The Highlander October 2014 by The Highlander

highlander

Volume LIX • Issue 1 • October 2014 • McLean High School thehighlandernews.com • @MHSHighlander

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CONTENTS 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 11 12 15 16 17 19 20 21 22 23

NEWS

Memory Project Students make portraits for orphans School Calendar Changes School Board approves new schedule Marvin Wooten New administrator History Curriculum Changes New AP U.S. class Press Conference Garza answers students’ questions New Metro Silver Line opens No Harvest Fest Council plans alternatives

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FEATURES

Student Drivers Young drivers cause accidents Highlander of the Issue Lindsey Kircher McInterns Students hit the workforce New to Old School McLean’s teachers 10 Q’s w/ Assistant Principal Jamie Lane Halloween Things to do this Halloween Otakon 2014 Anime convention

A&E

Highlander Highlights Mini reviews Fall Fashion What students are wearing this season Marching Band Team marches into competition

CONTENTS

40-41

Addams Family 25 The McLean drama puts on show Maze Runner 26 The Movie review 27 Destiny Video game review social network 29 The Favorite social media

IN-DEPTH

Cheating 30 Fighting with Honor New honor code tries to change cheating climate

34 35 36 38

OPINIONS Senior Internships Seniors should gain work experience during second semester Staff Editorial Lack of teachers creates academic burden Crossfire Should student athletes get less homework? AP Classes APs help gain college admission

SPORTS

Baker 39 Karynne Junior captain

40 42 43 44

helps to lead team McLean Football Team suffers midseason losses Cheerleading Community overlooks competitive side of cheerleading Athlete of the Issue Jordan Cole The Finish Line Fall sports athletes

Dear McLean, The familiar academic rush at the end of a quarter awaits us all in the upcoming week. Free time may become a foreign concept, but here at The Highlander we’ve been working hard to make sure these pages will provide you with all of the stories and information you need to help get you through the beginning of year. Every new school year comes with a lot of changes. Make sure to take a look at our news section to stay updated. We cover many changes such as the FCPS calendar revisions, Harvest Fest replacements and the addition of a new administrative position. In A&E, check out “Highlander Highlights” for quick updates on the best music, books, movies and concerts to look out for in the coming months. In Features, we introduce a new regular spread: “Highlander of the Issue.” This month, we explore senior Lindsey Kircher’s combination of art and dance, which leaves her a force to be reckoned with. A huge portion of the student body participates in sports. Our Crossfire argues whether or not student athletes should be allowed to have lighter workloads. This month, we focus on the issue of cheating at McLean. The In-Depth explores the gray areas of cheating and takes a closer look at the new honor code. Whether an avid cheater or a strict honor code follower, make sure to take a look. As always, come to us with your critiques, complaints or approval. Until next issue, use thehighlandernews.com to stay informed. Sincerely, Hannah Menchel, Grace Murray & Andrea Delgado

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the

Letter from the Editors

Volume LIX • Issue 1 • October 2014 • McLean High School thehighlandernews.com • @MHSHighlander

Editors-in-Chief

Andrea Delgado & Hannah Menchel & Grace Murray Julia Al-Akkad & Nhi Nguyen & Maddy Witchey

Managing Editors Design Editor Head Photographer Photographer

Mark Mizusawa James Carver Tanya Ajalli

Advertising Manager

Tara Blackwell

Cartoonist

Anna Marie Garland

Section Editors News Editors

Andrew Opem & Melanie Pincus

Opinions Editors

David Kagan & Liam Zeya

Features Editors

Lucy Hopkins & Katie McGinn

A&E Editors

Ashwin Dasgupta & Sabrein Gharad

Sports Editors

Jake Barnett & Jessica Bulford

Reporters Lisa Bears Anjalie Chauhan Christine Cheon Aidan Clotworthy John Corvari Michael Davis Lila Duvall Monique Ford Nora Hashem Elena Ifarraguerri

Esme Khalid Veronica Kim Connor Koch Carlyn Kranking Brooke Lyons Sophie Mariam Dereck Marwa Ingrid Morse Sanskriti Neupane Eleanor Patrick Adviser

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Evan Rapson Leena Raza Young In Seo Sam Silverman Aisha Singh Nora Smith Danielle Walker Jennifer Wang Bora Zaloshnja Catherine Zysk

Lindsay B. Benedict The Highlander is a public forum in which members of the school community can express themselves, discuss issues and exchange ideas. Printed by aPrintis. Advertising Policy: The Highlander sells ad space on each page of the paper except on the front cover, Opinions section and InDepth report. The staff reserves the right to reject any ads it deems libelous, obscene, disruptive or otherwise inappropriate.

To Submit a Letter to the Editors: Please e-mail it to thehighlanderstaff@gmail.com or bring it to room R133. The staff reserves the right to edit letters for grammar and clarity, and all letters are subject to laws concerning obscenity, libel, privacy and disruption of the school process. ‘12, ‘13, ‘14 NSPA First Class; ‘07 All-American; ‘06 Pacemaker Finalist; Hall of Fame

‘05, ‘07, ‘12, ‘13 CSPA Gold Medalist; ‘08 Silver Medalist

‘14 George H. Gallup Award

‘14 VHSL Trophy Class; ‘11, ‘12 1st Place Winner; VHSL Savedge Award

NEWS

Students make portraits for orphaned children overseas Artists team up with The Memory Project to create art for children in Nicaragua and Haiti Carlyn Kranking Reporter

f someone asked a student at McLean High School what they looked like as a baby, chances are it would be easy to find a picture. However, for many orphaned children and teenagers in less privileged countries, this question is impossible to answer. In an effort to create this sort of documentation for orphaned children, McLean art students used their skills to make a difference by joining in the work of The Memory Project. This organization sends pictures of children in need to art students, and the art students then create portraits to send to the children. “These kids have never had a portrait of themselves [or] a photograph of themselves. They have no documentation of themselves as kids whatsoever,” visual arts teacher Christina Carroll said. “We are in the world of selfies—they don’t have anything.” Once the portraits have been handed out at the orphanages, The Memory Project sends images of the children receiving the art back to the students. “It was really special,” said senior Bella Canovas, one of McLean’s participants in The Memory Project. “It was a really unique project. I got to see how happy the kids were, and that was amazing.” Canovas donated two portraits to the project, helping the school’s art department reach its grand total of 63 portraits. “We were one of 20 schools in the entire country that were doing more than 50 portraits,” Carroll said. Approximately 15 of those portraits went to Nicaragua, while the others went to Haiti. Students devoted hours of their own time outside of school to The Memory Project, but more than just time was donated to make these portraits a reality. Every portrait made has to be sent with

Art from the heart—Children in Nicaragua and Haiti receive their portraits from McLean artists. The portraits go to children who don’t have keepsakes of their own. “It’s giving them something to hold on to and to remember about their childhood,” senior Jaqueline Green said. (Photos reproduced with permission of Christina Carroll and The Memory Project)

a $15 fee to cover the travel cost for The Memory Project. Navigant Consulting, a company run by the father of senior Jacqueline Green, a project participant, sponsored 53 of McLean students’ portraits. “He really liked the organization and wanted to help out,” Green said. Before participating at McLean, Green had done a portrait for The Memory Project on her own. She enjoyed the experience so much that she decided to get her peers involved. “I wanted to bring it to McLean so that

everyone could do it,” Green said. On top of the portraits sponsored by Navigant Consulting, the National Art Honor Society donated 10 more. Carroll, who is always looking for charitable projects like this one to do with her students, said this is not likely to be the last McLean will see of The Memory Project. “We’re going to try and keep it as something that maybe is a tradition around here,” she said. “I think it’s really rewarding for the kids.”

Page design by Carlyn Kranking

NEWS

School board approves calendar changes New calendar includes more built-in snow days, time off for students environment,” he said. “Additionally, we’re hoping that the built-in holidays will help improve student health and well-being.” Advanced academics coordinator and social studies teacher Cynthia Hawkins agrees that the changes to this year’s calendar are beneficial. She specifically supports the addition of built-in snow days because they reduce the potential need for makeup days. “We have the opportunity to make [makeup days] more enriching, and I think

Melanie Pincus News Editor

fter last year’s record-tying 11 snow days, the Fairfax County School Board decided to make changes to the school calendar, creating both additional builtin days for inclement weather and more student holidays. A major difference in this year’s calendar is the change from a 180-day schedule to a more adaptable 990-hour schedule, which allows for more time off. This was made possible by eliminating elementary school early-release Mondays, a tradition in Fairfax County that is four decades old. “Our Monday early dismissal at the elementary level accounted for the equivalent of 75 days of school missed over an elementary career, or about 11 per year,” school board member Ryan McElveen said. “Adding that time back into our schedule allowed us to go well beyond the 990-hour requirement and build in more snow days.” In the new calendar, no makeup is required for up to 12 missed days of school. This nine day increase in built-in snow days is a preventative measure taken in response to last year’s five make-up days. Adding these built-in snow days lowers the risk of an extended school year due to weather. “Each extra day we need to transport students costs us more than $200,000 in additional fuel costs,” McElveen said. He said he believes changes like adding four strategic planning days and making two week winter breaks standard will have benefits beyond reduced fuel costs. “We’re hoping that by explicitly designating time for [teacher planning], we will be able to improve [teachers’] work

“We’re hoping that builtin holidays will improve student health and wellbeing.” -Ryan McElveen, School Board Member at Large

we did a really good job with that [last year],” Hawkins said. “But quite honestly, we have to prepare students for end of course tests, and once that hits, students are rightly over it.” As a mother of two, Hawkins supports the removal of early-release Mondays. “Finding child care every Monday is very difficult,” she said. “As a parent and a high school teacher, I think it’s good, and most working parents of kids in elementary school that I’ve talked to agree.” Students also recognize the advantages to this year’s calendar changes, including

increased time off. “I think it’s good for relieving stress,” junior Michelle Martin said. Along with stress relief, students acknowledge the other benefits associated with student holidays. “Extra days off can help students rest up more and give them more time to do their work,” sophomore Krishma Poudel said. Poudel views the increase in built-in snow days as useful to students. “If we get snow like last year, this’ll be better so we don’t have to make [the days] up,” Poudel said. Considering the possibility of makeup days, sophomore Ethan Cussatt also supports the new inclement weather policy. “It’s definitely good having a lot of snow days as buffer room so we don’t have to end up staying in school until July like we did last year,” Cussatt said. Cussatt said he especially appreciates the extra down time created by the new student holidays. “I think more time off for students gives them more time to rest and recover from the hardship that is school,” Cussatt said. “They get more time to recover and more time to goof around so they can get their homework done when they have to.” Analysis of recent National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association Climate Forecast System models shows the potential for another snowy winter. Despite built-in snow days, this weather could impact the time students have to prepare for end of course exams. “You have to adapt—I think you have to know that as a teacher,” Hawkins said. “You have to adapt on a daily basis.”

FCPS 2013-14 Calendar

FCPS 2014-15 Calendar

Number of days: 183

Number of days: 180

Winter Break: 2 weeks

Winter Break: 2 weeks (standard)

Built-in Snow Days: 3

Built-in Snow Days: 12

Teacher Work Days: 5

Teacher Work Days: 8 Page design by Melanie Pincus

OCTOBER

Fairfax County creates new administrative position Systems of support advisor Marvin Wooten hired to help students Andrew Opem News Editor

uietly seated at his desk, systems of support advisor Marvin Wooten steadily hacks away at his work. The room is empty, and the silence is only occasionally broken by the muffled voices of his walkie talkie. Wooten’s job as systems of support advisor was created to aid any students in need of assistance. He focuses specifically on students going

through the disciplinary process. “In the past, you might see a kid sent home for five days out of school for whatever violation they committed,” Wooten said. “My position will now allow the administrators to send them to an alternative area within the school, so the kids are still staying in school and they’re still getting a continued education.” In addition to a continued education, students experiencing the disciplinary process will be given time to reflect and understand why they have been reprimanded, while Wooten integrates other character development opportunities into his classroom environment as well. Despite his concentration on students facing disciplinary action, Wooten welcomes anyone to visit his room, S110. “If you’re just waking up and you’re stressed and you have questions, or you just need somebody to talk to, that’s why I’m here,” Wooten said. “If a kid wants to stop by and maybe just take 15 minutes to cool down or they just want to isolate themselves a bit, my classroom is open.” Wooten’s job functions similarly to that of the school counselors, but there are some key differences. “The school counselors want to focus on your education— your grades, your classes you need to take and all of those kinds of things,” Principal

Ellen Reilly said. “Yes, they are here for you to go talk to when you are having some problems, but [Wooten’s] job is to help [students] see things they need to change to make themselves better students.” As a certified teacher, Wooten provides the academic consulting skills of a counselor, while he can simultaneously guide students through their academics and personal life. Nevertheless, it is his persona that sets him apart from his peers. “He enjoys getting to know kids, he enjoys getting to know adults, he is motivating,” Reilly said. “His personality fits into that position.” Wooten’s background as a physical education teacher at South Lakes High School aided in the development of his identity as a person seeking to help students in need of assistance. At South Lakes, Wooten worked in similar situations, facilitating character development and supporting students having trouble in school. “That’s where my passion lies, in working with kids and being that extra set of eyes to help them get through their high school experience,” Wooten said. “The administration and teachers have a lot on their plates and sometimes they can miss certain kids, so I just want to make sure that every kid is having a [positive high school experience].” Although many students are unfamiliar with the new position, the students who are aware of the role have endorsed it. “I think that it’s great for the general community,” junior Esther Kim said. “It’s good because you can’t just help some people—the people who go to the counselors and administration and actually want it—you have to help everyone who needs it.”

Photo & page design by Andrew Opem

New AP U.S. History curriculum takes its course Revamped class now requires more analysis, less factual knowledge

Leena Raza Online Features Editor

P U.S. History was once a straightforward subject focused on factual information, but after making revisions over the summer, the College Board has incorporated more analytical thought processes and less description into the course. Students are now required to interpret historical documents to prove their knowledge. According to history department chair Maggie Tran, the changes reflect a more modern way of looking at history. “It demands processing and it has caused me to change how I approach the course,” Tran said. “It’s asking a lot, but it is less demanding in that you don’t need nittygritty facts. While it’s intimidating, students should not be intimidated by it.” Cynthia Hawkins, McLean’s advanced academics coordinator and one of the current AP U.S. History teachers, sees the

curriculum as an improvement. “The new curriculum lets students think critically and it benefits them and the teachers,” Hawkins said. “Historical thinking skills are required and you are forced to do stuff with the facts.” The new AP exam consists of 55 stimulus-based multiple choice questions based on a passage, a chart, a map or a graph. The questions cannot stand alone, as they must have an additional visual. As in previous exams, an essay or short answer portion is included, and the test is timed.

“I am going to try and do my best because I really love US History, but I wish they hadn’t changed the curriculum.”

-junior Elizabeth Swarm

Current seniors who took AP U.S. History last year claim that since questions were only based on factual information, they were easier and more direct. “I feel bad for the juniors who are taking AP U.S. this year because it’s definitely going to be harder with all the additional information they have to learn along with analysis,” senior Jessica Brady said. “It’s going to be hard to complete the test within the time frame if you have to analyze every single question.” Juniors taking the revamped class said they are worried they will not do well, especially on the AP exam. Numerous students switched out of the class within the first month of school. “I am really worried on how I’m going to do because there are so many skills I need to [improve], and it’s a lot of work to master and remember the material,” junior Elizabeth Swarm said. “I am going to try and do my best because I really love U.S. history, but I wish they didn’t change the curriculum.”

Old Curriculum vs. New Curriculum

OLD • More straightforward • Fact-based • Less analysis • More detail memorization

NEW •Similar themes • Timed • Multiple choice • Writing portion

• Historical thinking skills • Questions are stimulusbased & require interpretation • Facts must be analyzed with critical thinking Page design by Leena Raza

OCTOBER

Superintendent holds press conference for student journalists Karen Garza talks technology, budget, start times

GARZA’S GOALS REDUCE STRESS AND DEPRESSION: “We provided a lot more training to our teachers just this year around how to identify the signs and symptoms. We also have our crisis text line which students can text if they need help.”

28.8%

Garza speaks—Superintendent Karen Garza answers student journalists’ questions at Gatehouse Administration Center on Sept. 23. She outlined her goals for the upcoming year. (Photo by Julia Al-Akkad) Julia Al-Akkad & Andrea Delgado Managing Editor & Editor-in-Chief

CPS Superintendent Karen Garza answered questions from student journalists in a press conference at Gatehouse Administraion Center on Sept. 23. The topics ranged from Garza’s goals to mental health to changes in the school calendar. Many of the reporters’ questions revolved around technology in Fairfax County. Garza recognized that money for educational technology, such as SMART Boards, is not always used effectively. She called for more explicit standards regarding the necessary equipment for a classroom. “We do need to do some work with training all of our teachers to know how to use that technology effectively to be able to integrate it,” Garza said. Garza also spoke of her ideas for increasing the role of technology in classrooms in the future. “We need some kind of tablet or technology, whether that be a laptop or some kind of chromebook or an iPad,” Garza said. “Maybe down the road, that’s going to be issued to students just like their textbooks would.” Several student journalists asked about Fairfax County’s move towards later high school start times. On Oct. 23, the School Board is scheduled to vote on an option

that would push start times back to 8 or 8:10 a.m. “I think it’s likely they will approve the plan that we put forward because we do have a lot of people who helped us develop it,” Garza said. A student from Madison High School asked if the later start times will have a negative effect on teachers’ commutes or other jobs. “Traffic experts indicated to us that patterns of traffic will balance themselves out,” Garza said. “In large cities like us who’ve also made these changes, they’ve not seen that it affected teachers in a negative way.” While Garza is aware of the challenges associated with changing start times, she said she believes the positive impacts will outweigh temporary difficulties. “There are ways to adjust,” Garza said. “We have to make the decision that’s best for the greater good, and we believe there’s lots of compelling research around this issue.” When a student asked Garza if she had accomplished her goals for her first year as superintendent, she responded by talking about her success in increasing community engagement and managing the budget. “We’re in a much better position this year as a result of really having to make tough decisions last year,” Garza said.

of McLean students felt symptoms of depression last year

DEEMPHASIZE TESTING: “I believe we can hold schools accountable without having to test every subject every year. On the elementary and middle school level, there’s been a reduction of five tests, and it’s just the start.”

SOLs required to graduate

PROVIDE MULTIPLE PATHWAYS TO GRADUATE: “We need more than one pathway to a high school diploma and right now we have pretty much a one size fits all approach So we’re saying...what are the foundation courses that are essential for every student to be able to master, but then provide some flexibility.”

92.9%

of FCPS students from the class of 2014 graduated on time

Page design by Julia Al-Akkad & Andrea Delgado

NEWS

Metro opens Silver Line rail stations Launch moves Tysons development plan forward

Special education students learn to take Metro Katie McGinn Features Editor

On track—The McLean station is fully operational. Phase Two of construction is expected to be completed by 2016. (Photo by James Carver) Dereck Marwa Reporter

he first phase of Silver Line Metro stations opened to customers on July 26. With the line planned to reach Washington Dulles International Airport and eventually Ashburn by 2016, it promises to connect Northern Virginia with the rest of the D.C. metropolitan area more efficiently by providing additional public transportation. Social studies teacher Rob Plunkett, who lives within walking distance of one of the stations, is optimistic about how the Silver Line will contribute to the development of the McLean community. “I think it’s good because it will change the nature of Tysons Corner in a dramatic way,” Plunkett said. “I think you’re going to get more people living in Tysons Corner; it means you’re going to have more things like grocery stores and gas stations. I heard a rumor that there was a Wegmans coming in, so the more people you have, the more variety you have in terms of availability for everyday stuff.” Some students are excited about the transportation opportunities the Silver Line will bring to the community. “It’s going to make commuting a lot easier,”

senior Syed Kamal said. “Imagine trying to drive your car into D.C. every day. You need some sort of public transport system in Tysons.” The Silver Line will also increase the transportation options for field trips. The proximity to McLean High School and ease of access will make it far easier to use public transportation for field trips than ever before. Social studies teacher Ian Howell plans to use the Silver Line to take students from his government classes on a field trip to the State Department in D.C. “[Using the Silver Line] would be the easiest way to do it,” Howell said. “Otherwise, it would involve having to work everything around the bus schedules—and to get buses, all of the buses have to finish their runs to middle schools and elementary schools, which means we would be starting really late. We would have very few hours down there before having to come back, and everyone’s got practices, often at two or three o’clock in the afternoon, so the most efficient way is Metro.” No matter how the community intends to use it, the Silver Line is likely to have a profound effect on how the surrounding community chooses to travel.

n Oct. 3, 24 students from McLean’s special education department learned how to take the Metro bus and rail. “The purpose of the field trip was to give the students first hand information about the safety rules of the bus and train,” said employment and transition representative Chris Pascarella, who organized the trip. The group first took the Metro bus to the Tysons Corner food court. There, the students had lunch. “The food court was my favorite part of the trip. I had a B.L.T. [from Subway],” post-graduate Lizbeth Andia said. Next on the agenda was a trip to Reston. Gernae Weaver, the Metro disability trainer, explained how to use the SmarTrip card and how to read the Metro map among other things. Mark Thompson, chair of the special education department, was one of the chaperones. He said he is very excited about the future of these trips, since promoting independence is one of the key things he wants to teach his students. “It’s a life skill that we definitely need to work on,” he said. “Some will be able to use both [the Metro bus and rail] independently, and some could use none, but they had the opportunity to experience it today and that is all that matters.” The students planning to use these types of transportation in the future are enthusiastic about this possibility. “I am excited to use the Metro once in a while to go to the Eastern Market,” post-graduate Carina De La Torres said. Post-graduate Kevin Pfeil added, “Some day, I will too.”

Page design by Katie McGinn & Dereck Marwa

OCTOBER

New schedule leaves no room for Harvest Fest Class council plans replacement activities

Fun fall festivities—Joannah Elise Miller and Nikki Kaul, 2013 graduates, participate in a Harvest Fest game. The inflatable activities were one of the things that contributed to the thousands of dollars spent on the event. (Photo courtesy of Rebecca Fulp-Eickstaedt) Julia Al-Akkad & Andrea Delgado Managing Editor & Editor-in-Chief

arvest Fest, a popular senior tradition, will be undergoing a few changes for the Class of 2015. The new school calendar added four two-hour early releases and three strategic planning days. As a result, FCPS will not allow any additional late openings or early closings because students need a certain number of seat hours, or hours in school. McLean High School is on the brink of meeting this requirement, so the traditional timing of Harvest Fest during the school day is not a possibility. Even if the calendar had not been changed, Harvest Fest still runs into another challenge—liability for the administration. “The seniors go to lunch and leave,” Principal Ellen Reilly said. “So [seniors] go at 10 or 11, and then by 1 o’clock, there’s 20 kids left. During that time, I’m liable for you all, and if something happened, anybody got into an accident, it’s the school’s fault because you were supposed to be [in school].” To replace Harvest Fest, the SCA is

planning a senior tailgate featuring food, games and activities. The tailgate will be held before the TJ football game on Oct. 31, the day of the first newly added two-hour early release. “We are planning to do [the tailgate] on the tennis courts so only seniors can get in or out,” senior class president Juan Esteban Baus said. “It’s basically just like Harvest Fest but not during school hours. We are planning to have free admission to the game for seniors.”

“It’s basically just like Harvest Fest, but not during school hours.” -Juan Esteban Baus, senior class president The tailgate coincides with the football team’s senior night, so the SCA is planning another special privilege for the seniors during the game. “We wanted to move some bleachers

down to the area behind the field goal and just have that be a senior section for that game,” Baus said. “We’d be on the field which would be a pretty cool privilege.” Last year, the cost for Harvest Fest’s moon bounces, activities and food totaled $5,000, even though most students did not spend much time at the event. “That money would go into buying the tickets for the majority of our class or different food than just pizza [like] last year,” Baus said “We were thinking about getting food trucks, so it depends on how much food trucks cost, and how [the tickets] work out.” Several seniors have expressed their disappointment towards the change. “I honestly actually think that we could have a tailgate any day before a game,” senior Rachel West said. “I feel like it’s kind of cheap. It’s kind of like a cop-out.” Although some members of the senior class prefer the traditional Harvest Fest events, many remain open to the idea of a new tradition. “I think we are all pretty bummed because it was important to the seniors,” Baus said. “But I think this is a really good alternative.” Page design by Julia Al-Akkad & Andrea Delgado

NEWS

OCTOBER

FEATURES

Student drivers hit the road

Recently licensed teens wreak havoc from behind the wheel Danielle Walker Reporter

eing licensed is a huge milestone. A license promises freedom, responsibility and a glimpse into adulthood, but it also comes with many risks. Drivers constantly have to be aware of their speed, the signs and other cars. Even if someone is following all of the rules, their drive could end in catastrophe.

Domino effect—A teen driver caused this scene in front of Donald Vivacqua’s house. Three out of the four cars were totaled. (Photo courtesy of Donald Vivacqua)

Four-by-four Young and inexperienced drivers often cause frustration for adult drivers and, in some cases, they cause damage. “I was in my living room and I heard a tremendous crash out front,” PE teacher Donald Vivacqua said. “When I went outside, I saw that someone had plowed into my Mustang, which hit my truck, which then hit the neighbor’s car.” Vivacqua went to see if the driver was okay, and saw it was a 16-year-old girl who lived down the street from him. “I came to find out that she was either texting or talking on the phone while she was driving because when her mom arrived she was yelling and asking who she was talking to,” Vivacqua said. Both of Vivacqua’s cars were totaled, and the young girl received a ticket for distracted driving. According to Vivacqua, she never did apologize to him, either.

FEATURES

One way, not another—Karen Aroche drove the wrong way down Beverly Road in McLean, sideswiping another car. Aroche’s car was in the shop for the entire summer. (Photo obtained via Google Images under a Creative Commons license)

One and only It was the last day of school. Most students would be at the pool, hanging out with friends or getting ready for vacation, not swapping information with the owner of the car that they just hit. For senior Karen Aroche, that is exactly what happened. “My friend wanted to go out and get a bite for lunch,” Aroche said. Because Aroche is from Falls Church, she doesn’t know the McLean area very well. “She happened to turn on a one-waystreet the wrong way and I followed her,” Aroche said. As one should, Aroche slowed down to almost a stop and allowed the cars to maneuver around her. Unfortunately, one car did not, so Aroche was forced to move to the side, where she ended up sideswiping a parked car. Aroche recently got her car back, as it spent the summer being repaired.

Curby fully loaded—Sabrina Imperato hopped a curb to avoid another car. Her car was in the shop for over a month before she got it back on Oct. 4. (Photo courtesy of Sabrina Imperato)

Hit the curb, Jack One annoying thing about driving is dealing with drivers who cut others off. Being cut off presented itself as an issue to junior Sabrina Imperato, too. “[Last summer] I was at the intersection right before my neighborhood, waiting at a red light. The light turned green, but right as I was about to go, a car swerved into my lane,” Imperato said. Imperato moved to the right, causing her car to go up onto the curb and hit a sign, which made her sideview mirror fall off. “I wanted to get home before my curfew, so I drove home, and that messed up my car even more,” Imperato said. The damage to Imperato’s car was so bad that it was in the shop for over a month—she got it back on Oct. 4. Page design by Danielle Walker

Artist in motion

“Sometimes it’s frustrating, but usually it is a way for me to take a break from everything else that is going on in life.”

Katie McGinn Features Editor

Highlander of the Issue

Lindsey Kircher

A splash of paint—Lindsey Kircher’s favorite type of art is collage surface art. “I paint or draw over [the text[ and incorporate the words from the collage,” she said. (Artwork printed with permission of Lindsey Kircher)

FEATURES

itting in her home studio, senior Lindsey Kircher stares at the blank canvas in front of her. She crinkles her forehead, takes the paintbrush in her hand and, ignoring her hesitation, dives straight into her own world of creativity. “Art is unlike everything else I do in life,” she said. “It is an escape, because, when I do art, I forget about everything else.” Ever since she scribbled through coloring books in record time as a child, Kircher has been interested in art. Her sophomore year, however, marked the time when she truly committed herself to it. At first, she considered taking her passion to the next level by switching into Interlochen Boarding School for the Arts in Michigan. While she ultimately decided against it, she was still determined to follow her art. “My family and I made an agreement that I would dedicate as much time as I could to art. Instead of boarding school, I have made it a bigger part of my life,” she said. Not only is Kircher committed to art, but she is also very passionate about dance. Since 8th grade, she has been part of Velocity Allstars (originally Infinity Allstars). With her team, she has competed for jazz and hip hop at the World Championships for the past three years against teams from China, Japan and more. Kircher often combines her love of both art and dance. A jazz routine she competed with last year inspired some of the art she was working on. “For art I get inspiration from dance, and for dance I get inspiration from art,” she said. Kircher’s art teachers are impressed with her progress. “Lindsey is one of the most intensely dedicated artists I have seen in a long time. She just keeps going and never stops,” said Christina Carroll, one of Kircher’s former art teachers. Swapna Elias, who has been Kircher’s teacher for three years, agrees. “She is a very talented, hardworking and passionate artist,” Elias said. “She is good at taking constructive criticism from me and her classmates, but then she always makes it her own. She translates it into her own

personal syle, which is evident in every piece that she does.” Kircher is unsure about whether she would like to attend an arts school like the Rhode Island School of Design (RISDI) or a bigger general university such as Cornell or University of Michigan. “As much as I love art, academics are very important to me as well,” Kircher said. “I don’t know if I would miss the academics [at an art school].” After college, she sees herself taking art further than dance and going into an advertising direction, with an intent to become a freelance illustrator. “It is important to me to use my art skills for a practical career,” she said.

Photos by James Carver Page design by Katie McGinn

It’s Highlander time for the workforce Seniors take on a variety of internships Christine Cheon Online News Editor

Favor ite Memo part: Givi ng a C ry : “I a g the Li brary ot to get lu pitol tour nch at of Co which ngr was re Mere legit, ally co ess everyd dith ‘c ay, ause ol. I f Har Senat e Inte ris and had a I was walk elt super in l rn me go an ittle intern g around ywher pass t hat le e.” t

Claire Mooney blic Safety & McConnell Pu n Operations Transportatio other Working with Favorite part: new people interns, meeting t to do a e last day, we go Memory: “On th lice car po got to ride in a ride-along so I cLean M e meone from th olled all day with so tr pa ent, and we sing Police Departm is m a we got to find .” the Metro and ng ti ci at was really ex person, and th

Jamie Starr Senate Page

FEATURES

Truman Daly HP Intern Favorite part: Seeing the campus and diverse servers through a tour Memory : “My favorite part of the experience was just the sheer size of the campus. Other than that, the day-to-day work was pretty boring, but someone I got to meet there was one of the people [who] worked on the first version of Windows.”

Favorite part: Seeing the senators interact in debates and seeing how the Senate works on a day-to-day basis Memory: “There were a bunch of other pages who were from all over the United States, and I got to talk to them about their political views and their day-to-day lives. It was just so different from the life I have here in Northern Virginia.”

Antonio De Cecc City coun cil for lea o dership governm ent prog Favorite ram par and just th t: Meeting new p eople e experien c Memory : “On the la e there st day, ou had a litt r group le party a n d 4 a.m. We stayed up got in tro uble for to until noise, but o much it was pre tty funny. ”

Photos by Christine Cheon & courtesy of Antonio De Cecco & Claire Mooney Page design by Katie McGinn

Old School vs. New School New and veteran teachers reflect on their McLean experience Sanskriti Neupane & Anjalie Chauhan Online Opinions Editor & Reporter

FLASHBACK Dean Howarth Physics Teacher

Photo courtesy of The Clan yearbook

What made you want to come to McLean? [Fairfax] was a highly respected county, back in the late 80s. McLean High School was the first high school to offer me an interview. Have the students changed at McLean? Sadly, they are driven more by the process of education than enjoying their education. I think students are more concerned about their grade. How has high school changed since you were a teen? High school is much more of a pressure cooker now.

Elise Emmons English Teacher How has your experience been so far? It’s been very positive so far. I had the opportunity to work with a lot of these staff members before because I was a student teacher last year. Do you have a specific teaching style? I like to use a lot of group work, because I think it’s important for students to teach each other as much as I’m teaching them. [My style is] more of a student-focused teaching style.

Emily Jaffa Math Teacher Alan Munaker English Teacher

Photo courtesy of The Clan yearbook

Have the students changed at McLean? There are so many distractions now technologically and I’m not saying that’s a bad thing, but I would say that students are more likely to switch their interests. How has high school changed since you were a teen? I think students are more directed by clubs or parents. When I was in high school they were more on their own. You had to be responsible for yourself.

How has high school changed since you were a teen? People are still here to learn. The way that material is taught might have changed some, but the content is the same. What would you do to the school to make it better? I think the main complaint from the teachers is that the copiers aren’t always reliable. But [because that’s the only complaint], you know you’ve got it good.

FLASH FORWARD Page design and photos by Sanskriti Neupane & Anjalie Chauhan

OCTOBER

Describe yourself in three words? 1

Loyal, organized and passionate.

2 What did you do over the summer?

I was working at school for most of the summer, but I did get to go to New Jersey for three weeks and visit my parents.

3 What is your favorite aspect of the McLeadership program?

I love being able to work and interact with many students, which is something that as an administrator I don’t get to do much. I love seeing the relationships and dynamic between Big Macs and Little Macs grow.

10 Qs w/

Jamie Lane (Assistant Principal)

By Sabrein Gharad, A&E Editor

4 What are you looking forward to in this upcoming school year?

I have a baby coming in December, which is exciting, but I am also working on my portfolio for a promotion.

5 Where in the world have you traveled?

I’ve been to Hawaii, France, England and most of the Caribbean, but Paris is my favorite city, and I can’t wait to go back. I have a bucket list of places that I’m planning to go in the future.

6 What is your favorite TV show/ movie/book?

I love to read, especially historical fiction. I don’t get to watch much TV aside from Disney Junior with my daughter, but I routinely watch sports. I love watching college and pro football—I’m a Penn State grad, so I watch everything Penn State.

8 What did you do before working in school admistration? I was a social studies teacher at Westfield High School for six years.

What is your favorite color?

I love any shade of blue.

7 What do you enjoy doing in your free time? Do you have any hobbies? Most of my free time is taken up by my daughter [and] doing little kids’ stuff with her. I love to work out, especially running, and I love to shop.

What inspired you to take over the McLeadership Program?

I was inspired to take over the McLeadership program because it allows me to work with a wide variety of students [who are] focused around a common vision of building positive relationships within the building. Photos by Tanya Ajalli

FEATURES

Get The Highlander everywhere you go! Go to our website.... www.thehighlandernews.com Follow us on twitter... @MHSHighlander @MHS_SportsNews Like us on Facebook... The Highlander Newsmagazine

OCTOBER

October 31st. The scariest day of the year. In this day and age, there are those who might consider running through the neighborhood with a group of costumed kids armed with a bag of overflowing candy “immature,” “dumb” or even “wildly inappropriate.” Fortunately, there exist many alternatives for the average Halloween-er on this spookiest of nights. These are…

Things to do on Halloween

wa l A

the spoo

...

Where: Kings Dominion Amusement Park 16000 Theme Park Way Doswell, Va. 23047 When: Open until midnight on Friday and Saturday nights through Nov. 1 Cost: $35-$40 Halloween Haunt at Kings Dominion offers many spooky attractions including haunted houses, mazes, scare zones and live shows, as well as the rides and attractions the amusement park is known for. New to this year’s lineup is “Maze of Madness,” a mental asylum themed maze. These creepy attractions make Halloween Haunt a must-do this season.

BLOOD AND GUTS RUN

y side of life

y s l o ok

Maddy Witchey Managing Editor

KINGS DOMINION HALLOWEEN HAUNT

Where: 7700 Bull Run Drive Centreville, Va. 20121 When: Saturday, Oct. 25 Cost: $99 for a team of three runners The Blood and Guts Run provides a fun and adventurous running experience for all ages and ability levels. Runners must dodge dozens of obstacles during the 5K race, such as the Wall of Death and a horde of zombies attacking with blood-filled water guns. New features include the Pumpkin Smasher, Blood-filled Foam and the Traverse Rock Wall. Runners will receive a Blood and Guts Run medal and T-shirt when crossing the finish line.

THE HAUNTED FOREST AT HALLOWEEN WOODS

Where: Algonkian Regional Park 47001 Fairway Drive Sterling, Va. 20165 When: Open on Fridays and Saturdays through Nov. 1 Cost: $18 The Haunted Forest at Halloween Woods features a walk through the unlit woods, as well as unexpected clowns and spooky creatures surprising participants at every step. Page design by Mark Mizusawa

takon 2014

Convention showcases anime, gaming

Jennifer Wang Reporter or out of the loop passersby, what may look like an out-of-season Halloween parade is much more than meets the eye. Otakon 2014 was held Aug. 8-10 at the Baltimore Convention Center. A celebration of Japanese and East-Asian culture, as well as a gaming fest, the main attraction was a wide range of anime-related activities with anything from Japanese water-ink painting to cosplay masquerades and photo shoots. Among the many aspects of Otakon, cosplay, or dressing in character, is the forefront. “The sheer variety of costumes I didn’t expect to see was really impressive,” senior Joy Zhang said. Going to the con just to see the ‘otaku’ (enthusiasts of anime and Japanese culture) fans themselves is worth it.

“I cosplayed Alice from Madness Returns and thought it was pretty good until I saw all the other Alices,” senior Veronica Bablanova said. This year, Otakon featured ‘seiyuu’ (voice actress) Saori Hayami as well as veteran anime producer Masao Maruyama, the founder of Madhouse Studios. Musical artists Yoshiki and Altima held exclusive rock concerts at the convention. Sumo champion Yama also appeared as history’s largest Japanese human. The special Sailor Moon event was a highlight as cosplayer fans assembled to break the series record for the largest gathering of Sailor Moon

Deck the halls with

cosplay—(Clockwise from upper

left) Fan panels like fuse beads make up most of the programming. Producer Masao Maruyama gave autographs at his Q&A session. Master Chief from the video game Halo was popular among cosplayers. A trio of Diablo 3 video game cosplayers gather for an impromptu photoshoot along the halls of Otakon.

cosplayers in the U.S., and the voice actors who dub the show in English met for its 20th anniversary.

BEYOND COSPLAY...

The dealers room crams more than 300 booths in a tight maze of all kinds of goods. “A lot of stuff was overpriced and the lines were really long but at the same time, there were tons of things I wanted to buy,” senior Jennifer Liu said. Cats, sushi and alpacas—A wide range of ‘kawaii’ (cute) items are offered in the dealers room, including kitten slippers (right). Many booths also display wigs and costumes (below). Convention halls—A Soul Eater Excalibur cosplayer hangs out at the Baltimore Convention Center (above). Plush pillows like these sushi cushions (right) are among the most popular items sold in the dealers room. Photos & page design by Jennifer Wang

OCTOBER

A&E

What to watch, listen to, read and see this month Hannah Menchel Editor-in-Chief

NON-FICTION Yes, Please by Amy Poehler— On Oct. 28, Poehler’s first book will be released. A collection of stories, ideas and other tidbits, the book from the comedy queen is sure to be hilarious.

Day Street Books

Interstellar—The new science-fiction movie from Christopher Nolan, director of the Dark Knight trilogy and Inception, follows a group of explorers who travel through a wormhole in space. Starring Matthew McConaughey, Jessica Chastain and many more A-list stars, the film will be in theaters Nov. 27. The combination of star power and an acclaimed director assures that this movie will be a hit.

1989 by Taylor Swift— After releasing her new single “Shake It Off” during a Yahoo Livestream event on Aug. 18, Swift announced the release of her first official pop album. Set to drop Oct. 27, the album gets its name from both the period of music it was influenced by and the year of Swift’s birth. The album will be a must-listen this fall.

MOVIE

4 Knopf

ALBUM

Paramount Pictures

The Short List

Station Eleven, released Sept. 9 by Emily St. John Mandel—Set in the post-apocalyptic future after a large portion of the population has been wiped out by disease, Mandel’s enchanting novel leaps back and forth between the past and future, exploring the time before the virus strikes and the haunting world after. Beautifully written and impossible to put down, Station Eleven is a must read. NOVEL

Big Machine Records

1. CONCERT—Usher at the Verizon Center, Nov. 10 2. MOVIE-—The Theory of Everything, Nov. 7 3. ALBUM—Sonic Highways by the Foo Fighters, Nov. 10 4. BOOK—Undeniable: Evolution and the Science of Creation by Bill Nye, Nov. 4 5. NETFLIX-—All seven seasons of Gilmore Girls are now available to stream

Page design by Hannah Menchel, Andrea Delgado & Mark Mizusawa

A&E

Fall fashion fever hits hallways Students show off their autumn attire

Nhi Nguyen Managing Editor

What’s your must-have for fall? Leather jackets, good pair of Chelsea boots and a nice, fun, patterned scarf.

Christopher Stolze, 11

Ryan Waugh, 12 Carolyn Brown-Kaiser, 9

What are you wearing? Black pants from PacSun, a red shirt from ASOS, a jacket from CottonOn, a scarf I got from Jordan and shoes from Urban Outfitters.

Elizabeth Sanders-Smith, 12

What’s your must-have for fall? Bean boots.

PJ Campion, 10

What are you wearing? Blue Sperries, red corduroys, denim navy blue button-down shirt and a semi-trench coat.

Jose Maria Baus, 10

Marielle Burt, 12

he cold weather is not just for knit sweaters and leggings. There are many ways to dress well in accordance with the colder weather. Here’s a snapshot of the attire that can be found in the hallways of McLean during the fall.

Evelyn Basham, 11

What are you wearing? Riding boots, a Top Shop skirt, tank top, a tan cardigan and a scarf. What’s your must-have for fall? High-heel booties.

What are you wearing? A maroon button-up with white polka-dots and a gray pocket, with khakis and medium tan suede chukka boots. What’s your must-have for fall? Button-ups with rolled up sleeves—layering is a must.

What are you wearing? A tan sweater, navy bow tie pants from Brooks Brothers, and a striped shirt. What’s your must-have for fall? A good, warm sweater.

Photos & page design by Nhi Nguyen

OCTOBER

Highlanders march to the beat of their own drums

McLean marching band fine tunes its way to success Elena Ifarraguerri & Young In Seo Social Media Manager & Reporter

Anatomy of the Drum Major Uniform head drum major hat

sword belt

plaid sash

jacket

erforming songs with a whimsical theme, the marching band won first place in the 5A category and second place overall at the Oakton Classic competition at Oakton High School on Sept. 27. The band made it to finals and placed eighth at the Bands of America competition in Monroeville, Pa., on Sept. 20. “The theme this year is so fun,” sophomore Hana Kontrec said. “It’s called ‘Pure Imagination’ and they have the mockingjay call from The Hunger Games in it.” The band’s performance also incorporates familiar childhood tunes from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, The Wizard of Oz and Edward Scissorhands. “[The members of the marching band] are very flexible and willing to try new things,” band director Chris Weise said. “Everything is up to them, the ball

is in their court and when things go well over the course of the season, it is incredibly fulfilling for me to see the product that the kids worked so hard on.” A mix of art and sport, the band practices up to 7.5 hours per week during the season and up to 50 hours per week during pre-season. Fallon agrees that although it is fun, “marching band is more of a time commitment than people realize.” Even though it is hard work, the players agree that making new friends makes the hard work worthwhile. “The best part of marching band is meeting new people you would have otherwise not come into contact with,” senior Aidan Fallon said. The marching band’s last competition of the season will be the Bands of America Competition at the University of Delaware on Oct. 25.

sword belt

kilt sporan

Practice makes perfect—The marching band works hard at a night practice. Rehearsals can go as late as 9:30 p.m. (Photos courtesy of Chris Weise)

red sock flags

green wool socks

dinkles

spats

Drum Major Kristine Yarnoff The first steps—Marchers perform “Pure Imagination” during halftime at the first home football game of the season. Their performance is enhanced by the color guard team.

Page design by Elena Ifarraguerri & Young In Seo

A&E

OCTOBER

McLean Theater Co. prepares for Addams Family performance Drama department to pay homage to cult classic this Halloween season

They’re creepy and they’re kooky—The fall theater production of The Addams Family features Jack Posey as Lucas Beineke, Nicole Sheehan as Wednesday Addams, Helena Doms as Morticia Addams, Santiago Alfonzo-Meza as Gomez Addams and Jamie Wertz as Pugsley Addams. The roles of Morticia Addams, Pugsley Addams and Wednesday Addams are double cast. (Photo courtesy of Isabel Lisa Bears Reporter

n Halloween night, Oct. 31, from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m., chilling tales from the crypt will be brought back from the dead in the premiere of The Addams Family, a dark comedy about a deranged family living in an eerie mansion. Throughout October, actors, dancers and tech have been working tirelessly, preparing for opening night. “I’ve actually made a Pinterest board about Morticia,” said senior Nora Logsdon, one of the actresses who is playing the sultry Morticia Addams. “I’ve gone through a lot of the people who’ve played her, pulled a lot of quotes together and just made a Pinterest board that inspired me.” Logsdon will be acting alongside Santiago Alfonzo-Meza as Gomez Addams, Morticia’s charismatic yet eccentric husband. This is the first time both actors will play a leading role.

“I’m really excited to work with [Alfonzo-Meza] because we are really good friends in a funny, couple-y relationship,” Logsdon said. Logsdon’s co-star is also eager to play his character. “I really like the character Gomez—I sympathize with him,” Alfonzo-Meza said. “He has a lot of my mannerisms. I memorize like a scene a day, and I listen to his songs and try to imitate him.” The quirky and unusual character of Fester Addams will be played by junior Samuel Brumbaugh. “I’m a character actor, myself,” Brumbaugh said. “I like physical comedy and playing characters that are kind of abnormal.” Brumbaugh is looking forward to playing a character who is open to interpretation. “I think that’s what physical comedy is about—just doing what ever you want

with [the character],” Brumbaugh said. “Because [he’s] not a historical figure, [he’s] not supposed to be a regular human.” The play’s makeup and costume departments are currently working on making The Addams Family’s world come to life. Senior Sydney Studds designs the hairstyles and makeup for the characters. “I do a lot of research on the play itself. I look up the time period and I look up styles from the time period and use them for the characters,” Studds said. “I usually take styles from people who have done [The Addams Family] before and put them on the characters.” The Addams Family is known to be a zany play, and is different from anything theater has done before. “Both Annie and Catch Me If You Can had comedic moments, but this show is actually comedy,” Logsdon said. The Addams Family will be petrifying audiences with laughter through Nov. 9. Page design by Lisa Bears

A&E

Get lost in The Maze Runner Aisha Singh Reporter

hen I found out The Maze Runner series was making its way to the big screen, I could hardly contain my excitement. The movie did not disappoint—every second of it provided heart-racing action combined with a captivating plot. The movie follows a boy named Thomas who wakes up in a moving freight elevator with no memories of his past. When the elevator door opens, he encounters a group of boys who run a self-sufficient community in a large glade. The catch? Surrounding the Glade is an ever-changing maze. Thomas must piece together his past and escape the maze before the terrors within are unleashed. One of the best qualities of The Maze Runner was its ability to retain the dark tone of the books. Often in the dystopian genre, film producers find it challenging to including the dark and often violent themes of the book while maintaining a PG-13 rating. The producers of The Maze Runner, however, conveyed these themes refreshingly well.

Since movies are so short, producers typically have to cut out portions of the story that have important meaning. However, this movie captured all of the key elements from this complex book. Although visual effects were slightly lacking, the camera followed the action expertly. It’s easy to go wrong with slow motion, but the scenes with slow motion were clear, concise and not overly dramatic. The film didn’t seem overly scripted, and the actors portrayed their characters naturally. Lead actor Dylan O’Brien’s performance displayed his mastery of expressions rather than sheer delivery of dialogue. The actors conveyed their characters’ emotions well; for example, the sense of urgency that followed the boys as they tried to escape the maze could be felt by everyone in the theatre. There were a few aspects of the film that could have been improved. People who haven’t read the book might be slightly confused at the beginning because the premise isn’t as clear as it could have been. The ending of the movie was slightly clichéd in that it was an obvious set-up for a sequel. Overall, The Maze Runner is one of the best movie adaptations I’ve seen in a while. This movie stands apart from the tiresome onslaught of dystopian movies in theaters these days.

QUICK FACTS GENRE: Action, Science Fiction RATING: PG-13 RUN TIME: 113 mins DIRECTOR: Wes Ball STARRING: Dylan O’Brien, Kaya Scodelario, Will Poulter Infographic created with easel.ly

Image obtained via 20th Century Fox Page design by Aisha Singh

Video game destined for greatness falls flat After years of production, Bungie releases mediocre Destiny Evan Rapson Online Sports Editor ungie and Activision have finally released the role-playing game Destiny. It was first announced in 2009 in Halo 3 ODST’s epilogue—the last words were “Destiny awaits,” along with a picture of a mysterious orb approaching the Earth. Despite being in production for approximately four years, the game fails to live up to the expectations set by players from all over the world. What sets this game apart from others is the magnitude of its game world. The four playable worlds give the player a vast amount of space to explore. The wide variety of weapon and armor choices give the player the opportunity to have a unique character that they can call their own. The game takes place in a postapocalyptic setting hundreds of years in the future. Preceding this time period was an era called the Golden Age, when Earth started colonizing the solar system. All was well until these colonies started disappearing in a mysterious event known as The Collapse. The last of these cities survives on Earth, guarded by a white spherical body called The Traveler. This gargantuan relic grants special powers to the city’s protectors, called Guardians.

Open world exploration—Throughout the game, exploration is always an option in any mode the player chooses. The repetitiveness of the game’s missions becomes evident within three hours of gameplay, but what really captures the player is the fascinating sci-fi scenery of the game world’s futuristic setting. There are four playable planets in the game—well, three and the moon. These planets feature awe-inspiring scenery that immerses the player the moment they set foot into it. There are five playable game modes: Explore, Story, Crucible, Strike and Tower. Story mode contains the game’s main campaign and is quite standard. Explore

Combat perspective—Players can choose to play the game in either first-person or thirdperson mode. (Images obtained via Activision/Bungie)

mode gives the player free reign to explore all four worlds and search for treasure without a set mission; this is one of the most enjoyable game modes. Tower mode allows players to regroup with members of their squad and plan out their next move. Strike and Crucible are both multiplayer modes, Strike being a cooperative mode and Crucible being a competitive mode. The multiplayer mode is incredibly reminiscent of the Halo series. The game’s artificial intelligence, such as monsters and other enemies, puts up a good fight. The enemies take cover, they are tough to kill and they use shields. However, the guns the aliens drop when killed are not as effective as they seem on the aliens themselves, making for a very disappointing process. Overall, Destiny had the potential to topple the top game series such as Call of Duty and Halo, but it fell short on diversity and depth. The missions were repetitive and took too long. The massive maps give the player the freedom of exploration, but the novelty wears off after a while. However, the multiplayer did stand out due to Bungie’s superior ability in crafting top notch multiplayer gaming experiences. This game was great in theory, but poor execution resulted in its overall mediocrity.

Page design by Evan Rapson

A&E

Highlander Patrons As a student-run program, The Highlander would like to thank all of our generous supporters who make it possible to print our newsmagazine. Listed below are this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s contributors. We would also like to thank all of our anonymous supporters.

GOLD ($200+)

BRONZE ($50+)

The Barnett Family Juliana Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Reilly Marc and Kay Menchel

The Pincus Family Cyndee Lord Susie French Tom Rapson Irwin and Irene Menchel The Walker Family

If you would like to become a patron of The Highlander, please send a check addressed to: The Highlander McLean High School 1633 Davidson Road McLean, VA 22101

www.TutoringClub.com/McLeanVA

The social network

McLean students and faculty share their favorite forms of social media

Ingrid Morse & Sophie Mariam Reporters

ocial media is one of the most popular forms of entertainment among McLean students. In a survey of 100 members of McLean’s faculty

and student body, we discovered Highlanders’ favorite and most used social outlets. The majority of those surveyed have Facebook, Instagram

What is your favorite form of social media?* ~ 10%

and Snapchat accounts. Of course, everyone has a favorite form of social media—Facebook is the current leader at McLean.

What social media accounts do you have?* ~ 10 people

“Facebook is the most convenient kind of social media.”- Kyuban Lee, senior “Tumblr is basically every social media site in one.” - Elizabeth Gilmer, sophomore “I really like Instagram because so many of my friends have it and it is easy to use.” - Havi Carrillo-Klein, freshman “[Pinterest] gives me so many ideas.” - Elli Stenzel, sophomore “If something important is happening, you hear about it on Twitter before anywhere else.” - Tina Ellerbee, school librarian “Snapchat is a fast and easy way to send pictures to your friends.” - Kaela Moskowitz, freshman

*Survey of 100 students and faculty members Page design by Nhi Nguyen & Julia Al-Akkad

A&E

IN-DEPTH

FIGHTING CHEATING WITH HONOR

McLean’s new honor code aims to change the school’s cheating climate Ashwin Dasgupta & Liam Zeya A&E Editor & Opinions Editor

Photo illustration by James Carver

“AS A COMMUNITY, WE VALUE HONESTY, RESPECT AND WHAT IS FAIR. WE CHOOSE HONOR AND INTEGRITY IN EVERYTHING WE SAY AND DO.” - THE MCLEAN HONOR CODE

cLean’s honor code, newly updated this school year, promotes a learning environment free from cheating and a community of McLean students and faculty that respects one another. However, McLean is far from an environment free from cheating. “Cheating goes on all the time at McLean. I wouldn’t believe someone if they said that they’d never cheated on anything school related,” senior Nick Brown* said. Before school, in class, in between classes, during Highlander Time, at lunch and at home—cheating goes on at McLean.

CHEATING AT MCLEAN

“I haven’t cheated since fourth period today,” junior Jack Green* said at lunch. McLean is home to a wide variety of students, and subsequently many different categories of “cheaters.” These students vary in their reasons and methods for cheating, as well as their academic capabilities. “Everyone at McLean cheats at some point during the school year,” freshman Harrison Rivers* said. Some students rely on cheating to get them through school. They do things ranging from getting pictures of their friends’ worksheets to looking at their neighbors’ papers while taking an exam. “I cheated almost every day in a class last year, but I still failed two quarters,” junior Robert Short* said. The prospect of getting caught doesn’t seem to deter many of these students. “I gotta do what I gotta do,” junior Jim Phillips* said. “[The threat of getting an honor code violation] doesn’t stop me from cheating. Everybody cheats.” Students’ increasing access to technology and the Internet has brought a new element into the battle against

cheating. Smart phones have changed the way students go about cheating in and out of school. They provide instant access to all of the information on the Internet, and also allow students to communicate quickly and discreetly with classmates. “My [phone’s] camera roll is full of pictures of my friend’s completed worksheets,” junior Pete Jenkins* said. It would be incorrect to assume that all students who cheat do poorly in school. Students who do well in school may be more afraid of getting caught, but that does not always stop them from taking the easy way out. Many of these students rationalize their cheating because they believe it is the most efficient means of going about their schoolwork. “I cheat to increase my GPA,” junior Sally Johnson* said. “If you can easily get a better grade on a test, why wouldn’t you?” That being said, a large portion of McLean

students do not cheat in “major” ways—for instance, directly copying someone else’s answers on an in-class exam—thinking it to be unethical and risky. However, taking small, seemingly insignificant, steps to gain an advantage still falls into a moral gray area for most. “It doesn’t feel right to cheat during tests or exams, but talking about homework or tests with friends doesn’t feel like cheating to me,” junior Billy Smith* said. Obtaining information about exams from someone who has taken it earlier is specifically listed as an example of cheating in the honor code. Despite that, a recent survey of 70 McLean students showed that less than 50 percent of students even consider that to be cheating at all. On the other hand, approximately 95 percent of students considered copying from another student on a test or quiz to be cheating. These numbers highlight the varying opinions on what it actually means to cheat.

THE NEW HONOR CODE

Although the faculty is aware at least to some extent of the cheating that goes on at McLean, Assistant Principal Michael Zook, who was a member of the committee that created McLean’s new honor code, wants to

Photo illustration by Mark Mizusawa

OCTOBER

WHAT IS CHEATING? 70 students were polled—these are the actions they consider to be against the honor code.

COPYING A FEW SENTENCES FROM A WEBSITE OR BOOK WITHOUT CITING THEM

69%

remain positive. “[The old honor code] focused on the negative...one of the things we like to focus on as the administration are the good things in the school,” Zook said. The new honor code reflects the sentiment that students know the difference between right and wrong. In other words, virtually every student knows that copying and pasting an article from the Internet is the “wrong” thing to do, but some still do it anyways. According to Zook, preventing cheating is about transforming the mindset that provokes cheating. To accomplish that, he wants to highlight the good that McLean’s students do, instead of focusing on the long list of things they are not allowed to do. “When we focus on things that kids do well, they tend to do those things more often,” Zook said. Additionally, he wants students to graduate from McLean with a set of decision making skills that they can retain

COPYING FROM ANOTHER STUDENT ON A TEST OR QUIZ

COPYING OR LETTING ANOTHER STUDENT COPY YOUR HOMEWORK

TALKING ABOUT A TEST OR QUIZ WITH A STUDENT WHO HASN’T TAKEN IT YET

SENDING A PICTURE OF COMPLETED ASSIGNMENTS TO ANOTHER STUDENT

96% 66%

and utilize in future pursuits. “[We want students] to be conscious about decision making and not just look at a set of rules,” Zook said. “I would like to think that over the course of your time here at McLean High School that you develop a set of values or ethics that will sustain you through the rest of your life.” The faculty’s battle against cheating is not a simple one. Much of it falls into a murky area that is difficult to define. Right now, the administration’s effort to instill virtue in McLean’s students through positive encouragement is likely the most effective method to naturally decrease the academic dishonesty that has become something of the norm at McLean.

LOOKING FORWARD

Cheating, simply put, is a deeply instilled part of high school culture. Although the faculty is trying to combat it in a good way through their new honor code, they face

70%

49%

an uphill battle as students will be hardpressed to abandon their ways. McLean is a competitive school, and for some students, to stop cheating would be to fall below the standards of their teachers, parents and peers. “I cheat in school because it’s too ******* hard,” junior Gus Allen* said. “My GPA right now is about a 3.4. It’d probably be a 2-flat if I didn’t cheat.” Suggestions of integrity and honor will probably never mean as much to a student as a significant GPA boost, but that is besides the point. The new honor code will have a positive impact on the school because it guides students to hold themselves to a higher standard. With that, students can learn to make the right decisions so McLean can grow as a community. Idealistic? Perhaps, but undoubtedly a step in the right direction. *Names have been changed to preserve the anonymity of those quoted. Page design by Andrea Delgado

IN-DEPTH

OPINIONS

Internships: cure for senioritis? Seniors should have more options in final semester Mike Davis Reporter

ho doesn’t want to graduate early? As seniors, we do not look forward to the educational value of second semester. Instead, we are required to sit listening to the teachers of classes we only need passing grades in. Because of that, many seniors come down with severe cases of “senioritis.” “Ninety-seven percent of students reported they were going to college last year,” career center specialist Dawn Allison said. “Of the graduating class, four students reported immediate employment, four students reported taking a gap year and two students had reported that they were undecided.” Significantly more people go directly from McLean to college than take a gap year for internships, but even with the decision to go to college made, an internship during second semester could grant some much needed workplace experience. Those most affected by senioritis are the seniors who have already been accepted into a college, and have given up. To them, their future starts when summer ends. This leaves a quarter of the student population— the seniors—mentally absent for the rest of the school year. Second semesters are a lost cause for seniors. Continuing their classes only fills their days with lessons they make no effort to learn. Most students at McLean don’t have a problem getting into an array of colleges. However, looking into the future, Highlanders may be concerned about the fact that entering the workforce requires

more than just a college education. If students pursued additional options, like internships, it wouldn’t be a question of whether or not they could reach their goals. If McLean aims to do everything possible to prepare students for the future, then the student services office should make more efforts to set up students with legitimate work experiences such as internships. “I send out emails and newsletters to inform students of college opportunities, I don’t place you in those opportunities,” Allison said. “I help you to find the college where you will be most comfortable given your grades and interests, but McLean is not an employment service.” There is no department that sets students up with internships. It is mainly left to the students. Most of the help the career center provides is aimed at the college admissions process. Shari Doiron is part of the small fraction of seniors who seek to pursue post-high school internships. “The resources are definitely available to students, but kids still fail to see what is available to them,” Doiron said. Seniors are seen as lazy during the second semester, but it is through little to no fault of their own. McLean places more emphasis on college acceptance than securing internships, but senioritis could be avoided if students were made more aware of other opportunities during the school year and encouraged to take advantage of them.

A college acceptance should not stunt the growth of a learner, but promote it. Therefore promoting the awareness of a senior’s options should be the school’s main goal to cure this “disease” that has plagued students for far too long.

Cartoon by Anna Marie Garland Page design by Mike Davis

OCTOBER

Staff editorial: Lack of teachers proves problematic McLean’s shortage of teachers is affecting student learning The staff editorial represents the opinion of the majority of The Highlander editorial board

ne would think that when a student walks into school, there will be an empty desk waiting for them in every class. Unfortunately for the students of Jeffrey Brocketti’s 7th period AP Physics class, that is just not the case. The scene in Brocketti’s room is quite a sight. With four or five students a day sitting on desks in order to fit in the classroom, the AP class looks more like an after school hangout. “It’s completely ridiculous,” said senior Connor Cason, a student in Brocketti’s 7th period class. “I shouldn’t have to run to class every day just to get a seat.” Issues like this are the direct result of an extreme lack of teachers at McLean. To be fair, this is a problem that was sprung on administration at the beginning of this year when five teachers left McLean on short notice. However, this problem must be remedied now. If McLean wants to be considered a top tier public school, we need to fix this overcrowding issue immediately. The classes that are affected most by the lack of teachers are AP courses, which are college level courses. AP courses are typically the most challenging classes our school offers, including AP Chemistry, Environmental Science and English Literature and Composition. Needless to say, it is crucial that these classes have a good work environment. If students were to take these courses in college, they would likely have one professor teaching closer to 20 students. What is worse is that the lack of teachers leads to legitimate scheduling issues. For example, students who are taking AP U.S. History are currently unable to drop down to Honors U.S. History, simply because there are not enough teachers to satisfy the number of students who want to take the class. This problem cannot go overlooked. Students must be able to change into a

OPINIONS

class that suits their academic abilities. A level that is too difficult can be a stressful disaster that lasts the entire year. Fortunately, FCPS is aware of the problem, and has already made moves to fix

“It’s completely ridiculous. I shouldn’t have to run to class every day just to get a seat.”

-senior Connor Cason

it. At a press conference with Superintendent Karen Garza on Sept. 23, Garza discussed the issue of class overcrowding. “We are one of the fastest growing school systems in the country...that does

put a strain on our facilities,” Garza said. “A lot of the designs for our schools into the future will be vertical schools...due to the limited acreage.” While this could theoretically fix our school’s overcrowding issue by providing more space for classes, this is a fix that will not go into effect until the distant future. For now, the McLean history department is in the process of adding an additional Honors U.S. History class to compensate for the overflow. “We are on our way to creating a new [U.S. History] class, which should solve that problem,” Assistant Principal Paige Whitlock said. While it is evident that McLean is making an effort fix the concerns, a concrete and permanent solution is necessary to ensure this problem does not arise again in the future.

Cartoon by Anna Marie Garland Page design by David Kagan

CROSSFIRE:

Too much work, too little time Student athletes deserve less homework

Nora Hashem Reporter

magine being a member of McLean’s varsity football team. After school lets out at 2:05 p.m., there is practice from 3 to 6:30. After that, players have to bathe and eat before starting homework. Student athletes either have to work deep into the night on their studies or take penalties on grades because of unfinished homework. It is important for teachers to take into account the dedication student athletes have for their sports. It is absurd to assume that a student who spends a couple hours a day at sports practice can also complete the multiple hours of homework that is typical for other students. “[Teachers] assign the amount of homework that can be easily completed by a student who has all the time to complete it,” said junior Howard Charles, a member of the boys varsity soccer team. “But for athletes, it could be hard to complete that same amount of homework due to the fact that they are already stretching their time management to the max.” Many student athletes agree that teachers do not take into consideration how much effort and time student athletes put into practicing their sports. Students who participate on school teams typically have practice for at least two hours every day, and, on top of that, many student athletes also participate in club activities. While these athletes are winning games and awards for our school, they are missing out on the time their classmates are

using to study. Instead of being punished or penalized they should be rewarded for their hard work and extreme dedication to sports. Although she is already committed to play Division I field hockey at Ohio University, junior Karynne Baker, who is a member of the varsity spring track team, the girls varsity basketball team and one of the captains of varsity field hockey, thoroughly agrees that student athletes should be granted the privilege of less homework. “I’d rather have my grades affected a little bit than not play sports at all,” Baker said. Many students have been playing their sports since they were young, and they feel torn when high school comes and they have to choose between taking more advanced classes and continuing on with their lifelong passions. If a policy that allowed student athletes less homework in exchange for their dedication to a school sports team were adopted, athletes would not have to stress about completing their multiple hours of homework, attending sports practice and getting all the hours of sleep an adolescent needs. It is well known that growing teenagers need a minimum of eight hours of sleep a night, which seems impossible to achieve for athletes balancing sports practice with school work. Such a policy could even promote more physical activity for students, fighting the increasingly concerning youth obesity epidemic. Providing an incentive for students to participate on sports teams

would encourage many to partake in athletics. Some people could argue that the reward of less homework for student athletes would be hard to implement logistically. Although extreme amounts of planning would be needed to pull off this task, the work put in would be worth it for the benefits the athletes would receive. Although students do participate in extracurriculars other than sports, most students are not involved in a year-round activity that includes practices nearly every day of the week. To remedy this problem, athletes should be able to opt out of a certain number of homework assignments per quarter. They would not be able to skip crucial grades, like major

projects or exams. They would only be missing the extra exercises. It is too much to ask of a student athlete to pour their life into both their sport and their schoolwork.

OCTOBER

Should student athletes receive less homework?

Less homework won’t help anyone

Policy would be detrimental to athletes and unfair to others Bora Zaloshnja Reporter

vast majority of students at McLean High School participate in athletics. Giving over half of McLean less homework would have a huge impact on academic achievement and would hinder Highlanders’ ability to reach their full potential as students and people. It would also be unfair to those who don’t participate in sports. “It is important to note that in the term ‘student athlete’ the word ‘student’ comes first,” said AP Economics teacher Jen Johnson, who is the head coach of the cheer team. This brings attention to the fact that while playing a sport for the school

can be fun and build character, education always comes first. In theory, the idea seems great to overworked athletes, but in reality, it would never work. Eighty-six percent of McLean students can be found doing

a school-sponsored extracurricular after school, which doesn’t even account for those who do activites outside of school. To give only athletes playing sports for the school a lighter homework load would be completely unfair to students who do things such as band, theater or travel sports outside of school. “It would be detrimental to the athlete if they had less in the gradebook,” said English and Leadership teacher Lori Wagoner, who coaches the swim team. They would not only have lower grades than their peers but they wouldn’t learn the valuable lesson of time management that comes with playing sports. As athletes, it is each student’s responsibility to make decisions about what they can and can’t handle. Very few high school athletes make it to college athletics, so school should be the number one priority for most people. For those skilled enough to be able to commit to playing a sport in college, they should try to plan their course load in accordance with their sports schedules. “You should be responsible enough to turn in homework and manage your time if you chose to play a sport,” said junior Lydia Erickson, the varsity girls soccer goalie. Athletes have been balancing sports with their homework for many years now, and implementing this change would stop them from developing responsibility and time management skills that are so important later in life. To give only athletes less homework would be unfair to students who participate

in other activites, such as marching band and the theater program. “I spend at least three hours in marching band from Tuesday through Thursday,” freshman Coco Hashem said. A typical sports practice runs two hours, so marching band students spend just as much time as athletes do on their activities. Some may say that handling homework and sports is too much work for an adolescent, but with proper time management and study skills, it is realistic. Many students have been able to successfully balance school and sports and have gone on to top universities. Like any student, if an athlete procrastinates,he or she will have to stay up all night doing homework, but if they stay on top of their schoolwork, their schedules are manageable. “For college, playing a varsity sport and taking a hard course load taught me to optimize my time and to get things done before socializing or doing other things,” said 2014 McLean graduate Rachel Wiener, a former varsity softball player and current freshman at UVA. Wiener is living proof that balancing sports and homework in high school provides real life applications and is in fact doable. It is understandable that spending two or more hours on homework is stressful, but the problem won’t be fixed by lessening homework for only people who play school-sponsored sports. Rather than giving athletes preferential treatment, the county should address the problem of all students having too much homework.

Photo & page design by Nora Hashem & Bora Zaloshnja

OPINIONS

AP classes are most effective way to gain college admission

Taking multiple AP courses is advantageous to students Catherine Zysk Reporter

s the pressure of college applications loom in the future of high school students, many consider taking AP courses to increase their chances of success. Despite the immense workload, taking multiple APs is the smartest strategy to gain college admission and prepare for the future. Every year, teachers tell students that their class will be the hardest class they will take. Of course, by the time seventh period comes around, this statement has lost its meaning. Yet as students add multiple AP courses to their schedule, they realize these were not empty claims. “At McLean High School, [APs] are the most rigorous classes you can take,” career center specialist Dawn Allison said. Through these rigorous classes, students are able to gain the experience of taking college caliber classes while still enjoying the structure and security of high school. “It’s only going to get worse [after high school],” said junior Emma Steinson, who is taking four AP classes.

Although taking only non-AP courses and International Baccalaureate (IB) Program classes can be beneficial, it falls short in showing colleges students’ maximum potential. The IB Program, which is offered in seven schools in Fairfax County, provides an unnecessary struggle for students looking for college credit. According to The Washington Post, many colleges are less likely to give credits for IB classes when compared to their AP counterparts. Although the program is becoming more recognized by colleges every year, it is still less consistent than the AP courses offered at McLean. Although AP courses increase students’ workload and, inherently, their stress levels, some students taking multiple AP courses still manage to finish their work on time and get a good night’s rest every night. “I’m not too bad. I get between seven and eight [hours of sleep] usually,” Steinson said. While juggling the weight of AP classes with sleep and extracurricular activities, students are challenged to reach new heights of their education. Without this extra push, many students would be complacent in doing just enough to succeed. In this way, AP courses prepare students for the difficulty of college and life thereafter. “My curriculum is a very close approximation to college-level math,” BC Calculus teacher Dr. Crissie Ricketts said. AP courses also provide the extra push needed to

stand out in college admissions. “It’s competitive around here so you do kind of have to take a lot of APs if you want to stand out to better colleges,” Steinson said. Many admissions officers look for students who are reaching their maximum academic potential. According to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at UVA, the number one way to get accepted is to take the best program available in core classes. Despite the numerous benefits of AP classes, some people consider them more harm than good. “If it’s something you are into, go for it. If you are taking it for the credits, it’s kind of a waste of time,” sophomore Kim Schwadron said. Gaining college credits is extremely beneficial to the college experience because it allows students to skip some introductory classes their freshman year. According to the College Board, many colleges such as Virginia Tech, William and Mary and Stanford accept the credits gained from AP classes. One potential drawback of taking AP classes is the increase in workload from sophomore to junior year. “I think it’s a mistake for most kids to go from taking maybe one advanced class as a sophomore to taking five their junior year,” AP Psychology teacher Meghan Percival said. However difficult it may be, colleges expect students to take the heaviest course load they can handle. Although taking five AP classes is not manageable for everyone, it will certainly show colleges that they are willing to push themselves to the limits of their ability. Whether students decide to take one AP or seven, they are the most effective way to prepare for college. Take the challenge. In the end, the extra work will pay off.

Comic by Anna Marie Garland Page design by Catherine Zysk

OCTOBER

Field hockey strives to repeat last season’s success

Junior captain Karynne Baker helps lead team

SPORTS

Maddy Witchey Managing Editor

fter finishing last season 14-5 and advancing to the second round of regionals, this year’s varsity field hockey team is under a lot of pressure to live up to last season’s accomplishments. “It is definitely a rebuilding year,” senior captain Erin Calpin said. “We had a lot of very talented seniors who graduated last year so it has definitely been a challenge trying to replace the talent.” The team has already suffered more than five losses this year, only part way through the season. “We have definitely had some rough games but we have also come together as a team and have won some games that no one thought we would win,” senior Kacey Beckham said. “My favorite moment this season was beating Marshall 4-3 on their senior night in the last five minutes.” A key role in team leadership this year is junior captain Karynne Baker. “Karynne has really stepped up as a junior captain. She loves the game and I think that’s why she is such a great captain,” Beckham said. Baker values her role as a leader and tries to motivate her teammates on and off the field. “I am a leader with my voice,” Baker said. Baker was inspired to start playing field hockey in the fourth grade by her older sister, Caitlin Baker, who played field hockey at McLean before playing for University of Mary Washington. During the off-season, Baker plays year-round with her club team. Baker recently committed to continue her career after high school at Ohio University. “I am really excited to know that I will be able to continue playing the sport I love,” Baker said. “Ohio is a great fit for me and I can’t wait to play there.” Baker says that her main focus this year is the team’s post-season success. “My goal for the season is to go as far as we did last year in the regional tournament or better,” Baker said. The team is dedicated to practice and working through their slow start to the season. “Our goals are to be in the top seed for the postseason tournament and to win the conference,” Beckham said. “It’s going to be hard but our team has a ton of talent and determination.”

Photo by James Carver Page design by Maddy Witchey

McLean football enters halfway point of season at 3-2 Highlanders suffer losses despite strong performance John Corvari Reporter

SEPT. 5 AT WASHINGTON AND LEE

The Highlanders started fast, scoring the first four touchdowns of the game, three of them by senior wide receiver Jordan Cole. Another score in the fourth quarter ended the game 35-29 after Washington and Lee made it close in the second half. Senior Brian Maffei injured his ankle, causing a shake-up at the quarterback position. Passing: Brian Maffei: 30-44 passing, 366 yards, 5 TDs, 1 interception Receiving: Jordan Cole: 8 catches, 181 yards, 3 TDs

SEPT. 12 AT MARSHALL

Senior wide receiver CJ Downey stepped in as quarterback for the injured Maffei. “He’s playing his butt off,” head coach Shaun Blair said. “He’s been taking second team reps the entire summer and fall, but we’re always preparing for that ‘what if ’ type of moment.” Marshall scored first, but Downey threw two first half touchdowns and engineered a late game drive featuring a 66-yard deep ball to Tom Shue. With the Highlanders ahead 21-20 late in the fourth quarter, the defense stopped Marshall on fourth down to secure their second win. The victory put McLean first in the conference standings. “That’s good for our defense to give them the confidence for the rest of the year,” junior Patrick Dolan said. Passing: CJ Downey: 7-15 passing, 169 yards, 2 TDs, 3 interceptions Receiving: Patrick Dolan: 4 catches, 50 yards, 1 TD

SEPT. 19 VS. FALLS CHURCH

In the home opener, the team walked into the locker room at the half trailing 17-0. When they returned, it was like a new team had taken the field. During the second half, Downey made up for several ugly interceptions with two touchdown passes, including a 19 yard catch by Dolan sending McLean fans into a frenzy. “I’ve said this from day one, and I haven’t been shy about it, [Dolan’s] gonna be a star, and he already is ascending to that level,” Blair said. Late in the fourth quarter, The Highlanders failed to score from the 1-yard line for four straight plays and went home with a 24-20 loss. Passing: CJ Downey: 16-31 passing, 198 yards, 2 TDs, 2 interceptions Receiving: Patrick Dolan: 8 receptions, 71 yards, 1 TD

Opening day—Senior Nelson Sera celebrates a defensive play during the game against Washington and Lee. McLean went on to win 35-29. (Photo by Amir McCormick)

OCTOBER

SEPT. 26 VS. SOUTH LAKES

Charge—The team, led by senior Sam Delano, runs through a banner to start off the game against South Lakes on Sept. 26. (Photo by Amir McCormick)

Both teams came out scoring. Between the two teams, they scored seven passing touchdowns, four of which were thrown by Downey. Cole had three receiving touchdowns of 20, 68 and 69 yards and ran back a 50yard interception to score. “His running route and his acceleration out of the break is what sets him apart,” Blair said. “He does have that speed to burn and he’s got the ability to go up and get the ball when it’s in the air.” The Highlanders continued to keep up with the South Lakes team’s offense that scored regularly despite previously averaging just 12.5 points per game. McLean was trailing by one point at the half. However, they came back to win 36-31, after the defense made a huge stop to end the game. “I’m really happy for the kids because you see them coming off the field with that emotion. It’s an emotional game,” Blair said. “That’s part of the fun of coaching.” Passing: CJ Downey: 13-32 passing, 308 yards, 4 TDs, 1 interception Receiving: Jordan Cole: 7 catches, 214 yards, 3 TDs

OCT. 2 VS. HERNDON

Back in action—During his first game back from an injury, senior Brian Maffei throws on the run against Herndon on Oct. 2. (Photo by James Carver)

Maffei returned after suffering an ankle injury during the team’s opening game on Sept. 5. He broke a state record with 42 completions, throwing for 415 yards and four touchdowns. In the two games he has played, he has thrown nine touchdowns and the team has scored 70 points. Downey returned to his position as wide receiver, and set another state record with 15 caught passes and a touchdown. Despite a rather strong offensive performance, the team lost 51-35, their second loss of the season. The Highlanders have played well, despite having just a 3-2 record to show for it. The key, Blair said, is “not accepting mediocrity.” Passing: Brian Maffei: 42-71 passing, 415 yards, 4 TDs, 2 interceptions Receiving: CJ Downey: 15 catches, 134 yards, 1 TD

Page design by Maddy Witchey

SPORTS

Cheerleading goes beyond the sidelines Community overlooks competitive aspect of cheerleading

Jake Barnett Sports Editor

ilence fills the dance room as the cheerleaders prepare to practice their competition routine, providing a stark contrast to the sidelines at football games. Yet for McLean’s varsity cheer team, the silence is almost as deafening as the noise they help create during the games. While sideline cheer is an important part of cheerleading, the competitive side is one that is often forgotten. “I think the biggest misconception [is that] cheerleading is seen as a way of pumping up the crowd, like a pep rally, when cheerleaders have advanced athletic skill,” varsity cheerleading coach Jen Johnson said. Unlike other sports, cheer competitions

come down to a single two and a half minute performance. “People only see the game aspect,” senior captain Skyler Lange said. “They don’t see how we practice every school day for three hours and weekends for four hours just to compete for two and a half minutes. They don’t see how hard we work for competition. They only see us perform at games.”

Stunting towards success

The cheer team practices the five major aspects of competitive cheer every day during practice: stunting, tumbling, jumps, cheer and dance. “I hope students think that cheerleaders are just as skilled as other athletes at McLean and are respected as role models for the school and the community,” Johnson

said. This year the squad has three male members who allow the team to perform more difficult and elaborate stunts. “Coach Johnson, who was my history teacher sophomore year, pushed me towards doing cheer and encouraged me to try it,” senior captain Jack Saunders said. “Once I did, I fell in love with it immediately.” Ever since finishing third in the Liberty Conference Semi-Finals last year, the squad has been striving to be more competitive and to gain recognition from the student body. “I think people don’t take us as seriously as we would like them to,” Lange said. “This year we are trying to change the name so people see how hard we work and how good of a squad we can be.”

Cheering them on—Senior Jack Saunders leads a cheer during the Sept. 12 game at Marshall. He was named captain after only two years of cheerleading experience. The squad cheered the football team to a 21-20 win. (Photo by James Carver) Page design by Jake Barnett

OCTOBER

#3 Jordan Cole

ATHLETE OF THE ISSUE Photo by Amir McCormick

Jessica Bulford Sports Editor

What special workouts do you do on your own time?

I take personal fitness and that really helps me get faster and stronger making me a better athlete.

What’s the most important part of practice?

The most important part of practices is special teams because a good special teams unit can swing the game through a score or a block, and defensive pursuit because great pursuit covers up mistakes.

What is your favorite part about the team as a whole?

My favorite part of the team is the camaraderie. We are brothers in arms on the field and we look out for each other off the field. It is really like having a second family.

What is the most inspirational thing a coach has said to you?

STATS

“Give ‘em hell” and “Be the hammer, not the nail.”

How do you balance sports with college applications and school?

I have to use my time wisely, and whenever I have extra time during school and between school and practices, I get as much work done as possible.

What keeps you motivated on bad days? Knowing my identity isn’t in sports but God, and that he will love me no matter how poorly I play or how bad it gets. Also focusing on the next play, not just what happened.

How do you pump yourself up before a game?

I pray, which gets me focused, and I feel

NUMBER OF YEARS: 9 POSITION: WIDE RECEIVER AND SAFETY

TOUCHDOWNS: 8 INTERCEPTIONS: 5 TACKLES: 65 RECEIVING YARDS: 582

that when I’m focused I can go out and play great, which gets me pumped.

Have you committed anywhere?

I’ve committed to play lacrosse at West Point next year. Page design by Jessica Bulford

SPORTS

Duncan Green Golf Freshman

Kristen Kircher Cheer Sophomore

Guys, because there is so much competition in asking girls

The guy, because they have to think of a creative asking

Girl, because she’s caught off guard with the asking and the dress is expensive

UVA vs. VT

McLean vs. Langley, duh!

Soccer—Barcelona vs. Madrid

If you had the power to teleport, where would you go first?

Hawaii

Anywhere that is not school

Barcelona

In one word, describe yourself when you are playing sports.

Competitive

Driven

Tired

Who has it worse during Homecoming?

What is your favorite team rivalry?

What is the best way to scare someone?

Put on a mask— my mom would fall for that every time

Surprise them

Madi Jones Volleyball Senior

Ben Galdo Cross Country Junior

Going up from behind—they never see it coming

Guys, because they have to match the dress perfectly

Red Sox vs. Yankees (Go Sox!)

Australia

Sweaty

Say, “We need to talk.”

Photos & page design by Jessica Bulford

OCTOBER