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Message sword sword sword & & & shieldshieldshieldThe DiamondDerby: A nightof elegance thethetheThe Student Newspaper of South Plantation High SchoolVolume 49 Spring 2025A look into the most elegantnight of the year filled withgowns and suits that look sogrand and sophisticated.-A night filled with laughs andmemories. The event of the season took place atGulf Stream Casino on May 3rd, wherestudents had the grand opportunity toshow their elegant attire. Turn to page11 for more photos.Prom King & QueenTyler Sibble & PaytonBedford
Social Media directors: Lauren Quiles page 2 Letter from the editor The Sword & Shield News is a multi-media, award winningpublication, which as won many awards from FloridaScholastic Press Association & Sun Sentinel High SchoolJournalism competition. Reach us at:Website: swordandshieldnews.netInstagram: @swordshieldsphstiktok: @swordandshieldnewsOpinions expressed in The Sword & Shield are those of individual writers, the staff or bothand do not necessarily represent those of he administration , the advisor or the advertisers.Questions, complaints, or concerns? Send an email to sphs.swordandshielfnews@gmail.comor come to room 250 to express additional opinions or to give feedback on the newspaper.Dear readers, this is our senior edition, many of us are now moving on to our nextchapters of life, it’s time for this one to close. For the last 2 years ofhigh school, I have had the honor of serving as Editor-In-Chief for theSword & Shield Newspaper. The hard work and dedication that ourstaff have given this year is nothing but amazing. I am beyond proud ofmy staff and will miss you all so much. Ms. Polin, thank you for beingthe best advisor to us all and this organization wouldn’t be the samewithout you. To our seniors, we hope that you enjoy this issue. With love, yours truly Editor-In-Chief-Tyra NelThe Sword & Shield News‘A forum of student expression’ South Plantation High School(P) 754-323-1950 (F) 754-323-20801300 SW 54th Avenue Plantation, Florida 33317Contact: sphs.swordandshieldnews@gmail.comFollow us on instagram: swordshieldsphsAdvisor: Stephanie PolinEditors-In-Chief: Tyra NelStaff:Afia AfrinAngela ValentiArionna WangleBrandyn SwopesConnor SchmidtElla PardilloEmily PardilloJayden LaraJulie SuarezLayla ParsonMakayla CastillaMarley MckieMarniece SmileyMason WaltersMaylene RiveraNaomi LingoNya ZlydaszykRosella ToebeRubaiya KhatunSofia SehaferTravis ChinTyree GilesVanessa JoseYeimy GonzalezEditors:Alexa DobrevaAni MistlerAnne TesseoLauren Quiles Sade Reale Sarah SiligSarayi LopezSinia Grange Tyra NelFSPA Awards 2024 Deadline Illustration- HonorableMention- Brandyn SwopesStudent Life Photo-Honorable Mention -Marley McKieHype Video- Honorable Mention-ConnerSchmidtSports Portrait Photo- HonorableMention-Ani Mistler and Lauren QuilesFashion Podcast- Excellent- MikaylaCastilla, Ella Pardillo, and Emily PadilloWritten Feature story -HonorableMention- Anne Tesseo Deadline Photo Challenge- HonorableMention- Sade RealeWritten Review- Excellent- Conner SchmidtEditor-In-Chief Sun Sentinel Awards 2025Sports Writing- Honorable Mention-Sarah Silig
Everglades Wildfires By: Sophia Werner page 3News When a woman leads, nations thrive. Timeand time again, women have not only shownthat they are just capable to be involved inpolitics, but necessary to the shaping andbuilding of government. Despite facingchallenges throughout history and even today’ssociety, women have consistently contributed inshaping and strengtheninggovernments and nations to this day. In the U.S. Eleanor Roosevelt was a womanwho became one of the most influentialfigures of the 20 th century. Although she hadthe role of First Lady in the U.S. She usedthat role as a platform to advocate for humanrights and social justice. Her work wasn’tjust in the U.S. but on a global level and herleadership as chairperson of the UnitedNation Commission on Human Rights, helpedspread her cause. Her principles ofdignity, freedom, and equal rights exceedednational borders and transformedinternational standards A policy she put in place was free highereducation. This allowed families that hadlow- income and their children wanting tostudy to have that ability to do so. Thishelped ensure that 60% of students in Chilewould be able to attend a University ofCollege. She would go on to pass over 29 lawsthat are related to education. Outside of the U.S. in Liberia, EllenJohnson was elected as Liberia’s firstdemocratically elected female head of state(2005) and its first female president (2006-2018). During her presidency, she helpedrebuild the country of Liberia after thecountry faced a civil war that lasted from1989-2003. As the country was rebuilding,she had also focused on building roads,schools, and healthcare centers that weredestroyed during wartime. Her wholepresidency, she was focused on women’srights, economic development andpromoting peace. In South America, Chile. MichelleBachelet was Chile’s first female president assheheld office from 2006 to 2010. She hadalso become president again in 2014-2018.Her focus during her presidency was onsocial reforms, gender equality, and puttingin place policies that allow people to havebetter access to healthcare and education.For healthcare she had expanded it by usingthe AUGE Plane (Universal Access withExplicit Guarantees). This plan aimed to ensure equal access toeveryone while ensuring expenses werecovered when it came to serious illnesses.While in schools, she introduced reformsthat would reframe schools fromparticipating in inequality whilemaking sure people were able to haveaccess to school.Role of women in politicsBy: Julie Suarez The Everglades, ahuge and beautifulwetland in Florida,sometimes faces a bigproblem: wildfires.These fires aren’t alwaysbad; they’re a naturalpart of the Evergladesecosystem. But whenthey get too big orhappen at the wrongtime, they can cause realtrouble. The fires also affect thecities and towns around theEverglades. Smoke from thefires can drift into populatedareas, causing air pollutionand making it hard tobreathe. This can be especiallytough for people with asthmaor other breathing problems.Plus, if the fires get too closeto homes and businesses, theycan pose a direct threat toproperty and safety. While some fires arenatural and even helpful forthe Everglades, it’s importanttomanage them carefully. Thismeans preventing fires fromgetting too big and protectingthe wildlife and communitiesthat depend on this uniqueand important ecosystem.End of the EOC Era By: Tyree Giles The FloridaSenaterecentlyapproved a new bill,SB166,unanimously lastmonth,whichcanbringsomesignificantchangesinhowstudentsgraduatefromhigh schoolinFlorida. The billwouldrepealtherequirementforstudentstopass the Algebra I EOCand the 10th grade English LanguageArts (ELA)testin order to graduate. Nowadays, students have to passthose tests or getacertainscoreon theSAT or ACT togetaregular diploma.Butproponentsofthe bill,likeSenatorCorey Simon, believe thatrelying too much on bigtestsdoesnotshow astudentsactualabilities. SenatorSimonclaimedthat ifschoolsonlycareaboutchildrenpassingtests, then the system is failingthem. If this bill passes,students might be able tograduate based more ontheir class work andgrades during high school,rather than one or twolarge tests. Even though thebill has already passed inthe Senate, it will still needto be ratified by the FloridaHouse of Representativesand signed by theGovernor in order tobecome law. If so, it would be amonumental shift in theway Florida helps studentsto thrive and could makegraduation more aboutwhat we actually learn notjust how well we performon tests
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Senior Highlights As summer unfolds with its golden sunsets, warm breezes, and long, lazyafternoons, it’s the perfect time to lose yourself in stories that mirror the mood ofthe season—ones that feel sun-soaked, nostalgic, romantic, adventurous, and fullof heart. Whether you’re lounging by the pool, packing a beach tote, or curlingup indoors with a cool drink and the fan on, these carefully selected five books,and five films offer something for every summer state of mind. From slow-burning romances and emotional journeys to wild comedies and reflectivecoming-of-age tales, each one captures a different shade of what summer feelslike. Start with People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry, a witty, heartfeltromance about best friends rekindling their bond on one last trip. Follow it withBeach Read, where rival writers swap genres, sparking creativity and romance.For glamour, Malibu Rising takes you to 1980s California, where a chaotic partyexposes family secrets. The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han tenderlyexplores first loves and beachside adolescence. Where the Crawdads Sing blendsmystery and romance in North Carolina’s haunting marshlands. For films, The Parent Trap (1998) is a playful classic about twins reunitingtheir parents. Stand By Me (1986) follows boys on a transformative summerjourney. Mamma Mia! (2008) offers sunshine, ABBA hits, and Greek islandcharm. White Chicks (2004) delivers outrageous laughs as FBI agents pose associalites. 13 Going on 30 (2004) is a whimsical rom-com about growing up whilestaying true to yourself. So, whether you’re flipping pages under the sun or queuing up for a movie asthe stars come out, these stories are your perfect summer companions. Fromlaughs and love to introspection and transformation, they reflect all the emotionsthat summer tends to stir. All you need to do is settle in, hit play, or turn the page—because summer is here, and the stories are just beginning Entertainment page 5Ten Summertime Escapes:Books and Movies to SoakUp the SeasonBy Afia AfrinAfia A: GradbashAidrena O: States for dramaAlexa D: GradbashAnna F: Playing lacrosseAnthony L: GradbashAudrey T: Deca state tripAvinash R: Getting tattedChristina W: Prom nightCourtney P: GradbashCyan L: Regional finals for volleyballFernanda R: GradbashGrace F: HallowscreamIsabella L- having senior privilege/leaving early Izaya W: Seeing Ride the CyclonemusicalJosue G: Getting a carJulian S: Committing to FAULogan F: Being mens lacrossecaptain Lucas D: Baseball seasonMarcela R: GradbashOriya T: Enlisting in the armySarah S: Lacrosse seasonSarayi L: Prom night Sinia G: Cheerleading senior nightTyra N: Last year of being Editorin ChiefYonder M: Senior night for soccerZhane W: Committing to FAMUZion FH- Committing to GeorgastateCurtesy of Class of 2025 Instagram
Stacey Orelhomme“Stay as curious as possible.”Saniyah RobichaudNigel Sutherland“she believe she could, so she did.”“Your only limit is your mind”Mykalah FergusonAngie St. Louis“Is this due at 11:59 too?”Chanel Barthelemy Avinash RamkissoonChristina Williams Giana AugustineNathan Conyers“To Freedom”- Nicki Minaj“A tan would be nice right now”“look at curry man, soinspirational”“This me 12 years after my shift”“I most definitely put the ‘pro’in procrastination.”Sinia Grange“ Live, Love, Laugh.”Zion Farrell- Hylton Julian Sum“And finally some doors will close, buthere’s to open windows”-From aWoman“Thankful for the growth, readyfor more.”Ani Mistlar“its hard to be a diamond in arhinestone world”- DollyPartonTyler Seraphin“Lebrons the GOAT argue with awall.”“But with love comes loss,son. It’s part of the deal.Sometimes it hurts, but inthe end, it’s all worth it.There’s no greater gift thanlove.” -HTTYDAudrey LieberYoander Martinez-Corado“Preparation will only take youso far. After that, you’ve got totake a few leaps of faith.” –Michael ScofieldSarayne Coombs“Vote me for Senator 2036!”Senior QoutesCyan Long“Get your education, don’tforget from whence you came,and the world is gonna knowyour name.”-Hamilton theMusical“To be young,gifted, and black.”(Proverbs 16:3)Michael Ulloa“for some people senioritis hit senioryear but my senioritis hit freshmanyear.”
Alexia Bryan"Sometimes the smallest stepin the right direction ends upbeing the biggest step of yourlife.”Amelia Abdul“A chance is like a pictureit'll be nice if you just takeit.” Daniel AuerbachJanae Saffold “I think I’ll needtherapy…..after I get myDiploma of course.”“If every porkchop wereperfect, we wouldn’t havehotdogs.”Natalie Gonzalez“God is the reason I gothere.”Anayla Levy“You say ‘impossible’ andI hear ‘challenge.”- StilesStilinski, Teen Wolf “Sometimes it’s the journeythat teaches you a lot aboutthe destination”- DrakeLathan Coleman“There is nothing trulyartistic than loving people”-Van GoghMia Jasso“Look at you now—look how far you’ve come.You stared down your trauma and came outstronger. Today, you stand tall. I’m so proud ofyou. You survived. You’re a survivor.”Mya Demeritte“Live through song”Alexa Santos“To Infinity and beyond-ToyStory”Harmony Flagg Sashane Morrison"Who cah hear muss feel"Tyra Nel“and finally some doors willclose, but heres to openwindows” Alexa Dobreva "people change and things gowrong, but remember life goeson." - mac millerSarayi Lopez“As a driver, you've always got to believein your heart that you've got what ittakes to win it. You've always got tobelieve in yourself.”-Lewis HamiltonSophia RojasAdrian PosasJoansie SantiagoAnnalia FischerLeandro Mercado“Graduating with a 5.0 butcelebrating with a 3.5”"seeyuh!"“Go confidently in the direction ofyour dreams. Live the life you haveimagined.”“Inmate 0622093954 cannow walk the stage”“Didn’t need a gender reveal toknow I was him”
Features page 8Aging out of Foster Care Every year, thousands of teenagers in the fostercare system turn 18 and age out. Thatmeans they are no longer considered part ofthe system and are expected to liveindependently often without the support mostyoung adults rely on. While many of uscount on family for help with things likecollege, housing, or even just advice, fosteryouth aging out of the system are often on theirown.support that others often take for granted.The transition is difficult. Once a foster youthturns 18, they may lose access to theirplacement, financial support, and caseworkers.Some states offer extended benefitsuntil age 21, but even then, the support islimited. These then, the support is limited.These young adults must find jobs, housing,and transportation—often while still tryingto finish school or start college.The statistics are troubling. According tonational data, within four years of aging out,50% of former foster youth are unemployed.Around 20% will experiencehomelessness. Many struggles with mentalhealth issues and lack of stable relationships.They aren’t failing because they’re lazy orunmotivated—they’re simply trying to survivewithout the support that others often take forgranted.Support programs make a difference.Nonprofits, government agencies, andvolunteers across the country are working toprovide life skills training mentorship, housingassistance, and emotional support for youthaging out of care. Some schools andcolleges also offer special programs for fosteralumni, including scholarships andcounseling services.So, what can we do? First, we can raiseawareness. Many people don’t realize howtough the transition can be for these youngadults. Sharing their stories helps othersBy: Naomi Lingo understand the challenges they face. Second, wecan support organizations that helpfoster youth. Volunteering, donating, or even justspreading the word can make adifference. And lastly, we can encouragelawmakers to improve policies that protect andsupport foster youth beyond the age of 18.No one should have to enter adulthood alone.Everyone deserves a chance to build afuture. Aging out of foster care shouldn’t meanbeing forgotten. These young adults arestrong, resilient, and full of potential—they justneed the right tools and support tosucceed!As students, we might not be able to change thesystem overnight, but we can be partof the change, definitely. Whether it’s throughthings like school projects, communityservice, or simply listening to someone else’sstory, we can help foster youth to feelseen, supported, and valued. Let’s make sureaging out doesn’t mean being left out!College ExpoBy: Anne Tesseo and Sarah Silig Florida State University is a great collegeknown for its strong academic programs, vibrantcampus life, and beautiful location in Tallahassee,Florida. It offers a wide range of majors,top-ranked programs in areas like business,criminology, and the arts, and plenty ofopportunities for research and internships. FSUalso has a spirited student community,exciting athletics, and a supportive environment forpersonal and professional growth. Students whowant a balance of academic excellence, socialactivities, and school spiritshould definitely consider going to FSU. Whetheryou're into academics, arts, sports, or just want afun and well-rounded college experience, FSU hassomething to offer. The University of Florida is located inGainesville. It is a very large university at around54,814 students, making it the third-largest publicuniversity in the U.S. UF offers incredible access tofacilities and programs for research opportunities.It is recognized as a preeminent university, whichmeans that they have a high commitment toacademic excellence and innovation. It is rankedamong the top 10 public universities in the nation and was recentlynamed a “New Ivy” by Forbes, so it is avery competitive school to get into. Theacceptance rate is 23%.Florida Gulf Coast University is located inFort Myers. The university has anenvironmentalfocus, which makes it a great school for anymagnet students interested in continuingtheir studies on the environment. It stands out too many students because it has a beachon campus where students can enjoy activitiessuch as kayaking and paddleboarding. TheFGCU acceptance rate is 77% and the averageSAT score is between 1040 and 1210. The University of Tampa is in downtownTampa. UT is a place that offers a blend ofacademic excellence, hands-on learning, andover 200 programs that allow students to getthe support they need to succeed. UTampa isespecially known for its strong businessschool, active campus life, and access tointernships and careers in a busy city. Thecampus has palm tree walkways and vastlawns that create a dynamic, diversecommunity,UTampa is a place where opportunity meetsexperience.
Sports Page 9The girls lacrosse teamhere at South Plantationhigh school worked hardand made it all the wayto the championshipgame. After losing 7seniors last season, thegirls had to work hardand work together as ateam in order to make itas far as they did.During the pre-seasonpractices and fitnesssessions, it was definitelynot easy.The lacrosse team wasgiven a very challengingschedule, playing againstsome of the top teamsin the state. But, at theend of the day, the girlsworked hard and didn'tlet the statistics on theteams get into theirheads. Coach Collinssaid “This group of girlshas an amazing positivemindset. One of the bestattitudes that I've everbeen associated with.Girls Lacrosse By: Ellie Katz Girls' lacrosse is a very difficultsport to play. The rules are veryhard to understand, so workingthrough the obstacles is not an easything to do. There is a constantwhistle being blown at both teams,so working with, and being nice tothe refs plays a big role innavigating through the game.Camilla Mangoni, Sophomoreplayer on the team, says, “Bymaintaining a positive relationshipwith the referees, players can gainclarification on calls and betterunderstand the application of therules during the game. This canhelp them adjust their play andavoid unnecessary penalties.”The equipment needed for thesport is also not cheap. Many ofthe girls have argued that thequality of the equipment isnecessary. Sadie Foster, Seniorplayer says, “With not so great of astick it was not very reliable for meto be playing with so once Iupgraded to a much nicer one myability to get ground balls increasedand my overall playing got muchbetter”. Sadie herself went througha stick malfunction and had topersevere through the struggle.
Page 10Opinions In today’s image-saturated world,beauty is no longer just skin-deep—it’s a commodity, a socialcurrency, and a powerful forceshaping the lives of womeneverywhere. From earlychildhood, women arebombarded with messagesdictating what is consideredattractive: flawless skin, slimwaists, thick lashes, and youthfulfeatures. These ideals, largelyconstructed by media, marketing,and now social media algorithms,are not just unrealistic—they’reharmful.Beauty standards have evolvedover time, but one thing remainsconstant: they are nearly alwaysrooted in exclusivity. Whether it’sthe hourglass figure of the 1950sor today’s surgically-enhanced“Instagram face,” the message isclear—natural isn’t good enough.For many women, thesestandards feel less likeaspirations and more likemandates. And the price ofcompliance is steep, not justfinancially, but emotionally andpsychologically.eyond mental health, beautystandards shape real-life decisions.Women may delay meals,relationships, or careers in pursuitof a body type that biology maynever allow them to have. Cosmeticsurgery rates are climbing, oftenamong very young women whohave yet to fully grow into theirnatural features. Job opportunities,dating prospects, and evenperceptions of intelligence orcapability can be influenced by howclosely a woman aligns with societalbeauty norms.The saddest irony is that many ofthese standards are unattainableand constantly shifting. What is“in” today may be out tomorrow,leaving women in a constant stateof chasing the next trend. Thismoving target keeps womendistracted, preoccupied, and oftendivided—too busy comparingthemselves to each other to uniteagainst the systems that perpetuatethese pressures. But there is hope. A growing waveof body positivity, diversity inadvertising, and feminist dialogue ischallenging the status quo. Realchange will come when beauty is nolonger used as a yardstick tomeasure a woman’s worth. Untilthen, we must continue to question,confront, and reject the invisiblecage of beauty standards.True beauty lies not in conformitybut in authenticity—and it’s timethe world caught up with that truth.Beauty Standards By: Tyra Nel The beauty industry thrives onwomen’s insecurities. Globally,it’s a multi-billion dollar empirethat profits from selling ussolutions to problems we didn’tknow we had until someonepointed them out—cellulite,dark under-eye circles, orwrinkles that appear with thenatural process of aging. Whilethere is nothing inherentlywrong with wanting to look andfeel good, the constant pressureto “fix” oneself can distort awoman’s self-worth.Social media has only magnifiedthis issue. Filters and photo-editing apps create a never-ending cycle of comparison.Young girls growing up in theage of influencers are exposedto highly curated images thatequate beauty with value, likes,and relevance. Studies haveshown links between this digitalperfection and rising levels ofanxiety, depression, and bodydysmorphia in women and girls.