Category: Education

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The Vaping Issue

Since the introduction of e-cigarettes in 2004, their popularity has grown exponentially, especially among teenagers and young adults.

Initially, e-cigarettes were used as a form of smoking cessation therapy. Though they contain nicotine, they do not have the tar and toxic gasses that are associated with combustible cigarettes. E-cigarettes were an innovative way to get people to quit smoking, and they’re easily accessible. But this accessibility introduced young people to e-cigarette use.

For many young people, vaping is an introduction to nicotine and may be a gateway to traditional cigarettes.

Vaping has become rampant and, for experts, the trend is disturbing. The 2018 National Youth Tobacco Survey showed staggering increases in middle and high school students using e-cigarettes and other electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS). From 2017 to 2018, there was a 78 percent increase in e-cigarette use among high school students and a 48 percent increase among middle school students, reversing the strides made in recent decades in the fight against youth nicotine addiction.

Since vaping is a relatively new technology, there are still questions about the e-cigarette liquid and its long-term effects. We know nicotine harms the developing brain but have little understanding of the potentially damaging ultrafine particles and heavy metals that also are found in e-cigarettes.

With its increase in popularity, there have been multiple regulations in an effort to curb and eventually eradicate vaping in teens and young adults.

In 2014, a law was passed that bans people under age 18 from purchasing and possessing e-cigarettes and other nicotine-dispensing devices, but that did not solve the youth vaping problem.

More recently, a ban on indoor vaping was passed in November. This amendment makes the use of e-cigarettes and other nicotine-dispensing products allowed only in homes, bars, and hotels that permit it, thus treating vaping like cigarette smoking. However, this ban does not address the youth vaping crisis.

The Federal Drug Administration has been tireless in its attempt to keep e-cigarettes and other ENDS out of the hands of young people. A major component of its plan is to curb the marketing of tobacco products aimed at youth. Many purveyors of e-cigarettes and other ENDS have designed marketing campaigns to appeal to teens and young adults. Bright ads and flavored products are created for and aimed at young people to get them addicted to nicotine.

In compliance with the FDA crackdown, Juul, one of the leading manufacturers of e-cigarettes, announced in 2018 that the company will no longer sell its flavored products in retail stores. These products are now only available on Juul’s website to buyers who are over 21. One puff of a Juul has the equivalent amount of nicotine of one pack of cigarettes.

The FDA released its Comprehensive Plan for Tobacco and Nicotine Regulation in 2017 and held a public hearing on Jan. 19 to discuss efforts to eliminate the use of e-cigarettes and other tobacco products by young people. The FDA proposes a nicotine product standard that would lower the nicotine in cigarettes to a minimally addictive or non-addictive level. This could decrease the chances of future generations becoming addicted to cigarettes and could make it easier for current smokers and vapers to quit. The FDA is also looking into regulating flavors in e-cigarette and tobacco products, including menthol. FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb has vowed to take whatever action is necessary to stop the harmful trends associated with vaping.

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Parkland Speaks: Collecting Lonely Thoughts

Writing, at its best, is a lonely life.

Ernest Hemingway, in describing work that won him a Nobel prize in 1954, knew this sentence seemed contradictory — “alone” is not how we usually describe life’s transcendent moments.

Parkland Speaks: Survivors from Marjory Stoneman Douglas Share Their Stories (Random House Children’s Books, paperback, $17) is one of those rare books that reveals how the solitude required of writing can elicit heartrending reflections and devastating truths.

Anna Bayuk, one of the collection’s 43 contributors, was a junior at Douglas on Feb. 14, 2018, when a shooter attacked the school, leaving 17 dead and as many injured. That afternoon, she found herself bunkered in a classroom, clenching the hand of a classmate she “only half knew,” listening to gunshots in the distance, hearing footsteps in the hallway.

“you are staying quiet, no, quieter, no, silent

you are staying silent.

for a moment, i was not silent.

there was a plastic walmart bag full of valentines from

     and for the people that i care about on my lap.

and when i shifted it off to the side so that i could move

     my legs even an inch

it was the loudest thing i had ever heard …”

Passages like this, breathtaking in their imagery and revelation, don’t happen in front of local TV cameras and newspaper reporters. They come when you’re alone with your thoughts; and that mulling — that essaying — can crystallize with the solitude writing requires.

Each piece in Parkland Speaks, whether recollection, photo, sketch, speech, or scratch poem, comes from a Douglas student or teacher. The collection’s editor, Sarah Lerner, teaches journalism at the high school and serves yearbook advisor. Those two roles overlap here in a nexus through which the collection is focused and shaped, but only expansively directed. And the result is by turns gut-wrenching, depressing, ponderous, hopeful, and joyous — sparkling with such a range of thoughts, images, and emotions, it can be exhausting.

Much the way the teens here, and everywhere, normally are. Even as not-normal as these young people now feel.

Both with intention and inadvertently, the young writers of Parkland Speaks reveal their falls from innocence. Each, like Alice tumbling down the rabbit hole, bruised, dusty, and dazed but able to stand up, take stock, and take tentative steps forward.

Rebecca Schneid, now a senior at Douglas, reflects in the aftermath of 2/14 on the bewilderment of being chased into adulthood — first by the shooter, then by the media and politicians, then by the world of anonymous jeerers and gawkers known to every victim of adolescence.

In “A Zoo Animal,” a free-form piece in the style of a spoken-word jam, Schneid says, “I don’t even know myself.”

Sometimes I think that I am fine,

that I’ve lost some of that sheer pain and wrath;

that I’m on a path

toward healing and success,

toward not moving on really, but growing

from the distress …

She is not fine, of course — who would be? And that’s the point: given the circumstances, feeling so not-normal is, well, normal.

Definitely, it’s the new normal at Douglas High.

That new normal, even a year later, is still in flux.

The final pages of Parkland Speaks serve as proof. In “Meet the Contributors,” everyone has moved on. Some still attend Douglas High, now upperclassmen; others have gone off to college. Each’s trajectory toward whatever their futures hold remains on path despite what they went through.

But the way of those paths has been hosed down and is still wet with their experiences and takeaways from Valentine’s Day 2018. The footing is slippery as they try to navigate between who they were before that day and who they are now.

But make no mistake — forward is where they’re going. Whether as community organizers or organizers for Dance Marathon, as varsity water polo players or budding civil engineers and pediatricians, as yearbook editors or ebook authors.

Parkland Speaks isn’t about reliving the past. It’s proof of life in the now. A testament to resilience and hope — the very essence of MSDStrong.

teeberg is the Parklander’s contributing editor.

Cutline: Artist Madalyn Snyder, one of the contributors for Parkland Speaks, wrote about her experiences on Feb. 14, 2018, for the collection. A junior at the time, Snyder was cutting out paper hearts and goofing off with her buddy Guac on Valentine’s Day, as the pair waited for class to end. Minutes later, they heard gunfire and Snyder said her own heart sank. In the chaos of evacuating, she and her classmates came face-to-face with the shooter and Snyder was saved only when her teacher pulled her to safety. The teacher, Stacey Lippel, another of the book’s contributors, was injured in the incident when a bullet grazed her arm. Snyder’s friend and classmate, Joaquin “Guac” Oliver, was later named among the 17 victims who died in the shooting. (Illustration by Madalyn Snyder, courtesy Random House Children’s Books.)

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Couple Pays Tribute to MSD Victims at Wedding

Memories of Marjory Stoneman Douglas and the tragic Valentine’s Day shooting last year are those of pain and heartbreak for many people. For former students Jason and Stephanie Hoffman, however, the school has a special place in their hearts because it was there that their love story began ten years ago.

The two Seniors did not know each other until they were paired up by their teacher, Ivy Schamis, for a project in their World Geography class. Schamis said she didn’t see any chemistry between them. “It was a big surprise being invited to the wedding,” Schamis said. She not only taught Jason but his two sisters as well. The connection with Schamis and the Hoffman family grew following the shooting. Schamis’ lost two of her students that day. Cheryl Hoffman, Jason’s mother, was instrumental in helping Schamis cope and restore her classroom supplies through various fundraising activities.

Schamis, who has been teaching at Marjory Stoneman Douglas for 18 years, said Jason and Stephanie are inspirational and she uses their story as an example when she pairs students for group projects. Schamis purposely does this to bring students together who might not connect otherwise.

Schamis shared the story of Lexi Gendron and Helena Ramsay, whom she paired for a project in her Holocaust class. The class was given old pictures from the Holocaust showing shoes, clothing, luggage, and other personal belongings of the victims. The assignment was to create stories of what their lives might have been like. Lexi and Helena fabricated a salacious story of a couple but when it came time to share the story, Helena was concerned that it was disrespectful. Helena would be one of the 17 victims on February 14. Following the shooting, Lexi tearfully went to Schamis thanking her for pairing the two for the project saying that “she would never have had that memory with her” otherwise.

On November 10, 2018, Jason and Stephanie came home to marry at the Parkland Golf and Country Club. A large Marjory Stoneman Douglas flag served as a backdrop for a photo opportunity to be shared with their Eagle family. The couple chose to remember those lost by donating a portion of their monetary wedding gifts as a tribute. They will be working closely with Schamis to determine where the need lies for extra resources.

Jason and Stephanie were deeply affected by the shooting. The two speak of how difficult the tragedy is to comprehend because of the number of friends and family who grew up in the school. The pair never imagined that during the wedding preparations they would be dealing with unimaginable events including the funeral of Jason’s football coach, Aaron Feis. “He was a big part of my life,” Jason said. As we continue to grieve for such a tragic loss, perhaps in healing we can all take a cue from Schamis and reach out to a stranger. You never know how much you might gain.

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Change Starts With Us

One year ago, lives were changed forever. It was the day innocent lives were taken at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, for reasons which are still hard to understand. February 14 now has a different meaning to many people. A day always known for representing love is now associated with one of our nation’s worst tragedies.

Since then, a number of students transferred to different schools; others stayed. Some graduated; others went to Washington, D.C. and made historic moves. Several can be seen all over social media and even on our televisions. We thank each and every one of you because all of you represent change.

Change must start somewhere and it started at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. School safety has been the main priority here in Parkland; the name of a city people will never forget. Individuals from all over have come to help physically, emotionally, spiritually, and financially.

Money has been raised to assist those who have been affected. Fresh meals have been dropped off to those who could use a helping hand. Stores and restaurants raised money for those who couldn’t fathom going back to work after the tragedy. Bumper stickers saying “MSD Strong” can still be seen on people’s cars. 

A sense of community exists like never before. Acquaintances became friends; friends became family. When regular things like working, cooking, taking care of the house, etc. felt impossible, others came in to help. Thank you to everyone who made a gesture, big or small, because it undoubtedly made a difference in someone’s life.

For many, it is still a daily struggle to cope. Talking to a professional has helped countless individuals, some professionals even volunteering their services at no cost. Talking to those who were there during that time and who also experienced the trauma could be more of a fit for you, especially since they personally understand the lasting effects it can have on a person. You know yourself better than anyone else, so do what works best for you.

Self-care is also important. Trust how you are feeling and remember to go at a pace that you feel comfortable with. Try to rest mentally and physically, and taking time for yourself is never a negative thing. Grief, fear, anxiety, lack of sleep, sometimes even anger, will linger for some time. All should start to get better over time. You may be triggered at times, and that is okay too. Give yourselves a chance to heal.

Being in the “present” can be hard when you are in a state of mind you never thought you would be in. Keeping yourselves around those you love and those who make you happy can help make things more manageable. It will take time to move forward, but our community is making it clear – we are all in this together. Continue to soar high Eagles. We are all so proud of you! Celeste Catania-Opris, Ph.D., LMFT, offers therapeutic services to individuals, couples, and families. Visit www.TherapyForModernHousewives.com

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Moving in the Right Direction

It has been one year since the MSD shooting. We all know the toll it took on everyone and the damage left behind. We have also seen and heard the countless debates and protests both for and against gun control. A multitude of articles have been written for both sides, as well as methods of coping with the trauma from these horrific events. But what are some of the organizations that have emerged since then that give people a way to cope, to fight, and to carry on the message of NEVER AGAIN!

I’ve written articles on FAMSVARPAC (The Journey of a Thousand Miles, Nov. 2018) and a documentary video about Parkland (Bridging the Great Divide, Dec. 2018). But besides these two, who and/or what groups have come forward to help those in need, or to fight against these shootings in the future? While the list isn’t complete, it is a step in the right direction. In no particular order, we have:

PU4P Professionals United 4 Parkland. This is a group of highly qualified mental health professionals who provide many different forms of treatment for traumas such as those experienced by the shooting at MSD. Here is a link for the website: www.pu4p.org

CTR Change the Ref is an organization whose primary goal is to educate the newer generation of young people on how to best use what’s available to them to have their voices heard on the issues at hand. Manuel and Patricia Oliver whose son Joaquin, was one of the victims of the MSD shooting formed this group. The link to the website is www.changetheref.org.

Mobilizing MSD Alumni This is a national organization with more than 11,000 members, founded to help those involved in the MSD shooting. They have Outreach, Advocacy, and Community programs designed to cover all aspects of those in need. Their website is www.msdstrongalum.com.

These are a few local groups that have been formed not only to carry on the fight for better gun control and school safety but also to help those in need mentally, physically and spiritually. There are several national groups, such as DC Local Ambassadors (www.dcambs.org) founded by D.C. lawyer Elizabeth Andrews, Move On (www.front.moveon) and Everytown for Gun Safety (www.everytown.org) in case you feel the need to do more on a national level. But, as I have stated before, one of the best things we can all do, is be aware of those that surround our families, our friends, and us. Don’t be afraid to speak up or ask questions if you feel there is something not quite right. Encourage others to freely express themselves about their issues concerning these tragedies, regardless if they were directly involved. Last, but not least… don’t just depend on these and other organizations to get the job done concerning the political aspects of gun control and school safety. Write letters, make phone calls to your local, state, and federal officials and let them know your concerns and feelings. One voice, one vote alone may not make a difference but all of them together are a force not to be denied.

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How do You Talk to Your Children About Grief and Loss?

When the mass shooting occurred at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, parents were lost as what to do and where to begin in efforts to support their grieving children. Many parents were just as traumatized as their children. Children can be silent sufferers and all have to have to learn how to deal with a roller coaster of emotions. As a licensed clinical social worker, I have a few helpful solutions to uncomfortable conversation easier.

Attempt to have an open discussion about the shootings with your child. Not talking about it can make the tragedy even more threatening in their mind. It is very likely that they’re having daily reminders of the tragedy from media, peers at school, and even by physically being at school. Initiating a conversation will allow the opportunity to voice their feelings and fears rather than hold them in. When communicating with them avoid clichés like, “I know how you feel” or, “Everything will be alright.” The goal is to ease the suffering by being compassionate and providing a sense of safety. Maintaining open communication is key. Persuade your children to ask questions, and try to answer those questions directly. In hard times, share one piece of good news a day and encourage them to do the same.   

Continue to remind your children that these are natural feelings, and they aren’t alone. Be a positive role model and consider sharing your feelings about the event, but at a level they can understand. Express sadness and empathy for the victims and their families. Suggest ways you and your children together can be helpful in the community by supporting local causes and advocating to make change. Role-model ways to be more in the moment. For example, enjoy a television show or game night together as a family, or even a fun outing. This will help alleviate anxiety and tension triggered by the tragedy. It also provides a sense of relief and family unity. Social media, cellphones, and gaming are just distractions. It takes our children away from facing the reality of the world around them, which suppresses the grief. If they hold in and suppress these painful feelings, it can come out in negative ways. Our jobs as parents are to provide them with a platform to grieve in order to help them heal and develop their own coping skills.  As the one year anniversary of the terrible tragedy at MSD approaches, it is essential that we reintroduce conversations. There is no right or wrong way or normal length of time for grieving. The family as a whole should understand that each person is going through a personal journey. Remind them that their deep-rooted feelings are normal reactions to an abnormal event. Be patient with your child as they may experience moodiness, anger, sadness, guilt, and/or irritable behaviors.  When attempting to bond with your child be mindful of their current feelings so that your tone of voice and demeanor can be more soothing. To support them in their sorrow and through the healing process, motivate them to attend local support groups and community outreach events. Encourage your child to attend memorials and vigils. These healing events offer the community a chance to come together and mourn as one and help them feel unified. If you or someone in your family is struggling with a painful loss, please call, First Call for Help of Broward(954) 537-0211 or dial 211 on your cellphone for community resources to assist your family.

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The Doctor Is In

Pets have become an extremely significant piece of the standard school curriculum. Whether teachers are beginning to use them to help with peer counseling classes or to further enhance science courses, there is no mistake that our furry and scaly friends have become important teaching tools.

While animals have been cuddled, admired, and learned about in schools for many years, no one has offered a course on how to care for these animals… until now. Dr. Jeffrey Sands is a practicing veterinarian in Parkland and owner of the Parkland Animal Clinic. In the field for more than 35 years, his passion for animals is evident when speaking with him. His goal is to help instill his love of caring for animals to the next generation.

Dr. Sands wanted to help students who share his love for animals and learn what life as a veterinarian is like. He felt that an after-school club would be the best fit. He approached the principal of Westglades Middle School and proposed starting an after-school club for future veterinarians once a week. After the principal accepted the idea of the club, he needed to secure a sponsor. Ms. Hughes was happy to oblige and has been very supportive. The Future Vets Club of Westglades Middle was ready for business.

Dr. Sands did not want this club to be a show and tell. Students would not be bringing in their pets and demonstrating the tricks they do. This club was going to be informative, functional, productive, and fun. Students would be learning the medical side of their pets and discovering how and why animals act and react the way they do. The club would be accessible to all who want to participate and would be an eight to ten-week session.

Students have watched a video of an extraction, learned about parasitology, participated in role-play as a veterinarian explaining a diagnosis, and learned about the anatomy of a dog by examining its skeleton. These lessons have enriched each student and they are all gaining such an incredible compassion for animals and insight into the daily life of a veterinarian.

Dr. Sands is happy to come each week to Westglades and help educate the middle school students, but his hope is to expand his program to reach the students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. His goal is to reach as many students as possible and help them develop a love for animal care with the ultimate goal of becoming a veterinarian.

While most of the education has taken place on campus, Dr. Sands hopes to include field trips in his program. He would like to bring the students to the Wildlife Care Center and have them care for the injured animals. Each hands-on experience will help the students learn more about being a veterinarian more than any book could teach.

Students took the knowledge they gained and constructed projects, which were recently presented at the Pet Adoption Fair at Pine Trails Park. This was a great way for them to showcase what they learned while helping to educate local residents on animal adoption. Dr. Sands and his future veterinarians are spreading the love of animals, one class at a time.

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Parkland Poets Take the Stage

Poetry is loosely defined as ‘a beautiful expression of feelings and ideas.’ Whether written or spoken, it is a thought-provoking and meaningful way for your voice to be heard. Poetry can be personal or public, and the definition of the word could not be more fitting than for a group of young students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School known as the Parkland Poets.

The Poets consist of a diverse group of teens and their teacher, all with a similar interest – to address the pressing issues of our day using a positive and artful approach. By sharing their stories, they seek to empower their fellow youth. The Parkland Poets were profiled this year during the annual Louder Than a Bomb: Florida poetry festival comprised of teens from the Florida Keys to Jacksonville. This forum provides a safe space for individual and collective expression. To better explain the events’ title, co-founder Kevin Coval said, “We feel that what young people have to say about the world they inhabit and hope to construct is more useful than any armament, more complex than prison industrial systems, and louder than any bomb.” The Poets’ graceful approach in describing the tragic events of February 14 will draw you in from the students’ very first breath. With a recurring theme of, “I don’t know if I’m doing this right,” they speak openly about that devastating day and how it has changed them forever. These special young people choose to cope with their grief by turning to the spoken word and deliver a gripping performance through the eyes of those who were there.

While some adolescents shy away from public speaking, the Parkland Poets thrive at it. This platform allows them to express their raw emotion, their fears, their angst… themselves. Their tremendous stage presence is especially evident in a scene where individual Poets stand on stage as one and share, “I’m adrift in a sea of complacency. I couldn’t even bring myself to bring myself to the funerals, to look at the pictures of the victims… I’m heartless and cold; at least, that’s what I’m told. But I don’t know how to feel. I don’t know if I’m doing this right!” Presented by NBC 6 and the Jason Taylor Foundation, you can view this compelling 30-minute performance now on YouTube.

Legendary Miami Dolphin defensive end, Jason Taylor, has a success story of his own. While homeschooled from grades 10 to 12, he remained on his high school’s football team. In college, he was a four-year letterman and also starred on the school’s basketball team. As a junior, he earned National Defensive Player of the Week honors and was drafted the following year by the Miami Dolphins. He established the Jason Taylor Foundation in 2004 with the hopes of giving back to our local community. Admittedly from humble beginnings, Taylor had great ambition to provide South Florida’s less fortunate youth with better opportunities than he had growing up. This objective has led him to a mission of understanding, compassion, and support. He’s created programs that empower children by focusing on improved health care, education, and simple quality of life. With clear goals in mind, the NFL Hall of Famer set out to build on the impact that the Omari Hardwick bluapple Poetry Network created and became involved with Louder Than a Bomb: Florida. Now in its fourth year, the event is stronger and the poetry is more influential than ever. Taylor told NBC 6, “It’s spoken word poetry in a very raw, organic, real way that’s leaving a big impact on kids. Words can be cutting and uplifting, they can be inspiring, and that’s what we have here.”

It’s extremely powerful to watch these amazing youngsters perform, but when you think about why this group came about, and the dreadful reason for where their poetry was spawned, it really hits home. So how do we end the violence? We may not have all the answers quite yet, but coming together and taking a stance, as the Parkland Poets do, is unquestionably a great beginning.

To learn more about the Jason Taylor Foundation and Louder Than a Bomb: Florida, visit the website at https://jasontaylorfoundation.com/programs/louder-than-a-bomb-florida/.

“Teach your child poetry; it opens the mind, lends grace to wisdom and makes the heroic virtues hereditary.” — Walter Scott

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MSD Mom Wins Election to Broward County School Board

Next month, the Parkland community will have one of its own representing them on the Broward County School Board when the mother of a Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting victim takes her oath of office and her place on the dais.

Lori Alhadeff, a former classroom teacher whose daughter Alyssa was one of 14 students killed last Feb. 14, avoided a runoff when she was elected with an overwhelming 64 percent of the vote in August, beating Tennille Decoste and Michael Kottler for the District 4 seat, which includes Parkland, Coral Springs, and Tamarac. She replaces Abby Freedman, who did not run.

“While this journey has been long, this is only the beginning. I will now use the mandate that the voters have given me to go and ensure that all kids and teachers are safe in all schools,” Alhadeff said in a statement after her victory.

“I will fight for our amazing teachers to ensure that they have a larger role in the major decisions that the School Board makes, and to make sure that they have the resources they need to do their job. I will provide the transparency and accountability that this district has been lacking for far too long,” said Alhadeff, who has master’s degree in education.

“The forces to maintain the status quo organized to defeat me, but they themselves were defeated. I look forward to working with every stakeholder who has the best interest of our kids, our teachers, and the district in mind. This community deserves nothing less.”

Her addition to the nine-member school board weakens the solid support that Superintendent Robert Runcie has enjoyed in recent years. She has criticized his response to the shooting and the slow progress of an $800 million bond that voters approved four years ago to improve crumbling schools. Freedman, the school board member Alhadeff replaces, typically supported Runcie.

Alhadeff told the Sun-Sentinel after she was elected that she ran to honor her daughter, Alyssa, a 14-year-old freshman who played soccer.

“Her death empowered me to want to run,” Alhadeff said. “I know Alyssa would be so proud, and I want to make sure what happens to my daughter doesn’t happen to another family.

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The Amazing Bees Festival

The Amazing Bee Festival to Offer Family Fun and Fitness & The Importance of Pollinators

The Amazing Bees Festival is the latest family event scheduled in Boca Raton for 2018, and it’s designed to give families of children ages two to twelve something to do together in October that goes beyond screen time.

The festival will celebrate the importance of nature’s pollinators, particularly the bees that have been in danger in recent years. Festival organizers seek to educate families about how they can support bees by making eco-friendly choices to help them thrive.

The festival includes a show that follows the adventures of Big Bee, Queen Honey, Prince Bob Bee and Princess Debbee as they search for fresh nectar and brave a variety of hardships to survive. Families are encouraged to get up and move to the music during the performance.

Scheduled activities include Zumbini, Zumba Kids, kids’ yoga, Zumba and Capoeira, a form of martial arts from Brazil. Families will also be able to participate in other interactive games, including giant Jenga, giant Bubbles and a classic bean bag toss. Face painting, clowns and plenty of arts and crafts will also be available.

“From the minute you arrive you will be moving like ‘busy bees,’ having a large variety of activities to choose and participate in as a family,” said Fitness Instructor Regina M. Rossi.

The Amazing Bees Festival is scheduled for October 20 at Mizner Park Amphitheater located at: 590 Plaza Real, Boca Raton, FL 33432.

Tickets start at $15 and are available online through: https://www.universe.com/events/amazing-bees-festival-tickets-N40TCL?ref=universe-discover.

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Coral Springs High’s First Graduating Class to Celebrate its 40th Reunion

Preparations are underway for a special occasion in September for some Coral Springs High School alumni. The class of ‘78, which was the school’s first graduating class, will celebrate its 40th reunion with a full line of festivities to take place on Ft. Lauderdale Beach. Native Floridian, Andrea DaSilva along with former classmates Susan Lipinski Swiderski, Kathy Kittredge, and Cindy Foster have been busy organizing the event filled weekend. DaSilva jokingly said that Mike McCormick is also on the committee, but “he is really just trying to get the football team together.”

Coral Springs High School had yet to be established so students were shuffled around a bit from Coconut Creek to Pompano Beach. The decision was made in 1975 to build the school but it was not ready for the start of the school year for the class of ‘78. The students spent their sophomore year in portable classrooms, but enjoyed the newly built facility for their junior and senior years. Being the pioneers of the school, the students had the opportunity to contribute to the development of the school including choosing the school colors, mascot, and other traditions. This class was the first to experience many things including the first edition of the school’s newspaper the Pony Express and the first student government. While this class looks forward to reuniting in September, DaSilva takes a moment to look back.

“It was so much fun growing up in Coral Springs,” DaSilva said. She recalls her Dad teaching her to drive on two lane roads and there was cow in the middle of the road. “I always say the people in Parkland have great soil because it was all cow pastures out there,” DaSilva said. According to DaSilva, Coral Springs really only began to evolve once the high school was built. Going out to dinner or to the mall involved a trip to either Sunrise or Pompano Beach. Not having a local school was not always easy and DaSilva said that having split sessions at Coconut Creek also made it difficult to adjust. Even though her 10th grade was spent in a portable classroom, DaSilva said it was “the best” because everyone was finally together. DaSilva talks about their first hangouts being Danny’s, Little Italy, and the bowling alley. “You would be surprised how many of the students still live here,” DaSilva said, adding that on any given night you can go into the old Danny’s, which is now J.D’s, and run into former classmates.

The committee is hopeful that classmates both near and far will enjoy meeting old friends and making new memories. DaSilva shares stories of some of the classmates including their one local celebrity, Pete Prisco who is now a Jacksonville sports announcer, hinting that it would be really nice if he would come. It remains to be seen who will turn out for the event, but it is certain to be a fun time for all.

A First Class Cocktail Party will be the first opportunity for classmates to reconnect at 7pm on Friday, September 21 at Bahia Mar Resort followed by a day at the beach on Saturday. Everyone is encouraged to bring food and coolers to this free beach party where the “Colts” will have the opportunity to have some fun in the sun. Saturday night will be a flashback to the 70s with dinner and disco, the D.J. is also a member of the first graduating class. Sunday morning coffee on the pool deck will be the last time for the first class to mingle and say their goodbyes.

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Moving Ahead With School Safety

Parkland residents have offered suggestions on how to keep the city’s Broward County Public Schools students safe in the wake of last February’s shooting that killed 17 people. Municipal officials have been aiding the school district through a process that has involved a town hall meeting and focus groups. Parkland officials hired an independent company Ft. Lauderdale-based Conceptual Communications, to conduct the process.

“We don’t want to do anything that would alter the integrity of the data,” city spokesman Todd DeAngelis said, adding that is why the city hired an independent entity to run the process. A total of 78 people participated in six focus groups on May 29, 31, and June 2.

DeAngelis said Conceptual Communications employees were to synthesize comments, suggestions, etc. emerging from the focus groups. Then, Conceptual Communications planned to hand the information over to the city, which would, in turn, provide to the school district with the information. DeAngelis said the city could receive a report on the focus groups as early as June 16. After city officials hand over the report to the school district, “that’s the end of the process from our standpoint,” DeAngelis said.

In mid-May, the city initiated a two-step process to gain resident input on school safety. The first process was a town hall experience. Parkland officials invited residents to participate in one of several ways. They could show up in person at Pine Trails Park to record a video message up to three minutes. It would outline “their suggestions on the topic of school safety related to Broward County Public Schools located in the City of Parkland or complete a digital survey on the same topic,” according to information from the city.

Residents unable to attend the May 14 town hall experience had the chance to complete a digital survey online, from May 11 through 15. DeAngelis said residents who participated in the town hall were asked if they’d be willing to partake in one or more focus groups through a randomly selected process. Information from the town hall would “serve to direct the focus group discussions,” the city spokesman said.

Nearly 80 people participated in the aforementioned six focus groups held at the end of May and in early June. Neither the town hall experience nor the focus groups were open to the media. DeAngelis said city officials decided that offering residents the chance to voice their opinions was the right thing to do.

“We just wanted to facilitate a process to ensure their voices are heard,” he said. The spokesman noted that school-age residents who live in Parkland attend Broward County Public Schools. Furthermore, their parents are “heavily invested in the schools,” he added. “If the voices of the residents of Parkland were absent, it would seem conspicuously so,” DeAngelis said. “The superintendent has indicated that he is looking forward to receiving the information,” he said, referring to Broward County Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie.

“Our community must find a way to learn and move forward from the tragedy that occurred at Marjory Stoneman Douglas,” Runcie said in a prepared statement through a district spokesperson. “The town hall meeting and the focus groups offer a way for the Parkland community to come together, work together and hopefully, stay together to find answers and make change. We welcome this process and its potential for healing.”

The shooting at Stoneman Douglas spawned an impassioned response from not just local youth, but students nationwide. Local students marched in the area and in Washington D.C. advocated for stricter gun laws and restrictions, encouraged people to vote, spoke out on national television, met with President Trump and other high-ranking government officials and conducted protests.

March for Our Lives was a student-led demonstration in support of tighter gun control. The event took place on March 24 in Washington D.C. with more than 800 similar events throughout the U.S. and around the world.

Although several school shootings have taken place following the Feb. 14 massacre at Stoneman Douglas, youth are keeping up the fight. March for Our Lives is now a website with resources. (https://marchforourlives.com).

Its mission statement reads: “Not one more. We cannot allow one more child to be shot at school. We cannot allow one more teacher to make a choice to jump in front of an assault rifle to save the lives of students. We cannot allow one more family to wait for a call or text that never comes. Our children and teachers are dying. We must make it our top priority to save these lives.”

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