TheWesternHemisphere - Dec2015 by The Western Hemisphere

The student newspaper of Western Albemarle High School CROZET, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2015

Most Likely to Succeed CONTROVERSIAL MOVIE SPOTLIGHTS PROJECT BASED LEARNING By: SPENCER STEVENS

Photo: Olivia Gallmeyer

Drama students have worked on numerous projects this year. Here, students rehearse for the fall production of “The Diary of Anne Frank”

Brava for Drama! By: TIMOTHY DESIMONE

hat if you have it all? What if you have all the world has to offer, but are still not satisfied? What if no mortal being or material good is enough? Can heaven or hell fill the gap? “Life can’t satisfy him, so she wants to see if death can.” The Western Drama department put on an award winning, original production last month. Largely inspired by the work of Faust, Mr. Foster and the Lady Downstairs is a dark, quirky, comedy-strewn rendition portraying what it means to attain moral satisfaction. The play was co-written by seniors Warren Elliot and Alex Kingsley, who had been work-

ing since May to script what became a Virginia Theatre Association “Best Production of an Original Presentation”. Mr. Foster, played by Warren, is a very rich and unsatisfied man. When Life and Death offer him a chance to play with fate, the billionaire makes some mistakes. This only complicates things for Death, portrayed by Jackie Burke, a fellow senior. Aside from the main story, a decently sized sassy group of spirits owned the stage bringing in jokes and side stories of their own. Poking fun at death, and how boring hell must be, the dynamic group was a great addition to such a “dark” subject.

“We have a very similar sense of humor, where we just love dark comedy,” said Warren. “The story was modeled off the legend of Thoust, which is basically the same storyline. We thought it was dark, funny, and included death. The first thing we wanted was to have death in our play somehow. We didn’t know if it was a character, or a plot element, we just wanted death, so we made this character… and that’s just how it came to be.” About a month after the show was premiered for the Virginia Theatre Association, Jackie and Warren were awarded “best actor” and “best actress” awards, for their performances in a different VHSL

Sports:

Feature:

Arts:

Boys XC Wins States pg. 5

The Holiday Controversy pg. 8

Bieber Makes a Comeback pg. 11

s they walked down the aisle, preparing to take a seat, Bevin Lexa and Noa Kipnis looked around the spacious Charlottesville High School auditorium, where the documentary “Most Likely to Succeed” by Greg Whiteley was about to begin. Along with many other freshmen, Bevin and Noa had been invited to go on this fieldtrip through their English and Leadership classes. “Most Likely to Succeed,” presented by the Virginia Film Festival, analyzes the history of education in the United States and reveals newly-formed teaching methods being displayed by a high school in San Diego. The film strikes the viewer with the unsettling reality of the never-changing school system, proposing the potential change of education all together. Everyone knows that in our world, computers have a huge role in our daily lives. But what this film points out is that technology could soon take over our jobs. Surgeons, lawyers, and financial advisors are just a few of the jobs being filled by robots today. This brings up the question, “Why are we spending so much time in school if we aren’t even guaranteed to get a job?” “It makes me sad just thinking about it,” said Noa, “My dream job is to be a law-

Opinion:

The Decline of Facebook pg. 12

December 2015 • The Western Hemisphere • 1

yer, and once I found out a computer could fill that role, I realized all of my hard work could be useless.” So what can we change in education to prepare students for the world ahead? High Tech High, a school featured in the film, has started teaching kids vital lessons. Their curriculum features hands-on, teamwork-building projects, instead of testing student’s knowledge with quizzes and standardized tests. These projects are on display once each year to parents and other members of the community. As everyone observes the projects, they evaluate the student’s work. This provides the state with proof that the students are learning, which keeps the high school open. Teachers help the students develop important skills through their teaching methods. How are we going to make our school system change? It might seem relatively simple, but think about how little education has changed in the past century. Children were originally taught in a one-room schoolhouse, which then transformed into a larger, more effective way of learning, and has remained almost the same since then. Imagine trying to change our school system after over a hundred years of stagnation. Maybe we won’t see change in our lifetime, but education will have to alter at some point to keep up with our modern world.

Latitudes:

Romeo the Hedgehog pg. 15

News TEDx Comes to Charlottesville By: ABBY LOHR

Photo: Abby Lohr

UVA Student Martese Johnson was among the speakers

Maddie Waters Reflects on TEDx Charlottesville Experience

By: JESSICA KLEES

s covered in The Western Hemisphere’s October issue, freshman Maddie Waters was selected from the TEDx Charlottesville Open-Mic night to speak at the official TEDx program. Waters explains what it was like to present at the sold-out event: “At Open Mic, everyone had the same amount of time. But at TEDx, everybody had different amounts of time. And mine was the shortest, out of everyone’s. I knew that with my amount of time I had to make it as good as I could, because otherwise I wouldn’t make an impression on people. At the actual Paramount stage it was lot more nerve-wracking beforehand because they had made the whole deal out of makeup, and “get down to the

ready stage room,” and “make sure your mic is on right.” It was a bigger audience, and a bigger stage, and it was more overwhelming, the second time. Overall, from the experience I learned that, well, I don’t want to say that people won’t think differently of you for your age, the thing is, people won’t think badly of you for your age. They’ll think higher of you for your age. But aside from that, I learned that people can be really supportive - it doesn’t matter if they don’t know you or if they do know you. I had so many strangers come up to me afterwards and say that they were proud of me. They didn’t know my name, I didn’t know their name, but overall it was a lot of fun.”

hat if we’re able to one day explore the icy formations of Pluto? What if we weren’t so quick to judge others? What if big-chain restaurants started selling organic, grass-fed beef? These and many other questions were addressed at the 2015 TEDx Charlottesville talk. Following their sold-out event in 2014, TEDx Charlottesville presented to yet another packed house on November 13th. “What if” was the theme of the event, and the presentations were intended to encourage change, ingenuity, and curiosity in the people of Charlottesville. Several Western students from Ms. Hoza’s Psych II class were able to attend the event, and gained knowledge on topics related to environmental, social, and scientific affairs. Over twenty speakers were involved in the event, sharing their passions, concerns, and

hopes for the future in our Charlottesville area as well as across the globe. The range of topics kept listeners intrigued throughout the day. President and CEO of Habitat for Humanity, Dan Rosensweig, addressed how we automatically make assumptions of low income neighborhoods. People tend to try to “save” these people from what outsiders believe is an incorrect way of living based on their low means, while relating to them in a friendly manner is a more effective way of reaching them. Deindre Enright, director of UVA Law’s Innocence Project, addressed the sad and common truth of how federal and state post-conviction proceedings can result in numerous people getting locked up for crimes they didn’t commit. Elliot Woods, a journalist and photographer in Bozeman, Montana, showed view-

ers the impact the war can have on veterans, such as himself, and how coming home from war doesn’t allow them to just forget the brutal deaths and aggression faced in far-off regions. Western was lucky enough to be given a number of tickets to be able to send a group of students to the event. “I think it [TEDx] was beneficial because there was such a wide variety of talent there and people working on various interests and passions that they have. It was great exposure for us to learn about different things going on in our area and addressing the whole idea of ‘What If’,” said Ms. Hoza. Senior Madi Pittman said, “It [TEDx] brings up topics that you wouldn’t really think of on a daily basis. It makes you have a new perspective on things.”

Time to Update Your Resumés Local businesses host a job fair at Western By: MADELEINE ANDREWS

he job fair provided employment opportunities and information to the student body on November 12th in the WAHS Cafeteria. Career Specialist Caroline Bertrand has started this event as a way to offer new opportunities to students who are looking for a job in our local area. Most of the offered jobs are in Crozet, and they are manageable for high schoolers who may have to balance work and school.

The job fair hosted seven different businesses: Wintergreen, Harris Teeter, Sam’s Hot Dog Stand, Pizza Hut, Virginia Staffing, BurritOh!, and Foodio. Two of these businesses offered jobs to 15 year-olds along with everyone above that age. For many students, this was a chance to discover some of the nearby job options they have. “It makes it a lot easier for student to apply for jobs, because you can actually apply

right here, you may even be able to interview right here, at least you are making your first expression right here,” said Bertrand. Students were encouraged to come and explore the different tables bordering the cafeteria walls. No student had ever experienced a job fair at WAHS, which made this event interesting and new. According to Bertrand, there will be another one before summer break because this one was such a

Got a story idea? Email us at wahs.news@gmail.com December 2015 • The Western Hemisphere • 2

News

Environmental Studies Academy Continues to Stay Busy By: JACK LESEMANN

ast Dr. A’s room, beyond the stairs that lead up to the top floor, lies the Environment Science Academy, labeled by a banner above. The outside of the room is scattered with rocks, buckets, plants, and other tools and equipment, all being used in the numerous projects that the students are working on. A member of the ESA, freshman Adam O’Connor, explains what the Academy is doing currently. “We are going outside to collect rocks and minerals to use for sampling and observing different chemical and physical changes that occur through different experiments and tests.” Along with testing the samples, the Academy is also collecting pebbles to “tumble”. The tumbling polishes the rocks, simulating how the pebbles are smoothed while they lay in a riverbed. Outside of the classroom, the students took a field trip to a geology lab in Charlottesville to further their studies on how the minerals and rocks were formed over thousands of years. Adam explains that ESA is a very new experience for him, especially in an environment like school,

where he’s used to pen and paper and not gloves and boots. An additional project that the students are managing is a hydroponic system, which is located in the ESA room. The system consists of large crates with plants surrounded by pebbles, next to that is a large fish tank full of tilapia, a type of fish, and a series of pipes that connect the whole structure. The fish produce a natural fertilizer that is supplied to the plants by the water from the tank. UV light is applied to the plants to take the place of the sun’s rays, which is absent in the classroom. The system shows students how organisms have relationships with each other. The students have taken many field trips this year. These include a trip to the Mountain Lake Biological Station, where students investigated the local plant and wildlife and paddled on the Rivanna River to look for signs of human impact. The students continue to learn more and more about our environment, including the different parts, how they interact, and how we impact it as well.

In a bed of pebbles, the plants rest while being fed by an irrigation system.

Photo: Jack Lesemann

Jenna Reilly (10) takes a closer look at a sample of leaves.

Photo: Adam Mulcahy

Sanders and Trump Declared Winners of Mock Election By: OLIVIA GALLMEYER

Photo: Noelle Stith Savannah Diamond, Noelle Stith, Tom Lengel, and Elissa Simpson handing out hotdogs to win votes fo Jeb Bush

he WAHS 2016 Mock Election took place on November 5 and 6. Seniors in the government class were given the opportunity to learn about the political process in this hands-on project, campaigning for various candidates in the primary elections and persuading their fellow students to vote for them using everything from creative posters to baked goods. “It’s kind of fun, learning more about the candidates and getting to make people vote,” senior Olivia Langan said. She and her partner, Deborah Ayres-Brown, chose to campaign for Republican candidate Marco Rubio. When asked about their choice of politician, Ayres-Brown said, “He’s cool because he’s a more moderate Republican, not

someone like Donald Trump.” On the other side of the political spectrum, Virginia Jahoda campaigned for Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton. “I really believe in Hillary’s values,” Jahoda said, “I think she really applies to us locally, like with her stance against sexual assault on college campuses after what happened at UVA.” Jahoda said that the project was stressful at times, but that it was interesting to work with a different group of people on an engaging topic. After the votes were cast and tallied, the infamous real estate mogul Donald Trump won the Republican nomination, while Senator Bernie Sanders procured the Democratic nomination. Both are frontrunners in the current national primary polls, with Trump

December 2015 • The Western Hemisphere • 3

leading the Republicans and Sanders being second in the running to Hillary Clinton. Trump and Sanders both identified as independent prior to their presidential bids as well; in fact, Trump had previously campaigned for President as the nominee of a third party known as the Reform Party in 2000, while Sanders is the longest-serving independent in congressional history.

News Exam Calendar TUESDAY, JAN. 12 PERIODS 1 AND 5 WEDNESDAY, JAN 13 PERIODS 2 AND 6 THURSDAY, JAN 14 PERIODS 3 AND 7

A view of the new sitting area at The Violet Crown.

Photo: Lucie Taylor

FRIDAY, JAN 15 PERIODS 4 AND 8 FOUR-DAY WEEKEND BACK ON JAN 20

The Violet Crown offers a wide variety of food and drink options.

Photo: Lucie Taylor

The Lowdown on the New Theater A new theater opens on the Downtown Mall By: LUCIE TAYLOR

WAHS Tweeter of the Month Award goes to... Darah Bonham “Look in the mirror, that’s your competition”..... Be the best you can be today. Life is too short to find things to complain about. Opportunities await all of us. Find them....... #MakeAnImpact #HelloSaturday................ #HelloMonday......... Be the difference today. #HappyThanksgiving ............... Take the challenge and do one thing tomorrow that scares you. #WednesdayLeap

he Violet Crown Cinema opened on Friday, October 30th in the spot formerly occupied by the Regal theater that closed nearly a year ago. Violet Crown Cinemas has two other locations in Austin, Texas and Santa Fe, New Mexico. I have now been to the theater to see three movies and have been overall pleased with the experience. Unlike some other cinemas that fall under the category of “luxury theaters”, the Violet Crown does not have food and drink service within the theater. Certain luxury theaters provide menus and the ability to order food or drink during from your seat by pressing a button for a waiter. That may seem a bit over the top any-

way, but after arriving just in time for our movie and hoping for some dinner, a Violet Crown employee told us they recommend getting there thirty minutes early if you want to order a meal with your movie. “I didn’t get the sense that it catered towards food in the theater, besides popcorn and stuff, but it wasn’t like they handed you a menu. It seems like the restaurant is more separate,” said Charlottesville native Peter Taylor after his first trip to the theater. Ticket prices are $12 normally and $13 on weekends and this rate applies to everyone. The price difference with the Regal theater in Charlottesville is small considering the more comfortable and high-

December 2015 • The Western Hemisphere • 4

er-quality establishment/services (word!!) that the Violet Crown offers. What’s more, the concession stand in the theater has popcorn (with real butter) and regular candy, but also boxed snacks of cheese, vegetables, nuts, and more. In terms of beverages, they have fountain drinks as well as a couple nicer sodas from Whole Foods as well as a comprehensive coffee bar. There is also a full bar right next to the concessions for adults.

Sports Basketball Teams Primed For a Big Year By: BEN MASSELLI

estern basketball returns for the 2015 season with a hungry group with plenty of skill on the roster. After a premature exit in last year’s playoff run, coach Darren Maynard is back once again to coach a highly qualified team this season. The Warriors are headlined by star point guard Ryan Ingram, a shifty scoring threat that made a big impact starting as a sophomore. Brothers Will and Austin Cress will both play big roles in the system. Their ascension into bigger roles on the offensive end of the court will be key in order for Western to make the next step forward. Western lost a few important players to graduation in the offseason including Josh Casteen and Carter Berry. Both were crucial starters that will be missed during tight games this season. It will be up to veterans such

as Michael Vale and Carrington Murphy to make up for the loss of production in the paint. Sophomore Chris McGahren is primed for another strong season after a solid freshman campaign on varsity. McGahren and junior Ryan Ingram should form a lethal backcourt with Ingram’s ability to penetrate and McGahern’s ability to shoot open three pointers. The team is very excited for the season to get underway, senior, Nick Yancey said, “We have a really deep team this year, so we will just do what we need to do to make it to the playoffs and go as far as we can.” There will be plenty of new faces in the lineup including Josh Coffman, Sam James, and Teo Rampini. It may take time for the fresh players to learn and be comfortable in the system, but these players will make up a very good bench for the Warriors this

season. The girls basketball team will also look to build on an already strong team last year as they return key players such as Julia Haws and Natalie Marbury. Freshman Annie Meenan hopes to lead to the youth movement for the Warriors as she prepares for her first high school season. Ava Coles will continue her growth in the system as she plays in her second year on varsity. Overall the team is excited to have the opportunity to improve from last season. Eleri Hayden, who hit the game winner earlier in the season, said, “The season should be really rewarding, I just want to help the team get better this year.” The girls basketball team started off the season with a win against Liberty-Bedford on December 1st. Photo: Alex Lehmbeck

Ryan Ingram sinks a free throw against Covenant last year

Cross Country Wins States Strong veteran perfomances, along with the emergence of young stars, help propel the cross country team to their first state championship in over a decade By: TIM DESIMONE

or the first time in 15 years, the boys cross country team is on top again. Led by seniors Gannon Willcutts, Jack Ehlenberger and Trevor Stutzman, the warriors were able to trump Blacksburg by 4 points and hoist the trophy for the entire state to see. “Coach comes up to me, you know, arms raised like ‘give me a nice big hug’,” saisd Gannon, “And I was like ‘Wow. This is probably the greatest feeling I’ve ever had or experienced

in the sport of cross country.’” Willcutts added some personal hardware to the race, finishing first, the only runner to do so in Western Albemarle history. “Most of all, just getting that one point for the team was what mattered.” However, a team does not win on fastest runners alone. The championship can in large be credited to the younger runners, many of whom were competing in the state meet for the first time. The performances of runners Max Miller, Cyrus

Ramazani, and Max Feuerlein were what carried the final points across the line and what separated the champs from the rest of the highly competitive field. “I think the training, the close bond we had, and the shared love of running was what made us the team to win a state championship,” said Feuerlein.

Photo: Jack Ehlenberger

The Warriors celebrate their first state title in 15 years.

CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE: thewesternhemisphere.org

December 2015 • The Western Hemisphere • 5

Sports THE ROAD TO MARCH MADNESS By: ALEX LEHMBECK and BEN MASSELLI

ollege basketball is back! We’ll get you caught up on what you may have missed while watching the crazy college football regular season end. Every one of the top six teams in the

A.P. poll at the start of the season have now lost. Some of those losses were excusable, while upsets by teams such as Northern Iowa, George Washington, and UCLA shook up the rankings. The road to March and the Final Four

is never an easy one, although great teams always find a way to win no matter what. Will this year be the next season of one-and-done champions or will college basketball witness a return of an upperclassman-dominated league?

Only time will tell as the season gets underway. It’ll be an exciting ride from here until March when the college basketball champions are finally crowned.

Alex’s Top 5

Ben’s Top 5 Even with the departure of nearly their entire roster, Kentucky will be a threat to win the national championship once again. A stacked recruiting class will go a long way this season along with the return of star guard, Tyler Ulis. The Wildcats may not be as dominant as they were a year ago, but Kentucky should be a force in 2015.

UNC was shocked by a resilient Northern Iowa team early in the season. However, a win over 2nd ranked Maryland gives the Tar Heels the momentum they need approaching. Senior Marcus Paige has shown that he has the ability to lead this team in late game situations. Expect another Final Four appearance from Roy Williams’ team.

Roy Williams will have a strong team on his hands this season as senior leader, Marcus Paige returns for his final season. Junior Kennedy Meeks will also have yet another dominant year in the paint for the Tar Heels after averaging a consistent 11.4 points per game last season. Along with winning the ACC, the Tar Heels also hope to defeat their in state rival, Duke, which always turns out to be a heated contest.

The nation’s best defense is back with vengeance. While the Cavaliers lost star Justin Anderson to the NBA Draft, senior Malcolm Brogdon has started the season on fire averaging over 17 points per game, shooting 40% from three point range. Darius Thompson, an athletic transfer, has been impressive as well. The Cavs will need bigs Mike Tobey and Anthony Gill to step up if they want postseason success this year.

Coach K won his 1000th game last season en route to another national championship last season. Duke is lucky enough to play with one more Plumlee in Marshall Plumlee. Grayson Allen and Brandon Ingram will make their backcourt one of the best in the nation. Those players and the Allen’s leadership will make a lethal combination.

Cal freshman Jaylen Brown turned many heads with a 360 eastbay dunk during warmups of the Bear’s intrasquad scrimmage. He is in the spotlight as the Bears hope to win the Pac-12 conference this year, after a shaky start in out of conference play. Their team definitely has the raw talent too.

After a Final Four finish last year, which happened to completely wreck my bracket, Michigan State’s Tom Izzo will have a team for the ages this season. Denzel Valentine will have a year to remember and will win the Wooden award. The Spartans will contend in a strong Big Ten for a conference championship and hopefully more.

Even though Kansas has been the main power in the Big 12, Baylor will contend for conference championships and a deep run in March. Coach Scott Drew has molded Baylor into a national power that is used to sucesss. The Bears will try to stray away from the notion that they are a football school.

No, this is not football. LSU will be skilled for the first time in a long time thanks to the number one player in the nation, who happens to be a freshman. LSU will not win the SEC, but with enough luck, they will be playing deep into March. The likely first overall draft pick will lead LSU to their first Final Four since 2006.

Xavier will be fighting Villanova as the top squad in the Big East this year. A big win in Ann Arbor over Michigan foreshadows lots of success down the road for Chris Mack’s young team. The Musketeers are carried by terrific guard play, including Trevon Bluiett who averages 15.1 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game.

Girls Swimming Seeks Sixth Straight State Title

he 2014-2015 season was huge for the Western Albemarle girls swim teams. After the girls won their fifth straight VHSL 3A state championship last season, they are poised and determined to win a sixth. This will not be an easy task, however, as the Western girl’s top swimmer, Remedy Rule, graduated last year. After being CollegeSwimming. com’s number one recruit from Virgin-

By: ALEC MARTIN

ia, Rule accepted a scholarship from the University of Texas. Rule won the 100-backstroke, 100-butterfly, and anchored the winning 200-freestyle relay. Overall, Rule was involved in 114 of Western’s 304 points in the state meet. As such a key player in the Western girl’s championship season, it must be asked how the Warriors are going to be able to replace her. “Remedy was our best swimmer, but

we’re getting on just fine without her. We have plenty of depth,” said sophomore Amie Benson. Benson was on that winning 200-freestyle relay with Remedy Rule. Her role on the team will certainly be heightened this season. Coach Sophie Hyman also agrees that the team can move on without their best swimmer. “Remedy was someone who would always win her event. We have plenty of depth and

December 2015 • The Western Hemisphere • 6

people who can place in their event.” Whether or not the Western girls can pull off the six-peat, this team has proven to be a true swimming dynasty.

Sports Sprinting to Success: Indoor Track Pursues Perfection By: GABBY ENG

Jack Ehlenberger puts in work at practice

Photo: Alex Lehmbeck

ndoor track is a confusing sport. You’ll see the typical XC and outdoor track folks, but you’ll also see those people just trying to stay in shape as the holidays roll around. Then you’ll be really confused on why these indoor track people are outside. Good thing there’s a perfectly logical answer to that. The meets for indoor track are, in fact, indoors. A normal practice for these runners is held outdoors, including warm ups and the splitting off into distance and sprints. The coaches for the sprinters are Mrs. Whitten and Coach Till. The distance coach is Cheri Witt. Freshman runner, Kat Todorovic, has much experience in the running world. She ran her first half marathon at 12, and then ran with the Western team as an eighth grader for XC, indoor track, and outdoor track. She is an extremely seasoned veteran. Todorovic runs distance with Coach Cheri. The distance runners have three workout days a week, one easy day, a circuit day, and a cross training day. The hardest workout the team does includes a series of doing four laps, a break, three laps, a break, and more.

The main goal of this workout is to keep increasing your speed as the laps decrease. There is also a pace workout, which is a series of 10 laps with a 200 meter break between each lap. These ‘breaks’ are simply to slow down for a period of time, there is no walking and definitely no stopping. The team’s first meet was December 12th at Woodberry Forest School. “Track meets are a lot more fun, in my opinion.” Todorovic says, comparing her cross country meets to track, “It’s fun to watch people race, and not feel as panicked because you have time in between your races.” The meets are a social event. “Everyone always brings pillow pets and blankets and food,” Todorovic says with a smile. Meets are typically at Woodberry, FUMA, or sometimes at Virginia Tech, places that all have nice indoor tracks. Albemarle County has no indoor tracks, though, so there are also ‘Polar Bear’ meets each year,which are indoor meets but held outside. Todorovic looks ahead fondly to the outdoor track season, even though the heat is tough.

Taking Down the Competition By: ALEX LEHMBECK

ast year, Gabe Rody-Ramazani made history for the WAHS varsity wrestling team, ending the season with over 50 wins in the season and more than 100 wins in his high school career. He finished third in the state, and currently attends the University of Virginia. Now, four-year Western wrestling coach Adam Mulcahy has the task of giving someone else the role as leader. A leader actually has emerged on his own it seems in senior Russ Hill. Last year Russ was the other state qualifier and captain with Rody-Ramazani last year. “Russ Hill has really taken over and owned that leadership role for the team,” Mulcahy said. One of the biggest stories to follow this season is how will the Warriors adjust with a lack of size. “This is the most guys that we’ve had come out for wrestling in a long time. It’s a shame we don’t have many

big kids,” Mulcahy commented. “We have a lot of experience all clustered around the same weights.” What the team lacks in weight, they make up for with experience. Seniors Russ Hill, Alex Showers, Ross Meyers, Ethan Cole and TJ Spencer form a talented senior class. Veteran junior starters Asa Shin and Nate Riley continue to rack up extra points for the Warriors. One of the greatest indicators of success to come this season is the team’s offseason. “We had a full spring, a full summer, and a full fall offseason practice and workout plan this year,” Mulcahy said. “It’s really shown in the development of some of our young wrestlers.” Judging by the results of the 201415 season, combined with the squad’s determination to improve in the offseason, you should be seeing lots of success from the Warriors this winter.

Coach Mulcahy gives instruction at practice

December 2015 • The Western Hemisphere • 7

Photo: Alex Lehmbeck

Feature

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas Hanukkah Kwanzaa WINTER HOLIDAY

By LAUREN KEARNS

or many, the day after Thanksgiving is the official beginning of the holiday season. Local radio stations begin their continuous carols, Barrack’s Road puts up its decorations, and the smells of baking cookies, pine needles, and cinnamon scented candles start to fill the air. But there is one other thing that the holiday season inevitably brings to Western Albemarle High School, and it’s not the daily hope for a snow day. Rather, it’s the controversy surrounding an issue that has been around for years – how various religious holidays should be represented on school property. Thanks to the Leadership class, during the holiday season Western does not in any way lack themed activities. There’s Angel Tree, Door Decorating, the Tacky Sweater Contest, and new this year, Kinda Karoling. Historically, these have all been well received by students, but this year there seems to be more questioning of how much influence religion can have on these activities, and where that line is to be drawn. “From the Leadership class perspective, we just try to follow along with what the administration is trying to support, which is the Albemarle County Public School policy,” said Leadership teacher Mrs. Miracle. “In terms of the door decorating and caroling activity, we’re just following the policies that we’ve been following for years in Leadership...In some ways it’s almost easier to be overly strict than to try and tread this line when it’s so hard to know what the line is.” Before the first ever Kinda Karoling event this year, there was confusion (and in some cases annoyance) when many “classic” holiday songs were not permitted due to their religious connotations. “For the Kinda Caroling, there was a list of what had been done in the past–songs that didn’t have a religious connotation. And this group of songs

was easy, because they were unbiased, they were neutral,” said Mr. Bonham, explaining the rationale behind the decision. “So unless we had a full range of all of the religions that would be able to be promoted or sung, then it was one of those situations in which we honed in on the ones that we knew were going to be neutral, and that’s how we ended up laying out which ones students would be able to sing.” But many students are still left wondering, “Why can’t we include religious sym-

of religion that is prohibited... There is nothing unconstitutional about the use of religious subjects or materials in public schools as long as they are presented as part of a religiously neutral program of education.” More specifically, it is the county’s practice to “ensure that the recognition of religious holidays be a valid educational experience and ensure that classroom discussions and other activities concerning religious holidays are accurate in content and objectively presented to fos-

them, it doesn’t mean that it’s right. It can be very frustrating, very divisive, and people ask, ‘what’s the big deal?’ But, the reality is that we all have guidance we have to follow, and we have to make decisions that aren’t in any way making anyone else feel inferior, or not supported. In fourth grade, I was the head elf in the school play, and if you look at how many [school board policies] we had twenty years ago, the number has certainly increased, because of more concerns about equality.”

A decorated tree of books stands in the library.

bols, such as Christmas trees and Menorahs, in schools during holiday time?” So let’s delve further into the issue. Students are more than welcome to practice their religion however they like in schools; however, when they are participating in a school sponsored activity, such as what Leadership puts on, they must follow the Albemarle County Public School policy. This policy, which is available for anyone to view on their website, states, “In considering the role or the absence of the role of religion in the Albemarle County Public Schools, it is important to remember that the First Amendment of the United States Constitution does not forbid all mention of religion in public schools. It is the advancement or inhibition

ter understanding and respect and not to promote or inhibit the religion being studied.” However, while it is the county policy not to advance religion in schools, much of how this policy is implemented in schools is actually left up to the administration’s own interpretation of it. So, how should a public school best go about protecting the First Amendment rights of students while still supporting the separation of church and state? “From an administrative perspective, most people tend to fall on the conservative side, to make sure that they’re abiding closely by them [the ACPS policies], rather than risking offending others,” said principal Mr. Bonham. “Even if students say it [religious celebration in school] doesn’t bother

Photo by August Lamb

Lawsuits, for example, can arise when public schools don’t follow strict policies. Stratechuk v. Board of Education (2009) and Florey v. Sioux Falls School District (1980) were two of many cases that began when parents and students were disgruntled by their school’s holiday policies, making it clear why a school board would want to lean to the conservative side. “I think we should just embrace all the festivities,” said senior Mary Larson, “I don’t see the problem with having a Christmas song, if you also include a Hanukkah song. Today there was even a Hanukkah song on the announcements, so why can’t we sing a Christmas song? I don’t actually know if there are Kwanzaa songs, but if so, we could sing those, too.”

December 2015 • The Western Hemisphere • 8

Senior Lucie Taylor, on the other hand, raised an opposing point. “I don’t know how all public schools handle it, but I assume there’s supposed to be a national standard of not bringing religion into public schools. So I think it’s correct for them to not promote any religion, majority or minority. We live in a place with a very obviously tilted majority- even compared to surrounding counties- there’s a very certain type of student body, and it wouldn’t be fair to minority groups if we just did Christmas, or even if we tried to work in Hanukkah a little bit, too. It’s the school’s responsibility to look out for minorities.” WAHS students of other religions also expressed ambivalence on the topic. “I wouldn’t be offended, but I think there would be a certain extent of specific holiday representation that would be unacceptable,” said junior Matt Mandell. “If there were Christmas trees all around the school, for example, I wouldn’t be sad or offended or anything, but I still feel like that would be kind of weird. I have no problem with how things are right now.” Conversely, freshman Gabby Eng commented, “As a Jew I would not be at all offended.” But just because some students support representing religious holidays in school doesn’t make it okay. “It’s a public school, so even if you take a poll, and find out that all thirty or even one hundred or one thousand students are okay with [religious holidays in schools], you still have to be fair,” Bonham said. “It’s a slippery slope... no matter what you give as response to this, there’s going to be conflicting opinions about it, because it’s personal. So I always have to go back to the county policies, and make my decisions based on what the guiding documents tell me. But none of it is one hundred percent perfect - sometimes it becomes a gray area.”

Feature

Opinion: All is Better Than None By: TALLEY JOHNSTON and MADELEINE ANDREWS

hile many people think of Christmas as a religious holiday when Jesus was born, for others it’s just a day about presents and being together with friends and family. In school, there’s an emphasis on secularity, which can be seen as a way to unify everyone in a season full of holiday excitement. We, however, believe that at school, we should be able to continue the festivities we are already celebrating at home. Rather than no holidays at all, students should be able to celebrate all holidays. Even though religious decorations are generally not allowed, many teachers still do what they want. In one classroom there is a little Christmas tree, in the library there are ornaments on the bookshelves and a Christmas tree made of books, and in multiple classes teachers even play Christmas music.

In town, stores go all out with decorations and advertisements even before Thanksgiving, and radio stations play a non-stop loop of Christmas songs and occasionally throw in “Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel” or “Chanukah.” Not all companies are focused on gaining profit, though, and some are using their power to give gifts or food to those who are in need of a little spirit. Also, one program the school participates in annually is the Angel Tree. We think it’s great that the school raised around four thousand dollars for the community, and the Angel Tree is an example of what our school can do to include multiple religions during the holidays. Despite the religious connotation of angels, this charitable event is considered religiously neutral, and it still brings out the giving spirit that is promoted during the holiday season.

The holiday season is not the time for controversies and arguing about what we can and cannot celebrate. Instead of getting rid of all holidays and religions around the school during this season, the school should figure out a way to be inclusive of everyone. Find out what holidays people celebrate and decorate the halls with all of them. Not only would it make everyone happy, but it would also portray Western as a diverse school that is accepting of everyone’s beliefs.

Photos by: August Lamb

December 2015 • The Western Hemisphere • 9

Arts & Entertainment

Maeve Winter: Dancing Queen

Festive New Flicks By: ELLIE BOWEN

As winter rolls around the corner, the holiday movie season is on its way as well. A diverse variety of films are coming out this December, from horror to romance, the list is somewhat promising...

By: SHANNON DURAZO

Krampus Sounds like a dietary pill. Starring Parks and Recreation’s Adam Scott, this film is the most bizarre of the December movies. The flick puts a spin on the classic Christmas movie by telling the story of the antithetical Santa Claus, known as Krampus, who punishes bad children. If you are into holiday themed horror movies with mediocre actors, check out this film. Christmas Eve This movie adheres to its title by telling the story of six New Yorkers from different walks of life, stuck in an elevator on Christmas Eve. Sadly this film is stacked with a bunch of nobody actors, but we can hope for the best?

Joy Starring Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper, and Robert DeNiro, this film tells the story of a single mom of three children who is the president of Ingenious Design, a large business in New York City. Concussion This groundbreaking movie wins my and many others favorite, Sophomore Luke Magargee said, “It tells the truth.” The film explains the struggle of Bennet Omalu, (played by Will Smith), a forensic pathologist who fights against the NFL to expose the devastating effects of concussions on their players.

ance is a sport like no other. It combines agility, balance, poise, and grace all into one collection of elegant movements. There are many dancers at Western, one of whom is senior Maeve Winter. Winter started dancing at age two, and continues to dance to this day. Throughout her career Winter has not only been able to participate in prestigious competitions and events, but has become a key player in the the cville youth dance scene as a whole. “Once I got into dance, I couldn’t stop,” said Maeve in an interview, “It just fit me.” Not only is she classically trained in ballet, but Winter is also proficient in jazz and contemporary. When asked about her best accomplishment to date, Winter excitedly explained how she was able to attend the prestigious Governor’s School for dance this past summer. Dancing is no walk in the park though

(literally). It takes up time that could be spent relaxing, socializing, or studying. “That’s definitely the most challenging part of it,” said Winter, “It’s a huge commitment.” But Maeve has stayed committed nonetheless, and the elegant senior plans on continuing her dance career into the university world. “All of the colleges I am applying to have minors in dance, which is perfect for me.” For the time being, Winter will continue dancing for the Albemarle Ballet Theatre, where she performs regularly as a soloist and in group routines. “Everyone should see Maeve dance,” said senior Isabel Freisitzer. “She’s a superstar, a dancing queen.”

Photo: the Winter Family

Star Wars: The Force Awakens This film is the most iconic of the December movies, beginning yet another Star Wars trilogy starring Harrison Ford as Han Solo and Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia. The film is set 30 years after the last movie “Return of the Jedi.” If you enjoy spending your time being both bored and painfully confused, I highly recommend watching this ordeal of a movie.

Review of “The Man in the High Castle” By: LAUREN KEARNS

ince its release on November 20th, Amazon’s new show “The Man in the High Castle” has been receiving a lot of attention. Admittedly, some of it has been negative - the citizens of New York City did not respond particularly well to finding the show’s advertisement, posters with swastikas, plastered all over their subway cars - but overall the critique has been overwhelmingly positive. Essentially, “The Man in the High Castle” depicts an alternate reality: one in which Germany and Japan emerged as the victors of World War Two. In the pilot the year is 1962, and the viewer is

introduced to an eerie version of the United States, which has been divided into three territories; the West Coast is under complete control of the Japanese, the East Coast has become a part of the Nazi’s terrifying regime, and the Midwest is a neutral zone. The show follows the protagonist, a young woman named Juliana, who becomes a part of the rebellion against the occupiers after her half-sister gives her a film of the United States army winning the war, prompting Juliana to realize that everything is not as it should be. While the idea behind the show, which is based off of

a book of the same name by Philip K. Dick, is completely fascinating, I definitely approached it with a skeptical attitude, as it’s a very risky, ambitious topic that I feared may not translate well onto the screen. But I soon found that was not at all the case. The excellent use of historical details, little known actors and actresses, and balance between following the politics of the time and the stories of the people whose lives are being affected make “The Man in the High Castle” one of the best shows available right now.

“Once I got into dance, I couldn’t stop. It just fit me.”

December 2015 •The Western Hemisphere, 10

Arts & Entertainment

VA Film Festival Review: “Dough” By: JESSICA KLEES

Return of Bieber Fever By: ABBY LOHR

ieber fever is back with the release of Justin Bieber’s new album, “Purpose.” His best album to date, the 21 year old Canadian singer has yet again stolen the hearts of millions of young females around the globe with his mix of R&B, dance-pop, and acoustic songs. Personally, I’ve listened to the whole album on repeat since the release without shame. His songs are catchy, but without the annoying cheesiness of his past albums. For Bieber, 2015 has been a very successful year so far, showcased by multiple interviews, guest star opportunities, and attention from the media. Even those, like myself, who have been so against the young heartthrob’s music since the beginning have trouble denying the variety and quality of the album. “Love Yourself” is a slow song

that describes a recent breakup (Selena?) In contrast, “No Sense” has more of a Skrillex kind of beat to it with accompaniment from Travi$ Scott. “The Feeling” with guest singer Halsey, which I thought was too pop at first, has stolen my heart. “We Are,” featuring Nas, brings dance/pop to a whole new level, combining electronics, rap, and Bieber’s smooth voice. Lastly, “Been You” is pretty repetitive, and the only song on the album that I’m not really into. With this album being such a mix of appealing songs, Bieber plans on catching up to Taylor Swift’s success exhibited in her “1989” album. Whether you’re into this new album because of the shirtless cover photo or the songs, there’s no denying that Bieber’s making a comeback that he’s not “sorry” about.

WAHS NEWS wishes you a happy holiday season!

n November 8th I saw a movie at the film festival by the name of “Dough.” The film was set in London, and told the story of an old Jewish man named Nat who owns a kosher bakery. Once the introduction was over, the movie began. It started with the old man, Nat, working with his assistant in the kosher bakery. Then his assistant quits, and Nat is worried about how he will be able to manage the bakery all alone . At the same time, an African boy named Ayyash starts working as a drug dealer to support himself and his immigrant mother, who then begins to work for Nat in his shop. When Ayyash’s mother finds out there’s an opening helping to make bread in the bakery, she asks Nat if he’ll let her son work there. She’s very grateful when he reluctantly says yes. Ayyash was told he needs to get a

“cover job” for his dealing, so he decides to start working with Nat. Then Nat finds out that Ayyash and his mother are Muslim, and he wonders whether he should trust them. One day, the police come into the shop to buy bread, and Ayyash thinks they’re out to get him. He needs to get rid of the weed, and he accidently drops it in the dough. When he sees that people are buying a lot more baked goods now that they’re laced with drugs, he begins putting more in regularly behind Nat’s back. When the bakery gets into trouble for trying to keep up with competition, things get crazy. “Dough” was a really great movie. It was very touching, and focuses on the themes of family and tradition as well as tension between religions and races. It was quite eye-opening, and the ending was sweet. If anyone has the opportunity to watch it, “Dough” is a must-see.

The screening of “Dough” began with an introduction by Vanessa Ochs, a rabbi and professor of Jewish studies at UVa. She explained the different traditions involving challah, a type of braided bread whose name means “portion” in Hebrew. The tradition began during the time of the Jewish temple when portions of the bread would be given to the priests. After the landmark was destroyed, it was the custom to burn a piece of the loaf in remembrance of the burning temple. Ochs then began talking about Challah For Hunger, an organization whose Charlottesville chapter was created by one of her former students. It raises money for hunger relief by selling Challah at UVa. Half of the money made from selling the challah is given to Mazon, a Jewish hunger organization, and the other half is donated to the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank.

Mockingjay Part 2 Review By: MORGAN BROADUS

n November 16th, 2015, ‘The Hunger Games’ series came to a much-anticipated end after the fourth and final film, “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part Two,” hit theaters all around the world. After instantly claiming the number one spot in the box office, earning about $523.9 million within the first three weeks, the movie has since remained on top since the release. Being drawn out for what seemed like forever,

the finale to the worldwide phenomenon didn’t seem to reach the high expectations the previous three set. “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part One’”was an intense, jaw-dropping addition to the series, ending so abruptly to leave each viewer on the edge of their seats. However, Part Two didn’t seem to do the past movies, or even the book series, much justice. For the first half of the production, Katniss and her team venture through the Capital to

“The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 2: “We March Together” Trailer Released by BagoGames

December 2015 • The Western Hemisphere • 11

eventually reach and assassinate President Snow, the series’ antagonist, who has been controlling and destroying all of the districts over the course of the past three movies. However, the group of rebels must avoid “pods,” small traps that can range from bombs to fire, which are planted every couple of yards around each ruined districts. This results in an extended journey in which the team must escape the eyes of the Capital while they complete their mission. Overall, Katniss’ journey is mainly motivated by her own desire of revenge against Snow, and it seems as if this was the only real result of the entire production. The movie is essentially just a violent, drawn-out conclusion of The Hunger Games series, however, Jennifer Lawrence’s acting brings the finale to life and makes viewing the film pretty worthwhile.

Opinion

Where’s Our Arts Academy?

It’s time for ACPS to reevaluate the priorities of specialty programs By: OLIVIA GALLMEYER

s a school district, we’re lucky to have several alternative programs to traditional education and coursework. Each high school has their own respective academy where students learn information specialized to a career field. We’ve got Albemarle’s Math, Engineering and Science Academy, the Health and Medical Sciences Academy at Monticello, and our very own Environmental Studies Academy. Notice a pattern here? Our academies are all exclusively related to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.) Granted, these fields are extremely important in our modern society - the U.S. Department of Education estimates STEM jobs to grow 14% throughout this decade. But where does that put the

rest of us? Why don’t we have any arts or humanities academies? Sure, there are traditional classes and electives for each of these, and great extracurricular opportunities like school plays, art shows, and the literary magazine that students can participate in. But for people involved in the arts and humanities, there is a lot less mentoring and guidance available. School can be the foundation, but if a student wants to expand their knowledge, they usually must participate in outside programs, balanced with all the stresses of homework and AP classes. I know for a fact that the arts programs I personally participate in are going to benefit me more than several of the classes I have to take, given that I’m hoping to pursue

Source: National Assembly of State Arts Agencies

theatre throughout my life. However, during the school day, I have to put my passions on the back burner to focus on learning the Law of Cosines and where glycolysis occurs in a cell. But why shouldn’t I be able to do both? We’ve got the newly-introduced Arts and Letters Pathways, but this program is basically just students doing all of the activities they would already do. The student takes part in all of the normal electives they would take related to their field of interest, as well as job shadowing, an internship, and a senior year cumulative project. However, barely any of this work is school-sanctioned, and the facets of the program are things that the student would already be doing regardless of their involvement in it.

For example, even though I am not in the Drama Pathway, I have been involved in some form for every production that has taken place the last two years. I’ve done job shadowing as an assistant stage manager at Live Arts, and I’ve done work that would count as a senior year cumulative project- co-directing last year’s student-run production, for example. Without even being a part of the program I’ve done the majority of the required activities for it- in half the time, no less. So if I can do all this without being a part of the Pathway, is the program really helping our arts students the way an academy would? Arts education can help us be both better students and better people. So why can’t we do more with it?

Facebook’s Fade

How the decline of the social media giant is affecting student leaders By: LAUREN KEARNS

t’s not exactly a secret that Facebook, which was widely regarded as THE social media for years, is on a decline among teenagers. With so many appealing alternatives such as Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat, an aging user base and a lack of any exciting changes over the last decade, Facebook seems to be moving out of the social media spotlight. Now, unless you’re Mark Zuckerberg, the decline of Facebook probably doesn’t seem like much of a dilemma; however, there is one thing that Facebook was great for that no other social media seems to be able to replicate… and that is serving as an information outlet for student

based organizations. Western clubs have always relied heavily on Facebook, whether it was to communicate when the next Model UN meeting was happening, or a change in the tennis practice schedule. With useful features such as groups, pages, and events, Facebook was always the go-to way to spread the news. And it was effective, too, because “back in the olden days” of 2012, when I was a freshman, it was just a given that everyone had an account, which does not seem to be the case anymore. Today, in a culture where social media is primarily dominated by Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter, there is no easy way to get the same information across. If I tweet that my German Club is meeting next Tuesday, I can basically count on there being an empty classroom. As of now, Twitter is the proper platform to share breaking news, find out what kind of cereal your favorite celebrities are having for breakfast, and stay updated on the football game you couldn’t make it to… the odds that all of

the right people would actually see my tweet are minimal. As for Instagram, I would first have to force my club members to follow me, then turn my announcement into a JPEG, then post it and cross my fingers that it doesn’t get overlooked in newsfeeds filled

with things like “selfie Sunday” or pictures of the Kardashian family. Unless I were to tag all of my club members in the photo, there would be no way of ensuring that everyone was notified. (And don’t even get me started on Snapchat. The fact that the messages self-destruct after a few seconds makes it

a completely useless way of communicating important

pieces of information like dates, times, and addresses.) So what does this shift in social media mean for all of us leaders at Western? Well, we could always revert back to the one tried and true way – email. While it may not be as flashy as the others, it is reliable, seeing how every Albemarle County Public School student now automatically has their own email address (although whether or not students actually check these accounts is debatable). Or we can just cross our fingers that a new form of electronic communication, such

December 2015 • The Western Hemisphere • 12

as Slack, will take off. But if worst comes to worse, we could always look up each club member’s number in the phonebook and then call them on the landline, because, as my parents pointed out multiple times as I was writing this article, there was a time before internet and social media, and students managed just fine.

Graphics: Eme Massarelli

Opinion

Bubble Tea: The Pros and Cons

The exotic Taiwanese drink is a “love it or hate it” Bubble Lover: Olivia Gallmeyer

Negativi-tea: Lauren Kearns

he thing about bubble tea that may give it a bad rep is that not many people understand how it works. There are many types of bubble tea; the majority have a black or green tea base with milk and/or fruit flavoring added to it. However, most American vendors sell the drink without any tea in it, making them akin to smoothies or juices. They come in dozens of flavors, from traditional strawberry or vanilla to exotic options like taro, honeydew and avocado. With all these options, it’s easy to find some kind of bubble tea to enjoy. Personally, I stick to the more typical milk or juice teas, but I love experimenting with a lot of fun fruit flavors. On one of my most recent bubble tea runs, I went out on a whim and tried a lychee juice tea- I was pleasantly surprised at the sweet, fruity flavor. One of the most unique features of bubble tea are the round, chewy tapioca pearls known as “boba” at

the bottom of the drink. Many might find these odd due to their unusual consistency, but I personally love the way it distinguishes the texture of the drink. Just like the flavors, though, there are several substitutes. Green tea cubes are a rather common one, and they add a really unique flavor. And remember those fruit poppers at Sweet Frog that go perfectly on some cake batter froyo? Those are a common substitute for boba, and they are delicious in bubble tea! Our local area isn’t really notable for its bubble tea; as the drink originated in Taiwan, it’s much more commonly seen in areas with high Asian demographics. To grab a good bubble tea without flying halfway across the world, I recommend Bobalicious in Richmond and Norfolk–it’s got a great mix of options, with smoothies, slushies, milk teas, and juice teas in all sorts of delicious flavors. Indeed, with my very first sip of their raspberry juice tea, I fell in love.

Editors-in-chief:

Tim DeSimone Lauren Kearns Eme Massarelli

Opinion editor:

Olivia Gallmeyer

A&E editor:

Shannon Durazo

Latitudes editor:

Matt Mandell

sports editors:

Alex Lehmbeck Ben Masselli

“S

Photo: HowieF / CC BY-SA 3.0

limy, chewy, and sickeningly sweet” were the three adjectives that immediately came to mind when I excitedly took my first sip of bubble tea last weekend. I was out with a group of friends, who had all been raving about this exotic drink the entire way to the restaurant, and although I had heard of it many times before, I had never actually given it a try, so this seemed like the perfect opportunity. The menu of flavors was extensive, but I eventually settled on Chai - I’m a pretty big fan of chai tea lattes, so it seemed like it would be a safe choice. Looking around, I noticed that nearly everyone in the restaurant was holding one of the iconic plastic cups, filled with a colorful milky substance and small, dark balls. (I naively assumed these to be chocolate - a rookie mistake). My anticipation continued to grow...right up until the point where I took the first sip and became so overwhelmed by a taste so

nauseating that I nearly had to spit it out. I quickly looked around the table, only to see all of my friends sipping theirs with looks of deep pleasure and satisfaction on their faces. Maybe I just needed to try drinking one of the little balls? I adjusted the straw in order to get one of them, but it turned out to be even worse than the milky part. They were not, in fact, chocolate, but rather slimy, chewy tapioca – basically the opposite of what I’d been expecting. Thoroughly grossed out at this point but not wanting to make a big scene, I continued taking tiny, intermittent sips of the murky liquid until everyone was finished with their dinners and ready to go. Whether my disgust for bubble tea stemmed from picking the wrong flavor, the wrong restaurant, or simply having too high of expectations is yet to be determined, but whatever the case, I think I’m going to steer clear of it for a while.

The Western Hemisphere The Western Hemisphere is the student-run newspaper for Western Albemarle High School in Crozet, Virginia. It is published 5-6 times a year by the journalism class and is distributed to students, faculty and the community. The Western Hemisphere serves as a public forum and seeks to inform, educate, and entertain the student body and local community. Opinions expressed in the newspaper are not necessarily representative of WAHS, the faculty, staff, or administration. The Western Hemisphere is a member of the Virginia High School League, Quill & Scroll, and the Columbia Scholastic Press Association. The newspaper is printed by Narrow Passage Press in Woodstock, Virginia.

Asst. editors:

Madeline Andrews Abby Lohr

social media editor:

Talley Johnston

photo editor:

Morgan Broadus

staff writers:

Jessica Klees, India Mawn, Gabby Eng, Jack Lesemann, Spencer Stevens, Pauline Gilbert, Mark Ferguson, Lucie Taylor, August Lamb, Ellie Bowen

Contributing writers:

Alec Martin Jack Davies

advisor:

Jill Williams

Letters to the Editor: The Western Hemisphere welcomes letters to the editor of any topic of concern to the Western community. All letters must be signed; works submitted without the author’s name will not be published. All materials are subject to editing for libel, obscenity, poor taste, spelling, grammar, punctuation, style and space. Submit letters to the editor to: The Western Hemisphere, 5941 Rockfish Gap Turnpike, Crozet, VA 22932 or wahs.news@gmail.com

December 2015 • The Western Hemisphere • 13

Culture

Prayers For Home: A French Student’s View

By: PAULINE GILBERT

WAHS French students release balloons to show their solidarity with Parisians.

n Friday November 13th, Paris suffered a terrorist attack. The news had nonstop coverage of the attack for the rest of the weekend. It was also the number one topic on social media; people from all over the world posted the French flag on their profile picture on Facebook. The whole world was supporting France. Being one of the only native French people in school, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Far from my country, and from my peers, I desperately felt that I needed to be with them, in one way or another. Not being aware of what was happening was the worst, and every time I could, I checked the news on my computer. I was afraid of was what was going to happen next. I watched my president’s speeches. He was talking about war. I didn’t even know what that meant. I was so shocked because

France is not used to these types of attacks–hopefully, it will never have to be. However, we mustn’t forget that there are places in the world where these attacks are an everyday occurance. Now that France has been attacked, we move, and do something to prevent future attacks. We don’t want it to happen again to us. Meanwhile, people in Syria die every day because of the war, yet until now it has not been personal. I am very concerned about what happened in my country, but I don’t think we deserve more attention than the other countries. If we have to fight for peace, I think we have to fight for peace all over the world.

success and Camille Kielbasa would even like to do it again next year. “I think that we could have done a lot more, but since it’s the first year I understand why it wasn’t the biggest, but it was

really fun! Next year we will be more prepared,” she said. Ms.Cone agreed, “For the first year, it was pretty good!”

Photo: Olivia Gallmeyer

French Week By: PAULINE GILBERT

his year, for the first time, WAHS French students organised the national French Week from November 4th to November 10th. “This is the first time I did it... and I was happy to see how involved some students were,” Ms. Cone said. Indeed, even though she helped at some points, the students of the French class did most of the organization on their own. On Monday, you could go to Mr. Brodersen’s room during lunch to eat the crepes he cooked. “I went there and it was so good!” Nina Willms, a senior in AP French said. On Wednesday during TAB, you could listen to the French songs that junior Courtney Berry chose. “I didn’t know what she was going to choose, and I thought it was funny that she actually chose Edith Piaf and Stromae, because we studied these artists’ songs during class,” Ms. Cone added. You could also

see the French labels everywhere in the high school. You probably also noticed some people with the sign “parlez moi” (talk to me) and they would give you treats if you talked to them in French. On Thursday, everyone was invited to come dressed in blue, white, and red: the colors of the French flag. On Friday, the French students were supposed to ride tricycles around the high school to imitate the famous Tour de France. As it turned out, they did not have tricycles, so nothing happened for French Week on Friday. For the last day of French week, the last activity planned had to be cancelled because of the weather. People who wanted to were supposed to meet outside and have a “dejeuner sur l’herbe” (lunch on the grass), but the rain made picnicking impossible. Throughout the week, French students posted photos with the hashtag “Frenchy” or “WAHS French” on Instagram and every level of French

would have a winner who would win some homework passes. Olivia Gallmeyer was the winner of French 3 with fifteen photos posted during the week. Overall, French Week was a

December 2015 • The Western Hemisphere • 14

Photo: Pauline Gilbert

Meet Romeo

Latitudes

By: LUCIE TAYLOR

“He’s a little spikey. Seems nice.” - Silas Frayser, senior

Ms. Hoza shows off Romeo to a group of students

Photo: Lucie Taylor

About me: I’m an African pygmy hedgehog and I was born on Valentine’s Day, hence the name. I used to live with Dana Isaacs until november of this year when I moved in with Ms. Hoza and her psychology students. I may be a little spikey on the outside, but I’m a softie underneath. Age: 1 year, 9 months Height: A couple inches Body type: Round Kids: None Occupation: Ms. Hoza’s class pet

ADDIE ANNE BEN CAITLYN CARLTON CHARLIE GARRETT JACK KAYLYN KENDAL KENDALL LUCAS MICHAEL MOLLY RICHARD RILEY SIMON SOPHIE THOMAS UZIEL

Likes: Strawberries, cottage cheese, and apples Hobbies: Hiding in my hutch Looking for: Someone who accepts my nocturnalism

Connect the dots! THANK YOU TO OUR SUBSCRIBERS! Elizabeth & Malcolm Andrews Mr. & Mrs. George W. Barlow III Kim Benson George Coles Ann de Jong Leah Devlin Ferguson Family Mike Gallmeyer Holly Harris Jason Heilman Lesemann Family Mandell Family Gretchen & John Masselli Brandy Slaughter

9th Grade Basketball Players Word Search

thewesternhemisphere.org

9th grade boys basketball player Ben Christopher says he hopes “the team can go undefeated” as they’ve been playing well and having fun. He also said, “All the team wants for Christmas is buckets.”

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December 2015 • The Western Hemisphere • 15

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Latitudes

No-Shave November

The Warrior male population extends their scruff this winter. By: TALLEY JOHNSTON

Mr. Gauss strangles his naughtiest student, Joseph Lee.

Photo: Matt Mandell

As you walk around school, you may have noticed more scruff than usual. In general, the student body shows a large amount of support every year for No-Shave November. No-Shave November is a non-profit, online organization devoted to cancer awareness. People who are growing out their own hair are showing support to people who have lost their own hair to cancer.

Happy Holidays! Love, The Faculty By: MATT MANDELL and MARK FERGUSON

It’s not even cold yet, but winter break is almost here. Last year, as the student body was sent off to enjoy the holiday, we were all graced with Dr. John Werner’s “Werner’s Corner”. Perhaps his most popular segment was where he informed his students of some his favorite holiday hacks such as “How to drive in the snow”. Now, with Dr. Werner gone, the student body is in a panic as the coveted hiatus from school approaches. Have no fear students, we have compiled a list of tips and tricks from the faculty designed for you to get the most out of this holiday season.

Mrs. Lohr- “Buy reindeer antlers for your dog.” What’s better than watching your cute antlered canine walk into the room? Not much.

Seniors (left to right) Ian O’Donnell, Trevor Stutzman, William Dagli, Chethan Shivaram, and Billy Livermon flash their atumnal scruff.

Mr. Witt- “Don’t eat yellow snow. Don’t go next to last in the Santa gift swapping.” Mr. Witt could give you a lengthy explanation as to why the probability of receiving a bad gift would skyrocket when going second to last in the holiday party activity.

Photo: William Dagli

Mrs. Green- “None I cannot think of it.” Thank you, Mrs. Green

Mr. Witt shows off his holiday spirit with his decked-out santa hat. Photo: Matt Mandell

Mr. Gauss- “If you’re mean to everyone they

won’t buy you gifts, so you won’t have to buy them gifts. Cheap.” Disclaimer: Gauss is actually a really nice guy, and his math skills can help you save some cash.

Ms. Hyman-The essential holiday pick up line: “The best gift is the current moment with you that’s why they call it the present” When did you use this line, Ms. Hyman? Mr. Kompelien-“Invest time in family, you’ll

get the best return.” As a former actuary Mr. Kompelien realizes that investing in family will consistently get a solid return, much more than any Black Friday deal for a 32-inch LED

Mr. Harrison- “I refuse to be interviewed.

Don’t quote me on that. You’re not allowed to.” Well, somebody has to be the Grinch! Thanks Mr. Harrison.

Mrs. Miracle- “The best hiding spot for the ‘elf on the shelf is down the toilet.” According to legend, the elves are sent into every home to be “Santa’s eyes and ears.” On paper, this looks pretty good––potentially motivating children to be well-behaved gift-recipient purely out of fear of being placed on the Naughty List. But, Mrs. Miracle gives us the facts: This doesn’t work.

No-Shave November is highly encouraged for men and boys, but sometimes even girls participate, letting their legs be all natural. The idea is for people who are participating to donate the money that they would normally spend on hair products (razors, shaving cream, etc.) to cancer research and for others to donate to support their hairy friends and those who are battling against cancer. How long will your hair grow?

Make-Your-Own-Mistletoe

Courtesy of The Western Hemisphere to facilitate any holiday needs.

Mr. Bledsoe- “Attention guys: Always use the wrapping stations at the mall. Pay the extra money, not the consequences of a poorly wrapped gift.” We’re assuming Mr. Bledsoe has learned from experience.

December 2015 • The Western Hemisphere • 16