photo by Rachel Lambert
After a long day at school, last period is a huge relief for both students and faculty. However, the hustle and bustle of the day is far from over as students prepare for after-school activities, homework and more. Fanscotian reporters roamed the halls during period 14-15 and captured snapshots of what SPFHS looks like as the school day comes to a close.
Security guard reports decrease in school fighting
School fighting is a rare occurrence at SPFHS. Security guard Joseph Foote says school violence has decreased significantly. With only one fight to speak of this year, he believes that most instigators of fights have already graduated.
Other potential causes for the decrease in school fights is the force behind the anti-bullying initiative in New Jersey. Green Dot and diligent efforts by school administrators to discourage students from engaging in intimidating or aggressive behavior appears to have had a significant impact on the school-wide attitude towards fighting.
Soda bottle babies born into health classes
As the middle of marking period three arrives, seniors start their senior baby project in health class. Each year, seniors pair up with another student to learn the responsibilities of being a parent. Health teacher Laurie Call’s period 14-15 health class kicked off the project by decorating their soda bottles, ehem, babies.
“The point is to have these students consider something else for just a week, what it’s like to have a baby and care for it,” said Call. “Instead of just caring for themselves and doing anything they want to do, they have to work with a partner, work out a schedule and treat this like a baby. It’s really just to get them to take a look at being responsible for something other than themselves for once. I think most kids take it seriously and get into it.”
Senior Jason Wendel is a new father of his soda bottle. “We get a three liter soda bottle and we decorate it by getting it a shirt, eyes, nose, and hair,” said Wendel. “We carry it around for a week. It’s supposed to simulate for us seniors being able to take care of someone else besides yourself. I think it’s a fun project but it’s not very realistic.”
Human of SPF Isaac Velasquez shares his musical talent
As you pass the auditorium at 1:58, you would hear melodious music spiraling down the hallways. Slow and heartfelt to fast and exciting, junior and pianist Isaac Velasquez can play it all. “When I improvise, it’s based on the emotions that I am feeling at that moment,” said Velasquez. “Sometimes when I need to understand [things], my most tangible way of doing so is by playing music. It becomes my emotions.”
For more on Velasquez’s story, follow us on Instagram @Humans_of_SPFHS
