Smoke Signal Issue 12, March 17, 2012

HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY! Check out the St. Patrick’s Day feature to find out what students would do for a pot of gold.

SEE page 6-7

the Volume 67, Issue 12

THE HUNGER GAMES Students fill with excitement as the hit book series, “Hunger Games” come to theaters on March 23.

SEE page 11

Stafford High School

Smoke Signal

33 Stafford Indian Lane, Fredericksburg, Va

March 17, 2012

Controversy arises from Invisible Children

BY KARRI CHESTNUT Business Manager Recently, campaigns to “stop Joseph Kony” or “bring Kony to justice” have been going viral over the internet, catching the attention of millions and being advertised over the internet and social networking sites.

Many people have been moved by the campaign and have contributed their money

to Invisible Children in hopes of helping the children in Uganda.

In reality, the organization is a scam and is extremely misleading on where the money goes and what the real issues are.

Invisible Children supposedly helps children in Uganda that have been kidnapped and forced to become soldiers. Peo-

ple have recently started campaigning to stop Kony, who was the leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army.

The LRA and the poor children in Uganda are real issues, but the Invisible Children campaigns are completely outdated and cannot account for more than half of their money.

The Invisible Children organization travels to many places collecting money by selling

Competition

bracelets, and sending around volunteers with buckets accepting money.

Research has proven that last year, they raised $8,676,614 and only 32 percent of these funds went to direct services.

A large majority of the funding went to pay staff salaries, transportation expenses and film production.

“They promised the money would help the children go to

school,” senior Leland Brooks said.“They guilt tripped me and manipulated me into giving them money.”

Further research has confirmed that Kony is not even in Uganda and that Uganda is in the phase of rebuilding.

Invisible Children played Kony out to be a malicious dictator that is still in Uganda.

SeeChallenge:page 2

“It was definitely designed to make people laugh,” Joey Sorrentino said. “It was just a good time.”

Will Janey wins Mr. Stafford Mr. Stafford Competition The stunt round was a favorite as the crowd laughed the contestants on.

Lewis writes novel ‘Stolen’

BY RUSS KAUS Staff Writer Senior Will Janney was named Mr. Stafford and junior Lexington Bowler was named Mr. Junior Stafford at the annual Mr. Stafford competition was hosted by the SCA this Saturday. Junior and senior boys came together to compete for the title of Mr. Stafford, and Mr. Ju-

nior Stafford.

The competition included an interview round, talent round, trivia round and a stunt round.

In the talent round, each contestant was given a chance to show their best talent to the judges.

“I’m played “Amazing Grace” on guitar this year,” senior Pat Davis said. “It’s something I

have wanted to do since freshman year.”

Some of the other talents preformed included a trumpet solo by junior Alex Kniffen and the beat boxing of senior Tyler Weisbeck who won the talent round.

“I’ve been beat boxing for about a year and See STAFFORD: page 7

BY LELAND BROOKS Page Editor

Trying to swing a hula hoop was serious business One hundred thousand children go or not so serious round.

missing just in the United States in any given year. 41% of those children we do not know about and 27% end up dead.

“Three boys were on their way home from Tom Thumb, a convenience store, when a strange man stepped out of his car with a mask and a gun,” principal Joseph Lewis said. “He had told Trevor and Aaron to take off for the woods or he would shoot See LEWIS: page 2

Contestants down a soda in record time during the contest Friday night.

Mr. Stafford shines: B.H. Kim and Dan Jobrack escorted by Georgia Felopolous stand on stage with Will Janney and Patrick Davis escorted by Amy Quantrille before the final announcment that Will Janney was Mr. Stafford 2012. The show included a stunt obstacle course as well as talent and interview rounds for the annual contest held Friday night, March 9. Photo by Emily Pearce.

countdown

Calendar

Apr. 9 -14 Spring Break Apr. 19, 20, 21 Alice in Wonderland

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days until GRADUATION

32

what’s hot

days until Spring Break

Spring Break

Challenge Day

Challenge Day brings tears, unites school

Braids College Acceptance Letters Incoming Spring Clothing Prom Dress Shopping

index

Helps students speak up about their problems

BY ASHLEIGH POWELL Business Manager Several minutes into group discussion tears were rolling and friendships were being made. Just fewer than 200 Stafford students gathered over two

days to participate in Challenge Day last week.

Challenge Day was inspired by the hit MTV show “If you really knew me,” where MTV visits various schools to help students open up to each other

and overcome their problems.

“We were going to organize a Challenge Day last year after Mr. Green and I visited North Stafford’s Challenge Day,” sociology teacher, Ryan Middleton said. “Unfortunately we didn’t

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days until Prom

days WRITING SOLs

Feature..........4-5 News...........1-2 Opinion.........3 Sports.............8 Spotlight.......10 Student Life...6-7 Entertainment....9

Issue 12 March 17, 2012

News

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www.staffordsmokesignal.com

Lewis provides inpiration: Principal Lewis came to the creativ e writing teacher, Jimmy Andrews’ room to educate them about his novel that deals with child abduction. He was hoping to inspire the creative writing students to pursue their own dreams.

them, and took Jacob Wetterling with him.”

The story of the abduction of Jacob Wetterling, who was 11 at the time was a family friend of Lewis and was what had inspired him to write a novel called “Stolen.”

“I had contacted the Wetterling family about this since I was trained to counsel and had spent three to four years outreaching to schools, families, and to those dealing with child abduction,” Lewis said.

“Stolen” is about a number of kids who live in the Midwest of the United States who experience abduction, sex trafficking, and how they get back to their families if they end up alive.

With lots of effort and hard work, Lewis had contacted over 70 agents with rejections from about 60.

“I had a couple of agents who wanted to read the first couple pages, 50 pages, or even 100 pages,” Lew-

Podlesny wins

BY KARRI CHESTNUT Business Manager

Molly Podlesny took first place in the mail-in contest for journalism news feature stories with her piece about Ali Wahdan.

“I was really surprised that I won the Best in Show for my news story because I didn’t even know Gill sent my story in for the competition,” Podlesny said. “I was glad the story that won was about Ali because it meant more.”

The Southern Interscholastic Press Association in Columbia, South Carolina took place on March 2 through March 4. All together 14 students from journalism attended the conference on a nine hour bus ride leaving at 2 a.m.

Friday morning. Smoke Signal adviser Sue Gill was unable to attend the trip due to her being sick and the group was accompanied by Shirley Bunch, the school accountant.

At the conference, there were awards given for previously mailed in stories and also designs that were brought to the competition. Of the stories that were mailed in, junior Molly Podlesny won “Best in Show” for her news story on Ali Wahdan. Nick Henze also won an honorable mention for his comic strip.

Overall, the Smoke Signal was rated Superior at the competition.

is said. “I even had an agent who rejected the book outright by saying that he didn’t find killing children entertainment and claiming that anyone who did was sick.”

After finding an agent, they helped Lewis create a book in which focused on the lives of the characters and not just another cop book.

“This company almost dealt exclusively with nonfiction with a very small number of folks who write fiction, so I felt very lucky that they chose me,” Lewis said.

Lewis even talked to officers and forensic scientists to make sure he was correctly using certain criminal and investigative terminology and tactics.

“I am hoping that this book educates the reader as much as it tells a fun story of hope and survival and not sad and depressing,” Lewis said.

On the first day the students went to a four hour class of their choice and were able to choose from online, design, leadership, or photography. On Friday night the students attended a talent show that anybody at the conference was able to participate in.

“The talent show was pretty interesting,” senior Emily Griffin said. “There were a lot of guys on acoustic guitars butthere was unusual stuff like choreographed dance routines and group skits.

The winner was a guy who played the accordion and he was my favorite. ” On Saturday, the first class started at 9 a.m. and there were many different classes to choose from. The students also had the opportunity of listening to a guest speaker, Steve Johnson, who is a photographer for important companies such as National Geographic.

“The trip was worth the long ride,” sophomore Dani Raymond said. “It made me feel more confident as a journalist. I went last year but I definitely enjoyed this year better because I knew what to expect.”

Competition Top was a competition at SIPA that many students participated in on Saturday as well. Podlesny, Toni Sorrentino, Raymond, and Ana Nosal participated in the competition that lasted for four hours. The students were asked to lay out a page from scratch.

They had to write a story to go on the page and take pictures for it. Even though they were only given four hours, the students were able to complete the task.

On Saturday night, the students attending the conference attended a formal banquet where scholarships were given out. After the banquet, the students had the opportunity to attend a rave that lasted until 11 p.m.

Overall the students had a good experience and were able to learn new skills and ideas.

“The classes that I took there really opened my eyes to the world that journalism has to offer,” sophomore Megan Corsano said. “I thought it was a great experience for anyone that has an interest in journalism or any other type of publication.”

Lewis is still in the process of trying to find a publisher to print his suspense and thriller novel.

“I find it very inspiring that our principal can also find time to write a book because I would think that he already has too much to handle,” senior Qarima Anbiya said.

Lewis is also writing “Changed” which is the sequel to “Stolen.” It is talking about how lives are different after being abducted.

With the help of many, Lewis is able to make this novel a big success.

“I would certainly recommend this book when it comes out, not only as a very exciting story but as a warning of the types of things that happen to many teens every year,” English teacher Jimmy Andrews said. “I have recently finished the whole book and could scarcely put it down.”

Smoke Signal Patrons 2011-2012 Super Sponsor

Gyst & Mrs. Jeremiah M. Johnson T. Mark Johnson, MD Tracey Chestnut Teresa Sedlacek Millie Stadelmyer Betty & Rusty Dodd Theresa Puckerin Ann Holland Kellie Ebeling Mark McGraw Gold Patron Katherine Drumm Paula Chestnut Meg & Dave Bohmke Shirley Louisor Tony G. Owens Felton Family Lori Yelverton Shila Patel Mr. & Mrs. Dwight Roberson Joseph &Chifang Pelham Silver Patron Mark & Tracey Woodyard Jennette Lock Kimberly Vaughn Mike & Kathy Baker Thomas & Lisa Skeer Coker Orthodontics Dana Stonesifer Cathy Pearce Austin Enfinger Linda Hazelgren Marie Cunningham Heidi Kamei Doreen Brindise Nancy Sorrentino The UPS Store Mariah Erickson Stephen Lisco Steven Mitchell Cindy Knutson Angela Donald Soon Kim

Ellie Pare Nick Hudson Kirstin Whiteside Scott Larson Dr. Gregory Kauffman Beverly Byram Barbara Lampert Don & Linda Thomas Alyssa Sims Adam & Jeri Brown Morgan Silver Elisabeta Ferruku Jillian Weisbeck Patty Fenwick Shannon Coche Barbara Humphrey Todd Nosal John Romarello Nancy & Skip Brandon Nancy Hames Kay Braun Tyler West Margo & Scott Jones Melanie Sutherland Dan & Judy Dugan Madi Teaster Nicole Reeves Civil Air Patrol Michael & Kelly Walker Moriah Briscoe Mike West Brittni Wright Robert Moore Linda Mixon Carl Baker Kaylene Ahlm Debbie Cooke Mildred Reeves Kristina Varela Jessica Turner Rachel Perrine Sue Sherman Ryan Smith Jason Stine Annette Seal Sonja & Blair Scott Jim Green Derek Hayes

Judy Mears Maura & Sean McGraw Bruce Phillips Josephine Billingslea Emily Byers Austin Pearson Karen Lenox Jackson Carmichael Earl’s True Value Hardware, Inc. Greta Sweatman Cheryl Potts Rebekah Kim Louisa Amenitson Monica Santiago Bronze Patron Chuck Pedigo Sheila Giscard Jeff McClure Blue Patron Amanda & Joseph Hugger Bruce & Mary Brown Amy Clower Paty & Jason Stine Norris Dickard Katy Baker Leah Blake Serena Portillo

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CHALLENGE DAY: students and teachers share stories Continued from page 1

have enough time or the money needed to have the event.”

Along with Middleton, guidance counselors Brett Green and Mary Worhatch helped organize the event.

“When I left Challenge Day people came up to me and asked me if I was okay because it was ap-

parent I had been crying,” junior Harper Lovegrove said. “I told everyone that they had to go whether they thought they had a normal life or not because it’s great to be able to support strangers.”

On the first day about 70 students, all juniors and seniors participated in the eye-opening experience. The second day attracted more participants to reach a total of about

117 students.

“We started the day doing ice breakers and then heard the two instructor’s personal stories,” senior Alisha Bhagat said. “But my favorite part was a line game we played where if a statement or question applied to you, you had to step forward.”

After the personal stories were told, the students and several teachers divided into small groups

to dig deeper in discussion.

“I didn’t really think the small groups were awkward because I had a really nice group,” junior Mary Wellman said. “I even became best friends with one of the people in my group.”

Middleton and the other organizers wish to hold Challenge Day again next year but stretch it over a four-day period.

They wanted to let in as many students as possible so next year they wish to change the registration process so students have a heads-up before the actual event.

“People have criticized that students won’t honestly take things away from the experience,” Middleton said. “But it’s up to the students whether they choose to ignore what they learned or ex-

perienced.”

Overall, positive feedback has come from Challenge Day. Some students even posted statuses or tweets claiming it was the “best day ever” or how much they appreciated the experience.

Teachers and students are looking forward to Challenge Day next year.

INVISIBLE CHILDREN: controversy grows Continued from page 1

On July 8, 2005, the International Criminal Court named Kony the number one criminal in the world because of his crimes in Uganda.

As a result, Kony fled the country and has been hiding since 2006. He has been hiding in a hole like Saddam Hussein did and has about the same amount of power, which is almost none.

Also before Kony went into hiding, he tried to initiate a peace treaty to stop the invisible war in Uganda.

The Invisible Children advocates for direct military intervention and their money supports the Ugandan government’s army and various other military forces. The Ugandan army are riddled with accusations of rape and looting, but Invisible Children defends them and argues that their army is “better equipped than that of any of the other affected countries.”

Two years ago Invisible Children visited Stafford and presented their story in hopes to raise money for the children in Uganda. Many of the students were moved by the presentation and wanted to help the foundation by giving money. Little did the students know, the money that they contributed didn’t even go to the children.

The organization showed a movie that had an impact on a lot of people.

“I almost cried at the movie,” Brooks said. “I just remember that they showed a lot of kids who were in danger and were living in poverty.”

Right after the presentation, the organization began collecting contributions and selling bracelets. Many of the students bought bracelets and gave money as an attempt to help the children in Uganda.

“I was kind of upset because I spent my money to help what I thought was a good cause,” senior Sammy Krejdovsky said.

Feeling uncertain about the Invisible Children, English teacher Jimmy Andrews went back to class and had his creative writing students research on them. They found three important things that were red flags.

One, that Kony initiated a treaty five years before, so the issue was completely outdated.

Two, when the money was added together there was $1.5 to $2 million that had not been accounted for.

And three, a blog was found that said the people putting on the show got the money that the students contributed and that the volunteers in the cafeteria with the buckets got to keep the money

that was put in their bucket.

Many students were falsely encouraged to help the poor children in Uganda and in the end it was a scam.

Most of the information given during the presentation was false and was further contradicted in research. The organization also refuses to show their books and information on where the money goes to anyone.

“I always check to make sure where the money is going and request the information,” Andrews said.

“My advice to all Stafford gets involved:This flyer can be seen around the school in teenagers that want support of Ivisible Children. to spend money on charity or to be concerned with a cer- Sources: http://blog.joerenken. tain issue is this: always search the orgacom/2012/03/07/invisible-childrennization with the word scam after it. If it is a scam there will be several websites and-kony-2012-exposed/ (More sources available on www.smokesignal.com) that can explain why.

Opinion Spring season brings on senioritis

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Issue 12 March 17, 2012

As the school year progresses and spring starts to show, students often find themselves forgetting any schoolrelated work that they might have.

Instead, students spend time enjoying the long awaited sunny weather and all around atmosphere of the new season. This is most commonly known as Spring Fever.

Spring is one of the most popular seasons

mainly because of the weather that comes with it. Especially after a long four month period of dull and dreary (and snow-less) winter, spring is highly anticipated by students and faculty alike.

Plus, everyone knows that it’s way more difficult to be upset when the weather is so beautiful.

Therefore spring doesn’t only make everything look good; it also makes everyone feel good.

Also, another positive of the new season is the start of spring sports.

The beginning of a new sport is always exciting.

Students get to see who will be representing their school and which athletes will stand out during the season.

However, Spring Fever comes with a few consequences as well.

Spring is also the time of year that senioritis starts to surface in most upperclassman, that is for

those of them who haven’t already caught it.

Senioritis swarms the school around this time because the second semester has started and most, if not all, motivation that seniors have to work hard in school has vanished.

Seniors start to feel this way because most have already been accepted to promising universities. Once acceptance is given, any interest in schoolwork is lost.

Another downfall of spring, mainly for underclassman, is all of the upcoming application deadlines for the following year. Applications are available for numerous activities. These activities, such as clubs like NHS and Link Crew, require applications that take a lot of time and effort.

Applications are also necessary for most AP classes, and electives like Photo Journalism. These tedious tasks take time away from the enjoyment of spring, but they are worth it in the long run.

Spring also means that there are only about three months left of school.

With all the new excitement going on, it’s understandable why student’s attention span is slowly slipping down the drain.

To be honest, I’m reasonably certain that’s exactly what happened to him. Trust me, this guy’s a ninny (you’ll find out why in a second), and because I’m tired of assigning people variables, I’ll go ahead and give him a fittingly ninnyish nickname: The Steeb.

So he looks at me and begins the discussion.

The conversation went something like this (my memory’s not perfect): Steeb: Do you know why you’re in here?

Me: Well, I was in family life with Mr. Alton, and I bleepity bleep bleep bleeped and got caught.

Steeb: Well, it says here in the referral that you also bleepity bleep bleep bleeped.

Me: (embarrassed) Oh yeah, that too.

If you want to know what I did, ask any junior who went to Dixon. All I’m going to say here is that it was definitely PG13 (but not R), stupid, and unacceptable. I deserved to be in there.

But see, here’s where things start to veer from the norm. I walked into that office thinking two

things: Don’t cry, and be respectful.

Heck, I took this beyond respect. I was sucking up to the guy.

Every time he called my actions inappropriate, I shot back with “I agree”, or “Yes, they were.” Each time he warned of parents being offended after their kids blabbed about me at home, I responded with an “I understand,” or “You’re right.” I wanted to keep my pride by not shedding any tears, while not coming off as cocky or petulant.

Which is why I was surprised by his reaction.

I expected that he’d be pleasantly surprised, recognize me as a good kid who made a stupid mistake, dish out perhaps a one-day suspension, and send me on my way.

That’s not what happened, and this is where I think he was wrong. In response to my concerted effort to be agreeable, he was at first surprised, and then strangely concerned. He kept checking if I thought I did anything wrong. He said things like “I’m not sure you understand how serious your actions are.”

He called my mom and read the referral aloud to her on speaker. And he suspended me for three days.

You might expect that I was a little tee’d off. I wasn’t. I walked out of his office with a strange satisfaction. I knew I had the power in that room, as pompous as that may sound. My refusal to be provoked to emotion startled him, so he resorted to a fairly uncalled for way of taking the power back.

In other words, I determined how I would act. I didn’t react to him; I took accountability for what I did and made a resolution to face the consequences. And this gave me the power in the room. That’s the Secret!

That’s how you come off as one of those awesome, weirdly happy and secure kids! I finally understood.

I’d like to say that I became one of those awesome kids, but I didn’t.

Still, I’m really proud of how I acted that day, and I definitely matured a lot from it. There’s something really empowering about taking complete

The Secret: unleashed Ryan Hazelgren Columnist It’s 2008. I’m seven inches shorter and 50 pounds lighter. I’m in seventh grade, better recognized as The Year Every Girl is Taller Than Me. Oh, and I’m in the assistant principal’s office.

Now, I want to preface my following comments with this: I like to think I’m a reasonably sane individual. I’m not one of those annoying kids that think every adult in the school has taken a personal vow to ruin my life.

In other words, I’m not a punk.

So I’m sitting across from Assistant Principal X. He’s a shifty, forty something man of average height. His eyes are always darting around, avoiding contact with those of others, and they seem to be a little too wide open, as if he’s dealt with one too many punk kids.

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smoke signal staff 2011-2012 Editors-in-Chief Shannon Cooke Emily Griffin Photography Editor Emily Pearce Online Editors Rebekah Kim Dani Raymond

Editors Leland Brooks Molly Podlesny Toni Sorrentino

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Design Editor Bridget Phillips

Page Editors Kirstin Whiteside Megan Corsano Ana Nosal

Copy Editors Emily Byers Kathryn Lenox

Business Managers Karri Chestnut Ashleigh Powell

Staff Writers Claire Adams, Allie Ahlm, Catherine Alfaro, Louisa Amenitsch, Dillon Baden, Jacob Barber, Cody Beacorn, Emily Billingslea, Natalie Bohmke, Luci Braun, Doreen Brindise, Moriah Briscoe, Kiana Burgos, Kirsten Burton, Alexis Bush, Travis Byram, Jackson Carmichael, Shawnail Cavender, Shannon Cocho, Megan Corsano, Erin Cunningham, Ridge Dodd, Amber Donald, Elizabeth Drash, Katherine Drumm, Megan Ebeling, Bradley Elmore, Austin Enfinger, Mariah Erickson, Shannon Fenwick, Ergys Ferruku, Starla Foosness, Tamara George, Michael Gordon, Caitlin Green, Tyler Haley, Kimberley Hall, Katelynn Halstead, Ryan Hazelgren, Hannah Haugen, Alexandria Hinkle, Patrick Holland, Billy Howell, Maggie Howell, Megan Humphrey, Taylor Jones, Bonnie Kamei, Eric Kauffman, Russ Kaus, B.H. Kim, India Kithcart, Valerie Lampert, Jessica Larson, Taylor Lisco, Courtney Mears, Erin McGraw, Kyle McGuire, Chris McMillen, Melissa Mercer, Caelynn MillerKeyes, Kirsten Mitchell, Maddi Mixon, Brittany Nealy, Patrick Oliver, Ellie Pare, Chadni Patel, David Pearson, Kelly Pedigo, Palmers Pelham, Abbie Pennington, Audrey Perrine, Marta Perrine, Taia Pollock, Charlotte Potts, Elizabeth Puckerin, Brynne Reeves, Isabella Rivas, Julianne Rogers, Rachel Rolando, Anthony Romanello, Hannah Rowlette, Tori SantiagoTroutman, Sydney Scott, Kayla Seal, Sheldon Sheinall, Brendan Sherman, Alyssa Sims, Cara Skeer, Morgan Silver, Bridget Stadelmyer, Blayne Stine, Marissa Stone, Tyler Sullivan, Madison Teaster, Justin Thomas, Austin Thompson, Ryan Thompson, Chiann Todd, Jessica Turner, Chris Vaughn, Kristina Varela, Elizabeth Walker, Jillian Weisbeck, Taylor West, Tyler West, Taro White,Taylor White, Brittni Wright, Matt Yelverton Photographers Kerstin Felton, Amber Griffith, Muhamad Khalid, Austing Pearson, Kaitlin Shacklette, Eric Stapleton, Keana Young Videographers Alisa Posey Jordan Reed Taylor Sutherland Advisor Sue Gill, CJE The Smoke Signal is an open forum for student expression of the student body of Stafford High School. Unsigened editorials reflect the collective opinion of the Smoke Signal staff. Signed editorials represent the opinion of the auther and do not necessarily represent the opinons of Stafford HighSchool, its administration, or staff. Signed letters to the editor not exceeding 250 words may be submitted to room W206. Anonymous letters will not be printed. The Smoke Signal reserves the right to edit letters for grammar and content and to refuse advertisements.

control and responsibility over yourself. If you can’t tell already, I’m not what you’d call “accustomed” to that feeling.

I highly recommend you try this. Just, for one day, pretend that you’re unstoppable. Don’t be rude, but just think about only what you can control. It feels awesome. It feels like this poem (well,

only the last stanza): It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll.

I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.

If you can find a more badass poem out there, I’d love to hear it.

Making the Grade Spring sports first game of season

Any game! Any sport! First day of any season is great but spring season says it’s going to be SUMMER soon and that trumps everything. Check out soccer---lacrosse---tennis----spring track----baseball---softball----doesn’t matter! Go to a game! Get in the spirit! Check out Stafford’s athletes who put it on the line every day of the season! You could be surprised and actually LIKE it!

Challenge Day

Students voluntarily participated in a day-long experiment which required patience and courage. The day started with ice breakers, and students began to open up to strangers in an unbiased manner. The day was referred to by many as “life changing”.

No breaks in March

March: The most dreaded month of the school year, due to the lack of days off. Especially after having at least one day off every month, this modification in the calendar comes as a big adjustment to all students, especially seniors. The irony becomes obvious, because this is also the month where most seniors catch a case of senioritis, that is if they didn’t have it already. Don’t be surprised if you hear of seniors creating their own days off.

Talent Show

Unlike last year, most of the 18 performances shown this year were all very similar. Students mostly sang or danced, except for one of the few unusual talents. Senior Russ Kaus and junior Jason Lovett spent their act free running and pogo sticking across the stage, leaving audience members on the edge of their seats. Despite the similarity, every act took a lot of courage and talent from each member.

Bipolar Weather

This weather has become one thing that pretty much everybody can agree on: annoying. Monday, March 5: it snows for hours leading everyone to believe school would be let out early (which it did not).

Wednesday, March 7: Sunny with a high of 64 degrees. This huge difference is quite frustrating. Either give us a good snow day, or give us a constant stream of sunny days. None of this bipolar nonsense.

New AP guidelines

Advanced Placement classes for the 2012-2013 school year have changed dramatically. Starting next fall, AP classes will not require an application, a teacher recommendation, or summer homework. Also, students who pass the AP test with a three or more will in fact receive a $100 reward. Most students of the graduating class of 2012 feel cheated by these new guidelines but it’s great for class of 2013.

Spring Swing

The Spring Swing can definitely be considered as a success. Attendance was higher than planned, and students enjoyed taking part in learning how to swing. Students also enjoyed dressing up in swing styled clothing, finding dresses and suits that matched those of the early 1900s, when the swing style of dancing was most poplar.

Issue 12 March 17, 2012

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St. Patrick’s day allows reflection

BY DOREEN BRINDISE

Staff Writer

We all remember St. Patrick’s Day from when we were kids; searching in patches of weeds for a four leaf clover, eating those gold chocolate coins and pinching other kids who forgot to wear green.

When we were younger, holidays were so important to us. We used to shuffle around drug stores with our list of classmates shopping for Scooby Doo valentines, stay up all night to hear Santa pattering around downstairs, pick out our very own pumpkin from the patch to carve and use safety scissors to cut out construction paper shamrocks.

It seems like the older we get, the less important holidays become, especially St. Patrick’s Day. Besides tossing on a green shirt and drawing a Sharpie shamrock on our hand, many of us don’t even recognize the holiday.

Maybe it’s that the older we get and the more we learn about how hard the real world actually is, we start to get bitter and throw out the old things from our childhoods. In between school and jobs and drama with friends, we come to the conclusion that we don’t have time for silly kid things like St. Patrick’s Day. Many Stafford Students share family traditions of St. Patrick’s Days from their childhoods like making green pancakes or pretending to be a leprechaun, complete with a green paper top hat.

Looking back I realize that these holiday traditions were the happiest parts of the year. I’m not Irish, but I remember always looking forward to St. Patrick’s Day. It’s sad how the little things like St. Patrick’s Day seem to get lost in the chaos of our busy lives now that we’ve all grown up, but maybe that’s just what we’re missing.

It seems like things just get harder and harder; money’s getting tight, competition to get into college is getting tougher, and everything is changing.

But not all things have to change.

We can still go watch a St. Patrick’s Day parade or say Gaelic phrases to each other, or even just sit around the dinner table and tell your family why you’re so ‘lucky’ to have them.

High school is a time for growing up and maturing, but that doesn’t mean we can’t still hang on to a few things from our childhood, even if it’s just a day.

So go to the store and pick up some green face paint and have a happy St. Patrick’s Day.

www.staffordsmokesignal.com

BY NICK HUDSON Staff Writer Every year, whether it’s decking out in green clothes, searching for clovers, or avoiding getting pinched, March 17 comes around to bring cheer to well over half the world.

Even though Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland and celebrated religious figures around the world, the factual information about his life and times is quite vague. Most information about St. Patrick has been twisted, embellished, or simply made up over centuries by storytellers, causing much ambiguity about the real life of St. Patrick.

However, there are some elements of his story about which most scholars agree to

Irish celebration traces to saint be true. Saint Patrick’s Day is a cultural and religious holiday which is internationally celebrated on March 17, but originated somewhere along the west coast of Britain, possibly in the Welsh town of Banwen.

“Some of this lore includes the belief that Patrick raised people from the dead,” said Jerry Wilson, of Wilstar.com.

“He also is said to have given a sermon from a hilltop that drove all the snakes from Ireland; of course, no snakes were ever native to Ireland, and some people think this is a metaphor for the conversion of the pagans.”

In his thirties, he re-

BY ABBY PENNINGTON Staff Writer

cause they paint their hair orange and try to look as Irish as possible,” sophomore Maria Rivas said.

One of the U.S. traditions on Saint Patrick’s Day is to pinch people who aren’t wearing green to represent the leprechaun who supposedly pinches people who aren’t wearing green.

“On Saint Patrick’s Day I wear green so that I don’t get pinched,’ sophomore Lauren Williams said. “ Everyone gets dressed up and it is fun to see all of the

turned to Ireland as a Christian missionary. He died at Saul in 461 AD and is buried at Downpatrick. From then on, the day of his death was remembered with celebration, The first year St. Patrick’s Day was celebrated in America in 1737 in Boston, MA. The first official St. Patrick’s Day parade was held in New York City in 1766.

Wearing green, eating green food and even drinking green beer is said to commemorate St Patrick’s use of the shamrock - although blue was the original color of his vestments.

spirit.”

Many students like to dress up on Saint Patrick’s Day even though they aren’t Irish. Wearing green is actually a U.S. tradition because in Ireland, green is actually known as an unlucky color.

“Every single Saint Patrick’s Day I wear complete green and carry around the biggest box of Lucky Charms that I can find,” Junior Megan Eik said. “I have been doing this since I was in the fifth grade and it has always been my favorite holiday.”

BY ALEXIS BUSH Staff Writer

Corned beef

Shamrock Shake?

Leprechauns are one of the many Irish traditions on Saint Patrick’s Day. A leprechaun is a mythical fairy or Irish elf. The leprechaun is said to be a tricky old man in a green or red coat that comes around on Saint Patrick’s Day and causes mischief.

“I dress up as a leprechaun and run around the school in my outfit,” sophomore Jordan Stramer said. “I wear green clothes and a hat with leprechaun ears.”

Many families join around the table on St. Patrick’s Day to feast on a variety of traditional Irish foods as well as American foods equivalent to Ireland’s.

“We sit as a family and eat corned beef and cabbage,” sophomore Taralynn Martin said.

While most people think that corned beef is a traditional Irish meal, it is not. The Irish meal is actually bacon with cabbage.

“I never knew corned beef was not an Irish dish,” freshman Grace LaFrance said.

While many families eat an Irish meal on St. Patrick’s Day there are also families that do not.

“My family does not eat any Irish foods on St. Patty’s Day,” freshman Makenzie Clower said. “The only thing that I eat that sounds Irish is the shamrock milkshake from McDonalds.”

Another traditional Irish meal families might eat on St. Patrick’s Day is Irish stew. Irish stew is normally made of lamb, or mutton, as well as potatoes, carrots, onions and parsley.

“My family usually spends the morning of St. Patrick’s Day preparing Irish stew,” sophomore Susan Hoffman said. “After we prepare the stew we let it cook in the crock pot all day until we are ready to eat it.”

Irish families also sometimes add leek, a vegetable that is very similar to onion and garlic, to their meals for flavor. The edible part of leek is the stalk.

“On St. Patrick’s Day my family eats Irish sausage, Shepherd’s Pie, fried tomato and corned beef and cabbage,” sophomore Kyle Coyne said.

Shepherd’s Pie, which was first known as cottage pie, it is a meat patty with a mashed potato crust.

Other traditional Irish dishes include goody, a dessert, soda bread and black pudding. Black pudding is normally made up of pig’s blood, parley and other seasonings.

Some traditional beverages found in Ireland are Cavan Cola and Irish breakfast tea. A very popular soft drink that is in Ireland is lemonade. It comes in three different colors, which are red, brown and white. While there are different colors each color tastes like lemon.

Shepherd’s Pie

Traditions

teachers vs. students

BY ERIN CUNNINGHAM Staff Writer

Math teacher Shawn Baker celebrates Saint Patrick’s Day every year in a big way.

When teachers aren’t at school teaching, they have many different traditions they do at home.

To some teachers, March 17 is no different than Christmas or even Easter.

Each year in downtown Fredericksburg, there is a big parade many people attend.

“I am Scotch-Irish so sometimes there is a clash of my heritage,” Baker said.

The Scots wear orange as an insult to the Irish because of their rivalry, so even though Baker is Scottish, he wears green to the parades.

The Scottish-Irish relationship was ruptured at the time of the reformation and since then they have shown a rivalry among many things.

“I enjoy both my heritages but I always wear green and dress up for the parades downtown.”

Baker said.

At the parades, they throw potatoes from the floats.

“Throwing the potatoes is a tradition and you use the potatoes to make food after the parade,” Baker said.

Kristen Brady is another teacher who celebrates Saint Patrick’s Day as a major holiday.

She is of Irish decent as well.

“I always wear green and my cats do too,” Brady said.

Brady makes her cats handmade green sweaters to festively dress them up each Saint Patrick’s Day. Each year on Saint Patrick’s Day, Brady goes to a half marathon in Washington, D.C. with her friends.

“I go to support my friends who run in the marathon,” Brady said. “I don’t always run in it but I always go.”

After the marathon Brady goes home to her parent’s house for dinner.

“My parents make me green eggs and ham on Saint Patrick’s Day,” Brady said. “It’s a tradition I will carry on when I have kids.”

Brady and Baker both keep their Irish traditions alive each and every Saint Patrick’s Day.

Photo by Muhamad Khalid

What would you do with a pot of gold?

www.staffordsmokesignal.com

Traditional Irish dishes uncommon in Stafford

Students share various traditions Saint Patrick’s Day is a widely known holiday and is celebrated by many students in different ways. Saint Patrick’s Day is celebrated all around the world to honor Saint Patrick, a patron saint of Ireland.

Saint Patrick’s Day takes place every year on March 17. Many traditions come along with this well-known holiday.

“It makes me laugh how people dress up on Saint Patrick’s Day be-

1

Issue 12 March 17, 2012

“ I would buy all the nail polish in the world,” Jazymn Dove, Senior

“Buy Facebook stock”

Nathan Berlin, Senior

BY NATALIE BOHMKE Staff Writer Last year a student dressed in a leprechaun costume step-danced in the halls the morning of Saint Patrick’s Day. This student was Kyle Coyne, now a sophomore.

Coyne is one of many students who take pride in their Irish background.

“My mom is 100 percent Irish born and my dad is of Irish decent,” Coyne said. “I went to Ireland over winter break to spend time with my family.”

Saint Patrick’s Day is a religious holiday in Ireland where the Irish give thanks to Saint Patrick for what he did to and for the Irish culture.

“To me, being Irish is the strong beliefs we have, family traditions, and the

rich history we share,” junior Patrick Holland said.

“Saint Patrick’s Day to me is the day that the Irish were saved by our saint and means good times.”

Holland’s entire family is Irish.

The holiday is not about drinking like most Americans think.

“It is a family day,” Coyne said. “They start by first going to church usually in an Irish or Gaelic language, later they go to a parade and then have a family dinner.”

Parades are hosted throughout the United States on Saint Patrick’s Day. “I celebrate myself by Irish step dancing, bringing in Irish candy, wearing green and sometimes being a leprechaun as a joke,” Coyne said. “My family celebrates by go-

“I would share it with my family” Kristy Thompson, Freshman

ing to an Irish restaurant and attending Patty Day parades.”

Remembering Irish roots is also a big part of March 17. “Saint Patrick’s Day to me means a day of everyone having fun and experiencing a different culture,” freshman Maddie Ammons said.

Finding the genealogy of family can be an interesting search.

“My uncle and aunt are really into our genealogy so it usually revives the hunt for old photos and keepsakes from the family we didn’t know in Ireland,” sophomore Elizabeth Wardlaw said.

“We have pictures of my great grandfather’s home and family which are cool to see because they were only a few generations above us, but were so different. “

Photo by Amber Griffith

“Sell all the gold to a pawnshop” Ryan Jones, Junior

“Look for a leprechaun” Makenna Shaver, Sophomore

Issue 12 March 17, 2012

6

Student Life

www.staffordsmokesignal.com

Students explore law enforcement

By Bridget Stadelmeyer Staff Writer For students hoping to pursue a career in law enforcement, the Cadet Program hosted by Stafford County Sheriff ’s Office is very helpful and gives an accurate view of what working in the police force is like.

The Cadet Program offers to give people from 14-20 years old the opportunity to experience what working in law enforcement is really like.

Those who are accepted into the program are able to participate in a large span of activities and procedures alongside sheriffs and detectives.

“The best thing about it is that you interact with the community,” junior Sara Brown said. “We just took the Boy Scouts on a tour of the Sheriff ’s Department.”

The Cadet Program trains students who are interested in a career in law enforcement in procedures like traffic control, crime prevention, investigative techniques and court procedures according to the Stafford

Reaching

her goals: Junior Carolyn Gayle receiving a pin from the Law Cadet Program. The Cadet Program gives potential law enforcers a chance to explore the field. Photo by Emily Pearce.

Sheriff website. The Stafford Sheriff website also says that the program informs cadets about career options they have at local, state and federal levels and involves them in civic events, crime prevention displays and personnel in the Sheriff ’s Office with some non-enforcement

jobs.

“I think the program is perfect,” junior Carolyn Gale said. “It helped me decide that I want to be a deputy and the uniforms are something that make you feel at home.”

When cadets are qualified to move past the training portion of the

program, they can ride with the deputies while they patrol and directly watch them work. Some other activities are participating in scenarios, such as securing a building and learning martial arts to be ready for hand-to-hand combat.

“I think students

should apply because they get to see if it’s something they want to do at an early age, so they don’t go through an academy, get the job, start doing it and then realize it isn’t for them, ” detective Michelle Gibbons said.

Before all of this, however, students must fill out

a two page application to send in to the Sheriff ’s Office and receive a letter of acceptance after their application is reviewed and they are interviewed.

There are several requirements that have to be met, including being a United States citizen and Stafford County resident, maintaining a C average and passing a background check. If students begin this program during high school, they may still participate in it after graduation as long as they attend college.

“I applied because I might have an interest in law enforcement if I don’t go into the military,” freshman Morgan Arrington said.

The Sheriff ’s Office has been accepting a maximum of 25 students into their program since 1973. There are students from many of Stafford’s high schools who have signed up, many enrolled in JROTC, to see if a career in law enforcement is right for them.

Stafford talent through the years

Dancing the night Senior away: B.H. Kim and junior Hannah Lowery choose a spot on the dance floor to practice their swing dancing. Photo by Jim Andrews

Spring Swing huge success

BY JILLIAN WEISBECK Staff Writer

For the first time Student Council hosted the Spring Swing dance this year at the Fredericksburg Country Club on March 3 from 8-11 p.m.

Tickets for the event were purchased in SCA advisor Margaret Bridges Room S205 for $15 from Feb. 20 until the Friday before the dance took place.

Proceeds of the dance will go to raise money for Relay For Life.

Dress requirements were suits for the men and formal or cocktail dresses for the women.

Planning was done mostly by junior SCA chairman Hannah Lowery and retired guidance counselor Paula Williams.

“I am very lucky to have had the help of Paula Williams,” Lowery said.

“She has been the saving grace in this operation,” Bridges was hoping for a good turn out.

“We are hoping we will have 100 people,” Bridges said.

Lowery invested over 40 hours into the planning of this “different” type of dance.

The Spring Swing is a 1940s theme swing dance.

“I hope everyone else will also have an open mind to the idea of a “different” type of dance,” Lowery said.

Forty-five people showed up for the dance this past Saturday.

Sophomore Ashley Hinton learned a step or two.

“The dance was a great way to step away from the normal dances such as homecoming,” Hinton said. “In the beginning we learned the basic steps to swing dancing. It was easy to add spins and dips to it.”

Three hundred dollars were raised to support Relay For Life. This amount exceeded their expectations.

BY PATRICK HOLLAND Staff Writer For many years students have been lining up, trying out, and pouring their hearts out for the sake of the talent show. Students that have participated in the talent show are not just pleased withperforming in it for one year; they keep coming back for me every year.

“I have performed in the talent show since freshman year and I enjoy every second of it,” Junior Lexington Bowler said. “My talent has been singing, I sang West Coast by Coconut Records as a sophomore and as freshmen I sang I Wanna Know Your Plans, by Say Anything.”

Some students have displayed their musical abilities by playing a different instrument each year.

“I have played a different instrument every year that I have been in the talent show, from the guitar to the piano and other instruments too,” Senior Dylan Porter said.

Some participants of the talent show use the show to expose their talents.

“The talent show to me

isn’t just about the fun; it’s an easy way to get out there and noticed for my talents,” Bowler said.

While other students use the show to show their true colors.

“I love the talent show, it is a chance for me to show the school what they don’t see in me every day, it’s my chance to be me,” Porter said.

Before the time of Senior Karaoke, there was the Googa Mooga. The

current students of Staffordhigh school don’t really know what the Googa Mooga was, but are intrigued by it.

“The Googa Mooga was a senior fundraiser that started in the 1970s and ended in 1999,” Drafting Teacher Robert Jett said. “It was a beauty contest in which the male contestants dressed as women and their female escorts dressed as men.”

The Googa Mooga was

considered controversial, and politically incorrect, but despite controversy the Googa Mooga was very successful in terms of money.

“The Googa Mooga was not meant to harm, it was just comedy,” Jett said. “But I doubt theGooga Mooga could ever make a return due to today’s society.”

While a lot of the faculty supported the Googa Mooga, few disliked it and were not comfortable with it.

“The Googa Mooga was enjoyable, but many people found it very distasteful,” History Teacher Margaret Bridges said.

The Stafford high school Googa Mooga was successful for 26 years, other schools have tried but theirs has never been as successful as Stafford’s.

“Mary Washington University tried to host a Googa Mooga, but the social media gave it a negative outlook and that brought the end of their Googa Mooga.”

Governor’s School student makes personal tablet from spare computer parts it.”

BY TYLER HALEY Staff Writer Liam Chapin, a freshman, built his own Tablet out of spare parts and a broken tablet he bought off eBay. He programmed it by himself using basic Windows.

“It took about a month to build. I had to get clearance from my parents and get all the parts,” Chapin said, “I first decided to build it when my sister broke my net book. It was based on old Windows so it was easier to program.”

This tablet isn’t like any other tablet. It is based of Windows Ultimate. It isn’t like an iPad where there is an app store. It is mainly for taking notes in Commonwealth Governors School.

“I think it’s cool because it is ingenuous and took a lot of time, “freshman Dominic Romanello said. ” It has a back of a laptop back and it is glassy.”

One techie teen: Freshman Liam Chapin shows off his hand-made tablet. Photo by Mariah Briscoe

The tablet cost about $400 including new parts, old tablet shell and programming equipment.

The tablet is like an oversized iPod touch but it has

the program of a PC. “It looks like and iPad,” freshman Colby D’ Lugos said.” It has the same functions but it is fatter and has cool stickers on

The tablet is made out of a regular tablet shell but is programmed very differently. It is written in C++ a common computer programming code.

“There is a true false input value system with the button in C++ code,” Chapin said.” It took a little while to learn how to program it. I learned by windows configuration and command prep.”

Freshmen usually aren’t able to program a high-tech tablet like this.

It took a long time but he actually programmed it pretty fast for anyone who had to learn how programming first.

“Liam’s tablet is special because he is so young and he could do this,” freshman Jacob Reed said. “I know I couldn’t have done this cause it is time consuming and I don’t have time to be consumed.”

Student Life

Issue 12 March 17, 2012

7

www.staffordsmokesignal.com

7

Masquerade:

Sophomores Cassie Robison, Erin Lottes, Maddie Stroud and Hannah Czarnaski prepare for the dance with pictures, wearing masks to match the Venetian Masquerade Photo by Maddie Stroud theme.

Honor

and honesty: Salvadore Guinta was the keynote speaker for the conference held at the Virginia Military Institute. The conference was meant to promote the prevention of cheating and lying and promoting the importance of honor. Photo from the VMI website: vmi.edu

VMI campus conference teaches importance of honor and integrity

BY MOLLY PODLESNY Editor “I like to spit, swear, kick the dirt, and jump out of airplanes.”

These words from Salvatore Giunta, 2010 Medal of Honor Winner, may not seem like it has much to do with Cheating, Lying and Honor, the theme for the conference held at Virginia Military Institute on March 5 and 6.

Giunta was they keynote speaker at the second day of the event, which guidance counselor Harry Mack attended, along with a student and parent.

Giunta spoke about honor and integrity, and who better than the only living Medal of Honor winner since Vietnam?

“I was lifted up by the response of the VMI cadets and conference attendees to Salvatore Giunta’s speech,” Mack said.

“They honored the high school kid from Cedar Rapids, and he returned their esteem by his remarks.”

Aside from Giunta, other speakers included Pamela Meyer, an expert on Liespotting, and Louis Freeh, former director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Another illustrious lecturer was James B. Stewart, and investigative journalist and author, author of a book titled “Tan-

gled Webs: How False Statements are Undermining America,” about “white collar criminals” including Martha Stewart, Bernie Madoff and Barry Bonds.

More relevant to students was speaker Kathleen Rice, district attorney of Nassau County in Long Island, New York.

Nassau County fell victim to an SAT scandal, in which several students from Great Neck North High School paid a graduate, Sam Eshaghoff, to take their test for them.

Rice made the decision to prosecute not only Eshaghoff, but also the students who paid him.

This earned her a lot of criticism, but Rice felt the students needed to be taught a lesson.

“If we can’t teach high schoolers that cheating is wrong, then where are we?” Rice said.

Cheating has become more prevalent in high schools in recent years, according to statistics from the Educational Testing Service, given in a presentation by Eric Anderman, a professor at Ohio State University.

“About 75% of students have cheated in high school, up from 20% in the 1940s,” Anderman said.

VMI wanted to draw attention to this startling

statistic, in order to make some changes.

This is the second year they have hosted an honor-themed conference and they hope it will continue for many years.

The school is known for their Honor Court, which students run completely.

“At the end of our sophomore year we have a democratic election,” junior Will Coursey said.

The entire class is listed on the ballot. “It’s a four step process. In spring, the five people with the most votes join the court.

Then, in the fall, the rest of the class, without those five goes on the ballot again, and the next two with the most votes are elected. We serve first as assistant prosecutors, then as vice presidents, then there’s the president, who presides over the Honor Court.” Coursey is an assistant prosecutor.

The point of the honor court is to have students monitoring their peers to ensure that there is absolutely no cheating in the school.

VMI operates on a “single-sanction system,” which basically means one offence and the offender will be “drummed out.”

During the conference, there were small group discussions, in-

cluding one in which students discussed their own honor systems and how to implement them. Few public schools had such a system, but at private schools they were more prevalent.

Various speakers, including J. Marshall Pattie, assistant dean at the Darden School of Business at UVA, spoke about how this honesty in school carries over into the “real world.”

Pattie was on the College of William and Mary’s equivalent of an honor court. “I keep my William and Mary honor pledge on my desk to remind me how I should treat people each day, and how I should expect to be treated,” Pattie said.

Pattie was one of six former students that attended colleges with honor codes. They spoke and answered questions in a segment titled “Life After Honor Systems.”

Another one of the speakers, Mathew Dinan – who also attended William and Mary – disagreed slightly with the title.

“It shouldn’t be life after honor systems, but rather life with honor systems,” Dinan said. “It should be the way you live your life.”

Snowball: Chance for CGS to have fun and unwind

BY JOHN ROMANELLO Staff Writer The Commonwealth Governor’s School had a dance called “Snowball” at the Eagles Lodge on February 25, and the teachers and students in CGS prepared for the event.

Snowball is an annual dance that CGS kids go to get away from the homework stress and get on their feet and have a good time. This is the first year there is a different theme.

It’s a Venetian Masquerade Ball where the kids wear half-masks just as they did in the Shakespearean times. Snowball is a unique idea to CGS. “I think that the Snowball Dance is a great idea,” said CGS math teacher Corey Rocchio.

“One of the ideas of the Governor’s School is that the students are a community of learners.

Functions like the Snowball Dance allow students from the 11 different schools to socialize with each other.”

Snowball costs $12 before and $15 at the door with a canned food. It’s a fun and sociable event and all of the canned food goes to a food drive to help the needy.

“I’m looking forward to Snowball, because I think that it is going to be really fun and my friends and I are looking for a good time,” CGS freshman Hayley Stine said .

There are a lot of perks

and goodies that go along with the dance.

“The food is wonderful,” said CGS English teacher Winona Siegmund. “Kids can request songs. It’s incredibly beautifully decorated.

There’s good music. It’s all with people you like.”

Snowball is a very important event in Governor’s School. It’s a time for a lot of joy and happiness for students to enjoy.

“It’s probably the biggest event for CGS kids,” CGS senior Jameson Howell said. “Almost everyone goes and it’s usually pretty fun.”

This year the theme was a Venetian masquerade ball. Decorations included balloons, giant masks hanging on the walls, an array of multicolored lighting systems, disco ball, and many more things. To make it happen, a lot of planning went into the event.

“The PTO takes days to get it setup, collect donations and hand make their own decorations” Siegmund said. “It’s a wonderland inside the dance.”

The dance was a big hit for CGS this year with over 400 students attending and a good amount of the CGS PTO and teachers stopping by also.

“Snowball was amazing,” Stine said. “It was so much fun and everyone looked really gorgeous.

The thing I’ll remember the most would probably be dancing with everyone.”

STAFFORD: Male students Teens conquer chronic illnesses MR. compete for honored title

BY BELLA RIVAS Staff Writer Junior Noah Bey and freshmen Caitlin Green and Kristen Godsey are three of the many Stafford students who have been diagnosed with a chronic illnesses.

Bey was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis when he was six months old.

Cystic Fibrosis is a disease where mucus builds up in the lungs and the digestive tract, according to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

“It’s a lung deficiency that is way worse than asthma,” Bey said.

Bey was diagnosed when he was a year old.

He must take enzymes to help digest his food, vitamins, and his other medicine.

“I take about 30 pills a day,” Bey said. “I also have to take Pulmozyne, which is a vapor treatment that I breathe in to

help clear my airways.”

Bey’s illness doesn’t stop him from exercising.

He is on various sports team, including the swim team.

“I’ve been able to do my sports, and some days are better than others,” Bey said.

Green was diagnosed with Type One diabetes during fourth grade. Dia-

times a day to keep it regulated.

“I have to check my blood sugar before I eat, after I eat, before I sleep and before I exercise,” Green said. “I give myself insulin through my pump to help regulate my blood sugar.”

Green has gotten used to living with Diabetes and she has learned how

Glossary

Insulin- A hormone produced by the pancreas to regulate the body’s carbohydrates Pulmozyme-- A drug used to improve the lung Pulmozyme function in Cystic Fibrosis patients Inhaler-- Drug dispenser used to deliver medicine Inhaler directly to the lungs in patients with asthma betes is a condition when the body stops producing insulin, which makes it difficult for the body to convert sugar, starches, and other foods into energy. Green has to check her blood sugar many

to care for herself.

“When I was first diagnosed, I was really resentful and I didn’t want to give myself insulin,” said Green. “But now, it’s a part of my everyday life.”

Godsey was diagnosed

with Asthma when she was in third grade. Asthma is a disease that causes the inflammation of the airways to the lungs.

“I have really bad asthma,” Godsey said. “I have to take an inhaler 30 minutes before any sort of physical activity.”

With a threat of asthma attacks, Godsey has to put restrictions on how much physical activity she can do.

“I have to watch how much I run,” Godsey said. “I don’t want to push myself too hard, because something could go wrong.”

Godsey, Bey, and Green have been dealing with these diseases for most of their lives.

“It doesn’t really put restrictions on anything,” Green said. “I can do the same things as everyone else, even though I have a disease.”

Continued from Page 1

a half,” Weisbeck said. “When I found out I was nominated for Mr. Stafford, I figured it was the best thing I had for the talent round.”

The talent round was followed by a brief intermission and then the finalists were announced.

The finalists were partnered up for the final two rounds.

In the trivia round, the partners were asked questions about Stafford High School. Many of the contestants found themselves unsure on how to prepare for this event.

“I wasn’t really sure what types of questions would be asked, so I just spent most of my preparation time working on my talent,” senior Joey Sorrentino said.

Staying with their partners, the contestants moved into the final round, the stunt round. Each group was challenged to link arms with their partner and move through an obstacle course in as little time as possible.

“It was definitely designed to make people laugh,” Sorrentino said. “It was just a good time.”

Most of the contestants were just in it to have a good time and put on a good show. Some however, were focused on winning.

“I play to win,” Sorrentino said.

After the stunt round, there was a brief intermission to allow judges to tally up the scores and then the winners Will Janney, Mr. Stafford, and Lex Bowler, Mr. Junior Stafford, were announced.

Issue 12 March 17, 2012

8

Sports

www.staffordsmokesignal.com

Hinton, Bohmke focus on college careers

BY ANA NOSAL Page Editor

otal aspect in my college search as different coaches and programs have impacted my reasoning.”

These seniors have stepped up to become leaders as upperclassmen and continue to motivate their teammates.

“I tried to step up during my junior year as a leader to be right there for the team when Jake Brown and Tyler Oliver left,” Bohmke said. “During cross countr y, I

As the boys’ track team begins the season, seniors Greg Bohmke and Brandon Hinton are preparing themselves to take the next step in their running careers.

Both Bohmke and Hinton will be graduating this spring and plan on attending colleges where they can pursue cross country or track.

“I am running cross country and track in college,” Hinton said. “It was one of the most important things I thought about when I was searching for colleges. I wanted to find a smaller school with a strong team.”

The college’s running program has been a major deciding factor in choosing where to apply.

“I am getting close to making a decision on college and where I will take tried my academic and ath- t o letic endeavors,” Bohmke said. “Running has most definitely been a piv-

lead from the front and set an example for my teammates. Luckily this led to a state championship this year.”

Their accomplishments will be left unforgotten at Stafford.

“I’ve gained two regional championships, both in the 4x8,” Hinton said. “I have had a sixth place finish in the 4x8 at states. Also, I have finished in third place in the 1,000 at regionals. Along with these, there have been a lot of sore legs and even one hospitalization.”

Bohmke will also be leaving behind his name on certain events.

He currently holds the 5k and indoor 1,600 records.

In addition to their awards and honors, both seniors feel prepared to close t he

Coach Augrom has given me the tools to achieve -Greg Bohmke at the next level. gap between their track is the outdoor rachigh school and col- es in the freezing cold lege track programs. and using the race to “Coach Augrom has given me the tools to achieve at the next level,” Bohmke said. “His training regimen, as well as the discipline I have learned, will benefit me while running in college.”

As they take their skills and work ethic away with them to college, they have particular memories from high school track and cross country that they will miss.

“The thing I will miss most about indoor

warm up,” Hinton said.

Their teammates have also been one of their favorite things about running.

“The thing I”ll miss the most about track will be the guys’ team,” Bohnke said. “Though I will have a new team in college, the guys will be hard to replace.”

Bohmke and Hinton plan on finishing our their last season at Stafford strong.

“High school running has shown me that you have to stay focused to win anything,” Hinton said.

“There are no easy races.”

The legacies these seniors have established during their high

Bohmke swings into girls’ tennis number one rank

Photo by Sydney Scott

LAX seniors take charge, meet aim

BY MEGAN EBELING Staff Writer Last year’s lacrosse seniors have left, leaving it up to this year’s seniors to lead the team.

“Playing as a senior feels great,” senior Ryan Sompayrac said. “I’m ready to do all it takes and leave my heart out there on the field. I want the

ball in my stick when the game comes down to the wire, but I wish I had my brother Alex Sypolt out there with me.”

Due to a car accident Alex Sypolt is unable to play this season.

“When I first heard something had happened I was really worried,” Sompayrac said. “I drove over to the hospital and

he was in pretty rough shape but now he’s on his way to a full recovery and the important thing is that he is healthy.”

Senior players are taking the lead and are helping others learn from them.

“It feels good to know you’re a role model and the younger players are learning new things,” senior Mikey Rynders said. “Being a senior is also good because a lot of people look up to you.”

The team hopes to improve its reputation this year after a rough season last year.

“We have lots of potential and skillful players this year,” junior Brendan Cobb said. “I hope it becomes a much better program.”

To achieve their goals, the players went through a rigorous conditioning for the season. Conditioning was held early in the mornings before school and after school as well.

“During conditioning we did a lot of sprinting, agility drills, and lifting,” junior Rhett Teaster said.

Some of the players have experience playing as well as a passion.

“I have been playing since I was a freshman and I hope to continue playing in college,” senior Steven West said.

Some players who have not played quite as long as others also hope for a future in the sport.

“I just started playing lacrosse two years ago and I would like to play when I go to college as well,” junior Grady Hummer said.

The first game took place on March 5.

BY ELLIE PARE Staff Writer Last year, sophomore Natalie Bohmke came onto the tennis team and earned her way into the top six as a freshman.

This season, Bohmke is the only remaining member of last year’s top six.

“Last year was so exciting and it was a great opportunity to come in as a freshman and be in the top six.” Bohmke said.

“I’m going to miss all the seniors from last year but now I have to step up and accept this challenge,” Bohmke started playing tennis when she was six.

“I got really serious about the sport in elementary school. my mom plays tennis and she really supported my decision to play as well,’ Bohmke said.

“She’s a huge reason why I want to play. She’s such an inspiration.”

When the team had out of district matches last year, Bohmke was put at number one.

“She did really well and held her cool even though she wasn’t used to it. I think she’ll do great,” said Annie Moncure, last year’s senior number one ranked player.

Despite losing five seniors like Moncure from last year’s varsity, coach Kate Breen is confident in Bohmke’s ability to lead the team.

“I think she’s going to do

very well. She’s a tenacious player and very smart with her moves,” Breen said. “We’re going to miss last year’s seniors but with players like Natalie, with the right attitude we can win.”

Even though Bohmke is nervous about the season to come, she’s ready to take on the responsibility.

“I’m going to have to be a leader instead of learning from all the other amazing seniors last year which is going to be different,” Bohmke said. “Now I have to be a leader which is going to be difficult, but I’m really excited to be in that position.”

New coach works, helps to improve girls’ soccer team

BY REID MURPHY Staff Writer As spring sports begin and the practices go into full throttle, coaches and players are trying to figure out how to improve their teams and themselves from the past seasons, along with getting a feel for how they will all work out together. This applies to brand new players and brand new coaches, including new girls’ soccer assistant coach Karen Strat.

“So far, I love working with the soccer program,” Strat said. “Coming to practice is something I look forward to during the day and I’m really excited to work with this

group of girls and see how we can improve the soccer program as a whole.”

Strat is a senior biology major and chemistry minor at the University of Mary Washington with a major amount of soccer experience.

“I played soccer at both the high school and collegiate levels,” Strat, an Oakton High School graduate and Fairfax native, said. “My freshman year of college I played at NCAA D-1 SUNY Stony Brook University before transferring to UMW that spring.”

Strat played soccer for her last three years of eligibility at UMW, where she was made team captain her junior

and senior years and was also named to the second all-CAC team her senior year.

Along with being able to perform on the field, Strat is also a certified personal trainer and has worked in the UMW athletic training room.

“I think my trainer skills will definitely help,” Strat said, “I’m looking forward to being able to apply those skills to the soccer program to keep our girls in shape and healthy.”

Laura Gaesser, head coach for the girls’ soccer team, discovered Strat while acting as an assistant coach for UMW’s soccer team last fall.

“I think she is a great

addition to our staff,” Gaesser said, “She is really knowledgeable about the game and has some really good ideas in terms of fitness.”

The girls on the team have also taken a liking to Strat, who is enjoying getting to know them.

“I’m still trying to learn all of their names,” Strat said. “I have definitely been impressed by their technical skills and hard work, especially the four freshmen on the team.”

As the season progresses, Strat hopes that she can definitely be a major help to the team and is looking forward to all of the fun ahead.

Issue 12 March 17, 2012

Entertainment

9

www.staffordsmokesignal.com

Anticipation builds over upcoming release of hit book’s movie adaption

BY MEGAN CORSANO Page Editor With the premiere of “The Hunger Games” quickly approaching, fans of the wildly popular book series are waiting anxiously in anticipation and enthusiasm.

Since the release of the first book in 2008, the series created by author Suzanne Collins, has gained the affection of millions of readers.

“I liked the real connection between the people in the book and how Katniss (the story’s main character) reacts to her situation,” senior Brianna Morring said.

The established story line created by author Suzanne Collins has attracted people of all interests, captivating the attention of readers and movie goers alike.

“I’m very excited for the movie,” Morring said.

“It sounds like it’s going to be a good adaption of the books. I feel like there are some things

in the book that won’t be able to transfer exactly perfect onto the screen, but I’m eager to see where the director goes with it.”

The exciting and adventurous atmosphere of the book has been made famous by pulling people in through the action packed and heart wrenching story of children of a futuristic society, forced into a competition to fight to the death.

“I liked the books because the story line is different from anything I’ve read before,” sophomore Ally Cole said.

“I’m excited to see the movie because the series is one of my favorites.”

Fans have already begun to anticipate their favorite parts from the books and have been preparing to see it brought to life.

“I’m looking forward to seeing who they choose for the characters and how they show the Capital and District 12,” sophomore Morgan French said.

The book’s two main char-

acters, Katniss Everdeen and Gale Hawthorn, have created legendary personalities that many people are interested to see come alive.

“Gale and Katniss are my favorite characters and I’m excited to see how the actors portray them,” Cole said.

Even those who haven’t previously read the stories are gearing up for the premiere.

“I’ve heard so many great things about it from my friends,” freshman Hayley Stine said. “I’m planning on going to see it with them and to find out more of what the series is all about.”

Thanks to the immense success of the books, the series’ first installment was decided to be made into a movie, which is coming to theaters March 23.

“These movies are going to be big because there is something in them for everyone.

There’s some action, romance and some thought provoking performances,” Morring said.

9

E-readers slowly replace traditional books

BY DANI RAYMOND Page Editor With the world modernizing, technology is booming.

Everything is going electronic, even books. E-readers- like the Kindle, the Nook and the iPad have skyrocketed in popularity in the past three years.

In 2010 Amazon announced that of the top ten best-selling books, Kindle Editions were being purchased twice as often.

“I think e-readers encourage individuals to read more because of portability and their ability to access thousands of books, “ librarian Bob Wallace said. “I’m old school and prefer print books because they let me get more involved. With e-readers, there seems to be an emotional barrier.”

Print books, while still selling, are not selling nearly as

much as t h e y used to.

A report from the Association of American Publishers stated that in 2011, sales in the adult trace category dropped by 34 percent.

The sales of all categories of books dropped last year, with the exception of religious books.

“I prefer print books because you can hold them in

your hand, put sticky notes in them, write in them and smell them,” English teacher Suzanne Battista said.

Electronic books are cheaper, costing on average $8.75, as opposed to the average hard-

the next couple years.

“The only thing that I know about this movie is that Zac Efron is the star,” senior Olivia Shaffer said. “By that, I know that I want to see it.”

When he comes home, he is determined to find this young woman in the photograph.

He does some searching and when he finds her, he sets

his sights on winning her heart.

“I want to see this movie because one, it’s Zac Efron,” junior Jessie Riley said. “Second, I am looking for a deeper romantic movie.”

“I saw the Vow the other day and it just didn’t cut it for me,” Riley said. “The whole movie I was waiting for something to happen that never did, and I was disappointed. I have high expectations for The Lucky One because I want something more emotional and touching and by the looks of the trailers and commercials, it seems as though it will meet my expectations.”

The Lucky One is expected to be an improvement on the latest Nicolas Sparks movies, through a more complex plot line and some help from fan favorite actors.

Sparks’ movies usually draw the adolescent female demographic, but the improvement on the usual will bring the boyfriends in as well this time.

VS.

Sparks fly over newest chick flick ‘Lucky One’

BY SARAH SHEARER Staff Writer Nicholas Sparks is the best-selling author of the novels The Notebook, Dear John and The Last Song, which have all been made into major motion pictures.

His novel, The Lucky One, was released September 2008, which is now also being made into a movie that will be hitting the theatres on April 20.

“I read the books Dear John and The Last Song before I saw the movies and was surprised at how good the movies were,” junior Meredith Burcher said. “I plan to do the same with The Lucky One and expect the same outcome.”

The story revolves around a marine named Logan Thibault (Zac Efron) serving his third tour in Iraq when he finds a photograph of a young woman (Taylor Schilling) half buried in the sand.

This photograph soon becomes his good luck charm for

‘Crank it up’ in Fredericksburg area

BY RYAN THOMPSON Staff Writer There are two upcoming shows slated to happen in the month of March that people may want to catch including the popular DC band Jukebox the Ghost and also some great local bands that will be performing in conjunction with the Fredericksburg All Ages.

The first concert will be FAA presents: Tereu Tereu, Moonlight Bride, Kingwood,

Goodroe Bros , and Arctic Atlantic this show will take place on March 9,2012 7:00 PM at Read all over books at 307 Caroline street in downtown Fredericksburg and will cost $5 for admission. Tickets can be purchased at the door The popular DC band Jukebox the Ghost will be playing at Eyeclopes studios at 620 Charlotte St. with The Elwins & SPEAK on March 24,2012.

Tickets can be purchased at

jukeboxtheghost.com for $12.

This show is part of a tour where Jukebox the Ghost will be heading to Southwest Music Conference and Festival (SXSW) this year, and they’ll be touring to and from the festival with SPEAK and The Elwins.

SXSW is a music festival that takes place in Texas and their stop in Fredericksburg is one of many on the way to and from the festival.

c o v e r b o o k , which is $15.50. Ebook can even be checked out at any time of day from the Central Rappahannock Regional Library’s OverDrive website, which offers over

57,000 titles.

“A benefit to using e-readers is that the books are cheaper, which is good especially if you read a lot,” sophomore Madie Osleger said. “Along with that,

avid readers can carry more than one book with them and purchase ones away from home all in one small, slim device.”

Many schools around the country are taking an electronic approach to learning. Some schools have substituted iPads and other tablets in place of textbooks.

“I think using iPads and ereaders in school could be a good thing,” senior Autumn Young said. “It saves paper and kids don’t have to carry as many books.”

Even as the electronic book industry rises, print books are still selling.

“Print and electronic media can coexist,” Wallace said. “You can choose and I think that’s a real advantage. As long as people are involved in reading, it doesn’t make a difference.”

Restaurant great spot for food

BY ERIN MCGRAW Staff Writer Just outside the Spotsylvania Towne Center is a vibrant restaurant called The Greene Turtle Sports Bar and Grille.

Walls of the restaurant are covered in notable photos of action shots from sporting events of all kinds, from basketball to football.

Each table or booth has a personal T.V. so customers can watch whatever the hottest game of the moment is for them. Channels besides sports channels can also be shown such as cartoons and the news.

The open, modern arrangement of the restaurant allows customers to feel at home while they cheer for their favorite teams.

Appetizers feature all of the usual favorite game day dips and snacks. Prices range from $6-$20. Wings are priced differently depending on how many are ordered.

Besides the choice of “BoneIn” or boneless chicken wings with eleven sauces to choose from, there are sweet ‘tater fries, crispy sweet potato fries with warm, caramel dipping sauce and items like ultimate Ahi, seared and served over crunchy, Asian coleslaw.

As for the main course, meals range from Burgers and Sandwiches to steak and crab platters. Prices for the main course range between $5-

$20. One of the most popular sandwiches on the menu is the raspberry turkey flatbread sandwich. This sandwich is jerk seasoned turkey on a fresh flatbread with melted cheddar jack, onion, and tomato with a bold raspberry sauce.

Stuffed burgers are another big hit on the menu. These burgers are stuffed with tasty meats, veggies, and cheeses.

They are available for a limited time only.

The dessert menu is where it gets serious. Whether looking for something light or heavy to top of a good meal, the desserts at the Greene Turtle will not disappoint.

Prices on this part of the menu range from four to seven dollars.

For customers searching for a light treat to finish their meal with, the root beer float will do the trick. A cup of Edy’s ice cream is drowned in a bottle of frosty Greene Turtle Root Beer.

The warm cookie sundae, on the other hand, is the richest item on the menu. A large fresh-baked cookie is topped with vanilla ice cream, chocolate syrup, crunchy pecans, and a generous helping of whipped cream.

With a great, sporty atmosphere and “Game Day” food, the Greene Turtle is a great place to go for anyone looking for a great time and an equally great meal.

Issue 12 March 17, 2012

10

Spotlight

www.staffordsmokesignal.com

STAFFORD’S GOT TALENT 2012

Dancing along to a mixture of old school music, then popular music now are seniors Ashley Smith, Monet Green, D’onna Delaney, and Deanna Standback, as well as junior Debra Price. Front and center Price showed off her flexibility. Photo by Emily Pearce

Performing “Your Song” by Elton John is sophomore Miranda Shelton. Shelton held strong for her first time on Stafford’s stage. Photo by Emily Pearce

Softly strumming along to “Goodbye” by Kesha is freshman Devon Housman. Photo by Emily Pearce

Performing “Jumper” by Third Eye Blind with his band, is senior Michael Rynders.

Photo by Emily Pearce

Singing “Take a Shot for Me” by Drake is Tre Jackson. Tyler Jackson rapped with him. Photo by Emily Pearce

Opening the second half, seniors Dylan Porter and JC Baron perform “Someone Like You” with their band Rule One. Photo by Emily Pearce

The first time an interpretive dance has ever hit Stafford’s stage was performed by seniors Michael Musatow and Chrissy Johnson. Their dance had an emotional piece to it that involved acting out a background story through dance between Musatow and Johnson. Their only prop was a couch and each other. Photo

by Emily Pearce

Taking over the stage, junior Lyndah Lovell danced to “Mrs. Right” by Mindless Behavior. Photo by Emily Pearce

Singing and playing the guitar to “Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked”

by Cage the Elephant is freshman Ian Higgins. Higgins woke up the crowd with his change of tune. Photo by Emily Pearce

Putting a new twist to an overplayed song, sophomores Casey Hammond, Emily Swaney, and Brandon Chan sang and danced to “Paparazzi” by Lady Gaga. Photo by Emily Pearce

Playing along with his band Serenade the Cityscape is junior Colton Armer. Photo by Emily Pearce

Starting off the act, senior Russ Kaus began doing many tricks on his Pogo stick. Before long, junior Jason Lovett joined him on stage doing backfilps. They combined their talents and Kaus jumped on his pogo stick over Lovett while on his head. Kaus performed in the talent show on his pogo stick last year, but was almost deemed unsafe. They finished the show with Lovett doing a backflip off the stage.

Photo by Emily Pearce