The Stress- Injury Relationship in Smithtown Sports

Competition is the word when it comes to all things Smithtown sports. With over 11,000 students in the Smithtown district, as noted in the district website, it’s hard to shine in sports that are saturated with talent. Sports are an important part of adolescent social and physical development, yet they become dangerous when stress levels become too high and kids don’t get enough rest. A Smithtown Cross Country and Track star, Victoria Lowe, can attest to this.
Lowe has been a top runner at Smithtown since freshman year. Always a dedicated and focused athlete, she has lead Smithtown to many victories. However, things took a bad turn last year when injured her hip. The extent of the injury is not fully known to Victoria herself, but it was extensive enough to end her running career for the fall season. “I definitely felt pressure from the coach and team to do well,” says Lowe. She also said that if she had rested between seasons instead of continued her training, she probably wouldn’t be dealing with such a serious injury. As a result, Lowe has been unable to participate in the entire 2010 Cross Country season (about 2 months so far), which has been hard on her as well as the team.
“It leaves our team at a huge disadvantage,” says Jenn Booth, one of Victoria’s teammates for the 2010 Cross Country season. “The whole team hopes that she will heal in time for the important meets at the end of the season. But if she’s not better by then, we don’t want her to run because we don’t want her to get a more serious injury.”
Physical injuries and injury recovery have a proven positive correlation with stress levels and the ability to cope with stress. That’s not to say that all injuries are a result of stress, but reducing stress can help reduce the risk of sports injuries. According to the article, Developmental Differences in Psychological Aspects of Sport-Injury Rehabilitation by Britton W. Brewer, acute injuries can often be prevented by simple exercises that reduce stress before a game or practice, including breathing techniques, stretching, and staying in a calm environment.
Of course, never being stressed in sports is impossible. Many students rely on sports scholarships to help them pay for expensive colleges. Scouts sitting at the game can account for a large amount of stress during a game. Even family and friends on the sidelines can put more stress on the athlete to perform well in front of them. The key is to manage your stress in a positive way, and direct it into a productive channel. It is beneficial for teens to learn early on how to separate distress and eustress (distress being the “bad” kind, and eustress being the “good.”). Not only will it help you in sports and prevent injuries, but can help you focus and perform better in all areas of your life.
Teen athletes shouldn’t worry if they feel a little overwhelmed sometimes, it happens to the best. They should just remember that sports are supposed to be a fun, positive, and healthy experience. If your sport is not giving you a positive experience, maybe it’s time to take a break or look into a new sport.

-Bianca Silva

Later is Better

Students, are you really even awake during first period? Is getting up at the crack of dawn affecting how you pay attention in class? Maybe if our bell schedule was pushed back an hour, you would perform better in school.
Right now our 7:20AM bell is too early for students, but not too early for the Smithtown School District Board of Education. A big factor in why we can’t start later is that we would have to end later which conflicts with sports, clubs, teacher meetings, and other after school activities. Instead of starting high school later, they decided to start the elementary school later. It is the high school students, though, who need more sleep. According to a study in The Washington Post, researchers have found that the sleep-promoting hormone melatonin is more abundant in teenagers than in adults and children during the morning. So doesn’t this prove that our school system is in reverse? If young kids are the ones who naturally wake up at 6AM, then why don’t they start school at the earlier time?
Unfortunately, we all realize that first period can’t start at noon. But it can start at 8:30AM. Most kids today are not getting the required eight to nine hour sleep they need to excel in school. Their biological clock keeps them up until around midnight and then they usually have to get up around 6AM, leaving them with only about 6 hours of sleep.
A new study shows that students who start first period at 8:30AM were more likely to get this eight hour sleep and were less likely to be annoyed, depressed and unhappy at the start of the day.
Let’s not forgot about grades. Can getting an hour more of sleep really help your grades? The answer is yes, according to a study shown in the Los Angeles Times, but the increase in grades is not that significant. However, this doesn’t mean that pushing the time back is useless. It may not fully improve their grades, but it does help them stay more awake during the day and have fewer disciplinary problems.
Sleeping later even plays a role in teen driving. Dr. Robert Vorona, an associate professor of internal medicine in the Division of Sleep Medicine at Eastern Virginia Medical School performed an experiment about school arrival time affecting teen driving. The experiment was done in Virginia Beach and Chesapeake, two neighboring cities. Virginia Beach's first period started at 7:20AM and Chesapeake's began at 8:40AM. Fewer accidents were reported for teens that lived in Chesapeake. Vorona states that the Virginia Beach students may be sleep-deprived. She said that students “tend to go to bed later no matter what time they get up.” The amount of sleep is based on the time students have to wake up. Many Smithtown High School students drive to school, so the time change could impact their driving ability.
And teachers, this applies to you too. Starting school too early can affect your enthusiastic energy when you teach. If you teach a first period class, you know how hard it is to keep your eyes open. If you’re half awake while teaching, chances are, the students are going to zone out. The students cannot change this system by themselves, though, so we need the support of parents and teachers to carry out this plan. Hopefully, all of these national studies will convince the Smithtown Board of Education to change the arrival time so that students will be able to get the sleep they need.

-Jenn Booth

West before East

Many students at Smithtown High School East had realized that they have been getting hand-me-down textbooks from Smithtown High School West. The eleventh grade English department of both schools got new textbooks this year, but not the science departments.
The tenth grade science department at East had been given the used textbooks of West, and students were not happy about it. “It doesn’t matter that the textbooks are from West,” says Mike Apirawic, Smithtown High School East Sophomore, “I just don’t find it fair for us to get used textbooks.”
Students don’t feel it is fair, and the teachers have their own opinion. “The English department is important, but that doesn’t mean the science department should be lacking the supplies we need for teaching,” said by Mrs. Hicks, Smithtown High School East 10th grade Science teacher.
Even though the textbooks are going to East, Smithtown High School West teachers think it’s unfair for the students to not have the same resources for their work. The quality of the textbooks should be equal, fair, and bought new at the same point in time so resources are not being handed down.
Most students are not thinking of the “Green Effect” of handing down the textbooks. The textbooks are being recycled and reused when they are passed from West to East. When confronted with the idea of the “Green Effect” of the textbooks, students say, “There’s nothing wrong with trying to go green, or passing down textbooks. If the textbooks are disgusting, new ones should be bought but if it’s not affecting learning then the textbooks are Eco friendly,” said by Samantha Sarube, a Smithtown High School West student. After asking An East student, their opinion of handing down textbooks and the “Green Effect” that goes along with it, they said, “It’s a good idea and there is nothing wrong with trying to be green.”
When thought about it, many can find there own view on it. Is it really environmentally friendly? Should textbooks be given at the same time? What do you think?

-Erin Fauchon

Senior Banquet

Class clown, most dramatic, cutest couple... Senior Banquet is coming up for the class of 2011! Senior Banquet is being held at Flowerfields in St. James on February 10th. The most anticipated event will be going on from 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm. However, all students are still expected in be in school then next day, regular time February 11th.
During the years, it has always been a complaint. Although many students have tried to get the day changed, the school will not budge. Principle Coady explains that “Students must attend school the day of Senior Banquet and are accountable of being there the day after”. He also says “I don’t have a say in when the date is, it’s more up to student council to decide”.
So many seniors ask, “Why not hold Senior Banquet on a Friday or Saturday night?”
Mrs. Paulik, advisor of the senior class council, explains “Costs are cheaper during the week and tickets will probably be eighty dollars each, and if it’s held on a Friday or Saturday night, ticket prices will go up a lot”.
What exaclty does it take to plan Senior Banquet? As Mrs. Paulik said, “Everything is planned the years before since Flowerfields is such a popular place”. However, there is also Senior Banquet Committee that is formed to help fund raise and get everything together. Senior Kelly Burke is a part of the Senior Banquet Committee, and helps to plan out the event. “I, as well as a few other seniors, are in charge of making sure things go according to plans, which means getting fundraisers together so we can decorate the place to make it look good”.
Being a senior is the most exciting time in your high school career. Senior Banquet is something that’s supposed to be memorable and lead up to a great ending to the year. Although it’s on a school night, with everything being planned out now, it will most definitely be enjoyable. Once you’re there having fun with your friends, you will surely forget about the fact that you have to wake up at 6 am to go to school. It is only until your alarm clock goes off the next morning when getting out of bed will be difficult.

-Brianne Garcett and Kristin Bonura

Bonjour a Smithtown! (Hello to Smithtown!)

Last April a group of 17 students from Bretagne, France came to stay in the homes of some students from Smithtown High School West. Madame Gallagher was in charge of setting this exchange up with Monsieur Hassan El Amiri.

During the students’ two week stay, they had planned trips to the city, field trips to the other Smithtown schools and attended International Night. The group of French and Smithtown students became close and long term friendships were instantly made.

With many hours of free time, the group would plan many activities for everyone to get involved in, such as meeting up at Ralph’s Italian Ices on Maple Ave and going bowling at AMF Bowling. Going around Smithtown, one thing the students took notice of was our “huge cars!” They explained that the cars in Europe were much smaller. One French student Marie said, “Everything is bigger in the U.S.; the cars, the houses, and the people,” though she had meant it more as a compliment, that things were bigger and better in the U.S.

One Saturday the group all took another trip to the Big Apple. The French students were in awe as they looked at up at all the skyscrapers, all saying that the only one like it near them, was The Montparnasse Tower in Paris.

As the days passed by, the students got closer and closer to each other. They shared their cultures, different languages and homes. The French students also followed their host around school. One interesting fact they had brought up was that the Smithtown students were a lot more talkative and friendly with their teachers, explaining that their teachers were strict and rarely got into their personal lives.

Now almost six months after the exchange took place, the students are still communicating with their hosts through the internet. Both the Smithtown West students and the French students hope they’ll see their hosts again soon!

“The exchange was a great experience and I loved visiting New York and meeting everyone!” says Sophie Quillet.

“We loved the exchange and can’t wait to be back in New York!” says Nolwenn Vallin.

When asked if she would do another exchange, Madame Gallagher said that she has been working on it and Mr. Coady gave the thumbs up. She is still working on an exchange for the Smithtown students to go to Bretagne, France as well. Hopes are high and the students of Smithtown High School West are becoming more culturally aware.

-Kristin Bonura

Brianne Garcett

Class clown, most dramatic, cutest couple... Senior Banquet is coming up for the class of 2011! Senior Banquet is being held at Flowerfields in St. James on February 10th. The most anticipated event will be going on from 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm. However, all students are still expected in be in school then next day, regular time February 11th.
Waking up early for school and running out of the house grabbing just a breakfast bar trying to not be late for the bus is what most of us face each morning. While struggling to keep our eyes open during the long periods of the day, you just wish you could go back home and snuggle up in bed. Most of the time sitting in class, you often seem to hear the rumbles of students hungry stomachs and sometimes waiting until their lunch won’t do.
Right as the bell rings, students swarm to the vending machines expecting to grab a candy bar or a bag of chips to get that burst of energy to make it through the day; however, that isn’t the case. As students run over to the vending machines, they stare in disgust at what has happened to all the non nutritious foods. Students refuse to put any money in the machine because they are not looking to munch on sliced fruit.
Many kids, they view this new change as turn for the worse. They wonder how fresh the fruit actually is since most people aren’t buying it frequently. Although the vendors come in every week to refill the empty spaces, will they take the time to put new fruit in or will they let it sit there until those spaces are empty as well?
Over the years there is always talk about going healthy in the cafeterias, having a can of soda and a bagel for lunch isn’t nutritious, but there are other ways to eliminate unhealthy foods. In some school districts, they also made the transformation to healthy foods, but they did it in a positive way. They still kept some unhealthy items as well as incorporating salad and fruit bar in the cafeteria. Knowing that the fruit is dumped each day is a much better thought than simply getting fruit out of a vending machine. Having multiple choices is much better than only deciding, apples or pineapples?

-Brianne Garcett