June Beckwith Chronicle

Dates to Remember
June 4 Spring Concert at DRRHS
June 5 Grade 8 Step Up Day @ DRRHS
June 6 Grade 5 Field Trip (101, 102)
June 8 Grade 5 Field Trip (104, 106)
June 11 Spring Band Concert at DRRHS
June 12 School Committee Meeting
June 13 Grade 5 Field Trip (103, 108)
June 20 Grade 8 Field Trip
June 21 Grade 8 Celebration of Achievement
June 25 Last Day of School – For Students in Grades 5-8. Students Dismissed at 11:30 a.m.
June 26 School Committee Meeting

Students of the Month
The following students were presented with Student of the Month Certificates for the month of April:
Gr. 8 – Hailey Medeiros/Aiden Maciel
Gr. 7 –Una Soliday/Wyatt Nunes
Gr. 6 – Juliana Dias/Dylan Andreozzi
Gr. 5 – Kennedy Ferreira/Ryan Proctor
Related Arts – Rebecca Davis/Aiden Garabedian

Middle Level Scholar Leaders Chosen to Represent Beckwith Middle School
Eighth graders Benjamin Wheeler and Jillian Pestana were recognized on May 16 at the Massachusetts Middle Level Scholar Leader Banquet as the D.L. Beckwith Middle School Scholar Leaders. This prestigious award is given to students from schools throughout New England who demonstrate a commitment to academic excellence and the school community. Ben and Jill are positive leaders in the Beckwith school community who model the criteria for student leaders. Ben and Jill consistently work hard in and out of the classroom demonstrating dedication to academic content and a strong work ethic. Among peers, Ben and Jill stand out as positive models of respect, responsibility, and safety. Ben and Jill are kind, considerate, and mature. They are personable students that positively impact the climate and culture of the school building. Congratulations to Ben and Jill for receiving this award and thank you for making Beckwith Middle School a better place.

National History Bee
On Friday, April 13, Beckwith eighth grader Ryan Callaghan participated in Boston’s National Finals of the History Bee which was held at Malden Catholic High School. He competed with approximately 100 eighth grade students from across the state. After an intensive written exam and two small group lightning rounds, Ryan qualified to compete at the National History Bee Finals in Atlanta which will be held on June 1-2.

Nurse’s Notes
To the parents of our sixth grade students:
Letters were sent home last month to the parents of those present 6th grade students who are lacking physicals and/or mandatory immunizations required by the Department of Public Health for entrance into 7th grade in the fall. If you received a letter, please notify Mrs. Mondor, School Nurse, when you will be sending that documentation in or when your child's physical and/or immunizations are scheduled. Please remember this information needs to be received before the first day of school in the fall or your child may be subject to exclusion from school. Call Mrs. Mondor, RN if you have any questions. 508-252-5080 x4007

Cinco de Mayo Celebration
Mrs. Lynch’s Spanish class met with Mrs. Walsh and Mrs. Hazzard’s classes for Cinco de Mayo. Students celebrated by having some traditional Mexican foods and playing a few Spanish-themed games (Jumping Beans and Mexican Hat Relay). Spanish students also buddied up with the TLC students to read a few short stories about pets in Spanish. It was a great way for students to celebrate Cinco de Mayo and to learn some espanol. iOlé!

Beckwith Students Participate in Junior SEMSBA Music Festival
Congratulations to choral students Ashley Anderson, Sofia Brown, Lauren DeCoste, Marina DePalo, Dustee Forster, and Marisa Guertin and trombonist Jacob Greenberg for representing Beckwith Middle School in the Junior SEMSBA Music Festival held on May 4th and 5th at Plymouth North High School. Under the direction of choral conductor, Ms. Kirsten Oberi, and instrumental conductor, Mr. Greg Lessard, the students rehearsed with other middle and high school musicians from the Southeastern Massachusetts area to prepare a variety of musical selections. This two-day festival concluded with a concert that was enjoyed by family and friends.

May App Update: (From smartsocial.com)

*The following is regarding a television series, not an app:
13 Reasons Why: What Parents Need to Know About This Netflix Series
13 Reasons Why is a Netflix show based on a 2007 novel by the same name that depicts suicide in a graphic manner and is incredibly popular with teens. Many educators and psychologists have raised concerns that the show may serve as a trigger for self-injury among vulnerable students.

What Is ‘13 Reasons Why’ on Netflix?

• 13 Reasons Why is a Netflix series that depicts suicide in a graphic manner and is incredibly popular with teens. Currently, the show has 2 seasons available to watch on Netflix
• In season 1, the show focuses on a high school student named Clay and his friend Hannah
• Hannah takes her own life and leaves behind a set of cassette tapes that describe the 13 reasons why she ended her life
• Hannah dedicates each one of the 13 tapes to a different classmate who has hurt her in some way
• Difficult subject matter is a common focus on the show like bullying, drunk driving, rape, self-harm, and suicide
• The show can be very graphic. There are several episodes in season 1 that showcase difficult subject matter in great detail
• For season 1, Netflix released a 30 minute special called “Beyond the Reasons,” that has mental health professionals, cast members, writers, and producers discussing the difficult themes presented in the show

Why should parents care?

• 13 Reasons Why is incredibly popular with teens. According to a marketing analytics firm, the first season of the show was the second-most viewed Netflix season in the first 30 days after it premiered
• Parents will see an uptick in popularity since season 2 of the show was released on May 18, 2018
• Many educators and psychologists have raised concerns that the show may serve as a trigger for self-injury among vulnerable students
• In New Zealand, students under the age of 18 are strongly discouraged from watching the series without a parent or guardian present
• Netflix added strong advisory warnings before episodes 1, 12, and 13 of the first season due to the portrayal of suicide and self-harm
• After every episode there are mental health resources and a message that depression and suicide can be effectively treated by a qualified mental health professional
• Episode 13 of season 1 is very graphic and shows Hannah’s suicide in great detail
• A recent study found that the release of 13 Reasons Why corresponded with between 900,000 – 1,500,000 more suicide related internet searches in the U.S., including a 26% increase in searches for “how to commit suicide”
• Some mental health professionals criticize the show for showcasing misleading information which could deter vulnerable students from seeking help. For example, Hannah’s counselor says they can’t report her sexual assault to the police without her identifying the assailant
• Over the course of the first season, the following difficult topics are presented: bullying, drunk driving, rape, self-harm and suicide
• Some say the show sends a dangerous message that suicide can be used to “get back” at others
• Some of the mental health organizations and educators who have released statements regarding the risks the show poses are: the National Association of School Psychologists, the Superintendent of Palm Beach County, Florida schools, the U.S. Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, and the Canadian Mental Health Association

13 Reasons Why in the News:
A Florida school superintendent told parents in a letter that his district has seen a rapid rise in at-risk behavior at elementary and middle schools — including self-harming and suicide threats — in the wake of a graphic Netflix series about a 17-year-old girl’s suicide called ‘13 Reasons Why.’ –Washington Post

[13 Reasons Why] was not written and produced in a way that truly provided information about suicide prevention, mental illness, and substance usage that most often contribute to suicide. –Psychology Today

Some mental health experts fear the show could glorify teen suicide for those on the edge. –NBC

What Parents Say About 13 Reasons Why:
I feel as if the show gives only one alternative for cyberbullying and other teenage issues.

Parents would have to know about what this show has in terms of content in order to think about putting restrictions on it. Source: ABC News

What can parents do?

• We recommend that students younger than 18 years old do not watch this series
• Be aware of the show, it’s graphic nature, and the topics portrayed
• Ensure that your children know that the show is not reality and can romanticize self-harm
• Parents can watch the show to better understand the perspective of a vulnerable student
• Teach your children that they can always come to you or a trusted adult if they have an incident, want to talk, or have questions
• If you decide that your teen is ready to watch 13 Reasons Why, watch it with them and use it as an opportunity to start an open dialog about the sensitive topics presented in the show
• Consider joining Parent University to get access to bullying prevention curriculum for parents, students, and schools

National Association of School Psychologists Tips for Parents

• Parents, ask your child if they have heard or seen the series 13 Reasons Why. While we don’t recommend that they be encouraged to view the series, do tell them you want to watch it, with them or to catch up, and discuss their thoughts
• If they exhibit any of the warning signs, don’t be afraid to ask if they have thought about suicide or if someone is hurting them. Raising the issue of suicide does not increase the risk or plant the idea. On the contrary, it creates the opportunity to offer help
• Ask your child if they think any of their friends or classmates exhibit warning signs. Talk with them about how to seek help for their friend or classmate. Guide them on how to respond when they see or hear any of the warning signs
• Listen to your children’s comments without judgment. Doing so requires that you fully concentrate, understand, respond, and then remember what is being said. Put your own agenda aside
• Get help from a school-employed or community-based mental health professional if you are concerned for your child’s safety or the safety of one of their peers

*The following is regarding an online challenge not an app:
Deoderant Challenge: What Parents Need to Know
The deodorant challenge is the latest teen viral trend. To participate, students spray their bare skin (or someone else’s) with aerosol deodorant for as long as they can stand it.

What is the Deodorant Challenge?

• The deodorant challenge is the latest popular teen social media trend
• To participate, students spray their bare skin (or someone else’s) with aerosol deodorant for as long as they can stand it
• The aerosol deodorant causes a reaction similar to frostbite or a burn
• This trend has been around for about a decade and has been referred to in the past as “frosting”
• Although the trend isn’t new, it is seeing an uptick in popularity, especially in the UK
• Social media fuels challenges like these because they can gain a lot of attention for the person partaking in the challenge and they aren’t tied to a specific school or region

The Deodorant Challenge in the news:
[The Deodorant Challenge] is leaving kids with burns so severe some require hospitalization. –US News
A mom has issued a chilling warning over a new playground challenge after the game left her daughter with second-degree burns. –New York Post

One study found that spraying deodorant 5 cm from the skin for only 15 seconds can cause the skin’s temperature to drop by more than 60 degrees Celsius (140 degrees Fahrenheit). That drop in temperature can in turn cause frostbite. –Bustle

What parents say about the Deodorant Challenge:
[The Deodorant Challenge] really needs to be made as public as possible. It’s just horrendous and needs stopping. For any parents who have children, please, please sit them down and show them these pictures…..These are the damaging results of something known as ‘The Deodorant Challenge’ which is currently doing the rounds

My nephew was doing this when he started secondary school. It’s so ridiculous, why are the teachers not aware of this?

My son did this [and is] now suffering the consequences. Totally unaware of this at first, a very upsetting experience for all us.

I’m 25 and I did this years ago when I was at school. Thought it was all fun and games. But nope, now I’m left with a big scar.

Why should parents care?

• This challenge can be very dangerous and result in hospitalization
• Knowing about social media challenges and trends before your teen does can help you keep them safe before an incident occurs
• The deodorant challenge is painful, can have a lasting impact, and causes scarring
• Recently, a parent reported that their student (who participated in the challenge) had burns so severe they might have to get a skin graft
• Dermatologists warn that the damage caused by the deodorant challenge could increase the risk of skin cancer down the road

What can parents do?

• Talk to your children about the deodorant challenge and explain the serious health repercussions associated with it
• Monitor your student’s digital footprint to see if they are watching, liking, or creating posts about the challenge
• Consider contacting your teen’s school. If your child has engaged with anything like the deodorant challenge, other students might be engaging with it too
• Urge your child to report any misbehavior they encounter online and on social media
• Teach your teen that they don’t need to do what everyone else is doing and to use judgment when fads like this arise. Especially if the trend hurts themselves or others
• Consider joining Parent University to learn about the latest teen trends and how to talk to your children about them

What should parents do if their child has already participated in the Deodorant Challenge?
According to health experts:

• Pay attention to see if your student has any burns
• Consult a doctor immediately if your student participates in this challenge

Principal’s Message
Dear Families,
This month the PTSA Book Club read How to Raise an Adult: Break Free of the Overparenting Trap and Prepare Your Kid for Success by Julie Lythcott-Haims. I encourage parents, educators, coaches, and anyone who works with kids to read this book. In it the author argues the importance of allowing struggle, encouraging responsibility, and setting high expectations for what kids can do independently at home and at school. As adults we want to do as much as we can for our kids to ensure they have successful lives. But how do we define success? Is success scoring straight A’s in order to get into the “best” schools and secure a “good” job? Lythcott-Haims challenges this idea of success in her book. She opines that we often neglect to consider what it takes to be a “successful” adult. The author states that an adult should be able to independently problem solve, advocate for himself/ herself, receive and apply constructive criticism, collaborate with peers, and persevere through failure. As a dean at Stanford University, she worked with a number of students who lacked these skills. Those experiences motivated her to write this book which includes anecdotes, commentary, and specific strategies to help parents and educators raise kids that have the skills needed to be successful in life. The strategies are applicable for all ages. I strongly recommend this read because its message is practical, relevant, and important.

Sincerely,
Joe Pirraglia