PMSA, The Voice 2
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Volume 5 Issue 2
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the V O I C E
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H A P P Y H O L I DAY S !
The First Cut is the Deepest
Effects on cutting yourself...
It can be the popular girl that
everyone is friends with, or the
loner that no one talks to. It can
even be the honor student that
everyone admires.
Cutting can affect
different teens with
different lifestyles.
It knows no
gender, race, or
social status.
Cutting affects
more and more
teens each year. It
is a growing
epidemic around
the world and even in our halls.
It is up to us as friends,
students, brothers and sisters to
Staff
Editor-in-Chief
Michael Blasingame
Managing Editor
Bria Royal
Deisgn Editors
Dominique Sanders
Nick Tarleton
Writers
Renee Ayeh
Michelle Famakinwa
Janet Hermosillo
Ricardo Ramirez
Rickia Rasberry
Sponsors
Ms. Foti
Mrs. Lopez
help reverse this alarming
pattern. First, it’s important to
explain what cutting actually is.
There are many misconceptions
about cutting, such
as that it’s
something people
do for attention and
not a serious
problem.
Statements like
these are
completely false.
(Continued on page 2)
Photo Source:
google.com
nnn
You must now have your
ATTENTION!
NEW RULE
Student I.D. in order to enter
school and you must wear your
Student I.D. when entering
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the
cafeteria until you leave the
cafeteria!
PMSA, The Voice Volume 5 Issue 2
“A Catalyst for Greatness!”
Cutting is the practice of
purposely injuring yourself
by using a sharp object in
order to scratch or cut the
skin deep enough for blood
to appear. Cutting is mostly
found among teenage girls,
but is also done by teen boys
and adults as well. Teens
usually cut in areas of the
body that aren’t visible under
clothes such as the torso or
thighs. Teens do this in order
to hide their self-injuries
from family, friends, and
teachers. Teens who cut try to
keep their doings secretive
and inconspicuous.
DEC 14-18
IMPORTANT
DATES
It is difficult to pin
point one reason why teens
cut themselves because it is a
very complex, emotional, and
mental condition. A number
of teens cut themselves because of universal reasons
that many teens can relate to.
Many teens cut to release
stored up anger and stress.
Teens also use cutting as a
way to punish themselves
because they feel inadequate
or unworthy. Many teens find
themselves cutting to express
negative emotions. Others
find cutting as a means of
control in their hectic and
unstable lives.
Finals Week
for
Semester 1
There are many
signs of a cutter. Cutters usually wear long sleeve clothing throughout the seasons in
order to conceal their scars.
Other signs include low selfesteem, increased irritability,
unexplained cuts and scars,
and sudden isolation from
friends and family. If you
know someone who is cutting or if you have any suspicions it is important to get
that person immediate help
through hotlines, school
counselors, a trusted adult, or
even your local hospital. If a
teen’s cutting continues
without any recognition or
DEC 21-31
Winter Break
(No School)
Page 2
DEC 25
rehabilitation it is likely for
the cutting to continue well
into the teen’s adult years,
which can lead to even more
serious consequences later in
life.
Teen cutting is a
serious issue that must be
addressed by everyone. Teen
cutting can affect anyone
anywhere so it is important
for all of us to come together
and put an end to this destructive epidemic in order to
save our generation and future generations to come.
By: Michelle Famakinwka
Christmas Day
(No School)
JAN 1
New Year’s
Day
PMSA, The Voice Volume 5 Issue 2
Poetry Corner
**If you are a great poetry writer, you should
consider sharing your poetry at the next Spoken
Word Session. Please see Ms. Foti, Room 419 or
Mrs. Lopez, Room 316 if interested.**
THE ORIGINAL REMAKE OF
ANNABELL LEE
BY: EDGAR ALLEN POE
Only A Man
No Longer A Child
But He Loved No Other
Than His Annabel
No Matter
What The Time
And His Annabel
Only Had Eyes
For Edgar Allen Poe
No Longer Disguised
By A Boy With Shoes Untied
But A Man Who Allowed Himself To Cry
His Love For Her Immense
Which Is Why He Grew Tense
They Had Taken Annabel Away
Not Promising She Would Be Okay
But There Was No Choice
Edgar Had No Voice
HELLO WINTER!
Waking up one morning,
a very chilly morning,
and the first thing I did was listen
…silence!
Everyone in slumber and the day felt still.
And yet the room seemed brighter then usual.
Feeling a cold breeze down my spine, I start to
shiver.
Curious from this, there was one thing on my
mind.
Winter has started.
As I got up, I look out my window.
So beautiful, so pure, was the soft flurries of the
snow.
The elegant cloth of it covered every bits of green.
First thought in mind had echoed faintly as I knew
what had arrived.
Good-bye fall, hello winter.
By: Janet Hermosillo
And In The Cold Wintry Nights
There Was No Longer A Light
No Hope
No Cheer
No Happiness
Replaced All By Fear
For It Was Edgar Allen Poe
Who Was Left To Cry
For By The Night Was Fright
Who Came As A Chill To Die
Him And His
Annabel Lee
By: Renee Ayeh
Photo Source: google.com
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PMSA, The Voice Know Your
History...
Did you know that there are more holidays celebrated
in December other than just Christmas, Hanukah, and
Kwanza? Christmas is celebrated in many different
ways around the world. In Belgium, they celebrate
Sinterklass, which is very different from Christmas. It
is celebrated on the 6th of December. They still
believe that Santa Claus comes to bring the children
presents on Christmas day. In Brazil, they celebrate
Christmas traditions similar to ours. However, their
food is different. For those who have enough money,
a special Christmas meal will include chicken, turkey,
ham, rice, pork, fresh and dried fruits, and salad, often
served with beer. Poorer people will just have chicken
and rice. Over in Finland they celebrate three holy
days of Christmas: Christmas Eve, Christmas day, and
Boxing Day. Christmas Eve is very special. People
eat rice porridge and a sweet soup made from dried
fruits (plums, raisins, apples, pears, apricots and figs).
It’s eaten in the morning or at lunchtime. At night, a
traditional meal is eaten. They also believe that Santa
Claus brings them gifts until they get older and learn
that it is really just someone older like a big brother or
sister. Germans also love Christmas. Germans love to
decorate their houses on Christmas. Many houses will
have little wooden frames holding electric candles in
their windows. Often they will have an Adventskranz
“a wreath of leaves with four candles”. Advent is the
4 week period before Christmas. Each Sunday a
different candle is lit. Latvians believe that Father
Volume 5 Issue 2
Christmas brings presents on each of the 12 days of
Christmas starting on Christmas Eve. Usually the
presents are put under the family Christmas tree. The
special Latvian Christmas Day meal is: cooked brown
peas with bacon sauce, small pies, cabbage, and
sausage. In New Zealand, Christmas starts with gifts
under the tree to be opened on Christmas morning.
Then it’s a Christmas lunch either at home or at their
parent’s house. Turkey or chicken is eaten. There is a
Bar-B-Q for friends and family to get together. In
Sweden, the most important day is Christmas Eve. A
special Christmas meal is eaten on Christmas Eve and
this is the time when families give presents to each
other. Many people attend a church meeting early on
Christmas Day.
By: Ricardo Ramirez
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE FOR
THE VOICE
The Voice provides a full opportunity for students to inquire, question and exchange ideas. Content should reflect
all areas of student interest, including topics about which
there may be dissent or controversy. Student journalists, in
concert with faculty advisers, will make the final content
decisions for The Voice. All student journalists must recognize that with editorial control comes responsibility, including the responsibility to follow professional journalism
standards.
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