Tag Archives: Suzanne Moss

Features, Peter Hyle

Teachers plan for the next week’s fall break

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By Peter Hyle

For students, the upcoming week is a much-needed break. Due to the balanced school calendar, this year students and faculty have an entire week out of school. Though students have the entire time out, some teachers, however, do not. With the first nine weeks coming to a close and the second just about to begin, there is a lot of work to be done while the students are away.

Social studies teacher Suzanne Moss grades papers in her classroom. Moss is among many teachers who may be using the next week to catch up on paperwork and grading in preparation for the new nine-week grading period. Photo by JT Samart.

“I’ll be working on various little projects [over the break], and I would guess that a lot of teachers are updating and working on grades for all of their students,” said principal Janie Whaley.

For most teachers, before they can take their break, they have to get their lesson plans and student grades put together.

“I need to get caught up and get a lot of paperwork together that I’ve been putting off,” said social studies teacher Suzanne Moss.

Most staff members think that the break is a good idea, and necessary.

“I think that this will be good for a lot of the students and their families,” said assistant principal Rob Willman.

In the past, what would be considered fall break was the three days off from school around Thanksgiving time…the day before, the day of, and the day after Thanksgiving. But this year, FC will have that short break along with next week of no school.

“I think any time you can step back from your normal routine is a good thing,” said Willman.

In the future, FC will put more use into its fall break. Lengthening to two weeks next school year, students will be offered more opportunities to raise their grades in several classes.

“We’ll move more towards intercession periods. Not this year but the next year, students will have a chance to make up school work during the second week of fall break,” said Willman.

Just about all staff members will agree that this is time well spent for the school.

“I think it’s a good idea to give kids the extra help they need,” said math teacher Rusty Cecil.

Some staff members are required to stay at FC over the break. With the numerous sporting events taking place here, it is necessary.

“I’ll be here for most of fall break,” said assistant principal Jeff Cerqueira. “We still have a lot of student athletic activities going on here.”

Over fall break, the cross country team has its

sectional, the volleyball team plays against Providence, and the football team has a home game against New Albany.

“There’s still a lot going on. With all the games and practices, there will have to be some staff members here to watch over everything,” said Willman.

For some staff members, the week-long break for students can end up being only a two or three-day break for them. It takes time and is important to make sure that all work is graded, and things are organized and set up for the start of the second nine weeks. Faculty and staff make sure that things here at the school run smoothly while the students are both here and away on break.

“I always say that it’s a building that never sleeps,” said Whaley.

Derek Hanke, News

De-caffeinated: school removes coffee from cafeteria

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By Derek Hanke

The cafeteria coffee machine sits naked after not being used for morning coffee since the beginning of school.

For regular coffee drinkers, the removal of coffee from the school cafeteria in the mornings is a real inconvenience.

“The coffee removal is a bad thing. A lot of students I know rely on coffee in the mornings, including myself,” said junior Tasman Payne.

Payne used to drink school coffee just about every morning last year.

“Many times I didn’t have time to wake up before before school, and coffee helped me wake up and stay concentrated for the day,” she said.

Payne said the removal has not had an impact on helping the school become healthier and is probably hurting  students’ grades more than helping them.

“I miss being able to concentrate. Now I’m a lot more likely to fall asleep in class,” said Payne.

Senior Oscar Anderson agreed.

“After swimming practice I would get coffee so I wouldn’t fall asleep in class,” said Anderson.

Anderson, who used to drink coffee school coffee four to five times a week, now gets his coffee from Hob Knobb.

“It’s a little more expensive, but it’s still good,” he said.

Anderson said the removal has not made schools any healthier either.

“Caffeine isn’t necessarily all bad for you; it has some positive aspects. It lowers your chance for type two diabetes and can help reduce your chance for heart disease,” said Anderson.

Food and nutrition manager Jody Kramer said First Lady Michelle Obama’s initiative to fight obesity is the cause of the removal of caffeinated beverages from the school cafeteria.

The initiative has resulted in mandates passed down from the federal government that have made lunchroom guidelines stricter on what they can and can’t serve.

“Michelle Obama’s initiative has made us pay more attention to what we serve,” said Kramer.

Payne can sympathize with the initiative, but thinks things should be handled a little differently.

“I agree with Michelle’s initiative but she should start somewhere else, like with the fries or pizza,” said Payne.

Kramer sympathizes with the students who used to drink coffee in the mornings.

“What matters to me is that I know my students like coffee. I would like to bring back anything my students like, but I have guidelines to follow,” she said.

Kramer also said other matters are to blame for the removal as well.

“An issue has been brought up with kids coming in late in the mornings and saving coffee for first period,” she said.

Sociology teacher Suzanne Moss remembers the issue.

“Having coffee was a problem in the hallways last year. It was a daily spill kind of thing, which was problematic because people could trip on it,” said Moss.

Moss also recalled the repercussions.

“A lot of freshmen would put it in their lockers and spill it and it would attract insects like cockroaches,” she said.

She saw no positive reason for letting students have morning coffee.

“Students may like coffee, but as a teacher I see no benefit for them. Coffee can actually act as a depressant for teens whereas for adults it is a stimulant,” said Moss.

Assistant principal of student development Joe Voelker did not take sides on the issue.

“I’m neutral on the removal. It has made morning hall supervision easier. I’m okay if they were to go and sell it again should the government allow it,” said Voelker.

Voelker has not received any complaints.

“If complaints were to arise I would listen, but we’re not going to break the law,” he said.

Kramer said the coffee removal is not necessarily permanent.

“There’s a possibility that the cafeteria might sell coffee again. It all depends on what we can do within our guidelines.”