The Panther 2019-2020 Issue 3: End of an Era

PANTHER

the

V 62|N3

Miami Palmetto Senior High School

7460 SW 118 Street, Miami, FL 33156

Tuesday 10 December 2019

End of an Era

December

contents

Life

Art Honor Society

4

8

News YOUth Speaker Series

17 11

Feature

Sports

Successful Winter Sport Teams

New Year, New Building

Opinion

One Size Does Not Fit All

19

Behind the

COVER Valentina Caceres (11) takes pictures of Donnie Martin, Luca Rodriguez (11) and Loni Perse as they pose in front of the new building.

NewsBRIEFS Local

Miami lawmakers proposed a new bill that would remove tolled express lanes from the Palmetto Expressway while also banning the state of Florida from creating new tolls on the highway. If the proposal is approved, it would take effect July 1, 2020, and the legislative session will begin Jan. 14. The bills come nearly three months after the express lanes debuted on the southbound lanes of the Palmetto. Leaders of the No More Tolls Movement disagree with the proposal and have began collecting signatures for a citizen led bill against tolls.

National

Letter to the

EDITOR

Dear Editor,

I really enjoy the design and overall concept of the story “My Mental Health Journey.”

I’m appreciative of the representation for those kids struggling with mental health.

It’s nice to know that we are not alone when it comes to mental health and it’s a way to encourage those struggling and gives them that push to keep persevering.

Kai Sanz (9) *Submit letters to n.markus.thepanther@gmail.com. or Room 980.

Letters may be edited for length, grammar and clairty.

Check out our website www.thepalmettopanther.com

This year’s Black Friday was the biggest ever for online sales in the US. Turning away from stores and towards the internet, shoppers rang up nearly $7.4 billion in transactions. This year’s Black Friday online sales fell just behind last year’s Cyber Monday haul of $7.9 billion, which holds the one-day record for online sales, according to Adobe Analytics.Traffic. Sales at malls and stores decreased by 2.1% on Black Friday since a year ago, according to RetailNext.

The trend of retail stores closing has contributed to an increase in online sales this Black Friday.

International

Developers from China and Venezuela have targeted Miami’s Little Haiti as a prime candidate for climate gentrification, as a result of its elevated location. Miami is the first city to study the impacts of climate gentrification, a shift in consumer preferences for higher ground while climate change spurs sea level rise, displacing poor residents in select communities.

Dozens of businesses have already evacuated the community. The Magic City Innovation District said the commencencement of the nearly 18-acre residential project would be built in phases over 15 years, according to the Miami Herald.

Julia Strasius Design Editor

j.strasius.thepanther@gmail.com

Pinecrest YOUth Series

04 NEWS

Brings Interactive Speakers to Students

The Pinecrest Youth Advisory Council, started under former Mayor Cindy Lerner, currently includes 18 students dedicated to making a change in their community. The students involved with YAC host community service projects, volunteer at Pinecrest events and provide opportunities for those in the community.

This year, they started a new interactive speaker series, the YOUth Series.

“The Pinecrest Youth Advisory Council’s main function is to serve as a bridge between the youth demographic of Pinecrest and the council members.

As a result, our council should be doing everything in its power to bring in the topics of interest and things that people want to see and learn and get done in the community,” Pinecrest YAC Chair and junior Robert Mazer said. “The Pinecrest YOUth series is the manifestation of those hopes.”

The YOUth Series, aimed at young people across Pinecrest and Miami-Dade County, brings in interactive speakers from a host of different backgrounds with a focus that relates to students in some way.

The first speaker, Officer Danny Smith — who also serves as Palmetto’s baseball coach — gave a presentation on Nov. 8 about the dangers of drunk driving and driving while distracted. He told multiple personal stories, including one about his best friend and brother, Robert Smith, who was killed by a drunk driver.

“I thought the first event was a smashing success. It was very meaningful, and I think everyone who attended would agree,” Mazer said. “It’s very impactful especially for the youth demographic

because so many of them are young drivers. I feel like the experience may have opened their eyes and made them more conscious about what they’re doing while they’re driving so that they can be

safer on the roads and make Pinecrest as a whole, a safer place.”

Those who attended felt the impact of Officer Smith’s words, the goal of having him speak in the first place.

“It for sure impacted me,” YOUth Series attendee and junior Luke Enfield said. “When I drive now I will always remember that speech.”

Pinecrest Councilmember and PTSA Member Katie Abbott also gave a presentation at a YOUth Series event on Nov. 21. Her presentation focused on how students should prepare for job, college or scholarship interviews, as well as how to stand out and make a lasting impression on the interviewer.

“Interviewing is a skill just like any other skill; it’s something that you can develop and work on and improve on.

So the goal is to talk to students about what they’ll likely find in an interview, whether it’s for your college or for a job, how to prepare for it, possible questions you might be asked, what to bring to an interview, what to dress for an interview,” Abbott said. “It’s just a skill that isn’t usually taught in school but it’s something that is very important to succeed.”

All students have the opportunity to attend the YOUth Series free of charge.

They take place at 4:30 on Fridays in the Pine Room at the Pinecrest Community Center. For more information — including dates the YOUth series events will occur — follow @pinecrestyac on Instagram.

Nicole Markus

Print Editor-In-Chief

n.markus.thepanther@gmail.com PHOTO BY NICOLE MARKUS DESIGN BY CAMILLA BONDY

NEWS 05

New Classes at palmetto This year, Palmetto’s curriculum expanded with the addition of two new elective options: the History of Rock and Roll (officially called Contemporary History) and Advanced Placement Comparative Government.

Reinstated this year after a brief break, the History of Rock and Roll now flourishes after Joel Soldinger, who also teaches AP Macroeconomics, decided to take up the responsibility.

“It was a class two years ago, and then we took a year off, and started again this year,” Soldinger said. “I wanted to teach it, so I just asked Ms. Dobbs and Mr. Barreras if I could recruit some people, and I made flyers, and I ended up getting a section of it.”

Unlike AP Music Theory or Band, the History of Rock and Roll’s course of study developed recently.

“Well, there’s a great curriculum. It was written by Little Steven Van Zandt, who is Bruce Spingsteen’s guitarist,” Soldinger said. “It’s called TeachRock. org and it’s different things: basically [it] takes American history and shows how the music mirrors what’s happening in history.”

Although coined “History of Rock and Roll” among students on campus, the class extends beyond the study of just that genre.

“I wanted to learn about all kinds of music, which we do. The official name of the class is actually Contemporary History, so it’s about all kinds of the history of music, not just rock and roll,” current Rock and Roll student and senior Harper Jacobs said.

Additionally, the classroom dynamic proves more unconventional than that of traditional music classes.

“So we walk in and he’ll play us music and have us write down our

interpretations of the songs and what messages it evokes,” Jacobs said. “He also has each person pick out a Tiny Desk Concert and we get to talk about that person for the class period.”

“Tiny Desk Concerts” is a video series run by the National Public Radio.

“I chose Chance the Rapper, and we learned about him, his family and his music,” Jacobs said.

The course helps students develop critical skills useful for all classes.

“I think the whole idea of teaching and learning in general is just to make you a more critical thinker [and] expand your knowledge base; they’re going to be able to look at things through a different lens,” Soldinger said.

SUBJECT SELECTION FORM ROCK N’ ROLL COMP. GOV Students also gained a new social studies elective this year: AP Comparative Government.

Kenneth Spiegelman teaches the class, along with AP Seminar and AP United States Government.

“Last Spring, Mr. Hayduk asked me if I would be interested in teaching it; he knew I had taught it at Beach High for several years,” Spiegelman said.

Oftentimes, the content in AP U.S. Gov. and Comparative Gov. overlap.

“About the first 30% of Comparative Government is learning concepts and

essential vocabulary that apply to both Comparative Government and U.S. Government and how governments work, so there’s a lot of crossover information,” Spiegelman said.

Senior Ilana Keusch enrolled in both classes and plans to major in government in college. “[Spiegelman] gives previews into U.S. Gov. and how it compares to the different countries — especially how different it is from the U.K.— so it gives a unique perspective on how our government works compared to other ones,” Keusch said.

AP Comparative Government, as in the name, focuses on comparing political structures across the globe.

“I think we’re in a very global world right now; the six countries that are the focus of this course (Nigeria, UK, China, Russia, Mexico, and Iran) are all very important in the news right now,” Spiegelman said. “Part of the idea of the AP Comparative Government class was to appeal to students in Capstone and FIA because of the international and global approach of the course,” Spiegelman said.

The structure of the class follows Spiegelman’s Socratic approach, focusing on interactive discussion and writing.

“Spiegelman makes it very easy to listen to and learn some of the ‘less fun stuff’ like very mundane things, like how the executive is picked,” Keusch said.

“You wouldn’t think that’d be fun or interesting, but Spiegelman always finds a way.”

Allison Strasius Editor-In-Chief

a.strasius.thepanther@gmail.com DESIGN BY CAMILLA BONDY

06 NEWS

panthers Provide

palmetto participates in drives to help the community With the arrival of the holiday season, Palmetto organizes school-wide Thanksgiving and toy drives. Helping students and the community, these drives have a huge impact on those in need.

These drives collect large amounts of food and toys to donate to local organizations and gain support from nearly all clubs and honor societies.

November Thanksgiving drives have two destinations: bags with school supplies and other necessities go to underprivileged Palmetto students, while boxes full of Thanksgiving food go to school board member Lawrence Feldman’s drive for Christ Fellowship.

“We have 27 bags, and tons of food. I would say close to 50 boxes filled with food,” Activities Director Elizabeth Valero said.

With over 60 student organizations on campus, contributions often exceed expectations.

However, these items are not wasted — they end up benefiting the community too, since security guard Amy McCornick’s daughter, Wanda Bragg, donates the extra items to the Courtney Vega Sports Athletics Foundation in Homestead.

“I started to notice that there were so many families within the community that were struggling and couldn’t make their ends meet and I saw a need to provide for them,” Bragg said. “[The donations] go to families that are less fortunate during the holidays so they may not be able to provide the meals to their kids and [the Courtney Vega Sports Athletics Foundation] provide those meals to assist.”

The partnership between the school

and the foundation, which started a couple of years ago, provided over a hundred families with meals last year.

“We shelter one of the local schools down in the Homestead area and community centers where we can identify families that truly need the assistance and also be very discreet and private about selecting them because a lot of people don’t ask because

they don’t want people to know [their situation],” Bragg said.

The school activities’ office also organizes a school-wide drive for different items to donate to underprivileged students at Palmetto. Each of the selected students receives a bag of school supplies and other necessities. The items come from students that donate through clubs and honor societies.

“These projects are not just within the

community. Some of our own students need some help and some support,” National Honor Society sponsor and counselor Lisa Mallard said.

Other than school-wide drives, students also organize their own community service projects and promote them at the school.

“We have many, many of our students that are involved with many community services projects not just inside of school but also outside,” Mallard said. “The members have the opportunity to bring it to the school and have different drives to help other students, other schools, students within our school and they really lead those community service projects each month.”

Through schoolorganized, student-led and club-sponsored projects in and outside of school, students and members of the community have the opportunity to give back to those that need it most.

“We’re all panthers.

Once a panther, always a panther,” Mallard said.

The Activities Office organizes a yearly December toy drive that donates presents to kids at the Courtney Vega Sports Athletic Foundation, as well as contributes to a toy drive organized by local firefighters. New, unwrapped toys, excluding stuffed animals, are due on Dec. 12. If you are interested in supporting this cause, do not hesitate to reach out and donate this holiday season.

Kristine Villarroel Life Editor

k.villarroel.thepanther@gmail.com PHOTO BY ALLISON STRASIUS DESIGN BY CAMILLA BONDY

BEYOND THEBRUSH All across the walls of Miami Palmetto Senior High School, the creations of previous art students have beautified the school. But the art department’s (@palmetto_ art) and the National Art Honor Society’s (@ nahspalmetto) work spans far beyond the murals that decorate t h e

school.

F r o m art-related community service projects to helping students develop a passion for creating artwork, the community is flooded with culture thanks to the efforts of Palmetto’s art department.

“We drew these little pumpkins with DESIGN BY JULIA STRASIUS PHOTOS BY GIANNA HUTTON AND GEMMA TORRAS ARTWORK BY ABBIGAIL SCHROLL

Sharpie markers and then we donated this to a Children’s Hospital,” National Art Honor Society sponsor and art teacher Dr. John Salomon said.

With these beneficial acts for the community, the club boosts the morale of participants and gives underprivileged individuals the same artistic opportunities that Palmetto students receive.

“I organized our trip last year where we raised money for…the Lotus House…We donated our supplies... to their program over there,” senior, National Art Honor Society president and Art Silver Knight Nominee Abigail Schroll said.

Lotus House aims to improve the lives of local homeless women and youth by providing a plethora of tools to help foster individualism and growth.

I n s i d e the classroom, students are encouraged to express themselves creatively, facing new challenges through the different prompts they receive.

“You have to challenge yourself to learn how to do more realistic work like not outlining or shading,” sophomore, Portfolio 1 Honors student and Vice President of the National Art Honor Society Lia Pires said.

The new challenges students face through these prompts can help open their eyes to different art mediums that they would not have known about if not for the art program.

“My favorite projects have been the anatomical drawings using Microns.

At first, I found it kind of tedious, to be honest, but I grew to really enjoy it,” senior and AP Art student Victoria

LIFE|07

Amorim said. ”I also love science, so it was a really cool combination of my favorite interests.”

By participating in art competitions on a national level, such as the “Custom Culture” competition by Vans through Christine Moros’s art class, Palmetto students have many opportunities to showcase their talent.

“We design the shoes, we take pictures of the shoes and we compete nationally. We always get a little closer; we haven’t really won the big prize yet, but we’re hoping that someday we will,” Salomon said.

Overall, the classroom environment provides a different experience for sprouting artists by teaching them practical lessons such as time management.

“It taught me discipline. Prior to coming here, I didn’t really have any due dates for anything. So moving from having months to finish to having something like a week really kind of made me work a lot faster,” Schroll said.

With over six art classes offered at Palmetto, students have several opportunities to learn more about art and hone in on their skills.

“Palmetto’s art program definitely motivated me to explore different styles and experiment with different media and techniques that I hadn’t ever considered using before,” Amorim said.

“I appreciate Dr. Salomon for always pushing me to make more sophisticated and detailed pieces and telling me how I can make my art better. It’s not always fun to hear criticism about your work, but that’s how you improve as an artist and person.”

Gianna Hutton Design Editor

g.hutton.thepanther@gmail.com

08|LIFE

CARBON FOOTPRINT

OF OF SHOES SHOES

When buying shoes, one usually considers their price or aesthetic rather than picturing them rotting in a landfill, contributing to pollution and waste.

However, unless consumers take major action, this will remain their fate. According to the Washington Post, the annual global production of shoes surpasses 20 billion pairs per year.

Besides adding to plastic waste, shoes also contribute to the release of greenhouse gasses such as carbon dioxide because of the release of harmful toxins when shoes decompose.

As an employee at Farm Sanctuary in California — a company that advocates for the planet and fair treatment of all living things — Palmetto alumni Aliana Turkel knows firsthand the detrimental effects of the rapid consumption of shoes.

“Abolishing consumerism and capitalism is necessary to address the issue of clothes’ environmental impact,” Turkel said. “We’re operating in a system that treats our planet’s finite resources as if they are infinite, so I think finding ways to make closed loop manufacturing is a must.”

A primary issue concerning the environmental impact of shoes stems from the fact that it is not considered a hotbutton topic that many people know about.

“Awareness is how we can solve this issue and if people don’t think about it, nothing will be done,” Advanced Placement Biology teacher Dr. Sara Edelman said.

Since shoes remain a basic necessity, environmental damage does

not simply occur while being worn or while sitting in a closet — it only occurs during the final stages of the shoe life cycle. The cycle starts off with manufacturing; this involves large machinery, which requires fossil fuels that produce greenhouse gases.

The final stage occurs once the consumer throws them away, and they end up in a landfill to decompose. This releases the toxins that lie within their rubber and plastic makeup.

Shoes pose one of the largest threats to the environment through their release of toxic gases. The concept of donating or thrifting shoes may remedy this issue.

However, shoes often end up being used by only one person before being thrown away.

“I love sneakers, and I try to use them as long as I possibly can, and then I donate them. But I know that’s only half the problem, and because I run I need to buy new sneakers for the health of my feet,” Edelman said.

Besides thrifting, solutions to this issue include recycling shoes and turning the plastic found in shoes into fabric and textiles. More companies have begun to use these methods in order to reduce their carbon footprint and give consumers an environmentally-friendly option. Some of these companies include Threads 4 Thought, Thaikila and even Converse, which has created 100% recycled shoes for their Renew Collection.

In terms of a local

solution, Palmetto Solar Converse, which has created 100% recycled shoes for their “Renew Collection.”

In terms of a local solution, Palmetto Solar Energy Honors students have created a thrift store at Palmetto, allowing students to trade in new clothes without negatively impacting the environment.

“I think learning how to recycle already-manufactured textiles and using that material to make new clothing would work best,” senior and environmental activist Nicole Gazo said. “By upcycling old clothing, you reduce the demand for new products as well as the amount of clothing waste entering our landfills.”

It remains in the hands of consumers everywhere to rethink their buying habits and decide which companies to purchase clothing from, especially shoes.

“It is also the responsibility of the consumer to understand their purchasing power and recognize that every time you buy new products, you add on to the amount of waste you’re responsible for,” Gazo said.

Olivia Solomon

Advertising Chair

o.solomon.thepanther@gmail.com

DESIGN BY JULIA STRASIUS

IS FACEBOOK our new LIFE|09

textbook textbook?

How social media has incorporated itself into lesson plans In an age where social media dominates most aspects of life, the classroom is no exception. Teachers and administrators around Miami Palmetto Senior High School find that using different forms of social media is a convenient medium for communication and allows for greater accessibility between them and students. However, the generational gap between teachers and students may serve as an interruption in this seemingly fluid communication.

“The platforms that we use as adults are not compatible with what you all are using for social media,” Palmetto’s College Advisement Planning Counselor Harry Nerenberg said. “Your main medium is ‘Snapchat,’ and we’re not coming into that world.”

Despite teachers’ lack of understanding of the world of “Snapchat,” teacher-student communication has never been as efficient as it has since the birth of social media.

Apps such as “Edmodo” and “Schoology” let teachers post classwork and homework assignments, making students responsible for checking these apps to complete their work. These apps can also assist teachers with organization and making students aware of their lesson plans.

“I think if I were a classroom teacher, social media would be perfect because you’re forced into using what the teacher is using if you want the grade,” Nerenberg said. “For a teacher, it makes the most sense to use social media to communicate to all of their students.”

Students also appreciate the convenience of these applications. They not only allow students to know exact

assignments, but also give students the opportunity to ask their teacher questions during after school hours. If unsure about an assignment, a student can simply type out a question from the comfort of their home, and teachers can respond with the click of a button.

“I check the apps like once every three days. When I forget things, they’re really nice to have because it’s just like an extra reminder,” senior Gracie Paredes said.

Teachers can also incorporate social media into their curriculums. With this, students feel more engaged with the content they learn. The course then gains a sense of relevancy, bridging the gap between students’ daily activities and their education.

Eleventh grade English teacher Laken Darst assigned a “TikTok” project in which her students created videos covering content they learned in their class.

“I said to the kids, ‘Hey I think I want to do a ‘TikTok’ project,’ and they were like, ‘Oh my God, yes.’ They were super thrilled about it,” Darst said.

However, with creative projects like this, students may overlook the academic part and focus solely on the fun aspect .

“I think that if used properly, it definitely can help with education, but you have to have the perfect kids and the perfect set of instructions,” Darst said. “Everything has to align properly. There’s a lot of unpredictable factors that go into it.”

AP Macroeconomics teacher Joel Soldinger applies this type of media throughout his course as well. With an “Instagram” page (@dogonomics), Soldinger references topics related to macroeconomics or aspects of his classroom in a comedic manner, promoting a fun yet educational learning environment.

“I use it as something to try to make economics fun,” Soldinger said. “I don’t think it’s going to necessarily teach you economics, but it can help you remember things you already know.”

Communication between teachers and students is of utmost importance, thus highlighting the significance of these applications. Even having a resource other than email to contact teachers makes them seem more approachable.

“Even though not all teachers use the apps, it’s just like another way to talk to teachers without needing to email them, and it’s nice,” Paredes said.

While a variety of platforms of communication proves beneficial, social media in the classroom can also be considered a slippery slope toward miscommunication.

“I think it’s a great way of communicating, but I still think, in the end, there’s nothing better than personal contact and the written word,” Nerenberg said.

Although unconventional, employing social media as a creative tool for learning proves an effective and dynamic form of teaching. Students benefit, and teachers feel more connected to their students.

Joanna Salvat

Online Editor-In-Chief

j.salvat.thepanther@gmail.com

DESIGN BY JULIA STRASIUS

10 AD

DAVID OSCAR MARKUS MONA E. MARKUS A. MARGOT MOSS LAUREN I. DOYLE TODD YODER

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WONDERFUL NEWSPAPER STAFF

SHIRLEY THE CAT wishes everyone a happy

HOLIDAYS!

FEATURE 11

new year,

new school

Palmetto Senior High is currently undergoing a dramatic transformation. A major portion of the school, including the main entrance, will soon be demolished and the new building will open its doors to Palmetto’s staff and students. Palmetto reacts to the upcoming transition and reflects on the memories made in the older buildings. Considering the parts of the buildings that will be taken down have been part of Palmetto since its establishment, many have been emotionally impacted by the upcoming change. However, because the new building is filled with potential for academic growth and advancement, Palmetto expresses excitement towards the opening, marking the end of this construction period.

12 FEATURE

DESIGN BY SYDNEY CAMPBELL

PHOTOS BY NICOLE MARKUS, LISSETTE MARTINEZ , VALENTINA CACERES, GEMMA TORRAS AND JACOB GRINDSTAFF

Since its establishment in 1958, Miami Palmetto Senior High School holds countless memories for students and staff.

However, the atmosphere of the school is transforming quickly since the Miami-Dade County School Board approved the construction plan to renovate in the 2018 school year; the buildings including the 100-800 wings will soon be demolished as part of their two-phase plan. New structures will soon become accessible to students and teachers alike, including the new three-story building on 120th St. that will eventually become the new front of the school for Palmetto.

Students and faculty have expressed mixed emotions and reactions in response to the construction. Some look forward to finally being able to use some of Palmetto’s newer facilities, while others will also miss the memories they have in the older buildings. As January moves closer, Palmetto has been preparing for the move from the older buildings to the new one.

CONSTRUCTION OVERVIEW The construction on Palmetto will move all classes — with the exception of classrooms in the 1000 and 2000 buildings — and will be separated into two phases; phase one includes the redesigned front of the school and media center, while phase two introduces several new buildings in place of the 100-800 wings and other older buildings within the school.

“The current plans are to completely redo our entire campus, from the brand new building on 120th St. to the remodeling of what was our media center...and all of that should be done by January,” Palmetto principal Victoria Dobbs said. “From that phase, we go into phase two, which is the demolition of [the 100-300 buildings] and the 500-700 buildings…in their place, we’re going to have a visual and performing arts wing, a brand new cafeteria,...a blackbox theater and the auditorium will be refurbished.”

Dobbs estimates that the second phase of construction will likely be completed sometime in 2021.

The construction has had a huge impact on the day-to-day lives of everyone at Palmetto, from changed routes in response to closed hallways to having to get used to working with construction noises in the background. While there have not been many major disruptions to the learning process, there have been noticeable differences in Palmetto’s daily operations.

“The construction is going to pay off once we move into the new buildings, but until then, it makes the hallways crowded, especially coming in and out of the 2000s,” junior Luca Rodriguez said.

The construction began around the same time as the start of the 20182019 school year. The lot previously allocated for the outdoor basketball courts was cleared and construction on the new building began shortly after. Additionally, the building that previously held the media center was torn down over this past summer to allow for a new media center and classrooms to replace it. The construction has moved along as planned, and it will hopefully be open to Palmetto very soon.

“The building should be ready by January for the students to move in,” construction manager Felipe Consuegra said.

“

The building should be ready by January for the students to move in.”

“

Construction manager Felipe Consuegra

SAYING GOODBYE Once the first phase of construction is completed, Palmetto will officially commence the demolition of the 100-800 wings. As the oldest buildings in Palmetto, they hold a lot of the school’s history and plenty of memories for students and teachers alike, such as English teacher Loni Perse’s student breakfast gone wrong.

“Maybe 10 years ago, I let my AP students make breakfast in [my classroom] one time, and I told them to keep it very low-key. The kids brought in a waffle maker, an electric frying pan, a coffee maker…and I only had two outlets in this room,” Perse said. “So, something that was supposed to be low-key turned into a major event because we blew the power in the wing, and everyone lost power because we plugged so many things in.”

While the idea of having modernized classrooms and brand new technology has been an exciting prospect, some people will also miss the memories that the older buildings in Palmetto hold. Statistics teacher Peter Migli, who has taught at Palmetto since 1985, views his classroom as a home away from home.

“I really am going to miss my room, and I’m going to miss the DESIGN BY SYDNEY CAMPBELL

14 FEATURE

reminders in here that I have of both my current students and former students,” Migli said. “Undoubtedly, I will make new memories in my new room, and I won’t forget the memories in here, but I won’t have those daily reminders of those memories, and I think that’s what I’m going to miss.”

SAYING HELLO The more positive side of the demolition is the preparations made to move to the new building. This building is unlike anything Palmetto has ever had, taking up a sizable area of land across 120th St. and standing three stories tall. The new building also includes newly-landscaped areas, allowing Palmetto to introduce courtyards to the campus. The construction has moved along relatively quickly, impressing numerous Palmetto students.

“I was walking past the front of the building one day…and I was amazed. I think it is coming out really nice,” senior Mazen Selim said.

The move to the new building has been highly anticipated

by Palmetto students, since the construction began less than two years ago. Some students are concerned traffic patterns will change once the new building is opened, but believe that they will quickly adjust.

“At first it’s going to be hard and it will take some getting used to, but after a week or two, it will be easier to know your way around,” Rodriguez said.

FINAL PREPARATIONS Although the construction has only gone on within Palmetto for a little over a year, it has felt like an era of its own. Despite the hardships it has caused, the construction nears its end and the $52.7-million project to make Palmetto a more modern and technologically-advanced school will soon allow students to grow.

“In the end, the little bit of pain and suffering we’ve had to go through is going to pay off,” Dobbs said. “We are going to have a really beautiful building that everyone is going to feel so good about that it will be worth it.”

Lissette Martinez Feature Editor

l.martinez..thepanther@gmail.com

Jack Meyer

News Editor DESIGN BY SYDNEY CAMPBELL

j.meyer.thepanther@gmail.com

PAY to

In September, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed the state’s Fair Play to Play Act into law, becoming the first state in the nation to allow college athletes to profit off their name, image and likeness, a practice currently banned by the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

This prompted other lawmakers — like Florida’s U.S. Senator Marco Rubio and Florida Governor Ron Desantis — to introduce new legislation.

“It’s awesome that [athletes] get a scholarship to college, but I do think... that there should be a little more of an incentive,” head Palmetto football coach Mike Manasco said. “They really deserve more compensation, especially when big schools are profiting off their likeness by selling jerseys and the athletes get no cut of those sales.”

While Rubio will work at a national level to create a standard for compensating college athletes, DeSantis will work with the Florida legislature at the state level.

The NCAA has said the law would prohibit schools in California from participating in NCAA events, which has led many to question the future of college athletics.

“So the NCAA is the governing body, but schools don’t have to be in the NCAA if they don’t want to be. If schools decide to start paying their athletes, they would end up leaving the NCAA and making a new league,” Manasco said. “It would really kind of screw up the landscape of college football for a while, so I have a feeling that the NCAA will begin to compensate their athletes a little more to avoid losing teams.”

The proposed bill will most likely affect more popular college sports like football and basketball, since they generate more revenue. This has not stopped recruited Palmetto athletes in other sports from voicing their opinions on the issue.

“I hope that Rubio follows through and makes a bill that would help to

P L AY

further compensate all athletes nationwide, especially when it comes to qualifying for a cost of attendance stipend,” senior and future track and field runner for the University of Florida Jordan Shapiro said.

In January 2015, colleges in the Power Five conferences — the Big 12, Southeastern, Big Ten, Atlantic Coast and Pac-12 — began providing cost of attendance stipends. According to the NCAA, the amount of the stipend varies by school, ranging from about $2,000 to $4,000 to cover cost-of-living expenses.

“Though most schools offer cost of attendance money, because of the conference we’re in, my school can’t do that,” senior and future tennis player for Samford University Alyssa Hayduk said.

“I’m going on a full ride and I have a meal plan, but as soon as I leave campus for tennis matches, food is not covered and I don’t have any time to work since I’ll be spending all of my free time practicing.”

On the other hand, some of Palmetto’s student athletes feel that compensating athletes could have negative effects on player morale.

“I definitely think paying college athletes could benefit a lot of kids, but at the same time, it could gear kids into playing their sport for the wrong reasons, rather than playing the sport because the love it,” senior and future lacrosse player for Youngstown University Shannon Cullen said. “The better athletes who are already kind of above

85% 71%

everyone else will be looked at to be sponsored, and all the attention will be put onto them and taken away from their respective teams.”

All opinions aside, the new California law has sparked a nationwide trend and garnered tons of political support. The future of college athletics lies in the hands of America’s lawmakers.

Kate Stuzin Copy Editor

k.stuzin.thepanther@gmail.com PHOTO BY VALENTINA CACERES DESIGN BY GIANNA HUTTON

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16 SPORTS

Gimme two claps and a

For years, the Variations dance team have entertained Palmetto with their dynamic performances. Students always witness a show-stopping performance from the Variations. They make it look easy, but behind the scenes, the dancers put their all into every performance.

While other teams on campus only play for a portion of the year, the Variations practice yearround. They begin preparing before the school year even begins.

Every summer, they hold a boot camp at school, before attending the ADA Dance Camp at Barry University for three days.

“With the actual camp, we do a lot of team bonding, and it prepares us for being together for the rest of the year, and it allows us to get back into our dancing mindset,” sophomore dancer Katherine Cruz-Alvarez said.

The summer camp also helps incoming freshmen dancers feel more comfortable with their new environments.

“It was really helpful in picking up choreography.

It comes super natural to me now because that weekend was just learning dance after dance after dance,” freshman dancer Vi c t o r i a

V

Garcia-Puga said.

Students look forward to pep rally performances the most, going wild as soon as the Variations start dancing. However, these performances are not as fun and easy as they seem.

“The process of preparing for pep rallies comes with rigorous practices, hard work ethic, and a ton of stamina,” senior and

Variations t e a m captain Paige Samuels said.

Preparation for pep rallies can take up to three weeks. The team uses a dance combination f r o m t h e summer camp for the first pep rally, but they have to alter the dance, and even cut their own music.

“For the next one, we have to come up with it on our own, which is more challenging, because we have so many ideas and everyone wants to pitch in, so me and Paige, as captains, we take over and choreograph and teach the girls,” senior and Variations team captain Sierra Taylor

said.

Going into the school year, Taylor and Samuels are working together to make this an unforgettable year.

“I am putting forth maximum effort to make it a great year for everyone and push Variations to the best of their ability,” Samuels said.

For this to happen, the captains have to make sure the team can work well together, on and off stage.

“I’m doing team bonding with the girls, and I feel like if we get closer, then it’s gonna help with us on stage,” Taylor said.

The Variations just held their annual fall show. The team put hours of hard work into the show, practicing from 2:30 P.M. to 5:30 P.M. four times a week. They also hope this sends their message to the school.

“At the pep rallies they see the fun stuff, which is a lot of hard work in itself, but the actual dance show shows how hard we are working and how much we really care about what we do,” Cruz-Alvarez said.

This year is the Variations’ first time competing. It has made the practice schedule even tougher, but the team accepts the challenge.

“We’ve improved a lot over the years, so I think now the girls on the team want to do it because we think that we’ve been working really hard and deserve to be recognized for our hard work,” junior dancer Peyton Mandelbaum said.

Valentina Caceres Multimedia Editor

v.caceres.thepanther@gmail.com DESIGN BY GIANNA HUTTON PHOTOS BY GIANNA HUTTON

SPORTS 17

During the fall sports season, with hard work, dedication and practice, a few standout athletes saw impressive individual results, while also helping their respective teams achieve victory.

The boys’ swim team won every meet of their regular season; later, at regionals, the team placed second before placing 15th in the Florida High School Class 4A State Championships. Sophomore Kyle Korvick helped the team rack up points at each stage, often coming in first place in individual events.

The boys’ bowling team also had a successful season, finishing fifth at districts. Junior Connor Pipho went on to become the 2019 Florida High School State Bowling Championships runner-up and made the All-Dade first team for the second year in a row.

Palmetto girls’ varsity volleyball lost only one regular season game and made it to the district quarterfinals, assisted by senior Jayla Patterson.

All three teams and their respective a t h l e t e s

PALMETTO SPORTS don’t FALL behind

follow a strict practice regimen, often practicing everyday or throughout the year — perhaps the reason for their success.

“In order to be in the best possible shape for this season, the majority of the swimmers trained hard year round, myself included,” Korvick said. “...This season was a blast and we dominated at every single meet... Although much faster than last year, districts was a breeze and both boys and girls won.”

Individually, Korvick placed first in the 100 and 200-yard freestyle at both districts and regionals for the second year in a row. At states, he placed third and fourth in the 100 and 200-yard freestyle.

For 2020, he has even higher aspirations.

“For me, personally, states could have gone better, but I gave my best effort and I couldn’t be happier,” Korvick said. “My goals for next year are to win both of my individual events at states.”

Bowler Connor Pipho attributes the team’s, as well as his own victories, to practice and easier competition.

“We prepare by taking practice seriously and acting like we are in a match and just try to shoot our best score we can,” Pipho said. “And once I got back from [a national tournament], I went and I practiced every weekend so I could improve and this year it helped me...It just happened that we went against teams that weren’t super extraordinarily good and we just bowled better than them on that given day.”

On the girls volleyball team, underclassmen stepped up to help the team end with an 11-1 record — their only loss being to Coral Reef — but commitment and

team camaraderie were equally important factors.

“We practiced everyday after school.

I would only miss practice if I was extremely s i c k , which

happened t w i c e , ” Patterson said.

“Before games, I prayed over my team and myself and tried to prepare mentally as well as physically... and [my teammates and I] would hang out and just spend time together, usually laughing. I’m going to miss them so much.”

Katriona Page

Copy Editor

k.page.thepanther@gmail.com DESIGN BY GIANNA HUTTON PHOTO COURTESY PALMETTO BOWLING PHOTO BY GIANNA HUTTON PHOTO COURTESY ALYSSA HUNT

MakingMoney

A Story About Growth

Most children imagine that adulthood comes with the freedom to do as you please, a burdenless paradise that they long to reach. As a child, I assumed that my family would always have money, as if an endless supply regenerated inside my mother’s wallet each time she took some out. However, growing older has made me realize that money is not a given, and adulthood is more than just a playful fantasyland for grown-ups; it involves taking responsibility for your actions and ensuring that your loved ones get taken care of.

At 16 years old, I made a conscious decision to start earning my own money to pay for my expenses. I applied to work at a restaurant my family had gone to before I was even born, and soon was hired there.

My first steps toward independence included relying mainly on myself for gas, food and going out with friends. As a hostess, I hated my job at first — constantly stressing and running back and forth from my stand to the tables, frantically attempting to please everyone, made me dread going to work. From customers complaining about wait times to my making servers unhappy with my seating patterns, it felt like everything I did would make someone upset.

Eventually, I got over the idea that everyone had to like me. With my sole focus on getting customers in and out, I finally found success. At the end of every two-week period I received my paycheck, and it made everything feel worthwhile.

Once I felt confident in my abilities, everything began falling into place — I made friends with

Moves

my coworkers, the waitresses started liking me and I developed bonds with some of the regulars. My new, confident attitude showed, as I later received promotions to busser and waitress. I did not understand it at the time, but my job would soon become my primary source of income, rather than relying on my mother for money.

Soon after I started working, my mother and I experienced some financial struggles. It had always been my mom and me; we were sort of an inseparable superhero duo, ready to take on whatever life threw at us. When she decided to leave a toxic marriage, we decided on our next step together. She did not have a job and we lost our home, so we had to move in with my grandmothers.

I fell into a frantic, desperate state when this happened.

Constantly worrying about how to pay for school expenses and groceries made me feel stuck. I did not know how to continue and my grades reflected that. I started feeling sorry for myself and became envious of my friends who worried about seeminglytrivial thing such as whose party to go to and what they wanted to wear out. Failing to understand that they, too, experienced similar struggles caused me to isolate myself further.

It was not until I saw how much effort my mom put into getting her life back on track that I saw hope for our future. She worked so hard to find a new job after being a stay-at-home mom for almost a decade, and she was able to buy a wonderful place that we could feel comfortable calling our home. Despite losing everything, she remained hopeful. That hope that pulled me back into reality.

Putting in more hours at work allowed me to save up a bunch of money, restoring my confidence. I knew that no matter what happened, everything would work in the end, especially with my salary serving as my safety net. Seeing my mother working hard to provide for our family encouraged me to work harder, too, so I could chip in whenever I could.

The most challenging times make for the best lessons. If it was not for our unfortunate financial situation, I would not have truly appreciated everything that has been given to me. Having a job not only pushed to become more mature, but it allowed me to have an open mind and see the effort that my loved ones put in to take care of others. Now, I believe that I can handle anything life throws at me, and I feel confident that everything will work out in the end.

Isabel Wilder

Senior Copy Editor

i.wilder.thepanther@gmail.com PHOTOS BY GEMMA TORRAS DESIGN BY GEMMA TORRAS

OPINION 19 Teenage girls can easily become susceptible to unreasonable body standards. Brands such as Brandy Melville create unrealistic body expectations due to their advertising choices and the singular size their clothes come in.

Unlike other brands, where “one size” is often synonymous with one size fits all, at Brandy “one size” actually means there is only one size of clothing available — either XS or S. Most brands “one size fits all” clothing are often made to fit the average size of women in the U.S. In Brandy’s case, however, their pants usually fit someone with a size 0 waist. Brandy wants their clothes to be worn by a specific group of people; this gives their brand an exclusive nature.

These sizes create unrealistic body standards for young girls due to their lack of range. Brandy’s advertising targets pre-teens and teenagers, a demographic more likely to have body insecurities and low self-esteem.

According to Shepherd’s Hills Academy, media causes low-esteem because it makes teenagers feel like they need to meet certain requirements to be considered beautiful.

The majority, if not all, models featured on Brandy’s website have the same particular look: tall, slender, toned and white.

More than that, Brandy employees have the “Brandy look,” meeting an unspoken set of standards. In their job application, inputting your Instagram handle as well as submitting a picture of yourself and your clothing style is a requirement, according to the Brandy Melville website. The advertising and lack of variety in size creates a narrow mindset in teen girls about

fits

what their appearance should be.

Girls feel like they need to look like the models the brand uses to fit in the brand’s clothes. That may cause them to feel a dangerous sense of accomplishment by fitting into the clothing because some may go to unhealthy lengths to get this feeling.

Clothes that fit do not equate one’s health. Every body has different nutritional needs, compositions and features; while one girl may find fitting into these clothes requires no effort, another girl may strain her body in doing so.

The mindset that brands like Brandy Melville generate in their audience risks causing self-esteem issues and girls relying on unhealthy habits to fit into their clothing.

Brandy sets unrealistic standards for most girls because all girls have different body types. Brands should instead focus more on acknowledging and appreciating these wide variety of body types and helping girls feel comfortable in their own skin.

Priscilla Bermudez Copy Editor

p.bermudez.thepanther@gmail.com

SMAL L

face off: Is "Ok Boomer" AGeist?

YES

The phrase “OK, boomer,” has brought a “boom” in calling the baby boomer generation out. Millennials and Generation Z have used the now-popular catchphrase that surfaced on the internet late this year to mock the baby boomer generation, or those born between the years 1946 and 1964. The term “OK, boomer” marks the end of friendly generational terms, and the beginning of a new ageism epidemic.

The term “OK, boomer,” which originated on the popular social media site “TikTok,” emcompasses the frustration youth feel with the baby boomers. Millennials and Gen Zers do have a lot to be upset about — the irreversible effects of climate change, rising student loan debts and a ruined housing market. However, one must take into consideration that baby boomers grew up in a world completely different than the one today — when boomers were young, issues like the social climate was less progressive than how it is currently.

Moreover, it is unfair to generalize an entire generation when there are many exceptions to this stereotype.

It appears on several types of merchandise, with the message “OK boomer, have a terrible day.” Additionally, a song called “OK, boomer” — which now has over 750,000 views on YouTube — includes several malicious lyrics directed toward the boomer generation, such as “old ladies suck” and “you’re all old and racist.” These overgeneralizations invite hate and creates an unnecessary divide between generations. Hence, younger generations should not mock the boomer generation; rather, they should act appropriately and maturely towards them.

Older generations have also made fun of younger generations in the past, labelling millennials as “snowflakes” and the “trophy generation” due to their social consciousness and individualism. In a world where multiple generations must work and live together, respect towards all generations remains necessary.

The phrase is most certainly ageist.

Younger generations should not blame boomers for their problems, as most boomers did not cause these problems complained about, or did not do so intentionally. Instead of telling boomers to have a terrible day, having more respect, more communication and more compassion could solve the problems both millennials and Gen Zers complain about. OK, everyone! Stop stereotyping each other and start working together to solve the ageism issue.

NO

“OK, boomer,” a phrase coined by millennials and Generation Z, is a new way to dismiss narrow-minded or condescending comments from the baby boomer generation. The phrase is specifically directed toward those born between the mid-1940s to mid-1960s and is meant to be used as a quick way to end conversations that go down the path of, “the younger generations are destroying us, and the future of the Earth,” or “If I were you, I would do this instead...”

Even before “OK boomer,” tensions existed between boomers, millennials and Gen Z. Due to the fact that they lived in different time periods, these groups seem to have very different opinions on a lot of significant issues; however, this is ironic because some boomers are parents of millennials. Even though “OK, boomer” exacerbates this disparity, at the end of the day, it is just a joke.

A great deal of this culture clash is caused by stereotypes that surround both groups. To boomers, younger generations use their cell phones too much, do not work as hard, do not believe in marriage and other similar institutions and do not have the same values that were instilled in baby boomers. Boomers label millennials as “snowflakes” — due to their softness and sensitivity.

To younger generations, “stubborn” boomers have no intention of changing their opinions even when presented with new evidence or a changing culture; this can make their strong opinions come across as arrogant. Millennials think many current problems like climate change and excessive student debt are the boomers’ faults, since boomers came before them.

“Ok boomer” is not ageist. Millennials use “OK boomer” to call out the boomer generation for issues that matter to them, or to dismiss conversations that will lead to nowhere due to differing views and strong opinions.

If the older generations can call the younger generations out, labelling them as “snowflakes” and saying that they live in the generation where everyone wins, then “OK, boomer” should come as no surprise as it is the youths’ way of fighting back. Baby boomers should be prepared to take what they dish out. If they cannot handle someone saying “OK boomer” to them, then they cannot complain about what another generation does.

Ana Martinez

Sydney Campbell

Design Editor

Design Editor

a.martinez.thepanther@gmail.com

s.campbell.thepanther@gmail.com

PHOTOS BY JACOB GRINDSTAFF

DESIGN BY GEMMA TORRAS

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Florida, man Just Florida Things: the Traffic This is dedicated to everyone who has had to suffer through Florida traffic, especially in South Florida. There are two ways to easily distinguish a Floridian driver: a Florida license plate and multiple dents in their car. Other helpful hints include parking in two spaces, swerving in and out of lanes, failing to use their indicator when they turn and — assuming they miraculously do use their turn signal — leaving it on for about three miles. I will admit that I am not the best driver; ask anyone who parks next to me in the Palmetto student lot. However, unlike most Florida drivers, I have at least somewhatdecent intentions and I try to follow the rules of the road. Most Florida drivers are unaware that there are actually rules to follow when you drive, and treat other drivers as if they were opponents in a death match. Simply put, Florida driving is similar to the theory of Darwinism, as both are clear examples of “survival of the fittest.”

Jack Meyer

News Editor

STAFf

editorial Throughout most of the United States, the December holidays go hand in hand with snowy, white rooftops and warm, crackling fires. Countless movies and books portray this festive time of year with temperatures well below Miami’s low of 60 degrees at 5 a.m.; New Year’s celebrations usually occur inside to avoid the bitter cold, but many Miamians find themselves outside under the beating rays of the Florida sun on Jan. 1. Yes, blessed be those who do not have to shovel snow out of their driveways or pour boiling water on their car windshields to get to work in the morning. But many children in Miami feel a slight twinge of longing when they turn on their favorite holiday movies during winter break, only to be met with visions of families snugly wrapped in blankets or enjoying cheerful meals while snow falls outside. Pop culture has ingrained cold weather into so many people’s perception of the holidays that warm weather seems entirely out of place in December. Those who live close to the equator long for snow to collect on their boots and their gloves to get damp after a snowball fight. The commercialization of the winter season that so many companies use to sell certain products to vulnerable holiday shoppers sends the message that the holidays are a “one size fits all” situation: a warm fireplace, cozy living room and cold weather. For many kids across the U.S, this idealized scenario is not what awaits them in December, and that is perfectly OK. The spirit of these December holidays should revolve around thankfulness, community and compassion.

The ideal circumstances usually do not manifest exactly as they do in the movies, but that should not ruin the spirit of these holidays for anyone.

j.meyer.thepanther@gmail.com

Sincerely, The Panther Staff

MISSION STATEMENT The Panther staff aims to inform fellow students and parents about schoolwide, 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.

EDITORIAL POLICY The Panther is a monthly publication of Miami Palmetto Senior High located at 7460 S.W. 118th Street Miami, FL 33156, (305) 235-1360 ext. 2337. The views expressed are solely those of The Panther staff. Students who wish to respond to an article in this publication or discuss another issue may write letters to the editor and submit them to room 980 or e-mail us at n.markus.thepanther@gmail.com. The Panther has professional membership in NSPA and CSPA. The Panther prints 1,400 copies per issue for distribution. The Panther is distributed for free to all students in school. Please visit our paper online at thepalmettopanther.com.

BYLINE POLICY:

All creative work (such as illustrations, graphics, photos and writing) excluding staff editorials and staff member pictures will include byline credits.

CORRECTION POLICY:

Any errors in print will be acknowledged in the next print issue in a correction box. Any errors online will be acknowledged immediately. Errors include facts, figures, misquoting and name misspellings.

ADVERTISING POLICY:

Ads will be designed by the advertiser and include all information the advertiser wants included. If the advertiser asks the staff to design the ad, the individual who sold the ad will design the ad or the Ads Manager will.

Ads will be approved by EICs, the Advisor and the Ads Manager. If an ad produced is illegible, contains false information, or the advertiser does not like it, they will receive a free ad in the next issue. If you would like to advertise, please contact us.

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.

STAFf Editor-In-Chief

Allison Strasius

Print Editor-In-Chief Nicole Markus

Online Editor-In-Chief Joanna Salvat

Managing Editor Jane Heise

Senior Copy Editor Isabel Wilder

Senior Design Editor Gemma Torras

Advertising Chair Olivia Solomon

Feature Editor

Lissette Martinez

News Editor Jack Meyer

Life Editor Kristine Villarroel

Sports Editor

Valentina Caceres

Opinion Editor Allison Gould

Multimedia Team Valentina Caceres Jacob Grindstaff Sofia Vinueza

Copy Team Priscilla Bermudez Katriona Page Kate Stuzin

Design Team Camilla Bondy Sydney Campbell Gianna Hutton Ana Martinez Julia Strasius

Staff Writers Elias Arbe Kun Liu Zaviera Presley

Adviser

Laura Aviles

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