Issue 11 by AHS Publications

People

10-11 Lifestyles

reports on development of Prom at school

explores the resurgence of tie-dye clothes at AHS

InDepth

Entertainment

Weekend dives

looks at how British musicians are taking the U.S. and AHS by storm

investigates the American food industry

into the spring activities in the DC Metro Area

B last A

the Volume #56 Issue 11

Annandale High School 4700 Medford Dr. Annandale, VA 22003

Informing the Atoms since 1954

Wednesday May 18, 2011

(703) 642-4229

Redistricting gets personal

Three neighborhoods named as part of final proposal to alleviate overcrowding

Boys Varsity Baseball: 7-11

AJ McCafferty

By Corinne Balicki and Annie Curran Staff Writer and Co-Editor in Chief

A Class of 2011 selling Memory Bricks

Aj McCafferty

Memory Bricks are being sold for $50. Bricks can be engraved with names of students, teachers and faculty members. They will be located in the front of the jock lobby. An application can be downloaded to specify what the brick should say. Checks can be made payable to Annandale High School. The application can be found at http://www.mediafire. com.

Vincent Randazzo hugs marketing teacher Stephanie Harmony after the news of his selection was announced on May 12.

Randazzo in position for transition as principal

AHS hosts annual Battle of the Bands AHS Battle of the Bands will take place on Friday from 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. The event will take place in the Auditorium. Tickets are $8 at the door. Price of admission includes one vote for your favorite band. Additional votes may be purchased 2 for $1 or 12 for $5. Water and candy are for sale also. A few of the bands performing include Townhouse, Oh, Satellite and The Scoons.

By Annie Curran Co-Editor in Chief Nearly a week after Vincent Randazzo was named the seventh principal in the history of AHS, students and faculty members are still reacting as he begins to establish his goals for next year. Randazzo has served as Assistant Principal since 2005, after he was hired as an English teacher in 1999. During his first speech as principal, Randazzo outlined some of these goals. He wanted the staff to know that in they future they would work together to strive for greatness for the school. “AHS is the flagship school of Cluster III,” Randazzo said. “I’m looking forward to our journey of making it the flagship school of FCPS.” Randazzo went on to thank the staff for their

NHS looking for sponsor National Honor Society is looking for a new sponsor. Teachers, sponsors or parents that are interested in running the society, can contact incumbent President Carolyn Hartley at Carolyn_ Hartley@hotmail.com or counselor Cliff Hickman at Cliff.Hickman@ fcps.edu

constant dedication to their jobs and to the school. “The magic that happens at AHS comes from your passion and hard work.” His other goals are focused on keeping AHS on the path Principal John Ponton has set the school on. First, he wants to maximize success in academic programs and continue to aid the students. Second, he wants to create a better relationship with the AHS community, including businesses and organizations. “I’m not so much planning to change [AHS], but planning to enhance,” Randazzo said. For example, he wants to incorporate more technology in classes for both teachers and students. Also, Randazzo wants to establish himself as the principal and stay a strong figure, so that students understand he is the new principal. “Randazzo” continues on page 3

On the heels of the School Board announcing four options to alleviate overcrowding, the community will be invited to attend a meeting at Wakefield Forest ES tonight from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. This is separate from the series of PTSA community meetings designed to inform and spark dialogue among parents, business owners and students. Among the four options that will be discussed includes a non-boundary proposal, where AHS would have 10th-12th grades only, Poe would have 8th and 9th grades and Holmes would have 6th and 7th grades. The affected neighborhoods in the three boundary options would be Bren Mar Park, Parklawn or Wakefield Chapel. Option one would move the Bren Mar Park neighborhood to Edison HS, with the purpose of moving the smallest amount of students possible. In option two, students in Bren Mar Park would go to Edison HS, students from Parklawn HS would go to Stuart HS and students from Wakefield Chapel would go to Woodson HS, in order to eliminate split feeder elementary schools that send students to different middle schools. The final boundary proposal, option three, would move Bren Mar Park to Edison HS, Parklawn to Stuart HS and Wakefield Chapel to Lake Braddock HS, with the purpose of focusing on elementary schools that are K-6. Option four is a non-boundary proposal that would reconfigure the grades offered at AHS. As previously mentioned, AHS would offer 10th-12th grades, Poe would offer 9th and 8th grades and Holmes would offer 6th and 7th grades. “Boundary” continues on page 3

Macbeth is an ESOL success By CJ Aftergut Co-Editor in Chief ESOL students took the stage on May 12 to perform their annual Theater Without Borders play. In their second performance of the year, ESOL students took on the roles of the characters from Shakespeare’s Macbeth, a story of romance and action. The play, which was adapted to meet the needs of LEP students, took advantage of each student’s individual talents and skills. ESOL students took the reins in the performance, participating in acting, script writing, lighting, sound and stage management. For more information on the ESOL department’s production, visit www.theablast.org.

Boys lacrosse wins district by landslide Team solidifies regional tournament spot with 17-3 win over W.T. Woodson in championship By David Hookey Retiring Co-Editor in Chief

“Lacrosse” continues on page 17

Courtesy of Briar Creek Photography

Visit www.thea-blast.org for the most recent installment of The A-Blast All Access with Greg Nielsen and Pat McCann.

Sticks thrown in the air, team charging the field and huddling around their goalie, faces beaming with unrelenting joy. This was the scene the varsity boys lacrosse team had to watch for the past two seasons having lost backto-back Patriot District Championship games. But on May 13, the Atoms got to experience this themselves as they trounced the Woodson Cavaliers in the championship game, 17-3. Looking to avenge a regular season loss, the Atoms took on the Cavaliers for the Patriot District title. After falling behind 3-0 in their first meeting, the Atoms were intent on not letting that happen again. Senior Andy Craig won the opening face-off, ran down the field, dumped the ball off to junior Ryan Miller who then passed to senior Nick Lalande for the goal and a 1-0 lead just 9 seconds into the game. “Last game we went down early and never really got our confidence back The varsity boys lacrosse team celebrates their victory on May 13 against Woodson.

Is it right to celebrate Osama bin Laden’s death? “Yes, because he was a terrorist and he didn’t do anything good.”

—Jazmin Fernandez freshman

May 18, 2011

Standardized testing is beneficial BY DANIEL PARK Editorials Editor

You wake up and haul yourself out of bed. You limp into school, and see through your glazed eyes groups of your friends frantically flipping through pages of notes and reviewing in a frenzy. Bloodshot eyes, coffee mugs and passed out students become commonplace in classrooms. Welcome to the month of May, the “deathtrap” of standardized testing and where dreams come to die. Standardized testing has recently become the bane of students, with many needing to take the SATs, PSATs, SAT Subject Tests, ACT, AP exams, SOLs, the TOEFL, IB exams; the list of torture goes on and on. These acronyms strike fear into every student’s heart and wallet, and have spurred many to speak out against standardized testing. The argument of many students is that standardized testing is an unfair and inefficient way of measuring a student’s intelligence. Since every test distributed has the same questions, it is simply a matter of whether or not what you remember from the school year is on the test. Standardized testing has also received opposition against “coachable” exams such as the SATs, where students can easily get a top score with the help of a tutor or prep class. This is true, While not the most fun, standardized testing is necessary to measure the success of students. but this is the same for any other class or endeavor in life. The fact that a student took a prep course understanding of the fundamentals with no room necessary. A benchmark is needed for schools shows that they have committed extra time and for argument. There is only one right answer. 10 and students at which to aim. An anomaly from money and taken initiative to get a higher score. times 4 will always equal 40. This prepares students a standardized test for a set curriculum shows While it is true that standardized testing is for their quest for knowledge by providing a strong which students need help, which students are not the ideal way to measure a foundation for fine and which students are exceptionally gifted. student’s intelligence, it is the more extensive While many students abhor having to take a best alternative that we have and subjective standardized test, it is something that we must today. Educational institutes A benchmark is needed for learning in the reluctantly accept. need a benchmark because S tandardiz ed testing has become the real world after schools and students to aim human judgment is subjective they graduate. unsurpassed benchmark for measuring student and varies from person to person. for. S i n c e t h e success. In a world of increasing population, it Without standardized testing, m a t e r i a l o n is crucial that there exists a standard way of many schools from around testing. There is no room for “grey-areas;” testing standardized the nation or even the world tests is identical cannot consist of “I think” or “therefore.” There is, would find it near-impossible for every school, at the moment, no way to measure one student’s to compare grades due to local the tests provide a direct way to measure a opinion against another; that is what essays are differences. The college admissions process is student’s ability to learn and a teacher’s ability for. In order to compare one student’s knowledge greatly facilitated by standardized testing. to another’s, options, as aforementioned, cannot to teach. With standardized testing, students present their Standardized testing is not fun, but it is supply room for argument. DANIEL PARK

“No, because it brings us down to a similar level to that of Osama bin Laden.”

EDITORIALS

—Aysha Ghaffar freshman

“No, because people people don’t want to remember him as a person and the hateful things he did against us.”

— Freddie Johnson junior

“

”

Noah Fitzgerel

Daniel Park

“No, because it makes Americans look bad.”

VS.

CON

—Neha Sohail senior

“I think the American People should have a federal holiday because I think it’s very important that he is dead.”

—Zeni SaifeSelassie senior

QUOTE COLLECTION The A-Blast wants to hear your opinion. Your response to the following question might be featured in our Quote Collection.

What do you propose is the best option for the upcoming boundary changes? E-mail your response to: ablast.editorials@gmail.com

PRO Testing is detrimental to society BY NOAH FITZGEREL Editorials Editor The sentence, “[The Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT)] exams provide a path to opportunities, financial support and scholarships, in a way that’s fair to all students” found on the College Board website, the facilitating organization of the SATs, is flawed in itself. No, not in spelling or grammar, but in ideology. SATs, for the purposes of this argument, have become the poster child of standardized testing. However, in order to understand why the College Board’s statement is the cause of the downfall of the American education system, it is important to understand its background. The first SAT was administered June 23, 1926. At the time of its inception, the SAT was committed to giving universities a snapshot of the applicant’s knowledge on a leveled field. The SATs originally had a good purpose of leveling the playing field. As they became more popular, entrepreneurs saw an opportunity to profit off of the burgeoning industry of standardized testing, causing the original purpose of the standardized

test to quickly became skewed. The result of the efforts of these entrepreneurs are companies like the Princeton Review and Kaplan, who promise to raise the test scores of their clients through training and tutoring. At the crossroads of an attempt to “level” the

“

The SATs are just another way for a student to express themselves in the laundry list that is demanded of them.

”

American education system and the attempt of companies to make a profit off of the hysteria of high school students, we find why the above statement is counter-productive. In attempting to provide an equal opportunity for all high school students applying to college through positive intentions, the College Board has worked to

convince admissions offices across the country that SAT scores should serve as one of the largest indicators of academic success. Unfortunately, the College Board has not “leveled” the playing field as a result, but instead, elevated it to another dimension of hysteria and competition. Yes, I understand that it might be difficult to compare a Hawaiian student to a Minnesotan student without using some sort of standard. However, after years of hearing teachers complain that to “teach to the test” is to deduct from the American education system what once made it so special, I believe that it is time to see the SATs and standardized testing in general, for what they really are. The SATs are just another way for a student to express themselves in the laundry list that is demanded of them in an ever-increasingly competitive academic world. While I concur that at the moment there seems to be no alternative to the idea of the SATs, maybe the fact that there is no alternative to a stressful rite of passage for most American high school juniors is an indicator that something has gone awry.

Staff

CORRECTIONS Vol. 56, Issue 10: –– On the rail of page 13, Jessica Campanilla’s last name was misspelled as Campanella.

Questions, comments, or ideas for the editors? E-mail the editors at: ablast.editorials@gmail.com

Go to www.thea-blast.org to read about an IB Diploma candidate’s first-hand review of the IB experience.

Annandale High School Vol. 56 No.11 4700 Medford Dr. May 18, 2011 Annandale, Virginia 22003 phone: (703) 642-4229 email: theablast@gmail.com fax: (703) 642-4299

The A-Blast is an award winning newspaper that strives to inform, educate and entertain the student body and community. Published every three weeks, The A-Blast will not print any material that is obscene or libelous; or that which substantially disrupts the school day, or invades an individual’s right to privacy. The A-Blast is an independent, open forum for discussion that is printed at the Springfield Plant of The Washington Post. Signed letters to the editor of 250 words or less may be submitted to room 262 or mailed to the school. The A-Blast reserves the right to refuse advertisements. All submissions become property of The A-Blast, Copyright, 2011.

NEWS Randazzo named new principal May 18, 2011

Replacement for Ponton announced in meeting After the decision was announced at a staff meeting on May 12 by Assistant Superintendent of Cluster III Schools Dan Parris, the faculty lined up to congratulate Randazzo and his wife Mary K, who he thanked in his first speech. The scene included group hugs and screams of excitement. Many teachers were pleased that a former teacher had been chosen, so that he could relate to the faculty more. “I couldn’t be more thrilled. It’s a great choice for the AHS community,” counselor Stephanie Reyes said. The announcement also came as a relief to many who felt nervous about the multitude of changes coming to AHS next year. In addition to Principal John Ponton’s retirement, Director of Student Services Steve Stengsack and Director of Activities Angelo Hilios are set to retire. There is also the on-going overcrowding debate, which will result in either redistricting or a reconfiguration of the grades offered at AHS. Randazzo is familiar with the school and the many changes that are going to occur. “[He] will help provide a steady rudder through potentially stormy seas,” PTSA President Emily Slough said. “I think that Mr. Randazzo will be an excellent leader. I looked forward to working with him closely.” Many teachers had similar reactions to the news that someone within the AHS family had been

AJ MCCAFFERTY

“Randazzo” continued from page 1

Dan Parris prepares to announce the new principal

selected. “I think he’ll run things very similar to Mr. Ponton. There’s no fear of big change,” English teacher Melissa Philips said. Randazzo does in fact want to keep AHS “steady” during this time of change. He wants to make sure that he chooses the right people to replace Sengstack and Hilios, by taking time to research all the candidates and “doing homework.” Others present at the meeting included School Board members Sandy Evans and Tessie Wilson, as well as other members of the PTSA. Opening remarks were made by Ponton, who then waved to

the staff before leaving, to symbolize that his time as Principal is coming to an end. Parris talked to the faculty members about the criteria he was looking at while making his final decision. “I’m excited to see a new chapter for a school that I care a lot about,” Parris said. The process of hiring Ponton’s replacement began in March. Parris received a lot of feedback from the faculty and the community in public interest meetings. He then posted an advertisement, which was available to people outside of FCPS as well. There were more than 20 applicants. Finally, a committee of eight people, including teachers, parents and one student, were selected to interview the candidates. “I was very impressed by [their] integrity and the professionalism,” Parris said. The committee made their formal selection, and with that Parris hosted two rounds of interviews for the final three candidates. In total, this process took about six weeks. After the interviews, Parris made the final decision. He wanted to make sure that he had “done his homework” and that the choice would be the right fit for AHS. The purpose of selecting the new Principal in May, despite the fact Ponton is not retiring until July 1, was to have Randazzo shadow Ponton for the last month of school. “I wanted the new Principal to overlap,” Parris said. The 2011-2012 will bring many changes and Randazzo will be at the forefront of it all. He is excited to start his new position and lead AHS into the future. “The insight that Mr. Ponton has given me, the responsibility I have had, it feels like a smooth transition,” Randazzo said.

Board announces options for Redistricting “Boundary” continued from page 1

AHS would possibly start later, so that ninth grade students from Poe could attend after school activities. It would require about 12 new buses to accommodate the students coming to AHS after school. Many students are proponents of the grandfathering idea, that would keep students who started at AHS at the school. “I don’t think it’s fair because we have already started school here so it should only affect incoming freshman,” sophomore Brenda Velasco said. However, this solution poses a huge problem for families with multiple children. An AHS student that would have been moved, but wasn’t because they were already attending AHS, could have siblings that would have to go to another high school. “I have future family members that will attend AHS and that are looking forward to it,” sophomore and Wakefield Chapel resident Jonathan Pratt said. If the proposed plan is put into action, Pratt’s sibling would have to attend Woodson High School. The “grandfathering” idea causes problems for both parents and the schools.

It’s that time of year again when students frequently request that their teachers move lessons outdoors to enjoy the warm weather. The problem is there’s no place to go instead of in the bleachers or on the grass. Fortunately, a brand new amphitheater is currently being built in the courtyard near the library and is expected to be finished by the start of June. The basic structure consists of two rows of benches that seat about 30 people and a paved floor; giving it the look of a very miniature Colosseum. So far, the benches have been put in place, but the ground is still unpaved in most areas. Aside from finishing the main construction, the site will still need a lot of enhancing. Some of the area around the amphitheater will be covered in mulch, and the benches still require trimming. According to social studies teacher John Hawes, the money for the project was a private, but generous gift. Hawes, who serves as the architect of the project, came up with the idea of building the amphitheater; while science teacher Neal Jarvis is the engineer in charge of the actual construction. “[I have] been running the courtyard for five years, and it’s a

AJ MCCAFFERTY

BY MARWA ABDELAZIZ News Editor

John Hawes working at the site of the ampitheater

pretty place but doesn’t get used much,” Jarvis said. The goal is to encourage more teachers to bring their kids outdoors and get more people to use the courtyard.The project began in February, “with a ramp down the staircase to move the supplies out,” Hawes said. Actual work began as soon as the weather was warm enough, and there were plenty of volunteer workers to make that possible. “The primary labor force has been the Science National Honor Society,” Hawes said. “The first day had a large number of athletes, and some kids

translators can be requested. In addition, there will be a School Board meeting on June 23 and two School Board public hearings are scheduled for July 11 and 12. The School Board is scheduled to decide on July 28 according to the School Boards website.

from key club, Social Studies Honor Society and some getting community service hours for government class.” A group of no less than about 15 students set to work after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays. They work on either the amphitheater or general yard work, such as planting vegetables and flowers, watering plants, and pulling weeds in the courtyard. Sometimes students come in on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. “The scope of work is a lot more than we thought it’d be,” Jarvis said. Students are clearly just as enthusiastic about the project as Hawes and Jarvis are. “Kids get bored in classrooms and the sun makes them feel better and happy; we actually learned that in IB Environmental Systems,” junior Emily Oliver said. It certainly can be helpful to transfer students to an environment that gives them more inspiration and energy to learn. “Kids are solar powered,” junior Marissa Shartel said. While recently work has gone smoothly, one of the main problems the group has encountered is the inconvenient weather. “It keeps raining; mud is a difficulty,” Hawes said. “We can’t work when it’s covered in mud,” Jarvis said. “It’s not fun or productive.” However, as of late, the rain has subdued enough for the group to make progress. The amphitheater should be available for use before the end of the school year and classes can use it on a first-come, first-serve basis. There will no doubt be a lot of competition to try out the new and highly anticipated amphitheater once the whole process is complete.

Over the past few decades, medical experts have collaborated to find the cure for cancer. But doctors and scientists aren’t the only ones trying to find a cure. Many students have dedicated themselves to charity work to raise money. Relay for Life, a marathon created by the American Cancer Society raises money to fund cancer research and awareness. Many AHS and other FCPS students plan to participate in the even which will take place on May 21. “[Relay for Life’s goal is to] raise awareness about the world’s notorious diseases,” sponsor of

Softball raises over $1,700 The AHS softball team held a “Strike Out Breast Cancer Fundraiser” during the week of May 2-6. They managed to raise over $1,700, which will be donated to the Inova Womens Hospital Foundation.

All Night Grad Party raffle

The Atom Branch is raffling off two tickets, one per person, for the senior All Night Grad Party. Students must open up an account with the Atom Branch. All current members can make a deposit or a withdraw of $10 or more or refer a new member to join to be eligible. The winners will be picked on May 26 during D lunch.

Ask The Principal: What are your plans after retiring?

John Ponton

Q: Where do you plan on going for the sumer? A: “I plan to taking the first year off and have made no formal plans at this time. Sleeping in and vacationing all summer.” Q: What will you miss the most about AHS?

Julian Jordan walks with his sister in last year’s event.

CARLY BOUCHARD

BY SHANTRICE WASHINGTON Staff Writer

Relay for Life junior Daniel Park said. Although running for hours is hard work; Park said that he is willing to contribute in order to achieve the satisfying feeling he believes comes from helping a good cause.Relay for Life sponsors also hold different activities such as the Cancer Scavenger Hunt, Slip Slop Slap Wrap races and the Skin Cancer Word Searwch. Each game is designed to help people learn more about cancer. “Personally, I like to do Relay for Life because it’s an opportunity for me to make a difference in the world and see the impact my efforts can make,” senior Mary Anne Kavjian said. “At Relay, there is a survivor’s lap in which any cancer survivor is welcome to walk the first lap of the event.” People who are fighting cancer run, walk, jump rope and do many other physical activities to help keep up their heart rates and inspiration. “Because I’m a part of the club [Just World] I wanted to help out,” junior Kelsi Gardner said. Relay for Life is a fun way for students to raise

The next community dialogue meeting will be held on May 23 from 7p.m. to 9 p.m. at Lake Braddock HS and Falls Church HS. The meetings will inform the community about the different solutions to the AHS overcrowding problem before the final decision this July. It is only necessary to attend one meeting, as they all diccuss the same thing. All who wish to attend the meetings must register in advance and may request a translator at https:// www.surveymonkey.com/s/ annandalecommunitydialogue.

Chorus auditions begin

Students and Teachers prepare for Relay for Life Organizers plan last minute details for two-day event

Community dialogue meetings continue

Auditions for the AHS Chorus will be held on May 25, beginning at 3:15 p.m. Students who would like to audition must sign up for an audition time on the chorus room door. Auditions may last well into the evening. Students should see Choral Director Jessica Lardin if no slots are remaining on the sign up sheet. A slot will be added for that student.

Ampin’ up from the traditional classroom setting A new classroom alternative is under construction

NEWS BRIEFS

AJ MCCAFFERTY

Four options are in consideration

“It would cause a lot of stress for parents and for the kids also if they were going to separate schools at the same time,” freshman Emily Villatoro said. Students agree that redistricting is necessary, but nevertheless are still upset about the possibility. “My friends would move and it would hurt sports and it doesn’t make sense to me even though I know it is necessary,” junior Sammy Takele said. Some just want the School Board to think of a new idea. “It’s a bad idea because they’re just choosing the most highly populated areas to get rid of,” freshman Tyler Hohenstein said. He believes that there are different ways to help overcrowding without moving whole neighborhoods. Students aren’t the only thing the proposed plans affect. Sports will lose many participants because the majority of them live in the affected neighborhoods. “It will make our sports teams, like baseball, have a lower amount of people,” Pratt said. Pratt, like many other baseball players on both varsity and JV will have to leave the program. The majority of the proposals will cause a major blow to AHS’s athletic program that will not be easily remedied. There are two upcoming community dialogue meetings. The first one is on May 23 at Falls Church HS and Lake Braddock HS from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The second one, geared specifically to towards speakers of other languages, is on June 6 at Annandale Terrace ES from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Those interested must register on the PTSA website and

money for a fatal world issue; demonstrating that seriousness is not the only demeanor choice when coping with sickness.

A: “Everything! I’ve been very privileged to be part of the Annandale school community for the past 6 years.” Q: Are you confident that you’re leaving AHS in good hands? A: “Mr. Randazzo is an excellent choice to succeed me and the school is in good hands. ”

NEWS

Stressin’ over IB Testin’

Rising gas prices prompt cutbacks

Class sizes dwindle as juniors and seniors study for and take IB exams

ANNIE CURRAN

For further online content, such as the stories listed below, visit: www.thea-blast.org

Vincent Randazzo named Principal

PRIYA ADHIKARY

By Annie Curran, Co-Editor in Chief

Band auditions begin for the 2011-2012 year

Discuss, identify, refer, analyze, solve, and explain. These open-ended words constantly pop up in the stressful IB exams that students have faced throughout this month. The students taking IB classes have been working all year to get ready for their exams and now the time has come to put their knowledge to test. The workload for the students has only increased due to the amount of studying required to do well on the exams. AHS provides the IB students with a maximum of five study days to prepare for the exams. Students have the option to take a few days off in order to study, instead of attending class before they have an exam. Also, on the day of an exam, the student taking it does not have to attend any other classes. Many students are taking more than one exam and are using the study days to help prepare for their multiple tests. Some teachers are missing over half of their students in their classes. “Between 10 and 20 percent of my students are there [in class]. Most of them are studying or taking the exams,” IB Geography teacher John Hawes said. When students miss class to study or take exams, some teachers have the remaining students in class work on projects or study for the exam of the class they’re in. “If students are missing class for exams, the other students can work on the project that is due in June,” IB English teacher Samantha Spinney said. Many may think that teachers are frustrated with the number of students that miss class to either study or take the exams, but in reality the class disruptions do not bother most of the teachers. The majority of the IB class curriculum has ended because the information the students need in order to take the exam has already been taught, so teachers do not have any concern about students missing class. The IB program is always a challenge for students because of the exams at the end of the year and the increased workload. “There is three times as much work,” junior Lilas Dinh said. It is difficult to take more than one IB class and do well in all of them. Students have to learn to keep up with all their assignments and extracur-

Students take their IB exams in Clausen Hall, one of the three IB exam locations at AHS.

ricular activities. A social life is also very important throughout high school and without knowing how to balance all the work and free time, students would not be able to make it past the first quarter. “If you can’t manage your time, you are bound to fail. I try to split my time and take breaks,” Dinh said. Time management is evidently an important skill to acquire while participating in the IB program and especially during the time of IB exams, students need to be alert and focused. Not only are colleges interested in students taking IB classes, but the exams can help students receive college credits also. If a student scores high on an exam, it can count towards college credits. “I think the IB program has a lot more to offer and it prepares students and makes them great thinkers,” IB Biology teacher Claudia Lemus said. The IB program provides students with extra knowledge and it gives them a chance to learn things that they normally would not learn in any other regular class. The challenges that the students have to overcome throughout these classes just make them more knowledgeable and understanding. “I think IB classes are really good because they’re challenging enough that they don’t get boring, and everyone else is in the same situation as you so we all help each other,” senior Jenna Balicki said. While some students enjoy the IB program and what it has to offer, there are other students who do not see it as a new opportunity but more as a burden.

Annual Atoms 5K raises funds AHS Community looks forward to Saturday’s race BY NADIA ELGENDY Staff Writer The Annandale Atoms 5K Run/Walk will kickoff on May 21, 2011 at AHS. The race will start at the entrance of AHS, wrapping around several neighborhoods, and will end on the AHS track (approximately 3.1 miles). The 5K will take approximately one hour for walkers, and around 30 minutes for runners. An assortment of incentives will be given out to students if they attend the 5K, which is accompanied by a Community Health Fair and complementary music from the AHS Marching Band for familes to enjoy until noon. “People from as far as Maryland have already registered for the race,” Jenn Montes de Oca, one of the coordinators for the 5K, said. In previous

years, the run/walk has brought families, seasoned runners and local politicians to AHS. The event also offers an alternative for those who wish not to run or walk in the 5K called “Sleepy Runners”. Students are allowed to donate $10 towards their class and receive a T-shirt although they are not permitted to run or walk. “There are raffles at select lunches for all registered runners,” Montes de Oca said. “On the day of the 5K, the top five times from each class are totalled. The class with the top time will also win $75 for their class fund and $50 for second place.” A class is required to at least have 5 runners in order to participate in the raffle. The class that has the most “Sleepy” and actual runners will win an additional $150 for their class. The 5K will cost $22 for the average participant. The fee for AHS students and faculty members is Students cross the finish line of the 2007 Atoms 5K Run. $15. All ages are free to register for the event. To register for the race, you can go online to “The Run/Walk benefits the Athletic program needs for the upcoming school year. It is used for www.racepacket.com. If you would like to help out all sports. It also gives money to the end of year with event, please contact atoms5k@hotmail.com. College Scholarships that are given out,” Montes de Oca said.

Students consider effects of Civil War Civil War still acknowleged by many after 150 years

EMILY FRUCTHERMAN

Community dialogue meetings to begin

ALEXA LAFFERTY

By Annie Curran, Co-Editor in Chief

Students invest in SAT preparation classes

ALEXIS GUNTHER

By Annie Curran, Co-Editor in Chief

“In your hands, my dissatisfied fellowcountrymen, and not in mine, is the momentous issue of civil war.” These words came from the mouth of President Abraham Lincoln in his first Inaugural Address over 150 years ago. Although at the time, the president meant only to warn the American people of the conflict to come, his words have developed a lasting significance in today’s world. In recognizing that the decision to go to war remained in the hands of the American public, Lincoln acknowledged that a war would have a grand effect on the American people. These words have proved true even today, as the war has continued to effect American citizens since its first shots were fired in April 1861. Of all the wars in America’s history, few have resulted in the same amount of death and destruction as the Civil War. The war, which resulted in the death of approximately 600,000 soldiers, was the bloodiest in American history, a fact unbeknownst to most U.S. citizens. This lack of understanding, however, is not limited to such statistics as the number of soldiers killed in the war. In order to fully understand students’ knowledge of the war, The A-Blast conducted a survey in history classes varying based subject and grade. Based on the results, an overwhelming number of students knew that Virginia fought on the side of the Confederates and that the war occurred

COURTESY OF BYRON FELT

BY CJ AFTERGUT Co-Editor in Chief

By Priya Adhikary, Photographer

By Alexis Gunther, Staff Writer

BY ALLY MASTROTA AND PRIYA ADHIKARY Photographers

ALLY MASTROTA

Although gas prices have been decreasing in the past few days, the prices still remain in the $4 range. The costs, nonetheless, are still prompting those living in the area to rethink their transportation methods and the options that are available in order to get around. Others have cut back on their driving, choosing not to drive frequently in the local area. Students who are just starting to drive their own cars are experiencing the constraints that accompany the rising prices. “To fill up my tank it’s $50, and so that’s basically half of my paycheck for the week,” junior Wicksie Tu said. Other students, along with their parents, are on the lookout for gas stations that have slightly lower prices. “We go to all the cheap gas stations, such as Liberty and BJ’s,” junior Bernard Chalhaub-Frau said. Students have come up with alternate ideas such as commuting, walking, biking and carpooling. Not only has driving in the vicinity of FCPS been affected, as summer plans are being changed or altered in order to accommodate the expenses that can accumulate. English teacher Augustine Twyman said that her summer plans have not been affected by gas prices. “We bought a Prius last summer, we’re okay. There’s no point, it is what it is, [and] we’re going to pay it or sit at home,” she said. Students and teachers will just have to endure the rising costs of gas, but in the meantime they can continue to find ways to alleviate the costs if necessary.

COURTESY OF WASHINGTON RUNNING REPORT

BY NASIHA RASHID News Editor

Celebrations at The White House

May 18, 2011

Senior Byron Felt (left) dressed as a Confederate soldier.

150 years ago. Most students also knew that approximately 600,000 soldiers died in the war and that it was the bloodiest in U.S. history. Meanwhile, less than two-thirds of students knew that Lincoln’s original purpose in fighting the South was to reunite the Union and that the first shots of the Civil War were fired at Fort Sumter. Even less knew General Sherman’s role in the war and that Lincoln wished to forgive the South following the war. This poor knowledge of the war’s events is troublesome to many, as the Civil War has shaped much of modern America.

“So much of modern America stemmed from events going back to the Civil War that I think it is necessary to have a solid understanding of our past in order to understand the country we live in now,” senior Byron Felt said. In order to encourage a greater understanding of the war, Felt participates in Civil War reenactments across the East Coast as a private in Company I of the Thirteenth Virginia Regiment Volunteer Infantry. “By going to the reenactments, people are able to see what life was like, to a certain extent, for soldiers who fought during the war,” Felt said. “Seeing the reenactments can really bring the history alive and gives spectators a greater appreciation for what happened 150 years ago.” History teacher Stratton Shartel agrees that it is important for students to study the Civil War and recognize how it has influenced today’s world. “The Civil War was a trauma unlike any other that our nation has experienced,” Shartel said. “It was a true turning point, especially for African Americans. We forget its lessons at our peril.” Similar to Felt, Shartel also participates in Civil War reenactments. Generally playing the role of Abraham Lincoln, Shartel finds that the Civil War has had a lasting effect on today’s population. “Millions of people from all over the world continue to study the war and visit sites related to it,” Shartel said. “Many are motivated to stand up for those who are oppressed, inspired by many who did so during the war.” Though it began over 150 years ago, the Civil War has had a major impact on today’s society. For this reason, it is important that students study the war not only in detail, but also with a focus on its lasting impact. “Although we have made much progress as a nation,” Shartel said, “we still have a way to go.”

May 18, 2011

What are your plans for Prom? “First, we’re taking pictures then we’re going to dinner and then going to the dance.”

the

Prom plans set in motion Seniors look forward to upcoming Prom on June 3 BY: MEGAN FLYNN People Editor

— Kate Bermingham senior “We’re planning on going to a restaurant in Old Town and taking pictures at Green Springs then going to the dance.”

—Gabby Hankinson senior

“We’re going to take pictures and go to dinner and have a lot of fun.”

— Katie Bui senior

“I plan on being at the softball regional finals and then going to the dance after.”

May 18, 2011

Prom: the elite social event of high school that is anticipated and planned since the beginning of freshman year. One of the major perks of being a senior, the ability to attend prom is part of a senior’s final goodbye to high school life. AHS Prom has been planned by senior class officers Emma Barker, Kelsey Price, Victoria Ko and Carly Bouchard and will be held on June 3 at the Waterford in Springfield. The Class of 2011 has been raising money for the event through various fundraisers over the past four years. The Class of 2011 won the annual Homecoming float contest their freshman year, which contributed to a solid amount of their Prom funds. Freshman and sophomore years were aimed at obtaining the basis for the money raising spirit, while junior year was when the down payment is made and actual plans are set in stone. The following year, all the additives and final details are worked out in preparation for the event. “Once the location is set it’s easier to come up with all the other plans and extra things that go along with planning prom and making it great,” senior Grace Franjie said. Last year’s Prom had an attendance of over 400 people, so class officers must be prepared for a large number of guests. Tickets this year will cost $45 to accommodate the chocolate fountain, photo booth, D.J., professional photographer and souvenir sunglasses that will be available at the dance. Although there is no official theme for this year ’s Prom, all decorations will be blue and silver. The current and rising senior class officers will set up all decorations the morning of the event.

Security staff and Principal John Ponton will serve as “bouncers,” meeting and greeting students at the door to the Waterford, and teachers will chaperon the event. “Prom takes a lot of work. You have to work with the Waterford [establishment], the D.J., administration and other class officers to make sure things run smoothly,” senior class President Emma Barker said. “Decorations are being ordered and plans are coming together. It’ll be fun to see how the night turns out.” As the date of the event creeps closer, seniors’ excitement levels rise in anticipation of completing the tough tasks of finding the perfect date, dress, shoes and hairstyle. Juggling large groups with eating and photo locations can get tricky. “The only hard part [of] planning for such big groups is finding a restaurant that will fit everyone and a party bus that everyone can afford,” senior Kate Bermingham said. Dress shopping is also a major component of the formal event. A Facebook group, in which girls are able to post pictures of their dress, was begun by senior Natalie Johnson to help girls avoid buying the same one as a classmate. “I made the Prom dress group because I wanted to prevent the drama and awkwardness that occurs when two people have the same dress. Prom is a big night for a lot of people and girls are placed under a lot of pressure to look their best. Worrying about someone having the same dress as you just adds to the pressure,” Johnson said. “I’m excited for Prom and it should be fun. It was hard to find a dress because you’re afraid someone else is going to have the same one,” senior Kate Nguyen said. After all the hours of hard work and planning the senior class officers have put in, their once-in-a-lifetime Prom should be a night to remember.

KELSEY PRICE

PEOPLE

One of the Class of 2011’s biggest fundraisers was their 2007 victory in the Homecoming float competition. As winners of this competition, the class got a headstart in raising funds for their senior Prom.

GRAPHIC BY AJ MCCAFFERTY

— Izzy Yaroch senior ––Compiled by Becca Hendrickson

How did you ask your date?

May Celebrity Birthdays

1 Tim McGraw 44 2 David Beckham 36 3 James Brown 78 4 Audrey Hepburn 82 5 Chris Brown 22 6 George Clooney 50 7 Johnny Unitas 78 8 Enrique Iglesias 36 9 Audrina Patridge 26 10 Paul “Bono” Hewson51 11 Corey Monteith 29 12 Tony Hawk 43 13 Darius Rucker 45 14 Mark Zuckerberg 27 15 Emmitt Smith 42 16 Megan Fox 25 17 Tahj Mowry 24 18 Tina Fey 41 19 Kevin Garnett 35 20 Cher 65 21 Ashlie Brillault 24 22 Naomi Campbell 41 23 Jewel 37 24 Billy Gilman 23 25 Mike Myers 48 26 Hank Williams, Jr. 62 27 Chris Colfer 21 28 Kylie Minogue 43 29 LaToya Jackson 55 30 Cee-Lo Green 37 31 Brooke Shields 46

Bob Stevens, 12

Henry Cooper, 12

Jon Le, 12

John Oakes, 12

Who did you ask? “I asked Carly Bouchard.”

Who did you ask? “I asked my girlfriend, Gabby Hankinson.”

Who did you ask? “I asked Julia Copenhaver.”

Who did you ask? “I asked my girlfriend, Colleen Adenan, on our one year anniversary.”

How did you ask her? “I put a ton of red balloons in her car and made her find the one that wasn’t red. She had to pop the balloon and there was a note inside of it telling her to look under the carseat, where I put a card that said ‘Prom?’ on it.” How did she react? “I have a date so I guess she reacted pretty well.”

• I have been teaching at AHS for five years.

How did you ask her? “I made her a ceramic elephant, named Gabico, which had a note on it saying ‘Prom?’ On our six month anniversary, I gave her flowers and the elephant.” How did she react? “She had a really big smile and she gave me a kiss after saying yes.”

How did she react? “She was pretty caught off guard and didn’t like all the attention the sign attracted, but overall she was happy.”

How did she react? “She was really surprised and happy.”

• I have been teaching at AHS for five years.

• I attended Syracuse University.

• I attended University of Richmond.

• I majored in history/ education and minored in communications.

• I majored in chemistry.

• In my spare time I like to attend professional sporting events, travel, run, read and spend time with friends and family.

• I have traveled to Ireland, England, all over the Caribbean and most major cities in the US. • My favorite part of teaching is the variety that occurs on a daily basis. Everyday is unique and interesting because I work with so many students. • My motto is “Never settle, always go for what you want.” • My birthday is April 29th. • An interesting fact about me is that I hate mayonnaise more than anything in the world. • I used to play football, basketball and run track. –Compiled by Becca Hendrickson

How did you ask her? “I got the Charthouse Restaurant to print out a menu that had, ‘Colleen will you go to Prom with me? -John.’ At first she didn’t notice, her eyes went straight to the desserts, then I pointed and said, ‘Hey what’s the special?’ and she saw it.”

Who am I?

• I like all music but I will always like 90s Gangsta Rap.

Visit www.thea-blast.org for a feature on Young Life.

How did you ask her? “I went to her soccer game and had friends hold up a long banner that said her name and a poster that said ‘Prom.’ I stood at the end of the banner with flowers and wearing a shirt with a question mark on it.”

• In my spare time I like to play ice hockey and work on my house. • I like to listen to rock music. • I have traveled to London and Paris. • My favorite part of teaching is working with students. • My motto is “Be strong and have courage.” • My birthday is March 8th. • An interesting fact about me is I have lived in Seattle and Denver. • I used to play soccer. • My favorite TV show is NCIS. • My favorite store is Banana Republic. • I have been married for one year. –Compiled by Megan Flynn

To find out who these teachers are, visit www.thea-blast.org/People

HEALTH

May 18, 2011

The dangers of tanning

Does SPF have its limits?

The shocking facts about the risks and dangers teenagers take when tanning

BETSY KRUSE Health Editor

ESRA GOKTURK

BY ESRA GOKTURK AND BETSY KRUSE Health Editors While flipping through a magazine, all you see is picture after picture of bronzed models with that perfect summer glow. Beauty ideology is constantly changing and recently the bar has been raised higher than its already impossible-toreach standards, encouraging people everywhere to strive for tanned skin. Some informed people try to avoid tanning in the sun altogether. “I use a lot of sunscreen so I don’t get wrinkly when I’m older or get skin cancer,” junior Emily Oliver said. However, many people don’t spend much time outdoors or don’t have the patience for gradual tanners, causing them to turn to indoor tanning beds for a quick solution. Tanning bed companies make the argument that there is no reason to lay outside all day when a session in a tanning bed is identical to eight hours outdoors. Although many may not realize it, the media is continually encouraging tanning through advertisments and television shows. For example, the reality television show Jersey Shore shows tanning to the extreme, suggesting to viewers that it is perfectly normal to lay in a tanning bed multiple times a week. What they don’t show on television is the dangerous and deadly side effects that can be caused by it. “I used a tanning bed once, but I don’t plan on using it again because I’ve heard about all of the health risks, and I don’t think a tan is worth the potential dangers,” sophomore Ashley Whittle said. Tanning beds bring many risks to their users,

Junior Kenzi Wright lays out on her deck to even out her tan for the summer season, only after applying SPF sunscreen. Many teens do not realize the dangers and risks that go along with tanning, whether it be in a bed or lounging in the sun.

the most well known being skin cancer. Countless studies have shown that Ultra Violet Rays, commonly known as UVA rays, are a major cause of melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancers. When the damage becomes too high, cancer develops. This impacts teens because more and more of them are turning to tanning beds, who are more susceptible to skin cancer due to growth rates. “I think most people realize the dangers, of tanning beds, but the ones that go all the time don’t want to admit that they go,” Bermingham said. According to WebMD, tanning beds can also increase the chances of users developing cataracts and permanently damaging their eyes. Sunburn can result from tanning beds, depending on skin type and exposure time. The International Agency of Cancer Research has even listed tanning beds as a level one carcinogen, meaning it is in the same cancer causing category as tobacco, mustard gas and plutonium. However, many people turn to alternative, healthier ways of faking a summer glow.

Tanning myths busted MYTH: It’s not a big deal if I

use a tanning bed every once in a while.

FACT: Even using a tanning bed once increases your risk of skin cancer by 75 percent compared to those who don’t.

MYTH: The sun can’t damage my skin if I have a darker skin tone.

FACT: You might not notice it at first,

but every skin tone can become sunburned and still recieve the same amount of sun damage as those with fairer skin.

MYTH: Tanning beds will

give me a natural, younger looking appearance. FACT: Tanning beds are proven to cause sun spots, wrinkles and premature aging, plus are known to give skin an orange hue.

“I use this stuff called sunbrush, that are like these tanning towlettes,” junior Ashlyn Nisker said. These dangers can be acquired in other ways than just tanning beds. It is true that over exposure to sunlight can result in the same health dangers as tanning beds. That is why it is also harmful to lay outside all day under the sun with tanning oil lathered on. “I go to the pool all summer and sit out and tan all day,” freshmen Melanie Bennett said. Sunscreen is essential to healthy skin, and a minimum of SPF 15 should always be used when going outside.This is because sunlight also emits UVA and UVB rays, tanning beds just have a more concentrated amount. The risks and dangers of tanning are very serious and detrimental to human health, which is why studies encourage people to stay away from the tanning beds and tanning oil, and use one of the many healthy alternatives for a bronzed summer glow year round.

MYTH: Laying out in the sun with tanning oil is a healthy alternative to tanning beds.

FACT: Without protection with sunscreen, direct sunlight can be as damaging to skin, as studies show that it causes skin cancer.

MYTH: Getting a base tan before a MYTH: I can’t get sunburned or skin damage

big vacation will protect my skin from damage.

FACT: A base tan may give some protection

from sunburn and other damage, but any change in skin tone is a sign that UV Rays have caused skin damage, and only SPF will provide maximum protection.

if it’s not sunny or bright outside. FACT: UV Rays are stil present on cloudy days. Snow, water and sand reflect 85 percent of the sun’s rays, meaning you can still get sunburned on a cloudy day. That’s why suncreen should be worn in any weather. Source: Discovery Health

Looking down the aisle of skin care products, you may have some difficulty deciding which sunscreen is best for you, especially if you burn easily. Recently, the Environmental Working Group has done a study that has proven that the differences between 30 and 100 SPF sunscreens are not that drastic. They tested 500 different sunscreens and found that 30 SPF blocks about 98 percent of UVB rays, while a 100 SPF sunscreen only bumps up the coverage to around 99 percent. UVA rays have been proven to cause cancer Increasing the SPF by 70 points only blocks a few more rays, but the increase in price between these two sunscreens may put a huge dent in your wallet. The most important thing to remember when you are spending extended amounts of time in the sun is to make sure that you reapply sunscreen throughout the day. One application is not enough because sunscreen wears off after a few hours and should be reapplied every two or three hours to prevent any skin damage from occurring. It is important to remember to hit skin that is exposed to the sun, especially the face and shoulders. You should use about two tablespoons of sunscreen for your entire body. It is esssential that people be educated and informed on sun exposure to help beter protect themselves against the dangers of it. Source: Washington Post

Fake it! Try these products for a faux summer glow 1. Airbrush Product: Clinique Self-Sun Body Aribrush Spray ($21) Benefits: The application is mess free and gets all the hard-to-reach spots like your back and shoulders.

2. Lotion Product: Victorias Secret Beach Sexy Daily Glow Gradual Tan Moisturizer SPF 15 ($12) Benefits: Not only does the the lotion gradually tan your body, but also moisturizes and protects skin against the sun.

3. Bronzer Product: California Tan Bronzing Powder ($14) Benefits: Designed for those who just want a sunkissed look on their face, and also helps to cover up facial redness from sun exposure.

4. Towlettes Product: Tantowel Classic Self-Tan Towlettes ($24) Benefits: Great for quick application and touch ups when in a hurry, and claim to be no mess with results in as fast as two to four hours.

5. Gel Product: L’Oreal Paris Sublime Bronze Clear SelfTanning Gel ($11) Benefits: The gel works all over the body and absorbs quickly, so your tan is ready to go in no time at all. Compiled by: Esra Gokturk

Lifestyles

May 18, 2011

--Reluctant Competitor Dear Reluctant Competitor, The next time you and your friend start competing, take a step back and analyze the situation you’re in. If she’s really your friend, it shouldn’t matter who wins, who loses, who’s better or who’s worse. Talk to her and tell her how you’re feeling; if you never show the discomfort within your relationship, she’ll never fully know. A friend is someone who celebrates with you when you succeed, not someone who hopes you fail just so he/she can brag that they’re better than you at something. As long as you have realized a more mature approach to this situation, such as telling her how you feel and how you want to stop the never-ending competitions between you two, things should work out. If they don’t, you might want to reconsider your friendship with her. I mean, what’s a friend when they’re not there to congratulate you when you’re victorious and comfort you when you’re not?

The trick to mastering tie-dye today is to pair and combine it with more modern, contemporary colors and pieces of clothing that help balance the brightness. A fitting example is that several sports teams have offered spirit wear in tie-dyed patterns, most recognizably girls lacrosse, which has shirts in deep rainbow colors. “I like the shirts because they’re colorful,” sophomore JV lacrosse player Kalie Rosati said. Tie-dying has become so mainstream today that the simple process is frequently used at summer camps and for arts and crafts with young children. From old trends to new trends, the key idea behind their longevity is to update and modify a specific style to fit the time and the individual styles of the public.

After folding and tying, soak the folded shirt in water and soda ash from a tie-dye kit for 5 minutes.

Fold or roll the plain white t-shirt into your desired pattern. Tie the shirt with rubber bands to create additional patterns and secure the shirt in place while dying.

Kylee Nisker

I feel like I am always in competition with one of my friends. We have known each other since elementary school and are involved in many of the same sports, classes, and activities. While I usually feel like we get along as friends and talk to each other, whenever there is an opportunity for her to try to “beat” me at something, she seems to want to challenge me in order to brag about it later. This isn’t a healthy challenge, though, because I often feel like she takes it personally or gets angry if I end up doing better. I want to stay friends with her, but I can’t handle her constant competition. What should I do to let her know?

popular. It was prevalent throughout this time and through the 1970s. In general, people associated the dyed garments with the free-spirited, Bohemian feel of the era. It was popularized by the band The Grateful Dead, as well as their huge following of “dead heads”, who embraced both the hippie movement and the clothing. The concept and style was bolder and made a bigger statement than the more conservative and refined styles of the past several decades. Another reason for the bohemian generalization is that when paired with other elements of a similar style, the effect can be overwhelming. Fringe, vests and tie- dye were the epitome of a “flower child.” It may have once been viewed as different, but tie-dye is making a statement at AHS this year.

4 3

Remove the shirt from the water and begin squirting the liquid dye from the kit on the shirt in your desired color, pattern and darkness.

- C a r l i

Once you have finished dying the shirt, place the shirt in a plastic bag, tie it and leave undisturbed for 24 hours.

Kylee Nisker

Dear Carli,

By Rowan Shartel Lifestyles Editor Amid the sea of dark tee shirts, sweats and neutral hues in the hallway, a splash of color is a stark but pleasant contrast. Students have been embracing the color recently by wearing one of the most classic expressions of color on clothing: tie-dye. Tie-dying is the process of using highly pigmented dye on fabric that is tied and soaked in water to create vivid patterns. Tie-dying originated over 3,000 years ago in India, and has been used in China, Africa and Peru over past centuries. The popularization of this trend in the United States did not catch on until closer to the 1960s, when the hippie movement became

Kylee Nisker

Competition

The psychedelic feel of tie-dyed clothing makes a fun and colorful fashion statement

Rowan Shartel

By Carli Loeb

Kylee Nisker

Advice Column

Jerry Sheppard

Carli’s Corner

After unfolding the shirt, wash alone in cold water before wearing.

Open back dresses with fancy or plain designs give a slimmer and elegant style.

One shoulder dresses give stylish support while leaving room for accessories.

Side slit dresses allow for a classy look with an edgy twist.

Halter top dresses secure the dress, but also display a formal look.

Go to www.thea-blast.org to read more advice from Carli’s Corner.

Popular Bohemian trends today Floral patterns are a big Bohemian trend because they reflect the laid-back, earthy style of the sixties and seventies. They are easy to wear alone or paired with any jacket or accessories, and the bright patterns make a statement.

Bohemian-inspired makeup is natural and simple because the trend is focused on neutral colors and earthy shades that bring out and enhance natural features. Eyeshadow, blush and bronzer are an easy way to create the Bohemian look.

Braids were a very common hairstyle in the hippie era and are now becoming popular again because they are easy to create and add style. Side braids and loose waves are the most popular styles in this category.

Strappy, flat sandals with natural colors and beaded or turquiose designs are stylish and a hippie-inspired way to celebrate the warm weather. They can be paired with anything from shorts to jeans to dresses.

Rowan Shartel

2011 prom dress styles

Rowan Shartel

Have a problem? E-mail Carli at: carli.loeb@gmail.com.

ACADEMICS

May 18, 2011

Scholarship procrastination

Tips to increase your chances of recieving a scholarship

To help make the scholarship process easier, students are finding scholarships that they are eligable for through multiple diffrent websites. BY BREKHNAA GULL Academics Editors

1. Illistration by Arthur James

For most students, four years of high school points to one thing and one thing only; college acceptance.But what comes next? For many seniors, it is figuring out how to pay for their ‘perfect school’. The budgeting process can be just as stressful as application, but this emotional strain on students can reduced by applying early-on in high school, or even as early as middle school, for scholarships. “Students should start looking in 9th grade for scholarships, but they will have the most scholarships available [to them] their senior year,” Career Center Specialist Robin Roth said. Some students are pessimistic about their chances of receiving scholarships and do not put forth the effort of applying, yet with so many similarly-minded students and such a multitude of scholarships available to them, students have, in reality, a greater chance for achievement. “I am planning on getting a scholarship for college but I don’t want to worry about it now, since I’m just a sophomore,” sophomore Nardos Assefa said. According to bankrate.com, Catinca Untaru almost half of the parents that were surveyed said that they could not afford to financially support their children throughout college. Some kids feel that they have a responsibility to take it upon themselves to find scholarships and lessen the economical burden on their parents. “I think that getting a scholarship will help out my parents financially a lot,” Assefa said. The PTSA is awarding four different scholarships to AHS students: the Technical Degree Scholarship, the John V. Ponton ESOL-to-College Scholarship, the Visual and Performing Arts Scholarships and the Leadership and School Spirit Scholarship. “The PTSA scholarships are terrific, [and] since they’re local, the number of people applying for them [is] low so chances of winning are high. The more local [a student is to the

Finding the perfect scholarship Family Connections

Scholarship.com

Scholarship.com is a Family connections is website where students can available on blackboard. automatically be matched Once you’ve entered the up with scholarships they website, and have gone are eligible for. Students under the college tab, you are required to fill out an are given three options: application before making scholarship match, an account. During this scholarship list and process the student answers scholarship application. question that ask for age, Under scholarship match, ethnicity, interests, religion, students are presented disabilities and other with different eligibility information that can be requirements, deadline used to match students with dates and information scholarships. Students can about each specific click on the scholarship and scholarship. Under find out more information scholarship list students about scholarships. are presented many scholarships, and other requirments.

Make sure that you are eligible for the scholarship. Each scholarship has unique requirements that all applicants must meet. If you apply before reading through them, not only is it a waste of their time, but of yours as well.

Always brainstorm your ideas. This will result in your work being organized and neat, increasing your chances of receiving a scholarship.

Always proof read your work. Because most scholarships do not require an interview, the quality of your application sets their overall impression of you. Something as simple as spell check can go a long way. In addition, have a friend, parent or teacher read it over for you to check for clarity.

Career Center Specialist, Robin Roth helps a student with their application. Roth is a great resource for students looking for advice about applying for scholarships.

foundation providing the scholarship], the better the chances of [him/her] winning,” Roth said. Scholarship websites have academic profiles that are capable of generating, or matching up, students academic profiles with specific categorial scholarships. This modern method prevents the most common error students make when searching for scholarships; applying ineligibly. “Look [in] many different places [for scholarships], like the Internet, Family Connections, parents, employers, and your community” Roth said. Websites like scholarship.com enable students who range from minorities, to dedicated athletes, to math-lovers, in finding the appropriate scholarship.

Family Employers

Make sure to ask your family employers. They might be willing to pay for your education. Employers want their employees and employee’s kids to get a good education with the hope that someday the kids will work for them. An educated employee results in a better employee. It doesn’t hurt to ask, because you’re never sure what they will say. Who knows, maybe they will be willing to pay for all of your education after high school.

Check for local scholarships

Since local scholarships do not have many people applying for them, the chances of getting the scholarships are high. Always ask your community center for local scholarships. Local scholarships awards do not give as much as interntional or national scholarships, but remember every little scholarship adds up. If you start applying for local scholarships as a sophomore or freshman, and you apply to all of them, you could eventually end up with a lot of money to help pay for college.

Career Center

If you are unable to find scholarships anywhere else, you can always visit Ms. Roth in the Career Center. She can help you find scholarships, and has great tips for students that will make the process of applying easier for you. One of the most common things she tells students is that they should get their applications done by December 1, spending the rest of their time applying for scholarships. Even if you are not a senior, you should still be looking for scholarships.

Q and A with Senior, Tien Trinh

Start applying for scholarships as early as freshman and sophomore year. Not only will it increase your chances of finding the right scholarship for you, but it will also remove some of the stress from the process.

Make sure your writing is personal. Tell them about yourself and who you are. The goal is to make yourself seem like an individual, not just another application they have to read through.

SAT Words to Know Match the word to the definition to test your knowledge of these SAT words 1.

Ebullient

Serendipity

Vanquish

Beleaguer

Vindicate

Nonchalant

Alluvion

Zephyr

Accost

10. Bequeath

Definitions A. (noun) luck B. (adj) calm or relaxed C. (verb.) to free from blame D. (noun) soft wind E. (verb) to conquer F. (noun) flood

What was the process in which you recieved your scholarship?

G. (adj. ) enthusiastic

After I finished with the ACT and SATs, I found out that financial aid doesn’t cover all of my tuition and I didn’t know where to look. I went to Family Connection, and there were thousands of scholarships there. I had to pick [scholarships] that I was most qualified for my given situation. I looked for one for Asian immigrants, so I could eliminate others. I chose from a list, and then I looked at the deadlines and I applied for 14 scholarships. I separated them from each other, so I can do every essay individually and perfectly.

I. (verb) to speak to.

H. (adj.) to give by will

J. (verb ) to harrass

1: G; 2: A; 3: E; 4: J; 5: C; 6: B; 7: F; 8: D; 9: I; 10: H –DEFINITIONS COURTESY OF FREEVOCABULARY.COM

What advice would you give people who are new to the process of applying for scholarships? I applied for as many as I could. If you apply for many, you will at least get one. I [also] recommend fastweb.com, because it is one of the best websites for scholarships out there. [Students] should do their applications as early as they can. What college will you be attending? Virginia Commonwealth University

Visit www.thea-blast.org for additional information about the MYP ceremony for AHS sophomores.

IN-DEPTH

Prevalence of vegetarianism among AHS families: Parent

They used to be

Sibling

4% 3%

I used to

YOU

I am

BY TRICIA O’NEILL In-Depth Editor

75%

Types of vegetarianism at AHS: 25% 20% 18%

POLLO VEGETARIAN

PESCATARIAN

LACTO VEG.

TOTAL VEG.

VEGAN

11% LACTO-OVO VEG.

13% 13%

VEGAN: DO NOT CONSUME OR WEAR ANY ANIMAL PRODUCTS TOTAL VEG: DO NOT EAT ANY ANIMAL PRODUCTS LACTO: NO EAT ANY ANIMAL PRODUCTS, BUT DO EAT DAIRY LACTO OVO: EATS DAIRY AND EGG PRODUCTS BUT NO MEAT PESCA: INCLUDE FISH IN DIET OF PLANTS POLLO: EAT WHITE MEAT SUCH AS CHICKEN, TURKEY AND DUCK

What type of eco-food products do you buy? None

26%

Organics

22%

Unsure

Free Range

25%

14%

Hormone Free

14%

If organic foods were cheaper, would you buy them? Unsure

Yes

55%

Maybe

After finally finishing her homework around 11:30 the night before, and getting a less than satisfactory six hours of sleep, junior Kaitlyn To rolls over to shut off the loud beeping emitted by her alarm clock. She hesitates to get up, forcing herself to make her way downstairs toward the pantry to retrieve her favorite brand of cereal and a carton of 1% milk from the refrigerator. But, what she doesn’t know is that her favorite type of sugary cereal not only contains little nutritional value, but also genetically modified ingredients. She couldn’t know, as it is not required under U.S. law that products be labeled as containing these types of ingredients. For many students at AHS, eating habits have changed after being exposed to alarming statistics and data about the growing influence of technology in the food industry. Biology and Government classes alike have be watching documentaries such as Food, Inc. and Supersize Me, sparking a new wave of conscious eating habits and creating some new vegetarians. “I stopped eating red meat in 8th grade,” said junior Sarah Kenlin, “I kept hearing about how the animals were treated. Eventually I stopped eating poultry too.” The term “genetically modified” refers to the process by which plants, animals, or bacteria have their genetic makeup altered. It was originally intended to increase a plant’s resistance to both insects and other plant diseases in a process similar to that of immunization and vaccination for humans. The bacteria Bacillus Thuringiensis (BT) is commonly added to plants in order to help ward off harmful insects, while strains of different viruses are introduced to plants in order to build up their immunity toward different diseases. As is often true with technology, once introduced, it began to seep into other sectors, namely the cattle and livestock industry. In recent years, the food industry has been heavily scrutinized and exposed by documentaries such as Food Inc., which revealed the gross living conditions and treatment of animals intended for slaughter. Packed into factory-like warehouses by the thousands, both chickens and turkeys are abused and mistreated. In some cases, chickens receive less than half a square foot of space and turkeys each receive less than three square-feet. Further criticism stems from the genetic modification of these animals, which is directly linked to crippling leg disorders and the death of millions

21%

How many times do you eat fast food each week? 1-2 45%

of chickens and turkeys each year. In order to meet the growing demands for white meat, chickens and turkeys have been modified to produce heavier breasts and grow twice as fast. The rapid growth and increased size has led to health complications such as congestive heart failure, as their hearts and lung systems are not developed or equipped to account for their size. The heavy weight of their breasts also inhibits their ability to stand up or walk. In a preliminary study done by Dr. Ron Huber, a professor at Purdue University, results pointed to a potential tie between the use of ‘Roundup Ready crops’ and a previously unknown organism that may be causing miscarriages and infertility in animals.

“

The decision about what products are “safe” and those worthy of the title “healthy” is ultimately up to the consumers.

To address this problem, genetically-modified (GM) foods, are examined by the World Health Organization (WHO). Criterion for the review process includes: the direct health effects, allergenicity, the nutritional or toxic properties of specific components, the stability of the genes inserted and the indirect effects that could possibly occur from the process. This system of review is intended to address three major concerns: allergenicity, genetransfer and out-crossing. Gene-transfers can pose the biggest threat if antibiotic-resistant genes are added, because it is possible for these genes to be transferred from food to cells in the body or bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract. However, according to the WHO, the health risk is posed by out-crossing, which is the movement of genes from GM plants into conventional crops in the wild and the mixing of the two types of seeds. In one incident, maize only approved for feed use, was mixed into the maize intended for human consumption. Concerns over the potentially negative effect GM seeds could have on plant biodiversity and wildlife has sparked further controversy. Companies and scientists alike have both defended the technology by citing examples of the positive effects GM foods have had, especially in third-world countries. Rice, for example, has been modified to increase the level of iron and other vitamins in order to combat the growing problem of malnutrition in Asian countries. As for the future, scientists are working to create bananas

ll Natural: For meats and poultry, A this means it does not contain any

artificial flavors or coloring. In addition, food labeled as natural cannot contain any chemical preservatives.

sugarfree products, each serving must contain less than half a gram of sugar. For cholesterol-free products, servings must contain less than 20 miligrams. Items labeled as sodium-free will contain five miligrams of sodium or less per serving.

Certified Humane: This label was made and is regulated by non-profit organi-

zations dedicated to the humane treatment of animals. To use the label, animals cannot have been given hormones or antibiotics and cannot have lived in any cages, crates or stalls. In addition, they have to have “access to sufficient, clean and nutritious food and water.”

3-4 13%

7+ 17% 5-6 7%

as being high in something must have at least 20% of the recommended daily amount in each serving. For example something labeled high in protein must have at least 20% of the recommended daily value per serving.

This survey was distributed on April 6 during all lunches. Out of the 400 surveys distributed, 306 were returned and counted.

ree Range: According to USDA F standards, “producers must demonstrate

grams of fat per serving.

on: Products containing the prefix N “Non” must meet certain standards. For “Nonfat” products, each serving must contain less than half a gram of fat.

aturally- Raised: Items marked as naturally raised are certified by the USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture). In order to qualify for this seal, animals must have been raised without growth hormones and antibiotics.

ingredients. They will generally be grown without synthetic pesticides, artificial fertilizers, irradation (a plant treatment that uses radiation to kill bacteria), or biotechnology. Animals will be fed organically grown feed and cannot be confined 100% of the time. Animals will also be raised free of growth hormones and antibiotics.

fiber, etc. will contain at least 20% of the recommended daily amount in each serving. For example something labeled as an excellent source of vitamin-C will contain at least 20% of the daily recommended value per serving.

ean: Meats labeled as being “lean,” L they will generally contain less than ten

igh in: All products designated

rganic: In order to be classified as organic, products must O meet certain USDA standards and be made of at least 95% organic

xcellent source of: Any products E labeled as an excellent source of protein,

to the agency that the poultry has been allowed sufficient access to the outside.”

0 21%

that produce human vaccines against Hepatitis B, plants that produce unique plastics, and cows resistant to bovine spongiform encephalopathy (mad cow disease). They argue that studies have not produced any definitive data showing the possible negative consequences of genetic modification. However, data collected over the years by scientists has shown a correlation between growth hormones and potentially fatal diseases, leading some students to take matters into their own hands. “I became a vegetarian five years ago,” junior Susie Sowa said, “Partially because I think all of the chemicals and things they feed to animals are disturbing and unhealthy for both us and them.” According to the European Union’s Scientific Committee on Veterinary Measures Relating to Public Health, there are six hormones that pose a potential risk to human health. These include three naturally occurring hormone-s–Oestradiol, Progesterone and Testosterone– and three synthetic: Zeranol, Trebolone, and Melengestrol. One hormone, known as rBGH, has also received widespread criticism and disapproval since its initially controversial FDA approval in 1993. Studies performed by the University of Vermont revealed a rise in the number of deformed calves and an increase in cattle suffering from the painful bacterial infection of the utter known as mastitis. According to Science News, approximately 80% of feedlot cattle are injected with hormones today. A study showed that for at least 195 days after being injected with melengestrol acetate, residues of the hormone were traceable in manure. In 1950 cows could produce about 5,300 pounds of milk a year, today however, a typical cow produces 18,000 pounds. That’s 49 pounds a day, compared to 14 pounds a day in 1950. The use of estrogen to promote the production of milk in cattle may be linked to the early-onset of puberty, especially in girls. When given the hormone rBGH, a cow’s milk has shown higher levels of IGF-1 (Insulin Growth Factor 1). IGF-1 has been linked to colon and breast cancer, although the FDA has repeatedly assured consumers the hormone is safe for both cattle and humans. Regardless of one’s position on genetic modification and growth hormones, maintaining a balanced and varied diet is essential to one’s health. Scientists suggest that everyone eat diets rich in fruits, grains, and vegetables and meats in moderation. The degree to which meat is cooked also can be a deciding factor when examining the potential risks. However, the decision about what products are “safe” and those worthy of the title “healthy” is ultimately up to the consumers.

The ABC’s of eating healthy

ree: Products containing the suffix F “free” must meet certain standards. For

16%

DECO

Studies suggest a link between the increased use of growth hormones and health complications commonly faced by the American population

ARE WHAT YOU EAT

“

May 18, 2011

ich in: Products labeled rich in a certain mineral, vitamin, etc. must meet certain requirements. They will contain at least 20% of the daily recommended value in each serving. Items labeled rich in protein, for example, have to contain at least 20% of the daily recommended value per serving. INFORMATION TAKEN FROM USDA

DING

IN-DEPTH THE

May 18, 2011

INDUSTRY

Factory farms fill the country BY K.L. HOANG In-Depth Editor Driving cross-country, part of what people look forward to seeing are large acres of natural farmland, crops and livestock. That expectation, however, has dwindled, as farmland and natural earth have been replaced by fuming and polluting factories. Merriam-Webster defines a “factory” as “a building or set of buildings with facilities for manufacturing or the seat of some kind of production”. Unfortunately, the factories in our nation are not just producing food. In 1820, factories started to become mainstream places of production. Back then, factories mainly produced textiles and cotton products. Nowadays, products manufactured in factories can range from the clothes on your back to the food on your plate. If you walk into your local grocery store, you are bound to find that the processed foods in boxes and containers greatly outnumber the amount of fresh produce. According to a website called Sustainable Table, in 2006, 330 farmers left their land every week. As a result, there are now currently about five million fewer farms in the U.S. than there were in the 1930s. So what’s the big deal? The decreasing number of farms affects people more than they would think. Small family-owned farms cared about the land they worked on and the products they created because they impacted the farmers as well. The factory farm corporations in the nation purchase land to produce food for profit, and in the process, pollute the environment and communities with chemical pesticides, noxious fumes and excess amounts of manure. The rural areas used for such industrial agriculture are left with high rates of unemployment and little opportunity for economic growth. The technical term, as defined by the government, for factory farms is Concentrated (or Confined) Animal Operations (CAFOs). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) further defines CAFOs as “new and existing operations which stable or confine and feed or maintain for a total of 45 days or more in any 12-month period more than the number of animals specified.” In these CAFOs, hundreds to thousands of animals, like cows and chickens, are tightly confined together and provided little or no access to fresh air

and sunlight. Animals are also mutilated (de-beaking) to help them adjust to factory conditions and, in some cases, cannot even turn around in their pens. Due to the harsh conditions in which the animals live, they are administered low doses of antibiotics as a preemptive measure to ward off diseases in their unsanitary and unnatural conditions. In wake of the large amounts of livestock kept at a factory, there is excessive waste to handle. Man-made lagoons are created to hold millions of gallons of liquid waste, and these contaminants can seep into groundwater and affect crops. The nutrients and bacteria from the liquid waste can then contaminate waterways and disturb aquatic ecosystems. Another reason that CAFOs are detrimental is because one corporation usually controls all aspects of the production process: animal rearing, feed production, slaughter, packaging and distribution. This type of production is called vertical integration and gives tremendous power to corporations, which can leverage irresponsible practices on farmers and, in turn, lower the corporation’s accountability. So if factory farms are taking over the food industry, how can people get sustainable and healthy food? There are still small family farms and farmer’s markets out there. In the Annandale area, there are the Wakefield Farmers Market, which operates from two to six pm between May 4 and October 26 and the Annandale Farmers Market, which is open on Thursdays from eight am to noon, May 5 through November 3. Buying local produce and meat products supports the local economy and reduces the amount of fossil fuel used to transport food. People can also choose to plant a garden and grow their own food. In addition, non-local foods are irradiated to improve their shelf life. Irradiation changes the molecular structure of food and creates carcinogens, changes the nutritional content of food, and by-products called 2-ACBs.These byproducts have been the cause of premature death, mutations, organ damage and nutritional deficiencies in animals and genetic damage in human cells. Food has gone from being meticulously cared for, grown and freshly cooked to being locked in cages and filled with hormones, antibiotics and additives before being packaged. The next time fried chicken comes to mind, think about where it came from.

How I became a Pescatarian BY DANIELLE TURNER Special to the A-blast I became a pescatarian (a form of vegetarian that eats fish) approximately four years ago: the summer before my 8th grade year. My decision to become a pescatarian was not spur of the moment. I’d been considering it for a while and finally decided to do some research on it. When I decided that I knew enough about the nutrition habits that I needed to acquire while being a pescatarian, I confronted my parents about it. At first, my Dad was a little bit skeptical, but my Mom finally convinced him that I was old enough to make my own dietary decisions. My decision to become a pescatarian was based on several things, but to me, the most important reason was that I felt that it was a way that I could make a difference. Factory farming is, to me, a serious problem in the United States. I find it horrifying, and when I learned that I was promoting it, it really upset me. At first, I shrugged it off and just told myself not to think about it, but I found that I just couldn’t. I decided to do some research and ask my parents. I originally wanted to become entirely vegetarian, but then realized how difficult it would be for me to give up fish. My entire family is from Southern Maryland, and almost all of our family outings include crabs. I found that eating fish was

a part of my upbringing that I didn’t want to sacrifice. Additionally, by keeping fish in my diet (even though I only eat it about once a week or so), I was able to convince my parents that I would get enough protein. I didn’t become a pescatarian overnight. For the first week after my new decision,I allowed myself 3 days of meat. For the second and third weeks, I allowed myself two days of meat. The plan was that for the fourth week, I would allow myself one day, but I decided to just skip that week and go straight into pescatarianism. My family has been extremely accepting of my decision to stop eating meat. At first, my Mom bought me frozen dinners from a vegetarian brand called “Amy’s” that I would eat whenever they had meat for dinner. Gradually, my family and I have adapted so that I can eat the same thing as them: they’ll make pasta and I’ll have marinara while they have meat sauce; they’ll make stir-fry and I just won’t add the chicken; they’ll have steaks on the grill and my dad will grill me a mushroom. For Lent, both my mom and my sister went completely vegetarian. Both said that it was easy, but they’re glad to eat meat again. Becoming a pescatarian was one of the best decisions that I ever made. It’s a way for me to make a difference, and I like the food. It’s not the right decision for everyone, but I’m glad that I made it.

The best of the food documentaries FOOD, INC (2008)

Food, Inc (2008) In this 2008 documentary, Michael Pollin and Eric Schlosser, two leaders in the ethical food movement, expose the food industry for what it is. It reveals the scariest and most horrific truths about the food industry today, leaving them questioning everything they put in their mouth.

FRESH (2009) Fresh was released in 2009 and is about spreading the fresh food movement. The movie discusses how the industrialization of agriculture has been detrimental to the American food system. The creators of Fresh are proponents for sustainable agriculture and family farms.

THE FUTURE OF FOOD (2004)

The Future of Food is a 2004 documentary about genetically modified foods. The movie is an in-depth look at the unlabeled foods that go under the radar. It takes a look at the genetically modified foods, which has become increasingly popular over the past decade. The makers of the movie believe that increased globalization has contributed to the rise in the genetically modified foods.

FOOD FIGHT (2008) In this humorous documentary, Chris Taylor tells the story of a group of veggie-loving Californians and their stand against the food industry. Driven to revolt over the agricultural policies and culture of America, they decide enough is enough. It will keep you laughing while exposing some alarming truths about food.

Where to find the freshest fruits and veggies TUESDAYS:

Fairfax Farmers Market 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. May 3 – October 25 Van Dyck Park

WEDNESDAYS:

Mount Vernon Farmers Market 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. May 4 - November 23 Sherwood Library Oak Marr Farmers Market 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. May 4 - November 23 Oakmarr Park & Rec Frying Pan Farmers Market 8 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. May 4 - October 26 2709 West Ox Road Herndon, VA 20171 Wakefield Farmers Market 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. May 4 – October 26 Wakefield Rec Center: 8100 Braddock Road, Annandale

THURSDAYS:

Herndon Farmers Market 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. May 5 – October 26 Annandale Farmers Market 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. May 5 – November 3 6621 Columbia Pike, Annandale, VA 22003

FRIDAYS:

McLean Farmers Market 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. May 6 – November 18 *Closed for McLean Day: May 20, 2011 Kingstowne Farmer Market 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. May 6 – October 28 Kingstowne Town Center

SATURDAYS:

Burke Farmers Market: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. May 7 – November 19 5671 Roberts Parkway, Burke, VA Reston Farmers Market 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. May 7 – October 29 Lake Anne Village Center, Reston, VA

SUNDAYS:

Lorton Farmers Market 4 a.m. – 1 p.m. May 1 – November 6 8990 Lorton Station Boulevard, Lorton, VA 22079

Are you a vegetarian, why or why not? “I saw a video about what they do in slaughterhouses and it was pretty disturbing. I felt guilty about eating animals ever since.” —Dana Filipczyk sophomore

“I eat meat because it tastes good and is part of my culture.” —Andres Hurtado junior

SUPERSIZE ME (2004) Super Size Me is a 2004 documentary of Morgan Spurlock and his decision to go on a “super size” diet. In the documentary, Spurlock eats McDonalds for every meal for one month. If a server asks him for his meal to be super sized, then he has to say yes. He personally discovers the consequences of eating too much fast food. He also discovers the influence of fast food in the food industry.

“I eat meat because I like meat with my food.” —Aurelie Folli senior “I became a vegetarian when I was 15 because I loved animals and I figured that there were other things to eat.” —Melissa Phillips English teacher

INTERNATIONAL

Exploring all of España

Fast Facts

Poe Middle School Spanish epartment sponsors trip to Spain over Spring Break

* The most popular spectator sport in Spain is soccer, otherwise known as fútbol.

* Around two-fifths of people between the ages of 17 and 24 are smokers in Spain. * Despite a strong Catholic influence, Spain officially leagalized gay marriage in 2005. * Spain is officially named the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de Espana). * El País (The Country) and El Mundo (The World) are the two main newspapers in Spain. * Instead of a tooth fairy, in Spain they have a tooth mouse named Rantoncito Perez. * Madrid, the Spanish capital, is in the exact center of Spain. * With only two- thirds of its population, Spain isfive times bigger than Great Britain. Sources: Eyeon-Spain and Ligon’s department of foriegn language.

DILI AKLILU

FIRST HAND ACCOUNTS OF IIMMIGRATNS TO AMERICA

BY JUAN PABLO LOZA GONZALES From Bolivia When I came to the U.S. from Bolivia, I wanted to change my life to have a better future. When I came to the U.S., I was 14 years old. Since I was older, it was harder to adapt to the culture. There are many differences like language, food, and school. The language here is different. In my country I speak Spanish. English is different than my native language. English words are very complicated to spell. Though English is different I’m still happy to learn. The food here is also different. Here in the U.S, the food is greasy. The food does here not taste the same as the food in my country. The Bolivian food is very diverse and we eat more meat, fruits, vegetables, and grains. Lastly, school is different, mostly in terms of language. I feel different because it’s difficult for me to express myself. Here the school is very different because I have new friends. Now I work harder because I want a good future for myself and my family. Life in the U.S. is very different, but if you work hard, you will be rewarded. In my case when I came to the U.S, it opened new doors in my life so I could have a good future. Sometimes I think about what I lost just so I could have a good future, but I believe it will pay off in the end.

To see a photo slideshow of the Spain trip, go to www.thea-blast.org!

played a large role in this trip across the globe. Eating breakfast, lunch and dinner overseas introduced the students to many new foods and dining experiences. “The paella and the thick bacon was muy delicioso!” Lam said. Paella is a traditional Spanish cuisine consisting of meat, seafood, mixed vegetables and sometimes beans. “We were packed in a small room seated at a small table of four. That was apparently [Spain’s] traditional way of eating,” Nguyen said. “They didn’t expect us to give them tips for providing good service.”

COURTESY OF ERICA JOHNSON

* Spain’s universities consist of more women than men.

COURTESY OF ERICA JOHNSON

As the infamous bell rang to end school for the much-anticipated spring break, many students scuttled home, kicked off their shoes and relaxed. But, for a few of AHS’s students it was the beginning of a journey that would take them across an ocean. Around thirty Edgar Allen Poe alumni from AHS visited Spain for their spring break as a part of a Spanish language initiative to immerse themselves for six days in a Spanish-speaking environment. “I was really excited. This was my first time out of the country without my parents,” junior Jessica Campanilla said. “However, once we got to Spain, I got really frustrated when it came to trying to understand and translate what people were trying to tell me. It definitely took me a while to get used to hearing another language around me besides English, I knew that when I would try talking in Spanish, the locals were able to tell that I was an American student.” It was a rush from the start as the students settled in and unpacked, but as time flew many got accustomed to the fast pace and started enjoying the sightseeing and various activities Spain had to offer. This included sights such as the Spanish Royal Palace Parque Guell, one of Spain’s most prominent gardens, and the famous La Sagrada Família Cathedral and some of Spain’s sandy beaches. But it wasn’t just the landmarks that the group saw on this trip. The students were also able to immerse themselves in the day-to-day lives of those in Spain. “Everybody [in Spain] woke up really early and had bread for breakfast and around one in the afternoon they got three hours off school or work for their lunch and siesta. Then they went back to work or school and then came home and ate a humongous dinner, mostly of bread at like nine at night,” freshman Megan Ryan said. The group had the luck of visiting Madrid that same night they won and came home after the Spanish Cup. Thousands filled the streets and celebrated until the late night as Real Madrid players paraded through the crowd and when asked what their favorite memory was,“Watching wild Madrid fans invade the streets after the King’s cup!” freshman Fransisco Lam said. Exploring Spanish restaurants and cuisine also

COURTESY OF MEGAN RYAN

BY OMNIA SAED AND DESTINY GAMMON International Editors

* The official currency in Spain is the Euro.

Transitioning between Bolivian and American Culture

May 18, 2011

Above: The group poses in front of La Plaza Mayor accompanied by a statue dedicated to King Philip III. Far Left: The students had the opportunity to visit the Royal palace, home to the Spanish Royal Family. Bottom Right: The La Sagrada Familia is Spain’s most prominent cathedral.

“It was amazing and exhilarating. Everyone was so happy and carefree,” freshman Erica Johnson said. Campanilla compared Spain to some parts of Washington D.C. “In Spain, it’s normal for the locals to bike, walk, or take the metro to the market, rather than to use their cars.” Campanilla said. “My experience in Spain led me to open my eyes, that there are endless possibilities when it comes to traveling abroad and sometimes the most unexpected things turn out to be one of the greatest experiences of your life,” Nguyen said with a smile.

PHOTO

May 18, 2011

13 BURN OUT How lighted signs can lose their purpose.

SELF _ _ _ _ RAGE

SARAH BERGEN

_ _ _ _BU_KS C_FFEE

The Park is open from sunrise to sunset. The fee is $10 to enter, unless you are a Fairfax County resident then there is no fee to enter. The park is located at 7315 Ox Road Fairfax Station.

NA_IONAL T_RE & BATTERY

Spring Adventures: Burke Lake

POOCHIE _ _ _ _ _ OUSE

SARAH BERGEN

STEPHANIE ALLSHOUSE

_VS/PHARMACY

_ _ CY’S

Take a ride on the merry-go-round which is right next to the ice cream parlor for only $1.75.

You can even rent a kayak, canoe or cruiser to paddle around the calm lake for the day.

PERUVIAN CHIC_ _ _ &_____

SARAH BERGEN

PE_ BO_ _

Enjoy the view of the pond while watching golfers on the driving range.

Try out a unique game of Frisbee Golf (a.k.a disc golf) with 18 different baskets to aim for around the park.

_ _ PER PETZ

KH ART FRA_ _ _ _

Bring snacks to feed the ducks along the shoreline.

SARAH BERGEN

—Photos

by Emma Barker

SELF STORAGE, STARBUCKS COFFEE, NATIONAL TIRE & BATTERY, POOCHIE PLAYHOUSE, CVS/PHARMACY, MACY’S, PERUVIAN CHICKEN & STEAK, PEP BOYS, SUPER PETZ, KH ART FRAMING

Take a ten minute ride on the colorful train that travels through the park for Grab a bite to eat or have an ice cream cone on only $2.50. a steamy day at the Ice Cream Parlor which is located right next to the ten minute train ride.

Play a game of miniature golf, which is located in the center of the park. Plan your adventure now at http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/burkelake/

SARAH BERGEN

Go for a long stroll around the lake on the 4.7 mile path. The view is breathtaking.

SARAH BERGEN

Go towww.thea-blast.org to see pictures of the boys Senior Day lacrosse game against Osburn Park on April 30.

May 18, 2011

Inside

the

ARTS

ctors’ Studio

Summer Arts Camps

The cast of Grease explains tools used when perfecting their roles

The Mind Actors use their minds to envision, while off and on stage, the type of character they want to portray. It is often up to the actor to come up with the character’s personality, movements, and mind set. While the script may tell an actor what to say, the actor uses his/her personal knowledge to bring the character to life using experiences and techniques from his/her own background.

PHOTO COURTESY OF KATHIE TURNER

July 5 - July 29 Lake Braddock Secondary School Available to rising 7th to 12th graders, IFTA consists of classes that enrich studies in the visual and performing arts. Like a normal school day, students go from class to class to explore different areas of advanced art study from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Auditions required for advanced classes only, others open to everyone. Cost: $750

The Body

The Voice

Body language serves as a valuable story-telling tool for actors. It is essential when communicating emotions to employ the face and hands. As the mind thinks of a way to demonstrate how a character feels, and the voice directly says what the character feels, the body is the final puzzle piece in fully explaining the intensity of his/ her emotions. The main importance of the body is to show, in detail, facial and bodily expressions. PHOTO COURTESY OF KATHIE TURNER

Classes until June 26 Washington, DC For a visual artist, the Washington Studio School’s summer programs give extensive training in the art of drawing, painting, and sculpting. On-site at the school with free drawing classes open to the public on Mondays from 7 p.m. - 10 p.m. Cost: from roughly $50 - $350

“I actually get really specific and I go through in my mind what my character would have went through when they were growing up,” senior Tori Gowland said. Gowland, like many other actors and actresses, utilizes her imagination in Grease to fabricate precursory story lines to get a feel for who she is playing.

June 26 - July 15 Georgetown University Washington, DC With auditions, the camp offers a range of study for performing artists for ages 12-18 consisting of theater (play acting and musicals), dance and vocal art. Cost: $775

Visit www.thea-blast.org for a Q&A with Theater Arts teacher George Bennett about his reflection on directing the AHS production of Grease.

“I like to use facial expressions a lot, I think it reads well,” senior Molly Sgrecci said. Sgrecci takes advantage of facial expressions in Grease to broadcast a more in-depth story line to the audience.

PHOTO COURTESY OF KATHIE TURNER

July 24 - July 30 Trinity Washington University Washington, DC Open from students ages 12-18, PCA is a camp created especially for those looking to experience in being a professional musician. Developed by professional musicians throughout the country, the camp gives musicians tools for recording, song writing and stage performing. Cost: $1795

PHOTO COURTESY OF KATHIE

An inside look into the world of an AHS drama student reveals three essential devices when getting into character.

“For my voice, I just try to understand the character and what type of musical it’s for,“ senior Joey Mazzara said. Mazzara uses his voice in Grease as the tool to translate his lyrics/lines to best fit the character’s personality.

Actors use this to show how she/he interprets his/her character’s lines and what the character wants to communicate with the audience. The way that an actor says these lines, however, is what really gives his/her character the depth that embodies the situation he or she is enduring. However, while the voice is one of the actor’s most prominent tools, each actor has his/her own way of perfecting it and using it to their advantage on stage.

SPORTS X-TRA

the

May 18, 2011

Teachers describe their experiences with high school athletics BY CORINNE BALICKI Staff Writer The typical day for an athlete revolves around either a practice or game. However, high school sports haven’t always been this way. Many teachers at AHS who have played sports in high school agree that their experiences were much different than the experiences of student athletes today. Although most teachers agree that high school sports have changed, the degree of change directly relates to the teacher’s age. “The only sports for girls were basketball and cheerleading, which was not considered a sport at the time,” math teacher Judy Fisher said. Fisher went to school in the 60s and did not participate in basketball because there was only one varsity team. “Only the really great girls played; even if you were mediocre or some what coordinated you wouldn’t make the team,” Fisher said. Fisher also recognizes that girls now play sports when they are younger. However, for Fisher, high school was the first opportunity many students in her school had to participate in sports. On the other hand, younger teachers do not feel the same. “I do not think sports have

changed since I was in high school, it was 10 years ago,” physics teacher Thomas Chorman said. Chorman ran track in high school for three years and also participated in marching band. “Track was a very social thing but we were very competitive; it was nice because it was open to everyone,” he said. Some teachers, like Fisher, remember the time when girls had few options for sports, while boys could take advantage of many different athletic opportunities. Even more recently, girls have been dabbling in sports that are traditionally for boys only. Debates have even sparked around the country about the extent girls should be able to participate in sports like wrestling and football. “I think it’s inspirational and it must take a lot to prove themselves in male dominated sports,” English teacher Stephanie Guffey said. Although AHS does not currently have any females on its football or wrestling teams, other schools in the patriot district, like Lake Braddock, do. On the other hand, boys are now more involved in sports like cheerleading in schools around the nation. Another huge change in high school sports deals with their competitiveness. “I played softball, but it’s a lot more competitive now and less when I played. It was more about hanging out with friends,” Guffey said. The penalties for losing are now more severe, so athletes feel the pressure to perform. Although athletes get to hangout with their

COURTESY OF DAVID O’HARA

From fields to classrooms

teammates, coaches are taking the games and practices more seriously. Guffey is not the only one who has this opinion. “I was a swimmer and swimming has become more competitive,” history teacher Stratton Shartel said. This newfound competitiveness makes students spend more time on their sport. “It seems more time consuming,” English teacher Melissa Phillips said. Practices are longer and athletes must dedicate hours everyday to their sports. Phillips went to a small high school where sports, like lacrosse, were not available to girls. “A lot of girls did sports but most girls either played softball or cheered,” Phillips said. She played softball and only had a few practices a week.

Fundraising for sports was also different, as athletic boosters are an invention of the last decade. Schools used to provide funding for all sports and fundraising was not common. In addition, spirit wear was also scarce. As opposed to now, athletes did not accumulate t-shirts from the numerous sports they played; the only spirit wear they were given was their uniforms. “We did not have as much spirit wear, but I wish we had; the more the better. It fosters a sense of pride in the school,” Shartel said. Students often believe that their teachers don’t understand how hard it is to balance school and sports, despite the fact that teachers were once high school students, too. Maybe when you get older you can look back on high school sports just like many teachers do.

Hassan Mims

Bruce Fisher

Cragin Winkler

Stephen Howes

Gym teacher

Dean of Students

Math teacher

Gym teacher

What sport did you play in high school? “I played football and basketball in high school, but mainly basketball.”

What sport did you play in high school? “I played soccer, basketball and tennis.”

What sport did you play in high school? “I used to swim and play water polo.”

What sport did you play in high school? “I was part of my cheerleading team.”

What sport did you play in high school? “I played soccer, football and track.”

What was the hardest part of your sport? “Maintaining a balance in my life between work, academics, friends, personal interests and other things were hard for me.”

What was the hardest part of your sport? “Tolerating chlorine without goggles for an entire practice.”

What was the hardest part of your sport? “The competition aspect was hard because we were expected to be in the top three teams.”

What was the hardest part of your sport? “Time commitment was the hardest part with the sports I played.”

Are there any differences between sports when you were in high school to sports now? “The school facilities have improved, athletes are stronger, and female athletes are more competitive within the sports I played.”

Word Bank: A. Hassan Mims B. Sarita Viloria C. Patrick Hughes D. Katie Han E. Bruce Fisher

Are there any differences between sports when you were in high school to sports now? “We didn’t have goggles back then and we practiced before and after school. We also had our own pool since our high school had the best swim team in the nation 40 years ago.”

Are there any differences between sports when you were in high school to sports now? “Cheerleading has really gotten a lot better, stronger, and creative. Competition is a lot harder in high school leagues now too. The cheerleading in AHS is an example.”

1) _____

2) _____

NGAN PHAM

COLLEEN ADENAN

Patrick Hughes

Are there any differences between sports when you were in high school to sports now? “I think people are specializing more in one or two sports than they used to. There’s more commitment with all the private training and special programs like AAU that I didn’t have as a kid, so it is more expensive.”

Pop Quiz: Which teacher is participating in their sport in these pictures?

Gym teacher David O’Hara (right) runs a cross country race during his senior year.

Teacher athletes revealed

What was the hardest part of your sport? “Getting enough sleep within the sports season.”

Are there any differences between sports when you were in high school to sports now? “Players have a lot more personal attention with one sport and they even receive private coaches too. We also didn’t have athletic trainers back when I played high school sports.”

3) _____

4) _____

5) _____ 1) D. 2) E. 3) C. 4) B. 5) A

Visit www.thea-blast.org for a story on the NFL Lockout.

SPORTS

April 13, 2011

Track wins championship

Boys bring home the Patriot District Title and look to regionals, girls perform well

BY ALLY MASTROTA Photographer Throughout the 2011 regular season, the varsity girls soccer team won six games, lost five and tied three, including a 5th place finish in the Patriot District with two wins, three losses and two ties against district opponents. This was a considerable improvement over the winless district regular season result last year. “I think the team did well this season, because we were able to place better in the district and have a better record in the district,” sophomore Christina Uglietta said. They started the season off strong, losing only one out of four games to Centreville High School, one of the top teams in the region. The team entered the district games with confidence and beat Robert E. Lee and West Potomac. The team attributes their successful season to the introduction of new offensive and defensive lines. In addition, the team is led by the strong anchoring of Head Coach Janeen Westphal and team captains Alley Adcock, Micaela Filsoof and Jane Aman. Although the regular season game against South County ended in a 1-1 tie, the team remained hopeful and confident about their first-round district tournament game against the

BY SAMIR SHAH Sports Editor The entire track, field and stands at W.T. Woodson HS falls silent as the PA announcer begins to announce the final positions of each school in the Patriot District Championship Meet. As each team is called, smirks of anticipation creep over AHS athletes. The announcer is barely audible over the wild cheers of the school’s track and field athletes. Most are jumping up and down, others are dancing, and some have already begun the victory lap. The team is overcome with exhilaration and joy for yet another Patriot District Championship. The AHS outdoor track and field team competed in the Patriot District Championships on May 11 and 12, and came home as Patriot District Champions. The meet consisted of two days, with the track and field events spread out over the two (a change from previous years). The team’s top performers included senior AllAmerican JP Jenkins, who ran a nation-leading time of 13.87 seconds in the 110 meter hurdles, a new Patriot District meet record, and also contributed to the district championship 4x400 meter relay. Senior Josh Jean-Jacques also scored many needed points for the team placing second in the high jump, second in the 200 meter dash and taking part in the district championship 4x100 meter relay team. Junior All-American Ahmed Bile also played a large role in the victory, with first place victories in the 800 meter run, 1600 meter run and a fast split on the district championship 4x400 meter relay team.

“I just did what I needed to do to get points for the team and the district championship,” Bile said. “I’m going to do the same thing for regionals, we’re coming for South Lakes.” Senior Joel Hoisington scored points for the team in the field by winning the district championship in the shotput for the fourth straight season and placing in the discus throw, and senior Roland Andoh also contributed greatly with a district championship in the 200 meter dash, as well as a second place finish in the 100 meter dash. “The team did what we expected to do, and we expect nothing less than a win for regionals,” Jenkins said. “I think they performed even better than I thought they would,” long distance coach Dave O’Hara said. “A lot of guys did what they expected to do, and a lot of the others stepped up and did better.” Out of the four years that Sean Miller has resided as head coach of track and field, this district championship meet has had the most AHS athletes advance to regionals, and therefore the most competitive AHS has been at regionals, in a very long time. Miller has transformed the program since taking over as head coach of track four years ago, and along with some help, has brought the program from placing at the bottom of the district year after year, to being on the verge of winning the Northern Region Championship. This District Championship is not the first for the AHS track team under Miller, being the fourth title they have received in the last four years, one of which was earlier this year during the outdoor season. They have high hopes for the Northern Region Championships, especially after last year’s narrow loss by only one point. Now, the rest of the competition in the Northern Region has reason to fear. If they succeed in securing the Northern Region

COURTESY OF MILESTAT.COM

Girls soccer shows great improvement

Senior Josh Jean-Jacques competes in the 100 meter dash at the Patriot District Championship meet, he placed fifth overall.

Championship, they will be the first track team in over 25 years to do so. If they can get the same effort from their athletes as they did in the district meet, it is certainly an attainable goal.

Boys tennis ends with success

Visit www.thea-blast.org for the most up-to-date results of the district tournaments.

Senior Erik Morton hits a forehand in the Atoms’ Senior Day victory over South County. Morton played No. 1 singles for the Atoms this year.

With the Atoms unable to qualify for regionals as a team after an 8-6 regular season, the top players then turned their attention to the individual district tournament. Each team in the district

sends their top two singles players and top two doubles teams to compete in a single-elimination tournament in which the winner and runnerup advance to individual regionals. The Atoms’ representatives in singles were Morton and senior David Hookey, while the doubles entrants were the team of Morton and Hookey and the team of senior JP Ramirez and junior Philipos Ousman. “I think I could have done better in districts but I fought for every game but just came up short in the quarterfinals,” Morton said. After winning his first round match over Daniel Schlossman of South County 11-9, Morton lost to Woodson’s Ji Hoon Kim, 10-6. Hookey followed a similar path, upsetting sixth seeded Spenser Bullock of South County 11-9 before falling to Max Bernstein of Woodson in the second round. In doubles, Ramirez and Ousman upset the fourth seeded West Potomac team before losing to Woodson’s No. 1 doubles team. Morton and Hookey proved to be the most formidable second round opponent as they easily disposed of Lee’s No. 2 doubles team in the first round and then lost to eventual runner-up Donovan and Geoff Lawhorn of Lake Braddock. “Our reputation will continue to grow in the next few years,” Morton said. Despite the second round exits in the district tournament, the Atoms overcame a lot this year and had a very successful season.

Girls conclude season Soccer finishes 5-8 Girls tennis team finishes with 7-7 record BY SAMIR SHAH Sports Editor Although they fell short of a District title, the girl’s tennis team ended the season with a respectable record of 7-8, despite the loss of several seniors last year. Overall however, the program has improved significantly from previous years, advancing their level of competitiveness. “I think the team did much better this year than last year because our coach actually worked on improving our weak spots,” senior Neha Sohail said. The team also had to juggle the change in leadership, as Hassan Mims took over as head coach. “I know a few of us were unsure at first going into this season, we all loved Mr. Oundee and we knew the program would be run completely differently than what we were used to,” junior Bonne Clark said, “but, I think we improved from Coach Mims’ own competitive nature– he pushed us to win and be the best players we could.” Often, the difficulty and finesse required by the game of tennis is overlooked and under-appreciated by spectators. The majority of practice time was designated to increasing

players’ overall endurance level throughout harder conditioning and running more drills. Time and effort was also dedicated to addressing first-year Head Coach, Hassan Mims’ biggest concern, the consistency level of shots. As the season comes to a close, the team will be losing several seniors, such as Sohail and senior Lisbeth Espinoza. Despite the loss of players, the team remains confident and hopeful for future seasons, with the addition of new and promising talent. As the season comes to a close, they have identified areas of focus for next year, and have set the bar high for themselves going into next spring. “I think our main goal for next year is a strong winning record and just to have a lots of fun. I love tennis, and I don’t want it to be all about the competition, it should be fun too,” Clark said.

Sophomore Jenny Ha volleys the ball during practice.

Team earns fifth seed in district tournament BY HABEN BERIHUN Videographer Under the leadership of eight seniors, the Atoms boys varsity soccer team has compiled a 4-3 district record during the regular season. “We’re having a better season than last year,” junior midfielder Sergio Moya said. “We’re definitely a hard team to compete against for the district champs this year.” “When we get the momentum going it is going to be hard to stop us,” freshman defender Jordan Fox said. As the only freshman on an otherwise experienced team, Fox has surprised the coaching staff with his knowledge of the game and leadership skills. His success throughout the year has coaches hopeful about his development as a leader in years to come. After the retirement of former longtime coach, Eddie Latorre, the Atoms boys soccer program has overhauled its leadership, introducing Stephen Howes as its head coach and Doug Miller and Mark Williams as the team’s assistant coaches. “We’re a lot more organized with our new coaching staff, and a lot tighter as a team this season,” Moya

said. Despite the Atoms tough regular season, the new coaching staff has yet to truly be tested. The first major test of their career came on May 16, when the team went head to head with T.C. Williams in the first round of the Patriot District Tournament. Although the game ended too late to be covered in this issue, the team hoped to advance further into the tournament. For updates on their progress, visit www. thea-blast.org.

AJ MCCAFFERTY

Stallions. “I think we can compete with South County in the first round if we play as a team and work together,” Westphal said before the game, which ended to late for this issue. According to Westphal, the girls have improved this season by playing as a team. However, she hopes to develop the team to be more offensively driven and increase goal scoring opportunities. The team’s greatest strength thus far has been their ability to control the ball. Players, coaches and parents have all noted the team’s overall growth and have named them as one of the most possession-oriented teams the AHS girls’ soccer program has seen in years. Aman’s strong goaltending has kept the team in many games throughout the season, as demonstrated during the team’s Senior Night game versus Fairfax High School. Aman will be attending The College of William and Mary in the fall, and will play goalie for the school. The JV soccer team has also been successful this season under the new leadership of Kaiti McCaffery, who helped them improve their overall performance in practices and games, and left coaches optimistic about the future of the program. “I really like Coach McCaffery because she always pushes us to work our hardest and she has a good sense of humor,” said JV player, Katie McCann. After a long season of hard work, exhausting practices and competitive games, the team hopes to build upon the success of last year’s tournament, where they eliminated the top team in the first round of districts. The team’s hard work culminated in their first round game on May 16, which ended too late to be covered in this issue.

Entering the season, the varsity boys tennis team had to temper their expectations for the year with the departure of 2010 Patriot District Player of the Year Courage Okungbowa to a tennis school in Florida. In addition, only four players on the roster had ever played in a varsity match, so the team knew they would have a lot to overcome this season. Throughout the season, however, the four returning varsity players, combined with the emergence of senior Luis Parrado at No. 3 singles and sophomore Kyle Jamieson at No. 6 singles, were able to lead the team to within one match of the Northern Region Tournament - a great accomplishment for a program that hadn’t reached that stage in over 10 years. “As a team, I think AHS has received a lot of respect this year by competing in every match and coming really close to regionals,” senior Erik Morton, who played No. 1 singles this year, said. “This was also the first year that all our teams won the first round of the [individual] district tournament.”

COURTESY OF ERIK MORTON

Sophomore Gaby Ripani possesses the ball for the Atoms during a game this year. The Atoms took on the South County Stallions in the first round of the district tournament on May 16.

BY DAVID HOOKEY Retiring Co-Editor in Chief

ALEXA LAFFERTY

AJ MCCAFFERTY

Team just misses regionals, sends four individual competitors to quarterfinals

Junior Sergio Moya dribbles the ball during a recent game.

SPORTS

May, 18 2011

Lax avenges loss to Cavs “Lacrosse” from page 1 in the rest of the game, so we knew it was important to have a better start this time,” Craig said. Craig continued to dominate the face-offs in the early going and senior Nathan Miller was able to record a hat trick just four minutes into the game and give the Atoms a 4-0 lead. Lalande added one more goal in the quarter and the Atoms closed the opening period with a 5-0 lead. “We passed the ball quickly, moved a lot off the ball and made smart decisions when we had it on offense,” Lalande said. The offensive onslaught continued throughout the game with the Atoms taking a commanding 9-3 lead into halftime, 13-3 lead after three quarters and the 17-3 final, but it was the defense that shined and limited Woodson to its lowest scoring output against a public school of the season. “We wanted to make sure we kept them on the perimeter,” Head Coach Bill Maglisceau said. “Once our defense understood which shoulder to get them on and keep their shots out on the perimeter, we had confidence Joe could make the stops. “We came out ready to play and we wanted to show that our defense is one of the strongest parts of our team,” senior captain and defenseman Bob Stevens said. “We played with a chip on our shoulder and threw a couple different defenses at them that worked really well.” The stellar defense was led by sophomore goalie Joe Bermingham, who made save after save and even gave the team a second half boost when he laid out a Woodson attacker on the crease. Bermingham finished the game with 15 saves, and cheers of “Joe says no!” rang throughout the crowd all game. “My mindset was to stay focused when the offense had the ball and to just make the next save, Bermingham said. “We knew we were the better team and we just needed to make the plays we are capable of making. It felt spectacular to win.”

“Joe played a great game,” Stevens said. “He stepped up for us all throughout the [district] tournament and especially in the Championship.” When the game clock reached zero, the team threw their sticks in the air and mobbed Bermingham in front of their own goal. They were then given the Championship banner and had their picture taken before each player was announced and given their district patch. The Atoms then took a victory lap and left the field through a tunnel of fans who shared in the team’s excitement. “It was very satisfying to win after losing the previous two meetings with Woodson and it was amazing to be able to play the way we did on a big stage,” Nathan Miller said. Miller, who is committed to playing Division I lacrosse next year at Army, scored four goals and was one of only two players (the other being senior Peter Hagen) who was on the 2008 AHS team that won the Patriot District Championship. “[Winning the Championship] helps make the seniors feel like their hard work paid off for something,” Maglisceau said. “And for the underclassmen guys, it can give them some momentum.” Lalande led the Atoms with 6 goals in the game, while Nathan and his younger brother Ryan Miller each scored 4. Senior Stephen Craig, sophomore Zack Lalande and junior Alec Villafana rounded out the scoring for the Atoms, each with one goal. With the number one seed in the Patriot District secured, the Atoms faced the Thomas Jefferson Colonials, the fourth seed from the Liberty District, in the first round of the Northern Region Tournament. While the game ended too late for publication time, the Atoms were heavy favorites in the match-up. After TJ, the Atoms will need to defeat Robinson in order to advance to the state tournament for the first time since 2008. The top three teams in the region advance to states, so the Atoms would need to advance at least to the semi-finals in order to have a chance. “[In order to make a deep playoff run,] we need to keep getting ground balls and limit our opponents’

JV baseball coach retires after 10 years with Atoms BY CJ AFTERGUT Co-Editor in Chief

AJ MCCAFFERTY

Boys team wins Patriot District, looks to regionals

Senior Bob Stevens gets a ground ball in hopes of clearing it downfield. Stevens is a starting defensemen on varsity.

scoring chances,” Maglisceau said. “We need to win faceoffs, get groundballs and possess the ball.” Their high-powered offense, combined with the solid defense shown in the District Championship, should give the Atoms a legitimate shot at advancing deep into the playoffs.

When the junior varsity baseball team took the field on May 11, it was for the last time this season. One last pre-game warm-up, one last sprint onto the field, one last first inning, one last break after the game, one last walk to the locker room. But for the team’s players, there is always next year. For JV Head Coach Terry Hiebert, however, the game marked his final time as coach of the JV team. Ten years and nearly 150 games after joining the Atoms during the 20012002 school year, Hiebert has made the decision to retire from the team. For Hiebert, this means moving to Colorado, where he and his wife hope to “explore the West and see the beautiful parts of the country” they have not yet visited. Although he will be moving crosscountry, Hiebert is sure to be held close in the hearts and minds of the AHS community. “Coach Hiebert meant a lot to me as a coach and a friend,” sophomore Nolan Gilbert said. “I have known him for several years and he will surely be missed.” “He was a great coach. I can’t imagine AHS baseball without him guiding us, but he left the team in good hands,” senior Greg Nielsen said. “Nearly every person playing varsity had him as a coach and he made each and everyone a better player.” Feelings between Hiebert and the community are mutual, however, as Hiebert has enjoyed his time as a member of the AHS community and Atoms coaching staff. “The experiences I have had coaching here have been invaluable,” Hiebert

Lax makes regionals Softball places 5th AHS varsity girls lacrosse failed to make it to the district championship after a bitter defeat at the hands of cross-town rival W.T. Woodson. The semifinal game was played at Robert E. Lee HS as the Atoms lost 13-12 in a sudden victory double overtime. “It was a really tough way to lose that game. We were playing well, but everything seemed to break down” junior Kenzi Wright said. This was the first time in three years the girls lacrosse team did not make it to the District Championship. Two years ago, the Atoms won the championship and last year the team lost in the finals to Woodson. It is the second straight year the girls team lost to Woodson. “It’s really tough losing to them again,” senior Kate Bermingham said. “They’re our biggest rival and I think we let them off the hook.” The Atoms seemed to lack focus and composure throughout the game, making mistakes that allowed the Cavaliers to stay in the game. “We came out too nervous,” freshmen Amanda Villafania said. This nervousness faded to disappointment after being on the wrong side of the upset. The early exit from district play was not expected after the tremendous regular season success. The girls went 7-0 in the Patriot District making them the no. 1 seed going into the playoffs. After losing to the no. 3 seed Woodson, AHS looked forward to Region play, which began on May 17 and started to late to be covered in this issue. The game was played at home Senior Katie Vu runs down the field to play vs. Stonebridge HS.

Girls softball concluded their regular season Thursday, May 12 after a stressful game, finishing with a score of 3-1. The girls beat South County, on their senior night, bringing their season to a close with a winning record of 10-8. They placed fifth overall in the Patriot District. “Many of the players haven’t ever beaten South County,” freshman Jocelyn Hotter said. This made the game a huge win for varsity. “The senior night was really fun; we decorated and gave them gifts. The game was really good and we ended up winning; it was a really great way for the seniors to go out,” junior Kayla Meadows said. The seniors were introduced before the game and received gifts and balloons. They also had the pleasure of making the underclassmen wear shirts which read ‘inferior’ on them during the school day. “We celebrated our win by having a cookout the next day instead of practice,” sophomore Shannon Casey said. Varsity softball is content with the conclusion of their season and looking forward to beginning its district tournament games. J u n i o r v a r s i t y ’s r e c o r d displays a disappointing season. However, most of the players were happy with how their season went. “From our record it doesn’t seem like we did well, but we really grew as a team. We’ve been playing better and we’ve won some games and we get along,” sophomore Kylie Reagan said. JV played district rival South County twice, in two, one-hour games due to a make-up game from earlier on in the season. Although JV lost both games, Junior Justine Niner gets ready to bat against South County on Senior Night. Softball ended the they played well.

defense. Girls lacrosse lost to district rival W.T. Woodson in the district semi-final but will still advance to regionals.

AJ MCCAFFERTY

BY CORINNE BALICKI Staff Writer

AJ MCCAFFERTY

BY JAKE BARNES Retiring Sports Editor

season with a 10-8 record for the year.

Varsity team secures 6th seed entering district tournament BY PARKER GILLCASH Sports Editor The varsity baseball team ended its season with a disappointing 14-7 loss to South County on May 12. Despite a third inning home run by senior Greg Nielsen, the Atoms could not overcome the Stallions. They finished with a record of 7-11, but remain optimistic for the post-season. “The season didn’t go quite as well as we would have hoped, but I feel confident in our chances in the playoffs,” senior Ryan Keck said. The Atoms hope to face W.T. Woodson on Wed. depending on the results of their game against T.C. Williams on May 16, which was played too late for coverage. Despite a heartbreaking loss by

only one point to T.C. Williams early in the season, the Atoms quickly avenged the defeat later in the year by evening their record 1-1 against the Titans. “Our first loss [to T.C.] was disappointing but if we play to our full potential we should be fine,” Keck said. The Atoms finished the season No. 5 in the Patriot District last year and were knocked out of the playoffs by rival Woodson. They hope to have a different fate this year. “If we play well we are the most dangerous team. We have played well against some of the top teams so if we make it to Regionals we could do well,” Head Coach Ron Abrigo said. The Woodson game will be tough but I think we have the ability to beat them,” senior Eric Reynolds said Reynolds and Keck continue to deliver solid performances from the pitching mound each game and hope they will be able to lead the Atoms to a Patriot District Championship.

AJ MCCAFFERTY

Baseball begins Patriot District playoffs

Senior Eric Reynolds winds up to pitch against South County in the team’s last regular season game. He pitched two innings before being relieved by senior Ryan Keck.

COURTESY OF BOB DORES

Girls lacrosse loses 13-12 in district semi-finals Varsity team locks up 5th seed in Patriot District with a 3-1 win on senior night to Woodson but still advances to regionals

JV Head Coach Terry HIebert returns to the dugout after encouraging sophomore Nolan Gilbert in the team’s final game.

said. “My relationships with the players and the coaches who I worked with will always be a part of me.” Hiebert, who moved to Annandale in 1985 and has coached both Little League and Babe Ruth teams in the community, also acknowledges that he has learned a lot during his time with the Atoms. “I have learned the value of little victories, seeing improvement in skill levels or motivation in my players,” said Hiebert. “Different players are motivated by different things, some need to be pushed harder, some need more positive reinforcement in order to bring out the best in them.” In addition to preparing players for the varsity level, Hiebert has also tried to impart valuable life lessons to his teams. “I hope the players who were on my teams learned life lessons along with baseball lessons that they can carry on in the future,” he said. “One of my favorite coaching sayings is “How good do you want to be and how hard are you willing to work to achieve that?” Hiebert added. “It is a lesson for life as well as sports.” These lessons seem to have been effective, as many of his players agree that he has taught them not just about baseball, but about life as well. “I learned that baseball isn’t just a sport, but also a lifestyle,” sophomore Jonathan Pratt said. “He also taught his teams life lessons.” “He helped me with problems I had on and off the field; he taught me how to never give up no matter what,” Gilbert said. Assistant Coach Danny Brown, who is set to replace Hiebert as JV head coach in 2012, also acknowledges that he has learned a great deal from his mentor. “I have learned from Coach Hiebert that developing players’ skills in onfield abilities and personal character are important to the program’s goal of winning on and off of the field,” he said. Although Hiebert is retiring from his coaching position with the Atoms, he has no intentions of leaving behind the sport. “I will probably approach the local schools in Fremont County, Colorado to see if they need some coaching help,” he said. “I know that Coach Hiebert will remain very interested in the development of our student athletes and the AHS baseball program,” Brown added. “The rest of the coaches and I will make sure that he receives news of all of the successes and championships that are ahead for our program.” Come next spring, when the Atoms take the field, they will once again be hard at work in preparation for their season. They will go through their drills, practice their hitting and compete each and everyday. All will be back to normal. All except for the presence of Hiebert in the dugout and the unique lessons, about both baseball and life, that he has used to help players grow for the past ten years.

Who are your favorite musicians from the U.K.?

ENTERTAINMENT

British musicians gain popularity among American listeners

JLS:

---Bayley Brill freshman

--- Gunnar Thompson sophomore

“I listen to Joe Brooks because he’s beautiful and he’s going to be my future husband.”

--AJ Janwatin junior

“I listen to Coldplay, because I really like their music.”

--Noelle Davis AVID Teacher

—Compiled by Isabel Villarroel

Top 10 U.K. iTunes Downloads 1. The Edge of Glory Lady Gaga 2. Where Them Girls At (ft. Nicki Minaj & Flo Rida) David Guetta 3. The Lazy Song Bruno Mars 4. Party Rock Anthem (ft. Lauren Bennet & Goonrock) LMFAO 5. Give Me Everything (ft. Ne-Yo, Afrojack & Nayer) Pitbull 6. Beautiful People (ft. Benny Benassi Main Version) Chris Brown 7. Love Love Take That 8. Sweat (Remix) Snoop Dogg & David Guetta 9. Nobody’s Perfect Jessie J 10. Judas Lady Gaga

Top 10 U.S. iTunes Downloads 1. The Edge of Glory Lady Gaga 2. Rolling In The Deep ADELE 3. Give Me Everything (ft. Ne-Yo, Afrojack, & Nayer) Pitbull 4. Rolling In The Deep (Glee Cast Version ft. Jonathan Groff) Glee Cast 5. Just A Kiss Lady Antebellum 6. E.T. (ft. Kanye West) Katy Perry 7. The Lazy Song Bruno Mars 8. Jar Of Hearts (Glee Cast Version) Glee Cast 9. Friday (Glee Cast Version) Glee Cast 10. Just Can’t Get Enough The Black Eyed Peas

May 18, 2011

The British are coming

“I listen to You Me At Six because they make really catchy pop-punk music.”

“I like Example, because all his songs are techno and have a sick bass.”

the

PETERBOUROUGH, ENGLAND Whoever said boybands were gone forever obviously did not see London & Peterbourough heartthrobs JLS (also known as Jack the Lad Swing and formerly known as UFO) coming. The group, made up of Aston Merrygold, Marvin Humes, JB Gill and Ortisé Williams, got their name out when they entered Britain’s X-Factor. Hopeful to win, they advanced to the finals, finished as the fourth runner-up and were signed to Simon Cowell’s label, Syco. They quickly began working on their album, and released their first single, “BeatAgain”. Only six months after signing, the single reached #1 on the UK Singles Chart in July of 2009. In November of that year, the boys released their self-titled debut album, JLS. With great success, they hit the road on their first headline tour, visiting venues in the U.K. as well as Ireland. They later became the first contestants from X-Factor to receive a BRIT Award in 2010, in addition to selling over one million copies of their album. A new album titled Outta This World is currently in the works and is rumored to have a collaboration with Bruno Mars and one confirmed by Merrygold.

Jessie J: REDBRIDGE, LONDON, ENGLAND

Jessie J, born as Jessica Cornish in Redbridge, London, England began her music career touring as a back-up singer to the legendary Cyndi Lauper. Little do people know, she is an incredibly undercredited songwriter, writing hits for artists like Britney Spears, Alicia Keys, Rihanna, Chris Brown and Miley Cyrus. Her most successful track, “Party in the U.S.A” sent Miley Cyrus going platinum. The tedious process of perfecting her debut album Who You Are took almost six years. In late 2010, she finally released her first single “Do it Like a Dude,” which gained positive response from critics and quickly grabbed the number two spot on the U.K. Singles Chart. Her follow up single “Pricetag (featuring B.o.B)” gained her even more popularity not only in the U.K., but also right here in the States. The single soon climbed to #1 on the Billboard’s Hot 100, a great success for any artist. Her debut album was eventually released in April 2011, and reached number 11 on iTunes. She recently made her first television debut in the U.S. on NBC’s well known series, Saturday Night Live. Be sure to check her out on tour when she announces one.

—Compiled by Rachel Bergen and Helina Daniel

The Way It Was playing a variety of new songs at their shows, giving their fans a taste of the music to come. The band is currently on a U.S. tour with The Plain White T’s and will continue to tour this summer with The Goo Goo Dolls and Michelle Branch. The highly anticipated album left former fans nervous that it wouldn’t compare to their first and BY RACHEL BERGEN previous album, Losing Sleep, but Entertainment Editor it definitely beats down all of those If you like to listen to music that’s negative expectations. not completely overplayed Initially, the band on American Top 40 or 99.5, announced their then go buy Parachute’s Album Review: release date as April new album. Formerly The Way It Was 12 through Mercury known as Sparky’s Flaw, by: Parachute Records, but later Charlottesville, Virginia’s moved the date to pop-rock quintet, Parachute, May 7 (for reasons has finally released its currently unknown). sophomore album, titled The And it’s definitely Way It Was. With a sound worth the wait. more serious, more refined Although the band and incredibly unrivaled, played it somewhat it’s sure to climb the charts. With a safe this time around, they sound often compared to bands like managed to keep their familiar The Script, My Favorite Highway, sound, continued to write songs The All-American Rejects and with catchy lyrics and produced an Maroon 5, their music is also quick all-around good record. to please. The album’s filled with upbeat, The band currently consists of bouncy songs perfect for cruising frontman WillAnderson, drummer in the car with the windows down, Johnny Stubblefield, bassist which isn’t typical of Parachute, Alex Hargrave, guitarist Nate and even features a song titled McFarland and Kit French on the “Kiss Me Slowly,” co-written saxophone and keyboard. by Charles and Dave of Lady After Parachute wrapped up the Antebellum. year 2010, the band brought in the So if you choose to shell out a new year with a fall tour alongside few bucks on iTunes, and you like the U.K’.s Joe Brooks and Nashville what you hear, make sure to catch Tennessee’s Hot Chelle Rae. The Parachute on their summer tour at band promoted their album by Wolf-Trap on July 26.

Charlottesville locals, Parachute, release its sophomore album

B+

Tracklisting: 1. White Dress 2. You & Me 3. Something To Believe In (Jeremiah) 4. Forever and Always 5. What I know 6. American Secrets 7. Kiss Me Slowly 8. Halfway 9. Philadelphia 10. Square One (iTunes Bonus)

Mumford & Sons:

If you are looking for a band whose new to the music LONDON, ENGLAND scene, it could be Mumford & Sons. The band is made up of Marcus Mumford on guitar, mandolin and drums, Winston ‘Windog’ Marshall on banjo, Ben Lovett on keyboard and accordion, and Ted Dwane on bass and guitar. These indie-folk rock musicians have been playing music since 2006, releasing three EP’s titled Mumford & Sons (2008), Love Your Ground (2008), The Cave & The Open Sea (2009) and one full-length CD. They currently have only one album, their most recent release, Sigh No More. As an indie folk-rock band from London, England, their sound is definitely unique. They have been compared to bands like Bon Iver, Band of Horses and Blind Pilot, but with more of a blue grass feel, folk sound and country twang. Using instruments like the banjo, the resonator guitar and the mandolin, they have a sound sometimes referred to as “Irish folk”. Their most recent album, titled Sign No More, has gone platinum, selling over one million copies in the United States. So if you are interested in seeing them play live? They will be stopping by on their summer tour, on June 9 at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, MD. So hopefully you got tickets before it sold out!

Adele: WEST NORWOOD, SOUTH ENGLAND 23-year-old Adele Laurie Blue Adkins, formally known as Adele, is a soul R&B singer from West Norwood, South England. Singing about relationships, break-ups, fighting and love, Adele definitely sings with variety. As a musician, Adele has been producing music since 2006, but is currently blowing up the charts in both the U.S. and the U.K. In 2009, Adele was awarded a Grammy for Best New Artist after releasing her first album 19 in 2008. This year, Adele released her sophomore album, 21, and took it straight to the top, earning the #1 spot on the U.K. charts. Adele is currently touring the country on her Adele Live Tour with openers Wanda Jackson and Amos Lee. The tour covers 60 dates, 24 of which are in North America and 36 back home in Europe. Due to the overwhelming ticket sales and success of her music, Adele moved a handful of her shows to venues with a larger capacity to accommodate more fans. Unfortunately if you were hoping to see Adele on tour, she just played in Washington, DC at the 9:30 Club last week on May 12.

ENTERTAINMENT

May 18, 2011

The Scoons are back in action Pack: Yoko Ono is my inspiration. Banaszack: My inspiration is Bukowski.

The band, composed of AHS seniors, sits down with the A-Blast to discuss their musical endeavor

Are your family and friends supportive of you? Aman: Very supportive, and my sister’s in a band too. Pack: My family is, but Anthony and Jordan are not. Do you play at other venues? Aman: Yes, we’ve been playing around the area. We played at the 9:30 Club, Jaxx Nightclub and Jammin’ Java, but nothing lately.

BY HELINA DANIEL Entertainment Editor With May being a busy month for all students, The Scoons have reunited to compete in the Battle of the Bands at AHS, on May 20. Practicing when they can, band members Andrew Pack, Jordan Aman, and Anthony Banaszack prepare to compete against other talented bands.

Is music a hobby or do you plan on making it into a career? Aman: It definitley started out as a hobby, but it depends what opportunities fall ito our laps. Pack: I’d like it to be a career.

For the readers who don’t know, who does what in the band? Jordan Aman: Andrew Pack on drums, Anthony Banaszack on Guitar, and I am lead vocals and bass.

Where and how did you guys meet? Pack: Well Jordan and I met in middle school jumping rope in P.E., then he introduced me to Anthony. What kind of music do you guys play?

How have you guys been prepraing for the competition? Aman: We practice when we have time, but haven’t really prepared. But, we have been together long enough to feel comfortable on stage together and we are comforable with the setlist we have planned for our performance.

COURTESY OF JESSICA CAMILI

Why did you guys break up, and reunite? Andrew Pack: We had been playing for four years together, we just took a break to do other stuff, so I wouldn’t really say we broke up. We have always been friends, and we play too well together to stop. Aman: I agree, we stopped playing shows for a little bit because it was difficult to make time for playing and do it the way companies wanted us to do it.

For your performance at Battle of the Bands, will you be playing covers or originals? Aman: All originals, we don’t do covers.

Although music is currently a hobby, bandmates Andrew Pack, Jordan Aman, and Anthony Banaszack hope to one day make it into a career.

Anthony Banaszack: We play original compositions of electric rock.

What are your plans after high school? Aman: Art School at Florida State University. Pack: Becoming a logger on Ax Men (the show). Banaszack: My plans after high school is to go to college and become a vagrant writer.

Who are your musical inspirations? Aman: Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeplin, Blink 182, Artic Monkeys, etc.

Celebri-

Finally, a romantic comedy, with some actual comedy

You’re the melody entwined with my heart’s beat...the only song my soul sings.

BY HELINA DANIEL Entertainment Editor

—Jason Reeves

If you’re looking for a romantic comedy your boyfriend will not fall asleep in, Bridesmaids is the one. With familiar faces from NBC’s Saturday Night Live, Kristen Wiig and Maya Rudolph, play Annie and Lillian, best friends in Director Paul Feig’s latest movie, which was co-written by Wiig and Annie Mumolo. The trailer, which appears to be like a female version of the Hangover, does not do this film justice. It begins with an awkward love scene between Annie and Ted (played by Mad Men’s John Hamm) who is a complete jerk. When he asks her to leave, she is forced to begin her walk of shame, which ends with her in tree outside of his house. Soon enough she is talking with Lillian, who harshly tells her to stop going out with commitment phobe jerks like Ted. The childhood friends continue their week and we find that Annie lost her bakery and longtime boyfriend during the recession. As Friday comes, Annie is at Lillian’s apartment for their magazines and wine night, only for Lillian to inform her of her

Lovestrong debuts The Pennsylvannia songstress delivers a strong debut album BY HELINA DANIEL Entertainment Editor Growing up in the suburbs of Pennsylvania, Christina Perri left for California on her 21st birthday to pursue a music career like so many other hopefuls. After only 18 months, she returns home with a failed marriage, and a broken heart. Going straight to work she becomes a waitress by day, and a songwriter and recording artist by night. Writing music was a breeze for Perri, who has been at it since the age of 15. Soon enough her sparks of creativity sent her back to California, in which the popfolk artist released her first single “Jar of Hearts”, and later an EP titled The Ocean Way Sessions which features live versions

of a selected few songs that later premiered on her album. Topping the charts with “Jar of Hearts,” the songstress released the single “Arms,” followed by her debut album, titled Lovestrong. Her strong and unique vocals coupled with her simple yet relatable lyrics Album Review: proves to be a stellar Lovestrong restart to her music career. Pouring her heart and soul into her music, her words become an anthem for the heartbroken and the healing. With soft ballads such as “The Lonely,” in which she sings about losing herself in a relationship, many listeners can relate. Lovestrong also includes the sentimental romantic songs with a slightly quicker tempo for the lovestruck with songs such as “Miles,” which speaks directly to those trying to focus on the good in a relationship. Perri’s exquisite debut album receives a solidA, for her excellent songwriting and spectacular voice. Many would agree, as Perri has already had her music on the popular television series Glee, and So You Think You Can Dance. Perri’s deluxe album is now available on iTunes, and in stores with bonus tracks of “Black + Blue,” “Backwards,” and “My Eyes.”

Don’t miss out, Battle of the Bands will be held on May 20 in the Auditorium. Tickets are only $8 and includes a vote for your favorite band. Additional votes may be purchased: 2 for $1 or 12 for $5. Performers include; Ordinary Plus Rackel, Gwen and Paula Vertical Blue Hello Headlights Townhouse Oh, Satellite Audio Essence The Scoons with the Hero After Dawn DeCarlos

Upcoming Movie Sequel Releases May 20 Pirates of the Carribean: On Stranger Tides May 26 The Hangover Part II, Kung Fu Panda 2

Is Bridesmaids the new Hangover?

Get inside your favorite celebrities’ heads

engagement. Less than thrilled, Despite being asked to be her maid of honor, Annie panics, with thoughts of losing her other half to marriage. After a little more disaster and a run in with a cop (played by Chris O’Dowd),Annie tries to find a date for the engagement party, unsuccessfully. But, a possible love interest with cop is shown, and expanded on later in the film. Entering the party alone, as the valet struggles with her ancient car, Annie is greeted by Lillian and introduced to the rest of the bridesmaids, most notably, Helen (played by newcomer Rose Byrne), a Movie Review: beautiful and wealthy Bridesmaids new friend of Lillian’s who quickly becomes Annie’s rival. With competition between the two friends, old and new, they fight for the affection of Lillian, and over planning the upcoming bridal shower, bachelorette party, and the wedding itself. As the film continues (which is a total of two hours and five minutes), it reveals the comedy of life, the drama of friendship, and the romance in new love. Despite the comparison to the Hangover, Bridesmaids has it all, and more, even with it’s traditional plot. It bypasses the vulgarity of the Hangover and soars over the reckless adventures with grace. Who said a girl can’t be gross? As the rivalry deepens and the mishaps rise, tensions between the childhood friends thicken as they get closer to the wedding, and as the evil Helen tops every move Annie makes. Bridesmaids released on May 13, earned $24.4 million in its first weekend. The film is certainly worth the time and money, and is a great movie to begin the summer. This movie will have you laughing so hard, tears begin to fall. It gets an A+ for taking an overused plot and creating a timeless story. It sets the bar very high for all upcoming romantic comedies with its unique interpretation and expression of jealousy, rivalry, and love.

A+

June 10 Never Back Down 2 June 24 Cars 2 July 1 Transformer: Dark of the Moon July 15 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 August 19 Spy Kids 4

What is your favorite movie sequel? “Fast Five is my favorite sequel! Everyone should watch.”

---Evelyn Perez freshman

“My favorite sequel is Toy Story 3 because it was awesome!”

—Alexis Garretson sophomore

“Back to the Future 2, it was hands down the greatest movie sequel ever.”

--Troy Callahan junior “I don’t really like sequels, they always seem to ruin the first movie.”

--Marissa Uriarte junior

!SUDOKU!

What is the most anticipated movie sequel this summer? 80

44%

“My favorite sequel is Harry Potter and the Death Hollows so far because it has a lot of action.”

---Maha Shah senior

—Compiled by Isabel Villarroel

16%

WEBSUDOKU.COM

Go to thea-blast.org for a concert review on Beirut.

HANGOVER 2

HARRY POTTER 7

TRANSFORMERS 3

BREAKING DAWN

This survey was distributed on May 6 during R7 and May 9 during all lunches. Out of the 250 surveys distributed, 209 were returned and counted. The top 4 choices are shown above.

20 To Do List

WEEKEND

May 18, 2011

Soaking up the sunshine April showers brought May flowers and the need to get outside

Zoofari About 100 restaurants in the Washington, D.C. area will be coming together on May 19 from 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. for the annual ZooFari. The evening will include fine-dining and entertainment at the National Zoo.

Biking

National Zoo

Not only is biking an excellent form of exercise for the health of your heart, but it is also a fun way to commute from point A to point B. You can pair up with your friends, hop on your bikes and travel around the local Lake Accotink trails, taking in the scenery of the tall trees encompassing you. If you are prefer something more adventurous than you could always have a race. You can set up cones as your start and finish lines or just race around the neighborhood, being wary of pedestrians and cars, of course.

Fine Arts Festival The Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival will take place from May 2122 from 10:00 - 6:00 p.m., and will feature approximately 220 accomplished artists. This outdoor, jury voted, exhibit will be held on the streets of Reston Town Center for people to view and purchase art.

Roaring tigers, towering giraffes and barking sea lions are only a Metro trip away. The National Zoo, in Washington D.C., contains approximately 2,000 animals from over 400 different species in their 16 primarily outdoor exhibits. With the cool springtime weather and free admission, it is the perfect time to take a trip to the zoo. And if the weather gets hotter, there is no need to worry, because the National Zoo also features several indoor exhibits, shows and activities.

Putt-putt

DC101 chili cookoff

What could be a better way to enjoy the great weather outside than to be at the miniature golf course for under $10? The miniature golf courses at the Mid-Atlantic Golf Center, Cameron Run Regional Park and Upton Hill Regional Park are all convenient places and are within driving distance. You can bring along a group of friends to have some fun outdoors while competing against each other to see who can score the most points.

After six years, DC101 will once again host its chili cook-off on May 21, combining a cooking competition alongside several musical performances. The event will be held at the RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. beginning at 11 a.m., and will benefit the National Kidney Foundation. Tickets can be purchased for $35 online or for $55 at the gate.

Walk to Cure Diabetes

If you like to volunteer and help others, the D.C. Walk to Cure Diabetes is a great spring activity for you. The 5K walk, which will take place beginning at 10 a.m. on May 22, is in cooperation with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the worldwide leading research program from type 1 diabetes, and will be collecting any fees and Roller coasters, junk donations it receives food and carnival games can make to go towards finding for a great day with friends or family. a cure. This event is Amusement parks in Virginia such as an opportunity for Kings Dominion, Busch Gardens and Six you to get involved Flags may be a few hours away a piece, but and help out the rush from screaming your head off when your community, you drop from about 50ft on a fast zooming exercise your legs roller coaster gives you something to look and possibly meet forward to. new people.

Is it better to get name brand or local ice cream?

Amusement A muse Parks

“I like brand name better because I think they have more flavors.”

—Mirien Romero sophomore

“I like the local shops better because it’s cheaper and it tastes better.”

—Jimmy Phommaviseth junior

“I think it’s the same because ice cream is just ice cream.”

Shopping in Georgetown rggetown Georgetown may be considered as one of D.C.’s most visited areas to shop at by locals and even celebrities. The main street mall has many mid- and highend stores ranging from vintage boutiques to well-known stores like H&M and Urban Outfitters. Shopping can easily wear anyone out but all that energy can be gained back by some of Georgetown’s finest restaurants. Aside from the typical American dining like Chipotle, Johnny Rockets, and Georgetown Wing CO., there is always something for cultural families like the Aditi Indian Cuisine and Chopsticks Japanese Restaurant. Georgetown is also home to the famous Georgetown Cupcakes.

Delights in disguise

—Stephanie Escobar senior

Five local hidden ice cream shops are uncovered

2011 class bulletin Prom tickets are on sale for $45 in the cafeteria Senior graduation countdown: 29 days

Lazy Sundae

Although the appearance of the shop is not exactly eye-catching, the ice cream surely makes up for it. Lazy Sundae’s has a lot more to offer then just ice cream with their delicious baked goods and even a deli section called Mikes Deli. This shop is most definitely for you if waking up early is more then a mission for you since Lazy Sundae’s offers breakfast all day. Best Known For: Having over 50 different homemade ice cream flavors.

The class of 2011 will hold a car wash on May 21

Location: 110 N West St, Falls Church, VA 22046

Carvel

This famous, yet nearly impossible to find ice cream shop, has many options ranging from Fanta, Coca Cola, and Barq’s Rootbeer icebergs to shakes, sundaes, and ice cream cakes. Even if you are in the mood for something that might be a little healthier, Carvel offers real fruit mixture blended smoothies that are sure to keep you coming back.

Visit us at www.thea-blast. org to view exclusive “Last Weekend I...” stories.

Best Known For: Their ice cream cupcakes and Carvelanches. Location: 9715 Fairfax Blvd, Fairfax, VA 22031

Kaleidescoops

Not only is this shop located in front of a shopping center and movie theater, but it also has more then enough space for customers to be able to sit down and enjoy their ice cream inside the shop or even outside. This shop is a great place to give your taste buds something new to taste like their spontaneously named ice cream flavors names like Spumoni, Rum Raisin, and More Cowbell. Best Known For: Their low calorie natural ice cream. Location: 5296 Kingstowne Towne Ctr, Alexandria, VA 22315

4 4.

Woody’s

Even though the shop is slightly out of the way for most people, their soft serve ice cream is worth it. Despite their recent move, it still features their traditional cones, milkshakes, and sundaes piled high with whipped cream. In favor of Woody’s new shop, overcrowding has not been a situation since it seats approximately 50 people, without including the picnic tables outside.

Frozen Dairy Bar

This boardwalk inspired ice cream shop allows you to eliminate a road trip to the beach by getting fresh boardwalk pizza and beach fries right at the shop or delivered to your home. After having been successful for 61 years now, it would be a massive understatement to say that this shop has not met customers expectations.

Best Known For: Their original chocolate, vanilla or twist soft serve ice cream cones.

Best Known For: Their frozen custard flavors, ranging from Pineapple Cheesecake to Nutter Flutter.

Location: 10435 North St, Fairfax, VA 22030

Location: 6641 Arlington Blvd, Falls Church, VA 22042