Winter 2014 Publication by The Wildcat Chronicles

Westland Hialeah Senior High

Volume 7, Issue 1

The Wildcat Chronicles Westland Is Going Green By: Kevin Ordaz Westland's faculty has decided to go green! This transition began with a message from the Miami-Dade district introducing schools to the BYOD policy. Along with this policy came the switch from textbooks to tablets for the class of 2018, and the limitation on the amount of papers that can be printed in school for earth-friendly purposes. The addition of the BYOD policy is what sparked this environmental change in our school. BYOD stands for: Bring Your Own Device. This approach allows students to bring their devices, such as phones, tablets, and laptops, to school and use them in class for academic purposes. The BYOD policy also lets students download apps such as, Edmodo and Remind, that keeps them connected with their teachers and school work at all times. The main change has been the replacement of text-

books to tablets for the class of 2018. At the beginning of this school year, freshmen received tablets that they will be using in class as a substitute to using textbooks. In the current class of 2018, Lourdes Gonzalez, said "The tablets are really useful in school, however at home I find using my computer more comfortable". Freshmen will continue receiving tablets until all classes at Westland Hialeah use tablets, instead of textbooks. Along with these technological changes came the restriction on papers to be printed in school. In order to be an ecofriendly school, the faculty has limited the amount of copies that can be printed by teachers for all of their classes. Instead, teachers now can post class papers on websites or applications. Slowly but surely, our school is becoming an earth friendly learning environment.

Wildcats Go Wild: Depot, Accounts, and Credit Union By: Jatniel Carvajal Rejoice, citizens of Wildcat nation, our school recently opened the Wildcat Depot to buy all kinds of school goodies and the credit union opened its doors inside the school. The credit union, having opened on October 6th, will be officially known as: The Wildcat Credit Union. Students will be able to visit said institution in the auditorium area near the existing Wildcat Depot.

able both online and in any South Florida Credit Union institution.

Director of activities, Mrs. Katrina Cordova, said that the credit union will help students acquire the necessary skills to manage a real account. In regards to the success of this project, the activities director and South Florida Credit Union officials hold an optimistic view of the students financial capabiliAn inauguration for the opening of the Wildcat Credit ties, having said that students will have the financial capacity to Union took place on Monday, October 6th, 2014 . Opening an maintain efficient accounts. account will not be limited to any age group and its services will The clock is set, start saving for future investments be available Tuesdays and Wednesdays, from 10:00 am to 2:45 with an initiative of five dollars in our Wildcat Credit Unpm. All students, parents, and staff are invited to open an acion. Plus, don't forget to show your support for Wildcat nation count! There will be a minimum deposit of five dollars, which by acquiring beads and your very own Wildcat spirit tattoo, will be already included in your balance. Accounts will be availamongst other goodies, at the Wildcat Depot!

Volume 7, Issue 1

What Is Feminism? By Dashielly Quintero Feminism is the political, social, economic equality of the sexes. Many people have a misconception of feminists and women rights. No, it is not men hating or any other social stigma that you might have heard. It's about women wanting to be treated equal to men in society. Recent statistics show, women get paid about 27 % less then men. For example, imagine if your mother and your friend's dad have the same job, same degree, and the only difference is that he's still getting paid more. Women are paid eighty two cents for every dollar a man earns. Equally important, feminism in the social aspect has nothing to do with thinking we're better than men or anyone else for that matter. It's all about the way society views women. Feminism brings awareness to all, including having a voice in delicate topics. Recently, Harry Potter star, actress Emma Watson, gave a speech to the United Nations Organization, in which she talked about equality, not only for women but for men as well. He For She is a global campaign for men to take a stand on gender equality, for women rights and the benefit of men as well. "I want men to take up this mantle. So their daughters, sisters and mothers can be free from prejudice but also so that their sons have permission to be vulnerable and human too." Fortunately, women and men are helping to fix the inequality of women that is present in society. Although there are still some issues that will take some time to change, with woman speaking out around the world and others taking a stand as well, we will be able to see a refined and true way for gender equality to come be the norm. "Wendy Davis Overstates How Much Full-time Working Women Make in Texas Compared to Men." @politifact. Web. 3 Oct. 2014. "Emma Watson Spotlights Feminism at United Nations." POLITICO. Web. 7 Oct. 2014.

The HOSA Club By: Yasneli Alonso HOSA, which stands for Health Occupations Students of America, is a club available here at our school for anyone interested in pursuing a career in the health science field. The purpose of the HOSA organization is to develop leadership and technical skills in its members by providing them with many opportunities to help meet the needs of the health community field. One of its goals is to help students make realistic career choices and seek successful

employment in the health science field. Club sponsor, Lieutenant Espinosa, says "HOSA is an excellent opportunity for students that are interested in pursuing a career in the health science field to see the real life jobs as they are being performed." There will be many educational fieldtrips and activities coordinated by the members. If interested in joining, speak to Lieutenant Espinosa in room 215. Mission. (n.d.). Retrieved September 24, 2014, from http://hosa.org/ node/115

THE WILDCAT CHRONICLES The Wildcat Chronicles mission is to inform & entertain all students, faculty, and staff with everything Wildcat. Westland Hialeah Senior High 4000 West 18th Avenue Hialeah FL, 33012 (305) 818-3000 Ext: 2198 Editor in Chief: Felipe Martinez Layout Editor: Lourdes Gonzalez Managing Editor: Rshwined Scott Editorial: Alejandro Rodriguez, Lourdes Gonzalez Entertainment Editor: Felipe Martinez Photo Editor: Jatniel Carcajal, Kevin Ordaz, Staff Writers: Kevin Ordaz, Jatniel Carvajal, Dashielly Quintero, Yasneli Alonso, Lourdes Gonzalez, Rshwined Scott, Felipe Martinez, Alejandro Rodriguez, Angel Garcia, and Karen Marrero Adviser: Ms. Arlene Socorro

Volume 7, Issue 1

Trinidad & Tobago: Islands of Corruption By: Jatniel Carvajal Since the growth of the cocaine distribution in Colombia, corruption has been a critical problem in Latin America and its neighbors in the Antilles. Trinidad and Tobago, two islands located in a vital South America-Europe shipping route has been the target shipping port for the forbidden narcotics. The accessibility to drugs has lead to the growth of urban and suburban gang groups, where police are often corrupt and the low socio-economic levels have led to a rising dependency on community gangs for protection. In the last years, political turmoil and gang wars has caused a spike in murder rates, leaving the question of whom to blame the situation on, corrupted politicians or community gang leaders.

murder rates would continue to exist unless the government takes legislative action to refine the political system and starts to construct trust within the common population. “Trinidad and Tobago | VICE News." VICE News RSS. Web. 22 Sept. 2014.

The people of urban and suburban Trinidad and Tobago rely on a system of local leaders to defend their communities from rival gang groups that control territories. The government is accused of corruption and targets community leaders for bribes and unstated purposes. The state blames the local police for their weakness in combating crime and their long known history of corrupt activities within the forces. Political analysts predict that the rising

LGBT Suicide Prevention By: Lourdes Gonzalez In light of Ally Week at our school, our LGBT+ or MOGAI (Marginalized Orientations Gender Alignments and Intersex) students were reassured of their safety within Westland’s walls. Around the world this safety isn’t assured for those who identify within the LGBT+ umbrella, being prosecuted for their identities. LGBT youth are four times more likely to commit suicide and otherwise questioning teens are three times more likely than those who are straight.

Around 40% of LGBT students have been physically harassed and 20% have been physically attacked by their peers. Bullying and parental rejection come from these similar causes.

It is a difficult to comprehend for some because of strict religious views for some. Many don’t realize the kind of damage they deal to LGBT youth by denying their identity and by restricting their ability to grow, they are damaged and forced into toxic relationships or environments. This can be avoided by more open thinking and acceptance, as even the The reason for these high death rates come from smallest gesture can be monumental to someone. two factors: parental denial and school bullying. Parents typically don’t realize that their child’s gender identity and sexuality is not a choice but a truth for them, and thus believe that they can “teach” them to be straight or cisgender (when <http:// youth gender correlates with your physical sex). This is a Facts About Suicide." The Trevor Project. Web. 1 Dec. 2014. www.thetrevorproject.org/pages/facts-a bout-suicide>. common misconception and makes way for different disorders within these youths, and commonly causes parents to "LGBT Youth Suicide: As Serious As It Is Preventable." Goodtherapy. Web. 1 even throw out their children. Bullying within school is higher Dec. 2014. <http:// www.goodtherapy.org/blog/LGBT-youth-suicide-asserious-as-it-is-preventable-0916134>. for LGBT youth, 85%-90% having been verbally bullied.

Volume 7, Issue 1

ALS: A Silent Disease By: Lourdes Gonzalez The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge took the world by storm; from celebrities to political figures, everyone fell in love with the chilly trend. Of course, it's not all fun and gamesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the truth is that ALS is very serious degenerative disease. ALS stands for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (otherwise known as Lou Gehrigâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Disease) and it is a condition that affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. It causes motor neurons to slowly degenerate, meaning the person steadily loses the movement of their muscles. The brain no longer has the ability to send signals to start and control the muscles movements. This steady degeneration causes the patient to become paralyzed after a few years and eventually leads to death. Currently, there is no cure or treatment for ALS, although there is currently one FDA approved drug for I-- Riluzole slows the progression of the disease. As of now, there are multiple clinical trials going on for different drugs. Certain devices and types of therapies for ALS are available, though, with the intention of giving patients the most independence as possible and prolong their lives. "What Is ALS?" - The ALS Association. Web. 10 Nov. 2014.

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Volume 7, Issue 1

War on ISIS By: Rshwined Scott The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), or as itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s called by United States: Official Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), are a military group made up of fundamentalist Sunni Muslims and Foreign Jihadist. ISIS has been terrorizing parts of Iraq and Syria with their extreme and savage tactics as they attempt to convert and rule all of the Middle East as an Islamic state since late 2013. ISIS has no tolerance for any sort of religion under their rule that is not Islam and those who are not are brutally murdered and massacred, even those from their own country. ISIS is known for killing dozens of people at a time and even carrying out public executions. They are especially brutal to Christians, women, and young girls. Also to show the world their merciless power, Isis went on to behead more than 10 innocent people from countries such as Britain, Australia, and sadly even the United States. James Foley, an American journalist was the first to get beheaded as retaliation to US airstrikes against them.

another American who they had kidnapped, Steven Sotloff. His beheading was also uploaded on YouTube causing even more horror and uproar from the world. All of these beheadings and threats helped the US to obtain support to form an alliance. Britain, France, Australia, Canada, Germany, Turkey, Italy, Poland and Denmark all enlisted to help the United States dissolve ISIS. However this back fired, ISIS had neither fear nor mercy when it came it those who wanted to take them down. British humanitarian aid worker David Haines had been kidnapped during early 2013, He was ISIS next victim. His beheading was published under "A Message to the Allies of America" on September 13. This left the world scarred as to what ISIS would have up their sleeve next. The latest beheading was American aid worker and former soldier Peter Kassig on November 16 . President Obama confirmed the beheading while saying Kassig "was taken from us in an act of pure evil by a terrorist group that the world rightly associates with inhumanity."

ISIS released an extremely graphic video of Foleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s beheading which was used as an example for other country If left unchecked, ISIS could pose a growing threat to not intervene in the Middle Eastern conflicts. The United that could reach Europe and America. States took this as an offence and did not back down even However, President Obama has vowed to dismansending more drones , ISIS kept their word and beheaded tle and destroy ISIS. Rowen, Beth. "Sunni Militants Have Terrorized Iraq and Syria in Their Bid to Implement an Islamic State Read More: ISIS Explained." Infoplease. Infoplease. Web. 18 Nov. 2014 Cohen, Roger. "The Horror! The Horror!" The New York Times. The New York Times, 18 Nov. 2014. Web. 19 Nov. 2014

"ISIS Political Cartoons." CAFFEINATED POLITICS. Web. 1 Dec. 2014.

Mckee, Rick. Isis Junior Varsity COLOR. 2014. Cartoon. Political CartoonWeb. 1 Dec 2014.

Volume 7, Issue 1

Time to Step Out of the Shadows By: Rshwined Scott On November 20th 2014 President Obama spoke on national primetime television about his executive action. President Obama announced that with his executive order he would introduce a three part plan to help the massive immigration issues that we have in our country. The first part of Obamas immigration plan is to continue securing the border and adding more law enforcement personnel. This way the number of illegal crossing will decrease and the deportation process those who do succeeded to cross will be speed up . The second part of the law will alleviate the struggle that high skilled workers and colleges graduate immigrants must go through. This will allow and make it easier for them to assimilate to the American business world and help our economy flourish even more with their extended knowledge. The third part which is the most important and controversial consists of a reform that will allow millions of immigrants living in the shadows to come out, without fear of being deported. However this part of the plan will NOT apply to all of the 11 million+ illegal immigrants that currently reside in the United States. Only the parents of US citizens and US residents will be able to apply of this amnesty .Also the parent MUST have entered the United State BEFORE January 2010 and must NOT have left the country since and must be willing to pay all of the taxes that they did not pay since 2010. Another important restriction that plan has to apply is that the person must NOT have committed any federal crimes and are only allowed to have three misdemeanors or less, if they do have the above their deportation will be speed up, as the United States will have NO tolerance with criminals. President Obama stated in his speech that the United States is “-going to keep focusing enforcement resources on actual threats to our security. Felons, NOT families. Criminals, NOT children. Gang members, NOT a mom who’s working hard to provide for her kids” This Executive law will eliminated the fear of American born children being ripped away from their parents. A trauma no child should go through. "Transcript: Obama's Immigration Speech." Washington Post. The Washington Post, 20 Nov. 2014. Web. 25 Nov. 2014. Cook, Lindsey. "The Data Behind the Immigration Speech." US News. U.S.News & World Report, 24 Nov. 2014. Web. 3 Dec. 2014.

Ebola Outbreak By: Felipe Martinez The recent Ebola outbreak has been the worst outbreak of the disease since it was discovered back in the 1976. By now, most people around the world have heard about this disease. The outbreak is far from contained and every day the numbers increase. No place has been affected by Ebola more than West Africa; however it is not exclusive to the region. A man in Texas was diagnosed with Ebola and panic spread quickly through social media and television. Soon, everyone knew of the disease but not much about it. First and foremost, the virus is transmitted through direct contact with blood and bodily fluids such as; saliva, urine, and sweat. It is not spread through the air, water or food. It is much harder to transmit the disease than many think and with proper precautions it can be contained.

In this Ebola epidemic there have been over 11,700 laboratory – Confirmed cases and nearly 7,000 lost lives as of December 13th. The numbers are increasing at an alarming rate and Sierra Leone just over took Liberia as the most affected country by the Ebola virus. However, the fatality rate of the disease has decreased significantly. In the United States, the virus hasn’t spread as quickly as in West African countries because health care workers are more prepared and have the proper working equipment to treat the disease. Even with all the proper conditions and knowledge, healthcare workers are at a higher risk of contracting the disease than anyone else because they work so closely with the patients. The CDC confirmed four cases of Ebola in the US but the US is Ebola free as of now and it should remain that way.

"About Ebola Virus Disease." Centers for Disease Control. Centers for Disease Control, 3 Oct. 2014. Web. 3 Dec. 2014.

Volume 7, Issue 1

History of Sneaker Collecting By: Alejandro Rodriguez Sneaker collecting has become a worldwide phenomenon. Collectors of sneakers are often referred to as sneakerheads. The trend first became popular in the United States when sportswear brand, Nike, signed basketball hall of famer Michael Jordan by giving him a signature sneaker line called Air Jordan. Fans watched Jordan play in his signature shoes during his games and Nike promoted the shoes by saying they had performance improving aspects to them. Meanwhile, hip hop music culture was booming. Artists would mention the sneakers in their songs, giving the shoes more social value and street credibility. Both things combined made everyone rush out and get these shoes. Basket-

ball fans bought the shoes to “Be Like Mike.” Soon Nike started to sign other stars of the game. Charles Barkley and Penny Hardaway also received their own signature sneaker line. People started appreciating the shoes not only for their performance, but for their looks as well. Then the sneaker business skyrocketed. More brands and players than ever before had signature shoes, and this has continued to today. Now more people than ever are collecting shoes, they’re even willing to wait days in lines to get shoes about to release. Sneaker collecting has made a huge turn since it first started, and all it took was a brand and an athlete to create one of the biggest markets to date.

Sneaker Release Calendar Winter 2014-2015 Brand Air Jordan 13 Air Jordan 11 Nike LeBron 12 Nike air foamposite

Color Way Black Infrared Legend Blue Data Volt Black

Date 12/13/2014 12/20/2014 12/20/2014 12/24/2014

Price ($USD) $185 $200 $200 $230

"Sneakerheads: A Brief History of Sneaker Collecting." Sneakerheads: A Brief History of Sneaker Collecting. Mental Floss. Web. 1 Dec. 2014. "Upcoming Events." KicksOnFirecom. 1 Jan. 2014. Web. 3 Dec. 2014

The Macy’s Parade By: Angel Garcia Attracting more than 3.5 million people to the streets of New York City each year, as well 50 million TV viewers nationwide, the Macys parade has been a tradition since 1924. This amazing NYC spectacle is one of the most popular events in the City and easily the most famous parade in the United States. The parade takes place in Manhattan, New York and starts on the west side of central park and ends at 34th Street and Seventh Avenue. The event started at 9 am and ended at 12pm, NBC broadcasted the parade live for the rest of America to see. The parade featured great blend of dancer, clowns, marching bands, cheerleaders, participants and a wide variety of colorful parade floats. The parade originally started out in December on Christmas day and included Macy’s employees dressed in fun and wacky costumes like cowboys, clowns. The parade also included animals from central park zoo. The meaning of the Macys parade was first used to draw attention to the Macy’s stores in New York City. The very first balloon in the parade to ever be lifted in the air was Felix the cat. Today many famous characters from TV shows and mascots from brands have been added to the parade. The parade still continues to attract millions of viewers every year and includes a variety of fun characters that we all know and love.

"Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade History." Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade History. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2014. "Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloons Get a Test Run." New York Post. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2014.

Volume 7, Issue 1

Humorous Horoscopes By: Karen Marrero and Felipe Martinez Aries: You have an inventive mind but you make the same mistakes. Making mistakes comes natural to you Taurus: You are very practical and work like CRAZY. Most people think you’re more stubborn than a mule with only three legs. Gemini: You think you are extremely intelligent and better than others. Unfortunately, your IQ disagrees. Cancer: You fall for many simple pranks and believe anything people tell you. Cancers always click those “Free Ipad” links. Leo: You consider yourself a leader. Sadly, no one else feels the same way. Virgo: You are afraid of everything from heights to long hours in enclosed spaces. Yet, you are hoping to become an astronaut. Libra: You’re the artistic type and have a difficult time with reality. Chances for employment are greater if you start watching grass grow. Scorpio: You are a sweetheart and have nothing but good intentions . Yet you still get on everyone's nerves by doing simple things like cracking your fingers and asking obvious questions that prolong class. Sagittarius: You’ve struggled to find your talent. Yet, hard work beats talent .. With that said you are way too lazy to even consider working hard Capricorn: You are hardworking, reliable, but dull. You love to be seen using your phone although it is not actually turned on because Capricorns don’t have friends. Aquarius: You love to party. It has become a problem, that’s why you don’t get invited to them anymore. Pisces: You love to be seen dancing, but you have two left feet, and your hips DO lie. *Disclaimer: These are only for entertainment purposes and should not be taken as fact.

Upcoming Movie Releases

Holiday Word Search S

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Snowman

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Kwanzaa

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Elf

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Santa

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Eggnog

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Family

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Annie (December 18)

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The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies (December 19)

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Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (December 19)

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The Interview (December 26)

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Unbroken (December 26)