Local

Know: Students from MICDS were expelled after screenshots of a group chat on Snapchat of their racial slurs were leaked to administration, Sept. 9.

Inform: Students in the group chat used racial slurs and sexual language and discussing KKK applications while others asked them to stop because it was offensive. The school conducted a three-day investigation of the situation and found that while harming other students wasn’t their intention, their verbal misconduct still violated school policies and had a major impact on its students. Schools–especially private–do have license to discipline students (even for private social media use) when students violate school regulations. 

Care: The news and social media are filled with examples of public servants and elected officials as well as everyday citizens publishing racist beliefs and hateful words. While these elected officials do have power in their jobs, they don’t always use that power for good to create a positive community with united and engaged citizens. Students must think again before hitting send because posting could cost college admissions and limit future possibilities. One’s actions have consequences. Words have power.

National

Know: Hurricane Irma has moved through the southern coast of Florida at a speed of approximately 150 miles per hour. The hurricane has already terrorized several Caribbean islands. Thirty-four deaths have already been reported as a result of Irma, and tens of thousands of residents of Florida and Florida Keys have evacuated their areas.

Inform: Irma has moved through Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Cuba and up the coast of the Florida Peninsula. The storm reached the coast of Florida, Sept.8 at approximately 7:00 p.m. The National Hurricane Center declared Irma a “major hurricane.” A major hurricane is classified as a hurricane with winds exceeding 110 miles per hour. Hurricane Jose and Katia aren’t far away from the U.S. either. Katia already struck Mexico, and Jose is heading for the East Coast with a similar path as Irma. 

Care: Hurricane Irma is a natural disaster that hit the Florida Keys as a Category 4 storm with maximum winds of 130 mph at 10 a.m., Sept. 10. It was predicted to be more catastrophic than Harvey; however the American death toll from Harvey is twice the current amount of Irma’s. Residents of places including the Florida Keys evacuated their homes. The EHS community is no stranger to the devastating power of nature having survived the floods of 2016 and 2017. People can act. Any person in any part of the country can always donate money to organizations, such as the American Red Cross and the J.J. Watt Foundation. Also, EHS students and staff have the opportunity to donate money to a table in the commons during lunch throughout this week. All money will be donated to hurricane relief.

International

Know: North Korea successfully tested a hydrogen bomb, Sept. 3. However, there are still many technological issues with their technology.

Inform: North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un is continuing to test different bombs and threaten different locations including the U.S. and Guam. Because of Un’s threats, the U.S. Department of State has issued a travel warning and restriction for any person wanting to travel to North Korea from the U.S.

Care: The United States has had a shaky and uneasy relationship with North Korea for seven decades, and now the tension is escalating as North Korea’s military might increases its reach. Un not only now successfully tested a hydrogen bomb, he also continues to send threats to the United States of launching a potentially nuclear missile toward San Francisco, Guam or Hawaii. All of this tension could potentially lead to the world’s first nuclear war and a possible World War III, which would affect every single American.