The Churchill Observer- December 2015

Montgomery County Public Schools Winston Churchill High School 11300 Gainsborough Rd. Potomac, MD 20854

thechurchillobserver.com

Volume 40 - Issue 4

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

A National Blue Ribbon School

Board of Ed. Changes School Calendar

By Thomas Atkinson Online Features Editor

By Fiona Asbury Editor-in-Chief

T

he Board of Education decided Dec. 14 to revise the school calendar for the 2016-17 school year to accommodate the addition of a professional day Sept. 12, 2016.

School will start Aug. 29, 2016 with teachers starting pre-service days on Aug. 23.

The final day of school for students will be June 17, 2017.

The professional day coincides with the Muslim holiday Eid Al-Adha, and MCPS had to decide where to make up the day without disrupting the school schedule.

The new calendar will remove the professional day for teachers to attend the Maryland State Education Association convention Oct. 21, 2016.

While MCPS schools have been closed in the past on the day of the convention, next year they will be open and teachers who wish to attend the convention are allowed professional leave.

“To accommodate the professional day, the state teachers’ conference which is traditionally off is now a school day,” Student Member of the Board (SMOB) Eric Guerci said.

Teachers were asked for input on five options: start school on time with the added professional day costing $7 million; swap the professional day for one at the end of the third quarter with the added cost of $7 million; add the professional day and swap it for one of the marking

INFOGRAPHIC BY THOMAS ATKINSON AND EUGENIA CARDINALE.

Next year’s school calendar will accommodate a professional day on Sept. 12, the Muslim holiday of Eid Al-Adha. Teachers will lose a Pre-service day, and students and staff will attend school on Oct. 21, previously a no school day. period grading days; add the professional day and reduce the amount of pre-service days to four, or add the day with no additional cost and have pre-services start Aug. 18. The extra cost can be attributed to having to pay teachers on a previously scheduled day off.

According to a Dec. 9 email from Montgomery County Education Association (MCEA) president Christopher Lloyd to union members, there was no

consensus among the teachers for any of the options, and he worked continuously with Interim Superintendent Larry Bowers to find a solution.

MCPS had to follow guidelines to make sure the calendar followed State law.

According to Maryland State law, the yearly calendar for schools must contain at least 180 instructional days and be open for a total of 1,170 hours for student attendance.

One of the biggest factors

for the county to consider is that when schools are closed, not all students will have access to full meals.

“The poverty in the so-called ‘lower county’ continues to deepen at an alarming rate,” Mainwaring said. “This means that half or more of our students will not receive breakfast or lunch on that day. This is a sad reality that must be factored into decisions to close schools to students.”

Bernardino.

“With the more recent incidents in the country, there is a need for heighten security,” Benz said.

Already this year, CHS has taken more security measures with the door access cards in the front of the building.

Teachers can swipe their cards to enter, while students and guests have to buzz in.

Even though identification cards are required starting after the winter break, new lanyards and ID cards have already been distributed.

Many of the staff have already started wearing theirs, including athletic director and AP Comparative Government teacher Scott Rivinius. “[Staff] were encouraged to start wearing them now,” Rivinius said. “I have worked at other schools outside of MCPS where I had to have

my ID badge on, so it is not a problem for me and I am accustomed to it.”

Many teachers like Rivinius are smoothly transitioning, while some may to get used to wearing their ID cards.

“I would prefer if I did not have to wear the lanyard and maybe clip my ID onto my pocket so that it still is visible,” Spanish teacher Stacey Steele-

Yu said.

Many teachers agree that the reinforcement of ID cards to increase security is good.

“I think it helps to know who is in the building at all times,” Rivinius said. “I think it helps identify if someone in the building does not belong and could potentially cause problems.”

Teachers Required to Wear IDs after Break

By Isabel Dibble News Editor

CHS staff will be required to wear lanyards, displaying their identification cards while at school starting Jan. 4.

This change is a renewal from the policy that started many years ago at CHS. “We had a system where teachers wore their badges and students had to carry theirs somewhere in a wallet or pocket at all times,” Principal Joan Benz said.

CHS is bringing back the policy, which many other MCPS schools have maintained throughout the years.

The reason for the reinforcement of ID cards is due to recent events around the world and within the country, such as the terrorist attacks in Paris and the shooting in San

Umttr To Host Dance

Opinions Emoji Word of the Year We’re making an angry face at the 2015 Word of the Year.

Page 4

Although the senior class is the last class to have been at CHS during the tragic 2013 loss of then sophomore Evan Rosenstock, the effects of his death are still present in the CHS community, especially through the Umttr (pronounced “You matter”) organization.

According to the Umttr website, it was founded in response to Rosenstock’s suicide, and seeks to prevent a similar instance from occurring again by promoting a “compassionate culture where every person matters.”

Umttr has already hosted many events to promote mental health for students. Its most recent event is the Umttr uDance which will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 23 at 8 p.m. at The Fillmore Silver Spring.

According to the uDance flyer, the event is a dance party for students as a way to spread awareness of the five signs of emotional suffering and raise funds for Umttr’s suicide prevention mission.

To attend the dance, donations of $10 in advance or $15 at the door are requested.

Registration is available online through umattr.org “The uDance is new,” math teacher and CHS Staff Sponsor Curtis Southworth said.

“One of the private school members of Umttr is a DJ, so he suggested a multi-school dance.”

DJ Arno will be among the celebrity guests, fog machines and guest speakers making the event a positive experience to talk about the goals of Umttr and an enjoyable night out with friends.

The organization, which focuses on teen suicide prevention, was started by CHS alumnus Eric Roberts along with other CHS students, with the support of Evan’s mother, Sue. “When something tragic happens at a school, they find Umttr,” Southworth said. “It helps them deal with tragedy.”

Features

Arts

Student Trains Guide Dog

Fuller House

Yahoo, a future guide dog, is currently being trained by senior AJ Beauregard.

Get ready to watch your favorite family sitcom come back to TV.

Page 6

Page 13

2

News

December 22, 2015

Radon Levels Exceed Limits in 28 MCPS Schools

By Nathan Deychman Sports Editor Dangerous levels of radon have been discovered in 28 MCPS schools.

Radon is an odorless, tasteless and colorless gas that can cause lung cancer. It often seeps into buildings through cracks in the foundation.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), radon levels should not exceed four picocuries per liter (pCi/l).

While CHS radon levels are only 1.4 pCi/l, some schools in MCPS have radon levels as high as 11.9 pCi/l.

“As we move forward, I have directed our Chief Operating Officer to conduct a review of what occurred in these 28 cases, as well as a comprehensive review of our overall radon testing program to strengthen our protocols going forward,” Interim Superintendent Larry Bowers said in a Dec. 6 statement to the media.

Although scheduled retesting is underway for the schools with elevated radon levels, the initial tests were con-

ducted over three years ago.

According to a Dec. 7 article by the Washington Post, since so much time has passed since the initial testings, all 202 schools in the MCPS system will be retested, but the focus will still remain on the mitigation of the radon in the schools with high levels already detected.

Although the county will not be remodeling any schools due to the issue, MCPS is acting to extract the radon as quickly and efficiently as possible.

“We are moving swiftly and decisively to bolster our radon testing and mitigation program,” Bowers said in his statement. “My intention is to develop an enhanced comprehensive program for school district radon testing and remediation that will serve as an exemplar in the future.”

Many MCPS schools are several decades old, and the quality of the ventilation and the buildings themselves have gradually decreased over time and paved the way for radon to enter the buildings.

While MCPS officials claim that the high radon levels pose no immediate safety hazard, according to the EPA, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. behind smoking.

INFOGRAPHIC BY NATHAN DEYCHMAN.

MCPS has recorded higher amounts of radon in some schools than recommended by the EPA. Radon, an odorless, tasteless and colorless gas, can seep into schools and potentially cause lung cancer.

Students Respond to U.N. Climate Change Agreement

By Thomas Atkinson Online Features Editor Sofia Williamson Production Editor From Nov. 30 to Dec. 11, world leaders gathered in Paris to discuss the impending climate change situation. The outcome was an agreement involving 55 countries to work to lower global temperatures and raise at least $100 billion dollars annually in order to help developing countries.

“I think that it is a great [plan] because anything that will make the earth heal for everyone will make a big difference in the long run,” sophomore Kyle Lao said.

According to the NASA website, climate change has been a major issue in the past few years with a loss of 287 billion metric tons of land ice per year, carbon dioxide levels up 401.58 parts per million, and global temperatures up 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit.

Many students believe that the U.S. government in particular should be doing more in order limit pollution.

“The government should be providing more incentives for corporations to use cleaner energy sources,” junior Maddie Goldberg said.

The state of Maryland has already been working on decreasing the amount of pollutants put into the atmosphere and becoming more environmentally-friendly.

According to the Maryland Climate Change website, the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Act was made a law in 2009 and ultimately demands that greenhouse gas emissions be reduced by 25 percent by 2020. The current greenhouse gas concentration

INFOGRAPHIC BY OF THOMAS ATKINSON.

Eighty-one percent of 100 CHS students and faculty believe the government should be doing more to limit the amount of pollution in the U.S. in the air is estimated to be around 100 million metric tons.

In an Observer survey, 81 percent of students interviewed said that they think the government should be doing more to limit the amount of pollution, while 19 percent said that the government is doing enough.

According to Principal Joan Benz, CHS and MCPS as a whole conserve resources in many other ways besides recycling.

When MCPS builds a new school, such as Bells Mill Elementary School and Cabin John Middle School, it is built to run partially on geothermal energy.

While CHS may want a more energyefficient form of air conditioning, the system has been in place since the 1960s, so it cannot be changed without renovat-

ing the entire school.

“I would love to get student suggestions for other things we should do,” Benz said.

The general initiatives to use Chromebooks and Google Classroom was not only meant to allow students to gain technology skills, but to conserve paper, saving both money and trees.

MCPS also uses a sewage system that saves water in toilets.

“As the student population increases, we are gradually going paperless over time,” Benz said.

However, when contrasted with other cities in Maryland, the general area of Rockville, MD is not very polluted.

According to Numbeo, a website that allows users to compare living condi-

tions between countries and cities, Rockville is rated “very low” in terms of most aspects of pollution.

When compared to Tianjin, China, one of the most polluted cities in the world, air, garbage and light pollution levels in Rockville are at the level of zero, while pollution levels in Tiajin can reach levels of almost 90 percent.

However, the water pollution in Rockville reaches an astonishing level of 50 percent, only 25 percent under Tiajin.

In order to try and decrease pollution levels in the water, the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection has taken the step of prohibiting the sale of styrofoam for all businesses, effective January 2016.

According to Green4u.com, a website providing users with tips to stay green, styrofoam uses a chemical called ChloroFluoroCarbon (CFC) in its production. CFC was banned by the U.S. government in 1989, but while it may not be used in its production, many of its effects still remain in styrofoam cups. Styrofoam itself does not break down easily and releases chemicals when it gets wet, contaminating water that touches it.

While climate change may seem like a global issue, there are still ways CHS students can get involved locally.

“There are easy things that help protect the environment such as planting native plants and trees, picking up after your pets when walking them outside, to using reusable bags,” Watershed Outreach Planner Ana Arriaza said.

“In addition, individuals can volunteer.

There are several watershed groups in Montgomery County that are very active and are always looking for volunteers.”

December 22, 2015

Roddy Teacher of Year

By Emily Wang Online Arts Editor

Ceramics and Art Department Resource Teacher Brendan Roddy was selected as Montgomery County Public School’s Secondary Art Teacher of the Year.

MCPS Fine Arts Curriculum Specialist, Linda Adams, nominated Roddy for the honor, and Principal Joan Benz affirmed the nomination.

“I am very thankful to get the chance to teach something I am passionate about and love every day to students that enjoy learning,” Roddy said. “This award is not something that teachers seek out or look to achieve; we teach and strive to improve because we enjoy the process and want to grow.”

What’s Online?

The Observer is updating its online content EVERY DAY! Check it out on www.thechurchillobserver.com Like us on Facebook The Churchill Observer Follow us on Twitter @CHS_Observer

PHOTO BY EMILY WANG.

Hakopian Coach of Year

Roddy displays his Secondary Art Girls Soccer coach Haroot Teacher of the Year award.

Hakopian won the National Soccer

Annual Jazz Coffeehouse Stories by Eugenia Cardinale Observations Editor

The CHS Jazz Ensemble held its annual winter coffeehouse Dec. 11.

The band room was transformed, with lights strung all over the room and winter related decorations such as snowflakes hung from the walls and on the tables. Admission and food were free, and all food was provided by parents and volunteers. The show had a casual atmosphere and the audience was encouraged to get up and dance.

“My favorite song would have to be ‘Orange Sherbet’ because it was an uplifting song with a great swing beat, but the best song we played this year was a song titled ‘Nutville,’” junior percussionist Evan Lutterman said.

“I would have to say that this year’s coffee house was a great one. We put tremendous effort into learning the songs.”

3

Observations

PHOTOS COURTESY OF BILL WU.

Ariel Allal conducts the Jazz Ensemble at the coffeehouse.

Coaches Association of America’s (NSCAA) State Coach of the Year and Regional Coach of the Year awards.

The winners for each of those 11 regions in the country for each of those are being considered for the National Coach of the Year honors which were announced after press time.

“I am incredibly honored and proud of this award because there are so many coaches who are deserving of this recognition,” Hakopian said.

“I am even more honored by the fact that I was chosen for this award by my coaching colleagues.

According to Hakopian, the awards are based on the previous season’s performance, overall coaching record and “service to the game of soccer.” Hakopian was nominated by Walt Whitman coach Greg Herbert.

PHOTO BY EUGENIA CARDINALE.

Haroot Hakopian won Regional and State Coach of the Year.

Orchestra Winter Concert Senior Natalie Hwang sings “The Man I Love.”

Winter Band Concerts

PHOTO COURTESY OF NICK MASON.

Ariel Allal conducts the orchestra during the Winter Concert.

PHOTO BY EUGENIA CARDINALE.

The Wind Symphony performs “Purple Whispers.”

The CHS Concert Band, Symphonic Wind Ensemble and Wind Symphony held their winter concert Dec. 8.

The Concert Band performed two songs while the Symphonic Wind Ensemble and Wind Symphony both performed three songs. Songs performed included “The Cave you Fear”

by Michael Markowski, played by the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, “Phasing Thunder” by Brian Balmages, played by the Symphonic Wind Ensemble and “Purple Whispers” by Richard Saucedo played by Wind Symphony.

Conductor Kristofer Sanz dedicated the Wind Symphony’s first song to all the victims of recent tragedies and to all the students in the room, because according to him, they are the future.

“I really loved the song ‘Purple Whispers’ by Richard L. Saucedo,” senior tuba player Jacob Cooper said.

“This song was really interesting because it started and ended with the entire band whispering a poem rather than instruments.”

The CHS Symphonic Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra and Chamber Ensemble Symphony held its winter concert Dec. 10.

The Symphonic Orchestra performed three pieces while the Chamber Orchestra and Chamber Ensemble Symphony both performed four songs each. Songs performed included “Gabriel’s Oboe” by Ennio Morricone, played by the Symphonic Orchestra, “Orange Moon” by

Yukiko Nishimura played by Chamber Orchestra and “Adieu” by Todd Coleman played by the Chamber Ensemble Symphony.

“I think the concert went phenomenally because every single player put his or her heart into the music,” senior pianist Emily Chow said. “My favorite song was “Adieu” because it expresses how music is supposed to be played— intensely and with feeling.”

Winter Choral Concert

The choral groups Voices of a Generation, Jazz, Simply irresistible and Showstoppers held their annual winter concert Dec. 14.

Songs performed included “Nutcrackers Jingles” performed by Voices of a Generation, “A World For Christmas” performed by Jazz, “Flip Flop Fly” performed by Simply

Irresistable and “North Pole Rock and Roll” performed by Showstoppers.

“My favorite song that I sang was probably ‘A Song For Christmas,’” senior Jazz and Showstoppers member Sydney Schneider said. “It’s such a beautiful and powerful song. I think Jazz Ambassadors had a great interpretation of the song.”

4

December 22, 2015

Opinions

The Churchill

Observer Editors

Editors-in-Chief Fiona Asbury Michael Fox Online Editor-in-Chief Jonathan Greenzaid Chief Production Manager Emiliana Cardinale Production Editors Thomas Atkinson Eugenia Cardinale Ben Dross Sara Heimlich Ariel Levchenko Sarah O’Brien Lauren Roseman Sofia Williamson Becky Wolfson News Editors Isabel Dibble Arjun Swaminathan Opinions Editor Jasmine Baten Observations Editor Eugenia Cardinale Features Editors Madison Hurr Balbina Yang Arts Editor Arielle Gordon Sports Editors Jake Certner Nathan Deychman Fact Checkers Brooke Weiner Sofia Williamson Social Media Editors Peter Durand Sara Heimlich Maya Rosenberg

Managers Advertising Manager Brooke Weiner Business Manager Lauren Roseman Circulation Managers Rebecca Jackson Rebekah Sklute Sai Sreenivasan Contest Manager Becky Wolfson Adviser Kelly Knarr

Our Policy The Churchill Observer is published monthly by the students of Winston Churchill High School, 11300 Gainsborough Road, Potomac, Md. 20854.

Advertising and subscription rates are available by e-mailing churchill.observer@gmail.com.

Advertisements do not necessarily reflect the opinion of staff, faculty or the student body.

Every effort has been made by the staff to ensure that the news is accurate and free of bias.

Editorial opinions are those of the Observer staff, and personal commentaries and cartoons reflect the opinions of their writers. Letters to the editor must be signed, and assertions must be documented upon request.

Send letters to the editor to churchill.observer@gmail.com The Observer is a public forum for the purpose of expressing the views of and informing the Churchill community.

CARTOON BY KEVIN HO.

CHS Should Stay Positive Amidst Stress Chin up, Churchill.

Recently, there’s been a case of negativity going around, whether it be because of acts of violence or accumulation of academic stress. But even in the face of it, it’s important to stay positive, to find those cliched silver linings in storm clouds wherever we can.

Ordinarily, this section of the newspaper is dedicated to bringing issues to the forefront, to critiquing situations and current events, to inspiring change by relaying multiple opinions, and possible solutions.

However, this time we’ll be changing things up a little.

Choosing to find happiness and light even in the darkest of times is a must. Rarely does anyone not want to be happy or content with their life and the world—we’re just going to take a moment to remind you why staying positive is important.

It can be easy to get caught up in current events, to feel as if there really isn’t any hope in this world. That’s when it’s time for a breath of fresh air, for a break from all the madness.

Following on the heels of mental health awareness week and the arrival of college acceptance (or rejection) letters, it’s important to realize that

though there are awful things in this world, there are some fabulous things as well, ranging from chocolate chip cookies to having whole families reunited for the new year.

We all know that staying positive and being happy is a life journey, more of a destiny than a norm for most of us. But let’s go beyond a pep talk, shall we?

In social media, it’s become cool to be critical. Whether it’s a witty status update taking a swing at a public figure, an article poking fun at an institution or a 140-character subtweet laden with sarcasm, skepticism and insults have become mainstream.

But what users don’t know is just how far a kind word can go.

According to a September 2015 study conducted by PeerJ Computer Science journal, positive content posted on social media is shared more often and reaches a larger audience than a negative content.

The study analyzed 20 million public tweets produced during September 2014 that featured URLs, photos or videos, and concluded that people prefer

positive tweets, which are favorited five times more than negative or neutral ones.

But it’s more than getting the likes. Even if a positive post doesn’t get the numerous shares, it’s really the thought that counts, and spreading cheer shouldn’t just be limited to a few months of the year.

Even though those small acts of kindness don’t make headlines or even counter the ever-increasing amount of violence, it does help to know that most people are compassionate and genuine.

At CHS, students have been furthering those global trends on a local level with Unity Day and SOS’ sidewalk-chalk and banner compliments. But more deeply ingrained into our student body is the constant need to pursue academic rigor, which can lead to overwhelming stress and supportiveturned-spiteful attitudes.

In school, it’s easy for students to make fun of kids who come across as different, to trash talk classmates when they don’t get acceptance letters. At

CHS, competition and measuring success through grades and academic achievement is a constant.

The result? A school full of high achieving students who needlessly live with the weight of comparison upon their shoulders.

According to USA Today, teens who live high-stress lives set themselves up for chronic stress and lower performance levels over time.

Still, there are more reasons stay positive than keeping grades up and lowering stress.

Instead, make it your New Year’s resolution to respect others whether or not they get into their colleges, and to respect yourself for your accomplishments. Aim to be honest, to focus on learning rather than making the A, to relax and take a deep breath every once in a while.

So here’s to CHS and a school-wide effort to try and stay positive, not just for our own mental health, but for others’ as well. And from there, who knows? CHS students could be spreading kindness and optimism far beyond these cinder-block walls.

Stay classy, but more importantly, stay happy, CHS.

By Madison Hurr Features Editor

be seen as negative representations of our generation. Selfie?

Vape? Really? Is our generation so egocentric and obsessed with electronic smoking devices that these words should characterize our entire existence for the past few years?

And now the emoji. Has human interaction regressed back to symbols, to the point where even typing “LOL” is too much work?

Not to mention, these words only really represent the young-

er generation. What about everyone else?

People still use full words (not just slang, emojis and acronyms) to communicate.

We are also concerned with bigger and broader issues than what can be represented by an emoji. Perhaps “they,” a word that made it to the Word of the Year shortlist, should have won. “They” is used to refer to a singular person of unspecified sex, which is significant in symbolizing the strides

of progress that transgender people, namely Caitlyn Jenner, have made in 2015.

Or perhaps, “refugee,” another word that made the shortlist but didn’t win. “Refugee” is defined as a person who has been forced to leave their country to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster. This year saw the crisis of displaced peoples rise significantly.

According to Oxford Dictionary, Oxford’s language monitoring corpus has shown the word “refugee” increasing by 110 percent.

Oxford Dictionary is a dictionary, and the dictionary definition (from Oxford Dictionary itself) of “dictionary” is “A book or electronic resource that lists the words of a language (typically in alphabetical order).”

An emoji doesn’t fit either criteria–it’s not a word, and where would it even fall in an alphabetized dictionary? What would its definition even be?

Call me traditional, but I hope that next year’s Word of the Year will actually be a word.

BSERVER O OPINION

Emoji Word of the Year Earns a Thumbs Down With the close of the year 2015, Oxford Dictionary released its annual Word of the Year...but wait, it’s not even a word?

Oxford Dictionary recently named the “tears of joy” emoji the 2015 Word of the Year, as SwiftKey, a mobile technology business, found it to be the most used emoji this year, making up 17 percent of all emojis used by U.S. smartphone users in 2015.

Making the “tears of joy” emoji Word of the Year may be seen as somewhat of an iconic choice, as it represents the prevalence of symbols in modern communication and texting. However, an emoji is not a word, and it can’t be found in a dictionary. If it can’t be found in a dictionary, it shouldn’t be able to qualify as “Word of the Year.”

Arguably, this emoji isn’t much better than last year’s word “vape,” or 2013’s word “selfie.”

In general, these words can

IMAGE COURTESY OF EMOJIPEDIA.ORG

This year the Oxford English Dictionary released the “tears of joy” emoji as the 2015 Word of the Year.

December 22, 2015

5

Opinions

Phones Should Go to Sleep Before Students Do

By Jonathan Greenzaid Online Editor-in-Chief A generation of addicts. Facebook, YouTube, Netflix, Twitter, Instagram.

All distractions. All addictions. Today’s society is consumed with the use of cellphones and electronics, and these distractions can have a negative effect on one’s quality of sleep.

An hour before going to sleep, cell phones and other electronics should not be used because they lower one’s quality of sleep, pose health risks and create interruptions at night.

The main problem with using electronics is that they release blue light. Blue light is detrimental to one’s circadian rhythm and thus negatively affects the condition of one’s sleep.

According to a study conducted by the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Lighting Research Center, exposure to blue light lowers melatonin concentrations.

Melatonin is a hormone that is responsible for triggering the onset of sleep; with lowered melatonin levels, falling asleep is harder to achieve.

Many argue that they need to use their cell phones and electronics to check emails and do homework late at night. If this pertains to you, there are several apps such as F.lux that allow you to change the blue light of your screen to a warmer light.

Additionally, exposure to blue light before sleep lowers how much REM sleep a person receives. This stage of the sleep cycle is the most important because it’s imperative to revitalization of the body and mind. It’s a shame that students are losing precious sleep and dreams because of their addiction to social media.

A joint study conducted by Harvard Medical School, Brigham Women’s Hospital and the German Institute of Aerospace Medicine showed that those who read regular printed books before bed as opposed to electronic e-books fell asleep 10 minutes quicker and displayed more periods of REM sleep than those who didn’t.

The same study also showed that those who read the e-book during the evening reported feeling sleepier in the morning than those that read the printed book before going to bed. Maybe instead of complaining about school start times, students should worry about their pre-bedtime electronic use.

Many students complain about not getting enough sleep, but if students stop using electronics before bed, then their quality of sleep and possibly even performance in school will improve.

According to a 2015 study conducted by McGill University and the Douglas Mental Health University Institute in Montreal, children with better quality sleep perform better in math and language subjects.

Aside from academic consequences, a lack of sleep causes other health risks.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) lists insufficient sleep as a public health problem because lack of sleep is linked to vehicle crashes, occupational errors, hypertension, diabetes, depression and obesity.

Our generation is obsessed with cell phones, and according to the Harvard Medical School joint study, 90 percent of Americans use electronics within one hour of going to sleep.

There is a larger problem in society that today’s teens and millennials are addicted to their cell phones.

According to a study published in

PHOTO BY JONATHAN GREENZAID.

The blue light emitted from cell phones disrupts students’ sleep.

The Journal of Behavioral Addictions, female college students spend an average of 10 hours a day using their cell phones and male students spend around eight hours a day. Sixty percent of the participants in the study reported that they are addicted to their cell phones.

Give up your cell phone for one hour and read a novel. Exercise for an hour.

Cook for an hour. Clean for an hour.

Play with your dog or little brother for an hour. Stop being in love with your cell phones. Put your obsession with electronics to rest and feel the effects a good night of sleep has on your body.

Observer Patrons The Adelson Family Bob and Barbara Appelbaum Dylan Appelbaum Meredith and Tad Asbury Barbara Barclay Kim and Mohammad Baten Jonathan Beiser The Cardinale Family Cathy and David Certner Mariana and Luis Cestari The Cholvibul Family Katie Crouch Michael R. Daniels Peggy Davis Sara Deychman Jennifer and Justin Dross Lelia Durand Kathleen Eruin Lynn and David Fanaroff Emily Feigen Julie Fox Bryan Fletcher Kyra Frederick Beth Freedman

Julie Gertler Cindy and Pete Gibson Holly Gladd Donna Goldberg Judith Gordon Evy Gunawan Karen and Liran Gordon Laura and Joel Greenzaid Sandy Haass Mr. and Mrs. Donald Herman Lena Hernandez Winny and Tim Hurr Leslie R. Janis Michael Kidney Kelly Knarr Andres and Laura Lavarte Ellen Lescht Jeff and Karen Lipson Lynn Liss The Lukin Family Cyndy Mamalion Beth and Peter Maser Melanie Mason John Menkart

Laura Mollard Victor Miller Faye O’Brien Nina Paulavan The Raab Family Emily Raab The Roseman Family Ronna Rosenberg Fran and Steve Rotter Roger Saunders Aaron Schneider Patricia Shultz Stephanie Srour Vidyanand and Anuradha Swaminathan Robert and Judy Trachtenberg Melanie Twomey Rari and Vasant Joseph Nick Visnich Staci and Gary Weetmann Linda and Jeffrey Weiner Dr. and Mrs. Whang Joni Williams Hannah Yasharoff

Thank you for all of your support!

6

Features

December 22, 2015

What a Treat, Senior Trains Future Guide Dog

By Fiona Asbury Editor-in-Chief When senior AJ Beauregard goes home after a long day of school, he is greeted by an energetic puppy. However, this 4-month-old yellow lab is a little different from most CHS students’ pets. Meet Yahoo.

Last month, Yahoo joined the Beauregard family as a part of her first 14 months of service dog training from the New York-based Guiding Eyes for the Blind organization. She came with her name from the breeder where the dogs are named alphabetically; she was letter “Y.” “My aunt was involved in the same program, so my family decided to do it as well,” Beauregard said.

According to the Guiding Eyes for the Blind website, the nonprofit organization provides guide dogs to people with vision loss and children with autism. The volunteer puppy raisers save the organization the time and money required to provide puppies with basic training.

According to the Project Chance website, which is another organization that seeks to provide service dogs to children with autism, service dogs offer emotional support to those with autism and help ease their sensory overload.

Regardless of the path Yahoo takes, she will be benefitting the life of someone in need, and AJ will have played a monumental role in her service.

“It’s very rewarding because it is not only awesome just having a puppy, but also knowing it will go to a good cause too,” Beauregard said.

As the Yahoo’s primary raiser, Beauregard attended three classes to learn

how to raise and train her before her arrival. Now, Beauregard attends one class a week to guide his training. Prior to these classes, Beauregard had no experience raising a service dog.

“I teach her not to chase things she finds interesting, how to be well-mannered, house manners, how to sit with a blind person (between their legs), how to ride in a car and basic ‘sit’ and ‘down’ commands,” Beauregard said.

Yahoo is always training, though she does get time to play. Beauregard and his family are constantly watching her, making sure that she isn’t doing anything she shouldn’t. However, when Yahoo dons her blue vest, she is preparing for life as a guide dog.

“When she wears her vest, she is working,” Beauregard said. “If you want to pet her, I take the vest off.”

Since Yahoo will potentially accompany a vision-impaired person everywhere, Beauregard takes her out in public three to four times a week to socialize her. Her special status allows AJ to take her inside places a dog would not normally be allowed, such as Chipotle.

“I haven’t talked to anyone about bringing her to school [during the school day] with me,” Beauregard said.

“I might look into it, but it would be pretty difficult with everyone wanting to meet her.”

While his time with Yahoo has only just begun, the next phase of her training is still at the back of his mind. After leaving the Beauregard’s, Yahoo will go back to New York where she will receive much stricter training from professionals, and will eventually serve someone who needs her.

“It’s all up to the person she is ulti-

PHOTO BY FIONA ASBURY.

Yahoo looks up to senior and volunteer puppy-raiser AJ Beauregard for approval while practicing the way she will sit with a visually impaired owner, between his or her legs. mately placed with whether I can see her again or not,” Beauregard said.

“Some of the blind people are very open to letting you visit the dog, others are

not. It’s going to be very rough saying goodbye, but I know it’s coming, so I can prepare for it. She’s awesome.”

Students Plan New Year’s Resolutions for Upcoming Year

By Thomas Atkinson Online Features Editor

New Year, New you?

New Year’s resolutions come from the Babylonians who made promises to the gods in hopes that in turn they would receive good fortune.

Now, the new year is a time for many to re-evaluate their lives and attempt to grow and develop as people.

“I make resolutions to be a better a person and let fewer people down, including myself,” senior Jack Watheiu said.

“I’m going to go on a Carb Cycling diet where I don’t eat carbs every third day”

“To keep my grades at a reasonable level so I don’t fail before college”

- Sophomore Maggie Cammarato

- Senior Griffin Godsick

“To get cooler clothing and to spread help to the people in need”

“To achieve an A in math”

- Senior Maiu Romano

- Freshman Ethan Greenstien

The Observer wishes you a Happy New Year!

December 22, 2015

Features

7

Students Stay Up, Have a Ball on a School Night

By Thomas Atkinson Online Features Editor Hot 99.5’s Jingle Ball, the annual concert tour for the local radio music station, returned Dec. 14 to the Verizon Center in Washington D.C. and featured Zedd, Tove Lo, Demi Lovato and many other performers.

The concert first took place in 2000 in Southern California with only a few acts. Over the course of 15 years, Jingle Ball has evolved into a nationwide tour with many of the most popular singers.

Many CHS students attended the concert and enjoyed seeing multiple acts rather than just one performer.

“I [liked being able to see] a lot of good performers in one place and being able to experience it all at one time,” sophomore Della Waldrop said.

At other popular music festivals such as Sweetlife, performances overlap on multiple stages and attendees must choose who they want to see. At Jingle Ball, however, all the performances are in succession on one stage, so students will not miss seeing any of their favorite artists.

“I really like that Jingle Ball has the acts all at different times, so then we don’t have to pick which act we want to go to if they occur at the same time,” sophomore Hannah Cox said. “Jingle Ball is great because it’s like 10 concerts at once.”

However, since the concert was held on a school night this year, many students felt it was a disruption to their daily schedules.

“The downside to having it on a Monday night is that I’m so exhausted the next day,” senior Brie Ritter said.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF KAILYN GROISSER, MARY SAILER AND DELLA WALDROP.

Junior Kailyn Groisser, who attended the concert with a friend from another school, and sophomores Mary Sailer and Julie Cooper enjoyed the performances, including the performance by Shawn Mendes.

“Jingle Ball is a lot of fun but really draining, so trying to focus the next day is difficult.”

Despite the concert’s inconvenient time, students still felt that Jingle Ball was a great experience.

“More people should go because it’s fun and it’s a good way to relax and enjoy the music and not think about school for a while,” Waldrop said.

The concert proved to be a great bonding experience for siblings and friends. “[What made the concert good] was the atmosphere and being there with my sister and best friend, though I could have done without the screaming little girls,” Ritter said.

In addition, the Verizon Center made the concert an enjoyable venue for students.

“I love the Verizon center,” Ritter said. “It is easily accessible, there is a Metro nearby and lots of places to eat.”

Overall, students were pleased with the concert and were content with their decision to attend.

“It was good, super energetic and fun,” Waldrop said.“It was a good way to get away from school and relax and sing along.”

Compared to Jingle Ball in past years, students felt that the concert was livelier and that the crowd reacted more.

“I thought it was better than last years,” Cox said. “Overall the concert flowed better and the crowd was a lot more energetic this year.”

The crowd’s favorite performer clearly seemed to be new artist Shawn Mendes.

“He really showed his skill and the crowd was super involved with singing along and overall he was really good,” Waldrop said.

8

Features

December 22, 2015

By Becky Wolfson Production Editor

The holiday season is usually a time of joy and a time to be with family, friends and good food. However, there are at least 1,100 Montgomery County residents who do not have such privileges because they are homeless.

Although this time of year is popular for big feasts and resolutions, it is also a popular time to give back to others who are less fortunate to help make their holiday season merrier.

“I think my favorite reward [for helping others out] is seeing their smile,” junior Maddie Dahl said. “After volunteering, seeing that immediate happy response makes you feel good about what you just did.”

There are many organizations in the DMV area that provide volunteer opportunities for teenagers to help the homeless.

Stepping Stones Shelter

PHOTO COURTESY OF STEPPING STONES SHELTER.

A group of women decorate a Christmas tree for homeless families who are celebrating their holidays at the Stepping Stones Shelter.

Stepping Stones Shelter is a center that provides food and shelter to homeless families with children.

Stepping Stones accepts meal donations year round.

During the holidays, anyone can help sponsor a family by providing resident families with presents from their wish list.

According to Rhonda, a part-time volunteer at Stepping Stones Shelter, she volunteers because she enjoys the feeling of giving back to others less fortunate than herself.

“By volunteering, you get to dispel the myth of what it’s like being homeless,” Rhonda said. “There are a lot of misconceptions [about homelessness]. When people think homeless, they think of men lying in the street and begging for food. Homelessness doesn’t look like that all the time. Homelessness can be a single mother, someone who lost their job or someone who lost their spouse.”

Interfaith Works Another nonprofit organization that works to meet the needs of the poor in Montgomery County is Interfaith Works (IW). At the Carroll House, a men’s housing unit of IW, students can make meals for the 32 residents and either drop the meals off or stay and serve them for dinner.

According to Sara Cherner, program assistant at Carroll House, when students donate or volunteer they realize that homeless individuals come from a variety of backgrounds.

“Everyone’s story is different,” Cherner said. “Some men are here because they lost their jobs, could no longer pay the rent or mortgage and had no safety net such as family and friends. Some struggle with drug and alcohol addictions, some suffer from physical and or mental disabilities, and some all of the above. Many volunteers realize how fortunate they have been in life and are more empathetic to those who have so much less. They enjoy hearing their stories and getting to know the residents as individuals.”

According to Cherner, IW relies heavily on donations so their funds can be used to help individuals avoid utility cutoffs, evictions and provide grants and loans.

December 22, 2015

9

Features

So Others May Eat (SOME)

From: Winston Ch High Sch urchill ool

SOME is an organization that aims to end the cycle of homelessness. Based in DC, SOME provided over 427,278 meals to those in need last year, and provided clothing, healthcare and affordable housing. SOME has many volunteer opportunities for individuals of all ages.

“Last holiday season, I volunteered at SOME through my church,” freshman Hannah Bush said. “After I volunteered, I felt really empowered, and it was eyeopening to see how grateful people were.”

According to SOME program manager Stephanie Shallah, teens can volunteer in the dining room and host a food drive year-round. During the holidays, however, teens can sort holiday donations and participate in the shoebox gift drive.

To participate in SOME’s shoebox gift drive one must fill a shoebox with winter weather wear (hats, gloves, etc.) and certain toiletries, such as toothpaste. “[We value] shoebox donations because they have a lot of items for quick use,” Shallah said. “We wrap up boxes and distribute them so the homeless individuals feel cared for. It’s the closest thing to a gift many of them will receive at all and it gives them a little hope and joy.”

PHOTO BY BECKY WOLFSON.

A sample shoebox includes winter necessities such as warm clothing and toiletries.

Despite the amount of products that can be filled in these boxes, SOME has restrictions when distributing items like cash, candy, mouthwash or hand sanitizer.

“Hand sanitizer and mouthwash have alcohol and we don’t want items that contain alcohol to be distributed in the shoebox,” Shallah said. “People who struggle with alcoholism are very desperate and can use these items the wrong way to get their next fix.”

While homeless shelters and nonprofit organizations receive an influx of donations during the holiday season, it is important to remember that homelessness exists year round.

“During the spring and summer people tend to donate less,” Shallah said. “Homelessness doesn’t end in seasons. Being a regular donor is a wonderful thing.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF INTERFAITH WORKS.

A group of volunteers prepares a meal for the residents of the Carroll House, a housing unit through Interfaith Works.

Arts

10

December 22, 2015

It’s Not a Trap, Star Wars Movie is a Must-See

By Jasmine Baten Opinions Editor Ross Tanenbaum Online News Editor

Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens, premiered Dec. 18, drawing audiences of all ages from all over the galaxy. The film was directed by J.J. Abrams (Star Trek, Star Trek: Into Darkness) and features a star-studded, revolutionary cast, including Harrison Ford and newcomer Daisy Ridley.

According to IMDb, the movie takes place 30 years after the end of Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, where new characters Rey and Finn must fight with their rebel friends against Kylo Ren, the most recent threat to the Galxy.

The most recent Star Wars movie, Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, was released in 2005. Despite some debate over whether Episodes I-III can truly be considered Star Wars movies, the fact remains that it’s been decades since the legendary yellow block letters first scrolled up on the big screen.

Just a bit of background: Episodes IV-VI were released first, which is why they are considered “the original trilogy,” and Episodes I-III are referred to as the “prequels.”

The first movie of the original series drew crowds in the late ‘70s. Many of those children were captivated by the revolutionary special effects and the great characters, such as Darth Vader and Han Solo.

“There is no way I can possibly relay to you the feeling of awe we all felt when in the first scene of A New Hope a giant ship took twenty seconds to cross the screen,” AP Statistics Douglas Szafran said.

For original viewers, Star Wars Episodes IV-VI represented a new wave of special effects and adventure in cinema, with panoramic landscape shots combined with well-designed ships and casual droid-human interaction, not to

mention the concept of the Force and the deadly wonders that are lightsabers.

But the franchise doesn’t just draw in those who grew up as the original films were released. The enthusiasm for the Star Wars universe has made its way into our current generation.

“The movies were something from my childhood that nothing else has been able to capture,” junior Ian Murren said.

“Watching this motley group of people coming together for different reasons but ultimately making the world a better place made for the best present a 5-year-old could ask for.”

It’s because of those beloved original films that this new movie has people so excited. With new characters and possibilities everywhe, it’s understandable.

“I’m extremely excited because we’ve come so far with special effects,” senior Lindsey Tait said. “Even though the other movies are great as is, there’s much new technology to incorporate into making this new one,” But though a new Star Wars movie is highly anticipated, fans are still apprehensive about the film’s ability to retain essential elements of the Star Wars universe as they know it.

“I’ve always loved the lore behind Star Wars—the background, fan-created canon that says what happened in the universe and to the characters outside of the movies,” Murren said. “I’m nervous that Disney will mess with that extended universe.”

There’s good reason behind those nerves. The prequel film series in the early 2000s divided many Star Wars fans. Whether it was the overuse of poor CGI (computer-generated images) or Jar Jar Binks, these films just failed to live up to their predecessors.

“I think the prequels were unnecessary to the story,” Szafran said. “I would have been happier if the prequels had spent more time with Count Dooku, General Grievous and the Jedi Council and less with the Gungans.”

Still, fans may be able to watch the

PHOTO BY JASMINE BATEN.

Star Wars fans have already purchased their tickets for the premiere. new movie peacefully, given that many original actors and characters, such as Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia, Harrison Ford as Han Solo, Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker, Anthony Daniels as C-3PO and Kenny Baker as R2D2 are making cameo appearances. Even legendary composer John Williams will continue his work in creating the music for the newest Star Wars films.

“I like that the movie continues with a new generation, but I’m excited to see some old favorites and any nods to the original films that will be in the new movie,” Tait said. “I’m particularly hoping for some Ewoks.”

The film also introduces new actors new to the galaxy, with Daisey Ridley as Rey and John Boyega as Finn. Though the expansive cast features other actors

like Lupita Nyong, the revolutionary part of all this is revealed in the main characters, as one is a female and the other is most certainly non-white. This showing of diversity has mostly been met with positivity, although some skeptics think that it takes viewers too far away from the original universe.

“People should just be happy that the main characters are human,” Murren said. “It’s Star Wars, so if you’re worried about skin color, remember that the character could have been blue or green.”

Whether CHS students and staff want to make the trek to see the film is up to them, although the anticipation for this particular movie means that there may not be any tickets left.

May the Force be with you, CHS.

December 22, 2015

Arts

Senior Singer-Songwriter Films Music Video

By Emiliana Cardinale Production Manager

PHOTO BY CAMERON OZALATAR.

Safdie plays the piano as she records her music video for “Silhouettes.”

Senior Stephanie Safdie wrote “Silhouettes” about nine months ago. The song is a metaphor for deeply falling in love with someone and then having that person disappear or “ghost” you.

A music video for the song, filmed by senior Cameron Ozatalar, is set to come out on Safdie’s YouTube account, “sunshinethesinger,” before the end of 2015. Safdie and her crew began filming in mid-November and will finish filming this month. As she is in orchestra, Safdie frequently takes friends to the band room to play them her songs.

“Time after time that was always people’s favorite song,” Safdie said. “I think recording a video for it could help tell the story of the song.”

Seniors Lucy Bedewi and Shon Kaganovich are the two main characters in the video.

“I add a visual component to her lyrics that show a girl meeting a guy that she clicks with and then in the end getting her heart broken by him when he ghosts her,” Bedewi said.

11

The video essentially looks back on the two characters’ love story from beginning to end and includes parts of Safdie singing the song and playing the piano. The video will show the couple’s story from the time they meet through the downfall of their relationship, and will include time elapsing.

“The whole video is me singing it, recounting, as we tell this other couple’s story start to finish,” Safdie said. “There’s going to be really cool scenes that actually make the viewer get attached to the characters, and you’ll be sad at the end when you watch it.”

Songwriting has always been a huge passion of Safdie’s. For as long as she can remember, she has been creating her own music.

“If I can put how I feel into a song and people get to listen to it, that’s pretty beautiful to me,” Safdie said.

Those involved in this project have grown close while working on it.

“This experience has been so much fun,” Bedewi said. “Our group meets all of the time, sometimes to brainstorm ideas for filming, pick out wardrobe and venues or even just hang out.”

Must-See Upcoming Theater Productions Take the Stage

By Arielle Gordon Arts Editor The winter play You Can’t Take it With You will be performed Feb 19, 20, 26 and 27.

You Can’t Take it With You is a comedy about two families whose son and daughter get engaged and all of the crazy events that ensue.

The play will feature Areya Campbell-Rosen as Penny, Remington Steele as Grandpa, Josie Bourelly as Alice and Griffin Godsick as Tony.

Theater teacher and director Naomi Ratz was in a performance of You Can’t take it With You when she was in high school and is looking forward to bringing it to CHS. “I did this play when I was in high school and it stuck with me,” Ratz

said. “I loved doing it, and it was really funny.”

You Can’t take it With You promises to bring many different elements of theater performance to the stage.

“The audience can expect hilarity, bad ballet dancing, good Russian accents, fireworks, tax evasion and a xylophone,” Ratz said. “If that doesn’t pique your interest, I don’t know what will.”

CHS is also rehearsing for Blast 27: Elements, which will be performed March 11,12,18,19 and 20.

While that might seem far away, the cast and crew have already started working on the production.

Auditions were held the week of Nov. 16 and rehearsals began Monday Dec. 14.

“We’ve got a great cast and an awesome theme,” senior and Blast vocal

captain Natalie Hwang said. “I’m excited for my last Blast.”

This year more focus has been placed on dance in the production. A danceonly audition was held this year.

Audiences can expect to hear modern, popular sings along with some well-known older songs.

“There will be more variety of dance styles and more modern songs,” junior and Blast dance captain Madeline Statter said.

Students will play a huge role in planning and arranging many of the aspects of Blast. Students will create musical and vocal arrangements, as well as costumes and sets/lighting.

“I’m a big proponent of student-run productions,” Blast Director Matthew Albright said. “Everything is inspired by students’ peers.”

Upcoming Performance Schedule:

You Can’t Take It With You Saturday, February 20 Friday, February 26 Saturday, February 27

BLAST

Friday, March 11 Saturday, March 12 Friday, March 18 Saturday, March 19

12

Arts

Student Art Spotlight:

December 22,2015

Kennedy Gray

By Michael Fox Editor-in-Chief All of the participants in the highly competitive Churchill’s Got Talent (CHSGT) show were impressive, with acts ranging from band performances to dancing to beatboxing. However, senior Kennedy Gray had just enough talent to sing her way into the winner’s circle.

Gray sang a nearly perfect version of “If I Ain’t Got You” by Alicia Keys at CHSGT while sitting on a stool in the middle of the stage with background music playing. After hitting the first high note in the song, the crowd rose to their feet and applauded Gray’s spectacular voice.

“I was really happy that I got the performance over with, but I was also happy with myself that I tried out in the first place,” Gray said.

Gray began attending CHS during her sophomore year after moving from Natchez, MS. She was not well known for her voice before the competition, but after her singing performance, she has become nearly famous at CHS. “I think her voice is amazing, and I think it’s great when you hear kids do things you don’t expect them to do,” CHSGT judge and Philosophy teacher Evan Rosenthal said.

“Finding out kids have talent that you didn’t know about is pretty amazing.”

Gray has enjoyed singing since she was about 3 years old and plans to keep singing in the future. She was inspired by her grandmother to start singing, and although she doesn’t plan on singing professionally, she will continue to pursue singing as a hobby.

“My grandmother sings in a choir, and she encouraged me to sing and get over my stage fright in a way, so I guess she’s been the driving force behind my

PHOTO BY BILL WU.

PHOTO BY BILL WU.

Senior Kennedy Gray had never sung solo in front of her peers before the CHS’ Got Talent Competition Dec. 2. Gray was inspired to sing by her grandmother who encouraged her to get over her stage fright. singing career,” Gray said.

Gray attended the two CHSGT rehearsals, but she already knew how to sing the song, so there wasn’t much preparation needed for the performance.

Gray may have chosen a song by Alicia Keys, but she and her friends agree that her favorite artist is Beyoncé.

According to Gray, she appreciates

Beyoncé’s ability to have a powerful voice and put in tons of effort to be as talented a singer as she is today.

Gray’s friends, seniors Ijay Onu’chiedo and Kynedi Gray, both admire Kennedy’s ability to sing and have supported their friend and her passion for singing. Although they didn’t attend CHSGT, they saw videos of the performance, attended

the audition and are accustomed to hearing their friend perform off-stage.

“Beyoncé is going to need a backup singer, so now we’ve got one,” Kynedi Gray and Onu’chiedo jokingly said. “When Beyoncé is off the scene, we’ve got a new Beyoncé.”

Not only does Gray sing, but she is also a competitive basketball player and cheerleader. Girls varsity basketball head coach Katelyn Blanken, who currently coaches Gray, was surprised to see a different side of her at CHSGT that she had not seen before.

“At first when I heard she was choosing Alicia Keys, I thought it was a really hard song,” Blanken said. “But when I heard her, it moved me to tears.”

Gray has had stage-fright related issues before a big performance, but says her grandmother has been a big influence in her conquering her fear.

She sometimes fears that before she sings, she will forget the words or mess up a part. As both an athlete and a performer, she feels each has a different kind of nervousness.

“When you are singing, you are up there by yourself. It’s an individual thing and people are going to judge you,” Gray said. “But when you are on a team, you are surrounded by people with a lot of love.”

According to CHSGT judge and English teacher Valerie Mainwaring, Gray’s performance was, “out of the park.”

“We’re proud of her because she’s so shy,” Onu’chiedo said. “She actually went up there and sang in front of a whole bunch of people and did really well.”

If she weren’t a senior, Kennedy would participate in CHSGT again. She was happy that she could express her voice to the audience and receive a great response from the observers.

“Nobody knew that I sing because I’m pretty shy about it, but that’s why it was a big deal for me,” Gray said.

December 22, 2015

Arts

13

‘Full House’ Gets Fuller

By Sarah O’Brien Production Editor

PHOTO COURTESY OF ALVIN CHUNG.

Students perform in the All-State Band performance in Feb. 2014.

Some students are part of the CHS, All-County and All-State bands.

CHS Bands Represent in All-State, All-County

By Balbina Yang Features Editor Emily Wang Online Arts Editor

With over 30 percent of all CHS band students involved in either All-State or All-County Band, it is no wonder that CHS has won many awards for its performing arts.

Beginning practice in January and February of 2016, the All-State and All-County Bands are just a few of the many outside ensembles that student musicians join.

“All-County is an ensemble made up of the best musicians from Montgomery County, while All-State is made up of the best musicians from the whole state,” said senior and All-State first chair euphonium player Emily Thomas.

Aside from the fact that both ensembles are programs with the purpose of gathering students from different high schools in order to create a diverse and elite group of musicians, the All-State and All-County bands are radically different in organization. All-State is managed by the the Maryland Music Education Association, an association of music teachers around Maryland, while All-County Band is managed by MCPS. “Each year I have to re-audition for All State,” Thomas said. “The process is pretty simple. You are assigned two pieces of music prior to the audition which you must play. You are also required to know ten scales. Once you are

in the audition you play your two pieces and scales and then you are asked to read a piece you have never seen before.”

Students choose to audition for the various outside music programs because they offer extra opportunities to play in an ensemble and to further their skills.

According to music teacher Kristofer Sanz, CHS has a “very high functioning” music program, but participating in outside music programs allows students to play alongside other strong musicians from other schools.

While CHS’ reputation for competition and its high-achieving mentality contribute to so many students joining All-State and All-County Band, many students profess to have joined the programs not because of peer pressure, but because it was another opportunity to practice music and meet friends.

“My favorite memory was making new friends and hanging out during breaks,” freshman and All-State french horn player Hannah Sun said. “Last year, I enjoyed the pieces we played because they were unique.”

Many students join the groups starting in middle school and continue on through their entire high school musical career, thus creating lasting memories and a lasting impact on their lives.

“I have many memories of AllCounty Band and All-State, especially performing the final concert because we spent so much time together perfecting the performance for our friends and parents to listen to,” senior bassoon player Hannah Wang said. “Ultimately I do it to have fun and hang out with my friends, and I can’t really put it in words.”

The family comedy TV show Full House premiered 28 years ago in 1987.

The final show aired 20 years ago, and Full House fans have been waiting for a new season to come back to the television screen. After a long wait, the Full House team responded to its viewers, “You got it, dude.”

Fuller House has brought the gang back together and is set to premiere on Netflix on Feb. 26, 2016.

Full House was a sitcom about a widower (Bob Saget) trying to raise a family with the help of a brother-in-law (Dave Coulier) and a childhood friend (John Stamos). Fuller House, the sequel of Full House, follows the eldest daughter, DJ Tanner (Candace Cameron Bure) on her journey to raise a family, similar to her father’s.

The only characters not returning are Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, the twins who rotated in the role of the youngest child, Michelle.

According to Us Weekly, the producers are going to explain the absence by explaining that Michelle moved to New York to pursue her fashion career.

Full House has had a lasting impact, as reruns still air on various TV stations.

Freshman Emma Bomfim and senior Sarah Bomfim have all of the DVDs from the original show.

“My mom watched it when she was a kid, so she gave the first season to my

sister and I, and we really liked it so we kept watching it,” Emma said.

The show contains various relationships, different age groups and lighthearted comedy that makes it a must watch for the entire family.

“I like Full House because of all of the different family aspects of it,” Sarah said. “Additionally, the show is funny and happy, so you finish the show feeling good. It’s also based on real life so while you’re watching it you can relate to the different characters.”

Although Full House was very successful, many are skeptical that the sequel will not be as successful.

“I think Fuller House will be good but not as good as Full House,” Sarah said. “I think it’s always hard to outdo the original.”

According to freshman Roya Nassaj, the thing she is mainly looking forward to is witnessing how the cast has grown over the years.

Other students agree on what they are anticipating the most.

“I am most looking forward to seeing what the characters have done in the years in between the two shows and how the relationships will have changed or stayed the same,” Sarah said.

This sequel allows people of all ages to reminisce about their childhood.

“It was always on; I watched it daily if not weekly,” Pre-Calculus teacher Stacey Fisher said. “I liked it because it’s always a happy ending and you can relate to some of the problems.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF KIMBERLY BOMFIM.

Senior Sarah Bomfim and her freshman sister Emma received every episode of Full House from their parents and are excited for Fuller House to come out Feb. 26, 2016.

14

Sports

December 22, 2015

Female Hockey Players Contribute to CHS Teams

PHOTO COURTESY OF KATE DANZIGER.

Sophomore Kate Danziger plays hockey for the CHS varsity 2 team.

By Sara Heimlich Social Media Editor Of the three CHS hockey teams consisting of 47 total players, three of the players are girls. Freshman leftwing Samantha Lai is on junior varsity, sophomore defender Kate Danziger is

on varsity two (V2), and senior center Madison Farrand is on varsity one (V1).

CHS club hockey is divided into three teams due to the abundance of talented players. V1 is the top team, followed by V2 and JV. According to Lai, who has been

playing hockey for seven years, she has experienced some opposition to her playing as a girl in a predominantly male sport. She’s had people shoot pucks at her and trip her on purpose.

However, she chooses to use the difficulties as motivation.

“If someone thinks I’m bad, I’ll just work harder to prove that I’m not just a girl,” Lai said.

For Danziger, hockey hasn’t always been her sport.

Danziger was a competitive gymnast for nine years before deciding to switch to hockey, which she has now been playing for four seasons.

“When you compete in [gymnastics] meets it’s constantly about performing well as an individual, and there is so much stress,” Danziger said. “When you play hockey, you are always a team supporting each other. Whether you win or lose, it’s a team effort, not just an individual effort.”

At tryouts, Danziger was intimidated by the speed of play and skating drills, but once she realized she could keep up with the boys, she started to feel more comfortable.

“Although there are points where I feel judgment from some of the players, it doesn’t affect me in a negative way, it just motivates me to work even harder,” Danziger said.

According to senior V2 player Adam Kass, it’s not uncommon to have a girl

on a boys team.

“At first, it was kind of hard to fit in,” Danziger said. “Now, I feel like I’m just like any other player on the team.

I think once they saw that I am a hard worker and an aggressive skater, it made it easier to remove the idea that I am a female hockey player, and now I am just a hockey player to them.”

Girls hockey is a less physical game, while boys hockey involves checking players into boards and blocking shots more willingly.

According to V2 coach Jim Vagonis, some of the players on opposing teams are intimidated by the fact that Danziger is a girl and feel uncomfortable checking a girl, but this only plays to her advantage as she is not afraid to get physical and play hockey the way any of the guys would.

Farrand’s hockey story started at the age of 3. After attending a Washington Capitals game she fell in love with and began playing the sport.

Despite missing five months of hockey due to a concussion, Farrand scored two goals in her first career game for CHS against B-CC in a 9-1 victory.

Farrand’s goal for the team is to win states for the second consecutive year.

“My favorite part is [being] able to represent the school and play with my friends, even if they’re all boys,” Farrand said. “They take care of me and that goes a long way.”

Wushu Warrior: Lee Competes in World Championships

By Emily Wang Online Arts Editor Standing a mere 5’4”, sophomore Lucy Lee may not seem like she could pose a threat in a fight, but she has proved that she is not one to be trifled with.

The unassuming sophomore recently competed in the 13th World Wushu Championships in Jakarta, Indonesia and brought home a bronze in Women’s Nandao and silver in Women’s compulsory Nanquan. Not only did she earn one of the two total U.S. silver medals, she was also selected as the youngest member in the world championship team of eight when she placed third at wushu team trials in California this summer.

“I’m very proud to have been able to represent our country in the world championships and bring back two medals,” Lee said.

Wushu is a sport derived from Chinese martial arts and has two disciplines: taolu, which is forms, and sanda, which is sparring. Taolu involves a performance of martial art patterns and moves that is judged and awarded points. Of the many varying wushu styles, Lee does the Southern-style taolu: the bare hand is called nanquan, the sword is called nandao, and the staff is called nanqun.

Lee began practicing wushu after being inspired by a wushu performance

when she was 8 years old. Originally, she only did wushu on weekends at Chinese school, but in 2008 she transferred to Omei Wushu in Fairfax, Virginia in order to hone her skills and train under Shifu Lu Xiaolin.

According to Lee, she practices for two hours three or four times a week before competitions, but normally practices once or twice a week.

While this may not seem like much time in comparison to other sports, Lee also runs track after school every day and attends soccer practice with the McLean CCL team.

“Oftentimes I would go to track, come home, do some homework, eat, and then go to wushu practice,” Lee said. “I would do all my homework late at night on those days because of the lack of time.”

Even though Lee runs a tight schedule, she manages to succeed academically as well.

“I think her hard work is probably one of her best traits about her,” said senior Alex Zarynow who runs track with Lee. “It’s inspiring to see her keep working and pushing through everything she does and striving to be better.”

Lee has maintained a humble attitude, cheerful demeanor and quiet optimism through her success that has endeared her to peers.

PHOTO COURTESY OF LUCY LEE

Lucy Lee won bronze and silver at the World Wushu Championships.

According to senior Renee Wolf, who is in band and track with Lee, Lee does not brag about or mention her prowess in wushu. Wolf recognizes the physical capabilities and humble personality that have allowed Lee to thrive.

Even though Lee doesn’t spread news about her wushu on her own, word inevitably gets out.

“Honestly her accomplishments are really amazing,” said senior Raymond Bao, who used to train with Lee. “Usually when you train with someone for a long time, it’s hard, at least for me, to

see how much that person is improving.

But I remember she was a super-fast learner and improved faster than anyone I can remember.”

In terms of the future, Lee plans on participating in both the Junior World Wushu Championships and the World Wushu Championships for the next two years. In college, she hopes to participate in the yearly summer Universiade Games in Taipei, China.

“The future for wushu is very bright, and I can’t wait to see what happens next,” Lee said.

NFL Star Returns to CHS Football Field, Presents ‘Golden Football’

By Nathan Deychman Sports Editor

In commemoration of Super Bowl 50, any player or coach who participated in a Super Bowl has the honor of presenting a golden football to his high school. Brian Holloway attended CHS from 1972-1976 and played in Super Bowl XX (20) as a member of the New England Patriots.

Holloway came back to CHS on Dec. 10 to present the football to head football coach Albert Song at Shepherd Stadium.

“I think it’s a testament that someone as successful as [Holloway] has come back to [his] own high school to show how important high school football is,”

PHOTO BY NATHAN DEYCHMAN.

Holloway presents coach Albert Song with an NFL golden football.

Song said.

Holloway was an All-American lineman his senior year at CHS, in 1976, the same year CHS won its first football state championship. Holloway went on to be an All-American at Stanford University before playing in the NFL for eight seasons. Alongside John Hannah on the left side of a very successful lineman tandem throughout the 1980s, Holloway made three Pro Bowls during his time as a Patriot.

“This is a very significant moment,” Holloway said. “The idea of being able to come back to CHS is to be able to give a full expression of gratitude to the school because they carved a man out of me.”

December 22, 2015

15

Sports

Crew Team Adjusts to Full-Body Winter Training

By Fiona Asbury Editor-in-Chief

Fingers clasped around a black handlebar and feet strapped into pedals, they strain against the resistance of a rowing machine, simulating the motions required to propel a narrow boat through the water. Another group can be seen drenched in sweat as they move through endless circuits of ab exercises, squats and lunges.

Since mid-November, the members of the CHS crew team have called Launch Sport Performance in Rockville their home for winter training.

With a new coaching staff this year, crew has moved winter conditioning from last year’s Potomac Community Center to the Launch workout facility, and the team has increased the intensity of its practice schedule with the various trainers at Launch from last year’s two practices a week.

“We practice Monday through Friday, so it’s pretty grueling work,” senior captain Skylar Schaumburg said.

“Usually if you see [people] struggling to walk up the stairs at school, they most likely go to crew winter conditioning.”

Launch provides the team of about 45 rowers with the unique opportunity to cross-train rather than only focus on the muscles required to maneuver a boat.

The Erg machines, in which the athlete slides on a beam while pulling a handle that is attached to a resistance pulley of sorts, are able to strengthen individual muscles, but the trainers at Launch focus on other areas of the body as well.

According to the Launch website homepage, the doctor-owned and operated facility addresses the entire body, as opposed to just key areas, and focuses on the linkage between brain and body.

Though the system is new, the team has already seen improvements, according to Schaumburg.

“We test around every two to three weeks and each week almost every rower’s times go down because of the

PHOTO COURTESY OF EMILY SNIDER.

Members of the crew team work out on Erg machines to prepare for their spring season, which consists of shorter, 1.4 mile races. conditioning,” Schaumburg said. “Once we get to spring season, the coaches can tell who came and actually tried at winter conditioning because the improvement is massive. Rowers that worked hard get better times and get placed in better boats.”

Though the training is ultimately for the upcoming spring season and, for returning rowers, the following fall season, there is also an opportunity for rowers to showcase their hard work over the winter season at the culminating Mid-Atlantic Erg Sprints competition in January.

Rowers from each high school team in the mid-Atlantic area are invited to compete on a collection of Erg machines at T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria, VA. The rowers are divided into groups by gender, age and size and then compete to see who can get the fastest time in either the 2,000 meter race or the 1,500 meter race.

According to senior captain Emily Snider, the team has won a few med-

als at the competition in the past in the women’s 1,500 meter race and in a few of the novice events which are only for first-year rowers, regardless of age.

The main focus of the training, however, is still on the spring season which includes shorter distance races.

According to Snider, the team wants to win more medals in the spring season, but also increase awareness about the team as a whole, hopefully recruiting more members regardless of their level of experience.

“Crew is kind of like cross country and track in that in the fall all of our races are five kilometers long and in the spring all of our races are two kilometers (about 1.4 miles) long,” Schaumburg said. “These two types of races are extremely different because one is a long, mentally and physically straining race while the other is a full on sprint.

Most rowers love the spring season a lot more than the fall because sprinting is much more fun than keeping a steady pace for 20 minutes.”

In order to perform well in the spring season, however, rowers need to train throughout the winter when the weather makes it too cold to go out on the Anacostia River where the team practices in warmer weather.

According to senior captain Jordan Epstein, the ice on the river makes it impossible for the team to row.

There are also advantages to being able to do harder workouts off the water than could be done on the water.

“Winter conditioning builds your endurance and muscles and a big part of conditioning is learning your limits when working out and learning that you can push so much more than you think you’re capable of,” Snider said.

“When we get back on the water everyone has a better mindset on rowing and is able to push harder than they could in the fall season.”

The Launch workout center, on Tower Oaks Blvd., is much more convenient than the hour-long trip to Anacostia for three-hour practices on the river, six days a week during the spring and fall.

The team can carpool to the practices, which run from 3 p.m. to 5:30 or 6 p.m.

The center also provides team members with individualized ways to train and strengthen new muscles.

However, according to Snider, during winter training, rowers can lose good rowing technique, which sometimes has to be re-learned during the first week back on the water.

Winter training also poses the unfortunate opportunity for rowers to get injured as they can overstress their bodies during the grueling workouts.

“If a rower gets injured during conditioning then [he or she] could risk being out for part or all of this spring season, which is our favorite season,” Schaumburg said. “This is [less common] now that we’re training at Launch because we’re doing cross-training, so it’s not as straining on one specific muscle, it works out all of them.”

Montgomery County Public Schools Winston Churchill High School 11300 Gainsborough Rd. Potomac, MD 20854

thechurchillobserver.

December 22, 2015

Volume 40 - Issue 4

brother Zach, who won a state championship with Satin his freshman year, and his father Andrew.

“My dad goes to every game I play, and he watches with great detail,” Satin said.

“He does not always cheer, but

he gives me his honest opinion which has helped me grow as a hockey player.”

Ever since he can remember, Satin’s father has helped him improve his game and keep his mind on the sport.

Satin also appreciates the advice from his brother. As a first team All-Met his senior year and a member of the Vanderbilt University club ice hockey team, Satin looks up to his brother.

Although Satin looks up to his brother and strives to have similar success, he does not simply want to follow the same path, but rather create a legacy of his own.

“I don’t believe I am following in my brothers footsteps, but I am trying to continue all the great things Zach and Zack Arden did for Churchill hockey,” Satin said. “Only the [current team’s] senior core played with the Zachs, so as captains and seniors we are instilling the ways of the Zachs into our younger players in order for the Churchill hockey dynasty to continue.”

Senior Mark Weinstein has played with Satin for all of his four years on the varsity one team, and speaks highly of Satin’s game and leadership capabilities.

“Phil is always there doing his job, he always leads by example,” Weinstein said.

also gives all students a chance to come together with their friends and take a break from their hectic daily schedules.

In a world filled with college apps, standardized testing and APs, the chance to have unadulterated, healthy fun is not an opportunity any high school student should pass up.

Rec games and practices are the highlight of my week.

For the few hours of playing basketball each week, I get to see my friends and exercise in a structured environment.

That is the beauty of rec ball: the experience is completely malleable to the participant.

The season can be treated like a competitive team or like a pickup game at the park. There are no rules that declare how much or how little you invest yourself in the sport.

Personally, my rec team (reigning Montgomery County champions Ballerz Elite) has

decided to treat it as the single most important thing in our lives. However, this is not the only way to approach rec. The only requirements to having a team are having an adult coach, five players, and a hour of time to play games. As long as these small formalities are met, rec basketball can be whatever you want.

If you ask any CHS student on any given day how much work they have to do, the answer will probably not be delivered with a smile. Do not misconstrue this as a complaint. Dealing with stress is arguably the most important lesson high school teaches you, and I believe the concept of rec ball is the best way to cope with school stress.

Students don’t have many options when it comes to breaking up their school work and doing something they truly enjoy. Extracurriculars attempt to

do this, but are often just more stress. This makes activities done with the sole intention of having fun, essential. These activities consist of anything you participate in where the point is not to build your resume or academic career, but to simply spend some time enjoying yourself in a wholesome way.

Rec basketball and rec sports in general are amazing because they are one of the few wellaccepted healthy uses of leisure time that anyone can be a part of. Rec basketball is no different from a laser-tag team, or an online gaming team, or even a Fantasy Football league, they are all simply done for the love of the activity.

So from student to student, I advise that everyone find his or her “rec ball.” Find an activity that you do simply because you truly want to, and I can guarantee you it will make your life exponentially better.

By Cristian Edwards Online Sports Editor Off the ice, he may not be the biggest, the most intimidating or the most aggressive person, but on the ice, it’s a completely different story.

Senior ice hockey captain Philip Satin has been a go-to weapon ever since his freshman year on varsity. Whether the team needs him for goal scoring, defense or a faceoff win, he’s one of the most reliable players on the team.

“I started playing hockey when I was about 3 years old,” Satin said. “My brother and father introduced me to the game, and I fell in love with the speed and tenacity of the sport.”

A member of two high school state championship teams, Satin knows how to win.

However, his everlasting drive to succeed in any aspect of life is insatiable, whether it’s on the ice or in the classroom.

Satin has been supported throughout his career by his

A National Blue Ribbon School

PHOTO COURTESY OF PHILIP SATIN.

Senior Philip Satin, who has been skating since he was 3, has two state championship victories under his belt.

Rec Ball is the Solution for Your Daily Stress

By Jake Certner Sports Editor

You’ve always loved basketball, but if you’re anything like me, the best word to describe your ability is “decent.” You know you aren’t good enough for the school team, but you’re not ready to give up the sport.

The answer is simple: recreational basketball.

Playing recreational basketball (commonly referred to as “rec-ball” or “rec”) is one of the single best decisions a high school student can make.

For the price of $83 per person in the MoCo rec league, anyone can put together a team and be guaranteed a chance to compete with other teams throughout the winter.

Rec has so much to offer.

Not only does it allow the average basketball player to be the star point guard he has always dreamed of being, but it

Records Boys Basketball 1-3 Girls Basketball 3-1

Indoor Track and Field Next Meet 12/29

Boys Swim and Dive 2-0

Girls Swim and Dive 2-0

*as of 12/15

Wrestling 2-1

“He may be lazy, but probably in the most effective way possible.”

According to Weinstein, Satin’s mindset pushes him to succeed, and his unselfish behavior and “extreme ice awareness translates to a really good team player.”

Satin’s drive to succeed has helped make CHS hockey a perennial powerhouse in the DMV area, consistently blowing out private schools and winning two Maryland 4A/3A state championships in the past three years. The bulldogs are also favored to repeat as champions again this year, which according to Satin is very possible.

“I am confident if we show up every day and do our jobs, there is no team in the state that can beat us, public or private,” Satin said.

Dawg Data *As of 12/15

25

points scored by Reed Moshyedi in varsity basketball’s first win against Paint Branch.

2-0

Records for both girls and boys swim and dive.

16

Points on the season for senior hockey forward Charlie Butler.

184.00

Diving score of Junior Parker Johnson against RM.

40-04.50 Total score of senior Ethan Liu’s triple jump.