2019 Issue 4 - The Legend

Suncoast Community High School

pages 12-13

Volume 22 Issue 4|February 2019

The Staff

Adviser Traci Lowe Editor-in-Chief Jahnaezha McFadden Managing Editor Meghan McGlone Business Manager Meghan McGlone News Editor Zarin Ismail Lifestyle Editor Kaiden Buscemi Features Editor Anika McGetchin Opinion Editor Jahnaezha McFadden Sports Editor Shivani Shah Design Editor Kenjela Mullings Copy Editor Yashna Chowdhury Website Managers Zarin Ismail, Shivani Shah Social Media Manager Samantha Powers, Diana Devine Staff Writers Grace Sergeant, Ava Fitzgerald, Keelie Hanley, Sophie Karbstein, Jessy Aramouni, Daniela Orozco, Sebastian Aponte, Adrianna Estrada, Kate Hannah

About Us

“The Legend” is a newsmagazine produced entirely by Suncoast students from all grade levels.

We publish six issues per year, 3 each semester. Any opinions that are printed in “The Legend” are not necessarily the opinions of the adviser, administration, or the school district. Unsigned editorials reflect the opinions of the editorial board.

E

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TR

Advertise with us! Stop by room 3-117 or check out our website for more information.

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CONT

News

GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN 5 EDUCATED, INCARCERATED 6

Features

Opinion SCORE DEPLORE 7

DOUBLE STANDARD 9

Lifestyle

TRANSCENDING BOUNDARIES 12 HAMILTON IN PUERTO RICO 18 LOVE IS LOVE 15

IS AQUAMAN SEA-WORTHY 20

Sports RETURNING HEAD COACH 22 BAND IS A SPORT 23

TENTS

4 News

NEW SECURITY

Students say Suncoast should be next.

Grace Sergent Staff Writer

S

tudents attending Jupiter Christian School, in West Palm Beach, came back from winter break to a new and improved campus: one equipped with a brand new security system designed to protect kids from school shooters and other dangers presenting themselves to Florida campuses.

The system included flashing alarms, emergency push button boxes and wearable pendants programmed to send the police flying to the school when triggered, as well as notifying other teachers on campus. The system even informs the police of the exact classroom which sent out the alert. The technology’s breadth and accuracy is only mirrored by its expense, costing the private school a cool $35,000 to install.

According to Jupiter Christian’s director of facilities and operations Jacob Godino, the cost of the system is not the number people should be worried about, but, rather, how many lives are saved because of the tech.“The reduction of time and the response—if it saves one life, the system is worth it.”

Which raises the question should Suncoast be the next school to update its security?

For senior Aura Garduno, the answer is yes.

“We [Suncoast], I feel, don’t have a strong security as we could possibly have,” she stated. “Especially on the outside doors. People always prop it open, someone could easily knock and let a student in - it’s not entirely the safest.”

Another senior, Taneria Tysinger, expressed concern about the readiness of the school to evacuate its students in an emergency situation. “[We need] a way to escape the classrooms, especially on the second

and third floors… so if an issue as serious as a school shooter does happen, then you know we’re not just sitting ducks in a classroom.

If there’s time to escape, then there’s a way to escape.”

Both girls, while broadly supporting more security tech being implemented into school life, also criticized certain aspects of the Jupiter Christian system.

“The flashing alarms,” Garduno pointed out. “I feel something like that, in the event of a school shooter, would lead to more panic than calm. But the whole immediately calling the authorities sounds, definitely, like a good thing.”

Tyinger, however, had questions about who would be allowed access to the technology, stating that wearable pendants would not be effective if only available to a portion of the staff. “You never know who’s gonna be in trouble and where they are...if one student was by themselves [in a school shooting situation] they would have no way to contact the police and anybody else, because they’re isolated.”

Sophomore Finn Wilson did not have any questions about Jupiter Christian’s technology, because, as he stated, he did not feel it necessary in the first place.

“I do feel secure at Suncoast,” he said, explaining that “there’s only one main entrance and we do have a police officer on campus full-time.”

Wilson also stated that, while not an advocate for more security, he would not be opposed to any new changes. “To make the Suncoast community safer,” he agreed.

For the

now, though, measures

most

of

mentioned remain a distant dream, with no comment from the Palm Beach County School District on whether they would look further into any more new security implementations or follow Jupiter’s Christian’s lead.

“If there’s time to escape, there’s a way to escape.”

Taneria Tysinger

GA gridlock VERNMENT SHUTD WN led to a long government shutdown.

Zarin Ismail News Editor/Website Manager

O

n Dec. 22, 2018, the U.S. government shut down several federal agencies after President Donald Trump and Congress could not come to an agreement regarding the insufficient funds for a wall along the Mexican border. Trump urged for a protective wall during his presidential campaign in 2016, and claimed that $5.7 billion is required to fulfill the project. On Jan. 25, 2019, Trump reopened the government after 34 days for three weeks while negotiations continued between Congress and the president.

Trump proposed the border to prevent Mexican immigrants from getting inside the U.S. without legal permission. Over 11 million undocumented immigrants live in the U.S. and Trump believes that creating the wall will strengthen border security. The Democrats wanted more security at the border and agreed on funding the 654 miles of barriers in 2006, however, many did not support President Trump’s wall.

Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, denied all negotiations and offers from Trump that included border wall funding and Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer believed that giving into Trump’s requests would allow him to use “similar tactics in the future.”

Republicans supported the wall for its progression in better homeland security. Republicans feared that more undocumented immigrants may come in; taking care of undocumented immigrants staggered the process of citizenship for immigrants, regardless of whether or not they entered the country legally. “...the wall is one step closer to concrete immigration

*name changed to hide identity

laws and better border security,” student Elle Gee* said.

Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell, ruled that no action would be made until the Democrats in the Senate and the president agree on what to do with the border. The Democrats stated that they will not support the border construction and asked Trump to consider abandoning the project. In response, Trump prolonged the government shutdown.

According to CNN, The Food and Drug Administration stopped food inspections, the National Transportation Safety Board halted fatal accident investigations and agencies without funding are lacking cybersecurity. National Public Radio (NPR) stated that roughly 800,000 federal employees received $0 in their paychecks during the shutdown. “...If the shutdown were to continue for a longer period, some citizens may find that the services that they are used to may take longer because of furloughed employees,” World History and AP Government teacher Joe Schwab said. “The TSA is one example, if employees call in sick, you may expect to see longer lines at the airports.”

Trump agreed to open the government back up because of the delays and cancelled flights a major airports.

The government shutdown was currently the longest in U.S. history; the previous record being the shutdown during Bill Clinton’s presidency, which lasted 23 days.

6 News

EDUCATED, INCARCERATED A recent case shows the link between schools and crime.

Sophie Karbstein Staff Writer

photo source: New York Times

C

yntoia Brown was granted clemency on Jan. 7, 2019, commuting her life sentence to an end date in August 2019.

Brown had already served 15 years in prison for killing a man who had hired her as a prostitute while she was being sex trafficked. Although she was only 16 at the time, Brown was tried for the murder as an adult. Her case highlights the relationship between public schools and the criminal justice system.

One of the many roles of the United States government is to provide primary education for children, from kindergarten through high school. Under Florida state law, students can legally drop out of school at age 16. While the graduation rate of Suncoast is almost 100 percent, this is an anomaly in Florida. According to the Florida Department of Education, the 2016-2017 school year had a dropout rate of about 18 percent, meaning that almost a fifth of Florida students did not graduate high school. The US Department of Labor reported that dropouts earned an average of $400,000 less in their lifetime than those who finished high school, and that the unemployment rate for dropouts was almost double the national average.

Of course, dropouts could earn a General Education Diploma (GED), which is basically an equivalent to a high school diploma. However, earning this GED involves passing a series of rigorous tests that almost half of traditional high school graduates could not pass. Thus, it may seem like an impossibility to many dropouts.

Even more seriously, dropouts are more likely to end up in jail or juvenile detention than those who finished school. Brown dropped out of school very early, and while this was not the only cause of her imprisonment, it certainly contributed. Children spend a majority of their life in schools, so naturally their educational experiences shape who they are for the rest of their lives.

Brown’s biological mother gave her up for adoption when Brown was 2-yearsold. A film about Brown’s life suggested that even with her adoptive family, she

had too much instability in her life for the right personal development. If a student is having problems at home like Brown was in her childhood, schools should be places of relative safety or constancy. If children struggle with school and do not receive help, their negative experience will impact their future behavior. Students who cannot cope with a negative school experience will drop out, or they will stay in school and cause trouble.

The latter tendency, where students “are funneled out of public schools and into the juvenile and criminal justice systems,” according to the American Civil Liberties Union, is called the school-toprison pipeline. This direct connection between schools and incarceration is created by insufficient resources in schools, an increased police presence on school campuses and zero-tolerance policies, which put harsh penalties on students despite the circumstances of the violation. As a choice school, Suncoast policies are famously strict.

However, they are not overly harsh, as demonstrated by the one percent suspension rate and below one percent police referral rate at this school. The Suncoast administration reported that, so far, only four students were exited for administrative reasons during the 20182019 school year. This is not the case in the rest of the state, as Florida has some of the most severe zero tolerance policies

in the US. The recent, broadly publicized school shooting just less than an hour away from Suncoast has only heightened the stringency of Florida’s policies. The school-to-prison pipeline is an alarmingly extensive and horrifying problem, but it is one of the only other options struggling students have to dropping out. Schools are not doing their jobs if students go to prison, nor if they drop out.

The unfair choice between dropping out or the school-to-prison pipeline can be fixed. The Southern Poverty Law Center recommended giving teachers more training in effective discipline instead of involving the police, and Teaching Tolerance proposed that schools should “provide simple explanations of infractions and prescribed responses in the student code of conduct to ensure fairness.”

Freshman students Sierra Weinstein and Saanvi Kodiganti both suggested programs that monitored students and selected those who were struggling academically or behaviorally to help.

The programs would prevent individual students from falling through the cracks.

During her time in prison, Brown got her GED and earned an associate degree from Lipscomb University.

Her story is either an exception or an example of progress. In a statement to the governor who pardoned her, Brown thanked him for a second chance.

7 Opinions

SCORE DEPLORE A Miami student faces punishment for a gain in her SAT score.

Shivani Shah Website Manager/Sports Editor

W

hen Kamilah Campbell opened her mail, she expected to see her recent SAT reasoning test (SAT) score. Instead, she got the shock of her life with a letter; the letter stated that her score was deemed invalid after her answers were found similar to those of another student.

An invalid score is considered flagged, which makes the test taker unable to see it. Campbell had to personally call the SAT testing company in order to find out her score; and that is when Campbell found out that she earned a score of 1230 (out of a possible 1600 points). This is a dramatic change from the score on her first try - 900.

She believed that her score was considered invalid because it significantly increased. She told reporters in a press conference in January, “I did not cheat. I studied and I focused to achieve my dream. I worked so hard and did everything I could do.”

Campbell truly did go above and beyond to increase her SAT score. She hired a tutor, used prep books and took classes online.

Instead of being recognized for her immense efforts, Campbell is being punished. We, as students, are always told to improve our test scores, no matter how high they may be and to always be better than we were before. Improving them can only lead to positive consequences. This

situation, however, shows the complete opposite. It goes against everything that we have been taught in our lives.

Sophomore Navya Jagadish explained, “Test scores fluctuate all the time.

Sometimes we have bad days, while other days are exceptional, and this is reflected in our scores.” She remarked, “It is pretty evident that [Campbell] heavily prepared for her second try on the SAT. No one should be penalized for doing

that. Her score increase is reasonable.”

If the testing company does not validate Campbell’s SAT scores in time, she could lose the opportunity to apply to colleges and universities with the rest of her peers.

This incident could unnecessarily set her back and put a blemish on her record.

To ensure that this will not happen, Campbell has enlisted the help of Ben Crump, a civil rights attorney.

She hopes to get her score validated in time for her to attend her dream school - Florida State University, where she wants to major in dance.

The SAT is one of the two standardized tests students can take for college admissions and scholarships. Along with the SAT, the other test is the ACT. Students can choose which test to take and most colleges do not prefer one over the other. This allows students to make the final decision based on what their strongest subjects are.

Junior Kevin Yang described how “The SAT and ACT are two of the most important exams we take in our lives. They cover various subjects and can be taken multiple times.” In Campbell’s case, Yang commented, “It’s upsetting to hear that a student is being punished just for raising her score. I hope everything gets resolved before her college applications are due.”

Weeks after her press conference in January, Campbell has decided to abandon her fight to validate her SAT score, according to her attorneys. The media attention has been stressful and traumatizing for her. She plans to retake the SAT and pursue her goals privately.

The lawyers that represented Campbell still plan to work with the testing company to update the score review process and how students are informed to ensure no one ever has to go through something like this ever again.

SAT VS. ACT:

What do students prefer?

On the adjacent map of the U.S., the test preferences for the senior class of 2018 are shown. In 26 states, more seniors prefer the ACT. The remaining 24 states, including Florida, seniors prefer the SAT. photo source: Wikipedia

8 Opinions

OUR HARDEST YEAR YET

Diving into the most difficult year for all the programs.

Ana Estrada Staff Writer

S

ince the moment students go into high school, they are warned about how hard junior year will be for them.

High school, in general, is challenging and can be stressful for many people because having to balance school work with all the other factors in a student’s life is a very tough process. Junior year is when many students get a part-time job and have more rigorous classes in all the programs.

Suncoast is very well-known for being academically killer, and because of this, many students in other high schools refer to Suncoast as the “brainiac” school.

The IB program, with the addition of the foreign language classes their students must take, is a well known program for being really challenging. IB is the only program that requires students to take four years of language, which troubles many. The IB program also has an Extended Essay, in which students must choose a topic that interests them, research it and write a 4,000 word essay. Students start working on their EE’s at the start of their junior year and turn it in at the beginning of their senior year. Overall, IB is a very challenging program.

IB junior, Joseph Huber also feels that his junior year has been difficult because of the Extended Essay. When he meets up with his teachers to discuss his EE, “there’s so much to talk about, and on top of that, when you decide on a topic you have to make sure it’s a good one… [it] has to have your interest because then it’ll be easier to write about... there’s just so many factors to consider.”

MSE students start their freshman year including Precalculus and AP Physics I. The intensity of the classes only increases junior year.

In addition Calculus II/ III, is also the first dual enrollment class that they take. Just like the IB program, M S E students have to do a science fair project which requires a lot of work and time. The project allows MSE students to expand their knowledge on science and engineering concepts they learned throughout their time at Suncoast. Their projects allowed students to participate in the countywide science fair and then if they were chosen, students would advance to states and finally nationals. The MSE program’s junior year tests everything students have learned throughout their previous years.

Katherine Schrank, now an MSE senior, said that her junior year was by far the most difficult out of all the ones she has had.

Schrank said that this was because,“You have AP Physics C, then you have your first dual enrollment math, AP Calc ll/lll, which

is supposedly the hardest math at Suncoast. [The most arduous part of junior year] was just homework...you also have to do your science fair project which takes more planning.”

Junior year for CS students consists of adapting to the change in classes. Nicholas Thies, also a CS junior, feels that it is his hardest year yet. “[the most challenging part about junior year is] balancing life. I have a job, a sport, school, and a girlfriend. It’s hard”. Thies feels that his most demanding class is Calculus and he also has difficulty with his IB Computer Studies class because of their project.

In addition to the change in classes and balancing their life out, CS students are also given a yearly project. The project is started at the beginning of junior year and is due towards the end of March of that same school year. In the project, students are given a client and they will have to create a code for a program that benefits them. This project requires a lot of time and planning as well as being a lot of work for the students.

Another program that Suncoast has, IIT, is just as challening as the other programs. There are three branches to IIT, drafting and photography as well as Game and Sim. During their senior year, these branches have projects for which their junior year prepares them. In photography, the students must make a portfolio as their project.

In Game and Sim, students switch from learning Flash to C# in their sophomore year which is a big change for them.

They also have to create a video game using many 3-D models and coding principles. Drafting is an architecture program that is just like the others and has a senior project that incorporates all the ideas that students have learned in their previous years.

Tyler Stubbs is now a senior in the IIT program. Stubbs has taken band all four years of high school and while he really likes it, “band is really time consuming so … you can get really tired.” While Stubbs does not think his IIT junior year was extremely difficult, he did find that his english classes were harder than he expected.

Overall, each program teaches students valuable lessons that they can use in college and life in general.

9 Opinions

DOUBLE STANDARD Second semester senior absence policies are not fair.

Ava Fitzgerald Staff Writer

I

t is the time of year when influenza is in season and it seems to be affecting everyone. The flu is a highly contagious virus and if a student is showing symptoms, then schools encourage them to stay home, preventing other students from catching the illness. This would help to maintain a healthier environment for staff and students by lowering the chances of everyone becoming seriously ill.

Second semester seniors, however, do not get that same luxury. If a senior is sick and must stay home, whether the absence is excused or not, the absence is counted against the senior. If a second semester senior racks up more than five absences, then it is mandatory to take a final exam. When a senior becomes so ill that they must receive care from the hospital, they still are at risk for taking the final exam at the end of the year .

School officials frequently ask that sick students stay home but if a senior

follows that advice, they can be penalized for it. Excused absences mean there is a legitimate reason for not coming to school that day, and it indicates that the student was not skipping school.

Often, it is not the students fault they have to miss class. Excused absences show that students had responsibilities that were taken care of, and they should not count toward the absences that determine if a final exam is necessary or not. This rule should be changed to only unexcused absences counting against seniors just trying to avoid the exam.

Senior Nathalia Gonzales explained that “counselors and administration should be the people helping us with the rule and changing the rule because they are the ones that encourage us not to come if we don’t feel well.”

Many Suncoast seniors are starting to worry about their absence count. Seeing fellow students and their teachers come in with stuffy noses and botched voices

becomes nerve racking to seniors who are hoping they do not become sick.

Senior Paula Beaujardin says she is worried about having to come to school if she is sick, because she does not want to make her friends and classmates sick.

“I can not miss any more days this year, so if I get sick and I must come sick to school, then I risk getting my friends sick and we won’t be able to perform well academically which could result in lower grades,” Beaujardin mentioned .

Doctor visits can be the reason a student has to miss school. However, even with a doctor’s note and a perfectly reasonable explanation as to why school had to be missed that day, the school counts that as one of the five days. Rules should be set to help students move along in the direction they should be moving in, and teachers and administration should do everything in their power to aid students. Rules such as this one do not help seniors, they harm them.

TO BE OR NOT TO BE, INKED A new stigma is surrounding tattoos.

Samantha Powers Social Media Manager

T

attoos have been a part of many cultures, starting with the Egyptians, and they are becoming more popular with teenagers, and more specifically, popular among students at Suncoast. Tattoos used to have the stigma that anyone who had them were tacky and trashy; however, tattoos are now being looked at as a form of art and a way of self expression that can be worn and seen by all. While it is a little unusual for teenagers to have tattoos, there are more students at Suncoast who have them for various personal reasons.

The stigma that used to surround tattoos is changing due to the younger generation’s want for body art and the need to be able to express themselves through art that can be physically showed. This is also being fueled by social media, as the sharing of ideas and concepts through multiple platforms can change ideas more rapidly.

Tattoos are intended to be creative and usually are original pieces of artwork that go on the body. The meaning of the tattoo can also be communicated differently, depending on where the placement of the tattoo is on the body. The placement of a tattoo can have different meanings, or no meaning, for each person.

“It’s like permanent art. They represent things I care about, and moments in my life that I love and it’s an expression of art that I always get to have with me wherever I go,” Suncoast photography teacher Josephine Murray-Johnson said. It is always nice to have a little, or large, reminder of the things that one loves in their

life, and tattoos can act as informal keepsakes that hold much more meaning than what meets the eye. Tattoos hold stories that go beyond the skin, and they have the ability to allow other pieces to be added or connected to one original piece, thus making the artwork more valuable to the one who has tattoos.

Consequently, if tattoos are becoming more prominent, and are being shown more, then limitations could placed on the individual. This may limit their availability to participate in school events, sports, or limit them in the workplace. More and more teenagers are facing these difficulties due to an increase in tattoos. While it is great to have beautiful pieces of artwork on one’s body, sometimes there are limitations that can ruin the purpose or the message of the tattoo.

“I decided to place my tattoo on my forearm because I wanted it to be seen. My tattoo hasn’t interfered with any places of work or school. The only thing that it has interfered with is band because I’ll have to cover it because we all have to look the same,” Suncoast senior Tyler Stubbs said. Due to some public school restrictions, some tattoos need to be covered if they are not already easy to cover.

There are obstacles that come with having tattoos, such as a situation with Stubbs, where he needs to find outfits that allow him to appear uniform with the rest of the Chargerettes. However, due to the ideas that are changing in society, there may be no limitations in the future that require the need to hide any tattoos.

WOMEN REPRESENT

Women have gained more importance in film.

Kaiden Buscemi Lifestyle Editor

Y

our heart pounds as you click on the play button. The trailer’s dramatic background music begins to play, an enticing fight scene commences and Samuel L. Jackson’s iconic voice spills out of your speakers, outlining the situation. You await to see the star of the newest superhero movie: “Captain Marvel.”

As if your heartbeat could accelerate even more, you become thrilled to discover yet another female power figure portrayed on the big screen.

Among the many common themes in today’s media, the rise of women as power figures and influential leaders has continued to grow. Afterall, women represent about half the population, and it is important for young girls to be able to look up towards someone who they can relate to and see as a role model.

Whether or not you want to label this rise in power of women and their promotion within the film industry as a form of feminism, this change has captivated men and women alike.

In the 21st century, males and females are created as equals, at least in the United States; however, women are still paid less and often are given the short end of the stick. Men on the other hand have historically been seen as the dominant gender, and it took years of protests and determination for women to gain not only a strong seat in government, but in the entertainment business as well. To be taken seriously in a “man’s world” has taken a lot of effort, but it has finally paid off.

Some may argue that women are not represented properly or enough, but when looking at all of the year’s recent films, the portrayal of women as relatable and main characters has greatly risen. Movies such as “The Hate U Give,” “What Men Want,” “Nappily Ever After” and “Captain Marvel” have all starred strong female roles. They have also represented women of color and women with difficult backgrounds. This is crucial for girls growing up without an idol they can confide in or serve as a positive influence.

Today, women are respected for much more than taking care of the household and chaperoning the kids from their soccer games to their friend’s houses. Women can be entrepreneurs, engineers, lead roles in popular films and even presidents or world leaders. The issue of maintaining respect among those different from us has been a big theme in the media, and has been sweeping the nation. It should not be taken lightly, and the same goes for maintaining respect for women and the progress they have made within the media and film industry.

Whether or not kids at Suncoast enjoy these movies, they can certainly enjoy their characters and the ability to see a character like themselves portrayed in a major motion picture. Some of these films have received hate, however, their characters have not failed the female population in representing those who until now, have felt left out or under appreciated.

11 Feature

CHORUS ALL STATE STARS Six students rising to the top in All State.

Daniela Orozco Staff Writer

1

08 students in chorus, all with great talent, but six students rose to the top. Daniela Carmona, James Seton, Max Fonrose, Chris Berrios, Joel Hein, and Isha Joshi were those six students that had the great opportunity to go to All State this year. These kids are not only in All State, but are in more clubs and classes, like Voices. On top of that, they have their regular chorus period.

Every single student that made it into All State had to learn how to balance between their school work and their extracurricular activities.

Although chorus and All State is an extracurricular, it does not mean that they do not have to put in hard work and effort, it is actually quite the opposite for these students.

Originally, 14 students auditioned to be in All State. All State is a competition in which kids have to know how read music at a certain level and have to know how to control their voices very well. There are two rounds that the students have to go through in order to make it into All State.

Vocalists advance to different stages in All State. There is the group called Mixed, which is considered the higher level course, and then, other soloist have the chance to make it into the Singled Sex Soloist groups. Even though the mixed group is considered higher leveled, it does not mean it is much easier to get into the Womens and Mens vocal groups.

According to Carmona, “The first audition round is a musicianists test and

I had to study for that and there is also a sight reading part.” Sight reading is when the competitors receive a certain amount of measures and have to sing the musical parts correctly. Carmona states that she had to study for the musicianship test.

Carmona also mentions that she had to study her music three hours daily and had to dedicate a lot of time in order to perfect her singing. “ It is best to be prepared when you going to All State because the first thing judges tend to notice is how prepared you are,” said Carmona Although some might believe singing is a talent that comes naturally, which is true, but not everything comes from effortless talent. Musicians who utilize their voices as their instruments, do not accomplish things with ease. They also have to study for tests that they have to pass in order to advance into the next round in the competition. Not only do the students who want to qualify for All State have to study for sight reading and the musicianship test, but they also have to take time out of their day to sing and work with their vocal strategies. Not every student makes time to fit singing into their schedule, but certain kids, like the ones that qualified for All State, practice as much as they can. That is what makes these students stand out. Even though they do have a natural ability to sing, they still make sure to improve as much as they can on their abilities. They are

devoted to singing and always attempt to do their best.

After finishing the two rounds in All State, they are rewarded with the chance to travel to Tampa , and perform a big concert where all the contestants that qualified for All States are able to bring their voices together and perform. The show came together in a matter of two days. With this opportunity also comes hard work. The first day of rehearsal they had nine hour long practices. The second day they had a six hour rehearsal and their performance was on the third day.“There was a lady who gave me a good visionar concept in order to not be so controlling over my voice and I had been struggling to accomplish that,” said Carmona. The All State trip did not only give these six students another memorable experience in their high school years, but also helped them improve their skills and allowed them to gain more knowledge.

All State Chorus requires people to commit to their music and take it seriously. With having to practice for hours on music pieces and missing school days in order to perform pieces, there comes a lot of dedication. It is admirable to know that there are still kids with such a commitment for their music. These students are rising to the top.

Daniela Carmona after performance in Tampa, only sophmore in All Sate

Some of the all state qualifiers wiith Mrs. Nixdorf after the tampa performance

12 Features

TRANSCENDING TRANSCENDING BOUNDARIES BOUNDARIES

Young senior seeks opportunities in a new country.

Jahnaezha McFadden Editor-in-Chief

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aiting anxiously on a plane, he began to wonder what opportunities this new country had in store for him. He recalled his parents sitting him and his brother down as they were told the biggest news of their lives, their grandfather’s claim came through and they would be moving to the United States. After over five years of waiting, it was something they knew could possibly happen, but that did nothing to stop the nervousness that filled their eyes as the reality of moving to a foreign country settled in or the sadness at the thought of having to leave their father behind.

In hope for better opportunities, senior Dany Hernandez and his family immigrated from Cuba to the United States when he was just five years old. Cuba’s communist state presented a series of limitations for the bigger chance to grow and succeed.

“We came to the United States in the search of better opportunities that weren’t available in the communist state of Cuba.

My parents wanted a better life for their kids, so what better place to go than the land of opportunity,” Hernandez said.

With Hernandez’s grandfather coming ten years prior, he was eligible to claim his family back in Cuba; allowing them to immigrate to the United States. Due to unfortunate circumstances, Hernandez’s dad was unable to come alongside his family until a month later. “I came to the United States on an airplane, although people usually like to joke that I swam here or came on a raft. My grandfather came to the U.S. years earlier and claimed his family to come, so I came with my mom and my brother in an airplane to the United States—unfortunately my dad stayed behind. A month later, my dad came to the United States through the Wet Foot, Dry Foot Law,” Hernandez recounts.

Without their father for that month, transitioning was much harder for the two. It was up to Hernandez and his brother to help any way they could.

“I remember that I felt really sad that photo courtesy: Dany Hernandez

my dad wouldn’t be coming with us when we went to America. My brother and I cried because we did not get to see him for a month,” Hernandez said.

Despite them moving when he was fairly young, adapting to American customs and traditions was still quite difficult. As time passed they began to assimilate, adjust and learn the new language and customs.

“The biggest challenge in America was adapting. Completely changing your way of life is a difficult process and it was difficult in the beginning, but over time we were able to slowly adjust. Learning a new language was probably the hardest thing, but after that, everything came much more smoothly. I think that since I came to the United States at such a young age, learning English was easier and more natural for me, but it was definitely still a struggle,” Hernandez said. Besides the difficulties with learning a new language, one of the hardest things Hernandez had to do was leave everyone he knew behind in Cuba.

Even though he was young when he left, his friends and his extended family was still in Cuba. Hernandez and his family also had to deal with difficult living arrangements as they transitioned into the United States “The hardest thing for me was to leave all my family and friends behind and to adapt to a completely new culture and language. At first it was pretty difficult because my parents, my brother and I lived crowded in a wooden home and I remember that we all used to sleep on the same bed,” Hernandez stated.

Hernandez also had difficulties with adjusting to the new school system and making new friends. He had always been a shy person, so having to make friends that spoke a different language was quite the feat. Rather than complain about being alone, Hernandez used the free time he had to study and learn.

“I was never bullied for being an immigrant, but I did sometimes feel like an outcast. At the school I went to in Miami, Redland Elementary, I didn’t have any friends because I didn’t know any English.

FLORIDA,USA

386 mi.

CUBA

13 Features

IMMIGRATION IMMIGRATION BY the the NUMBERS NUMBERS

1,000,000 immigrate yearly to the United States

cultures and apply it to his everyday life.

Each culture has provided Hernandez with valuable lessons that allows him to flourish wherever he goes.

“I consider myself to be bicultural.

I possess the ability to easily migrate between two distinct worlds with a single step: my Cuban culture when I step into my home—stepping out, to my American culture. Growing up, my parents instilled in me the values and principles of a traditional Hispanic family, but through the portal of my front door, I became assimilated to the American culture. I value greatly the closeness and emphasis on family that comes from my Cuban roots, but at the same time, I value the significance of individuality that stems from my American culture.

My cultural identity is peculiar and complex, but I adore every aspect of my cultural identity,” Hernandez said.

Using all that he has learned from this experience, Hernandez has plans to become a future business owner like his father. He hopes to return the sacrifices his parents made by moving to the United States by helping provide for their future.

“I want to be a business owner. When we moved to West Palm Beach, my dad started his own landscaping business to provide for the family. Watching my father work fostered a passion within me for entrepreneurship.

Plus, being an entrepreneur also takes into account the passion that I have for communications. My dream is to be able to provide for my parents, just as they have provided for me,” Hernandez proudfully stated.

the

On top of that, I was also extremely shy, so I barely communicated at all. But all the time I didn’t spend socializing, I put into studying and learning English in the ESOL program,” Hernandez recounted.

While dealing with this transition, Hernandez heavily relied on his family whenever he felt as though everything was becoming too much. He knew he would have their support no matter the situation.

“I can always count on my family whenever times got tough and I needed consoling or advice. My mom and dad are always there to help me,” Hernandez stated.

Although they have been in America for years, Hernandez’s parents are still facing difficulties with fully understanding the language.

Hernandez has made it his responsibility to help whenever he can.

“Even though we’ve lived in the U.S. for about 13 years now, my parents still aren’t fully adjusted to the culture here as they should be. They still struggle with English, and I often translate for my dad whenever he has meetings with clients. Now that my brother is at college and I’m about to go later this year, my parents aren’t going to be able to rely on my brother and I for help anymore. They made us a promise that in 2019 they will focus on practicing their English, so I’m excited to see how far they will come,” Hernandez said.

Although assimilating to the new culture was important to Hernandez he also made it a priority to keep his Cuban heritage alive. Throughout the day he transitions between the two and takes what he learned from both

TOP 10 COUNTRIES IMMIGRATING 1) Mexico 2) Philipines 3)India 4)China 5) Dominican Republic

6)Vietnam 7)Cuba 8)Guatemala 9)El Salvador 10)Korea

14 Features

THE MAN, THE MYTH, THE LEGEND

After teaching for over three decades, Mr. Fresco is retiring.

Sam Powers Social Media Manager

H

e can be found on campus well before 7:00 am and well after 2:40 pm daily. His door is always open to any and every student on campus, even if it just for a simple “Hello, Mr. Fresco.”

His teaching career was not made from only teaching at Suncoast High School, he was at a few other schools prior, too. At each school he shared experiences and knowledge with students.

“I wanted to be a part of the new cutting-edge and innovating program [at Suncoast High School],” said Fresco. Thus, Fresco took the leap and dove into a new environment with a program that had not been a part of any other school in Palm Beach County.

Having the certification of Social Science Composite allowed Fresco to teach all existing social studies classes available, which allowed him to gain broader perspectives across the board in the subject of Social Studies and Theory of Knowledge.

Fresco is infamously known for teaching the International Baccalaureate course called TOK, and claims that, “I did not choose TOK, TOK chose me.” TOK is a required IB course that teaches students the way in which knowledge is created and how it can be shared and interpreted.

Additionally, there are just certain aspects about Fresco that make him loved and adored by many as a teacher and as a person. Fresco’s friendly and happy personality is contagious to practically everyone that is near him. Due to Fresco’s upbeat and cheerful personality, it is easy for him to make learning fun and engaging. However, for most teachers, it is hard to establish a teaching method that really works.

Through “Trial and error, experience, and [by remembering] what works, you certainly know what doesn’t work,” Fresco said about the way he established his teaching style to accommodate all of his students, and the way he learned to make learning genuinely fun for everyone.

Teaching for over three decades can become repetitive and somewhat mundane. For some teachers, it becomes difficult to keep a fun and interesting learning environment; however, Fresco has learned ways to keep learning fun and unique for all individuals through experience.

“My students are my own kids. My son and my daughter went to Suncoast and I got a chance to see both sides of it: from the parent side, student side and teacher side,” Fresco said. This trifecta is why he cares

about his students the way he does. Fesco has an interesting perspective of how students go through Suncoast, and this is why he donates so much time and effort to his students and why he cares so much about the way he delivers information.

Teachers work hard to establish a relationship with their students to help them realize that they can trust their educator to provide the students with accurate information, but to let students be aware of the fact that they can seek help from those educators. While it is easy to establish a basic opinion about an educator or a student, it is imperative to know that any relationship that is established had work behind it. The truth is, teachers actually do want their students to succeed and that is why it is important to establish and maintain good relationships.

“What I try to demonstrate [is that] this class and learning specifically should be fun, and it is something you should want to do because that is what you want to do, because [learning] is what makes things exciting,” Fresco said. This is probably a similar view of many teachers, as it should be up to the students to want to learn. In some cases, not all subjects that are taught appeal to all students. Thus, it becomes a part of the educators job to engage students, and Fresco does that through various resources. He uses techniques such as spontaneous yelling, the throwback songs in his powerpoint or letting students reach their own conclusions through their own methods of learning.

“It’s okay not to know things, and it’s okay to make mistakes and it’s okay to act foolish,” Fresco said. This is extremely important to remember when in the classroom setting as students seeing their teacher acting foolish will encourage students to feel as though there should be nothing to hide, as everyone is learning the same concepts and ideas.

Once his retirement begins, Fresco said the first thing he plans to do is “learn what it’s like to be retired.” He plans to see more of his family and improve on his golf game. While it is easier for those older in age to be more carefree, there are a couple of life lessons that can be taken from Fresco himself. It is completely fine to act foolish and make mistakes wherever one is, because that is where most of the learning is going to come from: in the places least expected.

15 Features

L VE IS L VE Let me be perfectly queer: bisexuality exists.

Meghan McGlone Managing/Business Editor

C

oming out is a difficult process for many people, but it is even more difficult when one’s orientation is not commonly accepted in society. Two Suncoast students struggled with this issue, and it took them years of thought, courage and support to finally accept themselves as bisexual.

Bisexuality is an umbrella term that includes several categories, including pansexual and fluid. Hence, it has several different definitions, according to the Bisexual Resource Center. Typically it is the middle ground, where one is attracted to several sexes or genders, but it is different for each person depending on their experiences and identity.

“Sexuality is something fluid that is unique to every person.

Not every person will have the same sexuality, and not everyone will experience it the same,” senior Aura Garduno stated. Garduno identifies as bisexual and has since the seventh grade. Although she struggled with understanding herself and her orientation, she found reassurance in being bisexual from another friend in the LGBTQ+ community.

“After talking with the friend who had come out to me about my doubts, she talked to me about how there was nothing weird with my sexuality [and] that there were a number of people out there just like me,” Garduno added.

However, like many other bisexual people, Garduno has encountered biphobia and negative comments regarding her orientation. One of the largest issues that bisexual people face today is bi-erasure, which is defined by Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) as the denial or questioning of the legitimacy of bisexuality. It also includes the outright denial or ignorance of bisexuality. This issue persists because of several stereotypes, one of the most prevalent being the idea that bisexuality is always and only a phase or stepping stone to identifying as straight or gay later.

“People shouldn’t have to like one gender or the other, they can like people of any gender that they choose, whether it be one or more,” junior Bennett Freedland added. Freedland identified as bi and later discovered that he was gay, but he is not perpetuating this stereotype, as he still validates and understands bisexuality.

“At first, I thought I wasn’t gay, but I wasn’t comfortable calling myself straight either, so I figured bi was the word that worked for the time being. However, a few months after I came out as bi, I realised that I no longer had any interest in anyone of the opposite sex and considered myself gay,” Freedland elaborated. “Sure, I used it as a buffer so I could decide if I was entirely gay or just bi, but if someone says that they are bi, then they are bi.”

People across all spectrums and identities in the LGBTQ+ community discover new things about themselves and may change their label, but bi people are more likely to be invalidated for this, which is another stereotype that perpetuates biphobia. “ Bi- and pansexual people get blamed most for this because people stereotype them as ‘greedy’ and ‘indecisive’,” Freedland explained. Garduno also added from personal experience that “even now I have issues when speaking about it that people may try to argue my sexuality isn’t real.”

Another toxic stereotype that is held against bisexual people is the idea that they are transphobic, and that

the bi in bisexual means that they can only like two genders. As times have changed and more awareness has been developed, the definition of bisexual has changed to encompass more than just two genders. “...The idea of bisexuality being transphobic goes with those that refuse to recognize a trans guy or girl as the gender they chose. It doesn’t mean all bisexual people share this prejudice against the trans community,” Garduno said.

These stereotypes add fuel to the fire that is biphobia, which is one of the reasons why bisexual people are more likely to have higher rates of depression and anxiety as compared to other people within the LGBTQ+ community, according to GLAAD. Issues of phobias against all sectors of the LGBTQ+ community are still strong today, including homophobia and transphobia, but it is important that biphobia becomes just as recognized so that bisexuality can become normalized.

“We can educate people on differing levels on the Kinsey scale, and what each level exactly means, go more in depth in sexual orientation during the Human Growth and Development curriculum, participate in projects and movements that prevent bi erasure from occurring. The list goes on,” Freedland mentioned.

There is more support today for the LGBTQ+ community than ever before, and this is a trend that needs to continue in order for all people to feel accepted and valid. Now, gay icons such as Ellen Degeneres and Troye Sivan inspire people. Similarly, popular media, like the movie “Love, Simon,” or the book “Carry On” by Rainbow Rowell, have given LGBTQ+ people an opportunity to relate with and be inspired by characters with which they can identify. However, there are way less bisexual people portrayed in the media.

GLAAD’s report in 2013 shows that bisexuality is the smallest portrayal of LGBTQ+ people in the media, especially for men.

“It’s ironic that for a community that holds itself to be so accepting and even includes us in the name that they still hold so much stigma against bisexuals,” Garduno commented.

Recently though, more bisexuals have been portrayed in the media, such as the television show and book series, “Shadowhunters,” and the television show “Brooklyn NineNine.” Bisexual people will feel more welcome and free to open up about their sexuality with more portrayal and acceptance.

LGBTQ+ POPULATION

36% Gay Men

5% Transgender

40% Bisexuals

19% Lesbians Data by the Pew Research Center

16 Features

A TIME OF APPRECIATION Students celebrate culture in the Heritage Assembly.

Zarin Ismail News Editor/Website Manager

I

n this year’s Heritage Assembly on Feb. 1, 2018, students celebrated the unity and diversity of Suncoast High School. The Hands Across Campus club compiled several Suncoast students to create an enjoyable presentation for this year. From Ireland to the Caribbean, performers created routines that effectively display the exceptional aspects of different regions and their cultures, hoping to spread the love for what they are representing.

Junior Natasha St. Hilaire said, “Learning about other people’s cultures is so important because our cultures are apart of who we are. They are woven into the fabric of our lives, and embracing someone’s culture only makes you that much more knowledgeable about who they are.” photo by: Samantha Powers

STEPPING TO THE BEAT: The Black Student Union dances off with an African twist, reinforcing the flamboyant culture of Africa.

The Heritage Assembly stressed the importance of appreciating other cultures, with groups including students that are not from the region they are representing.

Sophomore Christina Chen, a Chinese-American, danced for South Korea.

“As an avid K-Pop fan, I don’t really like how people hate on it just because it’s in a language they don’t understand.” Chen wanted to show people how beautiful and entertaining Korean music was, and that is not much different to mainstream Western music.

Other performers want to make a statement on appreciating their own background, as people tend to stray away from their traditions when living in a country with its own cultural structure.

“I want to send a message that you don’t have to be afraid to hide your nationality or culture from people,” Sophomore Tawfiq Rawnak who represented Bangladesh commented. “As a Bangladeshi immigrant, I want to show everyone on how there’s nothing to be afraid about in culture.”

Students used the talents they acquired during their childhood to put on a quality performance for the assembly.

“I have been learning Bharatanatyam Indian Classical dance since I was 5 and love performing,” senior Annanya Agarwal said. “...sharing that aspect of my life with my peers at school is such a fun experience.” photo by: Samirah Abellard

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT: The Caribbean team perfects their performance during after school practice.

photo by: Samantha Powers

DANCING INTO OUR HEARTS: The India team dances to Nagada Sang Dhol at the Heritage Assembly, a popular song in India.

The show may only show the final product of each group’s performance; however, the performers practiced for months and revised their routines many times to achieve such a remarkable result.

Junior Juan Rivera, a performer for Cuba and Dominican Republic stated, “... the hard part is all the work that the audience doesn’t see like on our own time when we’re rehearsing and preparing what we will perform.”

The performers changed their personal schedules too, sacrificing time and using extra effort to make the Heritage Assembly the best that it can be.

“The hardest part is missing band practice for heritage practice and juggling that with other stuff from school,” Sophomore Aaron Cramer who represented Africa said.

The annual Heritage Assembly shows freshman and reminds upperclassmen of the nature of Suncoast students: driven, appreciative, and authentic.

“There is so much diversity at Suncoast,” senior Archi Patel, the club leader of Hands Across Campus said. “Students of different backgrounds and talents coming together for this event shows just how unique and unified we all are.”

CARIBBEAN NIKAYLA HENRY, 9 “One of my favorite traditions is having family reunions every summer in Jamaica.”

VIETNAMESE

EMILY NGUYEN, 12 “I’m proud of our endurance during our rough history and that we are still able to keep our traditions such as fan dancing and clothing...”

LATIN AMERICA AURA GARDUNO, 12 “I absolutely love my home country and dancing is a big part of our culture.”

17 Lifestyle

IS AQUAMAN SEA-WORTHY?

“Aquaman” becomes the highest grossing box office film in the DCEU. Sebastian Aponte Staff Writer

“

Aquaman” has seldom been taken seriously amongst comic book fans and nonfans alike. Nobody thought much of a man that could swim fast, talk to fish and wear orange spandex. It was when “Aquaman” was confirmed a movie, released on December 21, 2018, that the hype started. Given the DC Extended Universes’ (DCEU) past, many did not expect “Aquaman” to do well in theaters.

Starring “Game of Thrones” actor Jason Momoa, “Aquaman” is about the son of a lighthouse owner and the queen of Atlantis. His quest is to take his rightful place as King of Atlantis from his anger-driven half brother, Orm. Orm blames Aquaman for the death of their mother and does not like that Aquaman is trying to take Atlantis from him. Aquaman alone is not strong enough to beat Orm and the entire Atlantean army, so he accepts the help of a familiar name to comic book fans, Princess Mera.

Together, they embark on a journey to find the lost trident of King Atlan, the legendary first king of Atlantis, while simultaneously battling an enemy from Aquaman’s past.

Sophomore Daniela Carmona said, “It was just really predictable and you knew what was going to happen all the time.” Predictability seemed to be a common opinion among “Aquaman” movie-goers.

Sophomore Edouard Garnier said, “A lot of the scenes were really cringey. You could see what was going to happen.”

Carmona also added, “The effects were really, really cool.”

Garnier said his favorite part of

the movie was “Black Manta.”

Black Manta is the primary villain in the Aquaman comics, and an instantly recognizable name to fans. Carmona was disappointed in Black Manta’s role in the movie and explained, “Black Manta is a major Aquaman villain and they just kind of put him in there as an afterthought.”

The DCEU has not been doing very well with its recent releases and many were excited to see how “Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice” (BvS) would turn out when it released in 2016.

Unfortunately, “BvS” only made $872 million in the box office, compared to most Marvel movies that make well over $1 billion. Other DCEU movies, including “Suicide Squad,” “Wonder Woman,” and “Justice League,” did not do too well either, never exceeding the $900 million point. When asked if the DCEU’s past would influence his decision of watching “Aquaman”, Sophomore Grafton Gore said, “No, I just kind of thought [to watch “Aquaman”] because of the trailer, the trailer looks really good...It kind of brought DC up compared to Marvel.”

Sophomore Tony Tian implied that the failure of these movies did not influence his decision to watch the movies either, stating, “Everyone was watching it so you know I had to watch it.” Although “Aquaman” may be predictable to many, the effects are very well produced, the actors were fantastic and it is an exciting adventure, enjoyable to everyone.

18 Lifestyle

HAMILTON IN PUERTO RICO The cast of “Hamilton” will perform their smash hit in Puerto Rico.

Shivani Shah Website Manager/Sports Editor

C

reated by LinManuel Miranda, the Broadway spectacular “Hamilton” tells the story of Alexander Hamilton, one of the Founding Fathers of America.

Director Tommy Kail describes the show as a “story of America then, told by America now.”

An avid fan of “Hamilton,” freshman Kaitlyn Ricketts enjoyed “the diversity of the cast” and “the rapping aspect of the show.” She feels that the incorporation of rap “is something new that actually works well.” It helps to attract more people.

Using hip-hop and a diverse cast, “Hamilton” has captured the hearts of those not just in the U.S. but all across the globe.

Now, Miranda and the “Hamilton” cast are heading to Puerto Rico. Performing for two weeks, proceeds from the shows will go to support the arts on the island.

The performances are a part of a fundraising initiative Miranda started to raise $15 million for Puerto Rico after visiting the hurricane ravaged

island 15 months ago.

In 2017, Hurricanes Maria and Irma slammed Puerto Rico, where Miranda’s parents are from and where he spent most of his summers.

The hurricanes resulted in widespread power outages and damage costing millions. English teacher Marcos Miranda, who was born in Puerto Rico, described how “the only family I have left in Puerto Rico are some distant cousins [...] they were hit hard but survived.” To this day, many Puerto Ricans are still recovering.

The reapportionment of Puerto Rico’s budget after the hurricanes has severely impacted several of its industries.

One of the heavy hitters being the arts and culture sector, which had 95 percent of its budget cut, according to Eduardo Arosemena-Munoz, the President of Puerto Rico’s Institute of Culture.

“I think it’s a brilliant idea [to have Hamilton performed in Puerto Rico]” Ricketts stated. “It [is] generous and amazing that Miranda is giving

back to his community.”

M. Miranda went on and explained how “the intent [of the Hamilton performances] is to bring attention to [Puerto Rico] - how it was dealt and its recovery.” The creator of “Hamilton” is “using his star-power to help build back Puerto Rico’s economy.”

While some tickets for the show cost up to $5,000, for 10,000 lucky Puerto Ricans, this will not be the case.

Through a lottery, locals have an opportunity to win $10 tickets to see “Hamilton.” In addition, JetBlue is holding a giveaway for select winners and their families to fly to Puerto Rico.

Miranda is returning to the role of Alexander Hamilton in his musical after two-and-a-half years.

He stopped performing with the rest of the cast to focus on various other projects. One of them being writing songs for “Moana.”

Performing in his home country, Puerto Rico, is another achievement Miranda can add to his list.

MEETING OBAMA: The “Hamilton” cast with Former President Obama in 2015. photo source: Wikipedia

WITH THE SECRETARY: Lin-Manuel Miranda, the creator of “Hamilton” meets with Jack Lew, the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury in March 2016. photo source: Flickr

AT THE WHITE HOUSE: The cast of “Hamilton” performing musical selections at the White House in 2016. photo source: Wikipedia

19 Lifestyle

LA PERRADA DEL GORDO

A Colombian restaurant shares their food and culture.

Adrianna Estrada Staff Writer

I

t is known that South Florida has a large Hispanic community.

With such a large Hispanic community, there are also many Latino restaurants open all over the state. There are many different restaurants from different countries, like Honduras and Colombia.

A restaurant that has generated a huge buzz is a Colombian restaurant called La Perrada del Gordo, most commonly referred to as Gordos. With three locations spread across the Palm Beaches, the restaurant always has people lining up to try the variety of dishes that La Perra del Gordo has to offer.

Its owners Elizabeth Novoa and Miguel Martinez, started off renting a mobile hot dog cart. They were constantly moving it up and down Military Trail and called customers to inform them of their new location every day. It was in June of 2004 that they got a fixed location at the flea market, and finally opened their West Palm Beach location on March 8, 2007. The restaurant became so popular that on March 8, 2012, they opened a second location in Boca Raton. Each location receives hundreds of customers daily, all because of the food they sell.

“There are a lot of different foods to choose from at Gordos, but the one I like the most is the Gordo Burger,” sophomore Christian Cabeza said. There are many students at Suncoast that hang out with each other after school and one thing a lot of people want to do after school is go grab something to eat, so they drive all the way to Gordos to get a quick meal. “Christian and I go eat burgers at Gordos after school sometimes. Last

The famous Gordo Burger with a can of Colombiana. photo courtesy of Adrianna Estrada

There are certain dishes that a lot of people go to enjoy. One dish is the Gordo Burger. The Gordo Burger contains tomatoes and a beef patty. It also has crushed potato chips and their homemade pineapple sauce. The pineapple creates a perfect balance between the sweet and savory flavors packed into this burger. It also comes with the option of two different meats, which are shredded beef and chicken. They have a variety of sauces to include in the burger itself, like their famous pink sauce. Their pink sauce is also called la salsa rosada. Its main components are mayonnaise and ketchup. Lime juice is added and some salt and pepper, to create the delicious salsa rosada. To top it all off, it has melted cheese oozing at the sides, which makes your mouth water in an instant.

time we went was on a Friday, and the food was amazing,” said sophomore president, Maximus Whittaker. With just one dish, you are sure to be full to the point where you can barely walk.

La Arepa Rellena drizzled with la salsa rosada. photo courtesy of La Perrada del Gordo

Another popular dish includes La Arepa Rellena. Arepas are a very popular dish in Colombia, and are eaten in many celebrations and also can be eaten as an everyday food. The arepa breading is the most important thing about it. There is a certain way to make it, that has been passed down from generation to generation. The dough of the arepa is made with dehydrated cooked corn flour called masa arepa. Mixing the corn flour with water will create the dough needed to make an arepa.

The bread is then stuffed with melted cheese and pulled pork. It is all topped off with their special pink sauce and brought right to your table. Arepas are usually very hot though, so letting it cool down before eating it is the best option to enjoy it to the fullest.

La Perrada del Gordo is a place that many people have to try at least once. The variety of foods and flavors that the restaurant has is something unforgettable. After trying one of their famous dishes, you will want to keep coming back for more.

20 Lifestyle

NETFLIX ORIGINAL SERIES Netflix is releasing their own film productions.

Jessy Aramouni Staff Editor

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etflix popularity has been on the rise ever since the expansion of their Netflix Original series “House of Cards” in 2013. Netflix then expanded to produce more of their own movies and shows such as “Bird Box,” “Stranger Things,” and “Bandersnatch,” plus hundreds more that made them millions of dollars. In 2018, Netflix was the sixth largest internet company by revenue, according to Investopedia.

When Netflix began with “House of Cards” as an experiment for making their own shows, it led to being highly successful for business. Netflix received 65 percent more customers leading to 33 million subscribers in 2013, as stated in The Atlantic.“House of Cards” was also nominated for 33 Emmy awards for Outstanding Drama Series and eight Golden Globe Awards for Best Actor in a drama TV series and Best Actress in a drama TV series.

The movie, “Bird Box,” which was released on December 13, 2018, had outstanding acknowledgment. Within the first week, 45,037,125 Netflix users had already streamed the movie making it the first “Best Seven Days Netflix Film”, stated by Netflix on their Twitter account.

Many students were interested in this movie due to the suspense and action involved in the film. Junior Jordy Fuentes shared, “I enjoyed watching the movie because every decision had to be thought of thoroughly building suspense and thrill. Everything was life-threatening and it kept me engaged.”

In addition to “Bird Box,” it had been highly impactful to the youth through social media.

There have been challenges made regarding the movie, which involve being blindfolded in public and leading to unintentionally harm to oneself. This challenge has gone from an

innocent joke to people getting hurt for the reaction of others in social media. Netflix has released a statement about this challenge: “Please do not hurt yourselves with this Bird Box challenge… we appreciate the love but...we have just one wish for 2019 and it is that you not end up in the hospital due to memes.”

Another show highly popular with students is “Stranger Things.” The premise of the show involved a young boy disappearing, and in the search of the young boy, they discover other ‘Stranger Things’. Stranger Things offer an alternative reality, proposing unknown scientific fiction. This show is full of mysterious scenes where the viewer knows just as much as the character causing suspense. This attracts the young people to enjoy the show and continuously watch it on Netflix.

“Stranger Things bring out nostalgia from [ones] childhood, it shoes traits of friendship and love, it includes intense slow parts and high parts,” senior Shannon Overstreet stated.

“Black Mirror” branched out into producing this new interactive film called “Bandersnatch.” Netflix users have ten seconds to choose between two choices for the next scene of the film. If the user does not choose an option given, Netflix randomly chooses one for the user. The film was originally a novel, written by Jerome F. Davies, who includes references back to “Black Mirror.”

“Being able to choose what happens next in the movie is really cool because it’s like I’m the director and I can choose what I want to watch,” senior Parth Chandan said.

Netflix has earned significant recognition for the productions they made throughout the past six years. Their net worth has grown to become over $1.4 billion dollars in 2018, according to Forbes, hoping to grow even more in 2019.

WHA Calli show

IS IT REALLY “

I

”

?

The Fosters spin-off is getting rave reviews for its inclusive nature.

R

Jahnaezha McFadden & Zarin Ismail Editor-in-Chief & News Editor (Design) In the 1980s sitcoms were primarily based upon nuclear families with semi-relatable problems, which allowed their viewers to mindlessly watch hours of the show without much thought on real issues. As television shows have continued to evolve, they have also begun to incorporate current problems impacting society, eliciting their viewers to examine the world around them. Similarly, the new television show “Good Trouble” follows in the footsteps of “The Fosters” in raising awareness of important issues. With only two episodes out, critics are already raving over the inclusion of diverse characters with various backgrounds.

“Good Trouble” is a spin-off to the popular series “The Fosters”, which follows the lives of Callie and Mariana Adams-Foster as they navigate their lives post-college in Los Angeles. The show includes everything that is needed to have a successful show, such as drama, comedy and suspense to captivate their audience.

Within its first two episodes, “Good Trouble” has already hit on subjects such as police brutality, biphobia, sexism in the workplace, fears of coming out and fat-shaming. The aim of the show has been to continue the series their audience loved and continue to raise awareness. “Good Trouble” has succeeded in the perfect balance of entertainment and educational aspects.

“Similar to The Fosters, ‘Good Trouble’ draws attention to important social and political issues such as the struggle for women in male dominated industries and gun violence. The message it carries is definitely on par with its entertainment quality,” Suncoast senior Aanchal Harpalani said.

Similarly to the student body at Suncoast, which is 36 percent of

students are Caucasian, 24 percent are African American, 22 percent are Hispanic, 12 percent are Asian, one percent are American Indian, and five percent are Multiracial, “Good Trouble” includes characters with different ethnicities, body types, sexualities and histories.

One of the main characters of the show is a bisexual male, which is highly uncommon in entertainment.

Very few television shows have bisexual characters in general, and for the show to have a bisexual male character truly shows the progressive nature of the show.

According to bisexual.org less than six percent of LGBT representation on TV was of bisexual men.

“I think ‘Good Trouble’ does a good job of representing all types of people. It’s uncommon to see a bisexual male on a popular TV show and I think they’re doing a good job at raising awareness of biphobia.

The shows inclusion of different races and sexualties is allowing it to relate to more people, which is a good thing,” Suncoast senior Megan Creamer said.

“Good Trouble” is a great show to watch that effectively demonstrates the benefits of the diversity.

Students are also able to relate to show since it follows the lives of young adults who are all involved politically and are transitioning into college and the real world.

RATING:

STORYLINE:

DEVELOPMENT:

CAST: AMERICAN INDIAN: 1%

MULTIRACIAL: 5%

ASIAN: 12%

HISPANIC: 22%

CAUCASIAN: 36%

AFRICAN AMERICAN: 24%

SUNCOAST DEMOGRAPHICS

WHAT IS GOOD TROUBLE? Maia Mitchell (left) and Cierra Ramirez (right), played by Callie and Mariana Adams-Foster, respectively, break the fourth wall in Freeform hit show, “Good Trouble,” and foreshadow their adventure into adulthood.

photo courtesy: etonline.com

22 Sports

RETURNING HEAD COACH Coach Clark is bringing the Charger boys back to victory.

Jessy Aramouni Staff Editor

hree years ago, while James Clark was the head coach of the Chargers football team, they were at their prime. Clark Tunderstood what the athletes needed to do in order to perform at

their best, and his passion for football had a strong impact on the team as well. He trained them harder than any other coach and molded them to become a thriving team. Due to family reasons, Coach Clark had to take a few years off, but now he has returned!

“I want to bring the Suncoast football team back to being the exciting, winning football team, which I’m convinced we can,” Clark said.

Many athletes are returning to the field with just the thought of having Clark as their coach. In their recent meeting, they had over 30 kids show up interested to partake in the spring season. Junior Aaron Adams is one of those who is excited about Clark’s return.

As he continues into senior year as captain, he knows Clark will be an amazing asset to the team.

“Coach Clark brings enthusiasm, experience, and passion to the team which will put Suncoast football back on the map,” Adams stated.

Since Clark’s high school days, he has always had an incredible amount of passion for football.

He used to play for The Benjamin School and has always wanted to be involved with football his whole life. Due to a severe injury, he was unable to continue his life as a college football player but now is a football coach. When he started his coaching career, he was the Defensive Coordinator for The Benjamin

School’s football team, and he enjoyed having football involved in his day to day life. He was molded to become a football coach by Ron Rem, the head coach for whom he was assisting.

After 12 years of working for Benjamin, he decided he wanted to coach at a public school with an academic culture and a strong sports culture, like Suncoast.

“I see no reason why we cannot be great on the football field while also being great in the classroom,” Clark said.

When he began to coach Suncoast’s football team, it was challenging for him at first. He dealt with assistant coaches that did not have the same level of passion and determination for coaching as he did. It took time to get everyone on the same page, but once they did, the teams’ success started to accumulate. He made sure they had weight room workouts every week to build their strength and intense drills to work on their skills.

“I want to send a message to all the students at Suncoast: ... if you are interested in playing football, now is the time to join the team.

In addition, if you are not a football player, I promise you will be proud of the team and the players here under my leadership,” Clark announced.

During this recent season, Suncoast has seen a few imperfections, which can be easily resolved. What they expect to see in the fall of 2019 is building the players into becoming more confident in their plays and working as a team.

BAND IS A SPORT

23 Sports

Marching band should be considered a sport.

Kate Hannah Staff Writer

T

he blazing afternoon sun beats down on the marching band. These students work tirelessly for hours to get ready to play in pep rallies, at the football games and in competition. If you think that band is just an easy elective where you play an instrument and march around, that is not the case. It is a complicated form of band where you must have many skills to participate. Some of the elements, like the strength needed to carry the heavier instruments, the air support needed to play the instrument and the constant moving around make the Chargersonic band similar to our sports teams at school.

“During the season you have to memorize at least ten different spots and go to them in a specified order,” freshman Tassabih Abdalla, who plays the clarinet in the marching band, said.

She also stated, “There are plenty of physical challenges and demands of being in a competitive marching band,” which is shown by the intense requirements.

To play in a marching band, you need both physical and mental stamina. You have to train for elongated periods of time to be able to perform correctly. It is similar to how sports players must memorize plays and know where to be at all times, and has the same pressure to know your place as sports. Even though the marching band does not compete in games, they go to competitions and still have to prepare for the sports games and other events that they play.

“Marching band has gone to these high choreographed visual shows where performers are literally running around the field at very high [speeds] with heavy instruments while playing very difficult passages,” Abdalla said.

Another characteristic band and sports share is the competition aspect.

Both groups wear uniforms and go to competitions, and work just as hard as the other does. Even though one group plays on a court or a field, and the other is marching across a field, the

same amount of effort is put forward.

“They wear uniforms, as all other sports do, and they compete. These aspects of marching band fulfill aspects of mainstream sports,” said Ilise Hyams, grade 9, who is a volleyball player. She believes marching band should be considered equivalent to playing a sport, because the students participating train just as much as athletes do.

In the marching band, the players need to have the ability to play while moving, and not only are they doing this, but they must also play difficult passages of music. A band member needs a high lung capacity and the strength to hold

trumpet player in the marching band.

Marching band also presents the same challenges that a student athlete has, like having to balance homework and band. The same benefits you gain from playing a sport, though, you can also gain from participating in the band. In both activities, you can make new friends and have new experiences.

“To me personally, it can get difficult at times but I feel that I personally know what I can handle and space it out when necessary,” Mohamad said.

The marching band even spends as much time practicing year-round as other sports, and has a specific season. While some sports condition to get in shape for the season, the band practices in the fall, spring and summer to perfect their routine and improve their ability.

While the football team is practicing plays and throwing balls, the band is memorizing a complex routine, where you have to know where to stand and what to play. Marching band is just as hard or sometimes harder than some sports, and should be considered as such.

The marching band performing at the homecoming football game.

Photo courtesey of Mario Gomez

the instrument, depending on which instrument they play. For example, a baritone player holds more weight than a flute player, but a flute player must use their air to play difficult passages quickly. In order to do this, you must have similar conditioning to a sport.

“The sport elements of band are that you have to think about what [is] coming up, what your role is as a whole to everything, how you can improve to help the group as a whole. You have to know how to play with musicality and give life to the songs you play [...] as well as continue through the whole parade or march with everything being up to standards,” Sara Mohamed said, grade 10, a

The Battle of the Bands performance Photo courtesey of K. Whetsall

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october 2017