Greetings, wildcats!
This month's issue will focus on Breast Cancer Awareness!
The edition includes:
Information on Breast Cancer, including informative slides and online resources.
An insight on Academic Integrity and A.I. with Mr. Wyncoll
Book Reviews by students from middle and high school
Free trial access to PSAT, SAT, etc.
READ Marathon Fall 2023
Chevron Readers' Cup Competition
Middle School Reading Ambassadors
Upcoming Library Events
Breast Cancer Awareness
by Hannah Lee
Breast Cancer Awareness Library Display
Interview featuring Iasonas by Hannah Lee
Hello, my name is Iasonas Michalopoulos, and I am a full International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP1) student. As part of my CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) experience, I decided to create a stand in the library to raise awareness of breast cancer. I believe that it's a unique and exciting experience that also contributes to an important cause. The aim of this project was to increase awareness of the subject within the school and beyond. Breast cancer affects many individuals, and it's crucial that we all contribute to the cause in any way we can.
Now that I have completed this activity, I have learned many interesting things about breast cancer that may be helpful in the future. I learned from the breast cancer survivors who gather to create breast cancer charity organizations that any gesture, no matter how small, can help others. This experience has inspired me to continue working on similar projects for other topics.
Breast Cancer Awareness Online Resources
Compiled by Janika Ramirez
This includes recent information from WHO, online stories, and support groups.
by Janika Ramirez
What is Academic Integrity to you?
Mr. Wyncoll: It comes down to putting your name on a piece of paper, therefore claiming that you did the work. If parts of the information you're sharing was taken from a different source, it's important to document that source correctly. That is also part of the GAA expectation-- to cite the pieces of work used in any kind of scholarly assignment. Academic Integrity is also about respect: respect for oneself, one's ideas, as well as others and their ideas.
What are your opinions on current developments regarding A.I.?
Mr. Wyncoll: A.I. is going to challenge humanity and our ability to be 'human'. The one determining factor, however, is our ability to emphasize and feel. That is what continues to separate A.I. from us. We have to hang on to those abilities; i.e. the ability to be kind, respectful, loyal, and putting our feet in other people's shoes. That's going to be humanity's piece in the coming generations of growing technology.
How much do you think does Academic Integrity coincides with the use of A.I., considering its rapid evolution?
Mr. Wyncoll: Universities, IB...all of this is going to change dramatically soon in time. Writing papers to show professors what they understood would eventually change via spoken work, as it will undoubtedly get harder to decipher written (original) work from A.I. generated work. Hence, conversing directly could be an important aspect regarding assessment for the coming years.
Does the presence of especially advanced A.I. hinder the younger generation's ability to enhance their independent problem solving capabilities? Or the opposite?
Mr. Wyncoll: The younger generation will be dealing with deeper, more significant problems. A.I. will then be used as a tool; an effective resource. Solving world-wide issues, global warming, how we recycle and utilize things...those problems will be solved quicker with A.I. than without it.
What dangers are present regarding the use of A.I. for Academic purposes or just personal research?
Mr. Wyncoll: There aren't any 'dangers' as long as we remember our academic honesty guidelines and operate with integrity!
What are the consequences of using too much A.I. for assistance in assignments?
Mr. Wyncoll: It's more of a benefit to our civilization than an impediment, demonstrating the rapid growth of technology. Younger generations will grow up with ai, as it becomes a norm in society.
Everything can be used for good or mal intentions. What's important is to maintain value in integrity and respect to oneself and others.
Do you think there'll ever be a time where A.I. will be advanced enough to hide any traces of its use, blurring the line between originality and plagiarism? In other words, will there be a time where everyone is completely dependent on A.I. for every kind of information regardless of its complexity or simplicity?
Mr. Wyncoll: Yes, which leads back to the original answer to the first question about what separates humanity from A.I.-- our ability to emphasize.
What are some tips you can advise to students to avoid plagiarism?
Mr. Wyncoll: We all make mistakes as humans, especially when we are under pressure. Thus, relieving that pressure or setting up good time management and organizational structure when dealing with long term projects allow us to feel prepared. This gives us time to cite things, take notes, and use plenty of sources to support ideas. If we're in a rush, we tend to look for shortcuts, which often are ways we should avoid.
Book Reviews from Students!
By Hannah Lee
Title: <Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children>
Author: Ransom Riggs
Rating: ★★★★☆
"Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" by Ransom Riggs offers a unique and engaging reading experience with its non-linear plot and well-developed characters. While it may not be considered highbrow literature, it is a captivating tale for those who appreciate the blend of fantasy, mystery, and unconventional storytelling. Overall, I award it a solid four out of five stars.
Title: <The Invisible Gorilla>
Author: Daniel Simons, Christopher Chabris
Rating: ★★★★★
(non-IB level book)
"The Invisible Gorilla" by Christopher Chabris and Daniel Simons is a fascinating book that explores the complexities of our cognitive processes through ten captivating experiments. The authors have done an excellent job of making scientific concepts accessible to the layperson, while providing valuable insights into the limitations of human perception. Although the book can become slightly dense at times, it remains engaging and approachable, making it a worthwhile read for anyone interested in the workings of the human mind. Overall, I highly recommend this book to psychology enthusiasts and curious readers alike.
READ MARATHON FALL 2023
MEET THE MIDDLE SCHOOL READING AMBASSADORS!
CHEVRON READERS' CUP COMPETITION
These bookworms rocked the Chevron Readers' Cup Virtual Competition held last October 30th! From page-turning books to answering questions like pros, they aced it all! 📖🤔👏 A pizza party was enjoyed by everyone to celebrate their hard work! 🍕🎉 Great job wildcats! 👏👏👏 #gaareads
ONLINE SAT & ACT COURSES AND PRACTICE TESTS - FREE TRIAL
UPCOMING LIBRARY EVENTS
READ MARATHON - OCTOBER 30 - NOVEMBER 24
LITTLE THINKER BOOK FAIR - NOVEMBER 20 - 24
ELF EMIRATES NBD POETRY INTER-SCHOOL COMPETITION - NOV 20-21