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MAY 2019 · EAST ROCK RECORDPAGE 3SCHOOL NEWSTESTING, TESTING, TESTING: TOO MUCH?TABLE OFCONTENTSBY JAYLEEN BAEZ, OMAR DWECK,ALEC SAMSEL, MOHAMMED KHAN,NATALIA PENNAEAST ROCK RECORD STAFFCOMMUNITY NEWSEDITED BY MAX GRAHAMRACE FOR NEW HAVEN MAYOROn state testing days at East Rock1, 7Community & Cultural StudiesREPORTERS AT CAPITOLMagnet School, the atmosphere1, 5is tense. Students sit quietly inclassrooms.Some go down multiple choiceKID GOVERNOR ELLA BRIGGSTALKS ABOUT DIFFERENCEquestions on laptop screens. Others5fill in bubbles on paper. Teachers tryto calm their students. But sometimesthe weight of the test is too much.SCHOOL NEWS“We were so pressured,” Luna Flores-STRESS IS KIDS ISSUEKelly, a 4th-grader said about test day1,4this spring. “It really mattered. If weTOO MUCH TESTING?didn’t get a lot right, we’d be held back.”3Tests are a big deal these days.Not only are there lots – and lots –TECHNOLOGY & SPORTSof tests in class for regular learning,9but students also take state tests. Inkindergarten students take short testsTHE ENVIRONMENTthat take only a few minutes, but bySOLAR PANELS!Grade 3 they take four tests over 111, 11hours. In Grade 8, students have threeGLOBAL WARMINGdifferent tests taken over 11 days.11According to the East Rock RecordART & LIFESpring 2019 Survey, more thanPOP-UP PAPER ARTIST VISITS ERRtwo-thirds of students at East Rock13Community and Cultural StudiesMagnet School think they take too manyEDITORIALS, OPINIONstandardized tests. Nearly nine out ofFOCUS: THE BORDERten said that tests stress them out.Teachers and administrators are14, 15divided about state testing. But manyLETTER FROM PRINCIPALstudents said they oppose the tests forSABRINA BRELANDseveral reasons. Some said they are14unfairly worded or “tricky.” Otherssaid the tests increase anxiety.“I feel nervous,” Victor Rodriguez , in5th grade, said about the state tests,Are Students Given Too Many Tests in School?which he called “scary.”Some East Rock School teacherssaid the tests put too much pressureYESNOon students. Others said the state testis needed to track student learning.Dave Cruz, in 7th grade, said thestate tests “aren’t accommodatingto students” and said the SBAC,Source: ERR Spring 2019 SurveyNatalia Pennawhich stands for Smarter BalancedAssessment Consortium, is “a one-size-fits-all kind of test.” “Everybut students do, too. According to thestudent learns at his or her own pace,” East Rock Record Spring 2018 survey,he said.87 percent of students said the testsEast Rock School Principal Sabrina make them anxious.Breland said during a press conference“One of the reasons I’m not a fan ofthat even though she thinks students the testing is because I’ve seen it cause“are over-tested,” that she is “notanxiety among the children to get 100opposed to state testing.” Ms. Brelandwhen they don’t have to,” said Amycalled the state test a “double-edged Binkowski, who teaches sixth grade.sword.”She said it does cause a lot of anxiety“I’ve seen kids put their heads downon the keyboard, just like they didn’tfor students, but that it also gives want to take” the test, said Laurateachers information. Ms. Breland Generoso, who teaches 7th and 8thsaid teachers use testing data to make grade Social Studies.lessons better fit students.But not all students feel nervousJohn Kennedy, seventh grade mathtaking standardized tests. “I don’tteacher at East Rock said the statethink much about them,” Mr.tests are a “a necessary evil.” While Sharqawe told the East Rock Record.he notices that tests do stress his “I don’t bother with investing too muchstudents, he said they help him figure time in them.”out at what pace his students areMr. Sharqawe said tests are morelearning and what skills they need to helpful for some than others. He saidwork on.some test questions require “certain“It is important that we know backgroundinformation,”likewhere every student’s strengths and mythology, which is not taught in class.weaknesses are,” said Mr. Kennedy.New Haven Mayor Toni HarpStill, he does not teach with the state supports testing. “One of the thingstests in mind. Mr. Kennedy said heeducators have got to know is whatwants to students succeed “not just on progress they’re making with youngstate exams but in their real lives.”people and how young people compareAdam Sharqawe, a 7th-grade with others,” she said. Without a betterstudent, said teachers do a good job option, she said, “We need to continuepreparing him for the state test buthaving a SBAC test for our state.”often focus on test-taking techniquesJustin Elicker, one of Harp’srather than content. “I would like toopponents in New Haven’s upcominglearn about substance,” he said.mayoral election, also told East RockGarrett Griffin, a 6th grade teacher, Record reporters that he thinks thesaid state tests can limit what teachersstate test is important. “But I don’tteach. “Because this test is takenthink we should have tests every yearseriously by the school,” Mr. Griffin and I don’t think tests should be sosaid, “as educators we tend to teach for important that you don’t go to recess,the test.” But teachers do need “some that you don’t have art class,” he said.kind of means across the board [totrack] a student’s progress.”Teachers are under pressure to getIn the meantime, East Rock teacherssaid they will try to help studentsmanage their stress —and make surestudents to perform well. “Our schools that they grow as people and not justare judged by the testing,” said Ms.Breland. “I don’t think it should be thebe-all, but it is.”test-takers.“I would rather see a student bomba test knowing they had tried, thanSchools that don’t do well on the stress about trying to get proficient ortests, she said, are “probably frowned above,” said Ms. Binkowski. “I feel myupon by a lot of people.”Not only do teachers feel that pressure,students are much more than a testscore.”

PAGE 4EAST ROCK RECORD · May 2019SCHOOL NEWSAre you stressed? Try meditatingJomar LamboySTRESS FROM PAGE 1take slow breaths in through their noses and out thinks about other things. “I try not to, but it Record, talks to friends dealing with similarthrough their mouths.Some students know ways to deal with stress.keeps coming back and back.”stresses when he feels overwhelmed. “Being ableTeachers, too, sometimes have trouble to relate my struggles with another person helpsThe survey showed that 92 students know how to meditating. Amy Binkowski, who teaches sixth me process everything I’m dealing with,” he said.meditate; 68 said they did not know how.grade, likes the idea of meditation, but finds itDaisy Canales, a reporter for this story, dealsJean Lawrence, a music teacher at East Rock difficult in practice. “I tried meditation,” she said,with stress by eating sugary foods like ice cream,School, meditates daily to deal with her ownstresses, which include driving, sitting in trafficand listening to the news. She also teaches“but I just couldn’t focus.”yogurt, Oreos, gummies and more. “One day IAlthough meditation does not work for finished a whole ice cream pack,” she said.everyone, students and adults have strategies forThe adults interviewed for this story oftenher students to meditate by leading them in handling stress. Some work better than others.advise students to take deep breaths and try tomeditation during class.calm down when they feel stressed or anxious. “I“It breaks my heart to see students stressed,”she said. “I teach them that they can meditate athome to deal with whatever they face.”Natalia Penna, a 6th grader at East Rock,learned to meditate in Ms. Lawrence’s class. “I domeditate,” Penna said. “I like laying on the couchor my bed and peacefully listening to some musicand maybe taking a nap. My head feels clearwhen I meditate.”Kayson Maciel-Andrews, who is in fifth grade,tell them to breathe and remember that tomorrowhas been meditating for years. His mom taughtis a new day,” said Angela Maiocco, who teacheshim to meditate as a strategy to deal with stress.fourth grade.“I’ve meditated, not often, though,” he said. “I justMax Graham, a Yale mentor at East Rock,go in the corner and calm myself down.”recalls being a stressed middle schooler. “I wasGarrett Griffin, who teaches sixth grade, usedto fall asleep with the TV on. Now, he pulls up aYouTube meditation video. “I sleep with meditationmusic,” he said. “It helps me go to sleep.”While some students like meditating, otherssaid it does not help their stress because itis difficult to do. The reporters for this storyattempted a two-minute meditation. WhileMorgan Prescod, a 4th grader, said the meditationhad a calming effect on her mind, Luna FloresKelly, also a 4th grader, had trouble committingto the meditation because of all her thoughts.“I try to mediate, but it has never really workedfor me,” she said. “It just doesn’t calm me oranything.” Ms. Flores-Kelly said her mind justworried about getting good grades and pleasingState Rep. Toni Walker leads reporters in meditation using her phone appduring a visit to the state Capitol“I don’t really deal with stress. I just to tryto ignore it and I try to think about not beingstressed,” said Norah Matz, a 3rd grader. “Ifmy sister is stressing me out, I just walk awayfrom her,” said Victor Rodriguez, in fifth grade.“Sometimes it’s hard because she follows me.”Knia Ellis, a 6th grader, said, “I go in a quietplace and calm down.” Fourth grader AdelineElis prefers to punch her pillow in order to workthrough her emotions. Tyrease Grear, also infourth grade, said he likes “to play my gameswhen I’m stressed.” Stephen Martinez-Hamilton,a Yale first-year and mentor at the East Rockmy teachers. Looking back, I think the habits youform in middle school are really important, so Iwouldn’t say that they shouldn’t care because it‘doesn’t matter,’” he said.“I would advise students to not feel like theirgrades or even their performance in school are areflection of their self-worth.”At the state Capitol, Rep. Toni Walker saidshe has “a very stressful job.” She said she is“constantly moving and I eat badly and I get verytense.” To deal with that, Rep. Walker meditates,using an app on her phone. During the interview,she had East Rock Record reporters try. SaidRep. Walker, “It really helps me to calm down.”STRESSES STRATEGIESBy Luna Flores-KellyThe Diaper Bank of Connecticut provides assistance that has asignificant impact on the health of the community through a newapproach to prevention by keeping babies warm, dry and healthy.Having a steady supply of diapers reduces the incidence ofpreventable diseases caused by infrequent diaper changing.The Diaper Bank's Distribution Department will behosting Volunteer Days on the following dates:2019 Volunteer DaysMonetary (Cash, Checks & Credit Card) DonationsMail to/or Visit our Website:370 State Street, Suite B, North Haven, CT 06473www.thediaperbank.orgSupport & Follow The Diaper Bank of Connecticut onFacebook, Twitter & InstagramSaturday, 5/11/2019 from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.Saturday, 6/15/2019 from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.Saturday, 7/13/2019 from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.Saturday, 8/17/2019 from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.Saturday, 9/21/2019 from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.Saturday, 9/28/2019 from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.Saturday, 10/19/2019 from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.Saturday, 11/16/2019 from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.Saturday, 12/14/2019 from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.Volunteer Days schedules are flexible from9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and open to anyone whowants to do some community service hours, orsupport a community organization such as TheDiaper Bank of CT, or support a great causesuch as #DiaperNeed.Please RSVP to: Yury Maciel-Andrews(Business Manager): yury@thediaperbank.org,203-934-7009, Ext. 111OrComplete the online volunteer lease email or call us, if you wish to bringchildren (5 and up) with you. We hope you canjoin us!What Makes PeopleGet Stressed: Tests Family Projects Fighting with yourparents People hackingyour electronics Global Warming School Drama Being in debt Failing in school Homework AcneStrategies for Dealingwith Stress: Take a deep breath Listen to music thatmakes you feel happy Talk to your friends Read a book Watch TV Play videogames Play with your pets Go for a walk Take a shower Eat a healthy snack(we recommend anapple and peanutbutter!) Ask for a hug from aloved one Take a nap

MAY 2019 · EAST ROCK RECORDPAGE 5COMMUNITY NEWSHOW TO TALK ABOUT DIFFERENCES? ASK ELLA.BY NORAH MATZ, SAHIL LEMAR,ADHAM DWECKEAST ROCK RECORD STAFFEDITED BY AMY DEPOYIt is scary to be different. Everybody in theschool could make fun of you.because of their skin color, including “poop,” themselves to try to fit in even if it makes them“chocolate,” and “vanilla.” Sometimes when youunhappy. “Everyone wants to be part of a group,”So, imagine you are in front of the whole state wear glasses, people call you “four eyes.” If you she said.being different. And talking about it.That takes bravery. Meet the kid governor ofConnecticut: Ella Briggs. She has made LGBTQissues and being accepted her platform.“At my old school, some kids wouldn’t talkare girl, kids say you are bad at sports or “weak.”Ms. Briggs said that it is important to “lovePeople at school also make fun of boys who takeeveryone no matter what” and to be respectfulballet classes.and kind. She said that if you notice someone whoThese are problems all schools should pay is alone, to try to be friends with them. “Just talkattention to. The East Record Spring 2019 survey to them,” she said. “You never know what canto me or even touch me,” Ms. Briggs said in an found that 48 percent of students said that kids make someone’s day.”interview with East Rock Record reporters. “Ido tease other kids about their race, religion orhope kids will connect with their other peers gender identity.about their differences. And then when they areadults, they will be more accepting.”She also said that we need people all aroundto be more accepting of one another’s differences.Aaliya Maddox, Taniya Meade, and Jazlynn Said Ms. Briggs, “Everyone has the opportunityCalderon, all third graders, said that their to be open-minded.”She said that schools and classrooms are good teachers don’t talk about differences. But theplaces to talk about differences. “In my classroomstudents definitely notice racism and sexismwe have a library with books where everyone around them. Ms. Maddox said that sometimescan see themselves, including people of color andpeople tell her she can’t do things because she isstrong women,” Ms. Briggs said.a girl.Ms. Briggs said that her school —CREC AnaGrayson Wittington, third grader, told the EastGrace Academy of the Arts Elementary Magnet Rock Record that her brother called her “a boy”School in Avon -– has a program, “Second Step,” because she likes to play sports.that helps kids deal with strong emotions and berespectful.“We also have morning meetings where we talkabout how we are feeling,” she said.These things are important, especially inschools where different students come togetherand spend time. Even in New Haven PublicAmy Binkowski, 6th grade teacher, said shetalks to her class about difference when it comesup in class materials. For example, now herclass is reading Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry, anovel about racism in America during the GreatDepression.Norine Polio, the ESOL teacher at East Rock,Schools, including East Rock Community & said that there are over 60 students on her roster.Cultural Studies Magnet School, students can beThat means there are over 60 students at Eastunkind to one another.Rock who know a language other than English!At recess, some kids call other kids namesSometimes, she said, that makes people hide Ella Briggs became Kid Governor on an LGBTQ platformTalk at Capitol ranged, but focus on global warming threatCAPITOL FROM PAGE 1Morghan Prescod, “the escalator was fun.” “I want to work in a place where I make bigTy’Kineshia Thomas loved the “people movers” decisions, because I would get rid of littering,”in the tunnel connecting the Capitol to theshe said. Ms. Calderon, also in 4th grade, likedLegislative Office Building. Sahil Lemar, in 3rd “getting to see different kinds of famous peoplegrade, noted that “I saw a famous writer on the like Rep. Walker and Gov. Lamont.” She likes thetop floor of the Capitol,” which is where they idea of having jobs like them because “you get tovisited the press room and Mr. Pazniokas.Adham Dweck, also in 3rd grade, was excited towear fancy suits.”But she also recognizes the real work required.visit the House chambers. “I got to see my friend’s “It would be stressful to pass laws, because theredad,” he said, referring to Rep. Lemar. “It was cool could be hard decisions that not everyone wouldbecause I have never seen him at work before!”agree with you. If I were the governor, I wouldOmar Dweck found the state Capitol “cool” andmake sure that everyone was doing their job“exciting,” and said “the interviews were justcorrectly, and that people who work for me do aright so you would not get bored. It was awesome good job. I would make it a rule that all schoolsand everybody was hype.”should be free because some people might notVictor Rogriguez, 5th grader, worried the triphave money to go to good schools, but everyonewould be boring, but “when I saw all the details Ineeds to learn. My second decision would be forwas like ‘OMG!’ The designs of the building were whoever sees homeless peoples on the streets hasso cool. It was so fancy and so normal. When I metthe Governor, legislators, and reporters, I learnedto point them to the free houses for them.”Keylin Montoya, also a 4th grader, “would makethey all had special jobs to do, like take care of sure that every classroom had extra snacks, likethe votes, and take care of the money. It was anfruit, and at least 20 or 21 minutes of recess to getawesome place to go. But the thing I didn’t likeextra energy for math.”was the stairs. SO MANY STAIRS!”Fourth grader Adeline Ellis said that she andDave John Cruz Bustamante, in 7th grade,found it “fascinating to be inside the CapitolJarelis Calderon “got headaches because of the and talking to the people who work in it.” Hebus and its bumpiness,” but that she could pictureespecially liked seeing the press room and found itherself working in a building like the Capitol. “inspiring to see how reporters thrived on chaos.”TOP: Mark Pazniokas speaks with reporters; CENTER: Sen. Martin Looneyanswers questions; LEFT: Rep. Roland Lemar talks about global warming;RIGHT: Reporters query Rep. Lemar.

PAGE 6EAST ROCK RECORD · MAY 2019Balancing what matters most forthose who matter most.Let us personalize a plan for you.Jeff Klaus, Regional Bank.com

MAY 2019 · EAST ROCK RECORDPAGE 7COMMUNITY NEWSFour very different candidates running for MayorMAYOR FROM PAGE 1you can’t raise them too high, he said. It’s also complicated in New Haven.Wendy Hamilton“A large part of our property can’t be taxed,” Mr. Bass said. That is becauseWhile Wendy Hamilton has not run for mayor before, she supported andit belongs to Yale.helped finance the campaign of Sundiata Keitazulu in 2015. She has a lot ofMr. Bass also pointed out that we have all learned since 2016 that politicalraces never go as expected. There are a lot of issues for voters to considerfaith in people, especially in young people, she told reporters.At the top of her list, Ms. Hamilton wants to address the housing issue.and differences among the candidates. We want to make sure that residentsShe also wants to change policing in Newhave the information they need to vote. During interviews, we covered theHaven. “We have too m

"We have to be using more solar and we have to do things like get rid of plastic bags," said Sen. Looney. During a visit with Rep. Walker in the Legislative Office Building, everyone got a chance to try meditation using Rep. Walker's phone app. "It was interesting at the state Capitol," said Mohammed Khan, in sixth grade. The bus ride was