A Study Of Factors Influencing Students’ Academic Performance In A Higher Secondary School In Bhutan: Published in the 16th Volume of RABSEL

Tshewang Rabgay

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors affecting academic performance of the students of a higher secondary school in Bhutan. The dependent variable considered for the study was students’ academic performance, which was indicated by students’ test scores and the independent variables were students’ demographic characteristics, parents’ socio-economic status, parenting style and students’ learning and study strategy. The data were collected from 241 students of the school using two questionnaires­–Learning And Study Strategy Inventory and Baumrind’s Parenting Style’s Questionnaire. Correlation analysis, independent samples t-test and descriptive analysis were used to analyze data. The findings revealed that socio-economic factors such as parents’ education, income and occupation resulted in difference in academic performance but there was no difference in students’ academic performance based on students’ demographic variables like gender, age and living arrangements. Of the three parenting styles, namely authoritative, authoritarian and permissive, it was found that authoritative parenting results in better academic performance. The findings also revealed that students had average level learning and study skills. Recommendations were suggested to improve students’ academic performance.

KEY WORDS: Academic Performance, Socio-economic Status, Learning and Study Strategy, Parenting Style

SUN QB HAPPY TO BE A DINO...

The University of Calgary football Dinos continue to make inroads into the British Columbia Interior in pursuit of future players for the team.

The Dinos confirmed the signing of quarterback of Josiah Joseph to a Canadian Interuniversity Sport Letter of Intent. Joseph spent the past two seasons for the Okanagan Sun of the British Columbia Football Conference. This past year he split playing time with veteran Cam Bidore. Joseph is the second player with BC Interior roots to sign with the Dinos. Earlier the Dinos confirmed the signing of Vernon Secondary School linebacker, Carson Labrecque.

Offensive coordinator Ryan Sheahan flew to Kelowna during the season to evaluate talent with the Sun. Joseph also made a visit to Calgary in April 2015 but elected to return to the Sun and continue his academic studies at UBCO.

This past year Joseph broke the passing percentage in the BCFC and was named top offensive back for the Sun.

“Calgary is a great opportunity for me to come and compete for a spot. I like the culture present and the family aspect of the team,” stated the 6’3” 210 lbs. Joseph who attended Mount Boucherie High School in West Kelowna. While at Mt. Boucherie, Josiah excelled in both football and basketball earning Kelowna High School Athlete of the Year for excelling in both sports.

Former Okanagan Sun President Paul Carson had high praise for Joseph. "We are very excited that Josiah has committed to the Calgary Dinos program. He is a tremendous young man who has a bright future at the CIS level. Josiah is a mature and talented young man who has a tremendous amount of upside. The entire Okanagan Sun organization wishes him well".

“Josiah is a big athletic quarterback with a strong arm. He has great leadership skills and that was shown when he helped the Sun to the Canadian Junior Final,” states University of Calgary Head Coach Wayne Harris.

 Josiah will enrol in the Faculty of Kinesiology in January 2016 beginning his academic career at the University of Calgary as well as training with the team in the off-season.

Carleton, St. Francis Xavier, and the University of Regina approached Josiah about attending their schools but he felt Calgary was the best fit for him from an academic and athletic standpoint.

Josiah is the son of Randy and Shannon Joseph.

Socio-cultural Factors Influencing Adolescent Girls’ Body Image

A Paper Presented at the 3rd Research Convention at SCE. 
Theme: Gender and Education
Abstract

Adolescence is associated with an increased concern for body image. Past studies have shown that body image concern is more in girls than boys which suggests that adolescent girls are more likely to be dissatisfied with their body than boys. Body image is influenced by many factors. This study aimed to explore the influence of socio-cultural factors-media, parents and peers on Samtse Higher Secondary School girls’ body image; and to determine the most influential factor among the three. The study also sought to find the level of body satisfaction of Samtse Higher Secondary School girls. A survey was conducted with 150 girls of the school. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, paired samples t-test and regression analysis. The results suggested that media and peers had significantly dominant influence on girls’ body image than parents. It was also found that most girls (50.6%) were dissatisfied with their body which was further confirmed by the significant difference (p-0.000) between girls’ perceived actual body image and ideal body image. The study recommended media literacy programs for both parents and adolescents to deal with the social and cultural pressures to conform to unrealistic body ideals. The study also recommended teachers and school counselor to conduct psycho-educational initiatives in the school such as body image sessions and group discussions to teach students to accept and appreciate their body as they are and to decrease their preoccupation with appearance. 

KEY WORDS: Adolescent girls, Body image, Sociocultural factors, Media, Parents,

Cy Woods 49, Cy Springs 39: The End.

Final 2015 record: 5-5, 5-4 in District 17-6A



This is the second final-game recap I've done since starting this blog, and after doing one following the Manvel game last season, I thought this one would be a little easier. I was sorely mistaken.

On a rainy, chilly Saturday afternoon at the Berry Center, the Cypress Woods Wildcats closed out the 2015 season with a 49-39 victory over the Cy Springs Panthers. It turned out to be a bittersweet swan song for the Class of 2016, as Cy-Fair's 21-13 win over Jersey Village on Friday eliminated the Wildcats from playoff contention. And so, for the first time since 2012, Cy Woods will not be taking part in the festivities that we call the playoffs.

It's never fun when your fate isn't in your hands. Left for dead in the district. Fighting just to get back in the mix... only to see it all slip away. That is as cruel as it gets. For these seniors, this was probably the least fun life lesson that they've had to learn. But... life is all about learning lessons, and sometimes, we must learn these lessons in our darkest hours. It is harsh when the countless hours of hard work you put in end up going unrewarded. I know that these kids wanted to be rewarded with a trip to the playoffs, and all throughout this game, I had that feeling that they deserved so much better.

Although it was a high-scoring affair, this wasn't exactly the highest-quality game. Then again, it was raining steadily throughout the afternoon, which is not exactly ideal conditions for a football game. At least it wasn't a thunderstorm. It was cold, though, which also meant that it was pretty uncomfortable. Don't you just hate it when the weather puts its symbolism on full display sometimes?

So, What Happened Was...

Jordan Johnson opened up the scoring with a 2-yard run. The extra-point attempt was botched due to a bad snap, so Woods was on the board first with a 6-0 lead. Following a turnover on downs that put them in the red zone, Jordan found a wide-open C.J. Jones for a 15-yard touchdown.

End 1st: Woods 13, Springs 0

The Panthers suddenly sprang to life as Taye Barber connected with Jah'marea Sheread for a 62-yard touchdown pass. On the ensuing Wildcat possession, Jordan was strip-sacked, and Eric Carter put Springs in the lead by returning the loose ball 12 yards for another touchdown. Woods regained the lead as Jack Barrientez hauled in a pass from C.J. and outran everyone for a 76-yard touchdown. Barber struck once again; this time he found Jervarius Seals from 26 yards out. The extra point attempt was no good, however, and so the first 24 minutes ended in a deadlock.

Halftime: Woods 20, Springs 20

The 3rd quarter was largely nondescript, but business picked up late. Barber connected with Sheread again for an 11-yard scoring pass to put Springs back in front with 4:45 left in the period. Woods pulled even as Tre' Hart caught a rainbow from C.J. and scored from 31 yards out. However, the Panthers regained the lead as Barber had a Colton Huntsman-esque 76-yard touchdown run,

End 3rd: Springs 33, Woods 27

The Wildcats were finally able to seize control of this game in the final stanza of the season. R.J. caught another rainbow from C.J. and outran 5 Panthers for a 27-yard touchdown pass. C.J. then punched it in from 3 yards out. Barber mishandled a snap in his own endzone, and Adrian Garcia very nearly fell on it for a touchdown. They'd have to settle for a safety, but C.J. sealed the deal with a 31-yard touchdown scamper with 85 seconds left in the game. Jah'marea Sheread hauled in his 3rd touchdown catch of the game with 22 seconds remaining.

Final: Woods 49, Springs 39

Ground

The Panthers were well-prepared for the Wildcats' rushing attack. Woods was able to break a couple of big runs, but they either got called back thanks to holding calls, or they followed it up by losing 7 yards on the next play.

C.J. Jones finished 19 yards shy of a 1,000 yard season. R.J. Harmon, in his final game at Cy Woods, recorded 57 yards on the ground.

C.J. Jones: 24 carries, 141 yards, 2 TD
R.J. Harmon: 19 carries, 57 yards
Jordan Johnson: 8 carries, -10 yards, TD
Luis Reyes: 1 carry, -7 yards

Air

With no Bryson Powers, Jordan Johnson got his first start at the varsity level at the position he first played when he entered Cy Woods: quarterback. He mainly ran, although he fired a 15-yard touchdown pass to C.J. Jones on his first pass attempt of the game.

C.J. then took over at quarterback midway through the 2nd quarter. He had some nice throws that sadly fell incomplete, but he also unleashed some rainbows that fortunately fell into the hands of receivers. This might be the only time that he'll ever be the #1 QB.

C.J. Jones: 4-11, 155 yards, 3 TD
Jordan Johnson: 2-3, 7 yards, TD

4 of the 6 passes that were completed resulted in touchdowns. That's pretty efficient, wouldn't you say?

R.J. Harmon: 2 catches, 19 yards, TD
Jack Barrientez: 1 catch, 76 yards, TD
Tre' Hart: 1 catch, 31 yards, TD
Jared Taylor: 1 catch, 21 yards
C.J. Jones: 1 catch, 15 yards, TD

Defense

Keith Watson, in his final game, recorded 4 sacks. Although defensive stats are rarely ever tracked (don't know why it still hasn't caught on), I'm pretty sure that it's a Cy Woods record. Neil Chambers and Jordan Frazier chipped in with a couple of sacks of their own.

Special Teams

Nondescript return game, although C.J. was on the verge of a 60-yard punt return touchdown before he got tripped up by Taye Barber. Kickoffs were rather adventurous, as they muffed a couple that the Panthers ended up reccovering.

Luis Reyes hit 5 extra points. He'll finish this season as Cy Woods' new all-time leader in points scored by a kicker with 143, and he has one more season to add to that total. He also had some excellent punts, averaging 49 yards a boot on the afternoon.

Man of the Match

This goes out to the Class of 2016. For four years, you have built lifelong friendships with your teammates and toiled alongside each other for countless hours with the goal of bettering yourself, not just as a football player, but as a person as well. You all represented Cy Woods with class and have competed fiercely and fearlessly on the gridiron, like those who have come before you.

Although your time playing football at Cy Woods ended much, much earlier than you anticipated, hold your heads high, because you finished as winners.

I hope that when you find yourselves reminiscing over these days years from now, that you remember these days fondly. Remember these friendships that you have built. Remember the hours that you spent in the weight room and on the track in the hopes of becoming a better athlete. Remember the battles that you fought with your brothers. Remember the incredible support of your friends and the community. You will realize that you truly were a part of something special.

In Conclusion....

For many of the players on the Wildcat football team, this is the last time that they will represent Cypress Woods High School in athletics. Some will move on to the hardwood. Others will head to the baseball diamond or the track as they represent this school one more time.

Enjoy the rest of your time in high school. Go to as many basketball/baseball/softball games and as many Cy Woods-related activities as you possibly can. Support your fellow athletes and classmates, because they represent Cy Woods as much as you do. Savor every last moment you spend at Cy Woods.

Of Cypress Woods, we'll always be a part. You may not think that it does right now, but the last 8 words of the school song will resonate with you, long after you leave the school. Trust me on this... I graduated from Cy Woods 5 years ago. I don't even know the lyrics to the school song, but after all this time, I remember the last 8 words to it.

And so, Chapter 8 in the book of Cy Woods football has been completed. The torch is now in the hands of the Class of 2017. See you in the spring for Chapter 9.

Know Your Enemy: Cypress Springs Panthers

Cypress Woods Wildcats @ Cypress Springs Panthers
1:00 P.M. Saturday, November 7, 2015
Berry Center

Previously on Cy Woods Football...

In a game that we may not see again for decades, Cy Woods fell 74-73 to Jersey Village thanks to an otherworldly performance from Falcon QB Deshun Qualls. Not even otherworldly performances from C.J. Jones and Jordan Johnson were enough for Woods. C.J. rushed for a school-record 346 yards and 4 touchdowns, while Jordan had 199 yards receiving and 3 touchdowns. Bryson Powers ran for 188 and 3 scores of his own. Josh Marvin, a linebacker who had seen the field sparingly before this game, had 2.5 sacks and an interception.

Playoff Update

The Wildcats' playoff hopes, which took a significant hit after their loss to Jersey Village, received a lifeline when Cy Ranch defeated Cy-Fair 26-10 on Saturday afternoon. Once again, the final playoff spot will be decided in the final week of the season. 

A 3-way tie at 5-4 between Cy Woods, Cy-Fair, and Langham Creek is still possible, but since the Wildcats beat both the Lobos and the Bobcats, they would advance in this situation. So....

It all comes down to Friday night's game between Jersey Village and Cy-Fair at Pridgeon Stadium. If the Falcons win, then a Cy Woods win over Cy Springs will put them in the playoffs. On the other hand, if the Bobcats win, the Wildcats will be eliminated, regardless of the result of their game with the Panthers.

However, if Langham Creek wins and Cy Woods and Cy-Fair both lose, then the Lobos would make the playoffs. Why? Well, a loss for Woods will drop them to 4-5 in district play, and Langham defeated Cy-Fair 49-21. 

The Enemy: Cypress Springs Panthers

2014 record: 3-7, 2-7 (8th) in District 17-6A

Did not qualify for playoffs

Cy Springs season-to-date

W 51-12 vs. Mayde Creek

W 48-24 @ Jersey Village

L 56-14 @ Cy-Fair

L 45-28 vs. Cy Ridge

L 63-37 @ Cy Falls

L 59-20 vs. Cy Ranch

L 59-52 @ Cy Creek

W 21-13 vs. Cy Lakes

L 69-36 @ Langham Creek

(A Few) Players to Watch on the Other Side

QB Taye Barber, RB Jonathan Toliver, WR Jah'marea Sheread, WR Donell Dunn, WR O'Shae Clark, WR Drake Carter, OL Marcus Royal, DB Bobby Wilson, DB Abraham Bakare, OL/DL M.J. Tupolo, DE Corey Brown, LB Maveke Kenneh, LB Eric Carter

All-Time Series

Cy Woods leads 7-0.

Previous Meetings

November 6, 2014: Woods 70, Springs 44
October 4, 2013: Woods 57, Springs 14 (Homecoming VI)
October 5, 2012: Woods 48, Springs 13
November 5, 2011: Woods 47, Springs 0
November 6, 2010: Woods 51, Springs 41
October 16, 2009: Woods 23, Springs 13
October 17, 2008: Woods 48, Springs 14 (Homecoming I)

2¢ on Springs

While the Panthers are still trying to break out of the bottom half of the district, there's no doubt that the culture of this program has changed for the better. If I remember correctly, Adam Coleman mentioned that they had the most players (from varsity all the way down to freshmen) in their program. Don't know if that's still true this year, but that is definitely a sign that the kids are buying in to the philosophy that the coaches are pitching.

Donell Dunn was one of the breakout stars in the district in 2014 as he led the way with 1,234 receiving yards. He has put up some solid numbers in 2015 despite getting some extra attention from opposing defenses, and this attention has allowed Drake Carter to flourish, and Jah'marea Sheread, a sophomore, to emerge. O'Shae Clark is another dependable option in the passing game. Having weapons like these guys on the outside is a pretty nice way to break in a sophomore quarterback.

Taye Barber was called up as a freshman late in the 2014 season, and as the running quarterback, he provided Panther fans with an electrifying glimpse of the future. In his first full season on the varsity, he's leading the district in touchdown passes. Barber is, without a doubt, has been one of the breakout players in CFISD in 2015, and he surely has to be the frontrunner for Offensive Newcomer of the Year and an All-District candidate. He will be protected by an offensive line led by Marcus Royal and M.J. Tupolo; Royal was a 1st-team All-District 17-6A selection as a sophomore in 2014.

The Panthers are the district's leading pass defense, but that's also a bit misleading, as they've been sliced and diced in the running game all season. Bobby Wilson is the leader of the Panther secondary. He'll be joined by his younger brother (?), Brandon, and Abraham Bakare. Wilson may be undersized, but he's a fierce competitor. Tupolo is capable of playing both ways. Joining him on the line is Corey Brown, an athletic defensive end. Maveke Kenneh is a two-year starter at linebacker.

Last Time These Two Teams Met

The Wildcats outgunned the Panthers as they scored 63 points in the 1st half on their way to a 70-44 victory. R.J. Harmon ran for 180 yards and 3 touchdowns, while C.J. Jones ran for 124 and one touchdown of his own. C.J. also caught 4 passes for 54 yards and 3 touchdowns.

The 63 1st-half points is a Woods record; the previous mark, 56, was done twice: against Jersey Village in 2008 and Cy Lakes in 2012.

For Freshman Games: Location of Cypress Springs High School