The C.H.A.T. Marjory Stoneman Douglas issue 2017-18 # 6

Photos By: Megan Fraga & Chloe Freire

TOGETHER AS ONE.

In Memoriam Alyssa Alhadeff, 14

Gina Montalto, 14

Scott Beigel, 35

Joaquin Oliver, 17

Martin Duque Anguiano, 14

Alaina Petty, 14

Nicholas Dworet, 17

Meadow Pollack, 18

Aaron Feis, 37

Helena Ramsay, 17

Jaime Guttenberg, 14

Alex Schachter, 14

Chris Hixon, 49

Carmen Schentrup, 16

Luke Hoyer, 15

Peter Wang, 15

Cara Loughran, 14

“Hope is being able to see that there is light in spite of all the darkness.”

-Desmond Tutu

On February 14, 2018, tragedy struck Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School when an active shooter walked onto campus, taking the lives of 17 individuals. In response, the city of Parkland, FL has come together to mourn the lives of those who were lost while also uniting as a community to help heal one another in a time of true devastation.

Students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas have also come together in support of one another, spearheading a political movement to pressure state and federal legislators to enact laws that will place stricter regulations on gun purchases and possesion. The staunch political activism as shown by students all across the nation has proved just how impactful the youth of our today is. In a couple weeks, these students have placed the topic of gun control at the center of political debate, their opinions influencing many companies to sever ties with the NRA and calling to action senators like Marco Rubio in a CNN Town Hall Meeting.

These students are not stopping until “prayers” gets replaced with “action.” Change is on the horizon.

This isn’t the end for those affected students, it’s only just the beginning.

Photo By: Sarah Barrocas

1 #MSDstrong CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES

Broward County Walkout Brings a Nation Together Roselle Curiel & swati kumar Staff Writer & technology editor

PHOTO BY: JUSTIN DOURVETAKIS

PHOTO BY: ANDRES ALFONSO

PHOTO BY: BRITTANY EVELYN

Exactly one week, 168 hours, 10,080 minutes, and 604,800 seconds after an unfortunate school shooting took place in Parkland, FL, taking the lives of 17 individuals and injuring an additional 15, PPCHS joined other students in Broward County and the state of Florida in a national walkout. As they walked out of their classrooms in protest, students perpetually asked the one question that has not been answered since Columbine: Why isn’t my right to live protected as fiercely as one’s right to bear arms?

After hearing of the tragedy when news broke that a shooting took place at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, students were met with an overwhelming load of emotions: “I heard about it when I was in the car. The scariest, yet unfortunate, part is I thought to myself at that moment ‘oh another one.’ I didn’t fully realize it at the time, but I have truly grown up in a generation characterized by mass shootings.

My dad said that he first experienced this about 15 years ago. I am 15,” states freshman Ashish Sathya. “These shootings have been scraping at my shell so hard. I’m afraid for the next one. I’m scared to see what the count is. I’m scared to see what weapon was used. I’m scared to see what I myself am going to think.”

Students all over the country were met with equally intense feelings of shock, fear, and anger; these emotions, though, united to form a strong, relentless national voice that demanded to be heard. “Give me liberty or give me death.” These famous words were spoken about 300 years ago, yet they’re still applicable and hold a great weight 300 years later- today. Every student, every teacher, and every family member wants their voices to be heard loud and clear as they stand up in support of the Never Again movement. Students are grieving, yet simultaneously feeling a sense of empowerment as they choose to participate in the Never Again movement as a means of reflecting their grief and frustration at the senseless loss of life.

“School shootings have always lead me to feel frustrated with the inconsistencies of

PHOTO BY: ANDRES ALFONSO

the government, but the fact that it was so close to home changed everything for me.

Stoneman Douglas is a school that I have had to go to several times for debate tournaments, and to know that people have lost their lives in the same hallways where I once was deeply affected me,” said sophomore Salonee Singh. “No one should have to fear for their life in a place that is supposed to be a safe haven for students. No parent should have to worry for the safety of their child when they leave for school in the morning. The fact that there are still people who can side with the NRA after the amount of blood that is on their hands is astonishing to me. This tragedy will not be forgotten. The 17 lives, and the millions of other ones lost at the hands of gun violence will not be forgotten.”

Along with the 50-plus schools protesting gun violence nationwide, Pembroke Pines Charter High School staged a demonstration in solidarity with the survivors who have spoken out for the injustice inflicted upon them and their friends. At exactly 12 p.m., students flooded out of their classrooms with their heads held high, and their posters held higher; their voices heard past the school’s perimeters and their chants arousing an entire campus.

In an attempt to focus the efforts of those whom have intently taken action to assist the Stoneman Douglas community, PPCHS’ students and administration organized a ‘walkout’ to the fountain. Once gathered, 17 previously selected students read the names of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas victims as the school bell was rung 17 times in their honor; in the words of PPCHS’ principal Mr. Bayer, the bell was rang an 18th time for “the promise of the difference that this generation will make for our world.” Band students Alexis Cid and Layla Antonella Bolivar-Echegaray then sang “See You Again” in memory of those Stoneman Douglas students and teachers who were taken away too soon; Charter students and staff stood with their heads bowed down, tears in their eyes, and goosebumps dusting the surface of their skin as the sincerity of the situation began

to settle in.

“I think it's important to channel what we're feeling into action. Too often, global tragedies are brushed away with "thoughts and prayers" and then never given second thought. Or they are given a hashtag that is trending for a couple days and then forgotten about. This time will be different. The youth is fed up and we are taking matters into our own hand. I participated in the walkout because I want to be a part of that change. Using our voices as a platform to advocate for reform is going to create change because we are no longer going to be silenced,” said Salonee. “Over the last week, so many strong and opinionated teenagers have voiced their concerns on national television, and are becoming role models for people everywhere. Watching these kids tear down and expose the ones who've allowed these mass shootings to happen is truly a revolutionary sight to see.

I have no sympathy for NRA lobbyists or soulless Republican senators like Marco Rubio who are now receiving consequences for their actions. My generation is going to ensure that they don't get re-elected. My generation is going to ensure that this was the last time we have to go through this.”

However, the protests did not stop at the fountain. Once students began chanting, “March! March!” Pools of underclassmen and upperclassmen flooded at the entry gates surrounding the front of our school, trying to escape in order to get their message heard not only in school, but outside to the public. As the gates barged open, groups of students headed down to the library and onto the sidewalks of Sheridan, some even making it all the way onto I-75.

“All over social media, I saw students from schools like Everglades High and West Broward doing the same thing as ours, and protesting on the streets,” said senior Casey Moya. “As a county, we really all came together in order for our message to be heard.

We were spread all throughout South Florida in every corner.” Even Charter alumni were watching as the events rolled out on Twitter and Instagram, many proclaiming how proud they were of what the prede-

PHOTO BY: AIJAH HARPER

cessors were accomplishing in a moment considered historic by many. Those who exited the school’s premise even had the passing cars encouraging them, honking their horns as the students made their way down the streets of Pembroke Pines.

Many students feared the consequences of their rebellious actions, and rumors even spread that Grad Bash, an end-of-the-year senior event to Orlando’s Universal theme park, would get cancelled. The rumors were unfounded. “Ever since elementary school, we have learned in our history classes that time and time again, progress occurs not when people stand by and wait for something to happen, but when people actually take action. Let their voices be heard. Go out and protests for their beliefs. We are part of the generation that will follow in the footsteps of everyone in this country that fought for change and reform in the past,” said junior Gabi Tabraue. Though it is true some students exploited the event as an excuse to simply leave campus, at the end of the day, administration supported those who sincerely went out to voice their opinions. At least 150 students, out of over 2,000 total, did not go back to class when instructed. Of those 150 was senior Sabelle Frias, who said, “At first, I doubted that I would go outside the school to join the march, but being in the moment of it all made me feel so passionate, so involved, and serious about the cause.”

Never before has a tragedy sparked such a big movement. What once began as a small, planned event at the fountain transformed into a national campaign where students all over the country are expressing their unity with us, Broward County, in our efforts to finally achieve a stricter gun policy. Though some adults have previously shrugged us off as just being kids, people are quickly realizing we know what we’re doing, and we know what we want.

For the first time in history, the kids are playing the roles of adults, promising the hope of a better future for tomorrow.

#MSDstrong 2

CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES

Charter Students Making a Difference...

Sophomore Naveen Farook

Junior Megan Fraga

Sophomore Naveen Farook is one of the members of the school movement that rose

ne of Charter’s most unifying moments was when all of our fear stricken and determined students came together to commemorate the victims and fight for the prolonged and highly controversial issue, gun control. Well-known student and yearbook photographer, junior Megan Fraga, wanted to see change in the horrors our society has been experiencing in the last few days that have followed the massacre. Like the million other high school students seeking change in the nation, Megan did everything in their ability to do their part as a high school student in this generation. The resilient student didn't want Charter’s walkout to go unseen, so they took it upon themself to ensure that Pembroke Pines Charter had more than a voice in this protest.

They asked all of the news stations to cover our school's protest with the intent of publicizing our voices not only at school, but most importantly, to the public. “I came up with the idea to have as much media attention as possible, especially after hearing the rumors and debates on what exactly our school was planning on doing for our Walkout. I think the strongest emotion I, and most other people are feeling right now is anger and grief.

It's insane how our country continues to fail at a proper gun reform after more than 1,000 shootings in the U.S.,” Megan stated.

Megan’s most important goal when contacting these channels was not to debate the matter but show Broward County how a close school like Charter came together for the victims and share the same passion of other students. “I think what Megan did was really cool and out of the box thinking. They put our school out there and made us more than just a high school, by doing this Megan showed how much of a family charter students are,” expressed junior Alex Cubas.

The junior not only wanted Charter to make local news, but wanted to branch out to spread the message that would put Broward County on the map. The aspiring student took the initiative and contacted the twitter page of @studentwalkouts to reach out and ask if there was anything they could do help in the movement of the nation. “I had DMed them and asked if there was any way I could help with the movement and surprisingly enough, we got in contact and she, the coordinator, asked me if I'd like to speak for the Walkout,” explained Megan. In response to her DM, the students walkouts twitter account set up an interview for Megan, along with senior Aliana Bell, over facetime by a news anchor of CTV News, the most popular news channel in Canada. The interviewer let them talk for around 3-5 minutes before calling it a wrap.

The movement that has captured international attention, and has further proved to not only the young people of Charter, but millions of other millenials that change can come from anywhere and is most certainly not impossible. The time and consideration that has been put in by Megan is an interconnecting effort by all students to prove to their congressmen, politicians, and president that change is not a phase. Change is permanent.

quickly to action after the fatal and unfortunate MSD shooting on Valentine’s Day. For Naveen, February 14th was a day of celebrating the love and relationships of those closest to her heart. It was a day of teddy bears, chocolates, and roses. It was a day of smiles, kisses, and “I love you’s.” However, February 14th, 2018 became a day that reduced Naveen to tears and grief. It was a day of shootings, and deaths, and cries.

That morning, students from Stoneman Douglas said “See you later” and “I love you” to their parents before stepping out of their cars to go to school. “They didn’t realize they would walk into school that morning, and wouldn’t make it back home. I could've been that person,” states Naveen. “In one day, within hours, within minutes, 17 people died.

Those are 17 families broken, an entire school grieving, and thousands feeling helpless.”

The first thing Naveen did was contact her representatives, stating that she no longer feels safe in school and wants to do everything she can to ensure this never happens again. In her letter, she stated with frustration that this is the eighth school shooting this year to result in injuries or deaths, and it is only February. “As my representative, I want you to speak up for me and voices like me who want to see something done,” she wrote.

Naveen then shared her message with countless others, urging them to contact their representatives as well. Naveen then became involved in the March On movement, created by sophomores Ava and Ara Johnson, by participating in the arrangement of events like PPCHS’ walkout and MSD dress down, meeting with Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, and speaking with the #NeverAgain movement on Y100. She and other student leaders in PPCHS are going to be selling armbands and T-shirts as well as organizing a trip to Washington D.C. for the “March for Our Lives” on March 24th, 2018.

Naveen refuses to stop fighting until something as terrible as the MSD shooting never happens again. She wants representatives to recognize that time and time again, guns have gotten into the hands of those who are incapable of handling them. For her and for students across the nation, it is time to act. “It disturbs me how much guns have become a priority over innocent lives now. Please bring back the feeling of safety in our schools that never should have been lost,” pleads Naveen. She ends her statement on the shooting and to the lawmakers of the country with one bone-chilling questions: How many more lives must we lose until we see the need for change?

Senior Brianna Adan

O

Senior Kelen Quintana

B

rianna Adan, an exceptional senior, is one of the few who has the ability to change the world. Her latest projects have dealt specifically with the growing organization called March On to help after the tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas, as well as push for gun control, universal Background checks, mental health etc. Their biggest project so far was the dress down for Douglas challenge which raised $10,533.57. Following the lead of PPCHS, other schools now plan to do the same.

Brianna also has has joined her peers to speak out on the local radio station Y100 with kids from other high schools, including MSD. March On also is a part Broward politician’s Debbie Wasserman-Shultz's gun control task force, where student share our PPCHS's concerns on the issue and formulate a plan to help.

“When I was at state convention, MSD was not able to attend and their absence was throughout the state. They are in district 6, and being D6 President it was heartbreaking not having them there with us. The convention happened days after the shooting, and it was incredibly difficult to stay strong being president during that time and I knew for a fact I wanted to come home and do everything I could for them,” Bree said. It was on the trip that she shared her idea with Mr. Curry about the idea for an armband campaign. She then alerted other SGA’s so they could implement the project in their own schools.

Here at PPCHS she is also planning a letter writing campaign on March 6. Students will have the opportunity to write to our legislators pushing for change. It's from 5:30-8 and she encourages everyone, not just PPCHS students, to attend.

She also advises students to come to March On meetings and sign up for their remind: @ ppchsmarch. “Don't be afraid to push something you care about because there is nothing like persistence and I believe we can all stand together for change,” said Bree. PPCHS is proud to have a student like Brianna is not afraid to make a change. We can’t wait to see what she is planning next!

T

hese last few weeks have been hard in so many ways for our county, our state, and even our country, but a few leaders at Charter have decided they could not sit idly by during this time. Put simply, the events at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High were devastating in the extreme. Yet those who are willing to make the greatest change often rise up in times of adversity. Charter senior Kelen Quintana has been motivated by recent events to make a change in her community and even on a national level.

An intern working with Representative Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, Kelen is capable of voicing her opinion on many things in an effort to make productive change. To prove this, she just recently helped put together a meeting with the congresswoman in order to help students put forward their thoughts. In her words, “It was a step in the right direction because she was advocating for our voice.” However, Kelen isn’t just stopping at a meeting.

Using her dedication and passion for long lasting change, Kelen has been involved with petitions to the state government, an interview with Y100, and is attempting to rally the public in different ways. Voting and writing letters to representatives are important means of getting one’s platform heard, and Kelen is encouraging everyone to utilize these tools.

Working with her friends, Kelen is making her stance clear at Charter- nothing breaks the will of a student fighting for progress. In fellow senior Brianna Adan’s words, “It’s important that we’re the voice of our generation.” And as long as people like Kelen remain resolute, Charter is making their voices heard.

3 #MSDstrong CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES

PPCHS Challenges Others to #DressDownforDouglas Alan Matthew Staff Writer

The

River of Grass hosted four hundred students and over eight hundred pairs of eyes this past Monday, all eagerly waiting for someone or something to appear on stage. Except, not one, but over a dozen MSD students hesitantly walked on stage. In a show of quiet determination offset by an almost imperceptible hesitancy, they stood there, side by side. They knew that there was no time for stage fright; their cause was far more significant than their doubts. They were here for a Charter dress down, and the eager faces of hundreds in the audience proved to them that it would be a productive day.

In an effort to raise money and spread awareness, Charter welcomed a group of students from Stoneman Douglas to help collect the dress down money. Their words were both inspiring and heartbreaking. Their struggle is staggering, but with the help of those around them, it’s making advances. In an effort to give relief, Charter witnessed hundreds of students giving back this past Monday. Our school SGA, along with Mayor Frank Ortiz and Commissioner Jay Schwartz, opened its arms and doors in wel-

come towards MSD survivors in an effort to establish camaraderie in these trying times.

Led by Charter students, groups of MSD students toured campus, making frequent stops in homerooms across the school to collect money and share their personal stories. A metaphorical stage followed each Stoneman student as they made their way around. SGA member and senior Brianna Adan recognized this when she said, “[They’re] a platform for students… [the platform’s] about gun control and change.”

And it was this change that showed through the eyes of those student representatives. Each and every one them had seen far more than any teenager ever should, and that made itself known through the paradoxical intensity and calmness of their gazes. Any Charter student who met them could see this and understand the depth of their passion.

During each stop, every representative from Stoneman Douglas took the time to introduce themselves and explain their reasons for coming.

Stoneman senior Lewis Mizen was especially poignant in his explanation. While he came to speak on behalf of his school, his words were

also a rallying cry to every student listening. He said, “We have the power to change the world. I have friends who’ve been to Tallahassee.

More has happened with gun reform these past two weeks than for the past two decades.” He ended his moving address with a plea to vote.

“Vote for the 17 at MSD who can’t.

Vote for Sandy Hook. Vote for Columbine.” It’s clear to see that recent events have sparked a fire in the hearts of many affected.

This dress down may have begun as an attempt to help aid Stoneman Douglas financially, but it evolved far beyond that. It became a statement for anybody willing to listen. Stoneman was a wakeup call, and now that students nationwide have woken up, the time for change has arrived as well. Another MSD senior, Carmen Lo, echoed these thoughts when she said, “I’m turning my sadness into anger and that anger into the movement. Tell our politicians that we don’t want this to happen anymore.” One simple dress down became a platform for change, and students at Charter were more than willing to listen.

Already, one can begin to see the ripple effects of the last few weeks.

Students have been making their voice known across the country, with Stoneman at the head of the movement. And as Charter is so close and so passionate, it’d be impossible for us to be left out. PPCHS has offered support and continues to do so. Everything collected on the 26th goes directly to the Stoneman Douglas GoFundMe, an account opened to raise money for the school. A total of $4,551 was raised and donated to Marjory Stoneman Douglas. But this money is just the beginning of Charter’s impact. Unlike other typical dress down days, DressDownForDouglas intends to challenge other Broward County public schools by encouraging them to dress down and raise money for MSD. The competition aspect of the dress down comes from which school can raise the most amount of money.

Efforts are still being organized and hearts are still aligned; no matter what occurs in these coming weeks, Charter students stand with Douglas and will continue to do so until their voices are heard. This dress down was a stepping stone in the path for change, and Charter is ready to go down this road for progress until we reach its end.

Armbands Against Bearing Arms Brianna Butler And Sophia Cortes Staff Writers

In 1965, a young teen and her friends were distraught by the never ending war in Vietnam. They decided to take a stand and protest against the violence by wearing simple black armbands to school.

This teenager, known as Mary Beth Tinker, was called out by the school for wearing her armband. She and her friends were faced with suspension because of their refusal to take them off. Fortunately for Tinker, and for students nationwide, she was able to bring the case to the Supreme Court. Once there, the ruling was cast in her favor. The precedent setting court case of Tinker v. Des Moines helped ensure the freedom of speech and expression for students all across the United States.

Now, more than fifty years later, students are donning the armband once more and this time it is not to protest an overseas war, but to show solidarity and the need for change in the ongoing battle on gun control- a political debate that is taking place in our own backyard.

SGA is currently collaborating with March On, an organization recently created by sophomores Ava and Ara Johnson. This new organization was developed for all student activists, instead of acting as an individual school club, and was formed in response to the tragedy that struck Marjory Stoneman Douglas. Senior Brianna Adan, president of SGA’s District 6, served as the mastermind behind replicating the arm-

bands from Tinker vs Des Moines.

Although they mimic the case’s armbands with a solid black color, there are many key differences. An eagle is present on the armbands, as well as an orange stripe. The words “Never Again” are etched onto every armband, showing the support for stricter gun laws in order to prevent future shootings. “I feel

action, and I’ll be fighting to do just that.” The armbands’ design is easy to wear with school uniforms or any other items of clothing. Although the date for when these armbands will go on sale is currently tentative, the armbands will be sold for $5 apiece, made available either online or in the school cafeteria. Money made from the

as if this is a very important matter that needs to be brought to everyone’s attention. People need to be aware that kids can take a stand and share their opinions as well,” said sophomore Samantha Cruz. “I’m planning on getting this armband to show my support for Stoneman Douglas and how gun control needs to be strengthened. It’s time to take

sales will go to March On’s funds to fight for stricter gun control and help aid Stoneman Douglas in their recovery. “The main purpose of going for the armbands is so that you can make a political statement but not violate the uniform code, so that we can comply with court cases like Tinker vs DM, but you

can still comply with uniforms. You can make a political statement AND stay in uniform so it's a win-win for the students and the school," commented SGA sponsor Mr. Curry Our community as a whole felt the disastrous heartbreak alongside the students, staff, and parents of Stoneman Douglas, and while partaking in the Florida Association of Student Councils (FASC) this past weekend, Brianna Adan expressed how “the absence of Stoneman Douglas, as they are in our district, was felt not only by our district but the state.” As Brianna further explains, “I wanted to do something that could be impactful and could be shared with people all over the state.” Both SGA seniors Brianna Adan and Joseph Tinghitella hope that with the armband sales, many people and young leaders will be inspired to take on this very dire problem, and with any luck, eventually find a solution. “It’s a very amazing and influential idea,” says Joseph about the armband sales, “that I’m ready to see blossom into something tremendous. I’m hoping the sales will turn into a statewide initiative and even farther if possible.”

Like Mary Beth Tinker and her friends in 1965, the young people of today’s nation are tired of the ongoing violence and want to see the tides change for the better - for the better of students, of school staff, of parents, and everyone across the United States of America.

#MSDstrong 4

CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES

Agustina’s Creations Remain #DouglasStrong Andres Perez And Brittany Evelyn Staff Writer and News Editor

The tragedy that has struck Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School is one that has hit too close to home for Broward County. Many foundations have been established to help support our close neighbors, including one started by Charter’s very own. Junior Agustina Otero took it upon herself to create commemorative Douglas bracelets for the lives lost.

Agustina Otero showed her support for the tragedy by creating bracelets for herself and friends.

"There are so many different ways we can show our support for Douglas, whether it be writing letters or attending vigils. I hope by wearing these bracelets we can continue to remind ourselves of what happened and work on ensuring that such an event will never happen again,” she said. The bracelets have made

their way around PPCHS and don't seem to be going out of style anytime soon. The motive behind the fashioning of these bracelets was to support Douglas and show the world that students are standing behind those affected by the tragedy.

“It served as an additional visual to show that I did support the movement. The bracelets helped promote awareness that there is a problem we need change. As youth, we are supporting the movement [for gun reform] and we want to be part of the movement as well,” said junior and proud bracelet wearer Alina Le. Though simple, the bracelets represent the truth behind the movement. “I used orange ribbon to create the bracelets. I picked orange, as it is commonly used in protesting against gun violence. On each one, I used a Sharpie to write #Dou-

glasStrong, which has been used lately to show those affected that we will continue to support them and the changes they are initiating,” Agustina said. Starting off as a project for herself and friends, word of these bracelets quickly spread.

Rather than selling the bracelets to make a profit, the junior handed them out to those who wanted to show their support. Prior to the walkout, Agustina had intended on making only a few for herself and friends, but after seeing such a positive response, she is committed to making more.

Agustina advises her peers to get involved in any way they can in order to show support to friends and family affected by the tragedy. For those who want to help out but aren't sure of how to do so, there is no better time than now to take to social

media. Word has quickly spread about the shooting, movement, and support efforts through sites such as Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Agustina advises those who wish to get involved to ask friends and teachers for their input and ideas.

Despite not having a personal connection to Douglas, Agustina has seen a significant change in our country’s unity. “Seeing how our county has unified and come together unlike any time before to start making changes is incredibly inspiring,” she said. Her bracelets are just one more way that the students at PPCHS have shown their support for this tragic event.

Claudia Bonilla Shares Her Heart by Sending Dozens to Students of MSD Sarah Varnadoe Staff Writer

The shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas (MSD) has shaken everyone- students, parents, teachers, and more. Some people, however, have risen above the panic and are trying to do everything they can to support MSD through this tragic and tough time.

Many students have participated in school walkouts, others plan to work with MSD students to get their message to officials that have the power to make a change.

PPCHS senior Claudia Bonilla has certainly shown her support for the students and staff of MSD. She created red paper hearts that were delivered to the students of Douglas. These hearts contained messages written by different PPCHS students. Hoping to give reassurance to everyone, Claudia started this project right away. The day after the shooting occurred, she began to gather the supplies necessary. A little later, on February 23, students began to fill out their hearts.

Claudia got some help from friends along the way; however, most of the project was carried out by her own merit. “I felt kind of hopeless not being able to do anything, not

Photos Donated By: Claudia Bonilla

being able to help the people that were there.” She wanted to get advice on something that she could do to help. “I spoke to my friend because she goes to Stoneman, and she said the best thing to do was write letters to the students to [let them] know they are not alone” she stated. Claudia then decided to take the project a step up.

Instead of a regular letter, she wanted to put the messages on hearts. This allowed for a more creative and heartfelt approach to an already touching idea. Because the hearts are so fragile and have a chance to get torn or ripped, she had them laminated after all of them had a message and were ready for delivery.

Claudia is just one example of students stepping up and trying to do everything they can for the students of MSD. She started something that will definitely help inspire hope into MSD students that may have lost theirs. Claudia, and all of the PPCHS students that filled out a heart are making an impact and helping those that need it.

Mr. Pargas; A Different Take on the Tragedy Janae McDonnough Staff Writer

History Teacher Takes Action: Mr. Pargas sent Florida representatives an email addressing his concerns following the Stoneman Douglas shooting. Using GoogleClassroom, Mr. Pargas shared his email with his students and encouraged them to also address the situatuion, starting a “chain of emails.”

Graphics By: Justin Pierce

Wednesday February 14, 2018 will be known as one of the most horrific days in America. Instead of sharing a day of love, joy and peace the country was hit with a school mass shooting which occurred at Majory Stoneman Douglas High school In Parkland. Seventeen people were killed; 14 students and 3 teachers. 14 other victims suffered major injuries requiring hospitalization and surgery.

The night of the shooting, PPCHS history teacher Mr. Pargas and his wife came up with an idea of conducting a survey that would help students deal with the tragedy. This was meant to help students understand that they are not alone during these difficult times.

The questions encouraged students to speak up about what they are thinking in regards to everything that happened. He also encouraged them to talk about things that made them happy or things that made them feel good about themselves.

The questionnaire survey was

anonymous. The reason behind the students remaining anonymous prevents students being judgmental towards each other. After each class, Mr. Pagas combined the answers and tallied the responses to questions.

There were many students who stated that their family was a blessing to them, health and that anything would be helpful to stop this horrific thing from happening again. This was another way to let people open up about the current gun laws.

“It allowed students to see the differing emotions people were experiencing and different views on how to make positive changes,” said sophomore Ava Johnson .The survey also helped students to organize their thoughts and remain positive while they commit to demanding change and to show that they are not alone.

“I thought it was good that Mr. Pargas asked us about our thoughts on the matter. I liked how the responses were anonymous,” said sophomore Mi-

chael Vidal.

When he was done with the discussion he told his students an example about what had happen in Australia a couple of years ago when they had a mass shooting. Australia changed their gun laws after that tragedy. They banned semi-automatic and other military style weapons across the country. Their federal government was prohibited from importing these types of weapons.

The gun owners in Australia were encouraged to give up any military style weapon that he/she may have. Ever since the changes in the gun laws, Australia has not had any more mass shootings.

Overall, Mr. Pargas created a positive atmosphere for students to express their opinions regarding this sad situation.

This discussion survey helped students to have a feeling of togetherness and support from their teacher. Everyone has tried to be strong for each other to overcome the evil expressed on Valentine's Day.

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Students React to Tragedy at Senior Chloe Freire

Freshman Sofia Amortegui

hen I first heard about the shooting I was in chills. I was at softball practice when I heard and the other girls on my team knew people at the school and they were crying and freaking out. We were all just trying to stay calm and reassure everyone that everything will be okay. I think to solve this we need stricter gun laws.

The Pines Charter softball team held an event at out park and so far we have raised $5,500 dollars to go back to the families and the school.

he school shooting was something very traumatic that happened, especially knowing some of the kids that had experienced what they did. No one I knew personally got hurt but one of my close friends had seven people die in front of her, some of which were her friends. The fact that these school shootings have been happening more and more recently scares me because that gives a big chance for our school to be a target at any moment

hen I heard about the shooting I was shocked because I’d never thought that something as tragic as that could happen so close to home. It hit me when I realized my friend went there and one of the victims was a soccer player that I’ve played against. I feel that schools should provide more resources for students that have mental illnesses. We should be more aware of what other students are posting and as students, we should be able to notify the appropriate authorities when we notice something odd happening.

ll solutions can easily be solved with an overall gun ban. It takes less than a second to harm someone enough kill them.

You’re taking less than a second to decide to take their life. Over a thousand of people are dead due to assault rifles. They’re made to kill in large amounts. They’re made for war. Why are 19 year olds given an assault rifle? The second amendment was made when the only gun was a musket. It took about a minute to reload a new bullet. Times have changed. So should our gun laws. There is no reason for guns if all other guns are banned.

Sophomore Ara Johnson

Sophomore Sophia Robinson

Sophomore Michael Omole

Sophomore Jake Rodriguez

fter wrapping my head around this senseless event that hit so close to home, I chose to do something about it. Thoughts and prayers do nothing to prevent school shootings. Real legislation is needed. In response to the increased threat to our security and lives in a place that should be the safest of all, my sister Ava and I have formed an organization called March On to combat political, economic, and social injustices that threaten our community daily.

think that this shooting and the circumstances that enabled it to occur are devastating. However, it seems that some positive change may come out of this tragic event, whether it is in the form of an increased waiting period to purchase, an assault weapons ban, or universal checks for gun and ammunition buyers. I think the most successful change will come when the who, where, why, and how of gun purchases is addressed.

he shooting was a major tragedy and devastated our community. We can’t let events like that become the new normal.

We need gun control in order to stop this.

It’s disappointing that our government doesn’t have more rules in place that stop nonmilitary personnel from purchasing automatic weapons. While I don’t advocate for the total ban of all guns, more regulation is definitely necessary.

he shooting could have been easily avoided and it’s ridiculous. It hit so close to home that I now feel uncomfortable going to school. It’s extremely sad that families and friends had to be a part of such a thing.

I hope that we can make a change so this doesn’t occur ever again. We as students need to make a change, we are powerful and our voices can be heard.

Junior Camila Peralta

Junior Jeremy De Tullio

Junior Maheen Khan

Junior Shawn Powell

believe the youth of Broward County have demonstrated there is power in protest and resistance. We have shown that if elected officials won’t get something done, we will. America is the only country where these preventable tragedies occur with such frequency, this is a clear issue with clear solutions. We must stand united against gun violence.

fter the Douglas shooting, I honestly think this has gotten out of hand. The fact that you can buy a gun before legally being able to drink beer is shocking. If we need to ban guns for everyone in order to prevent children’s lives from being taken away, then so be it.

believe that the Parkland shooting could possibly have been prevented by gun control, better security, and mental illness awareness. However, I am really proud of the protests and actions that are taking place to correct these issues. I believe that students have the power to make changes and make sure this never happens again so that we can feel safer in our schools.

he tragedy that happened at Douglas High School was devastating and I think could’ve been avoided. We need laws that prevent kids the same age as us from owning an automatic rifle or any gun in general. Students shouldn’t be afraid to go to school and worry about being shot.

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t Marjory Stoneman Douglas Freshman Emma Caulfield

Senior Ashlyn Correa

Sophomore Sofia Mendoza

Sophomore Ava Johnson

think this particular shooting was definitely one to remember and had a greater impact on me because this one wasn’t just “close to home” it was home. Coming home after the day of love and finding out 17 people lost their lives on a car ride away was just heartbreaking. For starters, school security needs to step up their game. Things need to change for our safety. Gun control is another situation that needs change. The most gun control I’ve seen was Apple changing the gun emoji to a water gun. I don’t just WANT to see change. I NEED to see change.

have so many friends and travel soccer teammates who attend Douglas. Finding out that a friend of mine lost his brother, that a girl who used to play at my soccer club was shot and killed, and that all of my friends knew someone who was killed, made me sad and it hurt. What I think needs to be done is first off, better gun laws.

Someone who is 18 should not be able to purchase a firearm. I truly do believe our generation will make a difference, put an end to school shootings, and prevent a lot of people from getting shot by guns that shouldn’t have been sold in the first place.

t is not an issue of the people but of how easily any can gain access to a gun.

Gun control is not about taking away all guns forever, but it is about being able to regulate who can own a firearm in order to protect the lives of many innocent people.

With gun control shootings can be prevented, and action needs to be taken in order to insure the lives of dozens of innocent humans.

t has come to the point that students and victims are the ones speaking out and promoting real change, instead of the adults that should have. Douglas students created March for Our Lives to march in Washington D.C. to effect this change. I was personally inspired by this, leading me to create the March On project, which has sponsored the PPCHS school walkout and will work to send students to D.C. to march and speak. With enough determination, our community can succeed.

Sophomore Nicole Munar

Senior Steven Samosky

Junior Megan Fraga

Junior Tatiana Rivera

think that people started to value each other more and they started to realize that we need to make a change in our society.

I believe that our generation needs to fight for what we believe in. We need to use our rights to get the message across that if the government won’t make changes, then the students will. I believe we need to keep protesting and showing people that we need to use our rights for the greater good of this society.

he shooting is really tragic and it hits very close to home. I believe we need to keep protesting gun laws and advocate for serious Gun Reform while keeping this issue in the media for as long as possible.

Now that I’m 18 I know I’ll be voting at our local polls in order to contribute to the cause and I highly encourage those around me to become as politically involved as you can. We must use our grief as fuel to make sure nothing like this ever happens again.

he fact that it’s taken 1,624 shootings in the U.S. is insanely ridiculous. The NRA says that “people don’t kill, guns do,” which in reality, a knife wouldn’t have killed 17 people. So yes, guns, in fact, are the cause of these shootings. Once congress takes real action & makes stricter gun laws, the death rates will go down & keep our people, children, & country safer.

An AR-15 has no need to be anyone’s possession unless it is for military purposes.

Change needs to happen & it needs to happen now.

n my opinion, the FBI should have taken action from all the reports given. Unfortunately, they did not and those students and teachers suffered. I was born in Puerto Rico, and there when you are purchasing a gun they interview 6 of your neighbors!

If we were there, I bet Cruz’s neighbors would have said something. I have no problem with the 2nd amendment, but we definitely need to have some restrictions and or mental tests to stop this from happening again.

Freshman Hanna Rojo

Senior Vincent Pirro

Senior Lauren Othon

When I found out about the shooting, it

When I first heard about the shooting

What happened at Douglas was very

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was really surreal in a way because usually you hear about stuff like this from other states but it was so close to home this time.

I think we need to have stricter gun laws. I don’t think we need to have police outside our school every day, but I think schools needs to be more aware on mental health issues and help out the kids who seem like they’re having trouble.

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my heart was broken. I was in my room on twitter and my heart dropped. I still can’t seem to process everything that happened so close to home, it’s not fair. We need change. A change to our gun laws in the United States.

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tragic and should never happen again.

Something should be done to prevent this from happening again. Broward came together to fight for this and with all the protests to make a change. Change is happening and will continue to happen.

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think that there should be stricter guns laws and restrictions on guns and that schools should do more drills based on lockdowns and shootings because we have to be prepared for what can possibly happen.

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A Word From Our Adviser....

CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES

Faran Fagen Chat Adviser

Seventeen. One of the worst school shootings on record in a city known as the safest in Florida. The 18th school shooting of 2018, and it’s only Valentine’s Day. I tell Blair that a sad, angry man hurt people and will go to jail, and that seems to satisfy her curiosity for the moment. Then I think of the 17 families that lost a daughter or son, and that hollow feeling returns to my stomach. The same punch to the gut every time I hear about another shooting.

So I do what I do when I get that sick feeling. I write. Get thoughts on paper. To try and make some sense.

I hammer it into my head. Yes, it happened at Douglas, the pride of Parkland, a community known for close-knit families. Where I have friends. It also happened a few years ago at a Connecticut elementary school full of innocent children.

If it can happen there, it can happen anywhere.

If you’re like me, with every news bulletin in the last year that there’d been another senseless shooting, your stomach clenches. First thought: please no fatalities. Second thought: How could anyone do this? Third thought: Is this ever going to end?

According to reports, since the 2012 tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newton, Connecticut, there has been an average of at least one school shooting per week.

My daughter points to the gunman and asks, “Is that a bad man?”

We watch the terrible news unfold at the school shooting just minutes away, not realizing Blair has entered the living room.

I stare at her green eyes. It’s a yes or no question. But it’s not simple. Or concrete, like when we play Candyland and you pick the Lollipop card and take that spot on the board.

Instead of answering Blair, I’m silent. I think of the many school shootings that have rocked our nation since Columbine in 1999, most of which Blair, 5 years old, never heard of.

The strip at the bottom of the television reads 17 dead at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School.

So how do we stop it?

Fingers have pointed at violent video games and movies, mental illness, gangs, terrorism plots, cyberbullying, revenge, sparse gun control and social media gone wrong. To name a few.

Unlike the cards in Candyland, the answer isn’t easy. But I know this – every attacker in every shooting shares the fact they felt alone or alienated somehow. Shunned, ignored, humiliated, bullied, isolated.

The two killers in the Columbine shootings were constantly harassed and bullied, and one of them wrote in his journal about his hatred for the human race.

Another shooting occurred in 2007 that killed 32 people on Virginia Tech's campus. Picked on by other students at a young age, the shooter was described by his college professors as a troubled loner.

The shooter of the Newtown massacre was described in various articles as friendless and isolated.

Some of these tragedies contained heroes like Victoria Soto, a 27-yearold teacher at Sandy Hook Elementary, who hid students in a closet and died trying to shield them from bullets. It’s already being reported that Aaron Feis, an assistant football coach at Douglas, died shielding students from gunfire.

Every time a shooting happens, I look at pictures of the slain and that knot tightens in in my stomach.

In December of 2012, the media

posted picture after picture of the 20 children killed at Sandy Hook.

The children look so happy in those pictures. Their entire future ahead of them. I swallow hard thinking that those kids will never experience their graduation, or even their first kiss.

Those 20 kids’ moms and dads had to bury their own children – an act too terrible to imagine.

All because of attackers so utterly lost that they resort to the unthinkable.

It used to be okay to feel alone. In Oh the Places You’ll Go, Dr. Suess says alone is something you’ll be quite a lot. But in the end you’ll succeed, “98 ¾ percent guaranteed”.

Now, being alone is a crisis. Somehow, we’ve lost our ability to cope.

And have hope for someone utterly abandoned from the American dream of love and family that’s supposed to be so easy to reach.

As I kiss my daughter good night, I look deep into her green eyes. She wraps her arms around my neck and squeezes tight. She’s tucked safely under the covers. The television is still on in the other room, recounting the day’s carnage.

Yes, Blair, there are bad men in the world. Lost, hopeless, desperate, and alone bad men. Some live nearby, and I can’t always protect you from them. And I’ll never be the same.

The CHAT Staff Reacts to Tr Ainsley McCormick Student Life Editor

Brittany Evelyn News Editor

Jordan Alberti Sports Editor

Evan Samuels Managing Editor- Web

the surface of every person in the U.S.: better gun control. With this tragedy hitting so close to PPCHS’ home, students have already begun to spread the word by reaching out to the state and federal governments about passing stronger gun control laws. Yes, the second amendment states our right to bear arms, but with technology advancing so quickly, newer forms of weapons make mass shootings more likely.

someone that poses as a threat or excites any kind of fear in you, speak up. If you believe in a cause, stand up for it and don’t waver. No matter how small and insignificant you believe you are, all it takes is to spread the word and promote change towards what you believe in. It starts and ends with us.

olence in schools is implement detectors and conduct random searches ocasionally. Tragedies such as the Stoneman Douglas shooting occur because sick people have access to guns and take out their anger on innocent lives. Kids should feel safe when they go to school.

of the United States seem to put money in the budget for the military, but they seem to run from the major problem right in front of them. The federal government needs to come to their senses and put a significant amount of money into security for our schools, and especially put an end to gun control violence.

Sophia Cortes Staff Writer

Ariana Ortiz Staff Writer

The answer lies deep within or on Action starts with you. If you see What we need to do to stop gun vi- One after the other, the Presidents

Isabella Munoz Staff Writer

As of right now in the state of Florida: there is no license needed to purchase a gun, no need to have firearms registration, background checks are not required for most guns, there are no restrictions on magazine capacity, and it is legal to own semi-automatic assault rifles as long as you have a background check. The state of Florida has one of the most relaxed gun restrictions; change is long overdue when dealing with gun laws.

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The right to bear arms is extremely The important. It is one of the things that insures that the government will never have too much power over the people, but the fact that you can buy a gun at stores like Walmart truly shows how lenient the laws are. To own and operate an aircraft, one needs to go through and pass a series of rigorous tests. If the government were to apply these types of rigorous laws to the process of owning a firearm, then countless innocent lives will be saved.

Janae McDonnough Staff Writer

think the best way to stop these school shooting is to have gun control, more mental hospitals, or clubs that help kids who feel they might want to harm others. Gun control can prevent civilians from possessing a firearm that could potentially harm themselves or others.

most sure fire way to stop this epidemic is gun control, gun control, gun control. If lawmakers would step up and change gun control laws to be more restrictive the problem would reduce. As citizens, it’s vital that we do our part and vote for the candidate we feel can help make a difference in regards to gun control and to report suspicious activity.

Amanda Rodriguez Staff Writer

Andres Perez Staff Writer

went to a gun show, purchased the guns and bought ammunition from K-Mart. It shouldn’t be that easy for anyone to get a gun. It should be almost impossible to be able to have one.

crease in security, scaring off potential attackers. This option could help defend the students and faculty much more than what most schools have at the moment.

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Our country’s le laws to protect the ment has been used too long and steps close the United’ S hole. People shou opportunity to take nocent children wh fear should have be their homework fo

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stigm aroun should also be dim vents people from they deserve. If an be trusted to drin them with a firearm

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Letter Penned From a PPCHS Parent...

I will always remember where I was on that fateful February 14th afternoon. As I stood in front of my class of students, my phone kept dinging with text messages. When I finally was able to read them, I was shocked and saddened to see what my daughters were telling me.

My first instinct was to look at my babies in my class and think how I would protect them if that were to happen at my school. Then my mind raced to my daughter and her friends at PPCHS and how they must be feeling right now knowing that this happened so close to home.

As a classroom teacher for 30 years and a mom who has her last of three children graduating from PPCHS, this horrific event hit me hard in many ways. My students are young, so we really didn’t talk about it

much in class, but rather spoke about kindness and the importance of treating others the way you want them to be treated. They wrote sentences and drew pictures of what kindness looks like to them.

As a mom, my role was very different. As my daughter and I sat at a special Valetine’s dinner I prepared for us, all we could speak about was the events from that day. With the TV on the background, we kept thinking of what a nightmare these students and their families must be going through. It was something that we could never understand, and hopefully we never will have to. As our steak dinner got cold on the plate, I just kept hugging my daughter and telling her how much I loved her and how sorry I was that this was something she had to

witness in her lifetime. It made me unhappy, that on a day that was supposed to be about love, we had to be dealing with such a tragic event.

As I went to bed that evening, I felt anger and sadness that this is the world my three children and future grandchildren have to grow up in. I was also feeling heart broken, as a mom, because my mind kept racing back to the families and how their lives have changed forever.

After a long weekend with lots of conversations, tears, and hugging, Thursday morning arrived and it was time for me to go back to my classroom and my daughter to go back school and continue her senior year at PPCHS. Things were different now. Friends and co-workers texted me pictures of the high school and the large police pres-

ence that was there. I felt a sense of relief, but also a bit of sadness that this was now a new “normal.”

I felt confident that Mr. Bayer and his incredible staff of administrators and teachers would be there for these students emotionally as well as put their safety first. It is unfortunate, however, that this is the learning environment this generation and future generations will be exposed to being in. However, we still need to believe that there is good in the world, and this generation of young adults will be the change we need.

I am so excited to see their journey and watch the differences they will make. Each day, make sure to tell your child you love and hug them a little tighter. Kindness is a gift everyone can afford to give.

ragedy at Stoneman Douglas Sarah Barrocas Editor-in-Chief

Society has become so naturally corrupted and dehumanized that our legislators have decided to resolve the gun issue by supplying more guns. And addressing the students of MSD as child actors? Signs of impassioned fear and distress are how children act in times of a crisis.

Kumar gy Editor

eniency on gun e second amendd as an excuse far must be taken to States’ gun loopuld not have the e the lives of inhose only greatest een in completing or the next day.

a Ozuna Writer

nd mental health minished as it prem seeking the help n 18 year old can’t nk, then why trust m?

Alexa Infante Managing Editor- Content

This

chaotic and heart wrenching event happened right in our own backyard. If you felt like this could never happened to you, I hope you realize it can. As hard as that is to swallow, that is the sad reality of today. School shootings have become much too normalized and, more often than not, these events are actually preventable.

Rachel Rivera Lifestyle Editor

When tragedy hits the world gov- This ernment officials resort to condolences and focus on “fixing the situation” until the matter is completely forgotten, not changing anything.

In order to move past the devastation and avoid any occurrence of its sort for the future serious laws need to be put into place. These students don’t need prayers and condolences they need policy and change!

Matthew Hernandez Staff Writer

Sarah Varnadoe Staff Writer

trol in this country because, at the end of the day, if one doesn’t have a gun, one can’t shoot a gun. Implementing more security at schools would also be beneficial, but the added security wouldn’t be needed if there weren’t any guns to protect students from in the first place.

have access to all sorts of weapons; for instance, guns and knives. They can also easily learn how to make bombs at home with the help of the internet. Websites that contain this information need to be found and banned. This would prevent teens from learning how to create DIY bombs and other makeit-yourself weapons.

There needs to be stricter gun con- Kids

Eric Hernandez Photographer

Roselle Curiel Staff Writer

Like it or not though, if stricter gun Students

need to remember to allaws do surface, sick people will ways tell someone if they feel find a way to keep buying deadly something’s not right, especially guns and ammunition. when a lot of students joked about him doing that beforehand.

Paolo Barrera Clubs Editor

was an attack on everything we stand for at Charter: education, experiencing life, and harvesting potential. School shootings are, and always will be, the ugliest stain on modern American history. It has become one of the most American things, and it’s disgusting.

Alan Matthew Staff Writer

Gun violence is devastating and anger inducing, but the worst aspect of these situations is the lack of significant congressional response. Party lines don’t matter when it comes to death and patterns of death on this scale. So I implore everyone reading this to stop alienating the political opposition and listen.

Elizabeth Castillo Staff Writer

We need to be taking mental health

more seriously, especially among teenagers. We need an in-school psychologist, who checks up on all students throughout the year. This should be implemented in the education budget for all schools.

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Photos By: Newspaper & Y

Yearbook Photographers

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THE DIAMOND SUPPORTS DOUGLAS CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES

Ainsley McCormick Student Life Editor

Photo By: Sarah Barrocas

Photo By: Sarah Barrocas

A field full of high schoolers, parents, city representatives, and members of the community watched in admiration as seventeen white balloons left the hands of both the PPCHS and Marjory Stoneman Douglas softball players, flying high into the night’s black sky. The two softball teams stood together, one team in front of the other, along the freshly lined third base line as the balloon ceremony honored the seventeen lives lost in the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas. As performers from the Broward Center’s Rent stood against the front of the field, behind home plate, their angelic voices could be heard by everyone in attendance as their melodic, acapella tones spread through the park. In the outfield, posters with each of the 17 victims’ names were posted along the fence with dozens of flowers that were up for purchase delicately placed below each one.

More than two hundred and fifty Stoneman Douglas supporters gathered at the Lady Jags softball field to recognize and remember those involved in the tragedy.

The idea to hold a memorial for the horrific events that occurred at Stoneman Douglas originally surfaced from junior and softball catcher, Katelynn De Leon. The girls on the team got together and began brainstorming ways to honor those affected. Junior Brianna Santiago contacted her friend, fellow junior Alexis Cid, to have a group of teenagers, including one from Stoneman Douglas, sophomore Tanzil Phillip, perform at the memorial. The guest students are cast members from the musical Rent, and had held another vigil earlier in the week. All the supplies at the event were donated by generous

sponsors, and every penny made is to be given to Marjory Stoneman Douglas. To advertise the event, the girls quickly set to creating a flyer that the team could post through social media to allow students, parents, and staff to join the community in coming together to support Stoneman Douglas. Junior Maegan Calandra said, “We are really close with Douglas. In softball, you know everyone. The world of softball is so small. We knew a bunch of girls from the softball team, and we always think ‘it can never happen to us, it can never happen to our friends,’ but it did and it hit home.”

The Stoneman Douglas softball players traveled the short drive to also attend this event.

Prior to the event, the girls on the PPCHS team blasted out flyers promoting the memorial that took place on Saturday, February 24th, 2018 from 6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. More and more people began to hear word about the memorial, and the girls even got their younger teammates from the Academic Village middle school to spread the word too. On the night of the event, people from all parts of Pembroke Pines could be seen in attendance of the memorial. Mayor Frank C. Ortis also made an appearance, accompanied by Vice Mayor Angelo Castillo. Mayor Ortis said, “We want to make sure that [Douglas] knows we are in support of emote for them. We always say never again, but this happened, and we are here.

We are here in support of them.” He showed immense gratitude to the community, especially the students, for what they have done to reach out to Stoneman Douglas and fight for change.

Along the left field side of the me-

Photo By: Justin Dourvetakis

Photo Donated By: Elizabeth Albolino

morial field, several tents were set the night. However, in the outfield up selling items to honor the vic- hung a large banner for anyone to tims. An assortment of flowers were write a message on throughout the sold to be placed under the name of night. The banner was to be sent to the victims in the outfield, brace- Stoneman Douglas to show the suplets were sold for $3, and paper port PPCHS and the Lady Jags have bags with tea lights were sold for for the school. $1 each. Messages could be written Stoneman Douglas senior, Allion the paper bags which were later son Kerce, said “Right now a lot of placed around the field. Taking their us are still scared to go back. A lot places in the outfield were several of us are still resistant to go back. camera crews of various news net- There’s a part of us that the idea of works covering the event. safety is out the window right now, Upon arriving that night, attend- and then there’s the whole part of ees were greeted The world of softball is so small. ‘we have 17 peoby a table of comple in the school munity members We knew a bunch of girls from the that are no longer who were accept- softball team, and we always think here.’ So, it’s going donations and ‘it can never happen to us, it can ing to be about distributing or- never happen to our friends,’ but it how we are going did and it hit home.” ange ribbons for to fill this void. everyone at the Our community Junior Maegan Calandra park to wear. As has already built the event began, a large kickball a strong bond because of this. The game formed on the middle field. outreach that we have gained from Teams were split up evenly, rang- this, the people we have met from ing from excited middle schoolers this, the schools that have come out to athletic basketball players. With and talked to us about this, and even teenagers dotted all along the field, the moment that we have, never the game was fast-paced and left again. That is good. We just have little room for error from each team. to look through the horrific tragedy The star players, however, were the that this is to make things better.” students from Stoneman Douglas, As the memorial service began, who outshined their teammates with all 250 people gathered around homerun kicks and lightning speed the Lady Jags’ field, standing in a running. The concession stand sold hushed silence. A group of performpizza, popcorn, candy, and drinks ers honored the victims and school for spectators to gratefully munch with song, while each girl from the on. Next to the concession stand softball team paid a short tribute tostood two long tables showcasing wards Douglas. After the release of the raffle items that were up for 17 white balloons, everybody stood grabs that evening. A cooler full of in remembrance of those who lost athletic items, restaurant gift cards, their lives on February 14th, 2018. and a spa experience were just a few With this, the night came to a conof the items that people could buy clusion. As people began to leave, tickets for. With all the craziness go- the softball players couldn’t stop ing on during the kickball game, it thanking each and every person for was easy to lose sight of the goal of coming out in support of MSD.

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Boca United Wins for Those We Lost Alexa Infante and Amanda Rodriguez Managing Editor- Content and Staff Writer

Every victim of the tragic shooting

at Marjory Stoneman Douglas has been honored in their own unique way. Freshman at Marjory Stoneman Douglas, soccer star and friend too many, Alyssa Alhadeff, was honored by her teammates of her soccer club, Boca United. PPCHS seniors Ashlyn Correa and Morgan Robertson, players on the Boca United team, had the opportunity to show their support for the cause and honor their fallen teammate.

Fourteen-year-old Alyssa Alhadeff was admired by the younger girls in the club and certainly impressed the older ones. Her family and friends have strongly felt her loss. When she was not answering her texts the

day of the shooting her mom said, “I knew at that point she was gone.

I felt it in my heart. Alyssa was a beautiful, smart, talented, successful, awesome, amazing soccer player. You'll be greatly missed, Alyssa.

We love you so much. You'll always, always be in our hearts." As a friendly face on and off the soccer fields, it was only right for the club to do their part in honoring her.

A team mom purchased the girls black armbands that could be worn on the soccer field. Whether they were close to Alyssa or did not even know her, the grieving soccer players used a silver sharpie to write MSD strong.

Accessories were not the only way the club celebrated the lives of the

fated 17. Correa and Robertson joined their team in a game that would go down history. “It was a game we knew we could win but somehow in the first few minutes we were down by 2,” Morgan said.

At this point the team was down.

The coach brought the girls together and reminded them of their purpose. The team exchanged reassuring looks and sprinted back for the fields with determined hearts.

Suddenly, the game turned around.

One of their teammates, who is a survivor of the tragic shooting at Douglas, came to play for her peers.

She scored an incredible hat trick and assisted the fourth goal, causing the team to win the game with the final score of 4-2. “We had to find it

Photo Donated By: Ashlyn Correa

within ourselves to really dig deep and use all of our sadness or anger to secure the win and leave it all out on the field,” Ashlyn said.

Due to the trauma, Boca United also closed their facilities and cancelled all events on Thursday February 15th, to allow all club members to attend the special vigil that was held in Parkland in response to the event. This heart wrenching catastrophe truly prompted an emotional few weeks, but Boca United and its players like Correa and Robertson, are proof that the lost souls will live on in the hearts of every heart they touched.

Photo Donated By: Ashlyn Correa

PPCHS Drumline Keeps the Heart of MSD Beating Florencia Azcurra and Sofia Azcurra Features Editor and Entertainment Editor

Over the past couple of days, it lence for the victims and those afcould be seen all over PPCHS that fected. They also played a quiet but students have made it their mission emotional song to remember them. to raise awareness for the 17 fallen PPCHS’ drumline wasn’t the only victims of the Stoneman Douglas one to show up with flowers. Almassacre this past Valentine’s Day. most everyone brought stuffed aniThe heart of Pines Charter con- mals, flowers, and posters and laid tinues to grow for the students of them out for the students of StoneStoneman. The PPCHS drumline man Douglas High. added to the love when they took The talented drummers and perit upon themselves to commemo- cussionist’s brought tears and rate the victims at their most recent smiles to use this platform and atcompetition. tention they had at the competition Senior Claudia Bonilla - a cym- to bring awareness to the horrid acts bal player, who originally came up that took place at Stoneman Dougwith the idea, decided to put forth las. “All drummers wanted the afthe act when they fected students to received their “The show was solemn and sad. feel supported and award. All drum- We all knew who was missing. It to show them that mers proceeded was so hard to believe, so the fact we will stand with to lay 17 flowers that so many drum lines could stricter gun laws,” and small hope- come together to remember the stated drummer ful messages on students meant something spe- and junior Muthe floor in a heart riel Morales. The cial to everyone there.” next to where they show put on by the - Claudia Bonilla, senior stood to await their drummers was one award. Stoneman’s that left the audiprestigious drumline did not attend ence shaken with emotion. the competition which took place Although small, the idea went a a couple days after the horrid inci- long way. The students didn’t want dent. “The show was solemn and to let the competition go by without sad. We all knew who was missing. mentioning one of the most presIt was so hard to believe, so the fact tigious drumline’s the other musithat so many drum lines could come cians looked up to. The warmhearttogether to remember the students ed and bittersweet memorial left meant something special to every- each and every person in the room one there,” says freshman Anthony heartbroken, but inspired with the Silin. To keep them there in spirit, overabundance of love a few teenall drumline groups came together agers had for the students of Dougon the floor for a moment of si- las.

Photo Donated By: Claudia Bonilla

Photo Donated By: Claudia Bonilla

Photo Donated By: Claudia Bonilla

13 #MSDstrong CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES

Q&A with PPCHS Curriculum Specialist and AP/AICE Coordinator, Mrs. Torres Question 1: First and foremost, you are a parent and a concerned member of the Broward community. With that being said, was your first reaction to the news of the MSD shooting?

Answer: I was heartbroken. It's happened in the past in other places, but never in our own backyard. It could've been any high school in Broward County. It felt so much more real happening just a few miles from us.

Question 2: I know our students have been doing whatever they can to make noise on the issue of gun control, across all platforms. I’d like to ask: what are some of the things you and administration has done to in regards to advocating gun control or something to that nature?

Answer: I think we all have our own political views on the matter, but as an administrative team, we've made it a point to support the movements that our students have brought to our attention. The memorial event last Wednesday and the dress down day this past Monday were student led activities that we just supported and helped to make happen. We have met as a team to discuss security measures and what we can do, moving forward, to make our PPCHS campus as safe as possible.

Question 3: I believe I speak on behalf of the entire student body when I say that we are more than thankful to have an administration that has given us a platform to make history. Do you encourage other administrative members from other schools to do the same?

Answer: I 100% encourage the administration at other schools to support their students in the same way. I think we've seen that happening, too. It's impossible for us to turn our head and pretend nothing is happening. This is a nation-wide movement and our students are the greatest voice we have if we want to see change happen.

Question 4: One of the biggest controversies about the recent events is about the topic of arming teachers. As a member of administration, you are more or less the voice of the teachers. With that being said, what are some of the biggest concerns coming from teachers?

Answer: I don't know if arming teachers is the answer. There are a lot of factors to consider in making that decision. I think there are other ways to make schools safer and arming teachers probably isn't the best of those ideas. The overwhelming response from all teachers, not just ours, is that teachers do not want that responsibility.

Question 5: Since you have a “view from the top,” as an administrator what would you say about how you can also feel the momentous power of Broward students?

Answer: ABSOLUTELY! I am completely in awe of the movement I've seen. In just a short amount of time, our students have made a whole lot of noise and have brought a lot of attention to this matter. As long as our students keep doing what they're doing, they have a shot at implementing some real change. I can't wait to see what happens.

MSD Alumnus Shares Letter to Fellow Eagles To all my fellow eagles, Today I have more eagle pride than when I graduated in ‘98, and

trust me I had a lot of it -- from painted faces, t-shirts, and even nails. While most of us grew up in Coral Springs, we excelled together from elementary and middle into MSD. It seems like just yesterday that my friends and I were roaming the halls and courtyard of Stoneman Douglas eating lunch and planning our weekends counting down the days until we would graduate and become an adult. To my friends and I this was not just a high school, this is where we made memories and friendships that lasted a lifetime. Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School was a second home for many, where the faculty and staff became mentors and the relationships forged extended far beyond the classroom. Though most of us grew up in Coral Springs, we were lucky enough to have excelled together in elementary school and middle school and later bringing us to MSD.

After hearing about the recent tragic events, as a mom and teacher

I was truly heartbroken and frustrated; however, as an MSD alum, I had never felt so proud and deeply connected to something so powerful and moving. Hearing how these students got robbed of what is supposed to be a pivotal time, the years that I was lucky enough to call some of the best years of my life, is unimaginable. Yet you have turned your sorrow into a powerful movement, calling others to action to ensure that no student would ever have to experience such a tragedy again. Almost instantly MSD alumni and people all over the country wanted to help and were mesmerized by the amazing students, student who weren’t afraid to share their voices, along with the strength of the community who was brave enough to say #neveragain.

The students of MSD have started a movement that has sparked

bravery toward our government and won the hearts of big corporations who stand behind our youth when our government has turned them away. The interviews of you all have been touching and memorable, empowering me, a teacher, to stand strong and use my voice to promise that this will not happen again.

Question 6: Whether it be a sign or not, the implementation of a new security system in the school is well-timed, to say the least. What kind of new forms of security can students expect to see?

Answer: We are exploring a lot of options for the upcoming school year and there are some things already in progress. We have a new state of the art camera system that is being installed. We currently have crews working at night to install the wiring needed for this system. When it's all done, we should have about 100 cameras around our campus, doubling that which we already have. The installation of the gates was another security measure that I think has helped secure our campus.

Question 7: Students across the nation are fighting for a future that is safe enough for a school shooting to #NeverAgain happen. Can we expect to have administrative support in another event towards the same goal in the future?

Answer: I think it's important to discuss these kinds of events with administration. Mr. Bayer is very open to supporting these movements and doing everything he can to give our students a platform to be heard, while maintaining the routine and security of our campus.

I could not imagine what it feels like today to be in the shoes of a stu-

Question 8: There are mixed motives that are dividing students and the nation in terms of eliminating guns totally or possibly restricting access.

Objectively, what is your mission or goal?

Answer: I don't think there is any one answer. I think it's a combination of things that need to change in our society. Mental health services is an area that is greatly in need of improvement. There is definitely room for gun reform measures while still protecting the fundamental rights that citizens feel strongly about.

Question 9: With the fear of consequences and the feeling of being restricted being an issue, do you have any words of encouragement for students? If so, what are they?

Answer: I encourage students to find someone on our campus that they trust. Find that one person that you know you can go to about anything. I don't think all students realize how much we care about our students and their wellbeing. I encourage students to work with our campus leaders to make things happen. In just two weeks we've had two major events to bring attention to this movement. We want to see our students be leaders in our community and take a stand for what they believe in. It's just important to keep in mind that there is always a right way to go about that.

YOU, our current high school students. YOU have set a goal and have made it YOUR mission to call upon the nation and our legislators to pressure them to enact change. It is now our time, the adults, to support you kids. I challenge each and every high school student to join and show the world just how powerful our youth can be.

dent worrying about their safety while at school, a place where students go to learn. However, as a former MSD student myself, I would like all of you to know that your fellow eagles are here with you.

Continue to speak aloud and never be afraid to demand that your

concerns be heard. The community believes in your movement and are willing to follow in your footsteps to ensure that what happened to you will never be forgotten. We are here to ensure that your movement grows stronger and louder. I would like for high school students all over to realize that you have the power to change the world with your voice when you are armed with a great education.

I am proud to say that I see change in our near future thanks to

It is no doubt that you all are currently changing history, however,

always remember that this is your original anthem: be positive, be passionate, and be proud to be an eagle.

Sincerely, a Marjory Stoneman Douglas alumnus Class of 1998

#MSDstrong 14

CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES

PPCHS Teachers React to Tragedy at Marjory Stonemen Douglas High School For years I have defended people of your generation and the generations

I'm encouraged by the thoughtful actions of so many of our students. Students realize that in order for the cultural situation to improve, changes need to be made. What's more difficult is figuring out what those changes should be. I think and hope that this generation has the ability to find solutions to these difficult problems. Wouldn't it be great if the "new norm" becomes people living their lives in harmony with all rights being recognized and protected?

before as people have attacked you for all kinds of imagined sins. Somehow, because you have phones, social media and other things they did not, that somehow this has made you "snowflakes." The idea being that you are precious and delicate, that you won't stand the heat. It is used as s pejorative. It is used to attack. It is used as an insult. Then we have a shooting. What do we hear. Each child is precious. How delicate is life.

How wrong children, so good and Innocent are taken from us. You know what that sounds like: snowflakes. Each child I have taught IS special and precious and unique. What I have seen for the last 2 weeks plus is a generation that is doing what I always believed they would do: when you saw wrong you have tried to right it, when you saw tragedy you tried to make change, when it got tough you marched on, when people put you down as immature and unworthy of having a voice, you got a little louder and a little more busy. When I watched kids walk out of this school and all over Broward and this country, what I felt and what I knew is that all the promise that I have seen for all these years coming to fruition. Your generation was born in a time of war, came of age at a time of economic collapse, were inspired by the first African-American president and sat in horror during the election of 2016. The words of MLK kept running through my head, "the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” What I felt was hope. Through all the tears, through all the horror, through all the devastation of watching and seeing and hearing about what happened at MSD, what I have felt since it happened was nothing but hope. One of my students in my 1st period asked the day after the attack if I felt that this was the event that would finally change things. I answered truthfully I did not know. But I also told her and the rest of my class, that what I did know was that change was coming and going to happen. Why? Because of this generation. This group of phone loving, social media crazed kids would give us all a reason to hope and believe! The what and how and the form of that change...I'm old, I don't know. But I have spent a lifetime educating kids just waiting for the moment for them to take all the lessons they have learned at PPCHS and MSD and schools across this country: to think, to believe, to speak passionately, to work hard, to not give up, to push even when they meet resistance. I believe in hope. I believe in this generation.

I believe that the best of what we are will overcome the worse of what we are. The world better watch out, we are in sunny south Florida and the "snowflakes" are doing anything but melting!

As far as school safety, I think that things should not be taken lightly when they are brought to someone's attention. I also discussed with my students that the best security that we could have at our school is each other. Hold yourself and others accountable. If you see something, SAY SOMETHING. A single comment can make a difference in stopping something tragic from happening.

I am very proud of my students for standing up for what they believe in and seeing that they can make a difference. They are the future and it is up to them to push for change.

My first reaction when I heard about the shooting.. Shocked, fear, sadness, I knew this was going to happen again I’m sorry to say unless things change drastically and quickly I think it is going to happen again and again.

My opinion about it, I am not sure I understand the great devotion to the second amendment in America. It is misunderstood and the reason why it was written was it was done at a time where people were not sure whether their government was going to be a nice government or not and perhaps they would have the need to go against it if the government turned bad in their opinion. That was the idea behind the second amendment, now today we are living in different times and that really doesn't apply I don't think that the existence of guns in the massive way that it is makes no sense to me and to protect that and to even feed into it and promote it is a view that I cannot comprehend.

I must say that watching students participate in a movement that is cross-

I think the government has to take action and there is no time to wait, it has to be immediate. There has to be control over the use of firearms. I think the students have the right to protest, this is the best way for them to express themselves and put some pressure on the authorities and the government to enforce the laws against the youth of these weapons.

As soon as I saw the news I felt sick to my stomach. I was watching the

It was heartbreaking to learn that there was yet another school shooting in

ing our nation is inspiring, encouraging, and refreshing. There is power in a unified voice and especially moving when it comes from the invigorating voice of youth. It is time for change in so many arenas of the world and I believe the momentum of our young adults will enable this change to finally occur. There is hope for our future.

students run out of the school and I started crying thinking about how horrible it could have been to be there and how I could never imagine going through this with my own students.

On the surface we can make changes such as adding more cops on campus or improving our intercom system. But, I think the real change needs to be a cultural change. Why do so many people not value their lives or the lives of others? Why aren't these disturbed individuals dealt with effectively BEFORE a tragedy like this happens? How have "mass murders" become the new norm?

I would like to see additional SRO's

and security on campus, getting doors exposed to the outside fenced in (ex. s-building east side) and our intercom system back up and running, Possible even replacing classroom doors with ones without glass windows.

I am very proud of our students, in addition to students around the coun-

try. This is the first time after a school shooting that students have become active and started a grass-roots movement. Hopefully the activism will keep this topic in the limelight and not disappear like previous shooting incidents.

Unlike past shootings which I took less personally, this shooting had a real emotional impact on me. It was just so close to home, so unexpected, and so devastating.

our country. We have become numb to it now but this one was in our backyard and it hurt even more. We must do whatever we can to prevent another cornage, make it more difficult for troubled people to get weapons, beef up security at schools, hospitals, cinemas, concerts. Make the security visible, show more empathy for the troubled people out there, try to understand their cries for help. We need more love.

I

t’s shocking. I’ll never understand why politicians never fight towards gun control. It’s crazy considering the general access to automatic rifles. I’m glad students are coming forward and stepping up, and I’m hoping on counting on the next generation to do something about this. We have laws that don’t make sense. It’s sad.

Shocking especially as to how close to home it was. Very devastating, but at the same time very nice and powerful to see the students coming together for something like this.

My initial reaction to the shooting I think was just like everybody else, at first shocked because it was so close to home and then thinking about the fact that it could happen here hoping that everything was okay. There was such a lag between when it happened and then actually knowing, and them catching the shooter. No number or tally of a final death toll for a while so that was scary waiting to hear about that. As far as school safety goes I think this school has tried to do better in terms of getting the gates and stuff, so that provides some sort of security for us because before I know we used to talk about the fact that we are an open campus.

I think it's great to see kids taking active interest in this movement and trying to make a change especially given the fact that people often talk about this generation negatively and that you guys are going to 'ruin our nation' so it's really nice to see thing and I think it restores fate in teenagers.

15

#MSDstrong CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES

What You Missed: CNN Town Hall Meeting, Stude Grieving Father Confronts Reaction of President Trump & Senator Marco Rubio

Student Asks if Marco Rubio Will Stop Accepting Donations from the NRA

Courtesy of: CNN

Fred Guttenberg, whose daughter Jaime was 1 of the 17 victims, addressed Rubio, wanting the senator to agree that semiautomatic rifles like the AR-15 type used in the shooting were the problem. "Senator Rubio, I want to like you. Here's the problem: Your comments this week and those of our President have been pathetically weak… Look at me and tell me guns were the factor in the hunting of our kids in the school this week."

Mother of Victim Questions NRA Spokesperson, Dana Loesch

Courtesy of: CNN

Courtesy of: CNN

Cameron Kasky, a junior at Marjory Stoneman Douglas, called upon Senator Marco Rubio asking him if he would stop accepting campaign contributions from the National Rifle Association. Rubio, however, couldn’t keep that promise, saying, “The answer to the question is that people buy into my agenda. And I do support the Second Amendment… The influence of these groups comes not from money. The influence comes from the millions of people that agree with the agenda.”

Linda Biegel Schulman, mother of geography teacher Schott Biegel who died protecting his students, poses a question for Loesch: “Dana, the Second Amendment was ratified in 1791, the Declaration of Independence was written in 1776, which gave my son the unalienable right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. So I ask you, why are my son's unalienable rights not protected as fiercely as the right to bear arms?”

Looking the Same, While making a Difference

Stu

Paolo Barrera Clubs Editor

History is known to have a pattern of repeating itself. In this chapter of history, the brave and the bold are sitting in classrooms ready to make change. The reins are being yanked by high school students. Standing, reins in hand, upon the chariot of change are twin activists: Ava and Ara Johnson.

The Johnson sisters are Charter’s modern day Grimke Sisters: advocates for change and campaigners for reform. In the 19th century, the Grimke Sisters were the first female activists to advocate for abolition and women’s rights. In the 21st century, the Johnson sisters take the title of the first to bring the “March On” movement to Charter.

When tragedy struck Parkland on February 14th, the twins decided to respond with the best way they knew how: activism in numbers.

They joined other students that aimed to unite the Charter family as a way to better help serve the Broward family. In doing so, the

duo came up with March On. “My [sister Ava] and I had been planning this movement for a long time, but the Marjory Stoneman Douglas shooting sparked a fire in us that was unquenchable,” explains Ara, ”We vowed to stop at nothing until we saw real change, and in the course of a few hours, we had a website... set up. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t exhausted, but the change I am working towards outweighs having time to...relax.” They both cite sleepless nights and “luck” as necessary ingredients in their recipe for an effective organization.

The March On movement is a crusade of their creation. It doesn’t fill a typical mold, in which the twins themselves have different interpretations of March On. To them, March On is a mission statement and a student led group, while also being a school club and an organization. They both agree, however, that March On is a movement mean to “empower students” and “de-

mand change on all levels of government”. It takes influence from the numerous organization that point towards the March on Washington protest for gun reform. Their website speaks explicitly about what their mission is. According to the site, “The project was originally created to allow students to push for gun control and gain an active role in their government, but was expanded to become a general push for youth involvement in government.” The two emphasize the potential and power that teenagers have, hence their goal of providing this generation’s youth with a platform to be politically involved.

March On hopes to ultimately send delegates to Washington to lobby for reform, while also leaving fingerprints in every issue calling for change.

Behind the March On Twitter handle and the identical appearances, the sisters are exercising every drop of potential they have in their own

way. The sisters share a strong history of activism. “I have participated in marches and protests for women’s rights [and] immigrants’ rights...However, never before have I been this directly involved [in a movement],” confesses Ava. In the present, they are in the process of helping Charter students write history. With the help of their close friends, they aim to grow their roots deeper and further in the future. “I have always considered myself an activist, and I hope that I will continue to have the ability to do so in my future,” explains Ara. The twins represent a catalyst for change. They represent the collective power of Broward and the nation’s youth when they work as a team. They are advocates, activists, and students. They spread the message of being politically educated, while currently fighting for others to be educated. In their hands, and hundreds of others in the school, are the reins that control Charter’s chariot of change.

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What You Missed: Changes Made Since Students of MS Major GOP Donor Halts Donations to Politicians

Courtesy of: The Atlantic

Major Donor and South Florida Billionaire Mike Fernandez vows to halt campaign donations to politicians until they start supporting gun control. “I will not give one cent to anyone who does not support major change regarding military-type weapons being sold — age limits, ammunition size, magazine capacity…” Fernandez has in the past donated to multiple Republican politicians, FL Governor Rick Scott’s 2014 reelection bid

Teachers Start an Armed Movement, But Not With Guns

Courtesy of: CNN

Teachers have taken to social media in the midst of a gun control debate, shooting to push for an increase in classroom resources. Olivia Bertels and Brittany Wheaton, an English started the movement in response to the proposal that arming teachers with guns schools would help promote safety. “If I wanted a job where I was responsible for carrying a firearm, I would have taken a different career path,” said Wheaton.

Big Name Companies Sever Ties With the NRA

Courtesy of: NBC

Major companies end tied with the National Rifle Association amid intense scrutiny over the Parkland, Florida school shooting. The breakups were encouraged amid a billowing cloud of scrutiny on social media where countless activists threatened to boycott companies that maintained a relationship with the NRA. Most of the businesses had previously offered discounted products and services to NRA’s several million members.

#MSDstrong 16

CHARTER HIGH ACADEMIC TIMES

ents of Marjory Stoneman Douglas Demand Action Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel and Emma Gonzalez call “BS” on NRA

Courtesy of: CNN

“But, lastly, we do need to have some gun control reform.

18 year olds should never have a rifle. An 18 year old kid should not have a rifle. Eighteen year old kids, they're not adults yet. They're in high school. These kids should not have a rifle. Bump stocks should be illegal. They should be outlawed forever. Automatic rifles should be outlawed forever. And anybody who says different, I don't know about other people, but Emma and I, we're calling B.S. on that.”

The Late Alex Schachter’s Free Verse Poem, “Life is Like a Rollercoaster”

“Life is like a rollercoaster. It has some ups and downs. Sometimes you can take it slow or very fast. It may be hard to breathe at times, but you have to push yourself and keep going. Your bar is your safety. It's like your family and friends. You hold on tight and you don't let go. But sometimes you might throw your hands up, because your friends and family will always be with you.

Just like that bar, keeping you safe at all times. It may be too much for you at times, the twists, the turns, the upside downs, but you get back up. You keep chugging along and eventually it comes to a stop. You won't know when, or how, but you will know that it will be time to get off and start anew. Life is like a rollercoaster."

udents Attend City Commission Meeting Sarah Barrocas and Elizabeth Castillo Editor-In-Chief and Staff Writer

week after tragedy struck Stoneman glas High School on Wednesday, Feby 14th, a Pembroke Pines city comon meeting was held at the Charles F. ge City Center to discuss the concerns ears of our community. Around twenharter students attended this meeting, voiced their opinions to our commisers and views regarding the safety of chools and the legislative action that s to be taken to ensure that no student ld ever have to experience this fatal t ever again. e three hour meeting comprised stus, parents, and even some law enforcoicing their concerns to our commisers about school safety. The parents essed how they no feel unweary sendheir children to school. One of these poken students were senior Nicole o, who stood up and spoke out about oncerns. The result of them voicing perspective was a pleasant surprise, y [city commissioners] were so enaging, and they even said that we are g what’s right. said senior Nicole o. he city commision meeting sparked oactive idea in our fellow student’s s: to hold a student run town hall meetat our campus. Proposed by seniors Hunter, Lilliana Thomas, and Chio Chukwuelue these ladies suggested wn hall meeting run by the PPCHS stus themselves. Other Broward County ol are planned to receive an invitation, ever it’s up to those in attendance to tate conversation and pose the highmanded questions. This student run ing will be educational for all. Even, ity commissioners were on board and to attend. Senior Lilliana Thomas

said “[the city commissioners] were overall really receptive and understanding, and definitely wanted to work with us to change the status quo.” This meeting is a small step for students hoping to take charge and make and even bigger change.

The students who attended the commission meeting also discussed organizing a workshop to follow the town hall meeting where students can learn about Florida’s current legislators and new candidates for the upcoming election. “I feel like a lot of people would be interested in asking questions in regards to voting and how to write to the people who basically make our laws and legislations,” said senior Chinaelo Chukwuelue. The workshop has been tentatively planned after school at the end of March or the first week of April. The main purpose of this meeting is to get students educated about the upcoming election in Florida, and to be informed about the candidates, and what they stand for. One of the best things anyone can do to make change happen, is to exercise our rights and vote for the people who we think will change. PPCHS clubs are also encouraged to get involved by setting up their own personal booths at the event. A voters registration drive will also place the week of March 19th where Charter students, those who are eligible to vote, have the opportunity to sign up for the voter’s registration card on campus. City commissioners will be in attendance to encourage students to register and vote in the next election.

The commission meeting confirmed that we, as a community, can not and will not brush this off. It’s important that we can’t let this movement stop or fade away. We should all be proud of our student body, and our community, for voicing their concerns, and speaking for those who no longer can’t.

MSD Drama Students Perform an Original Song, “Shine,” to Honor Those Lose From the Shooting

Courtesy of: CNN

“You may have hurt us / But I promise we are not going to let you in / We're putting up a fight / You may have brought the dark but together we will shine a light / And we will be something special / We're going to shine, shine.”

Student Performers from ‘RENT’ Hold Vigil for MSD Rachel Rivera Lifestyle Editor

Since February 14, 2018, stu- on Feb. 17, the cast produced their dents from around the state of Flor- own vigil outside of the theater with ida have been actively using their signs and songs from the production voices to start a movement since “RENT.” Tanzil spoke and 17 canthe devastating loss of 17 people in dles were lit to honor the lives that Florida’s mass shooting at Marjory were taken away too soon. “DoStoneman Douglas High School. ing the vigil was very comforting.

Broward county has come together It was really nice to see everyone to make a change and honor those come together as one community and be in support lost. Following the shooting, students It was really nice to see ev- of each other durset forth to take ac- eryone come together as one ing such a hard time.

It made me feel very tion to ensure that no student, teacher, or community and be in sup- happy not only to parent would have to port of each other during see everyone come together, but to be a suffer through such such a hard time. part of it as well.” a tragedy ever again.

- Alexis Cid, junior said junior Alexis As students actively Cid. participate in protest After their vigil caught the attento make their voices heard, many organizations from around the tion of Charter’s softball team, they county have showed their support were invited to do the same perforand honored the lives in their own mance at the Lady Jaguars “Ceremony of Hope” that took place on special way.

Marjory Stoneman Douglas Saturday, Feb. 24th. The cast perSophomore Tanzil Phillip is part of formed the song ‘Seasons of Love’ the cast of the production ‘RENT’ as 17 balloons were released into at the Broward Center for Perform- the sky. Junior Zachary Poore says ing Arts along with fellow charter “Overall, it was a great experience students, Julian Schenker, Zachary for everyone that participated and it Poore, Ashley Velasquez, Alyssa allowed us to perform in memory of Hernandez, and Alexia Sidd. When the 17 lives that unfortunately were news broke of the tragedy, the taken too soon.”

The cast of the production is gratewhole cast was shaken as it hit so close to home, affecting one of their ful to have had the chance to show very own cast members. The cast their support and honor the students wanted to use their grief do some- of Marjory Stoneman Douglas as thing in light of the tragedy to hon- they continue the healing process or the victims. After their rehearsal and fight for a change.

SD Have Spoken Out, Creating a Nationwide Movement Governor Rick Scott Details New Proposed Gun Rules

Courtesy of: The Washington Post

(1) Strengthen gun purchase and possession restrictions for mentally ill individuals under the Baker Act (2) Individuals purchasing firearms are required to be of 21 age or older (3) Ban the purchase and sale of bumpstocks (4) Individuals who are subject to an injunction for protection against stalking, cyberstalking, dating violence, repeat violence, sexual violence, or domestic violence will be prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm...

For more: ABC News

Dick’s Sporting Goods Bans Sale of Assault-Style Rifles

Graphic By: Henry Severe

On February 28, 2018, Dick’s Sporting Goods Annouced that they will no longer sell assault-style rifles, like the ones used in the MSD school shooting and other American massacres. The big name retailer made this announcement in an open letter and an appearnance made

by CEO Ed Stack on Good Morning America. The retailer will also end sales of high-capacity magazines and sales of guns to people under 21 years old.

Florida Senate Approved AR-15 Ban, and Then Rescinded It

Courtesy of: Twitter

On March 3, 2018, Florida’s state legislature briefly accepted and then rejected a measure banning the sale of AR-15 assault rifles — the type of weapon used in the Feb. 14 shooting at a South Florida high school. While the Senate president ruled that the amendment passed, the body reconsidered the amendment 15 minutes later and overturned it by a margin of 21-17 in a roll call vote, with two “no” votes cast Two Republicans backed the moratorium on the rifle.

Remember those whose lives were taken away too soon.

WE ...

Give strength and courage to those who were personally affected.

WE ...

WE ...

#MarchForOurLives for the hopes of a better tomorrow.

WE ...

Are #MSDstrong.