2021 Issue 1 - The Legend

Page 1

SUNCOAST COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL

VOLUME 26 ISSUE 1 | NOVEMBER 2021

PerserverAnce THE CHARGERSONIC BAND MARCHES ON.


Staff

About Us

Adviser Traci Lowe The Legend is a newsmagazine produced Editor-in-chief Daniel McGlone entierly by Suncoast students. We aim to Managing Editor Liliana Segovia publish six issues per year. Any opinions News Editor Zaara Alam that are printed in “The Legend” are not features editor Tallulah Maramba necessarily the opinions of the adviser, opinion editor Annika Karbstein administration, or the school district. SPORTS EDITOR Zaara Alam Unsigned editorials reflect the opinions of the design editor Liliana Segovia editorial board website manager Jad Dargam social media manager Samya Williams staff writers Jada Denaud, Randy Do you have a business and want to Francois, Elizabeth Horsford, Isabella Jaramillo, advertise with us? Stop by room 3-117 or Collin North, Valentina Radu, Amy Rodriguez, visit our website, shsthelegend.com for more Demaris Wiley, Kaleah Williams information

advertise with us!

stay connected with us

@shsthelegend

@shsthelegend

A note from the editors

@TheLegendStaff

shsthelegend.com

The Legend staff is proud to release the first issue of volume 26 of The Legend. We are excited to kick off the school year with an issue full of exciting and interesting articles. We hope that you enjoy reading!


04

17

21

10 14

04

NEWS

Chargersonic Sound

10

FEATURE

14

Mind the Gap

OPINION

Mental Health or Good Grades?

LIFESTYLE

21

Devious Licks

17 SPORTS

Supporting the Underdogs


4 News

Chargersonic sound The Chargersonic Sound joins the Ram Regiment band.

Sa’Mya Williams Staff Writer The heart of Suncoast has been left in a lurch as band director, Ernest Brown, retired on August 31, 2021. After the news of Brown’s sudden departure, the school is in desperate need of a replacement, as he was in charge of the Chargersonic band, the Chargerettes, and many elective classes. The school had a solution for the band members, but it required a major change. The Chargersonic Band and the Chargerettes are a big part of Suncoast as they perform at pep rallies, football games, parades, and many competitions. Many students look forward to seeing the band perform and dance at events, because of their musical talent and the energy that they bring to these events. “We didn’t think Mr. Brown’s retirement was on the table at all. And people already don’t really appreciate or pay attention to the band until it’s time for performances, because of the stigma around the band. So, when the news of Mr. Brown’s retirement came out, everyone started asking questions about what’s going to happen to the band because of the legacy he’s given the school, ” Julia Von Pinho, the assistant section leader of the saxophones said. The band members were given a chance to keep doing what they love by performing with the Palm Beach Lakes High School marching band after many attempts of trying to find another band director to fill in for Brown just in time for the marching band season. The School Board Policy 5.60, which was adopted on September 11, 2013, states “District employees are prohibited from recruiting students from other schools for any extracurricular activity which includes interscholastic athletic activity, either directly or indirectly, and may be Pictured from left to right; Connor Rieth,, Mikhai Wilson, Lyric Morrow, Julia Von Pinho, Julessa Velez, Zachary Spencer, Ashley Josil, Danielle Devose, and Alexander Spencer Photo by: Juleesa Vekez

subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination for violation of this policy.“ This policy did not permit students from the Chargersonic band to join the Ram Regiment band after the news of Brown’s retirement broke, as they are two different schools. Principal Kathryn Koerner and the administration requested a waiver on September 2, 2021, just two days after Brown’s retirement, on this specific policy as there was currently no prospect of a band director this marching band season. As of September 21, the Chargersonic band was officially allowed to perform and join the Ram Regiment band at Palm Beach Lakes. The Palm Beach County School Board approved this change.The band students were quite surprised and taken off guard at how quick and helpful the administration was in helping their cause. “In general, principals don’t seem to care about the arts at all, it seems like a second thought to them. When Mrs. Koerner met with us and told us what she was doing to try to make this happen, I was shocked and surprised. We are all grateful that she helped us do this and that she got it approved officially, so that there are no issues in the future,” Velez said. With the help of the administration and the School Board, the band was allowed to perform and show off all their hard work with their first performance with the Lakes band at a home game and even performed during the Homecoming Parade. “The performance was amazing at the homecoming, and I was crying at how we finally have a band again. It’s true that the band is what brings the energy to the pep rallies and it was so exciting to be at the parade and just hear that band coming down the street,” Koerner said. Pictured from left to right: Connor Rieth, Alexander Spencer, Zachary Spencer, Danielle Devose, Julessa Velez, and Julia Von Pinho Photo by: Juleesa Vekez


News 5 The Chargersonic Sound and the Lakes Regiment Band are known rivals and the rivalry goes back decades, because of their different personalities and performance styles. So naturally, it was surprising when the Chargers were officially a part of the Ram Nation, but performing is what the band loves to do and that is all they are doing, but just in a different setting. “There were definitely a lot of differences between our band and Lakes band. I think our style of teaching things and our style of getting things done or how much time we spend on certain aspects were much different. Overall, band is band and they have the same style as our band. We just have a different approach to things,” Von Pinho said.

The Chagersonic Sound and the Ram Regiment Band recently performed at the Florida Blue Florida Classics in Orlando and the Chargersonic Sound is looking forward to more performances with the Ram Regiment band in future events, such as pep rallies, and sporting events. They hope that next year there will be a band with a band leader from an HBCU that will continue the Suncoast style; but as of right now, they are excited and ready for what this year has to offer. “It is very important to us to carry on Mr. Brown’s legacy because we could have just put a body and hired anybody, but the band is important to us and the school,” Dawn Gordon, the Assistant Principal said.

Chargersonic Band after a performance with the Ram Regiment Band Photo by: Juleesa Vekez


6 News

EARTHQUAKE STRIKES HAITI Relatives of Haitian students suffer in Haiti

Randy Francois Staff Writer

A

n earthquake fatally struck the Caribbean country of Haiti on August 14, 8:30 a.m. At least 2,248 people are known to have died in the 7.2-magnitude earthquake according to reliefweb.int. This earthquake that shook the country left more than 650,000 citizens of Haiti in need of emergency humanitarian assistance, over 12,000 people with minor injuries and over 300 people missing. The fatal earthquake struck in a mountainous area between the Nippes Department and Sud Department at a shallow depth of 6.2 miles, which heavily increased the effect of the damage on the surface. This particular mountainous area that was struck also was where several major hospitals were located. Due to the major hospitals that were damaged, this rendered most medical services useless to those who were wounded during the earthquake. Professional medics and doctors made makeshift tents to attempt to help the wounded, but not all could be helped. Suncoast senior, Jerry Moncoeur, had family members who were affected by the earthquake. “My family and I are sending supplies directly to my family and other survivors to support them in any way we can.” Moncouer reported that he struggled to contact his family members in Haiti. “They said the power lines and cell towers were destroyed in their area, so they have to relocate to another district to use their phones.” Hundreds of Haitians have been tended to medically and families are losing each other. “There weren’t enough doctors and now she’s dead,” said Lanette Nuele. Her daughter was fatally wounded and later killed during the tragic earthquake. There are many stories of families that have lost loved ones because of this

natural disaster. An orthopedic surgeon, Edward Destine, had tended to the injured there. “I’m the only surgeon,” he said. “I would like to operate on 10 people today, but I just don’t have the supplies,” he added, saying he needed intravenous drips and antibiotics (nytimes.com). According to UNICEF, nearly 70 percent of all schools in the area within the earthquake and surrounding areasg were severely damaged or destroyed during the earthquake. This destruction caused many schools to delay the start of the school year by 3 weeks to a month. More than 230,000 children are at risk of dropping out of school if classrooms do not reopen. Due to the untimely murder of the president of Haiti Jovenel Moïse, killed months prior, relief efforts given by the Haitian government are severely limited. The tropical storm Grace came following the devastating earthquake, which also limited relief efforts given by neighboring countries who also were struck by the violent tropical storm. Countries such as Mexico, who have a history of welcoming foreigners when America would not, offered open arms to help the citizens of Haiti and immigrants who attempted to leave their country due to the pandemic. Tropical Storm Grace, which struck Mexico Aug 21, 2021as a category 3 hurricane, hampered the relief efforts of Mexico for the many Haitian families who have sought shelter and refuge in order to live a better life in a different country. Clubs within Suncoast hosted food drives where students can donate supplies to Haiti. Haiti will recover soon enough from these recent tragedies the country had faced, and all of our prayers are with them.

The remains of a hospital after the earthquake.

Photo source: New York Times


THE DEBATE SEASON

News 7

The 2021-2022 debate season kicked off at Suncoast.

Jad Dargam Website Manager

S

uncoast hosted the first inperson debate tournament in 19 months. Over 300 competitors from schools across Palm Beach and Martin Counties attended the tournament on September 25. Thirty-eight members of the Suncoast Speech and Debate Team competed, with ten of them ranked top six or higher in their respective chambers. The Palm Beach Catholic Forensic League organized the tournament where debaters replicated congresspeople, argued bills and resolutions, similar to the United States Congress. Last year, all tournaments were held online during the 2020-2021 debate season. For many varsity members, this tournament was their first time debating in person. However, restrictions were still in place due to Covid-19. All competitors were required to wear masks and had assigned seats in their respective rooms. Yet, most competitors found in-person tournaments to have a better debate atmosphere. Sophia Osborne (12), president of Suncoast Speech and Debate Team, said, “Online tournaments take away that aspect of spontaneity because you can just google stuff and have your speech open to read.” In-person tournaments also have a social aspect that cannot be replicated online. “Inperson tournaments are a much better environment to make new friends in debate,” Osborne continued. Emily Cuba (10) ranked second at the first debate tournament she ever competed in. She always wanted to

debate, but never got the chance until this year when she decided to pursue her goals and join the debate club. Debate has helped Cuba expand her speaking skills. She said, “It also helps you think on your feet because during cross examinations, where after you give your speech you give some time for other debaters to try and poke holes in your speech, you have to think on the fly.” Congressional debate was Cuba’s favorite debate event because she enjoyed the political discourse in each session. “I also like watching the actual members of congress vote and give their speech, so it’s cool to pretend to be a member of congress,” Cuba said. “I was so proud of my novices. I have been with them since they didn’t know what debate was. Look how far they’ve come now,” Osborne said, who has been working with novice debaters since the start of the school year. Another first-time debater was Sree Tadepalli (10) who ranked first at the tournament. Tadepalli joined debate because of the adrenaline rush that it gave him when he was able to share his thoughts and feelings with other students like him. “I felt really exhilarated because it was my first time winning anything in a high school competition,” Tadepalli stated. Similarly, Tadepalli reaped the benefits of participating in debate, socially. He believed that debate, “has helped me make new friends because I get to interact with a lot of

new people and get to experience a lot of interactions.” Tadepalli would “absolutely” do debate again, “because it was an incredible experience,” he said. Other debaters who ranked included Isel Neira (10) - first place, Kate Silvennoinen (9) and Taliyah Foreman (9) - fifth place, and Ari Goldman (9) - sixth place. Varsity members, those who have competed in speech and debate for more than a year, also competed in the tournament. Peter Torocsik (10), who competes in Congress and Public Forum debate, told novice debaters, “Don’t procrastinate when writing speeches because when you write speeches in a rush, they are lower quality.” Another varsity debater, Anyla Williams (10), who specialized in Oral Interpretation, said that she changed dramatically since she first started debate in 2020. “I’ve been more open to different perspectives since joining debate because debate requires you to understand both sides in order to form an educated opinion,” Williams said. Williams ranked fifth in the September tournament. Osborne encouraged anyone interested to come to debate club: “... go to the meetings in Ms. Lowe’s room on Tuesdays and Thursdays...The season is just getting started!.” So, did Andrew Hynes (10), who valued debate for what it is, “It’s hard work, but it’s definitely worth it because colleges look at it.” Suncoast Speech and Debate Team will continue to compete throughout the year.


8 News

The 20 year long war in Afghanistan comes to a historic end. Daniel McGlone Editor-In-Chief Troops and citizens evacuate Afghanistan

I i

Photo by Sgt. Glen McCarthy

G

unfire erupted across small desert villages as United States’ troops fended off the Taliban. Blood of soldiers, both United States and Taliban, as well as civilians, were mercilessly splattered across the battlefield. Troops looked over and saw dead friends, politicians saw wasted money, and everybody saw a war with a great human cost. Eventually, an entire nation decided enough is enough. According to a poll by CBS, 63 percent of Americans supported the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan and disapproved of the tedious Afghan war. Both President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden agreed that the war in Afghanistan was no longer worth fighting. Trump started the process, negotiating with the Taliban to ensure a peaceful withdrawal and cease-fire. Biden ended the process, withdrawing the majority of U.S. troops in the country after the agreement fell through. “The Afghan troops have 300,000 well-equipped — as well-equipped as any army in the world — and an air force against something like 75,000 Taliban. [A Taliban invasion] is not inevitable,” Biden stated in a press conference. Fast forward to Aug. 15, 2021, after 20 years, the war in Afghanistan halted to a dramatic end. The U.S. made a desperate attempt to get out and evacuate its own citizens as well as fleeing Afghan citizens. The Taliban has taken over the country, terrorized citizens, and taken away rights. “I always promised the American people that I will be straight with you. The truth is: This did unfold more quickly than we had anticipated,” Biden stated following

the Taliban takeover. According to the same CBS poll, 74 percent of participants believed that the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan either went very badly or somewhat badly. Many criticized Biden’s unorganized exit plan, while others believe that chaos was unavoidable. Many, including Biden, believe that the blame falls on the Afghan government and military. U.S. troops worked to train the Afghan army throughout the war, but in many scenarios, the Afghan army refused to fight the Taliban and instead laid down their weapons and surrendered. “Afghanistan political leaders gave up and fled the country. The Afghan military collapsed, sometimes without trying to fight,” Biden said. In total, 2,448 U.S. troops, 3,846 U.S. contractors, 66,000 Afghan troops, 1,144 allied troops from other countries, 47,245 Afghan civilians, 444 aid workers, 72 journalists and 51,191 Taliban troops died in the war, according to AP news. That adds up to 172,390 total lives lost as a direct result of the Afghanistan war. “We lost people, equipment, and our dignity for very little in return. It is a shame that the war in Afghanistan went the way it did, and ended the way it did,” varsity debater and senior Johan S.N. Morales said. Terrible loss surrounds the war in Afghanistan. It started due to the terrorist attacks, which occured on Sept. 11, 2001. Throughout the war, thousands of lives were lost and the messy exit led to hundreds more.

S


News 9

In total, at least 927,311 people have died due to military operations caused by 9/11, including the Afghanistan and Iraq wars. Here is the breakdown: U.S. Troops

U.S. Contractors (workers from companies like Boeing and Lockheed Martin)

7,057

Civilians

363,939

8,189

Afghan, Iraqi, Pakistan, and Syrian Military and Police

Foreign Troops allied with the U.S.

204,645

14,874

Suicides among Taliban and other Aid Journalists veterans who have opposing opposing Workers served in post 9/11 troops military operations 296,858

892

680

30,177

Over 38 million people have been displaced due to the post 9/11 wars. That is equivalent to about the population of California, the largest state in the U.S.

Over 8 trillion dollars has been spent on post 9/11 operations. Most of this was paid for with loans, and interest on those loans could total up to 6.5 trillion dollars. This is over 72 times the richest man in the world, Elon Musk’s, salary.

It is estimated that 1.2 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas has been emitted by the U.S. since post 9/11 military operations have started. An average car emits only around 4.6 metric tons per year. Source: Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs (https://watson.brown.edu/costsofwar/)


MIND THE GAP

Bridging the divide between students and teachers. Liliana Segovia Design and Managing Editor

T

he bell rings, it is lunchtime and students run down the halls to get into the cafeteria line. It is a Monday morning and there are a few clubs meeting. One of them is Mind the Gap. “Mind the Gap envisions an inclusive community for students and teachers to foster a mutual understanding of each other by creating a safe space to have discussions about the various gaps that exist in the learning environment,” Tazeen Rashid wrote on their informational poster. The students gather in Mrs. Rashid’s room on the second floor. There are approximately 10 permanent members with other students and teachers who come to listen in on the conversation and have their voices heard. The Committee Head calls the meeting to order and they start with the agenda for the day and overall rules for discussion, as well as some more topics for the upcoming months and meetings. They then transition into an open discussion. “We start the meeting with just going over general rules and the mission statement, but it isn’t much of anything. We let the members guide the conversation however they see fit and talk for as long as they need to so they can get their point across,” junior Justin Ricketts said. Depending on the topic, there are different voices highlighted in the conversation. At the time of writing, it was Hispanic Heritage month, with the topic being ‘Gaps in the community and the identity of hispanics’. There were four hispanic members there that spoke up about their experiences as well as their thoughts about being connected to their culture. “My favorite part of the club is the open conversations. The last meeting, I got to speak on my culture and have others care what I have to say and be genuinely interested,” junior Jayda Dookie said. The club started in 2020 when an officer of Hands Across Campus wanted to create a short 10 week program that was a safe space for teachers and students to talk about issues in the classroom, it then evolved into a full time club that meets every week.

Informational Google Slide of Mind The Gap shown on WRSN.

They continued to work with Hands Across Campus this year creating a calendar of discussion topics for each month focusing on race, culture and identity. However, the conversation does not always stick to the topics they chose to discuss for that meeting. “One of the great parts about open discussion is it can lead in a completely different direction than we originally intended it to. We then might take the direction they went and make it into its own question for the next meeting,” Ricketts said. Although there are few members, the things they talk about are very important to the school community. No one likes it when their voice is overshadowed by others, so the club works to make sure everyone is heard. As well as talking to faculty about some of the problems the club comes across. “I’ve heard from specific teachers that they have seen a new point of view from the students they haven’t considered before, and it made them change the way that they think about students in school and how they teach. It kind of reframes their mind,” Ricketts said. “I feel like, when you are in the club you can make a difference. The teachers like Mrs. Rashid really do pay attention to what we as students say, and she brings it up to administration. We try to make a difference which is really important in itself,” Dookie said. Mind the Gap is a safe space to hear what peers have to say and listen to their stories. It is important to understand others and their backgrounds as it helps you be more aware and empathetic. Mind the Gap allows you to connect with others and open your mind to more than your opinion.

Committe Heads Justin Ricketts and Brianna Briddell lead the dicussion about Gaps in the community and identity of Hispanics.

p s e

h i V A k T o L W a e U P

P a P t t c a l


,

Features 11

THROUGH THE LENS OF RON STERLING Suncoast welcomes their new photography teacher.

Isabella Jaramillo Staff Writer

A

lmost a month ino thr new school year, students enrolled in the commercial photography course were missing a photo teacher since their previous one left last school year. But in late September, artist and educator Ron Sterlingjoined the Suncoast family. Sterling has quite the impressive resume. He holds a BA in Studio Art from Rutgers University, in Newark and received his MFA. in Photography, Video and Related Media from School of Visual Arts, NYC. Sterling has also worked alongside well known artists such as Sandy Skoglund and Charles Traub. Some of his work is even held in the Museum of the City of New York, Museum of Modern Art: Life of the City Collection, the Miriam & Ira D. Wallach Collection of the New York Public Library, and New York Historical Society. He has also had experience with teaching photography at Rutgers University and Digital Photography and Media at Palm Beach State College. “I had the opportunity to speak with Vice Principal McLawrence regarding the IIT program and I was impressed with the Digital Photography Program,” Sterling stated. He has been involved in the photography/art industry for “too many years to count” and is passionate about this field. “It’s a calling , I guess something I was always excited about. The camera always seemed to be a magical little box that made memories.”

photo by Ron Sterling

Teaching at Suncoast, Sterling can now share his years of knowledge and is happy to do so. “I just like to share what I love, passing on what others have passed on to me. It is all about participating in something larger than oneself. When you give of yourself you get something greater in return,” Sterling stated. His goals for this school year is to have his students excited about photography and photoshop and hopes to have them create some amazing artwork. While working with Suncoast students on their artwork, Sterling has also been working on his own projects. He used to work as a photographer and commercial artist in a design studio in the World Trade Center but due to the terror attack on Sept. 11, 2001, all his work was lost. Today, Sterling is currently working on various book projects and a photo/video installation project about the missing persons and aftermath from that tragic day in New York City. Students and staff of Suncoast are eager to see what Sterling has in store next.

photo by Ron Sterling


12 Features Photo Courtesy of Brookelynne Brewer, Tara Baruch (left), Kate Deperalta, Madison Zelner, Brookelynne Brewer

‘PARTING IS SUCH SWEET SORROW’ Students bid farewell to beloved English teacher.

Zaara Alam News Edior

S

adness struck the students of Suncoast as beloved English teacher, Tara Baruch announced her departure. She is now the AP and AICE Instructional Specialist for the School District of Palm Beach County. “Honestly I made the decision to leave when I filled out the application for the position at the end of last school year,” Baruch said. “I decided to apply for several reasons but the biggest one was that I am really concerned about equity in advanced courses.” Baruch has also been working on getting her PhD and decided that this promotion would be a step in the right direction in regards to her education. “I have the opportunity to make real change and [the position] also aligns with my dissertation so I can make a bridge between theory and practice,” Baruch said. Students remembered her impact and creative teaching that left an impression to remember. Junior Leah Sauceda said that Baruch was a “very interactive teacher and she made it very clear from the way she teaches that she really loved to teach.” “She always tried to do stuff that she knew would benefit us and always took our input into account.” junior Muminah Ahmed said. “ She was really engaging and colorful in her

teaching which made it an enjoyable experience.” Baruch’s unique way of teaching also stood out and made her a memorable member of the Suncoast community. She mainly taught IB classes such as Theory of Knowledge and IB Literature, which helped her create long-term connections with her students. “Ms. Baruch really understood her students. For example, she implemented a really helpful technique where she let us have 10 minute breaks each class to use the bathroom, catch-up and breathe in the middle of class,” junior Jillian Cranney said. “We just had some down time to chill which made us actually stay attentive in class.” While she will be missed, and the students and staff are sad to see her go, Baruch recalled fond memories of her experience. “Fridays with my colleagues are the best memories of my time here,” Baruch said. “They will know what I mean by that.” As a last part of her farewell,Baruch had a special message for her students to remember her by so that her influence is not easily forgotten. “If I were to say anything to my students I would say thank you for letting me learn with you and to understand that you can learn from anyone regardless of age, sex, and race,” Baruch said. “Don’t ever stop trying to learn.”


e e e m

, t , n h

e r

f n

l r

y d d

EQUITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

The Equity and Social Justice club brings awareness for their club.

A

s the school year begins, more students are creating new clubs at Suncoast that they feel will fit well into the school. For Chloe Roy, Robert Smith and Bryson King, they wanted to bring in a club that would raise awareness on discriminatory issues as well as act on it, so they created the Equity and Social Justice Club. Equity and Social Justice club strives to bring inclusivity into the school environment all while highlighting issues such as racism, sexism and homophobia. In the meetings, they focused on introducing everyone to the club and telling them what it is all about. On Monday, September 20, the club held an election where they picked all of the officers and researchers. Roy said, “Our meetings have gone great! The number of participants has doubled since we started, and we are very happy with how the club is shaping to be. Now that we’ve got everyone organized, we can finally start discussing topics.” Roy’s main goal right now is to get all of the officers situated and comfortable, and to allow all of the members to get to know each other so they can create a safe space for discussion, and to promote their club so they can gain more members. Before the club could even start their meetings, they had to go through a very meticulous process of creating and bringing the club to life. Roy said, “The process of starting this club was a bit tedious- we asked a lot of teachers to sponsor us. We are very grateful for Mrs. Hamilton for squeezing us in amongst her other clubs. But overall it was an interesting experience- seeing how much work actually goes into creating a club as well as the steps to do so.” When creating this club, they noticed that Suncoast did not have any clubs that focused solely on discriminatory issues. Roy was shocked because she knew a lot of people who are passionate about all of the topics that their club focuses on. However, many people were not presented with the opportunity to make a change. Roy said, “Robert, Bryson, and I felt that we needed to make out voices, along with everyones here at Suncoast.” Roy does have a plan to extend their club outside of school to potentially collaborate with other schools such as Dreyfoos. Roy said, “They seem pretty interested in starting an ESJC over there, which is very exciting.” Once they get organized with their plan, they hope to create an agenda so that both schools can keep up and discuss the same topics at the same time. As for this quarter, the club plans on working with other organizations. Smith said, “we hope to work with food banks as an act of service for our club. This will also be a good way for our juniors and sophomores to get CAS and VCS hours.” Considering this is the first year that Equity and Social Justice club has been at Suncoast, the continue to find projects and activities that will help them achieve their goals.

Tallulah Maramba Features Editor Photo by Leslie Joseph

Photo by Leslie Joseph

Photo by Leslie Joseph


14 Opinion

MENTAL HEALTH OR GOOD GRADES? Admission into college should not jeopardize emotional well-being. Annika Karbstein Staff Writer

I

t is Nov. 30. Senior Laura Hoffman checks her watch, which reads 11:30 p.m. Hoffman has been sitting at her desk, staring at her Common Application for half an hour already. For months, she has been working on and stressing over her essay, her profile and her activities, making sure they are all perfect. Now, she wonders anxiously if it was enough, thinking about how this one click to submit the application could determine her future. The stress that school alone puts on students is unbelievable. Between 20 and 30 percent of high school students report symptoms of depression, and nine percent of high school students have attempted suicide. Now, combine this with the pressure of college applications, scholarship and financial aid applications, and it is not shocking that every college admissions cycle brings a flood of depression and poor mental health. The pressure does not stop with students. Suncoast senior Jade McAleer reported, “I had a lot of pressure from my parents and family to have a perfect application. My parents made me think I had to live up to my siblings perfect applications and it gave me so much anxiety.” Unrealistic parental expectations can be debilitating for juniors and seniors who already have a lot on their plates. Many students also maintain that their parents do not fully comprehend the sheer amount of work that comes with applying for college. Junior Anna Wong said, “All of the things you have to do as part of your applications are just so overwhelming. It’s like this huge mountain to climb and students are expected to do it all perfectly.” To support Wong’s statement, students are urged by counselors and parents to prepare for college entrance exams, visit college campuses and partake in plenty of extracurricular activities, all while maintaining good grades. Taking on all of these activities is bound to make students sacrifice good mental health.

In the past few years, and especially exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the already selective admissions process has gotten increasingly worse. As universities strive to raise their nationwide rankings and maintain elite statuses, acceptance rates have been steadily decreasing and the need for perfect stats increasing. As guidance counselor Nancy Wright said, “Colleges engage in a so-called ‘arms race’ by rejecting more students every year for higher selectivity and rankings.” This results in students applying to more colleges for the fear of being rejected, simply creating a cycle of more applicants and more rejections. Now, the burden is mostly on colleges and admissions officers to protect the health of America’s high schoolers. To alleviate admissions stress, schools can start by creating a more uniform application process across the board. Also, schools should begin taking an entire person and application into account, not just quantitative scores. “I wish colleges did not require so many standardized tests. They do not tell the whole story and often are not an accurate reflection of the intelligence of a student,” Senior Ella Freeman said. The strain on high schoolers, which gets worse every year, will lead to a serious mental health epidemic among students if colleges are unable to alleviate admissions pressure. The fact remains, the education system’s emphasis on being admitted into a certain college currently comes at the expense of student mental health and emotional and physical well-being.

photo by Olivia Gilbert Seniors at Jupiter High School take notes during math class

G m d t l t s

t r f f t o

q d i m t s


Opinion 15

Moment of Silence A moment of reflection to start the day. Randy Francois Staff Writer

A

fter the signing of House Bill 529 by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, the 2021 school year introduced a new moment of silence procedure. Gov. DeSantis signed the bill into law in June enacting a mandatory moment of silence at the beginning of each day administered either by morning announcements, or the teacher of the first period of the day. However, the law also prohibits teachers from making any suggestions to the students on how they choose to use the moment of silence given. The moment of silence, in my opinion, is a great addition to the morning routine to get momentary peace, to actually reflect, or to do some homework at the last minute. The flexibility of the moment of silence truly gives students freedom on how they use the moment of silence as long as they do not disrupt anyone else and adhere to the moment of silence by actually being quiet. Following the year long pandemic where students were quarantined at home, a moment of silence to reflect on the difficult times students and teachers have been through in all areas of life can make a huge difference in their mental capacity. Many students had grown accustomed to the virtual setting, which allowed them to sleep in more on school days. This moment of silence can also be beneficial

State Governor Ron DeSantis signs bill mandating moment of silence.

to teachers by giving them a momentary peace in the hectic mornings in public schools all over the state. This bill is also a gesture of concern and shows that he sympathizes and understands the difficult year students have been through due to the pandemic ravaging our world. From the food shortages, outbreaks of COVID-19 and the entire year of virtual learning, the education system has been through truly difficult times. Throughout this stressful time, a moment of silence is a refresher for students to regain focus and composure in order to have a great and productive day. Some say it is a violation of the first amendment and an attempt to get children to pray in schools. There have been many cases in which a moment of silence in schools mandate was shut down by the Supreme Court due to the lack of separation of education and church. In the 1985 court case Wallace v. Jaffree, Alabama attempted to enact a moment of silence for prayer in schools and was shot down. The Supreme Court did, however, mention that a moment of silence is constitutional only if it is genuinely neutral, similar to the one DeSantis mandated.

Photo source: CNN


Opinion 16

ACCESS TO ABORTION Why criminalizing abortion harms women and girls. Annika Karbstein Opinion Editor

E

very year, worldwide, almost half of the abortions performed on women are unsafe abortions. About 68,000 women die as a result of unsafe abortion per year, making abortion one of the main causes of maternal mortality. Now, consider this: does restricting access to abortions REALLY cause a decrease in abortions, or just increase the use of dangerous methods of abortion? The answer is clear and supported by data: restricting access to abortion only increases the use of alternate, more dangerous methods of abortion. The debate on access to abortion should not be focused on whether the fetus “has a heartbeat” or is regarded as alive. Even if a fetus was scientifically regarded as the equivalent of a baby, the fetus is still completely dependent on its mother’s body to survive. Therefore, it is the mother’s choice as to whether she wants to sacrifice her body for the fetus. Sydney Fedner, the mother of twins currently attending Suncoast, said, “I will still forever be pro-choice. No person should have to be forced to go through nine horrific months of pregnancy against their will.” More than this, criminalizing abortions without exceptions, as seen in the recent laws passed in Texas and Alabama, leads to pregnancies that could harm the mother during childbirth or cause other risks having to be carried to term. The recent Texas law called enacted on Sept. 1, Senate Bill Eight, bans all abortions after six weeks. Unusually, this law allows citizens to enforce the law by inviting lawsuits against anyone who gets, performs or aids in the execution of an abortion. This makes the abortion law specifically hard to be challenged in court. Criminalizing abortions may also lead to mothers who go through miscarriages being questioned and possibly prosecuted for criminal charges. Purvi Patel, a woman from Indiana, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for feticide after going to the emergency room for bleeding and a subsequent miscarriage. Prosecutors argued Patel had bought abortion drugs to end her pregnancy, even though toxicology reports proved this was an unfounded claim. Thankfully, her conviction was overturned, but her case is still an example of how poorly women in

the justice system are treated. In Texas, the punishment for getting an abortion includes a $10,000 fee on top of covering legal fees, if sued. Equal access to abortion becomes especially important in regards to high-schoolers and teen pregnancies. Unplanned and unwanted pregnancies are much more prevalent than they seem, with three in ten teenage girls becoming pregnant before age 20. More than this, parenthood is the leading reason that teen girls drop out of school. Dinah Harley, a 20-year-old attending University of Florida, dealt with pregnancy at 16 years old. Harley said, “I got an abortion and I’m not ashamed of it. If I had gone through with my pregnancy, there would be no way for me to raise a child and pursue a successful education.” In general, teenagers do not have the resources or time to support a baby. Even fully grown women, who are prepared to birth and raise a baby, agree it is a full-time job. Lily Myskow, a teacher at Jupiter High School, said, “I recently had a little girl. I didn’t want to have to leave my teaching position after my pregnancy, but soon realized that I needed hours and hours to tend to and take care of my new child.” In six states, you must be older than 18 years to adopt a child, and all other states have even higher age minimums for adoption. So, if the government prohibits teen adoptions, the government should not have the authority to ban abortions for the same reasons. There are currently about 400,000 children in foster care in America. So-called “pro-lifers” should worry less about unborn fetuses and more about how they can help America’s struggling children right now. The bottom line is, if one does not like or support abortions, they should not get one. However, lawmakers and politicians have no right to take this freedom away from someone else.

photo by Katrin Karbstein Protestors hold up signs at a rally for female reproductive rights in West Palm Beach


DEVIOUS LICKS

TikTok users produce an unethical challenge that involves students stealing school property. Isabella Jaramillo Staff Writer

S

ocial media challenges are dares that take over the internet, open to whoever would like to participate and post. They can be completely random, hilarious or outright foolish. With the now popular app TikTok, more challenges have seemed to arise. Most of the challenges are harmless and creative but since the new school year started, students decided to take a different route. Starting August 2021, the ‘devious lick’ challenge began spreading on everyone’s For You page. With the first video racking up 7.2 million views in just two days, the challenge became viral. These ‘devious licks’, licks defined as theft, consisted of stealing random objects from classrooms then recording and posting what they took. It started off with objects such as staplers, soap dispensers and even a microscope. But as the trend became more popular, the objects students were stealing became more outrageous. Bathroom doors, sinks, security cameras and exit signs are just some examples of things students across the country have allegedly been stealing from their schools. Senior Pilthai Derosier commented, “I’ve seen some pretty crazy stuff on my For You page that people have stolen. I don’t understand how people are getting away with this and not being caught.” With high schools nationwide being affected by this challenge, it has even headlined local news outlets. In states such as Alabama, Kentucky, Arizona and Florida, there have been reports of students being arrested with criminal charges of vandalism and theft.

Along with the videos of things being stolen, there have also been numerous videos of students recording the announcements school administrators have given about the consequences of participating Photo source Youtube in the challenge. Schools are not the only ones taking action, Tiktok and Twitter have now blocked the search of the hashtag stating, “This phrase may be associated with behavior or content that violates our guidelines.” TikTok has also deleted the main background audio used for the trend making it unavailable for usage. As for Suncoast, there have also been reports of vandalism in the boy’s bathrooms with mirrors and soap dispensers gone and graffiti on the walls. Although the administration would not comment, they are aware of this issue as our principal has addressed it in the morning announcements. As of September 2021, Tiktokers are pulling a reverse card on the ‘devious licks’ and replacing it with ‘Angelic Yields’. There are now videos of students replacing the soap in the soap dispensers and leaving new rolls of toilet paper in the bathrooms.


Lifestyle 18

CONTROVERSIAL CONSPIRACIES

We asked Suncoast staff and students their unpopular opinions. Amy Rodriguez Staff Writer

J

umping on the bandwagon, following the grain, and lost in the crowd, students at Suncoast often get grouped in with the majority. However, each has their own unique take on common debates. More specifically, unpopular ones. Several students and staff have expressed beliefs they assume make them an outlier. Unpopular opinions are controversial ideas that are likely to be challenged or agreed with abashedly.Whether they are truly unconventional or not, that is for you to decide. “Zaxby’s is better than Chick-fil-a,” says Ian Smikle, a sophomore here at Suncoast. Zaxby’s, a chain of casual restaurants, has a menu centered mainly around chicken, similarly that of Chick-fil-a.When comparing the two restaurants, one must consider many factors, such as: hospitality, wait, quality, and prices. Chick-fil-a and Zaxby’s both participate in having a hospitality director, and the job descriptions of each are about the same. However, the pay for these jobs vary. At Chick-fil-a, hospitality coordinators are paid from $11-15 an hour; at Zaxby’s the price ranges from $10-12 an hour. The wait time at an average Zaxby’s drive-thru is around four minutes, and Chick-fil-a is about eight minutes- double the amount. It is reported to be one of the slowest fast food drivethru’s. When finding the quality of fast food, it is best to look at a wide variety of reviews or ratings and find the average number of stars. For Zaxby’s that means that out of 106 people, the average rating is about 1.26/5 stars; out of 528 reviews Chickfil-a was rated around 3.9/5 stars. To compare prices, a universal fast food restaurant item was the best way to go. At Zaxby’s, a regular size fries is $1.49 and at Chick-fil-a, regular sized fries are $1.65. To conclude this review, out of the precedent categories, Zaxby’s did better than Chick-fil-A two out of four times, according to the categories on the list; Chick-fil-a also scored two out of four. Do with this information what you will, as it is now up to personal preference and interpretation.

“Cheerleading is not a sport,” says Stone Bureau, another sophomore at Suncoast, lending his own input on controversial topics. Traditionally, cheerleaders perform at sporting events such as football games in order to encourage the players and raise the spirits of the crowds. However, many, such as Bureau, feel that these performances are less of a sport and more of an activity, much like dance. Common definitions for the word “sport” include: physical exertion and skill which involve competition. Now, there are two types of cheerleading: sideline and competitive. Sideline cheerleading includes cheering on the sidelines of football games and hyping up the crowd; Competitive pertains to cheerleaders who attend state and national competitions against other teams. A couple of years ago, cheerleading, whether competitive or not, was not nationally recognized as a professional sport by the NCAA or by U.S. federal Title IX. Recently, however, the IOC voted to declare it an official sport. Unfortunately, it is not a financially stable career, and thus one can not solely be a professional cheerleader. Although if one is going by the textbook definition, competitive cheerleading definitely meets the criteria in athleticism and competitiveness.

“Apple users are in a cult,” claims Monica Russell, club coordinator and mathematics teacher at Suncoast. In order to qualify Apple users for a cult, one must know what defines a typical cult.There are different types of cults that center around different principles, such as: religion, devotion, and practices. The one regarding Apple users is most likely related to a cult surrounding devotion and loyalty to Apple products and their “supremacy” over other brands. Apple users, however, is a very broad umbrella, thus one must assume Russell is suggesting those that only utilize and argue over the legitimacy of Apple products such as iPhones. However, Apple users do not usually assemble or believe in any certain philosophies like many usual cults. Neither do they devote their lives to a certain figure or ideology, or partake in a social movement. Most of the time anyway. Fortunately, a cult is usually a smaller group and could probably never be as widespread as the global Apple company. But, in the end, no one knows for sure. These opinions, however many are for or against each of them, showcase originality and the unique viewpoints of certain students. Hopefully, these arguments have you adequately convinced for any of these topics, but if not: congratulations, you are in the majority!

C


Largest retailer of in Palm Beach County

37 Years at Lake Worth Beach

10 South Ocean Boulevard, Lake Worth Beach, FL 561-533-0097

Collin North Staff Writer

CRACK CHICKEN

D

Crockpot comfort food.

o not let the name fool you; This recipe contains no illegal drugs, although it is likely that those who decide to try it will find themselves addicted. For crockpot users, this recipe is a relatively simple dish for either special events and gatherings, or just a relaxing dinner. It is far from being the healthiest meal, but hey, when has that ever been a priority for comfort foods? Crack chicken is a rich,creamy and plenty filling delight that will see to it that you come back for seconds. What You Will Need: • Choice of either chicken breast or thighs (Boneless) • Cream Cheese • Shredded Cheese • Diced Green Onions • Diced Bacon or Bacon Bits • Dry Ranch Seasoning

Instructions: • Add the chicken, cream cheese and ranch seasoning to your crockpot. • Let cook until the chicken is soft and the cream cheese is melted. This will likely take up to 7 hours on the lowest setting, so do not worry about having to rush it. • Shred the chicken in the crockpot and add the cheese, onions and bacon. Let it continue cooking until the cheese is melted to your liking. • Serve on buns, use as a dip, or just eat it as is!


Lifestyle 20

BLACK EXCELLENCE AT THE VMA’S Black artist gave it their all on the stage!

Jada Denaud Staff Writer

O

n Sunday, September 12, 2021 MTV’S Video

Music Awards was held at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York City, for the first time in eight years. They brought out the biggest artists to perform show stopping stages that left such an impression on viewers all around the world, but the black artist really showed out. Many black artists rarely get any time to shine on stage when it comes to awards shows that are not centered around black people. This is because they were not invited to perform or they just were not nominated for an award, but artists such as Lil Nas X, Doja Cat, Normani and Chlöe from the duo group Chlöe X Halle got that opportunity. Doja Cat hosted the VMAs this year and she was also nominated for Video of the Year, Artist of the Year, Best Collaboration, Song of Summer, Best Art Direction, PUSH New Artist and Best Visual Effects. Out of the seven awards she was nominated for, Cat took home three awards such as Best Collaboration, Best Art Direction and Push New Artist. Later on in the show she performed “Been Like This” and “You Right” from her recent album,”Planet Her” with an elegant display of sound and movement. Next, Lil Nas X he continues to break stereotypes and boundaries as a queer black man. Nas X was nominated Video of the Year, Video for Good, Best Direction, Best Art Direction and Best Visual Effects. He was also nominated with Jack Harlow for Song of Summer with their song “Industry Baby.” Nas X performed “Industry Baby” and “Montero (Call me by Your Name).” He began the concert as he and his marching band got in formation to perform the first song. As the song progressed, he and his background dancers, dressed in hot pink jumpsuits, performed the outro of “Montero (Call Me By Your Name).” He ended up winning Video of the Year which was one of the top prizes of the night.

Normani and Chlöe were a perfect example of black excellence; they have brought back the feeling of powerful female p e r f o r m a n c e s . N o r m a n i ’s show stopping performance of “Motivation” at the 2019 VMA’s left such an impact that she had to comeback and do a performance even better by showcasing her “Wild Side.” Normani bodied her futuristic rockinfluenced performance dress in all silver. She then brought out Teyanna Taylor to pay a tribute to Janet Jackson’s performances. Normani was nominated for Song of the Summer but she, unfortunately, lost. Chlöe performed her first solo single “Have Mercy” and she brought out the visuals. Beginning with spiritual vocals she then transitioned into powerful choreography. The performance even included a dance break and then she ended her performance maintaining her vocals while rolling around on the floor which left the audience shook. Chlöe was not nominated for an award this year but in the future she and her sister, Halle, are looking forward to winning awards as they improve as artists.

From top to bottom: Normani Doja Cat Chlöe Lil Nas X


Sports 21

Supporting the Underdogs

Our Suncoast Varsity Football team needs support.

T

he smell of sweat sprung from the team, as they slowly jogged off of the field. “Water!” They called out as they were exhausted from giving their all on the field, knocking down person after person trying to get to the ball. But somehow that was not enough, they were still down 0-21 and the crowd had lost hope and so did some of the players. Regardless of all the hard work everyone was putting into the game, everyone paid attention to the score and not so much the skill of the players. “Everybody treats us like we’re not good,”says number 53 Tyquarius White. He believes the narrative that the Suncoast football team is bad is false and unfair to say. White thinks that maybe if there were more love for the team and less judgementthat it may help boost the team’s confidence. “A lot of people only care about winning, if you’re not winning people won’t care about you,” said White. Winning games should not determine whether or not the football team gets support. Where is the support? Where is the so-called charger spirit that we go around yelling in school. There are those on the team that lack of confidence and charisma. Without it, the games will continue to be played without heart and there will be less support on both ends. Anthony Kaforous said that there are those with talent on the team but there is not enough experience for it to even make that much of a difference. Player number 55, Kaforous, believes that the lack of school spirit is not the reason they play poorly from time to time, it’s the lack of

Photo by Sidian Johnson

Anthony Kaforous and Tyquarius White at home game against South Fork High.

Kaleah Williams Staff Writer

confidence overall.“Although we’re conditioning, there are still a lot of inadequacies across the team,” senior Kaforous said. Playing in an actual game the whole time playing both sides is not the same thing as conditioning at practice. It is harder and leaves room for more unwarranted mistakes. “We haven’t had a normal sports season in two years, this is the first year where everything is kind of going back to normal. There are fairly new players being put in positions they were never in before, having to play both ways because of a lack of players,” White said. There are just so many factors playing into the team’s performance. No one seems to pay attention to that part. School spirit isn’t just showing up to the game, it’s greeting the players in the hallways and defending their name. Suncoast as a school should not just be there for the congratulations, they should want to support them along the way. “As the season progresses we do expect better results and I think a better turnout at the games will be much appreciated,” Kaforous said. Ian Smikle, basketball player, feels as though the football team just needs to rebuild and keep pushing. “I think more support and spirit is great because of the amount of people rooting for me and the team and that energy helps us do good,” He stated. School spirit is much appreciated and should be spread out amongst all sports especially the ones that need it the most.


IS G LF A SPORT? Many debate if golfing is a leisure activity or sport. Amy Rodriguez Staff Writer

C

hildren playing with rubber basketballs, kids dreaming of being professional soccer players, families watching football games on weekends, those are everyday occurrences. Now insert the word golf into these sentences. Why is it so hard to imagine? There is an unspoken stigma surrounding many sports, specifically those of a “less athletic” nature. Before delving into the arguments claiming this activity as a sport, one must be able to define what a sport is. “I would define a sport as something that’s competitive, something that requires a score, something that you can practice and get better [at],” said Molly McCann, the golf team coach at Suncoast. Sports, as defined by the Google dictionary is “an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment.” Now, there are many versions of golfing: miniature golfing, leisure golfing- such as those in country clubs and indoor golfing are just a few to name. Fortunately, the most common and professionally played version is competitive golf. Competitive golf is simply a tournament of golfers who compete to win. There are local, national and regional competitions, much like any other game. These tournaments can have up to 100 people and can last anywhere from hours to days. “Everyone thinks that it’s really easy but it’s not…I definitely want to make it to districts and get a good score…maybe make it further than that,” Stella Rineheimer, a player on the Suncoast golf team said. Scores for golf are

individual and then grouped for an overall team score. Breaking it down, there are four main components to a sport: physical exertion, skill, competition and entertainment. Golfers use four major muscle groups in their games, the pectoralis major, upper serratus, gluteus maximus and biceps femoris, all of which can be injured. These muscles are located in the upper and lower body, as well as the arms. A common injury to golfers, if not stretched properly, is a tear or severing of the rotator cuff, located in the shoulder, specifically the socket. Thus, golfing checks the box for physical exertion, as golfers play often even to the extent of injury. “We hit balls on the range, then we’ll hit chip shots, then we’ll putt and then we’ll go play some holes,” McCann said when describing a regular golf practice. The obvious skills to be able to succeed in golf are hand-eye coordination, aim and strength. However, there are less obvious skills most golfers know. Golfers, like in other sports, have to learn how to maneuver and handle their equipment. Examples of this are how someone grips a club, holds their posture and swings at the ball. Chances are if someone is bad at the fundamentals, they will be bad at the game. An illustration of competition is the tournaments held at each level, thus skills and competition categories are both completed. Golfing entertainment is included in interviews, televised games and reports. Thus, due to the fulfillment of all categories formally defining a sport, the most logical response is to name golf a sport.

Suncoast girls golf team (above) poses after placing third at Jenson Beach on October 26.


s . ,

,

s ,

Sports 23

Nothin’ But Net Highlight the upcoming basketball season.

Elizabeth Horsford Staff Writer

O

rder on the court! The basketball season is almost here; players, coaches and fans are thrilled about what this new season has to offer. With less than a month away from November, players are starting conditioning and getting ready to beat their opponents on the court. The Suncoast Chargers are going to dominate like never before with new players, mindsets and goals for this upcoming basketball season. “Last season wasn’t what we expected due to the pandemic. This year I’m looking forward to my team truly showcasing and having fun throughout the season,” Coach Powell expressed. With the Covid-19 pandemic still impacting schools, playing this season may be a bit different. Schools have to maintain their coronavirus protocols in order to even be considered a playing opponent. If staff and students take proper precautions, there is a chance of having a regular basketball season. Additionally, masks will be required for basketball games and tickets are to be purchased prior to arriving at any of the games this season. “I am excited to play since now I feel like the school has covid under control now and there are fewer restrictions. Last year, the masks were really annoying to play with since we’re running around and sweating,” Gaby Torres, shooting guard, said. Last season, the Suncoast Chargers were devastated at the fact that they could not play a normal amount of games. With some schools not playing at all and others not taking the proper precautions, it was difficult to find the right opponents. Regardless of this setback, the Chargers maintained a strong winning streak and are ready for an even greater comeback. “I’m really looking forward to playing with my guys ‘cause last year we only had half a season. We only got to play like 10 games, so I really didn’t get to play with them. This year, I hope we get to play more games and have a whole bunch of fun. I’m playing this season because Coach Powell is a great coach and I wanted to join the rest of my friends that came to play at Suncoast too,” sophomore Stone Bureau, point guard, stated. While some are still upset about last season, others have decided to put more passion into their goals for this season. With a winning streak of over 70 percent last season, the Chargers are beyond capable of succeeding in the next season. This type of good fortune has not been achieved since the 2016 basketball season. “I want to win states this season and get to play with my friends. Besides Suncoast, I also play for Nightrydas Elite Basketball Team. I chose to play for them [Suncoast] this season because they have a good education system and Design Credit: Collin North

a couple of my friends were also coming along with me,” sophomore Ian Smikle, center, said. Along with this high winning streak, the team also has some additional players. One of these players is Jeremiah Police, who previously played at Royal Palm High School, but transferred to Suncoast just in time for this new season. As the Charger team continues to expand and excel, there is no telling what the future will hold. If the good work is kept up, they will have a chance to win the state championship. “I want to have a great season with my teammates. I came to Suncoast because it is better academically and athletically. I also play for a travel team called Team Breakdown,” Jeremiah Police, power forward, answered. All in all, it is safe to say that the new basketball season is highly anticipated. The Charger’s preparedness and well-coaching will allow them to triumph in the upcoming season. Can’t wait to see all the hot shots that the players have in store!

Photo Credit: Sidian Johnson


Supporting students for over 35 years

Boca Raton

561-241-1610

Coral Springs

954-510-0600

Palm Beach Gardens

Wellington

561-626-2662

561-333-8882

Weston

954-510-0600

www.ScoreAtTheTop.com

FREE

SAT & ACT Simulations Experience an actual SAT or ACT - under real test-taking conditions - and score your test when you finish! All simulations begin promptly @ 8:30 am on Saturday mornings (just like the real tests): Dec 11, 2021

Feb 26, 2022

Jan 15, 2022

Mar 5, 2022

SAT Mar 12, 2022 Apr 23, 2022

May 21, 2022

ACT Mar 12, 2022

Dec 4, 2021

Jan 29, 2022

Jan 8, 2022

Feb 12, 2022

Apr 2, 2022

Apr 30, 2022 May 21, 2022

Master your timing & test-taking skills Gain insight into your strengths & weaknesses Develop coping skills to reduce test anxiety Register Now - Limited Seating

www.FreeSimulation.com or (844) GET-1600

SCORE0132

Follow up with private and/or group test prep with the pros!


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.