Monthly Archives: April 2015

Editorials

Spring uplifts spirits after harsh winter

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As the cold, snowy weather native to North America reaches it’s end, many people are beginning to feel the effects of the new weather. Girls are trading in their old sweaters for chic tank tops and boys are investing in a new pair of cargo shorts.

Something about the sunshine and cool air have long brought about happier, brighter outlooks on life but according to scientists, the “winter blues” are more than just a state of mind. Bad weather cannot only affect a person’s clothing, but can also alter their state of mind.

Seasonal affective disorder, also known by its appropriate acronym, SAD, is a psychological condition in which a person may experience seasonal depression during periods of bad weather.

According to the American Psychiatric Association, “SAD has been linked to a biochemical imbalance in the brain prompted by shorter daylight hours and less sunlight in winter. As seasons change, people experience a shift in their biological internal clock […] that can cause them to be out of step with their daily schedule.”

Website mentalhealthamerica.net said, “SAD is more common in people living far from the equator where there is less daylight hours in the winter. The most difficult months for people with SAD in the US seem to be January and February.”

This proves dually horrible for students living far from the equator, such as the students in northeast Ohio. With AP testing week upon some high school students and the bipolar weather constantly threatening the sanctity of springtime, students suffering from SAD can find themselves at the mercy of extreme stress.

Consult a doctor if signs of depression become apparent during periods of cloudy weather. Besides prescription medication, Vitamin D tablets can brighten symptoms of SAD as well as special UV lights.

News

HAPPY holds annual Kindness Week – Wednesday

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The last week of April was a busy time–juniors took the ACT, sophomores and freshmen took the ACT Aspire tests. This week also was Happy’s annual Kindness Week.

HAPPY is a club at the high school that promotes anti-bullying, good relationships, suicide and other topics. They bring in the guest speaker at the beginning of the year. The big activity they plan every year is Kindness Week. This year’s Kindness Week took place Monday April, 27 through Friday May 1. HAPPY has been planning this event since February.

Wednesday was “Chain Reaction DSC_0091Day” and RESPECT training. The chain reaction involved necklaces that encouraged the students to do or say something kind. Students then passed the beads to someone else throughout the day. The club also had Missy McClain, who is the RESPECT Coordinator from Akron Children’s Hospital, speak during the lunch periods. Her topic for the day was “Happily Ever After…5 Keys to a Healthy Relationships.” Teachers could bring their classes or send study hall students during the periods to the library and hear the presentation.

News

HAPPY’s annual Kindness Week – Monday & Tuesday

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April 27 through May 1 is Kindness Week sponsored by HAPPY at the high school this year. The students and staff are celebrating in many different ways, including yoga and therapy dogs.

On Mon., April 27, there was yoga in the library during periods one through four. Mrs. Macali, a retired teacher from the high school, came and showed students the basics of yoga. Macali went through many different poses and exercises commonly performed in yoga, including the warrior pose and downward dog.

Overall, the morning yoga went well. This was the first year of yoga during Kindness Week, and the high school will now have yoga available every Kindness Week from here-on out. Next year, there is even the chance of the yoga going on all day instead of just in the morning because of the positive feedback.

“Mrs. Macali is awesome,” Sally Dean, the staff member in charge of Kindness Week this year, said.

Also on Monday, the high school hosted therapy dogs in the morning during periods five through nine. All the dogs are certified through a group called Therapy Dog International, and all the handlers who brought them in are volunteers. The woman who brought the dogs in, Ruth Drew, is a retired Stow teacher.

This is the second year in a row where the therapy dogs have graced the high school with their presence, and it was a hit yet again. Students have responded well to the therapy dogs and there was an overwhelming amount of happiness in the library that day.

“Later in the day [after the therapy dogs left], the kids were still smiling and happy,” Dean said.

On Tuesday, April 28, students of the high school wore blue. Blue is the color that symbolizes anti-bullying, and the students wanted to show their support. There was not a big activity scheduled for Tuesday because of the ACT tests and practice tests students were required to take this day.

Numerous students wore blue on Tuesday to show they care about bullying, and they know it is wrong. Bullying is a huge problem that students should not have to worry about. Wearing blue signified that bullying should be stopped, and kindness should be shown.

Many students participated in the multitude of activities available to them and kindness was spread throughout the halls of the high school.

World Headlines

Beautiful vacation destinations destroyed by litter

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The world is full of beautiful places where tourists flock to. Due to this exces- sive tourism in these locations, such as the Maldives, have been defaced with trash left behind.

According to Sophia Forbes of Yahoo Travel, seven billion people that produce 1.7 billion tons of trash each year inhabit Earth. These statistics are only going to go up as 100,000 people are born each day. By the year of 2025, the amount of waste produced annually will exceed 2.2 billion tons.

This alarming amount of trash is not always properly disposed, resulting in a build up of unwanted trash. Waste is starting to infiltrate glorious getaway spots and destroying their beauty.

According to Sophia Forbes of Yahoo Travel, “More than 750,000 people head to the Maldives every year bringing an influx in waste with them.”

Tourism is the main cause of the destruction of significant historical and beautiful destinations.

“Waste buildup around the world is disgusting and is a major cause for the destruction of major destination spots. Something needs to be done or the world will have no tourist spots left,” senior Aaron Gates said.

Beautiful places have been destroyed by trash build up. In 1992, the government allocated an island in the Maldives, Thilafushi.

According Sophia Forbes of Yahoo travel, Thilafushi was used from 1992-2011 as a dump for all of the countries waste. “The Rubbish Island” used to be a beautiful lagoon

with coral reefs and crystal clear waters. Now, it is a toxic dump containing more than 124 acres of trash trans- ported and burned daily.

“I think it’s horrible that a beautiful place like this island was used as a dump for so long. The island won’t recover from constant dumping and won’t return to it’s previous state of beauty,” freshman Lauren Vandenbush said.

The island became a major bio-hazard as toxic waste and smoke filled the air. Dumping on the island stopped in 2011 after ships began dumping waste into the ocean.

Thilafushi is just one example of how trash buildup across the world has ruined beautiful places. Surprisingly, Mount Everest has become a trash heap as well. Each year, roughly 300 people attempt to scale Mount Everest. Over the years climbers have left a trail of waste leading to the mountain being called, “the world’s highest junkyard.”

Climbers of Mount Everest have left behind equipment, tents, plastic bottles, clothes and a disgusting amount of human feces in base camps and climbing routes. The toxins on the mountain threaten the ecosystem and surrounding areas, which could spread disease to local communities living by the mountain.

Trash buildup across the world is a major problem and threatens the lives of many.