2
Editorials
debates the differences between wearing bow ties and regular ties
7
Health
International
In-Depth
investigates healthy and unhealthy holiday foods
reflects on the effects of the Israel and Palestine War
examines the soda drinking habits of AHS students
20
Weekend
shares great places to eat in Shirlington
B LAST A ANNANDALE HIGH SCHOOL
the VOLUME #57 ISSUE 5
12
10-11 4700 Medford Dr. Annandale, VA 22003
Informing the Atoms since 1954
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 5, 2012
www.thea-blast.org
(703) 642-4229
Does AHS cheat? Survey reveals AHS more honest than national average
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY GWEN LEVEY AND COLLEEN ADENAN
BY GWEN LEVEY Co-Editor in Chief
By the numbers
30 90 4,228
The number of years that Disney Channel has been in existence See page 19 The number of pounds a senior lost through dancing See page 6 The number of Palestinians killed in the Palestine-Israel conflict See page 12
Boosters Fundraiser
There will be a fundraiser for the Annandale Atoms Booster Club tonight from 5-7 p.m. at the Firehouse Subs restaurant in the Pinecrest Shopping Center. 20 percent of the bill will go towards the Booster Club.
Senior tribute ads due The deadline for senior tribute ads is Dec. 7. See Julia Hanneman in room 262 or 268 for an order form.
Class of 2013 goes online The Class of 2013 now has its merchandise online. The website is www.order.burkesports.com. The password is atoms.
SSHS holds induction ceremony On your smartphone, scan this code using the application “QR Code” to read about the Social Studies Honor Society induction ceremony and to view a slideshow.
“Cheating” continues on page 5
It’s Academic triumphs Forum to be
held at AHS
AHS hosts one of its most competitive teams in years BY SANDRA WEBB Staff Writer The longest running AHS academic team has begun the season with an 8-0 winning streak. The team of academically adept It’s Academic! students currently holds the district first place position and represents AHS on T.V. with the annual airing of the televised “It’s Academic!” competition. The next taping of the show will be on Dec. 15 at NBC 4 Studios. The air has yet to be determined. “Because It’s Academic! doesn’t fall within Although the team lost their top three competitors this It’s Academic! remains strong under the leadership [typical] preconceptions of the word ‘team,’ year, of team captain, Thien Mai, and other returning members. we often don’t get noticed by many, despite representing the school each year on TV,” senior willingness to challenge their skills. “It’s Academic covers such a wide range of Thien Mai, the captain of AHS’ It’s Academic! subjects, everything you know is fair game. What team, said. It’s Academic! is an intellectual competition was once considered trivia would actually be between school teams at district, regional, useful in It’s Academic,” Mai said. During their scrimmages and weekly Friday state and national levels. Each school team is composed of students with an aptitude practices, the It’s Academic! team members are for academic and worldly knowledge, and a quizzed on information that “pretty much follows
Community to discuss replacement of FCPS superintendent Jack Dale BY COLLEEN ADENAN Co-Editor in Chief A community forum to discuss the replacement of Jack Dale will be held at AHS on Dec. 6. The event will take place at 7 p.m. and is being organized by educational consultant firm Hazard, Young, Attea and Associates (HYA). “I hope as many parents, teachers, students and others take advantage of the opportunities to give their views, as the choice of our new superintendent is the most important decision the Board will make,” Mason District member Sandy Evans said. Dale announced his retirement in September 2011. His retirement will be effective in June of 2013. “As I spoke to Dr. Dale, he said that after devoting 42 years of his life to education, he would like to spend more time with his wife, children and grandchildren,” Dale’s chief of staff Christine Donohue said. “He has a host of outside interests including golfing, flying, skiing and reading that he would like to enjoy. His parents and three grandkids
“It’s Academic!” continues on page 5
“Superintendent” continues on page 5
Theater Without Borders performs ESOL students impress with fall play, ‘Blood Wedding’ BY CHRISTINE TAMIR News Editor Twice a year, the ESOL department has the opportunity to delight students, teachers, and parents with a production put on by students from more than 30 different countries through the Theater Without Borders program. In about a month-long period, these students that are new to the language of English embark on a task of completing a 90-minute production of a famous play. This fall’s production was one by Spanish dramatist Federico Garcia Lorca entitled Blood Wedding. The story takes place during the 1930’s, as it first premiered in Madrid in March of 1933, of a woman getting married to a man that she does not love and chaos ensues between the two quarreling families.
TWB’s portrayal of the show was acutely accurate and impressively performed by every student who took part, from the lead characters to the ensemble. The characterization by each student was remarkable, as the projection and clarity of their dialogue was easily understood, never rushed, and believable. The costumes used in the show were acute to the time period and each prop was equally laid out for the 1930’s. Undoubtedly, one of the most impressive aspects of the show was the set, as the giant house in the background was meticulously painted by AHS parent Ingrid April-Levey, and had the audience commenting about it after the show. “The set was absolutely wonderful and we can’t thank Mrs. Levey enough for her effort and time in painting it,” TWB sponsor and director Leslie Chekin said. Prior to the [showing] of the play, auditions were held during the first week of October, causing students like junior Luis Perez, who is new to the English language, let alone to acting, much anxiety.
GWEN LEVEY
10
The number of states in the U.S. that allow corporal punishment in schools See page 9
One method of cheating used among students is writing the answers to a test or quiz on the inside of a water bottle. This practice has caused many teachers to eliminate water bottles from being used in classrooms while tests are distributed.
CHRISTINE TAMIR
7
The number of steps in a holiday DIY mason jar See page 8
It is said that when taking a test, a student will look up for inspiration, down in desperation, and then finally left and right for the answers. Though this is common practice, it has been drilled into young learners minds from an early age that doing this is wrong. So why is it that many students find cheating to be okay? Furthermore, why do they feel it necessary to take part in the act at all? According to USA Today, a recent survey conducted on 23,000 high school students nationwide questioned whether students are actually cheating more. The result was surprising: the number of students cheating in school dropped from 59 percent in 2010 to 51 percent this year. Comparatively, based on a poll distributed on Nov. 27 in W4 and ATOM time to 450 students, 27 percent of AHS students admitted to cheating occasionally or more often on school assignments, including tests and quizzes. However, though AHS cheats less than nearly half of the national average, only 41 percent of students feel that cheating is “moderately wrong.”
ESOL students Ramatu Fofanah and Hendell Concepcion played the mother of the bridegroom and the bridegroom. They performed one of several intense scenes from ‘Blood Wedding.’
“I felt nervous when I stepped on stage,” Perez said. “I was shaking when I stepped on stage.” Fortunately for Perez, he [received] the roles of wood cutter and guest dancer, both roles that he was very happy with. Perez was also helped
by experienced fellow actor junior Wilsone Tosta. Tosta was in Greater Tuna as well as Blood Wedding and will be in A Streetcar Named Desire. “We all have fun doing it, and we all have each other,” Tosta said. Many members of TWB have “TWB” continues on page 5