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Rooted in Pride: How Adrian Public Schools Shaped a Community
From one-room schoolhouses to modern classrooms, Adrian’s schools have grown
with the city—fostering success, unity, and generations of "Maple Pride."
compiled by Brandon Gautz
From the beginning, Adrian Public Schools have been integral to the success of our city. They have educated generations of Adrian citizens and been the driving force behind the city's growth through a well developed plan, by creating a talent path of graduates to fill jobs and create new businesses in Adrian.
As a student here, I can honestly say the schools mean a lot to everyone. It’s not just a place where we learn, it’s a big part of our community. The pride people have for Adrian Public Schools is something you can feel from the start. These schools have been more than just buildings. The people inside them have helped shape our town and made it what it is today.
The story of Adrian Public Schools goes way back to the 1800s when the town was just starting to grow. The first schools were very small, just one room where all the kids sat together, no matter their age. As more people moved to Adrian, the schools needed to grow too, so new buildings were built. The schools started offering more subjects like math, science, and history, and they also added activities like sports and music to give students more opportunities.
The sports teams at Adrian Public Schools are a huge part of what makes the schools special. The football and basketball teams have been really successful over the years, winning a lot of games and championships. The whole town gets excited when the teams do well. It’s not just about winning, it’s about coming together as a community to support our players. Everyone cheers on the teams, and that energy makes the town feel closer. Even if you're not on the team, you still feel part of it, and that’s something I think is really cool about Adrian Public Schools.
It’s not just sports that make Adrian Public Schools stand out. The academic programs here are also really strong.Lots of students have gone on to do amazing things in their careers, like becoming doctors, teachers, or artists. There are even students who have won awards for their achievements in subjects like science and math. The schools really prepare students for the future, and it's awesome to know that so many people who went to these schools have done great things.
The arts are also a big part of Adrian Public Schools, whether it’s band, choir, or theater, there are so many chances to be creative. I’ve seen some amazing performances over the years. It’s really cool how the arts help students express themselves and build confidence. The music programs have been successful too, with awards and recognition for the students who put in the work. Being able to perform or play in a band or choir is a big deal at Adrian Public Schools, and it’s something that brings everyone together.
Over the years, Adrian Public Schools have had their challenges, too, as in the 1970s and 80s, there were financial problems that made it hard to keep everything going. Even when things were tough though, the people of Adrian stepped up to make sure the schools stayed strong. They held fundraisers, voted on new ways to raise money and worked together to support the schools. That’s something that really stands out to me –how much the community cares about the schools and how they always find a way to keep them going.
As time went on, the schools kept up with changes in the world. When new technology started becoming a bigger part of everyday life, Adrian Public Schools made sure students had the tools they needed to learn. Access to computers and technology help us stay connected to the world. The schools have always made sure we’re prepared for the future, no matter how much things change.
One of the biggest things that makes Adrian Public Schools stand out is the maple tree. The maple tree is the symbol of the city and the schools because it represents strength and growth. Just like a maple tree grows tall and strong over the years, Adrian Public Schools have faced challenges but always kept growing. No matter what happens, the schools keep standing strong, and the people of Adrian always come together to support them. That’s why "Maple Pride" is such a big deal, it’s about pride in the schools and pride in how far they’ve come.
Today, Adrian Public Schools are still a huge part of the community. It’s not just about going to class and doing homework, it’s about being part of something bigger. The schools bring people together, whether it’s at a football game, a graduation party, or a concert, everyone in the town feels connected to the schools in some way. "Maple Pride" isn’t just a slogan, it’s something we all feel. We take pride in our schools and the people who make them great.
Adrian Public Schools have shaped this town in so many ways. They’ve helped students grow and succeed, and they’ve helped make Adrian a place where people support each other. From the early days with those small one room schools to the big schools we have now, Adrian Public Schools have always been a big part of this community, and just like the maple tree, they’ll keep growing and standing strong for many years to come.
Are Teens Too Tied to Their Phones?
by Giselle Shipperbottom
Do you think kids these days or people in general are overly attached to their phones? As a teenager I would say yes, we are way too attached to our phones. The average time teens spend on their phones is about 8 hours a day, mind you that's just an average. I mean you never know, teens could be spending way over 8 hours a day. But it’s also not all our fault. I say this because teens are always stuck inside their house with nothing to do, especially when the weather is bad, so all we have left to do is be on screens. But, that’s no excuse.
The real question is, WHY are teens so overly attached to their phones? According to What Phone Addiction Looks Like in Teens and How to Help, “Having access to the technology on a 24-hour basis caused us to develop a dependency upon our devices.” That dependency is also used during school. Some students depend on their phones to help them with school work, so that’s another reason why teens are overly attached to their phones. I think school is supposed to teach us hard work and effort and that’s all just getting taken away because of technology handing everything to teens.
If you’re trying to lower your screen time, here are some things you could do instead of being on your phone. If the weather is nice, go outside! Go for a walk, bike ride, scooter, etc.! You can also color. Coloring is a good way to clear your mind and get some creativity back in your life. Cleaning is also another way to clear your mind and we all know that refreshing feeling after you get done cleaning. Those ideas are just 3 in a million. So when you get a chance, take a break from your phone.
Teens And Social Media
How Would Teenagers' Lives Be Without Social Media?
by Julianna Wilson
Would their lives be better?
According to research about social media, I believe that teenagers' lives would be better. In ways like how their mental health will be affected, what that teen is exposed to for their age, and how safe they may feel. There could even be a lesser chance of depression, anxiety, stress, and even insecurity coming from social media but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to develop these disorders. Without social media, your child would less likely be prone to grooming, manipulation, and probably bad relationships you’d never want them to have. Their life wouldn’t be worse, just excluded because due to individuals they know with social media, like their friends and even people they look up to would most likely be talking about it quite often. I choose to agree with this because of my own experiences with people I know always talking about their following or accounts.
Does social media benefit society?
Social media does benefit society in many ways. It helps with connecting, and meeting new people, discovering way more than you probably would in person, like many different cultures, and beliefs. You can even create and be a part of a community. Although there may be a lot of pros about social media, there are also many cons. Some communities may not be the best place to be, some people you meet may not be good people. Oh, and content? Yeah, there isn’t always going to be appropriate content, comments, and even suggestions. There are plenty of terror groups supported by minors, which is concerning. Although I think it’s just a phase, it’d be safer if anyone just stayed away and joined communities they know feels safe to them, communities that are normalized and believed to be a better place.
What aspects of social media could be improved?
I think social media (everyone collectively) needs to be different on how it lets people shape its reputation. A better way to have a contained and controlled community. Now yes, there’s no way someone can just control millions of people and make them act pretty perfect. But, if you own a group, or you’re a part of one, just do your best to set that role model feeling, create inspiring content or leave nice and memorable comments, and even suggestions.
Well, what if you see a concerning, or even harmful person/group? Yeah, I know everyone usually says “Oh, just scroll, block, or ignore them.” No. That shouldn’t always be the case. If you see someone hurting another person, or even a community, don’t be afraid to speak up about it or even confront those individuals. Then again, you shouldn’t make the internet a big part of your life, even if it feels good to just be you. It gets bad when you start letting these things get to you everyday… Although many users just seem to be out of the ordinary, be aware, there are many users that like to rage bait. What's rage bait? It is when a person, or something does a thing to make another one or even a community mad. The name explains itself, the rage baiter acts and puts on a show so they will get the attention they want. These people can be intentionally harmful, or they're just playing a little scheme. Usually it is teens who decide to be this online persona.
So… Do you think teens should have social media, or not? Think of the benefits, think of the consequences.
TWO AUTHORS AND THEIR TAKE ON DRAMA
How to Avoid Drama
by Emma Francis
A lot of people are in drama in this era, in and out of school. So here is how to avoid it. You need to remember who your real friends are. People are always going to have a friend who they shouldn't trust at all. Second tip, you need to stay as loyal to your friends as possible, always tell the truth and keep their secrets. Third tip, make sure if you have a problem with someone you go talk to them about it to fix the issue, it was probably a misunderstanding or miscommunication. Fourth tip, be open to other people and stay focused on what's important to you. Abigail Brenner from Psychology Today says five ways to avoid drama are to create healthy boundaries, watch how you interact with others, be a good human, stay positive, and develop strategies to remove yourself from drama.
Drama is often created by those who seek attention and excitement. There will always be someone in your school that seeks attention. If you find yourself getting into drama more often try to learn to take more responsibility over yourself instead of blaming others when you get yourself into the drama. Make sure you also choose your battles wisely. You could be in this mess over something stupid so be the bigger person and tell them how you could solve this problem.
Remember that you are incharge of your own feelings, not others. No one can tell you what you can and can not do with your life. Try to avoid being in drama the best you can and stick with people who you think is a good influence on you and others. Tell an adult if you think drama between you and someone has gotten to a point where you don't want to go to school or anywhere for that matter. If drama between you and your family has been happening, talk to your school counselor or counselor for help and tips to make you feel more confident.
How to Deal with Drama
by Julianna Wilson
Drama, we all should be familiar with it. Sure, there’s more than one type of drama but in this case we’re talking about the drama that has to do with a relationship between you, and usually someone else. Drama is especially common in an educational and working environment (school and maybe even your job). That's what we’re here to discuss today.
It is quite easy for rumors and lies to be spread just through a few peers being led all through just one person. So you’d better have an understanding defense or backup for yourself because these things are never usually pretty or fun to deal with. As an example, say you and a friend are talking about a certain someone, and your friend makes a “joke” or says something they probably shouldn’t have. Someone passing by hears them, and takes it seriously or believes it, once that person gets to their group of peers it starts getting mentioned and passed around, and becomes a rumor. Now that certain someone is beginning to have a bad reputation all because of someone eavesdropping on you and your buddy’s conversation.
Now, you may be wondering; “How do I come up with ways to avoid something like this happening, or staying out of any drama?” Well, it depends on your environment, and who you choose to be around or surround yourself with. No, this doesn’t mean you have to isolate yourself from certain people. Just limit how much time you spend with a certain someone if you think something with them is going to impact you emotionally, and maybe mentally in a way you dont want it to. You should also keep an eye on how you speak, or note how others decide to use their language and common sense. There have been lots of cases (experiences) where you may be guilt tripped, manipulated, or forced onto someone's “side” against another person, or individuals.
Now, this doesn’t mean you’re set, and going to stay out of drama for the rest of your life. It's still bound to happen eventually. Just remember this, don’t pick sides, try to stay as unbiased as possible depending on the situation if it isn’t against you, and have a truthful explanation for your reason. Even make agreements, apologize, or better yourselves to fix it. Taking a break away from someone for a short while shouldn’t hurt, and use it as time to fix how you act towards that person or people.
Keep Our School Clean
Do you pick up your trash at school?
Here are the reasons you should.
by Emery Hudson
Fewer Sick Days: If the school is clean, there will be less germs. You can't stop students from bringing germs to school, but you can stop germs from leaving the school. Healthier students are better prepared for learning. If the school is clean, people will want to go to that school. Think about it, if there was a clean school and a dirty school you would want to go to the clean school wouldn't you? With better attendance, the school would have more people on count day, so that means more money for the school so we can get more school supplies, and better school supplies means a better learning experience. Parents would want to do more things for the school. Safety would be much better if there wasn’t stuff all over the floor. You could slip and fall and possibly get a concussion. We should have a “strong sense of school pride” and take care of our own Springbrook Middle School
If the school is trashed, a bug or rodent problem might develop. So if there was a rodent problem there would be mice or rats running around the school and getting into the lockers and eating through bags and bugs are just gross to be around so we wouldn't want either of those, right? But if the school has garbage all over it this might happen. Keeping the bathrooms clean is also important. Do you really want to go into a bathroom used by every other student that is trashed? And leaving things on the bench is just asking someone to go through your stuff and steal things. If you lust leave your bag on the bench it might get taken to the lost and found. Have you seen our lost and found table this year? It’s out of control because it gets filled up so fast.
So, do your part to keep Springbrook clean. Start small, just pick up after yourself at lunch, in the classroom, or at your locker. If you see garbage on the floor, pick it up. Help make Springbrook Middle School a great place to learn!
Get Off Your Screens! Go Outside!
by Mitchell Barnett
Phones and tv’s and game systems are not good for your health because it can cause neck pain, metal stress and headache. Being outdoors provides a break and for you to relax and recharge. Your screen can cause you to have bad vision and going outside is a good exercise. Even if you're just walking out and about or riding your bike, going outside can make you sleep better. Having just a little run can burn calories too. Going outside provides vitamin D and an immunity boost, cleans your lungs and lowers your heart rate. Watching your phone all day or playing video games can change brain activity and reaction times. The average person's screen time is 6 to 8 hours a day when the normal average should be down to 2 to 4 hours a day. Going outside is amazing for spending time with family and friends. Going outdoors is a way for you to get some space for your screen and have a little relief. The outdoors is very peaceful. You can go on hikes, mountain climbing and fishing. Having a lot of phone time is a bad way for you to have a cracked neck because looking down for so long can make you have back pain. Tv’s are what impact your eyes you can have in strain and blurred vision. Staring at the tv for too long can cause irritations and headaches and itchy eyes and back ache, you can feel dizzy and nauseous and have watery eyes. Too much screen time can even cause poor sleep and motion sickness.
‘’When we're in urban environments or the office all day, we can experience sensory overload, resulting in tension and mental fatigue. Studies have shown that our minds and bodies relax in a natural setting. This increases feelings of pleasure and can help us concentrate and focus more effectively,” according to studies in the National Library of Medicine. This just means when we’re inside all day at school, especially on our chromebooks, it will help us be better students by just going outside.
Personal Hygiene
by Mya Gonzalez
It's good to keep up your hygiene, but sometimes you don't have the right products or it's not something you can just do, due to certain circumstances, but there are people all around this building that can help. You can contact talk to or email Ms. Blackmon at kblackmon@adrian.k12.mi.us and ask her for some supplies like deodorant, lotion, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, bar soap, feminine products, toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss, mouthwash, and chapstick. Ms. Blackmon will always be willing to help you when you are in need so that you can keep up your hygiene because hygiene is so important. It can help with your physical appearance, it helps protect you against illnesses, it helps refrain body odor, it boosts your self respect and self confidence, it can also help with your academic performance and so many more things. That is why it is so important to have good hygiene and to make sure you're taking care of yourself. Besides, we all want our school to smell good, don’t we?!
Sleep and Teens
by Emily Mora
Sleep is the most important thing for teens. We all know sleep helps us function properly. Us teens are supposed to get eight to 10 hours of sleep per night. Most teens get seven hours to eight hours of sleep.
How many hours do you get per night? A lot of teenagers stay up on their phones and video games instead of going to sleep. If you don’t get much sleep there are effects. Sleep has side effects like heart disease and risk of death. It also affects our bodies such as low energy and muscles. According to the article, Why is Sleep Important by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, “A sharp increase in blood pressure and heart rate upon waking has been linked to angina, chest pain and heart attacks.” It’s important to get the sleep you need so you don’t have to come down to this point.
There are ways to help you go to bed: You could stay off your phone and video games and turn your tv off if you have one. Get some exercise like take a run or a walk, do a little workout just so you get your energy out. If you get your energy out, it could help you go to bed. You could also develop a bedtime routine, play peaceful music, relax your body, or take a warm bath or shower. There are way more ways to go to bed. Once you have developed a bedtime routine it will be easy to go to sleep.
Check out the results of our sleep survey. It shows the average amount of sleep 99 students from Springbrook Middle School reported that they get each night.
Does VR Affect Your Brain More than a Regular Device?
by Emery Hudson
Do you have a Virtual Reality headset? Here’s a small list of headsets: Oculus 1,2,3, Oculus Rift, and PlayStation VR. There are large differences between VR and regular devices. For one, you get up and move with a VR device because you are the character. You have full control over them so you are moving around, but to what point does it affect your brain more? The short answer is yes and this is why according to Kathryn Segovia from the University of Stanford “in VR environments we project our eyes to look at things far away but in reality there are only a few centimeters away.” That can mess with our perception.
Also, it should not be surprising that “children are affected even more; most children believe something they did in VR really happened” according to CNN reporter Sandee LaMotte. VR can affect motor skills and cause “disorientation symptoms, nausea, malaise, and discomfort referred to as cybersickness” says health coach Beata Sokołowska and the blue light emitting from the headset can be harmful and “can cause damage retinal cells and cause vision problems such as age-related macular degeneration”
So, yes VR does affect your brain more than a regular device but there are also positives to VR. The fun concept of VR can help with learning, “anxiety and mental health issues,” in an article from Health News Today.
The VR headset is just a computer strapped to your head but you can get ones that have no technology in them and you slide your phone into them and some people think this is better for you but is just as bad as the normal VR headset because it is the same 3D videos/games it is just less powerful of a vr headset so it cases the same damage.
Did you know that Nintendo has a VR headset? Well you might have it and you didn't know. It's the Nintendo Switch: you can buy a kit that lets you build a cardboard VR headset that you slide the switch into. But, this also can affect your brain the same way.
So, I think you get the pattern now - all VR affects your brain the same. The 3D technology for all devices do the same thing, but, if you do the VR with you phone, nothing is in 3D so it’s the blue light damage you have to protect yourself from by using blue light glasses with it. Like most things, you can't prevent everything; 40% to 70% of people get VR sickness and many more get eye damage so it is safe to still use V, but to limit the time spent on it to prevent any long term damage.
The Dangers of Vaping
by Landen Fouty
I’m going to talk to you about the dangers of vaping, why vaping is not better than cigarettes, and also how the Vaping industry affects our planet.
First off let's talk about how vaping destroys the body, and why vaping is SO addictive. An article from What's The Harm? written by the Texas Department of State Health Services, “The way that vaping harms the body is through toxic chemicals that enter the body through the airway that can damage organs, the brain, your lungs, and skin/face because sometimes vapes can EXPLODE in your face, causing deformities in your skin, and leading to painful burns.” An article named What’s in an E-cigarette? written by the American Lung Association says, “Nicotine is highly addictive and that it negatively affects adolescent brain development. Also, vapes contain a chemical called Acrolein and it is a herbicide primarily used to kill weeds, which can cause irreversible lung damage or in some cases lead to death.” It gets even worse because vapes also have a chemical that contains HEAVY METALS!!! Such as nickel, tin, and lead which can lead to trouble breathing and different diseases.
Now we are going to move on to how vaping is NOT better than cigarettes, and after a LOT of research I found information on an article called 5 Vaping Facts You Need to Know written by Dr. Michael Joseph Blaha stated that tobacco cigarettes have about 7000 chemicals in them, but vapes are still under research to see how many chemicals are used in a vape.
And Lastly, I’m going to talk about how the Vaping Industry affects our environment. In an article named Vape Fact Sheet written by the Lung Foundation Australia says, “Vapes only contain some components that are recyclable, but most of the components have a large amount of toxic waste, and micro plastics that can be consumed by wildlife. Also the vape contains a battery that if left under heat can explode, which if left in the sun can also explode, sending e-liquids, chemicals, plastics and nicotine into the air.” And the most expected effect on the environment out of all of the effects, is the effect on you, because every time you let the vapor out of your mouth, if in a room, or a confined area, can release small, harmful particles into the air, and once breathed in, can cause it to be very harmful to breath in.
So make a smart choice of what you're breathing in, because 2800 people are taken to the hospital per year because of vaping, but almost zero have died of breathing air since the beginning of time, so make a smart choice, don’t vape.
Are Video Games Healthy?
by Emery Hudson
Do you play video games? 65% of people play video games and according to Kids Health in an article about video games, Dr. Elana Pearl Ben-Johnson states that “some studies have shown certain video games can improve hand–eye coordination, problem-solving skills, and the mind's ability to process information.” But gaming does have some negatives like Well Powers’ article on the same topic, “Unsparingly excessive use of video games has been shown by some studies to have negative effects like problems with sleep, depression and anxiety.”
But here are some ways to make video games heather according to Francesca Lunzer’s article about making games heather, “Choose games wisely. In some games, even modest amounts of play—30 minutes a day—have been shown to improve memory ability in adults of all ages and some studies have found that playing 3-D video games could also boost the formation of memories. Participants were allocated to either a group that played video games with a 2-D environment or a 3-D environment. After playing the games for 30 minutes per day for 2 weeks, the students were given memory tests that engaged the brain’s hippocampus.” (According to the Cleveland Clinic the hippocampus is the small part of your brain that helps with your learning and memory). You might want to share that bit of information with your parents!
The advanced online gaming security company, Kidas tells us that “being a good multi-tasker is absolutely essential! When playing video games, especially multiplayer ones, research has shown that it increases the ability to multitask. You've probably heard this before: Don't sit too close to the TV. You’re going to hurt your eyes! As it seems, researchers say that when it comes to gaming, this might not be the case. Many research studies have shown that playing video games in moderation helps improve the eyes ability to discern color.”
On the other hand,there are some negative effects of gaming according to Maria Aurelia “wjp studied Psychology and Early Childhood Development. “Sleep Disorders – The blue light emitted by screens and the stimulating nature of video games can disrupt sleep patterns, leading to insomnia or poor-quality sleep. Emotional Numbing – Repeated exposure to violent content in video games may lead to desensitization to violence, making individuals less sensitive to the suffering of others.” You can avoid some of this by wearing blue light glasses and just playing these games in moderation.
So, it’s up to you; do you think video games are healthy or unhealthy? I guess the answer is it depends on you.
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