By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Adelante Hosts Clean Sleep Project
Austin Hardin
Adelante High School student Austin Hardin was showing the progress his group was making on the pamphlet to promote World Sleep Day. VIRGINIA STILL/THE NEWS

Students at Adelante High School (AHS) were in three groups last week working on the World Sleep Day (WSD) project that included a media group, brochure/public service announcement creation, and a video. The Leadership Class was focused on the sleep project preparing for World Sleep Day on Friday, March 17. Project Clean Sleep is underway and is bringing awareness to how important it is to get a good night’s sleep.

Technology has affected humanity in both good ways and not so good ways and no matter which way you believe, it has affected us all and continues to change the way we do things. This project has brought to light the consequences that having your phone right by your bedside when it is time for bed has caused individuals to not get a good night’s sleep. AHS Instructor Kristi Santos is leading the students on this international project.

The WSD began in March 2008 with a slogan of “Sleep Well, Live Fully Awake” and has continued each year since then.

Student Body President and leadership student Victoria Meza is a member of the media portion of the team for project clean sleep and along with a few other students, they have been emailing politicians, school board members, the principal and radio stations to get their message heard.

“Our project is to get the word out that technology as it is good in our daily lives during the day, it can be an obstacle during the night,” said Meza. “Personally I have seen where students stay up until one or two in the morning and then you see them falling asleep in class. This is a real problem and we need to address it. The way you sleep is a reachable dream for our future generations.”

The pamphlet that was created by the students with the slogan “Good Sleep is not just a Dream!” included information on ideas to have your child get a good night’s sleep like setting an age-appropriate bedtime, keeping a consistent bedtime and wake time on weekdays and weekends, encouraging your child to fall asleep independently, and keeping all electronics, including televisions, computers, and cell phones, out of the bedroom and limit use of electronics before bedtime, just to name a few.

Student Austin Hardin is the team leader for the brochures and explained that through the project he learned that the blue light from the phones, tablets or other electronic devices affects sleep because it causes a reaction in the brain that keeps people awake. The advice noted in the brochure is to avoid exposure to blue light 60 minutes before bedtime. They have also listed information and contacts.

The other item that the students were working on is a video that they hope brings awareness and could essentially go viral, the video focusing on the importance of a good night’s sleep and the consequences of not getting enough sleep, as video producer/student Victor Gomez explained.

According to the worldsleepday.org website, World Sleep Day is an annual event, intended to be a celebration of sleep and a call to action on important issues related to sleep, including medicine, education, social aspects and driving. It is organized by the World Sleep Day Committee of World Sleep Society (founded by WASM and WSF) and aims to lessen the burden of sleep problems on society through better prevention and management of sleep disorders. As of 2016, World Sleep Day had a total of 394 delegates in 72 countries around the globe.