THE CHIEF NEWS Hurricanes, earthquakes, and wildfires bring devastation
SEPTEMBER 15, 2017
BY MICHAEL RIGGI MANAGING EDITOR
Even as three major hurricanes, one devastating earthquake, and massive wildfires plague North America in the span of only a few weeks, the worst is yet to come. With such considerable devastation due to these various natural phenomena, billions of dollars of damage and repairs await when the dust settles in the areas affected. This unusual chain of natural phenomena began to gradually grow over the summer, but ultimately culminated at its peak of devastation on August 25, 2017. A date that will live in infamy for the millions of people, rescue crews, and cities caught in the effects of the devastating category four hurricane over Texas, Hurricane Harvey has reaped approximately $150 billion in damage over Texas. Unparalleled in its might over Texas with top-recorded winds of 132 mph and 51.88 inches of rain over several days in areas such as Port Aransas, Hurricane Harvey has resulted in at least 72 deaths and has destroyed more than 210,700 homes.
Hurricane Irma—which as of publication has already hurdled through Barbados, the Bahamas, and Florida— has left the islands in ruin and killed at least 22 people in the United States thus far. Plummeting through the Atlantic and into lower Florida with sustained winds of 185 mph, the storm has caused devastating effects. According to the Red Cross at least 1.2 million people have been affected by Irma, and a state of emergency was officially declared for Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Virginia. Areas not directly on Irma’s path of destruction have felt its devastating effects as well, as many West Palm Beach residents on Florida’s east coast felt the strong winds of the storm and even lost power at 6:00 AM Sunday morning. “I’ve never experienced a storm like this in all of my 15 years living in Florida,” a Fort Myers resident posted on Facebook. “We have been without power since 4:00 P.M. [Sunday] and the worst is yet to come.” Hurricane Jose, the final of the three devastating
hurricanes once deemed as a Category 5 storm, has been downgraded to a Category 1 storm. With maximum sustained winds of 120 mph as of now, officials are hoping that the storm does not become the third major hurricane to devastate the country. As the south continues to get battered by natural forces of destruction, the Pacific Northwest remains engulfed in flames as wildfires rage on in a record-breaking season. According to the Associated Press, 9 firefighters have been killed and 35 have been injured since the beginning of 2017, as upwards of 26,000 firefighters in the west battle against the (more than) 8 million acres burned across the region. The Massapequa community can empathize with the struggles of those living in Texas and the other affected areas. Hurricane Sandy pillaged through Long Island in 2012, with winds and tides reaching levels which devastated some of the area. Similar to the response before Harvey, many Massapequans did not evacuate the area because Long Island had not seen a storm of such magnitude in the
recent past. In response to these devastating weather phenomena Massapequa is lending its support support to other parts of the country and beyond. The Massapequa Lions Club is continuing to accepting donations for Hurricane Harvey relief funds at the Massapequa Cop Shop on Broadway. In addition, other orginizations are hosting fundraising events to help those recovering from hurricanes in the South. For instance, the Chiefs Challenge club sold “Extra” brand gum and pretzels at Back to School Night to support relief efforts. “The three Chief Challenges clubs from Berner, Ames, and MHS really came together to raise money for Harvey,” school social worker Mrs. Waters said. “We thought the idea to go the “extra” mile to raise money by selling the gum and pretzels is importatnt for the community, especially after dealing with Sandy.” In addition to three hurricanes and widespread forest fires, a massive 8.1 magnitude earthquake off the southern coast of Mexico shook cities/ towns as the strongest earthquake to hit the country in
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100 years. With the death toll continually rising and currently sitting at 90 people, many inhabitants of cities such as Juchitan remain on edge with aftershocks and the crumbling structures of buildings continuing to consume the landscape of the country. More than $320 million has been donated to those damaged by Hurricane Harvey, and groups such as the Red Cross will continue to raise money for those in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Jose. National guard and first responders across the country continue to contain wildfires across the west as the season comes closer to an end, while various sources have offered aid to Mexico as they start to rebuild. Sometimes it is the worst of times in which the good in humanity truly prevails, as nation-wide donations and the aid of the National Guard (among others) have helped to start heal many of the areas affected. On the heels of Hurricane Irma and with Hurricane Jose looming by, the U.S. is keeping a close watch for the future.
MHS capstone program adds new research course BY LIAM HIGGINS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE COLLEGE BOARD
In a never-ending pursuit to expand educational opportunities for students, Massapequa High School has recently adopted the AP Capstone Program into its curriculum. AP Capstone is a relatively new program introduced from the CollegeBoard—the organization which manages AP curricula and AP tests—and features two different courses: AP Seminar and AP Research. The aim of these two courses is to prepare students for essential college skills including higher-level writing and research. Students are able to choose subject matter in which they are interested and develop their skills through writing about and presenting their chosen interests. In both classes, students are able to choose from a host of subjects to write about. AP Seminar, which was first introduced to MHS during the 2016-2017 school year, features several components—a group component and a stimulus-based individual component, both of which involve a written essay and a presentation, as well as a written test during AP weeks in May. These three components
all factor into the AP Score, which students receive in July. This score ranges from one to five, with one meaning a “no recommendation” for credit in that particular subject and a five meaning that the student is “extremely well qualified” in the given subject. The AP Seminar course was remarkably successful at MHS with 95% of AP students receiving credit for the course, according to AP Seminar teacher Mrs. Starr. “[AP Seminar] is student centered in that they are able to choose subjects that pique their interest, formulate a focused claim, and argue points they are passionate about,” Mrs. Christine Starr said. “It is a course designed for students who are willing to explore controversial topics from different lens and perspectives with an open mind. It teaches students to get to the core of the issue and argue using credible sources.” These skills translate into AP Research as well. However, whereas the AP Seminar course focuses more on college writing skills, the AP Research course focuses more on students learning how to create and present original research. AP Research, which has begun its first classes at MHS this school year, is the continu-
‘Caps’ off to new program | The newly implemented AP Capstone Program and its classes. ation of the Capstone program to build on the skills that stu- be leaps and bounds ahead of and has, as its prerequisite, AP dents learn in AP Seminar, but their classmates in college.” Seminar. Research is more fo- it takes academic writing to a AP Research, in particular, cused on one particular subject whole new level. It allows stu- prepares students for necesthan in the case of AP Seminar. dents to choose a subject they sary college skills. Many colIn this class, each student are interested in and explore leges and universities throughchooses one subject to re- those interests while writing out the country emphasize a search throughout the entire a paper that resembles a Mas- strong commitment to research year and then writes an essay ter’s thesis along with an oral in subject matter that students more similar to a college the- defense,” AP Research teach- find interesting, so having a sis than a typical high school er, Mrs. Valerie Domenech course to prepare students to essay and creates a detailed said. “It’s an experience I real- participate in such endeavors presentation, both related to ly wish I had gotten at the high could help students not only their given topic. school level. Students who in college admissions, but in “This class is really going take AP Research are likely to their pursuits during college.