Red and Black
Montgomery County Public Schools Northwood High School 919 University Blvd. W Silver Spring, MD 20901
Volume 1 - Issue 3
Northwood High School
Mr. Northwood
Saturday School Now in Session By Kenya Y. Alvarado
Is it hard for you to wake up in the morning? Is it hard to stop talking to your friends and get to class? If you said yes then you’re not alone. Coming late to school has always been an issue for students at Northwood High School as proven by that the number of times administration has had to change the late policy. At the beginning of the year students faced few consequences for arriving late. However, half way through the year students that arrived late had to sit in the auditorium for 1st period. As of mid March late students must attend Friday school detention. If this detention is not attended, they must attend Saturday school. The constant changes have many asking ‘why?’. According to administrator Ms. Wolf, “The tardies got out of control. People were just strolling in at different times and it was disruptive so we needed to do something drastic so people would get to class.” This change has impacted students. Statistics show that before the new policy 265 students were late to school every week. When the new policy was instituted only 85 students were late to school. That number has continued to drop. According to Ms.Wolf, “The tardy number has gone from 85 students... to a few people to a shocking amount of no one [being late] on the second floor.” This new policy has divided students opinions. While 40% of the students in Northwood don’t agree with the new policy, 27% do, and 33% percent have mixed feelings. Sophomore Diamond Dalton stated, “I believe that the hour detention is too long [and] I think Saturday school is too much for students... Going to class is on you. High school is supposed to teach you to get ready for college and in college they don’t care if you’re late. If you fail the test then you fail the test, that’s on you. It’s our Continued on page 3
Facebook Wars Invade School By Marie Meroney It’s a war of he-said-she-said on the social networking site Facebook with Montgomery County students and staff as the “warring parties”. Many questions have arisen about
Spring Fashion and Flowers Arrive Pg. 10
April 2010
Top: Noah Hirsh celebrates as he is crowned as Mr. Northwood for 2010. When asked about his shining moment, Noah said , “I feel great, winning was a great accomplishment.” Even with his win, he was still humble and spoke positively of the school. “My opinion of Northwood hasn’t changed, I always liked it; Northwood is a great school.” Other participants included Mina Ulsevich, Mario Ovalles, Lorena Munoz, Max Amato, Sara Mahmood, Anatoly Moshkin and Carolyn Bruch. Photos courtesy of Ms. Susan Shaffer
Remembering the Lives of Two By Celena Jenkins and Emily Cabrera Students and staff members at Northwood struggled with Photo courtesy of M. the recent losses Loiederman MS of two community members with the passing of Shaw Middle School what students can and cannot say about staff online. Students have taken to the web expressing their annoyance and anger with teachers or school events. Staff members have mixed reactions to the comments, some merely warn students about the risks of posting things online while others find the statements offensive. Students, however, seem overwhelmingly comfortable using websites as an outlet for their opinions and frustrations.
Principal Brian Betts on April 15 and senior Paris Essoumba of Montgomery Blair High School on February 1. As of April 23, police are still trying to find the cause of Mr. Betts’ death. Mr. Betts was a former member of A. Mario Loiederman Middle school staff as well as a significant contributor to the Loiederman magnet program. He later became principal of Shaw Middle School in Washington DC. Many Northwood students and staff members knew Mr. Betts personally. Mr. Marco Fuggitti, athletic director at Northwood had previously worked with Mr. Betts at A. Mario
Loiederman Middle school and was quite emotional about the loss of Mr. Betts. “It is a shame that an amazing person, mentor and teacher was not able to touch all the lives he could have. Going to the viewing, it was amazing to see all the people that Mr. Betts had influenced and inspired. No matter what mood you were in he was always able to put a smile on your face with his sarcasm and wit.” Mr. Betts was known for his care and supportiveness towards students. Evelyn Georgiev, a Northwood freshman who went to Loiederman, Continued on Page 4
“Anything that happens outside of school should be allowed to happen.”- Ashleigh Price
use the name [of the teacher].” However, senior Ashleigh Price feels that if a student is out of school, then it’s out of school’s hands. “Anything that happens outside of school should be allowed to happen… You’re not in school, just don’t bring it inside the school... [and] don’t make direct threats.” Some staff members like Mr. Lee feel that things said online about someone Continued on page 5
“Collective events become bad
press for the school and the administration must deal with it.” -Ms. Parker Opinions over the issue differ, with Freshman Chantelle McPherson stating, “It may be okay if you don’t
Can McNabb take Skins to Superbowl? p.11
Battle of the Classes Pg. 11
2
April 2010
National News Red & Black
What Health Care Means For Students By Nora Smolonsky
On Sunday March 21, 2010 the Health Care reform bill was passed. The bill passed after the grueling debate, multiple protests, revisions and criticisms of President Obama. Most of the contents of the bill won’t be put into effect until 2014, after every current class at Northwood has graduated. But, whether you are college bound, heading straight to the work force, entering the military, or picking a path of your own, this health care bill will affect you. According to The Washington Post, the contents of the bill, as they may affect recently graduated high school students are as follows: 1)There are currently 32 million Americans uninsured. When major coverage expansion begins, 94% of eligible Americans will be covered. 2) Starting in 2014, it will be mandated that every citizen has to have health care, or else they will have to pay a fine. There will be an evaluation for low income people, and there may be certain exceptions made for these individuals.
3) Insurance companies will not be allowed to deny coverage to people because of pre-existing conditions, nor raise the price of their coverage. Canceling someone’s insurance if they become ill will be forbidden as well. 4) Parents will be allowed to cover their children until they turn 26, making the transition from school to the work force economically easier. 5) Medicaid is a government run program to provide health care to the poor. Its current limitations will be expanded to cover more people. This coverage expansion will include the group of childless adults, who have never previously been covered by Medicaid. 6) Every citizen will have the power to pick their own insurer, like they do now. They can customize their plan, and everyone will not necessarily be given the same coverage. 7) There will be no public option, which means government runs insurance. Abortions will not be required to be covered by insurers, but mothers will not have to pay additional fees in cases of incest, rape and danger to her life. 8) Anyone who is not a citizen will not be covered by this plan. But for everyone else, these big changes will make health care easier to come by and easier to keep.
School News
3
April 2010
Saturday School
Continued from Page 1 lives. The school can`t force us to get good grades.” Sophomore Karina Gutierrez stated, “Accidents happen - like waking up late students shouldn’t be punished for simple mistakes.” However, Junior Lequisha Parker agreed with the new policy. She stated, “The new policy is better... in the old policy people would just skip because they knew they would go to the auditorium and they didn’t have to go to 1st period. But now they have to go to 1st period otherwise [they`re] going to be sitting in detention for like an hour.” Sophomore Jeffrey Cabrera said, “Even students who are always late need to learn. The auditorium was unconstitutional but after school detention is good.” Many other students have said that they find this new policy very fair stating that many students are late because students talk in the hallways and are too lazy to get to class. Some students have mixed feelings. Sophomore Chris Saffour stated, “I think people who come late and get detention deserve it unless it was a really important reason for them coming late.” Sophomore Kelly Brown also noted, “In the point of view of a teacher or parent I wouldn’t want my student or child to miss a whole class just because they were late. They should pay the price by staying late on a Friday. But as a student, of course, I’d rather miss a whole class than stay after school on Friday.” At the PTSA meeting on March 16, an anonymous parent stated her approval of the new policy. “I’m not in support of children missing school. If you are late a parent should excuse you and students should definitely be allowed to stay in class. Sitting in the auditorium only loses education time.” Many other parents had similar reactions proved by the round of applause Dr. Johnson received when he stated the new policy. Because of the budget cuts staff at the Saturday school will not be paid. Administrators are looking for teacher volunteers for Saturday school.
Remember To Recycle
Reflections on Principal Internship By Raquel Avila Did you know Ms. Harris served as acting principal of Northwood recently? Well she did! Ms. Harris was picked for a principal internship in which she acted as principal of Northwood from the last week of January to March 1st of 2010. Ms. Harris was one of the few selected vice principals in MCPS that qualified for a principal internship after completing a three year program. When she found out she was going to act as principal of Northwood, she was happy that they let her do a principal internship. “I was very nervous at first but excited and was ready to take on my role as principal.” When asked about her role as acting principal she said, “I felt that it was an overall good experience and I enjoyed it very much because the tasks I had to do were very different than what I would do as vice principal.”
Ms. Harris also felt that being a senior advisor and acting principal was difficult at times because she would have to coordinate administrative meetings while also making time to meet with the seniors preparing for graduation. She felt that not being able to see them as fast as she could was hard. When asked about any challenges she faced at Northwood, she said “I think one of the challenges is making sure all students here can graduate on time and helping them to be as academically successful as they possibly can. When asked about the most exciting thing that happened to her during the internship she said “The blizzard of 2010 because it was extremely important to figure out a way to get students to and from safely and out of harm’s way because of all the snow we had.” So what does the future look like for Ms. Harris? It looks pretty bright! She hopes to one day become principal of a middle or high school and will always remember what she learned and experienced as acting principal of Northwood High School.
Photo by Raquel Avila
Staff of the Month by Ashley Davis It’s a brand new edition for teacher of the month; this time around administration has recognized staff from different areas of the school. Three staff members have been recognized for their hard work and dedication to the school: Ms. Debra Parker, Mr. Marcellus Johnson and Mr. Timothy Brennan. Mr. Brennan works in the media center and for the past six years has let students come in throughout the day to work and socialize. In the past, he has hosted a cyber café on Tuesdays which served pizza, candy, cookies, chips and soda. Students feel that Mr. Brennan has done a lot for the school. Senior Valya Smithka said “He’s nice
when you respect and follow the rules of the media center.” Ms. Parker, who was also recognized for the month of February, is one of many security guards who has been working hard to keep the school in line. She’s always making sure students do not roam the hallways and that they get to class on time. When a student is late to school or class they are sure to be running into Ms. Parker for a pass. Ms. Parker is not only a security guard but she is a friend to most and she cares dearly for the students. Junior Emily Ebner said “I love Ms. Parker; she always has a positive energy in the morning that wakes you up for the day.” The final staff member is Mr. Johnson;
he works in building services and he helps keeps the school looking presentable for all its’ guests. Without him and the other associates picking up after students and fixing things around the school, the students would not be able to be proud of their school. Junior class administrator Ms. Ruschelle Reuben said “We chose the staff members based on the student feedback and other staff members opinions and thoughts about the ones who are being judged. In Brennan’s case, he was chosen because of all the programs he ran outside of his job title. “
Why don’t NHS students do homework? Students say:
4
April 2010
School News Red & Black
Peer Mediation
By Ivette Roman The peer mediation program enables peers to resolve disputes. Students are trained to develop and refine the necessary skills for effective communication. “Peer mediation is a great way for students to solve their conflicts without any violence,” said Ms. Freeman, the club sponsor. “Mediators are able to assist other students with conflicts allowing them to come up with a solution. The meetings are held in total confidentiality. Peer mediation is a way of resolving conflicts using communication skills and respect instead of violence, which brings more peace in the building. I’m very proud of mediators; they have a lot of integrity.” If you know anyone that has a conflict or even if you have one, you can drop a note in the designated box in the counseling office; it will be confidential. Minette Acha, a peer mediator, spoke positively of the program. “In my opinion and in my said that, “he treated everyone equally; he was like a dad to everyone.” Alexis Ramos, also a freshman, recalled Betts as a, “Great person… it just makes me so mad how someone could do that to a nice person.” Students also wanted to remember Blair senior Paris Essoumba, who was more than just a friend , he was a brother, a son and a role model to many. He was an athletic and musically talented young man. He was only 17 years of age when he
Dealing with Depression By Shonelle Turner
The recent death of Blair student, Paris Essoumba, came as a surprise to many. He was well known for being a musician and a social person, which is why no one suspected his suicidal tendencies. Based on Essoumba’s positive attitude people were surprised that he was suffering from depression that led to his death. Most people don’t know when someone is depressed because they keep their feelings to themselves.
Club Spotlight
experience, peer mediation does work. Based on the problems that are brought to us they usually end up in a better way than it started, and in the end... we limit the up rise of a fight or controversy that could have happen. Peer Mediation doesn’t only help the people that are being peer mediated but also the peer mediators.”
By Gabriel Cuevas Northwood has a team full of aspiring lawyers. Mock trial is just like it sounds, students come together and act out a trial with a case assigned to them by the county. One recent case involved a man named Corey James who pushed another man. When this man went into a coma, Corey was charged with two counts of assault and reckless
endangerment. It was up to the prosecution to prove that Corey James was guilty. The trial team consists of a prosecution side and a defense side. The prosecution side has three lawyers: Celena Jenkins, Naverone Simpson and Deepak Sharma. The three witnesses are played by Dani Suabi, Seth Goldman and Diana Vergara. The defense also has three lawyers: Shayla Rodriguez, Sean Goeller and Seth Goldstein. three Minette Achankeng, Elshimaa Soarketi, Nelson Kilgore play the roles of witnesses. The team competes in four mock trials against other schools. Unfortunately, the team lost all four cases. First year coach and sponsor Ms. Jamie Bisset said “Our team is really good. We have a lot of young players that are inexperienced. I really liked seeing the kids step out of their comfort zone and learn that they’re just as good as everyone else in the county.” Seth Goldstein, the team captain, stated, “ I think we did the best we have ever done... we got all our nerves out. I think the witnesses
committed suicide on the evening of February 1. He was passionate about the music he made and often played at local community events. He was ambitious and driven with his raps. It has yet to be determined exactly why he killed himself. He was adored and respected by many. Northwood students who knew Paris from middle school were shocked and saddened by the news. “We are deeply affected by this tragedy. It’s a big loss to
see someone with very much potential leave so soon. It’s important that we show much respect for his beloved family. Our prayers and thoughts go out to his family, God bless,” said sophomore Al Bangora. Another friend of Paris, Senior Malik Sapp, noted, “It was a big loss, many people around Northwood knew him, however, I don’t think anyone saw this coming. I knew Paris as a fun loving guy, we all feel for his family.” Senior Sina Ghirma also added, “A lot
When teens are depressed it is in their best interest to tell a trusted adult or parent. However, some kids avoid this because they believe they are not being supported. If parents aren’t the ones to trust, the second option would be friends. But your friend needs to be aware of the signs that you’re going through. Any traumatic event can cause Clinical Depression. Teachers, therapists, and parents all encourage students to speak with someone before their sadness reaches the point of depression or suicidal attempts. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, major depression disorder affects approximately 6.7 percent of the US population age 18 and older in a given year. Amy Palumbo, a part time therapist at Northwood who currently works in the wellness center, believes that being depressed is common among teenagers today. “Most kids are afraid to talk to their parents or teachers about this so it gets ignored to the point where the kids are deeply, deeply depressed.” Palumbo says about ¾ of the entire school suffers from depression. “You have to talk to someone you trust, like a friend. But if it gets pretty serious they would have to tell their parents and
go to a therapist, psychiatrist, and they would take it from there.” Common Symptoms of Depression Include: •Frequent vague, non-specific physical complaints such as headaches, muscle aches, stomachaches or tiredness •Frequent absences from school or poor performance in school •Talk of or efforts to run away from home •Outbursts of shouting, complaining, unexplained irritability, or crying •Being bored •Lack of interest in playing with friends •Alcohol or substance abuse •Social isolation, poor communication •Fear of death •Extreme sensitivity to rejection •Increased irritability, anger, or hostility •Reckless behavior •Difficulty with relationships If you believe that someone is suffering from depression talk to them and let them know you are there for them; if their problems continue talk to an adult. Depression is a serious illness, but you don’t need to suffer forever; Seek help if your depression worsens.
Mock Trial
responded well and they were sure on what they were saying.” The witnesses were questioned not only by their own team members but by members of the other team. They had to learn the case really well in order to respond accurately to the questions asked by other schools. Seth also stated that “We need to work on objections and certainly our confidence level.” The team members were not allowed scripts while on the stand only the occasional notes. Seth states that “People should join mock trial It’s a very different experience it gets people to see the other side of law.” Team member Dani Suabi said “It is a great experience Ms. Bisset is a really cool coach. You also get to go to the Rockville courthouse.” Danny also states that “I learned a lot of good stuff and I saw the courthouse for the first time” The mock trial team practiced at lunch every day in Ms. Bisset’s room and even after school. Mock trial provides a real court case feeling to any students interested in law. Mock trial will start again next year, any students interested should talk to Ms. Bisset in A215. of students went to elementary school and middle school with Paris. We all grew up with him and even though we weren’t at the same school, we still kept in touch, and it’s sad to know that he won’t be walking across stage in June.” Both Brian Betts and Paris Essoumba will be deeply missed by the Northwood high School community. The memorial service for Mr. Betts will be held on Saturday, May 1st, at Strathmore Hall in North Bethesda. The time has not been announced yet.
The Northwood Wellness Center envisions students healthy in body, mind and spirit fully committed to high academic achievement and models of leadership, strength and success. Hours Monday through Friday: 7:30 AM 6:00 PM A mental health counselor is available at 7:45 AM Monday through Friday. The Wellness Center Clinic hours are Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM - 4 PM.
School News
5
April 2010
Sweet Dream or Beautiful Nightmare? By Isha Koroma
For many, prom means happiness, a dream finally coming true. Others may just see it as just a night bound to happen and will take place no matter what - simple as that. Either way, Northwood’s Junior and Senior Prom is set for May 15th 2010 at the University of Maryland is to take place no matter what. The thought of this has many people anticipating what the day will be like. It can be said that girls have it tougher than boys since dresses designed for prom can range from $100-$500 - and this is for a dress that can only worn once in a lifetime. Boys however, can rent their tuxedo and give it back when the night is over. Girls still have to deal with the hair, the makeup, the shoes and even more items that need to be bought for one night only. Senior Yvie Djieya was able to provide a sort of checklist on how to make the night special and less stress filled for girls. “You have to determine a color for your dress, whichever looks good on your skin of course, choose the right dress, and get your hair done, nails done, your feet done.” When it comes to finding a partner for the dance, Ashley Davis stated “Boys could ask whoever they want and not worry about the feeling of rejection and girls asking boys will have the stigma of looking desperate.” Now could it be that this social gathering we know as prom has been sexist all along? Junior Eddie Musa disagreed with the statement completely. “There’s no way Prom can be looked at as being sexist because boys also have to throw in money as well. When you’re taking a girl, you have to buy both the tickets [(you and her)], pay for the food you’ll be eating before prom, get a new haircut, and get some brand new shoes. Boys and girls have to spend a lot of money that night just on different areas.”
Prom 2009
By Kelly Reyes What catches your eye on Facebook or Twitter? People spend hours on either one chatting, messaging, poking and following people.Why? Must be a common question for non-users. Connecting with people without having to be face to face could be a response. According to MSNBC, Young people, ages 13-24, spend an average of 16.7 hours a week online. If you’re looking to reconnect with old friends and family members or find new friends online, then Facebook could be for you. Freshman Veronica Molina believes herself to be addicted. “I love to chat with my friends when they’re online! I don’t have to call them and waste my minutes just to keep in touch with them!” said Veronica Molina. Helen Alvarez explained why she loves Facebook. “Facebook is easy to use and it’s not so hard to find your friends and chat. You sometimes
“Facebook is easy to use and it’s not so hard to find your friends and chat. You sometimes even find old friends.”
Facebook Pros: •Being able to find people and make connections, email, instant messaging, image/video sharing, etc. •Status updates are an easy way to let friends know what you’re up to or what’s on your mind •Users can communicate by posting a comment on another user’s “wall,” sending a private message or using an instant messenger feature.
Facebook Cons: •More difficult to navigate and update •Less direct responses; unless you stay logged on frequently
Twitter? Tweets? Tweets are posts of up to 140 characters displayed on the author’s profile page and delivered to the author’s subscribers who are known as followers. It’s a free social networking and microblogging service. Since late 2009, users can follow lists of authors instead of following individual authors. Most people can very quickly grasp how to use Facebook, Twitter on the other hand, encourages you grab ideals in byte-size chunks.
Twitter Pros:
even find old friends.” Facebook addicts prefer Facebook rather to log into AIM, -Anyone can follow anyone else unless Yahoo Messenger, Gmail, Hotmail, blocked Flickr, YouTube, MySpace, etc. Because -You don’t have to be logged in to get Facebook gives them access to all these updates; you can just use an RSS reader applications, with one login. Most people can quickly grasp how to use Facebook to connect to friends and family, using it to share thoughts and images. This largely explains the explosive growth • Limited to 140 characters per update Facebook continues to experience and • Not all people find it useful why the company reportedly invested $200 million in data center upgrades last year to keep up with demand.
Twitter Cons:
FB War Continued from pg. 1 are much like cyber bullying, for which he supports severe penalties. Lee feels that students making “inflammatory comments” can be dangerous, and stated that the “County just revamped the cyber-bullying policy.” Whether or not the new policy covers statements about staff is unclear. “This is my take – one event is not necessarily a bad thing. Collective events become bad press for the school
and the administration must deal with it,” said security staff member Ms. Parker. Whether or not students should be responsible for the view of the school is questionable. AP administrator, Mr. D’Souza, feels that it’s important for students to be able to speak their minds about in school activities, but states that most speak out because they’re angry about not being allowed small things, like “sleeping” or not being allowed to “use their cell phone in class.”
Voices
6
April 2010
Red & Black
Political Labels
Ask Charlotte
By Phillip Shattan
If you ask the average student at Northwood what are their political views, what response do you think you would tend to get? “Liberal,” “Don’t care,” “Obama?” How about if you asked them what they thought about the Iraqi war? For the most part I’m willing to bet it would consist of “waste of time and money,” “Bush invaded it for oil,” and perhaps a 9/11 conspiracy thrown in. How many of the people who felt so strongly about this, however, do you think know the capitals of Iraq and Afghanistan? Who their current leaders are? What our current troop deployments in these countries roughly are?
Dear Charlotte
Ok I’m shy in my class, I never talk, and when most boys see me they want to talk to me. But I don’t want to get hurt trusting a boy so I stopped dating. But I know that not all boys are bad plus I’m only a freshman so most people say I have a lot to learn about love. I want to know how can I do that if boys think it is funny to ask a girl out and [as soon as the romance has faded] leaves her like she’s a piece of trash. Not that I have been done like that before, but how do I know that if I go with a boy he won’t treat me like a play toy?
E-mail Love, Freshman Fever
your question Charlotte at:
to
askcharlotte23@yahoo.com
Dear Freshman Fever Well for starters some boys are just jerks. I can’t be the one to tell you if you can trust him or not that would be up to you. Sometimes finding the right guy is as easy as diving into shark infested waters scratched with blood without getting killed. (Sorry was that too graphic?) I understand that you have a fear of getting hurt, which clouds your judgment towards boys. Some boys are bad news but others are just great. Take it from experience, you have to be careful who you lend your heart and respect to because they could be easily taken away and you could be left with regret and misery. Let’s hope it never gets to that. If you truly don’t want to deal with boys anymore, focus on other fun things like hobbies and hanging out with friends. Boyfriends will come and go but good friends will last a lifetime. But if you are looking to find the right guy you should at least be his friend first. That way, you can get to know him better without things getting awkward and weird between the two of you. Trust me Freshman Fever, you don’t need a man in your life. You’re a freshman. You do have things to look forward to and having a boyfriend doesn’t have to be big part of that. There’s no need to rush.
Red and Black Editorial Policies
The Red and Black is published quarterly by the students of Northwood High School. Signed editorials contain solely the opinion of the writer. Only unsigned editorials reflect the opinion of the entire staff. Letters to the paper are encouraged. Adequate space will be provided up to 250 words. Letters must be signed, though they may be published anoymously. Restrictions on content include, but are not limited to: libel, obsenity and invasion of privacy at the discretion of the newspaper staff.
Remember to Recycle
In today’s society, everyone has an opinion, even on things they know nothing about. Just as it wouldn’t make sense for a plastic surgeon to tell you how to fix your car, it doesn’t make any sense for people who don’t keep up with politics, both domestically and internationally, to have opinions on it. But, not only do people have opinions, they feel strongly on such issues (if you doubt me, try to bring up and defend the Iraqi war in your next Social Studies or English class, and see the reaction of the people who couldn’t answer any of the earlier questions). Why is this? I believe it is due to political labeling that suppresses individual thought and encourages a thoughtless mob mentality. When you hear “Republican” these days, what are the first things that came to mind? Perhaps George Bush and Sarah Palin, bible beaters and rednecks, radicalism and shortsightedness? Conversely, what does “Democrat” bring to mind? Probably Barrack Obama and hope, equality and health care, anti-war and rationalism? I cannot say for certain, but based on people’s reactions to these words, I must assume that at least at Northwood, thoughts similar to these pop into peoples heads whenever these words are mentioned. In short,“Democrat”good,“Republican”bad. Because of this, labels are used to determine the validity of some thoughts, and to dismiss others. Whenever someone makes an argument in defense of the Iraqi war, in support of the troop surge, or any increase in military activity at all, it is much easier to simply dismiss them as “war mongers” or “Republican” (it appears to have the same connotation). The problem with this is it ends the conversation. It ends all thought on the matter, dismissing arguments contrary to your own instead of learning from them. I remember during the 2008 election one student looked at me and said with a straight face that they couldn’t think of a single positive aspect about McCain. Even Obama named a few in his speeches. When you base your political opinions completely on party lines and commercials, you stop thinking for yourself. Then again, when you have a system as effective as “Democrat” good, “Republican” bad, who needs to actually think for themselves or watch the news? After all, if something is proposed by a Republican it must be wrong because they’re a party of homophobic religious nut jobs. I mean, its just good sense to blindly accept all of the “Democrat’s” ideas. After all, when have they ever been wrong? The purpose of this article isn’t to say that you should be a Republican or a Democrat. It’s that you should think for yourself, and that if you’re going to have an opinion on something, then you should know something about it, and not just empty rhetoric. Chris Rock said in one of his stand up routines that anyone who makes up their mind before hearing the issue, be they Republican or Democrat, are idiots, and I’m inclined to agree with him. I am not saying that there are not a lot of crazy Republicans out there, just like there are a lot of crazy Democrats out there. I’m also not saying that all liberals at Northwood don’t think, most of my friends are liberals that I argue constantly argue with. The difference between them and most people at Northwood is they know why they believe what they believe. They did the research, listened to both sides, which you must do if you hope to fully understand the issue. If you really want to think for yourself, don’t use labels to dismiss thoughts you don’t agree with. Listen to them as objectively as possible, and then, if you still disagree, you can then say “go to hell” to the opposing side.
Voices
7
April 2010
FB and the First Amendment By Sherry Muolo
Even though the Constitution was written 200 years before the World Wide Web, free speech on the internet is a protected right. Two years ago, Katherine Evans, a senior in a Florida high school made a Facebook group entitled, “Ms. Sarah Phelps is the worst teacher I’ve ever met!” The teacher’s photograph was featured, along with the invitation to “express your feelings of hatred.” Evans was suspended for three days for creating the page and soliciting cyber bullying. Evans sued her former principle and a federal judge ruled that students’ online and off campus speech was in fact speech protected by the First Amendment. However, students don’t have as many unlimited rights in school as they do out of school. For example, although every citizen has the right to free speech students can’t carry a sign at a school-sponsored event that says, “BONG HiTS 4 JESUS”. In the Morse v. Frederick case, the Supreme Court had ruled that the school had the right to confiscate the sign because it was at a school-sponsored event and promoted drug use. If you brought the sign on the street during a perfectly average afternoon, you might get dirty looks, but you have every right to have the sign. The difference between Morse v. Frederick and Katherine Evans’s case is location. In Morse v. Frederick, the offense took place at a school event while Evans’s offense took place on the internet. There are restrictions of speech on school grounds or at school-sponsored events, while there are none that apply to the internet. Students should be allowed to say anything on the internet because they have the constitutional right to do it. Furthermore, teenagers have a hard time expressing themselves. When they find a form of expression—a way to vent, an outlet—they use it. An outlet like Facebook is easy to access and allows students to vent. If you’ve ever felt that your right to post on Facebook is threatened, know that you do have that protected right, because Katherine Evans’s case proved students’ online and off campus speech is protected by the First Amendment. However, if the things said on the internet are lewd, vulgar, threatening, or advocating illegal or dangerous behavior, even the First Amendment won’t be able to protect. In fact, people can get sued for libel, which is a negative and untrue statement that can damage someone’s career.
Fashion 101 By Ronald Palmer
Believe it or not, fashion has made large contributions to history. The pilgrims are remembered for their basic black and white outfits, the 60’s and 70’s for their bell bottoms and afros and the new millennium for its sagging trousers and skimpy skirts. Both males and females are accustomed to the trends of their generation and many of their lives are affected by them. Physical appearances may be used for many reasons but does a person’s outer appearance actually matter?
Male: Luis Gutierrez, 10th Grade RP: On average, how long do you spend on your appearance? LG: 30 min RP: Do you ever feel pressured to look a certain way? LG: Yes RP: Do you believe a person’s appearance is a reflection of what type of person they are? Why or why not? LG: No because I don’t believe in peer pressure because people will wear what they want to. RP: Do you think a girl should look a certain way in order to be “feminine”? LG: Yes.
RP: Do you ever avoid eating certain foods in order to not gain weight? Why or why not? LG: No, I eat what I want but I wouldn’t mind losing a few pounds or if I gained a few pounds. RP: Are you aware and how do you feel that there have been accounts of teenagers and younger children committing suicide or entering a depression because of others harassing them about how they look? LG: I think that it’s really sad and I think it happens because people begin to believe what other people say about them. RP: Why do you believe physical looks matter? LG: I think when you go out in society you want to be looked at for good reasons but only for those who think looks matter.
Female: Kassidy Redparth, 10th Grade RP: On average, how long do you spend on your appearance? KR: 45-60 min RP: Do you ever feel pressured to look a certain way? KR: Yes RP: Do you believe a person’s appearance is a reflection of what type of person they are? Why or why not? KR: No but people will dress a certain way in order to fit in and because of peer pressure.
RP: Do you think a guy should look a certain way in order to be “masculine”? KR: Yes, I don’t know how to explain why but I was just raised to believe that guys and girls dress and certain way. RP: Do you ever avoid eating certain foods in order to not gain weight? Why or why not? KR: No, I don’t gain any weight so I eat what I want and do what I want. RP: Are you aware and how do you feel that there have been accounts of teenagers and younger children committing suicide or entering a depression because of others harassing them about how they look? KR: It’s unfortunate. I don’t bully people and try to find the good in people and try to act as a good influence to my friends.
RP: Why do you believe physical looks matter? KR: People want to look their best and everyone truly cares about how they look, regardless of what they say. I don’t care who you can get to say “looks don’t matter” because they are LYING. Straight like that.”
8
April 2010
Arts & Leisure Red & Black
Night Comes to Northwood By Celena Jenkins
Night Must Fall was no ordinary play; audience members were engaged in a unique experience on February 26, 27, and 28th. One of the most obvious differences concerned the set.The audience members were not seated in the auditorium but on stage with the actors. They were placed on risers on the stage. Michelle Morris, an audience member, stated that “Being on stage mades the play more interactive and makes the audience more a part of the play.” Even though the risers could only seat about 75 people, which brought in less money, and lowered people’s chances of seeing the play most audience members had a good time. Audience member, Marone Shiferaw, a sophomore, felt that “Being on stage was cool because it’s like you were in the play.” Night Must Fall was set in Mrs. Bramson’s house. She was an elderly lady who was very mean to her niece, Olivia, her maid, Dora, and the cook, Ms. Terrance. Mrs. Bramson took in a live-in companion, Danny, the main character of the play. When a nearby lady goes missing, Olivia suspects Danny of being up to no
Music Reviews By Nancy Vo
good. Even though she accuses Danny of murder she ends up falling in love with him. Danny’s hidden objective was to take Mrs. Bramson’s money hidden behind a portrait in a wall. Danny then continues to murder Mrs. Bramson and attempts to take her money, but is caught by the nurse and the maid who arrive at the scene, where Danny is then arrested.
Colin Tierney, who played one of the roles for Bellzie the cop in the play, said, “I like the double casting; it’s nice to have a brother actor in the play.” Yet, at least one audience member felt differently. Miranda Mangano, who knew about the double casting, felt that the actors were given less time to rehearse. “One cast is better. The actors were rehearsing in the time it takes for one cast with two casts.” In the end, each cast member performed for only two nights as opposed to the full four nights of the play’s production. In many ways, the reduction of rehearsal time seemed apparent on the stage. The acting in the play was highly improvised and throughout the play some lines were ad-libbed to the point where it was obvious the actors had made a few mistakes. Annaleigh Baramore states that “The actors kept tripping up but sometimes they were able to cover it well.” With the audience on stage, the audience could see every little thing that happened - from missed cues to inadvertant facial expressions. Actors always need to be aware of this.
While the plot may not seem very complex, the actors had a unique opportunity to add their own flair. Night Must Fall had eight cast members but 16 were casted. This double casting allowed for the actors to alternate between the performers on each night. Mr. Goodrich, the director of the play, made the decision to try this experiment and stated, “I did the double casting because I wanted to give more actors a chance, the double Some of the actors still have a long way to go, but casting didn’t take away any practice time Night Must Fall succeeded in providing audience it just made more work for me.” The actors members with an entertaining experience. were quite pleased with this decision.
Soul music legend Sade is back with a new album titled “Soldier of Love”. Its crazy for someone to be gone for a decade and come back with better and greater music than before. Yet, Sade has created a collection of songs about love at its finest. In the leading single and title track “Soldier of Love,” Sade sings of preserving in spite of lost love. “I’ve lost the use of my heart but I’m still alive / I’m at the borderline of my fourth / I’m at the hinterland of my devotion.” Another personal favorite of mine is “Moon & Sky,” where she projects a bruised and angered demeanor. “You’ll always know the reason why we couldn’t have the moon and sky.” She draws the listeners into the world of her story. I really took the time out to really listen to this album and I definitely came out having a lot more appreciation for it. The album ends where it begins with a reference to staying the course for the sake of love. Recommended Tracks: -Soldier of Love -Baby Father Ludacris’ 7th studio album entitled “Battle of the Sexes” dropped March 9th. Personally, Battle of The Sexes isn’t really an album I would recommend. The concept of the album tackles the differences between men and women. Ludacris picked some of the “hottest” chicks in the game from, Nikki Minaj, Lil Kim, Trina, Eve and Monica. Tracks like “How Low” now the ubermash club banger, aggravated me at first. But it eventually got the better of me. However, another track called “Hey Ho,” is the most obvious song exploiting the double standard regarding sexuality between men and women. Lil Kim says “and women cheat better than me, we don’t disturb’em I’m just doing what you do, see the role done switched, if I’m a ho, you’s a ho.” You won’t find anything startling from Battle of The Sexes but those who are inclined to listen to it are still in for a good laugh. Recommended Tracks: -Sex Room ft. Trey Songz - Tell Me a Secret ft. Ne-Yo
The “Love & War Masterpeace” explores the world of love and the controversial and unfortunate violence humanity often couples with love. This album is very Raheem-esque with one slow, syrupy love song after another. A resounding intro speech from none other than Dr. Cornel West, begins the album with an exclamation point that doesn’t end. A personal favorite that will touch the heart is “Black and Blue,” which speaks on domestic violence. Another track that will be played heavily on i-Tunes is “Bulletproof,” which deals openly with society today. “Murder your songs/ ravage your daughter/ here overseas and across those borders/ tanks missles, bombs and grenades/ inject your land with guns and AIDS.” But tracks like “Don’t Care” offer a light, feel good vibe. For anyone that’s looking for good romantic music, Raheem is a safe choice. Raheem out did himself and, as a result, he leaves his listeners quite pleased. The “Love & War Masterpeace” speaks for itself. The artist we know as Raheem Devaughn paints a one of a kind masterpiece. Recommended Tracks - Bulletproof. - Don’t Care - My Wife.
“Raymond vs. Raymond,” released on March 26, takes you on a journey through the dichotomy of a man. Usher opens up another chapter of his coming-of-age as he tells the story of an evolving man balancing the challenges of day to day life. “Raymond vs. Raymond” is not that bad of an album in its own context. The major single “Hey Daddy”, is a classic where Usher gives his attention to the ladies. It’s very upbeat and hard not to get in the groove when you hear it. The track “There Goes my Baby”. Will surely be a favorite, as it plays slowly and sweetly with lyrics that are just as mesmerizing as the melody. One of the best tracks “OMG” featuring Will-i-Am is undeniably catchy, it has a great beat and an interesting sound. Raymond vs. Raymond is not Usher’s best work by any means but its good moments are strong and therefore it’s worth giving it a listen. Recommended Tracks -Hey Daddy -There Goes my Baby -Making Love
Entertainment
9
April 2010
Finding Inspiration in the Everyday by Nancy Vo ‘You got to work hard and do for yourself, cause nobody else is gonna do what you want for you.’
His name is Levi Maestro and his show is simply known as ‘Maestro KNOWS.’ ‘Maestro KNOWS’ is an online show based around the title character’s day to day life. While most lives would be quite dull to view, he actually creates a reality show about his life that’s worth watching every second. Maestro had this dream to travel the world and capture the talents of creative people. He is a true voice of positivity for the younger and older generation. The videos he makes are not interviews or blogs it is Maestro KNOWS, because he definitely knows. He applies the same time and effort to each video he makes. He documents the life he is leading which features his friends Ibn Jasper, Nigel Slyvester, 9th Wonder, Bun B, and 13th Witness. A personal favorite is the NYC Edition. in this episode of Maestro KNOWS, he joins his friend 13th Witness one of the most talented photographer known around NYC. The pictures he takes are so dope. He captures the moment, and there is so much creativity Levi from how he takes his pictures. Maestro In this episode, the Kanye West song, ‘I Wonder’ plays in the background and creates the mood for the entire video. As Maestro and 13th Witness roam the streets of NYC, 13th Witness talks about his passion, photography. “Photography is suppose to be simple - if I like something I shoot it.” There nothing complex about that. In that simple quote you can realized that you don’t need to wait for a motivational push, just imagine and do it. Viewers see that13th Witness takes undeniably great pictures. Later in this episode, Maestro talks about 13th Witness and his craft, “This kid is so ill, everywhere he goes he shoots, and therefore history in the making.” It’s very rare when you encounter someone like Maestro. Viewers may learn a lot about themselves and life in general just by listening to the general conversations he has with others. I absorb what he has to say more than I ever could remember in school. From time to time I believe people need someone to refresh themselves. Often times I get motivated but not so often inspired and for me Maestro KNOWS is the ultimate inspiration. Maestro KNOWS, isn’t based on what everyone else wants or by what others think is good for his show. His show is 100% self made, all on his own. It just goes to show that life can be so limitless and authentic. Maestro, with his grace and style, shows that a person doesn’t have to conform to what society wants. Maestro didn’t impersonate anyone else; this is his own work, own development, and own talent. It is completely inspiring and a blessing when you see so much creativity from another person that simply showcases what they love to do.
Wonderland Magic By Raquel Avila
and refuses to do it. But when the is: unforgettable. Most movie Mad Hatter is taken captive and viewers will like the story and will the White Queen names Alice her especially love the 3-D sequences
Director Tim Burton has done it again! In his version of Lewis Carroll’s book “Alice’s adventures in Wonderland,” the story begins with Alice, now nineteen who has no memory of her journey to Wonderland when she was younger and instead thinks it was just a part of reoccurring nightmares she had since she was a child. She and her mother arrive at her engagement party - of which Alice is unaware - and is to marry a very dull Duke. Alice does not want to marry and she wants nothing to do with the Duke. While at the party, Alice sees the White Rabbit and runs off to chase him and falls down the rabbit hole and ends up in Wonderland. Once she returns to Wonderland, Alice meets up with Tweedledee and Tweedledum, the Caterpillar, the Mad Hatter, the March Hare, Cheshire cat and many other of the original characters. The Mad Hatter tells her that Wonderland has changed for the worse since she was last there and that the Red Queen has taken over and made Wonderland a terrible place filled with beheadings. Alice is told that she must slay the Jabberwocky so that the White Queen can reclaim the throne from the Red Queen. Alice believes she isn’t the slaying type,
Champion, things get personal for Alice. Even with the help of all her friends, Alice must find a way to beat the Red Queen at her own game. The visual effects throughout the movie are so amazing whether you see it in 2-D or 3-D. Tim Burton’s favorite talented actors Johnny Depp (Mad Hatter) and Helena Bonham Carter (Red Queen) help to make the movie what it
like the part when Alice falls down the rabbit hole. At times you feel like you are actually there in wonderland. The overall look of the movie is dark and mysterious, just how the original story was supposed to be. Throughout the movie, viewers will be able to say “you can tell Tim Burton did this!” because his vision and look are definitely shown throughout. The movie is funny, clever, sad, dark, and filled
with a lot of fantasy. I personally loved this movie because every time Johnny Depp and Tim Burton make a movie together, it’s pure magic and I would watch it again 100 times. But the question is: are you ready to go down the rabbit hole and experience it for yourself? I sure hope so! •Director: Tim Burton •Writers: Linda Woolverton, Lewis Carroll (Books, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass) •Cast: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Mia Wasikowska, Anne Hathaway, Crispin Glover, Michael Sheen, Matt Lucas, Alan Rickman, Stephen Fry, Barbara Windsor, Paul Whitehouse, Timothy Spall •Music by: Danny Elfman •Cinematography: Dariusz Wolski •Runtime: 1 hour 48 minutes
Yearbook Senior Signing Night is coming!
May 26
10
April 2010
Entertainment Red & Black
Spring Fashion Trends By Nora Smolonsky
In the past, the arrival of spring has meant bright floral patterns, short low-cut shorts, and summer dresses. Thanks to the designers at New York fashion week, spring 2010 will bring a plethora of neutral tones, metallics, leisure suits, “school girl chic”, feathers, and sheer cut-outs. Donna Karan is staying true to her Manhattan routes, as are Marc Jacobs and Christian Siriano, by making a line of completely neutral skirts, tops, suits, and dresses. A neutral outfit creates a clean, neat, simple, and elegant silhouette. Dresses are the best pieces to wear in a neutral color. This spring will be full of long and flowy as well as short and tight bandage dresses. Now that the snow has melted, a more traditionally “spring” trend that will be returning will be the peek-aboo look. Whether it is cut-outs or something sheer, a little skin is bound to show. If someone wants to wear the bold statement to school, they should keep it modest of course. But runway attire is certainly steps beyond school wear, especially when it comes
to the lines of Jill Stuart, Michael Kors, Marchesa, and Rodarte. This look is one reserved for the girl with a heart full of nerve and confidence. Metallic pieces have a tendency to scream, “PROM!” This would explain why Jill Stuart’s and Diane Von Furstenburg’s metallic pieces look like a cut up prom picture. But Derek Lam and Phillip Lim took the classier route with their metallics. Wearing a sequined blazer to the cherry blossom festival is the perfect way to turn heads, for the right reasons. Distasteful, trashy, and reminiscent of a transvestite prostitute, must be… feathers! Chris Benz and Jason Wu have taken the feather craze a step too far with their creations of skirts with pom poms that look like the models have been eaten by big bird. But for those hopeful to find the good in every trend, there is ADAM’s and Chado Ralph Rucci’s tasteful feather dresses and skirts. For those ready to brave the streets in a feather jacket, remember to keep your look playful and to keep all other pieces simple as to not look like a carnival fugitive. As public school students, it may be irrelevant to fill the halls with knee socks, horizontal stripes, and academic blazers. Whether it is appropriate or not to wear the style at Northwood, Alexandre Herchcovitch, Anna Sui, and Alexander Wang have educated their audiences with their superbly dressed “students.” If anything, this spring will hint sschool spirit.
Blossoms Excellent for Photography by Raquel Avila Each year in the spring time, the blooming of the cherry blossom trees attract thousands of people from all over the nation to Washington DC. These 3,000 trees were donated as a gift from Tokyo, Japan in 1912. The National Cherry Blossom Festival lasted two weeks from March 27th – April 11th, 2010. It featured more than 200 special events which included the colorful festival parade. The blooming of the trees are a symbol of the arrival of spring and brighten the Tidal Basin and Jefferson Memorial. When I went to the Festival, besides wanting to see the Cherry Blossoms, I really wanted to photograph as many as I could for my photography portfolio. I enjoyed taking the photographs from a lot of different angles and views. I really enjoyed capturing the colors of the cherry blossoms. I used my Nikon D60 without the use of a tripod. For my portrait and landscape photography I usually do use a tripod to avoid unwanted camera shakes but I never use flash because natural light looks much better in nature photography. There were a lot of other photographers, painters, tourists, and families that all seemed happy seeing the beautiful Cherry Blossoms. I can’t wait until next year!
Photos By Raquel Avila
Sports
11
April 2010
Skins Fans Thrilled with McNabb By David Wilson
“We’re super bowl bound!” said junior and Redskins fan Christian Dominguez as a reaction to the April 4th trade. It became official on Easter Sunday that Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan Mcnabb was going to be a Redskin next season. “This was a very tough decision,” said Eagles coach Andy Reid. Mcnabb was traded to the Redskins and the Eagles received a second-round pick in the NFL draft for this year and either a thirdor fourth-round pick for next year. Of the many Redskins fans at Northwood there were some mixed feelings about this trade. Juniors Andy Luck and Christian Dominguez both agree the trade is going to be very beneficial for the Redskins next season. “[McNabb] will help the team a lot because of his leadership. If he isn’t a starter he can help out the younger guys but he will probably be used for throwing bombs and his running ability,” said Andy. Christian added “It’s a great trade because now there will be experience at the quarterback position.” Another Redskins fan, senior Yohana Michael, stated “bringing an experience veteran, to a team that is in the rebuilding status helps our chances of going deep in the playoffs, with his past experience in clutch situations.” However, not all Redskins fans felt this way. Junior David Ghartey said “Donavon McNabb is a great asset to the Washington Redskins but we need a quarterback who is younger to fit the image of this new and developing team.” Junior Dani Suaib also noted that, “Jason Campbell was a decent quarterback with a terrible o-line. Redskins need to focus on the o-line, it all starts in front.”
Red and Black Staff Writers Kenya Alvarado
Red and Black Patrons
Raquel Avila
The Britch Family
Liam Brennan
The Cuevas-Iraheta Family
Erik Britch
The Smolonsky Family
Cassandra Cuebas
The Lewis Family
Gabriel Cuevas-Iraheta
The Turner Family
Ashley Davis
The Wilson Family
Celena Jenkins Isha Koroma
Printing by: Silver-Com
Markia Lewis Alex Mendelsen
Special Thanks to:
Marie Meroney
Northwood Administration
Sherry Muolo
Ms. Bisset, Ms Dixon, Ms Bowes-Dietz
Ronald Palmer Kelly Reyes Ivette Roman Phillip Shattan Nora Smolonsky Shonelle Turner David Wilson Adviser: Daryl Alston
Battle of the Classes Class of 2011 Dominates
1st Place: Class of 2011 2nd Place: Class of 2012 3rd Place: Class of 2010 4th Place: Class of 2013 Photos by Marie Meroney
Gladiator Sports April 2010
Red & Black
Spring Highlights
by Alexander Mendelsen
Girls Varsity Lacrosse
Senior Captain Rachel Martinez has adjusted well to her new midfield position.“It’ll make me more adaptable,”she said. Martinez has been accepted to play for Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland and the Naval Academy in Annapolis. Coach Minceburg named Martinez captain the day after a scrimmage against Wheaton. Despite the team’s loss, the scrimmage has succeeded in easing some pre-season “jitters” and in keeping the team’s morale up. “We beat them in the second half,” Minceburg said. Already acting in her new role, Martinez hopes to carry her experience as a captain on the fall soccer team to the spring team. “Our soccer team is like a family,” Martinez said. She hopes create the same sense of family on the lacrosse team. “It’s about making sure if someone’s lost, someone’s there for you.” Martinez has played varsity lacrosse and varsity soccer since entering high school and is looking to play for Sacred Heart, a Division 1 school in Fairfield Connecticut.
Baseball
Despite the increase in the number of captains, from two to three, Jimmy Hessler has emerged with his pitching arm raised, as one of the most instrumental parts of the team. Coach Ricucci cited Jimmy’s role as quarterback during the fall as an important part of his pitching. “[Jimmy] pitched real well in a scrimmage against Wheaton last week,” Ricucci said. Outfielder Malik Sapp, another of this year’s captain trio, was predicted to be one of the team’s strongest hitters, when he hit a triple in the Wheaton Scrimmage. Sapp also plays football in the fall, something Coach Ricucci, a former football player, encourages. “The [leadership] role of the pitcher in baseball is very similar to a quarterback,” Ricucci said about Hessler’s leadership experience. The third captain, Anatoly Moshkin was a member of the Wheaton-based American Legion baseball team last summer and was one of the top pass catchers in the county last fall for the Northwood varsity football team.
Track and Field
Sophomores Yamu Sarr and Mallory Kea are getting faster. Sarr started her season with a personal record. “Yamu is growing,” Coach Brown said, the day after the team’s first meet. Sarr’s PR of 25.9 seconds in the 200 metres put her into second place. Coach Brown also highlighted the performance of Mallory Kea: she placed first in the 100m hurdles and ran the same time as she did last year in the 300m hurdles. Sarr and Kea both run indoor track in the Tennis Junior Marlin Reyes has moved into the top seed in winter and play varsity soccer in the fall. singles, and looks to remain there for the rest of the season. Reyes entered Northwood with no tennis experience and has been playing since. Last year he was seeded first in doubles. Coach Goolseran smiled as he named Marlin as his strongest server and as being strongest in the forehand. Marlin plays soccer for Northwood off-season.
Boys Varsity Lacrosse
Junior Tristan Pomeroy is highlighted for his stick skills. He currently plays defense, a position in which the team performed well at in their first game against Einstein. “Pomeroy is strongest in the check,” Coach Hokanson said, “and he is good at stripping the ball away from the offense-men.” Pomeroy has been playing varsity since his freshman year. He played indoor winter league lacrosse at the Discovery Sports Center in Germantown, Maryland.
Volleyball
Softball
Senior Catcher and Captain Christine Saah has been playing softball since her freshman year, though she skipped playing her sophomore year. Having coached consecutively at Northwood for four years, Coach Crews is seeing a gradual change in Saah’s playing. “She is more aggressive, more knowledgeable.” Saah is also the only catcher on the team.
Coach Gonzalez and Coach Trial were missing their seniors. Most of the Co-ed volleyball team left last year, leaving the team without its major blockers, attackers, and servers. As a result, Coach Trail “[has] a lot of people stuffing into positions they have never played before.” Nevertheless, Captain Janel Thomas, who has started on the Girl’s and Co-ed team since her freshman year, and senior Natalie Hessler have emerged as the team’s strongest servers and fiercest players. Ms. Hessler was also named as one of the strongest attackers along with sophmore Abbey Sauber and junior Taylor D’Ottavi.