Knight Times
The John H. Glenn High School Newspaper
Vol. 1 No. 1
December 2020
The John Glenn Class of 2021
Valedictorian and Salutatorian
By Molly Miler
Becoming the valedictorian and the salutatorian is a huge honor. Our two hardworking John Glenn students - Rithika Narayan and Daniel Rourke, have definitely earned those well-deserved positions.
Rithika Narayan is our valedictorian this 2020-2021 school year. Rithika has won countless awards and is always willing to volunteer to help out the Elwood community. After she graduates, she plans on majoring in computer science.
Our salutatorian this year is Daniel Rourke, also known as the all-school president. He is a strong role model who is also very involved in helping his Elwood community. Daniel plans on going to the University of Pennsylvania and is looking to major in finance and international studies.
Rithika and Dan are always putting in multiple extra hours of work and utilize their great study and test-taking skills to the best of their ability, which has helped them get to where they are. With their determined work ethic and leadership, it is no surprise that they finished at the top of their class.
Rithika Narayan
2021 JGHS Valedictorian
Daniel Rourke
2021 JGHS Salutatorian
Image courtesy of Pixabay
The Downside of Returning to School During a Global Pandemic Plus Some Tips on How to Manage
By Julia Stawecki
Since early 2020 students have been going through the unimaginable. With the development of SARS-CoV-2 or better known as the coronavirus and COVID-19, life has changed dramatically and has had some very negative effects on students. Studies have reported that over 78% of students have educational disruptions from COVID-19, and of that 78%, 71% report major increases of stress. There have also been reports of higher levels of depression in students that have been caused by COVID-19. Also, for many students social isolation has become a major problem, as well as forming addictions to technology as it becomes the main way of communication. Moreover, studies show that students are experiencing insomnia, changes in eating patterns, and an increased use of illegal substances such as alcohol and drugs.
However, life must continue. Many schools have been implementing a hybrid scheduling system or even fully virtual lessons rather than in person. Still, the stress, anxiety, fear, depression and feelings of isolation are still there. With this in mind students are attempting to do their very best academically, however it is very important that we take care of our minds through these unpredictable and difficult times.
There are many strategies that might help students learn to cope with all these negative emotions. For example, simply stopping to take a breath could be major. Breathe in and out; remember that it is totally okay to give yourself breaks! Also students could try other techniques such as grounding. Grounding is a process that is used to calm down many people, and it’s only five steps. Find around you, 5 things you can see, 4 things you can hear, 3 things you can feel, 2 things you can smell, and 1 thing you can taste. There are also other strategies such as spending time away from school with your family and even exercise. If you’re more stressed about COVID-19 itself, educating yourself about the virus may help; don’t watch the news too often and make time to relax. Also, always remember to wear your mask to slow the spread.
Sometimes these negative emotions can feel like too much and it may be time to seek some help. Don’t hesitate to contact a friend, family member, trusted adult or one of our very own guidance counselors. We got this, John Glenn!
Contacts:
Immediate Emergencies - 911
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - 1-800-273- 8255 for English, 1-888-628-9454 for Spanish
National Domestic Violence Hotline - 1-800-799-7233 or text LOVEIS to 22522
National Child Abuse Hotline - 1-800-4AChild (1-800-422-4453) or text 1-800-422-4453
Ms. C. Dobra - cdobra@elwood.k12.ny.us
Ms. J. Ferrante - jferrante@elwood.k12.ny.us
Ms. C. Pollina - cpollina@elwood.k12.ny.us
Ms. L. Sallie - lsallie@elwood.k12.ny.us
The John H. Glenn High School Mental Health Team
Ms. Romanchuk - kromanchuk@elwood.k12.ny.us
Mr. Kilkenny - dkilkenny@elwood.k12.ny.us
Ms. Sepp - jsepp@elwood.k12.ny.us
Citations
Writers, Staff. “Students Stressed Out Due to Coronavirus: BestColleges.” BestColleges.com, BestColleges.com, 20 Apr. 2020, www.bestcolleges.com/blog/coronavirus-survey/.
Support For Teens and Young Adults. (n.d.). Retrieved December 3, 2020, from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/stress-coping/young-adults.html
Image courtesy of Pixist
The Key to Long-Term Space Travel
By Chris Sanelli
There is no surprise that astronauts who spend long periods of time in space have various health problems. However, the cause of these conditions may surprise you. Many people believe that it is due to radiation exposure. While radiation exposure can lead to cancer and cardiovascular disease this statement is only partially correct. According to a recent study by NASA scientists it states that the mitochondria found in human cells may defect in microgravity. This statement was made when researchers critically examined the tissues of mice and other rodents after traveling into space. They found that dysfunctions in the mitochondria were very common and kept appearing. This is because outer space interrupts the mitochondria’s ability to produce Adenosine triphosphate through cellular respiration. Once this process is unable to occur, then other critical organs tend to stop functioning properly. This diagnosis will have a great impact on the future of space travel. The mitochondria are commonly referred to as the powerhouse of the cell, but they do much more for the body than just provide energy. The mitochondria help many other bodily functions that include stem cell regulation, homeostasis, and your immune system. All of these services are vital to the survival of a human being.
Now, a question you might be asking yourself is how do we fix this problem. The short answer is we don't know. Since most of this research is very recent scientists don’t have a clear cut way of solving this problem. Nonetheless, scientists believe that antioxidants and vitamins could help this problem because these substances are commonly used to treat mitochondrial disorders here on Earth. Could this be the missing piece of the puzzle? Scientists aren’t sure, but this is a major step in the right direction because researchers have an area in which to study.
In closing, the mitochondria could be the key to long-term space travel, and the advancement of the human race. As technology develops, engineers will look to expand our species to other planets and solar systems. It is pivotal that we find a solution to this problem, because it is the stepping stone to the colonization of the moon and Mars.