October Issue 2012

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

the

35th Year, Issue No.1

October 18, 2012

Inside: News: 1-4 Politics: 5-6, Features: 7-9, Humor: 10-11, Spotlight: 12-13 Opinions: 14-16, Wondering Warrior: 17, Entertainment: 18-20, Sports: 21-24

The Countdown to the 2012 Presidential Election

Happy Halloween!

The Warrior asks: What do Sherwood students like most about the spookiest holiday?

The Warrior analyzes the major issues, states and voting groups that could make a difference in this election. pgs. 12- 13

pg. 17

Homecoming Court

Sydney Morrison ‘13

photos by Sydney Morrison ‘13

To see more Spirit Week photos go to www.thewarrioronline.com

Back Row (from left): Cesar Martinez, Anthony Justus, Brandon Loiacono, Mike Zerafa, Steven Palmer, Colin Hambright, Gai Kaufman, Eshan Nanda, Kevin Pham. Front Row (from left): Ariel Mahlmann, Omo Ikheloa, Dahlia Ghafir, Christy Mempin, Maddie Doan, Quinn Pettenati, Hope Gouterman, Hope Fetty, Amanda Duran, Lia Kurihara

How do you feel about homecoming being held in the cafeteria instead of the gym?

“I don’t really see the difference.”

“It doesn’t make any sense because -Sonia Anger ‘16 last year they were renovating the gym, but this year they have no excuse. What’s the point?”

-Alex Shoop ‘13

“It’s sort of weird to have a dance in the cafeteria.”

-Carly Boden ‘16

Alcohol and Marijuana Use School and County Leads to Several Suspensions Reflect and Surpass Eighteen students caught in the first month for using illegal substances on school grounds.

by Diana McDermott ‘13

es ranged from the selling and consuming of marijuana-baked goods on school property to the drinking of alcoholic beverages at football games.

“I have to make a really strong statement that it is unac-

Gregory.

The minimum consequence From the beginning of the for use of drugs and alcohol on school year through October 10, school property is a 10-day sus18 students have been suspendpension. Any distribution of ed. Not only has this number indrugs or alcohol, including giving creased from previous years, there out these substances, is a 10-day is another anomaly: suspension with all of the suspensions a recommendawere for the use of “I have to make a really strong statement that it tion for expuldrugs or alcohol on is unacceptable at Sherwood. I have increased sion. However, school property. the suspension “ U n f o r t u n a t e - my consequence over the years in terms of is reduced by ly, there were some drug and alcohol use ... If a student does this three days if the students who made student attends poor decisions ... It behavior, the consequences are going to be the an appointment disturbed me and it most severe.” with a drug and disturbed other stualcohol counsel ~Principal Bill Gregory dents because it is not or. what we want people The increased to know Sherwood as,” said Prin- ceptable at Sherwood. I have in- number of suspensions this year cipal Bill Gregory. creased my consequence over the could be in part because of the Among the 18 students, who years in terms of drug and alcohol distribution of drugs. Usually, if range from sophomores to ju- use ... If a student engages in this students are suspended for fightniors, some were recommend- behavior, the consequences are ed for expulsion. The offens- going to be the most severe,” said see SUSPENSIONS, pg. 2

National SAT Trends

by Leah Schroeder ‘13

On September 24, College Board released data indicating that the average national reading score on the SAT for the graduating class of 2012 decreased to 496, the lowest it has been since 1972, and that the writing score decreased to 488, the lowest it has been since the section was first tested in 2006. The average composite score of all three sections was 1498, indicating that more than fifty percent of test-takers do not achieve a 1550 or higher, the scores that College Board deems as indicating college readiness.

MCPS considers the score for college-readiness to be a 1650.

Students in MCPS, on the other hand, made improvement in all three sections, while still receiving scores on the reading and writing sections that were about 20 points lower than the scores on the math section. Sherwood

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students also reflected this trend.

Montgomery County students improved enough to attain an average composite score of 1651, fulfilling MCPS’ seventh key to college readiness: to score a 1650 or higher on the SAT. The average score achieved by Sherwood students increased 30 points to a total of 1622, which is 124 points higher than the national average but still 28 points shy of meeting the 1650 benchmark.

English teacher Gloria Condelli indicates that a low level of reading comprehension may stem from students’ willingness to accept lower grades on reading-related activities or to try and make do with Sparknotes and other websites, as they know that other assessments, especially essays, can pull them through.

“As much as [the English Department] can, we have decided

see SAT, pg. 2

The Warrior•News

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October 18, 2012

Math Scores Trump Reading

from SAT, pg. 1 to hold students more accountable for their reading because there is nothing we can do in our classrooms that builds literacy skills more than reading challenging texts. Poor reading skills show up in a myriad of ways, not just on novel tests and exams, but also in the ability to reason and the ability to write coherently,” said Con delli.

“For me, [helping students to

see the importance of reading] is

S W E N in brief

The Warrior Receives Honors

As a result of the work done in the 2011-2012 school year, The Warrior has received a First-Class Rating, the second-highest rating possible from the National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA).

The Warrior also received a Mark of Distinction in Coverage and Content.

The NSPA praised The Warrior for its ability to highlight the successes of the school and its students, while also taking on important societal issues that are significant to its readers. The Warrior was also commended for its efforts to use more infographics to make information more easily digested and to shorten the length of its stories. The Warrior’s reviews, personal columns and sports features were particularly praised for their consistency and variety.

Last year’s photography staff was commended for the strength of their sports photos.

The Warrior also submitted its content to Towson University’s Maryland High School Journalism Awards for review. The winners will be announced in November.

- Leah Schroeder ‘13

New Assistant Principal Intent on Making Her Mark

Erin Mazer is eager to begin her new role this year as tenth grade administrator. She replaces Renee Brimfield, who retired over the summer.

Mazer began her career in education as a science teacher at Gaithersburg High School, teaching biology and anatomy. She then took on the role of academy coordinator, and was promoted to assistant school administrator.

Like many, Mazer was not always sure what she wanted to do as a career. “I took some education classes and got to work directly with students … where I found a passion for working with kids and seeing them learn and understand,” said Mazer.

She applied for the position of assistant principal at Sherwood after hearing positive words and feedback about the staff and students. “Everyone has a team attitude of working towards … giving students the best education they can,” said Mazer.

Mazer is excited to start off on a good note this school year and hopes to better the school and community over time. “I want to learn about all the traditions and great programs here, and I want to make my mark and take Sherwood to the next level,” she said.

- Robel Wondimu ’13

Luncheon for Exceptional Students

At a luncheon on October 4, Principal Bill Gregory celebrated the achievements of 18 commended seniors for the 2013 National Merit Program, two semi-finalists, Emily Reed and Leah Schroeder, for the 2013 National Merit Scholarship Program and one semi-finalist, Alex Porter, for the 2013 National Merit Achievement Program for black students.

The invited students had lunch in a casual setting, listing schools to which they applied, discussing their future endeavors, and sharing their study habits. The number of schools each student applied to ranged from two to a dozen. Stanford University, George Washington University, Columbia University, University of Michigan, College of William and Mary, University of Maryland, UC Berkeley, UNC Chapel Hill, University of Virginia, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and University of Pittsburgh were schools that several students applied to. Many students plan on majoring in the sciences, including multiple disciplines of engineering, biology and physics.

Students believe challenging oneself, working hard, reading for fun, and being involved in extracurricular activities are extremely beneficial when striving for the best.

- Joy Zhang ‘14

a big piece of why I do what I do because I think we have to reinforce the core of constantly learning, constantly thinking,” said English teacher Debbie Reier. “If you are not continuing to educate yourself, you begin to see some frightening results. And, I think we are there.”

Sherwood and MCPS also followed the national trend in that at least 50 percent of the student body did not receive scores high enough to be considered college-ready. In Sherwood’s case, only 48.6 percent of test-takers achieved a 1650 or higher. This equates to 37 percent of the graduating class, when the non-testtakers are considered.

“I think we need to continue to work towards improving student performance on overall SAT performance. It is important for each student to meet that ‘1650’ benchmark,” said Assistant Principal Kathlyn Carroll, who oversees testing related to college readiness. “We are going to continue to work with each individual student to have the repertoire to get to that point.”

To improve scores, Deborah Hiltner and Shelley Jackson, the resource teachers for the math and English departments, review the Score Report given to the school after PSAT testing to see where students are weak and to give teachers strategies for honing in on those skills and making them stronger.

Sherwood did have the tenth highest SAT participation rate in the county at 77 percent, a rate that has been attained for at least three years. Sherwood’s SAT committee strategizes ways in which to improve participation,

SAT Photograph Requirements

Last fall, a SAT-cheating ring was uncovered in New York where high school students had paid college students to take the test for them. Twenty teenagers were arrested for their involvement in the scheme. As a result of the cheating, College Board, the company that administers the SAT, and ACT Education, the company that administers the ACT, changed their security measures to inhibit cheating by requring students to submit a photo upon registration.

Incorrect

Correct

• New regulations will take effect January 1 • Only JPEG, GIF, and PNG file formats are accepted for photos • These photos must:

- be passport sized

- be properly focused

- be not pixelated

- be correctly exposed

- be taken in full-face view

- be without shadows or glare

- portray the student alone

- match his/her appearance on test day

including having counselors and Carroll meet with students to discuss testing and post-secondary goals.

“If one looks closely at the data about our system, especially as compared to others, you see that MCPS does pretty well with our increasingly diverse population. More students than ever be-

*Source: www.collegeboard.com

fore are taking the SAT, students who haven’t traditionally taken it,” said Condelli. “Having said that, I will concede there is room for improvement but that can’t happen exclusively between the hours of 7:25 and 2:10. Students and parents need to ask themselves if reading plays any part in their leisure activities.”

Consequences for Poor Decisions from SUSPENSIONS, pg. 1 ing or other similar offenses there is only one or two students involved. However, if a student is dealing drugs to other students, there will be punishments for all the students involved. Six separate incidents this year resulted in the 18 suspensions.

Even with the severity of the consequences, students still partake in these activities. For students, it may be hard to see how making a bad decision can lead to a severe consequence, such as expulsion. “It’s more than just the

crime I regret; I regret my affiliation with those who encouraged me to be involved,” said one of the students who was suspended with a recommendation for expulsion.

Gregory wants to openly address the issue of drug and alcohol use so that the community recognizes the seriousness of the issue. To that end, he has met with the PTSA in an effect to proactively reduce incidents of drug and alcohol use among students.

The school also combats illegal student behavior through investigative techniques that in-

clude surveillance which involves the use of security cameras dispersed throughout the school and following up on anonymous tips.

In the wake of the suspensions, rumors persisted that there would be police dogs and random Breathalyzer tests being administered at football games. These rumors, in turn, proved false.

“There have not been police dogs on campus this year,” said Security Team Leader Patrick Rooney.

Breathalyzer tests cannot be administered without probable cause and can only be conducted by a police officer.

The Warrior•News

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October 18, 2012

Reacting to Medical Emergencies Administration and teachers respond to critical medical situations on school property.

by Steffi Carrera ‘14 In a school with more than 2,000 students, a medical emergency is not a matter of if, but when. Sherwood, like other schools throughout MCPS, has a specific protocol and a designated trained staff to assist students in medical distress.

Imagine sitting in the classroom when suddenly a student drops to the floor, and lies still for several seconds. How does the school go about handling this situation?

“You respond, and you make sure everyone’s safe,” said Security Assistant Andy Blasher. Security, the nurse, health tech and administrators are among the first to arrive on the scene. Generally, a teacher will push the small, black button located in all classrooms that calls the office, and will notify them of the emergency. The office immediately contacts the nurse and security via walkie-talkies. Five security personnel will reach the student, along with the nurse and health tech, in a matter of seconds. “There’s a really fast response time because Sherwood is prepared for these situations,” Blasher commented.

“We’re ready for most anything.”

Registered Nurse Jennifer Jones decides the course of action in such emergencies. “First, [we] find out what happened, and if they’re okay,” Jones explained.

Determining the cause of injury is an important first step because it influences what type of care the student will receive. “Why did they faint?” Jones asks theoretically. “Did they not eat? Are they dehydrated? Did they hit their head? It could be that they get a 911 call also.”

For minor emergencies, the student may be moved to the health room as it is a more private and comfortable area. However, if there is a major emergency it is often best to leave the student where he or she is if the area is

Photo Bridget Cook ‘14

The result of a two-year project, the new aquarium, located in the K-wing courtyard, is now up and running.

Steffi Carrera ‘14

Registered Nurse Jennifer Jones instructs Security Assistant Andy Blasher on how to draw and administer glucagon, a hormone. not potentially dangerous.

All security personnel are trained in CPR, Automated External Defibrillator (AED) use and First Aid. Yet, only the nurse may carry and administer an “EpiPen.” An epinephrine auto-injector, more commonly known as an Epi-Pen, is a medical device that delivers a dose of epinephrine (adrenaline) to a person who is experiencing severe allergic reactions. Also known as anaphylactic shock, this reaction occurs when students come into contact with the substance they are allergic to. Symptoms of this type of shock include swelling or itchiness in the lips and throat, as well as hives covering the skin. Since the symptoms have a rapid onset, it is important for the health room to have a list of students with known allergies.

A new Anaphylaxis law, Maryland Senate Bill 621, was enacted this past July. Jones explained, “MCPS and the Department of Health came together to decide how to comply with the new education law. MCPS

took on purchasing general use Epi-Pens for unknown allergies of students … If we determine that we’re worried a student is having a reaction, we can give them epinephrine and call 911.”

This piece of legislation requires all the staff in Maryland schools to have awareness training for anaphylaxis; Sherwood teachers must watch a five-minute training video, and then sign off with the school nurse afterward to verify that they have seen it.

If a student has a severe allergy, he or she should let the health room know and also provide an Epi-Pen to the school. However, of the 83 students who are listed as having an allergy, only 12 have given the nurse an Epi-Pen prescribed to them.

Situations where medical assistance is needed are not uncommon, so it is necessary to be well-prepared to handle every medical emergency a student may experience while inside the building. “We’re responsible for the safety and security of everybody, no matter what,” said Blasher.

New Aquarium Makes a Splash

by Bridget Cook ‘14 Thanks to the National Aquarium and invaluable help from student volunteers, Sherwood now accommodates a new aquarium in the K-wing courtyard which is used to raise rockfish and saltmarsh grass to help restore the Chesapeake Bay. AP Environmental Science teacher Laura Dinerman headed the project, and is thrilled at the benefits it will bring. “The idea for an aquarium came from my desire to try to instill a sense of stewardship for the environment into my students,” Dinerman said. Since 2007, Dinerman has had close ties with the National Aquarium. With its help, as well as grants from the Chesapeake Bay Trust, the project has run smoothly and successfully.

The venture originated in the 2007-2008 school year, when the National Aquarium supplied rockfish which were raised under a tent in the courtyard. The fixture lasted until 2009, but needed a tune-up. “We found that the location of the greenhouse and the tent provided by the National Aquarium for sheltering the structure were inadequate and be-

gan to work on an upgrade,” Dinerman said. The fish were moved into the greenhouse for the 20092010 school year, but the tank proved difficult to maintain in that location. The school decided to take two years to fund and construct a completely new aquarium to lodge the fish.

The new habitat, called the AquaEcosystem, will be mainly student-run. Training sessions after school will educate students on how to care for the fish and saltmarsh grass. “Students tend to be very enthusiastic and love to work with the fish,” Dinerman said.

One student volunteer, junior Sophie Evans, is glad to have an outlet for her environmental fervor. “I thought [this project] would be a fun way to help out and earn SSL hours,” said Evans.

“I am very excited to be able to help raise the fish.”

Dinerman is enthusiastic about the advantages this project will have. “Students will come away from the project with a sense of empowerment regarding their impact in creating positive change in the world. [They have] gone on to be excellent stewards of the environment.”

The Warrior thanks its many wonderful patrons: Adam Family, Adkins Family, Alewynre Family, John and Sarah Arness, Audibert Family, Bina Family, Broderick Family, Carr Family, Carrera Family, Carswell Family, Craig Family, Cudd Family, D’Amato Family, Dickey Family, Dowrick Family, Fajardo Family, Farrell Family, Fernandes Family, David Ferris, Rosanne Ferris, John Fetty and Associate’s—Architecture and Design, Florian Family, Fricke Family, Gallagher Family, Ganey Family, Garcia-Rada Family, Greseth Family, Rob and Lynette Hall, Halprin Family, Dick and Vivian Harris, Hong Family, Keilsohn Family, Kendall Family, Kenel Family, Kirk Family, Kotzer Family, Kozlowski Family, Rachel Knight, Kyber/Loughran Family, Lampshire Family, Stuart and Lyn Langbein, Lavoie Family, Lourenco Family, Macrae Family, Paul and Pat Mangus, Martin Family, Masters Family, Melnick Family, Mezebish Family, Miller Family, Jerry and BJ Mills, Morrison Family, Mourtoupalas Family, Murphy Family, Michael and Jessica Natelli, Hao and Diep Nguyen, Nimrat Family, O’Donnell Family, Osborne Family, Paese Family, Paetro Horspall Family, Paholski Family, Pletcher—Stinehelfer Family, Porter Family, Kurt and Louise Porter, Salzwedel and Moratz Family, Sanchez Family, Scafide Family, Schroeder Family, Schwartz Family, Josey and Chris Simpson, Sousane Family, Strohmeyer Family, Stussman Family, Sutherland Family, Thorndike Family, Van Gelder Family, Verma Family, Wasik Family, Dan and Kathy Walsh, Tom and Susan Wells, Whitt Family, Todd and Renate Wilson, Witkin Family, Zhang Family If you are interested in becoming a patron, contact Peter Huck at Peter_J_Huck@mcpsmd.org

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The Warrior•Advertisement October 18, 2012

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The Warrior•Politics October 18, 2012

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What’s on the Ballot?

Maryland Referendums Voter ID Laws

by Mandy Stussman ‘14 The following questions will appear on the Maryland ballot, aside from the elections.

The questions are called referendums, a direct majority vote in which the entire voting public are asked to either accept or reject a particular piece of legislation or law.

Question 4

The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act allows illegal immigrants to pay in-state or in-county tuition at Maryland colleges. However, in order to qualify, students are required to have attended a Maryland high school for three years, and prove that their parents or themselves filed taxes.

Agree

Disagree

65%

Disagree

“The Dream Act will only encourage more immigrants to illegally come to the United States, at the expense of taxpayers.”

-Drew Metrey ‘14

“Illegal immigrants with an education will have a better chance of obtaining citizenship and lifting themselves out of poverty.”

-Devin Ganey ‘13

Question 6

The Civil Marriage Protection Act would allow gay and lesbian couples to obtain a civil marriage license. The law also protects clergy from having to perform any particular marriage ceremony in violation of their religious beliefs, and affirms that each religious faith has exclusive control over its own theological doctrine regarding who may marry within that faith.

Agree

Disagree

13% 87%

Agree “I believe that anyone, regardless of religion or sexuality, has the right to both the legal and emotional contract of marriage.”

-Cameron Graf ‘13

*No surveyed students wished to comment against Question 6.

“Love is love. If it is against your beliefs, don’t do it, but why should others be able to decide who can spend their lives together?”

-Lauren Corlett ‘13

Question 7

The Gaming Expansion Act would allow one additional casino to be constructed in Prince George’s County and would expand the type of games allowed at existing casinos. The money raised is intended to create jobs and contribute to education funding.

Agree

Disagree 70%

Agree “Flowing money is good for the economy. If people waste their money there, that’s their own fault. Jobs and education are good.”

-Nick Cameron ‘14

by Vicky Florian ‘14 Numerous states have or are trying to pass laws requiring voters to show a particular form of photo identification at the polls such as a license, passport or military ID. Supporters of the law view it as a tool against voter fraud, allowing only those legally eligible the ability to vote. Opponents view it as a violation of voting rights, unfairly impacting groups such as the poor, minorities and recent immigrants, who often lack IDs. For this reason, some see this law as a way to decrease the number of minority voters, who typically vote Democratic.

Developments in a number of states have made who gets to vote nearly as much of an issue as who they vote for.

35%

Agree

Agree

Stir Controversy

2006- Ge orgia pas se cards at no cost to s a law providing vo registered have a dri ver ’s lice voters wh ter ID nse or sta o do not te issued ID card.

Idaho ed by the s s a p is perlaw to sign a voter ID rs ’s o te h o a v Id s w o ment, 2010 he law all it, or sworn state T . re tu la v Legis affida ntification n ID. a sonal ide g n presenti instead of April 18, 20 (SAFE) A 11- Kansas Secure ct is sign and Fair ed Ele photo ide ntification into law. Voters m ctions ust show when cas ting a vote in person . hoto ID s strict p . The i’ p ip s is s ve Mis en initiati r 2011Novembe is passed by citiz ce under Section nt -clearan amendme be impleires a pre u q re t re it can n e fo e m b d t n c e A m a hts oting Rig 5 of the V mented.

January 1, 2 Kansas ta 012- Strict photo ID ke ments wil effect. The new re requirements for l begin in g 2013. On istration requirenessee’s s trict voter the same d ID law ta kes effect. ay, Ten, to ID law strict pho ’s n in u s n d o c re Wis ecla 2, 20122011, is d in re March 1 tu the legisla passed by l by a state judge. ona constituti October 2, sylvania’s 2012- Judge temp orarily ha voter iden lts Pennti ber electi on. Poll w fication law for th e Novem orkers ma they mus y still ask t all for ID, bu conferenc ow those without t ID to vote e will be held on D . A status prepare fo ecember r a trial.

13, 2012, to

30%

Disagree

*Survey of 160 students

a to enact first state rs e a th e y s e o m tw iana beco s upheld 2005- Ind ID law, which wa to strict pho e Court. e Suprem th later by

“They are already sending other ancillary taxes to Baltimore.

There is no point in the public spending their money on gambling.”

-Dani Cohen ‘14

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The Warrior•Politics October 18, 2012

What the Candidates Aren’t Talking About As presidential candidates Barack Obama and Mitt Romney continue to debate, they are avoiding some very pressing matters.

by Shaan Verma ‘13

Environmental Change

Violence in Syria

Climate change is a hazard to the world as a whole, threatening to destabilize environments and what is left of natural habitats. It is an issue that is endangering entire species of animals such as polar bears and fish populations, but Obama and Romney have neglected not to speak on this issue. Through its apathy, the general public of the United States has made it clear that this is not a major issue that needs to be talked over and debated. It is the lack of interest about the environment by many Americans that has removed it as one of the hot-button issues.

There has been a great deal of conflict in the Middle Eastern country of Syria. Civil war, unstable government and thousands of refugees rest on the violent government’s shoulders. This is a global issue that the presidential candidates conveniently left out of their platforms. Obama and Romney are reluctant to make promises that they may be unable to keep regarding military intervention or other actions. Adding Syria to the platform may just make it political fodder in future elections.

America’s Poor

Troops Still in Afghanistan

As the presidential candidates strive to enlarge the amount of money that middle class families have at their disposal, they have left out a large demographic of people: the lower class. The current economic plans of Obama and Romney focus on the middle class because they do not want to anger a powerful segment of the voting American population. Poverty has been a growing issue in the world and in the United States ever since the beginning of the 2008 global recession. Unfortunately for those in grim economic situations, neither candidate will likely win or lose the election on the votes of poor Americans.

As the presidential candidates go back and forth about the economy and health care, American troops are still deployed in Afghanistan. Obama and Romney rarely discuss the war. Romney even failed to mention the troops at all in his convention speech.

Even with recent draw-downs, some number of Americans are expected to remain in Afghanistan until at least 2014. The planned withdrawal of Americans from Afghanistan is a complex matter because of continued Taliban attacks. Neither candidate has yet to propose a viable solution to withdraw the remaining troops from an unstable and violent Afghanistan.

The Warrior•Features October 18, 2012

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On the way to graduation & beyond

Time + Interest - Money = College?

by Jamie Langbein ‘13

Life is full of decisions. Small decisions from what to eat for lunch to big ones deciding which job to accept a job for the first time. Big decisions are important and they take some time to really consider. For high school seniors applying to college, however, it seems that some major decisions pertaining to college need to be made earlier than ever before.

Students applying for college this year have a lot to think about. Aside from the new application process that has seniors confused, students may also need to consider what they want to major in. Traditionally, it was not a big deal to wait to figure out what one wanted to focus on. Now, it may be too financially risky to wait on such a big decision.

Engineering teacher Brendan Lees, who works with many students that want to continue their education in the engineering field after high school, is familiar with the dilemma many of his students face and is ready to help them get through it. “I feel it is extremely important that students know what they may want to do as a career entering college due to the money they will save on tuition by graduating on time. Most students that switch majors take more than four years to graduate college,” noted Lees.

In President Obama’s 2012 State of the Union address, he identified that “growing industries in science and technology

Jamie Langbein ‘13

CARA LAPIDARIO ‘13 “I have no idea what I want to major in. I am just applying and seeing where I get in, and then eventually where I end up. And I want to have fun.”

have twice as many openings as we have workers who can do the job … openings at a time when millions of Americans are looking for work. It’s inexcusable.

And we know how to fix it.”

Several studies conducted by the Georgetown Center on Education and the Workforce have shown that jobs are going unfilled because students aren’t aligning post-secondary education choices with careers that need workers.

However, this does not mean that every student looking to apply to college this year needs to become an engineer or study a less

Jamie Langbein ‘13

NIKKI STEINER ‘13

SYDNEY SUNDELL ‘13

“I’ve always loved biology and math and [creating prosthetic robots is] a career that kind of perfectly blends the two subjects.

And it’d let me work with people, which I really want to be able to do.”

populated major. It just means that high school students might want to carefully consider available jobs and practicality before deciding on an official major.

For most colleges, choosing a major is not an application requirement. Many colleges are flexible, and if a student wants to change his or her major it is an option, but the switch may have consequences, like extra courses or semesters.

English teacher Beth Dibler was originally a chemistry major, but added another major halfway through college. “At the start of

Jamie Langbein ‘13

“Being in yearbook has taught me a lot about the different aspects of media and working with other people to create a product. I feel like I’ve gotten a lot of real world experience that will help me in college.”

my junior year [of college], I really started missing the type of schedule I had in high school. I missed English and history classes,” Dibler explained. “I looked into adding English as a second degree and found that … it was possible to complete in two years.”

College and Career Advisor Joe Hock says that, generally, not knowing what major one is interested in will not affect one’s ability to get into a college or to be successful in the future. However, “students who know what they want to study [and] have researched and

investigated their major typically seem to be students with above average GPA and SAT/ ACT scores,” observed Hock.

“If you go to college with a major in mind, just make sure it is the one you’re truly comfortable with,” advised Dibler. “If you don’t have a major in mind, don’t panic. Things will fall into place.

Start by identifying what you don’t want to major in … [and] take a variety of classes that interest you. I took an astronomy class and will never forget seeing the red spot of a marble-sized Jupiter at the university’s observatory.”

Photo courtesy of Sophie Sweeney

“I didn’t know what I wanted to do as a job when I did my applications. Everyone told me not to apply undecided, so I didn’t. I just applied under Environmental Studies or Psychology. At most schools you don’t run into problems switching majors once you’re accepted unless you’re interested in a competitive or special program.”

JACK HANLON ‘11

LOIS DYER ‘12

SOPHIE SWEENEY ‘12

ALUMNI ADVICE: A few quick tips...

Photo courtesy of Lois Dyer

“Make a chart of all the things you have to get done and by when, and actually do them. College applications are way too important to procrastinate and end up making things up on the spot.”

Photo courtesy of Jack Hanlon

“Play to your strengths on your college essays.

Write it in a way that makes you feel comfortable. If your teacher wants you to write abstractly but that doesn’t work for you, don’t follow the teacher’s advice. Write it how you want and ultimately, go where you want to go. Your parents aren’t going to college, you’re going to college. Go somewhere that’s in a good location and can help you get the best opportunities.”

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The Warrior•Features October 18, 2012

Sangillo Loses Weight, Gains Perspective

by Jessica Carrera ‘13 Climbing Mount Everest, completing an Iron Man marathon, making it to the Olympics: all amazing feats that athletes commonly strive for. However, not everyone meets their ultimate goals, not everyone climbs Mount Everest and not everyone does it after an incredible amount of weight-loss. Social Studies resource teacher Joe Sangillo has now lost 130 pounds and will run the Marine Corps Marathon on October 28, an event that marks his first marathon and the pinnacle of his weight-loss transformation.

“Number one on my bucket list is running a marathon, so I guess I’ll have to make a new bucket list […] but to me really it’s Mount Everest. This is it. This is what I’ve been dreaming about and shooting for,” said Sangillo. However, just two years ago, running marathons was not a reality. Weighing in at 275 pounds and not being able to run a mile in under 12 minutes kept Sangillo from becoming an active runner.

The turning point and official start of his weight-loss journey came in May of 2011 when things hit a wall. “I just came to a point last year where I was just really unhappy with who I was inside and out. I just purposefully set out to change things in my life that I had the capacity to change,” he said.

This shift in thinking meant a new routine along with new goals. Running became an every-

day activity, first on the treadmill in a gym and eventually outside on trails near his house. In March of this year, just ten months after he first began losing weight, Sangillo ran his first half marathon, the DC Rock ‘n’ Roll Half-Marathon. The satisfaction and sense of accomplishment set in and soon thereafter came the million dollar question: “Now what?”

He decided on Montgomery County Road Runners Club (MCRRC), one of the largest, most active running clubs in the nation. After committing to training for a full marathon, Sangillo joined the First Time Marathoners (FTM) program that MCRRC offered. “We get together twice a week and we have coaches and training partners. In May, when we started, our long run was seven miles, and now we are at the highest point before the marathon and our longest runs are twenty miles. I’m at the point now where it’s like this is going to happen. This is happening. I’m going to do this,” said Sangillo.

Though the weight loss is what most people notice, the aspect of the transformation that is not as evident, but equally important, is the internal one. Sangillo’s self-perception and relationships with others were also crucial parts of his life that he aimed to improve. Even now, he says, “I’m getting to know a new version of myself and the people around me are getting to know a new Joe and it’s wonderful. It’s wonderful and

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Pictures courtesy of Joe Sangillo

Social studies resource teacher Joe Sangillo lost a total of 130 pounds over about a year and a half. After his amazing weight loss transformation, Sangillo plans to participate in the Marine Corps Marathon on October 28. it’s uncomfortable sometimes.”

Sangillo has inspired various groups of people, from his family to his colleagues, and his relationships with his students have been positively influenced by his new outlook. Being able

to connect with his students with a new perspective enables him to become an even better role model. During his journey, he began using a motto to inspire and motivate his classes: “If there’s something you don’t

like about yourself, change it.”

In his life, he says there is no particular person he would call his hero. “If you are looking for heroes, be your own hero,” he said. “No one’s going to climb Mount Everest for you.”

The Warrior•Features

9

October 18, 2012

Is Bringing Lunch the Way To Go?

Four out of five students bring bag lunches to avoid lines and to have more food choices.

by Maria Claudia Garcia-Rada ‘13

Bridget Cook ‘14 and Mary Macrae ‘14

Pictured from left are Italian teacher Ilenia Di Cesare, art teacher Allison Shafer and French teacher Amy Gahagen. All three are part-time teachers.

Part-time Teachers Split Up Their Day Some teachers travel between Sherwood and another school.

by Mary Macrae ‘14 Teaching is a notoriously difficult and complex job. A high school teacher sees more than 100 students per day, and typically teaches more than one subject. On top of those challenges, part-time teachers at Sherwood deal with the obstacles and rewards of teaching only part of the day or teaching a full day, but at two different schools.

Part-time teachers can face numerous challenges every day like arriving on time, adjusting to different schools, and keeping track of supplies. “I travel 30 minutes between schools which can be hard and tiring. My second school is a special-needs school, so I have to get into a different mindset in the afternoon which can become difficult after teaching something completely different at Sherwood in the morning,” revealed art teacher Allison Shafer.

Foreign language teacher Amy Gahagen is a full-time teacher between two schools. “I teach at Farquhar in the morning.

For me, this year is challenging because I am teaching four subjects so trying to get all I need to get done during the school day can be difficult. Keeping track of my materials can be hard as well. Sometimes I need some-

thing and realize that I left it at my other school,” she said.

In addition to all of the routine challenges a part-time teacher faces, the possibility of staff reductions can leave part-time teachers anxious and wary about their job security at a particular school. “I could see if there should be a staff reduction part-timers could be the first to go,” said foreign language teacher Ilenia Di Cesare.

As many challenges as part-time teachers face, there are also perks of the job. “I get a break to think in my car while I drive between schools and sometimes clear my mind.

I also get to teach so many different types of students, which is very enjoyable,” said Shafer.

Gahagen agrees. “It is nice to be able to leave the building and ‘decompress’ for a few minutes. I also like the fact that I get to teach so many different grade levels,” she said.

One of the benefits for parttime teacher Di Cesare, who works at Sherwood only parttime, is that her schedule gives her more time to spend with her family. “One advantage is the flexibility in my schedule that I have, and that I have the opportunity to stay at home more with my family,” she said.

Fourth period ends, the bell rings and students rush out of the classroom to get to their lunch spots. Lunch is a time to meet up with friends, finish homework and simply have a moment to eat.

In a Warrior survey of 168 students, 79 percent bring their lunch to school every day, whereas only 14 percent have never brought their own lunch.

Many students report they bring their own lunch to school instead of buying simply because of the convenience of avoiding long lines to get the cafeteria food. “I can get to eating with my friends faster [by bringing lunch] and it’s a lot cheaper,” said freshman Lizzie Boscolo.

Students not only bring their own lunch to avoid long cafeteria lines, but to have more variety in what they eat. Eighty-four percent of the students surveyed feel their lunch sometimes or always contains a good variety of food choices. Only two percent of the students surveyed stated that their lunch did not contain a good variety. “I bring lunch that is high in protein, low in fat and carbs.

It keeps me going for my after-school activities,” said sophomore Andrew Houston.

This is especially true for students who participate in sports and clubs, as it is important that they bring enough food to keep them going through the entire day. Seventy-two percent said their lunches contained enough food so that were not hungry throughout the day, 27 percent of

Bridget Cook ‘14

A group of sophomores enjoy their lunch period in the B Hall. Every student in the picture brought their lunch. students thought they sometimes did and only one percent of students thought they never bring enough lunch.

In addition to students not going hungry, nearly 60 percent said they always eat healthy lunches.

“I always bring some sort of fruit, and instead of mayonnaise I use mustard on my sandwich,” noted

junior Andi Hopkins.

Furthermore, 75 percent of the students that pack lunch mostly carry sandwiches, 15 percent bring salad and 10 percent put together leftovers for lunch. “I like bringing a sandwich because it’s pretty easy to make and it’s filling,” explained senior Simran Gupta.

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The Warrior•Humor

10

October 18, 2012

Just a Friend

by Robel Wondimu ‘13

Cal Wilson ‘14

Above are the six hall passes given to Rosa Parks students every quarter. Coveted like Willy Wonka’s golden tickets, Rosa Parks student Chase Wilson has already filled them all out in pen so they cannot be stolen.

Students Find Themselves in Messy Situation

by Michael Natelli ‘14 Rosa Parks administration has begun cracking down on hallway behavior this year, implementing a rule that states all eighth graders (you know, the troublemakers …) are entitled to just six hall passes per quarter.

(I’d like to take a moment to directly thank Sherwood administration for not being foolish enough to buy into these overprotective, extreme measures. Said measures really just show that staff can’t control their students, so keep doing a great job).

You remember being in eighth grade, right? You had the power. You ran the school. You

had just broken into (what you thought was) the party scene. You could control everything.

Well, let’s hope that the eighth graders of Rosa Parks put their bladders into the “everything” category because going to the bathroom counts for the hall passes.

So to summarize, if you run out of hall passes, for whatever reason, let’s just say you’re out of luck.

My question: How is this legal?

By law, how in the world are you able to tell a student, “I’m sorry, but you have to hold it in.”

That’s like a student going to the nurse’s office for being sick, and

the nurse saying, “Well, wait until 2:10 and then you can vomit.” It just doesn’t work like that.

Students are people too and like any normal person, a student has to go when he or she has to go. You can’t retain them in class, especially after lunch, because if anything I learned in biology is accurate, the excretory system requires that food be released.

Foreseeable consequences to this rule were already exposed last year when a teacher refused to let a student use the restroom.

Let that be a lesson, my young brethren in middle school. Hold onto those passes like they’re gold. Your reputation, and your bladder, depend on it.

I never understood why people say high school is going to be the best experience of your life or the most fun you’ll ever have. Maybe, if you plan on being homeless when you’re older.

Oh wait, most of the people who think high school is the most fun they’ll ever have will be homeless when they’re older.

Everyone knows who I’m talking about. It’s always the frat boy types that frequent every party, drink, smoke and get with every girl. I also never understood why girls are so into these idiots who don’t seem to have too bright of a future ahead.

I’ve always tried so hard to not be that guy: the guy who gets the girl, but for all the wrong reasons. I’ve always tried to be a decent gentleman, and this often gets misunderstood as a sign of weakness, homosexuality or mistaken religion (conservative orthodox boy in this case).

On Twitter and Facebook you always see girls complain about how all guys are jerks or don’t understand anything, when half the time they put themselves into a bad situation.

I don’t know if girls are actually into the dumb, rebel kid who is an idiot in school, but if they are they need to set their sights and standards a lot higher. Ladies, he is no good.

In my case I think I’ve done all the right things and still get sidelined as just a friend. And I know I’m not just some misunderstood loner because it’s a common occurrence among the group of friends I associate with.

I usually find the idea of karma to be psychosomatic, but in

Bridget Cook ‘14

this case I find it to be relieving.

This is because I know some guys may have their time to shine now by playing every sport and being “in,” but in the future, when things matter, is my domain. I plan on doing something meaningful with my life beyond superficial high school partying and chasing tail.

For all you other hopeless romantics out there, don’t even sweat it. High school is not a defining time for the rest of your life or even an indicator of how you’ll fare in future relationships. I like to remind myself that high school relationships are only a quick fling and rarely last. It would be easier to avoid the drama that comes with it than get involved in the first place.

The Vicious Cycle Senior Graduates

College Senior Picks on Freshmen

Senior Picks on Freshmen

The Senior

The Senior

Congrats Class of 2013

by Diana McDermott ‘13

The Warrior•Humor October 18, 2012

11

Campaign Ads Taken Too Far

by Melissa Fajardo ‘13 It seems like a new presidential campaign commercial is airing every other day. Yet, all the commercials are the same; they each have a still photo of a candidate with a voice dubbed over that makes everything sound 10 times worse than it is. The negative commentary distorts the photos too, and puts the candidates in a bad light. Sooner or later these commercials are going to have no impact on voters and sound more like an SNL parody.

Obama told Sasha and Malia that Santa was not real ... they were 2 and 5 years old.

Romney orders a free water cup at Chipotle ... fills it with Coke.

Image from littlefacemitt.tumblr.com Image from littlefaceobama.tumblr.com

Freshmen Fight Seniors for Lunch Spot

by Cal Wilson ‘14

“Within high school, a social group may interact aggressively towards its peers in order to find a place of solitude to relieve stress from the tedious work they do throughout the day. Students often begin to exhibit animal-like characteristics and may even engage in violent behavior if their stress is not relieved in a tranquil eating area.”

Penny Laroo, professor of sociology at James Madison University, has studied adolescent teens for more than half of her career; above is an excerpt from her essay “Students During Lunchtime: the Frustration-Aggravation Principle” in which she explains the drastic changes students undergo during lunch. She wrote that they become “rowdy, energetic, and violent.” This was just the case when seniors residing in the downstairs H hallway near the Ertzman were confronted by freshmen for their lunch spot

throughout the first few weeks of school.

It all began on the second day of school when an unidentified freshman confronted senior Brian McNeely during lunch and began “telling” him this was his spot now. McNeely told the freshmen that his friends had claimed this spot the first day of school and that it was theirs. The freshman was frustrated that he could not have a view of Sherwood’s beautiful football stadium, and, with hatred in his eye, retreated up the stairwell.

“He left and I thought it was over,” said McNeely. “I didn’t think much of it.” Later on that week the freshman returned, this time with a small army of peers.

They began taunting the seniors who initially ignored the freshmen’s jests. The freshmen only got more frustrated when the seniors paid them no attention.

Then, Laroo’s Frustration-Aggravation Principle kicked in.

“What happened next was

completely unexpected,” said senior Julianne Maxwell, an eyewitness. The larger freshmen leaped onto seniors Dylan Firey and Joey DeStefano, while the shorter freshmen proceeded to kick at their shins. Nearby friends of Firey and DeStefano jumped in to attempt to pull the freshmen off, and it finally took three additional seniors to pull the freshmen off.

Seniors fended off the freshmen after five minutes of shin-bruising and back scratching, and the freshmen scrambled away.

“I guess we really showed them because they didn’t come back after that, but my shins still hurt. I think one of them must have played soccer,” said Firey.

Fortunately, no one was seriously injured and the seniors have not come in contact with other hostile students since this incident.

None of the victims knew any of their assailants and have yet to see them in the halls. The seniors do not expect the freshmen to return to their spot anytime soon.

Cal Wilson ‘14

Senior Joey DeStefano being attacked by an unknown freshman during a hallway brawl.

12

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13

The Warrior•Opinions

14

October 18, 2012

Staff Editorial:

In Our Opinion

ake n we m a c w o ? h s better e i l l a r pep

do we n ee sherwo d better od wea r?

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spirit?

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When homecoming season comes around each year, critics of Sherwood’s school spirit propose various explanations for why “this year isn’t as spirited as last year” and what may cause some students to become more apathetic about their school climate. You are likely to see plenty of people attending football games and a few over-the-top Spirit Week fanatics, but we want to know: does true spirit still exist at Sherwood like it used to?

The week of homecoming certainly is the peak of school spirit, yet, ironically, it also reveals the aspects of this year’s Spirit Week that fail to live up to the Sherwood legacy. School spirit, as a tradition, only weakens from this point in the year onward, so if the bar isn’t set high enough now, it can make for a somewhat mediocre year.

Who is to blame for this fading school spirit? School spirit will always reflect back on the students themselves; they are the faces of the school and are responsible for representing it suitably. Some years it’s simply the lack of enthusiastic people that undermines school spirit.

The attitudes of today’s youth are constantly changing, and perhaps being as spirited isn’t “in style” right now.

One must not overlook the school itself for

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limiting Sherwood’s potential for school spirit.

Prohibiting students from painting their chests at football games is just one example of how administration is keeping spirit from reaching its full potential. A sense of over-concern, even paranoia, seems to guide Sherwood’s rules about permissible behavior at athletic events. Let teens be teens at the appropriate time and place. Crazily enthusiastic fans should be celebrated, not forbidden.

For example, Quince Orchard fans arrived in the hundreds for their away game against Sherwood back on August 31. This large, established group of fans call themselves “The Red Army” because they go to every game, both home and away, wear their red school color and bring their signature cheers and chants.

Since the school alters the instructional schedule to incorporate a pep rally, it should take the next step of finding new ways to build momentum during the event and avoid using the same material as years past. Revitalize school spirit by not giving students what they expect. Get a Warrior mascot to run around during football games, shoot t-shirt guns and treat the most spirited students with free or discounted tickets to future games.

These are the little touches that make homecoming week memorable and appealing to students who don’t normally participate.

Warrior

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ublished six times a year, The Warrior serves as Sherwood High School’s premier news source. Over the decades, it has collected numerous state and national honors in recognition of the publication’s superior content and design. With a staff of 31 students and one advisor, The Warrior works to keep the Sherwood community apprised of local and national events.

All opinions 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.

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Staff Executive Editor .................................................. Leah Schroeder ‘13 Print Managing Editors ............................................ Diana McDermott ‘13

Robel Wondimu ‘13 News Editors ......................................................... Jessica Carrera ‘13 Mandy Stussman ‘14 Politics Editor ...........................................................Vicky Florian ‘14 Features Editors ...................................................... Mary

Macrae ‘14 Connor Martin ‘13

Humor Editors ...................................................... Andrew

Wasik ‘13

Cal Wilson ‘14 Spotlight Editor ................................................ Sydney Morrison ‘13 Opinions Editors ................................................. Melissa Fajardo ‘13 Whitney Marie Halaby ‘14

Wondering Warrior Editor....................................... Jenni Kenel ‘14 O’Donnell ‘13 Entertainment Editors ................................ Michaela

Maria Claudia Garcia-Rada ‘13

Sports Editors ...................................................... Jamie Langbein ‘13 Joey Lavoie ‘14 Online Managing Content Editor .................................. Michael Natelli ‘14 Managing Technical Editor .................................... Shaan Verma ‘13 Page Editors ........................................................... Brendan Cudd ‘14 Joy Zhang ‘14 Content and Copy Managing Content Director ...................................... Alex Porter ‘13 Content and Copy Editors ............................. Briana Applewhite ‘13 Steffi Carrera ‘14 Alyssa Miller ‘13 Nick Mourtoupalas ‘13 Evan Schwartz ‘13 Managing Photographers ....................................... Bridget Cook ‘14

Taylor Fernandes ‘14 Pollster ............................................................. Katie Mercogliano ‘14 Business Director ...................................... Whitney Marie Halaby ‘14

by Emma Hierholzer ‘15

Advisor ............................................................................... Peter Huck

The Warrior•Opinions October 18, 2012 One Man’s Olney Is Another Man’s Treasure

by Nick Mourtoupalas ‘13 We are born onto this planet, our home, yet we are limited to its few continents. Individuals just like yourself share identical feelings, but are fated to another side of the same world. Those who witness what is beyond their home return with something more than photos; they bring with them an irreplaceable collection of mental records of the different ways people talk, think and act.

For many of us, that home is Olney, Maryland: a town many people my age whine about for its lack of excitement and excess of places to get fat. All the newest attractions, when they actually arrive, fester with prepubescent giggles, leaving no room for insatiable high school students itching to get their Friday night fix.

I ask of you, get out of here, not just out of Olney, but out of the state. Although I find Olney a great place to spend most of my

teen years, no adolescent should have to stay in a single place for that long. Even if the only way out of the state is staying with your vexing relatives for a week in Texas, take the opportunity. One man’s Olney is another man’s treasure.

So many teenagers fail to see all the intangible incentives of traveling, even to the most uneventful locales. Just as knowing a second language helps you to more deeply understand another culture, seeing first-hand the way different people act widens one’s understanding of the human “universal language,” or simply the behaviors people exhibit regardless of their background.

Over time, a backlog of information gathered from around the world forms and you become that much closer to social nirvana, enabling you to adapt to new cultures and make better relationships with ease. You may end up getting a job on the other side of

the country one day, and knowing beforehand the personality of the city and its people could determine what job you get, and ultimately, if you are happy.

Traveling the world at the age of 17 is not all that attainable; however available methods of seeing the world beyond Olney certainly exist, including registering for Sherwood’s spring break trip, participating in exchange programs or planning to study abroad in college. These options are pricey, but they allow you to travel with your friends and make sure you actually learn something along the way.

Discovering the world develops a very special appreciation for the stories people have to tell and a new sense of sympathy for others people’s problems. Mental treasures such as these are quickly reflected in one’s behavior and speech. There is an ocean of opportunities out there just waiting to be explored, so dive in.

iPhone 5 Hype Will Soon Fade

by Shaan Verma ‘13 On September 12, the iPhone 5 was unveiled by the high and mighty tech giant Apple. This new device is said to be on the cutting edge of modern technology; however, it is obvious that the world’s most valuable company is only making a play for more profits. The iPhone 5 essentially has nothing to offer the world since its technology has already been around for the past five years.

The iPhone 4S’ features are much the same as the newly released version other than a larger screen, a slightly faster processor, and a “new, sleek and slimmer design.”

Still, Apple will continue to

use the same technology in different ways to try to make a profit out of it.

The company is riding on the hype that the late Steve Jobs created for it. Apple products are all the rage even as the company is running out of innovations and looking to recycle old technology to pass off as new. Not to mention that Apple is also suing companies left and right for “stealing” technology that it stole from inventors in the 1980s, such as Strong ARM’s WebPAD. Companies 30 years ago invented the touch screen as well as applications for mobile devices. Ironically, Apple’s repackaging of its own products comes at the same time

that it is suing Samsung in an attempt to stifle the competition.

Apple’s current devices are satisfying customers, but hype only lasts for so long. The company believes that it can slap its name and logo on any product it chooses, new or recycled, and have people purchase them like there is no tomorrow. This is what has happened ever since Apple launched its first iPhone and has continued through the present model. However, the technology will begin to lose its innovative value if Apple continues to rush “new” products into the market.

Consumers eventually will become bored and realize that Apple is not offering anything new.

And the Countdown Begins

by Briana Applewhite ‘13

It’s senior year! The happiest time in a high-schooler’s life comes with easy classes, low attendance standards and fun. Junior year was misery, filled with anxiety and crying yourself to sleep, and now you’re a senior and in the clear. Guess again.

Dear freshmen, sophomores and juniors, first semester of senior year has been the equivalent of pulling every single hair out of my head, then dousing my scalp with alcohol. Okay, maybe the hyperbole is a bit much, but you get the picture. Sure, seniors can drive to school and have more freedom, but the college application process overshadows these perks. Filling out application after application to College A, B, C, D and E has become my worst nightmare. Essay questions that strive to “get to know you” and assess “what your ultimate career goal and aspirations are” might just kill me, for real. I’m just

counting down the days until January 1, the universal deadline for applications that marks the end of the overwhelming process and the start of a real life again.

On top of the application process, it’s difficult to maintain a hefty school schedule while participating in various extracurriculars. Sports, volunteering, work and school clubs, plus the college application process, is amounting to hours of lost sleep and a very stressed-out Briana. I’m actually jealous of the slackers that still have the stereotypical “senior” attitude. You know the ones I’m talking about: the students who plan on doing absolutely nothing this year besides showing up on the graduation stage on June 11.

But, I digress.

I thought senior year was supposed to be a cruise until May, when I could finally leave this purgatory that is school. Instead, it’s become the most dreadful year of my high school career. I cannot wait for the day when I’m

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TO THE POINT The Unlucky 2013

by Alyssa Miller ‘13 It all started with the “academies,” in which the Class of 2013 was required to sign up for courses based on a particular academic concentration. When the school realized the academies were unpopular and inconvenient, they were quickly made optional. Although that idea failed, the introduction of the academies began a pattern in which the same class remained the chosen “test subjects” for all of Sherwood’s and MCPS’ latest and greatest ideas.

The next significant change occurred with a sudden reduction in available courses. Past students had a variety of classes available to take for their tech credit, whereas the Class of 2013 had only two. Having only Foundations of Technology and Engineering may have been a bummer, but at least the Class of 2013 had prom to look forward to, right?

Wrong. Junior prom kicked the bucket just when our class finally became eligible to attend the event. Just a year later, we are now the first class required to apply for college online. A paperless application may sound convenient, but the idea has a few minor drawbacks in that nobody actually knows how to apply, the school is still learning, and already clueless parents and students are even more lost than before. Yes, change is a necessity in the ever-growing community of MCPS, but is it really necessary to try out every idea on the poor guinea pigs of 2013?

New Age of Spaceflight

by Shaan Verma ‘13 The recent launch of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to the International Space Station marks a new era of spaceflight. NASA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, has retired the space shuttle program for the foreseeable future due to lack of funds, which leaves a void that is now being filled by companies from the private sector such as SpaceX. This is exactly the push that space technology needs. The private sector will work twice as hard, with the same amount of funds due to the lack of red tape, which is exactly what has been holding NASA back since the end of the space race. The launch of the Falcon 9 rocket proves that the next era of space exploration has arrived, not in the hands of the government and its inherent bureaucracy, but in those of SpaceX, a private company that is genuinely interested in advancing the age of space exploration. SpaceX is the way of the future and will pave the way for new inventions and innovations in the realm of spaceflight.

More to October Than Pink

by Bridget Cook ‘14

My Take accepted into college and this daunting process is over. Trust me, I’m already counting down the days.

Most students are familiar with the highly publicized Breast Cancer Awareness Month, donning pink clothing and accessories and selling items to raise money for the cause. It is gratifying to see high-schoolers so passionately involved in such a widespread effort to combat the terrible disease. However, another pervasive problem meant to be supported this month has been pushed aside: bullying.

Bullying has been prevalent in schools for years. Unfortunately, those who are not being affected directly tend to underestimate or even ignore the issue. Some could argue that cancer awareness is more important because cancer kills. With suicide and self-harm on the rise; however, bullying can be a life-or-death situation as well.

We must not forget that October is National Bullying Prevention Month. The issue of bullying should hit close to home for anyone in school, and it deserves much more acknowledgment than it is being given.

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The Warrior•Opinions October 18, 2012

GUN CONTROL LAWS Should they be stricter?

Recently, amidst a dramatic increase in mass shootings across the country, the controversy of gun rights versus gun control has circled through the media and the minds of Americans. Gun control laws and regulations exist at all levels of government in the United States, with the vast majority being local codes which vary between jurisdictions. So the question is: How strictly should the buying and selling of guns be regulated?

pro

On August 5, 2012, congregants at a Sikh temple in Wisconsin were interrupted from their worship by a terrifying burst of gunfire, and within moments, seven lay dead. Just a month earlier, viewers at a midnight premiere of “The Dark Knight Rises” in Colorado fled for their lives amidst a chaotic, gruesome scene, at the end of which 142 lay dead and nearly 60 were injured due to a gunman. A year before that, U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords stood upon a podium in a supermarket parking lot, when, moments later, a stream of gunshots fired through the air, injuring Giffords along with 13 others and killing six. The list does not stop there. Tragedy winds through our history from border to border. Virginia Tech in 2007, Columbine in 1999, University of Texas in 1966. Though the date, situation and victims vary, all these events are connected through guns, and their counterpart, death.

Something must change. The solution? Gun control. With an increase in regulations, state governments could make it more difficult for non-law abiding citizens, like those with criminal backgrounds or mental illness, to obtain firearms. The United Kingdom has one of the strictest set of gun laws in the world and its system works. The proof lies in the statistics. In 2009, there were 0.073 recorded intentional homicides committed with a firearm per 100,000 inhabitants; compared to 3.0 in the United States, which is about 40 times higher.

The right to own a gun should not be taken away, just restricted. Right now, laws provide for an irrational leniency. There were four weapons used in the massacre at the Colorado theater, including an AR-15 rifle, the semi-automatic civilian version of the U.S. military’s M-16, which can fire up to 60 shots in one minute. Additionally, in the 60 days leading up to the massacre, the shooter bought more than 6,000 rounds of ammunition at gun shops and over the Internet, and no one questioned him.

Military style weapons should not be available to the public. Citizens should not be able to carry concealed weapons on their person. Thorough background checks should be issued before purchase. How many people must die before we realize this? The government needs to protect citizens from the danger of weapons of modern warfare. It needs to keep guns off the streets and out of the hands of murderers. It needs to restrict gun usage, and as a result, save lives.

-Mandy Stussman ‘14

con

In light of terrible shootings, such as the “Batman” massacre in a Colorado movie theater, the call for restrictions on guns became louder. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, co-founder of Mayors Against Illegal Guns, is one of many who support gun control; he has proposed that background checks be done at gun shows so that no one with a criminal record or history of mental health issues is able to purchase firearms. Others have introduced similar ideas, like the United Nations which recommended a “Programme of Action” this past July that aims to combat the illicit trade and use of small arms by developing an internationally accepted set of standards for dealing with the issue.

However, gun control is not a sure fire way to decrease homicide rates. Placing restrictions on guns through legislation is not directly correlated to lower crime rates. In fact, the National Center for Policy Analysis reported that “among the fifteen states with the highest homicide rates, ten have restrictive or very restrictive gun laws.”

Though the purpose of restrictions on arms may be to prevent guns from falling in the hands of felons and the mentally ill, its effectiveness is not ensured and comes at a steep price. Criminals can always find ways of obtaining weapons, especially guns, and restrictions would leave law-abiding citizens defenseless. James Holmes, the gunman who killed 12 people in the Colorado theater last summer, was seeing a psychiatrist and seeking help from the school where he studied before the shooting. This evidence of his insanity is a testimony to the fact that even mentally deranged people can obtain firearms if they are determined to do so, making the efforts of the restrictions seem futile.

Since it is absolutely impossible for guns not to fall in the hands of the wrong people, the concealed weapons laws in states across the country have permitted law abiding citizens access to some sort of individual protection instead of relying fully on authorities.

The right to carry a concealed weapon is decided at the state level, and 49 states have passed laws allowing citizens to carry certain concealed firearms in public (only Illinois has completely banned it). If a person had a concealed gun in that movie theater last summer, things could’ve ended very differently for the deceased and their loved ones. Gun control isn’t going to stop people from killing each other, it will only limit the individual protection people have.

-Steffi Carrera ‘14

Business Smarts Don’t Make Good Government

by Alex Porter ‘13

A background in business is the new vogue accessory for American candidates running for elected office. Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney has largely based his campaign on his experience in private industry, asserting that it is “essential to his task” of being President of the United States. While Romney and many other politicians have had illustrious business careers, their conflation of it with political ability and good governance is misguided. Focusing on reducing yearly costs instead of running the best government for the people harms the common good of the American citizenry.

Modern politicians from Herbert Hoover to Romney have possessed outstanding business records and resulting fortunes.

They have also shown that it is not an indicator of equal ability in political leadership, not even in economic policy. President Hoover presided over the Great Depression, the worst economic downturn in American history. He was financially successful and became rich through his investments in the mining industry. Similarly, Romney governed Massachusetts for four years, and his term ended with the state ranking forty-seventh in job creation. He was also head of the massively successful Bain Capital, an asset management firm. While they are

not entirely to blame for economic hardships, they do reveal that profit-making skill does not automatically translate into beneficial policy.

Support for the comparison of a corporation to a government comes from a misunderstanding of the purposes of each. The government exists to provide services to its constituents that are unavailable through the private sector alone, and a corporation exists to maximize profits. That does not make it some evil mechanism to further enrich the wealthy and punish those below them as some would say, but it does mean that a corporation does not have to care about improving anyone’s life or opportunities. When a candidate

brags about his ability to turn profit for his company, it should not be forgotten that this success has a cost. Romney’s success in maximizing the value of companies often meant cutting them down the line, losing jobs instead of creating them. In the realm of business, all is fair, but fighting to avoid societal responsibilities like taxes is dishonorable. And even though taking any opportunity for self-advancement is part of American culture, a government by and for the people should not throw them aside to fix its finances.

Perhaps the most harmful part of this metaphor is that in practice it often equates tax-paying citizens to employees, when

they should be the shareholders.

If the federal government is a business seeking profit, it expects the people to give up their benefits to make it through the storm.

A company might have to do this, but the American nation does not. It must continue to act toward the further advancement of America and its citizens, and not trade these dreams for the metric of profit, which is not a measurement of the quality of a government. Efficiency is not the government’s game, encouraging a great society is. Working toward a greater country to call home may not be efficient, but it is the right path for this republic, not more cutbacks to keep playing corporation.

The Warrior•Wondering Warrior 17

October 18, 2012

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-Vik Siberry ‘13 -emma Nichols ‘15 *compiled by Katie Mercogliano ‘14

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The Warrior•Entertainment October 18, 2012

Homecoming Dresses Through the Decades

Movie Reviews The New ‘Breakfast Club’

by Mary Macrae ‘14 Every generation of teens has had its defining movie, that film which captures how teens are feeling and thinking at that time. The quirky coming-of-age film “The Perks of Being a Wallflower,” based on the 1999 critically acclaimed novel, might just be that movie for this generation.

Readers of the novel would probably be a bit skeptical before walking into the theater. They probably could not imagine a movie capturing the novel’s essence and translating well on screen, but under the guidance of director Stephen Chbosky, who is also the writer of the novel, the movie successfully incorporates and eliminates certain elements of the novel, which should leave readers satisfied.

The film follows a very shy and troubled young boy named Charlie, who encounters a group of misfits and an English teacher who help him find himself during his freshmen year. Logan Lerman plays Charlie phenomenally, capturing Charlie’s essence so that

viewers can’t help but root for him.

He walks the line between weird and quirky, which is reflective of the novel. Actress Emma Watson plays the wild yet sensitive Sam through deeply emotional moments. In the film, every single character portrays authenticity and genuineness that keeps the audience interested and invested. Viewers will actually care and wonder what happens to them because of their uninhibitedness and compassion.

“The Perks of Being a Wallflower” has a good balance of darkness and lightheartedness that has the viewer laughing at some points while crying at others. The film deals with some serious issues in a very humorous, yet intense way: for instance, when Charlie reveals the death of a friend to someone, he does so when he is high on drugs and making a smoothie.

This movie is about real teenagers, not like the brain-dead teenagers in “American Pie,” “Project X” or “Road Trip.” Students will actually see the characters in “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” in their very own high schools, and even in themselves.

The Pitch is Perfect

by Taylor Fernandes ‘14

“Pitch Perfect,” released October 5, immediately earned a wealth of positive reviews. With hilarious characters and catchy songs, the movie deserves the accolades and isn’t one to be missed.

Starring Oscar-nominated Anna Kendrick as Beca, the movie’s basic plot line follows her in her personal musical journey. Her father won’t let her drop out of college and move to Los Angeles and become a music producer. They eventually make a deal: he agrees to pay for the move himself if she joins a group and gives it her all, and then still wishes to move at the end of the year.

Beca joins an all-girl acappella group called the Bellas, who always come in second to the college’s allmale group, the Treblemakers. The group includes the hilarious character of Fat Amy, played by Rebel Wilson. Beca thinks it’s time that they stop coming in second, though she is a bit distracted by the rival group’s member Jesse (Skylar Astin), which adds an interesting love

story.

Kendrick’s overall acting is terrific, successfully playing her role of a laid-back girl but with a competitive edge and a soft spot for love. Wilson, last seen in the popular comedy “Bridesmaids,” nearly steals the spotlight with her unforgettable character of Fat Amy. Though an amazing performance was expected of Wilson after her work in “Bridesmaids,” she once again delivers the funniest character in the movie. Every one of her sarcastic comments leaves audience members laughing while also appreciating her sassy attitude and I-don’t-care-what-you-say personality. Though Kendrick is technically the star of “Pitch Perfect,” Wilson is so featured that one might think she has more than a supporting role.

Then again, the movie is a comedy, and the comedy starts when Wilson says her first line.

“Pitch Perfect” is all in all a great movie that delivers on its key components: the typical boy-girl rivalry, the musical edge, the cliché love story, and most importantly, the non-stop comedy.

The Warrior•Entertainment October 18, 2012

Music Reviews ‘Mirage Rock’ Rises From Mediocrity

by Mandy Stussman ‘14 Passion is a difficult emotion to pinpoint. The exhilaration of living and the deep swoops of aching that being alive can bring ‒ all the emotions of subsisting can be found within Band of Horses’ celestial new album “Mirage Rock,” a reviving breath of fresh air after the band’s gaudy previous album “Infinite Arms,” which seemed to be the beginning of the end for the band. “Mirage Rock” manages to rekindle their distinct sound that was hidden on their previous album.

The band constructed a graceful album with a hopeful tone always lingering in the background. Producer Glyn Johns got it just right. The band found their voice again, and even managed to create a street-corner-simple sort of sound.

The blatant honesty of the album seeps into the listener. The band incorporates an amplitude of emotions; anger and frustration in “Dumpster World,” agony in “Slow, Cruel Hands of Time,” and the dreaminess of romance in “Long Vows.”

No one instrument dominates and the vocals find a nice balance. The familiar, harmonic dominance of Ramsey’s lead vocals allows the album to swirl through songs and gives it a temperate, stringy feel, especially dominant in “Everything’s Gonna Be Undone,” a country ballad with Bridwell providing the harmonies to Ramsey’s lead vocals.

The new album manages to take the listener on a fervid journey. It refuses to pause for even a moment, with flawless transitions and an off-beat rhythm that stays stuck in one’s head for hours after listening. Even the slower songs, like “Heartbreak On the 101,” keep moving in a syrupy, nostalgic kind of way.

The album’s only flaw lies in the fact that it never has the listener sitting on the edge of one’s chair. It lacked the itchy disturbance aspect, or ghoulish sound. Every song had a warm, earnest feel to it, which faithfully followed the theme of honesty, though an edge to a few songs could have given the album an even more dramatic, lasting effect.

Still, the album is one to keep in a collection. Johns did a nearly flawless job and rid the band of their undistinguished “Infinite Arms.” “Mirage Rock,” has the potential to lead the band to new heights and deserved fame. There’s no holding these horses.

Can I Get an ‘Amen’ for Mumford & Sons?

by Katie Mercogliano ‘14 If you haven’t heard of the folk-inspired band Mumford & Sons, then you must have been living in a cave, pun intended. Their cannon-shot of a first album, “Sigh No More,” exploded onto the music scene with foot-stomping tunes like “The Cave” and “Little Lion Man.” The anticipated release of their sophomore album, “Babel,” raised several questions of whether it would be able to live up to the critical and commercial success of its predecessor. And to put it simply, it has surpassed all expectations.

“Babel,” released on September 25, is packed full of poetic anthems reminiscent of confession. Marcus Mumford leads the band with rustic vocals, string-plucking acoustic guitar and a kick drum, creating beats so addictive that listeners can’t help but catch the foot-tapping fever. Evocative lyrics and outstanding harmonizing vocals tug at the heart strings; the acknowledgment of sins, his own and others’ against him, is evident throughout the album and highlighted in the song “Broken Crown.” Mumford’s lyrics paint a picture of the cycle of love, betrayal and forgiveness.

To break up the string of tunes with commanding instrumentals combined with Mumford’s tortured soulful delivery, the standout track “Reminder” is actually the most understated and least lengthy of all 12 songs at just over two minutes.

Mumford’s voice is much softer and is accompanied by only strums of an acoustic guitar, opposed to the constant powerhouse vocals, symphony of strings and pounding kick drum in “Hopeless Wanderer” and “I Will Wait.”

“Babel” is “Sigh No More” on steroids with a more robust sound, fit for a sold-out stadium rather than a British pub.

Many accuse Mumford & Sons of generating “wannabe” folk music, but they don’t fit into any set genre or category. In a generation musically defined by auto-tuned divas and meaningless pop lyrics, Mumford & Sons offers a refreshing, folkrock sound they made entirely their own.

Florence Is a Well-Oiled Machine

by Evan Schwartz ‘13 On Wednesday, September 19, hundreds of jittery hipsters and pop culture rebels descended on Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland. Their framed glasses fogging with excitement, and their self-cut jean shorts perfectly messy, the audience waited patiently through two mediocre opening acts before she graced the arena with her presence.

Enter Florence Welch and her supporting band members (The Machine); the magic ensued.

English indie-rock band Florence + The Machine is in the middle of their very first North American tour following the success of their second album, “Ceremonials.”

The album, which received critical acclaim from music magazine Rolling Stone and newspapers internationally, was released in 2011 and proves Welch’s expertise as a true lyricist as shown in singles “Shake it Out” and “No Light, No Light,” to which the audience sang along word for word, filling in eagerly when Welch held out her microphone.

The band performed for almost an hour and forty-five minutes, singing hits from their first album, “Lungs,” which debuted in 2009 and earned them a Grammy nod, as well as favorites from their newest album including the epic masterpiece “Breath of Life” which was written for the soundtrack of the recently released “Snow White and the Huntsmen” film.

An interesting collection of musicians, Florence + The Machine defies the indie-rock band mold by including the heavy influence of the poised harpist, who would have stolen the show had Welch not demanded the undivided attention of the audience with her ethereal voice and consequentially captivating aura.

Dressed in a simple black gown with minimal makeup, Welch breathes normality into the modern music culture. Do not be fooled by the composed front shown in interviews; the singer seemed to be absolutely possessed by the music as she pranced from one end of the stage to the next like a heroin-chic fairy, and at one point grabbed the back of her head with both hands in excitement and thrust her arms forward. It was evident that Welch was as happy as could be on stage, and wished only to share her happiness with the audience she referred to in a thick English accent as “Mary-Land.” “You are absolutely BRILLIANT, Mary-Land!” she would exclaim repeatedly while smiling and clapping giddily.

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The Warrior•Entertainment October 18, 2012 graphic by Michaela O’Donnell ‘13

‘Glee’ for ‘Awkward’ Shows

by Connor Martin ‘13 and Michaela O’Donnell ‘13

do on ‘Glee’] with planned choreography. The bullies and stereotypes are too exaggerated.”

“The characters can be really overdramatic. I get really mad at the TV sometimes,” agreed senior Vivian Nguyen. Other students disagree and believe that the characters are spot on.

“I won’t name any names, but there was a girl in theatre who graduated a couple years ago who resembled Rachel’s personality.

She thought she was God’s gift to singing when no one really thought so ... plus she was annoying,” said senior Julie Moustafa.

ship] would work because they think they’re not good enough or they’re not pretty enough.”

Television’s attraction to What makes these shows the drama, relationships and hupopular is their relatability. Both mor in the lives of teenagers at shows tackle real-world problems high school has not wavered. such as sexuality, relationships, Since “Family Ties,” “The Cosby drama and the desire for accepShow,” “Growing Pains,” “Weltance from others. These shows come Back Kotter” and “Saved dramatically depict the average by the Bell” in the 70s, teen life high school teenager, which preshas been a fascinating and popuents the opportunity for highlar story line. Today, shows like school students to look at people Fox’s “Glee” and MTV’s “Awkthey know as different characters ward” are adding extra humor to from the TV shows. Because the lives of adolescents. these shows put so much empha Many television shows try to sis on each character, people can portray high school really imagine their in an accurate light friends in the same while still incorpo“I love the sarcasm in ‘Awkward.’ I also love situations. rating the story ‒ no

“I love the sarmatter how how the characters are all so funny and can casm in ‘Awkward.’ ridiculous ‒ into the play off each other really well. And these I also love how the characters’ lives. characters are all so The question is shows have all these uncomfortable situa- funny and can play whether or not the tions that I’ve actually encountered before.” off each other realaudience (teenagly well. And these ers) actually believe shows have all these ~Senior Molly Nickerson uncomfortable situwhat these high school shows try to ations that I’ve acdepict. tually encountered “Glee” follows the many Another popular high school before,” said Nickerson. different lives of misfits who show, “Awkward,” follows the Although these shows genercome together to form a glee club dysfunctional love triangle in- alize the rowdy behavior of teens, (show choir) at McKinley High volving main characters Jenna they focus on each character and School in the small town of Lima, Hamilton and best friends Mat- what makes them unique, instead Ohio, under the instruction of Mr. ty McKibben and Jake Rosatti. of just a stereotypical teenager.

Schuester. Despite their differ- Viewers find themselves asking By doing so, the shows allow ences, the characters fight togeth- what they would do in the awk- teens to connect to the characters, er against prejudice, stereotypes ward scenarios Jenna always ends which helps them find their idenand hurtful slushies to the face. up in. tities, or even help them shape Lea Michele’s character, Rachel, “On ‘Awkward,’ as Jenna them into what they want to beis one character in particular who starts to like Matty, she at first come. Surprisingly, teens don’t stood out in the first three seasons is reluctant because she says she mind the way shows poke fun at of the show. Some students who doesn’t live up to his standards or their behavior and portrayal of watch the show think it is com- his popularity,” said junior Alexis themselves. pletely unrealistic, like senior Amaguana. “Some of my friends “We are teens. Sometimes we Molly Nickerson. “No one ran- have mentioned that they like a just do stupid things,” said Nguydomly bursts into song like [they person but don’t think [a relation- en.

The Warrior•Sports October 18, 2012

21

Arrows Give Way to Warriors

by Cal Wilson ‘14

For 13 years, the Arrows ice hockey team has played without the support or recognition of Sherwood, its only source of players since its formation. However, this season, they will step on the ice in brand new jerseys with “Warriors” printed in blue across their chests for the first time.

The team will be starting their upcoming season as the Sherwood Ice Hockey Club, sponsored by Christine McKeldin, marking a victory in obtaining recognition from the school.

The team has been fighting to earn this privilege for years.

“People would stop me in the hallway and ask me why I am wearing a red jacket for the hockey team and I had to take 20 minutes to explain to them we weren’t school recognized,” commented senior Dalton Thomas, an Arrow from freshman to junior year and finally a Warrior his senior year.

The team, however, is not school-sponsored and is not considered a school sport. This comes with some drawbacks, like how they cannot use the name “Sherwood” alongside the name “Warriors” or show up on the list

Cal Wilson ‘14

Before the team was a Sherwood club, they had red jerseys with an “Arrows” logo on the front, as shown on the left. The new jerseys, as shown on the right, sport Sherwood’s blue and white colors and the “Warriors” logo on the front, marking the team’s official status as a Sherwood club. of school sports.

“The Warriors’ [name] and using the blue means [it] all to the guys,” said Coach Chris Leonard.

“These are kids that show up for the first time as freshmen and get handed a red, white and black jersey and are wondering what’s going on when the school’s colors

are blue and white, so it’s really nice to be able to finally have the kids suit up in blue and white.”

Leonard has been coaching the team for 15 years and is finally seeing the team become more a part of Sherwood.

Although players must meet the same standards as other

Sherwood athletes, they are still viewed as a sports team equivalent to that of the Olney Boys and Girls Club. This decision stems from the liability and cost associated with sponsoring a hockey team, and also the fact that the athletic director of Montgomery County, William Beatty, has yet

to make a unified decision on what a school can or cannot do with its hockey team.

The team is not pushing for a school sponsorship and is perfectly content with being a school club at the moment. “It’s been exciting because it’s been a long time coming,” said Leonard.

Warriors Look To Take Home(coming) Victory

by Michael Natelli ‘14 The opponent for this year’s homecoming game is Paint Branch, a team that at the beginning of the season appeared to be the one potential threat to the Warriors’ chances at a 4A East division title. However, the Panthers have struggled to a 2-5 record thus far, so on paper, it appears the Warriors have a good chance to come out with a victory tomorrow night.

The Warriors have been victorious in each of their last two games, defeating Magruder by a score of 41-0 on October 5 and Springbrook by a score of 47-3 on October 12. Despite both teams having weak records (1-6 and 3-4, respectively), it’s hard to argue that the Warriors haven’t been dominant. Look for the offense in particular to carry some momentum into this game from strong performances so far in October.

The Warriors managed to score multiple times and keep the juggernaut Quince Orchard Cougars under 30 points back on August 31. The Panthers, on the other hand, didn’t score a single point against Quince Orchard on September 14 and watched the Cougars put up 34.

But, perhaps after their 12-9 loss to Seneca Valley, Quince Orchard can no longer be used as an ultimate comparison.

So looking to some other games as more suitable referenc-

Michael Natelli ‘14

Senior Donte Thomas sacks Magruder’s quarterback in Sherwoods 41-0 defeat of Magruder on October 5. The Warriors look to continue success against Paint Branch at home tomorrow night. es, the Panthers’ only two wins of the year have come against 1-6 Rockville and 1-6 Magruder, who have been shut out in four out of their seven games this season and have yet to score double-digit points in a single contest. This is not to say that statistics are the beall, end-all, because anything can

happen in any given week, but stats certainly help when dealing with rosters of high school teams that change yearly.

One thing that can serve as a great comparison is last week’s 47-3 win the Warriors constructed against Springbrook. As Coach Mike Bonavia noted, “Spring-

brook and Paint Branch are just as athletic,” so if that’s the case, all odds point to Sherwood walking out with a “W” on Friday.

The key to the game will be the Warriors sticking to their balanced playbook, and that starts with the running game. Senior running back Moses Vines and

his offensive line will need to exploit the many holes in the Paint Branch defense in order to open up some passing plays for senior quarterback Jordan Larsen.

If any of Vines’ performances this season indicate what’s in store on Friday night, expect him to fill up the stat sheet. “I’ve had a good season. I worked out hard in the offseason,” said Vines. “I’ve had good blocking.” It’s all paid off, as Vines has averaged 82.71 yards and two scores per game as well as an incredible 6.23 yards per carry. With Paint Branch giving up an average of 111.14 rushing yards per game, Vines and the offensive line should take advantage of a weak Panther defense.

As Bonavia describes it, “[This Warrior team] is stingy,” and they’ll need to bring that stinginess to the table on Friday if they’re going to advance to 6-2. Paint Branch’s record may not be impressive, but anything can happen on any given day. It’s hard not to expect that the score of this game will sit somewhere in the 40s for the Warriors and in the single digits for the Panthers, so more players should get playing time in the second half.

22

The Warrior•Sports October 18, 2012 Seniors Williams and DeMoya Set Goals Playing at Chelsea FC Soccer Academy

by Andrew Wasik ‘13

Jamie Langbein ‘13

Senior Vik Siberry leads Sherwood to a boys’ split, losing to Wootton and beating Whitman on October 9.

Runners Look to Carry Momentum Into County Finals

by Taylor Fernandes ‘14 The boys’ cross country team has started off with an impressive record of 4-1 and the girls are 0-5, with senior Vik Siberry and freshman Amanda Hayes-Puttfarcken leading their respective teams. Though the boys have shown more success in some meets, both teams are expected to make it to states.

The boys have started off on the right foot. Defeating several different but equally strong teams in both the MD Track and Trail Invitational and the Bull Run Large School’s Race, the boys took first place, confirming their strength as a team.

“This year so far in cross country our boys’ team has won a meet and stayed strong through many others,” said junior Jarett Harman. “The girls’ team has also run very well, winning medals and running through meets with confidence. I expect our team to continue to be great in the future, and I look forward to running with my teammates in the meets to come.”

The boys have shown their strength all season, especially in their meet against Churchill on September 11. The boys, led by Kebede and Siberry, ran a perfect race to lead the team to a final score of 50 to 15.

The girls, however, took a tough loss at the hands of Churchill 40 to 21, with Junior Grace McDonald and Hayes

-Puttfarcken finishing third and fourth. “The team is a million times stronger than we were in the beginning of the season,” said McDonald. “We are more focused and more confident than I could have ever imagined we would be.”

The girls did have many successful runs, including the Bull Run XC Invitational on September 22, where McDonald, Hayes -Puttfarcken and senior Amanda Tomlinson led the team to place fifth out of 20 teams. On October 6, during the Octoberfest Invitational, the girls placed 32 out of 38 teams.

“I am not sure what Sherwood High Schools expectations are of the cross country team, but I am incredibly confident in my team and therefore know we will meet them, whatever they may be. And yes, that does mean going to states,” said McDonald.

On October 20, both boys and girls will be running at the Montgomery County XC Championships, followed by the North Regional XC Championships on November 1. The boys will head into the Montgomery County Championship as one of the top teams, while the girls look to shock the county. With Siberry and Hayes-Puttfarcken leading the charge, the Warriors can be a lethal team. Watch for both to appear in the state championship meet, alongside Wootton, who defeated the Warriors on October 9.

Playing at the next level is a dream held by many student-athletes at Sherwood but few have a chance to actually pursue the dream. Seniors Ernest Williams and Jonny DeMoya have been given the opportunity to make their dreams come true by playing for The Baltimore Bay’s Chelsea U18 academy.

Williams, primarily a right midfielder, is being recruited for soccer by schools like The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Georgetown.

“This [academy] is the next step from high school, and then after this my goal is to play for a Division I college,” said Williams.

DeMoya, who is catching the attention of coaches at schools such as Temple and University of Maryland Baltimore College, has the more difficult task of being a goalkeeper. “I think it’s

harder trying to make a team as a goalie.” DeMoya explained, “We don’t have the opportunities position players have; they can come in and play 15 minutes off the bench while if I don’t start in goal I don’t play.”

Through playing for the club team in Baltimore, Williams and DeMoya have the unique opportunity to move up through the academy system of Chelsea, a professional football club in the English Premier League. The team travels around the country, going as far as Texas and California, playing other team’s academies. The team’s season coincides with Sherwood’s season, although the Academy practices year round. After completing a grueling tryout to make the team, Chelsea has the “rights” to both players. Neither DeMoya or Williams could play for another team unless Chelsea gave away the rights of the players.

Although playing at an academy is the next step on the way to college and possibly the pros, it comes with a cost. All academies countrywide have adopted new rules that don’t allow academy players to also play for high school teams in order to try to cut down on injuries. “I think it feels pretty good playing at the next level, but it’s disappointing not being able to play for Sherwood,” said DeMoya “I know it’s for the best in the long run, though.”

Williams agrees, adding, “I like playing at the next level because there is more skill and it’s harder, but I definitely miss playing with all the guys on the team.”

While they have to sacrifice playing for their school team and give up most of their weekends for traveling and practice, Demoya and Williams made the commitment to their teams in the hope to someday play on a professional soccer pitch.

Leave it to the Sticks At last, Sherwood field hockey is no longer an unrecognized force in the 4A East.

by Jenni Kenel ‘14 The Lady Warriors have rolled to a 13-0 record in field hockey, earning a No. 9 ranking in the metropolitan area, with impressive wins coming against last year’s 4A South semifinalists Blake (8-2) on September 22 and Springbrook (4-5-1) on September 19.

Juniors Emily Kenul (12 goals) and Gabrielle Yore (14 goals) have been the top scorers for the team, and junior goalie Christina Ricciuti has only allowed six goals behind a defense led by seniors Matta Sannoh and Sarah Loughran.

Sherwood is the highest scoring team in Montgomery County and have proven that they are no longer underdogs in field hockey.

Hoping to get to their first state playoffs since 1985, the Lady Warriors have secured the title of 4A East champions but will have some tough opponents in the playoffs, that could possibly include powerhouse schools Wootton and Broadneck.

“I expect a lot from the girls and they expect a lot from each other,” said Coach Amy Morse.

Under her guidance, the Lady Warriors broke the team record for scoring in twelve games, and currently have 59 goals. Kenul and Yore, along with the other offensive players of the team, work on their stick work daily and run drills to improve passing efficiency, accuracy and speed. In addition to their undefeated season, the Lady Warriors won the Paint Branch Invitational Tournament on September 1, becoming the first Sherwood team to do so.

As the team advances to the

Dino Zagami ‘14

Junior Gabrielle Yore leads the Warriors in a charge down the field against Paint Branch. The Warriors went on to win 6-0. A Good Counsel transfer, Yore has lead the team with 14 goals so far this season. playoffs, they already have developed strong bonds between members of the team, which help them to keep their cool during high pressure situations. “I can sense when teammates are stressed or frustrated during a game and I’ve learned that helps no one if everyone feels like that,” said Sannoh.

The girls look up to Sannoh, the captain of the team, for encouragement before games and during practices.

Even as they become a force in Montgomery County, the Lady Warriors make sure that it does not get to their heads. Typically, they work hard at practice or games six days a week, usually lasting for three hours each day.

“The team puts in 101-percent effort. We push each other

to work hard and always focus on what needs to be improved on,” said junior Haroula Tzamaras, who has scored twice this season. Because of the complexity of their attacks, the girls and Morse are seeing more coaches come out to their games to figure out their strategies when playing games.

“We think in terms of supporting the forward momentum of the ball by ensuring there is support behind the person with the ball,” said Morse.

The Lady Warriors have high hopes and expectations for the rest of the season. Last year, the Lady Warriors called themselves the “Dream Team.” This year, the girls not only have a dream team, but are a real force to be reckoned with.

The Warrior•Sports October 18, 2012

23

Lady Warriors Continue Three Year Dominance of Maryland Volleyball

by Joey Lavoie ‘14 Having six seniors graduate appears to be no major obstacle on a road to success for Coach Brian McCarty’s varsity volleyball squad, who are 11-0, and will face Blake tonight at home. The Lady Warriors returned 6’ 1” senior outside hitters Alex Holston and Dominique Parker, along with their setter, senior Maddie Moyer. The two-time repeating state champions have had an impressive season so far, but are still training for a coveted third state championship. The Lady Warriors have a 48-match winning streak, last losing in October of 2009 to Wootton. Over the course of the past three years and 48 games, the Lady Warriors have only conceded five sets.

“Losing some seniors from last year, we’ve also lost some vocal leaders,” said Holston. “Now it’s up to us to pick the team up when we’re down and keep us up when we are up.”

Juniors Makayla Roy and Natalie Sebeck stepped up early in the season with 60 and 43 kills, respectively, through their first 11 wins of the season, filling the hole left by outside hitter by Parker, who was forced to sit out the first seven matches due to an ankle injury. “Playing without Parker was difficult because she brings so much to our team,” said McCarty.

“She is a force at the net, can play all three front row positions, and brings a ton of energy and enthusiasm to the court.”

McCarty has restocked for the future while still putting a championship-caliber team together, with sophomores Kaleigh Homer, Kerra Terado and Dalton Sanchez, along with freshman Ariella Rodriguez, as the faces of the program for years to come. Juniors Kasey Rosen, Becky Geller and Rae Harrison all played valuable roles throughout the season.

Rosen has been what the Warriors have needed from the serving line, averaging 1.1 aces per set; in

Skins Need to Protect Their Future

by Mike Crooks ‘14

Jamie Langbein ‘13

Junior Makayla Roy spikes the ball on one of her 10 kills against Gaithersburg on October 10. The Warriors went on to win 3-0 addition, Geller is averaging 1.4 digs per set, in limited appearances from both players.

On Monday, the Lady Warriors defeated 13-3 Richard Montgomery 3-0 (25-19, 25-14, 25-10), who the Lady Warriors defeated last season in the state semifinals. The Rockets jumped on the Warriors quickly and took a lead in the first set. The Lady Warriors stormed back with a fury of kills by Holston and Roy. In the semifinal last season, the Rockets took a set from the Warriors, though, one of the few they lost the entire season.

The Lady Warriors, ranked number 1 by the Washington Post in the metropolitan area, will not

have an easy road to Ritchie Coliseum. They will face the Washington Post’s seventh-ranked Damascus squad next Wednesday on senior night, when captains Holston, Parker and Moyer will play their last regular season game in Sherwood’s gym. Also, the Lady Warriors may have to face a consistently strong eighthranked Arundel squad from Anne Arundel County, who they beat in last year’s state championship.

“Our final games of the season are against some really tough competition, which I love,” said McCarty. “It will really push us to reach our highest levels of play and see if we are ready to be mentally tough come playoff time.”

Washington Redskins rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III wowed football fans with his performance in his first six games of his highly anticipated rookie season. The second overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft is one of the biggest reasons why the Redskins are a top-five offense with a thirdbest 178 points and fifth-best 394 yards per game.

Griffin’s speed and mobility gives the Washington offense a new dimension. So far, the Skins have taken full advantage of Griffin’s running ability by calling multiple designed quarterback runs throughout each game. These plays have produced good results, as Griffin rushed for six touchdowns in his first six games, already breaking the Redskins’ franchise record for rushing touchdowns by a rookie QB. However, Griffin’s body has taken a beating. A week five injury to their star quarterback left Redskins Nation with uncertainty as the Skins entered their home game against the 4-1 Minnesota Vikings.

In an effort to convert a third down in the third quarter of Washington’s week five game, Griffin ran the football and was drilled by Falcons linebacker Sean Weatherspoon. He received a mild concussion and a laceration on his chin. The injury was a reflection of poor decisions by the Redskins organization. If the Skins want Griffin to bring winning football back to the District of Columbia, they must make sure he is the long-term quarterback, which means limiting designed running plays and encouraging him to make smart decisions running.

The Skins should take notes on how fellow DC team, the Nationals, handled their young pitcher, Stephen Strasburg. The Nationals chose to shut Strasburg down in September because they didn’t want to risk injuring his throwing arm, which he had Tommy John surgery on last off-season. They chose long-term success and health, just as the Skins should.

Those who oppose this approach think that the Redskins

would be stupid not to make immediate use of every ounce of Griffin’s talent. They argue that injury is a possibility at all times on the football field. This is true.

But one cannot deny that when Griffin runs there is a greater chance he will get injured. As a passer in the pocket, he has 300plus pound offensive linemen blocking for him. When he runs, it is often just him against multiple defenders.

The football world saw how the Redskins would handle the situation, as Griffin was cleared to play and named week six starter against the Minnesota Vikings. In this Sunday’s game, the Redskins showed that they would continue to run designed quarterback running plays, as Griffin carried the ball thirteen times for two touchdowns, at least half of which were designed. One of those designed rushing plays was an explosive 76 yard quarterback draw that ended with Griffin running into the end zone and doing his own version of the Lambeau leap.

When he ran the ball throughout the game, Griffin played smarter than he did before. On multiple occasions, he ran out of bounds or slid to protect himself from big hits. His wise decisions running reflected maturity and also coaching. But wise running won’t cut it in many cases. Redskins fans cannot let themselves get seduced by Griffin’s 76-yard touchdown run. The necessity to cut back on designed quarterback runs is still apparent.

Hopefully it doesn’t take another concussion for the Redskins to realize that they need to make a change. Griffin can’t lead the Redskins to the playoffs if he’s standing on the sidelines.

Crooks is currently enrolled in Journalism.

24

Boys’ Soccer

Record: 3-5-1 Next Game: 10/18 vs PB

Golf Record: 16-1-1 Next Match: Season Over

The Warrior•Sports October 18, 2012

Football Record: 5-2 Next Game: 10/19 vs PB

Cross Country

Records: Girls: 0-5 Boys: 4-1 Next meet: Moco XC Champ.

R E C A P S

compiled by Jamie Langbein ‘13 and Joey Lavoie ‘14; photos by Jamie Langbein ‘13 Michael Natelli ‘14 and Gary Peters

a s o f o c t o b e r 1 6

Girls’ Soccer

Volleyball

Record: 8-1 Next Game: 10/18 vs PB

Record:11-0 Next Game: 10/18 vs Blake

Field Hockey

Girls’ Tennis

Record: 12-0 Next Game: Playoffs

Record: 7-5 Next Match: Playoffs