4 News features English teacher, Niki Holme’s, transition to Scotland
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10-11
Arts
By the numbers
International
Sports
discusses the cost of foreign travel for student summer plans
highlights the state victory by the boy’s varsity track team
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displays the many colleges that seniors will be attending in the fall
ANNANDALE HIGH SCHOOL 4700 Medford Dr. Annandale, VA 22003
Informiing the Atoms siince 1954 4
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 2012
(703) 642-4229 Top left: Seniors Annie Nguyen and Robson De Souza pose at Prom. Top right: AHS alumni Hannah Flaherty and Ryan Schubert.
The place that Annandale’s boys track team finished in at states on Saturday See page 17
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The average number of hours per month that students spend on FaceBook See page 3
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The number of tips for college living from an AHS alumni See page 14
207
The number of seniors surveyed to crown their class superlatives See page 6
$395
The number of American dollars that a Zambian worker earns annually See page 12
Yearbook distribution Yearbooks will be on sale for the rest of the school year for $80. See Julie Hanneman in Room 262 for more information. An accompanying copy of the Filament will also be given out with every Yearbook while supplies last.
Senior obligations due All seniors will need to turn in all senior obligations if they are looking to graduate at Constitution Hall on June 14. See the list of senior dues posted by the attendance office.
Bottom left: Seniors Alec Villafana and Natalie Ford pose at Prom. Bottom right: AHS alumni Omar Ezzedine and Letitia Romero.
COLLEEN ADENAN
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17
In-Depth
provides a preview of the 2012 AHS Film Festival
the VOLUME #57 ISSUE 13
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Math teacher Gail Chmura has been a prominent instructor at AHS since 1988.
Many couples have been faced with the decision of continuing their relationships after graduation.
Saying good-bye Many teachers planning to leave after year’s end BY COLLEEN ADENAN Co-Editor in Chief In her 19 years as a guidance counselor at AHS, Linda Wheeler has memories of all the students and faculty whom she has worked with. Yet, one student from 1997 stands out from all the others. As she begins to pack up her office and say her good-byes, the memory of a student that was taken in by a fellow faculty member still enters her mind every day. Mariam Salad, a refugee from Somalia, arrived in New York alone at the age of 15. After being forced to move out from her cousin’s apartment due to
her cousin’s inappropriate boyfriend, Wheeler asked teachers to help find a shelter or donate items through a letter in their mailboxes for Salad. What ended up astonishing her and creating an inspiring story was when former AP History teacher Eleanor Shoemaker offered to take in Salad. “[Salad] stays in my mind because her story was dramatic, compelling and unusual,” Wheeler said. “It’s not everyday that a faculty member would offer to take in a student like that. I think it definitely reflects how the faculty here is so helpful and caring of each other and the students.” Wheeler is one of six teachers that volunteered to be interviewed by The A-Blast. There are several other faculty members that are retiring, transferring or leaving under other circumstances. Wheeler has worked with FCPS for 33 years. She was an elementary school teacher for seven years at Forestdale Elementary School and a high school
High school sweethearts: what comes next? BY NIKKI CONTRINO Retiring Managing Editor In a few short days, seniors are going to be saying good-bye to all the things they love about high school, but a few seniors are unwilling to let go of their first loves. Seniors Natalie Ford and Alec Villafana, who have been dating for about three and a half years, are going to plan to stay together for as long as they can during college. Since Ford is attending East Carolina University, and
“Teachers leaving” continues on page 5
School board adopts budget
Villafana is attending Mt. Olive College, they are only about two hours from one another, giving them hopes the short distance will work towards their advantage. “I think it will work, because we aren’t that far away from each other and we are both going to make the effort; [however], it’s really upsetting that we have to leave each other,” Ford said. “The best we can do is try and make it work.” However, some high school couples have no idea what will happen when the doors to high school close. Annie Nguyen and her boyfriend Robson De Souza have learned to enjoy what they have now and not dread the first year of college until they are in the situation. De Souza will be attending Virginia Tech while Nguyen attends VCU. “We’ve talked about what we would possibly do, but there’s never “Sweethearts” continues on page 5
COURTESY OF BRIAR CREEK PHOTOGRAPHY
Athletic fees to be eliminated by upcoming school year BY COLLEEN ADENAN Co-Editor in Chief
Students compete in Post Hunt On your smartphone, scan this code using the application “QR Code” to read about students competing in the Washington Post’s annual Post Hunt.
After debating for five hours and considering more than a dozen amendments, the school board passed the FY 2013 budget of $2.4 billion and removed the $100 dollar athletic fee policy implemented two years ago. “My concern with the athletic fees since I came on the board two years ago was that it would discourage students from participating in sports and would put too great a burden on many families,” Mason district school board member Sandy Evans said. The policy required students to pay a $100 fee for each sport they played, with the fee capped at $200, an improvement for threeseason athletes. Students that were part of the free or reduced lunch program received a waiver for the fees. “I’m happy about the change in the athletic fee policy because the thing about high school sports is that students can play because they don’t have to pay for anything like uniforms, equipment or travel,” junior Clare Lazar said. “When they changed the athletic fee policy, it seemed less like high school sports.” This year, Evans offered an amendment to eliminate the fees, which was incorporated into “School board” continues on page 5
Juniors Laura Hackfeld and Gwen Levey as the sweet, but twisted aunts in the fall production of “Arsenic and Old Lace.”
Theater receives nominations Two students to attend the Kennedy Center on Sunday for Cappies awards gala BY ABBY BARNES Arts Editor Two juniors, Laura Hackfeld and Gwen Levey, were nominated for the Cappies, a high school theater arts and journalism awards program, in the category of Best Ensemble in a Play. Founded in 1999, it is arguably the most prestigious award offered to high school theater participants in the
D.C. metropolitan area. Cappies Singers, a group of students that make up a selective honors choir, will open and close the Cappie awards ceremony at the Kennedy Center on June 10. Levey made the Cappies Singers group, which only approximately twenty other students from across the country were chosen for. Hackfeld made the nominations list for another coveted category, Comic Actress in a Play. She could not wait for the nominations to be out. “I kept scrolling the page, looking for Annandale among the throng of schools [on the Cappies nominations website],” Hackfeld said. “And when I found Gwen and my nomination, my jaw dropped, and I covered my mouth.” “Cappies” continues on page 8
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How do you feel about the changes made to Atom Time? “I hate it because I never get any down time during the day.”
—Kara Hoisington freshman
“I hate it because I don’t have a choice of what teachers I go to.”
—Lewis Folli sophomore
“I don’t like it because I like the freedom of going where I need to go.”
— Kelcie Chandler sophomore
Editorials Issues concerning new Atom Time
June 6, 2012
Changes to Atom Time schedule are too similar to past Flex failure By Destiny Gammon Editorials Editor Flex. Atom time. SOL remediation. No matter what you call it, it’s pointless. At the beginning of the school year, what used to be known as Flex was changed into the new and what was once improved, W4 and Atom Time combination. Flex was a free hour and a half that was split into two 45-minute segments in which two designated periods would be attended. At the end of the 2010-2011 school year, it was decided to turn this waste of time into something more efficient called Atom Time. This new Atom Time would consist of a homeroom class called W4, and would continue with either free time, study hall or designated class due to low grades. This creation was one of the most genius ideas the school has ever come up with. This gave students the chance to bring up their grades in classes they were struggling in while also rewarding students who had good grades. These honor roll students, or “Atoms in good standing” were given the opportunity
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Most students have only one or two SOLs to prepare for
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Less time is available for students to study for final exams with other teachers
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Students with good grades are wasting time in classes that help is not needed in
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Students know themselves the best and should be able to choose where they
to do whatever they pleased, within reason, as an incentive for doing well in school. I was able to get things done in many of my classes, and this allowing homework to be a breeze. If students wanted to hang out with friends in the gym or cafeteria, there was nothing to it. Just a simple sign of the name and you had an hour to kill! Now, with less than a month left of school, the new Atom Time has begun. This new Atom Time schedule consists of directing students to a specific period for an hour and a half without letting them leave to see other teachers. Sure, I understand that some students need help to prepare for the SOLs, but wasn’t
the old “directed atoms” schedule enough? The SOLs are some of the easiest tests ever given to high school students. Not all students need this remediation, especially if they have an ‘A’ or ‘B’ in the class on a regular basis. The reason for creating this new atom time schedule was to increase crowd control in the hallways due to SOL testing. By keeping students in one classroom during the atom time period, this prevents any disruption to those who are testing in classrooms throughout the school. Also, many classrooms are being used for those who need assisted SOL testing, so any empty classes that exist during Atom Time are used for these students,
SOLs: the biggest waste of time
B
“I don’t like it because I was in good standing and now I can’t go where I want to.”
New Atom Time has downfalls
Although the reasoning for changing Atom Time makes sense, it is still unfair that students are forced to go to one particular teacher. It would be just as effective to make sure students are in one classroom for the whole atom time, but where they go is up to them. As long as students are not disrupting the quiet that exists in the hallways, we should have the opportunity to make our own choices that help better our academic achievements. Also, students, like myself for example, only have one or two SOLs to complete anyways. This means that five of their other W4 periods are wasted when they can be working to bring up grades in other classes. What about those classes where there is not an SOL? Are PE students supposed to study the perfect pushup form for an hour? Like I said: wasted time. If the school wants its students to be their best, shouldn’t they be more concerned with students working on what they find to be most beneficial? It’s understandable that final exams are coming up and these sessions are meant to help student prepare, but one or two study hours with their teacher is not as helpful as it may seem. The school should go back to the old Atom Time schedule in order to allow students to thrive in their academics. Not to mention, free time for those who find school to be a piece of cake isn’t too bad either.
arker’s arks Column
By James Barker
“I think it’s dumb because we [students] can’t go to the classes we need to go to.”
—Alex King senior
QUOTE COLLECTION
The A-Blast wants to hear your opinion. Your response to the following question might be features in our quote collection:
What is your opinion of the SOLs and how beneficial they are to students? E-mail your responses to ablast.editorials@gmail.com
CORRECTIONS Vol. 57, Issue 12:
As school winds down, the focus level of students is at an all-time low. Half of you all won’t even finish this article. So let me get my point out nice and clear. SOLs are a waste of time, space and money. At the end of every year, teachers begin to give students study guide after study guide, preparing them for the dreaded SOLs. Not only are the students freaking out about the upcoming tests, but the teachers are, too. The teachers Many wonder whether or not the final exams and SOLs are beneficial to students and if they represent their understanding. need to show the school and the county that they are teaching the curriculum correctly and to someone’s education, but in the long run, it is a missed by next class. That is unfair to the students efficiently. waste of money and effort because it wasn’t their choice to miss the class. But what is the point? The amount of time spent preparing for all The other side of this is that some teachers SOLs show other states, and the world, how of the tests is inconceivable! Teachers hand out don’t do anything because half of the class is gone. each individual state is doing academically. In this modern age, there is huge educational competition packet after packet, killing trees and upsetting They have the students watch a movie or do busy between countries, states, and even individual “Mother Nature.” The packets are usually left work that does not help them at all. It is not the students. These SOLs are used as a basis to show blank and thrown away, since teachers don’t teachers’ fault that they do this. If they try to teach the students who are in class, the students who others how each individual student is doing. Yet always collect them as homework. Students don’t want to be bombarded with missed class will be behind. colleges and high schools alike do not always use The worst part of SOLs is the stress factor. As I the SOLs as actual grades to benefit or hurt a this nonsense at the end of the school year. All that is on their minds at this point is freedom said before, this time of year is when it is hardest student’s grade. The United States is about $14 trillion in debt. and getting a tan. Is the last month of school for students to pay attention. The pool is open, Everyone must be frugal with their money so this important? Unfortunately, yes, it is. Would I it’s warm out, and the ice cream man begins to economic crisis does not continue. Fairfax County rather lay around and play COD and watch That make his rounds throughout the neighborhoods. This culture already puts too much pressure on Public Schools are always looking for ways to save 70’s Show? Again, yes. These SOL tests cause stress and put pressure the lives of teenagers for them to be shoving even money, or put their money to a better use. According to FCPS Superintendent of Public on students when they least need it. The more strenuous preparations on students. Are there solutions to this issue? Of course Instruction Patricia I. Wright, SOLs cost about consequences for failing an SOL can be very heavy, $36 million every year. Compared to the county’s depending on one’s class or subject. Failing this there are. If states need that educational basis to prove budget of almost $3 billion, this is not a very one 60 problem test could ruin someone’s school year, even if they did pass the class throughout to the schools and other states that what they are weighty cost. teaching is correct and that their teachers are Yet, think about what you could do with $36 the year. If one teacher spends at least three classes teaching it effectively, then keep the SOLs. million. Every penny counts. Schools are always The SOLs should not be just some random test looking for ways to save money. I feel that schools preparing for an SOL, that is four and a half hours can do better when it comes to handling their of class wasted. The teacher could be reviewing for that has no effect on our lives. It should count as a money. $36 million can be a lot of money to benefit the final exam, which is much more important to grade. Teachers should make the SOL be the final other things, such as books, science equipment, a student’s grade. In many cases, a final exam is exam of the year. If it was, then students would worth one fifth of the course’s final grade. take it more seriously and not have to worry about and even a better pay rate for teachers. One of the most annoying part of the SOLs is two different tests. This would be more effective This money could help many different programs that help students succeed in life. Today, this the fact that teachers still teach the rest of the and less time consuming. money goes to some tests that may benefit a little class even when you are taking the test. They expect you to make up all the work that you
DESTINY GAMMON
—Brandon Marwah senior
–– On the rail of page 16, Sanus’s last name is Jalloh and he is a sophomore, not a senior.
Staff
In Trouble for Tebowing In your smartphone, scan the QR code to read a story about a high school student who wrongly got in trouble for tebowing at his high school graduation.
Annandale High School 4700 Medford Dr. Annandale, Virginia 22003 email: theablast@gmail.com
Vol. 57 No.13 June 6, 2012 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, 2010.
EDITORIALS Question: Shoes or no shoes? June 6, 2012
K.L. HOANG In-Dpeth Editor
OMNIA SAED
Surprised glances and “isn’t that a health issue?” comments are common from passers-by who notice that I am without footwear. My answer is always “no, to the contrary, it’s quite healthy” with a smile. Feet are quite an oddity in public, unless you are on a beach or at home-where it’s socially accepted. This is the heart of the problem. Once the social stigma is passed, people realize that living and moving barefoot is more than fine, but very healthy!
Health Shoes hinder your body from moving the way it is supposed to. Naturally, the foot when walking or running contacts the ground on the ball of the foot. The clunky shoes people wear have thick soles and force a person’s foot to walk awkwardly, and in time, cause detrimental health effects to the skeletal and muscular systems. Emerging studies such as Harvard’s Skeletal Biology Lab give evidence to these claims. Even if people do try to walk or run barefoot after wearing shoes for years, some complain that it hurts. Well of course it hurts! Your feet had been wearing casts for years, and when you took those casts off, the unexercised muscles were shocked by the change. If you work on it however, the feet and leg muscles get stronger and the body becomes used to walking naturally again. Most would think walking around shoeless is nasty and unhygienic, but the opposite is true. Moisture, perspiration and a lack of ventilation leads to to conditions like athlete’s foot. Shoes create the perfect
Hoang has chosen not to wear shoes for the past two months and has even gone to school barefoot.
environment for thriving detrimental bacteria. Barefoot walking allows feet to breathe and cleanse naturally. Additionally, barefooting protects people from getting pains from constricting footwear and other painful conditions like bunions. Everyone knows the great feeling of getting home and taking your shoes off. Why not feel like that all the time? Shoes are supposed to protect people from hard surfaces, but our feet already naturally protect themselves from anything that could harm them. The skin on our palms and feet is different from the skin on the rest of the body. Plantar skin, as it is called, can take approximately 600% more tension than the rest of the body and thickens as one walks. Most people don’t wear gloves when they play guitar, and the strength and thickness fingers develop is not unsightly or hindering to the person.
Disproving Myths Whether hiking through a forest or shopping in a grocery store,
barefooting is not illegal and unsafe, but is unfortunately believed to be. The signs expressing “No shirt, no shoes, no service.” became popular in the 70s when the counter-culture of hippies--many who went barefoot and shirtless--rose in popularity and people became scared of what they didn’t understand. Signs like these have no foundation in law or regulation and are only remnants of discrimination and fear. There are to this day no health regulations regarding bare feet or the requirement of shoes, except under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHO), which requires workers to wear “safety shoes” only under specific circumstances such as heavy machinery or immediate dangers. In grocery stores and restaurants, bare feet are no more of a health issue than shoes, if not less. The small amount of dirt and bacteria acquired by walking barefoot is no more dangerous than the larger amount collected by shoes. Most people don’t put their shoes on the table when they
eat, and most barefooters don’t either. Their soles stay on the ground where they are the most comfortable. For a successful lawsuit, four factors must be proven: a duty of care to the customer, a breach of that duty (negligence), a causal link between the breach and harm, and actual harm or damage. If a barefooter does step on a piece of glass or cut themselves, the risk would not be placed on the party sued, but the client. No logical judge would take a case where a barefooter sued a company for stepping on glass and hurting themselves. The walker accepted the risk when he took his shoes off or walked in barefoot. Additionally, no sane barefooter would choose to sue over this as it would lead to precedents and restrictions to walking barefoot! The last issue faced by barefooters and promoted by others is that walking barefoot is offensive. This thought is against the very core of our nation’s principles. People are allowed to do what they wish, unless they harm people directly. Choosing to be barefoot is no different than having pink hair, a tattoo, or an opinion. The only problem holding back people from accepting bare feet in public is the social stigma of walking barefoot. “Everyone else wears shoes and I was born and raised wearing shoes. If you don’t wear shoes something is wrong with you”. Statements like this impede our society from progressing and understanding the world. I choose to live barefoot because for the above health reasons and because it connects me spiritually to planet earth. I have a natural right to do this and the misunderstanding floating around barefooting is ungrounded. Feet are not something to be scared of, but tolerated and understood.
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Trending Topics
The Class of 2012’s commencement ceremony will be held on June 14, 2012
Facebook shares are reporting dramatic losses, as the price of one of the worlds largest special
The AHS Varsity Boys track team was crowned Regional State Champions and both Girl and Boys varsity track teams will be going to states.
The new generation of profilers Social Media is becoming the leading instigator bigotry and labeling in “Generation X”
Editorials Column
By Omnia Omn O mnia ia Saed SSae aed d Once you meet someone it seems to become habit to stalk them on Facebook. Look at their likes, their favorite quotes, who they consider to be influential, what pictures they post up, and who their friends are. We try to learn as much as we can, and from there we create who they are; their identity. Not just limited to Facebook. It seems that our generation has become a generation of profilers. And I, being just as guilty as everyone else, found that we as a society have become accustomed with creating representations of people, what they like and ultimately who they are. I’m not talking about stereotypes. No, it has become more complicated than that. With our phones glued to our hands, ear buds in our ears, iTouches streaming, we have become the generation of technology, entertainment, and judgement. What we read, what we listen to, what we see, seems to be a generation of representation. Profiles of society. Especially seen in our celebrities and icons. The headlines we read, and the shows we watch highlight a label we have put on. It seems to be a common fact that Justin Bieber
GRAPHIC BY DESTINY GAMMON
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mnia’s pinion
is a wannabe-hipster that sings like a girl, Lebron James is the sports world’s most revered backstabber and Kim Kardashian is the most annoying human being on earth. And girls, as trite as it may be, have been created to fit one body structure. Magazines and ads covers showcase models of what have become the perfect profile; what our generation sees as perfection. Tall, thin, glossy hair, the perfect face structure and a blinding smile. You may think that the issue has come a long and gone issue, but it highlights a growing trend in our generation. Since we spend most of our time online, we become susceptible to what we read and what we see. Without even realizing it, we keep track of the pictures and ads we pass over, and the identity society has put on individuals to search for perfection. Teens spend on average 15 hours per month on Facebook. And all of this seems to be fueled by social media. If one person says it, twenty people “like it,” then any form, but as a society it seemed that our mind was made. we’re incline to think it. Even as new developments expanded and evidence According to The American Psychological Association, seven percent of an impression is based was released to the public, we come to the notion that on what one says, 38 percent is based on how someone we’ll never know what had happened, yet ultimately it doesn’t seem matter. says it, and 55 percent is based on appearance. The Martin story took over Twitter in a However, it seems today another percentage should pandemonium. With more than 100 tweets per minute, be added based on social media perception. With almost 200 million tweets posted everyday and #wewantjustice and #justicefortrayvonmartin and Facebook users spending an average of 15 hours becoming worldwide trends, society had made up per month in Facebook, it seems that social media their mind. Zimmerman was officially profiled. plays a pivotal role in society, and most importantly Maybe rightfully so, but it seems that we’ll never in what we think. You might think I may be over really know, especially without all of the facts. analyzing, but take the Trayvon Martin case for As cliché as it may sound, the old saying don’t example. The world went in an uproar as anger spread that a young boy was killed; and when the idea that judge a book by its cover needs to be put in affect, and racial profiling may have been at fault, the fire grew I suppose a little refined. So I guess, don’t judge a book by it’s cover, a person stronger. But just as fast as the news spread, George Zimmerman become the world’s most hated man. Now by their Tweet and a status by it’s likes or else you’ll don’t get me wrong, I’m not defending Zimmerman in become an official newly-reformed, societal profiler.
The UN reports that more than 108 bodies were found in the city of Houla, Syria due to the ongoing conflicts in the country.
Terminating Affirmative Action Race has become an unmerited advantage in college admissions When applying to the school of your choice, you work as hard as you possibly can. After all, it is your dream school. You study for weeks in advance before your SAT’s to earn those above average scores, write and re-write your essay as many times as it takes until you’ve reached perfection and stay after multiple days of the week to maintain your standing in clubs and on sports teams. But when compared with other students, before the crucial verdict is reached, the races of the applicants are noted. Unexpectedly, something completely out of your control is thrown into the decision making process and there is nothing you can do about it. You happen to be white, and your dream school is 89% white. Suddenly, everything you have worked for throughout the past four years has been put on the back burner and not recognized for its entirety because of your skin tone. Affirmative action is not meant for the minority to be admitted simply because they are a minority, but if two candidates are closely ranked the college is granted the ability to choose the minority over the white student. For a country whose fundamental principles are based on fairness and equality for all, how is Affirmative Action not seen as racist and discriminatory? Affirmative Action in college admissions
OMNIA SAED
BY MEGAN FLYNN Lifestyles Editor
The issue of Affirmative Action will be reviewed this fall.
is exactly racism, and can be considered as backtracking considering all the progress made to combat racism. I was always taught in school growing up that people are the same no matter what they look like, and that everyone is equal. I guess these principles aren’t relevant to the college admissions process, because minorities are allowed an automatic “leg up” on a white student who has similar credentials. Sure, the statistics are there saying African American students are more likely to live in poverty as opposed to white students, but this country shouldn’t lose its fundamentals to accommodate to the minority. If Affirmative Action was the other way around, for instance, and the student whose skin color is the majority was accepted simply on the fact they are the majority, people would be staging riots. But because it aids the minority and encourages diversity suddenly it is okay and people support this movement. That, to me, does not make sense whatsoever.
I know colleges have the right intentions in mind, but they are going about it the wrong way. Students who work hard and earn their college acceptance letter should be admitted, bottom line. Affirmative action is still in place because it is expected that white students have greater advantages in life and in school because they are considered the majority. What colleges don’t realize, however, is that that is a completely false belief. Take Annandale High School for instance, a school prided on its diversity and where whites are the obvious minority. When applying to college I, being a white student, would automatically have my achievements overshadowed simply based off of the fact that I am white and colleges assume I’ve lived an easy and privileged life. This is an unfair assumption, because colleges would only see my skin tone and not realize that I am in fact the minority who spent four years in high school with the adversities associated with being the minority. So how could giving me a slight disadvantage in the college admissions process because I am the majority be fair considering I am, in actuality, the minority in my class. Allowing the minority a small advantage based on something out of their control is completely ridiculous. You can’t choose who your parents are, and you can’t change your heritage. Therefore, race shouldn’t even be in the equation of a college admission. If the majority of the school is white because they were the most qualified out of the applicants received, then so be it. The fact that a student checks the “White/Caucasian” box on their application shouldn’t matter; it shouldn’t even be seen by the college admissions board.
Name a celebrity or icon that has been labeled by society.
“Pusha T is seen as a weak person. He’s old. Stop your game.” — Kayla Gasque
freshman
“Justin Bieber. He’s overrated and overexposed.”
— Hector Lopez sophomore
“Lindsy Lohan. She’s a druggie.” — Jennifer Lee sophomore
“One Direction. Their music is sort of okay, but they get annoying.”
— David Vo junior
“Miley Cyris is seen as a bad girl. [A] Disney star gone bad.”
— Bekah Zorn senior
— Compiled by Omnia Saed
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News Community unites against cancer June 6, 2012
IB Film Festival The annual IB Film Festival will be held on Friday, June 8 at 7 p.m. Admission is $5, and tickets will be sold at the door. Films are created by the IB Film I and II students. See page 8 for more details.
Band Carwash The band department is hosting a carwash on June 9 at the Ravensworth Sunoco at the Ravensworth Shopping Center and the Pinecrest Exxon at 6566 Little River Turnpike by the Home Depot from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
IB Senior Awards Dinner All senior IB Diploma candidates are invited to attend the IB Senior Awards Dinner at 5 p.m. in Clausen Hall.
Parent/Teen Traffic Safety Program The last Parent/Teen Traffic Safety Program of the year will be held on Tuesday June 12 at 6:30 p.m. in Clausen Hall. It is a requirement for students who wish to get their driving license this year.
All Night Grad Tickets All Night Grad tickets are on sale for $45 ($20 Free and Reduced lunch forms are avaialable from counselors).Tickets are $60 on the night of graduation. Tickets can be bought online or during lunch on June 7.
For further online content, such as the stories listed below, visit: www.thea-blast.org
Joel StratteMclure visits AHS by K.L Hoang Former journalist Joel Stratte Mclure visited AHS to give a book talk
Community play by Abby Barnes The John Calvin Presbyterian Church produced Legally Blonde 2: The Musical on May 25 and 26.
Theatre I play On your smartphone, scan the above code using the application “QR Code” to view a story about the the Theatre I play that happened on June 5.
MYP Coordinator Linda Bradshaw recently received the painful news that her 19 month old son, Tyler, was diagnosed with cancer. The news that changed the family’s life sparked the AHS community into action, launching school-wide efforts to ease the strain on the Bradshaws. Teachers and students both have donated money to help the family pay off medical bills. As of Friday, June 1, the total amount donated to Bradshaw is $1194.68. Money has been donated by both teachers and students alike. The English department passed around a jar for donations that students have given hundreds of dollars in donations. “At this point, my students alone have donated over $240, so I’m pretty proud of my students,” English teacher Stefanie Guffey said. “They’ve Seniors Rachel Bergen and William Bennett count money raised by the English department. AHS has raised over $1100. done a lot of good.” According to Guffey, Tyler used to suck his ways as well. In addition to donating money, different thumb for comfort. Since undergoing cancer “My mom told me ‘your teacher is really fortunate departments have organized different activities treatment, he understandably has been sucking because she has a whole school supporting her.’ to take care of the Bradshaw home and her other his thumb often. However, he has sucked and bit Students are giving money and making food for two sons. his thumb to an extreme degree, which could cause her,” Ilagan said. “My parents never had that.” “The school has really come through for her,” blistering and more complications. As a result, Support has come in the forms of comforting English teacher Sarita Viloria said. the doctors have bandaged his thumb. His other letters, cards and fundraising events that are still Teachers, including Guffey and Viloria, have measure of comfort, twirling his hair, is also no ongoing throughout the school. gone to Bradshaw’s home to cook and clean, taking longer an option since he begins chemotherapy “I think that the school has character, and it over tasks that can’t be focused on with Tyler in which will cause his hair to fall out. really supports the staff at difficult times,” Viloria the hospital. As part of efforts to comfort the child, Guffey has said. “Well, the school as a whole is making meals begun asking her classes for books for Bradshaw The challenge has united the community for the family,” Guffey said. “I took over a meal to read to Tyler in order to comfort him. together with a single purpose; to support one of on Saturday and talked to Mr. Bradshaw for a “I asked my honors classes to donate books their fellow Atoms. little bit, but I believe one department organized so Ms. Bradshaw can read books to Tyler in the “As a community, I feel as though we have cleaning [the house].” hospital,” Guffey said. really all come together to take care of this family,” Guffey added that staff members have been Senior Alison Ilagan’s parents went through the Guffey said. trying to find babysitters for her other two sons same experience many years ago, and her family while their parents are in the hospital with their has supported the Bradshaws in many different youngest brother. CHRSTINE TAMIR
The Quill and Scroll Honor Society will hold it’s annual Publication Banquet today at 7 p.m. in Clausen Hall. All members of the Filament, Antenna and The A-Blast are required to attend in order to be inducted.
By Christine Tamir News Editor
English teacher travels to Scotland for year Niki Holmes one of 76 teachers selected for program By Erin Johnson Staff Writer Five hour time difference, 3,568 miles away and a seven and a half hour flight away. English teacher Niki Holmes will be one of 76 teachers accepted into a program to teach in Scotland at the beginning of next year. Although AHS loses Holmes to Scotland next year, a bit of Scotland will be brought to AHS. In exchange for Holmes next year, a teacher from Scotland will be filling in for her as the two of them will be trading spots with each other for the 2012-2013 school year. The other teacher will be a new ninth grade teacher, while Holmes will be a seventh grade teacher. “I most wanted to go to Scotland [out of all the 155 options],” Holmes said. “I’ve never been to Scotland;
IB English teacher Niki Holmes will be teaching in Scotland for the 2012-2013 school year.
I’ve been to 38 countries but never Scotland.” “I became aware of some of the other programs that were available, and so I started to apply while we had a Fulbright exchange person here last year from Hungary,” Holmes said. “I had a conversation with my husband and [said] ‘I want to do this.’”
Holmes will be traveling alone next year, but getting periodic visits from loved ones. Her husband is not able to take the year off to travel with her due to work complications. Holmes applied to the Fulbright program last year in hope of spending a year abroad after a breathtaking experience she had teaching in Brazil
earlier in her teaching career, but being accepted into the program is not the easiest task. First, she was accepted into the program, and then she waited a few months to have a quick phone interview. The last step was finding a match that could take her place here at AHS next year. “I’ve always been interested in the international world of education and how they are doing it with each student at a different level,” Holmes said. With the end of the 2011-2012 school year, Holmes is rapidly finishing out the year with all her IB classes and getting ready to spend her summer on vacation with her husband before she takes off for Scotland. “I have 15 pages of to-dos and every day I try to cross off one,” Holmes said. “I have to decide what I’m going to pack, what I’m not going to pack, and close up all my business here.” Although AHS will miss Ms. Holmes next year while she is overseas, we will have the opportunity to make AHS more diverse and aware of other cultures out there.
IB students participate in Topics dinner IB Topics students dress up as famous people in history By Colleen Adenan Co-Editor in Chief Towards the end of every school year, students come to school and are surprised to see that they are seated next to former presidents or famous actresses. This experience is part of the final exam for IB Topics, when students dress up as historical figures for the annual historical figure dinner. While students in other classes spend weeks completing review packets and studying, students in MaryAnne Richardson’s IB Topics class researched their figure in order to assume their personality and historical significance during the dinner. “I dressed up as Eva Peron,” senior Carolyn Hartley said. “She was the first lady of Argentina in the late 1940s into the early 1950s. I chose to dress up as her because she was a really influential woman who was paired with one of the dictators of Latin America, Juan Peron. I thought it would be fun to dress up as a woman behind a powerful man, and she was one of the most interesting ones I found.” Hartley chose to dress up as Peron after learning about her during Spanish Governor’s School in the summer. Besides dressing up in lavish 50’s clothing and jewelry, Hartley made references to her childhood and what she did as the First Lady of Argentina. Senior Diego Cornejo chose to dress as comedian Bill Cosby for the dinner. “He has a very distinct personality, and he’s not like the other black comedians who use a bunch of profanities in his comedy,” Cornejo said. “Overall, he’s a bit more clean, a model father and he’s funny. The Bill Cosby show is amazing.” “I used the same talking style as him when he does his stand up comedy, brought in jello because he used to be the sponsor, danced around like he does in his show, and of course dressed up like him,” Cornejo said.
MARWA ABDELAZIZ
Publications Banquet
Fundraisers and other events to support family
CHRISTINE TAMIR
News Briefs
Topics teacher Mary Ann Richardson dressed up as Huey Long, one of the governors of Louisiana during the 20th century.
Students were not the only ones that dressed up for the dinner. Richardson dresses up every year as her own historical figure. She has dressed as artists, musicians, feminists, military officers and several other figures. This year, she dressed as the Greek historian Plutarch for one of her classes. Plutarch is known for being the “first modern biographer.” Richardson also dressed as Huey Long, a governor of Louisiana, for her other class. ww “[Some ideas] are better than others, it really depends on the kids,” Richardson said. “Success depends on the types of questions posed and how interested the students are in moving away from the biographical information and towards the discussion.” Richardson started using a historical dinner party as the final during her second year as an IB Topics teacher. “I found out the first year that the students were exhausted after the IB exam, especially because it is five and a half hours,” Richardson said. “To make kids write another exam was too much and
for graduating seniors, it wasn’t the best way to continue learning.” To prepare for the exam, Richardson chooses a thought-provoking article or Ted Talk that the students have to discuss as their historical figure. This year’s topic of discussion was a “Ted Talk” by Daniel Kahneman about the nature of happiness and the difference between experiencing and remembering oneself. Planning the dinner was difficult this year because of the limited time period between IB exams and SOLs. Food is provided for the students to eat while they interact as their historical figures. “I’m a big fan of [the Topics dinner],” Hartley said. “It’s much less stressful than trying to cram a whole year’s worth of information. It also lets us learn about important people from different time periods who we may not have had the chance to talk about or study in class. Having a bunch of historical figures in class was a lot of fun and really brought history to life.” “The best thing about the dinner is that it’s a
News Teachers take different paths A Blast
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June 6, 2012
relationship with students and faculty, Jarvis will miss these interactions most when he leaves for Centreville HS. “Some of the best memories I have of AHS are the playful banter exchanged at the lunch table in the science workroom,” Jarvis said. Jarvis was very involved with the AHS community, serving as the head swim coach for four years and a Science National Honor Society sponsor for six years. He will be taking a job as a science teacher at Centreville HS. Jarvis chose to leave because the commute to Centreville would be much shorter than the commute to AHS. Although he was offered the swim coach job at Centreville, Jarvis declined. “I felt that taking the job seemed too disloyal to the swimmers here,” Jarvis said.
Coach and club sponsor positions open up “Teachers leaving” continued from page 1
teacher for seven years at Chantilly High School and Falls Church High School. Wheeler was both a learning disabilities and “special projects” teacher. “I always liked getting up in the morning to go to school,” Wheeler said. “It never felt like ‘work work.’ It’s really unique.” Besides being a guidance counselor, Wheeler was also the club sponsor for the SAFE club, a club dedicated to educating students about HIV, AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. Wheeler plans to work part-time after her retirement in adult education or as a mentor for teaching interns at George Mason University. She also plans to take care of her dogs as they face aging challenges or play the piano. “It’s really hard for me to leave, but it’s time,” Wheeler said. “I will never ever forget the gifts AHS has given me.”
COLLEEN ADENAN
VILORIA TO MOVE TO CALIFORNIA
While English teacher Sarita Viloria prepares to move to California with her husband and newborn baby girl, her legacy of an improved cheer program and teaching her students will remain at AHS. Viloria was hired in 2007, but had to start a year and a half later in order to care of her ill father, who later passed away. “The fact that the school held my job for one and a half years speaks largely about AHS’s character,” Viloria said. “The school really supports its staff at difficult times.” “AHS is a great school; I’ll miss working with the talented faculty,” Viloria said. “There’s lots of encouragement and positive energy. I like the diversity in the student body, it’s generally a happy environment that I’m going to miss.” In addition to missing the students and faculty, Viloria will also miss seeing her cheerleaders grow and flourish. She regrets that she will not be able to have the sophomores she taught last year as seniors next year. Viloria’s husband has been commissioned to be an Air Force Judge Advocate General Officer at the Beale Air Force Base in California. Viloria will finish up the school year and leave for California in late September. Due to the budget crisis in California, Viloria will not continue to be a teacher. “Teaching jobs are very difficult to find,” Viloria said. “The county we’ll be living in isn’t even hiring anyone for the next school year.”Instead,
LEMUS MOVING TO SEATTLE
Science teacher Claudia Lemus will be relocating to Seattle because of her husband’s work after teaching freshman and IB biology for 11 years. “I will hopefully teach in Seattle; I plan to look for a job over the summer,” Lemus said. “I’ll probably end up teaching freshman biology like I do now.” Lemus has also been the club sponsor for the Science National Honor Society since 2006. “When I leave AHS, I’m going to miss teaching IB Biology the most because I’m not sure if I’ll find the same position in Seattle. I love the overall diversity of the school and the students as well.”
Counselor Linda Wheeler packs the items in her room.
Viloria will be a stay-at-home mom and might even consider resuming her professional cheerleading career with the Sacramento Kings. “Becoming a pro cheerleader again is not definite, but it’s a possibility,” Viloria said.
GUFFEY TO TEACH ONLINE
As a military wife, English teacher Stefanie Guffey should be used to leaving schools every two years. Yet she still began to tear up as she spoke of her students and co-workers that she will miss. “I’m going to miss all my students, their personalities, their hard work and their effort to be successful,” Guffey said. “I’m also going to miss the community.” At the end of 2011, she gave birth to a girl named Amelia, who she will spend much of her time taking care of as she continues teaching online as she does now while she waits for another job at home. Guffey will find out where she is moving in August when her husband gets his job assignment. “I’m very sad to leave, but unfortunately that’s the nature of the beast.”
JARVIS TAKES JOB AT CENTREVILLE
As both a teacher and an AHS alumnus, the decision to leave AHS was very difficult for science teacher Neal Jarvis. Known for his joking
CHMURA RETIRES AFTER 25 YEARS
When math teacher Gail Chmura first came to AHS in 1988, she never expected to have such a deep relationship with the AHS community. Now, she retires with three daughters and one son-inlaw having graduated from AHS and serving as the math department chair for 10 years. “For every student I’ve ever taught, I have their pictures on my wall,” Chmura said. “I’ve never had a student I didn’t get along with.” Chmura retired in order to spend more time with her family and not wake up so early in the morning. She plans to start playing the cornet again and learn how to use her embroidery sewing machine. “My fondest moment as a teacher is when a few of the ESOL students that I taught ended up going to college,” Chmura said. “They came into the class thinking they couldn’t do math and proved themselves wrong. To be able to have helped them do so is one of the best feelings a teacher can have.”
Graduating couples plan futures together
“Sweethearts” continued from page 1
been a set answer,” Nguyen said. “If we do decide to stay together during college then we both know that it’ll be a tough challenge, for sure. The communication would have to be strong and the trust would have to be even stronger.” W h i l e N g u y e n ’s f e a r s a r e legitimate, making it work through college is not impossible. Class of ’10 graduates Hannah Flaherty and Ryan Schubert began dating on December 26 of their freshman year at AHS. Now, sophomores at Longwood University, Flaherty and Schubert have been together for almost five and half years. “We definitely have lots of date nights, go to lunch at least once a week, go to the gym together and do homework/study together,” said Flaherty. “Anything to have fun together!” Planning on marrying Schubert, Flaherty believes that college has not changed much between the two of them. “We have only grown closer to each other,” Flaherty said. After experiencing a brief breakup, Flaherty and Schubert realized how lucky they were for having each other and decided they had to get back together. “We realized how much we couldn’t live without each other and
News Briefs AHS Feminist Club
The AHS Feminist club will hold an officers election meeting after school in June 8 in trailer 8. New members are welcome to join.
Atom Branch Closing
The Atom Branch’s last day open is June 6 during all lunches.
Award Ceremony for Athletes
The Athletics Department is holding an awards ceremony on June 12 at 6 p.m. A dinner will be before the ceremony. Last names A-G should bring side dishes, H-L should bring dessert and M-Z should bring main dishes. The cost is $2 per plate. Students are expected to dress nicely.
What will you miss most about AHS? “I guess what I’ll miss the most is the people; not only my colleagues, but the fascinating students I worked with and are so easy to love. I will also miss the school atmosphere.”
— Linda Wheeler Counselor “The school’s character and how the staff is supported at difficult times.”
— Sarita Viloria English teacher
“The colleagues and the relationships I’ve built here,”
— Neal Jarvis Geosystems teacher
COURTESY OF HANNAH FLAHERTY
Overcoming conflicts over attending different schools
that being together made us happier,” Flaherty said. Granted, going to the same school together can be a wonderful plus, but it does not always ensure a relationship will remain intact. College is ultimately a growth period and no one person can realize how much they are going to change during the next four years of their lives. “It probably made it easier that we were going to the same college, but in the end he changed and became a different person,” said 2010 graduate Letitia Romero. Originally planning on attending a school in Kentucky, Romero changed her mind and decided to attend VCU with her boyfriend at the time, Omar Ezzeddine. While breaking up can be very hard on a couple just starting a new life, in a completely different place, Romero looked at the breakup between her and her high school sweetheart as something much more positive. “After we broke up I was able to regain my sense of self and everything I felt I lost,” Romero said. Despite the fact that all of these couples are fairly young, some lucky high school sweethearts have stood the test of time. Alumni Bob Bermingham and Kathy O’Leary began dating at the age of 15. Attending different universities, JMU and Randolph Macon respectively, the young couple went through a lot of hardships to end up where they are today. “Going through college in a relationship was hard due to the fact that we were in two completely different places doing completely different things,” O’Leary said. Now married with four children,
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Alumni Hannah Flaherty and Ryan Schubert plan to get married one day.
the Berminghams’ say there is not one thing they would change about their high school relationship and the way they handled things. For high school couples, O’Leary advises students to always put the friendship the couple shares before the relationship. According to a recent study conducted by the Center for Disease Control, 48 percent of marriages before the age of 25 end in divorce within 10 years. As this is such a small chance, for those seniors who have maintained a relationship in high school, graduation brings both the joy and the fear of moving on and separating from their “high school sweetheart.”
Most seniors put a lot of thought into next steps for their relationship during the college years and there is a surprising amount of variation in how high school couples cope. Whether you are in a relationship or not, moving on to college is a big step in life and no one can possibly predict how much they will change and learn over the next four years. Each couple handles it the best way for them, hoping things will work out, but knowing that they might not. No matter how things go for these couples, their time spent together is a blessing and a big part of their learning, growing, and fun during their high school years.
“I will miss the diversity and the genuineness of the students.”
— Claudia Lemus Biology teacher
“ The students who said they didn’t know how to do math before they had me. That’s the biggest reward I can get.”
Two attempts made to retain athletic fees
COURTESY OF RANDY ALLSHOUSE
“School board” continued from page 1
the Advertised Budget the Board approved in February and sent to the Board of Supervisors. When the School Board approved the final budget, there were two attempts to retain the athletic fee by other Board members, but those opposed to the fee were able to defeat those attempts. “I think [the new athletic policy] is great news for student-athletes and parents,” director of student activities Karl Kerns said. “It should open a door for more athletes to try out. Because I only started last year, I can’t say whether or not the policy caused less athletes to try out, but I can speculate that there were some families who had to make the difficult decision of whether or not to play the sport and pay the fee.” Athletic fees were implemented during the recent recession at a cost of $1.7 million. According to at-large school board member Ryan McElveen,
Senior Annie Rutherford was still able to play field hockey, despite the $100 fee.
some have claimed that less than $1.7 million was gained from the fees due to administrative costs, which makes the elimination of the fees less costly than claimed by opponents to the policy change. “I totally support the school board in one of the wisest decisions they have ever made,” field hockey and lacrosse coach Cindy Hook said. “I think that the fee was a burden for a lot of families, so it’s good that the school board was able to get rid of it.” “We were lucky to have a budget this year that allowed us to eliminate the fees and move forward with many of our other priorities,” McElveen said. “Eliminating the fees will give student athletes who otherwise might have little reason to be invested in school the opportunity to achieve and feel engaged in their school communities. I made a campaign promise to eliminate the fees, and I’m proud to have done so.”
— Gail Chmura Geometry teacher
“I am going to miss my students and the other business teachers the most. I will also miss all the diversity of the student population.”
— Paula Chesser Business teacher
6
s
People
Alumni Postcard:
COURTESY OF MIKE VAN DAM
Mike Van Dam, 1981
How did your experiences at AHS help to shape your life after high school? High school taught me that the classes I learned the most from weren’t always my favorite classes, but rather those taught by a teacher who loved the subject and wanted everyone of their students to feel the same way about it, as they did.
June 6, 2012
enior uperlative elections
Most Likely to Change the World
THE WINNERS WERE SELECTED BASED ON AN OPEN ENDED SURVEY SYSTEM GIVEN TO EACH SENIOR ENGLISH CLASS; 207 SURVEYS WERE COMPLETED. WINNERS NOT PICTURED INCLUDE: FRIENDLIEST; MONTE MCCARTHY AND ANNETTE JANWATIM, BEST SMILE; ASHLYN NISKER AND BERNARD CHALHUB-FRAU, AND MOST LIKELY TO BE A MILLIONAIRE; ELIZABETH WILSON AND DANIEL PARK.
Daniel Park & Danielle Turner
When did you know what you wanted to become? I’ve always loved the sciences and space, so it wasn’t a surprise that I studied mechanical engineering and then spent the first 20 years of my career building and launching rockets and satellites for DOD and NASA. What’s your favorite memory of AHS? My favorite memory was of Mr. Johnson’s Biology ll class with its many hands-on labs and field trips to gather samples and data about the water and ecosystems around the Chesapeake Bay.
Class Clown
Lorraine Turner & Max Talley
Best Dancer Most Athletic Andre Conner & Cynthia
Ahmed Bile & Tatiana Niang
Best Eyes
Kimberly Rowland & Monte McCarthy
June 5 Mark Walhberg 6 Max Casella 7 Michael Cera 8 Kanye West 9 Johnny Depp 10 Sasha Obama 11 Shia LaBeouf 12 George Bush 13 Tim Allen 14 Steffi Graf 15 Ice Cube 16 Diana DeGarmo 17 Venus Williams 18 Blake Shelton 19 Zoe Saldana 20 Nicole Kidman 21 Prince William 22 Meryl Streep 23 Jason Mraz 24 Lionel Messi 25 George Michael 26 Derek Jeter 27 Khloe Kardashian 28 Kellie Pickler 29 Nicole Scherzinger 30 Michael Phelps
41 45 24 35 49 11 26 88 59 43 43 25 32 36 34 45 30 63 35 25 49 38 28 26 34 27
Cutest Couple Best to Bring Smartest Carolyn Hartley & C.J. Aftergut Home to Parents Annie Rutherford & Monte McCarthy
• This is my second year teaching at AHS.
Who am I?
• I attended Niagara University (for my bachelors and masters degrees) and Virginia Tech (for my 2nd masters degree). • I majored in Elementary Education, School Counseling and Educational Leadership and Policy Studies.
• I like to listen to pop, R&B, oldies, rock. • I have traveled to Nepal (I volunteered at an orphanage in Kathmandu), Italy, and Spain. • My birthday is June 19. • The sports I have participated in include soccer, basketball and lacrosse. • My favorite TV shows are Revenge & Modern Family.
On your smartphone, scan this code using the application “QR Code” to see a student spotlight of junior Maddy Reinert.
Jonathan Gonzalez & Marissa Uriarte
Annie Nguyen & Robson De Souza
• In my spare time, I spend time with family and friends, travel, attend sporting events, and watch movies.
Student Spotlight: Soriya de Lopez
Best Dressed
• An interesting fact about me is that I moved around a lot when I was younger even though no one in my family was in the military.
PHOTOS TAKEN BY CARLI LOEB
Celebrity Birthdays
• This is my twelfth year teaching at AHS. • I attended Mary Washington College. • I majored in French and Geography. • In my spare time, I do crossfit and photography. • I like to listen to classical music, jazz, and blues. • I have traveled to Europe and Asia. • My birthday is September 13. • The sports I have participated in include track and field, triathlon, and crossfit. • My favorite TV show is Masterpiece Theatre. • My favorite part of working in a school is helping young people discover the world. • An interesting fact about me is that I was a cartographer for 16 years before becoming a teacher. • My motto is: “Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.” -T. S. Eliot –Compiled by Carli Loeb
To find out who these teachers are, visit www.thea-blast.org/category/student-life/people/
Health
ABlast
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June 6, 2012
You snooze, you lose balance between school, sleep, homework, social time and their extracurricular activity. “If you set your priorities and don’t procrastinate, everything will work out fine,” junior Kalie Rosati said. Feeling drowsy or fatigued typically means you have not had enough sleep for that day or period of time. The deprivation of sleep reduces the amount one can focus in school and increases the likelihood of falling asleep in class and missing valuable learning or review time. “One time I feel asleep in government and started drooling,” Rosati said. Not only does a lack of sleep alter one’s performance at school, it also alters one’s driving ability and alertness while on the road. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, driver fatigue is responsible for roughly 56,000 motor vehicle accidents and nearly 1,500 deaths each year. Driving while drowsy is closely related to driving under the influence of alcohol or other substances as it inhibits the ability to focus completely on the road and the surroundings. The idea of drinking caffeine or taking a cold shower to “wake you up” is false and only covers up the drowsiness for a period of time. Naps
Students suffer through the affect of being sleep deprived By Kylee Nisker and Brekhnaa Gull Health Editors Imagine falling asleep during an SOL. Although it is may seem horrific, this is true for some AHS students. With final exams, SOLs and IB tests coming up, most students at AHS are getting less sleep than usual. Being sleep deprived can lead to many negative effects on one’s health and daily activities. “Last week, I was taking my Biology SOL and I fell asleep during it, and before I fell asleep, I couldn’t concentrate,”junior Andrea Lopez said. The amount of sleep required at night differs per person and many factors contribute to this amount. On average, a typical high school student should maintain about eight to nine hours of sleep each night. “I get about five hours of sleep each night because I stay up late doing my homework,” Lopez said. “I get around eight hours of sleep because I stay up watching television or studying,” sophomore Omar Rivas said. Students involved in sports or extracurricular activities generally find it difficult to find that perfect
What to carry in your summer beach bag Chapstick
The summer heat and wind can cause chapped lips. Chapped lips can easily be prevented by using chapstick.
are also beneficial when not enough sleep has previously taken place; they are recommended for short term alertness but are not as sufficient as a full night sleep. “If I want a power nap, I will fall asleep for less than an hour when I get home and then I stay up super late,” Lopez said. During a full night’s sleep, the body goes through a four step sleep cycle including Rapid Eye Movement (REM) and Non-Rapid Eye Movement (NREM). According to the Sleep Foundation, 75% of the night consists of NREM sleep. During these stages tissue growth and repair occurs and energy is restored to the body. Hormones are released during this time for growth and development as well as muscle
Sunscreen
PHOTO LOPEZ BY
ILLUSTRATION OF ANDREA BREKHNAA GULL
growth. Throughout REM sleep, energy is provided for the brain, dreaming occurs and the body becomes fully relaxed. Getting a proper amount of sleep helps sustain a healthy immune system and helps balance one’s appetite. The lack of sleep throws off the body’s appetite and can cause one to feel hungry which leads to weight gain. “I think sleep is important so the students won’t fall asleep in class and miss valuable information,” Rivas said.
Summer Rules: Do’s and Don’ts Do...
Don’t...
1. Get sunburned
1. Use SPF
In order to avoid painful sunburns, use sunscreen. It’s a simple step and it can help avoid painful burns.
2. Physical activities
There are many summer activities that are a good way to get up and moving. These include rock climbing, surfing, hiking, swimming and many more.
3. Finish your summer assignments
It is best to complete your summer assignments as soon as you get on break, in order avoid stress. This way you can enjoy the rest of your break. Not procrastinating on your assignments also guarantees better quality of your work.
5meals
There are many ways to prevent sunburns, making them avoidable. Getting a sunburn can cause pain, and takes time to be healed.
2. Be a bumb
Summer should not be wasted playing video games and watching television. It is important to enjoy the hot weather and your time off from school. Waiting until the last minute to complete your summer assignments produces stress. This causes you to be in a bad mood. It also keeps you from enjoying your break because it is always in the back of your mind.
Prepare this elegant snack when entertaining guests
Try these healthy alternatives instead of your usual snacks Fresh Corn Salsa
Ingredients Needed: 1 cup cooked corn kernels, 1 medium diced tomato, 1 chopped jalapeno, 2 tablespoon chopped cilantro, 2 tablespoon fresh lime juice, 1 garlic clove, 1/2 teaspoon salt
HEALTH.COM
HEALTH.COM
By Brekhnaa Gull and Kylee Nisker
1.) Combine ingredients and mix in a medium bowl. 2.) Either eat right away or let stand to allow flavors to develop.
Skin damage, like sunburns, from the sunlight can be prevented by using sunscreen. Although sunscreen reduces the harmful effects of the sun, it should not be the only step taken to prevent skin damage from the sun. You can also limit the amount of sun exposure and wear protective clothing.
Sunglasses
Sunglasses can be used to keep the sun out of your eyes. They can also be used as a fashionable accessory.
Aloe Vera Gel In case you do get a sunburn, Aloe Vera Gel can be used to reduce the pain. For best results apply to the sunburn as soon as possible.
3. Procrastinate on your summer assignments
minute
Serves: 6 Serving Size: 1/3 cup Average Calories: 29 per serving Nutritional Grade: A
7
Chicken Wrap with Curry-Mango Mayonnaise
Water Not only can water keep you hydrated during the summer heat, it can also help keep your skin clear and glowing. Not drinking enough water can make our bodies bloated, it is mandatory that this is prevented; especially during swimsuit season.
Healthy Snack
Ingredients Needed: 1/2 cup fat-free mayonnaise, 1/2 cup chopped peeled mango, 3/4 teaspoon curry powder, 1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper, 2 cups chopped cooked chicken, 1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper, 1/4 cup chopped onion, whole wheat flatbread, 4 lettuce leaves 1.) Combine first 4 ingredients in a medium bowl. Add chicken, bell pepper and onion (if desired) and stir to combine. 2.) Divide chicken mixture evenly among flat breads spreading to cover half of each flat bread. 3.) Add 1 lettuce leaf to the chicken mixture, roll up and serve. Serves: 4 Serving Size: One wrap Average Calories: 382 per serving Nutritional Grade: B
During the summertime, the desire to look your best increases. Because of this it is important that we keep up our nutrition and eat well.
Hats
Hats can not only be used to prevent the sun from getting into your eyes, they can also be used as a fashion accessory. Grab your favorite hat and put it in your beach bag.
The Sensazao Crew On your smartphone, scan this code above using the application “QR Code” to view a story how Nicole Montevilla partcipates in a dance crew that leads America to a healthy lifestyle.
ARTS
8
June 6, 2012
Students qualify for Cappie Award ceremony to take place on June 10
IB Film Festival
PHOTO COURTESY OF ABIGAIL PALACIOS
Here’s a glance at four films that are part of the 2012 IB Film Festival in the auditorium this Friday at 6 p.m.
ENVISAGE
PHOTO COURTESY OF BREKHNAA GULL
Production team: junior Abigail Palacios Genre: Drama Lead actors: juniors Brody El-Achi and Paula Naanou Summary: When Jenna, a 17-yearold teenager discovers she is pregnant, her entire life and future career is put at a standstill.
MR. PERFECT
PHOTO COURTESY OF GWEN LEVEY
Production team: juniors Nardos Assefa and Brekhnaa Gull Genre: Drama Lead actors: sophomore Chloe Loving and junior Alex Lash Summary: A hardworking teenage girl in high school is partnered up with a flawless young boy that she envies who appears to have it all.
REMEMBER ME
PHOTO COURTESY OF YANIRA GUERRA
Production team: senior Marissa Shartel, juniors Gwen Levey and Eric Stavenjord Genre: Romance, drama Lead actors: freshmen Steve Aderton and Jessica Winkler Summary: Bullied all of his life and cast out of the social limelight, high school student Stephen seems like just another quintessential liner while popular student Casey has it all, except for the ability to shake away her past.
THE BOY IN THE WOODS
Production team: juniors Daniel Critchfield, Jonathan Tran and Yanira Guerra Genre: Mystery Lead actors: juniors Hung Truong, Sherief Beshara, and elementary school student Ivan Guerra Summary: A teenage boy David and his friend Jason have a photography project to complete, but David is forever affected by a young boy who haunts his life.
“Legally Blonde: The Musical” Review On your smartphone, scan the code above using the application “QR Code” to read a review on KMT Musical Theater’s performance.
Hackfeld described the experience as exhilarating. “Immediately after, I called Gwen, and we just freaked out on the phone for 30 minutes,” Hackfeld said. “It was such an exciting night.” “I was really, really excited,” Levey said. “This nomination legitimizes everything we’ve been working for.” The group was founded in response to the Columbine tragedy, the fatal shooting of a teacher and 12 students at a high school in Colorado by two seniors. The shooting at Columbine High School stands the most fatal shooting at any high school in the nation to date. Some have said the shooting could be traced back to media and even music the two students listened to. In fear of a massive reduction of arts programs nationwide, the Cappie awards program was established to increase and nurture high school involvement in the arts and journalism; both heavily mediabased industries. In June, the Cappies National Capital Area division will carry on its tenth awards ceremony. Hackfeld was positive about the possible outcome. “I think Gwen and I have a really good chance of bringing it home!” Hackfeld said. Levey shared in the enthusiasm. “This is the most acting nominations we’ve
PHOTO COURTESY OF GWEN LEVEY
“Cappies” continued from page 1
Juniors Laura Hackfield, Gwen Levey, and Alex Lash perform “Arsenic and Old Lace” together earlier this year.
ever had,” Levey said. The success did not come without hard work, however. AHS was disqualified from the Cappies at first because the Cappies did not have enough play reviews of our productions. Ten reviews were needed for them to advance us to nominations, but only nine were written. The Cappies had failed to review a sufficient amount of AHS plays to allow us to continue. Theater Arts teacher George Bennett wasn’t impressed by the disqualification or the initial student motivation to fight the disqualification.
“I was very disappointed when I first heard, but I think we needed something like that to happen to get more people seriously involved,” Bennett said. AHS had been disqualified from the Cappie awards until Levey and junior Andrew Riddle fought the decision. “I talked to the cofounder [of the Cappies] for 45 minutes [to get AHS back into the running for the Cappies],” Levey said. Her efforts and support from Riddle finally won back recognition for the school by the Cappies.
Academics
June 6, 2012
Online classes set to begin Students are taking geometry, Spanish two, and French two this summer to get ahead In today’s competitive society, everyone is trying to get one step ahead of each other. One way some AHS students are trying to outshine their competitors in the academic world is by taking online courses this summer. One of the most fierce competitions for high school students is getting into college. Some students are taking online courses over the summer in order take the most advanced courses offered to them in their upcoming year. “I took World I and II my freshman and sophomore year and went straight to HOA so I haven’t taken government. I want to take it over the summer so I can have the opportunity to go into either IB Topics or geography,” junior Kelsey Pendergast said. The IB-MYP diploma requires sophomores to be in a level three language course and geometry. Some freshmen have decided to take a language or math online course over the summer in the hopes of becoming an MYP candidate.
Summer classes can be beneficial but can end up as a boring task. Students might even find they wish they hadn’t taken them.
“I’m taking Spanish 2 online this summer so that I can meet the requirements for the MYP diploma,” freshman Jassmin Shamma said. However, a lot students do not realize how many hours they have put in if they enroll in an online class over the summer. Summer classes
will require 30 hours of work for five weeks. “Online classes are a big time requirement and they can move very quickly,” Spanish teacher Carin Frank said. These courses can conflict with summer sports and vacations. Even though the classes are taken
MOLLY KECK
By Molly Keck and Berta Tarqui Academics Editors
online, students will still have to take a final. Online courses are just serious as classes taken in school and students must pay attention during the courses to do well on the final. There is a misconception that online courses are free when, in reality, they are the complete opposite. In addition, students may have to buy programs for their computers in order participate in the class. It is imperative that students in online classes know that FCPS courses are only compatible with personal computers or PCs. Blackberries, iPhones, smart phones, iPads and tablets cannot access the FCPS online course programs. This means students won’t be able to take the classes with handheld devices and must commit. This summer, FCPS is offering new online courses. The new courses are: Biology 1 Honors, Korean 1, 2 and 3, Virginia and U.S. Government Honors and English 12 Honors. If these classes interest you, visit www. fcps.edu for more information. There is also a quiz on the website titled ‘Is Online Learning For You?’ if you are curious about online courses. Online classes are not always a good choice for everyone, but may work for those who have the desire to get ahead. If you wish to have a productive summer and have a lot spare time, summer online courses may be right for you.
Summer erases what counts By Molly Keck and Berta Tarqui Academics Editors It’s the last day of school; you arrive at your house, throw all of your school notes and supplies away and call it day. Although it may feel rewarding to do this, it may hurt you in long the run. On the last day of school, the last thing most students are thinking about is the upcoming year. This feeling of not wanting to have anything to do with school also doesn’t typically disappear throughout the summer. When the first day of school rolls around and you can’t remember anything you learned, you may regret your decision to not review what you learned in the previous year. “Half of my students will typically remember what they learned last year, but I still have to do a review,” geometry teacher Srividhya Krishnasamy said. There are many ways to retain the knowledge you gained this school year. First, don’t throw away any valuable notes no matter how much you never want to see them again. “I always make sure to save all my notes because It can be very frustating for students in the begining of the school year when they have forgetten what they learned last they can sometimes be helpful to look back on year over the summer.
later,” sophomore Jasmine Pringle said. Second, even though a lot of AHS students believe they will never use what they are learning in the real world, they should challenge themselves to apply what they learned. Students should try using new vocabulary or practice mental math when shopping. “I sometimes try to challenge myself by calculating the tip for my bill at a restaurant in my head during the summer just to practice my math skills,” freshman Ricky Lamb said. Third, if you signed up for a class for next year that you might struggle with, try meeting with a tutor every week or so to prepare for the course. With the various technologies and leisurely activities of today, most teenagers don’t see the point in reading for fun. Even fun, fiction books can help to improve your vocabulary and grammar though. They also are much more beneficial than looking at social networking sites all day long. You may even find that reading can be enjoyable when you pick the right books. This summer, take advantage of living close to Washington D.C. One of the great things about D.C. is that many of the museums are free. Plan to go into D.C. at least once this year with your family or friends to take advantage of our lucky location to visit these spectacular museums. Hopefully, if you follow these tips when the beginning of next year pops up and your teachers ask if you remember anything from last year, you will be able to raise your hand confidently.
MOLLY KECK
Students often forget what they learn, leading to consequences for the fall
9
Tips to Prepare for Final Exams SLEEP: Even though most students think it is more beneficial to pull an ‘all–nighter’ studying
it will actually hurt you more. It is best to close the books and get a good night’s rest. BREAKFAST: Most AHS students skip breakfast and if they do, it is often filled with artificial sugar.
FLASHCARDS: Flashcards are great for visual learners and for studying. DON’T CRAM: Finals can be stressful, but cramming will not help to actually learn anything and can actually stress you out more.
STUDY GUIDES: Study guides are especially helpful for finals since they can summarize everything you need for the final in an organized and convenient fashion. BE CONFIDENT: It is important to stay confident for the final, because stress anxiety will make it hard to focus during the exam.
Vocabulary Words ABEYANCE noun A state of suspension or temporary inaction CAROUSE verb To drink deeply and in boisterous or jovial manner FETE noun A festival or feast IMPETUS noun Any impulse or incentive LEXICOGRAPHY noun The making of dictionaries TUTORSHIP noun
The office of a guardian
Is summer even summer anymore? On your smartphone, scan this code above using the application “QR Code” to view a story about tips on how to handle summer assignments.
Sryian massacre causes uproar By Shamaim Syed International Editor Nearly 108 villagers were found dead in the city of Houla, Syria on May 25, 2012. Many of the people dead consisted of women or children mainly under the age 10. U.N leaders criticized President Bashar Al-Assad and the government for this killing because of the conflicts between the government and the people, but Assad blames the killings on terrorists in his country. The top Syrian diplomats were currently in the United States, but were given 72 hours to leave and handle the issue. Many have pleaded to Assad and asked him to stop the violence made by his own forces and government militias. An 11 year old boy has caugt the attention of the media when he played dead infornt of the gunmen. The gunmen passed by him and killed his family memebers, Ali el-Sayed put his brothers blood on him and faked being dead. Overall the Syrian massacre has been a ver talked about topic not only by the media, but by celebrities too. “#HoulaMassacre raise awareness team breezy,” was one of the tweets that singer Chris Brown had tweeted over the weekend. “#HoulaMassarce OMG!!!!!”_ Not cool!”
Do you plan to travel outside the U.S during the summer?
June 6, 2012
Foreign travel becomes costly Many students plan to stay in the country due to recent increase in airfare By Joe Sehrer International Editors With one round trip ticket per person, a car, a hotel and food, the price of traveling can outweigh the vacation itself and leave little to spend on the long awaited getaway you’ve been anticipating. Add in the heavier price of traveling abroad, and you are faced with the dilemma that many AHS students and their families are dealt. “It’s getting harder to travel to other countries because of all the different things you have to pay for,” sophomore Carl Samuelson said. “I went to Europe, and just traveling there seemed to take more planning than the trip itself.” According to EHow.com, the inflating price of airfare is directly related to the spike in gas prices. With the national average price for a gallon of gas nearing $4.20, the cost to fuel a plane has substantially increased, without even accounting for the increased distance it takes for an international flight. With the degree of diversity at AHS, traveling outside the U.S. over summer is not uncommon. However, the ability to do so is becoming increasingly challenging due to these factors. Between the necessities of airfare and hotels, people are becoming less able to make these frequent trips to visit family and travel in foreign countries. Some students and their
families are being forced to shorten their trips to other countries or cancel them altogether. Travel to other countries has always been more expensive than domestic travel due to added expenses including passports, lengthened flights and the difference in cost of living in other countries. However, some students have been able to find ways around these expenses. “My mom is in the airforce, so she has access to space available flights,” sophomore Nora Belkhayat said. “The military flies personnel to a base and if there are seats left on the flight, retirees can get on for free or as little as $30. We stayed with friends the whole trip, which allowed us to avoid the cost of hotels. We ended up only spending money on trains and souvenirs.” Although a majority of the expenses encountered are unavoidable, there are some places in which you can save or account for the price shock. When planning out your flight, be prepared for the recent addition of carry-on fees for each bag you take on the flight, plus the fee for the rest of your baggage to be stored below the plane. To reduce this, organize your packing to create more space and reduce the number of suitcases. These fees will vary between airlines, so check with the airline ahead of time to be prepared. In addition, when planning out your trip, think about the cheapest days and times for flight, especially when traveling abroad. Flight times in the middle of the night or early morning, as well as in the middle of the week when traffic is low, could be significantly cheaper than daytime flights. For foreign travel, plan out each day’s activities ahead of time so as not to run into unexpected
PHOTO COURTESY OF CARL SAMUELSON
12
International
Sophomore Carl Samuelson poses in front of the London bridge in London, England.
or increased prices. Booking activities ahead of time will allow for better online advertised prices as well as having a planned spending budget, which will free up money for impulse buying.
Tourist attractions found abroad
“I am going to Cape Cod, Massachusetts to spend time with family to the beach and relax. I want to get my mind off school and everyhting.”
— Megan Pendergast
freshman “I am going to Guatemala to visit some fmaily and explore the temples.”
— Arman Padilla freshman
“I will go to Cancun, Mexico this summer with family. The main thing there are the beaches.”
China Great Wall of China- enjoy the 6,700 km historic wall built in 16th century. The Temple of Heaven- Visit one of the most photographed buildings in the world which was built in the 1400s.
California Hollywood- A beautiful place with movie studios, stars, shopping and famous landmarks like the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Disneyland- One of the most visited theme parks worldwide. El Salvador Lago De Llopango- Credited for it’s beautiful scenery with an amazing place to go fishing or to enjoy a swim. El Jocato Lagoon-This lagoon features some of the biggest groups of water birds in all of El Salvador.
Ghana The Elina Castle- A castle built in 1482 where you walk through history as you see the dungeons in which slaves were held before being shipped to Europe and America. Volta Lake- One of the largest man-made lakes in the world and the main source of light energy for Ghana and neighboring countries.
Humanitarian aid in Zambia
freshman
“I went to Cologne, Germany for the women’s world cupand also the Cologne Cathedral.”
—Katherine Ross sophomore
“ I’m going to Houston, Texas this summer to visit my mom. I will visit the beach with my uncle and meet my new stepdad.”
—Natalie Do
junior “I’m going to go to Laguna Beach, CA to visit my mom. I will probably go shopping and also visit San Diego.”
—Rachel Lazar
Science teacher
—Compiled by Mariel Rocha
Learnserve International gives students the opportunity to travel abroad for service By Chloe Loving Photo Editor One typhoid vaccine, one yellow fever shot, an injection for polio and a set of three painful vaccines to avoid rabies. While American children run from doctors in their desperate attempts to escape a small pinch that could prevent serious medical treatments or even death, a Zambian child could be fighting HIV and AIDS with little to no knowledge of the war their body is battling. This summer I will be travelling to Zambia, located in the south eastern region of Africa. I will be travelling with a program called LearnServe International. LearnServe is a DC based program that reaches out to future change makers and provides community service opportunities to benefit the areas that we live in and those around us. Our program will be staying in several rural areas of Zambia. In the fairly peaceful nation of Zambia, the hard working people earn an average income equivalent to that of about $395 in American money. Tragically, the Zambian people suffer from a large percentage of HIV and AIDS. Due to the high risk of disease, many children are orphaned and many women struggle to live. Our first stop will be Chikumbuso. While in the area, we will be interacting with abused women and orphaned children. We will be exchanging cultural traditions such as dancing, making crafts and having a good time while learning about our fellow brothers and sisters from across the globe. In the past the woman and children have shared dances and songs with the volunteers. The next project we will be working on is the World Bicycle Relief Organization. We will help
USED WITH PERMISSION FROM LEARNSERVE INTERNATIONAL
— Kelly Nguyen
A former LearnServe student aids a Zambian schoolboy
make and repair heavy duty bicycles to give to the residents. With the help of the bicycles the dedicated, citizens will be able to travel to and from school more efficiently and save their energy for learning. When school is not in session, the students can share the vehicles with their families and friends so that they can get to clean water and work while saving travel time. This project consists of building bikes and also teaching the Zambian people how to repair and increase the longevity of the bicycles. This will create jobs and a more innovative generation. As a group we will also visit the Malam bo Basic School for a few days. There, we will interact with kids from kindergarten through 8th grade.
I will personally be working with 1st graders. Along with a partner, I will be designing a lesson plan so that we will be prepared to use our time to the fullest. We will be practicing English and learning topics such as basic math. Hopefully, I will be learning from them as well. By using interactive games we will teach them to love learning. When I return, I plan to share my experience with my peers and school so that my community may also benefit. To make the best experience possible, we are hoping to arrive with donations such as financial contributions, school supplies and lightly used clothing. I will be taking a suit case with me, fully dedicated to donations. All money will be put completely towards rebuilding the schools and replacing basic necessities such as fences or painting buildings. Each student attending is expected to raise $200 individual so that we come as helpful as possible. At the moment I have raised close to $800 and still have over 20 days before my trip. I hope to gather more. The women in Chikumbuso make handbags out of old plastic grocery bags and put them on the fair trade market. Items that would otherwise go to waste such as clothes or bags are helpful to the Zambian people. I want you all to feel a part of this experience just as much as I am. I will be keeping a journal while there and also documenting through pictures. I want to make the absolute best of this great opportunity. I hope to one day make a difference but for right now I am taking it one day at a time. My Zambia trip will not only be a growing experience for myself but also for those that I will be visiting. I am more than excited for my voyage. I am very much looking forward to surrounding myself with different people in a different nation. It is my dream to one day join the Peace Corps and travel as a doctor. This trip at such a young age will give me a taste of similar adventures.
PHOTO
June 6, 2012
You wish you were 1-2
13
What is something As the year ends, the seniors celebrate four years of high school with a much anticipated prom. you will never forget about your Prom experience?
COURTESY OF CARLY FILSOOF
“Oh my gosh, I will never forget seeing everyone all dressed up in their pretty dresses and tuxedos. I won’t forget going to iHop after, at like 2 o’clock in the morning.”
Twenty girls including seniors, sophomores and juniors, all stood with their dresses coordinated by color to imitate a rainbow at Green Spring Garden.
—Angelica Bolds senior I will never forget that my mom changed my curfew to four a.m. Dinner was fun; we got there early and it was fun just hanging out.
COURTESY OFJODY LIMA
COURTESY OF JOSH KIM
—Jazmine Bounds senior
A group of seniors gather at the Botanical Gardens in Vienna to take a photograph before heading over to Prom.
“The dinner was the most memorable part because it was really fun and we spent lots of time telling jokes and just enjoying our time.”
Senior Jordan Dickerson and sophomore Jody Lima take a photo before getting into a limo.
—Harris Fitzgerel junior
“The limo ride there was really fun. The dance and decorations were really nice. My date wa a lot of fun too.
Senior Danielle Turner and her guest date, Nicholas Black take a photo together before their night begins.
COURTESY OF ASHLEY WHITTLE
COURTESY OF DANIELLE TURNER
—Kyle Jamieson junior
“I will probably remember having a really good time with my really close friends.”
Seniors Andy Stratton, Rawand Shamdin, Alec Jefferson, Dane Harlowe and John Mccollom stand in a classic pose.
Sophomores Amanda Filsoof and Carly Potts, junior Ashley Whittle and sophmores Angela McDowell and Erika Alwes pose for a photo underneath a gazebo at Green Springs Gardens.
The thing that I remember the most about prom was that it was one of the last times before college that me and my high school friends hung out the entire night before we all went away to different places.
COURTESY OF JALEN BARENCILLA
COURTESY OF CARLY FILSOOF
—Aine Kohler sophomore
—Mike Mazzarella Math teacher
Seniors Jack Deible, Adam Huenemann, Delwyn Molina, Alec Villafana, Willie Labarca, Parker Gillcash, Ryan Miller, all members of the Annandale’s golf team, join together for a group picture.
COURTESY OF KYLEE NISKER
COURTESY OF CARLY FILSOOF
Junior Jalen Barencilla and senior Sally Albimona pose for a picture near a canopy of trees at Green Springs Garden.
Senior Ashlyn Nisker displays her white rose corsage given to her by her date, college freshman, Stephen Novak.
For more student prom photos visit thea-blast.com On your smartphone, scan this code using the application “QR Code” to view exclusive pictures from this year’s senior prom.
Livi Listens Advice Column
By Olivia Lafferty Dear Livi, My boyfriend of eight months just invited me to go on a camping trip with him and his family. The only time I ever camped was with Girl Scouts in the second grade, and I absolutely hate nature. I’m very prone to insect bites and am not crazy about the idea of sleeping in a tent for a weekend. I don’t want to seem rude, but this camping trip doesn’t exactly sound fun. How can I politely tell his family I don’t want to go? --Nature Hater
June 6, 2012
Seniors search for roommates Facebook and Roomsurf are websites aimed at matching potential students for the fall By Megan Flynn Lifestyles Editor When thinking ahead to college, prospective students either get really excited or shudder at the thought of imagining their future roommate. College dorms are typically doubles, triples or quads, with some single student dorms as well. For most, college is the first time having to live with a complete stranger in a condensed space. Either way, college students are going to get to know their roommate[s] very well, whether they become best friends or worst enemies. As technology continues to grow and develop, so do the ways to find college roommates. The majority of students use Facebook to either find or research information about their potential roommates by friending possible candidates and emailing or chatting them to find out if they’re compatible. Students find other students by joining the Facebook page for their graduating class at their future college. On the Facebook page, students write a short bio on the wall and generally others will add you to talk about the possibilities of rooming. “I posted on the 2016 Facebook page and [my future roommate] messaged me. We talked from there and got to know each other better. We’ve hung out since then and he seems cool. It’ll be new to share a room with another person, but I’m excited,” senior Rawand Shamdin said. There are also websites online specifically designed to aid students in finding their match, like roomsurf.
Dear Nature Hater, Sometimes people have to make sacrifices and do things that aren’t exactly pleasurable for the sake of other people. While camping isn’t exactly staying in a five-star resort, you should do your best to put up with it. Showing his family that you can rough it and do virtually anything will give them a newfound respect for you, and allow bonding. Who knows, it might even be fun. Remember, it’s only a few days. Have fun and pack lots of bug spray! 1. Communicate with your roommate about what each person is going to bring to avoid wasting money or overstocking in items. -Livi 2. Don’t waste money on a nice comforter, sheet set or pillow cases, they most likely Have a problem? E-mail Livi at: won’t last the year.
COURTESY OF TATIANA NIANG
14
Lifestyles
Senior Tatiana Niang’s roommate found her through Roomsurf and the two messaged through Facebook, connecting over common interests such as speaking French. The two are attending Virginia Tech class of 2016 this fall.
com. This website features a personality quiz that one answers and then there is a messaging feature on the site to contact people whose results are similar to your own. The only downside is the website requires you to become
a “premium member” for $12 to be able to communicate with matches and be able to find them on Facebook. “My roommate messaged me on roomsurf.com. I found her on Facebook, and now we text all the time. I’ve very excited to room with her because we have a ton in common. I looked for someone with the same sense of humor, likes some of the same things, can keep a conversation going and just is an overall awesome person,” senior Kelly Goodison said. If the online options aren’t cutting it, some students prefer to be assigned a roommate the old fashioned way. Students fill out a questionnaire with their preferences, such as what type of studying environment they prefer and whether or not they like to stay up late. Some students choose to room with someone they already know by sending in a request with their housing contract. Many say rooming with a high school friend is a huge mistake because the students don’t get the chance to branch out. For some students, rooming with a friend is the best option because they have mutually agreed they can stand living together and they are already agreeable with each other. “I chose to room with someone I know because I didn’t want to risk getting a random, crazy roommate. I like the idea of being able to plan out my dorm here at home with her and already being comfortable around her. It’s one less change I have to undergo in the fall,” senior Ashlyn Nisker said. Nisker is rooming with Becca Hendrickson, with whom she’s attended school with since they were in elementary school. Whether or not they know their roommate ahead of time, students have the ability to make a best friend or new rival in the Fall.
20 secrets to better college living
AHS alumni Jessica Camilli and Allison Warth contribute tips to future college freshmen freshman year. 14. Wait to get to your dorm to buy products like toilet paper and paper towels, a lot of dorms come with these items. 15. Keep a calendar, filing cabinet and organized binders to help keep order in your social and academic life. Organization is the key to surviving college.
livi.listens@gmail.com
3. If you do want to buy a nice comforter, splurge on a full size comforter. This way you can continue to use it when you move out of your dorm.
What was your college roommate like?
4. Spend extra money on a nice mattress pad to make your bed more comfortable; sleep is sacred in college.
“I didn’t spend the first couple of weeks in my dorm room because my roommate spent every night with her boyfriend.”
6. Whatever you do, do not use Duct tape to hang stuff on your walls. It is extremely hard to get off the walls and schools like JMU give out fines when they see the tape residue on the walls.
--Jan Kamide English teacher “My college roommate became one of my best friends and we ended up living together our junior year.”
---Catherine Gibson English teacher “My freshman college roomate was a fellow football player and we were both there on scholarship. He was a nice guy and I got lucky with him, he was a good room mate.”
-Dick Adams Assistant athletic director “I didn’t know my room mate before college but we got along well and we’re still friends today.”
---Caroline Joya Office assistant
“I had met him before college through my step brother and we ended up being great friends and we still are today.”
-Jamie Carayiannis
5. Don’t room with someone who you are already close friends with from home. This can hurt the friendship and college is all about meeting new people and branching out.
7. Don’t buy bed risers, they are a waste of money and not necessary.
16. Don’t purchase too big of a mini fridge, they take up a lot of room and aren’t as useful as you would think. 17. Enjoy the social aspect of college to the fullest, but don’t forget that your there for an education and to try your hardest to get good grades. Alumni Maddie Smith decorated her freshman dorm room with colorful bedding with matching pillows, wall art and pictures, a mini refrigerator and a standing plastic storage container.
8. Before buying a fan test how loud it is, you have to make sure you can sleep through the sound.
11. Know the dorm rules and regulations before you start shopping for dorm room items.
9. Buy a laundry bag rather than a laundry bin, they’re smaller and easier to handle.
12. Buy a bedbug proof mattress protector; bedbugs are common at college.
10. Wash your clothes with your roommates or friends clothes, it’s an easy way to save money on laundry.
13. Don’t spend too much money on personalizing and decorating your dorm, the bulk of your stuff won’t survive through your
18.An ottoman is a great buy, it can be used as a chair, stool, or extra storage. 19. Don’t go too crazy with commitments, like trying to balance a job, school and friends. Try to balance your activities, with school being the most important. 20. Check deals your school offers before purchasing certain items because some schools will rent out mini refrigerators and microwaves for the year
Must have college dorm room checklist HEALTH - Band-aids -Thermometer - Sunscreen - Cold Medicine -Nail Clippers -Tweezers -Q-tips -Ice Pack/ Heat Pack -Allergy Medicine -Rubbing Alcohol
SLEEP -Comforter -Mattress pad -Sheet set -Body pillow -Throw pillows -Quilt -Alarm clock -Mattress protector -Bedside table
ORGANIZE
STUDY
-Rolling storage bins -Shirt Hangers -Hooks -Stacking Drawers -Space Bags -Drawer dividers -Message Board -Labels -Sharpies -Safe
- Desk -Desk lamp -Waste basket -Dry erase board -Dry erase markers -Light bulbs -Desk Chair -Flash Drive -Printer & Ink
CLEAN
LOUNGE -Ipod and speakers -Frames and wall art -Door mirror -DVD player - Lounge chair - Throw rug - Removable wall tape - Fan -Television
-Garbage bags -Mini Vacuum -Cleaning Products -Lysol wipes -Sponges -Air Freshener -Stain Remover -Broom & dust pan -Lint brush -Scrubbing brush
Assistant Principal -Compiled by Megan Flynn and Gaby Camilli
Finding fashion inspiration around the world
Summer nail styles On your smartphone, scan this code using the application “QR Code” to read about summer nail trends and styles
Since the school year is almost over, people are starting to think about summer and how to look great. Whether it is
finding the right swimsuit or getting the perfect tan, summer is all about relaxing and working on those things you can’t really do during the school year. I for one, always love to spend the summer discovering new styles from the places I travel, gaining inspiration to use in the future. If you go to a foreign country you will definitely find a lot of new styles. The people are dressed differently from people in the United States. Culture brings a lot of fashion aspects to people’s lives and sometimes it is good to acknowledge those other styles and maybe take some of the
things you like and incorporate them into your wardrobe. Scarves and bangles were made popular here in the United States by women of India who wore Saris on their heads and bangles on their arms. To find new inspiration for your wardrobe you do not have to go overseas though; you can get style inspiration just by going to a different state. A good example is the difference between people who live in New York and California. New Yorkers tend to dress more reserved and classic (a color pallet consisting of mostly neutrals), while Californians tend to go for beach looks: floral prints, shorts, wavy
hair, etc. Summer is a great time to find the style that suits you best. I know it is easier to go along with what everyone else is wearing but it is good also to be individual. Your style is a tool you can use to tell people who you are since it is the first thing they tend to notice about you. Try connecting to people that share similar interests to you and maybe get some advice from them on how to change up your look. Maybe going to your cousin’s house in Brazil will put a little ethnicity in your wardrobe.
Sports X-tra
June 6, 2012
Keeping your beach body
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What do you do to keep in shape during the summer?
Students have been working on their beach bodies all year, and it is finally time to show them off
“I take a lot of jobs that require me to run around and I like doing abs alot. Abs are the most important.”
By Ayah Oweis Sports X-tra Editor
—Ravyn Hankison freshman “I go to the pool and sometimes play basketball, but mostly I like to bum it out.” —Yoseph Tiguh sophomore AYAH OWEIS
Students are getting anxious for the summer. As the last two weeks of school drone on, students are trying to get themselves ready to show off what they’ve got. For students who are into sports, staying in shape over the summer is imperative. Getting in runs, doing ab workouts and keeping their muscles toned is what has been on their minds for the past few weeks. In addition to getting ready to show off at the beach, students are trying to get ready for their upcoming fall sports seasons. Runners have to continue running in the hot summer sun in order to keep their endurance and speed up. For football players, they are working with their coaches throughout the summer to keep in shape for their season and to keep their muscles strong. Field hockey players have camps that they can go to over the summer to improve their skill for the upcoming season. Students who do not play sports are often just as serious about keeping in shape as athletes are. “To keep in shape, I like to go to Wakefield and play basketball with my friends,” freshman Omar Haddou said. In Northern Virginia, there are many places a person can go to get a good workout. Lake Accotink Park has a trail that is in total four miles to the bridge next to Audrey Moore REC Center and back. Along with the many trails in Virginia, the pool is also a place where people can have fun with their friends while also getting a mini workout in. “I like to go to the pool with my friends a lot over the summer because I can do everything there: tan, have fun and swim to keep myself in shape,” sophomore Alison De La Concepcion said, “I also like to run in my neighborhood.”
Freshman Abraz Hussain works out in the weight room after school to keep in shape for summer and sports.
Sometimes the easiest things, like running, can get you in shape. Beach boardwalk resturant stands are full of fried oreos, french fries, and ice cream. Many people get sucked into thinking that just because it’s summer, they can let go and eat whatever they want, including junk food. Even though it is summer and it is time to let loose, sometimes people have to think about what they are eating before they eat it, because just one of those fried oreos can make all that hard work for a perfect body go to waste. Keeping in shape is not just for show, but also keeps you healthy and fit and gives everyone that crazy confidence that everyone wants. After the grueling sports workouts, school runs and the
torture of eating right, by the time summer comes around, everyone is looking forward to having an amazing summer and feeling good. Sometimes even spending a day at King’s Dominion or Six Flags can help to keep you going, because walking around in the park helps to keep you in shape. For the more adventerous people, mountain and rock climbing is great for building and toning muscles. It is dangerous,but the adrenaline rush keeps people coming back for more. “Keeping active is really important because it keeps you healthy and you live longer when you live a healthy life,” De La Concepcion said. The best thing to do is find something you love to do that requires some physical activity, such as running, walking, or playing a game.
Student goes to Olympics A junior will have the opportunity to see the 2012 Olympic Games in London, England By Abby Converse Sports X-tra Co-Editor As school comes to a close and summer rolls around, so does the biggest summer sports event in the world. It’s the 2012 Summer Olympics, and they are to be held in London, England. Although the torch ceremony already kicked off on May 19, the actual games will begin on July 27 and finish on Aug. 12, with over 200 countries participating in 300 events. This year, Dylan Gore, a junior at AHS, will have the opportunity to travel to London and see the games. “I’m going around Aug. 6th,” Gore said. “I’m seeing the event called English team handball.” Team handball is a fast-paced game that involves two teams of seven players each. The opposing teams attempt to score goals by passing the ball around to get the ball in the goal. Great
“I run from my house to the AHS track, run one or two miles on the track, then run back home.”
Britain, the host country, qualified for both Men’s and Women’s handball. However, no teams from the United States qualified. Besides Team handball, Gore is also looking forward to seeing the swimming events, though he will not be attending those events. “I’m only seeing one event [team handball],” Gore said. “But I am mostly looking forward to swimming.”
“
It’s a once in a lifetime experience.
”
—Dylan Gore
junior
The 2012 Olympic Team Trials for the United States’ team will be held from the 25 of June to the second of July. “I’m supporting Team USA,” Gore said. “Specifically, I am rooting for Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte.” Swimmers Ryan Lochte and Michael Phelps have competed with each other multiple times, and
have fought back and forth to claim the number one title. Although Michael Phelps dominated the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and currently holds the world record for the 14 gold medals he has won, Ryan Lochte has been named the Best Male Swimmer for 2011. He has beaten Phelps in some races, even setting the world record for the 200-meter individual medley event. Both swimmers will be competing for the United States’ team in the Olympics this summer. With such fierce competition, the 2012 London Olympic Games will definitely be a sight to see. This is the third time that London has hosted the Olympic Games, making it the first city to host the Games three times and closing a 64 year gap since the 1948 London Olympic Games. Although London, England is a long way to travel, Gore is looking forward to experiencing the games firsthand. “I want to see the Olympics because it’s a once in a lifetime experience,” Gore said. With the historic city of London as its host, and athletes like Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte, the 2012 Summer Olympics will definitely be an event worth seeing, whether you are watching on the TV at home or in the stands in London.
—Kaitlin Martindale sophomore “I usually jog or run for 20 minutes a day to keep in shape for upcoming track seasons.” —Alex Ellison junior
“I work out a lot. I like to do workouts like Cross Fix and P90-X” —Oliver Alwes senior
—Compiled by Ayah Oweis
How to keep in shape over the summer While the football players are getting in shape for their up-coming season, you can get your beach body ready for your summer vacation with these workouts.
To keep your arms nice and toned, do 20 push ups a day, every other day.
Football starts training early Football coaches start training players from beginning of May Before, rising football players had to train on their own and wait until mid July to start training with their team. But now players are working with their coaches as early as May to get in shape for the coming fall season. After a shaky season, coaches and players are ready to get back out on the field and improve, in hopes of getting far in the season and becoming District Champions next year. This year’s season was not what anybody wanted, so these extra practices are made to give the players more time to work on their skill, strength and endurance needed for football. The extra practices the players are enduring will last through May, the summer, and will carry into the season. Players are both anxious and excited for the upcoming practices. “I’m scared for the green days, but I want to get better so I just have to go out there and give it my all,” junior Hawar Yousif said. Green days are practices that sports teams hold before the start of each season to get extra practices. Even before some spring sports had finished, the rising football players were doing drills on the field near the track. It is obvious that the
AYAH OWEIS
By Ayah Oweis Sports X-tra Editor
Junior Jack Johnson faces off against a Robert E. Lee player during football conditioning.
workouts have been getting harder as coaches are trying to find players that will hopefully become their new star player. “Our workouts are specific football workouts, there’s lots of strength stuff,” assistant coach Ron Abrigo said. “The workouts test a players mental and physical strength. It’s all about how you work alone and with the team.” This year, many key seniors are leaving, including Ali Musa, Tony Hysjulien, and Adam Wattenburger, along with many others.
Since so many senior players are leaving, it also gives underclassmen and freshmen a chance to make varsity and get more playing time in games. Workouts are expected to be harder, and the blazing hot summer sun is not going to help the players. Despite this, players are willing to do anything to get better and maybe even lead the team up to Districts. “This year, I’m hoping to get better because of the green days, it’s going to be hard but if it makes me a better player, I’ll do it,” junior Hari Mizouri
said. No matter how much they want to get better, some students dread the extra practices because it takes away from their summer plans. They also have to spend long hours in the sun wearing pads and helmets while running tough drills, and that is definitely not something that students think of or hope for when they think of their summer vactions. Another factor is the fact that players need to eat right in order to stay in shape along with their workouts. That means they can’t eat whatever they want like most people do over the summer; they have to stay on a strict diet to keep in shape for the upcoming season. For the new year, coaches are looking for players who have heart and can endure many things. Since the practices are long and require a lot of work with minimal water breaks, the players need to be able to handle it. They also want players who are reliable and play multiple sports. Keeping grades up is a key factor in being a succesful athlete, and coaches want players that can manage football and schooling equally. Along with the rising players that have made junior varsity or varsity in years before, coaches are also looking forward to the rising freshman class hoping for new players that will be willing to give it their all this season. With a lot of hard work and long pracices, they hope to make it to districts and make it even farther. “The main thing I want is to have a good season and make it far,” Yousif said. “That’s what matters the most.”
To define abdominals, do six sets of 30 crunches. There are different variations, like Russian Twists, Suitcases or full length sit ups.
To keep legs strongs and chiseled, do three sets of one minute wall sits. Your knees should be bent at a 90 degree angle.
Students play sports over the summer On your smartphone, scan this code above using the application “QR Code” to view a story about a students playing house sports over the summer
16 Athlete signs to DI Sports
—Christopher Austin Athletic Trainer “I think it’s sad that the coaches are leaving, I wish them all luck wherever they go.”
—Minh Quan Do freshman “It’s going to be a good addition to the school, and will provide a new input into the athletic program.”
— Hayat Yousif sophomore
“They’re pretty cool, and really nice. I like them.”
By Jarod Golub and Ngan Pham Sports Editor and Managing Editor Arguably the best wrestler in AHS history, senior Dane Harlowe signed with Boston University on a four year scholarship. Over his career Harlowe was a three-time district champion, two-time regional champion, and two-time state champion. It is easy to see why he was offered a scholarship, due to the fact that throughout his wrestling career at AHS, Harlowe has made 98 pins and was a four time state qualifier. Even as a freshman, Harlowe possessed the qualities of a successful wrestler. He was the runner-up in the Patriot District and third in the region. His successful career continued sophomore year when he was the district and region champion and the runner-up for the state. As a junior, Harlowe won states and districts, and was the runner-up for regions. Harlowe was also the NOVA classic and Collingswood Christmas Tournament champion and part of the Washington Post All-Metropolitan Second Team, from sophomore year to junior year, and First Team during his senior year. Harlowe is an all around great wrestler having qualified for states all four years of high school. “One of my favorite matches would have to be this year’s state semis, I scored three points in ten seconds to tie the match and put it into overtime,” Harlowe said. Although he holds all of these accomplishments in high school, Harlowe is still looking forward to college. “I’m really looking forward to having new friends and experiencing a new lifestyle,” Harlowe said. However, friends and a new lifestyle are not the only reasons for choosing Boston for Harlowe. “I like the city a lot and I missed it when I was at home, that’s how I knew I wanted to go there,” Harlowe said. Though Harlowe looks forward to his college life, leaving home will also bring about nostalgic feelings for him, especially from AHS. “I’ll probably miss Coach Sholders the most,” Harlowe said. “He’s always been there for me.” Along with missing the people, the competition is also a lot harder on the college, and especially Division I levels.
JAROD GOLUB
“I haven’t had a good chance to get to know them, so I can’t formulate an opinion.”
Varsity wrestler commits to Boston University on a fouryear scholarship
Above: Harlowe at his signing to Boston University. Bottom: Harlowe prepares to pin Woodson opponent at a meet.
COURTESY OF DANE HARLOWE
How do you feel about all the coaching changes?
June 6, 2012
The guidance Harlowe received from Sholders played an immense role in his career, but varsity wrestling coach Keith Sholders also expressed melancholy feelings about the approaching departure. “I was Dane’s coach throughout his high school wrestling career. Boston University has a good program and will be tougher for Dane, but they’re
gaining a great wrestler,” Sholders said. Harlowe has made multiple contributions for the AHS wrestling team and will be continuing his successful career in wrestling with the Terriers when he goes to Boston next year. “I’m really going to miss Annandale, but I think the experience of college, and wrestling on a higher level will be really interesting,” Harlowe said.
AHS welcomes new coach “It’s sad that all the old coaches are leaving, but this gives us a chance to gain a new perspective.”
—Sally Abilmona senior
Professional AHS Athletes: Bill Hamid: Professional soccer player for D.C. United. Clarence Goodson: Professional soccer player for Denmark and the United States Larry Asante: Professional football player for the Tampa Bay Bucaneers. Rachael Burnett: Four-year Virginia state qualifier at AHS. She currently goes to West Virginia University and is trying out for the Olympics Ray Crittenden: NFL player for the New England Patrios from 1993-1994. He played for the San Diego Chargers in 1997.
New coaches invade AHS In your smartphone, scan the QR code to read a story about the new coaches for each of their sports coming to AHS this upcoming school year.
Varsity boys basketball will receive new leadership By Megan Ryan Staff Writer
Though many faculty members will leave AHS this year, there are some new members that will be joining the team next year. Matthew Behne, will start working next year during the winter sports season. Prior to assuming the coaching position, Behne also coached basketball at Fairfax High School. However, though Behne will be coaching at AHS he plans on continuing to teach at Fairfax. “I plan on bringing the current organization and structure and have the team build on the winning culture that is in other sports” Behne said. Behne played basketball in college and high school and discovered that he wanted to coach by the end of his senior year in college. Before his teaching career at Fairfax, Behne worked in sports retail and had a volunteer coaching job in Ohio. He
was then offered a teaching and coaching position at Fairfax High School. Behne coached the girls team for two seasons and then switched over to the boys team for one year before coming to Annandale. Matthew Behne took the coaching job at AHS because he thought that something was missing this past year and wants to have the opportunity to fix that gap. “I want to be structured and precise while also bringing that attitude of fun back into the basketball program itself,” Behne said. Behne also wants to be a part of the AHS community because of its loving team and amazing support. Because of these elements, he believes that he can thrive at AHS and coach the team to greater heights. “When there is a team that needs help and an position is offered to me to coach them, it’s such a great opportunity because I can define my coaching skills and I can help get this team back on its feet.” Behne said. With great form and planning comes great reward and Behne hopes to have a great season under his coaching. “There are things I can bring and try to teach
and things there are also things that I can try and encourage. So if all of the students and staff are around that idea and concept then I we will be successful,” Bhene said. Along with Behne, members of this year’s varsity basketball team are also excited to play with a new coach next year. “[Coach Behne] is making us doing a lot of offseason workouts to prepare us for the season,” junior Sanar Shamdeen. “He expects us to work hard and I think that he knows what he’s talking about, so that we hopefully have a better season next year.” Because of the various opportunities that Behne finds at AHS and the potential in his abilities as a coach a strong relationship will be built. The basketball team with thus, have a new experience during their season. “It’s going to be fun and it’s going to be exciting,” Behne said, “I’m looking forward to help to rebuild that winning tradition, but also the tradition of excellence surrounding the school. That is what I hope [the players] know and they come with that expectation.” Behne said.
Where are these alumni now? Students continue to succeed athletically By Samir Shah Retired Sports Editor Each year, thousands of high school athletes continue competing in their respective sports at the Division I level. Just a year ago, Nathan Miller and Mitchell Frank walked the halls of AHS like any normal student would, doing tedious schoolwork, while attending practice. Now both play a Division I college sport, managing all the benefits and the disadvantages that come with it. Nathan Miller plays in a lacrosse game for West Point. He plays midfielder for the Mules. West Point lacrosse player Nathan Miller and University of Virginia 2011. At West Point, Miller is one of online classes and tutors he was able tennis star Mitchell Frank are some the fastest players on the team as to maintain a GPA above 4.04 and was of the best athletes AHS has sent in a freshman, as he competed for a in the running to be valedictorian. Besides the prestige and their respective sports. Months later, starting position. “My coach said that I was the recognition they receive for being the these athletes are still performing at the top of their game and making fastest to a magazine and I was called closest thing to professional athletes, a name for themselves outside the out at practice the next day and was Division I players encounter many determined the third fastest after a difficulties with time and goals. world of high school sports. “The best [part] is that you get to In his time at AHS, Miller was race,” Miller said. During his high school career play in front of huge crowds and the named All-Patriot District three times, All-Northern Region twice, Frank was ranked fifth in the world sick gear,” Miller said. “The worst first team All-Metropolitan Team in for junior tennis players and 620th [part] is that you have zero free time 2011, and All-American in 2010 and for pros. As a traveling athlete, he did and are sore all day every day.” not attend school often; however with While most college students have
COURTESY OF NATHAN MILLER
—Hawar Yousif junior
so much free time that they don’t know what to do with, Division I athletes usually spend hours a day conditioning and preparing. Playing at a higher level requires endurance for hours of grueling practices that better each player and the team. “ Yo u ’ r e f o r c e d t o b e m o r e independent and take responsibility for your own development, socially and in the classroom,” Frank said. “You have to figure things out on your own and manage your time.” While there are disadvantages, playing for a Division I team can be an exhilarating experience. “Playing in the NCAA team finals was probably the most exciting thing I’ve ever participated in,” Frank said. “There were so many fans and it was awesome competing for a national championship even though things didn’t come together for that.” At the end of his freshman year at West Point, Miller played in seven games competing for playing time with the team’s more experienced players, and established himself as a competent addition to the team for next year. At UVA, Frank finished with a 38-2 record in singles and top three in the country. Both plan on returning to school in the fall to continue their college careers.
Sports
June 6, 2012
Track and field wins states
Boys team ties for first in the state championship meet By Betsy Kruse Sports Editor
Annandale is no stranger to individual champions on the track, but the recent success of the team winning the state title has brought a new level of pride to the school. “Winning the state championship is a tremendous accomplishment for the athletes,” head coach Sean Miller said. “They have worked eight months a year to get to this point. It is great to see them happy, and the state title is fantastic for Annandale High School as a whole.” The Atoms tied for first place with Grassfield High School with a score of 44 points, majority of which came from the three wins in the 4x100 relay, 1600 meter run and 800 meter run. The team sent eight boys to compete in the state meet and placed in five different events. “[The team] did an amazing job. For you to win states everyone has to step up and do their best,” assistant coach David O’Hara said. A controversial call prevented the Atoms from earning more points and being the sole title holders. The
The boys track team placed first in three events to help secure its state championship win.
4x400 relay was disqualified after the referee ruled that they violated the rules by throwing down the baton after crossing the finish line. “We know we did everything we possibly could to win,” Miller said. “I did everything I could to remain calm and composed. After all the great things our athletes did, I didn’t want to put a negative light on the team by showing my anger towards the officials.” Adding to his already impressive resume, senior Ahmed Bile won both
the 1600 meter run and the 800 meter run with a time of 4:13.12 and 1:51.51, respectively. Bile’s 800 meter time was his fastest of the season. One Albermarle runner dropped out of the 1600 meter run to focus on beating Bile in the 800 meter, hoping that Bile would be tired from his previous races. However, this strategy failed to work and Bile proved victorious. “[Bile] could have gone for state records if he had only run one event, but he did just enough to win, which
shows he’s a team player,” O’Hara said. Another standout runner was junior Alex Ellison, who ran a 10.55 second 200 meter dash, earning him second place, and a 21.60 in the 100 meter dash for third place. Bile and Ellison qualified for the national meet, which will take place in two weeks. “It feels really good [to qualify for nationals]. I’m excited; it doesn’t feel real,” Ellison said. Ellison was also a member of the 4x100 relay along with seniors Rolan Andoh, Dylan Van Balen and Walter Manlan. Ellison anchored the relay and was able to come from behind and pass three teams to win by .02 seconds with a time of 41.59. “I’m always a ‘team first guy’, even in an individual sport like track. It’s especially great when relays win state titles, because all four members can share in the success,” Miller said. “All of us did really well, it was pretty much perfect,” Van Balen said. The girls sent one relay, comprised of sophomores Isatu Koroma, Destiny Anderson and Katherine Ross and junior Rowan Shartel, to states where they ran a 50.34 second 4x100 and placed fourteenth. “It is a fantastic feeling to know that we have won titles based on hard work, commitment, and integrity,” Miller said.
How do you feel you competed in states?
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Spring sports all-district honors: Boys soccer First team: Sophomore Jordan Fox Second team: Sophomore Charlie Montano Honorable mention: Senior Willie Labarca Senior Sergio Moya
Girls soccer First team: Senior Micaela Filsoof Second team: Senior Natalie Ford Sophomore Jenny McCann Honorable mention: Junior Stephanie Allshouse
Boys lacrosse First team: Senior Ryan Miller Senior Jack Deible Junior Joe Bermingham Second team: Senior Alec Villafana Junior Max Ruffing Honorable mention: Junior Zach Lalande
“We didn’t do as well as we expected, but we’re still glad we made it to states.” —Destiny Anderson 4x100 relay sophomore
“I felt like all of us did our best. The competition was really hard, but we’re grateful to have made it to states. —Isatu Koroma 4x100 relay sophomore
“I thought I competed very well. I got in the top heat so I scored for the team.” —Alex Ellison 100m dash, 200m dash, 4x100 relay junior
“Like Kobe in the fourth quarter, we pulled through.”
“I tried my best to score. I did beat some people, but it wasn’t enough to win some points for the team.”
—Walter Manlan 100m dash, 4x100 relay, —Ali Ali Musa Shot put, discus throw 4x400 relay senior senior
“We won the 4x100 relay. We had the fastest time in the state.” —Dylan Van Balen 100m dash, 4x100 relay senior
New coach for cheerleading Q & A with Cragin Winkler Q. How many years have you taught at AHS? A. I have taught here for two years. Q. What previous experience do you have that will help you to coach cheerleading? A. I cheered in high school and in those years we were state champions. I did dance team at George Mason and worked right next to cheer. Q. Why did you want to become the cheer coach? A. Spirit programs in general are something I’m passionate about because it’s not just about the sport, but bringing the community together. Q. What are you most looking forward to next season? A. Friday night football games. Q. What changes would you like to bring to the program? A. One change I’m looking for is to have a freshman team for next year. Q. Will you still continue to coach volleyball? A. No, because I can’t coach two things at one time, but I’m still planning on going to the games.
Wright
Girls lacrosse First team: Senior Mackenzie Wright Senior Esra Gokturk Junior Paige Britton Second team: Junior Sarah Bergen Honorable mention: Senior Annie Rutherford Junior Betsy Kruse Sophomore Kaitlin Martindale
Baseball First team: Senior Ryan Smith Second team: Junior Joey Rainey Junior Carlos Marcelino Honorable mention: Sophomore Steven Schwartz
Softball First team: Senior Jessica Hotter Sophomore Jocelyn Hotter Second team: Senior Justine Niner Senior Alex King Senior Casey Fait Junior Anne Marie Frankfurt
Girls tennis Second team: Junior Jennifer Ha Sophomore Hannah Coulter
Students win women’s sports award On your smartphone, scan this code using the application “QR Code” to view a story about Fairfax County women’s sports.
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Upcoming movies
ENTERTAINMENT
June 6, 2012
SOJA takes the stage crowd went absolutely crazy for. All in all, SOJA is a must-see. Their honest lyrics of hope, family, and love will for sure change your perspective on music and on life. Not only do they make good music, they make music that you can learn from also. The band is continuing their tour across the U.S. as well as making pit stops in Portugal, Poland, Germany and Switzerland and if you get the chance to see SOJA live, do it, you will not regret it.
Reggae music from upcoming band draws crowds and impresses students BY BECCA HENDRICKSON Retired Health Editor THAT’S MY BOY June 15
ROCK OF AGES June 15
ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER June 22
It’s hard to live in the D.C. Metro area and be unfamiliar with the local folk-reggae band, SOJA. The Arlington octet sold out the 9:30 club two nights in a row on May 18 and 19 as part of their Everything Changes tour. The traditional Jamaican reggae band Rootz Underground opened for SOJA on the first night while Biz Markie opened the second night. At around 9:30, Rootz Undergound came on, ready and full of energy. The crowd didn’t seem to be too familiar with their songs, but nonetheless, they still managed to get everyone pumped. Their electric vibe combined with soulful lyrics and Rastafari messages made for an amazing performance. But after about 45 minutes of singing, dancing and dread shaking, it was finally time for SOJA to come on. As soon as the band marched out, the cheering was almost unbearable. Lead singer Jacob Hemphill came out sporting a “Rest in Power MCA” t-shirt to commemorate the late Adam ‘MCA’ Yauch of the Beastie Boys while three of the other band members, bassist, Bobby Lee, keyboardist, Patrick O’Shea, and drummer, Ryan Berty, wore shirts with pictures of the late Chuck Brown, D.C. native and the “Godfather of Go-go.” Accordingly, the first song the octet performed was “Gone Today” off of their latest album, “Strength to Survive.” The band incorporated songs from multiple albums and it still seemed as if almost every person in the building knew every lyric which frequently produced a grin across
One Direction satisfies fans The popular British boy-band launches its tour in the U.S. SOJA’s lead singer and guitarist is Jacob Hemphill.
Hemphill’s face while singing. The show was also packed with surprises. Alfred “Black Boo” Duncan of local band, Mambo Sauce, came out and performed with SOJA during their song “Bleed Through” from their 2009 album “Born in Babylon.” A few songs later, the show had reached its end, or so we thought. The band slowly exited the stage but the fans stayed and begged for an encore. Then about five minutes later, Hemphill, Berty, and Lee all came out bearing their “Rest in Power MCA” shirts and did a Beastie Boys tribute to the song “No Sleep ‘Till Brooklyn”, which the
‘Listen Up!’ for Haley PEOPLE LIKE US June 29
American Idol finalist puts out her first debut album BY: EMILY BLANK Entertainment Editor
TED June 29
Upcoming concerts
NEIL DIAMOND Thurs, June 14 The Verizon Center
Just a year after her run as a finalist on American Idol, Haley Reinhart debuts her first new studio album Listen Up! Haley Reinhart went from an underrated underdog to a fan favorite during her run on American Idol, performing stellar covers while adding her own twist to songs such as ‘House of the Rising Sun,’ Elton John’s ‘Benny and the Jets’and Gaga’s ‘You and I’ before it was even released. Known for her Adele-like vocals, Reinhart uses them to her advantage in the new album. Listen Up! features a vibrant unique collection of songs that are filled with loud horns and jazzy ’60s sounding grooves. It compliments Reinhart’s incredible voice, which can flip from containing crystal clear vocals to rough and throaty ones gradually. Listen Up! hits you right in the face with its opening track ‘Oh My!’featuring B.O.B, who bonds with Reinhart perfectly even though they both have distinctly different musical styles. Other tracks include ‘Wasted Tears’ and ‘Hit the Ground Running,’ showing off Reinhart’s feisty delivery within her vocals, while the sorrowful ballad ‘Undone’really connects with listeners. On another track ‘Free,’Reinhart reveals more of her vulnerable side of her past. When it comes to the lyrics of her songs, Reinhart actually co-wrote every song on the album except for the
track ‘Free,’ really exposes her songwriting skills to her advantage as musician. It’s safe to say her new CD is full of countless lyrical and melodic songs that will be ringing in your head throughout the day. Her voice is very unique, unlike anyone on iTunes today. If you are looking for a fun, breezy, sultry playlist for this summer, Reinhart’s new album is sure to fill the void for you. She brings out fun and relaxing beats and a wide range of tracks on her album to keep you entertained. The sounds off of this album are unlike anything on the radio today, so Listen Up!
Celebri-
BY KATERINA MAGIGAS A Special to The A-Blast Recently, I got the amazing opportunity to see one of my favorite bands, One Direction, in concert for the second time at the Patriot Center.After the opening acts, (Camryn and Manika,) One Direction came out and opened up with their popular hit song ‘Na Na Na,’ a song that has not been released in the US but all the fans in the audience knew every single word anyway. They sang most of their music off their latest album ‘Up All Night’ along with covers of other hit songs. In the middle of the concert they sat on a couch and had a twitter Q&A with the audience. One of the questions was ‘What’s your pickup line for a direction-er?’ Niall Horan answered with ‘“Alright gorgeous, what’s the crack?” The entire crowd went wild. During another part of the discussion Niall did an Irish dance and the boys tried to copy him but it was a failed attempt. Their last song was their most well known song ‘What Makes You Beautiful,’ and after they performed it they left the stage, but then came out and did an encore with ‘I Want.’ Not only do they have amazing vocals, but One Direction also made sure to acknowledge everyone in the crowd, they had a great interaction with their fans. Anyone that has seen these boys perform knows that they truly care about their fans.You could tell they love performing for people and they are very grateful for the opportunities they have gotten after coming so close to winning on Simon Cowell’s ‘X Factor.’ It was the best concert I have ever been to and I plan on going to every performance they have here in Virginia. They will be coming back in June of next year to the Verizon Center for an arena tour, make sure you buy tickets, you won’t want to miss this performance.
S U D O K U
Get inside your favorite celebrities’ heads
THE BEACH BOYS Fri., June 15 Merriweather Post Pavilion
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DAVE MATTHEWS BAND Sat, June 16 Jiffy Lube Live
“Take a risk, take a chance, make a change and BREAKAWAY!” —Avril Lavigne
“Focus all of your energy on what you can control and patiently wait for destiny to guide you.” —Rob Dyrdek
“Live in the moment... So you can enjoy every aspect of life itself. Don’t let the moment live you. #LoveLife” —Robert Griffen III
“Spread love always and be strong when all you want to do is the opposite.” —Mac Miller
LMFAO Mon, June 25 Patriot Center
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RASCAL FLATTS Sat, June 23 Jiffy Lube Live
Entertainment
June 6, 2012
A guide to summer fun July 1
2 Serenade! Festival Celebration
Concert
Movie Premiere
Album Release
Television Premiere
Mid Atlantic Battle of the Bands @ Jammin Java
3
The Amazing Spider-Man
8
Matisyahu @ Wolf Trap
50 Cent Untitled
9
AHS Academy International Lacrosse Camp (5-7)
Aerosmith @ Jiffy Lube Live
10
15
Coldplay @ Verizon Center
16
11
Washington Nationals vs. New York Mets
Jason Aldean @ Merriweather
22
18
24
23
Passafire @ Jammin Java
20
How To Train Your Dragon Live Spectacular @ The Verizon Center
21
29
The Dark Knight Rises Sing Me Insomnia @ Jammin Java
27
Mayhem Festival @ Jiffy Lube Live
Vans Warped Tour @ Merriweather Post
The Watch
31 Rick Ross God Forgives, I Don’t
Santana & The Allman Brothers @ Merriweather
The swimming portion of the Olympics begins on July 29th and will continue through August 4th
Fall sports begin
Grease @ Toby’s Dinner Theatre in Baltimore
Legally Blonde @ Toby’s Dinner Theatre in Baltimore
8
Bombay Bicycle Club @ 9:30 Club
Howard County Fair begins
12
14
13 ABBA @ Wolf Trap
Joe Walsh @ Wolf Trap
The Dangerous Summer @ Empire
Kreay Shawn Somethin’ ‘Bout Kreay
Tim McGraw & Kenny Chesney @ FedEx Field
19
Owl City The Midsummer Station
21
20
Straight No Chaser @ Wolf Trap The Second Battle of Manassas 150th anniversary
28 Varsity Volleyball @ Stuart
NVSL Individual All Stars @ Waynewood Pool
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days
9
10
O.A.R @ Merriweather
11
Linkin Park & Mutemath @ Jiffy Lube Live
Howard County Fair ends
17
16
Washington Nationals vs. New York Mets
Barry Manilow @ Wolf Trap
The Expendables 2
The Odd Life of Timothy Green
Washington Nationals vs. Chicago Fire
29
24
Kelly Clarkson & The Fray @ Jiffy Lube Live
30 DC United vs. New York Red Bulls
18 The Morning Jacket @ Merriweather DC Fest @ The Patriot Center
Barry Manilow @ Wolf Trap
23
Lawless ft. Shia Labeouf
Dead Can Dance @ Wolf Trap
Summer Spirit Festival @ Merriweather
Meet The Fokkens
Varsity Field Hockey @ Hayfield
27
LOGIC @ Empire
Steve Miller Band @ Wolf Trap
15
Train @ Wolf Trap
26
Washington Nationals vs. Miami Marlins
The Temptations @ Wolf Trap
4
Arlington County Fair @ Thomas Jefferson Community Center
22
Big Time Rush @ Jiffy Lube Live
3
2
Washington Nationals vs. Philadelphia Phillies
7
311 @ Jiffy Lube Live
August Golf team begins
6
Opening Ceremony of the 2012 London Olympic Games
Identity Festival @ Jiffy Lube Live
Vans Warped Tour @ Virginia Beach
1
5
28 Step Up Revolution
Loudoun County Fair
30
Nicki Minaj @ Constitution Hall
KISS & Motley Crue @ Jiffy Lube Live
Shawn Colvin @ Birchmere
26
Toby Keith @ Jiffy Lube Live
Ice Age: Continental Drift
Jackson Browne @ Wolf Trap
Sugarland @ Jiffy Lube Live
Alex Bugnon @ Birchmere
14
13
Kenny Loggins @ Birchmere Washington Nationals vs. Atlanta Braves
Mindless Behavior @ Constitution Hall
Savages
19
25
7
Luke Bryan @ St. Leonard Fire Department in MD
Fringe Festival
Washington Kastles vs. The Wharf
AHS Academy International Field Hockey
Washington Nationals vs. Colorado Rockies
Buddy Guy @ Wolf Trap
Mindy Smith @ Jammin Java
Matisyahu Spark Seeker
Michael Jackson The Immortal @ Verizon Center
6
12
Free Slurpee Day at all 7-Eleven’s
Zac Brown Band Uncaged
17
Festival/Sports Event
Katy Perry: Part Of Me
Def Leopard @ Merriweather
Coldplay @ Verizon Center
AHS Event
5
Chris Brown Fortune Washington Nationals vs. San Francisco Giants
The Unity Tour @ Rams Head Live Mystics vs. Phoenix Mercury
4
19
Baltimore Orioles vs. Chicago White Sox
25
Field Hockey “Under The Lights” Tournament @ Lee Jason Mraz & Christina Perri @ Merriweather
31 Varsity Football @ Fairfax The Possession
Brad Paisley & The Band Perry @ Jiffy Lube
September 4th: FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL! HAVE A SAFE AND FUN SUMMER!
WEEKEND
20
June 6, 2012
Goodbye A-Blast: seniors reminisce
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Ent ANDREA MELENDEZ
MARWA ABDELAZIZ
Marwa Abdelaziz Memory: Late Monday night deadlines! Attending: University of Virginia
Parker Gillcash
Nasiha Rashid Memory: late Monday deadlines Attending: Virginia Commonwealth University
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Rebecca Malzahn Memory: accidentally locking Carola out of her phone Attending: James Madison University
Memory: going on the New York trip Attending: Virginia Commonwealth University
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Daniel Park Memory: being the main story on the front page of the newspaper Attending: William and Mary
Rachel Bergen Memory: seeing One Direction on the street in NYC Attending: Drexel University
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ANDREA MELENDEZ
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ANDREA MELENDEZ
Carola Rojas
Helina Daniel Memory: going to Disney and riding the shaky ferris wheel and almost dying Attending: American University
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COURTESY OF BECCA MALZAHN
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Samir Shah
Memory: playing sporcle Memory: trying to complete my page in 2 in class Attending: Virginia Tech hours on Mondays Attending: James Madison University
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COURTESY OF RACHEL BERGEN
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Tricia O’Neill Memory: torturing Liz with grandma jokes Attending: Ohio University
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Nikki Contrino Managing Editor Memory: Late nights in the lab where are the pages are coming “hot off the press” Attending: University of Mary Washington (center)
ANDREA MELENDEZ
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CJ Aftergut Co-Editor in Chief Memory: Leading the charge in our struggle to inform the public of news and controversial topics with the help of our scintillating staff Attending: William and Mary (left) Liz Wilson Webmaster Memory: the trip to China Attending: Grove City College Also worked as In-Depth Editor (right)
Esra Gokturk Memory: Chick-fil-A adventures and making the world a healthier place with Betsy Kruse Attending: Virginia Tech
ANDREA MELENDEZ
ANDREA MELENDEZ
Annie Curran Co-Editor in Chief Memory: spending deadline nights laughing, joking and working with some great people. I will never forget the trip to China. Attending: William and Mary (far left)
ANDREA MELENDEZ
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Becca Hendrickson Memory: watching Daniel teach CJ how to smang it Attending: James Madison University
Sarthak Batra Staff Writer Memory: making videos with Brody and Kardo Attending: American University
COURTESY OF AJ MCCAFFERTY
ANDREA MELENDEZ
ANDREA MELENDEZ
ANDREA MELENDEZ
ANDREA MELENDEZ
Anais Flores Staff Writer Memory: going around the school and taking last minute pictures Attending: George Mason University
William Bennett Staff Writer Memory: Weintraut calling me Bill all year. Attending: George Mason University
Ryan Beamer Videographer Memory: making my frisbee video Attending: University of Mississippi
ROWAN SHARTEL
Patrick McCann Videographer Memory: making sweet vids and rapping in class Attending: University of Delaware
Allison Ilagan Staff Writer Memory: teasing Weintraut about the ladies he would ask to go on dates Attending: Southern Virginia University
AJ McCafferty Photographer Memory: Weintraut telling me he was a Gleek Attending: Kent State University
Sam Converse Staff Writer Memory: Listening to William and Ethan argue Attending: Penn State Harrisburg
ROWAN SHARTEL
COURTESY OF PATRICK MCCANN
Marissa Uriarte Staff Writer Memory: getting lost in New York Attending: Northern Virginia Community College
Alex Brown Staff Writer Memory: “Stay golden ponyboy” Attending: Appalachian State University
ANDREA MELENDEZ
ANDREA MELENDEZ
Ethan Edwards Staff Writer Memory: going to New York Attending: Virginia Commonwealth University
ROWAN SHARTEL
ANDREA MELENDEZ
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Elvis Condezo Videographer Memory: Ryan Beamer’s frisbee video Attending: George Mason University