Government : Vinton Shellsburg April 2021 Newsletter

Special point of interest:

Apr. 23 - 2-Hr. Early Dismissal; Prof. Development

To the Vinton-Shellsburg Community:

I would like to take this month's newsletter to address a concern occurring all over the country and in our community. This issue is around screen time/social media usage.

According to a Common Sense Media poll, the number of teens with a smartphone rose from 41% in 2012 to 89% in 2018. A smartphone allows a young person more access and freedom to the world than ever before. Unfortunately, this access is not always to the most appropriate content. A smartphone also allows the user to create and share, sometimes without the proper forethought. Don't get me wrong, there are many positives that come with access to smartphones. Such as, improved communication, access to information, apps that make your life easier. My point is that young people, just like anything in life, need support and guidance in using and developing their skills. Because unfortunately there is a downside to too much inappropriate use of social media and screen time. Nearly four in 10 teens and young adults (38%) reported symptoms of moderate to severe depression in 2020, up from 25% in 2018. Not all of this is directly contributed to screen time/social media, but there is a direct correlation. I found some great information and tips from Common Sense Media:

Kids are spending more time with screen media -- and at younger ages -- than ever before. In an effort to help families curb kids' use, groups such as the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have released numerical guidelines to limit screen time, but the reality is there's no magic number that's "just right." What's more important is the quality of kids' media, how it fits into your family's lifestyle, and how your kids engage with it.

* Pay attention to how your kids act during and after watching TV, playing video games, or hanging out online. There's no need to worry if they're using high-quality and age-appropriate media if their behavior is positive, and if their screen time is balanced with plenty of healthy screen-free activities.

* If you're concerned about heavy media use, consider creating a schedule that works for your family. This can include weekly screen-time limits, restrictions on the kinds of screens kids can use, and guidelines on the types of activities they can do or programs they can watch. Make sure to get your kids' input so the plan teaches media literacy and self-regulation, and use this as an opportunity to discover what they like watching, introduce new shows and apps for them to try, or schedule a family movie night.

* They know it's getting in the way of important things, but they have a hard time regulating their own use. So, help them! Encourage them to be mindful of how they feel before, during, and after a social media session.

* Be proactive in monitoring the content they are creating. A positive of social media is kids are creating more content than ever; poems, short stories, and videos. They are also sharing their judgment to the world around them with their comments. Help them understand the representation of their comments and how they reflect on them personally, their family, and their community.

* Social media is something that this generation of parents are having to learn to navigate. Technology advances so quickly that many of these issues were not even thought about when this generation of parents were teenagers. When you never have experienced it yourself as a teen, it is difficult to understand and in turn parent. We are all in this together. As the African proverb goes "It takes a village to raise a child".

Respectfully, Kyle Koeppen, Superintendent

VSHS is having a Spring Musical!

Mark your calendars for May 7 & 8, as Vinton-Shellsburg High School presents, "The Show Goes On: Songs & Scenes from Broadway". This show will be a collection of moments from many shows, both big and small, which played in the hallowed halls of the Manhattan theater district. You'll hear songs from shows such as Wicked, Newsies, The Lion King, and much more!

FFA DISTRICT CONVENTION RESULTS

Elected to District Reporter: Josh Wiley

Secretary's Book - 2nd Gold - Advance to State Maren Redlinger

Chapter Website - 2nd Gold - Advance to State Allie Geiger

Chapter Program - 3rd Gold - Alternate to State Carly Williams, Alesha Brunssen, Emma Arnold

Extemporaneous Speaking - 3rd Gold - Alternate to State Ethan Rollinger

Job Interview - 3rd Gold - Alternate to State Emma Wiley

Prepared Public Speaking - 3rd Gold - Alternate to State Josh Wiley

Reporter's Scrapbook - 3rd Gold - Alternate to State Josh Wiley, Annabelle Newton

Treasurer's Book - Silver Bailey Weeks

Parliamentary Procedure - Silver

Performing: Grace Schminke, Chris Fleming, Autumn McGowan, Baylee Wheeler, Annabelle Newton

Alternates: Lizzie Noe, Kate Timmerman

Experience the Action - Silver

Eli Powers, Bailey Weeks, Destiny Slager, Maren Redlinger, Matthew Bookmeier, Jerry Lee

Greenhand Quiz

Matthew Bookmeier - Silver

Jerry Lee - Silver

*Silver team rank

Chapter Quiz

5th Gold - Annabelle Newton (5th Gold Team of 1 as well!)

Gold - Emma Wiley Bronze - Clayton McKenna Farm Business Management Quiz

Bronze - Clayton McKenna

Academic Achievement: Emma Arnold, Lydia Radeke, Maren Redlinger, Ethan Rollinger, Josie Sagan, Aza Swayzer

Chapter honored for National Chapter (Top 25 in State) Application gets rewritten and goes to Nationals.

FFA State Convention is April 18-20, 2021. Best of Luck at State!!

Reported By Gabby Power

National Volunteer Week April 19-23

We would like to say Thank You to the community volunteers that contribute greatly to the VintonShellsburg school district. If you are not currently a volunteer for our district, maybe you want to consider becoming one. Contact Molly Noren @ 319-436-5867.

On March 19th, Tilford Elementary celebrated World Down Syndrome Day by wearing crazy socks because it reminds us to celebrate what makes us different. Even if your socks look different they can be happily warn together.

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