Montgomery County Public Schools Winston Churchill High School 11300 Gainsborough Rd. Potomac, MD 20854
thechurchillobserver.com
Volume 12 - Issue 1738
Friday, April 1, 2016
A National Blue Ribbon School
Moving Walkways to Combat Hallway Congestion CHS to Sell AP Scores to Cover Cost of Travelators By Sarah O’Brien Head of Potatoes Lauren Roseman Secretary of Potatoes
All CHS students have at one point felt the emotional and sometimes physical stress caused by walking through the Bulldog Lobby. Students are constantly getting bumped into, leading to the occasional stampede, similar to the famous scene in The Lion King. Space in CHS is minimal, and the hallways on both floors are overcrowded, so the administration has decided to act. A recent decision to add moving walkways, also known as travelators, to CHS hallways has been made in order to speed up hallway traffic. The travelators will be implemented as early as next school year. “We’ve been getting complaints from students and staff alike about the hallway
backup for years now, so I am very much looking forward to installing the travelators in our school,” Principal Joan Benz said. “Frankly, this was long overdue.” Travelators are often found in airports so that individuals can quickly move throughout the large area with a whopping speed of three miles per hour. Airports avoid the stop-andgo traffic that the beltway and the Bulldog Lobby often have, and the implementation of this not-so-new technology will shorten the students’ and teachers’ commutes by at least half. “Everyday I have to use the Bulldog Lobby, and everyday I’m nervous about running into someone or someone running into me,” sophomore Firstname Lastname said. “I’m really excited because the travelators will allow me to get less exercise and give me a chance to take a quick nap on them between classes.” Teachers also love the idea
of the travelators because students will no longer have a reason to be late to class. “Since my classroom is located near the Bulldog Lobby, many of my students use that hallway and use the excuse that the traffic is what caused them to be late,” U.S. History teacher Amanda Marshall said. “This will let us teachers know who is actually trying to get to class and who is just goofing off with their friends.” The travelators may be costly, but CHS has agreed to sell the top quarter of its AP scores to cover the bill. “This will definitely help decrease person-to-person accidents, and help our students arrive safely to their classes,” security guard Terry Bell said. If the travelators are effective, the administration will talk to the MCPS Board of Education to build escalators to speed up the gridlock on the various staircases.
The proposed design for the moving walkways at CHS includes travelators in the hallway outside the Media Center and Journalism and Yearbook offices.
Seeing Green: The Hidden Truth Behind Camo Attire
By Fiona Asbury Mrs. Shrek
Walking through the halls of CHS, something seems off. Every so often, a backpack seems to be floating in mid-air, or shoes seem to be moving on their own accord; in some cases, all that is visible is the face of a nonchalant student. No, there’s no magic involved, just camouflage. More and more CHS students have been wearing camouflage coats, pants and even entire jumpsuits to school. Whether it be a fashion statement, a chance to experience invisibility or the newest form of a “lazy day” outfit, camo has become a daily staple for CHS students. “I couldn’t leave the house without wearing my camo jacket,” senior Andre Penzes said. “It’s really nice to walk down the hallway and have people only see my face. After all, I think that’s where my best features are.” Other students prefer to space out their camouflagewearing in an effort to keep it special. “If you asked me five years ago what superpower I would choose, I would definitely say invisibility,” senior Emilie Butchko said. “Now that I have
that power at my disposal, I the Observer has no longer and found to find “suitable” don’t want to overuse it. I love been able to locate. “It was a clothing if caught wearing how I still get butterflies every great investment because I camo. time I put on my camo shirt get tons of stuff for ‘free’ and In the hallways, invisibility and see my torso disappear.” my grades have definitely had caused chaos. In the While wearing camo is a improved.” Bulldog Lobby area, where positive experience for many, Several other students have the most student congestion it has also led to numerous also reaped the benefits of occurs, camouflaged problems in classrooms and invisibility in the classroom. students have been known hallways, as well as in the “Every so often during a test, to punch, kick and push CHS community. a student will go completely their way through crowds or According to a sign posted invisible for a second,” purposefully trip others. on the Cabin John California troubled teacher Leslie Armos “Camouflage attire is a Tortilla door, camo-wearers said. “That’s when you know serious issue,” security guard will no longer be allowed that the student is probably Big Man said. “Something in the restaurant due to “an cheating. Several students also needs to be done.” unknown decrease in queso put cheat-sheets somewhere The Montgomery County quantity.” under their camo attire and Police Department is even “Frankly, I think it’s use them during tests. It’s pushing legislators to ban discrimination,” Penzes becoming a huge problem.” camouflage completely. said. “Sure, some kids take Students have also been “We have enough on advantage of the fact that known to go invisible and our hands with the heroin they are invisible and are able leave classes during a boring resurgence,” police officer to enjoy a free meal, but a lecture. As a result, some Harold Badge said. “The last majority of camo-wearers are teachers have decided to ban thing we want is drug addicts just trying to live their lives camo from their classes and who now have the ability to without having to be seen. will send students to the lost disappear.” There’s nothing illegal about that.” With camouflage jumpsuits readily Horse For President Bulldog Bids Farewell accessible, camouflage wearers have also been America unanimously Students and able to go completely chooses invisible, rather than staff vote to horse only partially. replace mascot over other “I have a [camo] with Exploding candidates jumpsuit with a hood Hoverboard. that I can pull over my head,” said a junior who Page X
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Senior Emilie Butchko’s torso disappeared when she wears her camouflage.
Sports Shuffleboarding CHS beats Wootton in County Semifinals. Again.
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