Montgomery County Public Schools Winston Churchill High School 11300 Gainsborough Rd. Potomac, MD 20854
thechurchillobserver.com
Volume 40 - Issue 3
Tuesday, November 24, 2015
A National Blue Ribbon School
Unity and Pride Day Counters Hate Group
By Thomas Atkinson Online Features Editor Maya Rosenberg Social Media Editor
T
he hate group, the Westboro Baptist Church (WBC), picketed CHS Nov. 10 for its active Sexuality Gender Alliance club, otherwise known as the Gay Straight Alliance club (GSA). They picketed during the majority of eighth period, but students were not allowed to counter protest because Principal Joan Benz did not want students to interact with the protesters. “First and foremost, we do not engage in interactive protests,” Benz said. “Instead, what we planned is an internal, positive approach to the protest.” This is not the first time the WBC has picketed an MCPS school. Six years ago, they picketed Walt Whitman High School in protest of the sexuality of the person for whom the school is named. At CHS, despite the hate group’s harsh messages, they managed to unite CHS in a common cause. Different student leadership groups such as the SGA, Sources of Strength (SOS) and the GSA club, as well as administration, organized a peaceful demonstration called Churchill Unity and Pride day (UP). Students wore rainbow and CHS colors to show their support for both the LGBT
PHOTO COURTESY OF BILL WU.
Senior Elanore Fuller paints rainbows on Senior Michael Lavine’s face on CHS Unity Day. community and Churchill as a whole. CHS was decked out in supportive decorations to show school solidarity for its community. Posters proclaiming a CHS “Unity Day” were filled with kind sticky notes from students all around the school. Notes such as “Love who you want” and “Love is love” filled the hallways. Rainbow balloons hung as a canopy under the outdoor entrance to the main office, and small Maryland, American, and rainbow flags lined the outside of the school. According to GSA president and senior Azariah Kurlantzick, it was great that so many people were wearing
rainbow, but he felt that not all students were supportive. “People who weren’t being supportive were more visible to me than those who were,” Kurlantzick said. “The majority of students and teachers were definitely being really great and that made me feel good, but wearing rainbows all day also made some kid feel like he could walk up to me and say ‘Hey, nice fag, I mean flag.’ Usually that kind of stuff stays behind my back, but it was jarring and frightening to have that said right to my face. It’s great to be able to show pride in school, but the school as a whole still has a long way to go.”
While students were not allowed to go outside and participate in a counter protest, many other groups showed up to support CHS. Students from Walter Johnson, Walt Whitman, Richard Montgomery, Thomas S. Wootton, Sandy Spring Friends school and members of synagogue Har Shalom held peaceful rallies proclaiming love and strength for CHS. “We wanted to show our support for CHS,” Sandy Spring Friends senior Serena Faruqee said. According to Faruqee, her counter protest was a studentled demonstration and student absences were approved by their school.
Earlier in the day the WBC picketed the Jewish Federation in D.C. which prompted members of the Jewish community to come show support for CHS students. “I feel like high school students need to know they have a lot of allies and that they love them,” Har Shalom Rabbi Adam Raskin said.“I take every opportunity I can to support CHS and high school students to show them someone cares.” Although the day was successful in promoting unity, some felt that more could have been done to bring awareness to the LGBT students at whom the protest was aimed at. “The school tried to turn this day into a Churchill spirit day instead of making it a supportive day for our LGBT students and GSA club, ” senior and organizer of a student counter demonstration Valerie Weitz said. The day ended anticlimactically with the WBC leaving before class had even ended. However, that did not stop the throng of students who formed a crowd along Gainsborough Road holding up signs of encouragement and clad in rainbow. “High school is a time a lot of people really think about their identity,” Wootton junior and counter protester Tristan Hamlin said. “By having a unity day every year, students are able to see the support they have from other students and the school.”
CHS Community Responds to Devastating Paris Attacks By Fiona Asbury Michael Fox Editors-in-Chief Thomas Atkinson Online Features Editor
For the past couple of days, CHS students have been seeing red, white and blue. Following the news of the tragic terrorist attacks in Paris on Friday, Nov. 13, social media has been inundated with an outpouring of support for those affected through the trending #PrayForParis and the temporary profile picture featuring a French flag filter. The Paris attacks were launched by eight ISIS members at six significant locations in France, including the Stade de France where the French president François Hollande was observing the friendly soccer match between France and Germany and a sold-out concert at the Bataclan. The game was
interrupted by an explosion that occurred outside of the stadium, and gunmen opened fire on the innocent audience at the Bataclan. According to a Nov. 15, CNN article, 129 were killed in the attacks and more than 350 are currently injured, with 99 in critical condition. After its day of Unity Nov. 11, CHS students are once again banding together to promote peace and love amidst a time of darkness. Ceramics teacher Paul Dermont displayed a banner of the French flag in the art hallway for students to share messages of support for France and anyone affected by the incident. He then took the banner to the French embassy. “Over the weekend I was watching the news and people were leaving candles and loving messages,” Dermont said. “Since this is such a well-traveled area, I thought making a banner may have an impact.” Jump to page 3.
PHOTO BY JASMINE BATEN.
Students wrote messages to people in Paris on a banner in the art hallway. Art teacher Paul Dermont placed the flag at the French embassy on Monday Nov. 16.
Opinions
Features
Arts
Black Friday Debate
Real Housewives of Potomac
New Disney Character
Should the major shopping holiday continue?
Hit realtiy show uncovers Potomac’s “nice little secret.”
Moana will set new standards for princesses.
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News
MCPD Officers Begin Wearing Body Cameras While on Duty By Lauren Roseman Production Editor Nathan Deychman Sports Editor
PHOTO COURTESY OF SABRINA MANZOOR.
Muslim students gather to observe Eid al-Adha, a major holiday.
Muslim Holiday Recognized
By Rebecca Jackson Circulation Manager Muslim students, families and staff across MCPS are excited about the Board of Education’s decision to move a teachers’ professional day to the date of the major Islamic holiday, Eid al-Adha. Last year, MCPS stripped the school calendar of the names of religious holidays, replacing them with secular, seasonal names and eliminating the argument from smaller religious groups in the area who believe they should have school off to observe their important holidays. According to sophomore Mohammed Qureshi, by placing Eid al-Adha on the MCPS calendar, the Board is recognizing Muslim holidays as significant, even though the day is stated as a professional day. Islamic members of the MCPS community have been trying for years to have at least one of their holidays recognized by a day off of school. However, CHS and other MCPS high schools do not have a significant Muslim population, especially in comparison to the amount of Christian or Jewish students. As Muslim population in MCPS has increased over the years, members of the Muslim community have finally achieved their goal.
November 24, 2015
“I’ve had to wait many years to see this happen,” sophomore Sabrina Manzoor said. “I am really surprised and excited that MCPS finally took the day off for this holiday.” Eid al-Adha is a holiday about sacrifice and reflection. When Eid al-Adha has fallen on school days in the past, Muslim students who want to keep up with their education have had to go to school instead of the mosque, sacrificing a full celebration of their faith, according to Manzoor. According to Manzoor, as she is getting older, it is harder to take off school for this holiday, because there is too much make-up work. “It is extremely helpful to have the day off to celebrate with family and not worry about what I am missing at school,” Manzoor said. Eid al-Adha celebrates the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son, Ishmael, to follow the word of God. On this day, Muslim students pray at services in their mosque and spend the rest of the day enjoying the company of friends and family. The other official Muslim holiday besides Eid al-Adha is Eid al-Fitr. This is the breaking of the fast of Ramadan. It is very unlikely that Eid al-Fitr will be granted a day off of school in MCPS as well, but the granting of a professional day for their other most important holiday is an accomplishment.
Police officers working in Montgomery County, including the School Resource Officers (SRO), have begun wearing body cameras while responding to incidents in order to enhance safety and allow for more extensive evidence. This Body Worn Camera Technology (BWCT) Pilot Program has already been carried out at Northwest, Seneca Valley and Whitman High Schools, and a plan is in place for the program to spread to all MCPS high schools by the summer of 2017. In the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD), 149 officers currently wear the body cameras. According to CHS SRO Amy Homrock, the body cameras will help clarify what actually happens during incidents. “It will help in investigations,” Homrock said. “If there is any question about what took place during an incident, you can go back and review the tapes to see what transpired.” On the other hand, the implementation of this program raises several questions, especially regarding confidentiality. “It’s a way to keep our school safer, but it also takes away some of students’ privacy,” sophomore Leon Bi said. However, according to Homrock, the cameras will only be on during incidents and the students involved will be notified when the cameras are being used. “When I get my camera, I will have to tell the person or persons I’m with that they are being recorded,” Homrock said. According to the MCPD’s regulation
on the BWCT, the cameras are prohibited from being used in strip searches, locker rooms and/or restrooms unless it is part of a criminal investigation. Officers are also prohibited from secretly recording public conversations with people or other officers. “The expectation is that these rules will apply to all officers and all locations, with some obvious exceptions,” said Robert Hellmuth, MCPS’s Director of the Department of School Safety and Security. “Basically the program calls for the officers to turn on their body cameras whenever they are involved in law enforcement activities and turn them off when the activities have concluded. They will not have the cameras on all of the time.” The implementation of the BWCT program can primarily be tied back to the issue of police brutality and the lack of evidence in many of those cases. According to a Nov. 7 The Atlantic article, an experiment in California found that police officers not wearing cameras were twice as likely to use force compared to ones wearing the cameras. The study also found that complaints against the police decreased 80 percent when officers wore the cameras. It is unclear when the program will come to CHS. The program’s spread will be slow due to the immense cost of $2.6 million in providing and maintaining the cameras for the entire MCPD. “If there are any kinks in the program, hopefully they would be worked out before the program comes to CHS,” Principal Joan Benz said.
In one study, police body cameras reduced citizen complaints by 80%.
November 24, 2015
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News
PARCC Scores Much Worse than Projections By Isabel Dibble News Editor
The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) was a brand new test administered last year by a group of states including Maryland, and the nation’s first year results are low, with less than 50 percent of students passing the test. The PARCC was intended to evaluate a student’s progress and provide better information for teachers and parents about where the student both excels and needs help. The test is also meant to determine if a student is “proficient,” or ready for college. “The first year of any new test is like a pilot,” Principal Joan Benz said. “We’ll look at the results, but it’s hard to evaluate its accuracy yet.” According to a Nov. 6 Montgomery
Aftermath of ISIS Attacks Hits CHS Jump from page 1 The Paris attacks happened the last day before a group of 14 French students visiting CHS as an exchange program were scheduled to return home. “We [the French kids and their hosts] were all together eating our farewell dinner when we heard about the tragedy,” senior Maya Demby said. “It was really scary especially for some of the kids who had friends who were in or around Paris when it happened, but I think they were comforted a bit more because they were with their friends.” The attacks are the center of discussion among all CHS students, and many students are expressing sympathy for the victims of Paris. According to French Honor Society President Julie Thomasian, the FHS feels obligated to do something to acknowledge the Paris attacks at CHS. The students are connected to the French people, either by family connections or by similar culture, and are discussing possible ways to admire the French people’s unity after such an event. While publicity has been focused around Paris, ISIS also launched similar attacks in Beirut and across the Middle East. According to a Nov. 12 New York Times article ISIS was deemed responsible for the deaths of 43 people and the injuries of 200 Lebanese people. Tragedies such as these attacks destroy a country’s feeling of safety, but can also unite its citizens. Signs of support, like lighting the Empire State Building in NYC as a French flag, show how compassionate the world can be after terrorist attacks try to tear a society apart. “We all know France does not deserve this, and it is moments like this when we stand, ever more than before, in solidarity with France,” Thomasian said.
Community Media article, no one can fully analyze what the results mean because there is no other data to compare to this first year of the test. Also, the PARCC results cannot be compared to other tests like the Maryland School Assessments (MSA) or High School Assessments (HSA) because the PARCC tests are more rigorous. Although the nation’s overall scores were low, MCPS students performed better than their peers within the state. According to the Montgomery Community Media article, 38.6 percent of MCPS students met or exceeded expectations for the Algebra 1 test, which is 7.4 points higher than the performance across the state. For the Algebra 2 test, MCPS students scored 10.5 points higher than their peers across the state. Also, for the English 10 section, MCPS students averaged 4.3 points higher than the state. Additionally, CHS performed better than the MCPS average. According to Maryland’s State of Department of Education 2015 report, student performance is measured by levels which define how the student compares to the passing score. Level
one means a student has not yet met the passing score; level two means the student partially met it, and level three means the student approached the minimum score. Levels four and five represent that the student met or exceeded the passing score and is on track to be college and career ready. At CHS for the Algebra 1 section of the test, 42.9 percent of students approached level three. For the Algebra 2 test, 63.3 percent of students met level four, and 40.1 percent of students met level four for the English 10 section. According to the Montgomery Community Media article, Interim Superintendent Larry Bowers was concerned about the wide variance in performance at MCPS schools, illustrating the urgency to improve literacy and mathematics. One reason for the low scores is that some students may not have taken the PARCC test seriously. “Students were skipping the test,” junior Danielle Katz said. “For those who did show up, some were writing jokes as the English essays.” According to a Nov. 5 Bethesda Magazine article, Board of Education
President Patricia O’Neill heard that some students did not take the test seriously because they know that they have multiple choices throughout middle or high school to get a passing score to graduate, and therefore some did not feel the need to try and get a four or five. During the actual test, some students were bored by the amount paperwork to fill out regarding their personal information and the expansion of the test to three days. “It was like one hour of filling in our names and information and another two hours of the actual test,” Katz said. “A lot of people did not want to sit through it for each subject a day.” The combination of the students not taking the test seriously and other performance gaps between MCPS schools are some of the factors that are to be considered for future years of the PARCC test. According to Benz, she thinks CHS students are well-prepared for college regardless of their PARCC results. “Just the percentage of our kids who go to college, which is around 98 percent, shows that our students are prepared for college,” Benz said.
Obama Backs Anti-Standardized Testing
By Rebekah Sklute Circulation Manager
In a video posted to the Internet, President Barack Obama pledged to take a step toward reducing the amount of standardized testing for middle and high school students. According to the video released Oct. 24 from the White House, Obama feels that standardized testing is taking up too much instructional time and causing too much stress on students and teachers. Obama asked states and school districts to limit time used on assessments to no more than two percent of classroom hours and promised to ask Congress to turn this idea into a law. A Council Of Great City Schools Report of the Nation’s 66 largest school districts found that from pre-K to 12th grade, 112 exams are taken. The tests take up 20 to 25 hours per year, which is 2.3 percent of classroom time. Each year, students face several required standardized tests, including the HSA, SAT, ACT and APs. “I think Obama heard parents and students and the grand perception that a lot of excessive testing brings a lot of stress and anxiety to students,” Principal Joan Benz said. “People question not only why so many, but sometimes the intensity of them.” Many students will support Obama’s decision to limit them. “These tests cause students so much stress,” senior Dana Gilbertson said. “Without that stress they’ll be able to focus better and actually learn the material and retain it. Getting the students to actually know the material is much better than teaching to a test.” Junior Chloe Blomquist agrees. “Obama should find other solutions for students who are college ready but
PHOTO BY REBEKAH SKLUTE.
U.S. schools are beginning to move away from standardized testing. are not great test takers,” Blomquist said. “Everyone learns differently, and standardized test taking comes harder for some people.” As Obama deals with standardized testing for the nation, the MCPS Board of Education is currently focusing on the local issues of excessive testing. “I think what Obama is doing is actually aligning with what our Board of Education is doing,” Benz said. “As of right now it seems like we might not have our twohour final exams in June. There are certain groups that are very much
for it and other groups that are not.” According to senior Anthony Ratinov, eliminating final exams would give students less stress, but final grades would then depend on quarter trends rather than a better grade on the final exam. He has found the final exam very helpful because he has used it to improve his final grade multiple times. “Instead of an exam, there can be a group project or an individual project,” Benz said. “It doesn’t all have to be a paper and pencil summative test.”
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November 24, 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 Lauren Roseman Sofia Williamson Becky Wolfson Sarah O’Brien 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.
IMAGE BY KEVIN HO.
CHS Rises UP as a Strong Community On Nov. 10, CHS stepped UP. The Westboro Baptist Church (WBC) came to CHS Nov. 10 to protest the CHS Gay-Straight Alliance club and our general acceptance of diversity. Though the general feelings of disapproval towards the WBC are widespread, it was clear through the studentcreated Facebook group “Rally to Support LGBT Students” that students were conflicted about how to react to this issue. CHS’ response to this hate group offered teens the option to show solidarity instead of directly fighting these groups. We proved that positivity is stronger than its counterpart. CHS students created a Facebook group that invited 2,000 students, and over 400 responded, “going to the event.” The Facebook group first became an outlet for individual CHS students to express their anger towards the issue. Students then planned to engage in an active counter-protest against WBC and encouraged other students to skip their eighth period class to participate. In response, Benz left a phone message for CHS students: “There will be no counter protest and the event is not an excuse for missing school.” Students who skipped any class during the day for that purpose would lose their credit for the day. According to Benz, the WBC came to CHS six or seven years ago but left after about 10 minutes when they were given no attention. She believed stu-
dents should take this approach again. However, though this may have sent the WBC away in the past, this couldn’t have been our sole purpose this time around. From elementary school we have learned that being the bystander is just as bad as being the bully. Standing by as the WBC spreads hate would not be giving the LGBT students the support they deserve. According to Student Press L a w Center executive director Frank LoMonte, students, protected by the First Amendment, can engage in “peaceful and non-disruptive speech,” like wearing protest attire, handing out flyers and expressing their opinions as long as it doesn’t interfere with the school’s ability to teach or students’ abilities to learn. Administration turned Nov. 10 into Unity and Pride (UP) Day. CHS students proudly wore our school colors and/or rainbow themes. Throughout the day, peace-themed music rang through the halls, signs like “CHS Supports ALL Students” lined the hallways, and inspiring messages written on sticky notes covered the bathroom mirrors. At 1:45 p.m., students from multiple schools in MCPS, parents, and religious leaders lined the sidewalks, held supportive signs and rainbow umbrellas to
cover themselves in the light rain, and chanted. As students filed out of CHS at the 2:30 bell, the drumline played celebratory beats to drown out the hatred. Some students joined a group holding signs and rainbow flags on the sidewalk while others filed onto their buses, yelling encouraging phrases out the window as they left. There was slight confusion when people realized that the three WBC protestors who had showed up left before the school day ended. Even so, counterprotesters remained. The point is that they did so without causing chaos. According to Principal Joan Benz, the school is responsible for students on their property during school hours, so if things were to turn violent, CHS is liable. According to Vocativ, an online news and culture website, minority hate groups like WBC tend to feed off the groups they protest against. WBC has over $200,000 in yearly travel costs, and they are simply funded by lawsuits. When WBC claims that the group being protested against is violating their First Amendment right to protest, they immediately file a lawsuit. But despite the marks stacking up against the WBC, the entire CHS community was not standing by our lesbian,
gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students. According to a poll of 100 students, 75 percent of the population supports our LGBT students, 17 percent is neutral on the issue and a stunning eight percent sides with Westboro Baptist Church and their sentiments. In the poll, one student said that although “homosexuality is a sin” in his religion, he would stand with the LGBT community because his life is unaffected by their activities and he does not agree with the WBC’s actions. It’s important to note that while a few may not support the idea of LGBT rights in general, we encourage this eight percent to stand with our LGBT students, as they are a part of the student body, just as any other student is. The majority opinion may not be able to change the minds of those few, but our LGBT community is a part of CHS too, and therefore should be respected. Props to CHS and Sources of Strength for proving that we are a school that welcomes every student. We handled this issue with civility and the utmost maturity with the goal in mind to let all of our students know they belong here. This sets the precedent for students so that they will know the appropriate approach to these issues that will surely come up in their future.
By Ariel Levchenko Online Opinions Editor
Though it has evolved since then, the test’s roots clearly indicate a lack of validity and a system stacked against certain members of society. The ACT was designed and first implemented in 1959 as a competitor to the SAT, because at the time, the SAT was mostly used in the Northeast of the continental US, so several individuals sensed an opportunity for profit. Over time, these two tests have become essentially mandatory for any student who wants to get into most U.S. colleges. The SAT isn’t based on any curriculum, and it doesn’t take into account the courses one takes; it’s a standalone creature. This means that one cannot simply prepare for the SAT or the ACT by just following his or
her school’s classes. This isn’t like AP exams, where the class teaches to the test and prepares a student—there is literally no way for a teen to prepare for one of these tests without extra work outside of school. So what do students have to do? Take prep classes, buy books, hire tutors and spend months and lots of money preparing for these tests, the sole purpose of which is to show colleges that one is ready to go to college. Doesn’t that seem a little ironic? But there’s an even bigger issue. The cost to prepare for these tests hurts students who can’t afford to shell out a thousand plus dollars to prep for a test. Both the SAT and the ACT cost around $50 each time
you take either of them, and people often take them more than once. President Obama has called for an end to so much testing, but we can’t forget that he increased the amount of it — his Race to the Top built on the existing No Child Left Behind. There should be some sort of tests to examine college readiness, but the system we have now is broken, and when something is so utterly broken, stop trying to fix it. Throw it out, and make something new. Perhaps a comprehensive exam by each school that each student has to pass — one, cumulative graduation exam. Would it be hard? Yes, but just because something is impossible, doesn’t mean that it shouldn’t be done.
BSERVER O OPINION
Standardized Tests Are Getting a Failing Grade CHS students will have taken an average of 113 tests throughout their education. There are tests in every class, the PARCC, quarter exams, semester exams, final exams and AP exams. Wait, don’t forget SATs, SAT Subject tests and ACTs. The problem with these standardized tests is that they aren’t representative of a student’s intellect or abilities. So why do we take them? The SAT was first established in 1926 by Carl Brigham — a psychologist who complained about the decreasing quality of education and attributed it to increased interracial marriages and children.
November 24, 2015
Opinions
Juniors, Know Your Place: Tuckerman Ln.
By Michael Fox Editor-in-Chief Jonathan Greenzaid Online Editor-in-Chief
A letter to the juniors who think it is permissible to park on Gainsborough Road and Victory Lane: Fewer than 100 seniors were provided with parking spots in the senior lot for the 2015-16 school year. However, those left spot-less instantly became Darwinists: experiencing survival of the fittest every day while competing with juniors for a parking spot. Following new regulations on the parking policy, juniors are now permitted to park on Gainsborough Road and Victory Lane, an upgrade from last year’s Tuckerman Lane only policy. The senior class contains 538 students, 80 more students than last year’s senior class, and has waited for parking privileges for four years. On top of that, the juniors aren’t old enough, or experienced enough, for the driving benefits that come with these coveted parking spots. Seniors understand that they have their own designated senior parking lot, but it’s pretty difficult to fit 538 students in the 95-spot lot. Parking on Gainsborough and Victory should be reserved for the other seniors who drive to school but weren’t lucky enough to get a spot at the lottery— they deserve to be able to park just as much as the select 95, and certainly more than juniors. According to Security Team Leader Terry Bell, 150 street permits are available for parking on Gainsborough, Victory and Tuckerman. The seniors could purchase a street pass in September while the juniors could only get them in October. Regardless, whether you got your pass in
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October or September, there should still be a clear delineation between where seniors and juniors can park. Bell predicts that there will be no more available street permits by the end of the semester. And seriously juniors, you’re just not old enough to rule the streets of CHS yet. We’re at the top. We’ve taken our SATs. We’ve taken our APs. Though these have nothing to do with driving, it means we’ve put in the blood, sweat and tears needed to deserve a senior year during which we have the right to park in the most convenient spots. Plus, we know how to parallel park because our driving test actually had that on it. The same can’t be said for a majority of the junior class. On Nov. 4, we examined the cars on
Gainsborough. Within our first few steps out of the Bulldog Lobby, we spotted a car parked backward on the street. Sure enough, according to Bell, this was a junior who received a parking ticket. Karma. We did our time juniors; now you have to do yours. Just be patient and understand that parking on Tuckerman as a junior is a rite of passage. When you’re a senior, you’ll thank us as you casually pull into your nice convenient spot in front of CHS. If this policy holds up, you won’t be very happy when you have to wake up earlier than last year simply to fight for a spot on Gainsborough. Your class is known as the “juniors” for a reason; you should show respect to your seniors. Let us park
on Gainsborough. If you really need a ride and can’t find parking on Tuckerman, either take the bus, walk to school or hitch a ride with a senior. It’s not a big deal, and you’ll get over it. Think about the upsides. You get great exercise in the morning walking from Tuckerman, and you get to walk with a cluster of juniors into school, whereas you’d feel awkward drawing glares from the senior whose spot you stole. You also don’t have to wake up nearly as early to park on Tuckerman. We understand that you think parking should be on a first come, first serve basis without any age discrimination. We also get that you want to park as close to the school as possible. We understand, as we were juniors once too. But you have to put yourself in our shoes and look into your future as seniors. Senior year is sometimes about being lazy. We shouldn’t have to wake up so early to get a parking spot just because our name wasn’t selected at the lottery. According to an Observer poll of CHS seniors, 89 percent believe juniors should not be able to park on Gainsborough and Victory. Additionally, in a similar poll of juniors, 39 percent believe that juniors should not have the opportunity to park on these streets. Clearly even the 39 percent of juniors realize that seniors should have priority in parking spots. And though it may be hard to monitor which juniors and seniors are parking in the right places, there could be different colored passes to distinguish between the juniors and the seniors. Help the seniors make it to graduation by doing us a simple favor: take that permit of yours and cross off Victory and Gainsborough. There’s only one place junior permits are valid and it’s lining the hill toward Hoover. Sincerely, your loving seniors.
they get behind the wheel, particularly with less experienced teenage drivers. However, in an effort to institute such responsibility, the MCPD has perhaps taken traffic security too far. CHS students already face an invasion of privacy in the form of speed cameras. Usually hidden behind trees and signs, the sensitive speed cameras can trap student drivers whose morning may have started a bit later than normal, causing them to travel a little too far above the speed limit on their way to school. According to a Sept. 1 Washington Post article, the speed cameras came into effect in Montgomery County in 2007 and have reduced the urge to drive more than 10 mph above the speed limit by 59 percent. While speed cameras have undoubtedly made progress towards preventing fatal crashes caused by speeding, the whole concept is a little Big Brotheresque. It is unsettling to have cameras focused on your license plate as you drive down a road, and receiving a fine in the mail from a camera you didn’t even realize was focused on you is even worse. However, here at CHS, we are used to being watched and have grown accustomed to the Speed Camera Corridors, memorizing the location of each camera and perfecting the art of slowing down just in time. Now, however, cameras are the least of student’s worries. The police have gone so far as to create an entire production simply for the purpose of deceiving drivers and issuing them citations. A driver should be able to maneuver his car down the road without worrying that every person he sees might be watching him undercover and tracking his driving habits. Obviously, distracted driving is an issue. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety website, dis-
tracted driving contributes to more than 5,000 traffic fatalities each year. However, at some point, drivers need to be able to feel as though they have privacy while driving down the road. Rather than constantly assuming the worst in every driver, perhaps drivers can be given more credit and less suspicion. Knowing that he or she is responsible for the lives of others should be reason enough for drivers to stay safe on the road, and such extreme measures should not need to be instituted at all. Rather than feeling as if they are constantly under a microscope, drivers can be held accountable and trusted. This action by the Police Department will also reflect poorly on the homeless all over Montgomery County. Knowing that a panhandler could either be someone going through a tough time in life or a fraud, drivers are going to be even more suspicious and possibly hostile towards homeless people than they were before. The predicament of homeless individuals in Montgomery County is
not something to be imitated or taken lightly. As colder weather is approaching, perhaps more should be done to aid these individuals rather than impersonating them. According to the Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless, on a given day, 1,250 people experience homelessness in the county, including 325 children. To these people, the man standing with a sign at the intersection of Goldsboro and River Road is just another one of them, someone who has also fallen on hard times. However, the fact that this man is actually an employed police officer wearing their quandary as a costume only shows them that the county does not take their issues seriously and has made a mockery of them. Staying safe on the road should be the first priority of every driver on the road, regardless of age. However, we shouldn’t always have to wonder what form Big Brother will be in next, whether it be in the hidden camera detecting any speeds exceeding the limit, or in the form of an innocent looking man braving the cold with a cardboard sign.
PHOTO BY JONATHAN GREENZAID.
A junior received a ticket after parking backward on Gainsborough.
We’re Begging Police Officers to Get Off the Median
By Fiona Asbury Editor-in-Chief
Some people have natural suspicions regarding the homeless people found shuffling along the median at Montgomery County intersections. After all, it’s impossible to know whether the sign proclaiming a lost job, previous military service, family to support or a medical condition is in fact telling the truth or what a five dollar bill given through a rolled-down window will fund. One question that isn’t typically lingering at the back of one’s mind, however, is whether the panhandler camped out along the road is a legitimate homeless person in need of aid, or an undercover police officer, disguising him or herself to catch reckless and distracted drivers off guard. Unfortunately, in Montgomery County, it seems that this question needs to be moved to the forefront. According to an Oct. 27 WUSA9 article, since the beginning of the school year, the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) has been disguising officers as homeless in an attempt to crack down on distracted drivers. Moving around random locations, the “homeless” officer will look out for distracted and reckless drivers to report to other officers located further down the road which helps enforce the hands-free policy for drivers in Montgomery County. Recently, the “homeless” police were found on River Road in Bethesda, a road often travelled by CHS students. Thus, it is not unlikely that CHS students will encounter this phenomenon if they have not already. Following the recent tragedies that have resulted from irresponsible driving, there is obviously a need for drivers to take responsibility every time
PHOTO COURTESY OF FOX NEWS VIDEO.
From a distance, a driver could easily mistake this undercover police officer for a real homeless person.
6
Black Friday is Good By Sai Sreenivasan Circulation Manager
Black Friday—the day on which the deals are steals and stores cut back on their losses. For many, Black Friday is more than just a shopping day, it’s a necessary tradition. In the CHS community, many people might not value Black Friday for what it truly is—an opportunity for families to purchase goods they can’t usually afford. For many, Black Friday is not only seen as a fun shopping day but also a way to buy things without breaking the bank. There is more to Black Friday than just fulfilling materialistic wants— it’s a day to fulfill the most basic needs. Many people purchase basic necessities such as baby clothes or laundry machines. It is for this reason that thousands of people camp out in front of the stores waiting for them to open. While some may be there for their annual spree, others are there to buy things they normally can’t afford. Going out shopping with friends may be commonplace, but shopping on Black Friday is in a league of its own. Being able to share the joy of finding an awesome deal or getting gifts for one another is what Black Friday bonding is all about. On Black Friday both the shoppers and retailers benefit. The aim of Black Friday for retailers is to cut losses and go into the “black zone” of making a profit by selling usually high-priced items at reduced costs. Apple products are at an all-time low, with MacBook Airs with at least a $100 discount. For students this is an opportunity to purchase equipment without breaking the bank. According to a November 2015 Forbes article, the projection for Black Friday profit for this year will be $8.8 billion, down 3.2 percent from 2014. However, Thanksgiving Day sales will increase by 18.8 percent to 3.8 billion dollars. Stores need the Thanksgiving Day sales in order to turn a profit since Black Friday sales are declining. Many view Black Friday as a day where workers are underpaid and forced to work long shifts. However,
Opinions
recent changes have been made to give workers better conditions. Those who work on Black Friday receive extra vacation days or bonuses as compensation. Some stores have even decided to open later on Black Friday to allow their workers to spend more time with their families. Additionally, retailers begin holiday hiring, so those who work on Thanksgiving and Black Friday receive overtime benefits. Another commonly cited reason against Black Friday is the rare case of violence due to the morning rush. According to the Black Friday Death Count website, most instances where injuries have occurred have either been due to the chaotic stampede or individual acts of violence. However, in order to reduce the chaotic stampede for deals, stores like Best Buy hand out vouchers to eliminate the need to stampede, reducing injuries and overall chaos. Black Friday benefits more than just the upper class. In reality it actually benefits the lower income households the most by giving them the opportunity to purchase necessities. It’s an important day in our nation that promotes opportunity and we should not get rid of that.
November 24, 2015
...But Turkey is Better By Thomas Atkinson Online Features Editor
Black Friday was originally known for the color used when accounts made a profit. Now it has become an annual event representing capitalistic, consumer-driven America. Every year, thousands of people wake up early and rush to shopping malls to take advantage of clearance deals and sales instead of enjoying Thanksgiving and spending the day with their families. While this used to be reserved for the day after Thanksgiving, this “event” has crept into Thanksgiving day itself. Black Friday should be kept to the weekend and should not be allowed to intrude on Thanksgiving traditions. Stores like Macy’s, J.C.Penney, Kohl’s and Sears announced that they will be opening up at 6 p.m. Nov. 26, when most families are enjoying a nice Thanksgiving feast. According to a 2013 Market Watch article, stores feel pressure to open on Thanksgiving to follow their competitors or risk losing their customers. They want to get a jump on any competition. Although many stores think opening
on Thanksgiving Thursday rather than the Friday after will boost their sales, it ultimately has a minor effect on the store’s total income. According to a November 2015 Fortune article, opening on Thanksgiving only spreads the sales throughout the weekend, so retailers such as Costco have deemed the practice unnecessary. Consumers have the choice to cut their Thanksgiving festivities short, but for retail workers, Black Friday is their job. Employees are forced to give up time with their families just to spend long hours selling merchandise to rowdy customers. Many of these workers are making low wages and their hard, grueling work is not worth the cost of missing an important family holiday. Stores like Costco and Nordstrom are standing up to the pressure from other shops to open earlier in order to fulfill customers demands. Instead they are just opening up early on the Friday. According to a 2014 Huffington Post article, stores have seen few benefits from opening on the Thursday and want their employees and customers to enjoy the holiday with their families. Not only is this event promoting material goods over family, it ultimately forces people to resort to their most primal instincts. People feel that in order to get a coveted product, they must fight for it by any means necessary. According to a Houston, TX ABC affiliate, people were literally throwing themselves onto TVs last Black Friday at Wal-Mart to claim them. Other instances include shootings over certain items at a Nordstroms in Chicago last year. Today, almost anything can bought online on Cyber Monday, therefore the rush and pandimonium for Black Friday is unnecessary when one could be ordering gifts online from their couch. The movement called Boycott Black Thursday despises the intrusion onto Thanksgiving and urges the masses to #keepfamilyfirst and not fall into corporate traps. The Facebook page has over 100,000 likes and is growing. Thanksgiving is a holiday where one should be thankful for what they have and not feel the need to go out and buy more. Save that for the day after.
Peaceful Muslims Live in Fear of Being Labeled Terrorists By Jasmine Baten Opinions Editor
would target specific terrorist groups rather than Islam at large, there is anger and hatred directed at Muslims Terrorism isn’t a religion. constantly. Regardless of where one Following the terrorist attacks lives, the discrimination is still there. around the world on Nov. 13, people Adult members of the Muslim in all countries gathered to mourn and community warn their tech-savvy support those who lost their lives and children and grandchildren of the those who lost loved ones. dangers accompanying the prejudice When ISIS claimed responsibility that follows them everywhere. for the horrors, the universal knee“Be sure to say something nice jerk reaction was to blame Islam, the about America before you hang up the religion that ISIS claims to represent, phone,” is a popular piece of advice and to blame offered to Muslims. the Muslim However, youth. It’s the group apparent There’s a paranoia among the Muslim really only that terrorist r e p r e s e n t s community that society’s constant search attacks have t e r r o r i s m for a reason to blame all Muslims will done more and radical than instill extremism. find something incriminating or treasona fear of Islam is ous even if one has nothing to hide. bombs and represented explosions— by the there’s a completely paranoia average girl behind you in English among the Muslim community that class and the boy sitting next to you on society’s constant search for a reason to the bus. blame all Muslims will find something I am not a terrorist. I don’t incriminating or treasonous even if sympathize with terrorist actions, one has nothing to hide. and I don’t justify their intentions. I wish I could say that this paranoia Furthermore, I don’t consider myself is unnecessary—it’s 2015 and people associated with anyone under that are willing to accept American citizens title. I am a proud Muslim American. I as equals no matter what religion they often wonder if my community knows follow. However, when a 14-yearthat I can be both. old Muslim boy gets arrested after Though politicians like Hillary bringing a homemade alarm clock to Clinton have made a point to state that school, there’s not a whole lot to say in U.S. actions taken from this point on defense of society.
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Members of the Muslim community perpetually advise other Muslims to stay calm and positive in the face of discrimination and lies. For me, this is where it gets difficult. Being kind and courteous is one thing, but having to maintain that composure when someone rants about “all Muslims being terrorists,” or having to pretend not to be irritated by the fact that the media has disrespectfully declared Muslim and Islam to be pronounced “Muzlim” with “z”s instead of the correct pronunciation, “Musslim” with an “ss” sound, requires immense patience. Reactions can’t be taught quickly; young Muslims have to learn to react, deal with comments and present a polite personality through day-to-day experiences. Social media provides a platform where those experiences can become very instructive very quickly. It’s the home of the most backlash and hatred, where Muslim teens are warned to watch what they say because aggressive statuses posted by a Muslim are interpreted as foreshadowing terrorist tendencies whereas another teen’s angst is seen as a bad mood. But social media is also the tipping point for the spread of understanding and real information. Muslims of all ages and walks of life can not only provide insight into how Muslims interpret the Holy Book and texts, but show others through filtered photos and tweets that being Muslim isn’t chaotic or dramatic. It’s really quite normal.
Islam’s roots lie in preaching acceptance, something that AP World History and CHS students are surprised to learn, as it presents a stark contrast to the daily headlines. But really, being Muslim is far from what the media has made it out to be. While the media tends to condemn Muslims not in terrorist groups as uncaring or supportive of terrorist actions, in reality the opposite is true. As outlandish and controversial as it may be to say it, it’s the young Muslims who are the most impassioned about opposing terrorist attacks and mourning for those who are lost. Why? Reeling from the horror of murders of innocent people is awful enough, but it adds another level when those terrorists claim to represent our faith, which couldn’t be less true. Scripture that terrorists claim justifies their intentions have been taken far out of context and their actions go against the acceptance and peace that Islam truly stands for. Social media is a way to show the community the difference between Islam and ISIS, Muslim and menace. Being Muslim means I live a pretty average, sometimes even boring, life. I can recite the Preamble because of Schoolhouse Rock and talk about this country’s amazing ability to provide its citizens with rights and freedom, but I can also read Arabic and fill in the “Islam” bubble when asked to indicate religion on forms. I’m an American Muslim, and that’s really all there is to it.
November 24, 2015
7
Observations
Student Publishes Book By Eugenia Cardinale Observations Editor Sophomore Joddie Zeng recently published her novel The Popularity Project, which she began writing in December 2013. The Popularity Project is a contemporary Young Adult romance novel following 17-year-old Ariella Winters as she goes through a social experiment at a completely new school. Her goal is to successfully immerse herself in the popular crew and learn something monumental, all while keeping everything no-strings-attached. “It’s interesting because everyone wants to know who the characters in my book are based off of, but contrary to popular belief, they are 100 percent fiction,” Zeng said. “I’ve taken these characters on a journey, not knowing that I’d been riding the wave right beside them. They’ve managed to steal a little piece of my heart. Of course, you may get some Churchill-y vibes from this book because it is the school I go to, and it’s all I’ve really experienced.” Zeng wanted to write something that could cheer someone up who might be having a bad day and she gives a piece of advice to any student
SHS Induction Ceremony PHOTO COURTESY OF KRISTIN BEHELER.
By Peter Durand PR & Social Media Editor
PHOTO COURTESY OF JODDIE ZENG.
Zeng’s novel can be purchased on Amazon. who may want to publish a book. “Writing a book and publishing a book are two completely different concepts,” Zeng said. “It’s something that I’ve struggled to accept. In publishing, your book will get torn apart in an effort to make it better. Always be open to change because there will always be room for improvement.”
Congratulations to the newly inducted members of the Spanish Honors Society. Hanan Badak Anand Chandrasekhar Vinicius Correa Corey Eisenberger Allison Frommer Elanore Fuller Sheila Gaur Nina Gautam Owen Hall Nina Hazra Amreen Kanwal Semira Kehnemouyi Jocelyn Kelley Allan Lee
Carli Needle Laudan Nikoobakht Eowyn Pak Noah Pereles Guido Raponi Jared Robinson Rachel Rosenberg Vicente Rudolph Sarah Sachar Baily Smith Hallie Srebnick Isabel Srour Jack Stern Matthew Tiberino Ilana Williams Jack Zhao “I’m happy to join the Spanish Honors Society,” junior Guido Raponi said. “I joined because the tutoring is a great way to help others.”
Siemens Semifinalists EHS Induction Ceremony
By Lauren Roseman Production Editor
Seniors William Chen and Dorothy Hu are Siemens Competition semifinalists. The Siemens Competition is a Siemens Foundation initiative that works to promote interest and excellence in STEM fields by awarding college scholarships to the students who show the most potential. Students can compete by submitting research proposals on the topics of their choice. According to Chen, his project was centered on material science and discovering whether certain materials can be “applied to valleytronics devices.” The project gave him research experience that he hopes to apply in the future. “I feel delighted to have received such an award,” Chen said. Hu’s project works to reduce the amount of time necessary to take an MRI scan.
“This project presents a new fat suppression method for fMRI (functional MRI) that uses a special design of spectral-spatial (SPSP) pulses to preferentially excite only the water protons in a given sample,” Hu said. “This technique, if successful, could shorten scanning time by combining scan time with fat suppression time.”
PHOTO BY BECKY WOLFSON.
Sophomores Carissa Wu, Alisha Desai, Libba Lawrence and Omisa Jinsi work for EHS during lunch. Rodrigo Lamas By Becky Wolfson Bradley Lawrence Production Editor Libba Lawrence
PHOTO COURTESY OF DOROTHY HU.
Hu was a semifinalist with her project focusing on MRI scans.
CHS to Host Festival By Peter Durand PR & Social Media Editor
PHOTO COURTESY OF VALERIE WEITZ.
Showstoppers begin dance rehearsal for the upcoming MCPS Jazz and Show Choir Festival hosted by CHS Dec. 11. CHS is hosting the MCPS Jazz and Show Choir Festival featuring all show and jazz choirs throughout the county Dec. 11. The groups Showstoppers, Simply Irresistible and Jazz Ambassadors will be representing CHS.
“It gives the students a capstone performance to prepare for,” Chorus Director Matthew Albright said. “This gives them a goal to work towards, and an opportunity to represent CHS in a good way.”
Congrats to the new members of the Engineering Honor Society. Cameron Amini Govind Anand Maya Arnold Raymond Bao Karen Briones Ginger Burrows Bethany Chen Jennifer Chen William Chen Julia Chien Ig-Sun Cho Alexander Chung Rebecca Clem Juliana Comer Autumn Cook Alisha Desai Jessica Ding Grant Dong John Dorsey Aaron Fogelson Noah Fogelson Josh Freilich Sheila Gaur Chrstian Haryanto Victoria Haass Jessica Horng Rebecca Holstein Stephanie Horng Dorothy Hu Sam Hu Erin Huang Omisa Jinsi Shon Kaganovich Neha Kaul Semira Kehnemouyi Maya Kohli Sid Komaragiri Thara Konduri Usha Konduri Nina Kothari
Nathan LeBauer Allan Lee Brittany Lew Alison Li Eric Li Jeffrey Li Lily Lin Nikky Mittu Eowyn Pak Joseph Primmer Syrus Razavi Anthony Ratinov Syrus Razavi Julia Reicin Dana Ronin Andrew Rothstein Cyrus Safiran John Sarihan Maria Shapiro Amit Shterenboim Matthew Stewart Michelle Su Matthew Suh Michelle Tai Maria Toro Jacob Wagner Jack Wathieu Adam Wathieu Josiah Wedgwood Carissa Wu Enyang Xie Kimia Zarabian Glenna Zhang
“Mrs. Smith and I are happy to be the sponsors for the Engineering Honor Society,” EHS sponsor Yuri Achille said. “Our goal is to help expose them to as many opportunities as possible to learn more careers in engineering and engage in STEM activities.”
Features
8
‘Real Housewives’ Brings Drama to P-mac
By Lauren Roseman Business Manager
“If you don’t behave yourself in Potomac, you might be asked to leave.” Bravo TV announced Nov. 11 that The Real Housewives of Potomac (RHOP) will be added to the Real Housewives franchise as the eighth show. C e n t e r e d around the lives of six wealthy, powerful AfricanAmerican w o m e n from the Potomac and D.C. areas, RHOP is expected to be as drama-filled and suspenseful as any Real Housewives show. RHOP will focus on the parties and glamor of being one of the elite, in addition to focusing on how these women fight racial barriers in their daily lives to maintain their status and legacy. “I think it’s pretty cool that we are going to have a TV show,” senior Michael Levenson said. “I just hope it doesn’t embarrass us as a town.” Only two of the main stars actually live in Potomac, and the other four live nearby in the DMV. According to Us Magazine, the show was likely created as a new approach to The Real Housewives of Washington, D.C., which flopped in 2010. Potomac
is also known to be a wealthy area, being the city in the U.S. with the highest median household income in 2013. “I think that it’s weird to have a Real Housewives of Potomac after Real Housewives of D.C. failed, but it should be interesting to watch,” sophomore Elizabeth Marquis said. Junior Tyler Baylor is excited to watch the show because she has two family members and two close family friends who will be featured on the show. A l though the show is about Potomac, some students feel that the show may not be worth watching. According to Marquis, she is not going to watch the show unless she is bored. “I hope it will have at least one reasonable person on the show to show that not everyone in Potomac is obsessed with wealth and other material things,” Marquis said. According to Bravo, Potomac is portrayed as a city that focuses on class and parties. Some students are concerned that RHOP will not accurately represent Potomac. “I believe that parties and class are part of Potomac, but that doesn’t show who we are as a whole,” Levenson said.
November 24, 2015
Teacher Showcases Art
By Nathan Deychman Sports Editor
“yourself If you don’t behave in Potomac, you
might be asked to leave.”
- Real Housewife Katie Rost
PHOTO COURTESY OF JACQUELYN WASHMAN.
Washam paints a country landscape. Her artwork is displayed in Frederick at Gallery 322, which she owns with other artists. Contrary to popular belief, teachers have a life outside of the classroom. In fact, Studio Art teacher Jacquelyn Washam has quite a life. Washam is one of the owners and premier artists of Gallery 322, an independent art gallery in Frederick, MD. The gallery will celebrate its five-year anniversary this December. “A group of colleagues and I got together and formed the gallery because we wanted to showcase our artwork and make Frederick an arts destination,” Washam said. The gallery specializes in landscape, figurative, still life and abstract art. Washam and the other gallery members do monthly showcases and occasionally feature new artists.
“We have a little bit of everything,” Washam said. When Washam is not working on her artwork, she focuses on teaching her students about how they can create their own. “I think it’s really important for students to learn that they can make art and still have a full-time job,” Washam said. Washam’s work “Quiet Color” focuses on her landscapes and will be featured in the gallery until Nov. 29. According to Washam, she is very excited, as it is the first time she has done a show while simultaneously raising two kids. “In my eyes it’s a big accomplishment,” Washam said.
November 24, 2015
Features
9
For Prep Classes, Students Have Multiple Choices By Rebekah Sklute Circulation Manager With so many companies offering courses in preparation for the SAT/ ACT, it is overwhelming and stressful for students to make an informed decision about which standardized test to take. Thankfully, those preparing for the tests can benefit from several tutoring services in the CHS area. Prep 1-on-1: Prep 1-on-1 is an SAT/ACT tutoring company that offers a free diagnostic test, mock tests and individual tutoring. This company was voted the top tutoring company in Bethesda Magazine in 2014. “Prep 1-on-1 was very helpful,” senior Josh Norwitz said. “They taught me how to work the test and different strategies that prepared me to do well for getting through the various sections.” Prep Matters: Prep Matters is another company which offers private tutoring for the ACT and SAT. They also have an app that gives students access to pre-made flashcards of SAT vocabulary words. “I used a private tutor named Rod from Prep Matters in Bethesda,” senior Adam Kass said. “It was one-to-one, so it was really helpful. I think Rod was more helpful because he had taken the ACT himself. Also, he had every single test that had been given, so he was able to give me lots of test questions, and teach me the strategies to the test. We focused on the timing strategies for the test, since that was my weak point. Also I could take practice tests any weekend I wanted.” All of the tutors are college graduates and are familiar with each section of the SAT (critical reading, math and writing sections) and the ACT (English, math, reading and science). Dr. Li Training Camp: Another company used by CHS students is the Dr. Li training camp which offers SAT help for math and English. It received positive feedback from CHS students. Students can download and use old SAT prep materials on the Dr. Li website, MathEnglish.com. It offers a SAT prep class for this spring that will prepare students for the new SAT. “I went to Dr. Li’s summer SAT training camp every summer since ninth grade,” senior Glenna Zhang said. “It was quite helpful especially with vo-
cabulary and math as they gave us tons of packets to do and a full exam at the end of each session. We were exposed to all kinds of questions, so I felt like I was well prepared for the exam.” Applerouth: Applerouth offers SAT and ACT preparation courses for students. It offers classroom tutoring, small group tutoring and mock tests. Each tutor undergoes a training program in which he or she learns tutoring methods created by the founder, Jed Applerouth. All of the tutors are required to have prior teaching or tutoring experience. According to the company’s 2012 survey results, on average, students’ scores increased 248 points on the SAT and four points on the ACT. Applerouth has worked with students with learning disabilities, ADHD and severe test anxiety. “It offers private tutoring sessions so it is just one-on-one with a tutor that is fit to your type of personality,” senior Katie Wright said. “There is a little personality quiz you take before they assign you your personal tutor. It was really helpful because I got individualized attention and the tutors worked around my schedule and they came and worked with me at my house; I did not have to travel anywhere. I highly recommend their service.” Capital Educators: Capital Educators offers classes in preparation for the ACT and the SAT as well. They offer small group classes that allow students to learn and practice in a supervised setting that simulates a real test environment. If students enroll by Dec.15, they can get a $200 early discount for tutoring. “I took an SAT course for three weeks during the summer with Capital Educators,” junior Ramsey Hatoum said. “I thought it was helpful, and I learned a lot. The helpful part was getting the opportunity to learn more about the format of the test, how to address specific questions and problems on the test, and certain recommended studying techniques to follow when preparing for the exam.” C2 Education: Located in Gaithersburg, Rockville and Bethesda, C2 Education is a tutoring company that offers preparation for the SAT/ACT. The classes are divided into smaller groups to help each student improve skills in reading, writing and math and helps students balance their SAT work with their school work. Tutors help students prepare academically
PHOTO COURTESY OF RAMSEY HATOUM.
Junior Ramsey Hatoum worked on practice SAT questions for his threeweek-long preparation course at Capital Educators this past summer. The tutoring company is one of many available to CHS students. and mentally for their test. Each tutor goes through a rigorous hiring and training process. The tutors also have scored in the top fifth percentile of the subjects that they teach. “I started prepping for the new SAT with C2 Education and it was very helpful,” junior Alvin Chung said. “My practice test score increased by 300 so far. Around three students were assigned to each tutor so there was more focus on fewer students.” CHS tutoring: Despite the variety of available tutoring services, some students have chosen to prepare by taking a free and convenient course at CHS called College Test Preparation which is embedded in their schedule. “This course is helpful by getting me ready, having experience, and understanding what is asked of one during the test,” junior Angelique Nagovskaya
said. “Practice makes perfect and every extra bit of work helps me prepare and have the best results I could get.” Self Tutoring: Additionally, some students have found success in self-studying instead of taking a class in preparation for the test. Senior Hannah Hua used Kaplan practice tests and the official College Board practices to prepare for her test. She was also able to raise her score without taking a class. According to Hua, the SAT is more about time-management rather than actually being smart. “Basically the classes just make you do the exact same thing as the book,” senior Natalie Hwang said. “If you have the discipline to just do the whole book yourself you can save all of that money on classes. But a lot of people don’t have the discipline, so the class forces you to do the whole book which a lot of people think is worth the price.”
10
November 24, 2015
Features
Teachers’ Pets Are Purr-fect Pupils By Emiliana and Eugenia Cardinale Production Manager and Observations Editor A “teacher’s pet” is a pupil who is treated as a favorite by a teacher or someone in authority. However, these are not teachers’ only pets. The Observer interviewed various teachers and profiled their pets. Meet the real teachers’ pets of CHS.
Tater Van Tassell Tater VanTassell, the pet of Nicole and Rodney Van Tassell, is a 6-year-old black Labrador. He was named after a character in the movie the Van Tassells saw on their first date. “Most people think that Tater either got his name from Tater Tot or Tater as in the homerun in baseball,” Rodney Van Tassell said. “The real story behind Tater’s name is on our first date way back in 1991, we saw the film ‘Little Man Tate’ with Jodi Foster. Tater is named after the little boy in the movie.” Tater loves playing fetch, swimming and being active with his family. “Tater is a great dog and loves to be anywhere Mr. VT and my son Calvin are,” Nicole VanTassell said. “He loves to swim in our pool and chase the ball outside. His favorite thing other than swimming with my boys is to go for walks with the family. He tries to keep pace with the boys.”
Bella Field U.S. History and AP Human Geography teacher Adam Field rescued his puggle, a mix between a beagle and a pug, Bella, in August 2006. She is 8 years old. Bella means “beautiful” in Spanish, which is why Field chose the name. “I think it’s a cool name and it describes her,” Field said. “When I named her that, many of my neighbors said, ‘Oh, like Twilight!’ I had no idea what they were talking about since I never saw any of those movies or read the books.” According to Field, Bella loves attention. “Bella is an attention hog when visitors come over to my house or when I bring her to visit people,” Field said. “She has the ability to completely ignore me, almost like a cat, when we are alone at home, but gosh forbid she sees me playing with either of my nephews. She will immediately butt her head in and start licking me to get my attention focused on her.”
Dodger Evan-Rhodes Dodger Evan-Rhodes, pet of Algebra II and Precalculus teacher Laura EvanRhodes, is a 9-year-old American Hunting Yellow Lab. Evan-Rhodes got him from the Washington Animal Rescue League when he was four months old, where he was born with nine other litter mates. “They all had ‘D’ names, and his name was Dodger, and we decided to keep it,” Evan-Rhodes said. Her kids were in kindergarten and the third grade when the family decided to get a dog, so it was recommended to them to get “calm” coded dogs and Dodger was a calm puppy. “He just turned 8 years old on Nov. 9,” Evan-Rhodes said. “He has been called ‘mellow yellow’ by the neighbors and is a complete ‘pleaser.’” Sadly, on Aug. 3, Dodger he was diagnosed with bone cancer. “The vet told us that he would only live one to two months,” Evan-Rhodes said. “His front left leg was amputated one week later and he started chemotherapy four weeks after his surgery. The median survival age of a dog with osteosarcoma (bone cancer) who goes through surgery and chemo is about 12 months, but we are hoping for more.” Evan-Rhodes currently makes all of Dodger’s food as he takes many supplements. Although he can’t go on long walks anymore, he still enjoys chasing cats and is still his happy old self. “Dodger has given our family the gift of love, and we couldn’t appreciate him any more than we already do,” Rhodes said. “He has given our family more than we can ever repay him.”
November 24, 2015
Features
Tiny, Smidgen and Smudge Szafran Tiny, Smidgen and Smudge Szafran are math teacher Douglas Szafran’s three cats. Tiny is 15 years old, while the other two are 3-month-old kittens. Szafran and his wife have had cats since he began teaching in the Fall of 1992. Tiny, the oldest cat, came to their backyard in 2005 when he was about 8 weeks old. They gave him food so he would stay with them. Smidgen and Smudge are litter mates who have been with the Szafrans for two weeks. “Tiny was very small when he adopted us,” Szafran said. “The kittens’ names are Smidgen, because she’s the runt of the litter, and Smudge because she has what looks like a brown smudge on her face.”
The Saoutis Flock Biology teacher Wendy Saoutis owns what some might consider a personal zoo. She owns Flash, the 9-year-old Red-Footed Tortoise, Leo, the 6-yearold Bearded Dragon, Gunther and Unnamed, the 3-year-old Crested Geckos, Goliath, the 10-yearold Ball Python, T-rex, the 3-year-old rescue cat, an unnamed Choco Golden Knee Tarantula and Britney and Max, the 3-year-old Sugar Gliders. Saoutis has a pet for each one of her four children and some that belong to the family as a whole. Saoutis previously worked in wildlife rehabilitation at the National Aquarium in Baltimore. T-Rex, Saoutis’ cat, is an outdoor and indoor cat and loves to hunt. T-Rex has even let Saoutis’s Sugar Gliders out of their cage. “I’ve watched him take out a bird,” Saoutis said. “He’s brought me a full-size bunny.” Leo, the Bearded Dragon, enjoys sitting around with Saoutis’ children while they do their homework.
Penny Nixon-Brown Penny Nixon-Brown, the pet of English teacher Christin Nixon-Brown, is a 9-month old Shorkie, a mix between a shih-tzu and a yorkie. She is named after the character “Penny” from The Big Bang Theory and because Nixon-Brown’s husband went to Penn State. Penny’s middle name is Mary because Nixon-Brown went to Maryland. “She loves her ‘fur aunts,’ my mom’s dogs; she knows that when we turn on the highway near their house in Annapolis, that is where we are going,” NixonBrown said. “She gets so excited we can barely keep her from crawling out of the car window.”
Scout and O’Hatnick Brown Scout and O’Hatnick Brown are the cats of U.S. History teacher Erin Brown and AP Lang and English 9 teacher Kevin Brown. O’Hatnick is 6 six and Scout is 5. They were both adopted, one from a shelter, and one from a friend. The oldest, O’Hatnick, was adopted in August 2009, and Scout was adopted in March 2010. “We wanted two cats so they would have each other to play, snuggle and hang out together,” Erin said. According to Erin, Kevin won the right to name all of their pets. Scout was named after the To Kill A Mockingbird character and O’Hatnick was named after Erin’s ancestors who came to America from Czechoslovakia. “When they arrived they took the family name Ohinitchky and they divided it in half,” Erin said. “One part of the family got O’Hatnick, the other side of the family got Esky, which eventually became Eskay, which is my maiden name. As soon as I told Mr. Brown this story he thought that O’Hatnick would make a great pet name.” According to Erin Brown, O’Hatnick is a snuggler and Scout is mischievous. “The second [O’Hatnick] sees the blanket go on, he’s right there ready to sit on your legs and is perfectly happy to stay there for a long time,” Erin said. “Scout is very appropriately named. She is the more mischievious cat who tries to do things that don’t always work out so well.”
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November 24, 2015
Student Art Spotlight: A Noteworthy Musician Stories by Sarah O’Brien Production Editor
Locraft was inspired by opera singer Luciano Pavarotti because she wants to impact and captivate people the way he is able to.
Senior Samantha Locraft knows the keys to success and has been fine tuning her skills on the clarinet for the past nine years. Locraft currently plays in the Montgomery County Youth Orchestra (MCYO) Philharmonic, Young Artists of America (YAA) Orchestra and the CHS pit band.Clarinet is Locraft’s first instrument, and she started playing it because of pop culture. According to Locraft, in fourth grade she felt influenced by childhood television shows to choose between playing the saxophone like Lisa Simpson or the clarinet like Squidward from Spongebob. She decided to focus her studies on the clarinet but picked up the saxophone later. Locraft has twice received the Musical Artist Achievement Award, which is given once a year to 10 students enrolled in the CHS music department. She is in the Tri-M music honor society, an international music honor society that recognizes students for their achievements academically and musically. Locraft is also in the Arts Academy signature program. “Samantha’s thirst for excellence in her musical performances is clearly evident in every note she plays and carries over to many other aspects of her life, including but not limited to her academic excellence,” Instrumental Music teacher Kristofer Sanz said.
“In everything he sings, even when he sings about pain or anguish, the music is totally beautiful,” Locraft said. Her siblings admire and respect her enthusi-
PHOTO COURTESY OF STEPHEN HOUSEWORTH PHOTOGRAPHY.
Senior Samantha Locraft is learning how to play the E-flat Clarinet, piano and flute in addition to her skills with the clarinet and saxophone.
asm for music and support her through her high school musical experience. “She’s very passionate and dedicated to music,” Locraft’s sister, junior Hannah said. “She’s an awesome big sister. She’s really caring and funny.” Locraft has performed in places like the Strathmore Concert Hall, the Kennedy Center Concert Hall, the Whittington-Pfohl Auditorium and the Bethesda Blues and Jazz Supper Club. “I like how the clarinet can express such a wide range of sounds, feelings and ideas,” Locraft said. “One minute it is used to make silly or playful music and the next it can play the most heart shattering, stagnant and lonely-sounding melody.” Locraft has learned how to play the E-flat clarinet, a clarinet that is smaller in size and higher in pitch than the normal clarinet. She started learning how to play saxophone in seventh grade and is currently trying to learn flute and piano as well. Locraft plans on continuing playing and performing with the clarinet, as well as majoring in music performance in college. “Achieving such high acclaim as a musician requires a student who is creative, self-disciplined, self-motivated, hard-working, mature and talented,” Sanz said. “Each of these attributes are clearly visible in Samantha and are necessary for a musician to make it through the hours of practice, numerous auditions and performances and the occasional disappointment of not performing up to one’s expectations while still balancing a rigorous and successful academic career.”
Teachers List Their Favorite Songs from Their Playlists PHOTO COURTESY OF PAUL JACOBSON.
Have you ever wondered what kind of music gets your teachers excited? The Observer has the answers for you.
PHOTO COURTESY OF KEVIN BROWN.
Brown jams on out on his guitar for fun. PHOTO COURTESY OF JAMIE KIMBROUGH-GROVES.
Kevin Brown English and AP Lang teacher Kevin Brown likes rock songs with masculine singers, that give meaning to their words. Here are his favorite songs: 1) “Black” by Pearl Jam 2)“Where Did You Sleep Last Night” by Nirvana 3)These next two were a tie for Brown, both performed by the same band a.“The Woods” by White Buffalo b.“Love Song #1” by White Buffalo “My main criteria was if I am doing something and the song comes on I go into a coma-like trance—stop everything and just listen,” Brown said. “Sometimes I replay the song or a part of it before I can possibly move on to something else.”
KG (left) spends time with her sister at the Mrs. Carter Show, which featured Beyonce.
Jamie “KG” AP Comparative Government and AP World History teacher Jamie Kimbrough-Groves likes soul and dance music. Her top songs include: 1) “Flawless (Remix)” by Beyoncé and Nicki Minaj 2)“Let Me Come on Home” by Otis Redding 3) “Mathematics” by Mos Def “I generally love a onename diva figure like Aretha, Beyoncé, and Rihanna, conscious hiphop, not necessarily what you hear on the radio,” Kimbrough-Groves said. “If it involves dancing, I generally like it.”
PHOTO BY SARAH O’BRIEN.
Roos poses with his two favorite albums.
Robert Roos Spanish teacher Robert Roos primarily listens to heavy metal but will listen to all genres. Here are his top three songs: 1) “Metal Gods” by Judas Priest 2) “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love” by Van Halen 3) “Fight the Power” by Public Enemy “I always listen to heavy metal from the ‘70s and ‘80s especially when I’m tired and need a shot of adrenaline,” Roos said.
PHOTO BY SARAH O’BRIEN.
Szafran has an Elvis cutout in his room.
Jacobson has a collection of more than 5,000 CDs. PHOTO COURTESY OF ERIN BROWN.
Brown hosts a dance party in her house with her two daughters Kaitlyn and Courtney .
Erin Brown
Douglas Szafran AB Calculus and AP Statistics teacher Douglas Szafran likes older music. His favorite songs are as follows: 1) “Someone Saved My Life Tonight” by Elton John 2) “The Load-Out/Stay” by Jackson Browne 3) “Desperadoes Under the Eaves” by Warren Zevon “My music taste is much like me: old and mellow,” Szafran said.
U.S. History and Honors Modern World History teacher Erin Brown loves anything that will make her dance. Here are her top three songs: 1) “Love Story” by Taylor Swift 2)“One Day More” from Les Miserables 3)“The Way You Make Me Feel” by Michael Jackson “I love to have dance parties with my daughters on almost a daily basis,” Brown said.
Paul Jacobson
Global Issues and AP NSL teacher Paul Jacobson enjoys alternative rock music, especially songs with historical references. The bands below reference the British Naval force, the Chinese Revolution and the Jewish women who forcibly became prostitutes during the Nazi time period. Here are his top three songs: 1) “Who’s in Control?” by British Sea Power 2)“Not Great Men” by Gang of Four 3)“Love Will Tear Us Apart” by Joy Division “I have been collecting music since high school,” Jacobson said. “I have at least 5,000 CDs and vinyl records.”
November 24, 2015
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Momofuku Restaurant and Milk Bar Take DC
offers a playful take on desserts, including cakes, cookies, milkshakes and their famous cereal-flavored custard with crushed corn flakes. David Chang is the owner and founder of Momofuku who opened his first restaurant, Momofuku Noodle Bar, in 2004. Christina Tosi was at first Momofuku’s pastry chef but then founded the spin off bakery, Milk Bar, in 2008. Both are from the DMV area and announced PHOTO BY ISABEL DIBBLE. months ago Customers gather at Milk Bar to try its rich desserts. that they were bringing their stores back to their hometown, creating By Isabel Dibble much anticipation. News Editor “People drove an hour just to come and wait in line,” said senior Jonathan The long wait for the highly antici- Schwartzman, who also stood in line at pated opening of the Momofuku and Milk Bar. “There was a lot of enthusiasm Milk Bar stores at City Center in D.C. and excitement.” finally ended Oct. 23. For most customers, the actual openThe restaurant Momofuku and its ing of both stores on Oct. 23 and 24 was sister bakery, Milk Bar, both originally a surprise. gained popularity with their stores According to an Oct. 25 Washington in New York City. Momofuku serves Post article, Milk Bar tweeted just after 4 modern pan Asian food, while Milk Bar a.m. Friday Oct. 23, that the store would
open at 7 a.m. that day. On Oct. 24 at 5 p.m. Momofuku staffers came out and announced that the restaurant was also open, which was followed by Chang tweeting the opening as well. “Chang decided to open two days before,” said Momofuku assistant general manager Whitney Standish. “Even though it was a relatively impromptu opening, the staff had been training for weeks so they were ready.” According to Standish, Chang and the rest of his staff’s main concern is how D.C. will react to Momofuku’s communal seating and the fusion of flavors in its cuisine. Some people seemed to enjoy the communal seating while others were uncomfortable. According to Standish, one of the reasons people are open to the communal seating right now is that with the new location, the wait for a table can be almost up to two hours, and by that point people don’t really care if they’re sitting next to strangers because their focus is on getting food. A lot of the communal seating occurred at the long tables that seat around 10 people. However, even a normal four-person table can be split into two parties using the napkins and cup of chopsticks put in the middle of the table as a separator. The D.C. menu pulled unique dishes from all six restaurants in New York City, such as the original Momofuku store’s famous Ramen noodles which are Chang’s mother’s recipe. The D.C. stores also offer Biscuit Bites made with thinly sliced Virginia ham and mini, fluffy biscuits, which is Chang’s American version of Prosciutto. Brisket Buns consist of soft, pillow-like buns with tender beef and crunchy onions.
Two other popular dishes are the Fried Chicken and the Bo Ssam. The fried chicken includes one southern style and one Korean style of chicken. The southern style chicken is fried with a buttermilk and Old Bay batter, while the Korean style is triple fried and served with a light spicy glaze which even people who do not like spicy food should try. It comes with Moo Shu pancakes in addition to different types of sauces. At each location, the menu evolves, and the D.C. location’s will evolve too, depending on what is popular among the customers. Milk Bar has various flavors of cookies from the Compost cookie to the Cornflake-marshmallow-chocolate chip cookie to the Corn cookie. There are also the mouth-watering crack pies, popular cakes, soft serve ice cream and milk shakes, along with the delicious cake truffles. “My favorite are the set of three of the chocolate malt cake truffles,” Schwartzman said. “If you are into cookies more, then definitely try the Compost cookie, because it was filling and had a lot of different flavors.” According to Schwartzman, Milk Bar offered small portions of food that are rich and have a lot of flavor like the truffle balls. Food that is rich and packed with a lot of flavor can also describe the majority of the food at Momofuku. While not everyone is a fan of the food and others who have been to the New York stores say that the DC location does not provide the same flavor, many of those who did wait in line were happy with the result. “My sister had told me about Milk Bar, and I heard it was amazing,” Schwartzman said. “I went and stood in line for 30 minutes, and it was worth it.”
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Katniss’ Final Games Final Movie Premieres By Arielle Gordon Arts Editor Emily Wang Online Arts Editor
The final movie installment of the Hunger Games trilogy, Mockingjay: Part 2, premiered Nov. 20. Students were excited to see the conclusion of the Hunger Games and curious about how the actors and director would handle p o r traying their favorite characters in the conclusion of the popul a r Hunger Games trilogy. The Hunger Games was the first of the dystopia series to become widely popular. In a sense, it defined and set a precedent for novels such as Divergent and Maze Runner, which also became major motion pictures. Mockingjay: Part 2 will be the final act in a series that has shaped young adult literature and movies into what they are today. “I think a big part of what’s interesting about the movie is that it’s very original,” junior Angelique Nagovskaya said. “When you see a movie you want to be transported to that world and leave still feeling touched by it.” The main character, Katniss Everdeen, has become a positive role model for young girls ever since the first book The Hunger Games was published in 2008. According to an August 2015 article from The Huffington Post, Katniss Everdeen is a good role model for young girls because she perseveres through difficult times and is comfortable with making her physical presence felt while being with others.
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Mockingjay: Part 2 is not only appealing to young girls, however. The official trailer has been viewed over 15 million times since its release in July, spanning across all ages and genders. With so many loose ends to tie up: the Capital to destroy and Katniss’s relationship problems to solve, Mockingjay: Part 2 has to neatly finish the trilogy. “I’m most excited to see them wrap up the story in a clean and and interesting way,” junior Maxim Goohs said. A s always, there is debate o v e r whether the movie follows t h e book canon a n d p a y s proper homage to the text. So far, the movies have managed to adhere to the book and maintain an accurate plotline. “I think that the books and the movies are very similar and they did a great job putting them together,” Nagovskaya said. In addition to the book versus movie debate, some students wonder if splitting books into two movies is always worth it because the split movies do not have the same impact, meaning that it takes longer to wrap up the story and leaves audiences waiting even longer. “I think the whole idea of splitting movies is really a bad thing that we fall victim to,” Goohs said. “It is just a way to bloat movies to make more money though the quality may be harmed.” While everyone is excited to see the new movie, there is a feeling of finality and closure associated too. “It’s kind of saddening to see it end, but it’s almost fitting that the final movie comes out my final year of high school,” senior Katie Wright said. “It’s like we are both moving on.”
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“It’s kind of saddening to see it end, but it’s almost fitting that the final movie comes out my final year of high school. It’s like we are both moving on.” -Katie Wright
A group of CHS students saw every Hunger Games Premiere together.
IMAGE BY JASMINE BATEN.
New Disney Character Shines By Jasmine Baten Opinions Editor Meet Moana, Disney’s newest princess. She’s the most recent addition to the Disney princess lineup; she’s a courageous and inquisitive Polynesian teen intent on adventure. Considering it’s been five years since the last Disney character was added to the official princess cast (Rapunzel from Tangled), and three years since Frozen took the world by storm, audiences are desperate for a fresh face and representation of a new region of the globe. According to IMDb, Moana is a sea voyaging enthusiast, coming from a long family line of navigators. When her family needs her help, she sets off on an epic journey to find a fabled land accompanied by demi-gods, spirits and ferocious sidekicks. Moana was introduced at the D23 Expo, a biennial exposition event that showcases behind-the-scenes footage, sneak peaks of upcoming films and concepts, celebrity appearances and previews of Disney park renovations. This year, directors, producers and composers revealed brand new animation, music and characters for the island princess movie. According to an Oct. 2015 DisneyInsider article, the previews reveal a story that is “totally new and yet utterly timeless.” Though a new Disney princess is exciting enough as is, there’s more to the anticipation than another version of a Frozen-craze. It’s the fact that Moana is navigating far past the lands of image and personality that Disney has been used to. Though Disney has been the founPHOdation of most everyone’s childhood, there’s a longstanding opinion that the group of official princesses needs to include more diverse and independent characters. “I was never really into the Disney princesses because I felt like ‘If you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all,’” senior McKenna Graham said. “They’re all the same.” Over the years, the animation company has been taking baby steps, with hardworking and fierce Tiana in Princess and the Frog and Elsa in Frozen, the independent queen who didn’t need a
man to help her run a kingdom. However, nonwhite princesses are few and far between, with only four out of the 11 being “princesses of color.” Princess and the Frog did more to further stereotypes than break free of them, and while Elsa set a great example, audiences are looking for more characters to follow suit. That’s where Moana comes in. Rather than trying to mold foreign sounding words (like “Moana’) into easy English syllables, Disney made the choice to give Moana the voice of a native Hawaiian who will be able to articulate native words and phrases as they should be spoken. Where past ethnic princesses like Jasmine have been voiced by Caucasian women, Moana’s voice will be done by 14-year old Oahuan Auli’i Cravalho. On top of that, the newest character appears to be smashing Disney’s outdated body standards for royalty. With normal-looking shoulders, muscular calves and wrists rather than fleshcolored twigs, Moana looks ready to take on the seas instead of overseeing ballroom dances. Even her sidekick, demigod Maui voiced by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, is partaking in the trend. Where larger sized characters, like The Little Mermaid’s Ursula, have tended to be villains, Maui has an encouraging and wise personality that goes along with his hulking and boulder-like appearance. “I think it’s really great that Disney’s finally portraying people who have realistic proportions,” Graham said. “They can relate to more people than just a select group this way.” Perhaps most amazing is the apparent lack of romantic interest for Moana in the film. So far, only a few of Disney’s female leads, like Brave’s Merida and Frozen’s Elsa, have managed to get through their stories without falling in love. Though true love is a muchloved part of plot, it often takes away from characterization and personality. In this case, Moana will be maneuvering her way through her voyage with heart intact. Basically, Moana combines all of what Disney has been lacking in its princesses since Snow White, with her racial and body diversity combined with her fearless attitude. The film is set for a release on Nov. 23, 2016. Now we wait.
November 24, 2015
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Local Museums’ Holiday Exhibits Worth a Visit By Arielle Gordon Arts Editor
The holidays are a time to be spent with family, and CHS students’ close proximity to Washington, D.C. allows them to spend time with family while also enjoying some of our nation’s tourist destinations and their special holiday exhibits. U.S. Botanic Garden: If you’re looking for a place to warm up during the chilly holiday season, look no further than the U.S. Botanic Garden. Located just a stone’s throw from the U.S. Capitol, the indoor greenhouse is full of beautiful and exotic plants. The Botanic Garden was created by the U.S. Congress in 1820 and has been run by the Architect of the Capitol since 1934. The Botanic Garden is home to an 85,000 square foot greenhouse that is divided into 34 greenhouse bays and 16 environmental zones. The environments range from tropical rainforest to desert. In addition to all of the plants on regular display, the Botanic Garden has a large collection of orchids, medicinal plants and rare or endangered species. Holiday exhibit: Season’s Greenings: Pollination Station Dates: Nov. 26, 2015 - Jan. 3, 2016 Location: U.S. Botanic Garden Co servatory Hours: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., daily Cost: Free The Botanic Garden will be decorated with trees and poinsettia plants for the holidays. Miniature trains will run on tracks made from plants in the East Gallery, and miniature replicas of many Washington D.C. landmarks, made entirely of plants, will be on display in the Garden Court. Additionally, the Pollination Station will be open and visitors can explore large plants, flowers and pollinating insects all around the Botanic Garden. “One of my favorite aspects of the show, that I think would be interesting to high school students, is the creativity of the many sculptures and buildings that are part of the show – all built of plant materials,” said Devin Dotson, Public Affairs and Exhibits Specialist of the U.S. Botanic Garden. “From D.C. landmarks such as the U.S. Capitol, Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument and many others to our oversized sculptures of plants and pollinators in the train exhibit gallery, they are great works of art.” Smithsonian: The Smithsonian is a collection of 19 museums, nine research centers and one zoo. The Smithsonian was founded in 1846. James Smithson, a British scientist, died in 1829 and left $500,000 to the U.S. to found a research center. The Smithsonian Institution was officially created on Aug. 10, 1846 when Congress passed an act that was signed by President James K. Polk. Many of the Smithsonian museums have new exhibitions opening around the holidays: Air and Space Museum: Art of the Airport Tower Dates: Nov. 11, 2015 - November 2016 Location: 1st floor, West End, Gal lery 104, Air and Space Museum in D.C. (not the one near Dulles Airport) Hours: 10:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., daily (Closed Dec. 25) Cost: Free
PHOTO COURTESY OF DEVIN DOTSON.
The Botanic Garden contains miniatures of famous D.C. landscapes created entirely from plant material. Above is a miniature of the Lincoln Memorial and below is a reproduction of the Washington Monument. The Art of the Airport Tower exhibition will display 50 photographs of airport towers from all around the world, taken by Smithsonian photographer Carolyn Russo. The goal of the exhibition is to allow the public to understand the art and symbolism behind each airport tower. Some significant towers include the Ford Island Tower, which survived the Pearl Harbor attack on Dec. 7, 1941, and the tallest tower in the world in Bangkok, Thailand, at the Suvarnabhumi Airport. Other U.S. airport towers such as the tower at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Edwards Air Force Base and LaGuardia Airport are also featured. Postal Museum: New York City: A Portrait through Stamp Art Dates: Dec. 10, 2015 - March 13, 2017 Location: Level 1, Special Exhibition
Gallery, Postal Museum Hours: 10:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., daily (Closed Dec. 25) Cost: Free The exhibition features the Postmaster General’s Art Collection, which the Postal Museum obtained from the U.S. Postal Service. Thirty pieces of artwork, which display the art styles used to create some iconic stamps, will be shown. The artwork is divided into six categories: Baseball, Broadway, City Life, Icons, Music and Politics/Government. Works from all six categories will be on display. The art will focus on the elements that have made New York City what it is today. National Museum of the American Indi an: Kay WalkingStick: An American Artist Dates: Nov. 7, 2015 - Sept. 18, 2016 Location: 3rd floor, National Museum
of the American Indian Hours: 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., daily (closed Dec. 25) Cost: Free Kay WalkingStick is a member of the Cherokee Nation and is a well-known Native American artist. This exhibit will feature over 75 pieces of her artwork including her paintings, drawings and sculptures. Some of her paintings are landscapes and will also be displayed. The collection is made up of artwork that WalkingStick has created over the last 40 years and showcases the changes in her work over time. National Building Museum: The National Building Museum was created in 1980 after President Jimmy Carter signed a law to create a new museum to display information about buildings, architecture, landscaping, engineering, construction, urban planning and historic preservation. The law also declared that the Pension Building would be preserved and restored to house the new museum, where it is still housed today. The National Building Museum is in D.C., four blocks from the National Mall. New Exhibition: Scaling Washington Scaling Washington will feature photographer Colin Winterbottom’s images of the restoration of the Washington Monument and Washington National Cathedral following the August 2011 earthquake. Many of the images were taken from scaffolding to allow Winterbottom to get up high and close to the buildings. The goal of the photographs is to allow audiences to appreciate the beauty of the buildings and see them with a different perspective. Dates: March 21, 2015 - Jan. 2, 2016 Location: National Building Museum Hours: Monday - Saturday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sunday: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Cost: Entrance into: Great Hall, Museum Shop, café, docent-led tour of the buil ing: Free Entrance into museum: Museum mem bers and children under age 2: Free Adults: $10 Children age 3-17, Students (with valid ID), seniors (over age 60): $7
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November 24, 2015
CHS Theater Shows How to Succeed in Musicals By Sofia Williamson Production Editor CHS’ production of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying opened Friday, Nov. 13. With a large crowd of parents, students and staff attending, CHS’ performance of this classic ‘60s musical was a hit. The musical itself may seem uninteresting at first glance, due to the setting in an office building. However, due to the satirical nature of the plot, it is very comedic and attention-captivating. The audience’s attention is held through the typical American rags-to-riches story and the romance of Rosemary Pilkington (senior Natalie Hwang) and J. Pierrepont Finch (sophomore Ethan Miller). A major theme in How to Succeed was the idea that men and women in the business world are human like everyone else, not just workaholics. The camaraderie and connection between the actors and actresses made this theme a reality. They seemed to all be very close in spirit, allowing the human side of their characters to truly shine through. Another major theme of the musical was that of gender roles and their importance in society. It takes place in the early ‘60s, a time when gender stereotypes were more prevalent in society than they are today. Props are due to the actors and actresses for doing a superb job in exemplifying this critical aspect of the musical. With very colorful, conservative dresses and curly hair on the girls and classy suits and slicked back hair on the guys, the costumes exemplified feminine and masculine ideals. “This show is a lot about gender and how different genders affect jobs, so I wanted to show a strong contrast between the men and women,” said costume manager Libby Spriggs. A perfect example of a scene when gender roles were evident was in
PHOTO COURTESY OF BILL WU.
The How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying cast performs on stage during a dress rehearsal. The show opened Nov. 13. Nathalie Hwang’s first solo, “Happy to Keep His Dinner Warm.” Hwang, as Rosemary, reveals her dream of a life with Finch in the suburbs as a housewife. The gleam and expression in Hwang’s eyes as she sings about this truly brings her dream to life, and reveals her expected role as a woman in the ‘60s. Although the musical itself lasts three hours, the time passes quickly due to the ability of the actors and actresses to keep the audience entertained. The leads do a magnificent job of being appropriately expressive in their dialogue, facial expressions, physical actions, dance moves and songs. This expressiveness allows the audience to be immersed in the storyline of the musical and identify with the characters. “I thought the length was perfect, and overall I thought the musical was really funny,” junior Joanna Kramer said. As J. Pierrepont Finch, a window
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cleaner in New York City who attempts to succeed in the business world, Miller delivers a spectacular portrayal with exaggerated expressions and and a clear voice. In his solo, “Rosemary,” Miller seems to become his character as Mr. Finch realizes he is in love with his coworker, Rosemary Pilkington. “I connect to my character by imagining my character is me instead of me becoming my character,” Miller said. Hwang also does a fabulous job in playing the female lead role of Rosemary Pilkington, Finch’s love interest. Despite being an excellent actress in the expressiveness of her dialogue and actions, her voice blew the audience away. Particularly in her solo, “I Believe in You,” the audience was sure to get chills from the power in her voice. “Ever since I was young, I have had a voice teacher,” Hwang said. “I particularly like to sing Broadway songs that have stories and characters behind them.”
Overall, the band was superb, the choreography perfectly detailed, the use of props effective and the camaraderie between the characters stellar. However, while the choreography had potential, the execution of the dance moves in the full cast numbers could have been more synchronized, as it seemed to be slightly unrehearsed. “For the choreography, bits and pieces were adapted from other performances of the show that we found, but there really is no choreography from the original musical,” Ratz said. “But we did take inspiration from other performances we saw and gave it our own twist.” The set of How to Succeed was very colorful, which was a visually appealing twist on the traditional office scene. Some scenes made great use out of the drawn curtain, such as the scene where the World Wide Wicket Company films a TV ad. “We had to construct everything you can see during the production as well as some other things, such as platforms and stairs, that you cannot see,” student technical director Matthew Stewart said. “Also, we have to change, focus and prepare all of the lighting.” According to Stewart, the tech crew spent many days as well as very late nights at school. The technicalities of the production were overall virtually flawless, with perfect lighting and sound coordination. The musical is very visually appealing and the songs are fun to hear. “I’m friends with practically everyone of the cast.” Hwang said. “Everyone is really kind, supportive, and fun to work with.”
November 24, 2015
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Sports
CHS Golf Takes Excellence to a ‘Hole’ New Level By Ben Dross Production Editor The defending 3A-4A golf state champs did not let the pressure, or anything at all, get in the way of a championship repeat this season. Golf won all 20 of its matches this fall, giving the team its first perfect season. The 20-0 record was an improvement from its previously strong 19-1 record last year. According to head coach Aaron Vactor, the team was successful this season because of its depth and abundance of talent. With nine golfers capable of shooting rounds in the 70s, the team could rely on any combination of players. Golf brought its regular season success to districts, where the team shot a combined score of 292. Sophomores Lena Capoccia and Dylan Rotter shot 75, junior Oliver Whatley shot 74, and senior Adam Gray led the team and county with a score of 68. The team won the tournament by 14 strokes. The team continued its display of complete dominance in the two-day Maryland State Championship tournament, shooting a combined score of 572 and breaking the previous state record by a whopping 24 strokes. The team also out-shot second place WJ by 26 strokes. Gray led the team shooting 70 on the first day and 69 on the second day on the par-71 course. Gray won the boys title in a two-hole playoff against
PHOTO COURTESY OF ADAM GRAY.
Senior Adam Gray won the individual state championship Nov. 2. Whitman junior Graham Hutchinson, who won the individual state tournament last year. The rest of the team also played well. Whatley shot 142, good for fourth among boys, and senior captain Luke Schaap shot an eighth best 144. Rotter shot a 12th best 147, and Capoccia shot 74 on day one and 70 on day two to finish second among girls. “Being back-to-back champs is very rewarding,” Rotter said. “It’s nice to know that hard work does pay off.” No single player carried the team as
everyone contributed to the win. “The key to such a dominant performance was each of us individually practicing long hours to better ourselves before this tournament,” Rotter said. “Also, we all know that if we mess up a hole it’s not the end of the world, because your teammates’ great play will keep the team in line.” Gray, a Rutgers University commit, entered the state tournament after winning districts with a three-under-par 68 at Poolesville Golf Course. “To be a state champion is satisfying
nonetheless,” Gray said. “I set goals for this season and achieved them. It’s nice but now I am just focusing on getting even better.” Gray had to remain focused during the second day at states because even though the team had a 13 shot lead, Gray was going for the individual win. Only two shots back from the leader, Gray had to fight for the win with coleader Hutchinson. “The playoff was awesome,” Gray said. “I was pretty calm about it because this is why I play golf, for those moments under pressure with everyone watching. I just knew that if I focused on the process of what I was doing and ignored the pressure and the importance of the shot I could pull it off. Really I just treated it like it was any other hole just with more focus on my process and what I wanted to do.” While Gray dominated the boys division, Cappocia put together a great outing on the girls side. “I hit a lot of fairways and made a lot of putts,” Cappocia said. “The second day I had four birdies. That definitely helped keep [my] momentum going.” The team is now turning its focus to next year, as the Bulldogs will have to replace Schaap and Gray in hopes of winning its third straight state championship. “Next year we are losing two seniors that were some of the best players on our team,” Cappocia said. “We are going to need to play really well next year to win again.”
Athlete Commits
The following athletes have committed, either verbally or in writing, to play their respective sport at the collegiate level. Some of these athletes signed a letter of intent, which is binding, while others gave verbal commitments, which means they can change their decision and go to a different school. Congratulations to the following athletes:
Letters of Intent
PHOTOS BY NATHAN DEYCHMAN.
Senior Cristian EdwardsSyracuse University Lacrosse
Senior Luke SchaapUniversity of Va. Golf
Senior Adam GrayRutgers University Golf
Verbal Commitments
PHOTO COURTESY OF JACK TAYLOR.
Sophomore Jack TaylorBrown University Lacrosse
PHOTO COURTESY OF SPENCER KNIFE.
Junior Spencer KnifeTowson Univeristy Lacrosse
Senior Bridie Dunn- Senior Elaina FaerberVillanova University Penn State University Diving
PHOTO COURTESY OF REED MOSHYEDI.
Sophomore Reed MoshyediBrown University Lacrosse
18
Sports
November 24, 2015
After Concussion, Senior Learns to Love Her Brain By Kyle Emery Staff Writer
Senior Sarah Renberg was playing for the highly competitive girls Pride hockey team when tragedy struck and was illegally hit during a game, receiving a severe concussion. “My head injury resulted in a ton of visual problems including no use in my left eye, blurred vision as well as double vision, lacked depth perception and convergence deficiency,” Renberg said. Through intense surgeries and ten months of rehabilitation, Renberg hopes to finally recover from her devastating injury, especially after being inspired by the Love Your Brain Foundation. The Love Your Brain Foundation is an organization that stresses safe athletic competition by simply wearing protective headgear when playing contact sports. The organization argues that a brain injury can have severe, long lasting effects, so it’s important to protect oneself. “You only have one brain and every impact can alter the way it functions, so protect it,” Renberg said. According to Renberg, another important concept in maintaining a healthy brain is eating clean by consuming amino acids, a fuel source for the brain. Additionally, eating animal-based proteins, will help improve cognition and overall brain health. “Certain foods like blueberries can aid memory in order to fuel your brain,” Renberg said. Another important concept the foundation focuses on is stress relief. Some solutions to counter stress include meditation and yoga. Renberg, had the opportunity to meet with Senator John Boozman (RArkansas). Boozman is an optometrist and a former college football player for Arkansas who heads committees for military veterans. Renberg spoke with
PHOTO COURTESY OF SARAH RENBERG.
Senior Sarah Renberg met with Senator John Boozman to discuss the benefits of vision therapy. Boozman about vision therapy and its benefits for brain injury. Vision therapy may seem strange to most people because it’s not common to most doctors living in the D.C. area, however, Renberg was familiar with the therapy after engaging with doctors in Philadelphia. “Many doctors fail to understand that a concussion can impact vision in terms of one’s ability to see single, focus, track, perceive depth and have spatial awareness,” Renberg said. While working with the foundation,
Renberg sought to both improve her physical conditions and spread the word about the foundation that can save many people’s lives. According to loveyourbrain.com, the foundation’s website, the foundation embodies a positive approach to brain injury prevention and recovery. The website mainly focuses on connecting, educating and empowering people to follow a brain healthy lifestyle. According to Renberg, her plan is to improve universal diagnostics and develop a national treatment protocol
that includes rehabilitative therapies, rather than just rest and medication. She would also like to educate coaches and players on the importance of neck strengthening, mouth guards, sideline testing, return to play protocols as well as a change in attitude about, “toughing it out.” “Most important for CHS students though is that it’s important to find something that relieves your stress because whatever it is you may do, it’s always important to have an outlet to reduce your stress factor,” Renberg said.
November 24, 2015
19
Sports
Athletes Shouldn’t Be Fined for Show of Support By Nathan Gertler Online Sports Editor
In the real world, supporting breast cancer and domestic violence awareness is seen as honorable. However, in the NFL, such actions are fine-worthy. Starting Nov. 1, the NFL will actually penalize a player for showing support of breast cancer awareness. In the month of October, the NFL granted players the opportunity to wear pink with their uniforms, but outside of October, it is forbidden. This means players will be legitimately scolded for supporting a cause. Not only is this inexplicable, but it is also hypocritical. The NFL has continually made its support for breast cancer awareness part of its image, yet the organization continues to fine individual players who display support for it outside of the designated Breast Cancer Awareness month. The NFL is notorious for its uniform regulations, but it is not the only league that has leveled penalties on its players. Other professional sports leagues have followed suit in terms of fining athletes for illogical reasons. In years past, the NBA has fined its players for uniform violations. In 1996, Michael Jordan was fined for wearing different colored sneakers. However, for the most part, the NBA has been lenient with uniform violation penalties. The award for the most ridiculous fines still belongs to the NFL. While in the past the NFL has fined players for uniform violations, it has been taken to new heights under the
PHOTO BY NATHAN GERTLER.
Breast cancer awareness accessories, like this wristband, cannot be worn outside of the designated Breast Cancer Awareness month of October. appalling leadership of Commissioner Roger Goodell. Recently, Goodell fined three members of the Pittsburgh Steelers for these aforementioned “uniform violations.” These “violations” included players wearing purple cleats to support domestic violence awareness, eye-black with the words “Find the Cure” to sup-
port breast cancer awareness and eyeblack with words honoring a deceased family member. Steelers safety William Gay, running back Deangelo Williams and defensive end Cameron Hayward were the subjects of these disgraceful fines. Gay’s mother was killed in a domestic violence incident, and he wore the
discretion,” Bill said. “Winners and losers change based on different people’s judging.” Another common argument is the purpose of the professional cheerleader. While NBA and NFL players are paid millions to play in front of huge crowds, cheerleaders are paid minimally to turn their backs to the actual game being played in hopes of enhancing spirit and activity within the fan base. According to senior cheer co-captain Stefanie Baarman, cheerleading requires skill, teamwork, hard work and motivation and can be as competitive as other sports. At CHS, cheerleaders must memorize and perfect routines for hours, the same way sports like basketball and football players memorize and perfect plays for their games. “When people say [cheerleading is] not a sport, I just tell them they can’t do half the things cheerleaders do,” Baarman said. “It’s more than people just dancing around.” On top of this, every time a cheerleader does a backflip, or is thrown into the air to do a flip or a twirl, they risk getting injured. One of the most common injuries among cheerleaders is a concussion. Along with Baarman, senior cocaptain Dana Gilbertson agrees that cheerleading should be considered a sport by everyone because it takes serious dedication and hard work. “The strength it takes to physically
lift someone and have them contort their bodies in the air isn’t something someone can just have the ability to do overnight,” Gilbertson said. The sheer ability to tumble and fly took Baarman and Gilbertson years to perfect to be able to compete in the school county championships. The twohour daily practices and hours spent with a club cheer team year-round debatably surpass the amount of time and work some athletes put in to their respective sports. Not only is it offensive when people
color purple to honor her. Williams’ mother died of breast cancer and he dyed his hair pink in her name. Hayward wrote on his eye black to honor his deceased father. These players should have been revered for their support, but instead, were each slapped with $6,000 fines. It has been well documented how superfluous these fines actually are, so why do they still exist? If a league has a uniform policy, it should be in place to prevent players from wearing apparel that gives them an advantage over the other team or wearing something inappropriate. As sports have evolved, so have uniforms and accessories. From headbands and wristbands to personalized arm sleeves and leggings, players are now more concerned with how they look than in previous years. Such accessories have been subject to various penalties, especially in high school sports. Even wearing a black shooting sleeve with a white jersey is considered a violation in MCPS. If this shooting sleeve gives an athlete an athletic advantage, then the penalty would be reasonable. However, considering the fact that it is a matter of fashion, the violation seems unnecessary. As a high school, collegiate or professional athlete, one should have the freedom to wear what they please as long as it doesn’t impact the actual game. Unfortunately, in most cases, doing so results in a lofty sum of money being withdrawn from one’s bank account, or a penalty being imposed on the team.
Ooh, I Think I Found Myself a Real Sport: Cheerleading By Cristian Edwards Online Sports Editor
Jousting. Quidditch. Cheese rolling. Rock-Paper-Scissors. All of these activities are now defined as and accepted as genuine sports. So why is cheerleading still on the outskirts? The dictionary defines a sport as, “an athletic activity requiring skill or physical prowess and often of a competitive nature.” Cheerleading fulfills this definition in all facets: hoisting up the flyer, doing 10 consecutive back-flips and performing with intense team camaraderie and teamwork, among others. The cheer competitions are one of the highest energy athletic competitions in high school. On top of this, cheer is a skill sport. It is not something any person can do. It takes practice and hard work to compete at a high level. Still, many people ignore the facts and are adamant that cheerleading is not a sport, but rather a recreational activity. According to junior Bill, who asked that his real name not be used, cheer exists for the sole purpose of entertainment and not to compete like “real” sports do. Bill’s argument against cheerleading is that flipping and holding someone up requires no hand-eye coordination and anyone can “dance” if they put in an hour of practice, unlike soccer or lacrosse which require years of perfection to become talented. “Cheer isn’t a sport because it is scored by judges and is based on their
refer to cheerleaders as “unathletic,” but it also causes them to feel as though their hard work goes unnoticed and unappreciated. Their practice and work deserve recognition. So if you want to tell a cheerleader that cheer isn’t a sport, remember the facts. If cheerleading isn’t a sport, then why is it under CHS Athletics? “We deserve recognition for our athleticism and to not be made fun of for what we love to do,” Gilbertson said. “In no way are we not a sport.”
PHOTO COURTESY OF STEFANIE BAARMAN.
During competitions, cheerleaders perform stunts that include lifting people up, flying through the air and contorting their bodies.
Montgomery County Public Schools Winston Churchill High School 11300 Gainsborough Rd. Potomac, MD 20854
thechurchillobserver.com
November 24, 2015
Volume 40 - Issue 3
By Jake Certner Sports Editor 2,875. This number represents the previous CHS career rushing yards record held by Mark Mason. This record stood for over 20 years until senior Andrew Zuckerman finished this football season with 1,863 yards, pushing his career total
to 2,952. Zuckerman was a workhorse for the Bulldogs all year. Despite the team’s struggles, he consistently put up impressive numbers. In every game except for one he had over 20 carries, including a season high 42 against Blair Sept. 25. “He practices and plays with
incredible passion,” head coach Albert Song said. Despite the Bulldogs’ 2-8 record, Zuckerman was the heart and soul of this year’s team, according to Song. His presence on offense was unmatched, and his consistent high-caliber play won him the county rushing title over
IMAGE COURTESY OF ANDREW ZUCKERMAN.
A National Blue Ribbon School Damascus running back and University of Maryland commit senior Jake Funk. According to Song, Zuckerman has had a “huge impact on and off the field,” and has “obviously carried the team on his back” all season long. Football has been a big part of Zuckerman’s life. He began playing flag football at age 5 and began tackle football at age 9. “Football is to Andrew as Dr. Benz is to Churchill,” Zuckerman said. Zuckerman has a passion for football that few people understand. He has dedicated countless hours to developing his skills in order to improve every aspect of his game. “Football has played a huge role in Andrew’s childhood; it’s always been his top priority,” said Karen Zuckerman, Andrew’s mother. “He has put his heart and soul into the sport from the beginning.” Even in the off-season, Zuckerman dedicates his time to getting better and taking his game to the next level. He spends four days a week at Sarge Athletics in Urbana working with a personal trainer improving not only his strength, but his speed and footwork as well. According to Karen, he “never misses an opportunity to train,” and “is very careful about what he eats.”
Zuckerman broke the school record for most rushing yards in a season.
Girls Soccer Makes School History By Michael Fox Editor-in-Chief
The girls soccer team lost to Anne Arundel County’s Broadneck High School 1-0, Nov. 14 in the state semifinal game played at Richard Montgomery HS. Despite the loss, the Bulldogs were able to accomplish something no previous CHS girls soccer team had ever done before-playing in the state semifinals. The team had a plethora of talent this year after graduating eight players, six of them being previous starters. Senior captains Nicole Brodkowitz, Lauren Mackie, Juliana Comer and junior captain Frannie Phillips led the team to its 101-1 regular season and 13-2-1
overall record. “At the beginning of the season I wasn’t sure how the season was going to progress,” head coach Haroot Hakopian said. “I knew that we were very talented, but we had a relatively young team. It was going to be about being able to put all of the talent and work together to reach our goals.” The team surely exceeded its expectations. The girls won the division for the first time since 2009 and had to overcome tough intradivisional competition to make its playoff run. The Dawgs defeated B-CC in overtime, 1-0, Nov. 3 in its first playoff appearance. According to Comer, her favorite moment from this year was when she scored the game-
Team Records
Girls Tennis 10-2 Golf 20-0 Girls Volleyball 20-2
winning goal against B-CC to advance CHS to the next round of the playoffs. Comer scored 20 goals and had 13 assists over the course of the season. The Bulldogs also defeated WJ in the second round of the playoffs, 3-2, Nov. 6, and Northwest in the 4A regional finals, 1-0, Nov. 10. The team relied on its unquestioned defense as well as its up-tempo offense to overcome opponents. The team only allowed nine goals over the course of the entire season, and managed to put up an incredible 69 goals against opponents. Junior goalie Danielle Katz proved herself to be a top
goalie in the division, and attackers Comer and freshman Jane Alcott took responsibility for the offensive domination. “The defensive line, especially since we moved Frannie back to playing a defensive position, has been extremely organized, and they do a great job shutting down some of the top players on the other teams,” Hakopian said. Even with the disappointing loss for the girls soccer team at the end of its lengthy playoff run, the girls are proud of their accomplishments this season. “I was bummed when the season ended, but I’m really proud of our season,” Comer said. “It was awesome to even go to the semifinal.”
as of Nov. 20
Girls Soccer 13-2-1
Boys Soccer 5-9 Cross-Country Boys 5-0, Girls 0-5
Football 2-8 Field Hockey 8-4-1
During his sophomore year, Zuckerman’s parents began taking him to college football camps in the summer. This was his first introduction to NCAA sports and his inspiration to try and achieve the next level of football excellence. “For me, it’s all about exceeding expectations, so I welcome any underestimations about how I perform,” Zuckerman said. Zuckerman is an all-around athlete. Despite time running track and playing baseball, basketball, tennis, golf and even lacrosse, there has never been any doubt that football is his main focus. “Once I pass the goal line, the shiver down my spine is what gets me,” Zuckerman said. “There’s nothing like it.” This season Zuckerman has shined for the Bulldogs and has proven himself as arguably the best running back in school history. With monstrous numbers in nearly every game and an inconceivably large workload, Zuckerman exemplifies the title of Athlete of the Month. “Watching him play this year has been awesome,” Karen said. “I’m in awe of some of his performances, but those accomplishments don’t hold a candle to our pride at the way he carries himself and treats others.”
Dawg Data
24
-The number of strokes the golf team broke the state record by in the state championship.
93
-Save percentage for goalie Markus Hurd in Churchill hockey’s 6-1 win over Wootton.
16
-Rushing touchdowns scored by Andrew Zuckerman this year.
7
-Returning varsity basketball players.
1
-Regional championship for girls soccer.