LGBT+ Rights in Finland

By Morgan C

The world has become more aware and accepting of the LGBT+ community. More and more countries have been confirming the legalization of same-sex marriage. For example, on March 1st, 2017, the country of Finland legalized it with 27 out of 47 council members' approval. The Finnish government legalized not only same-sex marriage, but also the ability to change one’s gender (even though it is still difficult for people because it requires a surgery). This proves that the world is getting closer and closer to being more equal.

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Norup Students Choose Kindness

By Abby C.

A few months ago, an anonymous person put up sticky notes around the top and side borders of the mirror in the upstairs girls’ bathroom. They said things like “beautiful,” “amazing,” and “wonderful.” A few hours later, there were five sticky notes added, filling in the rest of the border. These new ones said things like “don’t care what they say!” and “You’re incredible!” Between the five new sticky notes, there were two distinguishably different handwritings. Someone also had written the letters “ur” (meaning “you are” or “you’re”) before all of the original sticky notes which had featured adjectives without attaching them to a person. 

Then, on Friday, February 10th, they were all taken down. The most widely accepted explanation is that the janitor took them down to clean the mirror. Several girls responded by putting up more sticky notes on the wall surrounding the mirror, and by the end of the day on Monday, there were dozens of positive messages decorating the wall. However, several of these had also been taken down as of Tuesday, and they had all been removed by Wednesday. This raises the possibility that someone is purposely taking down the sticky notes.

Even though the movement of putting positive messages in the bathroom has faced a couple minor bumps in the road, Norup students continue to try to make others smile. This is a big difference from a neighboring school just ten minutes away where there was a noose put up in the bathroom and white students chanted “Build That Wall!” in the lunchroom in front of Latino students.

Norup students are reacting to the division in our country with love and support instead of hate, and that can make all the difference for our students.

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North Carolina Teacher Develops Special Relationship with his Students

By Grace U.

North Carolina teacher Barry White Jr. has found an creative way to make his 40 fifth grade students feel special and welcome - he has given each their own personalized handshake. According to Mr. White, “The most critical component is the relationship, the rapport you build with your students because sometimes it can go underrated or overlooked… Before I’m able to deliver a substantial amount of content to them they have to invest in the teacher." He has also noted that he got the idea when he found out that Lebron James has special handshakes for each of his teammates. One of his students, Denise Hart, told reporters that he teaches his students to “do good” and appreciates having her own handshake because he has a “good relationship” with his students and he knows them on a personal level.

According to his LinkedIn, Mr. White has been teaching at Ashley Park Elementary School in Charlotte, North Carolina for the past year and ten months. He has a degree in Elementary Education and Teaching from Claflin University and is currently working on his Masters of Business Administration so he can go into Educational Administration.

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Kitten Dumped in Trash Gets a Second Chance At Life

By Mia D.

According to the ASPCA, 3.4 million cats walk into shelters each year, and even more die before they can get rescued. Luckily, a little kitten was found and given another opportunity at life by a good samaritan, named James Ryan.

The residential service driver James Ryan from Hunterdon County was simply starting his route at 4 in the morning. At the  transfer station, the loader operator met him with an abnormal question, “You like cats, right James?”

Earlier in the morning, a driver had found a kitten hidden in the trash can. James was known as a cat lover by his employees, so there was no question that he was going to rescue the little kitten.

When James went to rescue the animal, it let out an agonizing screech, that James says that he, “never wants to hear out of kitten for the rest of my life. My heart was breaking.” James proceeded to take the kitten to Tabby’s Place Cat Sanctuary in Ringoes, New Jersey. There, she was lovingly nicknamed Grace, and is on her way to a world class veterinary hospital to treat her leg. She is expected to make a full recovery.  Grace’s story has a happy ending  thanks to a man’s good deed.

This article originally appeared in Volume 3, Issue 2 of Hawk Headlines.

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16-Year-Old Creates App to Promote Inclusive School Lunches

By Abby C., Web Editor

In every country, in every town, in each and every school, there are kids who feel left out at lunchtime. That led to 16-year-old Natalie Hampton creating a new app called “Sit with Us.” It allows kids to create a “Sit with Us Club” at lunchtime. This creates a private chatroom that kids looking for a table can join. By joining, the kid asks to sit with that “club,” or table.

A table of people you don’t know is intimidating, and asking to join them not only opens up the possibility of rejection, but it often seems like you might as well just label yourself as an outcast. But these issues disappear with the “Sit With Us”  app. “This way it’s very private. It’s through the phone. No one else has to know. And you know you’re not going to be rejected once you get to the table,” Natalie explains.

School lunch times, universally known as a hard time for many people, can now be transformed by a single app. Kids looking for new friends can now be confident, happy,  and included at lunchtime. Try out the “Sit With Us” app today!

Click here for more information from www.goodnewsnetwork.org

This article originally appeared in Volume 3, Issue 2 of Hawk Headlines.

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