Issue2

Page 1

A

the 3

700 Medford Dr. Annandale, VA 22003

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2006

PIPE DOWN, POPE

STRUGGLING THROUGH STRESS

Pope Benedict XVI is criticized for making racist remarks against Muslims.

Though the school year has just begun, stress seems to dominate studentʼs lives.

Low: 56

Today’s Lunch

Soft Beef Taco w/ Shredded Cheese Beef and Bean Burrito Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwich Yogurt w/ Pretzel

Today’s Flex Tues., Sept. — W6/R7

This Day in History 1939 —Warsaw, Poland surrendered to the Nazis after weeks of resistance 1959 — Typhoon Vera hit the Japanese island of Honshu, killing almost 5,000 people 1998 — Mark McGuire hits his record setting 70th home run during regular season

NEWS BRIEFS Fugate replaced by former AHS employee

TheAHS library was filled with reporters, government officials, students and Fairfax County Public School dignitaries on Sept. 20. The commotion was caused due to a ceremony in which U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings attendedAHS. During the visit, Spellings presented a $188,000 grant which will further the development of Chinese and Arabic programs throughout Fairfax County Public Schools. While at AHS, Spellings attended a level three and four Arabic class.After approximately 20 minutes of observing the class, Spellings moved on to the library where she spoke to reporters, school board members and students. “[Developing Chinese and Arabic programs] is not only important for the spread of knowledge,” said Spellings during the ceremony. “But it’s also important for the spread of world peace.” The grant that Spellings presented will help at least 1,500 students study either Arabic or Chinese. There are many reasons why AHS was chosen as the

On Oct. 27, students from Dietrich Bonhoeffer Gymnasium in Eppelheim, Germany will arrive at AHS. The students will be staying for two weeks with members of the AHS choral program. While in America, the German students will have the opportunity to tour Washington DC and attend classes at AHS. The German students, under the direction of Dr. Ralf Schnitzer, will preform a combined concert with the AHS choral groups, directed by Carleen Dixon. During this concert, the groups will preform the widely acclaimed piece, Carmina Burana. This piece lasts approximately 60 minutes, and requires a great deal of talent and preparation. According to choral booster president Juli Navarrete, the choral department will be hiring many professionals to assist them with the combined concert. A professional orchestra, a professional pianist and professional soloists will perform with the German and AHS groups. The concert will be performed at Cornerstone Church on Gallows Road on Nov. 1 at 7:30.

As always, the main discussion was Prom. For 45 minutes, in four different locations, four completely different classes discussed the biggest event that a high school can hold. Every class needs money, every class wants participation, all because no class wants a bad Prom. All the classes go about these goes in radically

Freshman Goldy Berhane addresses classmates during the freshman elections in the auditoium on Sept. 21.

Auditions will soon be underway for the first everAHS talent show. This event, sponsored by the senior class, will be performed in November. Because this is the first talent show at AHS, the senior class anticipates that it will be a popular event. Audtion forms were distributed from room 254 and collected by Sept. 22. Students who submitted audition forms will be asked to try out in front of a panel of AHS teachers and staff members. Auditions, open to students, parents and AHS staff, will be held from Oct. 3 through Oct. 6 in LindaLee Slesinger’s room, room 254.

Religion Survey

Other 3%

Agnostic 3%

None 6%

Judism 2%

Islam 12%

Hinduism 1%

Christianity 62%

The A-Blast conducted a survey to determine which religions are represented at AHS.

This survey was distributed on Sept. 14 and Sept. 18 during B, C and D lunches. Of 1,000 surveys distributed, 842 were completed and returned for inclusion in this graph.

Gas prices drop low

different ways. The senior class, for example, is going all out this year of fundraisers. The class is using everything from cookie dough sales, car washes, and Fuddruckers nights to a talent show in order to dd money to their bnk account. The junior class took a slightly different approach, attempting to enlist their numbers in the sale of Domino’s pizza cards. The sophomores have high hope for their classic 2009 spirit wear, as well as carnation sales on Valentine’s Day. The freshman only held elections, but their officers have big ideas for the coming four years. All this fundraising is simple enough; all the revenue goes toward raising more money. That is, until senior year when the money is devoted to Prom expenses. The senior class is now in their final stages of Prom planning, including a possible theme. “I think it would be really fun to have a masquerade theme,” said senior Rachel Frank. At the meeting, the class officers passed out surveys to ascertain the class opinion on the prom theme, among other things. Some expressed worry about the coming end-of-year celebrations. “I heard we don’t have much money, I really hope we have a good Prom. I don’t mind going to the fundraisers, I just really want a good Prom,” said senior Tina Le. Younger classes are already worrying about the “Class elections” continued on page 5

“Gas prices” continued on page 5

BY DAVID SHERMAN Co-Editor in Chief It is 6:45 a.m., and while many students are just getting picked up by the bus or starting up their cars for another day of school, AHS teachers are already arriving at the building and readying their classrooms. This type of hard work and dedication towards their students has been the cause of the awards that Alan Weintrat and Linda Wheeler recently received. The Dow Jones Newspaper Fund, Inc. recently awarded Alan Weintraut, advisor of The A-Blast and film teacher, 2006 National High School Journalism Teacher of the Year. Weintraut will be honored

Wheeler

at the Journalism Education/ National Scholastic Press Association conference in Nashville, TN, on Nov. 11. He will receive a commemorative pin, a plaque, a laptop computer and a free classroom subscription to the Wall Street Journal, Classroom Edition. Weintraut will be a featured speaker throughout the year at academic and “Teacher awards” continued on page 5

Parents attend meetings to familiarize themselves with school policies and procedures

BY LUCAS HIGGINS Staff Writer Senior Andrew Awadalla was constantly frustrated by his inability to go on any kind of extended trip in his car. “I couldn’t go anywhere that was even remotely far,” said Awadalla. “No trips to the beach with friends. Nothing like that.” This was a problem that plagued many AHS students throughout the summer. Costly gas prices were preventing any extended use of their car simply because they could not afford it. In the year 2000, gas prices were hovering around $1 per gallon. By 2003, prices had spiked to the highest in 20 years, but still nowhere near the all-time high of $3.07 that was reached in 1981. Recently though, anyone driving in the metro area this past summer has seen the $3.15, $3.20 and $3.25 per gallon prices that put most driver’s—especially teenage driver’s—wallets in a stranglehold. Many AHS students’ summer plans were directly affected by the high gas prices. “There were a couple times when I wanted to go somewhere and just didn’t have the gas or cash to get there,” said senior Wade Akridge. “These places weren’t

receive awards

Parents head back to school BY JULIE TUMASZ Staff Writer

JULIE TUMASZ

Auditions to begin for first ever AHS talent show

FCPS Superintendent Jack Dale, Congressman Tom Davis and Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings, address an Arabic class during a ceremony in the library on Sept. 20. The ceremony was held to announce a grant that will go towards developing electronic Arabic and Chinese programs throughout Fairfax Country Public School system.

Class meetings, elections held Staff members BY EMILY SAMPLE News Editor

Choral department prepares for German exchange

Buddhism 7%

The Arena Stage version of Cabaret combines dark issues with eye-catching theatrics.

BY ALYSSA NAVARRETE Co-Editor in Chief

“Secretary of Education” continued on page 5

After many years of service to AHS, Dr. Barbara Fugate decided to retire. Jamie Caarayiannis, a formerAHS employee, will be returning to AHS as an administrator to replace Fugate.

Atheist 4%

CABARET DAZZLES

The beginning of another year brings new students and teachers to AHS.

Secretary of Education attends ceremony to present grant to Fairfax County Public Schools

AMY STEINBUECHLER

High: 77

FRESH FACES

Spellings presents grant

Today’s Weather Partly Cloudy

18

13

10-11

DAVID SHERMAN

VOLUME #52 ISSUE 2

ANNANDALE HIGH SCHOOL

Parents at Freshman Parentsʼ Night come out of the auditorium and head towards the awaiting counselors. This yearʼs Freshman Parentsʼ Night, held on Sept. 19, drew about 220 parents.

Back to School Night and Freshman Parents’ Night can be scary nights for parents as well as students. While parents are getting lost trying to find their child’s classes on time, students are at home worrying about the embarrassing stories their parents are telling their teacher and counselors, and visa versa. “Kids are scared that the parents and staff are talking about them, and that’s exactly what we’re trying to do,” said Steve Sengstack, director of student services and the host of Freshman Parents’ Night. “Freshman Parent Night and Back to School Night are ways for the staff and parents to connect.” Both these events are organized by the school staff to include parents in their child’s education. “Freshman Parents’ Night is supposed to be very personal and relaxed for the parents and the staff,” said Sengstack. “The goal of the parents and staff are for there to be a triangle connection for the parents, students and the guidance counselors.” About 220 freshman parents attended Freshman Parents’ Night on Sept. 19. The parents assembled in the auditorium to listen to lectures on the aspects of life at AHS. In an attempt to keep it personal, the staff never used microphones, spoke briefly on every subject to keep the parents attention and told lots of jokes about the students. “Parents” continued on page 5


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