Journalist: Violet Landstrom

Teachers and students were asked to give advice for students. They said be good, be yourself, be polite, and even know your multiplication charts. Now that seems weird for advice, but advice isn't weird! Even if it's just “Be respectful,” it can help people.

Another thing for advice, when people are going through the LOWEST, most lowest times, even a “you're doing great!’ Can help someone. And the most important thing for this section, don’t be scared to tell someone about anything you're going through. Tell an adult, teacher, para, grandparents, sibling, the list goes on!

According to The Political Conversational Prices, advice is important because it provides people with a full range of options and an honest option of the pros and cons of each advice. Guidance must be unbiased and independent so that public decisions on accurate foundation of facts rather than pure pressure!

Here’s the last piece of advice, if you're working, let's say in a group; One partner says  “What about if we put __?” and you say, “No, this is better.” First of all, bossiness is NOT a good way to conclude. Do you wanna be a partner everyone wants to be with, or a bossy partner that lets nobody do anything? Be the person you want to work with.

(For confidential purposes, teachers and students names are anonymous.)

Journalist: Eliphelit Miller and Aiden Roberts

Students are scratching their heads about Securly, wondering why they have to take extra time to do such a simple task.

When asked how he likes Securly, Jackson Muhr said, "I hate it." That's not all for student opinions. We have more coming up! Another student, Augustine Hedman, said, "It's fine."

But let's hear Mrs. Gonzalez's opinion. She said, "It's good for keeping track of students." Mr. McGhehey also shared his thoughts, saying, "I think that the limit on people is good so they don't meet up."

However, another student, said, "I miss it when we could just ask to go to the bathroom." Why can't we just ask to go and use the restroom? Why do we have to waste time doing such a simple task?

Teachers and administrators share that the new system has been a learning curve, but have seen great impacts. Students are more in control of when they are leaving the room and it is easier to track students in the hallway. Student Alice McDowell said “I like it because we get four passes and it's really easy.”

But why are schools choosing to use Securly in the first place? According to Securly's website, the digital hall pass system is designed to help schools monitor students in the hallways, prevent students from meeting up during class, and improve safety. At Wredling Middle School in Illinois, administrators reported that the number of students in the hallways at one time decreased by 30–40% after using Securly Pass.

Nebraska schools have also reported positive results. In a survey shared by Securly, 31 Nebraska schools gave the system an average satisfaction rating of 4.22 out of 5. Although some students may find the extra steps frustrating, these results help explain why schools are choosing digital passes instead of traditional bathroom passes.

So, how do you feel about Securly? Do you feel like this was a good addition for BMS or has it created more confusion?

Journalist: Marilyn Sisneros and Ale Garcia

Some people argue that 7th and 8th graders should get a snack period like the 6th graders, while others disagree. Why should they, and why shouldn't they?

One person we asked was Ale Garcia. She said, "I think yes because we eat lunch early in the day, and sometimes we can't eat breakfast. Since we eat earlier, we get hungry later in the day."

We also asked Mr. Patton what he thought about it. He said, "I think it depends on when they have their lunch. People who eat lunch first should have a snack toward the end of the day. If you have lunch later, you should have a snack earlier in the day."

Another teacher said, "Yes, if you guys provide your own snacks, also because you guys have practice in the afternoon." Access to snacks before sports practice would give students the boost they need to complete not only tasks at school, but afterwards.

We also asked Alayna Strom what she thought about having a snack period. She said, "Yes, we should because most 7th and 8th graders are athletes. Especially because football just started, some kids haven't eaten."

We interviewed Mrs. Schlagel, and she said, "I don't think you guys should because you have lunch midday, or in the middle of the day. Students should have eaten breakfast, and that should hold them over until lunch."

We also asked Briana, and this is what she said: "Yes, I would love to have snacks because I get hungry more in the afternoon, especially when I don't have time to eat in the mornings."

Studies also show that 90% of children choose to eat immediately after returning home from school. This could show that students are hungry after a long school day. Research also suggests that going too long without eating can lead to overeating later, which may be unhealthy.

Most of the people we interviewed agreed that 7th and 8th graders should get snack time. Some believe it would help students who eat lunch early or have sports practice after school, while others think students should be able to wait until lunch.

What do you think? Would you smile back if you had a snack?

Journalist: Andrea Velazquez and Bibiana Torres

Research shows that using cash can be a good thing and a bad thing at the same time. There are pros and cons to using cards instead of cash. One pro is that using a card can be faster and easier than waiting in line to get cash back. One con is that some people don't have cards, and some students' parents won't let them have one. This means some students might not be able to get into games.

Alayna Strom shared her opinion about the cashless system. She said, "I wish there was still cash because not everybody has a card." When asked another question, she said, "No, because not every student has a card. Some kids don't have an activity pass either." She also said, "Yes, because students can get food without their parents, and they can pay for the game."

One teacher said, "I hate it. Seeing kids ask for a card or asking someone to pay for them is too much." She also said she would love to go back to using cash. Another student said she would be able to go to games if they still accepted cash. She doesn't have a phone, so her mom and dad can't send her money. She also doesn't have an activity pass on her school ID card.

If schools accepted cash, we could have more students show up to support the football players and other sports teams. Students would also be able to buy food at the games. Some students who have cards might not even go because their friends can't pay with cash. Nobody wants to go to a game alone without their friends!

Yeah, it might be easier to transfer money online, but using cash can be easy, too. With cash, there could be more people, more cheering, and more school spirit! Imagine the stands crowded with students supporting the players. The away team might not have as many fans because not everyone wants to travel from another school to BMS. Parents and grandparents can also help hype up the BMS players and show their support.

They should let people who don't have cards use cash and let people who have cards continue using them. Another teacher said he loves using cards because the money goes into his bank account quickly instead of waiting to get cash back. He said he wouldn't want to go back to cash because using a card is easier.

Briana said she doesn't like the new cashless rule because some parents don't want to give their card information to their kids. They might worry that their kids could use the card to buy random things after the game.

In the end, both cash and cards have their advantages and disadvantages. Allowing students to use both could make it easier for more people to attend games, support their teams, and show school spirit.

Journalist: Sneha Maharjan and Kyliee McKinley

Studies show that a good amount of lunch time affects children's learning and nutrition intake. Our lunch period is 30 minutes , so why does it feel so short? Lots of people say that they feel that the time is so short, because they call tables 3 by 3. So if they call 3 tables every 4 min and there are 18 tables it would take 24 minutes until the last tables are sent to the lunch line which could take about 1-2 mins to get through.The last table would be left with 4-5 min to eat, and if they wanted A-la-carte they would only have about 3 minutes to eat. which is 10% of the ideal amount of time to eat lunch.

According to the Center for Disease Control, (CDC) the ideal amount of time is 30 minutes not including the time taken in the lunch line or waiting. Which proves that our lunch is too short.

But are the kids of the BMS ok with this? The data show that all 24 out of 24 people think that our lunch is too short.

 By now you may be wondering why this is so  important the National Institute of Heath, (NIH) published a report that states, “students with less that 20 minutes to eat consume 13% less of their entree, 10% less of their milk, and 12% less of their vegetables, compared to students who had at least 25min”.Which means more waste, so giving students more time to eat can be an effective way to reduce food waste. An 8th grader that we interviewed said “The lunch time is too short and we could shorten the homeroom or get rid of it completely to make lunch longer.” So making lunch longer will be more effective for kids and help grow better. But what do you think, should we make lunch longer?

Journalist: Connor Murphy and Penelope Rodriguez

Imagine a school day where the bell rings, but instead of rushing to your next class, you get time to hang out with friends, finish homework, or just relax!

Middle school students have busy schedules. With seven hours of school, nine periods, and only four minutes between classes, it can feel like a nonstop rush. This brings up an important question: Should middle school students have a free period?

A free period could help students catch their breath, finish homework, and feel less stressed throughout the day. After sitting in classrooms for hours, our brains can feel fried! Having extra time to relax could help students focus better when they return to class.

Sometimes, when teachers are talking, students get lost in the sauce and forget what is happening. They might not want to ask questions because they are embarrassed. A free period would give students time to ask teachers for help without feeling rushed.

What Do Teachers Think?

Mr. Nikont shared his thoughts about adding a free period. He said that 30 minutes is a lot of time and that 6th grade should not be too stressful. He believes homeroom is a good time to check assessments, while WIN is a good time for students to reorganize and catch up on work.

Mrs. Solomon also shared her opinion. She explained that students need time to rest and reorganize. She believes a free period could help students reset and feel calmer throughout the day. She also said that if students use their time wisely, a free period could work well.

However, not every teacher agrees.

Mr. Castle said that students sometimes lose focus in the afternoon, and not everyone would use a free period to study. He thinks behavior could become an issue because students might want to have fun instead of getting work done. He also worries that the school does not have enough space for a free period and that students could become too energetic.

What Do Students Think?

Students also have opinions about adding a free period to the school day.

Leo believes students should have a free period because school can feel like a nonstop rush. He thinks it could lower stress and help students improve their grades. If he had a free period, he said he would use it to rest when he didn't have homework.

Damian also supports the idea. He said a free period would help him finish missing assignments, improve his grades, and stay focused in class.

Damian explained that he sometimes feels rushed and doesn't have enough time to put his things away or finish his work. He believes having extra time during the day would make him happier and less stressed. If he didn't have missing work, he would use the time to rest.

Why Could a Free Period Help?

There are several reasons why a free period could be helpful for middle school students.

First, students could use the time to finish homework or study for upcoming tests. This could mean less homework to worry about after school.

Second, students could get extra help from teachers. Instead of rushing to the next class, they could ask questions and better understand their assignments.

Third, a free period could help students become more independent. Students would have to decide how to use their time wisely without teachers telling them what to do every second.

Finally, students could have more time to socialize with friends. Four minutes between classes isn't much time to talk, and lunch can feel short. A free period could give students a chance to relax and connect with others.

Is a Free Period Worth It?

While some teachers worry about behavior and students wasting time, many students believe a free period would make their school day better.

Middle school can be stressful, especially when students are trying to keep up with assignments, tests, and busy schedules. Having time to catch up, ask questions, or simply take a break could make a difference.

So, what do you think? Should middle school students have a free period, or should we stick with the schedule we already have?

Journalist: Havlee Sullivan and Illyanna Lonedog-Guerra

 Instead of going to a girls' night out with your mom, why not go with your best friend? Middle school is a great time to try new things, especially when you're a 6th grader!

Girls' Night Out is a fun event where students can spend time with friends, watch sports, and enjoy new experiences. However, not everyone gets to attend. Students who have an office referral or a low behavior level might not be allowed to go. If you want to attend these events, it's important to make good choices at school.

Girls' Night Out can be really fun, especially if you enjoy sports! Some students might not think it's their kind of thing, but others have a great time. Here's what a few people had to say about their experience.

Mrs. Hancock said, "If I could go again, I really would."

We told her, "You'll be able to go again, trust us!"

Hennessey Arias said, "It was good. I learned a lot about volleyball, and my first volleyball game I ever went to in middle school was amazing!"

"We're glad to hear that!" we replied.

Brilee Luikens also shared her experience. She said, "It went good, and I saw how volleyball worked. I'm glad I got to go to my first volleyball game in middle school, and everybody had fun."

After hearing these reviews, Girls' Night Out sounds like a great opportunity to have fun and learn something new!

Even if volleyball isn't your favorite sport, you might still enjoy spending time with friends and cheering on your school. You might even have an older sister who plays volleyball and get the chance to watch her play!

So, if you get the chance to attend Girls' Night Out, give it a try! Share your experience with others so we can spread the fun and encourage upcoming 5th graders to get excited about middle school events.

Journalist: Bella Shultz and Colten Woodard

Scottsbluff Middle School football enters the 2026 season with strong leadership and experienced coaches. Both the 7th and 8th-grade teams are working hard to improve their skills and have a successful season.

Mr. Gomez, the 8th-grade football coach, shared how he teaches players the basics of tackling. When asked how he teaches tackling, he explained that he uses hands-on demonstrations to show players the correct way to tackle.

When asked what it is like working with parents and players during practices and games, Mr. Gomez said, "It is fine. Kids know what they're supposed to do, and parents usually wait until after the game to talk to the coaches."

Mr. Coffey, the 7th-grade football coach, also shared his experience coaching middle school football. Like Mr. Gomez, he teaches basic tackling through hands-on demonstrations.

When asked about working with parents and players, Mr. Coffey said, "It is fun dealing with kids, and parents have been really supportive."

Players also shared their thoughts about football. Connor Murphy was asked what position he wanted to play before finding out his position on the team.

"I wanted to be a corner," Connor said.

With supportive coaches, hardworking players, and encouraging parents, Scottsbluff Middle School football is looking forward to a great 2026 season.