The chat newspaper december 2014 year 15 issue #4

Decking the Halls at PPCHS

For Holiday Coverage: See Features Page 18

Jake Dreilinger Editor-in-Chief Maria Bozo - Layout/Content Kyle Moss-Solomon - Video Managing Editors Chatter Daily News Taylor Horan Web Managing Editor Emily Deese Business Manager Mr. J. Harris - Layout Mr. F. Fagen - Content Mr. J. Harris - Video Advisers

Mr. P. Bayer Principal Looghermine Claude News Editor Melissa Pierce Student Life Editor David Cha-Kim Technology Editor Shakayla Lee Entertainment Editor

Contents

The C.H.C. Staff

Brett Alayon Sports Editor Aalyiah Pasols Features Editor Nicholas Rivera Lifestyle Editor Hayley Hartwell Clubs Editor Tyra Green By the Grade Editor Rebecca Gonzalez - The CHAT Peter Dourvetakis - Web Photo Editors Matthew Perez Graphics Editor Carmen Pettersen Cartoonist

CONTENT STAFF: Josiah Celestine, Lauren Cookley, Matthew Deno, Sofia Gangotena, Camilo Grijalva, Hanan Hessin, LJ Lemmers, Autumn Pough, Lauren Ramirez LAYOUT STAFF: Emily Deese, Tomas Eiletz, Esteban Gangotena, Jacob Morgenstern, Fernando Plata PHOTOGRAPHY STAFF: Ryan Corona, Jonathan Harris, Alexis MongeRodriguez, Aalyiah Pasols, Sydney Silverberg GRAPHIC STAFF: Katie Perez CHAT VIDEO NEWS STAFF: Samuel Eliacin, Matthew Fernandez, Genesis Vesco 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

4-9 Student Life: All I want for Christmas is...

Pep Rally’s appearance touches students’ hearts

42-43 Lifestyle: The CHAT Editorial: Social media with a side of anxiety 10 Tips for nailing a job interview

38-41 Technology: Super brothers smash their way to the top Add these games to your holiday shopping cart

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Studen

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nt Life

Feature on Emily Rangel: Pg 33

24-35 Sports: PPCHS’ declassified sports survival guide: soccer The CHAT Editorial: fantasy football needs a reality check

44-47 News:

Feature on Winter Fantasy: Pg 23

18-21 Features: Jaguars put the ‘giving’ in Thanksgiving The CHAT Editorial: Deck the halls with pricey presents

36-37 Entertainment:

Global giving always the season for these visionaries

Leaving he labels behind: Raven Symone’s

School shooters are dominated by males

Arianna Noda: Can’t “shake off” meeting Taylor Swift

22-23 Clubs & Electives:

48-49 Columns:

Yearbook: Year in the life of a class

The most festive transition into the holliday season

Debate: PCD makes waves nationally

Holidays: Bargain huniting hurts the family

Pep Rally’s appearance Brett Alayon and Hayley Hartwell Sports Editor and Clubs Editor

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he entire school gathered in one place. Stands filled with screams, laughter, and applause while cheering on their fellow Jaguars as they perform their long practiced routines. This was the scene at this year’s first pep rally: the long awaited fall pep rally.

Typically, homecoming week ends with the Fall Pep Rally. For PPCHS in late October of 2014, it wasn’t a typical high school homecoming week ending; in fact, there wasn’t one.

Due to inclement weather on October 24th, Pep Rally was rescheduled to November 6th, a high school study day. Almost 1,800 people (including students and faculty members) witnessed the beating sun that could not be ignored; however, the second attempt at Pep Rally was a success, weather-wise and PPCHS-wise.

The fall sports that were in season or had just completed their season trotted out onto the turf to get the recognition that they deserved—they caught the student’s eyes with chicken fights, interesting chants/huddles, and sweet dance moves. These sports included JV Football, Varsity Football, JV Girls Volleyball, Varsity Girls Volleyball, Boys/Girls Cross Country, Boys/Girls Swimming and Diving. No one ever forgets the Book Club/Society, how could anyone? As usual, they were the first to go on out with enormous posters and lively costumes that grasped students’ attention immediately.

“This was my final fall pep rally and one I’ll never forget. As a member of SGA, it was another stressful week, but in the end, I think we pleased the students. Going out there with the football team one final time was pretty emotional. All the students in the bleachers had good energy, which really put the icing on top of the cake,” said senior Tanner Redding.

From freshmen to seniors, all students were prepared to watch the band play their infamous tunes, the drum line create movements among the stands, the step team slapping and clapping their bodies in rhythm and in unison, the dance team showcasing their killer dance moves which has the entire crowd’s attention, the JV and Varsity cheerleading squads flipping and throwing themselves into the air leaving the crowd in awe, and the baton-twirling Majorettes impressing the crowd with their hand eye coordination. All the teams came to the field with their incredible new routines to start off the Pep Rally. Sophomore Gaby Johnston sang the national anthem with a few technical difficulties in between verses, but the students came together and completed the song in unison, showing school spirit once again.

Junior Leysi Espinel, member of the girls’ varsity Volleyball Team, stated, “When my team was called and we walked towards the middle of the field, I couldn’t believe how many people were in the stands. It was extremely packed and hopefully it’s like that in the spring too.”

The hosts of the Pep Rally CJ Cruz and Nick Berandino kept the show moving right along, making up for the technical difficulties. The cheerleaders proceeded to take the field; they showed off their newly choreographed routine for their classmates, and like all the other teams and clubs, they had worked tirelessly to perfect their routine. Incorporating the Bond, Jags Bond theme of homecoming, The Majorettes baton twirling team had music from the James Bond movies as they twirled and tossed their batons in the air.

The Majorettes tell the CHAT, “We practice really hard before the football games and Pep Rally. It has taken a lot of practice to learn the proper throwing techniques and how much time you have before the baton will fall to the ground,” A team that brought the crowd to their feet was the PPCHS Dance Team. The Dance Team has always been one to remember from previous pep rallies, but this year there was another wow factor added to the team. There was a boy dancing with them! Freshman MacKenzie Henderson-Kell was the only boy among a line of girls, clearly drawing the audience’s attention. Putting even more emphasis on the new member of the group, he received a solo part where he free styled moves in front of the crowd.

“Being the only boy on the Dance Team is not something new to me; at my studio there are only three boys in total, so I am used to being surrounded by girls. I think my performance and solo went well since my specialty is hip hop,” said Henderson-Kell (’18).

Walking out in prisoner’s orange with two cops keeping the prisoners in line, the Ladies of Essence Step Team made their appearance. The captains Ciara McKissick and Katarrina Mederos were the officers trying to keep the inmates in check. Before the pep rally, they had to change their music, which caused for some confusion between the team, but they managed to work it out by the time they entered the football stadium.

The Boys Choir made a first time appearance at Pep Rally, performing Drake’s song “Find Your Love” and a little part of Chris Armstrong and Brandon Lawrence’s, seniors here at PPCHS, original song “Money Ting”, which really got the crowd singing along.

The Boys Choir left the students even more pumped up for the drum line that concluded the 2014 Fall Pep Rally.

Senior Damien Charles, who performed with the group of six guys, said, “The atmosphere was great. As soon as we started singing “Find Your Love” everyone in the stands jumped up and started singing along. That gave all of us more confidence to perform better and finish the song. I thought our performance and the rest of Pep Rally went well.”

Although disappointed by the announcement of the first Pep Rally being cancelled, the Jags managed to bring back the pep the second time around. As the students exited the football stadium, the school spirit didn’t leave their souls. The south Florida heat was on point the whole Pep Rally, and the student performances were as well.

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Photo By: Alex Monge

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Photo By: Alex Monge

touches students’ hearts

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Photo By: Sydney Silverberg

Photo By: Sydney Silverberg

Photo By: Alex Monge

Photo By: Alex Monge

By: Alex Monge

Photo By: Sydney Silverberg

Photo By: Sydney Silverberg

Photo By: Sydney Silverberg

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Student Life

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Jag awaits National Merit crown

The National Merit Scholarship is a non-profit scholarship program that is carried out in the United States every year, beginning in 1955. It is an academic competition for elite high school students all across the country to win recognition and university scholarships given out by NMSC, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.

In order to qualify for this prestigious opportunity, there are certain qualifications that students need. First, they need to have taken the PSAT/NMSQT no later than their third year of high school. One also needs to be a registered high school student and a legal citizen of the United States. Of the over one million entries, 16,000 students are taken as semifinalists and from there 15.000 are taken as finalists. Winners can earn up to $2500 in scholarships per year (nationalmerit.org). Students will find out in February if they made it as a finalist.

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Kelsey Farenhem

enior Kelsey Farenhem, straight A-student, President of PPCHS Key Club, sophomore and Senior Leader of Pines Charter History Hunters, and Vice President of the Science National Honor Society, is one of the only two Jag students to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship here at PPCHS, the other being senior Arvind Iyengar.

Farenhem simply prepared by reviewing a lot of vocabulary words and by using Ray Dass’ tutoring program, which actually ended up helping her a lot. As Farenhem heads into the second half of her final year at PPCHS, she is hoping to get into her dream school, Yale University.

“I find out in December if I get in [to Yale] because I did early action Photo By: Sydney Silverberg there. We’ll see, to be honest, I’m a bit nervous because I really have no idea if I’m going to get in,” said Farenhem.

Farenham has been known in her four years as a jag to always excel and overachieve. She will definitely continue to do so wherever her future takes her.

Arvind Iyengar

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PCHS Senior Arvind Iyengar, has been working hard these past 4 years and has achieved his goal. He was announced a finalist for the National Merit Scholarship.

Arvind said, “It took a lot of hard work. I would normally come home every day after school and study for about 2-3 hours a day. I also took SAT prep classes and also attended Ray Dass classes to help me improve my scores.”

The school offers an SAT prep class for any students who are interested in increasing their score. After the school recognized Arvind’s proficiency in the PSAT, he was asked to teach one of the SAT classes.

Arvind stated, “I thought it was a great experience to be up in front of many Photo By: Sydney Silverberg students, able to actually teach many of the different lessons. I feel that this is a very big accomplishment for me and that this will help me in my future in many ways. My older brother had also received this same scholarship and I think it is awesome to be able to have done the same.”

Iyengar truly embodies PPCHS’ motto—College, Citizenship, Community. His achievement shows that after all the hard work and effort put in, anyone can achieve their goals. PPCHS looks forward to seeing the success Arvind will reach in his years to come.

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Band at MPA: Junior Shane Smith plays his best at the MPA assessment for band. Photo By: Alex Monge

anessa Os times before and wasn’t playing fo judges who woul flowed from her On Saturday, N of the band’s ove attending these a “I was so nervo MPA before so I pretty similar, bu The MPA asses performance of p song “Fu- Mon” “Sundance”, thei “We practiced f were so proud of do it, but seeing The second par playing music th After these five m of “excellent”.

“This was such new band memb Andrew Walters.

They were still v bers put in, but a The PPCHS hig yond outstanding announced withi effort and this wa

Overloads lead to much-n Sofia Gangotena

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Staff Writer

s the school year continues, teachers pile on more homework and projects, student seniors stress about college applications. There comes a time where days off are relished off gratefully and either relax with friends or catch up on work previously complete due Junior Katie Foss said, “Days off are great when teachers pile on homework and projec between are ways for us to blow off steam.”

One thing to do that is very common on days off is to relax. Many students take the favorite shows on Netflix. A beloved way to watch TV shows and movies, it's a surefire most common source.

Students also take the day off to go to work. Senior Caroline Castillo uses days off t Grill, takes extra shifts when there’s no school. “Usually, when I know that I don’t hav shift at work,” she said.

Another thing students do is go and hang out with friends. In order to take one’s mind of up, distracting oneself with the company of others is a popular way to spend days off. Jun

Can’t Wait for a Break: These seniors are r looking forward to a break with all the stress been under. Donated By: Sofia Lalinde

Student Life

Band is superior at MPA Lauren Ramirez Staff Writer

orio’s hands shook nervously as she put her flute up to her lips. She had played this song what seemed like a million her performance was always flawless, but today was the one time when how she played the song really counted. She or her family or friends- she wasn’t playing for the band members or her band director. She was playing for a panel of ld evaluate her performance. She took a deep breath to calm her nerves, and when she got the cue to start- the music fingers and escaped through her breath flawlessly. It was exactly how she had practiced it so many times before.

November 4th, the PPCHS band attended Music Performance Assessments (MPA). This yearly event is an evaluation erall performance and is an opportunity for them to advance their skills and perform for judges. PPCHS has been assessments for years and they always manage to bring home amazing scores, this year’s MPA being no exception. us about the performance”, said freshman french horn player Gabriel Moljo, “I had never performed at a high school was not sure what I should expect out of the experience. I have performed at middle school MPAs before, and it was ut the judges scored us on a much more difficult scale, so we really had to make sure our performance was flawless.” ssment has several parts that evaluate individual aspects of the band’s ability. The first of these parts is the band’s pieces they have prepared. For this section, the band played two songs entitled “Fu-Mon” and “Sundance”. For the ”, they received a score of “superior”, which is the highest accreditation a band can possibly receive. For the song ir score was “excellent”, which is the second highest score they can get. for weeks before MPA so we would be able to play our best. We all celebrated when we found out our scores. We f ourselves and glad all our weeks of practicing and perfecting got us to the scores we wanted. We knew we could the actual scores on paper really reminded us of the reality of it all,” said trumpet player and junior Tristan Colon. rt of their assessment involves sight reading sheet music. Sight reading is a task that involves a band reading and hat they have never seen or performed before. They have five minutes to observe the sheet music without playing it. minutes they play the song before a judge, who then gives the band a score. For this section, they received a score

h an incredible experience, as it always is. My absolute favorite part of the day was seeing the excited looks on our bers’ faces when they received their first high school MPA score and it was a ‘superior’” said drum player and junior . He went on to say that the band usually does great at MPA, so it was no surprise to him that this year they excelled. very grateful for the score they got and they knew that they owed it all to the hard work that not only the band memalso the dedication put forth by their band director Mr. Daugherty. gh school band’s hard work and dedication to excellence and perfection definitely paid off in the end with their beg performance. The PPCHS school band is now preparing for a performance at their winter concert, which will be in the next few weeks. Congratulations to the band on their superior rating and amazing performance- they put in the as reflected in their scores.

needed breaks

ts spend time balancing school and work, and and always needed. Students take these days e to procrastination. cts on top of their classwork. Those breaks in

Music Magic: The PPCHS band proved to be superior at the MPA assessment. Photo By: Alex Monge

Midterm Schedule Nicholas Rivera

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Staff Writer

ast year, a momentous change came when midterms were moved to before winter break. This year, the process is being changed slightly again. Instead of having midterms on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, the actual testing days will be moved up to Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Thursday instead will be a day to make up any missed exams. This solves the problem of missing exams and not being able to make them up until after the two week break. The schedule will go as follows:

break as an opportunity to catch up on their e source for relaxation from school, if not the

to go to work. Castillo, who works at Sports ve anything to do, like go to school, I take a

ff that really difficult math test that is coming nior Nicole Cruz said, "On days off, I usually drive around with friends and go out to lunch."

Some students take the time to get ahead in school, instead of using it to relax. But what should we really do on all of these seemingly free days? Freshman Kiara Ayala-Triaz said, “I don’t think we even have time to get ahead.

We already have enough homework as it is. I don’t have time to do more than what I already need to.”

What does a teacher think about this? Do they think we need more days off? English teacher Mrs. Portuondo said, “I think that students are overcommitted.

It’s not necessarily time off, but time to de-stress.”

Whether or not students use days off to relax and hang out with friends or do work, students agree that breaks are needed.

Maybe we get too much breaks, maybe not. Regardless, it’s a really time to recollect thoughts and s they have prepare for the rest of the school days that await us.

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All I want for C

Student Life

“Cheer bows, because I am a cheerleader. I already have a million bows, but I want more.”

-Freshman Nicole Wong

“Infinite wishes. Who wouldn’t want infinite wishes?”

-Freshman Juan Gomez

“[are] burritos because “No homework so I can burritos are life.” have a good winter break.”

-Sophomore Alejandro -Junior Lawrence Marable Fernandez

“A loan to start my business. The business has to do with photography. It’s still in the developmental phase.” -Freshman Christopher Rundell

“Pokemon Alpha Saphire for 3DS because it’s a remake of one of the earlier games. I’m excited for it.”

-Sophomore Gabriella Billa

“A TARDIS [from ‘Doctor Who’] so I could travel through space and time.”

-Sophomore Julian Skeete

“A digital camera because I love photography.

I would to have a camera so I can better pursue my interest.”

-Junior Jessica Nelson

Spreading Holiday Chee

Taylor

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s the cold wind blows in and the smells of pinecone and peppermint fill the air, everyone is beginning to feel the holly, jolly holiday spirit. The holiday spirit is clearly present at PPCHS. With the holiday season here, it is time for presents to start popping up all over campus. Some students are taking part in gift exchanges in the form of ‘Secret Santa.’ Others are purchasing gifts for all their close friends. A few are creating hand-made gifts for holiday presents. No matter what winter holiday is being celebrated, the gift-giving season is upon us.

The majority of students choose to purchase gifts for their friends. Purchasing gifts can get quite expensive. Junior Sasha Saran-Persad had a successful giving season last year by purchasing her gifts in bulk and giving each friend the same present with the only variant being flavor. She shared, “Every year, I

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Managing E

like to give my friends little gifts for Christmas to show them I care. Last Christmas, I gave my friends scented M&M themed candles because they were cute and festive. I got a really good response from my friends.”

Saran-Persad is not the only student who has to overcome the trouble of purchasing multiple holiday presents for friends. Junior Chinelo Osakwe has found the best seasons to purchase gifts for her friends. She likes to search for gifts during the days following Thanksgiving known as Black Friday and Cyber Monday. This shopping method helps Osakwe save money and purchase more gifts for her friends. “I have money from my birthday that I save up to buy [holiday] presents. I go Black Friday shopping because I have a lot of friends to buy presents for. There are a lot of great deals on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. When it gets closer to Christmas time, it is usually harder to get

Christmas is…

Student Life

“Another guitar because I need one more to get to twelve.”

-Junior Breanna Jomsky

“College acceptances letter. That would make me very happy.”

-Senior Katherine Castaner

“A new car. My [current] “Good health so I can live car is nice but slow. I life to the fullest.” would like a BMW M3.” -Ms. Alberta -Senior Marcel Denbow

“A Barnes & Noble gift card, because I need books… for everything.”

-Junior John-Paul Herrera

“To spend Christmas with my nephews who live in Jamaica because I miss them and have not seen them since May.” -Senior Camille Haynes

“to spend Christmas in New York because it is so beautiful there. It is on my bucket list.”

-Senior Emily Asaro

“My daughter because I miss her. She’s in Pensacola and I would like to see her.”

-Ms. Oltmans

er through Gifts for Peers

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Horan

Editor - Web

good deals until after Christmas.” This method has worked for Osakwe for many years.

She plans to continue shopping during these discount days for many years to come.

While many students enjoy the ease of purchasing a gift for friends, some Jags choose to take the extra mile and create gifts. Sophomore Anette Mago, who is known for her artistic capabilities, prefers to create the gifts for her friends.

“I feel purchasing gifts are impersonal. I feel if I make the gift, I give it a more personalized meaning. In terms of making the gifts, I consider the interests and qualities of the person. I deduce from that what kind of gift the person would like.” Last year, she created a special gift for a friend who has an infatuation with the Harry Potter franchise.

She said, “My friend has a large interest in Harry Potter. I made a shirt, cut it up, did a fabric painting that said ‘Mischief Managed’ and had all the footprints going all over

the place. She was fanatical when she received it.” While Mago admits hand-made gifts seem to take a lot more time and effort, she feels that the extra care is worth it for the happiness she brings her friends when they receive her gifts.

No matter what gift Jags get their friends, everyone is thankful for a little joy in their life. Gift shopping can be difficult, but some students seem to have figured out the trick.

Sophomore Princia Legrand, who purchases holiday gifts for her friends online, has sage advice for students trying to find the right way to show their friends they care during the holiday season. She said, “Think hard. Make sure you know the person well enough so you know what to get them.” Happy Gift-Giving!

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Around the world in just one day Hanan Hessin & Autumn Pough

The crisp cool air, the loud shouts of joy from the tops of roller coasters, and the sweet smell of foods from all over

the world is just a few things a person could find at Walt Disney World’s Epcot Resort. Epcot is the second of four theme parks built at Walt Disney World. This theme park, formally known as Epcot center, expands for 300 acres, more than twice the size of the Magic Kingdom Park. With over ten countries in the park, you can just imagine how much of the world students got to experience in only one day.

Many began their day with one of Epcot’s most famous rides, Test Track. Going at a high speed of 65 mph, students had the opportunity to design their own car. Some other awesome attractions in the Future World East part of the park include Spaceship Earth, Mission: SPACE, and Universe of Energy. Spaceship Earth is an enlightening journey through time that explores mankind’s technological advances over the centuries. Mission Space is a simulator that creates an astronaut experience aboard a spacecraft on a mission to Mars.

Once you enter the World Showcase, the first country that you are greeted with is Mexico. Along with the five amazing restaurants to choose from, there is also the Gran Fiesta Tour starring the Three Caballeros. This musical boat tour is hosted by Jose Carioca, Panchito, and a fan favorite, Donald Duck. After Mexico comes Norway, where you can dine with Disney princesses, and enjoy the rich, sweet Norwegian chocolate on the Viking Boat Voyage. Then comes China, which has an awesome reflection of China show.

After that is Germany and Italy where you can taste some of the most traditional dishes of these countries. The American Adventure includes an inspirational story on America and its people, and an American Heritage Gallery which is a National Treasures exhibit. Japan, Morocco, and freshman Alicia Graubard’s personal favorite, France comes next.

“My favorite country was definitely France because of the beautiful setting. They had an Eiffel Tower and cute little cafes that my friends and I just sat down at and talked. It was just a really nice place to be with my friends,” said Graubard. The last two countries to visit is United Kingdom, and Canada. Canada’s famous “O Canada!’ circle-vision 360 film is hosted by Canadian actor Martin Short.

In the Future World West part of the park, students enjoyed the variety of attractions including-but not limited to- The Seas with Nemo and Friends, Turtle Talk with Crush, Journey into Imagination with Figment, and Captain EO. One of the more popular and favored rides was Soarin’.

“My favorite ride had to have been Soarin’, I felt like I was actually flying. It takes you through a breathtaking adventure, it’s definitely the best ride,” said freshman Mia Gonzalez.

The experience is one the freshmen will forever remember.

From the doughnuts the size of his face, to the Mariachi bands in Mexico, to the huge waterfall in the middle of the park, freshman Zeyad Ghali’s favorite overall experience was getting to see all the different countries. “Getting to see some of the different parts of the world with all my friends is an experience that I’ll definitely cherish,” said Ghali.

Epcot is known for its culture and excitement. In one day at Epcot, a person can learn more about a country and their lifestyle in place of having to actually travel to that country. Thrill seeking rides, animated simulations, and beautiful weather were things that made up the freshman class trip. Students who have not yet been able to experience the world, got to learn about the geography, culture, and history of eleven different countries, in just one day. More importantly, they had a blast while doing so. When it was all said and done, PPCHS freshmen had an experience that they can cherish and remember for a lifetime.

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Staff Writers

Field Trip: Freshmen are enjoying their time at Epcot. Photo donated by: Bella Bobadilla

Epcot: Freshmen arrive at epcot for their first high school field trip. Photo donated by: Bella Bobadilla

Fresh Exempt of Midterms LJ Lemmers Staff Writer

A little freshman walks into the classroom. He takes his seat and waits for the directions of his teacher. His teacher says she has an announcement to make about Midterms. He thinks it’s

the same old information explained like in middle school, but as he listens closely, he hears the word “exempt.” The little cub looks around the room, staring at his peers, seeing smiles on some faces, and hearing shouts of joy. Freshman Errol Spence has just heard that he can exempt three classes from the midterm this year.

“When I heard my teacher say that we can exempt three classes, I was really excited. It makes school life so much easier when you only have to take three midterms instead of worrying about six,” said freshman Errol Spence.

For incoming students, this year is a time of change. With a combination of the seven week quarter and midterms looming right around the corner, freshmen are scrambling around trying to get used to the new rules they heard this year. Exempting midterms is one of them.

Having the option to exempt midterms is a big change compared to middle school. In middle school students are required to take every midterm for all of their classes. However, high school allows you to exempt taking a midterm from three classes of your choice. The only catch is that students must have an A or B in both quarters in that class to avoid taking the midterm.

“I think the midterms are going to be hard but not too challenging. Luckily for me, I can exempt half of my classes so it’s going to make my life easier. I feel that the midterms in high school are going to be harder than in middle school. I’ll be exempting from my Spanish, English, and Science classes because I don’t want to take them. My reason is because they are going to be way too difficult for me, but I have an A from last quarter, so hopefully I can get an A or B this quarter to exempt them,” said freshman Tasha Echeverria.

However, for some freshmen, hearing that they can exempt from midterms, but don’t meet

the qualifications have them panicking and upset about not being able to exempt.

“It’s going to be awful for me. The teachers are not going to have no mercy on us.

We can’t exempt the midterms for EOC. I’m not going to survive this year at all,” said freshman Isabella Thomas.

To exempt from the midterm, a form is required to be filled out. No exam exemptions will be accepted unless it is completed, signed, and turned in by deadline. The form requires that you fill out the three classes you are exempting for the semester if the criteria is met. Freshmen should be aware that if their grades falls below a “B” before the semester is over, they would have to take that exam for that course. Failure to turn in the form by the deadline will result in having to take the midterm of all classes. Even when eligible, freshmen do not have to exempt from the midterm.

“Once I heard from Mrs. Ferrer that we do not need to take midterms if we have an A or B in our classes, I was very relieved because I struggle in Spanish class. I had trouble in the first quarter but was able to get a B. I just need to get a B this quarter to avoid taking it. Also, I would exempt from taking Geography and English because they aren’t my strongest subjects,” said freshmen Bergan Oudshoorn.

Even though, freshmen have heard about the exemption rule, they should be aware that there are benefits from taking the midterm despite being able to avoid taking it.

Freshmen can have the opportunity to improve their semester grade by taking the midterm and getting higher grade. Freshmen must think and choose wisely what classes they are going to exempt to not having any regrets in the future. Good luck to all freshmen this year in taking the midterm.

Exemption Form: Freshmen have already recieved their forms and can now exempt midterms. Photo by: Aaliyah Pasols

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‘Cruz’ing through PPCHS a LJ Lemmers Staff Writer

He is the main officer of the Class of 2017. He is helping with the funding to make his class have the best high school experience of a lifetime. If he isn’t doing that, then he is at Mrs. Battle’s office with senior Nick Bernardinho doing the morning announcements, entertaining the whole school with his jokes. If he isn’t doing either of these things, than he is just being a regular Charter student. This boy is the one and only, Christopher Cruz.

Christopher Cruz, or CJ, (what most of his friends like to call him) is the sophomore class President and the morning announcer for Jags News. Being the class president is tough work for Cruz, he is constantly trying to make sure the funding is organized and ready to go to make sure the Class of 2017 have fun events for them to enjoy. He says that he really enjoys working with all the other members of the class and thinking of ideas that could benefit the sophomore class.

“As the president of my class, I am really thankful to help the school out and make it a better place,” said Cruz.

CJ was born July 21, 1998 in Jacksonville, Florida. A few months later, he moved here to Pembroke Pines. His father, Christopher Cruz Sr. is from the Philippines and mother, Carol Cruz is from Alabama. Cruz’s father, Christopher, is a commander of the U.S Navy Seal Corps.

His biggest inspiration in his life is his dad. Seeing him overcome diversity and working so hard to become a commander of the navy, his father makes Cruz want to be just like him.

Cruz has also stated that George Lucas is a big inspiration in his life.

“My dad had to face and beat a lot of diversity in his life. Seeing him work so hard has left a big impact on me. That’s why I work hard and want to work even harder so I can become like my dad one day. George Lucas has also made an impact on my life. Watching his Star Wars movies and the effort and time he puts into them, made me strive to do the same in any activity I do,” said Cruz.

When Cruz isn’t at school, he spends his time doing a variety of activities. Whether it’s lying down on his couch at home reading comic books about his favorite superhero, Spiderman while drinking some orange juice or watching sci-fi movies, Cruz is always trying to find time to relax. Cruz also loves to go to museums and admire the different types of art they have to offer. One of Cruz’s talents is that he can solve a Rubik’s cube in minutes. Sometimes he will hang out with friends and watch a movie at Cinemark or go to the mall and check out merchandise they envy to have, but cannot afford and walk away laughing at the thought of thinking they could have bought it.

“With all the hard work I put out for the school and having my own job, I need to find times where I can sit by myself and just relax. Think about nothing but myself. I feel that people need to have times for themselves to get away from all the problems even if it’s for a little while” said Cruz.

Even outside of school, work seems to follow Cruz wherever he is goes. Cruz has a special job. Cruz works at Chick-Fil-A as the cow mascot. If you’re driving by Chick-Fil-A on a weekend, and see a guy dressed in a cow suit dancing and spinning a Chick-Fil-A sign, it is most likely Cruz getting his cow on.

As the commentator for the morning announcement, Cruz says it’s a lot of fun working with Bernandinho. Also, Cruz was the announcer for Pep Rally and displayed a very good show for all the students at Charter during the event. Ever since Cruz was young he has been entertaining people his whole life. Whether it would be at parties or family get-togethers, Cruz would bring joy for everyone.

“It’s a lot of fun to thinking of things coming of my head that is funny to us and can be funny to the students of Charter. I enjoy the job a lot and glad I can entertain the school,” said Cruz.

Right now, Cruz has no plans of where he wants to go to college. However, he hopes to pursue a career in the creative field. Cruz has said that he wants to do a job where he can show his creativity to express himself. When people see his work, they say “Wow, that was made by Christopher Cruz” Cruz wants to continue doing what he loves which is entertaining people and becoming a better person every day.

“Every day I strive to become a better person than I was yesterday. I hope that the experiences I face now and in the future will be of use to people who need help and I can provide that for them. Right now, I’m going to continue to help with the Class of 2017 get the funding they need for their graduation year and to continue entertaining people in my life to bring joy into their life,” Cruz said.

Pep Relly: Sophomore CJ Cruz shares the excitement at this year’s pep rally. Photo by: Alex Monge

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Spirit: Cruz goes all out for spirit week by dressing as a ghostbuster. Photo b

a fun ride

by: Alex

Sophomores Sell Yankee Candles Josiah Celestine Staff Writer

W hile seniors are worrying about college, prom, and grad bash, sophomores are focusing on fundraising money for their class. The Yankee Candles fundraiser can help

Pep: Cruz stands in front of all the students in the cafeteria to try to pep them up. Photo by: Alex Monge

Monge

Duo: Cruz and Senior Nick Berardino led the school in this year’s pep rally. Photo by: Peter Dourvetakis

sophomores with the stress they will soon have during senior year. The basic idea of the fundraiser is that the money you earn from selling the candles is put towards your class, and also towards you personally for later on in your high school career. The sale began on October 27th and it ended on November 10th for all grades.

The way it works is that if your sell a specific amount of candles, you will get a reward for it. The more you sell, the better the prize. The amounts and prizes range from $200 being sold will get you a free class shirt for this or next year, to $2000 being sold which gets you a free senior jersey and a free ticket to grad bash.

While all classes were selling the Yankee Candles as they do every year, it was stressed upon the sophomore class because seniors can’t use any of the incentives that come with selling the Yankee Candles, juniors have other fundraisers to focus on and SAT, and freshmen are new to high school and have other fundraisers.

“The Yankee Candle fundraiser is a fundraiser that PPCHS participates in every year, and it students that try to sell as much as they can usually bring in enough to help them out later on in their high school career, so I believe that this is a good fundraiser,” said The sophomore class sponsor, Mrs. Hyacinth.

This gave everyone interested enough time to sell as much candles as they could have sold. To pick up and order form students had to go see Mrs. Hyacinth in room U233. The candles sold ranged from jar candles, to vase and swirl candles. There’s a type of candle for everyone if they want to buy.

Even though the sale of the Yankee Candles was mostly for sophomores, they didn’t put their best effort forward in selling them. Sophomore class sponsor Mrs. Hyacinth said, “The sophomore class has only sold around $200 while the junior class has sold about $300 worth of Candles” The sale of the Yankee Candles was a great way to earn money for your school and to also get yourself some benefits later on in your high school career. While there may be many other fundraisers that students will participate in, this one has the best outcome for the student personally as well as the school.

Fundraising: This year’s sophomore class hopes to have a successful Yankee Candle Fundraiser. Photo by: Sydney Silverberg

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AP Jags prance at a chance at Princeton Review books Camilo Grijalva Staff Writer

For the last few years at PPCHS, many different AP teachers and the SGA team were in charge of selling Princeton Review Advance Placement Books. This year, however, things are

beginning to change. The Class of 2016 is now selling AP Princeton Review study guides for many advance placement courses.

“The availability of the AP books is really great,” said junior Corina Gornes, who has ordered multiple books for herself. “I feel like there is a lot less stress on students taking AP classes, like myself. I know that for me, I will take all the help I can get to pass the classes. The books really give us guidelines on what we really need to know for the tests, instead of just cramming in everything we learned throughout the class. I bought a book for each one for my AP classes.

Hopefully my choice pays off and they help with the class and the final test.”

This highly-demanded books cost $15 each. Books are offered for AP Literature, AP Language, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP Statistics, AP Psychology, AP World History, AP US History, and AP Government. Order forms can be received from all teachers teaching an AP class that has a Princeton Review Book. Single book orders have to be paid in cash, but orders for more than one book are allowed to be made by check. The deadline for any and all book orders is November 21st.

“These review books provide a lot of concise summaries of information that were covered in class textbooks,” said Ms. Torres, AP US History teacher. “They go into more detail so readers can fully grasp concepts that they might not have the first time around. It also includes tips for taking the AP test, sample questions, and many other sections that ensure students excel in their classes.”

This not only helps individual students taking the AP classes, but it also benefits the Class of 2016. One-third of every book order, five dollars, will go towards the junior class. These AP books are essentially paying for class trips, dances, and graduation parties for the Class of 2016. It will basically pay for all of the special gifts and occasions that the juniors will receive when they become seniors.

“I’m glad these books are helping not only the students taking the AP classes, but also every student in my grade,” said junior Chinelo Osakwe. “It’s nice to know that the books that we are spending money on benefit us in multiple ways. Not only am I getting a helpful book for my AP Psychology and AP English Language classes, I’m also basically paying for the benefits I get in senior. I’m happy to pay the $15.”

The AP Princeton Review Books are an important asset for all students taking one or even multiple classes. They offer a new look at all of the information learned throughout the year in an AP course. Students who are interested in passing their AP classes and the AP test, which should be every student, should be filling out their order forms for every Princeton Review book they can get. With the books, AP Jags can spend their time learning helpful tips for success, completing practice test questions. The AP Books are just another tool in their arduous journey to the end of the school year.

Jaguars Prowl at Busch Gardens Josiah Celestine

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Staff Writer

peeding down Cheetah Hunt with you friends at 60 miles per hour is one of the many fun filled activities that you will do when on the Busch gardens field trip. The physics class at PPCHS will be going to Tampa, Florida to go to Busch Gardens on December 5th. If you are a student taking the physics course and you don’t have any obligations that need to be completed, you are eligible to go on the trip.

The cost of the trip in total is $140. When you buy a ticket, you will receive a t-shirt, transportation to and from the park, a ticket into the park, and 1 meal voucher. This trip is a tradition here at PPCHS, every year students embark on this journey and year after year it continues to gain positive reviews from students. “I feel like this trip is definitely going to help with what we’re learning in physics because it will put into practice the concepts that we’re learning in psychics and help aid our understanding with the physical phenomenon. It’s also just going to be really fun with all my friends on the rollercoasters,” said Junior Julian Brown.

The trip is always a fun one, but it also has educational value to it. In the past years the park was closed off from the public so only students could enjoy the rides and attractions, but recently they have allowed the public to come to the park at this time, which hasn’t had a major impact on students. The day the students commute to Busch Gardens is formally known as “Physics Day,” there are presentations by professors and shows to help students with their understanding of important concepts in physics, such as G-force, friction, speed, and energy. Sometimes the presenters will even need a volunteer for what they’re doing, and they can call on a student from PPCHS, as they have done before. No matter what the students do at Busch Gardens, with all their friends they will make it a trip to remember.

“I believe that this trip is a very effective one because while it is very entertaining, it also has a lot of educational value for the students.

We have been going on this same trip since the school opened in 2000, and it has always gotten positive feedback from the students so we keep going back,” said the sponsor of the trip, Mr. Ramphall.

While there are many trip that students will go on throughout their high school career, they change from time to time, and there isn’t one specific trip that stays the same for more than a couple of years. Unless the trip you’re talking about is Busch Gardens. This trip has been the same at PPCHS since it opened, and always is one of the best trips of the year. It combines both entertaining and educational elements into one day for the students. In the end, student enjoyment is what it’s all about. Other trips might have one or the other, but Busch Gardens has the best of both worlds. This trip is an exciting one that juniors who are participating in will never forget and will always look back on with a fond memory of having one of the best times of their high school career.

AP Books: AP Literature books Photo by: Aaliyah Pasols

Two Many Books: The struggle of having to carry two more books in our book bags.

Photo by: Aaliyah Pasols

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Juniors Stressing for the SAT

Amanda Peralta Staff Writer

Junior year can be a very stressful time for many juniors as they start to make decisions that may influence the rest of their life. The Scholastic

Aptitude Test (SAT) is a big factor in the stress that juniors face. The SAT determines what college they go to and if they do not do well on the test they may not go to the school of their choice. Although there are classes that they can take and books they can buy to help them prepare, ultimately it is up to them to do well on the test.

Junior year is the demanding year that requires all juniors to take the SAT but many underclassmen have started to prepare, many of them like sophomore Valerie Arenas thinks the SAT is “nerve-wracking because it basically determines if you get into college or not.” From the first day you step into high school, freshmen year will revolve around the SAT and whether or not students are prepared to take it junior year.

Another method that many students use in preparing is taking the Preliminary – SAT(PSAT), it is a test very similar to the SAT but does not count in anyway; it is strictly just for practice and students can get an idea on what to expect. “I’m waiting for my scores from the PSAT because if I did well enough to be in the National Merit, I don’t have to worry about the SAT,” said junior Connie Nappier.

All juniors must take the SAT, but if they take the PSAT sophomore year then they can be qualified to be in the National Merit. Every junior would like to be in the National Merit since the SAT is such a rigorous test but unfortunately many are not. Using the study methods that many alumni’s utilized can help everyone do better on not only the SAT but also the PSAT. “I’m nervous for taking the SAT, but I’m also preparing so that I do well.

I’m confident that I can do well on the SAT and get into a good college.

I have to leave all negative thoughts and go into the test with a positive attitude,” said junior Sylvia Lillquist.

Teachers worry about their students doing well on the test nearly as much as students worry about doing well. Many teachers will review words that would be seen on the test and do exercises that slowly start preparing their students. Parents play almost as big as a part as the teachers do; it is up to the parents to buy their students the necessary materials to prepare and study. They must also make sure to be on top of their child to ensure that they are studying and taking the SAT seriously. Although preparing for the SAT and taking it can be a stressful process, many juniors do very well and end up going to the college of their choice.

Busch Gardens: Seniors Carmela Flores and Sarah Zaharako went to Busch Gardens last year and had a lot of fun. Photo Donated by: Carmela Flores

SAT Books: The stress of the Juniors goes into these books.

Photo by: Rebecca Gonzalez

Ostrich Feeding: Senior Justin Correa feeding the majestic Ostrich.

Photo Donated by: Carmela Flores

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Senior memorabilia IS worth the big bucks Tyra Green By the Grade Editor

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here’s nothing like senior year, absolutely nothing like it. How are you going to remember senior year? By simply just going through all of the sleepless nights, studying for those tough classes that colleges love to see on a senior schedule? Truly, students will want to look back on potentially the best year of their life with pride, but what items will you have to make you remember these moments? That’s when senior memorabilia comes into play, but shall never be called out.

A senior class jersey shows that you’re “big man on campus” and that you essentially run the school. Any high school student, whether a freshman, a senior, or anywhere in between, strives to be on top and drools for attention, whether they’d admit it or not. Senior jerseys are the ideal way for students to not only show off their school spirit every Friday, but always a reminder that they are the role models of the school too.

Females nowadays are constantly longing for jewelry, and some that may be too expensive. However, class rings allow female students to purchase a ring with several designs to their own personal likings in a price range from $200-$800. It is very rare a student does spend anywhere near the maximum amount which is a huge plus as well. “I am a charter starter and purchasing a class ring was such a great idea. The fact that I was able to instill my own design at a great price was really neat too. Every time I put it on it instantly reminds me of how much I admire being a Jaguar,” said senior Ashley Cristiantiello.

Households nowadays are filled with pictures on top of pictures, whether in the living room, family room, or in the hallways. Senior portraits are an ideal way for family members to hang up the cap and gown photo, reminding parents and other relatives of how much hard work their close one has done over the years. Senior Lauryn Oddy noted, “My mom started tearing up when we received my senior photos. She immediately took out my kindergarten photo when I had a cap and gown on their as well. Moments like these show why senior memorabilia is worth the price.”

Senior memorabilia is icing on top of the cake for high school students rollercoaster ride over the years. The items he/she receives will certainly be worth the money as the benefits of the memorabilia overcome any doubts. Senior year of high school is the final step into the real world and the memorabilia will always be called safe years beyond graduation.

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Photo By: Peter Dourvetakis

Senior Memorabilia: Things like your class ring makes senior costs worth while. Photo By: Peter Dourvetakis

Graphic By: Peter Dourvetakis

Senior memorabilia isn’t worth the big bucks Brett Alayon Sports Editor

Senior Forms: The cost of senior year is expensive because there are a lot of events taking place. Photo By: Peter Dourvetakis

The last year of high school is a year full of happiness, sadness, joy and anxiety. The first couple of months are reserved for college applications and admission tests. However, after the stress of college is over, senior year is mainly composed of enjoying the end of your school life and celebrating the start of your real life. The long list of things to pay for in senior year is never ending. From college application fees to senior trip payments, twelfth grade is a costly year. There is no need to add on unnecessary events that make senior year more expensive than it already is. Memories last longer than a t-shirt or cup with the word “senior” printed on it.

A class ring is a nice addition to your jewelry box and it symbolizes the end of your school career; however, it’s an unnecessary addition to senior year’s expensive price. Class rings range from $200 to $800; add ons can make the price rise. Class rings look nice, but after a couple of months they can become a distant memory. “At first I was really excited to buy a ring, I promised myself that I would wear it every day until I graduate but as time goes on its lost a lot of value in my eyes. This piece of gold doesn’t really capture what senior year means to me; if I had the choice of purchasing one again, I don’t think I would,” said senior Alyssa Rogers.

We live in the selfie millennia where a quick snap of a cellphone camera would equal to having a photo-shoot. Senior photos are becoming less and less demanded because of the popularity of selfies. Instead of spending hundreds of dollars on a professional photographer, snapping a quick picture of yourself dressed in cap and gowns is more effective, cheap and quick. Senior pictures are simply a waste of time and money. The amount of applications that provide editing and filtering for pictures help accomplish the same job that spending a couple hundred dollars on a photographer would. “I didn’t bother taking my senior pictures because I already have so many photos of myself it seemed useless,” said senior Joshua Ferguson.

At the end of your high-school journey the main concern is moving forward, although senior gifts will help keep the memory alive, a couple years down the road they will not mean much. The hundreds of dollars spent on buying things that advertise your senior year could be used in a far more impressive way.

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These Jaguars put the ‘g Sofia Mohammad

Arjun Talwar

very year in November, individuals are asked to sit back, reflect on their year, and be grateful for what their life has to offer. In sophomore Sofia Mohammad’s case, her and her family go above and beyond to make their annual Thanksgiving celebrations worth-while.

The Mohammad family packs up every Thanksgiving and heads to Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida; here they attend the Thanksgiving Day Parade, and throughout the rest of the holiday weekend, Sofia and her family visit the various other theme parks that Orlando has to offer.

“After we finish watching the parade and sightseeing around the park, we usually do Thanksgiving dinner at my cousin’s house. Our meal typically consists of turkey, sweet cranberry tarts, pecan pie, stuffed mushrooms, biscuits, stuffing, chicken biryani, and usually a random pasta dish,” Mohammad shared.

However, it is not where the Mohammad family spends this holiday that matters, but what they do to give back. Every year, Mohammad and her family donate items for a Thanksgiving dinner to children and families in need. In the past, her family has donated to countless homeless families and orphanages: the Central Florida Children’s Home, which is a center for children and families in need; The Camillus House, which is a homeless shelter in Miami-Dade; and South Florida 4Kids, which is a foster care agency. On one occasion, the family even donated to a local senior center.

“Giving back always gives me a sense of pride; it is fulfilling knowing that my family and I are able to feed other children and maybe even an entire family in need,” Mohammad said.

Although this sophomore at PPCHS is seemingly normal, with a sense of giving so strong, Sofia Mohammad and her family have grasped the true spirit of the Thanksgiving holiday.

PCHS junior Arjun Talwar celebrates Thanksgiving like no other. Talwar’s Thanksgiving memories are often ones full of wacky incidents or fun adventures. One thing that Talwar does to celebrate Thanksgiving is not only the traditional gathering around the dinner table with family, but by renting a…chocolate fountain?

Quite a different and unusual Thanksgiving tradition, renting a chocolate fountain for the day is something that Talwar’s family has been doing for years. “I remember two years ago, after finishing our Thanksgiving meal, we all gathered around the chocolate fountain.

All of a sudden the fountain broke and chocolate splattered all over the kitchen. Our clothes were covered in chocolate, but we still managed to have a great Thanksgiving, as always,” Talwar laughed.

In addition to the crazy chocolate fountain, Talwar and his cousins love to go outside and play football in the back yard every Thanksgiving. Last year while playing, Talwar went to throw the ball to one of his cousin’s and his cousin missed, so the ball ended up landing in the lake. As it began to float away, Talwar thought fast and decided to swim after the ball. That’s a thanksgiving memory that none of his family will forget.

“Eating all of the amazing food and spending time with my family would have to be my two favorite parts of Thanksgiving. I also enjoy gathering around the living room with my family in the morning and watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade,” Talwar said.

Arjun and his family truly do enjoy Thanksgiving and have had some fun experiences including the chocolate fountain fiasco, and the spontaneous dive in the lake. All in all, Thanksgiving for the Talwars is truly an adventure full of laughter, family and excitement.

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giving’ in Thanksgiving Houda Baajour

Jonathan Jean Louis

hanksgiving traditionally brings family bonding, a large feast, and gathering around the TV for the Thanksgiving Day Parade or watching football. Some students and teachers at PPCHS have created new traditions for them and their family for this day. Whether there are different foods being served or the student celebrates at a different time there is one common theme among all the traditions: they all include families being together.

Junior Houda Baajour has a very large family and they all gather together on the fourth Sunday of November on the traditional day of Thanksgiving. Her family is from Lebanon and Haiti, meaning that their Thanksgiving meal consists of many different items that you would not normally find on the traditional Pilgrim and Indian plates. Along with the traditional items that are prepared some of Baajour’s favorites are kibe, which is meat stuffed with meat and pinenuts, and baklava, which a dessert pastry with nuts.

“I love being Arab because although we do have the traditional items like turkey, pumpkin pie, and mashed potatoes, we also many other dishes that appeal more to my large family. My favorite dish is grape leaves, which are grape leaves wrapped around meat and rice made fresh, every time,” said Baajour.

Like any family on Thanksgiving there are parents that love to brag about their child’s accomplishments throughout the year. Baajour’s family loves to show off their children’s talents. Baajour can sing and play a bit of piano and throughout the day as they travel from one house to the next visiting her family, she entertains them. Another big part of Thanksgiving for the Baajour family is the adults gathering around and talking about their life. For Baajour, Thanksgiving is her time to be with her family and be thankful for what they have.

uring the winter holidays, people usually flock to the warm and sunny South Florida to spend their time away on the beach. But for freshman Jonathan Jean Louis, it’s the opposite; he flies to the cold and snowy state of Wisconsin, where he is met by 25 of his relatives and family friends. For three weeks, starting the week of Thanksgiving, Wisconsin becomes the Jean Louis home.

On Thanksgiving, his family watches the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and any Thanksgiving Day football games. They even have a family snowball fight.

Around 25 people are at the dinner table when it is time to eat. Everyone from grandparents to cousins, aunts, and uncles to great aunts come together to celebrate Thanksgiving.

What makes this holiday unique, though, is the intertwining of different ethnicities. On Jean Louis’ mother’s side, they are from Barbados and from his dad’s side, they are Haitian.

“I think it’s unique that we are from different cultures, and we can bring different dishes to our feast,” said Jean Louis. “There is the Barbados dishes from my mom’s side and the Haitian dishes from my dad’s side. There are also the traditional American dishes, so this blending of different cultures ends up being pretty cool.”

Thanksgiving week is the beginning of a month-long vacation for Jean Louis. Normally, the first three weeks are his time in Wisconsin, where he plays in the snow with his family; then the last week he flies to South Carolina, where he spends the rest of winter break. Unfortunately, this year Jean Louis’ vacation was cut short due to a family emergency. He only spent one week in Wisconsin. Although his trip didn’t happen this year, Jean Louis is still thankful for the time he got to spend with his family and friends.

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Features The CHAT Editorials: Deck the halls with pricey presents Looghermine Claude

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News Editor

t’s no news that in the new, warped view of the American Dream, “stuff” has become the goal. We fill our heads with the idea that we need to get new “stuff”, which just gets old a month later and tossed aside, mentally replaced with whatever newest “stuff” is out there on the market. And then we go out and get the new “stuff”. Tyson Hartnett from The Huffington Post calls it the “happiness plateau.” “It's when you buy something, and you are happy and excited for a few days, weeks or months. Eventually though, the excitement starts to sag, and this great thing you bought starts to get old. Your happiness dips, and you start to look toward the next thing you can buy or acquire. And the cycle continues” (huffingtonpost.com).

Materialism is the newest trend, and shopping has become a national pastime. Society has put so much emphasis on defining success with a numerical count of items, and the American people are buying into it, literally. According to mentalfloss.com, in 2012, Americans spent $10.7 trillion shopping, and it doesn’t look like it’s stopping there. We are continuously going out and buying, buying, buying; never taking the time to stop, savor, and save.

Endlessly buying more and more and more comes with a price. The more we buy, the worse it becomes for us. Just look at how much we owe for our horrible spending habits: “The average American household with at least one credit card has nearly $15,950 in credit-card debt [in 2012], according to CreditCards.com” (money.cnn.com). But it’s not just our wallets that are suffering, it’s also our health. Multiple studies have linked materialism to depression and other problems, showing just how much damage price tags and pointless presents can do. A study done at Baylor University found that “people who are materialistic are more likely to be depressed and unsatisfied, in part because they find it harder to be grateful for what they have” (baylor.edu). Debt and depression are lethal concoctions that we have whipped up ourselves through our own materialism and greed.

The most horrific thing about American materialism is the time slot for when we buy the most. For some asinine reason, we spend more money during the time we’re actually supposed to focus on the more priceless things in life. Thanksgiving and Christmas are holidays celebrated for their power to bring families together and create warmth and happiness, even on the coldest days. But both consumers and companies are making those cherished family moments into some of the biggest shopping days of the year, and for the most part, they have succeeded. “The average American spends more than $1,000 during the holiday season, according to Buy Nothing Christmas, an organization that advocates simplifying the holiday” (progressive.org).

Acquiring more “stuff” during the holiday season defeats the purpose of the holidays.

Thanksgiving is a time to sit back for just one moment and appreciate your friends, family, and all of your blessings over some good food and maybe a football game. Why would people cut back that time in order to purchase “cheaper” toys and clothing? To me, the notion is pretty absurd, but customers must be demanding it as companies are now opening earlier and earlier on Thanksgiving; moving opening times from midnight, to 9 p.m., and now 5 p.m. And these “deals” run for almost 24 hours, pushing into nightfall on Black Friday.

Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa, December is a special month for most people. And even for the non-religious, the arrival of Santa Claus and the feelings of giving make the time very magical. But, everyday up to our celebration day is filled with hours of us picking the perfect gift or choosing the perfect decorations. The holiday season isn’t about being perfect. It’s not about who has the best Christmas tree or the brightest light-up robotic reindeer. It’s about celebrating your beliefs with family during the most wonderful time of the year. However, companies clearly don’t get the true meaning of these holidays as they keep on pushing the “importance” of buying everything in sight. And Americans’ incessant desire to keep on acquiring more and more causes us to feed into the system and keeps the money flowing into the greedy corporations.

Americans need to stop obsessing over products and start focusing on things that truly matter. Once again, quoting Tyson Hartnett: “At the end of the day, I think it's how we treat other living beings that will give us the most fulfillment in this life. Not for the material items that we can brag about to our friends, but for the item we buy two of, so we can share it with our friend” (huffingtonpost.com). Taking back the holidays will require a lot of willpower as stores are pulling out all the stops to make consumers buy their products.

But I’m sure that Americans will be able to one day strip materialism out of the holidays and focus on what’s really important: family and friends.

Grahic by: Matthew Perez

Cartoon by: Carmen Petterson

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Features Are you better off now than you were a year ago and why?

Sophomore Jack Esquenazi

FreshmanYannick Blackman

Senior Johnathan Wallace

Junior Scott Thrasher

“N o I’m not because I haven’t changed “Yes, I am. I feel like I have more op- “I think I’m better off now than I was a “I definitely think I’m better off now in the way I’d hoped. I said I wasn’t going portunities because I started to understand year ago. I have reached the GPA and SAT because I have earned a starting spot as an to procrastinate anymore and I still do.”

Sophomore Anthony Madera

the world better. And even for soccer, I wasn’t as great as I am now, a year ago. I feel like I have more opportunities on the field as a soccer player.”

scores I strived for along with getting accepted into the University of Central Florida. I’ve really enjoyed senior year a lot more than junior year too.”

Sophomore Kerriece Ashley

Senior Myles Edwards

outfielder on the baseball team. I used to never put in the work for baseball, but now my hard work has really paid off. I think that’s the best feeling anyone can ever have.”

Freshman Danielle O’Shea

“I definitely am better off now than I “I am definitely better off than I was a “I think I’m better off now than before “Compared to last year, I would say that was last year because I have figured out year ago. I have less friends but that’s a because of my life experiences. Football I am better off right now. Since I was in what I want to study in college and which college to go to. This year I have been putting more effort into my schoolwork and I’m not as lazy as I used to be. Having my priorities straight has without a doubt put me in a better place.”

good thing because I want to keep my circle small. I have more trustworthy friends now. Also, I feel like I am becoming more creative with my art. I’m having more ideas and more inspiration. My art teacher is definitely directing me and pushing me in a more sophisticated way to express my art.”

has made me a lot more mature and it has taught me responsibility. Now I realize how responsible I have to be for my actions because if I mess up on the football field, I’m taken off of the field. Football has given me something to be dedicated to and I’ve just grown more in general.”

middle school last year, I really didn’t realize that what you do in the next few years affects the rest of your life. Being in high school now has brought me to that realization and I now know that I must do well to ensure a successful future for myself.”

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Year in the life of a class Nicholas Rivera Staff Writer

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Hard Work: The yearbook class has been working hard all year to produce a book that will satisfy everyone. Photo by: Jonathan Harris

Photo by: Jonathan Harris

Photo by: Jonathan Harris

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n the mass of 1500 students at Pines Charter, 25 strive every day to keep high school memories alive. With so many events happening during every school year, it’s easy to forget what happened, but these 25 students work to gather all of the major events into one cohesive book. Yearbooks are a staple of high school, but many do not realize the behind the scenes of what goes into making a yearbook.

The long journey to making the yearbook begins towards the end of the previous school year, when the juniors and sophomores of the class brainstorm ideas for next year’s theme.

Before the next school year starts, the yearbook staff gathers to further discuss the theme and prepare for the months a hard work that are soon to come. The staff also meets up with Bruce Silverman, the representative from Herff Jones, the company that produces and prints the yearbook.

When the school year begins, fourth period in room C117 is buzzing with talk about the next deadline among other conversations. About every two weeks, the staff has to come together to send anywhere from 10 to 20 spreads in to Herff Jones. The atmosphere in the room is thick and hectic, with half the class out getting pictures and interviewing while the other class stays and diligently works on the next layout or copy.

“Everyone is asking what they can do to help speed up the process. Everyone wants to do something and everyone is really busy. It’s the most stressful part of the class, but it’s also very rewarding. All of us cheer once we get everything in. Then we work for the next deadline,” said senior and yearbook photo editor Isabella Bobadilla.

Bobadilla, who got into the class for her junior year, spends her days educating her photographers on the features of their cameras, teaching them the best ways to take pictures, and using Photoshop, which she taught herself how to use, to edit photos. Bobadilla and the 8 other photographers in the class work hard to get the best photo possible, sometimes having to drive miles to an event to get the perfect snapshot.

“The yearbook would be completely lifeless without photos, it would be almost nothing.

We take all of the students, all of the events, and we bring them to life on the pages. At the end of the day we are what make the book,” said Bobadilla.

Being in the communications department, the students in the class constantly talk across the digital production class, sharing critiques for the spread that they are working on or assignments for the staff to do. The class isn’t always so strict, however. Conversations of stories about what happened on their weekend or the newest movie sometimes echo on the walls. The staff becomes friends over the years that they are together.

“The people are my favorite part,” said junior and copy editor Giselle La Hoz. “You really get to know them and you become friends with people that you wouldn't have been friends with, but you’re thrown into a class with them and you're doing a project that happens to span the whole year so it forms a bond.”

While the class has its fun moments, no one forgets the final goal -- to create the best possible yearbook that they can. Do not underestimate the amount of work that goes into it. As copy editor, La Hoz assigns copies to people in her section, proofreads every word checking for grammar and spelling errors, and writes her own copy.

“It is fun, but it’s not an easy class. It’s a lot more work than it seems. It’s really time consuming and it takes a lot of dedication,” La Hoz said.

Yearbook can truly be a class that changes the course of your life. As a person, it can bring you out of your shell with all of the people that you have to talk to. As a result, you also get to know more people, and become more social. The experience will likely be one of the most memorable of your whole high school career. The biggest reward, though, comes at the end of the year, when Herff Jones sends the final product and the staff gets to see all of the work that they’ve done.

“People need to know that we really care. We care about every single picture, every single layout, everything that goes into it,” Leysha Caraballo, Editor-in-Chief, said. “I came in to the class wanting to get an amazing experience. I didn’t expect it to be a three year journey, but I'm really happy that I stuck to it and I can see myself taking it and putting it into a career.”

Photo by: Jonathan Harris

PCD Makes Waves Nationally Camilo Grijalva & David Cha-Kim Staff Writer & Technology Editor

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starts there is only a set amount of bids to give out, so when a student, such as Bayer, gets he 2014 year was perhaps the most successful in the history of Pembroke Pines Charter Debate. With an all-star lineup of expert students like senior Mollie Bayer, sophomore more than the necessary two, she is taking away bids from other students and therefore Shreeya Singh, senior Noah Levy, sophomore Jordan Farenhem, and many more, PCD has less competitors when she eventually attends the Tournament of Champions, which takes place from April 25th to the 27th at was able to set amazing landmarks for the the University of Kentucky. In the conschool. Before the 2014-15 school year, gress category, only 50 students across the PPCHS has never received a bid to the entire country have qualified for the TOC, Tournament of Champions, the biggest debut two of these are our very own students; bate competition in the entire world, but as Mollie Bayer and Shreeya Singh. of November 17th, they have received six The three major debate tournaments this bids in the first semester alone. Bayer and year have been the Crestian Tradition, the Singh have three and two bids respectiveNova Titan, and The UF Blue Key. At the ly, making them automatically eligible to Crestian Tradition, Bayer received her and compete at the Tournament of Champions. the school’s first TOC bid. Then at the Levy was given one bid, allowing him to Nova Titan tournament, Bayer received her apply for a spot at the TOC, but he still has second bid and Singh received her first, folmany other opportunities to get his coveted lowed by Bayer receiving her third bid and second bid.

Levy receiving his first at the UF Blue Key “The feeling is absolutely amazing,” said Tournament.

Mollie Bayer. “For us to make history for “I am not shocked by how well we have the school and knowing that will forever be done this year,” said debate teacher Ms. in the PPCHS history books just can’t be Schwab. “Being a debate teacher and judge put into words. I am so proud of myself to for many years now, I know what it takes reach and surpass the goals I set for myself to be special and stand out, by one look I in the beginning of the year and also for my Debate: Debate students senior Mollie Bayer, junior Taylor can tell whether a student will be a great partners, my debate family. Over the year Trail, sophomore Sarah Duval, and sophomore Shreeyah Singh bring debater. When I saw my students this year, we have become so close it’s like we are home another vitory for PPCHS. Photo donated by: Mollie Bayer and saw how much effort they put into their brothers and sisters at heart. We have gone work and the quality that came out, I knew through so many struggles together and we that this year was going to be different.” definitely deserve all of the awards and recAs the curtains of 2014 close, PCD can look back on their year of success with great pride ognition we have gotten.”

When Bayer received her first TOC bid, she was crowned as the first ever charter student and feeling of accomplishment. But as the school year is only halfway through, Pines Charter Debate has only just begun their reign of victory and they are sure to continue to do so, and when Shreeya Singh got hers she was one of only four sophomores in the entire country to get the accolade, as well as being the youngest. When the debate season making waves in the upcoming months after winter break.

Winter Fantasy Rides into December Amanda Peralta Staff Writer

T he winter performance of the year is finally around the corner. The jazz band and

drama department have been working very hard to put on an exhilarating performance on December 11, 2014. Students and teachers, Mr. Daughtery [band director] and Ms. Kidd [head of the drama department], are excited to start off the holiday season with Winter Fantasy. Winter Fantasy consists of performances done by the jazz band, and both middle school and high school drama departments.

Mr. Daughtery said, “The jazz band will be playing [at Winter Fantasy], they have been preparing since August. The show should be sold out and parents will be complaining that there are no seats. I am very excited to see all the hard work finally come to life.” Ms. Kidd feels the same way. “I absolutely look forward to this show every year, it is an annual production that people look forward to seeing.” The drama students work endlessly for about two months to put on an awe inspiring show for all who come to watch.

The students who have been committed to putting on this prominent show are speaking just as highly as their directors. Alenet Rolon, is a junior who is performing in some of the drama production numbers in-

cluding, The Fishermen, His Wife, and the show’s success in the past years.

Sea of Dreams, said “I am very excited, Winter Fantasy has been a production for a lot of people usually go. I have worked a few years now, many students, some now very hard during rehearsals learning my alumni of Pembroke Pines Charter High script.” Similar to the drama students, band School, have played a part in this show. students have to memorize their music so Winter Fantasy is considered a tradition at the show goes off without a hitch.

The show will begin at 7 p.m. on December 11, 2014. Ticket sales began the week of November 10, and are being sold at 5 dollars during both lunches. Since Winter Fantasy has been such a huge hit the previous years, tickets will not be up for grabs for long. Parents, students, and teachers have all conDrama: The PPCHS Drama class prepares for their tributed to the Winter Fantasy performance. Photo by: Sydney Silverberg

PPCHS, it is something that is needed to be watched before Christmas rolls around.

All demographics look forward to it and always try to support the students in the production.

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Boys’ Basketba Joshua Ferguson

Malik Harper

Marcel Denbow

O ff the court he strides through the hallway listening O n the court, a basketball player must be cool, calm, W hen you hear about the basketball at PPCHS you to Meek Mill and Jay Z on his way to AP Statistics, but and collected order to maintain focus on the game. They might think many thoughts like how good they are, or on the court he transforms into a mini Kevin Durant. Senior Joshua Ferguson is just a normal kid who grew up watching his four brothers play basketball, “As a child I looked up to all of my brothers but I remember all of them playing basketball in high-school and I thought I should try it.”

Fast forward four years later and Ferguson is a member of the Pines Charter basketball team. “I’ve played with most of the other PCB players when I was younger so it’s easy for me to adjust to their game. I know how they play and we have a great bond. We are really competitive during practice we make each other better and we hold each other accountable. Coach Roca is super chill off the court but when it comes down to a game that’s when he’s what really serious.”

A transfer from Pace, Ferguson originally spent his freshman year at McArthur, transferred to pace and then transferred again to Pines Charter to become a jaguar.

“It’s a better program here, we have a winning record and there’s a lot of talented players on the team. The program is more serious and more about business,” said Ferguson.

“My motivation on the court is you never know who’s watching it might a college scout so I always got to go out there and put in work. No days off.” Offers from the Naval Academy, this 6 foot 8 senior is sure to bring energy, quickness and height to the jags.

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must be able to block out all distractions and give their absolute effort during every play. Here at Charter, varsity basketball player Malik Harper definitely embodies these traits. The junior transferred from Hallandale High this year in an effort to play on a team that is better equipped to maximize what he has to offer. His tall 6 foot 5 inch stature combined with his slim body type makes him the perfect small forward for the Jags.

“Honestly, I couldn’t be any happier with my decision to come here and play for Charter. I know how good this team is and I felt that my addition along with the improvement of the returning players can get the team over the hump this season,” said Harper.

Last year at Hallandale, Harper helped the team by averaging 7.4 points per game along with 1.8 rebounds per game. He feels that these numbers will increase this year because of the immense effort he put in this past summer to improve his overall game. The Jags always enjoy welcoming in new additions to the squad, but this one is a little different as many of the players already know Harper and are close with him too. He’ll have no problem fitting right in and is sure to help the team make a postseason run for the ages.

where many of the alumni have ended up from being a part of PCB (Pines Charter Basketball), but now when you hear PCB, you will definitely think about senior Haanif Cheatham.

Standing at 6’5” and weighing 185 lbs, Cheatham is a main part of the PCB starting squad. Cheatham has been playing the sport since the age of 6, with his dad being the inspiration to make him play. Last year was a standout season as he had an average of 26 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists per game. With those impressive stats Cheatham helped to lead PCB to making it as far as regional finals.

Cheatham said, “Last year we went as far as regional finals, but this year I believe that we can make it all the way to winning states. We still have most of the members from last year, plus some new players that have come to Charter which gives us a better chance at winning.”

With Cheatham doing so well, many colleges such as UCF, Virginia Tech, Maryland State, Georgetown, and many others have offered him scholarships, but in the end Cheatham picked to commit to Marquette in early September.

“I chose Marquette over the other schools because when I went there, the coaching staff made me feel like family, and the quality of the other players was amazing so I chose that school,” Cheatham told The Chat.

While there are many young and upcoming basketball stars throughout the country, there is one that needs to be watched for the future here at Pines Charter. His name is Haanif Cheatham, and he is doing what he loves, while having it takes him to the

all Top 6 Players Haanif Cheatham

Dimitri Harper

Matthew Johnson

F ive seconds on the clock, fans fill the stands, all eyes F or senior shooting guard Dimitri Harper, basketball T here’s only 10 seconds left on the clock, the Jags are glued on the motions of the man with the ball, his heart has been a big part of his life. Ever since he was two down by one point. As the sweat drips down his face, is pumping and his opponent is on him. Three seconds.

Just beyond the three point line he pulls up and takes the shot for the win. The ball swipes clean through the net, and the crowd goes crazy. As a point guard, standing at 5’10, these are the moments that gets Marcel Denbow’s “adrenaline pumping” and pushes this dedicated senior to improve his craft. Ever since Denbow was three years old and his aunt handed him his first basketball, it only took a few shots and dribbles to shape his passion for the game of basketball. Memories of going to the park and “doing layups and ball handling drills” with his father throughout his childhood proved to foreshadow the time and effort this duo would put into improving his skills.

As soon as the PCB veteran steps onto the hardwood, Denbow feels “empowered”. With number 11 proudly on his back, he averages 8 points and 7 assists per game and expects a successful season this year.

As the end of his senior year approaches the reality of his four year high school basketball career coming to a close has become clear. He explained, “It's kind of sad that my years doing basketball went by so quick, but I'm ready to start college. I’m honestly not sure where I plan on going yet because I want to wait and see which universities give me the best offers”. With hopes of making it to states with his teammates and coming home with the winning title, Marcel understands that to reach his goal takes nothing more than focus and hard work.

years old, Harper has been working on his skills, making him the impact player he is today. Not too many people stick with a sport throughout their lives; it takes the right kind of motivation to make a person hooked.

“What made me stick to the sport was when I found out at a young age that doing something I love, such as playing basketball, was something I could make a living off of,” said Harper.

Last year, Harper had a solid season, averaging 15 points per game and 4 assists per game. He feels he can do better, though, as this season he hopes to bring up his stat line. As for the team, he just hopes they don’t lose many games.

Some colleges are also looking to add this young star to their rosters. Although none have made an offer yet, colleges like Arcadia University, Eastern University, and Nyack University all have an eye on Harper. Depending on how this upcoming season goes, they will determine whether to make him an offer or not. To have a great season, though, Harper needs to put in a lot of time and effort.

“I have practice almost every day,” said Harper. “But besides that I have trainers who train me and I go to the gym to lift as much as I can.”

This season will be a good one, as Harper’s talent mixed with the talent of those on the team will lead to success.

As the time winds down on his high school career, Harper looks to make an impact and help the team make it to states.

point guard Matthew Johnson is coming up with the perfect play in his head as he tries to get the ball. An opposing player comes straight at him, but he is able to cleanly take the ball right from his hands. Now, it’s just Johnson against one player as he is on the break away. A team mate quickly appears next to him and now it's two against one. Johnson starts running wide and attracts the opponent with him. A perfect pass is played right to his teammate and he calmly puts in the lay up to win the game for PCB. Junior Matthew Johnson stated to play basketball eight years ago and has been hooked ever since. No day is wasted for this dedicated athlete. Every afternoon after school is either spent training with the school team, for his travel team (The Miami Suns Elite), personal training, and in some cases, all three.

“Training is the most important thing for me,” said Johnson. “In order to be the best, I have to train everyday as hard as I can. I am a strong believer of the work you put in is the success you get out.”

Last season, Johnson had a stellar year with the jags averaging 15 points, three steals, and four assists per game.

“Personally I want to increase my points per game average to 20 points or even more. For the team, I hope we will be able to go all the way to states with a perfect record,” said Johnson.

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Sports

Girls’ Basketbal Samantha Provenzano

Samariah August

Jeilyn Perez

T o be ready to play basketball in college, you have S he’s bright. She’s talented. And best of all, she’s a S imply “having fun and playing every game like it’s to constantly be on the court practicing. Samantha freshman. Samariah August of the PPCHS girl’s varsimy last” is junior Jeilyn Perez’s motto every time she Provenzano has dedicated a good deal of her time to her favorite sport, basketball. It all began in the fifth grade when Provenzano’s mom urged her to try all different sports from soccer to tennis to, of course, basketball. Her mom has been a support system throughout her whole career; even when Provenzano thought about quitting, her mom insisted that she should stick with the sport.

“I attended Sagemont High School last year just to try it out and try the basketball team there but I like Charter so much better, so I decided to come back this year. I love playing with the team at Charter because we are all friends and have great chemistry,” said Provenzano.

Since Provenzano is interested in playing basketball in college, it has been a motivator to her to be invited to camps hosted by universities. Some camps she has attended to have been University of Miami and Princeton University, which are interested in her. She expects to work even harder this year in travel basketball and high school to become more recognized by the college scouts.

Regarding the high school season, Samantha wants to work on her shot and become more accurate when in pressure situations. She tells The Chat, “I hope that my fellow Lady Jags can bring home a district championship.” At the point guard position Provenzano has become a leader and playmaker of this team and hopes to lead the team to better things.

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ty basketball is in her first year as a Lady Jaguar, but has made it seem like she’s been a part of the program for years. August comes off the bench, but has a lot of upside with her ability to play point guard and shooting guard. The freshman has been playing since she was seven years old so her experience is essential for the team’s bench production. For August, her motivation is to just try her best and most importantly, stay focused.

Although the combo guard is brand new to the system she has adjusted quickly and efficiently. In addition to this, August already has great expectations including making it all the way to states. Her teammates have recognized Augusts’ impressive composure and have truly embraced her as part of the Jaguar family.

“I have a pretty good relationship with all of my teammates and I enjoy playing with them because they all have very solid talent and play well together,” she said.

As the season progresses and the light shines bright on the upperclassmen of the Lady Jags, August has no problem laying low and having a huge impact on the outcome of every game she participates in. Soon enough, the light will be shining on her.

steps foot on the court as a member of the PPCHS girls varsity basketball team. Since 4th grade, Perez has been in love with basketball as she continuously puts hours and hours into the sport every week. As the starting center for the Lady Jags, the junior is heavily relied on to secure defensive and offensive rebounds to enable the team to get extra opportunities to score.

“My teammates are like my family. I like playing with them because they are always bringing something different to the table. On top of this, they always play their hearts out,” she said.

Perez’s reference to the team differing from game to game will certainly aid them in the postseason, allowing them to have unique game plans and plays that will keep other teams off balance. The third-year center has been through several ups and downs at PPCHS on the basketball team, but she definitely thinks the future is bright. Perez expects to have a much better record than last year, considering they have some new additions and more experience for the players and the coach. For her, hoisting the District Championship trophy is in sight; however, she might be hoisting a few more trophies than that this season.

Sports

ll Top 6 Players Gabby Cordero

Cristine Alayon

Auviance Lindo

G abby Cordero has a surprising story as to how she P assion is instilled in those that love the sport they play A t just the age of 10 years old in the 4th grade, current started off playing basketball. Many would assume that day in and day out. For sophomore Cristine Alayon of sophomore at PPCHS Auviance Lindo played her first she started off young and developed a passion as she grew up but Cordero’s story is a little different. The now junior started playing last year during the basketball season of her sophomore year at Pembroke Pines Charter High School, she realized quickly how much she loved it. Cordero initially started playing for a friend who urged her to join a team and Cordero saw it as a bonding experience.

“I love the experience of being on a team, they are all like family,” said Cordero. She says they are all really close and spend so much time together on and off the court. Cordero plays forward, and plans to continue playing that position for a while. Playing basketball has taught her responsibility and time management, she said without planning things out, half the things she does would not be possible.

Cordero says her goals for this year are to win districts because “the girl’s team has never made it to regionals before and I plan to work my hardest to get there this year.” During basketball season she practices every day to achieve her goal. Cordero isn’t just athletic, she studies constantly to make sure her grades are always where they need to be and hangs out with friends when she is not on the court.

the PPCHS girls varsity basketball, her impressive work ethic and skill set proves to spectators that her passion for the sport is like no other. The shooting guard’s motivation on the court is to consistently play at a high level knowing that her coach expects great things over the course of the season.

Alayon led the team in three-pointers last year while also being a very scrappy defender. She believes the team is collectively at its best when they are playing team basketball. “There isn’t any one who is selfish on the court or ball hogs. Playing team basketball is very important because there will be games when someone is not doing their best, therefore we have the rest of the team to step up and fill in,” she stated.

As for Alayon’s expectations, she anticipates that they will win districts and proceed to the regional round and take it from there. The second-year sophomore noted that the team is training extremely hard to strive for a school banner in the gym. The only way they will be able to achieve this mark is in fact by communicating as a whole and executing all individual roles on the defensive and offensive end of the court. This mindset Alayon attains is surely unique and her team spirit has proven to be a significant asset for the Lady Jags.

ever season as a basketball player at Pembroke Pines Optimist. Who knew, that over half a decade later, Lindo would be starting in her second consecutive year as a part of the girls varsity basketball team. The small forward, according to her coach, teammates, and fans, is the most energetic player on the team, particularly on the defensive end. She is known for capturing rebounds and snatching steals left and right in clutch moments.

Lindo’s motivation on the court is her mother as she describes her as the person that’s helped her to play basketball no matter what their situation was. She expects to use this motivation to lead her team to a better record than they had last year. As for Districts, Lindo plans to capture that title and after that she’ll see where they are as a team.

“I think of my teammates as my sisters. We work hard in practice and cheer each other on in games. My teammates this season are extremely funny which helps us get along easily. We’ve got each other’s back on the court,” she said.

Lindo is more than ready for this season and her willingness to “take one for the team” will have the Lady Jags going very, very far.

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Sports

Boys’ Soccer Michael Martinez

Danny Meltzer

Chris Sanchez

T he opposing player is running down the middle of B eing humble is an aspect of several athletes. HowevS occer players usually spend most of their week nights the field. He takes on a Charter player and another. It’s er, being humble AND hungry is an aspect of true athand weekends at the soccer fields; Sophomore Chris just him and the goalkeeper now. All the Charter fans, players, and coaches hold their breath as the opposition is about to take the shot. The opponent takes the shot top left corner, but the Charter goalkeeper dives and saves the shot from making the Jags down 1-0. Everyone breathes a sigh of relief as Michael Martinez, the main goalkeeper for the boys soccer team, saves another shot from going in.

Michael Martinez has been playing soccer since he was 4 years old. He saw the sport on TV one day and has been interested in the sport since then. For four straight years since freshman year, Martinez has been on the boys soccer team. In his first two years he played as the goalkeeper on the team. However, last year he played on the field, playing left or right wing. He was also the first player to score last year. He currently plays for Miramar United Elite FC in the travel program. Martinez hopes to play in college at a Division 1 university and go pro.

“This year I feel that we can go to States and win it all this year. Our team isn’t as technically good compared to previous years but we play as a unit, so that is an advantage for us. We have a really good coach this year who can push us to become better every day,” said senior captain Michael Martinez.

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letes. Senior Danny Meltzer of the boys’ varsity soccer team here at PPCHS does not score goals and does not attain a cocky attitude, rather, the center defender prefers to lay low and let his actions on the field do the talking.

Meltzer takes his position on the team very seriously as he realizes he is not only the last line of defense before the goalie, but one of two team captains as well.

Meltzer’s father got him into the game at a very early age and Meltzer’s strong bond with his father has allowed him to grow as a player. The senior is always referred to as a great team player by his teammates. He said, “The relationship I have with these guys is unreal. We connect great on the field and the great times that occur off the field make us even more of a family.”

Last year’s disappointing exit in the district semi-finals has surely created some hungry athletes on the soccer team. Meltzer assured that this time around things will be different. He sums up their changes as “new coach, new captains, and new mindset.”

Meltzer has laid it out simply to his teammates: to end off the season with a win, thus winning a state title. The senior captain noted what will most likely be going on in his head when it’s all over by stating, “Wow, it’s over.”

Meltzer just hopes to reflect on everything and see if he did everything he could as a captain and player. Capturing a state title will guarantee all of that.

Sanchez has described it as is “second home”. Since the age of five Sanchez’s father has been the helping hand in his soccer career, from getting him into the sport to being a shoulder to lean on when he lacked confidence in his abilities. His father was always there for him.

“When I play soccer it takes away all my stress and problems, it clears my head and I know that when I step on the field I can save all my problems for later,” states Sanchez.

Being a center midfielder in travel soccer, the coach seemed to have seen something different in Sanchez putting him as the left midfielder. It’s something new to try and the position comes with different responsibilities but Sanchez knows the game well and is making his best effort. All players have new goals to strive for, and Chris hopes he can improve on his speed and aggression when attacking the ball, which would benefit the team on their journey to States.

“States seems like a lifetime away but I know the team will have to put in a lot of work but I believe we are capable of proving everyone wrong. Winning states would be a first for the Boy’s team so to be a part of that would be incredible,” said Sanchez.

Sports

Top 6 Players Lyndon-John Lemmers

Raul Ruiz

Jayson Isaacs

F or sophomore midfielder Lyndon-John Lemmers, P laying soccer from the early age of six, it’s safe to say A t the age of four, while some kids decided to play there is only one thing on his mind as the season has that senior Raul Ruiz is no stranger to the soccer field. with toys or cards, Jayson Isaacs was entranced by the gotten under way. That is avenging last year’s District semifinals loss and making it farther this season. Already a starter when he was a freshman, Lemmers has shown that he has a natural gift that one doesn’t come by very often. His journey started at the age of two when his dad told him that his toys would be taken away if he didn’t play. That moment has helped make him the athlete he is today, and now that he’s a sophomore, the expectations are higher than ever as he looks to help his team reach their goals.

“My teammates and I are really striving to make it to Regionals and just get better as whole. A lot of talented guys are back from last year’s squad so we have a great shot at getting there,” said Lemmers.

What sets Lemmers apart from his competition is his ability to dribble and pass accurately to his forwards so they can get shots on goal. An area that he needs to improve upon is his kicking power with his right foot, which is weakest of the two. With three more years left in high school, Lemmers has a chance to cement his legacy here at Charter and continue playing in college, but his main priority now is helping the team get better with every practice and game. As determined as he is, that should be no problem.

Although the parents of many little boys and girls sign them up for the sport, not many kids keep the determination it takes to stick with the sport. Ruiz is one of the few kids who has been continuously devoted to his sport.

However, it was not until he became a sophomore that be decided to join PPCHS’ Varsity Soccer Team.

During his sophomore and junior year he played as a defenseman, but this year he has made the transition over from defense to left forward. This is a huge change for a player, as Ruiz’s objective completely changed. Before, his main objective was to prevent the opposing team from scoring goals. Now he has to receive the ball from the midfielders and try to score goals for his team. “The team practices every day for two hours on the field. I go hard and push myself at practice with the hopes of becoming somewhat as good of a player as Neymar. He’s an extremely good player, and in my opinion, the best,” said Ruiz.

Unfortunately, last year the boys’ soccer team was unable to advance to Regionals because they lost in penalty kicks in Districts. “This year, I think that the team will go further because the team is stronger all together. Right now, we are undefeated, which is something we were not able to say in previous years,” said Ruiz.

“beautiful game of soccer”. He can never forget the countless memories made during his childhood as he watched his father play on his national soccer team catalyzing his goal in following in his father’s footsteps.

Isaacs plays in a variety of positions but finds himself most enjoying his position as striker and central midfielder.

This vivacious player couldn’t imagine life without being able to showcase his talent and skills on the field. Although he is a senior, this is his first year as a Pembroke Pines Charter Jaguar. However, this simple fact did not stop Isaacs from creating an unbreakable bond with his teammates. “When I think about leaving the team next year I get sad because it’s like leaving your family. It’s really a privilege to play alongside some very talented players,” said Isaacs.

“I do plan to play in college and I have a couple showing interest but that is my plan “B”. My first plan is to travel out the country to seek professional employment in soccer. My dream team to play for would be Barcelona,” said Isaacs.

However, Isaacs understands that in order to achieve his lifelong goal of taking his high school skills to the big leagues, he must stay focus and work hard in polishing his game.

In the recent future, Isaacs plans to continue to work hard, practice harder, and have a successful season, because in time he “fully expects to have a ring on his finger by the end of the season”.

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Sports

Girls’ Soccer Courtney Zaher

Adriana Robles

Emely Sosa

Isoccer n her fourth and final year on the PPCHS girls’ varsity T ransferring schools can be difficult for any student A s she receives the ball in the center of the field, she team, senior Courtney Zaher is prepared to lead in the middle of their high school career. Junior Adriana looks up to assess her options. Her keen sense of vision the Lady Jaguars to a state championship. Her impressive skill set, team leadership, and unquestionable work ethic has allowed Zaher to be a role model for the underclassmen. As a forward, Zaher is regularly relied on to produce goals for her team day in and day out.

Just missing a state title last year certainly left a sick feeling in the senior’s stomach and the forward knows exactly what they must do as a team to ensure they surpass last year’s mark. “We are going to have to work even harder than we did last year. It was unfortunate that we lost in the semi-finals but there’s no doubt in my mind we have the potential to take it all this year,” Zaher stated.

Zaher has been one to always strive off of motivation.

She emphasized the importance of using her skills to the best of her ability to help the team win in any way possible. The speedy forward is a team player, through and through.

When it’s all said and done, Zaher will surely be emotional. She said, “It will be 100% bittersweet. I love that team like it’s my family and being a part of it for four years will be losing something so close to my heart. I’ll forever cherish the memories I’ve made playing high school soccer and all the valuable lessons I’ve learned.”

Hopefully Zaher and the rest of the girls’ team will be hoisting the state trophy when Zaher does in fact wear the Jaguar jersey, one final time.

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Robles made the move from being in Catholic schools her whole life to attending Charter. Soccer has been in Robles’s blood since she was born, starting the sport at age three inspired by her dad who wanted his kids to share the same passion for the sport as he did.

There have been bumps in the road on the journey to becoming the player she is today. Robles tore her ACL and had decided from that point on she was not going to let this stand in her way. She would become an even better soccer player then she was before.

“Some soccer players have given up after a possible career ending injury, but I was inspired by the people who doubted me the most. My number one goal during my recovery process was to prove them wrong, and become an even better player,” states Adriana Robles.

Transferring to a new school your junior year could be another road block, but being part of the travel soccer world Robles knew many other girls and was quickly adopted into the Lady Jags family. Being a part of the varsity teams allows Robles to play with a group of people who are just as dedicated as her.

“This year I hope to improve my timing and placement of the ball when shooting,” said Robles. “In regards to the season I hope that the Lady Jaguars and I will go all the way to States and finally bring back a States Champion title for our school.”

help her pick out the perfect pass. She dribbles through tight spaces between defenders and places the ball right at her teammate’s foot. She is out clean through on goal and slots in the winning goal, all thanks to the midfield maestro; junior Emely Sosa.

Her small size may put off opposing players, but they immediately learn the age old lesson that says “you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover.” As a center midfielder, the majority of people would think that junior Emely Sosa’s height is a disadvantage to her, but she uses her other specialties, her awareness on the ball and her technical ability, to make up for her faults.

Sosa has been playing soccer since the age of 7, which makes her a 10 year veteran of the sport. She has also spent every year of her high school career on the Lady Jags Varsity Soccer team.

“My professional idol is Lionel Messi,” said Sosa.

“People like him just because he is the best player in the world, but I think we are really similar players. Our style of play is the same and we both use our size to our advantage. My personal idol is my sister. She also plays soccer and I look up to her as a sibling and as a model player.”

Her amazing form for PPCHS and her regular team has not only earned interest from her dream colleges, FSU and UCF, but also from the Dominican Republic Under-17 National Soccer team. She was able to take part in the exclusive opportunity and will surely cherish it for the rest of her life.

Sports

Top 6 Players Samantha Toribio

Rachelle Smith

Patricia Yordan

S printing down the line at full speed with only one H aving started soccer since the age of three, it’s practiIingn every sport there is always a position that is demandthought in mind: crossing to her teammate so they will cally impossible for senior Rachelle Smith to recall a day of leadership. In football it’s the quarterback and in score. This is what goes through the mind of senior Samantha Toribio quite often when she plays soccer. These are the thoughts that help her win games for her school team on multiple occasions. Toribio has been playing the sport since the age of two, and has been on the varsity team for high school since she was a freshman.

Toribio said, “My siblings played the sport before me, so I just wanted to follow in their footsteps since I look up to them.”

Toribio’s preferred position on the field is left wing, where through a handful of games this season, she has recorded 4 assists and 3 goals.

In previous years the PPCHS girls’ soccer team has made it as far as states with Toribio on the team, so this season is a major one for the school, and Toribio personally.

This is her last year playing in high school, and the team did so well last year, so she needs to follow up by doing as best as she can this season.

“I would like to hopefully continue playing in college, and if I could pick where I would want to play, I would pick either Charleston College, or UNC (University of North Carolina),” Toribio said.

It can be said that Samantha Toribio is a key factor to the girls’ team success in previous years, and she will help them the best she can this season.

when she wasn’t running up and down the pitch. Nearly everyone in her family plays/played the sport and it has overtime grown into a family tradition. Smith has lived soccer since day one, something she has in common with many of her teammates and her coach.

“I’ve known Coach V since I was practically a baby, he’s like another dad to me,” said Rachelle Smith.

Smith is known to be a leader on the field and an extremely well-rounded player, having the ability to easily play any position with the exception of goalkeeper. Despite the wide range of positions that Smith can play, her most profound and favorite is forward as she most abled to exhibit her goal-scoring and chance-creating abilities when playing a more attacking role. Along with her responsibilities for the PPCHS Soccer team, Smith is also part of a travel club in West Palm Beach called MagicJack Soccer and helps to train young kids who are learning to play. “Soccer has taught me a lot in my life. It has given me life skills that I use on a daily basis from travel soccer and it has helped me communicate with people,” said Rachelle Smith.

As she is halfway through her senior year, Smith’s time with the PPCHS team is coming to an end but she hopes to continue her soccer career at the University of Florida.

baseball it’s the pitcher. For soccer, it is the goalkeeper, and the PPCHS girls’ soccer team definitely has a leader at this position, senior Patricia Yordan. Since joining the varsity squad as a freshman, Yordan has made an immediate impact on the team both on and off the field.

When she became the full-time goalie last year, Yordan embraced the role with open arms and has made the most of the opportunity as the signal caller of the team.

“There is just something about being the heart of the team that I really strive off of. During games, I like to get in the moment and provide that spark the team needs to pull out a victory,” said Yordan.

Yordan’s leadership was a key part of the team’s historic run to States last year, but she is looking to improve this season by winning the State title. With her excellent ability to read where an opponent is going to shoot the ball before they even do is a strength that not many goalkeepers at this level have. Improvement on her footwork is what Yordan believes can ultimately bring herself and her team to the next level. As long as she continues her outstanding leadership, the team can go as far as they want to.

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Sports

Top 3 Cheerleading Profiles Megan Gonzalez

Nkiru Chukuwele

Kayla Clements

Iv’snstead of pirouettes and leaps, Megan began hitting high “Maroon Grey and White! Hit it!” She’s the voice that Senior Nkiru Chukuwele isn’t your typical cheerleading and toe touches. A ballerina turned cheerleader, senior calls the shots for the PPCHS Cheerleading team and the captain. When one thinks of a team captain you imagine Meagan Gonzalez traded her ballet slippers for pom-poms at the age of seven. “I was in ballet and I didn’t like it, so after I quit I tried cheerleading and just stuck with it,” said Gonzalez. A veteran in the sport of cheerleading, she has been cheering for ten years and as a senior, she was awarded the title of captain.

With more competitions under her belt than she can count on with her fingers, Megan is no stranger to the hard work and dedication it takes to win. Rounding up to a total of thirty competitions, she has cheered for the Pasadena All-stars, Element All-stars, and Miami Elite All-stars.

“Cheerleading is not easy. Putting the routines together is the hardest part. There are always issues that get in the way like people quitting or getting injured,” said Gonzalez. However, over time she expressed that she has come to understand that with hard work and teamwork she can overcome the obstacles that come her way.

Something that remains the same no matter if she is cheering on an elite competition team or for the PPCHS Jags football team is the presence and importance of teamwork.

“Cheering has taught me that sometimes you have to trust people and count on them. You shouldn’t give up on your teammates no matter what,” said Gonzalez. Teamwork is a concept that she deems extremely important, when it comes to cheerleading the entire sport is based on the relationship that keeps the team unified. While keeping unified is a vital element to organizing an excellent team, Gonzalez also understands that pushing herself to new heights has allowed her to break the boundaries that has been in her way.

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girl who runs the show. Senior Kayla Clements picked up pom-poms at the age of seven and has been spreading spirit ever since. “One of my good friends in elementary school cheered for west pines football team so of course I had to try it out and I just never stopped,” said Clements.

Clements has been cheering for ten years and is no stranger to the hard work cheerleading demands. “The biggest myth about cheerleading is that it’s easy,” she joked. “Cheerleading has taught me stamina physically and mentally.

Yeah things are hard but if I push past it all I’ll be fine. If I had to give a piece of advice about cheerleading it would be to stick with it.”

She’s been a member of the PPCHS cheerleading team since ninth grade and has never missed a beat. “Those moments where we are super close to scoring is what motivates me to keep cheering,” said Clements. Not only has she pepped up the crowd for Pines Charter but she has been in a total of five cheerleading competitions, even traveling as far as South Carolina for one.

“What I’ve noticed about being captain is that being in charge of people your friends with sucks,” said Clements.

She’s in charge of stretching the girls and keeping the girls in order. The responsibility that she has come to handle all too well has shaped her into the well-rounded captain that she is today. With her cheering days for her high school football team now over, Clements is looking towards continuing her talents during the basketball season and cheering them all the way to the championship. Supporting any team and showing spirit is something that just comes natural to this dedicated captain.

someone who is outspoken, controlling and demanding however she is none of the above. Soft spoken and quiet, Nkiru has still managed to lead the PPCHS Cheerleaders to have a great season.

With two years of middle school cheerleading on her resume, Chukuwele was excited to try out for the highschool team. Inspired by a friend, Nkiru started when she noticed how much her friend love cheering, five years later and she is on top of the pyramid. “The biggest myth about cheerleading is that the cheerleading is only for females, but the funny thing is that the very first cheerleading team consisted of only males,” exclaimed Chukuwele.

"My favorite apart cheering is the stunts. It forces you to work together with your teammates towards a common goal. I really enjoy stunting because it is a great feeling to see your group effort pay off when you see the flyer in the air,” she said. Although stunting may be her favorite part, with all good things comes some bad. “I think the hardest part is trying to keep calm when a stunt or routine does not appear to be working out,” said Chukuwele. "For my homecoming routine my stunt could not hit the front flip at all, we kept trying at it every single practice and it was so hard. That's when I realized how hard it was to be a captain and how hard it is to communicate effectively."

Along with leading the cheerleading team her little sister is following in her footsteps, “My sister is a freshman and she is on Junior Varsity. It’s fun having her sister on the team because we get to bond a little more and share a great experience together,” said Chukuwele. Nkiru is proud to know that she has not only set a path for her sister to follow but has also taken apart in guiding her sister teammates towards success.

Sports

Emily Rangel is in Synch Tyra Green By the Grade Editor

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rm up, point your feet. Okay now for this next move you need to hold your breath and remember everything I’ve taught you.” There are no baseballs or footballs involved and there are no goalies or touch downs in sight. What do you get when you mix water, ballet and music into one pot? Synchronized swimming. For senior Emily Rangel only the water is in her line of vision and she is perfectly fine with that.

Nine years ago, Emily Rangel spent her days in the water splashing around. “I joined the swim team and then my coach opened a synchro team. She asked me to try it and ever since then I stuck with it,” said Rangel. Synchronized swimming is defined as a hybrid form of swimming, dance and gymnastics, consisting of swimmers performing a synchronized routine of elaborate moves in the water, accompanied by music. “People think we wear flower caps and go in circles but it’s nothing like that at all,” Rangel noted. Synchronized swimming began in the late 19th century and was not added to the Olympics until 1984. “My favorite part about the sport is how unique it is and how no one does it. It’s really hard but we make it seem easy and painless,” said Rangel.

Rangel dedicates most of her time to synchronize swimming. She spends 4 hours in the water on weekdays and 4 to 8 hours on the weekends. She is a member of an award-winning team named the Coral Spring Acquades, which is a team composed of 30 girls ranging from 7 to 18 years old. “My team is 6 time zone champions meaning we are the best team in the south of the U.S.” Not only does Emily’s team dominate competitions, but she also does well individually. “This summer I got 3rd place in the nation at the 2014 National Championships in Seattle in the trio competition,” said Rangel Synchronized swimming is more than just a sport. It demands advanced skills, strength, flexibility, grace, and timing. “The hardest part is holding your breath underwater while being upside down having to hold your body weight while doing some sort of leg motion in the air and repeating that over and over again in a 3-4 minute routine,” she stated. This sport is simply the swimming version of ballet, ice skating and gymnastics. “The lifts we do in team routines are my favorite. They fly out of the water and do a flip and it looks cool.”

Synchronized swimming has proven to be a life lesson, a sport and a passion for Emily Rangel. “Sounds cliché but synchro probably taught me to never give up when I first went to nationals 4 years ago I almost got last place and this year we got 3rd in the nation and it really goes to show that one should never give up on their dreams,” said Rangel.

Donated by: Emily Rangel

The CHAT Editorials: Football fans more fantasy-minded Matthew Deno Staff Writer

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hile many students here at PPCHS participate in fantasy football, most are not sure if they really know how far its reign reaches. According to research by the Fantasy Sports Trade Association, 37 million Americans play fantasy football every year and that number is growing by an additional two million every year. However, it seems as if it has gotten to the point where the people who play choose to root for players on their fantasy team instead of rooting for their actual favorite team. Has this virtual sport taken away from the joy of the real one? As a major part of millions of people's sports lives, including many here at Charter, let's take a look at some of the negative aspect of fantasy football.

Every fantasy owner has been here before. It is a dilemma that every owner inevitably faces throughout the course of a fantasy season. One of your fantasy studs is matched up against your favorite team this weekend, and you have to make a choice: the success of your team or the statistical success of your fantasy team? Nowadays, people are shifting more towards cheering for their fantasy team due to the high implications on the outcome.

In some cases, money, other forms of betting, and pride are on the line each week. The love for your team won’t be able to keep you from smiling when your fantasy quarterback throws a long touchdown pass against them.

“I’ve been playing fantasy football for a couple of years now and I have figured out a way to solve this problem. My favorite team is the Saints, so I just draft all of the good players on the team so I can root for them both in real life and in fantasy,” said junior

Franco Graubard.

Recently, it seems like most people don’t even watch regular season games and don’t care who makes the actual playoffs. They have loyalty to no one but themselves and their roster of numerous players from across the league. They can’t recall the agony of emotional investment in a real team, the ability to feel that joy and pain has long left them, crowded out by fantasy obsession. There is no joy, only anxiety, pain, and disappointment.

When they win a fantasy game, they are only happy not to lose, and when they lose, they’re crushed. Usually, they’re humiliated about having to give up the money they bet or fulfill the punishment they agreed to do if they had lost.

“My friends and I are in a league together and we all put in $10 at the beginning with the winner getting all of it. It definitely is very stressful knowing that money is on the line and the fact that you will never hear the end of it from the person who just beat you that week,” said senior Gabriel Lopez.

At Charter and throughout the country, there are plenty of people who go through the same things: awash in the statistical aspects of a game that challenges its players to compose a lineup that will score more imaginary points than their opponents’ imaginary players, willing to put in any amount of research to find an advantage over their opponents. It just goes to show how the culture of fantasy football has gone to a progressively darker place since the game was invented in the mid-1990s.

Grahic by: Matthew Perez

Grahic by: Katie Perez

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Sports

PPCHS’ declassified spor LJ Lemmers Staff Writer

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ouls: Fouls can happen in several ways. Kicking, sliding, tackling, jumping in/at or pushing an opponent can cause a foul. A foul occurs when a player tries to get the ball from his opponent and kicks him or pushes him away. Fouls in soccer are penalized by handing over the ball to the team that suffered the foul if the foul has been committed outside of the penalty area. In this situation, a direct or indirect free kick is given, depending on the nature of the soccer foul, with the kick being taken from the spot where the foul occurred. If the defending team fouls the attacking team in their own box, the attacking team will receive a penalty kick. A penalty kick is a great opportunity for the team to take a shot from 12 yards with just the opposing goalkeeper to beat and no defenders around him.

If a foul is committed, depending on the seriousness of the foul, a red or yellow card will be given.

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ameplay: Each team has eleven players on the field with one goalkeeper on each end. If a team cannot field at least seven players on the field, then the match is disqualified. The game is started at the center of the field in the middle of a circle with two players from a team to start the kickoff. Kickoff is determined by a coin toss. The winning team can either choose to start with ball or pick which side they want. Once the ref blows his whistle, one of the two players must roll the ball forward to allow the game to start. Both teams will play for forty-five minutes and then take a 15 minute half break. In the second half, both team switch sides of the field and the team that didn’t start with the ball in the first half will start with it in the second half. If the game is a tie at the end of the second half, both teams will go into extra time. Extra time consists of two 15-minute halves and is won by one of the team’s leading in the score. However, if both teams are still tied at the end of extra time, the match will determined by a penalty shootout. Penalty shootouts are a first to 5 round. Whichever teams makes the most goals out of five will win the game.

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ormations: In the world of soccer, there are unlimited ways to position players on the field. The most famous formations in soccer are the 4-3-3 or the 4-4-2. In a 4-3-3 formation, teams will play with 4 defenders, 3 midfielder and 3 forwards. Teams would use this formation if they have good wingers and forwards to commit high up the field. This allows the attacking team to stretch play and cause the defending team to cover more ground. Teams may also change formation mid game. If a team is leading, then the coach will revert to a defensive formation. The most common one is a 5-4-1 or 5-3-2. Usually, teams will use the 5-4-1 formation to have more players defend the opposing team from scoring. The extra player in defense and midfield gives the team more legs to chase opponents and recover possession.

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et Pieces and Goal Kicks: During the game, there will come a time when teams will use set pieces to help score a goal. It can come in from a throw in where the opposing team kicks the ball out of bounce or from a free kick when the opponent fouls you outside of the box. Set pieces are one area where tactics and routines can be worked out in training before a match. Defending set pieces is an important skill for defenders, as the same is for attackers. Players must spend time rehearsing this plays to cause a goal scoring chance. Set pieces also happen off of corner kicks. Corner kicks are used when the defending team kicks the ball out on their end of the field. It is taken on the corner of the field nearest to where the ball crossed the line. Goal kicks occur when the opposing team kicks the ball out on your end of the field. The goalkeeper will then put the ball on the 6 yard box and can then proceed to kick the ball out.

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ositions: There are 11 positions a player can play. The first is goalkeeper. Goalkeepers wear gloves on their hand and stay in their designated half of the box. They are allowed to pick up the ball with their hands and play with their feet. In the defensive positions we have left back, two center backs, and right back. In the middle of the field, there are 4 key positions: 2 center midfielders, a left midfielder, and right midfielder. Traditionally, teams will have 2 strikers for attacking. However, positions can be varied around the field to make different combinations of formations.

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ubstitutions: Each team is allowed three substitutions. Once a player is taken off, that player is not allowed to come back in for the rest of the game. Substitutions are used when a player has become tired or injured. Sometimes it is used for tactical reasons like adding in a defender to defend the lead or an attacker to help create a scoring chance.

A player can only be substituted during a stoppage in play and with permission of the referee. Once permission is granted, the player waiting on the sideline must wait for his teammate to run off the field before being able to run on the field.

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opularity: 3rd in United States Playing Surface: 105 meters by 68 meters with an 8-yard-wide goal centered along the goal line Equipment: Soccer cleats, proper soccer clothes, and shin guards Duration of game: Two forty-five minute halves. If the game is tied during playoffs, two 15 minute halves, and if still tied, a penalty shootout.

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rts survival guide: Soccer

Sports

All photos taken by: Peter Dourvetakis

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Leaving the labels behind: Raven-Symoné’s Looghermine Claude News Editor

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nown best for her roles in the TV shows That’s So Raven and The Cosby Show and The Cheetah Girls movies, Raven-Symoné has been a part of many childhoods as an outspoken leader of what she believes. As a well-known barrier breaker, she has once again been televised confronting her own personal issues without a character to play. In October, she went on Oprah to talk about her life past Disney Channel and her responses have heads turning about two major topics: sexuality and race.

Back in August, Symoné tweeted: “I can finally get married! Yay government! So proud of you” (usmagazine.com), an announcement of not only her sexuality but also her pride for her country. Now, according to her interview with Oprah, the 28 year-old is “in an amazing happy relationship with [her] partner”, model AzMarie Livingston. Symoné told Oprah that she realized her sexuality when she was 12 but she never needed a word to describe her feeling (cnn. com). But being a lesbian isn’t what’s turning heads. On her ‘Where Are They Now?’ interview, Symoné told the host “I don’t want to be labeled ‘gay,’ I want to be labeled ‘a human who loves humans.’” (mtv.com). No matter what viewpoint commenters are taking, there seems to be no middle ground in the argument.

“Even though the word ‘gay’ is the term you would use, it seems to have a negative connotation. So in that sense, yes she is just a human that loves other humans. I think when kids say words like gay, or queer, it always has a negative label attached to

it, and so by saying what she said, it’s more respected,” senior Zachary Sachs said.

The shocking statements didn’t stop there. Symoné followed with “I’m not an African-A I’m an American,” (cnn.com) drawing surprise from both Oprah and twitter. Oprah im followed Symoné’s bold statement with unscripte and the warning “Oh, girl don’t set the Twitter on fi com). But soon after her interview was aired, peop Twitter both defending and criticizing Symoné’s w one side, people believe that Symoné was right in ca self just an American, comparing it to protesters in MO fighting for their right to be treated as equal A On the other side, people are attacking Symoné for ing up and defending her race and culture, comm Symoné’s use of the terms ‘darker skin’ and ‘interes of hair’ to describe herself (mtv.com).

“I’m Dominican but I want to be labeled Domin er than American. But it’s different, I feel like she allowed to say what she wants without being judg freshman Yazmin Ibarguen said.

Symoné stated that she’s tired of labels and believe more in herself than a black woman. “I’m an Ame Graphic By: Katie Perez that’s a colorless person, because we are all people.. with each culture,” she said. No matter if you agree moné or not, one thing is certain: the former child star is staying relevant today with her and brave announcements.

Failed Celebrity Couples: Has Hollywood’s love ship sailed?

Shakayla Lee

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Entertainment Editor

hen it comes to celebrity couples, we are all guilty of automatically giving them the one thing no couple dreams of- an expiration date. Keeping up with celebrities is a guilty pleasure of millions nationwide and believe it or not couples in the public eye allow those sitting at home to appreciate the “up’s and downs” of their rollercoaster relationships. Some share the opinion of Freshman Michael Reid in that “everyone deserves a chance”. However others, like Junior Elijah Chong, feels that “the stigma of the media will always be a celebrity’s downfall”. The truth of the matter is, the topic of the lifespan of celebrity couples causes heated debate on both sides. The twists and turns that celebrity couples seem to face can cause many to question: Are celebrity relationships more likely to end in shambles?

In both the real world and Hollywood, there is one element that never fails to destroy a relationship: infidelity. Throughout the years, allegations and accusations of infidelity has proved to make surviving as a celebrity couple in Hollywood a “battle”. Recently, rapper Cameron Thomas a.k.a Wiz Khalifa has fell into the infidelity cycle and he and his ex-wife, Amber Rose, have been put into the spotlight. Startling millions of fans and supporters, with a seemingly healthy 2 year marriage and handsome 1 year old son, Sebastian “Bash” Thomas, one of Hip Hops most famous couples called it quits. Without reason of their split, fans started speculating that Rose was the culprit of cheating on the “Young, Wild, and Free” rapper.

Throughout the PPCHS halls, the opinions of both sides of the controversial issue have not let their voices go unheard. Senior Austin Roland was not shy when it came to his opinion on whether Khalifa’s infidelity should have been the cause of Khalifa and Rose’s unfortunate split. He explained, “I see it as when you’re a celebrity and the money is there you get put in situations when you can’t say no. At the end of the day, to me, his entire relationship was publicity. As a Taylor [fan of Wiz Khalifa] I kept up-to-date on their relationship and I wouldn’t be surprised if she cheated before this incident. On the other hand, several Jags took another approach on the idea of cheating. Senior Brandon Lawrence stated, “Cheating in my opinion is always unacceptable. He’s teaching his son to be that way, and I’m sure he wouldn’t want him treating a woman like that when he’s older. If Wiz didn’t love Amber he shouldn’t have wife’d [married] her in the first place”.

Deputing the allegations, Rose took to twitter quickly to shut down those rumors and confirm that she was not the cause of the split, stating: “Please stop with the fake stories. I would never ever ever cheat on my husband in a million years I think u guys know this. Unfortunately my now ex-husband can’t say the same...” (latimes.com). According to hollywoodlife.com, Amber Rose’s close friend, radio DJ and host Peter Rosenberg, claims that “Amber walked in on Wiz allegedly cheating with LA party twins Jas and Ness Rose in one of his homes”. And with that, on September 23rd Amber Rose filed for divorce and full custody of their son and not long after, Wiz Khalifa filed a similar motion but requested joint custody.

Not only can infidelity drive a wrench in even the most solid relationships, but the lack of privacy that comes when you sign on the dotted line for stardom can also be a disadvantage. Considering that a normal couple’s idea of “lack of privacy” may be nosy parents or prying friends, a celebrity couples life triples those hardships. When it comes to problems stirring from the toxins in the tabloids there is one couple that blatantly comes to mind: Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries. Although

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their relationship and 72- day marriage was short lived, by allowing the media to cons ever so quick relationship, they did not have a healthy shot.

Junior Jana Ambre stated, “I think celebrity couples are most likely destined to fail b the pressure their under to be together. One reasons that there are even such things at couples” is because their always in the spotlights so everyone thinks they know about everything that goes on behind closed doors”.

Not to fear, there are some celebrity couples that have managed to take the hardships as t as a team, and overcome the stereotypical “obstacles” they face in the spotlight. From Be Jay Z, Victoria and David Beckham and countless others, there does seem to be a silve love in Hollywood. Like sophomore Christina Feliciano, there are those who feel that couples do get involved to quickly because of the media” however, Hollywood love is no and gloom. She went on to explain, “Couples like Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have bee for so long, so I know it’s possible. Even though everyone may not be like them”.

Although life in the limelight can be a blessing, when considering a relationship it ca as a couple’s downfall. From the temptation to be unfaithful, the pressure to stay togeth and the media, or even rumors being blown out of proportion being in love in the spot uphill battle.

Graphic By: Katie Perez

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Titans break through America’s walls David Cha-Kim and LJ Lemmers Technology Editor and Staff Writer

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ou delve into the world of Attack on Titan, following the story of ten yearold Eren Jaeger who vows to take down every last one of the Titans after they take his mother’s life and leave his home city in ruins. Next, you’re roaming the floating city Aincrad, trapped in a virtual MMO where your fate in the game is also ultimately your fate in the real world. You’re also in the world of Naruto, risking your life living by the way of the ninja, following Naruto in his quest to become the hokage.

Anime, or the genre of Japanese-styled animation productions, features a wide variety of subgenres including action, comedy, romance, adventure, fantasy, etc.

Contrary to its stereotypes deeming it to be merely a genre of children’s cartoons and “weird” due to its elements of Japanese culture, Anime is capable of telling mature, serious-themed plots and attracts millions of viewers from both Western and Eastern societies.

Anime has long been a major influence in the US and other countries of western society from the late 90s and 2000s. It can be seen with the profound success of popular Japanese English-dubbed animes, like Pokémon, Sailor Moon, Dragonball Z, and critically-acclaimed American animated shows like Avatar: The Last Airbender and Teen Titans, who took upon an Anime style with their visuals and dominated American ratings.

However, in the last couple of years, Anime has blossomed even further and is rising to become more and more popular in mainstream entertainment.

As anime becomes more popular, it continues to spread and is becoming accessible through a growing multitude of different locations on TV networks like Adult Swim’s Toonami, Neon Alley, Funimation, and G4, who air anime for an older audience; Nicktoons, The CW’s Vortexx, and Cartoon Network, who broadcast anime geared toward a younger audience and also on streaming websites such as Anime Network, Funimation’s website, Crunchyroll, Netflix, Crackle, YouTube, and Hulu.

Following its takedown from Cartoon Network in 2008, Toonami, the late-night animated programming block, made its return to television in 2012 with its revival through Adult Swim and is currently reaching levels of unexpected success, showing both American animated shows and Japanese anime nearly every night and attracting a large amount of viewers.

Anime has also found tremendous success in the states with Netflix, acquiring

its own genre on the very popular online streaming service, and quickly growing to be one of the largest categories on it.

Attack on Titan, based off of Hajime Isayama’s manga series of the same name, has taken America by storm, being the most viewed program on Toonami and reaching Netflix’s “Most Popular” list every month since its release. AOT is said to the biggest force in making anime go mainstream in the west and with its continuing growing success, is exposing more people to the genre as a whole and creating a growing interest in it.

Other animes that have had great success in the US in 2014 include Sword Art Online, Gurren Laggan, Fairy Tail, and Full Metal Alchemist, all of which have had unexpected levels of success in English-speaking countries.

“I have been watching anime since kindergarten.

I also watch Fairy Tail, Death Note, and KIBA,” said sophomore Bryce Davis. “I am glad for the rise of popularity in anime. I encourage people to watch more and glad it’s growing here in America”.

As it continues to spread, many of Anime’s stereotypes and myths start to bust and more people are growing to be more open to considering watching it instead of labeling it as “kid’s shows”, “strange”, etc.

Although some animes have contained some elements that are considered by many to be exAnime: Eren Jaeger from Attack on Titan tremely strange, for the most part animes are fair(Left), Goku from the Dragon Ball series ly normal and simply a unique type of animation.

(Middle), and Naruto from Naruto (Right) are “When I heard the word ‘anime’, only weird, some of the most popular anime characters in America today. Graphic By: Matthew Perez strange, and colorful characters with huge eyes and high-pitched voices came into my mind but now I know that was wrong,” said sophomore Jonathan Herbert. “After watching Attack on Titan, I realized anime was more normal than I thought and is actually really good; I’m definitely planning to watch others.”

And while most of the animes that have been popular in the US during the 2000s are geared toward a younger demographic and are often looked down upon by older audiences and called “cartoons”, animes have begun to prove themselves to be able to tell a mature story with adult-level themes.

Anime is already well down the road to becoming a huge part of mainstream entertainment and as 2014 comes to a conclusion, Anime fans can look back at the year with pride, as its growing success this year can only lead to even more, great success in the future.

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New York City. Good Morning America. Taylor Alison Swift. Some teens would do anything just to be in this exact circumstance that PPCHS junior Ariana Noda was in. Ariana Noda was one lucky girl on OctoFeatures Editor

Celebrity Idols: Junior Ariana Noda was fortunate enough to meet Taylor Swift in New York City. Photo By: Ryan Corona

ber 27th. Her family had planned a trip to the big city to visit family, but found themselves in line to see the talk show Good Morning America. Noda, a die-hard Swift fan, had begged to see the show after finding out that Swift herself was supposed to be there. Swift was there to promote her new album 1989, and Noda was ecstatic.

That morning, Noda waited in line with her family to enter the show. Hundreds of people were there, excited to see Swift speak on the show. What the crowd of people didn’t know was that they were going to experience something a lot better than just watching Swift onstage. As Noda and her family squeezed and pushed themselves to the front, Swift herself stepped out through the double doors. Cameras instantly popped out from everywhere, and iPhones were thrusted into the air. Swift came right up to Noda’s section and pulled out her iPhone. She began snapping away as she took selfies with her fans.

“She raised her phone to take a selfie, and I remember her looking at me and telling me to get in the picture but iPhone screens are only so big. It was such an awesome experience though to get to meet her. We even talked for a little bit after,” said Noda.

While most people would just feel shock from meeting a celebrity, Noda felt such happiness that she burst into tears. She had been anticipating their meeting since Swift’s beginning country music days! Noda has been a Swift fan since 2010 when the Speak Now album was released, and she stood by her side all of these years, despite recent controversy over Swift’s songs and relationships.

“I look up to Tay because she’s an amazing role model for girls. She’s really into women’s rights and is just that one ideal woman that girls should look up to. She’s also very humble and focuses a lot on her fans which a lot of artists don’t. Overall, she really is just an amazing person,” said Noda.

Ariana Noda says she will continue to support Swift and has already bought tickets to her 1989 World Tour. Noda is hoping for another experience like the one on Good Morning America but even better. “The next goal is definitely to get a hug,” Noda said with a smile.

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The Rise and Fall of the Nintendo Era Jake Dreilinger

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Editor-in-Chief

n a time where video games and television were not even a thought in any person’s minds, a popular video game icon was created. From its roots of making playing cards, the company soared onto greater things, like making some of the most popular video game characters and video game consoles of all time. Characters like Mario, Donkey Kong, Link, and many more were thought up by this once small company in Japan. Nintendo began a journey that revolutionized the world.

Nintendo started out as a small card-making company in Japan in 1889. These cards started out handmade, and as they grew in popularity, Nintendo began mass producing them. In 1966 Nintendo entered a new era: a toy making era. Nintendo stopped making their popular card packs, and starting making toys that we become the foundation for their video game console in the years to come. During this time, Nintendo produced many toys ranging from a baseball throwing machine to a Nintendo Beam Gun Game, which was a precursor to the NES Zapper (geekunleashed.com).

In 1972, Nintendo’s toys met technology when electronics company Magnavox created the first commercially available gaming console, the Magnavox Odyssey. Using the same technology used to make the Nintendo Beam Gun Game, Nintendo produced toy guns that would register with games played on the Odyssey. In the years that followed, Nintendo created many of its famous games, like Donkey Kong and the original Mario Bros., as video arcade games. Nintendo’s popularity grew, and in 1985, Nintendo released what would be one of the most popular gaming consoles of all time, the NES (Nintendo Entertainment System). During this time popular video game franchises like the Legend of Zelda, Metroid, and Super Mario Bros. were released, and each became instantly popular (telegraph.co.uk).

A few years later, Nintendo once again revolutionized the gaming world with the release of the Game Boy, a portable gaming system, and Tetris, a game in which gamers try to fit blocks in a row. The Game Boy eventually became the best-selling portable game system of all time. Both the NES and the Game Boy saw the releases of Super Mario Land, Super Mario Bros. 3, and the next Legend of Zelda games. In 1990, Nintendo released the SNES (Super Nintendo Entertainment System), which saw the rise of Street Fighter II and the Final Fantasy Series. Six years later the Nintendo 64 was released, which was Nintendo’s first step into the new age of technology. During this time, famous games like The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Super Mario 64 were produced (telegraph.co.uk).

Following the success of the Game Boy, Nintendo released the first Pokémon games, Pokémon Red and Green in Japan and Pokémon Red and Blue in the United States. It instantly became a hit, which prompted Nintendo to make sequels, Pokémon Silver, Gold, and Crystal. Nintendo even began going back to their roots and began mass producing Pokémon cards. Pokémon became so popular that it got its own television series. Both the

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game and the series are still being produced today.

“Pokémon was the best,” said senior Jake Dymek. “I was a big fan of the original games. It was pretty much my childhood. I wasn’t really a fan of the TV show, though.”

Skip ahead into the new millennium and Nintendo once again releases new consoles, the Nintendo Game Cube and the Nintendo DS. This would serve as the basis to the new consoles Nintendo would release later on as this was the first Nintendo console to use discs instead of cartridges. During this time, the Game Cube released popular games like Luigi’s Mansion, Star Fox, Super Mario Sunshine, and Super Smash Bros.

Melee, while the DS had games like Mario Kart and Scribblenauts. The DS captivated new wireless technology as now, gamers no longer needed cables to connect with other gamers; they can use the new infrared technology to allow one DS to connect with another DS nearby. The Game Cube was small, durable, and can easily be inputted into any TV. “Every year, Nintendo is improving, so I think it’s pretty good,” said freshman Jonathan Jeanlouis. “They are trying hard to stay in competition with Xbox and PlayStation.

I loved the Game Cube and the Game Boy. I still have both of them.”

By the year 2006 gamers started to move away from Nintendo and toward Microsoft’s Xbox and Sony’s PlayStation. In order to compete with these big software companies, Nintendo released the Nintendo Wii. Players hold the controller with an added on Nunchuk to help with motion. Instead of pressing buttons to move the player, the Wii allowed players to move their hands, which registers with a sensor placed above the TV, which allows the player in the game to move or do an action. During this time popular games like Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Super Mario Galaxy, and Wii Sports was released. The Wii also promoted fitness with the Wii Fit, which allowed gamers to do various activities to promote balance, coordination, and physical activity.

To keep up with the next generation of gaming consoles, Nintendo released the WiiU. For the first time since the company began making gaming consoles, the WiiU didn’t receive the same amount of popularity as the other consoles. Through the WiiU, gamers can play games both through the TV or through the screen on the WiiU game pad. It is entirely handheld, and can connect to whatever game is in the console (geekunleashed. com).

Nintendo has been through it all, it has been on top of the world and it has been at the bottom of the totem pole. From card company to video game icon, Nintendo has had a tremendous journey. But one thing remains clear, Nintendo remains a big part of video gaming history. Without them, we wouldn’t have many of the games we play today.

Graphic by: Matthew Perez

Apple says ‘Nintendon’t’ to emulators David Cha-Kim Technology Editor

Graphic by: Katie Perez

Y

ou’re Trainer Red, walking through the forests of the Kanto Region, training your Pokémon hard to be the very best, walking from city to city, challenging every gym leader or trainer that crosses your path. You’re Mario, jumping several feet high in the air, stomping down on every Goomba and Koopa in your way as you venture down dark, mysterious pipes leading to uncertain destinations, doing whatever it takes to get to the next level to come to Princess Peach’s rescue from Bowser’s castle. You’re also Link, adventuring through the land of Hyrule on a quest to save Princess Zelda and your kingdom from your evil archenemy Ganondorf. Simply put, you’re reliving all of your favorite childhood memories, all from the easy location that is your iPhone. Well, at least you were...

Emulators, or programs designed to enable devices to mimic (emulate) the function of another device, have long been popular in the tech world. The most popular type of emulators by far are gaming emulators, which allow devices to temporarily act as gaming devices (such as Nintendo’s Gameboy, SNES and DS, Sony’s PSP and PS1, Sega’s Genesis, etc.) and play games that are foreign to their actual systems. Over the last few years many video game console emulators have been extremely popular on PCs, Android phones and tablets, and much more recently, iDevices.

Unlike Android devices, who have many emulators that have gained much popularity on their Google Play store such as ‘My Boy!’ (GameBoyAdvance) and ‘Mega64’ (Nintendo 64), Apple never released any emulators on their official App Store. Emulators were only available to Apple users who went through the trouble of jailbreaking (cracking an iDevice to enable it to run third-party programs) their device and downloading them off of the Cydia Store; thousands of iDevice users have been downloading emulators from Cydia since the late 2000s.

However, those limitations set upon Apple users were soon to break. During the summer of 2013, Riley Testut (17-years-old at the time), released his very own self-coded iDevice emulator, GBA4iOS (Gameboy Advance for iOS), to the public. Testut’s new-at-the-time app was the first ever iOS emulator available without having to install a jailbreak on the device, using a simple download and install process through the iOS-native browser, Safari. Apple fans were ecstatic and news of the app quickly blew up and spread across social media. Within weeks, GBA4iOS was making headlines and by the end of July, it had over half of a million downloads.

GBA4iOS set the example for many of the other emulators on the Cydia store and soon enough, NDS4iOS (Nintendo DS), PPSPP (Sony PSP), Gearboy (Gameboy Color), SNES4iOS and many others made their way into the Apple scene with their developers making them available via safari-download method.

However, Apple didn’t take the success of something not on their official store too kindly, even if it didn’t really hurt anyone. Later on in summer 2013, Apple released a small update to iOS 7 said to only contain “minor bug fixes” when in reality it was attempt to crush what they as a growing problem: emulation.

After the initial release of the update, emulator developers were stumped for a period of time as Testut’s safari-installation method no longer seemed to work. Even some of the users who already had the apps were having issues opening them. However, gamers are very very persistent, and they always find a way to get what they want. Before too long, the “date-trick” was discovered. Devs found that if you went into the iPhone’s settings and went back past the date of the release of the

update that patched emulator’s installation process, the installation and opening of the app started to work again. Apple emulation was in the process of its resurrection.

With no action from Apple in any updates for months, the future of emulators on Apple devices was looking bright. Riley Testut, now 18 and still only a senior in high school, began working on GBA4iOS 2.0 with partner Paul Thorsen for the remainder of the year.

Features that were to come in 2.0 included a completely redesigned user interface, support for Gameboy Color games, use of cheat codes, customizable skins/controller layouts, and Dropbox support, which allows users to continue their game progress on several different devices.

As Testut’s project grew, so did his fame. More and more people began to follow the progress of GBA4iOS 2.0 and Riley Testut became somewhat of a celebrity (currently with over thirty-thousand followers on Twitter).

GBA4iOS 2.0 released on February 19th of this year and it massively exploded in an extremely short amount of time, even crashing Testut’s server minutes after its release.

Within the first two weeks, the new GBA4iOS app already had over 2 million downloads.

Karen Tsai, developer of NDS4iOS, also remodeled her emu application and, like Riley, accumulated impressive amounts of downloads. Nearly a year passed from Testut’s original breakthrough, Apple fans were enjoying emulation more than ever.

“I’ve always played old Nintendo games on my Android,” said junior Alyssa Huang.

“It’s good that Apple finally got it, even if they are a bit late.”

Testut continued his work on GBA4iOS Thorsen, planning a 2.1 release which would have brought bluetooth and Wi-Fi multiplayer features and making it the first ever mobile emulator on ANY platform to be able to do so.

However, just as iOS emulation was about to hit its peak, Apple crashed the party once more, except this time it seems as though their fix is lethally permanent.

In September 2014, when the iOS 8.1 beta was released to developers, emulator devs including Testut and Tsai noticed the famous “date-trick” no longer functioned and after countless efforts of trying to find a solution, they reluctantly admitted to defeat. Apple had learned from their previous mistakes and this time there was no way around. Apple was victorious and the kingdom of emulation had fallen. iOS 8.1 (now released) had taken the role of Apple’s deadly assassin.

“I honestly don’t see the point of Apple doing this,” said sophomore Darius Modeste.

“The emulators weren’t hurting anyone and if Apple were that concerned, they could’ve asked the devs to put them on the App Store; they could’ve even made money off of them.”

Riley Testut and his fellow devs say this isn’t necessarily the end of emulation as a whole. For those fans who care enough about their emulators to go through the process of jailbreaking, their beloved apps will always be available to them on the Cydia store. Riley also says the much anticipated release of GBA4iOS 2.0 is still set to come but obviously not how he expected it to.

As 2014 comes to a conclusion, despite the devastating ending, emulator fans can only look back at this year with smiles on their faces and hope that the future can only withhold greater things.

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Technology

Add these games to your Holiday Shopping Cart Matthew Deno Staff Writer

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ith November over and December upon us, video games, along with the rest of the country, are headed into holiday season, that frantic time of year when people get crazy discounts and major game releases. This year is no exception, and the past few and upcoming weeks have promised some very big releases, all in time for your holiday shopping. The hype has been mounting, so without further ado, here are the biggest games of the holiday season.

- Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, Release Date: November 4th What is more than likely going to be the best selling game of the year, Advanced Warfare has a new graphics engine and better yet, has been developed on a new three-year development cycle, a full year more for the team at Sledgehammer Games than any previous COD title. This has translated the game into higher quality and innovation. As well, the new Exo-suit mechanics bring a lot of new depth to both single and multi-player modes, marking some of the biggest changes to the series since Modern Warfare.

“I have been waiting for the release of this game for so long. The previous Call of Duty (Ghosts) wasn’t all that great, but Advanced Warfare has definitely rejuvenated my love for this series,” said junior Matias Matias.

- Assassin’s Creed: Unity, Release Date: December 4th With huge crowds of Parisians populating the streets of Revolutionary France and all new-gen graphics, this game is shooting to be the best-looking game in the franchise to date. Unity brings an expanded stealth mechanic to the series, something that’s been sorely missing from the franchise all about assasins. It also brings interior exploration, opening up an entirely new dimension to urban life. Finally, Unity expands on the parkour features of the series, allowing for downward movement rather than the traditional jumping method.

- Halo: The Master Chief Collection, Release Date: November 11th Halo: The Master Chief Collection isn’t every Halo game ever made, but it does include Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Halo 2 Anniversary, Halo 3, Halo 4, plus all their multiplayer modes and add-on content all remastered for Xbox One. That’s a pretty impressive line-up of games headed to Microsoft’s newest console this holiday season, as you get the four main Halo games for the price of one.

- Far Cry 4, Release Date: November 18th Set in the Himalaya Mountains, Far Cry 4 is a sequel to 2012′s excellent Far Cry 3. Included in the game are elephants, monkeys, rhinos, tigers, jet skis, and much more.

Also, the often criticized “white savior” element has been removed. Instead, there is a local conflict between a small time dictator and his people. While Call of Duty is a great choice for multiplayer, it’s hard to beat the single-player in the Far Cry series.

- Super Smash Bros. Wii U, Release Date: November 21st The Smash Bros. franchise is one of Nintendo’s most cherished, and Super Smash Bros. on Wii U may be the biggest game on that system yet. Featuring a wide array of Nintendo and third party characters, this new installment is the first HD version of the game. It can be played with any of the controllers normally used for Wii U games as well as a GameCube controller or the 3DS itself, giving it more options than just about any other Nintendo game in terms of controller inputs. It even allows for up to 8 people to fight in one game.

“Since I was a little kid, this series has always been my favorite one to play. The game before this, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, was amazing, but this new version has just blown me away from every aspect of it,” said senior Thomas Hood.

Now there is no telling what will be the best games of the rest of the year. These are merely the biggest and most anticipated. So what are you looking forward to in the coming weeks? What’s getting over-hyped? What will you be stuffing your stocking with this year? Any of these five blockbusters would be a great choice as a holiday gift.

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Graphic by: Katie Perez

Graphic by: Matthew Perez

Technology

Super Brothers Smash their way to the top Camilo Grijalva Staff Writer

Graphic by: Matthew Perez

Y

ou are sitting next to your best friend, each of you holding one controller. The two of you may think your long-lasting friendship has the most unbreakable of bonds, but that is certainly about to be tested. The game is started, and all of a sudden you see the characters you have grown up to love start flashing across the screen; Mario, Sonic, Kirby, Donkey Kong, Princess Peach and all of the other elite Nintendo warriors. As you choose your soldier and select the battlegrounds, all former friendships are forgotten, and for the next few minutes will test those truly “unbreakable” bonds.

“Super Smash Bros was basically my childhood,” said sophomore Jonathan Herbert. “I remember getting off the bus after school and running as fast as I could all the way to my living room where I had my GameCube. I would play for such a long time every day. Even today, I still find time to play it. There’s just no way I can ever leave the game.”

Not many games have left the huge impact that Super Smash Bros has left on the youth of America. The first release of the legendary game dates back to 1999 for the Nintendo 64, when it officially announced itself on the scene. The concept of this game was a revolution. According to techtimes.com, the original Super Smash Bros was the first game ever put out to the public that included the basic but life-changing idea of Nintendo characters having a fight to the death.

The original roster of fighters only included 12 characters; Mario, Luigi, Donkey Kong, Link, Samus, Capt. Falcon, Ness, Yoshi, Kirby, Fox, Pikachu, and Jigglypuff. One fact that not many know is that the game was originally intended to be called “Dragon King: the Fighting Game” and was not meant to be released outside of Japan.

“What Super Smash Bros brought to the gaming industry is one of a kind. Not many other games have been able to come out with a completely fresh idea, like Nintendo was able to do, and have the same caliber of success. Over the years, the game has only gotten better by including new characters, new game modes, new maps, and releasing the game on new consoles like the Wii,” said junior Noel Garcia.

Almost two years later, the second game, Super Smash Bros: Melee was released. The roster of players was upgraded to 26 along with the number of fighting arenas rising to 29 (nintendolife.com). This new game brought with it a new angle on multiplayer fighting. It increased the variety of fights that included new features like slow-motion, giant character, and coin battles being a few of them.

Unfortunately for Super Smash Bros fans, they it would be almost a decade until the next part of the series was released; Super Smash Bros. Brawl. It was finally put out on March 9, 2008 for the Nintendo Wii. Once again, there were new fighters added to the game, totaling up to 35 different characters, along with 12 new brawl arenas being added.

“Of all the Super Smash Bros games I have played, which is all of them, my favorite has to be Brawl. It has a bunch of cool, new features but still manages to keep its classic feel. It’s just one of the classic games that everyone has played at least one time in their life. The only downside of the game was the fact that online battles didn’t work, but that still didn’t stop it from becoming the great game it is,” said sophomore Aspen Oudshoorn.

The next and recent steps in the Super Smash Brothers are Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. The edition for the Nintendo 3DS was released on October 3rd and has made a great start to its sales, becoming the 10th ever game for the 3DS to break one million copies sold in the US (nintendolife.com). Keep in mind that this was done in just over a month. The Wii U version will be released on November 21st and will surely compete with the other edition’s sales numbers with pre-order sales already in the millions.

The Super Smash Brothers game series can be described with one word; smashing.

Game sales for every edition smashed the leaderboards, with over 25 million copies sold worldwide. User and critic reviews made the game smash the top 10 game lists. Super Smash Bros. Melee officially hold the title as the GameCube’s best ever selling game. It is a legend in the world of gaming and certainly holds a place in the hearts of many.

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The CHAT Editorial: Social Media with a side of anxiety Hayley Hartwell Staff Writer

S

ocial media might be perceived as an outlet for teens to escape their homework or my mom might see.” even conversations with their parents, but it’s also a source of anxiety. Teens already Teens don’t understand that once you post a picture somewhere it is there forevhave anxiety piled onto their plate with school work, er whether you delete it or not. Teens become anxious outside activities, the stress of college, and drama. from these situations because if something embarrassNow, unknowingly, they are adding another source ing is posted of them and everyone sees it or screenshots of anxiety to their plate with the use of social media it before it could get deleted then they feel like their including Instagram, Twitter, and Tumblr. world is over. Colleges also look at teens social media “I often find myself procrastinating and using social outlets to see if they would represent the school well media to distract from my homework or other school or not. related topics. When I look at the clock and more time “I know that having social media sometimes brings as passed then I thought I get major anxiety because I stress and anxiety into my life because it distracts me think I won’t be able to finish my homework in time, from homework and other more important things, but so I rush,” said freshman Morgan Robertson.

I can’t seem to ditch the habit of checking my timeline There are several ways in which teens are negativeor refreshing my news feed every chance I think somely affected by social media. Teens have turned social thing new has occurred,” said Emely Sosa (’16). media into a competition trying to get the most likes, There are ways to manage the anxiety that can be the most followers, or most comments on their piccontained to a minimum. While doing homework or tures. Teens will spend hours taking and picking the attempting to start it turn your phone completely off or perfect picture, then to edit it and make sure they tell put your phone on Airplane mode so notifications won’t The stress: Social Media can cause a lot of all their friends to go like and comment, just for the be a distraction every five minutes. Building trust with stress if someone spends too much time on it. approval of all their other followers mindlessly scrollparents will prevent the constant snooping and will Photo by: Sydney Silverberg ing down their timelines. After the picture is up it achieve the privacy you want, which will reduce your becomes a waiting game constantly thinking of the anxiety of always keeping your phone out of clear view. number of likes your picture will receive.

Lastly, just be aware of all things being posted related to yourself and make sure you It’s a constant battle between parents and their kids for the right of their privacy and maintain a positive image on social media. whether parents should look at the teen’s social media and messages. Teens never want Social media comes with negative and positive effects you just have to know when to leave their phones where their parents might find them or let their parents follow the proper time and place is to use the applications. Teens already have anxiety about them on social media. They are worried they will get in trouble for what they are posting more important things so there should be a conscious effort to minimalize the anxiety which adds to the constant anxiety of, “I wonder if my mom read my messages with my that comes with social media. boyfriend?” or, “My friends might post that picture even though I told them not to and

Who Are You? Relax. You are awesome!

Crystal Reyes

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Stress Relievers: Scented candles can help releave stress and help calm someone down.

Photo by: Sydney Silverberg

LMHC

ho are you? I am a Pines Charter Alum, Class of 2005. I am currently a licensed mental health counselor. I work with people of all ages to help them improve their lives. Life is wonderful, and at times it will also be very difficult. Having someone to talk to and support you is a survival skill, whether it be your favorite teacher, a family member, friend or counselor. There are many things you can solve on your own, and there are some that call for another set of eyes and ears.

Almost 10 years ago, I was a student sitting in your seat. Although some might disagree, I ask the question, “Who are you?” because I believe it is the single most important question you will ever answer in high school. If you are not thinking about this question, please take some time to reflect. You are intelligent, creative, kind individuals that have so much to offer and receive. Thankfully, there is no right or wrong answer. In fact, your answer will probably change---and that’s okay. You get to decide who you are, every single day.

Who are you? You now have more freedom, more choices, and more control than ever before! There are so many routes you can take. All of these choices can create a great deal of anxiety and stress. Should I study for this test or should I go hang out with my friends? Do I really want a boy/girlfriend right now? When should I take the SAT/ ACT? Does my hair look good this way or should I change it? What college should I go to? Almost 10 years ago, I was a student sitting in your seat.

Some tips for dealing with the anxiety and stress of school, friends, family and becoming YOU: -Create a relaxation list. Write down as many things as you can think of that help you relax (e.g. going to the gym, playing with a pet, drawing, taking a long shower, cooking a healthy meal, reading, taking a nap, watching your favorite show). Do at least one activity for 30 minutes every day. It might seem hard to fit 30 minutes of relaxation into your routine when you are super busy. However, the more relaxed you are, the more energy you have to be productive.

-Manage your thinking. Positive thoughts create positive feelings, which lead to positive behaviors. Consider: “I’m never going to get into college” vs. “Getting into college is hard. I really want this and there are people that can help me”. Which thought is most likely to motivate you?

-Manage your time. When we are anxious and stressed it always seems like there is never enough time. Give yourself 15 minutes on Sunday, to plan your week. I must admit that I never used my planner as much as I could have in high school. Now, I use it every. single. day. Remember, there is time to do everything that needs to get done.

Break down the 24 hours in your day, include at least 8 hours for sleep, 30 minutes for relaxation and go from there.

When we are under high levels of stress for extended periods of time our body will send us signals to let us know that we need to relax--- frequent headaches, stomach issues, overeating, racing thoughts, and difficulty concentrating are examples. Listen to your body! Anxiety and stress do not go away on their own. Challenge yourself to try one of the strategies above for a week. You will be surprised at the changes you will find.

You are awesome!

10 tips for nailing a job interview Aaliyah pasols Features Editor

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s Christmas items start to take up space on the stands, and Thanksgiving plans are arranged, jobs are rapidly opening. Holiday job openings are the easiest time to get a job because companies are looking to hire extra help in their busiest time of the year. But with a lot of job openings, comes a lot of competition as well. How do you nail that perfect interview and acquire the job? Here are some tips to get your employer smiling and the training papers in your hands:

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)Greet formally and appropriately Upon meeting the interviewer, make sure to give a genuine smile and introduce yourself formally. Always follow the “Hi, I’m ________, nice to meet you” format when introducing yourself and make sure to shake hands.

List of some places that hire at 16 and up: Publix, Chick-Fil-A, Chipotle, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, McDonald’s, Jamba Juice, Winn-Dixie, Target, movie theaters like Cinemark and Regal, Menchies, Yogurtland, Coldstone, and C.B. Smith park.

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)Watch your gestures and make eye contact Make sure to sit upright or stand upright when speaking to the interviewer. Most employers pay close attention to body language so make sure to come across as interested and attentive. And one of the most important rules is to maintain eye contact! If you’re a person that generally can’t look someone in the eye, work at it because establishing eye contact shows self-assurance and confidence. Looking away might cause your employer to believe you are nervous or anxious.

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)Avoid the “Um” and “Like” A habit that seems to escape most teens’ attention is the habit of using too many “likes” and “ums” in their sentences. If you feel yourself ready to use the word, stop yourself and pause. It’s better to pause for a bit to gather your thoughts instead of using “um” or “like.”

Using these make you seem immature and unsure of what you are saying. Be sure to limit your use of these words!

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)List your best attributes When listing your attributes try not to sound like an automated robot listing things. List a few of your best attributes that you think really compliment what you can bring to the job.

Explain them with concrete examples to ensure your credibility. For example, if you are trying to prove that you are responsible you can say that you are paying off a school trip on your own. Or if you are trying to prove that you are independent you can say that you completed a college tour on your own.

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)Know details about the place you’re applying to Before sitting down for the interview, it’s critical that you know a little background information about the company/workplace you’re applying to. If applying to Chick-Fil-A for example, you should know who created the company and why they’re closed on Sundays.

Do your homework and research! This is the #1 way to show how serious you are about the job position.

10) Follow all of these but remember to be yourself!!

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3

)Maintain a confident and sure vibe Throughout the interview, it’s important to maintain a confident and sure vibe and tone. If your voice is shaking and you’re looking anywhere but your interviewer’s eyes, they’re going to notice a lack in confidence and employers look for self-assured employees.

)Mention clubs/other activities Through mentioning clubs and other activities, you can demonstrate your skills/qualities.

In this way, you can indirectly brag without sounding like you’re droning on and on about a long list of your best qualities. For example, if you volunteered at the Humane Society, you can use that as a base to talk about how you’re a caring, hardworking person. You’re also showing the interviewer that you keep busy outside of school, and have other interests.

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)The Infamous question: Why do you want this job?

Many aspiring employees often become discouraged to apply to jobs because of this scary question. Most people will say that they need the money. While this is true for most people, this is not the answer employers want to hear. They want to know why you want to work at their workplace specifically. When asked this question, answer it by explaining what interests you about the workplace. Then you might want to mention how you found out about the job and what led you to apply there. If you still seem to stumble, tell the employer that you are interested in the experience the job could provide you with. For instance, if applying to be a cashier, explain to the employer that being a cashier would allow you to become talented in dealing with money, something that other jobs will com-

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)List any points that increase your availability This is an extra one that is optional, but it’s a great addition to the interview if applicable.

If you have any features that increase your availability and make you more dependable, you should definitely mention them. Some good examples are if you live close to the workplace or if you drive because then you can show up if called in.

Holiday makeup making us crazy Sofia Gangotena

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Staff Writer

s the holidays roll around, people tend to scramble around for gift ideas. Makeup companies like Tarte, Sephora, and Stila capitalize on the need for the perfect gift to provide sets for makeup fiends everywhere—at a reduced price. The combination of quality make and great discounts makes for a purchase that customers love, year after year.

Why are makeup companies so successful in selling these products? Sophomore Andrea Roman says it’s the convenience. “You can get a lot of really nice products for less money.” One of Tarte’s products in their holiday collection is a set of four Amazonian clay 12-hour blushes. The blushes retail for $35.00 and to buy each product separately it would cost $104.00. Freshman Sabelle Frias says that it’s the holiday spirit. “Since people get excited for the holidays and there might be new products that people want to get, makeup companies are successful that way.” Benefit Cosmetics, another makeup brand, provides an advent calendar for customers. Customers open each slot everyday in December leading up to Christmas, and receive a sample sized product. The calendar has a $150.00 value but it retails for $99.00.

As with all companies, sales increase during the holidays. Customers buy all that makeup and companies benefit from the success.

Some customers don’t even buy the makeup for gifts. Gutierrez buys a few things for herself. “I always buy the Estee Lauder set for my mom every year, but I love to buy a few things from MAC for myself.”

Beauty gurus on YouTube are no stranger to holiday collections. YouTube user coffeebreakwithdani has a list of videos that give ideas to viewers on makeup gifts. In one video called “PALETTES- Holiday gift guide for beauty lovers”, she talks about the different makeup palettes customers can buy. The products come from Smashbox to Tarte to Sephora. In the video, she admits that she bought all of those palettes, six in total, for herself.

But not everyone agrees with this makeup craze. Freshman Aaliyah White doesn’t think that buying all this makeup for one person is necessary. “You really don’t need that much makeup, but people do it anyway,” she says.

Looking into the craze of holiday shopping, it’s easy to infer that buying a set of products from one company makes sense to the sensible shopper. Whether or not makeup holiday sets are a good gift idea or not, there’s no way to deny that there is an obsession with holiday makeup collections nonetheless.

Scissors for eyelashes?: The holiday season creates new makeup products and tools. Photo by: Rebecca Gonzalez

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Global giving always the season for these visionaries Shakayla Lee Entertainment Editor

Donations: People have been donating countless goods to help the homeless live their daily lives. Photo by: Ryan Corona

Iinnpeople, many different ways, the lives of millions can be touched through acknowledging a problem and creating an innovative solution. Although the holidays tend to bring out the best there are some kind souls that consider everyday a time to give. Whether it be giving a tender smile, lending the extra hand, or creating a project to solve a problem within your community, there is no doubt that anyone can make a difference.

Sweets for the Soldiers

Although Halloween has come and gone, families nationwide often scratch their heads at the thought of what they shall do with all their leftover candy. Not to fear, hundreds of dentists are participating in the Halloween Candy Buyback program, which allows people to donate their candy to the organization receiving $1 per pound in the sweet exchange.

The Halloween program was founded by dentist Chris Kammer in Wisconsin, and soon participation trickled to the masses. After receiving the candy, the Halloween Buyback Program contacts local shippers to send the candy to Operation Gratitude, which fills thousands of care packages for troops overseas. According to ourcommunityourkids.org, Operation Gratitude "seeks to lift morale and put smiles on faces by sending care packages addressed to individual Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines deployed in harm's way." Who would've thought that a few pieces of sweets could put smiles on the faces of millions globally?

Homes for the Homeless

One man knew that one day he had the ability to make a difference. When it comes to the time for giving, Michael Polacek realized that it didn’t have to just be huge baskets or secretly unwanted gifts around the Holidays. Taking it one step further, he launched a movement called Project Gregory that reconstructs billboards into functional 2 bedroom “apartments” to give them a functional purpose in housing the homeless.

“I think it’s nice that this guy sees that a problem like homelessness is rising and he came up with a unique way to do something good for other people,” said sophomore Dario Veloso .

About three years ago, the 26 year old came up with this concept as part of his master's project at the Academy of Art in Banksa Bystrica, Slovakia. The homes will be connected to the city’s water supply, and electricity, and, according to stylemagazine.com, he hopes to soon “secure the permits to start building the first 10 homes in Slovakia”. With his nobly plan and organized effort, Polacek is working to give billboards in the UK a whole new meaning.

Gift giving doesn't start in the winter

It doesn't need to be the Holidays for Lillian Weber, 100 year old seamstress, to be in the mood to give. Since 2011, she has dedicated her days to sewing dresses for the charity ‘Little Dresses for Africa’: “a Christian nonprofit that distributes dresses to impoverished young girls in Africa and beyond”.

Miraculously, she’s made over 840 dresses so far, and has a goal of making 1,000.

She collects her fabric and thread in the morning and is finished with one dress by the afternoon, never forgetting to add a special personalized touch to her creations. The organization, ‘Little Dresses for Africa’, has received over 2.5 million dresses to date, and distributes the dresses to schools, orphanages, and even churches to 47 countries in Africa and other countries in need.

“It’s very humbling to think that a woman is taking the time out of her day to help those in need, and it makes you realize how much you have. And the fact that she extends her hand to people without anything in return on a daily basis makes you reflect on what you could be doing to help others in different ways,” said senior Anesia Gordon.

The selflessness that Lillian Weber exemplifies is extremely commendable as she vows to make the world a better place, one dress at a time.

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Generiosity: PPCHS students are always generous during the holidays, giving gifts to their friends and helping those in need. Photo by: Ryan Corona

School shooters are dominated by males

Boy Soldiers March

Lauren Ramirez & Lauren Cookley

Nicholas Rivera

Staff Writers

Staff Writer

S chool shootings are something that can take place at any time any day. Sandy Hook, the mass shooting that took place in Newtown Connecticut, killed nearly 26 people in-

cluding students and teachers. This was known as the second worst school shooting in the U.S.—behind the infamous Columbine shooting. In the year after the Sandy Hook shooting, there were at least 44 more school shootings in the U.S. including assaults and suicides. This has led officials to wonder the reason behind all of this. Most school shootings have be caused by males which hasn’t caused much attention while only a handful of school shootings have been started by females.

The most recent of school shooting happened on November 20th, 2014 at Florida State University in Tallahassee. At half past midnight, a male shooter came into the university’s library and shot and injured three students. Thankfully, their injuries were not fatal.

Alumnus Izaak Kaufman, who now attends FSU said, “The what-ifs are the worst. I was planning on going to the library where the shooting happened that night but I ended up falling asleep in my dorm. It’s crazy to think about what would have happened if I hadn’t fallen asleep.”

Among all the shootings that have taken place, more than 70% were perpetrated by minors. Many students may have access to a gun at their house which can lead to these shootings. The age of these killers have ranged from 5 to 53 years old. Statistics show that over 90% of school shootings are perpetrated by males. One cause of this may be that nearly all violent video games, movies, and TV shows are marketed towards boys ages 12-21. Experiencing graphic violent scenes at early ages can imprint on boys minds and make them more prone to violent behaviors later in life.

These behaviors can also be looked upon as misogynistic. According to politicalresearch. org, Elliot Rodger, the perpetrator of a school shooting at University of California Santa Barbara, posted a YouTube video saying his intention was to “slaughter every single spoiled stuck up girl” inside a sorority house, because they “all would have rejected him and looked down upon him as an inferior man if he ever made a sexual advance towards them”. These chilling comments cannot be simply regarded as nonsense from a madman, because they actually represent the deeply entrenched manifestation of our misogynistic society. Furthermore, the case of Elliot Rodger exposes the prevailing intersection between gender and race of gun violence.

“I think the reason more males cause school shootings is because guys are exposed to more violence when they are kids and teenagers. Also, guys are usually less open about their feelings, so it’s harder to detect something wrong with their mentality that might cause them to do something like that” said junior Daniel Pressman.

According to Political Research Associates, male privilege is obvious in today’s society, but it is not often pointed out or discussed. Perhaps it is easier to notice the disadvantages of females rather than the advantages of males. Perhaps it is because we are taught not to recognize it because of the guilt or consequent self-doubt that comes with societal privilege. Nevertheless, as a result, school shootings are increasingly frequent and studies continue to reveal the correlation between shootings and gender. While males do not make up the entirety of school shootings, they do make up the majority.

Graphic by: Katie Perez

S

ince Chinese dynasties and African civilizations, any conflict between two civilizations has been a cause for war. Rather than searching for peace, the world nations have instead made advancements in weapons and strategies in preparation for future possible wars.

While U.S. grounds have been safe, other countries, primarily in Asia and Africa, haven’t had the same sense of safety. South Sudan gained its independence “in 2011 after decades of dangerous civil war, but the newest independent nation is still struggling to find peace (bbc.com). There are still rebellions within the country and recently South Sudan, among other nations, has taken desperate measures in their conflict. Earlier this year, 9,000 children were recruited as soldiers. Children, that is, who are below the age of 18. Some being forced and some volunteering, these children are trained just as any other soldier would be trained and must learn to kill before they even have the chance to become adults (enoughproject.org).

“The idea that I could make my own story by this one opportunity to discover a whole new part of my life makes the military appealing to me. Having kids as young as 12 or 13 in battle is disgusting. At that age, you still have so much to learn and instead they are out fighting. A lot of people even consider 18 too young to fight let alone 13,” says junior Lucas Valdivieso.

Although cruel, the use of children under the age of 18 as soldiers is not a new idea. The practice dates back to 1914 in the U.S., when World War I was coming to an end. Children, aged 15-18 were interested in fighting for their country, and they were allowed to fight, despite controversy about their age. Similarly, boys in Britain in about 1915 were recruited, following the propaganda slogan that stated “We want you. We want you,” to fight in British wars.

While most child soldiers were volunteers at the beginning, the times have changed and many today are forced or obligated to fight because they have no other choice. This includes both boys and girls, with the total number of soldiers around the world being in the thousands (dosomething.org) [insert quote] Many laws of human rights are broken with the recruitment of child soldiers. Organizations, like Child Soldiers International, are attempting to end the enrollment of children in the military in countries around the world. But the problem still consists, and there doesn’t seem to be an end to it in the near future, as it will likely continue as long as there is war.

Child Soldiers International continues to do what they can, but what they can’t do to stop all conflicts.

Graphic by: Katie Perez

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News Graphic by: Katie Perez

Melissa Pierce

December 14, 2012: Sandy Hook Elementary School

Student Life Editor

October 21, 2013: Sparks Middle School

Tragedy struck Sandy Hook Elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut when 20-yearold local Adam Lanza arrived on campus with a shotgun, a rifle, and two handguns. Lanza took his own life after taking the lives of 26 other individuals; 20 of whom were firstgrade students and six of which were faculty members. This mass school shooting drew the attention of ordinary citizens, and both religious and political leaders (america.aljazeera.com).

At Sparks Middle School in Sparks, Nevada, a 12-year-old student used a handgun to open fire outside of the school’s building. Michael Landsberry, a teacher at the middle school, was killed while trying to intercept the gunman and two other students were injured in the process (america.aljazeera.com).

January 10, 2013: Taft Union High School

June 5, 2014: Seattle Pacific University

January 31, 2013: Price Middle School

November 20, 2014: Florida State University

Sixteen-year-old Bryan Oliver walked into his classroom at Taft Union High School in Taft, California and used a shotgun in an attempt to injure his peers Bowe Cleveland and Jacob Nickelst, who were bullying him prior to this incident (www.nbcbayarea.com). The teacher and the security officer at the high school managed to talk Oliver out of doing more harm, and everyone managed to escape with minor wounds (america.aljazeera.com).

Telvis Douglas was shot in the back of the head at Price Middle School in Atlanta, Georgia after getting into a fight with an unidentified student in the courtyard. The student then began shooting at fleeing individuals until the school officer disarms and arrests him (america.aljazeera.com).

Aaron Rey Ybarra, 26-years-old, was off of his psychosis medication and armed with a shotgun and a knife when intended to attack a mass of students at Seattle Pacific University in Seattle, Washington. A student security guard suppressed him with pepper spray, only after Ybarra injured two people and killed one student. According to the Associated Press, Ybarra had a “hatred for the world in general” (www.nbcbayarea.com).

Strozier Library on Florida State University’s campus came under gunfire in an overnight shooting; three people were injured and the gunman was a past FSU student named Myron May. Police were forced to shoot the gunman after he fired the first few shots in retaliation; the gunman is now deceased (www.nytimes.com).

March 18, 2013: University of Central Florida

Thirty-year-old James Oliver Seevakumaran took his own life by the trigger of a gun in his own bedroom after attempting to kill his roommate at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida. He had a planned massacre in mind that would involve the entire campus, and even wrote out specific steps as to how he would “give them hell”. After his death, officers found a pistol, a rifle, ammunition, and a backpack containing four homemade explosive devices (www.nbcbayarea.com).

April 9, 2013: La Salle High School

Joe Poynter shot himself in the head with a handgun that he stole from his family’s safe while class was in session at La Salle High School in Cincinnati. The other 22 students in the classroom at the time were left untouched and Poynter was described later as “fighting for his life” (america.aljazeera.com).

August 20, 2013: Ronald E. McNair Discovery Learning Academy Elementary School

School bookkeeper Antoinette Tuff talked 20-year-old Michael Brandon Hill into surrendering after he locked himself in the front office of Ronald E. McNair Discovery Learning Academy Elementary School in Decatur, Georgia with an AK-47 and a bag of ammunition. Hill was later charged for his wrongdoings, and luckily, nobody was hurt (america.aljazeera.com).

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Graphic by: Katie Perez

News New Patterns in School Shootings generate boy crisis Weekend Reviews Autumn Pough

Aaliyah pasols

Staff Writer

Features Editor

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aggressive and not really emotional, it’s actually the opposite. hat goes on in a boy’s head?” This question has been Most boys are actually really emotional, but they won’t and can’t marveled over countless times by people of all ages and gen- show it. “For boys, they are taught that sadness is not okay, and ders: the worried mother, the reprimanding father, the confused expressing sadness is definitely not okay. For boys, an acceptable girlfriend, the stressed teacher, the chatty group of girls at a emotion is anger. They can fight, show aggression, and are rarely sleepover. In each situation, there ends up being really no real admonished for that” (PsychologyToday.com). This causes probanswer. And although we reduce this question to just something lems later in life, as boys that were punished for feeling sad or high school girls laugh about at sleepovers, now it’s beginning crying can now only feel anger in situations where they should to look a lot more serious. In this day and age, we might actually feel sadness. This causes them to act out with aggression, which need a real answer. And quick. might be the reason why domestic abuse and school shootings are Although right now, feminism has become a strong and big topic carried out so often by men. Take the most recent school shootthroughout social media and the world, it may be necessary to ing, for example. On October 24th, 2014, at Marysville Pilchuck start switching our focus to boys. Why? Surprisingly, a look at High School, freshman Jaylen Fryberg shot five students before the news might actually reveal the answer through a shocking taking his own life. He did so because he was angry after a breakpattern. School shootings have been happening more and more up with his then-girlfriend (CNN). Instead of acting out of anger, frequently, starting with the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting in jealousy and rage, Fryberg should have felt sadness. Instead, he 2012. When looking at a timeline of school shootings, 97 percent was overwhelmed with this anger that caused him to go to school of them were carried out by males (TheFrisky.com). and shoot five students (which happened to be his best friends).

“I identify myself as a feminist and even I can admit that that Anger is a normal emotion, of course, but boys should be able to pattern is pretty scary. We should definitely start to focus more express sadness. If they are not allowed to do so, they will continon boys and help them ue to hold years and to prevent these atrocyears of built up If boys as young as 12 have participated in school shootities from occurring,” rage and sadness senior Hayley O’ ings, there is obviously something that is being done until they act out Brien said. as Fryberg did. If There is of course wrong. boys as young as 12 no official solution or have participated in answer to this pattern, school shootings, but there are many theories. One is that suicidal thoughts and dis- there is obviously something that is being done wrong. orders like ADHD and anger management tend to develop more What can we all do to help boys who may be experiencing these in boys than in girls. According to Psychology Today, boys are destructive thoughts? A good start might be encouraging them to three times more likely to commit suicide. This might be due to express emotions, rather than suppress them. Instead of telling their tendency to be more impulsive than females. They often act a boy to “man up,” maybe sitting down and asking him to exwithout giving the consequences of their actions much thought, press what he’s feeling may be a better route. A second suggestion which might lead them to commit suicide, or take another per- might be to resemble a good role model for these boys. Instead son’s life. of boys looking up to fictional video game characters and men Additionally, a second theory that was proposed is that boys in super hero movies, stepping up and being a better role model are receiving the wrong upbringing from adults. The whole “boys will help a great deal. If we want to see improvement in Ameriwill be boys” and “Man up” stereotypes might actually be hurt- ca’s boys, all of us will have to come together to make a notable ing these boys in the long run. Although boys are known to be difference.

B ill Cosby Scandal A woman told reporters on October 17, that Bill Cosby sexually assaulted her 45 years ago, when she was a teenager. Joan Tarshis, a journalist and publicist, said she met Cosby in 1969 in Los Angeles when she was invited to have lunch and be on the set of the Bill Cosby show. She said Cosby made her a drink and then she passed out.

Sophomore Mitchell Torres said, “I was really disappointed to find out what had happened with Bill Cosby. I always looked up to him from when he was on the Cosby Show.”

P arliament Elections On October 17, The Japanese Prime Min-

ister, Shinzo Abe, called for a parliament elections next month after he heard that the country has slipped into a recession. Abe also announced an 18-month delay in the sales tax hike during a press conference.

The prime minister said he will handle the parliament's lower house first.

P alestinian attack On Tuesday, October 18, two Palestinian

men broke into a Jerusalem synagogue and killed four and wounded four Israeli worshipers with an axe and two knives.

Police responded and shot and killed the attackers.

H istoric protests in Mexico Attorney General Jesús Murillo Karam

stated that authorities believe that the 43 missing students were kidnapped, killed and dumped in a river. His words sparked an outraged nation. Government officials' response to and possible role in the students' disappearance has been the focus of the nation the country for weeks, creating a challenge for Mexico's President.

O bama awards Presidential Medal of Freedom

Rep. John Dingell, a long-time serving lawmaker in the U.S., Stevie Wonder, the Mowtown artist, and Meryl Streep, who holds the most Oscar nominations of any actor, are three of the nineteen Americans who Obama will honor in the Presidential Medal of Freedom later this month. “I love Stevie Wonder and it makes me happy to know that he’s receiving this award. He really deserves it,” said sophomore Jasmine King.

IIsraeli sraeli troops kill Palestinian man troops killed a Palestinian man

during clashes in a West Bank refugee camp. Twenty-one-year-old Mohammed Jawabreh was standing on his rooftop watching clashes between the Israeli military and Palestinians below in the AlAroub refugee camp when an Israeli soldier shot him dead.

Graphic by: Katie Perez

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The most festive transition into the holiday season

Bargain hunt

Melissa Pierce

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Student Life Editor

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lthough your body feels immobile and your stomach seems to have stretched about an inch from all of the Thanksgiving Day celebrations, the entire family waits until 8 o’clock in the evening to officially ring in the holiday season by heading over to Pembroke Lakes Mall. Every member of the family is bursting with excitement—the younger cousins want to check out all the new toys, your mom needs time to buy a present for your dad and hide it from him, and your aunt employs your help in hiding merchandise that she will come back to purchase the next day.

This Thanksgiving Day outing turned the holiday into a family-wide activity. Black Friday and Thanksgiving Day shopping serves as a uniting force between family members. Instead of a family cooking, eating, and then going separate ways after dinner, they can all start their holiday off right by going out together. This however, does not necessarily mean taking away from the meaning or importance of Thanksgiving and the holidays. By all means, socialize with family and spend quality time with one another; spread thanks and kindness because that is what really matters on this day. The whole point in getting a head start on holiday shopping is not to divert the focus to money or materialistic gains; after a day of festivities is complete, the entire family, as a unit, can head out to their mall of choice.

Whether one chooses to start their holiday shopping after Thanksgiving dinner, early the next morning on Black Friday, or the following week on Cyber-Monday, it is a guarantee that the holiday spirit will find its way into his/her heart. For some individuals, this festive season, as with any other season, can bring to the surface bad memories.

By getting out of the house and surrounding oneself with holiday decorations and other enthused individuals, one can be enlightened and reminded that this time of year is that of happiness and joy. It isn’t about spending money or buying items just because they are on sale; the principle lies in the glee and bliss that every person deserves to feel.

Merriments during Black Friday and Cyber-Monday shopping sessions are also worthwhile due to their non-specificity to religion, gender, or lifestyle choice.

Despite the fact that Christmas is a religiously affiliated holiday, shopping during this season is not targeted to any one religion.

Deals and events during the holiday season are also not just for females. Nevertheless, some males feel burdened by shopping, especially during this time of year. Although females may be more inclined to shop in multiple locations for longer periods of time, Black Friday and Cyber-Monday caters to individuals of both genders and all ages. As well as this, sales are not just for the typical American consumer. If an individual is an ethical vegan or has chosen to live an all-natural life, they can find what they are looking with ease.

Stores during this time of year cater to everyone from the electronic junkies who want the latest technology to the simple people who just want to check every item off of their list and then leave.

The chief purpose when going holiday shopping is simply to have fun! Making memories during this jovial time is by far the most important item on one’s shopping list. The entire year is filled with homework, stress, volunteering, jobs, trials, tribulations, highs, and lows. The holiday season, expertly celebrated at the end of the year, is a time to sit back and finally relax. Work has been hard all year, and even though it won’t get easier, there is always a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Treating oneself to a day of shopping with friends or family members, is by far the best way to close the year. Without spending time together, the world would be a cold, lonely place. The things a person remembers happens in moments—when your mom was attacked by a mall cop for walking out of the store without paying, when your sister burned her mouth on a slice of pizza from the food court, when you thought you lost your little brother because he failed to inform you that he was playing a mall-wide game of hide and seek.

Whether it is one’s preference to head out to the mall for a holiday shopping session on Thanksgiving Day, on Black Friday, or on Cyber-Monday, holiday season cheerfulness is inevitable. This time of year is meant for family togetherness and true delight; shopping during this time of year is thus a given, not for materialistic reasons, but for reasons of pleasure and joy. Money-oriented possessions are not the driving force when it comes to holiday celebrations; spending time with those you love and making memories is what a person is most concerned with at this time of year. Shopping merely serves as a platform for making the conclusion to one’s year unforgettable and worth-while; the season simply wouldn’t be the same without it.

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t looks like we’ve done it again. America h transformed it into a nationwide display of gluttony GONE. Valentine’s Day. GONE. Easter. GONE. S a ‘holiday’ is nowhere to be found. The most rece time out to recognize all that we have to be thankfu Slowly, Thanksgiving is turning from a holiday to a Shopping on Black Friday and Thanksgiving take time off of work and school to buy a new TV, snag get time off to think about how privileged we are you, but to me, buying more stuff seems like the mo if your family finds going out and shopping on B all the people who don’t even get to spend time w there has to be workers to run the stores. Every giving because mothers, fathers, brothers, and the table early to get ready and work for the scrambling for the final pair of Beats headretail workers miss out on time with their shoppers with their purchase.

Spending time scouring for deals and from those precious holiday moments.

Christmas tree after Thanksgiving or too busy shopping you don’t have time are the beginnings of beautiful holiday material things. Everyone knows that is not to buy the best gifts for others about being with friends and family and whether or not you saved big on that 7 much fun it may seem to run around in your sight, you miss out on when you do that. No toy or fashioned family time—and that people need to spend with their families separattle of life outside. It forms that may have weakened of work and school. Going chaos of the world withconnect can hurt families Black Friday shopping ways. With crowds of run inside of stores to be their hands on goodies, that one of the biggest end of Black Friday tells a worker being trampled, stabbed, or a man hit by blackfridaydeathcount. injuries have occurred on 2006, with 5 injuries hapit makes no sense why peothis pain. It’s not like this best sales. Every year, ecoshowing better days to shop act like Black Friday has all happen throughout the whole Street Journal: “categories become pricier throughout Christmas” and “hot items like become more expensive closer also says that the best time to is around October—way before Thanksgiving just isn’t the time doesn’t have a place next to a happy with what you have. days off with friends and famiout. Yeah, it may seem fun in the Black Friday and Gray Thursday than good. It takes away from the lies, and causes harm physically and need to be content with themselves

ting hurts the holidays

Let’s Talk: Stereotypes

Looghermine Claude

Christina Yeh

News Editor

Journalism I Student

has taken a well-meaning, beautiful, family-oriented holiday and y. We couldn’t keep the meaning of ONE holiday alive. Christmas.

Slowly, one by one we cross off the holidays until the essence of ent victim? Thanksgiving. A simple day dedicated to taking some ul for is being crushed by door busters and seemingly infinite deals. another shopping day. es away from the true meaning of the holiday season. We don’t get g the latest Anna or Elsa doll, or pick up that new stand mixer. We and show gratitude for what we already have. I don’t know about ost ineffective way to show gratitude for the things you have. Even Black Friday is the best way to stick together as a family, think of with their family. If people are going to be at stores, year, families are ripped apart on Thankssisters have to excuse themselves from whole night. While frantic shoppers are phones, thousands and thousands of families to help out overly emotional scrambling for products takes away Many families love putting up their watching the game, but if you’re to do any of those things. Gone memories as they are replaced by the true meaning of the holidays or have the best decorations; it’s enjoying each other’s company— ft. Christmas tree. No matter how the mall grabbing everything the purpose of the holidays gadget can replace old it shouldn’t. I believe time and reconnect ed the hustle and busand strengthens bonds over the year because back outside to the out the time to reand relationships. also hurts in other people anxious to the first ones to get it’s not a surprise news stories at the another sad tale of or a woman being a car. According to com, 7 deaths and 96 Black Friday since pening this year. And ple are going through time of year has the nomic reports come out for items, but still people the deals that will ever year. According to the Wall like jewelry and watches the months leading up to flat-screen televisions also to Christmas”. The article buy both TV’s and watches Black Friday. for shopping. Materialism holiday devoted to being People should enjoy their ly at home instead of going moment, but in the long run, shopping causes more harm holiday cheer, separates famifinancially. For once, people and sit back and relax.

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ho doesn’t like coffee? Probably a lot of people, but that’s not my point here. My point is, I spend a lot of time at Starbucks relaxing, studying, and consuming so much caffeine that it’s probably borderline unhealthy. On one of my recent visits, I was in dire need of some energy; I had spent the night before working on college essays and studying for tests, and let me tell you, lack of sleep combined with lack of coffee is not a good look for me. I was so absorbed with my thoughts when the Starbucks waitress called my name that I replied “Yeah, here, what? Who?” and stood there unmoving for about 6 seconds before I realized that she was simply calling me to pick up my drink. At times like these, I’m not going to lie, I’m glad I look foreign, because people automatically assume that I’m bad at English and don’t know how Starbucks or other American institutions work. But while instances like these are entertaining to retell, most other occasions dealing with race and stereotypes are hurtful and cringe-worthy.

I dread meeting new people. Now, before you label me with antisocial personality disorder, hear me out. I’m Asian American. While I am proud of my heritage, I can’t help but cringe a little when I hear stereotypes aimed towards my race. I asked a couple of my friends what their first impression of me was and what they thought I would be like. Many of them had the same answer, admitting that they thought I would be shy, nerdy, and not a lot of fun.

Not a lot of fun? Are you kidding me?! I spend hours and hours on social media and if that’s not fun, I don’t know what is. On a serious note, why is it that I, and other Asian Americans, get instantly labeled as nothing more than shy, book smart kids who spend most of their days studying? That being said, I wish that I could showcase my full personality when I meet someone new so that I could prove the stereotypes wrong.

Now here’s the thing. Stereotypes aren’t exactly 100% false. In fact, stereotypes commonly are simple truths that relate to a few people, and these statements are then generalized and applied (often incorrectly) to a whole group of people.

So what about other races? Why do people claim that Caucasians always have terrible rhythm? Why is anyone who is African American labeled as good at sports? Why are Jewish people believed to be penny-pinching and greedy? What good are these stereotypes for besides inappropriate jokes and hurting feelings? But the main question is: why do we have to prove ourselves and try hard to defeat those stereotypes in the first place?

Unfortunately, the fact of the matter is that these stereotypes will not disappear anytime soon. So what can be done?

Well, you can show people the real you.

As cliché as it sounds, it will help to destroy the racial stereotype against you.

When people assume things about you based on your race, tell them information about yourself that will make them reevaluate their racist statement. If you’re consciously aware of a certain stereotype that you perceive as negative, alter it in a way that you feel is best. Prove people wrong. And if you happen to fall under the stereotype? Well that’s perfectly okay too. The moral of the story is to embrace yourself for who you are, and others will soon follow suit. Embrace your culture, your personality, your opinions. Be patient with others when it comes to racial issues, and don’t be afraid to share your own views. Just remember that when it comes down to stereotypes, try to accept the things that you can’t change and have the courage to change the things that you can.

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