09. 02. 14.
The Bear Facts
WELCOME BACK BRUINS
Lake Braddock Secondary School
9200 Burke Lake Road • Burke • Virginia • 22015
Contents / 09.02.14 13
ON THE COVER
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1 LB Cross Country team runs around DC on its annual Monumental Run. photo courtesy of Ben Fogg
2 Senior Ryan Alexander went on a trip to Kings Dominion in Doswell, Virginia. photo courtesy of Ryan Alexander
3 LB girls’ volleyball team huddles to do a team cheer before practice. photo courtesy of Rachel Tuck
4 Senior Anna Bui and her
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The Back-to-School Issue 4 Bruin Block
8 Marching Band
12 Emily Mudd
Students are now assigned their Bruin Block destinations except on Wednesdays.
The marching band members create a strong bond as the season starts.
Senior Emily Mudd attended the West Point Leader’s Summer Experience.
5 Amsterdam Sophomore Lulu Phicadu took a trip to Amsterdam.
Students took part in celebrating the World Cup this summer.
6 Mikes Night
10 Holly Leinz
9 World Cup
13 Guatemala Senior Rebecca Edmiston went on a mission trip.
14 Rascal Flatts
boyfriend, Polo Razo, go kayaking in National Harbor. Photo courtesy of Anna Bui
5 Senior Tiffany Duong and her friend, Sophie Ngo, lay on the Outer Banks Beach in North Carolina. photo courtesy of Sarah Tran
6 Senior Tim Gopiao visits the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island. photo courtesy of Tim Gopiao
7 Senior Bryan Bergan visits
LB Cross Country team kicked off its season with its annual Mike’s Night.
Junior Holly Leinz visited Europe.
Students attended Rascal Flatts at Jiffy Lube Live in August.
the Red Cross Museum in Switzerland. photo courtesy of Bryan Bergan
7 Graduation
11 Ramadan Junior Omar Elhaj talks about his Ramadan traditions.
15 ALS Ice Bucket
8 Senior A.J. Alexander stands
The class of 2015 will have a night graduation. 2 September 2014
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LB students participated in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge to help raise awareness.
in the rain on the field during a scrimmage. photo courtesy of Aramis Alexander
Bear with us: Meet the staff Back-to-School Issue Staff Megan Cantwell
Ryan Mullins
Ben Concepcion
Michael Murphy
Dinali Dassanayaka
Jordan Small
Steve Hong
Marcell Subert
Thomas Kendziora
Marleen Tipu
Sara Kim
Ben Tobin
Tu Lam
Katie Vinson
Yaitza Lopez
Jake Wartel
Emily Migdal
Josh Wartel
Adviser: Kathryn Helmke This student-run paper is an open forum produced by the journalism department and is given free of charge to all Lake Braddock high school students and faculty. The Bear Facts is an independent, studentrun newspaper serving the
Editorial Policy
students, the faculty and the Lake Braddock community as an open forum for student expression. Unsigned editorials reflect the opinion of the editorial board and unless otherwise noted are written by a member of the staff. The editorial board solicits responsible commentaries and letters to the editors but reserves
the right to edit for style, grammar or lack of space. Letters and commentaries containing obscenity, racial slur or libelous comments will not be published. A letter will not be excluded from the newspaper solely because it conflicts with the views of the newspaper or past or current editorials. All letters must be signed by
the author, or they will not be published. Corrections are printed on an as needed basis on page 2 of the paper. Advertising inquiries can be referred to bfacts@ gmail.com. The Bear Facts is located in room L202 and can be reached by calling (703) 426-1087. Responses may also be emailed to bfacts@gmail.com.
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Marching On
Marching band settles into a practice routine by Jake Wartel - Staff Writer
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photo by Amanda Hendrix
and member’s feet pounded on the hot asphalt of LB’s parking lot from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. August 19-29. These practices marked the beginning of preparation in a year full of concerts and competitions. “We do marching techniques and learn new music during the practices,” junior Aaron Lee said. Additionally, two practices were held for rising freshmen on August 14 and 15. For many of the freshmen, it was the first time they had marched with their instruments. “The practices helped get us used to marching with our instruments,” freshman Robert Miller said. Upon completing their nearly two week stretch of practices, they jumped right into their first live-stream taking place during the opening football game vs. West Potomac. Every Friday they will sit on the Bruin bleachers supporting the football team. While they are an important part of the electric atmosphere at LB football games, they also have other competitions.
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“We have some competitions and we’re going to Bands of America, which is an invitational,” Lee said The most important competition in the fall is the Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association (VBODA), an
“We’ve gotten ‘superior’ ratings every year for 33 years, and it’s [prestigious] to be the only one in Virginia.” event in which all of the preparation these band members have put in reaches a climax. “We work towards getting a superior score at the Virginia Band and Orchestra
Directors Association and just perfecting our show,” senior Sharon Garrott said. Along with just seeing the summer and early school year practices pay off, there is an importance to continuing Lake Braddock’s long history of doing well at VBODA. Lake Braddock is the only band in Virginia to have received more than 30 consecutive State Honor Plaques. “We’ve gotten ‘superior’ ratings every year for 33 years, and it’s prestigious to be the only one in Virginia,” Lee said. The band’s year has two main seasons. The first of these is the marching band season. Following the end of that the band transitions to the concert band season. This means that after the football season ends and the fall competitions end the band still has concerts. “If you’re in marching band then you’ll also be in performing band,” Garrott said. In band the members form a strong bond between one another. This bond is strengthened with team events like a party that occurred at the Garrott’s house prior to the beginning of practices. “We get really close with one another. Like one big family.” Garrott said.
Night grad isn’t that bad The Class of 2015 will be first in years to graduate in evening
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arents eagerly watch as their student walks into the Patriot Center to the tune of L’irremediable. Guest speakers stand at the podium and talk about how students have just begun a journey of something called life. Finally, students turn their tassels and throw their caps in the air symbolizing the completion of their high school careers. This is an abridged generalization of the class of 2014’s graduation ceremony. The class of 2015 is likely to have the same structure, except for one aspect: The graduation ceremony will occur in the evening. “I don’t think having the ceremony at night will have that big of an impact,” LB alumnus Kristina Moneyhun said. “All that really matters is walking on stage and receiving your diploma in front of your friends and family.” Essentially, the only noticeable
difference would be the time the ceremony took place, along with some other minor revisions to suit the ceremony. “Having graduation in the morning made it easier to find who you were looking for after the ceremony since it was light outside,” junior Liam Kelly said. “It gives you time to go out for lunch and/or dinner afterwards.” Morning graduation does have its perks. Alumni such as Moneyhun used the time after the ceremony to enjoy lunch with her family and friends and rest before the All-Night Grad Party. “I did enjoy having the ceremony in the morning,” Moneyhun said. “It allowed me to go out to eat with my family. I used the time after graduation to rest and prepare for the All-Night Grad party.” Night graduation has received a negative connotation in the FCPS community. “I feel as if night graduation isn’t as bad as it’s made out to be,” Kelly said.
Students such as senior Maddy Hunter said that night graduation might be better for the students and their families. “Having the ceremony at night will be more convenient for parents who work,” Hunter said. “Parents won’t have to take off because the ceremony will occur after work.” For the past years the graduation ceremony has occurred in the morning. Concerns were raised about the All -Night Grad party following an evening ceremony. “I think there will be little time between the conclusion of the ceremony and the beginning of the All-Night Grad Party,” Moneyhun said. “I believe students will have a tougher time staying up at the AllNight Grad Party.” Whether in the morning or in the evening, graduation is a major turning point in a students life. Graduation will be held at the Patriot Center June 17th, at 7:30 p.m.
photos by Lifetouch
by Michael Murphy - Style Editor
2 September 2014
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Students face assigned Bruin Block locations by Ryan Mullins - Web Editor
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ruin Block: the largely helpful, study hall-like block of time given to students, has been used to its fullest extent over the years. Whether to complete homework, receive assistance from teachers for a specific class or to make up missing work, Bruin Block has proven almost essential to a large majority of students in the school. However, the schedule for which LB’s students have grown accustomed to has been replaced by a newer, more efficient schedule. In past years, Bruin Block has consisted of one, hour-long period on Wednesdays, and four 30-minute periods for the other school days. This year’s schedule is different, in that students will no longer be able to self-select their own classes. Instead, the classes that students go to will be determined by the corresponding day. “On Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, you’ll go to a set schedule of classes,” principal Dave Thomas said, “and Wednesday will continue to be student choice.” The idea behind this change in schedule is to fully maximize the student
body’s ability to keep caught up with their classes and to make sure that they succeed in school. “The purpose of Bruin Block is, at the very core, to support student learning,” Thomas said. With that principle in mind, the change was made based on the need to get students to the classes that they need to go to. “The kids that were not passing classes and were struggling in their classes, based on their choice, were not getting to where they were supposed to be,” Thomas said. Students not choosing the correct classes to go to was only a minor issue. With so much freedom and with so little supervision, much more serious problems occurred. “Students were cutting class, and a fair number of our recommendations for expulsions last year took place during Bruin Block,” Thomas said. A few questions arose concerning the effectiveness of the new system. Some concerns include whether or not a student would be able to go to a certain class every day if they really needed help in that class. “We’ve built in the flex option,”
Thomas said. “All you have to do is get permission from the teacher whose class you want to go to, and the teacher whose class you’re going to miss.” This flex option has been installed in order to still give students the option to decide where they want to go, while still keeping track of where students are. “I understand that [the students] want the flexibility to be able to go where they need to receive help,” Thomas said. “I’m trying to balance that with being able to make us more accountable.” Students are not the only ones whom this new schedule is aimed at helping, as teachers are also a large part of this decision. “There are some classes that some kids don’t ever choose to go to,” Thomas said, “and teachers were actually happy about the set schedule in the sense that at least now they know that they’re going to have kids for days that they’re assigned.” The last issue that remains with this schedule would be whether teachers will be tempted to teach new curriculum to their classes during Bruin Block, instead of dedicating the period to helping students. This is not an issue as teachers are not permitted to teach any new material of any kind during Bruin Block.
For Personal Finance students, time is money by Megan Cantwell - In- Depth Editor
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photo courtesy of Jessie Todaro
n 2010, the Virginia General Assembly passed legislation that mandated to schools to add a graduation requirement for rising freshmen in the 2011-12 school year. The General Assembly wanted students to be better prepared take care of themselves financially after they had graduated. FCPS responded to this new requirement by creating the course Economics and Personal Finance. Junior Elizabeth Barr took the class online over the summer along with several of her friends. “Personal finance was really easy and straightforward,” Barr said. “It was online and completed within a few weeks.” After discovering the new requirement would take away a class during the year, students began looking for another option. FCPS offered the class online over the summer and many began to take advantage of the opportunity.” One concern about taking the class online over the summer is the time commitment. The schedule FCPS provided online claims that the class will take four weeks, with the class split into parts called ‘modules’. Students have to complete the modules for each section, and then take that section’s exam. At the very end of the class, there is a cumulative final exam. “At first, it took me about an hour to get at least one module done,” junior Jessie Todaro said. “Over time, I was able to cut that down to 10 minutes a module.” The content in the class is supposed to “prepare students to function effectively as consumers, savers, investors,
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entrepreneurs and active citizens” according to the official course description from the FCPS website. But, for some students, the class does not feel effective or useful for their lives. “It had a few nice things to learn about checking and bank accounts, but it had a lot of information about the economy and national debt that didn’t really apply to me or seem useful,” Barr said. Overall, however, students seem to be satisfied by taking the class virtually over the summer, liking that it saved them from having to take it during the school year. “I recommend this to students who want one more free elective in high school, but I’d say you should do it over the summer,” Todaro said. “That way, you’re not balancing six other classes at one time.”
Jessie Todaro completes summer work at her computer, where most of the courses work was located.
Adventure to Amsterdam
Lula Phicadu spends her summer in Holland to escape suburbia Many students at Lake Braddock live in a quiet suburban world of cozy neighborhoods separated by wooded areas and the subtle hum of nearby commuter traffic. Now imagine being transported to an environment where biking is the means of transportation through narrow streets lined with coffee shops whose adult patrons relax while smoking pot and drinking espresso. This was the reality of sophomore Lula Phicadu who spent her entire summer in Amsterdam, the capital city of the Netherlands. Phicadu arrived at Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport with her sister on June 6 where they were greeted by their aunt who took the sisters to her home near the Amsterdam city limits. Upon arrival, Phicadu faced new rules that she would have to abide by throughout the summer. “When we got there, obviously
Phicadu spent the whole summer with her aunt in Amsterdam.
Phicadu said. “They drive really small cars and they don’t have automatics here, it’s all stick shift.” Compared to the heavy auto-traffic in the D.C. area, public transportation and the use of bikes play a large part in the
Marijuana can only be smoked in “coffee shops,” where the substance is smoked and consumed in various pastries such as pot brownies for those over the age of 18. “There are a lot of coffee shops where people smoke weed,” Phicadu said. “It really hits you; the smell is really strong.” This practice is usually how foreigners view the city and its inhabitants, but that is not all the city is about. “There are a lot of bars and the culture here kind of is the way people perceive it as, but at the same time, once you get there it’s a really good vibe,” Phicadu said. “People there are not carefree, but it’s not so uptight. It’s a friendly vibe.” Phicadu returned to the United States in midAugust and once again had to get accustomed to her surroundings.
Biking is very popular in Amsterdam as many people chose to bike rather than own a car. The
there were rules to everything,” Phicadu coffee shop culture in Amsterdam attracts many tourists. said. “It’s just that my aunt would To Phicadu, returning to her home emphasize them more on us rather than Dutch way of life. “The locals really emphasize public here in Burke was like going to a foreign her own children.” What many Americans might notice transportation and not really using your country all over again, she said. “In Amsterdam, I was so used to my when traveling to Holland is the size of car,” Phicadu said. “A lot of them use everyday items and roads. It’s not just bikes; if you go to Central Amsterdam, aunt’s house,” Phicadu said. “When I the amount of bikes you see is crazy.” came back to my house here in Burke, the hotel rooms that are small. Amsterdam is not only known for I thought ‘wow this is really different’ “The streets are so small. Everything there compared to here is so small its busy bike culture, but for its looser even though I have lived here for years because it’s not that big of a country,” regulations on the usage of marijuana. and years.
photo courtesy of Lula Phicadu
by Marcell Subert - News Editor
2 September 2014 The Bear Facts 7
Flying to Europe, dancing back home From traveling to France to dance team camp, junior Holly Leinz makes the most of her summer by Steve Hong - Profile Editor
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or some, the summer is a time for students to broaden their world by travelling to far off countries. For others, it is a three month stretch to get ready for the upcoming athletic season. For junior Holly Leinz, who spent the first part of her summer on a Global Professionals trip to England and France sponsored by EF Tours, and returned only to head out to dance to camp, it was both. “I went to London, England and Paris, France and went to all the big touristy places,” Leinz said.
Holly Leinz (left), 11, poses with Caleigh Pickett at the Eiffel Tower in Paris
photos courtesy of Holly Leinz
In England, Leinz visited Olympic Park, Big Ben, London Eye, Buckingham Palace, and the Windsor Castle while visiting the Eiffel Tower, the Palace of Versaille, Sacré Coeur, the Arc de Triomphe et le Champs Elysées. Leinz originally heard about the trip from her friend Lara Fahmi who goes to Fairfax High School. “There were posters all around her school and she wanted to go so she told me about it and our moms talked and signed us up,” Leinz said. “It was through EF Tours so I think they just went onto the website.” Only July 8th, Leinz took a red eye flight to London, sleeping all the way. After a day of touring and a night of rest, she adjusted London time, 5 hours ahead
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of Burke, overcoming the popular problem of jet lag. From there, Leinz could begin enjoying the two cities. “I honestly don’t have one favorite
dances and dance technique. The third day consists of review and a team evaluation of the team dance followed by a funthemed night. “This year it was a social media themed night so we ran around and took selfies with each other and got everyone’s Twitter “I went to London, and Instagram handles,” Leinz said. The final day ends with individual England and Paris, evaluations followed by awards. “This year was my second year going France and went to all and it definitely was easier coming in and the big touristy places.” knowing what to expect,” Leinz said. “My favorite part about camp is being able to live and bond with all the dance team girls and get to know everyone and all the new place, but out of London and Paris, Paris members better.” was my favorite,” Leinz said. “It was so However, dance team camp had its ups beautiful and all the buildings were so cute and downs. and had so much character, plus everyone “My least favorite part about camp are was nicer. London was so big and felt the evaluations,” Leinz said, “You only kind of dirty so I liked it less, but still both get to do each dance one time and with places were so awesome and fun.” a small group of people so it gets pretty However, Leinz had to return back stressful and I always get nervous.” home to Virginia. Even though jet lag wasn’t a problem “Getting back from the trip was sad for Leinz, the difficulty of dance team more than anything because Burke doesn’t camp did pose another set of physical come close to London or Paris,” Leinz hardships. “Camp is actually pretty intense and just as hard as any other sports camp would be for any other athlete,” Leinz said. Amidst the busy summer and draining exercise, Leinz still managed to fit in her summer assignments for her classes next year, including a total of four AP classes. “This year, my parents made me start my summer assignments early so I spread them out throughout the Holly Leinz (2nd row, 2nd from left) poses with the rest of the dance team. whole summer,” said, “but luckily, I had a few days to hang Leinz said, “I just did them whenever I out with friends and relax before other had free time or was bored and I actually activities and dance team camp started.” got them out of the way pretty stress free.” Dance team camp consists of four Because of this planning, Leinz was 12-hour days to train the Golden Girls able to finish her assignments, visit new before fall sports begin. The first two days places, and begin training for another are focused on team dances, individual successful dance team season.
Catching FIFA Fever The far-away 2014 World Cup captivated students at home by Jordan Small - Sports Editor
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Dupont Circle proved to be a fun place that families and friends could gather to watch the World Cup on a big screen. Thanks to the German embassy, this became a great way for Americans and Germans to root for their respective teams during the pivotal group stage game.
whole game,” Urquidi said. “We were all getting hyped, jumping on our chairs and chanting crazy chants.” This World Cup had plenty of highlights no matter where fans were watching. Germany was able to win its fourth World Cup in a dramatic 1-0 win over Argentina. There were incredible goals including the “flying dutchman” goal from Robin van Persie, great underdog stories like that of the Columbians, and many great penalty kick shootouts.
There were also new trends that came out of the World Cup like the sweeper keeper, Manuel Neuer, and things Tim Howard can save after U.S. goalkeepers Tim Howard’s performance in the US’ loss to Belgium. Many say that Americans don’t watch soccer, but the numbers from the World Cup prove otherwise. According to BleacherReport.com, more than 24 million people tuned in to watch the United States take on Portugal on June 22. Soccer is an important part of the culture of the World, and this is no exception at school. The World Cup is an exciting time for all students to come together and cheer for their favorite teams.
photo courtesy of Glen Vega
his summer Brazil hosted the World Cup, captivating the attention of people around the world. The U.S. soccer team managed to triumph in the most difficult of circumstances, a group affectionately dubbed as the “group of death.” This group received its reputation because it included the eventual World Cup champions in Germany, the 11th ranked team in the world, Portugal, and the thorn in the US’s side when it comes to the World Cup in Ghana. Behind the hashtag #IBelieve, fans all around the country showed their support for the stars and stripes. Fans in the D.C. area had the opportunity to watch the United States vs Germany game on June 26 at Dupont Circle thanks to the German Embassy. “Once the game started, [Dupont Circle] was packed,” junior Glenn Vega said. “You couldn’t walk around or find a seat so you had to stand the whole game.” While some fans went out to watch the games, others spent the time with family. “My family gets really excited during the World Cup,” junior Kiran Yousaf said. “We made brackets and tried to have as many barbecues as possible.” Because of the times that the World Cup was scheduled, many games occurred at the same time that school was in session. “I tried to find a way to watch the games during school,” Yousaf said. Some students did a little of both. For the bigger games, junior Abby Urquidi went to places with big screens to watch her favorite team, Argentina, play. For the games that Argentina wasn’t in, her family would gather for big barbecues and watch the events as a family. “For each game, I went to family barbecues, the National Harbor and sports bars,” Urquidi said. “We just wanted to watch it somewhere with big screens.” For the final between Argentina and Germany, Urquidi and her family went to a restaurant called El Patio to watch the game with other Argentine fans. “Everyone was cheering the
2 September 2014 The Bear Facts 9
At Mike’s American Grill, girls’ cross country team starts off season hungry for success Dinali Dassanayaka - In-Depth Editor
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he heavenly aroma of hickory smoked baby back ribs with a side of crispy sweet potato fries wafts into the air as the girls’ cross country team strolls into the restaurant. As a waiter of Mike’s American Grill shows the girls to their tables, the teammates have a chance to bond, reminisce and converse through their shared interests. The cross country season has officially begun.
“I get to see teammates that have graduated as well as show all our new runners just what it is like to be part of our family.”
photos courtesy of Facebook
Mike’s Night is a special night for the girls of cross country because it is a tradition that the team has been a part of for many years. It takes place each year in August during the first or second week of practice. This night is a chance for the girls of the team to get dressed up in sundresses, take pictures and go out for dinner. “I look forward to Mike’s Night every year because it’s nice seeing everyone dressed up and not in sports bras and sweaty like in practice,” senior Emily Steele said. “It’s a great bonding activity for everyone from the alumni
to the freshmen, and it displays our love for one another.” Along with the girls who are currently on the team, the alumni join them for the night. It is a way for the younger runners to see past runners who have excelled in the program. Mike’s Night allows runners to see old friends and teammates that have graduated. It is also a chance to connect with one another and become acquainted with each other. “I get to see teammates that have graduated as well as show all our new runners just what it is like to be part of our family,” senior Sara Gregg said. “The food is great and we all joke about how different everyone looks when their hair is not always pulled up in a sweaty ponytail.” The girls plan this night months in advance because they have to make reservations for more than 70 girls. Mike’s Night is solely for the girls of the team, not the boys. The girls take group photos and grade photos before heading out to dinner. The photos allow the girls, many years later, to go back in time and remember their very first Mike’s Night. Afterwards, the team members carpool to Mike’s American Grill and have dinner there. The alumni of the team are present for both parts of the night. “Mike’s Night is such a heartwarming experience, because it’s the night where runners realize how much they are cared for on this team,” alumni Hasini Bandara said. “I will never forget my first Mike’s Night, and I hope to be apart of many more to come.” Mike’s Night is an opportunity for the girls, specifically the freshmen, to understand how close of a family the team becomes. It allows the girls to get to know one another better before the beginning of the season. Not only does it bring the girls together, but it forms a strong sense of unity and creates many
memorable moments as a group. “I look forward to Mike’s Night every year,” Steele said. “Mike’s Night is a great way to show freshmen what type of family we are and how strong our bond as a family is.” Similar to Mike’s night, the guys of the cross country team have a night called Glory Days Night. Although this tradition is more recent than Mike’s Night, both nights serve the same purpose: to gather the whole team together for a bonding dinner. The guys do not dress up and take pictures before the dinner; however, they do rent out the back party room of Glory Days and enjoy a fun night together. “I enjoy this night because it’s always tons of fun to be around the team and laugh together,” senior Kevin Monogue said. “It’s a great opportunity with such a big team for everybody, especially newcomers and freshmen, to get to know each other well.” Whether it is Mike’s Night or Glory Days Night, talent is not a factor. Running is pushed to the side and the fight for first place is thrown out the window as the teammates genuinely get to know each other as the season starts off with a bang. They get to see different sides of each other rather than their competitive sides. This night is truly about the team. The girls finish off the night with a large smile on their faces and the final bit of a delicious, flourless chocolate waffle. “I am definitely looking forward to the start of the season,” junior Emily Potter said.
“I look forward to Mike’s Night every year.”
Sophomore Jamie Hunstad and junior Katie Tisler (left) and the girls’ cross country team (right) gather on senior Sara Gregg’s porch before Mike’s Night.
2 September 2014 The Bear Facts 10
Ramadan: The hungriest and holiest month by Marleen Tipu - News Editor
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ot even water? This is a recurring question many Muslims are asked by their non-Muslim friends at a special time during the year. Every year for one month, Muslims from all around the world sustain from eating and drinking anything from sunrise until sunset in a holiday known as Ramadan, which is celebrated at different times each year.
Omar Elhaj, 11, poses with his family on Eid.
Many students from Lake Braddock participated in this annual religious ritual while trying to balance their summer vacation schedules, and, more importantly, trying to get through their daily activities
while surviving the hunger and the thirst. “[Being hungry was difficult] for the first few days mostly,” junior Dani Anaya said. “By the second week I just got used to not eating for the day; though it did make my summer a lot less productive because I didn’t have much energy to be active.” Others found fasting more manageable. “I’m pretty used to not eating for a while, so getting through the month was quite easy,” senior Lazokat Kamilova said. “However, on some days, it did get a little tough when I couldn’t wake up in the morning to close my fast.” In the mornings, Muslims wake up to eat food so they can “close fast”, meaning that the period to eat has closed and it is time to begin your fast. In most cases, fasting became easier as the month progressed. “Fasting was difficult in the beginning, but as the month advances, you start getting used to it,” junior Omar Elhaj said. With a few tweaks to schedules, students managed to make the most of their vacation despite fasting. “Of course, I had to prevent a lot of vacations, gathering with friends, camps,
internships and more because of the month-long event, but it was definitely worth it,” Elhaj said. The purpose of Ramadan is simple: By persevering against hunger and thirst, one builds patience, a quality that is seen as vastly important in Islam. Another objective of fasting is to realize how those who are less fortunate go through their everyday lives, and build compassion in one’s heart for them. Lastly, Ramadan is the month of redemption, a month where one can repent his or her past sins and “start fresh”. Some took a more religious approach to bettering themselves. Anaya focused more on trying to complete all five mandatory prayers that she usually didn’t do during the rest of the year. Kamilova focused on a more mundane goal, and she tried to be more responsible for her actions. “Ramadan definitely made me better as a person religiously, morally, mentally and so many other ways,” Elhaj said. “But there’s always that point in time in the month where you feel like you could have done more, but you know, life happens.”
Simeon and Judah, respectively. “Preparing for this role was very different from past roles,” Quinones said. “All of the brothers had such a strong bond on stage and off that we were
Meerovich said. “The cast was incredibly high energy, and we were on point in almost every moment in the show.” Summer Theatre Program (STP), a collection of high school thespians throughout Northern Virginia, spearheaded this production. While every single cast member from Lake Braddock has been part of a theatrical production at LBSS, STP provided a new, worthwhile experience for them. “One of the biggest differences I’ve discovered is that in LBMT, there’s always going to be some form of inhibition when it comes to selfexpression because once you step off that stage, you’re back in the high school scene, and all the judgment and pressure to conform comes right back,” Eggerton said. “But in STP, there isn’t any of that, and for me, that’s a big deal. In the halls of Lake Braddock, I’ve always tried to blend in and just be like everyone else; in this show, there wasn’t a moment where my castmates would let me forget how unique and valued and loved I am.” Together, these four brothers performed four shows in total. In addition to providing memorable experiences, this show has left each excited to see what the new season has in store, with major LBT productions coming in the fall, winter and spring.
by Ben Tobin - Editor-in-Chief
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hile some may disagree with former president of the U.S. Andrew Jackson when he said that the Bible is the “rock on which this republic rests,” it is indisputable that the Bible has been a gem for musical theater, inspiring productions such as Jesus Christ Superstar and Godspell. For several members of the Lake Braddock Theatre and Lake Braddock Musical Theatre departments, they received yet another blessing from the Bible when they had the opportunity to star in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at Bishop Ireton High School. “Shows about Bible stories tend to be different because most of the time they’re completely singing with no dialogue,” senior Marissa Chaffee said. Following the classic biblical tale from Genesis of the 11 sons of Jacob betraying their brother, Joseph, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat brings the story to life with myriad songs and dance numbers. Chaffee played one of the brothers, Zebulon, and was joined by fellow friends from LBT, seniors Amelia Eggerton, Levi Meerovich and Liana Quinones, who played Benjamin,
The cast of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat poses for a photo before its first show.
able to easily find our characters just by joking with one another. Rehearsal felt like I was just hanging out with my best friends.” By the time of opening night, which was on July 31, all of the on-screen brothers had already been so comfortable with one another that they were ready to deliver a stellar performance. “Opening night was fantastic,”
photos courtesy of Omar Elhaj (top) Marissa Chaffee (bottom)
B rose p h s b efo re Jose p h s: T h esp i a n s t a ke o n B i b l e
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Ice Bucket Challenge Accepted Students take part in fundraising for the ALS Association
Seniors Grace Allas, Connor Anderson and Karina Kolb participate in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge in August after getting nominated by their friends and family.
by Emily Migdal - Managing Editor
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Left to right: photos courtesy of Grace Allas, Conner Anderson and Karina Kolb
Thank you for nominating me for the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge” is a phrase everyone heard hundreds of times this summer as they watched students, celebrities and retirement communities dump buckets of ice water on themselves. The endless stream of videos filled social media sites for weeks while raising awareness for ALS. “I did it because someone challenged me, and I figured even if my doing it didn’t actually raise money, it could raise awareness or make someone else think about donating or looking into the cause,” senior Emily Donley said. The challenge required participants to be “nominated” to dump a bucket of ice water on themselves. They then challenged more people, which helped spread the trend. Those who were unable to complete the challenge in 24 hours had to donate $100 to the ALS association. “I think it’s important to look at the cause behind the challenge rather than just at the challenge itself,” Donley said. “The point is to help out people with ALS, not just do this thing with ice water.” This ritual quickly became a common part of life in August. However, there were mixed emotions among participants and viewers. “I feel that the Ice Bucket Challenge has done a phenomenal job of getting massive involvement on the internet and spreading the word,” senior Anya
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Michaelson said. “However, in terms of raising awareness, I think it falls short. For those who truly take the time to learn about ALS and donate, I think it’s wonderful. However, it is my belief that the vast majority of people do not do this.” The ALS association gained a plentiful amount of attention during these few weeks and collected significantly more
“I think it’s important to look at the cause behind the challenge rather just at the challenge itself. The point is to help out people with ALS, not just do this thing with ice water.” money than in the past. At this time last year they were up to $1.12 million; this year they have collected an astonishing $88.5 million, as of August 26. Even
though many students and community members made donations in addition to dumping their ice water, the participation of many celebrities helped raise more significant funds for the organization. “I felt that [the ice bucket challenge] helped raise awareness for ALS and show people it’s an important thing,” junior Ben Fogg said. ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, is a neurodegenerative disease that affects the ability to walk, speak, eat and breathe. The disease progresses very quickly, and there is no chance of survival after being diagnosed; most survive two to five years after being diagnosed, according to the ALS Association. There is only one drug, but it is not very effective. Researchers are still unsure of what causes this disease, but by raising additional funds, more research can hopefully be done. “In order to raise awareness for ALS, I believe the challenge should be modified to include activities that allow us to glimpse what it is like to live with ALS,” Michaelson said. “Alternatively, instead of taking the time to film the Ice Bucket Challenge, that time could be spent towards reading up on the disease and the various charities associated with it. That way people will have a greater understanding of the cause they are supporting.” As the challenge continues, the ALS Association looks to accumulate millions more in funds in the future.
Bienvenidos a Guatemala
by Yaitza Lopez - Profile Editor
M
ost people do not really get the opportunity to see the beauty of mountaintops, the pain of poverty, the look of an orphan girl’s face as she prepares for her Quinceanera, or to have the chance to pray and listen to women in prison who want a second chance in life. Junior Emily Potter and senior Rebecca Edmiston, both decided to attend a mission trip to Guatemala for 12 days to make their summer extra meaningful. Both ladies were also able to build a bakery to provide food and job opportunities to those in need and felt that they were serving God by serving others and following Christ’s example of humble and selfless service. This was one of the many meaningful experiences they had in Guatemala. “Going into the trip, I honestly wasn’t sure what I hoped to get out of the trip, but looking back, God taught me so many things that I never even expected to have learned,” Potter said. “After spending over a week in Guatemala, I have realized how much I take for granted and how important thankfulness is.” Potter and Edmiston joined a group of 17 students and three adults from the Immanuel Bible Church, where they partnered with an organization called Hope Renewed International. The organization works in the ghetto and poverty-filled parts of Guatemala City. With the help of the organization, the group was able to visit a women’s prison and a girls’ orphanage in Mazatenango. “Hope Renewed helps people living in extreme poverty to receive an education so they can find employment,” Edmiston said. “They help people who would otherwise have no opportunity to work because of their living situations.”
In a ghetto known as La Limonada, Hope Renewed decided to build a local bakery and worked with the group to help provide jobs and bread for the citizens living there. “We also went on house visits in the ghetto, and the houses were made of sheet metal so they were very dirty,” Edmiston said. “Most people didn’t have running water, refrigerators and other things I take for granted. Yet these people were so hospitable and grateful that we came to visit them, it was amazing they let us into their home to visit and pray with them.”
“Actions really do speak louder than words. It was honestly such an amazing 12 days and it’s so hard to express the impact it had on me in words.” After visiting the ghetto, the group then went to a preschool and played with the children there. They sang songs, colored, played soccer and told them bible stories. “The best thing about the trip was being able to make a difference in the lives of the children we spent time with,” Potter said. “Seeing them smile, laugh and sing worship songs made me smile every single day. The fact that God was able to use me to touch these kids and give them a time they may
never forget was probably one of the coolest things about the trip.” After being in the city for a few days, the group then went to a girls’ orphanage in Mazatenango for four days. Throughout the mornings when the girls were at school, the group did projects like painting, washing windows and digging garden beds. “We had planned a church service for the girls, and we did that one of the mornings we were staying there,” Edminston said. “I was on the music team, so I played piano while we sang worship songs in Spanish with them.” It just so happened that the group arrived at the orphanage just in time to celebrate two girls who were going to have their Quinceaneras. In Central and South American countries, when a girl turns 15, she is considered a women and therefore a birthday celebration is thrown for her. Before the party, both Potter and Edminston helped prepare the girls by painting their nails and doing their hair. “It was a very fancy event, compared to anything else they’ve experienced, and it must have been the best day of these girls’ life,” Edminston said. “Just being there was a blessing for the girls and a blessing for us to be a part of it.” Edmiston and Potter both can’t wait to have another opportunity to be able to relive their time in Guatemala. They would like to be able to go back and continue growing closer to God and being able to make such an impact to the people living there, they said. “It was cool to see how actions really do speak louder than words, and it was honestly such an amazing 12 days, and it’s so hard to express the impact it had on me in words,” Potter said. “Talking about the trip and reliving the experiences makes me so happy, and I love being able to share snapshots of my trips with another LB student.” 2 September 2014 The Bear Facts
photo courtesy of Rebecca Edminston
LB students travel to Guatemala City for a summer charity program
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Summer Night at Jiffy Lube Live
Students go country by seeing Rascal Flatts in Bristow by Tu Lam - Staff Writer
Bills said that the concert itself did not make for the most memorable moments, as he was equally entertained by others in attendance. “My favorite part of the concert was watching a drunk couple dancing and getting kicked out,” Bills said. The concert itself was kicked into high gear after the opening acts by Sheryl Crow and Gloriana. However, the two acts preceding Rascal Flatts gave concert-goers an opportunity to mingle and bond. “It was just fun sitting on the lawn with friends, singing and dancing,” Tuck said. “We all got closer that night.” After the two opening acts came to a close, Rascal Flatts, led by singer Gary LeVox (pictured), began their segment, which was a highlight of the night for Shock. “My favorite parts of the performance were when Rascal Flatts finally came on after two opening acts and when they played ‘Rewind,’ my favorite song,” Shock said. For Bills, however, the concert was not made by having Rascal Flatts be the feature performance. “[The concert] was alright,” Bills said. “Rascal Flatts wasn’t a great performer, but Sheryl Crow saved them and she had the greatest reaction from the crowd.” Attendance for the event numbered more than 35,000 thousand people, and those who were at the performance were a mix of fans and friends. Shock, a Rascal Flatts fan, along with his triplet siblings Logan and Madison, attended the concert in celebration of his 18th birthday and was glad that he had friends there to celebrate with him. Bills and Tuck also attended the concert as fans of the group.
Rachel Tuck, 12, and Austin Shock, 12, stop to make memories at the tailgate prior to the concert.
photos courtesy of Rachel Tuck (left) and Taste of Country (right)
I
n the middle of summer, as July came to a close and the dog days of summer came in as the month of August approached, a huge crowd gathered at Jiffy Lube Live Pavilion in Bristow. The crowd in attendance had assembled for a concert featuring country music group Rascal Flatts, who performed alongside Sheryl Crow and Gloriana. Jiffy Lube Live, formerly known as the Nissan Pavilion, has become a popular location for musical performances, with events such as WMZQ 98.7’s Fall Fest and upcoming concerts by various artists including Kings of Leon and Kongos. However, the pavilion is a location best known for its concerts featuring country artists and this became an attraction for many, including senior Austin Shock. “I heard about the concert because I’m a huge country fan,” Shock said. Shock utilized a “mega ticket,” which is a bundle of tickets granting access to Jiffy Lube Live’s various summer country concerts. Shock was not the lone LB student who was at the concert. He, along with a large group of seniors, including Randy Bills and Rachel Tuck, as well as Shock’s siblings, Logan and Madison, attended the event. The group traveled to the pavilion early in order to enjoy pre-concert activities. “We tailgated, grilled burgers and played cornhole,” Bills said.
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“I went as a Rascal Flatts fan,” Bills said. “I’ve listened to their songs since I was a little kid, and when your friends are going it makes [the concert] a lot better.” For many of the LB students who attended the concert, the event became somewhat of a last hurrah for summer, as fall sports would begin in full two days later. Rascal Flatts at Jiffy Lube Live became a summer ending concert for a summer that was only halfway done.
Student enlists at West Point leader’s program
E
ven before attending the West Point Leader’s Summer Experience, senior Emily Mudd was no stranger to the inner workings of West Point and the military. Mudd’s grandfather, father and uncle had all previously served in the military, and her oldest brother, Matthew Brown, attended West Point and graduated in Class of 2007 to become a captain in Army Aviation, flying Apache Helicopters. “I’ve always thought of West Point as an option,” Mudd said via a Facebook message. “I never seriously considered it before, and actually wanted to do this program to either completely write it off or add it to my list of potential schools.” The admissions-only West Point Leader’s Summer Experience (WPLSE) runs two weeks in the summer, and Mudd attended the second week, June 14-20, choosing to take final exams early in order leave for the program. At West Point, Mudd’s daily routine was comprehensively grueling, with scheduled activities only paused by 20 minute meals in the academy’s dining hall. The day began at 5 a.m. with wake up and physical training before admission, athletic or academic briefings. Then Mudd and other candidates went to classes taught by West Point professors before completing an evening full of military drills, tours of the campus and dodgeball tournaments. “No matter what we did, we were required to meet early for ‘formation,’ where all the squads and platoons lined up, stood at attention, and called roll,” she said. “Then ‘taps’ (curfew) was at 11, and we did it all over again.” Mudd learned elementary Russian, basic Constitutional principles and tested water samples in just some of the workshops she attended at West Point. Her favorite class, geography, discussed the pros and cons of different GPS programs, while instilling the importance of geospatial information when the Army plans missions. “It was [all] hard, but I felt like I learned a lot in just five hours,” she said. Although the military recently opened up combat roles to women and has begun to more aggressively recruit women, Mudd noted how few women attended the WPLSE. Out of the 12 candidates on each squad, only two or three were women, she said. “You grow closer with the girls around you because you feel
like you have to stick together and have something to prove,” Mudd said. Throughout the program, candidates learned the ins-and-outs of admission to West Point. Unlike the Common App, applicants to the New York-based military academy check off extracurricular activities instead of listing them in a resume format. “One of my fears about the process was confirmed,” she said. “My admissions officer said he believes the most competitive district in the nation is our very own Virginia 11.” On the last day of the program, the candidates ate breakfast in the mess hall, stood in formation and marched to the auditorium for a 30-minute graduation ceremony, where parents and West Point officials attended. Months after the completion of WPLSE, Mudd said the program made her a better leader and student, even if she decides not to spend her college years at West Point. “I just learned to not hold myself back from doing something because I’m nervous, afraid or unsure,” she said. “It encouraged me to be more open and try new things, and I encourage other people to do the same.”
Everyday, cadets had to follow a reporting procedure in which they stated the above. 2 September 2014
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photos courtesy of Emily Mudd
by Josh Wartel - Editor-in-Chief