By: Max Klein (Staff Writer)
Over the past few years, school spirit at George Washington High School has plummeted. Most attribute this phenomena to COVID - 19 as it affects ripple throughout the George Washington School Community.
As the years go by, less and less people attend school events like dances and fundraisers, less people sign up for sports, and less people sign up for clubs. School Attire sales haven’t been doing well in recent years either. The overall situation is critical for the administrators as the school looks to attract more people.
According to multiple forms I gave out, the COVID - 19 pandemic seems to be the largest factor for the loss of school spirit. George Washington High School has experienced a decline in attendance, purchasing of merchandise, and wearing school attire. This affects how united the school community truly is - which it isn’t. Being locked in your house for a year and a half may have caused kids to re-learn social interactions - stunting your ability to feel a connection or a sense of belonging to the school.
George Washington’s High School had plenty of school spirit in the early 2000s according to alumni from that era. The same can be said for the 2010s era. All leading up to the 2020s. They had tons of energy following the decades preceding them. Many theorize that because of the lack of blockbuster films or other memorable cultural moments these past 5 or so years. The energy in kids today isn't near what they used to be.
According to ASB (Association Student Body) President Madhav Krishna “The School’s lost touch as I see it.” We’re working hard to bring it back and leave a lasting impact." "Our dances events have lost their prestigiousness and popularity, the winter dance for example had like nobody showing up compared to other times I’ve gone.” The president hopes that his efforts to improve the school's nature and environment will give the people the school spirit that’s been lacking over the past few years.
With most people concluding that the covid 19 pandemic being the largest contributor to the loss of school spirit, It’s clear that everyone is on the same page in terms of the problem but the solution is where most differ. The 3 main solutions are for longer passing periods, more school dances and events, and more rallies. Which way the school will go will be determined in the future.
By: Jade Padilla (Staff Writer)
Over 60% of students and teachers at George Washington High School report increased stress levels this year, citing packed schedules leaving limited time for homework and assignment planning under the newly implemented 7-period system.
The seven period system was implemented at the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year to offer a larger course selection to students. However, the shift to the 7 period schedule at Washington High School has led to heavier workloads, making time management more difficult and raising concerns about physical and mental well being.
According to a study conducted by New York University, nearly half (48%) of the students surveyed reported spending 3 or more hours on homework each night. This increased workload has raised concerns about the impact of students' well being and school work/life balance.
“You have to realize we are teenagers, trying to do work and trying to further our lives,” emphasized Football player, Kobe Padilla. “expecting us to do 80 problems in one night and thinking that's a normal thing people do in the working world is just unrealistic.” This on-going debate about the effectiveness of excessive homework and if it truly benefits students or contributes to major stress and burnout.
While students are often concerned about their academic workload, teachers face equally high, if not greater levels of stress on a daily basis. “With the big class sizes every student has a different learning style which makes it difficult to help everybody,” explained Susan Tang, Chemistry teacher at Washington High School. “I just wish they had more teachers since there are more classes” Further research supports this, with a study that found that 58.9% of teachers experience mild depression, 3.5% suffer from moderate depression, and 0.6% report severe depression. Shift to the seven-period school system has added another layer of stress among both students and teachers about increased workloads and reduced personal time.
With the increase in academic workload families and parents have started to grow increasingly concerned about students’ well being. A study by the National Public Radio found that homework is the leading cause of stress, with 24% of parents calling it a significant issue. Additionally, therapists and experts warn that this excessive workload can negatively impact students' mental health and school performance. In response, therapists and school staff recommend keeping a planner to encourage better time management.
While this issue continues in Washington, students at Abraham Lincoln High School have also voiced similar concerns. “Schoolwork doesn't really allow me to have extracurriculars because if i'm not doing homework, I'm studying for tests.” said Sydney Wei, a sophomore student at Lincoln High School. “Sometimes it could be time management but some of the homework takes so long and is too confusing, so I often find myself working until 12AM on a school night” Students across the city are reporting difficulty balancing academic demands and personal time, making others more concerned about the effectiveness of the schedule changes.
As the concerns of academic workload and mental health continue to grow, students, teachers and family are hoping for potential change to the seven period school schedule. Many are advocating for reduced workloads, increased staffing to support bigger classes, and improved time management schedules to relieve stress. School officials are yet to make a statement to propose future changes. On-going arguments highlight the need for a better balance between academics and personal well being. As Washington High School and other schools try to conquer these challenges, the debate over workload and mental health still stands up front.
By Arla Dyrma (Staff Writer)
George Washington High School students are facing high price ranges and unhealthy options in the school vending machine, impacting 2,000 hungry students.
The increase in student spendings on low nutritional snack options optimizes a decrease in schoolwide accessibility for scholars who prioritize regular nutrition intake, undertaking profits earned for school based programs. Administrators and additional staff have begun to acknowledge the issue through discussions with vendors, to prioritize preservative free and fairly priced snacks.
According to the California Department of Education, “Snacks should not contain not more than 200 calories per individual food item. California schools are urged to abide by the enforcements against nutritional values of food items to regulate student health during school. Additionally, “Food items should contain not more than 35% of its total weight composed of sugar, including naturally occurring and added sugar,” further stated the California Department of Education.
Nonetheless, George Washington High School vending machines are composed of food items exceeding further prohibitions. Food items that are popularly sold contain 5-20 grams of added sugars, alongside drinks containing 17-50 grams of added sugars, simultaneously exceeding 250 calories. 100 students remain impacted daily by large spendings on health violated food items.
The nutritional values of the snacks concern staff and students equally. Health teacher Rosalia Lopez voiced, “What worries me is the drinks high in sugar and the hot chips, especially for students who do not eat during lunch. I wish the district would include healthier options but students grab what they see,” added Lopez
The variety of costly beverages and drinks have led to a reduction of various purchases from students. A student Jinx Mitose pointed out, “I have bought drinks from locations near the school that are twice the cost at the school’s vending machine and provide a wide range of chips and sodas.” A student additionally implied the idea of “considering plant based snacks or food items derived from whole fruits and vegetables.”
During the pandemic when construction began, the vending machines were enforced for removal. JROTC teacher Leonel Nascimento addressed,“Prices essentially increased due to retrofit and new installations in the machine, the JROTC now earns 10% of the profits.” The implementation of retrofit was utilized to upgrade the vending machine and improve the usage of the utility. Similar innovations resulting from price increases around the school campus have been noted.
School officials plan to secure guidelines of food items with the California Department of Education by the 2025-2026 school year. “We are expecting to hear from vendors on upcoming prices and food items to ensure students are provided with fairly priced and healthy snacks throughout the day,” Nascimento added. School administrators will engage with vendors to determine appropriate prices and snack options while considering health regulations to determine if these alterations are working for students and staff alike.
This issue inevitably impacts 2,000 students at George Washington High School. A student Olivia Coleman specified,“It is a privilege purchasing snacks during school hours and lately I have not done so because of how overpriced and artificial the snacks and drinks are sold for. It defeats the purpose of a fulfilling treat.” As the school continues to improve this situation, students and staff will look forward to the stability of food items sold at the vending machine alongside healthier options and alternatives aligned with equitable preferences.
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