Opinion

Everyone over the age of 12 should be trained in basic first aid. Caption: First aid supplies to help in case of an emergency. [by Grace Meier] by Grace Meier A significant percentage of people between the ages of 12 and 30 lack basic first aid knowledge, with one study from the St. John Ambulance…

Caption: Paula-Chloe Asare-Duah listens to music while she works on her assignments to help her stay focused. [by Annabelle Harper] By Annabelle Harper Imagine you are in a boring class and you need something to help you focus on studying for your worst final yet. You have already tried everything that you could, except for…

The benefits of school uniforms for students Caption: These PACA elementary students wear different uniform designs that have been offered in the past few years. [by Bruna Marujo] By Samuel Volkart The debate over whether school uniforms are beneficial has been going on for many years, with strong opinions on both sides. People who support…

Caption: The best way to show God you care about your body is by a biblical based life in food, spirit and physical appearance as shown in this graphic design on foods that fit the Biblical diet. [photo provided by RT Skubala-Szafir of Medium.com] by Felipe Wilcken In this world, we can find many diet…

Caption: A free image from Free Vector Graphics illustrates the dangers of social media on an individual level. [photo provided by FreeVectorGraphics.com] by Nathanael Agcaoili Social media is a tool that many of us use on a daily basis. It allows us to connect with people we know and share content with them, as well…

Homework: Is it really beneficial for students? Caption: A ninth grade student diligently does her homework at school when she is able, so she does not have to take it home. [by Valentina Porto] By Valentina Porto At PACA, the majority of high and middle school students follow a hectic daily routine. In my experience,…

Caption: Freshman Victor Silva looks at the time on his watch, considering how much time he will have before his parents expect him to be at home at night. [by Aline Dobashi] By Aline Dobashi I would like to argue that curfews, a regulation that parents might choose to impose over their children requiring them…

Should school days be shorter than they are at PACA? Caption: Freshman Annabelle Harper hops onto her bus where she can expect at least an hour ride home due to heavy afternoon traffic. [by Paula-Chloe Asare-Duah] By Paula-Chloe Asare-Duah Every morning, the congestion of morning traffic can be expected to accumulate between 7:30 to 8:00am. …

Caption: High Students heading to math or science class, pass middle school students trying to take their much needed bathroom break before their class begins. [by Benjamin Oliveira] By Benjamin Oliveira Picture this familiar scene: You are a student sitting in class, staring at the clock and wishing you had more time to finish your…

Caption: The PACA school uniform has been mandatory for all students since the 2023-2024 school year and has changed styles and colors since then. [by Ana Luisa Helfer] by Ana Luisa Helfer Across schools around the world, dress codes are often defended as rules that promote discipline and respect. Teachers and administrators would argue that…

Caption: Freshman Aline Dobashi studies the half day schedule coming up for the final exam days. [by Valentina Porto] by Rafael Oliveira Half days at PACA have always been one of my favorite things about the school calendar. I still remember one half day last semester when my friends and I rushed out of our…

Caption: A middle school student sets aside time to work on homework after a long bus ride home. [by Rafaela Miglio] by Rafaela Miglio Homework is a normal part of school life, but many students have different opinions about it. Some believe it helps reinforce what we learn in class, while others feel it causes…

Caption: Cell phone collection is mandatory in schools in Brazil. PACA students turn in their cell phones as soon as the first homeroom bell rings at 8:00am. [photo provided by shopping website (https://niceriftsk.click/)] by Isabella Bruniera It has been my experience that cell phones are part of our daily lives now. Most students bring their…

By Sofia Saldaña Essay provided by a student in Ben Clark’s Grade 12 English class with a special focus on the study of psychology. What is the Benjamin Franklin effect? We often assume that receiving kindness makes us like others more, but psychology shows the opposite is often true. It may sound counterintuitive, people often…

By Mateus Oliveira Essay provided by a student in Ben Clark’s Grade 12 English class with a special focus on the study of sales and marketing. Why do we fear change? Have you ever missed out on a chance because you were too scared to take a risk and instead chose to cling to what…

By: Esther Hadassa de Lima Essay provided by a student in Ben Clark’s Grade 12 English class with a special focus on the study of Psychology. What is Confirmation bias? Have you done diets or a specific skincare routine, even if there was evidence that it didn’t work, just because you trusted more in your…

Caption: PACA junior, Kevin Dai, logs into his Bluebook App on his Chromebook, which is the primary way in which students take tests through College Board (PSAT, SAT and AP exams). [by Alec Hayashi] By Alec Hayashi For a long time, standardized tests like the SAT and the ACT have been a basis of college…

Caption: A Brazilian marmoset hangs out at the PACA campus in the midst of a busy school day. [by Dr. Cristina Meier] by Karina Lee Every year, according to PETA there are 110 million animals that are killed in the name of scientific research and human advancement. These animals include mice, rats, frogs, fish, birds,…

by Kevin Dai At the beginning of the 2023-24 school year, PACA leadership made the decision to switch to shorter 46-minute class periods, phasing out the original one hour 30 minute class periods and increasing the number of class periods in a school day to eight. This change aimed to adapt the school day to…

Caption: Students like Erik Zhang, a sophomore who took AP Biology this year, learn to cope with the additional homework necessary to be in a college level class in high school. [by Melissa Fernandes] by Melissa Fernandes Students have to accomplish five days at school per week, and two days of resting known as “the…