FHMS Student Forum

Last week I saw a myriad of destructive behavior at our school:  a boy punched a girl, girls and boys  fighting in the hallway, a student cursed a teacher, numerous verbal altercations among boys and girls, students degrading themselves and each other,  and a total disregard for the learning environment as students rudely interrupted their teachers.  Where does it end?

With the 2010 Benchmark Exam only a month away, it seems our school is imploding.  Now is the time to get strong, not fold.  Though, it seems that many students are doing just that  – folding.  There is still time left to get the extra bit of knowledge needed to pass the exam.  Some students are very close to proficiency, but if they don’t continue to work hard they’re not going to pass.  Some students are holding them up by creating problems.  It will not be tolerated.

The environment at Forest Heights Middle School has been labeled “toxic”.  Do you know what “toxic” means?  From what I can tell, the problems at our school are getting worse.  What can you do about it?  WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?

The 2010 Winter Olympic games have been dramatic from the start: a luge athlete died when he struck a medal support beam at 90 mph, Canada’s Joannie Rochette won bronze a day after her mother died, and America’s most decorated Winter Olympian, Apolo Ohno, may have raced his last race.  I’ve watched everything that has been televised: bobsledding, luge, alpine skiing, skating, ski jumping, and even curling! Sports such as bobsledding and ski jumping are so dangerous, I just can’t take my eyes off of it.  Did you watch any of the 2010 Olympic Games?  What was your favorite moment? I feel a sense of pride when one of our American Athletes is standing on the winners platform and the national anthem is playing – I guess you could call me patriotic.

It’s been a month since a 7.0 magnitude earthquake leveled several Haitian cities.  If you watch the evening news, it seems that it’s no longer a big story.  In fact,  the biggest news story last Friday was about a golfer.  Many young Haitians are now homeless, orphaned, and afraid to sleep inside of a building.  Their nightmare is only beginning.  Do you think the school-age children of Haiti would appreciate the luxuries that we share as Americans?  We have modern schools that help foster opportunity.  They have rubble and destruction.  Sometimes a tragedy like this one can help to put a little perspective on your own life.  We should be thankful for what we have . . . very thankful.

I found a new program that’s fun. . . . .and free!  Check it out and build one for yourself at wallwisher.com.  It’s a web wall where you and your friends can post comments like a bulletin board.  Just click on the Wallwisher icon in the top left corner and you can build your own in minutes.

America’s 44th President has had his hands full during his first year in office.  Issues such as health care reform, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the global economic crisis have tested his resolve.  President Obama walked into the Oval Office in January of ‘09 amid a hailstorm of problems.  How do you think he has handled his job?  Watch this news reel from CNN to see how the media views his performance.

Time is a valuable thing.  Personally, I don’t like wasting time doing non-productive tasks when I’m working.  I believe that when I’m wasting time, I’m wasting money.  As a student, one may consider their time valuable for many reasons: good grades could mean thousands of dollars in scholarship money, or a good education could mean a higher paying job.  However you look at it, our time is valuable.  How do you view your time?  How much is your time worth?  Do you feel you’re too young to start thinking about earning money?  What does the saying “time is money” mean to you?  Do you earn any money now?  Do you get paid by the hour or by the job?  Feel free to elaborate on this idea.

Every Saturday I look forward to getting up early and playing a round of golf.  After a long work week, the game of golf helps me clear my head and focus on what’s important.  We all have different ways of recharging our batteries.  I believe that if you work hard all week, you deserve to spend some time enjoying something you love to do – it’s part of our human condition.  How do you like to unwind on the weekend (or during breaks)?

Rapper Lil’ Wayne pleaded guilty to attempted weapon possession in October, and expects to serve a one-year jail sentence.  The conviction stems from his 2007 arrest for having a loaded 9mm handgun on his tour bus.  In the state of New York, the crime can carry a sentence of up to 3 and a half years.  He’s scheduled to report to prison February 9, 2010.  Do you think he deserves a prison sentence?  If not, then how should he be punished?  Should people be aloud to carry loaded weapons wherever they choose?

Half of the school year is officially over, and we are now counting down the days to Benchmark Week.  Benchmark testing will assess how well students are progressing in their math, English, and science classes.  The results of the test will be used to place students in future classes.  For example, if a student scores advanced in math, then they will be placed in classes with other advanced students.   What do you think about the ACTAAP?  Are you taking it seriously?  Do you think students should have to take these tests?  Do they make you nervous?  Be candid with your response, there is no penalty for being honest……I want to know what you really think.

Positive things happen to positive people.  You could call their good fortune luck, possibly karma, or maybe even being blessed by a higher power.  Whatever the case, positive people always seem to have good things happen to them…..even in the face of disaster.  Conversely, negative people not only seem to always find themselves in some type of trouble, but they like to bring people down with them.  Granted, sometimes it’s difficult to stay positive when things are not going your way, but when you have a positive attitude people tend to want to help you out of bad situations.  How do you view yourself: positive or negative?  Do you make the people around you better or do you bring people down?  When you look at the picture of the glass of water to the left, do you see it as half-full or half-empty.  How do positive people influence you? How do negative people influence you?