Issue 1

Tues. Aug. 29, 2017 Vol. 63 Issue #1 Annandale High School’s

THE A BLAST 4700 Medford Dr. Annandale, VA 22003 www.thea-blast.org

“IMPROVING STEADILY” Field hockey prepares for their games SPORTS 10

Informing the Atoms since 1954

Students face scheduling conflicts IB seniors forced to

switch their classes

BY JUDE NANAW Sports X-Tra Editor

Mayada Hassan (center), a Stuart senior, protests at the “Reject White Supremacy” in Washington D.C. on Aug. 14 in the wake of Charlottesville rally.

STUDENTS CHALLENGE CONFEDERATE SYMBOLS J.E.B. Stuart changes name to Stuart High School because of the name’s Confederate ties

BY ASEAL SAED Co-Editor in Chief “Hey, hey, ho, ho, Donald Trump, has got to go,” senior Mayada Hassan yelled as she marched in front of the White House.

She went down to D.C. for the “Reject White Supremacy March” to protest the continuance of Confederate monuments all over the country.

The Aug. 14 protest was held in response to the “Unite the Right” rally held in Charlottesville by alt-right supporters in protest of the removal of the Robert E. Lee statue.

Hassan attends Stuart High School, which just decided this past summer to remove the J.E.B.. In front of its name, to go in effect in 2019, because J.E.B. Stuart was a Confederate soldier.

Students who originally began the protest two years ago alleged that Stuart’s Confederate history does not align with the school’s values.

The School Board was highly divided on the name change with dozens of community members voicing their opposition to the name change, citing many reasons including the one million dollar cost and the erasure of history.

“I don’t think taking down our history is correct in principle in any capacity,” senior Everett Stenberg said.

Just last summer, the Board agreed in a 10-2 vote to explore the possibility of a name change through a commission. However, the commission could not agree on one set path forward, and concluded with several deferring views.

According to the The Southern Poverty Law Center, a nonprofit that advocates for equal justice, over 100 schools are named after Lee and other Confederate general/leaders, half of them being in Virginia and Texas.

The same report found that at least 109 public schools named after prominent Confederates have large black student populations.

After this summer, the FCPS School Board of Supervisors decided to finally remove J.E.B Stuart’s name from the school.

J.E.B. is also one of the most diverse are being taken down all over the counschools in the county with 78 percent of try because of their segregationist and the school population being minorities, slavery ties. and 22 percent of the population regisJust as there is support for the tered as white. Supporters of the name removal of these statues, there is equal change cite that students of color feel and possibly more ferocious opposition uncomfortable to attend a school with to the removal of these monuments. such a controversial name.

Advocates for the monuments “J.E.B. Stuart was a confederate defend the monuments, arguing they general and a racist who does not repre- are an important symbol of heritage sent the diversity of school and what we and removing them would be an eraare about” said Hassan. sure of history.

Stuart is not the only school in Fair“[The statues] are a good reminder fax County that has been subject to crit- of history” Stenberg said. “They depict icism for its Confederate name, but Rob- people who legitimately showed uncomert E. Lee High school in Springfield is mon valor and courage.” also named after a Confederate general.

The clash of ideals were seen Lee is one of the most commemo- most tangibly in Charlottesrate Confederate leaders memorialized ville, VA. all over the country not only in the form In July, the Loyal Knights of school names, but as monuments and of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) statues all over the country. organized a rally to protest the The SPLC found in their study that destruction of the Robert E. Lee over 700 Confederate statues exist on monument. The Loyal Knights public property. cited their reason for protesting In recent years, there have been as stopping “cultural genocide.” calls for the removal of these ConfederThe rally garnered a lot ate statues and memorials because, to of hate and upwards of many, these monuments are symbols of 500 people came in prowhite supremacy within the US. test of the 50 person Memorials of leaders like Jefferson rally.

Davis and Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson Later, in August,

a rally was formed under the name “Unite the Right” planned to protest the removal of the same statue in Charlottesville.

Described as one of the biggest white supremacist events in US history, the event began on the Friday night before the rally where marchers walked through the University of Virginia’s (UVA) campus. With lit torches, reminiscent of Ku Klux Klan fear tactics used in the 1950s and 60s to incite fear, marchers yelled inflammatory chants like “white lives matter” and “Jews will not replace us.”

Among those who were protesting were so-called alt-right white nationalists, Ku Klux Klan members, and neoNazis.

A small group of UVA students protested the night of the rally.

During the rally, many of the white nationalists were wearing Trump paraphernalia; despite the rising tensions in the nation and the numerous politicians and leaders denouncing the rally, Trump took two days to condemn the rally. In several press conferences Trump doubled down on his claim that “both sides” were to blame for the Charlottesville violence.

He even went as far as accusing the left-wing anti-fascist or “antifa” protesters of showing up “without a permit” and said they were “very, very con’t on page 4

Confederate general Robert E. Lee is one of the most commemorated Confederate leaders in the country.

Yearbook unveils new theme for the year The Antenna hopes to boost sales by featuring more students throughout the book

BY BINQI CHEN Co-Editor in Chief Every year, the yearbook staff pubMARIAM MOHAMED lishes a 300 page book to commemorate Editor in Chief the successes and various activities conducted throughout the year.

However, planning for the book begins even before the start of the new school year.

Over the summer, the new leadership staff for The Antenna established the new design and layout for the upcoming school year. The theme for this year’s book will be: Face It. There CINDY LE are multiple meanings behind this Editor in Chief theme.

“One [meaning] is how students have to constantly face things in their lives, whether it is big or small,” senior Cindy Le said. “The second is that Annandale is such a diverse school and there’s so many different faces you see and they all vary.”

The team also plans on changing the way feature pictures of students are taken.

ILHAN ABDI “The pictures for the Q & A portions Editor in Chief of the book are usually candid,” senior

Mariam Mohamed said. “Now we are changing it so that students will be facing the camera.”

Both Mohamed and Le serve as the Editor-in-Chiefs of The Antenna, along with senior Ilhan Abdi.

After the initial construction of the theme, members of the Yearbook team then spend a week at James Madison University to further develop their ideas.

The team participated in competitions. Most importantly though, this week long residential camp allows the staff to be exposed to feedback and guidance from professionals.

“They gave us pointers and told us what they liked or didn’t like,” Le said.

“They gave us pointers and told us what they liked or didn’t like, what would work and what wouldn’t work.”

Beyond the annual theme changes, The Antenna will have a new administrative change for the upcoming school year. There will be a new leadership role established amongst the staff.

Nia Lewis will be fulfilling the role of Social Media Manager. Lewis created the role in hopes that The Antenna will have a larger

Yearbook students revealed the theme, “Face It,” for the 2018 Antenna Yearbook. They developed the concept at camp at James Madison University.

This is a mock cover, and the staff will decide which students will be featured on the cover.

social media presence and overall just more involved and active online.

This will certainly assist in the advertising and getting the news about the book out to a wider range of audiences.

There is much to anticipate for the new version of The Antenna. The book is now on sale for $65, the prices will increase as the year progresses.

With a new school year comes new schedules. As students get to know their new teachers and courses for the year, it’s inevitable that a number of students will have to deal with one of the unavoidable issues that come with a new year, schedule conflicts.

Many students are contacted by their counselors prior to schedule and packet pick up day regarding schedule conflicts.

“It tends to be more juniors and seniors [who come in] because they have more electives which gets more complicated,” counselor Mark Vitelli said. “As ninth graders, they don’t really have a lot of choices.”

Whether it be a class becoming unavailable due to a lack of students registering for it, courses not being available at certain periods or classes being overloaded with more students signed up than the cap allows, many are forced into a situation where diffi-

“I need to make sure that they are staying in classes they need in order to gradaute.”

--MARK VITELLI

counselor cult decisions have to be made.

These decisions include having to switch to different classes, dropping an elective and selecting a different one or even taking a course that does not fit into a student’s schedule online.

“When I saw my schedule I realized I was missing a W8 class,” senior Heaven Lemma said. “I also didn’t have a class I really wanted which was Psychology that was only offered R3 and W6 which conflicted with my Peer Tutoring class only offered during R3.”

When these types of conflicts arise, counselors discuss the problem with students in order work around them.

“I ended up dropping IB Biology so that I could be able to get into Psychology during W6,” Lemma said.

Another common issue from year to year are classes no longer becoming available due to various reasons including a lack of student enrollment in the course, funding, etc.

“One class I was not able to have was IB Computer Science because it was no longer available,” senior Benjamin Lee said.

With electives that students sign up for not being available at times, students typically select another elective during their available periods that would fit into their schedule.

This is more common with upper classes pursuing more difficult IB courses that are only offered during one period.

“Another problem I had was that I didn’t have IB Business on my schedule because it was conflicting with my IB Physics HL class,” Lee said. “I am trying to have both classes on my schedule because they are my favorite classes so my schedule could change a lot.”

While some students not always willing to make major changes to their schedules, another option is to take an online course in order to make room for another class or elective during the school day.

However, when considering class changes, counselors also look at the student’s path to graduation.

“If they [students] are switching classes, I need to make sure that they are staying in classes they need in order to gradaute,” Vitelli said.

Counselors will continue to discuss options with students in order to have them enrolled in their most desired classes.

Schedule changes may potentially not be addressed until past the first week of school or even later at times.

2 EDITORIALS

Tues. Aug. 29, 2017

Schools should close for Eid

Charlottesville starts to heal

BY SUAD MOHAMED Editorials Editor

In the wake of the protest that turned fatal, here’s how you can help

As the school year begins, most students are worried about summer assignments, sports and new teachers. Some are concerned about another issue: Eid. While it is more likely to fall on Saturday, Sept. 2, there is a possibility that it will end up being on the Friday prior. If that were to happen, Muslim students and their parents would be forced to choose between missing important lessons or celebrating an important holiday.

Muslims celebrate two Eid holidays: Eid al-Fitr comes at the end of Ramadan, a month of fasting. Eid alAdha marks the end of the pilgrimage to Makkah, known as hajj, and celebrates the prophet Ibrahim. On Eid, people dress up, families get together, pray in the morning, eat a lot of food and sweets, give gifts and participate in celebrations.

It is a day meant for spending quality time with your family, so often times students opt for missing school. While it does not seem like a big deal to miss one day of school, it is actually very stressful because a student’s course load will be doubled, while most of their peers are on track. It is even harder if assignments are due or tests are scheduled to be on the next day.

Also, it isn’t fair that the FCPS school calendar accommodates for people who celebrate Easter and Christmas. Students and teachers get two weeks off for winter break, which includes Christmas. Spring break is strategically set up to span the week before Easter, and we have the Tuesday after Easter off. If all all these school days are being missed for Christian holidays, there shouldn’t be a problem with taking one or two days off for Muslims.

People against closing school on Eid argue that Muslims only make up 2 percent of the U.S. population.

While this doesn’t seem like a lot,

BY SUAD MOHAMED Editorials Editor On Aug. 11, the white supremacist group Unite the Right organized a rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, to protest the removal of a statue of confederate general Robert E. Lee. Attendees came from various states and brought Confederate flags, swastikas and signs filled with hatred.

Soon enough, counter protestors joined. Fights broke out among the two contrasting groups.

The situation turned deadly when James Fields, a man from Toledo, Ohio, associated with the alt-right, drove his car into a crowd of counter protesters, killing Heather Heyer and injuring 19 others.

Charlottesville and its residents are unsettled and need time to heal. Not only was there physical pain, but what happened was emotionally traumatizing. The counter protesters were peacefully protesting for what they believed was right, but instead they were attacked. During this time, there are many things that we can do to help not only them, but the nation too.

Over 40 people were injured during the rally. There have been many fundraisers on websites like GoFundMe to help pay for Heyer’s funeral expenses and the medical bills of the injured, some of which do not have health insurance. A simple Google search or scroll through Twitter and you will find many links. Giving even a dollar will help and make a difference in someone’s life.

Another way to help is by learning

Muslims celebrate Eid at the Indian Embassy in Washington, D.C. that makes Islam the third most followed religion, and Muslims the largest minority. Many researchers predict that this number will grow much more in the next couple of years, due to an expected influx of immigrants from Muslim majority countries.

Muslims here in America and in other countries are wary of and feel discriminated by non-Muslim Americans. This feeling has intensified in the past years because of how frequent hate crimes against Muslims have become. Our own President tried to ban people from seven Muslim majority countries from entering the country earlier this year.

Because of the current political climate, many Muslims feel endangered. Recognizing Eid as a holiday and allowing people to celebrate in peace and without the stress of missed work would ease minds, and make Muslims feel more accepted.

and understanding the history behind confederate statues. The obvious reason why people want them taken down is because the represent the hatred and anti-blackness of confederates, another reason is why most of them were put up to begin with.

While they have been put up since the Civil War, the erections of these statues erupted during the Jim Crow Era and Civil Rights Movement.

They were used as a tool to intimidate those aiming to get rights for people of color. Add these two together, and it is evident that these statues incite fear in black people and reinforces the fact that there have been, and currently are, people who do not believe that they

deserve rights.

Supporting local, state and national social justice organizations is also key in helping. There are many that are located in specifically Charlottesville, some that are statewide, and others that are nation wide. Examples include IMPACT Charlottesville,a justice group that works with all types of people in Charlottesville. The Legal Aid Assistance Center provides legal aid to people who cannot afford it in Virginia.

Black Lives Matter has many chapters nationwide, our local one being located in Washington, D.C. You can look for more online and pick which ones you want to support.

“The violence of intolerance and

Commercials or controversy?

Gender steroetypes and body standards in commercials have an adverse efffect U.S. DEPT. OF STATE

Celebration

The statue of General Robert E. Lee, located at Emancipation Park in Charlottesville, was covered with black tarp on Aug. 23 in honor of Heather Heyer.

BY SUAD MOHAMED Editorials Editor Television, radio stations, social media and websites--commercials are everywhere. While viewing advertisements for things like shampoo and cologne, it seems like companies are advertising hyper masculinity, misogyny and unrealistic standards rather than their products.

In commercials, men are seen as shallow, dumb and incapable of completing simple tasks. Often times, phrases like “manly” are used to get people to buy products, especially deodorants. They are all very obsessed with sports, and those who don’t really care for them are seen as unattractive. This is because men are also often times portrayed as the breadwinner of the family.

Women in commercials are routinely portrayed as housekeepers, and are usually the ones who clean up everyone’s messes. One will hardly see an advertisement for household products, like dish soap, that does not feature a woman. Most of the time, actresses in commercials use the products to make themselves more desirable to men.

Women in advertisements also tend to nag incessantly, and they are over emotional.

Gender based stereotypes are also inherent in advertisements aimed for children. Toys like dolls, house sets,

and animals are geared towards girls.

Meanwhile, video games, action figures and toy cars are believed to be meant for young boys.

But gender based stereotypes are not the only issue in commercials. A lot of the times, advertisements lure potential customers in by depicting unreachable bodies. The men are muscular and the women are slim. Everyone has perfect hair and skin.

Obviously, the purpose of these tactics is to get people to buy their products, but they are just harmful. It is usually children who are placed in front of televisions and watching these advertisements.

When they view them, kids are told that there is a certain way to behave:

boys have to act tough, while girls are to be delicate. This is damaging and later makes it difficult for them to accept effeminacy, masculinity in women, and androgyny. It also creates a lack of self esteem in those who don’t conform to traditional gender roles.

The toxic body standards often found in adverts can be dangerous, too. No one really looks like the people seen in commercials, but a fair amount of children and teens might believe that the bodies seen on their screens are the right way to look, and try to attain that look. They can end up hurting themselves in the process, and end up having to deal with issues like eating disorders, lack of self confidence, depression, and more.

Recently, the U.K. recognized the negative effects of these problems.

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), a NGO that regulates advertisements, put a ban on advertisements

Commercials for toys show gender stereotypes, as they allude that girls are to play with dolls, and boys are to play with action figures.

THE A BLAST STAFF CO-EDITORS IN CHIEF Binqi Chen Aseal Saed

ENTERTAINMENT EDITORS Lina Al-Taii

MANAGING EDITOR Grace Hogye

LIFESTYLES EDITORS Yabi Bereket Ivanna Perez

NEWS EDITOR Diego Feliciano

HEALTH EDITORS Rachel Shogren

EDITORIALS EDITORS Ruth Mekonnen Suad Mohamed

PHOTOGRAPHY EDITORS Serene Ghul Katie Pope

COPY EDITORS Yvonne White

ACADEMICS EDITORS Jessica Salisbury Kavi Shamdin

IN-DEPTH EDITORS Casey Nguyen Kim Vaides

WEB EDITOR/MASTER Victor Nguyen

SPORTS EDITORS Fares Ayoub Luke Elkins SPORTS XTRA EDITORS Jude Nanaw Ethan Zimmerman WEEKEND EDITORS Cameron Foti Halley Thadeus

bigotry, intended to hurt and intimidate someone because of their race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, or disability.” That is the U.S. Department of Justice’s definition of a hate crime. If you witness or experience a hate crime, then you should report it.

Trying your best to prevent them before they happen is essential, too. Something as simple as rejecting stereotypes can be significant.

The sole job of the members of Congress is to represent their constituents and what they want for the country.

Exercise your First Amendment right to petition them. Call and write to your senators and representatives; tell them that there must be a change. Get them to take action.

Sometimes, doing something as easy as giving your name and email address can make a difference. Sign Color of Changes petition to take down all the statues of confederates in the U.S. While the situation in Charlottesville was racially motivated, there are many issues that are fueled by sexism, homophobia, transphobia, anti-semitism, Islamophobia, along with many other issues. Do not separate them as they are all forms of bigotry that need to be eradicated.

Lastly, while many people are forced to suffer because of who they are, many people don’t have to go through that.

If you are white, male, cisgendered, or straight, please recognize that you have a certain amount of privilege in this country.

Instead of ignoring the upper hand that you have or saying that you didn’t ask for it, try your best to take advantage of it and bring light to social issues, even though you don’t have to personally deal with them.

AD MANAGER Ryan Gammon

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CIRCULATION MANAGER Ryan Gammon SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER Binqi Chen Aseal Saed STAFF WRITERS Mustafa Abbas

Annandale High School Vol 63. Issue No. 1 4700 Medford Dr. Annandale, VA 222003

The A-Blast is an awardwinning 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 emailed to theablast2017@ gmail.com or submitted to room 262 or mailed to the school. The A-Blast reserves the right to refuse advertisements.

All submissoins become property of The A-Blast, Copyright, 2017.

that feature any type of gender stereotype, specifically calling out ones that feature a man failing to do household chores and a woman being forced to complete them.

This ruling came as a result of many controversies surrounding advertisements, most infamously a Protein World poster located in a London subway station. The banner featured a very slim model and asked viewers if they were beach body ready. Hundreds of people found it offensive to women, including London’s mayor Sadiq Khan. The ASA received nearly 400 complaints.

A significant amount of Americans agree that similar actions should be taken here in the U.S. too. In fact, research shows that people are unlikely to buy products if the advertisement features stereotypes, as they are geared for a specific subset of people. The problem? The First Amendment heavily limits the government’s ability to regulate the content of commercials. If a company were to be confronted about the messages in their advertisements, they could easily argue freedom of speech.

Although nothing can be done legally, that doesn’t mean that we should just accept commercial that are repugnant. There is an option to report ads that are online and on social media right on the page where they appeared.

You can also report ads that you find to be misleading, or that inappropriately air during children’s shows by writing to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

Monthly Poll Look out for the next poll @theablast on Twitter to vote for the next issue!

72

people voted

44.4% stayed home 30.6% worked at a job 13.9% went on vacation 11.1% attended summer school/programs

EDITORIALS 3

Tues. Aug. 29, 2017

Freshman survival guide

Health and Physical Education teacher Derek Sweet speaks to incoming freshmen about the importance of joining activities and clubs at the orientation held Aug. 24.

How to get through the next four years As another school year begins, we pass by old faces and get introduced to new.

Although that most of us have been accustomed to life in high school, it is often difficult to forget just how nerve racking our first day of school as a freshman really is.

“I’m a little nervous and kind of excited, ” said Grace Kliewer.

Now I am not saying that I am a freshman expert, but as a senior, I feel I understand what you freshmen are going through.

It is a new school with new people, teachers and environment. This can be a lot to handle but that does not mean that it is impossible.

You see, the only way to survive the next four years is by starting your freshman year right.

First things first make sure that you you don’t make procrastination a habit.

Bill Gates once said to “hire a lazy person to do a difficult job because a lazy person will find an easy way to do it.”

Although that may be true, the lazy person might not be able to accomplish that job if he/she is always procrastinating.

In other words try to find an easy way to do things but don’t leave it to the last minute.

This leads me to academics. We come to school every day to learn and it is important that you figure out not only

How do you feel about the app Sarahah?

MITCHELL EGGERT sophomore It is kind of cool that through the Sarahah app you can tell people how you feel without awkward interaction if you have something awkward with some one else.

ALEJANDRO CASQUINO junior I think the app is kind of smart and kind of dumb at the same time because there could be online bullies that could harass people and make life not so fun for other people. Bullying could be a huge problem that people could encounter NGHIA NGUYEN senior I think that the Sarahah app is annoying because if you have something to say to someone then you should say it in front of their face rather than saying it behind their back.

how to study but how to ask for help.

Classes are only going to get harder so whether it is using mnemonic devices, cue cards, or simply reviewing notes every night, make sure to figure out what works best for you.

Classmates are also a source of guidance. In fact, reviewing notes together and creating study groups will help.

However, at the same time it is also very easy to get distracted when studying with friends so make sure to pick the right people to study with.

When confused about something, your first step should be asking your teacher. They know more about their tests and their material more than your classmates.

You need to manage your schedule and make use of your pride time or wednesdays after schools to get help.

Another thing that is very important are extracurriculars. There are tons of clubs and sports at this school which can get overwhelming.

Although it is important to join clubs to show colleges that you are a well rounded person, don’t join clubs that you are not passionate about.

Instead join sports and clubs that you want to join and have a passion for and aim for a leadership position in them. A leadership position in a club will help demonstrate both your leadership skills and your passion for that club.

Something that will definitely make your high school experience easier is being able to balance your time.

Making sure that you have enough time for sleep, extracurriculars,

academics and your friends is important.

Yes sometimes you make need to prioritize one thing over the other but using a schedule and planning things ahead of time will always help.

One thing that no one really thinks about as a freshman are college applications.

While most students do think about making sure they have the right courses and extracurriculars for college, a lot of freshmans don’t look into what colleges they would like to go to.

Although it is a little early to start on your actual application, something that I advise is to get a head start on your college list.

Look into whether you want to go out of state or in state, the kind of environment you are looking for etc.

Looking at schoools will not only motivate you to get the grades and test scores to get in but it will also relieve some of the stress you may have senior year.

Lastly and probably the most importantly: have fun. High school is something that happens only once in your life.

Make sure to make the most of it. Go to football games and dances. Participate in spirit week.

Just make sure to do all that you can so that you don’t feel any regrets when looking back at it. After all, we are all truly in this together.

Freshman * * * * *

Get good grades Join a club and/or a sport Study for the PSAT Volunteer Pick an elective to stay in for the next three years * Maintain a good relationship with your counselor

Junior * Get good grades * Take SAT/ACT * Volunteer and if possible get job * Map out final college list * Join Honor Society * Maintain relationship with counselor

Sophomore * * * * *

Get good grades Take the PSAT Study for the SAT/ACT Volunteer Apply for a leadership posi tion * Maintain relationship with counselor

Senior * * * * * *

Get good grades Take SAT/ACT Fill out FAFSA Apply to colleges Get a job/volunteer Get recommendation letters from teachers and counselors * Apply for scholarships

The problem with Sarahah Cartoonist Corner Anonymous app couldbe a forum for bullies

BY YABI BEREKET Lifestyles Editor As of recent, the highly used app Sarahah, has been climbing its way up to the top of the Apple Store and Google Play Store charts, and the hype will not be dying down anytime soon.

The application was created by Zain al-Abidin Tawfiq, who developed the app with the intent of giving people the opportunity of expressing their true feelings and honesty towards anyone--anonymously.

The word “sarahah” in arabic means “to be frank,” hence the app’s name.

The way it works is that after you create an account, you could leave an anonymous message to someone, or receive one, with the expectation to give a response back to that person.

Considering that the app is mostly used by preteens and teenagers, is the idea of anonymously messaging people your true feelings such a good thing or is it just another source of online bullying?

We have all heard the same discourse repeated tirelessly from our teachers, starting from the tender age of an elementary school student about “don’t be a bully, don’t be a bystander.”

Yet frankly, students who are labeled as a bully, never seem to change.

And with this new app, this gives not only bullies, who are not afraid in the first place to speak what is truly

on their minds, but also gives presumpted ordinary people, who put up their facade in school, an opportunity to ruin someone’s day.

This app really seems frustrating, because as exciting as it may seem to have someone speak honestly towards you, about you, wouldn’t it be better to just know who it is?

Using an anonymous messaging app like this could lead to more drama and heat, rather than just confronting someone face to face.

There is also an endless string of anonymous messaging apps such as Whisper, Ask.fm, After School (which is more recent),Yik Yak and now Sarahah. All of these apps contain the same concept, and while each of them were probably developed with positive traits and such, they have all been abused into another platform for starting drama or online bullying.

It seems as though Tawfiq probably didn’t realize the negative outcome that would be produced through this app, even after trying to take early precautions to prevent that.

“I think the app has interesting qualities to it, I like to know what people think about me, but it’s annoying to not know who’s saying what”, junior Hemen Besufekad said. “But getting a compliment from someone is nice and makes me feel good.”

Spreading positivity should be a standard for all people, and using this app for that will help people get there.

Hopefully, a majority of people who do use the controversial app would use it to help someone’s day, and not hinder it.

“My new home?”

Sharon Sanchez

BY RUTH MEKONNEN Editorials Editor

Checklist for the year

4 NEWS

Tues. Aug. 29, 2017

FRESHMAN ORIENTATION

News Briefs Back to School Night The annual information session will be held on Wednesday, September 6. The Student Services staff will be available in the athletic lobby at 5:30 p.m. for any parent who might need a student schedule or you can access their schedule on SIS. The principal will make a brief announcement at 5:55 p.m., proceeding classroom visits. Parents need to be in their student’s R1 class promptly at 6:00 p.m. The classroom visits by parents will be according to their student’s school schedule.

Labor Day There will be no school on Monday, September 4. Students and staff will return to class on Tuesday September 5.

Antenna Yearbook

Students of the class of 2021 adjust to AHS by navigating the halls and meeting their teachers

BY BINQI CHEN Co-Editor in Chief The transition from middle to high school can be extremely daunting. Starting the school year with in a new building with significantly larger student population and more challenging classes, it is only normal to feel overwhelmed.

In order to help the incoming freshman class of 2021 become adjusted to their new environment, the annual freshmen orientation was held on August 23.

This event would allow the students to acclimate to their new school before the upperclassmen arrive on the first day.

The freshmen began their day by arriving at AHS with their schedules by 8:30 a.m. on respective bus routes. Upon arrival, they were greeted by students of the Leadership class as well as members of the faculty.

Orientation would officially begin in the auditorium where the students were welcomed and received introductions from the counselors and members of the administra- “Now I know tive staff. where all my The parents were instructed classes are to go to the cafe- and it is less teria for their own information ses- scary.” sion.

In the auditorium, the Leadership class also presented a video to the freshmen including tips and tricks for a year of success.

“The executive board talked a little about school spirit and Atom Pride,” senior McKenzie Yi said. “We were then stationed in groups around the school.”

After introductions in the auditorium, the freshmen were then instructed

on beginning a mock day of school.

The students navigated AHS with their schedules, going to all their classes.

The first portion of the simulation would allow students to find their red day classes, while the second portion was reserved for the white day schedule.

Even though each freshman was provided with a map of the building, the Leadership students were scattered around the halls to guide stu--IRIS TRAN freshman dents if they were lost. Touring the school now prevented mass confusion on the actual first day of school.

“Now I know where all my classes are and it is less scary,” freshman Iris Tran said.

Not only does this allow incoming students to get a sense of how the

bell schedule works, but they were also given a chance to meet their new teachers.

The students stayed in each of their classes for roughly 10 minutes. In this time, teachers introduced themselves and provided a preview to their course or how the class is set up.

“Every teacher has a different thing to teach you about AHS,” freshman Sarah Wheatly said. “So it is pretty easy to know the difference between middle and high school.”

After the conclusion of the white day bell schedule, the freshmen were then instructed to go to the gym. A pep rally was conducted to conclude the orientation with speeches from the leadership president, Rebecca Kindling, and Coach Derek Sweet.

The new class took a group picture together to commemorate the start of their four-year high school career.

The marching band also performed AHS’ fight song “I am looking forward to all the pep rallies this year,” Tran said.

Yearbook forms were made available at schedule pick-up. The price is set at $65 until September 8. The forms are due to Ms. Hanneman in room 268.

Woodson Football The varsity Football team will face off the W.T. Woodson Cavaliers on September 1 at 7:00 p.m.

Senior Pictures Senior pictures will begin September 18 to September 21. The schedule for the pictures are outside the Publications lab for seniors to find out their times.

Parking Permits Parking applications are due for students on Friday, September 8 for students with a valid drivers’ license. Parking applications can be found on the AHS web page. A list of eligible students who will receive a parking space will be posted on September 12.

Confederate monuments taken down

The new track sports a new red look, differing from the previous black one

cont’d from page 1

violent.”

The rally continued into Saturday, and led to clashes with counter demonstrators causing a local state of emergency to be called in Charlottesville.

Later, the clashes became deadly when James Alex Fields sped his car into antiracist protestors, killing 32-year-old Heather Hayer and injuring at least 19 others.

Lee is one of the most popular Confederate leaders memorialized in the country, and many of those who oppose the destruction of his statues point out that Lee was not a pro-slavery ideologue, rather they allege he was against slavery.

Although, Lee wrote in a letter to the New York Times in 1858 that “ slavery as an institution is a moral and political evil in any country,” Lee’s troops under his command during the war were allowed to raid settlements and capture free blacks for enslavement during major operations like the 1863 invasion of Pennsylvania.

Because of the tensions, UVA covered the statue with black tarp.

Many of the monuments that are up for debate today were erected 100 years ago during Reconstruction, after the Civil War. Many historians say that they were built to intimidate minorities and to serve as a reminder that Southern white elites were still in control.

During Reconstruction, Lee did,

New red track installed “[The statues] are a good reminder of history” senior Everett Stenberg said. “They depict people who legitimately showed uncommon valor and courage.”

however, object to the idea of raising Confederate monuments, writing in 1869 that it would keep “open the sores of war.”

However, it is the argument that Lee has always somehow opposed slavery that helped maintain his stature as a symbol of Southern honor and reconciliation.

In addition to confederate leaders, politicians like Abraham Lincoln and Woodrow Wilson have been have been subject to scrutiny because of their racist ties. People are now considering how much a person’s sacrifice and accomplishments for the country outweigh their racist viewpoints that still underlie

today’s society.

Those who advocate for the removals of such monuments also cite that having large statues of these leaders who symbolize white nationalist ideals of the past, and putting them on public property only strengthens these racist ideals.

However, with increasing tensions, and especially after the Charlottesville events, many colleges and universities are beginning the process of removing their Confederate monuments.

“I want it to be heard that racism is an institution in America, and ignoring it means you are a part of the problem,” Hassan said.

BY ETHAN ZIMMERMAN Sports X-Tra Editor

Theatre announces upcoming productions

BY BINQI CHEN Co-Editor in Chief

PHOTO COURTESY OF HIDAYA HUSSEN

To get students excited for the new school year, the Annandale Theatre Company has released their complete list of performances. There will be three main productions spread out over nine months.

The first production will be She Kills Monsters: Young Adventurers Edition

by Qui Nguyen. The shows for this play will last from November 16-18.

The winter play has been set to be shown from January 18-20 in room 324.

This production, called Late, A Cowboy’s Song, is written by Sarah Ruh. The final production for the 20172018 school year will be a musical. The ATC will be putting on their rendition of the famous Victor Hugo production: The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

The performances will last from April 19-21. The shows will feature sound tracks from the Disney animated version of the story.

“The fall play is an amazing theatrical opportunity of female empowerment,” senior Hidaya Hussen said. “The spring musical is hands down the most beautiful story and music composition ever written.”

Hussen joined the ATC last year through her role as the Fairy Godmother in the spring musical Cinderella. This year, she plans on contributing and participating in all aspects of the department.

She hopes that in her final year at AHS, she can gain all the interesting aspects of theatre that she has not had a chance to experience in the last three years.

“I will audition for each production, aspiring to get a lead in both the fall and spring production,” Hussen said. “Set design and publicity, too, are aspects of the company I will try my best to contribute to.”

All fall and spring shows will be held in the auditorium, while the winter production will be held in the Black Box theatre.

As the performance dates become closer, there will be opportunities for interested students to audition for individual characters.

Auditions for She Kills Monsters will last from September 11-12 after school in the black box. Students can audition for monsters only or try for an overall acting position.

For the acting roles, students will need to prepare a one minute comedic monologue or cold reading and a 30

Senior Hidaya Hussen plays the fairy godmother in the 2017 spring production of Cinderella.

second to two minute movement demonstration. Those auditioning for the monster’s only part will also be expected to perform a movement demo.

To prepare students for audition, ATC has organized an optional audition workshop that would work to improve skills in actors’ monologues and audition side. The actors can also receive guidance and tips.

With an enthusiastic cast and staff, the ATC will continue to provide quality performances for the entire Annandale community to enjoy.

This year Annandale athletics will have the opportunity to use a brand new track. The new track is a much needed improvement from the preexisting track, which was used by most sports to stay in condition for their upcoming season.

However the old track had many holes and rips in the rubber. The track desperately needed to be redone and needed an overall new look.

According to Director of Student Activities, John Ellenberger, the County covered the cost for the new track.

The track was redone by removing the old track all the way to the base layer, and restarting the entire track.

Week by week people could see how the track was coming together, and you got a better idea of how of how much this renovation was needed.

“The old track we had was really torn up and it just looked dry and worn out,” said junior track runner Abbey Yared.

The track was used by many sports and was even a resource for physical education classes for freshmen and sophomores.

This week the workers were adding the finishing touches which included a red finish to the whole track. “I think it makes more sense to have a red track since our school colors are red and white,” Yared said.

Since it is the start of the cross country season, a efficient and new track is needed to help the athletes with their training. As of now, the teams are accommodating with their situation by going to other tracks or going on long runs instead.

“The track won’t be finished for another two weeks,” girls cross country coach Phil Harris said. “We plan on doing 400 meter to 1600 meter workouts after it is done.”

The new track would be a great asset not only to the cross country and track teams, but also every other sport as well.

“I am excited to break the track in when it is complete,” senior Janice Milian said.

5 ACADEMICS

Tues. Aug. 29, 2017

Students juggle school with sports

How do you plan to balance your social and academic life this school year?

JAYDEN JOYA freshman “I plan to keep my circle of friends small and to focus more on my education. I think that I will be able to really focus and put my best efforts in my studies if I keep my group of friends small. I am only going to spend time with people who help me succed rather than

Between after school practices and games, athletes find ways to manage their time

BY JESSICA SALISBURY Academics Editor Balancing extracurricular activities as well as keeping up with your grades in school can sometimes be a very hard task to do. The school year can come with a lot of stress along with loads of work. Especially if you participate in other activities outside of school.

There are so many different activities available for students to participate in, many people play sports and join clubs while others may participate in the band, orchestra or theatre. The activities don’t always have to be school related, some students have jobs or volunteer outside of school as well.

No matter what it is that you decide to do, they all require a lot of time and commitment which can make it very hard for people to have school be their number one priority.

Most practices run until late which means that most homework must be done late at night. After a late game or practice students run home, shower, and then eat dinner before they finally have time to sit down and actually focus on their studies.

The time that students end up doing their homework should actually be the time that they go to sleep. Regardless, students athletes must learn to balance out their social, academic and extracurricular activities.

“My grades are my first priority because Coach Scott always says school comes before football,” junior varsity football player Karam Said said.

Sports can push students to work harder at school because every student athlete must be passing a certain amount of classes to play in games.

“In a way playing football kind of forces me to do good in school. If I get bad grades I won’t be able to play so all of the hard work I put into practice would be for nothing,” sophomore football player Ryan Fowler said.

Because sports can be distractions student athletes must learn to keep their life on the field separate from their life in the classroom.

Sports are not the only extra curricular activity that can take a student’s attention away from their school work, some students participate in the art department either in band, orchestra, or theatre. All programs can require after school practices, performances, or rehearsals that can be very time consuming.

“I usually need a couple of hours after school to practice which is followed by about three hours of homework,” senior band student Anna Byrne said.

Others who work or volunteer after school learn to manage their time and get their homework done before or after they finish their jobs.

It is very important for students to keep their schwool work and grades above all else.

One way students can prioritize their studies is to not procrastinate. Many students wait until the last possible moment to finish their projects, homework , or reading assignments, this is a big reason lots of students become stressed during the school year.

“Just get your work done, it is way easier to get it done than to wait until the last possible second,” Fowler said.

In high school, almost every student can also find themselves stuck in a situation where they want to hang out with

Balancing act Senior wide reciever Jack McCrossin takes on the field as well as IB math and business. friends but still have so much school work to do. Although it might be the boring choice, it is always a better outcome when you decide to get your work done and then socialize rather than putting your academics off.

“After practice I make sure I have all of my school work done before I go out or do anything else,” Said said.

Another way students can help balance their time between extracurriculars and academics is to keep up with an agenda or planner. Some students say that writing down everything they have to do and checking it off as they complete the tasks can really keep their school work and other activities in order.

Staying organized can give students a huge advantage in school.

Others find that keeping a simple schedule is the easiest way to prioritize their school work.

“I keep a routine for everything that I do. It helps a lot when you plan things ahead of time,” Byrne said.

Another great way to keep up with your school work is to make use of any extra time you have during school.

Making use of your W4 period or any extra free time during class can help create less work that needs to be done outside of school.

“I usually have enough time during lunch or W4 to get my work done so I can really focus on practice and have fun after school,” Fowler said.

When you go to work, practice, or any other extracurricular activity after school you should have a clear mind. It’s never any fun when you have loads of homework to worry about, your brain needs a break, so it’s always best to try to get it done ahead of time.

School will always be challenging, especially if you participate in other activities but if you continue to make it your first priority it will only help you improve on your time management skills in the future.

Megan Lee the athlete and scholar

TINA PHAM sophomore “I plan on keeping my education separate from my social life so that I can really focus on school. When I am in class I want to be very attentive to the lesson that is being taught, after school or during lunch or whenever I have free time, will be my time to socialize and go out with friends.”

KAA-LOK YAP junior “I plan to hang out occasionally with friends after school, but always make sure I have enough time to finish my homework.

Even though it is always fun to socialize with friends, school comes first . I need to put all of my focus and energy towards academics before anything else.”

Academics Editor

How do you keep up with your academics and social life?

I usually spend the majority of my weekends hanging out with friends and I see most of them at sports practices so that takes care of it during the weekdays.

What are your studying habits?

My studying habits aren’t the best , but I usually make sure all of my other homework is done the night before a test so that I can spend that night studying and reviewing.

IB Spotlight

What is your favorite IB subject?

My favorite IB subject is probably a tie between IB Film Study and IB TOK. I love getting to learn about and make films in Film but learning philosophy in TOK is pretty hard to beat. Everyday it’s something new and genuinely interesting. I’d love to pursue both philosophy and film if I have the opportunity to do so.

What are your plans after high school?

After high school I plan on attending a film school.

Ending up in New York City would be an absolute dream come true.

How do you prepare for IB exams?

I still have a decent amount of time before any of my IB exams, but until then I’ll just make sure to keep track of my notes in all my classes and review them whenever I have the chance.

Is your only focus academics?

No, athletics and the arts play a huge role, if not a bigger role, in my life than academics. I love being able to play three sports throughout the school year since it keeps me in shape and I get to have a break from academics every day. Photography, painting, and making films is another huge stress reliever in my life and they’re all things I want to professionally pursure sooner or later.

Who has helped you on your IB journey and how or why?

I’d say I’ve had three major motivators throughout my IB journey; the first being my Latin teacher, Ms. Ash who’s been such an amazing person in my high school career helping me with anything I’ve needed. Secondly, Coach Hook for teaching me so many things on and off the field- all of which have really helped me more than she probably realizes.

Lastly, my friends and fellow IB candidates who have stuck by me and suffered with me through these ups and downs of high school.

What advice do you give to future IB candidates?

Relax! Take one day at a time and if you have a bad day, get some sleep and try again the next day.

Take some classes you’re genuinely interested in and play some sports or joining some clubs to keep yourself active and on schedule.

What skills do you think the IB program has taught you that can help you later in life?

The IB program has taught me to persevere and push throught the challenges you face even if you don’t see them paying off right away. Karma is a beautiful thing and your hard work will be acknowledged sooner or later.

DANI VILLARROEL sophomore “I get my homework done before the weekends because I reserve the weekends for my friends. I don’t like to be stressed on the weekends, that’s when I like to relax and not worry about school.”

KENZIE GARDENER junior “I try to make plans with friends, everyone uses social media nowadays, but I prefer to hang out in person even if it’s just for a few minutes. I think spending time with friends is important as long as you can keep up with school at the same time.”

LIAM BURGESS senior “I plan to set my priorities straight, first comes academics and then my social life. The order matters because if I do not do good in school then I probably will not have a very bright future.

Although I enjoy being in the band, I still will always have school be my number one priority.”

HAO QUACH senior “I’m going to only hang out with friends when I have free time and I’m going to make sure that all of my work is done before I do so. Even if I get a few extra moments of free time during class I am going to work on my school work before I talk to friends or do anything else that could distract me from what matters.”

OMAR YASSIN senior “My plan is to sometimes ignore my friends when I have school work to do. At school I want to focus on school, when I am out of school I can focus on everything else.

In my opinion there is a time and place for everything in life you just need to use your time wisely.”

ANGELA KIM senior “My plan is to manage my time wisely and set a schedule for myself everyday. I also plan to make a to do list everyday and check it off as I complete the different tasks, it helps me not be stressed mentally. Organization is key, it allows me to have time for both my friends and school work.”

This edition’s

Sudoku

BY JESSICA SALISBURY

MARISSA JOHNSON sophomore “My plan is to divide my time wisely so I can always make sure that I have enough time to socialize and finish my school work.

For example if I plan on hanging out with friends, I will divide my time so that I still have enough time to do my homework either before or after.”

On your smartphone, scan this code using the application QR Code get the answers.

IN-DEPTH 6

Tues. Aug. 29, 2017

7 IN-DEPTH

Tues. Aug. 29, 2017

Climb aboard, get ready to explore!

AHS students pack their suitcases and get ready to travel to foreign countries.

Puerto Rico Manoa Raharinavio, 12

Raharinavio checking out the fresh fruits in Old Montreal.

Raharinavio looking at the city of Montreal on a hill located at Mount Royal Park.

For a week, junior Manoa Raharinaivo traveled up north to our calm neighboring country, Canada. Raharinaivo stayed at her cousin’s house in Longueuil, Canada.

One of Canada’s main languages, aside from English, is French. Raharinaivo had no difficulty with communication because she is fluent in French and made her trip much more easy-going.

Raharinaivo enjoyed the language, the food, the hospitality and the community she traveled to.

Longueuil had a sense of security to Raharinaivo since she has visited her cousins many times before.

Scotland

Danny Salisbury, 9

Canada “I experienced it in a way that made it feel like home,” Raharinaivo said.

“Since Montréal is a french speaking city, everyone was so friendly and respectful to me.”

There is more to Canada than the stereotypical maple syrup and Canadian bacon. Canada has the characteristic of a friendly and a rather peaceful community.

“I went to the city side and what stuck out to me was the public transportation because it was so clean and everyone was so nice,” Raharinaivo said.

Salisbury stands next to his mom on the top step of the Puerto Rican capital.

Salisbury stands in front of royal Caribbean cruise ship.

While sitting on the deck of the cruise, freshmen Danny Salisbury was overtaken with a sense of adventure and mystery. He could not wait for his voyage to Puerto Rico to be begin.

Despite his short stay, he made the most of his time by walking through the streets of a town. There, he passed by several shops that sold popular items in the U.S. territory.

This allowed him to get a glimpse of the different culture compared to the United States.

He stated that the capital, in particular, was one attraction that stuck out most to him.

“It is a place very close to my grandfather’s heart,” Salisbury said. “He was stationed there when he

was in the military.”

While walking through Puerto Rico, he states that he realized that the roads were not a safe place to be.

Transportation was a safety concern due to residents generally not abiding to traffic laws.

“I witnessed one driver drive on the sidewalk to get around another car,” Salisbury said, made me realize how lucky I am to live in America.”

By travelling to different countries and growing accustomed to the daily lives of its locals, Salisbury stated that it helped him realize that the things he takes for granted are necessities that people in other countries highly sought after.

Kenzie Gardner, 11

Gardner cuddles up with a six border collie puppy on the farm.

A panoramic view on top of Stirling Castle.

Rodriguez looking out her hotel room and a beach view.

Standing atop the high castles of Scotland, junior Kenzie Gardner took in the country’s endless, green landscape. For one week she visited the many attractions that Scotland had to offer, including Edinburgh, Glasgow, and the Scottish Highlands. Gardner was staggered not only by the little differences in culture but also by the sheer quantity of sights and activities that were exclusively there.

“Edinburgh is a popular city, much similar to London or Paris since it also gets very crowded with people,” Gardner said. The city is best known for its ancient castles and fortresses. It is a lavish city lined with colorful gardens and elegant shops, including a vast

number department stores that are not found in the United States.

Not only was Gardner impressed by the country’s deep roots in history placed in the castles, but also by the simplicity of a local’s farm she visited. There she saw animals, such as Border Collie puppies, goat and sheep.

“The man used a tool to shed the sheep’s fur off after many months of growing,” Gardner said.

However, the country is not all farmland and rural parts.

Gardner appreciated her time in the country that contained both crowded cities and tons of farmland and hopes to visit again in the near future.

Mexico

Italy

Sam Rodriguez, 10

Marina Chen, 12

From dusk till dawn, a sense of serenity is exactly what a five-day trip to Cancun, Mexico gave sophomore Samantha Rodriguez. Blessed with warm, turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea and near perfect weather, Cancun’s many resorts were a temptation the Rodriguez family could not resist. Rodriguez spent her days tanning under the sun’s warm rays while exploring the sparkling, crystal clear waters that is the very reason that makes for the destination’s popularity.

Rodriguez stated that she stayed at a resort called “Villas del Palmar”. There, she got to experience the cultural roots of Mexico from being served the finest cuisine and from the provided entertainment.

“There were dance shows that had music showing traditional dances [and] Mariachi bands singing and fresh traditional food,” Rodriguez said.

Her favorite memory of her time spent in Cancun was a Mexican fiesta and dinner cruise at the “Xoximilco”. Similar to a gondola in Venice, the means of transportation comes from a unique trajinera boat that captured Rodriguez’s mind. She was amazed at the 25-dish dinner and the overall ambiance of the place for it channeled the Mexican culture, customs, music, and food.

Rodriguez hopes to one day visit the vibrant city to once again experience its beauty and grandeur.

Chen poses with her tour guide for a picture.

A rooftop view of the town of Assisi.

While riding in a gondola through the Venice water-filled streets, the glistening blue waters triggers senior Marina Chen’s memory of her entire trip.

Especially, she remembers her taste buds being enriched with the many flavors of the foods in Italy.

Her daily meals consisted mostly or entirely of caprese salad pasta, pizza, risotto, crepes, gelato and other decadent desserts.

In Chen’s perspective, the landscape was beautiful with it’s monuments.

The churches in Assisi are almost entirely made from gold. It surprised Chen how the Italians managed to preserve all those ruins in Pompeii.The water in Capri especially was a brilliant

blue that looked like a sea of blue diamonds at every angle.

“The streets of Venice were filled with water, so one had to ride in a gondola with a man in a red striped shirt rowing you in order to travel around,” Chen said.

Overall, Chen really enjoyed her experience, the people, the food, the monuments, and the history of Italy. She plans to carry those experiences with her and become a little bit of that culture that she has been exposed to.

“What I thought was the funniest part was the fact that Italians actually do scream “Mamma Mia” when they get angry with you,” Chen said. “I learned that the hard way.”

Rodriguez sits in front of a sign with her sister in Cancun.

Bolivia Veronica Gonzalez, 10

Mexico Alondra Gonzalez, 11

Alondra Gonzalez poses in front of a cactus outside her family home.

Street view and rooftop view of Guadalajara, Jalisco.

As a sense of warmth and security overwhelmed her, junior Alondra Gonzalez entered her family home in Mexico. She knows that to outsiders, her home country is best known for many things, ranging from tourist attractions to exotic, beach getaways. However, junior Alondra Gonzalez has a different outlook on the Spanish-speaking country.

“It is like a second home to me,” Gonzalez said.

For 10 days, Gonzalez and her family stayed in Guadalajara. It is the capital city of Jalisco, a state in the western part of Mexico that many well- known Mexican icons originated from, including Mariachi music and sombreros.

“The remarkable thing

about this location is that the city is above ground.Whilst the streets of the city are underground in historical tunnels,” Gonzalez said.

Being immersed in the Mexican culture for almost two weeks was a change from the lifestyle she was used to back in America. She tasted everything that the city had to offer, from small food stands to fancy restaurants. She states that the food and the culture were all contrastingly different from that in Virginia.

Despite the many differences, she found the culture in Mexico gave her a different outlook on her everyday life in the U.S. She experienced no difficulties with socializing with the locals.

Gonzalez felt right at home.

A picture of the “Salar de Uyuni International Flags.”

Freshmen Veronica Gonzalez traveled to Bolivia for a two week period. During this time, she visited many of the country’s attractions, such as Salar de Uyuni. Stretching more than 4,050 square miles long, it is a large salt flat that was left behind by evaporated prehistoric lakes.

“The rain covers the salt making a mirrored reflection of the sky,” Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez describes Bolivia as a country with rich history, fascinating customs and landscapes that are out of this world, a country like no other.

She took advantage of her time there by learning the country’s history from those who are most equipped to tell it: the locals. The heart of South America empowered Gonzalez to expand her

horizons by dining on various foods that the country had to offer.

“I ate various varieties of dishes consisting of meat, one of the main ingredients of Bolivian food,” Gonzalez said.

Despite its richness in minerals and resources, the country is South America’s poorest country. Poverty is widespread, however, this allowed for Gonzalez to appreciate her life and the basic commodities in the U.S. “If you wanted water you had to boil it or buy bottled water because it wasn’t very sanitized,” Gonzalez said.

Despite facing these difficulties, Gonzalez wishes to go back to her home country and once again experience her culture firsthand.

Vietnam Tommy Nguyen, 12

Markets located in Ho Chi Minh City.

A picture of the “Cristo de la Concordia “located atop San Pedro Hill.

The mountains of Dat Lat.

From the unforgettable rigid mountain range of Da Lat and the city streets around the country, senior Tommy Nguyen remembered it all. For four weeks, Nguyen stayed with his family in one of the cities that the country has to offer: Ho Chi Minh City.

Dat Lat is known to be the highlight of Vietnam and is famous for its beautiful landscapes, such as waterfalls, hills and pine forests.

Nguyen found Dat Lat to be a refreshing change of pace due to its distinct cold weather to the otherwise overbearing heat of Vietnam.

Despite the country’s natural beauty, the inner streets of Vietnam are no safe place and Nguyen’s safety was concerned at every turn.

The only safety he had was his family making sure not to stray too far from their

presence.

“Vietnam is no happy place to be alone in,” Nguyen said.

He states that it is best to avoid nightlife trouble and it is not an uncommon misfortune to run into robbers, smugglers, kidnappers and rapists on one’s way home after a night out.

Despite the intimidating and overwhelming first appearance that one may get out of Vietnam, Nguyen fell right in place with its culture, people and lifestyle due to his own Vietnamese background.

Nguyen further explains about discovering the true levels of poverty and pollution that plague the streets.

From this trip to discover his own cultural backgrounds, he found many differences and parallels from living in the United States.

8 SPORTS

Tues. Aug. 29, 2017

Field Hockey ready to perform

BY LUKE ELKINS Sports Editor

Coach Abdulhadi watches over Juniors Oussama Bougria and Franco Kitila go head to head during practice.

Football plays for Coach Jefferson The Atoms defeat Stuart

BY ETHAN ZIMMERMAN Sports X-tra Editor The Atoms were victorious in their first regular season game, beating the Raiders in a 33-24 win on Aug. 25th.

Early in the game Stuart scored a field goal to make it 3-0.

The Atoms felt under pressure when Stuart scored first because last year the Atoms beat Stuart 44-0.

After the Atoms caught up they took the lead with a score of 27-18. Then Stuart scored a touchdown to make it a score of 27-24 the Atoms take the lead.

With in the last five minutes the Atoms scored a touchdown to make the score 33-24.

“With the reconfigured district, I think we are going to be better and have a better season,” junior Devin Gill said.

The Atoms faced tough defeats last year against West Potomac and T.C. Williams, but were victorious against Mount Vernon by a score of 28-21.

“Every week we always like to think that we were 0-0 and that every week is a new week,” Phan said. “When we win, we’d always like to keep winning regardless of the game from the

Coach Jefferson instructed players during a pre-game warm up last season against South County on Oct. 21. without coach Jefferson.

The Atoms plan to take advantage previous week.”

He was one of the best coaches I’ve of Jeb Stuart’s seven two way players, This season is particularly special ever had, and it’s going to be hard to be by wearing them down. for the Atoms. The football team will be on the field without him,” Gill said.

“We need to stay on the attack and looking to win this first game to honor a Coach Jefferson was in charge of the wear them down so that it becomes beloved coach. linebackers, and they feel motivated to easier later in the game,” Bellem said.

Coach Marshall Jefferson passed perform in honor of him.

With seven players playing offense away with a sudden heart attack on “Coach Jefferson was a really good and defense, that means that those June 1st, shocking and devastating all. coach and was always there for the He was an integral part of the football seven will tire quicker than the rest of team and the athletic department in team,” junior Alex Bellem said. the team. general.

The team is dedicated to triumph The varsity football team hopes Coach Jefferson has a special place over the other schools in the new disto keep their winning streak for the in the school’s heart due to his particitrict and show just how much Coach remainder of the season. pation on the school’s football team for Jefferson meant to the team.

32 years.

The Atoms dedicated their game “It’s going to be really hard playing against Jeb Stuart to him.

Which fall sport do you think will perform the best this season?

NALIN RAWAT Freshman I think that the Football team will do the best this season because a couple of my friends are on the team and I know that they are going to be really good.

INSAF BOUZANA Freshman I think that Football will perform the best because they are working really hard to be good.

MICHAEL ZEPEDA Sophomore To me I think that Cross Country this season will do the best because we are working really hard and we are really successful right now.

DEBY CRUZ Sophomore I’m gonna say Cross Country will perform the best because I’m on the team because we have a lot more people than last year and we’ll put in more effort. The bigger the team, the better we will do.

ALEJANDRO CASQUINO Junior I think that the sport that will do the best is Cross Country because, one, they put in at least five miles a day and we run everyday runs that are 10-12 miles and we do a lot of workouts that are very enduring and hard on our bodies.

SREEJANA PANTA Junior I think that Football is going to do the best because there team is really good and they practice a lot.

The Atoms volleyball season is underway as the team began official practices as well as having competed in multiple scrimmages. The Atoms’ first scrimmage took place on Aug. 16 against the W.T. Woodson Cavaliers.

The Atoms were defeated by the Cavaliers 3-0 but also competed in an extra set after the scrimmage for extra practice in which the Cavaliers were victorious.

The team’s next scrimmages took place on Aug. 23 against the Jeb Stuart Raiders and Woodbridge Senior, both scrimmages in which the Atoms were defeated 3-0.

“We played a really close scrimmage against Stuart,” senior Jessica Roop said. “We may not have won, but we felt like everyone showed up to play as a team.”

The team has set forth a number of goals to improve upon weaknesses for their regular season opener and beyond.

With more practice the Atoms look to strengthen fundamentals and allow for no targetable weaknesses in matches against other teams.

“One of the goals for our team this year is to improve our defense so that we can beat other teams,” senior Valeria Salinas said. “We don’t have as much height as most of our competitors this coming season so our defense will be important.”

One key way the team plans to improve overall as a whole throughout

the season is by communicating more on and off court.

Better communication as a unit will allow the team to avoid miscues and miscommunications during important games while also increasing player confidence.

“We want to improve as a whole by communicating more on the court to prevent small errors during matches,” Salinas said. “We can encourage each other so we can become more confident with our playing.”

Another vital factor for the team’s success this season is contribution from each player as well as strong cohesiveness as a unit.

Through this the team will be able to eliminate weaknesses and be better prepared for each game.

“We all contribute something important to the team,” Roop said. “So that way all of our strengths make up the team allowing for their not to be many weaknesses at all.”

One weakness the Atoms look to improve before the regular season opener is serving. The team has showed strength in being able to adjust to sets by rising for a kill or keeping in play, however the team looks to better their serving.

“A weakness we have as of now is our serving,” Salinas said. “We have strong servers but some of us are struggling to keep it in.”

The Atoms’ first regular season game takes place on Aug. 29 against the Thomas Jefferson Colonials at home followed by a game on Aug. 31 against the Lake Braddock Bruins on the road.

ELLIOT ALWES Senior I believe that Field Hockey will perform the best this season because they seem to be really enthusiastic about doing well.

MICHELLE AKL Senior Field Hockey will do the best this season because a lot of my friends are on the team and I support them.

XC prepares to kick grass

Volleyball sets up for the season

BY JUDE NANAW Sports X-tra Editor

Girls Varsity field hockey kicked off their season on Aug. 21 against Hayfield. Unfortunately for them, they were defeated 1-0, unlucky to lose by such a slight margin.

“I expect some early ups and downs as we work to increase our intensity and aggressiveness while developing the teamwork needed to be able to defend, move the ball up the field and score with any consistency,” varsity coach Cindy Hook said, on her expectations for the season.

Junior Rebecca Tecle believes her team has what it takes to have a successful season.

“I have a lot of confidence in our team because we’ve only played two scrimmages and one game and you can already see the difference in how we play together, every game we are stronger and communicate more throughout the field,” Tecle said. “Also it’s good that we get to play every team twice so we get to learn how their dynamic works as a team so we can beat them the second time through.”

For the season she believes they need to take advantage of the conference change.

Coach Hook believes her team needs to make some improvements.

“We need to improve our intensity and conditioning, our stick skills, our timing of cuts and passes and most importantly our ability to play effectively as one unit in all areas of the field,” Hook said.

With the rest of the season ahead of them, they will be looking to put the loss to Hayfield behind them and rebound in their next game against Mount Vernon on Tuesday, Aug. 29.

BY LUKE ELKINS Sports Editor

Senior Valeria Salinas and junior Alison Scott go in for a bump during practice.

Cross Country begins its season Saturday Sept. 9 with a meet at Burke Lake Park.

Cross Country will be looking to perform again this year after getting to regionals last year.

“We look way ahead of where we were last year as individuals, and as a team we look like we’ll have a better season,” junior Abbey Yared said.

To prepare for the season, Cross Country are practicing hard and putting in a lot of effort to get better.

Yared believes with the tough workouts they are doing, they have what it takes to succeed.

“Starting back in May, we started with light mileage and throughout the summer peaked up to over 50 miles a week. Coach Ciccarelli pushed us during workouts and even bikes with us on some of our long runs,” Yared said.

The team is motivated and eager to race, they have lofty expectations for the season.

“The team goal is to win the conference and perform well at regionals,” Yared said.

With many meets over the course of months, the Cross Country team needs to persevere and work hard to achieve their goals.

They will be looking to surpass their good season last year with a great season this year.

9 HEALTH

Tues. Aug. 29, 2017

Five tips when going

Back to school 3

After two months away, going back to school is going to be a big adjustment. People spent their summer breaks traveling, playing sports, and most of them weren’t studying. Trying to throw yourself back into a full time academic schedule will make a lot of changes to your sleep schedule, diet, exercise, stress, and immune system.

1

GET A GOOD NIGHT’S REST With school being back in session, students can no longer stay up until four in the morning and wake up at noon. Returning to a proper sleep schedule is the most important step in adjusting to being back in school. Having proper sleep habits is one of the most difficult things to adjust to when returning to the full academic schedule.

During the summer, teenagers tend to not use as much energy as they do when they are attending six hour school days plus sports and extracurriculars. The National Institute of Health encourages teenagers get between eight and ten hours of sleep per night in order for their brains to be the brightest they can be.

Having a good night’s rest will help with acquiring and memorizing information which is really helpful for those fast paced honors and IB classes.

2

EAT RIGHT Eating food at six different times throughout the day and having that midnight snack isn’t exactly the best schedule for school.

“I eat throughout the day during the summer but once I’m in school, I eat more consistently and at the same times everyday,” senior Grace Hatch said.

Having a consistent time to eat meals everyday will help you maintain a more organized and healthy schedule.

It is also extremely important to have a good breakfast every single day. A healthy and energizing one is preferred as it will help awaken your brain and your body for the day ahead.

Foods with eggs, avocado, walnuts, and almonds give your body extra brain power, as well as help maintain and preserve brain function. These foods will also help restore memory and prevent brain degeneration.

Skip those late night meals that occur after your metabolism slows down. You are unable to burn off calories and fats consumed at night because you just go to sleep afterwards. That midnight snack just turns to fat and will not help you fall asleep any easier.

MANAGE YOUR STRESS As school begins, the stress of getting good grades, finishing your homework, and getting everything else done starts to become overbearing.

Having a balanced and organized schedule helps with maintaining stress. Exercise is also a good stress reliever because it produces endorphins which can help you sleep better at night, in turn making you less stressed.

Be sure to complete your homework early and use your free periods to get your work done. Having it done early will prevent that stress and help you feel accomplished and less worrisome.

4

ALWAYS GET A GOOD WORKOUT Many people spent their summer treading water in the pool or ocean, but once those pools close and students are back in school, that is no longer an option.

Working out consistently is extremely important, don’t squeeze in the midnight work out at the gym.

Work outs in the morning or in the early afternoon will help keep you awake for the day but, not keep you awake too long. With classes, studying, homework, and clubs, finding time to workout can be a little complicated, but you cannot sacrifice your exercise in the midst of everything else going on. Joining a sport or taking an exercise class is a good option because it will force you to workout at specific times. Having a partner to workout with can make it much more fun and you can motivate each other.

Whatever it takes, making sure you get your weekly cardio and strengthening in is important in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

5

WATCH OUT FOR GERMS As summer comes to a close, the warm, sunny weather will come to a stop. Be sure to look at the weather reports as it tends to be different every day in NOVA. If it’s raining, have a rain jacket and warmer clothes because being wet in the cold will bring you a nasty cold.

Hundreds of students will be at school, every student has a lot of germs and not all of them are washing their hands.

“I don’t normally get sick, but when I do, it’s usually a virus I caught from school,” Hatch said.

In order to prevent being sick, always wash your hands before you eat and after you use the restroom, and try to prevent touching your face as much as possible.

Even if you’re not a football player, there are still ways for you to stay healthy and get a good workout. You can join an exercise class or run the track on your own.

GLOBALCHANGE.GOV

BY RACHEL SHOGREN Health Editor

After being bitten by a tick, you are at risk of Lyme disease. Symptoms of Lyme disease include: muscle and joint pain, fatigue, fever, swelling, rash, and headache.

Lyme disease spreads

BY GRACE HOGYE Managing Editor After you get home from a long hike through the woods, you discover that a tick decided to come along for the ride.

If you’re lucky the tick could be totally harmless, but in recent years, many have not been so lucky.

Over the last ten years, there has been a steady rise in Lyme disease especially in the northeast and midwest.

As of 2015, there have been 1102 confirmed cases of Lyme disease in Virginia. Nationwide, there are a total of 28,453 confirmed cases.

As the cases of Lyme disease continue to increase, it is important to know the symptoms and dangers that go along with the infectious disease.

After discovering a tick on your body, look to see if it is engorged or not. If it is not engorged, there is a smaller chance that it has had enough time to transfer the disease into your bloodstream. If you discover that it is engorged, keep on

eying the place where the tick bit you.

Most people get a rash shaped like a bull’s eye after getting bit. After about a week, look out for flu like symptoms. If you have been infected, you could experience fatigue, stiffness, joint pains, headaches, as well as fainting.

If you do experience these symptoms, make sure to seek medical attention from a doctor or specialist.

Lyme disease cannot always be treated. If medical attention is sought early enough, it can be cured. However, in some cases Lyme disease can be permanent.

If you ever find yourself in a situation that causes you to question if you have Lyme disease, make sure to take care of the problem early on.

Always be sure to check your body after going on hikes or runs through areas with tall grass and remove any ticks as soon as you find them in order to avoid going through the struggles of Lyme disease.

How are you going to stay healthy this school year?

YAHAIRA PAZ Freshman I am going to stay healthy by eating lots of fruits. I am also going to drink lots of water so I can stay healthy.

ALEJANDRO ERAZO Freshman In order to stay healthy during the school year I am going to be running a lot. I’m also going to make sure that I am sleeping well at night.

ANNA CHOI Sophomore I am going to be working out, eating healthy, and drinking a lot more water. My goal is to maintain my health all year.

CHRISTIAN REYES Junior I plan on going to sleep early and waking up feeling refreshed. Also I will eat breakfast every morning and stay hydrated.

ISATU KARGBO Junior I am going to be eating really healthy this year, as well as cheering during the fall. I am going to be working out too, when I am not at cheer practice.

GALLA MERCADO Senior I am planning to eat out less.

I am currently doing cheer which is good exercise and I plan on keeping up a good work out schedule in the off season.

JANICE MILLIAN Senior I am going to eat better this year and keep a healthy diet.

I also want to drink a lot of water so I can stay hydrated.

I plan to stay physically active by running.

BILL MAGLISCEAU English teacher I am going to stay healthy by trying to cut down on sugar like soda and donuts. I also want to eat more vegetables.

Must-haves for the fall season for guys and girls

What you need to keep in your bag this fall

BY RACHEL SHOGREN Health Editor As school starts, and you write your list of school supplies, there are a few things that you should add to your list.

Heading back to school means heading back to the land of germs and stress. Keeping things in your bag that can help you stay healthy are very important, as well as always having things on hand that will improve your brain power and help you stay focused during those long lectures and complicated tests.

These items are cheap and you can find them most places. They are also items that all students and teachers can benefit from.

They are small enough to fit in your bag, on your desk or even just to put in your car. They are items that you should always have with you in order to keep you healthy.

Hand Sanitizer

Tissues

Gum

Healthy Snacks

Deodorant

Target $0.89

CVS $2.57

Dollar Tree $1.00

Giant $2.00 - $6.00

Target $4.29

Weather it smells like Hawaiian flowers or it’s just regular Purell, hand sanitizer will kill the germs that you pick up from being in a school with 2,000 teenagers. It is easy to take on the go, so you don’t need to run to the bathroom before every meal.

As those germs start to spread, it is inevitable that you catch a little cold, carrying around tissues will ensure that you have them instead of finding out your class ran out. Tissues can also be beneficial if you need to fix or even take off

Gum can not only protect your teeth but it can help you stay awake during first period. Chewing gum also improves concentration and memory, which is important when studying for a big test. It can help ease stress and anxiety as well.

It’s never fun when your stomach grumbles loudly in a quiet classroom, bringing a healthy snack that can improve brain power is always a good idea. Snacks like granola bars or fruits and veggies can help you stay focussed and sharp during those long classes.

Deodorant not only helps the people around you, but it is extremely beneficial for you as well. It stops the growth of bacteria and decreases its probability to grow in the future. Deodorant can also prevent you from sweating.

your make up.

10 PHOTO

Tues. Aug. 29, 2017

MEET SOME OF YOUR NEW TEACHERS

McClain Herman and her husband traveled to Prague this summer, making it the 26th country she’s visited. This summer, her and her three siblings have each moved and started new jobs. She will be teaching English, and her favorite literary genre is historical fiction. When she’s not curled up reading a book, her husband and her love to go bowling. She is “currently fighting a very serious addiction to boneless buffalo wings.” Herman graduated from Clemson University and is a proud alumni. Her love for teaching isn’t the only thing she’s passionate about, she loves cats. Her most recent cat is Wilmur, making him her fourth cat.

Evaristo Martins displays his proud hokie pride at a festival at Virginia Tech. He graduated from Yorktown High School in 2011 and attended Virginia Tech. He will be teaching all the IB Math SL courses. When he’s not teaching, he loves to draw and paint. He has been drawing since he was nine years old, and has been teaching himself how to paint the past few months. Martins is also a huge baseball fan. “I love watching Nationals game and looking up baseball stats for players.”

One thing that sets him apart from his students is his music taste. He loves old rock music (such as KISS, Aerosmith, Van Halen, etc). “I don’t know what these crazy kids are listening to these days,” Martins said.

Art teacher Carmen Lucas and her giant schnauzer Lola. She grew up in the Chantilly area and went to PVI in Fairfax. She attended Ohio State and is a HUGE Buckeye, sharing the same name as the Alma Mater.

She double majored in studio art and art history and uses that as an excuse to travel a lot. She is teaching all levels of Digital Art & Design, Animation, and one section of Photo 1. “You regret the things you don’t do, not the things you do,” has been her notion to live by and pushed her to do a lot of stuff she is not always comfortable with such as swimming with sharks.

Passionate about old buildings and new architecture, Soo-Jin Lee visited the Cloisters in New York City. She also enjoys collecting quotations. “It’s a collection that doesn’t take up much room.” Her love for traveling took her to Korea this summer with her family. “We hadn’t visited as an entire family since 1988. So this was lovely to finally do,” Lee said. Lee also loves being a part of the theatrical world and she is a playwright. ‘I had a stage reading of my play called “The Men My Mother Loved,” this past March in Alexandria, VA.’

Zachary Minchow-Proffitt reaches new heights as he rock climbs up new terrain. His family loves rock climbing, kayaking, hiking, cooking, and eating. Virginia will be new to him as his wife, Kathleen, his son, Dexter, and him just moved to Ashburn from Columbia, South Carolina, after spending 10 years in Columbia. He attended the University of South Carolina where he received a BS in Biology, and his MAT in Biology and Education. “As a science teacher, I am especially pumped to be a new Atom,” Minchow-Proffitt said.

Jeffrey Smith strums his guitar, hoping to start the school year on a high note. He has been playing the guitar since he was just eleven years old. He is an FCPS graduate, and dreamed of being a cartoonist when he was in high school. Not only is he passionate about the arts, but he also loves literature and will be teaching English. When he’s not playing the guitar or drawing cartoons, you can find him fishing as he is “a lifelong fisherman.”

David Tyndall and his wife tackle new obstacles during their wedding. This summer was an eventful one for him as he got married and adopted a new dog. He taught at Annandale for five years, and did his student teacher here as well. He worked at Marshall High School for one year and did research in astrophysics and meterology. Besides his love for science, Tyndall is also very talented in the arts. He performed Shakespeare and was in the orchestra at UVA. When he’s not teaching, he visits national parks and has climbed a few volcanoes.

Barbara Hamill (top right) soaks in some sun as she takes a trip to the beach with her children. Before she started teaching, she used to work for the FBI. She loves traveling and has been to the Arctic Circle on a research boat and she saw narwhals when she was there. She has been to 38 of the 50 states. She plans to visit six more next summer. Her birthday is April Fools day and “wants to visit all 50 [states] before [she] turns 50.”

ENTERTAINMENT 11

Tues. Aug. 29, 2017

Annabelle: Creation, a prequel to Annabelle (2014), made over $35 million in the box office during opening weekend.

Annabelle: Creation 4 more horror movies to watch

David F. Sandberg’s prequel to Annabelle is a phenomenal hit

BY LINA AL TAII Entertainment Editor

Gasps and covered eyes filled the theatre as the young crippled orphan Janice was thrown over the stairs by a demon presence trying to possess her body.

Annabelle: Creation, directed by David F. Sandberg, is a prequel to Annabelle (2014) and the fourth volume of The Conjuring.

Sandberg cleverly portrays the chilling story of a demon taking possession of the porcelain doll named Annabelle.

When Sister Charlotte, played

by Stephanie Sigman, brings seven orphan children to Sam and Esther Mullins’ home, a demon’s announces its presence and tries to take possession of one of their bodies.

Janice and Linda, the two main characters, vow to stay together until someone can adopt both of them.

However, Janice is partly disabled in her leg due to Polio.

Janice’s weakness makes her the perfect target for the demon presence living in the Mullins household.

The demon, which begins the movie locked in a closet covered with Bible verses, calls to Janice at night and causes her to open the closet and release the demon, causing the whole movie to take place.

Director David F. Sandberg, who previously directed Lights Out

IT (2017) Based on Stephen King’s 1986 novel, this movie follows the huntings of a clown called It when it begins hunting children in the town of Derry, Maine.

ANNABELLE (2014) Directed by John R. Leonetti, this movie follows a couple who experience horrifying events happening through a vintage doll named Annabelle.

(2013) and Lights Out (2016), took over directorial responsibility of the Annabelle series from former Annabelle director John R. Leonetti.

Sandberg did not hold back on any aspect of horror or shock factor with Annabelle: Creation.

However, one factor of the film which was not as strong as it needed to be was the physicality and presence of the demon.

Though the demon does its intended job of causing fear and anticipation throughout the movie, there are no set rules or dimensions of the it’s capabilities.

For instance, the Mullins claim to have “locked” the demon in the closet covered in bible verses for an uneventful 12 year period.

However, the demon seems to

LIGHTS OUT (2016) David F. Sandberg’s second hit movie in the Lights Out series, Lights Out follows a girl who tries to help her brother and ends up finding a demonic entity attached to another family member.

have miraculously freed itself when it physically leaves a note under the door for Janice to find, and then leads her to the open door of the room where it is kept in a closet.

This brings to question if Janice really freed the demon or if the demon already had a strong power and connection outside of the closet.

On the contrary, Sandberg does a great job at foreshadowing and creating suspense leading up to Janice’s release of the demon.

First, Sandberg begins the movie by showing Sam and Esther Mullins’ with their young daughter, Annabelle.

Sam is a successful doll maker and has just finished making the first, and only, “Annabelle” doll.

However, Sam and Esther’s

THE CONJURING (2013) Directed by James Wan, this movie follows supernatural investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren as they help a family terrorized in their secluded new home.

daughter shockingly gets run over and killed by a car.

This sudden death causes the audience to wonder what will happen to the Mullins family. Moreover, Sandberg builds on this suspense and anticipation by creating a very suspicious and secretive mood around the Mullins household once the orphans move in.

For instance, Esther Mullins is revealed to be ill and disabled. However, she is kept in a closed room where only Sam visits her.

Later in the movie, the Mullins reveals that her disabilities were sustained where she was physically attacked by the demon living in the Annabelle doll.

Sandberg’s attention to the minute details ultimately pays off in

the overall presentation of the film.

Another major example of this type of detail is the first way the Annabelle demon contacted Janice.

During the exposition of the film, Sam Mullins plays hide and seek with his young daughter Annabelle.

Annabelle leaves Sam notes on folded papers telling him to find her.

In return, when Sam finds her, he leaves a note telling her “I found you”.

Similarly, Sandberg takes this aspect of their relationship and makes it the form of contact between the demon and Janice.

On Janice’s first night in the Mullins household, she finds a note under her door which says “Come Find Me”.

This results in the audience not only feeling totally creeped out, but also considering if it is Annabelle’s actual ghost that is contacting these girls.

This speculation is exactly what ran through my mind when Janice opened that folded note.

Furthermore, this would explain why Sam Mullins seemed so secretive when he told Janice not to open the door to Annabelle’s room.

However, Sandberg later reveals that though the Mullins did once believe this demon was their daughter’s ghost, they had learned the opposite a long time ago and subsequently locked it into a closet.

Compared to the other Annabelle movie and The Conjuring series, Annabelle: Creation was a massive success in production, presentation, and performance.

Admittedly, I spent most of the time with my hands partly covering my eyes in fear or anticipation.

However, that ultimately means Sandberg created a work of horror with depth, strong main characters, and a suspenseful mood supported by both the plot and the score.

Concert Review: Shawn Mendes Illuminate Senior Nicolle Uria’s first person account of concert at the Verizon Center

BY NICOLLE URIA Staff Writer

It was August 19 and “We want Shawn! We want Shawn!” was the chanting you could hear inside the arena of the Verizon Center.

More than 17,000 girls were waiting for their favorite singer to step on stage. Shawn Mendes, a 19 year old Canadian popstar who started off his career in 2013 through an app called “Vine” by posting six second videos of himself singing songs, is now receiving his third Billboard award this year for Artist of the Year.

I remember meeting Shawn in 2013, I had gone to a Magcon event where for $25, supporters were given a chance to interact and meet him.

At the time I wasn’t such a big fan like I am now, but I am very grateful that through that opportunity, I was able to further discover his music.

I had gone to the Illuminate concert with one of my best friends, Lauren Quiroz, a senior at Edison High School. Lauren had purchased me tickets way back in April as a birthday gift and we had been waiting for months for this day to arrive.

Every year since our freshman year, Lauren and I would buy tickets for each other every single time that Shawn was scheduled to perform in the Washington D.C. area. This concert was our fourth consecutive year seeing him!

To start with, the entrance of the Verizon Center wasn’t as long as I thought it would be.

Uria takes a photo with YouTube sensation Dante D’angelo. D’angelo has over 300K followers on YouTube.

The only worry I had was if I would get caught hiding my selfie stick in my overalls.

However, when the security machine turned red they thought it was because of my bracelets. I managed to sneak the selfie stick in!

As Lauren and I waited for Shawn to come on stage, I had spotted Youtube star, Dante D’angelo!

I got up and ran so quick from my seat that I ended up spilling my water all over on the ground. In the end it was worth it because I took pictures with Dante and even made a video with him!

Around 8:45 pm., the lights began to flash and the crowd

started screaming. It was finally time for Shawn to begin his performances.

He had come up from below the surface of the stage and started the concert off by singing his hit single “Treat You Better.”

Throughout the entire concert I was so having a roller coaster ride of emotions because his songs can make you feel very connected.

Did I forget to mention that Charlie Puth opened up for Shawn? Well he did and it was so amazing!

In my own personal opinion, Charlie sounds much better live because you can really hear the nice rich voice he has.

The best part of the concert was when Shawn sang “Bad Reputation.”

He sang the song so beautifully and with deep emotions. It was obvious that Shawn gave it all to that song.

Towards the end of the concert, Shawn decided to step down from the stage and run around the arena to meet his fans!

Unfortunately Lauren and I were in the first row with seats and he was greeting everyone who had floor seats but we still got to see him at a very close proximity.

Lauren and I also met some new friends who were sitting next to us because we were all really big fans of Shawn.

We were also all high school seniors! Overall this was a very emotional experience and it was one of the best concerts he has had. I wish I could re-live it all over again.

Playlist of the Issue BODAK YELLOW Cardi B Single (2017)

RAKE IT UP Yo Gotti, Nicki Minaj Single (2017)

BANK ACCOUNT 21 Savage ISSA Album (2017)

BUTTERFLY EFFECT Travis Scott Single (2017)

PILLS AND AUTOMOBILES Chris Brown, Yo Gotti, A Boogie Wit da Hoodie, Kodak Black Single (2017)

12 ENTERTAINMENT

Tues. Aug. 29, 2017

Enjoy a day filled with shopping, movie watching, and exercising by making your way to

Sunrise Swim An one hour swim includes 300-400 meter marker course. These swims are for practice and training, not clinics or learn-to-swim classes. You should be comfortable swimming at least 500 meters nonstop in a swimming pool.

Sunrise swims every Sunday, 8:30am

NATIONAL HARBOR

LENNON WUHRER

NATIONAL HARBOR

National Harbor

Farmers Market

Capital Wheel

Miller Farms Farmer’s Market returns to National Harbor with their wide array of fresh fruits and vegetables, baked goods, beautiful flowers and plants, and much more.

Hours: Every Saturday and Sunday, May 6 – October 29 10am – 5pm Located on American Way by the fountain.

As you soar 180 feet above the Potomac River waterfront, you will marvel at the incomparable views. Sights visible include the National Cathedral, Washington Monument, Masonic Temple, City of Alexandria, Prince George’s County and the lush parklands throughout the DC-Maryland-Virginia region. Book tickets online at the www.nationalharbor.com. Tickets range from $12-$16 per person depending on age.

Visit the most popular stores at Tanger Outlet

RACHEL SHOGREN

FILA Fila is a diffucult store to find, there is not many stores in the area. It is Tanger Outlets newest addition to the outdoor mall. This store has a good amount of items for both girls and boys.If you were to go to Top Shop, you would be getting a limited collection.

ADIDAS The Adidas in Tanger Outlets is not as big as most people prefer because it is an outlet. However, it is bigger than a section at a sporting goods store. There is a big shoe section along with a men and womens section. There are backpacks, hats and other accesories that are sold there.

RALPH LAUREN The Ralph Lauren located at Tanger Outlets is one of the best stores around. There is a kids, mens, and womens sections that are all very large. If you are a Tanger member, the discounts are very rewarding and help to save a lot of money. The next time you think of going to marshalls to buy a Polo shirt, give Tanger Outliets a try.

H&M Most people go to Springfield Mall when going to an H&M. However, the womens selection is very small while the mens section is very large.

The Tanger Outlet’s H&M has a very large womens section, but still has a very large mens section. There are more changing rooms too, so do not worry about waiting.

Tanger Outlet Brand-name stores include Pandora, Samsonite, Gap Factory Store, Polo Ralph Lauren, Coach, Under Armour, Michael Kors, Vince Camuto, Nike Factory Store, Columbia, Brooks Brothers Factory Store, J. Crew Factory Store, and many more. National Harbor outlets provide the best deals, all with the benefit of the awesome waterfront nearby!

Fila Slides: $30

Polo Hat: $25

Adidas T-Shirt Dress: $30

H&M Chimney-collar Sweatshirts: $35

Movies On The Potomac Double Feature: Cinderella (1997) & Cinderella (1950)

NATIONAL HARBOR

Nothing says summer like an evening under the stars—and there’s no better way to enjoy the season than Movies on the Potomac at National Harbor. The double feature will be playing on September 9, 2017. Pack your chairs, grab food to go from one of their delicious dining establishments, and meet up with friends at the Plaza screen for a free evening of fun for all ages! This is a perfect setting to get to know your future homecoming date too.

Note that double feature movies will begin at 4pm and will be shown once, so end times may vary with each movie. A schedule of movies to be shown can be viewed online on the National Harbor website.

Also note that movie times and dates may be changed or cancelled due to weather. Follow the National Harbor on twitter and instagram to get updates about future movies and weather updates. Movies will be shown until the end of September so make sure to keep in mind the possible showing times and days.

Salute The Sunset Concert Series World-class performances by bands from the nation’s Armed Forces at National Harbor will stir the hearts and souls of civilians and military personnel alike, while their tuneful stylings in a variety of genres please music lovers of all ages. Don’t miss these free shows on the Plaza stage on Saturday nights, May 6 to September 23.

No Excuse Workout

Boating in D.C. Enjoy National Harbor’s waterfront with Boating in DC! Rent a kayak, pedal boat, or stand-up paddleboard, or take on the sights with an evening kayak tour. Boating in DC also offers unlimited season passes, introductory lessons and classes such as SUP Yoga. Open May through September, paddling is a great way to stay active and do some exploring on your own! Rentals include lifejacket and paddle.

Hourly Rates: Single Kayak (1 adult): $16 Double Kayak (2 adults + 1 small child): $22 Stand-up Paddleboard (1 adult): $22 Pedal Boat (up to 4 adults): $30

NATIONAL HARBOR

-Yoga: Every Saturday, May 6– September 30, participate in a free yoga class on the Plaza from 10am – 11pm. Need to free your mind from the stress school is causing? Well, take a break and stretch it out!

-Zumba: Every Wednesday, May 3 – October 25, participate in a free fitness class on the Plaza from 7pm – 8pm.. This is the perfect way to get a few laughs out with your friends while doing a hardcore workout.

NATIONAL HARBOR

NATIONAL HARBOR

-CardioHit: Every Monday, May 1st – October 23, participate in a fitness class on the Plaza from 7pm – 8pm. If you are not playing a fall sport, this is a free way to stay fit.

-Kickboxing: Every Tuesday, May 2nd – October 24, participate in a free fitness class on the Plaza from 7pm – 8pm. This is a perfect way to get in shape with friends.

Summer Fridays Not a big fan of going to football games on a friday night? Well, start your weekend right with Summer Fridays at National Harbor! Play cornhole, Connect Four, giant Jenga, hula hoops, hopscotch, and more with family and friends. Enjoy performances by Bobby McKey’s, giveaways, and listen to the DJ spin your favorite summer jams.

And of course, going means you get front row seats to the best sunset view in the DMV. Get your cameras ready and your flip flops on!