By Parvin Sahraei 

Cell phones, iPods, Myspace, factories that make our food, and the list goes on and on. I’m talking about all the technology we use these days.

Technology can save us but it can also hurt us. Why doesn’t the world slow down and just take a break? Why can’t people go back to living a real life instead of a life filled with technology?

You walk down the street and see kids listening to their iPod or talking on their cell phones like they have some kind of business or something. People are so caught up in all these new technologies that they forget about the meaning of life.

And it’s not just technologies, but also factories that contribute to global warming because of the carbon monoxide they produce.

Most people don’t even have enough time to eat breakfast anymore so they grab “go bars” and eat it in a hurry.

The cable companies produce 500 or more channels for their companies combined with the dangerous snack foods we eat everyday. Why do you think there are so many obese people these days? People have forgotten about everything.

I mean 50 year old women go to have cosmetic surgery so they can look young again. It’s like people are trying to stop nature’s process. It’s just crazy. Aren’t we the ones who are contributing to global warming with all of our toxic chemicals and carbon monoxides?

Don’t forget about the coal mines and tobacco companies. I mean America is a free country but it seems that freedom comes at a huge price. More people die from smoking here than anywhere because of all the chemicals in the cigarette. If you go to Iran or somewhere else in the
Middle East their cigarettes only have tobacco leaves but the ones here have over 4000 chemicals!

Everywhere you go there are stores and restaurants and buildings that there’s no more room to play or exercise and you have to pay if you want to go just about anywhere.

And the places we can walk are filled with cigarette butts and soda cans. Now if this is all happening now, imagine the future. We have to do something about this.

If you have a question or comment please email me at peachgurl_517@yahoo.com.

Back to April 26, 2007

By James Armstrong 

Today almost anything you read in a newspaper can be found online.  Major newspapers like the Washington Post, the New York Times, and the USA Today all have online editions which include every article from the print version, as well as many more.  In addition to the articles there are more features as well.  What before limited news to just words and still photos, now can be expanded to online videos, audio clips, slideshows and more.

In the last weeks, the South Lakes Sentinel has gone a dramatic change as you must know if you are reading this article.  The Sentinel Online has followed the trend as room for articles and pictures is limited on the twelve-page Sentinel distributed monthly, and extra pictures, articles, and various clips can be seen online.

This change can be interesting.  Are print newspapers becoming useless?  With all articles from most newspapers online and available at your fingertips for free, why pay money for a bias newspaper like the Washington Post, when you can read the same article, listen to audio and see videos on your computer, PDA, or a fully equipped phone like the Blackberry or Blackjack?  There’s isn’t a real good reason.  If the internet becomes accessible to more people everyday then won’t there be a time that everyone has internet access?  When the internet grows and newspapers throughout the world go online, then there may be a time in the near future that print newspapers as we all know may go extinct.

The Sentinel is being surfed, and so are other, very popular newspapers.  Soon there may be a time when all newsprint editors decide to stop wasting ink and paper and go global. 

Back to April 26, 2007

By Nicholas C. Delos 

Delaying the Fairfax County High School opening bell by an hour is feasible, despite a predicted nine million dollar cost, according to a recent study.  Any change, however, would require an overhaul of the current school transportation system which could take up to three years to fully take effect.

The organization, SLEEP (Start Later for Excellence in Education), had been calling for the School Board to delay class start times in Fairfax high schools by at least an hour later than their current start at 7:20 a.m..  The group points to studies that indicate that a delayed school start would allow students to perform better scholastically, as well as making an improvement in their fitness.  These improvements predicted by the studies are due to an increase in the amount of sleep predicted or demonstrated under later school openings.

The Fairfax School Board hired two consultants, Platt and Forsyth, from Management Partnership Services to determine if and how the transportation system could be adapted to between an 8 and 9:35 a.m. high school start time.  Their study found that any change what so ever could have a “significant negative impact” on school transportation services but it would also present an opportunity to improve running cost efficiency by 4 to 12 percent. Their cost estimate for these time models ran from $5.9 to $9.2 million.  They found that it would be impossible to make minor adjustments to the transportation schedule without changing the entire system, which would be “very difficult to implement”.  Additionally, if a postponement of just 40 minutes was made, students in elementary school would be going home at dusk during some parts of the year.

According to the consultants, the transportation system is now at a maximum in efficiency.  The inevitable expansions and changes of the expanding school system would require and increase in the amount of resources allocated and such expansions are predicted, by the study, to become necessary in the next few years.  To this effect, earlier this year, the Fairfax County School Board passed a $300,000 budget placeholder for the purpose of reengineering the transportation system.

The school board is continuing its consideration of rescheduling with different school time models. Additionally, most board members already agree upon the necessity of revamping the transportation system.

Back to April 26, 2007

By Alexander Crowder

Most parents find the effects of Ritalin beneficial to their children who have been diagnosed with ADD. Doctors prescribe it to children who may not even have it, and are merely children whose mind has not been fully developed to multitask. Still, they prescribe this medicine to make those with this mental disability concentrate. But what of the side effects of this drug?

While the drug allows for longer concentration, there are still many effects that it can have on children, or any other age group taking it. The most common one of them, being the loss of appetite, making those who take the pills either not feel the sensation of hunger, or feel the intense sensation of nausea when faced with a meal. This leads to disturbing amounts of anorexia in most Ritalin takers. Other side effects that have negative impacts are insomnia, and nervousness. These effects keep the subject up to the early morning hours, depending on how long the medicine lasts on the person.

Withdrawal is also common, as those who are taken off the medicine have come to depend on them. The drug is not addicting, though it does cause a few medical conditions if those on them are suddenly forced to stop.

A common negative trait, that is purely non-medical, is that children will pretend to have this ailment in order to get their hands on the drugs for substance abuse, and for overnight studying for exams. Ritalin can also be found in the hallways of schools for sale for those who have enough money to pay for them.

Back to April 26, 2007

By Katie Busch 

It’s almost the end of the year which means, class and SGA elections are amongst us. These elections are a time to vote for those willing to serve their class and their school. But will these candidates be chosen for their competence or character?

It’s no big secret that many candidates are voted for based on popularity and likeability. Students are more likely to vote for their friend (which is understandable) over a student who they don’t know but are clearly more competent for the job. Should the kid who is more competent for office be elected or the kid who is most liked by their class? It’s hard to give a clear answer on that.

For one thing, more popular students should be elected because they know their class and would represent them well. On the other hand if we voted based on competence alone the class would be assured someone who will get things done.

The voter must then choose between loyalty to their friend or the more qualified candidate. Unfortunately for the more competent, we already know the answer: loyalty beats qualifications every time. 

Back to April 26, 2007

(From the April Issue of the South Lakes Sentinel print version)

…continued from main page

“Start arranging now for a ride to the NOVA campus on your test date,” said Anne Stowe, IB Coordinator, “there is a limited number of rides the school can provide for students.” Parents are needed to assist in transporting students to their test on the appropriate date because of the lack of transportation available. The majority of students are expected to drive themselves.

It is very important that all students come to the exam. Last year, one student even took an exam with a concussion. Needless to say, your attendance at the exam is mandatory. If there is some extreme situation, such as a severe car accident on the way to the site or an illness, simply contact Mrs. Stowe, explain the issue to her, and she will make a call to Wales and see what she can do to reschedule the test date or another solution. Unless any of these incidents occur, please be sure that you are present at the exams 15 to 20 minutes before your start time. A copy of the exam schedule can be found through the Fairfax County Web site.

Once arriving at the NOVA Reston Campus, students need to take the elevator to the third floor, which is at the top of the building, and gather in the student study area. Look at the list of names printed on each door to find out which room you will be testing in. The start time on your exam schedule is when instructions are given to the students. The test actually starts after these instructions are read through and all preliminary questions are answered. For example, if the test is an hour exam and scheduled at 10:00 a.m. that is the time the instructions will be given, meaning the exam will not finish until around 11:30 a.m.

Of course these are all things the day of the exam. There is plenty of preparation for these important tests going on months in advance. To ensure you do everything possible to prepare for the exams, here are some tips from Mrs. Stowe. “Students should start studying sooner than later. Reviewing a little bit every day is better than cramming at the last minute,” said Stowe.

The day prior to your IB test, you should get plenty of rest and the last thing you should do is stay up all night to cram for the test. It is also very important to eat breakfast the morning of the exam and drink plenty of water, as the brain functions best when on a full and quenched stomach.

As we all know, Mrs. Stowe only has our best interests in mind. Thus, we should take her advice to heart and succeed on our mission to pass the IB Exams in May.

What to Bring:

• Calculator for Math and Science Exams
• Glasses
• Pens, Pencils, and Paper are provided
• YOURSELF!

Did you know… over 50% of the senior class is in at least one or more IB classes!