Myers Park Hoofprint

The Myers Park High School Newspaper

Sophia D'Amico

(Poppi)n’ Off

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Photo contributed by Creative Commons

Poppi is an upcoming and newly popular soda. It’s a brand of sparkling probiotic soda made with real fruit juice. It is a healthier option for normal sodas such as Coke and Pepsi. Poppi comes in flavors such as orange, strawberry, lemonade, and blueberry. Poppi is said to be good for your gut health, and the prebiotics in it nourish the beneficial bacteria in a person’s digestive system. The sodas have no artificial ingredients, as well. Poppi was started by a husband and wife duo Allison and Stephen Ellsworth in Dallas, Texas in 2016. It  had gotten most popular over quarantine. Poppi got its start on Shark Tank. The soda is made with 1 tablespoon of ACV and contains less than 25 calories and under 5g of sugar for one can. 

Poppi has become popular on social media, especially TikTok. That’s where many people first heard of it and where it got popular. What was once an undercover smaller business is now sold in many grocery stores, such as Target, Kroger, and Walmart. They are sold individually as well as in larger bulk size packs. Fan favorite flavors include Strawberry Lemon and Doc Pop. The average first time that they had Poppi soda was about 6 months, which many people would agree was around the time that it got really known. 

AmericannPeople crave sodas all the time,. They are very popular,  although they have tons of calories and multiple negative effects on people’s health. Normal sodas are high in sugar and contribute to weight gain, tooth decay, and an increased risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes. Additionally, sodas can be acidic, which contributes to tooth decay. This is why they have to be enjoyed in moderation, and people should opt for healthier alternatives. This is where Poppi comes into play. People can crave these beloved sodas but have an option that actually benefits their health instead of having the opposite effect. Even diet sodas have still been proven to have negative health impacts, which is why sodas like Poppi were created. 

Poppi is on the more expensive side, but that is the price that has to be paid for high-quality options. As with anything, it should be enjoyed in moderation. This means that more than one a day is not good for you. Similar to Poppi, there’s also a brand named Olipop, which is a large competitor. They share almost the same health facts and design aspects. However, Olipop does not have the variety in flavor that Poppi has. 

Overall these new soda options show an important change in the soda culture, and they have gotten popular very quickly. Since they are still a new creation people aren’t sure about the long-term effects and benefits . However, they are a very enticing new invention. People are happy to have a new way to enjoy soda but not put the chemicals in one’s bodies that are found in normal brand sodas. Also, the wide variety of flavors gives many options so that no one gets sick of them and there is always something new that can be tried and enjoyed. These new businesses are getting popular over social media, and people try them and love them which then spreads the word. Healthy alternatives are all the rage right now, which is why Poppi is such a great and popular option!

Importance of Half Days

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Half days are always a much-needed break for teachers and students. For CMS schools we get them once a quarter, but I think that many people would agree that it needs to be much more often. They help the teachers catch up on work for the week and give them a little extra planning time where they don’t have to worry about kids being around, or teaching the new lesson for a little bit. It also gives students some time to work on homework and make time for social activities and extracurriculars, where there isn’t always enough time for that after every full school day. This is why having a half day on Wednesday once a week would be very beneficial to everyone involved. 

Since it’s only a half day off and not a full day it’s less jeopardizing in terms of losing academic time.  It gives students a fundamental break from their normal routine and allows them to catch up on tasks. It can help decrease stress and burnout, allowing students to engage in other hobbies or spend quality time with family and friends. This break can also help student and teachers well-being and mental health, allowing them to take a short break from academic pressures. From a teacher’s perspective, half days can offer valuable time for planning, grading, and professional development. It allows teachers to catch up on any tasks, work with colleagues, and go to workshops  to improve their teaching skills. This dedicated time can lead to an overall better educational experience. 

Overall, half days can foster a sense of community within the school. They provide opportunities for extracurricular activities, such as club meetings, sports practices, or performances. These activities promote teamwork, leadership, and social interaction. Overall, half days find a balance between working hard and personal well-being. They offer a chance for students to recharge, and teachers to prepare. It’s a win-win situation that benefits everyone involved. This is why there should be half days weekly, and Wednesday since its in the middle of the week is a perfect time to have designated catch-up and social time for all staff and teachers in the school and students. Half days will be extremely beneficial and helpful for everyone involved in them, and will overall enhance the academic experience.