SHS Newsbreak
May 1, 2015
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SHS Media Center offers digital magazine collection
Once again, SCSD2 is exhibiting our commitment to offering our students advantages through cutting-edge technology. Beginning today (May 1), our students have access to Flipster, a next-generation digital magazine solution that makes it easy to read favorite magazines on computers and mobile devices. Similar to our eBook collection in OverDrive, students can now also browse and read our magazine collection 24 hours a day and 365 days a year through the media center web page. We are hoping for several results from our shift to digital magazines, including teachers who are more frequently using the articles in their class lessons and students who are engaging more often in leisure reading. Magazines include a variety of informational articles to support nonfiction reading and analysis in the classroom. With Flipster, everyone in the classroom or school can be reading the same article at the same time because we have simultaneous access rights to our 20 titles. Students are also encouraged to use them in conjunction with the other SHS research databases for class projects.
Of course, our students can read these magazines on their school-issued MacBooks and can download the magazines for off-line reading, but we are also encouraging students to download the Flipster app to their personal mobile devices. We will be offering special training in the media center next week during all three lunches, or students can visit the circulation desk at any time to learn more.
SHS students use flag football to bring clean water to the world
While Scottsburg High School students are running, scoring, taking water breaks, and pulling flags off their opponents during the annual flag football competition, they also will be giving that ability to drink clean, safe water to people around the world by raising money for a local Christian outreach organization.
“The water systems go to underdeveloped nations around the world — Africa is a big recipient. These folks have not clean drinking water, which is essential for health,” said Jason Bagwell, SHS teacher and advisor for the flag football game.
Last year, a group students approached Bagwell after seeing representatives from New Life International, a Christian outreach organization founded by a SHS graduate and is based in Underwood, Ind., present about how their organization brings clean drinking water to people in all parts of the world.
The non-profit organization uses table salt and a 12-volt battery for their water purifier in order to create chlorine. The way the water purifier uses the chlorine works to disinfect the water. New Life International said on its website, “more than 3,000 water purifiers are in operation in 78 countries around the world” during the last 14 years. About 1.1 billion people worldwide do not have access to improved drinking water and 2.6 billion do not have access to adequate sanitation, according to estimates from the World Health Organization.
“Kids will drink dirty water,” said Christian Barrett, SHS senior and one of the student organizers of the flag football competition. “We can stop this.”
To help raise money for the water purifying system, the students and faculty are working together in a friendly competition of flag football. Each player in the 13 teams had to pay a $4 entry fee to play in the competition, which will be held from 8:15 a.m. to noon on Sat., May 2, in the field in front of SHS. In addition to the entry fees, the students will be selling concessions during the game.
This week, the students are selling T-shirts commemorating the game and other shirts to support the cause. Shirts are $10.
“It’s great that the school is being a part of a local organization that is helping the world become a better place,” said Jenny Stepp, SHS junior and flag football participant.
Last year, the students raised $500 for New Life International, and they are hoping to raise more money this year. The winner of the student flag football tournament will face a faculty all-star team during the championship game. The winning teams will also help present the check to water purification organization.
“Everyone’s trying to get together for a good cause,” Barrett said. “All the money is going to New Life International.”
To donate or buy a T-shirt, contact Bagwell at jbagwell@scsd2.k12.in.us.