Issue8

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700 Medford Dr. Annandale, VA 22003

8

WHATʼS YOUR ADDICTION?

18

FAMILY CIRCUS

WEATHERTODAY

Mostly Cloudy High: 61 Low: 49

LUNCHTODAY

Oven Fried Chicken w/ Stuffing w/ Cranberry Sauce, Veggie Burger on Wheat Bun, Deli Line, PB&J, Pizza Line, Salads, Yogurt, Pretzel

NEWSBRIEFS YEARBOOK ONLINE SALES REOPENED Because many students and parents of the AHS community were having difficulty logging on to buyayearbook.com, the website has been reopened for further sales. Even if a buyer has forgotten his or her original order number, it has been wiped out of the website’s system and a future order will only require a peson’s name. Five hundred yearbooks have been sold, and 750 will be ordered. There is a limited number of books remaining for purchase. Approximately 500 had ordered yearbooks prior to the reopening and did not pay. All of these accounts have been wiped out of the system, and students may now log on to buyayearbook.com to purchase a yearbook. Students and parents interested need to place their orders as soon as possible. For more information, see Yearbook Adviser, Nikki Holmes, in the publications lab.

20 U2 HITS IMAX

RAMBO RETURNS

People investigates the nature of family dynamics in the homesteads of AHS students, how the family shapes outlooks on life.

Reality shows take a new turn with the introduction of the recovering drug abuser. But are they sending the right message?

703-642-4229

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2008

The famous European band branches out to millions of fans by appearing in a 3D show on the gigantic screen

The kick-butt far east warrior throws punches and lunges in his fifth rumble-in-the-jungle, leaving audiences with no mercy.

Creating an IB World

The battle over advanced education

education world. Educators are hardly AHS began as an AP the coming to blows over the issues at hand but school, but its switch is some have still issued derisive of antagonism. part of intense discussion words The contest is between the BY PAUL MATHIS Co-Editor in Chief

In IB 20th Century Topics, students are introduced to the events of the Cold War. They are presented with the intricacies of the war’s origin and duration, how the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. came to battle for the hearts and minds of third world countries, and how sometimes each monolith succeeded. A similar standoff is being waged in

Advanced Placement (AP) and IB programs in winning over the hearts and minds of students in the attempt to define which program better prepares students for both college and participating in a globalized world. Both upper-level high school programs introduce students to a breadth of material that they would not necessarily find in the traditional high school classroom, and

have similar methods of approach to educating students. However, the differences in structure, even intent, are manifest. “Both programs prepare students for college…it is about choosing which program is best for an individual student,” said Erin Albright, IB Coordinator. “There is no best program overall.” In order to make this choice some students come to understand the differences between the programs. Albright explained that theAP and IB pro- Derrick Featherstone works on an online AP math course. He said the course was of grams “have different

Series Pt. IV

“higher quality” than his classroom IB course.

“IB” continued on page 5

It’s Academic competes, but disappoints Team falls to Maret and Stone Temple by 100 pts BY NATHALIE SPITA News Editor

COURTESY DC.GOV

COURTESY LIFETOUCH

Speakers on careers without degrees Career speakers will be visiting Clausen Hall during Flexes today, Feb. 11 and Feb. 15, speaking on careers that do not require college degrees. Careers areas include construction, telecommunications, firefighters, landscaping, and others. The speaker sessions are open to all students from grades 9-12. Teachers are encouraged to sign up whole classes, and individuals are encouraged to sign up as well.

Ricky Adams grapples an opponent during Pack the Pit. Next year, every athlete will have to pay $100 each season to compete in a sport if Superintendent Jack Daleʼs budget reductions are passed. Charging all sports would save the county $2.7 million.

AHS affected by budget Superintendent imposes test and sports fees to help raise $50 million

Construction worker

Tax returns to lower income households On Saturday, Feb. 16, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., free tax returns will be offered to AHS parents and community members with household incomes of less than $40,000 in the AHS cafeteria. The average return is close to $2,000.

Knowing that you would have to pay an $84 fee for every AP/IB test that you take,

27% Unsure

45% Yes

28% No

Would you reduce the number of AP/IB classes in your schedule?

This survey was distributed on Jan. 31 during B, C, and D lunches. Of 500 surveys distributed, 320 were completed and returned.

PAUL MATHIS

VOLUME #54 ISSUE 8

ANNANDALE HIGH SCHOOL

BY MOHAMAD ELBARASSE Co-Editor in Chief Fairfax County Public Schools are going to face tough times financially in 2009 when significant cuts will be made to the budget. Superintendent Jack D. Dale has proposed to charge students $84 for every AP/IB test, $100 for participation in each sport and $50 for membership in each extra curricular activity. “Its going to be disastrous,” said IB Coordinator Erin McVadon Albright, “I could not disagree with this more; it’s a terrible option for the students.” The IB Program at AHS is currently open to anyone who wants to enroll in an IB course. “We have worked very hard to create an open access

program,” said Albright. After the real estate bubble burst, housing values dropped radically. Houses that were once valued at $1 million may now only sell for half that. So how does all this affect the students? Fairfax County Public Schools receive over 70% of their funding from local property taxes. If property is decreases in value, the county collects less money, which means less money is allocated to the schools. To compensate for the depreciation, The Board of Supervisors is forcing the School Board to cut programs to save money. In addition to the cuts being made, FCPS may also start charging for some programs and services that were once free. “CUTS” continued on page 5

Where are the savings? Budget cuts and the amount of money they will save for schools* Summer school re-design $100 fee for each varsity sport Delay textbook adoption $50 fee for each extracurricular $84 fee for each AP/IB test

5.0 2.7 2.7 2.6 1.5

*In millions of dollars

Robin Hood prepares to shoot a bull’s eye BY NATHALIE SPITA News Editor The tongue in cheek style of Robin Hood, this year’s student and teacher-acted winter play, is soon to be showcased. The play will open on Thursday, Feb. 7. With the show’s progress right on track, many among the theatre department have high hopes. “Opening night is going to be spectacular,” said Drama Director Vicki Farrish. “I couldn’t ask for better actors which are enthusiastic in having a good time.” “The quality of the show is going to be

really good,” said senior Kyle Sobel, who plays the Sheriff of Nottingham, a sniveling coward. “The whole cast is really excited so I think it’s going to be above average.” Backstage preparations haven’t been entirely smooth but set-makers and lighting technicians have been have been enjoying themselves. “The goal of this one was to have fun and it was not supposed to be stressful,” said senior Jenny Patton who plays Robin Hood’s childhood sweetheart, the charming Maid Marian. “Although like any show, it has been stressful, there is a lot of work that has gone into it and there is a lot of stuff that

has to be done,” said Patton “We have had some bumps and problems but overall I think its going to turn out great,” said Sobel. The cast has been hard at work since they began rehearsals in early December and has continually had rehearsals form 2:45 to 4:30 p.m. every Monday through Thursday. This year’s winter performance has become a faculty and student composed play rather than a children’s play. ”“PLAY” continued on page 5

As the buzzer signaled the end of the first round at NBC Studios’ taping of the It’sAcademic competition on Saturday, Feb. 2, the AHS team was already behind. AHS competed against Maret School from Washington, D.C. and Thomas Stone High School from Charles County, Md. The effort of the team was not enough to secure a seat in the play-off round of the competition. It’s Academic was filmed at NBC 4 Studios, seniors Paul Mathis, Kyle Knoche, and Greg Young representing AHS. “In the scope of things the outcome was of a pretty poor quality,” said Mathis who was disappointed with the team’s overall performance. “Yet the outcome isn’t based necessarily on our ability or what we could have done.” Maret with 500 points came in first, Thomas Stone High came in second with 460, and Annandale fell short with 320 points. Though the team came in last, it did not reflect the academic strength of each individual team member. “ACADEMIC” continued on page 5

Seniors dream of beach week in February BY GUS NIELSEN Video Editor in Chief High times await seniors on their beach week trips. The friends, the fun, and the fantastic adventure of being on their own for an entire week all draw seniors towards this tradition. Most have already planned out their trips, reserved their houses and signed their leases. The issues that present themselves in renting a house are numerous. The politics of organizing groups emerge in full. Group sizes range from as small as six or seven to as large as 25 or 30. Of course, students have to find a house that will accomodate group numbers. “BEACH” continued on page 5


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