Volume 42, Issue 7

04. 14. 15.

The Bear Facts

CLASSROOMS WITHOUT

BORDERS Students travel abroad for spring break

Lake Braddock Secondary School

9200 Burke Lake Road • Burke • Virginia • 22015

Contents / 04.14.15.

BEHIND THE COVER

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29 “I wanted to show how far our students explored this spring Break. Nothing depicts travel better than a globe, so I made that.”

Volume 42, Issue 7 6 Eighth period Due to the changed start time, an eight-period day will replace Bruin Block.

7 Travel Abroad Teachers took students overseas to experience new cultures firsthand.

12 Connor Anderson 21 Depression This army recruit is keeping LB traditions alive.

Are we handling the issue of depression and mental illness the right way?

13 Music trips

26 Prom dresses

Band, chorus and orchestra are hitting the road.

Learn about the pros and cons of renting vs. buying a prom dress.

8 Immigration

14 Fully Committed 29 Boys’ tennis

Read about the stories of those who have moved from other countries.

Read about the theater department’s experimental production.

After last year’s success at states, the boys’ tennis team attempts a repeat.

10 Simon sisters

16 Art

32 Natalie Tkac

These two siblings will be spending their upcoming year abroad.

From drawings to photography, students craft talented pieces.

Learn about this senior’s lacrosse career, which had an interesting start.

“I created an airplane that circles the world in order to show the extent of their travels.”

“I designed icons to represent the different places students traveled during their trips.”

Illustrations and quotations by Jesse Sands

Managing Editors Volume 42, Issue 7

The Bear Facts Staff Web Editors Ryan Mullins and Katie Vinson Photo Editor Amanda Hendrix Assistant Photo Editor Andrew Clinton Art Director Jesse Sands Graphic Assistant Maddie Sievers Business Managers Jake Hruska and Hao Nguyen

Editors-in-Chief Ben Tobin and Josh Wartel Managing Sara Kim and Emily Migdal Copy Chief Thomas Kendziora Adviser Kathryn Helmke

1st Period Editors News Marcell Subert News In-Depth Megan Cantwell Arts Vickie Park Comment Paul Barnhill and Ben Concepcion Style Hannah Lim and Michael Murphy Sports Jordan Small

Staff Writers Tom Anderson, Marianne Beveridge, Ian Bivona, Gerardo Cerna, Ayman Farid, Kinaya Hassane, Claire Hollinger, Kevin Hua, Michael Galligan, Jake Gold, Daniel Jarris, Spencer Jolley, Katie Karlinchak, Demetris Karounos, Aya Khaznadar, Lucia Kim, Maggie Komoniewski, Devon Lee, Anne Merrill, Alex Nesterovich, Connor O’Neill, Zelgai Saleh, Bunyamin Sevim, Nikki Sheppard, Elena Simon, Nathan Zelalem

2nd Period Editors News Marleen Tipu News In-Depth Dinali Dassanayaka Profile Steve Hong and Yaitza Lopez Arts Patrick Kearney Sports Tu Lam Photo Amanda Hendrix

Staffer of the Issue

Junior Jordan Small, one of the sports editors, joined journalism two years ago, and she remains involved in the class today because she “enjoys writing and the people in this class.”

After high school, Small plans to study journalism at State University of New York at Oswego in pursuit of becoming a professional sports journalist.

“I knew I wasn’t going to make it pro so covering sports was the next best thing,” she said.

Small’s sign signifies “that you have to work for everything and not just expect things to be given.”

Briefs / Page 4

Students in AP world will be exempt from the World II SOL, a multiple choice exam like the one depicted above.

AP World waived from SOL A passing score of 3 or higher on AP exam will exempt students from World II SOL test

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n past years, AP World students at LB have traditionally had to take the World History II SOL only one or two weeks after the AP test. This year, however, that will change.

“This year, LB has a waiver so that students do not have to take the World II SOL,” AP World teacher Michelle Devoti said. “However, if they do not get a passing score on the AP exam, they will eventually have to take it.”

Generally, students learn the normal AP curriculum all the way up to the AP test, then after the test, students have a one- or two- week period to learn essentially the entire World History II curriculum. Some students, such as junior and former AP World student Albert Wang, didn’t mind this format.

“The period wasn’t too bad because we went over the material through jeopardy,” Wang said.

This year, students will not have to do this. Instead, as long as students receive

a passing score on the AP exam, they will receive the proper credits for the course. If students do not receive a passing score (a score of three or better) on the AP exam, they will have to complete a summer remediation course, ending with students taking the World II SOL in order to receive the credit.

“Instead [of prepping for the SOL], this year we’ll be going in-depth with contemporary events that have connections to the content we’ve studied this year,” Devoti said.

Many students are happy about this change because they feel that it was an unnecessary addition to the AP World curriculum in the first place. With the already-rigorous AP course covering the entire scope of world history, some feel that having to focus so heavily on details from that small 1500 AD-modern world period is a needless addition. Despite this, in 2011, 2012 and 2013, 92, 93 and 94 percent of LB students passed the World II

SOL respectively, showing mastery of the course without really taking the class.

“I think this is a good change,” junior Albert Wang said. “The AP World exam already tests our knowledge of world history, so it is unnecessary to test students on the standards.”

Photo and graphic courtesy of VDOE

Photo courtesy of wisconsin.gov

VA Legislature rejects Common Core

Page 5 / Briefs

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An ISIS fighter stands in front of the ISIS flag. Photo courtesy of the FBI.

ISIS recruits Osborne student

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n two recent incidents, ISIS has impacted Northern Virginia. In one case, a student at Osbourn Park High School in Woodbridge has been accused of helping an older man fly to Syria to join ISIS. In another, Burke and Springfield were listed on a “kill list” published by ISIS. According to InsideNova, the Osbourn Park student left a small footprint at his school but was extremely intelligent and talented, working extensively on computer science projects and setting up Bitcoin El Arab, the first exchange network for Bitcoin in the Arab market. The student also wrote for Coin Brief, a digital currency news website. His employer said that the student told him in February that he had “personal matters” to resolve but hoped to be back working soon.

The student has been taken into custody. The student’s charges have not been released, but prosecutors are working through the extensive legal process to move the case to adult court.

In a separate incident, ISIS published a “kill list,” a compilation of cities and towns, including Burke and Springfield, that house service members that have fought in Syria and Iraq. ISIS published the names and addresses of these service members, although the threats have been deemed mostly as not credible.

he Virginia State Legislature has decided to ban the implementation of Common Core educational standards, a controversial new system that has been criticized by educators.

Common Core is a set of educational benchmarks for students to achieve by the time they move up to the next grade in school.

According to the official Common Core website, the benchmarks were created to “outline what a student should know and be able to do at the end of each grade. The standards were created to ensure that all students graduate from high school with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in college, career and life, regardless of where they live.” So far Common Core has been implemented in 43 of 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Proponents of Common Core say that new standards will help improve education overall across the United States and ensure that all students have access to quality education.

They also hope that creating better standards for education will improve America’s ranking on test scores, where the United States lags behind many smaller countries, such as Estonia and Vietnam.

However, many say that Common Core takes away power from states to make decisions about education, and point to the failures of the No Child Left Behind as an example of the inadequacy of federal education programs. Many teachers are also displeased with how Common Core is being implemented, with very little time to test to see if the standards need improvement or don’t work at all. Many have also lampooned the standards themselves, with many opposing what is being taught and the quality of practice questions.

Virginia lawmakers are so opposed to it that a bill was proposed in the Virginia State Senate to prohibit the adoption of Common Core standards by any locality in Virginia.

However, Governor Terry McAuliffe has come out and said the bill was unnecessary, as the Virginia Department of Education has no plans to adopt Common Core.

See It Now

Winter is over: The Cherry Blossoms Bloom in D.C.

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ne of the area’s biggest events that attracts tourists from all over the nation is the National Cherry Blossom Festival. Near the end of March to the beginning of April, the festival honors the short life cycle of Washington, D.C.’s adored cherry blossoms. This festival is held in the District and is meant to commemorate the coming of spring and the enduring friendship between the people of the United States and Japan.

The first batch of 3,000 cherry blossoms were given to the city from Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo in 1912 and was the beginning of a growing relationship between the two countries.

The United States reciprocated this act by giving Japan flowering dogwood trees in 1915. With a celebration being held every year since 1927, the festival has grown from a day, to two weeks, to a five-week celebration.

“The festival itself is very exciting,” senior Kayla Bui said. “I love looking at the scenery, and the food there is great.”

Along with the confirmation that the food was exceptional, senior Dhyan Fontaine said that the parade was very entertaining.

“There were many performances by various groups,” Fontaine said. “The dancers were especially impressive with their moves.”

At the festival there are many events that people of all ages can participate in. At the opening ceremony, pop-singer Misato Watanabe opened, followed by the classically trained AUN-J Orchestra, jazz artist Manami Morita and finally R&B British soul artist Debórah Bond. “This year’s signature events have been the same as in the past years,” sophomore Elyse Nguyen said. “However, the crowds get increasingly bigger because they come up with more events that attract more people from around the area.”

The predicted date for the cherry blossoms to reach their peak bloom was set for April 4, but it seems that the date is going to be pushed back as we are only

The blossoms bloom in front of the Jefferson Memorial. Photo courtesy of washington.org.

getting a glimpse at their florets.

“I didn’t get a chance to see the flowering of the trees over spring break,” Nguyen said. “ I hope to return later in the month to see them in full bloom.”

Although the Cherry Blossom Festival ended on April 12, visitors and tourists are encouraged to visit the Tidal Basin to see the trees as they reach peak bloom through April.

News

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Page 6

Is Great?

New schedule will include revamped Bruin Block, eight periods.

by Devon Lee - Staff Writer

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his year, there was a change from self-selected Bruin Block to assigned Bruin Block. However, next year, there will be further changes to the schedule. LB is introducing a new eight-block schedule, along with a later start time.

“Nothing is official yet,” principal Dave Thomas said, “but we are moving in the direction of having an eight-period day, meaning that there will be a four-block every day rotation.”

LB students only sign up for seven classes every year, but the school is starting up an eight-block schedule. Students will still only take seven classes, but the eighth period will be used for Bruin Block.

“We haven’t figured out where in the school day it is going to happen or what it is going to look like as far as student choice,” Thomas said. “I have been talking to the teachers about a teacher advisory, assigned Bruin Block classes like we have now or a combination of choice and assigned Bruin Block.”

The idea of changing the schedule was a result of the new school start times.

“We were going to have to adjust it for the new start time next year,” Thomas said. “So we figured since we are going to have a new start time, why not look at the bell schedule.”

Moving back the start times is a large change, considering all the money that has gone into making it possible. However, its effects don’t seem as large.

“It’s just 30 minutes, and that doesn’t make that much of a difference,” sophomore Tiffanie Luong said. “But I think that it will be difficult for students who have sports or extracurricular activities because they won’t get out until really late.”

It is important for the school to accommodate both teachers’ and students’ demands. Thomas meets with a group of about 30 PTSA representatives monthly to get their feedback and ideas as well as their help to spread the word through social media.

“In the end, most kids would like to have all choice [Bruin Block], and if I could get our teachers to work with me on scheduling and making sure we know where kids are, then I am all for it,” Thomas said.

Bruin Block being treated as if it is a class is going to be new to LB students.

“The fact that Bruin Block is now 90 minutes long every other day seems okay,” Luong said. “It is better for athletes because it gives them time to do their homework. If it is free choice, I feel that there will be more people who will be roaming the hallways.

illustration by Laura Mulrooney

Also, if it is assigned, some teachers might use it as class time.”

The new schedule changes weren’t just a spur of the moment decision; there are requirements that the school has to meet that didn’t work with the current schedule.

“Our current schedule isn’t in compliance with the state code on instructional hours,” Thomas said. “We have a few class periods that don’t meet the 140-hour requirement, so we need to boost the hours. We looked at a couple of different schedules, and the eight-period day maximizes instructional time. It allows us to do pull outs in that eighth period so that we aren’t pulling students from class. So the eight-period day is more efficient.”

It was important to take strides towards a new and improved schedule to not only accommodate the late start times, but to also make the school as productive as it could be.

“I think most people will be indifferent to it since it’s not that drastic of a change,” Thomas said. “I think depending on how the Bruin Block situation comes out, if there are more opportunities to go where you want to go, I think most people will be pretty happy about it.”

Not everyone is always up for change or the process that leads to change.

The teachers voted on certain aspects of the schedule in their departments. After that, department chairs from each department voted according to their department vote.

“I did not vote for the schedule as it stands,” broadcast adviser Justin Toney said. “But whatever it turns out to be, I will be on board.”

There will be no change in lunch. Passing times may have to be changed and possibly shortened a couple of minutes to help the school meet their 140 class hour requirement. All classes will be 90 minutes long and lunches will be 30 minutes long.

There have been many other ideas that were tried, but it was clear that the eight-block schedule would be the best for LB. “I tried to layout for everybody what the changes are. What I really want to do is get the schedule in place and leave it for five to eight years,” Thomas said. “I think that people don’t necessarily like change, or they like what they know. So, I want to get it place and start getting the people used to it. I don’t like the idea of changing the bell schedule every year because it really is a big task. It really involves getting the input from everybody, and that’s a lot of work.”

Page 7 / News

Sophomore David Robb, teacher Morgan Sohl, senior Colleen Murphy and sophomore Victoria Hernandez pose in front of a famous structure during their trip to Costa Rica and engage in some whitewater rafting (left & bottom right). Senior Elena Simon prepares to feast on a guinea pig, known in Peru as Cuy (top right). Photos courtesy of Morgan Sohl and Elena Simon.

Oh, The Places You’ll Go!

Out of school, students and teachers travel abroad

by Lucia Kim - Staff Writer

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he last thing students would associate with their spring breaks is their teachers.

However, Morgan Sohl, Kelly McMillan and Helene Hammer are teachers who took students overseas this spring break.

This year, Hammer went to Peru, where she and the students visited Machu Picchu, among other places. Sohl went to Costa Rica over spring break and is taking a Spanish immersion trip with students in the summer to Málaga, Spain.

McMillan and her group of students and English teacher Laura Stone also toured Spain, but visited several cities in France during their trip.

Ten students went on the Costa Rica trip and left on March 29.

“We’re going ziplining, white water rafting, and kayaking,” sophomore Hayley Patterson said before the trip. “And we were going to go to the beach, but we’re going snorkeling instead.”

Sohl first started leading spring break trips last year because she wanted students

to gain the same learning experience she did. In high school, Sohl went on a spring break trip to England and Ireland.

“It was a fantastic learning experience to open myself up to new and different cultures,” Sohl said, “and experience firsthand ways people live.”

Last year, Sohl took students to Berlin, Prague, Krakow and Budapest. During the span of 10 days, they were able to visit four countries.

“One of my goals is to see the entire world so I said why don’t I get a start in it and went,” junior Emily Bove said.

The destinations change each year because students get to see a variety of places that way.

“Europe tends to be a popular destination, and I highly recommend it,” Sohl said. “But I like to take nontraditional trips to places students are less likely to visit in their lifetime, or that aren’t as popular as the major European cities.”

Students were allowed a little bit of freedom on the trip. The morning and evening had scheduled events, but the afternoon did not.

“For lunch, it was free for all, and you could go around the city,” Bove said.

“Each city has something different to it like the food stands. It’s very spread out and different.”

The trips usually have anywhere from eight to 24 students and can include parents as well.

“I also open my trips up to parents as many parents find these trips to be fun, educational and affordable,” Sohl said.

Two years ago, LB students went on a joint trip with Robinson students to Spain.

“The tour company, EF, decided to partner us with them,” Hammer said.

They were taking the same trip on the same dates.

“I had been there many times before and thought that it would be fun to share the experience with my students,” Hammer said.

For the trip to Peru, there were no requirements to joining the trip.

“Just about anyone can go,” Hammer said, “but usually students who study Spanish are the ones who do.”

The group visited Cuzco as well as the capital, Lima.

In-Depth / Page 8

A New Kind of Life

by Megan Cantwell and Dinali Dassanayaka - In-Depth Editors

LB is home to a diverse group of recent immigrants. At all ages, these students have taken on the challenge of adjusting to a new society, while still maintaining their own traditions. LB has become a melting pot of cultures, with the ever-changing mix of students creating unique identities. These are the personal accounts of students with immigrant backgrounds and how they adjusted to life in America and maintained their own customs and traditions.

Arianna Asquini Sophomore Arianna Asquini immigrated to America about a year ago from her previous home of Italy. She is still holding on to family traditions while starting a new life here in America.

Q: How different is America from Italy?

A: Italy and America are a lot different in pretty much everything. The biggest difference is high school. In Italy, high school is five years long (first through fifth year, which would be ninth through 13th grade here). A lot of people in Italy go to school from Monday to Saturday and just in the morning (8 a.m.-1 p.m. usually), even though some schools offer the possibility to stay also one to three afternoons (depending on the grade) and stay home on Saturday. In Italy, students usually play sports in private societies because there are no actual school teams/sport except some annual tournaments.

Q: How do you hold on to Italian customs and traditions?

A: It’s not that hard to hold on to my homeland’s customs because a big part of Italian culture is food, and my mom can cook very well, even though it’s hard to find the same raw materials in regular grocery stores. Another way I hold on to my homeland’s culture is by speaking Italian.

Q: How hard was it to adjust to America when you first came here?

A: I have only been here for about a year so I think I’m still adjusting to America. Looking back at when I first came here, however, I feel like I’ve made a lot of progress. One of the biggest challenges is definitely the language. I started studying English when I was only 3 years old, but I was learning mostly British English so they didn’t teach American slang. There were also other challenges such as adapting to the new school and finding friends.

Page 9 / In-Depth

Bálint Subert

Anastasia Slepukhova

Two years ago, senior Bálint Subert moved from Hungary to America. Although the language transition was a challenge, he has been able to slowly adjust to English.

Junior Anastasia Slepukhova immigrated to America 10 years ago. Although at first it was a big cultural shock, over the years she has been able to adjust to the different lifestyle.

Q: How different is America from Hungary?

A: In Hungary the public transportation is more developed. Thus, we never had to take a car to go to the city. The driving age is also higher, and a lot of my former classmates wait until they are already enrolled in college.

Q: What are some Hungarian customs and traditions?

A: For one, on Easter Monday, men visit all their women relatives and friends, even if they are not very close friends. We usually go in small groups with friends and leave in the morning and go around all day long. We greet them with a funny short poem, and then sprinkle the women with cologne. It used to be water symbolizing the fertility effect of it.

After, the women treat men with desserts and with hand-painted eggs.

Q: How hard was it to adjust to America when you first came here?

A: It was hard to learn everything in a different language and to keep up my grades. It was also hard to talk to people because sometimes I didn’t understand what they said or vice versa. The language made the transition difficult, but my teachers and other students helped me a lot by explaining the things I didn’t understand.

Q: How do you hold on to your homeland’s customs and traditions?

A: We sometimes go to the embassy to meet new Hungarians and celebrate the Hungarian holidays.

My parents usually make some Hungarian food every week.

Q: How hard was it to adjust to America when you first came here?

A: At first it was a cultural shock, and it was crazy, but the craziest part was landing in the Dulles Airport and seeing an African American for the first time. At, first yes, I did not know a single word of English when I moved here so school was really frustrating when my peers and teachers couldn’t communicate with me. However, this taught me how to assimilate and make friends very early on. I learned English in a year, and ever since I have greatly appreciated and embraced both cultures.

Q: What are some Russian customs and traditions?

A: In Russia, people do drink vodka as much as depicted in movies. People are very superstitious and do the most ridiculous things at the most random times. If you are invited to someone’s house, always bring a small gift for the children and food for the host.

Q: How do you hold on to your customs and traditions from Russia?

A: I still speak Russian at home with my parents and we eat Russian food 90 percent of the time. We celebrate the culture and everything.

Q: Are you able to visit your home country often?

Why or why not?

A: This is my 10th year in America, but I’m planning a trip for next year.

Q: How different is Russia from America?

A: The climate, obviously. The people here are a lot nicer and are willing to help. There is also a lot less collusion here.

Profile

Page 10

The Sisterhood of EVA SIMON

by Devon Lee - Staff Writer

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ext fall, most LB students will come back to school and get settled into a new schedule. But sophomore Eva Simon will have to adjust to a lot more than just a new schedule; she will have to get used to life in a

new country.

“For my junior year, I am choosing to study abroad,” Simon said. “I want to go to Sweden because I want to learn the language.”

Simon didn’t all of a sudden just want to go to Sweden. She was already somewhat interested in the idea of studying abroad, but was inspired to go to this country after finding a blog from a girl who traveled to Sweden.

This girl also posted YouTube videos, under the username seetheworldinbandw, and when Simon saw one of them, she was instantly set on going to Sweden.

“The video gave me a feeling that I can’t really describe,” Simon said. “It was this incredible first-person perspective on life in a foreign country through the eyes of someone like me. The town seemed absolutely lovely, and the fact that she was able to fluctuate so easily between the two languages as she spoke both to the camera and her friend gave me hope that one day I could do the same.”

Although some parents wouldn’t be interested in the idea of sending their child across the world, it wasn’t too difficult for Simon to get her parents on board with it.

“My parents actually kind of encouraged me to take this opportunity,” Simon said. “They did their own thing when they were younger, so they supported me studying abroad.”

Simon and her sister, senior Elena, are both going abroad next year. While Eva Simon is a part of the AFS Program, her sister is taking a gap year.

Through the program, AFS-USA, a non-profit organization that offers international exchange programs in more than 40 different countries, Simon was given the chance to go to a different country.

“I am going to be staying in Sweden with a host family,” Simon said, “and I will have to go to whatever school that is in that area.

I don’t get to find out who my host family is until a few weeks before I leave.”

When participating in an exchange program, families can send their children to new places or host a foreign exchange student.

Simon’s family decided to just send Simon to a new country.

“It is just me going to a new country,” Simon said. “But when I come back for my senior year, my family is thinking of being a host family.”

Even though Simon is extremely excited about this trip, she is still anxious about going to a new place alone.

“I am actually really nervous,” Simon said. “Sweden is such a big place, and I am not sure where I am going to be placed. Also, I don’t know how to speak the language, so it will be like speaking a second language all the time.”

Going to new places alone may be scary, but Simon is very excited about getting this opportunity.

“I think I am more excited than nervous,” Simon said. “But I feel like it hasn’t exactly kicked in yet. There is an orientation before I go and I think that is when it is really going to hit me. It will be cool to see all of the other students who are also a part of the program.”

Eva Simon (left) will be taking an alternative route the next school year. She will be traveling to Sweden after finding a blog and video posted by Lisa Collander and getting an opportunity through the program AFS-USA. Photo by Bunyamin Sevim.

Page 11 / Profile

the Traveling Simons ELENA SIMON

by Ellie Weber - Staff Writer

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Elena Simon (right) will be taking a gap year in order to travel to four different countries: Morocco, Ecuador, Israel and Tanzania. While seeing new places, Simon hopes to improve her photography, see family and learn new things.

hile many of the 2015 graduates at Lake Braddock are still making their college decisions, senior Elena Simon already has her entire plan set in place beginning two days after graduation.

She will be spending the next year in five different countries, working, visiting friends and family, learning about new cultures and serving others. Simon’s unique route for the next summer and school year, which is called a gap year, will consist of two months in Morocco, a few weeks in Costa Rica, four months in Ecuador, two to three weeks in Israel, two to three months in Tanzania and a return home to Virginia between each trip.

Taking a gap year improves non-cognitive thinking, which is said to predict success better than the IQ, according to the American Gap Association.

Although the concept of taking a gap year originated in the United Kingdom, which still holds a higher percentage of people who take it than in the United States, the number of American high schoolers who choose a gap year has increased drastically since 2006. After her time in high school, Simon has chosen to start exploring the world.

“My summer is going to be very different because I leave two days after I graduate to go to Morocco,” Simon said. “I will take a course to learn Arabic and North African culture at the American University there.”

After traveling to Fes, Simon will return home to work for a few months, then return to her gap-year adventure, which will proceed in Costa Rica.

“In Costa Rica, I’m excited to be working with Photographers Without Borders and improve the quality of my photography skills,” she said.

Once that adventure in Costa Rica comes to an end, Simon will continue on to Ecuador. There, she will be embarking on different journies: working with children and seeing family.

“I will travel to Ecuador and stay in the indigenous community and with their kids,” Simon said. “Then I’m visiting my family in Ecuador.”

Simon will then return home again after her trip to Ecuador to work for a few months.

Her next two destinations, Tanzania and Israel, will be for the purpose of learning both their cultures and her own heritage.

“I’m going to Tanzania to learn about the diverse culture that they have there and work with the community again,” Simon said.

“After that trip, I will travel to Israel for two to three weeks to learn about my roots and the history behind them.”

Although her decision to do a gap year is very different from the path most seniors take, Simon sees many benefits in her travels, both in gaining a better understanding of the world and in preparation for her own career, she said.

“I’m taking this gap year to work on my photography of cultures and people, so I am better prepared to become a photography specialist in the Air Force,” Simon said.

Elena’s boyfriend, Nadji Filali, agrees that the gap year will ultimately be beneficial for her.

“I feel that it would greatly benefit her because her character evolves by helping others,” he said, “and that will help her become a better person.”

Profile / Page 12

5 Questions For....

Senior Connor Anderson

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Gooby, #3 on LB football team, leader of the Bike Squad and future service member

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Can you tell us about your contribution to the Bike Squad?

I decided to bring [Bike Squad] back this year as a whey to carry on the torch and the unconventional moves of the Class of 2014.

The bike squad has its first ride April 10. It’s a big day that I have already started building the hype around. At the moment we have around 30 members getting ready to join the tradition.

Also one new addition this year is that we will be riding to help raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project.

Where did you get the nickname Gooby?

The nickname Gooby was given to me by John Koch, Tommy McKenna and Austin Wolfe my sophomore year. Gooby is a parody of Mickey Mouse’s Goofy, and they said I reminded them of Gooby.

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What is the significance of the spelling “whey” for you?

I use it because I’m a big advocate for whey protein so I spell “way” as “whey,” and it has become something I’m known for now.

I became an advocate for whey protein once I became big into lifting and began taking whey protein powder after every lift because of its benefit to muscle growth.

Why did you decide that enlisting was the right choice for you?

I decided that enlisting was the best idea for me because I knew at some point in my life I wanted to serve my country, and since I will be doing interrogation I wanted to follow in my father’s footsteps.

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What are you most looking forward to next year?

I’m really looking forward to being more independent and all the training I will be going through for the army.

At the moment I plan to make a career in the army. After that I would like to become a personal trainer, that whey I can help someone better themselves and make an impact in their life.

“LB Bike Squad was started last year

by Ryan Kelly and Bobby Harrington.

They created it as a way to help the environment as well as increase morality at the end of the school year and unite the students of LB.” -Connor Anderson, 12 Interviewed by Anne Merrill Photo courtesy of Connor Anderson

Arts

Page 13

The clarinet section of the Symphonic band takes a photo on their trip to Indianapolis (left). A group of friends during the festival (top right). Seniors Andrew Stanger and Colleen Pramenko with Colonel Arnold Gabriel (bottom right). Photos courtesy of LBSS Band Facebook page and Joanne Yoon.

Band and chorus take show on the road

By Devon Lee - Staff Writer

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pring time is the time LB music branches decide to take trips to other places in the country to compete with other schools and to get even closer with their fellow musicians.

Last month LB’s symphonic band took a trip to Indianapolis to perform at an exclusive national festival.

“There is a national festival that they hold,” sophomore Ava Lucero Carter said. “You have to be invited to it, or you have to audition for it. And they take the best high school and sometimes middle school bands and orchestras from America, and they all play in one concert. There are about 50 concerts that people could go to.”

The symphonic band auditioned to participate in the festival.

The band students did not just play the whole time they

were on the trip. There were many other events that were planned for the students to participate in.

“I thought it was fun. I wasn’t expecting it to be that fun because they had a bunch activities already preorganized for us,” Lucero Carter said. “But it was fun because it was just the symphonic band so you got to hang out with all of your close friends while you were there.”

Compared to the LB auditorium, there were aspects of playing at the festival that were not the same as playing a concert in the Little Theatre.

“It was different because it was much bigger auditorium than what we were used to because the one here is obviously a lot smaller and the sound doesn’t resonate as well,” Lucero Carter said.

Among playing at concerts and having the chance to hang out with friends, band students also were given the opportunity to learn.

“We listened to music professionals, and they gave some lectures,” Lucero Carter said. “We saw a lot of concerts, and we saw about 40 high school students from all across the nation ...We saw a lot of other schools play.

We even saw a school from Hawaii play,” The symphonic band practiced the pieces for the concert a lot before attending the festival.

“We’ve been preparing [the pieces] for a couple months, and then we played them at the concert so we didn’t play that much,” Lucero Carter said.

From April 8-12, all students in the choral program who choose to go visited Chicago.

“We are going to Chicago to be judged on our assessment music by different judges and compete against other choirs,” sophomore Emma Davis said.

Along with the assessments, choral students will also be

given the opportunity to do some sightseeing.

“We are going to the zoo, aquarium, seeing Blue Man Group, shopping and eating at some tourist restaurants,” Davis said.

This is the first time that chorus will be going to Chicago. This trip will not only include choral assessments, but also time for the choral students to bond with one another.

“I am most excited to become closer with my friends and getting to do all the different activities in Chicago,” Davis said.

From April 23-25, all of LB’s high school orchestras will be traveling to New York.

“We are going there for a music clinic with a conductor from Broadway and to perform,” sophomore Jenna Lee said. “Aside from the playing, we have shopping, touring the Rockefeller building and watching a Broadway show.”

Arts / Page 14

‘Fully Committed’ Review LB’s Laboratory Theatre performs a show with only one characters, but plenty of voices

by Jake Gold - Staff Writer

I

n a laboratory, scientists use experimental methods to cut into the bleeding edge of scientific innovation. In Lake Braddock’s Laboratory Theatre, thespians stage nontraditional productions that defy theatrical standards. This season, Lake Braddock Theatre (LBT) put on Fully Committed, a comedy about the man, Sam Peliczowski, behind the reservations office of a world-famous French restaurant in New York City.

However, Fully Committed has one actor on stage for the full production.

Seniors Kaitlyn Lunardi and Nick Edwards played Peliczowski in two shows each.

Edwards and Lunardi both did a magnificent job. Playing the sole character on stage means that all the eyes are on them. Nonetheless, their on-stage panache made the show feel professional, and their range of theatrical emotions made the show enjoyable. Both actors said the same lines, but their deliveries differed.

Both were comical.

“They each have their way they work in their own skin,” director

R.L. Mirabal said. “Nick might have a facial take that Kaitlyn doesn’t do.

Kaitlyn could do something with her voice when she’s frustrated at calls that Nick wouldn’t even try.”

The cast of Fully Committed was not solely two people, though. The other 38 roles are voiced from behind the microphone, portraying the impatient aristocrats of NYC through the phone.

The cast demonstrated incredible comedic flexibility. Many actors played two or more roles behind the mic, and the comedic versatility of LBT really came into light. It helped that the play, penned by Becky Mode and adapted by Mirabal, is wellwritten. The writing fell short a couple times, a couples jokes felt out of place, and the “Ned Finlay” story line was not played out enough.

LBT produced its first Laboratory Theatre production 13 years ago.

Seven years after that, they staged Fully Committed for the first time, making this year’s production the second of its kind. “[This year’s show] seemed to run more smoothly than last time,” Mirabal said. “This time, I was able to avoid pileups that I saw last time.”

Kaitlyn Lunardi performs the sole on-stage role of Sam Peliczowski in Fully Committed.

Photo by Jake Gold.

C.I.A. completes art contest

by Patrick Kearney - Arts Editor

T

he winners of the Compassion In Action art competition were announced last month. Compassion in Action is a new club that was founded by the counseling office as a way for students and teachers to promote compassion towards one another.

“I wanted students to think about what compassion looks like, so I thought an art contest would be a great way to show students what it looks like,” club sponsor and former school counselor Catherine Trenary said.

This art contest was part of an initiative through the C.I.A. club to promote compassion through art. In this first edition of the art contest the top three finalists were sophomore Michelle Chen, senior Sara Belen and eighth grader Danielle Mason.

“I saw the announcement on the Morning Bru a lot, and then our computer graphics teacher really suggested that we do this,” Belen said. “And so I started the piece, and first thing about compassion is hearts, And how do you show compassion? One heart has to be broken, and then the other heart tries to help the other one.”

The contest did not have as many entries as Trenary had originally hoped for, but it is a good beginning, she said, which hopefully will allow it to continue to grow in the future, she said.

“I want to do a writing contest as well as an art contest to increase the amount of compassion in our school,” Trenary said.

“I would love for a writing contest to be something the C.I.A promotes as well.”

Positivity and compassion as a way to end bullying is the overall focus of the C.I.A, and a look towards having a greater impact next year with the students of our great school.

“I think for a first time it was a success,” Trenary said. “I feel that the fact that we received more than three submissions so we could have a contest made it a success and I’m grateful for the submissions we received.”

Page 15 / ARTS

Spring Concerts

Of Monsters and Men Echostage May 5

Tom Deluca has been hypnotizing select seniors for the past few years. Photo by Jake Gold.

Hypnotist returns April 15

by Maggie Komoniewski - Staff Writer

H

ypnotist Tom Deluca will be returning to Lake Braddock to perform at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 15 in the Little Theatre.

Deluca was inspired to hypnotize by his psychology professor, Dr. McMillan, while studying at the University of Illinois Springfield.

McMillan did hypnotizing sessions to help people lose weight and quit smoking. After a few years of practicing one-on-one tricks, Deluca got the idea to do a show. He began performing at his college on Wednesday nights, and eventually it evolved into a business.

To prepare for his performances, Deluca sits backstage and gets himself into the zone. He then walks himself through the show and concentrates so that he is focused on what he will be doing, thinking of all of the possible outcomes and how he will react to them. He selects his techniques for the evening based on his audience.

“Most of my shows are for colleges and businesses, but some techniques work better at high schools and colleges,” Deluca said.

Deluca then begins his performances by walking the audience through his agenda for the evening and giving a brief introduction. He explains how the performance will reach into deep levels of imagination and relaxation. He then takes 20

volunteers from all over the audience and has them sit in chairs on stage and talks to them about silly things.

“I’ve had people do flips before. I’ve had dancers, and I’ve just had silly people,” Deluca said. “It all depends on who you have up there.”

As Deluca talks to his volunteers, he hypnotizes them into deep levels of imagination and relaxation, as if they were daydreaming. This sensation escalates to the point that the volunteer is oblivious to things going on around them.

“You’re so focused on what I’m saying, you’re detached from everything else,” Deluca said. “You lose your analytical process and don’t judge whether it is real or not real.”

Deluca says the key to his performance is that it’s got to be real. The most important step is to pick people from the audience who look interesting, not just people who want to sit on stage and go with the flow. Although he picks 20 volunteers, he does not use all of them. He believes the more personality the volunteers have, the more interesting it is to watch. He does his best not to embarrass people and instead tries to make the show fun and entertaining.

“People like seeing how powerful their imaginations are,” Deluca said.

Hozier MWP

June 20

Fall Out Boy and Wiz Khalifa @ MWP June 27

Taylor Swift

Nationals Park July 13 Photos courtesy of official Taylor Swift Facebook, official Fall Out Boy Tumblr, official Of Monsters and Men website, official Hozier website

Arts / Page 16

LB’s Creative Showcase I like to put a lot of work into bad jokes, this is the pun “cat got your tongue,” senior Sara Belen said about her digital art.

I started off painting a picture of a girl and got inspiration from Charmaine Olivia, junior Karlyn Crum said about her painting.

The goal for that photo is to express the inexpressible, which i feel is the key component of surrealism, senior Clara Currier said about her

Page 17 / Arts

There was an acoustic concert for “We Are In The Crowd� and that girl decided to crowd surf because the band had asked her to, senior Mai Le said about her photography.

I was in D.C., and the way the clouds looked, made the picture come together, sophomore Halley Patterson said about her photography.

We went with my friend into D.C. for her 18th birthday, and we ended up under the national gallery of art, senior Antonia Tempesta said about her photography.

The

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Comment

Page 19

A gap that keeps growing The Staff Editorial

Laborers need to have more say in their companies in order to ensure economic fairness

T

he statistics on wealth inequality in the United States are appalling, and they’re not improving. There is no middle class anymore. Americans aren’t asking for anything outlandish, just a shot at a comfortable, happy life. Sadly, this is a growing impossibility due to the structure of our economic system. The system is rigged against the vast majority of the population, and a critical perspective is needed if we are going to have any economic fairness.

Today’s economic climate is the result of 25 years of trickle-down economics, a theory that states that tax breaks to people of the wealthiest brackets and to corporations will help those with lower incomes. However, according to a 2014 study from the Stanford Center on Poverty and Inequality, since the beginning of the trickle-down era, the top economic 20 percent has accumulated wealth, while the bottom 80 percent wages have dropped.

graphic by Tribune News Service

After WWII, for every $1 the federal government received in tax revenue from individuals it received $1.50 from corporations. Today, for every $1 the federal government receives in tax revenue from individuals it receives $0.25 from corporations. Local governments tax physical property like houses and cars, which everyday Americans are likely to have or aspire to have. They do not tax another form of property: stocks, bonds and cash—which wealthy people are far more likely to have. This economic burden must be shifted to wealthier Americans and to corporations by raising their respective income tax rates. The property tax system must be reformed to tax property that wealthier Americans have.

Additionally, American workers should push for the corporations they work for to be converted from top-down enterprises into worker cooperatives.

A worker cooperative is a corporation in which the workers run large parts of

the company and have real influence in company decision making. These companies run democratically and have regulations to keep the executives in check. The companies have much greater employee happiness and satisfaction, and in the end, turn out a better product.

Labor unions must also be stronger than they are today. Workers must be able to engage in effective collective bargaining to keep things fair.

Finally, shareholder laws need to be reformed. Currently, most corporations are governed by a “one share, one vote” principle when it comes to decision making. This should be changed to “one shareholder, one vote” so that everybody with a stake in the operation of the company is heard.

We will never be able to create fairness for everybody with the top-down enterprises we currently have. When we adopt the attitude of “workers first, profit second,” then we will see a nation of prosperous individuals.

Comment / Page 20 Beyond Good and Evil

The Futurist

Neighborhood Gentrification Our community is under attack

Pop culture vs progress

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Two sides of the same building in the Trinidad Neighborhood Photos by Sandor Subert.

J

ust a decade ago, the H Street corridor in Washington’s Northeast quadrant boasted no more than a few dingy strip malls and an unimpressive collection of take-out restaurants. In the past five years, however, the neighborhood has transformed into a hipster hangout lined with upscale restaurants and fine establishments.

Consequently, this new development has not been very kind to the residents of nearby affordable housing areas, such as the Sursum Corda Cooperative and the Trinidad neighborhood, as rising property values continue to push residents outward. This phenomenon is known as gentrification. In short, it is when the small corner liquor store in a deteriorated and often crime-ridden neighborhood is torn down to make way for a shiny new chain restaurant.

The draw for gentrifying neighborhoods may seem obvious. Crimes rates should drop, and the area should become more aesthetically pleasing while creating a broader tax base to allow for further urban development. However, according to a 1986 study by McDonald, every gentrified neighborhood studied had a total index crime rate above that of their respective cities. The movement of wealth from the city to the suburbs once allowed the middle class to ignore urban poverty. With gentrification, the shift of wealth has moved out of the suburbs and back into the city, where it has displaced those who live there.

In urban culture, it is considered “hip” to open up a trendy new restaurant in a

dilapidated neighborhood to escape the “mainstream.” The idea of going to an out-of-the-way location to try out a stylish José Andres restaurant that just opened up gives a sense of adventure to city dwellers who can afford it. This novelty, however, has a serious effect on the residents of the area in question. A place to buy affordable groceries may be important for local lowincome families, but the über rich from nearby Potomac, MD need a swank new café to sip macchiatos in while sampling homemade gelato.

In a matter of years, a grimy neighborhood can be transformed into a hotbed of social conflict and property crime with the addition of a few up-and-coming establishments. This phenomenon, however, is just a natural phase of city growth. Although its effects can displace thousands of people, more affluent citizens will continue to pour their funds into a variety of neighborhood renewal projects. Although gentrification, seen by the city as a great way to revitalize poorer neighborhoods, cannot be stopped, it is important for one to think of the previous residents of the building that is now a trendy gourmet ramen noodle shop. Mixed income housing has been put forth as a solution to the problem. but has yet to yield concrete results.

Despite having been displaced, the former inhabitants of these neighborhoods can rest assured that their old homes now serve Counter Culture pourover coffee.

by Marcell Subert - News Editor

ut of 2.2 billion children worldwide, 1 billion live in poverty. There are 640 million children worldwide without adequate shelter and 400 million with no access to safe water. The richest 60 percent of the world account for 95 percent of the world’s wealth. However, instead of attempting to solve these problems, this 60 percent seems to be more concerned with the idea of “cool” pop culture trends than helping our fellow human beings.

Tenzin Gyatso, the current Dalai Lama, once said “Our prime purpose in this life is to help others.” If this is true, as people who do have the capability to help, one must ask the question: Are we doing enough to help solve these problems?

In today’s world of increased connectivity, it’s become easier than ever to give to charity. Sites like freerice. com allow people to donate food to impoverished peoples with just the click of a button and without having to pay any actual money. In February 2015, freerice.com was visited one million times. Compared to sites like Facebook (19.4 billion visits), Google (18.1 billion) and YouTube (14.6 billion visits), this is very low indeed.

While it may be fun to debate the color of a dress with your friends or pore over Kanye’s latest tweet, one has to imagine how much better the world could be if people put just half of that sort of effort into learning about worthy causes, such as HIV/AIDS, starvation, health services and many more. As a whole, these issues still remain widely underfunded, and the public remains generally under-informed.

Is it right that these issues concerning the suffering of our fellow human beings go, for the most part, relatively unnoticed while trivial issues such as “the dress” earn notoriety for essentially no reason at all?

by Ayman Farid Staff Writer

Page 21 / Comment

The War on Drugs: How it lost its way T

he War on Drugs is a policy that was brought forth by leaders of the “silent majority” and the moral right during the 20th century. In 1970, the Controlled Substance Act was passed. The legislation swept in the era of the War on Drugs and frighteningly harsh prosecution of everyone down the narcotics totem pole from drug kingpins to simple users. Police started to heavily patrol low-income urban areas, going after Latino and African-American drug users who lacked the funds to defend themselves in court. Crack, the solid, cheaper form of cocaine, prevalent in economicallydestitute areas, was demonized by the government and the media. Crack users were prosecuted at a ratio of 100:1 compared to powder cocaine users.

The War on Drugs has perpetuated the cycle of discrimination and institutional racism against minorities. According to the 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Abuse, African-Americans make up 10.7 percent of drug users, 31.8 percent of drug arrests, 27.6 percent of drug convictions and 44 percent of drug incarcerations. The

T

here’s an epidemic in Virginia.

Not Ebola, nor the swine flu.

It’s depression, and it has been ravaging FCPS. Counseling’s solution has been a “screening.” Students watch a video and take a short survey, which is read by counselors to find students considered “at-risk.” This system, however, is wholly flawed. At-risk students, likely feeling that treatment options are hopeless, are inclined to lie. This leads to a lot of falsepositives or worse false-negatives.

This system needs to change.

Currently, Lake Braddock uses the ACT (acknowledge, care, tell) system.

Acknowledging that one has depression is a great first step; however, it’s time that we move past curing depression with “caring.”

It’s time to start using real treatment methods. Showing parents and students the effectiveness of antidepressants or therapy could be truly effective in fighting the rampant spread of depression. Medication, while controversial, can be very effectual; once we start advocating for the use of antidepressants, we can make progress in curing our critical epidemic.

by Jake Gold - Staff Writer

“War on Drugs” quickly morphed into a war on impoverished minorities. The problems worsened with the passage of the 1988 Omnibus Act, which harshened federal drug penalties and allowed for the confiscation of vehicles used in distribution. This started the wave of asset forfeiture by police departments; drug users were finding everything they owned, including their homes, being put up for auction before they were considered guilty by a court of law.

These policies were introduced under the pretense of stopping the use of drugs and bringing the United States back to its “Judeo-Christian roots.” The effect of this policy has done everything but meet its supposed goal: Drug use has not decreased. Every day in this country, drug users who harm only themselves are punished with harsh economical setbacks and time served in violent prisons, altering many of them for the worse.

These people have found themselves at a fork in the

Battleground USA road: One side is rough and unpolished cobble, but there is a light at the end of it. The other side is dark, crumbling and broken, with nothing but a pool of bloody tears, a cheap grave and a lonely funeral at the end of it. Instead of helping these people save themselves we’re pushing them onto a road of tragedy with no return.

The Patriot Act, legislation implemented with the supposed purpose of combatting terrorism, is overwhelmingly used to fight the War on Drugs. A 2013 report said that out of the 11,129 requests to use the Patriot Act, 9,401 of the requests, approximately 84.5 percent, were for drug busts. When did drug users become terrorists? The drug war is no longer just a war on minorities, but rather the American people as a whole.

As Clinton’s drug czar, Barry McCaffrey, said in 1996 when describing the War on Drugs, “It is truly a war without a clear enemy. Anything waged against a shapeless, intangible noun can never truly be won.”

Legalizing these narcotics may be too extreme of an answer, but persecuting users has failed to reduce their use and whittled down the civil rights of us all. Is this really the type of society we want to live in?

by Paul Barnhill - Comment Editor

Depression screaming

Comment / Page 22 The Uncommon App

A Flash Seminar on morality

by Jack Murphy - Guest Writer

S

ometimes I think debate has ruined me.

Like a physicist looking upon the beauty of a sunrise, seeing only emissivity equations, I view beliefs, and see their foundations and fallacies. It allows me to dismember my opponent’s arguments and exploit their weaknesses, but makes me critical of ordinary statements that lack justification.

What is it to “do the right thing?”

Knowing theories of justice, I can’t watch the Lion King without contemplating the ethical issues of dividing political power by species and gender. Knowing methods of persuasion, I can’t watch the news without shouting at the TV the logical fallacies being used.

If the only deterrent against crime is punishment, the claim “stealing is wrong” is reduced to a meaningless platitude—

only education about the fundamentals of what we owe each other, and why, can lead to meaningful questioning or support of moral authority.

My flash seminar would be on moral philosophy—the most influential answers to the normative question. Even a short exposure to deep, existential questions can create a lasting curiosity.

Philosophy is critical: we all make moral decisions every day, and the ability to legitimately question the rightness of actions or representations from fundamental principles, analyze the methods of persuasion they utilize, and justify to ourselves and to each other the rules that exist or need to, will ensure that students can defend their code of honor, and make decisions they know to be right.

Maybe the reasons for the sunrise, make it all the more beautiful.

“If the only deterrent against crime is punishment, the claim ‘stealing is wrong’ is reduced to a meaningless platitude.”

- Jack Murphy

photo by Josh Wartel

Senior Jack Murphy answered the question, “If you created a Flash Seminar, what idea would you explore and why?” and submitted this essay as part of his successful application to the University of Virginia.

Letters to the Editor Gun Rights column Dear editor, I’m writing about the previous Battleground USA column. In my opinion, this column is pointless. It’s barely two paragraphs and kind of jumped between different situations and time periods. Guns don’t kill people.

People kill people. No matter what, there are going to be crazy people.

Registering and buying a gun puts an identity with that gun. If they find the gun then they know who did [the crime, and] he will go to jail. If a shooter has a black market gun and gets away then he might not be found. Handgun restrictions won’t do anything but feed certain people the power and control that they crave.

Katie Plescow Senior

Ryan Antonellis profile Dear editor, Thank you for putting more interesting articles in this issue of The Bear Facts. I loved reading about Harper Lee’s new book because I know for sure I wouldn’t hear about it from any of my friends. The only thing that threw me off a little was the article on Ryan Antonellis. I’m happy for his success and all, but what was the point of that article? He got into Harvard and that’s great, but did you put him in because he plays football? Why not find some successful people that actually still go to Lake Braddock?

Mai Le Senior

Meninism Dear editor, I read the article titled “Meninism: Trivializing Feminism.” I hadn’t heard about this until I read the article. I found it very informative, and I agree with the article wholeheartedly. However, the article was very one sided, and I felt like it was attacking the Twitter page. I don’t agree with what [the Twitter page] is saying at all, but they are protected by freedom of speech. That doesn’t mean, however, that we can’t fight them on their views.

Jessica Bolin Senior

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Style

Page 25

Fashion Trends To Watch

Spring in style

by Maddie Sievers - Graphic Assistant

P

astels have always been a staple in spring and summer trends, but this season they have been edged out of the limelight by an absence of color on 2015’s spring and summer runways. They have been replaced with a mix of bohemian, festival-inspired looks and black and white patterns.

Although the term Little Black Dress (LBD) was coined by Coco Chanel, this year’s LBDs were not those of the past. Mixing different patterns to create playful looks, the designers took a spin on Chanel’s timeless classic.

“Black and white always looks chic,” fashion marketing teacher Ericka Symonette said. “You can always add colors to black and white to give it a little pop.”

Although there was a lack of color compared to previous years’ runways, this year’s Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in New York City did showcase designer’s abilities to play with pattern matching and varying textures.

During last year’s spring, summer collections, shift dresses and midlength skirts were brought back. This year seems to be the year of resurrecting old trends. This year at the Lincoln Center, gingham has come back in full force from the mod fashion of the ‘60s.

Denim is making its comeback from the mid-2000s in the form of jumpsuits, dresses and the commonplace jean jackets.

“I’ve always been a fan of denim,” Symonette said. “Denim on denim, I’ve always been into denim. If I could wear

it every day I would.”

But by far the biggest trend seen in spring, summer was also carried over to New York’s fall, winter runways.

The bohemian, festival style along with fringe has become this year’s hottest trend.

“I have not gotten into fringe for a really long time,” Symonette said, “but I’m happy that it’s coming back because I’d love to get back into it.”

From fringe to florals and daywear to evening wear, the bohemian style was seen throughout designers’ collections and has already begun making its appearance in retail. Stores like Forever 21 and Bebe have even given the trend its own section on their websites entitled boho or festival.

“Bohemian is actually a trend I have never tried,” Symonette said, “so maybe it will be an opportunity to try something new.”

The styles seen on the runway are nothing new, but they came back with new life and a different take on spring style than the typical pastels and pretty florals.

Chic and edgy black and white color-blocked dresses make the runway (bottom left). Denim’s big comeback includes wearing denim dresses and layering other jean apparel (right).

LBSS alumna Kelly Gianiny (left) and Mallory Stathis (right) sport their dresses at last year’s prom.

Say Yes to The (Prom) Dress

by Katie Vinson - Web Editor

A

ccording to U.S. News, prom cost the average U.S. teen $978 in 2014.

This is 25 percent less than what the average Canadian teen spends, according to the website. Ticket prices, nice dinners, shoes, hair, makeup and, most of all, clothing, contributes to this high total. However, new ways to cut the cost, such as rentals, are becoming more popular.

Rent the Runway, a new company, allows students to rent dresses at a lower price than buying. Rentals often come in hundreds of dollars lower than retail prices. Such businesses are becoming increasingly popular.

“Rent the Runway allows you to browse hundreds of dresses from over 100 designers,” senior Effi Hertig said, “giving you the opportunity to wear a dress unlike any other.”

Rent the Runway sends shoppers two sizes of the dress they choose along with all of the shipping material and postage to send it back, all at a drastically reduced cost.

“The pros of renting a dress is that you aren’t bounded by a large price for a dress you are only going to wear once,” Hertig said.

While Rent the Runway does have a store in Georgetown to try on the dresses, shoppers might not have the means to get there. The day before the event is often the first time buyers get to see the dress in person.

“Sometimes the dress doesn’t fit the way you imagined it,” Hertig said, “and you’re left with an emergency situation.”

Hertig has used Rent the Runway three times, including for LB’s homecoming. She was satisfied with each experience, she said.

Other students, however, prefer buying over renting.

“I prefer to buy a dress over renting or borrowing because I’d like to say that it’s my very own dress,” senior Asrar Aljubouri said.

Aljubouri also prefers to see her dress in store instead of online.

“If you are set on a style,” Aljubouri said, “then you can try it on to see if it looks just as good as you thought it would.”

Style / Page 26

A Tour of this Town

U.S. National Arboretum

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by Marcell Subert News Editor

A Tour of this Town is a regular column that appears in the Bear Fact’s style section.

News editor Marcell Subert, our writer, travels to different regions of the District and reports the do’s and don’t’s of each region. The goal of this column is to expose students to the fantastic destinations the District offers in hopes that students will explore them.

pril in D.C. generally means one thing to tourists: cherry blossoms. A 1912 gift from the people of Japan, the blossoms have been a staple of spring in Washington for the past century. Despite the excitement and beauty of the cherry blossoms, one can find an even larger array of plant life and horticulture at the U.S. National Arboretum. Instead of just one species of cherry trees from Japan, thousands of different plants from all over the world can be found at this 412-acre swath of land located right in our nation’s capital. In the upper corner of Washington’s Northeast quadrant, right off of New York Avenue, this park boasts a diverse natural beauty unmatched, even by the cherry blossoms.

Bonsai and penjing enthusiasts can rejoice at the arboretum’s extensive collection of the ancient Japanese and Chinese art forms year-round with its indoor and open-air exhibits. Among one of its most popular exhibits, the azalea grove, or Morrison Garden, is home to hundreds of examples of the flowering bush that captivates thousands during the months of April and May with its colorful display. Tabasco peppers and many other herbs can be found at the National Herb Garden, just a few hundred feet from the visitors’ center. More than 50 varieties of peppers call this enclosure home, along with hundreds of herbs used in everyday life.

One of the more unique displays at the arboretum isn’t even a plant at all. Placed in the 1980s, several of the original Corinthian columns from the U.S. Capitol building stand atop the 20-acre ellipse at the center of the park. These columns were part of the original Capitol building structure and were removed with the construction of a new dome atop the building.

Directly in front of the structure, a quaint reflecting pool, fed by a small rivulet, enhances the grandiose picture of the columns perched atop the hill.

Not only is the arboretum a serene escape for the public, but it also serves as a research lab for many of the country’s top botanists. Children can also learn more about horticulture in one of the park’s youth gardens. The Washington Youth Garden is open to children in grades 3-5, who receive the opportunity to plant fruits and vegetables in their own plot in the Youth Garden and watch them sprout and develop throughout the summer.

The students are responsible for ensuring that their plot remains clear of weeds and any harmful pests that might appear.

If one is inspired by plant life from the other side of the world, the arboretum’s Asian plant collection goes beyond the cherry blossoms on display at the Tidal Basin. Access to the adjacent Anacostia River is also possible from this exhibit. A short walk from the Asian plant life collection, one can stumble upon a beautiful grove of magnolia trees lining the road back toward the visitor center.

A visit to this enclosure can only be enjoyed on the weekends as the arboretum is only open Friday through Monday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Despite these limited hours, the U.S. National Arboretum is still a wonderful natural escape away from the buzz of Northern Virginia and the District of Columbia.

The Bottom Line National Bonsai and Penjing Museum: Just down the road from the visitor center, open Monday Through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Cherry blossom trees along with other trees bloom (top). Flowers cover the ground (middle).Flowers and trees surround the original Corinthian columns (bottom).

Photos by Sandor Subert.

Answers found online at lbssnews.com.

Down

1. The theme of this year’s art show is 2. Which team ended Kentucky’s undefeated streak this year?

3. Who won last issue’s Photoshop contest?

4. Kendrick Lamar’s album, ‘To Pimp a ’ 6. The is coming at 7:30 p.m. April 15.

10. Current president of Peru

Across

5. 147 students were massacred in what country?

7. What sort of threat did LB face before spring break?

8. On March 13, what short came out along with Cinderella?

9. LB Theatre’s spring play 11. Name of the Twitter account that makes students into hamsters

compiled by Elena Simon

The Crossword Puzzle

Page 27 / Style

How Well Do You Know Your Teachers?

Directions: Draw a line to the teacher that corresponds with the information.

Teacher

Dylan Hackbarth

James Linkins

Mike Burbach

Krista Gallagher

Information

-Used to be a lobbyist -Competes in cooking competitions -Has a dog named Mason and a cat named Jefferson -Used to be a competitive Irish step dancer -Met Destiny’s Child -Studied abroad in Australia -Used to be a newspaper reporter -Interviewed Miss America 1976 -Been in North Korea -Family is in the “Awkward Family Photos” book -Drove the Oscar Meyer Wienermobile -Started and then sang in a mens’ A Capella group compiled by Claire Hollinger

Hey Juniors—it’s a New Year!

Time to Get Serious about SAT and ACT! Top Six Questions:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

How do I know which test is best for me?

Compare your percentile score from each. (In other words, you have to take BOTH to know.)

Do all colleges accept the ACT? BREAKING NEWS! More colleges now accept the ACT than the SAT. Should I take the ACT? YES! About 33% of students score BETTER on the ACT! Does this mean I DON’T have to take the SAT? NO! About 33% of students DON’T score better on the ACT. (The other third score about the same.)

What’s the difference between the tests?

ACT SAT Top score?

Penalty for wrong answers?

How long does the test take?

Number and length of sections?

Contains Reading, Writing, Math, and Essay?

Contains science?

Can Mindworks help me do my best?

YES

Test Date: May 2 SAT May 2 SAT May 2 SAT

2015 Small-Group Course Schedule for Juniors Class Day: Class Time: Start Date: End Date: Sundays Sundays Tuesdays

9 AM – 12 PM 12 – 3 PM 3 – 6 PM

March 22 March 22 March 24

April 26 April 26 April 28

36 NO ALL morning (about 200 minutes) 5 sections: each 30 minutes or more YES YES

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April 5/Easter April 5/Easter March 31/Spring Break

*students who are out of town on March 29 may attend a free make-up class on Tuesday, April 7 from 3-6 PM

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Sports

Page 29

The team received its state rings during halftime of the homecoming football game this past fall (top). Senior Mike Rochlis hits a backhand shot during a match against TC Williams on March 24, 2014 (left). Senior Nick O’Connor hits a shot in a game against South County on March 19 (right). Photos courtesy of Gregg Zelkin (top and left) and Lifetouch (right).

Tennis works to stay king of the courts

by Ryan Mullins - Staff Writer

A

deep, riveting silence. A quiet tension amongst the crowd A palpable, nervous building of energy with nothing but the exchange of rackets striking a ball and the squeaking of sneakers to break it. Then, a mishit, an outcall, a cry of victory and the roar of the crowd. The 2014 LB boys’ tennis team had just won the state championship.

Last year, boys’ varsity tennis saw an eclectic group of highly-talented players all united under the same common goal: to reach and win the state championship. And, as the final set of their season ended, they had achieved just that.

This spring, the tennis team unites once again to try to make a run back to states in order to defend their title. The bad news: they have three spots vacated by graduated seniors. The good news: they have the skill on the roster to do it.

With the loss of six senior members, including last year’s captain, Long Huynh and first team All-Met Jacob Daugherty, the team has its work cut out for it. Yet, this year’s team also sports six returning seniors.

Along with them come three juniors, four sophomores and four freshman players, all of them ready to take on the challenge of returning to states.

“We have a great team returning this

year,” senior co-captain Mike Rochlis said.

“We are confident that we can get back to that level but we have to continue to work hard.”

A particularly heavy weight rests on the shoulders of senior co-captains Nick O’Connor and Rochlis.

“It’s a lot to live up to,” Rochlis said, “because we had so many great seniors last year who were crucial in helping us win a state championship.”

As with any sports team, a great deal of the responsibility falls on the seniors to set an example for the younger players and win games for the team.

“I am glad to be able to be in a leadership role now having experienced such a great year last year,” Rochlis said. “[I want to] help the younger guys get better.”

Though there is change in the roster, the mentality and dedication towards the team, as well as each player’s own individual improvement has not slackened.

“It’s up to each person individually [to train in the offseason],” sophomore Eric Yoo said.

Rebuilding a team while trying to return to states is no easy feat, but nevertheless, it is the only path for the tennis team.

“Our goal this year, like every year,” Rochlis said, “is to win states.”

Though every year’s goal may be the same, newer and tougher challenges appear with each coming season.

“I think [the biggest challenge] will be to get everyone in the top six used to [playing],” Rochlis said. “There is definitely an adjustment going from not playing in the top six to playing in the top six. We had three guys from our top six graduate, so there is a fair amount of changeover.”

Even with these challenges ahead of them, the tennis team is ready and willing to be state contenders once again. “[We can make states] if everyone continues to stay focused and work hard,” Rochlis said. “Everyone has put in a lot of work so far and more needs to be done, but we definitely have the talent to make it back to where we were last year.”

So far this season, the Bruins have beaten Lee, South County and West Springfield and lost to West Potomac and Woodson. The two losses were both tightly contested, with many close matches proving to be the difference.

“We’ve just been a bit unlucky in the matches we lost so far,” senior Alex Nesterovich said. “At West Potomac we lost a series of 10-8 matches, and at Woodson, Eric and I had two very tight matches that could have flipped the result.”

With two losses this season, the Bruins have a deficit to make up in playing to make the state tournament. However, with a steady lineup mentored by experienced coach Bill Hughes, they have a good chance to continue last year’s success.

Sports / Page 30

1 question, 4 quarters

What’s your fondest coaching memory?

Jody Rutherford

Baseball photo by John Lorence “Winning the state championship in 2012; as a program, that was the first in the history of the school, so it was important in that sense, but also [as a high school coach] the ultimate goal.”

Bill Hughes

Boys’ Tennis photo by Gregg Zelkin “Winning states last year against Langley and the way [the match] came down to the end and we were all watching the third doubles match with Scott Belcher and Nick O’Connor.”

George Rumore

Softball photo by Gregg Zelkin “Turning the program around completely. When [I] first got here, (the team) hadn’t been to regionals for five years, and [now] we’ve been to regionals for the past eight or nine years.”

Joe Soos

Boys’ soccer photo by Gregg Zelkin “Probably the state semifinal in 2003 when we beat Kempsville to advance to the final. We beat them 2-1 in Golden Goal (sudden death) overtime.”

Freshman Mark Schubert gets ready to pass the ball in a game on March 24 against O’Connell. Photo by John Lorence.

Schubert holding his own on varsity

by Claire Hollinger - Staff Writer

A

t Lake Braddock, not very many freshman make varsity sports. However, the class of 2018 has provided the school with several impressive athletes, some of whom have participated in the varsity level of their sport. On the boys’ lacrosse team, the only freshman face is Mark Schubert. He has been playing lacrosse for five years and for Virginia Lacrosse Club for two years.

“I like lacrosse because it’s really fast-paced,” Schubert said. “You’re never standing still. I play because I just love the game.”

It has been a difficult adjustment playing varsity high school lacrosse for Schubert, though.

“It’s been quite a challenge playing against a lot of upperclassmen,” Schubert said. “Compared to my club and rec teams, the pace is much faster, the players are way bigger and the talent level is much higher [in high school lacrosse].”

While it has been a difficult adjustment for Schubert, the lacrosse team seems to enjoy not only his athletic ability, but also his role as a teammate. Other members of the varsity team describe him as a driven player who knows the game and will only continue to get better as the season goes on.

“Mark is one of the most talented freshman I’ve ever played with,” junior Dillon Wells said. “He knows the game. [He’s] definitely a better player than I was as a freshman.”

When upperclassmen compared Schubert to other freshmen that are a part of the boys’ lacrosse program, it was no question that they held him in a higher respect and admired his athletic ability.

“He is another offensive weapon who can benefit us with his knowledge and stick skills,” senior Tyler Stewart said. “As a senior who has played since freshman year, I kind of see myself when I look at him. It’s a nostalgic feeling to finally be in the opposite role.”

So far this season, boys’ lacrosse is 5-3, and Schubert has had an impact on the team. He’s scored once and has two assists, in addition to taking and winning the majority of the face-offs.

Even though Schubert has only scratched the surface of his high school lacrosse career, he’s already made an impact on the team, the coaches and himself as a player.

Page 31 / Sports

Inside a Gameday with D.C. United

by Tom Anderson - Staff Writer

D.C. United play at RFK Stadium. RFK was built in 1961 and is the former home of the Washington Redskins and the Washington Nationals. RFK is used mainly for soccer now, with United playing at RFK since their foundation in 1996, and holding many U.S. National Team and CONCACAF Gold Cups.

However, United won’t be playing at RFK for much longer. The D.C. City Council recently approved plans for a brand new soccer-specific stadium to be built at Buzzard Point. United is slated to begin play at the new stadium in time for the 2017 MLS season.

D.C. United and the L.A. Galaxy stand for the U.S. National Anthem before their clash on March 28. United are hoping to improve on last season’s effort, which saw them go from one of the worst teams in the MLS to being the Eastern Conference regular season champion.

Despite the success during the regular season, United was eliminated in the first round of the playoff at the hands of their arch-rivals, the New York Red Bulls.

United returns young stars Bill Hamid, Perry Kitchen and Steve Birnbaum, all of whom have started to make themselves known on the U.S. National Team.

United goes on the attack during the second half of their match against the LA Galaxy. The Galaxy were without two key players, reigning MLS MVP Robbie Keane and rising star Gyasi Zardes for the match, as both were called up for international duty. However, the two teams were lively, with both sides coming close to scoring, but good goalkeeping and bad luck kept the game scoreless. It appeared the match was destined for a draw, but United won 1-0 on a dramatic stoppage time header from Chris Pontius. photos by Tom Anderson

Indoor track finishes up winning season

by Spencer Jolley - Staff Writer

A

s spring sports started this year, there was one winter sport that was still competing in both states and nationals. The indoor track team, after winning the conference and regional championships for both girls and boys, was scheduled to compete at the state meet on Feb. 27 and 28. However, the snow that cancelled school in Fairfax County also delayed the state competition.

Snow eventually pushed back the meet until March 9 and 10, a full week and a half after the original date. The snow made preparing for the state meet difficult, as running outside was nearly impossible.

However, the snow didn’t stop many from attending the meet, and the runners there felt their presence.

“States was a fun meet to run at because of the team,” junior Ben Fogg said. “The people that came gave so much support it was so nice.”

Fogg finished third in the 1000 meters and helped the Bruins get third in the 4x800 meter relay, finishing all-state in both events. Senior Alex Corbett was the

state champion in the two-mile and the runner-up in the mile, scoring 18 points for LB. However, that wasn’t enough for the team, as they finished fourth place at the meet.

On the girls’ side, sophomore Kate Murphy won both the mile and the two-mile for LB, while other standout performances ended up placing the team at fifth overall.

“Running events at states was extremely awesome because it was my first time for indoor states,” Murphy said.

“Winning to me was a blessing because indoor season wasn’t as planned training wise due to all of the snow days.”

The following weekend, March 13 and 14, a handful of the track runners went to New Balance Nationals to compete against some of the best high school runners in the country. This meet was run at the fastest 200 meter track in the country and also one of the most prestigious. The Armory, in New York City, also hosts the U.S. Indoor Track & Field Championships.

“It was humbling to run at nationals,” Fogg said. “There are so many fast people there that you go from being the fastest to

being just another guy.”

The top five in each event at nationals are All-Americans, a title given to the best in the nation, and Lake Braddock had five runners earn that illustrious distinction.

Competing in the two-mile, Murphy was able to place second among the best runners in the country, earning herself All-American status. The boys’ four-mile relay finished fifth, running a time of 17:50 for four miles. That team included juniors Colin Schaefer and Fogg and seniors Kevin Monogue and Corbett.

“It was cool to be All-American because I realized that our four-mile was the fifth best team in the entire nation,” Schaefer said.

Of course, the excitement of Nationals did not take the focus away from the training that the runners go through to get back and to get better for next year.

“I think it’s exciting, but at the same time I’m not satisfied,” Murphy said. “It was a great end to my indoor season, but looking forward into outdoor I hope to beat my times, be more competitive and try to challenge the girls that are faster than me.”

Attkac of the Bruins

You’ve been on varsity lacrosse since freshman year. How has your role changed over the past four years?

the few seniors on the team, and people look up to us to be leaders on and off the field.

never played the sport before.

When did you begin playing lacrosse? What/ You played field hockey who inspired you to begin When I was an this year as well. What playing? underclassman, I made you want to try it? was always really In fourth grade I had the intimidated by the older A lot of my friends on the biggest crush on one of players on the field. So lacrosse team also play the boys in my grade. He I never had much of a field hockey, and they all played lacrosse, and I presence on the field, encouraged me and one thought that if I started just in fear of letting of my other friends to playing, it might impress someone down. I think try out this year. We did him and he might like me my role has changed and made varsity, which back. So I joined a youth the most this year was a huge deal for both league, and I’ve been because I’m one of of us considering we had loving it ever since. photo by Lifetouch

Athlete of the Issue: Senior Natalie Tkac