South Florida Faces Fuel Shortage After Severe Weather
by: Juan Carlos Chaoui, Michael Martinez, Alexis Vivanco, Lucas Delgado, Emilio Boutros
South Florida was hit by a severe gas shortage in the aftermath of the recent devastating showers. Though the storm didn't cause much physical damage, the resulting gas shortage has left many residents facing a significant problem.
Helen Rios, a customer, expressed her dismay, "It's been pretty bad. Like there's no gas here. There's no gas there. I've downloaded like two or three apps that tell us where there is gas. And so far, like, this is the only place I've had luck."
Gabriel Tamayo, an employee at BJ's gas station, had a difficult time dealing with the situation. "I'm alone right now. I'm trying to navigate the people. It's not very easy. A lot of these people have no patience. A lot of people will come up here and then get pissed off, too."
During the coverage of the gas shortage, we spoke with an anonymous CWC Transportation worker who revealed that there wasn't necessarily a gas shortage, but rather an issue with fuel delivery. Panic buying by residents was also causing long lines and high prices, which many believed were contributing to the problem.
Despite the knowledge of the cause of the shortage, customers still required fuel. "Everybody's going crazy. So if I can get gas, I don't care how much I have to pay. We need it," said Rios.
Gabriel Tamayo and other gas station employees remain hopeful that the situation will improve shortly. "It's going to get better because we're getting continuous gas now. We shouldn't be seeing all of this anymore," said Tamayo.
As South Florida recovers from the fuel shortage, customers and employees must wait for the supply to meet the surging demand. As the situation continues, residents are advised to be patient and conserve gas whenever possible. "It's just a temporary thing. We're going to get through it," Tamayo assured.
Though the shortage has posed a considerable inconvenience for many, South Florida is beginning to get back on track, and residents are optimistic that the fuel delivery issue will be resolved soon.
Are E-Sports a Real Sport?
by: Michael Martinez, Tommy Zarut, Juan Pablo Martinez, Anthony Martinez
We’ve been thinking: since bursting on the scene, esports have taken the world by storm. But not everyone’s on board with these mental gymnastics. Which leads us to the question.
Are esports a real sport?
Anthony Listen, to me it’s simple, a sport isn’t a sport without the hustle and sweat on the hardwood for the field. And amart; I’m not the only one who thinks this way. According to the collegio, “Overall, esports are not real sports because of the lack of physical exertion, full-body coordination, athleticism, and intensity.”
A sport isn’t a sport with at the hustle and sweat on the hardwood or on the field. If esports doesn’t provide support despite the pushback, esports should be considered a sport. Trading the playing field for a digital one, definitely takes some getting used to. This might serve as a deterrent for some people, who feel like esports strays from the definition of a “physical sport”. But money talks. The world economic forum (weforum.org) says The gaming industry is set to be worth $321 billion by 2026. Which blows professional leagues revenues out of the water.
The E should should stand for everyone though, which should be taken into account. Not everybody’s cut out to be a professional athlete; whether its due to disability, or just lack of ability, esports provides an avenue for everyone to compete at the next level. Put it like this: according to the pew research center, 90% of teens say they play video games on a computer, game console or cellphone.
In conclusion in regards to whether or not E-Sports should be a sport or not, they definitely should.
Should Sports Leagues Create Super Teams?
by: Michael Martinez, Juan Pablo Martinez, Tommy Zarut and Anthony Martinez
Many teams across many teams across many leagues have been deemed unstoppable by fans, and rightfully so. Teams like these create expected wins for the entirety of the season, giving their fans a multitude to celebrate, but the rest of the league a multitude of unwatchable games. Usually these squads are loaded with the best talents in their organization, who might have joined together on purpose, or by incidence of trade. With all this taken into account, the following question arises: Should superstars make superteams?
Some think this question has a simple answer, and for good reason. Many would argue that superstars should not join together with the intent of creating extreme advantage via a superteam. When superteams are made in any given league it's detrimental to enjoyment of the fans. In the NBA, the 2017 Warriors are a perfect example, in that year a stacked team including Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green finished the regular season going 67-15 before going 16-1 in the playoffs and winning the title easily. From the perspective of many fans having seen the regular season, post season basketball seemed to have an inevitable end, Golden State winning the Championship. To many, watching the NBA isn't as enjoyable when the most monumental games of the season are predictable.
Others believe that there are more factors that go into winning than just the players. Simply put, the roster is not the be all and end all of any competitive team. A perfect example of this can be seen in the case of the 2021 Brooklyn Nets. This team had Former Most Valuable Players Kevin Durant, James Harden, and All Star Kyrie Irving. Which on paper was a roster that should have been able to pummel the rest of the league, But they flopped in the second round of the playoffs. Without the proper coaching and chemistry even a “Superteam” is bound to fail.
It’s clear super teams aren't going away anytime soon. With more and more organizations recruiting more and more talent, “Superteams” are bound to take place. While this is true though, many should acknowledge that more goes into winning championships than just your roster.
Should High School Basketball Teams Play a National Schedule?
by: Michael Martinez, Juan Pablo Martinez and Anthony Martinez
High school basketball is only getting more and more competitive, and more and more teams are beginning to play in bigger and bigger tournaments. This information knocks on the door of the following question. Should high school basketball teams play on a national schedule?
Well let's look at the facts, students who play a national schedule like Mikey Williams or DJ Wagner get a lot more attention than players who don't. And this attention only benefits their careers in the long run. According to NCAA.org “There are about 540,000 High School basket players and only 3.5 percent of those players play college basketball. With this in mind, players that are lucky enough to get national exposure have a much better shot of making it to the next level.
And if that’s not enough according to yahoo sports.com during Columbus grass Gangnam Style Vs sierra canyon game there were over 2,000 fans to see the boozer twins face off against bronny james. that’s a pretty packed house
On the other side of the ball, players on these schedules have a lot less time for themselves or schooling, which can be extremely overwhelming for a high school student. For example look at NBA star Ben Simmons who severely struggled in high school recording a 1.8 GPA . But some might argue it didn't matter anyway because Simmons still made it to the league
Well, it's clear that for some students the life of a traveling High school basketball player is not for everyone, but student athletes who are truly gifted will take advantage of these amazing opportunities. Although the schedule may prove difficult, with the right time management skills and a good attitude, players should be able to balance themselves efficiently. This should lead to success on the court, at home, and in the classroom as well.
L.I.N.K Club Hosts Sensory Friendly Elf-Stravaganza
by: Michael Martinez, Adrian Perez, Matthew Quesada, Alexis Vivanco,
Here at CCHS the LINK Club is hosting an event called the Elf-Stravaganza to get all children ready for the holidays
And Ms. Debra Martinez who’s one of the main organizers of this event intended for all to be included
“L.I.N.K. stands for learning about inclusion while nurturing with kindness.” She mentioned
And this event did just that as it allowed sensory sensitive children to enjoy the holiday spirit and take pictures with Santa.
“This event was making it easier because obviously a lot of these kids here have disabilities, we have noise canceling headphones, fidget toys to make it a little easier for us to have people here. If you went to a mall it's really loud but here it's quiet and you can have an easier time getting that done” says Jacob Thacker, Vice President of the L.I.N.K Club
The main goal of the club? Inclusion.
“So the main goal of the link club is to learn about including others while nurturing with kindness so we're just trying to include everybody and make it so that everyone can have a good time and help kids out and show that we care about everyone, not just us” Thacker added.
And it was no question that the children really were enjoying the Columbus Spirit.
“Today is a special event. We have Santa Claus and everything we’re gonna make cookies. We got games over there and we got everything to enjoy!” Says Peter Hartford, an attendee of the event.
As the families leave and Santa heads back to the North Pole, one thing is for sure. All who attended had an unforgettable holiday experience.
Turkey Trot at Tropical Park
Michael Martinez, Damian Fernandez, Dominic Gatto, Luis Dulzaides
As families all across south Florida wake up on thanksgiving after enjoying the time to sleep in, some families have already gotten the day started, with a 5k turkey trot. A tradition for many, the Turkey Trot 5k/10k provides a great morning boost of energy, a workout, and a good time.
“We have over 5,000 people running, and that includes 300 kids”
-Nicole Bostick, Head of Marketing for Lifetime (Headlining Sponsor of the Event)
The turkey trot had an early wake up call, but the feeling of finishing the race, the cheers of the fans, is a great supplement to a little extra sleep and a great serotonin boost on turkey day. After runners finish their race, they are met with a roaring crowd, cheering them on, as well as all sorts of snakes, rehydration stations, and even pie and cider. The final plaza they get too has games, free products, and a guaranteed good time as runners and families alike can enjoy the area.
“I did the first turkey trot back in 1990, and it was about 45 people, and I mean– look at it now” “We have literally over 2,000 people here– this is the definition of bringing the community together” -William Romero, Veteran Runner
The turkey trot has not only been a tradition for many, but has been a staple for over 32 years, gaining more and more participants every year. The trot’s mission is simple: burn off the calories you're going to eat later! The trot is a great way to counterbalance the big meal most have later on, a meal which is usually larger and unhealthier than a common place dinner or lunch.
“The better your time (race time) the more you can eat today”
-Announcer
The turkey trot only happens once a year, and its waking up for a good time. The tradition is one many should consider, as running early has health benefits such as increased circulation and boosted energy. Hopefully this tradition can keep living on, as runners and spectators alike can make their Thanksgiving a little better!
St. John Bosco Halloween Bash
Michael Martinez, Dominic Gatto, Anthony Martinez, JP Espinoza, Adriano Boutros
This Halloween Season, CCHS hosted a successful spooky gathering including all kinds of food and fun for the children of San Juan Bosco.
While there was an unlimited amount of games and candy for 5 year old Yosmani, the item of the day was “La Pizza!”
And this event means so much more than just the average Halloween event. Due the economic status of the children, Advisor for the children of San Juan Bosco Chris Dominguez says “Some of these kids won’t ever get to experience events like this.”
So as the day came to an end, the content children of San Juan Bosco go home with a fun day that left a sweet taste in their mouths.
Cell Phones: How Much is Too Much?
Michael Martinez, Carlos Soto-Angulo, Jason Fernandez, Alexis Vivanco, Anthony Martinez
Teens, as a whole, are constantly on their phones, but how much is too much?
First we need to acknowledge that the mobile phone has been a revolutionary aid to research, entertainment, and marketing since its release, but According to techjury.net, “Americans spend an average screen time of 5.4 hours on their mobile phones daily.” And when you take into account an average 8 hours of sleep, you’ll find Americans spend about thirty percent of their waking hours on their mobile device. And mike, this not only impacts our free time, but also our well being.
Anxiety caused by our phones is a real thing, according to physician one urgentcare.com, “in a new study, subjects who described themselves as having addictive-style behaviors toward cell phones scored much higher on anxiety and depression scales.” With this in mind, everyone should have their own boundaries.
Although there is a multitude of advantages these devices bring, we should all have a personal limit. How much? That depends on the person, and the least amount of time their lifestyle calls for their phone.
Columbus Class of 2022 Graduates
By: Michael Martinez, Emilio Boutros, Juan-Carlos Chaoui, Anthony Martinez, and Jordan Perez
Last Saturday, in the University of Miami’s very own Watsco Center, Christopher Columbus High School held its first normal graduation ceremony for the class of 2022.
“It doesn't feel real, its like these four years have blown past me.” Said Manny Nacarrato, the class Helmsman.
“It's just crazy to me that its all coming to an end, i'm definitely going to miss coming to school at columbus and I do plan to visit and hopefully make some contributions, that's just how much I love my school.”
Students are not the only ones feeling sentimental about their time coming to an end either, teachers at Christopher Columbus High School often tend to form strong bonds with their students, and one such example is Daniella Rodriguez, a senior class teacher.
“Today is a little bittersweet because i'm happy for the seniors finally graduating and moving up in the world, y’know getting out there and changing their lives, but at the same time i love my students so much that I feel selfish in a way by thinking ‘please don't go’, because I'm really going to miss these now young gentlemen.”
This Ceremony however, wouldn't have even happened if it weren't for the Principal, David Pugh, organizing the event for the first time in 2 years, due to the pandemic.
“It is great to be back, y’know its been two years since we've had a celebration like the one you see today, its truly an incredible experience that we want all the seniors to experience, and its a day worth celebrating, they've finally finished their high school careers!
With the class of 2022 now officially graduated, the alumni look forward to expanding their talents and showing off what columbus has taught them in the real world, because they know that theyll always be explorers, and a part of the “brotherhood” that students claim to love so much.
Walk With Me Event For Children With Disabilities
By: Michael Martinez, Daniel Rossi-Montero, Anthony Martinez, Genesis Trujillo,
Juan Pablo Martinez
Offering a fun time for all, the miami learning experience school is hosting its walk with me fundraiser to support kids with disabilities. According to event organizer Daniel Espinosa, the annual walk with me event's main purpose is to raise awareness for the special needs community in south Florida, as well as raise funds for the school to help support the special needs.
Events like walk with me not only provide support to schools like Miami Learning Experience, but they also give people who have these exceptionalities a chance to interact and be social. Mr. Espinosa continues on the thought that when the kids are here interacting with each other,their families and other typical kids. This makes their life complete, which they feel included, loved and all around cared for. Also this inclusion is especially appreciated by those who love them most.
According to a MLE supporter “it's great that every time our kids can be around other people in a good social setting which impacts them deeply. Alberts son Louis also agrees with his fathers statement as he stated that “Everybody loves it here”. Also for all the volunteers that choose to work this event saying it was well worth it. When you see all the love that these kids give you on a daily basis and who are here supporting you and laughing and loving life. How could you not give back to them, it's just so easy and they make it easy. As happy faces cross the finish line, attendees leave the tropical park knowing they walked for a good.
The Battle of the Sexes
By: Michael Martinez ,Alexis Vivanco, Genesis Trujillo, and Mikey Novo, Anthony Martinez
The Battle of the Sexes is back at CCHS!
we got this idea last year, especially us younger guys. We were just freshmen and sophomores. We weren't able to participate in it and we switched it up this year and are including many freshmen and sophomores.”
Caro Cáceres, a senior at Our Lady of Lourdes, was very happy to be coming back for in person events here at Columbus. She stated, “It’s great to like bring everything back to what it once was as seniors. We never knew if we were going to get this final experience and it's relieving and almost calming that we get to have it all again. We are just excited for tonight.”
These events not only benefit those watching but also the students who participated in it. Mrs. Brown, an Administrator at Christopher Columbus High School, said: “After COVID, I think that any opportunity to work together with Lourdes or even any other schools is important. So any opportunity we have we should really take advantage of it. I think that this event, given that it is really student driven, is really important and teaches the students how to work under pressure; together, and as leaders.”
Battle of the Sexes may have been just the start of student coordinated events. Don D'arcangelo says that, “It’s to create a tradition that I personally want to continue. It also shows leadership within the students, to show that seniors and upperclassmen can plan things even with the difficulties of COVID and all the regulations we had to face.”
Though student planned events will continue, Columbus is willing to take the risk to give their students a full high school experience that hasn’t happened for over a year. With events such as Grad-bash, Prom, and an in person graduation already planned, Columbus shows no signs of slowing down.
Should Highschoolers Benefit from NIL Deals?
By: Anthony Martinez, Andrew Falconi, Alexis Vivanc, and Michael Martinez
Sports play a big role in our lives, by providing entertainment and a way to bond people all around the world. And as the next generation of college athletes are being recruited, the recent introduction of NIL is changing the game when it comes to brand deals. So Should High School athletes be included in NIL Deals?
But first, what exactly is an NIL? Name, Image, and Likeness are the rights athletes have to monetize and profit from their personal brands. It means that as a player, you can sign sponsorship deals with corporate brands, charge money for autographs, and even create your own trademark.So If you have the talent, shouldn’t you try to capitalize off of it?
Take Bronny James, son of NBA player Lebron James. According to “ON3”, His accomplishments on and off the court have netted him an estimated net worth of 5.1 million. And he’s only a junior in high school! So if you think about it, using your likeness isn’t only good for your wallet, it just makes cents.
And to those who say that student athletes should focus on the first part of the term. Know that the high school sports landscape is changing, and the only thing players can do… is adapt and monetize skill, if they have the opportunity to.
Should Academic Status be Taken Into Consideration During College Admissions?
By: Michael Martinez, Anthony Martinez, Alexis Vivanco, and Andrew Falconi
As the college football season is entering the playoffs, the next generation of student athletes quickly follow suit, leaving college recruiters with a choice. Select a player who excels only in his sport, or one who is well rounded and motivated in the classroom as well. This begs the question: Should academic status be considered for athletes during college admissions?
What a lot of people don’t realize is that no matter who you are, college is a place of learning and earning a degree to utilize in the career path of your choice. And with only 1.6% of college players making it in the NFL, it’s not a bad idea to make sure you have the grades to pursue a backup plan.
And in the case of colleges themselves, better grades for student athletes make admission a whole lot easier for everyone involved. NCAA Divisions I and II schools already provide more than $2.9 billion athletic scholarships annually to more than 150,000 student-athletes. Simply put, for schools with athletic scholarships, high academic standards translate into less scholarship money a coach has to spend on an athlete.
With a little less than two percent of student athletes pgoing on to play Division 1 sports, the truth is that grades matter. And at the end of the day, players should perform not only on the field or court, but also in the classroom.
Columbus Role Model Receives Award for his Efforts
By: Michael Martinez, Alexis Vivanco, Anthony Martinez and Adrian Morgade
Throughout the years at Christopher Columbus High School, there have been many positive forces that have set out to make an impact on the lives of the students. None however, have had the pleasure of being able to interact with the student body like Dr. E. Carter Burrus has.
This is felt even by the faculty, who recognize Dr. Burrus’ impact and contributions to his alma mater. One person in particular has had the pleasure of being taught by as well as had the ability to work closely with Burrus.
“Dr. Burrus is by far the most Columbus person I’ve probably ever met in my life,” says Jacob Grant, Freshman Guidance Counselor and close associate of Burrus.
And this Columbus spirit along with extreme dedication has not gone unnoticed as he is receiving a special recognition. The Legendary Oak Tree on the East end zone of the Columbus football field has been officially deemed by faculty as, The Carter Burrus Perpetual Oak Tree.
“This tree, like myself, has been here since the beginning of the school,” says Burrus.
To E. Carter, the tree stands tall as a remnant of all of Columbus’s changes throughout its rich culture and history. Just like the Oak Tree, Dr. Burrus and his impact have been at Columbus since the very beginning.
“...And this tree was here. Of course, the place is totally cleaned out, made into a field, a modern field the way it is today, and this field is all that's left. Well when the school first started I was here, and I’m all that's left too.”
As Dr. Burrus continues to stand tall like the Oak Tree in sunlight, hopefully he will continue to guide students positively for many years to come.
Columbus Welcomes New Explorers
By: Michael Martinez, Alexis Vivanco, Jordan Perez and Armando Rubio
Christopher Columbus’ Open House is a yearly tradition created with the purpose of introducing potential new students to the campus, and exploring everything the school has to offer. However, the outbreak of Covid-19 has caused Columbus to rethink how the day plays out.
With the pandemic affecting almost all of admissions operations, it was crucial that Columbus maintained this important tradition, even in these difficult times.
“This is the first time that we’ve ever done an open house in 3 sessions like this. So this time we broke in down, we are using about 25 classrooms. The idea was we were going to put 4 families in each classroom, and again with social distancing, everyone wearing their masks. So we felt it was a very safe thing to do”, said Thomas Kruzchek, President of Christopher Columbus High School.
The pandemic has greatly affected those who aren’t able to leave their homes. For incoming high school students, it is still crucial to get to know a campus even with these uncertain times. In order to give these students an opportunity, Columbus has created a virtual version of the open house to view the campus in the comfort of their own homes.
“It took a pandemic for us to really realize how important this virtual tour is for somebody that can’t make it to the campus physically. It gives them a way to see our school and walk our hallways without even being here”, said Michael Marinelli, Head of Admissions and Virtual Tour Guide.
Although the virtual tour is a great way to get to know the campus, being able to tour the school on campus can be even more beneficial as people get to see things for what they are and gain more insight on the school.
Sebastian Aristizabal, CCHS Student, “It helps because you get to talk with the students and the teachers and you get to see both perspectives. So if you are asking the student how it's like being in Columbus, they will tell you an inside experience. When you ask the teacher, you get to know what they teach and how they teach it."
This concept didn't just resonate with Sebastian though.
“It shows them the different aspects that they didn’t know about the school before, and it makes it more open about the high school”, said Justin Miralles, Attendee.
CCHS Virtual Tour Helps Incoming Students See School Without Risk
by: Michael Martinez, Chris Ramos, Jordan Perez, David Rodriguez
With the Pandemic affecting the majority of school operations around the world adaptation has become a common theme. An operation that embodies this theme is the Christopher Columbus Highschool Virtual Tour.
The Virtual Tour is a completely online, fully immersive look at the Christopher Columbus High School campus including many points of interest of the campus. Offering a 360 degree pan and voiceover. Making it extremely convenient for new students to become familiar with the school if they are not comfortable with being there physically.
“We have 17 hotspots included in our tour…. The entrance to our school is one of the hotspots which includes a voiceover and a 360 pan.” - Melissa Marti
These 17 hotspots aid freshmen and transfers alike in their endeavor to get to know their new campus while being socially distant. The tour gives a cool perspective on the CCHS campus connecting with viewers regardless of it being in person or not, welcoming the new students to the school.
“When I saw the virtual tour, it made me feel welcome here. Even if it’s through the screen and it wasn’t in person.”- Christian Becerra, Freshman at Christopher Columbus High School
This welcoming environment is really what CCHS is all about. The spirit of brotherhood that includes everyone. This sense of brotherhood that the virtual tour gives all in all allows the potential students to get an exclusive taste of what being on the campus is like.
“For somebody that can’t make it to the campus physically, it gives them a way to see our school.”- Michael Marinelli, Host of Christopher Columbus High School Virtual Tour
Youth Sports Play Through the Pandemic?
By: Michael Martinez, Anthony Martinez, and Alexis Vivanco
Sports play a huge part in our lives, they provide unlimited entertainment, family bonding, and lots of fun. But with the pandemic taking place, it has stripped the young athletes of the sports that they love to play. This coupled with the older adolescent youth possibly being presented with their last opportunity to play organized sports, begs the following question. Should youth sports be on pause during the pandemic?
This should be fairly obvious. Of course youth sports should continue during the pandemic. Playing in a recreational or travel league is extremely beneficial to a child’s social skills. But that’s only the tip of the iceberg as there are also health benefits gained, according to the Aspen institute, adolescents are eight times as likely to be active at age 24, in comparison to adolescents who do not play sports. In addition to this, 3 out of 4 adults who play sports today played sports when they were children.
Alongside this, the absence of youth sports can also have an effect on the annual salary of the organizers for these events. As since the start of the Covid 19 pandemic back in March, over 700,000 youth athletes were stripped of the ability to play their respective sports, which ended up costing these organizers over 700,000,000 dollars. Together with this being a huge financial blow to the coordinators, putting 700,000,000 dollars at sea doesn't exactly help the economy either.
To sum this up, we’re not saying the pandemic is going to disappear anytime soon, we are saying that youth sports aren't. And by following the appropriate Covid 19 precautions, our youth should be able to safely continue to play the sports that they know and love.
Columbus Cleaning Crew Goes Unnoticed
by: Lucas Figeuroa, Emilio Boutros, Michael Martinez, Anthony Martinez
Every day, as the school day at Christopher Columbus high school ends, shortly after another work day begins. At 5:30 PM, the “night crew” cleaning staff clocks in for work. They’re tasked with a simple, but difficult job. They clean up the messes of the 2,000 students who go to class every day in the vast campus of the high school. From undisposed trash, to gum on desks, the staff has to leave the approximately 2,000 square foot campus spick and span. Unfortunately, their work often goes unnoticed.
“Yeah during lunch sometimes when I’m eating, I might just leave food, or a drink, on my way back to class.”, says an anonymous Junior student at Christopher Columbus High School. The truth of the matter is that students are so busy with school, it’s easy to forget to pick up after yourself. And because the cleanup crew doesn’t come on to campus until after school ends, students don’t fully understand how they are making the jobs of other people harder. Despite the toils of this job, people like Maria Piñia fight through it, because she needs the money. “I’m approaching 60 something years old, and soon I’m going to retire. I need the money, most likely there might be some more nephews or grandchildren on the way and I’d like to be able to support them. Above all, Maria loves her family. Her two daughters, Gisela and Mari, mean the world to her. When asked what her favorite thing in the world to do is, Maria said: “Spending time with my family. When I am with my family I am happy”. Details like this bring to light the humanity of the cleaning crew. They are not just workers, they are people. With lives just like you and I.
The staff will toil day in and day out to make sure this campus stays in tip top shape. Hopefully, the student body, faculty, and administration will recognize the crew’s impressive efforts and make an attempt to appreciate them.
Culture is Kept Alive After Hispanic Heritage Month
by: Michael Martinez, Daniel Rossi-Montero, Anthony Martinez, Manny Fraga, Emilio Boutros, Andrew Ordieres
National Hispanic Heritage Month is annually celebrated from September 15 to October 15 in the United States for recognizing the contributions and influence of Hispanic Americans to the history, culture, and achievements of the United States.
There are so many fun ways to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. Many schools engage students in Hispanic Heritage Month through culturally relevant activities and lessons. Hispanic Heritage month is usually in full swing here at Christopher Columbus High School. Spanish teachers are making an extra effort to educate and give a better experience to their students in the Hispanic culture.According to the teachers here at Columbus, Hispanic Heritage Month is an important opportunity for students to not only learn about history and culture, but also to celebrate diversity in the classroom and community.
The importance of language in Hispanic culture cannot be overstated. Tradition, morals, and heritage are all important aspects of being Hispanic. People can relate with Hispanic because it provides a foundation for them to understand their roots and discover who they are and can become. As students and faculty celebrate Hispanic heritage for the month of October. Columbus’ Spanish teachers will continue to educate students about the history of Hispanic culture the whole year through.
Should Vaccines Be Mandated For Professional Athletes?
By: Michael Martinez, Anthony Martinez, Alexis Vivanco and Andy Falconi
Hi I’m Anthony Martinez,
and I’m Michael Martinez
And you want to know what we’ve been thinking about lately ? Sports play a big role in people's lives, by providing a way to bond with people from all walks of life.
But, though life has been getting back to normal for the most part, the pandemic has continued to affect those around the world—especially when deciding whether or not to get vaccinated. Teams cannot afford to lose their star players. Whoch brings us to the question…
Should vaccines be mandated for professional athletes ?
Realistically, there should only be one right answer… Vaccines should be required for professional sports players. According to the NFL, Eighty-five percent of NFL players have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 14 of the NFL's 32 clubs have vaccination rates over 90 percent. However, Just recently, the packer’s own Aaron Rodgers came down with the virus, while unvaccinated and despite previously implying that he was. This careless attitude is not only harmful to the ball club, but also puts teammates at risk of contracting the virus.
there is another option, but it comes with its consequences . If you decide to sit out, you could be missing out on a big paycheck. The Net’s Kylie Irving, who is unvaccinated, is currently sitting out for the season, and stands to lose abut $380,000 per game and potentially more than $15 million, according to ESPN. Additionally, Irving would be leaving a potential $185 million contract extension on the table by refusing the vaccine. So sticking to your guns might not be good for your wallet.
Let’s face it, COVID isn’t going away any time soon, but neither is sports. With that being said, taking the necessary precautions are just some of the ways to keep everyone involved safe.
and with this in mind, professionals and u atw as fans alike should be able to continue enjoying the sports they love.
For CCNN Live, I’m Michael Martinez
and I’m Anthony Martinez, reporting.