August/September 2020 by The Patriot Post

The Patriot Post

VOL. 24 ISSUE 1 AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2020 AMERICAN HERITAGE PLANTATION

The New Normal Pg 11

Pg 18 Blake Murphy

Pg 7 Black Lives Matter

Pg 10 Modern Day Heroes (Photo/Bella Ramirez)

Staff Editor-in-Chief | | Bella Ramirez, 12

Online Editor-in-Chief | | Kayla Rubenstein, 12

Asst. Editor-in-Chief | | Zoe Persaud, 12

Sports Editor | | Sammy Rosenthal, 12

Dear Heritage, Around six months ago, The Patriot Post reported on an additional week of Spring Break added in after students from trips across the country returned early. I remember calling it “breaking news” and “a blessing in disguise.” At the time, it seemed like just some extra vacation time. Then the additional week turned into Google Meets and global infection. I didn’t realize “normal” was a word I would look on fondly. That’s in the past now. Our old normal, our old world, is what we can read in history. The Patriot Post urges you to look forward into the future. Although there are a lot of question marks as we tread through these weeks, we have each other to lean on (six-feet apart, of course) as we embrace our new normal. Virtual hugs and in-person elbow bumps,

The Patriot Post

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American Heritage School 12200 W. Broward Blvd. Plantation, FL 33325 954-472-0022 ext. 3300 patriotpost@ahschool.com ipatriotpost.com

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The Patriot Post is an award-winning, student-produced hybrid publication that informs students about events, influences readers through editorials and entertains through features and reviews, all achieved through responsible reporting held to high journalistic standards. We strive to create content that adheres to the highest standards of journalistic integrity. Any queries about our content can be directed to patriotpost@ahschool.com or to a staff member in room 25310. With new posts on our online newspaper almost every day, the content doesn’t stop at the last page of this magazine. Visit ipatriotpost.com for more information and subscribe for email notifications.

2 Welcome

We accept and encourage letters to the editor by students, faculty or parents in response to any opinion pieces. Physically hand the response in to room 25310 or email it to patriotpost@ahschool.com.

Editorial Policy

The Patriot Post limits opinion to opinion articles, columns and editorials. All editorials reflect the majority opinion of the staff. Opinions detailed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of administration, faculty or the student body. At our own discretion, we will publish letters to the editor either in print or online at ipatriotpost.com. We reserve the right to edit these letters for grammar and layout restrictions and will not publish any content we deem libelous to any students, faculty or members of the community. (Design/Bella Ramirez) Issue 1

Table of Contents Page 4

Opinion

How I Stayed Productive During Quarantine We Should Not Lean Toward Online Exams Unbiased News Page 6

News

Comeback of Anonymous Good News Brief Outcomes of BLM Page 8

Features

When They Were Us: Mrs. BolaĂąos-Cadenas Everyone Has a Story: Andrew Kowitt Modern Day Superheroes Page 11

Cover Story

The New Normal Q&A: Online Perspective Page 16

Entertainment

We Need Some Good News Now Popular Black Rappers and Their Response to BLM Featured Art Student of the Month: Jadyn Jacobson Page 18

Sports

Blake Murphy A Look into Our Fall Season Fantasy Football Draft Guide Interested in more? Check out our content at ipatriotpost.com

LOOKING FORWARD: Dr. Jonathan Pedrone, American Government teacher, teaches class from a podium in a plexiglass enclosure. Since the class is not discussion-based, he keeps the voice-enhancing mic as the main audio source for online students; this means virtual learners do not hear any before class chatter from in-person students. (Photo/Bella Ramirez) Issue 1 (Design/Bella Ramirez)

Table of Contents 3

Opinion

How I spent my time during quarantine Jack Shechtman | Opinion Editor pl235751@ahschool.com hen the Coronavirus breached America and cases started to rise, national quarantine was declared. Big businesses, sports, schools, restaurants and many other public places and events were closed or cancelled. With students no longer leaving the house, free time built up for everyone and boredom grew prevalent in many teens’ lives. The key to keeping yourself sane during quarantine is being productive. Valuing your time and participating or engaging in events that are beneficial to you over time really is the best way to keep yourself sane during quarantine. Whether it’s volunteer work or just learning a new skill, being productive is a huge way to resolve anxiety about staying at home. Since early March, I have executed the principle of being productive and kept myself active. One of the things I did to be productive during quarantine was volunteer for an organization I’m a part of called Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies (HMHB), which helps feed thousands of underprivileged families who were even more troubled with finding food as their kids were no longer

getting school meals. Every Friday, I would gather a small group to head down to the agency and assemble grab and go lunch bags for people in need. This not only occupied some of my time and was very easy, but it also made me feel really good about myself as

FEEDING FAMILIES: Senior Jack Shechtman (middle) works at the Healthy Mother Healthy Babies agency with the administrative staff after a Friday of packing up the week’s bags for families in need. Schechtman went to the agency almost every week of quarantine and used it as a way to give back and keep himself occupied. (Photo submitted by Jack Shechtman)

I helped contribute to providing necessities for thousands of people. Another way I spent my time during quarantine was I found a job in the field of work I’m interested in pursuing for my future. I worked Monday-Thursday at a general contracting company called Newman Construction, and I learned so much about the industry, as well as made a summer salary. I enjoyed my job and made money, and this definitely kept me sane as it gave me something to do during the week. One more way to keep yourself busy during the pandemic is to do the things you normally wouldn’t have time to do. Whether that means spending more time with your family, working on your body or learning new skills, any of these things could keep you active and prevent yourself from feeling bored or depressed inside the house. All in all, making use of your time and being productive will eliminate the boredom and stop the insanity from building up inside yourself.

Think beyond Heritage: halt online exams

Bella Ramirez | Editor-in-Chief pl237961@ahschool.com ith Advanced Placement (AP) exams online in 2020, AP students from around the world got the opportunity to experience online testing. Although the College Board tried their best under time restraints and circumstances, their fate is just one reason why standardized tests should not lean toward online instruction. Leaning toward digital tests creates a more apparent digital divide. Although Heritage may hold multi-billion dollar facilities with state-of-the-art computer technologies and programs, according to Time Magazine, a quarter of Americans do not have broadband (a connection fast enough to stream video). We, as global thinkers, need to understand that the implications of “going

4 Opinion

forward” with online testing means leaving students behind. Although we are not primarily impacted by the digital divide, we need to cast our student vote and opinion with a global mindset. AP students with slower wifi should not have their scores cancelled as opposed to those with the fastest wifi in the nation. As seen with the 2020 AP Exams, the 2% of students who failed to submit their tests did not deserve the additional stress of retesting or getting their scores cancelled. Even FairTest.org joined the ranks in arguing against College Board in the class action lawsuit regarding the exams, which claims “gross negligence and unjust enrichment.” No matter how well the College Board will improve the program, we will always face problems similar to what the 2% of students

faced. Some of these students even come from Heritage; we are not exempt from the woes of digital testing. The 2020 AP exams are now a thing of the past. However, their failure only shows how much we need to prepare for digital exams. We need to work first toward bridging the digital divide before we can move toward the future of digital exams.

(Design/Jack Schechtman) Issue 1

Say goodbye to biased news Kayla Rubenstein | Online Editor-in-Chief pl226461@ahschool.com n an age where two of the most popular broadcast news sources demonstrate an evident bias, finding news free from an opinion requires more digging than necessary. Journalism at its core presents the facts as they are in an unbiased manner, yet it’s difficult to find such a news source, especially in the realm of political journalism. According to the Pew Research Center, “In the United States, 78% say the news media should never favor one political party over another.” Fox News and CNN demonstrate the opposite of this sentiment. A pro-Trump and liberal-leaning news network respectively, these channels rely on opinion more than fact, something that only hurts viewers regardless of political affiliation. In a study analyzed by the New York Times, readers with an opposing opinion to a piece found it more trustworthy before learning where it was published.

For example, “Those identifying with the Democratic Party who read media perceived as right-leaning like Fox News rated it higher when they did not know the source.” The same was true of Republicans who initially unknowingly read perceived left-leaning sources like Vox. To inform his students of the sometimes less obvious biases present in the media, AP Government teacher Dr. Jonathan Pedrone presents a graphic that demonstrates which, if any, leanings mainstream sources present. “My goal is for people to be able to recognize information that comes from a credible source and reject information that comes from a non-credible source. The more we understand how easily influenced we can be, and the more we confront and evaluate our sources of information the better informed we will be, and we will be able to make better decisions,” Dr. Pedrone said. “I try to act as a responsible citizen

when I vote or make decisions, and part of that responsibility is looking into where my information comes from.” When determining if a bias colors a piece, look for adjectives or impassioned vocabulary, as these words present an opinion. Similarly, analyze the structure of a news article. If only one viewpoint shines through, and the diction seems slanted towards one side, odds are this piece has a bias. To help determine the validity of a journalistic piece, websites like Snopes. com offer free fact-checking that even professionals employ when writing their own pieces. As acclaimed broadcast journalist Walter Cronkite, considered “the most trusted man in America,” said, “In seeking truth, you have to get both sides of a story.” With clearly biased news sources continuing to inform a notable majority of the population, it’s up to viewers to discern fact from fiction and remain properly educated.

Central News Sources 1

USA TODAY

NPR NEWS

BBC NEWS

4 Issue 1 (Design/Jack Schechtman)

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL Opinion 5

Good news brief

News

Saving America’s Great Barrier Reef

Emily Anderson | Entertainment Editor pl238251@ahschool.com

“Hamilton” on Disney+

ccording to CNN, for the first time in world history, the Florida Aquarium has made a breakthrough that will contribute to the preservation of America’s Great Barrier Reef, the third largest coral reef in the world. The Florida Aquarium has “successfully reproduced ridged coral in human care.” The corals are a variety of species rescued off the coast of Florida by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and NOAA Fisheries after they were struck with a great disease outbreak that began in 2014. Scientists have begun developing a rehabilitation program for the rescued adult coral colonies to reproduce them, hoping that someday the reefs can be restored and the disease will cease. For now, researchers continue to learn more and more about their biology.

Rare Bee Sighted

n late June, Disney announced the release of a filmed performance of the Broadway musical “Hamilton.” The professional film version of the musical went up on Disney Plus July 3, coinciding with Independence Day weekend. The film was released over a year before its original release date, October 2021, causing many fans to rush to purchase a subscription. Disney also announced it would not be offering the seven-day free trial during this time.

hought to be extinct by scientists, a rare blue bee known as a “blue calamintha bee” was found in Central Florida. Previous to its spotting in early March, the bee had only been found in four areas, amounting to “just 16 square miles of pine scrub habitat at Central Florida’s Lake Wales Ridge,” according to the Florida Museum of Natural History. According to CBS Miami, Florida’s State Wildlife Action Plan currently has the bee listed as a species of “greatest conservation need” because it primarily lives in one of the country’s fastest disappearing ecosystems, Lake Wales Ridge. Scientists are currently developing a two-year plan to learn more about the bee, including its population, nesting and feeding habits.

(Graphics/Zoe Persaud)

The comeback of Anonymous Kayla Giset | Staff Writer pl237191@ahschool.com

he “hacktivist” group Anonymous, notorious for its cyber threats towards the American government, has re-emerged out of the shadows and made a comeback to show support for the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement. With over 6.5 million followers on Twitter, Anonymous, under the user @ YourAnonCentral, has spoken for the first time since October 2017 in regard to BLM, which came as a huge surprise considering their inactivity on social media. June 3, Anonymous pinned a tweet stating the following message: “We support the weak against the powerful and stand for justice. Our values are the following: human rights, autonomy & self-governance,

News 6

resistance against tyranny, a more humane society, [and] Actions Not Nouns.” This response is allegedly directly in relation to the murder of George Floyd, a black man brutally killed by a white Minneapolan police officer for forging a check. Additionally, a video clip surfaced on the Internet as an apparent jab at the government for not returning the favor to the public who put the work in, according to an RT article. “People have had enough of this corruption and violence from an organization that promises to keep them safe,” the masked figure said. “After the events of the past year, many people are now beginning to learn that you are not here to

HACKING HEROES: Returning to social media after three years, the hacker group posted a video in support of Black Lives Matter and took down several law enforcment websites. (Source/@YourAnonCentral on Twitter)

save us, but rather, you are here to oppress us and carry out the will of the criminal ruling class.” Many mixed opinions flooded Anonymous’s twitter as their message quickly spread across the platform. However, the central idea is that word is spreading especially fast, and it is evident that large platforms like Anonymous are beginning to take advantage of their followings and inform the public. Remember, not all heroes wear capes; and in this case, they wear a mask.

(Design/Zoe Persaud) Issue 1

The changes BLM brought

Eva Pierre-Antoine | Staff Writer pl242581@ahschool.com

he movement Black Lives Matter George Floyd’s murder have been arrested, symbol; Disney rebranded Splash (BLM) began in 2013 after the and Derek Chauvin’s murder charge was Mountain, themed after an old racist acquittal of George Zimmerman, changed from third-degree to second- Disney movie based on the notion of the a Floridian who shot teenager Trayvon degree after reassessment of the event. happiness of slaves, into a “Princess and Martin as he was walking home with a Mayor Bill de Blasio of New York City the Frog”-themed ride and Nestlé renamed bag of Skittles. Started by Alicia Garza, agreed to limit police funds, although the its candies Red Skins, Chicos, and Beso Patrise Cullors and Opal Tometi, this new restrictions are currently unknown. De Negra to a currently unreleased movement changed from a small group Denver has banned chokeholds, the new names. to a nationwide network with more manner in which George Floyd was killed, These actions correspond with an than 40 chapters. and forced officers to report every time they ideological change occurring for many The brutal murders of Tamir Rice, point a gun at someone. Dallas similarly, Americans as society and corporations are Tanisha Anderson and Mike Brown, banned chokeholds, now requiring adapting to modern times and moving on the latter of which culminated in the warnings before shooting, and enforced new from aforementioned insensitive traditions Black Life Matters Ride in Ferguson, body-camera rules. or racial representations. Mo., reinvigorated the movement. Several campaigns of the BLM The Black Life Matters Ride was It serves to create an affirmation among the entire movement still remain unsupported a gathering of over 600 people Black community, regardless of gender or identity, and unrealized. As of this moment, dedicated to support the Black of Black worth in a society biased against Blacks the police officers who killed a community of St. Louis and prevent sleeping Breonna Taylor on a false and to fight for justice and prevention of Black drug charge have not been arrested, similar events from occurring. The BLM movement recently murders by either state officials, most notably the and only one of the three has received a renewal of attention after been fired. police, or private citizens. the killing of George Floyd on May The BLM movement is working 25, 2020. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, diligently to alleviate these issues. Along with these legislative changes, hundreds of thousands of people took to the many businesses have publicly taken a streets to protest the United States’ police stand with BLM, with a few emphasizing system, focusing light on the murders of their desires to become more inclusive others such as Breonna Taylor and Elijah in the future. For example, Restaurant Mcclain. Many who could not protest in Brands International, which owns Burger person signed petitions, donated money King, Popeyes and Tim Hortons, and educated themselves on race relations acknowledged their lack of racial in the United States. diversity and committed to at In Minneapolis, where George Floyd was least half of the candidates for killed, the Minneapolis City Council voted corporate office jobs to be to replace the police with appropriately people of color. trained professionals specific to certain Other corporations and calls. This was a clear response to BLM, offices reexamined their which aims to reappropriate the large funds racist past. For example, spent on police to monitor Black people Aunt Jemima changed its and Black neighborhoods, according to logo from a caricature of a the news website Vox. In addition, the four happy Black female slave cops present at to a currently undecided

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Issue 1 (Design/Zoe Persaud)

PROTESTING LOCALLY: Residents gathered June 6 in Davie, Fla. to exercise their right to protest and demand justice for victims of police brutality. (Photos/ Kayla Rubenstein)

News 7

Features

When They Were Us: Mrs. Bolaños-Cadenas

In our monthly faculty profile, we take a trip to the past and explore what teachers were like ‘When They Were Us’ (WTWU). WE’VE GOT SPIRIT: Mrs. Bolaños-Cadenas, famous for her in-class enthusiasm, participated in cheer and stunts while in high school. Today her students describe her class as exciting and fun. (Photos submitted/Mrs. Bolaños-Cadenas)

Kayla Rubenstein | Online Editor-in-Chief pl l226461@ahschool.com

for me because I knew that I wanted to have a family. I wanted to have a career that would allow me to do something that I enjoyed and that would also give me time to spend with my children. From that realization on, it was full steam ahead.”

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or some, high school serves as a time to explore varying interests and possible future careers, even if they don’t pan out in college. Yet for English teacher Mrs. Jennifer Bolaños-Cadenas, sophomore year of high school at St. Thomas Aquinas cemented the path she wanted to pursue, one that would bring her to room 25306. “My sophomore English teacher had a reputation for being really tough, but I loved her class,” Mrs. Bolaños-Cadenas said. “I loved the stories that we were reading, and Sophia Hai, 12 I found that I was always looking Outside of English, Mrs. Bolañosforward to sitting down with the text and reading it and discussing it. I had a Cadenas cheered all four years. A highlight moment one day leaving her class where I for her included beginning to stunt recognized, ‘I know what I want to do.’ I junior year. “Learning how to move past the fear could visualize myself in front of a group of students with a literature text, lecturing and achieve something so physically challenging is really something that has and discussing.” Besides wanting to teach, Mrs. Bolaños- always stuck with me as a marker that I Cadenas emphasized the importance of can achieve what I set my mind to,” Mrs. having family. “It was a two-fold realization Bolaños-Cadenas said.

In college at the University of Central Florida, Mrs. Bolaños-Cadenas continued to engage within her community by opening up the first Latina sorority on campus, Lambda Theta Alpha. “It’s cool because all of the other sisters know the names of the founders, so anytime I attend a reunion, I feel like a celebrity,” she joked. Although she began teaching at St. Thomas, Mrs. Bolaños-Cadenas found her perfect blend of career and family here. “Working at Heritage is the dream for me. It’s an opportunity for me to do the work I love and to have my kids right there with me,” she said. “I have the chance now to appreciate the realization of the moment I had as a sophomore. I’m here. I’m living it.”

She cares so deeply for her students. She always goes the extra mile and provides us with a safe space to talk about absolutely anything, whether it be academic or personal.

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If you would like The Patriot Post to cover a specific faculty member next issue, email us at patriotpost@ahschool.com. (Design/Bella Ramirez) Issue 1

EHAS Everyone Has A Story

Andrew Kowitt We are on a mission: to prove to you, our reader, that everyone, and we do mean everyone, has a story within them, both unique and interesting. Cue our bimonthly feature EHAS. Everyone Has A Story, where one Patriot Post staffer sets off on a quest to find and extensively interview a Heritage student at random to prove that everyone does, in fact, have a story. (Photo submitted by Andrew Kowitt)

Bella Ramirez | Editor-in-Chief pl237961@ahschool.com

fter realizing The Patriot Post does not find their sample population for polls correctly (in terms of statistics), I set out to find someone for EHAS using simple random sample. Randomly select a number electronically; the number that pops up corresponds to the student in a table — you know, just like Mr. Sofy told us to do in the real world. I emailed the person and — nonresponse. A few more nonresponses later and The Patriot Post found its randomly selected student: freshman Andrew Kowitt, not a jack of all trades, master of none kind of guy. “I’m more of a nine of all trades,” Kowitt laughed after discussing his work in computer science, robotics and classical piano.

Issue 1 (Design/Zoe Persaud)

Although Kowitt feels he has a lot to grow in his passions, it doesn’t stop him from working hard on things he’s passionate about. He enjoys working with computers, both leisurely and academically, for the Ninjineers Robotics team. As ninth grade representative for the Playtriot Board Game club, Kowitt tries to expose the club to more virtual games. Now, they spend more time on video games than board games, a quick fix for online learning. Kowitt aims to surprise people with the extent of his passion for gaming. “I’m curious if you’ll have the same reaction as everyone else I’ve told this to,” Kowitt said. “I like playing Tetris competitively,” he added. I admit, this was the first interview to garner that response. After starting Tetris on the Nintendo Switch on a whim (“I thought, this game is free, let’s try it”), Kowitt began to look into the specifics behind Tetris.

“That was my first mistake,” Kowitt said. “I couldn’t just play like any normal person.” After more gaming, he got into “proper Tetris ranking” and settled a little lower than average. Kowitt doesn’t foresee himself winning any Tetris tournaments yet, but he still enjoys this hobby. As for robotics, he began his work as a fourth grader. On the First Lego League Robotics team, Kowitt found a bridge between gaming and robotics that eventually bred his passion for computer science. This led further into his involvement with coding over the summer for a course his dad signed him up for. He hopes to become proficient in at least one coder language at one point. Kowitt is not all about tech though; he also composes for piano. He began his musical career at four years old, but took a break. Over the past year, he started getting into playing again. “I want to be able to sit down at a piano and just impress a group of people,” Kowitt said. “I’m getting better GEARING UP: Freshman Andrew Kowitt at understanding patterns of got his start in robotics on the First Lego diminished chords.” League (FLL) Red Ninjineers as the only Kowitt will continue learning fourth grader on the team. Although piano, computer science and, of he is looking forward to working on course, Tetris. the senior high Ninjineers team, he “All these things, I also hopes to be a mentor for FLL students like him once he is back on work really hard for them. campus. He credits his work on Hopefully I reap the rewards.” FLL as one of the activities that first sparked his interest in science. (Photo submitted by Andrew Kowitt)

Features 9

Modern day heroes

Finding essential heroes in essential workers safety and healthiness. Some have even Bella Ramirez | Editor-in-Chief sacrificed their own lives. They are not in pl237961@ahschool.com ue to COVID-19 and quarantine, the pursuit of recognition or glorification students had time to reflect on (though we should give it to them). We can their priorities. In our digitized, see that they truly care about the lives of pop culture-dependent world, it’s easy to their fellow citizens,” he said. hold celebrities on a higher pedestal than Recognizing these essential workers essential workers. In fact, in surveying can lead to great shifts in perspective and 165 students from grades 7 through 12, priorities. Through Key Club, over 61 The Patriot Post found 18.8% of students’ letters were written to essential workers modern day heroes related to the arts. This in appreciation over quarantine. Students is the second highest section, placed after like senior Arthur Young showed their family. Still, there was a noticeable and appreciation with signs outside of hospitals. growing appreciation for essential workers. Communiteens and HOSA even created The troubling ideas of heroism have and donated masks to doctors and nurses faced critique for years before COVID-19. when PPEs fell short in supply. The World Economic Forum even asked in 2017, “Does modern society still have heroes?” At the time, they found, like with our students, the majority found heroes in celebrities or family members. Even three years before COVID-19, adjunct professor at Bocconi University, author Paolo Gallo proposed appreciating essential workers more. Alyssa Castaner, 9 Now, we are adopting a more positive mindset to these taken-forgranted workers. “Celebrities are confused with heroes “I have a newfound appreciation for these days,” psychologist from Stanford service workers and medical professionals University Philip Zimbardo said. “Now due to this virus,” freshman Alyssa we’re perhaps recognising that we should Castaner said. “It takes a lot of courage to be willing to give what is, after all, a title of great honour to many more people who are help others when they need it most.” Recognizing this cultivates a “new genuinely putting themselves at risk, which patriotism” according to Politico. The is clearly the case for healthcare workers in magazine describes this new thought particular now. Risk like this was never in process as the populus developing the their job description. What’s more, they’re need to salute doctors and nurses at “the doing it every day. That’s heroism with a front lines” of the virus.Freshman Daniel capital H.” After reflection at home, Gen Z’s Rodriguez recognizes this in a greater span. “My modern day heroes are all of the internet-dependent nature is looking people that are attempting to help others past Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr. during this global pandemic. They are as heroes and onto those in a constant sacrificing great amounts to ensure our field of risk like our essential workers.

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I have a newfound appreciation for service workers and medical professionals due to this virus.

10 Features

(Graphics/Emily Anderson)

Who's your hero? Family

Arts

Politics

Science

No One

School

COVID-19

Sports

Myself

Religion

28.5%

18.8%

17.6%

10.3%

8.5%

4.8%

2.4%

1.8%

1.2% Topics related to heroes submitted out of 165 students grades 7-12.

(Design/Emily Anderson) Issue 1

Entertainment

Sp tlight: Jadyn Jacobson Shining a light on talented students within the fine arts

Kayla Giset | Staff Writer pl237191@ahschool.com

adyn Jacobson, a freshman, believes that art is not only the expression of the mind, but also the expression of t he body and soul. “If you have the right tools to put what’s on your mind onto a sheet of paper, you can do anything.” Passing the top of her class in art courses including Art Advanced JH Honors, Theatre Tech Honors, and high schoollevel drawing, it comes as no surprise that Jacobson’s passion for all things art began at a young age. “When I started liking art was probably the first time I picked up a crayon,” Jacobson said. “Over time, after attending several years of art camp and classes, I

WATERCOLOR WONDERS: Jacobson’s watercolor piece created for her Advanced Art class. The image depicts a portrait of her little sister, Jara.

Entertainment 16

have gotten progressively better at it and have utilized the mediums available to me to create more professional work.” As a member of the Harry Potter Club and Board Game Club, Jacobson has always had a love for creativity and sharing her voice with the world. Throughout the school year, she often finds herself doodling the class notes instead of writing them like the average honors student would. However, this doesn’t delay the process of studying at all; in fact, it helps create a more cohesive vision of the material. “Everything is like a story to me,” Jacobson said, “and in a class where the information is played out like a [timeline], such as Civics or any History, doodling images in relation to the lecture kind of puts a good idea of what is going on in my head.” Jacobson often gets inspired to draw by what is going on around her, and since her life revolves around school, the new ideas that are constantly being introduced to her are a very big part of the ideation process in her works. In addition to drawing on a day-today basis, Jacobson has shown skill in some of the many award-winning pieces she has created over her junior high years, most notably a painting showcased in Plantation Town Hall, where the mayor personally commended her on the win (pictured below). These awards, although meaningful, are not what art is all about to Jacobson. She claims that behind all of the glory and recognition comes a deeper side to her works, one where she can let her stress out and express emotions through visuals rather than words. Jacobson also enjoys learning about past artists and using their techniques as inspiration while simultaneously creating

her own trends, hoping to inspire the next generation of aspiring artists. She hopes to join the Art Honors Society in order to fulfill this hope while giving back to the community at the same time. Jacobson stated, “Art is not a task for me. It is a way to clear my mind during stressful times, and especially during my high school years, I will continue drawing in order to stay on my path.” Jacobson aspires to keep art in her life throughout high school and into her adult life. The 14-year-old, with merely a paintbrush in hand and the world as her canvas, hopes to inspire other young artists just like her and continue on with her artistic career, as she ventures off into 9th grade.

PLACING WITH PRIDE: Jacobson (right) alongside her painting which won Best in Show (Photo/Jadyn Jacobson). (Design/Emily Anderson) Issue 1

Shedding a light in a dark time Sources of good news to brighten your news feed Kayla Rubenstein | Online Editor-in-Chief pl226461@ahschool.com

n an age where headline after headline highlights the global pandemic, racism and other dystopian-esque events, it may seem difficult to remember the good in the world. Despite the negatives plaguing society right now, good news outlets have gained momentum, most famously with John Krasinski’s “Some Good News” (SGN) Youtube channel. Spreading his message of “There IS always GOOD in the world,” Krasinski features uplifting stories and Zoom call recordings with other celebrities, all spreading joy. SGN showcases something

this world desperately needs: a way to remind ourselves these seemingly unreal headlines aren’t the only things going on. On Instagram, freelance journalist Michelle Figueroa runs @goodnews_ movement, an account that posts only positive events, examples of people lending a helping hand and videos encompassing the idea of humanity. Positing “0 politics” and pictures and videos in both English and Spanish, this account with 1.4 million followers creates a feel-good environment. Similarly, @tankgoodnews highlights “positivity with a hint of humor” on its page. In addition to uplifting posts that showcase the good that continues to thrive, account runner Tank Sinatra also runs a

website with the in-depth stories behind his posts. However you get your news, remember there’s more going on than what the mainstream media shows. Don’t let negative headlines suffocate you; there’s more good happening than you realize.

(Graphic/Emily Anderson)

Making their voices heard

How Black celebrities respond to the Black Lives Matter movement Jack Schechtman | Opinion Editor pl235751@ahschool.com

parked by the murder of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man murdered by a police officer, the “Black Lives Matter” (BLM) movement has since revived itself. Many have come together to speak out against systemic racism and police brutality. With the amount of influence celebrities have, it is important for famous people to speak up and educate the general public on any issue. Many Black influencers in the entertainment industry have donated money to BLM and human rights organizations, released social media statements and protested with local communities to make their voices heard. Grammy award winner The Weeknd expressed his support of the movement by donating $500,000 to multiple organizations that work to end systematic racism, including Black Lives Matter Global Movement, The Colin Kaepernick “Know Your Rights” Camp Legal Defense Initiative and the National Bail Out.

Issue 1 (Design/Emily Anderson)

The Weeknd spoke up for BLM by posting on Instagram,“I gave yesterday, and I urge you to go big and public with yours this week. I urge everyone with big pockets to give and give big.” Atlanta rapper Lil Baby also voiced his opinion through his music. He released a song on all platforms called “The Bigger Picture,” in which he raps about racism and police brutality. The song was so powerful to the public that it hit number one in streams on Apple Music both globally and nationally, and number three on Spotify nationally. In the sports industries, athletes have reported they would hold out on upcoming seasons to take a stand. Star point guard Kyrie Irving believes bringing back the NBA will be a distraction and shine the light off of social reform and put it on entertainment. “I don’t support going to Orlando,” Irving said in a video call to players from around the NBA. “I’m not with the systematic racism and the

bullsh**. I’m willing to give up everything I have [for social reform].” Even though other players don’t plan on sitting the season out, many have donated to organizations and influence thousands to educate themselves and speak up. Regardless of how or who specifically has taken a stand against racism, the entire Black community is rising up with the leadership of Black celebrities in the crucial fight for change.

LEADING LEGEND: Atlanta Rapper Lil Baby performing at the Hype Festival in Oberhausen, Germany. At the start of the Black Lives Matter Movement, Lil Baby donated the money earned from his newest single, “The Bigger Picture,” to organizations supporting the movement. (photo/wikicommons)

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Sports

Returning to sports amid a pandemic swimmer senior Daniel Watson said. “I haven’t been able to race in many months, and having a light at the end of the tunnel is very refreshing.” Administration has also determined new policies for varsity football and varsity boys and girls volleyball, requiring that those participating in both of these sports must engage in distance learning for the entirety of their season.

Sammy Rosenthal | Sports Editor pl218212@ahschool.com

n light of COVID-19, the FHSAA (Florida High School Athletic Association) voted in favor of moving back the start of fall sports to August 24. Despite the change in schedule, Heritage still planned to offer student-athletes the chance to participate in fall sport options, meaning varsity football, varsity girls volleyball, varsity boys and girls swimming, varsity boys and girls golf, varsity boys and girls cross country, and varsity boys and girls bowling have continued their seasons. - Carlie Dobrinsky, 12, varsity volleyball Outside Hitter “I am of the mindset that the higher-ups will handle the situation “I feel that distance learning for with grace, and I will not be put in any the football players for the season is a dangerous situations, so I am excited to smart thing to do,” junior varsity football swim during this pandemic,” varsity boys cornerback Earl Little Jr. said. “I say this

“

because it kind of relieves stress off our players’ backs. This is also smart because all the players on the team will be healthy and safe while they are at home learning through the week.” As high school sports continue to experience unprecedented times with the risk of the corona virus still looming, Heritage remains hopeful to successfully play out the full fall season as the pandemic continues. “We realize these are unique times and strongly believe having our children stay involved is as important to our coaches as it is for the studentathlete,” Michelle Armiento, assistant to the athletic director, said in an email regarding an update for the

This situation is far from ideal, but I hope that we still get a way to play the sport we love.

upcoming season. “While this may not be what everyone was hoping for, it is a great way to be a valued member of your team.”

The new signal-caller taking over under center Sammy Rosenthal | Sports Editor pl218212@ahschool.com ith the 2020 high school football season on the horizon, the Patriots will feature a new starting quarterback under center for the first time since the 2018 season. With Tennessee State commit and former Patriot QB Edwin Rhodes III having graduated this past year,

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sophomore quarterback Blake Murphy will look to take advantage as he steps into the forefront as the Patriots’ lead signal caller for the fall season. In a backup role behind Rhodes during the 2019 campaign, Murphy completed eight of 27 passing attempts for 114 yards and two touchdowns. Despite the limited action, though, Patriots’ head coach Patrick Surtain, who believes Murphy plays a similar style to Rhodes, has full confidence in putting his offense in the growing sophomore quarterback’s hands. “I think his demeanor has changed since he knows that he will be the guy this year,” Coach Surtain said. “I sense a more mature person and player, and he’s shown this during summer workouts and his knowledge of the playbook. We’re expecting big things from Blake this year.” Through the first two weeks of the young season, Murphy accounted for three total touchdowns, leading the Patriots off to a 2-0 start.

After sustaining a broken collarbone injury late diving for a loose ball late in the second of those games, though, Murphy’s control of the offense has been put on hold as he works his way back onto the field. “My mindset is get well as soon as possible,” Murphy said in regards to his injury, “and help out the backup quarterbacks as much as possible. I should have three or four more weeks until I can come back.” In Heritage’s first game without Murphy, senior wide receiver Vinson Davis, who last played quarterback in little league, led the Patriots to another road win and looks to have control under center until Murphy can return, who will continue to play with a chip on his shoulder. “I’m tired of not being mentioned or notified by college coaches or other people,” Murphy said. “I know what I’m doing and will be ready. When it’s all said and done, everybody is going to know the name.”

PASSING THE TORCH: Coach Surtain has “all the confidence in the world” in his new signal caller. In his first start, Murphy led the Patriots to a 7-3 victory over ChaminadeMadonna to begin the season 1-0. (Photo/Blake Murphy Twitter) (Design/Sammy Rosenthal) Issue 1

The Fantasy Guide:

Consider implementing the “buy low” and “sell high” strategies to improve your fantasy team Sammy Rosenthal | Sports Editor pl218212@ahschool.com s we move a few weeks deeper into the 2020 NFL season, fantasy football team managers should start to recognize how their season should shape out and if whether or not they need to seek out potential trades. If you find yourself in a situation where a trade might prove necessary to turn around your season, consider using the following strategies to start “buying low” and “selling high” to push your team in the right direction. The amount of volume or opportunities a player receives on a weekly basis, for instance, influences whether or not a player falls into the “buy low” (trading for a player following poor performances) or “sell high” (trading away players following unsustainably outstanding performances) category. An example of “buying low” would be Titans running back Derrick Henry. Through the first two weeks of the season, the first round fantasy pick managed 17 points in Week 1 and just under 10 points in Week 2 (in PPR). Looking solely at the point totals, some fantasy managers might’ve grown concerned over the early production (or lack thereof) from the workhorse back. Diving deeper into the

statistics, though, Henry’s low totals sprout from a failure to garner any touchdowns, but it was not from a lack of opportunity. Through both weeks, Henry collected a total of 59 touches; other top running backs such as Cowboys’ Ezekiel Elliott and Panthers’ Crhistian McCaffery managed 53 and 48 total touches, respectively. Despite the slightly lower volume, the two backs both

Issue 1 (Design/Sammy Rosenthal)

(Photo/Sean Gardner)

outscored Henry in both weeks, thanks season: a committee backfield. to Elliott’s three combined Being that Chubb and Hunt scores and McCaffery’s four split touches on a rocky Browns combined scores. offense, their situation remains As experienced owners unfavorable, indicates should know, volume reigns inconsistent production, and supreme over touchdowns; brought Chubb into the “sell as long as the opportunities high” category following his strong remain consistent the showings in Weeks 2 and 3 with 27 touchdowns will eventually start points and 25 points, respectively. appearing. Additionally, if a player scores In Week 3, this was the case an unsustainable amount of points as Henry lived up to his draft day for one week, it’s not reasonable stock, collecting 28 touches, his to expect this player to continue second-highest total of the year; similar production every week. this time, though, he found Take Packers wide receiver paydirt twice and scored 28 Davante Adams (pictured left), points across PPR platforms. for example, who scored 42 Following the first two points in Week 1. weeks, though, his lack of As expected, Adams (Photo/Stacy Revere) touchdowns forced Henry should end the season as a top to fall into the “buy low” five receiver at the minimum, category. At that point, however it might have fantasy managers should have at least proved worthwhile to see contacted Henry’s manager to gauge their if other managers in your thoughts on the Titans’ back and trade for league would have overpaid for him at a lower price than his true value Adams for such a strong performance. normally holds. That way, when Henry While it’s difficult to determine them finally reaches the end zone (as he did now, player trends will appear obvious in Week 3), you will have poached a first when the end of the season arrives. Trying round pick for significantly less value. to stay ahead of these trends from week Other players that overcame rather to week during the season always proves lackluster showings and would a challenge, but can directly fall into this situation include result in an opportunity Chiefs rookie running back Clyde for a championship. Edwards-Helaire (pictured bottom left), who scored 14 points in Week 2, Chargers running back Austin Ekeler, with 10 points in Week 1, and Bears wide receiver Allen Robinson, who totaled 13 and 7 points in Weeks 1 and 2, respectively. As for “selling high,” Browns running back Nick Chubb (pictured right), whom ESPN ranked within the first two rounds of the 2020 draft, fits the description due to his split touches with fellow running back Kareem Hunt. Through three weeks this season, (Photo/Jason Miller) Chubb has totaled 54 touches while Hunt has accounted for 47; if anything, these statistics mirror what managers saw when Hunt joined the Browns in Week 8 of last Sports 19