The Panther 2024-25 Issue 4: The Love Issue by laviles1-dadeschools

PANTHERthe

THE love ISSUE

When President Donald Trump took office, one of his major promises was to combat the border crisis and crack down on immigration, an initiative that started almost immediately. His immigration policy utilizes U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids for mass deportations and arrests of migrants.

How Gen 'Zees' relatioNships

In the ever-evolving world of modern romance, Gen Z has redefined the dating vocabulary with a fresh set of terms that reflect their unique approach to love, relationships and connections.

Collectors' Cabinet: A Look at MPSH Students' Prized Possessions

Love comes in all shapes, sizes and types. People can love others romantically, as friends or even family members. Athletes love their sport, artists love their art, teachers love their subjects … but what about loving pieces of plastic? Or shoes?

Banking From The Bench: For the love of fundraising

Money does not just grow on the smelly socks of Panther athletes but with the help from the Booster club parents, Miami Palmetto Senior High’s beloved sports team can thrive.

Is It Truly Better To Have Loved And Lost, Than To Have Never Loved At All?

Debunking Myths and Misconceptions: ICE Raids and Schools 04 06 09 12 13

Debunking Myths anD Misconceptions: ICE Raids and Schools

When President Donald Trump took office, one of his major promises was to combat the border crisis and crack down on immigration policy, an initiative that started almost immediately. His immigration policy utilizes U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids for mass deportations and arrests of migrants.

Initially created in 2003 with the passage of the Homeland Security Act in response to the 9/11 attacks, ICE’s role has evolved over the years. Under the Trump Administration, the role and power of ICE has expanded even more: according to the ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Statistics, 2018 marked the highest arrest year with over 158,000 arrests reported under Trump.

Still, ICE raids are not random, as they target specific individuals identified through surveillance. A major difference between current ICE raids and those under former President Joe Biden is “collateral arrests.” This means that ICE has the authority to arrest additional people residing in the U.S. without legal status if they encounter them while looking for other migrants targeted for deportation, an aspect banned under the Biden Administration.

Additionally, Trump has reversed a decades-old policy that now allows ICE raids in sensitive places, such as schools, hospitals and churches, according to the National Immigration Law Center. This has caused a backlash from teachers across the U.S., including those in the United Teachers of Dade and the Broward Teachers Unions, who held a press conference to address these “threats to public schools” on Feb. 6.

If ICE officials show up at a school, Miami-Dade County Public Schools plans to respond the same way as if it were any other type of law enforcement.

“The procedure is that any time law enforcement shows to a school, the principal

asks them to present whatever documents they have and immediately involves their region and the general counsel’s office, so the school board lawyers,” MDCPS board member representing District 9 Luisa Santos said.

ICE cannot enter a school without proper documentation. A judicial warrant is needed and must be approved by school board lawyers before ICE can enter a school.

Miami Palmetto Senior High School plans to adhere to these protocols.

“We would follow the same protocols that we have always followed. Number one, we don’t hold records here that would indicate anyone’s status one or way or another, so there is nothing here for anyone to review. Number two, we would never allow anyone to come in unless they come in with proper documentation,” Principal Victoria Dobbs said.

Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, schools cannot share any personally identifiable information with ICE without proper documentation or parental consent.

“We have verystrict guidelines for protecting student’s privacy. I also want to make clear that we are not allowed to, and we do not collect any student’s immigration status,” Santos said.

Despite these protections, in some areas of Miami-Dade County, parents are keeping their children home from school.

According to Santos, in an organized protest by parents against ICE raids in sensitive places, some schools hit a 70% attendance rate. Typically, schools hover in the 90th percentile for attendance. MPSH has not experienced a drop in attendance due to the threat of ICE raids, according to Dobbs.

“Please continue to come to school. We will keep you safe here. We will do

everything within our power to make sure the kids are comfortable and that this place feels like a safe haven for them,” Dobbs said.

As of Feb. 22, no ICE raids have occured in any MDCPS schools, and according to Jack Finkelman, an immigration lawyer at Packman, Neuwahl & Rosenberg, there likely never will be.

“I doubt very highly that ICE is going to conduct a warrant in school. First of all, … I doubt very much that there are criminal aliens in schools … And it would be terrible PR for ICE to be seen raiding a high school,” Finkleman said. “I think it’s a lot of fear-mongering. You see it in the news every day. But if you look at the news, I mean, have you ever seen a high school raid? Never. [Have you] seen a church raid yet? A hospital raid? Everybody is very scared and I understand… but you have to be able to take a cold hard look, and say, what is the reality of what’s going on here.”

Even though ICE raids in sensitive places are highly unlikely, students can still take steps to protect themselves.

Santos believes the first step to protecting oneself is knowing their rights. Everyone has the right to remain silent and can refuse to answer questions about their immigration status.

“Look, I was in their shoes as an undocumented student, and I want to say it is a very scary time. The way that we empower ourselves to get through it is through information,” Santos said.

For additional information on knowing one’s rights, visit the American Civil Liberties Union website.

Brooke Wilensky Print Editor-in-Chief b.wilensky.thepanther@gmail.com

DESIGN BY SAVANNA BYLES PHOTO BY SAVANNA BYLES

AT THE PUPPY AT THE PUPPY

Puppy Love Sphere

Instant serotonin appears when walking into a room full of puppies. Miami was lucky enough to get its own Puppy Sphere out of six other locations: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Toronto and Montreal. Puppy Sphere classes are held on weekends, so this is the perfect place to get the body moving on a Saturday or Sunday morning with the companionship of adorable puppies.

“The setup of Puppy Sphere is vertical, with elongated rows of six, with four mats per row, and there is a yoga instructor in the front who teaches yoga positions while puppies run around,” Miami Palmetto Senior High sophomore Haiden Clarin said.

Located in Wynwood, Fla. one already knows that good vibes are written all over this place. With loads of windows, mirrors and of course puppies, visitors are given the chance to get a perfect photo for their Instagram page.

“The room itself is really aesthetic, and the first 45 minutes it is just a yoga class with puppies running around, and then the last 45 minutes you are just playing with the puppies, and they even give you complimentary drinks and macaroons,” senior Sasha Crabill said.

All yoga sessions are beginner-friendly, so there are no worries about being able to follow along.

“It’s a small yoga class, not very many people, so you are able to get a one-on-one experience with the puppies,”

Crabill said.

Clarins’ favorite part about the Puppy Sphere was when the puppies would come frolicking around, making everyone stop and say “Hi” to them.

“The puppies are super cute, and they change every week, which allows everyone to have a little variety, “ Clarin said.

Various breeds have been spotted by Clarin and Crabill, including American Bulldogs, Golden Doodles and Dachshunds.

“I went with my best friend, and when we bought our tickets, we didn’t know the breed the dogs were going to be yet because we bought them the week before, and they tell you the week of,” Crabill said.

The Puppy Sphere offers more than just puppy yoga. They offer private event options to their customers, such as puppy yoga, puppy social, happy hour and puppy meditation. If customers are interested in bringing the puppy love to their place, they can choose one of the “bring to you” events. These events include a puppy-pen social, a cuddle zone and off-site puppy yoga.

With a little bit of everything to offer, the Puppy Sphere could be your next weekend adventure.

Juliet Isom

Video Editor

j.isom.thepanther@gmail.com

DESIGN BY MIA CARNEIRO

PHOTOS COURTESY OF SASHA CRABILL, HAIDEN CLARIN, & SLOANE GELFMAN

Lessons in Love: What

High School Has Taught Me

“It is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.” The famous Alfred Lord Tennyson quote fuels motivation and persistence through even the darkest of breakups and failed situationships. This mantra, while it has its doubters, has kept me afloat in desperate times. Teenage relationships are ones for learning: finding one’s equilibrium of standard, setting the bar at the ideal height and growing from every “pros and cons” list.

Below, see my list of lessons learned from love and loss in high school:.

1. Be Intentional About Every Relationship

If there is one piece of advice I would give to a situationship/relationship rookie, it would be to get their expectations straight before going into any relationship. Understanding where one stands emotionally, communicating and laying cards out truthfully and genuinely will solve so many problems. If this line looks blurry, I would re-evaluate getting involved with another person’s feelings before any damage is done.

2. People Have Seasons

Romantically or platonically, not every relationship with people is meant to last. At times, we realize that our lives are seasons — we make the most of them, but nothing is ever constant. Things shift, people change and context evolves. So, it is important not to lose sight of this during breakups or falling-outs:, keeping one’s head on straight, and embracing a mindset of flexibility and understanding that will make all the difference.

3. Mistakes are Growth, Treat Them as Such

Everyone makes mistakes — the inevitability of a mishap or a moment of flaw is unavoidable. However, when prompted, or following a screw-up or moment of weakness from a friend, the important thing is to ask oneself: “Is this coming from a bad person or a good person who made a mistake?” Sometimes empathy must become a priority: we are all humans, mistakes are imminent, and what matters lies in the way they are learned from and how we grow from the situation. Sara Paredes

Editor-in-Chief

How To Perfect the

February Column

s.paredes.thepanther@gmail.com

"Hallway Crush”

Experience in Five Simple Steps:

Picture this: a bored high school student is desperate to find love, but not willing enough to actively seek it out. They want a way to distract themselves at school, but how?

Look no further, because here are the top five tips and tricks needed to be the perfect owner of a hallway crush.

Step 1: Scour the halls of Miami Palmetto Senior High for the perfect person. They have to be somewhere! Search for however long is necessary; it could be days, weeks, months or even years.

Once you find your target, move on to Step Two.

Step 2: You have picked your person, and now is an important step in making sure you stay staring at this person in the hallways during the lunches, going to classes or (NOT) skipping.

Spend the next few days mapping out this special someone’s walking route. As soon as the route is mapped, draw it out using the map of MPSH below!

Step 3: Drag your friends during lunch time to lightly cross paths with them. It is optimal to cross them walking the opposite direction, so you can complete Step Four.

Step 4: This is the most crucial part of the process: eye contact. The second you lock eyes with the hallway crush, you are in.

Step 5: Keep up this process for however long you want. Feel

free to switch things up by “accidentally” brushing shoulders or talking about how free you are this weekend to your friends, at a high enough volume that they will definitely turn their head.

But remember the most important rule: never speak to them unless they speak to you. What is the point of admiring if you are actually going to have an interaction?

Enjoy these tips and good luck on your hallway crush journey!

Eleanor Harris Feature Editor e.harris.thepanther@gmail.com

How Gen Z Defines Relationships

TALKING STAGE

When a Gen Z couple is just starting to get to know each other, but does not fully know what to call their connection, the term “talking stage” is often used.

A relationship that’s more than friendship but less than a committed romantic partnership.

relationship that is more than friendship but less than a committed romantic partnership.

SITUATIONSHIP

GHOSTING

If anyone is ever confused as to what happens if a talking stage stops communication without reason, they probably got “ghosted.”

A term used in relationships to indicate publicly sharing one’s relationship status.

A term used in relationships to indicate publicly sharing your relationship status.

HARD LAUNCH

“[A hard launch is] posting on social media or randomly being with that person in public,” Macias said.

“[A hard launch] could be in the form of a post or a story [on social media], with that person. You also have to show that it’s not a friend, it’s a partner,” Fernandez said.

“It is strictly on Instagram. TikTok is less of a hard launch,” Cohn said.

A more private alternative to a “reveal”.

SOFT LAUNCH

A more private alternative to revealing one’s relationship.

LIFE | 09

SNAPCHAT WARRIOR

Often referred to as a “What do you look like” warrior, Snapchat warriors are people who try to nd love through Snapchat.

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A warning sign that someone may be problematic.

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RED FLAG

GREEN FLAG

These are usually signs of healthy behaviors in a partner.

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It is not good, but also not bad. It is something that makes you pause for a moment, but you do not need to take any action.

It’s not good, but also not bad. It’s something that makes you pause for a moment, but you don’t need to take any action.

BEIGE FLAG

LOVE BOMBING

A form of emotional manipulation that can occur in the early stages of a relationship.

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Gaby Laventman

Copy Editor g.laventman.thepanther@gmail.com

DESIGN BY MIA CARNEIRO

PHOTO BY HELENA KAWAMURA & EMILY STEELE

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A LOOK AT MPSH STUDENTS’ PRIZED POSSESIONS

If you look hard enough around Miami Palmetto Senior High, one can find countless students who love a specific object so much that they have an entire hobby dedicated to getting as much of it as possible. These students are commonly known as collectors.

Many collect things for a very simple reason: the items bring them joy. For senior and vinyl collector Benjamin Jones, listening to a song online barely scratches the surface of the music — the feeling of listening to music through a record player is far superior.

“It’s like you’re owning the music. On Spotify, it’s just not the same. When you listen to an actual record on a record player, it’s a lot more crisp. There’s the crackles in the background — it just adds a different vibe to it,” Jones said.

After being gifted his first record from his uncle, Jones immediately got a record player to listen to it and began collecting vinyl soon after in 2018. His love for this vintage method of listening

to music has led to his impressive collection of over 100 albums and around 145 singles. The crown jewels of Jones’ collection, however, are the records he owns of his favorite band: The Beach Boys.

“Probably my favorite record is this $250 box set from my favorite band, The Beach Boys,” Jones said. “And when I was in Orlando I just walked into this record store – it was huge – and I remember seeing on the wall this one super rare Beach Boys record. It’s one that had 10 songs but it was 100 bucks and I bought it just because I can’t find that anywhere.”

Junior Rocco Cattaneo has a similar love for the item he collects: LEGOs. Starting after his dad gifted him his first set around four years old, Cattaneo’s collection continued throughout his childhood and into high school.

“It’s what I grew up with and it stayed with me. I enjoy it, and it’s cool to just have them in your room,” Cattaneo said. “It’s lowkey addicting, too — like, you build it, and then you’re done with it and you want to build another one.”

From collecting LEGO sets with his aunt as a child to now completing them with his girlfriend, Cattaneo still finds that the activity helps create reminders of memorable moments in his life. Unlike the average collection, which usually only consists of finding and purchasing items, a LEGO collection can require de manding, time-consuming work, especially when assembling rare or difficult sets. Despite the effort, the more intricate sets often happen to be the prized possessions.

“My favorite one is the Millennium Falcon because I love Star Wars. It’s the Han Solo ship, and it’s the biggest one. And I got it for my seventh birthday from my parents,” Cattaneo said. “[It] was really hard. It took me three days to build.”

Others collect a specific item not for what they are, but for what they represent. Junior Eva Phancao has collected different designed Starbucks cards since third grade to bond with her father, who saves hotel cards from his frequent work trips.

“[My favorite Starbucks cards are] probably [the] older cards because they’re different, now they’re made out of plastic, not paper,” Phancao said.

With a binder filled with well over 100

cards, Phancao’s collection features a wide range of Starbucks cards sold over the years, with a few other brands’ cards sprinkled in. Her collection is somewhat of a time capsule, illustrating the different Starbucks cards that have been created over the years for different holidays, celebrations and more. Yet for Phancao, the collection helps store memories of how her and her father maintained a close relationship even when he was away.

For senior Martina Villacreces, she found inspiration for her unconventional collection not in a certain passion or a close relationship, but in a childhood book she read.

“Well, [my spoon collection] was actually based on a book that I read. I don’t remember which book, but I remember one of the characters had a spoon carousel, and I kind of wanted one of those too,” Villacreces said.

Since then, Villacreces’ collection of spoons has grown from a childhood fantasy to a time capsule for every city she has visited. With every place Villacreces has gone to for about the last four years, another spoon is added to her collection,

ing pretty or rare items. For her, the spoons stand for something deeper than a small piece of her collection — each one reflects a small piece of her life.

“Spoons are just an item that goes so unnoticed every day. [They are] so unappreciated and I just think by seeing the beauty in something as every day as that, you can find beauty anywhere

From searching all over Florence, Italy for a unique piece of silverware to anticipating the next addition to her collection that she will get on her upcoming visit to Washington, D.C., Villacreces’ collection makes her journeys around the world more

“[When I find a rare spoon] I see it as a victory because spoons, you can practically find them anywhere, but in those hidden tourist shops, those are where the really pretty ones are and the ones with all the detailing. I just love those,” Villacreces said.

Some of the most treasured spoons in Villacreces collection are the ones whose intricate details are unlike the rest.

“My favorite item is the spoon [I got] from Venice because it’s the only one with gold hardware and also color in it, not just metal. So that’s like the one that stands out the most to me,”

Villacreces’ search for spoons is more than just find-

“I have one from Quito, Ecuador, which is where my family’s from, and it’s the smallest one and the most rural. So I think that one is just the most touching to home – that one’s probably my favorite.”

From a passion for items to a reminder of childhood joy, a symbol of familial love, or a record of travels and experiences, collections serve as ever-evolving time capsules of lives. These collections help capture the stories of people’s journeys in endless ways.

Gabriella Alvarez Business Manager g.alvarez.thepanther@gmail.com

Edie Carneiro

Life & Sports Editor e.carneiro.thepanther@gmail.com

DESIGN BY MIA SHIELDS

PHOTOS BY EMILIA HAUS & SETH CLARIN

BANKING Bench: from the For the love of fundraising

Money does not grow on the smelly socks of Panther athletes. With the help of the booster club parents, Miami Palmetto Senior High’s beloved sports teams can thrive.

The school’s booster clubs, a group of volunteers who support a school organization and/or sport, are made up of determined parents who have supported their children’s team, many continuing to do so beyond their athlete’s years on the team.

Lynn Kirkpatrick’s son, Kirk Guevara, played football during his time at MPSH. After graduating last year, Kirkpatrick has continued her work for the team.

“My son was playing football for the Panthers and I was good friends with Mrs. Dwyer, and knew that before she started working at Palmetto, she had been kind of doing the booster stuff. So, when she started working and needed some help taking over the boosters, I offered to help,” football booster club volunteer Kirkpatrick said.

Booster parents put a considerable amount of work into the teams they fundraise for. With limited help from school funding, whether setting up fundraising events or dealing with workheavy websites such as SnapRaise, these parents have shown their love for their Panthers with the dedication they put into the team.

“[SnapRaise] is just something we have to do. I think it’s something else that we have to track, so it adds a lot of work, because there’s no funding from the school, it’s something we have to do,” girls’ and boys’ lacrosse booster club volunteer and parent Ileana Cohn said.

Booster parents have put themselves into the pockets of both the parents and coaches, understanding what it takes to keep a team running from every angle.

“This year, we got shooter shirts for the girls which is something the boys have always gotten, so this year we were able to get it for the girls too,” Cohn said. “For the boys, we were able to get senior banners, whereas the girls used to only have senior banners … So I think more equality in everything [makes it most rewarding].”

Having a coach under significant amounts of stress is not necessarily good for the players — or the coach’s vocal cords. Parents being around to relieve the stress of money struggles benefits both the coaching staff and teams as a whole.

“I think [booster club] takes a little bit of the stress off the coaches from dealing directly with the parents on all issues. Of course, they still have a lot of issues that they deal with directly. I try my best to reduce the stress on the coaches so that they can focus more on the play time, the practices, the games themselves,” Kirkpatrick said. “When it comes to raising money and getting the word out on any changes in the games or announcements that they need the parents to know, I try to take that burden off of them. I think that’s really important.”

Furthermore, as the main beneficiaries of such hard work, athletes acknowledge and give credit to the volunteer parents’ dedication. This comes largely in the form of giving athletes the chance to show their team spirit using merchandise and branding.

“We have these black jerseys, and they just look so cool because they are really different from any of the teams. It’s just a new aspect to the team that I really appreciate. Other things are like the merch that we get; it’s a nice little reward we get for playing. I really appreciate the booster parents for that,” junior and boys’ lacrosse Long Stick Mmidfielder Maddox Fernandez said.

Creating a community to help involve the parents in their child’s team is truly the main goal for all these parents. For the parents, aside from the time and effort put into helping the team run smoothly, the satisfaction of seeing everything come together makes it all worth it.

“At the end of the day, one of my favorite things is just giving the parents an avenue to support the kids,” Kirkpatrick said.

While bright merchandise and articulate logos may stick out to other students, the hard work these parents do ensures the players have what is needed. With public school sports often not receiving county-wide funding, booster clubs provide the necessary funds to help minimize financial strain, all going directly into athletics. The booster club’s role does not simply make the players look pretty: it ensures each team can access the equipment they need to perform well on the field — while looking good doing so.

Some may view the booster club’s role as primarily focused on raising funds and providing materials, but their efforts also extend to organizing events, building team morale, fostering community engagement, and ensuring the overall well-being and success of the athletes, making their contributions far more impactful than simply just financial support.

“People may think the booster’s job is just money and stuff, but it goes so much more They take the time first to get the money and are generous enough to give it to the team. They help with all the logos and merchandise that we get so it really is a lot more than just getting more money,” Fernandez said.

Lili Fernandez Opinion Editor l.fernandez.thepanther@gmail.com

PHOTOS BY TROY WILENSKY DESIGN BY JAZMIN MASON

YES:

The concept of losing love versus never finding it at all might freak many people out in their search for love. Why risk getting burned, when one could just avoid love altogether until they are sure they have found “the one”? I say that it is impossible to find “the one” until you know what makes a perfect partner for you. Opening myself up to an entirely new person and taking that leap into a talking stage, “situationship” or even a full-blown relationship is the best way to learn things about myself I did not know before.

No one said that high school relationships have to last a lifetime. However, knowing that you will not marry your high school sweetheart does not mean you should avoid taking that chance. The sadness of a breakup, or even the sting of rejection will never outweigh the wondering of, “What if?” Living life with no regrets is objectively the best way to live, and choosing not to love out of fear is one of the biggest regrets you can have as an adult.

Losing love is one of the best ways to learn a true life lesson. You learn about yourself, but more, you learn how to love better in the future and be a better partner to someone else. You learn to appreciate love more deeply and become emotionally stronger through both love and loss. Deeper, healthier love is only possible through the experiences of the past, and I have learned to be more grateful for the presence of love in my life.

Having lost love in my past is never something I mourn, because loving someone means that I have opened my soul to them, giving their own to me in return. Even if they try to break my heart, I will always recover; I have so much love to give, and finding someone to return that love is a testament to the worth that love has in the world.

Besides, love is never truly lost; if someone in your life, regardless of how it ended, provided you with support and happiness, that is enough. Life is a collection of moments and love adds richness to that story. At the end of the day, would you rather look back on a life filled with caution and regrets, or a life full of beautiful, rich emotions and memories?

Jordan Glassman Copy Editor j.glassman.thepanther@gmail.com

FACEOFF:

Is It Truly Better To Have Loved And Lost, Than To Have Never Lost At All? Is It Truly Better To Have Loved And Lost, Than To Have Never Lost At All?

NO:

The saying, “Is it better to have loved and lost, than to have never loved at all” is a familiar chant to comfort us when our hearts are broken. However, while most may agree that it is better to experience love than to have never loved at all, I disagree.

As we know, rom-coms tend to exaggerate the happy endings and the big declarations of love more than necessary. In real life, boys hardly open doors for their dates, let alone plan romantic gestures to sweep them off their feet.

I have gone on my fair share of dates, and I have realized that I am always left disappointed: disappointed in their lack of effort along with their lack of character. The more I have come to learn about love, the more I have grown to despise the lack of independence that comes with it.

My dating adventures have also led me to heartbreak more than I care to admit. I am not even sure that a guy has ever made the effort to get to know the real me. I have opened my heart again and again, and no matter what I do differently, I always end up with the same outcome. I have experienced hurt more than I have loved, and though that reason alone has made me steer clear from all romantic love, a deeper reason lies below the surface.

I selfishly want a life of my own. I do not want anything that I do in my life to be under the confines of a relationship. I want to wear what I want, and go wherever I want without worrying if I am upsetting my partner. I want to be able to turn off my phone for hours and not have to worry about consoling my partner about what I might have been doing with my free time. I want to see everything, say everything and eat everything that I can before my clock on life runs out.

I have such an urge to experience everything that this world has to offer that I refuse to be held back by uncertain relationships. I prefer the relationship that I have with myself more than something as breakable as one with another person. I will not be hurt again by the love that has been promised to me by love songs and literature.

For me, romantic love is better left in the movies.

Editor i.cantin.thepanther@gmail.com

Isabella Cantin Video

DESIGN BY LUNA GARCIA

PHOTO BY ADI GREENBERG

the PANTHER STAFF STAFF EDITORIAL

Editor-In-Chief

Sara Paredes

Print Editor-In-Chief

Brooke Wilensky

Online Editor-In-Chief

Ava Stuzin

Managing Editor

Alexis James

Senior Copy Editor

Aayana Baid

Senior Photo Editor

Emilia Haus

Senior Video Editor

Madeline Volpe

Senior Design Editor

Mia Shields

Business Manager

Gabriella Alvarez

Feature Editor

Eleanor Harris

Contents Editor

Jake Hawkins

News Editor

Justin Fetcher

Life & Sports Editor

Edie Carneiro

Opinion Editor

Lillianne Fernandez

Video Team

Juliet Isom

Siena Feigenbaum

Isabella Cantin

Multimedia Team

Seth Clarin

Adi Greenberg

Helena Kawamura

Troy Wilensky

Emily Steele

Samantha Panagakos

Design Team

Savanna Byles

Luna Garcia

Anya Jerome

Jazmin Mason

Mia Carneiro

Copy Team

Sophia Snyder

Gabriela Laventman

Jordan Glassman

Savanah Freedman

Advisor

Laura Aviles

Consent is the basis of respectful relationships, individual self-sufficiency and moral decision-making. It is the simple yet effective idea that individuals have the right to make their own choices — free from pressure, manipulation or intimidation. Whether in friendships or romantic relationships, consent ensures that people are treated with dignity and respect.

In personal relationships, consent enables trust and open communication. It must be freely given, enthusiastic and can be withdrawn at any time. This is especially important in preventing sexual assault and harassment, reinforcing that no one is entitled to another person’s body or personal boundaries.

Without explicit consent, actions can lead to harm and/ or mistrust. Educating people about its importance from a young age creates a culture of respect and accountability. When consent is prioritized a safer, more honest society, one where every individual’s rights and choices are valued is developed.

MISSON STATEMENT

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

EDITORIAL POLICY

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 1124 or e-mail us at s.paredes.thepanther@gmail.com. The Panther has professional membership in NSPA and CSPA. The Panther prints 1,000 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.

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 Business Manager will. Ads will be approved by EICs, the Adviser and the Business 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 occurs during an activity sponsored by the Board.