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the Conestoga High School, Berwyn PA
Volume 69 No. 6
April 30, 2019
Spoke.news
Guidance counselor publishes new book ‘Middle Schooled’ has always been positive, and many parents suggested I write a book,� News Editor Mullen said. “My motivation in writT/E Middle School guidance ing ‘Middle Schooled’ was to create counselor Andrew Mullen recently something that was both entertainself-published his first book, “Mid- ing and helpful for parents.� dle Schooled: Parenting Tips and Covering subjects ranging from Reminders to Keep You Smiling,� a lying and standing up to bullies, to compilation of firstdating and cell hand observations, phones, “Middle insights and advice Schooled� feafor parents of middle I hope parents re- tures advice and school students. parenting tips alize that having a through a series “I have worked with middle school middle school age of personal aneckids for a long time,� dotes. child is a gift. Mullen said. “As a “I hope parcounselor, I can take ents realize that an objective look at having a middle their behavior and school aged child Andrew Mullen take the time to unTEMS Counselor is a gift. A chalderstand it.� lenging, annoying Mullen has and at times frusworked as a guidance trating gift, but a counselor within the district for 16 gift nonetheless,� Mullen said. years. For the past five years, he has “Middle Schooled� is available sent out weekly emails to the par- on Amazon. Reviewers have called ents of his students, detailing both it “laugh out loud funny� Overall, it parenting advice and personal anec- has a perfect 5-star rating based on dotes. These emails became the basis 22 Amazon reviewers. of “Middle Schooled.� The book’s “The feedback has been extremechapters are organized by month ly positive,� Mullen said. “Parents and topic based on the weekly e-mail have told me they find it very funny messages he has shared with parents and extremely helpful.� over the years. Mullen hopes to continue writ“The feedback (from the emails) ing about parenting in the future.
Maddie Lamonica
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Olivia Thompson/The SPOKE
Rally in the courtyard: AASU member and junior Nymir Robinson (left) supports AASU President and senior Tajsha Gray-Vause (right) before giving the last speech at the Black Out Against Racism Rally on April 9.
African-American Student Union organizes anti-racism rally By Richard Li, Staff Reporter
Olivia Thompson/The SPOKE
Shoulder-to-shoulder: Students fill the large courtyard at 9:15 a.m. on April 9 for the Black Out Against Racism Rally. Students listened to eight speeches.
Chants of “U-N-I-T-Y� rang throughout the large courtyard as Conestoga students and staff stood together to support the African-American Student Union’s (AASU) Black Out Against Racism Rally. “I stand up here today to start at one small school in America in hopes of spreading a message: racism may never end but we will never stop fighting it,� junior Alex Caristan said in his speech at the rally. Caristan was one of eight AASU members who presented speeches or poems at the rally during 3rd period on April 9. The rally was a part of the AASU’s ongoing campaign to promote anti-racism at Conestoga. The campaign also involved presentations with CURE, Conestoga United in Reaching Equity, in 9th grade World Literature classes in April as well as the Black Out Against Racism spirit day on March 20. These events came after Conestoga students posted a video containing racial slurs in March, which came a year after students were involved in a similar video in 2018.
“In reaction to the racist videos that were posted on social media, the African-American Student Union felt that there should be anti-racism messaging throughout the year, whether it’s in the classroom, or in our clubs and activities, or in these larger events like the rally,� AASU club adviser Leashia Lewis said. After obtaining approval from Conestoga’s administration, the AASU promoted their rally through social media, t-shirt sales, word of mouth and Good Morning Stoga. As a result, hundreds of students and faculty leaving their third period classes to listen to speeches in the courtyard. Students wore the AASU’s anti-racism wristband or t-shirt to express their support for the event, and AASU members held signs advocating unity and change. Throughout the 30-minute walkout, members of the AASU spoke to the crowd addressing the effects of racism and goals for the future.
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Olivia Thompson/The SPOKE
Self-published: Valley Forge Middle School guidance counselor Andrew Mullen shows his first book “Middle Schooled.� Mullen has worked in TESD for 16 years.
Students Against Gun Violence hosts Gun Violence Awareness Week Melinda Xu
Managing Web Editor
Students file into the room, taking their seats and turning their attention to the speaker at the front of the room. The speaker is Pa. State Rep. Melissa Shusterman, here to talk about gun violence, current legislation and how students can get involved in politics. Shusterman was one of a series of guest speakers for Students Against Gun Violence’s (SAGV) Gun Violence Awareness Week, which ran from April 8 to 12. The goal was to educate students on the topic of gun violence and to facilitate conversations on guns and gun safety through multiple educational activities, including the speaker series. “What we aim to do with the awareness week is to teach the student body about what’s going on right now, about the laws that are in place, bills that might be happening and just generally separating fact from fiction about what causes shootings,� senior and SAGV co-president Anna Donahue said. In addition to Shusterman, speakers included Ann Col-
by-Cummings of GunSenseUs, a Chester County based group interested in developing common-sense solutions to reduce gun violence, Shira Goodman of CeaseFirePA, a Pennsylvanian group working
for gun reform, and Marybeth Christiansen and Erin Buchner of Moms Demand Action, a grassroots movement fighting for safety measures against gun violence. Their presentations were on cur-
rent gun legislation, the work of the various groups they are from and how students can influence change through being politically involved. “I think it’s important for students to talk about any of
the hot button issues that affect their lives and see that we can have disagreements and (still) talk civilly,� Goodman said. “I think there were three young men in the back who don’t agree with everything I
Melinda Xu/The SPOKE
A push for change: Senior Ryan Casciato runs the Gun Violence Awareness Week table. The Students Aganist Gun Violence club hosted events from April 8 to 12., including guest speakers such as Pa. State Rep. Melissa Shusterman and GunSenseUs member Ann Colby-Cummings.
said, but we all engaged civilly and they came up and thanked me afterwards.� Junior Lily Bielinski appreciated the opportunity to hear Shusterman’s thoughts. “I thought everything she talked about was very important based on what’s going around the world,� Bielinski said. “I’m happy that she’s fighting for stricter gun laws and I think what she said about reaching out to your local representatives is really important and something that can go a long way.� The club also held multiple activities each day for the week in the main lobby, including selling T-shirts and pins to raise money for gun violence awareness. Previously, they have donated to Sandy Hook Promise and the Anti-Violence Partnership of Philadelphia. “We’ve chosen those because they’re nonpartisan groups that work proactively against gun violence rather than reactively,� junior Percy Kaylor, treasurer of SAGV, said. Throughout the week, SAGV also encouraged students to express their opinions. “We (had) a large board
from the art department where students (could) write opinions on a post-it note and put it on there,� Donahue said. Through these activities, the club wished to help students see the importance of having conversations about gun violence. “This isn’t just an issue at the inner city or New Zealand, it’s an issue that can affect us here and it’s important to talk about and see what we can do to make a difference,� Kaylor said. This is not the first time SAGV has held a schoolwide event to promote gun violence awareness. Last year the club hosted a teach-in day where they had similar activities. These included a poster for students to sign their names in solidarity against gun violence and hosting speakers to promote discussion. They chose to expand the event to a week this year. “We wanted to be able to address lots of different facets of the topic because there are lots of things that factor into gun violence,� Donahue said. SAGV plans to have a similar event next year.