Park Vista Community High School, 7900 Jog Road, Lake Worth, Fla. 33467 Volume XVI, Issue VIPark Vista Community High School, 7900 Jog Road, Lake Worth, Fla. 33467 Volume XVI, Issue VI

News with a Bite! May 2020News with a Bite! May 2020

Mental health days,Pg. 7

Baseball all-star,Pg. 18

Cavetown review,Pg. 20

In d e xCobra LifeLetter from Mr. Myers...................3Valedictorian and salutatorian.....4Corona cancellations....................5

NewsVoting seniors...............................6Adobe Flash..................................6Mental health days......................7Corona and travel.........................7Distance learning.........................8

FeaturesLaniers.........................................10Larrabee......................................11Crystal Reynosa..........................11Seniors collage..................12 & 13

OpinionTo gap or not to gap...........14 & 15No honors English.......................16Sophomores driving....................17

SportsBaseball all-star..........................18Gender Inequality.......................19

EntertainmentCavetown review.........................20Quick Bites..................................20Teacher/celebrity look alikes.....22Oscar “snubbing”.......................23Kaileigh’s Cooking Corner..........24

2 | About Us

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M e e t t h e S t a f f Publisher:

Mr. Reginald MyersAdviser:

Ms. Cynthia Glazier

Senior Staff Members:Aliyana Vasquez: Editor-In-Chief

Hayden Swergold: Managing EditorCary Tendrich: Production ManagerNoam Bernstein: Business Manager

Madison Barganier: Copy EditorJohanna Vullo: Entertainment EditorFernando Matamoros: Sports Editor

Staff Writers:Leo Fergenson Kaileigh Pinta

Kathryn Ritayik

Letter from the Editor The Cobra Chronicle is an expressive platform for students to share their points of view while also providing an accurate representation of events at Park Vista. Our staff aims to add their own innovative thinking to each article published. This year, we have taken the initiative to update our school newspaper. Our design scheme has evolved greatly from last year’s. We hope our paper is more interactive and pleases the staff and student body’s diverse interests. Any opinion displayed is the opinion of the student and does not represent Park Vista as a whole. Our staff aims to tell the truth and provide unbiased information in every article. Comments and questions are welcomed by the staff. Thank you, and we hope you enjoy this edition.

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Editor-in-Chief

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May 2020

To the Senior Class of 2020:

Congratulations on reaching another important milestone in your life. We are extremely proud of your ac-complishments, and we wish you the very best. You have worked hard over the past years, and Park Vista adminis-trators, teachers, staff, families and friends are so proud of your accomplishments.

Thank you so much for allowing us the opportunity to guide you on your pathway to success. The course you have chartered for yourself is filled with endless possibilities. There are so many opportunities that await you, and I am sure that each of you will find what career path is right for you. As you proceed along this journey in life, you will encounter many challenges, but you must remain steadfast and focused on the goals you have established for yourself.

In order to accomplish these goals, you will require continuous learning. I encourage you to continue learn-ing throughout your life. Why? Constant learning to me is the key to a successful and productive future. It is the key that will unlock the doors of opportunity to assist you in reaching your goals in life. One true fact about learn-ing is that once you have it, it can never be taken away from you, by anyone.

So as each of you departs Park Vista Community High School ready to face the next phase of your life, never forget about the individuals that have been integral in supporting you throughout the past thirteen years of your schooling, the ones who are so happy for you today and so proud to see what you have become, and what you will become in the future.

Take time to reflect, to remember, and to cherish these past years of your high school experience, re-member the fun times and the challenging times as well. Every experience in life is a learning opportunity that will offer you valuable life lessons. When the days seem dark, know that there is a bright light ahead. Stay true to your principles and values. Dr. Martin Lurther King once said, “ The time is always right to do what is right.” When you recognize that a mistake has been made, take ownership of this mistake or failure and make it right.

On behalf of the Cobra Family, we wish the Senior Class of 2020 much success in your endeavors. Sincerely,

Principal Myers

Letter from Mr. Myers

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Park Vista’s valedictorians, salutatorians: a journeyBY ALIYANA VASQUEZEditor-in-Chief Since 2005, valedictorians and salutatorians have walked across the Park Vista graduation stage. Some may have thought they were going to become successful doctors or famous actors; others may have had no idea what they were going to become. Their lives may be all figured out or just starting to make sense. Park Vista’s current valedictorian, Maya Fives, is planning on majoring in environmental science at The University of Florida. Fives has many goals for her future, such as conducting research in college, possibly getting published, securing an internship and studying abroad. Fives also wants to continue leading and joining clubs during college. She has been Paw Protection club’s president for three years, is president of National Honor Society and is the co-vice president of Key Club. Patrick O’Sullivan, Park Vista’s current salutatorian, is planning on attending The University of Florida and majoring in chemical engineering. He wants to graduate with his bachelor’s degree and hopes to work for an engineering organization like NASA, Boeing,

or Lockheed Martin. He is looking forward to having more freedom in college. “Being able to make mistakes and figure out problems on my own is daunting but exciting,” said O’Sullivan. Allie Pizzino, PV class of 2019’s valedictorian, currently takes classes at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine. She is unsure of her major right now, but thinks she might double major in chemistry and government/legal studies. “For now, I am just taking classes that interest me and hoping a career idea will emerge,” she said. Pizzino said college is much different than high school. “Education is focused on learning and understanding the content, rather than focused on getting good grades.” She also said college has a greater variety of social activities, like clubs and sports teams, that she did not have access to in high school. Class of 2019’s salutatorian, Amelia Glas, attends the University of Florida. She is majoring in family, youth and community sciences on the pre-med track because she hopes to become a pediatric physician assistant or something of the sort. Glas said she wants “...to do something that helps people, and I loves working with kids.”

Glas said, “I think it’s really important to dedicate time in your first year to go out and find your group, a club, or maybe a frat or sorority where you feel like you belong.” Both Pizzino and Glas believe these groups are important to join as a buffer between school and social life. The two also agreed that the titles of valedictorian and salutatorian do not matter as much to society as they matter to them. Pizzino said, “It [being valedictorian] is a personal accomplishment,” and “does not open every door for the rest of one’s life.” Although each of these students have different goals and will go on different career paths, each of them has agreed that Park Vista has taught them some valuable lessons. “My high school experience has taught me that balance is important. It is equally important to work hard as it is to have fun,” said Fives. O’Sullivan said high school taught him how “to persevere and work hard.” Glas said that high school helped her to enjoy and appreciate each moment, as well as not worry or stress because “99% of the time things end up working out.”

Congratulations, Park Vista Pathfinder nominees 2020Academic excellence- Maya FivesArt- Antonio CalecaCommunications- Torrance StincerCommunity Involvement- Marissa CentrellaComputer Science- Kyle NeilsonDrama- Emma AgnelliForeign Language- Noah CabarcasHistory/Political Science- Stephen PolnerLiterature- Brandon LeonardMathematics- Luke FlanaganMusic/Instrumental- Megan GallowayMusic/Vocal- Mckayla WilliamsReach for Excellence- Jacqueline TabascioScience- Patrick O’SullivanSports- Jade SteeleTechnical/Vocational/Agricultural- Sydney Tubbs

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May 2020

Senior coronavirus woesBY KAILEIGH PINTA AND JO VULLOStaff Writer and Entertainment Editor Daily updates are reaching communities everywhere on the spread of coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, a strain of the virus SARS which caused widespread fear and panic in 2002. Schools have closed all across the country, and while students would normally be enjoying spring break, officials have been urging every person to social distance. This means many students will be at home with their families, unable to see their friends and participate in public activities. Seniors at PV were planning on finishing their sports seasons, going to music festivals and graduating as every other class before them had. However, the outbreak of COVID-19 caused a change of plans affecting seniors’ last year of high school. According to The Palm Beach Post, at press time there were 141 people infected with COVID-19 in Palm Beach County. This is a very uncertain and unnerving time for everyone. School will not be open for the remainder of the year, and seniors are wondering how they will finish classes, and how the closing will affect the memorable moments that senior year is supposed to hold. Seniors were looking forward to Gradbash, prom and other events, and now everything is cancelled. So far, there has been massive disappointment and negative feelings towards the approaching end of the year. Seniors feel as if they have been waiting forever to graduate, and do not want to see all of their hard work go to waste. The Palm Beach County school system is using Google Classroom for teachers to finish the year online. Park Vista students who are confused and angry at the sudden

cancellations of events and possible permanent closure of certain activities are all experiencing what the rest of the world is feeling. From freshman to seniors, everyone is going to experience big changes due to this virus. The spring prom and Gradbash was canceled this year after the CDC claimed that people should not gather in groups of more than 10 people and a lockdown order was put on the state of Florida, ensuring that people stay inside unless it is to buy essential needs. Graduation will be June 3 at 8 pm, but there will be no traditional ‘walk across the stage.’ Senior Kenzie Morgan said she feels disappointed. “It is an opportunity that we will never get again.” However, she believes that it is the safest option for everyone for the overall health of our community.” This year, sports were cut short because of the outbreak. The baseball and softball teams could not play their final games nor could the World Class Colorguard team and Winter Percussion compete in the WGI Championships. Last year, the softball team won state championships and were predicted to win again this year, but unfortunately one will never know. The World Guard and Winter Percussion were supposed to have

their last competition in Dayton, Ohio, at the end of March. This was going to be their first time competing at this level, but it was one of the first events to get cancelled when the outbreak started. Senior Sydney Tubbs said, “It was unfortunate because it was what we had been working for with all of the long practices that were supposed to pay off in Ohio and that feeling got stripped away from us.” A running tradition for many PV seniors is to attend music festivals hosted in Florida annually such as Rolling Loud and Sunfest. Sunfest, which was supposed to go on in April, was canceled for the year. They chose to not reschedule the festival because of artist and site availability and the approaching hurricane season. However, Rolling Loud is getting postponed to early 2021 because there is an availability at Hard Rock Stadium over President’s Day Weekend. It is unfortunate for the senior class to miss out on the events that make senior year significant, but what is important for everyone to remember is to practice social distancing and flatten the curve of COVID-19. Seniors and the rest of Park Vista’s students and staff are all urged to stay indoors and be as safe as possible in these stressful times.

Rolling Loud has announced the new dates are February 12-14, 2021, featuring all the artist originally promoted. All tickets for original date are valid or can be refunded.

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BY LEO FERGENSONStaff Writer Remember Motherload? How about Happy Wheels? These popular titles once ruled online gaming websites like Miniclip, AddictingGames and Armor Games. Chances are, after December 2020, these games will no longer be playable; Adobe Flash is shutting down. Realize it or not, Adobe Flash has affected life as the technology age knows it. For example, Cool Math Games only got its start because of Adobe. Flash shutting down is due to the industry shifting to HTML5 or WebGL, which are similar programs that can be used to create and run games, much like Adobe Flash. HTML5 and WebGL are also considered to be safer, whereas Adobe’s product, which launched in 1996, is seen by modern browsers, like Microsoft Edge, Chrome and Safari, as a security risk. Since Flash’s launch, internet security has improved and the ways of breaking security has improved. Browsers which support and run Flash are weaker.

However, hope is not yet lost for Flash enthusiasts. Ben Latimore, who goes by the online persona BlueMaxima, created Flashpoint, an open source software designed to be a more secure way to play over

40,000 flash games online after shutdown. Many famous Flash game makers, who were young adults when they made the wildly successful Flash games, are now adults working with Latimore on his project.

In the years Adobe Flash has been in operation,have

been many creative projects made using thesoftware. Some games,

like Super Meat Boy and Fancy Pants Adventure, have expanded to consoles. Super Meat Boy was released for the Xbox 360 in 2010 and Fancy Pants Adventure made the leap to consoles in 2011. Even though flash is shutting down, the games themselves will survive, whether it be from open-source programs made by fans, an upgrade for the games themselves, the creators’ games will move to consoles or homemade PC releases.

Adobe Flash to shut down in 2020Adobe Flash to shut down in 2020

BY NOAM BERNSTEINBusiness Manager March 17 marked the presidential primary for Florida. Voters registered as either Democrats or Republicans went to the polls to determine who their party’s nominee for president would be. Incumbent president Donald Trump took a sweeping victory in the republican ticket, while former Vice President Joe Biden finished with a comfortable lead over Senator Bernie Sanders for the Democrats. In an election year, the primary is usually the first time a high school senior is able to vote in an election, as many of them will have turned 18 by November. However, this year Park Vista seniors did not show up much to the polls

due to safety concerns in addition to a lack of interest in the candidates. Overall voter turnout was down by over 1 million people compared to the 2016 primary according to the Associated Press election polls. Due to the global outbreak of the coronavirus making its way through Florida and Palm Beach County in the pre-election week, the school district cancelled school the Friday before the election was supposed to happen. Despite health concerns over people waiting in large groups at polls and possibly spreading the virus, the state did not cancel or postpone the primary. Yet the risk of going to the polls was enough to keep senior Kayla Tran home. Tran was planning to vote, but decided it would not be safe for

her health or the health of others. “It was too big of a risk, and it was not worth it to put people at danger,” she said. “I wish they had rescheduled it or provided an alternative polling system.” Tran said she plans to vote in the November general election. Aside from safety concerns, many seniors chose not to vote in this year’s primary out of lack of interest. Senior Halle Hartman said, “I would’ve voted if there were more options, but it felt like it didn’t really matter at this point.” Hartman said she does, however, plan to vote in the November election. Florida residents who are American citizens at least 16 years old can register or pre-register to vote at registertovoteflorida.gov at least 29 days prior to an election.

First time at polls, or not?First time at polls, or not?

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Adobe’s shutdown of flash will be a big change for the Internet with previous creative projects finding other ways to stay alive.

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May 2020

Fearless travel amid disease outbreaksFearless travel amid disease outbreaksBY CARY TENDRICHProduction Manager Many governmental health administrations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advise against it, but there are individuals who choose to travel commercially -- without fear -- during the Coronavirus outbreak. The Coronavirus, which causes a respiratory condition medical professionals allude to as “COVID-19,” has plagued more than 300,000 global victims with flu symptoms. It has caused panic and prompted the president of the United States, Donald Trump, to impose travel restrictions; the strictest barring travel from the United States to parts of Europe. The travel ban applies to the Schengen area of Europe, which comprises countries such as Austria, Belgium and France. The United Kingdom and Ireland have also been restricted according to The New York Times’ Megan Specia. Nonetheless, many are enthusiastically traveling domestically amid said advisories

from the U.S. government, so much so that Florida governor, Ron DeSantis, has imposed a mandatory “stay at home order,” effective for all Florida residents. Yet,even cruise ships and commercial airlines are harboring enthusiastic travelers just like they did during the 2003 Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) pandemic. This syndrome, caused by a certain coronavirus strain, causes flu symptoms and is spread communicably through water droplets, making it airborne. CDC.gov reports that, “In the United States, only eight persons were laboratory-confirmed as SARS cases,” and that “All of the eight persons with laboratory-confirmed SARS had traveled to areas where SARS-CoV transmission was occurring.” The Ebola virus outbreak, which lasted from 2014-2015 and was localized to countries such as Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea in West Africa, did not halt traveling even amid despair and mass hysteria. Physicians willingly traveled from the U.S. to Liberia

during the hemorrhagic fever’s outbreak to combat its spread and provide humanitarian aid. Some of these physicians were Kent Brantly, Nina Pham, Nancy Writebol and Thomas Duncan. Brantly and Writebol had travelled to Liberia as part of Samaritan’s Purse’s charity to combat the disease’s grip on West Africa at the time. According to CNBC’s Greg Iacuri, a flight from New York to Iceland’s capital, Reykjavik, costs $200 less than what it cost about a month ago. Travelers are buying into cheap prices, as such costs will not be seen again after the pandemic clears up. A flight from New York to New Orleans costs $66 minimum. It is no secret that despite local and especially global health crises, there are who that will shy away from commercial travel, and there are those that will be unphased and continue traveling without fear. Governments and health agencies will warn and advise against travel during disease outbreaks, but in truth, it seems as if nothing will halt mankind from traveling.

BY HAYDEN SWERGOLDManaging Editor According to Healthline, one in six people aged 6-17 will have a mental health disorder from being overwhelmed, overworked or under an excessive amount of pressure. Students often feel too much is on their plate and consider a mental health day as an option to reevaluate and come back to their work with a new perspective and more motivation. Mental health days are days where people do not attend school or work in order to reduce stress and build drive for whatever tasks they must accomplish. Mental health days are known to refresh the brain and build concentration and focus for the endeavors in one’s life, and they allow for some relaxation during hard or busy times. In some states, such as Utah, the school districts allow an excused absence for mental health days. “Mental health days allow me to escape for the day and reposition my thinking,” said junior Meagan McCoy.

“I am able to come back to my work with an initiative to produce quality work.” Students at Park Vista have various spots for their mental health days. “Going to the beach or going out for a meal with someone puts my head in the right place,” senior Makayla Rastater said. Other students stay home to focus on other work that might need more time and effort. “When I plan my work out ahead of time, a mental health day is not necessary for me,” said junior Elona Berisha. “I am on an easier schedule, but I understand why people take mental health days.” The definition of a mental health day is different for everyone. Some consider it as a day off to relax while others consider it a day to make progress on their school work. For some people, mental health days are not needed as they can plan their work out without needing the aid of a day to catch up or get ahead. Others need the day to progress ahead in school work or to relax.

Mental health days ease stress

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Effective distance learning is all about time managementBY LEO FERGENSONStaff Writer With the current situation, traditional classroom schooling has taken a backseat. Of course, classes have resumed online, but without the daily routines of getting up, getting ready and physically going to school, it is easy to take procrastination too far. While there are ways to have fun and enjoy this extended time off school, the first and foremost thing to do in order to maximize time for leisurely activities, is to do one’s work. One trick to avoid procrastination is to make checklists of the assignments that need to be done and move down the list as assignments are completed. By breaking up bigger assignments into more manageable chunks, and completing easier assignments on the day they are given, the actual tasks seem much smaller. Also, another benefit in breaking up large assignments into smaller checkboxes as it provides a more appealing visual guide of one’s prog-ress, as one box takes a shorter time to get through. Another trick is to try to get a day or two ahead. By completing and turning in assignments when they are assigned, there is more time in the future to relax and have fun without the assignments weighing over one’s head. (Of course, this same mentality can also be applied to a regular school year.) Although some in-class assignments are unable to apply to this, assignments like projects and reports can be, making the total work more manageable. All in all, by spending time managing assignments and keeping ahead of classes, there is more time to spend doing things that would be more enjoyable. If one works hard enough, one could potentially finish all the work before the end of the week, resulting in an entire day, at least, of free time.

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May 2020

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10 | Features

Success runs in Lanier familyBY MADISON BARGANIERCopy Editor Administrating, counseling, coaching and more - in each of these careers, three members of the Lanier family have risen above and beyond average and earned recognition for their hard work. Assistant principal Reggie Lanier and his wife, Royal Palm Beach counselor Nikki Lanier’s achievements have recently in the spotlight. Both were honored at this year’s Palm Beach County Annual Counselor’s Breakfast. Lanier won the Administrator of the Year award, and Mrs. Lanier won the Counselor of the Year award. However, this award-winning couple are not the only family members who are successful in the education field. Their son, Isaac Lanier, was an assistant coach for Park Vista’s girls’ varsity volleyball team and was known for being “one of the best volleyball players to come not only through Park Vista - but through Palm Beach County,” said head girls’ volleyball coach Erica Green. Lanier is a familiar face at Park Vista, thanks to his hard work as an administrator. He is commonly recognized greeting and guiding students at the gate, and assisting one of the school’s police officers with guiding traffic as students head home. In between, he oversees meetings and classes, coordinates bell changes and lunch, responds to parents and students concerns and so much more. He takes pride in his job and strives to make the campus a “safe environment for all”. All of the above, combined with being a “team player”, led to his nomination as Administrator of the Year. “I enjoy it when the students and families are successful and have fun at Park Vista,” he said. “Unfortunately, the nature of my job is to be a rules enforcer, or as I like to say ‘professional bad guy.’” A counselor at Royal Palm Beach High School, Mrs. Lanier excels in her many duties. Her task varies from advising about dual enrollment and scholarships to handling individual counseling sessions and answering parent phone call. She has to be flexible, however, as priorities change daily. Mrs. Lanier is able to succeed in

her job and earn accomplishments as she does her “best to speak up for students and be a voice to those who have no one else advocating for them.” One of the reasons she won the award is how she takes great pride in both her school and students, always looking out for how she can support them. “The best part of my job is being able to work with amazing students every day. I love being able to help them reach their goals,”she said. Mrs.Lanier believes they have made her job easier and helped her in achieving this success. This deep care and dedication for her work has assisted in thriving with her role: “the heartbeat of the school”. This refers to how being a counselor is entitled to supporting anyone and everyone involved with the school, something Mrs. Lanier achieves by always staying calm and looking out for the students’ needs. Coach Lanier assisted the volleyball team by bringing both his skill and knowledge to the table in order to lead the girls to achieve greatness. Green said when she first saw him, she knew he would be “an outstanding player by the time he was a senior.” When he joined as a coach, he was finally given “the opportunity to share what he had learned all those years.” This experience, and the way he was a “great communicator with the girls”, allowed him to train and accommodate the girls. This method helped him gain their respect. Although each Lanier is in a different field of education, they all make a difference in their field of expertise.

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Principal Reginald Myers congratulating Assisant principal Reggie Lanier for his service during the hurricane.

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May 2020

Larrabee, Google Trainer of the Month

Crystal Reynoso’s journey to self- loveBY ALIYANA VASQUEZEditor-in-Chief Senior Crystal Reynoso was excited to get on Doctor Doom’s Fearfall. After waiting for what seemed like hours, it was finally her turn. She walked up and tried to sit in the chair. She did not fit. Becoming overweight did not happen overnight, but Reynoso remembers a key life event that definitely contributed: the anxiety of her move from Nebraska to Florida. Reynoso’s father was part of the Air Force and two weeks before her freshman year, they had to relocate. The fear of what her new school and it’s students might be like was overwhelming. This caused her to excessively eat. Between freshman and junior year, she gained 50 pounds. Her weight started to make normal things hard, like walking upstairs, fitting into school desks or being able to fully enjoy amusement parks. Her family became worried. Reynoso initially felt threatened when her family mentioned losing weight. “In my mind they were being mean, but in reality they were just looking out for my well being,” she said. Although other people never bullied her for her weight, Reynoso

bullied herself. “The judgment I struggled with the most was from myself,” she said. Eventually she decided to take control of her life. “Taking control of my weight was the first step,” she said. To begin her weight-loss journey, Reynoso contacted a friend who worked out everyday and asked what gym she went to. When her friend mentioned Crossfit, Reynoso was skeptical. “I thought that could never be for me, that I was too big to go there,” she said. Her friend reassured her, and Reynoso went to Crossfit the next day. “Everyone there was so nice and inviting! I was surprised because when I walked in, I initially felt out of place,” she said. Along with working out, Reynoso paid attention to her diet: counting calories and staying away from unhealthy foods. “I did so many different diets: fat free, paleo, keto, low carb -- every diet you can think of, I have done over the years,” she said. There were times she only ate small portions of food because she was “desperate” to lose weight, but eventually she learned to diet in a healthy manner. Reynoso lost 106 pounds since the beginning of her journey.

Now she feels more confident in public. Losing weight and looking a certain way is not, however, what built her confidence; it was the fact she worked so hard for herself and her well-being. “No one can take away how proud I am of myself for doing that [taking control of her health],” she said. “Losing weight is not only about looking a certain way, but it is about getting healthy and realizing that you owe it to yourself to live a long, healthy, and happy life.”

BY FERNANDO MATAMOROSSports Editor Robin Larrabee, a Park Vista English teacher, was awarded the title Google Certified Trainer (GCT) of the month for the U.S. in February and was also named the designated leader of the Google Education Group of Florida. This means she was the top trainer helping other teachers effectively incorporate Google-related technology in their classrooms. To become a certified Google trainer, one must complete a certified trainer’s course, a trainer skills assessment, followed by Google Certified Educator Level 1 and 2 Exams and create a trainer video promoting his/her Google skills. After all of that, one still has to submit an application to actually become a certified trainer. Larrabee completely stands behind the program and highly encourages other teachers to try it. For her,

it began as a challenge to better herself. “I became a Google Certified Trainer both to challenge myself and also be able to share what I learn,” she said. Now that she has completed the course, her main goal has been to spread what she has learned. According to her, “Being a Google Trainer is not so much about the expertise as it is having the willingness to share information and genuinely wanting to help people grow.” Larrabee said she has had a much more essential role at school since becoming GCT -- especially now that Distance Learning is in place. The certification also allows her to “part of a worldwide database for people to be able to hire me to help train in their organizations,” she said. Larrabee cannot do this because she is a full-time teacher, but she finds it reassuring there is the potential for yet another door to open for her career wise.

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Through Reynoso’s Instagram, @crystals_journey127, she hopes to inspire people like herself to maintain healthy lives.

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Dear class of 2020, As you leave high school behind and start the next stage of your lives we would like to congratulate you for the amazing things you have accomplished. We hope you continue to work hard and know that no matter where life’s journey takes you, you will become successful. Since freshman year, each of you have become stronger, better individuals than when you entered the doors of Park Vista. Although this short high school journey may have ended differently than expected, you can learn from this situation and use those lessons to prevail in the future. You have bright futures ahead of you; this is only a small road bump in your lives. Most importantly, no matter where you end up, remember you will always be part of the Cobra family.

With love, The Cobra Chronicle staff

No gap yearBY HAYDEN SWERGOLDManaging Editor According to CNBC, over 35 percent of high school seniors are considering taking a gap year. While taking a gap year is a popular thing to do in today’s world, it might not be the best thing to do. Taking a gap year can be expensive and take valuable time and momentum away from a student’s education. A gap year requires a lot of money, and if one is planning to go to college, money is a necessity. An average year of college costs more than $25,000, according to the College Board. US News reported that gap-year programs can cost anywhere in the range of 10,000 to 20,000 dollars. “Taking a gap year would not be logical for me due to economic reasons,” senior Cassidy Ellmyer said. “My family can not and will not pay for an additional year of housing just so I can take a gap year.” Aside from initial monetary concerns, a gap year further delays VWXGHQWV�IURP�EHLQJ�DEOH�WR�PDNH�WKHPVHOYHV�ʑQDQFLDOO\�stable without relying on their parents or anyone else. Not only are gap years pricey, but upon entering college or university, students that take a gap year are already a year behind. Taking a gap year can be a risk, academic momentum is likely to be lost throughout the time one would be taking a gap year. Students are prone to forget a high percentage of the material they learned throughout high school which makes it harder when they decide to start furthering their education in college or university. “I would not want to fall behind my friends and people my age in college all for a gap year” senior Zachary Waywood said. “Taking a gap year would delay my future and would further delay me from the plans I have been working towards my entire life.” Some might argue that taking a gap year is WR�WKH�VWXGHQWȅV�EHQHʑW��DQG�WKDW�JDS�\HDUV�DUH�ZRUWK�the time they take up and the money they require. Many believe that learning does not just take place in a classroom. To some, gap years are about exploring the world, experiencing different cultures and giving back to the community. Nevertheless, gap years force students to fall behind which leaves a permanent mark on their life. It takes more time for students to be considered

ʑQDQFLDOO\�VWDEOH�DQG�OLYH�LQGHSHQGHQWO\�ZLWKRXW�relying on anyone for money when they take gap years. Plus once students enter college, they will be at a disadvantage as they will not be familiar with the college routine.

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14 | Opinion

Go, gap yearBY NOAM BERNSTEINBusiness Manager High school can be a crazy and transformative time in students lives, and a common life path after high school is to continue studies in a college or university. While most people will go straight from high school to college, it is becoming more popular to take a gap year or semester before going on to college. Most gap-year programs will take students abroad and allow them to study and immerse in foreign cultures and give them great life experiences. The world is a huge place with lots of cool areas to travel and visit, and gap years allow students to be able to experience this at a crucial time LQ�WKHLU�OLYHV��*DS�\HDU�DOXPQL�HQWHU�FROOHJH�ʑOOHG�ZLWK�great life experiences that they can share on campus. Both high school and college are focused on studying and learning, which requires lots of focus and involves stress. A gap year allows students to take a break from the constant stress to relax and live life outside of a classroom. While many gap year programs involve some form of studying abroad, it is often in an untraditional form from colleges or is focused on VXEMHFWV�VSHFLʑF�WR�WKH�FXOWXUH�RI�DQ�DUHD��6WXGHQWV�ZKR�take a gap year are able to learn so much while not being stuck in a classroom. In addition, students who did a gap year were found to graduate college in four years or less compared to the national average of six years, according to a Temple University study of gap-year alumni. Going off to college is a big transition in life, DV�LW�LV�PRVW�SHRSOHȅV�ʑUVW�WLPH�OLYLQJ�DZD\�IURP�KRPH��Gap years are known to help prepare students for life away from home. A study by the American Gap Association found that 97% of gap-year alumni found it EHQHʑWHG�WKHLU�PDWXULW\��6WUXFWXUHG�JDS�\HDU�SURJUDPV�provide students with housing and resources to live independently and prepare for college. Instead of having to worry about living away from home while also having the stress of school. Gap years allow students to ease into living by themselves, and get them used to it so they are better prepared to go to college and the real world. Many argue that gap years cost too much money and are not worth the expensive prices. While travelling abroad can cost a lot, many gap-year

SURJUDPV�SURYLGH�EHQHʑWV�VXFK�DV�FKHDS�KRXVLQJ�DQG�food stipends that end up saving students money. In addition, gap years can save students money in the long run as they have a better likelihood of graduating college early or on time.

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| 15Opinion

16 | Opinion

English honors classes are absentBY MADISON BARGANIERCopy Editor Stress hangs over many students’ heads as they prepare to choose what English class to take. Their options are limited: AICE, Advanced Placement (A.P.), regular or dual enrollment. Anyone notice something unusual about those options?: That is correct, there are no English honor classes offered at Park Vista. The absence of honors English as a choice throws a wrench into many students’ plans for their path to high school success. Students need as many options as possible to figure out what path they want to take in life and apply themselves to the best of their capabilities. The absence of an honors-level English course takes away necessary opportunities and forces students to either take a risk and attempt to take a college-level class (which could lead to lower grades, disappointment with one’s scores and higher stress as they are not prepared for that curriculum), or take an English regular class where they may find themselves bored and/or lowering their GPA. Another serious issue with this is for AICE and AP dropouts, who have even more limited options on where to go. English is a required course for all four years of high school, so there is no getting past taking it. They must either dual enroll to take a weighted class or head into a regular class. For those who can dual enroll and decide to, it is not so bad. However, not everyone is able to dual enroll; many students face issues such as a lack of transportation or job conflicts. That leaves their only option as English regular, which has students who are at vastly different levels of comprehension and work ethic than others. On top of this, there are plenty of students who were trying to get into top colleges, but now that they have dipped to a lower level the colleges might view them as less capable than others who applied. One’s classes are shown on a transcript and can affect one’s chances of being accepted to one’s dream school. It can also pose problems with qualifying for scholarships. An easy solution that would help “in between” students and open them up to new opportunities would be to reinstate the offering of honors English classes. Not only would an honors class be more challenging, but it would also give a grade boost and make a world difference for those who are borderline with their GPA. This small boost will assist students with getting into colleges, receiving scholarships, and getting accepted into honor societies. Not everyone falls into high nor low-level classes, some students are in the middle and they should not be left out of learning. Such students need options that allow them to think for themselves and strive for achievements. By having English honor classes, many

Park Vista students would be given a greater chance of success than what they are able to have now.

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| 17Opinion

May 2020

Should sophomores park at Park Vista?BY KATHRYN RITAYIK General Staff Sophomores who are able to drive are upset that they have their license, but can drive themselves to and from school. Why? Underclassmen are not allowed to apply for a pass to park at PV. This rule should be changed because many sophomores need access to their car just like juniors and seniors. “I honestly hate it. I should be able to park, especially because there is room in the parking lot,” said sophomore Colin Cassell. “My friend goes to Saint Thomas, and he is allowed to park, and they do not have half as much room as we do here. It is annoying,” said sophomore Damien Ruiz. Another reason sophomores want to drive to school is because they can avoid long bus rides and will not have to wait for their parents to take them/pick them up after school or practice; they can do it themselves. Being able to sleep in is another factor at play. “I now have to wake up an extra 30 minutes earlier to catch the bus when I could wake up later and take myself.” said sophomore Kaylee Kutz. Sophomores will most likely continue to ask for access to parking-- hopefully one day soon, they get it.

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Park Vista’s parking lot empty shows how much space there really is for sophomores, juniors and seniors.

18 | Sports

Nolan Schanuel chases baseball dreamBY FERNANDO MATAMOROSSports Editor Nolan Schanuel, a senior baseball athlete at Park Vista, has high hopes of one day playing for Major League Baseball (MLB). Schanuel had an impressive batting average of .524, which is well over the national average. He recorded 11 hits and 9 runs in the 9 games played this season, and was largely contributing to Park Vista’s success. (At press time, the Cobras had a 10-1 record and were ranked #9 in the nation, according to MaxPreps.) Unfortunately, the 2020 high school season ended early due to the outbreak of COVID-19, and for a senior athlete like Schanuel, it was quite devastating.

“I just feel like I got stripped from the best times of my life,” he said. “Not just my baseball season, but all the memories that were to come in these final months of senior year.” Despite the very depressing ending to

his high school career, Schanuel knows he cannot stay hung up on it

“I had a great time playing for Park vista with my brothers, but I understand that it is time to look deeper down the road.”

For Schanuel, who is committed to play at Florida Atlantic University (FAU), down the road means the beginning of his college career. With everything up in the air

midst the global pandemic, he is unsure exactly when he will play, but assures he will be ready when the time comes.

Schanuel at bat against Benjamin, Park Vista delivered winning 13-3.

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| 19Sports

May 2020

Gender inequality in sportsBY KATHRYN RITAYIKStaff Writer The history of women in sports has always been struggle. For one, most women who play sports do not get the same recognition or pay as men do. Some try to justify it by saying women do not play as well as or as often as men so they do not deserve the same ben fits. Take the U.S. women’s soccer team for example. They have won multiple World Cups, (the men’s soccer team have not), yet the women are still getting paid less and receive less recognition. According to ESPN.com, the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBA) salaries vary from $79,000-$170,000; in the men’s league (NBA) salaries range from 6.4 million-7.7 million. In tennis, women are paid $16,000-$50,000 and the men vary from $100,000-$300,000, despite womens tennis attracting more viewers. Granted, Women’s sports may draw smaller crowds on average than men’s sports do, but that does not mean women work less at perfecting their skills. To take an important step towards equality, women deserve better

Serena Williams returns a pass in the U.S. Open Tennis Championship against ElinaSvitolina

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20 | Entertainment

Cavetown shows his sweet toothBY JO VULLOEntertainment Editor Cavetown does not disappoint with his new LP Sweet Tooth. Released on Valentine’s Day this year, the 21-year-old singer from Cambridge stuck to his indie roots. “Sweet Tooth” is the title track, and opens with a very muted, 90s power-pop buildup and breakdown before the chorus. Musically, it is reminiscent of Britpop band Oasis’ 1995 hit “Don’t Look Back in Anger”. Lyrically, Cavetown does not resist upping the sweetness, hence the title. Stripped down, it is a plea to a girl to love him back, and his struggle to be comfortable with who he is. He plays around with a sweet tooth/having a cavity, a trip to the dentist, and gets clever with how he professes his love, stating, “the sugar went straight to my brain”. The beginning of the track is relatively stripped down. His voice is the primary focus of the song, and does not use many fancy audio techniques. One thing that is prominent and consistent with Cavetown’s music is the impeccable harmonies, and how they match with the laid back guitar work throughout most of his songs, especially “Boys Will Be Bugs” and “This Is Home”. Cavetown tends to layer his audio throughout the verses of his songs. For the majority of “Sweet Tooth”, there are two layers of audio:

one layer of him singing the melody, and the other of him singing the melody an octave higher, which adds a pleasing complexity to the song. His talent is rooted in mixing hard and soft sounds. The crash of the cymbals in the chorus, and the massive crescendo before the

last lines: “I like you/say it back” create a balance that comes to a close with complex-sounding harmonies all done by Cavetown. The video for “Sweet Tooth” was released Mar. 11, 2020 on YouTube. It starts out as a vintage video game loading screen with a pixelated title in all caps, “FIND THE TOOTH”. There are multiple “levels” throughout the video, and various video game graphics put in throughout the video to tell the story. Cavetown is presented as an archetypal

video game hero with a crown on throughout. Overall, the aesthetic quality of the video overrides the actual meaning of the song. After the song ends, the music video includes a few extra minutes of the song that are not on the record-ed single and explores more of the setting of the video, which was an extra surprise for Cavetown fans.

Quick Bites by LeoTiny bits of irrelevant (yet interesting) information1. In 2014, McDonald’s attempted to make bubblegum-flavored broccoli to sell in their restaurants but ended up forgoing the idea after many child taste testers described the taste as “confusing”.

2. Scotland is home to the urban legend of the Loch Ness Monster. Unsurprisingly, the national animal of Scotland is another magical animal, the unicorn. This is because the mystical creatures have been an important part of Scottish traditions.

3. The famous Jim Henson muppet Miss Piggy, love interest of Kermit the Frog, is voiced by actor and puppeteer Frank Oz, who also is the voice of Yoda in Star Wars.

4. During WWII, the Polish army enlisted a bear. Wojtek, the Syrian brown bear, was promoted to the rank of Corporal and often accompanied his fellow soldiers when they drank beer and smoked cigarettes.

5. Old televisions, the one with antennas, are designed to pick up high-frequency radio waves. If you tune it to a ‘dead station’ and the TV only shows static, you are witnessing residual radiation from the Big Bang. The static is caused by radio waves coming towards the TV from various sources, even space. This is because the Big Bang still has a noticeable microwave afterglow, which old TVs can pick up.

Cavetown gets sappy on Sweet Tooth.

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| 21Entertainment

May 2020

22 | Entertainment

Teachers and their celebrity dopplegangersBY CARY TENDRICHManaging Editor One can see actors, actresses and other celebrities all day long on TV shows and in movies; one rarely expects to see a doppelganger of a celebrity in a school, though. Yet, Park Vista has a couple of celebrity lookalikes roaming the campus. AP U.S. history teacher, Jonathan Strackman is one of them. Strackman and American actor and producer Paul Giamatti look eerily similar to each other. Both have nearly identical noses and facial structures. Giamatti is a Golden Globe Award winner, a Primetime Emmy Award winner and Screen Actors Guild Award winner. He starred in American Splendor (released in 2003) as Harvey Pekar, which explores the life of a famous author and his journey through life. An uncanny celebrity resemblance also lies in the likes of Coach Eric Lucina and WWE wrestler, John Cena. Lucina, Park Vista’s Dean, shares a similar facial structure with the athlete turned actor, turned television presenter. Their jawlines and profiles match up almost perfectly when compared to each other. The next time you are scanning your yearbook or walking across the courtyard, keep a lookout for other dopplegangers. You never know where one might turn up!

Actor/producer Paul Giamatti(left) and A.P. U.S. history teacher Jonathan Strackman(right) share similar facial features, such as their noses and facial structures.

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| 23Entertainment

May 2020

Women directors make strides in society, but not at The OscarsBY KAILEIGH PINTAStaff Writer

When the 2020 Oscar nominations were announced, female directors were once again shut out of the “Best Director” category. Such “snubbing” is nothing new. In the Academy Awards’ 92-year history, only five women have ever been nominated for Best Director, and only one, Kathryn Bigelow, has ever won. That was back in 2010 for The Hurt Locker. It is widely believed, however, that she won mainly because her directing was of a masculine movie. In 2020, no women were even nominated for “Best Director”, despite box office sales of their movies skyrocketing. Movies such as Little Women, directed by Greta Gerwig, and Late Night, directed by Mindy Kaling, are two examples of women worthy of a nomination as their movies earned $206 million and $22.4 million, respectively. They had the potential to earn more if the outbreak of COVID-19 happened at a later time. The directors that people think deserved nominations this year were Greta Gerwig and Marielle Heller for their work on Little Women, Ladybird and It’s A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. Sophomore Elena Papadopolous, who has always been interested

in film, believed each of these women deserved nominations. She said, “I believe Gerwig should have won, or at least been nominated as Best Director for

Little Women because that film was a masterpiece. Her other film [Ladybird] was well directed, too. She is such an inspiration to so many women who are in, or want to be in, the film industry, I don’t see why she couldn’t have been nominated.”

Papadopoulos is not the only person who believes Gerwig was snubbed of her nomination. Film critics from around the world also believe that these films were capable of winning Oscars and Academy Awards so the fact that they were not considered to be nominated for Best director only leaves one thought in many people’s mind: sexism. Women have been ignored as directors for years In the Oscars. They may have an award for Best Actress,

but directors are an even bigger part of the film industry behind the scenes. Their talent may not be visible on the screen, but it is shown throughout their art, which does not deserve to go unnoticed.

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Gerwig was allegedly “snubbed” from her Oscar nomination for the remake of Little Women.

24 | Entertainment

Kaileigh’s cooking cornerDessert Pizza:

Ingredients• 1 (18-ounce) package

refrigerated sugar cookie dough• 1 (8-ounce) container frozen

whipped topping, thawed• ½-cup sliced banana• ½-cup sliced fresh strawberries• ½-cup crushed pineapple,

drained• ½-cup seedless grapes, halved

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es 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).2. Press cookie dough evenly into a 12 inch pizza pan. 3. Bake in a preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes,

until golden brown.4. Let cake cool in the pan until room temperature5. Spread whipped topping over cooled crust. 6. Arrange fruit in a decorative pattern like pizza

toppings.7. Refrigerate until ready to serve.8. Enjoy!