With the 2024 Special Olympics coming around the students are extremely excited but the teachers are even more excited. We at the FMS Times have interviewed Mrs. Levan, (The head teacher in the classroom), Lily (Grade 7), and Konrad (grade 7). We decided to ask Mrs. Levan and her students a couple of questions on how they feel about the 2024 Special Olympics, listed below are the questions we have asked them:

1. Do you have fun doing the Special Olympics?

2. How many years have you been doing the Special Olympics?

3. What's the best part of the Special Olympics?

4. What should you bring to the Special Olympics?

5. On a scale of 1-10, how excited are you about the Special Olympics?

Here are their responses:

Do you like doing the Special Olympics? Mrs. Levan responded, "Getting to watch the students participate in athletics at their own level is always such a blast." Konrad responded, "Yep!" Lily responded, "Yes! I love doing it every single year!"

"How many years have you been doing the Special Olympics?" Konrad said, " Since Kindergarten." Lily answered, "I started in first grade." Mrs. Levan said, "10 years." 

"What's the best part about special Olympics?" Lily said, " Winning first place." Konrad said" Running." 

"What should you bring to special Olympics?" Konrad said, " Water Bottle, snacks, take a sunscreen, bring a lunch or have a sack lunch."  Lily said "Sunscreen, snacks, shorts special Olympics shirt, and water." 

"Do you have anything else to say about special Olympics?" Konrad said, "They have a tent if you feel hot, if you need a break, go to the tent, it is really hot, if it is bad weather go to shelter." Lily said, "Nope I'm good." 

All of the Special Olympics kids and teachers are very excited and intrigued for the Special Olympics. They are all putting amazing effort with training for the event.  They are perfecting their skills. So, let's all cheer them on and support them in every way we can. 

All throughout the school, there’s always talk about whether we should have phones in classes or not. This year, FMS has changed their policy to keeping phones in lockers at all times. Why the recent shift? We have interviewed many staff on this boiling topic, and here's what they had to say. We interviewed Mr. Bonner, Mrs. Cooney, Mrs. Hirsch, Landon Ostrander, and Ms. Greco to get their opinions on the "No Phone" policy. We chose to show the interviews from Landon Ostrander and Mrs. Cooney so we see the sides of both teachers and students.

Do you think the phone policy helps students? 

Landon: It depends on whether they are using it for good things or for bad things.

Mrs. Cooney: Yes

Should phones be allowed in class?

Landon: Yes

Mrs. Cooney: No

Do you think bringing back phones lowers kids' stress in class?

Landon: Yes, because when you don't have your phone and there is a family emergency, it would be difficult for your parents to contact you

Mrs. Cooney: No

Why do you think the school has the "No Phone" policy?

Landon: I think they have this policy because without this policy, kids would not be paying attention in class, and they would be on their phones instead

Mrs. Cooney: FMS has the "No Phone" policy in order for students to succeed in class and focus on what they are learning.

IF you think we should have phones in class, how would we use them?

Landon: To have the ability contact parents for emergencies or if a lesson you're doing a lesson that has an app that is needed that isn’t available on school computers. If you have a phone, it would be nice to have it with you in class

Mrs. Cooney: Phones can be useful for different things, like calculators, timers, music, and emergency contact

Why should we have the ability to take phones into our classes?

Landon: "Because if we don't have phones, then it could be hard to do different lessons."

Mrs. Cooney: "It can be used as an educational tool"

As you can see from these interviews, there are multiple sides to this topic. Between students and teachers, you can choose which side you agree with. However, we recognize and respect that school rules are made for a reason and that reason is in the best interests for all.