Issue9

7

8

Health

Arts

explores student usage of over-thecounter medication in school

asks students why they think the arts are important to education

10-11 In-Depth

A

3

The number of students who were state champions See page 16

44

The percentage of AHS students who say they have a major problem with procrastination See page 10

93

The percentage of people who find the arts vital to education See page 8

It’s Academic advances to playoffs March 3 After winning the first match of the year, the It’s Academic team will face Montgomery Blair HS and Walt Wittman HS for the first round of the playoffs. The event will play on NBC at a later date.

The team consists of senior Andy Tran, junior Kevin Kwok, junior Olivia Buckley and sophomore Amelie Trieu. The two other competing schools are seeded as the top It’s Academic teams in Montgomery County.

Correction on No diversity The A-Blast apologizes for a Feb. 7 headline, entitled ‘No diversity.’

Although the school has a 72 percent caucasian faculty, that is hardly “no” diversity. The headline was misleading and we apologize.

Weekend

profiles the AHS state competitors for the winter season

lists the best places to go for wing night

4700 Medford Dr. Annandale, VA 22003 470

Informiing the Atoms siince 1954 4

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2012

(703) 642-4229

SNHS hosts date auction Hopes to reach $3,000 goal for cancer donations

BY ANNIE CURRAN Co-Editor in Chief

Sophomore Rani Bhangu is performing the classical Indian dance Kathak. This is Bhangu’s second year performing at Heritage Night. She says that she has been practicing for the performance since November. Bhangu also takes dance lessons to prepare for the annual event.

Practicing for Heritage Night Some have to reaudition to keep slot

BY CHRISTINE TAMIR Copy Editor Heritage Night, the largest cultural talent showcase of the year, will be held on March 15. It will feature acts ranging from graceful Vietnamese dances to the rich dances from West Africa.

A few of the acts have been preparing for a long time, while others have only just started.

“I’ve been preparing since

November, I believe,” sophomore Rani Bhangu said.

Bhangu will be performing a classical Indian dance called Kathak, which means “storytelling,” by herself.

“I’ve done it alone before and I guess I am a little nervous, but I feel like I’d do better by myself cause I wouldn’t have to coordinate [with others],” Bhangu said.

Understandably, group acts face more difficulty than solo acts to arrange practice times.

“I think that when they work in a group, it’s hard for them to get together to have the practice time to perfect it,” Heritage Night sponsor

Georgianna Tomisato said.

Though groups practice by themselves, on-stage practices are their chance to receive constructive criticism from Tomisato.

“We’ve been rehearsing for the whole past month; sometimes we mess around a lot and Ms. Tomisato is actually helping us; she tells us what mistakes we make and then she tells us, which I think is really cool cause she makes the dance better,” senior Heidi Osorio said.

Many performing groups are facing the challenge of working around schedules, sports or other after school activities.

“Heritage” continues on page 5

As students prepare their bids, the auction’s prizes are led onstage. With the goal of raising money for cancer research, 11 junior and senior guys are lined up one by one, each dressed to impress with a bright smile on his face.

This will be the scene at the Science National Honor Society (SNHS) Date for a Cure fundraiser during Atom Time today in the upstairs gym. It is part of a month-long campaign

by SNHS to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Through the other events of its Pennies for Patients campaign, SNHS has raised $1,300 of its $3,000 goal. Members hope that the event will put them closer to reaching their goal, as the campaign will conclude at the end of the week. Tickets for Date for a Cure are $3 and were sold during all lunches in the days leading up to the fundraiser. The idea was the brainchild of SNHS “Date” continues on page 5

NASIHA RASHID

$2.4

The budget that was approved for the 2013 fiscal year for FCPS See page 4

Sports

AJ MCCAFFERTY

By the numbers

20

ANNANDALE HIGH SCHOOL

the VOLUME #57 ISSUE 9

discovers the reasons students procrastinate

16

SNHS President Jiyeong Park talks with junior Brody El-Achi in the final meeting before the date auction.

School opens pupil placement policy Students from redistricted neighborhood begin signing up Students are selecting new classes for the 20122013 school year. As counselors travel to feeder middle schools to help eighth grade students sign up for courses, students from the Bren Mar Park and Wakefield Chapel neighborhoods will no longer be visited by AHS representatives.

However, this hasn’t stopped students who are upset with the decision, who would be going to Woodson or Edison HS, from making the decision to pupil place at AHS. Pupil placement is when a student elects to attend a school other than his or her base school for academic or non-academic reasons.

“It was a hard decision, it was one [my son] made on his own,” AHS parent Kathy Ryan said.

Ryan’s family lives in Wakefield Chapel and her son was assigned to Woodson HS. She currently has a sophomore at AHS. There were many factors that

MARWA ABDELAZIZ

BY ANNIE CURRAN Co-Editor in Chief

Students from the Wakefield Chapel neighborhood protest the then proposal of removing their neighborhood amid a July 7 public hearing. After a 6-6 vote, which redistricted two neighborhoods, many students who are now assigned to other schools are electing to attend AHS.

led to the decision to pupil place.

“We know the curriculum, which is great,” Ryan said. “It’s also very comforting to have both kids at the same school.”

After thinking about both schools for months, eighth grader Michael Ryan finally made the decision to come to AHS. “I think he just realized it would have been a logistical nightmare,” Kathy Ryan said. “Two kids, two schools, two marching bands, two schedules, two everything. We told him, just remember, one of us will always be there [at events], but one of us might have to be with Megan.”

The decision he made was on his own, and even after he made the decision, Ryan still attended Woodson’s Parent Night to do her research.

“As much as I was involved at Annandale, I didn’t want to put pressure on him. Each school has its community. The good, bad and ugly, they have their own community,” Ryan said. “It’s nice to know that we have a dedicated world at one high school and will be there as a united front; all four of us.”

In the past few years, AHS had been closed to pupil placing because of overcrowding issues.

“Pupil placement” continues on page 5

Members and staff reflect on Just World success Participants discussed how to make the world a better place

On your smartphone, scan this code using the application “QR Code” to learn about the ongoing fundraiser for the Class of 2013.

BY MARWA ABDELAZIZ News Editor More than 500 people from the Northern Virginia community attended the seventh annual Just World Festival on Feb. 24, an event aimed to inspire people to change the world.

This diversity fair, which was held in the cafeteria and in various adjacent classrooms, offered exhibits, academic workshops, international food and inspirational speakers. Andy Shallal, an Iraqi-American artist, activist and owner of

AJ MCCAFFERTY

Glory Days fundraiser

Junior Oumaima Kaabi and senior Mihyun Lee sign people in.

popular restaurant chain “Busboys and Poets”, gave the keynote address.

The exhibits, which were set up all over the cafeteria, featured very diverse ideas. “We have a great diverse student body so it was great to have everyone get involved,” Just World sponsor Catherine Mounteer said.

They ranged from the environmentally friendly AHS Green Atoms; the medically oriented Science National Honor Society; the Gay Straight Alliance which focused on social issues; cultural exhibitors selling henna tattoos; and political activists from Speak Truth to Power.

“My favorite was the Speak Truth to Power exhibit,” senior Nabil Aklil said. “It was mainly about those who speak out for human rights.” Aklil “Just World” continues on page 5

“My favorite celebrity is a great role model, he shows the greatest qualities as examples for people who look up to him.”

—Ariana Islam freshman

“I think they are more of images for entertainment than role models because I wouldn’t want to follow some of their [the celebrities’] footsteps.”

—Sangya Shrestha sophomore

“I think it depends on who the celebrity is, but I think most of them are bad role models.”

—Hanan Madina junior

“They don’t do a good job at it. ”

—Godwin Banzuelo senior

‘Linsanity’ sparks stereotyping NBA craze has led to more discrimination

By Daniel Park Editorials Editor Innate comprehension of math.

Horrendous driving skills. Mastery of the piano. These stereotypes and other jokes associated with the way Asians speak and look have always been prevalent, but ESPN took it to the next level when Anthony Federico, a writer for ESPN, posted a headline on the ESPN website about rising Asian-American star Jeremy Lin that read, “Chink in the Armor.”

The backlash was so severe that the reporter who wrote the article got fired and the anchor reporting on the article received a thirty day suspension.

According to the Merriam and Webster Dictionary, a “chink” is defined as a small crack or a narrow opening. Thus, when people use the word “chink,” it is a derogatory reference to the stereotype associated with the small eyes of Asians. The counter argument is that the writer did not mean to use a racial pun when he wrote the headline because it is a commonly used phrase to describe the weakness or opening in a team’s gameplay.

If this is true, then either ESPN has a bunch of hate-filled racists, or it has an inability to detect racism when talking about an AsianAmerican player. If it is the latter, then this is an example of how people of Asian descent and other races are still prone to casual discrimination in today’s society.

No one would write a racist headline about an African-American player because the mass movements and awareness from groups that have made significant strides in the Civil Rights movement, such as the NAACP, have defined such actions as going too far.

Perhaps the most unsettling thing is that this isn’t the only example of casual racism towards Lin, only the most publicized and obvious.

By Gaby Camilli Staff Writer

—Karen Olarinde Math teacher

QUOTE COLLECTION The A-Blast wants to hear your opinion. Your response to the following question might be featured in our Quote Collection:

What do you think about ‘Linsanity’ and its impact on the NBA and stereotyping?

man responsible for a derogatory headline with no contribution back to the Asian community in the form of sympathy or contribution, shows how far our country has really fallen.

Lin has shown extreme grace in handling the situation. This is due to a level head and, unfortunately, experience. As a Chinese-Taiwanese

Required ultrasound is unconstitutional Mandatory treatment bill should be repealed, not redone

“Having a celebrity as a role model would depend on who the celebrity is.

Some make great role models.

Some...not so much.”

Thousands of fans have chanted, tweeted and dubbed his nickname as “The Yellow Mamba.” Dozens of signs can be seen at every game such as “Long live Emperor Lin!” The fact that these signs and symbols of casual discrimination continue to run rampant, while ESPN nonchalantly apologizes and promptly fires the

American, he has had to overcome racism throughout his life. In San Francisco’s Pro-Am tournament, someone dismissed him while joking that he was in the wrong place for volleyball, another stereotype that Asians were not fit for basketball.

At Harvard, rival teams were eager to hurl slurs at him. Lin has been so exposed to the hate that he shrugs it off. This shows either great patience on his part,or it shows how detrimental this type of discrimination can be to the mind-set of even the most successful individuals of a race.

This is especially true for AHS students. Annandale, also known as “Koreatown” for its large Korean demographic, is so diverse that discrimination is bound to happen, so racism and prejudice is heavily looked down upon.

H o w e v e r, w h e n t h e r e i s sensationalist media and corporations trying to make profits out of extravagant headlines and merchandise, then it seems like race and feelings are ignored. Annandale students need to make a stand.

Lin is famous. He is an Ivy League graduate that can still play some serious ball. His jersey is flying off the shelves, yet he chooses not to defend himself. Dozens of sports writers have written about what Lin “represents” and what Lin “means for the future of basketball.” Everyone wants to ride the coattails of Lin, but now we will see if supporters, such as the students who roam the hallways of AHS, will protect and stand up for him as well.

Lin’s craze is not only a phenomena, it is a chance to show that America is ready to accept an Asian American as a figurehead of a sport. We, as Americans, are rapidly losing that chance. The media and corporations are turning “Linsanity” it into a lucrative part of basketball, and the lines between sensationalism and discrimination are becoming thinner and thinner.

Every comment on the Internet or every person stating that Asians need to “open their eyes” only exemplifies how closed the media’s eyes are to Asian demographics and their pride as Americans.

Women’s rights have recently been under fire. Senate Bill 484, a controversial Virginian Bill requiring women who are getting an abortion to take a transvaginal abortion, was tossed out after losing the full support of Republican Governor Bob McDonnell. A transvaginal abortion is the most inversive ultrasound procedure.

On Feb. 22, McDonnell stated that, “mandating an inversive procedure in order to give informed consent is not a proper role for the state,” and that, “no person should be directed to undergo an invasive procedure by the state, without their consent, as a precondition to another medical procedure.”

However, after Bob Mcdonnell backed off the original legislation, he began to support a new, rewritten version of the law that would make it mandatory for all women getting abortions to have the abdominal ultrasound, and have the transvaginal procedure as optional.

Both are gross infringements of women’s rights and overstep the boundaries of government. Even though McDonnell has backed off of the extreme original proposal, he

Why this bill should be rejected: • It will overwhelm medical staff • Personal procedures shouldn’t be mandated • It’s an infringement of women’s rights • It’s costly for medical insurance companies • It’s medically unnecessary still fails to see that forcing women to undergo the ultra sounds is a major infringement on our rights as individuals. This proposed bill is a part of the broad attempt of the conservative and evangelical segments of our society that want to undo decisions made years, even decades ago, whether it be birth control, evolution, man’s effect on the environment and now abortion.

The transvaginal ultrasound bill was originally proposed by Republican Virginia Delegate Kathy J. Byron.

Hypocritically, Kathy Byron claimed that the administration’s proposal of mandatory HPV vaccinations for minors was a government intrusion on a person’s rights. Yet, this bill is one that could many consider an even bigger infringement of women’s rights.

Yes, the law was repealed, but the law should have never came up to the table in the first place. The transvaginal ultrasound procedure

E-mail your response to: ablast.editorials@gmail.com

If the law is remade, the abdominal ultrasound (tool pictured above) would be used

mentioned in the proposed bill required a several inch-long wand/probe to be inserted into the woman in order to obtain the image.

The new clause stating a mandatory abdominal ultrasound involves having the wand being rubbed on the woman’s abdominal after a special gel is smeared.

Both procedures are not medically necessary. Even if it was necessary, personal medical decisions should be made between the doctor and the patient, not by the government.

Enforcing the ultrasound is an attempt by the more religious, prolife legislators to try to influence women not to go through with their abortions. But they fail to realize that these women who are to the point of scheduling and getting an abortion have already put in a lot of time and thought in whether or not the operation is the best option for them.

A last-minute ultrasound will not change minds about going through

with the operation. Women will just go out of state for the abortion.

Making these ultrasounds mandatory would overwhelm hospital staffs. Having doctors and equipment available for every single woman getting an abortion in Virginia would be both costly and impractical.

The proposed bill has also sparked controversy among health insurance companies on whether or not they would have to cover all of the expenses for these ultrasounds. It’s a lose-lose situation. Women’s choices would be suppressed and make healthcare and insurance industries would have more influence in medicine, making healthcare less accessible.

For a Republican, who usually advocates for less government involvement in the lives of its citizens, it is, frankly, surprising that McDonnell would try to go this far. The government should not be able to be this involved in our medical lives.

Staff

Read anything good lately?

On your smartphone, scan this code above using the application “QR Code” to view a story about vandalism of school property and how it affects the school.

Annandale High School Vol. 57 No.9 4700 Medford Dr. February 28, 2012 Annandale, Virginia 22003 phone: (703) 642-4229 email: theablast@gmail.com fax: (703) 642-4299

DANIEL PARK

What do you think about celebrities and their influence on teenagers?

Feb. 28, 2012

TRICIA O’NEILL

2

Editorials

The A-Blast is an award winning newspaper that strives to inform, educate and entertain the student body and community.

Published every three weeks, The A-Blast will not print any material that is obscene or libelous; or that which substantially disrupts the school day, or invades an individual’s right to privacy. The A-Blast is an independent, open forum for discussion that is printed at the Springfield Plant of The Washington Post. Signed letters to the editor of 250 words or less may be submitted to room 262 or mailed to the school. The A-Blast reserves the right to refuse advertisements. All submissions become property of The A-Blast, Copyright, 2012.

EDITORIALS

Feb. 28, 2012

‘In God We Trust’ is OK Religious sign in lobby is not an offense to AHS students

Trending Topics

5 reasons the lobby sign is not inappropriate:

In the front lobby of AHS, there is a tiny, framed sign that reads, “In God We Trust.” It is a sign that students who ride the bus everyday might never see in all of their four years at the school.

“In my four years at AHS I’ve neither seen nor heard of such a sign,” senior Carolyn Hartley said.

After asking a variety of seniors and underclassmen about the sign, most responded that they had never seen the sign or if they had noticed the sign they were not sure as to where they had seen it displayed.

If such a large amount of students have not noticed this small, harmless sign, then how can it be that it is a “sign that haunts us today” as stated by Noah Fitzgerel in his Feb. 7 editorial “God does not belong in schools?”

Before I go any further, I would like to state that my stance on this topic is not from a religious view; it is purely to dispute the harshness of Fitzgerel’s editorial. This sign does not “haunt” AHS students nor does it “allude to a God only supported by ultraconservative Christian fundamentalists.” This sign is not a clear establishment of any one particular religion and it does not show any government interference or persuasion to practice any one particular religion.

AHS is an extremely diverse high school with many religions represented through multiple religious clubs, such as the Muslim

Many students do not notice the sign in the lobby, thus it does not constitute an “offense.”

2.

The sign is not a clear establishment of any religion, due to a lack in specificity regarding “God.”

3.

The fact that religious clubs such as the Muslim Student Association, Korean Bible Study, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Jewish Culture Club are popular at AHS illustrate widespread religious beliefs among students.

4.

The term “God” caters to the theology of many religions and not exclusively to Christianity.

5.

The Establishment Clause is often misinterpreted, allowing for many to claim that religion in public life is unconstitutional.

Student Association, the Korean Bible Study, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Jewish Culture Club. All of these clubs have the right to organize under the Equal Access Act of 1984.

The very fact that these clubs exist shows that religion and a belief in God are held by many students of different faiths and that their faiths are present with them in their daily lives even in high school. The one thing that ties all of these faiths together is the belief in one Supreme Being; it is the same entity no matter what name or language used, whether it be Allah, God, Yahweh, Jehovah or Dios. Just because the English word “God” is used on the sign does not mean it is addressing one of the faiths represented at AHS. The sign does not speak to one specific religion, but instead, it represents a wide range of religious practices. There are even some individuals who believe in a

Higher Being, but do not associate themselves with a specific religion.

I have talked to many people representing many different beliefs at AHS. Whether Muslim, Jewish, Christian, Atheist or Agnostic, none have expressed a distaste for this tiny sign hanging in the front lobby.

Even the Atheists I have spoken to do not feel offended. They feel that the sign does not pertain to them and they do not feel that any religion is being forced on them.

Fitzgerel cites the Establishment Clause, but as many people usually do, he fails to understand the context and spirit with which our Founding Fathers included this clause. This clause was not created to instruct citizens to leave their faith at home, but to ensure to all who came to the U.S. that their faith and diversity were welcome. It is a promise to all that no one will be forced to adopt an official state religion nor will

The Washington, D.C. area received less than two inches of snow this winter.

GRAPHIC BY NOAH FITZGEREL

BY SARAH KNENLEIN Special to The A-Blast

1.

3

there be a tax levied upon them to support such a nationalized faith.

In addition, the Establishment Clause was not created to completely remove religious beliefs from the daily lives of citizens, even though many try to manipulate it as such.

Fitzgerel states, “I am ashamed of the fact that I live in a state that prides itself on marginalizing minority religions.”

What evidence is there that the Commonwealth of Virginia prides itself on marginalizing minority religions? Does Virginia not provide a free education to all regardless of race, religion and gender? Are we restricted from wearing jewelry or clothing that may express a religious belief such as a cross, a hijab, a turban or a Star of David? No, and neither are we forced to wear these symbols in this alleged “God’s State.”

Science National Honor Society has raised over $600 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Israeli-Iranian relations are deteriorating, causing fears of a new global war.

Just World Festival, held last Friday, Feb. 24, was a large success, attracting several schools from the East Coast.

Debates should not be personal N

PHOTOS FROM LS.NET, GLORIA-CENTER.ORG, SNHS.ORG, REDWATERMELLEN.COM

What do you think of the ‘In God We Trust’ sign in the school lobby?

oah’s otes

Editorials Column

“It’s appropriate to be in a public school because there are many religions represented here.”

By Noah Noa N oah h Fitzgerel Fitz Fi tzge gere rell

Ask Annandale

In classroom discussions such as debates, do you find that you change your mind?

NO, NEVER 33%

YES, SOMETIMES 58%

YES, OFTEN 9%

These statistics are based on a Feb. 19 survey of 126 AHS students distributed during White Day A-lunch.

— Xavier Feliz

freshman

NOAH FITZGEREL

When told that my generation epitomizes laziness and simply contains the beneficiaries of an easy world, I am the first to protest. Mind you, I respond, we did not raise ourselves! It seems that you all have forgotten the little things, I am told. I retort, those “little things” are changing!

However, I have seen a growing trend throughout my classes that seems to prove the nay-sayers correct. I hope that this trend is not an epidemic among all members of my generation, but an endemic contained to AHS. It is simply my peers’ closed-mindedness.

Exactly the opposite of being open-minded, I have seen too many friends enter a discussion or debate with a predetermined notion that their position is the noble, just perspective. Anyone opposed to them should chalked be off as an imbecile. To them, things are personal.

This is the trend that has me disappointed.

In a classroom divided over a debate topic, I

Junior Abby Palacios understands the importance of keeping emotion out of discussion. In IB Theory of Knowledge, Palacios contributes to debates without becoming emotionally charged.

am often saddened to see opponents rolling their eyes at each other or exchanging remarks such as “how can you really think that?” while laughing at their classmates’ perceived stupidity. This is quite a disappointing occurrence.

Have we forgotten the purpose of discussion and debate? While different in their own regard (a discussion is an organized conversation about a topic, while a debate is a formal discussion involving opposing viewpoints), both can and should be accomplished without involving personal feelings.

In fact, for centuries, this aspect of formal disagreement has allowed for the most significant of revelations. After all, it is said that the Founding Fathers were noted for their jovial conversations in local Philadelphia taverns immediately after emerging from heated debate (both physically, as they occurred in late June into early July, and metaphorically) regarding the contents of a future declaration of independence.

However, it seems that students at AHS have forgotten such an aspect of discussion and debate.

Maybe such a fault of memory can be attributed to the lack of a school-wide debate team (which, to my delight, I hear that administrative assistant

Jennifer Sharp is attempting to begin) or teachers’ lack of understanding of the true merits of a discussion. Notwithstanding, students are losing valuable time when entering a class-wide debate with an obstinate state of mind.

However, such a loss can be easily changed. It is never too late.

Teachers and students alike could benefit from participating in classes modeled after IB Theory of Knowledge. Taught by social studies teachers John Hawes and Tim Kelly, the class gives students a free forum for thought. Without the pressure of receiving points for the frequency with which they participate in conversation, which are instead based on the content of their contributions, students are more easily open to a change of mind.

H o w e v e r, i f s u c h a p r o b l e m r e m a i n s undisturbed, I can only shudder to think of the behavior AHS alumni might display during meetings at future workplaces. Just imagine entering a meeting regarding a budget proposal only to hear your employee adamantly advocating for an exorbitantly pricey addendum.

Such a future might be quite realistic if left up to the current state of debate and discussion at AHS.

students be allowed QUOTE COLLECTION RESPONSE: Should to eat in classrooms?

I’m not the kind of person who has to eat all the time, but skipping breakfast and being forced to wait hours to even smell food; that’s torture.

I think eating in class should be allowed, and for good reason.

Teachers wonder why students spend so much time looking at the clock, and most of the time it’s not because class is boring us, it’s because we want to go to lunch.

Being teenagers, we’re hungry

practically all the time and paying attention to the teacher is kind of a challenge when all we can think about is food.

I can say from experience that W6 and R5 are usually the hardest classes to focus in because all I want is to go to lunch.

Freshman year I had A and D lunch, and on the days I had D lunch, class was like a marathon, but on the days I had A lunch, I was able to pay attention so much better.

I’m not saying students should be able to bring in huge meals to eat during their classes, but I don’t see any harm in eating a snack.

I can see why teachers don’t allow it because sometimes it can leave behind a mess or it can cause a distraction during class.

But honestly, I feel like I’m more distracted when I’m waiting for lunch than when I have food. In my opinion, I don’t think it’s completely reasonable to keep kids from eating

in class.

In an effort to make school days more productive and rewarding for students, I am not opposed to allowing students to eat in class. I actually think that allowing students to do so would be rewarding for teachers and students alike.

— Marissa Shartel senior

“It’s not appropriate because there are many religions represented at AHS.” —Bethel Mahoney

sophomore

“As times are changing, the merits of the sign should be up for debate.”

--- Jae Min Kim junior

“I think that it is an important reference to American history that this country was built upon.”

— Enrique Arispe senior

“I feel that as long as the law is there it should remain there, but if the law were changed, I would not be opposed to taking it down.”

— Yaara Crane

chemistry teacher —Compiled by Noah Fitzgerel

4 News Briefs Last round of club pictures

Tomorrow, Feb. 29, the rest of the AHS clubs and honor societies will be taking yearbook photos.

Members of each club should report to the cafeteria at their scheduled time. For times and locations, refer to the list outside of the Publications Lab, room 262.

Black History Bowl new date

Students are encouraged to participate in the Black History Bowl which has been rescheduled to March 14 during Atom Time. The winning class gets $100.

Students represent AHS AllVirginia Band and Orchestra Junior Michael Sgrecci (French Horn), Seniors Diego Cornejo (Bb Clarinet) and Beth Hardbower (French Horn) will all compete at All-Virginia Band and Orchestra on April 12-14.

Senior males take part in Mr. Annandale in the competitions of Spirit, Strength, Talent, Elegance and Intelligence.

News Kings Dominion Law repeal to fail Feb. 28, 2012

School will most likely not start earlier

By Nasiha Rashid News Editor

Much to the delight of students and the disappointment of teachers, the Kings Dominion Law Repeal has been killed in the Virginia Senate.

The law, proposed by Governor Bob McDonnell earlier this year, consisted of three sets of bills, however all were rejected.

To the delight of many students, schools in Virginia will start after Labor Day. This is also a success for the tourism industry that relies on the late summer visitors for revenue.

Many school officials were hopeful that the a repeal of the law would get passed and that schools would be able to open schools at their discretion, preferably before labor day in late august.

For the past month McDonnell has made announcements regarding his educational reforms including the reversal of the Kings Dominion law.

Teachers, although hopeful of

Local support for the law

“I prefer to start early in August and Finish in May. We would have extra time to prepare.”

—math teacher Roberto Obando “I know there are time constraints with IB testing.

Starting earlier would have been better.” ­­—junior Nardos Assefa

“I would like to see FCPS given the option of starting school before Labor Day.” —Mason District School Board Member Sandy Evans what they regard as the much needed time extra allotted to preparation for testing, will have to stick to their regular testing schedule. Teachers cite that the additional time that would have been added on to the school year had the repeal been accepted was a key point in why they supported the plan. Students also feel the push for time as their

Boys to treat their dates to Fuddruckers dinner

Students interviewed by review team in order to assess school

“Date” continued from page 1

Just as students and teachers must reach certain levels of achievement, schools themselves must meet statewide standards in order to ensure that an effective educational program is in place. This is done through an accreditation process, which was conducted at AHS from Feb. 14-16 and resulted in a full accreditation. “[Accreditation is] based on a set of standards the organization has,” Assistant Principal Aaron Schneider said. “It’s the school’s responsibility to meet the standards.”

Over the course of the three-day period, a quality assurance review team composed of one president and two vice presidents from high schools around the state toured AHS and poured over documentation prepared by the school. The team also met with a number of AHS community members to conduct interviews about AHS. It’s the community “They working together for asked us the accreditation. what we like and what we —Aaron Shneider can improve Assistant Principal on,” senior Fatima Khan said.

According to Schneider, Khan was just one of over 100 people interviewed as part of the accreditation process.

The quality assurance review team also spoke with other students in addition to administrators, teachers, staff, parents and Mason District School Board Member Sandy Evans.

“It’s literally an entire AHS community process,” Schneider said. “It’s the community working together for the accreditation.”

After compiling the information and data it collected through both documentation and interviews, the team presented its findings to the staff, announcing AHS’s full accreditation. As of Feb. 24, the school was still waiting for official documentation of the accreditation.

“

Senior CJ Aftergut carries two stacks of The A-Blast on a bar indicating his strength for the competition.

teachers help them get ready for IB and SOL tests.

“I definitely wish the law could have been passed because I know there are time constraints with IB testing. Starting earlier would have been better,” junior Nardos Assefa said.

In a regular school year starting after Labor Day, teachers are

AHS accredited Students date for a cure

By CJ Aftergut Co-Editor in Chief

Senior Jack Deible wins the title of Mr. Annandale after a touch competition.

T h e K i n g s D o m i n i o n l a w, supported by Governor Bob McDonnell (above) was rejected by the Virginia Senate.

constantly pushed to meet the requirements of getting their students prepared for standardized tests that happen in the months of April and May. “I prefer to start early in August and Finish in May. We would have extra time to prepare, but it’s fine for me the way it is,” IB Math Studies teacher Roberto Obando said.

Teachers feel that there is not a sufficient amount of time when it comes to preparations for SOL, IB and AP Exams. An extra 10 days would serve as a reprieve for many, allowing for a more flexible or relaxed testing schedule.

Despite the rejection of the repeal, schools will still be able to apply for a waiver to allow them the chance to open schools before labor day.

Nonetheless, another version of the bill has been approved by the House subcommittee and will be awaiting for the approval of the Senate committee.

“I would like to see FCPS given the option of starting school before Labor Day and will be disappointed if the General Assembly fails to do so,” Mason District School Board Member Sandy Evans said.

President, senior Jiyeong Park.

“It was my idea,” Park said. “I got my idea from Leah Cutler last year, the campaign manager from Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. When I was talking to her about the events other schools host, she told me that this one school in Maryland held a date auction and it was extremely successful.”

Although students of all grade levels are welcome to attend, only juniors and seniors can place bids. Bids will begin at $5 and will increase by $5 until there is only one bidder left. The winning bidders must pay before they leave the event. The date will be held at Fuddruckers, where at least two officers from SNHS will be present. The boys will have to

pay for the dates on their own.

This is the first time that SNHS has hosted a date auction. The students being auctioned off consist of junior and senior boys.

The seniors are Ahmed Bile, Paul Singh, CJ Aftergut, Dylan Shuey, Sergio Moya and Abdul Fares. The juniors are Brody El-Achi, Austin Chavez, Ulugbek Israilov, Stephen Oakes and Gunnar Thompson.

“I agreed [to do it] because I know in the end it all goes to a great cause,” El-Achi said.

“Plus it makes me feel pretty.”

El-Achi is confident that he will bring in money for the event.

“In this case, I don’t think I’ll go for less than $500,” he said There is also an extra incentive for students to attend the auction. Just by purchasing a ticket, their names will be put in a raffle to win a Vera Bradley bag. A second bag will go to the highest overall bidder from the auction.

Meet the boys

”

Brody El-Achi

Ahmed Bile

Gunnar Thompson

Abdul Fares

CJ Aftergut

Austin Chavez

Dylan Shuey

Ulugbek Israilov

Paul Singh

Stephen Oakes

Sergio Moya

Advertised budget approved for FY 2013 Senior Daniel Hyunh uses a shake weight for the Mr. Strength portion of the show.

Total budget increases 8.9 percent from last year

By Annie Curran Co-Editor in Chief

Senior Samir Shah shows his AHS school spirit during the competition.

Senior Troy Callahan also wears a red cape and a shirt with a large red “A” to show his AHS school spirit.

-PHOTOS BY HELINA DANIEL

Student athletes and teachers are the most affected in the $2.4 million advertised budget.

This is an increase of 8.9 percent, or $200.6 million, from the 2012 FY budget. The fees caused some three season athletes to pay close to $300. The board made the decision to stop charging athletic fees, which will decrease the yearly revenue by $1.7 million. Teachers will also most likely receive raises.

Junior Thien Mai had to pay the fees twice this year, for his participation in marching band and tennis. He is happy that the fees could be eliminated.

“I feel like this is a good things, we shouldn’t have to pay to represent our school,” Mai said.

The decision to cancel athletic fees was in part brought on by At-Large School Board Member Ilyrong Moon and Mason District Member Sandy Evans, who included that in an earlier omnibus bill. At-Large School Board Member Ryan McElveen was also a champion for the cause.

When he was at AHS at in Oct. 18 PTSA meeting, he announced that he was against the fees and would work to overturn them.

“This budget was not as difficult as the past several years, as we seemed to have turned a corner and aren’t facing the draconian cuts of previous years,” Evans said.

The majority of the money, 85.9 percent, will go to instruction in school. Transportation accounts for 5.4 percent, general support accounts for 4.5 percent and facilities management accounts for 4.2 percent. Today, FCPS will release a more specific plan of where the money will go. On

Advertised budget for 2013 fiscal year • The budget consists of $2.6 billion • Athletic fees have been cancelled,

which will cause the county to lose

$1.7 million in revenue • 85.9 percent of the money will go to

classroom instruction • Federal aid will decrease by 34.5 per cent • It is still to be determined were each

of the funds will go specifically May 24, the school board will adopt the FY 2013 budget and the fiscal year will begin on July 1.

Another group from the AHS community will be pleased with the budget proposal- teachers. When Superintendent Jack Dale made his proposal to the board on Jan. 12, he stated that he wanted to use 88 percent of the funds towards teacher compensation. According to the Annandale Patch, he will include a two percent market adjustment and step increase for employees who are eligible.

Those who are eligible for both would receive a 4.7 percent raise.

“I think it’ll be great, because the cost of living is increasing and [at the moment] my pay is not,” Spanish teacher Bianca Mullins said.

Evans agrees that it is something the teachers need.

“We’re getting back on track after the years of painful budget cuts,” Evans said. “After two years of freezing pay until this year, a top priority of the Board was to give teachers and other employees

The School Board approved the budget on Feb. 9, 2012. They will vote again on May 24.

raises.”

There is also the issue of how many days the late bus will be available. During the economic recession, the late bus was limited to one day. It has not been decided yet how many days the late bus will be available. Many students want other kids to be at the school.

“We need more late bus days because students who need help don’t always have a ride,” junior Elvin Villatoro said.

The county is proud to boast that the majority of the money is coming from themselves.

According to the official 2013 budget brochure, 71 percent of the money will be payed for by the county. On average, the state of Virginia pays for 44 percent of a school system’s budget, but the government is only contributing to 20.5 percent of the 2013 budget. Federal aid will decrease by 34.5 percent, or $21.8 million, because of the loss of funding from the Department of Education for jobs.

News

Feb. 28, 2012

Acts will reflect diversity “Heritage” continued from page 1

“[Coordinating] was hard because, as girls, we always have activities to do,” junior Patricia Moriba said.

“And when we’re talking, we always want to talk over one another, but at the end of the day, we did get it done, and got all the dances together we found a time to get together, and it went out well.”

Moriba will be performing in the “West African Gyrls” girls group with five other performers from the West African countries of Sierra Leone, Ghana, Nigeria and Gambia.

“We’ve been practicing for about two months now, and it’s really easy dances like dances that we’re pretty much used to,” Moriba said. “We just added it all together so that it’s one

The Just World Festival

Lifetouch

Rehearsals begin on the stage in costume

big routine from different cultures.”

While most believe Heritage Night performing groups to be filled with homogeneous groups of students from the same culture or even continent, certain cultural acts have also branched out to include more than one culture.

Osorio, from Guatemala, will be performing a Vietnamese dance with a group of Vietnamese dancers.

“I’m not Vietamese, but I still like it,” Osorio said. “Most of my friends are from Vietnam, and I think it’s really wonderful to get to know another culture and what they actually do, like events that they do in the country.”

The Korean dance group, Korean K-pop, will also be culturally diverse with three Korean members, two Chinese members and one hispanic member.

Though Heritage Night is aimed towards displaying a piece of a culture through a short performance, has also managed to teach others about different cultures, and make an average of $3,000 per year

5

Sophomore Alex Gonzalez sang “Esta Vida” at last years Heritage Night.

according to Tomisato.

For Tomisato, who is also an ESOL teacher, Heritage Night goes beyond learning about and displaying different cultures.

“But why this is so important to me is, I’m an ESOL teacher. I have 3 students who came to the United

States this year, and can hardly speak any English, and yet they’re getting up here on this stage in America to perform in front of 700 people. It is so exciting for them to be able to do something like a dance from their country – it means so much to them.”

A vendor in the market place sits at her table filled with items for sale.

Students opting to pupil place at AHS “Pupil Placement” continued from page 1

The school now has an open pupil placement policy because of the loss of students and because the modular now counts as classroom space.

Students can qualify through two categories. The first category is academic, where the students sign up for the MYP two-year program or the IB curriculum. During the Ravensworth and Broy Hill Crest redistricting decision, students had to elect to get the IB Diploma in order to stay.

Now students just have to agree to take four IB courses in their last two years of high school, the first three of which are in their junior year. This leaves out students from Bren Mar Park, because Edison HS is already an IB school.

Ryan’s son pupil placed for the IB program. He had to submit a four-year plan of his courses, along with turning in a form to the school, the cluster office and Woodson. Every year, he will have to notify Woodson and get the school to sign off again to release him to AHS. The other category is for non-academic reasons, which includes reasons ranging from emotional and family hardship. Also, if a student has a family member attending or working at AHS, they can elect to attend the school. With this reason, the student is only allowed to attend the school as long as the family member attends or works at the school. This is why many students who have older siblings at the school have to pupil place for academic reasons, because as soon as the sibling graduates they have to leave as well.

Assistant Superintedent to Cluster III schools, Dan Parris, understands that the boundary decision was a “highly emotional issue” because AHS is a school that is “close to people’s hearts.”

“Ultimately, the school board made a very tough decision around an issue that had to be resolved,” Parris said.

At the same time, he had never seen a boundary study or a grandfathering policy so “expansive” in all of his career. Due to the grandfathering policy, that stated any student that started at AHS was allowed to stay, transportation for the two neighborhoods will continue for the next three years. After that, Parris “can’t guarantee” the students who pupil place will have transportation.

wanted because of her friends. She also felt, like some others in our community, that the school might go downhill in the future because of the loss of students.”

Poe parent and Wakefield Chapel resident Laura McLean, who’s son Michael has made the decision to pupil place, organized a tour of the school with Director of Student Services Jennifer Crump-Strawderman in order to show some students who were on the fence what the school has to offer. Crump-Strawderman said that the tour was successful.

“It is important to note that counselors have given after school tours to many prospective families over the years - this was not a unique occurrence,” Crump-Strawderman said.

AHS is not doing anything in particular to encourage students from redistricted neighborhoods to come to the school.

“We are fielding questions and information sharing in the Student Services office, but it is nothing different than what we would do with any prospective new family,” Crump-Strawderman said.

Sophomore Megan Ryan has an eighth grade The A-Blast can confirm that at least seven brother who is going to pupil place at AHS. students have made the decision, although there “We want to ease the stress of families, as long may be more.

“Now that the school is open for pupil as the school can handle it,” Parris said. placement, people are For many students, jumping at the chance to growing up in the AHS get in there,” Ryan said. community has affected “Knowing that the school them. Hannah Curran Annandale has an incredible has been rather liberal (no relation to the writer), about pupil placing has who’s father Bill Curran reputation, it offers a lot of made our life easier. It’s was a teacher and coach things people are looking for. nice to know the kids will at AHS and is now serving be together.” as Student Activities —Dan Parris All students who and Athletics Director Assistant Superintendent of Cluster III schools live in the affected for FCPS, has decided neighborhoods are listed to pupil place. Both of on a spreadsheet in the her parents attended the school and she grew up as a water girl during Cluster office. They can either fill out an Expedited Boundary Adjustment Form or a Pupil Placement football games.

“I chose to go there because I like how much of Form, which requires the signature of both a family it is. It’s very traditional in how it runs,” principals and the Cluster office, which are due “in early March.” Although Parris does not have Curran said.

Other students have opted to follow their new the numbers yet, he thinks that the numbers of school assignment. Senior Danielle Turner has an students pupil placing and students following the eighth grade sister at Poe MS, who has decided to decision will be pretty balanced.

“Annandale has an incredible reputation, it attend Woodson HS. “Basically, Rachel didn’t pupil place because offers a lot of things that people are looking for,” she felt all of her friends were going to Woodson Parris said. “We’ve given families a lot of options, so she just wanted to embrace the change,” Turner but we need them to work with us because the said. “In the long run, she wants to be where she’s decisions they make impact will have implications for things like staffing.”

A group of students advocate for the Homeless by asking for donations.

Chloe Loving

Students can place for academic and nonacademic reasons

“

”

A visitor at the Just World Festival pays for an item being sold.

PHOTOS BY AJ MCAFFERTY

For further online content, such as the stories listed below, visit: www.thea-blast.org

Just World festival works to find solutions Academic workshops are the most popular

AJ McCafferty

“Just World” continued from page 1

created the Just World video shown on the morning announcements on Feb. 24.

Not only did the exhibitors consist of clubs of AHS, but also from other FCPS IB Schools and other local community organizations. Students from George Mason High School gave an exhibit on improving health care and education in Uganda. Other IB schools in attendance included Prince George High School and Washington-Lee High School.

The workshops were of similar nature to the exhibits, but were limited in number to three sessions of four or five workshops each. They were also much more in-depth, lasting about 45 minutes per session.

While some workshops featured multicultural dance lessons like Zumba, most of them focused on the big problems of the world.

“Getting kids to go to the academic content oriented workshops was a little more challenging,” Mounteer said. “But the Occupy DC movement workshop [which began at 4:30 p.m. and extended until well after 6:30 p.m.] was still sitting in the hallway.”

Student Vendors advertise soup as a way of raising money for the homeless.

Many students agree that although the non-academic workshops may appear more entertaining, they still enjoyed the academic classes.

“I learned a lot more about the Arab Spring [at the workshop]” Aklil said. There were numerous workshops based on the Middle-East such as “The Arab Revolutions: One Year Later,” “Raqs Sharqi: Middle Eastern Dance” and “A Journalist Speaks on the Role of the Media.” The

last one was presented by EgyptianAmerican foreign correspondent Nancy Youssef, who also offered aspiring student journalists opportunities for internships.

Other workshops included presentations on the environment, human rights and the economy.

A few of these workshops were even presented by members of the AHS student body. Seniors Kunny Kou and Annette Janwatin held

a workshop called “Modern Day Slavery” based off of a presentation for their Theory of Knowledge class. “[John] Hawes was a great help,” Mounteer said. “He pushed his IB Diploma Candidates to participate.”

Other student presenters included senior Leo Leksang, and members from the STAND Club and the Hispanic Leadership Club. “We have a great diverse student body so it was great to have everyone get involved,” Mounteer said.

Just World President Daniel Park hired food vendors from IndAroma, Breeze Cafe and Food Corner Kabob House to sell international food at the festival. This only added to the already diverse atmosphere of the event.

While the event was generally successful, it led to new ideas already being introduced for next year’s festival. “One thing I’d like to do next year is maybe have a thematic focus,” Mounteer said. “Part of what we want this to be about is getting kids to think about their role in the world and to take a more active role in making this world a more just and peaceful place.”

The only drawback of the idea of a thematic Just World would be that it may limit the variety of presenters at the festival. Other than that, “It was mind-blowing,” Aklil said. “It promotes that everyone should all come together and help change the world in their own way.”

Sports tryouts provide different experiences

By Christine Tamir

Some use it as a social opportunity instead of a serious tryout

Students take the AMC test during Collaboration Day

By Andrea Melendez

Students wake up early to partake in the first round of the annual contest

6

People

What profession would you like to go into?

A Blast

the

Students working overtime Students hold part-time jobs while going to school full-time

By Megan Flynn People Editor

“Hopefully, I’ll study buisness to become a buisnesswoman.”

— Fatou Niang freshman

“I would like to go into the journalism field.”

—Lailumah Faisal sophomore

Feb. 28, 2012

Finding a job is no easy task for adults or teens, but many AHS students are doing their research and picking up applications to become employed. Whatever their reason, whether it be extra spending money for Friday nights or money to be saved for college, getting a job is a big responsibility and a glimpse of what adult life is like.

A lot of AHS students currently hold jobs, which takes good time management to balance working, homework, sports and time to relax with friends and family. Some students can only work weekends because of sports or other engagements, which take up a lot of time.

“I work at the RECenter once a week and due

to its flexible hours it helps me balance my time between school, sports and work,” junior Jae Min Kim said.

Some students have jobs solely as something to do, but they quickly realize that having a job is a big responsibility. Working in a professional environment and having to meet expectations, such as working multiple days a week and having to show up on time with proper attire, can add a lot of stress.

“Because I’ve been working for so long, I know what works so I can balance my time,” senior Abdul Fares said. “I’ve figured out the best way for me to make sure everything is balanced appropriately, like my grades and time for family and friends.

Grades are really important and affect my work because if I have bad grades, I can’t work.”

This time of the year is very popular for sophomores who are starting to become of age to work. Juniors and seniors are also applying for jobs because the school year is starting to wind down and they have more spare time.

“I would get a job because I want money since

my parents don’t pay for stuff anymore, but I can’t because I play sports,” sophomore Amanda Villafana said.

While many think that jobs look fun or have friends who hold jobs, some students want to cherish their last youth years while they still live rent-free.

“I want to enjoy my time not working while I still can because having a job is a lot of work and unnecessary stress when you’re just in high school,” junior Julia Copenhaver said.

Junior Tessa Iglesias picked up applications from many stores around the Annandale and Springfield area, with hopes that one of the places will be hiring and will allow her to work part-time and then increase her hours during the summer months.

“I went around looking for a job with some friends and we picked up a bunch of different applications from a lot of places. Because of spring sports, I want to just work weekends so that I can save money for college,” Iglesias said. Iglesias has yet to hear back from where she applied.

Another day, another dollar

Students enjoy their unique jobs while earning money for their futures

“I’d like to go to medical school to study to become a plastic surgeon.”

Creativity on Fire

­—James Terrell junior

“I would like to study to be a pilot.”

—Bryan Harrod senior

––Compiled by Gaby Camilli, Erika Alwes and Sarthak Batra

“I’m a substitute at the gym I go to, so I only come in when people can’t work. I usually work in the daycare or at the front desk.

Since I don’t work a lot I applied to Starbucks and got the job. I’ll be making $8.50 an hour and I will get free drinks and discounted food.”

“I am considered part of the Cart Staff. My job primarily is to please and do anything the members and/or my boss tells me.

I usually pick up balls from the range, clean them, clean carts and stock pencils and scorecards. I usually only work one shift on weekends throughout the school year.”

—Kimberly Rowland senior

—Evelyn Jaramillo senior

—Shanze Faisal junior

Perfect Nails

Dr. Darius Unwalla & Associates

—Stephen Oakes junior

Grasshopper Green

“I work for my dad and all I have to do is fax papers, answer phone calls and reply to emails.

Sometimes I make orders if he needs me to buy anything.

I make $500 every two weeks and I usually only work three days a week.”

“I work at a daycare after school every day from 3 to 6 with a class of three-yearolds.

I’m pretty sure I have the best job ever because I get paid to play with little kids. ”

—Matthew Noelle senior

—Jennifer Nguyen sophomore

Tips on how to get a job

February 26 40

March 1 Justin Bieber 2 Jon Bon Jovi 3 Jessica Biel 4 Whitney Port 5 Niki Taylor 6 Shaquille O’Neal 7 Jenna Fisher 8 Kat Von D 9 Bow Wow 10 Carrie Underwood 11 LeToya Luckett 12 Darryl Strawberry 13 Adam Clayton 14 Colby O’Donis 15 Eva Longoria 16 Flavor Flav 17 Mia Hamm 18 Adam Levine 19 Josh Groban 20 Christy Carlson Romano

Army Navy Country Club

“I work at an art studio in Arlington, Virginia. I work everyday after school from 2:30 to 5:30.

A normal day at work for me consists of working a ceramics enrichment class at local elementary schools.

It’s a lot of fun and the kids love it. It’s probably the best job anyone could ask for and it pays pretty well too.”

“I’m an optometrist techinician, which is basically an assistant.

I answer calls, make appointments and do pre-screenings for patients. I also teach people how to put on and take off contacts. It’s pretty chill but it can get busy and overall I think it’s a great work experience for a first job.”

Celebrity Birthdays

28 Olivia Palermo 29 Antonio Sabato Jr.

Sport & Health/Starbucks

18 50 30 27 37 40 38 30 25 29 31 50 52 23 37 53 40 33 31 28

1. Research

2. Résumé

3. Apply

4. Interview

5. Call back

Before you start applying for a job, you should conduct research to see if any places are hiring. Consider your skills and personal interests; you don’t want to be bored at work or improperly qualified. Visit the AHS Career Center for information on current job listings or visit http://www. fairfaxcounty.gov/dfs/ss/ jobcorner.htm

Be honest and thorough, but make sure to highlight all of the fine attributes that you possess. Be sure to include any extracurricular activities so that when you get a job, your schedules don’t conflict.

Even if you’re just stopping by to drop off your application, you should dress nicely and introduce yourself. Ask to see the boss and personally hand in your application, as it leaves a memorable impression. If there are multiple places you’d like to work, turn in multiple applications just to keep your options open.

When you go to interview, be serious and polite. Make sure you dress up and have a firm handshake with eye contact to display confidence. Try your best to remain calm and not display nervousness. Be sure to smile and show positive traits of your fun personality.

If you haven’t heard back within a week, call back to make sure your application was reviewed and inquirre as to whether or not you got the job. If you did get the job, make sure to ask specific questions so you know what to wear and when to work, etc. If you did not get the job, politely thank them for their time and apply elsewhere.

• This is my fifth year teaching at AHS.

Who am I?

• I attended Bridgewater College.

•I majored in Communication Studies.

•In my spare time, I attend sporting events and tryouts.

•I like to listen to rap music.

•I have traveled to Hawaii, Miami, Nashville, Chicago and Tampa in the last year. Italy and Germany are the most interesting places I’ve been.

• I majored in Biology.

• In my spare time, I play Words with Friends, Scrabble, chess, basketball; anything that engages my highly competitive nature.

• I like to listen to hip-hop, rap and R&B-the old school variety.

• I have traveled to Jakarta, Indonesia.

• I played football, track and baseball.

• My favorite part of working in a school is spreading my love for a subject with students.

• An interesting fact about me is I play for an adult baseball league team named the Sneaky Weasels.

On your smartphone, scan this code using the application “QR Code” to see a Q&A interview with senior Jack Deible.

• I attended George Mason University.

• My birthday is May 9.

• My favorite TV show is Entourage.

Q&A with Mr. Annandale

• This is my fourth year teaching at AHS.

• I am an AHS baseball and football coach.

• I will be competing for the faculty in the student-faculty basketball game.

• My favorite food is ribs.

• My motto is: “Respect me and I’ll respect you.”

• My birthday is March 28.

• An interesting fact about me is I should have been an actress or stand-up comedian • I played basketball, softball and tennis.

• My favorite TV show is Law and Order.

–Compiled by Megan Flynn

To find out who these teachers are, visit www.thea-blast.org/category/student-life/people/

HEALTH

Feb. 28, 2012

Misinformation about meds 44 percent of students admit to possessing over-the-counter medications during the school day due to misunderstandings After a 90-minute lecture in your science class, you have a pounding headache, but unfortunately because of your demanding schedule you cannot leave school, so instead you stealthily reach into your backpack to pull out two ibuprofen pills.

This simple action, which many AHS students have admitted to doing, will result in an automatic suspension under FCPS zero tolerance policy, no exceptions.

FCPS over-the-counter (OTC) medications policy states that, “The abuse (including distribution for the purpose of abuse), or misuse of nonprescription drugs shall result in a suspension of a length to be determined by the principal and may result in a recommendation for expulsion.”

According to a recent survey conducted by The A-Blast, only six percent of AHS students agree that someone caught with OTC medications should always be suspended. However, there were wide discrepancies concerning whether or not students should never be suspended for this infraction.

“I think [the policy] is good; it allows enough discretion for the school, but it is also serious enough. I think it is necessary and it is in line with what other school districts do,” Dean of Students Catherine Stone said.

Approximately 44 percent of AHS students admitted to carrying OTC medicines with them at school at some point. Students reported possessing a wide variety of OTC medications including, but not limited to, Tylenol, aspirin, Advil, Midol, Lactaid and Claritin. These students are aware

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY AJ MCCAFFERTY

BY BETSY KRUSE Health Editor

Many students bring over-the-counter medications to school because they feel that it is in their best health interest to carry them instead of leaving them in the clinic.

that such possession is not permitted by FCPS, but many do not know that other options are available.

“I usually carry my inhaler and some Benadyrl because I have some pretty severe allergic reactions and need to take [Benadyrl] right away,” junior Alec Stewart said.

Students are in fact allowed to carry certain medications with them as long as they have a doctor’s note saying that it is a necessity.

Stewart, however, was unaware of this exception because the school never mentioned this

in its annual Student Right and Responsibilities (SRR) presentation at the beginning of the year.

“If the rules and exceptions have been clearly communicated to both parents and students, hopefully the punishment is in place as a deterrent,” SAM program academic advisor Hassan Mims said.

However, all of the rules have not been properly discussed with students and, as a result, many students are unaware of all the points of FCPS OTC policy. Students cannot be held responsible for carrying OTC medications unless they have been educated of all of the procedures and regulations of the policy.

“We need to do a review of the SRR before the second half of the year,” Stone said.

Many students carry OTC medicines because they feel that nothing serious can happen, especially because these medications are easily accessible and typically available at home without restrictions. Only six percent of students believe that carrying OTC medications will always have a negative impact on the school environment. However, FCPS has put this policy in place as a precaution and for students’ safety.

“Students can anytime have a reaction to medication and other stuff they are allergic to, but allergies to medications are very serious and a big medical concern,” Mims said.

If a student cannot obtain a note from a doctor, then his or her parent can fill out a form so that OTC medication can be stored in the clinic and the student can ask for the medication whenever he or she needs it. The nurse is only allowed to give medicine to students when specific symptoms, which must be outlined on the forms students give to the nurse, occur and not whenever students request their medication.

This may seem restrictive to some, but the school must do this to prevent a liability.

The SRR handbook does not include all of the information that the OTC medication policy entails, which leads students into believing that they must carry their OTC medication in secret.

7 Students who admit to carrying OTCs with them at school 11% Always 56% Never

18% Sometimes

15% Rarely

Should students be suspended for carrying OTCs? 6% Always 38% Never 30% Sometimes

27% Rarely

Do OTCs have a negative impact on school environments?

6% Always

35% Never

33% Sometimes

26% Rarely

minute

5meals

Try this tangy salsa to add some variety to your nutritious diet

Orange-chipotle salsa

By Betsy Kruse and Esra Gokturk

Ingredients Needed: 3 navel oranges, 2 plum tomatoes, 2 green onions, 1 tablespoon of chopped cilantro leaves (fresh), 1/2 teaspoon of chipotle chile puree (substitution: 1 teaspoon chipotle hot sauce), salt

Make the most of your morning with a warm, sweet snack that’s quick and easy

Apple toast

1.) Seed and chop the plum tomatoes and thinly slice the onions.

2.) Grate one teaspoon of the peel of one of the oranges and place in a bowl. Then cut the remaining peel and white skin from all of the oranges.

3.) Hold each orange over the bowl one at a time, cutting each side of the membrane to allow the fruit and juices to drop in the bowl. Discard seeds and cut up remaining orange segments with kitchen shears.

4.) Add the tomatoes, green onions, cilantro, chipotle puree and 1/4 teaspoon of salt to the bowl with the oranges. Then stir to combine everything.

5.) Serve with tortilla chips and enjoy!

Ingredients Needed: 1/2 tablespoon of butter, 2 slices of whole wheat bread, 1 tablespoon of cinnamon, 1 apple

Serving Size: 2 pieces of toast Average Calories: 301 per serving Nutritional Grade: B+

DELISH .COM

1.) Turn on oven to broil and lightly spread butter on each piece of bread.

2.) Wash apple and remove the core. Slice apple into thin wedges.

3.) Place apple wedges on the bread, then sprinkle cinnamon on the apples.

4.) Put bread on a baking sheet and broil for two minutes.

Make sure to watch closely and take out when toast is golden brown.

5.) Place on a plate and enjoy!

Serving Size: 1.5 cups (six people) Average Calories: 40 per serving Nutritional Grade: A+

These statistics are based on a Feb. 21 survey of 180 AHS students distributed during Red Day C and D lunches.

Should students be allowed to carry medicine?

“You can go to the clinic to get medicine, [but], it’s just medicine, so [students] shouldn’t get in trouble.”

—Armen Padilla freshman “If they give medication to other students they should be punished.”

—Raymond Ma sophomore

“As far as medication goes, high schooolers can be idiots.”

—Maryam Hassan sophomore

“They should be allowed to have it. As long as you don’t abuse it, they shouldn’t get into trouble.”

—Samantha Snedeker junior

—Compiled by Chloe Loving

Buy it or bag it On your smartphone, scan this code using the application “QR Code” to view an article about students’ school lunchtime health preferences.

ARTS

8

Feb. 28, 2012

Living in an artist’s world

If you think Theatre arts student that half of the shares her thoughts on things in this art’s importance world would B J F exist without Special to The A-Blast The importance of the arts in education is the arts, then something that is highly under appreciated, ignored, or not understood, despite strong that shows how beneficial a foundation think again... evidence in the arts really is to academic achievement.

Beloved and treasured family moments captured by photography would be gone as you know them.

I have done it all: I had the lead role in this year’s children’s musical. I had worked my way up from being in the chorus in previous musicals.

I have been involved in theatre and chorus my whole high school career.

Being involved in the arts has also helped me become a leader in academic settings. Since I take on a leadership role and challenge myself in the arts, challenging myself in the classroom is much easier. Being a leader in class discussions comes naturally because I’m comfortable speaking and I’m comfortable leading my peers. Students who are involved in the arts learn to not be afraid to express themselves and that lesson transfers into the classroom as well.

According to a poll found by the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, 93 percent of people in the U.S. believe that the arts are important in education. The main reasons given were that the arts give students a more positive outlook on school, and that it helps students communicate better with their teachers and fellow students.

Still, even with these facts there are people who say that the arts aren’t important in schools.

The Arts Connection study through the Kennedy Center states that art programs help students to learn for themselves as well as provide a free environment where they are able to push themselves harder to succeed.

Seniors Jessica Fredericksen and Marissa Shartel perform “Step Sister’s Lament” from Cinderella in this year’s choral production of Broadway Desserts. The show is one of the biggest events for the program every year.

It is absolutely true that the arts help students academically. Due to my foundation in the arts, I am much more comfortable speaking in front of my peers and my teachers under stressful situations. With the rigorous IB program that AHS offers, students need to be able to feel comfortable speaking up in class and being evaluated on countless oral presentations and oral exams. By getting a foundation in the arts, students learn to become more confident with themselves and their individual voice and are more willing to take the risk to speak up in order to succeed academically.

Michelle Picard, an ESOL teacher who also helps with the ESOL theatre department, says that she can see her students who participate in or read theatre become more comfortable speaking English in the classroom.

Perhaps one of the most important things the arts provide for education is something that most people see as having nothing to do with education at all. This is a large part of the reason why the

arts are easily pushed aside and considered to not have academic value. The social and creative outlet the arts provide is an amazing benefit academically. It sounds strange, but being a part of a group that helps students and helps them strive and grow has major benefits in the classroom as well as later on in life. Students are happy to come to school, even if at first just so they can enjoy the freedom provided in their arts classes. After a while, however, that desire to learn and push themselves harder expands until it applies to other subjects as well.

With all of these facts out in the open, it seems clear that the arts are something that schools should focus on. In order to get the best education possible, students need to be heavily exposed to the arts. With all of the benefits education in the arts provides for other academic areas, there is no reason why a little extra effort or extra money can’t be put in to make sure these programs strive and continue to grow in the public schools.

ART TALK : WHY IT MATTERS CHORUS

Q: How do you see the arts affect your students?

A: “Students in arts programs score well above their peers on SAT exams. In a recent study, SAT takers who studied the arts for four years scored 53 and 37 points higher on verbal and math respectively. These students also become leaders since the arts utilize both hemispheres of the brain and are focused on production. Their self-confidence is also greatly bolstered by the analytical and sociological skills

GWEN LEVEY

many ened up so hat I rts have op w a e e liz th a d re n e a “Theatre d made m n a e mazing a m y r n fo a s m opportunitie do in life. I’ve met so in a articip ting to really want arned so much from p s a ch u m so le n people and ces and overall grow . an the perform ior Skye Lindberg said n ju ,” n o rs e ht) (rig ap r life Junior Maddy Reinert ects of you ll ifferent asp nfidence. d serenades senior Maxwe in u yo lp e ne self-co “The arts h Talley (left) during a sce speech and others, can improve you sympathize with from last year’s spring d n a lp to the r’s e e yea h s Thi tiv o . musical, Grease y can als ore sensi e m h u T yo ttle “Li ke be a in spring musical will ddy Re ert rts can m will be as the a ,” junior Ma rs e th o f Shop of Horrors” and o w point of vie performed in April. said.

es Junior Skye Lindberg pos Apple.” during her class play “The

ALUMNA WEIGHS IN

Lauren Kinch, ‘10 Studying at the New York University Tisch School of the Arts

“The arts are helpful for those people who don’t tend to express themselves,” junior Jasmine Lee said. “They get to express what they feel like or want to say through art. I made a lot of new friends in my art class who share my interests.”

e, 11 Jasmine Le

PHOTO COURTESY OF LAUREN KINCH

On your smartphone, scan this code using the application “QR Code” to read about the talented Rich Swingle and his appearance at AHS.

VISUAL ARTS

THEATRE

International actor Rich Swingle comes to AHS

“The arts, such as band, give kids a great chance to express themselves.

They are fun and you get to meet a lot of different people who do different things,” junior Andrew Riddle said.

Andrew Riddle, 11

VEY GWEN LE

Marissa Sh artel, 12

“I can’t even imagine high school without the arts. If there wasn’t an arts program in high school, I think it would be more difficult for some students to manage.

The arts have always been a place where people who don’t really fit in anywhere else can turn to and actually have fun. If that was taken away, the high school experience would be completely different,” senior Marissa Shartel said.

LAURA HACKFELD

Q: Why are the arts so important in school?

A: “The arts cultivate rightbrain as well as left-brain skills such as empathy, synthesis and creativity. Empathy leads to leadership and is all about relating and connecting with people for the purpose of inspiring and empowering. Synthesis is bringing different left-brain fields of information together and forming a symphonic and creative solution to all problems, especially those encountered by people’s relationships. These skills are necessary for attaining management jobs of the future as we move from the ‘information age’ to the ‘conceptual age.’”

Y GWEN LEVE

Quick Q&A with theatre arts teacher, George Bennett, on the importance of art education

“Kids need something to belong to; they’ve got to have something to be a part of, and the arts provide that.

The sort of family and familiarity you form with the people involved in the arts departments are the same 11 , b sort of connections you find among b e W Patricia sports teams. We train, we practice, we compete and we do so together,” junior Patricia Webb said.

SARAH HO LMLUND

Forget Mickey Mouse or any of your favorite Disney Princesses ever being transferred from an animator’s mind to the screen.

BAND

“Theatre at Annandale was such a positive experience for me. We were a close knit group of people, and I didn’t want that feeling to end. In college, I still get to keep all the aspects from high school that I loved, but on a whole new level.

There’s so much more that goes into it than I expected. But like all things in life, if it’s not hard, it’s probably of little worth.

Culturally, theatre has been a form of expression and communication for centuries. It’s been embedded in our history and humanity for so long that I can’t imagine high school or college without it.

I think there’s a misconception with theatre in that people tend to think it’s all about the performance, something to be accomplished, finding ‘it.’ But from my experience in college, it’s more about a constant practice. You learn different ways of finding 'it' so that you’re in a constant mode of discovery and rediscovery.

“Without theatre and the arts, high school would be really different, and not in a good way, because there are so many personalities in theatre and the arts that wouldn’t have grown without those activities,” junior Alex Lash said.

Junior Alex Lash (right) strikes a pose while practicing for the fall production of Class Acts.

LAURA HACKFELD

A.J. MCAFFERTY

The picture of your handprint from kindergarten on the refrigerator at home wouldn’t be hung there.

REDERICKSEN

PHOTO COURTESY OF KATHIE TURNER

Y ESSICA

Then your work doesn’t go stale from thinking you’ve already accomplished “it.” How beautiful and exciting is that? There’s a lot theatre has to offer if you put the work into it. For example, it helps you develop great life skills like public speaking and working in a group environment under pressure.

Most importantly for me, I’ve found that it really teaches you about being in the moment.

In today’s busy society, we’re constantly rushing from place to place and we tend to lose ourselves in it. We sometimes forget how to just be present, alive and aware in the current moment.

But all it takes is giving yourself a moment or two to let your mind and body arrive, to identify where you are in your body, to center yourself, so that you can better relate to the people, the place and the task at hand.”

—Lauren Kinch, ‘10

Academics

Feb. 28, 2012

Where do we stand or sit?

Different seating arrangements affect classroom learning

Desks are placed in pairs to support quiet individual work with the aid of a partner.

“We work on our projects at home, while instruction is during school”

— Ola Layaly K.L. HOANG

Arabic teacher

Sticky notes are a useful item to keep with you at all times when studying, doing homework or researching.

They are best used for writing down notes or organizing your thoughts. They can also help decrease stress, because by writing down information you eliminate the pressure on your brain to remember a piece of information.

Blackboard is an important site to keep open while doing homework or studying, because you never know when your teacher might have a sudden change of plans. That being said, stay away from social networking sites, as they could cause major distractions.

IB Theory of Knowledge and IB Geography teacher

Students sit in groups of four so that they can help each other with assigned work.

“There should be a balance between being social and learning.”

— David Tyndall

Focus is put upon students who read aloud that sit in a middle ring of desks surrounded by a larger circle.

sophomore “Listening to music during class.”

—Dominic Maier

sophomore

“I learn best by watching slideshows, then writing important things down and also hearing the teacher speak at the same time.”

K.L. HOANG

— Bonnie Vining English teacher

Class size The environment of a classroom seems to be dependent on who the students are and how they learn best. The aspect of making a classroom suitable can be daunting when there are too many students.

“Some of my classes are huge; they have to be in order to fit the kids I have. I would prefer a ‘u-shaped’ room for discussions though,” Arabic teacher Ola Layaly said. “I always want kids to feel comfortable, so I’m flexible with my students and classroom if I can be. We work on our projects at home, while instruction is during school.”

Materials Aside from the way desks are assembled, the objects and effects teachers have can also impact their students.

“We have books and magazines in Arabic so that kids can be interested in the subject without being involved with their academics. The classroom should reflect the life outside of school. I create a situation where the kids raise questions out of school and come to class to find their answer,” Layaly said.

The walls of a room can both be encouraging and decorative.

“I like the students to see their work and how it compares to the work of my other classes. The posters on the wall are reminders to help us out [with literary terms],” Vining said.

If you must procrastinate, stress balls are best to use. With procrastination comes stress, and the best way to decrease the stress is by squeezing stress balls. When a stress ball is squeezed, muscle tensions are created. When it is released, the user experiences a sense of relaxation, which helps to release stress.

—Kelcie Chandler

Physics teacher

“I want kids to see each other when they’re reading.”

Stress balls

“Writing information down and one-on-one time with a teacher helps me a lot. ”

— John Hawes

Home Environment Parallel to classrooms, a study environment is just as vital to an education as an accommodating classroom.

“At home, I sit at my desk where its clean and quiet when I do homework and study. It has to be clean and quiet for me to finish my work,” junior Lorena Villarroel said.

People who sit at desks are not necessarily better workers than those who prefer a more cozy area.

“I’m not a desk person; I lay down. What makes me comfortable allows me to finish my work,” Layaly said.

Furniture and posters are in the end, just implements to help people learn, however differently they may do it.

“The classroom is made to encourage interaction, but what people do is up to them. The idea of having a discussion is to interact with other people,” Theory of Knowledge and Geography teacher John Hawes said. “Everyone is different and responds differently. You have to get to know people. How can you structure a classroom for people who are different and learn differently? It’s a constant experiment and [as teachers] you’re constantly adjusting.”

Perhaps a quintessential learning environment can never be found or used. Students and teachers differ in character and personality. It only follows that how they learn, where they learn best and what helps them most, is particular to the student.

Here are some mandatory items to keep with you at all times while studying outside of school Blackboard

freshman

“The idea of having a discussion is to interact with other people.”

A study-friendly setup at home Sticky Notes

—Fatima Tauqir

Desks are arranged in a U-shape to foster discussion

K.L. HOANG

Is there an ideal utopian environment for students to learn in? Sitting down in desks and preparing for class becomes repetitive, causing students and teachers to forget how much their learning environment hinders or improves their ability to learn.

Seating Arrangements There are various reasons behind the arrangement of desks in the classroom. Some arrangements are specific to the types of activities and the types of students of the class.

“I change the way the desks are set up depending on what we’re doing. I want the students to see each other when they’re reading,” English teacher Bonnie Vining said. “When we were making dolls for The Canterbury Tales, I put the desks in groups to make it easier for them to work creatively and to get the students to meet new people. If everyone is facing each other, it’s easier to have a discussion.”

Communication is both crucial in school and in the world.

“I like desks in groups because they allow us to interact with each other and it creates a more lively environment so I don’t get bored and fall asleep,” senior Richard Ho-Dang said.

Even though some might say that groups create distractions, having students sit and work together can promote learning and participation.

“It’s not hard to keep them on task when they know what they’re doing and what I expect of them.

I try to arrange the seating, so that they can’t hide from me. An open classroom encourages students to participate and it’s easier for me to move around too,” Vining said.

Yet some students can harbor nervous tension toward group work and discussions.

“I prefer a test-taking classroom setup because it is less awkward. I like quiet areas like the library to study so I am not distracted by electronics and other people,” sophomore Bethel Mahoney said.

Can a classroom encourage discussion and participation while ensuring students feel comfortable?

As educators, teachers should have a classroom that promotes discussion and participation while ensuring their students are comfortable.

“Teachers have obligations to make their learning environment the best for their students.

Generally, if students are isolated, they don’t learn as well. There should be a balance between being social and learning,” physics teacher David Tyndall said.

Tyndall changes his seating arrangements every quarter to allow students to get to know one another.

“One thing won’t work for every student. In a course like physics, whiteboards are a great way to get kids working,” Tyndall said. “[Answering questions] and being wrong is the best way to learn. If teachers have positive relations with their students then [their students] will with them. I never try to put people in a straight jacket.”

How do you learn best?

“Listening to music and learning through experience.”

K.L. HOANG

By K.L. Hoang Academics Editor

9

Highlighters

Music

Highlighters may be pretty and colorful, but they can be used to improve memory. In most cases, people highlight important information and then go back and study it. The color of the highlighter can also affect the way you study.

Warm colors (orange, pink and yellow): clam and soothing Cool colors (blue and green): concentration and focus

Music can sometimes be helpful in the studying process, but the type of music is important. If you’re listening to music, make sure it doesn’t have lyrics: classical music is best in this regard, because in many cases lyrics cause you to sing along, making the music serve as a distraction rather than a helpful tool. Lower the volume of the music as well so that your focus is on your work.

— Mirian Romero junior

“Watching videos help me learn the best.”

—Thanh Vo

senior

—Compiled by Shamaim Syed

Vocabulary Words MENDACIOUS adjective having a lying, false character TANTAMOUNT adjective equivalent in value or significance USURP verb to seize by force, take possession of without right VICISSITUDE noun an event that occurs by chance ZENITH noun the highest point, culminating point

Food Use food to reward yourself. With a reward to look forward to, you can get work done quicker. Some foods that help with memory are : Fish (Tuna Sandwich) Almonds Dark Chocolate Blueberries Beans Water

Agenda

Desk When studying at home, most people tend to study in their beds, but this sense of comfort is too much for a studying environment.

This can lead to a larger amount of drowsiness than when seated at a desk. However, if you have had success with being comfortable in a bed or couch, don’t change. Also, use a desk or folder to keep your work organized. The last thing you would want on a deadline is to lose something, which can be prevented by organization.

Agendas and calendars are useful items for organization. Although agendas are mostly used at school, they are beneficial at home as well. Don’t only use your agenda to write down homework, you can also write down any events you’re attending to keep yourself prepared.

College tuition prices On your smartphone, scan this code using the application “QR Code” to read a story about students struggling to pay for college.

12

World wedding customs

International

Feb. 28, 2012

International love grows

Students discuss global dating customs and intercultural relationships

By Omnia Saed International Editor

Pakistan Pakistani brides hold a traditional mehdni ceremony in which the bride is adorned with henna in preparation for her wedding day. The henna is thought to bring good luck to the marriage.

Scotland In Scotland, it is tradition for men to wear a highland outfit, which consists of a kilt, jacket and hose to the wedding.

Nigeria In Yoruba, Nigeria, the groom and his groomsmen have to kneel in front of the bride’s family before the unveiling of the bride.

Recent studies show that Virginia leads the U.S. in interracial marriages, a trend that is mirrored by AHS couples, who not only differ in race, but also culture and ethnicity.

“I think [diversity at AHS] provides a greater opportunity for diversity in relationships,” junior Kurtis Neal said.

In fact, according to The Washington Post, Virginia has the highest rate of interracial couples in the nation, as one in five couples in the D.M.V. “crossed racial and ethnic lines.” This is a trend thatAHS students embrace greatly.

“I thinks it’s nice that people don’t judge upon race,” junior Neal said.

Astudy conducted by the Pew Center states that the Junior Aisha Yansaneh is from Sierra Leone, while her boyfriend Senior Ryan Saimeron is from El Salvador interracial marriage rate rose from three percent to eight their home countries. percent in 1980, and that 15 percent of married couples Yansaneh said.

In South Asian countries, India specifically, dating Their parents accept the fact that they are dating a in 2010 constituted interracial relationships. has become more relaxed due to modern times. However, Many believe that this rise in diversity allows person of a different race.

“Our parents don’t care that we aren’t the same race,” some still enforce traditional practices. students to see from a new cultural perspective.

“Dating is not looked at very decently in Pakistan.

“I feel that it gives students a better chance to Yansaneh said.

Diversity in relationships also allows students to [And while my parents] are more liberal, they still experience different cultures,” sophomore Eric Lien said. feel it is not very nice to go dating,” sophomore Elisha But this diversity of relationships seems to be a experience different customs.

“I think that there should be more interracial couples Musih said. normal trend for students who are prone to diversity.

Many western countries follow the same dating “I don’t think that the diversity of AHS affects in the world because it shows that people are openrelationships at all really. It all depends on what a person minded about other cultures and do not limit themselves customs and practices here in America, though some is looking for and the ‘diversity of AHS’ shouldn’t have to just their own cultures when it comes to dating,” junior countries forbid dating altogether.

According to Iranian law, dating is illegal in the Sameera Ferdous said. anything to do with it,” junior AHS students also country. Teenage boys and girls are separated from one Nora Kennedy said. have unique dating another until they are of the age to marry. The families Leading the population in customs. While most then introduce them to one another, and marriage most interracial marriages are Asians American teens opt for a likely follows suit. These strict regulations are due in and Hispanics, as more than a movie and dinner date, part to the strong Islamic faith. quarter of Asians marry nonReligion plays a large role in dating in general. customs around the Asians. Meanwhile, the number “I’m not allowed to date in general because of my world differ. of African Americans that marry For example, here religion and culture,” sophomore Lailumah Faisal said. outside of their races tripled to As one walks through the hallways of AHS and in the U.S. where boys — Aisha Yansaneh, 17 percent. are expected to ask a witnesses the diversity of students and couples junior Junior Aisha Yansaneh and girl out and foot the bill, compromised from all corners of the world, it seems senior Ryan Saimeron are one of AHS’s many diverse couples. Yansaneh is from Sierra in Australia, girls usually ask the boys out and pay for that they see firsthand the future of America and signs of the modern times.

Leone, while Saimeron is from El Salvador and Belize. the date.

“I believe they are an important part of evolution In Asian countries, including Japan, Korea and “We met in French class [and] we have been together and society,” junior Brandon Atkins said.

China, people don’t begin dating until college. for two years now,” Yansaneh said.

A growing factor of how parents permit dating Both credit AHS’s diversity for their relationship.

“Going to AHS increases the chance that you’re depends on their generation. Many AHS students are going to be with someone from a different culture,” first generation kids growing up in the U.S., while their parents follow, practice and enforce rules and beliefs from

CHLOE LOVING

United States In the U.S., unmarried wedding guests try to catch the bouquet of the bride. It is believed that the one who catches it will be the next in line to get married.

“

Our parents don’t care that we aren’t the same race.

”

Students reflect on international weddings Malaysia In Malaysia, the bride and groom are accustomed to offering family elders tea as a part of the traditional wedding ceremony.

AHS diversity mirrored in cultural marital traditions

By Nadia Elgendy Staff Writer

Japan A Japanese couple must perform a traditional ritual in which they drink nine cups of sake during the wedding.

Most people believe that love and marriage go hand in hand. They grow up, fall in love, get married and then raise a family. However, this isn’t always the case. In South Asian countries, it’s just the opposite; you marry to fall in love, and your marriage is set up when it’s the right time.

“Usually, your parents find someone that they know,” said sophomore Josh

Musih. “It’s considered good because your parents know what’s best for you.”

In countries like Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, love is considered to come after marriage. Young girls and boys are raised believing this, and usually accept it without question.

But if someone were to disagree with the engagement, he or she would be granted permission to cancel the wedding.

“You’re allowed to not go through with it,” sophomore Sara Khan said. “But your reputation within your family would never be the same.”

Wedding traditions in the Middle East are very similar to the those in the U.S. However, Middle Eastern weddings differ in that they are established through five different celebrations: an engagement

first-person accounts of immigrants coming to America China In China, the bride is carried in a red wedding carriage before being presented to the groom.

Afghanistan In Afghanistan, men are expected to dance to the beat of the dhol. Afghan women usually celebrate separately in the bride’s home.

American Stories On your smartphone, scan this code using the application “QR code” to read more American Stories.

A new life in the U.S. Deepakraj Selvaraj Special to the A-Blast Coming to the U.S. from India led to great changes in my life. I remember the journey, the feelings and the compassion of my country that I left behind everything here was very new to me. It was all like starting a new life and it was. There are many differences between the U.S. and my country: the laws, schools and different kinds of food.

Laws are the most vital thing to follow in the U.S. It is important in all the steps you move because here security is so tight. You cannot commit any sort of crime and run away because the next second you would be caught. According to India, there is no country to compete with the U.S. in order of laws. Laws are much important since you respect them and follow them.

Schools are free in the U.S. The only reason why the schools are free because citizens of the U.S. wanted their generations educated. I like schools in the U.S. because there are a lot of differences between schools in India and the U.S.. In the U.S. schools students have a lot more freedom than I have ever seen at other schools. Here, schools in the U.S. are like a huge building for the student. There are a lot of opportunities in the schools of the U.S..

Food is one of my favorite things.

I like almost all kinds of food made in the U.S.. As I am an Indian, there are different kinds of food in India. They are all tasty and spicy.

I especially like hot and spicy food items more than other items. Indian items are usually hot and spicy .Although I like my Indian tradition foods, I still think the U.S. food is tastier than food in my country.

The U.S. has strict laws, regulations and good schools which helps the country progress. Even after a vast difference between the U.S. and my country, I still love my country and miss all my Indian foods. I wonder if I could visit India again, so that I could fulfill all my wishes that I wanted to do.

party, the signing of a marriage contract, a henna party, a wedding reception and a wedding shower. Many similarities are found between the two types of wedding celebrations.

The henna party is used to decorate the women attending the reception with a temporary floral tattoo. The party is considered good luck for the happy couple.

“I would have a henna party at my wedding,” sophomore Dana Jannoun said. “It’s a better alternative to a sloppy bachelorette party.”

The wedding shower takes place a week after the wedding and is used to give the guests a chance to give household gifts to the married couple. This is their own way of welcoming the couple into marriage.

In Eastern Europe, having a religious ceremony in a church is usually not considered valid, so most couples exchange vows during a civil ceremony. Traditional ceremonies do not include relatives or close friends, though they are invited to a reception where people make toasts to the bride and groom.

“I don’t think I’d invite a lot of people to my wedding,” freshman Erin Johnson said. “A wedding is a very intimate ceremony, so it should only be around loved ones.”

However, several cultures, including that of the U.S., share the tradition of having a wedding ring on the third finger, or “ring finger,” because it has a vein that runs straight to the heart.

PHOTO

Feb. 28, 2012

Photography in a flash

13

IB Photography students share their work

COURTESY OF RACHEL BERGEN

When taking IB Photo, each student picks a topic to stay with for the entire year. Topics range from music to fashion to nature. Throughout the year, each student keeps a book with photos relating to his or her topic

Senior Rachel Bergen’s photo is of lead singer Jonathan Cook of Forever The Sickest Kids. Bergen’s IB Photo theme is music.

COURTESY OF JESSICA HOTTER

RIGHT Step 4: After picking a photo to process, you’ll go through three stages to make your photo appear on a sheet of photo paper.

SARAH BERGEN

SARAH BERGEN

LEFT Step 1: After taking a picture of the subject, you’ll use a “changing bag” to get the film on a reel. This has to be done in a bag without looking to prevent the light from leaking into the film. If light does leak in, the undeveloped film is compromised and the pictures will be ruined.

COURTESY OF EVELYN JARAMILLO

Senior Jessica Hotter traveled to the National Zoo to capture pictures of animal behavior. Hotter’s IB Photo theme is change/evolution.

Q: How long have you been taking photography?

A: I’ve been in photography since my junior year. I took Photo 1 and now as a senior I’m in Photo 2 and IB Photography.

Senior Becca Hendrickson models for senior Evelyn Jaramillo with neon paint.

Jaramillo’s IB Photo theme is fashion.

COURTESY OF BECCA SPONGA

Photographer Spotlight: Jazmine Bounds

RIGHT Step 3: After processing the film, you’ll leave the film strip in the dryer for 30 minutes.

This allows more images to appear on the film strip and dries the film.

SARAH BERGEN

SARAH BERGEN

LEFT Step 2: Measure out liquids, such as developer, fixer and water. This process takes about five to ten minutes and will help the pictures appear on the film strip. It’s important to agitate the container throughout the entire process to distribute the liquid evenly.

Senior Becca Sponga is one of few film photographers in IB Photo. This photo was a winner of the Scholastic photo contest. Sponga’s IB Photo theme is comparative textures.

Q: Do you prefer black and white or color photography?

A: I think it all depends on the picture, but I usually like black and white better. Sometimes, though, color is the way to go.

COURTESY OF KELLY DWYER

Q: What got you interested in photography?

A: I liked seeing all the pictures my friends were taking and I wanted to try it out myself. I ended up really being able to express myself.

Senior Kelly Dwyer captures her dog’s emotions about taking a bath. This photo was taken by a film camera.

Q: What kind of camera do you shoot with?

A: I shoot digitally with a Sony a300 and with a film Canon AE-1.

Q: Do you hope to continue photography in college?

A: I plan on continuing photography in the future, not necessarily professionally, but I definitely want to continue.

COURTESY OF KYLE KOWALCZYK

Q: What is your favorite subject to take pictures of?

A: I love taking pictures of people, especially with using cool features like crazy makeup.

Senior Kyle Kowalczyk demonstrates an illusion with senior Hiba Abuelhawa holding the sun. Kowalczyk’s IB Photo theme is nature.

—Photos courtesy of Jazmine Bounds

Students take the stage for the Mr. Annandale pageant On your smartphone, scan this code using the application “QR Code” to view exclusive pictures from this year’s Mr. Annandale pageant.

-Busy Student

Clean makeup brushes once a week to kill any growing bacteria.

SOURCE: VARIOUS WEBSITES

“One thing I cannot leave the house without doing is brushing my teeth because I think that’s really nasty.”

5:20 A.M: Yusuf washes her face with warm water to help wake herself up.

5:15 a.m.

ALEC STEWART junior

6:15 A.M: Yusuf takes the time to select an outfit before leaving the house.

5:45 a.m.

6:15 a.m.

“I could not leave the house without showering because I need my hair and face to be clean.”

Morning Routine Fast Facts: On average, Americans spend a total of 38.5 days brushing their teeth in a lifetime.

The average shower wastes 25 to 75 gallons of water.

6:20 A.M: Stewart brushes his teeth to begin his morning routine of getting ready for school.

Approximate time: 70 minutes

6:35 A.M: Stewart brushes his hair after getting out of bed.

“There is not really much to a guy getting ready in the morning.”

SOURCE: VARIOUS WEBSITES

7:10 a.m.

7:00 A.M: Stewart leaves his house for school.

The average man spends about 13,350 hours of his life shaving.

6:33 A.M: Stewart takes the time to shave his face just before leaving for school.

6:55 A.M: Stewart looks though his closet in the morning to decide what to wear.

“On weekends everything is much different. I take twice as long to do everything and it is sometimes out of order; it is sometimes reversed.”

Approximate time: 40 minutes

Consignment stores offer fresh takes on style

“Spring sports to start.”

One of my favorite places to shop is a consignment store. There are many great things about this type of store. Most people think the clothes and accessories are bad because they’re used, but you can find all sorts of treasures hidden in the racks. Some people even consign new items that they haven’t worn.

­—Sarah Merzel freshman

Brushing hair more than eight to ten strokes a day can damage it

The human gene called “Period 3” determines whether or not someone is a “morning person.”

Have a problem? E-mail Carli at: carli.loeb@gmail.com.

What are you most looking forward to about spring?

70 percent of Americans wake up between 5 and 8 a.m..

KYLEE NISKER

-Carli

“On weekends I get ready slower because I have more time and I change up the order so I have some variety in my life.”

KYLEE NISKER

Dear Busy Student, Actions speak louder than words.

During the school week, focus on your studies most of the time. Go to your living room and do some homework.

This way you will prove to your parents that you’re getting work done in a timely manner. Make your time management seen rather than just heard. Also, by showing how effective you are in staying on top of your studies, if your parents do decide to restrict you, you just have to remind them that they’ve seen you finish your work firsthand. But, make sure to not get too caught up in one activity. Let your social life balance out by doing all your school work during the week and taking the weekend off to satisfy your social needs.

“It takes me about an hour to get ready for school. I wake up at 5:15 a.m. because unfortunately, my bus comes at 6:25 a.m.”

5:45 A.M: Yusuf perfects her makeup and curls her lashes.

KYLEE NISKER

Dear Carli, I play a sport, take hard classes and am in several clubs. I feel like I can balance my schedule, but my parents disagree and keep telling me that I don’t have enough time to balance my social life and my academics. They haven’t restricted me from going out yet, but I feel that if I don’t talk to them about it, they will eventually tell me I need to do all of my schoolwork before I can go anywhere with my friends. What can I say to help them see that I can be responsible and manage both?

Morning Routine Fast Facts:

KYLEE NISKER

By Carli Loeb

HAYAT YUSUF sophomore

KYLEE NISKER

Advice Column

Guys and girls explain the differences between their routines for school

KYLEE NISKER

Carli’s Corner

Feb. 28, 2012

Students’ morning schedules

KYLEE NISKER

14

Lifestyles

There are some consignment stores right here in Annandale. You probably have seen them and walked past the storefronts, but I challenge you to go inside.

On a local news site I found that there is a new store called Joseph’s Coat here close to the nearby Fuddruckers. This is a consignment store that used to be located in Falls Church. It will join Treasure Trove (near the Bloom on Columbia Pike) and Auntie Te’s in Bradlick Shopping Center.

There is also The Salvation Army (near Five Guys), which was formerly only for low income families. You can find tons of items, from clothes to furniture for very low prices.

There is also another Treasure Trove

in Springfield which you can go to. This chain is really great because you can buy reasonably priced clothes and the money you spent goes to Inova Children Medical Center. Lastly there is Unique which is in Falls Church, and it is the biggest consignment store I have seen. It is like a flea market of consignment items and I have found a lot of good things there.

Not only can you buy things from consignment stores, you can sell your clothes as well. I have brought a lot of my clothes to consign in order to get money for new clothes.

You can also consign accessories (bags, jewelry, shoes, etc.) and also some home items (books, furniture, etc.) There are

some in any city you live in so you might want to look online to see ones near you.

Another type of store very closely related to consignment stores is antique stores.

Here you can find used items too, but they are usually a lot older. People who like vintage things should go to these. They are very fun to go in. Even though they may look small, they are packed with stuff and you could spend hours in there. I love antiques because you can learn a lot about the past as well, which is interesting.

We have an another antique store in Annandale called Kruger’s which is right near the KMart on Little River Turnpike.

Check it out!

“I’m excited for track season to start.”

—Jonathan Gutierrez freshman

Auntie Te’s 6920 A Braddock Road Annandale, VA 703-321-9363

“I’m going to go to Busch Gardens.”

­ --Leslie Luu sophomore

“Being able to wear spring clothes, like shorts.”

­—Vivian Cao sophomore

-Compiled by Joe Sehrer

The popular wristlet trend On your smartphone, scan this code using the application “QR Code” to view a slideshow of trending wristlets.

Salvation Army 6528 Little River Tpke Alexandria, VA 703-642-9270

Treasure Trove 6416 Springfield Plaza Springfield, VA 703-569-7751

Unique 2956 Gallows Rd Falls Church, VA 703-992-6560

ABlast

the

Feb. 28, 2012

Sports X-tra

From siblings to teammates Brothers and sisters must work together during sports seasons

A.J. Mccafferty

By Ngan Pham Sports X-tra Editor What is it like being a part of the same sports team with a person that you see on a daily basis for most of your life? Sophomore Katie McCann and freshman Jenny McCann might argue with each other on the field hockey field and at home, but they have to set aside these differences when it is game time.

Most students with older siblings have to get comfortable to high school life together, but some have to deal with their older siblings on sports teams as well.

Both advantages and disadvantages are found in sibling relationships in terms of teamwork and non-athletic elements.

“I played on the varsity basketball team with my brother, Tyler Schwartz, [and] I enjoyed playing with him better because I looked up to him for both hustle and toughness,” sophomore Steven Schwartz said.

While some younger siblings find it beneficial to have an older figure to look up to and work with, others see disadvantages in this particular situation. “[I played] junior varsity field hockey with my older sister, Katie McCann, and it’s basically the same, except sometimes we have arguments,” Jenny McCann said.

“I don’t particularly enjoy it just because I spend a lot Steven and Tyler Schwartz play basketball and baseball together. They are competitive, yet also support each other. of time with her at home so I’d rather the sport be my getaway.”

The developed relationships between siblings on classes when the girls don’t know each other well. [The The older siblings on the other side of the spectrum sports teams impact the athletic experiences of their McCanns’] relationship helped us to have good team also have to deal with their younger siblings. unity,” JV Field Hockey Coach Katie Stribling said. “As teammates as well.

“It’s not bad playing on the same team as my brother, “I played field hockey with the McCanns and it was a coach, I treat all players equally regardless of their but sometimes we get competitive, especially since definitely a new experience, but they worked together relationship with others.” we’re both pitchers on the baseball team,” senior Tyler greatly,” sophomore Kunnica Kou said. “It’s different Despite the drawbacks regarding sibling relationships Schwartz said. from my relationship with my sister because we don’t that people see on the exterior, many benefits also exist “[My sister and I] play different positions so we’re not really have any goals to work towards like teammates that make these relationships stronger. competing against each other at all and we were familiar do, so we just fight constantly.”

“I loved playing with my brother, even though he with each other’s playing styles,” Katie McCann said.

Coaches must also face this situation as they work probably didn’t as much,” Steven Schwartz said. “He’s “However, sometimes it gets frustrating when we argue towards success for their respective teams. my biggest idol to look up to.” and bicker.”

“On some teams there is a divide between the

How to perfect your... penalty kick “First, you have to decide where to place the ball and where you’re going to kick it. You can’t change your mind right when you’re about to take the kick because if you do, it won’t go in. Sometimes I get nervous, but I just try to place it in the upper or lower 90 degree corner. I tend to go to the right more than the left because that is what I’m comfortable with.”

—Javier Aguila junior

15

How do you and your siblings handle playing the same sport?

“My older brother and I are competitive because we run the same event, but I’m proud of him and support him.”

—Aviad Gebrehiwot freshman “My older sister is an Olympic swimmer, so I just get identified by being her sister and I sometimes feel like I’m in her shadow.”

—Michelle Burnett sophomore “My sister and I were always really competitive about soccer, but when it came down to it we always supported each other.”

—Corinne Balicki junior “My older brother did hurdles, jumps and sprints and he was really talented.

I look up to him and ask him for advice about 400s.”

—Alex Ellison junior “During swim season, I was always in the lane after my brother at meets, so we would cheer for each other.”

—Taylor Swann senior

backhand “It’s really important to get in the correct position when you’re using a backhand return so that you can have a higher potential of hitting the ball and win the point. Basically, the backhand is a forehand stroke that you hold with two hands.

It’s good to use because you can hit the ball on your left side and you don’t have to adjust your position, so it saves you time and gives you the ability to focus on your hit instead.

A backhand can be difficult to learn at first, but once you get the hang of it, it really helps your performance.”

—Dylan Gore junior

“My brother and I swam different events in high school, so we weren’t really competitive.”

—Neil Jarvis science teacher

What terms are unique to your sport?

Soccer “Man-on: used to alert a teammate that someone is coming behind them to challenge them for the ball.”

—Megan Hua freshman Tennis “Ace: when you serve the ball and the returner completely misses the ball.”

DRAW swing “A baseball is really small. When it’s coming at roughly 85 miles per hour, and when you try to hit it with a bat that is just as small it’s very difficult. I personally improve by practicing hitting and doing a lot of repetitions to get used to the speed and putting correct spin on the ball. it’s important because it’s how you score and how the game really keeps going.”

—Ryan Smith senior

“When you’re doing a draw, which is the equivalent of a face-off, you put your stick and your net so the head faces you and the back of it faces the ball and you press it against the other person’s head. You usually stand facing each other and then when the whistle blows you throw the stick up and you try to catch the ball. You have to stand between the ball and your goal. It’s vital to the game because whoever wins the face-off has the ball first and then they can make a goal and it’s kind of hard to get the ball back when they’ve already won it.”

—Amanda Villafana

—Hannah Coulter sophomore Track and Field “Split: your individual time on your own relay.”

—Marcus Walton sophomore Lacrosse “Slide body: when a defender gets beat and another defender hits the attacker in the body to stop him.”

—Myles Carpenter sophomore Baseball “Triple play: when you get three outs in one play.”

—Noah Wolfenstein sophomore Softball “Slap: when you are batting on the left side and the objective is to hit a slow grounder so you can run and make it to a base.”

—Photos by A.J. McCafferty

—Jessica Hotter senior

—Compiled by Colleen Adenan

Balancing sports and school On your smartphone, scan this code above using the application “QR Code” to view a story about student athletes that handle both academics and sports.

16 Winter sports success Sports

Boys 4x400 meter relay: 2nd in the state

Feb. 28, 2012

Programs have strong regional, state showings highlighted by individual performances

By Samir Shah Sports Editor

Senior Walter Manlan starts off the 4x400 meter relay. The team finished second overall at the state championships.

Senior Roland Andoh sprints the second leg of the relay; Andoh has been running for the team since freshman year and is also the district champion in the 55 dash.

Wrestling The wrestling team had a spectacular season this year, finishing first in the Patriot District and third in the Northern Region, in addition to fostering two VHSL AAA state champions.

At the Patriot District Championships, 11 out of the 12 varsity wrestlers who participated placed and scored points for the team, besting rival Lake Braddock Bruins by 17 points to secure the title.

The Northern Region Championships were equally successful, with individual champions senior Dane Harlowe in the 126 pound weight class and senior Ali Ali Musa in the 220 pound weight class. Multiple others also placed, including senior John McCollom in the 195 pound weight class, senior Jordan Dickerson in the 132 pound weight class and junior Bryan Jefferson in the 132 pound weight class, leading the team to a third place finish with a total of 129.5 points.

The Atoms also sent four wrestlers to the state tournament this year, and Musa and Harlowe each emerged with state championship titles.

Boys Track The boys track team did not win the district championship this season as was expected.

However, their season still proved to be a success with a third place finish overall in the Northern Region and a fourth place finish in the state.

Wrestling

At districts, the team proved to be a lethal force, taking home titles in the 4x800 meter relay, the 4x200 meter relay, the 55 meter dash, the 1600 meter run, the 500 meter dash and the 1000 meter run among top finishes in many more events.

The team’s success continued at the regional level, as senior Walter Manlen set a school record in the 300 meter dash with a time of 36.28 and the 4x200 meter relay of Manlen, senior Roland Andoh, junior Alex Ellison and senior Dylan Van Balen brought home a regional title with a time of 1:31.14. Senior Ahmed Bile also added his own Northern Region title in the 1600 meter run with a time of 4:15.32.

At the VHSL AAA State Championship, Bile emerged with his fifth state championship, this time in the 1000 meter run. His time of 2:26 is the second fastest ever run at the state meet to professional athlete and olympian Alan Webb. The 4x200 meter relay finished fifth in the state with a time of 1:32.06 and the 4x400 meter relay team finished second overall with a time of 3:24.71.

Girls Track The girls track team has not had as much success as the boys in past years, but they have shown improvement.

At districts, the girls 4x200 meter relay of senior Monique Diggs, junior Rowan Shartel and sophomores Destiny Anderson and Leah Bowie emerged as the district champion. Other strong performances from the girls came in the long jump by Diggs, a sixth place finish in the shotput by sophomore Margaret Njomo, a sixth place finish in the 55 meter dash by sophomore Katherine Ross and Shartel’s sixth place finish in the 300 meter dash.

At the Northern Virginia Regional Championships, the girls team performed well with a sixth place finish

in the 4x200 meter relay and top finishes from Njomo and Shartel.

Swim & Dive The swim & dive team performed exceptionally well at all three levels of competition, sending five individual swimmers to regionals in addition to those from four relays. The team also sent two divers and a relay to the state competition.

This season, the swim & dive team had 13 athletes place at districts and advance to regionals (including relays). The boys team finished fifth overall, and the girls team finished sixth. The women’s 200 yard medley relay and 200 yard freestyle relay each placed sixth overall, and the men’s 200 yard freestyle relay and 400 yard freestyle relay placed fifth and fourth overall, respectively. Other strong individual performances included Adam Wattenbarger’s sixth place finish in the 50 yard freestyle and fifth place finish in the 100 yard freestyle and Daniel Jessen’s fourth place finish in the 200 yard individual medley and fifth place finish in the 100 yard backstroke. The dive team also performed well with three top finishes on the boys and girls teams from senior Patrick McCann, junior Clark Girardin and sophomore Allie Vogus.

At regionals, the boys 200 freestyle relay of juniors Matt Del Signore and Jessen and seniors Willlie Labarca and Wattenbarger broke a 1993 school record with a time of 1:29.28. Wattenbarger and Jessen also performed well in their individual events, and both McCann and Vogus continued their success at the regional competition.

McCann and Vogus went on to place sixth and seventh, respectively, at the state level. The boys 200 freestyle relay also continued its success at state meet with a 14th place finish at finals.

Track

Swim

Dive

Dane Harlowe

Walter Manlan

Adam Wattenbarger

Allie Vogus

Q: How did you feel going into the tournament?

A: “Going into the tournament I was ust determined. I knew I was going to have a tough match in the semis so I had to keep my eyes on the prize.

I was really ‘in the zone’ the whole tournament.”

Q: How did you feel about the team’s performance this season?

A: “Great we have all managed to PR for almost every single race we’ve ran this season.”

Junior Austin Chavez runs the third leg of the relay; Chavez was also the regional champion in the 500 meter dash.

Senior Ahmed Bile anchors the relay; the team finished second overall in the state with a time of 3:24.71. Bile gained his fifth state title at this meet as well.

-photos courtesy of milestat.com

Boys basketball falls to Lake Braddock The boys basketball team fell to Lake Braddock 55-58 in the first round of the district tournament.

Despite matching the Bruins basket for basket down the stretch, the Atoms were unable to put up a last second shot, failing to force overtime. To read a recap of the Atoms’ 3-18 season and more about its last-second loss to Lake Braddock, visit www.thea-blast.org.

Girls basketball advances to regionals

Q: Which match was your toughest?

“The toughest match was definitely in the semis when I wresled Michael Hayes because he’s a good wrestler and I knew I needed to win that match. I was losing with like 10 seconds left and I put him his back to tie it up. In overtime I was able to take him down and won. Me and coach were going crazy.”

Q: When did you start wrestling and what made you stick to it?

A: “I started wrestling when I was like seven and I stuck with it because I loved it and my family supported me through my whole career.”

Q: What are your plans for next year?

A: “Next year I’m gonna be going to college for wrestling but I’m not sure where I’m going to go yet.”

Q: What is the greatest moment you have had in your running career?

A: “Running in front of over 400,000 people at Penn relays with the team.”

Q: How did you feel before the race?

A: “[Before the race I felt] nervous and ready to go.”

Dylan Van Balen

Q: How did you feel about the relay team’s performance? Your performance?

A: “For having only one year round swimmer in a sport that almost requires it to be good, we did very well.

We broke a 19-year-old school record so this year was a success. I did as well as I have all season and couldn’t ask for more.”

Q: How long have you been swimming and what made you stick to it?

A: “I’ve been swimming since I was three and I stuck with it because it was something my entire family did and being the youngest I wanted to live up to my older siblings.”

Q: What are your plans for next year?

A: “I am going to Alderson-Broaddus college to play football.”

Willie Labarca

Q: How did you feel about your performance at states?

A: “I was pretty happy with my preformance at states because i was able to practice plenty and when it came down to the actual meet I wasn’t really nervous.”

Q: How did you expect to perform heading into the meet?

A: “Going into the meet I thought that if I preformed to the best of my ability that I would hopefully get top ten. I had no idea that i was seated seventh and that was going to be my final place.”

Q: What does it mean to you to be the seventh best girl diver in the state as only a sophomore?

A: “Being only a sophmore and seventh in the state gives me goals and expectations for next year. I hope that I will be able to qualify for states again next year and place even higher.”

Q: What can you improve on next year?

A: “For next year I plan on improving the basics on my dive, because this year I learned a few new dives but they weren’t exactly clean or good looking. If I can make those dives really solid then hopefully next year

Patrick McCann

Q: How did you feel going into the tournament?

A: “I’m not going to lie, I was a little nervous but still confident.”

On your smartphone, scan the code above using the application “QR Code” to view a story about the boys track team beginning their season.

Q: What are your plans for next year?

A: “To attend a four year college and run track there as well.”

Ali Musa

Despite falling to T.C. Williams 4659 in the second round of the district tournament, the girls basketball team advanced to the second round of regional competition, besting South Lakes 68-48 only to fall to Mount Vernon 49-54 in overtime. To read more about the team’s 15-10 season and postseason run, visit www.theablast.org.

Track begins season

Q: How long have you been running and what made you stick to it?

A: “Since spring of freshman year and what made me stay was all of the competition and wanting to get better.”

Q: How’d you feel going into the meet?

A: “I was pretty nervous because I knew that it could be my last chance at competitive swimming if I didn’t make finals. And for finals I was just sad since I knew I would never competitively swim again.”

Q: Which match was your toughest?

“I was most scared about the finals because I didn’t want to lose after I came that far.”

Q: When did you start wrestling and what made you stick to it?

A: “I started my sophomore year because Coach Adams took me. I’m happy he did, and when you’re winning it’s fun so that’s why I stuck to it.”

Q: What are your plans for next year?

A: “My plans are to go to Fork Union for a year and then transfer to a Division 1 school.”

Q: How did you feel about the team’s finish at the meet?

A: “We all could’ve done better but we were just a little bit nervous.”

Q: Why did you start running and what made you stick to it?

A: “I started to run my freshmen year and I stuck with it becuase it kept me in shape and I started to realize that I was fast and had potential.”

Q: What are your plans for next year?

A: “If I can, I will run in college, hopefully VCU or Radford.”

Q: What is the greatest moment you have had in your running career?

A: “Definitely winning the 4 by 200 meter relay at a PG county meet and getting interviewed and getting free bags”

Q: How did you feel before the race?

A: I don’t really think, I try to clear my mind and just swim.

Q: How did you feel about the team’s performance?

A: “At states we didn’t really swim well, we made finals but we all had mediocre swims. Breaking the record was an amazing feeling; we all swam our fastest and beat the record by a good margin.”

Q: How long have you been swimming and what made you stick to it?

A: “13 years. I’ve always loved to race and my coaches encouraged me to go faster.”

Q: What are your plans for next year?

A: “Swim club at whatever school I go to.”

Q: How did you feel about the team’s performance at states?

A: I felt okay about how I did but I wish I had done better. As a team we all could have done better.”

Q:How long have you been diving and what made you stick to it?

A: “I’ve been diving for four years because it’s challenging, fun, and everyday is different.”

Q: What are your plans for next year?

A: “I will be diving at the University of Delaware.”

Q: What is the greatest moment you have had in your diving career?

A: “Getting a scholarship to dive at a D1 school.”

Sports

Feb. 28, 2012

Spring sports preview Boys lacrosse

After a season marked by late-inning losses cut short in the first round of the district tournament, the varsity baseball team looks to respond behind the leadership of a core group of upperclassmen and improve on a 9-10 record.

With a new starting rotation and additional coaches, the team aims to advance deep into the district tournament against a Patriot District line-up with no clear powerhouse.

The team will begin its season with a series of district match-ups before heading to Myrtle Beach for the Mingo Bay Classic over Spring Break.

Key Players: Ryan Miller, Alec Villafana, Joe Bermingham

Key Players: Patrick McCann, Tyler Schwartz, Nolan Gilbert, Michael Hennessey

Player’s Outlook: “The team is looking strong and we should be very competitive in the district,” senior Alec Villafana said.

Key Games: South County, Lake Braddock, W.T. Woodson Player’s Outlook: “The season is looking strong. I want to go to the district championship and get revenge on T.C. for last year’s loss,” senior Tyler Schwartz said.

Girls lacrosse ended its 2011 regular season undefeated in district games. The team continued its winning streak up until the Patriot District semi-finals, when it fell to W.T. Woodson in a close overtime loss.

Although the Atoms graduated seven seniors, they have 11 returning players and a promising season ahead of them.

Boys tennis

Spring sports tryouts

Key Players: Josh Kim, Phil Ousman, Kyle Jameison Key Games: West Springfield, Lake Braddock

Player’s Outlook: “We lost a lot of our team but we have plenty of people that can step up and we’ll have a good season,” senior Kenzi Wright said.

Player’s Outlook: “We lost our top four players, so we’re hoping we can get some younger people to step up,” senior Josh Kim said.

Boys soccer

Junior Dylan Gore hits a backhand while warming up for varsity tryouts.

Girls soccer Girls soccer had an average season last year and is looking to improve on its 6-6-3 record. Sent home by South County in the first round of districts, the team hopes to avenge its early loss in 2012. The girls lost nine seniors, including their only starting goalkeeper, and are looking to a crop of young talent with only two returning seniors.

Key Players: Natalie Ford, Micaela Filsoof, Stephanie Allshouse PHOTO OF RYAN MILLER COURTESY OF BRIAR CREEK PHOTOGRAPHY

Player’s Outlook: “The season could go really well if we work on our teamwork and getting all our talent to work as one unit. We have a good coaching staff this year so I think we can really be a contender in the district tournament,” senior Willie Labarca said.

Q: Are You doing anything different to prepare this year?

A: “[We’re not doing] anything different to prepare.”

Another team plagued by the loss of graduating seniors, the boys tennis team hopes to continue its 2011 success. Despite its impressive 7-5 record last year, it hopes to improve on its finish this coming season.

Key Games: W.T Woodson, Lake Braddock, West Springfield

Key Games: T.C. Williams, South County

Q: What are your goals for the season?

A: “To pitch well for the season.”

-Compiled by Ethan Edwards

Key Players: “Everybody is a key player,” Head Coach Cindy Hook said.

Key Players: Willie Labarca, Jordan Fox, Sergio Moya, Matt Del Signore

Q: How do you expect the team to perform this year?

A: “[We] should potentially finish as a top four team in the district.”

Q: What is going to be the key to success this year?

A: “Pitching well.”

Girls lacrosse

With a new head coach for the second year in a row, the boys varsity soccer team has a lot to adjust to. Its season was cut short last year in a suprising first round district loss to T.C. Williams, who the team also lost to in the first round of districts the year before. Its players’ high level of talent bodes well for the squad, which is looking to advance past the first round of districts and deep into the postseason.

Coach’s Corner Baseball: Ron Abrigo

Baseball

Avenging its only disctict loss of the regular season, the boys varsity lacrosse team handily defeated Woodson 17-3 to bring home the Patriot District Championship last year. After qualifying for the regional championship, the team clinched a spot in the state tournament, advancing to the semi-finals.

The season ended with a loss to future state champion Langley, culminating in an impressive 16-4 record.

This domination within the district bodes well for the 2012 season, especially with the return of several strong players.

Key Games: W.T. Woodson, West Springfield, Lake Braddock

17

Girls track & field

The girls winter track team improved greatly on its performances in recent years, raising hopes for the spring season. With multiple girls earning top finishes in the district, the team looks to be even more competitive this year.

The 4x200 meter relay, which emerged as a district champion this winter, will be a key piece with strong competitors in the 300 meter dash and shotput.

Key Games: South County, Lake Braddock Player’s Outlook: “This will be a rebuilding year for the team and we need younger players to step up since we only have a few returning players,” senior Micaela Filsoof said.

Boys track & field Coming off a sucessful winter track season, the team is looking to build on its achievement this year. Following a stunning regional championship win last spring, expectations are running high for the team. Even so, the season looks bright due to the squad’s high number of returning competitors this spring.

With a squad very similar to last year’s and a strong showing at the indoor state championship already under its belt, the spring season appears promising. The team will look to a key group of seniors, which, coupled with its young talent, could bring the squad postseason success.

Key Players: Ahmed Bile, Dylan Van Balen, Walter Manlan, Alex Ellison, Roland Andoh Key Games: T.C. Williams, South Lakes

Key Players: Destiny Anderson, Monique Diggs, Sabrina Romano, Rowan Shartel Key Games: T.C. Williams, Lake Braddock, South County Player’s Outlook: “I think we are going to do really well and score more points as a team. I want to make it to regionals and hopefully states,” senior Sabrina Romano said.

Girls tennis

Haivng already had a year to adjust to the coaching style of Hassan Mims, the girls tennis team hopes to improve on last year’s record. A team with young talent, it has the potential to be a district threat.

Key Games: W.T. Woodson, South County Player’s Outlook: “We will have a competitive season this year. We lost a few key players last year but we can still do well,” sophomore Hannah Coulter said.

Senior Josh Kim returns a forehand while volleying with a teammate.

-Photos by A.J. McCafferty

Player’s Outlook: “We plan to win the district again. We had a strong season last year and with the strong amount of returning runners, we should be a strong team,” senior Dylan Van Balen said.

Girls softball

The softball team looks to improve on its 10-9 record in the 2011 season, which ended abruptly in a first round district loss.

“Pitcher Isabelle Yaroch will be difficult to replace, but we have a strong group of seniors returning [and] up-and-coming underclassmen as well,” Head Coach Chris Tippins said. “We hope to finish high in the district.”

Key Players: Justine Niner, Jessica Hotter, Casey Fait

Key Players: Hannah Coulter, Carli Loeb

Junior Javier Aguila looks down the field for an open teammate.

Key Games: South County, Lake Braddock Player’s Outlook: “Most of our returning players are travel players, so we should have a strong starting line-up,” senior Jessica Hotter said.

-Compiled by Parker Gillcash

Spring Sports finish tryouts On your smartphone, scan this code using the application “QR Code” to view a story about spring sports tryouts.

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What’s your favorite movie quote?

Quote: “I’ll be back.”

Movie: The Terminator

— Cyrus Vasigh freshman

ENTERTAINMENT

Feb. 28, 2012

Test your movie knowledge The Oscars may be over, but here’s a game that should be just as rewarding 1: “I’m going to make him an offer he can’t refuse.” _____ 2: “Toto, I’ve got a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.”_____ 3: “Go ahead, make my day.”_____ 4: “I’m ready for my close-up.”_____

Quote: “Can I be McBob?” Movie: 8 Mile

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5: “You talkin’ to me?” _____

— Kyle Goettlicher freshman

6: “What we’ve got here is failure to communicate.” _____ 7: “Show me the money!” _____ Quote: “Just keep swimming.”

Movie: Finding Nemo

—Jalen Barencenilla junior

8: “Nobody puts Baby in a corner.” _____ 9: “I’m king of the world!” _____ 10: “The limit does not exist!” _____ 11: “This is what happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object.” _____

Quote: “I want you.

All of you. Forever, everyday, you and me.”

Movie: The Notebook

12: “I’m pretty sure there’s a lot more to life than being really, really, ridiculously good looking.” _____ 13: “How dare you, she’s a nice lady!” _____

— Michelle Quiroga senior

14: “With great power comes great responsibility. This is my gift. This is my curse.” ___ Quote: “N.P.H. wouldn’t do that!

Movie: Harold & Kumar

—Hassan Mims SAM Program Advisor -Compiled by Sarah Omer

Upcoming movies

15: “DO-YOU-UNDERSTAND-THE-WORDS-THATARE-COMING-OUT-OF-MY-MOUTH?” _____ 16: “...It means no worries.” _____ 17: “It’s only after we’ve lost everything that we’re free to do anything.” _____ 18: “Elementary, my dear Watson.” _____ 19: “You can’t change who people are without destroying who they were.” _____ 20: “How dare you open a man’s space helmet on an uncharted planet!” _____ 21: “You stink, you smell like beef and cheese! You don’t smell like Santa.” _____

Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax: Dr. Seuss’ timeless story of the Lorax comes to life once again.

A young boy searching for the affection from the girl of his dreams encounters the story of the Lorax and along the way learns valuable life lessons March 2

22: “Gangstaaaaaaaaaaasss... what’s up guys? ” _____ 23: “What do you want? You want the moon? Just say the word and I’ll throw a lasso around it and pull it down.” _____ 24: “I warned you dear child, if I lose my temper, you lose your head. Understand?” ____

DIRECTIONS: Match each quote to the movie from which it originates. The first person to turn in a complete and correct page with their name and W4 teacher’s name to the Publications Lab (room 262) will win a pair of AMC Gold movie tickets.

A Thousand Words: After finding a Bodhi tree growing on his lawn, an opportunistic liar discovers that the amount leaves on the tree is equivalent to the amount of words he has left to speak until he learns his lesson.

March 9

21 Jump Street: Based on the 1987 FOX television show with the same title, 21 Jump Street chronicles a pair of young cops sent undercover at a local high school to take down a drug ring.

March 16

Jeff Who Lives at Home: A lazy, middleaged slacker still living in his mother’s basement finally discovers his calling as he tracks down his older brother’s wife believed to be having an affair.

March 16

I Just Want My Pants Back On your smartphone, scan this code using the application “QR Code” to read a review on MTV’s TV show I Just Want My Pants Back

Indies to watch

DAYDREAM NATION Starring: Kat Dennings and Reece Thompson After her widowed father forces them out of their vibrant New York City apartment into a boring old house in the middle of nowhere, Caroline Wexler doesn’t think she will be able to cope with all the boredom. To make things worse, the judgmental and uptight teens and teachers at school give her a hard time for her wild and wacky city demeanor. Unconcerned by this, Caroline alleviates her boredom and begins an affair with her unstable English teacher and introverted classmate. Complete with a killer indie soundtrack, Daydream Nation is the start of a great career for first time director Michael Goldbach.

DAKOTA SKYE Starring: Eileen Boyhan, Ian Nelson and JB Ghuman Jr. The average person lies at least three times in a given conversation. Dakota Skye has been cursed with the power to see them all.

Whether it’s a white lie or a more serious lie, Dakota has never been able to fully trust anyone, including her musician boyfriend.

When his best friend comes to visit, Dakota is drawn to him because he doesn’t tell a single lie during their conversation. Curious, Dakota’s friendship opens her up to a whole new world. Searching for the truth in a world full of lies, Dakota learns lessons about life, love and happiness KEITH Starring: Elisabeth Harnois, Jesse McCartney Don’t write off this movie just because Disney’s former heartthrob, Jesse McCartney, stars in it. This is not your typical high school chick-flick. The movie begins in a typical fashion; opposites attract.

Natalie, the most popular and prettiest girl in school is assigned Keith the mysteriously eccentric loner, as a lab partner. From their first encounter Natalie appears uninterested, but eventually her curiosity gets the best of her. As she uncovers things about Keith, she begins to second guess her choices and the way she lives her life.

Entertainment

Feb. 28, 2012

Introducing The Audition We spoke with Danny Stevens, Tim Klepek and Joe Lussa, of the Chicago band The Audition. The face-to-face interview took place at Empire Nightclub on Feb. 19 prior to their set.

Q: Introduce yourself and your position in the band.

Danny: My name’s Danny, and I sing in The Audition.

Tim: My names Tim and I play guitar.

Danny: In what band?

Tim: The Audition.

Danny: What? You do? Wow. Q: Explain your music to somebody who has never heard it before.

Danny: Rock n’ roll with a little bit of pop and soul. I like that actually, I just made that up.

Tim: That’s got a nice little ring to it.

Q: What makes you different from all the other bands out there right now?

Danny: Nothing.

Tim: I’ve got an afro. But now there’s another guy on this tour and he’s got an afro too.

Danny: Yeah dude what’s up with that? I keep thinking he’s you too. The singer of Plug In Stereo has an afro just like his. They look identical.

Q: When did you get involved in the music scene and who or what inspired you?

Tim: I started listening to new metal music. I think my first concert was Limp Bizkit. So I guess I can award it to Fred Durst and Wes Moreland.

Q: How do you feel you have grown as a band since the start of your career?

Danny: I think we’ve just grown as songwriters, we’re older and our musical tastes are more diverse and have changed though the years and stuff and I think that reflects in the music that we write.

Q: Have you ever had second thoughts about wanting to pursue music and was there ever a time that you thought about giving up or moving on?

Danny: Yeah I’m actually gonna get a job at this oil shop right here (points behind him). After this show Danny Stevens, Tim Klepek and Joe Lussa of The Audition.

I’m done. I’m sick of it dude. No, I love it. Since day one, Q: How does touring take a toll on your life and how I’ve loved it. difficult is it to keep in touch with the life you lead Tim: Oh! No! Never! back home?

Danny: Good answer dude, you’re a pro.

Danny: I mean it pretty much is our lives now, you know?

Q: What’s your take on illegal music downloads?

Danny: It sucks.

Tim: I don’t have a problem with it.

Danny: It sucks.

Joe: Do it up.

Danny: No. I think it’s a big deal. I mean its just like somebody going into this cleaners or like this tobacco shop and going like “Oh here, here’s a pack of cigarettes, thanks!” and just walking out, you know what I mean?

Joe: That’d be sweet, I would like that a lot.

Danny: For you, not the store owner boy.

Joe: He’s just gotta find a new way to make money off those cigarettes, that’s all.

19

Upcoming concerts

ONE DIRECTION Friday, March 2 GMU Patriot Center

Every since we started, we went full steam ahead. I never really looked back, I’ve just kind of gone forward with it and that’s what we do now, that’s who we are.

Q: What advice could you give to a high school student wanting to pursue music in the future?

Danny: Take criticism, and don’t have an ego, listen to people that have been around the block. Take it all in.

Tim: It doesn’t always happen overnight.

BOYS II MEN Friday, March 2 Rams Head Live!

Q: Any last words or messages to your fans?

Danny: Thank you so much to all the fans, pick up Chapter II on iTunes.

Fun. becomes mainstream

Strange sounding sophomore album intrigues new listeners

By Rachel Bergen Entertainment Editor

Despite the fact that they’re new to the charts, Fun. isn’t actually a new band.After opening for a variety of big-name bands like Jack’s Mannequin, Paramore, Panic!

At The Disco and Janelle Monae, the New York City based band are not new players to the game of music.

With a pop, auto-tuned, techno, showtune sound, the band’s sophomore album Some Nights, which dropped Feb. 21 by

The group’s collaboration with R&B Fueled By Ramen Records, has gathered soul singer Janelle Monae, called “We nothing but concerned reviews thus far.

My first impression of the album was Are Young,” is the only song I considered that it was like listening to the sound track somewhat enjoyable on the album. The song was actually covered by of a Broadway musical; happy the cast of Fox’s Glee, and was and peppy but over eccentric. It appears that the bands switch in Album Review: also featured in an ad during the Super Bowl. record label negatively impacted Some Nights With this album, Fun. created their change in sound. a sound unlike anything I’ve ever The album opens with an heard before. With an upbeat “Intro,” followed by “Some indie-pop sound, the music leaves Nights,” a gang vocal church you feeling like you’re watching a choir like song with a hint of bad high school musical.

The Who. If you haven’t heard of Fun. or their It doesn’t help that lead singer Nate Ruess’ typically strong vocals are made new album, you’re not missing out. Fun. squeaky and incredibly whiny with the is playing at the 9:30 Club on May 3 and overuse in auto tune. The sound ultimately May 4, but both shows have sold out well in advance so you don’t have to bother going. leaves you to cringe.

SECONDHAND SERENADE Wednesday, March 7 Rams Head Live!

C-

YOUNG JEEZY Saturday, March 3 The Fillmore in Silver Spring

Celebri-

Featured band: Simple As Surgery

Get inside your favorite celebrities’ heads

Scan the QR code to the left on your smartphone to see an exclusive interview with the band.

TYGA Monday, March 5 The Fillmore in Silver Spring

LIGHTS Monday, March 5 The 9:30 Club

zSzUzDzOzKzUz “I just hope my music inspires people to really come together. LOVE and POSITIVITY.” —Chris Brown

“I’m trending, did I die?”

—Donald Glover

“Do not put words in my mouth. I support all artists. No negative energy out here fam!”

“Eehh ... people don’t usually die after eating my food. Does that qualify as good?”

—Jessie J

—Ian Harding

“If I could change one thing about myself it would be my OCD. Why do I never stop cleaning?!

Drives me nuts!”

—Miley Cyrus

THE BLACK KEYS Friday, March 9 The 9:30 Club

DIGITOUR 2012 Wednesday, March 21 Jammin Java

FUN. Friday, May 2 The 9:30 Club

WEBSUDOKU.COM

This Means War! movie review Scan the code to the left on your smartphone to read a review of This Means War.

20

WEEKEND

To Do List Chocolate Lovers Festival If you’ve been craving some type of sweet pastry and aren’t sure of what can fulfill that craving, attend the Chocolate Lovers Festival in Old Town Fairfax. The annual festival will be on Mar. 3 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Mar. 4 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. The events include arts made from chocolate, crafts for children and historic reenactments.

Location: Old Town Hall 3999 University Drive Fairfax, VA 22030

The perfect bite for wing night From spicy to cool, test your taste buds with these chicken wings BUFFALO WING FACTORY Topping the hottest on the scale, Buffalo Wing Factory has seven different heat degrees of sauces ranging from Mild to Flatliner. The freshly made and crispy Buffalo Wings are a crowd favorite, coated in your choice of sauce. The factory also has daily specials, like 49¢ wings & buffalo bites on Mondays and a $14.99 wing sampler on Tuesdays.

It’s open all week from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on most days.

Location: 13067 Lee Jackson Memorial Hwy Fairfax, VA 22033

You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown Instead of watching a typical movie, grab your family and watch something live. In this play, Charlie Brown and his Peanut gang come to life on stage. This show is here to stay until Mar. 18; times may vary. Tickets are about $54 for adults and $49 for children.

Location: Olney Theatre Center 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Rd. Olney, MD 20832

It is nice to be able to just pick up your wings or get them delivered rather than have to sit down and actually eat them at a restaurant.

Wing Zone offers just that. It opens at 10:30 a.m. everyday, but closes at midnight Sun. through Thurs. and at 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Wing Zone offers 25 different flavored wings, so there is always something new to try out.

Location: 3817 Mt. Vernon Ave Alexandria, VA 22305

GLORY DAYS Glory Days’s wings are not complete without two little words: Glory Sauce. For $11.99, you can get 12 chicken wings or for $10.99 you can get 12 boneless wings. Glory Days is open from 11:30 a.m. through 12 a.m. on Monday through Saturday and 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Sunday. The Class of 2013 is hosting a fundraiser with Glory Days, where you bring your receipt to the marketing teacher Lindsay Zivney to give ten percent of your purchase back to benefit the class.

Location: 3059 Nutley St. Fairfax, VA 22031

HARD TIMES CAFE Got a case of the late night munchies? Hard Times Cafe is open until 2 a.m. so it’ll be sure to keep your stomach full anytime you’re craving medium wings. You and your friends or family can go together to get 25 wings for $22.99, 36 wings for $29.99, or 50 wings for $39.99. That might seem like a lot of money for wings, but these wings are grilled, making them more than worth the price.

Location: 6362 Springfield Plaza Springfield, VA 22150

Arts of Japan It may seem too early to get ready for the Cherry Blossom Festival, but spring is right around the corner.

To prepare you should visit the Smithsonian Freer Gallery of Art. This gallery can inform you more on how the cherry blossoms and maples are a huge influence on Japanese Art. There is no fee for the gallery and it is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Location: Jefferson Drive at 12th Street SW, Washington, DC 20013

HOT

WING ZONE

Getting Airborne!

The Getting Airborne performance is more then just a show; it’s a spectacular event with modern dancers and circus performers. This event will be held on Mar. 3 at 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. each lasting an hour. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for students and seniors.

Location: Atlas Performing Arts Center 1333 H St. NE Washington, DC 20002

Feb. 28, 2012

MEDIUM

WING STOP Fresh is the key word for the food at Wing Stop. From freshly made chicken wings to their own freshly made ranch dressing, you’ll never be disappointed with the quality of the wings. Wing Stop offers a variety of wings, including boneless, strips and sliders and different wing flavors, including teryaki and peppery. It’s open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 12 a.m. Friday though Saturday.

Location: 8723 Cooper Rd, Ste C Alexandria, VA 22309

KILROYS

––Compiled by Carola Rojas

Although Kilroys isn’t known for it’s wings specifically, it is very close to AHS and offers a variety of different types of wings. It also has a lounge for relaxation. If you are not a fan of overly spicy or saucy wings, try the cajun, mild or teryaki deep fried wings, coated with Kilroy’s special secret sauce. The restaurant is open every day, mainly from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., but times vary depending on the day.

Location: 5250 Port Royal Road, Springfield,VA 22151

2012 class bulletin

MILD

Today is the last day to purchase your All-Night Grad tickets before the price is raised to $45 Graduation countdown: 108 days

FD DG G DGDG V

Get yourself in the real game

Tomorrow is the last day to bring in your change to support your class in the Penny Wars

Set your controller down and try these activities instead If you like...

If you like...

If you like...

Mario Kart

FIFA Soccer 12

Call of Duty: Black Ops

Try...

Try...

go-kart racing

outdoor soccer

Try...

paintball

Sweet Frog On your smartphone, scan this code using the application “QR code” to view an exclusive story about a new frozen yogurt shop that might top Pink Berry and Red Mango.

You may not be able to bounce on mushrooms and glide on ice like in Mario Kart, but your need for speed will definitely be satisfied at the Allsports Grand Prix. On rainy days, there is no need to stay indoors and stare at your TV,when you can race your friends indoors on an eight-minute long racetrack. Although $24.50 for the first race and $18.50 for each additional race may seem a little pricey, go-kart racing is sure to be fun.

Allsports Grand Prix: 45915 Maries Rd, Ste 170, Sterling, VA 20166 “It’s fast and it’s adrenaline building, and it’s really fun because you feel like you’re in a racecar. It’s like Mario Kart, but without the crazy stuff.”

—Mark Slough sophomore

As the EA Sport’s slogan says: “It’s in the game.” Instead of creating an indent in your couch cushion while playing FIFA Soccer 12 on your TV, call your friends and head over to Mason District Park for a real game of soccer. After all, the chances of a snow blizzard at this point in winter are very slim. It’s time to step out of the cave that is your basement and into the sunlight on the free turf fields of the park.

Mason District Park: 6621 Columbia Pike Annandale, VA 22003 “Playing soccer with friends is better because it’s outdoors and it’s more fun running around.”

—Esrael Muche senior

Blood, gore and mass murder are the main components of most of today’s popular shooting games, like Call of Duty: Black Ops. Paintball offers the same sensation of playing these games by putting you in the game – but with less violence. Take a trip to Pev’s Paintball with your friends and defeat your enemies with a paintball gun for a $25 admission fee and $15 equipment rental fee.

You may get some bruises, but it’s all fun and games in the long run.

Pev’s Paintball: 39835 New Rd Aldie, Va 20105 “They’re both fun. I would rather be doing paintball because it gets you active. ”

—Quy To senior