By Sabrina Knight, YHS Senior, Special Article Also to the News Mirror
Last Week, the Yucaipa-Calimesa Unified School District partnered with Yucaipa High School to present the Disconnect to Connect event. The purpose of the event was to raise awareness about the use of technology and its impact on mental and physical health. The goal was to design specific activities that would enable students to disconnect from their phones and connect with their peers.
Last Monday, students wrote on sticky notes, answering the question, “Who are you without your phone?” These notes were then posted in the quad for everyone to see. Common answers for the questions included: being kinder, a better friend and listener and being more productive.
Last Tuesday, Student Council hosted a lunchtime activity game for students to get to know one another better and encourage having fun without screens.
Wednesday, the drama department participated in this cause by performing a comedic skit to demonstrate how phones affect everyday lives and relationships.
Thursday, various groups and clubs attended the “Phone-Free Fair” during both lunches, where students played games and participated in activities without their phones and learned about the impact phones have on their physical and mental health. Some of the groups involved included the Health and Biomedical Leadership Team, the Student Council, the Bring Change to Mind Club, the Yucaipa Youth Advisory Committee and others.
Lastly, on Friday, Yucaipa High School teacher Mrs. Simon gave a message connecting lessons from “The Anxious Generation” to phone usage. The main coordinator of this event was student board and student council member Kim Pham.
Pham mentioned how she was pleased with the outcome of the week and was satisfied with the involvement from different groups on campus such as link crew and student body and the overall advertisement of the week. Pham said she learned a lot about this topic in conversing with others. “Students and individuals can be and do so much more without their phones,” Pham said.