March21,2023|Volume2Issue3 CamasSchoolDistrict’schoicehigh schoolshaveanuncertainfuture

WhatweknowaboutthefutureofCamas ConnectAcademy,HayesFreedomHigh SchoolandDiscoveryHighSchool

By:AliferiaGonzalez&JackWalsh

On Feb. 21, 2023, social media posts were created and reposted to spread awareness and “save” Hayes Freedom High School (HFHS).According to these posts, the Camas School District (CSD) had allegedly requested the school board to close Hayes Freedom High School (HFHS) due to budgetary restrictions—which the district says were, in part, a consequence of legislative decisions made in the state of Washington. These social media posts have caused lots of confusion for the CSD community, and recently CSD Superintendent, Dr.John Anzalone, has provided clarification on the situation.

“We are aware of posts and comments on social media implying that Hayes Freedom High School will be closed due to impending budget cuts,” Anzalone announced.“This information is false, and I’d like to clarify our process and outline our budget development timeline.”

Anzalone clearly explained the plan for the school and the rest of the Camas School District going forward.

“We mentioned in our communication on February 1, 2023, that our leadership team is examining ways to reduce our budget by a target

DiscoSalescan’ttake creditordebitcards

ThetruthbehindwhyDiscoSalesdoes notacceptcreditordebitcards.

By:HayleeKohler&AveryPerry

With an upswing in debit and credit card users among Discovery High School (DHS) students of all ages, many are wondering if DiscoSales will change to accommodate the students who use debit or credit cards. Discovery Digest sat down with debit and credit card users to see how they feel about the cash-only rule at DiscoSales.

“It's upsetting because most people, including me, only have card orApple Pay on them; we don't carry cash,” DHS senior Sam Maxson said. “I would spend more money at DiscoSales if they accepted card because I have Apple Pay—which is on my phone, which I have anyway—so I would have it accessible when they're open,” Maxon added.

Contrary to some opinions, some of the employees at DicsoSales find the lack of alternative payment methods easier to make of $6 million, representing 5% of our budget,” Anzalone stated.

“One of many options under consideration is looking for ways to share staffing among our smaller, choice high schools: Camas Connect Academy, Discovery High School, and Hayes Freedom High School. I want our community transactions with.

“To be honest, I don’t think many kids carry cards unless they’re seniors,” said DHS freshman Jenna Al-Salti, a member of DiscoSales. She explained how the restrictions on payment methods didn’t affect her payment process at DiscoSales.

“I guess if I forget [money] it wouldn’t be a huge deal because they’re open so often that I can just bring money the next day,” said Al-Salti.

Hanna Cuffel-Leathers, a sophomore and DHS ASB (Associate Student Body) class president, expressed some similar issues with forgetting cash and the inconvenience that the circumstance provides.“I always forget to bring money for DiscoSales,” Cuffel-Leathers said.“I definitely think if there was a card reader, sales would go up.”

Although some sides seemed to favor the implementation of credit and debit cards more than others, both reported issues with DiscoSales being a cash-only establishment. So, what’s the solution regarding opportunities for alternative payments?

ASB president Erika Wood, who founded DiscoSales, recognized the problem and further explained the issue.“We can't take to know that we will not eliminate any of our high schools during this arduous budget process and Hayes Freedom High School will not be relocated.”

Continued on Page 3 cards in our accounts because of how things are situated in the school,” said Wood.“Our club can’t take cards because of the terms of use and policy for the school itself, we can't link it to an account.”

“It’s a Washington State law that prevents us from this so we can’t change it ourselves unless something changes in state,”Jack Harding, an officer of DiscoSales, added.The idea of a card reader was considered by both the ASB and the DiscoSales team. It took lots of conversation and discussion to come to the conclusion of being

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Studentinputon Discovery’sartelectivefees

Staffandstudentsexpressopinionson feesforartclasses

By:SophiaPerianandLarkenGrimes

Discovery offers a variety of art classes available for students to take as electives, however, a fee for the supplies provided is required for every student in an art class. Discovery Digest had the opportunity to interview some Discovery High School (DHS) students and staff about having to pay art fees for elective art classes.

"They're supposed to be paid at registration before school starts,” said one of DHS’ digital art teachers Jenifer Linthwaite.“Probably depends on how tight the budget becomes next year, I feel like it's a bit of an equity piece.” Fees can vary by classes and year-based budgets, but they are very important to the teachers of the classes.

“I don't wanna chase kids down and I don't want to ask students for money they don't have,” said Linthwaite.

She explained that she does not treat other students differently whether they paid the fees for her class or not. Digest asked Linthwaite if students still had to pay for materials in class.

“The fees pay for consumables because it's hard for us to buy consumable material with some of the funds that we have,” said Linthwaite.“It is cheaper to buy things in bulk so it's easier to get something with a chunk of money rather than asking students to buy their own things.”

Emerson Ryan, a DHS freshman, enrolled in Studio Art 2 said that they didn’t feel they were limited by the fees they paid for the class.

HowconsumingTVhas affectedteenagers’mental health

WatchingTVhasmanynegativeeffects, buttherearealsopositivesontheyouthof today.

By:Ivan&Bee

Previously, an article was written in Discovery Digest wanting to figure out how students are affected, negatively and positively, by video games.This article, we’re pivoting to discuss the effects of TV on mental

“I think it [the fees] makes sense because especially since it's a public school we don't have other funds,” Ryan said.“You just use what you need to use but don't just use any art supplies.”They explained that lots of watercolor materials were needed for the watercolor unit and those were supplies that needed specific use.

Matayah Mach, a DHS freshman, as well as a student enrolled in Studio Art and Digital Art, expressed her opinion on her first semester in each class.

“It can be a little weird in Digital Art because you know I paid that fee and other people paid that fee but it doesn't feel like it's actually being used to our benefit,” said Mach. Although some students aren’t notified of where the fees go, Melissa McGuffin expressed that students do not struggle with them and that they can receive help if needed.

“We have the scholarship options, the school covers the full 100% it just comes out of the general building budget,” said McGuffin.“It's typically students that are on the reduced lunch plan but it can be anyone, so if they are having a tough time they can also get that scholarship for class fees as well as sports fees.”

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For context, psychosomatic symptoms can be psychological or physical.Anything from a headache to crying at 3 a.m. can be considered psychosomatic. The Mayo Clinic expresses that both video games and TV can cause blurry vision after prolonged use. Discovery High School (DHS) student, Riley Velazquez-Ridley, also discussed the effects of TV on him as a child in an over-text interview with Discovery Digest “As for negative impacts I could say body image,” Velazquez stated.“When I was a preteen I watched teen shows. I remember feeling awful about myself because all the people onTVwere so pretty and I was ugly. It was devastating for me when I was younger and I still feel some of those effects to the present day.”

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