The Warrior June 2014 Issue

Warrior Sherwood High School 300 Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Sandy Spring, MD 20860

the

36th Year, Issue No.6

June 5, 2014

Inside: News: 1-3, Issues of Race: 4-5, Features: 6-8, Humor: 9, Spotlight: 10-11, Opinions: 12-14, Wondering Warrior: 15, Entertainment: 16-17, Sports: 18-20

Psychology

World Cup Predictions

New Class and a Look INside the teenage mind

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SPain

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pg. 6

Germ

pgs. 10 & 11

Seniors Win Powderpuff, Score 14-0 Students Watch Fights

for Entertainment

by Brian Hughes ‘15

Chase Wilson ‘17

Seniors scored a victory in the annual Powderpuff game on May 28, winning 14-0 against the juniors. One touchdown was scored by Kelly Flamand, who dominated the game with

several catches and interceptions. The juniors still held their own, with great plays made by Allison Sarver (pictured), Tiffany and Lauren Woods, and Tatum Haberman. Lots of physical play, such as tackling,

was performed by both teams, resulting in an injury to junior Alex Kozlowski. The juniors hope to win Powderpuff next year as seniors.

by Marie Moeller ‘15

The recent spate of fights among Sherwood students has brought attention to the behaviors of the students who stand by to watch. Often times, action taken against the students who actually fought one another reaches detention or suspension, but there are no consequences for spectators unless someone is caught recording or posting a video. Even then, the repercussions for those students only go as far as removal of the videos.

Students recording fights with their phones and showing them to their friends, mainly through social media, is not a new phenomenon, but is definitely growing. Staff members try their best to limit the circulation of videos, but they know that only so much can be done to stop it.

“We usually try to make

sure that phones that do record a fight are erased so that the videos don’t make social media. We don’t usually punish in the sense of suspending for that kind of thing,” said Assistant Principal Erin Mazer. “We’ll meet with students and encourage them to take [any videos] down. I’ve never had a student in my experience who has refused.” Mazer thinks that rather than punishing students, educating them better on the seriousness of posting fight videos on the Internet is a more effective path to take.

Students who crowd around a fight also pose as major obstacles for staff trying to stop a brawl. Mazer explained that students moving away from a fight is “for their own safety and for the safety of everyone else who is involved,” adding that “when

see FIGHTING, pg. 2

Gallup Survey Reveals Need for Recognition

by Ketki Chauhan ‘16

Jack Armstrong ‘15

MCPS workers install a new security system near the front entrance of Sherwood. Over the course of summer vacation, there will be more work done to the school in preparation for the 2014-15 school year.

New Security Control System Being Installed at Sherwood

by Sammie Spillman ‘16 Sherwood is installing an access control system for the 2014-2015 school year. The security system is to be installed in the front lobby, the lower H-hall doors, and the upper B-hall doors.

The new control system is required by MCPS for all schools, and is a computerized system that will secure the building from the outside during the school day and will better monitor who comes in and out of the school.

Rather than visitors freely

entering the main lobby doors and going to the main office to sign in, they will buzz an intercom and secretaries in the main office will be able to see the visitors from a video feed on their computers and determine whether or not to buzz the visitors in.

Once the visitor enters the building, a newly designed lobby area will direct them immediately into the Main Office. The visitors will swipe their driver’s license in a machine that will log the

see SECURITY, pg. 2

The results of the fall 2013 Gallup student and staff surveys were recently posted on the MCPS web page. Sherwood ranked highly among the student surveys for high schools, but dropped down the list on staff surveys.

The Gallup survey measures the hope, engagement and well-being of students based on a set of questions in which students select a rating from one to five depending on how they agree with the statement. The same procedure is done for the staff engagement survey.

Principal Bill Gregory noted that he is less interested in where Sherwood ranks among other county high schools, than whether or not Sherwood has improved from the previous year. “The focus is on Sherwood to Sherwood from year to year versus Sherwood to other schools,” said Gregory.

Gregory believes that, for the most part, students feel proud of being at Sherwood, although more needs to be done in recognition and celebration for both students and staff. One way to combat a lack of recognition, which Gregory feels is the root of some scores that Sherwood received, is through the implementation of an advisory period.

Sherwood’s Ranking Among 25 MCPS High Schools Student Survey RankingS I know I will graduate from high school - #6 I energetically pursue my goals - #10 I can think of many ways to get good grades - #7 I feel safe at school - #8 My teachers make me feel like my schoolwork is important - #13

StAff Survey RankingS How satisfied are you with your school? - #14 I know what is expected of me at work - #17 I receive recognition or praise for doing good work - #15 My supervisor seems to care about me as a person - #15 There’s someone at work who encourages my development - #16 “If you know your homeroom teacher and you work with that homeroom teacher for four years, you develop a relationship,” said Gregory, who believes those types of connections are important for a school. “That connection draws us into our life, which is Sherwood.”

For most questions on the student survey, Sherwood ranked in the top ten among the 25 high schools in MCPS. However, when asked whether teachers made students feel like their schoolwork was important, Sherwood’s rank-

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ing dropped out of the top ten.

To explore this matter, Gregory suggested that the new student government or organizations like Newspaper and National Honor Society should conduct a survey or create a focus group in order to get students to talk about the issue. “I’d like to hear from students about why they feel that way, and what is it that isn’t happening but should happen,” he said.

The results of the survey also

see GALLUP, pg. 3

The Warrior•News 2

June 5, 2014

Starr Makes Recommendation on Start Times

by Connor Loughran ‘15 According to Berner, the re- student well-being, especialsults should be ready sometime ly in high school.” This study

MCPS is continuing to re- in June, at which point Starr will came after many other studies, ceive feedback from the pub- release his final recommendation most of which point to teenagers lic in regard to the decision to based on the input. Additionally, needing more sleep than adults. change the school start times she said that MCPS had collected One such study, by the Uni for the 2015-2016 school year. data via four community public versity of Minnesota, published The proposed start times would forums, where around 700 peo- February 26, conclusively stated push back high school start times ple showed up. MCPS has also positive benefits of later school by 50 minutes (from 7:25am to held meetings with school staff start times. “Later morning school starts [link] to 8:15am). Additionally, middle schools would “MCPS has conducted an extensive higher test scores, better start 10 minutes earlier grades and fewer teen car outreach campaign to collect stake (from 7:55 a.m. to 7:45 crashes,” said the report. a.m.), and elementa- holder input on Superintendent Starr’s If the proposed

S W E N in brief

Changing Sex-Ed Courses for Montgomery County

by Madison Dymond ‘16

MCPS officials are planning to change the current sexual orientation curriculum taught in health classes. The topic of sexual orientation is normally taught in eighth grade, but there have been proposals to introduce the subject a year earlier. The county also wants to end scripted lessons, which became part of the curriculum in 2005 after a court ruling that cited religious views on homosexuality.

The issue arose again in 2008 when a judge ignored the challenges of religious conservatives who said that “elected officials violated state law by teaching that sexual orientation is innate.” The judge upheld Montgomery County’s sex education lessons.

As societal views on homosexuality have changed in the past few years, more people are now accepting and tolerant on issues of sexual orientation. Last year, same-sex marriage was legalized in Maryland. Still, MCPS officials note that education is needed, especially on homosexuality to stem bullying. The Board of Education will vote on curriculum changes June 17.

Minimum Wage Set To Increase in Maryland

by Dalton Sanchez ‘15

An increase in Maryland’s minimum wage was voted on and approved in November of 2013. The changes will come into effect by 2018. The minimum wage would increase by $2.85, going from $7.25 to $10.10. This drastic increase has its advantages but could actually hurt teens looking for a job.

High minimum wage prices teens out of jobs. Nearly half of all minimum wage earners are teenagers or young people. However, when the minimum wage is boosted, it is likely that employers will cut down on hiring teens, who typically fill lower priority jobs.

Employers do not want to spend the time and effort training young high school employees who will end up quitting after they graduate. Employers are going to be set on hiring middle aged workers because of the lesser chance of them quitting within five years.

Some jobs for low-wage workers would probably be eliminated if minimum wage were raised. Teen unemployment is predicted to increase as the minimum wage hike is passed.

Maryland Universities To Require Four Years of High School Math

by Stephen Luckey ‘15 Recently, the State of Maryland has implemented a new policy that requires high school students to take four years of math to be admitted into state universities. This rule will be initially effective for the Class of 2015. Additionally, starting with the Class of 2018, all Maryland high school students must complete four years of math to graduate high school, no matter what college they’d like to go to.

The policy was developed in order to increase rigor for students and help them adapt academically to college after high school.

Across the nation, there have been complaints that incoming freshman frequently need remedial math before enrolling. Universities worry that preparation has dropped and will be inadequate to succeed at the college level. “There’s not the opt-out option anymore for anyone in Maryland,” said Jack R. Smith, chief academic officer for the Maryland State Department of Education, in an article in the Washington Post.

ry schools’ start times recommendation through a variety of changes are implemented, the total cost would would stay the same be estimated to be rough(8:50 a.m. and 9:15 methods since October.” a.m.), with the day ex~Executive Director Debra Berner ly 1.2 million dollars, according to a PowerPoint tended by 30 minutes.

“MCPS has conducted an and parents. MCPS’s online dis- available on the MCPS website. extensive outreach campaign cussion forum, called Neighbor Most of the estimated cost comes to collect stakeholder input on to Neighbor, also was used as a from the changes that would need Superintendent Starr’s recom- platform for discussion. Lastly, to be made to transportation, the mendation through a variety of some students were given the cost of carrying out studies and methods since October,” said opportunity to fill out surveys. discussions, and the fact that Debra Berner, an Executive Di- The county website stated that the school day for elementary rector with MCPS. “All of the Starr’s “recommendation was schools would be extended by 30 input—from all perspectives— based on the findings of the minutes, which may lead to highare being synthesized and ana- 2013 Bell Times Work Group, er electric, plumbing and heating lyzed to inform Dr. Starr’s final which studied school start times expenses, as well as a need to recommendation,” she added. and the impact they have on pay teachers for the extra time.

Students Crowding Around Fights Becomes a Problem from FIGHTING, pg. 1 [staff] are trying to push through kids, fighting could last longer because we can’t get there.”

There are issues beyond safety as well – ones of ethical concerns. As Security Team Leader Patrick Rooney put it, “Every time [students] put one of these videos up for everyone in the world to see, [they’re] slamming this school’s name. It’s a slap in your face and it’s a slap in my face.”

He also understands why some students feel tempted to pull out their phones when a fight arises. “It’s like when you’re driving and on the side of the road there’s a bad accident so everybody slows down,” said Rooney.

“It’s a human-being mentality, just like it is to record [fights] with your phone out so you can say ‘hey, look at this fight.’”

That is exactly what some students are doing: standing by a fight with their phones ready to go.

Spectators see it as entertainment, ignoring any problems they might be causing. The use of social media, specifically Twitter and YouTube, yields many opportunities for students to exploit the fights.

“I record the videos because it’s not only really entertaining to watch and talk about after the fight happens, but the amount of

Does Self Defense Count as fighting?

With the occurrences of fights and their consequential punishments, some have begun to wonder about their rights and safety at school. If someone hits them, would they get punished for fighting back?

According to the student agenda book, the minimum punishment for ‘fighting’ and ‘physical abuse’ is an automatic suspension and maximum punishments include recommended expulsion and/or a police referral. The severity of the punishment depends on the number of previous incidents and how violent the attack was. Even though the handbook describes various punishments, it does not differentiate between someone who

initiates a fight and someone who is acting in self-defense.

According to Assistant Principal Erin Mazer, the majority of the time both students are at fault - if one didn’t throw the first punch, then he or she was verbally attacking or insulting another student. “Most of the time both students aren’t completely innocent and both receive punishment,” said Mazer, “However, [the punishment] may depend on the number of times the student has been previously suspended.” If the rare scenario in which a student acted purely in self-defense did occur, then administration may be able to limit the punishment, or possibly eliminate punishment altogether. “There is not a clear-cut answer,” said Mazer.

memes and jokes that rise afterwards are the most entertaining thing ever,” said a junior male who wished to remain anonymous. “If anything has a possibility to go viral nowadays, it is beat-downs and fight videos.

Twitter is clear evidence of that.”

The student also noted that he uses videos for purposes other than just a laugh or two, sending stu-

dents videos or letting them watch videos on his phone for money.

In general, he is not worried about recording a fight or the consequences for posting videos. “When I put up videos I don’t feel like I’m doing anything wrong. There’s no real penalty or consequence so it’s hardly something you’d ever think about,” said the student.

by Stacey Wells ‘15

New Security System Installed as Part of Improvements from SECURITY, pg. 1 date and time. Reportedly, they will be able to check if visitors have been flagged as pedophiles.

A door in the front lobby, in addition to ones in lower H-hall and upper B-hall, will have a system that will allow Sherwood em-

ployees to swipe a card that will unlock the door. This will allow teachers and other staff to enter the building when all the doors are locked. There will be an override system so that the doors will be unlocked at the beginning and end of the school day to allow students to enter and depart school.

Security Team Leader Patrick Rooney said that the system is only fully effective in increasing students’ safety and the security of the building if students do not let people inside. Students should direct those visitors to the front of the building to properly use the intercom and buzz-in system.

The Warrior•News

3

June 5, 2014

AP Tests Not Held in Ertzman Despite Preparations

by Lauren Cosca ‘15 To the disappointment of some and to the relief of others, the plan to have AP testing in the Ertzman Theatre for almost every class was canceled days before the May 5-16 testing began.

One purpose of testing in the Ertzman was to prepare students for college testing and exams; accordingly, the school ordered 150 large desk tops for this reason. Counselor Jamii Avery, the school’s AP testing coordinator, said that a number of obstacles arose with using the Ertzman for testing. According to Avery, problems that emerged included a scheduling conflict with the school’s spring play, a middle school’s use of the Ertzman after school during a scheduled test and two student music concerts.

The biggest hurdle was the fact that the school planned to use spotlights for extra lighting during the test, and Principal Bill Gregory became concerned that the lighting would not meet fire code regulations because of the

extension cords. “It was tough to make the decision this late, but we did it to err on the side of the student who would have been uncomfortable … I didn’t want that to be a bad experience for any one student,” said Gregory.

These difficulties came after some teachers and students already had expressed concern about the testing conditions of the Ertzman. “The lighting in the theatre is not at all conducive to reading for any length of time. The chairs provide little back support. The portable desks would not provide the most comfortable position for writing,” said AP Lit. teacher Debbie Reier, who formally requested earlier in the year that AP Lit exams be held in classrooms.

A number of students in AP classes had the opportunity to have a test-run with the ordered desks. “After spending a whole period in there and doing what they were actually going to be doing [taking an AP test], they were saying ‘I kind of like it,’” said Avery. A few students told Avery

Students and Staff Feel a Lack of Recognition from GALLUP, pg. 1 showed that Sherwood ranked considerably lower on the staff surveys compared to the student surveys. Social studies teacher Katie Jaffe, one of the two staff representatives on Sherwood’s Instructional Leadership Team, believes that Sherwood needs to first look at the staff engagement data.

“One thing that is great about the positives is the individual teachers when they deal oneon-one with their work in the classroom, their data was quite high,” said Jaffe. “The big negative is the lack of recognition.”

To Jaffe, the Gallup survey illustrates the strengths and weaknesses of Sherwood and

is something to focus on. For example, she pointed to Sherwood’s need for recognition. “I think we need to realize we need to do better with that next year and put something into place that would allow that to happen.”

Gregory and other principals across the county are not evaluated based on surveys; instead, they are evaluated on the results of a plan put into place to solve whatever shortcomings about a school that may have been revealed by the survey. The Gallup survey is conducted at the beginning of each school year, and is used to collect data on students’ opinions about school, with the purpose of being able to improve the learning environment.

Jack Armstrong ‘15

Desks, which were supposed to be used for AP Testing in the Ertzman, are seen stacked beneath the stage.

Testing that was to be held in the Ertzman was unexpectedly canceled last month without explanation. that they were upset that testing was canceled in the Ertzman.

Staff who worked hard to get the testing arranged also were disappointed that testing would remain in classrooms as it has in past years. “I’m extremely disappointed and upset,” said Avery.

“Taking college level tests and knowing what a college level

situation would be like would be very beneficial and having the test in the Ertzman would be able to provide that for students.”

Sherwood has created a committee to find ways to use the desks, as well as make sure they are used next year to further students’ college readiness and preparation for testing in new en-

vironments. The tentative plan for next year is to allow AP teachers to sign up all year to take smaller tests in the Ertzman with the desks to let teachers and students decide if they like the environment or not. “Next year I would like to use the Ertzman for AP testing, if the conditions are favorable for testing,” said Gregory.

Advisory Period To Build Character for Success

by Marie Moeller ‘15

As of next school year, advisory periods for all students will be implemented specifically within Sherwood. These advisory periods will be every Tuesday in between second and third period for 27 minutes, shortening lunch and other class periods. In each period, students will watch the announcements and participate in discussions on “thematic content,” including topics such as goal setting, balancing academic and social life and learning to handle failure.

The advisory periods will focus on creating a setting in which students can have face-to-face contact with teachers, in which students can address any academic or social issue. “Students should benefit from stopping to think about what they are doing and be

given an opportunity to discuss it with a caring adult and with peers who are faced with the same issues,” said social studies teacher Aileen Woolley, who is coordinating and overseeing the program.

These themes are not set in stone. The advisory periods integrate each topic, which generally consist of key characteristics of successful individuals, with current events, such as gratitude being reflected upon during Thanksgiving. These conversations among the class will educate students on specific traits while allowing them to connect personally to the subject at the same time.

“Researchers have identified non-cognitive skills or traits that can benefit students … It is our plan to bring these traits to the attention of students, share what we have learned about their importance in achieving

success and work with students on ways to develop these traits more fully,” said special education teacher Linda Glixon.

The idea was brought to the administration by several teachers, including Woolley and Glixon, who formed the Character Committee. Committee members held book clubs for the staff on “How Children Succeed” by Paul Tough, which sheds light on the importance of concepts such as grit, curiosity and self-control in the development and success of students. After group discussions that spanned several months, the Character Committee formed the idea for advisory periods, building off the thesis presented in the book. “The research is strong on their effectiveness, so the end goal is to develop the best format and content for Sherwood,” said Woolley.

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The Warrior•Issues of Race 4

June 5, 2014

Widening Academic Achievement Gap Generates Public Response

by Kira Yates ‘16 A report from Montgomery County’s Office of Legislative Oversight (OLO) released on April 8 highlights MCPS’s widening achievement gap, prompting Superintendent Joshua Starr to address the report after the issue received a lot of media attention, including coverage in the Washington Post.

On April 27, the Minority Scholars Program, currently implemented in 10 high schools, marched into downtown Rockville to protest the MCPS’ widening achievement gap.

The OLO report broke down MCPS high schools into two categories. The first is consortia and consortia-like schools, which are high-poverty schools.

The Northeast Consortium consists of Blake, Paint Branch and Springbrook, while the Downcounty Consortium includes Blair, Northwood, Kennedy, Einstein and Wheaton. The consortia-like schools are Gaithersburg, Watkins Mill and Seneca Valley.

The other category, including non-consortia schools such as Damascus and Wootton, is considered low-poverty.

The report highlighted two main issues the county should focus on the most. The first issue was integrating Montgomery County’s high schools. One table provided in the report shows the distribution of high school students by race. White enrollment in 2013 in consortia and consortia like schools was only 19.7 percent, but was 80.3 percent in non-consortia schools. In the same year, Black enrollment in consortia and consortia-like high schools was 64.3 percent and only 37.5 percent in non-consortia schools. The report concluded, “These finding suggest that MCPS’ high-poverty and low-poverty high schools are increasingly becoming segregated by race and ethnicity.”

The second main issue addressed in the report is the need to narrow the achievement gap between low and high poverty schools. According to the re-

port’s “Trends in the MCPS High School Achievement Gap,” only 34.7 percent of students who take an AP exam in a consortia or consortia-like school receive a grade of three or higher. In non-consortia schools, however, 62.6 percent of students who take an AP exam score a three or higher. This 27.9 percent difference led to the conclusion that “these stark differences in performance by school type suggest stark differences in the high school experiences of students by school type.”

In a letter responding to the OLO report, Starr defended MCPS stating, “We do not take any issue with the facts as presented in the report, but we have strong reservations that the overall findings and outcomes presented in the follow-up report lack proper context.” Starr then offered some context that he felt would have more fairly portrayed the information such as the uneven distribution of wealth throughout Montgomery County and the limited geographic area of consortia high schools.

Perspectives

Data Concerning Race Renders Itself Useless

by Julia Gajewski-Nemes ‘15

It is nearly impossible to ignore the fact that when it comes to collecting data on education, our federal, state and county governments have an infatuation with looking at the differences in achievement amongst races. Our government has seemingly come to the conclusion that reporting data on the “achievement gap” will allow us to mend the statistical differences between students of different ethnicities, but the reports are seemingly doing more harm than good.

In the American culture, speed and productivity is highly valued, creating an extensive desire for fast and easy fixes to problems. In the world of data collection, the nation needed a way to find which type of student struggles the most in school, so we began categorizing students by race – a factor that is fairly easy to determine from person to person.

In Maryland, state regulation calls for a school assessment every five years that “includes findings based on an analysis of desegregated data related to student achievement.” As a result, every school in Montgomery County posts public reports that document the performance status of their students divided up into the categories “Asian,” “Black or African American,” “Hispanic/Latino,” “White,” and “Two or More Races.”

Although these divisions provide an easier way for schools to break down their student population, they fail to provide substantial information to the school regarding where the gap in achievement truly lies.

The difference in academic achievement amongst students is not a matter of skin color – saying that the color of one’s skin affects his or her ability to do well in school is just as logical as saying that the color of one’s shirt affects his or her ability to jump high – but it is a matter of opportunity and family background. Those who have access to more resources (including food, transportation, internet access, time, access to good schools, etc.) are more likely to pass with honors, and those who have more family stressors (including unemployment, low income, interpersonal violence in the home and lack of a support system) tend to have a more difficult time performing well in school.

It is counterproductive to focus on race as the primary discriminator when looking at academic achievement. With research emphasizing that “Black or African American” students and “Hispanic/ Latino” students are generally not as successful in school, they are creating a negative stereotype of the two groups and likely feelings of inferiority within the groups. These feelings of inadequacy often lead to self-fulfilling prophecy, ideas that become reality simply because someone believes them, and perpetuate the existence of the “achievement gap.”

To collect more substantial data that will give us a look at who needs the most support in MCPS, it is pertinent that we look past differences in skin color. There is no doubt that finding a way to collect more valuable data, such as that based off of socio-economic indicators, in a respectful way is going to be difficult, but it is time that MCPS accepts the challenge and faces it head-on. Not only will it help close the overemphasized achievement gap, but more importantly, improve the quality of education that each student receives.

The Warrior•Issues of Race June 5, 2014

Ripped from the Headlines Ole Miss Frat Closes in Wake of Mere- Clippers’ Owner Banned for Life (April 25): In dith Statue Vandalism (April 17): Ole April, Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling was Miss University students recently caught significant backlash after a statue of James Meredith, the first black student admitted in the university, was vandalized with a noose around its neck.

Sigma Phi Epsilon, the nationally recognized fraternity responsible for the vandalism, closed on the campus after protests expressed mass outrage. Ole Miss apologized for the incident.

5

Perspectives

recorded making racist comments regarding blacks to his girlfriend V. Stiviano. Sterling was caught saying, among other things, that he does not want blacks coming to Clippers games. After massive outrage from both players and fans, Commissioner Adam Silver punished Sterling by banning him from the NBA for life and fining him $2.5 million.

Affirmative Action Dealt Big Blow by Su- Subban’s Goal Sparks Racist Response (May preme Court (April 22): The United States 1): PK Subban, a black defense man for the Montreal Supreme Court recently made a ruling in the case Schuette v. Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action, stating that the ability of college universities to use the race of the applicants as a consideration for admission is prohibited. In a 6-2 ruling, the court approved this Michigan law, which may lead to more states ending affirmative action policies for college education.

Canadiens, scored a goal in double overtime to give the team a 4-3 win in their playoff game against the Boston Bruins. Shortly after the goal, racist tweets flooded social networks from angry Bruins fans. This response was so large to the point that one of the offensive terms trended on Twitter in the Boston area. The Bruins organization quickly apologized for the response.

Bundy’s Blunder (April 23): Cliven Bundy, New Hampshire Police Chief Battles Resignation a 67-year old cattle rancher from Nevada, went Cries (May 15): Robert Copeland, an 82-year old Pofrom being a Republican Party hero to a pariah in a span of a month due to his racist comments.

Bundy, who stated in a recent interview that he felt that blacks might just be “better off as slaves, picking cotton,” has watched his popularity in conservative circles decline rapidly.

lice Chief for the town of Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, resigned after he was overheard calling President Obama the “N-word” at a restaurant. In an email to fellow policemen, Copeland backed his stance, stating that Obama “meets and exceeds my criteria for [calling someone the N-word].” The town, which includes former Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney, as a frequent vacationer, has loudly voiced their disapproval of Copeland.

-Ryan Deal ‘16

Minority Scholars Program Seeks Change

by Ashley Nnabue ‘16

The Minority Scholars Program (MSP) coordinated a march to the Montgomery County courthouse in Rockville on April 27 in order to raise further awareness about the disparities among white, Asian, black and Hispanic students. The student-led event was intended to push MCPS officials to visibly address the achievement gap, especially since the data seems to be “a direct result of de facto racial and socioeconomic segregation in MCPS,” according to a recent report by One Montgomery.

Michael Williams, a social studies teacher at Walter Johnson, first initiated MSP eight years ago to encourage young minority students to enroll in Honors and AP classes. Over time, the program has shifted at Walter Johnson from MSP to the Minority Scholars Leadership Program (MSLP). “When we started this thing, the students took it and ran with it because they believed in the mission. They wanted to see change,” explained Williams.

The program recruits students who are interested in making a difference within their academic atmosphere, according to Williams. Those students find friends and individuals who also may be eager in achieving the same goal. By doing this, they can create a support group for each other during this process and hopefully receive further encouragement from teachers. Not only do the students have support from individuals within their respective schools, but they also have a network at other schools that participate in MSLP. The various branches of support provide

Percent of 2013 2013 Graduates who Graduates who scored 3 or higher Took an AP Exam on an AP Exam MCPS Sherwood MCPS Sherwood All Races 67.3%

70.1%

51.4%

55.6%

Asian

85.6%

90.7%

70.0%

66.7%

Black

39.6%

38.6%

22.1%

31.4%

Hispanic 51.6%

62.1%

35.8%

46.6%

White

80.5%

74.7%

68.8%

60.0%

Mixed Race

76.9%

73.9%

62.5%

60.9%

more ideas for the program to be successful and increase the tactics for efficient implementation.

So far, MSP has spread to ten high schools in Montgomery County. Sherwood has yet to participate in the program, though Williams has reached out to the school regarding this program.

“I would love if the Minority Scholars Program were here. I am willing to work with students interested; [however,] it works best when motivated by students wanting to make it happen,” said Assistant Principal James Allrich.

Allrich is aware of the achievement gap at Sherwood, noting that PSAT scores and

GPAs are used to determine whether or not a student will be successful in an AP course.

Teachers also are notified that they need to be conscious of identifying a diversity of students when making recommendations for Honors and AP courses.

Williams is hoping that there will be a total of 15-18 schools that have adopted the MSP/MSLP program by next year. According to both Williams and Allrich, it is important to realize that students should have a voice in the continued growth and success of the program. Adults should do a lot, but they need to support the students in taking leadership roles.

Disparities Justify Race Restricted Scholarships

by Betselot Wondimu ‘15

Race in the United States has been a pressing issue in the past few decades. Some minority-only scholarships in American high schools and colleges have faced a huge storm of controversy for excluding white students from financial aid opportunities, but the criticism flung at these scholarships is misguided and undue.

Those who oppose race-based scholarships argue that any preference on the basis of ethnicity is unfair, as it gives people advantages over other students based on something completely out of their control. A white high school student may be denied certain opportunities of financial and social gain simply because he is not black, latino or another minority. But opponents of race-based scholarships fail to consider that being a minority in the United States comes with many disadvantages of its own that have not been thoroughly addressed.

We cannot suddenly live in a colorblind society when real racism was being incorporated into the law less than 50 years ago, and when remnants of those laws still impact minorities today. Recent data released by the Kaiser Family Foundation indicates that while 13 percent of whites live in poverty in the United States, about 35 and 33 percent of blacks and latinos, respectively, live in poverty.

Areas with major concentrations of poverty lack essential means for healthy life and tend to lack adequate educational resources as well, such as rigorous courses and skilled teachers. When financial standings – and therefore quality of life – differ by such a huge amount, scholastic scholarships that support underprivileged groups on the basis of race are justified.

In addition to hardships in the economic sphere, young minorities in America tend to face social modes of hardship, as discrimination in America’s disciplinary systems is very prevalent. Even overlooking the strong sentiment of police and judicial discrimination against minorities, recent NBC News data collected from over 72,000 schools in the U.S. indicates that “African-American students are [three to three-and-a-half] times more likely to be suspended or expelled than their white peers [for similar actions, and] 70 percent of students arrested or referred to law enforcement for disciplinary infractions are black or Latino.” With unfair proceedings taking place even within schools, race-restricted scholarships are one way to motivate minorities who tend to lack interest or comfort in their academics and educational environments.

With so many more obstacles for minority youth to face, minority-only scholarships are appropriate and fair. They limit the number of contenders on the basis of race in order to reveal potential in minority students and to encourage deprived groups to reach for higher goals with what little they have, so they can one day compete with students who have more comfortable lives. As a young black male in America, I feel that there would be less conflict and disagreement over this issue – and racial issues in general – if more people had the ability to empathize with those less well-off.

Instead of angrily thinking, “Why should scholarship money be specifically allocated to minority students?” one should think, and try to answer the question, “Why are there giant discrepancies between minorities and white Americans in education, incarceration, employment and everyday life?”

The Warrior•Features 6

June 5, 2014

Abnormal Psych Class Offered

by Haley Whitt ‘15 Abnormal Psychology is not the first class that has been offered to students to take through Montgomery College, but it is one of the most interesting. For the first time, Abnormal Psychology will now be offered to Sherwood students.

Although even the name of the course is intriguing, there are requirements students must meet in order to enroll. “The pre-requisite [to taking Abnormal Psychology] is passing the AP Psychology exam with a score of 4 or better,” explained counselor Lesia Perkins. In addition, students must also have a GPA of 2.75, and have SAT scores of 550 for reading and 550 for writing.

Meeting these basic requirements will be worth the hard

work if one is interested in minoring or majoring in psychology for a career. “I’m super excited for the class,” said junior Jacky Mueck. “I can’t wait to learn about anything and everything because it is so fascinating. From mental disorders to serial killers, I’m game. [Psychology] is one of the majors I’m considering, and I plan on minoring in it if I decide to become a teacher.”

A bonus to this specialized class is that approximately 15 students have signed up for it. Therefore, the students will be able to acquire individual help with the professor that Montgomery College selects to teach the course.

AP Psychology teacher Christine McKeldin says that while psychology focuses on topics such as the biological basis of behavior, human development,

perception, learning, mental disorders and social behavior, Abnormal Psychology offers more of an understanding of behavior disorders and insight into the personality of a disturbed person.

“Symptoms, contributing factors, treatment, diagnosis and classification of the mentally ill and the mentally defective, as well as the maladjusted person, will be studied,” said McKeldin.

The class will discuss roles of members of the mental health team in the prevention, analysis and rehabilitation of disturbed individuals. “I think the class will be extremely engaging and will give those who really enjoyed the AP course a chance to dive deeper into the material. It will also be beneficial for those who plan on majoring in a psych-related field,” said McKeldin.

Haley Whitt ‘15

Matthew Parsons explains material in health class during a lecture.

Parsons Continues to Learn From First Year Teaching

by Leo Corman ‘15 Matthew Parsons is a health teacher and track coach at Sherwood. Parsons attended college in Frostburg, Maryland. After teaching one semester at a middle school last year, Parsons entered the big leagues at the beginning of this school year. The Warrior sat down with Parsons and asked him how his first full year of teaching went. illustration by Helen Schmitt ‘15

The Psychology of the Teenage Brain

by Meagan Barrett ‘15

As summer slowly approaches, the teenage stupidity hormones are practically palpable in the air. Everyone’s preparing for the big party they’re going to have while their parents are away or skateboarding off the roof or doing parkour off the neighbor’s fence, basically, anything that will likely end in negative consequences that were clearly evident beforehand.

Unfortunately, it is a common occurrence for teenagers to do something incredibly stupid, even though they can list out the reasons why they shouldn’t. While society likes to blame it on teenagers simply being irresponsible and immature, recent research shows that teenagers, more than any other demographic, may have a legitimate, biological excuse to commit acts which they clearly shouldn’t have in the first place.

Molly Edmonds of HowStuffWorks.com compares the

teenage brain to “an entertainment center that hasn’t been fully hooked up. There are loose wires, so that the speaker system isn’t working with the DVD player, which in turn hasn’t been formatted to work with the television yet.” Yes, that’s your teenage brain she’s talking about.

In most mature adult brains, the prefrontal cortex, a region of the frontal cortex of the brain, does all of the decision making– it weighs outcomes, considers options and controls impulses and emotions. It also helps people understand one another.

The prefrontal cortex communicates with the rest of the brain through synapses, or the wires.

These account for the transfer of any information throughout the brain, such as when you feel hungry, see images on the television or touch a fuzzy pillow.

During adolescence, the brain undergoes a process called pruning, which basically consists of getting rid of the synapses that are no longer useful. Contrary to what one would

think, this process begins in the back of the brain and works forward. As a result, the frontal cortex of the brain is left with a surplus of synapses for the longest period of time – say, up into your early twenties.

In opposition to the underdeveloped prefrontal cortex, a different part of the brain does develop early on in adolescence, known as the nucleus accumbens. When tested, this section of the brain in teenagers was found to be very reactive towards large and medium rewards, and barely react when presented with a small reward.

As one can imagine, having a strong desire for reward with little ability to analyze risk and judge consequence often goes awry, and chances are, it isn’t entirely your fault … it just mostly is. So next time your mother demands to know why you let a friend come over while she wasn’t home, which resulted in a broken TV, just tell her your prefrontal cortex told you to do it. It’s not an excuse, it’s just science.

Why did you decide to become a teacher?

“I really like helping others, and I think that teachers can be role models and influence kids to be better people. I want my students to ultimately make better decisions. Kids want to make stupid decisions, that’s part of being young. My main goal is to limit how many stupid decisions kids make.”

What has been the greatest challenge for you so far this year?

“I think that the greatest challenge, since it’s health class, is to find the balance where everyone gets involved and we have good discussions in class about serious issues, but without the kids feeling too comfortable to where they can just talk and not listen. I have to hold the kids to high expectations, or they’ll try to take advantage of me because I’m a young teacher. In track there are kids who like to see how far they can push me. Teaching is the same way as coaching in that kids will test me to see what they can get away with.”

In what ways is being relatively close in age to your students a positive and/or a negative?

“I feel that the kids are close enough in age that I can semi-relate to them, and in class they’re pretty open and that leads to good discussions. Since we’re talking about health and issues in their lives, I’ve been there before, I’ve seen kids get in a lot of trouble.

I tell them about my friends and the things they did wrong, things to try to avoid. I went through all the same things that they’re going through now. But there’s also a point where I think I’m so close to the kids’ age that they’re a little too comfortable in the things they say.”

What have you learned so far about yourself and about teaching?

“I’m preaching to kids about not doing drugs, not drinking, abstaining from sexual activities or at least being responsible, and it would be naïve to think that every kid is going to listen to those things. For the most part, though, I think they do understand the big picture and why they need to make responsible decisions.

Maybe I am being naïve, but I don’t really want to change. I’m very optimistic, and I want to believe that kids will listen to a few of the things I say and become better people.”

What is one piece of advice that you have for students?

“Think about the consequences before you do something. Don’t make rash decisions without thinking about the consequences of your actions. You might make a decision now that may not be the most fun decision in the short term, but it could have big consequences if you make the wrong decision.”

The Warrior•Features June 5, 2014

7

Shining a Light on the Risks of a Summer Tan

by Kaleigh Homer ‘15

On an average day in the United States, more than one million people tan in tanning salons.

35 percent of American adults, 59 percent of college students and seventeen percent of teens have reported using a tanning bed in their lifetime. Tanning indoors and outdoors are both dangerous.

About 76,100 new cases of melanomas will be diagnosed per year (about 43,890 in men and 32,210 in women). About 9,710 people are expected to die of melanoma every year (about 6,470 men and 3,240 women).

“I like to tan outside because it is more effective than indoor tanning in my opinion. I know that it is bad for me but tanning makes me look prettier; I don’t want to look like a ghost. I’d rather be tan now and then have problems later,” said freshman Rachel Calderon.

This large number of people, many of them teen and young adults, are tanning despite the well-known risks. When tanning outdoors one can get the same sunrays as from tanning indoors, which are UVA and UVB rays.

The significant differences between the two types of rays are related to their wavelengths, but both cause damage to the skin.

While the longer UVA rays penetrate the skin deeper, they also break down collagen and elastic tissue and generate free radicals and oxidative damage. The shorter UVB rays cannot reach this deep, but they cause mutations in the DNA of skin cells in the higher layers of skin and cause sunburns.

The difference between tanning indoor and outdoor is that tanning beds emit UVA rays. The high-pressure bulbs used in tanning salons emit doses of UVA as much as 12 times that of the sun.

Not surprisingly, people who use tanning salons are 2.5 times more likely to develop squamous cell carcinoma, and 1.5 times more likely to develop basal cell carcinoma. According to recent research, first exposure to tanning beds in youth increases melanoma risk by 75 percent.

Sunlamps and tanning beds promise consumers a bronzed body year-round, but the ultraviolet (UV) radiation from these devices poses serious health risks.

Exposure to UV radiation— whether from the sun or from artificial sources such as sunlamps used in tanning beds—increases the risk of developing skin cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Melanoma is linked to getting severe sun-

burns, especially at a young age.

“Even though I know tanning is dangerous it relaxes me and I like the way it feels. It also releases a lot of tension and anger. The tanning bed can be addicting [but] it is so relaxing,” said junior Nicole Dando.

Cyber Security Attacks Highlight Need To Protect Personal Data

by Ankur Kayastha ‘15 The University of Maryland at College Park became a target of a cyber-security threat on February 19 and nearly 300,000 personal student and faculty records were compromised. The records that had been breached by a sophisticated computer virus contained names, social security numbers, dates of birth and university identification numbers. To compensate for the data breach, the University of Maryland offered free credit and identity theft protection for one year to all affected persons. The IT Division at the university became strengthened with even more protocols and security procedures than before, but it only takes one breach to reveal crucial, sensitive information.

Aside from large institutions like these, teenagers are also at risk from online threats. Rather than relying on cash and coinage, many teens have transitioned to the easy and efficient credit/debit card system. Since many teens are driving, they have to have a suitable way to pay for gas rather than paying cash at the pump each time. Obviously, it seems to hold true that it is more desirable to carry a plastic card than a wad of cash. With credit and debit cards, it is more convenient to

shop online and buy items with a simple click of a button. But with this switch to online bill paying, some negative consequences may result.

Whenever someone creates a new account, be it social media or any other kind, he/she may not consider the possibility of having information intercepted and stolen. Many teenagers may not see the danger in not double-checking the information they place into accounts, especially financial and identification information.

This is a problem as cyber security breaches are a plausible outcome. In fact, one particular virus known as the ‘Heartbleed Virus’ recently has weaved its way through multiple cyber security defenses to expose the information of many people.

The recent cyber security breaches at the University of Maryland, similar to the highly publicized attack on Target stores, were caused by various cyber security attacks, including worms and bugs. The ‘Heartbleed Virus’ wormed its way through multiple defenses to affect many social media sites as well, including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Cyber security has become an important subject for many accredited institutions, mainly due to more sophisticated attacks that have been occurring recently.

However, it is also up to internet users to take responsibility for the information they dish out. It is better to be skeptical about the information you provide rather than to have this sensitive information stolen from you. According to the National Children’s Advocacy Center, it is imperative to remain protected online, especially for children. Around 93 percent of teenagers in the United States have some sort of access to the internet. This percentage are certainly at risk of becoming a victim of a sophisticated cyber-attack. Many cyber-attacks are pinpointed toward the youth in society due to their vulnerability, innocence and lack of knowledge of internet safety. The organization provides ways to stay safe when surfing online, perhaps by not sharing online passwords, using privacy settings of social networks, researching institutions before placing any vital information and more.

Identity theft has become prevalent as many ‘hackers’ attempt to steal identity rather than any financial asset. Internet safety has become an important issue in today’s society. In the case of teenagers, their logged information may be hijacked or intercepted at any point, so it is crucial for them to know how to remain safe online.

cartoon by Helen Schmitt ‘15 Those in the indoor tanning business believe that “tanning can be beneficial in small increments and more sporadically rather than very often. If people who tan are smart with their tanning, they will have a healthy glow. It is well known that indoor tanning can

cause cancer so if a person chooses to expose their skin to the sun, I recommend seeing a dermatologist to make sure there are not any premature cancerous spots forming on your skin,” said Alex Fennington, a manager at Solar Planet in Olney.

The Warrior•Features 8

June 5, 2014

Some Still Texting While Driving Despite the Dangers

by Samantha Schwartz ‘16

Five seconds is the minimum amount of time a driver’s attention is taken away from the road when sending a text message while driving. When driving 55 mph, those five seconds are equivalent to driving the length of a football field without looking at the road.

Distracted driving is an incredibly dangerous activity. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website states that “each day in the United States, more than 9 people are killed and more than 1,060 people are injured in crashes that are reported to involve a distracted driver.”

Maryland has two primary laws prohibiting handheld devices and texting usage while driving. One bans the usage of handheld devices and cell phones for all drivers and the other bans texting for all drivers. New teen drivers are required to take driver’s education so they become well aware of these laws. However, in a survey by The Warrior, many students admitted to breaking these laws as they use their phone in some way while driving. One Sherwood student, wanting to remain anonymous, stated that it’s safe to talk on the phone “as long as you have a Bluetooth and can truly multitask.”

Though some students express confidence in using technology while driving, a significant portion of students reported

Do you feel safe to talk on the phone while 33% YES 67% NO driving?

How often do you text and drive?

3% often 12% occasionally 39% only when the vehicle is stopped 44% never 2% other

Do you talk on the phone while 43% YES driving? 57% NO on the survey that they do not think it safe to use their phones while driving. “When texting you are distracted and you could get into a crash and potentially hurt yourself or someone else,” said junior Morgan Henry on the survey.

Junior Sophie Mezebish believes that a driver can still be safe as long as he or she still concentrates on driving. “You still can pay full attention to the

Do you ever glance at your phone while driving?

55% YES 45% NO

road as long as the conversation is short,” said Mezebish.

While many students take the risk, a large number of Sherwood students obey the rules of the road by not texting or talking on the phone while driving. “Using your phone leads to distractions which unfortunately leads to accidents,” noted junior Caitlin Romeo on her survey.

The number of people killed in distraction-affected crashes

Where do you keep your phone while you’re drving?

35% next to you 2% in a compartment 42% In your lap 21% other 96 students surveyed

was 3,328 in 2012. An estimated 421,000 people were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving a distracted driver. This was a nine-percent increase from the estimated 387,000 people injured in 2011.

The results of the student survey and the published data seem to indicate a disconnect between the law and some student beliefs regarding the risks related to cell phone use while driv-

ing. Many organizations want to spread awareness of the dangers of distracted driving, including National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS). The Federal Communication Commission’s website stated “[NOYS is] a coalition of national organizations, business and industry leaders, and federal partners that focus on youth health and safety” and further elaborated on their mission against distracted driving.

The Warrior•Humor

9

June 5, 2014 Navigating the Crowded Halls of Sherwood

by Leo Corman ‘15

Maneuvering through Sherwood’s hallways is difficult for even the most experienced of students. Walking between classes can feel like fighting through a dense maze of backpacks and flesh. Fortunately, after studying the issue for the past year, I have some tips to help you get around Sherwood safely.

Avoid distractions

Talking on the phone or texting while walking might not seem like a big deal, but it can really impair your focus and coordination. If you truly can’t wait, pull over to the side in a way that does not obstruct traffic and proceed to talk or type away.

Use caution

When changing lanes or turning, make frequent head checks before merging and wait for a safe opening before turning across traffic. Make sure no one is coming in the other lane before passing someone. Be especially careful at busy intersections.

Obey the speed limit

Speeding endangers not only your own safety but that of everyone around you. There is no need to rush – you’re better off safe than sorry.

Summertime Adventures

Failing To Make the A Crazy Approach to Most Out of Summer School-Free Activities

majority of plans don’t work out.

“I meant to hang outThroughout history, summer side with my friends and get has marked a period of growth, that job,” said Rose, “I just adventure and excitement for never really got around to it. teens. Young adults have the I was busy on my phone.” power to choose their own daily Kay seemed to have faced a schedules and do all those things similar issue. “I needed to play they never had time for during the Call of Duty,” she declared. “It school year. Teenagers are ecstat- was more important than makic when they hear the bell ring for ing a real difference in the world. summer; they are ready to have My call of duty is the TV.” adventures and create memories. This so-called lackadaisical One student intent on creat- attitude in teenagers has been ing memories is sophomore An- sweeping across the nation. Adgela Rose. olescents “I can’t wait “I meant to hang outside with leave school for summer! my friends and get that job. I filled to the I have so brim with many awe- just never really got around to e n t i c i n g some things it. I was busy on my phone.” endeavors, planned, yet sum~Sophomore Angela Rose mer never like spending a day seems to outside hiking with friends live up to their expectations. and lifeguarding at the com- Experts are perplexed as to munity pool,” said Rose. what might be causing this phe Other students also have nomenon. Multiple studies have exciting adventures planned ensued and some think that the for the summer. “I plan to unfulfilled plans are the result of volunteer overseas and real- extreme teenage apathy. Others ly make a difference in the suspect that the mass number of world,” said junior Sophia Kay. cell phones and other electron Students leave school with ics might be behind this large the best summer plans ever. Yet number of teens who fail to go for some mysterious reason, the through with their summer plans.

by Stacey Wells ‘15

by Emma Izzo ‘15

Sophomore Dave Turner is always up for thrills, living life on the edge. He regularly stays up after 10 p.m., even sneaking out of his house on occasion. One never can tell what Turner will risk next.

“The other day I did something so bad, like really bad.

While my parents were out of the house I watched an R-rated movie, and they never even had an inkling of what I did,” Turner recounted. “I even did it right under their noses. I snuck it out of the movie rack in the den while my mom was doing the dishes, then waited for them to go to bed. They could have caught me. I’m only 16, you know.”

Another sneaky think he does is drink milk right out of the plastic gallon in the fridge. Luckily he has not been caught yet, and his sister is the only other person who drinks milk in the family.

“But sometimes I wait till I hear her just around the corner coming into the kitchen, before I ease the jug back on the fridge shelf all calm and cool-like,” said Turner.

When he’s not sneaking behind his parents’ back, Turner is seeking other types of thrills.

The other day he got on the back of a motorcycle and lived to tell the tale. “Whoah, that was cool!

What a rush! I held on for dear life and leaned into the curves. One day I’m going to ride one on my own! Bet you don’t know anyone at Sherwood who’s done that!”

Turner loves to brags how he is so bad and does numerous thrilling and risky activities. The other day he held the steering wheel while his dad was driving in their neighborhood. Turner does not have a driver’s license. He never does his homework. Instead he stays for hours on his tablet and watches Netflix and plays violent games. He eats only junk food when he gets home from school.

When most students are watching their sugar intake, avoiding McDonald’s and eating healthy locally grown organic produce, Turner is a real food rebel. “Hey, my breakfast is a Twinkies and a Diet Coke. It’s all about the chemicals, man. Take a look at the long list of ingredients with names no one can pronounce. I’m taking my life in my hands.” Turner said in between bites of Sour Patch Kids. “Hey, if you’re up for a thrill, I am your dude.”

Walk Defensively

You have to always be ready for the crazy things that other people will do in the hallway, so maintain a safe following distance and keep your eyes up. You need to be aware of everything going on around you, including teachers with carts, abnormally large backpacks and bathroom get-togethers.

Properly secure cargo

Your backpack should be zipped tightly and your textbooks and binders tucked firmly under your arm. The last thing you want is for your papers to end up scattered all over the floor.

Use discretion

When attempting to dap another student up if they are traveling in the opposite direction, you must factor in your speed and his or her speed, and watch out for other students walking in between. Do NOT attempt the dap if it is too dangerous.

Travel Sober

Last but certainly not least, never travel under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Staying safe in the halls depends on split-second decisions that require your full physical, mental and emotional attention. Remember, “you’re no punk, so don’t walk drunk” (courtesy of National Hallway Traffic Safety Administration).

cartoon by Helen Schmitt ‘15

W

D R L

ARGENTINA

The dark horse that everyone is hearing more about as the competition nears. With a so-called “golden generation” of young players such as Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku, the Belgians look to be the upstarts that take down the traditional world powers in soccer.

by Emma Hierholzer

‘15

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BRAZIL Not only does Brazil have some of the best players in the world, like Neymar and Oscar, but they also have home field advantage. If Brazil can handle the pressure of performing in front of massive crowds, they could win their sixth World Cup and first since 2002.

e e h r c on r ee o o h t c d n t he o e t The World Cup, much like the t t i h c Olympics, is one of the few events in the world i r d i e x that can successfully bring so many countries together. The event evokes a feeling of national pride and brings out many people’s Eepatriotism.

This is one of the few chances for ESOL students, a minority at

Group

England Italy Coasta Ri ca Uruguay

Sherwood, to display their national pride and show support for their country. It is the most watched sporting event in the world, and naturally some Sherwood students follow it closely.

For students like junior Obed Matute, the World Cup has been an event they have watched all their life. He says ever since he can remember, he has watched the World Cup every four years.

He says that he supports his country, Honduras, but the main reason he watches is that he and his family just love soccer.

For junior Naod Abrha, the World Cup is about seeing which of the best teams will win. He says he watches and cheers for Spain, England, Ivory Coast and Cameroon even though he is a Haitian native. Since his country did not make it into the World Cup, he cheers for other squads and naturally chooses ones that have a realistic shot at winning.

“If my country does not make it into the World Cup, why would I cheer for a bad team in it? My country already was not good enough at soccer to win it, so I decided I’m going to cheer for teams that have a real chance to win it,” said Abrha.

Senior David Zavala believes that if a students’ native country did not make it then they should try to cheer for a country from the same region. He says that he would cheer for South American teams if his native country of El Salvador did not make it. After El Salvador, he is a fan of teams like Chile and Argentina since they are representing South America in the tournament.

Believe it or not, the World Cup is pretty popular in the United States, too. While it is no secret that the soccer leagues in America do not draw in the same number of viewers as the NFL or the NBA, the World Cup still brings out a lot of Americans’ inner soccer fan.

“The World Cup is my favorite sporting event since I love Soccer. I love it more than the Super Bowl and all the other American sporting events. I even love it more than the Olympics. I hope I’ll see Team USA hoist up a trophy in my lifetime,” said junior Ethan Carrey.

The World Cup brings a lot of people together from different backgrounds to watch their countries win. The Sherwood community experiences this as students from all around the world display their pride for their native countries. The sheer number of countries involved helps unite the world for a month every four years so people can watch countries strive for the one and only cup.

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In preparation fo r the 2014 World Cup games, the Brazilian ment has stepped up govern- have resorted to clean up the notoriou to residing on the str s “favelas” of Rio de and other Brazilian eets after the govern Janerio organize new cities. Favelas – slu ment has failed to effi liv ing spaces for them. m neighborhoods tha homes for millions of ciently Many argue that by br t provide nities, crime Brazilian residents – eaking up these comm rat es and homelessness have long been a sour controversy among go uwill soar and will co ce of government ca vernmental officials ntinue to do so until n sufficiently provide who have pushed for moval. However, the the housing for its poores their re- Another se favelas have beco t citizens. complaint is that the me strong knit comm and are often the only se evictions have come unities ple have had source of shelter for du ring a period when pe lit tle to no time to prepare those in poverty. This between the needing ofor these “evacuation tension activists of fav of a cleanup in cities s”. Both residents an ela and keeping the need communities say tha living in these areas int d s of those Lack of co t thi s hu act is only further hig ge push has proved far mmunication, consult hlighted as Brazil org too opaque. the upcoming World ation, and dialogue be anizes affected comm Cup. tween the government unities have increase With more than and the d pressures on both sid 13 billion (in dollars) sit ion to a es, only making the tra mo re “modern” Brazil chall for World Cup constru and revitalization of nenging. ction Although city substructure, the both governments in Braz begun major renovati il have sides of this ons. With such world issue have attention focused on its surrounding areas Rio and their own ag , Brazil feels there is endas and a drive to “cleanup” to make room for no in order challenges to t only athletic spaces work out, , but for the influx of coming to watch the tourists everyone can games. ag ree that 1.5 million Braz ilians have already be the W or ld Cu p is fast en evicted from favela the country and over s across approaching 260,000 households ; and dehave been demolishe push for increased ur d in the spite the chall banization and infras enges the tructure in Brazil’s mo ulated cities. Althoug st pop- country now h many officials belie fac es, one ve that these efforts wi poor communities ga ll help can hope Br in a better standard of az il will living, many favela res disagree. idents find unity on the soccer Among evicted fav ela residents it’s not un field as the host natio common to find those n who cheers as one.

SPAIN

The team is the reigning World Cup winner and has most of the same players, 18 to be exact, including star players Andres Iniesta, Xavi, Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos and many others. The 2010 squad is regarded as one of the best teams ever. With the addition of great players like Diego Costa, Spain has a good chance to win the World Cup again.

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Spain Netherlan ds Australia Chile

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BELGIUM

Group

The German side is wonderfully balanced with a great defense, a dynamic midfield and potent offense. Bastian Schweinsteiger, Marco Rues, Phillip Lahm and Mesut Ozil are amongst the stars of a team that has been together for a while.

Fan sE Fx anc sit

The new face of American soccer is attacking midfielder Clint Dempsey who has built a successful career in the Barclays Premier League (BPL). Jozy Altidore, who is also in the BPL gaining experience as a reserve, is viewed as a bust at the club level. This should give Altidore the extra boost he needs to prove the haters wrong and play extra well in the World Cup. Then the U.S. squad also has a great and experienced goalkeeper in Tim Howard who has been Everton’s starting goalkeeper for years and who was named the best goalkeeper in the 2009 Confederation Cup. The way I see things, Team USA only needs two wins to advance from the group stage. The must-win match is against Ghana in the first game. If the United States can beat the loser of the game between Portugal and Germany, the team will be on its way to the second round of the World Cup. Even a tie might be enough for the United States to be one of the top two teams to advance out of the group.

zil Bra tia a Cro eroon Cam co i Mex

GERMANY

by Hunter Moore ‘15

A

up o r G

Possibly the best offense in the whole tournament. Leo Messi looks to lead his team alongside players like Gonzalo Higuain and Sergio Aguero to break down any defense and return glory to a soccer-crazed country that last won a World Cup with Diego Maradona in 1986.

A Patriot’s View

Even the most fervent supporters of the U.S. national team are wondering how they can advance out of the socalled “group of death” that includes Germany, Portugal and Ghana. Germany is widely considered one the very best teams in the world and is one of the clear favorites to win the World Cup. Portugal has possibly the best player in the world in Cristiano Ronaldo, and Ghana is well known to U.S. fans as the team that knocked the United States out of the 2010 World Cup in the second round.

Further creating doubts is U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann’s decision to not include Landon Donavon on the roster going to Brazil. Commentators have wondered if Klinsmann is basically looking at the 2014 World Cup as a chance to groom younger players for 2018.

I am taking the optimistic viewpoint that there somehow are 23 Americans better than Donavon. If this turns out accurate, I don’t see how the U.S. team couldn’t come out of the group and advance to the next round.

C U P

Each highlighted team is predicted to advance to the second round of the World Cup.

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Group

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Argentina Nigeria Iran Bosnia - H erzegovin a

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Beligum South Kor ea Algeria Russia

The Warrior•Opinions 12

June 5, 2014

Staff Editorial:

In Our Opinion

Prepare Students for the Realities of College rriculums change How can school cu udents? to better educate st ip between sexual Is there a relationsh l consumption? ho co al d an ts ul sa as By the time students graduate from an MCPS high school, they will have sat through at least five separate health courses, all of which teach them the dangers of drinking and emphasize the importance of staying sober throughout their high school and college lives. Although these health classes are put in place to keep students from drinking irresponsibly, they ultimately fail to accept the reality of underage drinking in high school and fail to prepare students for the realities of college.

In recent studies it was found that one in every four women will be the victim of a sexual assault during college and 80 percent of those cases are associated with alcohol use. The correlation between the consumption of alcohol and sexual assault has been proven time after time, and with the White House taking action to protect young women from sexual assault, the issue is more prevalent than ever before.

It is understood that MCPS does not want to encourage illegal behavior; however, with the rise in sexual assaults on college campuses, it is important that MCPS reevaluates high school health class curriculum and makes a more receptive program that recognizes the fact that nearly three quarters of students will have consumed alcohol by the time they are out of high school.

Instead of putting all of the focus on abstinence from alcohol, health classes should have a

unit in which they teach safe drinking practices.

During this time, not only would students learn the effects of mixing different alcohols and drugs and recieve tips on how to stay safe at parties, but also include a day in which the body mass index (BMI) of each student is taken and each individual is given a rough estimate as to how many drinks he or she can consume before putting him or herself at a serious risk. Much of the problem lies in young people not knowing their limits and a new curriculum would allow them to discover that limit before it is too late.

In a new curriculum, however, it is also incredibly important that the students see the connection between alcohol and rape on college campuses. More often than not, when students think of drinking, they do not suspect something as horrifying as rape to happen to them. Seeing that 25 percent of the females in the graduating Class of 2014 will most likely be sexually assaulted within the next four years, MCPS needs to do all that it can to demonstrate the very real link between heavy drinking and sexual assault. It is not going to be easy to reduce the number of sexual assaults on college campuses, as alcohol is only one of the many factors involved; however, it is critical that MCPS takes the first step of accepting and addressing the prevalence of underage drinking among students before any significant changes can be made.

Warrior P

the

ublished seven times a year, The Warrior serves as Sherwood High School’s premier news source. Over the years, it has received numerous state and national honors. With a staff of 36 students and one advisor, The Warrior keeps the Sherwood community apprised of local and national events.

All opinion articles represent the viewpoint of the writer. The unsigned staff editorials solely represent the opinions of the newspaper staff. These articles do not necessarily represent the views of Sherwood High School.

The Warrior welcomes Letters to the Editor of 250 words or less. They may be submitted to room C268 or emailed to thewarrioronline.shs@gmail.com. Letters must be signed, and all content received by the newspaper is subject to editing.

The Warrior staff invites feedback and corrections to printed inaccuracies.

The Warrior reserves the right to refuse advertisements.

Staff Print Layout and Production Directors .................. Marie Moeller ‘15 Betselot Wondimu ‘15

Connor Loughran ‘15 News Editors ...............................................

Samantha Schwartz ‘16 Specials Editor ................................................. Steven Witkin ‘16 Annie Feinroth ‘15 Features Editors ............................................

Allie Pino ‘15

Humor Editor .................................................. Hunter Moore ‘15 Spotlight Editor .......................................... Emma Hierholzer ‘15 Opinions Editors .................................. Julia Gajewski-Nemes‘15 Will Van Gelder ‘16

Wondering Warrior Editor.............................. Lauren Cosca ‘15 Chauhan ‘16 Entertainment Editors ................................... Ketki

Ryan Deal ‘16

Sports Editors ................................................ Jack Armstrong ‘15 Sammie Spillman ‘16

Online Online Managing Editor ................................. Brian Hughes ‘15 Online Page Editors.......................................... Catherine Jou ‘15 Ashley Nnabue ‘16 Stacy Wells ‘15

Content and Copy Managing Content and Copy Director ........ Meagan Barrett ‘15 Content and Copy Editors ................................ Leo Corman ‘15 Ankur Kayastha ‘15 Kira Yates ‘16 Managing Photo Editors .................................. Haley Whitt ‘15 Photographers ............................................... Jack Armstrong ‘15 Chase Wilson ‘17

Cartoonist ........................................................ Helen Schmitt ‘15 Pollster ............................................................ Kaleigh Homer ‘15 Morning Announcements Script Editor........... Stacey Wells ‘15 Staff Reporters ........................................... Madison Dymond ‘16

Emma Izzo ‘15 Emily Gilburt ‘16 Business and Publicity Directors.................. Dalton Sanchez ‘15 Zach Stubblefield ‘15

cartoon by Emma Hierholzer ‘15

Office Manager ............................................. Stephen Luckey ‘15 Advisor............................................................................ Peter Huck

The Warrior•Opinions June 5, 2014

13

Should MCPS Implement a Balanced Calendar?

From Washoe County in Nevada to the Seaford School District in Delaware, many schools are switching from a traditional calander over to a new balanced school calender. The switch would shorten summer break and move those days into other periodic breaks during the school year. Should Montgomery County consider making the change as well? The Warrior debates what the next move should be.

Pro

New Calendar Would Minimize Burnout

by Jack Armstrong ‘15 Before you get the wrong idea, adopting a balanced calendar does not mean more days of school. Rather, a balanced calendar focuses on evenly distributing breaks during the school year, while the number of school days remains the same.

A balanced calendar would help improve student learning and classroom achievement and address issues such as summer learning loss, “burnout” and stress. MCPS should look into adopting a balanced calendar as a solution for all schools to boost academic achievement.

The balanced calendar shortens summer break and redistributes those days throughout the year during fall, winter and spring breaks, each typically being 3 weeks long. Summer break is still the longest, but is shortened to around 4-5 weeks.

The benefit of a balanced calendar is that it minimizes “burnout” because breaks are longer and more frequent throughout the year. The balanced calendar is also designed to reduce learning loss over summer break, so less time is spent reteaching and more is spent on new learning. In fact, under the balanced calendar, the fall semester ends before winter break, rather than having two more weeks of school and exams remaining after break, such as under the current calendar.

Washoe County Schools in Nevada

voted to implement the balanced calendar in for the 2013-2014 school year. In a report provided by Washoe County Schools, parent and student attitudes toward the balanced calendar after one year were positive, with 73.3 percent of students and 77.6 percent of parents and staff favoring the new calendar. The school system reports the main reason they made the jump was to maximize student learning and achievement by shortening summer break to reduce learning loss and balance break time.

Feedback gathered prior to the implementation showed an interest to change the calendar mainly because the community requested a later start date, leading to an investigation into the benefits of adopting a balanced calendar.

A balanced calendar makes sense not only because it focuses on improving students’ education, but because it helps to improve underperforming schools by rethinking how a school calendar is related to achievement. It provides new winter intercession programs for students during winter break, replacing summer school programs in the traditional system. Though some remain skeptical of how such a change would disrupt the community, many educators argue there is a solid link between student achievement and more frequent breaks included in a balanced calendar. Proof of the balanced calendar’s success can be seen in numerous counties across the nation today.

Con

Year-Long School Would Cause Disruption

by Brian Hughes ‘15 While longer breaks during the school year might seem nice for students and learning, the balanced school calendar would ultimately do more harm than good.

Arguments for this growing trend focus on reducing the amount of material students forget over a long summer break while also limiting the amount of stress students experience with long streaks of consecutive weeks of school. These are valid to a certain degree, but the downsides to the new calendar largely outweigh any perceived benefits.

Longer breaks realistically will counter the intentions of the balanced calendar: which is to be less disruptive to students by reducing the lengthy break from June to September. However, longer breaks throughout the school year would not result in minimizing that disruption. If anything, extending Spring Break and Winter Break would be more disruptive, removing students from the classroom during the school year for multiple, longer periods of time rather than just having one large break in the summer. That learning loss is just put into the time in which the other breaks that take place rather than in the summer.

There are also students’ parents to think about, especially the parents of younger students. When their kids are off for an extra week or two during the win-

ter and spring, parents likely will not get to take off for those extra days as well – they need to go back to work. Also, elementary schools provide sources of transportation to aftercare centers for students who have working parents and are not available; that transportation will be lost when students are not at school. Also, a new balanced calendar is not going to coincide with traditional holidays. Where is the “balance” here? The calendar is more disruptive both in and out of school.

Another less-considered but still important factor is the cost of having to keep schools in motion year round since there is not a period of time long enough to fully reduce energy use when schools are empty. A school is going to increase its energy use (and cost) as a result. Heat, air conditioning, lights and computers all contribute to that cost, and we all know that money comes from taxes.

Bottom line, a balanced school calendar is not really balanced at all. There is a reason there are movies, books and even songs based on summer vacation. It has just become a societal norm that we seem to function around just fine, with short, periodic breaks in between so that we may enjoy the holidays. The world beyond schools, specifically the lives of parents, does not need to be put out of sync so students can forget what they learn during weeks off in the winter and spring rather than just in the summer.

To The Point Profanity is Part of Life

Girlfriend Slut-Shames

Blame Who Deserves It

by Betselot Wondimu ‘15

by Marie Moeller ‘15

by Haley Whitt ‘15

Sometimes, moral sentiments get taken too far. Shortly before Memorial Day weekend, Ocean City Councilwoman Mary Knight organized the posting of signs reading “No Profanity Please” along the beach’s boardwalk.

Although she may feel righteous, Knight’s decision was misguided, as many individuals disobeyed the message.

Knight did not consider that swearing has been embedded within American culture to a greater extent than it had before. It’s difficult, for example, to find one contemporary musician, comedian or even teenager who doesn’t curse extensively. With this being said, Ocean City is a popular vacation spot for a variety of people and trying to limit all of their unique lexicons wasn’t rational. It probably provoked some rebels to curse for the hell of it.

Naivety or a desire for popularity is probably to blame for Knight’s decision. If it’s the former, Knight needs to better understand modern culture. If it’s the latter, she needs to find ways to win votes besides appealing to the outdated sensitivities of a small audience. Either way, posting signs that ban profanity in public space is silly.

After witnessing a confrontation between two girls, I started thinking about crazy, psycho girlfriends who are overly possessive of their boyfriends. Like many others, I thought such events were only plausible in a movie or book setting; I was rather unpleasantly proven wrong. Just like the movies, the girlfriend was verbally attacking another girl, targeting her rather than the boyfriend. It is this other girl that people are mad at, calling her a slut. Rumors float around presuming that this girl was supposedly with the boyfriend, but it does not matter if she was or was not. It should not matter because in the end the boyfriend should equally share the blame.

Why do we, as teenage girls or even just as females, automatically cast the other girl as the one at fault while the boy gets off the hook? Why do we call her names as a result of mere speculation? When we have all gone through the woes of relationships, one would think we can find more civil ways to resolve such conflicts without degrading other girls, especially in a society that degrades us so much already.

I recently saw the new comedy “Neighbors” that is based around the shenanigans and tensions that occur when a rambunctious frat house becomes the new neighbor of a married couple. Let’s just say that the movie was rated R for a reason. It includes scenes with violence, excessive drug and alcohol usage and vulgar language.

In a Washington Post article, film critic Ann Hornaday suggested that “Neighbors” was partially a cause of the shooting rampage in Santa Barbara, California. Hornaday asserted that the film—and others like it— makes young men feel “unjustly shut out of college life that should be full of sex and fun and pleasure.” Seth Rogen, a star of the film, was rightly upset about Hornaday’s article and tweeted, “I find your article horribly insulting and misinformed.” It is a silly claim that a film would cause a lunatic to go on a killing rampage because films don’t force people to commit acts of violence. The person has to have an underlying mental disorder to follow through with vicious acts. It’s time to stop blaming popular culture and entertainment for mass shootings and other incidents of actual

The Warrior•Opinions 14

June 5, 2014

Money Shouldn’t Speak

by Betselot Wondimu ‘15

Teacher Evaluations

With the school year coming to a close, students are not the only ones being evaluated for their performances. It is a time for teachers to evaluate (with the help of students and other staff) how they have performed throughout the school year and decide what changes may need to be made for the 2014-2015 school year.

Have you ever received a teacher-evaluation survey from a high school teacher regarding how he or she taught the class?

*117 students surveyed

How much do teachers take into consideration student evaluations when planning for the next school year?

“I take student evaluations very seriously. My students see me every day and know what is happening in the classroom. They know whether I am knowledgable, engaging, approachable, prepared, supportive, etc. My students know if they have learned a lot or a little in class. I believe my students are my best source of information about my teaching and their learning.” ~ Social Studies Teacher Rebecca Taylor

The growing involvement of money in the American political system is indisputable and startling. In the last five years alone, the Supreme Court has ruled in two landmark cases—Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (FEC) and McCutcheon v. FEC—to dramatically loosen restrictions in campaign finance policies in a myriad of ways.

While the authorization of unlimited super political action committee (super PAC) spending and the barring of total federal campaign contribution limits do little to strengthen the voice of the majority of the country, the opinions of the wealthiest Americans grow more amplified and unrivaled.

“Limiting the amount of money a person may give to a candidate does impose a direct restraint on his political communication,” stated Justice Clarence Thomas in an attempt to justify the relaxation of campaign finance laws by the Supreme Court. This news uplifts moneyed individuals nationwide, who realize that they’ll have more opportunities to communicate their political views than the bulk of the country.

Businessman David Koch, who has donated over $400 million to conservative politicians directly through campaign contributions and indirectly through several conservative coalitions in 2012, and other fat-cats are probably still celebrating. Koch’s

The Glance That Judges

by Catherine Jou ‘15

“I definitely take these evaluations seriously and I try to incorporate the suggestions that are given. For example, when the students say they like working in groups or with partners in Spanish, I will use more partner and group work the next semester. On the other hand, when the students told me they didn’t like the Oral points that were given, I changed the way I graded them for speaking.” ~Foreign Language Teacher Michele Bloom

Teachers receive evaluations from administrators 2-4 times a year, while veteran teachers receive them only once every 3-5 years. Do you think this system of teacher observations is an effective way to evaluate teachers?

“Formal evaluations are usually looking for specific things on a checklist, for example, student learning objectives posted on the board. It’s nice to get feedback from other adults on student engagement or classroom management, but it’s usually not a musician observing my class, so they’re not going to necessarily have the expertise to assess the musical content of the lesson.” ~Music Teacher Michael Maddox “Ideally, teacher observations would happen much more frequently, but the school system lacks the manpower for administrators to handle this more often than they currently do. I think the solution is for teachers to engage in ‘peer observations’ that are constructive - not evaluative - in nature.

When teachers observe each other, we learn a lot from one another. And when we listen to our peers critique our work, we can really grow and improve the way we teach.” ~Math Teacher James Key

generous donations to congressmen undoubtedly coerced them into supporting irrational policies that support his manufacturing and agricultural corporations’ economic success—such as bills that deny irrefutable evidence of climate change.

Since elections are largely determined by the amount of money candidates have to spend on advertisements, mail and polling, politicians will unfortunately accept these huge donations quickly at the expense of the constituents that actually voted them into office. Even with this evident cycle of corruption (money for favorable policy), “freedom of speech” in the form of unlimited campaign contributions is still permitted as the law of the land.

With the logic that is in use today, it’s depressingly easy and believable to imagine wealthy individuals such as Koch saying “Of course money embodies the right to free speech. I was simply born with more rights than the average person.”

The Supreme Court has maintained its recent decisions as defending the freedom of speech of American citizens. But is the court really acting in good faith when only the wealthiest individuals in a country, who already have overwhelming advantages over average citizens, are able to enjoy that freedom? Corruption in politics is in no way a new concept in history, but it has reached an unprecedented level.

Every day students are hit with a reminder of how they should act and/or look in order to “maintain” the balance of high school life. They are labeled by other students and teachers before they even get a chance to know one another. And I’m not talking about your cliché stereotypes that seem to make a cameo in every high school movie or show.

This judgment is something we all do consciously or not. We all are guilty of labeling what someone is going to be like just by his or her appearance.

Just look around and you’ll see someone who draws your attention, good or bad. Now let’s just say you see a girl with beautiful straight hair and a stylish outfit, and treading a few feet behind her is girl who you assume gets good grades. You probably just then labeled the first girl and despite not being given any concrete qualities about the other girl, you probably imagined her qualities as well. Hence, you can see why this may be a problem.

The fact that we determine what someone is like with just a glance confused me for a while, but it all makes sense if you think about it. We live in a world where our appearance defines us so much so that we can no longer have a sense of self without

our possessions and looks. People allow others to judge and label them because they want to be accepted in society.

But as appalling as this may seem, it simply is a part of life.

Teachers are judged on how well they teach and students are judged on how well they do in school. Conversely, people who say, “I don’t care about my appearance” or say “I don’t give a (insert desired curse word here)” actually do; in fact, we all do.

Ever heard anyone say, “I’m feeling like a hobo today” when they are wearing sweatpants? Yes, well that is because they are making a justification for dressing that way even though they claim to not care about how they look.

But the thing is, we ultimately cannot control how we are judged and what we are judged of.

Take, for example, the interviews you will have in the future.

Don’t you expect the interviewers to judge you? I mean after all, you are giving them a two-page portfolio to judge you off of. It’s an inevitable part of life. Once you realize that your life will always revolve around judgment (no, not the type where you “prove” you’re this or that but rather the way you take judgment from others), you might have more of a chance to not be engulfed by it.

Judgment enables us and disables us with labels in life.

The Warrior•Wondering Warrior

15

June 5, 2014 The Warrior asked students about.....

Summer 2014 Do you go on vacation over the summer?

94 % yes

How many hours of TV do you watch on an average summer day?

6 % no

How many nights a week on average do you go out to eat over the summer?

On average, how late do you sleep in over the summer?

13% said 8 or earlier

21% said 8-9 am

34% said 10-11 am

14% said 12-1 pm

18% said past 1 pm *84 sudents surveyed

What is your opinion of “summer fling” relationships?

‘They are a terrible idea.”

“They most likely won’t last.”

-Spencer Matthews ‘16 -Bernice Bethke ‘16

“They are pointless.”

-Mal’kai’ah Mehlek ‘15

What’s the most daredevil thing you have ever done over the summer?

“I parasailed at 800 feet when I’m afraid of heights.”

-Jacob Shaia ‘17

“Off-road biking and survival trips.”

-Gabriel Coxson ‘17

“I climbed on the top of Cafe Rio.”

-Bryan Hayre ‘16

What’s your favorite thing to do at the beach and why?

“Listen to music because it’s calming.”

-Laudan Kalantary ‘16

“Jet skiing.”

-Connor Nicholson ‘17

“Beach volleyball, boogeyboarding, and swimming.”

-Alexi Tzamaras ‘17

compiled by Kaleigh Homer ‘15

The Warrior•Entertainment 16

June 5, 2014

Shows ‘N’ Shindigs CONCERTS

July 7 Beyonce & Jay Z M&T Bank Stadium

June 12 Brad Paisley Merriweather Post Pavllion

July 22 Vans Warped Tour Merriweather Post

July 18 Fall Out Boy, Paramore Merriweather Post

June 14 tUnE-yArDs & Sylvan Esso 9:30 Club

July 19 OAR & Phillip Phillips Merriweather Post

MOVIES

June 13 22 Jump Street

June 27 Transformers 4: Age of Extinction

July 18 The Purge: Anarchy

August 1 Guardians of the Galaxy

July 25 Hercules

graphic by Ryan Deal ‘16 and Ketki Chauhan ‘16

‘The Happiest Place on Earth’ Lives Up to Name with Amazing New Attractions

by Emily Gilburt ‘16 Disney World in Orlando, Florida, is an amazingly adventurous and fun-filled park, full of brand new rides for people of all ages. Disney completely modernized and updated its technological systems and introduced new features to the parks. Most people visit Disney World only a few times in their lives, but millions of people visit the parks every year. Even teenagers, who are difficult to please, would find new adventures that will engage their interest.

Upon checking into a Disney World hotel, visitors are given a personalized wrist band with their name scripted on the back.

At the touch of the wristband, the world of endless opportunities is available at their leisure.

Disney’s app, MyMagic, for a smartphone is a necessity. Using a cell phone to set up dinner reservations, check park hours, and even book “fast passes” to be assigned a specific time to ride (and not have to wait in line), is something every teenager knows how to do. Everything done on the app automatically gets inputted on the personalized wrist band. When attending a planned arrangement, wristbands are scanned against a Mickey Mouse shaped circular pole. Credit cards are connected to the wristbands and make it simple and quick to purchase souvenirs or dining. The wristbands are also room keys.

This whole modern, new Disney World arrangement has cost

Prince Eric’s Castle, a new Disney World attraction, is just one of the several new additions that excites visitors in the improved park. the Disney Corporation between $800 million to $1 billion.

Of course, there are the smaller changes like the rapidly rising prices of tickets, which have nearly doubled in the last 10 years. And, to appease the millions of die-hard ‘Frozen’ fans, Elsa and Anna have been customized and ready for pictures in Fairytale Hall, which now includes a Tangled Square.

Disney demolished Mickey’s Toontown Fair in 2011. Mickey’s Toontown Fair was the largest area in Fantasyland; it included Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy’s houses, along with a roller coaster called The Barnstormer and Pixie Hollow. Toontown was completely removed, in order to make room for the “Enchanted Forest and Storybook Circus” project. It now features a giant Dumbo’s circus tent and two Dumbo Carousels.

Disney World also added a new ride, “Under the Sea: Journey

of the Little Mermaid” in Fantasyland which is a double seated sea-shell that brings passengers through the musical story of Ariel and her battle for true love. The ride is surrounded by waterfalls and is next to Ariel’s Prince Eric’s brand new castle.

A new roller coaster in Disney World is called the Seven Dwarves Mine Train. It’s not the average roller coaster, but it is spiced up with a bit of Disney magic, as it tells the entire Snow White story from the perspective of the seven dwarves. After being launched in a log, the ride takes its passengers through a glittering scene of darkness and bright gems being mined by the dwarves as they sing. The ride continues with the story of Snow White arriving at their cottage, doing chores and being tricked by the evil queen.

All in all, Disney has made the necessary improvements to keep up with the times. The new attractions will make any visitor happy.

The Warrior•Entertainment June 5, 2014

Film Provides Villain’s Point of View

by Allie Pino ‘15 Forget “Sleeping Beauty.”

Though the 1959 Disney animated film introduced the character that’s now featured in her own live-action movie, “Maleficent” does not perfectly retell the exact same tale. Instead, the new film starring Angelina Jolie in its title role sets its own path, closely and consistently walking alongside the classic Disney storyline but managing to stray at every available opportunity to create its own narrative.

The film starts off rather weak, a cutesy introduction that’s tough to get through for those seeking the darker side of the menacing villain. Soon thereafter, there is war and a power struggle that finally explains just why Maleficent is so famously offended by not receiving an invitation to

Aurora’s christening.

From there, audiences are meant to grow fond of Maleficent, feeling bad when she is wronged and laughing along as she frequently uses her mystical powers in surprisingly comedic ways. But as the evil inside her grows, the more conflicted the audience becomes, not sure who exactly to root for in the end.

Jolie’s mesmerizing stillness makes us pay closer attention to Maleficent’s every word and gesture more than the film’s screenplay deserves. We feel close to Maleficent even when she’s doing the ice-mask-of-death expression showcased in trailers. We feel her conflicted feelings as she pretends to be the young Aurora’s godmother. Maleficent plays a role and then slowly becomes that role. Her desire to make the human kingdom pay for what was

When I first googled Union Jack’s in Rio, I was momentarily concerned that maybe it wouldn’t be such a great thing to put in a high school newspaper. It is, after all, a pub. But then I walked through the front doors and was immediately greeted with the “Platform 9 and ¾” sign, and I was no longer worried.

As an Anglophile (or a person who likes English stuff), I thoroughly appreciated this British Pub. The architecture is wide and breathable, with a comfortable atmosphere. The theme is yellow-gold, burgundy and black.

And even the font on the menus is reminiscent of chivalrous, medieval times. From where I sat, a great big window panel on the

wall across the room had been opened to allow the fresh air to get in. And let’s not forget the enormous TV monitors mounted on the walls, to be seen from just about any angle.

The menu at Union Jack’s ranges from salads (or “Greens” on the menu) to hamburgers (or “between the bun” on the menu) to pizzas. The pizza was excellent, cheesy and crunchy at the same time just like it’s supposed to be, and plenty to share between two people. The small taste of burger I had was equally awesome. It was like someone had taken a burger from McDonalds, put real cow meat in it, and taken out 98 percent of the grease. It tasted like quality food. The only questionable selection would have to have been the chicken.

1. Boyhood: July 11

done to her defines her motives in the film.

The film overall is visually stunning, with many shots deserving of a freeze frame to fully appreciate their beauty. The whole of “Maleficent” is better than its parts. There are definitely dark moments where Maleficent comes across as truly evil. The action is big and exciting.

The bit that I sampled from someone else’s plate tasted a little off.

It was a bizarre mix of a “wasn’t cooked correctly” and a “I’m back in feudal Europe” kind of taste. But maybe that just makes it more authentic.

While the waitress was not required to speak in a British accent (which could add some serious positive benefits), the service was polite and helpful. The atmosphere strikes a healthy balance between a full-fledged sports bar, and a mature, culturally stimulating restaurant. It’s true that it isn’t exactly the kind of place you’d go and eat at with seven of your closest teenage friends. But as a first date venue, or any kind of evening for a classy feel and casual appreciation for British things, Union Jack’s fits the bill.

‘Ghost Stories’ Finds a Rhythm in Grief

by Madison Dymond ‘16 My very first thought after listening to Coldplay’s new album “Ghost Stories” was that someone must have really broken lead singer Chris Martin’s heart.

This fantastic album still has Coldplay’s original sound but primarily it is a breakup album.

Martin was recently divorced from his wife of 10 years, actress Gwyneth Paltrow. Martin blames himself for this divorce and is still in love with Paltrow. Like any good artist, he expressed his heartbreak through his music.

“Ghost Stories” is Coldplay’s twelfth album. Through nine songs, the band tells the story, inspired by Martin’s relationship problems. The album opens with “Always in My Head.” The song begins with opera-esque vocals and little instrumental which creates a magical sound and feeling.

The music then transitions into Coldplay’s familiar tempo. The lyrics are about a person who this man always thinks about and who he wishes knew how special she

was. The next song, “Magic,” is a bit techno and pop for Coldplay.

The lyrics depict how he loves someone who hurt him and cannot get over her. “Ink” is also a bit heavier on the drums and has more of a dance beat than most of Coldplay’s songs. The lyrics say that he is hurt but still loves her.

As the album continues with songs like “True Love,” “Midnight,” and “Another’s Arms,” the focus shifts more towards the pain and anger that comes from a breakup. The last three songs on the album, “Oceans,” “A Sky Full of Stars,” and “O,” speak of moving on and getting over the breakup. The title song, “Ghost Stories,” shows that these songs of love and heartbreak are all things of the past. Relationships slip away and haunt you, like ghosts.

Songs about love and breakups are not as deep and meaningful as some of Coldplay’s past songs. The songs on this album do not make a listener sit and think about their own life. Anyone can write some songs about

Top 5 Summer Movies

by Marie Moeller ‘15

God Save the Queen ... and Union Jack’s

by Meagan Barrett ‘15

17

Ellar Coltrane was cast to play 5 year old Mason in 2002; 12 years later, “Boyhood” is finally complete. The plot revolves around Mason from first to twelfth grade, examining how he grows and changes throughout the years, especially the changes in his relationship with his divorced parents. The movie is so authentic and different that it is a breath of fresh air. The concept is simply like no other. While there is no clear or defined plot, the themes that are developed and built upon in each stage of the story share a message about family and growing up that could not quite be attained in any film prior. Going the extra mile for this film will certainly make it all the more personal and relatable for any audience member.

2. The Fault in Our Stars: June 6 Adapted from the acclaimed young adult novel by John Green, “The Fault in Our Stars” is an endearing and heartbreaking love story of two teenagers with cancer. Anyone who has read the book knows that this movie is sure to cause a lot of tears for current fans and new audiences alike. The trailer alone has received loads of attention with more likes on YouTube than any other trailer in history.

The movie stars Shailene Woodley (Hazel) and Ansel Elgort (Augustus), who will hopefully have great chemistry on screen as well as execute the witty dialogue of the book to absolute perfection.

Green has been very involved in the entire production of the movie.

With any luck, the movie will stay true to the book while putting the audience through an emotional rollercoaster only to be associate with the best of movies.

3. Lucy: August 8 Starring the lovely and talented Scarlett Johansson and featuring Morgan Freeman, “Lucy” explores the timeless question: what would happen if humans utilized more than a tenth of our brain capacity? In previous movies dealing with this topic, the answer has always been vapid and uninteresting. However, with creative ingenuity and authenticity, “Lucy” takes this concept to the next level.

As Johansson’s character is able to use more and more of her brain capacity, she gains superhuman strength, unparalleled intelligence and unexplainable abilities as a result of an implanted drug seeping into her system. The action sci-fi is anticipated to be an entertaining and original movie with a captivating plot and great cast to top it off.

4. The Purge: Anarchy: July 18

love and loss even if they don’t have experience because there are so many songs about the topics.

Love songs are unoriginal. They are, however, a way to release pain, and knowing the inspiration for this album makes it easier to appreciate.

One great thing about Coldplay is that they have never lost their original sound. The band has managed to stay popular since the 90s, and they are still the same alternative rock band that made them world-famous. Martin’s vocals are so unique and he continues to have a strong, beautiful voice. The band’s instrumental is always filled with emotion and makes listeners feel as if they are flying and can see everything.

This is true for “Ghost Stories.”

“The Purge” always had the potential to be a great science fiction/horror film. Unfortunately, the first movie was a major let down due to its mundane plotline that unsuccessfully attempts to encompass such a great concept. “The Purge: Anarchy,” however, gives director James DeMonaco a second chance to do it right. By following five characters that are actually participating in the annual purge, the audience will get a full dose of suspense and action. While exploring the underlying theme of humanity, the audience will be on the balls of their feet, anticipating just how far the characters will go to seek revenge or simply to survive the night.

5. How to Train Your Dragon 2: June 13

The original DreamWorks film filled audiences with a touching story about family, friendship and loyalty. Now, the sequel expands these themes for another lovable and funny story set five years into the future where dragons and humans live in harmony. With the discovery of the mysterious Dragon Rider, Hiccup and Toothless must prepare to enter a battle to protect the peace. Although this will not be the next “Frozen,” this movie will definitely reconnect you to the glory days of your childhood.

The Warrior•Sports 18

June 5, 2014 Boys’ Lacrosse Falls to Howard

by Lauren Cosca ‘15

Jack Armstrong ‘15

Senior Brady Adam winds up for a pitch at Ripken Stadium during the State finals against Chesapeake High School on May 23.

Baseball Comes Oh So Close to State Title

by Allie Pino ‘15

The Warriors’ baseball team started their season shaky found their way and made it all the way to the state championship game. The Warriors lost a heartbreaker to Chesapeake by a score of 2-0 on May 23 at Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen.

“I knew that we had the pitching to go deep into the playoffs so the run that we made was not a surprise to me,” said Coach Sean Davis.

Sherwood failed to capitalize on several scoring chances against the Cougars.

The Warriors managed only two hits and left seven runners on base, five of them in scoring position. Through the first two innings, graduating senior Brady Adam was able to avoid trouble. But in the third, the Cougars finally broke through. The Chesapeake pitcher, Andrew Spinneweber, stroked a lead-off double into the left field corner. Adam then hit the next batter before both runners completed a successful double steal. A single scored both runners to give the Cougars a 2-0 lead. It was the

last hit that Adam would allow.

To get to the championship, the Warriors triumphed over Eleanor Roosevelt by a margin of 10-0 May 20 at the University of Maryland. Graduating senior Matt Chanin threw a no-hitter, striking out 16 batters with a commanding fastball and slider.

On May 17 at Perry Hall, a late inning rally gave Sherwood a 6-3 victory. Graduating senior Brian Reich pitched five tough innings, leaving Adam to finish off the last two. Key situational hitting provided enough offense to capture a regional title.

“With the new pitching coach our pitching has gotten better and left us with the best earned run average in the state,” said Reich.

In the first two games of the playoff run, the Warriors won by a score of 6-1 on May 14 against Paint Branch. Adams shut down the Panthers, allowing no runs, three hits and striking out 11 batters in six innings. Chanin drove in three runs, reaching base three times including a solo home run in the fourth inning and a two-run single in the fifth. He also scored two runs. Reich

closed the game, only allowing one run.

On May 12 at Sherwood, the team defeated Howard 4-2. Chanin pitched six strong innings, allowing no earned runs, three hits and striking out six batters. Sherwood scored on RBIs by Adam, junior Jake Paholski and graduating senior Patrick Dunn.

“I knew at the beginning of the season that we had the pitching and defense to go far in the playoffs; it was just a matter of whether or not we would get the bats going,” said Chanin. “We really picked it up offensively once playoffs came around which helped us get to Ripken.”

With many graduating seniors on the team, including Reich, Chanin and Adam, the team is going to have to learn to perform without these key players. The rising juniors and seniors will have to work together and practice hard to continue to play like they did this year. “We are graduating our three major pitchers. We are going to have to see which younger guys are going to step up. We have a lot of young talent; it’s just a question of who will step up,” said Davis.

Boys’ lacrosse lost 20-5 in the North Region Finals against Howard, after beating Blake 13-5 and Blair 20-7 in the first two rounds of the playoffs. The team concluded their season with an overall record of 6-8.

“We started the game [against Howard] pretty well, but after the first quarter it all started to fall apart,” said junior Jake Guiffre. Junior Max Dechter agreed, and said the team came out sluggish, rather than as fired up as they could have been, and they let Howard get a quick lead on them.

In the final playoff game, Howard built a 4-2 lead by the end of the first quarter and 8-3 lead by half. Despite the lead, Sherwood was still within striking distance.

However, the Warriors couldn’t seem to make up any ground. “Once the second half started, Howard made the right adjustments at halftime and was able to expose our weaknesses. Once they found a formula that worked, they went back to it again and again. Same goes for their defense,” said Assistant Coach Ryan Burnsky. “They gave it their best shot and unfortunately we came up short. Our seniors closed out their careers with a memorable run.”

“In the end, we just ran into a very good team with an exceptional faceoff specialist, and we had to play a little too much defense to be competitive,” added Coach Chip Steel. Though the team was disappointed by the loss, it still marked an achievement to make it to the region finals. With a couple players missing due to injuries and a lack of practice time due to rain, snow and other harsh conditions, the season was grinding and the boy’s were forced to make the best of what they had.

Coach Steel is pleased with the efforts of his team and believes they will do well next spring. “This is a great bunch of young men and I have been lucky to share the season with them. We are looking forward to next year,” said Steel.

Next year the coach expects the current junior boys to step up and to push further into the playoffs to have an even more successful season.

Girls’ Lacrosse Battles to the End in State Semifinal

by Leo Corman ‘15 An impressive season for the girls’ lacrosse team came to an end on May 17 with an 11-8 loss to Catonsville in the state semifinal. The Warriors finished the season with a record of 13-2, going undefeated against county opponents.

The Warriors fought hard against a tough Catonsville team that eventually lost to Severna Park in the state final. Catonsville’s defense kept the Warriors scoreless for 22 minutes in the middle of the game, giving them a 10-5 lead in the second half. The Warriors made a late comeback to close the gap, scoring three quick goals in the final five minutes, but in the end the deficit was too much to overcome.

While the Warriors were disappointed that they could not reach the state championship as they did last season, the team nonetheless was content with what they accomplished during the season. “I think the season was definitely successful not just because we won most of our games but because we worked really well together” said sophomore Ella Booz, who scored the winning goal against Howard to send

the Warriors to the state semifinal game.

Despite the loss of key graduating seniors like Emily Kenul, one of the best lacrosse players to ever come out of Montgomery County, the team has high hopes for next season. “It’s going to be very difficult to replace our seniors, but our team has depth. Every single person who didn’t start has so much skill and potential,” said sophomore Karleigh Gibbons. “As long as we have perseverance and energy throughout the game we can win anything.”

Coach Kelly Hughes echoed that same sentiment. “People like Emily Kenul can never be replaced but we can create depth to our team and stay a huge threat,” said Hughes. “The other seniors like Natalie Sebeck and Kristen Lauda offered great leadership, and some of the younger girls will need to step up and take on that role.”

Besides a core group of seniors, the Warriors had a very young team this past season, and the experience that the sophomores and juniors gained this season will likely benefit them next year. The team will continue to set the bar high next season. “We won’t keep getting better if we expect anything less,” said Hughes.

Jack Armstrong ‘15

Sophomore Kristen Russell runs down the field attempting to score in State semifinals.

The Warrior•Sports

19

June 5, 2014

Baseline Concussion Tests a Success

by Annie Feinroth ‘15 and Hunter Moore ‘15

This school year, Maryland public schools implemented a new mandatory concussion procedure for every athlete who is trying out for a school sports team. All athletes had to take an online baseline concussion test to assess functioning so that there is point of comparison in case a suspected concussion occurs.

The test consists of several sections for short term and long term memory, speed of reflexes and cognitive ability. Athletes press one key if they see one color and another key if they see some other color to see how fast they process the stimuli and formulate the correct response. The test uses shapes, lines and pictures to test the athlete’s photographic and short term memory.

The online test has been used for a whole school year by all teams.

“The intention [of the baseline test] is good and is a great step in the right direction and will serve to keep our athletes more safe in all athletics,” said Chris Grier, the coach of the varsity football team.

The test puts a spotlight on concussions in high school. A recent study by the Research Institute of Ohio (RIO) found that the sports with the highest rate for concussions are: football with 26.97 concussions out of 10,000 competition exposures; ice hockey with 16.22, girls’ soccer with 13.41; and boys’ lacrosse with 11.59. The test will not affect

Maryland State Department of Education Recommendations for Concussion Safety In football, no live hitting is allowed until the sixth day of practice. During the season, teams should limit live hitting drills and live game simulations to two practices per week. In boys’ lacrosse, after the first play date, schools should be limited to a maximum of one full-contact practice per day. In addition, there would be no live checking the day before a game.

A concussion is a brain injury that: • Is caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body.

• Can change the way your brain normally works.

• Can occur during practices or games in any sport or recreational activity.

• Can be serious even if you’ve just been “dinged” or “had your bell rung.”

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

these rates of injury; rather it is a diagnostic tool to make it easier to recognize when a player has suffered a concussion. The athlete must take the test before the season and if that athlete receives an injury to the head during their season or their tryout, the physician can have the athlete complete it again.

Concussions frequently can cause long lingering effects. Junior Luke Logan suffered from “aching pain in the head, difficulty concentrating and remembering stuff in school” after his concussion during his sophomore year playing JV football. “My parents said I was a completely different kid.” Because of the risk of concussions, Logan no longer plays football.

Graduated senior Ty Reeves

also struggled to recover from a concussion he suffered during the pre-season of varsity basketball during his junior year. He missed five games of the regular season.

It was “absolutely terrible seeing my team struggle and not being able to help,” Reeves said.

Concussion and other brain injuries have become possibly the most pressing issue in American sports. For example, the NFL last year announced that it would pay $765 million to settle claims from thousands of former NFL players for the physical and emotional toll due to long-term brain injuries. Youth sports organizations and middle and high schools around the country are trying to come up with ways to protect new generations of athletes from concussions and other brain injuries.

NFL Draft Itself Is the Bust

by Will Van Gelder ‘16 The NFL draft is always a hyped event, and the 2014 edition held May 8-10 was no exception.

Panel discussions and player rankings about the draft seemed to start the day after the Super Bowl in early February.

With some time remaining before players are required to report to mandatory training camp, there is a brief pause in the seemingly endless NFL season to consider why college prospects are treated like animals in the months prior to the draft. First they must report to Indianapolis at the end of every February in order to compete in the NFL combine.

This event is almost like a dog show—the players are forced to run around, throw and catch the ball, run a 40-yard dash and do seemingly endless long jumps, all the while they are being closely observed by NFL coaches, owners and managers who then decide not only if they need this or that player to improve their team, but also whether they believe that the player will fit in with the other players on the team or not.

All of this build- up eventually leads to the draft, which takes place at Radio City music hall in New York City, either at the end of April or the beginning of May.

The players are picked and further analyzed and dissected by commentators and sports columnists all over the country. The players who are selected in the first round of the draft are generally expected to be “impact” NFL players and if they are not immediately so, they are derided as total draft busts. The players themselves are usually blamed for their lackluster performances, while nobody ever seems to put responsibility on the owners or managers or coaches who had been watching the players for months before and still failed to see that these players were not quite good enough to succeed in the NFL. The NFL draft is over-hyped, over-analyzed and over-discussed, and almost always leads to players drafted in the early rounds being criticized and ridiculed as busts, when in fact the player often is the last person to blame. The NFL draft is obsessed over for months, bud sadly it is a very flawed system, which is in desperate need of improvement.

Summer Doesn’t Mean Time Off for Sports Teams

courtesy of Chris Grier

“Our players will participate in summer workouts Monday through Thursday throughout the summer. Each workout session includes resistance training in the weight room and then some variation of field work focusing on speed, agility, power and conditioning. At the end of each week players compete in an obstacle course called the “Ironman” which is a timed competition that includes pulling sleds, plate carries, rock throwing, tire flipping, hill running, and sled pushing. Our workouts are open to all Sherwood athletes and we believe we have one of the best conditioning programs in the state.”

Chris Grier, Football

“Boys’ soccer has a number of things going on this summer. We will be participating in summer league on Monday and Wednesday nights in Burtonsville from Mid-June to early August. We will be holding regular conditioning sessions with coach Matt Parsons. Coach Parsons will also be doing some individual training with players. We have a team camp taking place in Pennsylvania in mid July. Most of the boys will be attending other soccer or sports camps. All of these activities are voluntary but well attended as the boys are committed to their sport and have high character.”

Michael Kogok, Boys’ Soccer “Almost every girl in the Sherwood softball program plays softball year-round. Once high school ball is finished, they go on to play in their summer leagues which consists of weekly practices and tournaments every weekend. This runs late into fall (end of October-early November). They continue to practice with their select teams through the winter, and winter workouts for [Sherwood] begin in January.”

Ashley Barber-Strunk, Softball

“The girls’ varsity lacrosse team does several different activities over the summer to stay prepared. Some girls attend week-long camps at colleges to be trained by the coaches at big name schools. Others play in summer leagues where they can play against some former college players and some current collegiate players home for the summer. The most important activity that a good portion of the girls are involved in is club lacrosse. It makes the biggest difference in their game. If you play club, you train three times a week and attend tournaments every weekend all summer. If you want to be recruited, this is where it’s done.”

“Our volleyball players are usually in some type of training year-round; however their main training season (outside of school) is not in the summer, but the winter. Our summer league team plays once a week over the summer against teams from other schools. It gives our players a chance to keep their skills sharp over the summer as well as build team chemistry for the next season.

A core group of returning players also sign up to go to a team camp together. This group of players trains together on a college campus for a full week, and has the chance to compete against teams from other schools. Other players attend summer camps and clinics that they sign up for over the summer.”

Kelly Hughes, Girls’ Lacrosse

Brian McCarty, Volleyball

“The lacrosse program will continue to have the MPSSAA allowed 2-player sessions once school starts. In addition, we have offseason conditioning sessions that start in the fall and are available to any Sherwood student-athlete. Many of our players participate on offseason club lacrosse teams which play in tournaments or offseason leagues which are available in the summer, fall and winter.

Any players that do not play sports at Sherwood during the fall and winter seasons are typically participating in some form of preparation for spring lacrosse.”

“We always have at least one Sherwood team in the MCBA. Last year we were able to field two teams. One team comprised of freshman and sophomores and the other team was made up of upperclassman. They typically play an 18-game schedule with a County Championship at the end. Most [MCPS] high schools have a summer team in the MCBA.”

Chip Steel, Boys’ Lacrosse

Sean Davis, Baseball

compiled by Jack Armstrong ‘15

20

The Warrior•Sports June 5, 2014

Softball Doesn’t Disappoint: Wins Third Title

by Kaleigh Homer ‘15

The Warriors’ softball masterfully handled the pressure of expectations and are 4A state champions, going undefeated for three consecutive seasons. The team beat Anne Arundel’s Chesapeake 12-1 on May 24 at the University of Maryland, College Park. Chesapeake scored their only run off a walk and an error.

“It felt amazing winning states; we had a good strategy going into the game and the season which was to fight the entire time and never let up,” said senior Addie Armbruster.

“Being the seniors this year we wanted to go out with a bang and take home states but also an undefeated record” added Catcher Rachel Harrison. “We left it all on the field and came out swinging our bats.” With the victory over Chesapeake, the Warriors have won 62 straight games.

The Warriors beat Bowie in state semis by a score of 10-0.

During their 19-0 season, the only teams that really tested the Warriors were Howard in the regional championship and against state semifinalist Blair in the regular season when the game remained tied 0-0 until junior Julie Swarr

hit a triple to left field to score two runs.

In the championship game against Chesapeake, the Warriors’ hitters saw the ball very well in the batter’s box. Four players— junior Nicole Stockinger (.712 batting average), Swarr (.492), graduating senior Marybeth Bidwick (.500) and sophomore Kelly Bouma (.490)—entered the state tournament batting .490 or better. Bouma hit an over-the-fence home run, Swarr hit a double, and Bidwick and Stockinger added solid hits to help secure the win.

A sign of the young talent on the team, freshman Amanda Berkley hit a triple.

Players on the team said that Howard was the hardest game of the season because they underestimated them a little bit, and it took the Warriors awhile for them to wake up and focus during the game. It was the only game of the season when they fell behind, at one point trailing Howard by a score of 2-0 before going on to win 7-3.

The team is losing some key players to graduation. Harrison will be playing at Frostburg University, pitcher Meggie Dejter will pitch at Towson University and 1st basemen Bidwick will play

Haley Whitt ‘15

On Saturday, May 24, the Warriors cheer together as they celebrate their win after the last inning in the State finals game at the University of Maryland Stadium. This is their third consecutive state title.

Samantha Schwartz ‘16

As the game ended, the Lady Warriors rush on the field.

able reputation as the strongest team in the state of Maryland.

“I am so proud of the girls; winning states is such a reward-

for Salisbury University. Still, Coach Ashley Barber-Strunk will demand that the underclassmen continue the program’s indisput-

Haley Whitt ‘15

Haley Whitt ‘15

Senior Marybeth Bidwick prepares to hit an incoming pitch.

ing feeling. As long as we do what we do, we can do anything,” said Barber-Strunk. “We only can take it one day at a time.”

The Lady Warriors observe the field from the dugout.

Softball Record and Individual Stats The Warriors out-scored their opponents 241-16, out hit their opponents 263-57 and only had 6 errors all season compared to their opponents having 34.

Meggie Dejter ‘14 1.12 with 144 strike outs, only 16 earned runs and 13 walks, hitting .527

Julie Swarr 30 hits, 3 home runs Addie Armbruster 26 hits Marybeth Bidwick 26 runs scored Kelly Bouma 27 hits McKenzie Bina 27 hits Rae Harrison 17 hits, perfect fielding % Amanda Berkley BA .479 Hanna Nalls 24 runs scored Kara Carney BA .600 Abbey Kitchelt BA .500 Jaime Schmier 70% strike percentage Randi Rubinstein BA .400 Marisa Mancini BA .600 Brittany Mathis has 20 PO’s and perfect fielding % *Through the state semi-finals, provided

by Ashley Barber-Strunk

Nicole Stockinger ‘15 Hitting .712 8 home runs 48 RBIs 39 hits