When the news that the Wednesday late start coming to an end filled the middle school, there was an uproar. One eighth-grader said “I am very upset that the late start is now gone. I used that time to catch up on sleep and or work on projects. That time helped me not only be more energized in school but also helped me get work done.” It was a day where school started at 9:00 a.m. leaving children an extra hour to sleep in. If the student could not stay home during this time, they were allowed to come to school and wait for school to start. Continue reading 9:00 AM Wednesday Start
Category Archives: People
Are 3 Day Weekends in Our Future?
Three-day weekends are what many of middle schoolers wish for. Not having to go to work or school on Mondays would make the school days that much more enjoyable. Things used to be worse, in the 1920s many people only got a one-day weekend. Henry Ford gave his workers an extra day off so they would have more time to buy his cars and use them more. While this was not entirely good intentions, it gave people an extra day off to spend with their families. Many people theorized that the workweek would keep getting shorter, but why hasn’t it? Maybe it’s because people don’t want a 3 day weekend? Or maybe they need all 5 days to get things done? Continue reading Are 3 Day Weekends in Our Future?
ABC or 123: Arts vs. Sciences
Would you rather have a pencil in your hand or math problems in your brain?
Student and teachers at GFS answered the question, “Which one do you like more, Art and English or Math and Science?” Many people differ on their favorite subjects. It may be because of grades, workload, or what they enjoy the most. Continue reading ABC or 123: Arts vs. Sciences
Life With Seven Cats
Illustration by Isabella B.
It isn’t common for someone to have seven cats. Most cat owners have one to three cats, or possibly four. But for some people in GFS (maybe three people) and others in the world, seven cats or even more is a thing in their lives. I, Leo, am one of those people. I have seven cats.
Talking About Money with Strangers
There are lots of examples of disparity in the world, but the one that is most obvious to me is the stark contrast between the rich and the poor, especially near my school. Germantown Friends School is located in Germantown, where the average household makes less than the yearly tuition to go to GFS. I really started to understand this extreme separation one afternoon while I was waiting to get on the bus. I was at the bus stop blocks away from my school, when a group of three girls walked across the street. I was minding my own business when I heard the tallest one say, “Hey you! How are you doing?”
Podcast: Friend Groups at GFS?
Are there friend groups at GFS? Reporters Jasper M. and Joshua M. reached out to the GFS community and asked questions like “do you think there are friend groups at GFS?” and “How many friend groups do you think there are?” We got many different answers. Hope you enjoy!
Channel (not so) Awesome
Fame can come with a lot of shady controversies. Bill Cosby, Kevin Spacey, and Al Franken are just a few examples of celebrities who were once beloved by many and were later exposed to having done terrible acts. And the people at Channel Awesome are sadly starting to fall into that category. It’s surprising how a group of people we all thought were just harmless movie critics who so many once looked up to, could be involved with everything that has been going on around the channel. Continue reading Channel (not so) Awesome
School All Year Long
There are some days when the only thing that crosses your mind is summer. The teacher is talking about a new subject and you’re tapping your pencil mindlessly. The thought of swimming with your friends, playing baseball outside or reading a book in a hammock is all you can think of. No matter what time of year it is, this feeling comes to every middle student across the United States, but more and more schools are having year-round school.
Trends, Vlogs, and Clickbait: How to Become a YouTube Celebrity
YouTube is a website and an app that is used by millions and millions of people every day. There are 300 hours of video uploaded every minute on the site, and over 5 billion videos are watched by people every day. Famous Youtubers have gained a lot of influence in the last decade. Before 2005, the dream of becoming a famous Youtuber didn’t even exist. So how can someone like me or you possibly become a famous and rich Youtuber?
Continue reading Trends, Vlogs, and Clickbait: How to Become a YouTube Celebrity
The Art of Doodling
By Peter Ilyin
It’s math class and the room is boiling hot. All of the students are struggling to pay attention to the droning teacher, all but one. This student is absentmindedly drawing while the teacher is droning. The teacher notices and stalks the student, moves in for the pounce, and crack, he slams the ruler on the doodle page. He shouts about next week being a test and no one paying attention. Continue reading The Art of Doodling
Golf: Boring or Awesome?
By: Dean D.
Golf is usually seen as a game played by elderly men in golf carts or (boring) parents. As an avid golfer myself, I can’t help but wonder what kids a GFS think about this sport, so I asked around. Continue reading Golf: Boring or Awesome?
The Truth Behind Fairy Tales
By Helena F.
Everything about a fairy tale seems magical and perfect. The birds are always singing a “song” or the girl falls in love with a prince and they live happily ever after. Or the girl gets married and rides off in a silver carriage into the sunset with her prince charming. Although, are fairy tales as innocent as they seem? Or are they much more gruesome than anyone could ever imagine?
So You Want To Be An Olympian? – The Real Lives of Kid Athletes
Chances are if you’ve sat down to watch even a few minutes of the Olympics, you’ve seen the “inspiring” ads. You know the ones. A little kid is shown falling down on their skies or slipping along the ice in fake home-video quality scenes. 20 seconds later a montage fills the screen with clips of this clumsy youth growing into an Olympic athlete and standing on a podium. But we all know that it isn’t that easy. Kids in the GFS in Middle School tell the truth about what it’s really like being a sport-loving-and-pursuing kid in 2018.
Continue reading So You Want To Be An Olympian? – The Real Lives of Kid Athletes
