am so grateful,” said Andal.

Andal has been playing softball for a while, in fact, she’s been playing since she was about 9 years old. However, she

played baseball from the ages of 4-9. “It was an interesting experience and I actually enjoyed it. I can look back on it now and laugh.” Andal’s experience playing both baseball and softball allowed her to grow in areas such as transferring and being able to hit the ball from different angles.

How does this superstar balance her life in the classroom with her life on the field?

“Usually my parents help me out,” she said. “They push to continue working hard and make sure that I take the necessary classes and that I also do well in softball.

Really, it’s just the pressure of having to do

it all just pushes me.”

After hitting .526 in her first year on varsity, Andal is looking to continue her success this year and also look to the future.

Andal plans to finish high school knowing that her success both on and off the field has paid off, bigtime. She will be attending Boston College and continuing her softball career, the home of the Eagles, to finish her academic career. For right now, she’s focused on the present and helping be a key contributor in Pines Charter’s pursuit of a second straight state championship.

Donated By: Erika Andal

Maverick Medina

Carlos Carrillo

Jordan Alberti

Staff Writer

Sports Editor

Junior Maverick Medina

is in his third year on the Jags varsity team, and the junior is looking to take his game to the next level this year. After a sophomore campaign where Medina led the Jaguars in strikeouts with 51, Medina is looking to improve upon his 3.88 ERA from a season ago.

“I love baseball because it’s my escape from reality. It’s the one place in the world where I could stop thinking about the real world and just have fun with the people around me.

That is why I work so hard to perfect my craft,” he said.

From his freshman season, where Medina pitched 16.1 innings, Medina saw a huge jump in usage and pitched 43.1 innings in 2018 and even earned the nickname, “Weesnaw” in honor of Spongebob Sqaurepants famous line. Medina’s drive and passion for the game can be attributed for this increase in

H

Austin Basso

innings. “What drives me to play baseball every day is the passion I have for the sport and how much I want to play professional baseball.”

As Medina embarks on his junior journey, he looks toward the future while also focusing on the present. Medina is able to balance school and baseball very effectively. “Schools are looking for the complete player. After I get home from practice, I get to work on my homework and studying so I can maintain a good GPA, showing schools I can do both baseball and school at a high level.” Medina looks to stay well-rounded and hopefully continue his baseball career in college and go on from there!

Senior Carlos Carrillo’s love for the game of

baseball runs deep. After Carrillo discovered the beautiful game at eight years old, he worked to feed his growing love for baseball by watching the sport on TV nonstop. Nowadays, Charter’s varsity pitcher struggles to balance his life on and off the field. After practice, he dedicates his time to finishing his homework and any studying that has to be done. Once that is completed, he gets a workout in and gets ready for the next day.

Carrillo expresses his excitement for the fall season, fawning over the comradery the team has built along with the culmination of the team’s hard work in the offseason. “I feel like this is going to be a great year for us because of the chemistry we have as a

Photos By: Andres Alfonso

unit. We have built a brotherhood amongst us all. We are always looking out for one another, helping each other get better and having a lot of fun doing it.” Even though Charter’s team compares the fall season to MLB’s spring training, it is essential to the Jags success, as they get in live at bats and live game action.

During the offseason, Carrillo has taken his preparation to the next level, taking to the gym every day to perfect his mechanics while also strengthening his arms. Carrillo also dedicates time to running through different batting scenarios in his head and memorizing the pitch sequence so when he’s up on the mound, he knows exactly what to do.

As for playing baseball in college, Carrillo is not picky with the college he plays for or attends. “I’ll play for anyone who blesses me with the opportunity to continue playing baseball.”

ey Jags, PPCHS' annual Powder Puff football game, held in honor of Trenton Saunders, will be held on Friday, October 26 at 6:30 P.M. at the PPCHS football stadium. Sign up outside of U225 to participate. All proceeds go to the Trenton Saunders Foundation Scholarship, which will be given to a student at our school. All are welcome to attend.

Technology 9

Sirius XM Purchasing Pandora

Instagram’s Inventors Move On

Caroline Kadir

Kiersten Warren

News Editor

N

owadays in classrooms, if you were to look around, you would see about half the class has headphones in and is jamming out to their favorite songs through apps and radio stations through services like Spotify, Apple music, Soundcloud, or iHeartRadio. For these students, music allows them to escape from the daily boring lectures, the PowerPoints, and the grueling routine of school. Sirius XM, a satellite radio company, realized how much music influences the younger generation and has now decided to tap into the market by offering Pandora, a large and far reaching music streaming service, a record breaking buyout deal.

On Monday, September 24, 2018, Sirius XM presented $3.5 billion to fully obtain Pandora; estimations project that the deal will close in the first few months of 2019.

A year ago Sirius XM, otherwise known as Sirius, invested in Pandora and bought 15 percent of Pandora stock. By making this deal, one important question does come to mind: how will this change the music streaming industry? Sophomore Shannon Amor states, “It’s a lot to take in and actually process how much this can change the music industry. Hopefully stations such as Pandora aren’t going to become corrupt and steer towards a certain style of music because of the company buying them.”

Sirius working with Pandora now makes them a top competitor with everyone else.

With their 36 million subscribers and 70 million monthly listeners from Pandora, Sirius will be a game changer. The deal with Pandora brings hope for Sirius reaching a broader audience outside of their car

CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES

Community Outreach

radio subscriptions (USA Today). Junior Lucero Alejo states, “It’s cool what Sirius is doing, epically that I am now at an age where I can drive and everyone is getting cars. Knowing that there will be more options when it comes to the radio makes me excited.” Soon enough Sirius XM will be a multi-billion dollar company.

As the music industry continues to grow, the business side also evolves. Senior Sofia Cano states, “I believe that by Sirius XM buying Pandora the business side of things will definitely benefit for Sirius XM.” Apple is a company that has had a positive outcome when buying other music related companies. Specifically, when Apple bought Shazam and Dr. Dre Apple, it gained an extremely significant profit.

Freshmen Ethan Puig expressed, “While I think Sirius XM buying Pandora will be a serious boost to their profit, I don’t believe they will gain consumers in the younger generation because most of the younger generation doesn’t really listen to Pandora anymore.” While there is conflicting opinions on the case at hand, only time will tell what will happen to the companies.

Music is part of our day to day lives from the moment we wake up to the end of night.

Some might say that the music we listen to during the day shapes our mood. So when news like Sirius XM buying Pandora comes around, saying that it is impactful to consumers is an understatement. While there is no guarantee that the deal will have a positive outcome for Sirius or Pandora, one thing is for sure: Sirius XM has caused a major shift in the industry with their most recent move.

I

nstagram, one of the most popular social media apps in today’s modern world, underwent a major change recently. The app’s two co-founders, Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger, resigned from the company and plan to leave entirely in a couple of weeks.

Of course, this will cause challenges for the parent company Facebook as well.

Systrom, Instagram’s chief executive, and Kreiger, the technical officer, gave no reason for resigning, other than simply saying that they’re “taking a break from Instagram for a while,” according to the New York Times. However, they did hint at creating something new because they also said that they were “ready for a new chapter.” Facebook’s chief executive, Mark Zuckerberg, is happy for them and their ambition to try something new.

Instagram was created in 2010, originally under the name Burbn. Krieger met Systrom at Stanford University, and they both decided to work together developing the app. Later rebranded Instagram, its popularity was at an all-time high in Silicon Valley, and the founders worked out of an office in San Francisco trying to come up with ways to get user rates up so they wouldn’t have to pay to keep it running.

Once Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, knew what Instagram would later become and how close their founding story was with his, he negotiated with Krieger and Systrom for a deal into control of the social media application. “It’s so amazing to see what Instagram started out with and where it is now. It’s such a great success story,” says senior Stephania Arango. This great success story is a part of Instagram’s history, and it will never be lost, even with new management.

On a different note, Facebook, which acquired Instagram in 2012, is facing questions about what is next for Instagram. This

year alone, Facebook has had a rough year and there have been instances where the future of the media site alone was thought to be ending. Issues have been taking a toll on its users as a result. Instagram is now seen as one of the only things Facebook seems to be doing right. Junior Kaiya Roberts says, “Since Facebook took over Instagram, a lot of things have changed.

The overall design of the app, the new Instagram stories feature, multiple pictures on one post - I really like how it is. A lot of people are saying it’s going to change, but I really don’t think it will be, especially not right away.” Most students think that Instagram won’t make any major changes without informing its users unless it is absolutely necessary.

At PPCHS, many students use Instagram frequently and some have mixed feelings toward the resignation. “I think Instagram is to change because of the CEO’s stepping down. It’s my favorite social media app, and I use it in between classes every day. It will never be the same,” says sophomore Zoe Mutombo. As Zoe said, others are skeptical about the coming leadership.

Freshman Malaika Henry says, “I really hope it doesn’t change, but either way I’ll still keep using it. I just hope they don’t change the design and only add to the features of Instagram. In my opinion, it’s good the way it is now.” Primarily, at our school, Instagram users are hopeful that nothing will change.

Even though Instagram will be going through some monumental changes soon, we cannot forget the original creators.

Krieger and Systrom changed the way that we take and share our pictures. Without them, the social media app we all know and love wouldn’t exist.

Graphic By: Henry Severe

Photo By: Maya Cabrera

An Artistic Return to the Moon

Sophia Cortes

P

ublic space travel has been a hope and goal for many on Earth ever since the Space Race in the 1950’s and 1960’s. Traveling to that last frontier has captured the hearts and minds of people from all over our planet and has been further influenced by many works of science fiction such as Doctor Who, Star Trek, and The Jetsons. Lately, there has been a lot of talk and planning on building settlements on Mars or any other planet; unfortunately, those projects seem to be light years away from being completed. However, science fiction might become reality sooner than we thought, thanks to Elon Musk’s new project with his company, SpaceX. His plan? To return to Earth’s nearest friend, the Moon, with Earth's first ever tourist trip into space.

Elon Musk has collaborated with Japanese billionaire, Yusaku Maezawa in a project which they have dubbed #dearMoon. The project in itself is not only to do a flyby of the moon, it is so much more.

Maezawa’s mission is to pick five to eight artists to accompany him on his groundbreaking trip and to let them be inspired by whatever they find up there among the stars. On the official #dearMoon website Maezawa writes, “People are creative and have a great imagination. We all have the ability to dream dreams that have never been dreamt, to sing songs that have never been sung, to paint which has never been seen before.”

The trip is said to begin in 2023, just a mere five years from now, and its passengers are to be flown in SpaceX's TinTin inspired rocket, the B.F.R, otherwise known as the Big Falcon Rocket. The passengers are meant to spend about a week or more

Voices Versus Violence

in space as they make their way around the Moon and then head back home to Earth.

As expected, the revolutionary project has caught the attention of many, bringing back the otherworldly excitement in the starry beyond which was ever so present during the Space Race. “I find this project so interesting,” says junior Alisa Chavez, “I re-

also agrees with Alisa on how exciting the mission is. “I find this mission to be so cool,” she says, “the fact that there will be artists along with Maezawa for the purpose of creating art is so awesome! I can’t wait to see what they create while they’re up there in space.” The #dearMoon project has made many inspired and ecstatic for the years to come, whether or not they are

ally like how Maezawa has plans to bring artists with him. The program could as well have been made up of only scientists on a scientific expedition, but instead they chose to involve artists in specific. I hope this choice and this program as a whole will rekindle the ambition to explore space and all its wonders.” Senior Afiya Phillips

avid followers of artists.

Although many are excited for the mission and all the advancements that will follow, some, like sophomore Caitlyn Cabrera believe the mission could have some serious setbacks. “I definitely think there are a lot of risks when it comes to sending an average civilian to space,” she explains. “There

are a lot of liabilities the company has to take care of; for example, the training of the passengers for space travel. Teaching them on basic space safety and proper precautions would, in itself, cost a lot of money and be very tedious.” Caitlyn goes on to say how even though this might set off a chain reaction of other big companies wanting to send people into space or build settlements in space, she doesn’t believe it will happen any time soon. Freshman Tyler Berman also believes there might be some level of risk in going to space with people who aren’t professionally trained astronauts. “The passengers aren’t used to things that astronauts are prepared for, like high g-forces for example,” he says, “and because they’re not used to them, whether or not the passengers would panic could have a large impact on the safety of the mission as a whole.” Even though some might think the mission might be tricky at best, there is also hope that it will be a success and revolutionize space travel, something many people are looking forward to.

Although we can only speculate on how this mission will impact the future of space travel, although it might be a while until we see at least one small town on Mars and we might have to wait a bit until we can witness the breathtaking rings of Saturn, there is a sense of stepping forward with this project. A sense that the world is closer to traveling the endless sea of the universe and just one step closer to doing what no one has done before.

Graphic By: Rosa Gomez

10

Entertainment

How Do Jags Feel About the ‘Captain Marvel’ Trailer?

“I’m hoping that it [Captain Marvel] addresses any little details that may have been missing in the previous Marvel movies. I’m also hoping that it lives up to the original Captain Marvel comics.”

-Kenneth Martinez, Senior

“I can’t wait to see Nick Fury and Captain Marvel pair up against the Skrulls [a race of monsters in the MCU] in the movie!”

-Axel Rios, Junior

“She hasn’t been in enough content for me to care about her. It kind of feels like Marvel is just doing a money grab and dragging the MCU [Marvel Comic Universe] for far too long. The only thing I remember off the top of my head from the trailer is that she punched an old lady.”

-Jessica Ting, Senior

“The trailer made me feel empowered!

Women are finally getting the recognition they deserve in major media outlets. Especially with something as big as superhero films, it’s going to be a huge inspiration to girls and a realization for boys of all ages that females are just as capable and strong enough to be heroes as men.”

-Angelica Repaci, Sophomore

“I really want to see more of her backstory. I liked seeing her as Mrs. Marvel from the Marvel cartoons I watched when I was little, so I’m really excited to see a bit more from her.”

-Alanna Robbert, Freshman

Graphic By: Henrey Severe

Is Iridescence Brockhampton’s Brightest?

Venom Receives Venomous Reviews

Paolo Barrera

Sophia Cortes

Student life Editor

Voices Versus Violence

Brockhampton started turning heads

earlier in the year with their insanely dynamic range of musical talents. Their producing genius and their musical artistry work magically with their distinct rap flow and unique melodies. However, their group is very much non-traditional: their music is an acquired taste, their group is quite large, the members are representative of various sexualities, and some members have even been involved in some shameful scandals (said member was kicked out of the group).

The group itself is a Frankenstein of weird vibes and odd personalities, but it has managed to capture fans around the globe. In a way, their newest album Iridescence is much like their Frankenstein of a group: an interesting mix of different parts, sewn together in an odd package. Brockhampton engineered their album to be listened to as a whole.

Ring leader Kevin Abstract said that the album was their “painting” and that there is a desired experience that the band wants to listeners to feel.

There truly is a level of artistic mastery required to transition from song to song seamlessly. The first song “New Orleans” is an explosive, volume crunching song that jumps out of the speakers and into your ears. It’s a very Brockhampton-esque way to start of their album, as all of the members of the group take turns screaming a few lines of the chorus into the track. As the screaming dies down, the music fades into the next song: “Thug Life.” The chorus is sung by the London Community Gospel Choir, and a few members of the group take the mic afterwards to lay down some verses on depression and the sharpness of its effects on the “thug life”.

“Berlin” comes next, with hard hitting

blurbs of rap that at you with the sound of a loaded, catchy beat. “The album [Iridescence] was good overall,” said sophomore Khaled Fernandez. “My favorite song was ‘Berlin’.” The head banger of a song makes way for the song “Something about Him”, which is a polar opposite to the vibes given off by the previous song. “Something About Him” is a slow, synth tuned love song that plays as a love letter from queer member Kevin Abstract to his significant other. In celebration of Kevin’s beautiful relationship, the band dedicated an equally beautiful song.

Up next comes “J’Ouvert” (French for “I Open” and the name of a street festival in Caribbean culture), the song is inspired by the Grenadian roots of member Jabari Manwa.

The rap is comparatively quiet, but the beats are constantly moving with alien sounds and synth noises. “I love the album...especially ‘J’ouvert’,” says junior Sofia Mendoza. “[Iridescence] is their first album without [kicked out member] and you can tell how much effort they truly put into it and how different it is from their Saturation albums.”

Later in the album comes the upbeat song “Honey.” The up-tempo tune sounds like a marching song, with a chorus that features the same alien-like sounds of the previous track.

An innocent piano strikes keys in the back of this odd story of a song, creating the feeling of listening to a “beautiful mess”. However, senior Thalia Garcia makes it clear that “‘Honey’ is a banger.”

For the finale, the last song on the album is “Fabric.” This song is a fitting summary of the album, for it is very Marshall Matherslike in its orientation: slow and reminiscent of 2000’s hip hop, yet modern in its meaning and drum beats. The song bounces up and down like a low rider car: consistent - not too fast, but not too slow.

The album itself holds many messages and many truths, but it is clear to see that Iridescent is meant to be an image of what the current Brockhampton sees in the mirror. There is happy, sad, fast, and slow in their lives and in their music. There are deep confessions and hard truths to be told in this album, but it is done so organically and uniquely. Not everyone will like this album, but there is definitely something for everyone to like. While it’s an acquired taste, it is not bad in any way.

Graphic By: Rosa Gomez

From the moment that it was announced

in April of this year, Venom, starring Tom Hardy, was received with mixed reviews.

Any fan of the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man and his infamous counterpart, the anti-hero Venom, can tell you the disaster that was “Emo Parker” in Spider-Man 3’s attempt at the Venom story arc. Sony has never been able to strike it gold with Spider-Man fans, so one would understand fans’ nervousness when they announced Venom, without any hint that his webslinging opposing character would make an appearance.

The movie tried to focus on the original Venom investigative reporter, Eddie Brock, as he grapples with being a host to the Symbiote while he tries to take down the crooked creator of the Life Foundation, Carlton Drake. Tom Hardy excels in being a likeable character that the audience would be quick to sympathize with, and his relationship with Venom is an interesting one that should have been the focal point of the movie. However, this is where the film starts to fall short. While it was no doubt a fun movie, with some good action sequences sprinkled with a bit of jokes to lighten the mood, there were quite a few errors that held it back from being a memorable hit. Like any origin story, there always has to be some level of exposition to show how life for the superhero/villain was before “The-EventThat-Changed-Them.” This is key with characters like Venom who are not exactly that well known in the public eye. Casual viewers may want to know who this guy was before he got the parasite, Venom.

However, the problem starts when there is too much of a focal point on the “before” rather than the “after.” This is one of the key issues of Venom, it spends too much time on Eddie’s life before he got infected

by Venom, and everything after that feels too rushed.

One would expect an origin story on Venom to revolve mostly around Venom and his host Eddie Brock as they figure out how to live in a symbiotic relationship with each other, right? Unfortunately, while the movie does involve some aspects of their relationship, it doesn’t flesh it out as much as it could have. Instead, what they decided to do was to focus more on the external conflict of taking down Carlton Drake and the hideous Life Foundation rather than the very literal internal conflict of having a sentient parasite infect him and having to figure out how to live with it. Compare Venom with various other superhero origin stories and one will find that those that stuck better with audiences were those that were more focused on the evolution of the character throughout the film, and even though it might deal with some sort of “Big Bad,” the villain didn’t take away from character growth, in fact in all great origin stories, it helped edge on the growth of the character.

While Venom itself was an enjoyable movie that was all there was to it. It lacked a good narrative and character structure to make it truly memorable, something that has become sadly expected by Sony iterations of any Spider-Man related stories. Even though the action was fun and intense, it felt empty of any “Awesome!” or “Wow!” moments. Memorable lines that were used in the trailer to make it seem more cool and enticing were thrown away as bits at the end that lacked any sort of impact on the audience and on the storyline itself.

Unfortunately for Marvel fans, Venom may not be the movie to go and spend your money on. The hype and build up doesn't add up to the bad reaction one will receive when the watch it.

Graphic By: Henry Severe

Lifestyle 11

CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES

How to do Havana Nights Right Ariana Ortiz

Managing Editor - Web

A

side from prom, homecoming is the night to show out for PPCHS students, and this year there is a new twist to the homecoming dance: it’s outside! The first ever PPCHS outdoor homecoming (weather permitting) will be right in front of the River of Grass. Just because it’s outside, doesn’t mean everyone can’t dress to impress! This year’s homecoming theme is Havana Nights, taking students back to the streets of Cuba in 1950 with bright colors, flowy dresses, and old-fashioned cars. Dancing in the Florida heat can get a little uncomfortable, but this style guide will keep you cool and on point for the 2018 Havana Nights Homecoming.

Tip #1 - Flowy dresses are KEY! If you haven’t noticed by now, Florida nights can get really hot and humid. Tight dresses will definitely make the night a miserable one, so a loose-fitting dress will be perfect for the occasion. The theme Havana Nights calls for a flowy dress to do the salsa in!

Tip #2- Keep your hair intact with a cute up do!

What’s Trending?

Ainsley McCormick Editor-In-Chief

Not much has been seen from Lil Wayne

recently other than releasing some mixtapes and making guest appearances until his recent drop of ‘Tha Carter V.’ The 23 song album was dropped on September 28, 2018 and featured artists like XXXTentacion, Travis Scott, and Kendrick Lamar.

In other music news, hip-hop/ rap artist Logic dropped a 14 song album, ‘Young Sinatra IV.’ This is his newest entry to his Young Sinatra Series, which dropped on September 28, 2018. The album “indulges in his deepest boom-bap fantasies,” and contains “lots of philosophizing” (Apple Music).

Kanye has been in the news for multiple reasons recently. Most prominent was his comments about America and the 13th Amendment, which he tweeted should be abolished. He also went to twitter to post an image of him wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat. Aside from politics, Kanye now wants to be referred to as “Ye.” In addition, he announced that his next album Yandhi is planned to be released November 23, 2018.

Spoiler alert! Big Brother just ended its 20th season with a new winner: Kaycee Clark. She made history as the first openly gay winner to be a woman, and describes herself as “fun, positive and athletic” (PinkNews). The winner left with $500,000 and a title as champion.

Amongst Twitter users a trend of jokes have been rising pertaining to moths. Yes, you heard it correctly. The little, annoying bugs that fly into lights. In fact, this is what people are joking about. Tweets like, “What did moths do before light bulbs were invented,” (@sebsoftie). Tweets like this moth joke have been taking rise.

Humidity in South Florida is no joke and long luscious locks are its biggest enemy.

To keep your hair on point this homecoming, keep your hair in stylish up do like a sleek ponytail or bun.

Tip #3- Don’t be scared of color!

Usually, students get stuck in the same routine of black, burgundy, and white dresses and suits for homecoming. This year being that the dance is outside is the perfect opportunity to wear color, especially for photos!

Tip #4- Exotic prints for the win!

Over the basic colored shirt with a black bow tie? Be bold this homecoming and bring out the prints! Floral, chevron, and even just stripes could make your homecoming look next level!

Tip #5- Be YOU! No matter what, just be yourself. Wear what you love and makes you feel confident. Forget any stigmas or societal normative that tell you that you need to dress a certain way. Wearing what makes you feel good is what matters.

Graphic By: Taylor Causey

Keep Your College Applications in Check Ainsley McCormick Editor-In-Chief

Each year a wave of stress and rush washes over a

majority of the senior class as college application deadlines are drifting towards them. However, each year it’s a new set of students who go through the process without a lighthouse to guide them the correct way. To help those applying to college who need some guidance or even have questions, here is a checklist for the major parts of applying to college.

The first key to apply to college is figuring out where to apply and through what website. The top three ways people apply are through Common Application, Coalition, or through the college’s individual website. The first two options allow students to apply to multiple colleges by only entering certain information in one time.

Each of these programs have different schools that can be added the students list of colleges that will be sent their information. “I am using Common App to apply to my schools, since most of the ones I’m applying to are in Florida, like USF,” said senior Samantha Pratts.

Once the student has figures out through what platform(s) they will be applying, certain grades and scores must be sent to each individual school. In the office at the guidance desk is a transcript request form. Once filled out and returned with the correct amount of money ($2 per Florida school and $5 per out-of-state school) the transcript will be sent. According to Ms. Benitez, if a student is applying through Coalition or Common App, only one transcript needs to be sent to this website which will then be sent out to all the schools being applied to. This means that the school will receive the students’ official grades from the time the student began taking high school classes, which can be as early as seventh grade for some if a foreign language was taken. In addition, Broward College transcripts should be sent for those who have taken Dual Enrollment classes. To send these, log in to myBC at Broward.edu, and select Transcripts under the Records tab. Each transcript sent will cost $5. This is not a necessary step to complete before applying unless a BC class was taken to replace a high school class, since the college will need to see proof of the student’s grades.

Another large piece of applying to college is sending SAT and/ or ACT scores. To do so, log in to the website

where one can find their scores and find the area to send scores to colleges. For the SAT, it costs $12 per school.

For the ACT, the fee is $13 per test date per report.

While sending scores is required, there are other parts of an application that some school require while others do not. For example, many require an essay to be written on a specific prompt. These prompts can be found on either Common App, Coalition, or the school’s website; however, many schools allow potential students to answer this prompt: Share an essay on any topic of your choice.

It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design. In addition to this essay, a letter of recommendation from a teacher, guidance counselor, or employer might be required. When asking for a letter of recommendation, make sure to give the person at least two weeks as well as a brag sheet to guide them through the process.

While this may seem like an expensive process so far, the fees don’t stop. With each application comes an application fee, usually ranging from $35 to as much as $80. Fee waivers can be used to stop these fees from being required, but these waivers usually apply to students who receive free lunch, SAT waivers, or something of the likes. While looking at these applications, make sure to take note of when the application deadline is due as to not miss sending in the application on time. Most schools early action deadline is November 1, 2018 but will accept applications up until January of 2019.

Yes, applying to college costs a lot, but applying for Bright Futures and the FAFSA are two major parts of seniors’ application process since it can provide financial aid. Bright Futures should be filled out with Ms. Fernandez, and she will be visiting seniors’ English classes to complete this process. “Do not fill this out at home,” she stresses, for each student only gets one shot at filling out the information to receive Bright Futures.

The overwhelming feeling of all that needs to be done may feel like trying to stay afloat in an infinite sea, but staying organized and keeping in contact with guidance counselors and college advisors can make this process much easier. The year ahead will come with success, failures, excitement, and possibly disappointment. Good luck to all the seniors on the road to college.

Graphic By: Matthew Morales

12 News

California Chaos Spreads like Wildfire CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES

Aidan Ryan

Malicious

red-hot flames have been ravaging the west coast. In recent months, flames of destruction have been turning the once beautiful California landscape into a charred and barren wasteland leaving nothing more than the remnants of forest and what was there before. These wild and extremely dangerous natural disasters affect a multitude of people, animals, and even the environment. To some extent these wildfires are beneficial to the environment, but once these fires get out of hand, they are devastating. The flames can reach around five feet in height and nearly 800 degrees Fahrenheit, wildfires are a forces to be reckoned with. “I’ve been to California. It’s a beautiful state. It would be a shame for a beautiful Californian ecosystem to be destroyed by someone’s careless and ignorant acts,” said junior Skyler Ruiz. The destructive force that is the wildfire can reach speeds of up to twenty miles per hour and can cover thousands of acres. They’re fueled by different types of weather, dry underbrush, and wind, which burn land by the acres and take over everything in their paths, in just a few minutes.

California wildfires have inflicted an abundance of damage on several California cities. As of September 30, a total of 6,650 fires had burned an area of 1,508,555 acres in the state of California. (California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection & the National Interagency Fire

Staff Writer

Center) These California wildfires caused over $2.948 billion in damages, including $1.339 billion in fire suppression costs. Senior Shanthan Mahendran said, “I’ve seen the California wildfires all over the news.

burned in Mendocino, Lake, Colusa, and Glenn Counties in the U.S. State of California, with the Ranch Fire being California’s single largest recorded wildfire. “These California wildfires seem very dangerous.

Graphic By: Carolina Othon They look terrifying and very damaging.”

One example of a historic wildfire in California was the Mendocino Complex Fire.

The Mendocino Complex Fire was the largest recorded fire complex in California history. It was a large complex of two wildfires, the River Fire and Ranch Fire, which

The fire departments in the west coast need to be prepared to handle such devastating natural disasters, like these. The civilians in the area must be very scared,” freshman Brady Garrison said. The California wildfires are devastating and destructive for both the people and the environment in

California.

The causes of these California wildfires are endless. Human beings are the number one cause of wildfires in the United States.

Many of these wildfires are caused by cigarette butts being left on the land, campfires that have been left unmonitored, and intentional acts of arson. 90% of the wildfires in the U.S. are caused by people. Manmade causes of wildfires include: burning debris, unattended campfires, equipment failures, and engine sparks, cigarettes, fireworks, and even arson. Some of the natural causes of wildfires are lightning and volcanic eruption. Sophomore Shannon Amor stated, “Wildfires seem like such a serious issue, and the fact that most of these disasters are caused by humans is disappointing.

People need to be more aware of their surroundings, especially when they’re in such dry terrain like the west coast.” These devastating acts of nature are sadly an effect of our irresponsible actions.

Wildfires on the west coast are a huge conflict for the people, plants, and animals in California. They affect thousands of people every year and can destroy hundreds of acres of once beautiful Californian terrain.

These recent wildfires have been devastating to California, and continue to destroy whole ecosystems and even towns.

Midterm Elections Make Way Destructive Hurricane Michael Hits Florida’s Panhandle Ainsley McCormick Editor-In-Chief

In the two years since Donald Trump was

elected President, there have been changes, accusations, and alterations that have made people side with or without the current government. As the end of 2018 quickly approaches, midterm elections are in full swing.

Students, such as senior Gabriel Mateo, have even begun taking to the polls to voice their opinion. Mateo says, “This year I’m going to vote in order to help make a difference and support my beliefs. It is important to go out and choose people for office who you think would be the best fit for our government.” For many seniors, the midterms will be the first time they are voting.

During midterm elections, seats in Congress and local government positions are open. In fact, “all 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, 35 U.S. Senate seats, 36 governorships, about 80 percent of state legislative posts, and scores of mayors and judgeships are on the ballot this fall.” (telegraph.co.uk) This election is pivotal for the Trump administration, as the party that controls certain states can change and alter the makeup of Congress.

If history serves as any indicator, the opposite party of the current President usually gains momentum. In this case the Democratic Party would control the polls, essentially creating a barrier between Trump and his agenda.

sevelt era, the President’s Party has only gained seats in the House and Senate during the midterm elections twice — in 1934 and 2002, so as history shows, a majority of these states will probably end up voting Democratic. This would mean the Democratic Party will take over Congress.

Floridians voting this year will be electing a governor, state cabinet, legislators, local representatives and U.S. senator. Anyone over the age of 18 can register to vote (until the October 9th deadline) in the midterm elections. Charter students who are eligible to vote are encouraged to take advantage of this. Senior William Gomez said, “I’m voting because I feel like it’s really important to vote when you are able to. I’m turning 18 a couple of weeks before the midterm election, and I believe that every vote counts, so I want to do my civic duty and vote for the people I feel will do the best job.” In the state of Florida, registering can be done online at https://registertovoteflorida.gov/en/Registration/Index with a valid driver’s license or Florida Identification Card issued by the Florida Department of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles. The elections will be taking place of November 6, 2018 at polls, however early voting will run October 22 through November 4 in Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties.

Caroline Kadir News Editor

Stores left in ruins, trees crashing down, thousands of homes losing power, and stop lights being knocked around by strong winds. On Wednesday, October 11, 2018, a catastrophic hurricane plummeted into Florida’s panhandle leaving it in a desolated state. Hurricane Michael will be one for the history books due to its record breaking outcome. Alumni Samantha Verga, a student at FSU expresses, “It’s just a scary situation. Especially because we just stated school and are all moved in and now in and now we don’t know what’s going to happen to our campus.” For the residents of northern Florida who were acclimated to sunny skies, sparkling beaches, and tranquil cities are now facing a long road ahead due to Hurricane Michael’s effects.

Panama City to Mexico Beach residents have all fallen victims to Hurricane Michael’s aftermath, and are now questioning, “How do we recover?” Before Hurricane Michael reached the panhandle, it was distinguished solely as a Category 2.

However, as it inched closer and closer to Florida, it evolved into a deadly Category 4 hurricane. With howling winds up to 155 mph ripping roofs and chunks off of buildings, Florida’s residents are left in a state of distress. As Hurricane Michael made

its way inland, it degraded into a tropical storm. “Michael appeared to be moving slower after making landfall but has since picked up speed as it moves across southwestern Georgia at about 20 mph. As of Wednesday night, the storm was about 45 miles south-southwest of Macon. Gradually, the hurricane is expected to downgrade and move towards the Atlantic later on in the week.” (CNN) The hurricane that has now converted into a tropical storm has not necessarily made its way out yet, as it’s still engulfing Georgia and the Carolinas with strong winds and continues to thrash rain down.

Hurricane Michael has unfortunately been blamed for the cause of two deaths due to the debris. Power Lines are down, debris fills every street, and homes have been torn away. The hurricane has wreaked havoc and only time will tell how the residents of Florida’s panhandle will recover. For many Southern Floridians, this hurricane hits close to home because of experiencing a similar situation with Hurricane Irma last year. As of right now, we can only lend our hands and prayers to those affected by Hurricane Michael.

Now what is at stake for the Republican Party is majorly dependent on if the Democrats win over Congress. The Democrats could reject the Republican agenda, push harder to investigate Trump administration, block any nominees made by Trump, and pass new laws. However, if the Republicans win Congress, there will be both a Republican Congress and President, so the party will have an immense amount of power in passing new laws.

“The midterm elections will see people vote for members of both houses of Congress, as well as for governors in 36 out of 50 states,” according to bbc. com. There are currently seven toss-up states: Arizona, Florida, Indiana, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, and Tennessee, meaning they could fall on either side. As stated in PolitiFact, since the Roo-

Cartoon By: Mariana Riano

Securing the New School Year

News 13

CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES

Maxine Martinez Business Manager

S

afety has always been a priority, but now, more than ever, schools are taking precautionary measures in order to ensure the security of their students and staff. In light of recent tragedies, the need for reinforced security systems and contemporary procedures seems to be a popular topic of conversation. PPCHS has taken up an active role in revising and implementing new security measures to ensure the well-being of the school.

PPCHS seems to be filled with a mix of opinion on the topic of security. For some, like senior Joshua Willis, they feel that PPCHS is doing too much. “I feel safe at school, but somewhat over protected.

I know there are some things required to ensure safety but there are things that are not necessary” Others feel the opposite.

Freshman Hansini Koppolu stated, “I feel like the school is trying to increase security but it’s not working.” The school has heard student’s opinion and they have decided to effectively introduce new preventative procedures to reassure the student body and parents that action is being taken. One of the security procedures that has been enforces is the increase in code red drills.

What was once practiced once a quarter at most, is now being carried out once a month. Administration hopes that this development will aid in making students feel more prepared in the wake of an emergency. Teachers are making it a point to educate students on how to best protect themselves. For instance, many teachers have practiced blocking the doors or using textbooks as shields for an extra layer of security during the drills.

The new security measures extend out of the classroom as well, as people have begun to question the safety of events and activities outside of school. Football games,

and other sporting games, have been one of the main areas for concern. Because of this, the school’s efforts don’t just stop at 2 pm. Bags larger than half a sheet of paper are no longer permitted and entry into events will be prohibited beyond 3rd quarter of all football and basketball games and halftime of soccer games. Moreover, baby bags, although permitted, can be searched.

Along with the increase in practice drills, the school is taking other preventative measures to ensure the safety of the school.

Firstly they are fixing the alarm/ bell system in each building so that both students and teachers will be aware if there is a change in circumstance. Moreover, the school is adding reinforced gates and fences around the school to ensure that no intruder will be able to enter the institution. The school is also showing that they have incorporated people that can help protect school safety on campus.

“I feel that school is very safe because every time there is a situation the cops are always on it,” expressed junior Diandra Schloss. Along with this, there will be new security cameras surrounding the whole school. In Ms. Schwab’s classroom, for example, cameras have already been added with a full visual of the entire room. With new cameras, faculty in the front office will have the ability to catch anything suspicious and prevent anything from harming the student body and faculty. “I feel that the school is trying its

best to assure everyone that it is safe and protected, but there is definitely more that PPCHS, and the students that go here, can do to ensure that they stay out of harm’s way,” expressed sophomore Natalee Escobar. These measures will hopefully be finished by November It is impossible to prepare for every circumstance or possibility, but these measures and strategies are crucial in taking the first step towards the right direction.

PPCHS is attempting to create a sanctuary for those who enter it, a place where they can feel confident that no harm will come to them. Although there is still much to change within the world, Charter will continue to make adjustments in order to keep up.

Securing the School: New additions such as security cameras have added around the school.

Photos By: Andy Alfonso

Cartoon By: Mariana Riano

14 In Memoriam: William Troha CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES

In Memoriam: William Troha

Bill was an uncommonly kind and good man. Bill had been teaching at PPCHS since 2006--for the past 13 years he taught senior English. His seniors this year were in kindergar-

ten when he started teaching at PPCHS...not bad for a second act. In 2017 he was voted Teacher of the Year by our faculty. It is an award he deserved on more than one occasion.

He was a mentor, a friend, a confidant, and a spiritual guide. He was there to donate sick days to those that were in need. He was there to fix something broken in your classroom.

He was there during code red drills, ready to shield his fellow teachers. He was an inspiration and will be missed dearly. May he rest in peace. -- Mr. Bayer

I started working here 13 years ago with Mr. Troha. I considered Mr. Troha not just a coworker but truly a good friend who always had encouraging words of wisdom. I will miss him dearly. - Ms. Chancelor Mr. Troha was accepting and generous to everyone in his life without asking of anything in return... representing only the best of humanity. I'm proud to be able to say he was both my friend and mentor - he will be greatly missed. - Ms. Schwab Having worked with Mr. Troha with the graduating class of 2015 was such a memorable time for me. His passion for teaching and helping the kids in school and on a personal level has always stayed with me. I always remember having had a great time working and collaborating with him for the improvement and wellbeing of the kids. He will truly be missed. - Ms. Perez Mr. Troha has been walking these halls from before I came to PPCHS and even after I graduated.

His legacy still lives on as a kind, witty, respectable man. Every senior hoped to have him as an English teacher. As former student and now coworker, he came to support the dance program by showing up to performances and merely just stopping by to say hi. He had a heart of gold and I will truly miss him. Rest easy. - Ms. Norton The best way to honor his legacy is to do what he did every day: spread kindness and compassion, encourage those around you, approach all things with a smile and an open heart, remain positive, find the fun in everything and never underestimate the power of bubbles! Lots and lots of bubbles!

Thank you for the wonderful example to follow Mr. Troha. - Ms. Moses As an Alumni of PPCHS, I remember having Troha as my SAT Reading teacher. The biggest memory I have of him was how happy and energetic he was with the students. Reading was not my favorite, yet he found a way to make it interesting through his unique personality. - Mr. Rairan Best person to run into in the morning, always with a smile and an uplifting comment. - Mrs. Santiago Mr. Troha was a man of grace, integrity, gentleness and goodness. He blessed us all - students and staff alike - with the essence of his humanity and the gentle reminder to respect and honor the humanity in others. – Ms. Wills Bill always had kind words to say in his usual measured way. Until we meet again. Take good care, buddy. - Mr. Ramphall Perhaps the kindest man I have ever met. Gone far too soon. May you rest in peace. - Mr. Lawrence I saw Mr. Troha every morning in the office at 6:45 am for eight years. Our routine was simple, yet so meaningful. He would arrive at the same time as me, with a big smile, he would hold the office door open, he would let me sign in first, and hold the door to the teacher's lounge open once again.

Mr. Troha always reminded me of my late father: gentle, mellow, sweet, and charismatic. He will be missed. May he rest in peace. - Mrs. Ferrer One year, on my birthday, Mr. Troha brought me a bouquet of balloons out of the blue. Came into my room running with a huge smile. I hope his enthusiasm sprinkles down on all of us. - Mr. Fagen I had the pleasure of getting to know Mr. Troha in the short time I was here, and I can say that he was one very special man. God has received a great addition in Heaven, leaving behind a void that will be difficult to fill. His delightful spirit is one I will truly remember! – Ms. Guerrero We met every morning at the office and he always greet me with a good morning! Then he will go on and ask me about my son and how he was doing and that he was proud to say that he worked with someone whose son was a major leaguer. Talk a little bit about anything and nothing. Then he will say have a terrific day!! I will never forget his enthusiastic attitude and wonderful disposition about everything. I will miss him. - Mrs. Ciafre I'm grateful that I was a part of Mr. Troha's "inclusive community." He welcomed everyone and made everyone feel like they belonged. Mrs. Battle

When I first started working for Pines Charter in 2012, Bill was one of the first teachers that I encountered. "Good Morning and Welcome to Paradise!" are words that I will never forget.

He was by FAR one of the best coworkers I have had the pleasure of working with since I became a teacher. He will truly be missed! Mrs. Chevres

In Memoriam: William Troha 15 CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES

During my first year at Charter, I had a challenging sixth period class. Mr. Troha had planning that period and was just a few doors down, so he would stop by a few times a week, unannounced, and walk around my classroom with his bubble machine going full force. This never failed to ease tension, cause a few laughs, and reset the learning environment. The man was--and is--an angel and I love him. - Mrs. Saye I looked forward to Mr. Troha's annual evaluation. He had a way of being perfectly supportive and encouraging when it was needed most. - Mrs. Torres Mr. Troha was a very special soul. He was the kind of person who would brighten your day, he will be forever missed. - Ms. Morales Bill was one of the nicest man I knew. Always filled with hope and admiration! He will be missed! - Ms. Benitez A person that could make “lemonade out of lemons.” I loved how he always brought positive energy to any room he entered. - Ms. Maycock Mr. Troha was an exceptional colleague - he never had a negative word and was genuinely supportive of other teachers. I will not forget his kindness and dedication to his seniors. - Mrs. Rudd One of the great ones. I am going to miss our Shinju stories. - Randy Edelstein Mr. Troha was probably the nicest man I've ever met. More importantly, we shared many students, and I never once heard him utter a bad or negative word about a student. He looked for the good in everyone. - Ms. Chaiken Mr. Troha was the most gentle and kind person. - Ms. Vazquez Bill: You always had a smile and a greeting for everyone. You even invited me to eat lunch in your room which made me feel at home.

Thank you for that. Rest in Peace - Ms. Schmidt I don't think Bill ever knew a harsh word, an unkind statement, or a piece of equipment that he couldn't fix (or try his best to fix). When we talk about genuinely good people, he is one of the best that I have known; to know Bill is to have loved him. - Ms. Ellis Mr. Troha was the kindest man one could meet. He always went out of his way to just ask how you were doing. - Ms. Hyacinth Mr. Troha, thank you making the world a little bit kinder. For caring for everyone. For your smile. You will forever be missed. – Ms. Windevoxhel Bill Troha was a truly gentle force of kindness in the lives of all who knew him. We adored him, and felt better in his presence. He showed keen interest in and concern for our students and our children, and he celebrated the goodness in all of us. I believe we will always celebrate his incredible influence on us--I know I will. – Ms. Sunshine Phelps I thank you for your grace and genuine nature that overflowed with love and patience for your students. You will continue to be the embodiment of what I strive to reach in my own classroom. May You Rest In Peace and God Bless You Always!

- Ms. Ramirez Mr. Troha was a beautiful person and educator. He was always looking for ways to improve the experiences of our students in school. - Ms. Llanos When I walked in to my first welcome breakfast at PPCHS 6 years ago, Bill saw me looking lost and invited me to sit at his table. Since then he always had a kind word every time I saw him. - Mrs. Guzman Mr. Troha, I miss you. I miss sharing food recipes and Romanian and Polish homemade goods with you. Mostly though, I just miss your advice and encouraging words. Thanks for watching over me and our students as you celebrate a life well lived with the angels! - Mrs. Lutchi For nearly thirteen years, Bill Troha was not only a source of wisdom and comfort for so many of us but also a consistent model of kindness, respect, and steadfastness. For me personally, he was -- and always will be -- a kind of moral compass that helps me to be a better person. - Ms. Sarah Phelps I was lucky enough to spend a couple of days proctoring with Mr.Troha last year. He was the nicest person, in a sea of nice people, that I have had the opportunity to spend time with here at PPCHS . I was truly sad to hear of his passing. - Mr. Toepel

16 Voices Versus Violence CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES

BTS Inspires People to ‘Speak Yourself’

PPCHS Expands Upon Bullying Policy

Brianna Butler

Kiersten Warren

Staff Writer

Community Outreach

O

n September 24th, South Korean boyband BTS made history after delivering a six minute speech during the UN General Assembly in New York. This marks the first anniversary of the ‘Love Myself’ campaign, a two year long collaboration with UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited to promote anti-violence. Their main goal is to ensure teenagers around the world are able to grow up in a safer and healthier environment without having to live in fear of violence. A total of 3% of the group’s recent album’s revenue will be donated to the campaign, and the majority of the band’s songs contain lyrics that deal with overcoming obstacles or breaking through from societal norms.

During the self-written speech, leader Kim Namjoon encourages others to “speak yourself,” explaining the story of his own childhood and how he has grown to terms with himself and embraces the mistakes he has made in the past. He now wants people who hear these words to speak up and begin to talk about their own lives. “What is your name? What excites you and makes your heart beat? Tell me your story,” states Namjoon. His words have been able to encourage many. “I can relate to his speech a lot,” sophomore Maria-Noelia Herne voices. “I was shocked by not only the emphasis on how you should love yourself but to speak yourself and voice your opinion, which I haven’t heard much of before. I think it’s impacted me in the sense that it shows that all the people have their faults, but not to just love your present self or your future self but to fully embrace your past and carry it with you, which I found wise.”

The band continues to give inspirational messages, providing their fans a platform to share their lives and overcome hardships in life in order to love themselves as well. “It’s amazing that BTS has been able to give a speech at a United Nations meeting,” voices junior Mya Saint-Louis.

“I never thought something like this would ever be able to happen, but now it has.

Kpop aside, it’s a really great speech focused on the empowerment of young people. I hope many my age are able to find the strength and become the person they truly aspire to be.” Their music has been able to

transcend the language barrier and play on international radios, showing their overall growth and how widespread the message has become.

According to the UN statement, Generation Unlimited will tackle “the global education and training crisis currently holding back millions of young people and threatening progress and stability.” This will be done by focusing on secondary-age education, skills for learning, employability and decent work, and overall empowerment of minorities. “It’s amazing to see the influence BTS has. I’m astounded at how far these artists have been able to progress,” voices freshman Nicholas Chavez. “Their words have been able to reach many, and it’s good to know that they’re putting money into education and empowerment. I’m glad to see there are people willing to make a change and start this movement in our current society.” The campaign has raised over $1 million and continues to grow exponentially. Senior Shayne Tyrell voices that “it’s monumental that a Kpop group can break barriers by spreading their message in the most amazing way possible. It’s a reminder that made me reflect on times I should’ve spoken up and let myself be heard. I think more artists should speak themselves like BTS.” Overall, the band has been extremely successful in getting their message across to promote peace over violence, as well as helping many fans on an international scale embrace their lyrics learn to love themselves. The group continues to produce music and will have another comeback after the ‘Love Yourself’ series.

Graphic By: Justin Pierce

Here at PPCHS, the policy for bullying is

outlined in the Broward County Code of Conduct every year. According to the 201819 Code of Conduct, bullying is defined as “systematically and chronically inflicting physical hurt or psychological distress on one or more students or employees.” This includes threats, teasing, social excursion, stalking, violence, theft, humiliation, and/ or harassment of a person. The question is though, is it effective enough?

With October being “National Bullying Prevention Month,” students here at PPCHS should be embracing the policy and paying it forward. Some students believe bullying doesn’t happen at school but mostly online. Freshman Isabella Vargas says, “I think the bullying policy is effective enough, but I mean it doesn’t physically happen at school. With cyberbullying, the school cannot really control it unless it gets really out of hand.” Last week, during “Start with Hello Week,” Charter embraced the opposite of bullying -- being friendly, supportive, and encouraging to everyone -- here at Charter. Junior Naveen Farook says, “Start with Hello Week was successful, especially on the day where students wore name tags on their polos.

It really helped reinforce what our school stands for kindness. Also, the guest speaker had a great presentation for us, and really got us thinking of the things we can do to help.” The guest speaker really encouraged the things that prevent the bullying policy from being used like being a friend to everyone and reaching out to as much people that need support.

However, other students think the bullying policy is effectively endorsed. “Personally, I think the bullying policy is effective in the best way the school can endorse it.

At the beginning of each year, the code of conduct packet is given out for both parents and students to read, so it is up to them.

But generally, everyone knows the rules and what’s right and wrong,” says senior Ethan Cayouette. Of course, the students at PPCHS always know there is someone to reach out to, like a guidance counselor or simply any trustworthy adult, on campus.

“I really don’t know what the bullying

Young People Must Vote for Change

policy is at our school. I just know the generic things like never be a bystander, the different types of bullying, and what to do when I witness it happening here,” says sophomore Amaya John. However, bullying is further defined as unwanted, purposeful written, verbal, nonverbal or physical behavior, including, but not limited to, any threatening, insulting, or dehumanizing gesture, by an adult or student, that has the potential to create an intimidating, hostile, or offensive educational environment or cause long term damage, cause discomfort or humiliation, or unreasonably interfere with the individual’s school performance or participation that is carried out repeatedly and is often characterized by an imbalance of power.

Although different students of PPCHS may have opposite opinions of how effective the bullying policy is, we must always remember there is an option to prevent it.

Of course, the students at PPCHS always know there is someone to reach out to, like a guidance counselor or simply any trustworthy adult on campus, or in your personal life. The security of students and faculty is always the top concern at charter, and if anyone needs any help. The new Silence Hurts Hotline number is (754)-321-0911.

Remember jags, always say something, and never be a bystander.

Graphic From: Ludlow Pubilc Schools

Arianna Ozuna

As the midterm elections near, countless

amount of Americans have urged their fellow citizens to go out and vote. This election in particular has gained much attention as it determines which party will control the state houses, House of Representatives, and the Senate.

Many seniors who are 18 or older have plans to vote in this upcoming election, as a way to voice their opinion, and those who aren’t at the age yet have even preregistered to vote. “Something that would encourage young people to vote would be the sense of how they could change the future,” says sophomore Sophia Reynoso. “By voting, they are electing out future leaders, the people who will change society. If young people were to be influenced by the current downfall of America, it would most likely inspire them to get out and vote, get out and make a change. We are, after all, the future” After the mass shooting in Marjory Stoneman Douglas, schools across Broward County saw what it was like when students finally put their voices to use. Two and half months after the tragedy, voting registration numbers among youth sparked up 34.22% (Miami Herald). Even at our very own Pembroke Pines Charter High School, Jags orchestrated a walkout themselves in order to show not only the school but the entire state, that enough was enough.

“When I went on the walkout last year, I felt like I had a voice,” says senior Nia Martin. “It intensified the views I already had against the second amendment. I just wish I could’ve voted at the time.” This view is shared by many other underage

Staff Writer

voters. Before outright voting, though, it is important to gain an understanding of the people, values, and policies being presented.

In our world today, it’s extremely easy to get information from just the click of a button. Researching what candidates vote for, how they view a minority group, and their overall history as a politician is key to figuring out the best person to vote for. Interviews and unbiased fact check websites can provide plenty of information to help make a decision. Going out to vote is the ultimate goal, but understanding who the candidates are is the very first step. This avoids the chance of voting in people who have done problematic behavior in the past or could negatively impact young people and the rest of the country as a whole.

According to a poll conducted by the Public Religion Research Institute and The Atlantic, 28% of young adults from ages 18 to 29 said they were “absolutely certain” they would vote in the midterm election, as opposed to the overwhelming 74% of their senior counterparts. Because the two age groups focus on different topics, this could cause the concerns of the youth to be completely overshadowed. College tuition, for example, is something that affects young people on a wide scale, whereas older peo-

ple who haven’t been in school for years may feel that this issue isn’t as important.

This out-of-touch thinking from the elderly is reflected in the viral video “Dear Young People, Don’t Vote.” The video displays several older, white Trump supporters saying patronizing statements such as “Climate change? That’s a you problem. I’ll be dead soon.” and “You young people may even share this video on Facebook, but you won’t vote. You never do. But I do!” in an effort to show younger people that they need to stand up and take control of the country they’ll be living in for the rest of their lives.

Other influencers have also made it a point to encourage young voters to go out and vote.

Pop icon Taylor swift was one of the many celebrities to encourage voting, using her platform of 112 million followers on Instagram to do so. In her post she expressed her disappointment in Marsha Blackburn for voting policies that go against women and the LGBT+ community, saying that these are not her “Tennessee values,” and that she will be voting for Jim Cooper instead. “For a lot of us, we may never find a candidate or party with whom we agree 100% on every issue, but we have to vote anyway,” says the young singer in her post.

“So many intelligent, thoughtful, self-possessed people have turned 18 in the past

two years and now have the privilege to make their vote count.” She then provided the link to register, resulting in a sudden increase of 169,000 new registers in under 48 hours (The Washington Post). Her contribution to this topic was significant as it showed her younger demographic of fans, who were probably unaware of this news outside her post, how important it was to vote. The AMAs also set the stage for some political statements, Billy Eichner urging young people to vote and calling this the “biggest election of our lifetime (Hollywoodreporter). Other celebrities such as Tracee Ellis Ross wore a t-shirt that said ‘I am a voter’ and yelled out to the audience that they too should vote. After winning Best Male Artist, singer Khalid also gave a shout out to candidate Beto O’Rourke, a Democratic Texas Senate. While celebrities can make an impact on how younger people view voting, major events can also cause the youth to realize the importance of using their voice. “[Midterm elections] holds big potential to change political issues such as health care,” stresses junior Crystal Nguyen.

The turnout for registration and voting for younger people, however, has not reflected the importance of this election.

If change is what is wanted, young people who just reached voting age need to take the polls. Younger people must take a stand and use their voice for change and encourage progressive ideas for the better. With their power, they could lift up issues being fogged by the older generation’s views and make a major impact in not just this election’s history, but American history as a whole.

Photo By: Francesca Brito

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