By Kyla Candelino
We’ve all had those restless nights where we toss and turn, but the hours still roll right on by. Imagine every single night being like this, no sleep and no rest.
Unfortunately for some students, this is a reality they face nightly.
“Insomnia pretty much ruins your life,” says senior Samantha Bourdeau.
Sam’s insomnia affects more than just her sleep. It’s the reason she says she lost her job.
“Sometimes I just don’t sleep but I still go to school,” Sam says. Sam has missed so many days this school year because of her insomnia, it almost caused her to fail 12th grade.
“It makes you lose all your motivation,” she says.
Insomnia even pokes a hole in her social life. “It’s to the point where when I get home I don’t even want to hang out,” she says. “I just want to take a nap.”
Nurse Sullivan reports she has a daily influx of 5 to 10 students coming in asking to take naps. Most of them report having headaches, presumably from the lack of sleep. After a quick rest, the students are back up and on their way.
Exactly how many of those students have real, clinical insomnia is unknown.
Insomnia is defined as the inability to get an adequate amount or quality of sleep. It can be caused by various conditions, diseases, side effects of many medicines, and emotional distress. It can make it hard for someone to fall asleep, remain asleep, and sometimes both.
Many people experience minor forms of insomnia from things like caffeine or sugar rushes. Forming an irregular or poor sleeping habit can create a weird sleep cycle, leading to insomnia.
Sam’s insomnia started in the early fall of last year, and has persisted. She calls it stress-induced, with the pressures of senior year weighing down on her. Getting two hours of sleep per night, she feels nauseous and dizzy much of the time.
“It makes you want to legit give up on life,” she says.
Sam takes sleeping pills to help her fall asleep as well as medicine to help keep her awake. Using both is a problem: one is keeping her awake while the other is trying to put her to sleep.
Another student at the school has insomnia specifically as a side effect of a prescription drug. This sophomore, who asked not to be named, takes a stimulant medicine for her A.D.D. that incidentally keeps her awake at night, only letting her have about two to four hours of sleep. Without the A.D.D. medicine she is unable to focus in school, but with it she can’t sleep.
“It’s a bad trade-off,” she says, “It’s gotten to the point where I’ve just gotten used to it.”
To help her fall asleep, she convinces herself that as long as she’s laying down in the dark being still, it’s just as good as real sleep—or the next best thing.
Incoming freshman Tyler Bugley has been an insomniac since he was 6, getting only three to four hours of sleep per night. “It’s a pain in the butt. You always feel tired,” says Tyler.
“The worst part is trying to get to sleep and having your thoughts just race and race,” he says.
Last year, Tyler’s insomnia affected his MCAS. He ended up falling asleep during the test. “I only got one open response question done,” he recalls.
Recently Tyler has been taking over-the-counter CVS brand sleep aids to help control his insomnia, and more times then not, they work for him.
All of these insomniacs share another thing in common. They are all frequent visitors to the school nurse. Some students, like them, who see the nurse try to be sent home. Nurse Sullivan, however, sends them back to class after a short nap or rest because there is no medical need for them to be sent home.
The most common times during school for a student to feel tired or worn out are 1st period, lunch, and 7th period. Coincidentally, those happen to be the busiest times for the nurse.
Ms. Sullivan’s biggest piece of advice for a better night’s sleep: “Keep the same bed-time every night.” Another one of the most important things is to “shut the cell phone off.”
A good, acceptable bed-time for a high school student, according to Sullivan, would ideally be around 10:30 or 11 p.m.
Many students are blaming their lack of sleep on having too much homework being assigned nightly. It is true; some teachers do assign work that can feel over-the-top. However, Nurse Sullivan says, “I think it all comes down to time management,” putting that theory to bed.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
BHS track team breaking records
By Paul Hogan
Taranto broke two records, the mile and the 1,000 meters. The mile record-holder from 1982, Kevin Sullivan, now in his forties, was there at the MIAA Division 3 Championships in February outside of the track to shake Taranto’s hand.
“It was cool because it was like passing a torch,” Taranto said.
While racing, Taranto always checks his time per lap and does the math in his head to see if he needs to speed up. That was definitely the case for the mile in February, when he led most of the race, having to set the pace.
“I knew each record was in my reach and I just worked everyday and I think it really paid off in the end,” Taranto said. He broke the 1000-meter record set in 2006 by Matt Tirrell, beating Tirrell’s time of 2:36.76 by .54 seconds.
Coach Carr predicts Taranto will beat every distance record by the end of his high school career.
Relay teams also shined this year. The 4 x 800 team of Gideon Kasirye, Trevor Dutton, Christos Saledas and David Taranto set a new record of 8:14.89. The Distance Medley, run once a year at the Division 3 championships, saw another record with runners Kasirye, Taranto, Dutton and David Perloff clocking in at 11:04.21.
Kasirye ran a blazing 1:26 in February, to beat the original 600-meter record of 1:27.
“I felt like it was the greatest accomplishment I have ever gotten in my entire sports career,” Kasirye said.
In a middle distance like the 600-meters, running is mainly mental due to the pain of running a fast sprint for a long period of time. Gideon was able to endure the pain while racing against the best 600-meter runners in the Middlesex League, including the towns of Belmont, Lexington, Woburn, Reading, Stoneham, Melrose, Watertown, and Winchester.
“When I was running I wasn’t really thinking of the school record but I was trying to beat as many kids as I could,” Gideon said.
Gabe Arcaro walks away from Providence, Rhode Island as the first and only school record holder in the weight throw. It was the first year Burlington competed in weight throw, a rare event in Massachusetts.
Gabe, a freshman, has trained for years in the weight and hammer throws with his father, a coach at Tufts. He made it to nationals, and with three years ahead of him, he has his sights on more records, in shot put and discus. “I’m out for the rest of them,” he said.
This is not going to be the last of it. The Track team is full of juniors, so most of these stars are coming back. “Next year is going to be better. Trust me it is,” senior sprinter Jeff Sanjay said.
Taranto broke two records, the mile and the 1,000 meters. The mile record-holder from 1982, Kevin Sullivan, now in his forties, was there at the MIAA Division 3 Championships in February outside of the track to shake Taranto’s hand.
“It was cool because it was like passing a torch,” Taranto said.
While racing, Taranto always checks his time per lap and does the math in his head to see if he needs to speed up. That was definitely the case for the mile in February, when he led most of the race, having to set the pace.
“I knew each record was in my reach and I just worked everyday and I think it really paid off in the end,” Taranto said. He broke the 1000-meter record set in 2006 by Matt Tirrell, beating Tirrell’s time of 2:36.76 by .54 seconds.
Coach Carr predicts Taranto will beat every distance record by the end of his high school career.
Relay teams also shined this year. The 4 x 800 team of Gideon Kasirye, Trevor Dutton, Christos Saledas and David Taranto set a new record of 8:14.89. The Distance Medley, run once a year at the Division 3 championships, saw another record with runners Kasirye, Taranto, Dutton and David Perloff clocking in at 11:04.21.
Kasirye ran a blazing 1:26 in February, to beat the original 600-meter record of 1:27.
“I felt like it was the greatest accomplishment I have ever gotten in my entire sports career,” Kasirye said.
In a middle distance like the 600-meters, running is mainly mental due to the pain of running a fast sprint for a long period of time. Gideon was able to endure the pain while racing against the best 600-meter runners in the Middlesex League, including the towns of Belmont, Lexington, Woburn, Reading, Stoneham, Melrose, Watertown, and Winchester.
“When I was running I wasn’t really thinking of the school record but I was trying to beat as many kids as I could,” Gideon said.
Gabe Arcaro walks away from Providence, Rhode Island as the first and only school record holder in the weight throw. It was the first year Burlington competed in weight throw, a rare event in Massachusetts.
Gabe, a freshman, has trained for years in the weight and hammer throws with his father, a coach at Tufts. He made it to nationals, and with three years ahead of him, he has his sights on more records, in shot put and discus. “I’m out for the rest of them,” he said.
This is not going to be the last of it. The Track team is full of juniors, so most of these stars are coming back. “Next year is going to be better. Trust me it is,” senior sprinter Jeff Sanjay said.
Nan on "Grinding" at dances impinges on our freedom while doing nothing to prepare us for real world
By Steve Mosley
As students at BHS, we have little freedom for six hours of the day. We are told what to do, how to do it, and when to do it. Teachers tell us to take out our books, flip to page 1, read and answer the questions. You write all the answers down and then the teacher comes over and corrects you, telling you to do it all over again. Last but not least, if it’s not done on time you get yelled at and your grade goes down.
Dances are a rare time – only four or five times a year – when students should be able to do what they want. Honestly, what is more personal then how you move your own body?
The administration is trying to ban the close, front-to-back contact known as “grinding” from the school dances. Since last fall, the rule has been girls are not allowed to put their hands on their knees or on the floor. The policy came into effect after our Halloween dance, where more than one girl complained about being touched inappropriately.
This kind of behavior does need to be dealt with, but the no-grinding policy is not the way to do it. First of all, the administration needs to toughen up and be more alert about drinking at dances. Alcohol certainly seems like it was a factor in what happened at the Halloween dance.
The other problem with the no-grinding policy is how it’s affecting attendance at the dances – and, hence, the money that classes are able to raise. During the Halloween dance, the junior class made more than $1,000. At the very next dance a month later, billed as the “Classy not Trashy” dance, barely $400 was raised.
Junior Class Officer Nick Zenkin said he was shocked by the dramatic drop in the number of students when he looked over the crowd in December. There were a lot fewer kids and most were freshman and sopho-mores. These losses in money are going to affect what future classes have to pay for prom and senior breakfast.
Assistant Principal Mr. Sullivan acknowledged the effect the policy has had on dance attendance, but he said it wasn’t the administration’s job to figure out how the classes can raise money. He said that was up to student councils.
The way we dance might be shocking to some older people, but I would say to those people: think about what you did as a teen-ager, and how some of the older people at that time reacted. Young people are always pushing the limits of new trends, and grinding is just the way we were brought up to dance.
Believe it or not, when Elvis was on TV in the 1950s at one of his concerts, they actually censored out his body movements from the waist down because they thought it was too inappropriate.
Dances should be a time of freedom for students. The administration might argue that we can dance how we want on our own time, but the school dances should be our time.
Also, isn’t part of this school’s mission to prepare us for the real world once we graduate? And don’t people grind in the real world? Yes, they do. And do they sometimes get too aggressive and make others uncomfortable? Yes, they do.
If we do not learn how to deal with this situation now, how are we going to know what to do when it comes up later? Girls need to be able to say no and stick up for themselves because the administration isn’t going to be there when some older guy is touching them inappropriately. And boys need to be able to control themselves and learn how to accept “no.”
If we cannot dance the way we want to, why should there even be a dance in the first place? Dances should be a time to do what you want as long as it’s nothing illegal.
As students at BHS, we have little freedom for six hours of the day. We are told what to do, how to do it, and when to do it. Teachers tell us to take out our books, flip to page 1, read and answer the questions. You write all the answers down and then the teacher comes over and corrects you, telling you to do it all over again. Last but not least, if it’s not done on time you get yelled at and your grade goes down.
Dances are a rare time – only four or five times a year – when students should be able to do what they want. Honestly, what is more personal then how you move your own body?
The administration is trying to ban the close, front-to-back contact known as “grinding” from the school dances. Since last fall, the rule has been girls are not allowed to put their hands on their knees or on the floor. The policy came into effect after our Halloween dance, where more than one girl complained about being touched inappropriately.
This kind of behavior does need to be dealt with, but the no-grinding policy is not the way to do it. First of all, the administration needs to toughen up and be more alert about drinking at dances. Alcohol certainly seems like it was a factor in what happened at the Halloween dance.
The other problem with the no-grinding policy is how it’s affecting attendance at the dances – and, hence, the money that classes are able to raise. During the Halloween dance, the junior class made more than $1,000. At the very next dance a month later, billed as the “Classy not Trashy” dance, barely $400 was raised.
Junior Class Officer Nick Zenkin said he was shocked by the dramatic drop in the number of students when he looked over the crowd in December. There were a lot fewer kids and most were freshman and sopho-mores. These losses in money are going to affect what future classes have to pay for prom and senior breakfast.
Assistant Principal Mr. Sullivan acknowledged the effect the policy has had on dance attendance, but he said it wasn’t the administration’s job to figure out how the classes can raise money. He said that was up to student councils.
The way we dance might be shocking to some older people, but I would say to those people: think about what you did as a teen-ager, and how some of the older people at that time reacted. Young people are always pushing the limits of new trends, and grinding is just the way we were brought up to dance.
Believe it or not, when Elvis was on TV in the 1950s at one of his concerts, they actually censored out his body movements from the waist down because they thought it was too inappropriate.
Dances should be a time of freedom for students. The administration might argue that we can dance how we want on our own time, but the school dances should be our time.
Also, isn’t part of this school’s mission to prepare us for the real world once we graduate? And don’t people grind in the real world? Yes, they do. And do they sometimes get too aggressive and make others uncomfortable? Yes, they do.
If we do not learn how to deal with this situation now, how are we going to know what to do when it comes up later? Girls need to be able to say no and stick up for themselves because the administration isn’t going to be there when some older guy is touching them inappropriately. And boys need to be able to control themselves and learn how to accept “no.”
If we cannot dance the way we want to, why should there even be a dance in the first place? Dances should be a time to do what you want as long as it’s nothing illegal.
Why should we be plastic dolls for guys?
by KAra Amuzzini
High school: the best time of our lives for some, the worst for others.
Me? I’m with the second group.
Girls wearing tight clothes, showing a little too much skin, hang all over guys who just want to get in their pants.
Lately, a big issue at BHS is the new rules against “grinding” at school dances. Students, both boys and girls, are very upset that they can’t grind freely.
Because, I mean, what other fun things are there to do besides rub our bums against each other in public?
Ladies, we are not dogs! We might as well go around peeing on hydrants and sniffing each other if we’re going to grind on guys who don’t give a flying fig about us.
Luckily, I’m not alone in my thinking.
“I’d like to be able to keep my food [down] while I’m at a school dance,” stated senior Kelly Spinali.
“Like, seriously, get a room,” freshman Kayla Hernandez said.
“Yeah, it’s disgusting,” agreed freshman Sarah Jamal-Eddine.
Grinding isn’t the only way that girls conform to the expectations of guys. The hair, makeup, clothes, diets... Always self-conscious and never pleased with our God-given beauty.
I’m not saying that makeup is bad, or that if you straighten your hair you must be trying to impress a guy. No, but the point is that girls’ lives revolve around pleasing guys. It’s not fair and not right.
The orbiting around males starts at a young age. Programs like “Toddlers in Tiaras” show little girls that they aren’t beautiful until they look like plastic Barbies. The toddlers not only compete in bikini contests, but also in “glitz” portions, where they are smothered in makeup that a grown woman shouldn’t wear.
Don’t get me started on Barbie! I used to play with them and think, “I want to be like Barbie when I grow up!” Skinny, flawless, any clothes I wanted, and Ken as a perfect boyfriend. That’s great, if you can grow out of it.
We all want attention. That’s normal. The difference is how you go about getting it. The world tells us our fulfillment should come from being “loved” by guys. And to get that “love,” we have to be whatever the world (guys) want us to be.
Example: Twilight. The popular book saga features a young girl falling in love with a vampire. She dates him, almost dies, gets engaged to him, almost dies, then she marries him, has a creepy half-human, half-vampire baby, almost dies, and then becomes a vampire herself. The girl gives herself up – even her soul – to please this 100-year-old, blood-sucking vampire.
When it comes to guys people tell me, “Kara you don’t understand,” because I don’t date, and I don’t want to, not in high school.
I don’t date because I don’t want to deal with the stress. I see the aftermath of the relationships gone wrong. I see the broken hearts. These girls truly believe they’ve lost their true love. Two weeks later, they’ve got another true love. It’s a vicious cycle.
I’m not judging people who date. I’m not saying all guys are creeps. I’m just trying to warn girls about a danger that things like grinding and dressing provocatively can bring about. I see girls who feel good about getting approval but don’t feel good inside. I can see it in their eyes. It breaks my heart. They fall so far into what society wants them to be and what guys want them to be that they forget who they are. They lose themselves.
If you’re dating, you just have to do it for the right reasons. You need to take a step back and make sure that you are being respected, and aren’t just doing it for the official stamp of society’s approval.
Girls, if you enjoy grinding, you are confident that you know your boundaries, then I’m not trying to attack you with rambling insults. I just want you to look in the mirror and make sure you know what you’re doing when you hand yourself over to a guy.
Also, don’t be naïve. When you grind against a guy, although you’re just having fun, you are teasing them. Guys don’t like games. Some of them might think you’re inviting them to make the next move, and that might not be the case.
By being your own person you can leave high school more mature than most, and unbroken by men. Self-esteem intact, you can enter college and the rest of life with happiness and pride that you survived the horror that is high school.
High school: the best time of our lives for some, the worst for others.
Me? I’m with the second group.
Girls wearing tight clothes, showing a little too much skin, hang all over guys who just want to get in their pants.
Lately, a big issue at BHS is the new rules against “grinding” at school dances. Students, both boys and girls, are very upset that they can’t grind freely.
Because, I mean, what other fun things are there to do besides rub our bums against each other in public?
Ladies, we are not dogs! We might as well go around peeing on hydrants and sniffing each other if we’re going to grind on guys who don’t give a flying fig about us.
Luckily, I’m not alone in my thinking.
“I’d like to be able to keep my food [down] while I’m at a school dance,” stated senior Kelly Spinali.
“Like, seriously, get a room,” freshman Kayla Hernandez said.
“Yeah, it’s disgusting,” agreed freshman Sarah Jamal-Eddine.
Grinding isn’t the only way that girls conform to the expectations of guys. The hair, makeup, clothes, diets... Always self-conscious and never pleased with our God-given beauty.
I’m not saying that makeup is bad, or that if you straighten your hair you must be trying to impress a guy. No, but the point is that girls’ lives revolve around pleasing guys. It’s not fair and not right.
The orbiting around males starts at a young age. Programs like “Toddlers in Tiaras” show little girls that they aren’t beautiful until they look like plastic Barbies. The toddlers not only compete in bikini contests, but also in “glitz” portions, where they are smothered in makeup that a grown woman shouldn’t wear.
Don’t get me started on Barbie! I used to play with them and think, “I want to be like Barbie when I grow up!” Skinny, flawless, any clothes I wanted, and Ken as a perfect boyfriend. That’s great, if you can grow out of it.
We all want attention. That’s normal. The difference is how you go about getting it. The world tells us our fulfillment should come from being “loved” by guys. And to get that “love,” we have to be whatever the world (guys) want us to be.
Example: Twilight. The popular book saga features a young girl falling in love with a vampire. She dates him, almost dies, gets engaged to him, almost dies, then she marries him, has a creepy half-human, half-vampire baby, almost dies, and then becomes a vampire herself. The girl gives herself up – even her soul – to please this 100-year-old, blood-sucking vampire.
When it comes to guys people tell me, “Kara you don’t understand,” because I don’t date, and I don’t want to, not in high school.
I don’t date because I don’t want to deal with the stress. I see the aftermath of the relationships gone wrong. I see the broken hearts. These girls truly believe they’ve lost their true love. Two weeks later, they’ve got another true love. It’s a vicious cycle.
I’m not judging people who date. I’m not saying all guys are creeps. I’m just trying to warn girls about a danger that things like grinding and dressing provocatively can bring about. I see girls who feel good about getting approval but don’t feel good inside. I can see it in their eyes. It breaks my heart. They fall so far into what society wants them to be and what guys want them to be that they forget who they are. They lose themselves.
If you’re dating, you just have to do it for the right reasons. You need to take a step back and make sure that you are being respected, and aren’t just doing it for the official stamp of society’s approval.
Girls, if you enjoy grinding, you are confident that you know your boundaries, then I’m not trying to attack you with rambling insults. I just want you to look in the mirror and make sure you know what you’re doing when you hand yourself over to a guy.
Also, don’t be naïve. When you grind against a guy, although you’re just having fun, you are teasing them. Guys don’t like games. Some of them might think you’re inviting them to make the next move, and that might not be the case.
By being your own person you can leave high school more mature than most, and unbroken by men. Self-esteem intact, you can enter college and the rest of life with happiness and pride that you survived the horror that is high school.
The way we dance or dress doesnt make us playthings
by Julie Pomphrett
Burlington High School is poised to make history. When students come by the school in August to pick up their iPad 2s (yes, the newest version), it will mark the beginning of an attempt to integrate technology into education that no other school in the state has tried.
If all goes as planned, within a few years, textbooks, pens, and paper will be a thing of the past. With online lesson plans and educational “apps,” school leaders say our entire idea of a traditional classroom will be transformed.
At this point, however, on the eve of this great change, teachers and students are having trouble imagining what exactly the new version of school life will look like.
“I don’t know,” astronomy teacher Ms. Belcher said when asked how she would use the iPads in her classes. “We’ll find out next year.”
A small number of teachers have more thought-out plans for how they will use the devices. English and media teacher Mr. Calvin already uses technology regularly, even without the iPads. He had his students create a Twitter page, and a blog for collecting homework. He uses videos and online personality tests as ways of leading students into the themes of books.
All of this will be easier, Mr. Calvin tells his classes, when they have iPads in front of them.
On the other extreme, another small number of teachers is skeptical to the point of pessimism. Although declining to be named for this story, they predicted the iPads would slow down learning rather than accelerate it. They complained there was not enough transition time for teachers to learn the skills needed to run their classes the way the school expects next year.
The majority of teachers, however, are open to the idea of the iPad revolution, but their excitement is tempered by the limited time they have had to prepare for such a large-scale change.
“The big issue for me is time,” Latin teacher Ms. DeBellis said. She has high hopes that the iPads will improve note-taking, and that foreign language apps will come in handy. But she wonders if the few days that have been set aside for iPad training, over the summer and before school starts, will be enough to really transform her classroom routines.
Students are excited about getting iPads – what kid would not be? – but, like the teachers, most seem unable to comprehend how the iPads will be integrated into school work.
[quote student here]
History teacher Mrs. Carrie recognizes the dangers of distraction that the iPads pose. “In general, students see the iPad as an entertainment device rather than an educational device,” she said.
A common rumor is that teachers will have a screen on their machines that allows them to monitor what any of their students is viewing during class time. Such technology exists, but the administration decided against using it [why?]…
Instead, it will be up to teachers to keep students on-task the old-fashioned way, with encouragement and threats, and by walking around the room. Just like with cell phones, the consequences for misuse will be up to the teacher.
Mrs. Carrie plans to give students who are off-task a zero for the day, and when those zeros add up they could affect students’ grades. Other teachers say they will give out detentions.
Mr. Larkin sees the iPads as a move towards the day when students carry around nothing but a device of some sort, whether it be an iPad, laptop, or some other crazy gadget. He sees the change as a necessity in preparing students for a technology-based future.
“One day, I think technology will be like electricity,” Larkin said.
Some teachers and students, however, question the necessity of the iPads.
“They’re great,” said Mr. Luther, a teacher who specializes in Biology MCAS, “but could you teach without them?”
A number of students question the cost, saying the money could be spent on other, more important things around the school. Senior [who is this?] mentioned the student parking lot, the school’s erratic heating system, and the bathrooms.
[Where are our $$ numbers from Conti?]
[Conti’s explanation of how it will all be paid for…]
With 1,000-plus iPads floating around the school, a big question among students is how each device will be kept safe and sound.
Insurance will be offered when parents come in to pick up their children’s iPads. For a fee, the plan will cover damage and theft of the iPads.
If an iPad is stolen, meanwhile, the school has a way to keep students’ identities and information protected. A program called Caspar will allow the administration to wipe iPads clean of all data and software, no matter where the devices are.
The administration also plans to use Caspar to keep students from visiting inappropriate Web sites on the iPads. Each day when students enter the school’s Wi-Fi “hot spot,” their iPads’ histories will be scanned for unapproved content. If anything fishy is found, [what will the administration do?] “It’s going to be ridiculous,” junior Kyle Burke said. “I don’t even know how they are going to teach.”
Many students said they couldn’t wait to pick up their iPads – for the game-playing apps.
“I’m playing ‘Angry Birds’ all day,” sophomore Trevor Cimino said.
History teacher Mrs. Carrie recognizes the dangers of distraction that the iPads pose. “In general, students see the iPad as an entertainment device rather than an educational device,” she said.
A common rumor is that teachers will have a screen on their own iPad that lets them monitor what their students are viewing in class. Although the school will not be using such a program, Mr. Larkin said any student’s iPad history can be checked at any time “if there is an issue” concerning that student’s use of the device.
So, it will be up to teachers to keep students on-task the old-fashioned way, with encouragement and threats, and by walking around the room. Just like with cell phones, the consequences for misuse will be up to the teacher.
Mrs. Carrie plans to give students who are off-task a zero for the day, and when those zeros add up they could affect students’ grades. Other teachers say they will give out detentions.
Mr. Larkin sees the iPads as a move towards the day when students carry around nothing but a device of some sort, whether it be an iPad, laptop, or some other crazy gadget. He sees the change as a necessity in preparing students for a technology-based future.
“One day, I think technology will be like electricity,” Larkin said.
Some teachers and students, however, question the necessity of the iPads.
“They’re great,” said Mr. Luther, a teacher who specializes in Biology MCAS, “but could you teach without them?”
A number of students question the cost, saying the money could be spent on other, more important things around the school. The student parking lot, the school’s erratic heating system, and the bathrooms have been mentioned.
“They could definitely fix up the bathrooms,” Junior Evan Feely said.
Between students and teachers, the school will be paying for around 1,200 iPads, at $500 each for a 4-year lease. The total, superintendent Dr. Conti said, with accessories, comes to to $200,000 per year.
School officials say the money will come from several sources: parents purchasing insurance on the iPads, savings from money no longer spent on computer labs, and savings on textbooks, which can cost more than $100 each.
“We will not be purchasing any more textbooks,” Larkin stated.
The iPads are also expected to save money on substitute teachers. Next year, rather than have a sub in every class with an absent teacher, the teacher-less classes (say there are 3 every period) can go into the cafeteria and pull out their iPads, where their teachers’ lesson plans will be awaiting them.
With 1,000-plus iPads floating around the school, a big question among students is how each device will be kept safe and sound.
Insurance will be offered when parents come in to pick up their children’s iPads. For a fee, the plan will cover damage and theft of the iPads.
If an iPad is stolen, meanwhile, the school has a way to keep students’ identities and information protected. A program called Caspar will allow the administration to wipe iPads clean of all data and software, no matter where the devices are.
The administration also plans to use Caspar to keep students from visiting inappropriate Web sites on the iPads. Each day when students enter the school’s Wi-Fi “hot spot,” their iPads’ histories will be scanned for unapproved content. If anything fishy is found, Mr. Larkin said, it could result in devices being taken away or getting banned from the server.
Burlington High School is poised to make history. When students come by the school in August to pick up their iPad 2s (yes, the newest version), it will mark the beginning of an attempt to integrate technology into education that no other school in the state has tried.
If all goes as planned, within a few years, textbooks, pens, and paper will be a thing of the past. With online lesson plans and educational “apps,” school leaders say our entire idea of a traditional classroom will be transformed.
At this point, however, on the eve of this great change, teachers and students are having trouble imagining what exactly the new version of school life will look like.
“I don’t know,” astronomy teacher Ms. Belcher said when asked how she would use the iPads in her classes. “We’ll find out next year.”
A small number of teachers have more thought-out plans for how they will use the devices. English and media teacher Mr. Calvin already uses technology regularly, even without the iPads. He had his students create a Twitter page, and a blog for collecting homework. He uses videos and online personality tests as ways of leading students into the themes of books.
All of this will be easier, Mr. Calvin tells his classes, when they have iPads in front of them.
On the other extreme, another small number of teachers is skeptical to the point of pessimism. Although declining to be named for this story, they predicted the iPads would slow down learning rather than accelerate it. They complained there was not enough transition time for teachers to learn the skills needed to run their classes the way the school expects next year.
The majority of teachers, however, are open to the idea of the iPad revolution, but their excitement is tempered by the limited time they have had to prepare for such a large-scale change.
“The big issue for me is time,” Latin teacher Ms. DeBellis said. She has high hopes that the iPads will improve note-taking, and that foreign language apps will come in handy. But she wonders if the few days that have been set aside for iPad training, over the summer and before school starts, will be enough to really transform her classroom routines.
Students are excited about getting iPads – what kid would not be? – but, like the teachers, most seem unable to comprehend how the iPads will be integrated into school work.
[quote student here]
History teacher Mrs. Carrie recognizes the dangers of distraction that the iPads pose. “In general, students see the iPad as an entertainment device rather than an educational device,” she said.
A common rumor is that teachers will have a screen on their machines that allows them to monitor what any of their students is viewing during class time. Such technology exists, but the administration decided against using it [why?]…
Instead, it will be up to teachers to keep students on-task the old-fashioned way, with encouragement and threats, and by walking around the room. Just like with cell phones, the consequences for misuse will be up to the teacher.
Mrs. Carrie plans to give students who are off-task a zero for the day, and when those zeros add up they could affect students’ grades. Other teachers say they will give out detentions.
Mr. Larkin sees the iPads as a move towards the day when students carry around nothing but a device of some sort, whether it be an iPad, laptop, or some other crazy gadget. He sees the change as a necessity in preparing students for a technology-based future.
“One day, I think technology will be like electricity,” Larkin said.
Some teachers and students, however, question the necessity of the iPads.
“They’re great,” said Mr. Luther, a teacher who specializes in Biology MCAS, “but could you teach without them?”
A number of students question the cost, saying the money could be spent on other, more important things around the school. Senior [who is this?] mentioned the student parking lot, the school’s erratic heating system, and the bathrooms.
[Where are our $$ numbers from Conti?]
[Conti’s explanation of how it will all be paid for…]
With 1,000-plus iPads floating around the school, a big question among students is how each device will be kept safe and sound.
Insurance will be offered when parents come in to pick up their children’s iPads. For a fee, the plan will cover damage and theft of the iPads.
If an iPad is stolen, meanwhile, the school has a way to keep students’ identities and information protected. A program called Caspar will allow the administration to wipe iPads clean of all data and software, no matter where the devices are.
The administration also plans to use Caspar to keep students from visiting inappropriate Web sites on the iPads. Each day when students enter the school’s Wi-Fi “hot spot,” their iPads’ histories will be scanned for unapproved content. If anything fishy is found, [what will the administration do?] “It’s going to be ridiculous,” junior Kyle Burke said. “I don’t even know how they are going to teach.”
Many students said they couldn’t wait to pick up their iPads – for the game-playing apps.
“I’m playing ‘Angry Birds’ all day,” sophomore Trevor Cimino said.
History teacher Mrs. Carrie recognizes the dangers of distraction that the iPads pose. “In general, students see the iPad as an entertainment device rather than an educational device,” she said.
A common rumor is that teachers will have a screen on their own iPad that lets them monitor what their students are viewing in class. Although the school will not be using such a program, Mr. Larkin said any student’s iPad history can be checked at any time “if there is an issue” concerning that student’s use of the device.
So, it will be up to teachers to keep students on-task the old-fashioned way, with encouragement and threats, and by walking around the room. Just like with cell phones, the consequences for misuse will be up to the teacher.
Mrs. Carrie plans to give students who are off-task a zero for the day, and when those zeros add up they could affect students’ grades. Other teachers say they will give out detentions.
Mr. Larkin sees the iPads as a move towards the day when students carry around nothing but a device of some sort, whether it be an iPad, laptop, or some other crazy gadget. He sees the change as a necessity in preparing students for a technology-based future.
“One day, I think technology will be like electricity,” Larkin said.
Some teachers and students, however, question the necessity of the iPads.
“They’re great,” said Mr. Luther, a teacher who specializes in Biology MCAS, “but could you teach without them?”
A number of students question the cost, saying the money could be spent on other, more important things around the school. The student parking lot, the school’s erratic heating system, and the bathrooms have been mentioned.
“They could definitely fix up the bathrooms,” Junior Evan Feely said.
Between students and teachers, the school will be paying for around 1,200 iPads, at $500 each for a 4-year lease. The total, superintendent Dr. Conti said, with accessories, comes to to $200,000 per year.
School officials say the money will come from several sources: parents purchasing insurance on the iPads, savings from money no longer spent on computer labs, and savings on textbooks, which can cost more than $100 each.
“We will not be purchasing any more textbooks,” Larkin stated.
The iPads are also expected to save money on substitute teachers. Next year, rather than have a sub in every class with an absent teacher, the teacher-less classes (say there are 3 every period) can go into the cafeteria and pull out their iPads, where their teachers’ lesson plans will be awaiting them.
With 1,000-plus iPads floating around the school, a big question among students is how each device will be kept safe and sound.
Insurance will be offered when parents come in to pick up their children’s iPads. For a fee, the plan will cover damage and theft of the iPads.
If an iPad is stolen, meanwhile, the school has a way to keep students’ identities and information protected. A program called Caspar will allow the administration to wipe iPads clean of all data and software, no matter where the devices are.
The administration also plans to use Caspar to keep students from visiting inappropriate Web sites on the iPads. Each day when students enter the school’s Wi-Fi “hot spot,” their iPads’ histories will be scanned for unapproved content. If anything fishy is found, Mr. Larkin said, it could result in devices being taken away or getting banned from the server.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
New law stops some but most students still text and drive
By Paul Hogan
Senior Brian Steadman remembers the time, a month ago, when he was driving down Carey Avenue to his friend’s house. He was texting the friend about when he would get there when suddenly he caught a view of two mailboxes directly in his path. He thought for that split second how much money it would cost him if he crashed. He slammed the breaks and the cries of a loud screeching noise followed.
“I swerved to the side, almost crashing,” he said. Luckily he missed the mailboxes. Steadman rode off leaving a trail off smoke behind two untouched mailboxes.
Steadman is not the only student texting and driving, despite a new state law designed to stop this habit. According a recent poll by the Devil’s Advocate, more than half of BHS student drivers are still texting and driving since the new law took effect in September.
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Almost 90% of students who text and drive had close calls and still text. |
“I swerved to the side, almost crashing,” he said. Luckily he missed the mailboxes. Steadman rode off leaving a trail off smoke behind two untouched mailboxes.
Steadman is not the only student texting and driving, despite a new state law designed to stop this habit. According a recent poll by the Devil’s Advocate, more than half of BHS student drivers are still texting and driving since the new law took effect in September.
Athletes hide concussions, foil purpose of new law
By Gabriel Arcaro
A new law passed this summer aims to protect football players and other athletes from concussions; however, this law may not be doing everything it’s intended to do. In interviews with at least a dozen football players this fall, every one admitted to feeling fuzzy or disoriented from hits taken on the field but none had reported it to the coach or trainer, as the new policy requires.
A new law passed this summer aims to protect football players and other athletes from concussions; however, this law may not be doing everything it’s intended to do. In interviews with at least a dozen football players this fall, every one admitted to feeling fuzzy or disoriented from hits taken on the field but none had reported it to the coach or trainer, as the new policy requires.
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A dozen football players said they kept quiet about head injuries this year. The hockey coach is certain many of his players do the same. Adam Crowley (above) skates against Reading. |
Do anti-bullying measures make a difference? Students disagree
By Kyla Candelino and Kara Amuzzini
With school leaders waging a multi-pronged anti-bullying campaign this year, students are questioning whether BHS actually has a bullying problem, and if so, whether the new measures are the solution.
In interviews with dozens of students from all grades, the majority said that bullying has not been a major issue since middle school. Some said bullying takes place but it tends to be concentrated on social networking websites such as Facebook, where even the newly beefed-up school policy can’t protect students.
“It’s mainly online,” senior Jessica Giannelli said.
With school leaders waging a multi-pronged anti-bullying campaign this year, students are questioning whether BHS actually has a bullying problem, and if so, whether the new measures are the solution.In interviews with dozens of students from all grades, the majority said that bullying has not been a major issue since middle school. Some said bullying takes place but it tends to be concentrated on social networking websites such as Facebook, where even the newly beefed-up school policy can’t protect students.
“It’s mainly online,” senior Jessica Giannelli said.
"Trajedi" strikes more than just the ground of Port-Au-Prince
By Shauntel Farland
Blood, anguish, and destruction fill the air as the world crumbles underneath her feet. It rattles each house with no mercy, no feelings and no regret. Children crying, people praying…What’s next?
Blood, anguish, and destruction fill the air as the world crumbles underneath her feet. It rattles each house with no mercy, no feelings and no regret. Children crying, people praying…What’s next?
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Senior Arianne Jean-Jacques (click "read more" below), remembers the day the tragic earthquake struck Port Au Prince, her city crumbling at her feet. It was a year ago, Jan. 12, that she ran for her life from the walls of her school crashing down. The violent quake left 3 million people in need of emergency aid and millions without homes and family. The aftershocks left thousands running past flattened buildings for cover (above). |
Students want in on Mac lab; librarian defends restrictions
By Mike Grinnell
As students walk the halls, many seem to complain about the library’s new Mac lab. The new, more-than-$2000 computers aren’t the problem, though. The problem is getting to use them.
“I just need to use the Macs, but she won’t let me,” sophomore Joe Berardi said.
As students walk the halls, many seem to complain about the library’s new Mac lab. The new, more-than-$2000 computers aren’t the problem, though. The problem is getting to use them.
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Some students complain the Mac lab is reserved for classes when no one seems to be using it. When it looks that way, the librarian said it is only because no one has had time to move the sign, or a class is on its way. |
“I just need to use the Macs, but she won’t let me,” sophomore Joe Berardi said.
GM, give us a car we can afford, not an ad blitz
By Mike Shipka
We all know ‘em, and everyone has one. They’re made fun of on sitcoms, and they share a name with the dirtiest utensil in the kitchen. That friend who’s always “borrowing” your money, then it mysteriously disappears, a.k.a, the sponge.
BHS Fashion Types
Ask students about their fashion choices and many will say the same thing: “I like to look good.” Funny how each student has a different idea of what “good” looks like. What looks good to you may not look good to me. But nobody seems to let that change their mind. Students’ fashion senses are strong and individual.
Now, what exactly a person’s fashion should be called can be a matter of controversy. Some students insist they would not consider themselves any single style “type.” But those same students, when asked about other people’s styles, showed no hesitation in applying labels. Apparently it’s easier to categorize others than it is to categorize yourself.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Students with epilepsy share struggles, experience, advice
By Taylor-Marie Funchion
Students who attended elementary school with Gabe remember the harsh treatment he faced due to his epilepsy. “I remember kids talking about his seizures during class. It was definitely weird, and a little scary,” a BHS freshman remembered. Well, Gabe, who is now a freshman here at BHS remembers it, too.
“People didn’t want to be my friend at school, I lost some friends, and at home, I was monitored every second of my day,” Gabe, who would rather keep his last name private, said. “It was tough.”
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| Junior Jake Kinsman stands in the spot on the English hallway where he had a seizure sophomore year. |
“People didn’t want to be my friend at school, I lost some friends, and at home, I was monitored every second of my day,” Gabe, who would rather keep his last name private, said. “It was tough.”
New turf field looks to be a hit for all seasons
By Steve Mattos
Fresh off the new field, Junior wide receiver Bill Murphy kicked off his cleats as conversation erupted about the new turf field that the town of Burlington put in over the summer.
“It was the best turf I’ve ever played on,” he said.
Now buried under layers of snow and ice, the school’s new field and stands were an exciting addition to the football season, and are now an object of anticipation for the spring lacrosse and track & field teams.
“It was the best turf I’ve ever played on,” he said.
Now buried under layers of snow and ice, the school’s new field and stands were an exciting addition to the football season, and are now an object of anticipation for the spring lacrosse and track & field teams.
Match the teacher to the experience -- win a pizza!
This is it -- the place to submit your answers to the contest on Page 6 of the print edition of the March 1 Devil's Advocate.
Submit your answers using the "comment" button below. Name each of the six teachers and the letter corresponding to that teacher's experience. For instance:
Submit your answers using the "comment" button below. Name each of the six teachers and the letter corresponding to that teacher's experience. For instance:
- Mr. Johnson = A
- Dr. Conti = F
- ...and so on.
Darks and light, cheekbones and eyesockets
The art of self-portrait
Monday, June 21, 2010
More time for lunch, less of the (between classes) crunch
By Helly Soni
Now, a radical scheduling proposal from a group of students aims to cure the ills of the current schedule. The proposal, by students in Ms. Janovitz’s Leadership and Social Change class, is getting serious attention from Principal Larkin, who passed it out at a faculty meeting. It includes
The school’s seven-day rotation schedule may be irregular, but the complaints about it fall into a nice, neat pattern. Students as well as teachers seem to hate three things: long periods that are too long, a lunch period that’s too short, and barely enough time to sprint between classes.
Step up, people; it is your school
Editorial by Allison Jacobs
So what could go wrong with a high-tech principal on a mission to bring BHS into the 21st century?
Over the past two years as Editor-in-Chief, I’ve seen a lot of news going through the Devil’s Advocate. But no one has been a bigger newsmaker than Mr. Larkin.
I have never met an administrator with such an abundance of school-changing ideas. We’ve covered it all, from reforming schedules to laptops for every student. Mr. Larkin has changed the way I view schools; things don’t have to stay the same just because they’ve always been that way.
Things That Annoy Me
By Jim Rubino
As my four years at BHS come to a close, there are certainly things I will miss. I’ll miss walking the halls with my friends, or sitting with them at lunch. I’ll miss Ms Boyle’s loud sneezes, Mr. Costa’s wacky sayings, ordering pizza during long period, and writing fake names on the bathroom sign in sheet. However, there are a bunch of things I definitely won’t miss -- 17, to be exact.
As my four years at BHS come to a close, there are certainly things I will miss. I’ll miss walking the halls with my friends, or sitting with them at lunch. I’ll miss Ms Boyle’s loud sneezes, Mr. Costa’s wacky sayings, ordering pizza during long period, and writing fake names on the bathroom sign in sheet. However, there are a bunch of things I definitely won’t miss -- 17, to be exact.Did you read it once, twice, or 147 times?
By Rupini Alla
How much do you love your favorite book? Did you re-read the whole thing from start to finish? Did you re-read it twice? How about 147 times?
How much do you love your favorite book? Did you re-read the whole thing from start to finish? Did you re-read it twice? How about 147 times?Senior Cristine Marsala has proclaimed her love for one book and one book only. Over the course of three years, she has read the book “The Perks of Being a Wallflower,” by Stephen Chbosky, precisely that many times – and she intends to keep the number going.
Former BHS student hits big screen in summer indie film
By Theresa Colella
Could 2008 BHS grad Alyssa Freedman, who is starring in the new indie-film, “Sunblocked,” be the next to join their hall of fame?
Burlington High School has produced some famous actors, from Amy Poehler, star of Saturday Night Live and the films “Mean Girls” and “Baby Mama,” to Steven Wright, stand-up comic and actor in “The Muse” and “Coffee and Cigarettes.”
Let’s hear it for the Maroon and Annoying
By Jaime Gweshe
Watching the captains of the BC Hockey National Championship team throw out the first pitch in Fenway Park, I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. It seems everywhere I look all I see are BC shirts, hats, t-shirts, whatever, and now they had invaded my Red Sox games. It makes me wonder if the people wearing all this BC gear actually are fans of the school or if they are just victims of successful marketing schemes.
Watching the captains of the BC Hockey National Championship team throw out the first pitch in Fenway Park, I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. It seems everywhere I look all I see are BC shirts, hats, t-shirts, whatever, and now they had invaded my Red Sox games. It makes me wonder if the people wearing all this BC gear actually are fans of the school or if they are just victims of successful marketing schemes.Name That Tune!
Four Burlington bands give us an inside look at their music
The local music scene flies mostly under the radar, but it’s actually a thriving community of at least 20 bands. Here are four of the most promising...
Summer stuff
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