1 . A recent study says volunteering can be good for your health. Kids and teenagers who volunteer aren’t just helping their community. They might also be helping themselves. That’s according to a new research published in JAMA Network Open, in May.

Kids who participated in community service were 34% more likely to be in very good physical health than those who didn’t participate, the study found. And those who volunteered were 66% more likely to be considered “flourishing” or doing well in general. Kids aged 12and older who volunteered were 25% less likely to have anxiety than peers who didn’t. The findings come from survey data provided by the parents of some 50,000 kids in the United States ages 6 to 17. About half of those parents reported that their kids did volunteer work.

Studies like this have limitations. Parents answered questions about their kids’ health and community-service activities. But a parent might not know if their child experiences anxiety or considers themselves to be flourishing. This type of data also can’t prove cause and effect. It can only uncover associations. So it’s not possible to say for sure that volunteering leads to better mental and physical health. It could be that people in good health are more likely to have the energy or desire to volunteer.

But the data comes at an important time for youth mental health. In recent years, rates of depression and anxiety have risen among young people. More than 40% of high school students reported experiencing feelings of sadness or hopelessness in 2021. So there’s a clear need for accessible and effective mental health resources. Giving back to the community may be one such resource. And this study isn’t the only one to reach that conclusion.

6 . Home away from home

Pet boarding facilities in and around Rochester

Offering boarding and day care for dogs of all ages, Bear Creek Kennels has both indoor and outdoor fenced areas. Dogs are encouraged to play with each other throughout the day. It costs $24 per night. The drop-off/pick-up times are: Mon. — Fri., 7 a. m. — 6 p. m.; Sat., 8 a. m. — 5 p. m.; Sun., 3 —5 p. m.

Bob’s Animal Friends wants your dogs to feel right at home, so much so that it offers a “Sleep Buddy” add-on for $10 per night. A caretaker will stay overnight with your dog, meaning extra care time and sleeping on the sofa. It costs $25 per night. The drop-off/pick-up times are: Mon. —Fri., 6:30 a. m. — 7 p. m.; Sat., 7 — 8 a. m. and 5 — 6 p. m.; Sun., 5 — 6 p. m.

The owners of K-9 Kennels Inc. live on site, and the grounds include large fenced areas for outdoor play. Indoor kennels are climate-controlled, and there’s even an indoor play room to ensure your dogs get plenty of movement. It costs $25 per day. The drop-off/pick-up times are: Mon. — Fri., 7 a. m. — 7p. m.; Sat. and Sun., 8 — 11 a. m. and 4 — 6 p. m.

Dogs ‘n’ More Boarding features 10 indoor/outdoor kennels for dogs and a boarding area for cats. Indoor areas feature windows for natural light and doggy doors for them to go outside at will. It costs $18 per night for dogs and $15 per night for cats. The drop-off/pick-up times are: Mon. — Sat.,6:30 a. m. — 8 p. m.; Sun., 1 — 8 p. m.

7 . Alice Brown was teaching when the floor began to shake. The reaction of her _______ was quick and correct — they moved under their desks, head first, and _______ to the legs of the desk. At the same time, Miss Brown _______ opened the classroom door, _______ it became damaged during the shaking and could not _______. There were loud crashes of glass breaking and things falling to the ground, but the students remained _______ and waited calmly and quietly.

The moment the _______ stopped, Miss Brown sensed it was the best time for the class to make their _______. She signaled to her students to exit the classroom in an orderly line covering their _______ with their hands. Within one minute and twenty seconds, the whole class went down the stairs and rushed to the ground. Meanwhile, students from other classes arrived too. After a roll call confirmed that all were ________ and sound, they relaxed, laughing, crying and hugging each other.

    1     Amy and Jenny have been close friends for eight years since primary school. Whether they’re walking to school, doing homework or just hanging out on the weekend, they’re hardly out of each other’s sight. But things changed last Saturday.

Their original plan was to see a film that afternoon. But Jenny posted a message on social media saying she had a cold.     2     Amy告诉她回家休息。However, instead of recovering at home, Jenny was seen by one of their classmates to be out having fun with someone else. When Amy heard this, she was very angry.     3       Now she doesn’t know what to do next and turns to online communities for advice.

Cindy thinks     4     他们的友谊值得挽救: eight years is a long time. They should find an opportunity to have a talk with each other to solve the problem. In David’s opinion, if Amy was tricked by her friend, she can let go of their friendship. It’s sad to move on, but     5       she has to accept that friends come and go in life.

Benefits of Sport

On-going physical exercise can be hard for teenagers to try. However, it is good for the mind. body and spirit. If you are planning to do exercise regularly, or you’re doing it now, then listen up!

    1    

Clearly, regular exercise will improve your physical health by contributing to the development of your muscles, bones and lungs. It can help improve your body’s immune system, making you better prepared to fight off diseases. Sport also has hidden health benefits such as lowering the chance of cancer later in life.

Sport teaches team work and problem-solving skills. Fighting for a common goal with a group of players and coaches teaches you how to build teamwork and effectively communicate to solve problems. This experience is helpful when you are solving problems at work or at home.

    2    

Watching your hard work pay off and achieving your goals develop self-confidence. Achieving a sport goal encourages you to achieve other goals you set. This is an exciting learning process. Moreover, sport builds character and encourages you to keep a positive attitude to life.

    3    

Exercising is a natural way to relax and let go of stress. You can also make new friends who can be there for you as a support system. When you feel under pressure or stressed, call up a teammate, head to the gym to talk and play it out.

The world of sport is a fairground of exciting opportunities where you can discover who you really are. Time, I think, to lace up your sports shoes and go play.