Blackout poems from District messages

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An Outlook investigation into district messages since school closures has unearthed hidden messages, both poetic and disturbing.






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SMUHSD Board replaced by Hillsborough moms

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The San Mateo Union High School District’s Board of Trustees was completely replaced by community members who ran for positions in an emergency election last week. The new Board is immediately implementing new policies and changing Board processes after watching the way that the coronavirus pandemic was dealt with. “The decision for credit/no credit for this semester came after a five hour meeting that I can only describe as an absolute circus,” said Burlingame parent Karen Wilson, the new Board President. “The meeting was just ridiculously bogged down by democratic nonsense and wanting to allow everyone to share their opinions, even ones that were super irrelevant. I was appalled by how inefficient it was.” Wilson said before announcing her candidacy she had already been involved in Board processes by fundraising for the campaigns of her favorite Board members and threatening to pull program funding on the frequent occasion that she disagreed with administrative processes. “I just wan...
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If you’re craving validation, try this soothing app

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Throughout the pandemic, Aragon students have reported high levels of stress due to the complications of online school and a lack of social interaction. To remedy this, students Stray Tays and Cahm Psy created the application Soothe, which contains hundreds of validating voice recordings from Aragon staff members for students to listen to, curated to their needs. “Every night I lie in bed and listen to Ms. Thurtle tell me that she thinks my essayis ‘insightful’ while staring at my ceiling,” said freshman Gru Stick. “It’s really the only way I can feel calm enough to sleep anymore.” Since its release on April 1, the app has been downloaded over a thousand times. Popular sounds include “You’re a pleasure to have in class," “I’m going to miss you so much next year” and “Thank you for your lovely comments during the Socratic!” Students often find these recordings comforting or meditative in nature. “When I found out I got rejected from every college I applied to, I immediately turned ...
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New Contact Comfort Drive-Thru

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Since Aragon went remote last March, administrators have organized several contactless drive-thrus for Aragon students to pick up materials they need for class such as lab equipment, textbooks or three pieces of candy in a Ziploc bag — if you’re a lucky senior. “It just didn’t feel intimate enough,” said senior Lone Lee. “I got some cheap Aragon merch, and no one asked me how my spring break was or what my plans for next year are. I guess that I just don’t really believe that this school cares about me.” After AP Psychology students learned about Harlow’s contact comfort theory in class, which asserts that physical contact with other people is important for emotional development, they petitioned the administration to switch from their contactless method. Contact Comfort Drive-thrus began several weeks ago as teachers returned to campus.  Students who choose to participate in the Contact Comfort Drive-Thru will arrive on campus after promising they have no COVID-19 symptoms to an ap...
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