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t VOLUME #54 ISSUE 5

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COMING OF AGE IN EUROPE

ANNANDALE HIGH SCHOOL 700 Medford Dr. Annandale, VA 22003

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HIDDEN RELIGION

WEATHERTODAY Partly Cloudy

Possible snow flurries High: 37 Low: 25

LUNCHTODAY

Spaghetti w/ wheat breadstick w/ meat or marinara sauce Chicken fillet on bun Peanut butter & jelly sandwich Yogurt w/ Pretzel

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TIMELESS HOLIDAY HITS

In-Depth surveys minority religions from around the world, such as Buddhism, Hinduism and

Leaders of the western countries must attempt to find a foreign plan devoid of American domination

703-642-4229

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2007

THE SEASON OF GIVING

The holiday movies that have captured audiences over the ages

During the holidays students look for different was to give back

Blood drive orchestrated Leadership signs up future BD participants

BY SCOTT PLUNKETT Staff Writer

Last day of Robin Hood auditions The AHS theatre department will be holding auditions this afternoon for the show Robin Hood. Today is the last day of auditions, and the cast list will be posted in the near future.

1989 graduate dies struggling with cancer Laura O’Neil Maxey, a graduate of Annandale High School in 1989 (now Laura O’Neil Maxey Moutray) died recently after a two year struggle with breast cancer.

She was 36 years old. Moutray received her bachelor’s degree in business administration from Old Dominion University in 1993, and held marketing communications roles at Mail Boxes Etc., Wireless Knowledge and Intel between 1996 and 2002. She returned to Northern Virginia in 2004, becoing an Executive Events Planner at Nursing Spectrum magazine.

Marketing to attend Wizards Career Day DECA and Sports and Entertainment Marketing classes are attending a Wizards Career Day with guest speakers from the Wizards basketball team organization and are attending the game after the meeting between the Wizards v. the Phoenix Suns on Friday, Dec. 7.

6% seven and up

9% four-six

31% two-three

23% one

31% None

How many extracurricular clubs or activities are you involved in?

This survey was distributed on Nov. 30 during A, B, C, and D lunches. Of 500 surveys distributed, 404 were completed and returned.

MOHAMAD ELBARASSE

Tamir Omer steps on the after school late bus to get a ride home. Late buses are on the list to be cut by the school board.

Hanging in the balance Budget reductions to impact student activities

BY MOHAMAD ELBARASSE Co-Editor-in-Chief

“BLOOD” continued on page 6

Senior Amin Mohammed signs up for the annual Leadership blood drive.

What wouldAHS be like if it did not provide late bus transportation? What about parent liaisons and freshman athletic teams?

All of these are on the list of “Principal Reduction Options” that was prioritized by Superintendent Jack Dale.

In mid October, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and School Board met to discuss the budget for 2009. After all liabilities and expenses were considered, the county incurred a deficit of $145.2 million. The deficit was initially forecast at $105.0 million, but after making a 3.0 percent market scale adjustment, a balancing of the pay scale to match the salaries offered by other school districts, it increased the deficit drastically.

Fairfax County Public Schools receive roughly 70% of their funding from local property taxes that are collected by the county, the rest of the funding comes from state sale’s taxes and federal grants that accompany mandates such as No Child Left Behind.

After the real estate bubble burst, the value of homes in Northern Virginia began to drop and less money was collected because the taxes are based on the value of each home. This drop in value has caused the board of supervisors to limit spending and encourage the school board to cut unnecessary or expendable programs.

Of the 50 programs that were listed in the school board’s “Principal Reduction Options” there are many that directly impact AHS. A few of the options and services proposed to be

Extracurricular positions left vacant, money up for grabs up and start yelling at each other like you see on TV, but there’s a format that you have to learn,” saidYork, who was also the With numerous types of extracur- former advisor for forensics.

It has been nearly a decade and there ricular activities, ranging from a Chess Club to a Black CulturalAwareness Club, as not been a replacement or a comeback from the Young Democrats to sports of the Debate team all this time even though it is popular amongst students. teams such as “I want to Wrestling and see a debate Dance Team, team,” said AHS still does junior Isabel not manage to Bodrog. include in its list Activities of activities a Director AnDebate and Fogelo Hilios is rensics Team. in charge of York who is advertising the former deat the start bate teacher reof each school signed from his year in order position eight to recruit years ago and teachers the team has Members of the Black Cultural Awareness Associawho are willing not reemerged tion raise awareness about black culture to volunteer since its disaptheir time to sponsor the many clubs at pearance.

“I stopped for a number of reasons, I AHS. “We advertise in the beginning of had trouble getting people who are inter- the year,” said Hilios. “If nobody steps ested in it and the other part was parlia- forward, there is nothing we can do mentary procedure, it is difficult. People about it.” think that the debate team is just to get “POSITIONS” continued on page 5

BY NATHALIE SPITA News Editor

discontinued are parent liaisons. Parent liaisons are imperative in a school as diverse as AHS and also because 27% of AHS’ student body is not proficient in the English language and require a translator to communicate with parents.

“We have been anticipating cuts,” said Principal John Ponton.

“When I heard they wanted to cut the parent liaisons, I became concerned. We have about five different major languages in our school and we can’t operate without the liaisons.”

The school board also included eliminating late buses for high schools as one of the principal reduction options. That means that all the students who stay after school every Monday and Wednesday for clubs, extra help or tutoring and co-curricular classes must find their own means of transportation. In addition to ending late bus transportation, imposing a $50 fee for all extra curricular activities was also suggested.

Over 40 percent ofAHS students receive free or reduced lunch, which means that those students come from families who do not earn enough income to provide the bare necessities (i.e. lunch). On top of imposing a $50 fee for extracurricular programs, the county has also considered charging students to take IB/AP/PSAT tests.

FCPS currently covers half of the expenses for the specified tests, the rest of the cost is covered by the AHS PTSA. The PTSA fund raises every year to pay the rest of the cost of the tests so students can be provided with equal opportunities and take the classes they see fit for themselves without worrying about expenses.

“SCHOOL BOARD” continued on page 5

Creating an IB World

Putting in the hours “I had to buy glasses for the first time”

BY PAUL MATHIS Co-Editor in Chief In the rigorous world of IB, it is not only the students, but the teachers who seem to have to harbor, at least at times, super-human powers, combining key elements of determination, malleability and pedagogy.

“AtAnnandale we’re looking for somebody to be a rule follower, as all teachers have to abide by some assessment or rubric, but at the same time they need to be very flexible,” said IB Coordinator ErinAlbright. “We want to see teachers who are willing to consistently work with their students to produce a certain outcome, rather than teachers who just rely on students to push themselves.”

Most teachers who take on one or multiple IB courses realize the assets that go in to bean IB teacher, Series Pt. III ing and, unperturbed, continue down the

PAUL MATHIS

Principal John Ponton has issued the warning that Heritage Night is in danger of being canceled if more teacher volunteers do not sign up to help facilitate the event. Georgi Tomisato, teacher director of the event, will hold a meeting with Ponton in the near future to discuss the fate of Heritage Night.

NATHALIE SPITA

Heritage Night in danger of cancellation

True or False: The Nations blood supply is safer then ever? False.

The Leadership Club is doing its part to raise awareness and help fix this problem by holding a blood drive Monday, Dec.17 in the Lecture Hall from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. All donors must be over 110 pounds and over 17 years old.

Donors must also fill out a form that includes parental permission and make an appointment with an SGA leader in the cafeteria by Monday Dec. 4. These forms must be turned into Leadership coordinator Abbie Kahn in room 59 by Dec. 7.

Leadership’s goal for the drive this year is 150 donors. Some students are eager to give blood, and for different reasons.

“I’m not scared at all to donate,” said junior Lucas Cochoran. “I can’t wait.”

“One of the main reasons I’m donating blood is I’m O blood type,” said Cochran. “O blood is the best, it works for all the others so it’s definitely superior.”

O is one of the most sought after blood types because it can be used in place of all others. O blood is used heavily in emergency situations because doctors often don’t have time to find out the patient’s blood type and have to act fast.

MOHAMMAD ELBARASSE

NEWSBRIEFS

Jonathan York, teacher of IB HIstory of the Americas, had to get glasses for grading

painstaking path, just as their students.

“IB definitely allots a certain amount of freedom to its teachers, which is why I think so many teachers enjoy it,” said Albright. “Just as there are students who enjoy taking on the challenge of IB, teachers have to take on the challenge of IB as well.”

“IB” continued on page 5

2 Do you think parents have the right to spank their kids?

“No. I’m against it because I think its better to talk to your child then to use physical action. “

—Negin Arian freshman “No, I don’t. I think verbal punishments are more appropriate.”

—Daniel Calabro freshman

“Yeah, because it teaches them a lesson and keeps them from acting up. But I don’t think it should happen after a certain age.”

—Diamond Pullman freshman “I think parents shouldn’t be able to hit their child. I think the best way is to talk and explain what they did wrong.”

—Kate Strijova sophomore “Yes, to a certain point.

To discipline their kids, they have the right to spank them.

But not if it gets abusive.”

—Brian Ma junior

EDITORIALS

By Sahar Jumailahmadi, junior

Dec. 5, 2007

In the age of Western decline of the international community and world peace.

In the eyes of the developing world, at least, Europe and the U.S. are one and the same. They became one and the same when Europe failed to rise to the defense of the Western value system when it came under the battering ram of neo-conservative leadership in Washington.

Politicians in Europe believe that the international order is still a unipolar one, with the U.S., alone, at the helm.

Prominent political scientists and analysts suggest that the reality is rather different.

Apparently this is not how Europe perceives itself.

There’s a strong quality in Europe that has received no end of encouragement from Bush’s mistakes and his disastrous foreign policy. Whenever Europe is charged with remiss or poor performance, European leaders point to Washington. However, it will not be too long now before the Bush administration heads off into the sunset.

At that point, Europe will have to come to terms with a painful reality: a world without Bush’s lethal errors and a slightly different America, an America that needs a real partner, not a toady.

Europe could already begin to prepare for a new phase in which it pursues policies commensurate with the status for which it is qualified. European governments could coordinate their foreign policies, if not unify them.

They could establish a credible defense force, because it is difficult to conceive that anyone in Europe or outside it could feel that it could depend on a European defense force as long as it has to rent military transport planes from the Ukraine whenever it has to send troops to Afghanistan, the Balkans or elsewhere, and as long as Europe remains a consumer of security as opposed to a producer of security. Europe could halt the decline of the West if it revives confidence in its ability to say no to Washington and Israel.

West.

The first is that the leading power of the West, the world’s sole superpower, has failed far more miserably in Iraq than the media and Western politicians are letting on. The second is that Europe still follows policies that lack independent substance, distinction, and constructive force.

Whether inspired by some perceived need for camouflage or protection, or by eagerness to evade assuming its share of responsibility for international security and stability by handing the reigns of world leadership to the US alone, these policies have given rise to the most blindly biased and/or opportunistic tendencies. What is worse for Europe is that these tendencies are not motivated by any sense of collective European interests, let alone the welfare

Europe must step out of the shadows and define an identity independent of Washington

BY AMINA MOAHMED Editorials Editor

Has Nicolas Sarkozy added anything to Europe’s stature through his sensational swings from contentiousness to sarcasm and his unconventional performance?

The answer to this comes in many forms and from many sources, and can be summed up as follows: the whole of the West, not just France or Europe, is slipping in strength and influence. Sarkozy, with his solutions and eyebrow raising way of delivering them, can’t stop the decline, just as Blair, with his persistent machinations, couldn’t stop it in the final days of his personal decline.

Meanwhile, the actions of German ChancellorAngela Merkel and Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi are little more than seat-of-the-pants efforts to cut the losses of their own countries from European passivity and the successive failures of American foreign policy.

Few now deny the increasing weakness of the West.

Nor is it a hyperbole to compare the West’s declining might with the current weakness of the Arabs or to compare the way the West looks at the Arabs with the way the Arabs look at the West. Most Arabs regard the West as tyrannical and racist, while most people in the West regard the Arabs and Muslims in general as a stealthily advancing army set upon destroying Western culture and civilization. In both cases, the real source and driving impetus of the fear of the other resides in each side’s awareness of its own debilitation.

Two factors have set into motion the decline of the

Angela Merkel, the Chancellor of Germany, is among the strongest European leaders who determine its economic future.

amina.mohamed@thea-blast.org

All Lebanese presidential bets are off Beirut was a hive of diplomatic intiatives this past week, but where is the new queen bee?

BY AMINA MOHAMED Editorials Editor Lebanon’s flashpoint presidential vote was delayed once again. As diplomatic and local initiatives continued to try to stave off crisis, Hizbullah SecretaryGeneral Hassan Nasrallah upped the ante with a characteristically frank speech. He called on Emile Lahoud, the president of Lebanon, to fulfill his duties if no agreement is reached. He also asked Lahoud to prevent the country falling into the hands of “thieves and murderers,” prompting the expected volley of invective from his opponents in the ruling anti Syrian bloc.

Lebanon has been locked in a dispute between the Syrian- and Iranian-backed Hizbullah and its allies and the Western-backed government for a year, though the origins of the crisis go back to the extension of Lahoud’s term under Syrian pressure in 2004. If no president is elected by the time Lahoud’s term ends, or one side nominates a head of state unilaterally, rival governments or military rule are among several unappealing options for the fragile country. Fears of sectarian tension or a slide back towards civil war are widespread.

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner arrived in Beirut this week his fifth visit in six months. The socalled “French initiative” has raised hopes over the past

fortnight, but all bets remain off as to how much it can achieve. Kouchner met Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir and Prime Minister Fouad Al-Siniora and declared himself “very slightly optimistic”.

The problem is, Sfeir refuses to bite. He has an acute understanding that what’s going on has huge implications for the Christian community.

He’s not going to name someone and then live with recriminations for the rest of his life. The president is traditionally drawn from the Maronite community, and the post was weakened after the civil war to give more power to the Sunni post of prime minister and the Shia parliament speaker.

Sfeir’s concern about a simple majority weakens the presidency itself and sets a precedent whereby a head of state could, in theory, be elected in the future without even Christian consent. As France, Lebanon’s former colonial overlord, has centuries-old links with the Maronite community, it is likely that Sfeir’s concerns have a sympathetic ear in Paris.

But Nasrallah’s speech last week, and the reaction to it, served as a reminder that the issues that have polarized the Lebanese refuse to go away. Hizbullah will not accept a president committed to disarming it; Washington has made clear it wants a president committed to Security Council Resolution 1559, calling for the disarming militias of in Lebanon. The struggle to confiscate the arms of Hizbullah, which surfaced during Israel’s U.S.-backed bombardment of southern Lebanon last year, continues.

In response to Nasrallah’s statement about “thieves and murderers”, Sports and Youth Minister Ahmed Fatfat accused Hizbullah of protecting those who carried out a series of assassinations. Yet, Nasrallah’s speech was a sign that he placed little store in

MAking the GrAde

Bushʼs divine comedy New enemies in President Bush’s wars are popping up in unexpected places. The latest one is peaceful Europe, where determined demonstrators and human rights lawyers recently ambushed former secretary of defense Donald Rumsfeld at a breakfast meeting in Paris organized

by Foreign Policy magazine. He fled, fearing arrest over charges of ordering and authorizing torture of detainees at both Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq and in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

It seems that even the election of an American- friendly French president is no guarantee of immunity in Paris for American officials anymore.

Under international law, authorities in France are obliged to open an investigation when a complaint is made while the alleged torturer is on French soil. According to activists in France, who greeted Rumsfeld with shouts of “murderer” and “war criminal,” U.S. Embassy officials remained tight- lipped about the former defense secretary’s whereabouts citing security reasons.

The guilt for the many crimes that Bush and company have perpetrated goes deep, and many figures will have to have international lawyers on retainers, not to mention private detectives and bodyguards, keeping track of legal proceedings against them and/or possible acts of revenge.

There are possibly millions of Iraqis,Afghanis, Pakistanis, Brits, Americans, hey, victims and relatives of victims of Bush’s wars can be found in just about every country around the world.

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Mental health records submitted for gun control In reaction to the Virginia Tech incident, mental health records are being submitted now at an all-time high to prevent the mentally ill from obtaining guns. The Virginia Tech gunamn had been diagnosed mentally ill, but was not registered for his mental status and was therefore allowed access to purchasing guns. States are currently not required to submit records of people with mental health problems

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Hotel owner plans to sue weatherman

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Famous Florida hotel owner Harris Rosen has threatened to sue hurricane expert Dr. WIlliams Gray for his mistaken hurricane predictions.

Rosen complains that Gray has twice wrongly predicted bad weather, and believes it to have cost him billions.

Student charged with battery for throwing crayon

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14-year-old student Taewon Little faces thirddegree battery charges after throwing a crayon at his teacher. Little, who has been denied re-entry to the A. Phillip Randolph Academy in Jacksonville, Fla., was arrested immediately following the incident. Little’s mother made sure she grounded him and protested that he was a good student who had never missed a day of school.

Clinton-crazed man holds two hostage

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A man demanding to speak to Hillary Clinton held two hostages at a Cinton presidential campaign office in New Hampshire until his demands were met. The man claimed to have a bomb strapped to his chest. After a 6 hour standstill, the man surrendered peacefully.

Key Points 1. Lebanon continues striving to complete the presidential vote .

2. The current President of Lebanon is Emile Lahous, whose term as president was extended following pressure from Syria back in 2004.

3. French Foriegn Minister Bernard Koucher continues to try and aid in Lebanon’s unstable state.

4. Lebanon suffers from the extentive disputes between Hizbullah and Lebanon’s Western-backed government. the various diplomatic efforts. Hizbullah has two constants. The first is that Israel is preparing to attack either Lebanon, Syria or both, either combined with a U.S. attack on Iran or alone. This calculation was evidenced by an unarmed, but large-scale Hizbullah maneuver conducted two weeks ago, which Nasrallah confirmed in his speech.

Washington, meanwhile, has made clear it wants a president who agrees with its policies in the Middle East, and earlier this month, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice warned against a compromise figure who was not committed to U.N. resolutions. Despite the incompatibility of the essential positions of the two camps, realpolitik will dictate an 11th hour presidential election, for the key players have a lot to lose from the abundant chaos. amina.mohamed@thea-blast.org

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t Annandale High School 4700 Medford Dr. Annandale, Virginia 22003

Vol. 54 No. 5 Dec. 5, 2007

(703)642-4229 email: thea-blast@thea-blast.org fax: (703)642-4299

Editors In Chief: Mohamad Elbarasse Paul Mathis

Webmasters: Erik Vu Matt Camilli

Managing Editor: Sarah Waiter News Editors: Kelly McGarey Nathalie Spita

Graphics Editor: Adam Kasdorf Video Editor In Chief: Gus Nielsen Videographers/Editors: Amy Steinbuechler, Michael Craig and Evan McGurrin

Editorials Editors: Amina Mohamed Lara Coulter

Photography Editors: Matt Johnson Laura Simpson

In-Depth Editors: Shriya Adhikary Aya Saed

Copy Editor: Kyle Knoche Ad Manager: Meredith Rutherford Circulation Manager: Kyle Knoche Adviser: Alan Weintraut

Sports Editors: Walter Smith Greg Young Sports Xtra Editors: Lyndsay Jacobs Marisa Tordella People Editor: Waliha Gani Sarah Shami Weekend Editors: Claire Bui Caroline Merz

Online Staff: Stacey Irwin Staff Writers/Photographers: Laith Abu-Taleb, Tanya Bellingham, Daniel Fishman, Drew Flowers, Brad Grabo, Joseph Ingberg, Logan Miller, Scott Plunkett, Katherine Reach, Adeel Shams, Charlie Simpson, Jerry Solomon and Jonah Williams, Brooke Barlow

International Editors: Annika Jessen Bewketu Tamir Entertainment Editors: Avery Adcock Jeff Dean Health Editors: Vanessa Cerro Rachael Burnett Academics Editors: Laura Ambrosio Jackie Silva Trophy Class Pacemaker Virginia High National Scholastic School Press Association 2005-2006 2005-2006 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, 2007.

Arts Editor: Nena Buck

CSPA Silver Crown 2004-2005

EDITORIALS

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Dec. 5, 2007

Cheer coach shames school

AHS is shocked by the story of one woman who sacrificed everything for a little attention

Walking through the halls ofAHS, there was discussion about AHS JV Cheerleading Coach Jennifer Chrusniak.

Rumors ran wild, claiming that Chrusniak, who is self-proclaimed in her video as 21, posted home footage of provocative acts, such as “strip-poker” and half-naked stretching on the suggestive website Maxim.com.

The rumors soon proved to be true, and the AHS community was shocked as it suffered from the broken trust of a woman who was so desperate for attention and verification of her attractiveness that she was willing to risk everything.

Chrusniak, who was immediately fired on November 1st, has created a scene at AHS that has stirred up controversy over the eligibility of extra-curricular coaches.

Although paid a small salary of $2,500 per season, Chrusniak was not an AHS staff member.

Chrusniak declined to be interviewed by The A-Blast concerning her release from the cheer squad.

The accusation laid on Chrusniak does not reflect the way she performed while coaching these young girls. This event was much unexpected from a woman that dedicated her time to helping out the cheerleading program. But being a professed ex-Redskinette did not help this situation nor did it help her judgment of the line dividing what is appropriate and inappropriate.

There was a trust between Chrusniak and the parents of the cheerleaders, and the only obvious option was to fire her from her job for breaking that trust.

It is still a mystery to me why Chrusniak would do such a thoughtless act .

Is it due to a lack of attention or is it because she is diffident? Was it for the money or fame? Or did she not like

COURTESY OF PHOTOFLOCK.COM

BY LOGAN MILLER Staff Writer

Former AHS JV Cheerleading Coach Jennifer Chrusniak was fired after provacative videos surfaced on the internet featuring a distasteful stretººººching routine and a game of

her job as a coach and desired to be let go?

Whatever it was that caused her to risk her reputation, ultimately she lost her the job as assistant JV cheerleading coach, and damaged her chances at finding another job.

Of course Chrusniak is not the first woman to create a very personal video.And she is certainly will not be the last girl who will chose to make it public throught the Internet.

Where does this new breed of women come from who desperately feel the need to post personal pictures and videos online, and for no other reason then to recieve confirmation of how sexy and beautiful they are?

Posting a sexy picture or video online does not exibit

confidence and sexiness as a girl may think. It instead promotes a sleazy reputation and shows low-self esteem.

It is completely unacceptable for a woman to display such poor taste and then apply for a position that involves young girls. She completely disregarded the importance of appearing as a role model for ther AHS cheerleaders.

When the AHS cheerleaders saw and heard about these suggestive videos of their coach, had a major impact at how they look at leadership. What she did was disloyal to her job, and disloyal to the responsibility she took on when she was hired.

The athletic department was correct by firing Chrusniak, but that isn’t enough to show students that what she did was wrong and will not be tolerated at AHS. She may have helped out the cheerleading team, but she obviously was not mature enough to take on the responsibility of being a coach.

Usually I would have sympathy for some doing this only once, but I cannot come to the defense to someone who deliberately caused pure controversy.

Sure she made a mistake, as all people do. But this act was so severe, it was forced to come with equally severe consequences.

Hopefully Chrusniak’s mistake is one that AHS students can learn from. If you expect to have a serious career and want nothing to heed you sucess, then do not ever make a questionable image of yourself public. It will come back to you.

Chrusniak’s reputation had been ruined atAHS due to the disruption she has caused, and it is unlikely that the Annandale community ever hears from her again.

Her replacement has small shoes to fill, and hopefully the high school athletic department can avoid having another Maxim “Hometown Hottie of the Month.” logan.miller@thea-blast.org Additional reporting by Lara Coulter

3 Do you believe firing Jen Chrusniak was justified?

“No, because as long as it doesn’t affect the cheerleaders, then it is her own life and she can do what she wants.”

—Angie Harden freshman “I disagree with the school’s actions because what she sends to a publication is completely between her and that publication and the viewers. It has nothing to do with her job.”

—Michelle “Jules” Ismael sophomore “It seems like a fair punishment.

She shouldn’t have exposed herself where kids could see it.”

Conference doomed due to weak leaders Mo’s

Mindset Opinion

By Mohamad Elbarasse Huzzah. Another successful Middle East Peace Conference – what is that, the umpteenth one? The United States succeeded in, once again, gathering the governments of the people who hate each other the most in one room and getting all of them to shake hands – well almost all of them. Of the invited to this extravagant occasion held at the Annapolis Naval Academy were Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, and Saudi Foreign Minister Saud Al-Faisal.

The Annapolis conference marked the end of a sevenyear stall in negotiations between Israel and Palestine.

Contrary to popular belief, the Annapolis conference was not held to reach any sort of agreement between the warring nations, but more to schedule more talks where optimists believe peace will be found. The next two meetings will take place in Paris and then Moscow.

Committees appointed by each of the nations will meet throughout 2008 in hopes that they will reach an agreement before the next year’s end.

The first set of negotiations will begin on Dec. 12 and will focus on the most controversial issues: the fate of Jerusalem, borders for the future states and dealing with the numerous Palestinian refugees. The issue of Palestinian refugees is an extremely sensitive topic because agreeing to a two-state compromise will mean that the refugees will be abandoning any hope of returning to their land that was taken from them in 1948 or during any of the expansions that took place in the 20th century.

These future conferences are doomed before they have

taken place not because there is no hope for peace in the Middle East, but because the representatives chosen are not accurate representatives of their people. Both Olmert and Abbas are viewed as weak and inefficient leaders not only by the world, but more importantly, by their own people.

Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, whose affiliation with Hamas, the Gaza-based political faction, has barred him from attending such peace initiatives, was excluded from the meeting in Annapolis. Haniyeh should have been a key figure in this most recent conference because most of the retaliation – and I stress the word retaliation – is coming from the Gaza Strip. Why wouldn’t one of the most popular leaders from the region be included in the talks? Better yet, why wouldn’t the true opposition be included?

We must also consider the fact that a blatant ally of one of the nations included in the negotiations is the one leading the conference. How equitable of a decision can we expect with the circumstances that are already being imposed on this peace. Can we really expect the Bush administration to execute this competently when Bush himself can’t even get a glorified photo-op right?

If true peace is the goal of these conferences, all sides must be considered. Even the ones that the U.S. has labeled as “terrorist factions.” In addition to including all sides, the ones leading the negotiations, in this case the U.S. must be open to respect and cater to the needs of the side that is not allied with the U.S. So that means horribly inhumane things like cutting off electricity and running water in the Gaza Strip, cannot continue.

In addition to the curtailment of basic necessities, over the summer the Israeli controlled border between Gaza and the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt was closed off for a number of months.

Having traveled this past summer to the Middle East in hopes that I would be able to return to my parent’s homeland, but to no avail. Even if the border was open during my visit, it closes spontaneously at the will of the Israeli administration. Actions speak louder than words and in past years, Israel’s actions did not advocate peace.

Unless the Israeli and U.S. governments have some sort of conspiracy to wait until all the original refugees have died, so right of return is no longer an issue, it would be nice to see some progressive thinking put into this next set of peace talks.

For those whose hopes were not crushed when every other peace plan fell through, Annapolis can mark the light at the end of this forsaken tunnel, if handled correctly by the administrations of all the governments included. mohamad.elbarasse@thea-blast.org

BY LARA COULTER Editorials Editor A proposed legislation in Massachusetts that would ban parents from using corporal punishment towards their children underwent debate at the State House this past Wednesday. Under the bill, parents would no longer be allowed to physically harm any child under 18, including using punishment methods such as whipping, pinching, washing a child’s mouth with soap, dispensing electric shocks, and even the traditional method of spanking. Violators of the measure, if the bill were passed, would be potentially faced with charges of abuse and neglect.

Discussion concerning the appropriateness of allowing parents to physically punish their children first began in 2005, when in Plymouth, Mass., a father landed in jail for using a belt to spank his 12-year-old son following a trivial argument over his forgetting homework material. The father was charged with assault using a deadly weapon and was sent to prison. However, charges were dropped soon after in accordance with a 1999 State Supreme Court decision that parents had the right spank their children so long as it did not threaten bodily harm.

But isn’t spanking exactly that – inflicting bodily harm? And when were children under 18 exempt from protection under the law from physical abuse? Had the father in some bizarre scenario raised his belt to another adult, then he certainly would have committed a crime.

Children under the law seem to be treated more as property then human beings. Under no other circumstances would it be acceptable or even legal to physically hurt another person, so what makes children the

exception?

Those who disapprove of their loss of the right to use corporal punishment against children, or “pro-spankers,” argue that spanking and other forms of physical punishment are, in their minds, the only truly effective way to teach children. Yet the benefits of corporal punishment are exactly the same as those that can be obtained with effective non-violent methods of punishment.

The point is that corporal punishment is not an effective punishment that will benefit children in the long run as a punishment should. An truly effective punishment should teach children a lesson, give them time to reflect, and ensure that the child will not repeat the same mistake not because of fear of consequence, but rather because the child will not want to repeat the mistake for personal reasons. A physical punishment cannot offer these things, but only the fear of external consequence.

Simply put, physical punishments make children

Since a 2005 court case dealing with a man who used a belt to spank his 12-year-old son, lawmakers have been discussing a law that would illegalize corporal punishment by parents.

“Yes, because I think that what she does outside of school his her own personal business, however, she ruined AHS’ reputation.”

—Tim Chowdhury senior

Students mourn loss of Sean Taylor

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas attended a conference in the U.S. to discuss negotiations of Israel and Palestine with the Israeli Prime Minister and theSaudi Foreign Minister.

Anti-spanking bill gives a spanking to parents Mass. bill to prevent parents from spanking their children undergoes deep deliberation

—Adam Bergen junior

focus on the fear of consequence, rather than being taught a crucial understanding of self-expectation and self-consequence.Additionally, any arguable benefits are completely overshadowed by the proven risks of using corporal punishment on children.

Parents who frequently resort to physical punishments for their children believe that the potential bill will be inhibiting their rights. Consider this: what kind of adult is justified in honestly believing that it is their right to hit children? The answer is an impatient, vindictive, violent person and a member of society that is no longer welcome and acceptable.And who would argue against a law that would protect children from physical harm?

Those who do not understand the fuss over whether spanking children is justified may not be in the right mindset to completely comprehend all angles of the proposed bill. For example, it is easy to imagine a 5 year-old child being spanked without much thought or worry. But now consider a 17-year-old boy being spanked on his bare butt by a parent because he was an hour late for curfew.

Or imagine a 15-year-old girl being whipped for having less than sufficient grades. Scary to consider, but no law in Virginia prevents your parents from doing those exact things to you. In fact, your parents have the “right” to punish you as they please.

Fortunately, most parents are good parents, but it is those few individuals who take punishments to such severe extremes that make this bill necessary. The bill is not intended to cripple and punish parents; it is intended to protect children from harm.

This is a different era then that of our parents.

Just as wives are no longer subordinate to husbands, and blacks no longer hold a lower status than whites, children should

Sean Taylor, 24, of the Washington Redskins has passed away this Tuesday after being shot in the early hours of Monday morning in his Miami home. Taylor, known to many as number 21, was a safety for the Redskins. He was shot at twice by the intruder or intruders. One of the bullets fired hit him in the upper thigh striking near his femoral artery resulting in massive blood loss.

“I don’t know a lot about him, but I’m like the number one fan of the Redskins. I was crying about him when I heard,” said junior Ghisela Vargas about Sean Taylor’s passing.

After being shot, Taylor was airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital where he remained in critical condition after undergoing seven hours of surgery. During his remaining time at the hospital, doctors were concerned about the amount of blood Taylor lost.

There are however mixed emotions about Taylor’s death. “I don’t like him, so I don’t really care that he’s dead” said freshman Chris Gilligan.

While in the trauma unit, doctors requested an unresponsive Taylor to squeeze a nurse’s hand, to which he complied, giving hope to doctors and family.

Taylor is survived by his fiancée and his one year old daughter, Jackie.

It seems that some students seem more concerned about the Redskins future as a team more than Taylor himself. “With out him we just killed our whole season, it’s ruined. I’m sad and mad about it,” said junior Sammy Rababeh.

By Evan McGurrin Staff Writer

Atom Branch to host raffle

The Atom branch will raffle off two tickets for the Pack-the-Pit wrestling match and two tickets for the Dec. 21 boy’s basketball game on Dec. 19 during “D” lunch. All those who do business with the branch will have their name entered into the drawing.

Join the support network for the AHS community

Volunteers are needed to join the group of generous, caring individuals that, when called upon, help needy families in the area. The school Social Worker will notify you of the need (food, clothing, etc.) and send an email to let the group know. If you can assist, simply drop the item off to the Social Worker.

If you are willing to participate, and would like to join the email list, please send a message to Chris Gokturk at cgokturk@aol.com.

MYP coordinator MaryLynn Archer leaves AHS

MYP Coordinator MaryLynn Archer has left the building.

Archer, whose last day was Nov. 21, worked with many departments and teachers to prepare students for the IB program and also worked to sucessfully strengthen the Middle Years Program.

Archer will be moving to San Fransico with her husband who is following a job oppurtunity with the American Society of Friends Service Archer Committee. “I am currently looking for jobs similar to this one in San Francisco,” said Archer. “Im looking for jobs with programs with the objective of building a college ready culture and getting under-resourced children ready for college.”

The Middle Years Program is a program of international education designed to help students develop knowledge, understanding, attitudes and skills necessary to participate actively and responsibly in a changing world. Archer has been working as the MYP Coordinator in conjunction with IB Coordinator Erin Albright.

“The students at Annandale are amazing and the teachers are very qualified,” said Archer, “I am really going to miss all the students and faculty.”

-By Mohamad Elbarasse Co-Editor-in-Chief

Parent volunteers needed for All Night Grad Party

Parent volunteers are needed for this year’s All Night Grad Celebration, which will be held on June 12 from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. at South Run Recreation Center.

The ANGC is sponsored by the AHS PTSA and is organized and staffed completely by parent volunteers. It takes over 200 volunteers to run this event. Help is needed in all areas - especially set up/decorating, clean-up, carnival games, casino games, pool activities, prizes, security and food.

The next meeting of the ANGC committee will be held on Dec. 12 at 7:00 p.m. in Clausen Hall. If you are unable to attend but would like to volunteer, please contact Randa Mayassi at randa.mayass i@verizon.net

Auditioning for a very competitive singing role might be nerve racking for most people, but for a select few talented singers, it’s a piece of cake. High school seniors from all over Virginia went to Longwood College in Farmville on Oct. 6 to compete against 800 other students for one of the 120 spots in this year’s Virginia Music Educator’s Honors Choir.

The auditions not only consisted of singing a rehearsed piece but also sight-reading a selection of music. Four students were there to proudly represent AHS. Seniors Amber McCoy, Daniel Kwon, Eric Jurenas and Derick Elmore were the four elite Annandale Choir students who were picked to sing in the Honors Choir. All four of the seniors have participated in the school choir throughout their high school years and now participate in the school’s most advanced choir, the Annandale Singers. Some have been singing for even longer, like Kwon who started when he was only two years old, and Jurenas, who started when he was in middle school.

Director Carleen Dixon joined her four students on their trip to Norfolk, Virginia Nov. 15. There, they met up with the other honors choir members and rehearsed for the big concert held on Nov. 17 at the Sheraton Norfolk Waterside Hotel. During the three days spent in Norfolk, the very talented singers endured hard work. They rehearsed for three and a half hours each day with their director, Dr. Weston Noble, a noted choral director from Luther College. Noble used the three days of the event to mold the young singers’ minds in order to perfect highly developed musical pieces such as, Caritas et Amor and The Pasture by Randal Stroope, and God Is Our Refuge by Allen Pote. Thanks to their labor, the members of this year’s Honors Choir presented a very successful production.

Along with all of the work they did, the talented singers also had some fun on the trip.

“Before rehearsing to perform at the VMEA conference all of the singers had a chance to bond at a little “talent” show night,” said Kwon. Kwon also said that this was personally his “greatest musical experience so far. Everything was great including the people, music, and the adults to help put the conference together.”

McCoy, Kwon, Jurenas, and Elmore, who each received certificates of honorable recognition, found that being in Honors Choir was very beneficial to them.

“I liked being exposed to different types of music, and all of the talented people,” said

COURTESY OF AHRAM KIM

AHS senior Kyung Rim Choi was selected as this year’s William and Mary Leadership Award nominee. Every spring, each high school in Virginia is asked to nominate a member of the junior class to recieve the prestigious honor.

He, along with 23 other FCPS students, was chosen because Choi of his leadership qualities.

Among the critetia for selection was a display of school loyalty that inspires others to contribute and participate, a passion for learning, independent thinking, a pursuit of difficult programs, and grades that place him or her near the top of their class.

BY JERRY SOLOMON Staff Writer

Chorus members rehearse during class. Dereck Elmore (right) was among four seniors chosen to participate in this yearʼs Virginia Music Educationʼs Honors Choir

Jurenas, “also, being a part of such a great group such as Honors Choir looks very appealing on college applications.”

Not only was it a great experience, but, according to Kwon, “getting into the choir is a great honor itself [and] could lead to future connections with talented musicians who can be very helpful when pursuing a career in music.”

Mary Read remembered

Teams make cuts

Eight months after her tragic death, symphonic band’s benefit concert raises $1,300 for memorial

Fewer spots and larger class sizes force sizable cuts to team rosters

BY KELLY MCGAREY News Editor This year’s fall band concert was all but ordinary.

The special evening was presented with a somber purpose in mind: to honor Mary Read, an AHS grad who lost her life in the Virginia Tech shooting of April 16.

Many junior and senior band members knew Mary Read personally because she played clarinet in both the marching and symphonic bands during her time here. An empty music stand adorned with roses was placed near the front of the stage to represent their lost companion.

The hour-long tribute featured selections such as a quartet of traditional English Folk songs, and the theme from the ever-popular Phantom of the Opera. Though these were played with gusto, one soft song stole the show. Bridges, a sweeping and subtle melody, was composed by the esteemed Samuel Hazo to honor the victims of the shooting. During a break in the middle of the tune, Stan Schoonover, music specialist for FCPS, came on stage to share a few brief words about all those who died that day. There were few

Both athletes were disappointed at the decisions made by their coaches but look forward to It has been a rough few weeks better things, and hopefully provfor winter sports athletes, who ing themselves in other sports.

Varsity boy’s basketball head are having to deal with cuts and conditioning. As they prepared coach Anthony Harper had to for the season, it was extremely make some key decisions for his hard for coaches and mentors to team, such as cutting a returning starter. He finalize their was surprised team rosters. by this year’s This year,AHS turnout and had a huge We had an influx of talent, praised the turnout of treathletes by saymendous skill the most that Coach ing, “We had an and athletiinflux of talent, cism, but there Hughes has seen. the most talent simply weren’t enough spots —AnthonyHarper Coach Hughes to harness all varsity basketball coach has seen since he has been at of that talent.

Annandale.”

Many returnDespite the ing varsity athletes did not make the teams stunning number of students they wished to be on for various who failed to secure a team position, many were able to weather reasons.

“I’m not upset because it was the brutal tryouts and reap the a good experience,” said sopho- benefits of physical activity.

“It is a great way to stay in more Jenny Miller, who was cut shape, and it helps my balance from the Swim & Dive Team.

Another swimmer, freshman and coordination for football,” Eric Reynolds, said, “It was worth said junior Shane Doty, now a it but I’m not going to try out next member of the varsity wrestling team. year.”

BY LOGAN MILLER Staff Writer

Symphonic band members perform “Bridges,” a piece composed in honor of those slain in the Virginia Tech shootings.

dry eyes in the audience when he mentioned the old Greek proverb, “When the young die, we have the duty to live twice as hard.”

Among those present at the event was Sharon Boliva, of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors who offered her condolences and plans for a permanent memorial in Mary’s honor. This permanent living tribute to Mary is intended to become a place where all can, “come, reflect, and think abut Mary and the qualities that

made her so special.”

The concert raised about $1,300 which will go towards the memorial’s construction.

Plans are already in motion to start the process sometime next year. To be located on the corner of Wakefield Chapel Road and Little River Turnpike, it will serve as a living tribute to Mary’s memory.

Current sketches portray a stone bench with a Hokie stone inlay, surrounded by crepe myrtles and blue flowers.

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Senior takes on Macy’s Day Parade Central Station and met up with other high school band members from across the country at their New York City hotel.

Band members from all 50 states includingAlaska and Hawaii formed this year’s Macy’s Great American Band.

Peter was one of four band members from Virginia, and served as the regional representative as well as the first and only representative from Annandale.

BY CHARLES SIMPSON After meeting up, the group spent the next four days Staff Writer the band rehearsing their music and practicing marching In the early morning of Nov. 22, the Great American for the parade.

Marching Band led the Macy’s annual Thanksgiving Day “At times it was difficult to get used to. It was a bit of Parade through New York City. The 300-member band a mind game,” said Epley. marched at the head of the parade for over an hour playRehearsals ended Wednesday, the day before Thanksing for an enthusiastic audience of thousands. Among this giving. The musicians tried to get as much sleep as they exclusive band representing the best high school musicians could before their early start the following day. from across the country was one of our own AHS students, At 1 a.m. on Thurday morning, each band member was senior Peter Epley. awake and preparing for the final rehearsal.

Epley’s march to the parade began sixth By 3 a.m. the band was prepared and remonths ago when he sent a recorded audition hearsing their march for NBC in order to to Music Festival Unlimited. This group was make any last minute changes required by responsible for selecting the band members for the broadcasters. the parade from the auditions sent in from high At five, still before most of America was school students across the US. even awake, the band had breakfast and “I saw an ad on the Internet, [and] thought made any last minute preparations for the long it looked interesting, so I decided to give it a shot march ahead. At nine, NBC’s parade announcand see what would happen,” said Epley. ers were introduced, and their camera panned Epley His effort apparently worked, because in Authrough the band bringing 50 million pairs of gust Epley was officially accepted into the Macy’s eyes from around the world down upon them.

GreatAmerican Marching Band. Information on the music The band began their hour-long march and led the paselection for the parade was sent out to the band members rade through the streets of New York. They passed threeacross the country. and-half million cheering people before splitting away from The music needed to be memorized within the two the main parade and entering Harold Square. month period between the acceptance and the parade itself.

“The crowds, that was an experience in and of itself,” The song choices included “Stars and Stripes Forever,” the said Peter, “but when you’ve got two and a half miles of “Washington Post March” and “El Capitan.” marching you can’t be stressed the whole time, it would Peter was required to practice this music on his alto really wear you out. [You have to] focus on what you’re saxophone in order to become completely prepared for doing and forget the people watching.” the upcoming event. On Nov. 18, Epley arrived at Grand When the band reached Harold Square the music

Peter Epley among 300 musicans chosen to participate in this year’s festivities

COURTESY OF KAREN EPLEY

Student nominated for leadership award

Dec. 5, 2007

Four choral students proudly represent the school in the prestigious annual event

COURTESY OF KAREN EPLEY

NEWS BRIEFS

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COURTESY OF KAREN EPLEY

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NEWS A Honor Choir hits high note

Senior Peter Epley (third from right) was chosen to participate in the Macyʼs Thanksgiving Day Parade.

switched to “Swing Swing Swing.” The song would be played for a short 90 seconds before the parade’s tight schedule required them to move on. Despite any tension during these short 90 seconds, the days of rehearsals, months of practice, and eight years of preparation paid off for Peter.

“I eventually realized, this is it: do it right or do it wrong, they’ll love you either way,” said Epley.

The band got back onto the parade route and marched to its conclusion at the Macy’s store, nearly three miles from the start.

Afterwards, the 300 band members returned to their homes, with only one returning to Annandale. Epley will continue to participate in the AHS Marching, Symphonic, and Jazz Bands throughout the remainder of the year. As for the future, he plans on playing in a college band upon graduation, and says that he doesn’t intend for music to ever leave his life.

NEWS

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Dec. 5, 2007

Diverse extracur- Model U.N. makes riculars appeal to impression on student body delegation

NEWS BRIEFS DECA to host Madden ʼ08 tournament

DECA will be holding a Madden ’08 tournament on the Playstation2 console from Dec. 10 – Dec. 14. The events will begin at 2:10 p.m. in rooms 326 and 328. The entry fee is $5 for DECA members and $7 for non-DECA members. Prizes will be awarded to the first, second, and thrid place winners. If you are interested, sign up in the cafeteria during all lunches until Dec. 6.

Students must make their own transportation arrangements for a ride home on non-late bus days.

as a representative for the Mossad (Israel’s intelligence agency). These students were Staff Writer then in smaller committees, where they The Model United Nations club went discussed and debated about global issues. to their annual trip to the University of Just like the students assigned to countries, Virginia for the Virginia Model United these students representing people are supNations Conference (VAMUN). The 26 posed to act and react as that person would students, along with Jonathan York, one in the given situation, issue, or debate.

Atotal of five sessions were held over the of the Model UN adult sponsors, left AHS on Thursday, Nov 15. The group left for course of Friday and Saturday. In these sesUVA via bus and once they arrived, they sions, the committees discussed problems checked into the Red Roof Inn, where they and tried to compromise to find sensible solodged for the weekend. After checking in, lutions based on the foreign policies of the countries represented. Sunday consisted of the group got to roam the campus.

The next morning, Friday, the group the closing ceremony, where awards were went to the opening ceremony, and the 27th given out to the best representatives.

“It was definitely one of our more sucVAMUN kicked off. At the convention,AHS students were divided into two groups and cessful conferences. Matt Camilli took home a Best Delegaasked to represent two tion for his work on the different countries at the Iranian Cabinet, Ben convention. AHS was Wilson won an Honorassigned Columbia and It was definitely one of able Delegation for Pakistan. our more successful his work on the Saudi Once in the groups, Arabian Cabinet, and they went to committees conferences.

I nabbed an Honorable where they met with other groups (which were dif—PaulMathis Mention. A lot of people Model U.N. President put forth the effort, and ferent schools representVAMUN being the most ing different countries) competitive conference and discussed, debated, and tried to resolve world problems and in Virginia, and one of the more competiissues. Some of the issues discussed were tive in the nation, it is pretty amazing that related to global health problems, science we were able to accomplish so much,” said issues, environmental issues, and other Paul Mathis.

In addition to participating in simulated specific issues such as the Israel/Palestine United Nation sessions, the group of AHS Conflict.

“I was asked to help represent Pakistan, students also got to experience the Univerwe were in the Organization of Islamic Con- sity of Virginia.

Everything at the conference was held ference for majority of the time,” said senior on campus, so students got to witness the Ngan Hoang.

One of the issues discussed in that com- college up close. Many students got to go mittee was the discrimination of Muslims to local hotspots and popular places to eat in Europe. The committee discussed the for meal breaks between sessions.

“I got to do a lot on campus during my problem, and voted on a proposal to stop free time. I got to visit some old friends and prevent any further discrimination.

OtherAHS students, such as sophomore like MJ Mayassi, Mike Weist, Jake Park, Benjamin Wilson, senior Matthew Camilli, and Meg Neilsen. I skateboarded around and senior Paul Mathis, were assigned to campus and I also went to some classes like represent specific people rather than coun- Criminology and Statistics,” said senior tries. For example, Paul Mathis worked Christopher Holt.

KELLY MCGAREY

BY DREW FLOWERS

Sophomore Ben Wilson and History teacher and Model UN sponsor Jonathon York discuss future conference details.

“Extracuriculars” continued from page 1 “I always see the same clubs advertised, they don’t do a good job in advertising, said sophomore John Odem who feels advertising is a good way to promote clubs.

It can be more difficult to find teacher sponsors for clubs because unlike other extracurricular activities such as Band Director, The Filament sponsor, Yearbook Advisor, or the Basketball coach who receive a small pay between 2,000 dollars and 4,000 dollars, club sponsors do not receive any pay, it is voluntary. “There is a small payment but its definitely not reflective of how much time and effort is put in,” said Filament advisor and English teacher Kathleen Dion who disregards the pay. “Its not the reason I do it, its because its a lot of fun and its neat to see students working together for fun on something educational,” said Dion.

Though AHS is lacking a debate and forensics team, as an Annandale

What extracuriculars would you like to see introduced at AHS in the future?

High School community we are given the opportunity to choose from the variety of extracurricular activities the school offers.

I really like the extracurricular activities because they not only give you something to do after school and make you feel part of the school but you can show what your passionate about through them,” said Bodrog.

AHS has over 60 clubs and 18 sport teams to choose from. The amount of these extracurricular activities that the school offers can be overwhelming.

“When I first came to Annandale I was looking at the brochure with all the clubs and there was page after page after page. I didn’t know where to start from,” said junior Karima Elkhatib who takes part in MSA, photography, and the Just World Interact Club.

We are fortunate to have what we have here at AHS. “I hear people who come from other school and they have one or two clubs,” said history teacher Jonathon York.

“I would want to see Skateboarding, there are alot of skaters at AHS.”

“We should have jousting because it’s a more diversified sport. ”

—Yohan Calcuttawalla sophomore

—Arial Pak Junior

Jewish culture club to hold Hannukkah Party

The Jewish Culture club will be hosting a Hannukah party today from 2: 15-3:00 PM in room 203.

Refreshments will be served.

Everyone is welcome to attend. See Mr. Ramano for more information.

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“ I would like to see a break dancing club because I think it would appeal to a lot of kids.”

“We should have crew. it would be a really fun sport and a lot of Fairifax schools have crew teams and we don’t.”

—Daniel Ejigu Senior

—Kelsey Knoche Freshman

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STAND holds annual DarfurFast

STAND’s annual DarfurFast will be held today. This event asks participants to fast from one item for the day, and donate the money that they would have spent on those items to protecting civilians in Darfur. Just three dollars – less than the cost of a Starbuck’s latte is enough to fund protection for one woman for a whole year.

Over the past three years, the DarfurFast has raised more than $400,000 for civilian protection in Darfur. To learn more about this program, email info@standnow.org

JV math to hold meet

The third varsity math meet of the year will be held on Wed. Dec. 5 in the Cafeteria. Students in all math classes up to Pre-IB Algbra II/Trig are eligible to compete and earn extra credit, It will start promptly at 2:10 and last about 30 minutes. Please bring your calculator. Light refreshments will be served.

“We should have a jockey team. It’s a very different sport than what we have right now.”

For your planner!

—Alexis Williams Junior

TODAY

• Collaboration Day • NHS meeting in Clausen Hall (7:20 a.m.)

• Math Honor Society meeting in Cafeteria (2:30 to 3:15 p.m.)

IB teachers control students’ workload

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enthusiastic about their crafts. “You can’t force a teacher who doesn’t want to teach IB to teach IB because there is just so much more work,” said Albright.

Richardson agreed. “You have to enjoy it to want to do it,” she said.

While preparing, IB teachers often have to go through the process of introducing themselves to material that they might not have before encountered. “One of the challeng- es is you have to learn all of the material before you teach it, and this is in-depth reading,” said Jonathan York, teacher of IB History of the Americas.

“The first obstacle that many teachers run in to when changing to IB is that there are many areas of the curriculum that they might not be familiar with,” said Albright. “English teachers have to tackle a much broader range of world literature; in science classes, French and Theory of Knowledge teacher Patricia Heinige intructs teachers have to fig- her Theory of Knowledge class. ure out a way to help “It’s intimidating, but I think that’s a good thing,” said their students develop their Richardson.

“It forces teachers into complying with the own labs; in math classes, teachers have to become used ongoing process of improving the course.”

Beyond the work, however, teachers are able to continuto grading not only math problems but written work with ally increase the efficacy of their processes.

“The IB teaching system allows for people to grow,” portfolios.”

And the learning does not said Albright. “IB teachers have to be learning every day, —MaryRichardson because they are having to continually update and refine History Teacher end at the beginning stages of their curriculums. The curriculums of IB are in this way teaching a course.

“Every summer I have to very teacher-centered.”

Such cyclopean responsibilities often are an obstacle. refine my course so that it gets better and better,” said Richardson. She explained that as “The one drawback is the workload on the teachers, esan IB teacher, she has to constantly improve pedagogy pecially in grading those essays,” said York. “I had to get and increase her strength as a teacher. “You can’t stand glasses for the first time in my life.”

However, for most IB teachers, the benefits of teaching still if you’re an IB teacher, because knowledge doesn’t far outweigh the added pressures. “I feel like I am doing stand still.” something important,” said Richardson. “I don’t think you “It is still a learning process,” said York. “Every year you could teach IB if you didn’t think it was important. have to find new material, which means more work.”

Every IB teacher is going to have his or her doubts, The teacher, in this regard, is in the same place as but everything worth doing in life is frustrating at times. the student. Not only do IB teachers have to continually Teaching IB has just been an enormously valuable personal improve upon their courses; they receive feedback from experience. It’s all about the journey.” the International Baccalaureate Organization, and must improve in the areas that IB deems weak.

4 p.m.)

• Business Ho nor So Clausen Hall (7 ciety Inductions in p.m.)

Thursday

• Company Pla y in Auditorium (7:20 a.m.)

Friday

• Company Pla y in Auditorium (7:20 a.m.)

Saturday

• All District Ba nd Auditions •Wrestling NO VA Classic at Fa irfax High School

PAUL MATHIS

“IB part III” continued from page 1 Being an IB teacher means significantly increasing one’s workload. The IB teacher has the unique experience of taking on a series of added burdens that are vacant from the non-IB world, such as forming one’s own curriculum, distancing a class from scan-trons and instead grading essays, and spending time with students after school to work through often cryptic educational intrigues. However, it is all for the sake of educating and learning from some of the brightest minds in the school.

“I don’t think any IB teacher knows initially what they are getting in to,” said Mary Ann Richardson, teacher of IB 20th Century Topics.

“In the beginning, becoming an IB teacher is a very daunting task.” Richardson commented that the IB teacher is given initially an outline of the end product (the skills students are supposed to have, the essays they are supposed to be able to perfect) but no specific way of achieving the end result.

“There is really no pedagogy, or methods of teaching,” said Richardson. “When I first came into the program, I asked what books I was allowed to use. I was told that it was my choice. I basically spent the next two months researching trying to make good decisions on what I was going to have my students read. The problem was when I asked other IB teachers what they used, everyone was using different books!”

Throughout the summer before she started teaching the course, Richardson said that she spent 4 to 7 hours every day trying to identify what materials to use and developing lesson plans.

Of course, Albright explained, teachers know before they begin teaching IB courses that they are the “curriculum experts.” This might be a deviation from the norm for many teachers in Fairfax County, as the county often decides what needs to be taught in which classroom and how. However, because of this element of IB teaching, teachers who are drawn to instructing the classes are often very

• Robin Hood Auditions in Auditorium (2 to 4 p.m.)

• ESOL Drama in Clausen Hall (2 to

I don’t think any IB teacher knows intially what they are getting in to.

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Mon. Dec. 10

• ESOL Drama Rehersal in Auditorium (2 p.m.)

(2 to • Robin Hood Rehersal in Auditorium 4 p.m.)

Tues. Dec. 11

• IB Group 4 in Cafeteria (flexes) • FCA Weekly Huddles in Band Room ( 6:50 a.m.)

(2 to • Robin Hood Rehersal in Auditorium 4 p.m.) orium • Winter Orchestra Concert in Audit (7 p.m.)

Wed. Dec. 12

•Second Quart er Interims • SGA Student Exchange in Cla (Flexes) usen Hall •ESOL Drama in Clausen Hall (2 • Varsity Math meet in Cafeteri to 4 p.m.) a • Robin Hood Rehersal in Au (2 p.m.) dit orium (2 to 4 p.m.)

Thurs. Dec

• Drug Awarene . 13 ss play in Audit a.m. to 2 p.m.) orium (7:20 • ESOL Drama Production in Au (5 p.m.) ditorium

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Dec. 5, 2007

Coach fired for videos

NEWS BRIEFS Social Studies Honor Society to hold interest meeting

BY NATHALIE SPITA News Editor

College Partnership to host a series of celebratory activities The College Partnership program is hosting a week of celebratory activities commemorating the existence of the College Partnership Organization. On Wednesday, Dec. 5, the organizaiton will orchestrate a College Spirit Day on which teachers and students are encouraged to wear their favorite college t-shirts and/or sweatshirts. Finally, on Friday, Dec. 7, the CCP members will be wearing riboons to celebrate CPP Day, a day on which the CPP is celebrated.

Company Plays debuting on Thursday-Friday, Dec. 6-7

The AHS Theatre Company classes will put on the first productions of “By the Waters of Babylon” and “The Last Flower” on Thursday, Dec. 6, and Friday, Dec. 7. “By the Waters of Babylon” depicts the struggle of a boy as he transitions into manhood. An admonishing father warns the boy that in order to become a man, he must not travel to the land of the Forbidden Gods. However, the boy decides to make the journey, imperiling his life. “The Last Flower” portrays a girl surviving after the destruction of her home society. She finds the ultimate flower in the land, and through its power and grace helps rebuild her society as a whole.

However, along with new civilization come the common deficiencies of man, in cheating themselves, producing armies, and engaging in warfare.

Freshman Sadi Ahmed patiently awaits for his late bus to depart after school. Late buses for high schools is 36th on the list of principal reduction options prioritized by Superintendent Jack Dale.

Cuts looming in future “SCHOOL BOARD” from 1 As far as financial priorities go, Superintendent Jack D. Dale “wants a three percent market adjustment and to continue the expansion of programs such as full-day kindergarten and foreign languages in elementary schools.” The continued expansion of the mentioned programs will cost an additional $13.4 million.

According to the county’s Chief Financial Officer, Diedra McLaughlin, FCPS offers above average employee compensation when compared to other school systems in the region.

This is one of the many aspects of FCPS that continues to draw teachers to work in its system.

“These are difficult times,” said Coordinator of Community Relations Paul Regnier, “over 70% of funding comes from the county and because property tax revenues are down . . . it will be difficult for spending.”

Regnier “could not speculate” as to how the recent elections for the School Board and the Board of Supervisors will affect the budget for 2009.

One of the options that the county has to meet demand for monetary funds is to raise the property taxes to increase revenue. County Board Vice Chairman Sharon Bulova has called raising taxes “the easy way out,” and considers it a “last resort.”

A few other options the school board considered include eliminating the College Partnership Program, increasing

Senior must turn in transcripts for Jan. deadlines

Guidance is reminding seniors that if students need transcripts sent in to colleges by January deadlines then counselors need information on the addresses of colleges and student information packets as soon as possible. Counselors need time to write recommendations and comments on the transcripts before the are sent.

Clinic Room Aide honored for assisting TB investigation Clinic Room Aide Tracy Shakespeare will be honored with an award from the U.S. Department of Health on Thursday, Dec. 13, at the Government Center in Washington, D.C. for her role in assisting with a Tuberculosis investigation at AHS last year. Shakespeare provided vital information that was needed for all people involved in an efficient, confidential and timely manner. Her efforts on behalf of AHS are greatly appreciated.

Source: fcps.edu

Chrusniak declined to comment on her online videos

Students both wary and excited about drive

JONAH WILLIAMS

Teachers and students attend ceremony for Human Rights

Erik Giblin a new Spanish teacher to AHS, and several students attended the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Awards Ceremony in the Russell Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C. AHS was the only school invited to the ceremony. The students invited were Aya Saed, Angel Balbuena, Daniela Guevara, Luis Inarra, Kaiser Kabir, Wafa Khadraoui, Lady Morales, Navila Rashid, Samantha Romano and Cindy Zepeda.

The students had the benefit of listening to Senator Kennedy, Kerry Kennedy and Mia Farrow. They were able to have their picture taken with Ethel Kennedy and Dr. Mohammed Ahmed Abdallah, who was recieving the RFK Human Rights Award.

Following the ceremony, the students and teacher had the opportunity of touring the capitol building with a member of Senator

class sizes by one, adjusting the building temperatures by two degrees, terminating the AVID program and reducing the Cost of Living Adjustments (COLAs) from three percent to two percent.

“I really don’t want to see the COLAs go,” said Ponton, “If anything the teachers should be getting more money.”

something like that.”

The news didn’t come as a surprise to varsity cheerleader Megan Baxter, sophomore. “Honestly I wasn’t surprised at all. She was a Redskinette,” said Baxter.

According to junior varsity cheerleader Vanessa Webb, a fellow cheerleader’s mom came across the videos by goggling Chrusniak’s name. “The girl’s mom told all the cheerleaders the next day, and from there the cheerleaders then told other cheerleaders. They told other people and it kept continuing, eventually our head coach April Wells found out,” said Webb.

The junior varsity cheerleading coach for the winter season is Sara Brandenstein.

ADAM KASDORF

Two students in separate situations over the past week found a significant amount of money and returned the money to Jamie Carayiannis, a safety and security administrator. Carayiannis reporte that Ady Diop and Emma Barker found twenty dollars in the cafeteria and eleven dollars in the hallway, respectively, and both returned the uncovered pecuniary wealth to Carayiannis himself. Dalila Campos also engaged in a good deed, having found an unidentified wallet and Barker returning the wallet to the main office. Carayiannis said of the events, “These students’ acts of honesty help me reflect about some of the really good students we have here at Annandale, and it re-affirms what I have

MOHAMMAD ELBARASEE

Students return lost money, celebrated for good deeds

Junior varsity cheerleading coach Jennifer Chrusniak was recently fired due to sexually suggestive videos found on maxim.com. Chrusniak is shown stretching in tight clothing and playing strip poker. Speaking through Angelo Hilios, Chrusniak declined to be interviewed.

Maxim.com, which is unfiltered

by FCPS, is known for its revealing pictures featuring popular actresses, singers, and female models. Chrusiniak’s videos can still be found online.

This breaking news of Chrusniak’s videos came unexpectedly, especially to Hilios who fired the coach immediately. “I have been here for 15 years and this has been the first time to take such an action,” said Hilios.

“It was unbelievable that somebody would go through the process of doing

COURTESY ANNANDALEATOMS.COM

There will be an interest meeting for the Social Studies Honor soiety on Monday, Dec. 10. All those who are interested in potentially joining the society are asked to report to the lecture hall by 2:15 on that day. If additional information is needed, please see Mr. Jepson in

Junior Melissa Harmouch seperates copies of information packets and sign up sheets for the Blood Drive.

“BLOOD” from 1 However, some students are not eager to give blood.

“Why would I?” asked junior Carson Wahl. “I just don’t want to spend the time signing up mainly.”

Others want to donate blood but do not meet the age requirement. “My dad worked for INOVA a while ago so I plan on donating blood once I’m 17,” said sophomore Yohan Calcuttawalla.

Calcuttawalla also warned, “my dad also told me a lot of high schoolers pass out the first time donating blood.”

Some tips to prevent that and have a good donating experience are getting a good night’s rest before the day of blood donating, eating a good breakfast and lunch the day of, eating iron-rich foods instead of fatty foods, wearing clothing that can easily be pulled above the elbow and relaxing during the donation.

“I’m going to bed early and eating a huge breakfast the day I donate,” said Cochran. “I’ve never donated blood before so I don’t want to pass out.”

The demand for blood in the U.S. is constantly rising with America’s increasing population and the supply of blood is slowly lagging behind. There are four main types of blood: O, A, B, and AB. Group O is most common in the US as 44% of the population has it, followed by A which makes up 42% of the population.

These types can also be subdivided into their main components, red cells, white cells, platelets, and plasma. One of the main reasons there is such a continuous demand for blood is some of these components can only last a certain amount of time out of the body. Red cells can only last 35 days and platelets can only last five.

Some of the main uses for donated blood are to replace blood lost in general surgery, open heart surgeries, replacing blood for people with blood diseases, to replace blood lost in accidents or emergencies.

Fast Facts on Blood Transfusions Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood.

14 million blood cell transfusions are given every year.

More than 38,000 blood donations are needed every day.

The A-Blast ranked 3rd in nation At NSPA/JEA publications convetion in Philadelphia newspaper takes bronze

BY CHARLES SIMPSON Staff Writer The A-Blast staff recently traveled to Philadelphia to participate in a national convention sponsored by the Journalism Education Association. Although it was the fifth largest JEA convention ever, with over 4,500 students from across the nation representing their schools, The A-Blast managed to finish third Best In Show, a category judging the overall content and appearance of the publication.

“I was really surprised we beat some of the other papers that were there, but I’m so proud of us,” said junior Amy Steinbucheler.

For the first time at a JEA convention, there were classes in broadcast journalism. These included competitions involving the creation of video packages.

Seniors Sarah Waiter, Gus Nielsen and Kat Reach, as well as Steinbucheler, received Honorable Mention for their broadcast feature story on a transgender student

at AHS. “I felt accomplished by what I had helped them do, to win the first carry-in contest was pretty good feeling,” said Nielsen.

Although the journalism convention consumed much of their time, the students enjoyed what little free time they had by touring famous landmarks such as the Liberty Bell and EdgarAllan Poe’s house, shopping and indulging in world-famous Philly cheesesteaks were among the things they did during the trip.

On Nov. 9, the group watched the 76ers play the Toronto Raptors. There, unlimited nachos, hotdogs and fountain drinks were available to everyone in the group.

“It’s always fun to watch basketball live and the free food definitely added to the experience,” said senior Greg Young.

The biannual JEAconferences are held in different cities each time. This spring, the staff hopes to have as much fun in Anaheim, California, as they did in Philadelphia.

“I thought it was a great trip. We all had a really good time, even though we were there to learn,” said junior Joe Panther.

Top 5 NSPA Best in Show The Harbinger Shawnee Mission East High School Prairie Village, Kan. The Rock Rock Canyon High School Highlands Ranch, Colo.

The A-Blast Annandale High School Annandale, Va. Tribal Tribune Wando High School Mt. Pleasant, S.C. Mane Events McKinney High School McKinney, Texas

1 2 3 4 5

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Dec. 5, 2007

Students on top of their Yearbook co-editor in chief: senior Linda Nguyen

What is your greatest talent and expertise?

Senior Yakuba Mansaray plays the tuba Q: When did you begin playing the tuba?

A: I started playing in the sixth grade.

Years you have been in yearbook: A: Three

Q: What inspired you to begin playing?

A: It rhymed with my name and I was interested in the instrument’s looks.

Inspiration that influenced you to become editor-in-chief: A: My fellow editor-in-chief, Kathryn Janssen, convinced me to take photojournalism when I was undecided on what elective to take.

awesome music when we’re on dinner

Something(s) you that get frustrating: A: Meeting deadlines is frustrating. Since I’ve been on staff for three years, I’ve learned how to work under pressure and my expectations for the staff are always a little high yet I know that not everyone can do the same. Paul Mathis taking my food is also frustrating.

Do you plan on pursuing this in college?

A: Yes and no. Since yearbook is a business and I am planning on majoring in business, that explains the yes. However, do I plan on working on a college yearbook? I would say no.

Q: What significance does playing an instrument hold for you?

A: I really enjoy playing the tuba, and I would like to continue playing into college. It gives me validation because when I’m playing, I can really pour a lot of myself into it.

Senior Yakuba Mansaray plans has been playing the tuba for seven years and plans on

Q: What are you most proud of as a musician?

A: I am proudest of the fact that I have been able to gain enough skill to seriously consider playing past high school.

What do you enjoy most about playing the trumpet?

A: I enjoy making music and using it as a form of communication.

Q: How many hours of week do you spend cooking: A: 1-15 hours

WALIHA GANI

Q: Do you plan on pursuing this in college?

Yes! I’m actually trying to get audition slot at VCU [Virginia Commonwealth University] on Nov. 30— I can’t see myself doing anything else.

WALIHA GANI

Q: How many hours of week do you spend in drama: A: 24/7

Q: Your favorite performance: The Spell of Sleeping Beauty in 11th grade and Tomorrow

Senior Kevin Fitzgerald plans on getting his bachelors in culinary arts.

Q: What significance does cooking hold for you?

A: It makes me feel relaxed and even calms me down sometimes. It sounds corny, but I feel alive when I cook and I could do it forever.

What are you most proud of as a chef?

A: Doing something that not only pleases me, but others as well.

“Karate because I’ve been doing it for three years and I’m good.”

—Nico Vivero Augliere sophomore

“It would probably have to be reciting useless trivia. It’s true, I know a bunch of it and go out of my way to tell people.”

—Ian Rogers freshman

Do you plan on pursuing this in college?

A: Yes. I plan on getting my bachelors in culinary arts. I am looking at the Culinary Institute of America, New England Culinary Institute, and Johnson and Whales.

Some people consider cooking to be a chore or something only certain people can do.

In reality, any one can cook and it’s quite enjoyable as well. Cooking isn’t for everyone, but give it a shot.

Celebrity Birthdays for December

Last Issue’s

Who am I? years.

• I majored in civil engineering and wood science

Carolina.

• In my spare time I kayak and play water polo

concentration in history.

2 Britney Spears 4 Tyra Banks

1981 1973

5 Walt Disney 1901 8 Terri Hatcher 1964 10 Emily Dickinson 1830 12 Frank Sinatra 1915 13 Tom DeLonge 1975 18 Keith Richards 1943 19 Alyssa Milano 1972 20 JoJo 1990 28 Denzel Washington 1954

• I like to listen rock music with my family.

• My motto is live free or die

Compiled by Stacey Irwin If you know the answer to “Who am I”, come to the publications lab in room 262

—Tobias Wilson freshman

What is something(s) that frustrates you?

A: Cleaning up isn’t the most fun part of cooking.

• I attended Virginia Tech

• Something interesting about me: I coach swimming in the summer; cats are a worthless animal

“Acting because I love it and I can express who I am through performances.”

Q: What is your most memorable moment?

A: Cooking with my mom when I was younger because I learned a lot from my mom.

The way I cook is very similar to hers.

• I have taught at AHS four years.

• My favorite season is fall.

• I was born on Jan. 28 in Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas • My favorite part about teaching are the students

—Kukuwa Ghansah sophomore

What do you enjoy most about cooking?

A: Making new dishes and watching people try them, especially if they enjoy them, and the fact that in the kitchen, there are endless possibilities.

Who am I?

• I have traveled to St. Martin

“Reading because I can read a lot of books in a short amount of time.”

Q: What inspired you to start?

A: I’ve always enjoyed cooking and wanted to own a restaurant since childhood.

Q: What inspired you to start?

A: I was in a few elementary plays, but an alumni encouraged me to get involved in theater in high school.

What is something(s) that gets frustrating?

A: The dedication gets frustrating, as well as the lack of support from the administration—the fact that so many people could help, but aren’t.

—Marissa Vigano freshman

Years you have been involved in the culinary arts: A: Three

Q: How many years have you been involved in drama/ performance: A: Nine

Q: What are you most proud of as a thespian?

A: All the hard work that gets put For senior Kelsey Blanco, performing into shows and the pride of doing well provides an adernaline rush to keep going. during a performance. I’m proud to be a thespian because I can look back and say, “I was part of something and it was worth the work.”

“Making people laugh because I can do it at the drop of a hat.”

Top chef: Senior Kevin Fitzgerald

Thespian: Senior Kelsey Blanco

Q: What significance does acting/ prforming hold for you?

A: It’s taught me to let loose and to be confident. Performing gives me a rush whether —I have a lead or not, I never want to stop. It’s the best feeling in the world.

—Murray Betlea freshman

WALIHA GANI

WALIHA GANI

Senior Linda Nguyen, co-editor in chief of the Antenna yearbook devotes lots of time

“Looking at things from different perspectives because it helps me understand people better.”

Q: How many hours do you spend playing?

A: Five or more hours per week.

Hours you spend in yearbook: more than I should.

Your favorite part about holding the position of editor-in chief: A: Being behind the scenes— I get to see some pictures that never get printed and I love just designing pages. Despite all the hard work, it is a lot of fun; on late nights we have dance-offs and play break.

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music, especially oldies from the 60ʼs and 70ʼs. and Africa.

John Nemeth

Junior Jonathan Molina won a fantastic prize for last issue’s “Who Am I.”

29 Jude Law 1972 31 Sir Anthony Hopkins 1937

ARTS

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“Isn’t it nice to feel feminine again?”

Wack! Art and the Feminist revolution

TIGIST TAMIR

A woman’s body can be described as colorful and soft yet vibrant with personality and grace.

Washington, D.C., hosts, “Wack! Art and the Feminist Revolution” in the National Museum of Women in the Arts. This remarkably breath-taking exhibit gives a different meaning to being a woman throughout American history. The “Wack!” exhibit contains the work of nearly 120 different artists from around the world; consisting of more photographs than actual paintings.

Displaying the undying emotion each subject possesses along with graphic detail of the human body attracts the interest of the viewers.

“Wack!” allows viewers to see through the lens with which society portrays women from the time of women’s suffrage to the present day. In addition the artists provides a glimpse of the way they view themselves and the women that surround them.

Two of the most astonishing images are those by Kristen Justesen and Judy Chicago. Justesen’s image is titled Sculpture II. This 1968 photograph depicts a nude woman whose body is folded inside a cardboard box. Intending to display an image of herself through different angles, something that many artists strive for, she is also able to provide a lifelike quality during this process.

Judy Chicago, one of the founders of the Feminist Art Program at the California Institute of Arts is the mastermind behind Pasadena Lifesaver Red #5. This vibrant airbrush artwork has been cleverly put together using sprayed acrylic on acrylic. These incredible images in the “Wack!” exhibit are open to the public now through Dec. 16.

Left; Senior Almas Nadri decorates her IB work-book. Nadri was the only student, from Harperʼs class, who got her artwork displayed in the Annandale Center. The work book is for students to collect gallery pictures and personal statements relavent to thier theme.

Above; IB Arts teacher Ann Harper observes as senior Lara Coulter works on a very expressive work of art. Portraits are assignments students need to complete in order to become better artists.

Officially an artist

Students challenge themselves in one of the top art classes offered at AHS

“

“Does Art Help you to reflect your thoughts?”

“I don’t really use Art very much because I can’t draw, but if I could I would use it to reflect my views.”

— Kristen Hennessey freshman

TIGIST TAMIR

“Of course, it does express my view, what I feel that time is what I draw.”

— Claudia Mendez sophomore

“Yes, because it is a visual form of communication that makes a difference.”

—Katherine McDormott junior

“Yes, beacuse it is kind of like a visual detail, or another sensory detail that helps me express my idea.”

S h o w u s w h a t

—Sharmin Shimu “Yes, beacause it inspires me and helps to fully illustrate all aspects of whatever I may be feeling, thinking, or teaching for that matter.”

— Noelle Davis English Teacher

Mostly he works on a computer as his work is based on computer graphics. “I plan to major in architecture, and maybe minor in arts.” said Mills. “In the future I might do professional art.”

When students join IB Arts class, they have to visit different art galleries and develop their ideas by integrating what they observed. There is at least one gallery visit

BY TIGIST TAMIR in each quarter, which is done independently.

Arts Editor Harper is optimistic about her IB Arts students this As you walk into one of the 11 IB Visual Arts classes year, and she believes that they have brought something at AHS, you experiences a silence in which only a pen, new to the table. pencil, and a mouse-click can be heard.

“This year the juniors are especially amazing,” said Such an environment is characteristic of the discipline Harper, complimenting her class. “They are the beginArt students exercise. “An IB [Arts] student is expected ning Higher-level students and I know they are going to behave in a fashion of a profesto end up doing exactly what they sional artist,” said Ann Harper, want to do.” She believes that stuthe IB Arts teacher. Students dents who plan to prosper through who take these classes are part Arts should take this class. of the rigorous IB Arts program “Artists are not starving If you want to do at AHS. They are evaluated on artists anymore,” Harper said. anything above and their personal vision and techni“Everything is based on arts in cal skills. “Students need to come some fashion and we have a lot of beyond this is the in with an idea of what they want opportunities.” place to be. to visually express,” Said Harper.

In April, the AHS community “ Just as you would have a writer —Ann Harper will get to view the finished work of writing about what he or she IB Arts Teacher each student artist. This is a major knows, the artist really ought to event in theArts Department, and create a visual image about what takes place in Clausen Hall. This he or she knows.” is an open event for everyone who wants to appreciate In order to achieve such a professional standard, what the student artists have to give back to the school students have to be very responsible in their actions community. and work while they are in the classroom. “The most “We’re going to have a show, coming up, of some of important thing to know is that they have to be self-dis- the pages in the IB work book or research book,” Harper ciplined,” Harper said, “If they have the self-discipline said. Harper plans to enlarge these pages in color print and they have the passion for what they do they will with a picture of each artist and artist statement. “The do very well.” purpose of this display is to show the audience what the “Most people don’t know how much work artists do research is about and what the student’s interests are,” preliminarily, there is a lot of research and technical Harper said. “It is kind of peeking behind the curtain of experimentation,” said Harper. how an artist works.”

As with other IB classes, Arts has its own requireAs for now, arts students are preparing for IB tests. ments students must fulfill in order to be part of the “Right now we are gearing up and getting ready for the program. Students have to be a junior withArt 1 andArt April Moderations,” Harper said. In the IBArts program 2 as a prerequisite. “I would like to see students come in at the end of two years for higher level, or one for standard with Art 1 and Art 2,” said Harper, “Then if they want to level, an outside artist is hired to evaluate the student’s do higher-level they can join IB Arts in their junior year studio work and the research book. The grading scale is and continue through their senior year. If they want to similar to other IB disciplines, which is based on a zero do standard level they can pick one year for that.” to seven scale (seven being the highest).

Being an IB arts student means participating in rig“We want at least a three or four,” Harper said, “most orous art-related activities. IB Arts students have their of our students are in the six to seven scale, and they do own workbook in which they can put different kinds of very well.” The outside artist evaluates these works, researched artwork. and compares them with artists around the world. “It “First you choose a theme. With your artwork around is a global situation right now, with computers everyone that theme you make a work-book, then you research knows what everybody else is doing,” said Harper. different artists that have similar views as you,” said “The IB classes are the most exciting that we have junior Kyle Mills, IB Visual Arts student. in the department,” said Harper, “If you want to do Mills is currently is working on making a web site for anything above and beyond and really work at it, this himself, integrating his artwork into a three-dimensional is the place to be.” structure, and trying to improve his researching skills.

g o t

Wattana Savanh

Kyle Mills

Grade: 12

Grade: 11

Years attending AHS: 4

Years attending AHS: 3

Art class: IB Visual Arts 2

Art class: IB Visual Arts

The title of the artwork: Fighting Spirit

The title of the artwork: Untitled Work description: This is a made in Photoshop. It has reflections and rainbows coming out of the back of the panda.

Work description: The dragon represents the fierceness and mentality that the samurais had throughout their life

y o u Title of the artwork: Untitled Work description: It represents the cultural awareness around our community.

”

Almas Nadri

Tyler Nguyen

Grade: 12

Grade: 12

Years attending AHS: 4

Years attending AHS: 4

Art class: IB Visual Arts 2

Art class: IB Visual Arts 2

Titile of the artwork: Lara Work descriprion: It reflects my views about Lara, the girl.

ACADEMICS

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The off-campus experience

How were your 1st Quarter grades and what is your plan for 2nd Quarter?

More than 100 AHS students attend Academy classes all over the county

BY LAURA AMBROSIO Academics Editor

“My grades were amazing. I had mostly As and B’s, but one C+. For second quarter I’m going to strive for all A’s.”

—Mabel Sannoh freshman “My grades for first quarter were all A’s, except one B in Physics. And for second quarter I plan to actually study for tests”

LAURA AMBROSIO

It is 8:50 a.m. Students are filing into their second class of the day, but not academy students. They are in the jock lobby eagerly waiting for a 9 a.m. bus to arrive to take them to their designated academy school. These students leave AHS to take classes in other schools in the area. There are a total of 110 AHS students that are currently enrolled in an academy class. Thirty-three of those students attend classes at Edison High School, 27 at Falls Church HS, 20 at West Potomac HS, 14 at Springfield Mall, 13 at Chantilly HS, two at Fairfax HS and one student at Holmes Middle School.

“Annandale started offering academy classes to students about eight or nine years ago,” said Steve Sengstack, Director of Student Services. Before Fairfax County began offering academy classes, only certain programs were available at schools. It is not practical for a school to have every course because some classes need specific materials and lab space, so it would be expensive, and other electives would have to be removed. “Not all students would have the same opportunity, but now students can access courses all over the county,” said Sengstack.

Students can choose from over 40 different academy classes. Some available classes are Marketing, Animal Science, Construction Tech and Air Force JROTC. The most popular classes year after year are usually Criminal Justice and Cosmetology. AHS is fortunate to have Auto Tech and Culinary Arts programs, so students do not have to leave school to attend such classes.

Many juniors and seniors decide to take academy classes since they no longer have to take Physical Education. Given that academy courses have limited space, students must provide an application.

“The academy counselors at other schools are looking for hardworking students, good attendance, and grades in certain subjects,” said guidance counselor Kazue Watlington.

It is necessary in some courses, such as Practical Nursing and Engineering Systems to have strong math and science skills, so the academy school will review the applicant’s transcript.

There are also other factors to consider when applying for an academy course. Students must consider if they have sufficient time in their schedules. Academy classes require three open periods to go off campus every day. On red days academy classes take up third and fifth periods and on white days they take up flex and sixth period. This time is required to allow for transportation, the class session and lunch. The actual class time remains 90 minutes.

“We recommend that students who are struggling in their core classes not take academy classes since they could really use the time here in flex,” said Watlington. “For many students academy is not an option because their core classes are too demanding.”

Many teachers feel that students are missing an important part of class time during flex by going to Academy and know that it may be hard for them to make up that time.

“It harms students who miss flex. And you don’t want to miss an Algebra 2 class with

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Senior Valerie Conable and junior Ume Swaray proudly dressed in their Air Force uniforms walk with their fellow classmates towards the bus taking them to their academy class at 9 a.m. every day.

Ms. Furlong,” said Math teacher Cathy Furlong. In contrast, others feel that there is a lot to be gained by the students who participate in Academy.

“You only lose a period of time here at school. If you are really interested in pursuing the course then it is worth it,” said Sengstack.

Academy courses supply students with many advantages. It gives students insight into careers that they are interested in by providing hands on experience. These classes prepare them to receive further training in a chosen field. “There is a direct connection for students in getting a real job,” said Watlington.

This is because for several courses, such as Cosmetology, students can take professional exams that will license them to practice. Students receive in depth knowledge from the class that can help them later with career decisions. Most importantly, these academy classes open doors for students in the future.

—Daniela Guevera sophmore “They were average. I plan on getting better grades for second quarter by staying after school more often.”

—Matt Beamer junior “They were pretty decent. I plan on going from average to outstanding for second quarter.”

Leaving school to go to school Students travel in order to take specialty classes Heather Reed - Animal Science

Ervin Pineda - Electrical Engineering

Q: Why did you choose this course as your elective?

A: I wanted to figure out if maybe working with animals is what I wanted to do with my life as a career decision.

Q: Why did you choose this course as your elective?

A: Because I think there are a lot of jobs that may develop from this course.

Q: Do you like your academy class or regret enrolling in it?

A: I like it because I get a break between classes and I only have five classes to worry about instead of seven.

Q: How will your academy class benefit you in the future?

A: After this course or even now, I could work at a grooming center or a veterinary clinic. If I choose to become a vet I’d be ahead of the game. I would really like to become a marine mammalogist and study at a college in Florida.

Q: What are some of the difficulties you face in your class?

A: I have to learn to restrain cats and dogs. Sometimes someone ends up getting hurt because the animals struggle so much.

Q: What do you like the most about the class?

A: The hands-on experience with animals. And I also have more freedom, it’s almost like I’m a college student. After academy, I go out to lunch. It’s very fun because I get to groom and interact with other people’s pets and make new friends from other schools.

Q: What are some of the negative things about it?

A: Some additional costs such as scrubs and a tetanus shot.

Q: What do you do in your academy class?

A: First, the teacher gives us a twenty minute lecture of how we can improve in the electrical field. Then we begin wire installations and pipe bending.

Q: Do you believe your academy class will benefit you in the future?

A: Yes, this class provides basic knowledge about electricity which is something I plan on working with the future. I think this class is beneficial for my career plans and it will help me reach the goals I have set for myself.

Q: What are some of your future career plans?

A: I was thinking of going to Wyoming Tech for automotive, but I think it would also be interesting to look at options in Virginia related to Electrical Engineering.

Q: What is your academy teacher like?

A: He is a well trained technician and gives attention to every student. He praises us on how well we are getting the job done. My teacher is also really comprehensive whenever I miss class.

Q: What are some of the negative things about it?

A: It can be very time consuming. After my academy class is over, I have to wait an hour and thirty minutes before my last class of the day begins.

Amanda Silva - Practical Nursing

Sharmeam Kim - Air Force JROTC

Q: Why did you choose this course as your elective?

A: I’ve always wanted to be a nurse so this class prepares me for college. Also, I love learning about the human body and how it functions. This academy course teaches students about ethics and builds character as well.

Q: Why did you choose this course as your elective?

A: Because it would help me get into the Air Force and go to college for free. My plan is to go to college at the Air Force Academy for four years and then I want to be in the Air Force for special ops.

Q: Do you believe your academy class will benefit you in the future?

A: Yes, because they teach us the basics of what you need to know in the Air Force. Also, this class will put me as an Airman First Class instead of a person who just enlists in the Air Force.

Q: What do you do in your academy class?

A: The Flight Sergeant always starts by calling the class for instruction then we study movements, the chain of command and our facing movements.

teacher too, she’s very good.

Q: Do you like the class or regret enrolling in it?

A: I really like my nursing class and my

Q: Do you believe your academy class will benefit you in the future?

A: Yes, my nursing class teaches me how to deal with a college work load since it’s a college course.

Q: What are you learning in your academy class at the moment?

A: We’re learning about aviation history.

Q: What are your career plans for the future?

A: After I graduate I plan on taking Nursing Level 2 and getting a practical nursing license. Then I will work as an LPN while studying at NOVA for two years and I’ll transfer to GMU and get my RN license.

Q: What is your academy teacher like?

A: He’s straight forward but not too tough. He basically respects you if you respect him.

Q: What do you like the most about taking an academy class?

A: I like the free time and the chilled schedule.

Q: Do you like the class or regret enrolling in it?

A: I like it. It’s fun because we get to experience new things like drill competitions and learning how to march.

Q: What are some of the negative things about it?

A: I don’t like having the same class both red and white days. Also, my class requires a lot of studying at home because the tests are very hard.

Q: What are some of the privileges you have as an academy student that other students don’t have?

A: I get respect just for wearing the uniform.

- Compiled by Jackie Silva

—Hamd Arzoo senior

1st Quarter Straight A Students GRADE 9 Alchaar, Nadia Bhandal, Navjot Centellas, Polette Clark, Paige Frank, Mitchell Kavjian, Mary Anne Le, Thuy Trang Pizarro Delgado, Anais Sanborn, Jacob Webb, Lucy GRADE 10 Arevalo Villarroel, Claudia Fernandez Rivadeneira, Jorge Keller, Cassady Mustafa-Zeballos, Yussef Pelkey, Rebecca Rodriguez Cabrera, Nancy Suarez Egues, Jorge Tran, Phuong Thao Venkat, Aishwarya GRADE 11 Escudero Gutierrez, Eslyn Kim, Ah Reum Kynes, Cason Lee, Irene Lee, Da Hye MacMillan, Imran Rabinovitz, Jane Salomon, Julie GRADE 12 Awan, Seemal Knoll, Andrew Kwon, Daniel Lim, Sang Mi Mathis, Paul Randolph, Nicole

A and A-B Honor Roll students were rewarded with a breakfast served by the AHS Bistro on Nov. 15th during R1 flex in the cafeteria.

Do you see yourself adopting childern or having your own when the time is right?

“Probably having my own because once you die you something to remind them of you.”

—Dalene Rayes freshman

“Not really, I do not want to adopt kids because I am planning to have my own kids .”

—Stacy Anderson sophomore

“Yes I would, because they need parents who care about them and they need hospitality, so I will be glad to help them.”

—Aida Salamanca Junior “Honestly, I don’t really want kids, they smell and they cost a lot of money.”

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Dec. 5 , 2007

Kathleen Palmer adopts Emily and Lizzy from Virginia Beach foster care

BY ANNIKA JESSEN Internatonal Editor “Adopting children is a great experience.

It’s a complete 360 turn from my life before.

Bedtime is earlier and my husband reads to the kids before they go to bed. In the morning I have to wake up and put lunches together when I used to blindly stumble around just trying to find my coffee.”

Kathleen Palmer is a substitute teacher at Annandale, having previously been a ninth and eleventh grade English teacher.

She has recently adopted two children from foster care because she is physically unable to conceive children.

“I always knew I was going to adopt children, but the timing just never seemed right because my husband is in the military

KATHLEEN PALMER

12

INTERNATIONAL A Teacher receives bundle of joy

Palmer stands with her two children Emily, (left) and Lizzy (right.) The girls recently joined the Palmer family at the end of November, moving from their foster homes in VA beach.

“

If you have the opportunity and the emotional stability to adopt, reach out, jump in and do it. So many kids need a home and it is a fabulous experience.

”

—KathleenPalmer teacher

and we were constantly moving and being deported.” During the past five years things settled down and the Palmers began looking into adoption. They considered foreign adoption but foster care seemed like a better fit. This way they would be able to help

out the hundreds of children that do not have homes.

The Palmers then applied to the United Methodist Family Services in February of 2007. The agency reviewed their applications and placed them in a training program called PRIDE that lasted for nine weeks. “It’s like tryouts, it weeds out the people who aren’t serious. Training gives the people a taste of what they are going to experience, and if they don’t like it, then they can leave.”

“We looked at the children who were put up for adoption, searching for siblings because we wanted to start a family with

more than one child and siblings are often overlooked. We found Lizzy, 7 years old and Emily, 10 years old, who were currently in foster care in Virginia Beach and began visiting them on weekends.”

Occasionally they would come and stay with the Palmers for a weekend to get used to the house, family and neighborhood. The girls finally came to stay in the beginning of November.

They adjusted quite well. “We already feel like a close-knit family, like we’re meant to be together. We just want to fold them into our world, as if they had always been there. My husband and I have a lot of love to

give, and we’re looking forward to spending time with our new kids. The house already seems so much smaller, which is awesome.

Before they moved in it felt so big.”

Palmer plans to let her children experience life to the fullest, enrolling them in most of the activities they are interested in. Both of them are taking gymnastics.

Lizzy loves basketball and Emily loves cheerleading. “Of course, you can’t take the teacher out of the parent, so homework comes first.”

The Palmers have a plan to provide the children with every memory of their childhood. They have created life books that are very similar to baby books. They contain pictures from their life in foster care and have many empty pages that will be filled with information and pictures from the rest of their childhood years. It also includes information about their birth parents.

The girls are of hispanic origin, so the Palmers plan to incorporate aspects of their culture as life progresses. Currently they are just getting used to each other and their new routine. They are experimenting with different religions and hope to add language and other aspects of their hispanic culture.

Although her life has completely changed, Palmer says she doesn’t mind it one bit. It was a huge change and she and her husband are engjoyin every moment of it.

“I would highly recommend adoption, if the family is emotionally ready to handle everything that comes with raising a child.

They should reach out, jump in, and do it.

So many kids need a home, and it’s wonderful when a family can take them in. The agency we worked with was exceptional, very helpful and just a breeze to go through.

If you have the opportunity, take advantage of it and take a child in.”

Beyond teaching history Joseph Valentino who embraces kids adopted a child six years ago

Top 5 country-bycountry adoption rates

1 China leads with 6,493 children which contributing over 31.5 % of adopted kids.

2 Guatemala sent 4,135 children, 20% of the total adopted kids in the U.S.

BY ANNIKA JESSEN International Editor Joseph Valentino is a 9th grade Pre-IB History teacher who adopted a little girl in 2001. She is from South India and her name is Anna Kamala. The Valentinos applied to an agency called ASIA, Adoption Services Info Agency. A social worker was assigned to them to conduct background checks and interviews to be certain that they were suitable to adopt a child.Valentino and his wife decided to adopt from India because there is an immense amount of children living in foster care or orphanages in the country.

A child was designated to them based on parameters they specified, such as age and sex. They received pictures and periodic updates of her health while they waited for the adoption process to be completed.

“The hardest part about the whole process was knowing that your child is out there, somewhere, but you are unable to be with her. The paperwork is doable,” said Valentino Nine or ten months after they applied, Kamala was sent over to the Valentino family.

She was ten and a half months old when they first held her in their arms. Valentino and his wife decided to keep her birth name, Kamala as her middle name so she could still be connected to her culture. They decided to name herAnna to include her in the American culture and make her part

JOSEPH VALENTINO

—Caitlin McIntosh senior

Anna Kamala sits next to her sister, Maria, as they enjoy a sunny afternoon together. Anna Kamala has lived with the Valentino family for 6 years after being adopted from India.

of the family as well. They participate in many activities to remind her of her culture, such as Indian festivals and Indian Holidays.Anna is currently taking a class in Indian dance to learn the culture of her people. They hope to teach her new language, either Hindi or Telugu to provide her with the most knowledge possible.

Once a year the Valentinos visit a family in South Carolina that adopted an Indian child who was flown to the U.S. on the same flight as Anna. They also attend

celebrations and potlucks with other families who have adopted children from India.

“It was extremely easy to incorporate her into our lives.

It was completely and totally seamless, and it has been wonderful. My other daughter and her are inseparable, like two peas in a pod.”

3 Russia sent 3,706 children to the U.S., 18 % of the total orphans adopted.

4 South Korea sent 1,376 children which is 6.7% of the total orpahns.

5 Ehtiopia sent 732 orphanes, which is 3.5% of the total children adopted.

Heyla Asrat Senior I am originally from Ethiopia, and moved there from Kenya and then to America. I was about ten years old when I moved to Kenya, and have lived in the United States for about four and a half years.

The reason I came here is because of the political problems in Ethiopia. When we were in Kenya it was hard for us because the police would come around asking if you were legally allowed to live there, so you always had to have your passport or ID, otherwise they would put you in jail. I went to school in Ethiopia, but we did not have any papers coming to Kenya, so I never went to school there; I just stayed home and read books and wrote poems with my sisters. I did not have any fun in Kenya because all my friends were in Ethiopia and I did not know the language of Kenya. It was especially hard for me being at that age when you want to just play around, and I was jealous of the kids who went to school when I was not able to.

We were not planning on staying in Kenya, since it was more of a bridge to the United States. My sister moved to America first once she got married in Ethiopia, and then we all came afterwards. Living in America, my five brothers and four sisters have jobs so they support us all.

In America, you have a better education and a better life with many opportunities.

When I first came to America, I was scared because I did not know how to speak English well and I could not communicate with the people; I understood what people were saying but I did not know how to respond. I like it here now because I am getting used to the language and trying to improve my English. I think it is hard to make friends with those born in America. I am a little shy and I do not know how to talk to people. Sometimes I get confused in class when I need to ask the teacher a question and I do not know how to say it, but they understand me anyway.

Compiled by Beelan Yonas

Jimena Rojas Senior I was born in Cochabamba, Bolivia. I moved here fours year ago to the United States because of the political problems in my country. I came here for the education, because the Bolivian government failed to do what they set out to do, and as a result the people remonstrated the government by blocking the road, which distracted the education process. It was one of the reasons that I came here; it was impossible to follow up with the education once the riot erupted. The education was distracted and it is impossible to learn in that kind of environment. There was no real freedom and the government was untrustworthy. Due to the safety problems, and the failing economy I had to move to America to find a better life.

Upon my arrival I had to go to school to get educated, I did not know the language and was definitely in a completely different situation than I am now. It was hard for me because I missed my mom and my friends, but I got my freedom, freedom to learn and get better. When I first attended school in U.S. it was hard to understand the language even though, the ESOL teachers helped me a lot because I had classes with students who have been speaking the English their whole lives so it was hard for me to blend in with them.

It took me two years to become a fluent speaker in English. I worked hard to change my situation that I had when I came here.

I went back to my country last year to visit, and I saw some change my friends, my family and the whole aura of the country was different. Now that the country has a new government I would expect drastic changes in the economy, I think it exemplifies a new hope and direction for the country.

Over the years, I became more and more aware of the culture and the environment.

I made friends and it was easier to blend in with different kinds of people with different background. My new friends here are very understanding, they help me to improve my speaking by a lot. I aspire to graduate from a business college, because I have been taking business classes for the past four years I believe I have the experience to continue in college. Finally, I would like to share my life motto, which is the importance of working hard to make a change and to be successful.

Compliled by Bewketu Tamir

PHOTO

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Dec. 5, 2007

At 6:30 in the morning most AHS students are still curled up in bed, however, as the sun rises a hand full of students arrive at school. These students combine to make up

The Earlybirds

13 What do you do in the morning before school?

“I sleep and talk to my friends in the Jock Lobby.”

—John Jenkinss

senior

The track walk-way and the jock lobby are usually crowded and loud in the morning, but this early they are ominously quiet. However, the rest of the school by no means follows suit.

“I go to Samantha Lugar’s locker and my friends and I sit and talk.”

—Maggie Craig

sophomore

MATT JOHNSON

MATT JOHNSON

“I chill out with my friends at the “nook” and copy homework; we check out girls too.

—Philipp Sessler

junior

“I go to the cafeteria to talk with my friends or a teacher’s room to do homework.”

—Miyako Yerick

The teachers...

LAURA SIMPSON

MATT JOHNSON

senior

Earlybird Special J.J. York

Teachers Neal Jarvis and Tobias Dienstfrey arrive at school to get extra work done. “I usually [get to school early] to copy stuff, review lesson plans, put in grades, or simply plan for the week. I get to school on average around 6:00 a.m.,” said Diestfrey.

•What time do you wake up every morning?

I wake up between 3:50 and 4:00 a.m.

•What do you do every morning? (chronological order) • I wake up on my own before my alarm clock goes off. It’s a sign of weakness if you have to get awakend by an alarm.

•I take my dog for a 20 minute walk •I eat breakfast •I scan the paper-metro, sports, front page, in that order •I pack my work clothes to change into after the gym •I’m at the gym no later than 5:00 and am out by 6:00 •I stop by my old house and say hi to my mom •I shower and change at my mom’s house and am at school by 6:30-6:45

MATT JOHNSON

•How often do you go to the gym?

Usually two to three times a week

The sleepers...

Other earlybirds John Nemeth Joe Desio Scott Hambrick

and finally...the drivers

MATT JOHNSON

Sophomores Nick Chuong and Donnie Mcqueen use their time before school to catch up on some much needed sleep.

“I get to school at around 6:20 because I have to. I live really far away and my mom has to take me now or Iʼll be late,” said Chuong

•What other teachers get to school as early as you?

The social studies department is always here early

Above: Seniors Jerry Chiles and Steve Sengmany joke around in the hallway before school.

Left: Sophomore Alhaji Bah walks toward the locker room after leaving the cafeteria. “I usually just hang out in the locker room, or go to the cafeteria if Iʼm really hungry,” said Bah.

Seniors Kevin McCracken, Dylan Volk and sophomores Stephen Novak and Connor Volk walk down the track towards school at around 7:10.

MATT JOHNSON

MATT JOHNSON

MATT JOHNSON

MATT JOHNSON

The bus riders...

14

SPORTS XTRA

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Dec. 5 2007

Virginia Hunting Calendar BEAR SEASON: Archery Bear Season Oct. 13-Nov. 10: statewide MUZZLELOADER BEAR SEASON: Nov. 13-16 DEER SEASON: Early Archery Season Oct. 6-Nov. 16: statewide LATE ARCHERY SEASON: Dec. 3-Jan. 5:

COURTESY BRITTENY GRAY

MUZZLELOADER DEER SEASONS: Early Muzzleloader Season Nov. 3-16: LATE MUZZLELOADER SEASON: Dec. 15-Jan. 5: ARCHERY TURKEY SEASON: Oct. 6-Nov. 10 FALL FIREARMS TURKEY SEASONS: Oct. 27-Nov. 9, Nov. 22 and Dec. 10-Jan. 5

COURTESY BRITNENY GRAY

URBAN ARCHERY DEER SEASONS: September 15-Oct. 5 and Jan. 7-Mar. 29

Covered in camouflage to keep from being seen, Senior Brittney Gray demonstrates how she would take aim if a deer were to walk by. “I normally use a hunting rifle or a 12 gauge shot gun,” said Gray.

While in Orange, Virginia Gray practices her aim while her hunting dog, Sonic, watches closely.

RABBIT SEASON: Nov. 3-Feb. 29.

Hambrick and a hunting friend show off the wild turkey they killed two years ago. “[I] enjoy the harvest that the meat provides,” said Hambrick.

COURTESY SCOTT HAMBRICK

“No, because they haven’t won a game in what feels like a year.”

COURTESY SCOTT HAMBRICK

Do you think that Redskins will qualify for the playoffs?

Not long after this buck was shot, Hambrick poses to show off his newest kill. Hambrick used a bow and arrow to kill his buck beacuse bow and arrows are more “accurate.”

COURTESY BRITTENY GRAY

COURTESY BRITTENY GRAY

QUAIL AND PHEASANT SEASON: Nov. 10-Jan. 31

Above: While sitting in a tree stand, Gray practices her shot.

Below: Coming back from a long day of hunting Gray heads home.

A deer’s worst nightmare

—Joey Scally freshman

“No,because Jason Campbell is not good under pressure and they are not a second half team at all.”

—Jeff Huynh sophomore

“They might have a chance because everyone in the division lost[last Sunday] except the cowboys.”

—Bryan Van Balen junior

“No, they won’t make the playoffs because they call the plays too fast.”

—Jasmine Price senior

As the hunting season begins, teachers and students put on their camouflage and head into the woods

BY BROOKE BARLOW staff writer

Do not let the American Eagle jeans, flip-flops and pink nails fool you one bit. Senior Brittney Gray is not your typical AHS student. She is a hunter, a deer and a dove hunter.

Although Virginia has a lot of public hunting lands to offer such as state parks and military areas, Gray prefers to travel on the weekends to a friend’s house in Orange and King George Counties, Virginia, to hunt in the woods surrounding by their property.

It all began around one year ago when Gray was at her friends in Orange, Virginia.

Her friend was about to go hunting when Gray asked if she could go along and give it a try. After her first shot, shooting a doe in its shoulder and its hind back leg, it was love at first sight. From then on out, she could not enough of it.

Hunting is a very time consuming activity. It is not an activity which you can wake up and decide to do one morning. “It’s a feeling of achievement when you wake up at 4 a.m., go into your tree stand and sit in the cold,” said Gray.

Some people feel that hunting is “animal cruelty” said Gray. People in larger cities or more populated areas do not understand the thrill of hunting. It just depends on your point of view. Hunting can be the same thrill a basketball player gets when he makes the winning basket in a tied game. Instead of coming home with a trophy, a hunter comes home with a buck.

Has time expired for Gibbs?

Redskins Hall of Fame Coach Joe Gibbs struggles this season

BY LOGAN MILLER staff writer

“No way, they lack true leaders. It’s like they’re looking for an identity.

I could be better then some of their players.”

—Brandon Cooley assistant principal compiled by Amy Stevens and Tanya Bellingham

“There is no better feeling of accomplishment when you kill a big buck,” said Gray.

There are many different types of devices used for hunting, but you cannot just hunt whenever you choose. There are different seasons for each animal. For people who prefer to load their own guns, they use muzzel loaders. Muzzel loader season for 2007 was Nov. 3-16.

For people who use firearms, such as rifles, their season is Nov. 17 through Jan.5.

The more skilled hunters, can use archery (bows and arrows) to kill their prey. They have the choice of hunting during early season or late. Early season is October 6 through November 16 and the late season is December 3 through January 5.

“It depends on what season it is. You can’t kill whatever, whenever you want,” said Gray.

“Bow and arrow hunting is more difficult because you have to have an accurate shot,” said Gray. “I normally use a hunting rifle or a twelve gauge shot gun.”

On the other hand, history teacher, Scott Hambrick prefers to use bow and arrow.

“It takes more practice and you have to be a better hunter. It is also more sporting,” said Hambrick.

During the off-season, Hambrick scouts the local lands where he hunts, Quantico and Charlottesville, to find areas where he will be most likely to get game. Hunting also takes a great deal of preparation for each season. Since deer and most other animals have a distinct sense of smell, you should only wear your hunting outfit when you hunt.

They also can smell what you ate, so it is wise to stick with bland food that will not scare away the harvest.

Hunting takes a lot of patience. If you can not sit in the freezing cold, watching your game circle around you for hours, waiting for the best angle to shoot, hunting is definitely not for you.

Five wins and six losses: the Redskins’ record 11 games into the season, and the season is far from over. They still have to play the Bears, Giants and the Cowboys before the season ends.

Their playoff hopes were completely shattered after losing to the Bucs two Sundays ago, and Joe Gibbs continues to put his heart into coaching the team to victory. But the fact of the matter is that he is not getting the job done.

With key injuries to the Redskins’ starters and the death of Sean Taylor, the Redskins clearly have tempered their expectations for earning a place in the post season. So why does Gibbs still have his job even though the Redskins have not been successful?

For the four years he has returned to coach the Redskins, nothing has changed. He has lead the Redskins to the postseason only once, and that was by pure luck.

Gibbs’glory days are over; they have been over since 1991 when he won his last Super Bowl. The only reason Gibbs still has his job is because despite their losing record, the Redskins continue to generate profit, and that is all owner, Dan Snyder, cares about.

What really needs to happen is for Snyder to fire Gibbs, and then rehire former head coach Marty Schottenheimer. Maybe Schottenheimer would increase the Redskins’ chances of a successful postseason.

BY MICHAEL CRAIG videographer Joe Gibbs is the man; it is impossible not to like the guy. He always keeps his poise on the Redskins’ sidelines and is rarely caught yelling at one of his players. He always has a smile on his face and looks more like a kind grandfather than an NFL coach.

Gibbs is both the 20th and 26th head coach of the Washington Redskins. In the past, Gibbs led the Redskins to win three Super Bowl wins.

During his first term as head coach of the Redskins he helped his team make eight playoff appearances and win four NFC Championship titles. Currently, he is the only coach in the NFL

to also be in the Hall of Fame.

Joe Gibbs is a legendary coach and the Redskins would be far worse without him as head coach. When Gibbs returned to the Redskins’ coaching staff he made some big changes. This was exactly what Washington needed. In the gap between Joe Gibbs’ retirement and his return, the Redskins only made the playoffs once and had trouble settling on a starting quarterback.

Gibbs helped the Redskins acquire talented players such as Jason Campbell and Sean Taylor and has helped the team develop into a bigger threat within their division.

I do not think that their record is any indication of Gibbs’ coaching ability.

HEALTH

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Dec. 5, 2007

Is hip hop hurting you?

Recent studies show that music lyics affect the health

BY CARLOS

GALICIA Staff writer

“Work it, make it, do it, makes us harder, better, faster, stronger!” These are the lyrics of a Kanye West song. And they describe exactly what the hip-hop industry has been doing throughout the years. Hip-hop has become one of the fastest growing musical genres of our time. Its rapid growth in popularity amongst teens has raised concerns in parents and public health experts. With lyrics, music videos, and dance moves becoming more and more sexually explicit, it is no wonder that the hip-hop culture has been harshly criticized.

One of the many questions people have is whether hip-hop’s explicit lyrics encourage sex at younger ages.

According to research done by The RAND Corporation published in the Journal of Pediatrics, degrading lyrics, not sexual lyrics, are the problem. The study found that adolescents who were exposed to the highest levels of sexually degrading lyrics were twice as likely to have sex by the end of the study. The researchers defined degrading lyrics as those that portrayed women as sexual objects, men as insatiable and sex as inconsequential.

Yet some still disagree, “Music is just music, a person does what they want to do not because they listen to what a songs says.” said senior Daniela Uria.

Yet the question still burns in everyone’s mind. Who does the responsibility fall upon to control the youth’s exposure to inviting and explicit sing along lyrics? Many members of the musicindustrysaythatitisthejoboftheparentsandeducators tocreateaframeworkfortheyoungpeopletounderstandwhat they are exposed to through music and media.

Yet the youth are the ones taking matters into their own hands, “If I don’t like the music that is being played on the station because of their annoying lyrics and the fact that in reality women are not what they are referred to as in the lyrics then I just change the station or listen to something else.” said freshmen Ndidi Obasi.

Every preceding generation always seems troubled by the musical preferences of the next, such as when Elvis became known for his gyrating hips, which were once viewed as an adulterating influence on the nation’s youth.

“This music degrades women, African-Americans, and othergroupsofpeople.Somanykidslistentoitofallracesand both genders and when it is accepted in the media they feel like its OK to act like the stuff they see on T.V. is correct,” said senior David Bickerstaff.

“The hip hop today is all based around money, drugs, and sex, but that is not real hip hop, that is what the media has labeled that type of “music” There is no positive outcome that you can receive from listening to that kind of music. It’s supposed to make you feel good and if all you surround yourself with is stuff about money, sex, and drugs you are most likely going to express yourself by the ways that have been shown in this music,” said Bickerstaff.

While there is definitely a popular opinion that hip-hop is music

that has negative effects on people, there are also many who disagree with that sentiment. “It is music that makes you feel good, it gets you in the mood. When they use vulgar language you don’t take it seriously because you know it is just a song,” said senior Michelle Abanez.

It is also evident that the hip-hop industry has stretched far beyond its black history so that students of every race listen to the vast type of music. Many think that what sells hip-hop is its high content of sex and violence. But to others, true hip-hop isn’t just music, it’s a culture, a way of life, a language, a fashion, and a unique perspective .

“I don’t think it is degrading because I know I am not what the lyrics say women are.” said senior Cindy Manlan.

“Hip-hop is more than just the little girls dancing on the videos if you just listen to the words there is so much more to it.” Said Senior Zainab Koroma. Junior Fatema Ehsan said, “I don’t believe that hip-hop has an influence on people becoming more sexually active and violent because your actions are in your hands, music can’t make you do something,”saidjuniorFatemEhsan.“Youchoosetodoityourself.”

Today hip-hop and rap are the fastest growing music genres in the U.S., accounting for more than 10% of the music industry’s profits.

“If you think about it, it is all just marketing: with the videos, the naked girls, the bling, the fancy cars, and the catchy lyrics. They want you to talk about the culture, they wanttobenoticedandtheywanttomakemoney,”said Abanez.

Hip-hop’s influence has spread worldwide.

Approximately 75% of the rap and hip-hop audience is non-black. Many companies such as McDonalds, CocaCola, Sprite, Nike, and other corporate giants have capitalized from hip-hop. If a closer look is taken into hip-hop one can observe that hip-hop culture in general is used to sell soda, candy, and clothes to young people. To see hip-hop as simply music or words is to not understand the impact and influence of a much greater movement.

One of the many questions people have is whether hip-hop’s explicit lyrics encourage sex at younger ages. Yet some still disagree, “Music is just music, a person does what they want to do not because they listen to what a songs says.” said senior Daniela Uria.

Yet the youth are the ones taking matters into their own hands, “If I don’t like the music that is being played on the station because of their annoying lyrics and the fact that in reality women are not what they are referred to as in the lyrics then I just change the station or listen to something else.” said freshmen Ndidi Obasi.

While it may be argued that the hip-hop culture has permeated into our culture, many students are not impacted, “Hip hop is not real music, it is just a beat with someone talking.” Said Senior Leon Mavlian. “ I hope the lyrics won’t be as degrading to women in the future because we don’t live in a primitive society in which women should be referred to as only sexual objects,” said senior Seemal Awan.

“We live in a society in which it is accepted that hatred towards women is fine to sing about. At some point we will have to look at what that means for the world we live in,” said Abanez Even though many people believe the hiphop industry has negative effects on people, it still continues to be one of the largest industries in the music business today.

Do you think Hip Hop has a negative effect on society?

“No, I think music is just an expression..”

—Victoria Ko freshman

“Yes, because I think the hip-hop artists are demeaning towards woman.”

—Sammy Qabazard sophomore

“No, because people listen for their own entertainment..”

—Kha Tran junior

“No, regardless of what the media says, people have their own opinions.”

—Cam Nguyen senior

“

The hip hop today is based around money, drugs, and sex.

”

—DavidBickerstaff senior

Change for the better

Senior Chris Brosnan transformed his style Junior Nomin Bayarjargal stopped listening to hip hop and chose spiritual music of music because of the negative lyrics Does hip-hop affect the way one acts, dresses, or thinks?

“Yes,” said senior Chris Brosnan, “because the people who hear the lyrics want to be just like [the artists] and do drugs.” Hip-hop, which has always been a culture of the youth, has changed dramatically since its beginnings in the 70s and 80s.

Brosnan does not listen to rap anymore “because it really made no sense whatsoever; every song was the same, it’s all about sex, drugs, and getting girls.” During the time that Brosnan listened to hip-hop, it had an effect on him mentally and his on actions.

“I thought about [being aggressive] when I was younger because I wanted to be rich like them and have the things they had,” said Brosnan. The influence of the media is key in fermenting the opinions of teenagers, where the things rappers boast about, like money, diamonds, and girls are the only images of rap they see, sucking them into that lifestyle because they see their favorite artists glorifies these types of things. The media only shows this side of rap because it catches the attention of teenagers like Brosnan, who as a result of seeing these images on television and hearing about them on the radio, strive to achieve these goals, which are praised in the media.

Brosnan admits that he used to think of women in terms of the derogatory words that many of rappers refer to them as. His negative thoughts towards woman were an effect of his listening to the kind of rap music that boasts about degrading woman.

“I used to listen to [rap] music because all my friends were listening to it, and doing drugs. I wanted to fit in; I just never did drugs though. Then one day I realized what am I listening to. Every song was the same and I got tired of it, so I started listening to rock and liked it,” said Brosnan. He shows that many teenagers are pressured into liking types of things in order to be looked at as popular or to fit in, which is a form of peer pressure. Brosnan grew out of his stage of listening to violent rap, and has made up his mind about what he enjoys listening to.

Brosnan later revealed that he would go back to listen to rap, “but not the rap [he] used to listening to” where violent and derogatory words are prevalent in the lyrics

15

In the past, one could probably find junior Nomin Bayarjargal listening to rappers Lil’ Wayne, T.I., or Jim Jones-“I used to be in love with Jim Jones,” she says-but now her music choices have changed in accordance with her new lifestyle.

“I am a Baptist Christian [now]. Ever since I got saved lastAugust, I stopped listening to it. The lyrics contradict my religious beliefs,” she said. Bayarjargal changed her music so she could better live with her spiritual beliefs and find peace in her day to day life. She did not want to surround herself with the kind of negativity contained in rap music. “The things they talked about were sex, having all those girls, killing people, and cussing a lot,” she said.

Bayarjargal, who converted from Buddhism, says she used to always listen to rap in middle school. “My sister used to listen to it. Growing up, I didn’t know the language they were using since I moved from Mongolia. I listened to it in middle school, and everyone I hung out with listened to it,” she said. That’s how she got into hip hop.

Though she has stopped listening to most of the hip hop artists she used to listen to, she hasn’t given up on the genre, admitting that she still listens to Common and Kanye West while most of her musical selections consist of gospel and R&B. “Not all rap music is bad; there are differences between rappers.”

“Compare Common with some other rappers talking about shooting people or something. It’s completely different. It’s about what you listen to and about how easily you’re influenced.”

Some believe that the spread of violent hip-hop is not just the fault of the artists. “I don’t agree with it, but people are going to listen to what they want to. As long as they put their music out there, people are going to listen to it regardless.” Bayarjargal is not just opposed to hiphop; she does not listen to too much profanity regardless of genre.

Bayarjargal brings two sides to the story.

Maybe it is not exactly hip-hop that gives teenagers the false perception that they can get money and reach fame by being like them, maybe it is the way hip-hop is marketed. “The media can have an impact [on teenagers]. It depends on how much media you’re exposed to,” said Bayarjargal.

Information compield by Beelan Yonas

“Yes, I think certain forms of hiphop and certain artists give it a bad name.”

—Anthony Harper security

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Music for the Mozart Effect Music for the Mozart Effect helps reduce depression and anxiety through its music.

Nadabrahma

Nadabrahma is a mediation, which is based on an old Tibetan technique of humming.

Solitudes

Solitudes helps the mind, body and soul to relax. The CD offers different types of sounds such as animals, birds, ocean surf, and waterfalls.

www.sleepdisorders.about.com

SPORTS

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Solid start for girls

The AHS varsity track team recently competed against several Patriot District teams including Lee, West Springfield, West Potomac, Hayfield, and T.C. Williams in a meet at Episcopal H.S. In the meet, the Atoms boys finished in first place at the meet and the girls finished in second place.

“I was really surprised that we did so well at our first meet of the season,” said sophomore Abby Cummins. “We have to keep working hard now, because other teams may come up on us. I am really optimistic about this year.”

“It feels nice to have finished so well,” said junior Edwin Romero. “It is only a start though, we’ve got to keep this level throughout the year.”

Overall, the track team is very optimistic this year. Several solid freshmen have helped boost the Atoms overall and may push the team to next level.

“We have a lot of really talented new runners,” said senior Sierra Peralta. “The whole team is really working together, the track team is really acting more like a team this year.”

In particular, one team in the Atoms has potential to go to regionals. The boy’s 4X4 relay, led by senior Daniel Ejigu and junior Ki Lee. “The whole boy’s 4X4 team is really strong and fast,” said Peralta.

Overall, the team is slowly becoming less disorganized and more unified.

“Track has always been really disoriented, but we’ve gotten of to a good start and that has helped everything,” said Peralta.

Why the BCS is a travesty Seemingly every year there is an outcry against the effectiveness of the Bowl Championship Series formula for placing the most deserving teams into the 5 most important bowl games of the season. Once again, the system has proven itself to be completely flawed and hopefully it will not tarnish one of the most exciting and unpredictable college football seasons of all time.

In what is perhaps this year’s greatest injustice, the BCS has sent the Kansas Missouri Tigers Jayhawks to the Orange Bowl, relegating the Missouri Tigers, who were ranked #1 in the country before losing to Oklahoma in the Big-12 title game last weekend, to the Cotton Bowl. Less than two weeks ago, the two teams met at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City for what was sure to be a hard-fought game between bitter rivals. Instead, the Jayhawks had to score 21 points in the fourth quarter just to avoid getting blown out by the Tigers.

Every year it has become more and more apparent that the BCS is not a suitable system for the simple task of ensuring that the best teams get the opportunity to compete in the most important games. After whittling down the 64-team field, in what is annually the country’s most watched sporting event not named the Super Bowl, the Final Four pits the four best college basketball teams in the country against one another. Due to the overly physical and violent nature of football, such a vast tournament would not be feasible to replace the current BCS system.

However, there is nothing to say that there can’t be a tournament between the top four or the top eight teams in the contry at season’s end. Anything would be an improvement over the BCS as it stands today, in fact, a tournament would be much more fair to every team vying for a National Championship.

- Compiled by Kyle Knoche

GREG YOUNG

Winter Track Begins

There were only three practices before the Atoms hit the court for their first formal scrimmage against Wakefield High School. It was a good start for the Atoms, who played well after little preparation. One week later, the Atoms played a very good Edison team, the reigning regional champs.After a five period scrimmage, the Atoms only lost by nine points, exhibiting hard work and tons of hustle.

“We played really tough,” said head coach Cleveland Williamson of the Atoms’ efforts against Edison. He included that the Edison Coach said that they had a tough first scrimmage against the Atoms.

The Atoms played their first regular season game against Yorktown High School last night, but the game finished too late for publishing. Yorktown went 17-8 last year against Northern Region competition.

The Atoms will have to compete with a new team this year. They have only three returning starters from last year’s varsity team, including sophomore Maggie Bermingham, senior Jenna McRae, and Junior Alexis Williams. The team also must deal with the loss of star player Denay Wood. Last year she was named to 2nd Team All-District and scored about 15 points per game.

“Denay was really good, but we’re working harder this year and we’re more focused on getting better,” said McRae, one of last year’s captains.

Coach Williamson is working on making this team faster, stressing more press and a new defense that requires more hustle and speed.

Fortunately, the Atoms will have help from a number of new and talented players. Two freshmen, Kristin Hennessey and Kelly Hughes, will be playing along with last year’s up and coming junior varsity players, one of

Head Coach Cleveland Williamson instructs senior Jenna McRae during practice. “After winter break, I think that we will really be playing well,” said McRae.

them being sophomore Nikki Clark. Clark, says Coach Williamson, is a key player who will have an opportunity to start.

Coach Williamson has set high goals for his team this season. Going into the winter break, he wants theAtoms to have four or five wins and ultimately finish the season with at least 15. Along with the season goals, Coach Williamson has a list of goals for each game posted on the wall in his office. The list serves as a reminder of what is needed to win every game.

“Accomplishing seven of the goals should translate into a win,” said Coach Williamson. Among the ten goals are getting 40 or more rebounds, committing less than 12 turnovers and holding the opponent under 45 points.

The next three games for the Atoms are against

high schools outside of the Patriot District. After playing Yorktown, also a non-district opponent, Annandale will compete against JEB Stuart, Langley, and Thomas Jefferson in the next two weeks before starting district play.

The Atoms will have one district game against the West Springfield Spartans before the winter break.

“The first few games will be a little shaky because we will still need practice, but after the winter break, we will be playing really well,” said McRae. The Atoms’ next oppponent is the JEB Stuart Raiders. The Raiders are not a very strong team, having won only two games last year, both against Washington & Lee High School. The Atoms play at home Friday night at 7:30 p.m.

Wrestling optimistic about season Youthful squad trains hard and often, but still needs to mature

BY WALTER SMITH Sports Editor The wrestling season began with the Forest Park High School tournament last weekend.

Ten high schools competed in the tournament, including Annandale, Hylton, Fauquier, and Brentsville. Head Coach Keith Sholders was pleased with his team’s progress in the tournament.

“It prepares us. We are young now; it’s a matter of maturity,” said coach Sholders of the first tournament. “I’m happy where we are at. We are making strides and it looks to be a promising future.”

There is a big difference in this year’s team than the teams of years past. The Atoms are very young, with only one senior, Jesse Kruse, in the starting 14 weight classes. There are nine sophomores and two freshmen.

“It is the youngest team in my tenure,” said Sholders. “[Kruse] is the guy everyone looks up to.”

“Lots of guys have had to step up,” said junior

Victor Njomo of the downsides of a young team.

“They just don’t have the experience. They’re tough but don’t have the moves or technique.”

Sholders is still very happy with the team.

The scrimmages have gone well and the wrestlers are willing to work extremely hard.

“We outwork the competition. We are young in the mental aspect, but we train and prepare more than other teams,” said Sholders.

Junior Shane Doty is one of the wrestlers who is working hard. He is the backup to junior Michael Martinez.

“Physically, I am stronger and that is what I am working on,” said Doty. “It helps me toughen up.”

Doty also competes in football and knows how demanding a sport like wrestling can be.

“For physical sports, it’s about going one on one and it’s a good way to practice going after people.”

Doty, who mainly plays football, still hopes to do well in wrestling.

“I started really slow but my goal is to start at the end of the season,” said Doty. “It is a great way to stay in shape and it helps my balance and coordination which helps with football.”

The Atoms next match is the Nova Classic in Fairfax. They will compete on Friday and Saturday.

GREG YOUNG

Junior Spencer Smith and senior Peter Epley work on their running technique during practice.

BY WALTER SMITH Sports Editor

Senior Jerry Childes takes down a wrestler during a meet at AHS. The team only has one senior starting in the weight classes, Jesse Kruse.

Boys and girls swim crush Stallions Atoms swim and dive wins first meet of the season, looks ahead to Hayfield

BY SCOTT PLUNKETT Staff Writer The team had made its cuts and the strong swimmers who remained jumped into the pool to begin practice. They knew they had to work hard early in the season to meet early expectations.

“Expectations are really high this year because we had such a mass turnout for tryouts and have a lot of returning talent from last year,” said junior Lucas Cochran.

“We have a really good freshman class this year and have a good returning team,” said junior Adam Bergen.

“Kyle Tyrell andAnna Smith are two freshmen who should really help out the team.”

The team had its highest turnout in years and after strong team performances last year at the regional meet by both the girls and boys teams, they expect to excel this season. Both the girls and boys teams are returning at least one swimmer who qualified for states last season as well as acquiring a lot of young talent from the freshman class.

Last year at the regional meet the boys team finished 17th while sending sophmore Sean McKinney in the one meter dive and Class of 2007 senior Nick Alvarez in the 50-yard freestyle to states.

The girls team last year placed 12th while sending sophomore Annika Jessen to states and has the only state champion in the school in junior Rachael Burnett.

The girls team also had several strong relay teams which barely missed out on going to states and look to improve this year and qualify for states.

“Our 200-medley relays this year for both the boys and the girls are really good this year,” said Bergen. “The guys should go to regionals and the girls have a strong chance of advancing to states.”

The swimmers have to make sure to consume plenty of carbohydrates the day of meets and all throughout the swim season to keep their bodies full of energy. Many

KYLE WHITE

GREG YOUNG

As season starts, Coach Williamson and varsity girls basketball looks to improve an 11-12 record

AHS Swim and Dive Head Coach Bruce Fisher gives out instructions in practice the week of the South County meet. The Atoms began practicing in early November and competed in their first meet against the Stallions last Friday.

swimmers eat huge amounts of pancakes the morning of meets as well as some sort of pasta product the night before.

“I eat a ton of pasta and pancakes the morning and night before a meet,” said Cochran. “I’ve eaten like six huge pancakes before. One of my coaches when I was younger said workouts make you faster, not the food you eat, which is true, but I still think it helps.”

All of the team’s meets are against district opponents including a tough meet against returning district champions in both the boys and girls, Lake Braddock. The District Meet is held over two days at Lee District Recreation Center in Franconia, Virginia.

“I think we can get third in the district this year for both boys and girls,” said Bergen. “West Springfield and Lake

Braddock always have really strong teams.”

In the meet on Friday evening, the Atoms competed against the South County Stallions. Last year, the boys’ team won and the girls’ lost, but that would change this year. Both teams won by solid margins, with senior Walter Smith leading the boys to a 199-116 victory and junior Rachael Burnett leading the girls to a 177 - 138 victory. Both swimmers met the regional cuts in their respective events.

Other notable members include sophomore swimmerAlex Johnson and sophomore diver Sean McKinney. On the girls’ side, sophomore Annika Jessen qualified for regionals in her 100-yard butterfly and freshman Anna Smith also qualified for regionals in her 100-yard freestyle.

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Atoms look to improve Basketball looks to improve on 6-16 record with Etherly and young talent

BY GREG YOUNG Sports Editor

The scene was practice, and the actions of the players seemed normal. Head coach Anthony Harper was having his team run up and down the court. However, there was a peculiar aspect to this scene.

“26,” Harper was shouting compulsively. “26 turnovers in our scrimmage; that is unacceptable.”

The meaning was clear: Harper was having the team run for every turnover they had in their scrimmage against Hylton. At the same time, one got the sense that Harper was trying to work out of the years of mediocrity that have plagued AHS basketball over the last two years.

In the last two years combined, the boys’squad has finished with a cumulative record of 16-29, including two first round exits in the Patriot District tournament.

In fact, it got so bad at one point that the team lost 9 straight in the middle of last year, all losses to Patriot District foes.

“There was no unity among the team last year,” said Harper. “There were a lot of new players, and some came in looking to make a name for themselves rather then playing team basketball.”

However, well there are some times where the team shows immaturity, there are positive signs that are pointing in the team’s favor. Firstly, they return two of their best players from last year, senior Erik Etherly and junior Alan Stalp.

Last year, Etherly was one of the bright points on the team. His averages of 17.6 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.0 blocks

per game, and 2.3 steals per game were enough to earn him First-TeamAll Patriot District honors. Stalp earned Honorable Mention on the All Patriot District team with 9.5 points and 4.8 rebounds per game in his first year on the varsity squad.

Etherly is projected to be the key player for the Atoms this year. Recently, Etherly was awarded a full scholarship to play at Northeastern University, a D1 basketball school. In order to help the team reach its full potential, Etherly will have to be versatile and distribute the ball to his teammates.

“For Erik, first he has to get everyone involved,” said Harper. “Teams are going to double and triple team him throughout the year, so he just has to let the game come to him.”

“I really just want to do whatever the team needs me to do,” said Etherly. “I have played point guard, forward, and center while I’ve been here. Usually, I guard the other teams’ tallest players, and if they have a good shooter, I’ll guard him too.”

In his second year coaching the varsity team, Harper is going to be implementing a lot of full court defenses that are designed to cover up the Atoms size weakness.

Etherly is the tallest on the team at 67, but he will not be playing a conventional center-type role. Rather, he is listed as a guard and a forward, while freshman Melvin Robinson, who is 6-2, is the only forward listed in the starting lineup.

“This year, we want to try to cause chaos for the other teams we play,” said Harper.

As we look around at the various Patriot District teams, there may be an opening for the Atoms to finish well in the district. As always, T.C. Williams is one of the clear favorites to win the district.

However, the Titans have lost several of their players due to graduation, including 2nd team Washington Post All-Met star

17 Stars Of The Future A wrap up of the AHS JV and freshman sports

Freshman Men’s Basketball Head Coach: Kevin Fox Key Players: Karl Zielger, Ronnie McCory, Henry Cooper Zielger Player’s Outlook: “We are playing well,” said Zielger. “We need to quit turning the ball over. Also, we need to keep coming to passes and work on making better decisions.”

Coach’s Outlook: “We’ve won both of our scrimmages,” said Fox. “We just need to keep working hard and the outlook is very positive.”

Above: Junior Taimoor Bhatti works on his defensive form during practice. The Atoms are looking to improve on their performance against Hylton, where they had 26 turnovers. Below: DʼAngelo Boyce practices free throw shooting in practice. Boyce is one of two freshmen starting for the team.

Mike Davis.

“Our goal this year is to finish in the top 4 of our district,” said Harper.

Despite the return of Etherly and Stalp, the team will likely still have a large learning curve this year. Although theAtoms only have two freshmen on the varsity roster, both are projected to be in the starting lineup, including Robinson and freshman D’Angelo Boyce.

JV Men’s Basketball Head Coach: Daniel Porter Key Players: Joesph Turner, Hasib Iqbal Player Outlook: “I think we are all working on forming a team bond,” said Iqbal.

“We need to pick it up in practice, on defense, and improve our ball handling.”

Iqbal

Author E-mail: gsy987@verizon.net

Atoms men’s basketball line-up

Freshman Girl’s Basketball Head Coach: James Ynson Key Players: Britney Terry, Jenna Balicki, Adrian Williams Player’s Outlook: “I think that we have potential to do well,” said Terry. “We need to have better passing and to work on our screens.”

Terry

Coach’s Outlook: “We have really great girls with good energy and they are very coachable,” said assistant coach Britney Dunning. “We are fast, we play hard, and we play defense very well.”

JV Girl’s Basketball Head Coach: David McRae Key Players: Tania Ghods, Jane Aman, Izzt Yaroch Player’s Outlook: “We are pretty good,” said Kelsey Knoche. “What helps me is that I’ve played longer and i work at it, but a lot of my teammates are working quickly.”

Knoche

Throwing the freshmen under the bus The

Final Word Sports Column

By Greg Young

It was seemingly a innocuousproposal in a document that had a subtle and misleading title: “Principal Reduction Options.” Yet in this document that is both difficult to find and relatively unknown to the public, lies a proposal that could change the sports programs ofAHS and other schools around the county for years to come.

“Item 18: Eliminate Freshman Athletic Teams.”

Yes, that is correct: the school board, an organization that is designed to help Fairfax County Public schools, a school system that is among the best in the country, is proposing an elimination of a whole range of freshman sports. It is almost comical when they list on the document that the elimination of the programs would save a half a million dollars.

At first, $500,000 seems like a lot of money to be saving for the school system. But in reality, it is, as varsity football coach Dick Adams so truthfully put it, a “drop in the bucket.” Compare this to time-out rooms, which, according

to the document, 700,000$ could be saved an even worse position statewide. If this proposal did succeed, we could be talking by eliminating them.

Adams went on to tell me that he about the end of any chances of competing didn’t think that the proposal would at a statewide level at Annandale.

There is another obvious problem with have any legs and that he’d seen something like this 10 years ago. However, if the elimination of the freshman teams: one looks at the situation in the schools the overpopulation of the JV teams. right now, there appears to be a lot to be This year at AHS, we had a freshman football team with 65-70 players. If we concerned about. were to eliminate freshman How about statements like football, where would these the one made by Kaye Kory, the players go? Some may move School Board representative for to JV, but if all of them were about half of AHS? to move to JV, we could have In our conversation, she said a JV team with over 100 that if given the choice, the School people! Not only would Board would vote for athletics to that be nearly impossible to be cut over anything that involved coach, athletes would have academics. One doesn’t have to Ruiz to wait long amounts of time to read between the lines to realize that she is saying that freshman sports play in games.

Besides football, we are talking about are one of the options being seriously considered to be cut in order to meet the eliminating people’s opportunity to play other sports, such as basketball and volbudget shortfall.

But what the School Board members leyball. Often, the very people who join and the Superintendent don’t realize is sports are the people who need help acathat cutting freshman sports would not demically, people who need to get away only create some obvious problems, it from their comfort zones and get into an could potentially have other unforeseen organized activity.

Sports have, countless times, been impacts.

Let’s start with the obvious impacts at proven as an activity that can help focus AHS. Already, the county has ruled that people on their schoolwork. Do you think there cannot be any middle school sports that students wouldn’t care about their programs in county schools. This already grades if they lose their eligibility to play puts us at a disadvantage when it comes and let their whole team down? But if we to competing against other counties in eliminate these freshman teams, we are regional and state competitions. Elimi- taking away an avenue for freshmen to nating freshman sports would put us at get involved in positive activities, rather

then getting involved with gangs or losing focus on schoolwork.

“Freshman basketball was one of my greatest experience in my high school career, there’s no way in hell I would have had a shot at JV, or varsity, but for freshman I got to be a leader on the team,” said senior Stuart Ruiz. “They would be taking that away from hundreds of kids down the road.”

But what the school board does not see is the effect that this proposal would have on a player like senior Jose Villatoro. For those who don’t know Jose, he is a football player that suffers from deafness and a bowed leg. Jose has been playing AHS football the last two years, despite these disabilities. Jose even was able to make the varsity team as a senior.

Villatoro did not play very much, but his mere presence was such a positive influence on everyone. But if we were to eliminate the freshman sports and have cuts on the JV squads, it could eliminate opportunities for players like Villatoro.

It is on behalf of players like Jose that I implore the School Board to reconsider cutting the freshman sports. It is one thing to eliminate time out rooms, but entirely another to take opportunities away from freshman who need them badly.

Author E-mail: gsy987@verizon.net

Coach’s Outlook: “I think we will have a great season,” said McRae. “I have some very good basketball player and we really have speed. I’m very excited to get the season going.”

JV Wrestling Head Coach: Dick Adams Key Players: Michael Pion, Max Augliere Player’s Outlook: “The season has gone well,” said Pion. “At the scrimmages, most of the kids I’ve talked to have been winning most of their matches.”

Pion

Coach’s Outlook: “We’ve got the largest number of JV wrestlers in the county,” said coach Adams. “A lot of our first years are learning quickly. Only a couple of kids have quit so far, which is an improvement.”

All records taken courtesy of www.annandaleatoms.com

18 Top Opening Weekends for Holiday Movies 1. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire 2. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone 3. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets 4. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King 5. The Incredibles 6. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe 7. Monsters, Inc. 8. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers 9. Toy Story 2 10. How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Download This: Holiday Mix 1. White Christmas– Bing Crosby 2. All I Want For Christmas Is You– Mariah Carey 3. Chanukah Song– Adam Sandler 4. Happy Christmas (War Is Over)– John Lennon 5. Do They Know It’s Christmas– Band Aid 6. Peace on Earth/ Little Drummer Boy– David Bowie & Bing Crosby 7. Rockin’Around The Christmas Tree– Brenda Lee 8. The Christmas Song– Nat King Cole 9. The Christmas Shoes– Newsong 10. Last Christmas– Wham!

The best albums for gifts this holiday season 1. Alicia Keys– As I Am 2. Josh Groban– Noel 3. Celine Dion– Taking Chances 4. Various Chances– NOW 26 5. Garth Brooks– The Ultimate Hits 6. Eagles– Long Road Out Of Eden 7. Led Zeppelin– Mothership 8. Jay-Z– American Gangster 9. Carrie Underwood– Carnival Ride 10. Chris Brown– Exclusive

Top upcoming releases and premieres New Album Releases Dec. 11 Bow Wow & Omarion– Face Off Disturbing the Peace– Hate it Or Love It The-Dream– Love Me All Summer, Hate Me All Winter Nelly– Brass Knuckles Beanie Sigel– The Solution Dec. 18 Mary J. Blige– Growing Pains Rivers Cuomo– Alone Lil’ Wayne– The Carter III Lupe Flasco– The Cool Wu-Tang Clan– The 8 Diagrama Dec. 31 Radiohead– In Rainbows

New DVD Releases

Dec.18 Once Dec.18 The Simpsons Movie Dec.18 Stardust Dec. 25 Rush Hour 3

Dec. 11 The Bourne Ultimatum Dec. 11 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Dec. 11 High School Musical 2 Dec. 18 Balls of Fury

New Movie Premieres Dec. 14 - Alvin and the Chipmunks - I Am Legend - The Perfect Holiday - National Trea sure: Book of Secrets Dec. 21 - P.S. I Love You - Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story - Alien Vs. Predator Dec. 28 - Charlie Wilson’s War - The Great Debaters

ENTERTAINMENT

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Movies to get you in the spirit Elf

A Christmas Story

The classic Christmas movie, A Christmas Story is an American original. The holiday season would not be the same without this one. The movie depicts the life of Ralphie and his family as the Christmas season nears. Ralphie does everything in his power to get exactly what he wants for Christmas, despite his mother’s wishes.

No matter what your mood, A Christmas Story will brighten your holiday as fast as you can say “don’t shoot your eye out.”

The Santa Claus

Certainly the funniest of holiday movies, Elf will have you laughing off your seat as you munch on syrup covered spaghetti. The hilarious tale begins in the North Pole, where Buddy the elf, played by Will Ferrel does not fit in. When he learns that his actual father lives in New York he vows to find him. Elf is a family friendly movie that will have you laughing all season long.

It’s A Wonderful Life

The ultimate Christmas classic, It’s A Wonderful Life is perfect for snowy days inside with hot cocoa. The movie depicts a man who is touched by guardian angels who allow him to see the great things that life has to offer. No matter your age, It’s A Wonderful Life is a movie you simply need to see.

The first of the three, The Santa Claus, is a comical tale of Scott Calvin, played by Tim Allen, who unexpectantly replaces Santa Claus. It definitely is not a smooth sleigh ride for Calvin, who is a divorced work-aholic. With the help of his son, Charlie, and a few hundred elves, will Santa be able to save Christmas? The North Pole looks extremely realistic and will have you yearning for a snow covered wonderland.

How The Grinch Stole Christmas

A modern adaptation of a classic, How The Grinch Stole Christmas is a great movie to kick-start the holidays. The story depicts the life of the evil grinch and the whos in Whoville. Cindy Loo Who is the holiday character to brighten even the darkest of days. In the end is the Grinch truely heartless, or just simply misunderstood? The scenes are completely realistic and Cindy Loo’s sweetly sung song, “Where are you Christmas” is an all-time favorite.

Home Alone

No matter the season, Home Alone is a true American classic.

When Kevin McAllister gets left home for a Christmas vacation he cannot believe that he has the entire house to himself.

Not only does he have fun, but he does whatever he wants.

The question is, will criminals try to ruin his mini-vacation or will he have a few surprises in store for them himself? Every part of the movie is entertaining and will surely jump start your holiday vacation.

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

We all have had them, holiday breaks with family who seem to stay forever. The holiday season can simply not begin without this movie. The ever-funny Grizwalds entertain audiences everywhere with comedy that never gets old. Whether it is Mr. Grizwald’s fight to have the best lights on the street, or the crazy relatives, it is impossible to not laugh.This type of movie only gets better with age and will surely bring out your holiday spirit.

Have an Enchanted holiday season Ave’s Favs Entertainment Review

By Avery Adcock Audiences everywhere have fallen under the spell of Enchanted. The fairy-tale story of princes and princesses will make everyone across the nation yearn for a real-life love story complete with a fairy godmother.

Not only were audiences entertained, but every person leaving the theater had a kid-in-the-candy store like grin plastered across their face. A fairy godmother must have waved her magic wand the right way because Enchanted grossed $35.3 million in the opening weekend.

After watching Enchanted I felt like I was in fifth grade again, without a worry in the world. Movies like this allow you to forget about the SATs on Saturday or the calculus test on Monday, and remember what believing in makebelieve truly feels like.

Enchanted tells the tale of princess named Giselle

cartoons and real-life besides (Amy Adams), who is banthat of Disney’s Space Jam. ished to the real-life world of Disney has stolen the market of Manhattan by her evil soon princess fairy tales so it simply to be mother-in-law, Queen would not be the same if it was Narissa, played by Susan Saattempted by any other producrandon. Lost and confused, the tion company. princess befriends a handsome The movie works for three single father, Robert, played by reasons. The first is that Disney Patrick Dempsey. Giselle seems cast Amy Adams for the role of to be adjusting to life outside of princess Giselle. She maintains her native Andulasia when her her character throughout the prince, Prince Edward (James entire movie and it becomes Marsden) comes to her rescue. Princess Giselle (Amy Adams) gazes over New York evident in the first scene that The question then becomes, City.

Adams is destined to make her who will be her true fairy tale mark on Hollywood. prince?

The second is because the plot is so simple and echoes The whimsical story transitions between the real-life and chaotic world of New York, and the fairy tale land all of the Disney classics before it. Audiences love to point of Andulasia. The most impressive aspect of the movie out how their favorite fairy tales are blended into this is that it caters to all age groups. Initially I thought the modern day story.

The final and most obvious reason why this movie theater would be filled with screaming children all under the age of ten, however that was not the case. The main works is that for once Disney is making fun of themtwo demographics present were couples and the “tween” selves. Some of the jokes are subtle and take a little while to decipher, Enchanted age group.

Not only is the plot filled with hilarious twists and however, they are quite clever.

There is no denying that Enturns, there are jokes catered to every age group. All of the classic fairy tales are blended seamlessly to make a chanted will inspire the kid in all of us. giant story all into one.

Blending animation with real life is not a new innovation, however it has never really been done before with

Anatomy hardly disects teenage love

is underestimating her expected readers, for at the butt of the arrow (no pun intended) are the words terra incognita, or “unknown land.” Snadowsky must be assuming that even as middle school children are receiving birth control pills from their school clinics in Maine, most high school seniors have not “done it.” Unfortunately, Snadowky’s treatment of sex, and the assumed inexperience or at least elementary treatment of sex in and by high school students is a problem that is maniBook Review fested throughout the novel.

Snadowsky’s tale is that of a high school senior, Dominique, who, entering twelfth grade Anatomy of a Boyfriend is being reviewed upon request, has yet to find the right boy, or even make out as a signed copy of the first novel by Daria Snadowsky was with one. To her, it seems that hooking up with sent in the mail to this reporter. It is nearly embarrassing a guy that one has no feelings for is ridiculous. to admit that this column is stooping to the nadirs of emo Anatomically, it would be like kissing a cadaver. teen love novels, after the last book reviewed was David Dominique does not mention the fact at the outset of the novel, but clearly by her senior year West’s translation of Vergil’sAeneid, but taking a look at recent developments in the genre, which Anatomy of a she had yet to ever be drunk.

Of course, Dominique’s prudence changes with has generated such cult hits as the Gossip Girl Boyfriend the advent of the proverbial teenage hunk (no, not series is an important escapade. After all, most the editor of the paper, surprisingly). His name is Young Adult novels are geared towards high Wes, a tight-lipped track star who goes to the same school students. school as Dominique’s best friend. They meet, and Praised for its openness regarding teen Dominique falls in love with his dashing good looks sexuality, Anatomy of a Boyfriend probably and twinkling eyes. Wes is not so immediately taken would seem intriguing to most teenage girls aback. Dominique tries her hand at attracting Wes at face value. On the cover is a naked Ken doll, with an for months, sending him text messages, trying (and arrow pointing to the testicular area (covered up by the book’s title). However, even here it seems that Snadowsky sometimes failing) to call him on the phone; Wes literally runs in circles until he finally comes to the realization that

Paul On Prose

C-

A

Dominique could be a fantastic girlfriend. As it turns out, he has yet to find a first true love as well.

The novel becomes what a reader would expect it to become. It is not the cushy love-everlasting story of a boy and girl, though Wes and Dominique love each other. It is rather the book that tries to do what no other book did before, does it, and yet at the same time feels formulaic for having broken the cycle in the way that everyone knew it would. There are awkward moments.

There is a (first) sex scene. There are the high times (Prom) and the low (as both Dominique and Wes have to head off to college in different states). But the elementary nature of Snadowky’s plot development, and the elementary nature of her writing, continually shines through. There is consistent poor treatment of the many darker realities of teen life beyond consensual sex: underage drinking and teen partying; social labels and pressures; the widespread use of drugs and the threat of teenage pregnancy. Rape is even an issue that I would hope “radical” Young Adult novels could cover, as numerous instances of non-consensual sex occur when high school students are mixed with alcohol.

Snadowsky never even begins to approach this.

In looking online for other readers’ reactions of this novel, I came across one girl’s comment that surprised me. She said she connected with the book: falling in love, hooking up, first sex. However, she was only in eighth grade. Hardly the high school senior Snadowksy is trying to portray.

ENTERTAINMENT

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Dec. 5, 2007

Pass on The Golden Compass Latest epic movie rushes through story and fails to produce a coherent plot that could stand alone from the His Dark Matertials trilogy The

Dean’s List Movie Review

By Jeff Dean

When I caught the sneak preview for The Golden Compass this past weekend, I thought I was going to catch a special glimpse at the next epic that would sweep the nation like the Lord of the Ring series did. The similarity was there; The Golden Compass is part of a popular epic fantasy book trilogy. Where the two differ is that the film I saw was literally a preview and not an actual full length film.

Where the Lord of the Rings excelled at bringing alive the characters of the books and creating three movies that could stand alone, this movie failed. The Golden Compass did not even try to do justice to Philip Pullman’s novels, instead it tried to stuff the novel into 113 minutes, where The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring was 178 minutes. I would rather watch a good 3-hour movie than a faulty 2-hour film.

The Golden Compass is set in an unspecified time and world where everyone has an animal, which is a representation of their soul. The world in which the film

is set in is controlled by a governing dictatorship called the Magisterium, which is quietly being threatened by a phenomenon called dust. The particles called dust allows people to travel to different parallel worlds, but for a long time this travel has been shut down and contained by the Magisterium.

The film follows Lyra Belacqua, played

by Dakota Blue Richards, who is an orphan at a college. Her best friend Roger is captured and taken to the North, where polar bears rule and few venture. Lyra spends most of the film, in a very roundabout way, trying to find Roger (I made the plot sound very basic otherwise my article would be two pages long).

The film is very difficult to follow, spending little time developing characters, relationships and themes. A multitude of characters become so superficial and mysterious that I found the acting hard to believe. It would be so easy to attribute Marisa Coulter (Nicole Kidman) and Lyra Belacqua (Dakota Blue Richards) star in the latest the failures of the movie to the fact that a Hollywood epic that fails to live up to the potential of Philip Pullmanʼs novels. polar bear with an overtly deep voice was talking or that the acting was sub par, but light as Hollywood has been showing off its actual ending.

While most movies spend most of the in reality the dialogue in each scene was graphic guns recently through Beowulf. If so concise that it never gave the actors a only they had good movies to match the film developing their characters and story so in the second half of the film the chargraphics of the films. chance to develop on the screen.

The relationship between a person acters can be understood and the climax The movie was far too short and fast to be able to develop the characters and and their dæmon (outer representation of can be enjoyed, this film was only able to establish its characters at the end the truly unique story that Philip Pullman their soul) was a very compelling of the film. created in his novel. The film also lacked aspect of the film. This ability to The Golden Compass sucthe charm that Lord of the Rings had. The represent the connection be- The Golden Compass ceeded in setting up a sequel, limited charm was provided by Sam Elliot, tween soul and body is so unique but failed to develop characters who played Lee Scoresby a gun slinging and so powerful that it was able and a coherent plot that could to capture the audience’s attencowboy. do justice to the acting, graphics The strong acting in the film was a tion, unlike the rest of the film. and original novel. I give the film Perhaps the most disappointresult of the stellar cast, but do not expect a D+ and I recommend that you anymore than five minutes of screen time ing aspect of this film was that it just rent the movie before you see for Bond film veterans Daniel Craig and failed to live up to its potential.

Eva Green. Nicole Kidman was skillfully Pullman’s novel could have been made into the sequel (assuming that there will be one) able to portray the manipulative Marisa another great film, but instead this film will in hope that the second one will be action Coulter. Ian McKellen is the voice of Lyra’s be a film that can not stand alone. The film packed now that most of the confusion is bodyguard polar bear, but makes him seem will be able to serve as a way to dive right behind. a bit unrealistic, which says a lot for the into the second movie, which I assume will be made because otherwise they would’ve graphics in the film.

The graphics of the film are the high- actually given The Golden Compass an

D+

Writers strike hitting Hollywood hard AHS students look for options as they mourn the loss of favorite shows

BY OMAR MAYASSI Staff Writer Saturday Night Live, Conan, Jay Leno, and David Letterman re-runs are taking over NBC’s nightlife due to the Writers Guild of America strike. But those are not the only shows being affected, many popular and humorous shows like The Office, Ugly Betty, Desperate Housewives, and Grey’s Anatomy have only one new episode, no new episodes, or even any new seasons left.

Even movies like the Angels and Demons (the prequel to The Da Vinci Code) production process are being held back due to the WGA strike. This strike is affecting everyone that watches shows on NBC, and it will soon affect all the networks as well.

“It sucks for people who watch all these late night shows because it ruins their TV time, and I also ruins mine,” said senior Daniel Ejigu. Ejigu is one of thousands who are affected by this strike. “I am going to miss Jay Leno and his witty remarks,” said Ejigu.

Late night shows are a big factor for students and adults who just want a good laugh at night, but because

Shutdown Shows •The Tonight Show •The Late with David Letterman •According to Jim •Jimmy Kimmel Live •The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson •The Daily Show •The Colbert Report •24 •American Dad •Canterbury’s Law

•King of the Hill •Heroes: Origins •Late Night with Conan O’Brien •The Office •Saturday Night Live

— More shows than those listed above have been affected because nearly all of network television (no reality shows) were unable to finish all of the episodes planned for this season

of re-runs the jokes on the show get very dull and boring, which results in the show’s popularity base to shrink. The audience and networks really did not know how badly they needed the writers.

“Oh no,” said Ejigu, “The Office too?” The Office is one of the most popular shows on TV right now and many like Ejigu are going to miss it for there is only one new episode left.

Ejigu said he likes The Office so much because, “It hooks the viewer form the first 30 seconds of the shows, it is just so funny.” Again another loss is brought by this horrible strike. But the difference between these shows compared to others is it affects a wider range of people in all age and sex groups.

“No!” said sophomore Madeleine Irwin, “Ugly Betty is my favorite show! I just love the show for the clothes the characters wear, it is very different and so funny, and I’m going to miss the show a lot.”

The strike has caused the whole season of this show to be delayed until the strike is over. Ugly Betty is just another causality of this strike, which has affected many shows and networks.

“I like [Grey’s Anatomy},” said senior Diana Benavidas, “because McDreamy is hot. I am very angry because Grey’s Anatomy is going to stop showing new episodes any more,” said Benavidas. “This is ruining my whole TV schedule.”

TV viewers all over the nation are upset just as much as Benavidas is because Grey’s Anatomy is one of the most watched shows on TV for its unique humor, creative story lines, and a wide range of developed characters. The WGA strike strikes again.

Not only are TV shows being affected, but movies are as well like the anticipated Angels and Demons.

Ejigu expressed his anger when he said, “I have been waiting for this movie since I first heard about it and now I hear the production process is going to stop, this makes me so angry.”

Ejigu is like many other who are frustrated with what the strike is doing, it now seems what the full extent of this strike is doing to America’s TV viewers.

The whole reason for the WGA strike is that the writers want more money. The writers feel like they are not profiting from DVD sales and they feel like they are not paid enough for their great work. They are being heard, but until that one good deal is set the shows and movies will stay canceled or delayed.

Ejigu said, “I think the strike will be over soon, because when there are no more new shows the fan base dies and

19 Horoscopes Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb.18)

Someone has unexpectedly caught your eye. It doesn’t seem like a match to you, but small hints say otherwise. A Libra lurks.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)

Your day is packed with responsibilities that will tie you down.

You must be careful not to get overworked and at the same time, not let your social nature distract you.

Aries (March 21-April19)

You are impulsive by nature, and often quick to make decisions.

Today this could get you into trouble. Slow down and make well thoughtout decisions.

Taurus (April 20-May18)

Feeling reclusive today? Just go with the flow, rather than force interaction use today as a day for reflecting on your daily duties and responsibilities.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

A strong desire to express yourself arises, but you find it hard to cope with for you fear being too aggresive. Set yourself aside, and write out your thoughts and feelings before sharing them.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

Around this time of the year you should look to spend more time with your family. You are busy, but you’ll find that you’ll lose more by not spending time with your family than not doing work.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)

Your drive and ambition will soon give you recognition and success. Be careful not to plateau for people are looking you to continue progress. An Aries aides.

Virgo (Aug. 23- Sept. 22)

Your love options seem dim, but the romantic season will rise. Instead of searching for love let it come find you.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) The strike has closed late night talk shows and have now started effecting primetime shows such as The Office.

then the profit for these networks will decrease. So the WGA’s demands must be met.”

For the first time since the strike began on Nov. 4th, two sides met on Nov. 24th in an attempt to start resolving the strike through an official meeting. These negotiations were closed to any and all media, which have occured the strike so thoroughly.

The writers are also now using the Internet as a way to gain leverage in the negotiations. Writers are posting videos on the Web to show the skill they have and to try to show how much of the production they effect. By proving their value and importance they will show why they deserve more money for their work.

Hopefully, these two sides will find a middle ground so that everyone is happy and the writers feel like they are being adequatly paid.

Sudoku

Feeling lazy, you struggle to get active like you once were.

Instead of forcing yourself to do seemingly good activities, find your passions and become active in those endeavors.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

Your passion and charisma attracts the eyes of superiers and the veneration of your peers. You can be a model for others, who are afraid to speak out.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

Using your inquisitive skills you should be able to see people in a new light. Be open to others even if you don’t expect a relationship to come from it.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Directions

WWW.DAILYSUDOKU.COM

WWW.DAILYSUDOKU.COM

The objective is to fill out all the empty boxes with the numbers 1-9.

In each square you cannot reuse any number twice. In each row or column you cannot reuse any number.

Life is hectic right now and it would be so easy to get caught being lazy. Be patient and strong-willed and minded. Your resolve will be inspiration for others.

20 Service Spotlight Wafa Khadraoui senior

WEEKEND

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Dec. 5, 2007

A good deed goes a long way Here’s a list of 10 things to that you can do to help someone else this holiday season...

Fight hunger with vocab

Q: What do you do to volunteer?

A: I coordinate volunteer activities and campaigns for Just World, volunteer at MVC Hospital, Joseph’s House AIDS Hospice, Bailey’s Crossroads Homeless Shelter, the mosque and the AHS library.

Q: What kind of activities do you undertake?

A: I do whatever is dictated by my supervisors including organizing activities, helping patients and nurses, helping hook and serve food, helping children and being a page.

Q: What made you decide on these specific volunteer opportunities?

A: I choose these various opportunities because they all connect somehow to the principles I believe in and what I want to persue in life.

Q: What are the benefits of doing volunteer work?

A: Directly helping and impacting other human beings who are often not as fortunate as oneself. It is necessary to volunteer because societies depend on the goodwill and time of people to continue charitable endeavors.

Q: How does volunteering personally impact you?

A: It gives me a sense of responsibility towards my community and it is very gratifying to help others, even in the smallest smallest of ways.

Q: What other extra-curricular activities do you take part in?

A: I am President of the National Honor Society, French Honor Society, the Just World Project, I am Co-Editor-In-Chief of the Filament, Class of 2008 Vice President, among others.

Q: How do you find time to do community service?

A: It is necessary, with my hectic life, to make time to give back to the community, because it validates my other extra-curricular activities as well as my personal beliefs.

Give away free stuff

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Go to www.freerice.com and simply answer multiple choice questions on vocabulary.

For every word you define correctly, the United Nation donates 10 grains of rice to the World Food Program. By clicking a few times, you can help others and even refresh your vocab for SATs! Funding is provided by companies that advertise on the webpage. Spread the word to your friends and family; when thousands of people are doing it, it really does add up.

Click to save land

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Make a difference without even opening your wallet. EcologyFund.com allows you to save, preserve, and protect the rainforest, Amazon basin, wilderness, forest and endangered species. By clicking “Save Land” buttons, you can select a project and preserve 107 square feet every day. Sponsors and advertisers at the website pay for each purchase, so its completely free for you!

For similar organizations, visit www.care2.com and www.landcareniagara.com

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Make use of those freebies that you get but don’t necessarily use, or they or could mean a lot more to someone else. If you’re a traveler, collect soaps, shampoos and lotions from hotels that you stay at and take them home to donate to a shelter. Festivals and conventions also give away toys, pens, and little trinkets that would be useful to both children and adults. Think of what a few simple luxuries could do to brighten up someone’ s day!

Cut your hair for Locks of Love

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Locks of Love is a non-profit organization that makes wigs for children who suffer from long-term illnesses requiring chemotherapy but cannot afford to buy wigs. The program helps children restore their self-esteem and confidence, enabling them to face the world and their peers. To donate, hair must be at least 10” long and be in a ponytail or braid before it is cut. For more information, visit www.locksoflove.org.

Donate quilted blankets

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Organizations like the Red Cross are collecting blankets for those who are less fortunate. The Warm Up America program also collects knitted or crocheted squares to create afghans.

Completed blankets and other warm items are donated to burn victims, the homeless and displaced, as well as victims of natural disasters. For more information, visit www.warmupamerica.org or www.redcross.org to find a chapter near you.

Bake up some happiness

Up your dose of vitamin c

For those 17 years of age and older and weighing over 110 lbs., giving blood is one of the easiest ways to donate during the holiday season. The American Red Cross uses an estimated amount of 200 pints per day. This blood goes to disaster or accident victims, wounded soldiers, and others who are in need of more blood. The process of giving your blood takes a mere 10 minutes and but can be rewarding for a lifetime. Save a life and visit www.redcross.org/ donate/give/ or call toll free 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (1-800-448-3543).

Holiday cookies are a fun way to gather with friends and share during this season. Host your own “Drop In and Decorate” Party. A party is as simple as baking some cookies, inviting friends, family, neighbors etc, to drop in and help decorate, then donating the cookies to a local food pantry, emergency shelter, senior center, lunch program, or other community agency serving neighbors in need. For more information, party themes, and recipes visit www.theperfectpantry.com/2007/11/dropin-decorat.html.

By eating Yoplait brand yogurt with the pink lids, you can help donate to find a cure for breast cancer. It is as simple as buying 4 or 6 oz. flavors of Yoplait yogurt with the pink lids, wash- ing the lids, and sending them into Save Lids to Save Lives® P.O. Box 420704, El Paso, TX 88542-0704. All lids must be sent in by December 31, 2007 in order to be donated to the foundation. For more information visit www.yoplait.com/ breastcancer_home.aspx.

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To do this weekend: (Dec. 7-9) See: Enchanted , rated PG (1 hr 48 min) Hear: National Symphony Orchestra

Kennedy Center Concert Hall 2700 F St. NW, Washington, DC 20566

Taste: Java Xpress

10344 Lee Highway, Fairfax, VA 22030

Touch: Fairfax Ice Arena

Boys II Men

Trans-Siberian Orchestra Sun. Dec. 16 Verizon Center 3 p.m.

Price: $39-49

3779 Pickett Rd., Fairfax, Va 22031

The Java Express satisfies any craving for hot and cold coffee drinks, fruit smoothies, as well as a variety of others. Baked goods are also available.

Smell: Wakefield Park

What’s On The Menu Restaurant Guide

By Claire Bui and Caroline Merz

The Melting Pot

One Republic Wed Dec. 19 9:30 Club 7:30 p.m.

Price: $15

Chris Brown & Bow Wow

Sat., Dec. 22 Verizon Center

7:30 p.m.

Price: $39.75-19.75

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Since World War II, the USO (United Service Organization) has been helping the war effort in helping soldiers with connecting flights, sending care packages, and “welcoming home” deployed troops. On a single weekend in November, a group of volunteers was able to assemble over 5,000 hygeine and care packages for the troops over in Iraq. Volunteers are treated with a pizza lunch after hard work. For more information on how to help visit www.uso.org.

Donate Blood

Upcoming Concerts

Wed, Dec. 12 Birchmere 7:30 p.m, Price: $49.50

Support the troops

Being a “virgin” to the fondue scene can be intimidating and overwhelming while flipping through the lengthy menu at The Melting Pot. Varieties of group rates and packages are available and comprehending each option may take a few minutes.

This is where service receives high marks. Our waitress, a graduate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, quickly helped us decipher the menu and was able to recommend appropriate proportions for our party of three.

Drink orders were filled quickly and waters constantly refilled. It was suggested we have the “Big Night Out,” a serving usually meant for two, but it appeared suitable for the three of us to split. It includes four courses: a cheese fondue, salad, entrée, and a dessert fondue.

For the first course, cheddar appeared the most appetizing to the three of us, though the Wisconsin Trio Cheese Fondue and Fiesta Cheese Fondue were tied for a close second. As the cheese melts in a pot in the center of the table, fresh breads, vegetables, and apples are served for dipping and each person receives their own color-coordinated set of fondue skewers.

8100 Braddock Rd., Annandale, VA 22003

For heat-sensitive tongues, each fondue is cooked at the perfect temperature to ensure your taste buds can enjoythe next course.

The salads are served in decently sized portions so as to not overdo your appetite before the entrée is served.

Though beware, while sharing the “Big Night Out,” we were only served two salads! Take note of this if each member in your party is a salad lover.

Finally, meat that is cooked to your liking! No more rare red or black charcoal steaks. For the third course in the “Big Night Out,” three entrée selections are available: Lobster Indulgence (on the pricy side), Fondue Feast, and Signature Selection. Each comes with an assortment of meat and seafood. The next step is to choose the cooking style, in other words the broth that the food is cooked in.

It is surprising the amount of sauces and vegetables that accompany the meal.

Servers give a fair warning for cooking times and caution customers against raw and undercooked meat. Cooking times vary from two min. to 12 min. Patience is a virtue.

Now, the grand finale. The most popular course of the night…the dessert fondue! The Flaming Turtle, a fondue mixture of milk chocolate, caramel, and chopped pecans is a specialty flamed tableside (set on fire to get the chocolate to melt faster). The unlimited amount of pound cake, rice krispies, brownies, and fruits is a perfect ending to the night.

Although for three, the normal amount for two was plenty, with big appetites, everyone was satisfied.

The only complaint was the atmosphere and setting of the restaurant. There were few decorations and booths were such that you seemed isolated from the social aspect. In addition, parking was difficult unless you can locate the parking garage around the corner from the restaurant.

As for a first date? Downgrade to a more simple restaurant that won’t burn a hole through your wallet. The

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Contribute toys for children

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This holiday season help the marines donate toys and other gifts to disadvantaged childeren who may get overlooked during the hectic holiday rush. This is the 60th year for the Toys for Tots tradition of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves. Last year, 19.2 million toys were given to over 7.6 million children, but unfortunately they are still searching for more help and donations considering there are over 13 million children living in poverty. To help the cause visit www.toysfortots.org.

Melting Pot menu starts at $30 a person and works at a steady incline from there.

For a party of three, the final bill came to $89.56, and that was because we opted to split the “Big Night Out” dinner for two. It would be more suitable for an adult anniversary or for the long term relationship. Families would also enjoy spending time here, but make sure it is not on a regular basis (for financial reasons)!

Take advantge of their regular discounts and packages such as the “Military Appreciation Night” where every Monday military personnel will recieve 20% off the “Big Night Out” four course dinner for two if they can show valid military I.D. Another popular package is the “Girls Night Out” where at special locations The Melting Pot will offer a special four course dinner special. Only available at Arlington, Reston, Gaithersburg, and Washington DC locations.

Food: Service: Decor: out of 4 stars

Locations: 1110 N.Glebe Rd. Arlington, VA 22304 (703) 243-4490 11400 Commerce Park Drive Reston, Va 20191 (703) 264-0900