Category: by Hana M ’18

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by Hana M '18 by Samantha V '18

All Time Low Concert Experience; Tips and Tricks on How to Survive a Concert

All Time Low (Photo Credit: mtv.com)
All Time Low (Photo Credit: mtv.com)

On May 23rd we had the chance to go to an All Time Low Concert which also included several performances by Tonight Alive, Issues, and State Champs. The crowd was filled with people of all different ages, and all the dyed hair made it look extremely colorful. We were lucky enough for it to be a beautiful day out but with all the mosh pits, pushing and overall lack of personal space we found it hard to keep cool and not get dehydrated. Luckily, security guards took water bottles and poked holes in it creating a sprinkler/ water fountain for all of us fortunate enough to be towards the front. There were some moments we’d thought we would die, of thirst, of people trampling over us or even of excitement but in the end it was worth it! Coming to wait on line hours before was one of the most important things to getting a decent spot in the crowd, and a good view despite the height disadvantage. Waitin on line for hours isn’t such a drag as long as you’re with your friends and having fun. Being on line with hundreds of people with the same taste in music as you is also extremely fun and can lead to friendships so don’t be scared of interaction! Going to an All Time Low concert was definitely the experience of a lifetime. It was a learning experience for future concerts and above all, it was extremely fun! For individuals who are planning to go to similar concerts, read this article for tips and tricks for surviving the concert.

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by Hana M '18

IB Science Now Requires Independent Scientific Investigations from Students

There have been many changes introduced to the IB Science Department that will be affecting the 11th grade next year and the years to come. These changes will be affecting the way students are graded and the way they are supposed to think about the field of science. According to Ms. Mihalache, the changes include internal assessments that require a great depth of knowledge inscientific investigation. The internal assessment is 20% of a student’s final grade. A 10 hour long scientific investigation on an area of a student’s personal interest within the scope of their subject of study is required. The other laboratory investigations are a mix of mandated labs and teacher selected labs.

Another new methodology that is going to be assessed is the nature of science. The curriculum is also being reduced to one of four options that IB gives students. Dr. Helfenbein adds that the biggest change is the concept of a student creating their own experiment and conducting it themselves. He states “The changes are going to require a lot of time, thought and determination. They are major changes and it’s the first time IB asked for this to happen. It is going to require thinking and reading over the summer. When students start to work on it, it is going to require meeting with teachers on several occasions.”

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by Hana M '18

iPhones Cause Separation Anxiety

Have you ever felt like you can’t live without your phone? Have you ever felt less like yourself when you’re grounded and don’t have your phone with you? Well, you have a reason to feel this way.

Source: pixelvulture.com
Source: pixelvulture.com

Recent studies at the University of Missouri show that being away from your iPhone actually causes separation anxiety. People were put in a room and given a crossword puzzle but were told that they could not keep their phones with them due to bluetooth interruptions. The subjects’ heart rates increased and so did their blood pressures. After their phones were taken away, the subjects experienced symptoms of anxiety and their puzzle completion accuracy and speed were very poor.

To further test this, the experimenters called the subjects’ phones and saw their reaction. Since they could not do anything about the ringing phone, they sat there helplessly and felt anxious and disturbed. Doctor Russell Clayton, who was the leader of the experiment says,

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by Hana M '18

Tumblr, YouTube, Vine & The LGBTQ Community

Recently, a story of a transgender teen committing suicide has blown up on the Internet. Leehla Alcorn, born to the name Joshua left a suicide note on her Tumblr page that discussed her struggles for finding acceptance from her parents and friends. She said when she found herself and knew who she was, she immediately told her mother. She wrote, “she reacted extremely negatively, telling me that it was a phase, that I would never truly be a girl, that God doesn’t make mistakes, that I am wrong. If you are reading this, parents, please don’t tell this to your kids. Even if you are Christian or are against transgender people don’t ever say that to someone, especially your kid. That won’t do anything but make them hate themselves. That’s exactly what it did to me.”

Transgender teen, Leelah Alcorn.
Transgender teen, Leelah Alcorn.

Alcorn ended the note by stating her desire for “100% of the things that I legally own to be sold and the money (plus my money in the bank) to be given to trans civil rights movements and support groups… The only way I will rest in peace is if one day transgender people aren’t treated the way I was, they’re treated like humans, with valid feelings and human rights.”

By writing this note she is bringing a much more expanded awareness for transgender people in the world. Because of how many people are on the internet, the note was read by thousands and impacted so many of them. When asked about what

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by Hana M '18

Fact or Fiction: No Parties At BSGE?

By now we’ve pretty much all heard the rumor that there aren’t going to be any dances OR parties this year at BSGE. Everyone’s reaction is pretty much the same, “that’s terrible.” Everyone also has the same question… “why?”  Well the answer is that it’s a collective administrative decision.

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Ms. Johnson says, “The Department of Education requires that adult supervisors be present at all student events and activities.  For activities and events that occur during the school day, like trips, teachers are available to supervise because it occurs during their work day.  But activities and events like parties that occur after the school day require the school to pay teachers for the hours they supervise the event because the event takes place after the school day.”

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by Hana M '18

DOE Directs School Year Latecomers to BSGE

As we all know, BSGE is a very small school with not a lot of kids in it. But recently, BSGE’s Freshman Class has not been filled to the capacity as it had previously due to an increased number of 8th graders leaving for a different high school, and accepted 9th graders that may have turned BSGE down.

Since BSGE is funded by the Department of Education, the DOE can refer students who are arriving late in the school year to come to BSGE to fill the empty spots of the 9th graders that left. There are four new students in the 9th grade and they came in slowly throughout the beginning of the year.

Diego Chica ‘18 moved here from Florida less than a month ago so not only did he miss a month of school, but he also missed any opportunity to get into a Specialized High School. Instead of it being mandatory for him to attend his zoned school, he was given the opportunity to come here. To be accepted into BSGE, Diego had to go to the DOE. When they referred him he took a test and they accepted him after he passed.

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by Hana M '18

Why Is It So Hard To Get a 7 in IB Art?

Going into the IB Middle Years Program is very stressful for BSGE students, especially knowing how hard it is to get a 7 in many classes. Classes only get harder as the years go on and it frightens many students that no one has ever gotten a 7 in Higher Level (HL) IB Art. Only the hardest-working students receive 6s in the class. IB Art is a college course that BSGE offers in high school and not many people are naturally capable of completing a college-level art class. Even those who are talented in the field of art can find it challenging, since a lot of writing and research is involved in the class. “It’s all about figuring out what you want to make art about, which is a very difficult question to ask yourself,” Ms. Schwarz explained. One of the many reasons why attaining a 7 is so difficult is because the change in the class structure can be overwhelming. The art classes that taken before IB Art are preparations for the class. In IB Art, you have limitations and guidelines but no

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