Please, if you share concerns about the upcoming KMS/RMS merger, sign the petition to have your voice heard. A letter has been created, all we need is to show the administration that other parents share these concerns. I know many of you are frustrated or feel defeated because we are used to being ignored. Time and effort has been put into documenting our concerns and opposition, all we need now are signatures of parents who share our concern. If you agree with the letter that follows, please sign. Thank you!
To Whom It May Concern:
I would like to submit my concerns, again, at this time. It has recently come to my attention that you are under the impression that RMS parents are not concerned about the impending school merger. I would like to take this opportunity to tell you that I am incredibly concerned about the merger. I have talked to multiple parents and they have expressed many of the same feelings I am having. These feelings include: it is a waste of time to voice concerns because no one cares; our opinions are not taken seriously because the decision has already been decided; and any change that could happen at this point would require an ‘act of Congress’. Hearing these comments and witnessing this hopelessness is very concerning to me and others. My number one concern is the unbalanced scheduling that clearly gives KMS students a huge advantage to current RMS students. Allowing one set of students 10-15 extra hours of sleep over another group that is sharing the same space is extremely unfair. It is recommended for tweens and teens to get 9+ hours of sleep every night for healthy development. The CDC, American Association for Pediatrics, and the Mayo Clinic all agree on this fact.
( Please click on links below for more detailed information.) ● http://www.cdc.gov/sleep/about_sleep/how_much_sleep.htm ● http://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/Pages/Let-Them-Sleep-AAP-Reco mmends-Delaying-Start-Times-of-Middle-and-High-Schools-to-Combat-Teen-Sleep-Depriva tion.aspx ● http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/tween-and-teen-health/in-depth/teens-health/art-20 046157 ● http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2528821/
It is a well-documented fact that starting with the onset of puberty, a child’s hormonal fluctuations change their natural circadian rhythm and it delays the rise in melatonin much later in the evening, closer to 10 pm. This is a biological unchallenged fact that parents cannot fight. Our current school schedule for the 62% of RMS students that travel from the Courtney/McT area has students getting on the bus between 5:50 AM and 6:20 AM. A conservative estimate is that these kids are put to bed at 9 and fall asleep close to 10. With a wake up time between 5 and 6 to catch the bus, our students are only getting 7-8 hours; again, this is conservatively speaking. I would like to preface my next point with the fact that I do know that a small percentage of KMS students travel as long on busses as the majority of RMS students. The majority of KMS students live very close in proximity to Kadena. Even with a 7:15 start time, they are allowed their 9-10 hours because of the short commute times. By blessing the KMS students with an 8:50 start time you are gifting them 10-15 hours a week extra sleep over the majority of RMS students. This would lead to greater percentages of sleep deprivation for RMS studentscompared to their KMS counterparts. The effects of sleep deprivation are very real and concerning.
They include: ❖ Lower grades due to profoundly impaired learning capabilities ❖ Poor concentration ❖ Mood Swings ❖ Increased agitation ❖ Overeating and obesity ❖ Increased use of caffeine and other stimulants ❖ Increased rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation ❖ Decreased athletic and motor skills ❖ Elevated blood pressure ❖ Increased likelihood of physical, psychological, or social difficulties
References for effect of sleep deprivation. ● http://www.apa.org/monitor/oct01/sleepteen.aspx ● http://www.socsd.org/pdfs/schoolstarttimes.pdf ● http://sleepfoundation.org/sleep-topics/teens-and-sleep/page/0%2C1/
As you can see, these are very real and very disconcerting realities of sleep deprivation. It's unfair to put either group of students at such a large disadvantage and expect them to perform equally in the same setting. By putting the majority of students who travel the longest at the earlier time you are making the gap much larger than it needs to be. There has been a big push stateside for later start times for our adolescents. ● http://schoolstarttime.org/2011/06/12/schools-recently-delaying-start-times/ The results of later start times have been astoundingly positive. ● http://discover.umn.edu/news/teaching-education/late-start-times-benefit-high-school-stude nts ● http://mobile.nytimes.com/blogs/well/2014/03/13/to-keep-teenagers-alert-schools-let-themsleep-in/ ● http://www.fcps.edu/supt/update/1415/Blueprint-Change-School-Start-Time-Change-Report Final4-14-14.pdf Sleep deprivation is a real problem, with real consequences.
It is completely
unfair to mindfully put one set of students at such a large disadvantage over another
set. Both sets of students should be allowed to get the same amount of sleep. This
could be accomplished by putting the RMS students at a later start time. Although it
is not ideal, it is at least closer to equal than the current proposed plan.
My next concern is the cancelling of seminar. Seminar is such a gift and helps
so many students. The access to teachers for extra help ensures that learning occurs
even when the subject is difficult. With the long commutes and evening sports,
seminar is absolutely vital.I am also concerned about the proposal to separate the band programs.
According to an email that I received from Mr. Knowles, band performances would
be cancelled unless we can unite as one band. From earlier communications from
Mr. Knowles, he and the KMS band teacher were excited to combine the bands and
thereby increase student attention on a more personal level. This would of course
help each band student to become a better musician. However, from the latest
communication from the school administration, this does not seem possible. That is
a shame.
My greatest desire is for the students from KMS to be fully absorbed into
Lester and RMS. That would alleviate separate start times, separate bands, separate
PTO fundraisers, separate dances, and separate field days. One of the best parts of
school is to be a part of a united team that is bigger than yourself. I am concerned
that school spirit and competition within the same building would distract from the
main purpose of school; their education. This is especially true when one set of
students is functioning on severe sleep deprivation and the other set is functioning
with more than enough.
I have other concerns/questions that are on the peripheral. These are
separate from the main concerns stated above but do impact the environment inside
the school. They include: RMS has a school store, would HaBooster’s be sharing
space with KMS PTO? Will awards ceremonies and other functions coexist or be
separate? I know that on days that school functions take place it is disruptive to the
students in class. Will we have twice as many disruptive days? Will bells be ringing
and students shuffling through hallways during Terra Nova testing? Or will all the
students be on the same schedule for those days? Will after school clubs and
activity busses be available for both sets of students? As you can imagine, these are
smaller concerns that I have that are ultimately influenced by the larger decision of
how to merge RMS and KMS within one building.
I hope that I have clearly communicated my concerns. I know that this is not
an easy undertaking for any of you. I do take into consideration that the KMS
students must go somewhere. I also understand that there is not a 100% perfect
solution that will appease everyone. An equal footing for all students should be our
number one goal. That is why I feel so strongly about their start times. If you have
the data and research to show that starting KMS at 8:50 AM and RMS at 7:15 AM is a
fair decision and allows for equal health benefits, please share that with me. If the
current proposal doesn’t allow for equal sleep, please reconsider. It is one of the
most important factors in the health and well being of students. I hope that moving
forward you take into consideration that many parents feel completely hopeless to
express their concerns. I hope that there is a way for you to communicate with
parents, like myself, in a manner that can show us that this isn’t settled yet, and that
our concerns will be considered as this merger moves forward.
12 Comments
I agree that additional consideration must be given for the students and families of both schools. Until I had someone explain what the earlier times meant to the more distant-away students, I was only mildly concerned. The RMS students are definitely "taking one for the team" with the loss of spaces and the earlier start time. This is not as fair as some think it is.
As a parent of two children in RMS, I would like to see a later start time due to the fact that my children wake up at 5:15am on a daily basis to catch the bus at 6:22am. Both my husband and I work, so there are times that we eat late or have activities with the kids and our sons are not in bed until 9pm. However, if they go to bed any later they do not even get 8 hours of sleep. My 6th grader has been sleeping after he gets off the bus every day because he is so exhausted. This does not foster productivity or an enjoyment of school. Most adults do not start working before 7:30, so why are our children starting school at 7:15am?
I believe this is so unfair! It has always seemed to me that no one ever takes into account about the northern base families. And how any and all decisions effect the children and their families up here!
Though my oldest son has always been homeschooled, he recently expressed interest in attending school. Sleep was high on his list of reasons to continue his education at home. When I leave the gym and drive past kids standing at the bus stop at 6:05 I am very glad he made that decision. I wish all the students, parents, and faculty at KMS, LMS, and RMS the very best as you figure out how to work with one another.
siging this petition to get this done for our kids!
First of all, I am concerned about the timing of this particular petition. RMS, LMS and KMS have been going to school at the 7:20 start time for years (as has BOTH high schools). Why has there not been a petition questioning this before now? I believe it is because only now is your child going to be impacted by the impending change. I find this to be a personal affront! KMS is NOT MERGING with RMS. In fact, it was the KMS teachers that have requested that a merger not take place, that instead, space be shared because they were concerned with losing the KMS identity. Recently, there have been talks about elective teachers sharing students, but that remains to be seen. There should not be a problem with kids - especially at this age - getting 9 hours of sleep/night. As a parent, just say "go to bed and go to sleep". There you go...easy enough! And then follow up to make sure it is happening. No computers, phones, TV's, etc in the room. You will be amazed what happens - they will go to sleep. And yes, I have children! When KMS leaves and returns to their newly remodeled school in 1 ½ years, RMS is left with whatever compromises have been implemented. Instead of being a house guest that is so demanding but plans to leave sooner than later, I find it best to impact those students that will be left behind as little as possible.
.
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Please, if you share concerns about the upcoming KMS/RMS merger, sign the petition to have your voice heard. A letter has been created, all we need is to show the administration that other parents share these concerns. I know many of you are frustrated or feel defeated because we are used to being ignored. Time and effort has been put into documenting our concerns and opposition, all we need now are signatures of parents who share our concern. If you agree with the letter that follows, please sign. Thank you!
To Whom It May Concern:
I would like to submit my concerns, again, at this time. It has recently come to my attention that you are under the impression that RMS parents are not concerned about the impending school merger. I would like to take this opportunity to tell you that I am incredibly concerned about the merger. I have talked to multiple parents and they have expressed many of the same feelings I am having. These feelings include: it is a waste of time to voice concerns because no one cares; our opinions are not taken seriously because the decision has already been decided; and any change that could happen at this point would require an ‘act of Congress’. Hearing these comments and witnessing this hopelessness is very concerning to me and others. My number one concern is the unbalanced scheduling that clearly gives KMS students a huge advantage to current RMS students. Allowing one set of students 10-15 extra hours of sleep over another group that is sharing the same space is extremely unfair. It is recommended for tweens and teens to get 9+ hours of sleep every night for healthy development. The CDC, American Association for Pediatrics, and the Mayo Clinic all agree on this fact.
( Please click on links below for more detailed information.) ● http://www.cdc.gov/sleep/about_sleep/how_much_sleep.htm ● http://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/Pages/Let-Them-Sleep-AAP-Reco mmends-Delaying-Start-Times-of-Middle-and-High-Schools-to-Combat-Teen-Sleep-Depriva tion.aspx ● http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/tween-and-teen-health/in-depth/teens-health/art-20 046157 ● http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2528821/
It is a well-documented fact that starting with the onset of puberty, a child’s hormonal fluctuations change their natural circadian rhythm and it delays the rise in melatonin much later in the evening, closer to 10 pm. This is a biological unchallenged fact that parents cannot fight. Our current school schedule for the 62% of RMS students that travel from the Courtney/McT area has students getting on the bus between 5:50 AM and 6:20 AM. A conservative estimate is that these kids are put to bed at 9 and fall asleep close to 10. With a wake up time between 5 and 6 to catch the bus, our students are only getting 7-8 hours; again, this is conservatively speaking. I would like to preface my next point with the fact that I do know that a small percentage of KMS students travel as long on busses as the majority of RMS students. The majority of KMS students live very close in proximity to Kadena. Even with a 7:15 start time, they are allowed their 9-10 hours because of the short commute times. By blessing the KMS students with an 8:50 start time you are gifting them 10-15 hours a week extra sleep over the majority of RMS students. This would lead to greater percentages of sleep deprivation for RMS studentscompared to their KMS counterparts. The effects of sleep deprivation are very real and concerning.
They include: ❖ Lower grades due to profoundly impaired learning capabilities ❖ Poor concentration ❖ Mood Swings ❖ Increased agitation ❖ Overeating and obesity ❖ Increased use of caffeine and other stimulants ❖ Increased rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation ❖ Decreased athletic and motor skills ❖ Elevated blood pressure ❖ Increased likelihood of physical, psychological, or social difficulties
References for effect of sleep deprivation. ● http://www.apa.org/monitor/oct01/sleepteen.aspx ● http://www.socsd.org/pdfs/schoolstarttimes.pdf ● http://sleepfoundation.org/sleep-topics/teens-and-sleep/page/0%2C1/
As you can see, these are very real and very disconcerting realities of sleep deprivation. It's unfair to put either group of students at such a large disadvantage and expect them to perform equally in the same setting. By putting the majority of students who travel the longest at the earlier time you are making the gap much larger than it needs to be. There has been a big push stateside for later start times for our adolescents. ● http://schoolstarttime.org/2011/06/12/schools-recently-delaying-start-times/ The results of later start times have been astoundingly positive. ● http://discover.umn.edu/news/teaching-education/late-start-times-benefit-high-school-stude nts ● http://mobile.nytimes.com/blogs/well/2014/03/13/to-keep-teenagers-alert-schools-let-themsleep-in/ ● http://www.fcps.edu/supt/update/1415/Blueprint-Change-School-Start-Time-Change-Report Final4-14-14.pdf Sleep deprivation is a real problem, with real consequences.
It is completely
unfair to mindfully put one set of students at such a large disadvantage over another
set. Both sets of students should be allowed to get the same amount of sleep. This
could be accomplished by putting the RMS students at a later start time. Although it
is not ideal, it is at least closer to equal than the current proposed plan.
My next concern is the cancelling of seminar. Seminar is such a gift and helps
so many students. The access to teachers for extra help ensures that learning occurs
even when the subject is difficult. With the long commutes and evening sports,
seminar is absolutely vital.I am also concerned about the proposal to separate the band programs.
According to an email that I received from Mr. Knowles, band performances would
be cancelled unless we can unite as one band. From earlier communications from
Mr. Knowles, he and the KMS band teacher were excited to combine the bands and
thereby increase student attention on a more personal level. This would of course
help each band student to become a better musician. However, from the latest
communication from the school administration, this does not seem possible. That is
a shame.
My greatest desire is for the students from KMS to be fully absorbed into
Lester and RMS. That would alleviate separate start times, separate bands, separate
PTO fundraisers, separate dances, and separate field days. One of the best parts of
school is to be a part of a united team that is bigger than yourself. I am concerned
that school spirit and competition within the same building would distract from the
main purpose of school; their education. This is especially true when one set of
students is functioning on severe sleep deprivation and the other set is functioning
with more than enough.
I have other concerns/questions that are on the peripheral. These are
separate from the main concerns stated above but do impact the environment inside
the school. They include: RMS has a school store, would HaBooster’s be sharing
space with KMS PTO? Will awards ceremonies and other functions coexist or be
separate? I know that on days that school functions take place it is disruptive to the
students in class. Will we have twice as many disruptive days? Will bells be ringing
and students shuffling through hallways during Terra Nova testing? Or will all the
students be on the same schedule for those days? Will after school clubs and
activity busses be available for both sets of students? As you can imagine, these are
smaller concerns that I have that are ultimately influenced by the larger decision of
how to merge RMS and KMS within one building.
I hope that I have clearly communicated my concerns. I know that this is not
an easy undertaking for any of you. I do take into consideration that the KMS
students must go somewhere. I also understand that there is not a 100% perfect
solution that will appease everyone. An equal footing for all students should be our
number one goal. That is why I feel so strongly about their start times. If you have
the data and research to show that starting KMS at 8:50 AM and RMS at 7:15 AM is a
fair decision and allows for equal health benefits, please share that with me. If the
current proposal doesn’t allow for equal sleep, please reconsider. It is one of the
most important factors in the health and well being of students. I hope that moving
forward you take into consideration that many parents feel completely hopeless to
express their concerns. I hope that there is a way for you to communicate with
parents, like myself, in a manner that can show us that this isn’t settled yet, and that
our concerns will be considered as this merger moves forward.
12 Comments
I am very concerned with this merger of the two schools for the upcoming year. We live off base and feel the later start time would benefit those at RMS who travel to get to school each day. I can't imagine what life would be like in crowded halls with grumpy teens on the current schedule. Not to mention, doubling the attendance of the school and not allow for more passing time between periods? This is baffling.
I agree that additional consideration must be given for the students and families of both schools. Until I had someone explain what the earlier times meant to the more distant-away students, I was only mildly concerned. The RMS students are definitely "taking one for the team" with the loss of spaces and the earlier start time. This is not as fair as some think it is.
As a parent of two children in RMS, I would like to see a later start time due to the fact that my children wake up at 5:15am on a daily basis to catch the bus at 6:22am. Both my husband and I work, so there are times that we eat late or have activities with the kids and our sons are not in bed until 9pm. However, if they go to bed any later they do not even get 8 hours of sleep. My 6th grader has been sleeping after he gets off the bus every day because he is so exhausted. This does not foster productivity or an enjoyment of school. Most adults do not start working before 7:30, so why are our children starting school at 7:15am?
I believe this is so unfair! It has always seemed to me that no one ever takes into account about the northern base families. And how any and all decisions effect the children and their families up here!
Though my oldest son has always been homeschooled, he recently expressed interest in attending school. Sleep was high on his list of reasons to continue his education at home. When I leave the gym and drive past kids standing at the bus stop at 6:05 I am very glad he made that decision. I wish all the students, parents, and faculty at KMS, LMS, and RMS the very best as you figure out how to work with one another.
siging this petition to get this done for our kids!
First of all, I am concerned about the timing of this particular petition. RMS, LMS and KMS have been going to school at the 7:20 start time for years (as has BOTH high schools). Why has there not been a petition questioning this before now? I believe it is because only now is your child going to be impacted by the impending change. I find this to be a personal affront! KMS is NOT MERGING with RMS. In fact, it was the KMS teachers that have requested that a merger not take place, that instead, space be shared because they were concerned with losing the KMS identity. Recently, there have been talks about elective teachers sharing students, but that remains to be seen. There should not be a problem with kids - especially at this age - getting 9 hours of sleep/night. As a parent, just say "go to bed and go to sleep". There you go...easy enough! And then follow up to make sure it is happening. No computers, phones, TV's, etc in the room. You will be amazed what happens - they will go to sleep. And yes, I have children! When KMS leaves and returns to their newly remodeled school in 1 ½ years, RMS is left with whatever compromises have been implemented. Instead of being a house guest that is so demanding but plans to leave sooner than later, I find it best to impact those students that will be left behind as little as possible.
.
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I am very concerned with this merger of the two schools for the upcoming year. We live off base and feel the later start time would benefit those at RMS who travel to get to school each day. I can't imagine what life would be like in crowded halls with grumpy teens on the current schedule. Not to mention, doubling the attendance of the school and not allow for more passing time between periods? This is baffling.