OCHS Students to "Unplug" for a Day

By MADDY VITALE OC Minds Matter is promoting an event Friday at the Ocean City High School that asks students to put all technology away for the day in celebration of National Unplugging Day. Signs throughout the high school are asking students, “How addicted are you?” and “Will you take the challenge?” when it comes to electronic devices – namely cellphones. And students at OCHS are taking that challenge. “National Day of Unplugging is an awareness campaign that promotes a 24-hour respite from technology annually observed the first weekend in March,” Director of Student Services Lauren Guenther said in a news release. "This is a great event to bring to OCHS to inspire healthy life/tech balance for our students." Students will take some time away from their cellphones, explained OC Minds Matter Club Advisor Kara Uhrich. Cellphone “nap sacks” will be available for students to decorate and personalize. Students in the OC Minds Matter Club display a cellphone "nap sack." In addition, students may enter a drawing to win gift cards from local businesses. But in order to enter the drawing, students must complete the ultimate challenge of leaving their cellphone in the library for the entire school day. The event is being co-sponsored by the Ocean City Education Foundation and the OC Minds Matter Club. “On Friday, students will be challenged to place their cellphones in a 'nap sack' for the day and leave their cellphone in a secure location. Any student who successfully completes the challenge would be entered into a raffle to win a gift card,” Uhrich said. “With the absence of technology, students are encouraged to spend time focusing on acts of kindness, lifting others, community engagement, reconnecting, acts of service and supporting loved ones." For more information, visit www.nationaldayofunplugging.com