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What do ISM MS Students do After School?
What do ISM MS Students do After School?
Mika A.
Since Distance Learning started students have been on screens for the majority of the day, from 8:00 am until 3:15 am. Well then, what do students do after school?
Results
13 students have filled out a short survey on what they do after school. 38% of the students stay on their screens, which is concerning since it could lead to eye strains, dry eyes, and sleep problems. The remaining 62% of the students are offline either doing sports, spending time with family and friends, or reading books.
Students have filled out a form and one student said, “I use my device after school” Another student said, “I play tennis” While another student said, “I do homework.”
Many students said they do their homework after school which would probably mostly be online meaning that they would still be on their screens after school.
Tips
Doing sports or a workout would be especially important during the pandemic since we have been less active, sitting in classes the majority of the time. Reading would be a good thing to do after school since for English most students have reading as homework every day.
Some things that you could do would be keeping your distance from the screen, adjusting the brightness to the surroundings, and use blue light filters or blue light glasses when using a device. A suggestion would be being on the screen for a maximum of 2 hours after school.
What do you do after school? link
Full-time Student, Part-time Staff: The Life of a Working Student During the Pandemic
Full-time Student, Part-time Staff: The Life of a Working Student During the Pandemic
Sofia V.
For Irah, a student of BSED English 2B, studying is not just preparation for her career. On the contrary, her work is a current responsibility she has in order to pave the way for quality education. Aside from being a student, a sibling, and a daughter, she also works as a service crew for a local fast-food chain. She has been employed for almost two years now since she started working in October of 2019.
In an interview with Irah, she explained what a usual day looks like for her. Her class schedule varies every day due to taking different classes each semester. Normally, her school day starts at 8 a.m and ends at 2 p.m. After that, she goes to her shift which starts at 3 p.m. and ends at 11 p.m. Her long working hours are due to the fact that she works at a fast-food restaurant that is open 24/7.
Once her shift is done, she goes home and finishes her remaining homework. That usually takes around two hours, depending on how much the workload is. She finishes the day by doing the rest of her household responsibilities such as cleaning, doing the dishes, and taking care of her siblings. She goes to bed by 2 a.m. and she repeats this routine the following day. “It’s quite hard to maintain a schedule like this but I need [to do] it for my future,” Irah said.
Irah also opened up about the struggles she has been facing ever since the shift to online classes. According to her, the pandemic has lessened her focus in both school and work, but the two still remain as her priorities. Time is of the utmost importance to her since managing it has been one of the challenges she has been facing with the current learning and working situation.
Irah also touched on how since the pandemic started, instead of thinking about what she should do to finish her homework, that changed to worrying about how she can help to put food on the table. She said that she was grateful that she already had a job beforehand since even though she only got minimum wage, that was still much more than those who were laid off their jobs due to COVID-19.
Should ISM allow Re-taking of Assessments?
Should ISM allow Re-taking of Assessments?
Maddigan S.
How many of us feel better knowing we have a safety net to save us if we don’t score well on an important test or paper? Yes, ISM has allowed students to retake tests and redo some assessments to reduce stress and help us strive for mastery and perfection. However, should ISM allow students to retake tests and redo papers? Does it make students rely too much on this safety net, causing them not to work as hard as they could and, basically purposely flunking because of the lack of serious effort?
There are many reasons why schools allow students to retake assessments. Some say that it is mostly to reduce students’ stress and anxiety. Others think that students need to feel more secure and know that second chances are possible so that they can strive to do better the second time.
But should second chances be guaranteed? An anonymous student suggested, “I think retakes are good and should be allowed because they give students another chance to redeem themselves. It helps them redeem themselves and learn from previous mistakes.
One retake per semester is a good rule because it pushes the students to try their best in order not to get a 4 or below. It also helps students feel less depressed when receiving a bad grade. In short- retakes are a way for a student to learn from past mistakes and to perform better in studies.”
However, despite the many benefits retaking assessments offers, there are just as many downfalls and disadvantages. Students can become lazy, depending on retaking to do better and becoming reliant on this rule. In addition, students can purposely do poorly in a test, so when retaking, they can have a longer amount of time to study for it.
However, ISM’s retaking system is well thought out since students can only retake once, and can only get a maximum of 5, which is a proficient standard grade. Having a 5 as the highest possible grade does make the situation fair as those who study and work hard can do better the first time around - the second chance, or retake opportunity with a maximum of 5 does make it a fairer system.
Who Is 'That Girl' and Why Is Tik Tok Obsessed With Her?
Who Is 'That Girl' and Why Is Tik Tok Obsessed With Her?
Who is ‘That Girl?’ That Girl gets up just before sunrise to fix her bed, thinking back on her dreams and writing them down. She drinks at least a bottle of lemon-infused water, exercises, hydrates her skin and does not set her alarm to snooze. What a Girl Boss, right?
Many people, especially girls, are wondering who actually is ‘That Girl’. That Girl is not exactly an actual person but instead, it is just a routine where girls will follow healthy lifestyles, be successful, and look at her best every moment.
This so-called perfection is something that everyone aspires to at some point, which is why TikTok and Youtube videos are showing these routines. She is being glamorous and productive and a perfect version of themselves by following the ‘That Girl’ routine.
Despite having such a productive morning routine, the ‘That Girl’ trend is constantly forcing us to create and complete tasks brutally to be perfect in others' view. This trend could harm teenagers and other young people due to the stress of having to live a picture-perfect life.
‘That Girl’ receives a lot of attraction from society as this trend is geared more to western standards of beauty and it leaves many people, specifically people of color, wondering where do they fit in the society? Racial controversy has also surrounded social media in which ‘that girl’ gets more attention from Tik Tok and this gives white creators over those people of color (POC) much more access to awareness and greater opportunities to gain attention.
This trend you see online is only 15 seconds of their highlighted morning routine. It could be unrealistic, not just that ‘that girl’ can also be a financial burden to some people who’ve been living completely normal healthy lives because ‘that girl’ is mostly into some fancy drinks like Matcha from Starbucks, scented candles, books, and skincare.
Being ‘that Girl’ has positive and negative impacts just like being “that girl” doesn’t automatically equal being successful.
Do You Need To Speak Tagalog In The Philippines?
Do You Need To Speak Tagalog In The Philippines?
In the Philippines, Tagalog is the official language of Filipinos. Although there are many other native languages spoken in the Philippines, Tagalog is the most widely spoken. Since Tagalog is the official language it means that most Filipinos speak it, but it doesn’t mean that it’s their only language. English is also widely spoken in the Philippines and schools use English to communicate. However, Filipino and English are not the only languages in the Philippines because there are many more dialects spoken in provinces as well.
The English language is well established in Philippine formal education. It was introduced into the formal education system when the United States of America colonized the Philippines. From the earliest implementation of English as the medium of instruction policy during the American colonial period, it was already argued that English would be the better medium to give Filipinos access to the knowledge of other civilizations. These discussions are still valid as most of the knowledge in the various domains of learning is documented in the English language. Therefore, most schools in the Philippines should try to develop the English Language ability of Filipino students.
Even though English is generally spoken in the Philippines it will still be beneficial to learn at least some of the Tagalog language. Learning the language will enable you to speak with more people, opening up many more opportunities - especially when traveling outside the larger urban areas into the countryside and of course islands, or visiting a friend's family at Christmas in the Philippines. In the Philippines, the language contains so much history, from the many ancient provincial and remote tribal languages, still in use today, to the birth and development of a much-disputed National Filipino Language.
If you plan on visiting the Philippines, you don’t have to learn the native language since most Filipinos know how to speak English. English is a very important language which is why it is very helpful that we have it in our educational system. All in all, The Philippines is an amazing place and English has improved that.
Best Crystals for Confidence, Good Grades, and Relaxation!
Best Crystals for Confidence, Good Grades, and Relaxation!
Szava R. 9/8/2021
Crystals have been gaining popularity more and more these days. The benefits of crystals have helped many people who believe in and know how to use them. Now you may be asking yourself what are the best crystals for good grades and other things that could improve your success in school. Well here are some of the best crystals for good grades and more!
On the top of the list is Red Garnet. Garnets are usually red, but they can also come in different colors like green, orange, pink, or even smokey grey. The benefits of this crystal are that it helps one to let go of toxic self-doubt. It helps with self-reassurance and it also helps you feel safe and confident in your body.
The next thing is Tiger's Eye. This crystal is a bit more popular or is more used than garnet but it also helps with confidence by reducing anxiety and fear. It helps you to be confident in speaking which can lead you to participate in class more and get a better grade in the end.
Jade is the last crystal that is going to be featured. This crystal helps to bring confidence and clarity! Jade helps you to realize why you are holding yourself back and limiting your confidence. With Jade, you can push yourself through whatever is holding you back and become confident and sure of yourself.
Now, for the crystals that are going to help you achieve your desired grades. First on the list is Fluorite. Fluorite helps with motivation to study harder and more. It also helps to reduce stress and keeps you motivated during stressful times and wards off any negative energies. Not only that but it has also been known to help with mental problems, and improve mental abilities!
Clear Quartz also helps with focus and helps to remember information you study!
For concentration, probably the best crystal to use is Green Tourmaline. It helps with not only concentration but creativity too! This crystal helps you to be more productive and helps with clearing your mind to enhance better studying!
Now a repeating crystal, Tigers eye! It not only helps with confidence but it also has calming effects, which can help you with any test anxiety you might have! Another crystal for test anxiety or any nervousness is Amazonite, this crystal will help you relax and calm down, not only that, but it also helps you to work harder while eliminating any stress you might have!
Lastly, we have Honey Calcite, Honey calcite helps with overthinking and also calms you down when you are overwhelmed. This crystal is perfect for times when you need to be multitasking or have a lot of things to do. Honey Calcite helps you to find clarity to get things done correctly!
These are some of the top crystals to use for confidence and good grades, but remember you have to also do some work since crystals dont do all of it for you! You can also always research more if you desire!
The Trillion Dollar Sacrifice: Afghanistan
The Trillion Dollar Sacrifice: Afghanistan
Maika L.
20 years ago, the Graveyard of Empires welcomed its latest victim. Within weeks of American Airlines Flight 11 hitting the first twin tower, the greatest military in the world sent its troops into Afghanistan. Since then, tens of thousands of lives have been lost. An entire country has been bombed and, 20 years later, it is still in crumbles.
For a while, things seemed to get better. Until the last American soldier left this long-fought piece of land. The Taliban are back. Women are afraid to leave their homes again. On September 9, 2021, they finally chose to speak up. Hundreds gathered to protest the all-male government. Marcus Yam, a journalist with the Los Angeles Times who was covering the protest, said on Twitter, "While some tried to put their hands on me, there was one fighter that kept interfering and at one point muttered 'foreigner' while others were standing around with their whips ready." Women are constantly getting abused and treated with no human rights whatsoever, with no choice but to follow Taliban ideology. Afghanistan is now one of the only countries in the world with no women in the top government ranks.
Every day brings more hopelessness. By the time The Taliban reached the last remaining stronghold - Kabul, the capital - more than 22,000 Afghans were being evacuated daily, adding to the total of nearly 550,000 others who have been forced out of their homes. On September 10, 2021, the Philippines was praised for extending its handout to thousands who seek shelter and protection. "The Philippine government, as it has done on numerous occasions in the past, has been quick to express its openness to receive asylum seekers from Afghanistan. UNHCR Philippines lauds this prompt action and initiative to welcome forcibly displaced Afghan nationals," it said in an August 19 statement.
It is more than certain that tensions are high in Afghanistan, but there is some good news to help ease the pain and suffering of individuals struggling to stay alive. In just one day, $6 million has been raised to rescue Afghans targeted by the Taliban by renting planes to help safely evacuate journalists, human rights lawyers, activists, translators, and artists - all of whom are “at imminent risk” of being killed.
“The internet can be a force for good,” Quarantino stated on his Instagram page, which currently has over 767,000 followers. “Raising $5 million in less than 24 hours for this rescue mission has given us, and so many around the world, hope for humanity. Most importantly, it’s a direct line to attempt safe passage for Afghans in danger.”
The Graveyard of Empires remains unconquerable but for some, it is still not worth giving up on.
Corruption Causes Environmental Problems in Colombia.
Corruption Causes Environmental Problems in Colombia.
Luis A.
U.S coal mine company Drummond was caught dangerously transporting coal and dumping it into the ocean in the Cerrejon coal mine in La Guajira, Colombia in January 2013.
In January 2013 an environmental activist and lawyer Alejandro Arias took and published photos of Drummond cranes dumping tons of coal into the Caribbean Sea while trying to rescue a barge. Other pictures were taken of trains transporting coal dangerously and staff not following environmental guidelines such as covering the coal so it doesn't emit any dust.
Due to this, the water of the sea turned dark and the sand turned into mostly coal. This completely killed most of the aquatic environment in beaches near the coal mine. The ocean was not the only thing affected. Due to the trains transporting coal, crops and plants were killed and most farmers' lives were affected.
The community of Santa Marta tried to sue Drummond but for some years the corrupt government of Colombia didn't do anything due to greed and the want of more money. Finally in July 2015 the Colombian government issued Drummond a 3.6 million dollar fine.
The Ministry of Environment said this is the largest fine the country issued for environmental damage. The country also made new environmental guidelines.
The sea has not recovered from the dumped coal but it is all getting better.
Why PC and Gaming Laptop Prices are Rising
Why PC and Gaming Laptop Prices are Rising
Luca T.
With the current pandemic many people, especially younger kids have reverted to gaming as a way to talk to their friends and converse. But for those who weren't able to get their setups going pre-pandemic are now facing the repercussions of prices rising. But why?
First of all, let's answer the question: why a PC? Although there are Apple computers those are more expensive and without the comparable performance of PCs.and the aspects that hinder windows pcs. But because they are very customizable. Rather than buying a premade computer for twice the price, people can build their own with the parts that they like without having to settle for a lesser CPU and an OK graphics card.
If you didn't get what I just said that's fine. Think of it as going to a restaurant and ordering pasta. The noodles are warm but the sauce is dry and cold. While at home you can get both for a cheaper price.
THe answer to why PC’s and gaming laptops prices are rising in many ways is the chip shortage. It is now a fact that the pandemic has brought many things to a halt and in many ways nothing more obvious than chips. With Apple having to make their own chips and other companies having to change their ways, prices can only go one way. And that is up.
With prices nearly multiplying three three-fold, chips are now in many ways a commodity.
I recently bought myself a laptop and the prices that were pre-pandemic have doubled But this was only when the chips finally went down. After having eyed a laptop for some time the laptop was originally 3 times more expensive.
Not only what but because there's so much demand for chips. With Apple having to make their own chips and with used car prices going further than new ones these have all become a reality. As Well as with new games requiring better and better GPU and CPU. Only until massive production can be employed will the situation be resolved
The Benefits and Disadvantages of Introducing Your Child into the Digital World
The Benefits and Disadvantages of Introducing Your Child into the Digital World
Sophia F.
Giving young children a phone has become very popular nowadays. Studies show that mobile phone exposure can affect your child's brain development in negative and positive ways. The younger the child, the higher the risk of them growing up to be addicted.
Let’s start with the pros. Giving your young child a cellphone will help them stay updated with their friends, family, and news. Phones are a great way to interact with your friends and family. It can even improve their communication skills.
Another benefit is entertainment. Kids get bored easily and giving them a phone will decrease their boredom as the internet is a good source of entertainment. They can listen to music, watch videos or even play games. It might even help us learn new things.
Now we have the cons. There are countless dangerous things on the internet that you can access.
Inappropriate content can ruin a child's mind and thinking. It can even cause a change in behavior. To prevent this from happening, you can turn on age restrictions. Another con is distraction. Phones can be a big distraction, especially in online learning as we can get distracted by notifications and other entertaining apps.
Do you think the benefits of giving your child a phone outnumber the drawbacks? That’s for you to decide.
Travel in the Age of Covid
Travel in the Age of Covid
Angshu K.
2020 has undoubtedly been one of the craziest years in human history. From a country on fire to a worldwide pandemic, things have been insane since the year began.
I want to talk about one topic in particular: Travel.
Travel has been one of the most important aspects of human life for thousands of years, but only recently we have figured out how to travel to the skies. Ever since then, getting on a plane and flying somewhere has been a staple part of our culture. You can probably see why people freaked out when it was taken away from them. What followed global lockdowns was a 60% drop in global air traffic, with the number of passengers globally falling from 4.7 billion to just over 1.7 billion.
Flying may be a thing of the past for most people but if you did want to board a flight right now to the US, you would have to be: a US citizen, a US citizen with an expired passport, or a foreign national who has not visited or connected in any of the following countries during the past 14 days:
China, Iran, European Schengen area, Ireland, Brazil, South Africa, India
And that’s just the start. Traveling right now is quite difficult, but we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. As vaccines roll out worldwide, airlines have begun lowering restrictions to a more reasonable level.
Covid might be with us for many years, but the time when people could fly all over the world might be with us sooner than you think.
Music
Music
How Music Evokes Emotions
How Music Evokes Emotions
Bexie M.
Music has been around for 20,000 years. Many have used it for entertainment, enjoyment or even communicating. People never understood or even cared to look into how music makes us feel this way until 1993 by Francis Rauscher, a psychologist who surprisingly found that listening to Mozart significantly helped him perform daily tasks.
The Mozart effect is the official name of the technique. Rauscher has claimed that listening to Mozart for 10 minutes enhanced his performance in daily activities. After making the claim, the study was carried out and experimented. They discovered that children of ages of 3 or 4 could take a test and perform it 30% better after using the 10-minute technique.
Studies of it show that there is little evidence that it actually works, even though there are many real-life examples. One of them being Levi, the bunny. One day, he was taken down to his house’s living room, where one of his caretakers was playing rock-style music on the piano. That made Levi on edge and twitchy. He was unable to stay still and relax because the sound of the music just scared him further. The pianist, consumed in the sound of the music, shifted suddenly to one of his favorite piano pieces, “the shire” from Lord of the Rings. The sudden shift of music surprised Levi, but not in a bad way. He was intrigued by the softer sound of music, twitching his ears to the music and looking around for the source of it. He then started to settle down, all the while looking for the source of the calming piano piece.
Levi’s story is one of many examples of how music can make us feel happy. Many of the songs that evoke this emotion have an upbeat tempo and positive lyrics. Other songs that evoke the opposite emotion of sadness are songs that are slower, in a low key with possibly an instrumental background.
Send any questions to bambooms@ismanila.org
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