Model United Nations Class offers Eye Opening Experience
by Nic Silvestris
Have you ever been so opinionated and passionate about something that you end up in a debate with someone about it? For most students, most debates go nowhere and neither side changes their mind because many do not know how to debate properly. There’s a solution that exists and it’s in the form of Model United Nations!
It’s not only a class offered at Bourne High School under the direction of social studies teacher Lisa Dibiasion , but a club offered in many other schools. The class teaches students not only how to properly debate but also the benefit of being able to speak efficiently. The key to debating is the usage of indisputable facts where if the facts can’t be argued then you ultimately gain the upperhand.
Bourne High’s class was invited and attended an assembly at West Bridgewater High School on November 16. After about 40 minutes of socializing and eating breakfast, all participants broke into their committees. Eleven students represented Bourne in their respective groups, mixing in well with students from the four other towns. Over seventy other students from the other towns contributed to the debate, creating a great academic atmosphere.
In the committee dedicated to the Global War on Drugs, countries such as Pakistan and Sweden debated against China and the United States on topics regarding the punishment of drug possession and how to abolish the issue all together. As expected many countries disagreed as their philosophies clashed. China was the leading culprit of the “traditional” mindset where they would not budge on their position, whereas Russia and United States became more lenient in the interest of the group. Spearheaded by the United Kingdom and Portugal, the resolution was passed without much competition, as it was clearly impeccable. (I was representing the United Kingdom so perhaps some bias lies in description of the resolution.)
After all of the committees had finished their debates, the resolutions and working papers were presented group by group in front of the entire assembly. On this platform the papers that had been agreed upon by the smaller groups were then voted on by the rest of the delegates who had no involvement in the creation process. There were a few periods of intriguing events as a few papers were completely shot down in a landslide vote while others were decided by a few swing votes.
Overall the experience was terrific and a bit eye opening. Seeing how other schools/clubs ran their model UN was interesting when compared to our own here at BHS. Also new students to the class were able to really put their skills to the test against a potpourri of other students.
Just remember, next time you get into a debate, make sure it’s not against a member of the the MUN or you’ll surely be in for a good time!
Have you ever been so opinionated and passionate about something that you end up in a debate with someone about it? For most students, most debates go nowhere and neither side changes their mind because many do not know how to debate properly. There’s a solution that exists and it’s in the form of Model United Nations!
It’s not only a class offered at Bourne High School under the direction of social studies teacher Lisa Dibiasion , but a club offered in many other schools. The class teaches students not only how to properly debate but also the benefit of being able to speak efficiently. The key to debating is the usage of indisputable facts where if the facts can’t be argued then you ultimately gain the upperhand.
Bourne High’s class was invited and attended an assembly at West Bridgewater High School on November 16. After about 40 minutes of socializing and eating breakfast, all participants broke into their committees. Eleven students represented Bourne in their respective groups, mixing in well with students from the four other towns. Over seventy other students from the other towns contributed to the debate, creating a great academic atmosphere.
In the committee dedicated to the Global War on Drugs, countries such as Pakistan and Sweden debated against China and the United States on topics regarding the punishment of drug possession and how to abolish the issue all together. As expected many countries disagreed as their philosophies clashed. China was the leading culprit of the “traditional” mindset where they would not budge on their position, whereas Russia and United States became more lenient in the interest of the group. Spearheaded by the United Kingdom and Portugal, the resolution was passed without much competition, as it was clearly impeccable. (I was representing the United Kingdom so perhaps some bias lies in description of the resolution.)
After all of the committees had finished their debates, the resolutions and working papers were presented group by group in front of the entire assembly. On this platform the papers that had been agreed upon by the smaller groups were then voted on by the rest of the delegates who had no involvement in the creation process. There were a few periods of intriguing events as a few papers were completely shot down in a landslide vote while others were decided by a few swing votes.
Overall the experience was terrific and a bit eye opening. Seeing how other schools/clubs ran their model UN was interesting when compared to our own here at BHS. Also new students to the class were able to really put their skills to the test against a potpourri of other students.
Just remember, next time you get into a debate, make sure it’s not against a member of the the MUN or you’ll surely be in for a good time!
Newest members of James F. Peebles Chapter of NHS Inducted
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The National Honor Society James F. Peebles Chapter hosted their induction on October 20th. The ceremony opened with Chapter President, Baillie Power’s welcome to friends and family of the new inductees. The ceremony involved pledges, speeches and the student members receiving their NHS pins. Speechs were given by club leadership, including Baillie Power (Chapter President), Katherine Brennan (Chapter Vice President), Tess McCabe (Chapter Treasurer) and Michelle Fleming (Chapter Secretary). Guest speaker Mrs. Casey spoke to the group about the importance of character, setting goals and achieving them.
The new inductees are: Seniors: Jordan Baracchini, Sydney Schaadt, Shannon Elliott, David Marchi. Juniors: Hannah Davies, Anthony DeMayo, Courtney Denesha, Kyle Fortune, Louis Gordon, Leah Hidenfelter,Samuel Johnston, Brandon Manter, Kylie McDonnell, Jenna O’Melia, Katherine Peddicord, Hailey Rondeau, Sam Sierra, Donia Siroonian, Emma Strode, Jordan Torpey, Hannah Tripp, Zachary Trischitta, McKenna Watson. |
New Dance Class Adds new Dimension to Physical Education Offerings
By Emily Saba
“I know we are all dancing as a way of getting exercise!” says Mrs. Murphy, head of the BHS Drama department, and also the teacher and creator of the Intro into Dance and Movement class.
The new Intro into Dance and Movement class is a Physical Education and Health course which provides students with the ability to learn beginner and intermediate instruction in a variety of dance forms which includes Yoga, African Dance, Rhythm (Dance and Exercise), Ballet, Jazz tap and Modern, and basic steps for each form of dance. This class was implemented into the Bourne High School course offerings just this year and Murphy is thrilled about it.
Mrs. Murphy came up with the idea to start a dance class while teaching a wellness class. “I was previously teaching a section of wellness and included a unit on Dance that was very well-received” said Murphy. After putting in the request with Mrs. Center, they met and discussed the idea, then she was instructed to generate a course description to be submitted to the school committee for approval. “I was So excited- but a little nervous hoping that it would be well received,” said Mrs. Murphy.
The Intro into Dance and Movement pilot class took place in the second semester of the 2015-2016 school year. The class was made up of several seniors and some of her other students in the Theater class whom she approached about taking her pilot class. Jay Allison, now a junior, walked into dance class for the first time with no previous dance experience. He expressed that he was not nervous during the first class. “Dancing is dancing no matter what,”he said.
Senior Shaun White joined the pilot group with much experience, on the heels of a week long intensive Broadway Summer Camp in New York City. His hip hop classes as a young boy, and self-taught tap dancing skills thanks to videos online, make White an expert. White wasn’t nervous his first class either. He says “Most of my friends were in the same class so I was comfortable”Junior, Olivia Amaral, unlike Jay and Shaun, was a bit nervous about the class. “I thought that if I wanted to pursue theater as a career I would need to suck it up,” she added.
After Mrs. Murphy’s first class, she remembers the class being successful, and moving quicker than she expected. “Everyone left smiling!” she said. The students in her pilot class felt the same way, adding they felt great and as one member put it, “ ready to conquer the day” ,. The students also felt as though they got their daily exercise. “I felt that I always got my daily exercise, probably the same if not more than a gym class,” added White.
Since her pilot class in the 2015-16 second semester, things have gotten even better.
Her Intro into Dance and Movement class is now offered for all students in the school during both semesters. Like the other Physical Education and Health courses, it’s a half year course and counts as half of a P.E. credit. Since the pilot class, the repertoire has improved “dramatically”, as Mrs. Murphy aptly puts it, and there are now two separate dance classes. “I have had the opportunity to take almost 30 hours of Master Classes to brush up on my techniques and I have added three units of study” says Murphy. Murphy took her Master Classes with Miss Eveline at Cape Cod Dance Academy in Cataumet and with Meredith Langton right in the BHS Auditorium. She has also developed new ideas for this years classes.
“I think certainly new ideas should be implemented regularly to keep the music fresh and interesting for the students, especially for those repeating the class. I switched the order of units for this semester, hoping that that the fun jazz unit would grab them and make them want to come to class” she says.
New students who heard about the class just this year decided to take this class either to get of of P.E., to try something new, to get out of their comfort zone or just simply because they like to dance, and they found themselves appreciating dance more as a result after taking the class. In the first dance class of the 2016-17 school year, Freshman, Celia Caron said “I really liked this class when I first walked in. There was so much positive energy adding in how much she appreciated the small class size. “We all treat each other like family , and there is no such thing as being embarrassed in the class” she added. Caron also found that this class could absolutely count as a dance class due to the fact that they “are always moving for all the 60 minutes of class”. Junior Angelina Lozech took this dance class because she wanted to try something new in America while she’s here as a German exchange student. Lozech, much like Caron, thinks that she definitely gets the exercise you can get in a gym class. “I think during the warm up you can really concentrate on every muscle. After every class you feel very good and you try to improve your body more during dance class,” she said. Lozech is enjoying the class so much so far that she wants to continue dancing when she returns to Germany.
With the Intro into Dance and Movement course, students are able to learn new things about dance but also get their daily exercise and enjoy it. Mrs. Murphy certainly drew a lot of students in with her compassion for dance and teaching and credits her fun jazz unit with its popularity. This class has changed students views on dance and has given them a new way of getting their daily exercise.
“I know we are all dancing as a way of getting exercise!” says Mrs. Murphy, head of the BHS Drama department, and also the teacher and creator of the Intro into Dance and Movement class.
The new Intro into Dance and Movement class is a Physical Education and Health course which provides students with the ability to learn beginner and intermediate instruction in a variety of dance forms which includes Yoga, African Dance, Rhythm (Dance and Exercise), Ballet, Jazz tap and Modern, and basic steps for each form of dance. This class was implemented into the Bourne High School course offerings just this year and Murphy is thrilled about it.
Mrs. Murphy came up with the idea to start a dance class while teaching a wellness class. “I was previously teaching a section of wellness and included a unit on Dance that was very well-received” said Murphy. After putting in the request with Mrs. Center, they met and discussed the idea, then she was instructed to generate a course description to be submitted to the school committee for approval. “I was So excited- but a little nervous hoping that it would be well received,” said Mrs. Murphy.
The Intro into Dance and Movement pilot class took place in the second semester of the 2015-2016 school year. The class was made up of several seniors and some of her other students in the Theater class whom she approached about taking her pilot class. Jay Allison, now a junior, walked into dance class for the first time with no previous dance experience. He expressed that he was not nervous during the first class. “Dancing is dancing no matter what,”he said.
Senior Shaun White joined the pilot group with much experience, on the heels of a week long intensive Broadway Summer Camp in New York City. His hip hop classes as a young boy, and self-taught tap dancing skills thanks to videos online, make White an expert. White wasn’t nervous his first class either. He says “Most of my friends were in the same class so I was comfortable”Junior, Olivia Amaral, unlike Jay and Shaun, was a bit nervous about the class. “I thought that if I wanted to pursue theater as a career I would need to suck it up,” she added.
After Mrs. Murphy’s first class, she remembers the class being successful, and moving quicker than she expected. “Everyone left smiling!” she said. The students in her pilot class felt the same way, adding they felt great and as one member put it, “ ready to conquer the day” ,. The students also felt as though they got their daily exercise. “I felt that I always got my daily exercise, probably the same if not more than a gym class,” added White.
Since her pilot class in the 2015-16 second semester, things have gotten even better.
Her Intro into Dance and Movement class is now offered for all students in the school during both semesters. Like the other Physical Education and Health courses, it’s a half year course and counts as half of a P.E. credit. Since the pilot class, the repertoire has improved “dramatically”, as Mrs. Murphy aptly puts it, and there are now two separate dance classes. “I have had the opportunity to take almost 30 hours of Master Classes to brush up on my techniques and I have added three units of study” says Murphy. Murphy took her Master Classes with Miss Eveline at Cape Cod Dance Academy in Cataumet and with Meredith Langton right in the BHS Auditorium. She has also developed new ideas for this years classes.
“I think certainly new ideas should be implemented regularly to keep the music fresh and interesting for the students, especially for those repeating the class. I switched the order of units for this semester, hoping that that the fun jazz unit would grab them and make them want to come to class” she says.
New students who heard about the class just this year decided to take this class either to get of of P.E., to try something new, to get out of their comfort zone or just simply because they like to dance, and they found themselves appreciating dance more as a result after taking the class. In the first dance class of the 2016-17 school year, Freshman, Celia Caron said “I really liked this class when I first walked in. There was so much positive energy adding in how much she appreciated the small class size. “We all treat each other like family , and there is no such thing as being embarrassed in the class” she added. Caron also found that this class could absolutely count as a dance class due to the fact that they “are always moving for all the 60 minutes of class”. Junior Angelina Lozech took this dance class because she wanted to try something new in America while she’s here as a German exchange student. Lozech, much like Caron, thinks that she definitely gets the exercise you can get in a gym class. “I think during the warm up you can really concentrate on every muscle. After every class you feel very good and you try to improve your body more during dance class,” she said. Lozech is enjoying the class so much so far that she wants to continue dancing when she returns to Germany.
With the Intro into Dance and Movement course, students are able to learn new things about dance but also get their daily exercise and enjoy it. Mrs. Murphy certainly drew a lot of students in with her compassion for dance and teaching and credits her fun jazz unit with its popularity. This class has changed students views on dance and has given them a new way of getting their daily exercise.