smokesignal
the smoke signal the
1
www.staffordsmokesignal.com
Issue 8, Dec. 20, 2011
Stafford High School
Stafford High School
Volume 67. Issue 9 Jan. 23, 2012
33 Stafford Indian Lane, Fredericksburg, VA 22405
www.staffordsmokesignal.com
Calendar Feb. 7 ParentTeacher Conferences Feb. 17 Early Out Feb. 20 No School WEATHER Jan. 22-28 High: 51 F Low: 30 F Jan. 29-Feb. 4 High: 50 F Low: 28F
countdown
144 days until GRADUATION
21
days until Valentine’s Day
Improv team finds a potential member: Senior Kendall Khan leads an incoming freshman in an Improv team skit. The Awkward Pause Improv Team was one of the many Stafford clubs, classes, and sports that took part in the 8th grade orientation. Photo by Toni Sorrentio
All grades involved
with 8th grade night BY HANNAH ROWLETTE Page Editor
Eighth graders got their first taste of what high school has to offer Jan. 18 at 8th Grade Night. Teachers and students set up booths and ran sessions to show the middle schoolers the academic and extracurricular programs offered at
Stafford. “I think it gives them something to look forward to in school and gets them involved,” freshman Kendra Oetker said. Link crew took kids on tours of the school, while the Improv team and EMT classes tried to get the eighth graders actively involved in their programs. “Thinking back to
Drama 1, one of the more enjoyable things we did was play improv games in class,” senior Kendall Khan said. “We thought it would be a good way to get the eighth grader involved and excited about the drama program.” In addition to clubs and academic programs, different classes were there to talk to eighth graders about the elective
BY MUHAMAD KHALID Page Editor
days until Spring Break
31
days until Karaoke Night
what’s hot Snow Days Alice in Wonderland Improv Team Spring Conditioning Talent Show Audtitions
index Feature..............4-5 News..................1-2 Opinion.................3 Sports.................6-7 Spotlight.............10 Student Life......8-9
to high school, giving it a depth that can’t be seen on paper. “For them it’s like coming to a buffet, a visual buffet, where they get to actually see everything,” said Robert Jett, Drafting and CAD teacher. “Reading just doesn’t do it justice—there’s no substitute for being able to see and
See 8th Grade on page 2
Sportsmanship stressed at Stafford
75
Spring Break
options for students. “We wanted to get more people to know about Skills USA and our classes like drafting,” Skills USA president Dana Henderson said. “It gives them an idea of what all this [high school] really is like.” Eighth grade night allows students to actually see what is in store for them when they come
Teamwork!: Varsity basketball works on uniting their team and playing with sportsmanlike conduct. Coaches, players, and parents are all working together to make sure that they are playing hard and playing fair for all sports. Photo by Emily Pearce
School Board to discuss starting school in August BY BRIDGET PHILLIPS Page Editor
For the third year in a row, the school board is revisiting the proposed idea of starting school before Labor Day. “I like the idea of starting school earlier because we’ll get out earlier and graduation would be earlier,” senior Alisha Bhagat said. “Seniors would have a longer summer to relax before college starts.” Some feel that it is unfair for the sur-
rounding counties to have at least an extra week to prepare for AP tests in the spring. “As a guidance counselor, I like the idea. The last month of school is frivolous,” Guidance Counselor Harry Mack said. “We’re done with SOL’s in May and we should be done with school after that.” Teachers have a contract and are already being paid through August, raising the question of the compensation plans for the three extra weeks. “I think it would
make summer seem shorter, and I wouldn’t like it very much if we started school in August,” junior Mary Pegelow said. Another concern is the sports schedule. “Starting school before Labor Day would be good for the AP class schedule, but having sports practice start earlier and lasting longer in hottest part of the summer wouldn’t be preferable,” junior Morgan Winkler said. The School Board will be discussing this issue at the next meeting.
“It’s the ability to win as though you’ve won before and lose with the understanding that you can learn from it,” said assistant varsity basketball coach Ryan Middleton to define sportsmanship. “In every sport, there has to be a sense of stability and a willingness to abide by certain rule. When you lose sportsmanship, it makes it harder to follow those rules and it’s harder to actually play the game.” After conflict with Brook Point, the concept See TEAMS on page 2
Scholastic Bowl
upsets at districts BY ALLIE AHLM and HANNAH ROWLETTE Staff Writers
They didn’t think they would make it past lunch. Once they learned their first match was against Orange, the Stafford Scholastic Bowl Team figured they shouldn’t even bother getting their hopes up. “Orange is a really strong team,” junior Elizabeth Chase said. “We went against them the previous week and lost by more
Food Feud
Fall Hunting
See page 4-5
See page 10
pizza, fro-yo, fries and Chinese
of sportsmanship carries a new weight. “We’re a team full of pretty good composure, but we still talk every now and then in practice about keeping our composure during the game, no matter what we have to face,” said senior varsity player AJ West. The team practices playing in high-stress game situations. “It’s something we talk about every day, courage, confidence composure, to not lose your head. We expect our athletes to not react when things don’t
Veterans and students enjoy sport
Set the bar high: The Scholastic Bowl team placed third at Districts for the first time. Photo by Allie Ahlm
than 100 points.” Despite their expectations of losing in the preliminary round, junior Nelson Whitney came
through for Stafford, answering the first five questions of the match. See SCHOLASTIC on page 2
smokesignal Stafford High School
news
2
the
Issue 9, Jan. 23, 2012
www.staffordsmokesignal.com
TEAMS: Stafford fixes Conduct 8TH GRADE: Youngsters Recruited
Continued from page 1
get called their way,” Middleton said. The team also focuses on stressing team stats, rather than individual accomplishments. “When our team does very well rebounding the ball, we’ll stress that, rather than saying this person has 17 points and 62 rebounds,” Middleton said. “There is a reason why they don’t have names on the back of their jerseys. They represent Stafford, not themselves.” The concept is sportsmanship and positive character is reinforced by many in-game practices. “If I get a tie-ball with someone, I’ll high-five them. There might be some competition during the game, but afterwards
you shake hands,” said varsity player junior Even Greening. Middleton draws a line between positive competitiveness and negative aggressive behavior. “Anytime your celebration or elation or ‘I’m good’ becomes ‘I’m better than you,’ I think that’s an issue. That is where it becomes negative,” Middleton said. “Once you start trying to prove the point that you’re better, it becomes an issue.” For West, staying on the positive side of the line makes for a better game and a better competition. “When you treat everyone equally on the floor, despite their talent level, it increases the competition and out de-
sire to win, because we are playing against someone we respect,” West said. Sportsmanship is when you respect anybody and everybody you play against, regardless of their talent.” Although the team might have left the conflict with a forfeited game and some suspended players, Middleton believes that a positive force can come out of the results. I hope that our athletes learn that even though it may seem like the only decision to make is the wrong one, being able to make the right one will make you a better person,” Middleton said. “Then we’ll be in a better place.”
SCHOLASTIC: Win for underdogs Continued from page 1
This combined the team’s strength pulled through for them with a surprising victory in the preliminary round. “Nelson helped us gain confidence to beat them, and doing so was pleasantly surprising,” Chase said. The next match Stafford won against Massaponax High, a team that was ranked at the same level as Orange High
School. Winning that match by a significant number of points, the team then moved up to the next level of the competition. “Many of us played the best we had all year,” junior Nelson Whitney said. “Our performance as a team was definitely the best out the entire year.” Playing the next match against Riverbend High school, the contest be-
tween the schools was extremely close, and in the end Stafford only lost by 25 points. Then reaching the semi-finals, the team faced Albemarle High. “Albemarle and Riverbend are consistently two of the best in the district” junior Amy Wood said. “It was fantastic that we beat Orange, and that was enough for us to be happy with how we did. We did fantastically well overall.”
Continued from page 1O
touch, and talk to people. It’s the best opportunity.” The transition from middle school to high school is a significant one. There is different teaching style, different schedules, more extracurricular activities, more classes, and more homework. “I think it has helped students learn what they have a taste for,” U.S. History teacher Margaret Bridges said. “We’re letting them see what kinds of classes, honors or not, they think they are ready to take.” Newer clubs and organizations that were not as big had a chance to recruit new members from the ranks of the rising freshmen to boost their numbers in the coming year. “Our goal is to reach the milestone of 200 students next year by recruiting for NJROTC,” NJROTC recruiter Nicci Nunez said. “Seeing all the new faces of students who are the future of Stafford has been my favorite part though.” Having a chance to see not only Stafford High but everything high school has to offer has been an enlightening and rewarding experience for many of the eighth graders that attended.
Getting comfortable: Junior Theron Duitsman tries to loosen up an incoming freshman. Photo by Toni Sorrentino
“It was pretty exciting look at all the classes, and seeing all the classes interested me,” rising freshman Collin Moore said. “I’m really into medicine and seeing it helps me get more passionate about it.” Current high school students also enjoyed the experience. The upperclassmen had a chance to
smoke signal staff 2011-2012 Editors-in-Chief Shannon Cooke Emily Griffin
Making the Grade
Photography Editor Emily Pearce
A
Earning back Senior Privilege
D
Lack of snow days
C+
Projects for exam grades
It is much easier getting a project done at home than it is having to take an extremely long exam during class, but let’s face it, it’s still an exam.
A+
Acceptance letters
Many seniors who have applied for college early decision and early action have been receiving early acceptance letters.
A
XC boys receive state rings
The state champions were given their rings at the school board meeting last week, and those boys definitely deserved them.
Due to the respectful and mature behavior of the senior class at the fall pep rally, Mr. Lewis rewarded the class of 2012 by allowing them to leave school five minutes earlier every day.
There is nothing like the excitement of seeing snow fall during school, except when it all melts away that night. The false hope of a snow day has cause many students to show up to school with absolutely no homework done.
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 Ashleigh Powell 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 Emily Griffin 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.
see the future tribe, while underclassmen were able to meet and impart their knowledge to their peers. “It was great to show the upcoming freshmen around our school and make them feel welcome,” junior Allison Svites said. “It made me excited for them to be here next year.”
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
SHS Patron
Denise Epperson Dick & Diane Williams Paula McClure Brian Wigginton Bryan Matthews Susan Wachter Brennan Everett
Online Editors Rebekah Kim Dani Raymond Design Editor Bridget Phillips Copy Editors Emily Byers Kathryn Lenox
Editors Leland Brooks Molly Podlesny Toni Sorrentino Page Editors Katie Brandon Megan Corsano Ana Nosal Kirstin Whiteside 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, 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 Miller-Keyes, 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 Santiago-Troutman, 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, Elizabeth Walker, Jillian Weisbeck, Taylor West, Tyler West, Taro White,Taylor White, Brittni Wright, Matt Yelverton Photographers Kerstin Felton, Amber Griffith, Muhamad Khalid, Emily Pearce, 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.
smokesignal the
Stafford High SchoolHigh School Stafford
3 Issue 9, Jan. 23, 2012
opinion www.staffordsmokesignal.com
Procrastination takes a toll on exam grades Shannon Cooke Editor-in-Chief With exams coming up, many students are scrambling to cram an entire semester of material into a few nights of preparation. Although many teachers give out study guides for the exams with plenty of time to prepare, there are very few students at Stafford that truly feel prepared for the semester exams. Why do they seem to creep up on the majority of students? If we know when the exams are, and what is going to be covered, why do we still procrastinate, and end
up lost on exam day? Call it senioritis, call it procrastination, but whenever students wait until the last minute to prepare for exams, their grades decrease exponentially. The broken study habits of the students at Stafford directly cause a drop in exam scores. When we are distracted by television, Facebook and Twitter at home, we are never really able to focus on our work 100 percent. We have all been in the situation where we sit down to get homework done, and end up looking at YouTube videos of cats for three hours. It’s not until we are able to remove our-
selves from these distractions that we can really get anything done. But is it even worth the time and effort put into it? How important are exams, really? For many students, exams can either make or break a semester grade. Especially when seniors are applying for colleges, every semester grade counts. Also, the study habits that are developed in high school continue on for those who decide to go to college. The first year of college is considered the hardest to adjust to because the environment is so different, and the professors aren’t as involved
and personal as the teachers in high school. The majority of students are so used to sailing through tests and quizzes without really studying, that they are completely lost when they need to put in hours of study time. So how do we solve this problem? How can we make the transition between high school and college smoother? For one thing, taking exams more seriously can help. Rather than waiting until the last minute to stressfully cram as much material as possible into a few nights, study early and often. Removing distractions can also
help you focus on studying. Going the library, or even going to NHS tutoring can help you focus on only one thing at a time, making your study time more efficient. It is incredibly important to take responsibility for studying for semester exams. Most teachers do not require it, and your parents can’t make you do it. The only way you can truly be successful in the coming week of exams is if you take your grades into your own hands, and start hitting the books.
Avoiding ‘the Void’:high school relationships
Ryan Hazelgren Columnist There are three things in teenage life that come to mind whenever I hear the word “awesome,” They are, in no particular order: 1. Walking into Chick-fil-A. 2. Walking into Chipotle. 3. Really liking someone. I think we can all agree that the first two items on this list speak for themselves. And yes, when I say “liking”, I mean “liking liking.” I’m going to assume for a minute that you have experienced this feeling. If you haven’t, I sincerely hope you do soon, and for now, you’ll have to trust me when I say
that it really is awesome. Also, you might want to try crawling out from under the rock you’ve been living under since fifth grade. For those of you who have, though, I’d like to pose this question. Why is it so awesome? The obvious answer is, “because I really like the person.” No. Let’s be honest with ourselves. Has every person that we’ve ever liked or felt strongly about at one time worked out? Please. Anyone that can honestly claim a perfect instinctual record concerning the opposite sex shouldn’t be reading an angsty column. They should be writing one themselves and solving the world’s problems. Starting with mine. So excuse me if I assume for a second that none of my readers happen to be the Cesar Milan of the opposite sex. We fall hard for people, think they’re “the one”, and then people let us down. That’s life. It’s not the person.
If it’s not the person, then, what is it? Brace yourselves. I have a hypothesis. The reason we feel so great is because we’ve filled the Void. You ask what the Void is? Well, allow me to elaborate. Most of us are talking (ugh, yes, “talking talking”) to at least one person for the majority of our teenage lives. It’s just not very often when we find ourselves with absolutely no interest in anyone, no one to text, no prospect for a relationship, no one occupying the backs of our minds. Not often does this happen. But it does happen every once and awhile. And it’s a horrible feeling. You may be fine for a week or two, or maybe even a month, but after awhile, the Void sets in. You feel empty. You feel lonely. You feel aimless. You start doing weird and embarrassing things like browsing your yearbook, Facebook creeping, and tweeting depressing lyrics. In some cases, you start texting any girl or guy who you can get, even
though you have no real interest. To put it simply, it sucks. What I’m getting at here is this: the high that we get from romantic interest is just filling the Void. It’s like taking a drug after withdrawal. That’s right, everyone, Ke$ha knew what she was talking about. And here I was thinking she was a repulsive morally, abhorrent, talentless scourge of society! Alas, I digress. Whenever I feel the Void setting in on my own emotional well being (which happens a little more often than I’d like to admit), I can’t help but be struck by how pathetic it is. When I’m brutally honest with myself, the Void basically means that I’m not good enough alone. I need a plus one. How disturbing is that? I’m not here to blame anything or anyone, although if I were, I would probably start with puberty and Disney movies. Yes, I just used those two words in the same sentence. Sorry. But seriously, it’s impossible to point fingers.
I guess it’s reasonable to expect that the purpose of something like this is to offer a solution. But there’s no foolproof way to avoid the Void. O n c e you’ve felt the high for the first time, you’re sunk. Some people just cope better than others. That being said, there’s a couple of lessons we can take away here. The first one: Don’t let the Void get the best of you. Next time you’re about to lead someone on, stop, and try doing something else awesome. Like going to Chick-fil-a or Chipotle. Although too much of either of those may complicate your love life even more when you’re morbidly obese. So you might be better off toying with people’s emotions after all. Let’s move on. The second, supremely obvious lesson: vent to your friends. If you don’t have any friends, you might end up doing something embarrassing like coping with the Void by writing a long, overly analytical column about it. And no one wants that to happen.
Inspirational words from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr... “Faith is taking the first step, even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” “Hatred paralyzes life; love releases it. Hatred confuses life; love harmonizes it. Hatred darkens life; love illuminates it.” “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” “We must learn to live together as brothers or parish together as fools.” “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” Cartoon by Erin McGraw
smokesignal smokesignal Food Feuds of Fredericksburg 4
the
the
5
Issue 9, Jan. 23, 2012
Stafford High School
33 Stafford Indian Lane, Fredericksburg, VA 22405
www.staffordsmokesignal.com
Buffalo Wild Wings vs. Quaker Steak and Lube Battle of the french fries at Chick-fil-A, Burger King, McDonald’s, Stafford High’s cafeteria B.H. Kim, Bridget Phillips, Kim Knutson Staff Writers
Chicken wings have been a favorite game-day food since it was created. Buffalo Wild Wings was the only franchise wing restaurant, located in Central Park, until recently. Quaker Steak & Lube opened in same area last year, with a distinct theme that is impossible to miss. Quaker Steak & Lube opened with an exciting theme of cars and street racing, with a sport and bar atmosphere. The decorations set in the restaurant gives a unique first experience. Pulling into the parking lot, the building will stand out, with an antique car mounted in the front and a sign resembling that of a 1970’s diner. Within the first step in the restaurant, the car hanging off of the ceiling will capture anyone’s attention. The Lube offers a different
By Rebekah Kim and Hannah Rowlette Page Editors
special every night and every Friday, they hold a karaoke night where everyone can get involved. The food is comparable to that of Buffalo Wild Wings, offering similar flavors and foods. Like Buffalo Wild
Wings, the Lube offers a challenge where a person orders the hottest wings and has to eat a dozen wings in a given time. The “Blazin Challenge” offered at Buffalo Wild Wings and the “Atomic Challenge” at the Lube gives consumers who
beat the challenge a reward and a picture taken to be put on a wall with past challengers. The Lube offers a more sweet and tangy flavor in their wings, opposed to Buffalo Wild Wings spicy taste. The difference in taste and
convenience in location offer customers a choice between restaurants. With an affordable and similar price, an average of $10-15 a person, both restaurants are favorites to hundreds of people.
China Wok, China King, and Panda Express Cody Beacorn Staff Writer Chinese Chicken has quickly found its way into the taste buds of Stafford students. On a recent taste testing adventure by Rachel Rolando, Sheldon Sheinall and I, it was brought to our attention that there are three main kinds of Chinese chicken sold at local Chinese restaurants such as China Wok, China King and Panda Express. We took a special adventure and ordered the three kinds of chicken at China Wok, got them from the buffet at China King, and chose them off the menu at Panda Express. The China King buffet cost $10.99 and the chicken at Panda Express and China Wok both stayed around the same price
of 4.99 for three orders of chicken. The three types of chicken were Orange chicken, Lemon Chicken, and General Tso’s chicken. Orange and General Tso’s chicken were both very tangy
but very good. No wonder they were the best sellers according to each Chinese restaurant owner that we interviewed. Although the Lemon Chicken was the least favorite type of chicken bought at the restaurants we visited, we thought it
tasted almost as good as the other types of chicken. We all sat together and compared the chicken and the different taste, sauces used, ways they were cooked. The temperature and sauces added ended up being the main fac-
tors in determining how good they tasted. When we first took bites into the luscious chicken the taste was really spicy and tangy, but after the chicken started to cool down a little bit, the spiciness began to fade and the great taste really started to blossom. We realized just how good the three types of Chinese chicken really were. “Many different procedures are done to make the chicken pleasing to the customers,” according to China Wok owner Ming Hou. ”The chicken isn’t easily made like a cheeseburger at McDonalds or a sub at Subway, our cooks work really hard to make the chicken so good that the customers want to keep coming back for more.”
Pizza places compete to please customers Maddi Mixon, Austin Thompson, Chandi Patel Staff Writers
Great pizza can be had anywhere, but there are three places in south Stafford where our community goes to get it is fast and tasty. Though Boston Grill and Pizzeria on 10 Leland Road is not a franchise, many around town rely on the pizzeria for excellent pizza. Mione’s Pizza and Subs on 42 Town and Country Drive also provides original and extra cheesy pizza as well. Many rely on Little Caesar’s on 282 Deacon Road for hot and ready pepperoni pizza as well. All three places are fast and hospitable but offer different type of services and are quick to help their customers. Pepperoni pizza at Little Caesar’s is $5 and is $11.48
Mione’s Pizza and Subs. Pepperoni pizza at Boston Grill and Pizzeria is $10.70. All three places have varying price ranges for a 14” pepperoni pizza. Boston Grill and Pizzeria’s cheese was much chewier and richer with not as much sauce. Little Caesar’s pizza had a thin layer of cheese and contained a lot of sauce. Mione’s Pizza and Subs offered an equal balance of cheese and sauce on the pizza that seemed to be the most enjoyed one. Mione’s Pizza and Subs had a lot of pepperoni but not too much to the point where one cannot enjoy it. Little Caesar’s pepperoni come out to be really greasy on the thin layer of cheese and spread too far out on the pizza. Boston Grill and Pizzeria’s pepperonis contained lots of flavors and taste while containing nearly has much grease as Little Caesar’s.
Chick-fil-A waffle fries One might go to Chick-filA to “eat more chicken,” but their fries proved to be as good as their chicken sandwiches. The restaurant, surrounded by malls and stores in Central Park, is known for its fries that differentiate it from most fast food restaurants around Fredericksburg –the waffle fries. The small size fries, while not as salty as the other fries sampled, blended very well with ketchup and the famous mustard-yellow Chick-fil-A sauce. The waffle fries look like enlarged and cropped-out fish net and were not as crispy as other fries sampled and were harder to eat because they were bigger in size and could not be folded in half. The fries were not as greasy and helped the eater justify eating fast food by disguising itself as a healthier food. The restaurant itself was clean and pleasant; it had a sense of ‘home food’ atmosphere compared to other fast food stores. The customers
could feel more comfortable, the customers had to come up since the food was delivered by to get food trays. the clerks to the table. School Fries Burger King French fries The school cafeteria. Not Similar to the popular belief someplace you would expect of Burger King as the “Whop- to find prize-winning fries, but per place,” the newly-renovat- that’s just what we did. Their ed fast food restaurant shared fries have the perfect combinaa fresh, familiar smell of grill. tion of texture, salt, and mealy The restaurant, standing potato goodness that make extraordinarily colorful in the them just as delicious as Mcmidst of lonely strip malls of Donald’s and Chick-fil-a. Route 3, offered French fries While the location isn’t as that were considerably longer appetizing because of the noise than other sampled fries. The level of the students and the fries had a golden brown color questionable cleanliness of the to it; it was noticeably hotter cafeteria, the fries are certainly than any other fries, making worth the trip downstairs at it apparent that it was freshly lunchtime. Location makes cooked and brought before it these fries easy access for those had time to cool down. who buy lunch every day. The fries went pretty well While some people may with several sauces such as complain of the price, when honey mustard and ketchup. compared to restaurants like The store did not have sweet- McDonalds and Burger King, and-sour sauce, which could the 90 cents you pay is much have been irritating for some less than anything you will pay customers who enjoy sweet- at fast food restaurants. and-sour sauce. The fries were much more McDonald’s French Fries salty than other sample fries When it comes to getting that the eater had to get rid of good fries on-the-go, no one some salt with a napkin. The can beat McDonald’s. Their food was not delivered to the golden arches are all over Staftable. It was mandatory that ford County, and they have
School french fries may not looks that good everyday in the cafeteria, but they sure are good and lots cheaper at 90 cents than other fries in town. Photo by Hannah Rowlette
that perfect shoestring fry one would expect from the multibillion corporation. McDonald’s is notorious for their unclean restaurants, however with the 3-billion-dollar makeover they have planned for their restaurants, hopefully it will be a more visually enticing place to eat. The fries themselves are the ultimate on-the-go fry. A soft inside and crispy outside with
just a touch of salt are always hot and ready; however, they lack that homemade feel that you get with places like Chickfil-a. When looking for something quick and reliable, McDonald’s is the place to go. However if you want a thick, meaty fry with that homemade feel, Chick-fil-a is the place to go.
Frozen yogurt fad comes to Downtown area Moriah Briscoe Page Editor Since frozen yogurt became a hit on the West Coast, frozen yogurt has exploded and reached the masses with shops like Sammy T’s. The building is small and quaint with an inviting pink and green theme. Sammy T’s is located around the corner of the restaurant in downtown Fredericksburg. It has 70 rotating yogurt flavors from Classic Original, Cheesecake, Cookies and Cream and Vanilla Tart. The yogurt is creamy and smooth. Don’t underestimate a small serving of frozen yogurt because a little bit goes a long way. It is also refreshing Sammy T’s has a do-it-yourself service where the customer pick their cup, get any amount and flavor of yogurt they want and any toppings. They have a wide variety of toppings like fruits ranging from strawberries, kiwi and mango,
also with brownie bits, macadamia nuts, cookie dough, even caramel turtles. After they pick all that they want, they can weigh their cups
where the cashier adds up the price. Because the customer is charged 45 cents per ounce, a small serving could run up to about $5.
handle eating a food that is probably as cold as the temperature outside, there are always seats inside a heated room. Although Sammy T’s is small, there weren’t a lot of people inside eating yogurt. I would assume that customers get their yogurt and leave afterwards, ultimately making the space more open and inviting. I would prefer it be a part of the restaurant’s establishment, but it’s simultaneously nice to be away from the commotion. The toppings were interesting, especially the caramel turtles which were my favorite. As for the flavors, I expected more of a selection after having been to a few other frozen yogurt places. But seeing as to how they had a sold out flavor the day Sammy T’s makes this cold I went, I think it’s safe to say that dessert perfect to eat in hot sum- they won’t be closing anytime mer weather because there are soon. shaded tables and chairs set up outside. For the ones who can’t
Subway subs are refreshing alternative to greasy burgers Skyla Bailey Staff Writer
Although the cost of Boston Grill and Pizzeria’s and Mione’s Pizza and Subs are more than doubled of what Little Caesar’s is, Boston House and Mione’s offers a sit down and eat option while Little Caesar’s does not. The atmosphere at Little Caesar’s wasn’t kept as clean as
it could while the atmosphere at Boston Grill was kept moderately clean. Mione’s Pizza and Subs was busy and loud but was extremely clean and the tables were kept neat. Over all, all three places offer immediate service when entering without calling ahead
and were quick to help the customers. As all three places offered different quality pizza and different type of atmospheres. All three places can be relied on for pepperoni pizza.
Subway is a local “healthy” sub shop that has millions talking. With the many convenient locations in Stafford and Fredericksburg, they have begun to start a frenzy with eating healthy. They started to lower prices for the subs with the popular $5 foot-long sandwiches. Depending on whcih Subway location you chose to go to, parking may be difficult because there are a small amount
of parking spots. After waiting about three minutes, you’ll eventually find a spot. Prices are reasonable and gives you more bang for your buck. They have an extensive array of toppings and meats that a buyer can put on a sandwich. With a huge selection, from black olives, to pickles, to jalapeno peppers, the combination possibilities are endless. The employees are usually pleasant and keep a smile on their face while taking orders. Occasionally there are employees that aren’t so nice but they
are the ones in the kitchen. The seating area is neatly organized and cleaned up if things are spilled. Everything is in arms reach of the employees and makes the process go by swiftly. The settings in most Subways are the same, close, intimate table settings, good for lunch and dinner dates with a group of friends. Subway sets the standards for its competitors and is a place that provides a way to eat healthy but yet still satisfy hunger.
smokesignal the
Stafford High School
6 Issue 9, Jan. 23, 2012
sports www.staffordsmokesignal.com
Turn my swag on: During a home basketball game, Senior JaColby Hawkins strolls onto the court as the cheerleaders and fellow althletes cheer him on. Hawkins was recently appointed team captain, and was put in a position of great leadership and responsibility. Hawkins will lead the varsity boys basketball team to success throughout the upcoming season. Photo by Emily Pearce
JaColby Hawkins leads ‘South Side Boys’ to success on / off basketball court Emily Byers Copy Editor
The new varsity boys’ basketball captain, JaColby Hawkins, gives the team another fresh start to the season. Along with the new coach, Daniel Tryon, Hawkins and the team have taken a different angle in terms of strategies. “He’s a good leader on and off the court,” junior Ryan
Jones said. Hawkins’ teammates see how hard he has worked to earn his position as captain. Training began early for him. Hawkins started at the age of six and has put much time into his training. “My dad contributes a lot to my success,” Hawkins said. Hawkins’ dad has pushed him to reach his full potential through YMCA programs,
PDA’s are okay with us!
Delivery to your loved one’s place of work, or home
Is the best “public display of affection”! Show everyone how much you care...
The Finishing Touch Flower Shop More than just a flower shop... Call now to order 540-371-3546 or on the web at www.FinishingTouchVA.com www.WhereThePetalsAre.com
*10% discount with this ad* Can’t be combined with any other promotions, coupons or offers. Can’t be used for special events or weddings. Offer is good until 2-14-2012.
We accept all competitors’ coupons!
open gym at a young age along with spring and summer leagues. Hard work and dedication did not stop there. Once playing for Stafford, Hawkins continued to take basketball very seriously. “[He] has not been late or missed any practices or games this season,” Tryon said. Hawkins has put a lot of time into his team and works
to build everyone up and keep their confidence high. “I try to keep everybody motivated,” Hawkins said. “When things aren’t going that well, I try to pick people up and keep them wanting to play.” Aiming to keep the players’ heads held high, Hawkins always motivates his teammates on the court. Hawkins hopes to meet the goals he has set for himself in
his last year playing for Stafford. “My personal goals are to make the all district team and get interest from colleges for basketball,” Hawkins said. With high hopes for his future and the future of Stafford’s team, Hawkins’ first goal is to add on to the team’s four straight district titles.
Lacrosse gets head start on new season, welcomes newcomers Michael Gordon Staff Writer The lacrosse team veterans and newcomers alike have been showing up to school early every Monday and Wednesday morning at 5:30 a.m. and staying late on Tuesdays after school all through the winter to condition themselves for the upcoming spring season. The lacrosse team hopefuls work on stick skills, footwork, agility and endurance in their early morning sessions. “If you had to get up at 5 a.m., would you go?” junior Roland Thomas said. The players who attend the conditionings are viewed by their coaches as dedicated and
determined to improve the team and program as a whole. “The conditionings aren’t exactly mandatory,” junior attack Zack Beaton said. “But the players who show up have a better chance of understanding the offenses and defenses which can give you an edge over the kids who are clueless.” Overall, the players who attend the conditionings find it worthwhile. “By putting in these extra hours, we will improve athletically as individuals and it make the team tighter as a group” coach Josh Wild said. Even throughout all the hard work that goes with the training, the players see it as a
bonding opportunity. I do like conditioning,” senior midfielder Connor Harmon said. “It’s fun group to do a lot of team stuff.” To further prepare themselves for the upcoming spring season, they are playing indoor lacrosse at the Field House. So far, they’ve only had two games and they’ve both resulted in a loss. “Between conditioning and the Field House, I feel like I stand a good chance at tryouts,” said Jack Giscard freshman attack player . “But there are no guarantees, so I hope I did enough to stand out to the varsity coaches.
sports smokesignal Gymnastics gains momentum the
7
Issue 9, Jan. 23, 2012
Stafford High School
Jackson Carmichael Staff Writer The Stafford gymnastics team is looking to do big things this year. They’re putting in the hours at practice every day to improve their skills. “The girls are very hardworking,” coach Shawn Thurston said. “They are very dedicated, and their determination will take us far.” The team has won three meets this year, and also came in second at the Bobcat Invitational. Each day at practice, the girls work on their routines and events that they do. They do floor, vault, bars and beam. “We work hard at practicing our routines so we can perfect our skills,” freshman Brynne Reeves said. Her best event is
vault. “One of the best overall performers on the team is sophomore Ashley Hinton,” coach Thurston said. Hinton has been doing gymnastics for nine years. “My personal goal is just to get better every meet,” Hinton said. “I just give it my all for the team.” Hinton is an all around performer, competing in all four events. She works hard every day in practice, getting better to reach her full potential. Hinton had an all-around personal best score of 36.875 at Brooke Point. “Our coach has different workouts every day that change in difficulty,” Hinton said. “We have a certain number of each skill we have to do and full rou-
www.staffordsmokesignal.com
tines afterwards.” Thurston works the girls very hard each day. She wants each of the girls to be the best gymnast they can be. “Coach Thurston pushes us to our limits,” sophomore Ashley Dingus said. “But her making us practice our routines and events every day really pays off.” There is a good sense of team bonding with all of the girls. Good pointers and advice are given when needed. “We all help each other out and are there for each other all the time,” Reeves said. Stafford gymnastics is looking to have a great season this year. They live by their motto: “Making the impossible look Hold on tight!: Senior Sammy Krejdovsky aids Sophomore easy.” Ashley Hinton on the uneven bars at gymnastics practice. Photo by Emily Pearce
Girls’ swimming dives into new season Caitlin Green Staff Writer Out of the six meets the girls’ swim team has participated in so far they’ve won four times. On Nov. 29 the girls had their first meet of the season against Orange County. The girls beat Orange by 158 points. “I think I have done very well this season,” said sophomore Haylie Harbin who was part of the relay team that
placed first in the 200 yard Medley Relay. “I have dropped in all of my times from last year and seem to be improving.” The girls also won the next meet against Mountain View 169 points to 111 points on Dec. 12. “Friendly competition with my teammates helps me to improve,” said freshman Ryan Ulrich who swam in the 500 free and placed second. “I push myself to the breaking point and
then push even more.” Their winning streak ended in the meet against Massaponax on Dec. 9. The girls lost 144 points to 140 points. They lost the next meet too against Colonial Forge Dec. 13 by 10 points. “I have improved a lot this season,” said senior Tatianna Tonnacliff who swam the 200 Free, 100 Breast, and the 400 Free at the Massaponax meet. “I have been more focused on
Basketball coach impresses Valerie Lampert Staff Writer It’s been four years since Vince McCord started coaching girls’ basketball at Stafford High School. He has coached two years of freshman basketball before moving up to JV. McCord uses a variety of methods to coach his team. He uses methods that he was taught throughout school and techniques he has learned from experience. “I think man-to-man techniques work best for the team [to perform better] because it keeps the team energized and it keeps them aware of what is going on on the court,” McCord said. Some of the techniques McCord uses to train the team are practicing passing, shooting, dribbling, and lay-ups. He also has the team run “suicides” which is running from one side of the court to the three point
line and back, then to the half court and back, and finally to the other end of the court and back. “I think most kids love the way I coach,” McCord said. “We try to have fun and learn in the process.” McCord also works with his assistant coach Lashaun Cook to help coach the team. “Coach McCord and I work together as a team to try to motivate the young ladies to always work cooperatively together,” Cook said. “We want them to understand that this a team concept.” Many members of the team enjoy the way McCord coaches, such as freshman Alyssa Gonzalez. “I think that coach McCord does a great job of preparing us for our games,” Gonzalez said. “He has taught me a lot this year.” Another player, sophomore
Heather King, is playing her first year on the team and likes it a lot. “It feels like a challenge [to be on the team] because [all of the members] push each other to do our best and are there for each other,” King said. The girls’ JV Basketball team’s record is 0-8 so far. The team is hoping to turn their game around by the end of the season.
Boys swim team sprints ahead Austin Enfinger Staff Writer The members of the boys swim team have been working hard to improve their times and techniques. The swimmers practiced over winter break to prepare for the meet on Jan. 6 against Riverbend. Along with time spent in the pool, the swimmers spend 30 minutes a day at drylands, doing various exercises such as wall-sits and lunges. There are routines the swimmers have to warm-up before a meet. Freshman John Hill said that he prepares by “eating a big dinner before the meet and stretching before getting into the pool.”
Swimmers also get ready by completing a group warm up before every meet. It involves swimming a total of 500 yards, 20 lengths of the pool, of different strokes and drills. “Swimming is my favorite sport because it keeps you in top shape,” senior Jordan Marshall said. Marshall has been swimming since eighth grade and has been on varsity since his freshman year. His best personal event is the 100-yard breaststroke. Freshman Sam Petto also swims breaststroke. They are the top swimmers in the 100yard breaststroke, and compete every meet. Petto has been swimming
since he was in kindergarten. Before the swims, he warms up by listening to a play-list he made specifically to get ready. He plans on improving his backstroke, which is his least favorite, by focusing and getting advice from the coaches. Senior John Allen swims the 100-yard backstroke and started swimming his freshman year for Stafford. In order to swim faster, he works hard at practice, especially during kicking drills. “You have to trust in the coaches and do what they say,” Allen said. “They know what they’re talking about and if you do what they tell you to you’ll get better.”
my goals and I am trying to improve my strokes to a really good time.” On Dec. 15 the girls won their meet against Albemarle. “When I place I feel accomplished because I know that all my hard work has paid off,” said Kendall Wilkerson who helped her relay team place second in the 200 Medley Relay. Then the girls faced Riverbend resulting in an 84 point victory on Jan. 6. They had
another major victory on Jan. 13 against Brooke Point with a 136 point difference. “It helps that I have people on relays that need me to swim fast to help out my team,” said senior Hannah Lewis who was part of a relay team at the Brooke Point meet that placed first in the 200 Free Relay. “It makes me work harder to get better times.”
Kirsten Mitchell Staff Writer Winter track runners have endured the cold weather every day at practice. To build endurance and speed. Coaches Kristen Brady and Peter Augrom, sprinters and long distance runners have a variety of workouts throughout the week to get them prepared to compete in meets. “I did winter track to stay in shape,” sophomore Nicholas Bornholtz said. Sprinters and long distance practice separately, both having their own workouts. Long distance run for long periods of time at a steady pace, while sprinters run shorter distance at a fast pace. “My favorite part of winter track is hanging out with the people and the meets,” sophomore Branden Gross said. Meets take place at least once a week at different schools around the region. When the schools arrive, they immediately on their warm ups and stretches “You go to the meet and hang out with friends until
your race.” Gross said, “You warm up, run your race, and cool down.” The meets officially start with the field events, which include throwing, high jumper Maddie Ammons, and pole vaulting by Ashley Hinton. Then the meet is dedicated to the races, which include 55 meter dash, 55 meter hurdles, 300 meter dash, 500 meter dash, 1000 meter race, 1600 meter race, 3200 meter race, the 4x2 relay, the 4x4 relay, and the 4x8 relay. While not running their races, students can socialize with their friends or meet students from other schools. Meets usually last two or three hours depending on the amount of athletes running. Not every runner competes at ever meet, some meets are invitational, meaning that only the faster runners qualify to go. The uniform consists of blue running shorts, and a white top with the word “Stafford” across it in white and gold. On days when it is colder, runners are allowed to wear black spandex under the uniform.
Winter track keeps steady pace in season
smokesignal the
Stafford High School
8 Issue 9, Jan. 23, 2012
student life www.staffordsmokesignal.com
Students organize with Facebook BY TORI SANTIAGO TROUTMAN Staff Writer Facebook has gained a reputation as a distraction, but for many students and teachers, the networking site has much more to offer. does not only solicit the idea of procrastination. Sports, clubs, and classes alike use Facebook to communicate and coordinate outside of the classroom. Cross Country, the SCA, CGS, NHS, math teacher Clay Shesman’s calculus class, and the senior class are only some of the groups that use Facebook to communicate. “Having the group on Facebook really helped us keep up with what was going on in the future for the group this year,” sophomore Emily Leinenbach said. “In cases like us having an extended practice and important dates for us to remember.” Students, usually the moderators of the page, share pictures, information and upcoming events on these pages and can
discuss certain issues as a group outside of school in the convenience of their own page. “We can see everyone else’s opinions on what we should do next,” said freshman Alexandra Downey. “Hopefully, we’re able to come to an agreement with mostly every one’s approval.” Others found problems using the site to contact other members in certain, with the primary issue of not having a Facebook page. “It’s difficult to use just Facebook to update members in the club because not everyone has a page on Facebook,” said Jean Wang, sophomore and president of the French Club. “But without a doubt it helps, since everyone who has a Facebook log on almost every day.” Emails, texts, and other ways of getting in contact with everyone else is still important for not just school groups but groups in general. The age of the website is not at the point were it can be used pri-
marily as a source of communication. “I’m not logged on all the time to see updates to groups,” senior Brandy Stone said. “It’s like I’ll log on and see notices I hadn’t known about until after the fact.” Emails, texts, and other ways of getting in contact with everyone else is still important for not just Illustration by Toni Sorrentino school groups but groups in general. The age of the website is not at the point were it can be used primarily as a source of communication. “Facebook is without a doubt an excellent addition to the world of communication,” Wang said. “Just make sure every one is getting the same information and don’t forget about those who can’t access it.”
How many hours a day do you spend on social networking sites?
Sociology deviates from norms BY MELISSA MERCER projects assigned are not chosen by the students, Staff Writer but assigned by the teachEvery day, students are er Ryan Middleton. reminded of the imporAnbiya took the class tance of following rules in because he wanted to life, but sociology teacher learn more about society Ryan Middleton is start- and why Americans do ing a project that ex- things they do and say plores the topic of social things they say. deviance, breaking social In the deviance projstandards. ect, students are chal“I actually do like lenged to break a regular the project we’re doing,” social pattern and obAnbiya said. “We got to serve society’s response. choose what we want to Last year, students tried do with the project.” dressing up as “Avatars,” The projects done are crawling on all four limbs individual, but group while being held back by projects are still done. The a leash, and even dressing
up as members of the opposite sex in order study society’s response to social deviance. “The projects are easy and fun to complete,” Middleton said. “It gives them a social outlook on society and how everything goes!” Middleton frequently incorporates interactive projects into his lesson plans. I’m excited for what I can do for the deviance project,” junior Colton Armor said. “It’s fun to see what responses we get
Amy Wood, 11: I try to study at least a couple of hours for each, depending on the subject. I usually look at online notes and handouts. I usually study in a completely quiet room without distractions.
Jake Watters, 12: I don’t study that much for exams. I might study for 30 minutes before the exam. I usually do pretty well. I think it’s more important to know the material well after it is taught, than it is to study at the last minute. When I do study, it has to be quiet.
How do you study for midterms?
Zach Sszych, 11: I usually study for 12 hours for all the exams, in a nice, quiet and well-lit room. I usually by look over my notes to make sure I know it. I feel pretty confident about my tests.
Ask the expert: Mary Beth Worhatch To maximize retention on test day... •
You should be really conscious if you’re over-tired. If you’re really drowsy, you should do something to wake yourself up.
•
Study in times of the day when you are most awake.
•
Clear your study space. You don’t want many distractions. Interruptions hurt your recall.
•
Some studies have shown that music can help some people study.
•
Review old test and rework problems. Chances are that teachers will take those questions and use similar ones for the exam.
•
Study with other people. Compare notes and actually teach the material to make it easier to recall.
•
Study techniques work differently for everyone. Figure out what works best for you, and utilize those techniques.
•
The best studying happens when you are well rested. If you are really tired at night, its better to go to bed and get up early. If you are too tired, the information won’t be stored in your brain.
•
On test day, make sure you eat a good breakfast. You need food. Your brain doesn’t work without fuel in the tank.
smokesignal the
Stafford High School
9 Issue 9, Jan. 23, 2012
student life
Bryce Baxter looks out over the city of Richmond where he is serving as Head Page for the Virginia General Assembly House of Delegates. Baxter served last year as a page and applied to become head page this year. He was one of 17 students who applied. Photo submitted by Bryce Baxter
Baxter returns for head page BY MARTA PERRINE Staff Writer Freshman Bryce Baxter left Stafford to live in Richmond for nine weeks to be a head page at the Virginia General Assembly House of Delegates Page Program last year. A page is a student, generally seventh to eighth grade, who moves and lives in Richmond for nine weeks and works in
the General Assembly to help delegates and people throughout the building. Last year, Baxter worked for Speaker Bill Howell for a short amount of time. Like an assistant, he would get Speaker Howell his food and lunch, laptop, or cellphone from his office. “I also got an office, which was a huge prop,” Baxter said.
All pages are required to live in the Omni Hotel in the center of Richmond. Pages are paid $135 a week and $125 for food. Head pages are paid $155. Pages go out to breakfast, lunch, and dinner within a two block radius from the hotel. “Living in the Omni was like a vacation every day,” Baxter said. These nine weeks are
not all play, though. Pages are given their schoolwork at the beginning of the week from their teachers. After work, a two-hour study hall is held at the hotel Monday through Thursday from seven to nine in the evening. Because of Commonwealth Governor’s School, Baxter gets most of his homework online using
www.staffordsmokesignal.com
Blackboard.com. He can email his assignments back or his older brother senior Chapin Baxter delivers them to the correct teachers. “There are some teachers that watch us and help us,” Baxter said, “and it’s pretty easy to finish on weekends, too.” Pages work from 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. under the supervision of the Clerk and Executive Assistant to the Clerk. Other students at Stafford have attended the page program. Katie Brandon, Bridget Phillips, and Billy Howell worked at the same time. “My grandfather is the Speaker, so I heard about paging from him,” Howell said. Baxter heard about paging through friends and family. Both Howell and Baxter agree that paging impacted their lives and education. “It taught me about the legislative process and responsibility,” Baxter said. When a page is on the floor, they wait their turn to be called on by a delegate to serve them. This service could include getting the delegate’s laptop, cellphone, a snack, or lunch. “I really looked up to my head page,” Howell said. Out of 17 who applied, Baxter was the male head page selected. The page coordinators picked a boy and a girl head page. Baxter went through a long process to be head page. He had to get his principal’s signature, send a letter to Speaker Howell to get his approval,
sign a few forms and send everything back to the clerk’s office in order to complete his application. Having been picked, he was sent a head page handbook to live from for nine weeks. The head page lasts as long as normal pages, which is the session. “My day is pretty hectic,” Baxter said. Waking up at 7 a.m., watching pages all day long, working on the floor, studying, and finally turning for a room check at 10:15 p.m. is one exhausting day. Pages are responsible for going to sleep at a reasonable time in order to function properly the next day. Pages have a strict dress code. Boys are expected to wear gray slacks, a navy blazer, dress shirt, tie, and shoes, and girls are expected to wear a gray or navy skirt or gray slacks, blazer, dress shirt and dress shoes as well. “The dress code helps to get us in the mood and allow us to act as mature as we should,” Baxter said. Laundry is taken care of at home over the weekends. Out of 500,000 students in the Commonwealth of Virginia, only 100 students applied for the page program this year. “If more people knew about it then it would be more appealing and more popular,” Baxter said. The page program is a good way to learn about the nation’s government without looking in a textbook.
smokesignal the
Stafford High School
10 Issue 9 Jan. 23 , 2012
spotlight www.staffordsmokesignal.com
Hunting reaches across generations Disabled Veterans hunt with volunteer helpers
Kathryn Lenox Copy Editor Hunters throughout the area came together on Dec. 3 to serve wounded veterans at the 25th Annual Disabled Veterans Hunt held at Caledon Natural Area in King George. The event was sponsored by the Virginia Deer Hunters Association. Local hunters as well as non-hunters were asked to volunteer their trucks and sit with the veterans while other volunteers made organized drives through the woods trying to run deer towards the veterans. Among these volunteers were senior John Clift and sophomore Tyler Sullivan. “Normally I’m one of
the ones making drives,” Clift said. “This year I sat in the back of the truck with a veteran and watched the deer to make sure the shots he took were safe.” This was Clift’s fifth year serving as a volunteer. Volunteers were asked to arrive by 8 a.m. They then talked and waited for the 30 veterans to arrive. After the veterans arrived, they were assigned to a volunteer. “We had the same vets, Bill and Dale, for the past three years,” Sullivan said. “They served in WWII and are both partially deaf.” This was Sullivan’s sixth year volunteering. After meeting up with
the veterans, Buddy Fines, Disabled Veterans Hunt coordinator, reviewed the safety rules and gave everyone an orange hat. They then prepared for the first of three drives. “My favorite part was the first drive and hearing the drivers whooping and the guns going off,” Sullivan said. The volunteers had lunch on the Potomac River. Participants remembered volunteers and veterans who had passed away, by reading a list of names, ringing a bell and playing taps played by a trumpet player from King George High School. “It was really sad because one man who was
on the list, I met my first year volunteering,” Sullivan said. “He was 86 then and he died two years ago.” The group harvested a total of 22 deer. Both of Sullivan’s veterans bagged a deer, one taking a sixpoint buck and the other a doe. Clift’s vet harvested an eight-point buck. The hunt has grown since Clift and Sullivan began volunteering. “The first year I volunteered there were only 16 vets and around 20 volunteers.” Clift said. “Now there are 30 veterans and over 100 volunteers. This is the biggest I’ve seen it.” Along with more participants, volunteers be-
lieve the hunt itself has improved. “There are more actions for the vets,” Sullivan said. “Also, there are more safety precautions like more no-shoot zones.” Volunteers enjoy participating in the Disabled Veteran Hunt and see it as an opportunity to repay the veterans for their service. “I loved seeing the look on the veterans’ faces and just being out in the woods,” Clift said. “I feel
Sullivan, Armstrong pull off ultimate game Kathryn Lenox Copy Editor Deer season has ended for most hunters, including senior Kyle Sullivan. This has been one of the most successful seasons. Sullivan bagged a 17-point buck on Nov. 19, the opening day of regular gun season. Sullivan was sitting in his tree stand at the property he hunts in King George with his hunt club when the deer came by at 9 a.m. The buck was 50 yards from Sullivan’s stand when he shot it with his 12-gauge shotgun. He found the deer 100 yards from where he shot it. “I had missed a deer earlier that morning and I was a little upset,” Sullivan
said. “Then the big one came through about a half an hour later and I shot it. I was pretty happy.” Aside from his 17-pointer, Sullivan also harvested a six-point buck and six does. He also enjoys rabbit and dove hunting. “I like hunting because I’m able to enjoy time with friends and family,” Sullivan said. Another hunter who had a successful season is senior Chris Armstrong. Armstrong takes a different approach to hunting than Sullivan, preferring to hunt with either his bow or rifle. Armstrong started using the bow two years ago. “I like hunting with
the bow because you can show your own skill,” Armstrong said. “You have to know where the deer are going to be and pick up on their sign. Bow hunting is different than gun hunting because you have to do more scouting for the deer and you don’t have as long of a range.” Bow hunters also get more time to hunt than gun hunters do because bow season starts the first Saturday in October. Gun hunters must wait until the first Saturday in November for black powder season to come in and then must wait two more weeks for regular gun season to begin. “I mainly use the bow during bow season, but sometimes I will during gun season when there aren’t a lot of other people hunting,” Armstrong said. In addition to deer hunting with the bow, Armstrong also uses it to hunt coyotes. This season he harvested two does and a four-pointer, with his bow, at the place he hunts in Caroline. “My favorite part of hunting is just getting to out in the wild,” Armstrong said. “I hate the city.”
Above: Practice makes perfect for senior Casey Schooler. Schooler posed with his 220 pound spike for his senior portaits to show his love for hunting. photo by Artist and Photographer Mimi Bopp Below: After helping at the Annual Disabled Veteran’s Hunt, sophomore Tyler Sullivan relaxes after hunting with his prize. photo submitted Tyler Sullivan
This girl got game! Above: With her deer in the back of the pick-up truck, senior Kathryn Lenox shows off her game. Although she was the only female, she usually shot one of the largest deer. photo submitted by Kathryn Lenox
Valerie Lampert Staff Editor Most people think that hunting is more of a man’s sport, but this is not the case for senior Kathryn Lenox. When she was young, she starting going with her father when he
went on his hunting trips. Later on, at the age of 11, she shot her first gun. “It was natural for me to tag along,” Lenox said. “I liked it so I kept going.” Lenox is the only female in her hunting group. “The buck I [hunted]
this season weighed more than any of the other hunter’s deer in my group,” she said. “It was 130 pounds.” One of Lenox’s favorite places to hunt is the Alexander Berger Reserve. Her greatest achievement in hunting was during her first year, when she got an 8-point deer. “It was a 24-inch spread, bigger than any my dad had ever gotten,” Lenox said. “We entered
it into the Virginia Deer Hunters Association and it won first place in the women’s division.” Lenox uses a variety of guns to hunt. They include a .50-caliber muzzleloader, a 12-gauge slug gun, a 20-gauge shotgun, and a .30-30 rifle. After Lenox gets a deer, she collects the meat and takes it to Silver Ridge Farm and become deer burgers and steaks.
“This year we got more than usual, so we are sending it off to get turned into jerky,” she said. Lenox also hunts many other animals, such as turkey, duck, dove, and squirrel. Lenox plans on being a hunter for as long as she possibly can. She and her father are planning on going on a hunting trip next Christmas as a graduation present.
Left: Gathering around, dressed in head to toe orange and camoflauge, hunters and veterans pose for a group photo. During the 25th Annual Disabled Veterans Hunt, hunters and non-hunters helped veterans out to the woods by truck to hunt deer. Below: A volunteer introduces himself to a veteran. The local volunteer thanked the veteran for his service. photos submitted by Tyler Sullivan
like I made a difference because I’m able to give back to them. I’m definitely going to keep volunteering”
The hunt is always on! Kathryn Writer Copy Editor While most teenage boys spend their afternoons at sports practice or playing video games, freshman Matt Ayers chooses to fill his free time in the woods, hunting. During deer season Ayers went hunting almost every day after school. His dedication paid off when he harvested his 14-point buck. The day Ayers took his deer he was hunting in White Oak with his hunt club. The hunters were using dogs to run the deer and Ayers was sitting in his tree stand on the edge of the field. “I saw the deer run up,” Ayers said. “It was behind a tree so I couldn’t see it very well and I thought it was a doe.” The deer was 290 yards away from Ayers when he shot it with his .30-06 rifle. After being hit, the deer dropped where it had been standing. “After it fell I saw it was a big boy so I freaked out,” Ayers said. Ayers entered the deer in the Southeastern Guns and Knives Show that took place at the Fredericksburg Expo and Convention Center on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1. There, the buck took first place for the most number of points. Ayers has high goals set for himself to accomplish. “I want to beat the state record for the largest whitetail deer,” Ayers said. Ayers bagged a total of nine deer this season. He also hunts small game, bear and elk. “My most memorable hunting experience came when I went to Minnesota and shot my first elk,” Ayers said. Like many hunters, Ayers likes the taste of wild game and chooses to eat the deer he’s bagged. “We normally make deer jerky ourselves and take the deer to Silver Ridge Farm to have it ground into burger,” Ayers said.