The Lariat, February 2020

d e z i t

i s n e s e d by s l l i dr

erns rills c n o c presscode red d x e s t n : Studectiveness of E D I S IN the effe over

Issue II, February 2020

2116 N Flamingo Rd, Pembroke Pines, FL, 33026 (954) 252-0091

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TABLE of CONTENTS NEWS

OPINIONS

FEATURES

ENTERTAINMENT

SPORTS

4 8 12 18 20

ON the COVER

4 Superintendent visits CCHS 5 New Library Hours 6 New plaza updates 7 Fundraising policy hinders PTSA

8 TMZ and rushed reporting 9 AICE vs AP

STAFF LIST: Print Editor-in-Chief Genna Nordling Online Editor-in-Chief Abbie Tuschman Managing Editor Alexandra Sansone Head Editors Elena Valdez Joseph Sturgeon Arielle Kraus Sports Editor Kayla Gates

12 Code red drills and safety 14 Yearbook freshman tradition 15 School dance cancellations 16 The legend of Pistol Pete

18 What I wish I knew as a freshman

20 Sports recap and rundown 22 Tommy John surgery 23 Noa Pagony

To mimic the behavior our staff has observed during code red drills, we asked junior Giovanni Papini to pose in code red position, with his phone out. Many students have spoken about how they believe code red drills are not effective and actually desensitize students to the sitution, so The Lariat wanted to bring that concern to light with our centerspread and front cover.

General Editors Isabella Marcon Emma Huerta Staff Writers Victoria Martin Sofia Mendez Ryan Merard Emma Franz Julia Safrin Sasheen Joseph Chris Gomes Sandra Garcia Camila Fernandez Jaelyn Yeampierre Angelique King Alyssa Khan Jennifer Florez Sports Writers Kyleigh Sprigle Photographers Anabella Garcia Makinzi Burgs Sydney Katz Adviser Fallan Patterson

table of contents 3

An open floor

Superintendent Robert Runcie visits CCHS to hear student concerns

Photos by Makinzi Burgs Attempting to meet with as many high schools as possible, Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) Superintendent Robert Runcie met with a select group of CCHS students in the media center on Tuesday, January 30 in order to determine the main concerns in BCPS schools.

Commencing the meeting at the end of first period, Runcie outlined three themes he was most interested to hear about from CCHS students: mental health and wellness, school safety and preparedness for the future after high school.

Relating to mental health and wellness, the early start time of school was brought to attention.

The suggestion to start school later was made due to the fact that students who are involved in multiple programs and higher-academic classes don’t get enough sleep, to which Runcie agreed.

“We’ve commissioned a study, so we brought some consultants in to figure out how we can change the start

4 news

times in this district so that high school can start a little bit later,” Runcie said. “If it’s something that costs like $2 to $4 million, I think we can seriously entertain doing it.

If it costs $10 to $12 million, that’s going to be a challenge.”

Shortly after, the topic of frequent drills steered the conversation to school safety, where senior Hana Amireh proposed incorporating a “Stop the Bleed” program for students, along with voicing her concerns about properly trained security.

“I lost a friend [from] Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School (MSD), so I was wondering what improvements have been done for security because I know some of them over there weren’t the best trained,” Amireh said. “I want to know how you plan to improve it in the future.”

Runcie proceeded to explain that since the MSD tragedy, Broward County has spent over $100 million on security and is making an effort to install “Stop the Bleed” kits in all schools, along with training teachers

how to properly use them.

Continuing with the open floor, multiple students expressed their concerns for college and having the necessary resources. For instance, free Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) tutoring was suggested by senior Veronica Martinez and, along the same lines, junior Rachel Goldberg expressed her concerns for college preparedness, or lack thereof.

“We have college and career fairs and a lot of events here where colleges come to talk about what they offer, and I still feel clueless,” Goldberg said. “I feel like I don’t have a lot of time left before, one, I’m a senior and, two, I have to apply to colleges and I still feel like I know nothing.”

This brought up multiple other issues regarding administration and their efforts to address student concerns whether it be academically or socially. Runcie provided personal advice to focus more on other aspects of the college application process, such as the essays,

instead of taking as many Advanced Placement (AP) courses as possible.

Besides the academics, students were also informed by the superintendent that efforts to improve security, along with developing a mental health awareness curriculum to keep students mindful and motivated for the future, are under development.

BY SASHEEN JOSEPH

CCHS implements new strategy to make the library more accessible

The library is one of the most essential features in any school, especially for students who may not have sufficient access to technology or other educational materials at home.

However, the media center at CCHS was previously frequently closed and rarely open before and after school.

Some students feel as if they cannot rely on the media center to print out work because there is not enough consistency in its accessibility.

“A lot of the times I try to print something out before school, the library is closed, so now I just ask a friend to print what I need for me like a day before,” junior Kyle Grossman said. “It’s like you have to pray for it to be open sometimes— you can’t really depend on it.”

Over the past few months, the School Advisory Council (SAC) has been brainstorming ideas to make the library more available for both students and staff. Recently, they have agreed to reach this goal by paying teachers to staff the media center for extra hours when media clerk Marti Aylsworth is not able to. The extra pay for the teachers involved comes from the accountability funds that are given to CCHS by the state of Florida.

Previously, the library would be open 25 minutes before school and after school only for special occasions such as meetings or tutoring sessions. With the SAC’s new plan now in effect, the library is open as soon as students are allowed on campus at 7 a.m and will close at 3:30 p.m.

This idea does not only benefit students. Many teachers are pleased with this approach as well because it allows

them to have more access to the necessary resources in the library, such as the copy and Scantron machines, along with the printers after school.

“Us teachers need access to those machines in the media center, especially [those] in the 3400 building,” social studies teacher Maria Rodriguez said. “If everything works out well, I probably won’t have to use my personalization time to print out files and instead go after school, so I could [instead] use that time to grade more papers.”

Four teachers along with Aylsworth are currently on a rotating schedule to staff the library before and after school hours. These teachers are Wendy Schauben, Fallan Patterson, Jacquline Selan and Debra Mensinger.

“I believed that adding more staff to the [media center] and helping Ms. Aylsworth out with the library was the best way to use the accountability funds given to us,” Behavioral Specialist Dwayne Dixon said. “Students should be able to expect the library to be available for them on a daily basis.”

Now open from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Photo by Sydney Katz Above: Science teacher Jacqeline Selan does work while watching over the media center after school.

BY RYAN MERARD

news 5

AND NOW WE WAIT...

November 2018

Photo by Kayla Florenco

January 2020

Photo by Sydney Katz

Shopping plaza across the street from CCHS soon to be finished After over a year of moved their focus onto construction, the “Cooper leasing terms. There has been Square” Plaza is nearing its a growing curiosity among completion in the next few Cooper City residents about months. The the type of boutique “HOPEFULLY THEY stores that shopping be seen HAVE A CHICK-FIL-A will c e n t e r in this plaza. e s t a b l i s h e d THERE BECAUSE THE However, the

by Boulton NEAREST ONE RIGHT d e v e l o p e r s Commercial claim that Real Estate NOW IS USUALLY A they cannot 10-MINUTE DRIVE release any s t a r t e d construction names of the FROM MY HOUSE.” c o m p a n i e s in summer 2018 and -RASHAD CORNELIUS i n v o l v e d is expected until just JUNIOR b e f o r e to open it’s 35 stores completion sometime this year. of the plaza.

At first, the plaza was “As much as we would forecasted to be completed like to put out the names of in November 2019. However, the companies working with, the amount of work needed we cannot right now because was underestimated, causing most contracts for leases this date to be pushed back. are still in the negotiating Now, Boulton aims for the stage right now, so nothing complete establishment is official yet,” Boulton of the shopping center Commercial Real Estate to take place in the Sales Director Marcela coming months of 2020. Parra said. “You can expect By mid-August 2019, to know the names of the Boulton successfully sold all stores around the opening 35 spots for stores and swiftly day of [Cooper Square].”

6 news

Over the months, H&M Development has been carrying out construction for the plaza at a regular pace.

Construction first started in September 2018 with just the foundations of the buildings, plenty of dirt and a long canal built behind. Now, buildings with glass doors and pavement for parking are being settled, furthering the progress of the plaza.

“I’m just ready to see what kind of stores the plaza has, it seems like there is going to be a lot to do there with all those buildings,” junior Rashad Cornelius said. “Hopefully they [will] have a Chick-fil-A there because the nearest one right now is usually a 10-minute drive from my house.”

With the plaza being right across the street from the CCHS, some students— specifically incoming juniors and seniors—may see the plaza as a place to park their vehicles during the school day for free. School administrators have warned students not to do this as

their cars will likely be towed.

For the most part, the major work visible on the project’s construction site is unfinished paving and buildings for all of the restaurants and businesses.

Soon, this continual construction work will turn into charming architectural details such as pastel stucco exteriors, decorative lighting accents and pedestrian walkways enhanced by trees and seasonal landscaping.

A quality shopping center for Cooper City residents is the ultimate goal for the developers. “[It’s] crazy how a few years ago there used to be just an open field of grass [across from] the school and now a whole plaza is about to be in that exact same place,” junior Julian Smallcombe said. “Usually people go to [Stirling Town Center] but in a few months everybody [is going to] go right across the street after school because it's closer and probably bigger.”

BY RYAN MERARD

TIME FOR PLAN C New fundraising policy leaves PTSA in a funding deficit

Photos by Cassie Hartmann

The Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) has been met with a funding deficit ever since a fundraising rule that prevents students from getting out of class for a fundraiser was brought to their attention and forced them to cancel the annual fundraiser, Stampede.

In a letter written to the President of Broward County Council PTA/PTSA, Earlyn Barton, from Chief School Performance and Accountability Officer, Valerie S. Wanza, Wanza states how she telephoned school leaders to praise them for their creative fundraisers they have put together with an important reminder that these fundraisers cannot include students paying to leave class during the school day.

“I did advise them to remember the following in their planning of these type of activities: ‘...it is important to be reminded that students cannot pay a fee to be excused from their learning process during the school day,’” Wanza said.

The main appeal of Stampede was that students were able to miss two class periods, which encouraged many to go. However, the entire premise of Stampede conflicts with the new policy, so the PTSA had to figure out a new fundraiser.

In order to fill the deficit, PTSA attempted to put together a Winter Wonderland Dance, selling tickets for $25, the same cost of a Stampede ticket.

However, this event would require students to come back to school after school hours on

a Friday night. Because of this, the dance did not appeal to the student body and PTSA had to cancel it due to a lack of ticket purchases.

“No, [I wasn’t going to attend the Winter Wonderland Dance] because I feel it is unnecessary because we already had Homecoming, which was already enough money,” CCHS senior Alex Molina said.“I went to Stampede [for the first time last year] because, for $25, it was a good way to get out of class.”

Though some students went to Stampede to get out of class, many students attended because they genuinely thought it was fun. Yearbook advisor, Hailee Yaeger, is a CCHS alumna who attended Stampede in her high school days.

“I kept attending because it was fun the first time,” Yaeger said. “It changed every year, they were adding more fun stuff and more vendors, so it was cool to go back because it wasn’t the same boring thing every time.”

PTSA is still trying to solve the funding deficit problem while staying in compliance with the new fundraising policy. They are working on selling CCHS hoodies and car magnets, but the profits do not compare to those raised from Stampede.

While students benefited from Stampede by getting out of class, the school benefitted as a whole from the amount of money raised.

BY JULIA SAFRIN

COMPASSION OVER CLICKS Journalists shouldn’t prioritize fast news over ethics News is supposed to benefit the public, not cause harm to those who read it.

On January 26, early Sunday afternoon, tabloid news organization TMZ broke the news of a helicopter crash near Calabasas, California. Not much later, it was reported that retired NBA star Kobe Bryant was among those aboard during the crash and unfortunately died.

On Twitter, news outlets spiraled into a frenzy. Many had incorrectly reported that all of Bryant’s four daughters were aboard the helicopter with him. It was also reported that 13-year-old Gianna Bryant had died during the crash before any confirmation was given.

TMZ was the first major outlet to report Gianna’s passing. Despite getting this fact correct, TMZ reported the news before the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) had notified the Bryants’ family, and caused a lot of misinformation to spread due to their initial report.

Good journalists pursue the truth. But along with a need to get the truth out to the world comes the responsibility of accuracy, morality and standards. TMZ’s release of sensitive information in response to the tragic death of athlete Kobe Bryant is just one example of the media grotesquely prioritizing fast news over journalistic ethics.

For example, during the tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas (MSD) High School nearly two years ago, some reporters took to social media to contact MSD students about the shooting, not even 24 hours after the tragedy had unfolded.

Before even allowing them to process their grief, journalists were in the Instagram comments and Twitter replies of MSD students asking them to comment on the situation.

8 editorial

This is inherently unethical.

There is nothing wrong with breaking a story as quickly as possible, but problems start to arise when journalists begin to misreport, release unauthorized information or overstep the boundaries of someone close to the story. To be clear, the fact that a quick news report was written is not the problem in the Bryant situation, but the fact that it was released containing information that was inaccurate to the public and harmful to the families involved is a problem.

People argue that this information is allowed to be read by the general public as long as the families involved are aware of the true situation.

Meaning, the reports in question shouldn’t cause much harm. However, this is not true.

Sometimes information will not be given to these families, in cases such as the next of kin not being identified or if the medical examiner has not officially released a statement.

In these cases, many families will be actively watching the news to find out what has happened to their loved ones.

Giving incorrect information to those who are watching or reading can give false hope, or lead to dismay depending on what had occurred.

No one should be notified of the passing of their loved ones via social media. Journalists must take into account how the news that they are breaking will affect others, which in this case are the families of Bryant and the others who died. It is not only irresponsible to not have the facts correct before reporting on such a sensitive issue to the general public, but also disrespectful to the families of the victims involved.

BY THE LARIAT STAFF

IS EITHER WORTH IT?

AICE vs AP

Deciding what classes to take is already a tough decision for most students.

The recent introduction of Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) courses, in addition to Advanced Placement (AP) courses, hasn’t made that decision any easier.

For underclassmen, carefully crafting their schedules is key to ensuring college acceptance. But the question is, which of the two programs is more beneficial for students?

As is true for almost everything, the outcome depends on the individual.

No matter what track is taken, you are going to get out of it what you put into it. And just because AICE classes work better for some people, doesn’t mean that they will be the best option for you. But that being said, both programs are amazingly similar.

Both offer the same GPA boost and provide the incentive of college credit.

Though, it should be noted that AICE courses are not as widely accepted as college credits as APs are. AP is by far the more popular of the two, but AICE is catching up and the more success it has with students, the more schools will honor their credits.

Both programs are modeled around a premade test that teachers have no access to. AICE, however, is a primarily essay and free-response exam format while AP combines written responses with multiple-choice sections.

Students have spoken on how they find AICE courses easier to do well in because of the writing component.

So long as you can defend your position and answer,

you should be good. Whereas the same students say that AP courses can be more challenging because of the multiple-choice nature of the exams. But what it should really come down to is what course you think you want to pursue. Taking courses you have an interest in will increase the likelihood of you succeeding in those courses.

Don’t get too caught up in the notoriety of getting an “award” from Cambridge or College Board for taking numerous of their respective courses. In the grand scheme of things, neither look that impressive on your college application, especially when they affect your GPA the same way.

Take courses where your interests lie, whether its an AP course or an AICE course.

Speak to the teacher of the course to get a better idea of the content covered and the structure of the class. Also, speak to students who have taken the class before and can give you an even deeper look into what you can expect.

There is an alternative to both organizations, however, that is noticeably easier and more similar to the conditions of college learning. That alternative is dual enrollment. Dual enrollment allows students to enroll at an accredited college or university to take college classes in addition to their high school load.

But at the end of the day, all are challenging programs that are taken primarily for a GPA boost and college credit substitutions. To make a truly informed decision, speak to a guidance counselor, teachers and students on the respective programs.

BY ALEXANDRA SANSONE

opinions 9

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STUDENTS EXPRESS CONCERNS OVER THEIR EFFECTIVENESS

From the time they are in kindergarten, children are exposed to school drills. Whether it’s for a fire or a tornado, students are taught at a young age how to follow directions and stay safe.

In the past year, Cowboys have become increasingly familiar with code red drills. But that doesn’t mean they have much faith in their efficacy.

After the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in February 2018, there was a push for better preparedness for active shooter situations. Florida’s Senate Bill (SB) No. 7026, known as the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act, mandates that drills for active shooter and hostage situations take place at least as often as other emergency drills.

In Broward County Public Schools, active shooter and hostage situations are designated as “code red.” SB 7026 has resulted in monthly code red drills in schools across the district.

Though one might think that monthly drills make students more alert about the threat of school shootings, some students feel that the frequency of code red drills leads to desensitization.

“Drills make us used to t h e

situation. They make us completely numb to the environment,” junior Sabrina Rapoport said. “The fact that students laugh, talk and are on their phones during our monthly drills shows how insensitive we’ve become to them.”

Though the drills are supposed to teach students and teachers what to do in the event of a true code red, many continue to express that the protocol would be abandoned if lives were in danger, particularly if the code was called during lunch or between classes.

“There are situations where following the code red drills [would be] useful, if they are a last resort,” senior Henry Ching said. “However, considering the panic a true situation would cause, I doubt that most people would follow the protocols set. I feel that there would be more people doing what they’d feel [to] be most safe, whether that be hiding in the nearest room

o r running out of the school’s vicinity.”

If a code red drill occurs during class, the students and teacher will gather in the “hard corner” of the classroom—an area that one would not be able to see from hallways, windows or door openings. These areas have been

designated and clearly marked in all CCHS classrooms, and in classrooms across the county. However, despite what their name implies, these corners may not offer much physical protection in the case of an active shooter.

In many classrooms, the “hard corner” is located against a wall that separates the classroom from the hallway. Recently, two large holes were made in the walls of the 3900 building’s third-floor science wing. While they have since been repaired, for some students, the sight only emphasized the lack of protection offered by the school’s fragile walls.

“C ons i d e r i ng I’ve seen holes in walls within the school due to student actions … I really don’t think that the walls would protect students as they are quite hollow,” Ching said. “The designated corners really only serve as a mental safe.”

With how common school shootings have become, the importance of precaution is evident.

But it appears that the current protocol at CCHS doesn’t do much to put students’ minds at ease.

BY ABBIE TUSCHMAN

man on the street

WHAT WOULD MAKE CCHS STUDENTS FEEL SAFER AT SCHOOL?

Photos and reporting by Arielle Kraus

As public safety becomes a greater concern in society, many individuals have varying opinions on the topic. Whether it is increasing security staff, practicing more drills or implementing metal detectors, CCHS students have many different solutions as to how to keep their school safe. They were asked the question, “what would make you feel safer at school and why?” and here are their responses:

“

“

We have done fire drills passing through classes, but we have never done one at the end of the school day. When you are leaving, there is a big crowd, everyone is scattered everywhere and everyone just wants to get home, but we need to practice drills [at the] end of the day. A lot of schools have metal detectors. Anyone can walk in with something, and we have regulations and security, but it is not stopping anyone from bringing anything to school.

[CCHS has] lock-in gates.

Keeping track of which gate is open when and for how long gets really confusing. If something were to happen, it would be really hard for anyone to get out and that doesn’t make me feel safe.

[The gates] are not keeping anyone from getting in– people can still get in– but getting out is going to be way harder because if you have an actual emergency and are confused, it would be really hard to get out.

”

CHLOE SIERRA

SENIOR

“

I would feel safer at school if there could be specific programs that certain kids could join and find a way that we could all work together to solve the problems at school.

I would be [interested] in a student-involved security [program]. We can ask the officers [on campus] if they would like to be involved in those programs with us.

“

I feel safe at school already. [I would feel safer] if everybody got a personal body guard because [then] nobody ever is going to have a problem.

FRESHMAN

JUNIOR

”

JAADEN NEWEL

JUNIOR

”“

EMANUELLE MENENDEZ

”

PIPER BRESLIN

I think we need more security. More security would probably allow the hallways and the bathrooms to not be so crowded. [They could be at] the entrance, that way there is not so much clutter.

JANESSA NUNEZ SOPHOMORE

”

centerspread 13

A CLOSER LOOK AT THE ROUND UP’S FRESHMAN TRADITION

nickname coined by former yearbook sponsor Angela Lawrence given to the FOREVER FRESHMAN: Aindividuals in her class who started on the yearbook staff as freshmen.

Creating a yearbook consisting school with such an interesting within The Round Up during their of over 300 pages to capture an entire experience, getting to know new people high school years. Testa has gone school year is not an easy task. The off the bat that are not just freshman, from being a staff member freshman Round Up yearbook staff at CCHS takes but in every single grade and I think year to becoming the youngest on this challenge annually, working to it helps them get out of their shell.” EIC The Round Up has ever had in produce a product that fully captures Entering a class full of sophomores only her junior year of high school. the memories of the school year.

“I am so honored to be the “IT STARTED OUT PRETTY The staff of The Round Up youngest EIC because I have put a consists of sophomores, juniors and INTIMIDATING WHEN I DIDN’T lot of work into all the books I’ve seniors. However, yearbook has a made over the years and it’s just such tradition of recruiting one freshman KNOW ANYONE, BUT THEN ONCE a true statement to all of the work on their staff each year. This I GOT COMFORTABLE WITH THE I’ve put in,” Testa said. “I love that tradition began in 2014 when Class I’ll be able to carry on with my staff of 2018 alumna Morgan Malan was a PEOPLE, IT’S PRETTY COOL. THEY next year and I am just so grateful freshman. Malan requested to join the for the opportunity and the people staff and soon realized that there was ARE ALMOST LIKE MY FAMILY.” who have helped me get here.” not enough coverage on freshman.

The tradition has given those -GRACE JENKINS “Being the only freshman on “forever freshmen” a chance to come staff meant that I was the only person FRESHMAN into high school with an automatic who knew my class well enough to be group of friends and a better chance their advocate for coverage,” Malan said. and upperclassmen can be very to become an editor and dedicate Malan decided to make this a intimidating for a freshman. The themselves to an extracurricular they tradition, and as she continued with Round Up staff assists this student in love. But the “forever freshmen” alumni yearbook, ensured that a freshman adjusting to their new routine and lends of The Round-Up are even more grateful was on staff each year. The second them a helping hand when needed. for their four years on staff because individual to continue the tradition “It started out pretty intimidating it established a special connection was Alex Porras (Class of 2019), when I didn’t know anyone, but between them, CCHS and their peers. followed by Kimber Counts (Class of then once I got comfortable with “I loved each and every one of my 2020), Summer Testa (Class of 2021), the people, it’s pretty cool. They are classmates,” Malan said. “Spending four Sarah Marks (Class of 2022) and almost like my family,” Jenkins said. years knowing every single name and now Grace Jenkins (Class of 2023). “They [have] taught me how to use face and extracurricular activity just “I think the tradition of recruiting eDesign to layout the book and basic made me feel that much closer to them a freshman is really cool,” The Round interviewing tips for high school.” and that much more proud of them Up yearbook sponsor Hailee Yaeger Joining yearbook at a young age once we graduated and even now.” said. “I think it is exciting for them allows a freshman to learn the ropes because they’re coming into high quickly, and earn editor positions BY ARIELLE KRAUS

A timeline of The Round Up’s “forever freshmen Alex Porras Class of 2019 Morgan Malan Class of 2018

Grace Jenkins Class of 2023

Summer Testa Class of 2021 Kimber Counts Class of 2020

Sarah Marks Class of 2022

JUST FOR THE GRAM AND NOT FOR THE EXPERIENCE Another one bit the dust as the CCHS Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) announced on January 21 that the Winter Wonderland dance has been canceled. This seems to be the inevitable fate of many CCHS dances with the Aurora Ball and Sadie Hawkins dance also being canceled for the exact same reason: low ticket sales.

The Winter Wonderland dance was planned in an attempt to replace the annual Stampede fundraiser held during periods three and four. The revenue made from Stampede was responsible for many school amenities such as providing planners for the freshman class and a scholarship for seniors.

Despite three dances being canceled in the past two years, staple dances such as homecoming and prom are always nearly sold out at CCHS. Even though these dances are of high appreciation, many students leave the event within one hour of being there in order to attend other parties and events. So, it seems to be that no matter the dance, there is a lack of student interest across the board.

“I haven’t gone to any school dances because on the one hand, I just never had

anyone to take and if I’m going to hang out with friends, a school setting isn’t going to do much for me,” junior Daniel Edelman said. “Especially if I’m spending money on it, I’d rather spend it somewhere else, where it’s a

expressed their lack of interest since an event taking place in an area where they eat every day doesn’t seem very appealing.

However, the main reasoning behind the cafeteria setting is to keep ticket prices low

Photo by Genna Nordling Above: Students enjoy the final moments of the 2019 Homecoming Dance. Homecoming and Prom are the only dances that a significant portion of the CCHS student body want to attend. calm environment; I don’t really like dancing all that much.”

Hosting a successful dance requires an extensive amount of planning and budget to match. But at CCHS, there are certainly unique challenges to account for, one being the venue. When asked about their thoughts on dances held in the cafeteria, many students

for students. Venues typically cost $20,000 alone to reserve, thus an individual dance ticket would cost significantly more.

“I hire a professional decorator to come in and provide the decorations and transform the space into something other than what you see every day,” Student Government Association

Flaten always keeps Homecoming ticket prices at

In the past three years,

3

School dance statistics It costs roughly

$20,000

to rent a venue other than the cafeteria for a school dance

$45

meaning that holding the dance in the cafeteria is the most affordable option.

school dances have been canceled due to low ticket sales

(SGA) advisor Natalie Flaten said. “At the end of the day, it’s just a building and a room so we cut costs with that.”

Another unique challenge for hosting dances at CCHS is persuading students to participate in a school event that has never been done before.

This can be especially difficult since only 37% of CCHS students are active participants in clubs or extracurricular activities, according to Flaten.

In light of this, if students are already reluctant to participate in school-based activities that require little to no monetary expectations, they’re going to approach participating in a dance in a similar manner.

In this generation’s eyes, dances are no longer “cool,” they are just an excuse to dress up and take pictures for Instagram.

“The sad thing is, [students] just wanted it to be Instagram post-worthy because they’re not expecting to have fun,” Flaten said. “Me? I can have fun in a paper bag because I’m going to it with the mentality of wanting to have a good time. You can make anything Instagram post-worthy if you’re creative enough.”

BY SASHEEN JOSEPH

only

37%

of CCHS students participate in extracurricular activities

features 15

Photo by Makinzi Burgs

Who is Pistol Pete? the story behind CCHS’ mascot

Pistol Pete has been Cooper City High’s mascot for almost all of the school’s 49-year existence. You can’t really talk about CCHS culture without mentioning him; he’s plastered on top of lunch tables, present at all of the football games and always patrolling the bottom floor of the 3900 building.

He’s ever-present in the CCHS

community, and yet, no one really has an idea of who he is. Sure, he’s a cowboy— he wouldn’t be the mascot if he weren’t one—but where did he come from? What’s his life like? Why is he so important?

“The Legend of Pistol Pete,” which can be found in the school’s display case and in the 2003 volume of The Round Up, attempts to explain the enigmatic mascot:

“Pistol Pete, known for his bad attitude, unstoppable rebellion and plain old rotten outlook on life was struck by a bolt of lightnin’ and died instantly,” the legend reads. “One hundred years later, January 1971 to be exact, a school was being built on the very same spot of the unmarked grave of Pistol Pete. That ol’ Pete seized the opportunity and his soul was revived. Only

features 17 of tesy k r u o o to c rbo Pho Up Yea nd Rou

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this time, he was a very different man from that mean old coot of a hundred years ago.”

The legend goes on to talk about how Pete’s old soul was now filled with brotherhood, love and pride. He awakened, took a look at the newly-built CCHS campus and decided he was brought back for a reason: to fill each hallway, classroom and student with his newfound spirit. Of course, this is only a fraction of the full story. What was Pete’s first life like, before he was struck by lightning? What did he do for a living?

The answer is: Pistol Pete was an author, a marksman and allegedly a deputy marshal. The mascot is based on the reallife man, Frank Eaton. Now deceased, Eaton’s entire mission in life was to avenge the death of his father. In 1868, when Eaton was 8 years old, his father was slaughtered by six Confederate soldiers. That same year, Eaton moved to Oklahoma on his own and lived the rest of his life there. He was known for his quick draw, marksmanship and incredible horse riding ability.

Despite the name, Cooper City’s Pistol Pete doesn’t carry any firearms. At football games, pep rallies and other events, the mascot carries a lasso with him, using it to wrap his adversaries into his grasp. Because of this, he’s been referred to in the past by students as Lasso Larry, a name that even made its way into the 1995 volume of The Round Up, but there’s never been an official name change.

Notably, in the illustration of Pistol Pete in the school’s display case, he’s wearing an ammunition belt with two guns, both tucked in a holster. After the Columbine massacre, CCHS administration decided to remove any images of Pistol Pete with a gun, replacing it with a lasso. The costume of Pistol Pete has never contained any guns. “[His name has] never been changed, the tradition has always been just Pistol

Pete,” Principal Wendy Doll said. “There would have to be a student body vote to change his name, so what we did was we took the pistols off. We don’t use any mascot picture of [Pistol Pete] with guns on them.”

CCHS isn’t the only academic institution to use Pistol Pete as their mascot. In fact, he’s been Oklahoma State University’s mascot since the 1920s. With their name being the Cowboys, the CCHS’ football team was initially going to emulate the Dallas Cowboys’ mascot, a star, but decided not to.

“Hollis Coleman brought [Pistol Pete] in back around 1976. [Coleman] was the second athletic director and first football coach at Cooper City,” athletic director Paul Megna said. “They looked at the Oklahoma State cowboy and that was the guy that they wanted to replicate. They wanted it to be a true cowboy, and not necessarily the star, because the colors didn’t coincide. The colors coincided with Oklahoma State’s—whose [Pistol Pete] is actually orange, not red—but the colors were close so that’s when they went ahead and started using Pistol Pete as their mascot.”

Pistol Pete hasn’t always been the CCHS mascot. According to Megna, there was a stint in the ‘90s in which the mascot was a star. In 1975, roughly one year before Pete was introduced, the school used a live pig as the official football team mascot. This sparked national controversy, due to the fact that the team told reporters they would eat the pig in a barbecue at the end of the season.

The controversy is what inspired the Hog Bowl, an annual football game between Western High and CCHS, in which the losing team’s principal had to kiss a pig, something that has become a lost tradition at CCHS. Whether the mascot is a cowboy, a star or a pig, the way CCHS goes about expressing their spirit is the furthest from typical.

BY JOSEPH STURGEON

What I wish I knew as a freshman SHARING THE KNOWLEDGE OF SENIOR AND LARIAT MANAGING EDITOR ALEXANDRA SANSONE

As a high school senior who is finally done with the college application process, I find myself wishing that my past self knew what I know today. I wonder if I had the information I do now, would I have acted differently? There is no way for me to know, but underclassmen are able to learn from what I perceive to be my mistakes. So, compiled in a list are the 10 things I wish I knew as high school freshman.

I didn’t take my first college tour until spring break of my junior year and I wish I had done it sooner. They 1. are a complimentary service offered by the school and Take oftentimes you receive free merchandise in addition college to pamphlets, tips and tricks. It’s important to take tours advantage of the free tours early because they fill up you can get a better idea of where you want to sooner and attend or if attending a college or university is the rather right thing for you. Once you have an idea of what than kind of school you want to attend, you’ll have a better idea of what grade point average (GPA), test scores, later and classes you need in order to be considered a good candidate. By starting earlier, you’ll have enough time to actually meet those requirements.

3. fill out the common application as you go

2. fill out a resume as you go

Find a resume template online, start one through your Naviance account or contact Broward Adviser for Continued Education (BRACE) Christine Siwek at christine. siwek@browardschools.com for one and start filling it out. Fill in the blanks with your accomplishments and update it as you progress. This will help you keep track of everything and by the time you need to submit a resume to teachers for a letter of recommendation, you will already have one ready to go.

Create a Common Application account and fill out the profile information when you have downtime. Doing it in smaller bits over a longer period of time will be significantly less stressful than trying to get it all done the fall of your senior year. All of your information will be saved, and as you earn awards, take new classes or move houses you can update it in realtime. This also allows you to see which colleges you are interested in require a separate application, as not all institutions are on the Common Application.

4. take the sat/act as early as possible

Start taking the SAT and ACT exams as early as you can. Now, that doesn’t mean taking it as a freshman or sophomore, unless you feel comfortable doing so, but don't leave it to the summer after your junior year either. Look up the testing dates and plan accordingly. One of the last things you want is to still be testing for your desired score a few weeks before your application deadline. Take it from someone who put it off and is doing exactly that—it’s not fun. Also, don’t limit yourself to one test. Take both and continue studying for and taking whichever you feel most comfortable with. Also, take advantage of the free PSAT exams the school provides you early in your high school career and take them seriously.

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Photos courtesy of Alexandra Sansone

Make sure you allow time to study for the test. It sounds silly, but it is very easy for time to get the best of 5. you. Before you know it, it will be the night before the exam and you will have barely looked at any study study formaterials.

Free resources are available online. Khan Academy is available through Clever and has a full SAT the sat/ prep course through College Board, complete with practice questions and full-length tests that quiz you act on the areas you are struggling in. If you find yourself in need of a test prep book, look around and read multiple reviews. They can be pricey and different books work for different students.

6.

Dual enrollment, AICE and AP classes are all weighted the same This is typically common knowledge, but what is important to keep in mind is that some dual enrollment and AICE classes can be considered easier or more accessible to you depending on what your needs are.

Also, be aware that you have the ability to not only dual enroll with Broward College (see your guidance counselor for paperwork) but also with the University of Florida Online. Because every student is different, do some research and ask knowledgeable upperclassmen with similar aspirations to determine which type you should take, just be sure to read all of the courses’ syllabi.

7. class rank isn’t important

Don’t get caught up in trying to increase your class ranking. It may seem important right now, but in the long run, it won’t be a huge deal to many people besides your family members. That being said, those who are able to stay at the top of their class deserve recognition, as it’s no easy feat. But don’t worry so much that you miss out on your high school experience and burn yourself out before even getting to college.

Both: Alexandra Sansone visits Florida State University on college tour trip during her junior year.

Sansone recommends that students research and visits schools early in their high school education.

8. try out different classes/ programs

Research different free programs to partake in. This will allow you to explore your interests before paying for courses in college and are a fun way to learn, make friends and connections that you could use later on in life. I have participated in a variety of programs, like Miami Montage and Cappies, and doing so has helped me to eliminate career choices I was previously considering before realizing that they weren’t for me.

9. apply for scholarships now Check with the school that you want to attend to see if they offer any merit-based scholarships. If they do, see if you meet the criteria and apply. Keep track of the Bright Futures Scholarship requirements if you plan on attending or even just applying to a school in Florida. Look for scholarships that aren't exclusive to seniors and apply now. The worst the organization can say is no, and even if you don't meet the requirements exactly, you may still be the most qualified person applying.

10. don’t just focus on the academic parts of school And finally, make sure that you still have fun and enjoy the non-academic side of high school. Take part in spirit weeks and hang out with your friends. As cheesy as it sounds, you will never get these four years back and if you play your cards right, they can be some of the best of your life.

BY ALEXANDRA SANSONE

entertainment 19

RECAP AND RUNDOWN Updates and previews on all of the sports at CCHS

BY KYLEIGH SPRIGLE AND KAYLA GATES

Football is one of the most popular sports at CCHS, with stands packed full of students, parents and administration at their games. The team had a total of 11 games this season, losing six games and winning the other five. The team will be losing nearly 20 seniors after graduation, but will be able to recover easily due to them having a varsity and a junior varsity (JV) team.

The swimming and diving team has made a name for themselves over the years.

The season started right away in the first week of school and ended in November. The season ends later for those individual swimmers who make it to states.

This year, one diver, three individual swimmers and two relay groups made it to states.

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Photo by Anabella Garcia

The girl’s volleyball team is always prepared for their season before the school year starts. Conditioning begins in late June and they have tryouts over the summer. While they were wellprepared, the team did not make it past the first game of districts.

There are 16 girls on the varsity team and 12 of them will be graduating.

Photo by Sydney Katz The boy’s soccer team has had issues in the past when it came to qualifying for districts. However, this year they were able to participate in playoffs, allowing them to qualify for the district semi-finals. The official season started in November.

Golf is a sport that does not receive a lot of attention at CCHS, but recent teams have had a memorable season. Their 2019 and 2018 seasons consisted of state qualifiers. The season began in August and for the state qualifiers, it finished in the middle of November. There are no seniors on the team so they are expecting the same results next season.

Wrestling’s season is not over yet. Many wrestlers still have the opportunity to make it to districts, regionals and states. The season started in December and it ends at different times for different wrestlers. The district competition is in February and the state competition is in March. The team is expected to do well, considering that the district champs from last year are still on the team.

The girl’s soccer team has had a successful season. So far, they have won 11 games, lost six and tied 1. The team also played in the district semifinals on February 6. They secured a 4-3 victory against St. Thomas Aquinas High School, deeming them four-time district champions. They will compete at the regional semifinals once again this year. There are close to 30 girls on the varsity team alone, but only a few are seniors.

The boy’s basketball season is coming to an end, but the playoff games are starting soon. The team won eight and lost the other 11 games.

Their season is not over until districts in the coming weeks. The team start their season in November and it ends in February. The team will be losing six seniors but they have a JV team full of players to choose from.

The girl’s basketball team has a few games left in their season. Their first game was at the end of November and districts begin in early February. The team has not won districts in many years, but last year they came close, making it to district finals.

This year, the team had a few setbacks with all the injuries but they are hoping to make it to the district championship again.

Despite previous doubt, water polo has also taken off. The boys’ team faced some concerns early on as they struggled to find and secure a new coach. However, the issue has since passed, allowing conditioning to be held in the pool after school. After losing and acquiring many players the boys hope to return to districts this season. As for the girls, the team simply wishes to grow as a whole, seeking as many victories as possible over the course of the season.

Lacrosse is the final sport to take off this school year.

With a late spring season, the coaches have begun gathering support through informational meetings.

Interested boys and girls can contact the respective coach for further details, as nightly practices are set to begin shortly.

Also approaching is the girls’ flag football season. With conditioning already underway, interested varsity and junior varsity players can expect tryouts beginning in February, with the official start of the season to follow soon after.

Despite losing many seniors the previous year, the Lady Cowboys plan to return to the state finals one again, hoping to take home a trophy.

The track and field season is currently underway. Following their return from winter break, athletes have endured weeks of training, including refining event times and exercising new skills.

The team hopes to be prepared for their many meets set to start in February.

Photo by Anabella Garcia

Photo by Sydney Katz

Cross country is one of the lesser-known sports, which begins in August and ends in November. There are around 30 people on the team. Ten people ran at districts and seven students made it to regionals. However, none of the runners got to go to states. Less than eleven seniors are graduating and that leaves the team with some of the same qualifiers.

Baseball and softball have also gained significant attention this school year. With limited interest in previous years, few cuts have had to be made. However, with more players interested in playing for the school than ever before, the team will have to be narrowed down to only include the best of the best through a series of tryouts in the weeks to come.

Another sport taking off is boys volleyball. While the girls’ league took place at the start of the year, the boys’ team will begin competing in their later spring season. While only interest meetings have taken place, the team looks forward to the tryouts and practices to come.

Tennis is yet another sport set to begin in the coming months.

Tryouts, being held at the Rock Creek Pool and Tennis Center, are already underway, hoping to attract as many new players as possible. While traditionally a small team for both the boys and girls, the program seeks to expand as much as possible, welcoming players of varying skill sets.

Photo by Anabella Garcia

Photo by Sydney Katz

The CCHS cheer team made their first appearance at the start of the school year, supporting the football team at each game.

However, the team has returned for their competitive season. After competing at a series of meets, the Lady Cowboys have made their names known throughout the District. Most recently, the team placed at regionals, allowing them to qualify for states again.

THE PITCHING EPIDEMIC The facts behind Tommy John surgery

Photo by Sydney Katz You have to be a winner. You most commonly occurs in baseball have to get a scholarship. You need pitchers. Athletes that participate to throw faster and harder and better in American football, javelin, than the rest of your competition. Five gymnastics, softball, tennis and water more throws and you can stop. Five polo are also susceptible to the injury. more throws and you’re done for the A study done by researchers at night. However, those Columbia University five extra throws every “I PLAYED FOR SIX Medical Center found single night for years an increase in the without rest can cause MONTHS STRAIGHT number of adolescents significant damage AND TOOK A FOUR getting the surgery. The to a young athlete. results show that the MONTH BREAK. The Ulnar total volume of UCL Collateral Ligament WHEN I CAME BACK surgeries increased (UCL) reconstruction by nearly 200%, while I ACTED LIKE I surgery, better known the number of UCL as the Tommy John per NEVER LEFT AND reconstructions surgery, is being done 100,000 people tripled MESSED UP MY on more patients every from 0.15 to 0.45. year. According to the From the study, ELBOW” US National Library almost all of the of Medicine National -JOSHUA LOPEZ growth occurred in Institutes of Health, one two age groups, 17 to in four major league JUNIOR 18-year-olds and 19 baseball pitchers have to 20-year-olds. The to get the surgery, but procedure is becoming the surgery is being done on much more prevalent with the younger younger patients than it has in the past. age groups, and the rates are A UCL can tear in any single expected to continue rising. traumatic event, but it is usually the “One of my teammates has been result of a sports injury. The cause having pain and issues in her arm,” involves repetitive overuse and softball player and junior Sierra Huddle forceful motion, so it most commonly said. “She can’t take a break because we happens in throwing sports. That are in season and she is committed.” explains why injury to the UCL The baseball team at CCHS

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practices six to seven times a week; they play one to two times a week and have morning workouts every Monday and Friday. Injuries are bound to happen, and overuse usually has something to do with these injuries. One varsity baseball pitcher, junior Joshua Lopez, injured himself after too much practice.

“I played for six months straight and took like a four-month break,” Lopez said. “When I came back I acted like I never left and messed up my elbow.”

Prevention is better than repair.

Athletes who have Tommy John surgery in high school have a higher risk of reinjuring themselves later. To prevent tearing a UCL, there are certain steps athletes should take. Pitchers should strengthen muscles associated with throwing to take pressure off the ligament, and there needs to be a limit to the number of throws. Icing and stretching are important to do while doing anything sports-related.

“I haven’t gotten seriously hurt; my shoulder would just be sore,” varsity softball pitcher junior Jordan Hustey said. “I make sure I stretch now and ice after I pitch.”

There is an epidemic among baseball players. The injury is affecting more athletes every single year, and if something is not done, the rates will continue to rise.

BY KYLEIGH SPRIGLE

Little Miss Varsity Sophomore Noa Pogany challenges cheerleading tradition

Photos by Makinzi Burgs Sophomore Noa Pogany is defying expectations by excelling as a member of the CCHS varsity cheerleading team.

Her notable accomplishments speak volumes on the scope of both her ability and enthusiasm for the sport.

For Pogany, her passion for cheerleading developed at a young age. She began the sport in hopes of acquiring a new hobby. However, she failed to predict how influential cheerleading would become within her life.

“I started cheer when I was only six years old,” Pogany said. “I took a class at a local community center which piqued my interest.”

From there, Pogany’s passion only flourished.

Increased practice time allowed her to expand upon her skills and observe significant improvement.

P o g a n y b e g a n building h e r

experience by joining and competing for various cheerleading organizations.

“I have cheered at several gyms over the years,” Pogany said. “This includes Cheer Escape, Gold Coast, Broward Elite and Top Gun.” Competition has allowed Pogany to receive tangible recognition for her talents. Pogany has observed significant success over the course of her career. One of her most impressive feats was her victory at The Summit, a national cheerleading tournament, where her team placed first.

Pogany’s most recent accomplishment includes her varsity cheerleading status at CCHS. Pogany spent the fall of her freshman year as a member of the junior varsity cheer team. However, Pogany obtained a major promotion this school year.

After trying out once again this summer, Pogany was accepted onto the varsity cheer team. This c ame as a major

development for the underclassman. Traditionally, spots on the varsity team are reserved for juniors and seniors. Freshmen and sophomores are given the opportunity to learn and develop on the junior varsity team. This season, Pogany became the exception.

With her new position, Pogany spent her Friday nights representing the school on the sidelines at CCHS varsity football games. Her contrasting age has earned her the title “Little Miss Varsity” by her teammates, all of which are upperclassmen.

“It feels really special to have made varsity as a sophomore,” Pogany said.

With the fall season coming to a close, Pogany has begun preparing for upcoming cheer competitions with the remainder of the team. The CCHS junior varsity and varsity cheer teams will compete against high schools across Broward County. Having placed at last year’s district meet, the team plans to match their success this season. Pogany hopes to return to the state competition once again, this time as a varsity athlete.

Pogany’s cheerleading passion is an evident aspect of her personality.

Her teammates, as well as her classmates, recognize

a growing commitment to the sport. Pogany’s peers commend her for the powerful dedication she possesses for cheerleading and her ability to balance that with her position as treasurer for the class of 2022 and workload from her advanced classes.

“Noa is an absolutely talented individual,” sophomore Kiara Ryan said.

“By some marvel, she manages to balance her demanding cheer schedule for both the school and competition with her rigorous course load.”

As for the future, Pogany plans to follow her current path. She aims to promote her passion for cheerleading through increased competition.

Pogany hopes that her experience will ultimately allow her to further pursue the sport after high school.

“In the future, I plan to continue cheering competitively,” Pogany said. “I hope to eventually cheer in college as well.”

With years of experience and achievements under her belt, the future appears bright for the young athlete. Pogany’s natural talent for the sport has allowed her to observe notable success throughout her career. But for Pogany, the cheerleading world has so much more to offer her.

BY KAYLA GATES

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