Volume 37 - Issue 4
Thursday, November 29, 2012
A National Blue Ribbon School
Gym renovation ends Students, staff give back during CHS’ Day of Service By Tiffany Trankiem Staff Writer
PHOTO BY EMILIE PLESSET.
Students made over a thousand bagged lunches during the Nov. 16. Day of Service. By Emilie Plesset Online Editor-in-Chief Students gathered in the cafeteria Nov. 16 to give back to the community on the CHS Day of Community Service. Students and faculty met after school to make sandwiches that were donated to Martha’s Table, a local non-profit organization that helps at-risk and less fortunate individuals and families. The Day of Service was sponsored by the PTSA Character Education and Student Life Committees. “I am totally impressed with the number of kids who came and how enthusiastic they are,” said Claudia Steiner, parent and chair of the Character Education and Student Life Committee. “We had way more students show up than even signed up. We think we’ve made at least a thousand, probably more
than a thousand bagged lunches.” According to senior Johnny Franceski, a student member of Character Education, the event’s attendance far exceeded what had been anticipated. About 20 students were expected to help out, but almost 100 students showed up. According to senior Ben Harris, a student member of Character Education, hosting the Day of Community Service at school made it easier for students to gain student service learning credit and see friends after school. “I came because I needed more community service hours,” freshman Tatiana Hewitt said. “I have enjoyed knowing that people are going to be fed and that I am donating my time to do that instead of watching television.” TheDayofServiceispartofanew year-round Character Promotion and Awareness Initiative the PTSA
Character Education and Student Life Committees run. “One thing that Character Education does is provide students the opportunity to be model citizens and in the Day of Community Service activity, to give back to the community,” said assistant school administrator Brandi Richardson. In addition to the Day of Service, the committee also publicizes the initiative through the Character Education bulletin board outside the cafeteria and by having quotes from influential people read on the Daily Dose. The selected quotes are then displayed on the flat screen televisions throughout the school. “I find that all the parents and students involved in the committee are dedicated to providing experiences and exposure to all students with the intent to make them better people,” Richardson said.
The main gym floor renovations were completed Nov. 12, after causing conflicts with sports teams, community activities and physical education classes. “It is good to have the gym back because before we would have class outside,” freshman Alexandra Derechin said. “Now we get to be inside, and it’s a lot warmer,” The damage was a result of the summer derecho. Water damage throughout the main gym caused areas of the wooden floor to buckle. “The time choice was very poor,” athletic director Dave Kelley said. “We made numerous requests to have the floor fixed over the summer, but MCPS refused to do anything about it.” According to Kelley, after CHS requested multiple times to have the floors redone, MCPS stated that the floors were fine and refused to repair any damages. “Parents did write Superintendent Dr. Starr and other executives in the school system, complaining about the quality of the floor,” Kelley said. Kelley and the CHS Booster Club made an appeal, pointing out that if the gym was going to
be closed down, the whole floor should be replaced. The gym closed mid-September, putting restrictions on instruction, community recreational use, sport practices and games. “At the beginning of the season, we would fight over the gym with football,fieldhockeyandvolleyball, especially when it rained,” senior cheerleading captain Paige Brody said. “We could not practice for our upcoming competition.” Physical education classes were affected as well. Classes like basketball had to be held outside. According to Kelley, physical education teacher Donald Higgins devised a rotation between classes, alternating between the dance studio, lower gym, wrestling room and the weight room. Cheerleading uses the main gym regularly for practices, but had to accommodate for the shortage of area. “Cheerleading has been very flexible,” Kelley said. “They used the cafeteria or went outside, weather permitting. Between varsity and junior varsity teams, they had limited space to accommodate.” When the renovations were complete, activities were able to resume normal schedules. “We’re just glad to have our gym back,” Kelley said.
PHOTO BY MATT RAAB.
Achievement gap subject of Starr’s ‘State of the Schools’
After two states’ referendums, the case for legalization is stronger than ever.
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COURTESY OF CREATIVE COMMONS.
Opinions Marijuana
Features Blast Blast from the Past is back and focusing on the oldies.
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Sports Winter Preview The Observer takes a look at how CHS’ winter sports teams are shaping up.
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Still, he believes that some of the testing and initiatives brought forth by the No Child Left Behind Act (2001) are not realistic and must be discontinued. “A strong academic program is the bedrock of our system,” Starr said. “However, one learns to solve problems by solving problems, not by being tested on the theories of problem solving.” Elected MCR Treasurer
See Starr, 3
COURTESY OF OFFTHEWALL.COM.
USED WITH PERMISSION OF MCPS.
Starr credited the high graduation rate to rigor, performance.
Superintendent Joshua Starr gave a “State of the Schools” address Nov. 12 to update the community on MCPS’ progress. The theme of this inaugural address was “Building the Future Together.” The slogan was intended to encourage the community and schools to work together to improve education for MCPS students.
“This is an excellent opportunity to showcase MCPS as the best district in the country,” Starr said. According to Starr, MCPS is leading the way for large school districts because it has had the highest graduation rate in the country among large school districts for four consecutive years. Starr attributes this success to the rigor of the curriculum and high academic performance.
PHOTO BY EMILY BIRNBAUM.
By Dana Youngentob News Editor
News
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Berliner would use gas tax for transportation projects By Julia Reagan Public Relations Manager
Montgomery County Council President Roger Berliner has proposed that the Maryland state legislature grant county lawmakers the power to impose their own gasoline tax. The money collected from this tax would be used for a number of critical transportation programs throughout the county, including the Purple Line, the Corridor Cities Transitway and a bus rapid transit (BRT) network. “Our county must deal with the everpresent issue of rebuilding, strengthening and expanding our infrastructure to accommodate new businesses and residents alike,” Berliner wrote in an email. “New projects are planned that would alleviate congestion, ease commutes and improve the overall efficiency of our infrastructure.” One proposed transportation project is the Purple Line, a 16-mile light rail line that will serve as an east-west route connector for Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties. The Purple Line will be pedestrian-friendly to integrate well with the surrounding communities. It will also provide a direct link to the University of Maryland in Prince George’s County. The project is expected to cost $1.92 billion. Senior Peyton Elmendorf, who often uses public transportation like the Metro to get around Montgomery County and Washington, D.C., believes that this proposed tax is unnecessary. “I think that the gas prices are high enough as they are, and the county should find a different source of money for the transportation projects,” Elmendorf said. The Corridor Cities Transitway is
PHOTO BY JULIA REAGAN.
Additional revenues from the tax could pay for new rail transit lines.
another proposed transit line. It will run north from the Shady Grove Metro Station to serve the Rockville, Gaithersburg, Germantown and Clarksburg communities. It will cost $491 million and will provide a direct connection between the end of the Red Line and the COMSAT facility in Clarksburg. According to an Oct. 10 article in the Washington Examiner, Johns Hopkins University’s plans for a research and development campus near Gaithersburg are dependent on the Corridor Cities Transitway being constructed. The county is also planning a BRT network that will improve accessibility, as buses will operate on rights-of-way that are separated from the general-purpose lanes used by automobiles. This project will allow for faster movement of people to and from their jobs and homes and will cost $1.8 billion. “We need the state to step up and provide an increase in transportation dollars or all of these projects critical to our county’s future will be at risk,” Berliner wrote. “If and only if the state fails to find a revenue source that could fund our transportation needs then I have suggested that we move on to Plan B. Plan B would include getting additional authority from the state to pursue local funding options.” According to an Oct. 8 article in Washington Examiner, in 2011 a state panel recommended a five-cent increase in the gas tax each year for three years in order to fund the necessary transportation projects. During the spring legislative session, Governor Martin O’Malley backed a six percent sales tax on gasoline that did not have enough support to pass. “If granted the authority, a future County Council would determine whether and how to invoke that authority after public hearings and a full public vetting process, and if it were to do so, how the dollars generated by such local authority would be allocated among our transportation priorities,” Berliner wrote. Senior Sean Dunn, who pays for her car’s gas, believes that the money collected from this proposed additional tax would benefit our community by making transportation more easily accessible. “I support the tax because in the end it will make transportation a lot more convenient in the D.C. Metro area, but it definitely will make me more frugal with my driving habits,” Dunn said. “If my gas totals end up being a significant amount more, I’ll probably think twice about driving places and try to carpool or take the bus.”
theObserver
Thursday, November 29, 2012
INTERNATIONAL
Israel and Palestine clash over Gaza
PHOTO COURTESY OF CREATIVE COMMONS.
After continuous rocket-fire from Gaza into Southern Israel, the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) fired back and assassinated Ahmed al-Jabari, one of Israel’s most- wanted Palestinian militants. In retaliation, repeated rocket attacks by Gaza-based Palestinian militants escalated the situation. According to a Nov. 15 USA Today article, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said that he has authorized the army to draft reserve forces of 30,000 troops for ground action following the previous firing of nearly 200 rockets into southern Israel. According to a Nov.19 New York Times article, after a night of sustained Israeli strikes, Palestinian death toll had risen to 91 with 700 wounded, including 200 children. In the USA Today article, Capt. Eytan Buchman of the Israeli Defense Forces stated that the military wants to be ready in case it has to move into Gaza. According to a Nov.18 Huffington Post article, President Barack Obama said that the U.S. is fully supportive of Israel’s right to defend itself, and is seeking an end to violence in the region. As of Nov. 21 at 2 p.m. Israel and Gaza had agreed to a cease-fire.
DISASTER
Hurricane Sandy hits the East Coast
PHOTO COURTESY OF CREATIVE COMMONS.
Hurricane Sandy pounded New York and New Jersey Oct. 29, destroying houses and buildings and leaving people without power and with limited resources. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo have been working to repair their states with the help of President Barack Obama, the Red Cross and other volunteers. People are donating clothes, food and money to the Red Cross and other organizations. According to a Nov.12 economic blog article from the Hill.com, damage in the region will cost around $50 billion.
NATIONAL
Obama wins re-election
PHOTO BY JANE ZANKMAN.
President Barack Obama was elected president for a second term Nov. 6 with a final electoral count of 332-206. The only swing state Republican Mitt Romney clinched was North Carolina, while the eight other swing states went blue for the Democrats. According to a Nov. 7 Huffington Post article, Obama is the first incumbent president to be re-elected for a second term with an unemployment rate as high as 7.9 percent.
By Brittany Goodman and Dana Harris
Thursday, November 29, 2012
News
Starr calls for greater community involvement From Starr, 1
and CHS senior Stephen Lee agrees that students should not have to be tested on theories and approaches, but rather practical ideas that can be applied to the real world. “Schools also need to teach students about current real world skills,” Lee said. “It is easy to memorize notes, but it is hard to apply those notes into the real world. Also, Dr. Starr is correct in saying that teachers and parents have to find out what motivates students. If a student does not like what he or she is learning, or thinks that it is not needed for their choice of career, then the student is more likely to do poorly in that class.” According to Starr, it is imperative for the community to teach students to be “innovative thinkers, good communicators and creative problem solvers.” Starr also believes it is important for students to work with people “from diverse perspectives” so that they will be able “to apply academic skills to real problems.” Starr and the MCPS Board of Education are relying on outside support to achieve their goals. “All of our students have hopes and dreams for the future,” Starr said. “We must have a community that continues to be deeply involved in the schools.” According to Starr, MCPS will be working with individual partners to “be a model for learning in action.” Lee agrees that the community should be involved in the education of the county’s children. He suggests that schools offer help in job preparation and community leaders offer internships and other real-world work experiences. “I have seen many times that students in MCPS do not know how to create a resume or write a cover letter,” Lee said. “From personal experience, both are crucial in
finding a job or internship. Churchill and the community also need to help students get real world experience.” Despite being one of the best large school districts in the country, however, Starr acknowledged a wide gap in the dropout rates between African Americans and Hispanics and Asians and whites. “We must recognize that an African American or Hispanic ninth grader is three or four times more likely to drop out before graduation than a white or Asian student,” Starr said. “And while our dropout rate has been decreasing over the years, that gap hasn’t narrowed. That must change.” Additionally, according to a Nov.12 NBCWashington.com article, MCPS is at a critical point in which the system must be aware of a changing student population. Most of our students are people of color and may be the child of an immigrant, or an immigrant themselves,” Starr said. “All of our students have hopes and dreams for the future, but many may not have the social capital to make those dreams a reality. So it is up to us—working together—to provide the supports and services that enable their success in life.” According to Lee, he is surprised that Dr. Starr did not discuss the budget because “MCPS needs to be fiscally responsible.” According to Brianna Burke, SGA President and senior MCR Representative, she believes that MCPS and CHS have already provided a great environment for students to learn and prepare for the next stages in life. “Currently I believe Churchill and the surrounding community already does a great job of preparing students, as students are encouraged to become extremely well rounded,” Burke said. “Churchill ensures a balance between challenging academia and excellent extracurricular activities, which are both equally important in preparing students for their futures.”
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PHOTO BY JANE ZANKMAN.
The petition requests a beginning time about an hour after the current 7:25 start.
BOE to review petition for later high school start time By Emma Crutchfield Jane Zankman Production Editors An online petition to start Montgomery County high schools at 8:15 a.m. or later has been gaining momentum in the past few weeks. The petition asks that the school board lookattheresearchonthecorrelationbetween teen sleep deprivation and academic success, and to change high schools’ starting time to 8:15 a.m. as a solution. MCPS mother and adolescent psychotherapist Mandi Mader started the petition. Mader, whose daughter attends Walter Johnson, decided to start the petition because of her personal and professional experiences with teens. “I couldn’t help teens because they were sleep deprived,” Mader said. “I also have a tenth grader, and I see how hard it is.” The petition, which can be accessed through the online petition website Signon.org, currently has 8,952 signatures as of Nov. 19. According to Mader, benefits of later
start times include fewer car accidents, fewer people sleeping in classes and fewer people getting sick. Academically, students will excel as well. The petition is being presented to the Maryland Board of Education Dec. 11, and Mader hopes to have 10,000 signatures by the presentation. Some CHS students agree with the petition and feel that it would be very beneficial. “We can sleep in longer so we have more sleep and we can do homework in the morning,” said junior Brittany Davis, who said she only gets about five hours of sleep every night. Although the petition has gotten thousands of signatures, some students oppose it. According to senior Kevin Hann, we should not start the school day later because ending an hour later would cut an hour off of his day. According to an Oct. 25 article from Bethesdamagazine.com, MCPS Superintendent Joshua Starr said he is well aware of the problem and understands why people are petitioning, but he said that school executives need to be careful about policy changes.
Opinions
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Thursday, November 29, 2012
The Churchill
Observer Editors
Editors-in-Chief Spenser Easterbrook Stacey Stein
Chief Production Manager Brett Sachs News Editors Lara Fu Dana Youngentob *Katie Gauch *Emma Crutchfield Opinions Editors Joe Nolan *Emma Crutchfield *Jessica Gold Observations Editors Nicole Malament *Josh Denicoff Features Editors Emily Birnbaum Brittany Goodman *Elizabeth Campbell *Jane Zankman *Samantha Silber Arts Editors Jamie Lescht *Jane Zankman *Brett Sachs *Yash Nigam Sports Editors Matt Raab Zoe Forster *Angad Kanwal Photography Editors Ben Fox Jane Zankman Guransh Singh Fact Checkers Ilana Berger Jordan Janis * Production Editors
Managers
Advertising Manager Aileen Choi Archive Managers Catherine Goohs Julia McDermott Business Manager Danny Gordon
Circulation Managers Julia Heimlich Danielle Kiefer Contest Manager Natalie Cortez Public Relations Jordan Maser Julia Reagan 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 assure 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. The Observer is a public forum for the purpose of expressing the views of and informing the Churchill student body.
CARTOON BY JONATHAN LEE.
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away… Disney bought Lucasfilm and ruined the Star Wars franchise forever. According to an Oct. 30 Associated Press article, Disney will buy Lucasfilm and the rights to George Lucas’s Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises for $4.05 billion. Disney has announced it will be making a seventh Star Wars movie, currently known only as “Episode 7,” to be released in 2015. It plans to make at least two additional movies in the series. I’m sure Mr. Lucas wants to retire comfortably, and that he has been under fire for the woeful attempts at continuing the success of the original Star Wars trilogy (although, I must admit, Revenge of the Sith was an applause-worthy finale to the comparatively weak prequel trilogy), and I know he wants to see the Star Wars series live on, which is why he is selling his company. But does he really want to see his life’s work turned into a joke? Disney is bound to make the next Star Wars movies commercially successful. That is indisputable. After all, they are the masterminds behind the critically acclaimed and overall wellreceived Pixar movies like Cars and The Incredibles, as well as this summer’s superhero blockbuster: Marvel’s The Avengers. But will Disney stay true to the original trilogy? Will they retain the science-fiction aspect that appealed
to the original die-hard fans? The answer is undoubtedly no. According to an Oct. 30 E! Online article, “Episode 7” will be a completely original story. It will not include any plot points from author Timothy Zahn’s successful Thrawn book series, which follow
just about good versus evil or Jedi versus Sith; they raise questions about religion and philosophy, reason and judgment and human character. These overarching themes make the true Star Wars fans appreciate the movies as more than just exciting sci-fi films or box-office successes. The Force,
Luke, Leia and Han Solo’s lives after the final battle with the Empire. Using at least some of Zahn’s story would have made more sense, because it would satisfy the most loyal Star Wars fans. While coming up with an entirely new storyline gives Disney plenty of room to exercise its creativity, it also allows writers to deviate farther from the series’ original plot than Hoth is from Coruscant. According to the AP article, Lucas will remain part of the Star Wars series as a creative consultant. However, it would not be surprising if Disney ends up deciding the fate of the future movies based on commercial appeal, not artistic integrity. The Star Wars movies are not
for example, symbolizes a universally-binding power, leading fans to think about similarly binding forces in real life like religion, philosophy or a higher being. Although Disney hasmany critically lauded movies, their main appeal is their charming simplicity—the Star Wars franchise, which relies on its larger themes to convey the story’s depth, will not be the same when its ownership changes hands. Disney also has a tendency to stretch out franchises to the point where audiences realize how commercially driven they really are. Peter Pan (1953) was a wellreceived animated film, receiving an average rating of 7.3/10 on the Internet Movie Database (IMDb). Disney then followed that success with a sequel,
Return to Never Land, which scored a disappointing 5.6/10 on IMDb. In order to appeal to the younger demographic, Disney then created a spin-off series centered on Tinkerbell, releasing multiple books, online games and several directto-DVD Disney Fairies movies. It’s not surprising that Star Wars fans are worried that Disney might do something similar to their beloved series. I grew up with Star Wars. I grew up with lightsaber duels and small green monsters that spoke in inverted sentences. I also grew up with Disney princesses who sang catchy tunes and had small mammals for friends. I love both parts of my childhood, but I would prefer the two be kept separate. It’s like spaghetti and ice cream—I like both, but nobody would think to combine them. Just because selling Lucasfilm to Disney makes the most financial sense does not mean it is the best decision for the Star Wars series in terms of artistic integrity. Diehard fans argue that Lucas has already ruined the series with his prequel trilogy; why continue the downward spiral? J.J. Abrams, Steven Spielberg, and Peter Jackson, among other renowned directors, have all turned down the opportunity to direct Episode 7. If that’s not foreshadowing of what is yet to come, I don’t know what is.
Teenagers tired of wearing high heels Shoe designers must take notice By Jamie Lescht Arts Editor The average height of a pair of stilts is approximately 18 inches— to walk at such an elevation brings about the constant fear of falling and breaking one’s ankle. The average height of a pair of high heels is six inches—a length that is one-third the altitude of stilts. Although heels are approximately 12 inches closer to the ground, the pain and threat of collapsing still looms in the air. This type of danger is easily avoidable—simply go to shoe stores in search of reasonably sized heels. Yet this is where shoe brands have failed; there is a lack of affordable, sensible-sized heels. As a result, thousands of people are forced to attend events wearing hazardous footwear. This era must come to an end. Shoe makers, give me smartly sized heels or give me death! According to senior Sophie Bukrinsky, the shortest pair of heels she can find are 5-inch heels. Bukrinsky found that stores don’t sell cute heels smaller than that and “short heels are more for older people.” A stroll through any shoe store proves that shorter heels are targeted
for an older demographic. They lack a fashionable aspect, generally come in bland colors and are styled to suit those who need assistance while
walking. Why can’t shoe brands provide a happy medium between the typical “grandma-shoes” and heels that present a youthful quality? Moreover, despite heels’ appearance, these shoes may be destroying women’s feet. According to a 2011 CNN article, the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons reports that 7 out of 10 women have a foot deformity, the large majority of which
can be linked to bad shoes. High heels could also cause scoliosis and lead to joint degeneration as well as osteoarthritis.
PHOTO BY JAMIE LESCHT.
Alas, several shoe companies have taken the task of presenting reasonable heels, but not at a reasonable price. According to a 2006 NBC News article, designer Tara Subkoff conquered the challenge of creating comfortable heels—these shoes provide the same comfort as sneakers all for a price of $240. Last time I checked, sneakers do not come close to costing that amount of money. As a result, only two options exist for people sick of dangerous footwear: continue to put yourself through pain or pay an outrageous price for comfort. Shoe companies, the responsibility to create wearable heels has fallen upon your shoulders, because women are tired of having to walk in stilts.
Have a comment, question or story idea? Contact us at : churchill.observer@gmail.com
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Opinions
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AP shirts put too much Academic pride leads to pressure on students greater student success By Danielle Kiefer Circulation Manager I recently entered school and noticed many students in my grade wearing the same green t-shirts, flocking together and studying notes and textbooks. Confused, I wondered why a matching-shirt cult had suddenly taken up residence in the halls, until I was informed that they were the AP NSL students who were strongly encouraged to wear their class t-shirts on test days. Several Advanced Placement classes, including AP NSL, AP Biology and AP BC Calculus, design t-shirts every year for students to wear on major assessment days. AP classes should not be allowed to have their own shirts because they create pressure to take AP classes and demean others who are not enrolled in AP classes. Students often feel obligated by parents, peers and CHS to take as many advanced classes as possible, and class shirts increase this pressure. Freshmen could see a large number of students in higher grades wearing the shirts and might feel that they should take that class the following year because so many others are. This pressure can cause many students to take AP classes only because it is what their peers are doing. According to the College Board website, the number of students taking an AP class rose by almost fifty percent from 2004 to 2009. This growth in AP courses’ popularity is most likely not just attributed to students’ increasing intellectual levels. Many students are taking AP classes to improve their college applications, and other students are take the classes because everyone else is, causing the increase in AP class enrollment. One of the purposes of AP t-shirts is to promote a specific class and make it seem
more accessible to students, but the shirts make the class seem unrealistically lighthearted. Shirts create the illusion of belonging to a club or a sports team, displaying the class as a fun and enjoyable way to be a part of something instead of the challenging and vigorous academic course that it is. According to an April 2009 New York Times article, over 50 percent of surveyed teachers felt that too many students taking AP classes are in over their heads as a result of overestimating their ability to handle such a class. Many students are not quite ready for such a hard class, and this false advertising encourages students to take the class when they may not be ready for something so difficult. AP class shirts send a message that AP classes are superior to honors and on-level classes. The t-shirts are a form of bragging because they are showing off that the students are taking an advanced class. A t-shirt is an inappropriate place for class level to be displayed. Some may say that AP tshirts are helpful because they create class unity. However, to the students who are not in the class, the shirts have the opposite effect: constructing a barrier between those students and the rest of their peers. Unless CHS wants to start making shirts for every class, AP classes should not make t-shirts.
By Tyler Mead Online Features Editor When I was a sophomore, I used to walk the halls of CHS in a ridiculous maroon shirt that had a large picture of James Madison’s face. While I should have been embarrassed by such strange apparel, I wore it proudly. It was my AP NSL t-shirt. The tradition of wearing AP class shirts is storied and should not end. People outside these classes think AP students are trying to say that they are smarter than students in honors or regular courses. This could not be further from the truth. The AP shirt is not an obnoxious statement about students’ inflated egos; rather, it is a symbol of academic pride. CHS is home to a community of extremely driven students. I see no reason w h y students w h o p u s h t h e m selves in difficult classes should be c h a s tised for showing a little school spirit. A student who works to do well in an Advanced Placement class
should feel just as accomplished as an athlete on one of our sports teams. For example, I have never looked at the football team wearing their jerseys on game days and thought: “show offs.” The members of our athletic teams have worked to be on a team and are respected for it. They do not wear their jerseys to say how much better they are than everyone else at a certain sport. Unfortunately,when a student wears a shirt that identifies a class he takes, people make a fuss about how our elitist academic culture frowns upon the average aptitude. No one is stopping a student from taking an AP class. Almost everyone at CHS is fully capable of achieving in a class like AP NSL if they apply themselves. Yes, AP classes require more work and more independent studying, but no one will be told they are too stupid for an AP class. CHS has a tradition of striving for achievement. The school has encouraged students to challenge themselves by removing on-level U.S. History. We are even reminded of our school’s achievement by our Blue Ribbon status. No one is forced to take an AP course, but the teachers are simply encouraging students more with their less than fashionable shirts. If students are not allowed to feel good about taking a challenging course, why take an AP class? Should we really become a school that criticizes anyone who is trying to better themselves? We earn our 5’s. We also earn our t-shirts.
Colorado, Washington legalize recreational pot Maryland would benefit from following suit By Greer Smith Staff Writer Danny Gordon Business Manager In the Nov. 6 election, citizens took to the polls to elect our nation’s leaders and decide on some pressing referendums. Through the voting process, Colorado and Washington became the first states to legalize the distribution of recreational marijuana. The rest of the country should follow suit. The two state laws are not exactly the same in terms of what they allow and how marijuana taxes will be spent, but both are trying to make good marijuana. According to The Colorodoan, the state plans on exacting a 15 percent tax on marijuana sales. This is projected to generate more than $32 million in state revenue, not including the more than $14 million for local governments. It will also save more than $12 million on law enforcement. Much of this revenue will benefit local public schools, funneling $24 million towards rebuilding and improving schools. According to CNN, Washington is legalizing marijuana to jump-start the conversation about legalizing it nationally and to educate people about marijuana and its effects, both positive and negative. Both states are using the drug in a positive way, whether to improve the
state economy, reduce illegal activity or allow people the right to have it while being educated about it. Marijuana has a bad reputation because it is a drug, but in reality it is no more harmful than alcohol—in fact, it is safer. According to Saferchoice.org, marijuana is safer for the consumer and the community. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports over 37,000 alcohol-related deaths in the U.S. A category for marijuana-related deaths does not even exist. Also, there are no recorded incidents of marijuana overdose, a persistent problem with alcohol. Marijuana is not linked to violent behavior; alcohol is. At worst, marijuana creates physiological dependency; alcohol is physically addictive. Alcohol has caused problems since America’s birth, but the strong desire for alcohol makes it too profitable to outlaw. Marijuana is shipped with truly harmful drugs, though its health risks are lower than alcohol. If legalized nationally, like alcohol, it could be very profitable to the U.S. economy. According to The Huffington Post, enforcing marijuana prohibition costs taxpayers $41.8 billion a year. An additional $1 billion a year is spent on inmates in jail for marijuana-related incarcerations in U.S. prisons. Black-market marijuana is a $36 billion industry, and the legal marijuana industry is predicted to be nearly three times that amount. Legalizing recreational marijuana would create jobs and revenue that
would allow taxpayer money to be spent on other things, such as education. It is argued that legalizing marijuana would be detrimental to education, but this is not the case. Legalizing marijuana would expose more students to the drug, but would not impede their education or distract them. Just because alcohol is legal does not mean everyone is drunk; marijuana use is the same. Also, the 21-year old smoking age will prevent high schoolers from having access to the drug. Marijuana, though illegal by federal law, is not difficult to obtain. Of course, it is not true that marijuana has no negative effects.
According to Teengrowth.com, it has been shown to cause chest illness and coughing, in some cases memory loss and a higher risk of heart attack. However, it is most detrimental if it is used often over a long period of time. Marijuana, like most substances, can be dangerous if abused, but if used in moderation, it is just a way to enjoy life on a different spectrum. By legalizing marijuana, people have the freedom to enjoy it as well as its numerous benefits to the economy. Not only was legalization a good idea in Colorado and Washington, but it is a good idea for the nation as a whole.
PHOTO COURTESY OF FLICKR
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Opinions
theObserver
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Cafeteria, vending machines should accept credit cards
By Erica Spaeth Photo Editor
At school, I often head to the cafeteria in hopes of staving off my hunger only to find that my wallet possesses nothing more than my debit card. No cash means no lunch. How great would it be if the cafeteria, vending machines and school store accepted credit and debit cards? It would make students’ and staff members’ lives easier. When senior Andrew Fasolyak first came to MCPS from Bullis, he had no idea that students could only use cash to buy food and did not eat until he remembered to bring some. Fasolyak thinks the school’s acceptance of credit cards would be a huge convenience for everyone.
Accepting credit and debit cards in schools also makes the wait much shorter. Trading change wastes time, and with credit and debit cards, after one swipe and one signature, you would be done. This would make the time significantly shorter. According to Kate Heinrich, MCPS Assistant Director of the Division of Food and Nutrition Services, the average cost of processing credit cards for a retail business is approximately two percent of purchase cost. This would introduce a five cent fee for every lunch for middle and high school students. The Division of Food and Nutrition Services does not have a budget that can absorb these fees at the current time. That being said, as we wait for
the perfect time to establish this payment system, MCPS offers another system CHS could adopt. According to the MCPS website, MySchoolAccount.com is a system that “gives parents a secure, fast, and convenient way” to make deposits to a student’s account via credit card; a website that allows users to check meal account balances, view purchase history and receive low balance reminders. It is a great ways for parents to take care of school lunches quickly and easily. Parents can even pre-order lunches for their kids on the website. MySchoolAccount.com will definitely be a big help to students and parents dealing with the lunch purchasing process, that is, until credit cards are finally accepted.
PHOTO BY ERICA SPAETH.
Processing credit cards costs about two percent of the total purchase cost.
Radio stations ring in holiday cheer too early By Emilie Plesset Online Editor-in-Chief
November is usually marked by Veteran’s Day, a new school quarter, fall boots, jackets and a satisfying Thanksgiving meal. Recently, however it also means the beginning of the non-stop playing of Christmas music. Over the years, round-the-clock Christmas music seems to begin earlier and earlier, with some radio stations making the switch even before the Thanksgiving turkey has been bought. Listeners who would rather not listen to Christmas jingles so far from the actual holiday are forced to either find another station, or grin and bear the non-stop holiday cheer, hoping the next two months fly by fast. Radio stations spend 10 months a year building up a loyal base of listeners that like the genre of music they play. The
early switch to Christmas music jolts listeners from their daily routines, leaving some to search for other radio stations to find the music that they prefer. The mistake that radio stations seem to make is assuming that all of their listeners celebrate Christmas. Although many listeners may observe this holiday, the likelihood is that not every person does, particularly in major metropolitan areas. Radio stations must realize that some of their loyal listeners may be offended that their favorite station sends out the message that for the next two months
the beliefs of their viewers who do not celebrate Christmas will be ignored. When Christmas music starts before Thanksgiving it diminishes the value and importance of the Thanksgiving holiday. This year, local station 97.1 WashFM switched to playing exclusively Christmas music Nov. 16. Not only does the music PHOTO BY EMILIE PLESSET. diminish Thanksgiving’s significance, but when Christmas finally comes around some listeners are sick of hearing “Jingle Bell Rock” five times a day. Radio stations argue that the switch to all-Christmas music raises their ratings
and earns them more money, but money should not be the only factor that decides the music a station plays. Radio should broadcast what pleases the whole of their loyal listeners and not what pleases a portion of their listeners and fills their wallets. It is not fair to those who do not enjoy listening to non-stop Christmas music to have to change their listening habits so far from the actual holiday. While radio stations crack open the Christmas tunes in early November, the joyful songs would be better appreciated closer to the time of the holiday preparations. Instead of two long months of Christmas music, listeners would become even more excited if Christmas tunes would conquer the radio the day after Thanksgiving when the Christmas sales begin. The shorter period of Christmas tunes would be less of an annoyance to those listeners who may not necessarily enjoy this music.
Unfair federal mandate keeps food trucks away By Elizabeth Campbell Production Editor As I walk outside the building during lunch and glance at the empty spaces in the senior lot, my stomach begins to rumble, not with hunger, but jealousy. If only I could go out to buy fresh food during lunch. But wait, this is the 21st century—the era of cars that park themselves, men that free fall from space and… food trucks. Food trucks are mobile restaurants run from a truck that has been equipped with a kitchen, which makes it capable of serving people on the street. This advance in technology seems like a simple solution to the problem. Just have a few food trucks park in the bus loop during lunch. It caters to the entire school population: underclassman who can’t leave school for lunch, seniors with no car and staff members on a tight schedule. It offers everyone the chance to take a break from another crushed sandwich and instead enjoy a delicious and fresh meal. The only impediment to this no-brainer lies with the government. A federal mandate currently exists which restricts food trucks’ access to schools. Food trucks cannot be on school property during school hours. The ice
cream trucks on Gainsborough are only allowed due to the fact that it is after school hours and the school does not sponsor it. This restriction is a huge mistake. Perhaps food trucks should not be allowed at elementary schools, but high schools should not have to suffer from such a rule. Many high schools allow all grades to leave for lunch, so if students are allowed to cross the street for food, why can’t they buy from a food truck that is on school grounds? Allowing food trucks would make the many people inside the school happy. It seems as if those who oppose it aren’t those in the school but mostly government officials. According to a Huffington Post article, objections include that food trucks would create aggressive business competition and would hurt schools efforts to have healthy lunch programs in schools. But should we really be denying students access to fresh food just so the cafeteria can keep selling cold chicken patties? Some students go through the day hungry because the cafeteria food just is not worth eating. In addition, food trucks can offer fresher options than the cafeteria that could be just as healthy, reinforcing officials’ efforts to keep kids healthy. If we were allowed to buy food that appeals to us, we will likely eat more of it, which will make us
fuller and focused in our classes. School is for learning—so let students have good food that will facilitate it. Having food trucks would help more than just the school. It would help small businesses. By denying trucks access to schools, the government is denying them a crucial market. Trucks can both boost sales and build a loyal customer base. If the law remains in place, as it most likely will, there is still another possible solution for
CHS: open lunch for all. If food cannot come to us, let CHS students come to them. Many other Montgomery County schools like B-CC and WJ have open lunch for all; it is CHS’s turn. Even a freshman without a car is capable of walking off school property for five minutes to a nearby food truck. Food trucks are a good idea for the entire school community. There are no more excuses; it’s time to bring lunch into the 21st century.
PHOTO BY ELIZABETH CAMPBELL.
Allowing food trucks to sell food to students during lunch would help local businesses and allow underclassmen to have a variety of food options.
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Observations
CHS athletes commit By Nicole Malament Observations Editor
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What’s Online?
@ www.thechurchillobserver.com
Arts: Review
of the new film Flight.
Congratulations to senior Spencer Liang for committing to play tennis at Harvard University next year. Liang has been playing tennis since she was 8, and her highest national ranking is second place. Congratulations to Liang on becoming a Crimson.
Features: A celebration of Peanut Butter Lovers month.
Opinions: Why sweatpants should be banned in school.
PHOTO BY NICOLE MALAMENT.
Do you speak Churchillian?
Education Foundation offers grant to promote change By Manisha Singh Online News Editor
Congratulations to senior Austin Cole for committing to swim for the University of Kentucky, a Division I school, next year. Cole is captain of the CHS swim team and has been swimming freestyle for the past four years. Congratulations to Cole on becoming a Wildcat.
Features:
The “Power to Improve” Challenge Grant is the new CHS Educational Foundation Grant Program that encourages students to discover new ideas and ways to promote change in the CHS community. The grant provides students the resources that the county otherwise does not provide. All students are eligible to receive a grant, but they must
submit a form with their proposal that can be picked up from the main office or the Career Center. The application has no deadline but should be turned in as soon as possible. It must include a teachersponsor, names of other members in the group and the applicant’s objective to improve Churchill. The Educational Foundation provides up to $500 to cover any project expenses as long as the students implement their own ideas.
PHOTO BY NICOLE MALAMENT.
Robotics team places second At Exhibition, JV cheer in NASA competition wins Best Overall Score By Nicole Malament Observations Editor
Congratulations to the Zero Robotics team, which is currently in second place out of 100 teams in a NASA competition to build sphere satellites that accomplish various tasks. The
team has formed an alliance with Marriot Ridge High School and Poolesville High School for the semi-finals. If the team makes it to the finals, it will compete at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and have its program run on the international space station in January.
PHOTO COURTESY OF MARBY CHANG.
JV cheer won additional awards for crowd involvement, stunting and motions. By Jane Zankman Production Editor
PHOTO COURTESY OF ALEX FANG.
The team hopes to make it to finals and compete at MIT.
Congratulations to the junior varsity Cheer team on their Best Overall score at the JV Cheer Exhibition Nov. 3 at Magruder High School. The team also won awards for Best Crowd Involvement, Best Stunt Technique and Strongest Motions. This is their first win with their new
coach Jennifer Johnson. The varsity Cheer team came in second place to Damascus at the county competition Nov. 17 at Montgomery Blair High School. The team, which was led by captains Gina Biciocchi, Mara Zankman, Tara Lattimer and Emily Russ also cheered the junior varsity Football team through their undefeated season. Although the season is over the girls are preparing for cheerleading tryouts this spring.
Drop Squad to collect unused food for charity By Nicole Malament Observations Editor
For students who feel guilty throwing away their uneaten food, the new club Drop Squad is collecting uneaten food to be donated. Each week the members of Drop Squad collect non-perishable food items like cookies, granola bars, chips and crackers. The food is stored and donated at the end of the month to the Manna Food Center. Juniors Emily Andrews and Kate Bloom co-founded the club
as a way to help the community. “We wanted to start the club because we were inspired by the club Consumption Junction, and we liked the idea of giving back,” Andrews said. “We wanted to make food for the homeless, however our club is something we can do more often.” Club members circle the cafeteria with a collection box every Thursday at the beginning of lunch. “Each time we are usually able to fill a box with probably about 40 items,” Bloom said. “But it is something so easy and for such a good cause, so we are trying to start collecting more times a week.”
PHOTO BY NICOLE MALAMENT.
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‘Blast’ returns to the past with ‘American Bandstand’ By Emily Birnbaum Features Editor
What we now know as Blast, CHS’s epic annual musical review, was originally designed to be a blast from the past—a show comprised of and dedicated to music from previous decades. Although in recent years it has veered off this path with long sets of contemporary music, it is returning to its roots this year with its theme “American Bandstand.” American Bandstand was the longestrunning musical variety show on television and started nearly a half century ago. Carlos Barillo, CHS’s choral teacher and Blast’s director of 14 years, decided on this year’s theme after the recent death of Dick Clark, American Bandstand’s founder and host. “When Dick Clark passed away last April, I felt compelled to pay tribute to him,” Barillo said. “American Bandstand nurtured my appreciation of different genres, because his program crossed racial boundaries. American Bandstand was a television show that celebrated the music of the time. We got to see visually who the singer was even if we could not afford to go to concerts.” The theme has been received with mixed reviews from cast members. While some are having trouble identifying with the older songs, others believe that the show is better without the addition of Top 40 tunes. Senior Kevin Shin, for example, believes that while the show will please an older audience, the cast is having a difficult time relating to the songs because they are so unfamiliar. “I think it’s going to be really cool for older people to watch, like grandparents, so that they can go back to their memories and such,” Shin said. “But when it comes to young people, I don’t know. I like some of the songs because they’re songs we haven’t heard before, but I don’t know if we’re that excited about it.” Other students, however, are more excited. Senior Shannon Sweeney believes
that eliminating contemporary music was a great decision because cast members in recent years fought over who would get to sing the most popular songs. This year, she said, the cast is free to focus on the quality of the overall performance instead. “The more modern songs we have in the show, the more excited Blast members are to get those songs, and the more upset they get if they don’t get to sing those songs,” Sweeney said. “By taking them out, everyone’s kind of evened out, and
the fact that it was in the wintertime, but this year, we’re all resigned to the fact that it’s in the winter, so we’re more focused on just making it a great show,” Rigaux said. “The attitude is better.” The show has also undergone a change in organization. Barillo decided to step back and allow the cast more creative control. In previous years, he was involved in every aspect of the performance. “I’m here just to guide them to success,” Barillo said. “I allowed them to create, and I mold it into a show piece.”
PHOTO BY EMILY BIRNBAUM.
Students rehearse almost daily to perfect their dance moves. everyone has the same kind of music. It’s gotten rid of the conflict. The quality of the show is a lot better.” Blast’s appeal to CHS students has always been more than the songs. Students also like to see their friends on stage. According to Erik Rigaux, rooting for one’s peers is enough fun to draw a CHS crowd. Last year, Blast changed from a spring to a winter production. Not everyone was pleased, especially seniors who were forced to juggle the college application process and rehearsals. This year, however, the performers have decided to accept the production’s new schedule. “Last year was the first time we’d done it in the winter, so last year more of our energy was focused on being irritated at
According to company manager Maddie Krueger, this new hands-off policy has given her and the other leaders more influence and responsibility. “The fact that the parents and Barillo are not as involved makes my job and the other leaders’ jobs very important,” Krueger said. “I’m his passageway to them, so if things need to get communicated, I tell them. If things need to get scheduled, I’m in charge of scheduling.” Blast is not the only performing arts organization experiencing major changes. Both Showstoppers and Simply Irresistible, Barillo’s show choirs, have decided to increase the number of after-school rehearsals. By request of the students themselves, they now meet once a week rather than roughly once a month. As a
result, Blast has one less day a week to rehearse. According to Krueger, three months is already a relatively short amount of time to put together a production as massive and time-consuming as Blast. This new scheduling conflict has further intensified this time crunch. But the performers haven’t let it slow them down. “I think that, with the time that’s been given, these performers are doing a fantastic job,” Krueger said. “It’s not a lot of time, and it’s a lot of stuff that they have to remember, and they have to get done, but they’re doing it all.” All the while, tech has been busy pulling together the lighting, sound system and set. According to tech intern senior Evan Cook, tech has undergone two major changes: increased attention to safety regulations and involvement in set design. This year, because tech interns seniors Cook, Emily Potter, Duncan Seguin and Steven Miller have all expressed an interest in a future in set design, tech advisor Scott Selman allowed them to essentially design American Bandstand. “Tech started actively working on Nov. 7, but the student interns have been designing the set since the beginning of September,” Seguin said. Additionally, since the April 2012 backstage fire, all of the students involved in tech have been sure to pay more attention to safety regulations. According to Seguin, this new adherence to strict policies has made their work slower, but is worth it. Overall, this year’s Blast promises to be as extremely well-done and powerful as former years, if not even more so. Parents, grandparents, teachers and students alike should all attend. “It’s going to be a good year of Blast,” Sweeney said. “We’ve put a lot of time and effort into it—everyone here loves what we’re doing. We’re working to please the audience so we want an audience to please. It’s going to be a very high-quality show.”
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The ‘Observer’s’ guide to holiday shopping
By Elizabeth Campbell Production Editor
Do you love the holidays but never know what presents to get everyone? We’ve all been there. Have no fear, for I have scoured the Internet and the holiday magazines (I am currently nursing a paper cut), in order to bring you a list of great gift ideas for all age groups. Best of all, they’re completely affordable.
Grandparents
Our grandparents are a consistent source of love and support in our lives, and the holidays are a perfect time to show appreciation. Anything personalized and heartfelt will get the message across, especially a picture of you, you with them or you with your siblings. Put it in a nice frame they can put in their house, which gives them a reason to brag about their great grandkids to their friends. You can take the picture yourself and buy a frame from a discount retailer like Kohl’s or Target. Another option is to get them coupons they can redeem for time with you. The coupons could be for going out to eat or for help with an electronic device. These may be cheesy, but grandparents love them and you can make them with just some paper and nice handwriting. Bottom line: any present having to do with you or the time they get to spend with you will light up their faces.
Parents
You can almost never go wrong with jewelry for Mom. Bangle bracelets are very in this year, and you can get great ones from bougainvilleaboutique.com for $31 if you use the promo code OPRAH. Or try fancy lotions or soaps to help your stressed out mother relax. Look at the store Lush at Montgomery mall for soaps and Sephora for lotions. Tea or coffee are great choices too, and paired with a mug adds a little boost to the present. If your Mom is into entertaining, consider a porcelain bowl and matching tray set at Macy’s for just $20. She can use this to store her favorite dips at her next house party or on game day.
Try something tech savvy for Dad. Look at what devices he has and see what pairs with them. If he has an iPad, for example, get him a case or cleaning set. You can also check out the website newegg.com for more tech savvy gifts of every category. If you know nothing about technology, have no fear, another option is available. It’s getting colder and few things make a person grouchier than not being able to hold the steering wheel. Having to choose between feeling in your fingers or working your touchscreen phone is one of them. Get your Dad a pair of the new gloves with fingertips that allow people to work touch screen devices.YoucanfindthemonAmazon.com and at most department stores.
Little Siblings, younger cousins, or just cute youngins
Although sometimes annoying, these little loved ones are always there to make you smile. It’s time to return the favor this year with some great gifts. A general rule of thumb is that anything that shoots or lights up is cool. Things that do both are even better, such as the line of Koosh guns which fire soft balls into the air, ranging from $11-$25. In addition, anything from Nerf is awesome (this is true for all ages, not just the young people). If you are afraid of your little person firing at you repeatedly, as this is a very real possibility, you can also look at the now-expansive line of Crayola products which allow you to draw anything you can imagine on almost any surface. Check out Toys“R”Us for the Crayola Marker Airbrush and Crayola Sketch projector, both for $20. When in doubt, simply walk into a Toys“R”Us. Whatever toy you want most will most likely thrill whatever child you are shopping for (and yourself, so you might want to buy two).
Teens, adolescences, or a favorite Observer writer First things first: the number one gift
guaranteed to please whatever teen you’re shopping for is cash. Everyone wants it, but is never sure how to ask for it. This is me asking on behalf of all teens—please give us cash for the holidays. If you want to get an actual item, however, I have some ideas for you. Number one: a Swiss Army knife or Leatherman. This may seem like a bizarre gift, but they are actually incredibly useful. The most basic Swiss Army Knife starts at $14.95. You can find them at REI. Another popular item with the students at CHS is scented pocket hand sanitizers. This may seem like a weird holiday gift, but a set of these simple bacteria-destroying gels can bring a smile to a teen’s face. You can find them at Bath and Body Works; a set of five costs only $5 (my personal favorite is Island Margarita). You can also get concert tickets to your teen’s favorite band if they are touring in the area. These can be pretty expensive, but if you get a group together to split the cost it becomes more manageable and will be sure to light up your teen’s face.
Munchies
If you are truly lacking in the funds department, have no fear. You can always make your holiday gifts. You probably already have most of the ingredients in your kitchen and the few others you need can be found at your local grocery store. Just search the recipe for whatever treat you’re making. People are always happy to receive a cute cookie or cupcake. You can decorate with different colored frosting or sprinkles to really make them holiday themed. Simply put them in a container with a bow and you have created a delicious and original holiday present. My final two pieces of advice for you is first to trust your gut—if it seems like a cool gift, it probably is. Also, and most importantly, don’t stress out over finding the perfect gift. The holiday season isn’t about who got who what, but about enjoying the holiday atmosphere, your friends and your family. So happy holidays, CHS. I hope it’s a great one.
PHOTO BY ELIZABETH CAMPBELL.
Gift giving ideas include an iPad case, tea, Nerf gun, cash or framed picture.
Students promote men’s health with Movember By Skylar Whitman Staff Writer
Many students think of November as a month when it is socially acceptable to let their facial hair grow freely, but a charitable foundation called “Movember” claims to have started this well-known occasion. Movember, founded in 2003 in
Melbourne, Australia, is a charity event in which men, and some women, stop shaving during November in order to fund and raise awareness for men’s health issues, specifically prostate and testicular cancer. Movember is the only official mustache-growing charity event in the world. “Our tagline is to ‘change the face
PHOTO BY SKLAY WHITMAN.
Junior Harrison McCabe is growing his facial hair in honor of his grandfather.
of men’s health,’” said Tom Whiteside, director of grassroots engagement for the Movember movement. At CHS, allowing facial hair to grow untamed during November may be a daunting task, but it is worth it because it represents a national charity. “You lock away your razors and let your hormones do the work,” junior Erik Wang said. Not shaving for a full month visually expresses the importance of men’s health and supports those whose health problems are overlooked. “My grandfather died of prostate cancer before I was born,” junior Harrison McCabe said. “I am doing it in honor of him.” The Movember website helps unite participants and gives them ways to communicate with others and help with donations. According to Whiteside, the movement spread to North America and Canada in 2007 and gained worldwide momentum in 2009. After registering on the Movember website, members can post pictures, videos and communicate with other members around the world.
According to Movember.com, participants become “walking, talking billboards” for the 30 days of November in order to raise awareness for the “often ignored issue of men’s health.” CHS students began participating within the last few years. “I heard about it through watching people do it over the years at Churchill,” senior Ryan O’Donnell said. In addition to communicating on the computer, a free Movember app for Apple products and Android is available in the app store. According to the Movember website, app members can recruit other members, track their donation progress, view men’s health info and more. October is dedicated to breast cancer awareness and women’s health, but men’s health issues are rarely publicized. Movember is one way for men to realize that their health is just as important as women’s. “I believe that it is important to raise awareness for men’s health concerns,” McCabe said.
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The busiest time of the year has arrived once more: the holiday season, filled with shopping, traveling, food, family, friends and, now, with the added bonus of a Doomsday prediction. People have been predicting the end of the world since time began, and often it is picked up by the public. For example, the Y2K scare had many convinced that computers would crash and humanity would cease existing on Jan. 1, 2000. Then Ronald Weinland, former minister of the United Church of God, predicted more recently that the world would end on May 27, 2012. Obviously, none of these days marked the end of humanity or the world, and it is most likely that December 21, 2012 won’t mark the end either. The selection of this date started with the discovery that the Mayans, an ancient South American people known for their startlingly accurate predictions, had a calendar that stops at the Winter Solstice of 2012. This calendar is the backbone of the apocalyptic predictions. However, recent archeologists have
Features discovered a Mayan Calendar that extends far past 2012 and makes no reference to the end of the world. Now that the Mayan Calendar is no longer supposed to end, the claims have lost their credibility. According to a FAQ guide on NASA’s website, Doomsday was initially predicted for May 2003, when another planet was supposed to collide with Earth. When nothing happened, the date was moved to December 2012, which coincided with the end of the Mayan calendar. According to NASA, no scientific events predicted to occur anytime this year pose a threat to the world’s safety. The earth has been okay “for more than 4 billion years,” and is not prone to immediate change. NASA may claim that there is nothing to worry about, but many worry that since NASA is a government funded program, they are not prone to reveal their secrets. Some people have been viewing the major national disasters that have occurred in the past few years as signs that the world is going to end; whether the disaster is actually major, such as the earthquake in Haiti or just bizarre, such as the minor earthquakes in Maryland, all of these events have caused
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Thursday, November 29, 2012
quite a stir. The recent disaster, Hurricane Sandy, has sparked controversy because it damaged places normally unaffected by hurricanes: New York City and New Jersey. This rekindled the fire of Doomsday predictions based on Internet rumors that these events all occurred in the 2009 thriller, 2012. In actuality, New York City was not flooded in this movie, but in the 2004 disaster thriller, The Day After Tomorrow. This movie was exploring the possibility of a modern Ice Age, not the end of the world. In addition to record-breaking storms, locations all over the globe experienced record-breaking low and high temperatures. According to Accuweather, seven out of the last 10 summers in the U.S. and Canada have had a higher average temperature than the 62-year average. Yet, we must consider humans altering the earth, as well as the earth’s constant shifting, as a cause of these disasters. According to a CNN article, people are living in places previously unoccupied, and altering these areas, leading to potential disasters. The most popular rumor, however, to justify the apocalypse
is that zombies will take over. According to another CNN article, a man in Miami assaulted a homeless man in May 2012 and attempted to eat his face. The police had to shoot the man, or “zombie,” multiple times in the chest before he stopped. This was not an apocalyptic zombie attack however, because the man was later determined to be on a powerful and dangerous hallucinogenic drug, “bath salts.” A scary story, but apocalyptic? Probably not. Other little things seem to point to the end, like when added together, the date of the attacks on the World Trade Center (9/11/01) and the date of the tsunami and earthquake in Japan (3/10/11), equal 12/21/12, or December 21, 2012. Despite economic, political, social and natural events that may seem to mark the end of our world, no real signs that we are in for destruction are evident, and a logical explanation exists for all these occurrences. People should most likely go out and get their holiday shopping done and prepare for the new year because Dec. 21 and the days after will most likely come as usual, though you might want to stock up on some extra Twinkies and baseball bats just in case.
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CHS students celebrate Adoption Awareness Month
By Jordan Janis Fact Checker Katherine Michael Staff Writer
their parents as any other child. “We are really close, and I talk to them about everything,” Miller said. “If I have a question about my adoption or I am feeling a little down, I can talk to them, and they’ll tell me anything I want to November is National Adopknow.” tion Awareness Month, a month Though Pflieger sometimes gets dedicated to raising awareness “the feeling that I was abandoned for children in foster care. This as a child,” he is comforted by the month began with a Presidential fact that his parents treat him as if Proclamation in which President he is their own. Barack Obama recognized the Miller sometimes finds that importance of National Adoption students will make offensive and Month and continues with recogthoughtless remarks to her about nition dinners, special events and her situation. public awareness campaigns at the “Some people make fun of me, national, state and local levels to and it’s kind of depressing that call attention to children in need you don’t know if your parents are of families. The official National looking for you or if they’re even Adoption Day is the Saturday bethinking about you,” Miller said. fore Thanksgiving. Teenage years are a time of rap“It’s cool that we are getting id change and challenges. Those PHOTO BY JORDAN JANIS. recognized for being adopted,” who know their parents can turn said junior Lia Sohl, who was born Sophomore Oliver Pflieger, who was adopted as an infant, with his adoptive family. to them to understand themselves in China and adopted as a baby. better, but because Sohl doesn’t “I feel like my birth parents made a uneasy about it, but now they’re fine Although it may seem difficult smart choice to let me be adopted,” Sohl with me going,” Pflieger said. “They know her real parents, she does not to be raised by a family that does said. “I think she was doing the best for want me to be cautious about it because have this luxury. not share one’s genes, adoption me. I appreciate that from her.” “If I have a challenge in life that brings they don’t know how my birth mom is has positively impacted the lives of me down, I always assume it’s my birth Some of these children even plan going to react to seeing me.” some CHS students. Several believe to meet up with their birth parents Pflieger’s mother, Julie, is sup- parents’ fault and that they passed that that being adopted has made their when they are old enough. portive of what her son wants to do. down to me, and I wish I could tell them lives better by providing them with Pflieger was adopted from Chi“ I ’ v e a l w a y s t h o u g h t i t w a s that it frustrated me,” Sohl said. opportunities that they would oth- cago because his birth mother could Oliver’s choice once he turns 18,” There is evidence to indicate that erwise not have had. being adopted strengthens relationnot afford to take care of him. His Julie said. It is a adoption was Freshman Julia Miller was ad- ships with adoptive parents, because common set before his opted from Russia when she was they saved the child from a potenBecause my mother gave me misconb i r t h , s o h e six months old. Like Pflieger, Miller tially devastating situation. up, I have opportunities that ception “If I was never adopted, I would was adopted has never met her birth parents but she didn’t have. She gave me for those the day he was wants to meet them and visit her probably be just sitting in an orup for adoption so then I could who live b o r n . W h e n birthplace. She plans to hire some- phanage,” Miller said. “I’m very have a better life.” with their grateful for being adopted into a Pflieger turns one to search for them. biologi18, his par“I think it would be enlightening wealthy family and being able to Sophomore Oliver Pflieger ents will tell for her and interesting for me as have shelter.” cal parents to assume Adoption is more common than him his birth well,” Miller’s mother, Lisa, said. that adopted children resent their mother’s last name and he plans to “I’m fine with it if it helps answer the average person would assume. parents for giving them up. On the locate her in Chicago the summer some questions for her.” National Adoption Awareness contrary, many believe that their before college. Although both intend to find their Month strives to give a voice to kids parents were doing a good deed. “At first my parents were kind of birth parents, they feel as close to like Pflieger, Sohl and Miller.
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Macklemore, Ryan Lewis energize 9:30 Club crowd By Matthew Reback Staff Writer
reference to Malcolm Gladwell’s book, Outliers. The book proves through case studies that it takes approximately 10,000 hours to achieve mastery in any specific craft. Performing live since the age of 17, Macklemore, now 29, has spent his fair share of time
When he rapped about his success in “Victory Lap,” the audience couldn’t help but feel happy for all that he has accomplished. When he championed the rights of gays in “Same Love,” it felt sincere. Crowd favorites included “And We Danced” and “Can’t Hold Us.”
duo, because lyricists receive the majority of the credit in any rap group. Lewis’s beats, though, add a unique factor to the music. They are responsible for the head bobs Macklemore and Ryan Lewis and the fist pumps that captured have continued to shock the music the audience. Macklemore’s voice world. Not only are they unsigned, is what resonates with listeners and but they also record, mix, edit and carries the message ship all of their albums behind each song. from one 500 square foot The concert room. Since Macklemore’s closed with “Irish 2005 Language of My Mind, Celebration,” which the duo has taken a pure is a bit slower than do-it-yourself approach to the preceding tracks, gradually build up a sizable but it still engaged fan base. the audience just as The duo’s following much. The track is exploded after the release primarily concerned of their new album, The with Macklemore’s Heist, Sept. 4. In just the pride in his Irish first week, the album sold heritage, which 78,000 copies independently was infectious to and topped iTunes charts. the crowd that sang It also made it to #2 on the along as the concert Billboard chart behind only drew to a close. Mumford and Sons. The duo’s music The five-month long separates them from world tour promoting The so many other rappers Heist started in September today because their and has sold out in all but content exposes who three venues so far. they are as people and D.C.’s 9:30 Club was lucky what they value. They enough to host the group Nov. are too preoccupied 13. Macklemore and Ryan with churning out some Lewis brought an unmatched of the most original and energy that sustained the thoughtful music, rap roaring crowd’s unyielding or otherwise, to concern enthusiasm for the duration themselves with of the concert. For three full PHOTO BY MATTHEW REBACK. comparing themselves hours, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis never slowed down. Macklemore’s lyrics and Ryan Lewis’ beats kept D.C.’s 9:30 Club crowd going for three hours Nov. 13. to other artists. The dynamic duo Because most of Ryan Lewis’s The titles do each song justice, as exudes swag in everything that they contribution to the group is done perfecting this art, and it showed. When Macklemore paraded they are both fast-paced tracks do. Whether it is rocking an absurd fur prior to the concert by making beats, he would often come up to the front around the stage in “Thrift Shop,” that are all about letting loose, coat or one of the craziest hairstyles of the stage and help Macklemore he allowed audience members to forgetting how you are seen by seen in the rap game, Macklemore pass up their most extravagant others and just having fun. and Ryan Lewis are proud of who pump up the crowd. Macklemore often overshadows they are and what they do, and their Macklemore opened with the clothing such as faux fur hats song “10,000 hours,” which is a and rainbow colored sweatshirts. Ryan Lewis, the second half of the fans can’t help but be proud, too.
Teen entrepreneur’s clothing line taking off
By Lauren Price Online Arts Editor Independent clothing lines offer a breath of relief from the cheap, threadbare shirts found at mainstream outlets such as Forever 21. These lines, though marginally more expensive, often have stylish designs and reliable products. One notable line is Jawbreaking, which can be bought at shopjawbreaking.com. It was also recently announced that the line would soon be available at Zumiez stores nationwide. Jawbreaking was started four years ago by then-high schooler Aly Silverio, and it is quickly rising to fame in the music world. “I started Jawbreaking solely because I didn’t want to get a real job,” Silverio said. “I liked the idea of being my own boss, so I started the jewelry company in 2008.” Celebrities such as Ed Sheeran, Pierre Bouvier (Simple Plan), Liam Payne and Zayne Malik (One Direction) have been seen wearing the brand’s shirts. The brand even sponsors bands, such as Megan&Liz and Paradise Fears. The designs are “heavily inspired” by Silverio’s “life and music.” What sets Jawbreaking apart? The answer to this question can be found in its unique designs. The “To the Moon and Back” line was recently released, offering prints that range from skulls and
aliens to motivational quotes (such as “Shoot for the Stars”) to “I Vote for Pizza,” a patriotic shirt perfect for the recent election. Other designs include the thoughtful print stating that “Not All Who Wander are Lost,” or the standard Jawbreaking logo, a circle with a pyramid design inside. The shirts come in a variety of styles such as crewnecks, crop tops, tank tops, bodycon dresses and off the shoulder T-shirts. They range from about $30 to $50, including shipping costs. Though they are more expensive than an average shirt from other retailers, the quality of the product is much higher. “The cost of labor and production isn’t cheap, but I hate to make prices so high for customers,” Silverio said. “But I think that for the quality and the dedication that goes into making each and every single shirt, it’s reasonably priced.” It is inspiring how a successful clothing brand can be started by one teenage girl with an idea, then progress to where it is today. Jawbreaking is already making waves with celebrities and will continue to do so as its line of products expands and becomes even more popular. “Obviously, I’ll continue to expand and keep doing bigger and better things,” Silverio said. “We have a few things up our sleeves that I can’t say yet, but we’ll just keep surprising everyone.”
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Thursday, November 29, 2012
Novel writing competition challenges students, teachers By Jessica Lee Staff Writer
On Halloween, instead of trick-ortreating with my friends, I was finishing my NaNoWriMo story outline. NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month, an annual online challenge that attracts hundreds of thousands of participants. Aspiring writers, such as first-time participant sophomore Kim Rooney and AP Psychology teacher Jared Pulliam, and professional writers alike try to write a 50,000 word novel in the thirty days of November. “It’s pretty stressful working on NaNo,” Rooney said. “I didn’t start on the first day, so I had a lot of writing to do over the weekend to make up for that. Still, it’s worth it. I love writing, and I love a challenge, so this is a perfect mix of the two.” Pulliam has won NaNo twice (a winner being anyone who reaches the target word count in time) since he began participating four years ago, but writing has been a part of his life ever since childhood—he once hoped to pursue it as a career. “I gave up on the idea when I went to college and was instead hell-bent on being successful and doing ‘the right thing,’” Pulliam said. “Our society has a way of thinking of artists as cop-outs and those who pursue art as people who are not applying themselves.” I participated and won NaNo last year, and I intend to do so again this year, despite an even busier November schedule than in 2011. Despite the crazy, insensible mess of a manuscript NaNo often chokes out, some people have received literary success after publishing their NaNo novels. The most well-known example is Sara Gruen, whose Water for Elephants was adapted into a film starring Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson. Regardless, the hope of publication and literary stardom is rarely the reason people attempt NaNo.
“NaNo motivates me as a writer to have been trying to do the same because other people have completed thing at the same time, because the it, which means that I can complete it site took forever to load. By the time if I work hard enough,” Rooney said. I managed to get on, it was already “Still, it’ll probably end up inspiring past twelve. Drat. me even more after I finish because I Lee: 4,448 Rooney: 0 Pulliam: 4,300 feel like if I can finish this, there’s no Day 5: This long weekend came at excuse for me to give up on any other an opportune moment for me NaNostories I’m working on.” wise. I finished this unit’s Psych NaNo authors produce novels of all reading, completed the third act of kinds and genres. My story is an epic Hamlet and toodled on my clarinet fantasy with kings, necromancers and for a bit, and I still had the entire afassassination conspiracies. Rooney ternoon and evening to work on my plans to tell the tale of a traveling carni- novel. Now all I have to do is figure val whose ringmaster steals its summer out how medieval marriage arrangeworkers’ souls. Pulliam is writing about ments work. a small town that suffers from a violent Lee: 16,815 Rooney: 6,482 Pulliam: 8,100 attack, and the families of those lost who Day 6: Corinne and Aidon are acting must cope with the aftermath. so lovey-dovey and sweet, it’s giving me From Nov. 1 to 30, or until I reach cavities. Surprisingly, I like it. I usually 50,000, I’m maintaining a log of daily try to steer clear of romance scenes in word counts, story updates and whether my writing, but NaNo brings out the I’m cracking under pressure from school worst in me, apparently. and other aspects of real life. Included are Lee: 21,425 Rooney: 12,005 Pulliam: 10,600 the daily word counts of fellow wrtiers Day 7: I discovered, to my relief, Rooney and that Corinne is not a Pulliam. Mary-Sue. A Mary-Sue In order to reach 50,000 Day 1: is a female character words by Nov. 30, one must I woke up who is flawless and write 1,667 words daily. That’s with a cold. awesome, and everyabout a 4.5-page, double-spaced That serione around her loves English essay.” ously imher, often at the cost of peded my alienating readers. The flow of thought in the morning. Fortu- speed and craziness of NaNo means sacrinately, I felt much better around lunch- ficing literary depth for the sake of word time, and I managed to arrange the meet- counts, so I’m happy to see I’ve managed ing of my two main characters, Corinne to add some flaws, namely self-centeredand Aidon. I also made a new goal to beat ness and being spoiled, to Corinne in Mr. Pulliam in NaNo. Whether or not he order to round out her character. knows I am racing him is a different story. Lee: 25,325 Rooney: 15,127 Pulliam: 10,600 Most Wrimos use the NaNo website to Day 10: Saturdays are usually update word counts, but Pulliam has for- good NaNo days for me. I had to gone that, so I’m receiving daily updates practice clarinet and did some pardirectly from him instead. allel parking, though, and I wasn’t Lee 2,653 Rooney: 0 Pulliam 1,800 sure if I would be able to get as much Day 2: My protagonist, Corinne, writing done as I wanted. In the end, meets a fortune teller, and I ended up I pulled through (my word count wasting precious NaNo time creating surged during the 11 o’clock hour), my own version of tarot. This hap- and Corinne reunited with Aidon afpened around 11:50 p.m., so I was ter a short separation (unfortunately frantically trying to access the NaNo for them, I couldn’t resist throwing website to update my word count. a sour note in their meeting). But a bunch of other Wrimos seem Lee: 34,029 Rooney: 20,040 Pulliam: 14,800
“
Day 12: While on campus at a college I was visiting, I sat in on one of the college’s freshman writing seminars. The professor passed out an information sheet on the eight steps to properly structure any kind of story. So far I’m doing pretty well. On the bus ride home, they played a Heath Ledger movie, so I didn’t get as much writing done as the day before. But I did give Corinne a new pet kitten to make up for her new nemesis. Lee: 41,040 Rooney: 24,566 Pulliam: 17,600 Day 14: My school club has some important dates coming up, so I devoted a lot of time to finalizing details and getting ready for our upcoming events. That’s two days in a row I haven’t met the recommended daily par of 1,667 words. I probably won’t beat last year’s NaNo time (I reached 50,000 on Day 17), but I’m still way ahead of the total average. Today, Corinne’s bodyguard gave her a self-defense lesson, which involved pointy sticks and rotten tomatoes. Lee: 43,606 Rooney: 32,624 Pulliam: 21,900 Day 16: We’re studying Hamlet in AP Lit. right now. I think it’s getting to me. I accidentally wrote a line from Hamlet into my novel today. Corinne, meanwhile, gets to play with Aidon’s kid brother, Winston, who’s kind of a snot. But he’s sixyears-old, so it’s okay. He’s in the preoperational stage, so he’s egocentric. (Oh, Psych, not you, too!) Lee: 47,816 Rooney: 35,224 Pulliam: 23,500 Day 17: NaNoWriMo, I am your champion. And I finished on the exact same day as last year. Just in time, too. I’m starting to go nuts. But to be honest, I’ll probably keep at my novel for the rest of the month—or even longer if necessary—until it’s complete. Corinne and Aidon’s relationship is on tenterhooks right now, and evil little me is planning on making it even worse. To be continued? Lee: 50,090 Rooney: 39,101 Pulliam: 23,500
Thursday, November 29, 2012
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Thursday, November 29, 2012
The Observer sifts through the hype and the hip to bring you topics worth Tweeting, talking and texting about.
This popular video game released its fourth game in its series Nov. 6. Halo fans should look forward to the return of protagonist Master Chief battling his enemies. Teenagers should be thrilled because the world’s favorite bloodsuckers have returned for their final movie. Edward Cullen and Bella Swan return with Bella in her new vampire form. Breaking Dawn came out Nov. 15.
Ke$ha has finally returned to the music scene with hit song “Die Young.” Ke$ha maintains her electro-beat with the hit which has given adolescents another track to rock out to.
The Maryland Terrapins opened their season with a 72-69 loss to University of Kentucky. Although the Terrapins had a disappointing season last year, they have brought in multiple freshmen in an attempt to help the team thrive once again.
It’s official. Urban Outfitters has opened its new location in Montgomery Mall. Customers are sure to be thrilled with the unique and eccentric styles this store provides.
Thursday, November 29, 2012
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Chef Geoff’s offers wide variety of fine dining By Ilana Berger Fact Checker For anyone looking to show their buds some love—taste buds that is—Chef Geoff’s is the place to go. Chef Geoff’s became wildly popular with its first two locations in D.C., and after spreading business to Virginia and Chevy Chase, the up-and-coming restaurant opened its fifth location on Rockville Pike Sept. 12. Since then, it has served up to 700 people per night. With its elegant minimalist décor of red and white painted brick, Chef Geoff’s caters to a mature business atmosphere while also providing an exciting alternative for family dinners. Dressing down may be tempting, but be sure to leave the sweatpants and t-shirts at home. Customers usually stick to dressy-casual, so a nice pair of jeans should suffice. Recommending specific drinks and dishes on Chef Geoff’s menu is not an easy task, because everything is so delicious. The menu offers both appetizers and snacks: quick nibbles for just one person. Another notable menu option is Wednesday’s bacon bar.
PHOTO BY ILANA BERGER.
Chef Geoff’s recently opened another franchise on Rockville Pike. The restaurant has five locations total in D.C. and Maryland. One unique feature on the menu is its selection of homemade sodas. The Orange Creamsicle Soda, in particular, manages to capture the creamy feel of an orange creamsicle but maintain the fizziness that makes it a soda. The nottoo-sweet, but just sweet enough, drink is sure to please.
As for appetizers, the Hoisin Duck Confit with pickled vegetables and scallion crepes is perfect for any adventurous foodie. Wrap up some sour crunchy tomatoes and onions in a fluffy crepe with spicy sticky duck, and you’ve got yourself a mini gourmet burrito. One of the restaurant’s most
p o p ular main courses, the Pan Roasted Rockf i s h , i s f a m o u s f o r its flawless mixture of textures of hearty bacon, broccoli and the flaky neutral taste of the rockfish. A must on the menu is the incredible cinnamon-covered yucca fries. Yucca has a similar texture to baked potato but is slightly more bitter. Last, but not least, comes the dessert menu. The Peanut Butter and Chocolate Tart is a heavenly oasis of creamy dark chocolate placed in a crumbly chocolate crust with some chunky peanut butter dabbled on top. If that isn’t enough to temp diners, try the Deconstructed Carrot Cake, which is essentially a make-your-own dish. The cake, cream cheese frosting, raisins and nuts are laid out separately on the plate in tangy raspberry syrup. Creating the cake is an activity in itself. Overall, Chef Geoff’s is an impressive restaurant with friendly staff and quick service. While it does have top notch food, Chef Geoff’s is fairly pricey. Appetizers range anywhere from $8-15, entrées are $17-30 and desserts are $7-8. Be sure to make a reservation to avoid a long wait.
Potomac residents warm up to China Jade Bistro By Julia Greenzaid Online Breaking News Editor Unfortunately, nature dictates that human beings are uncomfortable with change. It seems that after the closing of Jade Billows in Cabin John Shopping Center, CHS students are reluctant to welcome China Jade Bistro in its location. However, one must embrace this Chinese and Thai restaurant’s new beginning as it holds plenty of promise with its relaxing atmosphere and quality ingredients. China Jade Bistro is a new independent business that opened October 2012. This restaurant has high expectations to fill after moving into the previous location of Jade Billows—a Chinese restaurant with a fairly large crop of loyal customers. Upon entering the restaurant, it is clear that China Jade Bistro does not just serve the traditional Chinese restaurant staples. China Jade Bistro offers the perfect balance of commonplace and exotic meals with its contemporary
vibe, square plates and team of experienced chefs. Priding itself on its modern dining environment and savory Chinese cuisine, China Jade is an ideal location to satisfy Chinese food cravings with its delicious traditional crispy beef, sesame chicken and Thai-style noodles. While China Jade succeeds in offering a variety of dishes, its crispy fried shrimp, chicken dumplings and General Tso’s Chicken could use an improvement with their seasoning and sauces. What China Jade lacks in taste and flavor, it makes up in service and convenience. The moment customers step into the restaurant, they are instantly greeted and feel the friendly, welcoming ambiance. Open until 10 p.m. or later, China Jade Bistro can be ordered online via chinajadebistro.menuninja.com and ready to pick up in 15 minutes. While change is not easy to accept, students should embrace the new atmosphere of this Chinese restaurant with optimism toward the potential of its menu.
PHOTO BY JULIA GREENZAID.
China Jade Bistro replaced Jade Billows at Cabin John this fall. While it may not live up to the latter’s name, it has potential.
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Thursday, November 29, 2012
‘Observer’ bros make 2012-13 NBA expert picks NBA basketball has returned a little more than a year after the highly publicized lockout that shortened the 2011-2012 season, and fans are getting ready for a full year of professional hoops. The Observer experts share their picks for some of NBA’s most coveted awards and titles.
Ben “Foxy Mama” Fox
Guransh “The Turbanator” Singh
Ben “Quatro” Schick
Spenser “The Chief” Easterbrook
Most Valuable Player (MVP)
Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City)
Chris Paul (Los Angeles Clippers)
Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City)
Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City)
After a tough Finals loss last season, Durantula is coming into this season with a vendetta, much like Lebron James did two years ago. Durant has already risen as a star in the NBA, and this is the year that he will be recognized for it.
CP3 is making the Clippers successful even with the worst head coach in the NBA, Vinny Del Negro. He carries the team in the clutch and makes an offensively incompetent player, DeAndre Jordan, look decent.
Anthony Davis (New Orleans)
Damian Lillard (Portland)
Despite a strong rookie class, Anthony Davis is a player who stands alone. He has come into a starring role on a young Hornets team. There is simply no comparable rookie to Davis.
Lillard is overlooked for big man Anthony Davis, but at the end of the year, Lillard’s eye-popping stats and surprisingly efficient and explosive play will prove that he deserves ROY.
Oklahoma City Thunder After an amazing season that ended in a heartbreaking loss to the Heat in the Finals, the Thunder is poised to complete its ascension to the top. More experience and a strong group of core players should bring the franchise its first title since moving from Seattle.
Miami Heat
Rookie of the Year (ROY)
He puts the team on his back. I’m a Lebron-hater and not When the Thunder are in dire afraid to admit it. need of points, they go to KD. At 6 feet 10 inches, with a shooting range from half court and a stronger frame than last season, KD will be MVP.
Anthony Davis (New Orleans)
Bradley Beal (Washington)
Anthony Davis will bring When in doubt, always bet the dominant big man on a Wizard. personality back to the NBA. He can knock down any jump shot, and his ease around the rim is uncharacteristic of a man his size.
ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF FLICKR.
NBA Champion
Dwayne Wade has finally recuperated from a grueling season. Chris Bosh has never looked better with Lebron James and Wade; and has improved his outside shot, giving Lebron has even more space to attack the basket. The chemistry the Big Three have built will prove insurmountable for the rest of the league.
New York Knicks
Oklahoma City Thunder The Knicks are going to win My brain tells me to go with the NBA Championship be- the Heat, but my heart says cause of their unselfish offense. Thunder. The thing holding the Knicks back for the past two years has been ball-hogging. This season, head coach Mike Woodson has found a way to get his players to trust each other and share the ball. Winning a title will be a slam dunk.
Thursday, November 29, 2012
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theObserver
Winter Sports Previews Boys Basketball
Girls Basketball
Despite losing a number of contributing seniors from last season, the boys basketball team hopes to build off of last year’s successful 19-9 record. The team will most likely be underclassman heavy with little varsity experience. Seniors Dominique Williams and Bryant Wheatley will lead the team as the younger players learn their role on the team. “With a young team, there is likely going to be some bumps in the road, as we say, ‘Next man up,’” coach Mathew Miller said. “And I think our guys are ready for the challenge.”
After going 22-5 last year, girls basketball will look to fill the shoes of offensive leader Sarafina Arthur-Williams and defenders Jill Beauregard and Kim Deausan. According to head coach Katelyn McMahon, the team will depend on seniors Erica Lindsay and Alaine Thronson offensively while senior Shira Racoosin and sophomore Japria Karim-Duvall will lead as the team’s guards. The Bulldogs will also look to senior Katie Jenkins for her leadership and defensive skills. “I think we should be at the top of our division,” McMahon said. “We need guards in particular to step it up. It will be very competitive, but we have a strong senior class. We have a very balanced team.”
By Zoe Forster Sports Editor
Hockey By Katie Gauch Production Editor
The club hockey team came out on top with a dominating win against Walter Johnson Nov. 16 to start the season, extending last year’s undefeated regular season streak. “We won 10-1 and obviously played pretty well, but we didn’t play a very good team,” senior captain Zach Satin said. After a 10-0 regular season record last year, the CHS club hockey team is determined to replicate the same success. The team lost seven seniors due to graduation, but the Bulldogs
By Stacey Stein Editor-in-Chief
PHOTO BY GURANSH SINGH.
Juniors Matt Moshyedi and Dylan Mervis pratice their ball handling.
are not worried about the players they lost, as senior captains Satin, Zach Arden, and Connor Martin will continue to lead the team. Despite their undefeated record, CHS was eliminated earlier than expected in the playoffs last year, so the team sees room for improvement. The Bulldogs ultimately hope to repeat their state championship run on the 2010-2011 season. “State Championship is definitely our goal,” Arden said. “Anything less is a disappointment. We have the talent to do it for sure, and if we get the work ethic from everyone we will win.”
PHOTO BY BEN FOX.
Senior guard Shira Racoosin will lead the team at guard.
Swimming and Diving
PHOTO COURTESY OF BRANDON RODDY VIA REACHFORTHEWALL.COM.
The boys will look to Austin Cole and Harrison Gu to lead the team. By Julia McDermott Archives Manager
PHOTO BY MATT RAAB.
The hockey team hopes to repeat its 2010-2011 state championship.
Wrestling
After the girls took home a metros title and the boys placed second at states last season, the swim and dive team will have to make up for the loss of 22 seniors, including Eric Eig, Shannon Ridge, Colin Asbury, Sammy Lee, Joseph Beida, Chris Wysocki, 100 fly state champion Natalya Ares and diver Tim Faerber. This season’s top swimmers include seniors Austin Cole and Michelle Illig as well as junior Harrison
Gu and sophomores Elaina Gu and diver Kali Becker. The team will depend on these swimmers to bring in points to beat rivals Wootton, Whitman and Walter Johnson and possibly win metros for a second time. “I am extremely excited to work with the swim and dive team again here at Churchill and hope that we get the chance to repeat some of the amazing things we did last year,” head coach Brendan Roddy said. “We have an amazing freshman group coming in with some new talent that will help our team this upcoming season.”
Indoor Track By Angad Kanwal Production Editor Jared Saltzberg Staff Writer
PHOTO BY BEN FOX.
Wrestling expects to improve this year after losing few seniors. By Josh Denicoff Production Editor The CHS wrestling team hopes to start off its 2012-2013 season in a big way. CHS lost several seniors to graduation, but the team does not think its winning ability will be hindered by their absence. Several upperclassmen have stepped up and hope to make an impact on the team’s record in place
of the graduates. Every wrestler has his sights set on a winning record by at least the end of the season and some hope for more, including champion junior wrestler Hunter Sutton. “For me, the goal is to go undefeated and win my third state title,” state champion wrestler junior Hunter Sutton said. “I think the players to look out for on our team are junior Adama Kieta, sophomore Alec Mcgee, junior Zach Raizon and senior Matt Schleslecker.”
This winter, the indoor track team looks forward to building on its recordbreaking season from last year. Led by star sophomore runners Lucy Srour and David Fitzgerald, the team is optimistic about its prospects, even after losing top athletes Zach Weinstein, Will Conway, Nadim Elhage and Taylor Caulk. This year’s boys team is headed by a senior class that has good depth and can compete in a variety of events. The girls team is coming off a strong season, propelled by 1600 meter state champion Srour. “We were second in the county last year and this year we hope to be top five,” senior Johnny Hein said. “If we run strong relays and have good individual performances, we should reach that goal. Srour won the state title in the 1600 meter indoors last year, and hopefully she can again if she stays healthy.”
PHOTO BY BEN FOX..
Junior Emma Coleman will work to be one of the team’s top sprinters.
Volume 37 - Issue 4
Thursday, November 29, 2012
By Matt Raab Zoe Forster Sports Editors
PHOTO COURTESY OF DOMINIQUE WILLIAMS.
Senior Dominique Williams has played on varsity since he was a freshman. He led the team in receiving yards this year.
Most talk of athletes generally begins with discussion of statistics. But for senior football captain Dominique Williams, the problem is where to start. Williams is a star on both the football and basketball teams, and his contributions to each of these sports is difficult to measure. Dominique was inspired to play football by his father, Willie Williams, who played professional football for the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Seattle Seahawks. “I started playing in the fourth grade because I saw my dad play and he influenced me,” Dominique said. Three years ago, Dominique was selected to both the varsity football
and varsity basketball teams, a rare feat for a sophomore. His dedication to two different time-consuming sports is noticed by athletes on any team he plays on. “He’s really hard working and has a ‘never give up’ attitude,” senior linebacker Jake Cantor said. “Players look up to him as a role model for how to conduct themselves in the proper manner.” Dominique has been faced with a particularly difficult schedule as a result of his roles on the football and basketball teams, whose seasons often overlap. “I go to practice, and when I get home I start my homework right away, because I know I don’t have a lot of time,” Dominique said. According to Willie, who is also an assistant coach on the CHS football team, Dominique understands that
education comes before football. “Being Dominique’s father and coach, I can teach him everything about the game of football, but it’s up to him to take it all in and apply it to his game,” Willie said. “As far as off the field, I become that father to keep him grounded and not to let him get too high on himself.” The presence of a coach on and off the field helps provide a strong structure, and according to Dominique, this setup has helped him throughout high school. “My dad coaches me like one of the other players,” Dominique said. “He doesn’t put too much pressure on me, and he helps train me before tryouts.” Since his sophomore year on the team, Dominique has become a leader through personality and example. He led the team in receiving yards, with 392, and touchdowns, with 4, this year. According to Willie, Dominique’s love and dedication for his sports can be seen both at games and every day at practice. “His work ethic and dedication is outstanding,” Willie said. “He is committed to doing whatever it takes to help his team win. He understands what it takes to compete every Friday night.”
Teacher triathlete to compete in Maccabi Games By Manisha Singh Online News Editor CHS resource teacher Brielle Dana has recently qualified, among only 20 other U.S. candidates, to represent Team USA in the Maccabi Games, or “Jewish Olympics.” She will be promoting her Jewish pride and awareness of Israel in the triathlon. Every four years since 1932, Jewish athletes from all over the world are chosen to participate in this thirdlargest sporting event in the world. The 19th Maccabi Games will be held in Israel in July 2013. “I swam as a kid, ran track in high school and at UMD and finally got into 100 mile century rides biking,” Dana said. “Last year I decided to put it all together.” Dana has been participating in triathlons for about a year now. She has placed first in her age group in the Giant Acorn (Olympic Distance: 2:25:48), Fort Ritchie (Sprint Distance: 1:33:21) and Iron Girl (Spring Distance: 1:31:37) triathlons. “Scoring high for my age group probably put me over the edge for my selection committee in the Maccabi games,” Dana said. “I only needed to submit three times, but I put in six.” According to Dana, training for the triathlons takes up a lot of her time, but
PHOTO COURTESY OF BRIELLE DANA.
Resource teacher Brielle Dana is one of 20 U.S. candidates who will represent the USA at the Maccabi Games. She must raise $6,000 by February. it is something she loves doing. Dana wakes up at 5 a.m. Monday through Friday to begin her daily workout routine. She alternates days with 45 minutes of swimming, running or lifting
weights before school. After school, Dana does her second workout of the day, and on weekends, she either bikes or runs with her friends. “Brielle is one of a kind when it
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comes to her dedication and commitment to the sport of triathlon, and the intense training that goes with it,” said her boyfriend of two years, Marc Lizmi. Not only does Dana have a group of friends that she trains with, but she must also follow a healthy diet of proper protein, vegetables, whole grains, and of course, fluids. “Hydrating is the most important,” Dana said. “It really helps me recover and overall, perform better.” According to Dana, she has a lot of support not only from friends and fans but also from her parents and boyfriend, who plan on going with her to Israel in July. “I think she’s driven by the love and support she receives from her friends and family, along with a constant desire to push herself,” Lizmi said. In order to raise enough money to send herself to Israel, Dana has applied for a scholarship through Maccabi and plans on hosting a silent auction. Dana has raised $475, but she still needs a total of $6,000 by February to participate in the games. She has very optimistic hopes for her performance at the Maccabi Games next year. “I want to win first place not just for my age group but for overall female,” Dana said. “If not, I will know that I had tried my best and performed to my best ability.”
Girls 12/5 @ Damascus Boys 12/5 vs. damascus