Support the troops

Support the troops from Chad Bruns on Vimeo.

Computer Viruses

Computer viruses. Seems like everyone has had their far share of experiencing this annoying bug. Our school has been hit hard with viruses and has been trying to get it under control for more than a year now. How do we get rid of it? It takes a lot of work and patience. Mrs. Greer and Mrs. Swanson work day and night constantly trying to revive our laptops, stopping only for necessities and coffee. Lots of coffee. We could try a few things to help prevent these viruses and to save these poor women some time. According to Microsoft you should do these things:


1.) Use firewall
2.) Subscribe to antivirus software
3.) Never open emails that aren’t from people you know.
4.) Don’t click on links you are unsure about



First off, let me explain to you exactly what a virus is. It is a program on the computer that copies itself to mess with the way a computer works without the acknowledgement of the computer owner. What causes these viruses? Ruthless, manipulative, geniuses are to blame. Their only intentions are to cause people pain and agony. Usually what they do is put the virus in a link or email to trick people into opening it and for some reason we continue to fall for it.

Do these ladies a favor and give them a break. Just because these are not your laptops, you should still take care of them as if they were. If you follow the four safety pointers I mentioned earlier, you should be good to go. Don’t let those tricky little devils fool you. Be careful and pay attention to what you are doing and it will make the world a better place, or at least you will be making Mrs. Greer and Mrs. Swanson’s a little better.

Summer Lovin' by Victoria Thomas

Ask a student if they’re ready for summer and their answer will always be yes. Sure, students enjoy hanging out at school and learning, but what beats soakin’ up the sun in a small town? You got it, nothin! As the weather heats up, the students get restless in school. What are we all so anxious about? What will we spend our summer doing? I wanted to find out.
I asked a few students around the school what their summer will consist of. Working? Vacation? Friends? Their answers were pretty much all the same; all of the above! I found out it really depends on the student, and what they are involved or interested in. One student said she would be working at her job 4-5 days a week, and in between, a vacation to Okoboji, and hanging out supporting our school at baseball games.
Another student I asked said that she would be babysitting some of the time, also vacationing in Okoboji, and hanging out with her friends. Some kids don’t have jobs, but seem to have hard work to do around their houses. A lot of kids said they would be attending the races in the summer too.
I spoke to a senior here and there and most of them said they would be readying themselves for college or college classes. Some will spend their summers on a job hunt to take up some of their time. A lot of the seniors said that they were just going to be relaxing and hanging out with their friends before they go away to college. Others are moving in the summer to a different town, some to a different state entirely.
A lot of students I talked to are just taking on small jobs and hanging out at the pool or skate park with friends. Some people said they were just going to sleep all summer, and I don’t blame them. Those who work hard in school and have after-school jobs get worn out and just want to relax in the short months we have out of school.
Obviously students just want to relax in the summer, but as my class is growing up I’m seeing more and more kids trying to get jobs, help out at home, or do good in the community! I know that the day summer hits I’ll be on a plane to Ft. Myers Florida to see some of my family. When I get back? Work and friends! This is my last summer before graduation, and I’m going to take advantage of it! You should too! Have a safe and fun summer. Stay healthy, tan, and happy!


Pictures- Victoria Thomas

Autism

Autism from Chad Bruns on Vimeo.

Cyberbullying

Untitled from Chad Bruns on Vimeo.

Students With Jobs

Untitled from Chad Bruns on Vimeo.

This is our video on teenagers with after school jobs, and how it affecst their school lives. Enjoy!

Sleep

Sleep from Chad Bruns on Vimeo.

Facebook vs Myspace

Facebook or myspace? Which one is better? Personally I have accounts for both. There are good features for both so it’s hard for me to choose.
I think Facebook is better if you want to stay in touch with friends and keep up with the latest gossip. It is a very social website. It allows your voice to be heard and your opinions put out there. You may comment people on their thoughts and quotes and even make it noticed that you like it. Facebook also makes it very easy to find old classmate that you haven’t seen in forever and to stay close to family members that live out of town. Not only do people get on to communicate with friends and catch up but a lot of people play games on there. Games such as the popular Farmville, Happy Aquarium, and Super City, all in which people can connect to other players and help each other on with the games.
Myspace on the other hand has great qualities too. Myspace allows people to be more creative. On myspace, you can customize everything from the background of your page or adding your favorite songs. Myspace is also known for discovering a lot of talented people such as music artists, Colby Callait, Soulja Boy, Lily Allen and Sean Kingston. It allows people to discover new bands and keep up with their favorite artists. Another thing that is nice on myspace is on the status you can post your mood. It doesn’t sound like a big deal but it’s nice to let people know how you are feeling.
There are some big down falls for these websites though. For Facebook some include things like not being as creative and being able to customize your profile. Uploading your pictures on Facebook can be a pain too if you do not have the right software. If your software isn’t up to date it makes you upload only five pictures at a time (Which takes forever!). Another thing that can be a problem on Facebook is that even if you keep your page private, it’s still very easy for strangers to access your information.
Some disadvantages for myspace include things such as problems with pedophiles, spam issues and there have been many reports on cyber bullying. They has been many cases in which teens get picked on so much by their peers online that they go as far as committing suicide.
So which one would you rather. The very social Facebook or the unique creative myspace? Feel free to tell share your opinions and even stories. =]
-Sierra

Senioritis (The Silent Killer) by Victoria Thomas

As the end of the year nears, more and more seniors are beginning to experience senioritis. What is senioritis you ask? Well, the Urban Dictionary describes senioritis as ‘a crippling disease that strikes high school seniors.’ A crippling disease? Yes and a killer to grades. Is the disease contagious? Of course; any student slacking off in class has fun, which rubs off on the students around them. Symptoms often include repeated absences, lack of studying, and excessive wearing of ugly sweatpants.
Many students don’t feel the need to try at schoolwork anymore, and can’t get their mind off of graduation. Most seniors who get the disease do not know how to cure it, or don’t care to. Senioritis is most commonly caused by stress, among many other school issues. The disease sometimes shows up after an individual has been accepted into college. This student feels as if they no longer have to try, because all their after high school plans are all laid out. Seniors do not realize that colleges can still reject them. They begin to feel tired, bored, and annoyed of the routine. They begin to realize that most of their important tests are over, and that they no longer need to gain high school level knowledge. Another cause is senior festivities such as prom and ‘Senior Survivor.’ These activities free seniors’ minds, and let them relax.




Professionals say that the only known cure to ‘senioritis’ is to receive your diploma. What do you think? Do you think you can beat the disease? Or will you be doomed to procrastinate in school for the next few months?

If you are experiencing senioritis, please, don’t hesitate to speak to a counselor, a friend, anything! There is help for you! Senioritis can be a fun thing to experience, but there is also a serious side to it, as sometimes it will lead to a student trying drugs/alcohol for the first time. Seriously, if you notice one of your friends starting to fall behind, or think about doing something unintelligent, talk to them, see if they need help.
Do not let the disease go unnoticed. If your friends are slacking off in class, give them a little punch, whip them into shape. Senioritis is killing America. Our kids are getting lazier and lazier towards spring. We must prevent senioritis. Many teachers may try to kill the disease, but it is not up to them, it is up to you, the senior. Good luck in beating this widely spreading disease, and farewell.

Cell phone usage

Cell phone usage from Chad Bruns on Vimeo.

Does cell phone usage in the hall ways really matter

Pampered Pretty Pink

Pampered Pretty Pink from Chad Bruns on Vimeo.

This video is over Pampered, Pink, and Pretty. It was on February 4th at Grace Baptist Church. There are a few interviews included. It was a night for women to come and be pampered with massages, manicures, etc. Enjoy!

I survived the Ice Storm of 2010 by Sierra Bain and Victoria Thomas

This is a video about the recent ice storm and how it affected not only students, but the whole community. We interviewed some students to find out just how it affected them. Also, we included some information about making up the snow days.

Untitled from Chad Bruns on Vimeo.

Tv Shows Exposed

This video is about the most popular Tv shows among teens and how they affect their lives. We interviewed 100 students and picked some students to say what they think. We also showed some examples of how these shows affect the teens in their everyday lives.

Untitled from Chad Bruns on Vimeo.

Riding Along...

When you're drivig to school, are you driving alone? Or are your friends tagging along in the passenger seats? Hopefully your car is full and you have no room for anyone else! While carpooling may be a hassle for some, it's a very 'green' thing to do.
Whether it's to school, work, a game, whatever, carpooling can save everyone big bucks on gas. With pollution in the world on the rise, carpooling is an easy way to be clean, and still drive your hot-rod. If just one car is 'pooled' it will act as if four less cars were on the road, therefore, less gas is being emitted into the atmosphere. If you don't have your own car, you can always hop in your friends', and save your parents the trouble of getting you where you need to be, while helping make the earth cleaner!
There are more than a enough advantages to carpooling, but here are a few. It saves money on the cost of gas, parking, tolls, tires, and repairing of vehicles over time. Another advantage is that it would lessen traffic, making trips faster and cutting fuel costs even more. Many people use their driving time as personal time to be alone and let stress go, while others don't like the quietness and get enjoyment from other people being in the car.
Although carpooling is a great way to help the planet, there are a few disadvantages to it, that are sometimes deal-breakers. It can sometimes put you in a difficult position, such as if the driver or another passenger is a smoker. It may lead to social conflicts if the passengers don't get along. Carpooling takes away from personal time in the car on your way to work, school, etc. Carpooling also leaves you with no time to run errands, or make short unexpected trips, as you are dependant on the driver. It could also create a problem because some people would rather get to their destination 15 minutes early, rather than 2 minutes before they need to be there. It can cause stress with time if your passengers are late some mornings, which in turn would make the whole group behind for the day.
So, carpooling; yes or no? It's a personal decision, and if you're willing to put up with some stress, in the long run, it's probably worth it. You save money, help the planet, and gain friends. It's all up to you and what you want to do to help the earth!

What Do You See?

When you look in the mirror, what do you see? Do you look at yourself and think 'I'm so perfect and skinny!' Or, do you stand there wondering what you could do to get rid of those flabby love handles? This is what an average teenager would be thinking. They rarely think they are what are known to be as 'perfect.' 1 in every 200 women will develop an eating disorder related to anorexia nervosa. Nearly half of all Americans know someone with an eating disorder. But, very few know just how serious these disorders can be.
Anorexia Nervosa can best be described as the obsession to be thin. The disorder usually starts out with a simple diet for sports, weight issues, or it is sometimes even triggered by a negative comment from a peer. Sometimes it escalates because the individual likes the feeling of being in control. Anorexia over time will eventually lead to dizziness, fainting, dry skin and hair, stunted growth, heart problems, loss of menstrual periods, and sometimes in the worst cases, death. Most people think that only women and teenagers are anorexic. This however, is not true. In fact, 15% of people with anorexia are males. Most of us whether we realize it or not, know a girl that struggles with an eating disorder.
Why do people develop eating disorders? You can blame a lot of it on the media. TV Shows like 'Americas Next Top Model' make young girls think that in order to be pretty, they have to be skinny. The 'ideal appearance' of a woman’s body is supported by advertising, magazines, television, internet, and mass media. These pressures increase the chances for people to develop and eating disorder. Once someone gains an eating disorder, they begin to feel depressed and alone. Where do they turn for support? Not to family, not to friends, but to the internet. Teens feeling alone sometimes have nowhere else to turn except to the internet, where they find blogs and sites on anorexia. On these websites they are not only encouraged to continue with their destructive behavior, but are even given tips on how to take it to the next level. As they progress with their disorder, they develop issues dealing with depression, loneliness, and isolation.
As stated before, anorexia can sometimes lead to death. This recently happened with one of America's most beloved stars, Brittany Murphy. Brittany struggled with anorexia for a number of years, and it is thought to be one of the main reasons for her death. She passed at the young age of 32. She is not the only young celebrity to suffer from this disorder. Many other stars suffer from anorexia, such as, Nichole Richie, Lindsay Lohan, Ashlee Simpson, and Mary Kate Olsen. All people that young children look up to as role models. People that are suppose to be looked upon as positive influences.
So, no matter who you are, you can’t just trust the media. Anorexia is a serious disease that needs to be fixed right away. Don’t ignore the signs. If you think you know someone who has an eating disorder, contact an adult, or someone you trust right away.