Scientific or graphing calculator?

Scientific or graphing calculator? What students should buy

As your kids grow older and get older, the list of school supplies might be shorter, but it's not always cheaper.

One thing that can trigger sticker shock for parents of middle and high school students is a specific calculator. Many schools prefer if students use their own scientific calculator. In higher math classes, like AP Calculus for example, a graphing calculator may be required.

But, what's the distinction? A scientific calculator can perform tasks beyond addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Scientific calculators typically have buttons that are specifically for parentheses, trigonometric function, exponents inverted numbers and pi among other things.

A graphing calculator does even more. It will have a larger screen that lets you enter a number of functions, then look at a graph of it.

Best buy's Geek Squad agent Derek Meister says scientific calculatorscan run anywhere between $10 and $60. Calculators that graph are generally priced more, usually between $100 and $150.Should students who are back in school purchase science or graphing calculators? (KOMO News)

However, Best Buy says you aren't required to buy one and recommends consulting with your school first.

Harmony Weinberg, Edmonds School District's public relations and media supervisor she tells KOMO News each individual school is responsible for its own policy.

"For higher level classes, like AP Calculus, it is often expected that students have a handheld graphing calculator, such as TI-83, TI-84 or TI-89."

These types of calculators are perfect for AP testing. Weinberg is also of the opinion that schools have a system that allows students to use calculators, like they do texts if they are unable to or chose not to purchase their own.

In the Edmonds District School, calculators are handled like textbooks, with regard to loss or damage, but there is no charge to use.

One other option may already be available on their school laptop. Weinberg says that in Edmonds "all students have access to scientific and graphing calculators through their district-issued Chromebook." The district is also encouraging teachers to use Desmos online calculators as they can be used in state-wide tests too.

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West Seattle family says school quarantine policies are biased towards unvaccinated children

written by Joel Moreno, KOMO News reporterSaturday 19th September 2021

https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.485.1_en.html#goog_1206168445Volume 90% Denny International Middle School.

SEATTLE - A family in West Seattle say their young son was instructed to stay home after encountering someone who had tested positive for COVID-19. This prompted his relatives to allege now that he was targeted and treated differently by the school district's officials due to the fact that the child was not vaccine-free..

Last week, the 12-year-old student attending Denny International Middle School was exposed to an individual in the class who was diagnosed with COVID-19.

Officials at his school instructed him to remain home for two months because they did not believe he was vaccinated.

The family said that they've discovered that, had he been vaccinated, the seventh grader would not have been forced to miss class as it was as long as he did not show evidence of the virus.

"My kid has no symptoms," said Jeremy Gollyhorn, the boy's father. "He's perfectly healthy. How can he not get a negative COVID test and then go back to school?"

Gollyhorn said his son is being kept to a higher standard as students who have received their shots. And even in the event that he failed a COVID-19 test, the boy wouldn't be allowed back to school until the two-week quarantine is complete.

However, close contacts who are completely vaccinated and have no symptoms are not required to stay in quarantine. They can go back to school, but they are advised to be checked three to five days later in order in order to be certain.

Gollyhorn declared it to be absurd and makes no sense.

"Vaccinated people can still spread COVID too so what's the difference there?" he stated.

A spokesperson stated that Seattle Public Schools is following the guidelines for public health set by the state.

Gollyhorn claimed that the law strips people of their freedom of choice. He also said that his family doesn't trust vaccinations, and instances like this are what make him want fight back.

The day that Seattle Public Schools started the school year on Sept. 1st, the school district has reported 117 positive COVID-19 cases as well as Denny International Middle School has reported four positive cases over that time.

It's not clear how many staff and students were told to stay in quarantine for exposures. However, those absences are considered excused.