Falcon Flyer Winter 2019 Published by the students of Stetson Middle School Are you utilizing your phone… the right way? By Sehaj Kaur, eighth grade Whether you have the iPhone, taken advantage of cell phones and visit Galaxy Note, or Google Pixel, the phone only social media, spending endless time on that has become an inseparable part of your Instagram or Snapchat. However, there are life has both fundamental and futile uses. In some beneficial ways we can use our cell the world phones to improve the world. around us, everyone we Although we know many negative see uses a sides to phones, there are also beneficial cell phone. sides that we should discover and try to Many times, apply in our daily lives. Instead of focusing they are on what we shouldn’t do, we should try to simply visualize what phones have done for us. scrolling Cell phones have helped save many lives around without purpose. Today’s generation has 1 Phone Use, ​con’t​. according to many news reports. If someone is severely injured, your phone is the only device you have to get help. Phones also make life much safer. Another website, www.greenbot.com, describes that ​ ​ in any situation where you feel uncomfortable, phones always have a way to help you access safety. The iPhone sleep/wake button can be pressed five using this technology properly. According to times to call 911. Calling the cops or a www.dosomething.org Cyberbullying is a ​ person you know keeps you safe from any serious problem due to social media apps possible harm that that can be downloaded on your cell phone. [email protected] Research shows that 43 percent of kids might come your way. The website also online have been cyberbullied and 70 describes how phones save money on percent of kids have been bystanders to textbooks and books by having apps such watch the bullying take place, all on the as Kindle to read the books on your phone. screen of a tiny, yet complex computer. Another way phones are bad for people, kids in middle and high school specifically, are that they are a distraction. Students are too busy on their phones to focus on finishing homework and studying for tests. Several high school students on usatoday.com describe that a phone nearby that could ring and distract is enough for homework to take double the time than necessary. Just as Haruki Murakami said, While we have used cell phones with “Cell phones are so convenient that they’re many benefits, we can do more. Hillary an inconvenience.” We are using cell Clinton has described one way to use our phones so much in the wrong places that phones in a beneficial way. Instead of we are getting distracted and not being able posting pictures of your salad because to do normal, everyday things. you’re “#healthy”, use that post to empower Not only is it a mental distraction, those who can’t stand for themselves. In but also a physical barrier. Constantly other words, boost people who are looking down on your phone can lead to struggling. Use the power in your hand to TTT (Teen Tendonitis). Its symptoms help those who can’t help themselves. In a consist of pain in the neck, hands, and back nutshell, cell phones are a blessing in due to the poor posture your body forms disguise and most people haven’t seen while looking down at a phone. It even could through that disguise to make a change. lead to weakened vision and arthritis in the There are some downsides to cell future, as momjunction.com says. A very phones, however. Today’s generation is not serious and real downside to phones are 2 They were made to communicate with Phone Use, ​con’t​. family, find definitions to words, and check car accidents. Every year, more than the weather. People today still use them for 330,000 injuries occur in 1.6 million car these purposes and even are sharing their crashes due to distracted driving. This is a ideas and thoughts with the world. However, risk to any driver on the road. One person we now know that a lot of the time, cell on their phone is a risk for drivers anywhere phones are causing dangerous things to near them. Even after knowing many things happen Remembering to use your personal about car crashes, 660,000+ people attempt strategies to avoid these problems might to use their phones while they are driving, help you and those around you. Once in a as told by www.edgarsnyder.com. There are ​ ​ while, look up from that screen of yours and many more bad effects on society such as take in the world. Enjoy the sights and sleep loss, stress, and increased anxiety ignore your phone because it will always be levels. This is a simple issue that can be there, but life will go by and the time you solved with self-control. Any time a phone is lose is gone unless you look up. unnecessary, we should turn it off and put it down. Phones are small, computerized devices that were made to make life easier. Graphic by Bridget Casey, 6th grade 3 School News Get creative: give Art Club a try By Bridget J. Casey, 6th grade Who Runs Art Club? Art club is run by Mrs. Phillips When Does Art Club Meet? Art club meets every Monday at 3:00-4:00 Where Does Art Club Meet? Art club meets in Mrs. Phillips room right outside of the B Wing, closest to the ramp. Room D110. Extra Information It’s not funded by school, so for each project you have to bring in $10 to participate. Worried or concerned about yourself or others? This team lends a HELPing hand Interviewer: Brianna Ambrosine Interviewee: Mrs. Selgrath and Mrs. Merten On the news today, we are hearing a lot about violent acts. Stetson Middle School is lucky enough to have a HELP team right at our disposal. It's a state-mandated group that we have at school for kids, teachers, and parents who are troubled with something. We feel that it is important to address some of these negative situations. The HELP team wants students to have 4 Help Team (cont.) a place to go to where they might not want the person they are concerned about to know what they were doing. We do want kids to feel safe at school and there are many reasons students might not be, the HELP team eliminates those reasons. The HELP team is for someone to talk to about their troubles, worries, and concerns about themselves or anyone around them. 1. If you need the help team member immediately, should you still fill out a referral or go directly to a HELP team member? “If it is super serious and you are really worried about someone’s safety immediately, then we want someone to go right to an adult because we want to make sure nobody's in danger at school at that moment. If it is something like vaping or something that you maybe saw on social media or heard on the bus or around the school then a referral would be the way to go. But if you are worried about someone’s immediate safety we want you to go to an adult.” 2. How would you describe the HELP team, as if you were introducing this system to another state or school? “I think I would describe it as a support team for staff and students. When a staff member or student is having a hard time at school, and we are a group of people that are obviously concerned about the student's safety. We are here to make school a safe place to go to when someone needs help.” 3. If you were concerned about someone, what are some signs you could pick up, for example, actions, body language, and feelings? “This can look very different for different people, but the number one thing I tell students to look for is a major change. Some people might be very outgoing, to begin with, and maybe they become very withdrawn, they aren’t talking to anyone. Or there might have been a major change in their friend group, for example, they use to hang out with this group of kids and now with this group. An obvious sign is usually present to indicate something is going on.” 4. Where in the library is the HELP team box located? “If you go through the doors, it is to your left. By the computers, before the bookshelf, before you go around to the other tables it’s there in the computer area. 5 5. How common is it to get a HELP team request? “There are times of year when it is more frequent than others to receive a HELP team request Right after the beginning of the year presentation is one of those times. Then it really just depends on what is going on with the students. There might be a group of students doing things they aren't supposed to like vaping and things like that. There really isn’t a certain trend of referrals.” 6. Do you think the HELP team should be in schools nationwide and if it was, do you think it would change the number of violent acts happening in schools? “That’s a good question, I think that probably, I mean I would be surprised if other states didn’t have something similar, but they might not call it the HELP team.