Newspaper Page Text
- FORSYTH county NEWS - Wednesday, March 31,2004 *
PAGE 4A
wKB
Studies show students’ performance improves with natural lighting
By Nancy Smallwood
Associate Editor
A first-grade teacher at
Sawnee Primary says fluores
cent lighting distracts students
because of the flickering and
humming coming from the
bulbs.
“It causes stress and is
very distracting to students,"
says Tammy Waddell. "It's
just not as comfortable and it
is very hard on the attention
deficit disorder students.”
Waddell said the use of
lighting in
her class
room has a
calming eff
ect on her
students.
Glare is de
creased,
behavior is
better and
students are
more com
fortable. she
There are several stud
ies which show that nat
ural lighting boosts
learning skills.
said.
While educators realize
there are several elements that
affect student performance,
parents might not be aware
that school officials are keep
ing up with the latest research
on how a student’s environ
ment affects their learning.
School officials look for
different ways to improve per
formance such as an alterna
tive curriculum and smaller
classes but also are taking a
closer look at the classroom
environment in which the chil
dren are learning.
Research has shown natu
ral lighting or simulated sun
light (full spectrum lighting
and color) enhances learning.
The concept is not a new one,
according to Jennifer
Caracciolo, school public
information officer.
"There are several studies
which show that natural light
ing boosts learning skills,”
said Caracciolo. “The most
widely known study is by Dr.
Catherine Swanson on Brain
Based Research."
First
United Methodist Church
Welcomes
Fow.'
HIV JOHN L. it
< ROM AR TIE. JR. -4T
SENIOR MINISTER [g
770 C anton Hwy
Cumming, GA
For more i H
information, call I
(770) #B7-2900 _
I I
11
J EXPRESS* J
■ Present this coupon .
for a full
:25% off!
I our rack rates I
I on all rooms. ■
Exit 14 at GA 400
I 435 Buford Rd. Cumming, GA 30041 |
| 770-889-4600 |
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Studies have shown that
schools and classrooms where
people spend time learning
and working under natural
lighting experience less stress
and anxiety, improved behav
ior and attitudes and increased
performance and academic
achievement.
In addition, research in the
use of light in schools has
shown that cool-white fluores
cent bulbs cause stress, anxi
ety and hyperactivity which
can lead to poor learning per
formance, according to a 1999
study by Dr. William Titoff.
An architecture firm,
Heschong Mahone Group,
based a study on the effect of
classroom lighting on achieve
ment levels. The group found
that students who took their
lessons in the classrooms with
more natural light scored up to
25 percent higher on standard
ized tests than other students
in the same school district.
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Dahkincga Hwy • Highway 9 North • Cumming 30040 '
Hpurs: Monday by Appt. Tues-Sat 10:00 - 6:30
www.circastyle.com yk
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Sunday Services
April 4
/ M God, who
Cumming First
y always leads us United Methodist Church
z/y in triumphant/
// procession.
,
Rev ’ Jo^n L Cromart * e ' Jr " Senior Minister
Nursery is provided for the very young
EDUCATION
Optimist Oratorical Contest winners
More than 2,000 middle and high school students in
Forsyth County competed in the Optimist Oratorical
Contest sponsored by the Optimist Club March 9. The
theme for this year's contest was Thinking, Working,
and Expecting the Best." The top winners in the girls
competition were Taylor Hartley of Otwell Middle
School, coached by Beth Richardson and Julie-Ann
Barra, and Ashley Butman, a home-schooled student.
Top winners in the boys' division were lyier Grant of
South Forsyth Middle School, whose coordinator was
Amy Atkins, and Keith Roper of North Forsyth Middle
School, whose coordinator was Dave Stephenson. Boys
winners were, left photo from left, Jay Michal, Keith
Roper and Tyler Grant. Girls winners were, right photo
from left, Taylor Hartley, Ashley Butman and Cori Jekot.
Photos/Submitted
Caracciolo said the school
system is aware of the
research and has made an
effort to see that all class
rooms receive natural light.
"Our school designs incorpo
rate the use of natural lighting
in the classrooms," said
Caracciolo.
However, one parent of a
student at Chattahoochee
Elementary said she has con
cerns about the lighting theo
ry. Kim Slep said her daughter
had trouble seeing with the
fluorescent lights turned off
during cloudy
days in the
classroom.
The decision
to turn on the
fluorescent
lights in the
classroom was
made after Slep
contacted the
principal.
“My daugh
ter wears glasses
and had trouble seeing using
the low level lighting." said
Slep.
When the problem was
brought to the attention of
the school Slep said they
suggested a desk lamp for her
child.
“I was worried about the
cording of the lamp and the
danger it would cause," said
Slep.
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photo/Audra Perry
Students Cassidy Wilson and Heather Morrison practice for a standardized test at
Sawnee Primary School under natural lighting.
Good Shepherd Catholic Church
3740 Holtiolaw Road. Cumming, GA
770-887 9861 WEBPAGE: www.goodthapliefdcummlng.com Rev Peter J. Rau, Pastor
COMf CELEBRATE WITH US
Palm Sunday Holy Thursday
April 4, 2004 April 8, 2004
Our Liturgy begins outside end each Mass of the Lord's Supper at 7:30 PM
Celebration of the Eucharist
will begin with the Solemn Procession with Palms GOOd FfldaV
as we commemorate Jesus' triumphant entry Into Jerusalem.
Masses., April 9, 2004
Saturday 5:30 PM 12 00 N °° n ’ SU,,lon * Cro “
Sunday: 8:00, 9:30, & 11:00 AM 7:30 PM ' So,emn L,,u ™ of thß Lord '
Wo// Jfer
SehojuheLamcfGdd
Holy Saturday Easter Sunday
April 10, 2004 April 11, 2004
Our Easter Vigil begins at 9.00 PM SPECIAL MASS SCHEDULE
At Good Shepherd Catholic Church
Join us as wo welcome our ..
candidates and catechumens as fully 8:00, 9:30 & 11:00 AM
initiated Catholics as they celebrate At Chattahoochee Elementary School
their Baptism. Confirmation and are
welcomed to the Table of the JL « 9:00 * 10:30 AM
Lord for the first time. |-w J| . .aj* No Sunday Evening Mass
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