News with a Bite! January 2021 Park Vista Community High School, 7900 Jog Road, Lake Worth, Fla. 33467 Volume XVII, Issue II Veterans on campus, Page 11 Democracy in action, Pages 12-13 Mainstream games, Page 19 INDEX Publisher: Cobra Life 3 Mr. Reginald Myers Thespians.......................................3 Adviser: Virtual flexibility..............................4 Ms. Cynthia Glazier Voting age.......................................4-5 Career pathways............................5 Senior Staff Members: Aliyana Vasquez: Editor-In-Chief News 6 Hayden Swergold: Managing Editor Electoral College system................6 Cary Tendrich: Production Manager Noam Bernstein: Business Manager South Florida restaurants..............7 Madison Barganier: Copy Editor Increased screen time...................7 Fernando Matamoros: Sports Editor Election: why it mattered...............8 Biden’s plan for America...............9 Staff Writers: Features 10 Emily Cobb Daniel McDonald Leo Fergenson Kaileigh Pinta Overcoming toxic friends...............10 Joshua Foreman Kayla Shim Alex Trebek.....................................10 Carly Siedman They served our country................11 Opinion 12 Democracy in action......................12-13 Letter from the Editor Midterms........................................14-15 The Cobra Chronicle is an expressive Learning options............................16 platform for students to share their points of view while also providing an accurate representation of Oh, so typical..................................17 events at Park Vista. Our staff aims to add his/her own innovative thinking to each article published. Entertainment 18 Our design scheme has evolved greatly from previous years. We hope our paper is more Underrated albums........................18 interactive and pleases the faculty and student body’s diverse interests. Our staff has taken the Quick Bites......................................18 initiative to find creative ways to share content Mainstream games........................19 amid the pandemic. In Cobra Country, we are still a community even though some of us are Streaming services........................20 at home. Any opinion displayed is the opinion of Pandemic playlist...........................20 the student and does not represent Park Vista Kai’s cooking corner......................21 as a whole. We aim to tell the truth and provide unbiased information in every article. Comments Sports 22 and questions are welcomed by the staff. Thank you, and we hope you enjoy this edition. Shortened season..........................22 Season update...............................23 Signing day......................................24 Coach Green and Coach Barry......24 Editor-in-Chief 2 | About Us January 2021 Spotlight on thespians’ success at regionals BY MADISON BARGANIER Copy Editor One good, 12 excellents and 13 superiors! The Park Vista thespians have been very successful in their regional competitions so far this 2020-2021 school year -- despite issues created by COVID-19. These scores mean half of the participants scored the highest rank they could receive for their performance, a superior, and nearly all of the participants scored in the top two rankings, with the second highest courtesy of Allison Strackman Photo Senior thespians Ian Rich, Maddy Lester and Brianna Potter are being excellent. The competition performing “Model Students” in Park Vista’s 2019 one acts. showed the dedication and talent these Cobras have for their brought in new challenges for the that even when I may not like what I passion, theater. students. “I think the thespians performed, others may still enjoy it, This year’s Florida’s thespian overall at every school, including and that’s a special kind of feeling.” regional competition was hosted Park Vista, had a unique challenge Even with all the virtually. Thespian instructor Kevin and tried to perform during such inconveniences and challenges, the Van Meter said the experience was an odd time, so to be successful thespians successfully accomplished both “stressful” and “joyful.” This year during this season is especially much with regionals and got to for regionals, students submitted a remarkable,” said senior Ian Rich. continue to share the annual video recording of their individual Not only did each participant have to experience with each other. “I’ve events to be evaluated by three create and submit their own videos, scored the highest this year than ever judges in a multitude of categories. but they also had to adapt to the before, and that is a nice feeling. The events submitted ranged from different acting style, as thespians As a senior I can say that I would’ve acting to choreography to more are used to performing live theater much preferred to have performed technical aspects of theater. rather than recorded. live in front of my peers, but it was In order to adapt to the virtual “I think for me, my biggest nice to have something and to let me setting, a new site was quickly challenge was being okay with be in touch with my creative roots,” built by the regional committee for my final product. I’ve always been said Rich. students to be able to send in their very self-conscious about what I Van Meter was “not really submissions. Participants would now perform and the quality of what surprised” by the successful results be able to get their information and I’m performing,” said Rich. “When of regionals. The thespians are start to work on their acts as soon you perform live, whatever the talented, but their true success as possible. This new setup caused performance is, it just is; but when in this competition is in “their the participants to be on their own; you have a chance to re-record willingness to work and not let nonetheless, the group adapted and yourself or change what you’re the pandemic shut [them] down,” came out on top. performing, you tend to micro he said. It takes a lot more than “The officers and I took it analyze.” For participants, this was a pandemic to keep the Cobras upon ourselves to submit the videos, a very nerve-racking experience, but away from their passions, and the so it was nerve wracking trying to in the end it made them stronger in thespians are no exception. “They submit all of the events,” Van Meter their field of passion. Rich said, “I certainly rose to the challenge,” said said. “At the end of the day, it was think this experience was extremely Van Meter. “They adapted, which is an opportunity to perform, and the beneficial for me as an actor the only thing you can ask anyone to students enjoyed it more than they because it helped me realize do right now.” thought they would.” Although the thespians did well, the virtual competition Cobra Life | 3 PBCSD extends virtual flexibility BY CARY TENDRICH Production Manager In March 2020, education changed dramatically due to the spread of COVID-19. In-school operations were suspended for a few weeks before the District turned to virtual learning to combat the transmission of the virus. But that was nearly 10 months ago, and with the public’s success in attempting to contain the illness ever since, the Palm Beach County School District finds itself facing a unique situation: whether or not to continue distance learning. Because the threat of COVID-19 looms overhead, many feel a complete return to school is unsafe, and ending virtual learning would have reduced flexibility and safety during this unprecedented time. The Florida Department of Education (FDOE) on November 18 announced the executive order allowing for educational flexibility to be prolonged. Photo by Daniel McDonald by Photo With more than 620 positive COVID-19 cases Teacher Nicole Labrys enters Park Vista where signs within the district confirmed in November, many parents reminding students and staff of the importance of feared the increased health risks of in-person school. Covid-19 safety precautions occupy the walls. Those concerns were instrumental in the FDOE’s decision connection or even interact with a teacher, as it’s to extend or abandon the executive order. Before winter inconvenient to mute and unmute your microphone a break, which extends from December 21 - January lot,” junior A.J. Bonasera said. “However, it is easy to stay 1, schools were no longer required to offer distance on top of things as the due dates are easy to follow and learning. A survey, similar to the “Make Your Choice” there for you to plan ahead of time.” However, many who questionnaire sent to families before the start of the have opted to return to school campuses have enjoyed school year, will be sent for people to complete before benefits such as reuniting with friends, some of whom the second semester. Based on this data, the PBCSD they have not seen since March. This has resulted in the and FDOE will coordinate closely to officially prolong the revival of students’ social lives and mental health. executive order. More important than any of the advantages and Hardships have stemmed from virtual learning disadvantages, however, is the welfare of students, and since March 2020, including but not limited to technical all who are concerned with their education can only hope issues, lack of ideal teacher-student communication the District makes the right and flexible decision. and testing difficulties. “It’s really hard to form a Voting age: leave it or lower it? BY CARLY SIEDMAN Staff Writer For some time, debates regarding lowering the voting age have been prominent. Today, many 16 and 17 year olds who do not have the right to vote are fighting make this change, while others are fighting to keep it from occurring. The United States lowered its minimum voting age from 21 to 18 in 1971, and many are trying to go even further today, to age 16. According to the website procon.org, it has been increasingly observed that 16 and 17 year olds are learning about government and civics in high school and would have the support of their teachers and parents about the registration process. This support could lead to a higher voter turnout of young adults.