In This Issue...
Get Involved! What’s New? Band to Watch: He Is We Field Hockey Three-Peat
Contents
September 19, 2011 Cover by Brandon Blankenship Photo by Jessica Miers
News
4 5 6 Entertainment 7 8 9 Commentary 10 11
News Briefs Student Recounts Her Flooding Ordeal Fairfax Gets Slammed With 3 Natural Disasters 9/11: Ten Years of Remembrance Students Begin Preparing For the SAT Back To School Fashion Human Unraveled Band To Watch: He Is We
Going Electronic Life as a Plebe
Where Did You Go This Summer?
Fall TV Show Preview Summer Concert Reviews Just So You Know... Widespread Panic Impress for Success
Middle Spread
12 Features 14
Get Involved!
Fairfax Food Chain Marching Band attacks “The Struggle Within”
Field Hockey 3-Peat Coaches’ Corner
Rebels Start Strong
What’s New at Fairfax?
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
15 16 17 18 19 Sports 20 21 22 Special Section 23
Sports Editor Walker Carlson Art Director Elizabeth Fulmer Business Manager Jessica Miers Staff Writers Suha Khandker Natalia Colon Erinn Fecteau Natalie Shaban Migdalia Malave Adviser Carl Irvin
Homecoming Preview
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 editorials 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.
Corrections and Clarifications for the Rebel Roar June issue: In the “Science Olympiad Makes History” article on page 5, we neglected to mention that Anthony Applewhite, Paruku Paerhati’s partner, also won a gold medal in the Robot Arm event. We apologize for the omission.
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Letter from the Editor
From the Principal’s Desk
Dear Readers,
HS students, welcome back! We are all very excited that the school year has begun so we can work together and reach all of our goals. We look forward to watching every one of you excel in the classroom, in extracurricular competitions, at artistic performances, and on the athletic fields. That is how the entire Fairfax staff sees our role – creating opportunities for you to shine and celebrating your achievements. In my video announcement shown on the first day of school, you heard me say that all of you make up our family. You are part of a family of over 2,600 students. We are pleased to have over 800 students new to Fairfax High School join our family. It is important that we welcome them and help them quickly feel comfortable in our family so they can be and do their best. We know that their presence and their work will make us stronger. Fairfax High School is the pride of our community. All of you deserve a positive and constructive learning and social environment. It is our responsibility to provide that to you. This means that we are focused on keeping Fairfax High School safe, secure, and drug-free. It Mr. Goldfarb poses with his platyis important that all of you feel pus collection. safe emotionally, physically, Photo courtesy of Emily Buzzard and socially. We will set high standards of conduct, and we know you can meet them. It all boils down to you being where you are expected to be, when you are expected to be there, and doing what you are expected to do. As a large family, it is important that we remain a tight, cohesive community. Having been principal here for two years, I know that you make it easy for us to catch you doing something good. We applaud how you conduct yourselves. Continue to make the school and the staff proud of what you are and what you will become. Take ownership and responsibility of your behavior and the choices you make. Regarding how you carry and represent yourself in our school community, I ask you this year to do one more thing. That “one more thing” may be different for each one of you. Making the school look better could be the one more thing. Tell your friend to pick up the juice box he left on the floor before hurrying to class. Helping others succeed can be the one more thing. Convince a friend to work with a teacher after school with you. If you sense a friend needs help, tell a staff member, whether it be a teacher, school counselor, or administrator. Caring for one another and one another’s success is what makes us a family. This year, I challenge you to find that one more thing, and do it to make us stronger. Students, you are a huge part of why Fairfax High School is a great school. This is a place where miracles happen every day. Have a great school year, Fairfax. Take care of one another. We are a family. We are…Fairfax.
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ith the beginning of a school year comes dozens of promises. You promise your parents that you’ll get all your homework done weeks in advance. You promise yourself that you won’t fall into a sweatpants wearing slump once October hits. You promise that this will be the best school year yet. I know I personally make these promises every year, but I never realize that I’m just setting myself up for failure. Honestly, am I really going to get all my homework done weeks in advance? These promises are practically made to be broken. It would make so much more sense for us to promise ourselves that we’ll improve from last year. Therefore, I’m starting with this paper. I can’t promise that it’ll be the best school newspaper, but I can promise that I’m going to do my best to improve it. In order to make this paper better, I’m enlisting the help of all readers. After all, this isn’t “my paper” or the staff’s paper. The Rebel Roar is your paper. Since this is your paper, you should have some input about what we write about. The only way to have your voice heard is to contact us! At left, you can read our editorial policy, which will basically tell you that we want to hear from you! So email us or tell us on facebook.com./ RebelRoar if there’s something you want to read about. We also welcome all picture and article submissions. We look forward to hearing from you!
Sincerely,
Emily Stone Editor-inChief
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News Briefs Google created a new social network, Google Plus, taking on its biggest competitor, Facebook.
Fairfax High School opened for the 2011-2012 school year with 2600 students and nearly 800 freshmen. Borders announced this summer that the 40 year old business will close after falling short from products like the Amazon Kindle and the Barnes and Noble E-Reader offered major competition in today’s
Hurricane Irene arrived on Aug 29, followed by immense flooding from the remnants of tropical storm Lee. Students received a three-day weekend after school closed on Friday, Sept 9.
modern reading.
Photo courtesy of Perry Melat
Student Recounts her Flooding Ordeal
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he rainfall on Thursday, Sept 8 was more than Fairfax has seen in a long time, and was more than some streets could handle. Senior Sarah Olibah experienced firsthand just how bad the flooding was while driving home from school. 1. What time and where did this happen? How long did it take you to get all the way home? It was right after school, I was on my way home. When I noticed how much rain was coming down I got too scared to drive so I pulled up in front of Baskin Robins to wait it out. It took me three hours to get home. 2. Was there already standing water where you were driving or did the flood come up on you suddenly? There were mini waves on the ground when I parked but it started to grow ridiculously. 3. How was traffic around The Fairfax Shopping Center parking you when it happened? Traffic did not move for at least lot was flooded, trapping many people in their cars. an hour and a half. People were Photo courtesy of Sarah Olibah not subtle and were taking pictures of me in my car, including a Cue bus driver. I was literally in the middle of a lake. 4. Could you tell me more about how the rescue squad came and helped you out of your car?
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When I saw all the water coming down I noticed I was in this dip so I tried to get to higher ground. But on my way out, the water became too much and my brakes stopped working and I started moving back with the current. I kept trying and finally got the brake down; thank god. I was having a mini panic attack in the car and the lady in the store across from me mouthed to me to try to get the fireman’s attention, so I stuck my head out. [The fireman] thought I was trying to escape or something so he started yelling at me that he would get me out soon, at the time the water was up to my windshield. Two firemen came towards me with a lifejacket and a boat. They put the jacket on me through the window and wanted to pull me out but I waited for the waves to calm down and then opened the door. The firemen wanted to put me in the boat but I’m way too awkward and uncoordinated so I refused. Instead, I half swam and was half carried to the sidewalk and waited for the water to calm down, which took at least another hour.
Nikki Strickland ‘13 Features Editor
News
Fairfax Gets Slammed by 3 Natural Disasters
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atural disasters literally shook things up in Fairfax Meanwhile, Irene was on her way up the coast and this summer with an earthquake and Hurricane headed into Fairfax’s direction. The hurricane hit Fairfax Irene occurring within a week of each other, and with flood-watch worthy rain and strong winds mid-aftersevere flooding not long after. noon on Aug. 27, and continued into the following day. In On August 23, Fairfax experienced something unusual preparation for the storm some colleges were evacuated, for this side of the country, a 5.9 magnitude earthquake sending many FHS alumni home after only a few days at that was felt up and down schools such as the Colthe east coast. Just five lege of William and Mary days later everyone was Christopher Newport, and busy stocking up on water Old Dominion Universiand batteries to prepare for ties. “It wasn’t that bad,” the coming storm. said Fairfax alumnus and A temblor 5.9 on the last year’s Rebel Roar Richter scale may seem like editor-in-chief Jordan nothing to Californians, but Sharpe, “It was bitterin Fairfax it was no small sweet. I didn’t really want occurrence. Many flights to go home, but at the were delayed going out of same time I liked seeing JFK, Washington Dulles, my family and all.” and Washington National Plans did not change, airports, and Amtrak however, for all of Fairfax temporarily closed their High School’s students. tracks for inspections near The varsity field hockey the epicenter, according to team, for example, did not FairfaxNews.com. have any cancellations in The Capital Building and their tournament schedule Pentagon also took action that weekend and played and were temporarily evacutheir last game in the ated after the tremor. pouring rain that marked In Fairfax there was the beginning of Hurrionly minor damage such as cane Irene in Fairfax. broken mirrors and items Facebook the week of falling from shelves, but August 23-29 exploded it definitely gave people a with witty posts and scare. clever pictures of the “de“I walked through the struction” caused by the house and nothing else two disasters. However, was wrong, but the entire while there may have been bathroom window had fallen jokes about the seemingly down and shattered over the Students gathered at Van Dyck Park on Friday, exaggerated panic spread flood. I cut myself a lot pick- September 9 to go mudsliding. throughout Fairfax, the ing up the pieces and trying earthquake and the hurPhotos courtesy of Maddie Interdonato to vacuum,” said senior ricane in particular did Shannon Parker about her cause disruptions amnd experience with the earthquake. damage elsewhere on the east coast. Once the hurricane Fairfax High School was lucky enough to avoid any had passed and all the debris had been cleaned up Fairfax apparent damage. “In our walks through the building, we was hit by a rainstorm so big that school was closed Sept. 9 have not found any structural damage. I have also not because of flooding around the school. heard about any equipment damage due to fallen items. Nikki Strickland ‘13 That said, I expect that assorted items may have fallen off Features Editor shelves in rooms,” said Principal Goldfarb. The quake could be felt from as far south as North Carolina, as far north as Boston, and as far west as Detroit, according to usatoday.com.
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News
9/11: Ten Years of Remembrance
“T
oday our fellow citizens, our way of life, our very but when it came up we talked about it,” said Beckett. freedom came under attack. . .” A decade ago on The opening of the September 11th memorial last week the evening of September 11, 2001 then Presiin New York marked the tenth anniversary of the event. dent George Bush spoke these words in response to the According to www.911memorial.org, the memorial is terrorist attacks that, still to this composed of two twin reflectday, left a sense of insecurity ing pools and are the largest and a gaping hole in the hearts man made waterfalls in North of Americans. America. The names of the vicHere at Fairfax High school, tims are etched onto the bronze physics teacher, Mr. Christopher panels that border the pools. The Bird recalls trying to search for ceremony held on the morning more information online and of September 11, 2011 honored turning on the news to NBC to these men and women by having find out more. each of their names read. The “Kids with family at the Pensame tattered flag that had been tagon were getting out their cell flown on top of the World Trade phones, trying to get in touch Center before the attack and had The September 11th memorial at the site of the with [their] family. We tried to flew over the site after 9/11 for Twin Towers. Photo courtesy of www.911memorial.org keep things business as usual, nearly two months was unfurled but there was so much distracduring the national anthem. tion. I am pretty sure we as teachers tried to keep kids in Families huddled together around the memorial, finding our rooms, but we didn’t do much lecturing - we assigned the names of their loved ones. some work, and we all watched the TV together,” said Here at Fairfax, Principal David Goldfarb reminded Bird. us “The heroes – and the 9/11 victims – were from many English teacher, Ms. Barbara Beckett remembers how different backgrounds. What brought us together that day her class talked about it for the next few weeks. “The and what will keep us strong in the future is the humanity next day we talked about it in more detail. Some students that we share with one another.” shared their personal thoughts. The students were impactSuha Khandker ‘13 ed profoundly. We tried to go back to our normal schedule Staff Writer
Students Begin Preparing for SAT
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ne of the major requirements for all college-bound high school students is taking the Scholastic Aptitude Test, (SAT). Students are finding many different ways to prepare for this examination. “Most colleges have a standard SAT score that they use for acceptance,” said Merpy Williams, a recent Fairfax High School graduate. Fairfax High School has already taken steps to prepare students for the SAT by having the sophomore and junior classes take the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test, (PSAT). This alone, however, may not be enough practice for some. Junior Megan Green bought an SAT prep-book in order to familiarize herself with the material and format of the questions. “Whenever I have extra time I test myself with a practice problem or two,” said Green. Junior Lilly Vo also prepares for the SAT by practicing sample problems. “I receive an email everyday from the College Board website with the ‘SAT Question of the Day’ and even though I don’t always get them right, I learn from my mistakes and wouldn’t be as nervous if a similar problem was on the real SAT,” said Vo. Other students have even signed up for an SAT prepcourse over the summer. Senior Garrett Liou signed up for the StudyWorks program and went to a total of seven
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classes: two math classes, two critical reading classes, two writing classes, and one practice test. At the end of his experience, he feels more confident this time around. “The most important thing that I got out of the class was the extra practice problems that they gave us to work on,” said Liou. There are seven available test dates during this school year, from as early as October 9th to as late as June 4th. Students have a variety of opinions as to which days are more favorable, claiming some dates hold benefits over others. Junior Lauren Borkowski hopes to take the SAT on May 7th because she “wants more time to study” while junior Seungju Kim said “taking the SAT early shows you where you stand on the SAT and what you can improve on for future SAT [tests].” No matter when students choose to take the test, being prepared is key. There are many different ways to prep for the SATs, whether it is studying from a book, signing up for a prep-course, or simply attempting one practice question a day. Of course, everyone still has their own strategies to get ready for the big test and earn their desired score.
Rachel Tran ‘13 News Editor
Entertainment
Trends to Try this Fall
A Blazers and Cardigans
s autumn comes in, it’s time to put away those flip flops and shorts. For the start of a new school year, students can revamp their wardrobes and explore new styles to show off the latest looks and trends. Some of the biggest trends this season are cardigans and blazers, poncho tops, and scarves. This season, cardigans and blazers are essentials. Because of the change in weather, it is handy to have a light cover-up to wear when it’s not too hot or cold outside. Besides being fashionable, blazers and cardigans are also made for comfort. “My cardigans are all really snug; I wear them with everything,” said junior Katie Taube. These items can be found in many stores including Papaya and H&M, ranging from thicker to thinner fabric. They match well with different outfits and are cute when paired with jeans and a cami.
Photos courtesy of www.forever21.com
Scarves
One must-have accessory that will never go out of style is scarves. Not only do they serve as protection against the cold in the winter, but they also add color and style to any outfit in normal weather. Junior Jenny Brzezynski said, “I have a whole collection of scarves that I pair with my outfits when they look too plain or boring.” Scarves are fun to wear, and with several ways to tie them, different styles can easily be created.
Poncho Tops
Another trend during this season is poncho tops. Coming in various lengths and patterns and known for having unique tribal designs, the selection of poncho tops is endless. They are great for wearing to school, going out with friends, and other casual events. Forever 21 offers a wide selection of choices, girls are bound to find a top that they like there.
Rachel Tran ‘13 News Editor
HOMO EXPLICATUS: HUMAN UNRAVELED
We know there’s many different styles and fashions at our school of 2500+ students, but what is the perfect example of each of each trend that appears in the student body? This will be a running feature each month, drawing prominent styles from our school, and highlighting the important aspects of each, as I try to imitate them with articles from my own wardrobe. Please don’t be offended if you find my imitation of your style highly off-course; this feature is intended to make you laugh... and maybe give you some fashion ideas. Oversized Beanie: The oversized beanie is an essential part of being a hipster. All of the great and mighty hipsters understand the extreme importance of this vital accessory. V-neck: Without the v-neck t-shirt, hipsterality is impossible to obtain. Although a v-neck does not have to be a part of every hipster outfit, it is necessary to wear twice a week minimum. Patterned Mexican Sachel: This is a realatively new accessory that has become popular among many new-age hipsters. The backpacks come in many colors and are attained in Mexico. Hipsters go to Mexico. Florals: An essential part of hipstering is blogging, and if you’ve ever ventured to a recently well-known blogging website, you’ve seen the floral takeover. It doesn’t matter what’s floral- your pants, your shirt, your headband- just as long as you’ve got floral on that hipster body of yours. TOMS: The biggest hipster icon of all time. TOMS are a surefire way to spot a hipster, or hipster wanna-be, in a crowd of average squares. You must have TOMS to begin your journey into hipsterdome.
Photo by Gabrielle Severson
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Gabrielle Severson ‘12 Entertainment Editor
Summer Concerts
Summer is always the best time of the year. There is no school, there’s opportunities to travel, and there are always awesome concerts to go to. This year there were quite a few exciting concerts going on in the Virginia and DC area such as Katy Perry, Blink-182, and my personal favorite, the concert series of Warped Tour. Though I didn’t go to many concerts myself, here are some Photos courtesy of Ilovemv.org. of Fairfax High School’s students who did. Junior Natalie Luti, went to the Blink-182 concert at Jiffy Lube Live down in Bristow, VA. “I went with my mom and the fact that she caught a pick from Mark Hoppus, the bassist, made her the coolest mom ever. Being a Blink-182 fan and seeing them live for the first time was wicked awesome!” said Luti when asked about the show. Junior Megan Green went to the Katy Perry concert at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, MD. Green commented on Katy Perry’s performance by saying, “It was awesome! She was adorable and showed so much personality. I wish I could be her best friend.” Although both concerts seem to have been incredibly fun, I have to say that my favorite summer concert
series is the annual Vans Warped Tour. This year some of my favorite bands such as Attack Attack!, A Day to Remember, Woe, Is Me, The Word Alive, and countless more were playing the popular showcase. This year, Warped Tour played at the Farm Bureau Live at Virginia Beach where numerous people attended. One of those people was senior Nick Lowstuter, who said that his favorite part of the concert series was “moshing and just going crazy with everyone there, and that listening to Bombay Bicycle Club live is like eating bagel bites for dinner… Amazing!” Even though summer has come to an end that doesn’t mean that there won’t be any more concerts. Here is a list of some of the upcoming concerts in the Virginia and DC area. November 3, 2011 7:30PM: Jay-Z and Kanye West at the Verizon Center. November 11, 2011 7:00PM: Foo Fighters with Social Distortion & The Joy at the Verizon Center. September 27, 2011 7:00PM: Enrique Iglesias with Pitbull, and Prince Royce at GMU Patriot Center. September 24, 2011 4:00PM: Brad Paisley, Sunny Sweeney at Jiffy Lube Live. September 26, 2011 All Day: Foster The People at 9:30 Club in Washington, DC.
Natalia Colon ‘12 Staff Writer
Get Ready for Fall T.V. Say goodbye to watching re-runs of your favorite shows and get ready for the new fall lineup, because this year is full of new characters and twists that you won’t want to miss. With new shows like How to be a Gentleman and Person of Interest on CBS, and Up All Night and Whitney on NBC, along with returning classics like Modern Family on ABC, How I Met Your Mother and The Big Bang Theory on CBS, and Chuck on NBC, there’s something for every taste. Two shows with the most anticipated new characters are Two and a Half Men on CBS and the Office on NBC. Two and a Half Men went down with Charlie Sheen last spring, but things are looking up as Ashton Kutcher joins the cast as an “internet billionaire with a broken heart,” according to Nina Tassler, CBS entertainment president, on huffingtonpost.com. Rumors about how they plan to get rid of Sheen’s character, Charlie Harper, have been flying around for months, but according to usmagazine.com, it’s finally been decided that he will be killed off and the funeral were to take place during the season premiere on September 19, at nine. In the reality TV world Survivor is in for another season bursting with strategy and deceit when Brandon Hantz follows, or doesn’t follow, his Uncle Russell’s footsteps and takes on the Survivor challenge. He will be joined by returning players Benjamin “Coach” Wade
from seasons “Tocantins” and “Heroes vs. Villains,” and Ozzy Lusth from seasons “Cook Islands” and “Fans vs. Favorites.” Redemption Island will still be in the game this year, however it will only include one on one Photo courtesy of Blogspot.com competitions, according to survivorfandom.com. Another change is that now not only will the hidden immunity idol be hidden, but the clue to where it is will also be hidden. The Survivor premeire was on September 14, and the weekly slot will be every Monday at 8 on CBS. This season also brings some cancellations as found on tvdonewright.com. A list of those not airing this fall includes Off the Map and Mr. Sunshine on ABC, The Event and Outsourced on NBC, and Lie to Me on FOX. While it is sad to see some go, there is still a new show every night of the week to keep us all entertained during the fall season.
Nikki Strickland ‘13
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Features Editor
Entertainment
Band To Watch: He Is We
July 10th, 2011 was the day my favorite band, He Is We, an alternative band composed of Rachel Taylor and Trevor Kelly, was playing at Jammin Java in Vienna. However, when the time came to buy tickets, the show was sold out. This didn’t stop the ever-determined Brandon Blankenship from getting us in. He scrounged up the tour manager’s email address and asked if we could have a pre-show interview with the band, for our fabulous school newspaper, of course. The tour manager, Jeff Levin, was more than happy to give us the interview, along with putting our names on the guest list and giving us a free copy of He Is We’s new album, All About Us. Obviously, I was quite ecstatic and anticipated the day.
When we walked into the back room, Rachel was sitting in an old upholstered chair, wearing a flowered dress and no shoes. Trevor was sitting on a table eating pita chips and hummus, adjusting his oversized beanie. We shook hands with the duo and plopped down on an obviously well-used couch with no springs in it. Trevor offered us some of his snack and Rachel nodded vigorously with her mouth already stuffed. We talked for half an hour or so, just about the weather, school, and summer. When it came time for the formal interview, it was obvious that Rachel and Trevor were down-to-earth and formality wasn’t really what they were used to.
Rebel Roar: How/When/Where did you two meet? Rachel: “We had partime jobs at a music store… not like a cool music store, like one where you rent violins to middle schoolers. We both hated the job and just kind of became friends in 2008.” Trevor: “We formed a little band, kind of, just out of bordem. I play guitar and Rachel plays piano.” Rachel: “Yeah, and I kind of play drums… and a little guitar.”
RR: What has been your favorite venue to play at so far? Rachel: “I loved playing in Toronto.” Trevor: “There’s this place called The Complex in Salt Lake City, it’s really cool there. I also loved playing at the 9:30 club. The people there were so energetic.”
RR: What is your biggest influence? Rachel: “Well, I write the songs, so I guess it comes from people I meet, things I’ve gone through… it’s kind of as if I’m writing a diary, you know?”
RR: How do you handle your rising fame? Rachel: “I don’t have an ego, at all. That’s really important. I do have anxiety attacks sometimes, though. It’s a lot to handle.” Trevor: “Sometimes it’s so overwhelming. I feel like some of the fans have such high expectations from us… like I owe it to them.”
RR: What do you miss most about home? Trevor: My girlfriend… and my bathroom.” Rachel: “My own bed.”
RR: What inspires you during the writing process? Rachel: “It’s like, if I know I want to write a song, I just sit at the piano and wait.”
RR: What has been your strangest fan interaction? Rachel: “Oh my God, when this one girl threw up when I met her. I felt so sorry for her.” Trevor: “I just remember a lot of the faces of our fans.”
RR: Who are your favorite tour partners? Trevor: “Our first partner was a band called Sight vs Sound, another local band from Seattle. Since then we’ve played with The Rocket Summer, The Scene Aesthetic, Andrew Belle, and The Downtown Fiction. I loved playing with Andrew Bell, he’s great.” Rachel: “I gotta say this has been one of my favorite tours. We love playing with the guys from Ocean Grove and Andrew Allen. It’s really been a lot of fun.”
RR: What are your plans for the future? Rachel: “Well, I am engaged, so I’ll be getting married. I also want to put out some demos soon.” Trevor: “I just want to take everything one step at a time and not feel rushed.”
Afterwards, Brandon and I sat outside Jammin Java for the better part of four hours, snacking and listening to the squeals of fellow fangirls. Once we were let into the venue, a spot right up against the stage was quickly ours and the show began shortly. Most of the songs He Is We played came from their new album, which I didn’t own yet, but they played a few of their first EP’s, which I knew by heart. The pair, along with the rest of the instrumentalists, played and sang fabulously, drawing some tender-hearted females in the crowd to tears. They stuck to their down-to-earth nature that I had seen in the interview and continuously interacted with their fans. Hopefully we’ll be seeing them again soon in the DC area; there are rumours of an All Time Low/He Is We tour. However and whenever they decide to visit again, I advise you to BUY THOSE TICKETS. Photos by Gabrielle Severson
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Gabrielle Severson ‘12 Entertainment Editor
Just So You Know...
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elcome back to Fairfax Rebels!! As many of you may know, Emily Buzzard, author of “The Buzz”, the long running FHS “hot or not” column, has graduated, and left me in her place. Meaning from now on, around these parts, I’ll be the judge of what’s good and what’s not. So I wish you the best this next year, and hope that you can find some humor in my irreverant writing. Don’t take it too seriously! You just might be offended.
HOT
NOT
Batmanning
Captchas
Planking is sooo last year! Besides, lying in the middle of the road is dangerous and irresponsible anyway. Try Batmanning, the newest, most innovative way to satisfy your adrenaline addiction in a fun, and not so safe “game.” I mean, who cares about the possibility of falling and breaking your neck? If you look like a champion in doing so, your safety becomes less of a priority, and in that instant, nothing else matters.
One of the most annoying things that has ever happened to the internet has continued its rein of terror on many of our favorite sites. Just leave us alone you nagging little program. I’d love to buy my concert tickets without having to squint at the screen for an hour trying to decipher some language I’ve only ever previously seen in the Sims. I promise that I’m a human being, and I’m not trying to repeatedly vote for my favorite celebrity crush.
Cartoon Backpacks
I mean really? You would’ve thought that these childish backpacks had gone and died around the time we started carrying our packs and gave up rolling them. It is something I see far too often now, and no, it is not cool, you don’t look like a gangster. Do you even carry anything in those!? Half the time I see them they look flat and unused! They serve no purpose in life, but to make everyone uncomfortable and to carry your featherweight belongings.
Pajamas
Pajamas are undoubtedly the front line of defense against a lack of sleep and motivation. Without snug, wool lined pants, and baggy, fleece sweaters, many students within our doors probably would have dropped out by now. But thankfully our society honors and welcomes our sloppy, dishelved appearance regardless of whether we’ve showered or not. So fear not Rebels! Go forth as the lazy sloths you are.
Hoodie Weather
Parent Drivers
It’s finally that time again! Fall! The best season Mother Earth has ever been gracious enough with which to bless us. Falling leaves, fleece sweaters, comfy beanies; nothing beats it honestly. Nothing compares to walking through the front door to be greeted by a nice heater and a cup of hot cocoa as your body defrosts; true bliss. But all in all, baggy clothes, rainy, chilly weather, and snuggling are the prestige of all that is holy in this world; and I for one cannot wait. It sure beats burning up in the blistering summer sun.
Yes, parents; this one goes out to you. You all know who you are, using the Senior parking lot as a Kiss and Ride. Those of you that have earned me dozens of tardies over the last couple years because you refuse to utilize the proper drop-off area in front of the school are a nuisance. First off, a yellow curb is not a loading zone! And no, you cannot use my parking spot while you walk your children to the front door; they’re grown-ups now, and they can handle it themselves. Please keep to the front of the school for your morning drop-offs and we won’t have this problem.
Brandon Blankenship ‘12 Commentary Editor
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COMMENTARY
Widespread Panic
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man’s voice rang over the buzz of talking families to let everyone in line know that any and all liquidsincluding water bottles- had to be disposed of before we could move any further. Upon hearing this, my parents and I cracked open our own water bottles, attempting to chug them before reaching the front of the line, while a woman ahead of us began to huff and puff about the rule. No, we weren’t at the airport, where security is always incredibly tight; we were trying to enter the Washington National’s baseball stadium, where extra precautions had been taken the day before the anniversary of 9/11. The woman in front of us angrily disposed of her water and marched into the stadium, a bad start to what I’m sure was supposed to be a fun day out. This made me think about the impact of 9/11 on today- more specifically, the days surrounding its anniversary. We must always be vigilant about the protection of our people, and according to the Washington Post, there were rumors circulating about a car bomb being planted that day. What bothers me is the woman’s reaction to one little rule. Of course it’s a waste to throw out a perfectly good
water bottle, but what if that rule had just saved the lives of the hundreds of people in the stadium? There was no need for a stream of negativities. I also heard about people just staying home, rather than risking going out in case anything bad did happen. Ruining your day, making people stay indoors out of fear- isn’t that part of terrorism’s goal? By getting so frustrated at a simple rule, or fearful because of a rumor, are we not letting the terrorists win? It doesn’t matter if one’s idea of terrorism is Al Qaeda, Timothy McVeigh (an American who took part in the Oklahoma City Bombing in 1995) or Australian Julian Assange publishing government secrets on the internet. The whole purpose of terrorism is to strike fear into the hearts of their targets and to prove some sort of a point with an unforgettable message. If ten years later, we are still holed up indoors at the slightest inkling of a threat, perhaps we are truly losing the war on terrorism.
Erinn Fecteau ‘13 Staff Writer
Impress For Success
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t’s the beginning of a new year! The floors are buffed, carpets vacuumed, desks cleared of graffiti, and the halls alive with the hustle and bustle of our new student body. Everyone is moving and excited to be back, but making the right first impression is something easily lost in the commotion of a new year. I’m referring of course to the first impression students make with their teachers. For many, making it perfect is the most stressful assignment they’re faced with at the beginning of the year. But fear not Rebels! After my three years of experience, I’m here to provide you with my simple steps towards success.
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st
Clean Up!
It’s obvious that most students are still hung up over summer, but it’s time to wake up Fairfax! No one wants a smelly neighbor, or a paper caked in spaghetti sauce; drag yourself out of those sweats, and flaunt your true beauty in your classes. Try a warm shower, clean hair, and a change of clothes because nothing says “Underacheiver” like a sloppy appearance!
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nd
Polish Your Assignments!
Make an actual effort to make your work look fancy. Even if the content may isn’t so impressive, perception is reality, and when it’s midnight and a teacher has hundreds of projects left to grade, the look is the only thing that matters. Nothing says teacher’s pet like a sparkling, bedazzled portfolio containing quality work that was seemingly blessed by the Heavens!
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3
rd
Mind Your Manners!
It may’ve become the social norm over summer, but no longer is it acceptable to use profanity to express your emotions, especially in the classroom! Far too often lately I’ve heard students swearing about everything from homework to lunch, and clothes to weather. Its grown way out of hand. Enter class with your chin held high, be seated with your arms crossed, and remain silent unless called on. Remember we’re students, not sailors. Brandon Blankenship ‘12 Commentary Editor
Get Involved!
S
tudents are constantly reminded by parents and counselors that getting involved is an important part of high school. Fairfax offers a wide variety of clubs and honor societies that make getting involved an easy and enjoyable experience. “Obviously any extracurricular you do is going to be helpful for college applications,” said senior Aditya Mazmudar, “but it’s also a great way to learn more about what you’re interested in and make friends (especially with upperclassmen, which is really helpful) along the way.” Mazmudar is a captain of the Science Olympiad team and is also involved in Model UN. He said, “the best way to really succeed in a club is to be interested in the topics it encompasses.” There’s no question that getting involved at Fairfax is a good idea and the sooner the better. Mazmudar said, “Freshman Year is the best year to get involved because you will have a chance to become really experienced and good at whatever club you join by the time you become an upperclassman. If you really enjoy a club, it’s always good to keep coming back to it every year. It also helps if you want to be in a position of leadership by the time you are a junior or senior.” Sometimes it can be difficult to choose what clubs to join. At right, there is an overview of some wellknown and some more obscure Fairfax clubs. There is not nearly enough room in the Rebel Roar to cover all the clubs, but a full list of clubs and activities can be found on page six of all student passports along with the names of club sponsors. Also, because it is early in the year, not all clubs have set up interest meetings. The time and location of these meetings should soon be announced over the scrolling announcements in classrooms.
Elizabeth Fulmer ’12 & Emily Stone ’12 Art Director & Editor-in-Chief
Photos by Jessica Miers, Suha Khandker, and Brandon Blankenship
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Varsity Math Team
What does the Varsity Math Team do? “We do math problems to compete against other schools in the county.” -Mrs. Varanavage, Sponsor Interest Meeting: Watch announcements Requirements to Join: Must be enrolled in Algebra 2 or higher math course
English Honor Society What does English Honor Society do? “We do fun activities, possible field trips and scrabble competitions. It’s enjoyable! Come if you love english!” -Megan Strait, President Interest Meeting: September 26th at 2:30 Requirements to Join: Must have an unweighted GPA of at least 3.5 Pay due of $10 Freshman are not allowed due to lack of experience Club Presidents: Senior Jenny Chae Junior Megan Strait
Art/Photo Club and National Art Honor Society What does Art/Photo Club and NAHS do? “Our club will be participating in the Our Daily Bread, Bowl Gala. Students will be asked to come together and make handmade ceramic bowls. The bowls will be fired and glazed and then donated to Our Daily Bread, a local food bank for the city of Fairfax. We are looking for more commuinity involvement for the NAHS, also more ways to promote art at FHS and the community” -Mrs. Washburn, Sponsor Interest Meeting: September 29th Requirements to Join: Art/Photo Club- Anyone interested can join, no previous art classes required. NAHS- Must have taken an art course in the past at FHS and obtained good grades. Have good charcter and complete service hours to aid the art department. Two teacher recommandations.
The Matrix
What does the Matrix do? “The club gathers student art and writing to include in the annual literary and art magazine. Students in the club work on layout and organization of the magazine.” -Mr. Pahl, Sponsor Interest Meeting: September 22nd Requirements to join: Anyone can join the magazine staff.
Guitar Club
What does Guitar Club do? “Our goal is to teach inexperienced guitar players how to play while also improving people who have played before.” -Erinn Fecteau, President Interest Meeting: Watch the announcements. Requirements to Join: You have to bring your own guitar.
National Honor Society What is required of members of NHS? “Members are required to complete service hours for the Fairfax HS community and the greater community.” -Mr. Bird, Sponsor Interest Meetings (choose one): September 26th- Chorus Room September 29th- MPR Requirements to Join: Must be in 10th grade or above. Possess a cumulative 3.5 GPA or higher. Have high levels of leadership and character.
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Debate Team
What does Debate Team do? “The Debate Team meets throughout the winter to spar with teammates in preparation for competitions.” -Mrs. Faust, Sponsor Interest Meeting: Will be held with Forensics in October. Requirements to Join: “There are no requirements to join Debate Team. If you like your voice heard, you should join.” -Mrs. Faunt, Sponsor
Science Olympiad
What does Science Olympiad do? Science Olympiad competes in science events against other schools at tournaments that are local and state-wide. Interest Meeting: September 22nd Requirements to Join: “Interest in science and swag. Lots of swag.” -Christina Kim, Co-Captain
Tai Chi Club
What does Tai Chi Club do? “We practice tai chi—meaning we learn a sequence of movements that are (initially) practiced in slow motion so that we can learn to move with better biomechanics and stay relaxed.” -Mr. Peterson, Sponsor Interest Meeting: September 30th
Model UN
What does Model UN do? “Participate in mock UN conferences to hone skills in compromising with others, using the positions of countries on world events.” -Mrs. Varanavage, Sponsor Interest Meeting: Watch announcements Requirements to Join: “Interest in learning how to work with others, compromising with otheres and researching positions of countries on world events.” -Mrs. Varanavage, Sponsor
What’s New at Fairfax?
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n Sept. 6, a crowd of 2600 students filled the halls of Fairfax High School. For most returning FHS students, the influx of newbies to the school is a major change compared to last year’s 2400 student count. However, class size isn’t the only change for Fairfax veterans. Due to the unprecedented rise in student enrollment, there have been several major changes made in the Fairfax routine for the 2011-2012 school year which all students, new and old, should be aware of. These changes include:
Student Sub-Schools
This year, most returning students may have different sub-school principals than their ones from previous years. With the incoming freshmen class of nearly 800 students, administrators now manage an average of 500 students per sub-school. The five student sub-schools are divided alphabetically by last name. This ensures that students within the same family have the same sub-school. In addition, this also makes it easier for parents to communicate with only one sub-school principal. Students with last names "A-Coe" will go see sub-school administrative assistants Ms. Cindy Kreisel in room A114. "Cof-Hun" go to Ms. Lorie Bacus in L105. "Huo-Men" have Ms. Karen Bryan in E125. "Meo-Sal" go to Ms. Mary Mall in D127 and "Sam-Z" go to Ms. Marileigh Parrish in A121.
Trailers To accommodate this year's student population, trailers were built near the back of the field house by the tennis courts. This is the first year trailers have been added to Fairfax and for now, they are set aside for marketing classes.
Tardy Policy
Although the tardy policy has not changed from last year, there was a misprint in the student planners. Once a teacher closes and locks the classroom door, any student that arrives to class at that point is considered tardy and must report to their personal sub-school, not the one closest to the class.
Teachers
New Website
On Sept. 3, the new FHS website was launched by student designer, Ebone Patton and faculty designer, Ms. Katherine Search. The new site has a major change in its appearance and format and can be visited at its same address: www.fcps.edu/FairfaxHS. Some areas of the site are still being updated as more content is added.
New Laptops
All teachers are expected to receive new laptop computers soon. New laptops were also purchased for classroom use as textbooks begin to go online. History textbooks are the first to make this change over. Photos by Nikki Strickland, Jessica Miers, and Erin Fecteau
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Make room in the halls for teachers this year. In response to the major increase in the number of students, 46 new teachers were hired. "The arrival of these new teachers will help us keep our classes relatively small even though our total number of students is increasing," said principal David Goldfarb. Due to the lack of classrooms, all teachers will be "floating" or changing rooms between periods instead of remaining in a permanent room. Teacher schedules are posted outside each classroom.
Jessica Miers ‘13
Managing Editor and Business Manager
FEATURES
Going Electronic
T
echnology is always moving forward, and with Fairfax County Public School's newest update, it won't be too long before hard copy textbooks are gone and forgotten. Remember when "blackboard" was literally the board teachers wrote on in class and an overhead projector required a dark room and the perfect adjustments just to see the notes? Tools like smart-boards, in-class laptops, and Google have drastically changed the learning experience over the years. This year, FCPS introduced another educational tool by converting hard copy textbooks into electronic resources for some students. Students in grades nine through 12 will now have access to social studies textbooks online. For Fairfax High School, this online resource is available for all students in social studies classes. Since there have not yet been any agreements worked out with the Advanced Placement courses, AP textbooks will not be online and will remain as hard copies this year. A question remains with regard to whether FHS students will be allowed to bring personal laptops, iPads, or tablets to school in order to use the electronic books. Though FCPS has not yet produced an iPad or e-reader compatible version of the books, the possibility of a new policy change is still up for discussion. It may seem easy for students to bring personal e-readers, laptops and tablets to class, but there are still several technicalities to be worked out. FCPS has allowed the new policy change with the conversion to online textbooks, however, as Principal David Goldfarb wrote in his weekly newsletter to parents, "As we are still in the infancy of this change, I ask you to please have your students refrain from bringing their computers to school. As of now, there is an extensive process staff and students must follow when their own computers are present in the school’s network. We will be sure to provide you with more information when we have a process in place that will promote success for all of our students." This school year can be considered the test year for students and teachers at FHS to get acquainted with the new online technology. World history one and two teacher, Mr. Richard Brennan, explained that he would like to keep an open-mind about the idea and would be interested to see if "tech savvy" students will learn to enjoy or possibly reject the online system. "I am going to try to gauge student reactions and try to find out what they like and don't like," said Brennan. "There are some interesting video clips that students can access in the electronic version so I hope this is a popular
feature. I hope everyone keeps an open mind and works to correct any problems that arise," he said. As teachers begin to integrate the digital world into education, students will also have to learn to adjust to the new electronic methods. "It's a positive change because I don't have to worry about losing my textbook, but it's also negative if the power were to go out," said freshman Evan Strait. "I like that you don't have to carry a big book around and you can mark in it," said junior Vicki Kirzl. Though this does eliminate the need to carry heavier books around to each class, some students would prefer to be able to have the book on hand for studying during school and in between classes. "It might be easier than a hard copy, but you might not always have access to the book when you really need it," replied sophomore Sarah Mahoney. Electronic history textbooks are only the first step towards the possible goal of converting several other subject textbooks to be online. By switching to the use of online education, FCPS cuts down on the funds that would originally go to buying new textbooks and replacing old ones. The electronic books received funding from the budget that would have been used for buying hard copies. For students who do not have a home computer or laptop, a smaller set of hard copy books were given to schools with the purchase of online textbooks.
Students work on computers during Computer Programming Class. As FCPS continues to progress technologically, there is no telling what kind of knowledge and resource tools students will have several years from now. Brennan said, "Perhaps students will click from Facebook directly to the textbook and enjoy reading pages 170 to 176 about the early Roman Republic. Then they can return to Facebook and let all their friends know about the reading! I hope this is the case."
Jessica Miers ‘13
Managing Editor and Business Manager
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Life As A Plebe
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ne of my shipmates said to an upperclassmen on the second day at the United States Naval Academy that “Plebe Summer is a mouthful.” We made fun of him all summer because that’s a ridiculous statement, but I have to admit that his analysis has some truth behind it. Just like trying to drink out of a fire hose, indoctrination to the Navy lifestyle is really overwhelming. It seems as though all this knowledge is being pushed onto you so quickly that there isn’t enough time to absorb or drink it all. It’s a mouthful. My first day at the Naval Academy was probably a little different than the experiences of most of my peers. Firstly, I wasn’t allowed to have a cup of coffee, I know my fellow coffee addicts will sympathize with me because I had a splitting headache all day. Secondly, I was literally getting screamed at by upperclassmen all day. Mostly because they just wanted someone to yell at, but also because whenever I did get yelled at I would start laughing. This just made me a target as the kid who didn’t take things seriously. Looking back, being labeled as a jokester wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. The training staff or “detailers” would always talk to me because they knew I had a sense of humor, whereas the other plebes were either to serious or too intimidated by our detailers to attempt to make them laugh. No matter what, people always want to laugh. A lot of people think that the military is just like they show on the movies: everyone has high and tights, is super serious all the time, and if you can’t do 300 push-ups in two minutes you might as well quit and go to a liberal arts school. From my experiences in the military, life is a lot different than Hollywood depictions. Sometimes we’re even allowed to laugh. Now that I realize what most people view the military as, I understand why so many of my teachers, friends, and mentors subtly tried to talk me out of going to the Naval Academy because they didn’t think I would succeed. Sorry guys- I love it here, you were wrong. One of the members of the training staff had a counseling session with all the plebes over the summer. She said, “While all your friends are off getting drunk, you are
Buzzard in uniform at the Naval Academy. Photos courtesy of Emily Buzzard
shooting guns, climbing ropes and towers, and training to serve for our country.” After getting drunk dials at least once a week from my high school buddies, what she said has stuck with me. I am so proud to be doing something that really matters. Plebe summer ended after six weeks of hell, which means that the boot camp lifestyle is over. I am now in the “ac year” where we have to go to class and there is less military training. It’s still hard: I have to run in the hallways, I’m not allowed to listen to music or watch movies, I have to call people one year older than me “sir/ma’am,” my room has to be spotless all the time, and I get about five hours of sleep a night. But, I didn’t choose to go here because it’s easy. I chose to come here because I love a challenge. Even though I have only been here since June 30th, I already have a family here. My classmates and I work together, fail together, and get yelled at together. Hardship forces people to depend on each other. The United States Naval Academy isn’t for everyone. I don’t even know how I got in seeing as only 6% of applicants for the class of 2015 were accepted. If you are looking into a service academy good luck and let me know if you need any help in the application process. Unless you want to go to Westpoint or Air Force… then you’re on your own.
Emily Buzzard Guest Writer
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FEATURES
Where Did You Go This Summer?
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long with getting over six hours of sleep a night, many Fairfax High School students got to travel the world this summer, creating exciting memories and accomplishments. From mission trips in New Mexico to relaxing on the sandless beaches of Nice, summer 2011 was anything but dull. Two students share how they spent their summer.
Chris Haynes Destination: France, Italy, and London
1. What was the most exciting things you did during your stay in each country?
London was exciting because of the queen’s palace and they also have a huge ferris wheel [The London Eye]. And of course France was Chris and Lauren Haynes pose in awesome because of the Eiffel tower. front of Tower Bridge in London. 2. Were there any specific mannerisms you noticed
about the people in each country?
Italy and France were much faster paced, [people] always trying to get things done, whereas London was much more laid back.
3. In your opinion, what was the best tasting food you ate and why?
All Italian food was really good, especially the pizza! Everything there is thin crust and had so much flavor. The weirdest meal was the Standard English breakfast because it had baked beans and roasted tomatoes.
4. Name a few ways the culture in these places differ from American culture.
Italy seemed to be a very dirty [place] and had very few trash cans. Italy's traffic was crazy as people would weave in and out of everywhere completely ignoring traffic lights.
5. What words did you pick up during your stay?
I didn’t know how to speak the languages other than a few words. But my family and I picked Photos courtesy of Chris up words like: Bonjour means hello and merci means thank you. Scuzi means excuse me in Haynes. Italian. Prego was a universal term often used for many things, but it specifically means you’re welcome.
Matt Frank
Destination: The Four Corners Navajo Reservation in New Mexico 1. Where did you and your group stay and how long were you there?
I went with some people from my youth group from my church and we all stayed in a guest house for one week on the reservation that was specifically made for church groups like ours.
2. Describe the conditions and how the place differs from our upper-middle class society in Virginia.
The conditions for certain families on the reservation were very different than the conditions we live in here in Northern Virginia. I could not believe the poverty that some of these Navajo families lived in.
3. Any eye-opening experiences?
The trip gave me the opportunity to see a totally different landscape. There was a huge mountain range that we were able to see. I even got to see the Rockies while driving through Colorado. I had also never previously flown on a plane, so the flight there was very cool. Frank and his church group helped build a house in NM.
4. What were the mannerisms of the people?
All of the Navajo families were very appreciative of us helping repair and build aspects of their homes. We even established friendly relationships with locals on the reservation and my brother Daniel and I learned how to say a few short phrases in Navajo, such as "just kidding.”
5. What did you and your group accomplish?
We accomplished the building of the framework for half of a house, roof work, removing and installing pipelines for the local church and much more. We were also able to experience the culture of the Navajo people. Photos courtesy of Matt Frank
Natalie Shaban ‘12 Staff Writer
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A Freshman’s Guide To High School: Foodchain
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his, my darling Freshmen, is for you. It has come to my attention that many of you may not understand the power rankings here in high school. You’ve recently advanced from middle school, where you were so used to having power over the “sevies,” but times are much different now. Consider yourself a “big kid” now, but realize there are people in this building almost 5 years older than you, and showing respect is the easiest way to succeed among us upperclassmen. This isn’t targeted at all of you, don’t get me wrong! But most of you still have that mentality from being on top last year. Just accept the fact that most of us will probably look right over you, or give you a hard time this year, but next September you’ll understand our preThe Lion dicament. Don’t take this too harshly, we still love ya Rebels, but try to work with the system we have at this school, and obey your spot on the food chain.
1
Faculty, Ms. Ball
2
Senior, Peter Lam
Junior, Amanda Blackwell
Sophomores
Jock, Evan Schauss
Freshmen Brandon Blankenship ‘12 Commentary Editor
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FEATURES
Marching Band Attacks “The Struggle Within”
W
hile standing on the marching band field under a hot August sun, watching the band run drills repeatedly, it comes to mind that “The Struggle Within” is a fitting title for this year’s show. In order to be ready for this year’s marching season, the Marching Rebels began preparing on August 15th. Many of the practice days lasted ten hours, led by the new band director, Mr. Alan Johnson. Johnson came to Fairfax from South County, where he was band director for six years. “I’ve never come into a band that has an established program,” Johnson said. Johnson opened up South County and had to start from scratch when creating the program. Coming into the Fairfax band program is new for Johnson. “My job is now to hopefully take the band to the next level,” he said. “Mr. Johnson commands respect without being aggressive,” said senior drum major Becca Welke.
Welke’s senior co-drum major, Jane Lee is in agreement. “He’s the ideal teacher to work with,” Lee said. “The main thing is to make sure everyone is pushed to their maximum potential,” Johnson said of his role as band director. Johnson is not the only reason that the band is clicking this year. Rookie practices began two days before the rest of the band came together. The rookies have a lot to learn, and quickly. “The first day of band camp was awesome because all of the rookies try really hard and they’ve improved a lot,” Welke said. Freshman Vince Tammaro explains why he decided to join marching band, “I was persuaded into thinking I’d still have a life and I was sworn to that it would be really fun. So far, it’s living up to my expectations.” Freshman Helen Simachew said “I thought it [marching band] would be something fun to do, and I think it’s worth it.”
During summer practices, the marching band had organized spirit days, like “Mustache Day.” Photos by Emily Stone
This year’s show features music by Russian Composer Dmitri Shostakovich. Shostakovich was a composer during Stalin’s reign as czar of Russia. Shostakovich had to write music to please the government, for fear that his family would be punished. The theme of “The Struggle Within” is Shostakovich’s internal struggle over whether to defy the government or protect his family. “I heard the marching band last year, and I knew the sounds they were capable of producing,” Johnson said of his music choice. He describes the sound of the Marching Rebels as “dark and yummy.” The name of the show seems like an appropriate way to describe the way many of the band members feel during those ten hour practice days. “We have divided our show into seven chunks, so we can do one chunk a day. A chunk consists of ten drill sets and anywhere from 30-70 bars of music. Everyday we just get exponentially better,” said Welke. For junior Anderson Guernsey, the most difficult part of the day was “the first two hours in the hot sun in the morning, when we practice fundamentals.” The most rewarding part of the ten hour practices for junior Jesse Berman was “building upon what you learn each day, what you achieve, and hanging out with your friends.”
Emily Stone ‘12 Editor-in-Chief
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Field Hockey Shoots for 3-Peat Coach Beaudoin’s Lady Rebs shoot for third straight Liberty District Title
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t was a gray and drizzly August morning as the varsity field hockey team ran through scoring drills on the turf field of Fairfax’s Harold Stalnaker Stadium, fresh off their first win of the season, over the Washington-Lee Generals. Coach Amber Beaudoin stood back, whistle hanging on her lips, waiting for the right moment. Finally, her defense cleared the ball and the whistle screeched. “Again!” She yelled, as the girls hustled back in position, “The offense sucks right now!” Over the past several years, the phrase “sucks” hasn’t been very useful when looking for words to describe Fairfax High School’s field hockey program. After back-toback Liberty District championships, and years of winning seasons before that, the Lady Rebels have been the school’s most consistent team. They even seem set to make a run for a three-peat, after losing only two players from last year’s roster. But the challenges that any squad faces during the season can derail even the most experienced team. “It’s not going to be an easy district this year, by any means,” Beaudoin said, “There are going to be plenty of challenges.” The Rebels have hit some speed bumps already. Even though only two players graduated, Taylor Deivert and Lauren Abram, the offense that they provided will be tough to replace. Both were first team all-district players, and strong leaders on the team. The loss of their offensive production became even more serious after junior forward Sam Zelenack strained her quad early in the season, a nagging injury she’s trying to play through, and forward senior Tiffany Balbuena suffered a concussion in practice. The injury bug also took a considerable bite out of the defense, as junior defender Grace Holman, another all-district player, tore her ACL, putting her out for the season. “Those are four first team all-district players right there,” said Beaudoin, “Basically, if you think of it as loss of scoring, they’re 37 goals out of the 50 we made all last year, just with Taylor, Lauren, and Sam, and Grace was
Photo by Emily Stone
our best defender. “But I think we can absorb those losses,” she continued, as she anticipates other players to improve. “We’re going to get better performance out of plenty of people.” Zelenack agrees. “[Taylor and Lauren] were a big part of our team, but we have people that will step up at their positions.” According to Beaudoin, this has been the key to her teams’ consistency over the years - the players. But instead of looking for the most polished field hockey players at tryouts, she fills her teams with the best athletes she can find, period. “I think when you get the best athletes in the school, you’re going to have a good team,” she said. “If you have the athletic talent, I’ll turn you into a field hockey player. That should be our motto: ‘Athletes Wanted.’” As much as she expects her athletes to improve, Beaudoin knows that Fairfax’s district rivals will be shooting to take the Rebels’ spot at the top, especially McLean and Langley, teams that came close the last two years. “When you’ve won it back-to-back, everyone’s gunning for you, you know? We kind of have this target on our backs; everyone wants to be the team that beats Fairfax,” Beaudoin said. The Lady Rebs were faced with challenging out-ofdistrict games to start the season. Within the first seven games, they played four teams that made it to the regional playoffs in 2010 (Woodson, South County, Westfield, and Chantilly), winning two and losing two. Beaudoin was still confident in her team’s chances for the three-peat, but even with all their preparation, she acknowledges that their fate isn’t completely in their own hands. “Everybody needs a little luck,” she said. “But if you give us a little luck, and a good turf field, we can beat anyone.”
Walker Carlson ‘13 Sports Editor
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SPORTS
Coaches’ -Beaudoin-
Fall Sports Preview
-Owens-
Football
Coach Kevin Simonds
Field Hockey
“T
Coach Amber Beaudoin
Golf
Cross Country
he game of football is a game of attrition…sometimes injuries happen. We have to make sure that everyone on the team is prepared to step up if their number is called to go in. Our main goal is to be Liberty District Champions and to make it to the Northern Region Playoffs. Before we can do that, we need to focus on each game that is ahead of us. This week is the MOST IMPORTANT GAME OF THE SEASON!”
Coach Jeremy Owens
“A
s a team, we lost 4 seniors out of 11 players, one of which was a two-year regional golfer and our number one player. However, we have had solid play from a number of returning as well as freshman golfers to fill in the gaps, to the point where we should be a numerically better golf team this year.”
Cheer
Coach Wes Vaughan
“F
airfax Cheer is one of the most successful cheer programs in the Northern Region, as well as the State of Virginia, and our coaching staff is looking forward to another successful year. With 16 seniors leading the way, our hopes are set high; District, Region and State Titles are listed as team goals. All the members of the Fairfax Cheer program are really looking for student body support – Wednesday, October 19th, Liberty District Semi-Finals will be held at Fairfax HS!”
“W
e’re looking to gel and play our best field hockey by mid October so we can make a deep run into the Regional tournament. Our biggest challenge this year as it is every year is to figure out our identity as a team. Are we a scrappy, fast team? Are we a highly skilled finesse team? Are we a combination of both? But for now we are trying to learn to work together again toward a common goal: WINNING.”
Corner
-Simonds-
Coach Mark Whalley
“C
ross Country has grown to over 70 members from 30 members a few years ago. Most of the growth is due to 25 new freshmen swelling our ranks. We’re trying to advance several individuals to State. In order to do so, we’re aiming to get our varsity boys running under five and a half minutes per mile for three miles and our varsity girls under six and a half minutes per mile for 3 miles.”
Volleyball
Coach Christine Zanellato
-Whalley-
-Vaughan-
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ebels Volleyball 2011 is an exciting team to watch! While we lost 7 seniors last season, this year’s team has stepped up to the challenge and already beat some solid opponents. We are fortunate to have many talented players that all lead by example during practice and matches, like senior Diana Hartford, who has been our most solid all around player for the last several seasons. Our next home matches are October 13 vs. Madison, October 17 vs. South Lakes, and October 18 vs. Yorktown.
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SPORTS
Rebels Start Strong Intermill’s double-overtime field goal wins Fairfax their third straight game.
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t might not have been a clean game, but the Fairfax Rebels came out of their home-opener against the McLean Highlanders with their record still spotless. After a penalty-filled regulation wasn’t enough to determine a winner, the Liberty District rivals went to double overtime before a game-winning field goal gave the Rebels their third straight win to start the season. It was a game defined by penalties, as the referees twirled more flags than the color guard. 26 penalties were called, 13 for each team, but it was the last flag that cost the Highlanders the game. In the first overtime, after keeping Fairfax from scoring a touchdown, forcing them to kick a field goal, McLean running back Michael Vignali charged into the end zone for what should have been the game-winner. But instead of spoiling Fairfax’s opener, it was a holding call that gave the Rebels a second chance. Fairfax’s defense was able to hold McLean to a field goal, tying the score at 16, and sending the teams to a second overtime. After being stopped short of the goal line again, McLean kicker Christopher Rosenbaum’s field goal attempt sailed wide left, no good. Fairfax junior kicker Zac Intermill made Rosenbaum pay, as his 23 yard kick sailed straight through the uprights, sealing a 19-16 victory for the Rebels. It was a strange change of fortunes for the two special teams units. Rosenbaum had been automatic up to that point, hitting two 30-yarders along with a 25, and converting an extra point. Intermill and the Rebels had been anything but automatic. The Highlanders had blocked two of Intermill’s attempts, an extra point and a late fourth quarter attempt, both of which would have prevented the Rebels from going to overtime in the first
The student section was packed out at the Rebels’ home opener against McLean. Photo by Jessica Meirs place. Intermill’s confidence was unshaken, though, as he was able to make the kicks when the pressure was on. “If I didn’t have confidence in either my line or myself, I wouldn’t have been able to concentrate and make those kicks,” Intermill said. The game was very low scoring, due to penalties and turnovers from both teams. Senior quarterback Austin Perryman did have one touchdown pass in the second quarter, to tight end Chris Robic, and junior running back Greg Sims had a 16 yard touchdown run in the third. On the defensive side, senior Abhishek Luthra had a key interception, stopping a McLean drive late in the fourth. In their first two games, both out-of-district contests, the Rebels simply outmatched Annandale and Washington-Lee. Against Annandale the defense shone, allowing only nine points. The Washington-Lee game was an old-fashioned shootout, which Fairfax won 45-32. This Friday the Rebels are on the road again, versus South Lakes High School in Reston, before returning home for what could be their toughest game of the season, against football powerhouse Westfield High School on September 30.
Walker Carlson ‘13 Sports Editor
Quarterback Austin Perryman (#4) had one touchdown pass, while Abby Luthra (#24) had a key interception late in the game. Photo by Jessica Meirs
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airfax’s leadership class is working hard to create a homecoming worth remembering. This year’s theme is “Rebel Royale,” which combines the buzz of Las Vegas with aspects of casinos. It will include the usual yearly traditions of a pep rally, spirit week, homecoming parade and tailgate, all crafted around this year’s homecoming match against Thomas Jefferson High School. A new addition to the festivities includes “Rebels Rockin’ the Stage,” an event that showcases Fairfax students’ talents. To find out more about the upcoming events, staff writer Migdalia Malave exchanged emails with senior Robbie Ashton, the main adviser behind the Rebel Royale. What’s the definition of Rebel Royale, and what should we look for in this year’s homecoming? “For homecoming, the theme is Rebel Royale, which focuses on the excitement of Las Vegas and a casino (the school-appropriate parts of course) The dates for HC are Oct. 14th for the game/rally, and the 15th for the dance. We’re only in the early stages of planning, but a lot of what we have so far has never been done before.” Is this year’s pep rally going to be any different from other pep rallies we’ve had in the past? “We have a kick off pep rally the 2nd week of school, so there hasn’t been a lot put into the HC one yet. My guess is that it will have some new things, as well as some of the school favorites. “ I heard this year we can expect an event called “Rebels Rockin the Stage.” Can you tell me about that? “We’re scheduled to have a stage for the first time in Fairfax History. The thing is massive and will allow us to do anything from a battle of the bands to games not feasible at lunch because of space, and allow people to actually
Photo courtesy of Anda Bruk
see what’s going on. We are looking for bands/student acts to play at the tailgate, and if they’re interested they can shoot us an email at fairfaxleadership@yahoo.com.” Are there going to be any differences at this year’s homecoming dance? “The dance is probably the biggest change. I won’t give away too many secrets, but I can guarantee that the experience will be a LOT better than years past. No, I don’t mean more banners- I mean we’re investing some serious money in it to make it the best we’ve had.”
Any news on where the parade will be starting from this year? “It’s still in the early stages, but we’ll likely go from Van Dyck again.” Already, students are chattering about this year’s homecoming. Since it’s been expressed that numerous changes are being made in the interests of Fairfax’s students, some Rebels have expressed their opinions on what needs to be adjusted. “There are not a lot of things that I would change about homecoming,” said Danielle Spriggs, ’12, “except having different genres of music to reach all the likings of every student. And the ticket price!” Freshman D.J. Clarke agrees, saying he expects “a mix of music. Not just pop or hip hop, but a mix of all music to fit everybody’s taste.” People are also excited about Rebels Rockin’ the Stage: “Rebels’ Rockin is a great opportunity for students to showcase their talents and show off their own individuality,” commented Spriggs. Senior Kelly Baker is excited for all the homecoming festivities as a whole. “I think it’s going to be awesome!”
Erinn Fecteau, ‘13 & Migdalia Malave, ‘13 Staff Writers
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