March 2015

tjTODAY

THOMAS JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 6560 Braddock Rd., Alexandria, VA 22312

MARCH 23, 2015

I-Nite P.8-9, 14

VOLUME 30, ISSUE 6

We Can Do It! Women’s History Month encourages discussion about gender equality

graphic by Stav Nachum

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by Sandy Cho, Anjali Khanna and Stav Nachum Online Editor-in-Chief, Features Editor and News Editor

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FRESHMAN RENEE LI

JUNIOR SARA WARRINGTON

SENIOR SAROJA ERABELLI

graphic by Sandy Cho and Anjali Khanna

Black History Month.

Hispanic Heritage Month.

International Family Equality Day. We dedicate different months and days each year to recognizing the equality and diversity that our world is attempting to accomplish. With feminism at the forefront of celebrity causes, the month of March as well as International Women’s Day, March 8, is a chance to frankly discuss gender equality.

Every year since 1909, International Women’s Day celebrates the achievements of women in the past, present and future that are sometimes overlooked. On this day, people around the world look back on past struggles and accomplishments, and more importantly, look ahead to the potential and opportunities for women to reach an equal status in all aspects of society.

“To me, International Women’s Day means celebrating me, celebrating us and celebrating women, regardless of our countless differences,” senior Nur Simsek said. “It means coming together to move forward

and help each other, and it means working together to have a world where we are respected and valued as human beings.”

Although women have made considerable strides towards equality from where they were only a few decades ago, it is clear that women face difficulties in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields, especially in college and beyond.

For instance, it is wellknown that men are far more likely than women to pursue a career in STEM. In fact, according to the Census Bureau’s 2014 Community Survey, women comprise 48 percent of the United States workforce, but only 24 percent of workers in STEM fields. Specifically, engineers are the second largest STEM occupational group, but only about one in seven is female.

“It’s saddening and disheartening. I think that for America’s future stability as a global economic leader, we need to encourage women to pursue STEM fields, as jobs in STEM are expected to increase exponentially in the next few decades,” senior Jenny Kim said. “It is not only a feminism problem, but also a national problem.

My opinion is that STEM continued on p. 2

FCPS to consider changes in grading policies

by Ellen Kan Print Editor-in-Chief Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is currently in the process of evaluating county grading practices. In order to promote more consistent practices across schools, FCPS is considering the adoption of uniform guidelines for grading and assessing students.

“Early discussions are involving principals and other instructional leaders in determining how to create more consistency across schools out of interest of fairness,” Principal Evan Glazer said. “It’s a directive from the superintendent, and implementation might be as early as next year.”

Later this spring, the superintendent’s

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Class of 2016 hosts historic Pi-Miler

office will invite instructional leaders to participate in discussions designed to gather feedback on grading policy proposals. One item that will be taken into consideration is the possible elimination of the zero as a grade throughout the county.

Some FCPS high schools have already implemented this change. James Madison High School sets the lowest possible grade on an assignment or test as 53, while Oakton High School uses 50 as the minimum grade.

FCPS will also hear input from school officials on policies for retaking assessments, as well as the minimum number of grades teachers should give out per marking period.

Instructional leaders may also be asked for

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tjTODAY staff reviews BonChon chicken

their views on what kind of weighting or grade distribution tests, homework and other assignments should receive.

An additional topic of discussion is the Student Information System (SIS), which will allow parents and students to view student grades at any time. Although the execution of other grading policy adjustments is unclear at the moment, the SIS will definitely be implemented at Jefferson beginning next fall.

Currently, most Jefferson teachers adopt consistent practices across teams, which refer to groups of instructors who teach the same subject. Glazer anticipates that there may be discrepancies between the county’s decisions and teachers’ values.

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Japanese exchange students arrive

“My personal opinion is, it’s perfectly okay to have different grading practices if a student’s demonstration of knowledge, skills, and understanding would result in the same grade in different sections of the course,” Glazer said. “I recognize this is an important issue to students and administrators, but it’s my hope that teachers will also have the opportunity to chime in because they are the most important part of this conversation.”

tjTODAY will be conducting a phone interview with FCPS Deputy Superintendent Steven Lockard. See www.tjtoday.org for more information on the county’s efforts.

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Students celebrate international holidays

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news

march 23, 2015

Kudos & Accomplishments

Hussain, Lin, Tsung and Wade win annual Hackathon

 Seniors Danial Hussain, Lucas Lin, Ellis Tsung and Zach Wade won big at the Second Annual Hack UVA held at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Va. After competing against more than 200 students to design and build dozens of new inventions overnight, the team took home the first place win with an award for $1,000.

Scholle places first in YES! Magazine writing contest

 Junior Ally Scholle responded to the article "The Real Teens Behind 'The Fault in Our Stars' Are Bringing Empathy to the Internet" by Christopher Zumski Finke with her essay entitled "The Literal Heart Suystains an Ailing Body." She was announced the high school winner of the YES! Magazine Fall 2014 Writing Competition.

Atluri achieves 2014-15 Coca-Cola Scholars award

 Senior Sreya Atluri became a member of the 2014-15 class of Coca-Cola Scholars and will receive a $20,000 scholarship award, renewable annually at $5,000 for four years of study at an American university. Atluri was also awarded the Nordstrom Scholarship for $20,000, which also serves as $5,000 per year of university education.

Science Olympiad Blue, Red and White teams win big at 2015 Marshall Regional Tournament

 At the Marshall Regional Tournmanet on March 10, all three Jefferson Science Olympiad teams placed in the top three in Division C. TJHSST Blue finished first with 38 points, TJHSST Red finished second with 58 points and TJHSST finished third with 68 points. All three teams are eligible to continue onto the state competition.

Clark-Callendar nominated for McDonald's All-American Basketball Games in Chicago

 Senior Becca Clark-Callender was named to the 2015 team of the McDonald's All-American Games. She is one of over 800 high-school senior boys and girls who will compete in the games, which will be hosted on April 1 in Chicago's United Center.

Seliskar broke fourth pool record inclduing two of decorated Olympian swimmer Michael Phelps

 On March 7, in the George Mason's Patriot Aquatic Center, senior Andrew Seliskar broke records, including those of some of the most decorated swimmers in history, such as Michael Phelps. Seliskar broke his own 17-18 national record in the 200 breaststroke with a new time of 1:51.57. Seliskar also broke Phelps's 400 individual medley pool record.

Damashek, Kim and Kim qualify for Codegate Finals

 Juniors Samuel Damashek, Ashley Kim and Samuel Kim participated in the Codegate Junior hacking competition's qualifying round, which was held on March 14. Codegate is an international computer security conference hosted in Seoul, South Korea. The juniors all placed in the top 30 for the Codegate junior competition and qualified for the final round.

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Gender equality dialogue present at Jefferson continued from p. 1 needs to be more friendly to women, beginning in the workplace.”

Over the years, Jefferson has also found unique ways to reduce the gender gap.

Eighth period clubs such as Tomorrow’s Women in Science and Technology (TWIST); Women in Science and Engineering (WISE); Coding Lady Colonials (CLC); Girls in Engineering, Math and Science (GEMS); Girls Learn International; Keyettes and Women in Leadership and Development (WILD) encourage women to become leaders, especially in STEM fields, through mentoring younger children in nearby schools and hosting guest speakers to discuss women in STEM. “I think our club has provided girls with a safe environment where they can talk about what obstacles they face in their schools, and we can talk about ways to combat them,” sophomore Rhea Sahai, a member of WILD, said. “We’re trying to instill confidence into young girls so that they feel like they can do whatever they want and that their gender isn’t an obstacle.”

Beyond eighth period, Jefferson also offers opportunities for the advancement of women in STEM through some panels that are available at the Thomas Jefferson Symposium to Advance Research (tjSTAR).

Accomplished female professionals are often invited to speak before an audience, and these presenters discuss the role of women in STEM and the hardships they need to overcome to advance in their fields.

In addition, Jefferson attempted to have an all-girls computer science course over the summer to make female students more comfortable with pursuing computer science to more advanced levels. In fact,

the Jefferson staff attempts to show all students, both males and females, the fields that they have a specific talent in and should continue pursuing.

“Most of the members of TWIST are girls, although the club is not exclusive.

We are trying to promote good role models for what women can do in society, science in particular,” biology teacher Sonia Del Cerro, who is co-sponsor of TWIST with computer science teacher Ria Galanos, said.

“In general, all the participants are very enthusiastic, so we bring in speakers.

The girls are always trying to bring in activities that promote excitement and understanding of science, so we can actually good roles in society of those areas.”

Through such clubs and activities, the Jefferson community has been attempting to encourage girls at our school to pursue the advanced mathematics and science courses available in biology, chemistry, computer science, physics and all other disciplines of science.

While many believe there is still a long way to go before there is gender equality in the science and mathematics fields, especially in college and beyond, Jefferson's efforts to encourage female students to pursue these subjects is a step in the right direction.

“I believe our community has to feel strongly that there will be great computer scientists and engineers coming from our school who are women," Principal Evan Glazer said. "I think that’s gradually shifting around the country, but we’re not there yet, so that is where leadership plays an important role. Leadership is about having an influence, not only in the Jefferson community, but also in changing perception in humanity.”

BPF teams prepare for Conrad Spirit of Innovation summit

by Lindsay Williams Online Editor-in-Chief Three Bioengineering Projects of the Future (BPF) teams, Team Suri Labs, Team X-haust and Team Stercus, were selected as finalists for the 2015 Conrad Spirit of Innovation Challenge. The students have the opportunity to attend a summit on April 9 at Florida's Kennedy Space Center.

The selected BPF projects focus on models of new technology for problems that exist. Submissions involved a written paper, along with different animations and physical projections.

Each group felt that their project emphasized different strengths.

For example, Team Suri Labs, which consists of juniors Kevin Livingstone and Claire Scoggins and sophomores Varun Iyengar and Rohan Suri, chose a project on a relevant topic: infectious diseases.

“We created an app that tracks

who you come into contact with on your phone, and it can measure proximity,” Suri said. “If a user gets sick with an infectious disease like Ebola, measles or tuberculosis, they can report it to the app, which will notify all contacts that they’ve been in contact with someone that has this infectious disease.”

Juniors Vooha Putalapattu, Aneesh Susarla and Kaushik Venkatesh of Team X-haust, on the other hand, feel that their extensive work and animations gave them a competitive edge. Their project focused on reducing pollution through attaching a filtration system to large vehicles, which can collect and store carbon dioxide emissions. The resulting carbon dioxide can then be solidied and used as an energy source in place of fossil fuels.

“We worked really hard, we had a lot of visuals, we made a video and we made animations," Putalapattu said. "I think we went above

and beyond their expectations for each phase.”

Finally Team Stercus, made up of juniors Jeffrey Diep, Ai Moshida and Shubham Gupta designed a product that would use the excess energy of compost to charge batteries.

The Conrad Spirit of Innovation Challenge focuses on products that are both useful and marketable to the public and on the integration of science and business.

“We competed in the Spirit of Innovation Challenge because it's essentially like a science fair, but it has a business aspect and focuses on commercializing technology that you develop," Suri said.

"That's something really unique about that competition.”

At the April 9 summit, invited finalist teams will present their projects before a panel of judges.

They will also meet with other presenters to discuss promising topics in science and entrepreneurship.

RENOVATION CORNER • The NEW CAFETERIA will be available AFTER SPRING BREAK. It will be used as a MULTI-PURPOSE ROOM while construction is underway and space is limited. As a result, GYM II will no longer be avilable during lunch.

• During Spring Break, GYM I will be PUT OFFLINE. As a result, GYM I will not be used for the next couple of months due to the renovations.

• Similarly, the BOYS LOCKER ROOM, the WEIGHT ROOM, the TRAINING ROOM, the exterior alleyways between Gyms I and II and the boys locker room will NOT BE AVAILABLE during SPRING BREAK. • The STUDENT ACTIVITIES OFFICE office will be shut down and MOVED into the ADMINISTRATION WING temporarily. It is anticipated to be back at the start of next year. photo illustration by Stav Nachum

Karamsetty's app eases complications of commuting

by Ellen Kan Print Editor-in-Chief Senior Jeevan Karamsetty released an Android application in the Google Play Store on March 4. Known as GeoRest, Karamsetty’s app “combines GPS tracking and alarms with automatic text messages to get help you get where you’re going more easily—and safely—than ever,” according to the product description.

To operate GeoRest, users simply have to input a destination and specify distances at which they would like a reminder. The app will alert users once they reach these milestones, and automatic text messages can also be arranged within the app.

This way, people can receive regular updates on a friend or family member's location, and the user can also sleep on a bus or train without fear of missing a stop.

Karamsetty’s inspiration for GeoRest stemmed from his summer internship, which required daily commuting to and from Washington, D.C. While his mode of transportation changed from day to day, parental communication was always required, whether he rode the metro or took the public bus.

“Each time I forgot to text my dad ahead of time, I lost an unnecessary block of 30 minutes or an hour waiting for him to arrive,” Karamset-

ty said. “I was frustrated and determined to solve a problem that hundreds of thousands of individuals face on a daily basis.”

As he continued designing his app, Karamsetty recognized that GeoRest’s utility could also be extended to public safety, instead of being limited to a matter of personal convenience.

“When I started to develop the specifics of the application, I realized that I could also solve the problem of texting while driving,” Karamsetty said. “Instead of having to illegally text a friend how far away you are while driving, GeoRest automatically sends the desired message.”

Karamsetty is currently finalizing the iOS version of GeoRest, a process which will take another one or two months. Because GeoRest is the first app he has designed, Karamsetty looks forward to applying what he has learned when he tackles more advanced projects. In the meantime, he will also be adding new features to future versions of GeoRest.

“I may incorporate a security feature that allows parents to automatically have their child’s location sent to them every hour or so,” Karamsetty said. “This way, any concerned parent would be less stressed if they knew their children were where they intended to be.”

photo by Ellen Kan

Senior Jeevan Karamsetty created GeoRest, an app that makes traveling easier for commuters by sending alerts and automatic texts.

news

march 23, 2015

NEWSMAKERS

NeuroInspire cultivates leaders Martinese creates Peer Core

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Sun named to Nautilus team

photo by Mei Baek

photo by Kate Deng

photo by Uzma Rentia

The News NeuroInspire offers instructor trials throughout the week of March 8. Juniors Jeewoo Kim, Vanya Vojvodic and Tarun Vippa listen to announcements during a NeuroInspire meeting.

Backstory From March 8-13, NeuroInspire instructors held meetings for Jefferson students interested in becoming volunteers for the organization.

Instructors for NeuroInspire work at elementary and middle schools to teach students about neuroscience.

“We teach them what they want to learn,” Cassie Quach, a freshman participant of the instructor trials, said. “NeuroInspire is a very unique experience because we listen to the kids and our goal is to keep them engaged.”

The program focuses on piquing students’ interests in the sciences at a young age. High school and college students act as instructors for elementary and middle schoolers who share their interests in the science.

“I want to be a part of this because I love being able to influence others in a positive way, and I also share a passion for neuroscience,” Quach said.

NeuroInspire implements activities and discussions rather than lectures and grades to help students learn, which is generally more effective in allowing students to explore their interests than strict lectures. Instructors use presentations and hands-on experiments, such as dissection of animal brains. The week-long event was an opportunity for students to find out what experiences they would encounter as a volunteer for NeuroInspire.

“I’m doing NeuroInspire because I want other students to find a love for neuroscience like I did,” Quach said. “I want to get the opportunity to not just inspire, but encourage them to pursue their interests.”

- Mei Baek

The News Junior Sophia Martinese founded Peer Core Unites, a new eighth period club that met for the first time this year on March 11.

Backstory On March 11, Peer Core Unites held its first ever eighth period meeting of the year.

Martinese started this Jefferson club after a mission trip in middle school, during which she was touched by how she felt when making a difference in children’s lives.

“When Dr. Glazer told me about the virtual communication network JCIRN, I was inspired and decided this would be the perfect opportunity to continue with my passion and share it with other Jefferson students,” Martinese said. “Now I am thrilled to see my hard work pay off when Peer Core Unites become a reality in my school’s community during eighth period.”

Peer Core Unites is an organization that focuses on five different aspects: academics, arts, character, leadership and community service. Each of these aspects has its own committee within the club. Using JCIRN, the new virtual communication forum used at Jefferson this year, Peer Core Unites is able to provide mentorship for elementary and middle school students who aren’t in the area but would still like to participate in the unique experience that the club has to offer them.

“My hope for Peer Core Unites is to simply bring knowledge, joy and a sense of hope to elementary and middle school students,” Martinese said. “I also hope that the Jefferson students involved in Peer Core Unites have the chance to experience how important it is for them to reach out in this way and give back to the children in our community, just as I have learned.”

- Kate Deng

The News Junior Emily Sun was accepted into Dr. Robert Ballard’s outreach program, Nautilus Live.

Backstory Over the summer, Sun will be joining Dr. Robert D. Ballard, a renowned pioneer in the development of advanced submergence and telepresence technology, in his educational outreach program, Nautilus Live.

The program entails spending five weeks at the University of Rhode Island. There, Sun will work on oceanography research with graduate students building drifters. The second part of the program involves spending one week aboard the E/V Nautilus in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. During this time, Sun will work with scientists from the Ocean Exploration Trust to collect and analyze data from the ship’s Remotely Operated Underwater Vehicles (ROV) and other equipment.

“Two TJ alumni, Julia Arthur and Katie Valery, both participated in the program. My marine biology teacher, Mrs. Wu, encouraged me to apply this year,” Sun said.

“And I’ve loved the ocean since before I can remember — regular trips to the Baltimore Aquarium probably had something to do with it.”

The admission process for Nautilus Live is highly selective; the program only accepts between eight and 12 students each year from across the country. Sun herself initially had doubts about the possibility of her being accepted.

“I definitely didn’t expect to get in, and looked for other summer plans,” Sun said.

Sun’s misgivings have now been replaced with excitement for the summer to come.

“I’m really excited to spend a week at sea and immerse myself in real-life research,” Sun said. “I’m also looking forward to meeting the scientists on the E/V Nautilus. It sounds incredible.”

- Uzma Rentia

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opinion

march 23, 2015

Course selections should allow tjTODAY for less depth, more flexibility Volume 30 Issue 6

2014 Pacemaker - NSPA 2014 Trophy Class - VHSL 2013 All-American - NSPA 2013 Gold Medalist - CSPA

Editorial Board Print Editor-in-Chief Ellen Kan

Online Editors-in-Chief Sandy Cho Lindsay Williams

Design Editor Alexis Williams

News Editor Stav Nachum

Opinion Editor Esther Kim

Features Editor

Lead Editorial

experience should be more about exploration and expanding horizons, rather than specialization and narrowing focus.

At Jefferson, we are fortunate enough to have access to state-of-the-art equipment and resources, and the senior research labs are a central part of our high school experience. Unfortunately, Jefferson’s specialized curriculum – which includes an extra computer science requirement, the senior research lab course, and anywhere from one to four semesters of prerequisites – allows little room for flexibility in course scheduling.

The pathways to fulfilling senior lab prerequisites are especially restricting for students who are interested in pursuing more than just one passion during the academic day. Jefferson is home to teenagers who will go on to become prominent mathematicians, renowned doctors and technological entrepreneurs, but we also have a large sampling of aspiring writers, lawyers and musicians, among countless other professions.

One might argue that a budding violinist who wants to pursue music as a profession shouldn’t have chosen to attend a high

tj TODAY’s unsigned majority opinion Third quarter and the coming of spring usher in one of the most hectic times of year.

As freshmen, sophomores and juniors meet with their counselors to finalize schedules for the next school year, class groups on Facebook are inundated with questions: Is summer chemistry worth it? What’s the best way to fulfill the fourth social studies graduation requirement? Which senior lab has the easiest prerequisites for a junior who is planning to take five Advanced Placement (AP) courses?

Most of this stress could be avoided if every student were to fill out his or her fouryear planning sheet as a freshman. At first, this may seem like a reasonable and even highly encouraged plan of action. After all, organization is a useful skill, one that should be developed early on.

However, there is something very wrong with expecting a child straight out of middle school to be able to map out every detail of his or her next four years. The high school

school that places a heavy emphasis on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). But the truth is, these two worlds do not have to mutually exclusive. It is possible to be a skilled coder and an accomplished writer at the same time, just as there is nothing wrong with enjoying both robotics and marching band. Course options in a school as varied as ours should be able to cater to a diverse student population.

Even for the students who know they want to go into STEM fields, there are still many options that cannot all be explored.

The majority of students start down a oneway road when they select an elective their sophomore year. Those that choose AP Computer Science will likely never cross paths again with the students who choose AP Biology, because it becomes nearly impossible to switch tracks as the material increases in difficulty.

As a community, we need to take a step back and reevaluate the competitive environment that rushes students into specialization.

At the high school level, breadth is much more important than depth, and students need the time to carefully evaluate their interests and passions before diving headfirst into a field with little preparation.

Anjali Khanna

Entertainment Editor Kate Deng

Sports Editor Akhil Waghmare

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Adviser

by Stav Nachum News Editor Spring is an incredibly busy time for high school students. Amidst the final preparations for Advanced Placement (AP) exams and, for seniors, the quickly approaching deadlines for scholarships and college decisions, stress levels are higher than ever. In addition, students have the added requirement of taking the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) tests, which commenced this month with the Writing SOL for juniors.

It is impossible to go through high school in Virginia without hearing about the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act and the corresponding SOL tests. After all, students all over the nation take their fair share of these exams throughout their years of schooling.

While many people seem to criticize the NCLB examinations, there are some positive outcomes to the testing, such as decreasing the overall achievement gap between minority students and the white majority between 2002 and today.

On the other hand, there is an increasing number of teachers who are teaching to the SOL tests due to widespread panic that students will perform badly on tests. As a result, the amount of cre-

ative and well-rounded education has decreased, especially due to greater emphasis on math and reading and less on the arts.

Furthermore, since the SOL has no time limit, my middle school colleagues and I tried to reduce the intensity of the exam by playing a game entitled, “Survivor,” in which we attempted to remain in the testing room the longest.

To Jefferson students, the SOL tests are often seen as unnecessary, especially since the level of questions is far below what the students experience everyday in the classroom. And while teachers do not necessarily teach for the SOL, there is always some point in the year when the teacher takes some class time to prepare for the test, reducing the time to prepare for exams that actually match the advanced curriculum of the course.

Overall, the SOL tests and NCLB program may be beneficial in states, counties and even schools that need the baseline for their educational program to succeed. However, in elementary schools, the young student receive more stress from the tests, and in magnet schools such as Jefferson, the tests simply add on to the busy lives of the students who already have multiple academic and extracurricular commitments.

Erinn Harris

Printer Silver Communications TjTODAY is the official newspaper of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology published monthly by the journalism staff.

A full-year subscription can be purchased through the Thomas Jefferson Publications Package or by sending a check or money order for $20 to tjTODAY. The staff is deeply committed to a code of journalistic ethics that demands the exercise of accuracy, good judgment and impartiality. The content of tjTODAY is determined by the editorial board.

Unsigned editorials reflect the majority opinion of the staff of tjTODAY, but not necessarily the opinions of individual editors.

Signed editorials and letters to the editor reflect the views of the authors. tjTODAY solicits advertising but reserves the right to reject any material deemed libelous, disruptive, obscene or otherwise inappropriate.

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Net neutrality should not be considered controversial

by Anjali Khanna Features Editor Nearly a two weeks ago, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) made an executive decision to end a controversy that could have changed the way we look at the Internet for good: net neutrality.

Pushed by President Barack Obama to preserve the net as we know it, the FCC released a 400-page document detailing how free the Internet could be under net neutrality and what that should mean for the general public.

Net neutrality, essentially the idea that the Internet should be of use by and for the people rather than big corporations as a source of income, seems like a basic principle of the World Wide Web today.

So why would the FCC even consider taking net neutrality away?

The set of new rules drafted by the FCC in the event that net neutrality would not pass ensured the

federal government more rights over regulating the Internet than ever before.

In addition, although most Republican voters supported net neutrality, Grand Old Party (GOP) candidates opposed the idea because it was supported by the Democratic Party.

The fact that politics primarily drove the FCC to consider the removal of net neutrality is a scary one.

Most teens today would argue that freedom is essentially what makes the Internet the Internet, and taking that away would be no different than removing a bit of our lives and our childhood.

Often we underestimate the power of politics in governmental decision-making and the influence that lobbyists can have in decision-making over seemingly insane new laws.

Keeping this in mind, the next generation must be willing to go forth and stand up more boldly for what they believe is right, because in the end, it was the power of the people that rescued the web.

photo by Esther Kim

opinion

march 23, 2015

Language is love of humanity, notこんにちは workbook pages SALUT 你好 HOLA CIAO

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Let’s reevaluate 안녕하세요 SALVE BONJOUR xin chào what I-Nite is really about NAMASTE SALUT 你好 HOLA CIAO こ The language emerged in front of me, and soon I had a concrete incentive to quickly pick up words. From the ashes of my mistakes grew strong friendships and hilarious stories.

When one memorizes vocabulary from a textbook, scribbling it down for a quiz, one is not learning a language, but instead passing a class. Language is a gateway to a new way to express oneself, to another culture, and most importantly, to establishing a powerful connection with native speakers.

I cannot emphasize enough the need to find native speakers with whom to practice, their smiles better encouragement than any grade one could receive in the classroom. Take advantage of Washington, D.C. and TJ’s international community, as there are native speakers of every imaginable language within your grasp.

Last summer, I studied Arabic in Morocco. But when I look back on the trip, I don’t remember the verb conjugations, but instead bargaining in the market. One vendor was touched that I made an attempt to learn local phrases and gave me a beautiful blue scarf as

a token of friendship. The heartfelt appreciation I get from those whose language I attempt is my motivation.

Yet, some of my best experiences haven’t been in exciting foreign countries. Working at Aldo, a shoe store in Tysons Corner, I enjoy picking up bits of languages as I help a diverse clientele find shoes. After asking clients from Saudi Arabia if they want shoes in Arabic, their ensuing laughter and grins are the only salary I need. They are always shocked to see an American speaking Arabic, and they make an effort to teach me new words.

Scrolling through my Facebook newsfeed, I see posts in Arabic, French, Portuguese, Turkish and Spanish, among other languages, thanks to my friends all over the world. My life has been enriched by their unique perspectives on life, By speaking French, I not only have two words for every concept, but two entirely different ways to view our world. Language is love of humanity, not workbook pages.

んにちは 안녕하세요 SALVE BONJOUR xin chào NAMASTE SALUT 你好 HOLA CIAO こんにちは 안녕하세요 SALVE BONJOUR xin chào NAMASTE SALUT 你好 HOLA CIAO こんにちは 안녕하세요 SALVE BONJOUR xin chào PARIS MITZELFELD

Slamming the textbook shut, I screamed in frustration, as many people do when trying to acquire a different system of communicating. Arcane grammar rules and bizarre spellings stood as barriers to my progress in French, and as my sophomore year rolled into spring, I was convinced that I couldn’t learn it to fluency.

Luckily, I decided to journey to France over spring break to visit an exchange student I’d hosted earlier.

Throughout the trip, I picked up slang and colloquial expressions, and I felt my confidence skyrocket when freed from the chains of grammar books.

PEGAH MORADI & ANUGYA MITTAL

Most of us probably let out a collective exhale the moment we stepped out of George Mason University (GMU) on March 14.

We all get it: International Night (I-Nite) is a staple to the Jefferson experience. It’s glorious and hype and exciting. It’s supposed to be about culture, diversity, dancing and having fun. But in the past few years, INite has also become something else: a competition.

Rehearsals begin months in advance. Choreographers, club leaders and performers spend countless lunches, eighth periods, and weekends learning, dancing, practicing, perfecting. We say we love it, that we’re proving how Jefferson is more than just calculators and test tubes, but to what extent have we turned INite from a display of diversity into a pressure cooker?

Perhaps it’s 13 years of buildup or the move to GMU. With the added pressure of performing in front of almost 2,000 people and only having one night to put on the perfect show, choreographers and performers are left scrambling to put in their all. Every year is trying to outdo the last, make a lasting impact on I-Nite, raise the bar for next year’s acts and even compare acts against each other.

It’s as if we’re no longer preparing for a display of culture, but rather for a high-school dance competition. “So, you think you can I-Nite?”

People are supposed to have fun going on stage, and for the most part, they do. But what about all the time they sacrificed, the grades they let slip, or the homework they didn’t turn in because of a mandatory lunch rehearsal? What about the sports practices people are asked to miss for after-school rehearsals? Are five-minute performances more important that these long-term commitments? Maybe, or maybe not.

Our outlook appears cynical, but we only bring up these issues because not only have we experienced them firsthand, but we’re both as guilty of sustaining this pent-up stress as everybody else. As choreographers, we screamed, kicked and sassed our way through each rehearsal. We just wanted our acts to be the best, to live up to the hype. Whether we did or not is a different question, but we wouldn’t give up this experience for anything.

I-Nite has undeniably been increasing in frenzy every year. Just look at how soon the tickets sell out and Twitter complaints ensue. Still, can we even avoid this over-exposure? Can we avoid comparing ourselves to the legacies of past years? We’re not sure. We’ll just have to wait until 2016, when it’s showtime once more.

Paris Mitzelfeld is a senior.

APPRECIATING CULTURE

How I try to你好 remember the “land of the こんにち morning calm” SALUT HOLA CIAO illustration by Esther Kim

は 안녕하세요 SALVE BONJOUR xin chào NAMASTE SALUT 你好 HOLA CIAO こんにちは 안녕하세요 SALVE BONJOUR xin chào NAMASTE SALUT 你好 HOLA CIAO こんにちは 안녕하 세요 SALVE BONJOUR xin chào NAMASTE SALUT 你好 HOLA CIAO こん にちは 안녕하세요 SALVE BONJOUR xin chào NAMASTE ESTHER KIM

I walk around the school. I hear the booming sound of exotic songs playing in the background, and I see the diligent moves of students putting on the final touches to their International Night (I-Nite) performances.

As I watch the practices with curious eyes, a sudden question pops out of my mind: How do I remember my heritage? Have I ever tried to celebrate my culture at all?

As a South Korean native, I didn’t immigrate to the United States until the third grade. Having lived in a fairly academic-intensive community back

in Korea, I was always willing to be the “perfect” student wherever I was. And in the eyes of a small third-grader, the best way to be a model student was by fitting seamlessly into the community and culture that I hoped to belong in.

After all the early efforts to change my lifestyle, however, I realized that the attempts were only forcing me to conform to the typical image of what being an “American” meant.

In fact, I still listened to Korean music, followed-up news stories from Naver, a popular internet service in South Korea and communicated with my parents in Korean. These might only be some trivial habits and small deeds, but they were the only ties that I had to my heritage, the country that was one Pacific Ocean away, or 13 hours of an airplane flight too far.

The appreciation of one’s heritage does not always have to be momentous or significant. It does not have to be a newspaper-worthy achievement or a year-long planned project.

The sincerity for acknowledging one’s culture is the starting step of redefin-

sophomore Janet Pending: “I fully support having a minimum number of assignments per quarter, but I think that there is a need for a dialogue with teachers and students to determine what this number is.”

junior Disha Jain: “Changing the policy on retaking assessments or standardizing the proportion of grade distributions could negatively impact students, as many teachers adjust both in response to the needs of the student and the class.”

ing one’s identity and truly celebrating the coexistence of the multiple cultures within oneself.

Just like trying to fathom any idea about one’s fading childhood, remembering the fragments of one’s heritage also requires constant attention, interest and patience.

I visited South Korea the summer before my freshman year. Despite the heavy traffic and bright lights livening up the night of Seoul, the morning of the city always starts with serenity and silence.

It is no wonder that Joseon, the former ancient dynasty of South Korea, could be translated into “the land of the morning calm.”

The memories I have of the peaceful silence that I felt in the mornings of Korea are the first recollections I have when I think of the nation. They are some of the rare ones I have, but I know that I will not be forgetting it.

To remember the land of the morning calm, I know that it starts with small conversations, constant reminders and an infinite curiosity.

Anugya Mittal and Pegah Moradi were I-Nite 2015 choreographers for Namaste Senior Girls and Persian Club, respectively. They are both seniors.

sophomore

Students react to possible changes in grading policies 1. Eliminating zeros 2. New policy on retaking exams 3. Having a minimum number of grades each quarter 4.Balance between grades and homework 5. Having a timeline for uploading grades on SIS (Student Information System)

Jamie Do: “I think these changes are great ideas because our grades will not be solely dependent on tests.” cartoon by Diane Lee

senior Melissa Wu:

“Some people may become discouraged when they receive a zero and may end up not enjoying a class anymore. I feel like fostering positive attitudes is an important part of learning as a whole.”

6

sports

march 23, 2015

Pi-Miler raises money for Class of 2016

by Mei Baek and Ellen Kan Staff Reporter and Print Editor-in-Chief On March 14, mathematicians and funloving foodies across the United States celebrated the century’s historic Pi Day. Some Jefferson athletes found their own way of celebrating 3/14/15; they spent their Saturday morning at the fifth annual 5K Pi-Miler Run/ Walk, an approximately 3.14-mile race.

This year, 140 students, parents, alumni and other members of the local community toed the starting line at 9:26 a.m. Along with the race’s date of March 14, 2015, the starting time helped spell out the first eight digits of the number pi: 3.1415926.

The Pi-Miler is hosted annually as a fundraiser for the junior class. The Class of 2016’s officers are currently still calculating the exact profits from the event, but they estimate that the race brought in over $5,000.

“Despite the horrible conditions, SAT, INite, debate tournaments and whatever else happened on the same day, the Pi-Miler was very successful,” junior Kunal Naik, the president of the Class of 2016, said. “I think all the runners had a good time at the event, and the class council definitely enjoyed hosting it.”

Participants were hampered by the rainy conditions, which turned the wooded section of the course into a slippery stretch of mud.

“It was rainy, which didn’t seem too bad at the start, but once we reached the trail in the woods, there was so much mud and everyone was covered,” freshman Lynne Bai

said.

While some athletes had trained for the event through private or team practice, most participants ran the 5K without a significant amount of conditioning.

Senior Chris Blagg placed first in the division for males of ages 13-20 with a time of 17:12, and sophomore Will Baxley finished second in 17:59. In the female division, 12-year-old Nandini Yatsangi placed first with a time of 21:00. She was followed

by Class of 2014 alumna Rachel Laveson and senior Haley Stumvoll, who finished in 21:07 and 22:09.

The winners of each age group were awarded pies at the end of the race. The runners whose times were closest to 10 pi, or 31:41, were also recognized.

“I really enjoyed running at Burke Lake again, although it was quite muddy which was a little annoying,” Blagg said. “I decided that I should support the Class of 2016, and I really like to run, so I figured I might as well go race.”

The finishing athletes were greeted with refreshments at the finish line, where tables were set with a variety of post-race snacks.

“I loved running fast up the hills to challenge myself - especially the last hill, which encouraged me to push myself and finish the run,” sophomore Caelan Barranta said. “I want to improve on my time and hopefully run in better conditions next year.”

photo by Ellen Kan

photo by Ellen Kan

Basketball fans enjoy March Madness tournament Kentucky Hampton Cincinnati Purdue W. Virginia Buffalo Maryland Valparaiso Butler Texas Notre Dame Northeastern Wichita St. Indiana Kansas New Mexico St

Wisconsin Coastal Carolina

Oregon Oklahoma St Arkansas Wofford North Carolina

Harvard Xavier BYU/Miss Baylor Georgia St VCU Ohio St Arizona Texas Southern

Villanova Lafayette NC St Louisiana St No. Iowa Wyoming Louisville UC Irvine Providence BSU/DAY Oklahoma Albany Michigan St Georgia Virginia Belmont Duke UNF/RMU San Diego St St. John’s Utah Stephen F. Austin

Georgetown E. Washington So. Methodist

UCLA Iowa St UAB Iowa Davidson Gonzaga No. Dakota St

Fill in your own brackets for the rest of the March Madness tournament and submit a picture to Twitter, Facebook or Instagram with #tjTODAY brackets by Friday, March 27. The person or people with the most correctly called games will win a free set of yearbook signing sheets.

by Akhil Waghmare Sports Editor An anticipated and exciting event for many Jefferson students who follow college basketball, the annual National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Men’s Basketball Tournament, released its bracket during this year’s Selection Sunday on March 15.

The ensuing tournament games are part of the yearly “March Madness,” referring to fans’ enthusiasm for the games throughout the month. The tournament is also a place where many historic rivalries take root.

With spectacular individual performances, many scouts from the professional ranks, the National Basketball Association (NBA), watch closely to see how players perform under the pressure to win.

“Given that college basketball is becoming more of a one and done deal for the players who want to move on to the NBA, it’s the last opportunity for some players to show what they’re capable of,” senior Dilip Thiagarajan said.

This year’s tournament is highlighted by the four No. 1 seeds — Kentucky, Vir-

ginia, Wisconsin and Duke — who have all tallied some impressive wins throughout the season. Kentucky has been especially successful this season, as they have yet to lose a single game. This is only the second time in the tournament’s history that a team has entered with a perfect record.

Some students believe that this team will continue their run through the tournament.

“I think Kentucky will go all the way and win the championship because they have really good players like Karl-Anthony Towns, and they know how to respond when being down,” junior Daniel Oh said.

“I think they’re just much better than any of their potential opponents.”

With many teams as real contenders for the national championship, this year’s March Madness tournament is sure to be one to remember. Some Jefferson students are choosing to stay true to their roots and support the local Virginia team despite their recent struggles.

“I think U.Va. has the best shot,” Thiagarajan said. “Regardless of their slump, their defense is outstanding, and that sort of play makes them tough competition with any team.”

photo by Mei Baek

photo by Ellen Kan

photo by Mei Baek

photo by Ellen Kan

Clockwise from top right: One hundred forty runners began the race at 9:26 a.m.; freshmen Sean Clancy and Nick Begotka run a cool-down jog after they finish the Pi-Miler; junior Virginia Pan waves as she takes the last few steps of the race; juniors and Class of 2016 council members Sophia Moses, Kaila Stein and Spencer Weiss announce the winners in every age group; sophomores Clare Connally and Kristen Halper accept pies for running times closest to 31:41; former math teacher Jennifer Allard smiles as she crosses the finish line.

Sports suffer problems with spring recruitment

by Uzma Rentia Staff Reporter The coming of spring ushers in sunlight, warmth and more accommodating weather for playing sports. However, the weather becomes immaterial when one considers that spring sports are struggling to recruit a sufficient number of athletes, or athletes that have a decent level of experience. These issues put the overall quality of spring sports play in a precarious position.

Sports such as baseball, girls’ soccer, boys’ lacrosse and softball have all had issues finding the proper athletes with varying amounts of severity. The foremost problem faced by these sports is having players that have little experience entering the junior varsity (JV) levels. This evidently puts the Colonials at a disadvantage. While the JV teams at Jefferson only have a rudimentary grasp of their sport, their counterparts at other schools are already-well acquainted.

“With a lot of our players we are at square one; we are teaching them the fundamentals,” Craig Lewis, head coach for varsity baseball said. “Others schools are teaching them strategy, and their students are doing summer camps, summer showcases, summer practices, and getting a lot of baseball.”

On the opposite end of the spectrum, experienced athletes are choosing not to return to sports. Some of Jefferson’s key players are choosing to — or being pressured by their parents — to abstain from playing sports in order to focus on their studies.

This deals a huge blow to teams that often rely on experienced players.

“We lost two juniors this year due to focusing on academics, and one sophomore,” girls’ softball head varsity coach Michael Hrabak said. “It strikes me as an enigma and a challenge for most coaches here at TJ because unfortunately, this intense academic environment forces many students to choose to not play a sport due to the fear of detracting from their academics.”

Thus, Jefferson sport teams usually have only enough students try out to ensure the both JV and Varsity can continue play, their numbers paling in comparison to other schools. The smaller numbers serve as just another obstacle Jefferson teams face in regards to sports. Nevertheless, the athletes still manage to get around these hurdles.

“We usually do not have enough people to run a full 10 on 10 game, so we do 6 on 6 half-field scrimmages and do whatever we can to practice full game situations when possible,” junior Matthew Conway, a member of the varsity lacrosse team, said.

Despite the multitude of issues swirling around sports recruitments, no one can deny the importance of playing sports at Jefferson, or in high school in general.

“Too many students forget the focus of high school sports: it’s a learning experience, a chance to grow as individuals, a chance to meet new friends, a unique chance to represent with pride your school — regardless of the scores, results and wins,” Louis Gendive, head varsity coach of girls’ soccer said.

sports

march 23, 2015

7

Seliskar reflects on past achievements, Spring athletes reveal looks forward to reaching new heights weather-related setbacks

photo courtesy of LifeTouch

by Anjali Khanna and Esther Kim Features Editor and Opinion Editor Nearing the final meters of his high school swimming career, senior Andrew Seliskar will be leaving Jefferson with another round of record-breaking times and successes.

On March 5-8, Seliskar set new records in the 1718 age group for 400 individual medley (IM) and 200 breaststroke at the Potomac Valley Senior Championships (PVS Championships), a competition held at George Mason University’s Patriot Aquatic Center.

During the event, Seliskar finished his 400 IM in 3:37.52, surpassing the 17-18 age group’s old record and GMU’s pool record of 3:42.08, previously held by Michael Phelps. The record-breaking time also placed Seliskar as the fourth fastest in the division of all swimmers. In the 200 breaststroke, Seliskar also broke his previously held 17-18 age group record with 1:51.57 and set a new pool record of 52.05 in 100 breaststroke.

Additionally, he placed first in 500 freestyle and 200 IM, concluding the competition with prominent results.

“Andrew’s definitely one of the fastest swimmers out there right now for any age, any level,” senior Gerry Wan, one of the captains of Jefferson’s Swim and Dive team (TJSD), said. “Some people also consider him the best high school swimmer of all time.”

Having started swimming at six, Seliskar has been an active member of TJSD since his freshmen year. As

one of the current captains of the team, he led TJSD throughout the winter season. Under Seliskar’s leadership, the boys’ team scored 311 points at the Virginia 5A Swimming and Diving Championships on Feb. 21, capturing the state championship for the first time since 2002.

During the competition, Seliskar set a new record in Virginia for the 100 butterfly with 46.13 and a secondfastest high school 200 IM record of 1:43.01.

“As far as high school swimming goes, our goal was to win the state championship, which we accomplished,” Seliskar said. “TJSD boys and girls swam fantastically at States, and many of us are excited to keep swimming and pursue the sport in college.”

On March 17-21, Seliskar will be participating in the National Club Swimming Association (NCSA) Spring Junior National Championships planned to held at Orlando, Fla. Last year, Seliskar placed first in 200 breaststroke, 100 butterfly and 800 freestyle relay as one of the four Nations Capital Swim Club (NCAP) members.

“I am driven a lot by my coaches and friends who help push me in practice to become a better athlete,” Seliskar said. “In practice, we work a lot on distance freestyle training and underwater kicking. This helps us in our races at meets where we can focus on accelerating in and out of our turns toward the end of our races.”

In his junior year, Seliskar was selected by USA Swimming to be swim with the U.S. national team. He qualified through his 200 breaststroke record.

However, in the midst of his records and successes, TJSD especially notes Seliskar for his constant efforts to improve on his skills and to encourage other team members before competitions.

“As a member of the team, he has always led by example,” TJSD head coach Ian Handerhan said. “He has been an incredible influence on our younger swimmers and in the pool has been the leader of the team for three years now. He has never separated himself from the team even though he separates himself so clearly once he dives in.”

Seliskar will be headed to University of California, Berkeley, next school year to continue swimming. As the countdown begins for graduation, Seliskar looks forward to a new competitive environment.

“I’m really looking forward to getting out on the West Coast and training at Berkeley,” Seliskar said. “I can’t wait to become a part of their program and train and compete with many of the best swimmers in the world.”

Track freshman Jade Wang

“We’ve had to train indoors and also run outside in very cold weather. We have had to wear a lot more clothing when we run, and Coach also makes us wear jackets that have reflect light for our safety.”

Crew

sophomore Daniel Haseler

“The snow has already affected crew because the river we are on is still frozen. We are already supposed to be out there practicing, and we have already have to cancel our first regatta, the Polar Bear Regatta.”

Lacrosse junior Nikhil Patla

“The tryout week was a lot different than what I expected because we had to practice in the gym. Because we had a lot less space, we couldn’t split up the varsity and junior varsity kids as early as we wanted to.”

Softball senior Jessica Guo

“Because of all the snow and rain, our field is really muddy and we can’t go out on it at all. It’s really hard to hit fly balls or do any outfield drills inside because the ceilings are low. In addition, we can’t hit a lot of pitches well in such a small space, and they don’t really go anywhere.” graphic by Sandy Cho

photos and reporting by Ellen Kan, Patrick Toulme and Alexis Williams

8

spread

march 23, 2015

I-NI MARCH

Clockwise from top: Posing with a fan, senior Coco Chen is about to begin the Chinese fan dance act for Chinese Honor Society (CHS); Junior Andy Charbonneau leads Vice Principals Shawn Frank and Scott Campbell and Principal Evan Glazer for the Namaste Men performance; Senior Sarah Falls strikes a pose as a ballerina during the multifac-

eted performance by French Honor Society (FHS); Senior Becca Clark-Callendar and junior Connor Jones lead dancers of Black Student Union (BSU) Hip-Hop; Junior Shohini Gupta dances with girls in the final performance of I-Nite, Namaste Couples; Sophomore Shruthi Ray holds a pose during Namaste Underclassmen Girls.

march 23, 2015

spread

9

ITE 2015 14

photos by Sandy Cho and Steve Kan

10

entertainment

march 23, 2015

Fans comment on favorite renewed and cancelled TV shows of the past year Freshman Richard Pan

Sophomore Varun Iyengar Junior Emily Cleland

“I think this past season of ‘SUITS’ was amazing. They did a really good job of starting a lot of conflicts and there were a lot of cliffhangers so I can’t wait for the new season to start next year.”

Senior Sudhamsh Tippireddy

“I’m really sad that ‘GLEE’ is not renewed for the next season because I’ve always enjoyed watching it. It’s has a really good plotline and I have emotionally attached myself to a lot of the characters, especially Harry Shum Jr.”

“I like watching ‘THE BIG BANG THEORY’ because it’s not your typical show you see on TV, and I feel like the uniqueness of the show is what makes it so attractive. Plus, it’s pretty relatable.”

“In ‘SELFIE,’ I’ll miss the character development and chemistry the most, especially between the two main characters Eliza and Henry.” photos and reporting by Kate Deng and Ellen Kan

‘Rebel Heart’ has hits and misses ‘American Crime’ is an unflinching but reaffirms Madonna’s relevance look into racial and familial tensions

photo courtesy of www.madonna.com

by Ellen Kan Print Editor-in-Chief After a couple years of floating the background, the Queen of Pop has finally dropped her 13th studio album.

“Rebel Heart,” which singer-songwriter-actress Madonna released on March 6, is full of shocking contrasts.

Madonna swings between vastly different styles from one song to the next, tackling challenging melodies and rhythms in every direction.

For example, the suggestive yet melodious “Body Shop” certainly diverges from the party anthem and leading track “Living for Love.”

Furthermore, the infectious electronic beat — an instantly recognizable trademark of

Avicii — in “Devil Pray” could not be more different from the mellow and heartrending tune of “Joan of Arc,” which is slightly evocative of Asian pop.

There are even contradictory musical approaches within individual songs. “Veni Vidi Vici,” a track on the deluxe album, is a perfect example. In the opening verses, Madonna’s gravelly murmur almost approaches rapping, especially when it’s layered over a rumbling percussive rhythm. But when the chorus arrives, her voice suddenly blossoms into ethereal falsetto tones that soar above a strumming guitar. She croons triumphantly, “I didn’t listen to what people said / I came, I saw, I conquered.”

By far my favorite song in “Rebel Heart” is “Ghostttown.” Madonna’s voice is fluid and powerful in this soulful, compelling ballad. The chorus pulses with emotion as Madonna sings, “When it all falls, when it all falls down / We’ll be two souls in a ghost town.”

The reggae-inspired

rhythm of “Unapologetic B*tch” also makes for another insanely catchy track. The same goes for the fantastic drop in “B*tch I’m Madonna,” which could certainly be a hit on any dance floor. However, I’m not a fan of “Illuminati,” which is dominated by voice warps and strange artificial noises in the background.

The reverb in “Iconic” also seems unnecessary and detracts from what could have been the buildup to a robust chorus.

In the end, as much as I’m turned off by some of the grossly autotuned tracks in “Rebel Heart,” Madonna’s music is certainly anything but boring. The diversity in her song choices speaks volumes to her willingness to overstep her own boundaries and venture into uncharted territory. This enthusiasm to blaze new trails is what characterized Madonna at the beginning of her illustrious career, and it’s what confirms that age has nothing to do with what makes an iconic performer a force to be reckoned with.

photo courtesy of “American Crime” official Facebook page

by Kashish Jagga Guest Writer ABC’s new “American Crime” is a murder-mystery with a twist: it doesn’t care about the murder at all, instead merely using it as a backdrop to examine race and family tensions in America.

Taking place in Modesto, Calif., “American Crime” follows the families of the victims and suspects after Vietnam war veteran Matt Skokie is killed and his wife is sexually assaulted. The show immediately jumps into an uncomfortable look at each character’s flaws.

The story begins when Russ Skokie (Timothy Hutton) is called out to California to identify his

son’s body. Shortly after, we are introduced to his exwife, Barb Hanlon (Felicity Huffman), who, upon learning that the suspect is likely Hispanic, makes racist generalizations and creates a giant fuss with the police.

Meanwhile, Russ tries to help, but Barb never lets him forget that he was once an ex-gambling addict who couldn’t care for his family.

Right off the bat, the show introduces several suspects with intertwined stories: Tony, a Hispanic teen who lends out his strict father’s car to make money; Hector, an undocumented Mexican gangster; and Carter and Aubry, an interracial couple desperately addicted to meth.

“American Crime” doesn’t

place a lot of concern on who the killer is — the cops are only brought into scenes to further the plot, but there are no crime scene investigations or police chases. Instead, the camera focuses almost entirely on the characters in their lowest moments, and quite literally refuses to change focus. The scrutiny is brutally refreshing, but may put off some viewers.

Directed by John Ridley of “12 Years a Slave” acclaim, it’s no wonder the show’s scope is so ambitious.

Unfortunately, this makes for a confusing pilot episode, but the narrative is interesting and the plot starts smoothing out from episode two onwards. I have high hopes for the rest of the season.

Ultimately, I recommend the show with some reservation. Viewers may be put off by scenes with graphic drug or sexual content, and the show’s topics are deeply uncomfortable. Nevertheless, I look forward to seeing how the show will continue to maintain viewer intrigue despite how unlikable the characters are.

Disney’s ‘Cinderella’ revives the magic of a classic tale

by Alexis Williams and Lindsay Williams Design Editor and Online Editor-in-Chief “Have courage, and be kind,” was the motto that rang through a live-action rendition of one of the most famous fairytales of all time: “Cinderella.”

The remake, which was based off of the original animated Disney movie, was released on March 13. It featured a star-studded cast with “Downton Abbey” veterans Lily James, who played Cinderella, and Sophie McShera, former “Game of Thrones” star Richard Madden, as well as Cate Blanchett, Holliday Grainger, Helena Bonham Carter, Hayley Atwell, and Stellan Skarsgard.

Unlike some other live-action retellings of Disney stories, this adaptation of “Cinderella” was very true to the original plot. One of the only times the movie deviated from the original is when Cinderella meets the prince briefly prior to the ball, completely unaware of who he is. This encounter served to modernize the tale, as the initial meeting allowed the prince to fall in love with Cinderella’s personality, rather than merely her beauty as in the original version. These plot changes were not so drastic as to take away from the classic timelessness of the story, but allowed it to move with the times instead.

James’s acting as Cinderella was incredibly moving at emotional scenes in the movie. She brought to life a character that is generally seen as flat and gave Cinderella spunk and brightness without taking away from her goodness. In doing so, James made Cinderella a relatable character and the audience was able to feel her emotions.

In truth, all Richard Madden needed to do to be a satisfactory Prince Charming, or “Prince Kit” as he is called in the movie, was stand there and look cute.

Luckily for the audience, Madden brought all the honor and charm of his experience playing royalty to make for a delightful prince.

The supporting cast, especially Blanchett as Lady Tremaine and Carter as the Fairy Godmother, not only played their roles well, but also transformed them for the better.

Although the costuming department

did an excellent job with

Cinderella herself, they

fell short in other

characters. McShera and

Grainger, as the stepsisters

Drizella and Anastasia

were supposed to be

outwardly attractive

but horrid on the inside. Instead, their

costuming was simply gaudy.

Carter as the Fairy Godmother, while wearing a beautiful white dress, had eye makeup that was dark to the point of distracting. However, Cinderella’s iconic blue dress and glass slippers did justice to the original story.

Overall, the movie left us with the same feelings that we had when watching the original “Cinderella” as children, but without the movie seeming childish.

The acting, costuming and writing did justice to Cinderella as a character and the story. photo courtesy of www.movies.disney.com/cinderella

Coming Attractions photos courtesy of studio websites infographic by Kate Deng

Broods Concert

March 27: Washington

David Choi Concert April 2: Washington

‘Furious 7’

April 3: Theaters everywhere

‘Outlander’ April 4: Starz

‘Burn’

April 7: Bookstores everywhere

11 tjTODAY reviews Korean Bonchon Chicken entertainment

march 23, 2015

KEY (out of 5):

= 1 Crying Editor-in-Chief (Spice level)

= 1 Piece of Chicken (Enjoyment level)

SOY GARLIC CHICKEN

SPICY CHICKEN

HOW TO: Survive Bonchon Chicken Water: Although water may not help with spice, water helps replenish your thirst after a nice piece of chicken

Wings

Milk: Milk helps relieves the mouth of spicy foods because it helps break the bonds of capsaicin forms on nerve receptors Edamame: Edamame’s plain taste helps give variety to your flavorful meal

Drumsticks

Pickled Radish: Often offered as a side for Korean Bonchon Chicken, it has a sour taste while soothing your spicy mouth Rice and fries: Rice and fries can be good for cooling your mouth of spice, but can also be good for just a chicken side

Strips

Tissues: If the spice really gets to you, make sure you have a nice box of tissues to wipe away those tears photos and graphics by Kate Deng, Erinn Harris, Esther Kim and bonchon.com

‘Zoolander’ stars surprise fans with a TJ Sirens and Show Choir excel at sequel announcement to remember SingStrong DC competition

photo courtesy of studio website

by Lindsay Williams Online Editor-in-Chief During Paris Fashion week, all eyes in fashion were on the new spring collections from the most famous highfashion designers in the world.

But on Tuesday, March 10, during the Valentino show, two faces more familiar to the cinematic world appeared on the runway: Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson, briefly reprising their roles as the “really, really ridiculously

good looking” Derek Zoolander and Hansel from the 2001 film “Zoolander.”

Why the cameo at Paris Fashion Week? As many had speculated, it was to announce a sequel to “Zoolander,” which will be released Feb. 12, 2016, almost 15 years after the original movie came out.

It will feature appearances from several well-known models, which, according to rumors, include Karlie Kloss, Cara Delevingne, Naomi Campbell, Jordan Dunn and Alessandra Ambrosio.

According to an interview with Ben Stiller in Rolling Stone, the many years between “Zoolander” and its sequel will be a big plot feature in the movie as both models

have to reinvent themselves to stay relevant. It will also be set in Rome, which is the home city of Valentino, the same brand they used for their announcement stunt.

Will the new “Zoolander” work? It has all of the elements that made the first one great. Will Ferrell will be reprising his role as the evil Mugatu in addition to Stiller and Wilson, and Stiller will direct again. However, the iconic lines may fall flat due to the introduction of a new writer for the screenplay.

“Zoolander 2” will find its biggest challenge in living up to the hype it’s now created.

It was an icon of its time it will have difficulty keeping that up with a sequel.

photo courtesy of Ellie O’Reilly

by Kate Deng Entertainment Editor On Saturday, March 7, Jefferson’s Show Choir and TJ Sirens participated in SingStrong DC, an a capella competition.

Show Choir was unable to advance to the finals, but TJ Sirens placed in the top eight out of 14 schools competing, making their way through the finals.

“Even though Show Choir didn’t make it to

finals, we still performed really well,” junior Ellie O’Reilly said. “Most of the judges’ comments were positive.”

TJ Sirens’s co-captain and soloist Sraavya Poonuganti was injured the morning of SingStrong DC. “Even though I couldn’t make it, I was still so excited that TJ Sirens made it to the finals this year,” Poonuganti said. “But I wasn’t surprised because we had prepared harder this year and had an awesome beatboxer.”

TJ Sirens was upset that Poonuganti couldn’t make the competition, but called her with good news as soon as they had found out.

Throughout the year, TJ Sirens met once a week during eighth period to practice and did more intensive practicing the day before the competition.

TJ Sirens performed “Bailando” by Enrique Iglesias for round one and “Sweater Weather” by the Neighbourhood for the finals. Show Choir performed “Run to You” On this year’s International Night (I-Nite), TJ Sirens also performed “Bailando,” and Show Choir performed a beautiful rendition of “We Are the World.” Both singing groups are preparing to perform at the April 10 Talent Show, J-Day and Spring Show.

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features

march 23, 2015

Stage 1: Freshman Year

START

Student Advice:

What College Board Recommends:

“Going college touring during your freshman year is actually a good idea if you have an idea of what you want to do.”

- Take challenging courses.

- Research the colleges that interest you.

- Learn about SAT subject tests.

- Read and write often

-freshman Niharika Vattikonda

Stage 2: Sophomore Year Student Advice: “Don’t fret about SATs in your sophomore year, but always keep them in the back of your mind and don’t lose track of the things you need to keep track of.”

What College Board Recommends:

Any senior will tell you that the college process is an incredibly stressful time. However, what many students fail to realize is that the college process is not solely limited to senior year, but instead takes place over all four years of high school. And while College Board can provide guidance for students to some extent, often it is the students who give the most relevant advice.

- Consider a courseload with Advanced Placement (AP) classes.

- Take the Preliminary SAT (PSAT).

- Consider taking SAT subject tests.

- Find the extracurricular activities

FINISH Stage 4: Senior Year

-sophomore Giancarlo Valdetaro

Stage 3: Junior Year What College Board Recommends: - Take the PSAT to prepare for the real SAT. - Plan to take SAT subject tests at the end of the year, along with the SAT. - Tour colleges that interest you, if possible.

- Send scores to colleges and scholarship programs.

Student Advice:

“In your junior year, attend meetings at the College and Career Center and start thinking about teacher recommendations.”

What College Board Student Advice: Recommends: “I found college info - Re-take the SAT if you wish to improve your junior year score.

- Send your scores to scholarship programs and colleges.

- Tour colleges you are interested in if possible.

- Apply to the colleges of your choice.

-junior Tarun Kamath

sessions rather repetitive, although the tours provided a little bit of insight into student life on campus.”

-senior Becca Merriman-Goldring

infographic and reporting by Anjali Khanna and Stav Nachum

The Home Stretch:

With AP tests around the corner, students tackle the stress of third quarter

photo by Anjali Khanna

by Sruthi Jayaraman Staff Reporter Many students at Jefferson find that third quarter is one of the hardest times of school to get through. It seems that many huge events, such as International Night (I-Nite), are held during March, and that adds to a lot of the stress that students face. The recurring snow days in the past few weeks have also added to the difficulty of doing well in school.

Junior Jane Choi related third quarter to one of the exercises she has to do in crew.

“In crew, 2Ks tend to be divided into four 500 meters, and the third 500 is always the worst part, because it’s like you are almost done but you’re not,” Choi said. “It’s the same thing with school.”

Many students share a similar opinion — crossing the halfway point gives them the motivation to complete the rest of the year, but there is so much still left to do.

Third quarter is also when teachers start to increase the workload in order to prepare students for Advanced Placement (AP) exams and finals. The snow days, although a welcome break from school, were also sometimes a source of stress.

“While I was really happy for all the snow days, instructional time was really fractured,” junior Matthew Guo said. “That is stressful because sometimes I feel like I don’t

know anything at all.”

Juniors have the hardest time managing schoolwork, with the many extracurriculars they participate in as well as trying to prepare for college applications at the same time.

“March is stressful because of Science Fair, other science competitions, upcoming SATs that we have to do well on, making college lists, and all the while still maintaining good grades,” junior Pranay Singh said.

While juniors are hard at work preparing for senior year and college, freshmen also feel the stress of third quarter.

“Third quarter is definitely more stressful than first and second quarter, as I have a lot more IBET project work now,” freshman Srinidhi Krishnan. “Overall, I have less time to do everything, and I have to work a bit harder to keep up my grades.”

Sophomore Pranavi Nara, however, has a different idea than what many students believe when it comes to what causes stress during third quarter. Instead of insisting that teachers increasing the workload is what causes a majority of stress, Nara thinks that it is the self-stress we induce on ourselves.

“Third quarter indicates an ending of the school year, so we put a lot of stress on ourselves because we realize that time is running out and we need to get our act together,” Nara said.

features

march 20, 2015

Our “Staff” at “Work”

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Rejected tjTODAY Twitter parodies Jefferson student life

by Anjali Khanna and Stav Nachum Features Editor and News Editor The homepage of the Twitter account, @rejectedtjTODAY is a unique one. Instead of the usual artsy profile picture-stereotypical biography combination that most students adopt upon establishing their Twitter account, @rejectedtjTODAY’s profile is exactly that of the tjTODAY online homepage, except with profile images drawn entirely in Microsoft Paint. The Twitter account, run by an anonymous group of students at Jefferson, kept Journalism Education Association’s (JEA) Scholastic Journalism Week’s motto despite the account’s satirical nature.

The satirical twitter account has become quite the rage at Jefferson, as many of their witty and creative tweets ring true in the lives of several students. Whether they joke about the activities that the student body takes part in or tease the faculty’s many quirks, the tweets are relevant messages for the Jefferson community.

“I feel like Rejected tjTODAY is like ‘The Onion’ of TJ,” senior Nihar Gudiseva said.

“It’s really funny to see the sarcastic humor about events that occur within our school

and among the different classes. I especially love how only TJ people understand these jokes, so it’s like a giant inside joke within the student body.”

However, no one at Jefferson knows who the students behind Rejected tjTODAY actually are.

“Keeping our identities a secret adds to the mystery of a parody account,” a member of Rejected tjTODAY said in an anonymous interview. “The gag is that we are a serious news sources and keeping our names hidden helps make the account seem more official.”

The administrators on the account have always kept in mind a common goal to be inoffensive. However, they maintain that Rejected tjTODAY’s anonymity keeps things impersonal. Often the tweets satirize the resume-obsessed student or the lazy geosystems senior, particularly because of their relevance to the Jefferson community.

“Coming up with a subject to tweet about is the most difficult part,” one member said.

“Although, the harried, ever-changing nature of TJ never fails to give us new material.”

tjTODAY Staff Favorites:

Clubs coordinate events for “We Are The World” themed Service Week

Project BEST serves community with STEM Kits

by Avni Singh Staff Reporter Project Building Excitement for Science and Technology (Project BEST) is a nonprofit service organization that emphasizes student leadership in cultivating interest for science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs.

“We’re completely student-led,” senior Shreyas Garg, the operations officer of the executive team, said. “Students run the entire thing – there are absolutely no adults involved in the executive team.”

The club recently won an Innovation Grant for STEM Kits, the idea of packing science experiments into boxes and sending them to different schools around Northern Virginia . They also won a $10,000 grant in August 2014 from the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia, a charity organization based in Oakton, Va. Project BEST then won a $6,000 award from the University of Notre Dame for their idea.

According to Garg, Project BEST impacts around 700 students a month through their programs, which highlight three pillars of knowledge: knowledge, discovery and Experience.

The club has successfully held ScI2YC conferences for two years, a program in which middleschool students are able to participate in hands-on activities based on three macro-themes: neuroscience, classical mechanics in physics and civil engineering.

“I’ve been to conferences related to STEM before, but the fact that ScI2YC is a conference by and for younger students really makes it that much more exciting,” junior Aneesh Reddy said.

The tentative date for this year’s ScI2YC conference is April 18. Members of the club will also be participating in Service Week by building more STEM Kits with the help of volunteers.

“Project BEST helps students gain a different appreciation of STEM,” Reddy said. “Project BEST attempts to help students answer those ‘Why?’ questions by applying their science knowledge to fun projects.”

Rotary Interact provides service through education

by Ankit Agrawal Staff Reporter Jefferson is home to a variety of clubs —academic and sports teams, religious and languageoriented groups, and even quite a few service clubs, like Rotary Interact.

Rotary Interact offers students the opportunity to give back to their communities through completing service projects and educating others about the world, all while incorporating science and technology. Although some originally joined the club because it was recommended by older siblings and friends, they later found their own niche within Rotary Interact.

“As I went to more and more meetings, I gradually became more involved with the club, going not to hang out, but rather to see what impacts I could make on the community,” sophomore Chris Niu said.

Rotary Interact has been a club at Jefferson for over four years. Over those years, the club has also done other activities such as donating holiday candy poppers to a hospital, hosting guests who can speak about service and charity, and even participating in a letter writing campaign that was part of Macy’s Christmas Miracle. All of these events are centered around making the community a better place through either education or volunteering.

“During Mental Wellness Week, I remember we had a yoga and pilates day,” junior Diane Lee said. “The weather was really nice, so May led some exercises outside, and that was pretty fun.”

This year, Rotary Interact hosted a Halloween event, allowing students to paint pumpkins to donate to a local hospital. The club still has many plans in place for the rest of the school year.

“We are working on a year-long project right now focusing on mental health and improving communication between students and counselors,” junior Namita Dongre, Treasurer for Rotary Interact, said. “We were inspired by the TJ Mental Wellness Week, and we wanted to help the cause and provide students an outlet to voice their concerns in a supportive environment.”

DIDN’T PRE-ORDER A YEARBOOK?

NO PROBLEM. We have 285 copies left, and 909 students who have yet to purchase.

Visit www.yearbookordercenter.com and use order number 13621.

WANT TO CHECK IF YOU BOUGHT A YEARBOOK? Email Ms. Harris (EHARRIS1@FCPS.EDU)

14

features

march 23, 2015

Multilingual teachers share their passions for language "The ability to learn to know people through their languages is something that brings rewards I can’t even express.”

Peggy Gendive Spanish Teacher

“Being able to talk to others in their native languages is absolutely key to improving relations all around the world.”

Betsy Sandstrom Russian Teacher

“Even a language like Latin that is not spoken widely gives your brain the flexibility of thinking in ways that you normally don’t.”

Patty Lister Latin Teacher

“Every time I learned a new language, it was like acquiring a new soul.”

Cynthia Van De Kamp French Teacher

photos and reporting by Adithi Ramakrishnan, layout by Anjali Khanna

Japanese exchange students experience American culture

by Sandy Cho and Esther Kim Online Editor-In-Chief and Opinion Editor The Japanese language program recently continued its 22-year legacy of exchange programs with Chiben High School by hosting 12 foreign students from the city of Wakayama from March 2-13. Organized by Koji Otani, the Japanese language teacher at Jefferson, and led by junior Katie Shen and senior Rollin Woodford, the program provided the students with a glimpse into American culture and education.

“The Japanese students are much more reserved, and it takes a lot of prying to start getting them out of their shell,” Shen said.

During the course of their visit to Jefferson, the exchange students were paired with one Jefferson student currently enrolled in a Japanese language course. The Chiben students shadowed their hosts from class to class, and they also had the chance to watch the annual International Night (I-Nite) show, in which National Japanese Honor Society (NJHS) performed.

“We went to Shadowland to play laser tag with the Chiben students,” junior Katelyn Etemad said. “It was an activity that I had grown up playing a lot, but the Japanese students really had never been introduced to before.”

The Jefferson students also had the opportunity to experience unique Japanese culture during the program, noting subtle differences in traditions and customs between the two nations.

“One of the key differences is the food culture of the two countries,” Etemad said. “The Japanese students have sayings like ‘itadakimasu’ that they say before and after meals which U.S. students don’t really do.”

Due to frequent school cancellations and snow days, the Japanese language program was unable to host its cultural exchange event that was planned to be held on March 6 during eighth period. Although some students found difficulties managing the exchange program in the midst of I-Nite practices and cold weather, the students were able to engage in entertaining events after school, including ice skating and weekend parties.

“We just try our best to make them feel comfortable,” Woodford said. “We also try to keep them entertained, taking them places and playing games.”

As the Japanese students left to return home, many looked fondly at their experience at Jefferson and the places they visited for the first time.”

“I had a good time. I liked the Robotics Lab and the field trips,” Koki Kozaki, 16, said. “This is a photos by Sandy Cho great school and Clockwise from top: Both Jefferson students and Japanese exhange students pose together in a I’ve never seen group photo; Japanese exchange students Masato Tai and Atsushi Hayashi try on Jefferson sweatanything like this before.” shirts; 16-year-old Kyoji Morita gives a presentation to Jefferson students.

I-Nite performers deliver originality through dances

by Kate Deng Entertainment Editor American Sign Language (ASL), one of the most unique clubs at Jefferson, has grown dramatically in size and gained popularity in the past few years.

“I’ve been in ASL since freshman year and it always amazes me how much our club has grown since then,” junior Ria Chakrabarti said. “We’re one of the biggest clubs at TJ and everyone worked so hard to bring their all to this performance.”

After last year’s spectacular act at International Night (INite) with “Stronger” by Kelly Clarkson and “Radioactive”

by Imagine Dragons, including portions using glow-in-thedark gloves, this year’s group had a lot to live up to.

Choreographers and seniors Lily Wittle and Maddie Meyers worked diligently since the beginning of the year to make sure this was the best act yet.

This year, 60 students participated in signing “Classic” by MKTO and “My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark” by Fall Out Boy. “Our act was pretty hype last year so this year we wanted to step it up even more,” Chakrabarti said. “Every year we try to display how cool our club is and how passionate people in the club are about ASL.”

French Honor Society

ASL

photo by Kate Deng

Junior Ria Chakrabarti practices the choreography entirely in American Sign Language for this year’s I-Nite performance.

by Gulnaz Sayed Staff Reporter The French Honor Society (FHS) worked this year to coordinate a humorous and motivational performance accompanied by French music, which showcased different aspects of the culture.

“We were looking for the audience to laugh because we were trying to exaggerate the stereotypical parts of French culture,” senior Heather Lukas, a performer in the FHS act, said. “The intro song, ‘Elle Me Dit,’ by Mika, is about living life to the fullest.”

This performance showcased the unique features of France, some of which include traditions and philosophy, art, ballet, food and even mimes.

“It is an interesting oxymoron that during I-Nite, our differences, instead of driving us apart, are the thing that brings us together, both as a school and a community,” junior Abby Peterson said. “I-Nite is definitely the biggest night of the year for all cultural clubs because it is our one chance to share our love for a culture with the entire community.”

photo by Sandy Cho

Members of the German Honor Society practice their I-Nite routine in the halls outside George Mason Center for the Arts.

by Nikita Sivakumar Staff Reporter “Germans just love to express themselves and who they are,” freshman Kamron Soldozy, a member of German Honor Society (GHS), said.

GHS has prepared a colorful act for I-Nite, contrasting both historical themes and present-day lifestyle to express the beautiful, classic renaissance of Germany. The act hit all the peaks of culture, with the modern techno-music, old slapdance and even a skit that symbolized Germany’s recent victory in the 2014 World Cup. “The performance promotes many aspects of the German culture: modern music and dance, as well as traditional dance,” freshman Helen Poe, a performer in the act, said.

Throughout the performance, GHS takes their nationality to the next level by fashioning all their costumes to represent the country’s colors and time periods of music.

“The Germans just love what they are doing so much, and they are going to put all of their effort into it,” Soldozy said.

German Honor Society

photo by Sandy Cho

Junior Abby Peterson and senior Heather Lukas run through the final dance routine at dress rehearsal at George Mason.

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february 18, 2015

15

LIBERAL EDITION

“Possible #1 Best Seller” “Almost as good as really loud rap music!”

“This ebook will make you happy that you can read.”

Now Available on Amazon.com Barnes & Noble Apple iBooks Kobo

“Better than video games!”

“Youngsters all across the country are going crazy over this ebook!”

Practically written for ipads

Politixworks.com

16

culture

march 23, 2015

n rna

nal dayx

LENT

IRANIAN NEW YEAR

DESCRIPTION: Forty days between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday representing the time of the Christian messiah in the desert with the devil.

DESCRIPTION: First day of Persian calendar, celebrated on the spring equinox Seven items for the Iranian New Year Apples, coins, nuts, vinegar herbs, garlic, hyacinth Optional: Fish, a mirror, decorated eggs

WHAT PEOPLE GIVE UP: - Chocolate - Meat - Social media - Soda - Ice cream

“The three aspects of Lent are Prayer, Fasting and Alms-giving.

Fasting doesn’t only mean not eating your favorite foods, but can include fasting from bad habits. So each year during Lent, I always try to give up a bad habit. This year I’m trying to limit my time on social networking.”sophomore Tess Alexander

photos and reporting by Alexis Williams and Lindsay Williams

HOLI

DESCRIPTION: Hindu festival of colors and love, celebrating the vernal equinox.

Holi Powder Recipe: Requires one cup of flour, half a cup of water, and food coloring.

Mix the water and flour in a bowl until it forms a paste, flatten into a disk a quarter of an inch thick, let sit overnight to dry, use coffee grinder to grind back into power.

Source: http://www.littlepassports.com/blog/2013/03/celebrate-holi-with-a-colorful-powder-recipe/

“Holi is celebrated because of a tradition that started when a demoness named Holika was defeated and slain. How the townspeople celebrated was with bright colors and lights and being festive, and that tradition carried on to today and we try to honor that day by spreading colors to eachother to signify spreading joy to each other.”- junior Suhita Roy

“It’s the first day of spring, so in the Persian calendar that’s the first day of the New Year.

You give out gifts, usually adults give gifts to the younger kids, you have to do a lot of spring cleaning, and you get brand new clothes and it’s supposed to celebrate newness so you do a lot of new things.”- senior Pegah Moradi

PURIM

DESCRIPTION: Commemorates the salvation of the Jewish people from Haman’s plot to kill all Jews.

Costume Ideas: - Pirate - Pop culture character - Princess - Traditional masks - Animal

“You’re supposed to drink so much as an adult that you can’t tell the difference between the good guy and the bad guy. My favorite part about Purim is making Hamantaschen, which are these triangle -shaped cookies because supposedly the bad guy in the story had ears that were triangle-shaped.”

- history teacher Amanda Hurowitz