The Talon
Nov. 2010
Colonial Forge High School
CFHS Cross Country runs all the way to States story on page 11
News (540) - 658 - 6115 cfhstalon@gmail.com
Editor in Chief Lauren Rogers Senior
Managing Editors John Schwartz Senior
Caitlin Russell Senior
Editors Tarah Portland Entertainment Junior
Natalee Rombough Photography Senior
Stephanie DeVaux Opinions Junior
Shelby Ball Features
Sophomore
Kathleen Namey News
Junior
Grace Phillips Sports
Senior
Staff Naoko Branker, Kayla Boyer, Ashley Bruner, Mary-Margaret Bruner, Liza Contreras, Allie Cox,Kyle Doescher, Ashleigh Dye, Katie Garrison, Scott Gates, Jeremy Granderson, Christian Hawks, Alex Hottle, Zachary Johnson, Manuel Lemus, Kevin Leyh, Donovan Moore, Christopher Morehead, Ricardo Morrison, Megan Niewold, Sean O’Neill, Taylor Ross, Chanea Rutland, Hannah Somers, Kristen Steele, Leekeisha Stover, Susan Taah, Emmily Upshaw, Joe Vargo, Kyra Youngblood The Talon is the official student newspaper of Colonial Forge High School. All articles are studentwritten. Views expressed are those of the student writers and editors, and are not necessarily shared by the administration or staff of Colonial Forge. This paper is protected by first amendment rights that are upheld. The staff strives to uphold the highest journalistic ethics and standards. The Talon is printed monthly by Narrow Passage Press. Letters to the editor are welcome. Please bring them to Room 301.
Senior Year, Not All It’s Cracked Up To Be? Chanea Rutland Reporter
Senior year is supposed to be the best year of high school. It’s meant to be the time where you cruise on by, go to parties, dances, and then graduation. Before all that comes, the college application process has begun . . . dun, dun, dun, with the scary piano music playing in the background. Here it is with full force. This process is the most stressful time of your whole high school career. Especially when it comes time to write the essay, you have to worry about making it sound good without using clichés and putting your point across without going over or under the word count. As for Jennifer Vargas (’11), the college application process isn’t so
stressful. “If you start early, it’s not stressful. Since I’m really only applying to one school, which is George Mason, I don’t have to worry about it because I have a backup plan.” Taking your time to fill everything out is very important. “I do things step by step and I don’t rush and I put date by the time I should have something done,” said Jennifer. You also need to have everything on the checklist that each school requires such as the application, the application fee, letters of recommendation, essay, transcripts, SAT/ACT scores, etc. It’s too much to worry about. Then comes the college visits. Once applying for the universities you are
interested in, you should visit them to see if you can picture yourself there. It would be a waste of your time if you got accepted to one of those colleges/universities and realize once you’ve settled in that you do not like the atmosphere there. They say that visiting colleges is just as important so you can get a feel of a school before actually going there. “I don’t think it’s as important to visit a college if you know that one college is the one you want to go to no matter what. ‘I think what is important is when you’re accepted.” Once this is over, you will be able to relax a little bit more and enjoy the rest of senior year.
Tips for Application Process: • • •
•
• • • •
Start the College and University search early. Decide what subject and where to study. Think about Financial Aid, Loans, and grants: Whether you are applying online or paper. Also depending on if you are going to a community college or other university, it could be cheaper to go to a community college and transfer after two years. Know deadlines: Whether you are doing Early Action, Regular Decision, applying for scholarships, keep track of when the deadlines are so you don’t miss them. Don’t stress: If you do, it will make it worse than it already is. Just pace yourself and take it one step at a time so you don’t forget anything. Narrow down choices: Which school is cheaper? Do you like the area the college is in? Does college have what you want to study?, etc. Visit colleges/universities Relax and wait for acceptance letters.
Asthma Outbreak in High School Students Hannah Somers Reporter
When it comes to being aware of the world around us, Americans are more of a “seeing is believing” kind of culture. Our minds tend to sway towards the now and the visible because, quite honestly, it’s the most convenient. Unfortunately, though, our world consists of much more than what we can see. The air which our very existence depends on, for instance, is often overlooked for its invisibility; but to what cost? We, in Stafford County, are encompassed by a massive airshed, stretching from the Industrial Midwest to the East Coast from which the air we breathe circulates from. That which we cannot see is having more of an effect on us than we think. One of the Colonial Forge students being affected by the increasing toxicity of our air is Senior Maren Hunsberger. She began having trouble breathing about two weeks into cross country practice this summer and was soon after diagnosed with heat induced asthma. She now must carry an
Increase of Adolescence with Asthma Number of People ple (millions)
The Talon
Colonial Forge High School 550 Courthouse Road Stafford, VA 22554
2
4.5 4 3.5 3 22.55 2 1.5 1 0.5 0
5-14 years 15-34 years
1979-80 1981-83 1984-86 1987-89 1990-92 1993-94 Years Statistics from CDC, NCHS. Surveillance for Asthma. inhaler with her and use it fifteen minutes before any strenuous activity she wants to participate in. When asked how this change in her life has made her feel Maren (’11) said “developing asthma has made me feel pretty helplessI’ve always been very active and suddenly not being able to perform as well as I could before is very frustrating (not to mention scary when you can’t breathe).” Maren says
that she knows of many other students that have asthma and they often “commiserate about how you just have to learn to live with it, no matter how badly you wish you could breathe properly again.” Mrs. Fillippa Unger, Colonial Forge’s school nurse, says that there has seen a drastic increase in students who have asthma from middle to high school. She says that more students,
who had never needed to use inhalers in the past, need them again because the “health conditions they had when [they were] younger are showing up again.” These symptoms are generally either related to allergies or increased athletic activity, but there are small number of students that deal with symptoms caused by respiratory illnesses. On the up-side, though, Mrs. Unger
says that is “seems like kids can control their asthma a whole lot better” than they have been able to in the past. The education of students about asthma and the things that set of the sometimes deadly symptoms of asthma, like signs preventing sprays in the locker room, has proven to be a step in the right direction for the safety of our students . Any students who may have questions about asthma symptoms or treatment can stop by the nurse’s office. There have also been classes, in the past years, to teach students how to control their asthma and manage their conditions. Mrs. Unger says that these classes have been “very successful” and hopes that they are able to provide them for the students of Colonial Forge once again sometime this year. With the education from these classes and the steps being taken to reduce air pollution, hopefully the health of our students can be improved if not at least preserved.
News
3 No Matter How Poorly I Write This Article, I Will Not Fail Stephanie DeVaux
Juniors/Seniors Prepare for SAT/ACT
Opinion Editor
Scott Gates Reporter
Walking through the halls, you can see the effects that “Report Card-Day” has on students. Some cry; they never saw it coming. Some have already accepted its inevitability, and they become the ones spending all day preparing different ways to break it to their parents. Either way, it’s nothing to be proud of: an F on your report card. Now picture this instead: the day you receive your report cards you glance down at the damage, expecting to see a failing grade in Mrs. Holtschneider’s AP Calculus course, yet your mind is blown as you see no F’s anywhere. No matter what class, no matter how poorly you have done, or how much you have slacked during the year, you don’t have an F. Perhaps a D, but nonetheless you are still passing the class. Crazy as it seems, this is exactly what happened at
West Potomac High School. The widely-feared F has been virtually banished from the grade books; at West Potomac, I’s for incomplete now take their place. Yet it is still possible for students to fail; they have until the end of each semester to make up work before receiving an F. This whole system theoretically encourages students to work harder to learn the material, as opposed to merely accepting the failing grade and getting back to their lives. However, I am pretty sure that this idea is 100% absurd. People cannot expect to get through life taking the easy road all of the time. Throwing out all the F’s doesn’t hold students accountable for turning in their own work on time. Instead, a student can scrape together all of their work before the end of each semester, yet still pass and move on the same as
another student who paid attention and meticulously studied all year. This system basically rewards failure and subsequently punishes success. The idea rejects a valuable lesson: responsibility. And by implementing this new grading policy in high school, adults are grooming the next generation to become lazy, unmotivated, and untimely. Without any consequences, students start to not care either way whether they work hard or not; no matter what, they’ll still pass the class if they can get something turned in before the semester ends. It is nothing less than irresponsible on the part of administrators and teachers alike, and really, all I can say is that I’m glad Colonial Forge is taking no part in this madness.
For many students, college is the driving force behind the hours of homework and studying they do on a nightly basis. While keeping up with homework and studies is certainly important to a student’s college aspirations, even more important are the early Saturday mornings spent trying to show colleges their intelligence and ability to reason on the SAT or ACT tests. A student’s score on these tests often serve as a major determining factor for admission to the college they wish to attend. Students use a variety of methods to prepare for the all-important tests. Some students take the PSAT, offered in October, or attend SAT prep classes after school. While methods for preparation vary among students, most students will agree that hours of studying
in the days leading up to the test date is the most certain way to ensure a high test score. “The week before I took my test, I pretty much did nothing but study,” said Jonathan Hickey, a senior who took the test for a second time in October. Studies generally show that students score higher the second time they take the test. Juniors taking the test for the first time generally will take the test at least one more time, so the first time they take the test does not present as much pressure to perform well. “I just want to see how well I do the first time I take it; I’m not that worried about how I score,” said Manuel Madrid (’12) who will be taking the SAT for the first time in December. For those students who struggle with the format of test on the SAT, the ACT
presents a different format that many students find easier. “I did way better on the ACT than on the SAT. I thought it was way easier,” said Junior Carter Siweck. The ACT is more popular in the South and Midwest, but is gaining popularity in the eastern United States. Many students find the test to be more fair and more effective in showing their reasoning skills than the SAT, resulting in the increased popularity in our area. No matter which test students take or how they prepare to take it, SAT and ACT tests play a major role in determining a student’s acceptance into their desired college. Scoring highly on these tests is one of the few certain ways to guarantee a student will continue his or her education after high school.
A Day in the Life of Mr.Mammarella Allie Cox Reporter
Do you have what it takes to run an overcrowded school? Busy days, misbehaving students, dress code violations, and school equipment malfunctions are just a few things that make up the busy days that Assistant Principal, Mr. Mammarella goes through on a daily basis. “My days start early and go fast,” said Mr. Mammarella about his days. It’s seven fifty a.m., only ten minutes into the school day and Mr. Mammarella is already making rounds within the school. He’s checking that dress code violations being are followed through, and making sure that each translator is here and with the students who need help. He must check that certain equipment such as TVs that can blow images up for better seeing is where it needs to be in order for each student to have a successful
day. During each of these rounds he also takes a quick look into classrooms to make sure that there are no behavior problems. “Every day is about the same most of the time, but there can be more problems or less.” he said of his days. “I check first to see if there is a teacher, because a teacher may have gotten sick and had to leave the classroom with no time to contact anyone to watch their classroom.” What does it take to do this job? “My first priority of the day is to check my email, that’s how I know what’s going to happen in the day.” said Mr. Mammarella. Throughout the day you may find yourself leaving a book or a notebook in the cafeteria or hallways; Mr. Mammarella is willing to help you out by picking it up and delivering them to you. “We’re pretty much like your mom; we pick up
Mr. Mammarella sits at his desk every day, like a king at his throne.
after you all the time.” said Mr. Mammarella Being an assistant principal you find out the secrets of Colonial Forge, like that certain lockers in the hallways may look like any normal wall locker, when really they only pose as a locker. They really hide pipes that run from the upstairs without looking unprofessional. Afterschool
activities must first be run by Mr. Mammarella first so he has time to call for workers to come clean up afterwards. This is most important on Fridays because we must make sure our school is clean on Sunday, when the building is used by a church without a regular building. Before acting out in school, consider who is watching. Mr. Mammarella is able to look through every
camera in the school all from the comfort of his office chair. “I can see up to a month of footage all from my desk,” said Mr. Mammarella. Are you thinking about being where it is not permitted, skipping class, starting a fight, or acting out? Remember that people are always able to see you whether you think they can or not. At Colonial Forge, around eight percent of our students need special accommodations to have a normal day in school. Helping with these special programs for hearing, sight, and learning Mr. Mammarella goes through I.E.Ps; the forms needed to assess the help a student needs. If you find yourself getting a ticket, or joining NHS, Eagle Scouts, or certain clubs you will need to do community service. As
the only high school in the county that does this; Mr. Mammarella helps run a community service program where a student may do extra things like mulching, painting, or stacking books to pay off and community service debts. He does this to make it easier on the student so instead of doing all day work you can work for a couple of hours after school each day. After all the business of his day, students and teachers make it enjoyable by stopping in just to say hi with a smile. This year however will be his last year with us. He is preparing folders and leaving directions for the next person in line to hold this job. “If you are planning on taking Mr. Mammarella’s job you have to supply peppermint patties and coke, because that’s what he does for us,” said Mrs. Norman.
Entertainment
4
Morality in Music
Mary Margaret Bruner Reporter
You turn on your iPod, plug in your headphones and scroll through your extensive library of songs. What do you see? If you ask most teenagers and almost everyone who listens to music, they will admit that most of the music they listen to is full of foul language, inappropriate content and overall immorality. The majority of artists nowadays cannot write a single song without some form of explicit content. With a few exceptions, rap and hip-hop artists are most infamous for explicit language in their songs. In every line of almost every song, there is a curse word. Sometimes they are combined into creative phrases barely resembling the English language. Cuss words have gone from having somewhat of a relation to the lyrics to being an accessory to the song much like someone would accessorize an outfit with a purse.
Another big problem with music today is the use of songs to convey risqué messages to its listeners. With the internet and viral videos almost anyone can access any song. So, for example, a little boy or girl could easily get a hold of “Every Girl” by Young Money, in which the lyrics are degrading towards women with their extreme sexual expletives, or, “All in the Family” by Korn, which has strong sexual innuendo and numerous curse words, without their parents ever knowing. Would you want your little sibling listening to a song with content like that? I think most people would say no. It used to be that anything with a slightly explicit undertone would not be played on the radio or even put on a CD or record but now almost anything is acceptable from songs encouraging drug use, encouraging young kids to have premarital sex, or encouraging young girls to take nude pictures. On the other
hand, some music has really positive messages. Although it is mostly found in Christian music, it can also be found in pop songs. Most notable is likely to be Taylor Swift. While her songs are very catchy they also encourage good behavior in kids, especially teenage girls. Bands like Paramore have never made a song with a curse word in it. Country music is usually the genre credited with the least amount of curse words. Positive, clean music is out there but it may take some searching to find something that sounds good and is moral at the same time. In the words of Plato, “Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything.” So, next time you turn on your iPod think twice about what kind of message the music blasting through your ear buds is conveying.
With today’s pop culture, teens are constantly tempted to negative decision, but look to positive role models through music.
Shoegaze sweeps Indie world with walls of effect-laden sound Drew Lanzafama Reporter
Out of the ashes of the synth sounds used by 80s glam band came the surge of UK Shoegaze and similar acts. The melodramatic attitude of shoegaze directly opposed the feel-good tunes of 80s hair-metal and the hazy sound itself juxtaposed the harsh, aggressive sound of the hardcore scene which was also experiencing success during the mid-late 80s. The success of shoegaze from the mid80s to early 90s and the majority of the bands that enjoyed that success were based out of the UK, hence, UK Shoegaze. The Jesus and Mary Chain and Cocteau Twins both came from Scotland, My Bloody Valentine came from Ireland, and Slowdive (to be discussed in the other article) came from England.
Their successes called attention to similar acts here at home, such as Galaxie 500 from Massachusetts and contemporary acts today, such as Minks. The Jesus and Mary Chain in particular have been credited with laying the foundation for shoegaze. On 1985’s Psychocandy they experimented with their guitars and effects pedals and found that heavy amounts of distortion and reverb can create an immense wall of sound capable of conveying big emotion and intensity without having to be big or aggressive. Though their drum The Jesus and Mary Chain are a popular Shoegaze band set up consisted of only a snare and a floor tom, it still provided enough punch to allow the songs to flow as a only the album, but the genre wailing guitar notes to be traditional pop song should. itself. aggressive, but it could be All of these factors are the It proved that music layered and reverb and still reason for the success of not didn’t have to be think, contain the same intensity. It
showed that it didn’t take a clean production to produce quality pop songs. Picking up on the style and sound The Jesus and Mary Chain had devised, other bands like My Bloody Valentine progressed the movement and created a sound we now associate with the term shoegaze. The guitars are a bit hazier and the group incorporates keyboards and drums a bit more actively into their act. On some tracks the band buries the vocals deep within the layers of guitar, making it a bit less accessible to those who are fans of true poprock. Even still, the album received much critical acclaim and became not only a classic, but a source of inspiration for many contemporary alternative bands.
Members of Guided By Voices and Smashing Pumpkins are just a couple of bands amongst a list of many who have said this record has progressed not only their sound, but the direction of pop-rock as a genre. Since these artists were the early influences of what is being produced today, knowledge of shoegaze allows listeners to understand what contemporary artists are drawing from and provide confidence that guitar-driven music can still be progressed.
5
Features
3
Student’s Volunteer Efforts Inspire Others to Join
Hannah Somers Reporter
On October 16th Joe Nicholson was one of 400 walkers that came out to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Light the Night Walk in Fredericksburg. This walk takes place every year in many different locations across the United States and Canada, filling the streets with dedicated survivors, supporters, and participants hoping to raise awareness and the spirits of those suffering from blood cancers. Joe’s team, who carried red balloons to signify that they were supporters, raised more than $2500: enough to make them one of the top five
revenue raising teams out of the 49 that participated. Joe was a “Champion for Cures”, someone who individually raises $100, by raising $900. It is evident Joe went above and beyond the call when it came to participating in this event; but once hearing about his many other volunteering accomplishments, the Light the Night Walk began to seem almost commonplace for him. Joe Nicholson got his start in volunteering when he started to tutor a group of African refugees with
MTV’s New Show a Hit
support from his church. He now has his own tutoring sessions every Thursday
for these immigrants from the Congo where he visits their homes and helps them
learn English. This work was really where he got hooked on volunteering.
effect” since then. Joe is also involved in the Environmental Club, the Latin Club, the German Club; all of which are planning volunteering events in the near future such as recycling programs and family sponsorships over the Holiday season. He also plans on starting a Humanities Club, where the members will choose a different group every month to raise money for. With all of the stresses of senior year, it seems hard to believe that anyone could have time for Joe (’11) said it all “started so much volunteer work. with the refugees” and that Joe says that volunteering is has started “a big domino
just “one of those things that feels right when you do it.” Joe is an example of how much people our age can really do. It does not take much to volunteer. Even the smallest efforts to serve the community make a difference. All it takes is recycling in the cafeteria, bringing cans to football games, or even just joining one of the many service clubs we have in our school. Are you interested in doing something more? Check out www.volunteermatch.com for volunteer opportunities near you.
If You Really Knew Me...
Donovan Moore Reporter
MTV aired a new show over the summer, If You Really Knew Me, which was loved by many of its viewers. What made the show so memorable was that it was a show that aired to viewers what teenagers really go through, rather than actors/actresses. It showed to people that high school isn’t just a place where kids go to get there education, but also a place where teenagers encounter different issues with racism, problems with “cliques”, bullying, and dealing with drama between students and even their parents. The Challenge Day non-profit organization made this whole experience possible by going to the high schools and having “Challenge Days”. According to their website they said, “The day-long, interactive Challenge Day program provides teens and adults with tools to tear down the walls of separation, and inspires participation to live, study, and work in an encouraging environment of acceptance, love, and respect”. In a typical
Challenge Day, students meet in the gym starting with a warm up activity, then have a big group discussion time, followed by students saying the most famous line, “If you really knew me…”. By the time each show was over students and even teachers were left in tears. Laura Anderson (’11) said, “Whenever I watched a new episode I felt like I was really there at the Challenge Day and felt bad for what some of the students had to go through”. In the big screen movies and talent shows, high school is seen as a place where it’s all hugs and kisses, but it’s really not. What people don’t realize is that it happens everywhere and everyone around them is going through something serious. Senior Briana Blue said, “I learned no matter what where you are there is always someone who has a problem worse than your situation”. You think you might know everything that goes on in a school and about students, but do you really know students here at Colonial Forge?
If you really knew me you would know that people have a misconception of me and I’m actually a sweetheart; you just have to get to know me (Bria Williams, CFHS of 2011)
If you really knew me you would know that I smile all the time because im away from the place I call home…my family constantly judges me for who I am the race I hang out with, they treat me way different from my other siblings (Laura Anderson, CFHS Class of 2011)
If you really knew me you would know that I think my mom is the most strongest single mother ever (Briana Blue, CFHS Class 2011)
If you really knew me you would know that I’m insecure about myself (Gabriela Fabian, CFHS Class of 2012)
If you really knew me you would know that I was adapted at the age of 2 (Lenora Weaver, CFHS Class of 2011)
If you really knew me you would know how afraid of failure I am and how I worry about my career (Adora Addison, CFHS of 2011)
If you really knew me you would know that I hide my true feelings with my smile and I take no one’s word to heart (Brittany Kellman, CFHS Class of 2011)
If you really knew me you would know that sometimes I can’t handle my life (Briana Featherstone, CFHS Class of 2011)
Features Joe Vargo Reporter
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Zombies Invade dia
e M e h t e in
’r Lately in the media there has Theybeen an abundance of vampires in movies, T.V.
and books. These mythical creatures have been a trend in the last five years, but the zombie invasion has always been lurking in the dark corners of the media. Zombies are literally an undead obsession and there is no sign of it slowing down. There have been books, movies, games, and now there are even television series dedicated to these gruesome flesh-eaters. New TV shows like “The Walking Dead” have premiered recently and were well received by viewers and critics alike. “The Walking Dead” aired its first episode on Oct. 31 on AMC, and is already set for a second season. The show was adapted from a critically acclaimed comic book series and already has a strong fan base. “It’s the best show on television right now”, says Jonathan Hickey (‘11). The show is pleasing fans of the ultra-violent with plenty of blood and guts galore! IFC is now showing episodes of “Dead Set”; a British drama in which zombies take over a reality TV show. The zombies terrorize the “big brother” house and show the residents struggling to survive. The show originally aired in the UK back in 2008 but now IFC(Independent Film Channel) has gained rights to play episodes of the show in America. The show is loved by the public and critics, winning numerous awards. It seems like people just can’t shake the thought of a zombie invasion. Zombies have been in the media for decades. Movies like “Night of the Living Dead” terrorized audiences back in the 1960’s. Since then there have been a slew of new zombie movies and remakes of classics. The undead are even invading video games. Games like Call of Duty and Red Dead: Redemption have zombie game modes and additional zombie content. Books have been published about zombies, like zombie survival guides and fictional novels. Zombies have even invaded Christmas stories. In “The Zombie Night Before Christmas” even Santa is zombified. There is even a book for zombie Christmas carols. In almost every form of the media there is an undead obsession. Zombies have always been something people are fascinated with. No matter how fast or slow they run, you can’t escape the zombie epidemic.
Joe Vargo and Alex Hottle Reporters
The Walking Dead was originally a comic book series published back in 2003. Now AMC has adapted it into a Television series. The Walking Dead(TV show) premiered on October 31, the night of Halloween. The Show depicts protagonist Rick Grimes and his struggle to survive the after math of a zombie plague. Rick Grimes was separated from his wife and son amidst all of the chaos. Grimes makes his way to Atlanta, equipped with
C
orm AM t S ” d a e D lking
The Wa
weapons from the Sheriff’s department. He soon finds that the city is overrun with the undead. Struggling to survive, he meets up with a motley crew of survivors, holed up in a department store. There they have to make plans on how to deal with the impending zombies and the best plan to escape the city. The characters conflicting personalities make for some tense situations. The acting is well
done and the characters are dimensional. The series is less about actual zombies and more about how the survivors are pushed to the brink of extinction. The survivors disagree and fight amongst themselves and each character struggles with the zombie invasion differently, but when the characters work together, it is compelling. You will be hooked, watching to see if they can pull through and survive, or if the zombies will take over.
Top 10 Zombie Video Games
Top 10 Zombie Movies
Resident Evil Call of Duty Zombie Mode Dead Rising Left 4 dead The Last Guy Dead Space Alive 4-Ever The Reckoning MediEvil Plants Vs Zombies
28 Days later Resident Evil Zombieland Night of the Living Dead Diary of the Dead Quarantine Dawn of the Dead Land of the Dead Zombies on Broadway Shaun of the Dead
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Colonial Forge How
ugh o r h T t I e k to Ma
Alex Hottle Reporter
In order to survive a zombie apocalypse, it’s important to be prepared for anything and everything. When the day comes that there is a zombie outbreak, everyone on Earth should be ready for action. Max Brooks’ book of The Zombie Survival Guide, will help you stay alive. Brooks helps you follow a critical plan that will lead you to success. It also includes zombie psychology; behavior, tactics, and weaponry that will create mass destruction. Although this book contains imperative information, the most powerful weapon is your mind.
Features
Are Eagles Believers?
75%
of students* believe Zombies are/could be real.
44%
of students* believe a Zombie apocalypse could happen.
*of students interviewed
[The most effective way to deal with zombies is] “antidote gas, like from a crop duster plane.” -Taylor Enterline(‘11) “We have not had a Zombie Drill at Colonial Forge so I would have no clue what to do!” – Aaron Schlotterer (‘11)
Features
8
Students and teachers choose to go the vegetarian route Katie Garrison Reporter
Can you take the breathtaking jump into no longer eating meat? Mr. Kountz and Marie Loduca (’12), along with many others have made this jump. Both Marie and Mr. Kountz have gone about a year without eating meat and both plan to continue along this path. “I have [recommended vegetarianism to my friends]; most of them do not take it that seriously though.” Mr. Kountz says, “I feel like it’s the right thing to do, it’s better for the environment as well as it’s a healthier option.” Marie has explained “[I do it for] health reasons, but that’s not the most important reason. It’s because I feel like I need
something to give back to the world.” Many people like Marie love animals and believe that not eating animals will hopefully save at least one animal. Many vegetarians are tormented by their family and friends that disagree with their decision to be a vegetarian. Mr. Kountz explained that his family is the opposite. “My parents support me; my dad is a vegetarian as well” said Mr. Kountz. Marie says, “My dad wants me to eat meat and get over it. My parents own the restaurant Vinny’s, and there are only like two vegetarian options on the whole menu.” Even at school
it’s easy to get a hold of a vegetarian lunch. There is always the salad bar as one option and usually they have pizza as well. If you simply tell the lunch lady that you cannot eat the pepperoni they will usually grab you a piece of cheese from another line. Even though you can buy vegetarian food at school, you will still catch Mr. Kountz eating his PB&J sandwich. Mr. Kountz muttered that Olive Garden is his favorite place to eat, but he did not want to say that because he thinks its lame. But he did say, “Usually Italian places are good. It’s the safest [vegetarian] route. They have all the pastas and many of the sauces can be made
TOP 5 FAVORITE FOODS
without meat in them.” If you could not guess, his favorite foods are pasta and lasagna. Mr. Kountz said “Morning Star is really good, as well as Boca Burgers. There are also a lot of meat substitutes that taste really close to what the actual meat taste like if you really have the urge to eat meat. The best Morning Star would be the chicken patties.” “Vegetarianism is a good thing to do because you can think of the world beyond human aspect and think of it as our world, not my world.” said Marie.
MOST ADDICTING FOODS
TOP 5 JUNK FOODS
Chocolate.....................25% Chips.......................22.22% Ice Cream................16.66% Fries.........................13.88% Cookies......................11.1% Gum...........................11.1%
Chips.................34.8% Ice Cream..........11.5% Cookies.............12.3% Chocolate............8.9% Fries....................7.8% Other..................24.7%
Pasta................17.97% Seafood.......... ..15.77% Sushi................11.23% Pizza................10.11% Chicken.............6.74%
Mayo 5%
Pecan
Sweet Potato
Chocolate Mustard 1%
Hot Sauce 9% A.1. Sauce 3% Pumpkin K
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Features
9 Why are we The Eagles, anyway? John Schwartz Managing Editor
Take a look at the name of our school. Colonial Forge. Doesn’t that name evoke images of our founding fathers, standing around dressed like blacksmiths and pounding away at some hot iron? But then pan to our mascot. A bald eagle, named Apollo. There has got to be something I’m missing here. Now I know what you’re saying, “the eagle is representing the colonial part of our name by symbolizing our great nation.” True, the bald eagle was chosen in 1782 when a seal with the bird grasping arrows in one claw and an olive branch in the other was adopted by the Continental Congress. But Colonial America ended in 1775 along with British rule, so that still does not work. No, I think we need to
center in on the forge part of our name. The possibilities are endless. Hephaestus, Greek god of the Forge, was also god of volcanoes, fire, metals, etc. Molten Art would feel more at home with our plethora of new names-our newspaper, rather than the Talon, could be renamed the Spark? The Blacksmiths instead of the Eagles? Hot off the Forge rather than Eagle Eye News? I don’t have anything against the bald eagle, don’t get me wrong. I would just prefer a more appropriate mascot to represent our school. Something unique. The bird mascot was already taken by Brooke Point technically, which opened 6 years before Colonial Forge. I for one welcome our new blacksmith overlords.
A Spoiled Standard
Lauren Rogers Editor-in-Chief
We all grow up hearing our parents, grandparents and generally anyone older than us say, “Back when I was a kid…” or “You should count yourself lucky that..” and most of the time, they’re right. Our generation is spoiled, ignorant, and to put it simply, cyborgs. We get iPhones at nine, Mercedes before our Sweet Sixteen, and think that we know it all because we tune in to the Colbert Report at night. Although this doesn’t seem to bother most of us, it bothers me. I pull into the parking lot at school to see some kid in my Government class rolling up in an Escalade SUV, and a girl who sits two tables away from me at lunch pull in next to me driving a Saab. I’m sorry but that’s just not right. My family, personally, doesn’t go without. However, I wasn’t raised with everything handed to me on a silver platter, nor have I grown to expect it. I don’t care how well off you and your family may be; a
16-year-old’s first car should not cost more than two years at a state college. Our generation is becoming so enveloped in the upper-class lifestyle that we don’t realize that, not only are we driving our parent’s wallets into the dirt, but frankly we are coming across as bratty children who whine until we get what we want. And then five minutes later we are thinking that we can talk politics with a 40-year-old on an equal level because we attended the Rally to Restore Sanity. If we could all just manage to do without the “Robot Unicorn Attack” App at our finger tips for a day or two, get off our high horses, and maybe arrive at Prom in a 1992 Honda CR-X rather than a $38,600 BMW 328i xDrive Coupe, we could humble ourselves. Though, I highly doubt even 10% of the student body would be willing to sacrifice a minute of texting back one word answers and “lolz”.
Winter fashion brings classic styles back into vogue Donovan Moore Reporter
The winter season is quickly approaching meaning colder weather, snow, and a change in student’s fashion. It is officially now time to put away the Gladiators, Rainbow flip flops, shorts, and summer dresses. Instead, boots, sweaters, pea coats, and hoodies will be on the scene! People have in mind a basic look for the winter season, but some students here and that have graduated from Colonial Forge have a different look in mind this winter. “The trend this winter for girls with be shirts with some nice tights and a hot pair of boots to top it off”, said Beau Bouie ’12. Looks such as old vintage sweaters, cardigans, leather boots, and destroyed jeans are all items of clothing that will be in this winter. Mia Cox ’12 said, “Stores that I prefer and a good place to shop are American Apparel, H&M, and Urban Outfitters”. Other stores that are great to complete this look are Kohl’s, JCPenny, Old Navy, Journeys, Aeropostale, and
a new trend which is thrift stores. Thrift stores such as Good Will and The Village have become hot spots for high school students to shop at. Little do people know these stores carry actual brand name clothing that appeal to the average consumer. Kodi Witty ’13 said, “Thrift stores a perfect place for shopping because believe it or not they might have something nice that no one else have, like they say one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Also, if you like vintage/old fashion it’s a great source”. In the end, when it comes down to finding your favorite look for the winter make sure it’s something that you like and feel comfortable in. “People should shop at stores that carry your particular style, if you love skateboarding shop at Pac Sun or Zumiez. If you into detailed fashion & mature looks shop H&M, Forever 21, etc.”, said CFHS Alumni Chris Njie. Being you is best not only in life, but when it comes to fashion. So whether
Kodi Witty (‘13) shows off a bit of Winter 2010 fashion. (photo courtesy of Beau Bouie)
you’re rocking leather boots, a pea coat, or some lace leggings make sure you wear
it like non other & know that you’re possibly giving inspiration to others.
Stranded for the holidays? Go on a Stay-Cation Mary Margaret Bruner Reporter
So, your parents have planned this extensive vacation to the Bahamas…a fancy hotel, the best restaurants in town, scuba diving, deep sea fishing. Now, there is one problem: unbeknownst to you, it is a couple’s vacation. What now? You could mope around the whole time dwelling on the negatives or make the best of it and have a staycation. What is a staycation, you ask? Well, it is a combination of a vacation and staying at home. If you do not have the money, time, or patience to plan an all out vacation a staycation is just your thing. A staycation consists of turning your home and the town in which you live into a fun vacation spot. Not only does this save time and money, it decreases your carbon footprint because it does not require long drives
or airplanes. However, vacationing at home can present some problems. If you do not take care of all your chores before “going” on staycation, you will simply get sucked back into your normal life. Similarly, things like cell phones and laptops can draw you back in. So do your chores, put away the phone, and turn off the computer and get ready to have fun. Planning a staycation does require intense planning, although it takes far less time to plan than a regular vacation. First and foremost, you must know what you are going to do. Since its getting a little cold outside, you will need to make sure your activities are weather appropriate. With this in mind here is a list of a few things to do on your winter staycation:
Ideas For Stay-Cationing 1. 2.
3. 4. 5.
6. 7. 8. 9.
Be a tourist. Pretend that you are a tourist and visit historic spots around town and do all the things a tourist would do. Do not be afraid to pull out the fanny-pack! Cook. Grab one of your mom or dad’s recipe books and cook a whole meal from it for your friends (and/or siblings if they are with you). If you have little siblings, let them help you cook. It will help them learn their fractions and measurements! Host a video game night. Invite a few of your friends over and play all of your favorite video games. Combine this with number 2 for some extra fun. Create a work of art. Even if you are not the most creative person, painting or drawing can be very relaxing. If that does not suit you, pick up an instrument. Make a YouTube channel. Make a few silly videos ranting about something or covering your favorite song and see how many hits they get. However, make sure this is okay with your parents before starting! Make some extra cash. Babysitting is always a good way to make a few extra bucks. If kids are not your thing, rake a lawn. Have a movie night. Get your favorite movies together and watch them all. Also, try discovering new movies! Read. Not only does reading increase your vocabulary, it can be fun. Figure out which genre suits you best and head over to the library to pick up a few books. Clean your room. While cleaning is not the most enjoyable activity, it is necessary. Take this time to go through your clothes and old things. Get a bag together of items you could donate to your local Goodwill or charity.
Features
10
Can’t Fade It. Good Jont. (What did I just say?)
Megan Niewold Reporter
If you’ve ever mispronounced the word “Jont,” you’re about to learn how to use it. If you’ve read conversations online that include the word “Fade” in the conversation, you are about to learn how to use it yourself. If you have ever used the sentence “I can’t fade this Jont” you really need help… or so I learned. “It’s like don’t with a J,” Darin Sharpe (’11) tells me (but don’t put the apostrophe in Jont.) I tried pronouncing the word and again I was corrected. If you’re pronouncing Jont as “Joint” then you are also correct, well depending on whom you are talking to. Every 3 out of 5 people I talked to told me it was “don’t with a J,” and not “Joint.” The thing is though, no one is really wrong. If you want an exact definition for the word, well I can’t give one to you. “Jont means a thing, it can be anything, any good thing,”
says Eddie Menjibar. The English language is being quickly replaced by this one word. This “jont,” if you will. Urban Dictionary defines the word “Jont” as “Any object in the language.” For example, say you’re walking down the street with a friend and you see a small child in a stroller; instead of saying, “hey, look at that cute kid in the stroller,” you would say, “hey look at that Jont in the Jont.” Sure it’s a little less specific, and your friend may not know what exactly you are talking about, but if indecisive is what you are looking for then Jont is the word for you. But please remember that you really should not use the word in your English paper, because it is not actually correct. “Jont” on Urban Dictionary is like the “Jont” on Wikipedia; more than likely it is not completely accurate. Except this really is a word and people really do use it.
A Talon Reporter demonstrates the latest lingo.
The question is: will you start using that jont? I don’t feel like fading writing this article. Wait, that sentence is not
grammatically correct. Sure “don’t” has an apostrophe in it, and technically it is a full sentence. But in terms of “Fade” it is wrong. The
only word you can use in front of the word “Fade” is “can’t.” (Except for “can” on occasion) You may not use any other verbs or adjectives. Plus don’t forget you should not use fade with the word Jont. Anyway, now that you know the basics of the grammar, you need to know how to use it properly in a sentence. “Fade means you can’t handle something, or it’s too hard,” Says Bryan Pitts (’11). It also can mean, you don’t want to do something but you have to. I walked around the school, went to gym classes, and lurked after school, just to find someone with a sentence that used the word “fade” other than “I can’t fade it.” I came up short; I asked everyone the same question “Can you give me a sentence with the word ‘Fade’ in it?” Apparently, yes, they could, the problem with that however was that
they all gave me the same sentence. “I can’t fade it.” What they couldn’t fade, and why they weren’t “fading it” puzzled me deeply; especially because I still cannot tell you what “it” is that these people are fading. It could be homework, class, practice, girls, boys, weather, etc. Please let me know when you find out, actually don’t; I do not want to know that Jont. (Word used!) As slang words go, “Jont” is probably the most difficult, and Fade is rather simple. The only reason Fade is easier is because you can only pronounce it one way. My mind has been blown, and I am quite confused but since my vocabulary has been expanded it’s alright. I just can’t fade it.
German chaos and careful calculation in Frau Mades’ class Shelby Ball Features Editor
There is no class in Colonial Forge more crazy, strange, animated and educational than the German class, ruled by Frau Mades. I spent a day in her first block Y day class to find out what really goes on behind the scenes. The rumors that have circulated around the school and the downright admiration or fear from the Latin students have always interested me so I decided to find out what a normal German class was really like. When you first entered the class, it’s as if you step into a whole new realm of the school. The language was a mix of both English and German, similar to the so-called spanglish. A rapid fire question and answer session began in earnest. Frau Mades grades by a stamp
Students in Frau Mades’ German class demonstrate their knowledge of the language using stuffed animals and other props.
method. Each teen has a handmade booklet in which they receive a stamp for every correctly answered question and participation. Students can earn points by answering a question, talking
to older students, and just participating in the class. If you do you work, it is an easy way to bring up your grade but it does require the student to participate learn. One of the strangest
things in the class was the failure. Every time a student got a question wrong Frau Mades would talk them through it, and the students could learn from their mistakes.
The class is built on creativity and the rampant imagination of an amazing teacher. Because the class is located in the middle of the building, it becomes a cell with no hope glancing through a window. Frau Mades didn’t let this stop her though; she cut out cardboard to create her own windows which can be filled with any picture or drawing the class desires. Frau Mades and her classes create stories to learn new words. “We had one go on for two years once,” she said. Every class has their own story to weave, this one started with a girl going to the window and “dancing passionately” around the room. Soon enough though, chaos erupted. Frau Mades tossed out stuffed animals to the excited
students. She gave a command and every student turned to wall, catapulting their soft missiles toward the board. It’s an easy way to learn when you are doing, “when they learn the word for run, we go out and run,” she told me. One of the best parts of the class is the teacher. Frau Mades can speak five different languages and read about nine. She has been known to be one of the most spirited of Forge’s teachers even though she has only been here five years. The way the students in Frau Mades’ class learn is completely different from most, but like all subjects it requires work and perseverance and is not for the faint of heart.
Sports
11
Colonial Forge Cross Country Strides Ahead Megan Niewold Reporter
Hard work, motivation, and persistence have paid off for the girls and boys Colonial Forge cross country team this season, as they placed 2nd and third in states [boys 2nd, girls 3rd.] This is the first time in Eagle history that both teams have been able to stand on the podium with other top teams. Through their tough but worthwhile season, the cross country team stands with pride and intend to go onto nationals.
Early conditioning started this summer on June 28th, to get prepared for an unforgettable season. The real practices started up during the first week of conditioning. The team also has multiple Saturday practices, along with an occasional Tuesday/ Thursday motivational movie to get them into the winning spirit. With grueling runs, ice baths, and team bonding they were prepared to do anything to make their
dream of winning come true. The team went into the meet as the underdog; no one expected them to win. There were five other teams whom everyone had expected to come out ahead, and Colonial Forge surprised everyone when they overcame the previous losses and won. The boys team beat Stafford Senior High School at districts, but both teams moved onto regional’s; Stafford came out ahead at Regional’s, but at states the
tabled turned for good and the boys cross country team beat Stafford once again. The girls were 10 points away from first place. Maggie Walker High School taking second, and Midlothian High School bringing home first. The boys however had a secured spot in second, the gap between first and third weren’t as small as 10 points. If either team gets top two in the next meet they go onto nationals. Third place however is also
an option; in cross country a wildcard is pulled to see which team is qualified to go as well. The wildcard sees how well the team has done in previous meets, and Colonial Forge is hoping that all of their out of state meets will help them win that spot. The team went to Texas this year, to compete in the Nike South meet; as well as North Carolina to compete in the Great American Race. The next meet is at the end of November, going
all out to show Eagle pride is what our student body is for. The team needs all the support they can get, because going to nationals would be a first in Colonial Forge history. The team hopes to continue their winning season; with all of the hard work and determination they have shown, it should pay off.
Girls Soccer Faces New Changes Kristen Steele Reporter
young team,” junior varsity coach Mrs. Keppeler said, “so it will be important to build the confidence necessary to win.” For Coach Keppeler, things are going to be a little different this season. “I learned her system, now I have to learn his system. It’s going to be different this year,” she said. Both Coach Gambale and Coach Keppeler have talked about the changes that will be brought to the program in the 2011 season. “I will be able
choose the junior varsity team by myself,” Keppeler said. “And I will also work with the varsity coaches to select the varsity team.” For returning players, such as Devon Burke (‘13), the majority of the team is looking forward to “coming together and working as a family.” “At Forge, we have a tradition of excellence,” said Keppeler. “We lost a lot of seniors last year, and we have returning players that will provide leadership to this young team.” The team is holding after-school conditioning
every Tuesday and Thursday from 2:30-3:45. The team is also participating in an indoor soccer league at the Fredericksburg Field House, with two teams from Forge having the opportunity to play against the other high schools in the district. Until tryouts in late February, the team will work together to find out each other’s personalities and playing styles. As for Coach Keppeler, her mindset going into the 2011 season is “Practice like a champion, act like a champion.”
Color Page
The Forge girl’s soccer team, which is coming off of a district championship winning season in 2010, will have a new head coach, Bronson Gambale. Coach Gambale, who coaches a few travel soccer teams in the area, is bringing some fresh ideas to the well-built program. Coach Beale, who has ran the program for the past six years, decided to resign at the end of the 2010 season. That left an opening for a different coach to take control of the program. “We’re a very
Athletes make good, bad, and just weird food choices
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Jeremy Granderson Reporter
NBA player Lamar Odem is known for his amazing performances on the basketball court averaging double digits for the Los Angeles Lakers. We all understand that he has reached his level of professional athleticism through hard work and years of practice. But little did we know that his obsession with candy is one of the reasons why he plays with the abundant energy he has every night. Lamar Odem eats candy before and after every game, practice, press
conference, or whenever he has an opportunity to eat whatever type of candy is visible. Although many nutritionists and doctors believe his obsession is crazy and will not benefit him in the future, Lamar Odem and his fellow teammates believe that he should stick with whatever helps him play so well every game even if its large amounts of candy. Many athletes at Colonial Forge can relate to Lamar Odem by eating a type of food that they feel fuels them before
every competition. Corey (’11) who plays football at Colonial Forge says he has eaten Burger King before every game, and said, “It gives me a boost of energy because I’m not hungry anymore.” Similar to Corey, David Klemick (’12) who runs for the Colonial Forge Cross Country and Track and Field teams says along preparing for every race eats a turkey Subway sandwich . Both athletes are part of very successful sports programs and what they eat before every competition may be a
major component for their success. Even though many doctor or nutritionists don’t agree with the eating habits before games, such as Lamar Odem and his crazy candy addiction, many athletes seem to produce the best results. Having one of the top football and cross country teams in the state, whatever they eat before games is obviously giving them what they need to2 be Folio Copy the best athletes at Colonial Forge.
Sports
12
A Day in the Life of Blake Frohnapfel Megan Niewold Reporter As the quarterback of the varsity football team, everyone makes assumptions about Blake Frohnapfel’s life. During football his life is stressful; he takes difficult classes, and has a job working at Sport and Health Gym. He manages to keep his spirits up though, making funny comments, spending the majority of his money at Wawa, and keeping his life as low key as possible. Blake and his brother Eric Frohnapfel alternate days on who drives to school, listening to Lil Wayne, random CD’s with songs on them, John Mayer, and the old Maroon Five.”I sing all the time in the car, well depending on who is in the car with me,” Blake says. In the mornings Aqil Tweedy (’11) or Trey Hinz (’12) come sit in his car until 7:30 when they walk in. “I never walk in before 7:30 but never before because I hate walking around aimlessly,” he said. Arriving at school late doesn’t seem to be a
problem, unless of course it is because Blake’s sitting in his car singing to the song that’s playing. During the school day Blake buys lunch and then extra lunch because he is always hungry. Every day he gets two bags of fruit snacks – two is the limit – he has been getting them for so long that the lunch lady knows exactly what he is going to buy when Blake is standing in line. As classes go Blake is in three AP classes, 1 DE, Strength and Body, Global Issues, Sports Marketing and Government. Blake said that “AP Bio is mad hard and when I don’t fail the tests I see it as a reason to celebrate.” After school every day Blake has football practice, except on Fridays when it is game day. Practices are hard as Coach Brown makes them run plays until they do them right, and discipline is a big factor on the football team. He is the quarter back, so he
gets the ball then looks to throw to the wide receiver for a touchdown. Blake has a football scholarship to Marshall University in Huntington West Virginia. “My life is stressful during football season, but mostly it’s just the recruiting process.” The typical Disney Channel jock is tall, muscular, mean, and carries a ball around in the hallway; Blake is almost the opposite. Of course he is tall and strong, standing at 6’6, but he doesn’t flaunt the fact that he is the quarterback. “I don’t take kids lunch money, or walk around trying to steal guy’s girls’ or go to parties every weekend.” On game nights he mostly keeps to himself, praying before each game and trying to keep his nerves down. Helping the Colonial Forge Eagles earn the district title, and moving onto regional’s is the next step in Blake’s life.
Daily Schedule: Wake up: 6:05 every morning, shower, and then fall back asleep Drive to school while…singing in the car Turn swag on: not really 7:30 walk into school, but never before It’s a Y Day: time to cry. It’s an X Day: easy, possibly coloring? Mack on the girls: school is way more enjoyable when you have someone who you’re talking to! Football Practice: it’s kind of hard, seeing as they’re champions! Driving Aqil: he lives about 40 minutes away, but it’s worth it.
Five Things You Didn’t Know About Blake: 1. He loves grizzly bears, they are his favorite animal 2. He isn’t the stereotypical jock: “I don’t take kids lunch money or walk around stealing other guys’ girls, I’m low key.” – Blake 3. He was born on his dad’s birthday 4. He sings all the time in the car 5. His favorite place to eat is Moe’s