BY BRIANNA MILLER

If you walk into a first block classroom, you will often see a class of students who are practically unresponsive, either chugging down coffee, or staring into space.
Actually, if you walk into a classroom during any block you are likely to witness the same phenomenon only on a smaller scale. Teachers need not be offended, because the catalyst for this phenomenon is sleep deprivation.

Over the past three years, major newspapers and news stations have reported on scientific studies showing that teenagers need more sleep than other age groups –at least nine hours– and are biologically inclined to go to bed later and rise later. According to these studies, when teenager sleep patterns are disrupted, or teens get insufficient sleep, health and performance in school can be adversely affected.
In October, the New York Times science section featured an article showing the health benefits that teens receive from an increase in average hours of sleep per night.

- 9.25 hours of sleep per night are recommended for adolescents, but most only receive 7-8 hours a night.

- Only 15% of teens reported getting 8.5 hours of sleep on school
nights.

- 15 million children are affected by a lack of sleep according to a
report.

- Depression, mood swings, and poor grades have been linked to sleep
deprivation.

- Studies show that the sleep hormone, melatonin, is released late at night. This makes it difficult for teens to go to sleep before 11 p.m. Melatonin is also why

The average starting time for high schools in the United States is 7:15. Recently, many schools though have pushed starting times forward, some as far as 9:30. The University of Minnesota conducted a study in which they delayed the starting times of two local high schools to 8:30.

INTERVIEW BY SHANYA CHAPEL

The Forum interviewed Lincoln-Sudbury nurses Joan Gaumnitz and Jane Cavallo to learn about the health risks of not getting enough sleep. Here is a summary of what they had to say:

Q: How do you think sleeping affects teenagers?

A: Often kids who do not get enough sleep will not be able to concentrate or focus in classes.

Q: What is a normal or healthy amount of sleep for a teenager?

BY MARYN CARLSON

In a controversial move that has outraged many students and parents, the Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School Wellness Department has decided to eliminate the Alternate Activity Program that allows in-season student athletes to place out of Wellness classes and still receive credit.
For a maximum of two quarters per year, student athletes have free blocks when they would normally have wellness classes, which many athletes believe is essential for time management.

BY BRETT BASARAB

Developments continue to intensify in the ongoing budget crisis facing Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School and the town of Sudbury, which threatens to reduce the satffing and programs available to L-S students and faculty. The school commitee says that without a significant override, many L-S programs will have to be cut.

BY CHRIS STOCK

Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School recently won its first Division I Dalton award for overall athletic success in the 2006-2007 school year. The Boston Globe gives the award for the best overall win-loss record among large Massachusetts high schools.
This year, Lincoln-Sudbury also won the DCL Fall Sportsmanship Award for the team “that best models fair play, ethical behavior, and integrity.” Also, the golf team and girls’ cross-country team won state championships this year. The girls’ cross country team placed eighth at Nike Team Nationals in Oregon.