C.H.A.T. January Issue 2018-19 Explore the Digital Divide

Is the Screen Overtaking Our Lives?

Pg. 11 Technology

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

The Prowler Nabs First Prize APES Talks the Tale of The Lorax

CONTENT STAFF: Austin Basso, Brianna Butler, Emma Caulfield, Sophia Cortes, Rebekah Jacob, Caroline Kadir, Maxine Martinez, Michael Muela, Arianna Ozuna, Aidan Ryan, Kimani Dodd 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

Sports: Dynamic Basketball Duo Take to the Court Alumni College Sporting Experiences

News: Historic Number of Women Elected to Congress The CHAT’s Crypto Corner: The Mysterious Mythos of West Virginia Mothman

Entertain

Pg.

ainment

Student Life: Pg. 4

g. 9

Voices Versus Violence:

Sports: Pg. 7

Lifestyle:

Disney/Sandy Hook Say ‘Hello’ to Inclusion in Schools

Don’t Sleep on the Benefits of Rest

Gun Violence: The Clash Between Two Generations

Why New Year’s Resolutions Fail

Entertainment: Dark Details of R. Kelly’s Past Into the Spider-Verse Breaks Universes and Expectations

Technology: “China’s Frankenstein” Creates CRISPR Babies Is the Screen Overtaking Teens Lives?

Clubs: Best Buddies Plays Matchmaker Spanish Honor Society Reads for the Right Reasons

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Student Life CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES

The Prowler Nabs First Prize

Alan Matthew technology editor

Every

year, the American Scholastic Press Association holds an annual contest seeking to reward and recognize the work of notable school publications across the country. For the first time in the school’s history, Pines Charter High School has not only secured a spot on the awards list, but also holds the position of first place. In winning the award, ASPA recognized The Prowler and its tireless staff at a national level. Originally, winning awards was the farthest thing from the staff’s mind. The yearbook class prides itself on its work, as it rightly should.

After all, a yearbook is statistically the one thing most people still hold onto after high school. It acts as bridge, connecting alumni to years gone by and memories long forgotten. Moreover, it holds significance for students still in high school, as well as teachers and members of the administration. Few things are as treasured as a high school yearbook. For these reasons and more, the members of the yearbook staff have never been known to seek out accolades and awards. However, the countless hours, days, and months that staffers have put in deserve to be recognized.

As senior and current Editor-in-Chief Kristen Johnson put it, “When we received

last year’s book we were extremely proud two here or there would never be unwelof everything we had accomplished and come. we decided to submit the book for [a few But even beyond the recognition, this contests]. We’ve never really been a com- award represents something else for the petitive publication so we didn’t expect to Prowler staff. As sophomore Isabella Gonreceive what we did.” Beyond the surprise zalez commented, “It raises the bar for us, of winning, but in a good Donated By: Kristen Johnson way. We know receiving the award and —at least a litthe recognitle— what we’re tion that goes capable of now, along with it and, because of is far from the award, I’m insignificant also curious for the class. about how much As Johnfarther we can son went go.” Without a on to say, doubt, receiv"The award ing this honor could not from the ASPA have come has, for some, at a better rejuvenated time, since something that [currently] already existed our staff is in the yearbook swamped with work and this was a very class: a constant drive to be better than rewarding reminder that our hard work al- before, to push beyond existing creative ways pays off in the end.” Needless to say, limits. being a part of the yearbook class is often Junior Christina Copeland captured this its own reward to the staff, but an award or idea exactly, stating, “[With] this new

award, I definitely feel [that] the staff is motivated to work harder to keep the winning streak going for years to come.” For some, this mentality might be a little too stressful, and understandably so. But this is yearbook: the class where deadlines lurk constantly, where every page is pored over, where a slip up means that a mistake is immortalized in print for years to come.

Once one grasps that idea, the pressure of competition becomes less like pressure and more like an opportunity to prove oneself.

“When it comes to competing, some people rise to the challenge and others count on others failing. I’m glad our yearbook is a part of the first category,” said freshman Tobe Onoh. After all, competition centers on the act of challenging one’s limits next to others, not simple comparisons.

Winning this award certainly vindicated the efforts of the Prowler staffers in a brand new way, proving that these are students who manage to rise well above and far beyond the standards expected from them.

This year, when you finally hold your yearbook in the palms of your hand, take a second to recognize the effort put into each and every picture, title, and caption. With or without an award, the yearbook class certainly merits it.

APES Talks the Tale of The Lorax Jordan Alberti

I

Sports Editor

n AP Environmental Science, or ‘APES’ as the students call it, students learn about how the environment behaves and the intricate relationships and interactions throughout various ecosystems. To help her students in their exploration into the global environment, Ms. Ramos gave her students a very unique project: the nationwide APES Flat Lorax project.

Ms. Ramos is a part of a group of APES teachers around the US that exchange tips, tricks, and activities with each other. In this group, the teachers have their students write letters to the Lorax about issues they want to talk about. The students write their letters and send them off to the other APES classes from other schools in the group so that the other students around the country can see the varying issues throughout different regions of the US. Junior Alex Loucks said, “Going into the project I didn’t know what to expect, but as we went along with it, it became really fun to do.”

The letters addressed how each student either wanted to address an environmental issue or praise something that had been done for the environment. The contents of

the letter, labelled as “Lorax Letters,” include the letter, a picture of the Lorax, and one picture from their summer assignment, in which they were instructed to watch the famous Lorax movie and participate in an environmental science scavenger hunt.

Senior Robert Cochenour said, “The project is a super cool concept to me. It's really awesome to be sharing our letters with people around the country so that they can learn about our environment here in Pembroke Pines while we learn about theirs.”

As the class works their way towards the AP exam, this project provides vital information and helps students learn about different environments and possibly the interactions that will help them ace the exam in May. From watching the Lorax as a summer assignment to taking the exam in May, senior Hunter Fu says, “So far, this class has been awesome and I know it's going to continue to be great. This project was super unique and one of my favorite projects ever.” We wish the AP Environmental Science class good luck with the rest of the course and hope they all ace the exam in May!

Photos By: Justin dourvetakis

Students Shape Up for the New Year Ariana Ortiz

The New Year prompts new starts and

fresh outlooks on life and 2019 has proven to be no different. Many students take the New Year as an opportunity to change up their diet and adopt a new healthy lifestyle to become fit and active. New diet trends like being vegan, the paleo diet, and the keto diet have been on the rise and many are taking the New Year as a reason to try them out. There have also been new workout regimes like yogilates and cycling classes to the wearable tech fitness gurus use to track their heart rate, calories, and even fat burned.

Senior Katie Wells has been into fitness for the past few years and has amped up her routine in 2019. This year she is focusing on toning and strengthening her muscles, making her body be in the best shape of her life. She works on toning and exercising one or two muscles a day. She also does two days of heavy cardio every week to keep her body in shape and her heart muscle running smoothly. Katie said, “I do it to stay in shape and healthy. I feel like we should all try to keep our bodies in shape because we only get one!” Katie also focuses on what she eats having mostly carbs

Managing Editor - Web

before her workouts and protein after.

Junior Riley Rosendall is taking a mindbody-soul approach to her fitness regime this year. She found her passion for yoga and frequently does it for a fun and peaceful workout. She also focuses very heavily on the food she eats making sure its nutrient-rich with lots of benefits. Riley said, “I don’t have an exact routine. I just listen to my body. I do it because I care about my health and I was tired of being exhausted all the time, and eating better taught me how to treat myself better.” Because of her regimen, she is able to feel great every day and keep her body in tip-top shape.

Some students use sports to keep their body in shape. Freshman Isabella Rodriguez has been playing soccer since she could walk and uses soccer as her source of exercise. In 2019, she decided to partner her extensive soccer training with a new diet. While soccer usually keeps her fit, Isabella decided to eat healthier to improve her overall health. Isabella said, “I never really put much thought about what goes into my body, but this year I really want to try and focus on getting my body healthy

from the inside and treat my body better.”

Even though soccer is not going away, this New Year is bringing new eating habits for Rodriguez.

For other students, a mixture of exercises and diet regimes form the perfect storm for their health. Sophomore Chrysteannah Williams goes to volleyball practice twice a week for two hours at a time. She pairs that exercise with occasional cycling workouts and as much high energy, upbeat dancing as she can fit in her busy schedule. Chrysteannah also has a strict diet that she's trying to keep up in the New Year. She said, “My diet plan includes a pescetarian lifestyle. I only eat fish, I don’t eat shrimp, poultry, beef, or any other meat products. I also try to keep away from dairy products and hardly eat fast food.” Chrysteannah is taking her pescetarian lifestyle in 2019, going as strict as ever to stay in shape.

Diet and exercise plans don’t always have to be drastic and include intense changes.

Simply watching the way one eats, taking steps to work out, and playing sports are great ways to stay in shape in the New Year. 2019 is going to be the year of fitness for these students and many more!

Photo By: Francesca Brito

Student Life 5

CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES

Student from South Florida Govaria Goes on a Trip like No Other Trekking out East Sofia Azcurra

Rachel Rivera Lifestyle Editor

D

ubai is a city of inspirational adventures and unique experiences that the whole family will enjoy. From scaling the world’s tallest tower and conquering the Arabian Desert, to shopping for the best brands in the world’s largest mall, Dubai has it all.

Over winter break, junior Ikenna Ezenwa got the experience of a lifetime when he and his family took a trip to Dubai. While in the city full of luxury and ultra-modern architecture, Ikenna visited the Gold Souk (market), Dubai’s most famous and visited souk. The Gold Souk is one of the oldest and most fascinating traditional markets in the emirate. It is a labyrinth of covered walkways home to hundreds of retailers offering luxurious jewelry. All merchandise is carefully regulated by the Dubai government to ensure the authenticity its quality.

In addition to gold, visitors may uncover diamond-encrusted ornaments, strings of pearls, platinum and silver. Junior Valerie Samosky says “Dubai has always been a place I’ve dreamed of going to one day.

I’ve always seen crazy pictures online and heard amazing things about the way of life there. I think it is so cool getting that experience and I hope one day I can too.”

Shopping is a way of life in Dubai. The city’s iconic malls are also recreational destinations and dining precincts. Dubai’s most iconic shopping mall, and the largest mall in the world, allow you to find everything from ski fields to aquariums.

This was Ikenna’s next destination. The Dubai Mall offers a mix of world-class dining, entertainment and leisure attractions. One of the mall’s unique areas is an open-air streetscape, The Village brings an outdoor community feel, with a host of tree lined walkways, cafés and restaurants. The mall also features the world class Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo, featuring thousands of aquatic animals, a 270-degree walkthrough tunnel, and firstof-its-kind attraction for the Middle East, VR Park, and a unique virtual reality attraction. “Getting the visit the biggest mall in the world would definitely be the coolest thing. I love to shop and being able to do that while getting to go to an underwater zoo sounds so fun” says sophomore Lyne Jean. Dubai isn’t just home to luxurious shopping attractions but also has trans-

formed its skyline with their souring architecture. A trip to Dubai wouldn’t be complete without seeing the tallest tower in the world. The Burji Khalifa is the heart and soul of Dubai because of its marvel, imagination, and design and the families’ final excursion. The family spent the day exploring the top of the 163 story building until getting to witness the most breathtaking new year’s countdown and firework display.

Donated By: Ikenna Ezenwa

entertainment

While most students were filling their

passports with stamps from countries in Europe or South America, senior Sinan Govaria took a trip away from the norm to get in touch with his heritage- all the way in the Middle East. His first stop on his three part journey was Karachi, Pakistan. Here, Sinan reconnected with his loved ones and danced to music at his cousin’s wedding.

“It was really nice, my family members from around the world congregate[d] in one place because it has been a while since I have seen them,” he commented. Aside from the wedding, his family explored the corners of Karachi. They laughed at theme parks, played some traditional cricket, and went to bazaars (Middle Eastern markets).

When he wasn’t out sightseeing, he passed time with his family at the wedding house, which is where most events occurred. “Because most of us were not from Pakistan,” he said, “our sleep schedules were really screwed up. We would sleep during the day time and wake up around 11 PM.” After the wedding was finished, his family hopped on over to Saudi Arabia for the Muslim pilgrimage called Umrah. More specifically, he visited Medina and Mecca.

He first went to Medina, which was the birthplace of the prophet. “There is this really great huge mosque called the prophet's mosque,” he exclaimed. His days in Medina consisted of mostly traveling to local historical sites in Islam and staying within the mosque to pray. “Our hotel was right outside of the mosque so it was really nice and convenient,” said Sinan. After going

Editor

to Medina, his family took a bullet train to Mecca, the beautiful capital city of Islam.

This is where the Kabba, a large black cube building is. The Kabba is supposed to represent the house of God and the epicenter of Islam. While in Islam, he committed to the main parts of the pilgrimage. A bonus of staying in Islam was getting to stay in the Mecca Royal Clock Tower. “It was really nice because it was also right outside the Kabba and it’s the tallest clock tower in the world,” he said.

After finishing his pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, the senior traveled to the U.A.E to visit Dubai. He has some family members that reside in Dubai, so visiting them again was like revisiting old memories. “I had such a great time in Dubai. It's more touristy so we were able to go out more,” revealed the senior. He explored the wonder of Dubai during his stay, which included zip lining down the Burj Khalifa (the tallest building in the world), watching the Burj Khalifa light and water show, visiting the grand Dubai Mall, which is the 5th largest mall in the world, going ATV-ing and quad biking in the desert, trekking on a desert Safari, and visiting the Dubai Atlantis resort "The Palm", which is a completely man-made island shaped like a palm tree.

Visiting these countries rekindled his memories with the countries and his family. Sinan let loose and forgot about school and his worries and rather focused on his heritage, which he said was the highlight of the trip.

“He explored the wonder of Dubai during his stay, which included zip lining down the Burj Khalifa (the tallest building in the world), watching the Burj Khalifa light and water show, visiting the grand Dubai Mall...”

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Faces Of Charter CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES

Photos By: Andres Alfonso, Aryiel Bryant, maya Cabrera, Francesca Brito, Aijah Harper, Nico Amad, and Justin dourvetakis

Clubs 7

Spanish Honor Society Take on the Oatmeal Drive Sofia Azcurra

entertainment

Charter never fails in spreading the

word of necessary donations for the constant events clubs execute, and Spanish Honor Society is no exception. The determined club effortlessly collected 1174 boxes of pasta last month and have even higher hopes for their next drive- the oatmeal drive.

Each month, the club presents charter with a new drive and a higher goal. The food collected goes to Comparte Por Una Vida (which translates to Share for One Life), and every month the organization posts a list of the most needed items, which SHS follows intently. “We keep in touch with them and make sure they’re getting enough of what they need most,” commented vice president Stephanie Alban. The organization sends all items collected to malnourished kids in Venezuela.

With last month being pasta, now during the month of January, students all around school began searching their cupboards for boxes of oatmeal.

The drive started on January 9th and is set to end on January 24th. While this is a little less time than the pasta held last month, Spanish Honor Society’s hopes won’t falter. Knowing how well charter succeeds in raising and collecting for drives, the club

Editor

strives for 500 boxes for the oatmeal drive.

“It’s important to donate to something that makes a difference and an impact on someone. It makes you appreciative of what one has,” expressed secretary of the club, Alyssa Miragliotta. For the pasta drive, the club was taken by surprise on how much they raised last month as they doubled their goal.

The hopeful club has a thermometer in the cafeteria that shows once they have reached their goal. “I donated two boxes, and although it’s small, it’s definitely something,” said junior Vanessa Angel.

Whenever they do, or even surpass it, they go and color it in accordingly. This idea is to show to the students of charter what they’re capable of when they put their minds to it. “I always make sure to donate. I plan to donate this month, as it’s for a good cause,” voiced sophomore Janell Penichet. The idea of helping other less fortunate than the students here at charter is something SHS works towards.

From their constant announcements during homeroom encouraging people to donate to the colorful flyers posted around campus, SHS is surely a club that’s doesn’t waver once. Now charter waits with eager for the next drive and what the item will be.

CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES

Best Buddies Plays Matchmaker Kiersten Warren Community Outreach

Valentine’s Day, a well-known holiday

filled with romance and love, is making its way around the corner. In response, PPCHS Best Buddies is taking advantage of the occasion by starting up one of their biggest fundraisers of the school year.

The annual matchmaking test is complete with questions from what a student does in their spare time to what type of relationship they’re looking for. The inventive questionnaire is open to all grade levels and is free to fill out. However, it costs $3 to obtain your results back. Freshman Emily Abella expresses, “It’s really cool that they’re doing this test just in time for Valentine’s Day. It’s my first year, so I’ve never heard of this before. I can’t wait to see my results. There are really profound questions, so who knows, maybe you can find someone through this!” The possibility of finding a partner through this matchmaker test is what makes this fundraiser so intriguing for students.

Although the questions are very peculiar, they were purposefully created to accurately narrow down who your best match is. Questions on the form include “What age do you want to date?”, “Where do you stand in relation to your siblings?”, and “If you know you’re going to be late past your curfew, what would you do?” As if enough people wouldn’t take the test out of pure curiosity, it seems the Charter English department is lending a helping hand as well.

Supportive teachers are making it a part of a fun activity during class for the students to take the test. “We took it in my 6th period English class. We all just wanted the week to be over with because it was the first Friday back from break, so we took it easy that day. The last 25 minutes we all

filled it out, but it’s up to us if we want to receive the results back. It was really fun doing it with my classmates and answering the questions, as we really had to ponder about ourselves,” says sophomore Zoe Mutumbo. With the assistance of the English department, the test will surely be both profitable to the club and enjoyable for the students.

Additionally, some questions on the test have a little star printed next to it. This indicates if a question is important to a student, and only 5 of these “starred” questions are allowed per student. Although some jags are participating in the matchmaker test with the hope of a serious relationship, other students are simply attempting to make some friends out of it. As senior Annalise Blair confesses, “When it asked me the question about what type of relationship I was looking for, I put friendship. I want to meet new friends, as I’m not exactly interested in a relationship right now.”

The choices ranged from serious to casual to friend relationships. Another thought provoking question asked was, “What age do you want to date at?” Junior Danielle Porres states, “I think the Best Buddies test is a great way to find someone you have a lot in common with. I feel that I’m at an age where I can start looking for a relationship, so I’m excited to see who I match up with.” Many PPCHS students proceeded to put the same age or older as a specification of who they’d be likely to date.

No matter what PPCHS students hope to achieve through taking this matchmaker test, all students should support Best Buddies in this brilliant fundraiser for the club!

It’s a great way to possibly find a future soulmate and support your school effectively. Happy matchmaking jags!

Spanish Honor Society Reads for the Right Reasons Paolo Barrera

Student life Editor

elementary school students can hopefully learn to translate their own book. Supplelove of language to all of Charter, Spanmental activities expose the kids involved ish Honor Society (SHS) has launched a to another level of education that they’ll new program that has active members of only reach when they get older. Senior the club read in Spanish to any SpanishSHS member Micaela Brena adds, “It’s speaking student at Charter ranging from important to educate children in Spanish Kindergarten to 2nd grade. In partnership because learning a new language opens up with the Charter Central Middle School more opportunities for them in the future.”

Campus, specifically, SHS hopes to start a A future with such safe and easy access tradition that can connect students in a way to an entirely new language means a future that the school has never seen before. that can take the younger students anyThe project started as the new year rolled where. Charter is assisting their own cityin, and the plan is to keep the “baby” prowide system of students with this program, gram rolling. This partnership between but they are also helping the SHS members SHS and PPCMS Central is to host activithat are volunteering as well. Miragliotta ties every month, in which SHS members continues, stating, “[The SHS reading proget to interact directly with students that are gram] gives looking another for men- “It’s important to educate children in perspective torship to [high a n d Spanish because learning a new lan- s c h o o l s o m e students] S p a n - guage opens up more opportunities and opens ish fun. a new exJ u n i o r for them in the future.” perience and SHS - Micaela Brena to help s e c younger retary kids learn another language.” The interacAlyssa Miragliotta explains that these “action between students young and old bentivities that influence [the kids’] Spanish efits everyone involved. Bonding over an [speaking skills]” will definitely impact entirely new world of words strengthens them positively. The kids that get to enjoy this bond and creates a beautiful commuthis experimental project prepare themnity. selves with a Spanish book that they’re The future of the project looks and sounds reading. With the help of the monthly promising, but the present is already reapmeetings and a trusted SHS member, these

In an ambitious attempt to spread the

ing its benefits. The success of the very first reading session has caused ripples in the community. The PPCMS Central and West campus have reached out to expand their partnership with SHS, in hopes to keep the garden of Spanish knowledge growing and to keep SHS involved. “I think the younger kids are really lucky to be shown so much Spanish knowledge at such a young age,” says sophomore Daniel Barte. “I can’t say I had the same type of [exposure].”

Talking about the beginning of an ex-

citing new project or the potential of a possible success is all about speculation and hope. Spanish Honor Society and its members have a great amount of optimism invested into this program, but not necessarily in just its successes. SHS strives to inspire more Spanish in these elementary students’ lives. SHS hopes to see growth and new relationships in its members. SHS aspires to, at the very least, make a difference in the lives of anyone and everyone involved in the program.

SHS Sponsor, Mrs. Ferrer

SHS President, Stephanie Alban

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Sports CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES

Dynamic Basketball Duo Take to the Court Michael Muela & Austin Basso Staff Writers

In the game of basketball, chemistry is

Geoffrey Sprouse is the only freshman on the team, but that doesn’t stop him from leaving everything out on the court.

He is the other starting point guard/shooting guard, playing alongside Justin “JT” Debuck. When asked about the team’s chemistry, he said, “The chemistry’s pretty good. We’ve been scoring a lot each game, between me and JT, with the rest of the team playing well also, so I think it’s pretty good.” Sprouse focuses much of his practice on dribbling and shooting. “I think it helps me a lot in a game, and helps me be an overall well-rounded player.” Thanks to his hard work and determination during practice, Geoffrey has become one of the team’s leading scorers.

There are a lot of expectations from players heading into a new basketball season, and for Sprouse, the expectations were no different. “I expected to be a starter on the team, because that’s what Coach Roca was telling me.” Geoffrey did become the team’s starting shooting guard, and he’s made quite a name for himself playing with JT. In order to prepare for each game, the players “mostly do our own shooting drills,” said Sprouse. “We have managing on the team, so they help us with rebounding and shooting, and stuff like that.” With the help of Coach Roca’s practices, Geoff and JT have led Charter to 6 wins this year, but they also have 11 losses. This is the only year that they will play with each other, but they have made the best of the short time they’ve had together.

Whether it’s Geoffrey passing to Justin, or vice-versa, their cooperation and coordination has helped them develop their games to a new extent and take their games to the next level. The future is looking very bright for Justin Debuck and Geoff Sprouse.

essential for success, and you need to communicate with your teammates at all times.

Justin Debuck and Geoffrey Sprouse have a connection that helps Charter basketball succeed.

When Senior Justin “JT” Debuck was just 4 years old, he discovered his passion for basketball. Playing it for the last 13 years, he’s loved every moment of it. After transferring to Charter three years ago as a sophomore, JT has worked his way through the lineup into the starting role he is featured in. As the team’s starting point guard, JT has to be in tune with everyone on the court and on the team, being the team’s facilitator and scoring if need. “Throughout my three years, the teams have all had great chemistry, but this year it feels different. Everyone truly loves each other on the team and we are one big family,” he said.

Debuck has played many games and tournaments, but his favorite was the Orange Bowl Classic. In a game against Wildwood on December 29th, 2018, Debuck dropped 37 points, a career high, while also having 7 assists. “It was a big moment for me because I was down on myself for not scoring 30 the whole year, but I ended up doing it, so I was proud of myself,” Debuck said.

His favorite memory with the team was when they played West Broward. He felt that the whole team was excited from when school started that day until the end of the game. The entire team had a great performance, everyone was happy for each other, and it is a memory that he will never forget.

He thinks that the team will miss him and the seniors that are leaving, but he believes they set a good example for the underclassmen, and he thinks they will be a more mature team. He plans on continuing basketball, but he wants to play in the Division 1 level, and major in sports medicine.

Photos By: Aijah Harper

NFL Mock Trial

Jordan Alberti Sports Editor

T

he 2019 NFL Draft is going to be one of the more interesting in the last couple of years. The specialty of this draft is not like previous years, where QB’s were the prize. This year, defense will be the prize to have. Defensive linemen, linebackers, and defensive backs will be the players in this draft that have the power to change a franchise. Defense is a focus in this mock draft and will most likely dominate the first round in April. Here is my 2019 NFL Mock Draft: 1. Arizona Cardinals - Nick Bosa, DE, Ohio State 2. San Francisco 49ers - Greedy Williams, CB, LSU 3. New York Jets - Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama 4. Oakland Raiders - Jonah Williams, OT, Alabama 5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Josh Allen,

EDGE, Kentucky 6. Miami Dolphins (via Giants) - Dwayne Haskins, QB, Ohio State Dolphins Trade: 1st Round Pick (13th Overall), 2nd Round Pick (48th Overall), 5th Round Pick (152nd Overall) Giants Trade: 1st Round Pick (6th Overall) 7. Jacksonville Jaguars - Drew Lock, QB, Missouri 8. Detroit Lions - Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson 9. Buffalo Bills - Greg Little, OT, Ole Miss 10. Denver Broncos - Ed Oliver, DT, Houston 11. Cincinnati Bengals - Devin White, LB, LSU 12. Green Bay Packers - Deionte Thompson, S, Alabama 13. New York Giants (via Dolphins) - Deandre Baker, CB, Georgia

14. Atlanta Falcons - Rashan Gary, DL, Michigan 15. Washington Redskins - Will Grier, QB, West Virginia 16. Carolina Panthers - Brian Burns, DE, Florida State 17. Cleveland Browns - Jeffery Simmons, DL, Mississippi State 18. Minnesota Vikings - Chris Lindstrom, OG, Boston College 19. Tennessee Titans - Dexter Lawrence, DE, Clemson 20.

Pittsburgh Steelers - N’Keal Harry, WR, Arizona State 21. Seattle Seahawks Byron Murphy, CB,

Washington 22. Baltimore Ravens - Marquise Brown, WR, Oklahoma 23. Houston Texans - Jaywaan Taylor, OT, Florida 24. Oakland Raiders (via Cowboys) - Jaylon Ferguson, EDGE, Louisiana Tech

Graphic By: Rosa Gomez

Sports 9

Aiming Towards the Future

CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES

Austin Basso Staff Writer

Senior track and field star Kayla Rae will

be heading to the Big Apple for her college experience. She will be attending Columbia University for hammer and weight throw. She is going there not only for track and field, but the academics associated with the school were a big part of her choosing Columbia. Being right in the middle of New York City, she thinks that she will be able to express herself more and grow as a person. After meeting the Columbia coach, she fell in love with everything Columbia.

While representing Columbia for track and field, she is attending Barnard College, one of the best Liberal Arts schools in the country. She believes that at Barnard, she will receive a great college experience with an emphasis on community and empowerment. stating“ I think that it will be a school where I can push my limits in order to become the best of myself.”

To her, the campus location was a deciding factor in her decision to go there. When she went for her official visit, she said that “it felt like the place for me. The campus was beautiful and the entire city is centered around this institution.” She feels she will become well rounded and gain knowledge from being in the wonderful city.

Academics played a large role in her decision of where to go. In her journey, she had to pick between committing to an ath-

letic powerhouse or picking a university that would provide for her future goals and academic aspirations. At Columbia University, she gets to experience both worlds.

She wants to take her athletic career to the next level and beyond. She wants to make the best of her talent that she has, but she is also extremely dedicated to her studies and plans for her future. For academics, she made her decision to go to Barnard College of Columbia and she believes going there will shape her into being the woman that she aspires to be.

Team connection was a special reason why she picked this college/university over the others. Kayla found a connection immediately with the team members when she met them. She said “the teammate members were incredible individuals who made me feel welcomed and wanted.”

She also picked this university because she

felt that she will have guidance and support throughout the whole time.

She had many achievements in her life.

Her proudest one was becoming the National Record Holder for Hammer Throw in St. Lucia, West Indies. She threw 159.68 feet and she thinks that she had put a lot of time and effort into receiving that title.

Since she won, it has encouraged her to work 10 times harder. She is so excited for her Track and Field career and she can't wait for what it brings. She will be the first person in her family to attend an Ivy League University.

Donated By: Kayla-Rae Gordon

Alumni College Sporting Experiences Jordan Alberti Sports Editor

As Charter graduates move on to colleges all over the nation, one main extracurricular activity is sporting events on their new campuses. The following alumni took time to discuss their experiences this past year in their respective colleges.

Mason Feldman - USF: “I go to a wide range of sporting events here at USF. I broadcast several different sports like volleyball and I enjoy any sporting event I attend here.”

Joshua Dubin - USF: “The games here at USF are so fun. The football team plays in the Buccaneers home stadium so that adds a big venue feel to the games and overall, everyone is in a good mood so it is pretty awesome.”

Matt Hernandez - FSU: “The games are great to attend. Football is probably the most enjoyable for me but I’m looking forward to going to some basketball games soon.”

Daniel Gitelman - UCF: “I didn’t attend all of the games because I didn’t have time for all of them but when I did attend, they were some of the best times I’ve had so far in college.”

Alexa Infante - UF: “With UF playing so well this year, I found the season to be great. From the music to the game, everything was awesome.”

Evan Samuels - FSU: “Even though the football team was not great this year, it was a great environment and atmosphere. I enjoyed my first season of college football here at FSU.”

10

Technology CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES

“China’s Frankenstein” Creates CRISPR Is Apple Getting Replaced?

Babies Alan Matthew

Brianna Butler

technology editor

Staff Writer

Last

November, Chinese scientist He Jiankui made global headlines for a claim that, just a few decades ago, would have been purely science fiction: the birth of two genetically modified baby girls. Although the changes were merely innocuous, the potential for consequences and repercussions from these actions has drawn attention from scientific and international authorities from all around the world, including attention from his own country: China.

To achieve what he did, Jiankui utilized a genome editing tool called CRISPR-Cas9.

To put it simply, CRISPR allows a scientist to target specific stretches of DNA, and if the scientist chooses, to edit said DNA at very specific locations. Needless to say, the technology, while awe inspiring and perpetually evolving, is still in its infancy. And like most infants bursting with potential, it should not be dealt with haphazardly.

As sophomore Arvin Saji put it, “I don’t think it’s the technology that’s the problem, but human attitude towards it. Fundamentally altering the human genome, even infinitesimally, is just as dangerous as it sounds. [After all], humanity’s never had a good reputation when it comes to opening a Pandora’s box.” This unignorable point, coupled with the possibly cataclysmic consequences, cements one fact: the world of genetics just changed forever, and it may have not been for the better.

Technological advancement has always been a slippery slope, but, throughout the course of history, its positives far outweighed the negatives, bar a few exceptions. Yet today, in this modern day and age, technological advancement could now mean that humanity itself could be on the precipice of change; a change not just on a fundamental level but a cellular one. The concern behind the technology goes beyond hypotheticals as well.

In the words of senior Shayne Tyrell, “From what I understand, it’s nearly impossible to predict all the possible dangers of using [CRISPR] on embryos. Knowing that, how can you still justify using the technology in the way [He] did, especially with little to no oversight.” In fact, He Jiankui —a biophysicist, not a geneticist— was noted to have been especially secretive of his research, at least right up until a

probe was ordered into all his work by the Chinese government.

In fact, the Chinese government’s reaction to the news has been relatively severe for Jiankui. His work is now under scrutiny, his university has disavowed him, and the majority of reports suggest that he is under armed house arrest while an investigation is conducted, although he is still allowed the freedom of movement. To freshman Austin Mathew, Jiankui’s situation signifies something more than just government retribution.

“It seems clear that this reaction is harsh, but it’s certainly not unwarranted. More important, though, is the fact that this reaction seems representative of current public opinion towards his actions. I just wonder how long public opinion is going to hold like this.” And Austin’s point is a valid one.

Time and time again, history has shown that change or evolution is a hard thing to control, which makes He’s recent actions even more noteworthy.

The birth of these babies may very likely be the first of many. The metaphorical first drop in a torrent of genetically engineered children. Ethics, morality, and scientific principles weren’t enough to stop this the first time, so clearly regulations have to adapt with the technology at a far more effective pace. In the words of junior Leo Acosta, “If we don’t treat this technology a little more carefully, dangers ranging from the evolution of genetically modified diseases to genetic convergence could all become a reality.”

Whatever the case, as humanity continues to pioneer and revolutionize technology for the 21st century, patience and foresight are two resources one must give constant heed to. Technological advancements will occur with or without approval —as He Jiankui just proved to the world— so responsibility and preparation for such events will have to grow more as well.

Graphic By: Rosa Gomez

On January 4th, Apple revealed how they

had lost $7 billion from iPhone projected sales in the last three months of 2018. This dramatic drop is due to the Chinese market, and many factors contribute to this dip in numbers.

The United States and China currently have high trading tensions, leading to an economic slowdown. Domestic competition has also began to surface, such as leading brands Huawei and Xiaomi. Huawei seems to be the most significant competitor, relying on a semiconductor design arm dedicated to providing each phone with chipsets as advanced as Apple’s technology.

“Personally, I’m very impressed with Huawei’s success,” said senior Serena Somberg. ”The fact that their sales managed to beat Apple’s is a wonderful achievement. This shows that companies can’t be confident just because they're successful in America.

It promotes the idea of constant improvement to achieve success and prevents a monopoly from occurring.” Their design arm allows the supplier to compete with cost and quality, as well as develop plans to get even further. Huawei is planning to release a 5G handset rollout by 2019, while Apple will likely not have their own until 2020. With data speeds increasing up to 100 times faster than current networks, it is hard to resist not being left behind (CNN). “I almost can’t believe Apple may not be the number one company for technology anymore,” states freshman Nicholas Chavez. “This means a lot of potential competition. Maybe it’ll inspire the company to try and advance technology further instead of just updating from what we currently have. We could see something new here. Maybe this could mean Apple won’t be the number one company anymore.”

These recent advancements have led many to question how far Huawei has come in comparison to Apple.

Another contributing aspect is that Huawei's CFO Meng Wanzhou was recently arrested by Canadian authorities. This is due to the United States government’s suspicion of Iran sanctions fraud. “It's rather concerning that the Huawei CFO has been arrested,” states sophomore Derek Cortes.

“If there really is suspicious activity, it could possibly ruin the reputation of H u a wei. The fact that M e n g may possibly face legal action leads me to wonder if there is any corruption inside the company. If so, I can't imagine their product continuing to be as popular as it has become.” The arrest has enraged the Chinese public, and many headlines emerged urging for everyone to switch from Apple to Huawei. While the impact has not been extremely significant, it could easily intensify if Meng is forcefully taken to the United States in handcuffs, incarcerated, paraded in front of cameras, or harassed in any way otherwise (CNBC). “I really hope the United States will be logical with the decisions we choose to make,” states junior Maegan Teeling. “Chinese and American foreign affairs are quite shaky due to the presidency. The last thing we need is to initiate problems by treating the CFO badly. I hope this situation can be resolved peacefully.”

While the effects of not reaching projected sales have not been detrimental to Apple, competitors have made a large impact.

The company must now find ways to gain support and protect their market in foreign countries.

Graphic By: Taylor Causey

Editorial: Is the Screen Overtaking Teens Lives?

Ainsley McCormick Editor-In-Chief

If it hasn’t been clear to you yet, the

world is changing… and fast. From how quickly a webpage loads, to the unlimited amount of online information, technology is racing ahead and evolving day by day.

Along with this comes the use of more electronics at younger ages. Recently, Apple released an iOS update which reports users’ time spent looking at their phone screen, even when they only opened it to check the time. These records are kept on the iPhone and reported daily and weekly, which have recently caused many iPhone users, our very own students among them, to come to terms with the amount of time they spent on their phone. Students have times ranging from 1 hour to 7 hours per day, which raises a question: do students spend too much time on their phone? Although it may seem as if we are constantly hunching over to scroll through Instagram or posing for a selfie on Snapchat, these are just the beginning of the uses that students have found for their phones and therefore students do not spend too much time looking at the screen.

In classrooms, students use their phones as replacements for their laptops. To teachers, this may seem as if almost every kid is constantly checking social media, but that’s not always the case. We search up questions that come to mind, we read the

news from Twitter, and we study on Quizlet. This little device allows us so many outlets to read different opinions and decipher different facts. For example, kids aren’t always solely scrolling to see the latest post of their best friend in vacation; they might actually be seeing what the weather will be like later in the day. Our phones are such amazing little pieces of plastic and metal that allow students to find anything they might need, so spending time on them isn’t always a bad thing. Yes, social media plays a big role in today’s teenagers - we do check Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat throughout the day - but even on these platforms we can find recipes, read articles, make travel plans, and more.

There seems to be a negative association with using cell phones, and many people believe that students cannot focus on more than just the screen. In reality, students are learning more than ever before and becoming more in tune with the world. For example, when the California night club shooting occurred in November of 2018, kids were rushing to get out of the house and get to school on time. A quick glance at the TV before rushing out the door and anyone could see the heading about this shooting. The accessibility that students have in regards to accessing the news at any time allows us to more quickly learn the facts

when things occur. Immediately taking out one’s phone isn’t always to like a friend’s posts, but rather it could be to figure out what tragic event had happened, read the facts, and see the news. Students may be looking at their phones more, but they’re filling their brains with so much more information than ever before.

Some may argue that looking at the cellphone screen for a prolonged amount of time can be damaging to students’ eyes.

They emit HEV light (blue light) which puts strain on the eye. By turning on “night mode” on the iPhone and holding it farther away from your face, you can prevent the harmful strain that is caused. “Night mode” causes the colors on the screen to shift to warmer shades, putting less of a strain on the users eyes (forbes.com). While the strain of your eyes may be a worry to many, it is just part of the deal that comes with using technology in today’s day and world.

The same would happen if one stares at a laptop screen for hours.

Many people believe that students use their phones too much. They see us walking with our heads down staring at the screen.

However, this isn’t a bad thing:that screen provides us with much more than simply something to distract us. It provides news, opinions, music, knowledge, and more that are helping students learn quicker and

easier than ever before. So, next time you see someone looking down at their phone be aware that they may be doing it- with reason.

Photo By: Francesca Brito

Entertainment 11 CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES

Dark Details of R. Kelly’s Past Into the Spider-Verse Breaks Aidan Ryan Staff Writer

Chicago native, Robert Sylvester Kelly,

informally known as R. Kelly, found himself bombarded by various accusations of sexual misconduct against multiple women and teenagers, following the release of the groundbreaking docuseries, “Surviving R. Kelly.” Following this, the life of the American singer, songwriter, record producer, and former professional basketball player was set to change forever.

For more than two decades, the R&B singer who performs as R. Kelly has faced allegations of sexually abusing minors.

First, there were rumors and reports of a secret marriage to a teenager. Additionally, there were lawsuits. Then, there was an indictment, and a high-profile court case in which he was acquitted after years of delay. Freshman Brady Garrison, says, “R. Kelly was actually one of my favorite R&B singers. It is a shame that a man would do such a thing. I can no longer listen to the man’s music knowing the terrible things he has done.” The superstar is not unfamiliar with such allegations, but the release of the groundbreaking docuseries is what really spread the word about these rumors.

Born in Chicago in 1967, R. Kelly is a popular American R&B singer-songwriter and record producer best known for his unique sound and mesmerizing vocals.

His personal life has been imbued with controversial sex scandals including childpornography charges that were dropped.

R. Kelly has enjoyed tremendous success on both the pop and R&B music charts.

He has also made headlines with his legal woes. Kelly grew up in a Chicago housing project, where he was raised by his single mother and began singing in his church's choir as a young child. One of five children, Kelly was later able to attend Kenwood Academy. Since the 1990s, Kelly has been the subject of numerous allegations of sexual abuse and misconduct often with underage girls, and all charges he "categorically denies". In 2002 he was indicted on 21 counts of child pornography, but was acquitted of all charges in 2008.

In the ground-breaking documentary series “Surviving R. Kelly,” women are speaking up against R. Kelly’s malicious acts. Celebrated as one of the greatest R&B

singers of all time, R. Kelly’s genre defining career and playboy lifestyle has been riddled with rumors of abuse, predatory behavior, and pedophilia. Despite damning evidence and multiple witnesses, to date, none of these accusations have seemingly affected him. For the first time ever survivors and people from R. Kelly’s inner circle are coming forward with new allegations about his sexual, mental, and physical abuse. Junior Matthew Wong said, “The docuseries was actually very interesting. It shed light on the evil doings of R. Kelly. I hope that the victims are granted the justice they deserve.” They are now finally ready to share their full story and expose the secret life the public has never seen. R. Kelly is finally facing the full extent of the allegations made against him.

The docuseries, released on January 3, 2019, brought the attention of thousands of viewers all over the world. The voices of the victims are finally being heard after years of silence and subtlety. Secretary of the PPCHS Girl Power club, Aitana Arvelo said, “The voices of these victims need to be heard. It is a recurring problem in today’s society that women do not get fair treatment in sexual assault case. Often times the voice of the woman is silenced or overlooked. All victims of sexual misconduct deserve to be listened to and heard.

The production of this docuseries is a great start to granting justice to the victims of R. Kelly’s malicious acts.” Senior Karley Borges also has an opinion on the matter.

“I can’t imagine that such a talented man would do such a thing. This is a wakeup call for all women and society in general.

I hope that the man is punished to the full extent of the law.” This documentary took years to come to fruition. The 30-odd years of silence lends credence to telling this complete story.

The problem of sexual assault against minors, in today’s society, is one that gets overlooked by our media every day. More light needs to be shed upon this worsening problem. The safety of the youth needs to be made priority in today’s society so that such malicious acts will never be committed again, unnoticed.

Universes and Expectations Sophia Cortes

Voices Versus Violence

To say that 2018 was a big year for su-

perhero movies would be a major understatement. The year had started off with the ceiling shattering Black Panther which broke records that were only broken again a couple of months later by the powerhouse that was Avengers: Infinity War. It was only fair that the year ended off with the multi-universe hit that is Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Nowadays, in a world where superhero movies have become as expected as another instalment to Mission Impossible, it’s almost hard for casual moviegoers to be as shocked as much as diehard fans, but Spider-Verse has been able to web up audiences from young and old to casual and diehard.

It seems as if third time really is a charm as Sony has been able to finally struck spidergold with everyone’s favorite web slinger.

It’s easy to see why fans would at first be hesitant to the idea of Sony running another Spider-Flick, given the many mixed reviews after Spider-Man 2 and 3 and both of Andrew Garfield’s The Amazing SpiderMan films, but the moment the first trailer swung into the Internet, fans were immediately won over and hyped for the film.

One of the many reasons fans were excited for the film was due to the prospect of expanding the world of Spider-Man and having Peter Parker step down from being the big screen protagonist and letting comic book favorite Miles Morales step up into the red and blue spotlight. As is in the comics, the film explores the idea of multiple universes, something that any comic book fan is well aware of. By using this, SpiderVerse was able to bring a fresh new take on superhero films to the mainstream media.

Even if you had seen all the trailers more than a thousand times and read all the crit-

ics reviews, nothing would have prepared you for the experience of watching the film itself. Aside from being a brilliant movie with humor, action, a killer soundtrack, and a storyline that was able to attract audiences of all ages, the film was most praised and recognized for its major breakthrough in animation. By using techniques similar to making old school comic books, coupled with speech bubbles and a vibrant use of color, the animators working on SpiderVerse were able to create the same sensation of reading an engaging comic book but multiplied by one thousand. The process in making the film was so unique that not only did Sony apply for patents, but the animators had to completely “invent a new visual language” (IndieWire) to fully be able to give the film the comic book feel they were hoping to achieve.

Back in the 1960s when comic book creators Stan Lee and Steve Ditko created Spider-Man, they did so in such a way that a shy nerdy kid from Queens named Peter Parker could also be the web slinging, crime fighting superhero beloved by all.

Kids all over the country had picked up issues of his first appearance and excitedly seen themselves in the character, not Peter Parker, but Spider-Man. Anyone could be behind the mask: from any race, ethnicity, gender, or background.

At the heart of it all, that was Into the Spider-Verse’s message. It’s not about who is under the mask that matters, it’s what that person chooses to do with the mask that changes the world. Just as the late and great Stan Lee once said, “That person who helps others simply because it is the right thing to do, is indeed, without a doubt, a real superhero.”

Graphic By: henrey Severe

Blinding Light on Bird Box

Graphic By: Henry Severe

Caroline Kadir

Breaking Barriers with Bandersnatch Caroline Kadir

B

News Editor

lack Mirror’s Bandersnatch, Netflix’s first interactive, choose your own adventure styled film, allows viewers to decide the characters fate, creating the developing plot based on the choices viewers pick.

The film tells the story of an intellectual teenage video game programmer named Stefan Butler who pitches a game called Bandersnatch, which is similar to the movie. In the video game players choose their own destiny. The game and the movie itself emphasizes on the theory that depending on major and minor life choices made a diverse chain of events can occur. As Butler, tries to make his crucial deadline, he encounters many hurdles when trying to perfect the game. He is confronted with his past, present, and future. Corresponding to reality and mental health, the movie touches on how society makes people think there are choices to be made when truly society is being controlled. This leads Stefan to question what is real and what isn’t, stress-

ing his mental state.

When the film was released it grabbed a significant amount of attention, being that it is an interactive film. It allowed the chance for a diverse conversation from many different perspectives, since the film has a couple of different endings.

The concept of the interactive film Bandersnatch has changed the entertainment world forever, there is no doubt it will be remembered for much more. Make sure to be aware of what reality is and what’s being controlled so you don’t fall into the Bandersnatch trap.

Graphic From: Netflix

News Editor

Bird Box, Netflix’s latest two hour and

four minutes drama/thriller phenomenal has captured viewers around the world with its dystopia based society, which has celebrities buzzing and challenges occurring.

Imagine a buzzard force that acquires your worst and most terrifying fears and destroys almost all of mankind. Imagine if you were to see the force you’d possess suicidal thoughts. With only a few survivors to not commit suicide, these people now have to live in world of fear of avoiding the force with blindfolds. The film starts in media res, it was a gloomy and foggy day, where Malorie Hayes, played

by Sandra Bullock, is sitting frantically in a canoe in the middle of a river with a young boy (named Boy) and a young girl (named Girl). Viewers later on learn that the boy is her son and the girl is the daughter of a women who had survived the force but died after childbirth. In the beginning of the movie, when the force begins to take over, Malorie is pregnant. She manages to get into a house that was occupied by

a group of survivors, who are all terrified of what they could not visibly see. Malorie meets Olympia, the mother of Girl and bonds with her. Malorie promised Olympia that she would take care of Olympia’s daughter if anything were to happen to Olympia. Malorie meets Tom who later on becomes her love interest. In hope of finding a safe haven from the force, Malorie and the children commence on a high-risk journey through a river and the woods -- all while being blindfolded.

The suspenseful thriller has gotten many people excited for upcoming Netflix films releasing in this New Year. Bird Box still has people afraid of the wind and outside where their worst fears may come true. The force may be coming!

Graphic From: Netflix

12

Lifestyle

Eating Healthy This New Year CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES

Rebekah Jacob Clubs Editor

As the holiday season slowly passes us and the new year has arrived, countless individuals are guilty of creating New Year’s resolutions they don’t plan on committing to. And to

no surprise, eating healthy this new year is one of the most considerable by students. Unfortunately, many students are engrossed in the myth that eating healthy is hardly practical, as it is both expensive and not so tasty to everyone’s liking, in contrast to fast foods. However, it is safe to say that countless Jags have unquestionably invalidated this tale, and are already hitting off the new year with a complete change of diet and lifestyle.

Despite infamous myths of eating healthy, Jags have silenced these so-called “facts,” including junior Riley Rosendall. “I never thought that what I put into my body mattered. But when I started caring more for myself, everything changed for me. It wasn’t simply just a fix of health, but more of an internal lifestyle change for me overall, and I couldn’t be happier,” she expresses. Eating healthy is exactly that: it involves both dedication and determination to make a complete 360 turn in one’s diet and lifestyle. In an effort to help students find some tasty and healthy recipes for the new year, we have put these budget friendly meals to the test This first recipe not only takes about 6 minutes to make, but is both satisfying and deli- You can never go wrong with a simple-to-make whole wheat pasta! This easy recipe is both healthy and very affordable, and leaves your taste buds watering for more! cious every time! You can never go wrong with the classic oats.

Oatmeal

Whole Wheat Pasta

DIRECTIONS: INGREDIENTS: INGREDIENTS: DIRECTIONS: 1.Place oats in a bowl (you can add ●1-1 ½ cup oats ●Whole-wheat pasta 1.Cook whole-wheat pasta in boilraisins or hemp seeds. Although ●½-1 cup almond ●Water ing water for about 5-10 min, or seeds and nuts can get a little pricey, milk (depending ●Regular marinara whenever it is fully formed to when bought in bulk they are afford- on the amount of sauce drain. able!). ●Vegetables of your 2.Drain the pasta and chill it down oats added) 2.Pour a generous amount of almond ●(optional) Any choice! (broccoli, to- as fast as possible milk into the bowl and allow the fruit such as matoes, mushrooms, 3.Drain once more, making sure ingredients to soak in the milk for s t r a w b e r r i e s , anything in your you remove all the water about 5 minutes. price range) blueberries, ba4.Add a small amount of oil and 3.After the components are finished nanas, or apples regular marinara sauce into the soaking, top it off with your favorite ●(optional) Seeds mixture fruit, such as strawberries, blueber- and nuts such as 5.Top it off with any kind of vegries, apples, or bananas (bananas are hemp seeds, aletables that are affordable or in the cheapest!). You can also add gra- monds, raisins, or your price range, such as broccoli nola or peanut butter to the bowl, as peanut butter (steam broccoli in a microwaveGraphic By: Matthew Morales they are great source of protein and safe container in the microwave for makes the meal more filling! about 1 min).

These appetizing recipes are both healthy and affordable for students, and are a great kick to start off the new year! Eating healthy on a budget and adapting to a new lifestyle is not easy, but is definitely attainable if you put in the effort to do so. Students at PPCHS are already ahead of the ball and determined to make this new year a healthier and happier one.

Don’t Sleep on the Benefits of Rest

Florencia Azcurra and Paolo Barrera Co-Features Editor and Student life Editor

F

or high schoolers, sleep is like time: there’s never enough of it. Students in the American education system have notoriously been depriving themselves of sleep for most of their educational careers.

Homework, studying, and procrastination have been keeping students working past their bedtime since before Americans reached space. The art of sleep, however, predates even the invention of the wheel.

But why is most of the world uneducated on how sleep works?

Sleep is broken down into two distinct categories of rest: Rapid Eye Movement sleep (REM) and Non-REM sleep. NonREM sleep cycles are cycles of incredibly deep sleep, in which the body is replenished and restored when it is fully comfortable. REM sleep is characterized by rapid eye movement, low voltage of brain activity, and low levels of muscle activity. REM sleep is also known as “Dream Sleep” because it is only during REM sleep that the most vivid dreams occur.

Our vivid dreams are produced when the part of brain that control rational thinking (prefrontal cortex) are shut off and the areas of our brain that control emotion get “30% more active compared to when awake.” (podcastnotes.org/2018/04/29/ why-we-sleep/). But the brain paralyzes

the body during REM and NREM sleep to make sure that our body doesn’t physically react to any of the events going on in any of these intense dreams (i.e. your body can’t try to jump and hover during a dream about flying).

According to sleep expert and neuroscientist Dr. Matthew Walker, “Sleep is the greatest legal performance enhancing drug that most people are probably neglecting.”

He says this because it is during sleep that the body is fully and completely repaired mentally and physically. The brain replays learned memory sequences at 20x the speed in order to improve and repair points of conflict or “friction”. As a result, after a night of good sleep people can be 20-30% more efficient and generally better at a skill or performance they were working on the day before. For example, a pianist has a 3 page piece that she was practicing on Monday. After 2 hours of practice and a night of REM sleep, she is very likely to walk into practice on Tuesday with better hands and a better performance than the day before.

After a good night of REM sleep, her brain has gone through connecting old information with new information in ways that the brain cannot during waking hours. In turn, problems are solved and ideas are born after a great dream.

Without getting 7-9 hours of sleep a

night, the human body begins to enter the life-threatening stages of sleep deprivation.

The damages vary from breathing problems, excess body mass, and physical exhaustion. Similarly, physical performance drops by 30%, lowering muscle strength and running speed. Dr. Matthew Walker also mentions how not sleeping enough can potentially decrease the amount of oxygen the body inhales. One in three Americans are trying to survive on only 6 hours of sleep or less and are most likely suffering these consequences without realizing because, “you don’t know you’re sleep deprived when you’re sleep deprived.”

This lifestyle of insufficient sleep is all too familiar for the average high schooler.

Many high schoolers think they’ve figured out the key to going to sleep late by somehow managing to sneak in some shut eye throughout the day. However, the belief that people can “catch up on sleep” is just a misconception.

Something directly relating to this misconception is napping. Naps are a student’s best friend, that is, until they learn that naps can’t be used to regain sleep. Dr. Walker says, “Sleep is not like a bank. We can’t accumulate a debt and hope to pay it off on the weekend.” Once nighttime sleep is lost, it’s gone. Naps don’t make up for inadequate sleep but not all naps are meant

to destroy sleeping schedules. Studies show that 20-24 minute naps are enough to improve mood, alertness and performance.

PPCHS recently started the Nap Club as a homeroom club, which allows students to take at least a 20 minute nap to power through the rest of the day. Studies show that schools who changed their time from 7:25 am to 8:30 am had SAT scores raise by 212 points.

Only 15% of students have been found to get more than 8 hours of sleep a night.

Sleep deprivation is an epidemic that takes an extremely powerful toll on the human body and an even bigger one on the young, developing bodies of students. This endless cycle of late nights and early mornings are becoming an unhealthy lifestyle, but by experimenting with shorter naps, earlier bedtimes, and comfortable environments,

Graphic By: Matthew Morales

Golden Globe Fashion Highlights BShine B rianna

The Golden Globe Awards have always

been a night to remember, as celebrities from around the world are recognized for their excellence in film and television. One of the most memorable parts about this ceremony is the red carpet, where many take advantage of the opportunity to model in their designer outfits. This event occurs in January, starting 2019 with bold trendsetters looking to kick off the fashion for the rest of year.

One of the most anticipated outfits was Lady Gaga’s, as everyone knows her fearlessness when it comes to trying new and extravagant clothes, no matter the occasion.

Her periwinkle Valentino Haute Couture gown was one of the many eye-catching dresses at the ceremony, and quickly became the highlight of the night. With both frills and the extended length of her gown, Lady Gaga appeared to be one of the most elegant celebrities at the awards. Wearing a necklace for extra detail and dyeing her hair a light blue hue, Gaga helped the outfit come together and boldly set the tone for the rest of 2019. “It's not a surprise Lady

utler

Staff Writer

Gaga would go for something extravagant,” begins freshman Nicholas Chavez.

“That's what she's always been known for, and her outfit is definitely getting her the attention she needs. Lady Gaga is one of the few that can pull it off with that level of confidence.”

Another lavish gown belonged to Taraji Henson, who wore an emerald-colored custom Vera Wang velvet dress. The key to her sartorial success stems from the fit of the neckline, extending below the chest to create a suave and charming appearance. With a dazzling diamond necklace and bracelet, Taraji modeled using powerful and confident poses, sleek hair and glowing skin only serving to heighten her appearance.

“Taraji is one of my personal role models,” states junior Samantha Cruz. “She really is an inspiration to me. Her dress was one of my favorites, and I especially loved the dark green color and velvet fabric. It was unique and very memorable for me to see.”

It had been Lili Reinhart’s first time attending; however, she appeared to be a seasoned veteran when it came to choosing

the perfect outfit for the occasion. In a scarlet red dress and tulle, she managed to create a show-stopping look with her strapless Khyeli gown. The ruched detail at the top of her dress is the focus, giving her an enchanting presence. The look was complete with daring red eyeshadow, Swarovski earrings, and Louboutin heels for the finishing touches. “I absolutely loved what Lili wore to the Golden Globes,” states sophomore Valentina Terry. “She was able to wear a bold fabric with a vibrant color. Instead of being too flashy, it seemed to be perfect for her style. Everything was on point to create a perfect appearance.”

Wearing one of the night’s most intricate dresses, Saoirse Ronan attended in a Gucci gown. With a plunging neckline, the delicate antique beading gave a refined vintage aesthetic. While a bright accessory may take away from the stylish high-shine dress, she found an amazing way to compliment her outfit with diamond and emerald Chopard drop earrings as well as a matted lip. Her overall appearance appeared to put a modern twist to old Hollywood fash-

ion, giving Saoirse a classy and memorable look. “I loved the perfect blend that Saoirse had,” begins senior Leanna Basanta. “The way the dress was styled and the color it gave off definitely reminded me of older fashion, while the shiny beads gave a sleek and modern feeling. She looked amazing, and I loved how her outfit turned out.”

Adorned in designer outfits of all styles, the Golden Globe Awards was the perfect place for celebrities to embrace new outfits and set trends for the rest of the year. Each look had its own uniqueness to it, making the red carpet an enjoyable experience filled with a diverse amount fashion.

Graphic By: Jasmin Bleus

Voices Versus Violence 13 CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES

Disney/Sandy Hook Say ‘Hello’ to Inclusion in Schools Paolo Barrera

As the school shooting epidemic has

spread across the country over the last decade, the task of preventing another tragedy from happening has been handed to those with a heart big enough to take a stand. In the face of heated gun control debates and misconceptions about mental illness, it’s taken true “radicals” to help better the schools and public spaces across the country. Charter is familiar with one of the more prominent organizations that are working towards preventing school shootings: the Start with Hello program. As of lately, the program has reached an exciting milestone in its existence. However, it is important to note why the Start with Hello Program came about.

The Start with Hello program was started by the Sandy Hook Promise nonprofit organization as a means to end gun violence and prevent another tragedy like the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting from ever happening again. The Sandy Hook Promise organization was started by parents that were directly affected by the event, such as co-founder and managing director of Sandy Hook Promise,

Student life Editor

Nicole Hockley. Her son Dylan Hockley was a victim of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. She and many others have dedicated their lives to the promise of bringing safety to every student in America. “I’ve seen the work of those closely affected by Sandy Hook, and it’s pretty inspiring,” said junior Meril Manoj.

The Starts with Hello program was a project that was started by the organization in hopes to change the way students interact while providing an unorthodox method of teaching kids. In staying true to that promise, Mrs. Hockley and her team at Sandy Hook Promise announced a new partnership with a truly revolutionary name: The Walt Disney Company.

The Walt Disney Company announced to the world its massive plans. In the partnership’s first 3 years, Disney plans to fully invest in the Starts with Hello program in order to expand its reach. Disney promises funds and resources to the program in order to connect Disney’s global influence and Start with Hello’s national goal. In doing so, Disney has initiated the development of a new curriculum and the designing of a

Stand For Something

Brittany Evelyn Managing Editor

On Friday 18, 2019 I had the honor of at-

tending the 15th annual Stand for Something Martin Luther King Jr. inspirational breakfast, hosted by the YMCA. Last year Ms. Chancelor and Ms. Altimore had the opportunity to attend the breakfast and listen to the author of Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous ‘I Have A Dream’ speech. At this year’s event, two more teachers were granted the opportunity to attend, as well as two deserving students. Mr. Bertrand and Mr. Harris represented the PPCHS staff, while sophomore Chrysteannah Williams and I attended on behalf of the students.

Bringing a cease to the friendly chatter, the event began with the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance and an invocation by Pastor Brian Webb. The event’s Master of Ceremonies (MC) and TV news anchor Calvin Hughes was next to take the stage. After a short introduction, the YMCA afterschool program steppers from Dillard High School woke the audience up with their stage shaking rendition of Black Panther. This was followed by presentations to deserving individuals in the community. The Dave W. Cash Youth Leadership Award was presented to Albert Gonzalez of Boyd Anderson High School. The Spirit of Community Award was presented to the Trailblazers of Broward County, Inc., a group that is “dedicated to preserving and promoting local African-American history and achievements.”

(YMCA) This year’s keynote speaker, Xernona Clayton, worked alongside Dr. King and makes history as the South’s first person of color to have her own television show. Ms. Clayton is the Founder, President, and CEO of the Trumpet Awards Foundation, Inc., an award intended to highlight the contributions and achievements of African Americans. Her career as a broadcast journalist began in 1967, quickly leading her to make history. “Her groundbreaking talk show paved the way for many broadcasters, including myself and so many others in the South. In other words, before Oprah there was Xernona,” said Hughes. Described as a gifted storyteller, charming, charismatic, funny, and “the real deal” by her peers, Xernona satisfied our anticipation and finally took the mic. Begin-

ning her speech with the crack of a joke, Clayton exhibited these character traits perfectly. Reminiscing on her time spent with Dr. King, both in the professional and personal light, Clayton tells the tale of the days prior to Dr. King’s death. Known for being one of the last people to see Dr. King before he was killed, Clayton detailed some of his last few moments. Exemplifying the inspirational theme of the breakfast, Clayton shared memories of Dr. King’s life and legacy. “Dr. King lived a life that makes us remember his death! Now wouldn't you want to know, if you didn't know anything, who must this man have been? What kind of life must he have led for us to remember his death 50 years ago? - All of us were born in this world, but too many of us just occupy space. Dr. King filled his space,” said Clayton.

As a young multiracial woman in the twenty first century, I found Clayton’s speech to be both inspiring and enlightening. Not only did I learn more about Dr. King’s last few days, I was able to get a better sense of the movement and what he stood for through an important person in his life. Getting a first hand account of their experiences through the civil rights movement was surreal and eye opening. After listening to Clayton and learning of her successes I was inspired to continue pursuing journalism. As a pioneer journalist for women of color, Clayton has paved the way for other young women, like myself, to pursue similar aspirations. Best put by Clayton herself, “He would make you want to ask yourself a question. What would they say about me? What kind of life am I living that people even want to remember?”

Arriving at First Baptist Church at 7:30 am, I was welcomed by several greeters that were lining the venue’s entrance hall. After checking in and receiving my name tag, I, along with the other guests, proceeded upstairs where breakfast was being served and the presentations would take place. Upon arriving on the second floor, guests were met with a buffet fit for champions. Dishes of bacon, sausage, quiche of varying types, eggs, and assorted bagels, muffins, and fruits provided countless options for a healthy, hearty, and, most importantly, tasty breakfast. An oatmeal station, complete with toppings such as dried cranberries, nuts, and blueberries, also offered another option. To wash it down, our choice of hot coffee, water, or orange juice was available. After filling my plate, I headed into the dining hall, where tables were scattered strategically throughout the room.

Guests chatted amongst themselves as we all eagerly anticipated the start of the program.

This event was truly one to remember. With Clayton’s words in mind, I strive to leave my mark on this world, filling my space, rather than simply occupying it.

Photos By: Brittany Evelyn

completely digital platform. The focus is to connect adults and children from Kindergarten to 5th grade in order to prevent toxic social isolation and to inspire inclusion. This platform and curriculum are estimated to reach 6,000 schools within the first three years. In turn, around 2.8 million people kids and adults will be taught, trained, and told how to “create an inclusive and connected community by reaching out to those who may be chronically isolated, marginalized or rejected to let them know that they are seen and valued” (thewaltdisneycompany.com).

The program is meant to come at no cost and at no price. Disney and Sandy Hook Promise have made it clear that they are raising their voices versus violence in a push to create positive change in some of the youngest students in the country. “We know that being a young student isn’t always easy. That’s why The Walt Disney Company is pleased to support the Start With Hello program to encourage young kids to take small but powerful actions to promote connectedness, encourage inclusive behavior and prevent kids from feeling isolated,” said Elissa Margolis, senior vice president, Enterprise Social Responsibility for The Walt Disney Company.

For the students at Charter, this is big news. The future looks bright for the Start

Graphic By: Justin Pierce

with Hello program, which means that the partnership between all Pines Charter schools and the Start with Hello movement will only grow stronger and better.

“It’s pretty inspiring to see such a big name partner with a noble cause,” says senior Nicolaus Sarbello. Administrator Mrs. Battle speculates that although elementary schools will feel the impact first, “[the high school] will feel the impact later because elementary students eventually become high school students and the ones who experienced the program will promote unity and inclusion.” Despite the admiration and appreciation towards Disney’s honorable investment, the truth stays the same: it makes no difference whether someone is a vice president of a big name company or a freshly fitted students in high school to know that making a difference in a positive community starts with hello.

EDITORIAL: Gun Violence: The Clash Between Two Generations Florencia Azcurra & Sofia Azcurra Co-Features Editor & entertainment Editor

S

chool shootings: a phenomenon only familiar to the young students of America today. The strong difference in schooling that Generation Z is having, compared to Generation X, is a part of what separates Americas youth from the old. Nowadays, students walk into a classroom and automatically figure out an escape plan and a safe spot to keep themselves safe in the classroom, the place they thought they were safest. Adults, who grew up in a less gun active America, would have a difficult time understanding that what comes first to students minds is to not get shot.

Shootings, not just school shootings, affect everyone no matter the age, race, or political affiliation… not just the younger generation.

Younger generations point fingers at the older ones claiming they didn’t keep them safe. The clashing in generations comes from Generation Z’s will to voice their troubles, a concept unknown to the older ones who are accustomed to stricter and smaller ideas. Generation Z is inheriting the problem Generation X failed to solve and continues to fail in solving. The disconnection is the fear each side feels.

Having such a heavy issue weighing on this current generation’s shoulders, which adds to the stress of feeling responsible for solving it, is something unseen when Generation X was in school. Their stress and worries lays within paying bills and taxes, so having your own safety be a top worry in a learning environment is foreign to Generation X. The separation about this feeling also comes from how most adults, for the first time, are unaware as to how to approach this situation as they never experienced this fear. For once, the younger ones are educating them. What used to only be the stress of tests and homework is now tests, homework, and the fear of staying alive.

Having to be forced into such a scary and responsible concept at a young age is something Generation X did not have to go through. How can they possibly fix and understand an issue so foreign to them? In the face of worsening problems, students are gearing up to take on these challenges and determine not just our future but adults’ futures as well. “Our social conscientiousness and inclination to protest and question the status quo comes from influences like the fear of being shot in our school” (Spokesman). Students are raising questions and directly bringing to the front what this older generation is

afraid to acknowledge: that there is a problem, and it’s nearly entirely up to them to help fix it.

To spread their frustrations and help older Americans understand their fears, practically the entire war between these coming of age students and the people they blame is taking place through social media. Young activists have directly name dropped, pointed fingers, and argued with those adults who refuse to acknowledge that these shootings are a very prevalent issue within America. Guilt tripping the older generation and placing this type of remorse on them is Generation Z’s way of voicing the burden put on their shoulders.

Through this aggressive push to find some change there has certainly been a new development of understanding from the older generation.

Those who've been affected in some way shape or form, have reached out to the desperate students and are using what power they do have to change their fear.

The disconnection is evident, but one cannot stray away from the fact that 31% of adults voted in the midterms, nearly double the 2014 midterm turnout (Axios). Some can't grasp the situation that's landed upon us as students, but they do use their power and voice to bring the change we're asking for and that we so desperately are trying to receive. We have anger and passion they don’t seem to relate to, but both generations are increasingly becoming aware of the internal problem which is creating a connection between each side and this weighing problem. The current disconnection will eventually force older and younger generations to come together to defeat the issue of gun control because young or not, the issues affects people of all ages.

Graphic By: Justin Pierce

14

News

Once Upon An Oscar Host: Kevin Hart CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES

Kiersten Warren

On

February 24, around 34 million people will be tuning into the Oscars, an award show that recognizes cinematic achievements throughout the year. This time though, it could be much different, as the hosting job is still up for grabs with about a month left. Back in 2010, Kevin Hart tweeted a series of homophobic tweets. While there was backlash at the time, these tweets seem to be getting him in much hotter water today. On December 4, 2018, Hart was announced as a host of the Oscars, many were overjoyed by this accomplishment, as it is one of his dreams as a comedian. The excitement became short lived when his long-buried tweets resurfaced and everything started going awry from then on. The award show gave Hart an ultimatum; apologize for his tweets from nine years ago or give up the hosting job. In Hart’s mind there was only one thing he should do: pass the job up and refuse to apologize.

Although he refused to apologize, he explained his reasoning on social media in the following days. Hart stated, “This is not the first time this has come up. I’ve addressed it. I’ve spoken on it. I’m going to be me and stand my ground.”(Cosmopolitan) Sophomore Zoe Mutombo had a lot to say about the issue, “I think he should’ve just apologized and gotten over with it. He wrote a long message on Instagram about why it was the opportunity of a lifetime and how he was so grateful, and then he

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just gave it all up because he was too stubborn to apologize again.” In the days following his refusal, Hart issued a formal apology, officially detailing his decision to step down as host and re-acknowledging

The public really pressured him to talk about it. This just proves how your past can always get in the way, no matter how far back it is.” Unfortunately, Hart’s situation became much worse after making an ap-

Graphic By: Jasmin Bleus

the tweets themselves. Freshman Malaika Henry comments, “Before, Kevin Hart said he wouldn’t re-acknowledge the old tweets, and weeks later he does it anyway.

pearance on a popular talk show soon after.

Fast forward to a month later, where Kevin Hart made an appearance on comedian Ellen DeGeneres’ talk show. Ellen defend-

ed Hart against the so-called internet trolls, who re-discovered the tweet and made it go viral. She also says she called the Academy to see if they would let Hart host and the answer seemed to be a yes. One of Ellen’s many tweets read, “I believe in forgiveness. I believe in second chances.

And I believe in Kevin Hart.” Senior Aja Shephard says, “In my opinion, doing this interview just made everything worse. Ellen made it harder for the both of them by getting involved in this already heated controversy. He should’ve never gone into the public eye talking about it when it was still so fresh.” Among all of this controversy, PPCHS students have a diverse range of opinions on this issue. Junior Kaiya Roberts says, “I think it is wrong for Ellen to just assume that everyone is okay with what Kevin Hart said. Although she might feel like he should still host, many other people in the LGBT community feel completely different. I think it’s wrong for him to host now that this has all happened.”

In fact, many people agree with Shephard and Roberts statements, based on the major backlash that occurred days after, including fellow celebrities commenting on their statements.

This is a strong enough warning to all of us that if something happened in past, it can always catch up to us, which is why we have to be aware of what we do, always.

Shutting Down People’s Daily Routines Maxine Martinez

Only a few days have passed since the

commencement of 2019, yet the New Year has already broken a national record with the longest government shutdown in U.S history. Up until this situation the title was held by the shutdown that lasted 21 days in December (1995) - January (1996). As of January 12, 2019 the most recent shutdown surpassed this by entering its 22nd day. However, this deed is no cause for celebration as many people around the nation are being affected by the situation in congress and left with questions lacking answers.

The shutdown can have a widespread, detrimental effect but, despite this, many do not know why this taking place. In each case of a government shutdown Congress fails to appropriate funds. In the normal budget process, Congress budgets funds

by September 30th for the following fiscal year or the 12 month period used for budgeting. When that doesn’t happen, then Congress enacts a continuing funding resolution, which is when government temporary sets asides money to fund federal programs and agencies. (The Balance) In cases where Congress can’t agree on how to allocate money, it forces a shutdown.

Many people around the US are showing their displeasure with the situation, such as junior Jessica Sanchez. “It’s extremely upsetting and sad for the families it’s affecting,” she said.

In this case only 5 out of the 12 appropriations bills were passed by Congress and signed by the president. Nevertheless, things were running smoothly by passing short-term extensions, until President Trump asked that the next extension accounted for $5.7 billion that will go towards his border wall. Democrats refused to pass this bill leading to the shutdown.

Sophomore, Bradi Stewart commented on the shutdown, saying, “At the end of the day it’s not about who’s to blame for the shutdown. It’s about what we are going to do to end it and help the thousands of people affected by it.” Though there are accommodations being made to help U.S. citizens, there are still thousands struggling.

The shutdown does not just affect some

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concept of idea, it affects real people. An average of 800,000 federal employees are affected. Many students at charter realize the magnitude this number holds (The Washington Post). Freshman Evangeline Rejeev expressed, “It’s difficult for people who aren’t getting paid. Especially if that’s their source of income.” 380,000 of those employees are on temporary leave without pay and 420,000 are forced to work without pay (cbsnews.com). As a result many people are struggling to find money in order to survive. As a result many people are struggling to find money in order to survive. Senior Megan Bush is just one of the many people who is dealing with the consequences of the shutdown. Her father who works for customs and border protection (CBP), specifically imports of commercial trade, is one of those 800,000 people who have no pay. “As a result of the shutdown my family has been affected due to the lack of income. Since its shutdown my dad isn’t getting paid so we’re only relying on one income at the moment. This has forced us to make some cut backs in things like groceries and going out. The shutdown is also a major threat to over 38 million people on the food stamps program. Fortunately the program is looking at different options to give people their stamps early. Many Charter students agree that the shutdown is leading to terrible consequences with no rational reason. Senior Gloris Sajan said, “It’s such a terrible position to be in for those who aren’t getting payed to support their families. I think the reasoning behind the shutdown does not justify the shutdown.”

The feud between Donald Trump and the Democrats is like a fight between Greek Gods. Their actions have an impact, not only on “Mount Olympus,” or Congress, but in the day to day life of the people they are supposed to protect.

The government shutdown seems like a faraway problem that only has to do with Congress, but the truth of the matter is that it has an effect on America’s citizens. Even Charter students are affected and dealing with the consequences of the shutdown. As the situation progresses and the days of the shutdown add up the more of an impact it will have.

Cartoon By: Mariana Riano

News 15

Historic Number of Women Elected to Congress CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES

Kimani Dodd

November was an important month for

politics, as November 6, 2018, marked the midterm elections. It was a chance for the Democrats to take control away from the Republicans in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. If the Democrats took control of the House, Trump’s power could possibly be limited and shift the outcome of important issues, such as abortion, education, labor rights and taxes.

However; if the Republicans held a position of power in the House, Trump’s power could be increased and the outlook on certain important issues may remain the same.

Arguably, this was one of the main reasons people paid attention this time around.

Another significance was the number of women running for Congressional seats. A total of 476 women ran in the primaries. Of those races, 323 women went on to run in the final Senate or House races. (New Year Times) From 2016 to 2018, there was an increase of 264 women running for Congress. It is evident that the power is shifting, along with the times changing; Congress is no longer being dominant by males. “The sheer quantity of diverse women elected to the House shows the change that we can bring if we put ourselves to it. Inclusion in the political sphere is imperative for change and this is the first step towards intersectional representation in all facets of our government,” said sophomore Mariana Colicchio.

For the women running, it was about much more than just winning the race. For these women, Trump’s antics, his disrespectful behavior towards women, the Brett Kava-

Staff Writer

naugh trial, and the hope for a better future for their families were some of the driving forces behind their motivation to run.

In the days leading up to the election, anticipation was building. Would this be the election that these women made history? The day finally came and women made history in an unbelievable way. Major milestones were reached and the overall number of women elected to Congress increased drastically. Junior Samantha Cover said, “I love that there has been such a spike in women in Congress, especially women of different ethnicities, religions and backgrounds. They are an inspiration to women and men in this country to never let how people perceive you stop you from defying the limits.” There were 113 women elected in total, including several women of varying backgrounds that had not previously been represented in Congress. Deb Haaland along with Sharice Davids became the first Native American women to be elected, while IIhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib became the first Muslim women to represent their states. Freshman Sarai Francis said, “I am very proud of how much society has progressed with women equality. It’s so amazing how women of different ethnicities and backgrounds can all come together equally to make our country a better place.” South Dakota got their first female governor: Kristi Noem. Kyrsten Sinema became the first Arizona female senator, as well as being the first openly bisexual senator. In Tennessee, Marsha Blackburn became the first female senator ever. Additionally, Massachusetts received their first

Congresswoman: Ayanna Pressley. Senior Maria Rojas says, “It was so amazing to see that more women were elected to Congress this year. It’s crazy how things have changed. I can’t wait to see women continuing to make a change as more and more of them play an important role in the government.” All this success has encouraged PPCHS students for the future. With more females running and ultimately victorious within their particular races, it can hopefully inspire a movement that will continue for years to come.

Graphic By: Taylor Causey

The Mysterious Mythos of West Virginia Mothman Fifty-two

years ago, on November 12, 1966, five men were digging a grave in a cemetery just outside of Clendenin, West Virginia, when they spotted a humanoid figure with large dark wings flying just below the tree line and right past their heads. The confused men didn’t know what to make of the creature, so they just went back to work. Unbeknownst to them, the men were the first unofficial witnesses to a creature that some claim to be the cause for one of the most infamous and confusing events of recorded cryptozoological and UFO activity. That December, the residents of a sleepy West Virginian town, Point Pleasant, were visited by the very same creature that flew by the men that autumn night, but this was no flyby. The creature stayed in the town for only a couple of weeks but in those weeks it turned the small community into a bustling center for avid skeptics and believers alike looking for the creature known only as the Mothman.

The Mothman made its first recorded appearance just three days after the five men spotted it while at work, when it made itself known to two young couples while they were on an evening drive by an abandoned explosives plant just outside of the town known to the locals as the “TNT area.” The area was known to be a popular place for teens and young adults to hang out during the weekends, but on that particular night, the couples were shocked to find a monstrous creature rather than other young people. When the group had arrived at the TNT area they encountered what seemed like a “man with wings [that] wasn’t like anything you’d see on TV or in a monster

movie,” as one of the couples described, that was estimated to be seven to eight feet tall. They further explained how when the car’s headlights shone on the creature, its eyes would glow a deep red, something that would be consistent in most, if not all, of the Mothman sightings. Scared by the unknown creature, the couples sped off into town, only to find out in horror that the “monster” was following close behind.

Fortunately for them, the couples were able to make it back to Point Pleasant, losing the creature along the way. But that didn’t mean the creature was over terrorizing the small town and its inhabitants.

After the young couples encountered the creature, many more reports of strange “bird man” sightings began popping up all around the town, alongside a curious rise in reports of unexplained lights in the sky and other phenomena such as possible UFO and extraterrestrial encounters. One of the most disastrous events most commonly attributed to the Mothman following the initial two sightings was the collapse of the Silver Bridge on December 15th, 1967, which unfortunately killed 46 people with no specific cause as to why or how. Allegedly, before the collapse took place, people had seen what they believed was the Mothman near the structure. This gave rise to the common theory that the Mothman is a possible “omen” of disastrous events, although that theory has yet to be proven nor disproven.

Ever since it’s last unofficial sighting near the Silver Bridge in 1967, the Mothman has been out of sight, but not out of mind.

Movies were made, books were written, and theories just kept piling up as the de-

cades past. Recently, the Mothman has made an unexpected return, not in Point Pleasant, but in Chicago, Illinois. Back in 2017 and early 2018 more than 20 sightings of large, humanoid flying creatures with red eyes were reported in Chicago, leading some people to believe the Mothman was back. However, despite the sudden increase in sightings, there is still a strong sense of doubt as to whether or not the sightings are actually the Mothman, or if they are just misconceptions. There has yet to be any face to face encounters.

While we still may not know exactly what happened in West Virginia during the 1960s, the story of the Mothman and everything surrounding it continues to spark the interests of anyone with enough curios-

ity to look deeper. Was it a creature from this Earth? Was it an extraterrestrial? Or was it something else, something we yet to discover? We don’t know, but as they say, the truth is always stranger than fiction, and when it comes to the Mothman, that is one thing everyone can agree on.

Graphic By: Justin Pierce