Good Kids Doing Great Things #3

A while back, I started posting notworthy items when I saw something about good kids doing great things. This time I wanted to write about our annual middle school 8th grade vs. faculty basketball game. A few years ago I particpated by playing in the game, huffing and puffing down the court. Last year I had broken my shoulder a few months before the game, so I ended up being an announcer, and decided to do the same this year. This year was "my group" of kids playing, both the girls and the boys against the faculty, and for the first time ever that the principal could remember, the kids won.

The reason for the game each year is to raise money for breast cancer research and awareness. Due to our awesome staff advertising the game, they had both a record number of people come to watch, and a record amount of money raised, over $2500.

Wednesday was declared "pink day," and I am including a couple of pink pictures for you to enjoy.

Tween + Texting = Dating

Tween D8-ing: It's All about Texts Click on this link to read an article from The Wall Street Journal on February 7, 2012, by Sue Shellenbarger.

Those of us who work in middle school are not surprised to know that most tweens date via text messaging in middle school. The bolder, more serious relationships are still marked by hand holding, stolen hugs and kisses in the hallway, and handwritten love notes.  Those just trying to find someone who thinks they are "hot" or "cute" or "fun," often do it via texting.

With texting, you can take time to think about a response, and if you find out someone doesn't like you, you can act cool on the phone while crying in your room, and they would never know.

The school handbook states that students can't use their cell phones during the day, but they all know how to secretly use their phones while teachers aren't looking. I've seen kids make excuses to go get homework from their locker and see them texting on their phone while they are "looking for that paper." (And yes I tell them to put it away or it will get taken and parents will have to pick it up in the office) I know some kids take their phone into the bathroom stalls to text, and some just pull it out while the teacher is preoccupied doing something else.

So, in the span of a 7 hour school day, a student can ask someone out, date, and break up without saying a word.

Fascinating, isn't it? Some of us parents might actually breathe a sigh of relief over the new dating trends.