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Chess for a Cause

By: Damien Fernandez, Adrian Morgade, Luis Dulzaides, Anthony Martinez

 

To the average person this may look like the average chess tournament but upon further inspection this chess club is hosting a tournament for a cause. “All the money raised here at columbus including the chess tournament goes to the castaways 2023 campaign and we give all that money to the University of Miami cancer center they give the money to doctors who work specifically in the cancer research center, so for the past five years we have donated the money we have raised to different doctors and it funds two years for research for each doctor.” Says Eric Pino the moderator for the castaways foundation. 

 

And the message of the castaways resonates with many of the students in attendance such as sophomore Benjamin Pagliery who said this “I learned about castaways my first year here Mr Pino told us about it and it really helped me connect with the Columbus community and help out as my grandfather passed away from cancer when I was 5 years old and since then I’ve always tried to support them in the fundraisers that they do and all.” 

 

But this fundraiser and chess tournament wouldn’t have been possible without the mastermind behind it all such as senior Alan Munschy who had to say this; “Throughout school I have just seen so many people playing chess on their ipads and I thought that this would be a great opportunity to bring the columbus community together and also raise money for the castaways so I told Mr Pino about my idea and here we are.”

 

 As the clock runs out and the finalists reach it’s checkmate the castaways against cancer will go away with more funds than ever before all do to a little chess tournament held in the school cafeteria.

Are E-Sports Real Sports?

By: Thomas Zarut, Juan Pablo Martinez, Michael Martinez, Anthony Martinez

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? 

 

To some, this is simple, a sport isn’t a sport without the hustle and sweat on the hardwood for the field. And many people think 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.”

 

And despite the pushback, esports should be considered a sport, even if 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.

 

 

Plus, the E should stands for everyone, 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

 

Look, this dilemma is not going away anytime soon. But as far as whether E-sports should be considered a sport or not, they definitely should.

Burgerliscious Sizzles on Alhambra Circle with Record Attendance

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By Juan Carlos Chaoui, Anthony Martinez, Carlos Soto-Angulo

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Miami, FL – Alhambra Circle was filled with the mouth-watering scent of grilled beef on Friday night as Burgerliscious, the annual local food event, returned for its tenth year. The event drew a record crowd of hungry locals and tourists alike, who lined up for the chance to taste some of the best burgers in town.

Mark Trowbridge, the organizer of the event, said he was thrilled with the turnout. “We’ve been doing this for ten years now, and every year it just gets bigger and better,” he said. “We had more vendors than ever before, and the quality of the food was just outstanding.”

George WIckhorst, who attended the event with his family, agreed. “We’ve been coming to Burgerliscious for the past five years, and we always have a great time,” he said. “There’s something for everyone here, whether you like classic burgers or more exotic flavors.”

One of the most popular vendors at the event was Meat N' Bones, a local favorite known for its juicy burgers and creative toppings. Jorge Cruz one od the Chefs, said he was thrilled to be a part of Burgerliscious again this year.

“This event is always a highlight for us,” he said. “It’s a chance for us to showcase our burgers and connect with the community. We’ve been working hard to come up with some new and exciting flavors, and I think people are really enjoying them.”

Other vendors at the event included The Burger Joint, Keg South, and Latin House, among others. In addition to burgers, there were also plenty of sides, drinks, and desserts to enjoy.

As the night wore on, the crowds only grew larger, with lines stretching around the block for some of the more popular vendors. But despite the long wait times, attendees were all smiles as they enjoyed their burgers under the stars.

For Trowbridge, the success of this year’s event is a testament to the enduring popularity of burgers. “There’s just something about a great burger that brings people together,” he said. “We’re already looking forward to next year’s Burgerliscious.”

Should Superstars Make "Superteams"?

By: Juan Pablo Martinez, Thomas Zarut, Michael Martinez, 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 Teams Play National Schedules?

By: Juan Pablo Martinez, Michael Martinez, 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?

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           Well, to answer this question we first must take a 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. 

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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.

South Miami puts on Special Christmas Celebration

       By: Carlos Soto-Angulo, Matthew Quesada, Nicholas Dovales, and Anthony Martinez 


 

       As the Christmas season takes full swing here in south Florida, the city of south Miami hosts its annual Santa’s Parade of the Elves to commence this holiday season. 

 

       “This is a kickoff to our holiday season… we have countless elected officials, community partners, high school groups, all joining us here to kick off the holidays.”, says Brittnie Bassant, an event coordinator for the parade. 

 

       Santa’s parade of the elves has been 

bringing Christmas spirit to the community of South Miami for over thirty years, providing holiday cheer to even the smallest of attendees. 

 

       “Well holiday spirit is what makes Christmas up. You have presents, you have family, you have fun, you have siblings… Every year gets better and better.”, says young parade goer Luca Montilla.

 

       This festive start to the holiday season, although held in south Miami, provides households from all across south Florida the opportunity to begin their Christmas celebration with a fun family outing. 

 

       “Events like this are really the backbone of community involvement I would say. Having everyone together in south Miami putting this together brings all the communities around. Really not only the south Miami communities, but the communities around the Miami area, bringing them together and getting everyone to be happy with the holidays and cheer up.”, says attendee Victor Montilla. 

 

       Congregating people from all around Miami, the parade gives many spectators attending a new and refreshing view of the city.  

 

       “A lot of people think you can’t get that small town feel in Miami. Well, I’m here to show you that you can. This is bringing together the community. This is getting everybody out. The kids are enjoying it, the parents are enjoying it, it’s a beautiful day, and we are really just kicking off the holiday season the right way.”, Bassant expressed. 

 

       With this year's parade in the books, hopefully the people of south Miami continue this festive tradition with every holiday season.

Cooking Clubs Give Back

By: Michael Martinez, Morgan Lewis, Michael Perez, Anthony Martinez

       Today in Fort Myers Christian School, students from both the Christopher Columbus High School Cooking Club and the Westminster High School Cooking Club are getting together to pack prepared thanksgiving dinners and ready them for donations in the Fort Myers area. 

       

       The groups decided to prepare the meals in light of the tragic Hurricane Ian, which affected the west coast of south Florida Catastrophically, 

 

       Angel Schreiber, Assistant Principal of FMCS stated, “They don’t have dry wall, they don’t have a house around them… so the fact they are going to be sitting around the table with a warm cooked meal is very comforting”

 

       Each bag is packed with an array of delicious Thanksgiving tidings including cornbread, green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, stuffing, turkey, gravy, and cranberry sauce according to head of Columbus Cooking Club, Massimo Del Rio. 

 

       As one can infer, this means more than a free meal to some of the recipients. Brook Newman, a local mother feeding a family of four through the drive, said 

“I am just beyond grateful for this opportunity to provide some kind of normalcy for my family” on the brink of tears. 

 

       As many more families get these flavorful blessings, hopefully the clubs can continue to help even more and more households have a happy Thanksgiving, one meal at a time. 

      By: Dominic Gatto, Adriano Boutros, JC Espinosa, Nico Oliva, Michael Martinez, Anthony Martinez 

 

          This Halloween Season, Christopher Columbus High School hosted a successful spooky gathering including all kinds of food and fun for the young students of San Juan Bosco, a local children's school in Miami.

 

       While there was an unlimited amount of games and candy for all of the children in attendance,  for five-year-old Yosmani, the item of the day was,

     

        “La Pizza!” 

       

       From dancing to cotton candy, this event had it all, giving the children a scary good time.

 

       And although the tangibles of the event promised all children a good time and excellent candy, this treat meant so much more than just a few skittles and sour patch kids. This is because due to the economic status of the children, an outing like this would probably not have been possible for them. 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?

By: Juan Carlos Chaoui, Michael Martinez, Lucas Delgado, Sebastian Broche, Carlos Soto-Angulo, and Anthony Martinez 

 

Teachers at Christopher Columbus High School are well respected for doing great work through the years, but changing times brings many challenges for these beloved instructors.

 

“With rising prices, our teachers are finding it difficult to find housing here in Miami, it's unfortunate because although we are trying our best to supply these teachers with as good of an income as possible, living in Miami is just too difficult right now.” Said Thomas Kruzeck, the president of CCHS, in an interview.

 

As a response to the rising prices, teachers like Daniella Rodriguez have opted to live with their parents.

 

“It’s pretty much impossible for a teacher in Miami to afford a house right now, it’s just not feasible. I'm currently living with my mom and dad and im trying to save up for my own apartment someday.” said Daniella.

 

While this works as a temporary solution, other teachers have decided to take a different approach. One such teacher is Keith Crossman, the head of the English department, who has decided to simply live outside of the city of Miami.

 

“Yeah I decided to move out recently, the housing is much more affordable and you get more bang for your buck.” said Keith

 

Although it seems like a great fix, this solution poses its own problems too.

 

“It may be cheaper, but it's also a whole lot harder. The drive to and from work every day takes me almost an hour both ways, mixed with some bad weather and the occasional road rage, it makes for a difficult start to my day. So far it's been difficult but manageable, but it seems to test my patience more and more each day.”

 

The rising prices also create difficulty in hiring new employees to the staff.

 

“It’s hard because we may find qualified applicants from across the US, but they're unable to make the move to Miami because of how expensive it is.” Said Kruzeck.

 

For now, teachers like Daniella and Keith will simply have to deal with rising prices and eventually find a way to adapt to the changes in our economy.

Financial Woes for Teachers 

       

By: Carlos Soto-Angulo, Michael Martinez, Alexis Vivanco, Jason Fernandez, and Anthony Martinez 

 

Teens, as a whole, are constantly on their phones. With this in mind, an important question must be answered: How much is too much?

 

       To answer this question, we first 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 that Americans spend about thirty percent of their waking hours on their mobile device. 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 are 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.

Christopher Columbus High School Celebrates Class of 2022 Graduation

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By: Juan Carlos Chaoui, Emilio Boutros, Jordan Perez, Michael Martinez, Anthony Martinez 

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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: Giving Special Needs Students More than Exercise for Eleven Years 

By: Genesis Trujillo, Juan-Pablo Martinez, Daniel Rossi-Montero, Michael Martinez, Anthony 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. For CCNN Live I’m Genesis Trujillo

Battle of the Sexes

By: Alexis Vivanco, Genis Trujillo, Michael Martinez, Michael Novo, Anthony Martinez 

       For the last year and a half the pandemic took away many important school  activities for students around the world, but with the recent decline in COVID cases across the US, Christopher Columbus High School has brought back a classic senior tradition. 

 

       For many years The Battle of the Sexes has taken place between Christopher Columbus and Our Lady of Lourdes bringing the brother and sister schools together to compete head to head. Don Darcangelo, the president of the Student Activities committee, stated, “Battle of the Sexes is a competition where Lourdes and Columbus are both able to compete in a friendly competition where there are many different events such as dancing, music videos, singing, games, and my favorite, skits.” Darcangelo also says “that 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 High School Student Athletes be Considered for NIL Deals?

By: Michael Martinez, Alexis Vivanco, Andrew Falconi, Anthony 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?

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       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? 

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       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.

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       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 Athlete Academic be taken into consideration during college admissions?

By: Alexis Vivanco, Andrew Falconi, Michael Martinez, Anthony Martinez 

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        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 Special Reward for His Efforts

By: Anthony Martinez, Alexis Vivanco, michael Martinez, 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 not only felt by students but even the faculty as well, 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 this beginning and 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.”, says Burrus.

 

             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.

New Building at Columbus Leads to Widespread Excitement.

By: Armando Rubio, Daniel Rossi-Montero, and Anthony Martinez

       During these times especially improvement is key to success, Christopher Columbus High School portrays agreement with these values with the creation of the Marcus Lemonis Mario Sueiras Center for Science and the Arts. 

       

      The new building will be housing state of the art facilities like open stem classrooms and high end laboratories. Along with these enhancing utilities the addition to the campus also tends to the need for space that the campus is prone to.

 

       ”It will really give us more space, that’s what we needed as a campus, we just needed a little more space and on top of that these classrooms will be state of the art.” voices Mr. Thomas Kruczek, President of Christopher Columbus High School. 

 

       The building won't just tend to the students in their day to day in high school, but it will also prepare them for the next step in their education.  

 

       “It’s a new building where the students are being exposed to conditions they will see post Columbus, so having those lecture halls, the dining hall, and open stem classrooms prepare these students for what they’ll see in colleges and universities.” explains Ms. Mercy Aycart, Human Anatomy and Physiology teacher at Christopher Columbus High School 

       

       But among those most thrilled about what the new building will bring, are the students.

 

       “Students who are more interested in the arts and music will benefit from this building the most as it is a great expansion in those aspects” states Alan Munschy, sophomore at CCHS.

 

        The advancements of the new building are going to greatly improve the campus and learning experience of the students. This has caused a stirring buzz among the Columbus community.

       

       To put it simply is Mario Sueiras, sponsor of the new building, when he says,

 

       “... It’s not going to be something just new, it's going to be something that's going to add on to everything that's been done which is what Mark [Marcus Lemonis(sponsor for the new building)] and I both wanted.”

      

       As the school makes more and more progress to the completion of the Marcus Lemonis Mario Sueiras center for Science and the Arts the anticipation for the exhilarating advancements in it will only grow. But for now they await in anticipation until Spring of 2022.

New Social Media Steps Up to Battle Censorship

By: Anthony Martinez, Manny Fraaga 

             Social Media is a big part of our everyday lives. People spend hours at a time scrolling through their feed. So since so much time is spent on them, these platforms should be truthful... Right? Well recently, the public has voiced concerns over the bias that mainstream social media like Facebook and Twitter have been inflicting over common issues and the elections, so a new social media has stepped up to the plate to combat it.

 

             Parler, founded in February 2018 has stepped into the social media gridiron and has prevailed in a big way. As it's the most downloaded free app at the moment according to the Apple App Store. Parler is a social media platform similar to Twitter and Facebook where you can get everything found in a typical network, sports, memes and world news. But what makes it stand out?

 

             Parler prides itself on an unbiased approach to handling their network, and lets the people of their social media express themselves without being censored or shut down due to their opinion. “Parler is people and privacy-focused, and gives you the tools you need to curate your Parler experience.” reads the home page of Parler's website. So the people are switching because they want their voices heard. But why now?

 

             What better time for truth and honest opinion then the presidential elections. During the course of the past months those in the republican party feel that the mainstream media is unfairly censoring them opposed to the democrats. Senator Ted Cruz took to twitter to tell his followers to switch to Parler after several tweets about the election by President Trump were censored and flagged as misleading​. ​In giving a space with no bias Parlor is acting as a safe haven for the republicans who want to assert themselves in the opinions of the common voter, like Sen. Cruz. And with the average American spending 5.4 hours a day on their phone, Parler’s network is a key way to do so.

 

             Parler is, “A neutral town square” according to John Matze, CEO of Parer, and has come up with a crucial space for republicans and democrats alike. The network provides a great service to all Americans who want their news without the bias of the mainstream media, and will hopefully continue to do so as censorship in the media doesn't seem to be going away any time soon.

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By: Anthony Martinez, Manny Fraga 

Youth Sports Play Through Pandemic?

Anthony Martinez, Andrew Falconi, Alexis Vivanco, Michael Martinez 

       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?

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        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.

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       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.

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       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.

Cleaning Crew Goes Unnoticed 

By: Lucas Figueroa, Anthony Martinez, Emilio Boutros, Michael Martinez 

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     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: Manuel Fraga, Daniel Rossi-Montero, Michael Martinez, Andrew Ordieres, Anthony Martinez 

  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. 

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       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 Mandatory For Professionals 

By: Anthony Martinez, Alexis Vivanco, Michael Martinez, Andrew 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.

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