SSRT) HALL

G2 is Student Support Resource Time (SSRT) for 2020-21 year

This Q&A was originally published online on Sept. 8, 2020

Q&A

ZAINAB IDREES Q & A CADY ARMSTRONG PHOTOS

Assistant Principal Brittany Wiseman

What are the new rules about SSRT? The first 30 minutes, you cannot leave your SSRT. Also, you only can have one pass for the hour-long session and are required to stay at that destination. Additionally, if (students) have a pass, (they are) going to sign out electronically.

What if you have multiple teachers you have to go to?

Luckily, now, everyone has Canvas. Since all teachers are using that in the same way, you’ll only be able to see one teacher during that SSRT time. I would encourage students to email, message and even Zoom to get assistance from teachers at different times. We really just want that hour to be for one teacher.

Is this change from SRT to SSRT be permanent? Our hope is that SSRT is a success so the change will be permanent. One good part of SSRT is that sophomores and juniors will stay with their current SSRT teachers for the coming years. We hope that if you need help, you (feel) comfortable enough to ask your (SSRT) teacher.

WRITE IT DOWN: Assistant Principal Brittany Wiseman works at her desk. According to Wiseman, the change from SRT to SSRT allows better incorporation of Culture of Care with the first 30 minutes of SSRT being dedicated to activities such as Culture of Care. Wiseman said, “Everyone is so busy, so if you set that time up apart to do those things, students will feel connected.”

SUBTLE SUPPORT

Take a look at the changes from Student Resource Time (SRT) to Student Support Resource Time (SSRT)

TESSA COLLINSON GRAPHIC CARMEL CLAY SCHOOLS SOURCE

Student Resource Time (SRT) • • 9:20 AM to 11:06 AM

Can return to SRT after first session

More freedom to move between classrooms

Less connections formed with teacher and students

Teachers change each year*

*excluding special SSRTs, such as student aids Student Support Resource Time (SSRT) • • 10:25 to 11:55 AM 15 more minutes to work with a teacher in a session

Cannot return to your SSRT room after signing out

Stronger focus on community building

Teacher remains the same after freshman year* KEY

Gold 2 Period

One transition

Two transitions

Announcements

Teachers available for help

Time to work on schoolwork Time set aside for counselor meetings, presentations, etc. Must obtain a pass to transition between classrooms

A HEALTH-ING HAND

Students motivated to go into healthcare industry in wake of COVID-19

RAGHAV SRIRAM STORY B efore the covid-19 pandemic, senior Zoha Aziz had genuine interest in going into the healthcare industry. She was born into a healthcare environment, as both of her parents are healthcare professionals, and said she wanted to follow in their footsteps after taking principles of biomedical science, a Project Lead the Way class, during her freshman year.

Aziz has participated in a variety of activities related to healthcare throughout high school. In the summer of her freshman year, she started volunteering at IU North Hospital, and has continued to do so every other summer since. She has also joined clubs, such as Health Occupations Students of America (for which she is president) and Club Med, that allow her to explore the different professions in the medical field.

The pandemic has only fueled Aziz’s motivation to become a neurointerventionalist.

“If anything, (the COVID-19 pandemic) has just made me more interested (in going into healthcare), especially in pursuing research as an undergraduate in college,” Aziz said. “There is so much research going on just in the COVID field right now, and it’s crazy because these advancements are happening so fast and so quickly because we are in such a time of need and panic. And it has shown me what we are capable of as humans and has just inspired me even more.”

Junior Emily Hu said she agrees.

“I’ve always had the goal of helping others because the feeling when I help others is really rewarding and (healthcare) is something I want to do for the rest of my life,” Hu said.

Scan this to read a story about a CHS parent working in the medical field during the COVID-19 pandemic

“The pandemic has not changed my perspective in going into healthcare. I still want to become a doctor—it is something that still hasn’t changed (and not) something I am considering any less.”

But as motivated as Hu and Aziz said they are, HOSA sponsor Jennifer Drudge said she has mixed feelings about what could be the effects of the pandemic on students’ aspirations overall.

“I think it probably goes both ways. I think there are certainly some kids that are a little bit more nervous about going into healthcare because it’s been a tough road for people in health care right now, both from the people having to work in the front lines and deal with COVID patients and the pandemic itself to people working behind the scenes and who are communicating

HEMATOPOIESIS:

Senior Zoha Aziz presents the research she conducted with Project STEM over the summer. She said, “I participated in a virtual internship with a research mentor (over the summer)W. And we did that online and we actually looked at some demographics on COVID data and that was really interesting to see.”

JOIN THE CLUB

Take a look at the different clubs at CHS related to the medical field

CM

Carmel MedLife

Meets every other Friday at 4:30 p.m. on Zoom. Instagram: @chsmedlife

Club Med

Meets every second and fourth Wednesday of the month at 5:45 p.m.

HOSA

Meets first or second Wednesday of the month. Instagram: @carmelhosa

SAM HAWKINS GRAPHIC CHS, CARMEL HOSASOURCE

NOT ENOUGH DOCTORS

JOSHIKA SATHYAMATHAN GRAPHIC AAMC, CDC SOURCES

Take a look at the projected shortage of practicing physicians in the United States

projected shortfall range of physicians 140,000 120,000 100,000 80,000 60,000 40,000 20,000 highest projection

2018 2021 lowest projection

2024 year 2027 139,000

range

54,100

2030 2033

Reasons for Projected Shortage

The increasing range represents the increasing UNCERTAINTY as time progresses. The SUPPLY of physicians is declining as the DEMAND for physicians is growing A large portion of the physician workforce is nearing RETIREMENT age.

all the data and giving all the guidelines and yet they are getting all of their expertise questioned.

“I also think there is that excitement of where I can do something where I can make a difference in this world. So for some kids, I think that this pandemic might be encouraging them in going into healthcare because they really want to solve problems and make the world a better place,” Drudge said.

Hu, along with junior Reva Patil, established MedLife, a new club at CHS, this past summer.

“What we do is help low-income communities and certain low socioeconomic communities such as Peru and Ecuador,” Hu said. “And we do certain fundraisers like our power hour where we raised $2400 in order to help feed families during this pandemic. So we have soup kitchens set up and we also provide masks.”

“Now, more than ever, we need students going into the healthcare industry,” Aziz said. “I know because of my parents, because of classes, and because of research that I’ve done that there is a physician shortage. Physicians are being overworked and facing long hours. And that just shows that we need more people involved in this field,” she said.

The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) published an annual report before the COVID-19 pandemic that predicted in 2020 there would be a shortage of between 29,000 and 42,900 doctors. By 2033, when many CHS students will have already chosen their occupations, there could be a shortage of between 54,100 and 139,100 physicians.

Drudge said she believes that now, more than ever, teachers should actively encourage students who are passionate in the healthcare industry.

“If you are encouraging kids to go into healthcare, you are encour

DID YOU KNOW?

A neurointerventionalist is a doctor who treats neurovascular or spinal conditions, typically through a specific type of minimally invasive surgery. Only 500 are currently active.

BY THE NUMBERS 11% of U.S. jobs are in healthcare 16 MILLION Americans work in healthcare

2017 was the year that the healthcare sector surpassed retail to become the United States’ largest employer

STATISTA, THE ATLANTIC SOURCES aging kids to make a difference in their community, in the country, in the state, in the world,” she said.

Hu said, “I think (healthcare professionals) are important because there is always going to be that need for help, and with our population rising there will always be a lot of people that are going to be injured, sick or just not feeling well, and we always want to be there to help and help them feel better to make the world a better place.”

As for Aziz, she had some final words of advice for students who may feel discouraged about going into the healthcare industry now.

“Right now it’s definitely scary. I mean, (COVID-19) has changed everyone’s lives the past couple of months,” she said. “But it’s important that during these unseen circumstances that we as humans just need to keep trying to help people. So if that’s what you sincerely want to do, then I would say, ‘Don’t give up and keep on pursuing that dream into becoming a doctor.’” H

LIVING ON THE SCREEN

Students, staff find new ways of dealing with excessive use of technology

TSION DANIEL STORY

As the COVID-19 pandemic has drastically changed the lives of many,, students have been facing a new reality: a virtual one. This reality is one in which technology has become critical to educational success of students.

For senior Jasmine Hsu, due to COVID-19, she will not be able to finish her last year at this school normally and is facing this new virtual reality as she manages college applications, clubs and rigorous AP courses as a virtual student. Because of these changes, technology has become essential to her academic success.

“I feel like there’s not that large of an emphasis on textbooks anymore just in this current day and age,” Hsu said. “Everything’s totally online for me, so if I want to do anything I always have to rely on Canvas, rely on iMessage, rely on texting my friends which is all, with socially distancing, there’s no other option than technology.

Hsu is not alone in her opinions about the growing importance of technology. A 2020 study conducted by the Pew Research Center found that 53% of Americans believe the internet is crucial in the wake of COVID-19. However, Hsu said, there are also unintended consequences of excessive technology usage.

“When I’m constantly on my laptop, when I’m constantly on my phone, my head starts to hurt,” Hsu said.

Claire Swigart, hybrid student and sophomore, said immoderate technology utilization affects her negatively in other ways.

“I don’t really get headaches but I do get eyestraining,” Swigart said. “I think being on technology too much and looking at it too much, it can obviously hurt your eyes and after a while it’s kind of hard to just look at a computer screen constantly.”

Ultimately, these repercussions are becoming more commonplace, especially in school-aged children, according to a 2018 American Optometric Association (AOA) study. This study, which was conducted before the COVID-19 outbreak, found that even in 2018 over 40% of Americans have myopia (nearsightedness) and this percentage is on the rise. Moreover, one in four parents have a myopic child.

Erin Odya, advanced human anatomy and physiology teacher, said excessive use of technology has various effects on the human body.

“There’s physical (effects), too, like people get the back and neck pain from looking down all the time, arthritis, the eye damage from the blue light, the ear (damage) from listening to music too loud and then (researchers are) starting to see connections with things like heart disease because (people) have a more sedentary lifestyle,” she said.

BY THE NUMBERS 40%

of the world’s population has access to technology and uses it 5

BILLION people in the world own a mobile device 5

hours is the average time people spent on phone daily LEFTRONIC SOURCE

While technology has physical effects, it also impacts psychological health. Stephanie Whiteside, mental health coordinator for Carmel Clay Schools, said while technology can benefit students who utilize it to stay connected with friends due to COVID-19, it may also result in negative effects depending on the circumstances.

“You may have had some students who, because of the lighting of technology or maybe not having a lot of boundaries with it, maybe were staying up late at night which actually could cause there to be some strain and stress caused from that,” Whiteside said.

According to a 2014 Penn State University study, people are more likely not to get sufficient sleep and feel more tired in the morning if they use technology before bedtime. This is because that usage limits the production of melatonin, a hormone that regulates the sleep cycle.

Odya also said technology can result in memory issues.

IT’S USING YOU

Check out the increase of smartphone ownership from 2015 to 2019 in children and teens 100

Percent of ownership 25 50 75

EMILY SANDY GRAPHIC COMMON SENSE MEDIA SOURCE

2015

2019

“There is a direct memory issue where the connections made aren’t as strong and there was actually a study (“Google Effects on Memory: Cognitive Consequences of Having Information at Our Fingertips”) where they had class and if (students) knew where they could get the information online later, they didn’t remember it,” Odya said. “All they remembered was where to find it. Whereas the ones where they didn’t give that information, it was like this is the only time you get it, those students remembered that information so much better. So, because we know it’s there, when information is being presented to us, it’s not making as strong of connections in our brain, and so you start to see students having to do more work and needing more repetitions to get things to stick.”

Despite these detrimental effects, there are ways in which people can limit the consequences of excessive utilization of technology.

Odya said taking breaks is crucial in the reduction of its impact.

“So, the critical things are to just put (technology) down periodically, especially 30 to 60 minutes before bed,” Odya said. “Then, you’ll get better sleep and that feeds in with all of the other problems. It kind of helps lessen them, especially the social and emotional ones.”

PUT IT DOWN

Take a look at ways to reduce your screen usage

Instead of using online websites to study, try paper and pen when you can.

Turn off your notifications. You can focus on one task at a time instead of overloading your brain with information Pick up a hobby! This leaves less time for playing on your phone.

Limit your use. Set timers, change your app limit time in settings or mentally check yourself.

Whiteside also said this technique helps people calm their minds and become more mindful.

Swigart said she utilizes blue light glasses to lessen the impact technology has on her eyes.

“I feel like they don’t make my eyes so dry like when I look at the screen

EMILY SANDY GRAPHIC

for a very long time,” Swigart said. “The one other thing I do is I like to print a lot of things out like a lot of instructions and stuff like that so I don’t have to look at the computer screen a ton. It’s nice to change it up.” H This story was originally published online on Sept. 21, 2020

SPEAK-UP!

How are you dealing with increased technology usage during COVID-19?

TSION DANIEL, KIERSTEN RIEDFORD SPEAK-UPS, PHOTOS

“I’d say technology has had an impact on my learning because a lot of my teachers use Canvas and other online tools to help gage the process.” Junior Kashyap Akkinapally

“I think its fine, I really like virtual days because I can pace myself and do things on my own instead of following what the teacher has.”

Senior Haruka Yoshimura

RISE AND SHINE, SIBS!

Later school start times uncover how students take care of younger siblings

SAUMYA SOMASI STORY ASHILYN JOSEPH SUBMITTED PHOTO

As the district changed start times for the high school to be later, older sibling Ashilyn Joseph, said they have been seeing some changes in responsibilities toward their younger siblings.

Joseph, a virtual student, said via email, “Before later school start times, I would be out the door and on the bus before (my sister) would wake up.”

Now, Joseph helps out more in the mornings because of her sister’s scheduled Zoom classes that begin before Joseph’s classes start.

Joseph said, “Both of my parents are always working. It’s my responsibility to make sure my sister is on time and ready for school every morning, which can be harder.”

Sophomore Dhanush Biddala, who has a brother in elementary school, said he too has seen changes because of the later high school start times.

Dhanush said, “I have less time with (my brother) because I don’t see him in the mornings. Because of homework and activities in the afternoon, I don’t see him.”

Faith Dalton, interpersonal relations and child development teacher, said she can see how high school-aged students may have different responsibilities now that they’re staying home later in the mornings.

She said, “I don’t really see very many negatives for the earlier start times for the younger students. If the older kids are going to school (later) then (they) can care for their younger siblings in the morning, which could help the parents in the morning.”

Still, Dalton said, a negative about starting school early for all students–both the elementary students who start earlier and their older siblings who may have to care for them in the mornings–could be them just being tired.

“That’s a negative across the board,” she said, “Whether you’re young or you’re in high school.” Dhanush said his brother does not seem to mind the change and has a similar schedule as in previous years. Therefore, Dhanush said he doesn’t have to provide extra care for his brother because of this.

SAFETY SUGGESTIONS

Check out these simple tips on child-proofing your home When using the stove, keep all pots and pans on the back burners, away from the edge of the counter. PARENTS.COM SOURCE Vacuum often to keep ELISE VARHAN GRAPHIC small objects and possible choking hazards off the ground.

BY THE NUMBERS 80% of American citizens have siblings 6 to 10 squabbles per hour between siblings in a young age bracket 3 point IQ advantage of older siblings over younger siblings

US NEWS, SCHOOP WHOOP SOURCES HELPING HAND: Sophomore Ashilyn Joseph looks down at her sister’s school book. Because of the later start times for high schoolers, Joseph said that she sometimes has to help her sister, who is in elementary school, get ready.

According to Dalton, despite the minor concerns of child care for younger siblings, the decision to have high school start later was a good step to take. She said there has been a lot of research that younger kids work better in the morning and are easier to care for in the afternoon. Joseph and Dhanush said they can see both the positives and negatives of the change. Joseph said, “Overall, I can’t say that I hate this change, but I don’t love it either. It’s great that I get to spend time with my sister in the mornings, but school for my sister starts at 7:50 a.m. So while I do love spending time with my sister, I really wanted those extra hours of sleep for myself.” H This story was originally published online on Sept. 14, 2020

Move chemicals, alchohol and medicines to higher places and cabinets out of a child’s reach.

Tie up window blind cords and electrical cords or anything else that a child might get tangled in.