January 2018

BX CONNECTS The magazine for Millbrook High School Campus and Community

This is Us

Page 1

War on Women

Page 7

The Pioneer Club Page 13

From the Archives

Page 40

VOL 1 | ISSUE 1 January 2018

We are more than just writing. We are Millbrook. We are BlueXpress.

The Publications Team Editor-in-Chief

Abby Varricchio

Associate Editors

Anica Moran Emily Keller Gwen Zirkle Madison Lazenby

Documentaries Director Joel Sherman

Graphic Design Editors Ryan Crosson Ben Schwab

Photography Editors Sabrina Castillo Cara George

Videography Editor Blake Curry

Website Editors

Christian Hellwig Joshua Abbott

Art Team

Nicole Hauck Hope Baker Matthew Bennett

Contact Us

mhsbluexpress@gmail.com

Website

www.bluexpress.net

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MHSBluexpress

Twitter

Graphic Design Team Dylan Boyer Jacob Gearheart William Gearheart Luke Rangel Hailey Smith Daniella Vargas

Reporting Team

Carolynn Unger Laurel Biedrzycki Matthew Davis Anna Fox Grant Myers Alex Stone Elliot Foy

Photo & Video Team Collin Boyer Kaitlyn Perkins Steven Shaffer Kei Cortez Emane Blanson Jose Rosales Adriana Baldivia Justina Koenig Nelson Garay

Yearbook Liaison

Emane Blanson

Print Edition Published by The Winchester Star 2 N. Kent Street Winchester, VA 22601 540-667-3200 winchesterstar.com

Digital Publishing by aPrintis Inc.

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Advisers

Cliff Campbell Maribeth Carmichael

Millbrook High School

251 First Woods Drive Winchester, VA 22603 540-545-2800 http://mhs.frederick.k12.va.us/home

Serving the Pioneer Community since 2003

BX Connects with highlights from the first semester of the 2017-2018 school year

NEWS

27 | Writing Center

page 7

INSIDE THIS ISSUE IN-DEPTH 1 | This is US

29 | MHS Gives Back

13 | The Pioneer Club 17 | Halftime Entertainment 18 | The Fighting Freshmen

A&E

19 | BX Toons 21 | Best Movies of the Year

OPINIONS

7 | War on Women

12 | Preschool

SPORTS

page 19

FEATURES

page 13

30 | Everything Homecoming

31 | The Grid Iron 33 | Volleyball Pride 34 | Fall Snapshot 39 | M-Prints

www.bluexpress.net THIS AND MORE ONLINE Keep up-to-date with news from this issue, on campus and around the community by visiting www.bluexpress.net on a regular basis.

page 39

40 | From the Archives

On the Cover Cara George, BlueXpress photo editor, captures an image of the management team for the cover of the first edition of the BX Connects newsmagazine.

Our Goal BX Connects intends to be a public forum for student expression and encourages all sides to voice their opinion. Staff members will honor Millbrook High School and its community and the journalistic profession by placing truth, accuracy and objectivity first.

Corrections, Comments and Clarifications Should an error occur inside this issue, go to www.bluexpress. net/corrections.

The magazine for Millbrook High School Campus and Community

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Article by | Abigail Varricchio

ver the course of fifteen years Millbrook High School’s newspaper has become unrecognizable. Fifteen years led to a change in name.

Fifteen years led to a growth of one medium, simply print, to three, including print, online and newsmagazine. Fifteen years led to the adoption of a motto. Fifteen years led to 33 additional people on staff. Fifteen years led to dozens of print edition papers focused on different aspects of Millbrook’s Community. Fifteen years has brought a lot of changes at Millbrook and the BlueXpress has documented it all.

Millbrook’s school newspaper began as The Pioneer Dispatch. Mrs. Mary Tedrow led a small staff of 7-9 students in her journalism class to create a small writing centric newspaper. The edition was only 6 ½ pages long. Each month the group would publish a newspaper with articles focused on school events as well as featured sections, such as “Hungry

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Harry” who reviewed meals served each day in the lunchroom. Mrs. Tedrow gave multiple lectures on different journalistic styles per month.

The newspaper focused on those writing styles. Though it was only 6 ½ pages, it featured only written articles. Photos did accompany the articles, but typically only one per article. The Pioneer Dispatch won several times at the Virginia High School League Competition, laying a great foundation for what was to come. When Mrs. Tedrow left Millbrook, fellow English teacher, Gail Holt, took over the journalism class, continuing in the same tradition set forth by Tedrow.

Nine years ago Mr. Cliff Campbell and Mrs. Maribeth Carmichael took over The Pioneer Dispatch. “We wanted to change the name, wanted the publication to be more modern, more appealing to the student body,” explained Mrs. Carmichael.

After days of thought, the duo, with support of their staff, decided on the

name BlueXpress.

From there, they changed the format of the print newspaper, moving away from the half page look to one that mimics real newspapers, such as The Winchester Star. Along with the new name, the website was born, creating an opportunity for the staff to write and publish school news as it happened. The staff decided to cut back significantly on print, keeping only a single print edition at the end of the year. Renaming the paper and creating a website was not the only task Carmichael and Campbell took on, they wanted to change the structure of the class from a lecture environment to the small business model. “We don’t want to stand up and lecture to the staff everyday,” expressed Mrs. Carmichael. “We want students to learn fundamental workplace skills.” When walking into the room, Campbell or Carmichael will never be seen standing in front of the room giving a lecture, a dramatic change from The Pioneer Dispatch.

The BlueXpress

Pioneer Pride Since 2003

“The BlueXpress is almost identical to a real world experience in a workplace,” explained Campbell.

“Staff members are held accountable for what they are assigned. If they do not meet deadlines or put their best effort into their work, there are actual consequences besides a bad grade.” He went on to explain how missing or weak work would cause the program’s multiple publications to collapse. “Creating a workplace experience means that respect must be built into the foundation and mission of the program,” Campbell continued. “If the staff respects me, I respect the staff and vice versa.” Respect is a key foundation to having a functioning and advancing workplace. Without it, productivity declines and interest as well as pride in the work published decreases.

“Though the staff has its disagreements,” Campbell said, “each time they come to terms and apologize with another, then get back to work.”

Not only did Campbell and Car-

michael set eyes on changing the fundamentals of the program and developing a real life workplace experience, but they wanted to expand the newspaper to be more modern.

According to Carmichael, “the website added a new face to the BlueXpress. The game of publications has changed because now information can be shared instantaneously.” As time has gone on, the quick access to updates and information has only increased with technology, allowing the BlueXpress staff to keep the site updated daily. Each day new articles about what has happened, what is happening, or what will happen in the Millbrook community are covered. Not only is every athletic event, competition, award ceremony and spirit day covered within Millbrook, but there are also human interest stories about students and staff.

In the last two years, the BlueXpress has covered Mr. Taylor’s induction into the Virginia Tech Hall of

Fame to celebrate his collegiate and national football career, as well as a continuing feature called Millbrook Roots, that shared the heritage of students was covered as well. Stories of immigration, survival, and renewal were captured to not simply record the history of the student body, but capture the resiliency and inspiration that Millbrook is rooted in.

Every staff member is given the opportunity to write editorials about issues that impact Millbrook students. Editorials range from issues that would affect students directly, such as if the advantages of summer reading are important, to large scale political issues about elections, such as the 2016 Congressional elections.

However, the BlueXpress’s editorial board is not limited to only opinions on current debates. Reviews are an extremely personal aspect because the staff is able to give peers advice and commentary on movies, music, and even “retro” objects, which en-

BX CONNECTS | Pages 1 –2

VIRGINIA HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE AWARDS 2016 | First Class 2015 | Trophy Class 2014 | Third Place

2013 | Second Place 2012 | First Place 2007 | Second Place

2006 | First Place 2005 | First Place 2004 | First Place

ables the student body to gain better insight or hear about something completely new.

Each year, article content posted to the website becomes more personalized to represent the student body and the staff. X-Ray Cat, a local band in Winchester that is a part of the journalism staff, created their own column, titled Local Bands, to inform the student body about what is going on within the local music scene. With strong political views and the urge to share them, Abby Varricchio created The Varricchio Factor that includes a wide array of her political views and interpretation of events. Alex Stone, who is an avid cinephile, has given the BlueXpress its most avid and detailed movie review section in the publication’s history. He not only reviews movies almost immediately after they hit theaters, but nearly all movies he finds on his own. Movies, with the continually growing popularity of Netflix, have become an even larger part of Millbrook’s student body life.

The website not only allowed for instantaneous uploading of articles and information, but the addition of new departments and projects to make the program stronger.

While photography has always been a huge part of the BlueXpress, due to the fact that Mr. Campbell is a professional photographer, as technology became more available, the department grew. Photographers have the opportunity to learn from a highly disciplined photographer to learn how to take excellent photos of sporting events, ceremonial pictures, and candids. The BlueXpress currently has one of the biggest photography departments it’s ever had in

its history. Not only has the talent increased from previous years, but the diversity of photos has dramatically increased. No two photos taken by different photographers look alike. Lighting, focus, and angling varies from photographer to photographer, which gives the BlueXpress an extensive array of photos to choose from. Photographers now also create a new feature called Photostories, which allows them to interpret an event through the lens of a camera. Photography is an integral part of the BlueXpress because stunning visuals are needed to compliment stories and articles, but to capture the history of Millbrook each day.

Videography has been a more recent addition to the BlueXpress list of publications. Complete with a filming room that includes professional lighting, a green screen, and a teleprompter, the BlueXpress’ videography team films in style.

Next to the filming room is a professional grade audio and visual room equipped with editing software to mix audio and film. Each week a review of what was published on the BlueXpress in addition to what happened at Millbrook is filmed.

Last year Rachel Hayes, a former staffer, created Coach’s Corner, where she interviewed coaches from the school’s multiple sports team throughout their seasons to get their take on how the season is going.

This year, Ben Schwab films The BlueXpress Sports’ Desk each week, which opened the interviews up to both coaches and players. Madison Lazenby spearheaded the launch of on location broadcast at school events with coverage and student interviews. Videography is a unique

aspect of the BlueXpress because it combines the skills of writing, shooting, and editing as well as speaking.

Moments can be captured with full audio and visual to be remembered for the rest of the school’s history.

Joel Sherman, a Senior and Staffer, started a new division within BlueXpress Videography: documentaries. He is interested in potentially pursuing film as a career and noticed that the BlueXpress had all the equipment to produce a documentary, but no one to do it; however, Joel was eager to begin and create the department. A documentary is set apart from other parts of videography because they utilize light, angles, music, and color to convey emotion.Each of the documentaries produced focus on a subject from Millbrook that deserves to be documented deeply and more seriously. Through filming and creating documentaries, Joel has been able to capture raw emotions within Millbrook and communicate more than an article could on certain subjects.

The first documentary ever produced focuses on teachers at Millbrook and why they teach. Documentaries are an essential part of videography because they allow for deeper investigation and exploration into a subject that cannot be captured through a simple interview or an article. To watch Joel’s documentary, click here.

Though hundreds of students go home each day and watch their favorite youtubers, no one realizes how much editing and production goes into producing an eight to ten minute video. The BlueXpress production and editing department pays attention to minute details to ensure that videos are produced with

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BLUEXPRESS PUBLICATIONS BlueXpress Online BlueXpress Graduation Print Edition BX Connects Magazine

the highest quality possible. Using professional level lighting and sound equipment, the staffers ensure that shadows fall correctly on subjects and that audio is clear. Without a sound and devoted editing team, the BlueXpress would not have the professional style videos it does today.

Adobe programs are behind the intricate M-Prints seen posted in this publication and on the website each day of different students participating in a school activity. Joel Sherman and Ben Schwab started the graphics trend in the 2016-2017 school year after being inspired by different sports graphics they saw online; however, the duo did not just limit the print designs to athletes. A band member with her tuba aflame can be seen marching across the football field during a halftime show. Each M-Print singles out an athlete or active Pioneer from a photo through dimming the background around them and outlining with special effects. M-Prints always have the name of the student showcased and make great Twitter profile pictures.

To buy an M-Print, go to http://www. bluexpress.net/m-prints/ for more information.

The Editor in Chief is given the privilege of presiding over the only journalism program in Frederick County. No other high school has a publication program similar to the BlueXpress. No other high school is given the privilege of experiencing a near professional production

program. The Editor in Chief experiences the positives and negatives of leading a team. Each day they get to see how personalities meld together in a team, but they also have to witness failure and experience frustration when a staff member does not realize their true potential; however, failure leads to progress. Progress causes a staff member to realize the potential, resulting in a great achievement and stride. Though an Editor in Chief has to juggle each department within a publication, when they are able to step back and observe Joel Sherman prepares the studio for his next documentary. what has been completed, it is all worth it.

BlueXpress for the first issue.

Never has the BlueXpress, or any This is Us. We are busy each day of Millbrook’s publications, ever pioneering a new idea or publication published a magazine. A magazine while balancing everything that is unique from both the online and was done since the beginning. We print edition because it contains are active within Millbrook, jogging more in depth articles as well as throughout the halls with a badge requires a new whole new thought to get a photo or an interview. We process. It has never been done are seen on the sidelines of football before, so the leadership team with games waiting to capture the winthe entire staff had to begin from ning pass. We are more than just scratch. The 2018 staff worked tirewriting. We are the BlueXpress. We less to design layouts, conduct interare Millbrook. views, write articles, capture photos to demonstrate the true ability of the

Fifteen years has brought a lot of changes at Millbrook and the BlueXpress has documented it all.

BX CONNECTS | Pages 3 –4

Cancer Awareness Week ~ January 20 - 26 Millbrook High School will be having our annual Cancer Awareness week January 20 - 26. Please see the information below: Friday, January 19 Wear Orange for Kidney Cancer & Leukemia Saturday, January 20 3 on 3 Basketball Fundraiser  Registration cost for team $30.  Price of admission is a donation and 100% will be donated.  Please contact Chad Pendleton with any questions pendletc@fcpsk12.net Monday - Thursday Club Carnival during lunch periods Monday, January 22 Wear Burgundy & White for Head & Neck Cancers Tuesday, January 23 Wear Green for Gallbladder, Liver and Lymphoma Cancers Wed., January 24 Wear Blue for Colon, Esophagus, Prostate and Bladder Cancer Thursday, January 25 Wear Cancer Awareness Shirts for all Cancers and Caretakers ~ being sold for $20 in the main office Friday, January 26 Wear Pink for Breast Cancer & Pep Rally Go Pink Basketball game and tribute.

Be here by 6:45 p.m. if you want to see the tribute to cancer survivors. Go Pink Basketball Program starts immediately following the girls basketball game in between the girls/boys game.  Cancer Awareness Basket Raffle Drawing will take place during the boys basketball game. Announcements will take place when the raffle is coming to a close. You do not have to be present to win.

If you are a cancer survivor or fighting the fight and would like to attend the tribute between the basketball games, please call 540-545-2800 and ask for Go Pink. All donations and money raised during the week will go to Blue Ridge Hospice for local cancer patient care.

Cancer Awareness Baskets will be on display in the main office the week of January 22 and in the commons during the game. There will be a ticket raffle during the basketball game for the baskets. Raffle tickets are 1 for $1, 7 for $5 or 15 for $10.

If you're considering donating a basket, or would like to make a donation of any kind, please call 540-545-2800 and ask for Cancer Awareness Baskets.

Cancer Awareness T-shirts will be on sale in the main office starting January 22nd in the main office and during the basketball games.

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BX CONNECTS | Pages 5 –6

The Varric

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cchio Factor with Abigail Varricchio

a global issue The Issues: They Aren’t What You Think Young girls need positive role models to aid in the development and reinforcement of being an independent, resilient woman. Young girls need women to show and emphasize how vital lifting other women up is rather than tearing one another down.

They do not need a woman to show them that something can be done, but rather that they can overcome obstacles to reach her goals. They

do not need a woman to teach them how to play the “Blame Game” as to why they did not succeed, but rather someone who stands back up with grace. They do not need a woman who does not blame her unsuccessful adventures on the basis of simply being a woman, but rather someone who is ready to aid another woman in her bid to victory. Maybe it wasn’t what happened, but who happened.

The Source Too often young girls are not taught from an early age that the best way to be a successful, self-reliant woman is to build confidence from within. Confidence can be enhanced by praise and compliments, but it should be made evident to young women that they hold the power to control their feelings. Confidence, according to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, is a feeling or consciousness of one’s powers or of reliance on one’s circumstances. Nowhere does the definition say that anyone else defined a person’s confidence; thus, one

must believe in their own capabilities from within. Nothing will arise from other people’s belief in a person unless they hold it from within. When girls are beginning to form their own identities or becoming young women, the definition of confidence should become a mantra that they hold close to their hearts. No one holds any power over how they feel about themselves or their abilities. Mothers and fathers should direct their daughters to look into the things they love for beauty, not magazines or pop culture.

Women and girls should also be

BX CONNECTS | Pages 7 –8

One of Comstock’s largest legislative achievem

taught that confidence does not mean that imperfections and flaws suddenly disappear. When “get your confidence back” is Googled the first five articles mention nothing about embracing mistakes and flaws.

Confidence embodies taking flaws and working with them to achieve.

Attempting to pretend flaws and failures do not exist will only result in the loss of confidence to grow overtime. Many times confidence is portrayed as being flawless and having

each aspect of life in order; however, confidence means to believe that when life is at its worst or messiest, someone is able to handle it with grace. Someone learning to embrace their flaws is an integral aspect of being able to be confident.

A study featured in the Atlantic conducted by research psychologist, Zachary Estes, demonstrated that women connected actions with confidence at a higher rate than men.

A group of 500 students, men and

women, were asked to take a test. By just taking the test each gender had nearly an 80% average; yet, when asked to do take again and share their confidence in their answer, women dropped to 75% while men jumped to 93%. Estes concluded that women have a tendency to question themselves when asked to think, but men are the exact opposite. If women question themselves while completing a simple task, such as a low pressure test, where else will that

The Issues Politically: They Aren’t What You Think mentality extend? Fortune.com says that 6.4% of CEOs are women and Rutgers University women hold only 105 seats out of 536 in the United States’ Congress. Too many women are not creating, gaining, or promoting enough confidence to strive for leadership positions.

Politics are becoming the forefront of American popular culture; thus, many controversial issues begin to draw the majority of media coverage and attention. Partisan and identity politics begin to become too prevalent and many are marginalized simply because of a label. It is too easily assumed that the majority of women rank abortion as their top issues.

According to a survey conducted by Pew Research Center, only 52% of [Republican and Democratic] women voters ranked abortion as very important. More women ranked the economy (83%) and terrorism (82%) as very important. Though half of women believe abortion is important, there is still 48% of women who do not believe it is so. Women can have multiple very important issues;

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thus, women should not be marginally targeted on certain issues. It should also be recognized that women can specialize in other fields.

Ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, is a strong, powerful woman who shows no cracks in her confidence. Not only is Ambassador Haley a graceful and skilled diplomat, but she is not afraid to take charge and lead with assurance to accomplish and advance resolutions in the U.N. Haley has repeatedly stood up to one of the most notorious dictators of the 21st century: Kim Jong Un. “His [Kim Jong Un] abusive use of missiles and nuclear threats show that he is begging for war,” said Haley to the U.N. Security Council. Due to her efforts, the United States and other world powers have begun the process of taking actions to sanction North Korea. Ambassador Nikki Haley’s confidence in her own abilities to delegate and speak have changed the world. Women are vital to advancing world wide change in all areas, especially world peace.

Within elected offices women hold the minority; however, the women that do hold postions are proving everyday that women can be confident and perform. Erin Stewart is the current mayor of New Britain, Connecticut. She is the youngest Republican woman ever to become a mayor in the United States. Mayor Stewart transformed the financial state of New Britain through providing a $15 million “rainy day” fund for the city as well as increasing their bond rating to an A+. Erin is a trailblazer for young women because not only is she the youngest to ever to hold her position, she has policy that was the catalyst for change.

She demonstrates that any woman can have a direct policy agenda no matter how young she is. Gender has no influence on how well a task can be performed if someone carries themselves with confidence.

Winchester and Frederick County have amazing women representing them in government. State Senator Jill Vogel did not only a bold, unique legislative agenda in the Senate, but

ments is her INSPIRE Women Act.

had the chance to be the first female lieutenant governor of Virginia.

While running Senator Vogel balanced being a state senator and a mom to her children, she led a tough legislative initiative on immigration as well as second amendment rights. Though each issue is polarizing, Senator Vogel is ready to fight to promote them in the Senate. Jill Vogel proves that women can lead individually. Congresswoman Barbara Comstock, who also represents Winchester and Frederick,

fights for young girls in legislation and programs.

Annually Comstock holds a Young Women’s Leadership Program that allows for participants to hear from women leaders in multiple career fields, spanning from STEM to government work and philanthropy throughout the summer. One of Comstock’s largest legislative achievements is her INSPIRE Women Act. The legislation gives more opportunities for women to get involved in STEM because currently women are underrep-

resented in the field.

Barbara Comstock uses her position as a leader to enable other women to become leaders. Through her confidence, she is instill the same in others.

Women urgently need to help each other become more confident and empowered. Strength lies in numbers; imagine what the world could be like if thousands of confident women begin to speak up and become catalysts for change. It all starts with one woman speaking up and leaning in.

Meet the Staff

Abby Varricchio Editor-in-Chief

A

bby Varricchio is the Editor-in-Chief for the BlueXpress. Being Editor allows Abby to lead the direction of BlueXpress and be the first sitting editor to produce a magazine. She manages each aspect of the BlueXpress in addition to writing her own column, The Varricchio Factor, covering current political events in the United States.

Her passion for the Constitution fuels her conservative beliefs. As Co-Captain of the Debate team, Abby is not afraid to get deeply involved in discussions or talk surrounding politics or policy. A passion for words allows politics and writing to fit together easily, enabling her to do everything she loves at once. Ballet has been a part of her life since she was five years old. If she cannot be found at ballet practice or within Millbrook, she can be found in Washington D.C. on Capitol Hill. One day she hopes for her biography to not only read Editor-in-Chief, but Commander-in-Chief.

BX CONNECTS | Pages 9 –10

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Article by | Carolynn Unger

n October 11, the Frederick County Board of Supervisors voted 5-2 against the funds needed for the expansion of the preschool program in schools. The amount needed to fulfill the expansion for the program was $502,499. The preschool program had already been set for elementary schools such as Apple Pie Ridge, Redbud Run, and Stonewall for children at the age of four. There was a previous grant of $280,825, approved by the Board, that would set up two classes of 18 students, one class at Apple Pie Ridge and the other at Senseny Road School (NREP) for the school year of 2017-2018. The grant of $502,499, offered to the Board of Supervisors in June, would not only aid in the expansion of the program in the 2017-2018 year, but also the school year of 2018-2019.

So, what exactly is the problem? This expansion would be paid for by a state-funded program and would benefit multiple children in the county. According to the Winchester Star, Red Bud Supervisor Blaine Dunn stated that, “There are private daycare, private school facilities that are available as options. I just don’t think this is a good use of public money going into a prekindergarten situation.” But why would five members reject this grant when back in June they accepted the $280,825 amount? Also, the money would not come from the area but from the Virginia Preschool Initiative-plus, also known as the VPI+, which is a state-funded program in preschool education for about 18,000 children. Some families can’t take their children to private daycares or preschools because of location or they cannot afford the cost of the schools, so Dunn’s argument didn’t make sense.

Frederick County Superintendent David Sovine also questioned this and expressed his discouragement with the Board of Supervisors in the Winchester Star, but also said, “we are committed to continuing to serve those children as well as their families to the degree our resources allow.” He also sent out a letter to the staff members of Frederick County Public Schools with facts about the situation on October 19.

He stated in the letter that, “the Frederick County Board of Supervisors has taken action that prohibits the school division from spending

all of the $783,000 in grant funds that have been awarded to support our pilot preschool program. The program was launched in August and currently serves 54 at-risk fouryear-olds residing in the Gainesboro, Indian Hollow, Redbud Run, Stonewall, and Apple Pie Ridge.”

He went on to say that due to the Board of Supervisors vote against the fund, the program would have to be paid by local dollars or taken down altogether. He also asked the staff members in Frederick County to try to reach out to the Board members to, “share your perspective on the value of our preschool program and the impact it has on some of our most vulnerable students.”

The two members who supported the grant in the vote were Opequon Supervisor Bob Wells and Chair-

man At-Large Charles S. DeHaven Jr. The members of the Board of Supervisors who voted against the grant, Gary Lofton, Gene Fisher, Blaine Dunn, Bill Ewing and Judy McCann-Slaughter, needed to understand that the funds required for this program would help many children in this area. If the money extended the program for not only this year but also next year, there should not be any hesitation, especially if the money is not coming out of local pockets. These Supervisors needed to understand that many four-year-old children benefit from preschool education before moving on to kindergarten.

Democracy took a stand and on October 25, the Board held a meeting to vote again on the funding. The grant was finally accepted on a 4-3 vote.

Charles DeHaven and Bob Wells voted differently, approving the grant, along with Shawnee Supervisor Gene Fisher and Stonewall Supervisor Judith McCann-Slaughter. However, Gary Lofton, Bill Ewing, and Blaine Dunn still voted against the funding. This is an incredible change of events and the funding will be going through, but it’s hard to forget the first time the Board voted and that there were only two members who supported it. This shows the kind of mindset that resides in the Board.

It is still disappointing that three of its members would reject a fund that could help 54 children get their educational needs met. In the famous words of Gainsboro Resident and the division’s director for elementary instructional service Jeri Swogger who held up photos of the current preschool students, “If you choose to say no once again, let these be the 54 faces you see when you try to sleep at night.”

BX CONNECTS | Pages 11 –12

THEY SHARED ONE THING AND IT CHANGED THEIR LIVES FOREVER. They were seven total strangers, with one thing in common, graduating from a high school in Virginia.

A brain, a beauty, a jock, a deejay, an artist, a reader and a writer.

Stepping up to the board, they enforced the rules, taught from their hearts.

And touched their students in a way they never dreamed possible.

THE PIONEER CLUB PC www.bluexpress.net

THE

PIONEER CLUB

Article by | Anica Moran & Emily Keller

T

here are many teachers at Millbrook High School that are former students.

They were once mentored by the people in this school that had inspired them to be who they are today. They are now the mentors to this generation of bright young minds.

Before Mrs. Majher was a Spanish teacher, she was a part of Millbrook’s student body. “I really loved my time at Millbrook so I was super excited when I got the opportunity to be able to get a teaching position at Millbrook.”

When Mrs. Majher joined the Millbrook staff, she was asked if she thought it was awkward to work at her old high school.

She said it was the opposite. She absolutely loves working here and never had thought about it being awkward. She loved her English classes with Ms. Finney and Ms. Rathman, choir with Mr. Kelly, and Graphics with Ms.

Carper. “There were also teachers like Mrs. Pernicano and Mrs. Henderson who, even though I didn’t have them as a teacher, definitely shaped me during my time at Millbrook.” Mrs. Majher had a lot of wonderful memories at Millbrook but the most memorable moment was meeting her husband. “We met while putting on The Crucible which was directed by Mrs. Henderson. I played Elizabeth Proctor and he was Reverend Hale. I was really impressed with how good of an actor he was. We got to know each other through working on the play, started dating that May and got married four years ago after we graduated college.” Getting a teaching position at Millbrook meant that she didn’t have to move away from her family, and that she was able to go back to a place that held so many great memories.

Ms. Oliva is a Spanish teacher

and is one of many new teachers that arrived at Millbrook this year. But this is not Ms. Oliva’s first time at Millbrook; she was a student here. “It’s definitely different teaching here, knowing that the teachers are not my mentors anymore but my are coworkers.”

Ms. Oliva loved all of her teachers, but the ones that she connected to the most was Mrs. Harrison and Mrs. Laffoon. She was in Spirit Club which was sponsored by Mrs. Harrison, and FBLA which Mrs. Lafoon sponsored. “Working as the office assistant was one of the best and most memorable thing that I did at Millbrook.” Being an office assistant allowed Ms. Oliva to have the chance to work with all the wonderful secretaries and getting to see the behind the scenes of what it takes to run a school and how the staff prepare for the next year. When Ms. Oliva was a student here, the Spanish program wasn’t that big. “I re-

BX CONNECTS | Pages 13 –14

member being in spanish class and there only being about fifteen to seventeen students but now there is thirty-plus kids in some classes.”

The best thing about being a spanish teacher at Millbrook was that she got to the chance to share the language that she grew up with and gets to share the culture with her students.

Mr.Uhler is a Special Ed teacher here a MillJared Uhler brook who was once a Class of 2005 student. His class was the one that got to pick the school’s colors, mascot, the first football uniform, etc. “It’s pretty cool because I feel like I have been a part of Millbrook since the very beginning, so when I got the chance to come back here, it was a no-brainer,” said Mr. Uhler. “There were tons of great teachers but my favorite one was Gene Bolyard who was a part of the math department.” People who had Mr. Bolyard would call him mean Gene the math machine but don’t let the name fool you, students who had Mr.Boyard had good relationships with him.

The class of 2005 was a very close-knit group compared to the first class that graduated from Millbrook who still identified themselves as a Colonel or a Warrior instead of a Pioneer. But Mr. Uhler’s class was really enthusiastic about becoming Pioneers. “We had a class reunion not too long ago and I remember every kid and I could tell you a story about everyone in our class.” Mr.Uhler went to college and got a degree in History. He tried to get a job with the federal government but his mom, who is Mrs.Martin in the office, suggested he become a substitute teacher.

He started subbing that Kristin Gilbert year and got a long-term Class of 2005 sub position for Special Education as an aid. He loved it so much that he decided to get his provisional license to become a Special Education teacher. The next year after he received his license, he was hired to work

for INREP for two years; however, when an opening became available at Millbrook, he jumped at the opportunity.

Ms. Gilbert is a English teacher, but before she was teaching here she was learning here. When she got the news that she would be teaching at Millbrook, she adored the idea. “I actually loved the idea. Because you’ve been here before and you know where everything is. It’s Elizabeth Oliva interesting to see it from Class of 2009 the teacher’s perspective instead of a student perspective.” Her favorite subject was English because she was really good at it and loved all the outside-the-box activities that you could do. Gilbert’s love of literature and her English teachers swayed her to choose an English major. “When I went to college I wasn’t sure what I was going to be and I was undecided. I met with a counselor and they said, ‘You really shouldn’t be undecided, so what are you really good at?’

I said, ‘I’m really good at English and I like literature,’ so that’s kind of where it went from there.” Being able to teach at Millbrook was an ambition of hers. “I was really excited. I actually emailed former Ms. Butler, now Mrs. Price, when the opening came and I said that I’m an alumni, I would love to teach at my old school. I haven’t really looked anywhere else in the Frederick County School system.

I thought that would be awesome to come back to where it started.”

Before Mr.Cottino became a PE teacher he was a student here at Millbrook. Cottino remembers his first year teaching was a bit on the awkward side because Matthew Cottino he needed to get used Class of 2005 to calling the teachers by their first names. “It was a little weird but over time I got used to it.” It’s no surprise that Mr. Cottino’s favorite subject was PE, he had Ms.Hartman and Ms. Sanders who were his favorite

I literally danced through my house and I cried and then I danced some more. I felt like all my hard work from school had paid off.

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teachers. “When I started working here I was really excited to be working with them because I really enjoyed their class when I was here as a student.” During his time at Millbrook as a student, Mr. Cottino loved to play soccer and he had a lot of fun doing it. “My teammates and being part of a team was something that I will always remember. I just enjoyed game nights and being in front of the Molly Hott crowd.” When Mr. Cottino Class of 2008 finished college, there was a position open at Millbrook and he got an interview. “I wasn’t really expecting to come back here, but I was very fortunate that there was an opportunity for me to be here and I was really happy that I could be close to family.”

Ms. Perrault is one of Millbrook’s creative art teachers.“The first year that I came back it was a little awkward to be calling your teachers by their first names. But it’s kinda comfortable to come back to a place where I knew people.

Starting a brand new job right out of college can be kinda scary, so it was nice to come back and be welcomed by people who I already knew. I felt blessed and honored.” Some people don’t always know what they want to do for a career, but Ms. Perrault always knew.

“I knew that I wanted to be an artist. I remember that after school I used to volunteer at an elementary school with my friend and help the art teacher. I got a text that said to ‘check my mailbox, you probably have a letter.’

This is back when texting first became a popular thing, and I remember going home and getting my acceptance letter to JMU and I literally danced through my house and I cried, then I danced some more. I felt like all my hard work from school had paid off.” The people that really helped were her art teacher, Ms.Bean and her English teacher, Ms.Tedrow. “Ms.Bean really helped me by giving me confidence and helped me to realize that I have an artistic talent that I could use. Ms.Tedrow gave me confidence as a writer.”

Ms. Beasley, a former student who once hated writing, is now a proud Millbrook English teacher. “It feels good to be back in the school where I have so many positive memories. Being in the same building is nostalgic and a little weird at times, but it’s a comfortable feeling nonetheless,” said Ms.Beasley. “I often get mistaken for a student, so sometimes it seems as though not much

has changed. It’s also nice to see so many friendly faces in the halls; I have definitely felt welcomed.”

When she was here, English and Marketing were her favorite subjects. “I enjoyed English because I’m a right-brained, introverted person so being able to explore and interpret literature for myself was something that just clicked for me. I loved Marketing classes because they were handsLindsey Perrault on and easily applicable Class of 2007 to real world situations.”

Ms. Beasley was a member of DECA during her years as a student and has very fond memories of the club. “There were a few of us who really bonded, we dedicated a lot of our time to DECA events like running the school store and competing at the state and international competitions. We went to Salt Lake City, Utah and Anaheim, California.

We all still have the pictures and our inside jokes from the trips; they will always be my DECA family!” There are so many amazing teachers at Millbrook, but one that stood out to Ms.Beasley was Ms. Finny, another English teacher.

“Ms. Finny was my favorite. She was my English teacher during my senior year and she helped me really discover my love for writing. She had a level of vulnerability with her students in the classroom that made me respect and admire her. She taught me that everyone is a writer and we all have voices that deserve to be heard.”

Many students come and go through these halls but some come back to share their wisdom, to help shape students into the people they can be. Their impact on someone’s life can be the difference beJenny Beasley Class of 2013 tween career paths.

She had a level of vulnerability with her students in the classroom that made me respect and admire her.

BX CONNECTS | Pages 15 –16

Formation Code:

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Article by | Emily Keller

any have wondered what it takes for Millbrook’s marching band to get ready for the halftime show. Questions range from what the talented young musicians do during their rehearsal to how the formation and music intertwine to make perfect harmony.

The formation is typically decided on what listeners see when they hear the music. “If there is smooth and flowy sound, then we would do a curved set. If there is a really jagged sound, then we would do broken up drill forms. If it’s a really loud sound, then we’re going to get real close to one another and make it compact to be really loud and intense,” stated Mr. Tucker, the band director.

To get each marching season started, marching band students spend two weeks at band camp to learn all the physical shapes on the field. Then they spend all season perfecting it, sometimes relearning it and maybe even changing parts of it.

“It’s all about the mood of the music that we have in front of us,” said Tucker. “Sometimes the shapes in the formations are literal like during this year’s drill, which is plain shapes like birds and clouds. The theme for this year is about the Wright brothers and the first

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flight. According to Tucker, “our show is called With Eyes Turned Skyward and it’s all about the creation of man flying.”

The marching band rehearses each week for six hours and during that time, they work on playing fundamentals and marching fundamentals.

“We will do big chunks of the show and do several pages of drill at once. We also do a full run of the show every rehearsal,” stated Tucker. They drill and repeat over and over again the same couple of sets to make sure that the students know exactly where they are supposed to be and where they’re supposed to go and also for them to know precisely what parts they need to play.

Mr. Tucker has liked all of the shows that the marching band has done over the years, but he really liked the one he did his first year at Millbrook.

“It was during the school’s tenth anniversary so it was all about pioneers and we did music by Aaron Copland.” The reason why Mr. Tucker liked it so much was because it was recognizable music that the crowd could get into.

“We were able to connect to the crowd easily and it was about our school and the pioneers going west.

It was just fun to see that come together.”

Meet the Staff

Fighting Freshmen

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Article by | Grant Myers

hether it’s being in a new place, finding friends, or figuring out what you’re interested in, freshman year can be frightening.

It may not be the easiest time, but despite all that, many freshmen have still chosen to get themselves out there.

Logan Sandefur, a James Wood Middle School graduate, is one of those students. Admittedly, he was scared going into the year, not sure of what was to come. He did not take a shy approach though, as his first few weeks definitely went successfully. He ended up being the first ever freshman to be chosen for Jazz Choir at Millbrook and was cast as Prince Eric in the fall production of “The Little Mermaid.” “I was really scared, but then I kind of found my place in… the music department… and in my classes with people.”

What’s also impressive is how much time he spends at school, going from Jazz Choir at 7 in the morning until musical rehearsal until about 6 in the evening. He has enjoyed all of it, despite

that. “You know, I’m not complaining.” Now, through the first semester, he has made friends and has consistently received support. “It feels like I actually have true friends here for once, as opposed to like middle school and stuff like that, so it definitely feels a lot more at home.”

Logan is not the only one to have an experience like this so far. Gabriel (Gabe) Escalante and Nathan (Nate) Hershberger, two freshmen in choir, have also gotten involved and have thoroughly enjoyed high school so far.

Nate’s impression of the first few weeks of school was positive. “It was exciting, and there are more opportunities than in middle school.” Also, as many other freshmen could agree, Nate goes on to say “not everything is as regulated… you sort of control your own destiny.”

Among these exciting aspects of high school is Varsity Choir (a.k.a.

Men’s choir). Both have fully enjoyed it so far. According to Nate, “Having a separate men’s choir makes it better because you can really explore your range more, and

you get more individual parts.” Gabe thinks “It’s been a very great experience. A lot of people definitely support us on this.” Upon simply having a great experience, most students would need some kind of support or guidance. People like Gabe, who is also playing Flounder in The Little Mermaid, claim they are already receiving that support. With people who have already been part of a choir in years past, they seem to encourage newer students to have an experience like theirs.

Looking forward into high school, current middle school choir students are more than ready to be a part of Varsity Choir as well. Students from Admiral Byrd MS (Gabe’s middle school), serve as an example of that excitement. “When we tell them how great it is, all the guys from seventh or eighth grade can’t wait to come into this program,” said Gabe. In the end, all of this can be used as an example of many freshmen who are willing to become involved at Millbrook because upperclassmen are more than willing to welcome them.

A

Anica Moran Junior Editor

nica Moran is a senior and a junior editor this year for the BlueXpress.

She has been a part of the staff for three years. Throughout these years she has participated in close to every single team that is offered in journalism. The only thing she hasn’t done is web design. Graphics, writing, and videography have been the top three areas she has worked in for the online site and paper edition of the newspaper. Being a part of the newspaper has taught her to become more outgoing and encourages her to talk to people she wouldn’t normally talk to. Moran has learned many helpful skills such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, and Indesign. She has enjoyed her time in high school but is looking forward to leaving next year. She wants students who are thinking about taking journalism to know that it is a very beneficial class full of wonderful people who immediately become your friends.

BX CONNECTS | Pages 17 –18

Cartoon Division Arts & Entertainment

Toon One: Nicole Haulk

Cartoonist: Nicole Hauck, Hope Baker, Matthew Bennett

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n the fall of 2016, the BlueXpress team grew a little larger as it appointed its first official cartoonists to the staff. Starting with two Junior girls, both passionate about their artwork and eager to learn the ways of digital art, the department of the school newspaper has since been growing to brand new parameters of work and creativity - getting crazier and crazier as it goes. Now, a pair of new Juniors has come aboard with our returning Senior to bring fresh ideas to an ever-expanding part of the Journalism dynamic. These are the Toons’ bios, and our masterworks from the fall of 2017. Please enjoy!

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Toon Two: Hope Baker

Toon Three: Matthew Bennett

Oodles of Doodles by Me and You-dles

BX CONNECTS | Pages 19 –20

alex stone presents

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ell, it’s that time of the year again. That glorious time where some jerk on his school’s news publication with a grandiose sense of self and a heart of gold sums up the movies he dug during the previous 12 month cycle. It’s also around then that you read such reviews and with great rage and passion, disagree with him because people have different tastes. Go figure. This may be one of the most impressive years in film in a long, long while. I have seen at least twenty movies that after walking out, I thought, “This has gotta be top ten”. But, alas, some were not so lucky as to grace the presence of this list. However, I would still like to recommend them, so here are some movies that just didn’t quite make the list; The Meyerowitz Stories, Raw, Good Time, Detroit, Jim and Andy, The Square, and The Big Sick. I would also like to add as a foreword that I am not perfect, as hard to believe as that is. I have not seen every single movie this year, but I have seen a good bit of them.

For complete transparency, there are only three movies that did not get a release in my area in time for me to write this review that would likely reshape the list I have arranged; The Shape of Water, Killing of A Sacred Deer, and Phantom Thread. Please, do not flog me in the streets for my shortcomings.

Dishonorable Mention: The Circle The Circle is such a garbage fire that I feel as though it was not worthy of any more of my time and effort. So here’s a review of The Emoji Movie Set inside of a phone, emojis act just like people, kept within a rigid class system in which they are expected to act exactly like their predetermined trait. This is the case for Gene, a “meh” emoji who wants to express emotions aside from apathy, but when tasked with sending a crucial text by his user, he malfunctions, leading him on a path to breaking away from his societal constraints. If this plot seems familiar, it’s because it is; taking distinct traits from popular Disney titles such as Inside Out, Wreck it Ralph and Toy Story. Nearly every trait this movie has is derived from another property. The transition gains no voice from its influence, regurgitated as a soulless hack job that adds nothing new to the genre.

Even the premise of a cheap animated film that features personified advertisements with big name voice actors is unoriginal and frankly, Foodfight did it better. Chronically unfunny and stuffed to the brim with product placement, the Emoji Movie fails on all levels except as a platform for memes.

So, without further ado, here is my list of the best movies of the year, in my humble opinion.

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10. It Comes At Night This movie is the result of one of the most deceptive marketing campaigns I have ever seen. It was sold to me as a big loud monster movie, but is really a focused character study on paranoia and isolation in the setting of ever expansive woods following a society ending infection. This film is special for a number of reasons; its open ended nature, the atmosphere layered with the tension driven story, and most prominently, is the knowledge that even when you make the correct choices in an apocalyptic setting, you may still be met with tragedy. Because people are ultimately looking out for themselves and the benefit of their families, and with that survival mindset, not everyone can win. I honestly can’t delve too deep into the film without giving away a number of major plot points, so to sum it up; if you find yourself in a survival scenario, just die with the infection, it’s much easier that way.

9. your name.

You fall into consciousness, awaken from a dream, but you cannot remember where you fell from. You long for this height, the feeling you know it gave you, but grow in frustration as you fail to recollect something so important and sentimental, you long for something you never had. This movie is that feeling, that confusion, that longing, that loneliness. Infused with Japanese culture and religion, what resulted is a sentimental love story, elevated by its hyper realistic animation style. Everything from a strand of yarn to a billowing robe is animated with such acute attention to detail and care that it is hard to not become lost in its world. This is accompanied by its soundtrack by RADWIMPS that lends an extra layer to the film; I watched this movie in March and I still listen to some tracks to this day. Because this movie is anime, I find it to be a bit of a harder sell when recommending it to friends. This could be directly attributed to the overwhelming culture that comes with it. But this film transcends that and becomes something special, it follows you. It still lingers in my mind, even after a few months of distance.

8. The Florida Project Childlike wonder, juxtaposed against some of the trashiest stuff I have ever seen on film.

This film is heartwarming, brutally real, and overall, a wonderful spotlight on to the realities of homelessness and poverty in the outskirts of Florida, just outside of the most magical place on Earth. This film made me bawl like a baby and this can be lent to each of the individual performances, most notably by Willem Dafoe. He absolutely steals this movie; a hotel manager who cares too much, yet is not entirely in such a position to take action.

He tries so hard to help people who can just not be helped for the life of them. The real tragedy of this film is not its singular drama, but that this level of poverty is something that people face every day, and this instance has happened before and will happen again.

The visuals of the film are gorgeous and the child performances are raw and completely natural. I hope to see Brooklynn Prince on the big screen again soon. My only gripe with this movie is its ending, which is bluntly, utter trash. If they had just cut off 2 minutes, this film would shoot to the top of the list. But, because Sean Baker felt so strongly to return to form, filming on an iPhone as he had done on Tangerine, this movie suffers for it. Staying in my mind like a bad aftertaste after a refreshing beverage.

BX CONNECTS | Pages 21 –22

7. Get Out I can honestly say that I was unimpressed when I first saw this movie. I wrote it off as another cheap horror movie with some mediocre political influences. It wasn’t until 10 odd months after its initial release that I decided to pick it back up on Blu-Ray and watch it with the Director’s Commentary on. It was Jordan Peele’s insight into the film that completely reshaped my opinion. This may be one of the most purposeful and layered scripts I’ve seen in awhile, not only does the film work on a creepy thriller level, but it works on a metaphorical level. Each individual strand of dialogue progresses the themes and plot, nothing is done aimlessly. Each of its influences, although recognizable and quite contrived, seamlessly blend to make something new and powerful; especially for a debut by a first time director, one that specializes in comedy no less. Since that second viewing I have watched it 2 or 3 more times and with each viewing, I have gained some new observation or detail. Skewering both ends of the racial tension spectrum, this film serves to make you question yourself, and make you wonder why anybody would eat Froot Loops like that.

“Skewering both ends of the racial tension spectrum, this film serves to make you question yourself, and make you wonder why anybody would eat Froot Loops like that.”

6. mother!

This is not a movie that you can just like. This is a movie that you will either love and want to watch again, or a movie that you will hate with a burning passion and feel as though your life has been wasted, longing for two hours you could have spent doing literally, anything else. Polarizing in every sense of the word, there is no grey area. Deeply rooted in biblical allegory and hyper subtle metaphor, this movie is a visual manifestation of a panic attack; lucidly dragging you through anxiety ridden scenario after scenario. On a fundamental level, this film is a showcase of technical proficiency, executed with such precision and care, it could be viewed on that basis alone. Varying from bombastic and tightly coordinated ensemble shots to quiet introspection, it’s an absolute feast for the eyes, scraping out gorgeous cinematography from an otherwise frustrating experience. I can’t say that I have seen anything remotely like this before.

(You can read my full thoughts on the film on the BlueXpress website.)

“...an absolute feast for the eyes, scraping out gorgeous cinematography from an otherwise frustrating experience.”

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“Utter vulnerability, a quality I haven’t seen manifested so organically since Moonlight.”

5. Lady Bird Love is attention. There is nothing esoteric about this movie, nothing that hasn’t been said before or won’t be said again in countless other coming of age dramas. But, it is the acute observation and universal relatability that transcends this film. It is not glossy like John Hughes’ vision of teen development and it isn’t as awkward as that of Napoleon Dynamite, but it lands somewhere in between the spectrum, falling in reality. So unrelentingly honest, a deep dive into a real, dysfunctional family. Far too many times I related to the plights of Lady Bird or recognized the familiar arguments she would get into; and this may be its strongest focal point. I think what truly sets this film apart, is its multidimensionality. It works on a flawed and human level, nobody’s perfect, no matter the pedestal that we put them on or how harshly we may scrutinize them. Utter vulnerability, a quality I haven’t seen manifested so organically since Moonlight. I think its most major influence would be a realistic version of Wes Anderson’s Rushmore, with the stage production not being the technical equivalent of Apocalypse Now. The cinematography was acceptable, only reaching greatness in a handful of scenes but the real winner are the performances.

Laurie Metcalf delivers the hard working and well intentioned Mom with astounding accuracy. She had caught my attention before with her monologue performance on Louis CK’s Horace and Pete, and in this movie she gives no less; an absolute scene stealer. When I had initially heard about this movie, I was skeptical. It was making the Film Festival rounds and was met with rave reviews, even shooting to be the highest rated movie on Rotten Tomatoes for a time. I was skeptical, so going in, I think I had a harshly critical disposition. I was proved ultimately wrong, and I am ecstatic to admit defeat.

“Terrible title, incredible flick…”

4. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri This film handles a lot of tricky subjects; a corrupt justice system, rape culture, the moral bankruptcy of small town, the fickle attention span of modern journalism, and yet it still manages to be the funniest movie I’ve seen this year. Terrible title, incredible flick; a real powerhouse. Every actor in this movie gives it their all and pushes out some of the best performances of the year, most notably by the ever outstanding Frances McDormand, one of the greatest character actresses of our time. Pitch black comedy, reveling in its own absurdity, while still centering on an ultimate and grounded tragedy; a grieving mother, seeking redemption for her daughter, brutalized and murdered. I almost feel biased including this film; its writer and director, Martin McDonagh, also made my favorite movie of all time In Bruges, so entering this movie I had impossibly high expectations that were, for the most part, met. It borrows a lot from Bruges while still maintaining its own footing. I can’t recommend this film enough.

BX CONNECTS | Pages 23 –24

3. Blade Runner 2049 This is possibly the worst sequel to Lars and the Real Girl they possibly could have made; yet the greatest sequel to Blade Runner they possibly could have made, setting a new standard for the ultimately unnecessary sequel. Because, at its core, that’s what it is, unnecessary, yet it still manages to take the themes and world built by its predecessor and expand upon them tenfold while still maintaining its own integrity. Creating something not entirely reliant on its origin, 2049 is a true cinematic experience, everything from its sound design and score to its visuals were made to be seen on a format that can handle it. I cannot imagine watching this at home. So intricately developed, from its architecture to its technology, everything feels so organically evolved from its world. The slow pacing of the film could be a turnoff for some, but I found it to be one of its strong suits. Allowing the viewer to bask in the subtleties of the framing of this dense and cozy world that has been designed for our characters. Bar none, some of the most stunning visuals I have ever seen; hopefully this will finally result in Roger Deakin’s first Oscar for cinematography. A technical and photographic marvel, and can I just say; man, am I so very glad that Ridley Scott had nothing to do with this.

2. A Ghost Story “We build our legacy piece by piece and maybe the whole world will remember you or maybe just a couple of people, but you do what you can to make sure you’re still around after you’re gone.” Unique and unlike anything I have experienced in the cinematic format before. What does it mean to be alive, to die? Why do we become attached to things and places that connect us to what we love? Does that love transcend time and space, or are we purely vessels of the form, lingering endlessly? This film is a palate cleanser from the bombastic and fast paced culture of modern cinema. It operates, at times, almost like a gallery, allowing the viewer to be present in a room and empathize with the raw emotions of the delicately framed shots. The framing and score intricately present grief in its many forms while still creating something so… unique. This is quite possibly the saddest movie I have ever seen, and its original score and song “I Get Overwhelmed” by Dark Rooms is so good on its own, that I had stumbled onto it weeks before the film and listened to it on my daily playlist for a while before seeing the movie. I don’t really know how to sum up this film in words. It works on such an abstract level that it’s difficult to create a reference point. If I could compare it to another film it would be like if Interstellar worked. In short, if you can make it through the five minute long scene of Rooney Mara eating an entire pie in one sitting without crying, you may also be a ghost.

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alex stone selects

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ummer love, transposed against the Mediterranean water, calm and crystalline, clearly depicting the rocks beneath it, yet when focused will reflect back an image of yourself. “Call me by your name and I will call you by mine.” This film is a glimpse into adolescence and all of its insecurities, while creating one of the greatest on screen romances of our time. So wholesome and pure, the relationship between Elio and Oliver develops organically as we spend time watching them swim and explore Italy, growing to love them and the world around them.

The performances in this movie are incredible to say the least, and not at all what I had expected to see from otherwise low substance Armie Hammer, both he and newcomer Timothee Chalamet deliver detailed performances riddled with a natural chemistry that leaves the audience wanting more, posing the two to match that of Linklater’s Before Trilogy. The lush, tranquil landscapes and enchanting architecture are only elevated by one of my favorite performers, Sufjan Stevens and his original music for the film; including Futile Devices, my favorite track from his record Age of Adz, reworking it for piano to better relate to the character of Elio. The direction of the film plays on the senses of the viewer; the food, the scenery, the water, it promotes this level of intimacy; I applaud Guadagnino for this achievement. Gorgeous and passionate, I cannot think of any flaws that could take away from this film. The easiest 10/10 I have ever given.

If you disagree, please, feel free to confront me in public and shame me for error in judgement or you could just email me at bluexpress@gmail.com and type alex stone presents in the subject line.

BX CONNECTS | Pages 25 –26

Ryan Baer was struggling to write an English paper, so he came to the Writing Center where Ethan Swaim guides him through the writing process.

Article by | Gwendolyn Zirkle

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he MHS Writing Center is open for business during 5 and 6 periods and welcomes all students to come during their study halls. The writing center is accepting walk-ins, but also has a system for signing up via the Google form that can be accessed by scanning the QR Code on this page. All writing center coaches are ecstatic to help students through the writing process.

“Writing is an essential skill. It’s something that is going to benefit students in the long run, no matter what courses they take, no matter what they plan on doing after school; it helps them to communicate effectively, to build their language, and their ability to interact on many dif-

ferent levels in many different way,” said Mrs. Henderson. This year Mrs. Henderson and Mrs. Spitzer are in charge of the new writing center along with their team of had 14 hand-selected student coaches.

A writing center is a place where students can bring a piece of writing

and their writing abilities.

Mrs. Spitzer has assistance in the creation of not one, but two writing centers. The first was in college at Virginia Tech where she was a first year coach. Then Mrs. Sptizer’s went on to create a writing center while she was teaching at Winnsboro High School in Maryland. “I used to work at Winnsboro High School in Maryland and there we developed a writing center. A group of about 20 students and I worked on that for a year. I did have to leave the position to come to Millbrook, but I’m still in contact with the teachers who took over that writing center.”

Mrs. Spitzer stated that it was her success in her previous writing center that encouraged her to start one

“Come to the writing center,” said Ethan Swaim.

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in any stage of the writing process to get assistance with it. Coaches will be prepared to handle any kind of paper whether it’s a DBQ, a statistical analysis, a scientific report or just any regular English assignment.

They will give honest feedback commending students on their strengths, help students overcome weaknesses, and create confidence in students

Writing Center Opens with Students Helping Students

“Writing is an essential skill” ~Mrs. Henderson

“Writing is an essential skill. It’s something that is going to benefit students in the long run, no matter what courses they take, no matter what they plan on doing after school; it helps them to communicate effectively, to build their language, and their ability to interact on many different levels in many different way.”

here. “I had success at my old school.

We saw that students who visited the writing center had increases in their grades, their writing ability, and their writing confidence, and I think students inherently want to help one another and the writing center gives students the opportunity to help those who can’t get that one on one help from a teacher.” She firmly believes that a writing center adds culture to a school and teaches students to work through stuff as a team.

Mrs. Henderson loves the idea of a writing center. “It’s something that we’ve always wanted to try and establish. We wanted to promote growth, and we also wanted to use our students as instructional resources, so this was a perfect opportunity for us to introduce this to the building.”

Mrs. Henderson and Mrs. Spitzer both have high hopes for the writing center to become something big.

Mrs. Spitzer said, “I hope students find confidence in writing, writing is difficult, it’s a long process, it’s

an overwhelming process for some students, so I just hope that students leave with a sense of ‘if I really work at this, I can do it and I can do it well.’ Ultimately, I hope that all our our students are prepared for their job, military or college experience.”

Mrs. Henderson thinks that the one on one student interaction is going to be the most beneficial to students in the long run. “I think the one on one interaction is going to be awesome because it’s going to give everybody an opportunity to evaluate writing in a different way. It’s going to give the coaches a chance to really think about how they write and how they approach writing as well as how they can help another person improve too. The interaction, the sense of community and the idea that we’re all working together for one common goal, I think that’s really awesome.”

The writing coaches are very excited to help students with their writing. “I think that it will help students with all of their classes and it will help them be successful.” said Kayla Foreman, writing coach. An-

other writing coach, Emily Science, agrees. “I liked the idea of helping other students find success in their classes.” The writing coaches are all talented writers ready to share their wisdom with their peers. Zoe Ackerman said, “I joined because it was something I’d never done before but really wanted. I’ve always loved reading and writing, I’ve always been good at writing and it’s something I’d like to show people how to do.” Not only do the coaches think that the writing center will benefit students, but also themselves. Julia Chalmers said “I want to be able to actually help someone instead of just sitting there and not knowing what to do.”

BX CONNECTS | Pages 27 –28

Meet the Staff

Millbrook Gives Back

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Article by | Madison Lazenby

Madison Lazenby Junior Editor

M

adison Lazenby is one of the Junior Editors for the BlueXpress.

She is also the founder and Editor-in-Chief of the Creative Writing Club and spends much of her time volunteering with NREP and Project Write, inc.

She attributes her leadership abilities to the guidance she has received from the CEO Leadership Program at Muskoka Woods and her experiences in journalism from the previous year. She was especially excited to be a Junior Editor when the BlueXpress released its first magazine!

She hopes to combine both of her passions and study journalism and creative writing in college. Though she is only a junior, she is excited to attend college and learn new things, such as speaking Arabic. She is currently learning Spanish in school, but she hopes to one day speak seven languages.

She believes that understanding people across cultures will be the most useful asset for the future of the United States and the world.

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hen the holiday season was fast approaching, it was hard for Millbrook students to not feel a certain pull towards helping others.

The new HOSA club, dedicated to helping students learn more about and participate in the medical science field, has been serving at a soup kitchen each month, according to the club sponsor, biology teacher Mrs. Harrison. Mrs. Harrison also sponsors the Interact club, known for their community service projects. This year, the club has also been serving at the soup kitchen, as well as supporting an Angel Tree food drive. The Millbrook chapter of the National Honor Society has also supported the Angel Tree by adopting two students, club sponsor, history teacher Mr. Hammer explained. The NHS also rang bells for the Salvation Army at the Apple Blossom Mall and joined forces with DECA to collect food and toys for the eighteenth annual Timbrook Toy & Food Drive.

Ricky Timbrook, whose late father was the inspiration for the project, described the drive as a way to give back to the

Winchester community just before the holidays.

“Some families are not financially fit to have a lot, so this is our way of giving them Christmas presents and stuff like that besides just a good Christmas dinner.” This year, Timbrook said that his role in the drive was “organizing through Toys-R-Us to get toys and Martin’s and Walmart to get food donations, then we brought it all to the police station and organized everything to make sure every family got the same amount of food and, depending on how many kids there were, the amount of toys each family gets.”

Millbrook students were able to support the drive.

The two NHS sponsors,

Mr. Hammer and Ms. Kaminski, had donation boxes set up in their classrooms. Timbrook explained that if NHS members would donate to the drive, it would count as a level one project completion. DECA officers also helped Timbrook source toys from Toys-R-Us. This year, the toy and food drive was able to provide and gifts and a meal to “close to fifty” families--all in the Winchester area.

Timbrook, who is a graduating senior, said that he thinks that the drive has become more about helping the Winchester community than about his family, so he has no doubt that it will continue on after he graduates from high school.

Who picks the days?

Article by | Anica Moran

E

O

n October 7, Millbrook hosted their annual homecoming dance. The first spirit day this year was on Friday, September 29 and it was lazy day where everyone was encouraged to wear sweats. The following Monday was Mismatched Monday.

Tuesday was Decades day and the halls were filled with a look into the past. Jersey day was on Wednesday and Thursday was Character day. On Friday, every class wore a different color and the staff wore tie dye. Freshmen wore gray, sophomores wore

white, juniors wore carolina blue and seniors wore navy blue.

“The SCA officers come up with some ideas and then we propose them at SCA Forum,” said Mellany Groll, the SCA president. “Everyone that comes to the SCA Forum, usually club representatives, can suggest other ideas.

Once all the ideas are presented, we vote on the best ones.” Spirit Week is a way to bring the school community together and get them ready for homecoming.

The days change every year, but the tradition never will.

King, Queen, and Keeler tell all about Homecoming

Article by | Madison Lazenby

laborate costumes, awesome hallway decorations, and a winning football game all characterized yet another Homecoming Week at Millbrook. The event was largely organized by SCA with the help of Ms. Keeler, a business and marketing teacher. “There are always challenges,” she said.

These challenges included getting classes to decorate their doors and “making sure that everybody knew what was going on.” Keeler also said that she thought student involvement during the week was “really good this year,” and said that she saw a lot of participation in the dress up days and the Friday pep rally, which ended the week leading up to the Homecoming game and dance.

At the game, the Homecoming court was presented and the King and Queen were crowned. This year, the title went to seniors Tramell Anthony and Mellany Groll. Anthony, who plays wide receiver and linebacker on the varsity football team, said that though he has been on the homecoming court for all four years, “You never expect to be on the ballot again.” He said, “I was

surprised when I won, I’m not gonna lie. I wasn’t picking myself to win. I didn’t vote for myself on the ballot, if I’m being honest.”

Similarly, Groll, who is also the president of the SCA, said, “I’ve been on the court for three years,” and said she “was surprised, I was happy, excited” when she won Homecoming Queen.

However, she also said, “I feel like it’s kind of unfair because I feel like a lot of other people could be in that same position, there’s a lot of great girls that could fit that description and have honor of being Homecoming Queen.”

The next night, October 7, was the Homecoming Dance. Anthony said, “The dance was good. There was a lot of good music. A lot of my friends were there.” Ms. Keeler said that she has gotten good feedback from

students regarding the music. One thing that made the dance different from last year was how the DJ, who also took song requests on a sheet outside the Blue Tiki Room, was situated in the back of the gym and not in the middle. Ms. Keeler said, “Sometimes you try things and they fail, but then you go back to the way they were. Just logistically, putting the DJ in the middle of the gym didn’t work, so we put it back where it was.” Groll also said, “The dance was worth going to.”

BX CONNECTS | Pages 29 –30

Article by | Grant Myers

Last year, the Varsity football team had an incredible season, finishing 10-2 following playoffs. The team was equally impressive this year, almost being undefeated by the end of the regular season. Still, with an impressive record of 9-1 before the playoffs, Millbrook proved once again to be a strong competitor during the regular season.

There was a lot that went into all of these victories, including the amount of yards put up on offense by the team. They averaged approximately 407 yards per game this season, slightly more than last season’s average of 400 yards. Of course, the team has its fair share of leaders who helped with these stats as well. This included QB Isaac Brown claiming 1,457 yards (mostly passing) as of 10/13, and WR Savan Smith achieving 1,190 receiving and rushing yards on offense by mid-Oc-

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tober.

The 2017 season began positively on August 25, with a 52-13 win against Jefferson High School on the road. Their first home game went successfully, with a 47-7 win against Loudoun County. Their next home game was against Washington from West Virginia, where they scored the most points so far in the season with the largest score gap thus far (74-23). Despite how the game ended though, it did not begin as smoothly as Coach Josh Haymore or team captain Hunter Shaw wanted. The game started out with a few penalties on Millbrook’s side, taking them back to 3rd down and 30 yards to go at one point in the first quarter.

“We were playing fast, just a couple things… we were lazy”. Eventually though, according to Hunter, “... once we got more focused, we started to play better and better as a team.” Of

course though, the game still went well, winning 24-0 at the end of the first quarter. Scoring that quickly, according to Hunter, “... gives you a lot of confidence and deflates the other team’s will to want to continue playing as fast as they want to.”

The following week was an away game against Turner Ashby. Despite the winning score of 62-34, Turner Ashby’s offense still came as a surprise, going for about 470 offensive yards and scoring the most any opponent has against Millbrook this season. According to Coach Haymore, the film they watched from Turner Ashby’s games showed only a spread type of offense. In reality, they ended up running “ three different offenses” and so they had to end up “making in game-adjustments.” Still, he says “That’s no excuse, we should still be able to adapt and play our style of football, which is fast and physi-

“Our guys are very unselfish and just want to win” cal”. Millbrook defeated Fauquier at home 53-31 the following week, and gave Kettle Run its first loss with 40-13 on 9/29. Millbrook’s homecoming game against Handley went well with a 43-0 win, but next week’s game against James Wood came as a slight surprise. They went for 303 yards on offense and won only 24-8, but came back strong next week by winning 22-14 against Liberty (82). However, the next week’s much anticipated game against Sherando did not go as planned, breaking Millbrook’s 9-game win streak. With a 9-1 record though, the team’s hard work did not go to waste.

Despite mistakes here and there, Coach Haymore was very impressed with the team. His opinion on the team simply put, was that it was awesome. “We’ve got a lot of explo-

sive guys on offense. The guys are not selfish one bit, if Savan gets a touchdown, everybody gets excited, if Gavin scores a touchdown, everybody gets excited… Our guys are very unselfish and just want to win.” Every game this season was well-fought, not allowing any game to end very closely.16 points was the smallest score gap this year. Coach Haymore was very impressed with the team’s work ethic. “There were leaders who stepped up this year that we weren’t really expecting… that was really a pleasant surprise”.

Following the team’s final regular season game, Millbrook returned to play Sherando in a Regional playoff game on November 17. Despite achieving 417 yards and coming very close to a victory, Millbrook came up short with a 32-35 loss. Even with

the final two games of the year, the team once again did an incredible job and left Coach Haymore very proud and impressed. Looking back, Coach Haymore and co-team captain Hunter Shaw’s mindsets seemed to be examples of how the team was successful. They both claimed to stay on a ‘week by week’ kind of mindset, not looking too far into the future.

In terms of their forecast of upcoming games throughout the season, Coach Haymore said, “We didn’t make forecasts, we left that to the weatherman.” According to Hunter, the goal was to “be 1-0 every week.”

Haymore concluded by saying they needed to “Keep playing fast, keep playing hard, being physical… we know what we’re about, and what we put on film is actually what we are.”

(On page 31) Savon Smith jumps up to receive a pass during the game against Washington.

Photo by | Kaitlyn Perkins

Millbrook players in a huddle when they played against Loudoun County.

Photo by | Kaitlyn Perkins

Number 1, Issac Brown, gains yardage against Washington High School during a regular season game.

Photo by | Steven Shaffer

BX CONNECTS | Pages 31 –32

Meet the Staff

All the Way to State Semi-Finals The volleyball team tells all!

Article by | Madison Lazenby

E

Emily Keller Junior Editor

mily Keller is a senior at Millbrook and is a junior editor for the BlueXpress. She has been in journalism for three years and it has been a wonderful experience.

Being in journalism let Keller explore different ways to be more creative and helped her be more confident. During her three years, Keller worked on the Playlist of the Week, Sunday Fundays, dipped her toe into photography including Photoshop, Bridge and Illustrator, worked in Indesign for both the print edition of the newspaper and the online newsmagazine edition, spent a few times in the vidography room as a substitute news anchor, worked with infographics, interviewed people, and wrote articles for the online edition, the print edition and the online newsmagazine just to name a few. Keller had made many new friends and advises anyone who is considering taking the class should definitely take part in it because it is worth it.

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With the volleyball season winding down, the athletes that made it all the way to the State Semi-Final championship are feeling proud with a season of twenty-three wins to six losses.

At the start of the season, the team started off with disadvantages, as six seniors graduated last year, leaving only two seniors on the team.

“Everyone was saying it was a rebuilding year,” junior Jordan Reid said.

“We had to regroup and build the chemistry back that we had the previous years.” Senior Kamryn Buza agreed, and said, “We had a lot of new people on our team, but I think we meshed really well together and learned how to play with each other. We were all friends, and it wasn’t hard [to play together on the team].”

One of these new people was freshman Jessica Cleveland. She called the experience of being a freshman on the varsity team “nerve wracking.”

She said, “The first game, I was so scared to get on the court because I thought maybe I would let the team down; I didn’t want to be the freshman to let them down. Being on the varsity team, I feel

like that’s a big deal, so to be able to show people that I could actually do it, [I thought] that’d be a good thing.” However, she also said, “I think toward when we made it past districts, I was really confident in myself.”

Cleveland was also especially proud that the team made it to the State Semi-Final Championships—the farthest the Millbrook volleyball team has ever gone—when she was only a freshman. “I know I have three more years to [get to StateSemi Final Championships] and get further,” she said, looking toward the future; though she also said she’d hoped that the team would make it to states this year and win.

“It was pretty crazy,” Reid said of the experience.

“It was an extra boost of confidence knowing that we were supposed to be a rebuilding group and we ended up going far.” Buza called the season “really great” and said, “We played so well together, better than I think we ever have before.”

Looking toward the next season, Cleveland is hoping she will be able to show more leadership on the team. “I know that I need to work on my leadership,” she said, “be-

cause I was really quiet on the court, and I know [junior] Abigail Koeller really helped me in becoming who I am when it comes to leadership.”

Similarly, Reid said that being an upperclassmen has already given her a taste of leadership on the team, particularly in how she wanted to be someone that “someone could look up to” for the freshmen setters on the team. “I’m hoping my leadership comes out next year,” she said, and added, “I’m sure it’ll hit me during workouts in the spring.”

With Kamryn Buza being one of the two seniors--along with Alexis Weir--who will be graduating from the team this year, she had some advice for the team that she will soon be leaving behind.

“I would want to make sure that they balance their school and sports really well,” she said.

“Sometimes it gets hard, and that’s just one of the things you need to focus on.” Overall, she said that she occasionally struggled with this herself. “Sometimes, when I have had a lot to do,” she said, “but most of the time I’ve gotten everything done that I needed to do.”

Fall Snapshot % 3 2 ors i n Se

12% Freshmen

29% Sophomores

130 Students participated in fall sports during the 2017-18 school year

36% Juniors

BX CONNECTS | Pages 33 –34

Through Injuries & Hardships Fall Varsity Cheer Makes 5th at Districts

Article by | Madison Lazenby

Despite multiple obstacles holding them back--including injuries--the fall varsity cheer team was able to win fifth place in the District Competition.

“Basically, the competition-side of this team,” Ms. Jones, the head coach of cheerleading, explained, “overcame some injuries, and some other obstacles, and really came together well, working to definitely get over those hurdles.” She also added, “A couple of the competitions that we went to right after having some really bad things happen, [the team] pulled it together and got some of their highest scores. It’s kind of like they worked so much better under adversity.” She explained that they

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even had to rearrange their routines last minute, “especially stunt-wise.”

She said that they once had to learn a new routine the morning of a competition, but the team came in second place at the end of the day.

Senior fall varsity cheerleader Josie Morrow said that she has been in cheerleading since seventh grade and also did little league cheerleading when she was five years old, but she was still able to remember her first year on the Millbrook team. She explained, “I learned so much coming in as a freshman by the example of the seniors, so that I was able to lead the team,” when she became a senior. She said that being a leader this year has been challenging since

the team is made up of all girls, but she added, “But for the most part, it’s been really great.”

Ms. Jones was especially sad to see this season end, as the seniors graduating this year, including Morrow, were freshmen when she made her return to coaching fall varsity cheer. “Having those seniors leave this year, after having them all four [years], it’s really impacted me a lot because I’m really going to miss them.”

Morrow gave this advice for the cheerleaders she is leaving behind when she graduates later this year.

“Just stick to it, it’ll be hard, but it’ll be worth it.”

Crossing the Finish Line Article by | Grant Myers

With the end of the first semester of school comes the end of many different fall sports. One strong side of Millbrook’s fall sports season, as usual, was their Cross Country team. This year, the girls’ cross country team qualified for both the Region and State Tournaments, with the boys’ cross country team very nearly qualifying for Regionals.

Both teams had impressive seasons with many strong runners, including junior Maddie Lloyd, who was also rather impressed with what the teams put together this year.

“Overall, for the girls team, I think we had a very good season” she said, but “it was hard at the beginning because a lot of the girls were out with injuries…” According to Lloyd, they were able to come back. “We did end up going all the way to states. We just barely made it out of regionals, which was a nailbiter when you’re sitting there waiting for it,, but getting there was very rewarding.”

She had not been to states since her Freshman year, so “it felt right going back again.”

The boys may have not qualified

for Regionals, but they had a strong season considering everything. “I think for what they had… [Coach] Shirk had to pull up a lot of JV runners, and I think the team they had was a good team.” For the girls, Maddie admits participating at Regionals was a somewhat stressful process. Overall, Coach Kevin Shirk and the teams were successful throughout a competitive season, and they seem to be ready to keep working as the indoor track season begins.

Golf Team On Par Article by | Carolynn Unger

Mr. Manspile has been coaching the golf team for 5 years. He too was on the golf team when he attended high school. In practice he would have the team perform drills and have sessions on the driving range to help improve. He said the past season was very fun like many previous ones. “It’s extremely rewarding as a coach to see players use the skills they’ve learned in practice and perform in matches.”

This season has helped him grow as a coach because he was able to see every member’s skills. “It helped me develop more individualized practice plans to help each player work on specific areas that would improve their game.”

The members of the Millbrook golf team finished the season with new learning experiences and memories that left a positive impact on them. Sophomore Rebecca Collins liked “working with my team and getting better over each of the practices.” She described how the coach showed them how to perform well in a match. “Golfing with other people helps me learn how they do it and then I do it like

that,” she said.

Senior Nick Varcadipane felt that this past season went very well. “I feel like I improved a lot more than past seasons.” Through the seasons he has gradually moved from not playing to being in the one spot.

“It was challenging playing against the other teams because they were really competitive.”

Another teammate, Gabriel Escalante gained friendships and memories during his freshman year. “I really enjoyed myself. This was great for me.” What was most challenging for him was drivers. “I still am pretty terrible at it. I’m better with my irons than I am my actual driver itself.” But he says that he will keep practicing and he will do better next time. His favorite kind of match was when the weather was “any day where it’s a little bit colder and there is some rain but not too much.” This type of environment helps him go into a calm state before swinging.

He definitely plans on playing golf in the future. “It’s a lifelong sport and a lot of fun.”

BX CONNECTS | Pages 35 –36

Xpress Sponsor

Cliff & Debi Campbell Chuck & Lisa Hauck Mr. & Mrs. Price

Blue Sponsor

Jill Stone Oma Lazenby Maribeth & Andrew Carmichael Bill & Julie Lazenby Nancy Schriher

Advertising and patron dollars help support MHS’s newspaper and journalism program. Dollars generated are used to offset the cost of print production, assist with conference attendance, and various purchases made to help keep our program current. You are helping us become an integral part of our community. Patron level is determined by the following scale: Friends $5; Bronze $10; Silver $15; Gold $25; Blue $50 and Xpress $100+.

Gold Sponsor

Beth Keller Jose Moran Rebecca Moran Grant Myers Greeley & Carrie Myers Brian Fox Gordon Burton Christine Webb Mr. & Mrs. Nick Baker Knollwood Community Preschool Beth Blye Jill Ann Keenan The Ranko Family Shane Logan

2018 ADVERTISING SPECIAL Advertise with us and your ad will run online, in print and in our magazine for a one time payment of $75. mhsbluexpress@gmail.com

Silver Sponsor

Randy Larrick Dawn O’Brien Bennett Family Carolynne Paton Leigh Bennett

If you would like to advertise with us or become a patron sponsor, see any member of the staff or contact us at mhsbluexpress@gmail.com.

Bronze Sponsor

Mike Furda Kim Counts John Sherman Kevin & Kristi Unger Macy Logan Tammy Greer Michelle & Brian Patterson Lori & Bill Courson

Friend Sponsor

Barbara Larrick Angela Smith Jeff Abbott Jocelyn Abbott Keesha Brooks Emane Blanson William Gearheart Jacob Gearheart Tammy Brant Alex Stone Matthew Bennett Nicole Hauck Steven Shaffer Dawn Buehler Tonya Keffer Michelle Long Jennifer Stover Matt Cottino

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Pioneer Pride Since 2003

Meet the Staff Athletes Involved in Fall Sports Football 52 Cross Country 37 Cheer 20 Volleyball 11 Golf 10

What is Your Favorite Fall Sport?

100 students took the survey

Football 61% Volleyball 18% Golf 9% Cross Country 8% Cheer 4%

G

Gwen Zirkle Junior Editor

wen Zirkle is a senior and staff member of the BlueXpress. This year, in addition to serving as a Junior Editor, she also works for the writing center, doing a wonderful job splitting her time to serve the school in two capacities. Gwen is still active in journalism and she participates in videography, writing, and directing videos.

She’s earned the title Writer Extraordinaire for her extraordinary writing skills, and she leads the marketing team in promoting the website.

Throughout her time at the BlueXpress, Gwen has learned to cooperate with others and have fun, even when things aren’t going her way. Gwen enjoys coming to Journalism everyday because there’s always something interesting to do. She loves working on the newspaper and participating in class. Journalism has helped Gwen become a better person and has improved all aspects of her life.

BX CONNECTS | Pages 37 –38

Millbrook Prints, or as the BlueXpress has coined it, M-Prints is a media outlet created with the goal to represent our Millbrook student body through posters, photographs, and graphic designs of involved Pioneers. The posters shown below are samples of what the graphic design team has created using staff photos and are available for sale in a 16 x 20 high resolution digital format for $25. M-Prints are posted under the ‘More’ tab on our website at www. bluexpress.net. To purchase an M-Print, see any member of the staff or contact us at mhsbluexpress@gmail.com.

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bluexpress.net

From the Archives Semester 1 Photo Album

BX CONNECTS | Pages 39 –40

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BX CONNECTS | Pages 41 –42

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BX CONNECTS | Pages 43 –44