Special Edition
October 2018
Sidney Lanier High School’s
The Blue & White Mother at 14, LHS Teacher Beats Odds
Inside this issue: Can later school times give Lanier an academic boost?
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Keeping It 100: Parents, where are your kids?
3
Passion, Purpose, Priorities: New teachers on the block
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LHS as a charter school in 2020 under review
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Dealing with depression
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By Chyna S. Rowell
Most high school freshmen are thinking about seeing old friends and learning about what teachers to avoid. But at 14, Sharonda Phelps became pregnant with her first child. One would think it would be hard for teens bearing a child at a young age to make it to graduation, much less become successful in the future. Phelps at this time was like any other teen, questioning her future: How was she going to take care of her child? How was she going to make up school? “I didn’t have a job,” said Phelps, the chemistry teacher at Sidney Lanier High School and mother of DeAundre Phelps, a senior here.
Introducing ‘The Royal Tea’ featuring scribblers Cai’Che Coleman and Javonde Robinson. Read the point/counterpoint on School Spirit. See page 7.
Mark your calendars with significant dates to remember, page 6
Even though didn’t believe she would make it at first, she had people who care for her and helped her through this transition. People including her teachers, a social worker ,siblings, and her Young Phelps and foster mom kept her son, DeAundre moving forward. Her foster mom, though, had the most impact on her throughout her school years. “You can’t live your life and dreams around what other people think,” Phelps said. She took the criticism with a grain of salt. She was at an advantage because she was very intelligent. The people who backed her believed she would persevere because she always kept up her A-game.
Phelps Chyna Rowell/Staff
Plus, Phelps’ foster mom wouldn’t let her quit. “She gave me no choice but to be great,” the teacher recalled. “She wasn’t going to accept mediocrity.” When she finally graduated from Alabama State University with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and biology and a minor in mathematics, Phelps said she felt more excited for her children rather than herself. At that time, DeAundre was 10 and her daughter, Sydney, was 6. Ms. Phelps wanted to be able to show her kids that regardless of the situation to stay true to what you want to accomplish. “Because I’m a lot younger than most parents who have kids my age, this makes me more relatable to my children,” she said. “I can identify with a lot of stuff they are dealing with. Ultimately, it made me a better person.”
The Blue & White
Later Middle, High School Start Times Boost Learning The American Academy of
By Keshaun Thompson
Classes for teenagers should start later, health experts say, but Montgomery’s middle and high schools do the opposite. Students need more sleep to perform better in school, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advised in its recent study. Other journals are reporting the same advice. Nearly half of the nation’s teenagers report sleep difficulties that affect their daily functioning, according to The Journal of Adolescence. Researchers have documented, not only does a lack of sleep hurt academic performance, it is linked to higher rates of obesity, depression, drug use and automobile accidents. “7:30 is too early, we should be at school by 8:30 or later,” 12th-grader Kayla Calhoun said. “I have a problem with getting school so I have to get up extra early, in order to get to school, so I’m often late to school.”
Imagine if MPS adopted later school start times for traditional schools, like Sidney Lanier High, the ability for students to learn will be easier. Then Lanier could get off the state’s failing schools list. More importantly, students will get to school on time. Tardiness is a major problem at Lanier. “I’m tired of rushing myself in the morning to be at school,” 12th-grader Madison Jones said. “I just wish they’ll push it back at least an hour or two.” Late start times will also bring down the rate of teens getting in trouble for sleep makes sense. According to research, pros can vary from more time to sleep in and time for preparation in class and feeling too tired to do work in class. Not every teenager’s body has the ability to get up and function according to how the adults at school think they should. Kenn Isaac/ Staff
“I enjoy getting up at 5 o’clock and getting to school by 7:00,” said 10th-grader Katelyn Guilford, “so I’ll keep it at the time it’s at now.” A policy statement issued by the AAP also cited the modern teenager’s competing interests — including Page 2
Pediatrics has recommended that middle and high schools start at 8:30 a.m. or later to give students the opportunity to get the amount of sleep they need, but most American adolescents, including those in Montgomery, start school too early. homework, extracurricular activities, after-school jobs and technology use — that contribute to their lack of sleep on weekdays, requiring catch-up sleep time on weekends. With school starting so early it takes away the privilege if adequate sleep that should be obtained in order to perform to their highest abilities within the hours of school. Unfortunately, teens are affected most by this problem, and school leaders aren’t trying to change the school schedule at all. Late school start times for adolescents is currently a hot topic across the nation, but there isn’t a voice from a student standpoint. Therefore, it’ll be difficult to address this situation because views vary. Some students have grown accustomed to coming to school early. Parents, though, have a different point of view. “I have to rip and run in the morning in order to get my children to school on time and one of them usually end up late, because both schools start around similar times,” parent Kasha Thompson said. “Letters from MPS come in concerning the time that my child arrived to school,” the mother added, “and I’m tired of it.”
Special Edition
Streetlights Caught the Curfew Law By Lamarch Russell
A curfew is not important to children who always break rules. This past weekend was an example of how the curfew wouldn’t change anything. The movies in Montgomery has a curfew and it is that children can’t come into the movies after six o’clock without a parent. The children came and had to be escorted off the premises. They never left the area. They were just interfering with businesses such as Hardee’s and McDonalds’s. They were being loud in the restaurants, fighting, and throwing rocks at cars. The curfew law isn’t enforced strictly enough. Most parents don’t follow it and most children don’t care about it. Rules are always going to have somebody try to work their way around them and that’s what happened.
One parent got her windows busted which resulted in a fight. Officer Mackey went live on Facebook and talked about the situation. Two weeks before school started, my brothers and I were pulled over by the police. They pulled us over around 3 A.M in the morning. They asked us where we were coming from, how old we are, and what was our address. We weren’t aware of the curfew law that was enforced for Montgomery youth. The Councilman, Glen Pruitt, proposed a curfew for Montgomery youth.
In Mr. Pruitt’s proposal, minors would be banned from being outside their homes from 9 A.M. to 2:30 P.M. during the school week while Montgomery Public Schools are in session and from 11 P.M. to 6 A.M. Sunday through Thursday. On Friday and Saturday, curfew wouldn't begin until midnight. I don’t like the curfew law because it is unnecessary. I think that it would make more youth break the law. The curfew law was made to curb crime and make Montgomery a safer place. People will still break the law and come out after curfew. I don’t think curfew will change anything.
UPDATE: The Montgomery City Council voted 4-3 to decline the adoption of a youth curfew after three months of data gathered by police.
MPS Should Change Policy for Students with Meds By Jhalynn Gaston
I could’ve gone to jail, PERIOD!
with disabilities to make sure they receive accommodations for academic success.
Montgomery school district administrators say that it is illegal to carry drugs throughout the school and we could potentially be arrested.
The current MPS policy does not recognize the students with medical issues. At Lanier High School, 504 students, including myself, are not allowed to carry their medication in school when it is needed.
I am a student living with epilepsy, which makes me prone to seizures, and I have gotten my medication taken at the door. I understand why they don’t want us to walk around the school with drugs because of how crazy children are now. There should be an acceptance for the children with a medical past and issues. I benefit from the 504 policy, a plan for students Page 3
Some schools require students to put it in their lockers or out of sight, while others must take it to the nurse. Are school leaders going to come up with a policy for students with medical necessities? What will happen if a student is in need of medical help and they can’t get to their medication in time? They should in case of a severe medical emergency.
The Blue & White
$2K Bicentennial School Grant Stocks ‘Poet Pantry’ By Tisheanna Pendleton
Never again will a student at Sidney Lanier High School have to go home hungry. To celebrate Alabama’s 200th year into statehood in 2019, Lanier was chosen as a Bicentennial School which contains a $2,000 grant to support a yearlong project designed to strengthen connections between campuses and their communities.
The goal of the Bicentennial Schools designation is to support project based learning that develops civic engagement and responsibility. “We are very proud to help these kids who need it, whenever we can help out it’s definitely a honor,” Assistant Principal Cynthia Tucker said
Montgomery County
Lanier’s project would help benefit not only the school, but also the students and their families
in need. “Students receive free after-school lunches,” said Cubie Rae Hayes, parent liaison at LHS, about the existing program through the Child Nutrition Department. “It was thought best to concentrate on the whole family instead of putting a few snacks in a bag for one student to go home with other siblings there with none to share.” Once a week a parent should report to the high school to receive their food box, which contains various items including fruit, snacks, cooking meat, and vegetables. Some students don’t have as much food to last all month, organizers learned. And most parents are unemployed or in between jobs. Most parents don’t receive food stamps to help them feed their children when they’re already struggling paying the bills .
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Tisheanna Pendleton/Staff
Baldwin Arts & Academics Magnet School Bear Exploration Center LAMP High School The Montgomery Academy Sidney Lanier High School Valiant Cross Academy
Special Edition
New Teachers share passion, purpose and priorities By Ragan Purter and Christian Lowery
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.” This 2018-2019 school year, new royalties on the faculty at “The Castle” have the passion to meet and exceed the “goal of true education”. Sidney Lanier High School gained a dozen new educators — all of whom teach different subjects and various grade levels. “I’ve always had a passion for teaching, because I’ve always had a passion for investing in our future. Investing in students’ learning is investing in the future” says Dr. Cleve Carter, a Career Prep teacher. “I wanted to pursue a career in education because I come from a family of educators and as Carter educator we inspire and nurture young minds” Dr. Carter continued. Although Dr. Carter always had a passion for becoming an educator, it didn’t hit Roger Burdette, also a Career Prep teacher and Speech and Debate instructor, until his mid adult age. “I was in my mid twenties when I realized teaching made my heart happy and that I like working with kids,” Mr. Burdette said. Both realize that structure and order are important, so they agree with two of the new school rules, including the 1515 and the cell phone policies.
Burdette
“There are rules everywhere. Life comes with rules,” Mr. Burdette said. “Although I wish some things didn’t involve rules, I do agree with the school rules. The Cell Phone Policy is my favorite.”
Added Dr. Carter: “I wouldn’t have it a better way” Dr. Carter says.
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Camilla Broadnax, a World History and Sociology teacher, leads her class in a lesson. Christian Lowery/Staff
The New MPS Cell Phone Policy consists of students not being able to use their cellular device at all, except for instruction. “It’s a great way to keep the students focused, Dr. Carter said. “One of the main reasons I decided to teach at Lanier was because I wanted to be a part of helping the students make wise decisions.” New World History and Sociology teacher Camilla Broadnax also loves the new school rules. “It’s keeps them from having excuses and focused on the things that really matter. Their cellular devices can wait,” she said. Although Ms. Broadnax never had a passion for teaching, she realized she belonged in the classroom. “Teaching is what I’m meant to do,” Ms. Broadnax said. “I love history and my goal is to encourage my students to love History as well.” There are a few rumors about Ms. Broadnax being a mean and hard teacher. “I don’t think I’m mean,” she said, “but yes I am most definitely a hard teacher because I want the best for every student in this building.”
The Blue & White
Lanier’s Future as a Charter School Pending By Jaliyah Stokes
An alleged rumor emerged last spring about Lanier becoming a charter school in 2022. The current news is that an application has been submitted for the conversion. However, the application is still under review and the charter has not been granted. Because of this no contracts or commitments can be made. You may be wondering what’s a charter school and how this impact our current public school. In a nutshell, charter schools are independently operated and they set up their own rules and academic goals with the district and state, which they’re held accountable. Similarly, public schools must adhere to the educational standards set by the state board. To sum up, charter and public schools must meet the state standards; however, charter schools have more freedom to create the path to meeting those standards. Ann Sikes, the executive director of the Montgomery Education Foundation, shared her thoughts on the future of Lanier.
Sikes
“The transition is an opportunity to better support our school leadership and our teachers so they can deliver the promise of giving students a quality education.” Ms. Sikes said.
Sidney Lanier principal, Antonio Williams, believes that in order to deal with issues involving education and learning we must identify the problems and what causes the problems
Day of Service for students and staff: Oct. 26 Parent Visitation Day (No classes): Oct. 29 The Haunted Castle: Oct. 30&31 Veterans Day: Nov. 12 Thanksgiving Break: Nov. 19-23
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“The transition is an opportunity to … deliver the promise of giving students a quality education.” ~ Ann Sikes, Montgomery Education Foundation
to find the best solutions. “I don’t think charter schools are necessarily a solution to the problems that the school face. I think charter schools should only serve as a potential option,” Dr. Williams said. The students of Lanier of Lanier don’t seem to be fond of the idea of conversion. In JROTC class there was a poll cast, which asked who for and against charter schools. Out of 32 students all voted negatively. Mya Williams, a 12th grader, expressed how she feels about the subject. “I don’t think Lanier would benefit from being converted because it could potentially harm student morale and the school’s spirit and history could be damaged as well.”
First semester ends: Dec. 20 Winter Holiday: Dec. 24, 2018-Jan. 4, 2019 Spring Break: March 18-22 Day of Service: April 19 Last Day for Students: May 23 LHS Graduation @ ASU Acadome: May 19 at 2 PM
The Blue & White
Classmates Differ in Views on LHS School Spirit Issue By Javonde Robinson
By Cai’Che Coleman
As we watch other schools have a lot of school spirit we tend to say “ I wish we were like JD or Park Crossing.” We actually can be. Students at Lanier don't participate in anything that we do as a student body.
I don’t understand why we continue to get called “lame” when it comes to school spirit. The problem is: We feel there are too many restraints and some people want to transfer. Most feel that we shouldn’t support our school because they make us pay for every single thing. We should ask why we don’t have enough pep rallies. For example, we were supposed to have a pep rally for the second game.
Being one of the most-spirited students at Lanier, I feel like some of my peers don’t take pride in or put pride into the school. They just want to go home and not have fun in high school. Yes, we are here to learn but also to make great memories. So, what’s the problem? Jasmine Holloway-Pate, one of Lanier’s most energetic teachers, says, “Students at Lanier don’t care and they don’t make high school into what it should be.” There are some similarities in high school today and years before but the one thing that has changed is having PRIDE in the Blue & White. When we have a pep rally there are activities to do and music to dance to but students just sit there. We’ve had one attempt to have a pep rally and it was another fail. Principal Dr. Antonio Williams canceled the pep rally because of the tardiness and absences of the students. Yes the auditorium is closed in, gym isn’t so fresh but as the creed says, “My school will be what I make it.” We should do just that. We are all a family. We should act like it.
But because certain students were “late” to class and in the hallways after the tardy bell, and Dr. Antonio Williams, principal of Sidney Lanier High School, decided to punish the whole entire school.
“We are all a family. We should act like it.” ~ Ja’Vonde’ Robinson
“ … Millennials like to document everything on our phones, but then we are told to put up our cell phones.” ~ Cai’Che Coleman
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“If we get more active, more students would have school spirit,” senior Kayla Calhoun said. “If they involved us in things and take our suggestions on things, sophomore Brooklyn Whittle started. Then, “more students will participate in things dealing with the school,” sophomore Arrionya Peterson added. I also believe that we as millennials like to document everything on our phones, but then we are told to put up our cell phones. Also, I think we should find a better environment to have the pep rallies, because the gym is too hot and the auditorium is too tight and oftentimes uncomfortably warm. Some students don’t know how to act and they being acting “extra” while adults are talking. But, we’re family and we should act like it.
Special Edition
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Special Edition
Teen Learns Life Tools to Defeat Depression By Yoselin Rivera and Mariban Escalante
Depression creeps up on you quietly. At the start most people struggle with the little things, but they choose to ignore it all. Camila Perez, an alias for a student interviewed who chose not to be identified, says depression for her started “like a headache.” She would just tell herself that it's just a bad day with hopes that it will all get better the next day. She didn't want to live like that anymore. That feeling of emptiness. The emotional highs and lows. Those days where she didn’t want to be social. Camila didn't like “that ugly feeling” that caused a lot of anxiety attacks due to her depression. She lived with depression for two years before she told her mother. The only other people who knew were two closest friends. Camila recalls them trying everything to help her feel better. They made themselves available 24/7 through group chats and texts. Last winter she tried to commit suicide three times by overdosing on pills from the medicine cabinet. She called her friends through a video chat.
“Nobody loves me. Nobody cares,” she recalls feeling. Her friends consoled her and convinced her that life is worth living. Camila flushed the pills. “I realized that there are people who actually care for me. I decided to tell my mom what was happening with me and how I felt.” Camila’s mom found a therapist, who prescribed medication to control the bouts of depression. “I feel better,” she says, adding that the “happiness” comes from the medication. “I know I will never completely live a perfect life, but I am doing better.” She desires to help other people who are going through depression. “They need to know they are not alone. I encourage you to speak up on your problems and get help so you can live a better and happier life,” she says. “You have to love yourself before anything else, because you are important.”
“You have to love yourself before anything else, because you are important.” ~ Camila Perez
8 Tips for Living with Depression 1. Build a Support Network: Develop strong social support. For some, this may mean forging stronger ties with friends or family. For others, a depression support group can be key. 2. Reduce Your Stress: When you're under stress, your body produces more of a hormone called cortisol. In the short-term, this is a good thing because it helps you gear up to cope with whatever is causing the stress in your life. Over the long run, however, it can cause many problems for you, including depression. The more you use techniques to reduce stress, the better because it will reduce your risk of becoming depressed. 3. Improve Your Sleep Hygiene: Sleep and mood are intimately related. Good sleep hygiene could be key to improving the quality and quantity of your sleep. Turn off electronics at least an hour before you go to bed. 4. Improve Your Eating Habits: Research continues to find clear links between diet and mental health. There are many brain-essential nutrients that can affect depression. Improving your diet could be key to reducing your symptoms. . 5. Learn How to Stop Negative Thoughts: Depression doesn't just make you feel bad, it can also cause you to think more negatively. Changing those negative thoughts, however, can improve your mood. There are also many self-help Page 9
books, apps, and online courses that can help you learn how to change your unhealthy thinking patterns. 6. Beat Procrastination: The symptoms of depression, such as fatigue and difficulty concentrating, make procrastination tempting. But putting things off fuels depression. It can lead to increased guilt, worry, and stress. It's important to set deadlines and manage your time well. Establish short-term goals and work hard to get the most important things done first. 7. Get a Handle on Household Chores: Depression can make it difficult to complete household chores, such as doing the dishes or paying bills. Work undone will only magnify your feelings of worthlessness. Take control of your daily chores. Start small and work on one project at a time. Getting up and moving can help you start to feel better in itself. 8. Create a Wellness Toolbox: Think of things you like to do when you're happy. Then, when you're feeling down, try one of those activities. Create a list of the activities you might try when you're feeling bad. Then, choose an activity to try when you're having a particularly rough time. Source: VeryWellMind.com
The Blue & White
Sidney Lanier High School 1756 South Court Street Montgomery, AL 36104
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