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BEAR
WITNESS BRANHAM HIGH SCHOOL
DECEMBER 20, 2019
BHSBEARWITNESS.COM
MOODS FOR THOUGHT
COLDER FRONTS It's not just finals that are weighing on you. If you feel a bit more down, a bit more blue when the days get shorter and colder, you're not alone.
HOW SEASONS CAN IMPACT YOUR WELL-BEING We are all affected by the weather differently. Here's what research says about the changes.
Spring sadness The rate of suicides can be two to three times higher than in December, when suicide rates are the lowest, according to Adam Kaplin, a Johns Hopkins psychiatrist. Kaplin said that those who spent the winter depressed find in the spring that they now have the energy and motivation to take their own life.*
Summer heat Sunshine is linked with a mood boost, but don't expect it to last in the dog days of August. University of Michigan researchers noted positive attitudes seemed to wilt in sweltering weather. In San Jose, the average high is 82 degrees in August, with this year's high at 99 degrees.
Falling Autumn anxiety is an annual increase in anxiety some people begin to feel during the autumn months. Researchers say some causes of this anxiety may be due to beginning a new school year, the looming stress of the holiday season, or possible regret from not having achieved desired goals over the summer.
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Summer lovers Happier, less fearful, and less angry on days with msunshine and higher temperatures. Rainfall was associated with less happiness, more anxiety and anger. Summer haters Less happy and more fearful and angry when the temperature and the percentage of sunshine were higher. With more hours of
*If you or someone you know needs help, please call (800)273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
WINTER WISHES 2019
Panel helped filter wishes for rally Transparency sought in process ELIZABETH POSEY
A
Co-Editor-in-Chief
s a way to increase transparency for wishes that were granted, a Winter Wishes committee of teachers, students, administrators and Leadership students formed to Inside select and filter out among the hunA recap of dreds submitted. the ninth anThe committee, composed of two nual Winter teachers, two ad- Wishes rally ministrators and Page 2 several leadership student met at the start of October to discuss and narrow down the wishes. For science teacher Kevin Kalman, who began his involvement this year, noticed a clear difference in the transparency of the process, describing his experience as “eye-opening.” Kalman was inspired by Robyn Guttierez, a student with muscular dystrophy who wished to talk about her struggles with the disease. “It was just amazing to see how the whole community came together,” he said. Upon receiving a staffwide email, seeking committe SEE WISHES • PAGE 2
POST-GRAD ACADEMY
Special ed grads get help beyond high school Classes promote independent living GENEVIEVE NEMETH Staff Writer
or the past three years, the disF trict’s Camden Post-Secondary Academy has been helping its
Caitlyn Schlaman/Bear Witness
Inside The science behind finals and stress, and the toll they can take on your well-being. Page 7 INSIDE
KATELYN LOWPENSKY Copy Editor
uring the winter, junior Sela Jasim’s energy levels drop to a yearD ly low. “The lack of sun and the gloomy weather impacts me negatively,” she
said. “Then I kind of start feeling down because of that.” Her exhaustion and mood changes represent a common circumstance in many Americans’ lives. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) impacts over 3 million people in the U.S., triggered by the changing seasons. According to the Mayo Clinic, the circadian rhythm, the natural process that administers sleep to wake time, is disrupted during the winter due to a lack of light, resulting in many symptoms. The brain’s decreased amount of serotonin causes depression, and changing melatonin levels lead to drowsiness. Campus briefs.................................2 News.............................................. 2
Editorial..........................................4 Bulletin Board.................................3
These symptoms can cause stress, grief, and depression, making the holiday season a tough time. Psychology teacher Jennifer Ozdinksi sees possible cases of SAD in her sluggish students. She also said that people close to her fall into substance abuse around this time of year. It’s “I'm definitely a believer in that the weather affects our mood,” Ozdinksi said. “I know people who struggle with alcoholism and things like that tend to be worse in these months and worse during holidays.” Depression is one of the main symptoms of SAD, which creates other emotional issues such as grief. Guidance counselor Joyce Davis said more students come to her and other counselors with personal issues during this season. The holiday season, which emphasizes family togetherness, compounds this sorrow for students who have lost a loved one. SEE SAD • PAGE 7
Science and Health.........................6 Climate Watch.................................6
InDepth...........................................7 Student Life....................................8
special education high school graduates transition from high school to their first years of adulthood. The four-building academy, located near the district office off Camden Ave., is built around the philosophy that the community is the classroom, according to Ophelia Gomez, the site administrator. The students, from ages 18 to 22, have frequent opportunities to venture out of the classroom to learn real life skills. Inside the classroom, some of which are built to resemble studio apartments, students are taught how to cook, make their beds, and how to do their laundry. Gomez said that they are taught that work equals money and no work equals no money. On a recent Friday, the
MiniReviews.................................11 Sports.............................................9
SEE ACADEMY • PAGE 5 Arts & Entertainment...................11 The Back Page...............................12