Return to Headlines

This Week at South

This Week at South - 5.37: The Anxious Generation Chapters 9-12

 

 

Greetings South Students, Parents, Staff, and Ê®·ÖÁùºÏ²Ê Members,

 

Past issues of this newsletter are available at the following link: .

 

TWaS is also sent via Canvas Messenger and linked to my Canvas Module for all students and families to access, and shared on South’s FB page.

Part I: The News

 

Content Disclaimer: I am not omniscient. Don’t see your event or results in the newsletter below? I rely on parents, coaches, and others to send me information to include in the newsletter. Feel free to share positive news and results anytime via my email.

 

Chromebook Audit Information:

All Chromebooks that need to be updated received a message in their background wallpaper last Friday, May 10th. If your Chromebook received this message, please return it to the school. If it is not returned, the device will be locked and therefore unusable on May 20th. Currently, there are 169 outstanding Chromebooks that need to be returned.

 

Please Return Library Books & Summer Reading Opportunities:

​​Do you have library books checked out? It is now time to return them. If you have returned all your library books and would like to read over the summer, ask about summer checkout in the Library.

 

Locker Clean Out - Must be done by May 17th:

All students should have the contents of their locker cleaned out no later than this Friday, May 17th. All items left in lockers after the 17th will either be thrown away or placed in the lost and found in the front office. Please help us help our custodians efficiently clean and reset the lockers by removing your belongings in a timely manner.

 

Registration for Next School Year is now Open:

The dates for online and in-person registration can be found on the South website at the following link. You can also access more registration information at the School District’s website. There are slightly different processes for new and returning students.

 

Boys Varsity Basketball Booster at Cane’s:

The basketball team is holding a fundraiser in partnership with Cane's on the last day of school, May 22nd. Diners should mention South High School Boys Basketball for a portion of their purchase to be donated to the team.  

 

Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness

Earlier this school year, Ms. Utley along with Robbie Raychel and a group of likeminded students helped raise funds for Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness by taping teachers and myself to the wall. Lisa Demer recently reached out to thank the group and let them know how the funds will make a positive impact on their organization and the community. Her message is below:

 

Dear South High student body,

Thank you so much for the generous donation from your Tape the Teacher fundraiser. What a fun and creative way to help! 

 

The funds you  raised will buy everything needed for someone moving from homelessness to their own apartment. A comforter, pillows, sheets, cleaning supplies, hygiene products, cooking equipment and food for the pantry are all provided to ensure our neighbors have what they need to thrive.

 

Opportunity for Student Travel to Washington DC and New York

Join SAHS on a trip to Washington, D.C. and New York City from March 24th to March 29th, 2025! Highlights of the tour are:

DC Memorials, U.S. Capitol tour, Supreme Court visit, Mt. Vernon & Arlington National Cemetery, National Museums, Times Square, Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island, and a Broadway Show

 

The cost for students is $2589.00, and $2859.00 for adults. Reserve your spot by paying just $50 before May 31st. For more information and to register, please email Ms. Seward at seward_stephanie@asdk12.org or stop by H111.

 

Spring 2025 Travel Opportunity:

If you plan on traveling for this trip and haven't signed up, please do so ASAP.  We need more people to make the trip happen.  It is a fantastic educational experience.

 

Are you interested in going to Austria, Czech Republic , Germany, and Switzerland for Spring Break 2025?  There will be an informational meeting on April 23rd at 6 pm in the South High School Library.

 

For information visit or contact Ms. Frankenburger in the library or through email at Frankenburger_Lydia@asdk12.org.

 

Part II: What I’ve Learned

 

The final part of Jonathan Haidt’s Anxious Generation focuses on what we can do to create the conditions for our kids to develop into independent, confident, and responsible human beings. Although there are sections on what the government and parents can do, I’m going to confine my remarks to what Haidt claims schools can do, and what we hope to be able to do next year.

 

Haidt uses a metaphor to illustrate the many small things we have done to attempt to improve students’ social, emotional, and academic outcomes when we should have been doing big things. To this end, he uses the Polynesian expression of:

 

“Standing on a whale, fishing for minnows” (p. 247).

 

In essence, we have taken small steps to address anxiety, depression, and the sense of ennui that result from overuse of cell phones and lack real world engagement, but have not addressed the foundational sources of these outcomes.

 

His argument is that if we address the whale, then all the small efforts will be less necessary, and we will get more learning, less drama and harassment, and a greater sense of community and belonging (p. 249).

 

Once phones are removed from the school community, then other benefits follow. These include:

  1. More independence, responsibility, confidence, and leadership opportunities.

  2. More opportunities to problem solve and grow more resilient.

  3. More exploration.

  4. A sense of being grounded in a connected, supportive community.

  5. The chance to become connected to a cause larger than oneself. 

 

Our whale is a phone that dilutes focus and attention, allows for negative social comparison, and undermines numerous chances to engage with the real world, which are vital for growth and independence.

 

As such, next school year we hope to go phone free from the first bell until the bell rings before lunch (periods 1-3, including passing), and from the bell after lunch until the final bell of the day (periods 4-6, including passing). Since we have an open campus lunch, students will be able to use their phones during the lunch period.

 

To facilitate this, we hope to be able to work with or a similar company to provide a phone pouch to every student. Just like a student is assigned textbooks, they will be assigned a pouch. The expectation will be that students put their devices in the pouch before first/fourth period begins, and that it remains in the pouch throughout morning and afternoon classes.

 

If we are unable to purchase/provide a pouch for each student, the expectation will be that no phones are present during the times noted above. Our policy will change to reflect that and will be sent with FAQs in late July with the opening newsletter 

We believe doing so will create a more positive, connected, learning-focused environment for everyone.

 

As Always, Onward!

Luke Almon, Principal