As school year draws to a close, students across the nation anticipate the biggest school sanctioned literacy event of the year: the sale and distribution of the school yearbook. Like students elsewhere, Fayette Middle students anxiously awaited its arrival.
Produced by some sixty-five or so students working together with the help of two staff advisors, the yearbook, a fifty page hard back document, captured the year through photographs, student produced artwork, and captions. Sports held a prominent place in the pages of the yearbook: photos of football, wrestling (which I both proudly represented as team captain), track, and baseball events for the boys; and track, tennis, volleyball, and basketball for the girls filled the pages. The book also contained photos of the school mascot, a drug and alcohol awareness club, and the drama club.
At Fayette Middle School, the yearbook had become a critical part of the end-of -the -year curriculum. For the most part, teachers described the yearbook as a celebration and well-earned reward for hard work. They gave class time for signing and sharing yearbooks. Perceived as a way to control the behavior of the 600 plus seventh and eighth graders who in late May, may not be eager to participate in discussions or complete end-of-semester projects, signing time was a tool for negotiating with students, often appearing as a bribe. Teachers told students: "If we get all of our work done..," "If you are all good..," or "If you cooperate, and we can hurry through this..." The following teacher received several nods and "really, really?" from wide-eyed middle schoolers: “I will give the last five or ten minutes for writing in the annuals depending on how the class goes. It's a reward. It's a privilege. It's their reward for good behavior."
The yearbook played such a large role in the end-of -year activities because the teachers and administrators believed that it gave a tremendous sense of belonging. The “x” factor of adolescence and peer-group “clicks” constructed filters, and it seemed, this prevented school personnel from seeing the yearbook as exclusionary. Although the yearbook was viewed as a symbol of equality for all students, only a particular population of students was made to feel as if they belonged to this club. Other students remained outsiders.
A constant comment from the Fayette Middle staff was "Everybody gets one" and "Everyone loves them.” This reveals that my friends James, Bobby and many others were invisible to school personnel.
This tournament, apart from entertaining students and other fans, highlights what stuff different colleges are made of. This comes at a critical time when high school seniors are considering what colleges to attend once they graduate. Thus, it is not surprising that this package of sporting events brings glad tidings to the people as it helps usher-in the beautiful spring season. However, a critical evaluation of the different teams and schools reveal the series of events -both good and not so good- that occur as they prepare for this all-important tournament.
It is apparent that my psychoanalytical research of The Breakfast Club reveals each character's persona in school is not who they actually are. The walls that they came into detention with that Saturday came toppling down Brian’s pencil and onto a piece of paper in the shape of a letter to Mr.Vernon explaining that they are more than the stereotypes that he sees them as. The five students entered Sherman High School as a jock, a princess, a basket case, a brain, and a criminal, but they left as friends bonded by the fact that they are not alone in this world.
these boys, did they belong in the reject circle, the outcast’s of the high school? were they the weirdo’s because they loved to learn while everyone else? focused on their looks and the next football game. Maybe, and this is the very. point that Leon Botstein states in his article “Let Teenagers Try Adulthood” for the The New York Times, which was written after the Littleton shootings.
Every year there’s always that one day toward the end of the school year that students look forward to and that day is yearbook distribution day. This is the day that the yearbook staff is finally allowed to hand out the yearbooks to everyone that have either previously ordered one or intend on purchasing one that day. Although this is day a lot of students usually look forward too for some it may not be as exciting because they may not be appearing in the yearbook at all other than for the mandatory school photo that everyone takes. Over the years this has become and increasing issue amongst the high school population and there have been debates on to whether or not it is fair that some students are getting more space in the yearbook compared to students that don’t appear in it at all. Taking journalism my freshman year and being a part of the yearbook staff for the following three years I have definitely found that it is nearly impossible to make sure everyone get equal space in the book.
seniors at Columbine High School, entered the school in the middle of the school day and conducted a
Class of 2012, as we sit here this evening, I would like you to take a look at the classmates sitting around you. Many students have given countless hours of time, energy, and passion to worthy cuases that they have been a part of throughout high school. However, those aren't the only students deserving of recognition this evening. We have students here tonight, who have taken a stand for what they believe in, not even hesitating to compromise their reputations.
Walter Kirn successfully unearths some of the worst aspects of senior year. However, these reasonings are not sound enough to condone the discontinuation of it. Any issues found are the fault of the student or the school administration, not the grade level itself. Senior year is worth holding on to for both the persistence of learning and for solidifying relationships. Kirn mentions with pleasure his choice to leave high school early. Nonetheless the four year high school experience should not be demoralized by those who wish to value it for the irreplaceable opportunity it is.
Good morning teachers, faculty, administrators, family, friends, and of course students. It is a great privilege to be standing here today and representing our class on our eighth grade Class Day. Can you believe it? Four years ago, most of us walked into this school as nervous as we were the first day of school. We were the tiny fifth graders, the youngest students in this middle school, not knowing where anything was and how to navigate the school. Now, those same four years later, we’re leaving this school behind to a whole new school being just as nervous as we were when we first arrived. It has been a long four years as well as a short four years. Long because of all the tests, quizzes, finals, and projects, but short because of the lifelong friendships, the lasting memories, and the truly interesting and amazing things we learned in-between. The Abington Heights Middle School is definitely a welcoming, fun, memorable, and great school that I will never forget. These four years spent with these wonderful classmates has been an extraordinary journey with many cherishable memories.
This story takes place in a New York City school in Manhattan, in the nineteen- sixties. The book covers the span of one school semester form September to February.
Lawton, M. (March 1999). “For Whom the School Bell Tolls.” The School Administrator Web Edition. Retrieved from http://www.aasa.org/publications/sa/1999_03/lawton.htm
Being apart of yearbook could help me grow as a person while having fun. I hope to improve my organization, team skills, as well as improving my writing. Yearbook involves all the
Young adolescents can be described as ages 10-15 years old, but it is also considered that adolescence continues until the age of 25. During this time in an adolescent’s life there are many internal and external factors that affect the development of each individual. The influence that an adolescent’s peers, parents, and community have on them can be conflicting and therefore cause stress. Trying to meet the expectations of others during a time where one is going through so many forms of physical, psychological, and cognitive development can be trying for a middle school aged student. They are expected to focus on their education and the expectation of other outside influences while their bodies are growing and developing into an adult body. When development happens differently for these kids it can affect their psychological development if they focus too much on how fast, or slow they are developing in comparison to their peers. Some adolescents may let their peers influence their behaviors creating a problem with how they interact with others, or how they view themselves as a person. The middle school is a place where students are guided through these developmental experiences with the help of their peers, teachers, administrators, parents and community.
This is an incredible book of which I am well aware that I did not truly give it the justices it deserves in this reactive paper. However, it is and well remain a incredible written mastiff to the insights of adolescence behavior and how we can bridge the generational gap as well as be cognizant of our missives toward social media. Ms. Deans book would defiantly be much more appreciated in a semester course where one could expand upon the nuances of her insight into labyrinth of the teen mind and behaviors.
It is another August. The teachers enter the school for the academic year, the main hallway, as well as the walkways is buzzing with excitement and mixed emotions. The returning faculty is engaged in discussions of
Having spent twelve years of my school life in just one small red brick building, the years tend to fade into each other. But the year I remember most clearly and significantly is my senior year of high school, where I finally began to appreciate what this institution offered to any student who stopped to look. Before, school had been a chore, many times I simply did not feel motivated toward a subject enough to do the homework well, and seeing the same familiar faces around ever since I was 5 years old grew very tiring soon enough. But I began to see things from a different angle once I became a senior.