In This Issue... MLK Memorial Quotation Causes Controversy Coach Fitterer Joins The Military SOPA Sparks Debate
Contents
January 27, 2011 Cover by Elizabeth Fulmer Photo below courtesy of Lynne Fernandes
News
3 4 5
News Briefs
North Korea’s Economy Declines Controversy Stirs Over MLK Memorial Inscription Why This Winter Lacks Snow
Jack Dale On FCPS Policies New Calendar System Proposed
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Entertainment
7 8 9
Fashion Everyday Of The Week Human Unraveled Burger King Begins To Deliver Awards Season Kicks Off
Commentary
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Just So You Know... Security Threat Level 15: Defcon 1 Political Cartoon
Middle Spread
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Selecting A Successful Schedule
Rebel Roar Staff 2011-2012 Editor-in-Chief Emily Stone Managing Editor Jessica Miers Copy Chief Walker Carlson News Editor Rachel Tran Entertainment Editor Gabrielle Severson Commentary Editor Brandon Blankenship Features Editor Nikki Strickland
Sports Editor Walker Carlson Art Director Elizabeth Fulmer Business Manager Jessica Miers Staff Writers Suha Khandker Natalia Colon Erinn Fecteau Natalie Shaban Erich Greenfield Adviser Carl Irvin
Features
15 16 17 18 20
Combating Seasonal Affective Disorder Students Compete At Science Olympiad SOPA: Helpful Or Risky? Fairfax Speaks! How To Spend Gift Cards Senioritis Affects Fairfax Students
Sports
21 22 23
Boys Basketball On A Roll Wrestling Coach Joins Army FPYC Draws Fairfax Crowd
Editorial Policy Rebel Roar is a published forum of student expression. Letters to the Editor and guest articles are encouraged. Only signed letters are considered for publication. The editors reserve the right to edit all material in the interest of clarity and space. Opinions expressed do not necessarily represent those of the staff or school administration. The staff writes unsigned editori-
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als on a majority basis. The Rebel Roar accepts all advertisements deemed appropriate for a public forum meant for young adults and are subject to the discretion of the editors. Students are encouraged to take an active voice in the student publication. Questions, comments, and letters can be emailed to FHSRebelRoar@gmail.com.
Letter From The Editor Dear Readers,
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e’re halfway there! Less than 90 school days until the end of the year! Of course, the Rebel Roar is a step ahead of you. We know you want to get a head start on next school year, so we’ve provided you with some valuable information in our middle spread on course selection. Seniors share what classes they would take if they could make their schedules again, Mr. Goldfarb clarifies the new policy of teacher evaluations, and counselors discuss the best classes to take to seem most competitive in the college admission process. Be sure to check out our GIANT poll. No, it’s not a poll about giants, but the scale of this poll is just colossal. We have student opinions on topics from school spirit to security cameras. The back cover has details about our latest fundraiser. Send your secret lover, BFFAEAEAE, or even yourself twenty Valentine’s Candygrams, we will be more than happy to deliver them! Added bonus: Commentary Editor Brandon Blankenship just might deliver them to the recipient’s class wearing a school dress code appropriate Cupid costume. Don’t forget, follow us on twitter @FHSRebelRoar, like us on Facebook, or email us at fhsrebelroar@gmail.com. We love letters to the editor! We won’t hesitate to reprint any thought-provoking or hilarious ideas you have to share with us, so drop us a line! Who knows, you might become Kardashian famous.
Sincerely,
Emily Stone Editor-inChief
News Briefs 1.
Fairfax is now participating in the Teens for Jeans fundraiser sponsored by Do Something and Aeropostale. The fundraiser is a nationwide contest, with the school that donates the most jeans winning a party, $5,000, and jeans for everyone in the school. The collection runs from now until Feb. 12, and jeans can be Photo courtesy of myspace.com dropped off in the main office or subschools. The school goal is 4,500 pairs of jeans.
2.
Joe Paterno, former head football coach at Penn State, died on Jan. 22 due to complications from lung cancer. Paterno’s 46 years as head coach ended abruptly in November amid a sex abuse scandal involving assistant coach Jerry Sandusky. Thousands waited for up to three hours Jan. 24 to attend the viewing. The university offered 10,000 free tickets, but they sold within seven minutes. Scalpers began trying to sell tickets on eBay but they were eventually pulled from the website. Photo courtesy of pennlive.com
3.
On Jan. 18, President Obama rejected the Keystone XL oil pipeline application. The proposed pipeline would have extended from Canada to the Gulf. Supporters argued that the pipeline would create jobs and reduce reliance on foreign oil. The strong opposition cited environmental implications. TransCanada, the company that applied for the permit, indicated that they would reapply.
4.
Newt Gingrich won the South Carolina Republican primary on Jan. 21, beating Mitt Romney by about 20 percentage points. This win came on the heels of a CNN debate that opened with moderator John King asking Gingrich to respond to allegations from Gingrich’s second wife that Gingrich asked her to engage in an “open marriage”. Gingrich responded by denying the allegations and verbally attacking both the media and King.
5.
Photo courtesy of abc15. com
On Jan. 13, the cruise ship Concordia ran aground on the Tuscan island of Gigilio under the direction of Captian Francesco Schettino, who directed the ship off its programmed course into shallower waters. Schettino is now facing Photo courtesy of mirror.co.uk.com charges for manslaughter, causing a shipwreck, and abandoning ship before all the passengers are off. As of press time, the death toll was 16, with approximately 16 others still missing.
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North Korea’s Economy Declines After Kim Jong Il’s Death
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ollowing Kim Jong Il’s death Dec. 17, citizens of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) paid respect to their former leader by lining up along streets as his funeral procession drove by and visiting his coffin to offer flowers. With the mourning at an end, his youngest son and successor, Kim Jong Un, has pressing matters to attend to: the economy. Since the news of the death, Asian stock markets have fallen anywhere from 0.8 percent to 3.9 percent, the latter being South Korea’s Kospi index. Although information about North Korea is often hard to come by because the nation tries to remain isolated from most of the world, economists speculate a similar economic decline will mirror itself in the northern Korean peninsula. According to South Korea’s central bank, the DPRK administration has counted on economic aid from China beginning in the mid-1990s. Since then, an estimated 2,000,000 people have died of famine. Despite this and the U.S. Kim Jong Un became the new leader and United of North Korea after the death of his Nation’s father, Kim Jong Il. increased Photo courtesy of dailytelegraph.com.au sanctions on
the country, the regime shows no signs of taking money out of their nuclear weapons program to put into correcting the increasing number of food shortages. A 2009 report released by the New York-based Council on Foreign Relations showed that China contributed nearly 90 percent of North Korea’s energy imports, and supplied 45 percent of the nation’s food. Now, after the death of Kim Jong Il, China will be supporting the nation even more. Dong Yong Sueng , a senior fellow at the Samsung Economic Research Institute in Seoul, explained that, “North Korea’s economic dependence on China will inevitably increase for the time being unless there’s some resolution to the nuclear situation. China wants a stable North Korean regime and succession to avoid a potential influx of refugees. ” Japan’s Fuji Television announced that China is preparing to provide 1,000,000 tons of food to the DPRK in time for the anniversary of Kim Il Sung’s birth, the founder of the country. The report did not say where it received this information, though. The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has recorded North Korea’s population as nearly 24,500,000 as of July, 2011. With a steady, albeit small rate of population growth, there is much worry about the state the DPRK’s economy. Even with China’s aid, their reluctance to pull funds from their nuclear weapons program is worrisome to nations across the globe.
Erinn Fecteau ‘13 Staff Writer
Controversy Stirs Over MLK Memorial Inscription
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he “Statue of Hope” served as a centerpiece for Martin Luther King Jr.’s memorial on Jan. 16, when many people traveled to Washington, D.C. to honor the achievements of the great Civil Rights activist. The memorial was first opened on Aug. 22 after over twenty years of architectural planning and actual construction. It spans over two acres, which includes a 450 ft. semi-circular granite wall inscribed with Luther’s sermons and renowned quotes. The statue is engraved with “I was a drum major for justice, peace and righteousness,” a statement from MLK’s speech called “The Drum Major Instinct” in 1968. This caused controversy among many people, since the original quote was recorded as “If you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice. Say that I was a drum major for peace. I was a drum major for
righteousness. And all of the other shallow things will not matter.” Many people found Luther’s quote to be offensive and easily misunderstood. “[The quote] could be interpreted as cocky, which is definitely not the message that Martin Luther King tried to give,” said junior Alicia Campos. Due to the limited space on the side of the stone statue, the designers had no choice but to paraphrase Luther’s original words. On the other hand, some people believe that the paraphrased statement should not be made the main focus of the memorial. Junior Molly Weaver said, “I think people are too caught up with the quote and forget what the purpose of the memorial is- to honor Martin Luther King Jr.”
Rachel Tran ‘13
News Editor
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Many spectators traveled to D.C. to visit the Statue of Hope on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Photo by Emily Stone
News
Why This Winter Lacks Snow
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he roads are covered in white, fluffy snow and school is out for the day. This, however, has been an uncommon scene for Fairfax County this winter. Other than a few minor snow flurries and freezing rain here and there, this year has had a serious lack of snow. There are many factors other than temperature that contribute to snow, such as the jet stream and air pressure. Mr. Jason Smolinski, one of the Geosystems teachers at Fairfax HS, illustrated how a snow storm is created and how each factor can make or break a storm. Smolinski described that the jet stream, an air current flowing across the US west to east, is affected by high and low pressure. “Precipitation is found in areas of low pressure while dry conditions are found in areas of high pressure,” he said. “When a high pressure sits over Greenland, it causes the jet stream over the US and Canada to dip down, bringing cold air south into the US. When this cold air meets the moisture coming up from the Gulf of Mexico, we get a lot of snow and sometimes blizzards,” Smolinksi continued. Smolinski added, “So far this season, there has not been a high pressure sitting over Greenland. This has kept the coldest air locked up in Canada, which is why Decem-
ber was so mild here in Virginia and in much of the US. Forecasters think this trend will break by the beginning of February, which is when we might finally see snow.” Compared to 2011’s snow storm, this winter seems to have drastically less snow, however, it really isn’t that abnormal. According to The Washington Post, “There are sixteen half-winters on record with no measurable snow in Washington.” Jason Samenow, member of the Post’s Capital Weather Gang, added, “Average annual snowfall at the region’s three major airports has been declining by roughly an inch per decade.” Although there is a lack of snow in Virginia, Alaska has been freezing and covered with snow all through January. According to the Post, “Fairbanks, Alaska, had an average January temperature of 25.9 degrees below zero through Jan. 16, which is 18 degrees below the 30-year average. Valdez, Alaska, had recorded 26.5 feet of snow by Jan. 12.” For now, the jet stream is keeping the cold air north and the people of Alaska freezing, but according to The Washington Post, Greenland will soon revert to “jet stream diverting mode” and North America could have a snowfilled February.
Elizabeth Fulmer ‘12 Art Director
Junior Parent/Student College Planning Night • Date: Thursday, February 2, 2012 • Time: 7:00 PM • Where: Fairfax High School Auditorium
College Admissions Representatives from the following colleges and universities will be here to discuss important information about the college application and admissions process:
George Mason University Marymount University University of Mary Washington Northern Virginia Community College
All juniors interested in attending a two or Radford University’s Dean of Admissions four-year college or university after graduation are encouraged to attend. Get your questions ready and join us for this very informative evening! For more information, contact: Maureen Kim, Career Center Specialist, at 703-219-2204 or MHKim@fcps.edu
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News
Superintendent Jack Dale Addresses FCPS Policies
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tudents in newspaper classes at Fairfax County Public Schools were welcomed to join the annual FCPS press conference with Superintendent Jack D. Dale, on Jan. 17. Students were invited to ask questions regarding FCPS policies. During the conference, many topics were addressed including school cameras, the population crisis, “bring your own device” (B.Y.O.D), and the overwhelming increase in student depression. Dale discussed his approval of implementing school cameras on campus in cafeterias and main entrance halls. He said that it is now up to the individual schools’ preferences as to whether the cameras will actually be installed. “Kids have the right to learn without being monitored and watched 24/7,” said junior Brandon Margulis. Contrary to what most Photo by Jessica Miers students believe, Dale said there will not be a staff member that constantly monitors the cameras throughout the day. Due to the immense population growth this year in FCPS, Dale predicts that next year there will be a significant increase in student numbers especially for Fairfax High School. “Some students who go to this school live about five minutes away from my house and still go to Fairfax even though I live 40 minutes away in the South Lakes boundary. It’s kind of weird,” said junior Kirsten Williams. Dale mentioned that there were a couple proposed solutions to relieve the crowding.
“We are seriously looking at boundary changes and possibly moving kids out of FHS to neighboring community groups,” said Dale. These new changes are still to be discussed with the new school board over the course of two to three years. Another topic of discussion was the “bring your own device” policy. Students are permitted to bring any piece of technology into classrooms as long as it’s for educational purposes, including their iPhones, iPads, and laptops. Students at Fairfax agreed with the possible decision. “I think it’s a really great idea because it’s easier and faster to get stuff done in class by just looking it up,” said sophomore Caitlyn Blankenship. In addition, they expressed their opinions regarding the utilization of online textbooks. “Instead of carrying textbooks from home, it’s a lot more efficient to use online textbooks and resources,” said senior Daniel Vanderplas. The last point that was addressed at the conference was the rising issue of teenage depression and suicide prevention. Dale said, “Depression has gone up and students need to pay attention and raise awareness for the issue.” Dale mentioned that having highly trained counselors that work closely with the students is essential for guiding depressed teens in the right direction. This will be Dale’s last year as superintendent of FCPS. He reflected upon what he felt were his greatest achievements throughout the past eight years. One of his proudest moments was being able to gather the teachers and faculty in closer correspondence so that they comunicate and collaborate more efficiently. Dale said that he hopes this legacy will continue on throughout FCPS.
Rachel Tran ‘13 & Jessica Miers ‘13
News Editor & Managing Editor and Business Manager
New Calendar System Proposed
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anuary 1, 2012 fell on a Sunday. Last year, it was a Saturday. If someone was asked to give the day of the week on which the first of January fell a hundred years ago off the top of his or her head, very few would know- it was a Monday. This is because the current 365-day calendar does not divide evenly into weeks, according to newscientist.com. To rectify this perceived problem, Johns Hopkins University physicist Dick Henry has recently invented the idea of a 364-day calendar which would have 52 complete weeks. In the new calendar, each month would have either 30 or 31 days, and each year those dates would fall on the same day of the week. It would also put major holidays on the same day each year, assigning New Years day to a Sunday. Henry calls this idea the “Calendar-and-Time” plan on newscientist.com. Junior Tommy Burford said, “It makes things a lot easier since the days are going to match up with the days of the week every month.” In the process of switching systems, though, some days
would be lost. In months changing from 31 days to 30, the thirty-first would simply be gone. “I think it’s awful how the new calendar would mess up people’s birthdays and anniversaries,” said junior Katie Rossbach. Another potential issue with the idea is that in order to keep the dates lined up with the seasons, a leap week, which Henry called the Newton Week, would have to be added every five or six years, according to newscientist. com. “I think the new calendar would be useless because the current calendar that we use isn’t that impractical, especially in a day and age where everyone always has a cell phone or iPod where they can just look to see the date,” Rossbach said, “I think that the benefits don’t outweigh the costs.” Photo courtesy of hellemanworld.blogspot.com
Nikki Strickland ‘13
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Features Editor
ENTERTAINMENT
Fashion Everyday Of The Week T
he spring time is beginning to roll in with some major changes, not only in the weather, but in fashion as well. Not knowing whether to wear warm and winter like clothes, or a summertime outfit, causes a lot of confusion, especially for girls. However, with these few tips, and outfit ideas, we are sure you will be able to get by without a fashion mishap.
Monday- Neon pops!
is the new beige as we go into February. Wear a color that
Tuesday- Ruffles add flair to your everyday cardigan, pair it with ballet flats.
Wednesday- (right) Pair a rugby striped sweater dress with jeans or leggings. Thursday- A floral print skirt is a flirty piece as Valentine’s day approaches, and they’re usually under $10!
Friday- (left) Geometrical patterns are appealing to the eye, and this quarter sleeve dress is weather appropriate.
Coat- A skirted peacoat is a cute and essential piece to wear into the Spring.
Make-Up Tip: Fake a summery glow this winter with a light bronzer! Photos courtesy of Macy’s and Nordstrom Rack
Natalie Shaban ‘12 and Natalia Colon ‘12 Staff Writers
Homo Explicatus
Special Edition: The Golden Globes M Crew Neck: with the overwhelming popularity of strapless dresses taking over the fashion world, the simple and conservative crew neck Williams wore is eye-catching and very classy. It also elongates her neck and makes her shoulders look petite.
3/4 Sleeves: the overall conservative cut of this dress is very classy, and the 3/4 sleeves are an often forgotten option for dresses. However, Williams rocks the look by offsetting the conservative sleeves with a headband and minimal jewelry.
ichelle Williams, winner of the “Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture Comedy Or Musical” award for her role in the film “My Week With Marilyn”, made a splash on the red carpet December 15th. Her elegent yet playful ensamble outshined many of the other stars who wore typical strapless dresses. Anyone interested in fashion could learn a lesson from Williams: it’s okay to go against the grain!
Blue Velvet Leopard Print: velvet is a very classy yet flexible material and Williams uses that to her advantage. By mixing the velvet with a leopard print, the predominantly mature dress is given a dash of playfulness. On top of that, the bluish-purple color is elegent and eye-catching at the same time. Short Train: initially, the train my seem to be yet another conservative aspect of the dress, however, it is very elegant and mimics many of the dresses that other stars wore on the red carpet. The train is a traditional fashion element to floor length dresses, yet it still is very stylish and chic. Photo courtesy of mlive.com
Gabrielle Severson ‘12
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Entertainment Editor
Burger King Begins To Deliver
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hen thinking about food delivery, pizza and Chinese food are the go to fix. Now with Burger King giving the system a try, home deliveries of whoppers, fries, and soda may begin to put a new perspective on fast food. Recently, Burger King decided to test its new delivery service on 10 different schools across the nation including Fairfax High School. Their service can be accessed online for now with a minimum purchase requirement of $10. With delivery services available to FHS, the “Rebel Roar” staff decided to give take-out Burger King a try. Within 45 minutes after placing the order, a blue van with a small Burger King sign on the hood, pulled up to the school and delivered bags of fries, burgers and drinks. After admiring their highly efficient storage containers, the staff finally decided to test the quality of the food and quickly found that looks can be deceiving. The burgers were cold and a box of fries was missing from the order.
News editor, Rachel Tran took it upon herself to call the delivery kid, the manager of the Lee Highway Burger King and lastly, the corporate office to voice the staff’s complaints and to inquire about the missing box of fries. Eventually, Burger King reimbursed the staff by apologizing and delivering three new boxes of fries, free of charge. Despite what happened the first time, commentary editor, Brandon Blankenship recently decided to give the Burger King delivery service a second try. Once again, they had forgotten a box of fries and Blankenship gave them a call. Like the first time, the delivery kid came back to Fairfax and delivered two more free boxes of fries. After these two incidents, the staff could mutually agree that the fast food delivery service was too good to be true. For now, Burger King has a lot to fix before releasing their take-out services to the public.
Jessica Miers ‘13
Managing Editor and Business Manager
Coming February 11th.
Superdance is a dance marathon. Dancers have sponsors who donate money to NAMI, a mental health awareness organization, for each hour they dance- six hours maximum. Refreshments will be provided for superdancers. More information to come!
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he And T
ENTERTAINMENT
s... I r e n Win
Awards Season Kicks Off
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etween the fashion, slip-ups, incoherent acceptance speeches, and uncomfortable celebrity embraces, award shows are an entertainment junkie’s dream. Two of the biggest award shows are coming up in February, the Grammy Awards and the Academy Awards. In order to decide which awards show is worth suffering through acceptance speeches for, it helps to know what each show promises and each show’s drawbacks.
Golden Globes
Big Winners: • In the most random award of the night, Madonna won an award for Best Original Song, for her song “Masterpiece”, from the movie WE. • Modern Family beat out Glee and New Girl for Best Comedy or Musical Television show. Stand-Out Moments: • Ricky Gervais returned to host the Golden Globes for the third time even though he previously said he would not. He gave a slightly more toned down performance, but still had to be censored by the network. Gervais was accused of playing it too safe, but he took aim at Justin Bieber, Johnny Depp, and Jodie Foster’s movie, Beaver.
Photo courtesy of arts. nationalpost.com
SAG Awards
Reasons to watch: • This awards show lasts only two hours, broadcast on TBS and TNT. This is the primary reason to watch, the SAG Awards are much less of a time commitment. Reasons not to watch: • The awards honor the same people as the Golden Globes, television and movie stars. Nominees are basically the same people as the Golden Globes.
Grammy Awards
Reasons to watch: • The Grammys is the only music awards show of the season, so this is a chance to see other stars in music rather than the TV and movie stars who fill the other awards shows. • Fashion on the Grammy red carpet is much riskier, with offbeat stars like Lady Gaga (below), arriving in eggs and other ridiculous get-ups. • LL Cool J will be hosting, the first time in seven years that there will be a single person hosting. Queen Latifah was the last person to host, in 2005.
January 15 Golden Globes
January 29 SAG Awards Photo courtesy of stylebistro.com
Academy Awards
Reasons to watch: • Billy Crystal will be hosting, replacing Eddie Murphy who bowed out. This host promises to provide less awkwardness than the pairing of Anne Hathaway and James Franco last year. Reasons not to watch: • The Academy Awards are the longest awards show to be broadcast on television, they last be from three to four hours. • Harry Potter received yet another Oscar snub, even though it was the highest grossing movie of all time. • Bridesmaids and Pixar also did not receive any nominations. This was the first time since 2006 that Pixar did not get an Oscar nod.
Emily Stone ‘12
Editor-in-Chief
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February 12 Grammy Awards
February 26 Academy Awards
Just So You Know... HOT
NOT
Burger King Delivery
The Super Bowl
Vermin Supreme
Shirts As Dresses
Even though the delivery driver is a jerk, and it’s almost guaranteed that they’ll ruin your order, fast food delivery is undoubtedly the next best thing. Getting fattening food no longer requires work now! Forget wedging your butt out of the couch cushions to make your way down the street for a cheeseburger when it can come to you in thirty minutes or less! With all the five minutes you’re saving, you could spend extra time doing important things like napping with your cats and reminiscing over your failed diet plan while you watch the Bachelor.
Voting is very important, and should never be taken lightly or as a joke! That’s why we should all support Democratic hopeful, Vermin Supreme in his race for the 2012 GOP nomination. His platform, based off a program called Ponies For Americans, will supply one pony to every American, creating jobs, a new economy, and a revolutionary system to identify citizens through their pets which must be kept with them at all times. His other bold ideas include brainwashing our nation with government issued toothpaste that will splice our genes to create a winged monkey race and harnessing zombie power to create clean energy resources for our future. Just remember “A vote for Vermin Supreme is a vote completely thrown away.” -Vermin
Correct Grammar
For those of you that weren’t previously aware, “they’re” “their” and “there” have different meanings now! Same rule applies to “your” and “you’re!” I thought we may have gotten this down back in first grade, but I’m guessing some of you just never developed intellectually after you hit age five. Please meet with your English teacher immediately to work on your grammar before you’re released into this world as an adult. Society thanks you in advance for your mediocre efforts.
Besides the advertisements and cheerleaders, the Super Bowl has become an overrated, overspent marketing campaign that targets brain dead sports fanatics as they waste their lives away drooling over the NFL’s new poster boys. Networks pay to millions and millions of dollars to fund a game that could be produced for less, and go for a positive cause, but “nooo!” Basically, the Super Bowl is a dying fashion, and the longer we continue this annoying chain of numerals “XXXIIVVIIXXICIIX,” the longer it will take for men to become useful again.
I know I may complain about dress code a lot on my column, but honestly, it’s like you do this in spite of everyone and out of low self worth and pity you may have towards yourself. I’m sorry, but no one finds your tiny dress attractive with your bottom hanging out, and are they even comfortable!? Half the time I see people walking around, they’re adjusting themselves and wobbling as if they’re balancing on stilts. And on top of it all, IT’S WINTER!!! What are you doing!? Most of you are still children and shouldn’t be flaunting your under-developed bodies and upper thighs for the world to see. Please cover up and be a lady for the love of Pete! And men in kilts, this applies to you too.
FCPS Cancellation Policy
Students and parents agree, sending teenagers to the bus stop and through slippery roads at 6am while there’s ice still coating the ground, and a winter advisory in effect is probably not the best idea the county’s part. While all other counties are playing it safe and letting their students sleep in, Fairfax County prefers to live life on the edge and risk their student’s safety through harsh conditions. Lastly, waiting until 4 in the morning to display emergency announcements defeats the purpose of getting that extra sleep in during a delay. Waking up to wait for some announcement that will probably never happen is tedious and annoying. If not this year, please make some revisions to ensure student safety in the future.
Brandon Blankenship ‘12 Commentary Editor
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COMMENTARY
Security Threat Level 15: Defcon 1
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realized something after recently being stopped in the hallway and extensively questioned by a new FHS security guard as to why I was out of class. It has finally hit me that school security has become stricter and quite honestly, annoyingly obnoxious. After leaving class with a signed pass from my teacher in plain site, I was asked questions such as who is your teacher? What are you doing? Are you sure this is their signature? And lastly, “what is the room number?” The last question, I’ll admit, stumped me, but then again, who actually knows the room numbers of their classes? After 10 minutes of interrogation, I was finally allowed to use the restroom. After the recent intruder scare during the PSAT’s it is completely understandable as to why Fairfax is tightening its security in order to prevent future incidents. However, I do not believe that the solution is to pull over every single student walking in the halls during class, especially if they have a pass. The halls aren’t the only place overwhelmed with security. Most students would agree that walking into the cafeteria for lunch is almost equivalent to entering the county jail. Those who choose to actually eat in this enclosure are greeted with guards stationed at every entrance and exit and forced to stay until the booming voice overhead grants them their freedom. I guess my frustration with these new policies is the fact that we are constantly told to monitor our responsibilities and start acting like adults even though we are treated like children that can’t be trusted to walk from class to class. If the school wants to keep the student body safe from outside threats, then the security team needs to refocus their attention. They should be watching for who’s coming into the school rather than stalking students that are trying to get through their day. At least it’ll be comforting to know that the next time another threatening intruder walks through the open doors of Fairfax High School, the cafeteria will be safe.
Jessica Miers 13’ Staff Writer
Featured Political Cartoon
Eric Carlson ‘15 Guest Artist
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Selecting A Successful Schedule Additional Course Selection Information Course Selection Fair- Feb. 3
Students can choose four classes to visit during RR/Pride Time, and teachers give interested students information on the class.
Curriculum Night- Feb. 7
6:30-9 at Fairfax High School Parents and students can learn about courses by attending presentations and talking to teachers.
Standard Diploma Requirements
for students who were freshmen prior to 2011-2012: • 4 English credits • 3 Math credits • 3 Lab Sciences • 4 History and Social Sciences • 2 Health and Physical Education • 1 Fine Arts or Career and Tech Ed • 5 Electives
22 Total Credits
Advanced Diploma Requirements for students who were freshmen prior to 2011-2012: • 4 English credits • 4 Math credits • 4 Lab Sciences • 4 History and Social Sciences • 3 Foreign Language (or 2 years each of two different languages • 2 Health and Physical Education • 1 Fine Arts or Career and Tech Ed • 2 Electives
24 Total Credits *This year’s freshmen and beyond are required to get one Economics and Personal Finance credit.
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hoosing classes in high school can be a stressful process. With only seven class periods to fill, finding room for AP classes and interesting electives can be a challenge. Mrs. Kim from the Career Center said, “I have seen more students in general taking a lot of AP classes. I do think some students are also taking too many APs.” This is evinced by the seniors interviewed at right, many of whom said that if they could go back, they would have signed up for a lighter courseload. However, the pressure is on for students as they try to make themselves competitive for colleges. “Colleges prefer that you take the most rigorous courses you can handle. For different students, this can mean different things. Seniors need to keep in mind that you need a significant amount of time to apply for college in the fall. I found a lot of seniors getting overwhelmed with their course-
load and applications this year” Kim said. Another issue that students face is the ability to fit all the courses they want to take into their schedules. Many elective classes have seen a decrease in enrollment. “The fact that through the state and county there are a lot more mandated courses, like core classes and foreign languages, makes it difficult for students to take other electives” said counselor Erik Beall. In regard to selection of electives, some students wonder whether they should try a variety of courses or stick with one subject. “In order to be competitive for a college, you need to three to four years of a language and you should also be consistent in commitment to fields of your interest. If you don’t fit those classes into your schedule, show commitment through your extracurriculars like internships” said Beall.
Emily Stone & Elizabeth Fulmer ‘12 Editor-in-Chief & Art Director
Teachers Now Required To Audit Students’ Advancement To Higher Courses
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eginning this year, teachers will sign off on students’ course choices for the next year. For example, an Algebra 2 teacher will be required to recommend a student for either regular Precalculus, honors Precalculus, or another course. However, students are not required to follow their teacher’s recommendations. “Our school does not have any barriers to students taking AP courses as long as they have taken the prerequisite courses. Students are not required to follow teacher recommendations. Students register for courses, and they are encouraged to do so in consultation with their parents, counselors, and teachers. Teacher
recommendations are a teacher’s perspective after seeing a semester of work and comparing it to the demands of the following year’s courses. Many students will grow academically over the several months between now and the start of next school year” said Principal =David Goldfarb. There could be many benefits to this new policy. “This forces teachers and students to have a conversation about what they should be taking” said counselor Erik Beall. “Teachers evaluate student work through grades, but grades do not always tell the whole story of the potential that teachers see in their students.” Goldfarb said.
Seniors Share What They Would Change In Their Schedules
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If I was going to start taking marketing, I would have taken it freshman or sophomore year, because then you have more time to build up to more advanced classes and you’ll have more experience in DECA. I started taking marketing this year and I wish that I started taking it earlier. -Hannah Vogel, senior
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I would switch out of regular English and take AP because regular is not challenging enough, even for senior year. There is not really a difference in the work load of regular English and AP. -Derrick Pollard, senior
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One thing that I would do is instead of taking three electives, I would take co-op, so I wouldn’t have to balance work and so much homework. I work from 3-9 at night, so when I get home, the last thing I want to do is all the homework I have. Taking physics and then geosystems was the best decision that I made. -Maddie Interdonato, senior
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Six AP classes is too much for senior year. It’s just too much work. I am taking AP Calc BC, Biology, Physics B, Literature, Comparative Government and Psychology. I wouldn’t recommend it. -Kenny Landon, senior
I wouldn’t have taken as many APs, I’m taking four. I have taken eight AP tests total in high school, and I have too many AP credits-- [George Washington University] won’t take all my credits. If you’re an underclassman, make sure the colleges you’re applying to will take your credits, so you’re not wasting your time in those classes. -Elena Kysar, senior
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I would definitely take culinary arts again, it’s an academy class at Chantilly. Everyone needs to know how to cook. If you know how to make good food, everybody’s your friend. Underclassmen, take culinary arts! -Kelly Seibold, senior
I would take Study Hall instead of AP Psychology because I feel like I have a really bad case of senioritis and I would actually use Study Hall as an opportunity to do work and be productive. I should have taken AP Psychology as a junior. -Nicole Tran, senior
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Make sure you’re good at math if you’re going to take physics. If you’re not good at math, take geosystems and anatomy. -Carter Scheffler, senior
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Photos by Elizabeth Fulmer and Emily Stone
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FEATURES
Combating Seasonal Affective Disorder
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any of us feel stressed, and just plain unhappy during the winter season. Most of these feelings may come from midterms and cold weather, but some students may also be suffering from a form of depression called SAD: Seasonal Affective Disorder. The most common cause of SAD is a lack of light, which comes in the winter due to shorter days and longer nights. The symptoms of SAD are very similar to general depression: loss of energy, lack of interest in everyday activities, excessive sleeping, weight gain, and irritability are a few examples. Many students may believe that only adults are affected by Seasonal Affective Disorder, however, people of any age are subject to the depression. Last year, my junior year of high school, I was having all of the common symptoms of SAD. I went to see a therapist who, in February, diagnosed me with the condition. The biggest advice she had for me: plenty of outdoor exercise. By exposing myself to more sunlight, the chemical imbalances in my body that are the result of too little sunlight would be evened out, and as an added benefit, my body would absorb plenty vitamin D.
However, getting out during the winter time may be difficult for sufferers of SAD, so an alternative method, called Light Box Therapy, has been developed. The idea is simple: sit in front of a box that projects light for half and hour everyday. Light Box Therapy is a proven method in combating Seasonal Affective Disorder. SAD is most common in young women, Writing this article and exposand, if you’re like me, ing my personal life to the entire Light Box Therapy Fairfax community and beyond is may not be enough. a difficult thing to do, but I feel it Sometimes mild is important for anyone who may antidepressants are have felt or may be feeling the required to fight the same way I often do. By informsymptoms, but for ing everyone of the reality of most people, Seasonal SAD, I hope that those who may Affective Disorder is be affected by it can better unonly a temporary con- derstand how to help themselves, dition, and by the time and those who aren’t affected by spring roles around, it may better understand some of you’ll be feeling good their peers. as new.
Gabby Severson ‘12
How To Cope
Entertainment Editor
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Get Your Daily Fix of Vitamin D. In the winter, students rarely get to see the sun all day and are deprived of natural sunlight. If it is too cold to be outside, sufferers of SAD are recommended to use light therapy boxes to put them in a sunnier mood. If you are on a tight budget or worried about being judged for owning a light box, simply open up the blinds and bask in sun (while it’s out) from the comfort of your heated home.
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Do not be a couch potato! Exercise for at least 30 minutes a day. Being committed to a sport in the winter will boost your metabolism and will help fight off social withdrawal. Junior Kaite Quinnette said she keeps herself busy going to swim practice with her friends. Duke University researchers confirmed that exercise is a great anti-depressant in treating patients with depressive disorders. “I feel lazier in the winter and I don’t feel like Many people with SAD going outside as much, but I usually have soccer practice so I’m in good shape” said senior use light therapy to Michael Atassi. improve their mood, concentration, and Rest and relax. If you struggle to get things done because you are too exhausted, take a energy by using lamps 30 minute power nap to recharge. “I usually sleep a lot more. I try to go to sleep earlier that provide natural so I’m not as tired during the day” said Atassi. Go to sleep at a reasonable time and sunlight. make sure your sleep schedule is consistent. A sufficient amount of sleep will help your mood
Photo courtesy of amazon.com
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and improve your ability to think clearly.
Do not isolate yourself! When you are suffering the winter blues, you probably do not feel like talking to anyone. But surrounding yourself with friends will boost your mood and they will be there for you when you need someone to talk to. “I just hang out with friends more so it'll keep me motivated. And I attempt [to do] homework to keep my grades up!” said Quinnette. Keep a balanced diet. You may feel the need to stuff your face just because all the bears going into hibernation are doing it, but do not make it a habit. It is perfectly fine to overeat a few times a month, but a severe diet change is unhealthy and can stress you out even more.
Embrace the winter months! “I’m not usually in the winter blues but when I am, I love to watch movies by the fireplace, eat popcorn, drink hot chocolate…of course I get really sleepy when its cold outside and I eat pretty much all day, but winter is my favorite season.” said sophomore Jabril Cartier. If you are dealing with more severe symptoms of SAD, you should seek help from a medical health professional.
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Natalie Shaban ‘12 Staff Writer
Students Compete At Science Olympiad
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ups of coffee, binders, miscellaneous papers, and laptops and printers, were strewn around the lobby of the Hilton hotel as Fairfax students rushed to finish last minute preparations while watching the clock tick down to the 2012 national Science Olympiad (S.O.) competition. On Jan. 13, 45 Fairfax S.O. students boarded the bus for a tournament at Athens High School in Athens Pa on the following Saturday. Students arrived at the Hilton hotel at 8 p.m and prepared for a long night of studying, note taking, and last minute touch-ups to miniature towers, bridges, and various hand-made instruments. “I got about negative one hour of sleep that night,” said junior Will Park, 3rd place competitor in the “Geek Speak” event. Last year, the FHS S.O. team took first place in states and was awarded an honorary day by the Fairfax County Public School board for their success. This year, the team was invited to Athens to compete against the top 30 S.O. state teams. Fairfax High sent two teams to the competition this year. FHS blue and FHS white. Out of the 23 events that took place in the tournament, FHS recieved medals in five events. These events included: 2nd place in “Robotic Arm,” 3rd and 6th place in “Chemistry Lab,” 4th place in “Water Quality, and 5th place in “Protein Modeling.” “We feel pretty confident for states now. Shout out to Rock Beom for his 3rd place win in chemistry lab,” said senior Rohan Deshmukh Athens offered a fun event with three place rankings. Students and coaches were able to compete in the “Geek Speak,” events. The test consisted of trivia ranging from “Twilight” to “Star Trek.” Fairfax S.O. competitors, Park and Erinn Fecteau took 3rd place over all and received two “Lego Star Wars” pens. “I felt pretty pro actually. Not going to lie,” said Park. A team from Solon High School in Albany, New York took first place overall in Athens this year. The two FHS teams took 12th and 15th overall; rankings that most of the competitors felt were pretty successful compared to past years in Athens. “It was a lot better than we’ve done last year. I think we’re in a good position to have a good run at states this year,” said senior and S.O. president, Aditya Mazmudar. With the Athens competition out of the way, Fairfax is ready to start the new season with regionals on Feb 5 at Langley High School. “Athens was a great pre-cursor to a potential win at states. It brought the team together because we feel so
Junior Carter Guy and freshman Alex Williams compete in the tower building event. much more united now,” said senior Faruh Paerharti. For now, students are preparing for the Jan 28 competition which will be held at Fairfax for the middle school S.O. teams. The Fairfax high school S.O. competitors are responsible for making the tests and judging the events this year. Middle schools from different regions in Virginia will attend. With S.O.’s increasing popularity at the middle school level, Lanier Middle school has also jumped on the Olympiad bandwagon with a team of their own, coached by Lanier technical Photos by Jessica Miers education teacher, Robert D’Souza and Desh Deshmukh. Though Lanier will not be competing at the tournament held at Fairfax, they will compete on Feb. 25 for a regional competition at Langley High School. “Currently we have 10 Girls on the team and the majority of the members balance at least two after school club activities. We have no limit on the number of students in the club, but our original goal was to form three teams (45 students) similar to other middle schools,” said Desh Deshmukh. The Fairfax S.O. captains encourage students with an interest in science and a competitive drive to join the team. “Any student can participate and learn.” said Desh Deshmukh.
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Jessica Miers ‘13
Business Manager and Managing Editor
SOPA
FEATURES
Helpful or Risky? T
he Stop Online Piracy Act, more commonly known as “SOPA,” was introduced into congress as a bill by Texas Representative Lamar Smith, on Oct. 26. The main purpose of the bill is to eliminate the market for trading, watching, and accessing stolen copyright material that has been illegally posted on websites such as Megavideo and Youtube. However, those strongly opposed to SOPA feel that the bill is nothing but a cry for Internet censorship. With popular websites such Wikipedia and Google strongly opposing the bill, the controversial debate continues. SOPA-- harmless copyright law or a dangerous path towards Internet censorship?
Suha Khandker:
not the right way to prevent pirating.
Jessica Miers:
SOPA should be passed to prevent pirating and theft on the internet.
SOPA is
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he constitution was written to protect the rights of the citizens. Every American citizen has basic rights such as freedom of speech. It is the duty of the government to not only maintain the country but to ensure that the rights of people are protected. However, with the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), this freedom has been threatened. SOPA allows the Department of Justice (DOJ) to seek court orders against websites that violate copyright laws, including having the website removed from search engine results. Under SOPA, the DOJ may also seek bans on foreign websites that are linked to copyright infringement regarding U.S. made products. While the intentions of this bill are just, the actual provisions are too vague. A website could easily be linked to copyright infringement even if it were just mentioning the topic. Take for example YouTube, if someone were to post a video singing a cover of a copyrighted song, the government could seek a court order to take down the video. If that sounds bad, the DOJ could block an entire website if just one page of a website were to allegedly have copyrighted material. The bill states, “(A) the Internet site is used to provide goods or services to users located in the United States; (B) there is evidence that the Internet site or portion thereof is intended to offer or provide-(i) such goods and services, (ii) access to such goods and services, (iii) delivery of such goods and services, to users located in the United States.” The U.S. was always revered for the freedom it gives its citizens. In the United States of America, citizens can express their opinions freely and have access to any information with a click of a search button. However if SOPA were to pass through congress, access to information would be virtually controlled by the government because the vague provisions of this bill would make it easy for lawyers to find copyright infringement.
Suha Khandker ‘13 Staff Writer
Photos by Nikki Strickland
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ver since SOPA was first introduced, it has become one of the biggest controversies ever to hit the web. It is no doubt that the loose structure of the bill has brought concerns amongst the public as most feel the bill will give too much power to the attorney general and allow for the censorship of many popular websites. However, the original foundation of the bill serves the purpose of protecting artists, musicians, corporations, and creators of original content from having their profit, that is used to support themselves and their families, stolen and distributed illegally on the Internet. SOPA is targeting websites like the recently banned Megavideo and Pirate Bay, as they are illegally downloading and re-distributing stolen copyright material from its original producers. The United States Chamber of Commerce estimated that every year, copyright theft causes a net loss of $58 billion, 373,375 jobs, and $16 billion of employee earnings. If SOPA is enacted, the bill will allow the creators of specific original content to sue and rightfully claim their lost profits. Another purpose of SOPA that is widely overlooked is that it also targets illegitimate drug and health companies that could put American consumers at harm. Personally, I believe that if Lamar Smith were to tighten and clarify some of the clauses that are in the original act, then SOPA would be a great way to control illegal distribution of stolen copyright material. Overall, watching movies and listening to music for free is no different from going into a music store or a Blockbuster, and taking one of their products off the shelf, stuffing it in your jacket and walking out like nothing is wrong. Stealing is stealing and SOPA is determined to put an end to it.
Jessica Miers ‘13
Business Manager and Managing Editor
Fairfax W
ith all the changes our county is experiencing within the building and throughout the county, we here at the Rebel Roar realize that often times, things that may seem less significant or of less importance to the school board can often fall under the map and/or be forgotten about. That’s why we feel it’s important to receive your feedback, the students, and broadcast your voice in our publication to ensure that you the
Speaks!
people directly affected by these changes don’t fall out of the spotlight. So this month we’ve made a spread entirely for you that will reach our audience of almost 4,000 Fairfax County residents and members of our school board, covering your feedback and reviews of our most recent advancements here in Fairfax High School. This one’s for you.
Brandon Blankenship ‘12 Commentary Editor
Student Opinion
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elow are the results of a weeklong survey conducted with more than 200 random students, that asked kids to rate their support on a listed topic with a number between one and ten, with one being strongly opposed, and ten being strongly supportive. The questions asked and answers received have been used to evaluate students approval or disapproval of our school’s recent changes and plans for the future, in hopes that they’re voice could be heard and make a difference within the county. Students were also given the opportunity to fill in a random suggestion box, or tweet their ideas to our publications Twitter account at @fhsrebelroar to ensure that no one was missed and everyone could be involved. (Complete list of suggestions; pg. 19) Should Cameras be put in the main hallways? Indifferent 7% Yes 6%
Are the homework levels easy?
Is there a lack of school spirit? Indifferent 7%
Indifferent 25% Yes 47%
No 87%
No 20%
Yes 73%
No 28%
Two hundred students spoke their minds in a poll taken during all lunches last week about the atmosphere of Fairfax High School. These charts show their thoughts on everything currently going on at the school.
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All photos by Brandon Blanckenship
FEATURES Your Suggestions!
Should lunches be made longer to accomodate for longer lines? No 7%
Indifferent 7%
“There should definitely be fruit punch water fountains with a steady stream, and not one that will splash all over my pants.” Daniel Vanderplast ‘12
Yes 86%
“More Senior privileges! The parking lot is no longer a privilege when the parents have decided to use it as a Kiss & Ride. Use the front of the school!” Courtiney Kennedy ‘12
Are there enough senior privileges? Indifferent 12%
Yes 12%
“Security is way to strict, and our school needs to cut back and only spend money on the necessities. We should also be allowed to have our phones out during lunch.” Maddy Atteberry ‘12
No 76%
Should there be more school events? “There is no reason I should be stopped in the hall and questioned for ten minutes while I’m trying to enter the bathroom. Security is too strict! And we need better advertising for school events! Veronica Bonilla ‘13
Indifferent 12%
No 30%
Yes 58%
A Word From Our Principal On Senior Privileges
“Senior privileges are developed and suggested by the Senior Class President, and are almost entirely up to the students as long as they don’t interfere with the school day.”
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On Cameras
“We’re still waiting to see what happens with the cameras, but it has been discussed among the school board and I’ve met personally with groups of students to discuss their opinions on the issue, but it really varies. There’s still a lot to be considered like placement of the cameras and other logistics, but it’s not something that can happen overnight.”
FEATURES
How to Spend Gift Cards T he unavoidable avalanche of gift cards delivered in pretty wrapping from miscellaneous uncles and unofficial cousins twice removed are probably causing your wallet a serious hemorrhage by this time of the year. So what is to be done with cards that are probably worth no more than a measly twenty bucks? First tactic: regifting. Yeah, you don’t really have any need for that Hallmark gift card, so why not give it to someone who could really use— like your grandmother! Who knows, you might be rewarded for your generosity with an adorable birthday card from the Ol’ Lady. Gift cards are also a hassle-free gift for people who you don’t really know but feel obligated to give a present to. Stores like Target, Wal-Mart, and Best Buy are a little less personal, but if you know any places the gift-receiver loves to eat, shop, or hang out, a more personalized gift card choice is easy to make. Plus, regifting a gift card is at no loss to you! Second tactic: gift card bank account. This method really only works if the gift cards have no expiration date or you’re just an undeniable magnet for the endless plastic money. The plan is, save up all the gift cards you receive to each store, then once you have a combusting treasure trove of worth, take yourself on a little shopping spree! It
will feel so much more successful than using your gift cards individually. Third tactic: wait until a sale. If you wait until a sale to use your gift card, whatever you’re buying costs Photo by less so that you Nikki Strickland either, A) have more money left on the card, or, B) use less of your own money. Any way you look at it, waiting until a sale is the wisest and most sensible way to spend the plastic cash. However, the best idea is to discourage anyone from giving you gift cards. That way, the gifts you receive are more personal and you won’t be overwhelmed with the mass of cards. It will make your holidays and birthdays a little more joyful.
Gabby Severson ‘12 Entertainment Editor
Senioritis Affects Fairfax Students
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ccording to www.merriam-webster.com the word senioritis means “an ebbing of motivation and effort by school seniors as evidenced by tardiness, absences, and lower grades.” The word was first used in 1957. Here at Fairfax, students can be heard claiming to have caught this illness. Many seniors including Erica Yoon say that there is no way to overcome senioritis. She says that “because colleges stop checking grades after midterms, you stop caring and once you get into the cycle you can’t stop.” Career Center Specialist Maureen Kim says “colleges do recieve your final transcript. They can rescind offers of Photo by Suha Khandker
admissions if grades are not maintained.” She tells seniors to remember that “this is your last year of high school so try to enjoy it in a way you’re still keeping up [with schoolwork].” Counselor Renee Schmeider concedes that there may be no cure to it but students can take steps to ensure that they maintain their grades; “The first step would be to watch grades and if you see them start to slip, you need to look at yourself and get back on track because colleges do look at those final grades.” She says she has seen students fail their third and fourth quarters and get their admissions to college revoked. Although the senioritis slump may be hard to overcome counselor Daniel Zwicker says to remember that the most important thing is that study habits used now are the ones that carry over. He advises that students to “if at all possible get some kind of plastic money to practice and get ready to be on your own.” He says “habits you develop now are the ones that you will use later so try to keep up with work.”
Suha Khandker ‘13 Staff Writer
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SPORTS
Boys Basketball On A Roll
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fter rough out-of-district games got the Rebels into a 4-7 hole through the first half of their season, the Fairfax boys have been on a tear, winning their last six straight to put them in second place in the Liberty District, behind Langley and tied with McLean, as of January 25. It all started after a loss to South Lakes High School three weeks ago, at home. The Rebels nearly pulled off a 10-point fourth quarter comeback, but fell three points short. “Our system, particularly our offensive sets, require a lot of precision and are very different from what [the players] ran in the past so it is going to take us some time before we are going to be able to run them at a high level,” said Head Coach
Mike Barbee after the game. As Barbee predicted would happen, Fairfax seems to have pulled it all together. With the new offensive system running much more smoothly in the past few weeks, they’ve been the ones outscoring their opponents by almost 10 points a game. That offense has consistently been led by junior guard Zack Burnett. By driving through holes in the defense to score down low, and sinking threes from different zip codes, Burnett has taken control of practically all that goes on in the Rebels offense. Five of the six games were against Liberty District opponents, facilitating their rise in the standings. Perhaps the most important of these games was against McLean High School on January 13. At the time, the Highlanders were ranked 17th in the D.C. area by the Washington Post’s AllMetSports.com, and were tied with Langley for first in the District. The Rebels had to go on the road to hand McLean what was only their second loss of the season. Fairfax had to face the first place Langley Saxons on Jan. 26 for the second time, and will play South Lakes High School on Tuesday, Jan. 31. Both games are on the road, and both teams represent the only two losses the Rebels have in the district so far.
Walker Carlson ‘13
All photos courtesy of Perry Melat
Sports Editor
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(Clockwise from above) ~Senior Matt Frank sets up for a foul shot in Fairfax’s 50-45 victory over James Madison High School on January 17. ~Junior John Robic drives up court through the Madison defense. Robic scored 17 in the game. ~Head Coach Mike Barbee’s team’s sixgame win streak brought them to second place in the Liberty District ~Junior Zack Burnett has been in control of the Rebels’ offense
Wrestling Coach Joins Army Fairfax graduate and coach, Joe Fitterer, heads off to Boot Camp
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alfway through their season, the Rebels wrestling squad has lost a member who has been a nearly constant presence for over 10 years. Joe Fitterer, a former Fairfax wrestler himself, and in more recent years an assistant coach and member of the high school’s security team, recently enlisted in the United States Army, and left for Basic Training two weeks ago. To many of the wrestlers, Fitterer was just as much a member of the team as he was a coach. “Joe is really a part of the family,” said senior wrestler Daniel Vanderplas, “Actually, in the average day, I probably spent more time with Joe than with my real family.” During wrestling season, at least, that statistic might be true. Fitterer was a source of great motivation for the team during practices; while most coaches kick back and blow whistles, Fitterer was sweating alongside the wrestlers during conditioning, pushing them and himself hard. “He’s very encouraging as a coach,” said Vanderplas. “It was always really motivating to have him practicing beside us because he’s in great shape,” Before his coaching years, Fitterer, who could not be reached for this article due to Army regulations, was one of Fairfax’s all-time great wrestlers. Since he graduated in 2004, he remains the only Rebel to win the District championship four times, as well as being a two-time Regional champion, and one-time Northern Virginia Classic champion. In all four years, Fitterer qualified for the state tournament, finishing in second place in 2003, and third in 2004. After Fitterer wrestled at George Mason University, Coach Craig Franklin was able to convince him to come back to coach at Fairfax as an assistant five years ago. Franklin, who was an assistant at Fairfax himself when Fitterer was wrestling, said that “Joe did a lot of behind the scenes work for me, a lot of the grunt work. As a head coach, you don’t have as much time, so having him to do paper work, make sure kids were in class, he was really great for me.” Fitterer was always ready and willing. “I would always ask him, you know, ‘Joe, I need you to do this,’” Franklin said, “and he’d always just say, ‘On it, boss.’ That was kind of his thing.” The grunt work wasn’t all that went into his job, though. “He was great at coaching technique,” said Vanderplas, but he was appreciated for much more than that, too. “As a head coach, you have to take a step back and look at the whole picture,” said Franklin. “You can’t be as friendly with the kids, but as an assistant you can get closer to the wrestlers, and Joe did a great job at that. He could always keep the room in a good, lighthearted mood,” and that’s not something easily replaced. “We’re really close-knit as a team,” said Vanderplas
“One of the things that’s missing the most now is our ‘Joe’s Cute,’ chant.” The “Joe’s Cute” chant is what it sounds like. For Franklin, in their working relationship, “Joe was more like a close friend,” but as far as his knowledge of why Fitterer decided to enlist, he is “really not sure. It’s all just speculation.” “I think he was looking to do something more career-oriented,” he continued. “You know, he’s a young guy, looking to find what he wanted to do, and I guess he just decided military was the way to go.” The way to go has led him to Fort Benning, Georgia, where he is going through Basic Training, the intense nine-week process that transforms civilians into a part of an elite army. From there, Franklin says, Fitterer is hoping to join the infantry, but his assignment won’t be decided until the end of Basic. Wherever his path leads him, though, he will be taking a lifetime of Rebel Pride along.
Walker Carlson ‘13 Sports Editor
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SPORTS
FPYC Draws Fairfax Crowd
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hey dribble, pass, shoot, and score; and no, they’re not on the Fairfax High School basketball team. With only 12 spots or so available on the varsity roster every season, this year many students have joined the Fairfax Police Youth Club (FPYC) basketball league. This house league is designed to give kids the chance to play competitive basketball in a less exclusive league. This season, with the large number of Fairfax students playing on various teams in the league, almost every weekend multiple Fairfax-dominated teams play each other at Lanier Middle School. Some players said that playing their friends is just an added bonus. “People at Fairfax Juniors Carlo Tirso and Tim Riley-Ryan are two among many FPYC players from FHS. Photo by
love basketball and love playing it,” Junior Michael Lockard said. “It gives us a chance to play with each other.” Lockard plays for the Swag Squad and said he has enjoyed playing against many other teams with Fairfax students. “The best part about it is the competitiveness that it holds,” he said. The games have become very competitive among Fairfax students. Weekly smack talk has become a small tradition for players of opposing teams in the days leading up to their games. Junior Tim Riley-Ryan, a guard for the Power, said his favorite part is “doggin’ all the other teams in the league.” Riley-Ryan’s team has had very close games against other Fairfax teams recently, with two even going into overtime. These FPYC games have also become a popular spot for students who aren’t playing to come and watch. Junior Allie Lerner goes almost every weekend. “All our friends play. It’s fun because it’s not as competitive but it’s still really intense because the guys get really into it,” Lerner said. Whether students are there playing or as spectators, the Lanier gym is buzzing with Fairfax students on Saturdays during the FPYC basketball season.
Nikki Strickland ‘13
Features Editor
Nikki Strickland
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REbEl ROAR VALENTINES CANDY GRAMS
WHERE? Cafeteria during all lunches
WHEN? February 1-10
WHAT? Send Candy Hearts and Valentines Cards for $2.00