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• Sailing The WatersDecember 4, 2024
  Moana goes on a new adventure Waves crash, sand blows, and Moana has officially returned for a long-awaited sequel to her first film. Directed by Dana Leodoux Miller, David Derrick Jr., and Jason Hand, Moana was released on November 27, 2024. They are following the events of the first film from November 23, 2016. With the same casting, Auli’i Cravalho as Moana, Dwayne Johnson as Maui, Temuera Morrison as Chief Tui, Nicole Scherzinger as Sina, and Alan Tudyk as Hei Hei, it is exciting to hear their voices again.  As known, Moana Waialiki is the princess of Motunui and the daughter of a Chief. She is a Polynesian teenager who in the events of the first film, embarks on a daring mission to save her people and restore the world’s relationship with the creation goddess, Te Fiti with the help of her demi-god best friend, Maui. Moana 2 is significantly different, as after Moana succeeds in her mission and reunites with her family, she goes on a new adventure alongside a group of companions. This movie also introduces Simea, Moana’s little sister. As Moana goes through new adventures, she also welcomes new conflicts. Unlike the first film, this plot introduces Moana to a bigger mystery to solve and this time, she is not alone. People from her village, Loto (Rose Matafeo), Moni (Hualalai Chung), and Kele (David Fane) help Moana on this mission to find and reconnect the people of the sea. These new characters give the film a new look since the first movie.  “It’s a nice follow up story and it goes more in depth into showing Moana’s ancestry and the natural courage that has been passed down to her, I think the culture that is portrayed in this film are slowly getting smaller, but even though they are getting smaller, they are also getting stronger, ” said DBHS senior Julianah Pit. Moana’s people follow cultural practices shown in the films, embracing the Polynesian heritage and history. Members of the same culture who watched the movie feel appreciated and noticed. Moana holds a strong and resilient character while also being vulnerable and empathetic.  Director David Derrick Jr. Said, “She has a little sister now, so things have changed for Moana, but her goal is still the same. She’s looking for connection.” The character development of the people in this film is impressive. In the first film, Moana opened her people to the sea after staying behind it, now she is finding and uniting other islands to who they are meant to be. This film achieved a big success and competed with Wicked since they were both released in the same week. Written by Janna Margar Pit | Graphic Designed by Janna Margar Pit Published December 5, 2024 | ePathfinder | Entertainment
•  Ordinary To ExtraordinaryNovember 6, 2024
  Transformers rise up A science fiction action movie called “Transformers One” a reboot of the transformer franchise is the first animated Transformers film in over 40 years. Based on Hasbro’s Transformers toy line and released in theaters, September 20, 2024. Directed by Josh Cooley, the movie features several voice actors, with the main ones being Chris Hemsworth as Optimus Prime, Brian Tyree Henry as Megatron, Jon Hamm as Sentinel Prime, Keegan-Michael Key as Bumblebee, Scarlett Johansson as Elita Vanessa, and Liguori as Airachnid. This movie tells the origin story of Optimus Prime and Megatron. The plot follows Orion Pax and D16/Megatron as friends and their work lives. As the story progresses, we are introduced to more characters like Bumble Bee and Elita One, as well as their jobs. The movie is set in CyberTron, the home of the Transformers. The sentient robots are powered by a substance called Energon and have transformation cogs that allow them to change into vehicles. However, some of them don’t have transformation cogs. This leads the main characters to fight for their freedom and their world, but one of them takes it too far. “Watching Transformers has always been fun for me, so this was a great opportunity to be able to watch an animated version,” said DBHS freshman Kiara-Ordonez Diaz. Transformers one is a perfect movie for a young audience, as well as an older audience. The Transformers movies have always been iconic in their history dating back to the 1980’s when the Transformers toy line was welcomed.  This film was supposed to be released on July 19, 2024, however it was initially delayed to September 13, before shifting a week later to avoid competition with Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice. The producers also said they would make a sequel if the movie did well. Transformers One had criticism, but it also had some praise. For example, some said that the computer-generated style of Transformers One was a problem, as it made the film feel both expensive and cheap. Others say the film’s animation made the characters look less authentic than their comic counterparts. Others say that making the characters resemble their comic counterparts made the story more authentic and enjoyable. But fans are saying that the biggest issue was the movie’s tone and that it was overly comedic and unnecessarily lighthearted. It has been confirmed that Transformers One will receive a sequel film as long as everything goes well with the first installment. Cooley has admitted, “I remember seeing the ‘86 movie at a friend’s birthday party, and I was a part of that generation that was affected by it. I’m too close to Transformers One.” Showing Cooley’s admiration and pride for the Transformers. Written by Oflande Desperez | Graphic Designed by Janna Margar Pit Published November 6, 2024 | ePathfinder | Entertainment

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[wow_title text=”Content by Janna Margar Pit”]

• The Summer I Turned Pretty 
  Love-triangle of the decade The teen love show, The Summer I Turned Pretty sparked every fan’s heart with a second season. The first season was released only a year ago which makes it even better. Originally being a trilogy book series by author Jenny Han, it is now a TV series giving its fans a fresh look at each character. Actress Lola Tung starred as the main character Isabelle “Belly” Conklin, a sweet teenage girl caught in between a dilemma with Jeremiah Fisher, played by Gavin Casalegno and Conrad Fisher, played by Christopher Briney. These characters make up the love triangle that builds throughout the show, and a group that constantly makes fans shuffle between all three sides. Considered a coming-of-age story, The Summer I Turned Pretty focuses on Belly, who holds a romantic connection between two teenage boys who happen to be brothers. It begins with a longing crush on her childhood best friend Conrad. All she’s known is her fixation on him but during her summer break in Cousins Beach, a series of events makes her question whether she likes Conrad, or his brother, Jeremiah. Without a doubt, this is more complicated than any other love triangle. It plays with the dynamics of love, friendship, family, and morals. The first season was released on June 17, 2022, and the second season was released on July 14, 2023. The book author, Jenny Han also contributed to producing and making an appearance in the show. This helped the director and other producers get a better understanding of what was supposed to happen because they had her insight. Since the newest season came out, many new fans have shown support with its concept. The series does an excellent job portraying the emotions of a teen girl stepping out of her comfort zone and into the experiences of being 16. It gives many other teenage viewers someone to relate with. “It made me so sad, but it was entertaining and that’s why I liked it. When it comes to Belly, I kind of relate to her because it was a little hard for me growing up, from being a kid to as I am now,” said Deerfield Beach High School sophomore Anisah Mohammad. The Summer I Turned Pretty does not just give an entertaining plot and an exciting love triangle but also shows a realistic situation of a summer vacation with family friends. Lately, it was announced on August 3, 2023, that a third season will officially be coming out eventually. Although the exact date is not clear, many fans and DBHS students alike are excited to see where the story is going to take this love triangle. Written by Janna Margar Pit | Graphic Designed by Janna Margar Pit Published September 22, 2023 | ePathfinder | Entertainment 
• Standing in the Spotlight
  The MTV Video Music Awards People were celebrating this year’s VMAs on September 12th, 2023. Many celebrities and artists surprised the masses with their talent and got the recognition they deserved. In 1984, MTV began the VMAs (Video Music Awards) to award and recognize talented individuals and move their rank up in the singing industry. Since then, the VMAs have entertained their audience and have given the winners something to motivate them to keep doing what they are doing. Looking back at older VMA celebrations, things have changed since the first VMAs were held. Iconic artists of each generation perform at the VMAs to give their guests something to look forward to besides the award-giving ceremony. In one of the earlier celebrations, bands like the Smashing Pumpkins, The Rolling Stones, and artists like Snoop Dogg performed and were unforgettable. In this year’s VMAs on September 12th, 2023, artists Olivia Rodrigo, Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion, Doja Cat, Karol G, and Demi Lovato performed on the stage with many songs and incredible talent. Even the K-pop or Korean Pop groups Stray Kids and TOMORROW X TOGETHER performed. These talented individuals should be proud of the recognition they are granted for being invited to the award show. Few people know the importance of giving awards to those who work hard. VMAs are influential to lots of celebrities and always aim to appreciate artists who deserve it. It is wonderful how the VMA Awards bring celebrities and artists together to celebrate each other’s talent. “It’s good to recognize artists because it appreciates their work and brings them out there more. The fact that it’s so many artists in one place and getting awards for everything makes it special,” said Deerfield Beach High School freshman Brianna Rivera. Although not all that participate in the VMA awards receive an award, the awards are given to the ones that deserve it the most and worked the hardest for it. It is a fan-voted award, so it all depends on an artist’s fan base to push them to the top. In this year’s VMAs, some of the most viral winners were Taylor Swift for all three video, artist, and song of the year. Ice Spice won Best New Artist, Maneskin won Best Rock, and many more artists won awards for their talented work. Not only do the VMAs recognize singers and artists, but also influence their music to give people what they want. The award show has done an incredible job of helping artists continue their careers. Annually, numerous people look forward to watching the VMAs celebrate big and small artists. Written by Janna Margar Pit | Graphic Designed by Janna Margar Pit  Published October 6, 2023 | ePathfinder | Entertainment 
• Slam Dunk
  Dribbling into this basketball season Returning to the court for the upcoming basketball season are the Deerfield Beach High Bucks. Starting the season, the girls’ basketball team has their first game on November 13th against the Cypress Bay Lightnings. The boys’ basketball team also has a game on November 13th against Somerset Keys Lions marking the first of a long list of competitions. The players are pumped as they enter this next period, and a lot has changed since the last. Different expectations are rising for this year; the boys’ and girls’ basketball players are preparing to reach them with a slam dunk. “My expectations are for it to be challenging and I hope to come out a district champion,” said DBHS senior Shanice Rebecca. “I’m excited for the journey and to see how I develop on and off the court.” The Deerfield Beach High basketball initiative provides many opportunities for talented players to achieve their goals. Basketball is also a great sport to help strengthen the minds of students when it comes to partnership and competition. Players build up this innate skill with techniques like defense and rebounding drills with their teammates by their side. As soon as the games start, players have to be ready mentally and physically. The school is confident that the teams will have more wins than losses and is looking forward to the games that have yet to come. The tickets to attend an upcoming or future games are available for purchase on GoFan. Written by Janna Margar Pit | Graphic Designed by Daniel Sasson  Published November 3, 2023 | ePathfinder | Sports 

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• Defying GravityDecember 11, 2024
   All things wicked Theater kids rejoiced when the trailer for the movie adaptation of the iconic Broadway musical Wicked dropped during the 2024 Super Bowl in February. There have been high hopes this year as more teasers were released and actors, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, who will play Glinda and Elphaba respectively- began their press tour. While waiting for the movie to be released, fans have stayed occupied by all the details surrounding the fantasy blockbuster.  Wicked, the musical, is based on a young adult novel by Gregory Maguire that takes place before the events of The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum. The book has themes of social, political commentary and questions the very meaning of good and evil. The movie will follow a similar premise. Younger versions of Glinda and Elphaba attend Shiz University, where they become roommates and form a friendship despite their differences. After encountering the Wizard of Oz, Elphaba and Glinda’s lives soon take very different paths. It’s all exhilarating. Of course, this movie being a musical, there is a soundtrack. The songs from Wicked are loved by theater kids and music fans alike, so there is a lot of pressure to do them justice. The soundtrack includes No One Mourns the Wicked, Dancing Through Life, Popular, and Defying Gravity. The tracks listed all feature Ariana Grande.    To adapt a musical featuring an incredibly talented cast, the movie would need some serious star power. Wicked certainly delivered. As previously stated, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo play Glinda and Elphaba. Michelle Yeoh portray Madame Morrible, the headmistress of Shiz University, and Jeff Goldblum as the mystical Wizard. Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, another iconic duo to play the two witches, have left an amazing legacy behind. Grande and Erivo will have some big shoes to fill. It is not a matter of which set of actresses play the parts better; it is more so that Grande and Erivo meet the high standard set by the actresses before them. But from the behind-the-scenes clips and videos, as well as Grande and Erivo’s powerful voices, it does not appear they will have much to worry about. “As the vocal phenomenon Ariana Grande channels her inner Glinda, I hope she brings her inner Mariah Carey and Kristen Chenowith to the role but also makes it her own. She has a lovely angelic soprano voice and I am excited to hear them sing,” Music lover and dual enrollment history teacher Christopher Horne said. This Wicked film is on theaters since November 22, 2024. With it being Thanksgiving weekend, it’ll be more convenient for those going to opening weekend. “As for Cynthia Erivo, I am already getting chills thinking about her performance. She has so many awards for her amazing vocal performances and her work in plays and on Broadway, I just know she is going to Defy Gravity with this role and I look forward to seeing her on the silver screen!” Written by Mackenzie Cobbler | Graphic Designed by Mackenzie Cobbler Published December 11, 2024 | ePathfinder | Entertainment 
• Halfway ThroughDecember 10, 2024
  All about the upcoming midterm exams  With the first semester quickly approaching a close, there are midterm exams that come with it. Midterm exams are tests given to assess a student’s understanding of a topic. At Deerfield Beach High School, these tests take place during the last week of school before winter break. As for exact testing dates, starting on Tuesday, December 17th students will take their tests for their 5th and 6th period classes, followed by their 1st and 2nd period classes on Wednesday, then 7th and 8th periods on Thursday and ending the week off is 3rd and 4th period. Each class will be 2 hours long, with the first being from 7:40 to 9:40 and the second being from 9:45 to 11:40. “I feel as if the midterm schedule could’ve been changed a little bit more to where it would be better for our teachers and students” says Jeanetta Stinfil, a sophomore at Deerfield Beach High. An important thing for students to note is the fact that large bags, like backpacks, are not permitted on school grounds the week of midterm exams. The only things that are allowed are clear bags or Ziplocs. Another important fact is all students have to leave school by 11:40am. As there are only two tests per day, once students finish both of their tests, they have to leave the school campus. With that, there was a way to not have to attend school for certain tests as there was an exemption form released two weeks prior to midterm exam week. Students would’ve been able to exempt some of their classes as long as they had an A or B in their selected class. The only classes that could not be exempted are AP and AICE courses, regardless of any student’s grade.  It has now been closed as of December 9th. Midterm exams are very important tests as the results of them get averaged out with students first and second quarter grades. Although these exams come before winter break, there are still a few days in the second quarter after the upcoming break. If a student’s grade drops to below a B at any point, even after the midterm exams are taken, students are required to take the test. “I feel like midterm exams can be very intense because of the importance of them” says Makayla Joseph, a CBA freshman at DBHS. It is imperative that all students try their very best on these exams to make sure their average is high. Sometimes, important tests like midterms, F.A.S.T, finals or EOCs can be intimidating, but they’re all key to helping students and teachers improve and for students to advance to the next grade level. Written by Leila Rogers | Graphic Designed by Leila Rogers Published December 12, 2024 | ePathfinder | News
• Not So Legal, ChristmasDecember 9, 2024
  The ban of Christmas in the late 1600’s  Christmas is one of the top three most celebrated holidays worldwide, with various traditions depending on one’s culture and religion. Due to the holiday’s popularity, it’s not widely known that Christmas was banned In 1659 in Massachusetts Bay Colony when A law was enacted “Penalty for Keeping Christmas”. “I celebrate Christmas because I believe it’s a time for people to get together and join”. Said DBHS Sophomore Abigail Payne.  The law stated that Christmas dishonored God and was offensive to others who believed in him (specifically the Puritans). Anyone celebrating Christmas in any way would be fined five shillings for each offense (about $48 in 2014). The Puritans were English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries who wanted to get rid of the Church of England due to the belief that it was Roman Catholic practice. They constantly rallied against the Church of England for adopting anything that was too close or was Catholic practices. December 25th was declared the birth of Jesus by only Pope Julius I in the 4th century A.D. From then on, with little to no general agreement, many have debated the date of the actual birth of Jesus, to this day considered a blasphemous date. Picked by Julius I, the date coincided with a popular and widely celebrated Roman Holiday, Saturnalia (a celebration with harsh and loud parties and drunken misbehaviors).  Conservatives (traditionalists) in England and the colonies pushed against the Christmas tradition of “wassailing”. Lower classes would go door-to-door requesting food and drinks from their wealthier mates in exchange for toasting (honoring) their good health. Host sometimes suffered mischief or even violence.  The ban by the Puritans was later overturned and revoked by an English-appointed governor, Sir Edmund Andros. He governed the Dominion of New England and served as governor of the provinces of New York, East and West Jersey, Virginia, and Maryland. Before his services in North America, he served as Bailiff of Guernsey. His views were decidedly pro-Anglican, causing difficulty for the Puritans living in the area. His actions in New England later resulted in his overthrow during the 1689 Boston Revolt. It was not until the mid-19th century that celebrating Christmas became trendy. Written by Kervens Isma  | Graphic Designed by Kervens Isma Published December 9, 2024 | ePathfinder | Feature
• History In The MakingDecember 6, 2024
   Recap of girls’ volleyball season  The DBHS 2024 girls’ volleyball season ended in the district semifinals on October 15th against Coral Springs High School. The girls won with a score of 3-0. They proceeded to the district finals and sadly lost to West Boca Raton 1-3. The Bucks made history this year, achieving stats that Deerfield has never seen before. “We made history this year. We finished 14-4 and achieved a winning streak of 11 games, the longest in volleyball history at Deerfield. We also made the District Finals for the first time since 2008. This was a very special group of student-athletes, and I’m honored to have been allowed to coach them” Head coach Nolan DeBrocq said. This proves that you can do whatever you put your mind to and achieve great things. “Hard work and dedication pay off. We practiced, sometimes 6 days a week, and the passion from the players showed as they all came, wanting to improve not only as individuals but as a team.” Coach Debbie DeBrocq said. Where there’s a will, there’s a way and these girls gave it their all and almost made it all the way. “In the high-stakes games where one loss will end your season, the nerves are high. They had to overcome that to beat Fort Lauderdale in a close 3-2 victory. In the District Finals against West Boca, I think everyone’s emotions got the best of them and that was a factor in our loss” Nolan said. The Bucks had a great season and fought their hardest, at the end of the day that’s all that matters. “Volleyball is a team sport and needs all 6 players on the court to work together. Everyone played a role in our success this season. With that said, Mari Nelson played a big part in our victories. As the captain, she commanded the court and led the team to its successful season” Nolan said. Mari finished the season with 216 kills, 60 aces, and 243 digs. She went on to win the 2024 all-star North team MVP. With many of their experienced seniors leaving this year, the next group of girls is going to have to work hard to play up to the expectations for next season but with their hard work and dedication the bucks are going to be just fine.         .                                                                       Written by Ava Murcliffe | Graphic Designed by Ava Murcliffe Published December 6, 2024 | ePathfinder | Sports
• Tangled In PlasticDecember 5, 2024
   Should plastic bags be banned? Plastic bags have been a well-known issue for a while now. According to npr.org, in 2024, Colorado and Rhode Island enacted statewide bans on single-use plastic bags, joining other states that already had restrictions: California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington. These bans reduce the amount of future pollution. Plastic bags are wasteful and harm animals. Reusable bags are more cost-efficient and less harmful to the environment.   “I like plastic bags because they are easily accessible and cheap,” said Deerfield Beach High school sophomore Maricel Vargas.  Bans on plastic bags negatively affect people in low-income communities. Plymouth Congregational Church states that while the initiative is a positive environmental step, it negatively impacts the communities they serve, such as those relying on their pantry who cannot afford reusable bags. To combat this, they donated reusable bags to those in need. Reusable bags are more efficient since they are a one-time buy and multi-use. The World Count says that only 1-3% of plastic bags get recycled and that the production of plastic bags uses 8% of oil resources. So many people use plastic bags that end up in landfills or the ocean, which hurts wildlife. Plastic bags are harmful from manufacturing to disposal. It is not only animals who ingest these harmful plastics. According to EWG.org, adults consume up to 150,000 plastic particles through their diets,  roughly equivalent to twelve plastic shopping bags annually. This is caused by microplastics in the ocean caused by plastic pollution. Humans are working against themselves by using plastic bags; animals and humans consume these plastics in one way or another. “It is hurting the ocean and the animals in them,” said DBHS sophomore Giovanna Carvalho. Plastic pollution hurts many animals every year. NTS.com says that over 1 million marine animals, including many sea turtles, die each year due to plastic pollution in the ocean; not only sea creatures are affected by plastic pollution. Birds and domesticated farm animals are also affected because they mistake plastic for food and die of starvation.  The effects of plastic pollution are irreversible, but further damage can be prevented. Bans on plastic bags have been proven to reduce the amount of plastic waste. Reusable bags are more efficient and do not hurt the environment. Banning plastic bags is a necessary step towards a future of sustainability and the well-being of people and wildlife. Written by Camila Castro  | Graphic Designed by Camila Castro  Published December 5, 2024 | ePathfinder | Perspectives

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