The C.H.A.T Homecoming Issue October 2019-20 by FARAN FAGEN

THE C.H.C. STAFF Caroline Kadir Editor-in-Chief

Rebekah Jacob Managing Editors - Content & Layout Charter Daily News Ariana Ortiz Web Managing Editor Maxine Martinez Business Manager Mr. J. Foreman - Layout Mr. F. Fagen - Content Mr, J. Foreman - Video Advisors Mr. P. Bayer Principal

Student Life: Pg. 4

Alan Mathew News Editor Kiersten Warren Student Life Editor Paula Lillquist-Rodriguez Technology Editor

Lifes

Student Life

Morgan Lind Clubs Editor

Books for Peace

Michael Muela Sports Editor

Charter Family Night

Easy Treats (No Trick

Order U

Maxine Martinez Features Editor Sophia Cortes Entertainment Editor Brianna Butler Lifestyle Editor Rachel Rivera Voices Versus Violence Editor Nicole Llanes & Sammantha Miragliotta Community Outreach Andres Alfonso - The CHAT Nicholas Amad - Web Photo Editors

Features

Justin Pierce Graphics Editor

How I survived cancer

CONTENT STAFF: Caroline Kadir, Rebekah Jacob, Nicole Llanes, Ariana Ortiz, Rachel Rivera, Mia Mateo, Samantha Miragliotta, Maxine Martinez, Kiersten Warren, Paula Lillquist-Rodriguez, Morgan Lind, Andres Alfonso, Alan Mathew, Sophia Cortez, Brianna Butler, Samantha Cruz, Michael Muela, Sebastian Alvarez, Gabriela Carvajal, Kimani Dodd, Joshua Lasarte, Mariana Riano

The Race for the Cure

LAYOUT STAFF: Caroline Kadir, Rebekah Jacob, Henry Severe, Megan Rasmussen, Hailey Watson, Zeshan Zubair, Monica Lozada, Natalie Fernandez, Valerie Verga PHOTOGRAPHY STAFF: Andres Alfonso, Nicholas Amad, Bryan Lara, Natali Brito, Megan Ingram, Jeinily Bencon, Yoko Witkowski, Aijah Harper, Francesca Brito GRAPHICS STAFF: Justin Pierce, Jasmin Bleus, Rosa Gomez, Carolina Othon, Matthew Morales-Galdamez, Dominick Zarcadoolas, Shane Wooden, Jaxen Wyborny CARTOONIST: Mariana Riano The C.H.A.T. is an official publication of the Pembroke Pines Charter High School (PPCHS). The content of out newspaper is not necessarily the opinions of our advisors 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 and 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 Homecoming Game Pink Out Game

Enterta

LETâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S SHED SOM

Capturing the Fiery

style

s) For This Halloween

inment

ME LIGHT ON “IT”

y Spirit of Promare

Technology To iPhone or Not to iPhone Cats, Computers, and Quantum Supremacy

News The Necessary Revolution Watch Out, Vapes Are Here to Kill

Voices Versus Violence Students Start with Hello A PSA worth Crying Through

Student Life

CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES

Books For Peace Pieces Literacy Back Together The common phrase “shoot for the

stars” seems to be nothing short of inevitable for Charter students in making an impact on their community and furthering their careers. Senior Salonee Singh has already taken her first step, initiating a new project titled “Books For Peace,” a youth-led organization for teens across the globe dedicated to promoting peace and acceptance through the spread of literacy. Alongside seniors Kylie Fernandez and Sabrina Briceno, these world changers are promoting literacy for the better. Singh, the founder of this brilliant movement, was inspired by the lack of literacy she noticed amongst the children she volunteered for at the Joe DiMaggio’s family resource center. She expressed, “It was during my trip to Europe where I saw book posts everywhere and realized we have nothing like this back home.” And although frequently unnoticed, the process of gathering individuals and ideas is an extensive process. “I had to get in contact from all the people I met at the global camps I attended and galvanize support through social media promotion,” Singh said. Additionally, the team consists of other youth that will all have access to their respective communities. An accomplishment in itself, Singh confesses, “And my favorite part is the fact that we brought it to Charter!” Seeing high school students interact with it is truly a humbling experience for Singh, and she can’t wait for upcoming victories in their literacy efforts! After learning about Singh’s organization and the incredibly low literacy rate of children across the globe, senior Kylie Fernandez immediately knew she wanted

REBEKAH JACOB MANGING EDITOR

to get involved. As Global News director for the admirable Books for Peace, she is in charge of writing and managing articles to inform the public of their group’s efforts to promote literacy around the world. Fernandez continues on this thought, “This includes anything from our book post here at Charter to teaching at debate and literacy workshops in Nigeria.” Possessing an incredible amount of experience through her internship with a speech therapist, Fernandez confirms, “I know first-hand just how important communication and comprehension is to an individual’s quality of life, but we usually tend to overlook one of the most important ways we share information - through books.” With her position requiring lots of research into what areas need help promoting literacy and ways to extend their support overseas, social media really does interject and have already obtained nothing short of success after reaching four continents! Fernandez continues, “Soon we hope to extend our organization into South America and teach literacy in both Spanish and English.” Getting in contact with high school students from other countries that are willing to step up, be a representative, and establish a book post or lead literacy workshops in their community have proved Fernandez that surely all her efforts have reaped the grand benefits of promoting the spread of literacy. Yet another Charter representative for the profound Books For Peace organization is senior Sabrina Briceno. She holds the sacred position of Social Media Director in order to promote the cause

and create awareness. Briceno confesses, “I believe my position is critical in the modern age of social media that Books For Peace is up to date with current social media platforms, especially because our main focus is incentivizing reading!” Briceno expands on this thought of celebrating writers of color, women, and immigrants, who “have such important stories to tell, but don’t always have a platform to do so.” And after hearing about her best friend’s strong love for reading and literacy, she thought the idea of the organization was magnificent. “Being an immigrant growing up with no representation, I think B4P, the book exchange, is one of the best ways to amplify marginalized writers,” Briceno states. As for the global aspect of Books For Peace, the team has ambassadors all around the world, making their efforts international. Briceno expresses, “Along with the global effort we are pushing, reaching young kids and teenagers through social media and getting teens excited about reading again is super exciting!” Briceno is beyond thrilled to expand her team’s awareness through various online platforms and ultimately stir kids eager for reading. These three Charter stars are unquestionably beginning a successful start of ultimately changing the literacy rate in communities for the better. Being able to share that experience with everyone around them is truly a blessing to not only Charter High, but to our society as well.

Photos Donated By: Books For Peace

Charter Fun At Family Night

Photos By: Andres Alfonso

Photo By: Jeinily Bencon

Photo By: Andres Alfonso

Student Life CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES

Chat’s Conversation Corner: “What Does Your Hispanic Heritage Mean To You?” MIA MATEO

STAFF WRITER

Photo By: Jeinily Bencon

“Spanish Heritage month means a lot to me because I get to celebrate my family, my culture, and where I came from. It’s a time where my family can come together, have a big feast with a lot of food, and enjoy a good time together.” - Junior Alejandro Hurtado

Photo By: Megan Ingram

“Spanish Heritage month is important to me because my family comes from Colombia and the fact that there is a month to represent and to have people learn more about the culture is very important. It just shows recognition around the world and to the school. ” - Junior Maria Sarimiento

Photo By: Andres Alfonso

“Hispanic Heritage month is the ONLY time that our teachers focus on Hispanic history, literature, and politics. It gives people a reason to learn more, sparking their curiosity about Hispanic culture. For those who are blessed to be Hispanic, it is a time of pride: a time. I feel most proud of my culture during Hispanic Heritage month. It doesn’t feel like I’m the only one fighting for visibility - it feels like there’s a fight for visibility, awareness, and education that is bigger than me.” - Senior Sabrina Briceño

Photo By: Yoko Witkowski

“To me, Spanish Heritage month is a month where I can express my Dominican culture and show what being a Latino means to me. I get to be prideful of where I’m from, and everyone at my school gets to learn the Spanish experience which is very important.” - Sophomore Brandon Garcia

Photo By: Yoko Witkowski “To me, Spanish Heritage month means expressing the diverse Hispanic cultures, embracing the language, and making this idea more knowledgeable throughout our society to appreciate all these different concepts.” - Senior Kelly Bravo

Photo By: Jeinily Bencon

“Not many people understand the true meaning of Spanish Heritage month, especially teens. This should be the remembrance of how all Hispanics and Latinos have influenced the United States tremendously over years and years. To me, this month has a meaning a proud Hispanic cannot even describe. I honestly feel so blessed and prideful of being a Puerto Rican. All Hispanics should remember where their families come from and how strong our cultures have influenced other people.” - Senior Alejandro Rivera

FEATURES

Living Beyond Brea

CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES

A Letter From

MIA MATEO

Photo By: Megan Ingram

The Editor MAXINE MARTINEZ FEATURES EDITOR

ancer is a subject that nobody ever wants to talk about. The whisper of it is enough to silence a room and cause hearts to miss a beat. When it was decided the theme for features for this issue would be “beating cancer” I was worried if we would be able to find stories to put in. That worry turned into horror as I realized how many people have been affected by cancer: peers, families, administrators and more. As the writers began to work on these stories and an essay about a student’s own battle with the illnesses was submitted, I realized how important it was to share these stories and show that nobody is alone in their battles. I want to thank every single person who was open about their story. My family has been impacted by cancer many times. My mom survived the battle many years ago, and both my father and grandfather lost their lives to cancer. This being said this does not mean they “lost.’ I feel that one only loses to cancer when their hope has completely dwindled, and as these stories demonstrate, humans are resilient with their hope.

magine your dad coming into your room and telling you that one of your loved ones was diagnosed with cancer. Believe it or not, this is the story of 17 year old Nathan Moses. Nathan was only 15 years old when he found out his grandma, Elizabeth Alejos, got diagnosed with breast cancer. He overheard his mom crying from her room while he was eating dinner. Later that night his dad told him, his sister, and his brother that their grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer. According to CDC.gov it states, “breast cancer is a disease in which cells in the breast grow out

STAFF WRITER

of control.” When Elizabeth found out the heartbreaking news, instead of becoming irrational, she decided she was going to overcome and defeat this disease. Especially since, “the average survival rate for a women with invasive breast cancer is 90%” (cancer.net). As a family they knew they had to come together to support and comfort her so she could get through this. Nathan says there was a “hard feeling” around the house because nobody in his family had ever had breast cancer. Elizabeth heard the heart stopping words “it’s cancer” when she was 67 years old. Her reaction when she found out she had breast cancer was to be very positive and she believed she would make it through. When you hear about people with cancer stories of people not making it are unavoidable, which caused Nathan and his family to feel doubtful and scared. After her very first surgery Nathan’s mom was concerned for Elizabeth because she was very weak. She could barely walk even with three people helping her. Even though the aftermaths of the surgery took

How I Survived Cancer

Photo By: Nicholas Barcelo

he accomplishment which caused the most profound growth in my life was surviving cancer. On June 17, 2016, I was diagnosed with a rare bone cancer called Osteosarcoma. I was 14 at the time, and I was about to start my freshman year of high school. Looking back, I had few cares at that time. I was delightfully ignorant of how much my life would change with my diagnosis and how my struggle would come to define who I am today. My cancer was found in my right fibula. During the following years I underwent 24 rounds of chemotherapy, suffered through four risky and long surgeries, and at times, barely survived many brutal days and months of hospitalizations. My carefree days were gone, and I was

MADISON WHITE JUNIOR AT PPCHS

thrust into a new “normal” which I despised, and which was anything but normal. Unlike my peers, I could not complain about the end of summer and the start of school. Instead, my time was spent getting a port placed, allowing medications and blood to be transfused. I wished I was swamped with homework and projects and dreading tests like my friends. Instead, I was watching toxic drugs being pumped into my body. On social media, I saw how girls complained about their body weight, while every time I stepped on the scale the number went down like a sinking ship. I was not only facing the battle for my life, I was facing the fact that I would never again be like my peers and that my days of minor worries would forever be in the past. When it was time for my first surgery, the doctors weren’t sure they would be able to save my leg. Osteosarcoma is a gruesome disease and most of my friends with this disease are amputees. There were only five surgeons in the country who could perform the complicated procedure that was necessary to spare my leg and give

me the best chance at completely removing the cancer from my body. My 10hour surgery took place in New York. My cancer-ridden bone was removed and my muscles rotated. When I woke up, I was in an immense amount of pain. However, that pain subsided when I looked at the end of the hospital bed to find that I still had both my legs. The next few months were the hardest. I couldn’t walk, and I was in excruciating pain. To top things off, I was still receiving chemotherapy treatments, which wiped out my immune system. I was not allowed to have visitors or eat my favorite foods. The chemotherapy had many side effects—the worst being the toxicity that caused stroke-like symptoms. I developed anxiety and depression from not being able to do the basic things I used to do. I saw my peers on social media complain about that test they had to take, while I was crying to my parents begging them to let it end. I was weak and tired. Everyone around me told me how strong I was, when I knew I was actually the exact opposite. I had never faced such a formidable opponent as cancer, and I knew that even if I were to beat it, I would never be a normal high school student ever again. On the day that I finally left the hospital for the last time, I was optimistic. I longed to go back to my way of life before cancer. I was fortunate that my hair started growing back, and that I could start attending school again, becoming immersed

in homework and tests and projects. At times, I felt amazed and happy when I found myself complaining about those tests and homework and projects. But a very core part of me felt inauthentic or ungrateful that I could ever treat anything so benign as academic chores with anything other than joy for the simple opportunity of being able to do them. Many people believe that a universal failure of the human condition is that we do not appreciate what we have until it’s gone. Cancer has forever altered me. I have learned to value everything in life, including the things that are not so enjoyable. I detest the disease of cancer and how it steals from our bodies and our minds and our hopes. The physical manifestations of cancer are forever with me: the two years robbed from my youth, my multiple scars, my frequent scans and scares. And while cancer has diminished these things, I have with the gift of time been able to see just what cancer has given me. I have learned that great trials teach great lessons. Through this ordeal, I have been fortunate to meet incredible patients, medical staff, and researchers. I have been able to educate my peers about childhood cancer and have been able to give back by volunteering with charities who support Osteosarcoma research. I have been the face of Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital. But most importantly, my cancer has allowed me to find my life’s calling in treating children with the same disease.

ast Cancer

FEATURES CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES

Administrator Takes on Cancer - And Wins ARIANA ORTIZ

a toll on Elizabeth’s body the family still remained with high hopes. Proceeding the surgery Elizabeth had chemotherapy treatment, which is so detrimental on the human body. She ritually took the medicine the doctors provided and drank a lot of water to stay hydrated. Through time her health improved significantly and by the next week she was walking on her own. As of one year ago Elizabeth received the news cancer free. Nathan says, “hearing that news was the most amazing and exciting news ever; we even had a little dinner party for her to celebrate.” Stories similar to this where families stick together are very inspirational and can even motivate others who also have breast cancer to keep fighting. During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, stories like these should be acknowledged more. Elizabeth Alejos fought breast cancer for about two years. The fact that she persevered through this hardship exemplifies her strong courage and strength. Nathan says, “I would describe my grandma as loving, caring, and friendly.” Her ability to never give up and her endless positivity drove her through these hard times. This heart-warming story is one of many touching on the survivors and fighters of breast cancer.

The

The backbone of PPCHS lies within

the administration, and our AICE advisor, Shannon Torres, is one of the best on campus. Known for her incredible work ethic, Mrs. Torres works every day to ensure students in the Cambridge program are on track and ready to go. In 2010, however, Mrs.Torres was forced to pump the brakes on her hectic work and family life and focus on herself. On a routine visit to the general practitioner, her doctor found a mass on the side of her throat. She was then sent to have the lump tested. The doctors determined the lump as a type of nodule which is a benign cyst on the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland regulates the body’s metabolic rate and its heart and digestive functions. Because the cyst was benign at first, the doctors weren’t concerned with its effects. For a few years, doctors monitored the cyst to make sure it had no effect on her bodily functions. Mrs. Torres’s specialist eventually became concerned with the effects it would have on the functions controlled by the thyroid and removed it in June 2012. Torres was overwhelmed with love by her family through her struggle, but her journey still was not one of ease. Torres said “My older daughter was only 3 at the time, so she doesn’t remember much

RACE

Hundreds of luminarias illuminated the

track at Walter C Young on April 3rd of 2019. Each one representing a survivor or someone who has died of cancer. The overwhelming support filled the air and people’s tears glistened in the setting sunlight. People from all around the county and beyond banned together to take part in the event. Junior Kolbie Guerrero stated, “This event was so amazing as well as an honor to be a part of. You could feel all the love and support from each person who was involved. Everyone had such an impact on the event that night. Each school raised and brought the community together to help spread awareness and love to those who are affected by cancer.” There were about 16 teams in Pembroke Pines who participated in this event. This event that allowed the community to come together while supporting an epidemic that has affected most households and families. Freshmen Jessica Mclntosh said, “I think Relay for Life is an amazing club and is making a large impact towards society.” The Relay for Life Club has greatly brought awareness towards the importance of raising money towards research. Sophomore Jayna Brunner said, “I have participated in relay for life for 4

WEB MANGING EDITOR

of it. I remember her coming to the hospital to see me and being scared to get near me.” Once the thyroid was removed, it was sent to pathology for biopsy and the worst was discovered, there were cancer cells in the cyst that had also begun to spread around the surrounding tissue. It turns out her journey was only beginning. The first step in treating cancer of this nature would be to remove the cyst, but because this was already done, the next step was a round of radioactive iodine. The iodine is given as a pill and is used to destroy the thyroid gland. Once this was accomplished, the body is missing the essential hormones the thyroid produces. There are a lot of side effects that come from thyroid problems - insomnia, fatigue, weight loss/ gain, difficulty regulating temperature, etc. She says “The biggest issue I struggle with is fatigue. I get tired easily, require a lot of sleep, and have trouble focusing at times.” One of the most devastating effects is difficulty in pregnancy. Torres always wanted more children, but after her treatment, this was not guaranteed. Luckily, she was able to become pregnant with her second daughter. “We were

Photo By: Natali Brito

fortunate to be able to have our second daughter after my diagnosis and treatment because there was no guarantee that would be an option. [Although,] it was a big challenge.” Mrs. Torres will have to take a daily thyroid replacement medication every day for the rest of her life. She will also be monitored every six months with blood work and ultrasounds to make sure there is no recurrence. The dosage of the synthetic replacement hormone is still closely monitored to ensure no thyroidrelated issues ensue. After a long road to recovery, Mrs. Torres is now cancer-free and living her life to its full potential with her amazing family.

For The Cure

PAULA RODRIGUEZ-LILLQUIST STAFF WRITER

years and it is something that I really enjoy. It is a great feeling knowing that you are able to make a difference in someone’s life. This year I am junior captain and I am

the main event of the school year, they hold other small fundraisers during the year such as Caps for a Cure. During this school-wide event, students wore a

looking forward to being on the board and being one of the faces of the PPCHS relay team.” In the 2018-2019 year, they participated and held various events to raise money for cancer research. While the Relay for Life walk-a-thon is

cap to school to show their initiative towards the cure. The students of Pines Charter showed their support in making a difference in cancer patients’ lives. At the beginning of this school year, senior Madison White organized a Lemonade

Stand to help raise money for pediatric cancer. Madison White is a survivor of osteoporosis and raising money is her way of helping other children who are going through it as well. Looking back on her past years in the club, senior Natalia Jones states, “The most memorable moment last year was spending the night at relay with my friends and making memories.” While raising money for the American Cancer Society, they were also able to grow closer together as a community with their common passion for helping the people. For her last year in Relay for Life, she is most excited for organizing the Relay for Life event. With last year raising, $10,925 they are facing high goals with high aspirations. This club brings inspiration and hope to the people suffering while uniting the community. Joining this club will not only provide students with hope of a better future, but provide them with the information regarding the effects of cancer.

Graphic By: Carolina Othon

ENTERTAINMENT CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES

What’s Your Favorite

Halloween Movie From When You Were A Kid? Samantha MIRAGLIOTTA STAFF WRITER 1. “Nightmare Before Christmas because it featured spooky characters that related to Halloween but also brought in Christmas which is my favorite holiday.” -Kaitlyn Fernandez (9th) 2. “Twitches and Twitches 2 movies because I absolutely love the story line and the way the two main characters found each other again after being lost for 16 years; it’s pretty fascinating.” -Pashance Henderson (9th) 3. “Nightmare Before Christmas because the animation style and plot was well thought-out and planned. I felt it was uplifting and a rare twist on a regular Halloween movie.” -Nicholas Chaves (10th)

7. “My favorite Halloween movie has to be Halloweentown. I remember as a kid during the month of October always watching that movie over and over again. It was funny but scary at the same time which to me is the best combo.” -Samaya Ali (12th) 8. “My favorite Halloween movie is Halloweentown. I grew up watching it every fall season on T.V. and it eventually became a family tradition. Martie, the protagonist, was my favorite character and I loved everything she represented as a brave witch.” -Danielle Porres (12th)

4. “Hocus Pocus had a big influence on my childhood, because what child growing up doesn’t love the plot that witches will suck up your youth on Halloween? When I look back, the movie was overall very enjoyable for the most part.” -Michael Aguirre (10th) 5. “Halloweentown because it was funny and wasn’t so scary to the point I stopped watching when I was a kid. The movie separates this original picture from the usual Halloween fare that captures the spirit of a holiday designed for kids. It’s sweet and fun.” -Nathan Moses (11th) 6. “Halloweentown because it’s something I grew up watching and was a sacred family tradition to watch it every year. To this day, my family and I enjoy watching its unique ideas on Halloween.” -Madison Muela (11th)

Graphic By: Rosa Gomez

Point Paula LILLQUIST TECHNOLOGY EDITOR With the world continuing to make technological advances, movies have changed with it. CGI definitely has more of an effect than practical acting. With CGI technology horror movies are brought to life. Relying on practical effects alone is not enough to engage the audience. The first movies to use CGI were in the late 1990s. CGI has drastically improved since those times. All the gory scenes with the insanely realistic actions done by computers has shifted the course of movie history. In the beginning, I’ll admit, the CGI effects were not better than practical effects. Looking back, the introduction of this type of film was… interesting. Technology had not made its debut yet leaving the movies to be choppy. However, with drastic improvements, it has made it hard to see the difference between practical effects and CGI. Depending solely on practical effects is simply not enough for the audience anymore. Additionally, horror movies are a lot scarier with CGI. In pre-production of the Movie “IT” during the final scene, Pennywise is an intense fighting scene with “Losers” where his

vs CounterPoint

Samantha MIRAGLIOTTA

alarming facial features terrifies the audience. To top it off, in post-production he has several arms oozing out of his mouth reaching towards the kids as they engage in the battle of their life. As you can see, with the CGI affect it is a lot scarier which really acts to the fear factor in the movie. Although these ways may seem more expensive, companies reap the benefits of the well-produced movies. In the movie Spider-Man Far From Home it cost about 160 million for the entire movie to be produced including CGI. However, it made about 1.131 billion in the box office. With CGI the movie was brought to life and it paid off. In the end, practical effects are more expensive. With practical effects, people are worrying about make-up, stunt doubles, and prosthetics. With technology evolving it has become more accessible for companies to use CGI and really make horror movies stand out to the audience while practical effects can only provide a limited amount of realistic scenes.

Practical effects give that a scare factor horror fans look for. They are a classic must in any horror films because they give a realistic outlook on specific actions in a film. Rather than computer based CGI effects, practical effects are produced physically, without computer-generated imagery, which in fact helps improve the quality of the horror film. Although the expenses for practical effects are a bit more costly than CGI it is just a small price to pay for high quality. It is an unfortunate side effect of practical effects; however, the final production value outweighs the initial cost. Also, when you want to add CGI to a movie you have to hire an expert than pay for the expenses and edit more of the movie to make it appear more realistic. Moreover, when watching a film

STAFF WRITER

with practical effects like the show Stranger Things or the Exorcist than compare it to Conjuring, it’s simply a downgrade to the overall production of the film. I know from personal experience like in the Conjuring when the main character twisted her lower half around and went down the stairs, there was an extortionist that was hired to actually do the movements resulting in more fearful excitement. Whereas with CGI the movements would look insensible and quite fake. Although the topic on whether practical effects are better than CGI is controversial, there is only one side that people can automatically agree to. That practical effects are far more superior and traditional than CGIs phony movie editing. When you use practical effects it allows for a more genuine feel for the movie, and allows an actor’s performance to feel much more authentic.

ENTERTAINMENT tween the characters, and the occurrence of the love triangle between Bill, Beverly, and Ben. That helped the storyline also go by in a more light hearted way and to have a break from the fear that the movie brought.

LET’S SHED

SOME

Overall, the movie is definitely one to watch if you are a fan of the first movie. Even if you haven’t seen the first film, it still made sense and they did a very good job of keeping confused crowd members caught up.

LIGHT ON Samantha CRUZ

STAFF WRITER

Fear struck each person as they entered the theater. As the movie began, the only noise that could be heard was the creaking of the fan overhead. Stephen King's blood curdling clown arrives back for more in the next chapter of the It saga. To see the Loser club back on the big screen after three years has some sentimental value.

upon his victims, hinting that it “enhances their flavor”. In the first movie, the Loser club promises to come back if Pennywise were to ever come back again, and that starts off this movie.

Right off the bat, this movie was not as spooky as the first. It was not so much horror as it was interesting. The movie mainly focused on the background on the characters, and their own personal Any fan of the story can experiences with the clown. It also easily say that the characters grew gave light to the characters own a personal connection with movie personal fears, which brings more viewers everywhere. For those who of a chilling psychological horror may not know, Pennywise the clown rather than gore. You go inside the is an ancient being that can take the mind and see how they are able to form of anything. He loves to put fear face them. Personally, it was also nice to see the development beGraphic By: Bryan Lara

With bold-colored palettes, smooth

IT Chapter Two really helps to bring the dancing clown storyline to an end. This movie seems to have a little something for everyone. Fear, love, sorrow, and a unique film design. The special effects were gorgeous and so realistic, and the movie was so intriguing. This movie love, sorrow, and a unique film design. The special effects were gorgeous and so realistic, and the movie was so intriguing. This movie will definitely go down in cinematic horror history as a fan favorite by many. It was refreshing to see familiar faces, and the same spooky dancing clown.

Capturing the

Fiery Spirit of

roll soundtrack, the full-length feature

Throughout all of these intense scenes,

Promare left many American audiences

an original soundtrack was created by

stunned. This animation was produced

visual artists with creative and original ideas that are known to break boundaries in comparison to conventional animes. Promare has successfully crossed a large box office milestone, earning $1 million dollars within the first two weeks of its North American debut. The film takes place in a dystopian world where a select group of humans have evolved the world with an ability to control fire. These people are called “Burnish,” and use their pyrokinesis to cause destruction around the world. Galo Thymos, a member of the organization created in retaliation, is a protagonist

Brianna BUTLER LIFESTYLE EDITOR

transitions, and a stunning rock and

by Studio Trigger, a company known for

CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES

Graphic By: Jasmin Bleus that passionately pursues his dreams to

Promare is filled with many action

composer Hiroyuki Sawano. Each piece was tailored to the actions, and helped

become a hero and defeat evil. However,

scenes that stand out from the rest of

bring everything together perfectly. The

things are more complicated than they

the movie. Characters bend and contort

most iconic was “Inferno,” created as a

may appear, and the audience later learns

to deliver a more dynamic scene, and

theme song and played while the protago-

who the real enemy is in this battle. The

intelligent camerawork emphasizes these

nists unify together and cause maximum

development of the main characters leave

actions to make them appear more fluid.

damage to defeat “fire with fire.”

the audience simultaneously interested

The film also strays from a normal color

and invested, while the many different

palette and focuses on bright shades of

captures the audience with an overlying

twists and turns of the plotline constantly

pink and blue that highlight character

message that has the ability to transcend

bring an array of new elements that will

designs and provide contrasts between

international barriers. The combination of

always have viewers guessing what could

different scenes. This film also combines

character development, plot twists,

possibly occur next. The film also shifts

hand-drawn animation with CG effects,

beautiful animation, and soundtrack all

between lighthearted moments and seri-

making it seem like events are about to

work together to create a piece of art

ous times, generating a range of emotions

pop out of the screen and truly come to

that will forever continue to impact the

throughout.

life.

animation community as a whole.

Promare is an incredible film that

CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES

CARTOON

PHOTOS BY TH

N MONDAY

CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES

HE CHAT STAFF

MAXINE MARTINEZ FEATURES EDITOR

On a typical school day, the halls of PPCHS are a sea of maroon, black, grey, and white; however, on Monday, October 20, 2019, was nothing but typical as the start of spirit week commences with students participating in “Cartoon Monday.” The halls were a flurry of activity. Flashes of colors. Small bursts of laughter. The students’ excitement could not be contained, most were excited to see what persona their peers have taken on and in turn, showcase their own creative takes on anything from classic to obscure cartoons. This year’s most popular choices seemed to be inspired by Disney and Pixar. Characters from “Toy Story” to “Mickey Mouse” were seen taking the place of students. Along with this, the characters from “Fairly OddParents” and the “SuperMario” franchise were a common sight. Students were not the only ones getting involved in displaying school spirit, since teachers and other members of the faculty jumped on the opportunity to dress up. For example, the English department went full out with their costumes replicating “The Addams Family.” Cartoon Monday was a perfect way to start off PPCHS’ annual Spirit Week and encourage other students to get involved in the upcoming days as well.

CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES

Charterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s New â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Circle PHOTOS BY:

ARIANA

WEB MANGIN

Spirit week is all about being creative

PPCHS students got to show their cre the circle of their life. Some students e ful onesies, cute stuffed animals, and s in their mouth! Other students took on Students painted their hair grey, put o their backs as they walked down the h saggy sweatpants to travel to the near f in the fun and flashed through time! W their creative costumes, they were gree PPCHS Fashion club did a pop up fashi ness professionals. All eyes were on t crisp collared shirts as they strutted do a sneak peek at what was to come at pe was a major success and got the whole

w and Improved of Lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; CHAT STAFF

A ORTIZ

NG EDITOR

and having fun. On Tuesday October 22, eativity as they travelled in time through embraced their younger years with colorsome even went as far to having a binkie n their future and became senior citizens. on their best floral dresses, and hunched halls. Some wore their college gear and future in college. Teachers also took part While students were already having fun in eted with a special surprise during lunch. ion show themed around becoming busithe models dressed in sharp blazers and own the whole cafeteria, giving everyone ep rally on Friday. Circle of Life Tuesday e student body involved!

CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES

Around t SAMANTHA MIRAGLIOTTA STAFF WRITER

On October 23rd, day 3 of Spirit week occurred, and students were seen walking

the halls representing their different cultures. Students from everywhere dressed and showed their cultural pride with their festive flags and shirts. Jags represented their origins, which is a big part of many charter studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; lives. Some students represented their different hispanic countries by wearing soccer jerseys and their flags, most seen being Colombian jerseys. As students took pictures on the steps of the River of Grass, the sun shone bright on black, green, and yellow students from Jamaica. Haitian students took pictures on the steps, showing off their blue, red, and white. During lunch, students from different places walked onto the stage to show off their outfit. All in all, the 3rd day of spirit week was a success. Knowing where youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re from allows for others to connect in unexpected ways. The students learned crucial facts about their friends, faculty, and peers.

the World

CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES

PHOTOS BY: CHAT STAFF

CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES

Photos By: CHAT Staff ALAN MATHEW NEWS EDITOR

It was a trip in time for Charter on Thursday as bell bottoms, flower crowns, and peace sign headbands made a 70’s-style comeback all over campus. Everyone from the freshmen to the seniors, including most if not all of the administration and staff, got into the spirit of the day. As afros and bandanas sat prominently on their heads, students walked from class to class talking excitedly. Gasps of delight and surprise were heard throughout the day as friends found each other in a well thought out, bright outfits. At more than a few points, dozens of students wearing tie dye shirts grouped up, creating a dazzling kaleidoscope of grass greens, azure blues, majestic magentas, and thousands of shades of each along with a few more unique colors. Hippies and protestors alike took on the creativity of Spirit Week while channeling the energies, emotions, and, most importantly, the vibes of the decade. Lovers --not fighters-- filled Pines Charter at least for one day, occupying the school in the most peaceful and relaxed demonstration of school spirit in quite some time. Without a doubt, Charter would have made anyone from the 70’s proud as cultures and time periods blended to shape a wonderful celebration of Thursday’s theme, the opportunities it offered, and the ideas it inspired.

CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES

FEAR THE P

Pho

19 CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES

PAW FRIDAY

otos By: CHAT STAFF GABRIELA CARVAJAL STAFF WRITER

n the final day of spirit week, Charter students walked through the big, black gates with an abundance of school pride. Although everyone had to wear uniform bottoms, this didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stop students from displaying their Pines Charter spirit. Every year, jags use school colors to paint dots on their face and hands on their legs, and 2019-2020 was no different. Many students strut into school with their spirit shirts, along with the school colors on their wrists or their faces. By far, jags declared their territory with the Charter rainbow: gray, maroon, white, and black. With the pep rally being on the same day, students and staff alike looked forward to a fun end to the day. Even though Pembroke Pines Charter High School may be a small high school, jags never fail to come out with a plethora of school spirit, more so than rival schools. As homecoming week came to an end, students anxiously awaited the homecoming dance and game that were approaching. PPCHS was full of jag pride, and a great end to the week.

CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES

Bringing the Pep to Pep Rally Photo By: Francesca Brito

CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES

School spirit was riding high on Friday 25th at Pines Charter. To conclude spirit week,

each student passionately wore the colors of the school with a spirit shirt. Sports teams and clubs eagerly awaited the end of the day where they would be running out and performing with their peers in front of the entire school. The announcement at 12:15 marked the release of people participating in the fall pep rally. Every team participating in the fall season waited in the breezeway, waiting to be called out into the gym. The gym was beautifully decorated with a large banner reading, Charter Night Fever Fall Pep Rally. Although this banner seemed to be effortlessly and seamlessly put together, much thought and design was put into its creation. Senior Dayeralise Carvajal states, “I helped a lot with the mural. It had about 5 pieces of long banner paper attached together. We were scared it was going to rip but we managed to get it up with fishing line. Originally, we were gonna hang it up on the volleyball poles, but the banner was too big. Instead, we called Randy to get a lift so we could hang it on the speakers. It managed to stay up throughout pep rally and it is still in the gym.” The entrance had an archway lit up with different colors where the students entered. People who were not affiliated with a club performing or a fall sport had to pay $3 to get a green wristband to enter. To start off the rally, the Chorus Club sang the national anthem while a few members of ASL signed the song. Each sport was announced and ran to the center of the gym performing a chant or cheer. One of the most applauded cheers was for the bowling team, where some of the students acted like pins and fell when one of the team members bowled an imaginary ball. The start of the event definitely “hyped” the students. To keep the crowd going, a chant designed by the SGA kept the competitive side of each student alive. While it seemed that the dance team outshined everyone with their spirit, some students on the other side inspired the crowd to pick up their energy. The dance and cheer teams added the real “pep” in this rally. With well-rehearsed dances and routines, it got everyone engaged leaving the audience astounded. Their flexibility, coordination, and strength made the performances seem surreal. Performer and Junior Michael Rueda stated, “Being able to perform in front of my classmates is a nerve-wracking, yet thrilling experience that allows me to put smiles on people’s faces.” The cheering and dance performance brought students together as they loudly cheered for their classmates. The conclusion of the pep rally was brought together by the drumline. As students left the rally feelings of pride in their school overwhelmed the crowd. Freshman Jessica McIntosh states, “[Pep Rally] was an overall fun experience and something I [will] look forward to attending again. I enjoyed it even more because I got to participate in it [since] I was on the volleyball team.” For Jessica, this Pep Rally was her first, and it definitely was a special one since she was apart of it. Being an athlete and participating in Pep Rallies can be a very special moment, and for many, it’s just that. Sophomore Alana Benitez states, “Pep Rally was interesting to watch and see all the people in my school who are different, come together to perform and cheer on other students”. Pep Rally allows for the school to come together and create something that many will remember and carry on through the rest of their high school lives and beyond.

Photos By: Natali Brito

CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES

Photos By: CHAT Staff

REBEKAH JACOB MANGING EDITOR

n the night of October 26, PPCHS defeated all high school clichés by creating a lively 70’s-inspired experience that gave everyone who set foot onto groovy grounds high disco fever. This year’s homecoming dance was located inside the school cafeteria, which was utterly transformed into an animated and glowing atmosphere with bright fluorescent lights beaming in every direction. As students entered the disco-styled room, their expectations were completely surpassed as they took in the setting in front of them. This heated affair offered a one-of-a-kind experience, as seniors prepared to close off their last year and freshman enjoyed their first. Upon entering the vivid room, students were warmly greeted by Charter staff and instantly swept off their feet by the radiance of purples, blues, and greens gleaming across the dance floor. Glittering patterns of gold and silver drapes lined the cafeteria from wall to wall, quickly becoming the background to every attendee’s perfect picture. An anonymous freshman states, “The decorations and lights were so scenic that I could hardly tell it was the school cafeteria! Even though homecoming is stereotypically supposed to be something that’s “not for freshman,” I had a spectacular time.” But no one could forget the best decoration of all: Suspended 100 feet in the air, a massive silver disco ball, its brilliance undeniably catching the eye of every individual that walked in. “I was very impressed but shocked by the gigantic disco ball. It really added the cherry on top to the disco-themed party and instantly made the room look a thousand times better. Definitely one for the books,” expressed senior Emily Alan. Additionally, projected on the wall adjacent to the entrance doors were enormous flower-clouds ranging from soft yellows and reds to neon purples, centered with a luminous white sign that read Charter Night Fever in skater font. The entire scene of blazing colors undoubtedly gave way to the spacious and glimmering dance floor that lay waiting for jags. As the talented DJ began to play some fan favorites, jags unfailingly exerted a rather frisky and lively spirit on the dance floor, not holding back to bust out their best dance moves. A subtle mix of Latin and classic old tracks, the DJ successfully grabbed students’ attention by taking them on a trip down memory lane with childhood favorites such as “Classic” and “Dancing Queen.” He also kept the crowd on their feet with modern day music and biggest hits including Sage The Gemini’s hyped Red Nose and DJ Casper’s favored Cha Cha Slide. Sophomore Evangeline Rajeev said, “I had so much fun on the dancefloor! Some of my favorites were the old classics; they definitely got me exhilarated and dancing hard with my friends.” The mix between club-like music and a couple of slow dances truly offered a diverse touch that allowed for new and engaging interactions amongst students. As the night came to a close, their ambitious dancing was interrupted for the most pivotal moment of the night. Senior couple Jake Rodriguez and Samantha Cortez were victoriously crowned homecoming king and queen! Rows of glimmering white sparklers popped in each corner of the dance floor as rays of neon colors blasted the room to celebrate the precious moment. As the cheering roared and the audience gathered around, admiring the majestic crowns and silver sashes spelling out their triumph, a single spotlight faced the elated couple as they shared a sweet smooch to end the night off with a bang. To say the night was a glammering success is an understatement. Junior Gabriela Velasquez said it best when she voiced, “The night ended off seamlessly, and I still felt a thrill in my bones when the dance ended.” Seniors departed the school with radiant smiles and bittersweet memories to hold on to. Pulling off a 70’s disco-theme so effortlessly proved magnificent, as it captured every essence of #CharterNightFever and ultimately had students electrified at the end of the night. Still aroused by the classically fun disco style, tired seniors were nevertheless willing to proceed to the after parties, while countless others called it a night and proceeded home to rest and relax with fellow peers. This 70’s themed homecoming truly redefined a perfect night, and unfailingly proved to be a spectacular once-in-a-lifetime experience for PPCHS.

CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES

Sports

CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES

e m a G t u O Pink UELA

MICHAEL M

ITOR

SPORTS ED

Photos By: Andres Alfonso

The 2019 season couldn’t have started off better for jags. Already with a pre-season and season-opening victory under their belts, Pines Charter had their first 2-0 start in school history. However, the Jaguars have started to slide. Back on August 29, Charter played their second away-game when they faced the Saint Andrews Scots. After scoring a touchdown earlier in the game, the Jags went into the half with a 7-6 lead. Pines tied the game 14-14 midway through the fourth quarter, but unfortunately suffered their first defeat, 22-14. Pines Charter was now 2-1 overall on the young season, and turned toward the home opener. On September 20, Pines Charter hosted Coral Springs Charter in their home opener, which was the Jags’ blackout game. The team wore their new all-black helmets, with their traditional black jerseys and black pants. There were parents, students, and teachers in black attire in every bleacher seat. It was a slow start for the Jags, and it continued as they trailed 17-7 at halftime. Whatever halftime adjustments the team attempted to make in the second half failed, as Charter suffered their second consecutive loss, 31-7. The Jaguars now stand at 2-2 on the year. Junior Emmanuel Roman has put his faith in the team. “I feel that the football team is actually doing very well. If you look back then and now, you could definitely see the difference and growth that the team has made,” he said. “Before, they couldn’t even score a touchdown and now, they’re actually winning games. People calling the team trash and all that stuff is motivating the team to be better because they want to prove everybody wrong and show them that they’re trying very hard.” Charter was now focused on their whiteout game, which also happened to be Charter Family Night where they hosted LaSalle. It was a sold-out game, with families from each of the Pines Charter campuses. It was an exciting game all the way to the finish, but unfortunately the Jaguars came up short in a 33-26 defeat. Sophomore Jeremy Rodriguez plays for the JV team. Even though he didn’t play on Friday, he still dressed out, just in case the team needed him. “It was a good game,” he said. Charter fell to 2-3 for the season. Senior Malik Irons, one of the starting defensive linemen, said that he’s most looking forward to getting “a pick” in the next game. When asked if he had any comments on his performance this year, he said “Not really.” Next up for Charter was a tough October schedule. Charter kicked off October by traveling to Saint Brendan on Friday. The Jags were looking for their first win since August 22. It was a rough game from the first possession, and it only got worse through the third quarter. Although it got better towards the end of the game, the Jags suffered a 43-22 defeat. October 17th was a home game for the Jaguars, where they faced Inlet Grove in the pinkout game, which supported breast cancer awareness. This was the final game before homecoming. Charter played their hearts out, earning a 16-6 victory. Freshman Luca Mancini plays on JV. “It was a great needed win that felt worth it because it showed how hard these boys worked to win. ” The win marked the Jags’ first home victory in five years. With just two games left, the Jags are now 3-4 and looking to continue their hard work, and they are very determined to get to the postseason. This is only the start of good things to come, we can only wait and see what the future has in store. MICHAEL MUELA SPORTS EDITOR

Black Out Game

Photo By: Natali Brito

SPORTS CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES

Jags Fall Short in Anticipated Homecoming Game MICHAEL MUELA SPORTS EDITOR

Friday, October 25th, 2019 was a special night because it was the day of the very anticipated annual homecoming game. It was a sold out crowd, as the fans were eager to see the Jaguars compete. Charter was coming off their first home win in five years, and the team was looking to win their second consecutive game. As a couple of touchdowns gave the jags an early lead, the game seemed to spring into action immediately. One student in particular offered her pregame thoughts. Sophomore Natalie Brito says,“With the game starting, I don’t think they’ll win because of the other team’s bigger size, but I’m hoping the Jags win their second-to-last home game.” It was an incredible start to the game. Heading into the second quarter, the Jags maintained a decent lead, and were looking to build on it. Another touchdown and a pair of field goals gave the Jags a 27-6 lead at halftime. The team looked to be in their best shape of the season in the first half. Senior Trace Wills was thrilled to see Charter playing well. He says, “This game was so exciting. I’m glad I went and for next season, this team will be better.” Charter would attempt to carry over their play from the first half into the second half, but that was when everything would begin to slide. In the third quarter, Dade Christian would begin to mount a comeback that no one saw coming. The Jags defense couldn’t stop Dade Christian’s offense in the second half. “How could they let that game go,” said freshman Luca Mancini, who plays on JV. “I’m still shocked.” The crowd was stunned as silence fell over the field, and the Jags suffered a shocking defeat, 34-30. “It was kind of sad and upsetting because of how well we were doing,” said junior Madison Muela. The Jags fell to 3-5 overall on the season. The jags now have to turn their focus to Pompano. Senior captain Dakota Parsons reflected on the loss. “The loss hit really hard especially for all the seniors because that was our last homecoming. We just have to focus up and show out for our last high school game ever. We really need this win for the program, but especially for our coaches who have made so many sacrifices for us.” Even though it was a tough loss, the Jags still have hope to win their last game. Charter’s final game of the season is on Friday, November 1st against Pompano, which also happens to be senior night, where the team’s seniors will play their final games.

Photos By: Andres Alfonso

26 LIFESTYLE

CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES

HALLOWEEN HORROR: LAST-MINUTE COSTUME IDEAS SAMANTHA CRUZ STAFF WRITER

Slightly colder weather and the smell of pumpkin-spiced lattes – fall season has finally arrived. With that comes the spookiest time of the year, Halloween. A day full of creative

costumes and outfits to jazz up the season. We all strive to stand out from the rest but get lost in a jumbled mess of what exactly to do for this one night of the year. Here are three easy and unique Halloween costumes to make you shine beyond the rest.

PACMAN and Ghost: 1. Lay out t-shirt and gather materials. 2. Using the marker, draw a basic oval shape onto the cardboard. This will represent the eye of the ghost. Then draw a smaller circle, which will be the pupil. For PACMAN, draw a triangle and large circle. 3. Cut out shapes. These will be the stencils for the design. 4. Trace the corresponding shapes onto the t-shirts using the marker 5. Fill in the outlines with the correct color paint.

“Cereal” killer:

1. Lay out your t-shirt and materials.

2. Using a large paintbrush, dip it in red acrylic paint. Hold out the brush and aim it towards the t-shirt. Run your thumb across the top of the bristles and pull your hand towards you. This should create a splatter effect, similar to blood. 3. Using the black paint, write out the words “cereal killer” on the front. 4. While it dries, take your empty mini cereal boxes and scissors and cut a slit into the middle of the front of the cereal box. This should be big enough for the plastic knife. Insert the knife in the box and apply glue to secure it. 5. When the shirt is completely dry, use hot glue and attach the cereal boxes to the front of the shirt.

Jellyfish: 1. Count how many panels the umbrella has. Each panel should have about 2 streamers in each. 2. Using scissors, cut the party streamers in the number you calculated. Don’t worry about being perfect, the different sizes can help add your own personal touch. Just make sure that the tentacles are not to short. 3. Glue each streamer down and let it dry. 4. With the same glue, apply large googly eyes. If you’d rather use paint or don’t have googly eyes, paint on the inside of the umbrella - first the black paint in small dots, then the white. Let it dry.

With these costumes, you can enjoy a simple and easy Halloween day without the stress of the perfect outfit. But you can still get creative with it. You don’t have to spend tons of money on something you will only wear once; just do it yourself.

Fun in the Floridian Fall MAXINE MARTINEZ

Across the United States, the entrance

of fall gives way to cold weather and changing leaves. The air takes on a crisp sweet smell as September turns to August and then October. While other states take out their fall jackets and sweaters, those residing in South Florida keep their swimsuits and sunblock close at hand. However, this does not mean that they can’t enjoy any fall festivities in spite of the summerlike weather. Football games, pumpkin patches, and haunted houses are just a few examples of things that help make fall what it is and can still be enjoyed by many jags. The PC football season has already begun and is a perfect way to spend Friday nights during Autumn and, like junior Fallon Katz states, “cheer for our football team and spend time with friends.” South Floridians also know that fall means the temperature outside goes from unbearably hot to uncomfortably hot. “The weather gets more comfortable and there are many fun activities

FEATURES EDITOR

to partake in like going to local pumpkin patches, going on hayrides, or even trick or treating,” expressed freshman Briana Cajigas. Fall walks hand-in-hand with the long-awaited spooky season, which many residents in Florida celebrate by going to Halloween Horror Nights, an event that many jags get to participate in. “Halloween Horror nights is quite the rave during this time period. There’s even Disney and a couple of other things that aren›t even seasonal,” said sophomore Lucas Valdes. Students at PPCHS know that the week of October is filled with stories from peers about their scares at the park. Living in South Florida means that snow and cold weather are unlikely occurrences. Senior Nicole Munar expressed, “We aren’t able to experience cold weather or changing leaves. We’re only able to see how other states are like in the [traditional] fall setting.” While this is true, there are still plenty of activities to honor the notso changing leaves. Some like freshman

Arvil Lopez appreciate the small change in temperature as an excuse to wear fall attire and cook fall-related food. Bare trees, chilly weather, and sprinkles of snow is the expected version of fall, but in Florida it is not the reality - in-

stead, it’s humidity, swimsuits, and rain. However, this does not mean that fall is not celebrated. Whether it’s having a picnic on the beach or visiting one of Florida’s many amusement parks, there is always something festive and exciting to do.

Graphic By: Shane Wooden

LIFESTYLE

Order Up!

CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES

GABRIELA CARVAJAL STAFF WRITER

Over the past few years a shift has oc-

curred in the daily American’s diet. Now, instead of eating meat on a daily basis, Americans are turning towards vegetarian and vegan diets. Why this sudden change? Thanks to social media, this lifestyle is becoming the new trend. Many accounts on Instagram, Facebook, etc. have appealed to many consumers, regarding the fact that the food is a whole lot “greener.” With this exposure, 95% of US grocery stores now sell plant-based products. (forbes.com) In Pembroke Pines, we see a push for healthier alternatives with more “healthy” restaurants, such as businesses Diced and Toss Up Salad. Indeed, the “number of U.S consumers that identify themselves as vegan grew from 1% to 6% between 2014-2017, a 600% increase” (forbes. com). The acceptance for vegans and vegetarians alike has truly risen. With the popularity of a vegan/vegetarian diet, school districts across the US are starting to incorporate vegan meals into their cafeterias starting from the 20182019 school year. Starting with Los Angeles schools, they have been taking on the crusade by adding healthier alternatives to their school lunches. The New York public school system, are promoting this by making Meatless Mondays. More importantly,

“[there are] 14% of school districts across the country that provided vegan lunches for kids in at least one school in 2017, up from 11.5% in 2016, according to the School Nutrition Association” (pewtrusts. org) Senior, Madison Hurtado has spoken, “If I were to go vegan I will last 2 months.” The vegan/vegetarian trend is on the rise, pointing to a shift in the consumption of food. This lifestyle is becoming adopted in many cultures, with countries taking the initiative in promoting a healthier diet. Studies show “a worldwide increase in the interest of veganism from 2004 to 2018. Israel, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand have all embraced this lifestyle.” The key to promote this lifestyle includes the taste, price, and convenience. Freshman Kailey Medina states, “If I were to adapt a vegan/vegetarian diet the convenience, health benefits it can assist in, and the causes it promotes is something I take into account.” Even though a vegan diet may be difficult to follow through with is restrictions, a plant-based diet can assist in one’s health. For example, obesity. This disease is an epidemic all over the world, leaving many overweight and craving for those sweets. If one adapts to this diet, it will add to the protection of cardiovas-

cular disease, some cancers, and offer additional preservation against obesity. With many Americans suffering from this epidemic, this adjustment will offer extra protection against diabetes mellitus type 2, and hypertension. Keep in mind, to be invested in one’s health is a challenge, yet the benefits outweigh it difficulty. Food chains, specifically Burger King and McDonalds are investing themselves in the promotion of veganism/vegetarianism. Just this past August, Burger King rolled out its own plant based burger, the Impossible Whopper. To promote competition, McDonalds also introduced their own version of impossible meat with company Beyond Meat. To test their turnout, these food chains will test out their new products in Canada. Junior, Shannon Amor has quoted, “If there were vegan alternatives here, I would totally experiment the plant based foods” Popeyes has already rolled out vegan chicken of their own, which sold out in a mere 5 hours! “Veganism as a trend has really blown up. We’re currently in the process of working on both vegetarian and vegan options.” [stated] Jack Hinchcliffe.” (livekindly. co) Many agree veganism has turned the heads of many, which is why food chains have taken on the challenge to try to abide

by the health standards. Comprehensively, the vegan/vegetarian diets have increased, leading to a cleaner and greener planet as well as a healthy life. With the benefits this dietary can provide, the fact of the matter is whether one is ready to go outside of their comfort zones and try going meatless for a period of time. Imagine the difference one can experience just by going green?

Easy Treats (No Tricks) For This Halloween! SOPHIA CORTES

weet and cinnamon-y pumpkin pie, dry and sugary candy corn, ooey and gooey chocolate candies filled with caramel, marshmallow, or peanut butter, all scrumptious Halloween treats found everywhere from the moment chill Autumn winds swirl through the air. Piles of candies and chocolates all wrapped in orange and black are already lining the shelves of various Walmarts and Publixes. “I absolutely love Halloween themed food!” says junior Alexis Appio. “They bring me back to my childhood, my favorite treat being Seaside Park’s saltwater taffy in New Jersey, I used to go there a lot as a kid.” While orange Oreos and spooky Snickers are Halloween musthaves, it’s always fun to get a little creative this time of year and look up new and creepy recipes from a spell book of terrifying treats. Or, you know, Pinterest. If you don’t have a Pinterest board stock full of complicated recipes bound to be culinary disasters to anyone who makes them who isn’t either Martha Stewart or Gordon Ramsey, don’t worry, the CHAT has got your back. Devilishly delicious treats don’t have to cost an arm or a leg, unless it’s a recipe for

ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

a zombie friend, in which Jags can impress your pals with a simple swish and flick! Down in South Florida, Jags don’t really feel the iconic fall weather until mid-January, but if you want a cool and fruity way to celebrate Halloween, strawberry ghosts are just the right thing for you! All you will need is melted white chocolate, coconut oil (optional), small chocolate chips, melted chocolate, and some spooky strawberries. Mix in 1 teaspoon of coconut oil with 1 ½ cup of melted white chocolate, then dip your strawberries in the chocolate and set them to cool for 10 minutes after you’ve added the small chocolate chips as eyes. While you’re waiting for your ghosts to cool, get your melted chocolate ready in a plastic bag to pipe the mouths onto the strawberries. After everything is set and done and your ghosts all have mouths, they’re ready to be served and munched on! “While I’ve never done strawberry ghosts,” says freshman Vanessa Garcia, “at home, my mom and I make pumpkin shaped dog treats for our puppy, it’s a really fun way for us to spend time together!” Some students might want a more traditional approach to Halloween treats, and pumpkin muffins certainly fit

the bill. “I love making pumpkin muffins!” says senior Samantha Cover. “People might find the idea of making muffins too difficult, but they’re actually very easy to make, and whenever I make them the house ends up smelling like cinnamon and fall.” There are as many recipes for pumpkin muffins as knock off candy brands, so whatever diet you adhere to, you’re bound to find a simple recipe for you to get your pumpkin fix this fall. Don’t feel like pulling out your cauldron but still want to impress your ghoulfriends? Spider web brownies are the way to go! “While candy corn is my favorite Halloween candy, I think I would like to try out the brownies,” says sophomore Astrid Villarroel, “they seem super cute!” All you will need to make this sweet treat are some store bought brownies (if you’re feeling like a kitchen witch, feel free to make your own!) and a bag of marshmallows, however size you want them to be. Heat your marshmallows in the microwave, usually for 30 seconds, until they’re nice and gooey. Then take a fork and swirl them around until your marshmallows are smoothed out, casually chant “bubble bubble, toil and trouble” for an enhanced

spooky effect. Once you’ve gotten your marshmallow drip ready, take a fork and dribble the melted marshmallow all over your brownies. This is when you can let the creative spirit that possesses you shine through! Don’t want spider webs but mummy bandages? Go for it! Some ghosts? No one is stopping you! A great way to make this season even more ghostly is to get out of your coffin and try out new and fun treats with your friends and family. It’s bound to be spooktacular!

Graphic By: Justin Pierce

28 TECHNOLOGY

CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES

Nostalgia: The Beloved Video Game The traditional Mario Kart has recently

moved onto mobile devices, becoming more popular by the second. Mario Kart has always been a favorite by many, from the Nintendo DS to Nintendo Switch, but now it’s easier than ever to use. With the advancements and improvements on the app, users are now becoming more interested.

From the days where Mario Kart was popular on the Nintendo DS to now where on any mobile device it’s possible to play, distinctly shows how today’s technology has improved. With these improvements, moving Mario Kart to mobile devices brings back memories for some users. Sophomore Cristina Pena states, “It

Graphic By: Dominick Zarcadoolas

MORGAN LIND STAFF WRITER

brings back memories from my childhood and [shows] how it’s greatly developed [over the years].” With the game coming into the spotlight again, users who used to play the beloved game can relive those moments and recount parts of their childhood. When the game first came out in 1992, it became popular quickly and was a favorite amongst its consumers. Junior Pawnline Alcime says, “Everyone playing Mario Kart all day and always trying to get in first place [is exciting].” Mario Kart can become very competitive between the different people playing. So when the game made its comeback, many were stoked to play against their friends yet again. Senior Serina Cotto additionally expresses, “The graphics in the game are nice… overall

it’s a fun and great way to stop boredom.” Video games are meant for entertainment and enjoyment for its consumers, and with the game idea of a race, users will become more interested especially with the different characters one can unlock, racing gear, and more. While this game has entertained many, it’s also capable of negatively affecting teens. Freshman Meggan Martin states, “I think Mario Kart is very time-consuming. Teens should not be playing this [and should rather] be studying or playing sports than being on their phones.” Having such an entertaining and popular reputation, this game affects teens and their work ethic. When in school, at home, or somewhere where one needs to focus, it becomes an easy distraction of picking up your phone and playing the game for hours. Like social media apps, games are also an interruption amongst more significant priorities, and Mario Kart is no exception. This game can distract teens and other users of

all ages from their responsibilities due to the popularity of the app. But now, since the app is getting more popular on mobile devices, they’ve added a new addition that allows the company to make more profit. When users get to a certain level, they have to buy a “gold pass,” which allows them to retrieve certain gifts such as new karts, characters, and other additions. This is a big way for the company to make a profit off of their users, which provides benefits for the company. Mario Kart has been a beloved game since it first came out. Now since technology has developed and changed quite a bit since 1992, the game has found itself on the newest platform - mobile devices. The game has quickly become mainstream again, displaying the popularity of this racing game.

To iPhone or Not to iPhone GABRIELA CARVAJAL STAFF WRITER

Photo By: Yoko Witkowski

On September 20, Apple released their

new line of products, naming the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPad Air, as well as the Apple Watch Series 5. With a boatload of new features, Apple is trying to get their groove back in product sales. “iPhone sales [have been] falling 12% in the fiscal third quarter, profits expected to dip $9.6 billion” (CNET). Part of the problem with the sales is the fact that more and more people are trading in iPhones for Androids. Interestingly, Apple claims that their iPhone 10R was one of the most popular phones in the world with a 99% satisfaction rate. Noting this, the successor to the iPhone 10R is the iPhone 11. This new phone is starting at $699, making it a possible popular product due to the low starting price compared to their competitor, Samsung S10e ($750). The new line of iPhones is being combated with the Android’s Note 10, Note 10 Plus, and the Note 10+ 5G, which were released on August 7. The iPhone 11 Pro starts at $999, along with the iPhone 11 Pro Max that starts at $1,099. Senior Nate Palmer said, “Personally, I feel the starting prices are a little high, but I see why. As technology advances so does the prices.” Yet, with this

high price one gets many new features. This phone reps 3 new cameras, allowing 3 options in wide shots. It additionally features extra durability towards water and a clean finishing of glass on the back of the iPhone. Keep in mind, the iPhone Pro and its competitors (Samsung’s Note 10 and Note 10 plus) all have water-resistant coating, fast-wired charging, and wireless charging. However, the one way the iPhone 11 Pro stands out is the fact that it has Face ID. Note 10 arguably has reverse wireless charging allowing one to share power between other phones as well as other wireless products, an “S” pen styles featured solely in the Note series, and a dedicated aux as well as storage. The iPhone 11 Pro has the best front-facing camera with a 12 megapixel with Face ID compared to the 10 megapixel Samsung has. The iPhone 11 Pro also flexes four more hours of battery life compared to the 10XR, and the iPhone Pro Max flexes five more hours of battery life compared to the iPhone XS Max. Freshman, Sara Rivera stated, “Upon the release of the new Apple products, I think I would buy the new line of iPhones. I think the fact that they have advanced photography pressures with the new Android phones.” This iPhone series features

a new slow-mo selfie, Night Mode, and an improved portrait mode. Deep Fusion is a new feature that was made to compete with Google’s artificial intelligence-based photography. According to Apple’s Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing Phil Schiller, “[This] is the first time a Nero engine is responsible for generating an output image.” This feature goes “pixel-by-pixel processing photos, optimizing for texture, details, and noise in every part of the photo” (CNET). Junior, Rikel Richard expressed, “With the updated Apple products, I would probably invest in the products.” All three iPhones have a 12-megapixel front-facing camera, yet the only thing different for the iPhone 11 and the iPhone 11 Pro is the number of cameras - most people would go with the iPhone 11 due to that factor. Furthermore, Apple released the Apple Watch Series 5 and a new iPad Air (iPad Pro is said to come out later this year or beginning of 2020.) In the new model of the iPad Air, Apple did upgrade the screen to a new 10.2 inch display, compared to the original 9.7 inch display, as well as a new smart connector for the attachable keyboard. The iPad features a new 8.10 fusion chip, which gives it more power

from the same amount of money. As for the watch, it features a new always-on retina display. This allows it to dim and save the battery life. At the same time, this feature still enables certain apps to work even on low-power mode. Sophomore, Steven Cover stated, “Between the iPad Air and the new version of the Apple Watch Series the Apple Watch Series for me sounds more appealing for the convince it brings along with the updated designs/apps.” On top of that, it reps a new compass feature as well as the ability to do international emergency calling. One can simply call 911 or emergency help, regardless of the presence of WIFI. The watch is 100% recycled aluminum as well as stainless steel colorways. The starting price for the new Apple Watch is $399 and $500 for the new iPad Air. Overall, the new launch of all these Apple products is evolutionary compared to the original iPhone in 2007. Even though it may seem a lot in regards to pricing, the features that come along with it is worth the price.

TECHNOLOGY 29

Cats, Computers, and Quantum Supremacy

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Schrödinger’s cat is a thought experi-

ment on quantum mechanics that relatively few people have seriously considered and even fewer people have really understood. But now, with the news that Google has reportedly achieved quantum supremacy, the cat needs to be contemplated once again. Essentially, Schrödinger asked us to picture a box. Inside the box, put a cat --a hypothetical one, not an actual one-- and then put a poison inside the box that would kill the cat after an unknown amount of time. Finally, close the box. The point of the experiment wasn’t to encourage animal cruelty but to actually highlight the nature of quantum particles and how they’re observed. The cat, Schrödinger said, was both dead and alive until the box was opened. At that point, one of those realities had to solidify. Now, obviously, that’s not how things work in the real world. To quote junior Ahmari Avin, “Sometimes science can take the world and turn it upside down. It’s hard to wrap your mind around but

ALAN MATHEW NEWS EDITOR

usually worth at least trying to.” It seems, when it comes to subatomic particles and a phenomenon known as superposition, that these dual realities are actually both possible and real. Until they’re observed, subatomic particles exist in either multiple states or fluctuating states depending on which theory one subscribes to. This is superposition, and it applies to more than just theory. It can also help take computers today and revolutionize them. Simply put, modern-day computers store information as 1’s or 0’s, or bits. Those build up in complicated ways to give humanity the internet as we know it. Now, if scientists and researchers were able to create quantum computers, ones capable of using bits that could exist as 1’s and 0’s at the same time, then the calculating power of those computers would be nearly boundless. Theoretically, computers could process information at magnitudes higher than what they can now (think scientific notation, not simple multiplication). Now, Google has taken a monumental step closer to the computers of science fiction by reportedly achieving

what’s known as quantum supremacy. Forbes defines quantum supremacy as “[the idea that] quantum computers could efficiently solve a computation that a classical computer [could] only solve inefficiently.” And, as a now removed Google research paper alleged, Google did just that. The report said that the “quantum computer’s processor allowed a calculation to be performed in just over 3 minutes. That calculation would take 10,000 years on IBM’s Summit, the world’s most powerful commercial computer” (The Financial Times). This milestone is just that, though: a milestone. Reaching this point isn’t the end all be all for quantum computers by any means. To paraphrase senior Jordyn Mastrosimone, the first generation quantum computers will probably be as expensive as they are impractical to day to day life. It goes a long way to showing, however, that researchers and scientists are getting closer to a world where quantum computers, as opposed to our classical ones, are dominant.

raise the risk of dependency, making it more likely that people might stop thinking for themselves or functioning on the level that is normal for this time. But these same concerns were raised when the first computers were being introduced as well. Think of this as simply the newest frontier to cross. In the early 40’s and 50’s when the precursors to our modern-day computers began to take form, they were remarkable for their potential if not their practicality. That time has come again. Google attaining quantum supremacy will be but a note on a future timeline, but for now, it exists as the most meaningful signifier of a future filled with quantum computing. “[If] this [is] true, then computers would be able to process so much information at one time that they [would] become a deciding factor of the future,” observed sophomore Carolina Calonge. And a future like that is definitely worth keeping an eye out for, especially since it would take the world into a new age of computing entirely.

Freshman Reef Ostendorf observed that these advanced technologies would also

Graphic By: Jaxen Wyborny

VVV

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Students Start With Hello KIERSTEN WARREN STUDENT LIFE EDITOR

ften in high school, students get caught up in the academics and social circles. It can sometimes seem as though no one wants to branch out and become friends with other people. From the week of September 23 to 27th, PPCHS’ Student Government Association challenged students to simply, ‘start with hello.’ The Sandy Hook Promise, the organization that founded “start with hello week”, is a non-profit organization founded by loved ones of those killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14th, 2012. It’s based in Newtown, CT, and the organization’s mission is to create a society that wants to prevent shootings or any other violent acts in schools. Sandy Hook Promise has other programs, along with start with hello week, including ‘Say Something’, which trains students to look for warning signs among their peers, and has started a club dedicated to the orga-

nization, called ‘SAVE Promise’ clubs. SAVE, Students Against Violence Everywhere, Promise Club encourages students to take the lead in keeping their school safe by reinforcing the messages of ‘Start with Hello’ and ‘Say Something.’ Each club receives tools and events to host at their school to promote kindness, inclusiveness, and the value of looking out for each other.

ers said hello in their native language. “Some said hello in Spanish, French, and Arabic! It was a great start to the week.” On Tuesday, students lined the halls with name tags. Sophomore Megan Lear says, “This day really influenced students to say hi and meet new people. I think it’s a great way to make someone’s day and make friends.” Students were seen expressing the week with a smile.

“Start with hello week” creates a culture of inclusion that values each individual at our school, and where we push the boundaries and limitations of a simple gesture such as hello. Starting on Monday, SGA members went from classroom to classroom spreading the word about the week’s activities. Junior Amaya John says, “We were assigned different classrooms to talk to during homeroom, and we talked about what was to come during the week.” After that, students and teach-

The purpose of the entire week is to raise awareness for not only social isolation, but mental health, and to help promote inclusion in schools. Wednesday’s activity was probably the most inclusive of the entire week. Senior Laura Dasilva says, “I think start with hello week was a success, and it accomplished its purpose. The week involved students, and therefore student participation was really high. My favorite activity was Wednesday’s...” Freshman Elisa Ortuzar says, “I think start with hello

Photo By: Justin Pierce

week was a great idea, and it went well. The activities for the week all impacted students.” In addition to Wednesday’s activity, SGA made a banner for the week, designed to be used as a background for pictures. The green banner had ‘clouds of encouragement’ on it, like ‘you’re smart’ or ‘you’re talented.’ Many students saw it hanging in the corner of the cafeteria and looked for it as an information poster for the week. All in all, the week was a success, focusing on small but powerful victories for social inclusion. Start with hello week wasn’t started to make a lasting impact on the entire school, but instead aiming to give just to help one student feel connected and included in their school environments. If you ever see anyone looking lonely and desiring a friend, just simply walk over and ‘start with hello.”

Graphic By: Rosa Gomez

Start With Hello Week RACHEL RIVERA & ARIANA ORTIZ

VOICE VERSUS VIOLENCE & WEB MANAGING EDITOR

Monday, September 23: Students greeted Start with Hello week by simply starting with hello. Members of Student Government Association and Spanish Honor Society visited classrooms during homeroom to explain what Start with Hello week is and how our school will be partaking in it throughout the rest of the week. The week kicked off by SGA and SHS encouraging students to greet each other in their native language.

Tuesday, September 24: With over 1,700 students attending PPCHS it’s impossible to know everyone. Tuesday gave teachers and students the chance to meet new people through

name tags. Students and teachers were given blank name tags that they had the chance to design any way they wanted. This exercise was a fun way for teachers and students to express themselves creatively through their unique name tags and use it as an opportunity to introduce themselves to others. Students used this as an opportunity for to branch out and make new friends.

Wednesday, September 25: Have you ever gave someone smile as you walk down the hall? Held the door for someone else? Small actions have a big impact, and on September 25, PPCHS students took the time to recognize how being kind can really improve someone’s

day. Random Act of Kindness Wednesday encouraged students to do something nice for other students or teachers that they don’t know. All around school students were trying their best to make someone›s day. Start with Hello aims to help students who may feel alone, so a random act of kindness can go a long way in helping someone who feels alone. SGA also set up a kindness tree in the cafeteria where students wrote something positive and uplifting on a leaf and pasted it onto the tree. Dozens of students were excited to spread a little kindness and by the end of both lunches, the tree was overflowing with messages.

Thursday, September 26:

Lunch activities are always a huge hit at PPCHS and Scavenger Hunt Thursday was no different. In the effort to take students out of their comfort zone and talk to people they normally wouldn’t, SGA members went around the cafeteria with activities for students to complete. For example, one activity read “Find someone in the cafeteria that you don’t know with the same shoes as you and talk to them for a few minutes.” After students have completed the activity, they had to take picture proof in front of the Start with Hello Banner and were rewarded with a piece of candy. It not only took students out of their comfort zone, but brought the whole student body together as everyone got to know each other.

Our Voices Vs. Violence

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CHAT STAFF

“I believe since the incident at Sandy Hook Elementary there have been both positive and negative effects that have come out of it. For instance, the Start With hello week organization efforts have made monumental impacts on today’s society and at our very school. It encourages students to be more socially active with each other, therefore decreasing future violence issues. However, there are some negative effects as well as the outbreak of shootings. I think that Sandy Hook is effectively fixing the wrongs they encounter in the past, by spreading the Sandy Hook promise message to every school.” -Freshman, Reef Ostendorf

“Since the tragedy at Sandy Hook, many things have changed in the school system to make the kids safer. Schools since then have tried to make it the safest place they can be with better security and protection to insure it wouldn’t happen again. Even though school shootings have still occurred after this the schools are still implementing rules in order to keep the students safe.” -Sophomore, Brianna Lind

“There’s a lot of fear about school shootings, but a conversation about mental health and gun control has been started. To fix the fear about school shootings, we should practice more inclusiveness within the school, because in the past decade, most school shooters have been students themselves.” -Sophomore, Tobe Onoh

“A bad thing is that there is more fear because of school shootings. A good thing would be that more safety and security measures have been taken in schools. [There should be] more practicing of code red drills in case [a shooting] does happen.” -Junior, Alyssa Hernandezs “Since the tragedy of Sandy Hook, one can have awareness in regards to the violence that happens on a daily basis and a safer environment with the new security measures added. However, with this tragedy there were many victims involved along with their families that were affected severely. To resolve this issue, fundraisers and support from the community would immensely help the families recover.” -Freshman, Christian Manuel

“Since Sandy Hook, schools have brought awareness to mental health for students. They use advertisements and PowerPoint presentations to make the public learn more about these situations and focus heavily on stopping shootings before they happen. However, it has led to students becoming more afraid of going to school. This paranoia seems to only increase as more copycats come out of it. While it may not be completely solved, a way to help this problem is by implementing more safety precautions and going over procedures on what to do in case these events may occur.” - Senior, Alisa Chavez

A PSA worth Crying Through ALAN MATHEW

Graphic By: Matthew Morales-Galdarnez

NEWS EDITOR

board is used to break a window to escape through, the socks are used as emergency tourniquets on a student reeling from a gunshot wound. The shooter is never seen, the pace of the video speeds up dramatically until it just stops, and the 66-second short ends as a girl’s sobs fade away into the background.

You’re in a classroom. The lights are

off. Students huddled in the corner. Panic describes what you’re feeling— or despair. Your friend has their phone out, their fingers frantic as they type, “I love you, mom.” This isn’t a drill. It doesn’t come with any warning, and third period doesn’t continue on like normal afterwards. It’s the grim reality of today’s America: a culture shaped, undeniably, by an epidemic of school shootings. One group has chosen to stare right into the eyes of that culture, even if it means looking right at the problem through tears. The Sandy Hook Promise is a non-profit organization that seeks to prevent school shootings before they happen. It strives to meet the issue head-on at a time when it’s altogether too normalized. As freshman Isabella Mago observed, “[It’s gotten to the point that] people have

normalized the thought of school shootings to the point where kids think it’s OK to joke about it.” But in reality, these jokes, deflections, or worrying senses of humor are a result of a society forced to cope. Some groups are working to tackle the problem at its roots. Co-founded in 2013 by Nicole Hockley, mother of Dylan Hockley, a 6-year-old boy who was killed during the Sandy Hook massacre, the Sandy Hook Promise is most famous for its annual PSA’s. The organization releases them to draw attention and force a conversation. This year’s PSA is titled “Backto-School Essentials.” The chilling video depicts initially cheerful school children holding average everyday items: headphones, sneakers, jackets, skateboards, and socks. Each normal item then takes on a new, unforeseeable use in the context of an active shooting while the tone shifts from pleasant to horrific. While the skate-

It’s hard to watch for a reason. As Hockley explains on the Promise’s webpage, “We cannot accept school shootings as the new normal in our country. Our goal with this PSA is to wake up parents to the horrible reality that our children endure. Gone are the days of viewing back-to-school as just a carefree time when school violence has become so prevalent.” She later admits that even she gets emotional watching the ending. To quote junior Arvin Saji, “In a society where we’re so inundated with shootings that we become desensitized, we need things like the Sandy Hook PSA to open our eyes again and make us feel the emotions we’re afraid to feel.” Otherwise, real conversations become that much harder to have. The Sandy Hook Promise also tries to put itself above politics in order to reach a wider audience with its common sense message of prevention. The organization advocates for this primarily through their “Know the Signs” effort, which seeks to equip students with the knowledge to spot warning signs before a shooting can take place at all.

By focusing on the human element, the Sandy Hook Promise focuses itself on a unique angle of attack. In the words of senior Jessica Chang, “The video was so artfully and cleverly composed, and the message so effectively conveyed […] I was so shocked at how powerful it was. I think we need more PSA’s like these that really address the problem head on and present it so explicitly [in order to shock people into seeing just] how prevalent and pressing and generally horrible gun violence is.” The organization, in its efforts to address its plans and goals, might be shockingly evocative, but only as evocative as the situation requires. Moreover, the shock factor they imbue into the PSA is signal boosted as much as possible to convey the message as far as possible. According to the Sandy Hook Promise website, major players like CNN, the WSJ, AMC, YouTube, Snapchat, and others have all joined in to share and spread the PSA as far as it’ll go. It’s the Sandy Hook Promise’s most ambitious campaign since its founding. Bringing about change has never been easy, especially if that change is supposed to be meaningful. “[The Sandy Hook Promise] is fighting to change the way things are by forcing America to stare at those who are at the most risk because of this problem, which is the children,” commented sophomore Astrid Villarroel. In its quest to help bring about change, the Sandy Hook Promise also does something very important: it teaches. It teaches us to not look away. It teaches us that confronting the issue is more worthwhile than cowering from it. It teaches us to not give up. Knowing what the signs are is critical, but knowing the final goal, the one above everything else, is even more important. Because like a sock tourniquet, the way we’re addressing school shootings in this country just isn’t an effective enough way to stop blood from being spilled.

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How Impeachment’s Turning Up the Heat on America ALAN MATHEW & KIERSTEN WARREN NEWS EDITOR & STUDENT LIFE

Graphic By: Jaxen Wyborney First things first: Impeachment is the process by which Congress raises charges against the president and then decides whether those charges demand a trial in the Senate and a removal from office. However, Congress, and specifically the House of Representatives, is not currently impeaching the president but rather beginning an impeachment inquiry. The difference seems subtle but is critical as everything is still in the investigative phase. The inquiry was officially launched on September 24, 2019. On that day, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi accused the president of attempting to enlist a foreign power into an effort to weaken a

political rival, former Vice President Joe Biden. Pelosi declared the act, which was brought to light by a whistleblower, a violation of his oath of office and a betrayal of national security (NYtimes). Freshman Camila King says, “Positive impacts from Trump’s impeachment could be a more responsible president who can make better decisions in our country.” For better or for worse, unfolding events have reprioritized conversations on other issues in the country. The potential charges center on a July 25th call between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky where, among other things, Joe Biden’s son Hunter Biden was discussed. For background, the younger Biden was a board member of a Ukrainian company known as Burisma Holdings, “which faced accusations of money laundering, fraud, and tax evasion” (Politifact). Hunter Biden joined the company in 2014 and only left in spring this year. President Trump, side by side with his personal attorney Rudy Giulani, “have suggested, without evidence, that [then Vice

President] Biden improperly pressured Ukraine to fire a prosecutor who had at one point been investigating Burisma Holdings” (businessinsider.com). If true, this would be a severe, possibly illegal breach of conduct by the elder Biden, but the impeachment inquiry itself doesn’t necessarily focus on that. Instead, it looks to the aforementioned July 25th between the two presidents. The nature of the call was brought forward by a whistleblower (an unnamed intelligence official) who claims that President Trump discussed reopening the investigation into Hunter Biden. Additionally, it’s come out that prior to the call, Trump ordered the suspension of about $400 million dollars to Ukraine (Vox). Sophomore Molly Masson says, “Whether you support Trump or don’t, don’t allow yourself to be persuaded by the news channels and other opinions. Even if the impeachment isn’t successful, the fact that we are allowed to check our president’s power is a right we should all be grateful for.” Different groups have taken these events in vastly different ways. On October 7th, House Democrats subpoenaed the Pentagon and the Office of Management and Budgets, expanding their impeachment web. Stances vary in both the House and Senate, which overarching seem to be for and against impeachment respectively. Students, too, have strong opinions. Senior Swati

Kumar says, “I think this inquiry is an important part of American politics and history as Trump has now become one among the few Presidents–Tyler, Nixon, Johnson, and Clinton–to come close or face impeachment.” While the inquiry is underway, there is no decision to be made either way as the official evidence for or against wrongdoing has yet to be presented. It’s also important to note that such an inquiry has no set timeline and could take weeks to months to complete. Considering the complicated web of motivations, along with the polarization even talk of impeachment is sure to bring up, not everyone views the inquiry process positively. Junior Brandon Nahabetian commented on the whole affair, saying, “I think the current impeachment trials that’s being held is as ridiculous as always. It’s actually kind of sad to see [...] so many people harass and assault the president [in] this manner.” It’s important to remember that during this process, different views, even among our student body, are sure to arise. Since the impeachment is still in the investigative phase, no one really knows if the impeachment will go through. As House Democrats take more action, the media will continue to keep us informed on the impeachment inquiries. Who knows? Maybe these very charges will soon impact the primaries, and the nearing 2020 presidential election.

The Necessary Revolution

The streets were filled with thousands of teens. Some proudly held up signs that read things like “I should be at school but I have to save my planet first” or “Ecological revolution is the necessary revolution.” Others chanted in unison, straining for their voices to be heard by the officials that stood in the governmental buildings a few feet in front of them. All of them, however, were there for the same reason: to partake in the Global Youth Climate Strike.

September 20th is a date that will go down in history as the day thousands of teens around the world mobilized to demonstrate their stance against the current climate crisis and the world’s lackluster response to it. According to globalclimatestrike.net, the official website for the campaign, a total of 7.6 million people took part in the protests from September 20 - 27, ranging from places like Berlin all the way to Istanbul, and even more beyond that. “These numbers prove that a lot of people recognize that climate change is an important issue that needs to be addressed by the people in power,” commented junior Natalee Escobar. Locally, there was a strike outside of Miami Beach City Hall where many students from across Miami-Dade and other surrounding counties could be found.

MAXINE MARTINEZ FEATURES EDITOR

Elijah Ruby, a senior at South Broward High School, was among the crowd on September 20th. But his involvement in the protest came at a cost. As an avid fighter against the current climate condition, Ruby had “hoped to get permission for a school-sanctioned field trip to attend the protest” (Miami Herald). While waiting for a response from the school board Ruby had been given permission to “disseminate information,” so he began to hand out flyers to his school. A miscommunication between the student administrators for Ruby’s flyers ultimately led to his suspension. The news of the suspension traveled through the country and, some speculate, led to the cancellation of Cypress Bay High School’s field trip to the protest, angering many of the students who had signed forms and were prepared to take part in the strike. “I definitely think that schools should be more supportive when it comes to activism, and protesting for different things. [...] there’s a lot of restrictions in doing anything that may be affiliated with the school, so sometimes you do things with your agreement sometime it’s without their agreement. [...] But it’s worth the risk,” expressed senior Naveen Farook. For the students protested it definitely was worth the risk if it means preventing harm to the planet.

September 20th is a part of a bigger plan. Some like sophomore Hansini Koppolu believes that one potential solution in stopping climate change “is putting restrictions on how much fossil fuel we burn up. To go on putting restrictions on things like factories and the number of cars on the road would reduce the rate of change.” It is events like the Global Youth Climate Strike that will hopefully get these ideas heard by officials. As more and more students find the need to fight more necessary. Freshman Isabella Mago expressed that it’s important to strike and protest because “if we don’t in about 23 years we won’t have an earth anymore, and we would have been the ones to do it to ourselves.” Earth’s current state is recognized as harmful by everyone including young adults, and teens are ready to make changes.

Graphic By: Justin Pierce The Global Youth Climate Strike was extremely successful, and many hope it will cause action in government. John Paul Mejia one of the many organizers for the event hopes to see “a declaration of climate emergency and legislation securing a just transition into 100% renewable energy. “ A goal that is very much in reach. In order to ensure humanity’s future the world must be preserved.

Watch Out, Vapes Are Here to Kill

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NICOLE LLANES STAFF WRITER

ter throughout the years: Juul, Blu, Stig, Morpheus, PHIX, and many more. Each had their own “special flavors,” and these flavors came in “pods,” or one time use vessels, in an abundant variety. But what was in these flavors exactly? If someone were to read the Graphic By: Dominick Zarcadoolas label of a flavored pod the ingredit’s the worldwide epidemic of 2019. ents would be glycerol, propylene glycol, Headlines like “Another teen hospital- nicotine, benzoic acid, natural oils, and ized from vaping” dominate today’s dai- extracts (Vaping Daily). Studies show that ly news. It first started as a way to help each pod contains as much nicotine as one smokers quit, but became an addiction for pack of cigarettes (truthinitiative.org). American teens. Vaping involves using a Nicotine is a chemical that makes your handheld battery-powered vaporizer that breathing rapid and shallow, your heart both creates smoke and offers the behav- rate increase, and your blood pressure ioral aspects of smoking. Although vaping rise. Although pods say what they contain, is thought to better the lives of American anyone can open one up and put any subsmokers, it opened a doorway to questions stance of their choice. A senior, Mateo Dawithout answers. gostino, stated, “Since no one knew what was in vapes but they were made to seem With the dramatic and seeming- healthier than cigarettes, they thought it ly spontaneous rise in stories about vaping was safe.” However, pod could add an this year, many believe it was created just unwanted or fatal effect after smoking. yesterday. However, the first patent for a In fact, this year vaping took its first life. handheld smoking simulator was created After multiple studies and 500 cases, it in the 1960s. It has evolved massively was shown that e-cigarettes caused lung over the years. Many brands started up af- diseases. Around 14 teens were hospital-

ized with symptoms of vaping: dry mouth, black tongue, sleeplessness, sleepiness, sore mouth, collapsed lung, popcorn lung, and breathing difficulties (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). With e-cigarettes continuing to be sold with unrestricted guidelines, teens continue to use them until they are quite literally unable to. This unlocks a door to addiction and sickness. Studies showed that smoking from an e-cigarette caused smokers to directly inhale cancer substances. Also, it impairs brain and lung development for teens (health.harvard.edu). Junior Edward Jr. Williams stated, “Vaping is detrimental to your body and will stultify your academic success.” In addition, sophomore Molly Masson commented, “I think it’s crazy that studies on vape are now showing its deteriorating effects on our lungs.” Although its effects are evident amongst everyone, its causes aren’t. Scientists, doctors, and the government are still looking for answers behind vaping. However, e-cigarettes, just like cigarettes, have an age restriction of 18. Just as with any other age restriction in America, though, people always find a way around them, whether by faking their age, coercing someone older, or taking advantage of inattentive cashiers. According to recent studies by drugabuse. gov, 25.7 percent of high schoolers have vaped. Although teens today grow up in a world with ads that display what smoking does to our bodies, they still tried it. This can be heavily attributed to the companies themselves, and their advertisement systems. E-cigarette companies use social

media and young influencers to advertise. They focus on their products flavors and sleek designs. Our school counselor, Mrs.Moses, stated, “The vaping ‘craze’ has been marketed to young people and made to look very appealing. Young people are getting the message that vaping is safer than cigarettes.” Lastly, a freshmen, Amanda Roman, stated, “Vaping isn’t smart because its consequences outweigh the hype.” Mrs.Moses and Amanda, along with many others, saw the obvious marketing flaw. Although Juul did stop its social media promotion in 2016, the craze for Juuls had already begun. To begin with, the e-cigarette was never approved by the FDA. This has to be done by 2020 to or the FDA will ban it internationally. So far, many states have taken part in partial bans of vaping, whether in the workplace, outdoors, etc. These include Hawaii, Idaho, Florida, and so on. Furthermore, President Trump and Juul have also taken action. The Trump administration stated it would ban the sale of most flavored e-cigarettes by the 2020 election (The New York Times). Additionally, the current CEO of Juul, Kevin Burns, stepped down, but a tobacco executive took his place, and all Juul ads are being discontinued in the US. Vaping has opened a door to many unanswered questions. It has led to the hospitalization of multiple Americans, but this can mainly be blamed on the company themselves. Actions are being taken; studies are being done. This open door will be closed, and soon!

Are School Shooting Drills Doing More Harm Than Good? PAULA RODRIGUEZ-LILLQUIST & REBEKAH JACOB

Cowering in the far-side of the room,

evading the window, quiet enough to hear a pin drop. Code red drills are becoming more intensified than ever, traumatizing students more than the probability of the actual event itself. And with the likelihood of any given public school student being killed by a gun representing such a tiny proportion (1 in 614,000,000 according to The Washington Post) in comparison to a more epidemic phenomena such as suicidal rates. These drills have been amped up since the increase of school shootings, specifically Broward County’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school shooting, which drastically increased regulations and drills. In Charter, there is at least one drill per month where the specific date and time is unannounced. During an actual code red occurrence, numerous factors come into play which cannot be simply added in a drill. The situation will always be changing due to the positioning and timing of where a student is located. Additionally, the drills may raise anxiety about an event that may never happen. Although stress initially strikes our thoughts when we think of code red drills, some students think otherwise. Junior Abraham Nuñez states, “While I feel as though yes they have been preparing us for cases that may happen, but to the student eye, we really

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just treat it as a joke and a way to get out of class. So logically speaking, I feel as though it’s doing more harm than good, and kids are using these drills as an excuse to get out of work instead of focus on academics. So I still believe drills should be put in place, just not as frequent.” As countless researchers have agreed, schools started focusing more time and money towards mental health services, a drastically larger plague that’s clouding our country now more than ever, according to the ADAA organization. The primary focus of Broward County schools have been shifted to mental health care for young and old students alike. According to NIMH, a stunning 8 million people die each year due to mental illness, with suicidal rates holding one of the highest numbers yet. Instead of protecting schoolchildren from the very miniscule risk of active shooters, counselors have been hired to assist students with mental health issues. Senior Reyna Wakeland expounds on this thought, “Counselors are surely more efficient ways to invest money and time into because mental health has become more prominent [amongst teenagers especially] more than ever.” Because there is significant overlap between the darkness of harming oneself and harming others, effective suicide intervention has

been proven to do more to prevent school shootings that active shooter drills ever will. Future research will surely lead to more effective, evidence-based practices for active shooter drills that can be proven to increase student safety without imposing

needless trauma. Simply put by Forbes, “Our country’s rush to mandate these drills was a product of panic.” And as a result, educators and elders alike have stuck to the sage advice “first do not harm,” so that school shootings wouldn’t be an issue anymore.

Graphic By: Shane Wooden