By Jai’Quell Madison Holiday Spirit can boost your Mental Health. There are many ways to join in on the holiday fun, like listening to Christmas music, decorating the house, and putting up the tree. Doing activities with your family can all be beneficial to your overall mood. It creates less stress by letting go of worries and focusing on good times, and the feeling of joy and excitement takes its place. An article by 24 News stated that “Holiday music and flavors help spark feelings of joy as well, because they are a deviation from everyday routine.” The holidays are a time for positive emotions, and being able to reminisce about past times, while also leaving hope for the future. December is also the time for Mental Health Awareness. A month to enjoy yourself and be able to self-reflect. Taking the moment to clear your mind and doing things that soothes you are major parts in releasing built up tension. Try to create time for yourself, like having a moment in the day to meditate, do a workout, or even just relax. The Rochester City School District is also promoting Mental Health Awareness, and has a “12 Days of Wellness Challenge” for people to participate in. The district created a list of daily things to do to brighten your mood. There are four categories: Gratitude, Positivity, Self-care, and Discovery. Each one is different, for example doing good deeds, showing compassion for your loved ones, and even creating techniques to promote self-improvement. Times can be rough, but the holidays are moments to show yourself kindness.
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By Tiana Hodge
East provides many programs that help students gain experience with the career path they're interested in. The Nursing Program gives students the opportunity to learn about all the different careers that are in the medical field. The program gives students hands-on experience about what being a nurse is like. The Nursing Program offered students two full-day field trips to the nursing school. On November 1st, 2023, the nursing program students had the first full day field trip. We had the chance to watch two spinal surgeries. We had the opportunity to be in the O.R. with the doctors. We learned about all the different roles the doctors and nurses have in the O.R. The doctors talked to us about all the different tools they use for the different surgeries that they do. We also learned a little bit about what neurosurgeons do. They also talked a little bit about the preparation they must do before they start surgeries. Every Wednesday the nursing students go to the nursing school and learn about all different topics related to the medical field. The Nursing Program is very hands-on. We learned about opioid overdoses and how NarCan can stop the overdoses. We also learned how to administer NarCan. Another topic that the nursing program teaches is about infectious diseases. What they are, how they can spread, the different symptoms, what we can do to prevent the disease, and the steps nurses take to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. Nurses put on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), to protect themselves and everyone else. There is an order of the way nurses put on PPE and how to take it off. The next topic we learned about is how to stop someone from bleeding. The nurses did a demonstration of how to pack a wound and how to put on a tourniquet. Then we had the opportunity to try it ourselves. Another hands-on experience we were offered was how to administer medication, how to set up a fluid bag and how to check vitals. We also learned about the different parts of the brain and what part of the human body they control. On November 29, we had our second full-day field trip. We started off with two activities where we learned how the skeletal system is put together and the dissection of a cow heart to understand how a heart works, then the nursing students were offered a tour of the hospital. We had the chance to see all the different departments of all the different medical field jobs. Guest speakers are also a part of this program. A hospice nurse came in and talked a bit about her job and why she became a nurse. After that we split into two groups and did a simulation of CPR, and a simulation of listening to regular and irregular heartbeats and breathing. Throughout the nursing program, we work on poster boards that we would present at the end of the nursing program. When the nursing students started to work on our boards, we chose different diseases to research. On December 6th, we presented our boards on the disease we chose. To have this opportunity to explore career paths is a valuable part of being a student at East. By Alexis Beach
During the month of December there will be a huge light display event at the Victor Hills Golf Course. This is an annual event. You must buy tickets and book a certain time and day. If you want to participate in this, here are the prices. If you were to have one car with less than 7 people inside, it would cost $35 per car, and cars with 7 or more people would cost $50. The money raised from this month-long event will be going to the C.U.R.E Childhood Cancer Association. The goal of raised money trying to be reached is $20,000. This is simply a great place to take your family for a bit of holiday joy and it's a beautiful sight to see! Let alone the money is going to a great cause. If you’re looking for free light displays, the website Kids Out and About lists a bunch of houses around Rochester that have amazing light displays! This past weekend my dad and I decided to go look around at Christmas light displays and I remembered the website and so I looked on the map for the location closest to where we live, and we ended up going to the North Landing location. It was so cool! The blow-up decorations were literally around 20 feet tall, and there were lights all around the house, they even had lights going up their trees. I was very shocked; I wasn't sure what to expect from the website due to there being no pictures but I’m so glad we went! This is such a great family activity to do. By Kymizza Maldonado
SAD also known as Seasonal Affective Disorder, is a depression that comes and goes at around the same time every year. It can affect people during the summer or winter, though it’s mostly common during the winter. The most common reason people get diagnosed with SAD is because of the lack of sunlight. Some symptoms for SAD can be, over or under eating, over sleeping, mood changes, anxiety, lack of energy and depression. Some things to manage or prevent SAD are exercising, light therapy, eating well, talking with people, and staying hydrated. According to the Cleveland Clinic, females are at a higher risk to be diagnosed with SAD. This is because of the amount of estrogen being produced. Ways to help people you know with seasonal depression is by letting them know you’re there for them, talking with them, offering them help, being positive toward them or around them and just hearing them out. Anyone can get depression and being aware about it and knowing what to do can help greatly. By Noah Silpe
On December 13th, 2023, the East High School Winter concert took place in the auditorium. It was cool to see all the hard work all the students and teachers have been putting in. For the lower school students, this was their first concert for some of them. Lots of family and friends were in attendance and it was very nice to see them celebrate their student’s hard work and success. During the concert there were 9 groups of students that performed songs and what the music department calls the “Mega Band,” which is composed of all the Upper school ensembles performing a song together. This year we played “This Christmas” as a Mega Band piece to close out the night. Lots of Christmas songs were played along with some classical pieces by the bands. It is important to celebrate the arts because in society the arts are pushed off to the side a lot of times. Amazing things are happening in the arts community and a lot of times they are an afterthought. A perfect example is, in Journalism class a few weeks ago Ms. Conroy was asking people what topic they were going to write about for the December newspaper (the one you are reading right now!). I told her that I was going to write about the winter concert and a few kids were surprised that we even had a concert. Obviously, the arts are important to me because every article I write relates to music or the arts in some way. Music is a big part of my life and I love talking about it so I talk about it to anyone who will listen. The school concerts are a lot of fun and a lot of work goes on behind the scenes. Personally, I would like to thank Ms. Wilson and Mr. Weber for teaching me and being great leaders. Thank you to the Upper School band and modern band for being amazing bandmates. If you’re in the hall and see a music teacher, make sure you say thank you for all the hard work they do behind the scenes like setting up the stage, making sure all the students are prepared and being some of the nicest human beings ever. By James O’Neil
It is the season of giving and joy and it's good to see everybody get excited for the holidays but seeing people give back to people in need is even greater. Normally at this time of year, people buy gifts for their kids and ensure they have checked everyone off their lists. But also, people like to take the holidays as a chance to donate to winter clothing drives. They donate things like gloves, hats, coats, etc. This year, East is having a winter clothes drive where people can donate clothes that can help people who need them stay warm during the winter season. At our clothing drive, we are taking some of the following: Belts, Boots, Hoodies, Winter jackets, and all winter gear. And the great thing about it is that we also are doing a food drive so we also will be taking items like canned food, cereal, instant mashed potatoes, boxed pasta, and boxed cornbread mix. I think that things such as the clothing drive is important for people in need to know that whatever that individual is going through or whatever struggle they are dealing with is not forever and that people are there to help them. Even if it's just giving extra clothes and food, it shows that there are still good people out there. And one good example of that type of person is Mr. Zarate. He oversees the clothes drive at East and works with the East High community through the Center for Youth. If you would like to donate, you can bring the new or gently used clothes to our main school security desk and they can then take the clothes to where the other donations go. If you or someone you know needs to access clothes or food this season, you can see Mr. Zarate in the Urban Clothing Closet located just outside the cafeteria. Please make sure you go and help someone this season even if it is giving clothes or food, it's time to give other people hope this holiday season. By Genesis Ortiz Otero Bowling improves muscle strength, flexibility and is a great metal stress reliever. The East bowling team is led by coaches Mr. Mundorff and Mr. Ekert. The East High Bowling team season started on November 13th and runs through February 24th. Bowling is good for the East High School community because it gives students who are not as active as other student athletes the opportunity to communicate, help understand others and help with strategies. At East, we consider Bowling as a sport because it can get competitive and fun. Bowling is considered a physical exercise. Did you know that bowling can help you burn calories too? The number of calories burned depends on factors such as weight and efforts put into the game. An individual weighing 200 pounds can burn up to 275 calories per hour while bowling, according to MayoClinic.com. If you want to know more about how bowling could help you and improve fitness, you can learn more at Bowlcanada.ca. By Jah’Mier Pray
Taking trips to colleges or universities offer so much for high school students who want to pursue further education. These college trips give insight on the admissions process, programs that an Institution offers, or background of how or why the school was created. On a cold afternoon in early December 6th, five students from East High traveled to Niagara University along with 6 other city Schools. Students arrived at the campus in the evening to have a tour and watch their D1 Basketball team battle it out with St Bonaventure. Thanks are owed to Primetime 585 who’s raised over hundreds of thousands of dollars for not only events, but also for the youth of the Section V of New York. Guided by counselors, teachers, families and friends, East High students attend the college tour to learn more about the college application process. The 5 selected students Zara Ramos, Kerel Cooper, Camille Varela, Camieka Amons and JahMier Pray engaged in the college trip to see what makes this college stand out from others. Greg Paulus, a head coach for the Niagara basketball teams tells students about Niagara. On the trip he says, “Niagara is in open arms for City kids, although we’re considered a ‘PWI’ and over the last 3 years there’s been a 22% increase in multicultural races that attend here. Also, we give tons of money! When you guys get a chance to talk to your tour guides ask them how much money Niagara has given them to battle tuition fees.” As these students get ready to leave the familiar hallways and classrooms of East High School, they carry more than just knowledge. They also carry the spirit of curiosity, determination and grit that will absolutely shape their college experiences. East High’s promise to give lifelong learning experiences as students will walk into the big world as adults. By Ne-Yo Marrero
It's the time of year for presents and fun, but what about education? This December the 2024-2025 FAFSA form opens, and you better get to it! FAFSA is a Free Application for Financial Student Aid. This helps students out with college tuition and can really help benefit them and their future. Here at East, we have a lot of people who can really help students out with information on FAFSA. Ms. Gilbert, who is a counselor here at East High School, has a wealth of information about it. She recommends, “Get FAFSA done as early as possible. It's the first step in getting any financial aid for college.” She advises not to be afraid of the cost of college. She went on to say, “College can definitely be affordable, just look at other options, there are scholarships out there, a lot of scholarships out there.” There will be a FAFSA event during 5th period on January 11th, all the way to parent- teacher conference. So, for those of us who are interested in attending this event, I would highly recommend it, especially if you plan on pursuing more education. By Samareia Moton
The season of giving is often associated with the holidays towards the end of the year. It's a time marked by generosity, goodwill, and a good spirit. It holds lots of importance as it allows us all to step beyond our individual lives and connect with others on a deeper level. The holidays are the season of giving, giving love and giving thanks. The holidays are also about faith, showing appreciation, and helping those in need. On a Christian religious level, giving reminds us that God, through Christ, has given each of us gifts to use for his glory. The holidays can be a great time to use your gifts for that purpose to shine the light on Jesus while bringing joy to other people. But on a non-religious level religious holidays like Christmas are not just for believers. They involve rituals and customs that can help reinforce social bonds and bring people together, no matter what their beliefs. Giving to others gives a sense of care, empathy, and love which can uplift the spirits of all the receivers. The season of giving also benefits the one who gives because givers receive feelings like satisfaction, fulfillment, and purpose. It's during this season that many people give. My pastor says, “giving for me isn't just beneficial on my end. It makes me appreciate all that God has given me and I am able to connect with so many people and make someone else’s spirit be uplifted.” Giving to others gives a feeling of satisfaction by allowing people to make a positive impact on others’ lives. This act of kindness can create a warm glow effect, giving feelings of happiness. Second it gives a sense of fulfillment as it aligns with human instinct if that makes sense. Lastly, it provides a sense of purpose by connecting us to a feeling, because it is larger than our inner selves. Long story short, the season of giving is extremely important because the act has been shown to boost the mental and emotional well-being of the person that's giving. It provides a sense of purpose, satisfaction, and joy, contributing to someone else's happiness and life satisfaction. Though the season of giving is not just important for the “social” benefits, but for personal benefits as well. So, I’d say if you can give, make others happy, help others out, be nice to others. It's a great feeling. |
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