High School Musical: What we’ve been looking for
Maria Bozo Editor-in-Chief Emily Deese - Layout Looghermine Claude - Content Matthew Fernandez & Genisis Vesco - Video Managing Editors Chatter Daily News Taylor Horan Web Managing Editor Sarah Barrocas - Content Sofia Alfonso - Layout Business Manager Mr. J. Harris - Layout Mr. F. Fagen - Content Mr. J. Harris - Video Advisors Mr. P. Bayer Principal David Cha-Kim News Editor Hayley Hartwell Student Life Editor LJ Lemmers Technology Editor
Contents
The C.H.C. Staff
Melissa Pierce Entertainment Editor Matthew Deno Sports Editor Nick Rivera Features Editor Cristina Feliciano Lifestyle Editor Cristine Alayon Clubs Editor
Student Life:
Lauren Cookley Community Outreach Sydney Silverberg - The CHAT Jonathan Harris - Web Photo Editors Matthew Perez Graphics Editor
CONTENT STAFF: Maria Acosta-Rubio, Cristine Alayon, Sarah Barrocas, Nadira Danticat, Mason Feldman, Matthew Hernandez, Alexa Unfante, Abigail Johnson, Frank Mora, Amanda Peralta, Lauren Ramirez, Evan Samuels LAYOUT STAFF: Sofia Alfonso, Jose Bozo, Lauren Cookley, Madison Duke, Esteban Gangotena
Stunning in socks at Sadie’s We’ve Got Spirit, It’s Multiplying
Lifestyle:
PHOTOGRAPHY STAFF: Elizabeth Gamez, Eric Hernandez, Nicole Hernandez, Kristen Miles GRAPHIC STAFF: Nicole Mercadal, Natalie Laurent, Katie Perez CHAT VIDEO NEWS STAFF: Samuel Eliacin, Cristina Feliciano, Omar Loufti, Christopher Rundell The C.H.A.T. is an official publication of the Pembroke Pines Charter High School (PPCHS). The content of our newspaper is not necessarily the opinions of our advisers and administration. The C.H.A.T. staff welcomes any comments to the editors and/or staff. The C.H.A.T is a publication of C.H.C (Charter High Communications) sponsored by the Communications & Technology Department of PPCHS. Pembroke Pines Charter High School 17189 Sheridan Street Pembroke Pines, FL 33331 Phone: 954-538-3700 Email: chc.ppchs@gmail.com Twitter: @_theCHATter Instagram: @thechatnews The CHAT welcomes letters to the editor. Letters must be signed. The staff reserves the right to edit letters for poor taste, libel, and space. Drop off letters in room C113 or send an email to chc.ppchs@gmail.com
The Dreamy Dancer by Night Media Monopolizing Millennials
Technology: Galaxy Taking Another Step Tech-knowledge-y: It’s here to stay
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Studen
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Sports: Pg 21
nt Life
Sports:
Clubs and Electives: Pg 17
Features:
Coach Bruns Becomes College Baseball Hall of Famer
Prom Dresses: Long and Pink, What Do You Think?
Rounding the Hot Corner into MLB s
What Does Your Psyche Say About Your Solutions?
News:
Entertainment:
Presidential Primaries: Candidates in Combat
Okeecho-beats Rock the Weekend
Brussels bombings break Belgian hearts
L.A. Lakers players aren’t much of a “team”
Clubs & Electives: Celebrate. Remember. Fight Back. Key Club Keeps Caring
Giselle La Hoz: Sundays Spent Saving Maria Bozo
At PPCHS, senior Giselle la Hoz is an active student. Students may know her from her roles as Editor-In-Chief of yearbook, Class of 2016 Historian, and ESE Tutoring Vice President. Editor-in-Chief
What many may not be aware of, however, is her time spent volunteering for an organization called Adopt-A-Stray. Adopt-A-Stray is an organization that works with animals that have been abandoned on the streets of South Florida. They provide medical care for those that are sick, socialization for those that are fearful of human contact, and a safe haven for all until they can find a permanent home for them (www.adoptastray.ws). La Hoz has been volunteering for the organization nearly a year, she began in May of 2015. She volunteers every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in a room at PetSmart located right next to Trader Joe’s on Pines Boulevard and Flamingo Road. The room can have up to a dozen cats at a time because it is a no kill rescue, which means that they don’t euthanize animals if it’s over capacity like other humane societies. During her time spent there, La Hoz keeps the room clean, feeds the cats, gives them clean water, and sometimes brushes their fur. Additionally, La Hoz works with two other student volunteers to socialize the cats by holding them and playing with them. “The most important part is probably socializing them and getting them used to being around humans since they may not be used to it, and that’s an important part in order to get adopted,” said La Hoz. The organization’s main goal is obviously to get cats off of the streets and to find them permanent homes. “A big part of the job is also advertising the cats and having good customer service. Since people can walk into the room and play with the cats, they can ask about any particular one if they’re interested in going through with an adoption,” said La Hoz. If anyone is interested in adopting a cat, or even just spending time with one, they can go the local PetSmart, just be sure to take a parent if they are under the age of eighteen. PPCHS is proud of La Hoz for her efforts and time spent helping the stray cats of South Florida find permanent homes, as well as for all of her involvement in school clubs and organizations.
Photo donated by: Giselle la Hoz
Cheering for Trenton
Matthew Hernandez
On one special afternoon, girls running for touchdowns and guys shaking their pom-poms can be seen as a way to honor one of their own. Powder puff football games are when girls play each other in Staff Writer
football and guys are the cheerleaders. This is an annual event at PPCHS and has been going on now for a few years. All the money collected goes to the Trenton Saunders foundation, who was a former Jaguar and passed away in a car accident years ago. His family comes out to watch the game every year in support of the game and foundation for Trenton. This year the Powder Puff game was after school on Friday, March 11th and it was the red team against the blue team, and the blue team won the game. Sophomore, Benjamin Martinez, attended the game and said, “Powder puff is a great way to raise money and contribute to a good cause. It is nice to see the guys cheering the girls on while they play instead of it always being the guys playing and the girls cheering them on. This was a fun event to attend and I hope the school does this game again next year.” Many PPCHS students attended the game to support the cause and enjoy a whimsical game. Chipotle gift cards were also raffled off during half time. Like every other event that they coordinate, SGA put on a well-planned, and interesting game for all the students to enjoy. By sticking to the theme of Powder Puff, and also honoring Trenton Saunders, SGA coordinated a fun game. “The event went well we got people to come out and donate and support the Trenton Saunders foundation, when planning this you have to coordinate with Coach Bruns about using the field and find players for both teams the most important thing is to see how you can get the most support. Trenton’s mom comes to the event every year so we coordinate with her to make sure she’s happy with the event,” said Caroline Abramovici, an SGA coordinator of this event. Gabriella Torres, who played on the red team and is a part of SGA said, “I think we did a good job with the whole event. It was a good time out there playing with all the girls that came out to help support a good cause. We had a game last year too that went well and I think this year’s event went even better! It was sad to be on the losing team but it was still fun to go out and play with the girls.” No matter who won or who lost, PPCHS was extremely successful in another year of raising money to support Saunders and his family. On August 26, 2012, PPCHS mourned the loss of Trenton Saunders. He was a charismatic and talented young man who impacted the lives of many. He led the football team, in 2012, to its first ever playoff appearance and he set some school records in his high and long jump which won him districts. “He was a great athlete, always working hard and trying to get better,” said Head Football Coach Steve Bruns. We play Powder Puff in honor of Trenton, this game supports his foundation and celebrates the great legacy he left behind here at PPCHS!
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Photo by: Jonathan Harris
Stunning in socks at Sadie’s Lauren Ramirez
On Saturday, March 12 , the PPCHS gym was transformed from a basketball court to a 50’s ambiance unrecognizable to the students in attendance. Draping was hung from the walls of the gymnasium and a 50’s diner scene was projected on to the back wall and the gym’s usual bright lights were replaced with DJ up-lighting. Throughout the night the DJ Satff Writer
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played a mix of songs from the hit movie Grease, other popular 50’s songs, and today’s music. Behind the last wall of draping, the gym’s back classrooms were used to serve food. Tables were covered in black covers and decorative centerpieces accented the room. Painted banners in black and pink made the room seem less of a classroom and more of a real diner. The florescent lights usually shining on the ceiling were covered in black banner paper, giving the room a different ambiance. “All the students had a great time at Sadie Hawkins. We honestly were not entirely sure how it would turn out, especially since it was our first time doing anything like this. As with everything, Student Government put our all into making the dance the best it could be. Our hard work really payed off and the gym looked unrecognizable and better than we imagined” said SGA president Saman Govaria. The dance was a sock hop, meaning the students were not allowed to wear shoes on the dance floor. Sock hops are typical of the fifties time period, so it fit in with the theme. Student reaction to this drastic change was to be expected; however, this was a risk SGA was willing to take. Thankfully, the idea went over well with the students and everyone seemed to enjoy breaking out their craziest socks for the event. Everything from Disney princess socks to pizza socks were being sported by students. “I loved the Sadie Hawkins dance,” said senior Natalia Lanao. “It was a great chance to get together with friends for a fun night and though I am a senior I hope they have this dance next year as well.” Overall, the night was one all students hope will become a tradition here at PPCHS.
Photo donated by: Diego Burga
Photo donated by: Grecia Valencia
Photo donated by: Andrea Theolenar
Photo donated by: Demi Iglesias
Photo donated by: Victoria Max
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Student Life Matthew Deno
On Friday, March 11 , many PPCHS students and faculty gathered in the gymnaSports Editor
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sium to celebrate an outstanding school year in sports and academics, as well as begin to say a farewell to the Class of 2016. All of the proceeds for student entry went to the Save Our Schools (SOS) fund. After countless hours of preparation by the Student Government Association (SGA) earlier in the day, the stage was set for an unforgettable pep rally. Before the festivities started, the National Anthem was sung by the trio of Paulyanna Severe (’17), Rebecca Cabrera (’16), and Myles Marion (’16), and signed by members of the ASL class. The show then started with a routine by the Majorettes that included incredible baton twirling and dance moves. It was followed by drama club’s performance of “Get’cha Head in the Game”, which is part of their “High School Musical” play, led by senior Matias De La Flor playing the role of Troy Bolton. After their performances, the spring sports teams, including boys’ JV and Varsity baseball, girls’ softball, boys’ JV and Varsity basketball, girls’ Varsity basketball and flag football, boys’ and girls’ water polo, boys’ JV and Varsity soccer, girls’ JV and Varsity soccer, and boys’ lacrosse and volleyball, were announced. Each team show their school spirit in unique was as some teams showed off their skills while others huddled at the center of the gym and hyped the crowd up. Throughout the pep rally, SGA members, who were wearing “Grease” themed outfits, worked towards exciting the crowd, directing the teams, and making sure everything ran smoothly. “I believe that this pep rally turned out just the way we wanted it to be,” said junior SGA member Madison Lear. “We worked so hard to get this organized, so I’m really glad that all of the students seemed to really enjoy and be invested in the rally.” After all of the teams were announced, the dance team took the floor to perform their routine. Dancing to a mix of popular rap and hip-hop songs, the team impressed with many crowd awing moves. The team’s stage outfits consisted of white shirts, multi-colored jackets, and leggings that complimented their performance perfectly by highlighting their movements. Once the routine was finished, the underclassmen on the team awarded the seniors with goodie bags and balloons as a gift for all of their hard work that they had put in for the past four years. Next up, the varsity baseball team was called to the floor to participate in some dance lessons given by the dance team. Some of the dancers showed the team steps of dance moves that they had to complete. It was an enjoyable experience for both parties as the baseball team had trouble keeping up with the rest of the dancers. “I had a blast dancing with members of the dance team. Most of us baseball players don’t really have the best moves, so it was pretty cool getting an impromptu lesson from people who know a thing or two about dancing,” said senior catcher on the baseball team Isaac Valancy. For the final act, it was the moment every Charter student had been waiting for: the drum line. Never failing to impress, the crowd favorites banged out their routine, as the students were up off their feets and dancing along to the beat. Shortly after, the rally ended and the students exited the gym as they headed back to 6th period. This was yet another successful pep rally and a great sendoff for the Class of 2016.
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We’ve Got Spirit
t, It’s Multiplying
Student Life Photos by: Jonathan Harris
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Student Life
Once a Wildcat, A
Maria Aco
O
Staff W
n Friday April 15 our Charter Jaguars gave the stage a final goodbye in their pe encouraged those who were not staying to clear out the theater. The houselights then not only their performance on stage and in class but who they are as a person and how Kan, Maycee Smith, and Nalia Roba headed to the stage and held a bittersweet smile their accomplishments. “He may be breaking free from Charter but we’ll always be in it together.” said Nic alongside underclassmen, shared smiles and tears as they watched their friends and chi was really cool. Of course it was a special moment for the seniors but I’m glad that I g we watched the seniors who’ve helped out in our class get emotional. I don’t think it r Megan Fraga. Mrs. Kidd herself also teared up during parts of her recognition speeches and looked into seniors. Mrs. Kidd shared heartwarming stories to make the mood balanced so that that they shared together. Stories about how nicknames were formed, trips abroad with even talking and joking around with her daughter as she took the stage, were all shared For these Senior Drama Jaguars, Troupe #6153 is a piece of them in which they will a watched as these students shared one last humbling moment with their high school trou th,
Photos by: Jon
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Always a Wildcat
Student Life
osta-Rubio
Writer
erformance of High School Musical. After the brilliant production was over, Mrs. Kidd dimmed once more as Mrs.Kidd called each senior on stage one by one, highlighting their personality shined through all they did. Seniors such as Matias DeLaFlor, Daniel as they heard what their director and teacher had to say about them, their growth and
cole Gomez about her co-lead, Matias De La Flor who is graduating this year. Parents ildren be apart and say goodbye to their second home at the River of Grass Theater. “It got to be a part of that experience. I know that my friends and I bawled our eyes out as really dawned on us that these people are actually leaving pretty soon,” said freshman
down from above the sound booth at the kids whom she watched grow from freshman she, along with her students, wouldn’t be crying for the whole thirty minutes to an hour some of her students, getting the privilege to watch some of her students grow up, and d in the time senior sendoff took place. always carry with them, and nothing but best wishes and love was shared as everybody upe while having the realization of graduation being nearer than they expected.
nathan
Harris
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Block Schedule or Standard Schedule Sophomore Gabriella Torres
Senior Lucas Johnson
“I like how the workload is more spread “I think it would be better to have a roout, but they assign more than they nortating block schedule rather than simply mally would.”
Senior Chinelo Osakwe
a block schedule. A schedule in which class periods rotate between different times of the day.”
Senior Giselle La Hoz
Junior Sevval Ercin
Sophomore Katie Coleman
“S
“I don’t like having it for four days at a time because I feel like the week drags on
urprisingly, I like block schedule. I thought it would be harder to have only three classes a day but it’s not. My teachers switch it up so it’s never boring.”
Junior Emily Kon
and I also feel like I never get to see my friends because they have a different lunch from me. I preferred when it was two days at a time.”
Senior Emily Marin
“B lock scheduling has both ups and “I hate the block schedule. The only “I definitely do not like the new block “I think that the four day block is a bit downs- we have more class time to work thing that I can appreciate about it is that schedule. I find it difficult to focus after tough because if a student is sick or has on assignments and homework, but not seeing my teachers everyday makes it more difficult to review for tests.”
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it prepares students for longer classes in college and breaks up homework nicely. Overall, it can be unfair when some classes get an extra day to study for a test or quiz and most of the time, teachers don’t take advantage of the block day, so they’re not as productive as they could be.”
spending two hours in one classroom, and it’s very inconvenient when it comes to absences. If I miss one day, I’m extremely behind.”
to go out of town, missing just one block day is the equivalent of missing two days. I think that block scheduling was better when it was two days a week.”
e?
Who are you REALLY voting for?
Senior Saman Govaria
“I think the block schedule is new, and just like anything new, will take some get-
ting used to. As a senior, I definitely don’t mind it. I also think that after teachers and students become used to it, it will result in a positive change.”
Junior Darnell Clark
Graphic by: Natalie Laurent
Nadira Danticat
With Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton crowned the winners of Florida’s 2016 Super Tuesday election, some people are rejoicing, but others are upset and confused. This presidential election has been a rollercoaster with once-prosperous candidates like Ben Staff Writer
“I like block scheduling because I feel like I get more things done on block days. However, on days where we don’t see all of our classes, I forget a lot of the information.”
Carson and Marco Rubio throwing in the towel and indefinitely suspending their campaigns. Amidst all the drama, voters and political enthusiasts alike have had stronger opinions than ever. The Democrats don’t criticize the Republicans’ rightist, conservative views and the Republicans reject the Democrats’ leftist, libertarian views, but do the advocates for the respective parties even know what they’re supporting? Due to Florida’s closed primary policy, voters must be registered Democratic or Republican to vote in the primary election. What many do not know, is that whoever is registered as Nonpartisan (NPA) or Independent (INT), is not eligible to vote for whoever will be on the ballot in November. This frustrated many voters on March 15, as they arrived to their precincts only to find out that they could only vote for the next City Commissioner. “I was a poll worker at the Pembroke Falls clubhouse precinct and so many voters were upset when they realized they were considered NPA. One lady even took her voting pass, ripped it up, and stormed out,” said junior Demi Iglesias. Democrats are defined as advocates of democracy. The formal governing body for the Democratic Party is the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and has been the home of the oldest continuing party in the United States since its establishment in 1848. According to the DNC website, Democrats believe that our nation is greater together than we are on our own. They believe that this country succeeds when everyone gets equal opportunities, everyone does their fair share, and everyone plays by the same rules. Many Charter students identify as Democrats, showing support for Presidential candidate and hopeful Democratic primary nominee, Bernie Sanders. “I’m a proud Democrat for so many reason. I think the ideology just has the best components for success. They want to build this country up together rather than tear it down with inequalities,” said junior Ana Tholenaar. On the other hand, Republicans are defined as advocates of a republican government. Since its 1854 conception in Ripon Wisconsin, the Republican Party has “conveyed a commitment to the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” (gop.com). The governing body of the Republican Party is the GOP, standing for Grand Old Party. Republicans are for the most part disliked by those minorities and especially dislike the party’s frontrunner, Donald J. Trump. Sophomore Ingrid Garrido commented, “I am Republican because I firmly believe in the constitution of this country and I don’t believe in so much change in our society. I have always felt that if it is not broken don’t fix it and our nation has been its best for centuries, why change now?” If it was not obvious already, this election has caused the most heated emotions that anyone has seen in recent years. As the race to the White House dawns closer, the C.H.A.T. encourages all voters to look at all the views of each party and candidate before judging. Nothing in this election is black and white.
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Features
What Does Your Psyche S Sarah Barrocas
Left or Right? Black or White? Up or Down? Some of the daily problems that life throws at us we decide to handle with relative ease while others we seem to overthink some agonizing time upon. Our actions and opinions form through mental processes that are influenced by our own personal
Staff Writer
biases, memories, emotions, and reason. Many wonder if our power to make decisions is really a right we obtain out of free will or stems from a greater power that decides our future fate for us. The opportunity we have as a species to choose between two or more possibilities is the power we obtain to make a decision. Choice theory is the study of how decisions get made. The term “choice theory” was first introduced in a book titled Choice Theory by William Glasser. Glasser argued that all choices one makes are made to satisfy one’s five basic needs: survival, love and belonging, power, freedom, and fun. According to www.open.edu.com, “A psychological perspective does not start from the assumption that people are fundamentally irrational. Rather, it emphasizes a different logic: a logic that meets the challenges we have evolved to face.” Throughout our lifetime we have experienced different experiences and bred different beliefs. Our personal lives have shaped our spectrum of subjective mechanics that allow us to cope with some of the changing environments we may have encountered, causing our indecisive decisions. These mechanisms include a range of mental shortcuts, formally known as heuristics, which assist us in making quick decisions rather than in-depth analyses of the solution. While these methods of thinking are indifferent from logic or formally rational reasoning, they are well suited to on-the-spot judgments and actions. These methods however have also evolved to create some major traps. As decision makers, it is often times that we are given a limited amount of information and resources. The knowledge that we gain derives from a substantial amount of research, allowing us to make quick and easy judgmental decisions. These on-the-spot conclusions place a restriction on how successful our senses may be at the time. Every individual has their own personalized limitations of the extent of complexity they can cope with. Although our efforts in making decisions are often conscious, we also have to formally recognize and accept the limitations of available information and analysis that allow us to succumb to these thoughtful conclusions. Liandra Gaston said, “As a senior, I have noticed now more than ever that we make hundreds of decisions every day. Many may be subconscious like whether to turn left or right, or big decisions like which college to go to. I always wonder why I do exactly what I do, but I try to make decisions while keeping both my short term and long term future in mind. When I am presented with an important decisions, I think about what consequences it will have immediately after and further down the road.” While the majority of decisions are entirely unconscious, they also often lead to some significant biases in our decision making process. Some important steps found to overcome these strategic struggles are: framing the problem, using information, problems of judgement, and post-decision evaluation. At this point you probably get it- choice is hard. Some decisions may be harder than others, causing a sense of anxiety and stress to flush over an individual. There are however concrete and effective ways to deal with your indecisive decisions:
1) Cut down your choicesLess is more. When faced with a overwhelmed is key when maki ground-breaking decisions. 2) Develop concrete choicesAn individual will be able to dif some form of an effect, whether 3) Categorize the choicesSeparating your choices into dis Categories allow you to differen include school, extracurricular a 4) Condition for complexityChoices presented with fewer op process of picking their decision According to http://blog.hubspo lations -- researchers needed 82, up to more complex ones is nece Freshman Justin Dourvetakis c the same weight as an AP course fied effective ways to cope with h but also the benefits and consequ We encounter having to make a may pick one certain choice ove want to be. However, when we a decision for ourselves and those
Prom Dresses: Long and Pink, What Do You Think? Choosi Cristina Feliciano & Amanda Peralta
Senior prom is an exciting time for most seniors and some underclassmen. Girls start shopping for their dresses months ahead before the day of the big event. The boys on the Lifestyle Editor & Staff Writer
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Photo donated by: Alexandra Sao
other hand wait patiently to buy their suits and tuxedos until their dates tell them what color tie and corsage to purchase. Prom this year will take place on May 21th at The Westin Diplomat Beach Resort in Fort Lauderdale. The big announcement about prom and prom tickets was made in mid-January and prom tickets went on sale from February 29th - March 11th. The theme of prom however remains undisclosed. Prom dress shopping is a tradition many high school girls look forward to. The feeling of excitement and overall bliss of not only looking beautiful but also reaching a critical high school milestone has found to always put a smile amongst the many shining faces. Shopping for months and finally finding that perfect gown makes the whole prom process so satisfying. Every girl aims to find the special dress that will not only make her look even more beautiful but also stand out as the only girl who will only be wearing that specific dress. To avoid girls wearing the same dress many schools, including PPCHS, create social media pages on sites like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter where girls can post what dress they bought. These accounts inform the senior prom attendees to not buy the same dress that another girl will be wearing. Find PPCHS’ Instagram page @PPCHSProm2016. In addition to, certain prom dress stores such as Camille la Vie will not sell the same dress to two girls who attend the same school. Popular dress stores and companies include La Femme, Camille La Vie, Jovani, Sherri Hill, and Madison James. These brands can be found at stores or malls like Pembroke Lakes Mall, Nordstrom, and Mr. Tux Tuxedo Rentals. Senior Ashley Meyerpeter said, “I’ve been looking for my prom dress for a while now. Every time I go to the mall I keep an eye out for something I might like. I want something different that I know no one else will have, so I might have to go to stores that are not so local.” Many girls like Ashley feel the same way, numerous believe there is no better feeling than walking into prom and feeling absolutely stunning. Within a year’s time, girls all over the nation seem to come up with different trends. Whether its bringing back high-waisted shorts, or going for the ‘70s look with boot-legged jeans, history is bound to repeat itself. Designer Sherri Hill recently came out with her 2016 Prom collection including various styles of dresses like A-line, short, etc. What seems to be the most popular throughout the years is the mermaid fit dress. Originating back in the late 1950s, the mermaid dress style is a long silhouette that is fitted towards the top and flares out like a “mermaid’s tail” below the knees. Sherri Hill decided to put a fun twist on her collection by making them ‘50s and ‘60s inspired with polka dots. This is a very chic and unique route to choose for a dress, which makes it hard to have a “stole my look” moment with another girl. Senior Grecia Valencia, “I purchased a halter-styled dress. I picked it because style not only complimented my body type but I also the color made me happy, looking nice against my skin tone.” Prom is an exciting time for all to celebrate their achievements in high school with their friends. This is the time where seniors finally get to say, “Wow. I made it!”
graphic bt:
Matthew Perez
Features
Say About Your Solutions?
a choice overload, it is best to cut down your options. The balance between having enough options while not feeling ing your final decision. It is imperative that you have a clear and open yet purposeful mindset when making such
fferentiate their options only if they fully understand the consequences of each choice. Every choice you make has positive or negative, attached to it. First analyze the aftermath of some of your decisions that you might make.
screte categories prevents choice overload by cutting down the number of possible options you have to compare. ntiate your options, making choices more comprehensible and quicker and easier to make. Such possible categories ctivities, sports, friends, etc.
ptions first and then slowly building up to more complex decisions allows one to stay on track and engaged with their ns. t.com/agency/psychology-choices, “Choice may be hard, but our brains are capable of astoundingly complex calcu,944 processors to simulate a single second of human brain activity.” Starting with simple choices and then building essary in order to prevent drop-off during your decision process. ommented on his decision regarding what advanced classes to take, “I chose AICE over AP because the classes hold e but seemed to me a little easier. Also I could get an extra Diploma which was just an added bonus.” Justin exemplihis decisions between AICE and AP courses. He not only weighed the differences and similarities between the classes uences of his actions when he picked one course over the other. decision every day, from deciding what clothes we want to wear to what we want to eat for breakfast. The reason we er the other may not always be logical and most definitely are not based on who we are, where we are, and what we are aware of the decisions that we make early in life and how it will affect us later on, we will be able to make better around us. Graphic by: Nicole Mercadal
ing College with Your Bank Account or Your Heart? C
Taylor Horan Managing Editor - Web
hoosing a college can be difficult. Students have many factors to consider when choosing a school, ranging from location to majors offered and to special programs to something many students and parents alike don’t want to face- the cost. Many well-known and highly respected schools come with a huge ticket price that range tens of thousands of dollars; oh, and that is per year. The Class of 2016 is getting close to the college commitment deadline of May 1st. That first Sunday of May signifies when a senior must commit to one school by paying an enrollment deposit and declining all other acceptances. Senior Chinelo Osakwe is almost certain she will be attending Florida State University (FSU) after high school. She is attending FSU Preview during Spring Break. After attending Preview, she will make her final decision on a school; however, FSU is not her dream school. That title goes to Texas Christian University. “I think it is extremely important to consider both things. In my case, the most cost effective school and the school that had the most opportunities for my major. Yes, it is upsetting that the school that I want to go to is a huge price tag, but sometimes you will be surprised what other schools will have in store for you,” Osakwe said. “If finances get in the way of attending the school, then it is a very disappointing feeling,” she shared. Another senior that has had to decline their dream school is Addam Hall. Hall hoped to attend the University of Miami (UM), a private school close to home. However, he will most likely be attending the University of Central Florida (UCF) due to financial reasons. “Choosing a college should be a combination of both [the cost of the school and what a student ultimately wants], but if I were to choose one, it would be cost. You can always transfer to a different college pretty easily, but first you actually have to get in,” Hall shared. However, he does not believe that cost should be taken into account when choosing a dream school. “Dreams are meant to be something you only have a small chance of achieving. It’s like a shoot for the moon kind of thing,” he shared. Similar to Osakwe, senior Breanna Jomsky will know after spring break the school that she will be attending. Her dream school is The Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, which is Florida Atlantic University’s (FAU) Honors College in Jupiter, FL. During spring break, she will attend Scholar’s Day where she will be competing for multiple scholarships at the Honors College campus. She believes that she will be attending her dream school after high school. “Students should take the cost of a school into consideration when choosing a dream school, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it has to determine if they go there or not. There are always financial aid options available,” she shared. Jomsky is not basing her decision 100% on cost. She shared, “I am basing my choice on what I ultimately want. But if I get some scholarships, that would be nice too.” While many seniors are very close to their college decisions before spring break, there are also a handful of students that are not sure where they are going as they await acceptance letters. Many out-of-state schools do not inform regular decision candidates of their acceptance status until late March and early April. Out-of-state schools often come at a larger ticket price, due to additional out-of-state fees and many of those schools are private. Senior Chayenne Howard pictures herself either going to school in California or North Carolina. Her dream school in the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). “I think a student should do a combination of [choosing a school based on cost and what a student ultimately wants] because the cost of the school is important because you may not have enough to pay for it. But you shouldn’t let cost ultimately dictate the school choices because what you want is also very important in deciding a school,” she shared. She believes she will either attend UCSD, University of Southern California (USC), or Wingate University in North Carolina. In regards to choosing a dream school, she said, “It’s your ultimate fantasy, why let the price of a school ruin your fantasy?” There are also seniors that do not have a dream school for their undergraduate career. Shubhi Kumar falls into this category. While she does not have a dream school for right after college, her dream medical school is the University of Pennsylvania. Kumar does not know what school she will be attending yet as she continues waiting for multiple out-of-state school responses later this spring. She learns the majority of her school decisions April 1st and hopes to end Boston, MA or Pennsylvania. She shared, “Students should choose a school on what they want, not on the cost. Cost does play a factor in deciding a final school choice but it shouldn’t be the deciding factor.” Seniors are gearing up to end high school on a high note with one quarter remaining. By May 1st, all seniors will have to make their decision on what direction their lives will head next. Best of success to them as they get ready for the next chapter in their book of life. Making decisions is hard and having to decide between cost and ultimate desire in regards to a college is no exception.
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DOT vs HOSA: Charter's two medical clubs Nadira Danticat
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Staff Writer
any Charter students see themselves donning scrubs and a stethoscope in the medical field when they’re older, so naturally they join a club to gain experience and meet others who share their interest. However, there is a lot of confusion over which club to join: Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) and Doctors of Tomorrow (DOT). While both are encouraged to be involved in for the future doctors of our school, there are some differences. HOSA, run by Ms. Ramirez as sponsor and junior Sofia Mohammed as president, is an international student organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Health Science Education (HSE) Division of ACTE with the mission of promoting career opportunities in the healthcare industry and enhancing the delivery of quality healthcare to all people. The club has been around since the beginning of the 2014-2015 school year and is already well established, being in charge of the annual health fair and the tobacco-free Cash Cab game show. Some students, like freshman Chonnalin Sumonthee and senior Daniel Durazo, have even made it HOSA states, their annual competition against high schools with the same club. “Our club basically involves gaining exposure to medical professions and awareness about general health. We give our members opportunities to volunteer at hospitals, and attend conferences that can teach them more about health careers and introduce them to professionals,” said senior and vice president Brandon English. DOT, run by Ms. Webb as sponsor and junior Nadira Danticat as president, is a PPCHS original, founded by senior Lourdes Salem at the end of the 2014-2015 school. The club’s main focus is shadowing doctors and healthcare professionals to gain a better understanding of the realities of the various fields of medicine. Other hopeful activities for the club include having guest doctor speakers, visiting medical schools in the area, and seminars about new medical technology and discoveries. With a brand new board with brand new motivation, DOT is bound to be fully functioning by the 2016-2017 school year. “We are currently contacting doctors and brainstorming ideas for the next school year. Our board is really excited to get this club back together and to have fun activities and fundraisers for the next year. Ms. Webb has been a huge help at keeping us organized,” said junior and DOT vice president Owen Cockrell. Despite the differences, both clubs are worth joining and some kids are even in both clubs. Mohammed and Danticat have already planned on collaborating on next year’s health fair and working on service projects to spread awareness. Whether you want to be a dentist or an oncologist, both of PPCHS’s medical clubs are excellent for developing your interest.
Traveling Into Ne
Amanda Peralta & Cris
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very year, PPCHS adds new classes to the roster to get the new year going. Picking classes for next year can be a stressful process, but the addition of new courses may either help in the process or make it more difficult to decide. What really hit the charter system last school year were new courses such as water safety and dance techniques one and two. Those two popular courses spiced up this 2015-2016 school year, but it does not end there. PPCHS continues with their annual addition of inserting new courses for the 2016-2017 school year. Now, there are even better options for next school year. Of course there's the “same old same old” classes such as AP Psychology, HOPE, ASL, or Journalism, but there are new classes such as AP Computer Science and Marketing Essentials, which will be switching things up in the next school year. The new classes give students the opportunity to find out more about themselves, branch out and do more things they truly enjoy. Administration hopes to motivate students by adding these classes to do more things they love and to help students decide what they want to study in college. AP Computer Science will be taught by Mr. Harris. “What the class will basically consist of is learning about is the program Java (Script),” he comments. “Java (script) is a very dynamic computer program that has many areas to explore. It’ll be a good course to take for those of you interested in computers.” A major bonus for this next extension is that students will be ahead of the game. The unique class that offers this opportunity is college level course ENC 1101-1102. It’s a class that college freshmen and sophomores usually take, but right here at Charter, you can get it done next school year. The class is considered a dual enrollment class on PPCHS campus and counts for an AP credit as well, so there are requirements to undergo this course. American and British literature teacher, Dr. Phillips-Scotland, will be the teacher for this subject. “I’ve been teaching this course since 1999 and I advise students to take the course. It offers six credits in total right here on campus, which is an opportunity that should not be passed,” she adds. “This course will definitely help improve students in writing, but if you are looking for a novel study class, this class is not for you.” Another class that many students are excited for the upcoming AICE Travel and Tourism class, it is the class that many students have been gossiping about and want to be a part of. This course will be taught by Ms. Heising, in the D building, who usually teaches English I. She will be juggling AICE Travel and Tourism along with English I next year. There you have it Jags! Charter is bringing new and exciting courses to motivate the students. Each student should take complete advantage of this opportunity to find what they truly enjoy and participate in it. With the new courses added in, the 2016-2017 school year should be very exciting one!
Key Club keep
Lauren Cookley & Lauren R
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DOT vs. HOSA: Charters two medical clubs:Sophia Mohammed is part of Doctos of Tomorrow. Photo by: Nicole Hernandez
Staff Writer & Clubs
Community Outreach & Satff W
e do it every day: get dressed and put on a clean pair of underwear. This is such a mundane thing to think about that we often don’t realize there are people living in our very own communities without this luxury. Project Downtown is trying to change that. Project Downtown’s goal is to provide essential services for the homeless and disadvantaged segments of the community. On March 5th, after a week of fundraising, the Key Club members went to Project Downtown in Fort Lauderdale to distribute items to those in need. PPCHS’s Key Club organized a clothing drive for students to donate undershirts, underwear, and socks for the homeless people in our community. Due to the generous nature of the school, the club was able to raise over 100 pairs of undergarments. The clothing drive was a success and they were able to make an impact on the downtown community of Fort Lauderdale. Club sponsor Mr. Lawrence said “Key Club’s mission is to give students an opportunity to help others. The project Alina Akhter started really highlights this mission.” Project Downtown started as a small scale organization who tried to help as much as they could with limited resources. Though they practice the principles of Islam, they welcome all to join them in providing compassionate, humanitarian services to those in desperate need. Aside from physical support, they also gave emotional support by considering those they were serving as their friends. They not only took the time to distribute resources, but to get to know the people they were helping personally. The program has expanded tremendously and strives to uphold the same spirit and ideals it started with. Sophomore Alina Akhter was the committee head for this project. Akhter said “I realized that we take having undergarments to wear each day for granted. There are a lot of people in the Fort Lauderdale area who don’t have that luxury. I knew that through Key Club I would have the opportunity to be able to help the people in need and I enjoyed being able to send the items off after all of our hard work.” Key Club strives to make our area a better environment. Not only have they been able to help the people in need, but they also have ran a beach cleanup on Fort Lauderdale beach. Key Club continues to bring smiles to people’s faces and change many lives. The members are proud to have the opportunity to help out those who don’t have as much as us.
ew Courses
Signing along to the songs
stine Alayon
Alexa Infante & Sarah Barrocas
Editor
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Photo by: Nicole Hernandez
ps caring
Ramirez
Writer
Photo by: Alex Monge
Staff Writers
t was a full house on March 7th 2016, in the River of Grass Theater. With the combined effort of Mrs. Russo and the ASL 2, 3, and 4 students, the language department had put on quite the production Monday evening. The line was out the door and past C building with students and parents buying tickets to watch the show. One even heard an ASL 4 student say, “Oh this makes my heart so happy!” when she walked out the doors to see how long the ticket line was. Money was thrown and tickets were flying as the ASL students scurried behind the ticket box to attend to their eager guests. With every ticket sold and audience member achieving admission inside, anticipation and excitement continued to heighten amongst the crowd and performers. The production began promptly at 7:00. Once everyone was situated in their seats, the theater lights dimmed down and the show had officially commenced. MC's Jesse Cordero and Lilliana Calero welcomed the crowd. They first taught the audience how to properly applause in sign language- put two open hands up in the air, palms facing forwards, and twist your wrists so it almost looks like “jazz hands.” The hostess' continued the evening by introducing each of the acts. Sophomore Alex Ruiz commented, “The ASL 2, 3, and 4 classes worked tirelessly to interpret, choreograph, and practice their songs. This year was my first time ever singing a song, and my first time ever being in the ASL show. While it was nerve-wracking and at times very stressful, all the hard work that my group and I put in to perfect our song paid off once we got on the stage. I really enjoyed being a part of such a great show, it was a really fun and rewarding experience, and I'm looking forward to participating again next year!” Although the students in ASL 1 do not get to perform, the entire ASL program puts in countless hours of hard work and dedication into making sure that the show is a huge success every year. The show consisted of experienced ASL students singing popular songs. The students signed to songs like “My Boo”, “Let’s Groove Tonight”, “Die A Happy Man” Dancing Queen”, “TwentyTwo”, and many more. Every movement of the performer's hand painted a picture of the songs not in words but also in motion. The ASL performers left the audience in a trance with their deeper portrayal to your ordinary songs. American Sign Language is a form of communication in which your hands and facial features illustrate a complete and composed sentence. The show was filled with multiple amazing performances. One act that really stood out was “I Don’t Dance.” This tribute to High School Musical, caught the attention of every member in the audience. As they swung their hips, baseball bats, and hands to the music, Johanna Moise and Adriana James had one participated in one of the best acts of the night. They were able to show off their dancing skills and showcase what they have learned in their 3 years with Mrs. Russo. Another show stopping act was “Friends Forever” or more commonly known as the “Graduation Song.” In this performance, students who have stayed dear to the language “signed off” in their senior year. What made this performance so special was the participations of all of the seniors. It was possible to see the emotion, as it really was an ASL graduation for these token few. ASL teacher Mrs. Russo commented, “I am really proud of all of my sign language classes, they put in a lot of work into this year’s show and it really was displayed during their performances. This year was extremely special for us because we had members from the deaf community come to attend. They were very impressed and said they were happy that there was a deaf event in the local community that they were able to attend. We were also thrilled to have this event in our school’s River of Grass Theater and were honestly touched to see such a great crowd of people come to attend.” All in all, the ASL show was filled with “Graduates,” "”Girls Who Just Wanna Have Fun,” and many more fantastic acts. Congratulations to all of the students who performed, and thank you to Mrs. Russo for making the ASL show a night to remember.
Signing Along to the songs: Mrs. Russo holding an I Love You poster signed by all of her ASL 2 ASL3 and ASL 4 students. Photo by: Jonathan Harris
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Clubs Cristina Feliciano
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Celebrate. Remem
Lifestyle Editor
here are moments in life that some of us may take for granted, and there are others that we cherish forever. Having your normal routine in your life taken from you and switched to hospital beds and test results is no easy change. Having cancer or any other illness can take its toll on a family emotionally and financially. On Friday April 1, 2016, Pembroke Pines came together to raise funds and awareness about the cause that can help beat cancer –Relay for Life. Relay for Life is an event created by the American Cancer Society that gives everyone worldwide an opportunity to “celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against the disease” (www.cancer.org). The Pembroke Pines Relay Team came together and held their 18th annual Relay at the Walter C. Young Middle school track. Hundreds came out to support that Friday night from babies to senior citizens. With the stage lights shining on their faces, the beautiful survivors did not go unnoticed. All of the survivors had on their purple Relay shirts with “Survivor” in bold white letters on the back. There were even some women who had breast cancer pins representing the battle that they endured and overcame. The hosts of the night were committee members/cancer survivors Andy Kearns and Lisa Perlman, and Local 10’s very own news anchor Kristi Krueger. Krueger has been the “Relay Pembroke Pines Team Mom” for about 13 years and she raised over $1,000 for the cause this year. “This event means so much to me to see all of your faces here helping out. Tonight I relay for my grandfather who passed from colon cancer and my dear friend who recently got diagnosed with breast cancer.” Joining the event, Pembroke Pines Mayor Frank C. Orits and the “Mayor’s Gang” also spoke out to the crowd of volunteers and survivors. Mayor Ortis was accompanied by Vice Mayor Iris A. Siple, and Commissioners Angelo Castillo, Jay Schwartz, and Carl Shechter. When asked how he felt about the event as a whole and what Relay meant to him, Mayor Ortis replied “Well, it means a great deal! I’ve been in office for about 20 years now, and we’ve been involved in Relay for all 18 years. We started with the “Mayor’s Gang” raising money from all the city employees, firefighters, and police. And we are going to beat this thing! Every year we come out and give sashes to all of the survivors, and in previous years there were only a few. Now, you can see the plethora of sashes that we give out, and that’s a beautiful thing. I know that we’re going to eradicate cancer one day, and I hope that I’m around to see that”. There were many donations that night including $10,000 from the city, $5,000 from Mayor Ortis, $500 from the Pembroke Pines Fire Department, etc. As soon as the survivor ceremony came to a close, it was time for the survivors to have their first walk around the lap. Mayor Ortis joined the group of survivors from 3 year olds to 70 year olds. Even though each survivor went through such a hard time fighting their cancer battle, there was not a dismal tear in sight. The feeling was indescribably powerful knowing that they beat cancer and finally got a moment to rejoice with their friends and family. Senior and President of PPCHS Relay, Pilar Sanchez was diagnosed with Acute Lymphblastic Leukemia when she was just 6 years old. When asked how she felt about the event, being a survivor among the rest she said “It’s really touching and motivating to see so many people involved. It is so nice to see all the support especially from my peers from school who joined me.” Sanchez also explained that the way she stayed so positive throughout her treatment process was mainly because of her mother. “My mom was such a big help. She always made sure that I was comfortable and smiling. I honestly didn’t feel like I was sick or going to die; I figured it was just a cold or something. All I knew was that I had to stay in the hospital and continue my treatment.” It is an honor to say that Sanchez has been cancer free for about 2 years now. Joining in to lead them off were two Pembroke Pines Policemen who drove a breast cancer themed squad car. The hot pink vehicle going 5 mph had its sirens blazing on the top and was adorned with a small stuffed animal in the middle of the front windshield. After going around the track twice, the policemen hopped off and began to mingle with some of the survivors. On the 3rd lap, all of the volunteers including many of the schools and other Relay teams commence their laps with their banners. Each school/team had their own theme pertaining to comedy. There were minions from “Despicable Me” and PPCHS sported “Wreck it Ralph”. Throughout the entire night, there had to be at least one person walking the track with the PPCHS baton. At 10:00pm, the luminaria ceremony began with remembering all loved ones who passed away from their diseases. All of the lights were turned off, the luminaria bags with t-light candles were lit, and people stopped to remember their angel(s) in the sky. Some tears were shed, and some laughs, all in remembrance of the amazing lives that couldn’t be there. This ceremony really helped the walkers try to cope with their losses The 15 hour walk last until 10:30 the next morning with everyone packing up their tents and coolers. Relay was an overall success beating the goal of $165,000 and raising $171,097.73. Relay for Life has always been a dear part of the Pembroke Pines community, and that will never change. Every year, this event reminds us all why we donate, and why we try to find a cure. This walk reminds us why we relay. Celebrate. Remember. Fight back.
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mber. Fight Back.
Clubs
All Photos by: Sam Eliacin
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Girl’s Flag Football B
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Ashlyn Correa
eing selected as one of the top players on your team as a freshman is an accomplishment in itself, now receiving the honor again for the second year in a row is even bigger. Sophomore Ashlyn Correa may be younger than some of the opponents she faces in flag football but she makes up for it in her skill and versatility on the field. Flag football started off as something to stay in shape during the off season of soccer, now it has become the norm to participate and enjoy both sports. Correa is able to play positions on both offense and defense. She plays wide receiver on offense and is safety on defense. After playing only two games in the season she was able to secure two touchdowns and four interceptions. On her travel soccer team, Boca United ECNL, and on the Lady Jags soccer team Correa takes on the role as a right defender. Playing a defensive role in soccer helped Correa to play the safety role which requires you to be quick and to read the opponents next move. “I have very high expectations for the team, we have a very young team but with a lot of talent. We haven’t lost a game yet, but we are playing harder opponents than we did last year. As long as we keep practicing and continue playing as one unit, I feel we can go the whole season without a loss,” stated Correa. Although the Lady Jags flag football team did not make it past districts last year it is in Correa’s top priority to surpass the level they reached last year.
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Lauren Martinez
or senior Lauren Martinez, playing sports has been a part of her life since she was a little girl. Growing up an athlete and continuing that route has led her to all of her successes today. Whether it’s throwing a softball, shooting a basketball, putting a golf ball, or catching a football, Martinez puts the petal to the metal in every stride. This is her 3rd year of playing on the Lady Jags flag football team and she loves every inch of her return. What started this multi-athletes love for the game was her family. “Growing up, I was always surrounded by sports. My parents were athletes themselves so they would always throw a football around with me and since then, I fell for the game” she said. At age 7, she began playing travel softball for about 4 years. From softball, she began to play basketball. Her sophomore and senior year she played on the Lady Jags varsity basketball team as a point guard. At the same time, she was involved in playing golf for the school during her sophomore and junior year. “I really enjoyed all the sports I played, but flag football conquered all” she comments. On the field, Lauren is always ready for action. Her main position is rusher on defense and occasionally she will play offense. Martinez uses her incredible speed to her advantage to accomplish her goal: to get the flag. She averages about 8 flag pulls per game. “My favorite part of being on the team is bonding with the girls” she adds. “We build a great relationship on and off the field and I wouldn’t trade that for anything.” This season, Martinez is excited to win games and hopes to win their District championship game. There is no doubt that with Lauren’s help and aggressiveness that the Lady Jags will go all the way.
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Valerie Arenas
n sports, trying out for a team can be a bold move, especially if it’s your first time being introduced to the sport. It also takes a lot of courage to put yourself out there for everyone to see. For junior Valerie Arenas, she had absolutely no problem taking her talents to the girls’ flag football team her freshman year. “Nothing specific made me want to try out” she comments. “I really wanted to join a sport and I felt like flag football was the perfect opportunity for me.” As a freshman, Arenas stomped her way onto the turf and has loved every second of it since. Growing up, Valerie was a well-rounded athlete. At age 10, she began seeking her talents out in gymnastics for about 5 years straight. This versatile athlete was the first to play football in her family as well. “My dad played soccer when he was younger and my mom was a dancer, so basically the interest in flag football came on my own” she said. This is Arenas’s 3rd year of playing on the team and each year she improves more than ever. During her freshman year, she played the receiving position on offense and from there she instead found her specialty on the defensive end. Sophomore year and now her junior year, Valerie holds a rushing and corner position. “My number one goal on the field is to work as a team. Over the past 2 years I’ve learned to work as a team more rather than individually” she replies. “I have football to thank.” Once the whistle blows and the game begins, Valerie turns on her game mode switch. She becomes fully focused and determined to do her part on the field to help her team win. As to her advantage, she tends to see the play before it happens. “I’m always fully aware of how the other team lines up. It’s important to pay attention to the opponents so we can be ready to lock them down” she adds. Despite her IQ off the field, she’s always ready to use in on the field as well. This dedicated and all-around competitor hopes to make it all the way and win the district championship this season. With Valerie’s help, there is no doubt the Lady Jags will get the job done.
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Matthew
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he varsity bas having stellar seasons gering 18-3. The girls’ sons into the playoffs Each team is compose high school playing ca softball team that wou the boys it would be t The varsity baseball offs with wins in thei but they have a 7-0 rec in the district and are h conclude the regular s at 6:30. The team has and 16-1 against Boy and 11-1 against Dilla are trying to close in o Sophomore shortsto I know we have lost doesn’t show who we that can beat any team lot of runs, and those to work harder and ha achieve in the start of Known best for their never disappoints. PPC packed with solid star first in their district, th a total of 42 runs just Jags will end on April High School at 6:30. Junior Alyssa Pena s this season. So far w my teammates and I a for the seniors who ar school careers, we kn field. Every single pla am positive that our la how great the PPCHS PPCHS is extremely The sports have their require hard work and though the season is r the clay, success will
Coach Bruns Becomes College Baseball Hall of Famer
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Paolo Barrera Staff Writer
Twenty five years ago in Nebraska, Pines Charter’s very own Coach Steven Bruns strolled around a campus that was far from what students are accustomed to. Instead of being a part of school faculty and wearing a PPCHS polo, he was a student
athlete at Creighton University wearing the school’s blue and white baseball uniform. Because of his own and his teammates outstanding time on the baseball field filled with accomplishments, his alma mater has inducted him, along with the rest of the 1991 Creighton baseball team, into the legendary Creighton Athletics Hall of Fame this past April 16th. Coach Bruns wore a number 9 on his back for a Creighton baseball team that brought the school its first NCAA College World Series appearance ever back in 1991. Even more historic was their run to the National Semifinals. Ranked as the 7th seed, Coach Bruns’ Bluejays beat the 2nd seed Clemson Tigers in an upset that eventually meant a hometown showdown against their archrival Wichita State. This heated game was one of his fondest memories he had with his teammates, as he recalls being overwhelmed by all of the fans in the stands surrounding the field. The 32 man squad walked out of the dugout to “thousands of Creighton fans that cheered” as they jogged, Bruns described. “We were just college kids. I never thought it would happen to us,” he explains. The game that ensued after that jog ended up being what is regarded as one of the greatest College World Series games of all time. The play known as “The Throw” put the game in the history books, as our own Steven Bruns was thrown out at home for the potential game tying run. Disappointing as it is, Coach holds on to the memory with a smile. “I have a picture of the play hanging in my office,” he laughs. Wearing the jersey of the 1991 Creighton baseball team that brought the school its first College World Series tournament run, and being a part of one of the greatest college baseball plays ever, Coach Steven Bruns’ induction into the Creighton Athletics Hall of Fame comes as no surprise. Our school is lucky to have a talented piece of history working with our very own jaguar student athletes. Congratulations to the 1991 Creighton Baseball Team and especially the 2016 Hall of Famer Steven Bruns!
Swinging for Success Hernandez and Alexa Infante Staff Writers
seball team and varsity softball team are both s. The boys are 9-7 while the girls are at a stag’ and boys’ teams are trying to extend their seaand make a push for the State Championships. ed of several seniors that want to finish off their areers with a bang. For some of the girls on the uld mean their 2nd State title and for some of heir first and only State Championship. team is looking to secure their spot in the playir final few games. Their overall record is 9-7 cord in the district. They have a two game lead hoping to be District Champions. The boys will season at home against Western on April 14th had some big margins of victory such as 11-0 yd Anderson, 18-0 and 12-2 against Northeast, ard. With only a few games remaining, the boys on that glorified district title. op Nick Martinez said, “We are a great team. some tough games by a big margin but that e really are. This is a special group of players m on any given day. We have beaten teams by a games really give us confidence. We are going arder until we achieve the goals we set out to the year.” r countless state titles, the varsity softball team CHS’ outstanding softball program has a roster rs, and the results have truly shown. Coming in he Lady Jags are currently 4-0 and have racked t for district games. The regular season for the l 21st with a home game against Coral Springs
said, “I am proud of how far we have all come we have been doing great, and I see how hard are working to go as far as we can. Especially re approaching the closing games of their high now that this is the time to leave it all on the ayer on the team has talent as well as heart. I ast few games will give everyone a taste of just S softball team really is.” y proud of both the baseball and softball teams. r similarities and differences, but both teams d heart—something all the athletes posses. Alrounding up, as long as the gloves keep hitting continue to be handed to the teams.
Photo by: Nicole Hernandez
Donated by: Camila Lopez
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Sports
MLS Passing Through Again LJ Lemmers
Graphic by: Matthew Perez
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Technology Editor
t is that time again and the 2016 Major League Soccer (MLS) season is here. Last year’s winner season now so many teams will be hungry to win the title this year. With many top teams in the leag The past few years the MLS acquired Kaka, Pirlo, Lampard, Drogba, Lampard, and Gerrard. Know America, their stardom was a big contribution to the growth of the MLS. “When Kaka came to Orlando City, I was very excited. A top talent like him coming to a league talent and overall for the popularity of the sport,” said sophomore Matthew Levy. In the Eastern Conference last year, the New York Red Bulls came in first place with 60 pts, Colum place with 51 pts, D.C. United came in 4th place with 51 pts, and New England came in 5th place 1st with 60 pts, Vancouver Whitecaps came in 2nd place with 53 pts, Portland Timbers came in 3rd came in 5th place with 51 pts. Compared to last year, the 2016 season right now does not have the same top five teams in both con in 5th place for the East. Toronto FC is in 2nd place followed by New York FC in 3rd and Philadelph is LA Galaxy who is in 5th place. Sporting KC is in 1st place, San Jose is in 2nd place, followed by “I’m very excited for this year. With new players like Pirlo, Gerrard, Villa, and many more top pla the games very exciting,” said junior Camilo Grijalva. The season has just started so it is too early to decide the winner. However, this is soccer. And wi suddenly drop down to the bottom. For the MLS, anything can happen so this season will have ma
March Madness – The Finale
Mason Feldman Staff Writer
Madness is just an understatement to name this tournament. The college basketball world has seen everything happen in this bracket of 64 high quality teams. Sports competition can be fierce and unpredictable. In the first round you see underdogs as Hawaii, Yale, Northern Iowa and Middle Tennessee. The number 15 seed in their bracket is Middle Tennessee with the most shocking upset of the tournament defeating number 2 seed Michigan State. According to ESPN, almost 62% of all brackets picked Michigan State to make the Final Four and just under 23% picked them to win the whole thing! As the tournament progresses and upsets occur, the following is an in-depth perspective of the Final Four teams. The Final Four are Syracuse Orange, North Carolina Tar Heels, Villanova Wildcats, and Oklahoma Sooners. Syracuse is led by Senior Michael Gbinije and Freshman Malachi Richardson. North Carolina is led by Seniors Marcus Paige and Brice Johnson. This matchup includes an underdog Syracuse team and the number one overall seed in the nation North Carolina. The other enticing matchup to watch is between the number two seeds in their brackets, Villanova and Oklahoma as they square off to go to national championship. The Wildcats are led by Juniors Josh Hart and Kris Jenkins. The Sooners are led by Senior Buddy Hield who is having an outstanding season and who could possibly go first overall in the 2016 NBA Draft. When asked about this wild March Madness, Junior Matthew Morrin had predictions and words about the tournament. He stated, “I believe the championship will feature North Carolina and Villanova with Villanova becoming the national champion.” Morrin also said, “I have been watching the whole tournament and it keeps getting more interesting to watch.” In the first match-up of the semi-finals, North Carolina defeated Syracuse 88-66. The Tar Heels were led by Brice Johnson who had 16 points, 9 rebounds, and a block. North Carolina shot 65% on two point field goals going 31 for 48. In the second semi-finals, Villanova obliterated Oklahoma 95-51. The front man for the Wildcats was Josh Hart who had an amazing game with 23 points and 8 rebounds. Villanova now holds the record for the largest margin of victory in the Final Four history of 44 points. The Championship Game was played and a great battle on the court took place. In the end, Villanova’s Kris Jenkins gets the ball from teammate Ryan Arcidiacono and drains a three-point basket as Villanova defeats North Carolina as time expires and the buzzer sounds. The Wildcats stormed the court and jumped on Jenkins as he came in as clutch for the team. He ended up with 14 points, but the most important player to the team in this game was Ryan Arcidiacono who ended up with 16 points, 2 rebounds, a steal along with the game winning assist, and being named Most Outstanding Player. Congratulations Villanova Wildcats to an outstanding season and an even better tournament.
Rounding the Hot Corner into MLB Sea Evan Samuels
B
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Graphic by: Nicole Mercadal
Staff Writer
aseball season is starting to “hit the hot corner.” In just under a month the Major League Baseball (MLB) season Cubs, New York Mets, Kansas City Royals, and San Francisco Giants. That’s why it’s only fair to have a preview of th In the American League East (AL East), there are teams like the Boston Red Sox. In the offseason the Sox’s got one the Red Sox are projected to be the top team in the AL East. Led by last year’s Most Valuable Player, the Blue Jays p York Yankees, added one of the hardest throwing left handed relievers in baseball to their dominant bullpen. Other th teams are the Baltimore Orioles and the Tampa Bay Rays, who made some interesting moves in the offseason, but th Blue Jays, Red Sox and Yankees in the AL East. Junior Julian Barcelo said, I can’t wait for the MLB season to start. The Yankees are one of my favorite teams, and i Go Yankees!” Moving on to the AL Central which is led by the World Series Champions for 2015, the Kansas City Royals. Next are Upton. The Tigers are trying to bounce back from one of the worst season they had in a few years. Other teams like some moves in the offseason, but still don’t have enough to beat out the Royals for the Division Title. Next is the AL West, this might be the most interesting division in the American League. The first team in the stan stretch by incredible hitting, but they lacked a true dominant pitcher. With star pitcher Yu Darvish coming back from a two teams are led by young talent and will give the Rangers something to fight for, and that is the Houston Astros an his name is Mike Trout, while the Astros have the soon to be best player in baseball, Carlos Correa. The other two team and Rangers this season. Moving on to the National League East (NL East), which is led by the New York Mets and their dominant pitching staf Max Scherzer and dynamic hitter Bryce Harper. One of the most unpredictable teams are the Miami Marlins. If the s healthy for a full season, the Marlins can take the league by storm. The final two teams are the Philadelphia Phillies an Sophomore baseball player Kyle Heim said, “Let’s go Marlins! I know they haven’t been good in a while, but with be one of baseball’s best teams. Marlins rise!” The division is the NL Central, which is led by World Series favorite, the Chicago Cubs. The teams right behind th have enough talent to possibly take the Cubs down in a playoff series. The final two teams are the Milwaukee Brewer to take the division. The final division is the NL West, this division is headlined by the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dod standing tall at the end of the year. One of the most interesting teams of the offseason was the Arizona Diamondbac traded for pitcher Shelby Miller. This team now has the talent to be a force in the MLB. The final two teams in this di improved much in the offseason. Whether it’s teams like the Chicago Cubs, or teams like the Kansas City Royals, baseball fans everywhere are in f because it’s right around the corner.
Sports Acing the Season
rs were the Portland Timbers who won it for the first time ever. It’s a new gue, it’s anyone’s game to win it all. Maybe a surprise team will win it all. wn for their amazing performances on the big stage in Europe and South like this was big news. It would help make the league better in terms of
mbus Crew came in 2nd place with 53 pts, Montreal Impact came in 3rd e with 50 pts. Moving on to the Western Conference, FC Dallas came in d place with 53 pts, Seattle came in 4th place with 51 pts, and LA Galaxy
nferences. Montreal Impact is in 1st place right now and New England is hia in 4th. The only team returning in the top 5 for the Western Conference y Houston Dynamo, and then Real Salt Lake. yers coming from Europe and South America over here is going to make
ith soccer comes many surprises. One moment a team can be on top and ny ups and downs.
Donated by: Jason Hsieh
Cristine Alayon
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Graphic by: Matthew Perez
ason
n will start again. This season will be headlined by teams like the Chicago he season. e of the most coveted free agent pitchers, David Price. With this signing, power hitting hasn’t really improved from the previous season. The New han that, the Yankees seem like the same team as last year. The next two hese moves do not seem enough to take over the reign of teams like the
Clubs Editor
racket, a ball, a court, a net, and some laced up shoes is all that you need to get the game of tennis going. The moment the ball releases from the hand of the server, the game begins and the atmosphere turns into show time. Right here at PPCHS, the talent level of the Jaguar Tennis Team has been above and beyond. Behind the scenes, the athletes have their typical day-to-day routine. Every day after school from 2:30-4, they have practice. The practice schedule consists of a two lap warm up around all four courts, followed by stretching and jump roping exercises. Important techniques constantly reviewed are ground strokes, where the goal is to hit the line across the court. To close off practice, the team practices their serving. Their intense and nonstop practicing has led them to great success. This year the girls’ team won their third straight District Championship while the boys’ team landed as runner-ups in their District run, but still both girls and boys made it to Regionals. Reaching back to the regular season, the Jags resulted with a record of 10-2. Key female players throughout the Jags glory run are junior Samantha Barea and junior Karla Mendez. During the season, the ladies remained undefeated in the doubles competition and Mendez remained undefeated in singles competition. These two superstars qualified in singles and doubles for the Florida State Tennis Championship Tournament which took place on April 13th-April 15th in Orlando, Florida. Unluckily, the athletes lost in their doubles quarterfinal game in Orlando and Karla Mendez had no luck in her first singles round as well. Despite the loss, the girls had fun and enjoyed the experience! “It feels awesome to know that all of our hard work has paid off” said Barea. “The best part of it all, though, is that I’m going to states with my best friend. Whether we win or lose, I’m just happy we made it this far.” Prior to the girls, the boys’ tennis team made their advancement to Regionals. At the top of the board are seniors Alex Martinek and Jason Hsieh. After long, hard-fought matches in the Regionals round, the boys and girls team came up short. The matches were played at Tropical Park versus Doral High School. Junior Derek Mackey was one of the Jags to win his match, but unfortunately, the road ends here for the PPCHS tennis team. “Overall, I would describe the season as a success. I‘m proud to say that I left the Pembroke Pines Charter tennis team on a good note by having a positive record and ending up as runner up in Districts” said Martinek. “It was a great ride for me, one I’ll never forget.” This 2015-2016 season was an amazing journey for our PPCHS tennis athletes. All the hours put into practice and preparation had paid off once again. The team made it all the way to Regionals, which was an accomplishment for most. Congratulations to the players who contributed to this amazing season, these Jags definitely let their racquet do the talking and their heart do the playing.
it’s going to be awesome to see the take the league by storm this season. the Detroit Tigers, who signed one of the league’s best outfielders, Justin the Minnesota Twins, Cleveland Indians, and Chicago White Sox made
ndings last year was the Texas Rangers. The Rangers were led down the an injury, the Rangers can quietly be one of MLB’s best teams. The next nd Los Angeles Angels. The Angels have the best player in baseball and ms in the division lack enough talent to contend with the Astros, Angels,
ff. The Washington Nationals come in right behind them, with star pitcher star trio of Giancarlo Stanton, Jose Fernandez, and Dee Gordon, all stay nd Atlanta Braves, which are arguably the two worst teams in the league. h their new hitting coach and manager, I believe the Marlins can quietly
he Cubs are the St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates. These teams rs and the Cincinnati Reds, both of these do not have enough skill power
dgers. These two teens have a surplus of talent and will definitely being cks. The Diamondbacks signed highly ranked pitcher Zack Greinke and vision are the San Diego Padres and the Colorado Rockies, who haven’t
for exciting season. PPCHS baseball fans get ready for the long stretch
Acing the Season: Karla Mendez and Samantha Barea holding the Girls District Championship Trophy. Donated by: Jason Hsieh
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Okeecho-beats Ro
Who’s voting for who? Celebrities speak out on candidates Maria Acosta-Rubio
While people are lining up at the door and voting for the primaries, celebrities have also had their say in politics. From changing Twitter headers to posting selfies, Staff Writer
celebrities have stirred up the pot quite a bit to express whom they want to be the next president of the United States. A lot of female celebrities such as Ariana Grande, Lena Dunham, Katy Perry and Beyoncé have voiced their opinions on having a female president. Katy Perry, for example, had performed for Hillary Clinton at one of her rallies, stating “so much change can happen! Let’s go Hillary!” as she performed. Beyoncé also showed her support for Hillary in a Ney York City fundraiser in May. Clinton tweeted a photo of Beyoncé and captioned it “Say you’ll Bey on Team #Hillary2016, too.” However, not all female celebrities support Hillary. Others, like Miley Cyrus have posted Instagram pictures suggesting her support for Bernie Sanders, Hillary’s rival. The Nashville native posted a black and white picture of Martin Dr. Luther King Jr. marching and in the back a young man was circled in red. Her caption read “@berniesanders #isitorisitnotberns?!” While her support for Sanders is unclear, she has taken to Instagram to speak out about her strong dislike on Donald Trump. She called him a nightmare and has suggested that if he wins, she would move to a different country. Female celebrities who support Hillary agree with her stand on certain issues. She has spoken out about such issues like paid leave, the immigration reform, and health care. Hillary’s plan for these issues such as paid leave state that as president she will guarantee up to 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave, enable hard working Americans to support their families economically while on leave, and ensure at least two-thirds wage replacement rate for workers. Celebrities that support her like Ariana Grande and Katy Perry agree with what she has to offer and what her plans are for the nation. “Don’t get me wrong, I like Ariana Grande but just because she’s voting for Hillary doesn’t mean I magically want to vote for her as well if I could. She may be one of my favorite celebrities but that doesn’t change my personal opinion on who should be president,” said freshman Julia Cunningham. Supporters of Donald Trump agree with not only what he does in his spare time, but they also agree with his opinion on certain issues such as health care, taxes, and the immigration reform. Celebrities who support Donald Trump, like musician Azealia Banks, also agree with his plan on the immigration reform. Trump has been known for wanting to put a wall across the southern border, which he also wants Mexico to pay for. Other things in his plan include wanting to triple the number of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, enhancing the penalties for overstaying a visa, and no longer giving children of illegal immigrants the right to a birth citizenship even though they were born here in the U.S. “I don’t really pay much mind to it. Although I’m not a Trump supporter I’m happy that others are speaking their mind. Especially big figures like Miley Cyrus because they know they’re going to get positive and negative feedback. But celebrities can post as much as they want about who they support and who they don’t, but I don’t really pay attention to that,” said freshman Alexis Cid. Some students here at PPCHS agree with their most desired celebrity and alter their personal preference by celebrities’ opinions. But the majority of PPCHS Jaguars don’t pay much attention or give little thought when it comes to what their celebrity follows think. Although celebrities tend to usually influence and impact the youth, they too can also be impacted by those such as the candidates running in the election to become the next president of the United States.
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Graphic By: Katie Perez
Nick R
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Features
n the morning of March 3rd, thousands of people filled with excitement boarded plane months, the inaugural Okeechobee Music and Arts Festival advertised “entering the portal” o experience what the producers of festivals like Coachella, Lollapalooza, and Bonnaroo had the music festival industry down to Florida with an incredible lineup of rock, rap, and electr The sold out three-day event officially began on Friday, March 4th where cars entered one cars were given trash and recycling bags, and admits were off to set up camp in what would vibes throughout the weekend. The creators were set on OMF being a “holistically sustainabl bags around the grounds. Along with this, they advocated that “okeecho-beings” looked aft “One of the coolest things about Okeechobee was the message that they had. It wasn’t me were really friendly. On our first day there, our neighbors even help us set up our tent. It fel The festival was located on the ground of the Sunshine Grove in Okeechobee, which is ri parts, the Moonlight Oasis and The Grove. The Grove was a large area encompassed by trees headliners performed beginning at noon every day and ending at as late as 2 am. As Friday entered an open area with the stages and food vendors. Sunbears! opened the day at noon a throughout the day. Headliners Hall & Oates and Bassnectar ended the night, much to the l Miguel, and ended with Kendrick Lamar, who was accompanied by an extremely hyped up c for a song. Following Lamar was Skrillex, who performed into late hours of the night. The la Wap who was unable to perform, Big Grams, and Odesza, along with more rap artists like F The Moonlight Oasis was an open area that contained a few of the mainly advertised areas. equipped with volleyball nets, a bar, and a lake to swim in. Also in Aquachobee were a fe Oasis and provided a place for anyone to relax. Throughout the day, anyone was welcome to Yogachobee and also acted as an escape from the excitement of the festival. The merchants trees where people could sit and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee. As the sun went down, the Moo metal, fire shooting snowman. “My experience at Okeechobee Fest was awesome. It was my first festival and after it I dec everyone was open to meeting new people. My favorite performers were Kendrick Lamar, water was very nasty, or I was in the Sh’room, a mushroom structure where people could c and Jungle 51 which was really cool,” said junior Wynton White. The most interesting area of the Moonlight Oasis was Jungle 51, another small area enclos Jungle 51 featured some of the smaller EDM artists. The area was open only from 9 pm to party-goers were met with a thin fog along with laser lights shooting across the area, and, sit on multiple couches placed around the area. As you walked around the grounds, sights of body painted festival-goers, dozens of hamm leaving a smile on your face as well. From classes like Juggling 101 in Yogachobee, to ta okeecho-beings to do. When people were not hanging out in the Grove or the Moonlight Oas Within all the activities, there was still time to shower, shop for merchandise, and try new f The Okeechobee Music Festival kicked off its first year with three sun-filled days of non-sto as they exited the portals. Days after the festival ended, Okeechobee launched two hashtags, anyone they had a connection with or anyone who they felt saved the weekend. They receiv the festival as it grows. With a sold out festival and positive reviews, it’s safe to say that the
ock the Weekend
Lauren Ramirez & Lauren Cookley Staff Writer & Community Outreach Chair
In a recent Snapchat video surfacing on the web, Los Angeles Lakers player Nick Young confesses to cheating on his fiancé, rap/pop star Iggy Azalea. The video
Donated by: Brianna Beach
Rivera
s
L.A. Lakers aren’t much of a “team”
Editor
es, trains, and cars to “Enter the Portal” at the Sunshine Grove in Okeechobee, Florida. For on the internet and through social media, and the time had finally come for 30,000 people to to offer to Florida. Presented by Soundslinger, Okeechobee Music Festival (OMF) brought ronic dance music (EDM) artists. of four portals, or entrances. Bracelets that allowed entrance into the portals were scanned, d be their home for the next few days. Okeechobee Music Festival wanted to maintain good le festival”. They partnered up with the company Clean Vibes to set up trashes and recycling ter each other and had a chance to rediscover themselves. eant to be just a music festival, but rather a community. People looked after each other and lt like a home away from home,” said senior Brianna Beach. iddled with lakes, canals, and beautifully tall trees. The 2.4 acres were split into two main s where the main stages entitled the BE, HERE, and NOW stages were placed. This is where y began, the gates of The Grove opened, and after travelling through a trail of trees, people at the NOW stage followed by performances by X Ambassadors, Classixx, and many more liking of many so-called “bass heads.” Saturday saw acts such as Dr. Dog, Mac Miller, and crowd. One of the audience members caught the eye of Lamar, who brought him up on stage ast day included performances by EDM artists such as Kill the Noise, who filled in for Fetty Future. The festival closed with headliner Mumford & Sons. One such area being Aquachobee, located next to one of the smaller lakes included a beach ew of the food vendors and a Ferris wheel. Yogachobee was also located in the Moonlight o do yoga along with other relaxing activities. The Chobeewobee Village was located beside s were located here along with another small stage, placed next to a small secluded area of onlight Oasis had more activities to do, including a nightly fire show which featured a large,
appeared on the Snapchat story of Young’s teammate D’Angelo Russell, who is now under fire for exposing his teammate. Russell has been labeled as one of the team’s best new up and coming players. But by causing this Snapchat scandal, he is losing popularity with the teams fan base. At a home game on Wednesday April 30th, Russell was booed by the home crowd when he took the court. He claimed that his phone and Snapchat were hacked and the video was never meant to be posted for the public to see. Sources claim that the video was 40 seconds long, meaning it could not possibly have been recorded on Snapchat, notorious for its 10 second video limit. The only way the video could’ve been posted would be through a third party application. This supports Russell’s claim of a supposed hacking. Senior Alejandra Valladares said, “I think they are being too harsh on Russell. He claimed he didn’t do it and there is evidence to back him up. I think that social media should take attention away from him and direct it towards D’Angelo and Iggy Azalea instead.” Russell did admit to filming the video and has gone on to apologize both to Young and the rest of his teammates. It is yet to be said whether this apology was accepted because there are rumors of locker room discord against Russell. In an interview with The Vertical prior to Wednesday’s game against the Miami Heat, Russell said, “I’m sorry about recording the video. I can’t repeat myself enough on that. I feel horrible. I wish this never happened.” Sophomore Uzo Eboka said “I really don’t think he should’ve recorded the video in the first place. It goes against the unspoken rules of teammates and it was wrong of him to expose his friend like that. He says he didn’t post it, but I don’t know how that could be true.” Iggy Azalea tweeted on March 30th in reaction to this scandal saying, “hmmm I see D’Angelo Russell is trending…I actually liked his film. Thanks bro.” Allegedly, according to the Washington Post, Azalea recently postponed her wedding plans because of what she said were tour issues after the release of her new hit single “Team”. Many fans believe that the true cause is because of the recent cheating rumors. In the radio show “92.3 Shoboy in the Morning”, Azalea said “I believe my man, and Nick is a super nice guy. It’s just not really the kind of thing he would do.” Over time more and more scandals and celebrity drama have stemmed from the use of social media. Snapchat’s format of automatically deleting content is designed to prevent things like this from occurring, but recent technology and third party apps counter this security. If anything good can come out of this event, it is the lesson to everyone out there that what goes on the internet and social media can never actually be taken back.
cided that I want to be a festival-goer. I met a lot of cool people, there were good vibes, and Lotus, and Mac Miller. When I wasn’t in the Grove I was at Aquachobee, even though the charge their phones, which was one of my favorite places there. I also went to the tea forest
sed by trees. Themed after an Unidentified Blasting Object (UBO) crashing into the forest, o 9 am, allowing music to play throughout all hours of the night. Walking into the Jungle, of course, music. Amidst all of the dancing, anyone who partied too hard was welcome to
mocks, and smiling faces unfathomed by the dust flying around in the air surrounded you, anning while sipping on a fruit smoothie in Aquachobee, there was always something for sis, most could be found back at their tents, relaxing with their friends or meeting new ones. foods with the many vendors located around the Sunshine Grove. op entertainment. By Monday morning, cars were packed and left behind dust trails somberly , #OkeeLove and #OkeeHero, asking the okeecho-beings to stay connected by shouting out ved hundreds of responses, creating a community of okeecho-beings that are sure to support e Sunshine Grove will be met with many familiar faces in 2017.
Graphic By: Nicole Mercadal
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Tech-knowledge-y: It’s here to stay Sarah Barrocas Staff Writer
Within our ever-changing education system supply of the newest technological gadgets have been at a superior demand for students and staff members
alike. Written textbooks have been replaced with tablets, so called “dinosaur computers” have been exchanged for laptops, and students have put down their pens and pencils to take notes with their stylus. In a present-day classroom it is common to witness not only the students but also teachers taking advantage of the technological equipment set before them. With every passing year, society and the entirety of mankind take one large step away from the Stone Age and a closer movement towards the evolving, technological future. Some may say the influence of technology towards our education system and one’s academics is weakening our society. People argue that the influx of classrooms installed with high-tech computers and tablets has influenced our past generations, but more importantly our future, to produce a decline in critical thinking and analysis. Incidences of plagiarism have increased, showcasing an overall lack of respect for the appropriate usage of the English language embedded within writing. This indicates the effect that technology may have had on the current generation’s thinking abilities and the overall power of the internet. On the contrary, the evolution of technology has enhanced a classroom’s environment with the interactive assignments and visual portrayal of the subject material that it has to offer. It is with technology that teachers have access to future planning and students can take online classes or research an assigned topic. I believe the influence of technology towards education has only made the future prosper and become more knowledgeable about the world around them. Teachers spend an endless amount of hours on their computer, inhibiting that cushioned rolling chair planted in front of their desks as a second home. Teachers utilize their hours sending out emails, updating Jupiter Grades, or even conducting a PowerPoint for the class. AICE Sociology teacher Ms. Portalatin stated, “Technology within my class has allowed my students to come together and collaborate each other’s ideas on the topic at hands.” The technology however is not restricted to the four walls of a classroom. Mr. Curry, as well as many other faculty members and Charter sponsored clubs, use the text messaging ‘Remind’ app to stress to kids key dates and events. Because the school system has the tendency to eliminate hours of sleep and add endless stress to a student’s life, many upperclassmen who hope to attend college and boost their GPA with AP classes take a lot of online courses. Also, according to Edudemic, “Online courses are gaining popularity with 58% of students reporting they have taken an online course, motivated primarily by being able to take the class on their own time...” The increase in online classes, making students’ lives much easier while also improving their grades, could one day leave live classes in the dirt. An additional pressing benefit is the fact that with the many resources a computer offers, students are allowed to gather a plethora of information pertaining to an assigned topic. With over 1,000 different resources and data bases too choose from, the internet creates a portal of endless information to be obtained, making a conducted research process easier much then it used to be. Sophomore Amanda Cabus states, “If it wasn’t for the computers provided throughout the classrooms my last minute research for my most recent phycology project would be a mission impossible. Even on my small IPhone I was able to conduct research.” Lightening the load of the amount of textbooks and notebooks is another plus of technology being implanted to a school’s curriculum. Thanks to the hot commodity of cellular devices and tablets that Charter students have their hands on, these electronics allow students to replace the many folders, notebooks, and agendas with just a small, internet-connected device. With a phone or tablet, it allows a student to access an online textbook, take notes, make reminders of due dates, and even do their homework or take a quiz with a provided app. “I’m grateful that in high school, unlike in middle school, a lot of my assignments and subject material can be accessed through my phone. This definitely lightens my bag and puts less of a strain on my back” said Freshman Samantha Pratts. According to gauravhardikar.com, “Like in all things, there is a golden rule that governs technology’s impact on education - moderation in everything,”. Whether it’s making weekly plans through the computer or using your phone to conduct research on an assigned topic, without a doubt technology has influenced and will continue to affect our education. Our once textbook driven classes are now turning into high tech, electronic based courses. So to the future generations of students, say goodbye to your once typical classroom and get used to the new, profound term: tech-knowledge-y.
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Galaxy Taking Another Step LJ Lemmers
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Technology Editor
nce again that time of the year again when a new and innovative smartphone is upon us again. Samsung has recently released their new Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge. The new phone has new features never seen before with a smartphone. The Galaxy S7 keeps the S6 design except it is 5.5 in to the 5.1 in and the back has rounded edges now (theguardian.com). It is more comfortable in the hands and users are able to swipe up for instant updates. One feature lacking for the Galaxy smartphone was the blurry photos taken from the phone. Many have said that the iPhone has a better camera than the Galaxy. However, that may change as the S7 offers dual pixel technology with a fast autofocus so no more blurry photos and a new advanced sensor for catching every detail in low light. The phone has enhanced messaging like Apple’s iPhone iMessage where you can text people through Wifi. “The Samsung Galaxy S7 is a major improvement for smartphones. The water resistant function they have is exciting and I want to try it out. I’ll be trying to get the phone soon and hope to try out most of the new specs the phone has to offer,” said senior Amirah Jeffrey. The Galaxy S7 has water-resistant. It repels spills, splashes, and even dunks without a bulky protective case. Now, users don’t have to worry about damaging their phones with water (samsung.com). The water just slides off the phone keeping the phone safe from any harm. Introduced into the S7 is the Android Marshmallow OS. The Marshmallow OS drains less battery from apps and has new features like Now On Tap. Now on Tap anticipates your next movement. With a single tap, cards come out with useful information and apps that feed the latest news. It has two elements that help keep the battery: Doze automatically puts the phone into a sleep state. The alarm will still set off even if the phone is not charged and App Standby limits the impact on battery life so the charge last longer (samsung.com). Marshmallow lets users define what to share and when. It also gives a fingerprint scanner to make security simple and easy to maintain (For more information click this link: https://www.android.com/versions/marshmallow-6-0/) Samsung Pay is accepted almost anywhere where you swipe or tap a card. It’s simple, secure, and works in more places than any other mobile payment service (samsung. com). Transactions are super easy. Swipe up to launch the app, secure with your fingerprint, and hover over the card reader. It keeps payment information separate and doesn’t share or store it. With the purchase of a S7, buyers will also receive a Gear VR (Virtual Reality). However, it’s only for a limited time. The Gear VR takes technology into the next level. Allowing users to transport into new worlds and become a part of the imagination. Just plug the Samsung Galaxy smartphone into the Gear VR headset and immerse in the wonders of virtual reality. “The reason I want to get the phone was because of the virtual reality headset that they are giving out. I’m a big gamer so getting the VR would allow me to try out games in another way,” said junior Aspen Oudshoorn. The S7 and S7 Edge mostly have the same specs only different from the display, battery, and dimensions. S7 has a 5.1” display while Edge has dual edge 5.5.” S7 has 3000 mAh battery and the Edge has 3600 mAh. The dimensions for the S7 is 5.61” x 2.74” x 0.31” and the Edge is 5.85” x 2.85” x 0.30. They both have 12MP rear camera with dual pixel CMOS 5MP front camera, stores 200GB, and the processor is quad-core (2.15Ghz + 1.6Ghz). Sensors are Accelerator, Barometer, fingerprint, Gyro, Geo-magnetic, Hall, HRM, Proximity, and RGB light (samsung.com). Another addition with the S7 is wireless charging. Now users can charge their phone wirelessly. The Samsung Galaxy S7 has revolutionized the world of smartphones. The water resistant feature, Samsung Pay, and the addition of the Gear VR are features that will be sure to captivate many phone users. Rival companies will have to step up their game in order to step to Samsung’s level. Samsung has truly changed the game for phones.
Galaxy taking another step: Samsung’s newest addition to the Galaxy line, the S7. Photo By: Sydney Silverberg
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Not Your Average Atlas
March-April Gaming Review David Cha-Kim
Taylor Horan
News Editor
Managing Editor - Web
le. Anthropometric. High mobility. All of these words can be used to describe Boston Dynamics’ newest eation: Atlas. Boston Dynamics, a subsidiary of Google, began as a spin-off from the Massachusetts of Technology (MIT). The company was founded in 1992 and is composed of a team of engineers and s that pride themselves “in building machines that are both innovative and actually work” (bostondynam. The company first went viral in 2013 when it released footage of a four-legged robot called the Wildcat .com). Now, the company is back with Atlas. Atlas is a two-legged humanoid that is designed to navigate various terrain, including the rough outdoors. Since Atlas can walk bipedally, its “arms” can be used for atures, such as lifting boxes up to 10 pounds. k this new technology is amazing and I feel like it’ll help a lot. I think it can be used not only to help es prosper but also help elders with their day to day tasks. The Atlas robot is an interesting concept and I ed to see the application of this robot. Though the terminator fan in me wants to fear these robots, I know y won’t become dangerous,” shared senior Brandon English. as been in use since its scheduled delivery for the DARPA Robotics Challenge program since the summer However, the robot only went viral in February 2016 when video footage of the robot in action was reia YouTube. The video showcases the new, updated version of Atlas. Titled ‘Atlas, The Next Generation’, o has already garnered almost 14 million views. This video was used as part of Trevor Noah’s monologue Daily Show on February 24th, 2016. He joked that the scientists messing with the robot must want to be to be attacked when the robots take over. Shubhi Kumar said “I saw the video when people were laughing at the robot getting hit with the hockey was kind of humorous but it also opens the conversation that we are getting close to a society that may en more dependency on robots. People are already dependent on things like their phones and Siri. It would to be dependent on something that is even larger than the average Galaxy,” she shared. 5’ 9” and weighs 180 pounds. This height is approximately “a head shorter” than the original 2013 Atlas. currently not being released for public consumption. However, maybe in a few year, maybe someone will ng Atlas lift their moving furniture. Dr. Seuss said that “anything is possible,” and with technology only ng and expanding, who knows the world we will live in in 15 years?
MLB 16 The Show (March 29th; PS3 & PS4):
One of the few single-platform exclusive sports games in the industry, Sony’s famous MLB sports game hits the markets with its 2016 installment of the famous baseball video game series. SCE brings new game modes with The Show 16, such as Battle Royale and Conquest Mode. Battle Royale brings a player-vs.-player mode giving 25 draft rounds to build a team that they think could stand the test of a grueling double-elimination tournament and Conquest Mode will have be a single player mode testing their skills against each of Major League Baseball’s 30 franchises in an attempt to conquer North America. Improvements to the core gameplay as well as updated rosters are also obvious things to be expected in any new sports game instalment. “When people talk sports games they always talk about FIFA, Madden, and NBA 2K but The Show is one of the most slept on in the genre,” says junior Jonathan Herbert. “Part of the reason I switched from Xbox to PlayStation when the new generation of consoles came out was so that I could actually own The Show. The graphics are good, the gameplay feels smooth, and the new game modes in 16 look pretty well-done.”
Dark Souls III (April 12th; Windows, PS4, XBO):
Yet another popular role-playing series from the East, Dark Souls III is the fourth game in the Souls series. The third-person RPG series, based in primeval times and containing fictional content such as dragons and a combat system integrated with magic, is famous for its difficulty. DS3 makes the gameplay to the series more smooth, and adds new combat features like the “Ready Stance” and will also bring back multiplayer like in DS2. Fans have been making plot theories ever since the ending of DS2 but the developers have done well to keep most of the new story a surprise.
Star Fox Zero (April 22nd; Wii U)
Graphic By: Katie Perez
Yahoo Stop Playing Games LJ Lemmers Technology Editor
oo Inc. has come out with the surprising news that they are shutting down their Yahoo Games after 17 ong with many of their other products. Yahoo will be discontinuing the games on May 13, 2016. Starting ch 14, 2016, no one will be able to make in-game purchases. appointed that Yahoo will be closing their game section off. I remember playing a lot of their games when ounger. My friends and I would play when we had free time,” said junior Anthony Madera. son for Yahoo closing off Games and other products is part of a larger plan for simplifying the business using on the seven core products: Mail, Search, Tumblr, News, Sports, Finance, and Lifestyle (usatoday. ahoo is preparing for a board battle with shareholders to sell of its core Internet businesses and retain a Chinese tech giant Alibaba. Yahoo shares have been unchanged at the $33 mark. In the last 12 months, k has tumbled by 23%. Earlier this month, Yahoo says it has formed a committee to explore “strategic ves” for the company. oo is in trouble with keeping the company, then it’s no surprise that they have started to close products. a miracle happens Yahoo could go bankrupt and we won’t have any more Yahoo,” said sophomore Brandge. oducts not being popular and countless layoffs, reconstructing is needed in order for Yahoo to change its s model. Yahoo has already contacted game publishers and informed to create a plan to move their games her system (learnbonds.com). Closing down other products seems to be a regular thing for Yahoo right st summer, Yahoo confirmed it was getting rid of Yahoo Maps and other applications. t surprised that Yahoo Games is getting shut down. With phones being able to have games and consoles ng more popular, Yahoo Games has become irrelevant as the years have gone by,” said senior Dylan
Games was very successful in its early days as it led to Yahoo developing its own mobile game studio onds.com). However, it didn’t last long and now it is closing down. Yahoo Games will be remembered as a legacy. It will be remembered as a huge piece of gaming history.
The scrolling-shooter game will see its first appearance on a HD console with Zero, which should bring some stunning visuals especially considering the majority of the levels take place in the sky and/or outer space. The Wii U’s gamepad will also provide a new twist control-wise to the already familiar gameplay. Nintendo’s Star Fox series may be outshined by their big-name series like Mario and Pokemon but SF has usually managed to pump out good content consistently over the years and perhaps the Wii U version will make people in the West more aware of the credit it deserves. “I only knew of Fox from the Smash Bros games and I’ve always liked how agile he felt when fighting,” says sophomore Jordan Crenshaw. “He seems like a cool character and all the Zero trailers look cool so I’m actually looking forward to trying one of his main games for once.”
Ratchet & Clank (April 12th, PS4)
Along with Uncharted, Fat Princess and LittleBigPlanet, Ratchet and Clank is one of the more well-known PlayStation exclusives from the US. The 2016 PS4 instalment is actually a remake or “reimagination” of the first one and will stick to the same overall plot but will obviously make many gameplay and visual improvements with the power of the PS4. The single-player platformer shooter will indeed focus on the original story but will encompass gameplay elements from many of the more recent games in the series, such as strafing, raritanium weapon upgrading and weapons from games coming after the first game, in addition to the completely original weapons.
Graphic By: Matthew Perez
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Lifestyle
The Dreamy Dancer by Nigh Amanda Peralta Staff Writer
Jforunior Camille Acevedo, outstanding student by day, dancer by night, has a unique talent of belly dancing that she has kept under wraps some time. Some of her close friends that have known her for years knew about her dancing abilities but those not as close to her,
had no idea. Acevedo started belly dancing when she was about eight years old. Her mom was thinking about possible dance classes to keep her busy, and they came across belly dancing. At such a young age, Acevedo was not sure if she wanted to try these unique classes. However, with encouragement from her mom and sister, she decided to give it a try, and fell in love. She now competes a few times a year with a team she would die for. Some experts believe belly dancing is the oldest form of dance with roots planted in the Middle East, Mediterranean, and northeastern Africa. Started in India over five thousand years ago and spread by Gypsy tribes all over the world, belly dancing is one of the prettiest dance styles up to date (www.aleenah.com). Belly dancing is believed to be an important part of the Arabic culture, it is almost a ‘folk dance” for those with Arab beliefs. Acevedo now travels with her belly dancing team and Coach Yesenia Lauzurique that she adores, the Arabian Roses. Acevedo described Lauzurique as her “mom/sister/friend” and went on to say that if it were not for her amazing coach she “would be a completely different person.” Through traveling experiences and deep rooted talks about experiences and life, Acevedo and her teammates feel an unconditional love, bond, and appreciation for their dance coach. Like many other students with extracurricular activities, Acevedo has often found it hard to balance school, dance, and her social life. “I would be lying if I didn’t say it’s not stressful at times, especially when I have projects and I know I have to go to dance practice right after school; but I have learned to manage my time wisely and I have realized there is time to do everything.” Acevedo would not be able to do a lot of the things she does if it was not for her support group. Her parents have always been there with their dedication, love, and support for her passion. Although there has never been anything that Acevedo has been widely interested in other than belly dancing, she says “I have no doubt my teacher would understand and work with me.” When asked if she still gets nervous about competing, Acevedo replied “I always freak out! Every year I win ‘most stressed’ in superlatives because I am the only one freaking out backstage and asking for help. My teammates always laugh and say ‘Camille! Relax, you didn’t forget it.” Acevedo’s dance team is not solely based on competing so they only perform a few times a year, the next competition being at the end of this month. Acevedo’s favorite competition is Starpower because it is not just for belly dancers, the competition is open to all dance genres. “It is so diverse and I enjoy watching all the other performances.” Like many other sports, dance requires dancers to have excellent skills such as remembering the choreography. Acevedo is no different from anyone else, having botched a routine a few times. “Usually when I mess up I just laugh it off and tell myself it is okay. But one time I messed up really bad and I was so upset especially because I was in the front. It was funny because I was really confident in what I was doing. I ended up seeing my reflection in the sound booth and saw myself doing something completely different to what everyone else was doing.” Camille Acevedo has a very high skill set when it comes to dance, therefore having received a few different awards. However, she has one in particular that is her favorite, the Arabian Rose. Acevedo’s dance team is called the Arabian Roses and every year they have an award ceremony where one girl is named “Arabian Rose of the Year”. One year Acevedo won and she says it is her favorite award because she feels all her “hard work and commitment was recognized and rewarded.” Belly dancing is often a victim of misconception, many people believing belly dance is meant as “a provocative way to show off a woman’s body”. In reality, belly dancing has so much religious meaning behind it and Acevedo loves showing that meaning off. Whenever she hears people have a misconception about belly dancing, Acevedo will explain to them the religious meaning behind belly dancing and will show them why she loves to express herself through such a beautiful dance. Acevedo hopes to continue expressing herself through belly dancing and hopes to find something similar that she will enjoy a year from now in college. Camille Acevedo’s hard work and balancing of dance and school show her dedication to not only her teachers but everyone else around her.
Photo Donated By: Camille Acevedo
Media Monopolizing Millenn Evan Samuels Staff Writer
F or almost fifteen years, social media has been prominent, giving people a chance to express their thoughts freely. Millennials of this generation tend to use social media as a source of entertainment, or even a way to keep up with their friends’ daily activities. Everyday
kids of all ages are being captivated by the world of social media. Unfortunately, social media brings risks of cyber bullying and depression. Sites like Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook can keep teenagers engaged in the lives of celebrities. This source of entertainment keeps teens on the edge drawing them to stalk the lives of celebrities. According to Common Sense Media, “Teens on average spend about nine hours a day on social media.” This report shows how social media is basically built in the lifestyle of a teens. Sophomore psychology student Zeyad Ghali said, “I believe teens use social media as a way to connect with their friends in a fast and easy way. It’s addictive to the brain of teens, but it keeps them up to date with the lives of others.” As great as social media is for teens, its risks cannot be overlooked. Millennials are susceptible to depression, sexting, or even cyberbullying while on social media. Cyberbullying is a form of bullying through social media. The Huffington Post states that cyberbullying appears easy to the bully because they do not see their victims' reactions in person, and thus the impact of the consequences are small. In reality, however, the consequences can be life altering to the extent that the victims could go as far as taking their lives or become psychologically distressed enough to require medical intervention.” Since teens rely on social media so much they tend to try to make fun of others in an effort to get more likes on a post. These teens aren’t yet aware enough to realize that their words affect the lives of others. Sophomore Kristyn Alvarez states that “Teens nowadays rely on social media more than ever. They will do anything for a simple like! I believe social media is changing our lives by making not only kids aware of daily events but adults as well. Hopefully teens become conscious of the effects of cyberbullying and instead use social media as a friendly way to stay interactive with the world around us.” Whether it’s by keeping kids connected to the lives of their friends, family, or favorite celebrities; social media is reliable for all teens. There are many consequences of social media among them being depression and cyber bullying; however, social media is entertaining and definitely a lifestyle for millennials.
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Photo By: Nicole Hernandez
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nials
Lifestyle
Snack Hacks for College Cutbacks Sarah Barrocas Staff Writer
C ollege –taking showers in your dorm's communal bathrooms, staying in the campus library until 3 o’clock in the morning studying for a Friday exam, tailgating in the parking lot of your school’s football field, and going on weekly weekend excursions and date
functions with your associated sororities or fraternities. With all the festivities and traditions that come along with your college experience, it is known no matter the age or place, students seem to never find the time or knowledge in creating a “home-cooked” meal. If you’re looking for easy, quick, but quite tasteful meals to conjure up during your future college days, I suggest you keep reading!
Mason Jar Yogurt Breakfast Parfait INGREDIENTS: ● 6-oz. vanilla Greek yogurt or other flavor of your choice ● 1/2 cup maple or plain granola ● 1/4 cup strawberries ● 1/4 cup blueberries ● 3 fruit preserves (optional) ● 1/2 pint mason jar DIRECTIONS: 1.) Spoon 2 tablespoons of desired yogurt into the bottom of the jar 2.) Pour 1/4 cup of granola on top the yogurt 3.) Add a layer of blueberries 4.) Again, spoon 2 tablespoons of yogurt into the jar. Then, pour 1/4 cup of granola on top 5.) Add a layer of strawberries 6.) Repeat steps 1-4, continuing the layering process until the jar is filled 7.) Refrigerate mason jar for 30 minutes or chill in the freezer for 10 minutes if you aren’t preparing this overnight Tip: Alternatively, fruit preserves can be used instead of fresh fruit if desired. Feel free to add ground flax seed meal for a nutty flavor and extra fiber. Also, if you still wish to use fresh fruit, you can chose any other two fruit alternatives aside from blueberries and strawberries. [https://uoregon.spoonuniversity.com/recipe/mason-jar-yogurt-breakfast-parfait/]
Ram N’ Cheese INGREDIENTS: ● 8 oz cheddar cheese ● 1 tbsp cornstarch ● 3/4 cup milk ● 2 packages ramen noodles DIRECTIONS: 1.) Grate cheddar cheese. Add grated cheese and cornstarch into a small bowl 2.) Combine cheese and cornstarch with milk in a medium saucepan and continue stirring on medium to low heat until the texture is thick and consistent. Keep saucepan on the stove at a low temperature to keep the cheese mixture warm until serving 3.) In a separate pan, boil ramen noodles. Set aside the included flavor packets 4.) Once boiling, drain the noodles and combine with cheese [https://spoonuniversity.com/recipe/ram-n-cheese/]
No-Bake Oreo Bars INGREDIENTS: ● 1 package Oreos ● 1 package large marshmallows ● 4 tbsp butter DIRECTIONS: 1.) Line 8x8 baking pan with aluminum foil 2.) Open package of Oreos and place them in a Ziploc bag 3.) Beat the bag with a hard edge to crush the Oreos until no large chunks are left 4.) Melt butter and marshmallows in a large microwave safe bowl for about 2 minutes, until marshmallows begin to fluff up and the butter is completely melted 5.) Immediately add crushed Oreos to the melted mix. Stir until completely combined 6.) Pour and press out the mixture into the lined pan 7.) Cool bars in refrigerator until set 8.) Cut out pan into squared bars [http://nu.spoonuniversity.com/recipe/no-bake-oreo-bars/]
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Kim Jong putting the
The Weekend Review Nadira Danticat
K
Staff Writer
Obama appoints new Justice:
President Barack H. Obama has appointed Merrick B. Garland as the 113th Supreme Court Justice. Garland, aged 63, is a well-known figure in Washington and has garnered praise from many members of both parties. Obama has chosen him in an attempt to reshape the Supreme Court and to make Garland, who is loved by both parties, the fact of a bitter and dramatic election year.
Trump quotes the Sun Sentinel:
On March 8th, Donald Trump tweeted: “Sun Sentinel says: Rubio lacks the experience, work ethic and gravitas needed to be president. HE HAS NOT EARNED YOUR VOTE!” (@realDonaldTrump). The quote came from an editorial published in the paper’s Sunday issue. The Broward-based paper did not take the shout out positively, responding “We’re glad for the publicity Trumpster, but how about being honest with your gullible, naive, fantasyland fans who believe everything you say.”
“Fifth Beatle” dies:
Sir George Martin, the record producer who is known for reinventing pop music, died at the age of 90. He passed away peacefully on March 8th, according to his management company. Martin worked with a multitude of artists including Peter Sellers, Shirley Bassey, America, Cheap Trick, Jeff Beck and Celine Dion, but is most known for his musical expertise with The Beatles, earning the title of the “Fifth Beatle.”
Sharapova fails drug test:
On March 7, tennis star Maria Sharapova announced that she failed a drug test at the 2016 Australian Open. The drug she tested positive for was meldonium, which Sharapova claims to have taken for 10 years for immune deficiency, abnormal EKG results, diabetes indicators, low magnesium and asthenia. The drug was banned in the beginning of this year and a result Sharapova has been suspended from playing as well as her Tag Heuer sponsorship being lost and her Nike and Porsche scholarships on suspension until the investigation is over.
Al -Qaeda Gunmen attack 3 Ivory Coast hotels:
Gunmen affiliated with Al-Qaeda attacked 3 Grand-Bassam, Ivory Coast hotels and killed 16 people. Grand-Bassam is the Ivory Coast’s beach resort city. The death toll included 14 civilians and two soldiers. There was six shooters that targeted the most popular resorts before dying in a storm of gunfire against Ivorian authorities. Officials say four of the dead were Westerners, including a French and a German national. The attack comes as a shock to many, as Ivory Coast is one of the most stabilized countries in Africa.
Ankara car bomb blast kills at least 34:
A car bomb explosion sent Ankara, the capital of Turkey, in ruins with at least 34 people dead and 125 people wounded. The explosion occurred in Guven Park in the Kizilay district, a prominent transport hub and commercial area in the city. A plethora of police officers, firefighters, and medical professionals rushed to the scene after news of the explosion broke out. Turkey’s Interior Minister, Efkan Ala said, "We condemn this terror attack. People who carried out this attack will never succeed," "Turkey will overcome. Our determination to fight against terror will never be deterred by attacks like this."
NASA astronaut Scott Kelly announced retirement:
Scott Kelly, astronaut who recently returned to Earth after being in space for almost an entire year, has announced that he will be retiring on April 1st. Kelly, 52, commenced his astronaut career in 1996. On his most recent trip, he traveled 143,846,525 miles around Earth for 340 Earth days and has been in space for a total of 520 days. Kelly has a twin brother, Mark Kelly, who is also an astronaut, making them the only brothers to ever travel in space. Scott Kelly vows to stay involved with NASA saying, “I’ll never be done with space.”
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Graphic by: Matthew Perez
im Jong-Un is easily one of the most unpredictable leaders of have had to put up with North Korea’s mischief and threats several tim warheads. While Kim Jong-Un is known to bluff a lot of the time, his u caution with the placing of troops on the Korean peninsula. In 2011, Kim Jong-Un succeeded his father, Kim Jong-Il’s throne im Kim, the newly-appointed army supreme commander, and also the firs at all, Kim Jong-Un, still in his twenties at the time, now had complet Kim’s unpredictable personality showed as early into his political car military, so he launched his first satellite, using rocket technology ban the people of his country admire him more. The year after that, Kim’s UN’s Security Council sanctions. Junior Stephany Rodriguez says, “What’s been going on in North Kor to make it worse the government is always threatening other countries one of the candidates from the presidential race wins needs to be sure In March of 2016, Kim claimed that he scientists have developed the very soon. According to The Guardian, “Kim, who was supervising t should have the option of launching a “preemptive attack” – a depart South Korea, Kim said the new rocket launchers (nuclear warheads) s Countries like South Korea, China, and the U.S. are once again getti South Korea believe Kim is merely bluffing once again about both pos to fire a long range missile with a nuclear warhead in such a short pe capabilities to produce this type of warhead, countries like the U.S. ne sanctions placed upon him, this could completely destroy the relations “It’s immature for someone who’s completely in charge of an entire c With the rapidly increasing tensions between neighboring countries a closely monitored. Kim Jong Un is definitely unpredictable and no co countries like the U.S. need to place heavy emphasis on watching Nor
Politucation: How the
Loogherm
Long before the primaries and caucuses began or the candidates headed out onto debate stages, people were talk down from his two terms and the country, and its citizens, are eager to find out who the 45th president will be. Though
Managing E
voters, don’t know how the election process works in the U.S. Here’s a guide to help PPCHS and others stay informe Some background on the election system here in the U.S.: the U.S. runs on a two-party system where people vote in a parties like the Libertarian Party or the Green Party that have candidates on the ballot, they don’t have as much prom “People should vote if they want things in our country to change. It doesn't matter who you vote for, but if you're u represent the majority of what people want becoming elected. Low voter turnout is what lets people who don't have th There are two types of elections during the presidential election season: primary and caucus elections and general el ferent parties go out and decide who will represent their party as the official nominee during the general election. In a from each candidate’s campaign staff give speeches on their candidate’s platform, views on different topics, and why the room that represents the candidate of their choice, like an election-style Four Corners. In a Republican caucus, the In a primary election, voters go and cast their ballot for the candidate of their choice without hearing any speeches fro In a closed primary, only the members of a party may vote for the nominee for that party. So for this upcoming elect Sanders or Hillary Clinton. In an open primary, any voter, regardless of what party they’re in, can vote for any candid In order to decide who will represent each party during the general election, the candidates have to win the majority o number of delegates which depends on how large the population is. The delegates decide who to vote for based on wha who wins the majority of the popular vote in a state receives all the delegates that a state has. In Democratic primarie much of the popular vote they received in that state. For example, let’s say there are ten delegates available for one s six delegates and Sanders receives four. In addition to regular delegates, the Democrats have superdelegates available available for Republicans to win, with 1,237 needed to win the nomination, and 2,958 delegates available for the Dem “This election in particular speaks volumes on the frustration of the common people with the government, which is w junior Shreeya Singh. “As an immigrant, voting in a democracy is a huge privilege, and I think everyone who can sho After the primaries and caucuses are over, the winner for each party is officially announced at their national conventi didates running, one for the Democratic party and one for the Republican party. The general election is completely op example, in a general election a voter registered as independent could vote for the Republican candidate if they want on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November. In the general election, the candidates are not only looking for the popular vote, but also the vote of the electors. In U cast their vote for who should be president. The electors usually vote in accordance to who wins the popular vote in t number of senators and representatives. For example, Florida has 27 representatives in the House, which is based on th and any candidate needs 270 electors to win the election. Though many people believe that their votes don’t matter because of delegates and the Electoral College, each vote c to vote, they could potentially change the tide of the election. One of the biggest group of voters who doesn’t go out a they don’t turn out in high numbers, their voice goes unheard. Young voters need to realize how powerful their vote i
world Un-der Pressure Evan Samuels & David Cha-Kim Staff Writer & News Editor
f the modern world. He is formally recognized as the dictator or ‘supreme leader’ of communist North Korea. Countries mes in the past, and once again Kim Jong-Un has made international threats involving his country’s possession of nuclear unpredictable nature and temper always has the United Nations feeling uneasy and countries including the U.S. have taken
Presidential Primaries: Candidates in Combat
mmediately after his death. According to BBC news, “Soon after the death of his father, North Korean state media lauded st Chairman of the highly-important National Defense Commission.” With little training and little to no political experience te control over North Korea and all of its resources. reer as less than one year into his life as dictator. In 2012, Kim wanted to exemplify North Korea’s policy of promoting the nned under UN ballistic missile sanctions on North Korea. This move made neighboring allies like China angry, but made s defiant nature was displayed once more when he held his third nuclear test in 2013, which garnered another escalation of
rea for the past decades is devastating. No one should have to live closed off from the rest of the outside world like that and s for practically no reason. If they truly do have nuclear weapons that should be one of our highest concerns and whichever to consider it important.” e technology of miniature warheads small enough to fit on small ballistic missiles and has said that he is going to test them the test-firing of newly developed multiple rocket launchers, said North Korea’s situation had become so perilous that it ture from previous claims that the North’s nuclear capability was purely a deterrent. In an apparent threat to neighboring should be “promptly deployed” along with other new weaponry.” ing fed up with Kim Jong Un’s extremely unpredictable nature. Some military officers and officials including some from ssession of such warheads. An Al Jazeera article states that military experts doubt North Korea has developed the capability eriod of time. However, others are still worried about these threats and think that should North Korea genuinely have the eed to keep a watchful eye on North Korea’s actions. If Kim’s threats are not bluffs and he once again goes against the UN ship between North Korea and its neighboring countries. country to always make bluffs,” says sophomore Gabriela Perez. “Hopefully this is just another one and nobody gets hurt.” and North Korea growing stronger and strong, the Supreme Leader’s intentions and potential actions clearly need to be ountry can be sure if he is bluffing once again or if he isn’t. Kim has shown he holds no respect for the United States and rth Korea to make sure these so called nuclear warheads, should they actually exist, don’t go to use.
e Election really works
mine
Claude
Editor - Content
king about the 2016 Presidential Election. The nation’s first African-American president, Barack Obama, will be stepping h many have spent months voicing their opinions on who our next commander-in-chief should be, others, especially young ed on the process and become part of an informed electorate. all kinds of elections for candidates running for either the Democratic party or the Republican party. Though there are other minence in politics as the main two do. unhappy with the state of things but don't vote, then you're part of the problem. High voter turnout results in people who he interests of the general public in mind get elected,” said senior Carlos Andreu. lections. Primary and caucus elections are the first elections held during election season. This is when voters from the difa caucus, groups of supporters from a political party attend their precinct caucus location. At the location, representatives y people should vote for them. Then one of two things can happen. In a Democratic caucus, the voters move to the side of e voters write down the name of the candidate of their choice and all the votes are collected and counted. om campaign staffers. There are two types of primaries that a state can choose to hold: open primaries and closed primaries. tion, in a closed primary, only registered Democrats would be able to vote for either of the Democratic candidates Bernie date. In an open primary, a registered Democrat could vote for Republican candidate Marco Rubio. of delegates available. Delegates are citizens who cast their ballot for who the nominee should be. Each state has a different at the popular vote is. In Republican primaries and caucuses, there is a winner-take-all system. This means that the candidate es and caucuses, there is proportional representation system. This means that each candidate wins delegates based on how state. If Hillary Clinton wins 60% of the popular vote and Bernie Sanders wins 40% of the popular vote, Clinton receives e. Superdelegates are delegates that don’t have to vote based on what the popular vote is. In total, there are 1,401 delegates mocrats to win, with 2,383 needed to win the nomination. what makes candidates like Trump and Sanders, who rely on the common people's anger with the system, so popular,” said ould. Otherwise it's a disservice to all the people without the same access to a voice in government.” ions. After the announcement, the general election portion of election season begins. At that point, there are only two canpen, meaning that anyone can vote for any candidate no matter what party they’re in or what party the candidate is in. For ted to. Unlike primaries and caucuses, where states decide when they’re going to vote, all general election voting happens
U.S. presidential elections, the winner is decided by the Electoral College, a group of representatives from each state that their state, though they don’t legally have to. Each state has its own number of electors, which is equivalent to that state’s he population of the state, and two senators, which means that it has 29 electors up for grabs. In total, there are 538 electors,
counts. On average, only 60% of eligible voters go out to vote during presidential elections, and if the other 40% came out and vote are young adults under the age of 30. Though the young vote could possibly decide who wins elections, because is and head out to the polls to create the future that they want.
Graphic by: Matthew Perez
Frank Mora
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Staff Writer
f Donald Trump is not already completely dominating the GOP Republican race, then he is pretty close to doing so. The NYC-born billionaire is the current frontrunner to win nomination and become the Republican to run for president. Trump has about 274 more delegates than the current second place nominee, Ted Cruz. The hard-nosed businessman seemed to take everyone by surprise in this election. When Trump first announced he would run for president, everyone seemed to take him as a joke and assumed he was only campaigning out of sheer boredom or to amass publicity. These ideas have long been cast out the door as Trump continues to consistently win states and as his rallies attract bigger and bigger crowds. Trump is coming off big victories in Florida, Illinois, North Carolina, and Missouri. He currently has 739 delegates and needs 1237 to win. Trump said in a speech yesterday “We are going to keep winning, winning, winning and make America great again.” Some may argue that this displays overconfidence, but if he continues winning states at the current rate his confidence is credible. In other Republican Party news, former Florida senator Marco Rubio has officially dropped out of presidential race. Rubio had only won one state before dropping out (Minnesota) and he was not really challenging the top 2 Republican nominees. It will now be interesting to see who the Floridian will endorse if he does choose to do so. On the Democratic side of the race, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is making quite a case for herself being the next POTUS. The former First Lady is coming off huge wins in Florida, Ohio, North Carolina, and Illinois . A couple more wins like these and Clinton will seal the nomination. Bernie Sanders on the other hand currently is struggling as he still looks to upset Clinton. The Vermont senator still needs 1379 delegates to win as Clinton only needs 671. The Democratic Socialist is going to have to almost win every other state in order to win this race which is highly unlikely, but possible. Sophomore Corey Lessey said “I am really disappointed that Bernie is doing so poorly. I fully believed he was going to beat Hillary Clinton but now every day that passes it feels less and less likely that will happen.” The majority of students at Charter, along with many other high school-age students across the US, have shown overwhelming support for Bernie Sanders in the past year, even quite a few Jaguars attending his Miami rally in March. However, most of the adult American democrats, while they do respect him, do not agree with his socialist attitude toward fiscal issues. All in all, former Secretary of State Clinton and businessman Donald Trump are likely to head off against one another this fall, but the drama of the election is not set to conclude anytime soon.
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