STORY: Fall Fest

By KATHRYN MCMULLEN, Clubs and Activities Beat Reporter

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (SCPDA) - The second audition for Fall Fest will be held on Friday, Oct 3.

Applications should have already been filled out and turned in to Ms. O'Conner.

Fall Fest itself will be held on Tuesday, Nov 22.

STORY: Follow-Up on the Book Festival

By ALEXIS BROWN, Media Center Beat Reporter

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (SCPDA) -- The Book Festival will still be held in the media center on October 20 and 21 for two dollars.

"Don't buy a book if you don't have the do-re-mi," said Ms. Nancy Murrey who was commenting on the first come, first serve idea.

The media center staff are working hard on sorting the books as of now with the help of Troy Mendeza, who is a senior here at Stanton. "There are a lot of fiction books," said Murrey. Other genres of the books include tween, children, self help, cooking, history, politics, and romance.

The media center may also provide snacks, but they need donations. If you would like to make a donation please see Ms. Nancy Murrey in the media center.

COLUMN: It Gets Better

By LAURA GERBEC, Features Editor

Recently, I watched a video by Alexandria Aurelia, a teenage girl, where she explained the bullying she has endured her whole life. She has been physically hit, taunted, called derogatory names, and sent anonymous messages online full of mean things. Why? She does not have two of her front teeth, the ones next to her very front ones.

Simple flaws should not receive such punishment, it is not her fault. Just like Jamey Rodemeyer, a recent gay suicide victim because he is openly gay, and was a part of the movement, “It Gets Better.” In his videos, he was there to support all other gays who feel so confused and hurt, they are considering suicide. In both these videos, they had the same message: hold your head high, and it will get better. The current movement, spawned by Lady Gaga’s song, “Born This Way,” is so inspiring to not only gays, but anyone who has ever been bullied for things out of their control.

Even though Rodemeyer was a large participator in the movement, he was still bullied to the point of suicide. Bullies, responsible for his and many other suicides, have no reason to hunt down these people. In Aurelia’s video, she made another point, that if a bully sits down, and spends their time insulting you for your flaws, they must have very low self-esteem. If they think that you are such a waste of space on Earth, then why are they using their precious time on you? Because you are special.

I fully believe and support Aurelia’s message, and the “It Gets Better” movement, even if I am a straight female. No one, for any reason, deserves bullying, be it on- or offline. Every person is beautiful in their own way, and even if they think they are a waste of space, millions of people don’t. Millions of people wish they had the courage to come out, or be as strong, or to fight as hard as you do. As a message from me, and from others, you are beautiful.

Alexandria Aurelia video, “It Gets Better.” (Vulgar language)
Jamey Rodemeyer’s video, “It Gets Better, I promise!”

STORY: NAHS Meeting

By JOC'LENE SCARLETT, Clubs and Activities Beat Reporter

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (SCPDA) -- On Tuesday, Sept. 27, the National Art Honor Society will be meeting in art room, room 601, after school.

All members are encouraged to attend and if there are any questions please see Mrs. Carrie Santa Lucia, the NAHS sponsor.

STORY: Freshmen Class Elections

By HAMZA AJMAL, Academic Beats Reporter

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (SCPDA) - Class of 2015 elections are being held tomorrow. Freshmen can vote for their very own president, vice president, secretary, treasurer and historian.

The freshmen class president candidates are:
Omar Hebeishy
Madison Combs
Kylie McKenzie
Jack Menzel
Wilshem Tan
Nikki Toolan

Vice president candidates:
Brie Burnett
Bryce Gall
Justin Howell
Katie Thurson

Secretary candidates:
Erin Burrows
Aaliyah McCrary

Treasurer candidates:
Jonathan Charles
Danielle Jones
Julia Morrissey
Anoosh Poorian

Historian candidates:
Nikharika Malviya
Keely Nowlin

Students will submit their choices in city voting machines and the results will be announced later, towards the end of the day.

STORY: Fall Fest Auditions

By JOC'LENE SCARLETT, Clubs and Activities Beat Reporter

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (SCPDA) -- On Monday, Sept. 26, auditions for Stanton's annual Fall Fest will be held in the auditorium.

Auditions will begin at 3:00 p.m. and if there are any questions, please contact Mrs. Marigene O'Connor in room 702.

STORY: Printer Jams

By ISHMAIL DOWRIDGE, Media Center Beat Reporter

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (SCPDA)-- The Media Center is currently down to a single printer, Stanton students must watch the types of pages they print in order to prevent printer jams.

At the current time, printing any documents that involves power point or its slides cause a delay in printing. This results in other students not being able to receive their pages if they printed after a person who printed a power point.

STORY: Senior Breakfast

By Alexis Brown, Media Center Beat Reporter

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (SCPDA)-- There will be a Senior Breakfast for all Seniors on September 23, 2011 at 7:45 a.m. in the Auditorium.

If there are any questions please see Mrs. Marigene O'Conner in room 702.

STORY: Stanton Medical Society

By HAMZA AJMAL, Academic Beats Reporter

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (SCPDA) - The Stanton Medical Society has begun its process of teaching students about medicine and the medical field, helping students learn things that could potentially save someone and other help people.

"It is a complete student directed club, the goal is to expose students to the broad medical field and teach them important things and skills." Said Mrs. Romaine.

The Stanton Medical Society is one of the 60+ clubs at the school, but thats where the similarities end. The Medical Society takes its member's to Shand's to talk to doctors, work in research projects, learn CPR, and visit clinics and labs, among other things. It is also sponsored by the American Red Cross and the American Heart Association.

The club meets every Thursday in room 233, if you need any information or are interested in joining the club speak to Mrs. Romaine (In room 233) or Mohan Ravi, the club president.

STORY: Giving Back

By JOC'LENE SCARLETT, Clubs and Activities Beat Reporter

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (SCPDA) -- Next Tuesday, Sept. 20, the Florida/Georgia Blood Alliance will be on campus for students donating blood.

In order to be eligible, participants must be at least 17 years of age, or 16 with parent permission, and weigh a minimum of 110 pounds.

All who donate are encouraged to eat a good breakfast before donating as they will feel light-headed once the blood is drawn.

For any additional information, see Mrs. Marigene O'Connor, the clubs and activities coordinator.

STORY: Progress Reports

BY TAYLOR GALLOWAY, Academic Beat Reporter

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (SCPDA) – The first few weeks of school are wrapping up and the day that almost every student dreads is approaching. Progress Reports go out next Friday, September 23.

Report cards go out a few weeks after on Tuesday, November 1.

STORY: Minecraft Club

By KATHRYN MCMULLEN, Clubs and Activities Beat Reporter


JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (SCPDA) - This year, a new club called Minecraft Club has been added to the now 63 clubs at Stanton.

“I wanted CAS hours and my friends love minecraft, and it gives us a reason to play the game,” says founder Torin Rukab, junior.

There are 30 people currently in Minecraft Club, with students from sophomores to seniors. However, there are no freshman currently in the club.

If anyone is interested in joining, please go to the Gazeabo either in the morning or during lunch and talk to Torin Rukab or Alexander Krieger.

COLUMN: September 11, 2001

By LEAH QUISENBERRY, Student Life Editor

September 11, 2001 a day that thousands of people were killed, a day that hundreds of thousands of people were wounded, and a day that millions of people began a 10 year struggle of grieving. This day is imprinted into the minds of all Americans, not because of its brutality but because of the widespread unity, because of how many lives that were affected. Not one person can say that they were not impacted in some way by the 9/11 terror attacks. Everyone remembers what they were doing that day, especially me.

As a child I’ve always remembered more then most. The first memory I have was as a toddler lying in my crib crying because I wanted the teddy bear that I threw on the ground. So growing up the details of life have always come easily to me, 9/11 is no different it’s special in fact.

That morning was another day in the life of a 7 year old I ate my pop tart got on the bus to arrive at my elementary school R.L. Brown. I remember putting my endangered species project, in my cubby. The figurine of a Right Whale inside a water container filled with blue Jell-O took up most of the space but I had just enough room for my pink lunchbox. I sat down at my desk next to my best friend, Sierra Scott. We had been friends since kindergarten although now that I think about it I was only in first grade so it wasn’t like we had been friends for a long time but back then a year felt like forever. We talked about our plans for that weekend our moms were setting up a play date. That play date was later cancelled; no one thought anything of it considering the circumstances.

After the morning announcements story time commenced. Story time was always my favorite because Sierra always played with my hair. She would twist my straight blonde hair into braided masterpieces that dazzled me. I didn’t learn how to braid until the third grade; I guess I was always a slow learner when it came to hairstyles. Then in the middle of the story everyone started getting called to the front office to go home, even Sierra. I was pretty disappointed, my hair was only half way done. Our teacher Mrs. Callahan turned on the news, the picture that was shown has stayed with me all these years, two towers billowing smoke, sirens, screaming people, always a reminder of the horrible consequences of mass murder, the consequences of 9/11.
I was picked up from school early. The call came while I was in the car, not just the twin towers had been struck but the Pentagon had also been hit, the Pentagon, a place where my Uncle Terry and Aunt Cathy worked for the Air Force as Lieutenant Colonels. A feeling of dread washed over me. As a child this was the first time I had ever had any sort of relations with death it was a new and raw concept for me. The thought of someone else feeling that way made my stomach hurt. That’s what happens when I get stressed out or sad my stomach just tightens and that’s what was happening, my abdomen was twisting itself into a tight ball of distress. Many things went through my head, what was going to happen, were they going to be okay, would I get a birthday present from them anymore? Let’s just keep in mind I was only seven, and I really wanted Ballet Barbie. About an hour later a second call came, my uncle and aunt were both fine, the plane had gone in the middle section between the two sections of the Pentagon they worked in.

That day 10 years ago is one no one will ever forget, it will go down in history books next to The Great Depression, the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the collapse of the USSR. The bombings of 9/11 were a day that the American people had to unite in sorrow, in grief, and they all had to repair their cities, their families and the holes that were left behind. September 11, 2011 a day that millions of people grieve, a day that millions of people recover, and a day that millions of people remember.

COLUMN: I Remember That Day

September 11, 2001 started off as a good day for my miniature six-year old figure. I do not know why I remember this day so well, but I do not regret it. I woke up to the smell of eggs and rice (a Mexican breakfast dish), bacon, and a glass of orange juice. On the car ride to school my dad told me the good news that my beautiful baby cousin was born. Little did I know a birth would be overridden by over 3,000 deaths.

Later, at school the atmosphere didn’t seem right. I went to a private school, and we usually started off the day with Bible. Instead of doing Bible the whole school was called outside, and an immediate prayer was held on the basketball courts. Some were crying, while most people did not know what was going on including me.

When I got home my dad was already home because they wanted everyone to go home that day. When I entered the den all I saw was my dad, my dog, and tears. At only six years old you can tell what my family was feeling. Not only because we were an army family, but because we had distant family in New York. Distant, extended, or close, it did not matter. Family was family, and all we knew is that they stayed in the city. Many phone calls were made that day, but not one was from our family. To us they were still alive in our hearts and our minds, but to them all they saw was tragedy and broken hearts.

On Tuesday, September 11, 2001, the projected death toll was to be at 40,000 deaths. That was 20,000 for each tower. Luckily on a little over 3,000 people died, but the lives lost will be forever cherished. Ten years later September 11 can be written in our long book of tragedies, but it is something we need to move on from. Going back will not bring us forward. The American Dream has to live on somehow, and the United States is always trying to fulfill it. The only way we can fulfill our dream is by taking this as a stepping stone. Ten years ago September 11 should have been seen as one small step for man, and one giant leap for mankind.

COLUMN: 9/11

HAMZA AJMAL, Academic Beats Reporter

The morning of September 11 started off as any other, we prepared for school, eat breakfeast, and got ready for the day with other morning routines. When school started that morning, there was alot of commotion, but the rest of the kids and I could care less about what the teachers were astounded by.

When my mother picked up my brother and I from school, my mother was on the phone talking to family members, almost frantically. When we got home, my mother spared no time turning on the news. Watching the planes hit the World Trade Center (WTC) was confusing to me but terrifying to my mother. I couldnt understand the reason behind such an act and shrugged it off as a clip from an action movie.

New York City (NYC) has always been a special place for my parents, it was the first place they visited in the US, and along with many friends, my parents had family members in NYC. Watching the planes crash into the WTC was tantamount to watching someone nearly stabbing your brother, for my parents. My mother tried to contanct everyone she knew in NYC to make sure they were okay, using the phone nearly all day.

9/11 is irrefutabbly one of the most tragic and prominent events of the early 21 century. On that fateful day nearly 3,000 americans lost their lives while nearly 48,644 Afghan's, (Around) 30,000 Pakistani's and 1,690,903 Iraqi people paid the ultimate price for a crime they did not commit as a direct result of 9/11. I would like to remind everyone that 9/11 is not just an American issue, but a global one that has affected millions of people across the globe.

COLUMN: 10 Years Later

By GREG TODARO, Editor-in-Chief 

     As a second grader, there are a lot of things you don’t understand. Like most kids of my grade, what didn’t happen right in front of me wasn’t important. But the attacks on 9/11 are what really got me thinking about the world around me.

     That day is still vivid in my memory. It was a normal day in Ms Alec’s class at John E Ford elementary, sitting with my friends. But then, one by one, kids started getting pulled out of class. I didn’t know why, but I didn’t suspect anything out of the ordinary. I don’t think my teacher knew either. Only when I was set to the office to go home did I get suspicious. I can remember thinking; I never get called home early. Is everything ok?

When I got downstairs, the office was packed full of parents, standing shoulder to shoulder as they waited to pick up their kids. My fear increased. And eventually I found my dad. My mom would always pick me up, so this made me worry even more. I asked him what was going on, but he wouldn’t tell me. Once my other brothers arrived downstairs, my dad took us to McDonalds for lunch (we almost never got fast food, so this was a real treat).

     We finally got home, and my dad sat us down at the kitchen table, my mom nowhere in sight. And that’s when he told us what happened. He told us that someone had crashed into the Twin Towers, and that it might not have been an accident.

     We were speechless. I didn’t believe my dad at first. But when he turned on CNN, and we saw the black smoke billowing out from the building, I couldn’t believe my eyes.

     The events of that day had a profound effect on me. I stared transfixed in horror as the day progressed, and by bedtime I was so confused and angry. And what I saw that day and the next few weeks had a 3 long term effects on me.  

     First, 9/11 is what brought my interest to the media. I loved to know things, and I always wanted to know what was going on.

     Secondly, 9/11 exposed me to how evil the world can be. To this day I don’t understand how people can perform such horrific and downright evil actions.  

     However, I think the most important thing I learned from 9/11 is the selflessness of people. All of those brave men and women helping to save who they can and put themselves in harm’s way. People like that give me faith in humanity.

10 years later, looking back at video and images still make me incredibly sad. But thinking about all of the heroes that helped when they could have walked away gives me hope. 

STORY: Afternoons

By ISHMAIL DOWRIDGE

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (SCPDA) -- Unlike last year, the students are only permitted to stay in the media center if they are signed up for Extended Day and have paid the monthly fees.

Unless Stanton students are after school for clubs or sports then they need to have been already picked up or in the media center for Extended Day.

Information about Extended Day can be found in the main office.

COLUMN: We Will Remember

By SARAH ROBERSON, Senior Photographer

Ten years ago, I was sitting in Mrs. Ottie’s second grade class. A voice came on over the intercom, and the television was turned on. The small screen revealed images that appeared to be from some twisted horror movie. Words were flashing all across the screen - and although my reading level may have been advanced, it was far from the point of comprehending headlines about an event of this magnitude. It was hard for us seven-year-olds to understand exactly what was going on, but we knew that this was indeed out of the ordinary. We could sense that something had gone wrong that day; something had gone terribly wrong.

Ten years ago, four planes were taken over by multiple terrorists and crashed into three different locations - the Twin Towers of New York City, the Pentagon, and a Pennsylvania field. Almost 3,000 people were killed that day, including mothers, fathers, children, husbands, wives, and many others. I am blessed to say that I knew personally none of the victims; however, each of those passengers, along with those in the Twin Towers, had family members and friends who all felt the impact of that dreadful day.

Ten years ago, I, as a young child, was exposed to raw footage of this world's evil nature. I did not understand, as a young second grader, why these al-Qaeda terrorists would hijack and intentionally crash two of the four planes into the World Trade Center. It did not make sense to me that any human being would plan to kill hundreds and hundreds of innocent people that did no wrong towards them. It did not make sense that there were policemen running into the builings to help the firemen rescue the victims, only to be killed themselves.

Ten years later, it still does not make sense. And I don't think it ever will.

However, something else happened ten years ago:

Ten years ago, the people of the United States came together to support and love each other. Relationships often thrive off of empathy - knowing someone else can identify what you are going through. As those who were indirectly affected by those attacks began to speak up of their hurt, healing began. Many memorials were constructed, many prayers were said, and many hearts began to be mended.

It says in 1 Corinthians 13 that "For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

Despite the horrific events of September 11, 2001, we can press on as one nation under God. We can have faith in Him that He will, one day, make everything crystal clear. Until that day, we must hope for the best, always keeping our heads high knowing that God will work everything together for the good of those who love Him. And we must love one another fully, because sometimes that is all there is to hold onto.

COLUMN: The Tenth Anniversary

By ISHMAIL DOWRIDGE, Media Center Beat Reporter

One downside to living in a military family involved moving around with my father as he got re-stationed. As such, at the age of seven, I had already moved four times: California, Hawaii, Washington, and Virginia, twice. As a result of the constant moves, I got comfortable with not bothering to remember the people, places, and events from the last placed I stayed; September 11, 2001 is no exception.

At the time school started in September, so it was only my second week in third grade at Sewells’ Point Elementary. That day in particular, we were in class as usual when an administrator walked in to the classroom. Everyone looked up as she walked over to the teacher. She told her to turn on the television and turn to the news channel. As she left the classroom, the other students whispered that she was crying.

When she turned on the television, our eyes peered over. She used the remote to click over to a news channel and the next thing I saw was plane hitting a building. My teacher covered her mouth and I just watched as if were a cartoon show. Over the intercom, the principal said the school was on lockdown and that the students would stay in their classrooms until their parents came and picked them up.

To me it was all a cartoon show and I did not know what was really going on. I just sat in class watching the planes hitting the towers and the mass hysteria on the streets over and over again until my mom showed up to pick up my brother, my sister, and myself from school. When we got home my mom explained everything to us. She explained that New York had been attacked and that a large some of people died. At the time I was oblivious and only cared that my dad’s side of the family lived in New York. By the end of the day, I found out that they were safe and did not care for it much more.

To this day, I know the emotion people felt on that day and every anniversary since; however, I was only seven at the time. Due to that I am unemotional to the event as a whole. 9/11 will remain a tragic day for a lot of Americans who lost family members because of the plane crashes.

COLUMN: September Sadness

By JOC'LENE SCARLETT, Clubs and Activities Beat Reporter

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (SCPDA) -- I remember Sept. 11, 2001 as if it happened yesterday rather than when I was only seven years old. For me, it was a regular Tuesday but for the world it was one of the single most devastating loss of human lives at one time.

Kids talked about the fall of the World Trade Center as if they had been there. I was completely unaware of the whole thing because, at that age, ignorance was bliss. Reflecting now, that kind of information should be too much for any young child process let alone know so much about. However, what I will never forget was the feeling that I had as they talked: complete and utter indifference.

It sounds harsh when I say it aloud, but it was the only emotion I could muster. The fall of the Trade Center made me think of the three aunts I have that lived there at the time, but the thought was fleeting because I had a "It can't happen to me" mentality. Despite everything that I saw and heard, not one person's sorrow and grief brought even a single tear to my eyes.

I have always been a very happy child, known for the smile that I would always give people no matter the circumstance. Footage of people tearing up over the sight of those buildings made me think how they could cry when they may not even know who was inside.

For me, sorrow and grief are not emotions that I identify with. They are foreign and make me highly uninterested in anything that provides for that kind of environment. I like the idea of moving on and finding a new emotion for the next day that has nothing to do with sadness.

I realize how cold and detached I come across, but it was true then and it remains true now, nothing about Sept. 11, 2001 was a tragedy to me, but the idea that I could have let ten years go by and not come to the conclusion that it could have been would have been the real tragedy.

COLUMN: Ten Years Later

By KATHRYN MCMULLEN, Clubs and Activities Beat Reporter

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (SCPDA) - Being only five years old, I don’t remember much about my youth. However, I will never forget the sorrowful day of September 11, 2001. To me, it started out as 6 days before my birthday. By the end of the day, it was one of the most tragic days in history.

I went to school like any other Tuesday, excited for the upcoming weekend. I was just about to turn five. In a few weeks it would be discovered that I could read and then be put in Kindergarten at Accotink Academy by the Sea. I was only a toddler, and the world didn’t make much since to me yet. I could barely tie my shoes and still had to follow the poster in my classroom. My school didn’t have any TV’s, so no one knew anything that happened until the parent’s came to pick their children up. On that day, all I knew is something bad happened.

Later, I learned that terrorists, a foreign word in my vocabulary, had flown planes into the Twin Towers. There was a separate plane that crashed in Pennsylvania while trying to hit the White House. Another plane struck the Pentagon. 4 planes, millions of lives, and I am in one of the youngest generations to remember it.

Ten years later, there have been numerous tributes that have accumulated, from movies to songs. It is sad to know that I am part of one of the youngest generations to remember this awful day. I was watching Remember Me with my friend from Sweden. When I saw the date of September 11, 2001 on the board, I gasped. I knew that the main character would die. My friend had no idea what was going on. The millions of Americans who all died a little on that catastrophic day will always remember this day.

9/11: Stories of a Five Year-Old

Most kids my age have the same story when it comes to 9/11. They were in kindergarden or first grade and they heard about it from their teacher. Then everyone watched the news coverage on the TV. My story, it is completely different.

Ten years ago on September 11 I was not even in the United States. In fact I had not been in the US for about two years. My family and I were Southern Baptist missionaries in Germany at the time and had lived there since 2000. I remember vividly the moment I heard about the towers being hit and collapsing.

My parents and I had been out shopping that day; and when we came home there was a message on our phone from a friend of ours who was also American, I call her Aunt Martha (even though she is not my real aunt). She had called a little bit earlier and left a message telling us to turn on the news right away. She said something had happened that we needed to see. My parents immediately turned on CNN (the only English channel of any kind we got in Germany) and we saw right away what she was talking about. At that point I think both towers had been hit; but I do not think either of them had fallen yet. I remember staring in bewilderment at the television screen; and thinking that airplanes kept hitting the towers over-and-over again because they kept showing a replay of the original attack. I was truly freaked out by the attacks.

I do not remember Germany doing much the day after the attacks. In fact, I have a feeling that most Germans did not even care; but as every other United States citizen in the whole world, I care. Everytime I see a new feature story on 9/11 it evokes true emotions in me. This morning, in fact, I saw a piece on ABC about a guy who has done life-size paintings of all the victims of 9/11 and is giving them to the victims' families. Those stories bring back memories of that day; and they also bring awareness to my mind that this is the tenth anniversary of 9/11 and that terrorists are probably going to try to do something again. To tell you the truth though, I am not worried one bit about another attack. I know the Lord is in control, and no matter what we will get through whatever is thrown at us. Americans are strong and I believe we can do everything through Christ. The Bible says in Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." That Bible verse has meant the world to me ever since 9/11. Anytime I worry about something, that gets me through it.

I hope 9/11 is never forgotten. I do not want people to dwell on it; because that would be pretty unhealthy. However, I want people to tell their children about this horrible atrocity (when they are old enough to handle it). I want this event to be remembered by every American citizen that is to come. I want those people who ran into the Twin Towers to never be forgotten and to be honored for the rest of time.

September Eleventh Tribute

By LAURA GERBEC, Feature's Editor

Only being six years old exactly a decade ago, not everything is a clear of a memory as others. A decade, ten years, is a very long time when you take a step back and think about it; how many minutes, seconds, days went by, or how many words have been said since then. All of the things that have taken place in those ten years obviously are not remembered, but only the important ones are. The important minutes to save the people’s lives whom were innocently working the Twin Towers of New York, those are remembered.

Every time someone brings up an event, such as September eleventh, others around them always recall where they were when they heard the news. I clearly recall it all. I was sitting on the cold tile floor of my parent’s bedroom, the chill of the tiles leading a trail of bumps up my legs. The house, though, felt warm and cozy, almost inviting, with the enticing smell of dinner cooking a few feet away. Rarely did I sit without the comfort of my blanket and stuff animals, but this time was different, yet I didn’t know why. The home phone rang, and it was my father, who was out of town that week on business, in New York. My parents did not greet in their normal, cheerful voices, but instead my mother hurried over to the television and turned it on, hunting for a news station as she yelled confusedly into the phone. My mother stopped quickly, and stared at the news with a look of horrid, as though she didn’t want to believe what she was seeing. As I watched these buildings, buildings I had never seen before and didn’t understand the significance of, crumble down, I imagined a large dinosaur crushing the buildings. The airplanes that hit them, it didn’t make sense to me how they could destroy a building.

It kept replaying the scene, over and over, and people’s looks of shock and horrid were cut in and out of the shots. Smoke, more planes, and firemen- there really wasn’t much to see, but instead this chilled silence as everyone stood in confusion. I was beyond bored, and tired of watching the same thing happen, and watching the same people say the same things about it, but I felt compelled to stay and watch, because I knew something was wrong.
It may have indirectly impacted me, since I luckily did not lose any family members in the accident, but I by far impacted a nation on a very large scale. Security was taken to a new level, which in turn also discovered more issues that needed to be watched. People of all races began to stereotype the race of those who attacked us, causing social unrest. I’m almost glad I was too young to be aware of the meaning, because I’m not sure how I would have handled it.

What I am thankful for, though, is how the world handled it, mostly. At least how they handle it now is maturely, with people joining the army for justice, and programs to set up those who were impacted by the accident. It is amazing how everyone realized at that time that we were not all individuals, but a true country, all connected together, and hence, all affected, together.

STORY: Book Festival

By ALEXIS BROWN, Media Center Beat Reporter

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (SCPDA) -- The media center will be holding a book festival on October 20 and 21 in which books will be sold for two dollars.

"It will be a little hectic due to the end of quarter exams going on at the same time," said Ms. Nancy Murray.

Even though the books are only two dollars they are only excepting cash. Mrs. Anita McNeal from the organization SAC (school advisory committee) will be sponsoring this event. "I suggest that students buy books and save them as a Christmas present," said Murray.

COLUMN: A Day of Tragedy

BY TAYLOR GALLOWAY, Academic Beat Reporter

Thousands of books and movies, and dozens of memorials help to remember, honor and appreciate the things that people did that day. From losing their lives, to helping to save others, September 11 was a tragic day for every American. It was one of those things where it was so unexpected, and so chaotic that you remember everything about that day, from where you were, to the exact thing that you were wearing.

I was in Mrs. Todd’s Kindergarten class, sitting on the blue alphabet decorated rug listening to my teacher read us “Green Eggs and Ham,” we were only about half way through the book when she got a phone call. As usual she answered the phone with a smile and cheerful voice, but that smile quickly dropped, confusion and sadness filled her face, which worried us all. Soon after, kids were being called to go home, one by one, and at such a young age I didn’t know whether to be worried about what was going on or simply happy that I was able to leave school early.

When I got in the car an expression of panic overwhelmed my mom’s face, and the ride home was filled with numerous phone calls of which I did not understand. When we finally got home, my mom told me to come sit with her on the couch in the living room. At this point my mind was racing, not knowing what to think. She had a conversation with me about what had happened, and then turned on the television to FOX.

A plane hitting the Twin Towers, black smoke and faint cries in the background, hundreds of ambulances, people running, and a feeling of complete horror filled the T.V screen. At five years old, I didn’t know what to do; I was completely shocked and scared. I didn’t understand where it was in comparison to where I was or why in the world someone would purposely do such a thing. At that point I realized that the world wasn’t as harmless as I had ways thought it was.

A catastrophe that struck millions of families with the loss of their loved ones, and nearly 3,000 people that lost the lives of their own. 9/11 was a day of horror, bravery, and devastation that over whelmed the U.S. Although it has been ten years since it took place, there are still people who have to live with that loss. The people who lost their lives, and fought to help save the lives of others will always be honored.

COLUMN: Where Were You Then?

By ALEXANDRA MORGANTE, Opinions Editor

Ten years ago seems like a long time, but in reality it’s a short span in which a lot of events can take place. Ten years ago I was six years old and in the first grade. On the morning on Sept. 11, 2001 I sat in Mrs. Griffin’s classroom nearly 1,000 miles away from where an attack occurred which changed the lives of every American. I remember when the phone rang and Mrs. Griffin answered, hysterical tears followed. She quickly grabbed the remote and turned the TV onto a news station. Looking back on that, it probably wasn’t the greatest idea for first graders to see that kind of violence and hysteria, but it also opened all of our eyes to see the real world. I remember all my classmates getting excited when the intercom announced that we were released from school early and I remember rushing home to play outside with my brother. We all had no idea what was to come; the thousands of lives lost.

Approximately 2,900 people were killed on September 11, 2001 when 19 al-Qaeda terrorists took control of four passenger planes. Two planes were intentionally crashed into the Twin Towers in New York City, another crashed into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virgina and the last plane was headed to Washington, D.C. but didn’t make it and crashed into a field in Pennsylvania. Luckily I didn’t know any of the people who were killed or injured from any of these attacks; however I saw families around me break down knowing that they lost someone. I remember the television staying on at my house for days after the attack had happened, the tragic stories and hysterical cries being replayed on every news station. As a child, none of the death numbers really stuck with me but as I grew older, I researched and found the heart breaking articles and documentaries.

George W. Bush declared war against Iraq in 2003, this is where the casualty numbers multiplied. Most people blame Bush for putting us into a war but in his defense, I believe he handled it as well as any president could. He did what he thought was right and did it for America’s protection. According to antiwar.com, the estimated total death toll for American soldiers is around 33,139. This number, added to the number of lives lost in the actual attacks on 9/11, is overwhelming.

The number of casualties unfortunately continues to grow daily, along with the heart wrenching stories from the people who lost their loved ones. When it comes to the war, I don’t think a lot of people understand the lives that are lost because they are fighting for our country. In August, a friend of mine found out that her close friend had been killed in Iraq. He was raised here in Jacksonville, and he died being only 21 years old. I admit, even for myself it is hard to fathom the amount of people across the seas fighting. My distant cousin is deployed in Afghanistan right now, and I know our family prays for him daily. I think it is important for us to stand by our soldiers who are fighting for our freedom, respect them for that they’ve done and show our appreciation. The attacks on Sept. 11 took place on one single day but they continue to affect us even ten years later.