Good Morning West Community,
I want to start of by thanking those of you who are reading and keeping up with my class here at West Leadership. I truly appreciate the support I have received from all of you as we are finishing the school year.
I want to start of by thanking those of you who are reading and keeping up with my class here at West Leadership. I truly appreciate the support I have received from all of you as we are finishing the school year.
As I am writing this post, the classroom here at West Leadership Academy want to send out my deepest condolences to all of the students and families who attend the STEM School out in Douglas County for yet another senseless gun violence act in Colorado. I cannot imagine how this community is feeling right now, let alone how the family of the student, Kendrick Castillo, who was killed is feeling. This is a time we can all use to reevaluate what is important to us and at the end of the day, make sure we tell the ones closest to us that we truly appreciate them and value who they are. I have made a donation for Kendrick Castillo's funeral cost, I hope all of you join with me and do the same below.
https://fundly.com/stem-star-hero-kendrick-castillo-memorial-fund
Last week, we had an extremely full schedule. From the students doing two assignments in here in regards to cannabis, to Thursday at the End-of-the-Year event, to Friday and having my students catch up on their work, I can confidently say that my classes are getting it done.
That being said, here is a layout of the week!
Monday and Tuesday -- The students did an assignment on Cannabis and how it has been used throughout the world during various time periods. Below is a PDF of what my students read and wrote about.
For each section, they needed to find three key points and write about them in their own words. They worked on this project with their mentees/mentors with the goal being that students asking themselves what can we, as a community, learn about marijuana by studying historical global trends, laws, and usage? What have been the impacts of marijuana prohibition and legalization in the US?
Wednesday and Thursday, the class did a second assignment which was making public service announcements (posters) for the hallways on the 5 ways cannabis is being consumed around the country. Each way that it is consumed has a different scenario that students need to be aware of if they are ever in a similar situation.
The five ways are:
1. Edibles
"Your friend is a really good cook, and they often bring food to school to share. Last
night, they made a loaf of bread made with marijuana oil. They brought it to school
and shared several pieces with some friends, who did not know it was a marijuana
edible. Your friend thought it would be funny to let them find out the hard way. In class
about an hour later, they start to feel paranoid and really anxious. One of them starts to
breathe really fast because their heart feels like it’s beating out of their chest. Your
friend who gave them the bread starts to laugh in the back of the classroom, while the
teacher sends the other two to the principal’s office. You are unsure what to do next."
What are some things you can do in this situation? What are some of the effects of consuming edibles? What are some ways you can find out if a product is an edible?
2. Dabbing
Your friend asked you to come over to their house. Their older brother is in high school and invited several of his friends, who often get in trouble at school. When you get there, everyone is in the basement, so you walk down to see what they’re up to. One of them is holding something that looks like a glass vase, but they’re smoking out of it. They tell you they’re dabbing, and that you should join them. You don’t know what that is, and you begin to feel very uncomfortable. Because everyone is doing it, you don’t want to be the only one who does not. You’re confused about what you should do.
What should you do in this situation? Why might it be helpful to know how marijuana smoke impacts the body? Why might it be helpful to know about secondhand smoke?
3. Hot Boxing small spaces
Your sister was just accepted into college on a basketball scholarship. She’s the first in your family to go to college, and she is really excited about it. After practice one day, she decides to celebrate with some friends. You see her walk to a friend’s car around the corner from school. After a few minutes, you notice the car fill with smoke and you start to panic. Is the car on fire? Before you have a chance to run over to help, everyone gets out, laughing, coughing, and stumbling over each other. What were they doing?
What is hotboxing? Why can it be risky? What are some things your sister should know?
4. Vaping
Lately, you see a lot of people using e-cigarettes and vape pens. You know that smoking can be dangerous and harm your health, so you wonder why you see so many people vaping. You ask your older cousin, who uses a vape pen, what vaping is all about. He says that because he’s inhaling vapor, instead of smoke, there’s no harm. Besides, smoke smells awful, while vaping doesn’t produce smoke. He says it’s much healthier and there’s nothing to worry about. But something does not sound right about this, so you investigate a little more.
How can you be an upstander for your cousin? What are some of the risks of vaping? What do you think is the relationship between the tobacco industry and the marijuana industry?
5. Smoking
After school, you walk past some classmates hanging out underneath the bleachers. They call you over to join them. Curious, you approach the group, and notice the person you have a crush on is sitting there. You sit down and ask them about their day. Then one of them takes out a lighter and some marijuana, and starts to smoke it. They all pass it around, coughing after each inhale. Because you are an athlete, you don’t want to inhale anything that might hurt your lungs. But since you are sitting near others who are smoking, you begin to feel a little lightheaded and foggy. You are also concerned you might smell like marijuana, and you have a meeting with your coach in ten minutes.
What should you do in this situation? Why might it be helpful to know how marijuana smoke impacts the body? Why might it be helpful to know about secondhand smoke?
I have to say, all of my classes seemed very interested in the topic. I had several students around the school stop by and discuss it among their peers. I have to say, it was a success to educate our students on these types of ways people are consuming it so that they themselves aren't exposed to anything they don't already know.
Finally, we had our End of the Year Celebration at the Mile High Stadium this past Thursday. Here are some the better photos that I was able to take! West Leadership had a great turnout at the event, check them out.
I have to say, the year is coming down and it has been an extraordinary year here. We are not done yet, but I have to say, the attitude for the future is looking bigger and brighter than ever.
Thanks to those of you who take the time to read these blogs, shoot us a comment down below if you have any questions.
Happy reading, y'all.
Cowboys, out.
https://fundly.com/stem-star-hero-kendrick-castillo-memorial-fund
Last week, we had an extremely full schedule. From the students doing two assignments in here in regards to cannabis, to Thursday at the End-of-the-Year event, to Friday and having my students catch up on their work, I can confidently say that my classes are getting it done.
That being said, here is a layout of the week!
Monday and Tuesday -- The students did an assignment on Cannabis and how it has been used throughout the world during various time periods. Below is a PDF of what my students read and wrote about.
For each section, they needed to find three key points and write about them in their own words. They worked on this project with their mentees/mentors with the goal being that students asking themselves what can we, as a community, learn about marijuana by studying historical global trends, laws, and usage? What have been the impacts of marijuana prohibition and legalization in the US?
Wednesday and Thursday, the class did a second assignment which was making public service announcements (posters) for the hallways on the 5 ways cannabis is being consumed around the country. Each way that it is consumed has a different scenario that students need to be aware of if they are ever in a similar situation.
The five ways are:
1. Edibles
What are some things you can do in this situation? What are some of the effects of consuming edibles? What are some ways you can find out if a product is an edible?
2. Dabbing
Your friend asked you to come over to their house. Their older brother is in high school and invited several of his friends, who often get in trouble at school. When you get there, everyone is in the basement, so you walk down to see what they’re up to. One of them is holding something that looks like a glass vase, but they’re smoking out of it. They tell you they’re dabbing, and that you should join them. You don’t know what that is, and you begin to feel very uncomfortable. Because everyone is doing it, you don’t want to be the only one who does not. You’re confused about what you should do.
What should you do in this situation? Why might it be helpful to know how marijuana smoke impacts the body? Why might it be helpful to know about secondhand smoke?
3. Hot Boxing small spaces
Your sister was just accepted into college on a basketball scholarship. She’s the first in your family to go to college, and she is really excited about it. After practice one day, she decides to celebrate with some friends. You see her walk to a friend’s car around the corner from school. After a few minutes, you notice the car fill with smoke and you start to panic. Is the car on fire? Before you have a chance to run over to help, everyone gets out, laughing, coughing, and stumbling over each other. What were they doing?
What is hotboxing? Why can it be risky? What are some things your sister should know?
4. Vaping
Lately, you see a lot of people using e-cigarettes and vape pens. You know that smoking can be dangerous and harm your health, so you wonder why you see so many people vaping. You ask your older cousin, who uses a vape pen, what vaping is all about. He says that because he’s inhaling vapor, instead of smoke, there’s no harm. Besides, smoke smells awful, while vaping doesn’t produce smoke. He says it’s much healthier and there’s nothing to worry about. But something does not sound right about this, so you investigate a little more.
How can you be an upstander for your cousin? What are some of the risks of vaping? What do you think is the relationship between the tobacco industry and the marijuana industry?
5. Smoking
After school, you walk past some classmates hanging out underneath the bleachers. They call you over to join them. Curious, you approach the group, and notice the person you have a crush on is sitting there. You sit down and ask them about their day. Then one of them takes out a lighter and some marijuana, and starts to smoke it. They all pass it around, coughing after each inhale. Because you are an athlete, you don’t want to inhale anything that might hurt your lungs. But since you are sitting near others who are smoking, you begin to feel a little lightheaded and foggy. You are also concerned you might smell like marijuana, and you have a meeting with your coach in ten minutes.
What should you do in this situation? Why might it be helpful to know how marijuana smoke impacts the body? Why might it be helpful to know about secondhand smoke?
I have to say, all of my classes seemed very interested in the topic. I had several students around the school stop by and discuss it among their peers. I have to say, it was a success to educate our students on these types of ways people are consuming it so that they themselves aren't exposed to anything they don't already know.
Finally, we had our End of the Year Celebration at the Mile High Stadium this past Thursday. Here are some the better photos that I was able to take! West Leadership had a great turnout at the event, check them out.
I have to say, the year is coming down and it has been an extraordinary year here. We are not done yet, but I have to say, the attitude for the future is looking bigger and brighter than ever.
Thanks to those of you who take the time to read these blogs, shoot us a comment down below if you have any questions.
Happy reading, y'all.
Cowboys, out.
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