The Panther 2021-2022 Issue 2: Heroes at Home

PANTHER

the

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Miami Palmetto Senior High School 7460 SW 118 Street, Miami, FL 33156

Tuesday, November 23, 2021

HEROES AT HOME

CONTENTS

LOCAL

news briefs

11

The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is now being offered for students five years and older at some public schools in Miami-Dade and Broward counties. In Miami-Dade County Public Schools, children can receive the vaccine at about 40 different schools. Eligible students able to receive the vaccine and whose parents wish to vaccinate them must present a completed Florida Department of Health Consent Form.

NATIONAL

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05 | NEWS

Healing Through the Arts

07 | LIFE

Palmetto’s History Bowl Team is Back

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has started to track threats against school administrators and teachers to understand the extent of this new issue. According to the bureau’s criminal and counterterrorism division, last month, the F.B.I created a “threat tag” to apply to reports of threats, harassment and violence against school officials in order to comply with a memo sent by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland.

BEHIND THE cover

Kate Stuzin (12) takes a picture of veterans saluting the American flag at Veterans Wayside Park in Pinecrest.

20

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FOLLOW US WEBSITE www.thepalmettopanther.com

11 | FEATURE

LETTER TO THE

15 | SPORTS

Dear Editor,

Recognizing Pinecrest’s Military Community After the Victory: Palmetto’s Athletic Trainers

20 | OPINION M(ask) up, Panthers

editor

I loved reading “The Night Garden at Fairchild: Miami’s Botanical Light Show.” The story explains the event perfectly and reminded me of when I went! It brought me back to my childhood and I was reminded of the great time I had. I also loved the photos!

Sofia Portugal (10)

internATIONAL

**Submit letters to b.martin.thepanther@gmail.com. Letters may be edited for length, clarity, or spelling.

The U.S. has reopened its borders to travelers from more than 30 countries, including Mexico, Canada and the majority of Europe, allowing tourists to take long-planned trips and family members to reunite. The U.S. is only accepting travelers who are fully vaccinated with any of the shots approved for emergency use by the World Health Organization. This news comes after restrictions have closed the borders to millions for 20 months. ​​ .

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04 | NEWS

Hello Project’s Impact on COP26 As a result of an increase in consumerism and the consequence of not looking past immediate results, the planet is now in a dire state.

COP26, the 26 United Nations Climate Change Conference, occurred between Oct. 31 and Nov. 12 in Glasgow, Scotland. Representatives of countries that signed the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in 1994, such as Canada and Australia, attended the conference. Over 3,000 people attended this year’s summit, which is viewed as the most significant climate event since the 2015 Paris Agreement. World leaders and lobbyists for various causes packed the event, as over 100 countries sent representatives to create meaningful solutions for various environmental issues that will hopefully benefit the world’s climate long-term.

Brazil had the largest group of negotiators at the convention with 479, followed by Turkey and the Democratic Republic of the Congo with 376 and 373 delegates, respectively. However, these numbers are outshined by the number of lobbyists for businesses with interests in the fossil fuel industry with about 503 negotiators.This means that the fossil fuel industry had the loudest voice at the convention.

“These world leaders are close to come here at this pivotal, critical moment of human history and come together to lower the amount of carbon emissions that humans — through

fossil fuels — put in the atmosphere,” artist and Professor of Practice in the Art and Art History Department at the University of Miami, Xavier Cortada said.

Cortada attended this year’s summit in Glasgow, Scotland after creating the HELLO Project. The project aims to open the eyes of students and young people in order to create meaningful and creative advancements for the benefit of the planet.

The HELLO Project launched on Oct. 26, right before the summits kicked off.

The project utilizes name tags for people to introduce themselves through their fears, concerns and hopes for the future of the planet and climate change rather than introducing themselves with their names.

“I wanted the community here to understand that there is a beautiful city at the edge of a peninsula in the United States that has its future dependent on what the delegates of this conference do,” Cortada said. “If we continue pumping gases into the atmosphere and those temperatures go up 1.5 degrees, two degrees, three degrees and possibly four degrees Celsius above the industrial average, [for] Miami, it’s over.”

With the HELLO Project, Cortada hopes for increased student involvement and heightened in the decision-making process at COP26. For more than 15 years, Cortada has worked on issues related to sea level and climate change, inspired by his trip to Antarctica in 2006 where he experienced firsthand the samples of ice from the Western Arctic Ice Sheet.

“So that was a big alarm for me...I started creating art that tried to let us know about that issue,” Cortada said, “I took that ice they gave me back to the lab and put it on a piece of paper, put some pigment on top and it created these designs and patterns, the background of all those tags that you see ‘Hello my elevation, my fear, my purpose, my hope, and my future’ are different water color paintings of this melted ice.”

Many of the d e c i s i o n s a t Glascow reach far around the globe, affecting the largest countries to cities such as Miami.

“There’s a component that lets them tap into what Miami is feeling, for them to understand that the votes they take, the things they do here, impacts the world, the Global South especially, but also Miami, Florida,” Cortada said.

Global North and Global South refer to the grouping of countries by socioeconomic and political characteristics. The Global South refers to lower-income countries, while the Global North refers to higherincome countries. Although Florida is in the United States — and therefore the Global North — the susceptibility to melting ice caps, rising sea levels and other issues posed by climate change is becoming more apparent as the global temperature rises for countries within the Global North and South.

“So it’s time to act. And it’s time to act urgently; scientists couldn’t be clearer. But we elect public officials who don’t take this seriously. We still have a Congress that won’t take this seriously. And we have a bunch of world leaders here at COP26 on deliverance,” Cortada said. “So that creates the situation that we are in now, where we’re probably not going to have a very positive outcome at the end of this conference.”

Michael Angee Sports Editor

m.angee.thepanther@gmail.com

DESIGN BY JASMINE JUDGE PHOTO COURTESY OF CORTADA STUDIO

04| NEWS

I AM M E :

The Adrienne Arsht Center’s Mental Health Initiative for Expression Through the Arts Beginning in early 2022, the Adrienne Arsht Center plans to launch its “I Am Me” mental health initiative in partnership with Miami-Dade County Public Schools to celebrate the Center’s 15th anniversary. The final stage of their “Learning Through the Arts” program, the “I Am Me” project is a live theater and hands-on art-making workshop experience expected to reach up to 25,000 ninth graders.

For the past decade, the Adrienne Arsht Center has invited M-DCPS students to engage with musicals specifically designed for children, including “Kitty Hawk” and “Rock Odyssey,” as well as an array of STEAM workshops.

The objective of this new initiative is to destigmatize the mental health struggles many high school students face and offer them creative, healthy coping mechanisms and self-care tactics. At Miami Palmetto Senior High, the drama and art departments provide students with a similar opportunity to release their emotional stressors, while simultaneously allowing them to fulfill their artistic ambitions.

“We are in a period where a lot of that struggle is coming from wanting to be accepted for whoever you are, and theater is a very accepting environment where being different is actually what’s

exciting,” Palmetto drama teacher Robin Barson said. “It’s a community that really embraces difference and diversity, so I think it’s a perfect outlet for people to express that and find their voice.”

For many students struggling with their mental health, conveying emotions verbally remains one of the greatest challenges of reaching out. Using the arts as a medium for self-expression allows teens to voice their complex feelings openly and comfortably, alongside others facing the same conflicts.

“The value of any group therapy is that you are with others who share the struggles that one is experiencing,” M-DCPS social worker Diana Carmona said. “Specifically with the dramatic arts, it gives them an opportunity to explore emotions in a safe way and also to practice relationships in the real world.”

Finding access to productive coping methods remains another shared difficulty among students looking to release mental stress. The arts offer students a feasible solution and means of relief for anyone capable of handling a script, instrument or paintbrush.

“Because art materials could be easy to access, making art is a great way to express emotions without words, process complex feelings and find relief,” Palmetto AP Art History teacher Christine Moros said. “It doesn’t matter what media is chosen; the only thing that matters is that you feel comfortable using it to help make sense of and explore your mental health.”

At Palmetto, teachers have the opportunity to see their own pupils evolve into the best version of themselves through the arts and self-expression.

“One of the things that’s really special for me in teaching high school is being able to watch somebody develop from a ninth grader that may be very unsure of themselves and hasn’t been able to find their voice or their place, to a confident senior, who is enjoying the moment and being able to really revel in their individuality,” Barson said.

While most cases of mental illness among adolescents go undetected, many face feelings of anxiety and depression throughout their teenage years. “I Am Me” hopes to make students feel less isolated and more open to interacting with others through drama and art. “[With drama], there’s something for everybody, in addition to the fact that it just becomes a family,” Barson said. “I think that everybody should have some place in high school where they feel like somebody cares that they walked through the door.”

Jasmine Judge Design Editor

j.judge.thepanther@gmail.com

DESIGN BY JASMINE JUDGE PHOTOS BY AVA STUZIN

06 | NEWS

THE SUPPLY CHAIN CRISIS: IMPACTS AND INFLUENCE

Given the pandemic, Americans have grown accustomed to running out of supplies, like toilet paper and hand sanitizer. However, now it seems like America has begun to run out of everything from Thanksgiving turkeys to Christmas lights. The reason? A massive supply chain crisis.

Before diving into the current supply crisis, one must understand what the supply chain is. The supply chain — a network that manages the flow of goods and services from one location to another — is how products are produced and distributed to consumers. Thus, issues with the supply chain not only affect businesses and the economy, but consumers too.

The global supply chain currently faces disruption due to the shutdown of factories at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. Factory shutdowns caused shipping companies to pause work and anticipate a sharp drop in supply and demand for goods.

However, this theory did not play out as anticipated and demand actually increased as people started ordering more from home.

This resulted in an overload, or a lack of space for the amount of products produced.

This overload in demand also meant that there were not enough shipping containers to carry goods, causing delays.

“I think it’s a matter of coming out of a pandemic very quickly; the economy wasn’t ready for it. And so, with things happening in China and in the ports, we weren’t ready for this huge influx of demand to keep up with all the products that people wanted,” Miami Palmetto Senior High School AP Macroeconomics teacher Joel Soldinger said.

There remains an even bigger issue regarding cargo ships’ lack of space to dock.

Cargo ships have docked and gotten stuck, prohibiting the unloading of goods. Many cargo ships come from manufacturers in faraway countries like China, making it increasingly difficult when idle ships need to reach ports in places like Miami. The issue worsened when a large container ship got stuck in the Suez Canal earlier this year, closing many major ports. On top of current COVID-19 restrictions, the massive reduction in dockworkers and drivers has only added more fuel to the fire.

“The goods are there — it’s just a matter of getting into, in our case, the country. The problem is that people don’t want to unload the trucks, be truck drivers, so these jobs that we need to get stuff moving back into the stores, people don’t want to do those jobs anymore, so I think that’s part of the problem,” Soldinger said.

Products are not coming in on time, creating a snowball effect when it comes to shipping and rising prices.

“This is really where the rubber hits the road so to speak; we are seeing high prices, and inflation is something that we all deal with. Because we can’t get the goods we want, it takes longer, they become more expensive, and I think that is where the consumers are starting to really feel it,” Soldinger said.

Large corporations are not the only businesses impacted by this major shortage.

The shortage also heavily targets smaller, local businesses. A locally-owned boutique in Coral Gables, “Miros,” has felt the effects of the shortage.

“The boutique has suffered a shortage of garment goods because there is a lack of supply in cottons, which are part of the manufacturing goods coming from places like Italy and France,” Miros Sales Associate and Fashion Consultant Yvonne

Daniels said.

Shortages have plagued the economy since its very beginning. Lasting about an entire year now, this major shortage is not merely a recent occurrence.

“The manufacturers do our purchases according to what we order only. Exactly after the pandemic, it really took a hit on the manufacturers, and for that reason it took almost a year and a half for things to get back into place,” Daniels said.

As for the current plan to fix the supply chain backlog, President Joseph R. Biden and the White House announced a new action plan aiming to expand the capacity of United States ports and waterways to allow for less backlog.

The supply chain crisis affects a wide range of businesses and products. From a possible lack of Thanksgiving turkeys, electronics, cars and a multitude of other products, getting the perfect Christmas gift to arrive on-time may be a lot more difficult this year.

Nicole Martin

Copy Editor

n.martin.thepanther@gmail.com

DESIGN BY JASMINE JUDGE AND GIANNA HUTTON

HISTORY BOWL is back Miami Palmetto Senior High School is known for the abundance of traditions that shape students’ lives from ninth to twelfth grade. This year, History Bowl returned on Nov. 13, with students longing to jump back into the competitive atmosphere.

“I’m really excited to be participating in the History Bowl for the first time, and even more excited to be able to do it in person,” History Bowl participant and Palmetto sophomore Isabella Diez said. “History Bowl is so much fun, but it tests your intelligence at the same time, which is why I think it’s such a big part of Palmetto.

It’s a great way for us to have fun and represent Palmetto with other schools.”

This return of this year’s History Bowl has excited many students after the two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Now, students have the opportunity to take part in History Bowl in its full capacity.

History Bowl requires extensive preparation to ensure that competitors correctly answer rapid-fire questions. Students prepare for this competition by practicing at club meetings with teams, studying further at home and practicing questions on their own.

When Sayda Sahury-Clasca took over as the new sponsor of the Social Science Honor Society (SSHS), she soon realized the love and dedication the students had for history.

“The students do all of the work; they deserve all of the credit because they have so much motivation and enthusiasm for history. They take care of organizing everything and preparing on their own,” Sahury-Clasca said. “I am so incredibly impressed with their love for history and how they know what sites and resources to study from. On top of that, the board is extraordinary and they have worked as a team to quickly get this together.”

Although Palmetto has many clubs that partake in competitions, History Bowl sets itself apart from the rest. Aaron Amster, Palmetto senior and Vice President of Competition for SSHS, makes it his priority to ensure all members feel comfortable and happy with their teams. This allows for not only an incredible experience but a fun one as well.

“What’s important to me is that people have fun because that is the goal of the club. I’ve been asking people what friends they want on the team to make it an amazing experience for everyone,” Amster said.

History Bowl has remained a vital part of Palmetto since its introduction in 2012. Palmetto goes head-to-head with other schools by answering questions as quickly as possible. MPSH AP World History teacher and previous SSHS sponsor Julianne Farkas is passionate about public schools rising to the top at this year’s History Bowl.

“I have always believed that we as a public school have a strong group of students. Students participating are kind of like our intellectual athletes,” Farkas said. “This club has grown exponentially throughout the years and it has always been my mission to show that Palmetto is a force to be reckoned with.”

Ava Garcia Staff Writer

a.garcia.thepanther@gmail.com

DESIGN BY PAUL YAN AND GIANNA HUTTON PHOTOS BY RYAN MCKEAN

POUNCING ON THE COMPETITON

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08 | LIFE

Youth Fair A Safe Space for Miami to Rejoice

Since 1952, children and adults alike have had the opportunity to experience the euphoria of riding on the spinning swings and indulging in fried oreos at the annual Miami-Dade County Youth Fair. Located within Tamiami Park, Miami-Dade County Fair & Exposition, Inc. runs from Nov. 18 through Dec. 5, 2021.

In 2019, the Youth Fair was host to more than 550,000 attendees and around 100 rides, according to county data; however, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the fair closed in 2020 and the dates for 2021 moved from their typical dates in March to November.

The Youth Fair has adopted new safety protocols to ensure that festival goers remain safe from the COVID-19 virus — including: 189 bathrooms, 132 portable sinks and 500 hand sanitization spots. Eduardo Cora, the president of the MiamiDade County Fair & Exposition, Inc., has worked with members of the executive board to maintain a set standard of safety while a l s o working towards creating an atmosphere reminiscent of the Youth Fair’s past. “ O n e of the things that was

very important to us is to make sure this fair is not a

‘Covid fair,’ but that it is still safe,” Cora said. “You are going to have the food and entertainment you are used to.”

To attain this consistency, the Youth Fair plans to have a similar number of rides and vendors, along with their annual competitions in the academic and artistic fields. Students within Miami-Dade County are given the opportunity to submit pieces for exhibiting and consideration for winning overall, potentially landing a scholarship from the Miami-Dade County Fair & Exposition, Inc. Funds that are allocated through scholarships and awards come from the Youth Fair’s charter, along with numerous sponsors located within Miami.

“The Youth Fair is a private charitable organization, and we are chartered as an agricultural fair. The reason we put it on is to help promote agriculture and advance youth achievement through the projects we do,” Cora said.

The Youth Fair incorporates the agricultural aspect with the Youth Agriculture Exhibits that students can enter. These range from the Youth Cavy Show, to Horticulture Youth Registered Dairy Goats. Though many of the exhibits will remain open for the 2021 fair, the larger animal exhibits, such as the Horse Show, will not always be available due to the lack of time that students have to raise their animals.

This year, the Youth Fair is hosting concerts that provide students and aspiring musicians with the opportunity to perform live with their bands in front of large audiences. Among these bands is PLAYKILL*, with guitarist and Miami Palmetto Senior High senior Bradley Jarquin performing for his first time at the fair.

“This year I hope to meet lots of new people through the Fair and make connections that can hopefully help me out in the future, but I’m most excited to just play the show in general; I have a good feeling it’s gonna be a nice crowd,” Jarquin said.

The fair provides an opportunity for students from all grades in bands — like PLAYKILL* — to launch their music careers. It also provides similar opportunities for students with experience in performing to showcase their talents in front of large crowds, namely those made up of members from the Miami community.

The Youth Fair is able to acquire their performers through its own connections to Miami; independent music organizations and some Miami-Dade County Public schools promote the event and recruit students to play live.

“We got this opportunity through this awesome local agency called Backroom Sessions that brings in local talent every year

or so to showcase them and give them a chance to play at the Fair and [get] that sweet exposure,” Jarquin said.

All bands and entertainment performances are free to watch upon general admission to the Fair, which range from $5 to $35; however, students within M-DCPS can receive a free student entry ticket, along with discounted parent tickets.

Affordability remains a major focus of the fair in order to provide a space for the entire community to attend and enjoy themselves free from financial burden.

“The idea is to make sure there is a value. Not everyone can afford to go to Disney or out of state,” Cora said. “This is their vacation, and we want to make sure it is affordable and accessible, entertaining and safe as possible so they can feel comfortable enjoying it with their family.”

Though the COVID-19 pandemic postponed the fair, the board plans on returning it to its normal schedule of running through the spring months.

During this school year, the Youth Fair has two sessions: one throughout November and December 2021 and another running through March 2022.

“I am super excited that I can go to the fair now and in the spring,” Miami Palmetto Senior High junior Caroline Green said. “I love going with my friends each year and am so glad it is back.”

As the fair continues into December, it remains

a constant reminder of the diverse spirit, continuous enthusiasm and perseverance of the Miami community.

“It is the one place where the entire community can come together,” Cora said. “Any day you come, you will see a representation of people from every neighborhood having fun together and enjoying the time with their family together.”

Allison Gould

Print Editor-In-Chief

a.gould.thepanther@gmail.com

Kate Markus Life Editor

k.markus.thepanther@gmail.com

PHOTOS BY RYAN MCKEAN PHOTO COURTESY OF BRADLEY JARQUIN DESIGN BY PAUL YAN AND GIANNA HUTTON

THE YOUTH FAIR IS A PRIVATE CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION, AND WE ARE CHARTERED AS AN AGRICULTURAL FAIR. THE REASON WE PUT IT ON IS TO IS TO HELP PROMOTE AGRICULTURE AND ADVANCE YOUTH ACHIEVEMENT Eduardo Cora (Miami-Dade County Fair & Exposition, Inc. President)

10 | COLUMN

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PANTHER

november snapshot

OUR FAVORITES

STAFFER OF THE MONTH

Album of the Month

RED (TAYLOR’S VERSION)

Favorite Thanksgiving Pie Flavor

APPLE PIE

Favorite Thanksgiving Tradition

THANKSGIVING MEALS

Favorite November Movie Release

DUNE

Tomas Curcio Staff Writer

HOW GENZ’s it:

BONES OR NO BONES: EMBRACE THE PROPHETIC PUG

Bones or No Bones? Noodle, a floppy 13-year old pug, prophesizes every day’s vibe for an audience of over 4 million on TikTok and Instagram. The forecast is straightforward; if when​​ Jonathan Graziano, Noodle’s owner, lifts him up from his fluffy bed and he collapses, a “no bones” day is proclaimed, and if he stays standing , it’s a “bones day.”

While “no bones” seems to connotate a negative day, Graziano emphasizes that neither day equates to a negative day; instead, “no bones” signifies a day of self-care and rest. “Bones,” alternatively, provides the signal for one to spend their day seeking opportunities and challenging oneself.

The pudgy pet has served as an instrument of creativity—inspiring songs, poetry and video skits across digital platforms. Allowing a grumpy-looking pug to forecast every day embodies GenZ’s ability to seek positivity despite a global pandemic, academic stress and potential personal life struggles. While the world may be in disarray, this generation can find solace in the 60-second videos of Noodle’s standing or flopping down onto his fluffy bed.

Gianna Hutton

Senior Media Editor

g.hutton.thepanther@gmail.com

DESIGN BY GIANNA HUTTON

Beyond the Flag:

honoring our neighboors who have served On Nov. 11, 2021, Panthers and the surrounding Pinecrest community celebrated those who have served and remembered those who have passed in serving. From teachers to administrators to school resource officers, veterans can be found all around Miami Palmetto Senior High School. Taking Veterans Day to reflect on the service of veterans, many local residents attended a ceremony at Pinecrest’s Veterans Wayside Park to pay their respects and learn more about the sacrifices that others have made for their country. In order to spotlight some of who have made the decision to serve, some Panther veterans opened up about their relationship with Veterans Day. Here are their stories.

12 | FEATURE

HONORING PALME

Every year during November, the nation honors those who have led lives devoted to serving their country. The U.S., a nation which prides itself on its military establishment and arms capabilities, is known for its strong sense of patriotism — especially when it comes to members of the armed forces. As described by the Department of Defense, the armed forces include six established military forces: the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force and Coast Guard. Members of the local community and Panther family have chosen to make the ultimate sacrifice of joining many of these forces.

Living in a fast-paced society engrossed by day-to-day life, Veterans Day and other national holidays of remembrance allow Americans and residents of the U.S. to take a momentary pause. Taking stock of the freedoms and liberties that the U.S. provides, people across the country have the opportunity to admire and show gratitude for the great valor and bravery that members of the armed forces possess and continue to portray.

Oftentimes, many Americans, despite the knowledge that vast numbers of individuals serve, are unaware that many of their friends, family and those they interact with on a day-to-day basis have served the nation.

Six members of faculty. 31 families.

These are the number of veterans and military families within Palmetto. They are our teachers, administration, security personnel, office staff and fellow students, and a sacred commitment to the protection and

betterment of our nation through service lying at the center of their lives.

In the spirit of respect and honor for those who have served while trying to understand the multilayered meanings of Veterans Day, some of Palmetto veterans are sharing their experiences and relationships to the holiday.

For some at Palmetto, like School Resource Officer, Sergeant and Squad Leader in Platoon 3d Battalion, 7th Marines Nicholas Diaz, his desire to help others remains a quality he was simply born with.

“I’ve always been into the ‘wanting to help people’ role; it’s just something I like to do. When I was in 12th grade, I spoke to a Marine recruiter and it kind of just snowballed from there. I ended up enlisting right after high school,” Diaz said. “I like helping people. At the end of the day, it gives you a sense of accomplishment and gives you a sense of ‘do good, feel good.’”

While society has ingrained in our hearts and minds that the natural course of life involves matriculation to university and participation in the workforce, others seek to forge their own path through a series of alternate choices that the Armed Forces offer.

“I was motivated [to serve] once I finished my first year of college at St. Thomas University. I was bored… I said, ‘Okay, let’s see what else the world has to offer,’” Palmetto Assistant Principal and Naval Reserves 1st, E-Class 2/Storekeeper Tierney Hunter said. “I joined the Naval Reserves because I wasn’t entirely sure that I wanted to dedicate four years of active duty.”

For many, the act of serving their country remains a value instilled by family members to pursue. For Palmetto’s Drafting teacher and Coast Guard Auxiliary CS1 culinary specialist/vessel examiner David Soderholm, his father and uncle stemmed the decision to lead a life of service. Serving in a disciplined and respectful environment reminds Soderholm where he comes from and how he can continue giving back to his community in a positive way.

“I enjoy cooking. That’s my specialty with the Coast Guard. I cook on the cutters, the ships out on Miami Beach; I cooked in Opa Locka…I do it because I enjoy doing it.

I love that kind of environment; I respect that kind of environment,” Soderholm said.

“I think one of the things I enjoy the most is when a cutter [ship] comes in and you have to go to the grocery store to buy food for the next five days. There’s nothing better than grocery shopping with a government credit card.”

Continuing her family history of joining the military, Palmetto’s science teacher and Behavioral Health Technician/ Sergeant Danelle Juste knew she wanted to contribute towards continuing that legacy.

While serving, Juste and her unit created a program called ‘Boots on Solid Ground’ to help those who find the transition back to civilian life after being surrounded in a military environment a difficult one.

COAST GUARD army 6 SPACE FORCE NAVY 31 Air Force MARINES CURRENT PALMETTO FACULTY HAVE SERVED IN THE military Military families within palmetto

INFOGRAPHIC INFORMATION FROM MIAMI PALMETTO SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

FEATURE | 13

ETTO’s VETERANS “We go through expectations versus reality, and what may occur once they arrive back home. We talk about resources that are available to them now that they are veterans,” Juste said. “We go through different scenarios that they may experience and how they can react to it. We also talk about how their families can be supportive during this transition, and different situations of that nature.”

On Vete r a n s D a y , many v e t erans a n d those still servi n g spend their day diff e r e n t l y, whether it is pausing to reflect, calling friends they served with or spending time with family.

No matter what one chooses to do, the day holds a special meaning to everyone.

“Usually on Veterans Day I’ll reach out to people that I served with; we’re all spread out. I’m here, one of my closest friends is in New Hampshire, I have an-

other one in California. Usually on Veterans Day we all talk and we try to make a plan to meet somewhere in the middle,” Diaz said.

“We’ll just hang out or we’ll go back to the state where we were based at, and we’ll go hang out somewhere we used to just to relieve and get that experience again.”

On Veterans Day, remembering to pause and acknowledge all that our neighbors do to protect our country remains important in appreciating their bravery. While some may spend the day reconnecting with old friends, others use the time to take care of their wellness.

“I plan to use this day [Veteran’s Day] just to relax and unwind. I feel like I’ve been going so much, and yes I just came back from a deployment, and I came straight into teaching. So I just wanted the day just for myself, just to relax and have a ‘me’ day for some self-reflection and some self-care,” Juste said.

Throughout Juste’s most recent tour and time serving overseas, Palmetto Principal Victoria Dobbs would communicate with her via text message in order to keep in touch and ensure her safety. While a few texts may be viewed as a simple act, this thoughtful gesture led to Juste’s nomination of Dobbs for the “Patriotic Employer” award, which she received from the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve.

Working alongside veterans and overseeing students of military families, Dobbs tries to create an environment where members of the military and those with a military background feel supported. In doing so, she also hopes that members of the schoolhouse took Veterans day as a time to reflect and serve others.

“What you would hope that everyone would do is reflect on the sacrifices that people who have been in the armed forces have done for everyone else…The day is to honor everybody that went into the military for us,” Dobbs said.

Many students at Palmetto and members of the Pinecrest community attended the Pinecrest Veterans Day event at Vet-

erans Wayside Park and did just that. The event honored local Veterans and Gold Star Families. Complete with an Honor Guard presentation, wreath-laying ceremony, picnic and acknowledgement and salutation to those who have served, local residents had the opportunity to acknowledge their neighbors who have given the ultimate sacrifice.

Veterans of all ages, from those having served in World War II, to the Vietnam War and the most recent war in Afghanistan, all gathered together united by their overwhelming sense of patriotism to celebrate their peers and the country they defended.

For some veterans, like George Rauback, Air Force E4, the event served as a time to speak with locals about his time as a photo interpreter and air intelligence specialist in the Vietnam War. Ceremonies like the one held in Pinecrest serve not only as opportunities to thank those who have served, but also educational ones. Even more so, the event allows the community to give thanks for the freedoms they enjoy. Uniting veterans, girl scouts, families, volunteers and public servants, Veterans Day brings everyone together — joined by the American spirit.

“We’re a great country, but you don’t get great without some struggles. These [veterans] are the ones that had the courage to go out there and do the things that are very, very difficult. A lot of the time in doing so, they didn’t come back and they did that for us,” Pinecrest Mayor Joseph Corradino said. “It takes a lot of courage to put yourself in harm’s way for people you don’t know… It’s a thankless job when you get right down to it to put your life on the line for your fellow citizens.”

Angelina Astic

Contents/Copy Editor

a.astic.thepanther@gmail.com

Samantha Elkins News Editor

s.elkins.thepanther@gmail.com

DESIGN BY GIANNA HUTTON PHOTOS COURTESY OF DANELLE JUSTE AND NICHOLAS DIAZ PHOTOS BY GIANNA HUTTON, KATE STUZIN AND ANGELINA ASTIC

07| SPORTS

BEHIND THE SCENES

SPORTS |15

of Palmetto’s Athletic Teams

PHOTO BY ISABELLA HEWITT Dressed in blue collared polos with fitted khakis to match, the 16 members of the Athletic Training Program at Miami Palmetto Senior High School is no different than any other dedicated and hard-working team on campus.

The sports medicine after-school program allows students interested in the field to experience handling real-life sports injuries in a hands-on fashion, while also ensuring the safety, health and well-being of all student athletes at Palmetto.

Sports medicine has three separate ranks based on experience level: trainees, trainers and officers. Before undergoing the certification process, trainees must attend a trial period where they experience the in’s and out’s of the program.

“It starts out with our 10-day trial. I like to think of it like the 30-day Spotify trial; we will send you outside with the trainers, and they will walk you through the setup process for each sport,” Head Student Trainer and Palmetto sophomore Samantha Kilpack said.

“Trainees learn how to set up practices, basic stretches, taping and first aid.”

Becoming a trainer takes a great deal of commitment because of the highly selective initiation process. Due to traction from the club fair, the program started with over 70 interested applicants and only accepted nine new members. During the “tryout,” trainees had the opportunity to work alongside those knowledgeable in the field and afterward had the option of continuing their education as a full trainer by completing a test demonstrating the required skills.

One successful trainee, freshman Oliver Presnall, tested early and passed his exam. For him, remembering all of the steps of taping remains the most challenging part.

“The training itself was pretty easy to learn, but it did require a lot of steps, especially the tape. The single finger taping is what everyone will tell you is the hardest thing,” Presnall said.

Apart from the trainees, full-time certified trainers mostly perform physical therapy based procedures before team practices.

However, for game days at Palmetto, trainers are responsible for filling team water canteens, setting up the training tent and monitoring the game for any injured players, all while also attending to players not on the field.

“We will be on the field and if anything else is needed...We are

always doing something; there’s never a moment when we are just sitting around,” trainer and Palmetto sophomore Nicole Dragoni said.

Away games, especially for sports like football, require hours of preparation before departure and ultimately kickoff.

“Our game days start about four to five hours before the game actually starts. We get all of our equipment ready and double check that everything is ready to get transported on the bus. The rest of the time is [spent] mainly on treatments and taping as well as pregame,” Kilpack said. “And once everything is taken care of we have a bit of down time and go over everyone’s job for the football game.”

As a trainer, members must attend office hours at least three times a week, but most trainers can be found spending all of their free time— often from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. — in the training room because of their love for helping Palmetto’s athletes.

“I go in almost every day, four or five times a week, I usually start right as the school bell rings. I go into the training room and wait for the athletes to start flooding in getting ready for practice,” Kilpack said. “It is a time consuming program to be in, but I am a busy body, so I am always going and going so I love the hectic aspect.”

Over the years, trainers and athletes have established friendships in and out of the training room, creating a big family of Palmetto sports.

“Learning about everyone and who they are, their personalities, we come in almost every day so you become friends with the athletes you treat and establish connections with them,” Dragoni said. “As new trainers come in and as we meet new athletes and new people we are always adding to the family.”

Amy-Grace Shapiro Feature Editor

a.shapiro.thepanther@gmail.com

DESIGN BY ELLA PEDROSO

16 | SPORTS

Sports Betting On Tribal Lands Legalized In Florida Late on Nov. 23, a federal judge threw out Florida’s novel attempt at sports betting, a little over a month since its legalization. Originally on Oct. 15, the Seminole Gaming Compact came into effect, stipulating t h e legalization of sports betting on tribal land in Florida.

Even before the agreement came into effect, two pari-mutuel facilities, Magic City Casino and Bonita Springs Poker Room, filed a federal lawsuit against Florida.

The lawsuit stipulates that the new compact goes against the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), which outlaws betting outside of tribal lands, as well as a 2018 state constitutional amendment which declares that voters must approve of expansions to gambling. The facilities also make the claim that the Seminole Tribe may begin to hold a monopoly on Florida sports betting, which may heavily harm not only their business but that of the Miccosukee as well.

Florida legally recognizes two tribes within the state: the Seminole Tribe and the Miccosukee Tribe. The agreement had given the Miccosukee Tribe and its singular Miami

casino no privileges or access to sports betting.

On Nov. 9, U.S. District Court Judge Dabney L. Friedrich, the federal judge on the case, forced the U.S. Justice Department’s Indian Resources Section to release supplemental briefings on the legality of the compact in connection to the federal IGRA. The Indian Resources Section found that the compact did not violate the IGRA, remaining a state issue. Judge Friedrich stated that she would hand in a decision by Nov. 15, a deadline eight days before the eventual release.

Judge Friedrich ruled that the compact violated the IGRA, and as such voided the entire agreement, largely due to the online sports betting aspect of it.

News of this deal sprung on April 23, when Gov. Ron DeSantis announced a deal with Marcellus Osceola Jr., the current Tribal Council Chairman of the Seminole Tribe of Florida, which would legalize sports betting both physically and online. The Florida State Legislature approved the compact on May 19, with the House voting 97-17 in a special legislative session. On May 25, Gov. DeSantis officially signed off on the bill.

The deal also gave the Seminole Tribe the ability to play craps and roulette on their lands as well as to construct three new casinos in Hollywood, which adds to the two pre-existing casinos in the area.

The 30-year agreement would have had the Seminole Tribe pay the Florida government at least $2.5 billion over the first five years, $6 billion into 2030 and a total of $20 billion for the remaining years. On Oct. 28, the tribe already relinquished its first payment of $37 million to the state. DeSantis also expects the pact to result in the creation of 2,200 new jobs.

With the legalization of sports betting within casinos, individuals were able to bet on smartphones through an app. On Nov. 1, the Seminole Tribe’s Hard Rock Casino allowed sports betting through the newly released Hard Rock Sportsbook app. Run by servers located on Seminole Tribal land, the sports betting features a hub and spoke model. However, in-person sports gambling has yet to

SPORTS |17 What about the rest of the states?

30 13 3 states

fully legalized sports betting

states

legalized mobile betting

begin, possibly holding out until December according to the Seminole Tribe.

The hub and spoke model delineated that the Seminole Tribe existed as the hub while pari-mutuels — locations where legal wagering occurs such as poker rooms, jaialai courts, horse race tracks and former dog race tracks — and the app existed as connecting spokes. This means that willing betters could place wagers from either pari-mutuel facilities not located on tribal lands or from their cell phones, but servers on tribal land process all of the information.

“I personally think that sports betting should be legal for anyone over 18,” Miami Palmetto Senior High School senior and NBA fantasy sports player Fredrico Blanco says.

Blanco, however, still believes that gamblers should play within guidelines.

“There should be limitations, such as how much money you can deposit in a week and a maximum amount of money you can bet,” Blanco said.

The new compact also saw major pushback by DraftKings and FanDuel, two of the largest sports betting services in the country.

On June 24, the companies filed an initiative to propose a constitutional amendment that would legalize statewide commercial mobile sports betting on the upcoming 2022 Florida ballot. To officially move onto the ballot, the companies need to gain 891,589 signatures and then garner 60% of voters’ approval.

On July 12, each company respectively donated $10 million to the cause all in an attempt to etch their mark within the Florida gambling market.

On May 14, 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court eliminated the federal ban on sports betting in Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association, and since then, more than half of all states have legalized sports betting in some format. Of these 27 actively betting states, only 17 states currently allow for online betting. Also, there exists the other five states that are pushing through legislation similarly to Florida.

Florida hoped to find itself amongst this gambling company, but due to current pushback, the Seminole Tribe’s sports betting plan quickly fell apart, and now sports betting remains as it once was, illegal in the state of Florida. Outside of that, Blanco will continue to do as he has done since middle school and continue “betting with chocolate bars instead of money.”

Tomas Curcio Staff Writer

t.curcio.thepanther@gmail.com

DESIGN BY ELLA PEDROSO

states

are pending aproval

18 | OPINION

face off: Turkey with a side of politics?

YES

The holiday season: a time of giving and celebrating the end of year with one’s nearest and dearest. All members of a family gathered around a feast, Christmas tree or menorah. The holidays offer the once-a-year opportunity to speak with family members that one may not see the rest of the year. One may converse with Uncle Joe or Aunt Sally about college applications, the weather, last night’s football game or the head-turner topic: politics. The gathering of all family members and friends of different ages and backgrounds during the holidays offers the perfect forum for cordial political discourse.

The holiday season is a light-hearted time of celebration and bliss. Thus, any discussion at the dinner table should not end with the slamming of chairs or yelling across the room. Political discourse does not have to be divisive; it can be a healthy, civil conversation where one gains greater perspective on different issues.

For politics to easily slip between Dad’s comment on the stuffing and Grandpa’s repetitive anecdote without the tensing of muscles and sideways glances, the conversation must be destigmatized. According to Essential Partners, a nonprofit organization, about 70% of people enter conversations thinking they are good listeners, but only 30% feel heard and understood at the end of the conversation. That feeling at the dinner table where one could cut the air with a knife is due to a lack of easy communication. Family and friends should be able to freely converse about their political opinions during the holidays as long as no one purposely commits an offense. The holidays are a perfect time to catch up on each other’s new opinions, ideas and perspectives on the ever-changing world around us. It is important to let people know where we stand on certain issues — even if it is with a mouthful of stuffing.

Now more than ever, our lives revolve around politics. It is practically impossible to escape the conversation. Friends and family should grow accustomed to spending time with people of different political views without becoming defensive. Political differences do not have to be the reason families tear apart during the holidays. Civil conversation and respect for others may bring us closer together during this special time.

Cayetana Jaramillo Opinion Editor

c.jaramillo.thepanther@gmail.com

NO

The holidays are a time to rejoice with family members from all around the country and even world. In some cases, family members may have not seen each other for over a year. It is the best opportunity to have a conversation about any topic that comes to mind; however, more often than not, the idea of politics comes up at the price of discord created by opposing views. Due to the idea that the holidays should be an opportunity to spend peaceful time with family, politics should not be discussed.

For example, Thanksgiving is all about giving thanks for what we have and cherishing our friends and family. Especially if one does not see these family members on a regular basis, someone could potentially damage familial relationships by discussing politics. Imagine looking forward to seeing family for the first time in many months, just to have that special moment ruined by the discussion of a political issue.

In order to prevent extreme chaos, families must behave in a civilized manner and try to avoid discussing polarizing topics like politics. On Thanksgiving, there is a parade, three football games and in most places, lovely outdoor weather. Families can spend a majority of their time on these activities and enjoy themselves. When it comes to mealtime, the discussion of politics can easily be avoided. As previously mentioned, most family members have not seen each other for several months, so Thanksgiving meals are the perfect opportunity to catch up.

Because of the polarizing political climate, it is important that politics do not mix with family discussions. While it may seem hard to wiggle out of the constricting topic, there are plenty of other topics to discuss. Thanksgiving and the holidays in general should be a time where everyone can enjoy themselves — not a time where everyone is focused on politics.

Eitan Greenberg Copy Editor

e.greenberg.thepanther@gmail.com.

DESIGN BY DENISE VAQUE PHOTOS BY GIANNA HUTTON

PERSONAL ESSAY| 19

Embracing Change:

divided families and the holiday season Throughout my childhood, picturing the day that my parents would divorce had always seemed like a distant reality. Over the course of my time as an adolescent, however, I have learned to accept the reasons why a family’s structure can change and how to embrace these differences with my own emotional security and toughness.

After my parents’ divorce in 2018, my first instinct was to ask myself a seemingly-endless list of questions about all the changes that would occur now that my parents were no longer together. However, the question, “What will we do during the holidays?” crossed my mind especially frequently.

Throughout my life, the holiday season has always been defined by activities such as spending time with my family and partaking in our annual traditions. From eating Thanksgiving dinner alongside my family to waking up on Christmas morning to the sound of family-favorite Christmas songs like “Mele Kalikimaka” and the gentle rustling of gifts around the tree, many of my core memories of childhood are made

up of my family traditions during the holidays. But after my parents’ divorce and my mom’s recent remarriage in the summer of 2021, adjustments had to be made to the typical nuclear family traditions I had grown accustomed to throughout my childhood.

Over time, despite my many concerns about the differences in my family structure, I have always known that I am not alone in my efforts to adapt to these changes. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 21.9 million children in 2018 had a parent living outside of their primary household, representing one-fourth (26.5%) of all children under 21. The average divorce rate among adults aged 20 years and older is 33.5%, with 34% of ever-married women and 33% of ever-married men having been divorced.

The ways in which families adapt to a divorce or remarriage depend entirely on the individual family and their specific dynamic. The typical family may participate in holiday celebrations as one whole group, but in my case, my family collectively found it easier to have my brother and me spend every other holiday season with one parent. For example, in 2020, we spent Christmas and New Year’s Eve with our dad and his side of our family, but we split Thanksgiving among both parents, having lunch with our dad and dinner with our mom.

Coordinating each year’s holiday season can sometimes lead to confusion, and we must

take every factor into consideration, such as travel and school plans. This year, with my mom’s remarriage, our holiday plans were altered once more to include blended family members and their own annual traditions.

My brother and I plan to spend this holiday season with our mom and now-extended family, as well as sharing the Thanksgiving holiday with our dad.

Many children in circumstances similar to my brother and me can relate to this intricate holiday schedule. Whether it be exchanging weeks, weekends or holidays with each parent, the amount of time that the children of a divorced couple is permitted to spend with each parent depends on the collective agreement between the two adults and what works best for each family.

At the time of our parents’ divorce, coming to terms with these adjustments helped my brother and me mature emotionally and grow from our circumstances.

The transition from childhood to adolescence has opened my mind to the many realities of change and the common theme it has held throughout my recent years as a teenager. While not always negative, adapting to the many ways in which change manifests itself through an altered family structure requires an open mind, the ability to accept new circumstances and an understanding of how to make mental progress through what can be a trying situation. My own experiences have taught me how to embrace these new circumstances and aid others in their transition.

Sara Paredes Copy Editor

s.paredes.thepanther@gmail.com

DESIGN BY DENISE VAQUE

20 | OPINION

I'm (M)asking You to Keep Wearing Your Mask Ron DeSantis signed four bills into law on Nov. 18 that made face-coverings no longer mandatory in Florida schools. This eliminated the need for parents to fill out an opt-out form for their children to unmask in all Miami-Dade County Public Schools. This puts the health of all students and faculty, especially unvaccinated elementary-aged students, in grave danger.

As one of the most populous states in the country, Florida should set an example and follow the latest Center for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines: universal indoor masking of students (aged two and older), faculty and visitors to schools, regardless of vaccination status.

DeSantis’s new legislation also removes the need for asymptomatic students or employees to quarantine due to exposure to COVID-19. Just because someone is asymptomatic does not mean they cannot transmit the virus. According to UChicagoMedicine’s 2021 asymptomatic transmission study, asymptomatic COVID-19 infections contribute to over 50% of the spread. Without mandating quarantines to contain the virus, this statistic could become even higher in schools due to students and faculty proximity.

Though evident that COVID-19 has reached a trough in the

vicious cycle of ups and downs in positivity rates, there is no indication that the rates will continue to remain low. Frankly, a major factor keeping positivity rates low is the continuation of enforced mask-wearing.

No one wants to wear a mask; it is an inconvenience. However, Florida can mandate their use, whereas the district has no say in students’ or faculty members’ vaccination status. Masking up is the only defense against COVID-19 that the district has left, and they have chosen to abandon it.

Reality Check’s mask-wearing survey points to 50.8% of unvaccinated individuals choosing to wear a mask in the post office, an area where the government requests unvaccinated visitors to wear masks. This situation parallels DeSantis’s relaxation of masks mandates, as the governing body only allows employees to “strongly encourage” students to wear masks.

Additionally, if students or faculty choose to unmask, it may not have a large effect on their health, but they could play a role in transmitting the virus to immunocompromised students or faculty around them.

According to the CDC, fully vaccinated, immunocompromised people accounted for 44% of breakthrough cases (vaccinated, COVID-positive people) that required hospitalization. Teachers know this, and many have “strongly encouraged” their students to continue using masks or sit in the back of the classroom if they choose to unmask.

The same rhetoric applies to students and faculty who live with young children, although this may change with Pfizer’s rollout of vaccines for children ages 5 through 11. Monica Gandhi, a professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, recommends lifting mask mandates in schools after children may receive both doses of the vaccine — roughly a two-month period.

My opinion may not change state policy; however, I still strive to change the minds of Palmetto students and faculty by urging them to stay masked up until vaccination rates significantly increase.

Kate Stuzin

Managing Editor

k.stuzin.thepanther@gmail.com

DESIGN BY DENISE VAQUE PHOTO BY VALENTINA ARIAS

ADS |21

STAFF

Editor-In-Chief Bella Martin

Print Editor-In-Chief Allison Gould

Online Editor-In-Chief Ana Martinez

Managing Editor Kate Stuzin

Senior Copy Editor Katriona Page

Senior Media Editor Gianna Hutton

Business Manager Julia Strasius

Feature Editor

Amy-Grace Shapiro

Contents Editor Angelina Astic

News Editor

Samantha Elkins

Life Editor Kate Markus

Sports Editor Michael Angee

Opinion Editor

Cayetana Jaramillo

Multimedia Team Mikayla Ashe Valentina Arias Isabella Hewitt Ryan McKean Ava Stuzin

Copy Team

Angelina Astic Eitan Greenberg Nicole Martin Sara Paredes

Design Team Ella Pedroso Jasmine Judge Paul Yan Denise Vaque

Staff Writers Tomas Curcio Ava Garcia

Adviser

Laura Aviles

staff editorial

= When searching for classic Christmas movies on Google, the films that consistently appear are “A Charlie Brown Christmas”, “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation”, “Home Alone”, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and “Miracle on 34th Street.” These movies share the common theme of embracing the holiday spirit; however, the majority of these films highlight the lives of upper-middle class white families and feature heterosexual relationships between a cisgender man and woman.

As a child, I would usually cozy up on the couch with my hot chocolate in hand while watching these movies during the holiday season. I could not help but want to laugh alongside Charlie Brown’s friend group or battle home intruders in Kevin’s mansion. The idea that there could be an Asian Charlie Brown or a gay couple kissing under the mistletoe never crossed my mind. The joyful musical numbers and extravagant costume designs masked the bitter lack of diversity.

I never expected to see any form of representation, as I never thought it would be possible.

As the years passed, it became increasingly difficult to picture myself in the shoes of Charlie Brown. Teasing my slanted eyes and mocking my feminine nature, my classmates made it clearly known that I could never be white or straight. The feelings of comfort and joy I felt by watching these holiday films quickly transformed into discomfort and rejection. The movies were still enjoyable to watch; however, it became much less personal.

The journey of finding representation, specifically in holiday films, continues today. It is almost impossible to ignore the whiteness that classic holiday movies promote. The lack of diversity leaves me waiting for the release of a movie featuring a gay, Asian Charlie Brown Christmas.

Paul Yan

Design Editor

p.yan.thepanther@gmail.com

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MISSION STATEMENT The Panther staff aims to inform fellow students and parents about school-wide, local, national, and international news. The Panther’s content aims to represent the student body. Editorials feature the opinions of staffers. Features of other students, teachers and clubs further promote the spirit, culture and personality of Miami Palmetto Senior High School.

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ANTI-DISCRIMINATION POLICY The School Board shall comply with all Federal Laws and regulations prohibiting discrimination and all requirements and regulations of the U.S. Department of Education. The Board will enforce its prohibition against discrimination/harassment based on sex, race, color, ethnic, or national origin, religion, marital status, disability, age, political beliefs, sexual orientation, gender, gender identification, social and family background, linguistic preference, pregnancy and any other basis prohibited by law. The Board shall maintain an educational and work environment free from all forms of discrimination/harassment, which includes Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. Title IX prohibits sexual harassment and other sexual misconduct such as unwelcome touching, graphic verbal comments, sexual jokes, slurs, gestures or pictures. All students, administrators, teachers, staff, and all other school personnel share responsibility for avoiding, discouraging, and reporting any form of prohibited discrimination or harassment against students by employees, other students and their parents or guardians, or third parties. This policy prohibits discrimination and harassment at all School District operations, programs, and activities on school property, or at another location if it occurs during an activity sponsored by the Board.