Guest Blogger Addeline Morlan Tells Her Joyology Journey

Joyology!

by Addeline Morlan

            Joyology is a student-run group at Carlisle Middle School that spreads kindness, positivity, joy, and acceptance throughout the school to make people feel more included and welcome in the school environment. 

            I created Joyology in fifth grade when I noticed more and more kids being excluded, and when others were alone on the playground. When I noticed this I started to go over to them and be kind to make them feel included. Soon other friends joined me and we would go around the playground and be kind to those students. We would also offer for them to join us at recess. Not only would we help kids who were excluded, but we would also help solve disagreements between friend groups. 

            In sixth grade, I decided to build upon the same concept, but instead, turn it into a student-run group. This is when many of my friends got involved and wanted to help. Joyology then became an official group. Throughout our middle school years, we have had regular meetings during lunch. At our meetings, we planned events and small acts of kindness to do for the students and staff of our school. 

           Some examples of Joyology’s kind acts include: candy and compliments, hanging up posters, kindness challenges, candy cane bombing the parking lot, and giving the teachers notes and treats.       

  

            I feel that kindness is important because if someone feels good in response to a kind action, then they are more likely to spread the kindness that they received, creating a ripple effect.  Also, you never know what battles people are fighting, and to do something kind, even though it may be small, could really impact someone who is having a tough time. This kindness is needed to help kids who are having a hard time, and it is especially needed in middle school. It is nice to know that people have your back, so I feel like doing these small acts of kindness is a reminder that there are people who care. 

Joyology has helped me realize how important kindness is, no matter how small the kind acts are, they are always appreciated by someone who needs it. Joyology has helped me strive to do little acts of kindness everyday. If there has been anything that I have learned, it would be that acts of kindness, big or small, can have a big impact. I have also learned that kindness never has a downside. I believe kindness is a super power because it can change the world.

Doodle for Google 2013 is Open: My Best Day Ever....

    "Doodle for Google" is back for 2013 and I will be printing off and posting information in the middle school for this event. We have had students enter the past two years and their drawings have impressed me. Even though they did not win or place at the state or national level, I was proud of them and their drawings were amazing. Hopefully, many students will enter again this year and maybe this is the year someone from our district finally wins or places. This year's theme is....

"My Best Day Ever...."

  Alright, get doodling students and see Mr. Barry if you have questions!

Energy Drinks Now Being Investigated by FDA

 

     Students were very interesting in talking about Energy Drinks and their possible negative effects during Red Ribbon Week. When we noted that caffeine is a drug, a legal drug, but a drug nonetheless, students were interested in how large amounts of caffeine in energy drinks could affect a young person. Some people even brought up a story that I had also recently heard on the radio. The story of a 14-year old who died of cardiac arrest after consuming 2 full 24-oz. cans of Monster Energy Drink. That is A LOT OF CAFFEINE! But is a deadly amount? That is what the FDA is investigating as this is the 5th death that has come immediately after consuming an energy drink or large amounts of energy drinks. I told the students that we would have to wait and see what the investigation shows, but I have always believed that caffeine should be limited, especially in young people. I noted that pregnant women are not supposed to consume any caffeine as it can have negative effects on the growing baby. This means no chocolate, tea, pop, or coffee. Some women still do, but it is important to note that caffeine has proved to have negative effects. And once upon a time, young children/teens were not supposed to consume caffeine either or have very little due to possible negative effects. Now, it is not uncommon to see kids finishing their first or second cup of coffee or first bottle of pop as they walk into school....in the morning! I have a feeling that caffeine has had more of an effect than we may ever really know, but what long-term effects it truly has may be tough to prove. Either way, this is a good reminder that caffeine is an addicting drug and does have some negative effects and should truly be limited, especially in young people. Here are two of the more recent studies and articles about this topic from the Partnership for a Drug Free America.

Some Energy Drinks Mislabeling Their Caffeine Amounts click here

FDA Investigating Energy Drinks and Possible Deaths Due to Energy Drinks click here!

Find Your Greatness (video)

Sure this is an advertisement running during the Olympics, but it is a great ad with a great message. And as we get ready to start the school year, I think I want to try to keep this message in my mind and in the mind of  our many staff and students who walk through our doors: Find Your Greatness

Don't Wait Too Long to Do What you Want to do This Summer!

 For that matter, don't wait too long to do what you want to do in life. If you want something, it is okay to think and plan and take the best route, but it is also important to chase your dreams and go out and grab something before someone else steals your dream. Maybe this short video will help....

New Studies About ADHD Medicine Use and Abuse

   Getting caught up on some of my blogs this summer and came across several articles and studies about the amazing increase of students with ADHD diagnoses and prescriptions and the many other students using the drugs to give them an edge in school despite not even having the diagnosis. I was alerted to these studies through the Partnership for a DrugFree America blog. I like that the one study mentions the increase in students and adults with ADHD is not necessarily a bad thing as some of the increase is simply due to more information being learned by the doctors and parents about this disorder. In the past, parents may have thought they were bad parents or possibly even abused their child to correct their behavior. Now, parents are more likely to understand that their child may have an ADHD disorder that could be treated with medicine and different parenting and teaching strategies. And the social stigma against these kids by other kids, parents, and teachers is also disappearing. But these articles also show that with the increase of these drugs in the school every day, they are getting abused by both the kids with the disorder and by kids without the disorder. Please click on the links below to read the short article about these studies and this new information. Kind of an eye-opener....

Use of ADHD Drugs Increase this last decade click here

More HS students using ADHD drugs for better grades click here

Long article from NY Times, but LOTS of great information and actual interviews from kids and parents click here

"got courage?" Anti-Bullying Campaign posters

  The two high school counselors and I recently completed an 8-week course from AEA and Drake titled "Anti-Bullying: Where to Start". It was a great course and a demanding one, but we all learned a lot. Our final project was to create some sort of Anti-Bullying campaign. I have embedded a powerpoint below showing 10 posters that I created and will be hanging up around our school building on May 1st (May Day....words someone might say if they are in trouble and need help). I will also be having student council members pass out "Lifesaver" candies to all kids at lunch and each piece of candy will have a slip of paper stapled to it. Each slip will have a bully statistic or fact printed on it. The candy was chosen because I want all students to know that they can be a "lifesaver" to someone. They can stand up and stop harrassment or bullying, report it, or help a student walk away, block a post, or delete an online bully. We have done other surveys, professional development, and activities throughout the year, but this final poster and information campaign will hopefully make a difference and make our students think. Please click through the slides below and when we get to May 1st, ask your child if they saw the posters and ask them what they think they can do to be a Life Saver and make a difference in another person's life. Thank you!

"Got Courage?" Antibullying campaign

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