Advice

=Chocolate Milk: Not Healthy=

[[image:chocolate-milk-for-one-image-square.jpg width="209" height="209" align="right"]] By: Peter Farren
Much talk has been going around whether chocolate milk should be allowed in the lunchroom. Well, I think that chocolate milk should be banned from this school because it is really unhealthy as well as being consumed at alarming rates. Kids also should not have to be lured into drinking milk with chocolate. Chocolate is just way too unhealthy. According to “Chocolate Milk: More Harmful Than Healthful,” it states that one little carton of chocolate milk has 30 grams of sugar in it. Also, chocolate milk is made with high fructose corn syrup which is not healthy for anyone. Jamie Oliver, a famous chef once said “ When kids drink flavored milk everyday at school, they are consuming more than two gallons of extra sugar each year.” This also means that chocolate milk almost has as much sugar as a can of soda. That does not belong in a school environment. And just because chocolate milk has the same nutrients as regular milk, it does also have that drastic sugar trade-off. In the article “Sugary Drinks Can be Unhealthy, but is Cow’s milk Unhealthy, too?” it states that added sugars are a main contributor to obesity as well as Type II Diabetes. All this just so kids can get some added flavor in milk. Chocolate milk is being consumed at a very unpleasant rate. According to the article “Chocolate Milk: More Harmful Than Healthful,” it states that on average, an American child drinks about 10-15 cartons of milk a week! If you do the math, that is around 2-3 cartons of chocolate milk a day! And that is just not acceptable in a school environment at all. The only reason kids are drinking chocolate milk this much is because schools offer this much of it. In a video I watched on 10 News about chocolate milk, kids said the only way they drink chocolate milk is in the school lunchroom. So you could technically say that schools are responsible for this consumption. I believe that kids should not have to be lured into drink something healthy with chocolate. Ann Cooper, a food activist, stated, “Saying we need to add sugar and flavoring to milk to get kids to drink it is like saying we need to feed kids apple pie if they don’t like apples.” I support this thinking in that everything does not need to be sugar coded to be fed to kids. In a poll taken in my classroom, 65% of students think that chocolate milk should indeed be taken out of the school’s lunchroom. I think that some kids just have to realize that not everything that is good for you, is sugar-filled. All in all, I think chocolate milk should be banned from our school because it is just too unhealthy and being consumed at high rates. Kids should not be lured into drinking milk with chocolate. Now, what do you think? Should this drink be in schools?

=Are iPads Really Helping Us Learn?=

By: Noah Campbell
“I definitely prefer iPads over slates,” says Student Council President, Joshua Wood. Although iPads have continued to be an exceptional tool for learning, and a great alternative for slates, iPads have also been used to play online games during class. Was it a wise decision for the school board to provide us with these expensive tools? All of the benefits we gain from using these iPads outnumber the disadvantages. Such as, being able to type stories or essays on Google Docs. Taking quizzes and surveys without having to get a hand cramp from writing too much. You can even practice for tests and lessons by using educational sites, like, “Khan Academy.” Most importantly, we can search the vast Internet for research.

“I usually like to use Google Docs to type a story,” says Dean Cianciolo. There has been a lot ways that these electronics have been helping us learn. Such as providing, “Google Docs,” a simplified version of, “Microsoft Word,” by Google to help us write essays, and our own stories in our free time. Not only that, but you can use it as a notepad to remember your ideas. You can share your work with your teacher and your classmates, so you can peer edit each other’s work. It’s a very useful tool that ordinary paper doesn’t give you.

There is also a website known as Khan Academy for students in K-12. IT helps you study subjects such as, Math, Science, Reading, Economics, History, Social Studies, Geography, etc. If you want to get a better grade on tests, your iPad can help you.

Not only is there a program to study of tests, but a program to take tests. There is a social media app that we use, called, “Edmodo,” where you take quizzes and do responses to class questions. If you’re in fifth grade, we use an app called, “Google Classroom,” to do quizzes and assignments. That way, we don’t have to cramp our hands writing.

Also, giving us the privilege of the internet has helped us gather information easier for reports rather than consuming our time searching through the reference section of the library. It saves us a lot of time, and we can refer to thousands of billions of sources packed with information.

On the other hand, students have been using the iPad to do things that are not as school appropriate. They are using the internet to play online games during class and look up the latest gifs of widely-known characters. Students also take advantage of having their own school email addresses to just talk to each other about completely non-school related topics. However, these are only applying to the few that completely take advantage of this amazing privilege.

“I prefer using an iPad over a pencil and paper. It’s easier to do writing assignments,” Our president Joshua Wood says. He definitely thinks that the iPads, “Apple,” provides us are a great privilege. Students from our school have different biases of whether these iPads are helping or not. Some people prefer a classic slate, although some people prefer the ability to record a video of a lesson for homework with an iPad. Which would you prefer?

= = = The Art of Tie-Dye =

By: Maya Schwartz
== If you have ever seen or made Tie-Dye, you will know that it is very unique and a great way to show your favorite colors and designs. Tie-Dye is a style of art in which you splash drops of colorful dye onto fabric to make amazing designs. 5th grader, Morgan F, says, “I like it because you can be creative while doing it.” Tie-Dye is a very old art that is used all around the world. In India, Tie-Dye is called bandhani. A similar dyeing technique to tie-dye was done by the Shipibo and Yine tribes. Now, the most common way to Tie-Dye, is to drop rainbow colors in a spiral design on a white tee shirt. Most people twist the shirt and use rubber bands to keep some spaces white and separate color blotches. There are many different styles of Tie-Dye. The most common technique is the spiral. To make the spiral, you first squish the shirt into one long line. Then you swirl it into a circle. Lastly before you dye it, stretch rubber bands across your shirt circle. The rubber bands should form an X, or a crossed star. Another common design is the target. You can make that one by bunching together small parts of the shirt and putting rubber bands on them. Ingrid V says, “I like the swirl design because it is unique and the colors slightly blend together.” If tie-dyeing is hard for you, which it is for many people, you can buy a kits from michael's craft store, target or many other stores to help you. The kits come with detailed instructions and colorful dyes to help you. Paula E Burch (expert on Tie-Dye) says “In contrast, the dyes in a good tie-dye kit, such as the kits made by Jacquard Products, Tulip, Rainbow Rock, or Dylon, are easy to apply since they work well at room temperature, and the form permanent chemical bonds to the fiber in the fabric. The results will last years longer, and, after the first few washings, are safe to wash at any temperature, even with your white clothing.” Tie-Dye has been found to work the best on white, 100% cotton shirts or fabrics. Just remember, what makes tie-dye so fun and unique is that you never know how it will come out, and no design is perfect. Before you tie dye any fabric or shirt, you should soak it in water. Then, you will want to make your design using rubber bands. Next, you should dye your fabric or shirt. Wear gloves when using the dyes because they will stain your hands. After you dye, let it air dry for a day or until it is dry. Then your shirt should be washed before you can wear it. First, run it under cold water, then warm. Keep alternating between the temperatures of water until the water is mostly clear. Then let it dry. Next, wash the fabric in a washing machine. Just remember to wash the shirt or fabric inside out. Wash the shirt or fabric with no other pieces of clothing in the washing machine with it. If you put other clothing in the washing machine with it, the other clothes may get permanent dye on them. After you wear your shirt, you can either hand wash it with the water or use a machine. Overall, there are so many styles and combinations to tie-dye.

http://www.librarypoint.org/dying_for_tie_dye

= = = Stranger Danger! =

By: Morgan Fox
Are you going to start walking home or to school? And do you feel like you need to be safer? There are lots of things you can do to keep yourself safe and happy. Read these tips to be smart and safe and still have fun! Staying safe may seem lame, but it’s what’s right! If you don't follow this important list you may think some of these are quite clear but some people don’t do some of these and get in trouble or even hurt.

Try walking in a group or at least with one more person (It’s a way to feel safer and make better choices regarding strangers.)

Never EVER talk to strangers. They could be nice but don’t take a chance.

Make sure to have some way to contact an adult at all times even if that means a friends phone.

If you want to walk to and from school because it’s cool but really __don’t__ feel comfortable, tell your parents! They can drive you or even walk with you! They shouldn’t mind. They want what’s best for you.

If someone besides your parents or your friends parents asks if you want a ride say ‘NO’ and run. Chances are they aren’t nice people.

If a stranger demands you for your phone or anything, you give in to them. They could be really bad and try to hurt you.

If you or a friend has a phone to bring try and not keep in out and open. It’s like walking around town and saying,” I have a million dollars and my unlocked home!”

If you have a phone ask your parents to set up the companion app on your phones.It’s free and works on apple and android devices! This app shows your parent where you are with a tracker on the phone. If for example a stranger asks if you want a ride you could press the I feel nervous. Or click to call police, if it’s really bad.The police also know where your phone is. So as long as you have your phone the police can help!

If you follow these tips and use your brain, walking to and from school is a breeze. Note that if you aren’t at least in 3rd grade walking to and from school might not be the best thing for you yet. If you have any more questions ask your parent. Stay safe!

When asked, A 5th grade student said “ It’s fun, I get to hang out with my friends.” Another said, “I feel like it’s really fun when you get to walk with friends” Last, one said ,” It’s so fun but you have to remember to keep your guard up!”

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