A Penn State study on the effects of screens on children's sleep adds more to the mounting evidence of digital tech's dark side. The study offers some helpful tips on how to make sure your child gets that all-important good night's sleep. Our Eagle Scholars are especially susceptible to sleep deprivation due to their challenging courseload and demanding extracurriculars.

Scientist Matthew Walker's book, Why We Sleep, argues that we are in the midst of a "silent sleep crisis." With two little ones at home, I'd argue that there is nothing silent about my crisis! While society tends to focus on diet and exercise, sleep hygiene is equally - if not more - important in terms of keeping our brain functioning at a high level.

And let's not kid ourselves. While teens catch flak for their screen addiction, we adults aren't setting the best example, myself included. Indeed, we should all be mindful that most of the time, the real humans in front of us are more important than the little glowing box in our hands.

• We've got the largest number of students applying to U of M in recent years, several of whom attended the first annual Eagle Scholars Early Decision College Application Cram session, complete with pizza and rocket fuel - er - Mountain Dew.

• The 2017-18 Eagle Scholars Leadership Team is set. Please congratulate the following students for submitting impressive applications and taking the reins on helping to build our community: Carlton Mamo, Tristen Wesenberg, Rhianna Womack, Alyssa Dickerson, Devon Roe, Alani Johnson, Brianna Sterbenz, Joya Bailey, and Joseph Heck.

• We're all set for the Michigan State visit on November 30th. Students without a 3.0 for marking period 1 must submit an appeal to be considered for the trip.

• As part U of M's Michigan Student Caucus, Charles McCants, Antony Gordon, and Mackenzie Gajda will be traveling to the capitol in Lansing on December 14th to present a proposal about school nurses.

• Check out the Eagle Scholars requirements below.

6th Grade

Chromebooks for our 6th graders have arrived and are being processed. We appreciate your understanding as we try to expedite the process. Remember that while each student will receive a Chromebook they do not have the right to take it home. This privilege is only extended to them once the technology fee of $40 has been paid to the front office.

7th grade

7th grade Eagle Scholars will shortly begin their next unit in Language Arts. This unit is about plot, dialogue, and dramatic arts. To this end, they will be reading the play A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Furthermore, this unit culminates in a field trip to Wayne State University to see the play brought to life.

8th Grade

As our 8th graders rapidly prepare for high school, the time has come to begin shadow visits to Thurston. With the ESP program being a 6th-12th grade program, groups of 8th graders will be selected throughout the year to attend a shadow visit. The first one is scheduled for November 15th. If your student wasn't selected for this one, please know that all students will have the chance to attend at some point this year.

General ESP

Our study sessions have had great success so far this year. We've implemented a new design and structure. Students have been very receptive to the change, and we are seeing increased productivity during our sessions. We highly encourage those who can come to do so, and study with their peers. Research shows this to be one the best methods for academic achievement.

The first card marking ended on Friday Nov. 3 (crazy)! With the school year 1/4 of the way finished, it is a good time to remember the requirements of the program and the commitments that each student has made by embracing their title of Eagle Scholar.

The Eagle Scholars bulletin board is under construction and the Leadership Team had the great idea of filling it with photos of scholars, displaying how great they are. If you have any photos you'd like to submit please feel free to send them in with your student and have them delivered to Mr. Parsons or you can email them to him at Tony.Parsons@southredford.org. The Leadership Team is hoping to have the board completed by December.

Thanks for taking the time to read this!

Email: rory.hughes@southredford.org
Website: www.eaglescholarsprogram.org
Location: 26249 Schoolcraft Avenue, Redford Charter Township, MI, United States
Phone: 313-444-2590
Facebook: facebook.com/eaglescholarsprogram