Drumming up diversity
Maria Bozo Editor-in-Chief Emily Deese - Layout Looghermine Claude - Content Matthew Fernandez - Video Managing Editors Chatter Daily News Taylor Horan Web Managing Editor Sarah Barrocas Business Manager Mr. J. Harris - Layout Mr. F. Fagen - Content Mr. J. Harris - Video Advisers
Mr. P. Bayer Principal
David Cha-Kim News Editor Hayley Hartwell Student Life Editor LJ Lemmers Technology Editor
Contents
The C.H.C. Staff
Melissa Pierce Entertainment Editor Matthew Deno Sports Editor Nick Rivera Features Editor Cristina Feliciano Lifestyle Editor Cristine Alayon Clubs Editor
Student Life:
Lauren Cookley Community Outreach Sydney Silverberg - The CHAT Jonathan Harris - Web Photo Editors Matthew Perez Graphics Editor
CONTENT STAFF: Maria Acosta-Rubio, Cristine Alayon, Sarah Barrocas, Nadira Danticat, Mason Feldman, Matthew Hernandez, Alexa Unfante, Abigail Johnson, Frank Mora, Amanda Peralta, Luaren Ramirez, Evan Samuels LAYOUT STAFF: Sofia Alfonso, Jose Bozo, Lauren Cookley, Madison Duke, Esteban Gangotena
A shoe box can mean more than an expensive gift Universal’s Fright Nights: It’s scary good
Lifestyle:
PHOTOGRAPHY STAFF: Elizabeth Gamez, Eric Hernandez, Omar Loufti, Nicole Mercadal, Kristen Miles GRAPHIC STAFF: Nicole Hernandez, Natalie Laurent, Katie Perez CHAT VIDEO NEWS STAFF: Samuel Eliacin, Cristina Feliciano, Christopher Rundell, Genisis 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
How to get a job in 13 ways “Fall”ing into autumn with festive treats
Technology: iPhone Review: iPhone 6s stands tall Tobe Osakwe: Life of a programmer
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Studen
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nt Life
Pope Francis in America : Pg 24
Sports:
Water Fround on Mars : Pg 24
Features:
Camila Lopez & Claire Blount: Taking their talents one step further
Ms. Rago Takes on Switzerland!
Anfernee Munnings set to make a splash for PCB
Adverture for All: Jaguars struck with wonderlust
News:
Entertainment:
Water on Mars: The Red Planet Sees Blue
The CHAT Editorial: Fall T.V. Shows Review
Pope Francis spreads vision of hope in recent U.S. visit
Harlow makes mark on fashion, beauty in all forms
Clubs & Electives: A memorable Multi-Cultural Show 5 Steps to Opening up a Club
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Fighting for a Firm Future
Graphic by: Katie Perez
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Business Manager & Staff Writer
ike many people, freshman Katie Rodriguez has survived sailing through some rough waters, but with her positive attitude, Rodriguez never fails to exhibit true perseverance. At just 14 years old, she has endured some of the toughest hardships that life has thrown at her. In the summer of 2012, Rodriguez alongside her mom, went to Kansas to attend her grandfather’s funeral. He was diagnosed with cancer. After the ceremony, Rodriguez joined the rest of her family at her grandmother’s house to have an informal, sit-down lunch. Shortly after the food started to clear off of the plates, the phone rang. It was a phone call that at the time Rodriguez didn’t know would drop a ticking time bomb into her life. Her mom picked up the line and within a few seconds she dropped to the floor hysterically crying. She dauntingly looked up saying, “I have cancer.” For Rodriguez, she was in complete and utter shock, in denial of the news she had just received. Her mom was crying pools. In the moment she was grieving but for the sake of her mom and the mental well-being of herself, she had to be a stronger girl to help her mom. Through six months of chemotherapy and an additional six months of radiation, Rodriguez was in support of her mom every step of the way. Rodriguez said, “This part of her journey was emotionally challenging, not only for her but especially for me. There was a lot of medical details that I needed to keep note of. The hardest part was seeing her bald, that was definitely a different look I wasn’t used to seeing. I still however knew that I needed to stay positive throughout all of this.” With her optimistic outlook on life, Rodriguez turned her sorrowful situation into a satisfying one. She heard about Relay for Life when her mom got invited as a survivors recruit to the event. She joined a team and then started a committee of her very own. The support, love, and information that Relay provided in each of their events made it easier to cope with her special situation. As the freshman representative for PPCHS’ Relay for Life Team, Rodriguez hopes to exceed the set fundraising goal to help be part of the effort to find a cure for cancer. With firsthand experiences and primary information, Rodriguez has a few general lessons and tips about cancer that she wants to inform others about. “You can get cancer when you least expect it, at any time, at any age. Make sure to get tested since cancer can now be detected early or prevented for future warning. Look through your family history because genetics do play a crucial factor with the chances of someone getting cancer.” Rodriguez is without a doubt a role model to look up to. Hearing stories of cancer affecting other people’s lives on the news, or in the movies, etc. is another story, but it is so much more astonishing to see someone within the Charter family who has been affected by cancer.
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A shoe box can
Sarah Barrocas & Evan Samuels
Photo by: Eric Hernandez
I
magine every Christmas barely getting any presents. Your only Christmas wishes b doll or a colorful notebook to write in. That is what kids in certain countries wish for ability to make those less fortunate kids Christmas wishes come true and give them the C The new 9th grade homeroom club, The New Kids on the Block, will be sending pres year the new kids on the block are in charge of Operation Christmas Child in our school that provides students in less privileged countries a shoe box filled with goodies for an i “As a club we are attempting to show our students what giving back is about and what l cock and I believe this would be a great experience for our students as well for our schoo might not have resources to obtain simple things like a coloring book and crayons,” said The way the organization works is that the school will provide classrooms with a shoe both girls and boys as well as choosing the age category. The age category includes boy
Walking with a buddy A
LJ Lemmers
Technology Editor
s the Best Buddies kids walked along the track, the shouts of “Keep going, you can do it” urged them to keep on going. The members of Best Buddies cheered the kids with disabilities on, supporting them, giving them a high five as they crossed the finish line. Families came to the concession stand waiting for the members of Best Buddies to give them their food. Many of the members of Best Buddies helped the kids walk to the finish line grabbing them by the arms or their hand. As the kids with Down syndrome walked past the finish line, their faces lit up with the biggest smile. It’s moments like these that make helping children with special needs worthwhile in life. “I was glad to help out at the Buddy Walk this past Sunday. Seeing their faces as they crossed the finish line is a very special moment. It is moments like these that make me glad that I joined Best Buddies,” said junior Daniela Suarez. This past Sunday, October 18th, instead of going to church or staying inside, 30 members from Best Buddies chose to wake up at 8:30 a.m. to go volunteer and help their buddies walk the course. The Buddy Walk was a 5k walk at Markham Park that was in honor of kids with Down syndrome. Participants who decided to run the course went first and then those who wanted to walk went after. “The Buddy Walk was really fun. It was great seeing everyone come out to support Down Syndrome Awareness. It was great because you saw all the Down syndrome kids with a smile on their face after crossing the finish line,” said junior Monica Kan. After the walk, the Best Buddies members and participants enjoyed some food and raffles with many prizes. Many participants won and enjoyed their winnings with their families. Elmo was there as well, dancing with the participants and taking pictures with them. “It was for a great cause and I think everyone involved had a great time at the walk. These events are my favorite because I like to help others,” said junior Rande Hoffman. The Best Buddies members truly made a difference in the lives of many disabled people that day. Moments like these are what define a good person in life. Members of Best Buddies continue to make a difference in everyone's life just like they have with this walk. Thank you to all members who participated. Never forget to keep walking with a buddy.
Photo donated by: Ms. Santiago
n mean more than an expensive gift
Photo by: Nicole Hernandez
Photo by: Genesis Vesco
Maria Acosta-Rubio Staff Writer
being that you could have enough pencils, a little r every year. Now, students at PPCHS have the Christmas presents they’ve always dreamed of. sents to the hopeful kids in other countries. This l. Operation Christmas Child is an organization individual child. leadership and community stand for. Mrs. Mayol community to come together to help kids who d Mrs. Perez. ebox and the classroom decides to bring gifts for ys and girls from the ages of 2-4, 5-9, or 10-14.
Participating students must bring in a “wow” quality toy such as a soccer ball with a pump, a doll, a stuffed animal etc. Students can also add other toys and items to their shoeboxes such as school supplies and hygiene items. Senior Nicole Hernandez, the President and founder of The New Kids on the Block said, “I’m very proud to see how diligently and efficiently the members of the club are working. Also, I’m extremely excited to see how PPCHS is coming together and donating so many items for such a good cause.” This is being made as a friendly competition for all the homeroom classes. Whoever’s homeroom gets the most boxes will be rewarded a donut party. Rewarded or not, this is a great opportunity to help another child in need. If any teacher wishes to participate, then please email Mrs. Perez at iperez@pinescharter.net. Students have until November 2nd to bring in as many full shoe boxes as they can to try and compete for the donut party at the end. The club will be collecting shoeboxes from November 2nd all the way up to November 6th. Mrs. Perez thanks everyone for their support and their participation if they wish to join in on helping Operation Christmas Child and their good cause.
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Student Life
Universal’s Fright Nights: It’s scary good
Nick Rivera Features Editor
From the moment you step foot into the park, you enter a world of your worst nightmares. In the
distance you hear echoes of screams and chainsaws. You can feel your heartbeat rising as a misty fog surrounds you and envelopes the sky, and you know that for the next few hours it will stay that way. Welcome to Halloween Horror Nights. Universal Studios celebrated the 25th anniversary of the biggest Halloween event in the United States, Halloween Horror Nights. In celebration of this quarter-century anniversary, Universal Studios brought back its most iconic character as the event’s theme, Jack the Clown. Jack appeared as Universal’s first original character back in 2000 and has since become one of the most popular themes of Halloween Horror Nights. This year, he was brought back along with other favorites Freddy and Jason, the Walking Dead, and The Purge. The event featured 9 haunted houses filled with fright, 2 live shows with the characters, and 5 scare zones, proving that there was no escape from the scares. “I love people trying to scare me, but I wish it actually affected me more. You’d think I’d be a pansy, but for some reason it doesn’t bother me. But it was cool, and I loved the Jason vs Freddy house,” said senior Frances Acevedo. Upon entering the park, thrill enthusiasts are immediately faced with a jumble of all of the terrifying creatures that await them for the rest of the night. Many first timers are not prepared for the intricate make-up and acting that goes into all of the characters. All of the workers are paid to stay in character the whole night, regardless of what happens or who approaches them. Asking a zombie for directions to a house may result in a grunt, followed by weak arms pointing in the direction of the house. In turn, asking another creature, such as one of Jack’s minions, may just result in a chase across the park. Scary houses were scattered around the park and were often met with long lines filled with an array of eager people, calm people, and those that were worried out of their minds. Each house, which had a specific theme, followed a maze of paths to the exit. Around every dark corner, people came eye to eye with the scariest creatures of each theme. Every corridor could contain secret windows that risked characters jumping out. And every exit was met with relief. In between all of the scares, park goers could relax in parts of Universal Studios where some rides were still open. Among these rides was Escape From Gringotts, a part of the new Diagon Alley that connects Universal Studios to Islands of Adventure, Men in Black’s Alien Attack, and, for the extreme thrill seekers, Rip Ride Rocket, which features music that riders can choose as well as a 90 degree incline towards the first of many drops. “It was really fun. I got freaked out and I fell and messed up my knees. The coolest part was Asylum in Wonderland because we put on 3D glasses. You didn’t know what was real and what was fake. The scariest house was Jack’s house. This is my fifth year in a row attending the event and I have to say this is one of the better years I’ve been to,” said junior Gabriela Canola. The experience that Universal Studios give its customers is one that cannot be compared. Hundreds of people gather each night to witness what happens after the day gates close during the month of October. As darkness settles, the six hours of fright night that ensue are ones that are not to be forgotten and keep horror fanatics coming back year after year. In a mere 11 months, Universal Studios will have the annual challenge of making Halloween Horror Nights better than ever before, but year 25 will be one for the books.
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Graphic by: Katie Perez
Photo by: Lauren Cookley
Photo by: Lauren Cookley
Photo donated by: Victoria Max
Student Life
Charter Family reunion at Family Night
Matthew Deno & Abigail Johnson Sports Editor & Staff Writer
October 30 was the day of Family Night, an annual event where families from all of Charter’s campuses get together to watch
Photos by: Jonathan Harris
their fellow students or children give their own performance to show school pride. For Family Night, the Jaguars varsity football team took on the North Broward Prep Eagles in their final game of the season. The night turned out to be a memorable one as the Jags capped off the season with a miraculous 34-27 victory. At 5:30 p.m., the PTSA let the crowds rush in to get settled for the show and the event opened with a vocal rendition of the popular song “Happy” by Pharell Williams, followed by East Elementary students waving colorful streamers to “Everything is Awesome”. FSU stole the show with their performance of “The Whip”. “They did pretty good, with the ‘The Whip’ as the most popular song,” said Mr. Pierre, a spectator of the event. But Pembroke Pines Central Middle School was not to be outdone with their dance team’s music mash up, and after Academic Village Middle School Majorette teams, our High School Majorette team closed the show with a twirl of their batons. The performances were both enjoyable and entertaining for the families attending. “Everyone did well, all of the schools were the best, I liked all of them.” said Claudia Casto, an FSU parent who came with her daughter, Catalina. After the presentations, parents and their children could go to the concession stands to have a drink or a bite to eat. Next to the concession stands there were a couple of booths where the kids could relax and have a little fun, the Fashion Club had a photo booth where families could pose inside a large cardboard frame with a paper mache microphone and other props as their pictures were being taken on their phones. Next to the photo booth was a table run by Relay for Life where children could get their faces painted and henna on their hands. Families could also purchase t-shirts commemorating the event as well as key chains to raise awareness of breast cancer. The game started out rough for the Jags as they were intercepted early on. The Eagles capitalized with a long touchdown run and soon after they scored again, making the game 14-0. On the Jags ensuing possession, they were faced with a 4th and 3. The Jaguars decided to go for it on 4th down, and it paid off big time as senior running back Joey Valentin took the handoff and never looked back, scoring on a long touchdown run. With the Jags down 14-7 in the 2nd quarter, senior quarterback/running back AJ Camacho ran for a touchdown on 1st and goal, tying the game. At halftime, the score was 21-14 in favor of the Eagles as they scored on a long touchdown pass right before the half. On their first possession of the 2nd half, the Jags tied the game at 21 a piece on a 1 yard run from Valentin right after he broke off a giant run to set up the score. The Eagles answered with a 1 yard touchdown run of their own, but they failed the attempted 2pt conversion, making the score 27-21. Right after, Valentin scored his third rushing touchdown of the game and the PAT was made, giving the Jags their first lead of the game at 28-27. Late in the 4th quarter, the Jags forced a crucial fumble to stop the Eagles from taking the lead. The Jags capitalized on the turnover and scored to make the game 34-27 with 1:36 left in the game. With the Eagles driving down the field, it looked as if though they would tie the game. At the Jags 20 yard line, the Eagles quarterback threw a pass into the endzone only to have it intercepted by junior cornerback Jermaine Ralston, sealing a Jaguar win. “This team has fought so hard and put in tons of effort this year which I think has really showed in the games. Everyone counted us out and had low expectations for us, but we just focused on what we had to do to get better and accomplish our goals,” said Valentin. With the victory, the Jags ended the season with a record of 4-5, a major improvement over last year. At the beginning of the year, not much was expected of this team, but they proved many people wrong and showed that they can compete with other talented schools. “What a way for the team to end the season. The atmosphere was amazing with all of the families in attendance and I can tell that the team really fed off the energy to pull off a great win,” said senior Andres Mendoza. Family Night made October 30 a Friday to remember even before the game started. All of the schools put on a show that grabbed the attention of anyone there. Whether it was the elementary schoolers dancing to today’s hits or middle school Majorettes, everyone who left the stands were impressed with the show the students provided. The performances, food, face painting, and photos all added up to a Family Night full of fun that will have Charter families coming next year.
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A sophomore’s dream turned into reality Cristine Alayon Clubs Editor
Traveling out of the country is a dream for most, especially to wellknown places like London and Paris. Sophomore Sabrina Rizzo lived the
dream of traveling to four tourist hot spots in Europe: London, Paris, Venice, and Florence. She took a flight on August 4th and stayed all the way until August 22nd. An 18 day trip to another country consisted of pure happiness for the sophomore. “My favorite place to go to overall was London because it was really well organized and the people were super nice,” she said. When Rizzo arrived at her hotel in London, the workers offered to take her and her family’s luggage immediately and she loved the kindness spread there. While on her trip at Paris, she took part in activities such as one of the most known: climbing the Eiffel Tower. “Climbing the Eiffel Tower was definitely the highlight of my trip. Going up step after step was tough, but seeing the view at the top made it 100% worth it,” she added. Touring around Venice and Florence was also a memorable journey for her. Rizzo loves to be around water and history, so when she visited Italy “it was great to walk around and see all of the background.” Sabrina also enjoyed eating the different foods. Her favorite foods to eat was in Italy, where she ate typical Italian food such as pizza and pasta. An 18 day trip can consist of fun and many memories made and for Sabrina, that’s what happened. “What I can take from my trip is definitely not to judge people and stereotype them because people may think that Europeans are all about history,” said Rizzo. “But in reality they are very laidback.” Traveling nearly 5,000 miles by plane can be long and irritating, but when you’re going somewhere you love, it’s not. “Since I was little, I have been wanting to go to Europe and after many years, I can finally say I did,” Rizzo said. What really caught Rizzo’s eye was how different the culture was there comparing to the US. Sabrina comments “Over there, the people are a lot more open and kind to strangers. They are also very accepting and seem much happier than Americans.” August was quite the month for Sabrina as she took part in traveling to four cities in Europe: London, Paris, Venice, and Florence. Only 15 years old, Rizzo hopes to return to Europe for another adventure and experience the same exciting feeling, as she did last time.
Sarah Barrocas
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Photo donated by: Sabrina Rizzo
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? It’s a Jaguar! Evan Samuels
Many high school students seek adventure—an adventure that will always be engraved in their mind. At a young age, Christopher Rundell’s exStaff Writer
citement for adventure manifested in a passion for skydiving. This passion stems from his dad, who would tell him endless stories about how he would go skydiving. Rundell thought that these stories were amazing, and dreamt of go skydiving himself. Even though Rundell hasn’t skydived yet, he has been in multiple simulations. “The simulator is a giant tube, and when a person is inside, controlling your flight path is a difficult challenge. My first time doing the simulator, my bones were shaking with fear. My feet shook, then my hands, and then my teeth chattered. I preserved through my fear, and went on the simulator. After going on the simulator, I was ecstatic, it was truly an amazing experience,” Rundell said. Each flight for the simulator is six minutes. Since it was Rundell’s first time, an instructor was with him in the wind tunnel. Rundell is trying to go skydiving as soon as possible at the age of 18. He would jump off a plane 18,000 feet high when he has the chance to go skydiving. He loves skydiving because of the thrill and he loves the heights. “The skydiving simulator felt like you were sticking your head out of the window of a car, but instead the wind was going a lot faster,” said Rundell. He added, “For the simulator you have to wear a special jumpsuit over your clothes, with a helmet, goggles, and earplugs to block out the loud noise of the fans.” Rundell is definitely on his way to an adventure. An adventure that not many people can do: skydiving. One day Rundell will be able to follow his dad’s footsteps and go on his adventure. Rundell is ready for this adventure, as he has been inspired by his dad his whole life. This will be an unforgettable memory for him.
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Adventur Jaguars struck w
Staff W
o a lot people cravings come for food, crave something not many others do--advent feeling that compares to going someplace n or getting that rush of adrenaline you get as pounds from the excitement. Here at PPCHS and are constantly found doing something sp Adventure is one quality that is innate in all variety of ways: through travel, through you thrill in adventure that excites us, the unkno leaves us craving more. Adventure has been linked to who we once ready to explore with no hesitation while ot the method, it is important that a person has to seek because one way or another, a person could be exciting, it could be dull, but no ad comes to an adventure is not actually going o Sophomore Amanda Cabus said, “I went to the summer as a late birthday present. It wa perfect sunsets, blue crystal clear waters, ro and best of all fresh pineapples. I’m not usua cial media has definitely had an influence on to Hawaii and experiencing different culture to different places and experience different a Social media plays a major role in the drive ture. As social media stars like Alexis Ren lives in the moment lifestyles through YouTu agers feel inspired and motivated to go out a so many new things to try and social media i possible and it virtually connects people who Psychologists have associated adventure-s cording to cnn.com, one of these compone traits. Individual personality traits can be as wish to seek. For example, those who spend cruise are most likely people who are laid b other hand, those who like to go zip lining, ju treacherous rollercoasters are people who are Senior Andres Mendoza said, “I enjoy ex learning new languages, meeting new peopl many, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, Italy, and where new like the Santiago Bernard stadium To adventure is to find yourself whole. For a way for students to find themselves, and l adventure could be their getaway and escape Adventure is not something for everyone. N side of their comfort zone. “I think people seek adventures because th and can get boring. “Between work, school competing for attention and can cause som adventures to get their minds off of their stres Maia Hunter. The best part of adventure is the experience tures are associated with a scary or thrilling that fear is the key component that drives m boundaries. As the New York Times states, “T those who thrive on the level of primitive bra provide the illusion of mastering a great per mock danger provides the exhilaration of sel Life is not a problem to be solved but an ways live life to the fullest and seek the gre is extremely beneficial for people in many w TV, life is better experienced through travel a people step out of their comfort zone, they new lessons, and find new adventures to emb
Cruisin’ for adventure
re for All: with wonderlust
Hayley Hartwell
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& Alexa Infante
Writers
attention, or even fortune, but a selected few ture. For an adventure enthusiast, there is no no one else has been, flying through midair, your heart beats from the fear but your head S, many students live thrill seeking lifestyles pontaneous. l humans. Adventure can be sought through a ur job, or even through relationships. It is the own that drives us, and the spontaneity that
were and who we plan to become. Some are thers take a more timid approach. No matter a genuine interest in the adventure they wish nalized experience was created just for you. It dventure is a failure. The only failure when it on one. o Hawaii with my family and best friend over as beautiful: the black sand beaches, picture oaring volcanoes, cliff jumping, rain forests, ally the outdoorsy kind of girl but I think son where and why I want to travel. After going es it definitely left me wanting to travel more adventures within them.” e that many people have to seek more advenand Jay Alvarez continue to showcase their ube, Instagram, Tumblr, and more, many teenand experience more. In this world, there are is an amazing advertiser of all the adventures o chose to journey all around the world. seeking with a range of positive factors. Acents include shaping individual personality ssociated with the type of adventure people d their time at some form of a beach resort or back, like to relax, and enjoy nature. On the umping off of cliffs, and ride some of the most e thrill seekers that like danger in their lives. xperiencing new cultures, tasting new foods, le, and seeing the world. I have been to Gerd the Bahamas. Everywhere I go I visit somem in Madrid and Coliseum in Rome.” r many students here at PPCHS, adventure is live in their purest form. For other students, e into a less stressful and more carefree life. Not all students like to experience things out-
Photo donated by: Samantha Mateesco
ome people like to travel by plane, train or car, but it is more than fair to say that Samantha Mateesco’s preferred form of vacation is a cruise ship. Being able to say that you have visited almost every island in the Caribbean numerous times definitely makes this senior a well-travelled cruiser. Mateesco has been on over 20 cruises all through Carnival cruise line which has awarded her with being a platinum member. To become a platinum member you have to travel on board the Carnival cruise line for around 100-150 days. A platinum member receives special benefits that makes cruising an even more rewarding experience. They get chocolate covered strawberries at random times during the trip, get to surpass the long lines to check in and when boarding the boat, younger kids get $5.00 for the game room, and at the end of the cruise there is a party for all the platinum and diamond members. A diamond member is the highest rank you can obtain and Mateesco is only 80 cruise days away from the title. Cruising is not always safe and injury free, Mateesco has had a few bumps at sea throughout her cruising career. “One time while on board my friend had told me that her cousin had gotten hurt somehow and then I noticed the boat making a U-turn back to The Keys and upon heading up to the Lido deck there was a helicopter with a line down and then a basket to pick up the child who turned out to have internal bleeding. It was a crazy experience to be a part of, nobody thought that it was that serious of an injury,” said Mateesco. Mateesco’s next cruise is already in the works, she will be attending the New Year’s cruise. Being a part of this cruise means that Mateesco will be seeing fireworks and having a big party on New Year’s Eve with all the members on board all while still getting to travel to her favorite places, Grand Turk, Aruba, Cayman Islands, and Bahamas. She hopes to one day expand her cruising horizons by traveling overseas and attending cruises in Europe and the Mediterranean. “Cruises are something that my family is constantly saving up for, instead of spending money on frivolous things like expensive clothes or cars we like to go on cruises. You get to meet so many different people through your week long journey and be whoever you want to be with most likely never seeing those people again. Although one time I saw a boy three different times on three different ships,” stated Mateesco. Hoping to attend University of Central Florida to study criminology in the fall will be an obstacle in attending all the cruises she usually takes part in. But Mateesco will always set aside time for cruising and spending time with her family.
Ms. Rago Takes on Switzerland! Matthew Hernandez
M
hey like the thrill of it. Life is very stressful l, and responsibilities, there are many things meone to be overwhelmed. People may seek ss and take a mini vacation,” said sophomore
that comes along with it. Often time’s adveng experience. Many experiments have shown most people into stepping out of their normal The craving of thrills may be hard-wired into ain activity that physical danger stimulates… ril. It is a deeply satisfying feeling in which lf-affirmation.” adventure to be lived. It is important to aleatest adventure possible. Adventuring more ways. Instead of sitting at home and watching and through expanding your horizons. When learn to open up to new opportunities, learn bark on.
Student Life Editor
Photo donated by: Ms. Rago
Staff Writer
any of our students at PPCHS have had Ms. Rago at some point, but not many know her annual summer trips to Switzerland and exactly what she does there. When Ms. Rago is wisked away to the picturesque country of Switzerland, she works at Leysin American School, an international school two hours away from Geneva. There she is the summer program Assistance Activities Coordinator. Kids come from all around the world to learn English. They take ESL (English as a Second Language) classes in the morning, complete activities in the afternoon, and take weekend trips. This school is a very popular and well known school in Europe. It helps kids from all over the world learn English and explore the beautiful country of Switzerland. They attend this school for a few weeks and is a bit different than an ordinary summer camp. “I go to Switzerland because I love to travel and learn about the new cultures of all these students. The students that come are from all over the world are mostly from Brazil, Russia, the Middle East, and Western Europe. I live on a mountain, and love trying new things like flying over a mountain. I completely love it. It’s a great time to be with the kids from all over the world and learn about their cultures as well,” said Ms. Rago Ms. Rago plans the weekend trips and afternoon activities. The students go to a museum on the weekend or to see a mountain. They also go see chocolate factories since Switzerland’s well known for its chocolate. Ms. Rago is the one to call the museum and plan accordingly. “I ordinarily plan for two buses of kids because I work with the age group of 13-16, there are about 100 kids in my group. There is also a younger group (ages 10-13) and an older group of kids (ages 16-19),” says Ms. Rago. Ms. Rago has spent the last five summers working at this international school and exploring Switzerland, she just can’t get enough of it! Every summer, her passion for teaching and working with kids become evident. And every school year, she brings that passion back to PPCHS.
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Catherine Paneque: Psychology Club President Amanda Peralta
Most seniors find that worrying about college and scholarships is more than enough, but senior Catherine Paneque is not your typical senior student. Paneque decided to open up her own Psychology Club at the start of her senior year. Staff Writer
After taking Advanced Placement Psychology, Paneque decided she wanted to study Psychology as her major in college. “I started the club because PPCHS does not have anything in the school for Psychology, besides the class. After taking AP Psychology, the class really caught my interest and inspired to me start the club. I want students to have the same motivation I did to discover their major.” Paneque has many goals for her club and ideas of how she wants her club to go. The Psychology Club plans to take part in many school activities and raise awareness for overseen diseases. Their goal is to make students more here at PPCHS more aware all around. “I want to have multiple successful projects and I want to make sure the club is running smoothly at all times,” said Paneque. Because Paneque is a senior, she will not be here next year to see her project live on. “I hope I will find someone to leave it with, someone that is stable and can see my ideal look on things. I hope that person is already involved or plans to get involved as well,” said Paneque. The new and exciting Psychology Club is after school and if any students have interest in Psychology, they should join Paneque and her friends after school to discuss volunteer opportunities, career ideas, and Psychology of course.
Work for a Cause, Not for Applause: Ashley McGowan-Sewell Cristina Feliciano
JCross unior Ashley McGowan-Sewell made a big decision this year as an upper-classman to start up PPCHS’s first American Red Club. The American Red Cross is an organization that provides an abundance of assistance when it comes to natural diLifestyle Editor
sasters or any other emergencies. As the President of the club, McGowan thought hard about who she wanted her officers to be, as they would represent the club alongside her. She came to a conclusion that her board of officers would be juniors –Cristina Feliciano (Vice President), Samuel Eliacin (Historian), Abigayle Zamor (Creative Director), Gabriella Hernandez (Secretary), and Gemanika Noizy (Treasurer). Along with them, the club is sponsored by Chemistry teacher, Ms. Oddy. McGowan describes her club as “ambitious, different, and something that looks to make a difference in our community. It also looks to build the knowledge of others on how important it is to be safe during disasters.” Starting up a club can take a lot of work and initiative from a student. McGowan had to hunt for a teacher sponsor who would devote their time to making this club successful. When asked why she wanted to participate in this club as its sponsor, Ms. Oddy replied “I really think that this club will benefit the students. Ashley presented me her officers and she has been very organized with everything. I am more than confident that this club will continue on here at Charter.” The hard-working President also had many reasons as to why she wanted to pursue this club. “I started the club to give students at our school a chance to really know what the American Red Cross is all about. Personally, I wanted to give myself this challenge of handling a leadership position.” If the club succeeds and continues for years to come, McGowan hopes to find other bright students who would become the new board of the club, as all of the current officers will be heading off to college in a year. Every club has its perks, but for McGowan the biggest one would be the amount of volunteering that is involved. “I am very excited to start volunteering with my members and participating in this organization. It is going to be such a rewarding feeling knowing that ordinary students can make a difference in someone’s life, even if it is a small one.” The Red Cross Club is currently deciding on fundraisers that they can do for the organization. “I look forward to keep on building the club and making a difference in others’ lives,” she adds. Congratulations on the new club, President McGowan!
A Look at Fashion Club: Paulyanna and Ahmad Maria Acosta-Rubio Staff Writer
Fashion club may seem like perfected photo-shoots and glances into the multibillionaire industry of the beauty being represented today, but to junior Paulyanna Severe and sophomore Ahmad Hamid it is so much more than that. Paulyanna
and Ahmad are currently the Presidents of the Fashion Club. For both, the love for fashion began at a young age. “I don’t know why but it always intrigued me by how a person could present themselves through pieces of fabric mended into clothes,” said Ahmad. Fashion Club’s main purpose is to help students here at PPCHS to express themselves through fashion, hair, makeup and accessories. Although fashion club has the same similar structure to most of the clubs here at PPCHS, it holds a lot of value for both Presidents. “My favorite thing about fashion club is the environment, it feels like a cozy family feeling when you walk in the door,” gushed Ahmad. “I love watching how every member is so different, but we can all come together because of our interest in fashion.” This year, Fashion Club’s schedule is completely packed in. The clubs’ schedule consists of photo-shoots, such as their own vision of a solo photo-shoot. Along with that, the club is planning on having their own booth at family night, where friends can take a Polaroid for $2 or a regular picture on their phone for $1. “We’re thinking of starting our own website,” explained Paulyanna. “Also, we’re looking forward to working with the newer members and how we can imply their own different and unique styles to the themes this year.” The way you dress yourself, sets yourself up. Not only do you shout out to the world that this is who you are and what your like, but the Fashion Club also gives a taste of personality by the way you dress and present yourself. Both Paulyanna and Ahmad have a passion for fashion and agree that fashion is a universal language. The Presidents are working hard to keep PPCHS’ Fashion Club the best it can be and are both excited for what the future holds. Fashion Club has a lot in store for PPCHS this year and will continue to intrigue and entertain the Charter jaguars.
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Charter’s Makeup Stars Nadira Danticat
T his year, the halls of Charter have been a lot more colorful than usual. Between bold reds and warm purples, a burst of rainbow has suddenly become the norm. This can only be attributed to one thing: makeup. More and more PPCHS students have developed an interest in makeup, whether it is to cover up insecurities or to simply express themselves in a Staff Writer
way they feel the most comfortable. With the latest makeup trends blowing up on social media, maybe it’s only a matter of time before we have our very own makeup club. Here are the Charter students who have gone above and beyond with this beautiful hobby:
Andrea Roman
Y ou may know Andrea or Dreycrazy285 that is, from her popular Youtube channel. Andrea posts tutorials on everything from
Day of the Dead Halloween makeup to her latest, on how to create a “blurple” smoke eye look. Surprisingly enough, the junior was not always enthusiastic about the hobby. “In middle school, I didn’t care all about makeup; I actually disliked it! I started wearing makeup around the end of 8th grade and become a lot more experimental in 9th,” said Roman. Currently, Andrea has expanded her makeup skills to other people by face painting children during the Halloween season, doing prom makeup, and posting mini-tutorials about her favorite products on her Instagram account at least once a week. “I love makeup because it’s so trendy and creative. Unlike other art forms, makeup is being constantly created and it is a fun way to boost my self-confidence,” said the amateur beauty guru. If a makeup club were made at Charter, Andrea would love to make face charts, learn about color theories, and how to save money while still looking good.
Alexa Bellorin
A lexa has loved makeup from as long as she can remember. “From stealing my mom’s makeup bag to getting lost in Sephora,
makeup has always been a passion of mine,” said the junior. Her favorite brands are Anastasia Beverly Hills and Urban Decay. Bellorin has turned her hobby into a business, becoming a freelancing makeup artists for her peers and even offering makeup classes to those who feel as though they need a little push to wear makeup more often. “I think it’s a waste of time when people criticize people who either wear too much makeup or look really different with it on. I feel beautiful with or without makeup; it’s just a fun way to express creativity,” Alexa said. She posts the looks she creates for people on her Instagram account, @_glamourholic. Last year, the junior planned on creating a makeup club, but her busy schedule got in the way. However, this year she is really determined to get one up and running with plans to do hands-on makeup applications and attending makeup related events.
Valeria Montes
V aleria Montes has always liked makeup, but was only allowed to wear a minimal amount in middle school. Arriving to high
school is what really allowed her innovation in makeup to truly take off. “I love how makeup allows my face to become a canvas and gives me so much freedom. I consider makeup an expensive sport,” joked Montes. Recently, the junior has expanded her craft to help her friends in preparation for important events. She made up fellow Charter students, Skylar Cannon and Madison Lear, for last month’s Homecoming Dance. As for herself, Valeria enjoys experimenting with looks with her friend and PPCHS student, Emily Nakkleh, and posting them on Instagram and Twitter. “I get inspiration from Desi Perkins, a beauty guru on Youtube that I absolutely adore,” she said. Montes had never thought about a makeup club before, but the possibility of one really excited her. The opportunity to discuss the newest trends and her favorite brands like, Lorac and Toofaced is something she will definitely be considering.
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Clubs Frank Mora & Matthew Hernandez
A Memorable Multi-cultural
The annual Multicultural Show was on Thursday, October 15th and boy was it one of the most Staff Writers
upbeat and entertaining shows yet! There was an abundance of performers and acts who shined on stage at 7 PM on Thursday and the audience did not disappoint in showing the Jags just how well they did. The supporters cheered on our Jag performers all night and the whole atmosphere was electric. The magnificent performances varied from the Homecoming Queen showing us how to get down and boogie with her solo dance to the drumline closing out the extravagant night with a quite memorable performance. Junior Nicolas Raimont performed a rap about one of the founding fathers, Alexander Hamilton. “I thought the show was really awesome. There was a lot of great talent and I was very pleased with the night. I felt confident and loose up there, it was a bit hard to get the crowd going in the beginning but all around it was a blast and I had a heck of a time,” said Raimont. “Besides me, the drumline was the best part of the show in my opinion. They’re great and they really know how to get people excited with their instruments.” These two performances were not the only great ones of the night though. The Latin Dance team and Step team did not disappoint either. Latin Dance performed first and they spiced things up with their routine. Sophomore Jordan Montero, member of the Latin Dance team, said “I think that we really showcased our talent and love for dancing up there. I believe we definitely killed it and got everyone in the mood to get up and dance. I am so proud of everyone on the team and our weeks of hard work surely paid off.” Following the dancers, the step team performed with a thrilling routine. Spectator Freshman Enrique Valls said “I think the step team’s performance was the best of the whole night. The way they were all in sync with each other was quite amazing. The beat to each step is so on point, it is actually fascinating. It was so cool and I think I might be interested in joining the team next year.” The Dance Class had an exuberating performance. Sophomore and member of the dance class, Gabriela Rodriguez said, “Our routine was definitely a fun and exciting one. We wanted to get the crowd going and I feel like we did just that. All of us had a great time showing the parents and students how hard we worked all quarter and it really paid off.” Next, the PPCHS Jazz Band put on a vitalizing performance. Many of the audience members were very impressed with how fluent and rhythmic their performance was. Monica Cordero, member of the Jazz Band, said “I would say our production was relaxing and calmed the crowd down after all of the other wild and crazy performances. As a Jazz Band member, our goal is to give the audience a nice and calm performance and I feel like we delivered in doing so.” The show was full of excitement and anxiety as to who would perform next. All of the performances were exhilarating and interesting to watch. Audience member, sophomore Nick Perez said “the event wouldn't have been what it was if it weren’t for the crowd’s energy and noise. Students and parents in the audience were clapping and snapping to the beat and making the show that much more entertaining. The whole show was honestly a great time and I don’t think I could've spent my Thursday night any better. I have lost my voice from cheering for all my fellow classmates all throughout the night. It was fun and a great experience. I’m happy for all the performers because they did a great job up on stage after what I can only assume took months of practice. I will surely be in attendance next year to see what our Jags have in store!” Congratulations to all the performers on a great memorable night and let’s hope next year’s Multi-cultural Show is just as perfect as this years!
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Photos Donated by: Logan Mickinney
Show
Clubs 5 Steps to Opening up a Club Cristine Alayon
Picture this: you have an amazing idea and you want to share it here at PPCHS. This idea you have was created all by you and you absolutely know that it will be a Clubs Editor
student favorite on campus. Other students will join, participate, and become dedicated to your own club. Right now, there are about 50 clubs and the number keeps increasing. There is no limit on the type of club you, the mastermind, want to begin. Clubs range from Drama Club to Psychology Club or even a Breakfast Club and Fashion Club. Think about it, you have the throne to open up any club you’d like and share your amazing idea with the whole school. Sometimes opening up a club might not be as easy as it may seem: administration reserves the right to deny any club. “This year I came up with an idea of opening a club called ‘It’s A Girl Thing’ (IAGT),” said senior Ashley Meyerpeter. “It would help girls feel comfortable in their own bodies and also for girls who don’t have a mother figure in their life. We would help them out with any feminine problems they’re dealing with. We’ll see though,” she commented. “I might just take a chance and try to pursue the club.” Just like every other concept at PPCHS, there are requirements and guidelines. Assistant Principal, Mrs. Battle, is one in charge of accepting the clubs and making sure they are for the better here at PPCHS. To open up your own club, there are four main steps. The first step is submitting a proposal. This means that it is required to write an explanation of the club to submit. In addition to the first step, the club idea must be original and cannot compete with an existing club. The second step in opening up your own club is interest. The club must have, at the least, 30 students interested in joining. “The purpose of this is to prevent the club having a small amount of people in it or joining it and with at least 30 students, it will help grow the amount of people interested in the club,” said assistant principal, Mrs. Battle. The third step of the process is to create a constitution. A constitution meaning a paper consisting of details and principles about the club. In the paper, you should include the clubs name, the purpose of the club, and information about what the club will be doing and the activities you may have in mind. The fourth and final method to make your club shine is that the club must have a PPCHS staff member interested in sponsoring the club. It is required to have a staff member for your club that will help be in charge and back the club up. If you complete these four necessary steps, there’s no doubt for a positive effect. “I’m really proud to be the President of the Pep Squad Club,” said junior Lilian Perez. “Opening this club was definitely worth it and I advise all students out there to create a club if they have a great idea. It’s a pretty awesome feeling knowing that your idea can be shared with others who have something common with you.” Now that all the requirements to start your own club are known, the fifth most important step is to have fun with the club. Clubs are supposed to bring people together and together, make a great impact on what you’re striving for. You are the one in charge and you are the one sharing your creative idea with the school. The great part about the process is that there are no limits on what kind of club you want to kickoff. From a club about books (Book Club) to a club about hooks (Charter Fishing Club) and from a club about animation (Animation Club) to a club about appreciation (Film Appreciation Club), there is absolutely no telling about what club can be started or discarded.
Graphic Donated By: Matthew Perez
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Taking their talent
Alexa I
Staff W
Bright futures have always been in store for the Lady Jaguars’ infamous pitcher-catcher duo, Cl and Lopez both live for softball and can constantly be found on the field. Between travel and high sc
passion and determination, it is no shock that the two are at the peak of their softball careers. Committ with after all the hard work they have put in. Lopez and Blount have immense experience of the game students. “I can never give as much to the game as it has given to me,” is a popular phrase in softball an their school work and their commitment to the game they love. Compared to all of the success, self-f practicing every day and playing every weekend is not near as worthy as all they have gained. PPCHS star pitcher Claire Blount has made her decision to continue her softball career at Universi sister, PPCHS Alumni Bridgette Blount, brought home a flyer advertising a softball tryout for her el successes and is widely recognized and respected for her talents. Claire says her favorite memory is so much because I felt like all of our teammates worked together and we were able to win the title for offers everything she is interested in. With high hopes, she plans to major in criminal investigation. P program with such high prestige. Saginaw Valley State University in Michigan is honored to have starting catcher Camila Lopez comm friends who both played baseball, and immediately as she began to play she was entirely in love with attending SVSU, “All of the girls and coaching staff are incredibly sweet and supportive,” she says. “ to know that I will always have a close friend, especially when I am so far from home.” Life on the fie in Marketing and Communications, which is what she intends to major in. Lopez completely fell in lov facilities, and are very big on sports which is something that interested me.” Her softball goal was to c championship her senior year. With all that Lopez brings to the game, there is no doubt she will be ab Lopez and Blount’s time as Jaguars may be coming to a close, but their true love for softball will lea hearts forever, and the respect they have for the game is extremely notable and inspiring. The team w the loss of not only Claire and Camila, but also seniors Kristen Grau and Lindsey Fishbach. Both gi endeavors lead them, this dynamic duo will never let us down. These two girls will be sure to make u
Anfernee Munnings set to make a splash for PCB
Wome
Matthew Hernandez & Frank Mora
Pembroke Pines Charter doesn’t always have the greatest athletes, but every so often we’ll have that one amazing player that makes everyone’s jaw drop. We’ve previously had the once Staff Writers
in a generation basketball star Haanif Cheatham who was a terrific player on and off the court, and is currently playing basketball at Marquette University in Wisconsin. Now, we might have another star in senior transfer point guard/shooting guard Anfernee Munnings. Junior Bryce Davis, teammate of Munnings said “He’s the smartest player I’ve ever played with. He uses a lot of screens. He likes to shoot mid-range jumpers off a step back, often while coming off of screens. He’s good at calling out switches on defense as well. He’s a very good shooter and he is always looking to improve his shot, and game. He communicates a lot and is loud on the court. Off the court, he’s friendly and likes to joke around a lot. He is a very funny guy and all the guys love to hang with him because he is really fun to be around. It hasn’t taken long for Anfernee to adjust to the team and for us to be comfortable out on the court with him. We’ve welcomed him to our team with open arms, and are excited for what’s in store for us this season.” Munnings has played basketball for the majority of his life and has loved the sport. His hometown is Hollywood, Florida, which is where he previously went to school before transferring and becoming a Jaguar for his senior year. He used to attend the International School of Broward. Last season, he averaged 17.8 points per game and led his district in assists with 12 per game. Munnings has gone through some ups and downs as he has also attended Lake Placid High School for his freshman and sophomore year, then went to the International School of Broward for his junior year, and finally for his senior year he came to PPCHS. Sophomore Addison Alufohai, teammate of Munnings, said “Munnings is an outstanding player. He’s the type of player that a team can’t leave open because he is a lights out shooter, and if you think you are going to play up close on him he’s going to put you on a mixtape and blow right past you for an easy bucket. He is very aggressive on defense, and a very hard player to get by when he is on defense. He really knows how to get in your face and make your job on offense 10 times harder than it ordinarily is. I would say he is one of the best guards in the area from top to bottom, speed, aggression, attitude, elusiveness, skill he can do it all. We can’t wait to finally play with him once the season starts in a month or so. Our team from the coaching staff to the players are all excited play with him in a live game and we are happy to have him a part of our team here at PPCHS. Go Jags!” Munnings’ college choices as of now are down to Alabama, Arkansas State, FIU, Florida State, Providence, and Virginia Tech. All of these schools are proficient Division 1 schools and Munnings has high standards he expects to meet. So far he only has one scholarship offer to play basketball and that is from Virginia Tech which is a university that excels in academics and sports. Senior teammate and friend of Munnings Matthew Johnson said, “Munnings is the first one in the gym and last one out. He is the hardest worker I’ve ever played with as he is constantly working to improve his game on both sides of the ball. All of PPCHS is truly blessed to be able to see this kid play this season. He is special.” Munnings is dedicated to achieving his own and his team’s goal of winning the state championship. With the help of Munnings, the Jags basketball team will be sure to have a remarkable and unforgettable season.
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T
Photo donated by: Anfernee Munnings
imes are chang major roles in men’s composure when per than ever to give 100 tive atmosphere of m Whoever said wome are natural leaders an moments with wome became an assistant c summer league team a coaching position i joining Bob Sanders Lieberman is now an Hammon to coach at Most recently thoug serve as a guest instru ogy at Northeastern U experience before joi 2011. General Manag be doing a little bit o to this news by sayin fessional level men’s how the game should Another point of vi on the girls’ varsity b but not necessarily p women, she replied, and games.” Junior Andrew Gar man’s sport. Female can coach profession than she should have
ts one step further
Infante
Writer
laire Blount and Camila Lopez, but as their senior year has come, this tandem is parting ways. Blount chool softball, both athletes have completely dedicated their entire lives to the sport. With that much ting to the college of their choice is merely a beginning to all of the success that they will be rewarded e and are extremely knowledgeable. On and off the field, these bright young athletes are truly top notch nd for these two teammates, it is extremely true. Every day these student-athletes work hard to balance fulfillment, life lessons, and unforgettable experiences and friends that softball awards to the players,
ity of Alabama Birmingham. As just a young girl, Blount was first exposed to softball after her older lementary school, and ever since then she has been hooked. Blount has won multiple awards for her s winning states when her sister was injured her senior year and couldn’t play. She said, “I enjoyed it r her.” Blount decided to take her talents to UAB because besides being D1 in softball, she believes it PPCHS is pleased to have such a successful and inspiring athlete like Blount represent our school in a
mit to their softball team. When Lopez was 8 years old, she went to the field with two of her close family the game. Lopez is not only a star on the field, but a star in the classroom as well. She is thrilled to be “Also, my travel team pitcher is committed there so we committed as a little package deal. It is so nice eld though isn’t the only thing that drew Lopez to this school. Her school of choice is ranked very high ove with the campus on sight. “The campus is beautiful. They have energetic campus life, great athletic commit to a college but with that checked off the list, she now has her sights set on winning the states ble to achieve her goals and go above and beyond. ave a lasting legacy on the softball program here at PPCHS. Their impact as players will remain in our will defiantly not be the same without them next year, but it will be up to the Lady Jags to recover from irls are amazing representations of the softball program here at PPCHS. No matter where their future us proud. On behalf of PPCHS, we congratulate both athletes and wish them the best of luck.
A tale of two sons
en in men's professional sports
Matthew Deno & Hayley Hartwell
B
Graphic by: Katie Perez
Mason Feldman Staff Writer
ging in the world of sports and it is exciting and refreshing. More women now have professional sports. Many have said that woman have greater endurance, skill, and rforming under extreme conditions and that they are more focused and determined 0% to everything that they do. Women bring passion to the aggressive and competimen’s sports. en can’t play on the same team with men couldn’t be farther from the truth. Women nd can take charge under pressure. This past year, there were plenty of memorable en’s integration into predominantly “men only” sports. Becky Hammon recently coach in the NBA for the San Antonio Spurs and she’s lead San Antonio’s Las Vegas to the championship this year. Jen Welter, who became the first ever woman to have in the NFL, is with the Arizona Cardinals as a training camp intern coach, and also s, Larry Foote, and newly hired Levon Kirkland as the linebackers coach. Nancy n assistant coach with the Sacramento Kings, and was highly influenced by Becky t an NBA level. gh, the first MLB female coach, Justine Siegal, was hired by the Oakland Athletics to ructor for the club’s 2015 instructional league. Siegal holds a PhD in sports psycholUniversity and was a division three assistant baseball coach. She does have a little ining the Oakland A’s staff as she threw batting practice to the Cleveland Indians in ger of the Oakland A’s David Frost feels that Siegal has a lot to offer and that she’ll of everything in the A’s organization. Junior softball player Jessica Ibarra responded ng, “Siegal has a lot to prove, but is taking the first step for women involved in pros sports. I feel like Siegal can offer a lot to the MLB if she is smart and focused on d be played.” iew on the topic of women in professional sports came from Jeilyn Perez, a senior basketball team, who stated, “I think girls can coach professionally in men’s sports, play on men’s teams.” When asked about who takes sports more seriously, men or “I think men take sports more seriously because they are intense during practice
rcia, a varsity baseball player, weighed in on this issue and stated, “Baseball isn’t a es should be able to play without it being weird or awkward.” When asked if girls nal men he answered, “If she knows what she is doing and how to manage a team, e no problem coaching a men’s team.”
Sports Editor & Student Life Editor
efore our assistant principal, Mrs. Battle, took her maternity leave, many students may have noticed her sizeable bump and wondered, does Mrs. Battle have any other kids? Well, not only does she indeed have another son, but he also happens to be a sophomore safety for the undefeated LSU Tigers football team. This fall our assistant principal, Mrs. Battle, will be expecting a second son. While she is nurturing her new born, her eldest son, John Battle IV, is making waves in the college football world. Mrs. Battle is primed to be the proud mother of two wonderful boys, one of which is making a name for himself right now on a national level. “I happen to be a fan of the LSU football team and during one game, I noticed one of their players with the last name Battle. I never thought anything of it until it came to my attention that he was actually Mrs. Battle’s son. It’s super cool to know now that my assistant principle has a son who plays on my favorite college team,” said senior Franco Graubard. John Battle IV is a rising star on the LSU Tiger’s football team. He is a key contributor in the secondary as a safety and in the special teams unit. Coming out of high school, he was a fourstar recruit and the No. 18 safety prospect in the nation. As a senior at Hallandale High School, Battle tallied 95 tackles and two interceptions returned for touchdowns, which highly boosted his ranking. He received countless scholarship offers from schools such as UNC, FSU, USC, Wisconsin, Tennessee, South Carolina, and of course, LSU. Ultimately, he choose Louisiana State University as he felt it was the best fit for him. “For me, as a defensive back for the Jags varsity football team, I look at Battle as a role model for young athletes who have a goal and want to reach it. It certainly gives me more motivation to get to where I want to be as a football player,” said senior running back and corner back of Pines Charter Football, Albert Ramos. As a true freshman in 2014, Battle only played in one game, their home-opener against Sam Houston State, and did not record any stats. With many upperclassman ahead of him on the depth chart, Battle new that he had to work extremely hard to earn the playing time he desperately wanted. Going into his sophomore year this year, Battle was set to have a key role on the special teams unit (i.e. kickoff returns, punts, and field goals). He would also play the backup role at safety and come on when the starters needed rest. So far this season, Battle has surpassed expectations as he now is a regular at the safety position and has played in every game up to this point. The defining moment of his young career came on October 10th as LSU played against rival South Carolina. Battle was playing safety as South Carolina quarterback Perry Orth dropped back to pass. Orth threw the pass intended for top receiver Pharoh Copper, then the ball was tipped up in the air and instinctively, Battle dove for the ball and caught it for the first interception of his college career. Back at home, Mrs. Battle was elatedly cheering on her son as she happened to catch the play on video. “It was an amazing moment for me as a mom to see all of the hard work that your son has put in to finally pay off on the field. That definitely was a moment that will forever be in my heart and never forgotten,” said Mrs. Battle. As Battle’s college football career is starting to kick off, his little brother is just beginning to kick off his life. Mrs. Battle is sure to have her hands full, but with one successful son the other will be sure to follow suit.
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The CHAT Editorial: Fall T.V. Shows Review
Harlow makes mar beauty in all
Lauren Cookley & La Community Outreach &
From the moment Winnie Harlow steps on a runway, the c fident stride make her the perfect canvas for fashion designe
Graphic by: Matthew Perez
Amanda Peralta Staff Writer
Grey’s Anatomy
Scandal
Season 12 Episode 1 of Grey’s was definitely a tear-jerker. The first episode dealt with homosexuality, showing the story of two girls in love who are ripped apart by their parents. Watching Lea and Jess fight for the chance to be together can touch anyone no matter what their standpoint is on the issue. Another important event that I cannot wait to watch it evolve though season 2 is April coming back from war, only to be greeted by a cold Jackson. Grey’s Anatomy is one of those shows that touches on current events in a subtle way. This episode of Grey’s was one of my favorites; it made the top of the list for me. I’m very excited to see what else Shonda Rhimes has to offer this season.
Season 5 episode 1 of Scandal was predictable. As most people anticipated would happen, Olivia Pope and President Grant ended up together. The opening to the show is Olivia and the President together, and as many people would guess, Mellie is not too happy. But much to my surprise President Grant filed for divorce from Mellie, so he could officially be with Olivia; that was a plot twist that came as a shock to me considering that I never expected this to happen. Olivia is still hiding this from her associates/ friends and will reveal it when she feels it is right.
Empire
Scream Queens
After almost a year, Empire has finally come back on the air. We finally saw Luscious’ life after he was put in jail for the murder of Bunkie. In this first episode of season 2, we saw Jamal transform from the sweet-hearted caring guy he was in season 1 to a rigid, controlling, manipulative person. Empire shows the evolution of a family through hardships, I feel like they could have gone bigger and shown more of life after Luscious. Season 1 was full of emotion and kept me on my toes every episode; however, season 2 was more of a letdown. I am hoping the rest of the season will be fantastic.
Although the preview to Scream Queens says that it is full of horror and suspense, I found it more as a joke. The first episode starts off in 1995 with a girl sitting in a bath tub after she gave birth at a party, and the main characters not taking her seriously. The show in reality is about a fictitious sorority Kappa Kappa Tau and a serial killer that is out to murder all the girls. I found the show rather juvenile; it resembled a Disney Channel show more closely than it did a real one. I really hope that the next episodes make up for the first episode because if not, I do not see a bright future for this show.
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she has become the new face of uniqueness and individuality whose real name is Chantelle Brown-Young, was chosen to Week as the face of Desigual’s “Say Something Nice” cam stand out among the many faces seen in the modeling world at the age of four with vitiligo, the skin condition most com Jackson. Essentially, this means that her skin has spots of mi In an interview with the Daily Mail, Harlow says she was her skin. Fortunately, the fashion industry is now celebratin The former America’s Next Top Model contestant no longer embraces it as the part of her that makes her most unique. “Sh beautiful,” Tyra Banks, America’s Next Top Model host, told “As a fan of America’s Next Top Model and someone very happy to see Winnie Harlow making a name for herself. She to be considered beautiful,” said senior Alexandra Sao. As we can see, Harlow has made a name for herself in the people have attempted to copy her skin condition in an effor cism for this, as it can be seen as offensive. However, Harlow fans recreating her unique look. Winnie Harlow has been an i on social media many different inspirational quotes of her ow much negative is happening, please don't accuse those who hateful". Harlow continued-- "It is very clear to me when som people recreating, loving, and broadcasting something to the to sleep over #1LOVE." The fashion industry has changed over time. Social media higher amount of people. Each day there are many different new fashion, and the hottest look. Today, consumers are abl retailer online and order whatever they desire, in the matter o With this more technology based access to the fashion worl audience response in the form of a like, comment, or retwe lash and negative response to nearly everything, it is more o message. Singer and actress Zendaya Coleman has launched after her Instagram post regarding a photoshoot she had don nipulated to make her appear thinner. Her caption included, “ hips and torso quite manipulated. These are the things that m unrealistic ideals of beauty that we have”. This year, plus siz been included in the fashion industry more than in any year p “It’s incredible how much the fashion industry has changed are now more accepted than ever and are even celebrated. It have an impact on girls from when they are little by boosting Osorio. Harlow continues to prove to the world that beauty is undefi but is in her confidence, positivity, and love of life. She doe and this is how she has gotten so far in life. She has become and a warrior for the unique. Her example represents a giant ditions to size limitations, Harlow is a pillar of strength.
Graphic by: Natalie Laurent
rk on fashion, l forms
auren
Ramirez
Staff Writer
crowd goes silent. Her tall physique and coners to display their work. But aside from this, y for people worldwide. The Canadian model, o walk the runway at the New York Fashion mpaign (NY Post). The thing that makes her is something unique. Harlow was diagnosed mmonly associated with pop singer Michael issing pigmentation. s bullied by her peers for the discoloration of ng her distinct look and her positive attitude. r shies away from her skin tone, and instead he breaks all boundaries of what is considered d The Guardian. y interested in the fashion industry, I was so e’s proven that you don’t need a certain look
e fashion industry. As said on E! News, some rt to pay tribute to her. Many are facing critiw has made it clear that she takes no offense to influence to many people and has also posted wn. She states on Twitter, “In a time when so are showing love and appreciation, of being meone is showing love and I appreciate these e world that once upon a time I cried myself
has given us the possibility to reach a much t blogs and advertisements coming out about le to search their favorite designer, brand, or of minutes. ld comes the ability for immediate and direct eet. While this obviously increases the backoften being used as a tool to spread a positive d one of the largest social media outrages yet ne for Modeliste Magazine was digitally ma“I was shocked when I found my 19 year old make women self-conscious, which create the e models and African American models have past. d just in the past few years. Plus size models t’s a positive step forward in society and can g their self-esteem” said sophomore Marcella
finable. Her beauty is not limited to her skin, es not let negative words of others affect her, e a champion of the anti-bullying movement step for the modelling world; from skin con-
The Force Awakens the Star Wars Fans Maria Acosta-Rubio
C alling all Jedi masters and dark side drones! The Star Wars series is back again with another anticipated movie to be out December 18th of this year. With over more than 40 million views, the new trailer for “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” has become a Staff Writer
big hit and is the source of criticism and praise from die hard fans as well as intrigued spectators. It’s not a big surprise that the Star Wars Franchise is a popular and successful business, but it is one of the few “classic” franchises that is still thriving in the new 20th century. “When the movies first came out, they were such a big thing in history. “I think 40 million views is a huge deal. This means that there are probably very high hopes for the movie and rightfully so. The first Star Wars movies were beautifully done so hopefully this one won’t be a disappointment. I think the trailer is such a big hit because fans have been living without a Star Wars film for 10 years. This new movie will definitely help nostalgic fans. The trailer does look very enticing, the cinematography is breathtaking, and the acting looks legitimate. It all really works without giving too much away,” said sophomore Sebastian Franco. The official Star Wars YouTube channel uploaded the trailer on October 19th of this year. The trailer has gained over 47,460, 778 million views. The trailer has also accumulated 457,571 likes and 10, 933 dislikes with a total of 90,000 comments. The new movie will officially be the third longest Star Wars movie in the franchise. On the official Star Wars website one can find the trailer along with insights, news, and exclusives to the new movie that is only two months away. There one can also find the poster that showcases the dark side and the light. Characters such as Daisy Ridley, Kylo Ren, Han Solo, and R2 D2, are all shown in the trailer as well as many others. Die hard fans also speculate that the cloaked figure in the scene with R2 D2 was or is Luke Skywalker, who wasn’t shown in the trailer or in any of the new posters that the official company has revealed. The trailer also reveals classic ships and drones such as TIE fighters, X-wings, and the Millennium Falcon soaring and racing across the laser smeared skies of the galaxies. Storm Troopers have a new look and style as well. Although not much is known about the new movie despite the trailer and the specials that have been going on for the past year. Star War fans are already hoping as well as nervously waiting until the day has come to see the new animated moving picture on the screens of their local theaters. “It really is one of the greatest Sci-fi movies of its time. I’m kind of excited but at the same time nervous since everyone’s been doing reboots and trying to recapture the spark old movies had. The graphics are so far ahead of its time and the acting looks phenomenal. In all honesty it’s a beautiful trailer, I saw it and cried tears of joy,” said freshman Robert Minott. Whether you’re 50, 30, 20 or even 5 years old, the new sci-fi movie is sure to intrigue you and the trailer is sure to leave you with that warm fuzzy feeling of just the right kind of nerves and excitement. Remember, the movie doesn’t come out until December 18th of this year and it’s sure to be worth the wait. May the force be with you, as you wait this long anticipated journey for the movie!
Album Reviews
Graphic by: Matthew Perez
Nadira Danticat
Honeymoon by Lana Del Rey
The self-proclaimed “gangsta Nancy Sinatra” is back again with the release of her fourth studio album. Gaining fame in the summer of 2013 for the remix of her beloved “Summertime Sadness” and being the singer at Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s wedding, Del Rey has been steadily becoming bigger and bigger than her Lake Placid beginnings. However, rather than experiment and stray away from her finely tuned Lana Del Rey “sad girl” style, she sticks with it. Senior Giselle La Hoz said “I liked how it had a nice 1930’s vibe, but overall, I did not like the album because it just sounded too much like Ultraviolence to me.” While beautiful and haunting to listen to, it seems as though Lana is becoming a one-trick pony. The album is still a pleasant release, with “Freak” incorporating an orchestra in the background of the singer’s vocals and “Salvatore” that includes the lyrics, “Palms reflecting in your eyes like an endless summer” (genius.com). The best track on the album has got to be the first and eponymous song on the album, “Honeymoon” which Lana gave a mini-preview of during her concert at the Perfect Vodka amphitheater in West Palm Beach this summer. Frankly, if you’re a Lana fan, you’re either going to love Honeymoon or hate it.
Staff Writer
Caracal by Disclosure
Disclosure opened their second album with “Nocturnal”, an R&B infused jam featuring none-other than the current king of the charts, The Weeknd. The track doesn’t exactly set the tone for the entire album, which is more UK Garage, a genre originating from England in the early 1990s. The British two-brother band were thrust into fame with their first album, Settle which debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart and with their song, “Latch” featuring Sam Smith. “Omen” serves as the sequel to “Latch” with a swankier feel and is included in the FIFA 16 Soundtrack. Although Disclosure is known for their songs featuring known vocalists, “Jaded” and “Echoes” has the brothers displaying their voices and it is a pleasant change from the norm. “Holding On” serves as the album’s leading single and features Gregory P orter, a renowned jazz singer who starts the song with a powerful, soulful note that draws the listener in. “Willing & Able” and “Superego” are slightly repetitive and fall into white noise territory. However, “Magnets” featuring Lorde is the album’s best track and shows the true chemistry between the two musical acts. Although not as innovative as Settle, Caracal is definitely an album that is useful for anything from studying to clubbing.
Fetty Wap by Fetty Wap
If you don’t know who Fetty Wap is, you definitely did not listen to the radio this summer. The hip hop and R&B artist has skyrocketed to fame with his smashhit “Trap Queen”. Known for the ocular prosthesis that left him with just one eye and his usage of the “1738” “ Skwaaa” and “Yaaaaa baby” in most songs, Wap is well on his way to becoming a trap music legend.” “I find his music really basic, but it’s something fun to listen to in the car,” said junior Mary Elise Gaviola. His “My Way” is featuring fellow rapper, Monty, on his studio album, but a remix featuring Drake was released earlier this year and became viral on Twitter, Vine, and Instagram. “679” is another hit of his, reaching number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and is titled after his birthday, June, 7 1991.“Again” is a song about a boy begging for a girl’s forgiveness and probably would be the song John Cusak would have played on his boom box outside Ione Skye’s window if Say Anything was made in the present. Although some of his songs seem to drone on and are very repetitive like “Let it Bang”, I think it’s worth giving the possible one-hit wonder a chance.
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iPhone 6s
Code Cracking and Car Hacking I
Nadira Danticat Staff Writer
magine you’re cruising down Pines Boulevard, on your way to get a burrito bowl from Chipotle, when suddenly you’re A/C blasts cold air in your face and your radio switches from a smooth Drake track to loud, heavy metal music. You would probably just see this as a common malfunction, but then your transmission is cut and your accelerator is no longer working. This is probably when you’d start to panic. This was a reality for Wired reporter, Andy Greenberg, when he put himself at the mercy of two expert hackers, Charlie Miller and Chris Valasek, and allowed them to take control of his vehicle as he drove down downtown St. Louis at 70 mph. The report went viral, and has set drivers of all backgrounds into a state of frenzy. As times evolve, cars are being more and more computer based. Remote key systems, satellite radios, telematic control units, Bluetooth connections, dashboard Internet links and wireless tire-pressure monitors, or attack surfaces are all computer based systems commonly found in today’s cars. They are also the locations where the hackers enter vehicles and begin to wreak havoc. Since most car systems are connected, from here hackers can gain control from almost all areas of the car—from the windshield to the brakes. A hacker from thousands of miles away can overpower the person driving the vehicle and this can potentially be fatal. “The possibility of being hacked is really frightening to me. I’m a new driver so I don’t even know what I would do in a situation like that,” said junior Christopher Alegria. In 2010, Michael Hastings, contributing editor for Rolling Stone and reporter for Buzzfeed, wrote a profile on General Stanley McChrystal, commander of NATO's International Security Assistance Force in the Afghanistan war. The story detailed how McChrystal’s made critical comments about President Obama and mocked government officials as high up as Vice President Joe Biden. The commander resigned and Hastings was then put into danger because of the repercussions of writing the story. On June 18, 2015, Hastings died in a car crash. The car suddenly sped up suddenly, bounced up and down, and then spun into a palm tree, where it imploded instantly. Some people suspect foul play, and most think his car was hacked. According to Former U.S. National Coordinator for Security, Infrastructure Protection, and Counter-terrorism Richard Clarke, the logistics of his accident are “consistent with a car cyber-attack.” Despite the potentially deadly effects of this car hacking trend, drivers and passengers alike may not be in as much danger as they presume. Hacking a car is a very difficult and intricate process that requires months of coding that allows the hacker to rewrite the firmware and take control of someone’s car. A hacker probably wouldn’t go through all that trouble just to mess with a civilian’s windshield wipers. There are also some cars that are simply more susceptible cyber-attacks than others. The most hackable car on the road right now is the 2014 Jeep Cherokee, due to the vehicle’s penetrable UConnect system. Popular cars from companies such as Honda, Audi, and Dodge are known for being the “least hackable” and are considered safe from cyber-attacks. “Though I don’t own any of the least hackable cars, I’m really not that worried about my car being hacked. I feel as though no one would put in that much effort to mess with me,” said senior Veronica Hermosilla Hacking comes at a low threat level, but drivers should still remain prepared. According to Norton Security, the best way to protect your car from being hacked is to familiarize yourself with your car’s wireless system, ask the company you purchased the car from about remote shutdown, and protect your information by keeping your car secure at all times. Drivers who follow these simple guidelines lower their risk of hacking, but if you ever find your car going crazy in the middle of the road, you’ll have an idea of what’s going on.
Graphic By: Matthew Perez
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Matthew Deno
T
Sports Editor
“ he only thing that's changed is everything.” That’s Apple’s tagline for their new shows that the brand knows this is a phone that looks an awful lot like last year's mo that Apple would try its hardest to show that, despite the phone looking identical to last have been loads of changes under the hood that make this an attractive phone in its own stronger, the camera is much sharper, and there's even a completely new way of interact On paper, it's an impressive upgrade. “I bought the iPhone 6s the day after it was released. I’ve been a fan of Apple produ years now as I also have a MacBook and my parents have iPads. My first impressions is that it is really improved from last year’s, more than any other year to be honest,” Garcia. The iPhone 6s is almost identical to last year’s 6 in every way when it comes to the fra some very subtle differences, such as a slightly thicker frame and a little more heft, bu The volume buttons, power key, silencer switch and speaker are all in the same place a grille at the bottom very easy to cover when watching videos or playing games in land both phones just fine too so, apart from a small S logo on the back of the phone, nobod you’ve got the latest iPhone. However, one of the main things that Apple is touting is 6s is made of 7000 series aluminum, which is the strongest thing it’s ever used in an iP The obvious connection made here is with “Bendgate” last year, when some users claim 6 had developed a slight curve in their pocket without much pressure. Also, the front o covered in a new level of strength, with a glass that’s far less prone to shattering when d There is one key feature though that really set this year’s model apart from all the rest. Touch technology called 3D Touch. Basically, the screen now has a third dimension poke “into” the display rather than just swiping all over it. Apple’s compared it to the i touch, which ushered in pinch to zoom for navigating through the web and photos. W things that can be done with it now is slightly limited, there’s no doubt that the ability is going to become a natural gesture over the next few years, especially as app develop option. It’s only native Apple apps that have made use of the option for now. To expla works we’ll use an example. Let's say a user gets a message with a link in it, asking t website. The user can just push the link and a little window pops up, previewing the w them the info they want. If that satisfies them enough, then they can just let go of the s the message. If they need to know a little more, then pushing the screen harder will o Safari to explore further. “I feel like this new technology will be groundbreaking. I can totally see 3D Touch b Apple phone’s for the coming years and it will be amazing once apps finally are able to sophomore Bryan Guevara. Apple’s idea that “The only thing that’s changed is everything” seems to be a bit of co paper there are a lot of changes such as improved structure, new interface method, Liv camera, and a more powerful engine. In reality though, only 3D Touch offers a signific ever, the iPhone 6s is a long way from a bad phone, so it is definitely worth buying.
Life of a Pr M
LJ L
Techno
any students at Pines Charter don’t know how special this student is. They walk many students, their usual routine consists of sleep, go to school, do homework, rinse programming world where he develops his skills to new heights where one day everyo “Programming is just something I love to do in my free time. It's fun and challenges m Osakwe was born in Lagos, Nigeria. He found love for programming when his dad t pursue this hobby. With a passion for programming, Osakwe now has a head start in hi Programming is a formal constructed language that communicates instructions to a m Ada, and Pascal. Each language has a unique set of keywords, words that it understand “At first, it was hard to learn coding. It took me a long time to finally understand how worthwhile,” said Osakwe. Looking for a way to get money, Osakwe started to find partnerships with people on his clients. On October 13, 2013, Osakwe made his first contract with the company cal anymore. Websites can make him up to $1000, and they take roughly a month to make. install the programs (Apache, database, Webserver, and PHP) in the server. Then, he w graphic, and hyperlink effects on World Wide Web pages. With this system, Osakwe cr Programs will make him $400. It takes 1-3 days to make a program. To make program develop computer programs for Microsoft Windows, as well as web sites, web applicat As more code is written, Osakwe tests it and then sends the program to his client when “I like doing the website more than making the programs. The website allows me to b Osakwe has done over hundreds of programs and websites for personal businesses. So Note that sells music, and Movoto that is a real estate website. Osakwe doesn’t use his talents just for jobs. He makes apps and programs for fun. He t a high level, dynamic, untyped, and interpreted programming language. Osakwe usual Osakwe believes that this is a worthwhile experience for him. “It has opened many do and I hope to be able to contribute to the world with my skills,” he shared. Whether or be successful, for sure.
Stands Tall
October Gaming Review David Cha-Kim
Following a similar formula to the previous installments of the series, Star Wars Battlefront 2015 will be a first-person and third-person shooter game including content from the News Editor
w iPhone 6s, which odel. It makes sense t year's model, there n right. The frame is ting with the screen.
ucts for the past few of this year’s phone said senior Hannah
amework. There are ut it’s very minimal. as last year, with the dscape. All cases fit dy is going to notice the fact the iPhone Phone construction. ed their new iPhone of the phone is now dropped on the floor. That is a new Force n, allowing users to ntegration of multiWhile the amount of y to poke the screen ers get a hold of the ain how this exactly them to check out a web page and giving screen and return to open up the page in
ontradiction. Yes, on ve Photos, a sharper cant upgrade. How-
Graphic By: Katie Perez
becoming a staple in use it as well,” said
Graphic By: Katie Perez
rogrammer
Lemmers
ology
Editor
past him to class not knowing the amazing things he has already done at the age of 16. For and repeat. However, that isn't the case for this Tobe Osakwe. Osakwe has found life in the one will remember his name. my brain. The more I do the more I learn from it and develop my skills,” said Osakwe. taught him at a young age. However, it wasn't until freshman year when Osakwe started to is potential career. machine. It refers to high level languages such as BASIC, C+, C++, COBOL, FORTRAN, ds, and a special syntax for organizing program instructions (webopedia.com). w it works. Now it comes really easy to me and now I'm able to use my skills for something
previous Star Wars movies as the previous games did, but will also include story content from the “Clone Wars” prequel series and content from the new Star Wars movie coming out in December, Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Battlefront fans got a first look at the game when EA DICE released the beta from the 8th-13th of October, giving those who downloaded it in time a first look at multiplayer gameplay on two maps and survival mode gameplay on one map. Planets Endor, Hoth, Tatooine and the newly introduced Sullust have been confirmed to be featured in the full game which releases in North America on November 17th (IGN). “EA was so smart to plan the release of the game right before the new movie,” says junior Brandon Frattiani. “The hype for the movie and the hype for Battlefront makes me remember why I love Star Wars so much.” Dragon Quest Heroes: The World Tree’s Woe and the Blight Below (October 13th; PS4, PS3): The characters of Square Enix’s famous Dragon Quest series meets Koei Tecmos’ hackand-slash action in this strategy-implemented Dynasty Warriors spin-off. The setting of the game is the fictional Kingdom of Arba, a fantasy nation where humans and monsters alike live in peace. One day, the monsters’ hearts are struck by an evil force and begin attacking their human neighbors, inciting a war in which the players must therefore take part in as they control characters of the Royal Guard. Though the game play is similar to Dynasty Warriors, Dragon Quest Heroes brings new strategic fundamentals and implements a variety of features that make Dragon Quest fans feel more at home (kotaku). Minecraft: Story Mode (October 15th; PS4, PS3, PSVita, XBO, XB360, PC, Mac): Swedish game company Mojang’s Minecraft is arguably the most unique video game in recent times, peculiar yet special in its completely sandbox nature, pixelated and often childish retro graphics, and insane world size. However, the sandbox and free nature of the game is being introduced to its contrasting opposite: a story mode. Mojang has begun their series of “episodes” of their original story mode, each being released individually at a time for five dollars each. The first episode of the story was released on October 15th and more episodes are planned for the rest of 2015 and 2016 as well. Minecraft has already captured the hearts of over 70 million players worldwide with its simple, creativity-inviting nature and is sure to do the same in the form of a touching story (PSU). Assassin's Creed Syndicate (October 23rd; PS4, Xbox One): Ubisoft introduces its ninth installment in the critically acclaimed Assassin's Creed open world stealth video game series (which currently has over 90 million copies sold to date) with Syndicate. Following the series’ past pattern of being based in a particular time period, AC9 is based in London in the 1860s during the apex of the Industrial Revolution. Syndicate keeps the similar control schemes and the third-person camera fans are used to, but also introduces new systems of travel due to the time period, a refined combat and stealth system, and the ability to switch between two different protagonists freely due to the story of the game focusing on two twins as protagonists: Jacob and Evie Frye. “Of all the past AC [Assassin's Creed] games, the setting for Syndicate is probably the most unique,” says junior Aspen Oudshoorn. “It will be interesting to play a story based in a more modern time period like the Industrial Revolution because it’s nothing like we’re used to with the series. Syndicate will be more significant than its counterparts mainly due to the fact that there is a female protagonist for the first time.”(IGN) Legend of Zelda: TriForce Heroes (October 23rd; Nintendo 3DS): Nintendo’s Legend of Zelda series is one of their strongest-selling series with over 80 million copies across all platforms. Zelda, created by Shigeru Miyamoto, the creator of Mario, is focused around the story of Link, a hero garbed in green, who is repeatedly reincarnated into different time periods to restore balance to the kingdom of Hyrule when darkness strikes. TriForce Heroes for the 3DS is the 18th installment in the Zelda franchise and features a unique gameplay style in which three players each control one of three differently colored versions of Link (red, green, and blue) as they traverse the Kingdom of Hytopia to save Princess Styla from the curse set upon her (Nintendo).
nline that could utilize his coding skills. He either makes websites or desktop programs for lled Focus File. He only made $25 dollars for his first contract. However, that isn’t the case When making a website, Osakwe has to set up an environment on his client's server. He will ill create HTML which is a standardized system for tagging text files to achieve font, color, reates pages and uploads everything as he goes along. ms, Osakwe uses Visual Studio, an integrated development environment (IDE). It is used to tions and web services. This allows him to design the interface and color highlight his code. n all the bugs are fixed. be more creative and it is easier to make,” said Osakwe. ome of his favorite works are a user to user market website that he made for Swhop, Route-
ries to work during his free time and on the weekends. His favorite tool to use is Java Script, ly makes about two programs a month. ors for me for the future and I hope to make a name for myself. Programming is my passion not Osakwe follows a career in programming or just continues as a hobby, this student will
Graphic By: Matthew Perez
19
“Fashions Fade, Style is Eternal”
Photo donated by: Victoria Max
Cristina Feliciano
Students usually have many extracurricular activities once the clock strikes 2. Whether it be a sport or an instrument, it is something that is very dear to their hearts and Lifestyle Editor
something that they are dedicated to. One of our very own Jags has a few hobbies of her own that she juggles on a daily basis. Junior, Victoria Max is not only a part of Student Government Association, but she is also making a name for herself on the web. Even with all of the responsibilities that Max has already, she decided to step things up and create her own fashion blog. Her blog is called Maxmonarchy and it is what sets her apart from the rest. Max has always been a fashionista at heart. As a little girl, she always made sure that she dressed to impress, never forgetting her pink poodle purse or her Cabbage Patch doll with the matching stroller. As she grew into the trend-setter that she is today, she still maintains that great eye for fashion. Victoria is the type of girl who would even find a way to make sweatpants look like a piece of couture off the runway. Max began her blog during the summer, “completely on a whim. It was something I always had in the back of my mind but never had actually decided to start it up, so one night I did”. Even though Max loves to dress up in her Steve Madden stilettos, she assured me that she does not wear heels and a dress all the time. “I like to stay true to who I am and blog things that I actually wear, unlike other bloggers who just dress up for content for their blogs”. Max’s main focus for her blog is fashion for teens. When asked if she had any supporters or people who discouraged her from creating the blog, she replied “my friends have all been really supportive which is amazing. But while I was still in the process of putting my blog out there, the guy that I was seeing did not support me and thought that my blog was dumb. This actually taught me quite a lesson –do not ever surround yourself with people who do not support your passions”. Maxmonarchy is currently on a halt from its usual day to day posts. “Due to all the stress that junior year brings, my schedule is a bit crazy at the moment. But once I take my SAT, I will be back behind my computer screen typing about the latest trends”. Max is clearly one who is driven and focused with everything she does. Inspiration can come from all angles –from celebrities, to family members. Victoria’s inspirations for her site are fashion houses. Fashion houses are the warehouses where the couture for big name designers is made. The most well-known designers of the world include–Chanel, Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, Alexander Wang, Celine, etc. “Fashion houses are not open to the public. But, I did have the privilege of going to Paris and I have been outside of the Chanel and Dior fashion houses. It was pretty cool!” When Max is not binge watching fashion documentaries about Coco Chanel or her favorite movie, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, she is finding different ideas for Maxmonarchy. “My all-time favorite piece that is uploaded on my blog would have to be my vibrant red motor jacket that I picked up at the Zara in Barcelona. It is so bold, yet so easy to style.” Victoria currently only blogs about fashion and the latest trends. With time, Max hopes to transition her blog into more of a lifestyle theme. “I hope that one day I will expand my site to a lifestyle blog so I can blog about all of the things I love”. From pink gumball-shaped barrettes to a sophisticated Kim Kardashian inspired bun, Max has come a long way in the fashion world. “I like to think that my blog embodies all that I am, as that has always been the goal, and it describes who I am as a person”. Victoria aspires to be a lawyer when she is older; we can only believe she will be the best dressed lawyer in town.
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How to Get a Job in 13 Alexa Infante Staff Writer
For a high school student with little or no experience, finding a job can be a mission. In high unemployment rate but here at PPCHS, many students are fortunate enough to have g
tips that any high school student can use to get a good job and earn the money that they de Don't Be Shy. Tell everyone you know you are looking for a job. Many jobs aren't advert get a good job lead from a friend or family member. Start Close to Home. One good way to get experience when you are a high school stude friends and neighbors. Babysitting, mowing lawns, landscaping, shoveling snow, and pet s your resume. In addition, the people you work for will be able to give you a reference whe Keep an Open Mind. Don't limit yourself to certain types of jobs. This is a tough market find a job doing what you want to do. If you need a paycheck, keep an open mind when i earn a paycheck. The more flexibility you have, the more opportunities you'll be able to ap wasn't your first choice, it may turn out to be better than you expected. Check the Rules. Depending on how old you are, there are only certain jobs you can do and the Child Labor Law (you count as a child if you're under 18 when it comes to working) apply to you. The minimum age you can work at paid non-agricultural employment is 14 a hours you can work is 18 hours in a school week and 40 hours in a regular week. Get Working Papers. In some states, workers under eighteen may need to obtain working ployment/Age Certificates) in order to legally be able to work. Write a Resume. A resume, even though it may not be required by employers, can help y petition. Even though you may not have much information to include, a resume shows th job search. Check with the Guidance Office. Your High School Guidance Office staff should be able and job search advice. There may be a bulletin board with job postings, a notebook with l board. Job Search Online. Check websites that list local job openings. You can use the job search search by keyword part-time and your location to find job listings in your city or town. C Commerce website (Google your city/town name and Chamber of Commerce to find it) to Apply for Lots of Jobs. Apply for as many jobs as possible. Keep applying, rather than w before you apply for another position. Spend as much time as you can applying and follo to check on your application. Dress Appropriately. When you are applying in-person for jobs and interviewing, dress ap ma Rule" - if your grandmother would like your interview outfit, you are dressed properly Be Flexible. Be as flexible as possible when it comes to your availability. The more flexi you are to get a job offer. Also know when you're available. Bring a list of the hours you c apply in person or go an interview. Volunteer. Even though you won't get a paycheck, volunteering is a great way to add expe will help you find a paid position in the future. Check with your High School Guidance offi organizations for volunteer opportunities. Watch Videos. Job Search Videos for Teens will show you what you should and should not teach you how to write a resume that will impress the hiring manager, even if it's your firs Students at PPCHS hold all types of jobs from ones to retail to those in the food industr always remember to stay confident and to never give up!
3 Ways “Fall”ing Into Autumn with Festive Treats
n fact, teenagers have a really good jobs. There are multiple eserve. tised and you may be able to
ent is to start by working for sitting all can be included on en you apply for other jobs. t and you may not be able to it comes to what you'll do to pply for. Plus, even if the job
d hours you can work. Check ) regulations to see how they and the maximum amount of papers officially called Em-
you stand out from the comhat you're serious about your
to help you with job listings listings, and/or an online job
h engines like Indeed.com to Check your local Chamber of o see if they list jobs. waiting to hear back from one ow up by calling or emailing
ppropriately. Use the "Grandy. ible you are, the more likely can work with you when you
Graphic by: Matthew Perez
Sarah Barrocas
The rich yet spicy aroma of cinnamon, nutmeg, and pumpkin circulates throughout the crisp air to welcome in the new season. Fall is a time where you get to pick out pumpkins to carve for Halloween, roast s'mores at a bonfire, hang out outside in the chilled air, bake pumpkin pies, burn Staff Writer
off that cinnamon scented candle, watch the leaves change colors as they fall to the ground, and anticipate the latest schedule for the NFL and NCAA football season. With these easy, fall-themed desserts show your family and friends how thankful you are for them this holiday season.
Pumpkin Pie Truffles DIRECTIONS INGREDIENTS Combine all the filling ingredients together in a food processor. For the Filling: Pulse until well blended. 1/3 cup pumpkin puree 1 1/2 cups finely-crumbled gingersnap cookies Transfer the mixture into a bowl then into a refrigerator to chill for 30-60 minutes. (plus an extra few tablespoons for the topping) Spoon out the mixture and roll it into your hands to form several firm balls. Set them on a plate or pan lined with wax paper. 3 Tbsp. powdered sugar Place the balls into the freezer for at least 2 hours or until solid. 1/2 tsp. cinnamon As the balls freeze, stir together the white chocolate and vegetable oil into a microwave at 30 second 1/4 tsp. ginger intervals, stirring the mixture at every break until the chocolate is smooth and fully melted. 1/8 tsp. nutmeg Use a small fork to dunk the filling ball into the melted chocolate until it is completely covered. 1/8 tsp. salt Transfer the balls onto a new plate or pan lined with wax paper. 4 oz. cream cheese Sprinkle the top with a pink of remaining gingersnap crumbs. 1 cup white chocolate chips, melted Serve immediately. For the Chocolate Shell: Refrigerate for up to 1 week. 14 ounces white chocolate, chopped [http://www.gimmesomeoven.com/pumpkin-cream-cheese-truffles/] 1 Tbsp. shortening or vegetable oil
erience to your resume which fice and with local non-profit
t do during the interview and st try at creating a resume. ry. When trying to get a job
Cinnamon Roll Sugar Cookies INGREDIENTS 1 cup butter, unsalted, at room temperature 1 cup sugar 1 large egg 1½ tsp vanilla 3 cups flour 1½ tsp baking powder 1 tsp salt 2½ Tbsp cinnamon, plus extra for garnish 1 recipe The BEST Cream Cheese Frosting
DIRECTIONS With a mixer, cream the butter and sugar. Add the egg and vanilla and mix until fully blended. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Add dry ingredients to the bowl of wet ingredients and stir until fully mixed. Cover the dough and place it into a refrigerator to chill for 1 hour. Roll out the doll onto a lightly floured surface until about ¼ inch thick. Use a cookie cutter to cut out circles to place onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 350 degrees for 8-12 minutes (if you prefer softer cookies 8-9 minutes, crisp cookies 10-12 minutes). Let the cookies cool before transferring them. While cookies cool, prepare “The BEST Cream Cheese Frosting” to place into a pastry bag with a rounded rim. Pipe frosting onto cookie in a swirling motion, starting from the outside and working you way inwards towards the center. Sprinkle cinnamon to serve. Store in an airtight container. [http://www.dessertnowdinnerlater.com/2014/10/cinnamon-roll-sugar-cookies/#_a5y_p=2574811]
Caramel Apple Cupcakes
Graphic by: Matthew Perez
INGREDIENTS Cupcakes: ½ cup butter, at room temperature 1 cup sugar 1 egg 1¾ cups all-purpose flour ¾ teaspoon baking powder ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon allspice ½ teaspoon cinnamon ½ teaspoon nutmeg ¼ teaspoon baking soda ¼ teaspoon cloves ¾ cup milk 2 cups chopped tart apples Topping: ½ cup caramel apple dip (found in the produce section) ½ cup butter ½ cup brown sugar
DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line muffin tins with paper tins (makes 24 cupcakes). In a large bowl or standing mixer, beat the butter until smooth. Add sugar until mixture is light a fluffy. Then add the egg and mix. In another bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt, allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, and cloves. Add 1/3 of the flour mixture into the butter and sugar mixture. Mix until combined. Add ½ of the remaining flour and milk into the mixture, beating at interval additions. Stir in the chopped apples. Place the batter into the muffin tins. Bake until the center springs back when touched (20-25 minutes). Let them cool completely before decorating. Spread about 1 tablespoon on top of each cupcake. Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add brown sugar and cook until dissolved. Remove mix from the heat and add about half if the powdered sugar. Beat until combined and add the remaining powdered sugar. Add the vanilla and mix until smooth and shiny. Transfer to a piping bag and pipe the frosting on top of the caramel sauce. [http://www.tasteandtellblog.com/caramel-apple-cupcakes/]
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The Red Planet
The Weekend Review Melissa Pierce Entertainment Editor
Nation pulls back on excessive testing:
T he White House has decided to support an educational movement against over-testing elementary, middle,
and high school students after receiving results from a new study that showed that U.S. students are tested on average one or even two times a month. Educators and administrators have become more vocal about this issue, and have requested less, higher quality testing. President Barack Obama himself has announced his intention to dial-back on the volume of testing to no more than 2% of classtime (www.usatoday.com).
Syrian boy washed up on Turkish shore touches many:
M any pictures of Syrian refugees have surfaced, but the image of a drowned Syrian boy washed up on the
Turkish shore is the one that jerked tears out of people’s eyes. The boy in the picture was one of two that washed up on shore, and one of a group of twelve refugees trying to make it to the Greek island of Kos. The war in Syria has people willing to risk their lives, and the well-being of their families in order to make it to safety (www.nytimes.com).
Iranian underground missile bases revealed:
O n October 14th, The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Aerospace force released pictures and video of
a mountain base filled with long-range ballistic missiles and uniformed men. Prior to this release, the state media informed the world that Iran had tested these missiles before. This act is controversial however—Iran cannot engage in ballistic missile activity according to the United Nations. The U.N. is not happy while the U.S. insists it was not a violation (www.cnn.com). President announces information on Afghanistan forces:
O n October 15th, President Barack Obama announced that 9,800 troops in Afghanistan will have to
Nick Rivera
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stay in Afghanistan for most of 2016 despite his efforts to withdraw troops after the fourteen year long war. The White House plans to only have 5,500 troops still in Afghanistan by 2017, but yet another delay could very well impede this plan (www.cnn.com).
Group who waved Confederate flag indicted:
T he group of people who, in pickup trucks, rode past a birthday party in Atlanta waving Confederate flags was indicted by a grand jury on terror-related charges. This group consisted of fifteen members of the Respect the Flag organization; they were waving weapons as they drove past the birthday party and can face up to twenty years behind bars if convicted (www.cnn.com).
Deadly ZombiCon shooting:
O n Saturday, October 17th a shooting broke out at ZombiCon in Fort. Meyers, Florida that sent attendees running through the streets. The shooting left one man dead and five other people wounded. Organizers of the event were deeply saddened by the waste of their hard work, as multiple bands and DJs performed for a sea of people dressed in Zombie costumes (www.cnn. com).
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Graphics by: Matthew and Katie Perez
Features Editor &
lot can happen in 15 years. Since the beginning of the century, our country has had many lows, from the government shutdown in 2013 to the tragedy that occurred on September 11th, and many highs, from the recent legalization of gay marriage to killing Osama Bin Laden. NASA is happy to announce that another high can be added to the list. After 15 years, NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) provided strong evidence that there is flowing water on Mars. "The resources and time it takes to travel to Mars is unbelievable! It takes millions of dollars to fund with no guarantees of success. Countless failures have set projects back years until reliable technology is found. And if the land rover gets there in one piece, its top speed is 2 mph! It’s a very slow process that takes time and patience," said senior Angelo Paparazzi. The discovery of flowing water on Mars was confirmed in late September by NASA, but research on Mars dates back to the 20th century. In the 1970’s both Europe and the United States sent orbiters to Mars. Within a few years, the Viking Project, one of NASA’s programs, had Viking Landers 1 and 2 roaming the surface of the planet (mars.nasa.gov). A lack of advanced technology made it difficult for any large discoveries, but the landers were able to discover minerals within the soil samples. Traces of minerals indicated that there may have been a presence of water, but did not prove it. “The discovery of water on Mars would represent a major discovery for humans, and it signifies the capabilities of humans to explore things beyond our own atmosphere. It shows how we are innovative and can discover great things, and how we have great potential for discovery and exploration. The idea of inhabiting Mars is fascinating because it would be a new atmosphere and life there would be completely different from how it is now on earth,” said National Science Honor Society President Sofia Mohammad. It wasn’t until years later that strong evidence suggested that Mars’s history included vast oceans and rivers. The first pieces of evidence came in the year 2000 when it was discovered that there were gorge-like for-
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Pope Francis spreads vision of hope in recent U.S. Visit Matthew Deno
B
Sports Editor
y any standard, the highly awaited Sept. 22-27 visit of Pope Francis to the United States, his first trip to the country in his entire life, has to be viewed as a massive short-term triumph. The Pope wowed crowds everywhere he went, whether it was leading the “Mass on the Grass” outside the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, making a swing through Central Park before 80,000 pumped-up New Yorkers on his way to Madison Square Garden, or drawing hundreds of thousands of enthusiastic Mass-goers to Philadelphia’s Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Now, Pope Francis has returned to Rome, leaving the United States with “a heart full of gratitude and hope” after a very busy trip. The Pope packed a lot of hugs, handshakes, blessings, and political ideas into a period of less than a week. His stay was especially important considering he was visiting country that was built upon the principles of Christianity. “I really believe that the pope’s visit to the U.S. will have a positive impact on the country because he preached many key values and points that our society can use,” said junior Matthew Crenshaw. As for the impact that his visit will have, Pope Francis summed it up in three talks that brought about a deeply countercultural political and social agenda for the United States. On one hand, it’s clear that Francis aligns with the political left in the United States on an assortment of ideas, especially immigration reform, the death penalty, and anti-poverty efforts. He repeatedly identified himself as a “son of immigrants” and reminded the
United States that the country was largely built on the backs of generations of immigrant groups. All that came in addition to his environmental advocacy, including a strong call for action to slow global warming. Going forward, one good way to measure the political impact of Francis’ trip is not whether left and right suddenly agree with one another, but whether American liberals and conservatives at least become less likely to criticize one another over the issues Francis has identified as part of a single continuum of concern for life and dignity. If so, that would indeed be a major breakthrough for the so called “Francis effect.” “Having Pope Francis come to the U.S. to express his views and ideas was a great way for us citizens to take a step back and truly see where we stand and what we, as a whole country, should do going forward,” said Breanna Jomsky. When Francis visited Our Lady Queen of Angels school in Harlem on Sept. 25, which teaches low-income and immigrant children, it was a defining moment in his visit. Completely unplanned, the Pope urged the young people to dream. “It is beautiful to have dreams and to be able to fight for them,” he said. “You have a right to dream … Wherever there are dreams, there is joy, Jesus is always present.” Given this encouragement, one can dream that Francis’ Sept. 22-27 trip to the United States was more than a series of feel-good photo ops and lofty speeches. Over time, possibly it will emerge as the game-changer for the world and the country that Francis clearly intended it to be.
Graphic by: Matthew Perez
& Taylor Horan
& Managing Editor - Web
ns on the planet. These formations are formed by running water ows through them, but still there was no actual water to be found. May 2002, NASA’s Mars Odyssey found what was considered d treasure” beneath the surface of Mars, ice (science.nasa.gov). rge amount of ice, which according to NASA amounted to twice lume of water in Lake Michigan, was the most exciting discovery Red Planet to date. Over the years, more ice was discovered, ing ice caps at the poles that, if melted, had enough water in them er the planet. n, since 2011, scientists have noticed dark streaks on the planese dark streaks were seen in images taken by the Mars Reconnce Orbiter (MRO). While seemingly unimportant, the streaks red seasonally. This means that, for a portion of the year, water, salt water, runs through areas on the planet creating what is seen pictures. er is vital for life on earth and is likely a huge factor in the availof life on Mars. Now that scientists have confirmed the presence er, the search is on for possible life forms. Even though there has en as much evidence of large life forms, there is still a possibility croscopic life forms. s will make it easier for us to survive there if we can get to Mars. is also made out of hydrogen and oxygen, so if we can separate we will get fuel. If we use Mars as a platform, we can go even r once we get established there, but we need to develop the techy in order to establish ourselves there,” said physics teacher Mrs. nizzi. e is still a lot to be done before any of this evidence directly affects man population, but as the years fly by, increases in technology for more in depth research. Whether it 1 more year or another 15 it is only a matter of time before scientists find more evidence ter. It may even lead to the discovery of life on Mars, or even be h to start colonizing in new territories beyond earth.
Graphic by: Natalie Laurent
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