The Panther 2022-2023 Issue 1: A+ Attire

PANTHERthe

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CLASSROOM COUTURE

Hallways transform from an off-white and blue tile-lined assortment adorned with water fountains to the elevated fashion runways of New York Fashion Week.

COMING UP SHORT

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, teacher shortages around the United States have increased. As a result, the education systemand students have been negatively affected.

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This September, Florida International University celebrated its 50th anniversary of the school’s opening with a celebratory exhibition. FIU opened in 1972 with 5,667 students, the largest opening en rollment at a collegiate level in history. The exhibit stands on the second floor of the Green Library at the Modesto Maidique. It features FIU artifacts, including a model of the Primera Casa building and a hard hat owned by the founding President of FIU, Charles Perry. Prior to the construction of FIU, the land was used as an airfield and the only building that stood was an airplane control tower. This tower was later used as the office for FIU’s founders. The exhibit features a picture of Perry on the stairs of the original tower as a reminder of how far the university has come.

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CULTURE PICKLE

While fans sit for months in anticipation of their favorite artist dropping new music, their true excitement lies in the anticipation of a live performance.

Pickleball, founded by Washington congressmen Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell and Barney McCallum in 1965, has now gained its time to shine within the South Florida community.

ARE NOT

Every 20 minutes, a man wipes their existence from this earth, according to Psychology Today. Feeling depressed or anxious is not unusual or shameful.

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L Coastal Cleanup day, took place on Sept. 17. Efforts for the event were seen on Miami and California beaches. The cleanup is described as a way to bring “purity and cleanliness” to beaches around the globe according to the US Harbors website. International Coastal Cleanup day is not only prevalent in the U.S., but also aims to help clean shorelines of oceans that make up 70% of the planet. In California, the “Heal The Bay” nonprofit organization based in Los Angeles supported the effort by gathering more than 4,193 volunteers in order to collect 9,700 pounds of trash. Additionally, in Florida, beaches such as DelRay Beach hosted efforts to clean up their shorelines.

“God Save the King,” an odd phrase to hear af ter the 70 year reign of Queen Elizabeth II. Under the Queen’s reign, 16 countries, the UK and the CommonWealth were under her leadership, all while being the head of the Anglican church. In 2015, she became the longest-reigning English monarch. The queen’s legacy does not only constitute her rule, but also her children: King Charles III, Anne, Princess Royale, Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Prince Edward, Earl of Essex. Charles III, now the King of England, swore his oath as a start of his reign, which also serves as a pledge of preservation to the Church of Scotland.

Coming Up Short

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Since the COVID-19 pandemic, teacher shortages around the United States have increased. As a result, the education system and students have been negatively affected. According to CBS News, the causes of the shortage may be due to new stresses from the pandemic and low pay. In addition to teachers quitting and retiring, the system is having difficulty recruiting teachers to fill those positions. Miami-Dade County reported over 200 vacancies at the start of the 2022-2023 school year.

While Miami Palmetto Senior High school has not been as impacted by the shortage as other schools in Miami-Dade, the school has had struggles of its own.

“It really is just affecting us in just one way. We just have one position that we are waiting to fill, and we are trying to get people to interview and stuff like that. So it is difficult in the sense that there are not as many people to interview for the teaching position,” MPSH Assistant Principal Daniel Barreras said.

Students are also noticing the effects of the shortage at MPSH.

“I do think it affects students just because I have noticed that a lot more of our classes are full. And I just think that you can see a difference because for example, like comparing a class with 40 kids to a class with 20 kids, a teacher can be more active and interact more when there are 20 kids,” MPSH senior Veronica Stanfield

said.

The demand for substitutes and larger class sizes also resulted from the staffing shortage.

“Ultimately, it can come down to a teacher’s individual choice to no longer teach anymore,,” MPSH Advanced Placement Seminar teacher Marcos Cohen said. “They may move out of the state, or some may choose not to teach because of wages, because of the political environment or any of the other reasonably added responsibilities to teaching that comes from a professional.”

Teachers feel that the system needs repair, not replacement. The withdrawal of teachers in the county is a solvable issue according to experienced teachers: a better work environment with better pay.

“Because really at the end of the day, you can make teachers’ lives better by making edits to their schedules or giving them more resources at school… I think long term and to fix the education system in general, it is just that teachers need to be paid more,” MPSH Marine Science teacher Nicolas Quintairos said.

The debate on how to resolve the shortage continues. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis proposed a three-point plan: rewarding bonuses to veterans and retired first responders who teach in the classroom for at least two years, creating new ways to receive a temporary teaching certificate

through apprenticeship, including a bonus for the mentoring teacher and offering scholarships for K-12 teachers to earn their master’s degree to provide dual-enrollment coursework to high schools.

Some teachers feel skeptical that this reduced training initiative will positively impact student learning.

“The quality of education that U.S. students receive may not be what is necessary to obtain all the skills and content they need by the time they graduate,” Cohen said.

The teacher shortage is not confined to just Miami Dade. According to a research paper published by the Annenberg Institute at Brown University, there are over 36,500 teacher vacancies nationally and over 163,000 teachers in non-certified positions.

“When people can look at education as not a stop gap in their career, but truly their career for the long term, then you really can change the types of teachers that are teaching in our system, and really upgrade the system as a whole,” Quintairos said.

Edie Carneiro

PHOTO BY EMILIA HAUS DESIGN BY JASMINE JUDGE

All AboArd:

The New Brightline Train From Miami To Orlando

are profitable and successful. What are those characteristics? And then we built those into the project in Florida,” Senior Vice President of Brightline, Ben Porritt said. When the Miami to Orlando extension is finished, it will be the first contemporary passenger train to connect the two cities.

By allowing tourists to visit both the theme parks and golf courses in Orlando and the beaches and restaurants in South Florida, the new line is anticipated to increase tourism.

be a game-changer. Like we’re no longer going to have to drive up there. It’s going to be better all around. So I’m a huge fan, I would use it multiple times a year,” MPSH Biology Teacher and Disney Enthusiast, Nicole Swanson said.

Environmentally, Brightline is one of the most sustainable trains in Florida and runs on biodiesel which is about three or four times more environmentally friendly than air travel, and just over two times more environmentally friendly than cars.

By early 2023, the long, tiring drive from Miami to Orlando may have a better alternative. Brightline, an ecofriendly, high-speed train company, has scheduled a train route between Miami and Orlando.

This is not the first of Brightline’s high-speed trains. Since 2018, Brightline has been changing how people live, work, and travel throughout South Florida since they first launched the 35-minute train ride between Fort Lauderdale and West Beach. In the same year, it quickly expanded its services to downtown Miami.

“A company called Fortress Investment Group recognized a unique opportunity to build high-speed rail between city pairs that are too short to fly and too far to drive. Ultimately we looked all around the globe to see what models of passenger systems

“Tourism will increase with the train from Miami to Orlando. Both are already popular cities with wellknown events, so the train is just an easy, accessible way to get to both areas in a short time,” Miami Palmetto Senior High School sophomore Sophie Feldman said.

The expected ride time is slightly over three hours, a cut down from the regular four-hour trip. While Walt Disney World will not be a stop at the Brightline train station, it provides riders with an easier and faster trip to Disney than driving.

“It is amazing, honestly, it would save so much time and energy; driving up there is such a pain. In the train you just sit back and you take a nap. Usually, after a park, you are tired the next day and you are trying to get ready for either school or work. I think the train to Orlando is gonna

“It’s better for the environment because if it’s more efficient that way also less potential roadkill. Less wear and tear on your car, less accidents. Honestly, the biggest concern is always an accident on the turnpike or 95,” Swanson said.

Inside the train, there are two different classes: smart and premium. While both offer complimentary Wi-Fi and other benefits, those who want a more luxurious experience will want to consider booking the premium class. This option includes larger seats, complimentary snacks and a pre-departure premium lounge.

“A standard ticket is your seat, but you get access to free Wi-Fi and all those components, and then we have a premium service which has access to our station lounges, craft cocktails, craft, beer, food, beverage, and all that stuff comes with your ticket,” Porritt said.

Future plans for Brightline include a connection between Orlando International Airport and Disney Springs, as well as a connection to Tampa.

“Before the end of the year, we will open two new stations in South Florida, one in Boca Raton, and then we are currently working with the state of Florida on expanding from Orlando to Tampa. And then we are working on a route outside of Florida that will connect Las Vegas in the LA Los Angeles area,” Porritt said.

Ava Stuzin

DESIGN BY JASMINE JUDGE

Funding the Future:

Funding the Future: MDCPS Allocates $7 Billion to School Safety Mental Health

MDCPS Allocates $7 Billion to School Safety Mental Health

On Sept. 9, the Miami-Dade County Public Schools Board adopted a $7 billion budget aimed toward increasing funding for security and School Resource Officers, counseling and mental health resources and additional equipment for the MDCPS Police Department.

In recent years, combined with the implication of the COVID-19 pandemic, previous public health concerns in teens such as substance abuse and teenage pregnancy have been replaced by rapidly increasing rates of mental health disorders. According to a 2019 report by the National Survey of Children’s Health, 13.2% of U.S. children 3-17 years old — about eight million in total — have been diagnosed with mental or behavioral health conditions.

More specifically, in 2021, 34.3% of Florida’s middle and high school students reported feeling “sad or hopeless for two or more weeks in a row,” according to the Florida Department of Health’s Youth Tobacco Survey.

As mental health awareness becomes increasingly prevalent in schools and their surrounding communities, the need to increase resources and educate families on how to seek guidance or recognize the signs of a mental health disorder grows synonymously. At Miami Palmetto Senior High, mental health resources manifest themselves through the services of a To Reach Ultimate Success Together (TRUST) counselor, a school psychologist, a mental health coordinator, a school social worker and each of the guidance counselors.

“[The way] parents access our resources, they don’t always know who to ask or where to go. We are trying to work on that, at least at Palmetto. But I think it’s difficult for parents to navigate, just going to a website and finding someone,” MPSH TRUST Counselor

Patricia Mills said. “Having support, not just in school but outside of school, because families don’t always know where to go, would be helpful. We have some, but we don’t have enough.”

While Palmetto has the resources to provide its students with various outlets to speak up about their social and emotional health, this does not necessarily apply to every secondary school in MDCPS.

“We have a lot of support from our PTA that most schools don’t. With high school, PTA is not as big as what we have here, because I’ve worked at other high schools and there’s nothing compared to this school,” Mills said. “Some schools don’t have a TRUST counselor because of funding, but that’s also something that [MDCPS] could use the funding for. Every secondary school, so every middle, K-8 and high school should have a trust counselor.”

With over 500 sworn officers, the Miami Dade Schools Police Department dedicates their School Resource Officer (SRO) Program to providing schools with access to a certified police officer equipped with all the necessary training to identify, assess or prevent any type of conflict.

For MPSH’S on-campus SRO, Naima Biamby, her everyday duties play a key role in keeping the school and its students safe. Biamby not only ensures the security of Palmetto’s physical campus, but fulfills the role of redirecting a mental health or social-emotional crisis to a professional equipped with the skills to mitigate the situation.

“If there is an on-site psychologist, they should definitely be more involved, meaning that if a kid comes to me in crisis, it would be more helpful to us as officers for [the psychologists] to make the decisions, because they are

professional psychologists. “That would be a help, if they had more schools with staffing like that in place,” Biamby said.

Similar to the mental health funding, MDCPS’ adopted budget would increase funding toward ensuring that each school in the county is equipped with certified School Resource Officers, as not every school has the resources to provide them.

“But as far as [SROs around the county], if more officers could be in all of the high schools, not just this one since it is a bigger school, that would be good too,” Biamby said.

Sara Paredes Feature Editor s.paredes.thepanther@gmail.com DESIGN BY JASMINE JUDGE

Understanding Concert Culture In Miami

While fans sit for months in anticipation of their favorite artist dropping new music, their true excitement lies in the anticipation of a live performance. Since the eruption of COVID-19, Miami’s concert scene witnessed a steep decline in attendance. Meanwhile, the city’s nightlife seems to be making up for lost time.

Over the past few months, dozens of billboard-ranking artists have made tour stops in Miami to perform. Some of these musicians include The Weeknd, Tyler the Creator, Bad Bunny, Elton John, Clairo, The Red Hot Chili Peppers and more.

“Concert culture is a big thing everywhere, but in Miami specifically the city is so huge, but everyone is attached at the hip; everybody knows everybody,” Miami Palmetto Senior High senior Katie Herskowitz said. “It’s known for being a fun place for people to come together, so I think a lot of musicians and fans gravitate towards it.”

Miami also hosts one of the largest hip-hop music concert festivals in the world: Rolling Loud. In 2019 — prior to the pandemic — about 210,000 people attended. For three days, fans can watch some of the biggest names in rap and hip-hop live.

“A lot of artists already come here, so it kind of feeds into itself, and it’s how Miami got this reputation for being a big music city,” MPSH junior Alastair Page said. “The more artists who come here, the more fans who come here, and it works the other way around where the more fans who come here, the more artists want to tour here.”

Although the highlight of attending a concert is undoubtedly seeing one’s favorite artists, the people around us can make or break the entire night. Ensuring that one’s concert companion appreciates the music just as much is critical to having a great

concert experience.

Concerts can also act as a medium for making new friends; concert-goers can interact with one another and make longlasting connections. Regardless of age, for that one night, fans unite in their love and admiration for the performer.

“Every concert I have been to has an entirely different crowd than the last,” MPSH sophomore Jordan Levy said. “When I saw Kanye, I was the youngest in the crowd by far, but when I saw Babysantana, I was probably on the older side of the crowd. Even though there was an age difference at both events, I could still have full conversations and bond over artists with the people there.”

Furthermore, concerts allow people to see not only the headliner perform live, but the smaller artists opening for them. Fans gain introductions to great new artists who may have been unheard of to them, or — if already familiar with the opener — they can enjoy the thrilling experience and artist’s live performance in full force.

The range of experiences concerts provide are unlike any other; the sense of unity and shared admiration towards an artist binds people together through the vibrations.

“Concerts are like a way of sharing your love for one specific person by coming together and enjoying the music,” Herskowitz said. “You get to know people who like the same artists as you do, and especially in Miami where most of the people who go to concerts are pretty young, you’re all there for each other.”

Jasmine Judge Business Manager j.judge.thepanther@gmail.com

PHOTO BY ELLA PEDROSO DESIGN BY MIA SHIELDS

At Miami Palmetto Senior High School, student involvement remains crucial to host a functioning and informed student body. While many students stay involved through the studentled government, there was a need to do more. Despite student councils’ announcements and efforts, many students frequently missed important announcements, and complaints grew as students felt more in the dark. Hence, the homeroom representative received a “revival” within Palmetto’s student council.

Homeroom ‘reps’ have been at Palmetto for many years. A student is elected at the beginning of the year and makes a few announcements to their homeroom throughout the year. Despite attempts to continue their use, In addition, the homeroom rep position was almost unusable during the COVID-19 pandemic because typical class dynamics were disrupted. Despite this, the homeroom reps are back in full force to represent their classes and every student at Palmetto.

“We are emphasizing on having the homeroom reps now because students’ voices and students just being informed overall is so important, and having homeroom reps allows for that to occur.”

Palmetto Head of Homeroom Representatives and senior Ausar Myers said.

So, what are they going to do? What are they repping? How

will the position be different this school year versus every other? A homeroom rep’s main responsibility is to remain informed of student events through attending their monthly meetings. Then, they report back to their homerooms and make sure that all the students are aware of what is happening. Palmetto students have the opportunity to voice any concerns they face to their homeroom rep, who brings it to the student council.

Similar to the United States government, homeroom reps uphold the duties of the House of Representatives. They voice the concerns of the people and create a direct line of communication to those they represent. On top of that, homeroom representatives will receive the ability to pass legislation before it is brought to the student council.

“I thought that this was the best way to give students a voice to really speak on their concerns with the school, instead of just telling them to come to student council. This way they dont have to shy out of attending the meetings and can actually voice their concerns and voice their beliefs, which will hopefully impact their lives in a positive way,” Activities Director Elizabeth Valero said.

The whole need for the homeroom reps started with the need for representation from the students. The students felt that their voices were not being thoroughly heard, and they wanted to have a fair say in all the decisions that were being made by the student council.

“There were issues last year with the amount of inclusivity, and many students felt that they didn’t have a voice or option on any of the decisions that were being made, so I figured that we needed to do something about it and that’s when the homeroom came to light, because I figured that they could fix the issue that we were having with inclusivity,” Valero said.

The new take on homeroom representatives hopes to shine the light on not just one niche group of students, but all the students, so the decisions made in school reflect every individual student.

BY VALENTINA ARIAS

BY MIA SHIELDS

Paulina

PHOTO

Hail To Thee Palmetto High Bringing Back Lost Traditions

Since Miami Palmetto Senior High’s founding in 1958, the school’s pride and traditions have grown to become a staple of the community. The everlasting spirit that radiates through both alumni and the current student body is evident in the way traditions continue to make an impact in Palmetto, both then and now.

One of the strongest and most communal traditions the school has sustained is Palmetto’s Alma Mater. Infamously Known as “Hail to Thee Palmetto High,” this chant has united our school throughout the years. Made over 50 years ago by the graduating Class of 1962, the Palmetto anthem has slowly subsided due to COVID-19 and the absence of students.

“We’re trying to remember all these things that were traditions that we took for granted before COVID; like, people just knew the Alma Mater, people just expected pep rallies and we took it for granted,” MPSH Activities Director Elizabeth Valero said.

The last class to have experienced the chant are the current seniors of our school, the Class of 2023. Their freshman year was the last year Palmetto was able to partake in their regular traditions which constituted as the trademarks of school life.

“I remember my freshman year was filled with all of the old school traditions like chanting our Alma Mater, having pep rallies and in-school events in the auditorium,” MPSH senior Gabriella Brayer said. “These events were traditions that I looked forward to every month, and with COVID, it feels like they slowly went away.”

In the past year and a half, COVID-19 precautions have slowly dissipated, allowing Palmetto to bring back these traditions that made the school unique and created a prideful environment.

“It is really exciting that after two years of COVID affecting us, the school is able to bring back traditions like Panther Prowl, Homecoming in an out-of-school venue and a lot of other events; but I think this year is the time to bring back our Alma Mater to the

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events that are making a comeback,” Brayer said.

Since the traditions came to a halt due to the pandemic, the school has made the effort to return to events better than ever. Last year, Panther Prowl and Homecoming returned, but these traditions were not able to take place in their regular form. However, this year, Palmetto’s usual October events return in full force by restoring their previous attendance and activities.

“[Palmetto] was established in 1958 and it’s still a community school; all the traditions, and all the different things that make Palmetto what it is, are the stuff that we’ve been doing for years and years and years,” Valero said. These traditions have left an impact on Palmetto generations for years, making these old memories a constant reminder of Palmetto’s pride.

“I was in the marching band— we were amazing. We always performed the Alma Mater. We performed it at pep rallies, we performed it at the end of football games; maybe the coolest thing about it was when you were a senior, it was the only time you were allowed to sing the Alma Mater,” MPSH Alumni and AP Government and Micro-economics teacher Kenneth Spiegelman said.

The importance of shedding light on these historic Panther traditions cannot be overstated as these events remain a significant part of Palmetto’s identity.

“It’s important for us to bring these things back, because then people are seeing it in a new light and really appreciating these events that have been part of the Palmetto culture since the school opened in the 1950s,” Valero said.

Palmetto Panthers will continue to look back at their roots and remember all the traditions that will last a lifetime in their hearts.

“I think that if you can celebrate it at games, pep rallies and events, it is something kids will always remember,” Spiegelman said.

PHOTO BY VALENTINA ARIAS DESIGN BY MIA SHIELDS

the PANTHER september column

STAFFER OF THE MONTH

Brooke Wilensky | Copy Editor

MISS “I HATE MICROTRENDS”

As I scroll through TikTok, I notice countless new aesthetics and styles trending and becoming the new phenomenon of the month. Influencers begin to share their hauls of clothing that follow this newfound aesthetic, and as the video gains traction, many young adults start becoming swayed by these trends, leading to their popular status.

Children, who are naturally curious and naive, mimic the style their favorite influencer is wearing during the microtrend’s peak of popularity. As a result, microtrends prevent tweens and teens from fully immersing in their own style due to their efforts of trying to fit into the fad of the season.

Due to this, we see the same patterns every season. These trends become popular, then the next minute people get bored of them, and they find something new to fixate on. Microtrends have become a big problem due to the mass consumption of cheap goods from stores like Shein and Amazon. Once the fashion item goes out of style, the clothes go to waste as trend followers throw away their clothes and move on to the next craze.

Microtrends, please go out of style.

Maddie

PANTHERS EN

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CLASSROOM COUTURE: PANTHERS ON THE

having a no uniform policy does help because if I’m being honest, [when I was a] freshman, I just copied what everyone else did because that’s what I thought I should have been doing. But at least having the option to dress how I wanted really helped me stand out and show who I am as a person and just grow my confidence,” MPSH senior Ana Popov said.

Some students, like Popov and MPSH sophomore Savanna Byles, prefer to pick out their outfits the night before to avoid the early morning stress. Whether it is Byles’ signature headband and earth-toned outfits or Popov’s leather jacket, they feel confident and ready to start the day.

“[Fashion] definitely boosts my confidence… Let’s say one morning you wake up and you’re like ‘I’m not feeling it today.’ You find the best pieces, put them together and it just makes you feel like even though your day might suck, you can at least [look] put together and at least have something going for you,”

MPSH junior Cassandra Pita considers her style to align closely with the “granola” aesthetic, dressing mostly in flowy pieces and linen accents. Yet, when it comes to Pita’s clothing selection, she values clothing that can get more wear as opposed

“I try to make use of the clothes I already own and try to use pieces that go well together along with buying pieces that go

“What we should focus on in fashion these days is not buying micro trends, but instead focusing on larger trends that are going to remain in style for a much longer period of time. When you think of these microtrends, the patchwork trend kind of faded out, animal style kind of faded out and you end up with all these pieces

and you just end up wasting more and more,” Pita said. “So, if you stick with those basics and maybe accentuate with smaller pieces that add on to it, you won’t end up buying as much as you end up having a closet that will last longer and conserve resources.”

“

- Anna Popov (12)

Having the option to dress how I wanted really helped me stand out and show who I am as a person and just grow my confidence

Style. Fashion.Expression.

The expression, “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” fosters sophomore Oscar Gurdian’s love for online-thrifting and reusing old pieces to cultivate what his friends refer to as his “coastal grandson” outfits.

“I wear the linen shirts and matching shorts and like the little matching shell necklaces, but I also [think] more street-wear clothes are cool,” Gurdian said. “All of my favorite pieces are from Grailed, it’s kind of like an online thrifting store.”

With dressing unconventionally comes possible judgment and criticism from others. Yet, Gurdian values his self-expression over other people’s opinions.

Palmetto’s no-uniform policy not only provides avenues for selfexpression and environmental sustainability, but also catches prospective student attention.

“I came from a school that had a uniform and I hated it because I love fashion, so I like to express myself more… I was in between picking Palmetto and [another school] to go [to], but because I found out that Palmetto doesn’t have a [uniform policy], I was like, ‘yeah, I just want to go to this school.’ [I like] dressing up how I want and not having to look the same every day,” Byles said.

To those who feel like they struggle to fit in, fashion acts as a protective and safe space to express oneself. Whether shy or outgoing,

PICKLE BALL ON THE RISE

Pickleball, founded by Washington congressmen Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell and Barney McCallum in 1965, has now gained its time to shine within the South Florida community. The paddle sport combines elements of tennis, ping pong and badminton and intends to provide a game that the whole family can enjoy together. Since the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, pickleball’s popularity has soared. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, pickleball has been the fastest growing sport for the past two years with a 39.3% increase in participation. This popularity is largely due to pickleball’s functionality; the game can be played on makeshift courts and is for all ages to play and enjoy. The growing love for the sport is not con tained to just Miami, as its popularity has grown all across the country.

South Florida picklers, or pickleball addicts, are ris ing in numbers so fast that there is demand for designated pick leball courts in the area. With the planning of the Gary Matzner Park at the corner of 88th st., many residents are advocating for the addition of pickleball courts. While this has received back lash from residents that live near the park, a majority of people who showed up to a council meeting on Sept.7 regarding the courts supporting the cause. On a public petition on change. org, over 1,000 players signed for pickleball courts in Mi ami Dade county, which includes Gary Matzner Park. “The beautiful thing about Matzner Park is that it would be hope fully available to us from morning till night with lights so that we can attract a younger audience after schools and evenings to play,” Pinecrest resident and pickleball advocate Charlie Bibb said. Bibb avidly plays pickleball and like many others, began playing in the pandemic. Bibb started playing at Suniland Park after seeing an Instagram post about it. When the first few people, including him and his wife, started playing in Jan. 2021, Bibb helped people play since he had a few months of experience. After those first games, partici pation quickly increased from six people to 15 people and Pinecrest painted lines for four courts. By Aug. 2021, an estimated 100 people were coming in the mornings every week. As pickleball became more successful, Bibb became an ambassador for the sport in late 2021.

“Part of that role is to grow the sport of pickleball in

my local community, so we are trying to do that not only here in Pinecrest, but at the Miami Dade County level as well,” Bibb said.

The Suniland Pickleball group has open play Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday and those with a club membership can play on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Since the court is shared with bas ketball players, it can only be played in the mornings. Because of this, the game appeals primarily to people who work from home, are retired, do not work or have flexibility in their schedules. Bibb and other pick lers intend on having outreach to students and younger generations by advocating for more designated court space open at any time of day.

Pickleball’s spread has also reached Palmetto’s very own AP English Literature teacher, Andrea Spivak. Spivak has been play ing pickleball since December of last year when a friend introduced her to the sport. She quickly fell in love with playing at Suniland park. Spivak played tennis most of her life but suffered a knee and shoulder injury. Because of this, pickleball provided a less harsh al ternative to tennis while fulfilling the same nature of the game.

“The ball is as light as a feather so it’s not as intimidating as other sports, and I’m continually learning new shots, ”Spivak said.

Similarly to Bibb, she has also seen the game take off with new players and participation since she began playing.

“It is increasing exponentially, in fact so much that I don’t think we have enough courts for the demand,” Spivak said Even though courts are currently limited, the newfound pop ularity of the paddle sport is undeniable. Both Spivak and Bibb have seen its impact on the community and hope to get more ac cessible courts and to increase student participation. Pickleball has also created new bonds and relationships with neighbors, bring ing together a community with every serve, dink and backhand.

“It brings closeness, friendships I have met so many neighbors and even former Palmet to Panthers, ‘’ Spivak said.”It’s the most addicting sport.”

Emilia Hous Multi Media Editor e.hous.thepanther@gmail.com

DESIGN BY PAULA ORTIZ PHOTOS BY EMILIA HOUS

Marching To The Beat Of Their

OWN DRUMS

Dressed in their striking blue uniforms, drum carriers and instruments in hand, the marching band appears unfazed, continuing to play their instruments under Miami’s scorching sun. Often heard playing the soundtrack to high schools’ biggest events, the marching band’s efforts are more than what meets the eye.

Two weeks before school started, the marching band attended band camp from Monday-Friday. Marching band members practiced for competitions and school-wide events while new members learned how to march. Aside from the synchronized steps and on-tempo music, band members also got the chance to play games while learning about each other.

“It’s from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.; we just play our music, practice our marching and after a little while we do activities and such, but it’s kind of like a typical day at school but band,” Miami Palmetto Senior High junior and marching band member Reina Fernandez said.

Aside from band camp, the marching band practices three days a week. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, the marching band stays after school to practice from 2:30-4:30 p.m., rain or shine. Additionally, members practice their instruments outside of school, which accumulates to a practice schedule of over six hours a week.

Similar to other clubs, the marching band has officers, but they hold their own unique positions. There is the drum major, responsible for conducting the band, the band captain, who is in charge of the logistics, the quartermasters, who fit everyone in their uniforms and the equipment managers, who carry the equipment onto the field. A media officer also runs the Instagram page,

@mpshsband, to promote marching band performances at upcoming school football games and other events.

Since the football season recently started, the marching band is preparing to play on the stands and during their halftime show performance.

“[It is the] best time of the year, because when football comes around, you get to go with the team,” MPSH junior and marching band media officer Jake Arnold said. “You feel like you are a part of the team; you are cheering the football team on with the students and you are playing for the team. Sometimes when the team gets hype, they come onto the stands and be with you and it

The marching band not only creates a sense of school spirit, but they have also created a family amongst themselves. Members of the marching band create a fun environment where students develop friendships.

“You make a lot of good friends here. We have a lot of laughs — it’s just something that you don’t normally see in regular programs,” Fernandez said. “Not only are we family with just the students, but with the teacher as well.”

Currently, the marching band is preparing for the Marching Band Music Performance Assessment competition in early November as well as practicing for football games.

“Our goal for the marching band this year is to grow, get more people and make music,” Serrano said.

Brooke Wilensky

Copy Editor

b.wilensky.thepanther@gmail.com

is a very nice feeling to have.”

The marching band plays a huge role in school spirit. Not only do they play at sports games, but also at pep rallies and during lunch on certain occasions.

“Marching band is an important part of our school. It boosts the spirit – school spirit – and it’s a great way for the students to express themselves,” MPSH marching band teacher Monica Serrano said.

Back in the 1980s, the marching band had as many as 250 students playing at football games, participating in the Miami Orange Bowl and holding weekly practices. Now the marching band continues carrying Palmetto’s panther pride, still upholding the same importance in Palmetto culture as it did years ago.

DESIGN BY PAULA ORTIZ

PHOTOS BY RYAN MCKEAN

“Not only are we family with just the students, but with the

teachers as well ” Reina Fernandez(11)

FACEOFF: books worth reading?

are young adult

books worth reading?are young adult

no:

Young Adult books are worth reading. They hold the key to worlds that readers can immerse themselves in, create communities and lead us on our own journeys of self-discovery and growth.

For avid readers, we all have one book that ignited our love for reading. For a number of people and myself, it was a YA book; the story of ‘the boy who lived:’ Harry Potter. In turning the pages of “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” its story of witches and wizards whose pages inspired us with lessons within its intricate plotlines fascinated me. This is the beauty of YA; these books can teach us lessons about life; this is true for a wide variety of YA books.

There is a reason why YA books are so popular, some have even shifted pop culture: people find community in these stories. Take “Hunger Games,” “Harry Potter” and “Percy Jackson” – three different stories which have amassed a huge following to where if you are not familiar with the story, you have heard its name. People love these stories because they evoke a sense of comfort that adult fiction books sometimes can not.

Some believe YA books portray toxic relationships, such as enemiesto-lovers, but these tropes are not always toxic. For example, if the two characters are learning to better themselves for the other, that portrays a healthy relationship.

Regarding the stereotypical no-personality tall guy and “not like other girls” female protagonists typically seen in YA, this is a small genre. YA is just an age range; there are many stories with different characters and plots, including a variety of YA stories

Nicole Martin Senior Copy Editor

Young Adult books are not worth reading. The unrealistic behaviors shown throughout the fictional storylines are damaging towards impressionable young teenagers.

As a kid, reading never sparked my interest. Books such as Harry Potter and Percy Jackson never interested me. The fantasy worlds of wizards and Greek Gods weren’t something that kept me hooked although their popularity was seen everywhere. Big fandoms like these end up becoming less appealing as it becomes toxic. Some of the fans begin gatekeeping the popular series causing the books to lose the interest of many.

Many YA stories have stereotypically portrayed a toxic relationship within their storylines. The relationships shown in the books create an unhealthy mindset in the reader, leading them to believe that these represent common traits in relationships. One of the most popular tropes in YA books is enemies to lovers. In the book, “The Cruel Prince” by Holly Black, it shows an enemies to lovers relationship which is not a universally relatable troupe.

The YA stories are repetitive. The books are cookie-cutter with the strong, tall male and the woman who goes through some sort of hardship.“A Court of Thorns and Roses” by Sarah J. Mass includes a relationship like that. This creates a theme of how women “need” to be saved by a male and proves once again how YA stories are stereotypical.

Maddie Volpe

Video Editor

DESIGN BY IVY LAGARTO

PHOTOS BY EMILIA HAUS AND MADDIE VOLPE

It’s Okay tobe Selfish Sometimes.

Ever since a young age, parents have preached the importance of specific virtues one must possess to truly mature into a “good” person. Specifically, the “Golden Rule” is the one I have always held close to my heart. This “rule” surrounds the idea of treating others the way you want to be treated. Although this seems like a simple task to follow, many take these words far too literally and end up thinking of others more than they do themselves. Selflessness falls under this “rule” which implies that we must be selfless, an idea that continues to emerge throughout our daily lives. However, in all honesty, this “positive virtue” actually fabricates an unnecessary circle of negativity around putting yourself first.

I wear a “mask” every day, hiding my true feelings from the world by expressing a smile on my face. I pretend I have the time to fix others’ problems; I put up a false positive front pretending to be okay, but in reality, I am slowly drifting farther from the solutions to my own struggles and moving closer to others’ problems. I continue to insist on helping others because of the negativity associated with selfishness, but in the end, all I continue to do is hurt myself.

According to a 2019 study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one in three high

school students experienced feelings of hopelessness, a 40% increase since 2009. High school may never be easy, but juggling multiple AP classes as well as your own struggles, in addition to carrying the burden of others’ problems, only makes matters worse.

Social media plays a huge factor in the misinterpretation of the word “selfish.” As teenagers, we view people’s lives daily and see their “perfect” realities, which ultimately contributes to the idea that we need to constantly be happy. Happiness does not come easily to everyone, and creating negativity surrounding selflessness generates a habit for teenagers to disguise themselves from the world. However, in truth, being selfish helps you escape the world’s toxicity and let go of the chaos that prevents us from being true to our feelings. In reality, this shift of being true to yourself eliminates the idea that the problems in our life are nonexistent. Having others see our “perfect” life through social media leads others to analyze every minute detail surrounding their imperfect lives. Not only does this create a toxic headspace to continuously process daily, but it also creates a false reality where you are only lying to yourself.

Pretending to be okay seems like the only way to push through the day, but

suppressing one’s emotions only makes things worse. According to a study done by the University of Texas, suppressing your emotions only leads to them becoming stronger.

I tend to immerse myself in others’ problems just to distract myself from my own. In the moment, I feel a sense of relief in helping others, but slowly I begin to realize the effect it has on me mentally. Mental health remains extremely prevalent in high school students and destroying the true meaning behind selfishness may be the first step to limiting the negative effects of selflessness.

Making myself a priority may fall under the realm of selfishness, but who decided to make the word “selfish” negative? When will it be okay to put ourselves first? Why do others get to control our lives by placing selflessness on a pedestal?

I always go back to the golden rule – “treat others the way you want to be treated,” but where in this “rule” does the topic of putting yourself first become a bad thing? I love getting advice from friends, but I would never want someone else to be harmed in the process of trying to help me with my struggles. Taking a step back is okay and saying no is okay, but what is not okay is continuing to create a false narrative on prioritizing yourself.

Ava Garcia Managing Editor a.garcia.thepanther@gmail.com

DESIGN BY IVY LAGARTO

YOU ARE

ALONE

SENSITIVE CONTENT WARNING

NOT

Every 20 minutes, a man wipes their existence from this earth, according to Psychology Today. Feeling depressed or anxious is not unusual or shameful. Mental health is a touchy subject; particularly for men, it is one that rarely happens to be brought up. The stigma behind men’s mental health is that when a man expresses emotion, they are perceived as weak, or not a “real man.” Do not be afraid to speak up, and definitely do not feel like you are alone—you are never alone.

Men feel trapped inside their own bodies and like the raging voice inside of their head will never be heard. With a million different thoughts racing at once, the one thought that sticks with every man is how can this all end— how can the pain and suffering go away?

As stated in Psychology Today, men prioritize and open up more about their physical health than their mental health. I have fallen victim to this very stigma that overlooks mental wellness that consequently takes away the lives of many men, all because I decided not to speak up for myself. 2020 was a difficult year for everyone as the pandemic ensued and everyone succumbed to lockdown. Some thrived during this lockdown, while some did not. I happened to be on the latter side, where COVID-19 was not so friendly. In

October 2020, I started a medication called Accutane, a pill that over time would completely get rid of any acne on one’s face. The doctor told me the repercussions that could occur from taking this pill, but I just wanted to get it over with because of how long I had dealt with acne. Amongst the long list of symptoms, I read severe depression; I ignored this specific symptom, thinking that I could never feel that way. After all, I had been a happy camper my entire life.

I tested positive for the very first strand of covid, the kind even scientists and doctors were still researching. New emotions came about that I had never encountered before. I had little motivation and did not want to socially interact with anyone, not even my family. The combination of Accutane and isolation due to COVID-19 created a mixture of emotions I hope no one ever has to feel. I was alone and did not even know it yet.

As time went on, my thoughts of loneliness grew worse and worse. I felt like I could not talk to anyone about my brewing feelings because I would feel like less of a man. This ended up hurting me more than I could ever imagine, as I had people to talk to but decided not to. I thought it was more manly of me to keep my feelings to myself.

Somehow, someway, I pushed myself everyday and got through a time in my life I never want to relive. The pill did its job, but added baggage that I did not expect it to come with. Was it worth it? This is a question I ask myself everyday. Though, I think to myself, without this experience I do not think I would be the man I am today. I admit now that I was depressed, but I should have admitted it then, to avoid everything that soon followed.

Per year, around six million men suffer from depression according to Mental Health America.

If you or someone you know has been affected by mental health struggles, you are not alone. Free, confidential help remains available 24/7 through the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline via telephone or online chat in English, Spanish, and more languages. Call 988 to seek help. For support services located at Palmetto, contact: Trust Counselor, Patricia Mills- millsp@dadeschools.net and/or Social Worker, Ana Garces- agarces@ dadeschools.net

Ryan McKean Senior Multimedia Editor r.mckean.thepanther@gmail.com

DESIGN BY IVY LAGARTO

PHOTO BY MADDIE VOLPE

STAFF Print Co-Editor-In-Chief

Samantha Elkins Online Co-Editor-In-Chief

Amy-Grace Shapiro

Garcia

Martin

Ryan Mckean

Design

Ella Pedroso

STAFF EDITORIAL

SUPERINTENDENT

TARGETS MENTAL HEALTH IN SCHOOLS

Paredes

Isabella Hewitt

Stuzin

AngeeSports

Greenberg

Sofia Taddeo-Goldstein

Valentina Arias

Volpe

Haus

School mainly consists of one continuous cycle every day: going to class, seeing the same group of friends and adding endless assignments to one’s to-do list. School and mental health go hand in hand, and it can be a constant stressor for students. Hours of work, essays, studying for a history test, completing math homework and going to practice all at once often makes students feel overwhelmed and unsure of how to cope with their anxiety. Recently, MiamiDade Public Schools Superintendent José Dotres increased efforts to encourage awareness for student mental well-being in schools. Taking these strides to create a more positive school environment is greatly appreciated, as students can finally feel heard and understood. Oftentimes, students do not have anyone to share their concerns with, so additional resources and school psychologists will have a large impact. Also, the county seeks to provide additional tutoring, increase parent engagement, strengthen athletic programs and establish activities connecting teachers with their students, all in hopes of improving mental health in schools. One of the most prominent concerns for students is safety, and many do not feel confident that school is a safe place from gun violence. Implementing increased security would ease concerns so students can focus on their education instead of potential danger. The efforts made to guide students will not be overlooked, and as students, we applaud Superintendent Dotres for prioritizing such a prevalent

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Edie

Alexis

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.

The Panther is a monthly publication of Miami Palmetto Senior High located at 7431 SW 120th Street Miami, FL 33156, (305) 235-1360 ext. 1124. 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 1237 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.

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