THE CROWN

FALL PEP RALLY - TOP STORY

TOP STORY

Friday, September 8, 2023, RMHS held its annual fall sports pep rally. Athletic director and vice principal Mr. Romeo held the event in the school auditorium. The Royals marching band and color guard under the direction of Mr. Islambouli performed for the student body.

THE CROWN

FALL PEP RALLY - TOP STORY

PEP RALLY

The fall sports were introduced to the student body and faculty. Students cheered for their fellow classmates who compete for the cheerleading squad, football team, boys’ soccer, girls’ soccer, girls’ tennis, cross country and volleyball teams. Fall has begun, and all teams are working hard for success in their respective sports.

THE CROWN

SUMMER WORK: YES OR NO?

EDITORIALS

Now, summer work. Do we or do we not need it? Is it helpful? Do students learn more about school with summer work OR without? These articles tackle that hard to answer question with just a couple paragraphs!

JUSTIN LEE - SUMMER HOMEWORK IS GOOD
Did you know that summer work cuts down on the screen time of kids. The school as we know gives a break over the summer called “ summer break”. More and more schools are giving out work during the summer. These work include reading lists, math questions, and many more. As schools start to dish out more and more work the teens are starting to get lazy. So a debate sparked about if teens should get or not get summer homework. We should give teens summer homework. Summer work is good for many reasons including keepings the minds of teens sharp and keeping the teens on their phone. In addition, giving teens summer work helps prevent “ Summer Slump”. Summer slump is kids and teens forgetting about the key thing they learned during the school year.
To explain, to prevent summer slump school districts started to give out summer work. “Children learn best when instruction is continuous. The long summer vacation disrupts the rhythm of learning, leads to forgetting, and requires time to be spent reviewing old material when students return to school in the fall.” (Harris Paragraph. 2). News from recents studies show that work and test scores decline during the summer and fall. This is from the summer slump that teens get. However, when the teens did get summer work their achievements improved. In addition, long summer breaks can have negative effects on teens. However, the purpose of summer vacation is to give students a much-needed break from the pressures of the academic year. It offers a chance for rest, renewal, and a break from the relentless academic grind. In addition, to avoid burnout, both teachers and students require a break. When kids are overworked academically over the summer, it can cause mental tiredness and negatively affect their general well-being.
In conclusion, while giving summer work in schools has the potential to be beneficial, it is necessary to acknowledge that the practice of a lengthy summer holiday is strongly embedded in the educational system. These initiatives help children stay engaged, reduce summer learning loss, decrease the achievement gap, build critical skills, encourage job exploration, support working parents, and foster social development. Schools can help kids make the most of their summer break and be better prepared for success when they return to the classroom in the fall by finding a balance between relaxation and study.
NICOLINA GRASING - THE DEBATE OVER SUMMER HOMEWORK
Summer homework has always been a topic of conversation amongst students, teachers and parents. Most people think that the idea of summer homework should not even be a thing because of the belief that it disturbs the students' break from school that summer vacation provides. On the other hand, some people believe that summer homework is extremely beneficial and a very valuable tool for maintaining a student's academic progress from the school year so that they don't regress. In this article we will discuss both sides of the summer homework argument to better understand why summer homework is and isn't beneficial to students.
There are a few reasons why summer homework is a good idea. The main argument for summer homework is to help students retain knowledge. As a student myself I can agree with the statement that if there wasn't summer homework I would forget or lose some important skills or concepts from the previous year. Some classes provide material prior to the class to introduce students. This can be good for students so they are somewhat familiar with certain topics or skills they will need throughout the year which could in turn lower stress levels later on. Lastly, it will help students maintain the ability to balance their academic responsibilities, activities and their leisure for the upcoming school year. It's hard to get back into the swing of things when you are in a cycle for a while but with summer homework it will keep students ready for school. There are also a few reasons as to why summer homework isnt a good idea. Students often argue that summer homework is too stressful. Summer should be a time for students to take a breather from the stress of school to engage in other activities instead of continuing on with academic work which sometimes leads to a burn out. For example, after stressing over finals and turning in my last few assignments the idea of summer homework isn't even a thought in my mind, all i can look forward to is a nice relaxing time away from all of the stress. Summer is often a time in which students and their families can spend time together. Assigning homework during this time could impose on times of family bonding. Summer is also a period of time in which students can focus on themselves without worrying about other things like homework or studying. Having time alone can help students learn more about themselves and learn more about other things that they like to do which can help them later on in life.
The debate over summer homework will probably never have a solution. It can help students maintain their skills which is great but it can also create stress and distract students from their benefits of summer vacation. I agree that summer should give students time to relax but there should be a balance between academic enrichment and the excitement of summer. Overall, the decision over summer homework should be thought about carefully and take account of the students' well-being.

THE CROWN

JOURNALISTS SAY HELLO!

STAFF PROFILES

Take a look at some of the incredible staff members who work and participate in the creation of The RMHS 2023-2024 Crown!

TOBI SILVANO - INTRODUCING: ME!
Hi! My name is Tobi Silvano. I’m a freshman and an editor on The Crown! I actually made this website that you are looking at right now to read this! I’m 14 years old and I moved to Ridgefield back in 2018. My hobbies and also just stuff I do outside of school are cheerleading, writing, reading, designing websites, (not a pro at that but still) and doodling. I like to describe myself as bubbly, friendly, a bit shy, and very energetic. My life is actually fairly simple and I am only just now getting out of my comfort zone and trying new things!
This school year I am looking forward to starting my first official High school year off strong and talking to my friends. Sadly, I can't have a stable job yet because of family issues, but I am trying my hardest to hopefully work at the pool nearby. The phrase I live by was actually said by my mom, and it's “you're gonna die anyway, might as well do what you want!” Which might sound pretty bleak BUT it definitely helps me be more out-there. Other than that, I don’t actually have much else to share with you! My favorite books to read are Heartstopper, The Hunger Games, and Percy Jackson. Hope you had fun learning about me!
JUSTIN LEE - ABOUT ME
The way that life shapes who we are and where we are going is fascinating. Hello, my name is Justin, and I’m a 14 year old, 9th grader at Ridgefield Memorial High School. I have lived in Ridgefield for about 9 years. Ridgefield has served as more than simply a home for me, it has also served as an empty canvas for the development of my interests, hobbies, and experiences. Since I can remember, Ridgefield has been where I call home. I’m thrilled to give you a glimpse into my life, the events that have shaped me, and the goals that motivate me as I begin my freshman year at Ridgefields Memorial High School. I have a strong passion for photography. Using a camera to capture the spirit of the world around me has always been a lifelong love of mine. I'm constantly inspired by things like the way the gentle morning light flows through the trees or the breathtaking colors of a sunset in Ridgefield. I can capture these brief occurrences with photography, preserving their beauty for all time.
I'm excited about the new prospects for academic and personal improvement that this school year will provide. I want to push myself by taking challenging classes and learning about new topics that fascinate me. Considering that writing is another one of my passions and that I would want to share stories and thoughts with my peers, I am also delighted about the idea of joining the school newspaper. My motto in life is "Embrace the beauty in simplicity." Ridgefield has taught me that often the quietest pleasures are the most meaningful, whether it's taking in a cup of hot cocoa by the fireplace on a freezing winter day or watching a deer stroll through the woods. I'll sum up by saying that living in Ridgefield has been an exciting journey filled with photography, involvement in the community, and the pursuit of knowledge. I enter this new academic year with an open heart, prepared to take on the chances and difficulties that lie ahead. I'm excited to see what the future holds for me and for Ridgefield, which is more than just my hometown.