Warrior Sherwood High School 300 Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Sandy Spring, MD 20860
37th Year, Issue No.5
May 7, 2015
the
Inside: News: 1-5, Innovative Medicine: 6-7, Features: 8-9, Humor: 10-11, Spotlight: 12-13, Opinions: 14-16, Wondering Warrior: 17, Entertainment: 18-20, Sports: 21-24
Medical Innovations
Baltimore’s Social Uproar The Warrior staff presents different perspectives on police brutality, peaceful protests and the Baltimore riots.
The Warrior explores many new and upcoming advances in medicine and what this means for the future.
pg. 16
pg. 6-7
MCPS Budget Shortfall Results in Cuts to Staffing by Maddie Peloff ‘16
Anticipating major cuts at the state and county levels, MCPS plans on reducing its budget a significant amount for the following school year. At Sherwood, the budget cuts mainly affect staffing. Principal Bill Gregory was forced to involuntarily transfer 10 staff members, eight of which are teachers and two who are supporting staff. Gregory, though hopeful to restore the money lost from the budget, is realistic about the possibility of budget cuts. Though no official plan has been approved, MCPS is likely to receive a large budget reduction. “[However], my hope is that we can get staffing restored … and I’d be able to bring people back,” said Gregory. New Republican Governor Larry Hogan, who was elected in the state of Maryland during
In News Sherwood Teens Arrested After Assaulting Student Two Sherwood students were arrested for injuring a teenager outside of a local Panera Bread. Now, they will face felony charges. see pg. 2
Gallup Survey Reveals Teachers’ Dissatisfaction Annual Gallup survey shows that teachers at Sherwood have lower morale regarding their working environment. see pg. 4
the fall 2014 elections, promised in his campaign a reduction of taxes,
meaning he will cut government spending, impacting schools across the state. Planning for these cuts, Montgomery County’s interim superintendent Larry A. Bowers plans to reduce next year’s budget 27 million dollars, calling for a reduction in schools’ staff and spending. If carried out, Bowers’ plan will require the county’s principals to cut 370 positions for the following year. However, there is a chance that the schools could regain the money lost in budget cuts. In fact, the General Assembly allocated enough money to make up for cuts; however, Governor Hogan refuses to allow lawmakers to spend it. As of now, the chance of
restoring the funding is slim and Bowers warns schools to expect major cuts in the budget, which will be finalized no later than June 1. T h e s t a f f mem-
bers affected by the cuts are not laid off, but rather forced to find another open position somewhere in MCPS. Gregory makes the decision on who to transfer not based on performance or skill, but rather when they joined MCPS. The staff most recently hired are first ones transferred. At Sherwood, the social studies department was hit particularly hard and lost two of its highly revered teachers, Bryan Clark and Scott Allen. Many students were devastated to find their favorite teachers had been transferred for the following year. Some students
even started an online petition, hoping to bring Allen back next year. Allen, who already has a job lined up at Gaithersburg High School for the following year, is aware of the petition. However, “whether or not it can have an effect, I don’t know,” he said. “But I appreciate it.” If the bud-
get is not reinstated, all Sherwood staff and students will be affected. As a result of staff reduction, class sizes across the county will increase next year. Although reduced class sizes are proven to greatly benefit students’ academic performances, the current budget plans would demand an increase in guidelines of class sizes. Unless the county can find
a way to restore the budget, class sizes in both high poverty schools and other schools would rise in all grade levels, often by one student or more. Because Sherwood will have fewer teachers and classes next year, Resource Counselor Elizabeth Al-Atrash explained that scheduling will be much more rigid. She urged students to s e e their counselors immediately if they decide to make changes to the schedule printout they receive in May to ensure they are placed in their desired classes. “It’s really important that students are placed appropriately …
a n d also that they’ve chosen electives that they want, because … we might not be able to change it later,” she said.
Advisory Period Set To Return Next Year by Emily Gilburt ‘16
Plans for a possibly renovated Advisory period are in the works as the program is officially returning next school year, despite social studies teacher Aileen Woolley stepping down from her current position as head of Advisory. Woolley will assist in the organization and programming of the Advisory period for next year. She had a 0.4 allocation to head Advisory this year, meaning that she taught three class periods instead of the regular five. At this time, the school is awaiting a final budget in order to enhance and further run the program. The current advisory board, formed from a cross section of students representing every grade level, are reviewing suggestions, student and faculty surveys and criticisms in order to make proper changes for next year. Woolley believes new blood will increase the sustainability and popularity of the program. Woolley explained that she
Maya Koeppen ‘17
Kara Rogers, a top communications and public relations expert, shared tips with seniors at the Warrior Talk in the Ertzman on April 21. has collected powerful anecdotal evidence that students are benefiting from Advisory. “There are a lot of reasons for Advisory but the number one reason, I would say, is to increase the chances that every student has the social and emotional support that is necessary to go through school,” said Woolley. A second goal of Advisory is to reinforce the traits in students that lead to them becoming suc-
cessful. Advisory periods also have become an important avenue of communication, whether it be receiving report cards, student government information or tuning into dates for an upcoming school dance. A hurdle that Advisory will face moving forward to a second year is that not all students and staff see Advisory as helpful or worthwhile. Some teachers also do not feel as though the time
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taken out of the daily schedule is being put to good use. Woolley acknowledges the concerns of students and teachers about Advisory period, but she remains excited about possible new ideas for Advisory period. This semester, seniors received an entirely new program based on their personal requests called Warrior Talks. In this program, seniors listen to a variety of speakers who address real-life responsibilities; for example, how to be safe and make good choices at beach week. Seniors will also attend assemblies where heads of departments will share important information, like keeping literature in their lives past high school, as a sort of send-off to the seniors. The student and teaching staff will be given the opportunity at the end of year to formally submit their ideas for changes to make to Advisory. “I am excited that an infrastructure [for Advisory] is set; even though we’re going to develop it, I feel like I’ve done my job,” said Woolley.