The trees are bare, the temperatures are plummeting, and the snow is flurrying: winter is coming once again. Winter brings in the holiday season and the promise of snow days. However, this joyful season is also the most opportune time for people to get sick. Winter is notorious for being the cold and flu season, infecting millions of people in America each year. Between school, work, and family gatherings, it is easy for germs to spread. It is is essential to know the simple tips to avoid the sniffles this winter.
Everyone knows that washing your hands is an easy way to avoid spreading and receiving germs with others. However, there is a right and wrong way to wash up. People should wash their hands with plenty of anti-bacterial soap and warm water for as long as it takes to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ twice. After drying your hands, it is also beneficial to use a hand sanitizer as well. Although the more times you wash your hands the better, the best times to hit the sink are after going to the bathroom, before and after eating, and after sneezing and coughing.
It is also important to know that even though you are not showing any signs or symptoms of illness, you should not let your guard down. Consuming Airborne or Emergen-C (which contains 2,000% of your Daily Value of Vitamin C) on a daily basis is a more effective way of keeping up your Vitamin C levels than drinking a glass of orange juice. Also taking a multi-vitamin keeps your body supplied with essential nutrients.
Often eating right and practicing healthy sanitation habits are not enough. The single most important tool to maintaining a healthy body during the cold and flu season is sleeping. Allowing yourself at least eight hours of sleep a day makes your immune system less susceptible to common illnesses. During the night your body is able to recover and fight any harmful bacteria in your body, so the longer you give your body to do so, the better off you will be.
Duck and Cover!
Despite following all of the correct procedures, you still cannot control the people around you. It’s especially hard for us to remain healthy when we are always in close quarters with people. Trying to avoid sitting next to a ‘sniffler’ or shaking hands with a ‘sneezer’ is a smart way of decreasing your chances for catching a cold. Although it is not the most fun solution, isolation is an effective method of staying healthy. If a family member or friend is feeling under the weather just simply avoid contact whenever possible. Substituting a simple wave for a full-on bear hug can go a long way.
Although Mackenzie hasn’t memorized our 50 states capitals, yet she can memorize the lyrics to a song in a matter of days. After listening to a song on the radio a few times, Mackenzie can recite every single word in the exact rhythm. However, this isn’t only Mackenzie. So many of her friends, and my friends as well, can pick up song lyrics in one sitting.
What does this say about our society? We memorize song lyrics, analyze them, and search for their deeper meaning, but are reluctant to do the same to a poem or book. As soon as the new Taylor Swift album came out, many of my friends learned all of the words and discovered who each song was written for–all in a matter of one week.
If these techniques can be applied to study habits, the possibilities of what students can memorize is endless. The problem kids are interested in music and singing along to their favorite songs. However, when it is time to memorize the map of Europe pre-World War I kids are reluctant to even start.
Songs have catchy beats which often makes it easier to memorize. If the topics that needed to learned were coordinated to the rhythm of a popular song, then students would be more excited and interested to learn. Instead of turning on 92.3 on the radio and hearing a Lady Gaga or Taylor Swift song, but hearing a Wordsworth poem recited is not exactly going to happen in the near future. However, it is definitely an effective and fun study habit.
It’s that time of year again. Standardized testing season is back in elementary and middle schools. Mackenzie started her school week off with Terra Nova tests. Even my little brother Jack in 4th grade took the Terra Novas throughout this week.
The point of standardized testing is to assess not only an individual’s progress but also the school’s. If test scores in a certain subject are low, than that certain school can work on improving the curriculum in that subject. Although the intentions behind the tests are meant to benefit the school system, too much emphasis can be placed on them.
To learn in order to do well on a test is not the purpose of school. As many IHA teachers like to not, memorization is the lowest form of learning. Learning should consist of applying topics in class to real life problems. If teachers are doing their job and making sure their students, fully understand the curriculum, then the high scores will follow.
We are often so concerned with the end result that the people will do anything for the grade. Standardized testing should reflect what is learned, not memorized, in the classroom.
It is a tradition at Eisenhower Middle School to run an annual ‘Turkey Trot’ around Thanksgiving. During student’s gym periods, they are asked to run a minimum of eight laps around the field. For every eight laps run, a turkey is donated to a family who cannot afford one on Thanksgiving. Students are given a card where teachers can punch a whole after each lap is completed. On one side of the card is the student’s name, and on the other is something the student is thankful for in his or her life.
Not only is this for a good cause, but the faculty work hard to create a fun atmosphere. Music is played through huge speakers and volunteers hold out water for the passing runners. Students can run with their friends and after eight laps, can socialize as they walk or run for the remainder of the period. I remember completing my turkey trots, and am exciting for Mackenzie to experience one herself.
This fundraiser teaches an important lesson; to always be thankful for what you have and to remember that not everyone is as fortunate. During the holidays people (kids especially) get caught up in making their own wish lists and preparing for their own family gatherings, and often forget that some people do not have the same opportunities.
The Turkey Trot is a great reminder and teaches kids to help those in need. The items written on many student’s running cards may not be available to everyone. Thanksgiving is a time not only to be grateful and appreciate what we have, but to donate and sacrifice for those that don’t.
Although Mackenzie was nervous about completing eight laps in one gym class, I tried to explain that there is a bigger picture. The goal isn’t about the number of holes punched into the sheet, but the number of families who can benefit from each lap ran. This activity is awesome because each individual can feel that they are making a difference. Just one person can feed an entire family on Thanksgiving; and that is a lesson worth teaching in a classroom.
When it came to wearing make-up, I was a late-bloomer. Up until freshman year, I never even owned my own make-up. Except for the occasional wedding or bar mitzvah, the only thing I wore on my face was mosturizer and lip balm. Even now, since I attend IHA, I only wear make-up when I go out on weekends. My make-up routine consists only of a little foundation, blush (which is mostly me pinching my cheeks), mascara, and lip gloss. I was not blessed with movie star good looks, but wearing a lot of make-up always seemed silly and unnecessary to me.
this little girl is starting early
When I was talking with Mackenzie today she announced that several of her friends come to school with make-up on. She noted that while some only wear mascara and lip gloss, others load on the eye liner and eye shadow. Although there is no set age limit when a girl should start wearing make-up, 6th grade is way too young to start. 11 and 12 year old girls should still be fresh-faced and bright-eyed naturally and don’t need make-up to enhance this natural beauty.
Not only can this routine take up unnecessary time and effort, but it can also lead to poor skin later on. Make-up can clog pores and lead to blackheads and break-outs during adolescence and young adulthood. If girls are going to start putting on make-up, they must also be responsible enough to take it off gently and correctly before bed. There is nothing worse for your skin than going to bed with make-up on your face.
a make-up addict
If Mackenzie is noticing the make-up on her friend’s faces, then these girls are not using these products the right way. Make-up should look natural and enhance natural features. When make-up is noticeable and obvious it is drawing away from this beauty. Hopefully, these girls can recognize this early enough so they can correct these mistakes later on. If not, problems in the form of big red zits may be permanent reminders.
We have all had teachers who liked to teach ‘by the book’. There were no interpretations and no gray areas in the way they ran their classrooms. The older the teacher, the older are her methods of teaching. Younger teachers are more likely to incorporate new technology and techniques into the curriculum.
While Mackenzie was looking at my SAT vocabulary list she stumbled upon the word loquacious. Her face immediately became animated. “I know this word! It means to talk a lot!” Mackenzie exclaimed, proud of her accomplishment. I have to admit I was extremely surprised at Kenzi’s knowledge of this difficult word.
Mackenzie elaborated, explaining that a boy in her class was scolded for being too ‘loquacious’ and had to write this word on the board numerous times in order to learn his lesson. The teacher who assigned this punishment is older and uses more archaic teaching techniques (according to Mackenzie). I tried to recall the last time I heard this punishment given and no memories crossed my mind.
I suppose this older teacher was familiar with this method and never attempted to change. I suppose the mantra “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” can be applied to multiple aspects of life. Although the boy reverted back to being ‘loquacious’, the teacher never changed her way of chastising her students. Even though the black board has evolved into a smart board, and laptops are replacing notebooks, many teachers are reluctant to let go of methods they have used in the past.
With my 17th birthday in 9 days I have given a lot of thought to becoming a new driver. It is a scary thought in itself, but after picking Mackenzie up from school the other day, it has only gotten scarier. Is it just me or does every Bergen County mother drive like a maniac? Pulling into the Eisenhower Middle School parking lot at 3:00 has definitely confirmed my theory.
Granted, there are places these moms have to be and kids to pick up, but that is no excuse to throw away their manners. ‘New Jerseyians’ are known for always being in a rush both on and off the road. However, Bergen County soccer moms are definitely the worst. As a permit driver, I feel threatened when I am being tailgated driving to my swim practice. Although I go the speed limit, 25 miles per hour is never fast enough.
The actions and hand gestures can represent a new level of ‘road rage’. You would also think that with a neon decal attached to my license plate these moms would curb their anger, but the honking still persists. Old or young, new or experienced driver, has no effect on these moms. They have one mission; one destination, and they will stop at nothing until they see their children arriving at their stops.
This soccer mom will stop at nothing
If these moms just took a deep breath and relaxed they might be able to put their priorities into perspective. Is being punctual worth risking the safety of the other drivers on the road? With new drivers especially, the road can be a dangerous place. Road laws are in existence to promote the safety for ALL drivers. There are no exceptions for soccer moms. However until this realization is made, I will not be picking up Mackenzie from school anytime soon.
As an avid Taylor Swift fan, I feel somewhat obliged to comment on her new album Speak Now. After the success of her previous album Fearless, Swift has left her fans waiting on the edge of her seats for new material. She released the single Mine a few weeks ago, but now the entire album can be found on iTunes and at various retail stores such as Target.
Although criticized for lacking originality in her sound, in a recent interview with theboot.com Swift said the songs on this album “are confessions,and every single confession on this album is sort of like that moment when you stand up at a wedding and say, ‘Wait!’ And whether it’s saying, ‘Wait, I’m sorry,’ or ‘Wait, what you said really hurt me,’ … or ‘Wait, I secretly love you,’ you’re making confessions and you’re speaking now. The moment will slip by if you don’t say anything.”
After listening to Speak Now, I can understand what Swift was trying to communicate. Her songs are very personal discussing her public relationships with stars Joe Jonas, Taylor Lautner, and John Mayer. She is not afraid of offending her past flames, and she definitely wears her heart on her sleeve.
Enchanted, Better than Revenge, and Sparks Fly are my personal favorites, but each song has a strong message. Although I enjoyed Fearless and her debut album Taylor Swift, Speak Now is well-put together. Swift sticks to her strengths, with her lyrics reaching out to her teenage girl audience. If you are a Taylor Swift cynic than I would not recommend buying her latest album, however if you are already a fan, Speak Now definitely is worth listening to.
Oh middle school dances! We all remember our first ‘teen canteen’ or ‘sixth grade social’. We all remember the awkward dance floor segregations and the multiple outfits we tried on. Whether good or bad, we all have memories of these middle school dances. It’s hard to not sound corny when talking about these cliched socials.
Last night Mackenzie had her first dance held at her school. She got ready at her friends house (so they could all arrive together) and danced to the songs played every 10 minutes on the radio. The way Mackenzie described the dance was exactly as I expected. Girls danced with their friends, while the boys played basketball in the gym–I felt like I had deja vu.
school dances old-school style
What really is the purpose of these socials? Is it stipulated somewhere that all American middle-schoolers have at least one dance? If kids want to hang out with each other then they will make plans to do so themselves. There doesn’t need to be a school-wide party so the kids can “bond”.
This “bonding” is merely a cop-out. Students see each other at school and already recognize what kind of personalities their peers have. There are plenty other opportunities outside of school where kids can hang out and make friends. Sports teams and school clubs are other activities where students can interact outside of the classroom without the extra budget.
Mackenzie said that this social had a DJ and even a “bouncy-house” for students to jump in. The cost of these added accessories could be put to better use. There are more books and classroom resources that can be bought with this money.
Kids already have their set group of friends and if they want to hang out with each other. When I look back on my middle school dance memories, and they are definitely something I could live without. Spending the extra time and money for students, teachers, and chaperones could be used more effectively. I think kids could survive waiting until prom before they have a school dance.
Churros, cookies, ice cream, soft pretzels, french fries, pizza, and more. This menu list sounds more like a mall food court than a middle-school cafeteria. In light of America’s obesity crisis, you would think Mackenzie’s middle school would enforce healthier lunch choices. This controversial topic has caught the attention of many food network stars, including Jamie Oliver who created his own series in order to instill change in the way young Americans eat.
Although Mackenzie did admit that there are salads and fruit options, she noted that students rarely make the healthier choice. After all, a warm chocolate cookie looks and smells more appealing than a cup of grapes and apple wedges. The problem isn’t the inclusion of healthy options, but the exclusion of unhealthy ones. Middle school kids don’t care about the number of calories in a cheeseburger or the percent of fat in a churro. Their only concern is the taste.
The solution to this problem is to simply get rid of the ‘fast food’. There are plenty of tasty alternatives that can be subsituted for the typical burger and fries. Kids will eat fresh fruit and vegetables if they don’t have to pick it over treats. Lowering the fat, calorie, and sugar intake of young teenagers can have a huge impact on their eating habits in the future.
So many health risks are associated with obesity. High cholesterol and high blood pressure can lead to heart attacks, strokes, and diabetes. Instilling healthy eating habits early on can help sustain these habits later on in life. Even IHA along with thousands of other high schools nationwide are guilty of serving food high in saturated fat and sugar. Because we are constantly stressed out, IHA girls will often give in to this temptation as a way of relieving the stress. If these choices are eliminated, then students are forced to eat right.
It is clear that America needs to change its eating habits. The percentage of obese Americans has skyrocketed and will not decrease overnight. For students, limiting unhealthy choices in the cafeteria can make a huge difference. The problem has been noticed, now the actions must be taken to solve it.
