hampton roads academy
the compass Vol. VI, Issue IV
739 Academy Lane, Newport News, VA 23602
May 2009
Opinion
Opinion
Features
Features
AMERICA BUYS BAD BUSINESS Page 2
NEW ATHLETIC REQUIREMENTS Page 2
FAKE TANS REPLACE SUN Page 5
SENIOR COLLEGE PICKS REVEALED Page 8
Mr. Harvey reminisces with senior writers By Ian McFarlane
Editor’s Note: A few weeks back, seniors Ian McFarlane and Alex Fenker went to talk to Mr. Harvey on matters of utmost importance: reminiscing about times long gone. The text of their conversation follows: Fenker: So this is your first sixth grade class all the way through 12th grade, so what does that mean to you? Mr. Harvey: It means a lot to me because it’s the first year
and a beginning of a new time. It becomes a legitimacy issue. There are three sources of legitimacy for a leader, not success, not accomplishment, not performance, just legitimacy. Mr. Harvey, headmaster of Hampton Roads Academy He’s legit, he’s “the Head.” when no student in the school A committee interviews you a ever remembers another Headboard says, “You’re the guy,” master. And there’s not a finaland they give you the keys to ity, but clearly an end of an era the office, they give you the parking space, you’ve got the trappings, you’re the head. The second is charisma. Obama is loaded with charisma; it’s the source of his legitimacy, his Italian Ice. speaking power, his articulation As with many arguments in the and it works well for him. Chalounge, we were calm, and respected risma is very fickle as a source each others’ opinions and let everyone speak without interruption. As a result, of legitimacy. It can be very effective and it can also bite you. though, we could never come to a definite conclusion. Because sometimes people hate Knowing that the proof is in the hot dogs and I’m sure they’re pudding, or in this case the frozen going to resent Obama for his dessert, I decided that this was too high profile. The third and final, important to let go, especially since I and most effective source of knew Rita’s was incomparably better. The results of the poll taken by legitimacy is tenure. You’ve “The Compass” were overwhelmingly been around a long time, people in favor of Rita’s. Sixty-seven percent look back at your tenure, they of the student body would rather have assume you’re the head, you’re an Italian ice exploding with real fruit in place. It allows you some flavoring. Fourteen percent of you would rather have crushed ice with cushion because if you make artificial flavoring. After reading this a mistake or make people article, the 19 percent who have had mad, they don’t immediately neither should use this crushing defeat say “Let’s get rid of this guy” to try Rita’s. I recommend a Georgia because you’ve been around Peach Gelatis, my personal favorite.
A question for the ages: Rita’s or Sno Zone? By Andy Parrish Day-in and day-out, the senior lounge is a breeding ground for all kinds of arguments. On the first day of spring, “Free Rita’s Day” as many of you are aware, one argument rules supreme: the debate as to which is better between Snow Zone and Rita’s
long enough that it doesn’t occur to them that you some day might not be the head. That’s an important part of reaching this point. People think if you’ve gotten there before them, then you’ve been there forever. So it is important. This is an important milestone. McFarlane: Let’s see what we can remember from sixth grade, specifically… Fenker: I remember meeting with you in the classroom, and you had us all sit down. Mr. Harvey: That was eighth grade, I think. Fenker: I thought we had a meeting with you in sixth grade, too. Mr. Harvey: I think I remember the eighth-grade meeting because that was when the class had begun to gather a lot of support and affection from the faculty, the middle school faculty loved that class in eigth grade. I remember, walking into the eighth-grade version of that meeting, thinking that this was a special class and that it was one to watch. And there were thoughts about how long you are going to stay. And I remember thinking, and that is another poignant part of our history, where I am going and wouldn’t it be poignant if we came together and left together, wouldn’t it make for a nice graduation speech. Well, that didn’t work out. For better or…for better. But there is that moment, that
See Q&A on p. 3
Mr. Lewis heads south to lead S.C. upper school By Marcy Johnson It is time for us all to say goodbye to our beloved Dean of Faculty Mr. Lewis. After seven years at Hampton Roads Academy, he is ready for a change. The Lewis family will move to Colum-
bia, S.C., over the summer. His youngest daughter, Anna, who currently attends HRA, will make the switch as well. Jenny Lewis, however, is an HRA senior and is still deciding on which college to select. Mr. Lewis began as the head of the up-
per school and kept that position for four years, until he became the dean of faculty three years ago. Mr. Lewis has had a lot of involvement in recruiting new teachers and senior projects. Farewell, Mr. Lewis!
Vol. VI, Issue IV
OpInion
2 May 2009
Bailout buys back bad businesses By Ian McFarlane The most recent trend in American politics is the advent of multi-million-dollar bailout bills. The supposed purpose of these bills is to prevent the economy from halting completely; however, this plan of action fails to recognize that borrowing money isn’t always an effective solution. For starters, many of the bailout bills, including the second-to-most-recent one passed during the Bush administration, included $250 billion of provisions for things not even remotely recovery-related. Modernizing of the power grid and government-funded residential insulation program appear on these bills frequently; over $200 billion of this particular bill was made up of tax cuts and fiscal support to social programs like Medicare.
These bills claim to reinforce the failing infrastructure of America, but in reality they are inefficient and place tax dollars in the hands of those who aren’t
business owners. In fact, even stimulus checks sent to each working American were usually used to pay debts or invest. The entire purpose
Sporting the new requirements By Manmeet Dhindsa and Madison Curran As the school year comes to an end at Hampton Roads Academy, there has been a lot of talk about new graduation requirements. Starting with rising freshmen, physical education requirements will change. Everyone from the Class of 2013 and after must have two semesters of P.E. before they are able to graduate. A first-semester course that everyone will be required to take is a program called Fitness for Life. For the second-semester course, they will be able to take a number of different electives, which have not yet been decided. However, there is talk of many new exciting programs, such as aerobics and yoga. This new program will take the place of the system that is used now. The purpose of this new program is to better fulfill the mission statement of our school, which states that HRA prepare students intellectually, physically, artistically, and morally. However, there were many other reasons for instituting this change. According to Dean of Faculty Mr. Lewis, “Many students were participating in sports for the wrong reasons.” Many students were trying out for teams that they were not
truly interested in because they needed to fulfill their sports requirements. With this new program,
officials hope that students will have the opportunity to participate in activities of which will foster a lifetime of health.
Suttle at conference Staff Report Hampton Roads Academy junior Caroline Suttle attended the recent National Young Leaders Conference in Washington, D.C. The conference was a series of experiential simulations, site visits and meetings with national leaders in which Suttle learned leadership skills. Activities in which she participated include: - “If I Were President,” a simulation on executive decision-making and how decisions are made at the presidential level have world-wide significance. Suttle took on the role of a real-life advisor or the president in a fictional administration. In her role, she tackled a foreign policy crisis over a conflict between Russia and the United States. Eventually, the scholars reached a mutually agreeable solution to the crisis.
- Along with her colleagues, Suttle also toured famous D.C. sites, including the Korean War Veterans Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. - Explored the legislative process on Capitol Hill, beginning with a speech on the floor of the House of Representatives. - A “Testing the Constitution” simulation, exploring the Supreme Court by examining its most famous decisions and an introduction to legal reasoning and debate. Suttle debated the constitution and case law surrounding a car passenger’s Fourth Amendment right to privacy or a police officer’s need for safety during a traffic stop. The details of this simulation were plucked from the real-life case of Arizona v. Johnson. - A panel discussion on the roles and responsibilities of the press.
of these checks is to get people spending money, but paying off debts and investing generate much less economic activity than direct spending. The most dangerous side effect of borrowing against our country is lack of faith in the American government as a direct result of perilously high national debt. Because of the apparently inevitable interaction between the government and the economy, poor international esteem of the American government’s ability to handle its own economy will decrease frequency of foreign investments, depriving our economy of additional factors which drive economic flow, the same flow which stimulus packages claim to expedite. In reality, all are a shortterm solutions with horrible long-term implications.
The Compass Staff Listings Editor-in-Chief Ian McFarlane Managing Editor Minnae Chabwera News Editors Alex Fenker Madison Curran Sports Editor Edward Smith Features Editors Emily Smith-George Courtney Schengber Graphic Editors Alastair Bird Trevina Joseph Opinion Editors Joel Stultz Marcy Johnson Copy Editors Ian McFarlane Writers Andy Parrish Nick Livingstone
Vol. VI Issue IV
Sports
3
New coaches enliven HRA sports
May 2009
By Edward Smith As the sports editor of “The Compass,” I have interviewed numerous coaches who have two things in common. Their teams are rebuilding and they have been at Hampton Roads Academy for fewer than five years. Now, as a OPINION former psychology student studying under Mr. Lewis, the outgoing dean of faculty at HRA, I am aware of certain variables that can correlate to produce a specific outcome. But as an HRA athlete since the sixth grade, I have witnessed how the high faculty
turnover can negatively affect HRA athletics. Though all but three varsity coaches have been at HRA five years or more, my football team alone has seen more assistant coaches arrive and depart than the New York Knicks coaching staff. In a specialized sport like football, different coaching techniques can often contradict the teachings of prior coaches; defensive schemes or offensive formations can conflict. In addition, athletes become so attached to a certain coaches that they quit the sport entirely because they are unable to coexist with the new coach. I bet I have observed more sour relationships with new coaches at
HRA than Terrell Owens has at his many pro football stops. So the question remains: Is a possible HRA’s slump in the Headmasters’ Cup standings directly related to the negative team chemistry stemming from constantly-changing coaching styles? We have not been in serious contention since 1998. Head softball Coach Mr. Ron Sims accepts it could be a plausible theory. “It can be tough for kids to get used to a new coaching style,” he said. But the head man of the rebuilding softball team stated that the most notable issue facing HRA varsity athletics is the lack of senior athletes participating in multiple sports. “I guess
senior year there is a lot going on and they find other stuff to do,” Coach Sims said. “On our team, four seniors decided not to come back to play.” One solution is already being practiced when hiring new faculty members to the HRA Community. Mr. Lewis said that teachers who coach are often considered more favorable for positions than those who are not as involved. “Teachers who coach seem to stay longer and are more involved with the kids,” he said. “The ultimate is to get more teachers to coach.” With more teachers coaching students will be capable of thriving both in class and sports, he said.
from Q&A Cont’d p. 1
I might have been sitting on a stool. I remember feeling “up”. Fenker: We were a little shorter, too. McFarlane: No, I was a little shorter, you were a lot shorter (they laugh). Mr. Harvey: I remember the class reaction; I think I was
trying to say “Do you understand?” I think I might have even said that. And I remember getting kind of a muted response. McFarlane: We weren’t sure what to make of it, I think. We could have taken the words literally and that might have
made the most sense. But you know there will always be people who say things and don’t mean them literally. I don’t know, some people interpreted it differently than others. For instance, some people thought that this was a speech you gave everyone. Just how special was our class, and did that favor transfer over in the transition from middle school to high school? Mr. Harvey: I do make the same speech over and over sometimes, especially sixthgraders. But that day I wasn’t, it was true that there was an extraordinary commitment on the part of the faculty. In fact, at other times, I think I told other audiences about how this class was the most admired or loved class in my memory by the faculty. It [the faculty’s favor] didn’t travel; I mean it traveled for a while, but it wasn’t as if you came into the upper school and blew them all away. I think part of the faculty’s affection for you was because you were dutiful. In fact at one point, every once in a while, I got a jarring note back because I had a tendency to say, “Remember this is a class that was loved by the faculty.” And I remember at least once I got a note back from one of the more crotchety upper school faculty saying, “Yeah, sure the middle school faculty loves them. Middle school faculty loves anything that’s perfect.
other moment when I send you off on graduation day and stay behind. So, I don’t remember the sixth- or seventh-grade versions of the meeting, but I remember the eighth-grade version of that meeting. In fact,
Walsingham is HRA’s biggest sports rival, according to poll By Edward Smith The students of Hampton Roads Academy have spoken loudly and clearly: By an overwhelming majority in a recent Compass advisory survey, Walsingham Academy of Williamsburg was selected as HRA’s most fierce and most loathed athletic adversary. Some may ask, why such rise in unpopularity for our Tidewater Conference of Independent Schools neighbors to the northwest? One possible solution is the intense hoops rivalry which has developed over the last two decades for the title of best independent school team on the Peninsula. The last four meetings between Walsingham and HRA have been standing-room-only crowds with exciting play and nail-biting endings. This includes the game in 2007, which concluded in overtime after questionable calls lead to a Walsingham three-pointer to tie the game at the end of regula-
Photo courtesy of The Log HRA players tip off against the rival Walsingham squad in a recent basketball game at Carpenter Gym.
tion. The game last year included a jeering match between a Trojan forward and former HRA center Lucas Pervan after a hard foul at the rim. Then again, maybe we dislike Walsingham because the “School of Educational Excellence founded by the Sisters of Mercy” shows no mercy
towards adequate basketball seating. During this season’s meeting a Walsingham, a Trojan faculty member relocated the HRA student section four times during the game while purposely and obnoxiously cheering. However, because imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, HRA did the same.
Vol. VI, Issue IV
Features
4 May 2009
Fake tans safer, somewhat sketchy By Madison Curran As the spring days begin to get warmer and the muchanticipated fourth quarter comes to an end, everyone is counting down the days until they can hand in that final exam and burst through the doors to greet summer. The arrival of summer means a break from the hectic pace of high school, not having to worry about homework and, most importantly, getting a tan. Being tan is the ultimate source of acceptance, especially in the summer. So when the earliest signs of summer appear, every teenaged girl in her right mind suits up and hits the beach for some hardcore tanning. But what about those girls
who just seem to stay tan all year? The ones you pass in the hallway and think to yourself, “Was she born with it? Or is it Maybelline?”
Poll explores students’ entertainment spending By Minnae Chabwera Every year for your birthday, Christmas or other special occasions, teenagers receive money from family and friends. But within a month they all wonder how their money disappeared and where it went. Now we have a little bit of insight as to where all of our money eventually ends up. According to a recent survey, 61 percent of Hampton Roads Academy students responding to the survey said they spend their money on movie tickets and lose half of it by buying candy, ICEEs and sodas from the overpriced theaters. Some students end up having their money disappear into the pockets of many fast-food restaurants. Fifty-four percent of HRA students get Chick-fil-A, 31 percent Tropical Smoothie, 27 percent Plaza Azteca, and 24 percent Wendy’s. Thirty-five percent of HRA students stay at school and snack on food from the vending machine and 22 percent gorge on energy drinks of all kinds. With all of the delectable fast food around, how can you resist? But, to try to work off all of that wonderful fast food, students spend more money on gym memberships; the only bad thing is that 26 percent of HRA students have wasted their money on gym memberships because they are never or barely
used. But with all of that fast food being consumed, how can you get to it without driving? I doubt anyone rides their bike or walks to eat fast food. Seventy-two percent of the HRA students who can drive see their money get guzzled up from regular gasoline prices, 22 percent from premium prices. Despite high prices of gas and how it eats a chunk out everyone’s wallet when filling up, HRA teens deem it worth it when they end up at the mall buying clothes, accessories, and such. Sixty-two percent of HRA teens spend their money on clothes and 28 percent, on shoes, and 4 percent on gifts for friends and family. But, even with all of the new clothes and wonderful food, life would be boring without music. Sixty-five percent of HRA teens spend money on iTunes buying the latest music. So, if you’re money seems to evaporate, refer back to this article and see if any of this sounds familiar.
What do those girls do in the summer? There is no way they could possibly get any more tan. Regardless, it’s hard not to admire them. It must be difficult to be one of a few abnormally tan girls surrounded by a sea of pale. The dangers of tanning are evident, though. One in five Americans will develop skin cancer during their lifetime, according to the American Cancer Society, and five or more sunburns double your risk of developing skin cancer. However, dermatologists also agree: Artificial tanning methods are not created equal.
An “Indoor Tanning Fact Sheet” published by the American Academy of Dermatologists says tanning equipment, which includes all artificial light sources, including beds, lamps, bulbs, booths, etc., emits ultraviolet radiation similar to the sun and in some cases may be even stronger. The medical web site Medicine.Net recommends sunless tanners, lotions, sprays, etc., that color the skin artificially, as safer alternatives. Whatever their secret may be, we wish them all the best with their tanning endeavors this upcoming summer.
HRA students venture out during ‘Day of Caring’
By Courtney Schengber Faculty and students at Hampton Roads Academy care deeply about community service. Not only do the upperschoolers need a minimum of 40 volunteer hours to graduate, but also built into the school calendar is a day devoted solely to helping out around the community. The Day of Caring is widely anticipated throughout the school. For some students it may serve as a break from classes, but for others is has proven to be a very rewarding experience. To prepare for this day the high school is broken up into small groups with one or two teachers as their advisors. Some groups do labor-intensive yard work and others go to a preschool or provide assistance at the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, also known as the S.P.C.A. Still others may remain at school to work on projects for their clubs.
Mrs. Chris Contakes, advisor for the National Art Honor Society, and her students worked on art projects throughout the day. Some went to Warwick Forest, a retirement and assisted living community, to hang artwork and brighten the environment. The rest of the students either worked on memory portraits for orphans in Honduras or threw and glazed pottery bowls for the “Empty Bowls” project. Another group of students, along with advisors Mr. Bryce Kiser and Mr. John Hilburger, went to the LINK Warehouse, an organization helping homeless people by providing them with clothing, furniture and resources to help them get back on their feet. Mrs. Elaine McDermott and a small group of girls went to the Early Steps Center in Williamsburg, a daycare for underprivileged children and families. They split up in groups and played with the children.
Vol. VI, Issue IV
Features
5 May 2009
Mid-Atlantic beaches abundant By Andy Parrish The beach has always been my favorite place to go no matter what time of year and with the summer quickly approaching I have a few recommendations of places to visit. Whether you are into surfing, skim boarding, boogie boarding and fishing or just sitting in the sand, there is a beach for everyone. Everyone may know about Virginia Beach and Nags Head but these to over-populated beaches barely scratch the surface.
performers. For a weeklong vacation, Nags Head is not a bad spot. The waves are okay, but the sand is coarse and can do some damage if you wipe out on your skim board or ride your boogie board on the shore break. The traffic is dreadful on the weekends, though, and if you are heading through Duck to Pine Island or Corolla, allow lots of extra time. Heading south, however, traffic flows a little better. Also there are a couple of good surf shops along the way. WRV is always good but the Pit and 17th Street Surf Shop are down at Mile Post 9. No trip to 17th Street would be complete, however, without some Five Guys Famous Burgers and Fries from right next-door.
Virginia Beach is a great place to drive to for the day and hang out on the beach by the boardwalk if you can find an empty patch of sand. There is always activity if you do not want to just sit on the beach. At night Atlantic Avenue is buzzing with excitement and street
If fishing is on the list of things to do while down at the beach, Avalon Fishing Pier has been a great destination ever since Kitty Hawk Fishing Pier was destroyed in a hurricane. For the bigger fishermen, a charter out of Oregon Inlet to the Gulf Stream for tuna and dolphin will be more than satisfactory. For more intense action like the up-and-coming sport of kite boarding, Salvo is great place to enjoy the sound and the ocean. By the time you get that far south on the Outer Banks the traffic dies off and the beaches are less crowded. Cape Hatteras is just as nice and for those cloudy days that you do not want to sit on the beach; there are plenty of historical sites to enjoy including the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. Farther south is my favorite beach destination, Ocracoke Island. There is no bridge to this Island. The only way to get to this beach is by ferry or small airplane. Here the beaches have glistening white powdery sand Oregon Inlet that seems to be endless. The
By Emily Smith-George Prom is the most-talkedabout, most-anticipated high school event. It is the culmination of senior year and, without it, high school would not be complete. Hampton Roads Academy’s prom will be May 23 for all juniors and seniors, and those select sophomores who get asked. From the very beginning, prom is all about planning and preparing, starting with the perfect dress. Most girls’ choice is to wear a long dress, and we spend weeks searching for the perfect dress. The perfect dress is different for each girl; some choose loose and flowy, others tight and fitted, some like prints and patterns, while other prefer plain and simple. Whatever the case, the perfect dress should be the one that makes you feel confident and beautiful. Once the perfect dress is chosen, next comes the date. Boys, when asking a girl to prom, make sure to go all-
ask to see a picture or even do what seniors Marcy Johnson and Evan Rutherford did last year by shopping for the tuxedo together. This completes the outfits for prom; next comes transportation. Limos are the top choice for how to arrive in style for prom, but not the only option. Do not rule out other options like party buses. If all this seems like too much, driving yourselves is always an alternative. In the end the mode of transportation to get you to prom and later to afterprom is whatever makes you feel comfortable. After all these arrangements are made your planning still is not over. Next comes planning where you will take your pictures before prom, as well as clothes for after-prom. Popular choices for picture locations are City Center, Port Warwick or your friends’ backyards. Whatever your choice, make sure your camera is fully charged are you are ready to pose. The choice for what to wear
The Virginia Beach Boardwalk
Ocracoke Island
best part about this beach however is the fact that if you have a four wheel drive truck you can drive on the beach. Just because your Subaru Outback has four wheel drive do not try and drive on the beach. You will bottom out and you had better hope a nice person with a truck, shovel, and a tow strap slows down to give you a hand. The only negative side of the Island is that everything but Howard’s Pub dies by 9 p.m. No matter which beach or beaches you enjoy this summer, you will have a good time. Take your friends and family and do nothing but hangout and enjoy yourselves.
Perfect prom plans perplexing
out. The better the invitation, the more excited your date will be. For example, it is one thing to be stopped in hallway and asked, but it is much more special and exciting to be asked at the OpSmile Talent show in front of everyone. Once the perfect date is in place, next comes making sure your apparel matches your date’s. Boys’ tuxedos should match their dates’ dresses. In order to do this properly, do not just ask your date what color her dress is, because what is pink to you may be very different from her idea of pink. Instead,
to after-prom is much simpler than your decision over the dress and tux. It is just a matter of deciding if you prefer to wear jeans and a t-shirt, shorts or sweatpants after a long night of dancing. Once that choice is made than prepare yourself for a fun night of food and prizes once you enter after-prom. Preparing for prom is all about choices, but in the end it is about feeling comfortable and having the best possible prom night. Remember, the details are important and do not wait until the last minute to book your limo or choose the dress. The longer you wait, the more stressed you’ll get. So, as prom is approaching fast; girls should start looking for their dress, and boys should be creative.
FEATURES NAHS show winners named 6
May 2009
Vol. VI, Issue IV
By Trevina Joseph The National Art Honor Society at Hampton Roads Academy hosts a highly anticipated juried art show every year in March. Whether you are in advanced art classes, introduction to art or don’t even take art classes at HRA, anyone is welcome to enter artwork. The judging of this show was done by an unbiased person - from the art community outside the walls of HRA - who decides the winners during a school day. As the hallway is blocked off so that the juror may make his/ her decisions in private, anxious students wait patiently for the award ceremony in the evening. The purchase award of $125 went to Livia Irwin’s charcoal drawing titled “1,2,3.” The candid expressions and meticulous detail make this an impressive piece to hang the halls of HRA for years to come. First place went to Susan Schell’s “Self portrait 5.” The shadows, the contrast and the beauty in her
Photo by Christine Contakes Photo category winners Amanda Eisner, Madison Curran, Alastair Bird and Molley Warters accept their awards from Ivanka Mincheva, center, visiting judge.
expression in the piece earned her not only $50, but the recognition she deserves as an aspiring artist. Second place went to Trevina Joseph’s colorful portrait of fellow senior Lucy Goodson titled “Lucy Love.” Third place overall in this completion went to Amanda Eisner for her beautiful photograph of “Ben.” NAHS is one of the most active organizations in the art community. This honor society was established in 1978 by the
National Art Education Association for high school students in grades 10-12 to inspire and recognize students who have shown an outstanding ability in art. With the patient and caring guidance of beloved HRA ceramics teacher Mrs. Contakes, NAHS hosts numerous and outstanding events throughout the school year. This year HRA had the incredible honor of having Ivanka Mincheva from Hampton as the judge. She was born in 1948
Yearbook assembly announced
By Minnae Chabwera The annual yearbook assembly is a time when every student and faculty member joins together in the auditorium to hear the yearbook theme for the year revealed, see the first yearbook presented to Hampton Roads Academy Headmaster Tom Harvey and watch the graduating class cross the stage to receive their personalized yearbooks. This school year the yearbook assembly is planned for May 26, a day that the senior class has looked forward to for at least four years and perhaps much longer. The assembly allows seniors to return to HRA and have all of their friends sign their last yearbook at their soonto-be alma mater. Though the theme is a secret, this year’s seniors will receive the 50th edition of The Log, the official name for the HRA yearbook. The 50th anniversary of the Photo courtesy of Ms. O’Toole yearbook and of the school is Senior Mario Buffa was one of many performers at the Annual Operation Smile the most important anniversary Talent Show. at Hampton Roads Academy thus far. HRA was established out of their busy schedules to by the end of the night. in the fall of 1959, and after as hold auditions, calling sponsors The HRA community has many as seven years of anticipaor advertising for the show’s always been supportive of the tion we, the class of 2009, will cause, Ms. O’Toole and the ofclub’s cause, which was shown be commemorated as the 50th ficers worked diligently to make this year, after the club raised graduating class. sure their audience was pleased $4,090 dollars from one night.
HRA’s got talent, as illustrated by Operation Smile fund-raiser By Manmeet Dhindsa and Courtney Schengber Since last year’s Operation Smile Talent Show was full of skilled acts, people had been widely anticipating what was to come in the 2009 version of the show this year. The show was at 7 p.m. April 25 in the Svein Lassen Auditorium. Hampton Roads Academy students and faculty alike gathered together to see their peers display their wide array of talents. From the musical talents of senior Greg Vogt, to the comedy by Mr. Tom York and Mr. Ron DeChirico, there was never a dull moment throughout the night. However, the talent show required much more preparation than just a few band practices. Ms. Heather O’Toole and the Operation Smile officers were busy behind the scenes working to guarantee that this show was as good, if not better, than the ones before. Whether it was taking time
in Bulgaria and studied for six years to receive her degree in sculpture and ceramics in 1974 from Nikolai Pavlovich Academy of Fine Arts in Sofia. Mincheva’s medals have been purchased and permanently displayed in the British Museum in London, the Hermitage in St. Petersburg, Russia, and in the Pushkin Museum in Moscow. Her works are owned and displayed in the Bulgarian National Gallery and the Museum of Modern Art in Sofia, Bulgaria; the Museum of Medals in Hungary; the Museum of Humor in Gabrovo, Bulgaria; the Museum of Medals in Slovakia, the Charles H. Taylor Art Center in Hampton and in many other museums all over the world.
Vol. VI, Issue IV
Features
7 May 2009
Summer jobs line students’ pockets
By Emily Smith-George As the college office has informed us multiple times during the past few months, summer is a time to do something productive. It is the opportune time to do that extra volunteer work you have been putting off, or get a job which will help your college resume and your wallet. Summer jobs are a way for students to raise some extra money to save for college, a new car or even just some gas money to get them through the week. Whatever the case, many students at Hampton Roads Academy have found that a summer job is a great way to increase their weekly cash flow. Along with saving money, summer jobs give students a chance to expand their college resume and give them experience in certain fields. One popular sum-
Lifeguarding has proven a reliable source of summer income for HRA students.
mer job for students at HRA is lifeguarding. This gives students a chance to relax by the pool, tan and make money as long as they are paying close attention to those swimming in the pool. Summer jobs are not always the most glamorous; they can be tedious, boring, and sometimes even dirty, but in the end they give you experience and money
so they are worth it. Along with summer jobs comes summer volunteering, which many of the students at HRA have participated in over the years. For some students this is a way to earn the necessary community service to graduate, but for so many more it is about improving themselves and their HRA community.
all of the bands have their own individual merchandise tents, selling cd’s, t-shirts, hoodies and bumper stickers. There are also tents from the sponsors of the tour. This unique setup allows multiple bands to be playing at a time, so that no matter what time it is, there’s always a band playing that suits your taste. Perhaps the most applauseworthy thing the tour has done lately has been its decision to go green. Now using an entirely solar-powered mobile stage and bringing on hundreds of cleanup volunteers for the post-concert cleanup, the tour has made a conscious effort to reduce their carbon footprint. This relatively cheap (typically $35) all-day festival is the high point of many a teenager’s summer, serving as a meeting point for extreme sports, music and friends. From the beginning, the tour has been sponsored by the massive Vans Shoe Co., and has recently been sponsored by the Hurley clothing brand, KIA, and Ernie Ball, a guitar equipment company. This year proves no exception to the rule, Warped ’09 looks extraordinarily promising. Once again being sponsored by Red Bull and Monster energy drinks, which are necessary
for a full day of moshing, and seeing the return of such highdemand acts such as A Day To Remember, 3Oh!3, The Maine, Streetlight Manifesto, Less Than Jake, and Underoath, the Virginia Beach Warped date seems to
Senior Sarah Matheson has found a way to enrich her life by volunteering as an art teacher at the Boys and Girls Club during the summer, while others choose the life-changing experience of a mission trip. Whatever the volunteer opportunity, it is a productive way to spend the summer that makes you feel accomplished while helping others. There are many ways to spend a summer, whether it is reading your summer readers for Advanced-Placement English, catching up on some muchneeded nap time, or spending a day lounging on the beach. Whatever the case may be, don’t forget to serve your community and yourself through summer jobs and volunteer opportunity. Use your summer time wisely.
Warped Tour brings diverse music, culture to Verizon Virginia Beach Amphitheater By Nick Livingstone For more than a decade, the Vans Warped Tour has come to Virginia Beach and, sadly, its presence has been mostly neglected by Hampton Roads Academy. But as those students who attend this festival of monster music and BMX biking know, the Warped Tour is more than a concert. It’s a lifestyle. Featuring ska/reggae bands such as No Doubt, Sublime, 311, Reel Big Fish, Less Than Jake and Matisyahu, Top-40 rock bands such as Incubus, Staind, Blink-182, Weezer, Fall Out Boy, My Chemical Romance, Finger Eleven and The Offspring and rap/ hip-hop acts such as Eminem, The Black Eyed Peas and the recently popular Gym Class Heroes, the annual Warped Tour lineup reads like a glossary of any band worth taking notice of from in past 14 years. One might be wondering how can you play as many as 80 bands in one day at a place like the Virginia Beach Verizon Wireless Amphitheater? Well, the answer is in the setup. The tour clears out a massive part of the parking lot and sets up a good six or so stages across the parking lot, and in the center,
be another day to remember. So grab a friend, grab some tickets, and come on out for what will be one of the most memorable days of your summer.
Ipod Touch v. Zune By Joel Stultz The iPod, from Apple, and the Zune from Microsoft have been in competition since the Zune was first released. The iPod Touch and iPhone brought innovation to the iPod. Listed below are some of the outstanding features of the latest versions of these two products:
is called the “Zune Pass” by paying a monthly fee.
The iPod: There are many types of iPods in stores. The newest and most intricate one is the iPod Touch. Like its name suggests, instead of the usual wheel, it has a touch screen. Like the Zune it can receive a wireless conThe Zune: nection and download music There are five different types straight to the device rather than of Zunes currently on the marhaving to connect to the comket: Zune 4, 8, 16, 80, and 120. puter. It has a very large screen. The largest, the Zune 120, holds The iPod Touch can do nearly up to 30,000 songs, 25,000 piceverything that the iPhone does tures, or 375 hours of video. You except for make calls and text can tag songs on the radio that message. It can download games you like to download later for and applications, just like any your Zune. You can even update other phone. Probably the most your Zune without cords due to popular feature for the iPod its new “Wireless Sync” feature. touch, however, is the fact that it A new feature for the Zune is can connect to the internet, like a Wi-Fi connection so that you the Zune. The iPod Touch, howcan download music anywhere ever, can also get direct access straight to your Zune with what to Youtube.com.
8 Vol. VI, Issue IV
FEATURES
May 2009
Class of 2009: College Selections Congratulations to the Class of 2009! Like seeds scattered by a spring breeze, Hampton Roads Academy students leave the school as graduates and, next fall, resume their educations in the world of higher education.
Here is a list of the colleges and universities they will attend, as of press time.
Fair winds and following seas, The Compass Staff and Mr. Lidington
Illustration by Alastair Bird