May 4, 2004

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Final Middle School UN Session
Last Wednesday, Middle School students from Burroughs, Normandy, Northwest Valley, and Ridgewood examined 5 resolutions during the final UN Session of 2004. The resolutions tackled the problems of Landmines, Unpaved Roads, AIDS, Depleted Uranium Ammunition, and Lack of Water. Each of the resolutions was amended by numerous suggestions by fellow delegates. Two resolutions were seen of utmost importance to the entire General Assembly, and were passed with near unanimity: AIDS Education and Reducing Depleted Uranium Ammunition.

The 2004 Middle School UN program was extremely successful thanks to the hard work and partnership of teachers. Students seem to enjoy the opportunity to look at world issues, work with students from other schools, and truly "think outside the box". We thank the following teachers for their involvement throughout the school year:

Monica Assareh, Northwest Valley
Dr. Hamid Azimiaraghi, Long
Jon Bang, John Burroughs
Mary Jo Barrett, Queen of All Saints
Dr. Mary Eckert, Saeger Accelerated
Debbie Green, Holman
Nan Herr, Cathedral
Carolyn Jonas, Ridgewood
Lori Kapler, Pattonville Heights
Erin Livengood, Crossroads

Sal Mantia, St Dominic Savio
Jo Ann Mattson, St Gabriel
Tim McGinnis, Hixson
Rick McLauglin, Our Lady of Fatima
Nancy Moore, Hixson
Kim Morton, Normandy
Joan Patton, St Mary Magdalene
Heidi Piatchek, St Francis Cabrini
Mike Underriner, Mary Queen of Peace
Garth Weihl, Ralph Bunche
Sara Williamson, Northwest Valley

Resolution Results from April 28, 2004
2004 Middle School UN Photos

High School Picnic & Award Session this Saturday

In each of the last two years, our Spring high school picnic has been rained out. This won't happen this year, because .......we're planning too much fun. We'll have food, softball, gossip, and presentation of our awards for the year. We will be presenting seven to ten seniors with college scholarships of $500.00 and we will be presenting seven to ten underclasspersons $250.00 scholarships.r>

The award winners are:

Seniors:

1. Laura Casey; Rosati-Kain
2. Bobbi Clemons; Home School
3. Stephen Griffard; Maplewood-Richmond Heights
4. Taylor Joerger; Rosati-Kain
5. Stephen Riley; Hozelwood Central
6. Crystal Williams; Maplewood-Richmond Heights

Underclasspersons

1. Kevin Blanks, Jennings
2. Andrew Lechner, Parkway South
3. Lydia Mason, Bishop DuBourg
4. Maura McDonnell, Rosati-Kain
5. Raquel Rodriguez, Home School

Certificates will be presented on Saturday; cash awards will be presented after simple forms are completed by students.
View the Evite for details on the Picnic
Map to May 8, 2004 High School Picnic

Survey regarding Cell Phone Use by Students at School

More and more students have access to cell phones now. Many of these students bring their cell phones to school. Our survey today focuses on whether students should be able to receive cell phone calls at school?

Under which of the following, if any, circumstances do you think that high school students should be able to receive cell phone calls at school? [you may select more than one option].

a) Any Time

b) Lunch Time

c) Between Classes

d) During Study Halls

e) Not at all
Link to Survey on Student Cell Phone Use
Link to Poll on Civitas Intranet Site

Previous Survey Results (New)

Last week's question was:

The political season is in high gear and as the weather gets nicer, activists take to the street. This past weekend, between 500,000 and 800,000 pro-choice supporters marched on Washington. In the past, pro-life groups have had similar sized rallies. Our question of the week relates to your views on the issue of reproductive choice.

Which of the following would best describe your views on reproductive choice?

Responses:

1. Strongly pro-choice 42% (8)

2. Somewhat pro-choice 25% (4)

3. Neutral 13% (2)

4. Somewhat pro-life 13% (2)

5. Strongly pro-life 7% (1)

Total: 17
Additional Comments

Andrew Lechner, Parkway South, 2006
As a male, I feel as if the choice to have an abortion is not up to me, but simply the decision of the pregnant female. Although it should be an equal responsibility of both mother and father, they're too many "ifs" that would require exceptions (rape victims). Other factors like age and relationship of the parents, available resources (income) and health issues (mother too young to have a child) should also be considered. I think that each case should be looked at differently to determine if an abortion is necessary or appropriate. I also understand the concern of pro-life advocates about how an abortion is killing a living child. However, if the birth of a baby is going to harm a grown woman who already has a developed conscience, then perhaps losing an embryo would not be such a bad thing. If you look in nature, things don't always work out the way they are intended and often females die while giving birth. This is life and unpreventable, unless you can sacrifice the child instead of losing an already independent woman. Some pro-life people disagree with the methods used in aborting a fetus. I also have concerns about the way abortions are handled and would hope that the process would be as effective as possible without causing additional pain to the baby. This topic is obviously controversial and should be discussed. No death is a laughing matter, but you must then decide what is living and what is not yet living...Besides, if you DO restrict abortions, what about rape victims???

Laura Casey, Rosati-Kain, 2004
I classified myself as only somewhat pro-choice because while I am pro-choice, abortions are not my favorite thing. At all. I would not encourage other people to have an abortion; I would encourage them not to, in fact. I myself would definitely not have one. In this respect I feel I am pro-life. But I am pro-choice because I do not feel that it is my right to enforce that belief on other women.

Joshua Dunlop, Parkway South, 2006
It takes two. Which means the baby is not just the mother's body. I do continually consider if a child you found inside you would be destined for a terrible life because of severe birth defects or brain damage. When a pregnant mother was killed, the killer was sentenced to two lifetimes in jail. Is it a life? Yes. Were you in that fetal stage once? Yes. If your mom decided to have a doctor put acid inside her and use scissors to tear open the skull of the unborn baby would you be here now? To me, abortion seems to just be a way for people who can not control urges to not have to live with the included consequences. Remember, consequences are not always bad.

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