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Viewpoint A R T X E
Mountain View High School 2135 Mountain View Road Stafford, VA 22556
STUDENT NEWS Magazine MVHS VOLUME 11 ISSUE 2 October Extra
Kiara Villafuerte’s piece for her IB Art class. Read more about how art inspires and reaches people on page 7.
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The Viewpoint OCTOBER 2016 VOLUME XI ISSUE II Managing Editors
LIVING LIFE Between cell phones and social media, it’s hard to differentiate between real life and the one on the computer screen. And while we all groan about hearing how we use our phones too much, we all know that our cell phones hold most, if not all, of our lives. But I’m not here to tell you to put down that dang cell phone or tell you how to live your life. I have realized, however, that life isn’t what you see on a screen and the little snapshots your friends’ posts is only a glimpse of what they did over their Thanksgiving break or three-day weekend. And while we check our phones for Snapchat streaks constantly (which I am absolutely terrible at keeping) or post the amazing pumpkin patch we went to over the weekend, it’s the experience of going to the pumpkin patch that truly matters. If you’re a senior, this will ring true to you especially, as we are constantly realizing that there are
Hailey Bullis Morgan Ocetnik Social Media Editors
so many “lasts” this year and that we want to savior every moment of them (unless it’s your last time taking the SAT of course). Our lives are constantly changing and morphing into something unrecognizable to what it was a year ago: new friends, new chances, or maybe even a new school. This is most relevant to our three foreign exchange students this year, who come from China, Norway, and Germany. You can read more about them individually on pages 8 and 9. Everyone could take a page out of the exchange students’ books by taking the chance on a new experience totally out of your comfort zone. Managing Editor Hailey Bullis
Lexi Strawder Abbey Whitehead Copy Editors
Leah Garza Reagan King
Photography Editor
Emilee Holmquist Extra Editor
Paige Doerfler Briefs Editor
Ruby Jackson Adviser
Trisha Strahl The Viewpoint is a cross-section of the news and opinions of the student body of Mountain View High School. It is a forum of expression published by aPrintis. Letters to the editorial board are welcome and should be submitted to rooms 303 or 311.
Staff Writers
Jenny Bullers, Nicholas Chechak, Charlotte Hazard, Damien Veal, Austin Venable, Adam Skoloda, Sophie Perez
Feature Figure
Jenny Bullers
by Jenny Bullers
Senior Ashley Stevens partook in a foreign exchange program last year; she traveled to France and lived just outside of the city of Bordeaux in a village, staying with a host family for her junior year. Stevens said, “The city [Bordeaux] is really known for wine and vineyards. In France, they don’t really have towns like Stafford; they have bigger cities and then villages.” She lived in a small village called La Bred. Steven’s host family consisted of a mother and father, two sisters, and a brother. One of the sisters lived closeby with her own family and the other lived in a small town in The Alps where she attended college. The brother lived in the house with Stevens and the parents, but went to a university in Bordeaux. Stevens and her host family traveled a lot while she stayed with them. They took many road trips in their camper van because every six weeks schools in France get a two-week vacation. Last October, Stevens and the host family visited their daughter in The Alps. “It was gorgeous; the mountains were beautiful, and it was during the fall so it was extra beautiful,” she said. She also went skiing during their winter break in the Pyrenees Mountains. Stevens said, “It was really challenging; I wasn’t used to mountains like that. It was awesome, but very hard because the snow was icy the first day but once it softened
up it was easier.” She also got the opportunity to visit her uncle in Paris a couple of times. “Families are very close to each other in France. I would say that they spend more time together there than here. Kids are more dependent on their parents for a longer time in France,” said Stevens. Socially speaking, kids are the same in France and don’t differ much from how kids are here. She said, “I made friends just as easily there as I would here.” Stevens knew French well before the program because her mother is Algerian and communicates in French to her at home. Despite her previous knowledge of French, Stevens got the chance to improve on her French greatly while she was staying there and attending school. In the host family’s home, they only spoke French. However, she became close with a student from Australia and Germany who spoke English. Stevens said, “I am really glad I got to have this opportunity because it helps you in a lot of categories. Language wise, you’ve learned this new language. Also, I have grown accustomed to being comfortable around people I don’t know and opening up and being more culturally adaptive.” Despite her homesickness, Stevens thoroughly enjoyed this trip and encourages anyone who has the opportunity to take advantage of it.
Front Cover Morgan Ocetnik
2014-2016 Virginia High School League State Championship First Place Award Winner 2013, 2014, 2015 Free Lance-Star Best Over All Newspaper 2011 Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Medalist 2011, 2010 and 2009 Virginia High School League First Place Award Winner
Mountain View High School 2135 Mountain View Rd. Stafford, VA 22556
Loving The Viewpoint? There’s even more! Check us out on issuu.com to see more pages of content from The Viewpoint EXTRA. index q october 2016 q the viewpoint q 3
October
at Mountain View A haunted walk by Sophie Perez
Sophie Perez
On October 20, 21, and 22, Tom Clark and The Mountain View Wild Acts presented ‘The Woman In Black-- A Haunted Walk’. The walk started with two guides explaining The Woman In Black’s story and then leading your group outside. The scares began outside with student actors dressed in full makeup to resemble dead bodies, jumping out from a corner and rattling a metal fence. You were then taken inside and greeted by several “undead children” who pop out at various times and warn you about the dangers of the house. After this you are lead into a room, set up as a bedroom, where there is an actor drawing and rocking back and forth in a corner and two other actors yelling at a TV that’s playing only static. A series of other rooms follow, such as another bedroom where The Woman In Black makes a surprise appearance, a dollhouse room, and a hallway that is pitch black with actors grabbing at your feet. Last but not least, you are guided into the seating area of the auditorium where you pass several actors who do not attempt to make you jump or scream, but only watch you walk through, which adds to the creepy feeling of the room. As you reach the end of the aisle, you are surprised with The Woman In Black herself. She tries to convince you to stay as you run out the doors with your blood pumping and with memories from a night you won’t forget.
Improv show by Damien Veal
Damien Veal
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The Improv club’s first show, scheduled for November 19 at 7 p.m., is fast approaching. So what can we expect at the show? The Improv Club is “dedicated to the ancient art form of making stuff up as you go along” said the club’s new sponsor, Mr. Clark. “This club is a test of student’s creativity and a celebration of it.” This is Tom Clark’s first year sponsoring the show. It was originally started by Ms. Carter, then taken over by Theresa Gaddy after Ms. Carter’s retirement. The club began during the 2006-2007 school year, making this year the club’s twelfth year of performance. At the show, performers play well-known improvisation games like those found on “Whose Line is it Anyway,” a famous improv television show. The crowd can always expect to be involved at the show by suggesting creative situations. The audience watches the club play an array of games such as “Four square,” “Helping hands,” “Late to work,” and many more. New club members join through an audition process. Clark explained that the auditions are very competitive; many students try out for years before they make it. “Improv is a skill, yes you can teach some of it but also some of it is dependent on whether you have the ability or you don’t,” he said. One alumni of the club displayed particular skill and is now a performer of The Second City, a prestigious improv company. The club improves the performers’ skills by practicing, playing improv games, and learning as they go. Make sure to come out and see the club’s first show on Saturday, Nov. 19 at 7 p.m.
WILDCAT CAFE Opening in November 2016!
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Multicolor Canvas Art has many inspiring and fascinating ways of reaching other people. Art’s history and stories inspire people to add their color to the story that it tells by Charlotte Hazard
A
Kiara Villafuerte holding her artwork in the art room.
rt is an amazing masterpiece because it can be interpreted in many different ways by many different people. Whenever an artist releases a piece of art they create, they choose to tell their story to an audience, whether the audience understands and appreciates it or not. As famous artist Edgar Degas once said, “Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.” It has also been proven to improve math skills, critical thinking, and expand on creative thinking. Senior Isabella Bukovich heavily involved in the IB Art program said, “There’s a lot of math in art. There’s a lot of calculations, but after doing it for a while, it becomes second nature, and you learn it like the back of your hand.” Art therapy is a new, creative method of expression used as a therapeutic technique. According to the Merriam Webster dictionary, the definition of therapy is “treatment intended to relieve or heal a disorder.” Bookstores are filled with adult coloring books to help adults and teenagers get out their stress in a healthy way Artists tend to draw their feelings; instead of talking, Their feelings are painted on a canvas left open for interpretations by the audience. Senior Kiara Villafuerte, IB Art program participant, said, “I know when I’m feeling stressed; I open up my sketchbook
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and draw. It helps me express myself and get some weight off my shoulders.” Both Bukovich and Villafuerte said they have been drawing as long as they can remember and that art runs in their families. Art plays a big role in childhoods of children around the world. In books such as “The Hungry, Hungry Caterpillar,” “Brown Bear, Brown Bear,” “What do you See?,” “Color Dance,” and many Dr. Seuss books, the colors and pictures added their unique touch to the story. “I like to make my artwork pop. I like to make it stand out by using bright, contrasting colors for visual entertainment”, said Villafuerte. Art museums are a fantastic way to see all kinds of masterpieces created by different artists. Some art museums around Virginia include the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Chrysler Museum of Art, Taubman Museum of Art, and many more. There, you can see art pieces like “The Thinker of Notre-Dame”, “The Clock Tower at the Conciergerie”, “The Vampire”, and “Cleopatra”. A lot of these works come from France, where many famous artists came from. “Colors add emotion to the artwork. For my artwork, I tend to use colors for excitement,” said Bukovich. In black and white art where there is no color, the designs are on their own, but can still turn out very well. Two pieces of famous black and white art are Sleeve by Gerhard Weisbeck and Old Gold by Dorothea Lange. Art can be used for therapy, to improve math skills and critical thinking, and to interpret stories. With a pencil and a pen,canvas and a paintbrush, the possibilities are endless for what people can do. Overall, art can have a huge impact on everyone whether they’re the observer or the artist.
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Wildcat Salon Open Thursdays 8:00 am-5:00 pm 540-658-6840
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School contact: Trisha Strahl strahltl@staffordschools.net october 2016 l the viewpoint l 7
Fall fun
Fa l l h a s t he p er fe c t we at he r t o b e o ut s i de a nd v i s i t f u n p lac e s i n o u r c om mu n i t y by Abbey Whitehead
Belvedere Plantation If you like pumpkin patches, corn mazes, hayrides and campfires, then Belvedere Plantation is the place for you. Get a big group together and enjoy the fall weather outside. You can spend as long as you like in the pumpkin patch to find the perfect pumpkin. At night, the lights go out in the corn maze so you can find your own way through. If you’re an animal lover, be sure to check out the farm animals. A regular admission ticket is only $17.50 and a Friday night ticket is $12.00. The drive is 39 minutes from Mountain View and 45
1410 Belvedere Drive Fredericksburg, VA 22408
Cox Farms If you’re into haunted houses then head to Cox Farms for a night of scary fun. With three haunted attractions, a bonfire, and fear games, Cox Farms has something to offer for everyone. In the haunted attraction Cornnightmare, you’ll walk more than half a mile through a haunted corn field. In the Dark Side Hayride you’ll take a ride behind a tractor through a zombie- themed zoo. In the final haunted attraction, Forest Back:40, you take more than a half mile trek through a haunted trail. A ticket for admission to the firegrounds and all three haunted attractions is priced at $25.00. The drive to Cox farms from Mountain View is 1 hour long.
15621 Braddock Rd, Centreville, VA 20120
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liz west
minutes with traffic.
Dinner in Downtown Fredericksburg Looking for a fun night out close to home? Check out downtown Fredericksburg to try something new and different. Gather your friends to have a night out and go try a new restaurant in downtown. If you’re vegan, vegetarian, or pescatrian, then Legume is the place for you. The restaurant opened late summer 2016 and are serving meat-free and gluten-free options. For those who are pescatarian they serve local oysters, crab, and fish. If you and your friends or family are looking for a place to sit down and enjoy a well priced meal, stop by Sedona Taphouse. The meal prices range from $5.50 to $22.90, with an extensive menu offering all different kinds of food. So if you want a relaxing night head to downtown and have a relaxing evening with friends or family.
Legume: 715 Caroline St, Fredericksburg, VA 22401 Sedona: 591 William St, Fredericksburg, VA 22401
Hike O ldrag With the weather cooling down, it’s the perfect time to get outside and enjoy the fresh air. Near Luray, Virginia Old Rag Mountain is one of the most popular mountains to hike in the northern Virginia area. Get a couple friends together and head up the slope. Be sure to head out early because the hike can take up to five hours. When you reach the top, the views are beautiful and it’s the perfect place to enjoy a picnic. You could even plan a weekend camping trip but make sure you camp no higher than 2500 feet of elevation. The hike includes two shelters with fireplaces in case you need to take a break. One of the best things about hiking Old Rag is that it’s free. It is 1 hour and 30 minutes away from Mountain View.
David R. Tribble
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3655 US Highway 211 E, Luray, VA 22835
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Tammie Mason 9 Center St., Ste 107 Realtor/Managing Broker Stafford, Va 22556 Office: (540) 735-9176 Cell: (703) 309-9158 tmasongetsold@gmail.com www.QuanticoHomesForYou.com
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The Ruff Life When you hear somebody say October, the first thing that comes to mind is probably pumpkins, colored leaves, plaid scarves and pumpkin spice lattes. But what about shelter animals?
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by Lexi Strawder Leaves provided by Pixabay
They wouldn’t have a home and need a family, and they would just get overcrowded and die, so why wouldn’t you save a homeless pet life?
Welfare Act, which outlines specific minimum standards of care for dogs, cats, and some other kinds of animals bred for commercial resale however, those that sell directly to the public face-to-face—thousands of facilities that breed and sell just as many puppies as their wholesale counterparts—are not required to adhere to the Animal Welfare Act or to any federal humane care standards”. So what can we do to stop the pet overpopulation and puppy mill debacle? Being a teenager in high school and growing up in the millennial generation, we are exposed to technology everyday. Unfortunately, not everyone is aware of the homeless pet population, so spread the word. A well-informed society is a smart society. The next time your parents talk about getting a dog or cat, talk to them about possibly adopting from a rescue or shelter area. Even though you might not know the history of your dog, where it came from, how old it may be or how long it has to live, just remember all the good that comes with adopting a shelter animal. You would be saving the life of one in 7.6 million animals across the United States. Just think, If the population in Virginia is 8.326 million people and there are 7.6 million homeless pets and everyone in the state of Virginia adopted at least one pet, the homeless pet population would be eliminated. In addition to the satisfaction of saving the life of a homeless pet, you would break the cycle of pet overpopulation, skip the messy step in training a puppy and buy a housebroken trained well behaved pet, and you pay less by adopting a pet rather than buying a from a puppy mill or a professional dog breeder.
I think it’s important to adopt from shelters because shelters have the purpose to give animals forever homes, while breeders have similar intentions but they seek money more than a good place for the animals to live.
Rebecca Lazerson, junior
Avery Shover, sophomore
ctober is National Adopt-A-Shelter Animal Month. According to ASPCA animal homelessness shelter, “Approximately 7.6 million companion animals enter animal shelters nationwide every year. Of those, approximately 3.9 million are dogs and 3.4 million are cats. Each year, approximately 2.7 million animals are euthanized (1.2 million dogs and 1.4 million cats)”. The number of shelter animal lives are alarming and unfortunately overlooked, but why do these numbers continue to go up? Pet overpopulation is a serious problem that needs to be brought to attention. Pet overpopulation occurs a dog or cat gives birth to unwanted puppies or kittens. In most cases, these dogs or cats are strays that give birth and can’t find homes for their litter. Because these puppies or kittens are homeless, they are not spayed or neutered and live in the streets until they find another companion and the cycle starts all over again. Another dangerous and serious problem that contributes to the pet overpopulation issue are the use of puppy mills. Puppy mills are overpopulated, unsanitary dog houses that are used to breed dogs. Puppy mills are made up of cramped stacked wire cages that lack the basic necessities everyone, including humans need to live; food, water, and medical services. These mills are kept unstable and in poor condition because instead of using the profits made from selling these puppies for better conditions to live in, owners of the mills keep the conditions as they are so they can maximize all profits made. While there are laws that are supposed to regulate puppy mills to keep them safe and sanitary, there are also loopholes people use to keep the money rolling instead of keeping the mills regulated. The Humane Society of the United States says,”In 1966 Congress passed the Animal
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