Broward County High School Seniors Vote in First Presidential Election
SECTION NEWS SCHOOL HEAD
BY DEBBY TEICH
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n government class, students are learning that each vote matters. One hundred seniors from three Broward County high schools met at Pembroke Pines Charter High School last month to make sure their votes counted. They voted in their first presidential election during early voting at the Broward County Southwest Regional Library. “Our students are making and ultimately will live with the history of their vote,” said William Quigley, PPCHS Government and Economics and Law teacher who organized the event. In keeping with a four-year tradition, the PPCHS seniors were greeted by Pembroke Pines city officials; Pembroke Pines Mayor Frank C. Ortis; Commissioners Iris Siple, Angelo Castillo and Jay Schwartz; City Manager Charles Dodge; and Principal Peter Bayer. The group was joined by School Board Member Patti Good and Representative Richard Stark for a commemorative photo on the steps of Susan B. Katz Theater of Performing Arts at the River of Grass ArtsPark. Following the photo, the seniors and officials walked across campus to vote with their peers from Flanagan and West Broward High Schools. Quigley says he teaches his students about the importance of due diligence; being educated about the issues facing and affecting their city, state and federal government; and respecting the opinions of others.
“People talk about coming to America to live the American Dream,” said Quigley. “Well, the dream only becomes a reality when American citizens are educated on the laws governing our country, live ethically, get involved in their community, and vote. Do you see action or inaction by elected officials? Make informed decisions and your vote will make the difference. No one is right or wrong because of an opinion, we tell our students if you don’t see eye to eye with someone, then agree to disagree, agreeably!” On the same day, Pembroke Pines Charter Academic Village Middle school students participated in a mock vote and were addressed by Pembroke Pines city officials who spoke about the importance of becoming informed about issues, taking responsibility for their community and country through active involvement in the political process and exercising their American right to vote. “Today our middle school students heard directly about the importance of voting and our newly eligible students from the class of 2017 enjoyed a rite of passage when they exercised their right to vote,” said Peter Bayer, PPCHS Principal, as he watched the students file into to vote. For information, visit www.pinescharter.net
Elementary Students Learn the Importance of Replacing Smoke Alarms BY DEBBY TEICH
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ver 1,400 Pembroke Pines elementary school students recently competed in the Pembroke Pines Fire Department’s 20th Annual Fire Prevention Week Poster Contest, which promoted Fire Prevention Week’s theme “Don’t Wait Check the Date! Replace Smoke Alarms Every Ten Years.” “The more children involved who understand the need to take responsibility for fire safety the more lives that will be saved,” said John Picarello, Fire Chief of the Pembroke Pines Fire Rescue. “This contest teaches lessons that will last a lifetime.” Posters were judged based on how well the safety message was incorporated into the poster, creativity
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and neatness. Eighteen students in grades K through 5 were selected for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. They were recognized at the Pembroke Pines City Commission; awarded trophies, ribbons and goodie bags filled with fire safety prizes (stickers, coloring books and crayons); and had their posters on display in Pembroke Pines City Hall. The following were the winners: 1st Place K: Valentina Paz (Somerset Acad.) 1st: Jolie Belizaire (Somerset Acad.) 2nd: Christian Ali (Pines Charter-Central) 3rd: Vaishnavi Kuppala (Pines Charter-East) 4th: Josiah Mahoney (Pines Charter-Central) 5th: Navya Pant (Lakeside Elem.) 2nd Place K: Aaron Sabatini (Somerset Acad.)
DECEMBER 2016 | OUR CITY PEMBROKE PINES
1st: Ellie Lopez (Somerset Acad.) 2nd: Brianna Puig (Pines Charter-East) 3rd: Allison Plicka (Greentree Prep School) 4th: Camila Vaca (Pines Charter-East) 5th: Amanda Jimenez (Pembroke Lakes Elem.) 3rd Place K: Sidharth Mudusu (Somerset Acad.) 1st: Valentina Dominguez (Somerset Acad.) 2nd: Janel Lubin (Pines Charter-East) 3rd: Kennedy Rustmann (Somerset Acad.) 4th: Ariana Cotto (Montessori Acad.) 5th: Carolina Espinosa Cerpa (Pembroke Lakes Elem.) In addition to the poster contest, members of the fire department held fire safety presentations; gave fire station tours; and distributed brochures, firefighter helmets, coloring books, and stickers during Fire Prevention Week.