Get In Tune With The Jags
For more, check out Features (Pgs 10-13)
Sarah Barrocas Editor -in-Chief Alexa Infante - Content Sofia Alfonso - Layout Managing Editors Chatter Daily News Evan Samuels Web Managing Editor Ariana Ortiz - Content Sofia Alfonso - Layout Business Managers Mr. J. Harris - Layout Mr. F. Fagen - Content Mr. J. Harris - Video Advisors Mr. P. Bayer Principal Brittany Evelyn News Editor Ainsley McCormick Student Life Editor Swati Kumar Technology Editor
Contents
The C.H.C. Staff
Jordan Alberti Sports Editor Florencia Azcura Features Editor Paolo Barrera Clubs Editor Rachel Rivera Lifestyle Editor
Student Life:
Ainsley McCormick Community Outreach Sofia Azcura Entertainment Justin Dourvetakis- The CHAT Eric Hernandez - Web Photo Editors CONTENT STAFF: Brianna Butler, Elizabeth Castillo, Sophia Cortes, Roselle Curiel Matthew Hernandez, Janae McDonnough, Frank Mora, Isabella Munoz, Arianna Ozuna, Andres Perez, Amanda Rodriguez, Alan Mathew LAYOUT STAFF: Sofia Alfonso, Sarah Barrocas, Brittany Evelyn, Alexa Infante, Rebekah Jacob, Caroline Kadir, Monica Lozada, Ainsley McCormick PHOTOGRAPHY STAFF: Andres Alfonso, Nicholas Ahmad, Aryiel Bryant, Maya Cabrera, Shaniah Cox, Justin Dourvetakis, Aijah Harper, Eric Hernandez GRAPHIC STAFF: Jasmin Bleus, Taylor Causey, Rosa Gomez,
The C.H.A.T. is an official publication of the Pembroke Pines Charter High School (PPCHS). The content of our newspaper is not necessarily the opinions of our advisers and administration. The C.H.A.T. staff welcomes any comments to the editors and/or staff. The C.H.A.T is a publication of C.H.C (Charter High Communications) sponsored by the Communications & Technology Department of PPCHS. Pembroke Pines Charter High School 17189 Sheridan Street Pembroke Pines, FL 33331 Phone: 954-538-3700 Email: chc.ppchs@gmail.com Twitter: @_theCHATter Instagram: @thechatnews 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 chc.ppchs@gmail.com
The Greatest Showmen at the Art Show Two Piano Players, One Passion
Features: Does Music Make a Difference in Our Education? The Beat to Charter’s Heart: Mr. Daugherty’s Passion
Clubs & Electives: A Charter Effort to Combat Bullying Love for the Past Leads the Club in the Future
Entertai
Pg. 18
Student Life: Pg. 4
Sports: Pg. 16
Sports:
“Are You Finding a New Team?”
Lifestyle:
Softball Making Way to States Shabby Shoe Shopping
Entertainment:
here’s a New Donut Shop in Town The Incredible Marvel: Infinity War Preview
Technology:
A Brief Warning on Technology Bitcoin: A Bad Investment?
Jags Heart Mac and Cheese
News: Florida Under Fire Over Firearm Purchasing Age Change The Unfriendly Tides Turn Between Two Leaders
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Student Life
Two Piano Players, One Passion
CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES
Sofia Azcurra
The gift of creating emotion and
sentiment through an instrument is a talent untouched by most. Sophomore Dylan Long and freshman Javier Quiroz are the few exceptions when they bust out their melodious tunes on the delicate piano. The intricate and detailed art of playing this quiet instrument caught both of their eyes at a young age, and while they hold the same devoted passion for the beautiful masterpiece, both have different stories as to why they started. Dylan Long was only the mere age of six when he started playing the instrument that would soon change his future. The sophomore’s mother was set on putting young Dylan into an extracurricular activity. He went from being an outfielder in baseball to being a goalie in soccer until he discovered the complex ways of the piano. “Listening to classical music and playing the piano were things I enjoyed greatly as a child, and my passion for the piano and my musical roots are still with me today,” said Dylan. The process of getting him to practice was quite easier than anticipated. “I love it so much, practicing is more like watching Netflix to me than a burden,” he stated. He’s been with so many teachers and mentors that he’s lost count, but each person brought something upon him that would never leave him. They made him the musician he is today. But as
entertainment
of now, the pianist has a quirky, introverted yet brilliant professor at a local Florida college that brings out the best in him. The piano serves as the sophomore’s outlet for his common high school stress and frustration but also his creativity and artistic visions. Through all of the technique, music theory, and history he’s learned from his instructors, Dylan is now able to sit down at a piano and improvise music on the spot. He can create a direct transmission of his thoughts expressed as something that other people can listen to; this is probably what he’s most proud of in life, he commented. “His passion and determination is so evident through every key he touches,” stated freshman Olivia Adorno. While listening to his playing, audience members might debate how often he practices. Two hours a day? How about three? Surprisingly, the talented sophomore practices only 45-60 minutes a week. “I do not practice nearly enough as I should. As much as I hate to admit it, I don’t always have the energy to sit down and practice passages over and over again for hours every day. At a competition I participated in recently, the judge nearly fainted when I told her I practice so little, she expected that for someone at my level that I would be practicing at least 2 hours a day,” he said. While Dylan goes home and belts out his skills, so does another piano player not far from him. Similar to Dylan, Javier Quiroz started playing the piano at
Editor
the age of six, after his mother put him in lessons. Opposite of Dylan, it took Javier a while to grasp the piano and to keep practicing. “If you didn’t know him, you’d never know how much this instrument means to him and how long he’s been trying to reach his goals,” said junior Juliana Vilarta. That is until two years ago when he watched a documentary surrounding a pianist’s life, which changed his point of view completely. From then on, Javier vowed to practice every day from any old book he owned. “The piano is such an interesting instrument to me because it is so liberating and so much expression can be put into it,” said Javier. “Playing a song perfectly is so satisfying, and I can put all of my concealed emotions into the song.” Unlike Dylan, Javier practices every day from memorized pieces of music. He also recently began taking lessons again to get into the theories and more advanced techniques involved with the piano. Like all musicians, Javier has his flaws. But embracing them and working with them is a big part of what makes his pure tunes so pleasing and fluid. The pianist has a hard time managing new music and getting used to the groove of the peace. “I am not very good at reading or cite reading, which is another reason I started lessons again, while playing,” he said. Working with his imperfections, he’s been able to master some of the most difficult pieces for pianists like him. These include Moonlight Sonata 3rd Movement
and Phantom of The Opera. Mastering the piano is a part of a much larger goal he has in mind, which is to be in a one man band. The freshman continues to blow minds by playing not only the piano, but saxophone, drums, and guitar. He hopes to make music all with his own playing and edit the parts together to make the entire song that is usually played with an entire band. Both pianists have not been offered any form of scholarships or opportunities, but both, having some time before graduating, aspire to receive one or more to continue to play in college. “I really want to continue studying not only the piano but music in general once I graduate,” said Javier. Unlike Javier, Dylan holds different thoughts, “It would be nice to be enrolled in a college that offers a music program but it is not a priority for me, getting the best academic education I can get is what I’m mostly looking for in a college,” he stated. With all those opportunities right at the hands of the players, they both look forward to the competitions and auditions that the future has in store for them. These two obviously don’t need a university to teach them how to play - the obvious talent running in their blood is evident with their performances. They play to their own rhythm and create their own purpose when playing, not just reading black notes off a white paper. Their melodious sounds add a specific emotion and passion to the certain piece of music, and they may make mistakes, but wherever they play they’ll always make sure to end on the right note.
Outstanding Seniors Up for Silver Knight Award Matthew Hernandez Staff Writer
Lilliana Thomas
Sonia Khan
“Throughout high school, I’ve always tried to work really hard academically but also contribute to organizations I care about. I am extremely humbled to be honored by my school for the Silver Knight Award in the science category. Since I am very interested in science, I got involved with STEM clubs, an internship, and research. I am mostly interested in animal welfare, and I initiated a donation drive for the Miami Dade Animal Shelter and co-founded the Humane Society Club at PPCHS to educate others about animal rights.”
“I’m extremely honored to be a recipient! Over the last few years, the Muslim Student Organization I founded has done much work for the community, including homeless feedings, raising money through our “Embrace Peace” shirts, assisting Syrian refugees become accustomed to the U.S., and more. It was great to be acknowledged for all the hard work I put in to make South Florida a better place. I’m super excited for my interview and finding out whether or not I won my category at the award show in May.”
Arielle Hernandez
Sharon Beriro
“It’s definitely an honor to even be nominated and I’m looking forward to seeing what others service projects students created to benefit their communities. I was nominated for a project I did in which I sold art and donated 100% of the proceeds to a charity for homeless LGBTQ and youth.”
“Being a Silver Knight recipient is an honor and great pleasure. It represents the virtues of a student citizen. Although it would be greedy and presumptuous to think that I would win, I cannot deny that the experience would be really cool. However, I am looking forward to the simple experience of being a nominee. I formed a musical charity/non-profit organization that recruits young musicians and we organize small concerts and recitals for elder homes, foster homes, and hospitals.”
Project Runway: PPCHS Style
Student Life 5 CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES
Sofia Azcurra & Florencia Azcurra entertainment
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he iconic Victoria Secret fashion show or the world famous Vogue showcases have become one of their own here at Charter. This past Thursday, April 5th, the PPCHS Fashion Club held their own “Fashion is Art” showcase at the River of Grass. The event was filled with aspiring models and enthusiastic fashionistas. Each participant told their individual story with not only their choice of fashion but how they pulled off their own snazzy walk. The fashion club has had a tremendous increase of popularity around campus on Charter, so there was no surprise when the show had a great outcome in attendees. With their killer appearances at pep rally and breathtaking photos already having been seen, nobody wanted to miss what the club had to show this time. “This first time experience was great for everyone and it was so much fun to show so much creativity,” said junior Fashion Club member Lindsey Litton. The show started at 6:00 pm, with $3 tickets sold both in advance and at the door, and finished at 8:00 pm, leaving the audience members wishing they could see more. The catwalk seemed almost second nature to all the participants. Dressed to the nines, the models expressed their best poker faces as they walked out from behind the stage. The PPCHS showcase made sure to erase
Editor & Features Editor
any stereotypes associated with modeling. Not only did females participate, but males were also seen showing off their own tremendous talent. “I’m happy that I took part in the talent show,” says junior Jason Lozama. “As a guy, it’s important to defeat that specific stereotype [in modeling]. It’s nice to know our school’s Fashion Club embraces everyone.” Those who made the cut for the showcase, whether in the club or not, had a captain. Each captain had their own individual theme to dress themselves and their members in. The captains were well-known fashionistas junior Jamie McGregor, who went with a unique all black/body art theme, junior Lindsey Litton, who chose a vibrant Coachella theme, junior Caitlin Fraga, who sided with a fruity colored theme, junior Kenya Rynning, who went with a rebellious street wear style, junior Jessica Schwend, who chose a captain walk theme, and finally sophomore Whitney Sylvestre, who decided on a classic vogue-esque theme. Each group was instructed to wear an outfit that worked according to the captains designated theme. “I was in Jamie’s group and it was so exciting,” stated sophomore Vale Orduy. “We talked about ideas to each other and what we would wear!” The different groups had their
personal music play during their portion of the show, wearing clothes and sounds that followed their selected themes. The music varied from indie music to go with the fruity theme, to some alternative rock to follow the street wear chosen by Kenya. “Jamie’s group had a type of ‘bad girl’ music that really fit with our body paint/ spray paint style,” said Vale. The different themed groups were put in place to ensure that the audience understood the core of Fashion Club: each model and every student has their own special, exclusive style. “The Fashion is Art” showcase has been a long standing wish from the members of fashion club, so when they got approval from administration they wasted no time organizing the big day. In preparing for the show, each model was told to wear their own clothes, so
“As a guy, it’s important to defeat that specific stereotype [in modeling]. It’s nice to know our school’s Fashion Club embraces everyone.” - Junior Jason Lozama
Photo By: Andy Alfonso
Photo By: Andy Alfonso
everyone could bring something different to the table. “I’m glad that we were able to show off our great sense in clothing. Especially because with uniforms we often can’t express ourselves to the fullest. With the fashion show we could go all out,” says freshman Isabella Munoz, who participated in Caitlin’s group. Even though the participants had to wear their own clothes, the club provided students experienced in hair and makeup to assist the models. Fashion Club members were not the only ones bursting with excitement. The whoops and hollers of the audience added to the runway ambiance and added something different to Charter’s long list of thrilling events. The outpouring love and astonishing awe this showcase brought to Charter’s student body ensured the ecstatic students that there will definitely be another showcase in the upcoming year.
Photo By: Andy Alfonso
Photographers Form their Best Frames for Photo Contest Paolo Barrera & Megan Fraga Clubs Editor & Guest Writer
C
harter students getting their hands dirty in the art of clean photography, as they take home titles in the name of “outstanding works of art”. Avid photographers on campus participated in the High School Photography Project, a contest held by the National Society of Arts and Letters-East Coast Chapter. Participants took their work to Florida Atlantic University on March 10, enter-
Two Pieces of Art: Senior Jennifer Hernandez stands with her photograph. Donated By: Megan Fraga
ing their work to run up against more than 50 students from various schools. “We had to prepare a 12-15 photo portfolio consisting of our best work to be critiqued,” says photographer and junior Megan Fraga. The competition juried by a committee took place, in addition to the recognition of attending the event. Monetary rewards were given to pieces that ranged from the award for “Best in Abstract” to the "The Donald
Robinson Award for Excellence in Photography". Senior Jennifer Hernandez took home “Best in Show” for her architecture piece titled “New York Minute,” and junior Megan Fraga was awarded “Best in Landscape Photography,” for their work titled “Is the World Turning Around?” The other seven participants from Pines Charter - Camila Swanson, Jaden Crute, Jerome Benoit, Kristy Navarro, Leyla Bolivar-Echeg-
Proud Artists: The group of students competing in the contest. Donated By: Megan Fraga
aray, Oscar Rodriguez, and Tatiana Rivera - were given the opportunity to work with experienced mentors in the photography industry and meet with other teens sharing the same interest in photography.
A Honorable Group: Junior Megan Fraga stands with their photographs and three notable judges. Donated By: Megan Fraga
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Student Life CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES
Jags Go Camping at Spring Pep Rally Photos By: Aijah Harper
The Greatest Showme
Paolo Barr
Clubs Edit
Photo By: Justin Dourvetakis
On Display: Junior Kiana Ferdowsiepour stand with her photographs. Donated By: Falak Abbasakoor Photo By: Justin Dourvetakis
If one artist can produce a masterpiece, then a community of artists builds itself as a masterpiece. Charter’s family of creators is a sight to behold in itself, and they were on full display during Charter’s annual Art Show. Held on April 10th, a Tuesday night, the M building housed the event. Its average capacity of art during the school day was surpassed, as art in all tangible mediums was on display. “The M building hall was crowded,” said junior Gurleen Cambow. “The sounds of people talking really jumbled into a loud crowd.” The sounds of onlookers laughing and chatting fomented a feeling of activity. These art pieces could not move, but they caused motion: the fast stream of conversation, the quick dart of the eyes, and the stirring of questions as thought provoking pieces caused a stir. The art show was buzzing from the time the doors of M Building opened at 6 P.M. until the art show wrapped up. As time went on for the passerby’s, time slowed down for the artists. On display were styled sketches, scene capturing photos, electric paintings, and ceramic pieces. “I had four close friends who all had art on display at the show.
I spent the whole nigh ally proud of these fou graphs were amazing exceed in this hobby Abbasakoor. These c fellow art lovers their the process behind t about how they were ist had a ceramic inter slip on vans, in which taken notes the iconic eryday items in some tered by the vibrancy could not look away fr and shapes of a pain Nearby stood still shot terful shadows. Some claimed by sophomor chose to exhibit a n works. Senior Jerome own personality throu the show: edgy picture manipulation of natura depth. Even though ev er as a conglomerate
Student Life 7
Welcome to the Revolution: March For Our Lives
CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES
Sofia Azcurra & Florencia Azcurra entertainment
L
Editor & Features Editor
ally dedicated, and you could feel in your heart,” says freshman Aitana Arvelo, who participated in the Parkland March with her sister junior Ariana Arvelo. Numerous students and staff from Pines Charter were inspired to take part in the historical movement on the Saturday of March 24th. “The march was such an inspiring experience,” stated junior Muriel Morales, “I went to the one in West Palm Beach and the amount of determination that could be seen really showed that everyone is far from stopping [the fight for gun control].” Several protesters in West Palm Beach made sure to get their message across to the man with the real power: the President. President Trump was vacationing at Mar-A-Lago in Palm Beach during the march, and these determined marchers walked right to the country club. “We wanted to show that the people are demanding change and coming out here to do the most they can do about it. But people in power aren’t listening,” says senior Claudia Banilla, who was unable to attend a march, but has been a determined activist for gun control here at Pines Charter. From toddlers holding up “I want to be safe” signs to teachers and students grasping “Am I Next” posters, all marches signified a clear message: eliminate and control the problem that are weapons of war in this country to-
ess than two months ago, students of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School were cowering under desks, trembling inside supply closets, and jumping fences in terror. When the shooter stepped on campus and opened fire upon the beloved eagle family, 17 lives were wretchedly taken from the world. Within days of the shooting, Douglas students, and those from all across the country, made it clear they did not want thoughts and prayers but rather policy and change. To stress their frustrations, express their anger, and grieve their sadness, students took to the streets and organized a historic march, known as ‘March for Our Lives.’ The main march occurred in Washington D.C., on March 24th, on Pennsylvania Avenue, blocks away from the Capitol building, but with D.C. being far away, students took to the streets of South Florida to show their support. Sibling marches occurred in more than 800 cities across the U.S., but the United States wasn’t alone in shouting for change. There was a march held in almost every continent within cities like London, Sydney, and Amsterdam, as well as countries like Haiti and Columbia. The most popularly attended ‘March for Our Lives’ marches were in Miami, Parkland, Pembroke Pines, and West Palm Beach. “We walked back and forth from the school to Pines Trails Park. The ambiance was incredibly emotional. People were re-
day. All protestors, big, small, teacher, and student, were forcing politicians out of the shadows to confront their wrongdoings. “It’s really something that will be in textbooks in the future. We need to make change, and the fact that us teens have to force it out of the people who are elected by us is appalling,” says Aitana Arvelo. The people at every march, big or small, made it very clear: the people run the show. This incredibly influential and compelling movement was one to prove the national outrage on gun control. Its sole purpose was meant to bring truth to power and put an end the epidemic of mass shootings. Students from MSD like senior Emma Gonzalez, junior Cameron Kashy, junior David Hogg, and senior Sarah Chadwick have been the most powerful voices in this movement. They’ve been working tirelessly to make sure this all this political talk turns into real action. The people of Parkland, having their home threatened, held a march equally as mighty. Those Douglas survivors who couldn’t fly out to D.C. stayed right here at home and delivered their own chilling and captivating speeches. “Watching the ‘March for Our Lives’ walk in Parkland was so inspirational, and being able to attend and be a part of this movement really hit me hard. Change is here, and
it’s time everyone in this country recognizes that,” says sophomore Danielle Porres, who attended the protest in Parkland with some friends. Dozens of South Florida residents piled into Pines Trail Park to show solidarity and rally with all their determination. More than tens of thousands of people showed up in Parkland. “Seeing young teenagers taking action and bringing such power to such a complicated issue really tells a different story on what our future generations will bring us,” said Ms. Sunshine Phelps, who made an appearance at the Parkland march with her two young daughters. “It’s important for young kids to be aware of this problem and have say in this because in the end it's their future.” The gripping movement brought the attention of several celebrities like Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez and Paul McCartney, and inspired them to march as well. The hopeful minds of teenagers today have ignited a historical movement. With their fearful thoughts of being next come angry screams for change that they hope will always linger in the back of everyone’s mind until solid action is taken. Recently, both state and federal governments have seemingly taken control of the wheel, but an immense and powerful effort has been made by the teenagers of America who wish and demand for change. It may be the end of decade, but it’s only the start of this movement.
Donated By: Ariana Arvelo Donated By: Ariana Arvelo
Making a Statement: Ariana and Aitana Arvelo hold protest signs at the march. Donated By: Ariana Arvelo
Donated By: Sofia Alfonso
“It’s important for young kids to be aware of this problem and have say in this because in the end it's their future.” - Ms. Sunshine Phelps
Marching for Change: Senior Sofia Alfonso (left) stands with two friends at a march. Donated By: Sofia Alfonso
Donated By: Sofia Alfonso
men at the Art Show
o
Barrera
ubs
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le night there, and I’m reese four girls. Their photomazing, and I know they’ll hobby,” said junior Falak hese creators explained to s their stories. Some shared hind the creation, talking were influenced. One artc interpretation of a pair of which they obviously had iconic checkered shoe. Evn some pieces, were counbrancy of others. Attendees away from the bright swirls a painting titled “Chase.” ill shots of nature and masSome of these nature shots homore Shazia Khan, who it a natural theme in her Jerome Benoit shared his y through his donations to pictures with the masterful natural shadow and scenic ugh everyone came togethmerate community, every
creator at the show did their part to stand out from the rest. As 7 P.M. was rolling its way towards 8 P.M., a different vibe entered the hallway. The chaos of the show’s beginning was replaced by a passion filled hum. It wasn’t quiet, but the works of art were the loudest members of the show. Photographer Giovanna Acosta says, “My legs were hurting from standing for two hours straight, but this was an experience I won’t ever forget.” Ms. Vasquez turned on some classical tunes to enhance this equilibrium of tasteful conversations and emotion inducing art. In essence, a peaceful end was approaching this year’s Charter Art Show. The snack table had its last visitors, and the photograph displays did as well. Personal pride and Tuesday weariness became the last to enter the M Building and was the last to leave. Charter’s annual event did what no one else could, in a way that only a passionate community would be able to. A two hour show accomplished the feat of inspiring for a lifetime.
Photo By: Justin Dourvetakis
Photographer and Model: Bhavna Sriram and Falak Abbasakoor stand at Bhavna’s display. Donated By: Falak Abbasakoor
Photo By: Justin Dourvetakis
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Student Life CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES
Jags Take on the World
Junior Micaela Brena
Donated By: Micaela Brena
Junior Cristina Arguelles
Donated By: Christina Arguelles
“I went to Spain over spring break. I have to say going to
“I went to Ica, Peru over Spring Break with my family. My favorite experience was playing around with my parents in the sand dunes and taking pictures of the sunset.”
Junior Dominique McKoy
the countryside (Asturias) was my favorite part of the whole trip. Not only were the mountains beautiful, but we got to live in a much more rural landscape than I'd be accustomed to and got to see my cousins' farm and ride their tractor! It was just such a different environment than Florida, and there was so much history in all the places we visited. We got to see family members I had never met before and who my dad hadn't seen in almost 30 years. This trip allowed me to see how many exciting things there are beyond my everyday community, and how much I want to travel more.”
Junior Amanda Gore
Donated By: Amanda Gore Donated By: Dominique McKoy
“It was my first time traveling to Europe, particularly England, and I absolutely loved it. Everything was so beautiful and I miss is already. I got to travel with my best friend, Jada Hinds. The trip to get there was crazy as we couldn’t find a flight, but once we finally reached England I was so glad we made the trip. The London Dungeon was probably my favorite place that we went.”
Sophomore Sofia Mendoza
“I
went to Monaco and Nice to be able to experience new cultures and sights that I was previously unfamiliar with. The most interesting part of the trip was probably seeing the architecture of the old part of town while still being able to shop in modern stores. It was also interesting trying to learn the language in such a short period of time, but even being able to communicate with a few short phrases was a new experience. My favorite part of the trip was being able to explore the cities by ourselves, and trying all the authentic food. The biggest thing I can take away from my trip is the knowledge that I would definitely like to go back and spend more time
Senior Daniel Gitelman
Donated By: Ainsley McCormick Donated By: Sofia Mendoza
“I went to Colombia over Spring Break to
visit my family, and it was awesome. My favorite part of the trip was snorkeling with my relatives and swimming in the clear water. It was a different kind of beach [in Colombia], but it was a cool experience.”
"Japan brought about a whole new lifestyle
than I could've ever imagined. The city life was different, the rural life was one of a kind, and the atmosphere I was surrounded with on the trip was what made it all even more worth it. My favorite part about the trip was how lively Tokyo was and how beautiful the historical architecture and nature was. Everyone had dogs too… that was pretty rad."
Jags Travel Around the US
Student Life CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES
“New
Donated By: Stephanie Travioso
“I
went to Arizona for Spring Break to see my brother and sister in law. He plays minor league baseball with the Cincinnati Reds, and I wanted to see how he was doing... after arm surgery he got last year. It was great seeing [family members] that I’m super close to.” - Junior Stephanie Travioso
York was great. Even though it was cold, it was great to see the city and then go see my family. I really had to bundle up in thick jackets, even though it was our Spring Break down in Florida.” - Sophomore Dylan Vega
Donated By: Dylan Vega
Donated By: Dylan Vega
Donated By: Reyna Wakeland-Hart
“I went to Chicago to visit my sister who is a in her first year at the University of Chicago. I stayed with her on campus in her dorm for 4 days. WE really just hung out in the city and went to botanical gardens, a few museums, and some popular restaurants.” - Sophomore Reyna Wakeland-Hart
“Over the break, I went to LaBelle,
FL with some close family friends for this camp style weekend together. We all played games and slept in bunk beds the entire time. I loved how it felt like a sleepaway camp with your best friends and family.” - Senior Maria Amon
Donated By: Giovanna Acosta
Donated By: Maria Amon
“Over Spring Break I went to the New Mexico! I went with my grandparents, and it was one of the coolest experiences to see the culture and nature that is this desert state. It’s something I’m not used to. We went to abandoned towns, local food places, an ancient church, and old shops with peculiar items you wouldn’t find anywhere else. My favorite part of the entire trip would definitely have to be when I went hiking to a place called Tent Rocks by myself. I took my camera and tripod with me as I made my way to the top and inhaled the fresh mountain air. It was beautiful.” - Junior Giovanna Acosta
Donated By: Maria Amon
Donated By: Giovanna Acosta
Donated By: Giovanna Acosta
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10 Features CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES
The Jazz of Charter Sarah Varnadoe
T
he beautiful sound of a saxophone engulfs the room. Across the room is a girl perched upright in a chair producing melodic tunes with passion in her eyes. Her love of playing her instrument is obvious. One would never believe that she has only been playing her saxophone for six years; it sounds like she has been playing her whole life. The music is captivating until the very end, where the song comes to a stop and the girl stands, bowing. Julinna Villarta, a junior, is one of PPCHS’ best band members, who has proved herself deserving of recognition. She plays both the alto and soprano saxophone, but is more experienced with the alto. Music has always been a part of her life. Her sister took band when she was in 6th grade, so Julinna decided to also take the interesting class. Her sister was not the only one who had an influence on her, though. Her dad sings and her brother also participates in band. Her whole family is very musical and is proud of Julinna, a literal sax prodigy, even when worrying that she will become overwhelmed with all her competitions and auditions. Her band friends are also very supportive of her passion for music. Before coming to high school, Julinna was planning on not doing band anymore. However, this changed when her middle school band director Mrs.Cole, told her that the only way she could compete in competitions such as solo and ensemble, which she wanted to do, was to be registered with a school, so she decided to continue. While the competitions are a lot of stress and pressure, Julinna loves them. “I love picking challenging solos and practicing for a few months and being able to hear the progress I’m making. And then finally being able to play the solo in full and feeling
Staff Writer
accomplished when I get a superior,” she said when talking about her love of solo and ensemble. Her practice and progress has allowed her to do great things with the competition. She has gotten superiors on her solos and ensembles ever since the start of her band career and probably will continue to do so in the future. “Julinna is a very talented Musician and has success calling her name. I am extremely proud of everything she has done and am glad that I am able to say I took part in helping her become as successful as she is,” says band director Mr. Daugherty. Although she loves the feeling of accomplishment she gets from playing a solo, she mostly plays with her band, which she also loves. She wants kids to try playing an instrument. “Playing an instrument isn’t for everybody, but trying it won’t hurt” says the aspiring musician. She always feel a surge of pride and joy when she hears kids playing their instruments and wants to be able to guide them as well as she can. The junior band member stated, “I don’t exactly know why I feel that pride and happiness, but maybe it’s because it’s like having pride for a sport that you have.” She believes that when people have a passion for something they do and they really enjoy it, they get proud when they see others do it too. She also believes that it is because she is happy they are trying out a great and fun experience. She has taken private lessons with a band director from another school since her freshman year. Between the private lessons and having to practice at home by herself, Julinna has a lot to do on top of homework. Sometimes, it is hard for her to balance it all. “When I do practice at home, I tend to play longer than I intend and I end up sleeping
late since I usually still have more homework to do” she said. This schedule can be very tiring, but the hard worker is willing to put in the effort. Even though she does not plan on doing something with music as a career in the future, she will continue to play it in band and as a hobby. She has already set goals for herself for next year such as making her solo harder and getting into the all state and county band like she did all the way back in 8th grade.
Julinna Villarta proudly playing her saxaphone. Photo By: Justin Dourvetakis
Studying Notes with Musical Notes Sophia Cortes Staff Writer
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he human brain is an organ full of mysteries and wonders. As humans we know close to nothing about how our own brain works and how it reacts to certain places, people, things, and situations, especially in the realm of concentration and how music fits into the equation. With testing season right around the corner, it is now more important than ever to find out what exactly helps each student stay focused and concentrated while studying for exams. Listening to music might just do the trick. Many studies have shown that listening to music helps increase concentration, improve focus, lower stress levels, and raise the amount of dopamine (the chemical that makes a person feel happy) your brain releases. However, other studies have also concluded that listening to music can prove to be more distracting than focus-inducing. While these experiments seem to contradict each other, many of them have come to the conclusion that like the vast amount of genres and subgenres there are in music, there are also a variety of ways music affects concentration. For freshman Sophia Mendoza, listening to lyrical music works the best. “I usually listen to whatever is on my Spotify, like alternative or rock,” says Sophia. “I think that the music sort of helps me zone out on the stuff that’s around me and focus more on the stuff that’s in front of me.” Many scientists believe the reason why some people work better with lyrical music is because the sound of voices help as a sort of companion. Even though lyrical rock music might help Sophia, other students like sophomore Adrien Lewis agree that although listening to music does help concentration, music with lyrics are more distracting. “I listen and work all the time,” he explains. “I just find that music with lyrics takes up too much of
my attention, so I rarely listen to that. If I need to be 100% efficient, I listen to ambient study mixes. The lack of melody helps me focus on the task at hand.” Researchers agree that if able to pick a type of music to work with, non-lyrical works the best. What non lyrical music provides for the brain is a steady background noise that creates an atmosphere where the brain is grounded and focused. Listening to music while studying or doing work can sometimes be a little risky for students, since students sometimes end up feeling “way too relaxed and start to fall asleep or end up daydreaming,” as senior Kaila Gumbs says. Instead of music, Kaila has found that listening to podcasts helps improve her concentration. For other, however, listening to music isn’t a matter of almost falling asleep, but a matter of staying awake. Fellow senior Katia Lobo explains, “If I don’t have anything to jam out to while I crank out assignments, then I will pass out.” Katia’s solution is to play “basically anything to keep me awake. TV show soundtrack remixes like ‘Stranger Synths-Retro Synthwave Mixtape’ really help me out when I’m working.” The funky beats that the 80’s inspired synthwave provides is a great way to keep one awake and energized when doing school work. At the end, it all comes down to personal taste in music, and what works best for each individual. Some listen to jazz, classical or video game soundtracks to help them focus, while others listen to ambient chill or modern day alternative. If unsure of what works best, try out different genres. Once the ideal study soundtrack is discovered, working and studying may become much more enjoyable and stress free. So when testing season comes around don’t stress, just put on your favorite tunes to play your worries away.
“Honestly, she is such a wonderful saxophone player and I know she will go far in her instrument” fellow junior band member Muriel Morales stated. Her passion can be heard in the music that she plays. It is clear that she loves music and that she puts effort into every piece she plays no matter if it is in her band or individually. We will all have to wait and see what else she has in store for us!
Graphic By: Shaniah Cox
Features 11
CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES
Does Music Make a Difference in Our Education? Roselle Curiel
Jags who have been a part of the Charter
system ever since elementary school know that music has always been academically incorporated into our lives whether it was through chorus, learning how to play recorders in music class, or being a part of the band. Although, to some people, the arts in school are seen as a waste of time and money, to others, it’s seen as an essential part in students’ curriculum that stimulates the mind. The question is: how well does music benefit students with learning, and is it worth it to keep it in schools? Music might just be worth investing for to schools due to the proven beneficial effects it has on the brain. “People often underestimate the power of music. Not only does it make people happy in general, but it actually works your brain when you’re learning how to play instruments. It’s a win-win situation for students and schools,” said freshmen Daisy Mehlig. The famous “Mozart Effect” indicates that even as toddlers, listening to classical music improves mental performances known as “spatial-temporal reasoning” (NIH). Though this effect occurs main-
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ly in toddlers, music continues to benefit growing brains in life as we begin to process sound through “neurological distinction,” which further assists with literacy. “We learn in biology that even from birth babies begin the learning process by sensing the world around them. Sound is arguably the most important sense, since it adheres to language and comprehensive skills,” said sophomore Kristy Navarro. Basically, children begin to pinpoint and make sense of certain sounds from a young age. The Northwestern University studied that when students are actively participating in music, and not just simply listening to it, neural processes are strengthened and are more improved compared to students that did not take musical activities or classes (TIME). Think of it as a workout for your brain. When musicians are constantly learning sound patterns and notes from an instrument, their brains memorize how to get each note out, whether it’s on the strings of a guitar or the keys of a piano. Neurobiologist Nina Kraus also discovered that neural
functions connected to sound and reading are positively impacted during musical activities. Kraus conducted her experiments on students in upper and middle class areas (similar to that of students in PPCHS) who were enrolled in music lessons in school, and her research revealed that “musical training can alter the nervous system to create a better learner and help offset this academic gap” (PBS). A study by the University of California in Irvine demonstrated a drastic improvement in abstract reasoning skills such as problem solving, data analyzing, and interpreting information, thus revealing higher brain function in those who participated in music instruction. Not only that, but students who are musically invested tend to have higher vocabularies and better reading skills than those who are not. Schools that provide musical education reap the result of students who score higher in standardized testing than schools who were void of the arts (Namm Foundation). According to the Arte Music Academy,
“Children who study a musical instrument are more likely to excel in all of their studies, work better in teams, have enhanced critical thinking skills, and stay in school.” Overall, music training in education leads to better hand-eye coordination, better language and reading skills, and brain empowerment. It doesn’t only help academically, but increases attendance rates for students (National Association for Music Education). From this information, it is no surprise that many of our students in band also take AP and Honors classes. The issue with music education always retracts to money. “It’s interesting how schools will spend thousands and thousands [of dollars] in sports, but as soon as the budget is overflowing, the arts are the first to go,” said junior Krissanna Abolafia. A study by the National Association of Music Merchants showed that the average cost of music programs in a school is $187 per student. This number does not even account for the all of the sheet music or instruments bought individually by the teachers. A marching band or orchestra costs $600-$1500 per instrument, and overtime these need to be fixed or replaced. The budget is also tricky, as schools may choose to spend this money on technology, such as brand-new computers, instead of investing in music (DistrictAdministration. com). All in all, though it can be costly, the impact it will leave on students, both mentally and academically, may just be worth enough to invest in. “Being in band since middle school, I can tell you from experience that music education keeps students focused and inspired to do better in whatever they do,” said senior band member Adhith Saji. It’s true that instruments and music sheets may be worth hundreds of dollars, but the cost of improving the brain capability of students is priceless.
Graphic By: Jasmin Bleus
Diego Acosta-Rubio: PPCHS Freshman Turned Soundcloud Sensation Alan Matthew
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Graphic By: Justin Pierce
technology editor
rimming with potential and lyrics to spare, freshman Diego Acosta-Rubio is surely someone you’ve noticed around campus. Standing at a high six foot one, Diego isn’t a student who aimlessly drifts through the school day like a few of us do. Diego, a student lyricist, continuously balances two of the most important aspects of his life: his friends and his passion- that is, his music. You can find him across almost any social media platform, but to really experience what Diego puts out there, visit his Sound cloud. He feels that he uses the platform in his own individual way and has been since this past winter break when his friend Nikolai asked Diego to sing a hook (a small lyrical verse) for him. One quick sign up later, Diego himself was hooked. From then on, he made sure to hold to his own standards while he writes his music. In his own words, “I barely curse in my music, I don’t demean women in my music, and I don’t glorify drugs in my music.” All of the beats, flows, and lyrics he puts into his perfectly crafted music are all carefully planned out and intentionally unproblematic. Every ounce of his music is made with this type of concentration, a fact junior Ludrichard Edouard has taken notice of. To paraphrase, he’s listened to a little of his music and certainly enjoys the beat especially, considering that as a dance team member, the beat may be the most important as aspect for Richard. Now, Diego may not be the oldest songsmith on the block, but just like the best
of them, he dedicates himself to his verses. They are how he expresses himself; they are the physical embodiment of his passion. If expressed as just one word, the fervor Diego feels for his music is nothing less than zeal. His songs are his outlet; Enchanted, a song he released 4 months ago, allowed him to express feelings and emotions he’s held in for a long time. Diego declared that, “I put a lot of effort in my music, I write all my lyrics, I’m very selective on which beats I choose, [and] I’m very selective on which songs I’ll release... This isn’t a hobby for me, I told my mom if I [blow up] and I don’t need to go to college, I won’t.” With the support of his parents, Diego’s future seems clearer and clearer every day. Speaking of potential futures, Diego’s is already beginning to get more outlined. While details are still coming in and, in the works, it is known that at least one major American record label has taken notice of Diego: internationally famous brand Capitol Records. A friend of Diego’s, Arvin Saji, has gone on record to express how exciting this is: “I mean, Capitol’s signed people like Snoop Dogg, Frank Sinatra, and [XXXTentacion]. I guess they’re trying to branch out with Diego,
which is really thrilling for him.” Even then, Diego has made it clear that “If my money isn’t moving right and they try to own me or change me, I’ll stay independent.” While he remains elated about the attention, he also remains fiercely autocratic about his music. No record label stands in between him and what he wants to get out there. People at Charter have also begun to notice the teenage sensation. One sophomore, Jessica Chang, listened to a taste of what he puts out there and had nothing but good words to speak about it. To paraphrase her thoughts, Jessica considers it amazing that someone even younger than her is being recognized for doing something that they enjoy, and she only wishes him support for his talent. No matter what though, it’s clear to see that everyone’s eyes should be on Diego in the upcoming months. Record label or not, his music has been one of the most interesting things to come out of a freshman class in a long time. Senior Adhith Saji has even said, “I wasn’t sure what to expect from a freshman, but [his music] is actually pretty interesting to listen to.” For something that just started out as a hobby, Diego’s music’s rise to local stardom is really worth noting. If he stays on this track, hard work, tenacity, and persistence may end up propelling Sound cloud’s “Diego Cavi” far beyond just Pembroke Pines.
12 Features CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES
The Beat to Charter’s Heart: Mr. Daugherty's Passion Sofia Azcurra entertainment
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popular sound heard throughout the M building is the infamous and sizeable PPCHS band’s proficient playing conducted by the well-known Mr. Daugherty. Several teachers’ passion for their teaching subject begins early on in their high school or college years, but Mr. Daugherty's musical adore started far before college and is not stopping anytime soon. They often say chocolates and roses are the way to one’s heart, but not for Mr. Daugherty. He found his love with intricate art of making music with one’s hands way back at the mere age of five with the piano. “It’s something that’ll have a special spot in my heart forever. I absolutely adore the amount of emotion you can put into such a unique piece of music,” he commented. He would later learn to play almost all the instruments in a band: Clarinet, flute, saxophone, trumpet, oboe, tuba, baritone, trombone, and French horn. However, the quirky teacher can be seen playing the one instrument he played most commonly in his life, the trumpet. “The way he talks to us about his musical background and teaches us with such empowerment really inspires us to continue playing,” expressed freshman and clarinet player Derek Cortez. Mr. Daughtery continued his passion as a high school student at Washington High School, in Iowa, where he could always be seen going the extra mile to help his fellow classmates with their music. He then attended the University of Iowa to receive a bachelors in music education and later came on down to the popular University of Miami to graduate with a masters in music education. Being the youngest out of five siblings, one can say his musical influence was set long before he was born. Mr. Daugherty’s family’s melodic skills range from engineering in music to winning Grammys. Michael Daugherty, his eldest brother, has won several Grammys as a classical musical composer, whereas Pat Daugherty, his sister, plays piano for the Martha Graham Dance Company and for the Alvin Ailey Dance Company. She also has a jazz group called “New York electric piano. Going on with the sibling list, Tim Daugherty plays piano on cruise ships and in the
state of Iowa and Tom Daugherty is a music engineer in Los Angeles. Mr. Daugherty’s teaching skills go a long way considering he’s been teaching the artistic subject for 40 years, longer than most teachers have. But charter has been lucky to have him and his talent for a great 13 years and counting. “I think growing up with such a musical family really encourages you to be your greatest potential and I find it great how he treats us like that, it really makes you never want to stop playing,” stated sophomore and flute player Ethan Nieves. Like his own music-immersed childhood, he hopes to pass this rare and unique talent onto his five year old daughter, Johanna. He expressed, “Johanna already sings in Spanish, plays piano, and has her own drum set. I hope she comes a long way, just like her father did!” His musical vibe is not only being implemented in his daughter, but his students. Mr. Daughtry's favorite part of teaching high school students music, are well, the students themselves. “Mr. Daughtery has a really special and quirky personality,” explains senior and trumpet player Jerome Benoit, “but his methods to make us respect music and teach us is so admirable.” He loves seeing student’s succeed in hard pieces or watching them practice their several sheets of music. He explains, “There is no greater emotion than watching a music student triumph from your hands.” All students in the band have their own passions and best talents, but when they all come together, they all hold the same love and respect for their band teacher. Mr. Daugherty hopes to see one of his many talented students in the big leagues one day, maybe playing with a top notch band or maybe creating their own. Charter’s homey and inviting feel is what appealed to Mr. Daugherty when looking for this position. When he first applied to the job, the aspiring musician was in fact taking everything into consideration but most of all he had one goal in mind, to establish a great band filled with hopeful and young musicians. He came into the job filled with several great ideas that luckily got accomplished. As of today, Mr. Daughtery runs four bands, top band, symphonic band, concert band
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and jazz band. He also takes extra time out of his hectic day to help out the very competitive and accomplished drumline. “The drumline, jazz band, and all other bands get their hardest work from Mr. Daughtery. He really never fails us and always makes sure we understand the music,” expressed junior and trumpet Muriel Morales. One of his other biggest goals was to create an established marching band. PPCHS’s marching band may not have yet reached what is established in Mr. Duaghtery’s eyes but it is definitely the biggest one, holding up to 150 students. One can say he definitely does something different to attract so many interested musicians. Mr. Daugherty's school year starts out long before any other teacher with all the preparing and scheduling occurring for
the marching band. He plans the freshman band camp at the end of the school year alongside the normal band camp for everyone near the end of the summer. Nearing the start of the school year, he coordinates the yearly marching band trip to either Disney World or Universal Studios. His adore for the intricate art of music definitely goes a long way and is evident through all the hard work he puts forth in making sure the students reach their highest potential. His passion goes a long way and so does his heart. The art of music is somewhat underestimated these days, but Charter’s beloved band director has sown us all that music is one thing he plans on never letting go.
Mr. Daugherty playing the trumpet. Photo By: Justin dourvetakis
Band’s Superior Performance Ariana Ortiz Staff Writer
The
Photo By: Justin dourvetakis
PPCHS Band’s most important time of the year is here! It’s… drumroll please… MPA season! MPA, short for Music Performance Assessment, is a major exam for musicians. Yes, even musicians have tests, and this one caters to high school bands around the state. Each band is rated on their musical performance based on specific criteria. The rating the band receives means a lot to each member and, most importantly, the band director, Mr. Daugherty. It is the time for the famous PPCHS band to prove their worth. Sophomore and saxophone player Maritsa Jean-Pierre said, “To prepare for MPA, we practice every chance we get, whether it is during homeroom or sometimes even from start to finish on block days. We try to squeeze in as much practice as possible to give the best performance we can possibly give.” For weeks on end, the band has been perfecting their songs and ensembles and refining their skills, so if something spontaneous happens at MPA they are prepared. During the nerve racking performance, the band plays three different songs that they have been preparing for months. After this performance, they participate in the sight reading portion where a judge surprises the band with a new song they have never seen before. After three to five minutes of reviewing the new piece, the band has to play the
song to the best of their ability based on their previous knowledge and skill. The sight reading performance is judged on the same grading scale as their earlier performance. In both the musical performance and sight reading portions, the band must demonstrate that they are able to play a ‘march,’ a piece of music with a strong regular rhythm, and an ‘overture,’ an instrumental introduction to an opera. Every school group is judged by four judges; each of which is classified as a master music teacher. They are all carefully chosen based on their musical experience and their level of teaching. The bands are given a rating based on their performance. The ratings rank goes from best to worst: Superior, Excellent, Good, Fair, and Poor. Freshman Chino Villanueva, concert band member, said, “As a part of the PPCHS Concert band, getting an ‘excellent’ rating in a performance did not disappoint me in the least because days before MPA Mr. Daugherty reminded us how a superior rating in middle school MPA may diverge in high school MPA; therefore, getting an excellent rating felt like an incredible feat. Looking back, MPA definitely relived my stress, since I got to listen to various bands and forget about school for a day.” After watching each ensemble, the judges decide the rating the ban
will receive. Three PPCHS bands, Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and Concert Band, performed on March 14 and March 15 at Cypress Bay High School from 11 a.m. all the way to 7 p.m. After months of practice, and a long day at a foreign school, the results were delivered to the eager band members. The Wind Ensemble received one ‘excellent’ and two ‘good’ scores in music performance and an ‘excellent’ in sight reading. The Symphonic Band received two ‘excellents’ and one ‘superior’ in music performance and one ‘superior’ in sight reading. Finally, the concert band received three ‘excellent’ scores in music performance and one ‘superior’ score in sight reading. Senior Curtis DeShong said, “We worked for months practicing to perfect our articulation and sound as a band, and I’m so happy with the results. This really shows that hard work pays off.” For the PPCHS band, MPA was a major success! Each individual band performed as well as they could and showcased their amazing talents. No matter what the scores were, the PPCHS band worked endlessly to do their absolute best. After hours of practice and preparation, each band did their best to give a ‘superior’ performance.
Advertisement 13 CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES
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Clubs
A Week of Charter C.H.E.E.R. CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES
Alan Matthew
Undeniably, disabilities do make people
different, but not any less worthy of respect, regard, and recognition. Some people walk the path of life in a different way than most. Charter students got to experience living with a disability for a day during Best Buddie’s annual CHEER week. To help others understand that these varieties in characteristics don’t make people any less worthy, Best Buddies club organized a metaphorical marathon of sorts; that is, an opportunity to adopt a disability for a day in an effort to allow people to see the struggles and hardships of different disabilities. Empathy is the path to understanding, and the Best Buddies CHEER Week brought empathy in by the handfuls during the week of March 12th to 16th, 2018. In the words of Mrs. Santiago, “It’s just about respect. How we can respect each other and tolerate each other regardless of something like a disability.” To truly understand the week, one simply has to follow the path of the students who participated in it. The day started early for Isabele Hildy, a freshman, as she walked to the S building in hopes of participating in the event. As she mounted the stairs leading up to the second floor, a plethora of thoughts barraged her mind. “I knew that disabilities like blindness, deafness, and even muteness were all options, but since I had no control over what I was getting I was a little nervous.” Indeed, Isabele re-
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ceived one of the more difficult disabilities, a simulated blindness.
every aspect was cataloged, run, and kept track of by students in Best Buddies.
One eye closed, another blurred, and a walking stick in hand, Isabele went through the day in a far different way than what she was used to. The simple act of reading the board became a near impossibility for her because of her visual impairment. Yet, this is the daily life of millions of people, and a day is more than manageable for just one person. In addition to the determined but struggling Isabele, other people all over campus were becoming CHEER leaders, as the sign on their chest proclaimed.
Truly, the time put into everything really shone through. Outside perspectives were changed on some level as well. To have students walking around with disabilities they didn’t have before is an interesting sight, and one that captured the attention of many Charter students. One such student, Dominique Evans, said, “It was interesting to see [my friends] with these ‘disabilities’, it was definitely different from what I’m used to.” No matter the case, CHEER Week certainly had an impact even beyond what was predicted.
An announcement to anyone willing to listen, the Best Buddies issued sign was attached to a lanyard around the necks of anyone with a disability for the day. It proclaimed altruism, compassion, and a willingness to understand the nuances of life, disabled or otherwise. “I participated in these activities last year, and [the experience] has only gotten more and more eye-opening, despite not being able to see well,” laughed junior Maney Wu. On a separate level, the work behind Best Buddies CHEER Week was just as important as the week itself. Organized primarily by club members, the week was the students’ initiative, and members intend to keep for years to come. From the encroaching silence of the deafness simulating headphones to the muting mouth guard,
A Ting in Time T
History Lover Since Elementary Student Life Editor
E
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Photo by: Maya Cabrera tary, Jessica records notes on the meetings, works closely with treasurer Alina Le in planning events and fundraising, and keeps track of club hours. Although Jessica doesn’t plan on committing to a major involving social sciences, she cannot imagine her life without history. “History is everywhere,” she said. For now, Jessica will continue to record and observe Rho Kappa as a dedicated member.
ver since being an elementary school student, sitting and reading her dad’s encyclopedia containing ancient historical events, Asha Clarke has been interested in history. Growing up, she was always interested in groups and figures in history who had a profound impact on today’s world. This interest followed the junior into high school, as she now sits as the vice president of Rho Kappa. “When I heard that there was an organization at PPCHS that honored academic excellence in history and other social studies, I knew that I wanted to get involved,” she said. As vice president, Asha mainly focuses on supporting the president and helps to oversee the planning of events, such as the “Gift a Little Happiness” event, where participants had the opportunity to write holiday letters to soldiers serving overseas. As her love for history has only grown over the years, it does not seem to be slowing down anytime soon. “I'm not lucky enough to be one of those people who have a clear plan of what they want to do after
Photo by: Maya Cabrera high school, but I would definitely love if history or any other kind of social science was involved in my future,” she said. When first joining the club, Asha wasn’t sure what would come out of it. The club had existed, but it never had taken off and grown into what it is now. The board members, including Asha, have all worked to grow the club’s popularity and achieve the same level of academic excellence at our school in years to come. As vice president and history lover, Asha has successfully taken on a prominent role in the club and done her part in helping Rho Kappa grow.
Love for the Past Leads the Club in the Future Ainsley McCormick
Money Grows with Le
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Ainsley McCormick
Throughout history, many presidents have
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led our country through the ups and downs that have molded our government into the constantly changing way it is today. Leaders in history textbooks are written in bold and etched in the stone of the past. Although she may not be President of the United States, senior Kelen Quintana is a leader: President of Rho Kappa.
Money doesn’t grow on trees, but with
Alina Le as Rho Kappa’s treasurer, time is money. The junior has taken on her role of planning fundraising events for the club to a whole new level, with events like the mystery dinner and de-stress packages. While she focuses on raising money for club activities, she is also in charge of collecting dues needed from the club members. Alina’s love for history stemmed from her international history class with Mrs. Rudd sophomore year. “Each historical event plays like a story, and these stories are just really interesting,” Alina said. Although she doesn’t plan on pursuing any history related major, she has considered looking into international affairs for college. “Through history you can learn about different cultures and why things are the way they are today. It enriches your understanding on the entire world.” Alina said, as she really enjoys traveling and experiencing new cultures. Alina’s biggest, and proudest, event from Rho Kappa is the mystery dinner, which she was in charge of planning. Alina worked to create the game over the course
Graphic by: Justin Pierce
Ainsley McCormick
Ainsley McCormick
here’s always two sides to a story. This is the reason why Jessica Ting loves the subject of history. She ties together all aspects of life with history, relating laws and theories in math and science back to treaties and battles from centuries ago. The junior proudly serves as secretary of Rho Kappa, because it “isn’t some elitist honor society. Its purpose is to spread the interest, understanding, and appreciation of social studies.” Jessica’s favorite event from the club to date is the “Gift a Little Happiness” event, where students were able to write letters to soldiers serving overseas in an effort to help them celebrate the holiday season. “It was really heartwarming to see so many people show their appreciation for the men and women who serve our country,” she said. The person holding position as secretary of Rho Kappa is extremely important, and in fact, if it were not for their recordings, many events would go unknown. As secre-
Overall, Best Buddies CHEER Week truly was an eye opening experience for many. Disabled life is also human life, just with more day to day struggles. The efforts of Mrs. Santiago and her club will surely not be forgotten any time soon; the enriched awareness of PPCHS stands testament to that fact. One just has to remember, knowledge can always be expanded upon and new perspectives can always be reached. So, why not devote some more time into the people around you who might not always be considered? After all, their lives are a testament to accomplishment despite hardships - something everyone can benefit from learning about.
Photo by: Maya Cabrera of a few months, and although she admits it was a little hectic, “everyone who participated had lots of fun.” For Alina, there is nothing better than learning history while solving a murder case. Her love for the club is obvious in the way she describes it, and through this it is evident to all that this treasurer is focused and passionate.
“My interest in Rho Kappa stems from how much I love history. I actively study and read historical books in my free time,” she said. In doing so, she’s the best fit as a social studies leader and a social studies advocate. Her loud passion has helped push the club to expand and grow its name this year. With her obvious enthusiasm for history shining through, Kelen plans to take her education in history further during her college career. “I plan to major in international relations, which deals with global issues and foreign affairs. It is very deeply intertwined with history,” she said. This fascination with history initially fomented as a hobby, but “this hobby has helped me decide what career I want to pursue, and has led to me becoming a lot more socially
Photo by: Maya Cabrera and culturally aware,” she said. It’s not every day that a deep seeded interest manifests itself as someone’s present and future. Kelen was really pushing the momentum with the Mystery Dinner event early in the year, marking it as one of the first of its kind in club event history. She has unique fundraising ideas that her officers have all helped to pursue, which can be seen in the club’s every venture. She is also deeply involved in National Honor Society, and her experience with this club has helped her properly preside over Rho Kappa. Needless to say, this leader is armed with the events of the past as she leaves her mark on the future.
A Charter Effort to Combat Bullying
Clubs 15 CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES
Alan Matthew
Harsh words, cruel actions, exclusion, or
online harassment - bullying takes many different forms, but at Pembroke Pines Charter High School bullying has no place. Schools are meant to be a safe space where people shouldn’t have to worry about the threat of an overbearing student or harsh, derogatory words that are directed at them. To target that fact and bring about awareness, our school, with the help of the Anti-Defamation League, decided to host a week of positivity to fight back against bullying: Anti-Bullying Week. Implemented by student leaders, AntiBullying Week had a clear purpose during its duration. Bullying has far reaching consequences for a student, but the true danger of bullying is how passing it can often seem to the bully. Just a passing word or repetitive ‘banter’ can often become more if the power dynamic between the students is askew. Recognizing this, the week was oriented towards discussion, conversation, and raising awareness for something that is completely preventable. In the words of Ms. Velez, “We were able to implement some activities [like a round table discussion, homeroom activities, and leadership week] to bring in some awareness.” Students could also feel the difference in the school’s atmosphere, subtle as it was. In the words of Charter Freshman Kyle Fuentes, “[The school has] always felt like a safe place, but recently it’s been feeling like that even more.” Truly speak-
Technology Editor
ing, Anti-Bullying Week isn’t the perfect event just yet, but with proper student effort, it could blossom into something quite beautiful indeed.
The week itself was truly magnificent in Even if just one or two students benefit, its execution. It began with a round table the anti-bullying effort would not be in discussion, where students gathered to vain. Administration has even agreed with share experiences, discuss situations, and the matter and has noticed more students learn about each other and the problem coming to them in an effort to show supat hand: bullying. The week continued in port for their fellow classmates, and help a similar fashthem howion, with student Graphic by: Rosa Gomez ever they can. involvement alJunior John ways essential in Lynch has said some form. Tuesthat he believes day brought an our school SGA sponsored doesn’t have homeroom activthe same level ity that sought to of problems as answer the quesother schools tion: “what is because of efbullying?” The forts like the time was also Anti-Bullying used for a creWeek. To him, ative activity that Charter feels safer because the school ofhelped continue the conversation, interestten tries to unite itself in something closer ingly named “Starbucks Sleeves Inspirato peace than bullying, with students at the tion.” forefront. After all, student involvement was especially high for this event, at least when it came to organizing. While a national effort, Anti-Bullying Week has to be taken on by local students to make an impact. Students like Sonia Khan were instrumental in bringing the week to Charter. She cites that
Spreading HOPE One Butterfly at a Time Sofia Azcurra Entertainment Editor
“Don’t forget to smile this week!”
is one of the many sayings shown on the paper butterflies passed out around campus these past months. The student made-butterflies create a sense of happiness and joy to whoever’s hands they fly into, with their witty and cute sayings. The unique H.O.P.E. Sunshine club has definitely become a part of student conversations these past few weeks. To help generate buzz about the club’s purpose, the encouraging club has started a simple project that is most definitely making the day for many students. Starting March 9th through the end of the school year, this ambitious club embarked on delivering personalized butterfly cut-out›s with inspirational messages to each homeroom at random intervals. “It’s a pretty ambitious project to visit every single homeroom and every single student, but I am very proud of my group of kids and so far the process has been smooth,” expressed the club’s coordinator, Mrs. Scott. The motivated club members are inspiring classmates to take a selfie with the butterflies and to post them on social media using the hashtag #PPCHSSPREADTHEHOPE. The tiny cut-outs don’t just come with an inspirational message, but attached to the back is a sweet lollipop to help spread bright optimism around campus. The initial idea, being able to spark up a small trend that helps spread hope to keep students buoyant, came from sophomore Christina Copeland. “Our club is relatively new and may be more anonymous than any other club, but we want to put our name out there as a supportive club that never fails to help students out,” stated the creative sophomore. It didn’t take the club long to come up with how they would present the ambitious project. They came up with the butterfly idea with the help of junior Schneider Jean-Pierre. “Butterflies are so graceful. It always lights me up and makes
it’s an honor to continue the relatively new tradition of involving the school in a week of promoting a community against bullying.
Students hold the butterfly being passed out to each student. Photo by: Maya Cabrera me happier by seeing them,” he said. The stressful life of a high school student is hectic as it is with tests, homework, and clubs, so bringing a little spark of radiant happiness was the main goal of the project. Junior Shayne Tyrell commented, “It was such a nice gesture and lighthearted thing for H.O.P.E. to do. It could really help someone, especially if they’re going through something that no one knows. I would absolutely love to have more stuff like this.” The outcome was more of a success than anticipated, and Charter students were definitely open to the idea of passing inspirational quotes around. The H.O.P.E. club wants to ensure the student body that the dawning fact of being alone doesn’t have to be a reality. The butterflies are only one of many projects they plan on completing in upcoming years. The club is always open to talk to new members about anything. There’s only so much students can handle these days. Often times, all they need is a little bit of hope.
Wednesday was much more hands on for students in homeroom, as they participated in a project in the garden focused on reflection and peace. The week closed with leadership training on Thursday. Spearheaded by the Anti-Defamation League, students learned valuable skills that could benefit them, and those around them, in the fu-
ture. Practicality and respect were the most important aspects, and students were captivated by the message put forth. Another thing to note was the additional activities the week had to offer as well. While these main activities continued, the Anti-Defamation league hosted special training for club leaders, the library held an inspiring book talk about the theme, and SGA students could always be found in the cafeteria encouraging students to sign posters and signs that helped spread the message. All in all, every activity and every student involved played their part in fighting against bullying. Charter is often cited as a school without fights or real bullying, and it is because of events like this that we can proudly accept that reputation. Sophomore Noel Peralto has said, “I used to get bullied, but not anymore. I’m just glad that I can come to… school [without worrying about that.]” He goes as far as to say that he believes that Charter does things to help those type of problems, which he’s grateful for. Bullying is intrusive, hard to see, devastating, and in extreme cases, a silent killer. But all of this can at least be alleviated if a few of us step up just a little more. Charter is, after all, a family, and it should always feel like a family. Imperfect as it can sometimes be, family can always learn, grow, and become better overall; in Ms. Velez’s words, we should all be invested in “the quest to break down barriers” for the sake of our family and the people around us.
They Got the Power
F
Ariana Ortiz Staff Writer
eminism, or the advocacy of women’s rights on the basis of the equality of the sexes, has been around for centuries and is known to have happened in three waves. The first being women’s suffrage, the second being the women’s liberation movement in the 1960’s, and the third being a continuation of the second starting in the 1990’s. Today, women have come a long way from the first time the idea of feminism was introduced. Women from all over the world come together to fight for their equality every day. Thousands of organizations exist globally to spread awareness for women’s rights. Even in our school!
Girl Power is a club at PPCHS that empowers students through meaningful and informative discussions about feminism. The club sheds light on not only the inequality women face worldwide, but it highlights how destructive behaviors in society can impact the lives of more than half the world’s population regarding women. “Simply having the Girl Power club brings attention to the power women could have, but might not always get the opportunity to pursue,” said junior Falak Abbasakoor. It also focuses on calling out injustice and figuring out how, as feminists, people can put a stop to perpetuating stigmas and damaging behaviors through learning how to use the privileges one has to help uplift someone or something that is overlooked. The clubs social media coordinator Elizabeth Velasquez says, “This club helps me personally figure out how I
can use my own privileges and use it as a platform to help others. It also helps me see others’ point of view [in addition to] how they experience life and how the issues we talk about actually affect the members of the club in their everyday lives.” While the girls of girl power do not have the biggest platform to spread their message just yet, by inspiring girls and boys at school, they set a precedent for others to do the same. If one student feels empowered by what is said by a leader in girl power and they relay that message, then it was well worth it. Many girls feel belittled by the way they are treated in the workplace, at school, and in normal social interactions because of their gender. The message that the girl power club tries to instill in their members is one of extreme importance for both men and women. While the officers of the club are working on a project for international women’s day that has yet to be revealed, they have been focusing on one issue a week and highlighting how that issue affects themselves and others. Issues they have focused on in recent weeks include representation of women in the media, sexual misconduct in Hollywood, colorism, and women’s reproductive rights. Girl Power President, senior Arielle Hernandez says, “We are inclusive of all genders and have meetings during homeroom every week about feminist and intersexual issues. Whether our club empowers students or not, it is good to know that new generations of girls will grow up with positive role models, a sense of solidarity between women, and more information about the current events that affect them.”
Girl Power members Natalia Gonzalez and Arielle Hernandez. Photo by: Maya Cabrera
The work that Arielle and the other girls do should not go unnoticed, as so many girls in our school are inspired by the work they do. Thanks to that club, our school is more inclusive and understanding of the daily issues women face.
16 Sports CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES
Softball Making Way to States Jordan Alberti
The Lady Jags softball team has
started the season with an astounding 16-1 record. After a devastating injury to one of their best players, junior Natalie Alegria, who looks to be back for the regional tournament, everyone has picked up their quality of play. After a 5-4 win against Coral Springs Charter, due to Alexa Good’s last inning heroics and Angelina Pascual’s clutch pitching, the Jags have rattled off five straight wins, along with capturing the Speedball Classic tournament title during spring break. Coral Springs Charter was ranked #1 in the state at the time and had not lost a game in two years. However, there is a new number one in the state in the latest Max Preps rankings. The Lady Jags now rank #1 in the state and rank
Sports Editor
#23 in the country, an amazing feat in itself. Sophomore Erika Andal said, “It’s an honor and a challenge to be ranked number one in the state. It puts a target on our backs but, it’s a challenge we are more than ready to accept.” Centerfielder Malerie Busha said, “I am so proud of this team. Through the adversity we have overcome, through the long practices, and the long nights, we are seeing our work pay off. However, our work isn’t finished until we bring a state title home. When we get that done, I’ll be satisfied and then immediately look to stay on top and repeat next year.” The Lady Jags are poised to make a deep run in the playoffs, and if Natalie Alegria can make it back in time for the playoffs, the Jags will
have an extra spark to start their state title flame. Players such as Eliza Gonzalez have had to step up to the circle since Alegria became injured. Eliza is usually the reliever or closer to Natalie, but now she is the team’s ace pitcher, along with Angelina Pascual. Gonzalez said, “We just had to pick up Natalie and keep going. We know that when she comes back, we are going to get better. In her absence, everyone has stepped up and that has increased our team unity and our overall performance. We have all stepped up to the task.” The Lady Jag’s outlook on the season is very positive, and they look to continue their tenacious run to a state title in the coming months.
Photo By: Andy Alfonso
Baseball Boys Bound for Districts Jordan Alberti Sports Editor
Photo By: Andy Alfonso
T
he Jags baseball team this year has started off strong. Their record now is 10-7, and they are looking to claim the number one seed for the district tournament in early May. They will face South Broward in the second game of the series on April 5th to see who walks away with the title. If the Jaguars lose, they will have split the series with South Broward (9-5 win on April 4th), and the decision as to who gets the number one seed will come down to a coin flip. Senior Jorge Herrera said, “I really like where this team is going. We had some very tough games at the beginning of the year. We learned from the mistakes we made, and now we are capitalizing on that experience to improve our performance.” Within four games in the month of April, the Jaguars have exploded on offense, outscoring their opponents 41-5. For the year, the Jags are hitting .303 as a team and have a .434 on base percentage. Senior Nicholas Martinez has been a leader of this explosion. He said, “It’s great that we are all putting it together now and getting hot in time for the playoffs. I think
things have really clicked, both on offense and defense, and I’m looking forward to some big things in the coming games.” On the pitching side of things, the Jags have accumulated a 3.33 team ERA with 107 strikeouts and only 60 walks. Maverick Medina is leading the team in wins with four, along with being second on the team with 20 strikeouts. The sophomore has been a stellar player this year after a rough start to the season against Everglades. “That game taught me so much. Even if I wasn’t the best that day, I still felt I did okay, but I also learned more than I ever have in a single game. I’m using everything I learned in that game, and carrying it over to our games now and in the future.” All in all, the Jaguars have enjoyed a spectacular season so far and look to continue the tear they are on by getting the number one seed for the district tournament and going further in playoffs than any Jaguars team has gone before.
Boys’ Water Polo Team Dives into the New Season Matthew Hernandez Staff Writer
The boys’ water polo team is off to a
hot start with an amazing 5-2 record after seven games. To say that the boys refuse to lose is an understatement as they only have two defeats this season. The boys’ most recent loss came against the Cooper City Cowboys and the boys won their last game against Flanagan, 15-4, on Tuesday, April 3rd. This was a very dominant team win by the Jags as they beat a rival school. Co-captain Ethan Coello said, “We are in it to win it. We have a very good team this year and I strongly believe that we are capable of beating anyone, anywhere, any time. I really think that if we keep working on our craft, we can have a really successful season. We have been working really hard in practice and are really hard on ourselves and our teammates. We work as a team and never put each other down, this is why I think we have been so successful this
season. Go Jags!” The Jags water polo team is on the right track, but need to stay on course if they wish to accomplish their goals for this season. The boys will look to keep winning games in the regular season and head into the postseason with some momentum. Senior captain Connor Klomparens said, “I’m so proud of this team up to this point, but we still have a lot of work to do. Our goal is to win districts and have a great season. It’s sad that my time here with these guys and with this team is coming to an end, but I want to make the most of it by leading this team. I’m looking forward to the rest of the season and finishing strong with the boys.” The team has high goals and expectations and believe they can be district champs. It won’t be easy, but these boys are preparing everyday with practice and preparation.
Photo By: Andy Alfonso
Girls Water Polo Looking Towards Successful Season Andres Perez Staff Writer
Photo By: Andy Alfonso
The girls’ varsity water polo season is well under
way with a record of 3-2. The girls have set out to accomplish a great overall season and create a family atmosphere within the team. The team has endured heartbreaking losses along with uplifting wins that only inspire them to perform better each and every game. The season had a rough start as the girls went 1-2 in the first three games. Since then, the girls began a hot streak with wins in the last two games. The team has been led by mostly juniors and seniors with the exception of one 8th grader making her mark on the team. In order to gain chemistry in games, the girls have all engaged in activities on their own time, including days at the beach with barbeques. The bond around the team has become stronger than previous seasons. Senior Sofia Alfonso believes, “The group of girls we have put together in this team have really put their heart into each and every game. Whether it's a loss or win, I can't help but be proud of the improvements we continue to make.” With four more
games left until districts, the girls look to finish off the season on a winning streak and ride it all the way through districts. Junior Leslie Cordero has a lot of confidence in the team winning districts. “In the past seasons I have watched our team gain a lot of experience in tough games that will only help us in the future games to come,” she said. The team believes strongly in learning from past mistakes, and the losses that they have endured so far have taught the entire team what it takes to excel as a team. The Girls Water Polo team has had a good start to the season and only look improve their record. With the bond they have created, the team feels as if they are unstoppable and a force to watch out for within their district. The next game for the girls’ varsity water polo team is April 10th against Coral Glades, where the girls look to secure another victory.
Sports 17
Losing Pounds or Losing Passion?
CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES
Paolo Barrera Clubs Editor
What are the most important facets
of an athlete that are key in their performance? This isn’t Family Feud, but it’s worth asking what the top five answers to that question would be. One may throw around answers like skill or speed, while arguing that flexibility and strength are vital. In reality, an athlete’s weight is actually one of the top answers. Weight dictates who competes, how one competes, and even where one competes. In recent times, it has become clear that the topic of weight has a massive effect on all athletes. Bringing this topic into the spotlight was UFC fighter Paige VanZant. On January 13, 2018, she posted a personal testimony on the player’s only platform, “The Players Tribune.” In the video, she shares a personal journey with the “skill” of cutting weight. At the time of filming her video, there was no weight category that she naturally fit in, saying that many fighters, like her, struggle to either gain or lose weight just to compete. In her testimony, she specifically described cutting down the pounds, even confessing that she acquired an eating disorder in the process. At the end of that video, Paige repeats: cutting weight has been a dangerous, but necessary, undertaking. One may take away the assumption that Paige, and other fighters like her, only have to go on a diet to cut weight. The reality of the situation: athletes go to extremely fatal extremes to slim down their body weight. Paige shared how three weeks before the fight, she made it a point to drink gallons of water in order to displace any other type of liquid or vitamin in her tissues. Junior John Wentzel, an amateur boxer, said, “I really feel that cutting weight can be really bad. If it is done gradually, like regular weight loss, it is okay, but as soon as you start skipping meals and over exhausting yourself to lose weight right before
weigh in, that is when it becomes very dangerous.” While doing that, she doused herself in constant sweat through jump rope workouts and other cardio exercises. She did all this while in a sauna, making sure that she was sweating out anything that could weigh her down. When she wasn’t doing that, she was in a hot tub in order to trick her body to heat up and sweat more. Paige also mentioned that she pushed herself even further by constantly wearing a sauna suit, and scraping the sweat off her body with a credit card. The extremes that Paige put herself through led her to an eventual black out: her friend found her passed out on a hotel bathroom days before her match. The combat sports community, and other weight-category sports, is alive and well at Charter. There are jiujitsu champions and MMA fighters among the student body, making the issue of cutting weight a prevalent topic. “Honestly, I would like to see fluent weight classes, classes where weight really doesn’t need to be cut. For example instead of 145155 and then moving to 165-185, they should just insert a 156-164 in order for everyone to be able to fight and not have to cut weight.,” said fighter Eddie Valdes Jr. As an athlete, one would assume that there’s a weight class for everyone. Wrestlers and boxers know, however, that not all heavyweights are made equal. A 200 pound fighter can be a 5’5 man with a tough chin, or maybe a 5’11 kickboxer with lanky arms but a light frame. “Fighting can be really difficult and taxing on your body, sometimes you just want to quit and you want to stop training, but if you really love it, you keep going,” Valdes confesses. Paige’s story shows that having a passion for a sport that is determined by weight is extremely difficult. Student athletes are forced to decide: cut weight or cut out sports.
“I like the Marlins because of Miami, but my real team will always be the Yankees. With Stanton’s trade the decision is only easier now. Some people think it’s funny that I like a team from New York over a team that’s only an hour away from where I live, but I don’t have to live near a team to support them.”- Junor Bella Devesa
headlines, the issue of extreme weight loss is just as newsworthy. In the spotlight, cutting weight has been exposed as one of the hardest aspects of the sport. Students may not go as far as scraping sweat off their arms, but the practice touches every combat sport participants one way or another. More inclusive weight classes definitely have the power to fix the problem, but a solution now would be better than a solution later. If fighters can’t be safe before their fights, then how are they supposed to be safe during the fight?
Photo By: Aijah Harper
The Shining Shortstop Jordan Alberti & Andres Perez
The
Sports Editor & Staff Writer
Jags Softball team has strung by USA Today. Appalachian State together a season like no other, and offers Maegan a beautiful atmoeveryone is contributing. A large part sphere and a very competitive softis coming from the talented short- ball team to compete with. Maegan stop, Maegan Calandra. Maegan has said, “Honestly, I’m looking forward brought national attention to her- to college because of the blessing I self and has her eyes set on making have to walk into. Appalachian State the Jaguar softball team the top in provides everything I want and the state. With the versatility Mae- need in college. Plus, it’s not that far gan shows on the and off the field, from home, so I can home somePPCHS is lucky to have her as a stu- what often.” dent athlete. As one of three captains Maegan doesn’t just look out for on the team she has been at the fore- herself but she helps guide the team front of the team, hitting at the top and looks out for everyone. Sophoof the order and sporting an average more outfielder Erika Andal said, over .300. At shortstop, she has made “Maegan is essential to our team. some crucial plays for the Jags, espe- She is a wall at shortstop and is a cially in Charter’s championship vic- great leader for this team.” tory against Coral Springs Charter, With Maegan leading the Jags where she had 3 putouts and a single. softball team, the future looks very On January 31st, Maegan an- promising as she still has her senior nounced that season left to Donated By: Maegan Calandra she had commake her mark mitted to in PPCHS athplay D1 softletics. She says, “I’ve always been a Marlins ball. She an“If the team can fan. I am not sure how the nounced that continue perteam is going to be now with after her four forming the way all of these new players, but years of high we have been so the Marlins will always be my school, she far, it will only team.” - Senior Matthew Perez would spend motivate everyher next four one to elevate “Honestly, the Marlins are years at Aptheir game to a struggling this season. I think palachian new level.” As in the future they have poState Univerfor the remaintential, but for now I’m going sity, located der of the seato continue routing for them. in Boone, son, she and the Maybe as the season progresses North Caroteam have their they will improve. At least, lina. The sights set on a that’s what I’m hoping for as school was state championa fan of theirs.” - Sophomore ranked the #9 school in the South ship and nothing less than that. Blake Rodriguez
“Are You Finding a New Team?” “The Marlins will always be my team. It makes me sad that some of my favorites, like Stanton, are gone, but my hometown team will always be my team. I’m excited for the new players and to see what they can bring to the table.” - Freshman Diego Acosta Rubio
When Paige uploaded her video, she added that the UFC added a 125 pound weight class for women. She was able to finally fight at her normal weight, but she still has an eating disorder as a result of the constant weight cutting. Her scars are a part of the movement that is forcing sports to be more inclusive of women, mental illness, and people of all shapes. Cutting weight has proven to be deadly and, in Van Zant’s case, deadly to the point of permanent repercussions. Although it’s the seat selling fights or award winning bouts that make
18 Entertainment
The News They Didn’t Want Leaked: A Wrinkle in Time Delivers an Inspiration to Many The Post Review CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES
Evan Samuels
Sophia Cortes
Managing Editor - Web
Staff Writer
“A Wrinkle in Time”
“The Post” Set in 1971 in the midst of the Vietnam War, “The
Post,” directed by legendary director Steven Spielberg, follows the resilient yet timid Washington Post publisher Katharine Graham, played by the renowned Meryl Streep, and the gruff “pirate” editor Ben Bradlee, played by comical Tom Hanks. They race against the New York Times to uncover the “Pentagon Papers,” which are about seven thousand classified government papers depicting decades of the United States cover-up of their involvement in Vietnam. Throughout the movie, The Times is able to receive and publish a small portion of the papers, but it is not long before the government halts the publication of the Times and brings them to court for the release of classified government documents. When word hits the papers of this clear violation of the first amendment, protests break out all across the country. Amidst the chaos, Ben Bradlee is able to get ahold of an even bigger portion of the classified papers, and along with several other Post employees, urges Katharine to greenlight the publishing of the papers, no matter the cost. Through Streep’s excellent performance as Katharine Graham, the audience empathizes with her anguish and confusion as she struggles to either uphold her family’s legacy through the Washington Post. Or risk it all for the sake of upholding the freedom of press and believes the public has the right to know the truth after decades of lies and deceit from the government about a failing war. Arguments can always be made in the government’s defense, as was shown in the film by the portrayal of secretary of defense Robert McNamara by Bruce Greenwood, but world history teacher, Mr. Grijalva, puts it this way; “It is understandable that the government has to keep certain information “classified” to protect us, but the question is always: how much “secrecy” are we willing to extend to the government regarding those matters? Obviously, our trust in government rests on our “faith” that they are “doing good by us” and would not do something like betray our trust by lying… so what happens to that trust when we find out that they are in fact, lying?” These are the questions “The Post” beg the audience to ponder as they leave the theater, especially in these trying times when it seems as if history is repeating itself. Legendary director Steven Spielberg is well known for directing iconic fantastical classics such as E.T., Indiana Jones, and Jurassic Park. And now with Oscar nominated film, “The Post,” Spielberg is shocking audiences around the country and world with the retelling of how the highly classified “Pentagon Papers” made it to the public, all thanks to a family owned Washington DC newspaper. Spielberg’s expert storytelling combined with the phenomenal acting of the star studded cast captures the audience, leaving them at the edge of their seat scene after intense scene.
There’s a New Donut Shop in Town Ainsley McCormick Student Life Editor
“Maxi Donas” Y
ou hop in your car just after two in the afternoon with your two best friends by your side. Wondering where you should go to have an after school snack, one friends suggests Dunkin Donuts. It’s a good idea - cheap, tasty, and close by - but you want something more exciting. Suddenly, an idea pops into your tired mind. Gourmet donuts. However, the famous Mojo Donuts is a pretty far drive for just an after school snack. Lucky for you there’s a new donut shop in town: Maxi Donas. This little donut shop has been opened for less than six months, but they are quickly growing in popularity within the community. The new shop, a chain in South American countries such as Venezuela and Columbia, specializes in gourmet donuts and coffee. Customers are greeted by the smiling face of an employee, who is immediately glad to help with any questions. Placed around the shop are various candies and decorations that are featured on the gourmet treats. A clear glass case displaying all the donuts immediately attracts the customer’s eyes as they begin to scan each donut, noting the abundant amount of icing and treats piled on top of each. The most popular donuts are the ‘Queen’, a Ferrero Rocher donut, and the ‘Nutella’, a donut filled with Nutella and sprinkled with powdered sugar. Other fabulous options include cookies and cream, guava and cheese, s’mores, glazed, and dulce de leche just to name a few. “Every time I go to Maxi Donas I want to get the Fruity Pebbles donuts, which is their ‘Rainbow’ donut. It is so cute and I like to take cute pictures of it for Snapchat,” said junior Maria Rojas. Maxi Donas opens mobile stores at farmers markets around South Florida. Most recently, Maxi Donas has opened a stand at the market hosted at Whole Foods every other Thursday. “I like that there’s a stand at the Whole Foods farmers market because I can browse there while my mom goes into the store,” said freshman Brian Lynch. Here, the donuts are sold for $3.50 each, and are accompanied by coupons for free donuts and coffee from the store. At the store, donuts range from $1.95 to $3.50. Maxi Donas also provides services to cater your party or event. They are constantly working on special orders for baby showers, birthdays, and holidays. Most recently, in celebration of Valentine’s Day, the store produced 700 donuts, which involved all the employees working all night to produce a variety of fun pink, white, and red donuts. Not only does the shop produce exceptional donut flavors, but they also specialize in fresh Colombian coffee. “I got a caramel latte once, and it was so good. The coffee is made fresh right where you can see it, and the milk was steamed to perfection. It tasted like really good quality coffee with a great caramel flavor. Plus, the employees draw a picture with the caramel sauce on the top,” said senior Ross Mishler. As more and more people come to hear about Maxi Donas, the fact that it is closer than other gourmet donut shops give it a greater edge. Hving the store located on Taft and Palm, about a 15 minute drive from the school, only increases the student appeal. When the craving for a sweet treat arises, making your stomach rumble and grumble, be happy to know that a new gourmet donut shop is just around the corner waiting for customers like you to come and enjoy their specialties.
O
vercoming evils, fighting endless battles, meeting great celestial guides, and traveling through the fifth dimension: A Wrinkle in Time has it all! The movie starts off introducing Meg Murry (Storm Reid) as a typical middle school girl who hasn’t found her way in life. Her dad, Mr. Alex Murry (Chris Pine), is a scientist who discovered a new planet. He used the concept known as “tesseract” to travel there. However, when he reaches the planet he gets lost and no one knows where he is. It is up to Meg, her genius little brother (Charles Wallace), and Meg’s best friend, Levi Miller, (Calvin o’Keefe) to find Alex Murry. Based on the book by Madeleine L’Engle, this movie provides a wide variety of beautiful visuals, dangerous action, and uplifting content that is sure to amaze anyone watching. Being the daughter of two amazing physicists, Meg has a hard time trying to live up to the hype that comes with that. Meg’s brother Charles, who can seemingly read the minds of his siblings, introduces Meg to three celestial guides that help Meg on her journey. Charles shows Meg the guides, as they are searching for Meg’s father, who they think is lost in America. However, they soon begin to fear that he got lost in the fifth dimension by the evil spirits, and they knew Meg was the only person that can help. The guides, Mrs. Which (Oprah Winfrey), Mrs. Who (Mindy Kaling), and Mrs.Whatsit (Reese Witherspoon), come together to teach Meg all she knows. Freshman Alyssa Infante said, “Meg is definitely an inspiration to many people. She shows how strong women could be, and how women could do anything they put their minds too.” These guides must show Meg all of the inner strength and intelligence she has in order to overcome the evil that will be welcome her in the fifth dimension. Junior Lauren Barrera said, “This movie really had an impact on me. The way Meg and her team come together and fight off the evil spirits was awesome. It felt like I was watching a new generation of kids that are stronger than ever.” Meg has to travel literally through ‘a wrinkle in time’ to find her father. As the journey progresses she has to fight off the most evil spirits any person has yet to encounter. The courageous teenager is battling with finding her inner strengths, embracing her weaknesses, and relying on others to try to overcome the evils that are approaching her. “I couldn’t believe the visuals that were in this film. The way the movie captures Meg on her journey to find her father was truly amazing and eye moving,” said senior Matthew Perez. The book centers around a white family, but director Ava DuVernay made an effort to reflect the world today. Individuals of varying cultures were represented throughout the movie, one of the main reasons why Storm adores her character so much. She described her character as “a peculiar character [that] she wanted to know more about. The role means more to her than anything because she is “a girl of color, and Meg wasn’t written that way originally, so for me to be able to portray that and represent girls who look like me and let them know they can do anything and empower them is very special,” said Storm Reid (Washington Post). This movie is definitely worth seeing if you like inspirational movies that are heartwarming. This inspirational and thrilling ride teaches kids to always believe in themselves, even through the rough times. It also influences people to reach towards the stars no matter what, and to find your own ‘wrinkle in time.’
Black Panther: A New Beginning to the MCU Evan Samuels Managing Editor - Web
“Black Panther” T
he revolutionary film, Black Panther is an action packed movie, filled with fascinating views of the Wakandan culture and a marvelous narrative that is crammed with plot twists and wonder that will leave you hanging on the edge of your seat. The cast is made up of predominantly black actors and actresses, which just brings so much more uniqueness to the film. The first of its kind for the Marvel Universe, Black Panther is a true game changer that is estimated to make the most money out of all of the marvel movies. The movie opens up with constant action and captures scenes that have visual effects that are beautiful to the eye. After the death of his father, T’ Challa (Black Panther) returns home to his nation of Wakanda to take his rightful place as king. Over and over again T’ Challa will get tested, but the way he overcomes it brings about a new wave of marvel superheroes that viewers have never seen before. This new wave of superheroes provide new meaning to race and they show that anything is possible in this universe. “I knew Black Panther was going to be good, but I didn’t think it was going to be this good. I don’t think I blinked once the whole movie it was just that good. I’m happy it lived up to the hype, it’s a 10 out of 10 must see,” says senior Corey Lessey. The release of “Black Panther” has been a true cultural sensation. Many people are showing up to the film in full outfits that feature the cast of the movie. Many wear the Black Panther outfit, which is worn and played by Chadwick Boseman. While some try to wear outfits similar to those of Nakia and Okoye who many say took over the film. Lupita Nyong’o, who stars as Nakia, describes how the land of Wakanda “encourages female power. Wakanda offers a glimpse of what the world could be. Women are allowed to realize their full potential” which is why this movie is so much more than just a film. It shows the uniqueness of African Americans being superheroes and how women empowerment can help achieve impossible goals. Senior Gaby Dasilva said, “The film was an inspiration to not only me but every woman and man that watched the movie. The way the visuals of the movie capture race was truly eye opening and deserving for recognition.” In a world where racism is still around, “Black Panther” describes and explains why so many people fight for equal representation and why everyone should want to fight for this. It captures a story that shows people the horrors of the past and brings them a future that is filled with equality and much more. PPCHS students are definitely missing out if they haven’t see “Black Panther” yet.
Entertainment 19
The Incredible Marvel: Infinity War Preview
CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES
Brockhampton Rebrands the Definition of a Boy Band
Florencia Azcurra
Paolo Barrea
Features Editor
Clubs Editor
There is only a few weeks left to what
may essentially be the greatest day to ever exist for thousands of people across the country. Marvel’s one and only most anticipated Infinity War film is set to be released on April 27, 2018. For those new to Marvel, in this movie, Thor, Iron Man, Hulk, Captain America and all the Avengers you can think of come together to battle their biggest, most powerful threat: Thanos. Sit back and prepare for a rollercoaster of emotions because the Marvel Cinematic Universe has done it to us yet again; they have us on the edge of our seats. Marvel has only released two trailers and fans are already picking them apart to form conspiracies, figure out the ending, and the saddest of them all: who will die. Before the death of our beloved superheroes are uncovered, let’s begin with the unveiling of the first trailer, which has more than enough to unpack. The original trailer was released almost three months ago, on November 29th, 2017. Fans were geeking out everywhere waiting and waiting, excitement filling their minds and hearts for the first Avengers trailer to drop. When it finally did, revelations and truths were unmasked. “I am so nervous for this movie. Marvel always throws something different at you and this time I have a feeling it's not going to end with the heroes walking into the sunset together,” says freshman Valentina Terry. With the first trailer having been released a little over three months ago, fans are beginning to become anxious for more intel on the movie. The original, intense trailer was one of death, harm, stress and proved to be an overall nail biting experience. “Infinity War surpasses the previous Avenger films because it includes more characters than its predecessors,” says junior Hunter Fu. “It will actually be able to be a comic book movie.” Fanatics were thinking: how could Marvel possibly drop a bomb like that and not have a follow up? Well, they did, but no one is saying it wasn’t just as nerve racking as the first one. Fans were ecstatic when the second trailer for the Infinity War film was released on March 16th, 2018. “The first trailer was epic. When the second one came out I was so happy. I was very excited to see all the previously well-established actors come together and interact on the same screen,” says senior Adhith Saji. Marvel is certainly keeping their fans on their toes and hungry for more, with the slow and agonizing wait of more trailers. This one in particular was a more lighthearted view of the movie that shows the humor Marvel is known for. According to the numerous Marvel fans Charter has, the second video was relieving, since it wasn’t as “morbid” as the first one. Many were fearing the MCU was go-
ing to start killing off people’s favorite superheroes with the looks of the first one, but the second trailer showed the teamwork, love, and willpower everyone looks forward too. With the release of two jaw dropping trailers for an even bigger jaw dropping film, came twitter feuds, conspiracies, and planning. One of the greatest platforms on social media, Twitter, was used for inspiring movements and politics. The Marvel fans of the millennial generation utilize twitter as a way to rack up any information they possibly can from the movie more than a month away. With the drop of two incredible trailers, fans have formed some wild, but logical theories. One being that Captain America, Vision and Loki will die. As sad as it may be, many believe it is possible that Marvel would kill any superheroes in the fight of their life. There is also major speculation on who will officially destroy Thanos, the enemy. In fact, there may be some Avengers with Infinity Stones. As for the planning, just wow. Some Marvel fans are really dedicated. A 31 hour movie marathon has been planned in select AMC theaters across the country that will play all Marvel films relevant to Infinity War. This is sadly, only a rumor. Increasing the hype, presale has already begun for the movie of the year. “Infinity War is definitely going to be the movie. It's been planned out for a while and is basically a result of the success from the MCU, so I expect a lot from this movie,” sophomore Dominque Evans. Fans are rushing to buy their tickets in advance to get the best seats in the house and not wait outside in sold out lines. To backtrack a small bit into the history and drama behind this epic movie, starting from the beginning is always easier for those new to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The Infinity War film will pick up three years after the third Captain America movie. In the last Captain America Civil War movie, the Avengers were torn in half. They fought each other endlessly on a situation a simple sentence couldn’t possibly explain. (Sorry, go watch the movies). The superheroes everyone looks up to for working together and forming an amazing bond, will meet again to fight a common threat separately. At least that’s what fans think will happen. Marvel fanatics will see the superheroes in their most vulnerable states. They will see the superheroes possibly defeated and torn apart. Numerous celebrity interviews have indicated that things will not end well, and maybe they won’t, but the Marvel family needs to band together, like the Avengers, and hold on tight for the one and only, incredible Infinity War.
Before
the turn of the new millennium, the globe rang the tunes of the likes of the Backstreet Boys and NSYNC. Once the second millennium was in the books, ears were perked to the interesting arrival of girl groups like TLC (all girl group who sang “No Scrub” and “Don’t go Chasing Waterfalls”) and Destiny’s Child. From that point, old boy bands and new girl groups developed as the 2000’s did. In 2012, the world struck British gold with One Direction. Since the band broke up in 2015, the crown for the next big band has arguably been up for grabs. This is when fans and future fans around the world meet Brockhampton. In giving them the eye test, the results are not typical. They’re a large group, consisting of 15 members of various abilities and backgrounds. They have African American producers, Middle Eastern musical artists, LGBT rappers, and Texan blood running through their roots. They all owe their creation to a Kanye West fan forum (thefader. com) and their “rough draft” boy band called “AliveSinceForever.” Founder Kevin Abstract says that,” [I reached] out to people from ASF (AliveSinceForever) to see if they [wanted] to come and join me.” The people that came to join him ended up creating a 15 man team that has built everything that Brockhampton stands for. “They [create] their own universe within their albums and you feel a sense of belonging…to be part of something truly like that,” explains follower Jasmine Perez. The unique Brockhampton sound that captivates fans like Jasmine comes from their unique squad. The rappers on the team include Kevin Abstract, Ameer Vann, and Merlyn Wood. They all grew up in Texas and met in high school with musical artist Matt Champion. Other musical artists joining Matt are Ciaran Ruaridh McDonald (aka Bearface), Dominic Simpson, and Russell Boring (aka JABA). Working the booth as producers are Jabari Mawnwa, Kiko Merley, Bearface, Romil Hemmani, and JABA. As producers they play a room full of different instruments in addition to putting their musical talents to work. The creative engineers of
the group are primarily JABA, who is an actual musical engineer; Robert Ontinient, who’s a web developer; and the tandem of Ashlan Gray and Henock Sileshi, who handle photography and the artistic direction. The team is built to always be able to make their own music, take their photographs, perform their own music, and help others do the same. Kevin explains in an interview, “I think what we’re doing hasn’t really been done before because on one end, we’re a boy band and on the other end, we’re like this media company/ad agency. Also, we want to be a record label.” The cookie cutter boy band mold doesn’t fit them in any regard. It would actually be inaccurate and unfair to label them a boy band, since the only boy band-esque features they have are: matching outfits (most of the time) and having all male members. Their style is as diverse as their members. Brockhampton boasts three full albums in addition to their numerous singles: All American Trash, Saturation, Saturation II, and Saturation III. Apple Music has the group’s music under Hip-Hop/Rap, which may be up for debate for some. “In a couple words, their style is uniquely dynamic,” said fan Camila Peralta. They’ve released some R&B type songs on their album, with super funky bops littered across the board as well. Their rap game is not to be denied, however, as they have a strong portfolio of rap tracks in their repertoire. Open ears and an open mind are necessary in enjoying their different approach to making music. Though the group may sound like just another indie boy band from how nontraditional they are, Brockhampton is the face of a new wave of boy band-ism. Their tour stopped by Ft. Lauderdale on January 25th for a concert at Revolution Live. The team performed tracks off their Saturation collection for fans of all ages and all music tastes. Junior Jasmine Perez confesses, “The concert really was the best experience I’ve ever had. To be surrounded by my friends with the music I’ve connected with for so long really had a profound impact on me.” Charter cliques listening to Brockhampton live in concert or live on YouTube get the chance to connect over a once in a generation group of talents. Brockhampton is on the rise and there doesn’t seem to be an obstacle in the way of their versatility. They’re a self-proclaimed boy band with a flow like ASAP Mob, musical artistry like Tyler the Creator, and independent self-sufficiency like Chance the Rapper. They may be a Swiss army knife with countless talents in the entertainment industry, but they will always be one thing: themselves.
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald Trailer Reactions “I
Freshman Arvin Saji
was really excited to see the first one and I’m so hyped for what the future holds for such a unique movie! When the trailer came out I couldn't believe so much time passed by. I really want to see the story continued and see how Newt, the main character, developed.”
Sophomore Maegan Jomsky
“I
was extremely excited when I first heard of the trailer. They did a really good job of summarizing the main message and how the plot moves from the first movie. I believe it's going to be really good and not just because I’m a huge Harry Potter fan, but because the acting is nothing short of spectacular.”
English Teacher Ms. Blanco
“I
ts so great to see Eddie Redmayne making a return! I love these movies and from the looks of the trailer, it looks like this movie will be better than the first one. Seeing Jude Law as Dumeldore only excited me more and I certainly hope there will be another trailer before the movie! I feel like Jude Law will being a lot of justice to this movie and it’ll be interesting to see a series go so far back in time.”
Junior Hunter Fu
Senior Katherine De Barros
ting a sequel, I was more interested in how the plot would go off from the predecessor. During the trailer I sort of felt nostalgic from seeing Hogwarts. I was really excited seeing the different creatures and especially seeing Jude Law playing young Dumbledore. Overall I would say I found it a thrilling ride.”
cause I didn't know there would be more than one movie for the series of Fantastic Beasts. Watching it made my heart ache for good memories I had with the Harry Potter series, especially seeing young Dumbledore. I was literally like, ‘wow’. I find it so fascinating they could bring magic to the screen so well.”
“When I heard Fantastic Beasts was get- “When I heard of it I was surprised be-
Sophomore Leonardo Acosta
“T
he trailer in my opnion looked the same as the first one. I don’t love the Harry Potter wolrd and I don’t hate it, but I’m not as excited just because it looks like the same plot and the same movie. I feel like they could have done a better job at describing the plot in the trailer and presenting each new character better.”
20
Technology
A Brief Warning on Technology CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES
Swati Kumar
Technology Editor
Graphic By: Henry Severe
W
orld-renowned physicist, Stephen Hawking, once said that he has lived with the prospect of dying for 49 years, yet he was not afraid of it. In his 76 years, Hawking has left behind a legacy on earth, publishing various books on cosmology, contributing to significant theories in sciences, and leaving wise words in his wake. “Hawking didn’t let the horrible disease he was given take his mind. He still was able to make many theories and he was able to continue to live, a true hero in my eyes,” expresses freshman Ashish Sathya. Though Hawking passed away, his words will continue to resound within the hearts of people all over the world, especially regarding technology. Stephen Hawking’s warning is clear: technology may destroy us all. According to Hawking, humans need to shape up fast if they want to have any hope
of surviving. Though technology has helped people achieve innumerable things and insurmountable feats, it may have the capacity to lead humans to demise. “Since civilization began, aggression has been useful inasmuch as it has definite survival advantages,” he told The Times. Hawking claims that civilization is hard-wired into our genes by Darwinian evolution with technology advancing at such a pace that this aggres-
Hawking has relentlessly vocalized his concerns regarding robots and artificial intelligence. In an interview with Newsweek, he went as far as to say that he fears AI will develop into a new form of life that has the potential to outperform and eventually replace humans. After all, this is what we have learned from Darwin time and time again. The mechanism of natural selection is the survival of the fittest. It is highly likely that AI will classify as the fittest in the near future.
Despite the issues facing humankind, however, there may still be a chance to survive. According to Hawking, only if people work together will they have a chance. He claimed that people need to be quicker to identify threats and act before they get out of control. Hawking himself understood that his prediction sounds a little “doomladen”, but ends with saying that he is an optimist, and he believes the human race will rise up to meet these challenges (USAtoday).
“Stephen Hawking was a man with immeasurable intelligence, so if he says something will happen, we should pay close attention to his claim. If he says Artificial Intelligence systems will turn on us, we should listen,” states senior Good-
Physicist Stephen Hawking was one of earth’s most brilliant minds, and his contributions to science are almost immeasurable. Though he is no longer here to speak out on the various potentials of our advancing scientific world, his words are timeless and his warnings are clear. It is up to us to rely on reason and logic and to ensure that AI, a human creation, does not result in our demise.
“I think computer viruses should count as life. I think it says something about human nature that the only form of life we have created so far is purely destructive. We’ve created life in our own image.” - Stephen Hawking aren’t
sion may destroy humans through nuclear or biological war. This inherited instinct must be controlled with logic and reason.
“If humans careful, I think it is definitely a possibility that technology can take over humans,” says sophomore Dylan Long. “As humanity approaches greater and greater advancements in technology, it will undoubtedly reach a point in which humans are surpassed.” Junior Alina Le agrees with Dylan and believes Hawking has a valid reason to make this warning about technology. Alina claimed that human creations such as computers are already equal to, if not exceeding human performance.
ness Okwaraji. “Humanity, especially Western society, relies on technology to do almost everything, and AI systems like Siri, Alexa, and even Google and our TV remote microphones comprise an increasingly important part. Also, many of us cannot function without a computer, a tablet, or a cellphone. Therefore, technology may already hold us in submission and a takeover may be possible.”
Alexa and the Technological Threat Alan Matthew
technology editor
It’s a nightmare that many have forgot-
ten: technology. Once our digital assistant, proving to be more of a danger than a benefit. Although technology is constantly improving and becoming more complex, it won’t make our lives harder. After all, technology exists to serve and support. In today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape, devices, such as the Amazon Alexa, could actually prove to be more of a danger in a few unexpected ways. Charter students shouldn’t be surprised to hear that Amazon Alexa and Amazon Echo are both extremely exciting products that have been around for more than three years. However, those three years haven’t been ideal times for either product. While the devices both work as assistants for modern day life, their positions in our households offer them a safe, unassuming position to absorb information their users may be unaware of. According to a CBS report, “Digital assistants from Amazon and Google are listening – possibly even when you think they aren’t, according to a consumer watchdog organization.’’ Many users have noted that there seem to be situations in which Amazon and their products simply know too much. The same CBS article noted that “[one] Amazon patent shows the company could instruct the Echo device to listen for designated trigger words, like a discussion of vacation destinations.’’ With this knowledge readily available, Amazon could begin using targeted advertising in an effort to sway decisions and change the flow of money. Now, it has to be acknowledged that this
I n a c w o ? u H o y p l he
type of power is subtle and not all encompassing. Companies still aren’t shaping consumer lives entirely, and Alexa surely isn’t listening in on every single conversation that people are having. At the same time, information gathering like this doesn’t sit well with anyone. To know that an invasion of privacy is going in your own home is devastating. As freshman Arvin Saji put it, “If I buy a product, I don’t want it to be listening more than it has to. [Technology] is about convenience, not espionage. That sounds like something straight out of Black Mirror, and I just don’t agree with it.” And the point he raises is a good one. At what point do T.V. shows like Black Mirror become more truth than ironic warning?
fact, quite a few Charter students probably have the gadget in their homes. But to say that the device is harmless is foolhardy. With technology comes dependency and change. In senior Kelen Quintana’s words, “I feel like there are a lot of [people] who’d be crippled without [say, their phone.]” One has to be careful about the unnecessary bonds one forms with tech and the evolution of those bonds at the same time. In any situation, change can be both dangerous and beneficial. But it has to be watched in order to make sure that it doesn’t take humanity by storm. To paraphrase sophomore Douglas Chin’s thoughts on the matter, technological advancement is amazing, but at the same time, it can
Technology is a beautiful thing, of course. But should beauty distract from potential dangers? Amazon Alexa isn’t something rare or uncommon. In Graphic By: Henry Severe
change our daily lives in w a y s that we never predicte d and can never prepare for. All the same, while technology isn’t something to be worshiped, it should not be outright feared either. Students will agree that computers, phones, and other such appliances often make education and even life better overall. Even the act of testing, an almost universally dreaded task, would be that much more complicated without testing platforms like Pearson and TestNav. To quote Junior Zachary Marquez, “Technology makes things like testing a lot simpler and more efficient, and I don’t know how I’d do without it.” Electronic assistance shortens a variety of different tasks considerably, and that should be acknowledged. Technology is neither perfect nor inherently life threatening. Whether it be the Alexa in your home, or the phone in your pocket, our high tech companions are only as powerful as we allow them to be. Moving forward, all one has to do is make sure that power is actually favorable, rather than the alternative.
Technology 21
Bitcoin: A Bad Investment?
CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES
Nintendo Surprises with a “Smash”
Sarah Varnadoe
Paolo Barrera
Staff Writer
Clubs Editor
Nine
years ago, an online currency known as Bitcoin was created to allow users to send payments back and forth without a baking system or gateway. Bitcoin is a cryptocurrency that was started by an unknown person who uses the alias Satoshi Nakamoto. It quickly grew in value because of its new and innovative method of payment. Over time, the system has, for the most part, been successful; however, Bitcoin users know that lately the cryptocurrency has been decreasing. The system has had some drops within the past few weeks. This is convincing some people to withdraw from Bitcoin out of the fear that it will fail and their cryptocurrency will disappear. Freshman and Bitcoin user Ishita Abrol, however, does not share these concerns. She says that she will continue to use Bitcoin even with the decreases because “it is the next step in modernizing our world and will eventually replace our currency today.” Although it has dropped, Bitcoin appears to be slowly stabilizing, drawing some users back in as well as getting some new users to join. Unfortunately, there is no way to be sure that it will not decrease again. Previously, it had a very high usage. Because of this, many people wonder why the value has gone down. “The main reason Bitcoin’s value has drastically dropped [is because] Google has banned cryptocurrency advertisement,” Ishita believes. Millions of people use Google, making it a great advertising
platform. Companies that have their ads on Google have a higher chance of becoming more successful than those that do not. Bitcoin lost new users because their ads were taken down by Google. When current users saw that Bitcoin was not increasing in value because no new users were joining, they started putting less money into it and even leaving, leading to a value and user decrease. Some users are staying and taking advantage of the cryptocurrency system’s decrease, though. They are looking at the situation as a way to gain more money rather than losing it. These users are investing a lot more money into it, expecting a greater outcome because of the lack of people using Bitcoin, whereas most people are only investing small amounts. Junior Alec Varnadoe, a nonBitcoin user, stated, “It might benefit me in the future and allow me to get more money,” when asked if he would want to join Bitcoin because of its decrease. He is one of the few people who is willing to risk losing money out of the hope that he will gain more. The fall of Bitcoin may lead to other cryptocurrency programs failing as well. All there is left to do now is hope for an increase in its value. If not, the system could fail, and many people will lose a lot of money. However, there is always the chance of gaining more money by taking a risk and investing more.
Everyone old enough to hold an N64
controller, or even a Wii remote, most likely has the memory of playing an edition of the Smash Brothers franchise. Devoted fans and casual gamers can probably recall their first swing at the side scrolling battle game. On March 11, at the most recent Nintendo Direct (a convention-like event that features the newest Nintendo news), a cinematic scene teased the announcement of a Super Smash Bros. version for the Nintendo Switch. Some may ask: so what? Why would it break headlines to have a video game that’s been around since before the new millennium? Nintendo’s announcement has more implications than one would imagine. The Nintendo Switch turned one year old during the week of Nintendo Direct, taking only 365 days to rise to popularity. “I was super intrigued by the [Nintendo] Switch when it first came out,” said senior Chris Carter. “Now I bring it everywhere [in my bag] when I can.” Smash Bros’ newest installment elevates the Switch to a new level of legitimacy. As of recent times, the 3DS and the WiiU have been the breadwinners of Nintendo’s attention. Those systems were the company’s biggest weapons against competitors like Sony’s PS4 and Microsoft’s XBOX One X. Games like Splatoon and Pokémon were used as the ‘ammo’ in this game console warfare, in which the Nintendo Switch was slowly hitting a plateau. Remember: the only games making social media splashes on the year old console
Graphic By: Rosa Gomez
were Super Mario Odyssey and Mario Kart adapted for the Switch. Though these are iconic games, there still isn’t enough excitement for these titles to compete with popular games like Fortnite and Minecraft, two games that aren’t featured on the Switch. “One of my friends has a Switch, and I [invite him over] when I’m in the mood to play [Mario Kart],” freshman Aitana Arvelo explains. Like Aitana, students and fans haven’t really felt the pressure to go out and buy a brand new console if it means only playing Zelda and Mario Kart. This is where the new Smash Bros. game comes in. Gaming commenters speculate that Nintendo’s bid into the world of Esports lies in this teased Smash Bros. game. As of now, Super Smash Bros. Brawl on the Wii and WiiU is the center of one of the biggest competitive communities on the planet. Its player base competes with the popularity of the new international Overwatch League and even the dominance of competitive Call of Duty. “I’ve only kept my Wii to play [Super Smash Bros.],” confesses junior Nicolaus Sarbello. “Besides that, I’m [mainly] a PC gamer.” This new game can change the use of the Wii and WiiU in competition, making a year old platform the center of professional gaming. This new concept can revolutionize a game that’s been religiously played since the times of the N64 gaming console. This new game can make the Nintendo Switch the face of modern gaming, much like the PSP did in the early 2000’s. Though one may be reading too much into a minute long teaser for a game with no title, it is safe to assume that eSports, and gaming as a whole, is evolving. Fans suspect new online services from Nintendo, as well as new additions to the story aspect of the game. There’s much to be excited for, and even more that lies in wait. As history seems to repeat itself, it’s worth mentioning: Nintendo is on the brink of taking the Graphic By: Justin Pierce gaming world by storm, yet again.
Samsung’s Sharper Smartphone Amanda Rodriguez Staff Writer
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s the world of technology continues to grow and develop, there happens to be a new phone on the market. Samsung is getting ready to release its brand new Galaxy S9 and S9+, which is set to come out on the 16th of March. Samsung lovers are anticipating the release; some are even claiming “it’s the best smartphone on the market right now,” (Forbes). The new and improved phone offers a new sense of technology and a better and more efficient way to improve the everyday life of a Galaxy user. There are many new upgrades and changes that the S9 and S9+ are promising to their users. Samsung improved and evolved their product to create a new sleeker version of their Galaxy phone model. Sophomore Blake Rodriguez said, “I think they are keeping up really well with the iPhone, and they might even become the new popular phone.” One of the most talked about features is the improved camera that is said to work extremely well in low light settings. “We haven’t just updated the camera, we rethought the entire camera experience for how you communicate today,” (Samsung). They claim it uses dual aperture that adapts just like the human eye. The reimagined camera radically slows down time by using 960 fps rather than 240 fps. There is a quick command where the camera can respond to the user’s voice, and the camera can be pointed at foreign words and translated into whatever language the user chooses. Junior Katie Wells said, “I think that the camera and all the features it provides are super helpful, especially for trav-
eling.” All these characteristics are just the tip of the iceberg for Samsung’s product description, and many more could be applied in a user’s daily life. Samsung also increased their range of extended storage, something every smartphone user would enjoy. Another interesting feature they offer is a new “AR emoji stickers” option, which would work like Bitmoji for Snapchat. To use this feature, someone would take a selfie and create an emoji sticker to look just like them. They claim that this offers a much more “realistic” looking emoji. Senior Savinna Frias, a Samsung user, said, “I’m personally really excited for the phone in general but especially the emoji feature because I would love to use that when I text.” They have an “uninterrupted canvas” which means the front of the phone is complete screen. Freshmen Natalie Hernandez stated, “I really enjoy the screen because I don’t see the border when I’m watching shows.” The phone is waterproof and has AKG speakers. There is a fingerprint recognition system in the back of the phone that will scan the users’ eyes and face to unlock the phone. Samsung has listened to their users and tried to develop a phone the general public would appreciate and enjoy to the fullest. They “reimagined” the camera, and it so happens that this is the phones biggest feature. We live in a society where people remember moments through the pictures they capture with their mobile phone, and Samsung created a phone that encompasses this feature perfectly.
Graphic By: Taylor Causey
22 Lifestyle CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES
De-stress for the Tests Sarah Varnadoe Staff Writer
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ith testing season coming up quickly, now is the perfect time to begin to study and prepare for the major exams that students are anxiously anticipating. Below are several tips to help stressed out students excel during testing season, whether it be while preparing or during the test.
1. Take deep breaths:
Take a few deep breaths until calmness arises. When doing this, breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth. One’s heart rate will slow as a result of this, making them feel calmer than before starting the exercise. Also closing one’s eyes during breathing goes hand in hand with this tip. Focusing on breathing in and out creates a central focus on a simple task that pushes away the stress and overwhelming feelings surrounding exams.
2. Listen to music:
Listening to two or three songs that are calming will help one relax. As with taking deep breaths, your heart rate will slow. Things such as blood pressure will also lower. If music does not work, listen to sounds found in nature, such as rain. These may have even more of a soothing effect than the music. As with taking deep breaths, try closing one’s eyes to eliminate any distractions.
3. Do not procrastinate:
When procrastinating on things, work piles up and one ends up with many assignments due all at once. Try working ahead or start an assignment early rather than waiting until the day before it is due. A little bit of work each day prevents being overwhelmed the night before a big project or test. This also works for studying. Start studying three or four days before your test or quiz. In the end, one will feel more prepared.
4. Take a break:
If feeling overwhelmed with work and stress, take a short break from it. Set a time limit for yourself, usually ten to twenty minutes. During the break, hang out with family or text a friend. Short activities such as this allow a break from whatever is causing stress and allow time to remember important things in life aside from school.
These are just a few tips that students can remember to help during exam season. By implementing these tips into a student’s daily life, stress is sure to decrease, allowing a student to feel just as prepared without unnecessary worry.
Stressing Over Testing Season: Students studying hard for their tests. Photos By: Aryiel Bryant
Jags Heart Mac and Cheese Ariana Ortiz
Stepping into I Heart Mac and Cheese
will make all your childhood dreams and cravings arise again, as your senses are overwhelmed with the mouthwatering aroma of the cheesy, dreamy goodness that you just can't get from a box. The ultra-modern restaurant themed around its star menu item, mac and cheese, is the franchise company’s third location, proving to be just as successful as the others. Despite the simplistic décor, with all metal furniture and a few plants thoughtfully positioned around the room, the food proves a tasteful variety of items that make the mouth water. I Heart Mac and Cheese is set up similarly to a salad bar, in that the customer customizes their own cheesy concoction, with their choice of pasta, cheese sauce, and mix-ins, such as veggies or meat. Once you have created your mixture, it is topped with your choice of cheese or extra cheese sauce and baked in the oven for roughly 5 minutes. Guests can even choose to have their mac and cheese served as a grilled cheese, between their choice of bread. Like a fast food restaurant, the customer has to pick up their baked mac and cheese from the counter, which is not telling of the quality of the food. It is obvious from the texture and richness that the sauce is handmade with quality dairy products and not processed cheeses. However, with quality comes a price tag. Junior Charity O’Neal said,
Staff Writer
“The mac and cheese was good, but I personally think it was too expensive for the product. I appreciate quality in food but I think the price could be lower.” A regular
bowl of mac and cheese with one cheese, one protein, and two veggies costs $7.95. This may seem like a lot, but it all depends on the budget you place on the quality of
Graphic By: Jasmin Bleus
your food. Not only do they serve mac and cheese, but the menu has a variety of sides and desserts to complete the meal. Sides include cheesy broccoli, balsamic tomatoes, a bag of chips, tomato soup, and a side salad made up of lettuce, tomatoes, and onions. Freshman Natalee Escobar said, “I appreciate that they offered a bunch of sides because you only have a few options for an entrée, so it’s great to have choices. I had the cheesy broccoli and it was amazing, even though it’s vegetables!” To end off your meal with a sweet finish, they offer mini chocolate chip cookies and frozen cheesecake pops dipped in either chocolate, caramel, or strawberry sauce, both of which are absolutely delicious and perfect to satisfy your sweet tooth. Sophomore Alex Restrepo said, “The mac and cheese was honestly one of the best I’ve ever had. Walking in, I thought it would be just like the one I make at home. I was fully expecting to be let down, but they proved me wrong for sure. And those little chocolate chip cookies are addicting!” After all is said and done, there is no denying that guests will leave I Heart Mac and Cheese having eaten a satisfying bowl of ooey-gooey mac and cheese that is sure to light up their senses. Sometimes a childhood classic is the best way to go.
Lifestyle 23
Springing Back In Time
CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES
Isabella Munoz Staff Writer
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s seen from several models, celebrities, and those of our very own Jaguar home, the latest fashion trends are reminiscent of the trends that were around in the 1990’s. The ‘90s were a time of neon colors, mixmatched shapes, and the fair share of both grudge and glamour wear. With Charter’s very own Fashion Show allowing students to flaunt their best looks, what better way to talk about spring trends than right now? Colors have been playing a major role in trends lately. Those of bright and pastel colors both seem to be fan favorites. Sophomore Valentina Orduy shares that she loves the color yellow in all tones from soft, mellow yellow to a mustard shade. Forget all about matching, that is the fun in this fashion. Fashionistas can easily play off any mix of colors by throwing on a nice sports jacket over a favorite tshirt with a pair of high waist jeans. That’s right, high waist jeans. Those too are making a comeback.
Now, our generation has grown into the skinny jean fad and continue to rock it, yet “mom” jeans too are making their appearance. “Mom” jeans are to be described as long, baggy jeans that do not come close to the ankle. To wear a pair of high waist “mom” jeans with a tank top or crop top is a must! Tank tops and crop tops are huge trends in the fashion industry as of right now because of how simple they can be. They can have straps, be the most vivid of colors, and be paired with any skirt or pant - giving the Rachel Green look from the hit 90’s television show “Friends.” Senior Gabriela Torres is a big fan of crop tops because they are so easy to match, especially when in a rush to hang out with friends or just for a trip to the beach. As for the hair trends, going natural has been popular lately. Forget the flat irons and treatments because now girls and boys are flaunting what they got. Kenya Ryn-
ning, junior, said, “It is a lot of work to keep up with curls, but it’s so worth having my bouncy curls. It’s a part of who I am!” These trends will continue to live on with years to come, with each generation giv-
ing its own taste of change. With summer quickly approaching, it is unknown what new trends will pop up.
Graphic By: Shaniah Cox
Editorial: Shabby Shoe Shopping Paolo Barrera Clubs Editor
Who would’ve thought that one of the
biggest developments in the 21st century would be the sneaker market? The shoe making, selling, and collecting industry has boomed incredibly. Its rise has come to the point where its own economy is analyzed “like a stock market,” according to John Luber in his sneaker themed Ted Talk. The newest development in the market of collectible footwear is a sight for sore eyes: luxury branded, high fashion priced, and ugly shoes. One may argue that certain shoe designs may be ugly to some but uniquely attractive to others. However, it’s one thing to think outside the box, and it’s another to intentionally avoid any reasonable shape. If the saying “beauty hurts” is true, then saying that “ugly hurts more” is just as accurate. For example, the shoe that arguably started the trend is Kanye’s Adidas Yeezy 750 Boost. It made fashion followers really evaluate what they would and wouldn’t wear. “The shoe looks like a mix between my mom’s [UGG Boots], my dad’s [Timberland Boots], and these high tops I had in middle school,” laughs junior Nicolaus Sarbello. The shoe’s more recent models
the practice, and has sewn the sock aspect into shoes instead. For example, Vetements’ sock runner collaboration with Reebok has no laces, no tongue, and no outsole. The design is simply a gray, lower-calf level sock sewn into a segmented sole. Balenciaga has a shoe designed in similar fashion for kids and adults, but with a silky knitted finish in addition to a Balenciaga logo by the edge of the outsole. Both sneakers retail for at least $795 dollars, and most likely resale for twice as much due to the rarity. There are more sneakers that make the “Ugly Shoe” list, but the interesting part is: there are more on the way. Rough drafts from the best designers in the world are circulating and fueling the fire of this trend. Brands like Gucci and Off-White are releasing samples to a select few (normally celebrities) to completely magnify the fire. “I wouldn’t mind wearing [replicas] of the [Balenciaga sock runner] if they looked cool,” said “sneaker head” Ryan Gonzalez. These sneakers and their brands have officially made their way to the mainstream fashion, in which the amount of “street cred’ is directly related
Photo By: Aryiel Bryant
The biggest names are Balenciaga’s five inch high platform crocs ($850 retail price), Louis Vuitton’s seemingly dented Archlight Sneaker ($1,009 retail price), and Maison Margiela’s paint splattered leather shoes ($595 retail price). include a low-cut version in tennis ball yellow and a mid-sized shoe in beluga gray. Kanye’s kicks had a funky design that would cost the average “sneaker head” at least $1,200 back in 2015. However, with its supply running out the price would only hike higher. To remain competitive, Kanye’s yeezy line would have to compete with the biggest and newest wave of “ugly shoes” yet. To name a few, the biggest names are Balenciaga’s five inch high platform crocs ($850 retail price), Louis Vuitton’s seemingly dented Archlight Sneaker ($1,009 retail price), and Maison Margiela’s paint splattered leather shoes ($595 retail price). This group of bulky, deformed articles of footwear are from the newest collections from most designer brands, in addition to the growing line of “sock shoes” in some high fashion lines as well. A common cultural practice is putting on your socks before you put on your shoes. The newest fashion trend decided to break
to the amount of ugly shoes one has on their feet. With that in mind, how much would a student pay to be called cool? How much ugly is too much ugly? The line between traditionally stylish and uniquely modern is slowly becoming blurred for some, especially with the increase in media presence. Celebrities wearing sneakers that look a certain way can influence others to wear the same footwear, or at least search for fashion that looks similar. Though this trend doesn’t hurt anybody, excluding wallets and traditional dressers, it’s definitely an interesting development to say the least. It proves just how tight the grip is that fashion brands have on their followers. The trend also puts a blip on the global radar in the name of the sneaker collector community, in which its growth is obviously inevitable. With that in mind, if you are what you wear, think twice about slipping on some of these special sneakers.
Graphic By: Michael Perez
24 News CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES
Big Heart in a Big Sister Ainsley McCormick Student Life Editor
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enior Sabelle Frias took a seat next to Jalisse Cherrington. For the next few hours, the two concentrated on completing Jalisse’s homework, knowing that after it was done coloring activities and games would follow. This would soon become a familiar routine for the two to enjoy once a week at Charter’s Elementary East campus. Sabelle and Jalisse are not only friends, but part of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County program, for which Sabelle mentors Jalisse, an “amazing, determined little girl” in the third grade. Sabelle and Jalisse meet for sessions during which they work on homework, play games, talk about each other’s day, and do coloring activities. Sabelle has taken on a prominent role in Jalisse’s life, as she began mentoring her in her sophomore year of high school. Throughout this time, Sabelle has watched Jalisse grow and prosper in her daily life. Along with the responsibility of mentoring a student, comes the occasional disagreement. For Sabelle, it was a time for her and her “little” to learn from their problems. Just over a year ago, Jalisse began to realize Sabelle’s selflessness and understanding. She began to stray off the track of doing homework and keeping up good behavior patterns, leading to a need for a serious change in routine. It took Sabelle three sessions with her little to get her to finally understand the disappointment Sabelle felt about her actions. Sabelle said, “I was patient with her and pushed her to understand what is important for her to learn. After that phase, we never had that problem again. She learned
from her mistakes, and that is all I asked her to do at that moment in time. The mentoring that takes place is beneficial to both the big and little involved, and Big Brothers Big Sisters wants everyone to create a relationship that will have a positive impact on their lives.” Big Brothers Big Sisters is an organization that young adults can join to help children realize, and reach, their potential, as well as build their futures. This organization lays the foundation for the “bigs” to nurture children and strengthen the community through personalized guidance. Their mission is “to provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported oneto-one mentoring relationships that change their lives for the better, forever.” (www. bbbsbroward.org). Through parents, guardians, volunteers, and other community members involvement, each child in the program gains greater confidence, better relationships, educational success, and overall better behavior. While the outside of this organization seems extremely acute, the volunteers know that creating a personal relationship with their little is imperative. Playing sports together, going on a hike, eating pizza with extra pepperoni, or even just giving advice are just a few activities that bigs and littles enjoy with each other. Becoming a Big Brother or Big Sister is not an easy task. The three page application requires three references, along with questions regarding the applicant’s school, address, and driver's license. The application
X for Unexpected Janae McDonnough Staff Writer
then lists several options as to what type of mentoring he or she is interested in, including foster care youth, mentoring children of promise, general community based, and site/ school based. Although Sabelle‘s focus on bettering Jalisse’s life is commendable, the third grader has also helped shaped Sabelle into the young lady she is today. “Even though I mentor my little and other students, I have learned a lot from them. I have been challenged with many tasks at once, as I tried to understand how to deal with them properly and appropriately,” said Sabelle. With college just around the corner for this senior, learning how to accomplish a difficult task will help her prosper in the future. Jalisse may have started the mentor program as a shy, young kindergartener, but she quickly blossomed into a “beautiful butterfly who is now intrigued to talk to almost anyone,” according to Sabelle. She is proud to see the growth of her little over time, while creating a strong bond with her. “I hope to stay connected and in touch with my little, even after I graduate,” said Sabelle. The light that shines from within Sabelle’s little has transformed its way into Sabelle, the inspirational senior who is proud to be able to say she helps the life of a young child every week.
The Unfriendly Tides Turn Between Two Leaders Roselle Curiel
Year after year, scientists continue to
discover new and more complex diseases without fail. The newest addition to this list is Disease X, now considered by health experts to become the next pathogen epidemic. However, the extent of its damage remains unknown. Disease X, the “known of the unknown”, could’ve been created by a biological mutation, similar to viruses like the flu and Ebola. Scientists added this disease to a list of unknown diseases to further investigate it and formulate ways to treat and prevent it from becoming an epidemic or a pandemic. Disease X is believed to have the potential to kill millions in the future and cause a serious international panic. “Unknown diseases can be a tough thing to deal with. People have no clue on what’s going on and it’s always best to talk to a doctor about it and share all the information you have. Hopefully, scientists can study them and find cures or medications to prevent them from spreading,” states freshman Fabian Molina. When the world realizes that there is a potentially dangerous disease, it is already in action to prevent numerous people from being killed and to control the spread of the disease. “In my own opinion I think it’s great that were listing things right now before new outburst comes out” said senior Shanelle Surin.“History tells us that it is likely the next big outbreak will be something we have not seen before,” stated World Health Organization committee science advisor John-Arne Rottingen. She believes that after a history of other viruses coming out of the unknown, we must do more research and testing to prevent future occurrences. The discussions and news of Disease X aims to educate public health officials and encourage them to prepare for any possible outbreak of Disease X. “It’s interesting to know that they put Disease X on the list this year even though what to expect from it” said Junior Shawn Powell. Healthcare
providers are being taught how to handle this new disease as well. Getting prepared can help to prevent the spread of disease, as was done in cases, such as Ebola, SARS, and Zika. Moreover, having ‘X’ in the name ensures that health officials are prepared and flexible in terms of diagnosis and vaccines. “The discovery of this disease and having it be unknown is new,” claims sophomore Kimberly Burkett. “To me, I believe it’s different and something to look out for. I think the mystery of Disease X will push scientists to think even harder on finding what it truly is.” WHO recognized Disease X among priority diseases, and has called for extensive research and development to tackle it. It is now up to scientists and health officials to prevent this unknown disease from becoming the next pandemic.
Graphic By: Taylor Causey
Photos donated By: Savinna Frias
Staff Writer
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n his Twitter account, President Donald Trump is notoriously known for calling out different people with various backgrounds, whether they are bureaucrats, celebrities… or even a ruler of an entire nation. Arguably his most “infamous” tweet is against the leader of North Korea, Kim Jong-Un, to whom Trump tweets, “Why would Kim Jong-Un insult me by calling me ‘old,’ when I would NEVER call him ‘short and fat?’ Oh well, I try so hard to be his friend — and maybe someday that will happen!” So far, the history between President Trump and Kim Jong-Un has been filled with mudslinging, threats, and insults, and it all began with two words: Rocket Man. President Trump gave his first speech to the United Nations General Assembly on September 19th, 2017, during which he made aware that the United States will destroy North Korea if it is “forced to defend itself or its allies”, then ridiculed Kim Jong Un for soughting a “suicide mission on him and his regime”. In this speech, he blatantly addressed the dictator as “Rocket Man”, and from then on began a string of snubs one after the other. Three days later, Kim JongUn responded in a statement, striking back at the president by calling him a “mentally deranged U.S. dotard” whilst claiming he will “tame” him. “The discourse between the two was very childish and unprofessional. I understand the two countries don't have a good relationship, but name calling isn't the way to handle it,” said sophomore Jamal Saintilus. Over the course of the next seven months, the public saw jabs such as “madman”, “old”, “short” and “fat” being thrown between the two, while threats such as “I have a nuclear button on the desk in my office” and “I too have a nuclear button” were made. “Their arguments were being aired out all over social media. I think the world was preparing for World War 3, since it was getting so heated,” said junior Samantha Pratts. As it went
on like this for a period of time, the back and forth insults seemed to just be getting worse, when finally, Kim Eui-kyeom, a spokesperson for President Moon of South Korea, noted that North Korean delegates said the country was “willing to start talks” with America (NY Times). Agreeing to speak with Kim Jong-Un by the end of May, Trump would be the first American president to meet a member of the Kim regime, especially face to face. Never before has there been a meeting between an American leader and North Korea, as they did not want to validate Kim’s position as a ruler. On top of arranging a meeting at North Korea’s capital, Pyongyang, Kim Jong-Un even swore off on denuclearizing after months of threatening to do so. “As a country, we shouldn’t completely trust in North Korea yet. Their motives are unclear, and even though they’re waving the white flag now, we don’t know when or how quickly they’ll put it down,” said freshmen Hailey Crenshaw. Sometimes enemies do become friends. The harsh backlash between the two leaders has reformed into a new dialogue, full of agreements and invitations. Of course, people still believe it is a risky move to meet up with Kim, as during George W. Bush’s second presidency, the North violated its agreement to freeze its nuclear program and began testing more missiles. “It is a tricky move. On one hand, it is important for the US to make allies with different countries, but on the other hand, North Korea is not trustworthy,” said senior Sabelle Frias. Regardless, as stated by the Washington Post, it is clear Trump will expect the country to start putting effort into their promises and will not simply reward them for arranging talks.
News 25
CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES
Lantern’s Light Up the Night Sky Brittany Evelyn & rachel rivera News Editor & lifestyle editor
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s Pines Charter suffers another loss too soon, the PPCHS students and families all joined together in memory of freshman Kenson Rynning and other loved ones who were tragically taken by suicide. In recognition of Florida Suicide Awareness Day, friends, family, and classmates of Kenson all gathered on the Jaguar’s home field at 6:00pm on Wednesday, February 21st. The sea of attendees were each accompanied by a lantern available for purchase before and at the event for $5. Donations were also being accepted in support of those affected by suicide. Everyone in attendance gathered in the center of the field to form Kenson’s initials “KR”, as his family and close friends formed a heart in the middle. All the lanterns were sparked as the lights dimmed on the field. “I didn’t think so many people would come. I was honestly so shocked and amazed to see
how many people cared about my little brother. It very heartwarming and I felt so loved. I didn’t know we were going to make a K and R out of everyone holding a lantern, but I suggested we do a heart in the middle out of the ones that were closest to him,” said Kenson’s big sister, and junior, Kenya Rynning. A drone flew overhead, capturing the moment, as Principal Bayer commemorated Kenson along with all others who passed too soon. “The family felt very sad, almost like reality hit and it was very overwhelming. From the amount of love and support that was shown from everyone who came, we all tried to look at a bigger picture,” said Kenya. Kenson’s friends and family hoped that this campus wide initiative would bring us another step closer toward breaking the social barriers that seem to go along with keeping sensitive topics, such as suicide taboo. As the crowd left with their hearts heavy and heads hung low, they saw that step being made.
Lanterns illuminating the field. By: kenya rynning
donated
Students taking to the field in support of Kenson and
those affected by suicides.
Photo Donated By: Krystal Cruz
Photo By: Andres Alfonso
Bridging in the Gaps Sophia Cortes & briana butler Staff Writers
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n Thursday, March 15th, a shocking event took place. A pedestrian bridge, built near Florida International University (FIU), suddenly collapsed, crushing eight cars and resulting in the passing of six people. At the time of the collapse, the bridge was still under construction and was not meant to be finished until 2019. It was assembled overnight, five days prior to the accident (Miami New Times). It is sadly ironic, however, that the bridge was created after an FIU student was killed while crossing the street in 2017, hoping to provide a safe passage for students and other pedestrians having to cross the busy street. Instead, it caused the death of six more. “What happened to the FIU Bridge is terrible,” states sophomore Madison Persan. “I feel so sorry for the families that are personally affected. On the bright side, I think this will have a permanent effect on the way bridges are built. Construction workers will not take any more risks that have a possibility of becoming lethal. People will try hard to ensure something like this never happens again.” Madison is optimistic to see change begin, although saddened that it took a tragedy to see a difference in attitudes. At the time of the collapse, construction workers were fixing a diagonal beam on the northern end, tightening the inside cables in a process known as “post-tensioning.” This is a common practice done in order to fine tune the structure after it has been put in place. It is unknown as to whether this action was routine or done for a different reason (NYtimes). Freshman Mia Carlini is deeply saddened by what has occurred. “I’m mourning those who were lost,” she states. “This experience helps us learn how to be aware of the issues that are going on around us and not to take life for granted. More safety rules need to be implemented in how bridges are built and regulated in the future.” Unfortunately, it is still unclear what caused the collapse. However, new reports
claim that just hours before the tragedy, the FIGG Bridge Engineers were having a meeting to discuss a crack in the bridge. During the meeting, the company had come to the conclusion that the crack was not life threatening in any way, and the engineers concluded that there were no safety concerns, as the crack did not compromise the structural integrity of the bridge. It is still too early to truly know if the crack played any part in the bridge collapsing, authorities say, but the possibility is not completely eliminated (Washington Post). Junior Brianna Fayez expresses her hopes for more inspections to be implemented to check public constructions, such the FIU Bridge, before they are opened to the public.
Graphic By: Justin Pierce
“I just find it terrible that so many people have lost their lives and many families and friends lost their loved ones to a situation that could have been completely avoided,” she said. “I hope what happened here can help prevent future tragedies from happening.” For senior Katia Lobo, the bridge collapse was personal, as her family knew one of the victims. “When I found out it was someone we knew, I was really sad,” she stated. “When I saw the bridge collapse on cars I didn’t fully register that there were people crushed under there.” Katia expressed her annoyance towards those in charge of building the bridge, saying that “I just wish they would have closed off the street to stress test
the bridge. Lives would have been saved if they had done that. And the thing is, I’ve seen daintier and more intricate and longer bridges than that, so there must have been a really foolish fault in the bridge for it to collapse like it did. I’m not saying they were incompetent designers, just that this incident reflects carelessness.” The bridge collapse has been a harsh tragedy for the entire community. Unfortunately, it is too early on in the investigation to determine the true cause, but officials are doing everything in their power to come to a conclusion and figure out how to prevent something similar from ever happening again.
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News CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES
Students March for Their Lives: D.C. Arianna Ozuna Staff Writer
“Welcome to the revolution.” - Cameron Kasky, junior at MSD
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hen tragedy struck in Marjory Stoneman Douglas on February 14th, a movement began to evolve. ‘Never Again’ resounded across the country as young activists walked out of their school, spoke out about gun control, and called ‘BS.’ The movement continued, growing and growing until it brought the grief and distress of the Parkland community to the steps of the Capitol Building in Washington D.C. No longer would anyone be silenced. No longer would anyone allow a tragedy like this to happen again. Saturday, March 24, 800,000 students, teachers, and other citizens from across the nation flooded into Pennsylvania Avenue holding signs of protest against the gun violence, an issue that is becoming increasingly common. This event was the largest singleday protest in the history of the nation’s capital, even bigger than the inaugural women’s march which brought 500,000 to D.C.. Thousands of protesters pulsed around the stage, everyone’s hearts beating in tandem as they honored the 17 victims and stood together to fight against the reason those 17 lost their lives: guns. Our very own students, Briana Adan, Jessica Adan, and Naveen Farook, flew to D.C. to participate in the March for Our Lives. For them, this march was not to be missed. Senior Briana thought it was amazing to be a part of history like that. For her, being part of a movement really taking leaps and strides for change was life changing. Sophomore Naveen agrees with her. “My experience in DC was absolutely empowering. To be at the march in attendance with another 800,000 people made me feel like I contributed to something significant. It made me feel like I was doing my part towards something that extends beyond myself and impacts everyone around me,” expresses Naveen. “Listening to the words of our youth leaders echo and resonate with the millions of people listening across the world is something that truly makes me proud of how far our generation has come. I heard about the march almost immediately after it was announced, and I knew that it was something I wanted to take part in. I felt so passionate about this issue and it was important for me to stand up in solidarity with those fighting for this cause with the same fire and resilience.” Others who could not make it to D.C. or chose to attend marches near their home stood alongside everyone in the country’s capital. Junior Alina Lee participated in the Parkland March and watched the one in Washington on TV. “Watching the movement was truly inspiring. It made me feel that change is finally coming, and that there
are millions of people of standing behind it,” claims Alina. “This movement made me feel united with others who share the same viewpoint as me. Students like us are taking major leaps to invoke change and make history in our government system.” The crowd that held thousands stood silent and attentive as the student leaders from MSD spoke. A prominent figure in the movement and a senior at MSD, Emma Gonzalez, stayed silent for six minutes and 20 seconds, which was the amount of time it took for the shooter to kill the 17 victims. During those 6 powerful minutes, the crowd would occasionally chant in support and encourage Gonzalez as she stood at the podium, tears drenching her cheeks. She remained composed, finishing with the statement, “fight for your lives before it’s someone else’s job.” Naomi Wadler spoke out powerfully for the many African American girls who were typically left out of conversations of gun violence, stating that they are more than just statistics and deserved to be acknowledged as “beautiful girls.” Martin Luther King Jr.’s very own granddaughter, Yolanda Renee King, also came on stage. “I have a dream that enough is enough,” she said. “And that this should be a gun-free world, period.” These speeches left the crowd stirring with a strong sense of hope and an urgent need for action. Around noon, Ariana Grande, Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato, and Jennifer Hudson, came to sing in support of the march, each expressing different emotions through their performances. Ariana Grande lifted spirits with her ‘Be Alright,’ Demi Lovato brought tears with her “Skyscraper”, and Miley Cyrus empowered those around her with “The Climb”. However, among all the performers that night, Jennifer Hudson’s experience was the most personal. Hudson, who lost loved ones to gun violence, spoke to CNN after performing “The Times They Are a-Changin.” “For people who are watching what's happening, know that it can be anybody,” she said, hoping that this movement would be the one to finally push Congress to enact stricter gun control laws. The singers truly brought together the crowd of people, sparking feelings of resilience and power among them all. Other celebrities such as Jimmy Fallon and George and Amal Clooney made an appearance in order to support the movement. The Clooneys, Oprah, Chrissy Teigen, and Miami’s very own Dwyane Wade also pledged $200,000-$500,000 dollars towards the
march, giving it the chance to prosper (Philanthropy). The march began near the U.S. Capitol building and ended about a mile away from the White House. Protesters walked down Pennsylvania Avenue with signs held high above their heads, each one painting grief, anger, and a loud call for action. Those at the rally were after the three primary demands of March for Our Lives: 1. Pass a law to ban the assault weapons frequently used to carry out mass shootings 2.Stop the sale of high-capacity magazines, restricting the amount of ammunition 3.Close loopholes in America's background checks and implement laws that require background checks on every gun purchase, including those that occur online or at gun shows This is what they demanded, and they refuse to settle for any less. Amidst the event taking place, President Donald Trump was not present in the nation’s capital. He spent the entire day in Florida and was at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, only 45 minutes away from Parkland. The President did not comment on the protest or any form of gun control. White House spokeswoman Lindsay Walters praised the protestors, but she did not acknowledge the actual purpose
of the march: gun control. “We applaud the many courageous young Americans exercising their First Amendment rights today,” she stated. “Keeping our children safe is a top priority of the President’s.” Not many were satisfied with this response from the White House, especially when the President himself did not respond directly. “I mean it’s obvious that the White House will not address gun control. It’s just a fact at this point,” states freshman Ashish Sathya. “It’s aggravating how people accomplish so much and our leaders are just like ‘Good job for exercising your first amendment right. Now go back to work.’ Here we are trying to solve the problem, but no one else is bothering to recognize and act on it.” Students in America are taking control and protesting against measures that keep them from getting a safe and proper education. March For Our Lives is a movement that has inspired others across the world to fight for what they believe in. Laws for gun control have just begun, but more progress has been made in a few months than in the last decade. No matter how old someone is they have a voice and deserve to speak out. After all, it is the students who are acting as leaders right now.
Photos donated By: Brianna Adan and Naveen Farook
What Will Happen to the Shooter? Sarah Varnadoe Staff Writer
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n February 14, 2018 a terrible tragedy occurred, killing seventeen people and leaving students, teachers, and members of the community heartbroken. For many, this event served as a reminder of how unsafe the world is. They were shown that their children could not even go to school, somewhere that they are supposed to feel safe, without being at risk of something happening to them. If something like this can happen at a school, it can happen anywhere. One person, the shooter, was responsible for the tragic event that jarred the nation and permanently changed the lives of so many. Authorities believe that his gun jammed which was the only reason he did not shoot off the 180 rounds he still had left (CBSNews). It has been a trend for school shooters to kill themselves after they commit the crime, but the shooter was among the few to not do so. Regardless, he may be facing
death in the end anyways. Prosecutors are planning on trying to get him charged with the death penalty; however, this is a difficult charge to make, as it requires a unanimous decision from the jury. The defendant’s lawyers are planning to convince the jury that he is mentally ill, hoping to persuade at least one person on the jury to vote against the death sentence under the belief that he did not know what he was doing. While they were originally going to plead guilty, they later decided against that when they realized that the death sentence was being considered. People are divided in their views regarding this issue. Though everyone believes a strong punishment must be given, the actual penalty is disagreed upon. “I think that he should get life in prison,” expressed PPCHS freshman Alyssa Infante. “The death penalty would be too easy.” Peo-
ple like Alyssa want him to suffer for taking away those 17 innocent lives by spending the rest of his life in prison. Others say he belongs in a mental institution where he can pay for his crimes, but his mental health issues are taken into perspective. “He should [get] a life sentence in institution,” claimed sophomore Jena Manning. “One can actually acknowledge and suffer consequences much more greatly when being imprisoned for life as opposed to being stripped away from life.” She and others want mental health to be focused on more when it comes to before and after a crime. However, not everyone agrees to life in prison or institution. Some want him to get the death sentence as punishment for the dreadful crime he committed, saying that he was fully aware of what he did when he did it. Among them is junior Zachary Marquez. “After he committed what he did, he hid and
called his dad saying that he made a mistake,” stated Marquez. “He was aware.” When discussing what the shooter did, Joey Tinghitella, a PPCHS senior, stated, “In my mind, any person that does that has lost their natural right to live. The punishment is very harsh, but for a situation like this, I agree with a death sentence.” Many people believe that he took away those 17 people’s right to live, so he should have his taken away as well. There are many different opinions on what the shooter should get as punishment for taking away 17 innocent lives. In the end, however, it is up to the jury to decide what happens to him. If the decision is unanimous, he may get the death sentence. If not, he will be sentenced to prison or an institution for a period of time. All anyone can do now is wait and watch.
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CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES
After MSD: What Has Changed? Brianna Butler Staff Writer
Nearly two months ago tragedy shook the
nation. The shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas will forever be engraved into the minds of people across the country, as 17 lives have been lost forever. However, they have not been forgotten. Not by their parents, their siblings, or their friends. Not by fellow students, police officers, or government officials. Everyone is demanding action. How much have we truly accomplished so far in preventing a tragedy like this from ever occurring again? How much has not changed? Four school shootings have occurred since the event at Stoneman Douglas. March 2nd, at Central Michigan University, 19 year old James Eric Davis Jr. shot his parents when they came to the campus to pick him up for spring break. Five days later was a shooting at Huffman High School due to an accidental gun discharge. One student was killed and two were injured. In the same city, at University of Alabama in Birmingham, two hospital employees were killed at the UAB Highlands Hospital on campus. On March 20th, two students were shot and injured at Great Mills High School in Maryland. The attacker was then shot by a resource officer (CNN). “The fact that we’ve had four more shootings is disappointing,” expresses freshman Sage Andrews. “I find it disgusting that there’s no change happening. I personally think a lot of things need to be different for the future. We need to have stricter laws on the types of guns able to be purchased and how easy they are to access. There should be a different way for people, especially if they are mentally ill, to purchase this weapon.” Sage strongly believes that more laws need to be implemented and stricter gun control is a necessity in order to preventing shootings. Junior Matthew Cabrera is also upset about what is occurring. “Honestly, it makes me feel afraid,” he begins. “I’m curious as to why the government isn’t doing more to save these kids. Background checks should be a requirement when purchasing a gun. Mental health issues, family issues, substance abuse— all of these are important to know
before letting people buy them. I, personally, am not satisfied with what the government has done. Changing the age by a few years is far from enough to solve this problem. It doesn’t stop people from shooting innocents in public places.” One of the most important parts in solving the problem, according to Matthew, is doing something about mentally ill people purchasing guns. So far, in Florida, steps have been put in motion to prevent tragedies, like the MSD school shooting, from occurring again. Governor Rick Scott signed a law that bans bump stocks and raised the age to buy a gun from 18 to 21. The NRA responded by suing the state, with the strong belief that raising the age is a direct infringement of their second amendment rights. One of the most controversial parts of the new law is Rick Scott advocating to place
money towards the idea of arming teachers. Some believe this is the most convenient way to prevent a school shooting from increasing in the number of victims, and it should be done as long as teachers receive proper training. Others are very critical of the idea, as misconceptions may lead to a deadly turnout. To date, Congress has not made any attempt to reform gun laws. However, President Trump mentioned ideas he would like to put into place. This includes more school security and stricter background checks. His opinion on raising the minimum age has fluctuated, but he recently chose to hold off on the proposal (USAtoday). “I’m happy to see that our governor has been making efforts to fix Florida’s gun control laws after the tragedy at MSD, even if I don’t agree that teachers should be armed,” states sophomore Chiamaka Osakwe. “It’s
only Congress now that is holding out and purposefully ignoring the issues. Our gun laws should have been fixed before any school shooting, so not taking action after one is truly disappointing. They should have done something after Columbine. They definitely should have done something after Sandy Hook. And especially now that the victims themselves are marching up to Washington D.C., they should do something. I’m very disappointed, but in all honesty, I’m not surprised.” She hopes to see change happen soon, and is waiting for action to finally happen on a national setting. While proud of the state, Chiamaka is displeased at how the national government is currently handling this issue. “I feel like our representatives are all talk but no action,” expresses senior Isaiah Chance. “Changing the age doesn’t stop people from having concealed weapons and coming to school. I’m deeply saddened about what happened at MSD and the schools that followed. Our representatives should start paying schools money to make them safer. We need more police officers. As for our national government, they disappoint me. They aren’t doing their best to prevent these massacres from keeping up.” Stricter gun control has already begun for the state of Florida, as the community strives to work together to unite against another future tragedy. The students of Pines Charter and almost 3,500 other schools across the nation have voiced their concerns, protested, written letters, and donated to show their support for the victims of Parkland. Now, these students, their teachers, and their parents stand in anticipation for the sense of safety and gun reforms they have fought so hard for.
Graphic By: Justin Pierce
Florida Under Fire Over Firearm Purchasing Age Change Elizabeth Castillo
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lorida is being sued. The state of Florida is being sued by the National Rifle Association (NRA) as of March 9, 2018, after Governor Rick Scott signed a senate bill that raises the age to buy a firearm from eighteen to twenty-one years old (CNN). According to the NRA, the new minimum age violates the second amendment, which states that citizens have a right to bear arms and the fourteenth amendment, which states that no state shall make or enforce a law that deprives people of their rights. “I don’t think we deserve it [the lawsuit]. All we are trying to do is keep our people safe, and I don’t believe we should be sued for that,” claimed freshmen Hailey Crenshaw. The NRA also believes that as an adult, at eighteen years old, you have the maturity level to decide whether or not you should own a firearm, as well as properly exercise your right to own guns. However, the new legislation has reached many and brought little satisfaction to those who have been relentlessly fighting for gun control since the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas. Among them is junior Connor Dietrich from Stoneman Douglas, who stated that Doulas students “are happy and ready to keep working” after hearing this news. Aisha Silvilay agrees, “Change needs to happen, and this is just the start.” Regardless, the NRA is complaining that this new law would put more women under twenty one years old in danger, since “80 percent of people killed by intimate partners in the US are women; 53 percent of those murders involve a fatal gunshot.” The NRA has a strong stance that raising the age to twenty one years old is a huge disadvantage
clubs editor
to younger people, and that this law prevents a basic right written in the constitution (VOX). “I find it ridiculous how the NRA is so set on their agenda, they ignore the real problem this country is going through,” said senior, Sabelle Frias. They also believe, according to NRA spokesman Chris Cox, that the bill "punishes law-abiding gun owners for the criminal acts of a deranged individual” (BBC), again referring to the horrendous event that occurred at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. The NRA sees this new legislation as a pun-
Graphic By: Michael Perez
ishment for individuals who are responsible with their firearms. Nonetheless, people are set on the fact that we cannot continue with these gun law established now. “Change needs to happen, and this is just the start,” said sophomore Aisha Sivilay. Regardless of the NRA’s stance and lawsuit, Florida representatives are continuing to support the bill. “I don’t think we deserve it [the lawsuit]. All we are trying to do is keep our people safe, and I don’t believe we should be sued for that,” claimed freshmen Hailey Crenshaw. This legislation has caused a lot of contro-
versy, however many young people, including the students at PPCHS, agree that the legislation is one step closer to making real change happen regarding gun control. “I do agree with this new legislation. The NRA not only opposing it, but suing a state only shows how divided our country is now,” expressed senior Sabrina Perez. Regardless of how the NRA reacts to this new legislation, change is certainly on the horizon for the state of Florida.