Recent changes in texting, driving laws strike controversy among students, p. A2
Volume 16 Number 3
James Hubert Blake HS
Silver Spring, MD
http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/blakehs
December 18, 2013
Highly distinguished trumpeter inspires instrumentalists Grammy winner Arturo Sandoval offers Jazz Band advice on music, life by Adam Beuttler x & Jacqueline Hyman Arturo Sandoval, ten-time Grammy award winner and trumpeter, visited Blake December 3 to speak to young musicians and provide insight based on his life experience. Music teacher Rachel Lader realized how much her students looked up to Mr. Sandoval when she heard them repeatedly mimicking his instrumental style from a YouTube video in which he performs “A Night In Tunisia.” She says, “The students and I have always been huge fans of Arturo and it was an honor to have him come to the school and work with us.” Adds junior Jordan Weber, “We really look up to this guy as a big face in jazz music.” Mr. Sandoval listened to the jazz ensemble play and provided feedback that really helped the students. Says senior Julian Raul, “He gave us great advice on practicing and how to compose ourselves as musicians [as well as] how to network ourselves.” Other than technique, the students acquired even more assistance from Mr. Sandoval when meeting him. They were able to learn about how to be good musicians in general, listening to Sandoval for life advice. Says Weber, “The main points that he made were more about...having passion for what you do regardless of what your
career is.” The students acknowledge that Mr. Sandoval’s advice will help motivate them to improve themselves for future performances. Says junior Cameron Payton, “I am going to use what he taught me to make [music] sound better and make my performance level rise.” “I’ll begin to build more of a passion for music and trumpet playing in general,” adds Weber. “You can have talent, but what really makes you good is the practice and the passion that you have for what you’re doing.” Mr. Sandoval’s stories and words affected and inspired students who were in the audience as well. Sophomore Victoria Nelson explains that coming from Cuba, Mr. Sandoval faced much adversity before becoming so widely-known. “Somebody like him...had all of the odds against him. I have everything going for me,” she says. “I can go far as well…I really want to push myself and see what’s out there for me.” Reactions to Mr. Sandoval’s visit were positive, and attendees were impressed with his guidance and performances. “His stories were really motivational,” says Ms. Lader, “and I think they encouraged all of the students in jazz band to take their own playing to the next level and Arturo Sandoval plays the trumpet, offers students keys to success. --Photos by Dennis Chan commit themselves to the art.”
by Ann Cirincione & Jacqueline x Hyman
Writing on bathroom stalls sparks investigation, c o n t r ove r s y a m o n g students, staff
The recent increase of writing inside the girls’ bathroom stalls is now being investigated by security and administration in hopes of stopping what they see as destruction of property. Some girls may be familiar with the various quotes seen on the inside of the stall doors, saying things such as “Try to view life from a different perspective. Don’t be confined to just one,” and “What are you passionate about? What makes you happy?” After administration learned about these messages, they began checking security tapes to narrow down a list of suspects. Says assistant principal Marie Koch, “I was very, honestly surprised when [the writing] ended up being inspirational...but even though it’s inspirational, it is destruction of property.” The school defines vandalism as “Intentional destruction or defacement (graffiti) of any school property.” Says principal Christopher Berry, “Some people look at graffiti as art in the public realm. I don’t look at it that way here.” The school considers the writings as graffiti, and is running the investigation according to this verdict.
Some students did not think much of the writings when they encountered them in the stalls. Says sophomore Nicole Kister, “If me and a friend saw the quotes together, we would mention them casually and laugh about them.” Kister says that she did not really care about what she saw. “I brushed them away without really a second thought,” she adds. Other students, such as senior Cristela Rivera, were intrigued by the writings. “I think the writings are more interesting than inspiring. When I see them, I take the time to actually think about them and [they’re] really thought provoking,” says Rivera. “It’s like catching someone in a moment of vulnerability and asking how they’re really doing.” Although the writings have entertained and fascinated some students, administration remains adamant that they be removed, despite the time, money, and effort it will take. Says Mr. Berry, “I think that’s terrific, but [there are] a lot of ways to put inspiration out there, [and] one of them isn’t on the walls of the bathroom.” Adds Miss Koch, “There are some other ways to express yourself.” Still, multiple students are surprised that
the investigation has become so widespread. “There’s been more insulting, vulgar things written on those stalls and I haven’t heard about any investigation about those,” says Rivera. “That’s why I find this investigation so ridiculous--why are they focusing their attention on writings that are meant to help people realize they deserve to be happy?” Sophomore Tess Maltagliati agrees with Rivera that the quotes are positive and believes the investigation is unnecessary, but offers an alternative solution. Says Maltagliati, “If we had art students...basically add their own creative art and sort of collage the stall walls, there would be no room for negativity, and to visitors, it would further represent the creativity in our school.” Administration claims that they remove all graffiti as soon as they learn of its presence, regardless of its content. “A lot of folks don’t necessarily see how much graffiti we do remove,” says Miss Koch. “It’s not as much as you may think, but at the same time, it’s more than you probably recognize.” Adds Mr. Berry, “We just want our bathrooms to be clean and not be the kind of place where people feel like it’s okay to deface.
Newly formed step team incorporates both genders, stomps on new ground, p. A3
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The Blake Beat
December 18, 2013
Driving with cell phone becomes primary traffic violation
Students provide opinions about texting on road, automobile safety
x by Jordan McLean As of October 1, using a cell phone without a hands-free device is a primary offense, meaning police can pull drivers over and cite them without any other traffic violation taking place. Many student drivers are not concerned about the new law because they are against using a cell phone in the car in the first place. Says senior driver Caroline Tatnall, “Texting and driving is not safe; you can’t look at the road and your phone
at the same time.” In a technologically-advancing society, the number of people who text and drive continues to increase, especially among teenagers. This has increased the amount of cell phone related accidents. The National Safety Council has reported that 28% of car accidents, or 1.6 million crashes each year, involve the use of cell phones. In the notoriously hectic Blake parking lot, texting and driving is an even greater worry for student drivers. “No matter how experienced you are with
driving, texting will always take your mind off the road,” adds junior Amanda Long. “It’s way too easy to get distracted with cell phones and people should not use them.” Drivers who use their hands to hold a cell phone will on their first offense receive an $83 fine. Continued offenses increase the amount of the fine and risk the addition of points onto a driver’s license. The offense can also lead to the revoking of licenses to those under the age of 18, or provisional license holders.
Some students add that the new law is too strict in some aspects. Says junior Levko Karmazyn, “I don’t think police should pull you over if you are using your cell phone while stopped at a red light; sometimes you have to send a text.” The law does allow for the use of hands-free cell phone options, like using the speaker phone, Bluetooth, or car connected calling. These are safer options for the driver when it is necessary to send a text or make a call. Lawmakers hope that making texting and driving
a primary offense will reduce the amount of car accidents and fatalities. Texting and driving has become a serious issue for drivers of all ages. “Texting and driving is dangerous and puts lives at risk,” adds senior Victoria Wolsh. “If you absolutely need to answer a text is should be at a red light; it should not be a priority over a person’s life.” The various perspectives on this issue are apparent. Many are left wondering what will become of this controversial law that affects all drivers.
Texting and driving is not safe; you can’t look at the road and your phone.
Caroline Tatnall
National Honor Society inducts 45 new members in annual ceremony x by Sara Kohorst & Nicholas Moskov Forty-five new members were inducted into the National Honor Society (NHS) based on the organization’s four pillars—character, leadership, scholarship, and service—at a ceremony Monday night. “[NHS students] are our student leaders, and high-academic achievers,” says Beth Matcham-Shepherd, the NHS faculty advisor and special education teacher. “We want them to have an influence on making Blake the best that it can be.” The new members were presented at the ceremony in a formal fashion. New inductees were called up to the stage to receive their own pin, card, and flower. They then signed the NHS ledger, an official document that all previous NHS members have signed since the school opened. In addition, the 40 fall and five spring inductees recited the NHS membership pledge, led by senior induc-
tion co-chairs Teddy Lemberos and Alex Krakaur. Later, there was a candle lighting ceremony performed by NHS president senior Sami Wright in order to signify each of the four pillars. “We encourage them to become involved with all kinds of activities and leadership projects here at Blake,” adds Ms. Matcham-Shepherd. The ceremony also included two instrumental music performances, a vocal performance, and multiple speeches provided by Wright, principal Christopher Berry, and Katherine Kodan, NHS advisor and mathematics resource teacher. “We believe that being a part of this is a privilege,” says Ms. Kodan, regarding the high standards they hold for their students and the importance of the induction ceremony. To apply to the NHS, students must be a junior or senior with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5 or 4.0 weighted. They must also have 60 documented SSL hours, display good character, and work hard in school.
Once an official member, a student must attend monthly meetings, act as a tutor for different subjects during lunch throughout the week, and participate in various leadership projects through the organization. Each student is obligated to take part in at least one individual project and two other projects either from other individuals or the larger group. Senior NHS member Dunchadhn Lyons worked with Brookhaven Elementary School for his individual service project last year. “I worked with impoverished students and we did lots of different projects with them,” said Lyons. Lyons helped teach students about animals, nutrition, leadership, public-speaking, and other skills and knowledge. Ms. Matcham-Shepherd is pleased with the new group of students this year and believes that they will be able to successfully carry out the legacy of the NHS. “I think they’re an excellent group of students,” says Ms. MatchamShepherd, “[and] an excellent representation of Blake.”
The Blake Beat
December 18, 2013
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Step team sponsors dream big for 2014
Squire, White join males, females in artsy troupe
by Emily George x & Tabi Orock
ISI coordinator Thomas Squire is placing Blake’s Step team under new management and revamping the group to include more male students, and if possible, create Blake’s first ever co-ed step team. Although he is shooting for an all-male step team, Mr. Squire remains open to the idea of a co-ed team. He aspires to create a team that is more diverse in gender and race. Mr. Squire says, “What most people in high school don’t realize is that stepping is equally male and female dominated.” He hopes that with a more balanced ratio of young men and women on his team, students’ views on stepping will change. Mr. Squire, alongside co-sponsor and security assistant Vicki White, have been making efforts to promote the team, with special targeting towards the male student population. Mr. Squire has already found a potential captain in junior football player Moctar Ahmed. Ahmed is a transfer The Hispanic Leadership Club after one of their various in school events. --Photo provided by The Hispanic Leadership Club from Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Prince George’s County, where he was a member of the school’s step team. Stepping has been a lifelong passion for Mr. Squire. He started practicing the dance form in fourth and extra-curricular activities.” dance competition. grade and was the captain of Blake’s by Michelle Carter x The club has challenging, but ex A favorite event of many students step team during his time as a student. Through its incorporation of cultural tremely reachable goals. Says junior, Angel was thepresentation of speaker, Ernie G. In college, he continued to step with activities such as eating Hispanic food Aguiluz, editor of the HLC quarterly news- Says senior HLC Vice President, Ash Esco- the Coastal Carolina University chapand listening to inspirational speakers, the letter, “Some of our goals are to reach out bar, “He feels very strongly that the Latino ter of his fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha. recently-expanded Hispanic Leadership to our Hispanic community at Blake and youth can get up and do things for themMr. Squire says that as a choClub (HLC) has cemented itself as a reign- help each other out academically in any selves. He says, ‘Let your light shine.’” reographer, his creative process is ing club within the Blake community. other way.” Many members of HLC agree that spontaneous. He says, “Step, to me Hispanic Leadership Club was started So far, HLC has achieved so much the best part of the club is the incredible is a show. [It is] a different way to in 2009, but its popularity this school year in only a few months. Club officials are sense of community and belonging. “What express a story, an idea or a theme.” has been widespread under the sponsorship already looking forward to the impact amazes me the most is how we as a Latino Dances, skits, dialogues, and stoof Spanish teachers, Monica Abuliak and HLC can keep making. “I look forward to community are brought together and how rylines are all incorporated into his Melissa Young. Says Ms. Abuliak, “His- serving [HLC] this year and hope that [all Hispanic Leadership Club brings the school routines, which create a reoccurring panic Leadership Club was started…by club members] will join me in making this together as an even larger community”, theme. He is inspired by the world a group of high achieving Hispanics who year’s HLC the best yet”, says senior HLC says freshman HLC member, Alejandro around him, his surrounding culture noticed that in their AP classes, there were president, Rene Cordon, in the Fall HLC Guzman. and the provided theme. few numbers of Hispanics. “ quarterly newsletter. However, Hispanic Leadership Club After being discovered by Ms. The vision of HLC is to create a suc“This year, we were responsible for focuses not only on academics and the com- White through a video, Ahmed was cessful Blake community by encouraging organizing all of the Hispanic Heritage munity, but also on creating leaders who immediately recruited and asked to all students to succeed, especially Hispanic Month cultural activities”, says Ms. Abu- will positively impact the world around become a leader on the step team students. The club’s mission statement liak. Activities included a presentation them. Freshman member of HLC, Julissa that was formerly all-female in 2012. says, “HLC is committed to creating a from notorious Latino speaker, Ernie G., a Guzman says, “[The HLC] teaches you that “I chose to make the team a mix of positive student community by supporting temporary tattoo clinic, a Latin food tasting, you can help out with anything…It brings boys and girls so more people would all students to excel in academics, athletics, a Latin film showing and a miniature Latin out the best in Hispanics.” be interested,” says Ahmed. Ahmed’s previous team from Eleanor Roosevelt competed in step competitions at Georgetown Univerthis time of year should be able to closer together. “I hope it prompts enna, “Were selling fake mistletoe sity, University of Maryland, Alpha x by Shak Magona have something to look forward more fundraisers like it to help and its getting sent like candy Kappa, and Alpha Phi Alpha, where they always placed first. His expecSaving Christmas this year to. Raul says, “We thought it was more needy people,” adds Escobar. grams.” is Blake’s Superhero Club, which a really good opportunity to give Students enjoy the feelMolloy would be very proud tations for the team this year are for is donating toys to underprivileged something to children in need, ing they get knowing that they of the club if it makes this fun- members to be dedicated and hard kids who must spend this year’s especially those in the hospital.” are helping children have a nice draiser a tradition since she and working. “People think it’s a joke Christmas at the Children’s HosSo far the club was able to Christmas. Senior Miles Clark other founders will be graduating and just dancing, but it’s serious, and pital in DC. gather about 30 to 35 toys this says, “It does make me feel like I’m this year. ”I think it’d be a really you can win a lot of recognition and This year, our school has holiday season and are hoping to making a difference in someone’s cool annual thing the club could money,” says Ahmed. “I’ve always created my own seen less holiday themed fundrais- collect a lot more toys to give to life somewhere. With this drive I sponsor,” says Molloy. ers. However this does not mean the many children in need. “We’re know that some kid will be a little As the club looks forward steps and choreographed my routines that there are not any. Senior co- hoping to get a lot more,” says bit happier.” to the future, they wish to be able to fit my style,” says Ahmed. Excited president Fiona Molloy finds the Raul. “We want to get about 100 Aiming to impress the chil- to help out more children and hos- to be able to work with Mr. Squire and lack of fundraisers shocking. “I’m toys.” dren, Raul wants to make a child’s pitals very soon. “We’re definitely Ms. White, Ahmed looks forward to glad our club can fill the need,” The fundraiser has also had holiday very special this year. “I planning on doing something more leading the team that begins meetMolloy adds. a positive effect on the members hope kids are really happy with hands on with a hospital,” says ing for practice near the middle of Senior co-president of Su- themselves. Senior member Ashley our toys especially in this holiday Molloy. “We may set up a new December. Official tryouts will be perhero club Julian Raul believes Escobar believes that this project is season,” says Raul. fundraiser or collection depending announced as the month progresses due to snow day interference. that the kids in the hospital around a good way to help the club come Adds senior Kristina McK- on what are allowed to do.”
Hispanic Leadership seeks to inspire students Multitude of school fundraisers spread Latino culture
Superhero Club donates toys to underprivileged kids
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The Bla
December 18, 2013 How many snowflakes are in this issue of The Blake Beat? Answer at the bottom of A5!
HOLIDAY WORD SEARCH
Yulelog
Snowman
Sleighbells
Nia
Dreidle
Mkeka
Snowflake
Christmas
Imani
Star
Elf
Gelt
Reindeer
Candy Cane
Habari Gani
Menorah
Holiday
New Year
Kwanzaa
Prancer
Angel
Presents
Carols
Merry
Candle
Chanukkah
Holiday Entertainment Trivia Quiz Think you’re a pro when it comes to all that is holidy cinema? Put your skills to the true test and find out how much you’re really made of (Answers at the bottom of A5)! Question #4: What former SNL cast member both co-writes and stars in Eight Crazy Nights (2002), the provocative animated musical film of a troubled Jewish man and his heartfelt community during the Hanukkah season? A. Jim Carrey B. Chris Farley C. Adam Sandler
Question #7: The cinematic story of apathetic curmudgeon Ebenezer Scrooge visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve, is based on the novel A Christmas Carol, written by what famous author of the mid 1800s? A. Charles Dickens B. Mark Twain C. Henry James
Question #2: Which actor from 1998’s That 70’s Show plays a ragged cynic trapped in his apartment building elevator with a young aspiring singer in the romantic comedy New Year’s Eve (2011)? A. Topher Grace B. Wilmer Valderrama C. Ashton Kutcher
Question #5: What critically acclaimed actor from the mid 1900s stars as dejected family man George Bailey in the endearing Christmas fantasy film It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) alongside notable starlet Donna Reed and Clarence Odbody? A. Gregory Peck B. Marlon Brando C. James Stewart
Question #8: Infamous poet Maya Angelou narrates what successful documentary film about the exploration of Kwanzaa as well as African Americans and their cultural experiences? A. Seven Nights of Kwanzaa B. The Black Candle C. Habari Gani: A Kwanzaa
Question #3: What prominent Nickelodeon animated series, featuring the misadventures of multiple suburban toddlers, released its own Kwanzaa special in 2001? A. Hey Arnold! B. Rugrats C. As Told by Ginger
Question #6: The Christmas-set romantic comedy Love Actually (2003) includes an ensemble cast predominantly from which region of the world? A. Britain B. India C. Madagascar
Question #1: In the original cartoon TV special of Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966), which renowned actor, famous for his role in the popular horror film Frankenstein, narrated the classic tale? A. Anthony Hopkins B. Boris Karloff C. Alfred Hitchcock
Question #9: What American radio and television personality hosted the wellknown Rockin New Year’s Eve broadcast special for an astounding 40 years before Ryan Seacrest interceded? A. Frank Lovejoy B. Dick Clark C. Ricky Ricardo
ake Beat
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December 18, 2013
Capricorn
December/January Horoscopes
December: Although you tend to keep to yourself, this month you’ll open up to someone unexpectedly and realize you may be more open than you think. January: The new year will leave you with money on the brain. A financial opportunity will arise around the 15th. Pursue it.
Taurus
December: Don’t get too stubborn around the 30th when someone suggests a solution to an intense problem. It just might work January: Now is the time to indulge in your creative side. Setting ambitions for yourself will pay off near the 11th, when you decide to accept more for yourself.
Virgo
December: Soon, a new person will enter into your life. They may be a little different from you, so try not to be so critical. January: A social gathering will not go as smoothly as you thought it would. You tend to want nothing but perfection, but it may be time to let go and accept what is.
Aquarius
December: This holiday season, you’ll be a little withdrawn like always. However, an extroverted attitude will pay off and connect you to your family. January: A significant other you’ve had your eyes on for awhile will notice how charming and sincere you are. Make a move!
Gemini
December: Your mercurial emotions might result in some indecisiveness around the 28th. Try not to waste time by figuring out what you really want. January: On the 16th, you’ll find the answers to a question you’ve been pondering for weeks now, but you might not like the truth.
Libra
December: A person close to you will need your goofy sense of humor to succeed in an ambition that has been long-awaited. January: You’ll be reluctant to a lot of activity on the 8th, however, goals might actually be good for you right now. You could find spiritual benefits in productivity this month.
Pisces
December: A confrontation around winter break will put your well-known temper to the test, but remain calm and the holidays won’t be completely ruined. January: This month you’ll get the urge to follow your dependent tendencies and rely on someone else. But be careful, they are a bit unsturdy.
Cancer
December: A friend going through a tough time will need your maternal instincts this month. Break out the munchies and give them your shoulder to cry on. January: Your mood swings have been off the charts lately. Some time to yourself around the 20th will bring you back to your sunny spirit.
Scorpio
December: You’ll be introduced to someone of extreme compatibility soon. But beware, your passion may be interpreted as unjustified intensity. January: An old friend may break your trust in the near future. Because you two have pleasant history, it may be wise to forgive them.
Aries
December: A long awaited dispute will cause you to revert back to your hard-headed ways. It might help to think out of your point of view. January: On the 19th, your energetic manner will be at an all time high. Put that liveliness to use and plan a fun get-together, but don’t get too spontaneous.
Leo
December: A secret you hear will be hard to withhold. So bring out your inner loyalty and you’ll reap major friendship points. January: You’ll have a brief run-in with an old friend oozing with latent hostility. Use your good judgement and take the high road on this one.
Sagittarius
December: You’ve been doing well in school for quite some time now. You’ve gone unrecognized but don’t worry. You shall soon inherit reward. January: A force may try to get the best of you near the 7th. Since your power lies in your optimism, kill it with kindness.
Holiday Trivia Quiz: Answers are as follows: B,C,B,C,C,A,A,B,B! Snowflake Search: There are 21 snowflakes in this issue!
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The Blake Beat
December 18, 2013
Blakescape displays students’ artistic interests, abilities Innovative proffessionals share insight into creative aesthetic industry by Shak Magona x & Kloe Johnson Blakescape allowed students to explore and enjoy a variety of wonders, ranging from video games to art, as they showcased their own work to professionals who attended this event December 7. Video game development teacher Derek Ritzenburg hosted the first annual Blakescape, wishing to inspire students to follow their dreams, while also hoping to introduce them to things they may enjoy. “This was the greatest gift I could give students,” says Mr. Ritzenburg. Blakescape offered many things for people of all interests to do. Some of the activities that were available at the event were live music, face paint, and henna tattoos. “I was really interested in the art and the presentations,” says sophomore Christine Evans. Students had the opportunity to explore new interests and try new things. Senior Elyssa Kil was a first time model for senior costume designer Angela Mix and enjoyed the experience. “This is my first time ever modeling for anyone so I’m really excited,” adds Kil. While showing off their artistic talents, some students such as senior Aaron Rubinstien were able to promote their music in front of attendees.
Seniors Stephen Han and Justin Chan show off various works at Blakescape. --Photo by John Kos
Says Rubinstien, “[Someone] asked me for my contact information in case [they] needed it because they might be looking for musicians for upcoming events.” A student production team run by seniors Stephen Han and Justin Chan was also able to display their portfolio to everyone who was in attendance at the event. Their talents include film, photography, and spray art. “It’s another way to show our passion for arts and technology,” says Han. Sophomore Kimberly Canoy genuinely enjoyed herself during Blakescape. “I came to look at the art and the talent that other students had,” says Canoy. Even though Canoy does not play video games, she admits that she would love to come back again next year. Sunset Dragon concept artist Kaitlin Reid was really impressed by Blakescape and believes that it did a good job inspiring kids. Ms. Reid says, “I always like to come back to high school and try to inspire kids because I would have loved that when I was in high school myself.” Teachers and faculty also attended the event and found themselves immersed in all Blakescape had to offer. “I thought it was a great idea; I think anything Mr. Ritzenburg does is awesome,” says assistant school administrator Kevin Yates. “We all support him and what he does.”
Swartz competes for USA in International Mounted Games Exchange
Participant competes against Canadian, Australian, British players x by Emma Friedman Freshman equestrian Courtney Swartz will compete in the International Mounted Games Exchange for the USA against riders from Canada, Australia, and Britain in a variety of games on ponies August 18, 2014 in Cheshire England. Teams of five participants ages 14 and 15 are chosen from all four countries by Pony Club who sponsors Mounted Games. In addition to riding ability, participants must have good grades and social skills to represent the USA. Says Swartz, “The thing that excites me most…is I get to spend two weeks meeting new friends from all around the world.” Swartz has been riding horses since she could walk and continues to ride every day. Her mother is a professional dressage rider who also owns two horse farms. “One thing I love most about riding horses is that there are so many organizations and mini sports
within the whole horse world,” says Swartz. She plans on continuing her lifelong passion into the future. Riding horses can be a challenging and dangerous experience. “Riding horses takes some guts…every second could be a live or die moment since you deal with live creatures that can change their mind at any moment,” says Swartz. The United States Pony Club allows the USA team to meet and practice together for one week before competition begins in August. Other USA members from Kansas, Tennessee, and Maryland will meet in Sandy Spring for training camp. The team must raise $5000 for uniforms, and plans to sell t-shirts this January. “We will get to know each other as friends and riders,” says Swartz. Upon arriving in England, the USA competitors will stay with host families and at Universities. Says Swartz, “First we will be going to Devon to ride on the beach and do other fun activities, then we will head to
London to get more of a culture prospective and finally we will head to Cheshire to compete.” Although they will take advantage of the exciting activities England has to offer, their trip will focus mainly on participating in the competition. Most of Swartz’s friends ride horses and she gets to see them each weekend at competitions which differ from Mounted Games. “I have competed in many different competitions but none compare to this one,” says Swartz. “Since this is not a local competition it involves much more practice and organization and my team needs to represent the USA in a good way.” As Swartz gears up for the competition, she reflects on her main objectives for the competition. Says Swartz, “Some of my goals are to make new friends [and] be competitive against the other countries.” This competition gives Swartz the opportunity to gain foreign experiences beyond that of most freshmen or high schoolers.
Riding horses takes some guts...every second could be a live or die moment.
Courtney Swartz
The Blake Beat
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Seniors Hunter Balog and Sami Wright have been accepted in St. Mary’s College of Maryland through early decision applications. Senior George Hyde has committed to Coastal Carolina University through early decision. n
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The A Cappella choir is going on a field trip today to the Argyle Country Club to sing Christmas carols for the Kiwanis Club, led by senior president Xavier Fox. n
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December 18, 2013
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Seniors Kristina McKenna and Sami Wright are collecting winter scarves for their National Honor Society service project to donate to the homeless. n
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Senior Raul Escobar was selected for the boys all-state soccer first team and named Gazette Player of the Year. n
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Senior Dunchadhn Lyons was selected for first team all-county. He also received all-Gazette and all-state honorable mention. n
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Seniors Jose Cooper and Matt Russell received allGazette honorable mention. Cooper also received allstate honorable mention.
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December 20 Alumni panel, reception at ampitheatre, Black Box theatre, career center, 12:30pm Girls JV Basketball at Poolesville, 3:30pm Girls Varsity Basketball vs. Poolesville, 5:15pm Boys JV Basketball at Poolesville, 5:15pm Boys Varsity Basketball vs. Poolesville, 7pm
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Senior Victor Phimphachanh won the POSSE Scholarship and is committed to Grinnell College in Iowa. Senior Bethany Hamson received the POSSE scholarship for Sewanee, The University of the South in Tennesee.
December 19 JV Wrestling at Kennedy, 7pm
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Senior Megan Kong and sophomore Adalia Jimenez were selcted to participate in the Maryland All-State Chorus.
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Instrumental Concert at auditorium, 7pm Varsity Wrestling vs. Kennedy, 6pm
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Ms. Nancy Auslander has created a website signup to donate food for junior Paul Farrell and his family. Go to the following link: http://www.takethemameal.com/ Enter Farrell Family and use 1234 as the password. You should be able to sign up.
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CALENDAR Swim and Dive meet vs. Springbrook, 9:15am
December 23 No school, start of Winter Break
December 30 Indoor Track Meet, 11:30am
January 2 Return to school
January 3 Girls JV Basketball vs. Springbrook, 3:30pm Girls Varsity Basketball at Springbrook, 5:15pm Boys JV Basketball vs. Springbrook, 5:15pm Boys Varsity Basketball at Springbrook, 7pm
January 4
Swim and Dive meet vs. Watkins Mill, 9:15am Varsity Wrestling at Falcon Invitational, 8am
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December 18, 2013
The Blake Beat
Junior criticizes physical education graduation credit, calls for athlete exemption, p. B7
Section Section E B
James Hubert Blake High School James Hubert Blake High School
December 18, 2013 October 4, 2013
Absent artwork causes criticism over signature program
Murals, music, sculptures could bring variety to bland color of hallways x by John Kos Welcome to Blake, a school filled with many aspiring photographers, dancers, performers and musicians who are ironically encapsulated by the dreary, uninspiring white walls and silence of our building. One would expect that a school that is supposed to be heavily involved in the arts to display at least a bit of art. Other than some boards, A hallway, and a mural that most students couldn’t even locate if they tried, this school is completely drained of art. An art school should show off the talent of its students. Maybe if the school was a bit more colorful, the idea of Blake being an art school would hold more water. It even feels as if this school was designed for art to have a large presence. The spiral staircase feels empty and there needs to be something to make it feel like it is the center of Blake, other than the large amounts of traffic. Even the large stone cubes that are in the courtyards were originally designed so that students could display their sculptures, but everybody can see how far that idea has come. The idea of having giant Greek-like porcelain sculptures in the courtyard seems like it would be the coolest thing ever, and that maybe even would increase the number of students that eat outside. Maybe if we had art displayed around the school, students would start to take a bigger interest in the arts, because right now, many students see the necessary art class as a burden and not as a way for them to enjoy themselves. Having art displayed around the school would also be a great way to impress adults and new students. Imagine coming into the spiral staircase and seeing a giant mural running all the way up. That is what would inspire a student to come to Blake. That is what would get students inspired to take art classes. And the problem is not even that students are uninspired. I am sure that an artistic student would be beyond happy if they were given the chance to paint murals on the walls of the school. Having to paint a mural would also present an interesting challenge for students seeing as most their paintings stay on eight by ten canvasses. If Blake wants to own its label as an art school, it better start acting like it. I want to see murals in the hallways, sculptures in the courtyard and maybe music in the halls for good measure, because right now, Blake is a boring bland typical high school.
Graphic by Ty Skeiky
Cold weather, icy mornings inflict depression in student population
Students suffer through winter season, desperately anticipate spring x by Logan Dreher With shorter days, colder weather, and dark skies drawing closer, it’s not exactly surprising that many people’s moods seem to plummet along with the weather. It’s difficult to be happy when we’re facing five solid months of gloomy weather, punctuated by only a few short weeks of holidays. These long winter months raise questions like, why does the winter last from late November to early March, and what exactly happened to global warming? In past years, there were always snow days to look forward to, especially at a younger age. When I was a kid the winter was a joyous time of sleeping in late, snowmen, and snowball fights. Recently, however, there has been a trend of fewer snow days. Some of this probably has to do with less snow in the winter, which is disappointing in itself, but it also seems like MCPS is getting stingy with its snow days. With the exception of the few days off this year, snows days have been getting sparser and sparser. There was
one morning last year when it was snowing heavily, and driving to school was a matter of life or death. Just another negative quality of winter is daylight savings, which cuts the day short by almost three hours. Say goodbye to long afternoons and warm summer nights, and hello to frigid, dark evenings at four o’clock and freezing extremities. I can’t even go outside in the winter without ten minutes of preparation because I need to find my gloves, scarf, coat, hat, and five layers of extra clothing so I don’t freeze. And I am not even mentioning the dried out skin or chapped lips that come with cold weather. When considering all this, it’s understandable why the “winter blues” is a common saying. But in some cases the so-called winter blues are actually a real medical disorder called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). SAD can be caused by light deprivation since daylight savings causes shorter days and less sunlight. Less sunlight can result in a drop in serotonin levels, a chemical that affects mood, or melatonin, a hormone that helps to regulate sleep patterns. The
resulting symptoms include changes in sleep patterns, weight gain, depression, and laziness, which sounds a lot like the typical “winter blues” syndrome. So does this mean we should all flock to Florida for the winter? Not exactly. SAD has many remedies, including light therap y , changes in diet, and vitamin supplementation. The elimination of caffeine, refined sugars, and a low fat diet can improve mood, as well treatment with antidepressants.
It’s difficult to be happy when we’re facing five solid months of gloomy weather.
B2
December 18, 2013
The Blake Beat
What would Maryam do: on dating policy, Christmas, senioritis Senior gives clever advice, responds to students’ questions, concerns x by Maryam Outlaw 1. Is it okay for a GIRL to ask a GUY out? Umm...is it the 21st century? I think so. Thinking of these kinds of situations in terms of boy and girl don’t get you anywhere. Instead, think in terms of aggressive and complaisant. It isn’t whether or not he’s a boy. It’s whether or not he’s a chaser. If he’s the predator type, flirt hard and give him time to come around to you. If you find him to be more on the shy side, then either take the lead on this one or find a different guy. 2. How do I cure my senioritis? Sweetie, there is no cure. You’re going to have to ride this one out until the end of the year. Senioritis is what happens when a do-nothing sloth and a professional procrastinator decide to procreate, but it’s an easy illness to get away with. Drink a lot of coffee and crack a lot of jokes. You may not be your teacher’s best student, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be their favorite. 3. Do I have to give my boyfriend of three months a gift for Christmas? Absolutely! Unless you two have flat out said, “Let’s not get each other anything for Christmas,” it’s pretty much a must. However, just because it’s holiday time, doesn’t mean you should feel obligated to buy something expensive or super sentimental. Three months into a relationship is the perfect time to keep it sweet and simple, so just have fun with it. 4. What can I get for a secret Santa I don’t know very well? You always get a little bit of a sinking feeling in your tummy when your secret Santa might as well be a complete stranger. But of course, the true gift is in giving, even if that person isn’t exactly a BFFL of yours. A lot of the time, people find that when they get an unfamiliar secret Santa, they basically have to stalk them for two weeks before finding a gift for them. But it can be made simple by just giving that acquaintance something broad and neutral that you know anyone would like...THINK FOOD. 5. How do I maintain my hair in the winter? You can’t win in the summer. You can’t win in the winter. Mother Nature can just never gives us girls a break, huh? The good news? You’re dealing with a lot less moisture in the air this time of year. The bad news? Harsh winter weather and sneaky sun exposure can really ruin a good head of hair. This winter, make sure to use replenishing products and humectants as well as deep conditioners to lock in all that moisture. But if your hair, like most of us, continues to use that stubborn little mind of its own, wear a cute beanie. They’re appropriate for the cold weather, they’re allowed in school, and they’re IN...I think.
Theatre costumes raise eyebrows, fuel questions about dress code x by Courtney Hutchinson Although Blake’s staff seems to have strict, somewhat unreasonable laws on the dress code during the school day, theatre students have slipped by that after hours, getting on stage in whatever they please. It’s understandable that the students during the day choose what they want to wear and the students in the play are just acting. But when is it acceptable to have a person of any sort walking around school in almost underwear?
Girls that are not involved in theatre, who wear shorts with a little bit of extra thigh showing, are immediately stopped by the administration and instructed to change. Then these girls must prance around school in the most disgusting sweat pants from the band of 2009, or into somebody’s jeans from the lost and found. Meanwhile girls get on stage, breasts almost hanging out of tops, butt cheeks shaking out of bottoms and bedazzled from head to toe. One would peek at these girls and wonder, “Where are the
slot machines? I must be in Vegas!” Yet no one bats an eyelash because they are “just acting.” Staff look past the dress of the students in the productions onstage. When playing a role it’s understandable that to portray a character to the best of an actor’s ability clothes must be changed. Getting on stage in casual wear while trying to play a pirate would be ridiculous. More reasonable rules such as “no strapless tops” can be removed for the sake of imitating a different person. But where is the line drawn?
These beautiful plays or musicals have been a tool Blake uses to represent itself because Blake is an arts school. But it wouldn’t hurt that while making an audience laugh or cry the girls (and possibly boys) could be a little more covered up. Bringing grandma to a show full of “rump shakers” is not a way one would choose to spend a Saturday night. It’s not the content, theme, or what is said on the stage, it is what teens’ virgin eyes are seeing or what the young ones sacred bodies are wearing that may leave a not so joyous taste in the mouths of the audience.
Junior criticizes predominance of slang words, questions their appeal
Overuse of words denigrate younger generation, tarnish intelligence x by Alyssia Graves Kids in the younger generation these days have developed a language of their own with the use of many slang words, making them look illiterate and uneducated, and taking a toll on their social skills. Slang words have become a part of this generation’s vocabulary. Words such as “ratchet,” “bourgie,” “finesse,” and many more have been adopted into the everyday conversations of many teenagers. They are used so often, they might as well be added to the dictionary. Slang words have affected communication skills of teenagers. Teens get so adjusted to using these words they have trouble holding a real conversation. Words slip out during conversations with adults, leaving the older generation confused as
to what the younger generation is even talking about. It just makes the younger generation look bad. Parents and teachers talk about how times have changed from their childhood
Not only are slang words being overused, but there are no real definitions to these words. Is there anyone who can fully define the word ratchet? No. Yet this word is used so frequently. There is
If kids want to succeed in school and life, they need to start expanding their vocabulary. to now. They are constantly lecturing kids on how this generation is becoming dumber as the years go on. Teens are constantly being looked down upon and slang words only cause the younger generation to fall more into that stereotype.
no use for this word and many others as well. There are plenty of other words in the English language that can be used. Slang words are also used at inappropriate times. When talking to future employers or admissions directors it is un-
acceptable to use such casual language. If kids want to succeed in school and life, they need to start expanding their vocabulary. Students writing has become short-form because of their lack of communication skills. People write like they speak. It only takes one person to come up with a new slang word, and then everyone else hops on the bandwagon. It does not have to have a true meaning. As long as it is catchy, everyone will start using it. Most of the slang words used today sound dumb, yet teens are still saying them. Overall slang words are overused and unnecessary. They are being blown out of proportion and are being used out of context entirely. Teens sound ignorant and downright stupid. If teens do not start correcting the way they speak now, it will carry on into adulthood.
The Blake Beat
B3
December 18, 2013
Graphic by Ty Skeiky
Spending habits need reevaluation, change in management
Teenagers waste money recklessly, need to grow up, alter money handling
x by Jacqueline Hyman People nowadays have no idea how to manage money; they are frivolous and don’t seem to care how much they’re spending, especially when the money is not their own. Money is money. It shouldn’t matter whether it’s you paying or your parents, the amount on the price tag or the receipt is still important. Especially with the economy in the state it’s in, with prices constantly rising, people need to be cognizant of the fact that conserv-
ing money, whether it be theirs or someone else’s, is important. Money shouldn’t be something that is regarded lightly, it should be taken seriously. Money isn’t everything, but it is a big deal. It doesn’t just pop up out of nowhere, it has to be worked for. People work hard in their jobs to earn money, and therefore they shouldn’t just throw it away on unnecessary or trivial things. When someone gives away their hard-earned money, that’s a big deal. Their blood, sweat, and tears probably went into gaining that pay,
and they’re giving it away, whether it be because they’re a parent or someone else. The person receiving the money should feel grateful, not entitled. People always seem to be saying, “Well it’s not my money, so it doesn’t matter!” No. It still matters. If whatever you’re about to buy isn’t something you would buy from the money out of your own wallet, don’t spend someone else’s money on it. Someone worked really hard to make that money and is entrusting it to you. Disregarding that makes you seem inconsiderate
and rude. This attitude carries over for a lot of people when they visit hotels or other people’s homes. In the hotel situation, people think, “Well, the hotel’s the one spending the money.” It’s still money that needs to be spent. If you’re debating whether to switch off that light or leave the water running, do what you would do in your own house. Turn it off. Not only are you saving money, but you’re helping the environment, too. Wasting money doesn’t make people seem cool, it just makes them
seem spoiled and uncaring. It can be really easy to save money if only people would simply realize that they are splurging in the first place. Spending five to six dollars on Starbucks is okay once in a while, but doing it every morning throws a lot of money down the drain. The point is that people need to start caring about how they spend money, whether it’s coming from them or someone else. They should think about whether they really need that cute shirt or that new iPhone, or if they simply want it. It may be hard to believe, but there is a difference.
Betrayals of friendship, breaches of trust on Twitter baffles senior
x by Zach Kushner Have you ever told someone a secret and then seen that secret posted on Twitter for everyone to see? Chances are if you go to Blake then this has happened to you, and your personal business has been plastered online by the Blake Confessions Twitter account. There was an account similar to this one last year, except real names were not always used and the information posted was usually already public. There was no luxury of anonymity this year though, as people were being exposed left and right without a single bit of mercy. Blake confessions was simply a way to post gossip about anyone you wanted without anyone knowing who posted it. Clearly there are some great friends at this school.
So great, in fact, that they thought, why not put this person on blast? My favorite part of it was how they deleted the account and made a Blake Compliments Account, because that made everything 100% better. Now, instead of spreading secrets, students were instead “complimenting” each other. This means that maybe one out of every six posts was sincere. All of the others were fake or backhanded remarks. It was, at some points, the Blake High School equivalent of the Burn Book from Mean Girls. Anyone who posted on either of these accounts are cowards because they would not say this to people’s faces. They hid spinelessly behind their computer in the comfort of their own home. Isn’t that the best way to deal with someone you don’t like?
It would be one thing if this was new, but it was not even an original idea – just a copy of what happened last year. One difference was the weak attempt at repenting by creating a page of oh-so-sweet compliments. A bright spot is that my appreciation for the people who did not post anything grew; at least some people are still trustworthy. Invasion of privacy reached its peak, and only receded when students on responded to the anonymous tweets and stood up for both themselves and their friends. Hats off to them for being responsible human beings and doing what is right. I could have lived my whole life, not learned anything from that account, and been perfectly happy. Why did they have to ruin that happiness for me? The confessions didn’t even affect me but it was so unnecessary, rude, and immature. I guess some people just enjoy trashing other people.
B4
December 18, 2013
Blake Beat
No excuses, just excellence. The Beat, named the state’s best student newspaper for the last five years, is published monthly by journalism students at James Hubert Blake High School. Co-Editors-in-Chief Ann Cirincione Jacqueline Hyman Associate Editors Emma Friedman Emily George John Kos Zach Kushner Maryam Outlaw Directors Nicholas Aylward (Opinion) Brian Dicken (Sports) Bronwyn Evans (Arts) Ariel Gomez (News) Elana Harris (Features) Kloe Johnson (Opinion) Jordan McLean (Sports) Tabi Orock (Arts) Jenna Ramirez (Features) Darien Waters (News) Sami Wright (Photography) News Managing Editors Logan Dreher Courtney Hutchinson Opinion Managing Editor Kate Campbell Sports Managing Editor Alyssia Graves Fine Arts Managing Editor Michelle Carter Photo Managing Editors Paola Arbaiza Dennis Chan Graphics Managing Editor Marie Anne Louis-Charles Tanner Medrano Ty Skeiky Staff Writers Adam Beuttler Yodit Denu Kirsten Hines Shak Magona Torie Broer Adviser Joseph A. Caulfield
The Bla
Bathrooms lack needed supplies All students were told that life would be different when they started attending high school, but no one ever mentioned the fact that students would witness the complete disappearance of paper towels in the restrooms. Every day, students walk out of bathroom stalls, wash their hands in freezing cold water and then find themselves third in line to dry their hands under that rather weak air-blasting machine. Well, the grass really is greener on the other side because although air dryers may seem modern and high-tech, many have begun to miss the functionality and convenience of a good old-fashioned paper towel. Word on the street is that the air dryers are environmentally friendly and conserve energy, but since when did schools even start caring about Mother Nature? Hasn’t the trash and recycling been going to the same place for years now? Whatever the case, air dryers are ridiculously time-consuming and extremely disappointing. The fact of the matter is, drying one’s hands just takes way too long. Some find it more helpful to run wet hands through their locks rather than wait 60 seconds for them to dry under warm air, while others resort to using increased amounts of what seems like half ply toilet paper to get the job done. Sir, Ms., Dr., whoever is in charge: BRING THE PAPER TOWELS BACK! Sure, they were always sucky towels, but at least they were something. And they definitely didn’t waste as much time as those air dryers do. Maybe they were a good idea in theory, but these air dryers are causing more problems than they solve. The sooner schools start stocking the bathrooms with paper towels, the sooner people can stop having to share awkward encounters with perfect strangers that involve four wet hands and only one dryer...
Teens must set higher goals
As the young students of Blake High mature into adulthood and possibly move on to college the goals set for oneself should increase in difficulty and reality as well. If a friend says that their dream is to “crack those new Jordan’s at Prom” look that friend in the eye and tell them “get help, today brother.” College is just around the corner for all students and saying being a “trophy wife” is a dream of yours means you deserve a large wakeup call sister. Do better. Student athletes who are strutting the halls hollering, “I’m getting a scholarship in my sport, I don’t need no math” have to understand that a sport can only take a person so far. All that is needed is one injury and that’s the end of an athletic career. Set a goal that brings challenges, but realistic ones that can actually be overcome. Don’t waste time in high school floating around like the real world isn’t coming and one day a family won’t have to be supported and bills won’t have to be paid. Make your future a bright one that will have triumph, which means being realistic and setting attainable goals.
Investigation deemed unnecessary
In the past couple months, many girls have noticed that the stalls in several bathrooms have been written on by an anonymous source. The writings have been telling girls to follow their dreams, or to try to see life from different perspectives. They have been short little blurbs to this effect, and a lot of the girls have found the quotes inspirational. Recently, the administration has begun an investigation of what they’re calling “destruction of property,” and have started to get rid of the noticeable sharpie words on the stall doors. While their concerns are reasonable and understandable, the investigation seems to be a little too hardcore. Innocent students have been called into the office by security just to be asked if they have any idea of who might be writing these sayings on the stalls. It’s true that writing on the stalls is defacing school property, but they aren’t harmful to anybody. So many other writings and drawings have been talked about amongst students that people believe to be much more inappropriate than someone telling girls to follow their dreams. Shouldn’t the administration spend time investigating and getting rid of those negative embellishments instead of the ones that have been inspiring people?
On the Oxford twerk, holidays, speedy Santa Greetings and Happy Holidays! Welcome to the third edition of Quirky Facts and Life Hacks! Here’s a random fact to get us started: did you know the Oxford Dictionary now includes the word “twerk?” No, this is not a joke, unfortunately. The verb “twerk” is defined as “to dance to popular music in a sexually provocative manner involving thrusting hip movements and a low, squatting stance.” Now for some slightly less depressing holiday fun. Although many people use the term “X-mas” to remove “Christ” from the famous holiday, X-mas is not irreligious. The letter ‘X’ is, in fact, a Greek abbreviation for Christ. It was a nice try though. And while you’re out shopping this X-mas, pay for things in cash when you can; you’ll be much less likely to waste money. Speaking of money, the estimated total price for all of the items in the song “12 Days of Christmas” is approximately $24,000! Such a hefty fee might be a tad bit difficult to pay in cash. Did you know the word “Hanukkah” means “rededication” in Hebrew? The holiday’s purpose is to commemorate the rededication of the Jewish temple in Jerusalem, around 165
BC. Another popular holiday, Kwanzaa, means “first fruits” in Swahili and is a celebration of community, family and culture, established as a means of helping African Americans reconnect with their African roots and heritage. As you may be going about your holiday decorations, remember this helpful tip: if you’re searching for something for a while, when you find it, put it back in the first place you looked for it when you’re done to save yourself some trouble. Another time-saver is wrapping your holiday lights around clothes-hangers. This way, they don’t get as tangled and you can avoid giving up on Christmas again like last year. According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), there are 2.11 billion children under age 18 in the world. If there are, on average, 2.5 children per household, Santa would have to make 842 million stops on Christmas Eve, traveling 221 million miles, traveling from house to house in 1/5000 of a second. This means he would have to accelerate 12.19 million miles per second on each stop. The force of this acceleration would reduce old St. Nick to mythological mush. Happy holidays and rest in peace to your childhood.
EVERYONE DESERVES TO BE HAPPY I never understood what was so wrong about dating the same sex. Doesn’t everyone deserve to be happy? I throughout my life I have met a lot of homophobic and homosexual people. I actually like homosexual people. I applaud them! Coming out of their shell and acknowledging who they are really inspires me. I may not be homosexual but I do believe everyone should be happy. This hate crime thing against homosexuals disturbs me a lot. If your favorite uncle in the world was homosexual would you beat him up? I just don’t understand why people won’t just suck it up and accept the fact that not everyone in the world is happy with the opposite sex. People need to just stop and think about their words and actions because next thing you know you can be the cause of someone’s suicide. Just think about it. Sophomore Ilaiah Maxwell VISIT NEW TANGER OUTLETS Thanksgiving weekend I visited the Gaylord Hotel in National Harbor and found my way over to the new Tanger outlets that recently opened up. Being that the closest premium outlet mall is in Leesburg, I was happy to be able to find all of my favorite brands pretty close to home. The outlets have a lot of my favorite stores such as H&M, Steve Madden, Michael Kors, Nike, and more, all at amazing discount prices! And if you’re staying at the Gaylord or are in that area, they have shuttles to transport shoppers back and for from the Harbor to the outlets. The new Tanger outlets are definitely a hotspot for a lot of PG high schoolers coming from Oxon Hill, Wise, Bowie, DuVal and more. If you like meeting new people and shopping in a social setting I would recom-
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to take the 30 minute drive and visit. Junior Leah Hollingsworth
LOSS OF A LEGEND n Mandela, a strong figure in world d a man who gave hope to many work against the apartheid in South ed at the age of 95. With the death end comes the responsibility of the nd the dissonance we have come to andela spent 27 years imprisoned, ice to pay for changing an entire t some students can’t even be civil ch other for ten minutes. Mandela’s ld inspire us, even if it’s just us stuscend to the occasion and becoming an beings. Junior Samantha Luckert
NG VIDEOGAME CONSOLES past couple of weeks, there have e heated arguments over which of xt-generation video game consoles ter. So far, the PS4 is running away upport. One of the hot topics in this ow these consoles play used games. your friends decide to trade games, One will say tough luck and will not y your friends game on your console.
B5
December 18, 2013
Legendary, new Christmas classics add holiday cheer to winter season Baby, starring Jenny McCarthy excerpts the life of a successful business executive—who just happens to be the daughter of Santa Claus. After her father becomes ill, viewers have a laugh at the new implementations she makes at the North Pole. The Santa Clause series consists of three connecting movies starring Tim Allen, a man who must become the new Santa after accidentally causing him to fall to his death from his roof on Christmas Eve. Immediately following, we are able to see how his change in identity affects his current life and how by Emma Friedman he changes up the North Pole for better and worse. & Emily George The highly anticipated 25 Days of Christmas aired on ABC Family is a common activity enjoyed in homes during the holiday time. Stay tuned today for a special airing of Disney Pixar’s Toy Story Marathon at 4:30/3:30pm central. Whether you usually find yourself absorbed in the Christmas classics, or their newer interpretations, we can all agree that none of us would rather have anything else playing in our toasty homes this holiday season. And get excited because winter break starts officially in ten days.
Go “walking in a winter wonderland” of Christmas movie cheer: holiday merriment is incomplete without classic films and pop-culture’s hits. In this day and age, Will Ferrell’s beloved character Buddy appears on screen spinning through revolving doors and “spreading Christmas cheer, singing loud for all to hear.” Everyone gets excited for Elf’s hilarious banter to play on ABC when December comes around. NBC first aired Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer December 6, 1964. Poet Robert May created Rudolph in 1939 and then his brother-in-law Johnny Marks wrote his famous song about the triumphant reindeer. This movie raises the spirit of the holiday season and teaches the importance of believing in yourself. Frosty the Snowman is a great way to include non-Christian cultures in winter excitement. Building a snowman is a delightful memory engraved in every northern kid’s memory. Frosty inspires childhood creativity and dips into the imaginations of all viewers. Newer Christmas movies are also slowly being added to the list of classics. The 2006 movie Santa
I OF THE TIGER
YesororNo? No? Yes
Beat writers debate over a controversial isssue: Should Christmas music be played before Thanksgiving?
Yes: Early Christmas tunes fun, necessary Fans can listen the minute November hits
x by Shak Magona
The PS4 however has no such policy, so they win the battle here. Also the Xbox One oddly requires internet to play offline. Yes, you need internet to not use the internet. Why you ask, no one really knows. But this policy certainly doesn’t help the Xbox One. To me it seems like it helps the PS4 more, which is why they are currently on top. Sophomore Jeremy Dowling PROTESTS IN UKRAINE As we sit through these boring weeks until break, Ukraine, the largest country in Eastern Europe, is currently experiencing a revolution that’s been building up for hundreds of years of a dark and conflicted history. Ukraine is a nation internally torn between people who want Ukraine to continue to be a partner of neighboring Russia versus a slight majority of people who want Ukraine to become part of the EU and become part of modern Europe. The Ukrainian president shocked the nation November 22 when he didn’t sign a trade agreement that would be the first step in joining the EU. Protests of a million or more people have broken out in the capital, Kiev. Accounts of police brutality have only worsened the anger. At the moment it is still a peaceful stand against a corrupt government, but only time will tell how this will end. Junior Levko Karmazyn The staff welcomes all signed letters to the editor but reserves the right to edit or condense them. Letters may be submitted to Room A205 or mailed to: The Blake Beat, Blake High School, 300 Norwood Road, Silver Spring, MD 20905. The telephone number is (301) 879-1379.
Christmas songs never feel out of place and provide that feeling of excitement in knowing the holiday season is drawing near. This year, as it had been for many years, Thanksgiving has taken a back seat to Christmas, and for good reason. When you think of Christmas you think of family, gifts, and an overly dressed tree. However, Thanksgiving only has two things attached to it: overeating and Black Friday. Christmas songs nowadays serve not only to get you into that Christmas mood but to let your parents know it’s time to start buying gifts for Christmas. Since Black Friday is the day when prices are the lowest, it only makes sense to play songs BEFORE then. Let’s face it, if there were more songs focused on Thanksgiving, they would probably sound terrible. Thanksgiving only shows how many bad eating habits we can shove into one day of “family” and
“togetherness.” If there were a song about Thanksgiving, it was probably for the best that people forgot about it. The feeling you get from listening to a Christmas song you knew as a kid never really goes away, and at this point there are a lot of them to shuffle through. Hearing Winter Wonderland or Jingle Bell Rock always puts you in that “I can’t wait for Christmas mood” that you know you love. Nowadays there are over thousands different covers of classic Christmas songs that at least attempt to shake things up a little bit. They may sound annoying sometimes but it’s better than hearing the same song over and over. Hearing your favorite Christmas song sung by your favorite singer or even rapper can be a pretty nice feeling. When you think about it, there really is a necessity to play songs at least before Thanksgiving. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather listen to songs about “jingles” and “bells” than killer shopping and overeating.
No: Carols unacceptable pre-Black Friday
Early radio play sucks fun out of holidays
xby Marie Anne Louis-Charles Christmas is an important part of American society. Whether it is practiced for cultural or religious reasons its presence in our lives cannot be ignored. Every year the air time for Christmas music becomes longer and longer. In the past the arrival of Black Friday also marked the arrival of Christmas music but this is no longer true. Now Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer and Silent Night can be heard as early as Halloween. The lengthen air time has become annoying and detrimental to the Christmas spirit. Because of the lengthened air time those who had looked forward to the Christmas season quickly become bored and are eager for the season to end. Christmas is no longer seen as a time spent with family but as the end to the Christmas jingles. If there was a larger variety of Christmas music there would be less boredom in the world. Christmas is celebrated in all corners of the world and its music is influenced by many cultures and musical genres. Unfortunately the radio only plays the same 10 to 15 songs, most of which have nothing to do with the reason for the season. The biggest difference among
these songs are the singers and the tempo. Though there is a wide variety of enjoyable music all of the “season classics” are generic pops songs which talk about the weather, snuggling, or getting gifts. While some songs encourage generosity and positive behavior many of the songs are extremely materialistic and promote selfishness. These songs focus on what people want rather than appreciation for what they are fortunate enough to have. The messages that Christmas music communicate also encourage children to think about the objects they want rather than the needs of those who are less fortunate than them. In a season where generosity and charity should be encouraged people are only reminded to create their Christmas wish list and pray that they get what they want. Now a days it seems that Christmas music is a marketing technic rather than preparation for the holiday. Honestly Christmas music should not leak onto the radio until Black Friday. Those who wish to listen to Jolly Old St. Nicholas and Frosty the Snowman are welcomed to play their Christmas music on their iPods but the rest of the population can (and is happy to) wait until December begins.
B6
The Blake Beat
December 18, 2013
Bengal questions elementary schoolers cell phone use
Fifth graders’ possession of advanced technology drives Denu insane
x by Yodit Denu On the brink of the pre-teenage years, fifth graders have a lot of new experiences and opportunities ahead of them. Almost in middle school, fifth graders are just figuring out what they are interested in and joining new clubs. As a result of these new clubs, fifth graders tend to stay after school or attend club meetings outside of school, and in order to keep in contact with their children, parents give them a cell phone. But, there is a difference between a cellphone just to have one for social pleasure and a cell phone for keeping in contact with parents. It is one thing to have a basic cellphone as a way to contact parents- as cell phones do ease the mind of worrisome parents- but it is another thing to have the newest iPhone 5c. A flip phone razor can do the same
thing as any iPhone, it is just cheaper. That is the one thing I never understood, why do fifth graders have the most expensive cellphones? I know, I know, some kids do play sports or are a part of clubs and activities that are far away from their house... but the newest iPhone? It is understandable that technology is changing and as a result so is our society. But handing over a cellphone to a ten year old -for no reason- depicts this idea that there is nothing to work for and that there is no reason to try to gain responsibilities; everything you want is just given to you. It’s true that there was not an iPhone ten years ago for a kid to have, but even then, there was the “It” phone that everyone wanted but never actually started off with. It took everyone a while before they got the amazing and majestic iPhone; everyone started with the “trap phone”- and some still have it.
A phone is a big responsibility- let alone an iPhone. So it not only depends on whether the child is participating in an activity, but it also depends on the child specifically. Is this child responsible or not? Can this child keep up with task of having a cell phone, without it interfering with their school work? If the fifth grader is the type of person who cannot keep up with his or her homework, then the iPhone is just going to be another distraction. But if the child is taking care of all their responsibilities then a cell phone is not out of the question. Another factor to consider before getting a cellphone for a fifth grader, is that is the cost of the cellphone and the bill worth it in the long run. In the end, it is up to the parents to decide if their child is ready for a phone and how much they want to spend on that phone. It is also up to the children to prove that they are ready for a phone.
Overused Christmas songs tire senior’s holiday spirit x by Maryam Outlaw Three ways to know when Christmas is just around the corner? When pumpkin flavored anything is replaced with candy cane flavored anything, when people start wearing reindeer printed everything, and when everyone’s ears are hit by various Christmas song cover albums, seemingly released by every artist and their mother during this time of year. Now, Christmas classics such as “Drummer Boy” and “All I want for Christmas is You” are always fun to listen to because they get you in the Holiday mood, make you feel all jolly inside, and leave a cute little bonfire burning in your heart. But no one needs 15 renditions of “Merry Christmas to You” a year being shoved down their throats at the exact same time. They much prefer the taste of gingerbread cookies and eggnog going down instead, thank you very much. Artists such as Mary J. Blige, Kelly Clarkson, and Leona Lewis have all released Christmas albums as early as October. And though the voices of all three of these ladies are absolutely remarkable, I fail to understand why they even try when it’s just plain obvious that the classics can neither be replaced, nor surpassed. It’s understandable that Christmas covers are made to give singers the opportunity to put their own twist on beloved Christmas jingles, but if every singer covered every song that’s won the heart of numerous Americans, no new music would ever come out, now would it? All this money, time, and energy being put into yet another “Jingle Bell Rock” or “Last Christmas,” could very well be spent making fresh and unique songs that fans crave. Furthermore, surely no one believes that a person LOVES holiday music so much they just had to record an entire album of their Christmas joy instead of I don’t know, merely jamming out to spirited singles in their car like a normal person. Artists build up their fan bases, then create these albums because they know that die-hards will literally give their left kidney for them. News flash: you are paying for nothing. You’re trying to tell me that Justin Bieber’s rendition of “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” is sincerely your JAM? Sure... However, not all Christmas albums are bad. Sometimes artists actually record their very own Christmas songs which can be a lot of fun, and in that case, holiday records are fun. But otherwise, the influx of “Santa Baby” and “Blue Christmas” covers is extremely obnoxious and mundane. So to all the musicians who have found the urge to sell some deluxe Christmas song collection that will soon be forgotten in two months’ time, do us all a favor and don’t. Perform at a Christmas special and release a single or two instead, because there truly is such thing as too much of a good thing.
Graphic by Elana Harris
Faulty trees ignite junior’s feelings, challenge traditional values
Dreher rants about plastic pine needles, loss of shopping experience x by Logan Dreher Fake Christmas trees have become a trend in recent years for convenience and cost, however buying a living tree gives the holiday an authentic feel that artificial Christmas trees do not. My family has always bought real Christmas trees. Sometimes we’ve even chopped down our own, a relatively inexpensive thing that always makes for an amazing night. Buying Christmas trees at plots is slightly more costly, but the experience of picking out the perfect tree is always worth it.
It’s become a ritual in my family--picking out the perfect tree, tying it to the top of the car, setting it up at home and decorating it--that adds to the magic of Christmas itself. And nothing can compete with the smell that pine or fir trees give off, a smell that has become synonymous with the excitement of Christmas morning. Walking into a house that smells like pine trees always reminds me of the holiday season, no matter the time of year. Artificial Christmas trees do not carry that kind of magic. They are reused from year to
year, so there’s no exhilaration in discovering the perfect tree. Instead, owners of fake trees just unpack a dusty plastic tree from the attic or basement that usually looks sparser and thinner than a living tree. On top of the sentimental reasons, real Christmas trees can be a much better practical choice. For example, living trees are more environmentally friendly than fake ones. While plastic trees can’t be recycled, real ones can be reused as wood chips or even replanted if they are taken care of correctly. And the orchards harvested for
Christmas trees are incredibly large and help to keep the air clean. In addition, artificial Christmas trees are a greater fire hazard than real ones, as the plastic burns faster and hotter than a living one. Another disadvantage is that many of the older models of fake Christmas trees are made from a type of plastic called PVC. PCV could contain lead, which is extremely poisonous to humans and can cause cancer. In comparison, there are only a few downsides to real Christmas trees. They are less
convenient because they must be watered every day and drop needles. Some living Christmas trees are often more expensive, but these problems can be easily combated. A blanket underneath a living Christmas tree makes for an easier cleanup, and shopping at local farms or plots, as well as chopping down a Christmas tree oneself often yields better prices. There is no real way around having to water a real Christmas tree, but I think it’s a small price to pay for having a tree that is safer, better looking and more magical than a fake tree.
The Blake Beat
B7
December 18, 2013
Christmas lists changing in content Beyonce fan pleads Toys, presents of children increase in price
for release of longawaited new music
x by Tabi Orock
Graphic by Ty Skeiky x by Jenna Ramirez With the anticipated new millenium came freethinkers and fresh minds, remarkable innovations and advanced technology, and oddly enough, a considerable change in how our younger generation entertains itself. Another year comes and goes. If we flipped our Target toy preview insert back to its 2000 issue, the pages would be covered with pictures of scooters, Barbie dolls, and those annoying finger skateboards. Fast-forward to today. ABC News ranks this Christmas’ top toys as Zoomer, (a robot puppy), a John Deere remote control tractor, FurReal Friends Cuddler (a robotic stuffed animal) and Air-Stream Machines (a science set). If you add those items’ prices together, parents look at an astounding total of $430. The cheapest item on that list still rounds out to $70. Imagine my surprise when my nine year old brother had an iPad and a PlayStation Vita rounding out his Christmas list, along with a slew of Wii U and 3DS games. His total hit more than $1,000. This Christmas, shoppers will see the revealing of not only one major gaming system, but two. Both the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One came out a month before Christmas and top almost all teenage boys’ Christmas lists. Each of those systems cost at least $400 dollars. The sad thing is, kids no longer want just a Barbie
doll or a Hot Wheels track. Presents that were once the main gift, the one that kids asked the mall Santa for, have duplicated and filled the entire list. Christmas lists used to feature one pricey item and tons of inexpensive toys. These days, parents are lucky to even catch a glimpse of a gift’s price tag less than $30. Let’s take a look at some of the most memorable Christmas movies. In A Christmas Story, little Ralphie wants his Red Ryder BB gun more than anything. In the silly Jingle All the Way, all Arnold Schwarzenegger’s son asks for is a Turbo-Man action figure. And of course in the original Rudolph, the Island of Misfit toys included plush dolls and Jack-in-the-box. The point is, the Christmas wishes of children have changed drastically. Watching those old Christmas movies is comical when kids ask for wooden train sets and footballs. It is hard to satisfy a little girl with a lone Barbie doll when she can ask for an entire dream house. Why would a little boy want a basketball hoop when he can play an NBA game on his PlayStation? Shopping for children every Christmas is only getting more challenging as technology changes and the prices of products skyrocket. One can only hope that with the addition of child tablets, like the Kurio, and voice activated game systems, like the Xbox One, children will not forget the true meaning of Christmas.
King B. Beezus. The flawless Creole goddess from down south. Whatever you choose to call her, there is no denying that Beyoncé Giselle KnowlesCarter is a musical force to be reckoned with. While I do reckon with and hail the great Mrs. Carter for her thrilling vocals and electrifying live shows, I have just one question. Hey girl, when is the new album coming out? Since February, the Queen has been teasing us with promotional songs and ‘leaked’ tracks. Bow Down/I Been On, was released as the background music for the trailer of her ongoing tour, The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour, and the dance anthem “Grown Woman,” was featured in her latest advertising campaign for Pepsi. Most recently, the superstar released an ode to her daughter Blue Ivy, titled “God Made You Beautiful.” Aw, how sweet. But here’s the thing, The Mrs. Carter World Tour has been running since April of this year and Bey has been performing (amazing, but) OLD songs. The set list includes a number of singles from previous albums “I Am... Sasha Fierce,” “B’day,” “Dangerously In Love,” and her most recent release, “4.” That’s all very cute for Bey and her fans (myself included), but I’m just confused as to why this tour isn’t centered on her new material. To be fair, she has been performing “Grown Woman” and the yet-to-be released, “Standing On The Sun.” While her diehard fans relish at any opportunity to see Baddie Bey in person, the rest of the world is scratching their heads and wondering why the happily married singer is still calling all the Single Ladies. Beyoncé had one job: Give us new music. If new material isn’t ready, stay in the studio and fix it, Bey. If the material is ready, girl don’t be selfish. Share your unreleased vocals with the world so that we may get our lives. Yes Bey, we understand that you have a beautiful new baby and the entire kingdom of Tribeca to run alongside your mogul husband, but sis, we miss you. Just bless us with a new album so that the beyhive can have something to buzz about again. And please, ma’am, enough of the teasing. We know you’ve been shooting videos all over the globe. That perfectly styled blonde weave has been spotted all over Paris, Los Angeles, London, and New York. We see you, sis. Twitter sees you and the beyhive sees you. By all indications, new music is underway. Meanwhile, bloggers and fans speculate that the new album will be a feat consisting of collaborations with One Republic’s Ryan Tedder, Pharell, Neyo, Diplo, and producer The-Dream. With hearsay of killer collaborations and music videos, we fans will just have to hold our breath until 2014. She may be a “Diva” with a big “Ego” but she can’t keep yous waiting forever.
Juniors question gym graduation requirement for student athletes
Physical education requirement puts damper in athetes’ school day
by Kate Campbell x & Jenna Ramirez
Athletic students are already respected for the amount of time and effort they put into the sports they play so high school sports should also count for a physical education credit. The requirement of a physical education credit originated as a response to concerns that American children were becoming too obese. However, if a student is a member of a sports team, there is more than enough evidence that they are physically active. With tryouts and rigorous practices nearly every day of the week, a high school sport is sufficient exercise. Yes, America has a problem with obesity but it is not fair to punish those who exemplify
positive fitness practices because of the poor decisions of others. The basic physical education curriculum requires each student to demonstrate effort and a proper understanding in each game assigned, both of which are also required on a sports team. Student athletes are also more likely to perform well in each of these areas while playing a sport of their choice, rather than a sport that is forced upon them by the school system’s curriculum. Incorporating a gym class into an otherwise rigorous schedule is also frustrating to those who are capable of proving their athletic ability, but want to focus more on the academic aspect of school. Colleges notoriously look at students who take more challenging courses, and a gym course is a setback to athletes who want
to improve their weighted GPA. For some, a varsity sport is more demanding of a workout than the games played in high school gym. The majority of kids who play a varsity sport require a sub nine-minute mile time in order to make the team, while the majority of gym classes are spent lecturing and explaining. Aside from any sport requring far more physical exertion than gym, gym classes require students to change and sweat from constant activity. Student athletes have to change once already in the day, why should they have to do it again? These students should not have to stink up the rest of the day while in school when they will have to do it again after 2:10. After long lectures, students must learn how to play a specific sport over the course of a few weeks, being graded heav-
ily on ability, arguably more so than effort. Correct me if I am wrong, but it does not seem fair for a child who has wrestled their entire life to be graded harshly due to their inability to play basketball. If students are willing to commit to a sport for at least two months of their year, sometimes more if they play multiple sports, why should they waste an academic period in a gym, doing what they do every afternoon? Logically, it makes no sense. Deciding to play a high school sport shows commitment, resilience, and ability – all of which are characteristics expected of each of us inside of the classroom. If students are able to prove that they have each of these traits by playing a high school sport, by choice, then shouldn’t they get credit for it?
A varsity sport is more demanding of a workout than the games played in gym.
The Blake Beat
B8
December 18, 2013
The James Hubert Blake administration, faculty & staff congratulate these students on making the First Quarter Honor Roll: 9th grade
Hana Kahn Tareen
Victoria Alexis
Tailor Mapp
Psalm David Camua
MAX O’GRADY
Kaelyn Clark
David Miller
Erick Abreu
Feven Kidane
Gissell Alfaro
Gwyndolyn McCaney
Alexis Carter
Chiziter Odidika
Myles Clark
Yoselin Milloy
Adekemi Adeyemi
GUNGUK KIM
Momina Aslam
Jade McElveen
Chun Chan
Joseph Oxley
Shannon Corry
Shalonda Mitchell
Ofeoritse Akuya
Richard Kim
Ozeyla Awundaga
Lukas McFate
Arnold Chanai
Cameron W Payton
Alison Coyne
MARY MOLLOY
SYDNEY ALEXANDER
Cheyenne Kingrea
Joseph Aylor
Carlos Melendez
Nicholas Chow
Camila Penaloza
Alexis Crispin
Marlyse Mua
Jacob Allnutt
Zya Kinney
Madinah Ba’th
Mildred Mends
Kymanie Chung Jones
Keyri E Perez-Roque
Riley Cruickshank
Merid Mulugeta
Kimberly Alvarado
Katherine Klingrea
Laila Barde
Latisha Mills
Miracle Clarke
Bryan O Pharaon
Yancy Del Cid
Diego Menoz
Nanayaa Asantewaa
Caroline Lamb
Janeba Barry
Kevin Mohabir
Richelle Claytor
Thomas R Plihal
Youdit Denu
Kay Musika
Amankwah
Brandon Levendusky
James Bartley
Robert Molloy
Alison Comer
Leon A Polyzos
Kaylie Deshler
BETHANY MUSSE
Betselote Amasalu
SARAH LEVENDUSKY
Eliana Berger
Victoria Nelson
Aaron Cooke
Avery Potts
Charlotte Doh
Jamie Nathlar
Paola Archila
Aaron Liiva
Jonathan Blackford
JAMES NEWPORT
Erika Cornejo
Rebecca Puccini
Nathaniel Dolan
Brigit Ngaleu
Theresa Aronne
Keara Lindsay
MICHELLE BLOYD
Tommy Nguyen
Jaian Cuttari
TAANYA PUTHRAN
Natalie Domaas
Kevin Nguyen
Fizza Aslam
Leslie Magadan
TESSA BOTKIN
Holyna Nhean
Katherine Delaney
Jenna Ramirez
Miles Douglas
Van-Nhan Nguyen
Charnnette Bailey
Melissa McLaughlin
Courtney Broadnax
Ericka Njeumi
Margeret Delaney
Lexxus M Ransom
Ashley Escobar
Jasmine Nickens
Alexandra Bartley
John McLean IV
Nathan Brockmeyer
Liam Nugent
Curtis Dey
Bryson Reyes
Raul Escobar
DAPHNE O’GRADY
Jasmine Bellard
Mathew McVeigh
William Brown III
Brittany O’Gilvie
Angelo DiPasquale
Marygrace Reyes
Metuge Esong
Alice Olivares
Hannah Bentz
Ethan Miller
Olivia Buresh
Nathan Peoples
BRIAN DICKEN
Thalia Reyes
Stephanie Filho
Emmanuel Oppong
Stephanie Bergmann
Matthew Millstein
JULIA BYRNE
Allison Perikles
Vinson Do
Shianne Richardson
Jahmilla Fisher
Maryam Outlaw
Gedeon Bireda
KEREN MIR-ALMA-
Benjamin Cabrera
Tony Pham
Kieran Dollmore
TAYLOR RIDDICK
Sydney Fitch
ESTEFANIA PEREZ
Blen Bizuwork
GUER
Alexia Calhoun
John Pierson III
Jennette Dongmo Kenge
Francesca Sabelhaus
Jason Fleischer
Victor Phimphachanh
Angela Blow
Ryan Mitchell
THOMAS CALLAHAN III
Gabrielle Pinchinat
Sarah Donley
Martha Sam
Morgan Fletcher
Christian Pinero
Lorenda Boccovi
Natalie Mogrovejo
Kimberly Canoy Weller
Isreal Pinto-Espana
Logan Dreher
Gerardo Serrano, Jr.
Steven Flynn
Wendy Pintado
Lindsay Bridegum
Mya Moore
Riani Carr
Carly Plevy
Kira Dunlap
Stacy Shin
Xavier Fox
Michael Prebble
Dylan Brown
LEIGH MURPHY
Sean Cashin
Jeffrey Powell-Young
Maya Eaglin
Colleen Simmons
Emma Friedman
Samuel Preza
Erin Brown
Abem Negatu
Jaclyn Choi
Cora Present
Trevor Eaton
Emerson Sirk
Maia Gadsden
Ashley Puglia
Danghoa Bui
Alisha Nesbitt
MATHEW CHUNG
Joi Rice
Kathleen Edquiban
Ian M Smit
Kimia Gaines
Jeremy Radov
Joseph Bunke
Colleen Nguyen
Jailene Claros
ALEXANDRA RUNDLETT
Olivia English
Charles Spaid
Linnea Galletta
Diarra Radway
Matia Caparella
Nasia Nguyen
Jennifer Cleofe
Charlotte Seay
Bronwyn Evans
Samantha Steel
Daniel Gerson
Keydy Ramirez
Anisha Carr
Tiffany Nguyen
Ana Clyde
Paige Shoemaker
EMILY EVANS
Sydney Steel
Jason Glantz
Leaunna Ransom
JUSTIN CHANG
Alexander Noonan-Shueh
Mary Cole
Rachel Sigwalt
Paul Farrell
Justin Stewart
Rebecca Glatt
Julian Raul
JENNIFER CHENG
LILY NORTHCUTT
Thomas Cruz
SHIVANGI SIKRI
Annika Fellinger
Avery Summers
Leah Goldberg
Julianne Reyes
SAMANTHA CHHE-
Crystal Ogbonna
Juliana Day
Jacob Silverman
Naomi Fesseha
Ashely Tabi Orock
Betsy Gomez
Timothy Rice
ANG
Sarah Oh
Camryn DeLuca
Nia Singleton
Juan Fisher
Jullie Thieu
Elizabeth Gomez
Maiah Richards
Jaylen Cofer
GENEVIEVE OTERO
LOGAN DECHTER
SIMONE SKERRITT
NAILAH FISHER
Renee Treacy
Oscar Gomez
Micah Richards
Justin Cofer
Dayanara Padilla
Asorai Dhaba
Summer Skerritt
Hunter Freeman
Joshua Trejos
Andy Gonzales
Cristela Rivera
De’Andre Cohen
Jennifer Park
Jeremy Dowling
Charles Snowden III
Levander Fuller
Dalena Trinh
William Graves Jr.
Estefani Romero Vargas
Yelli Counlibaly
Peter Park
Katherine Drake
LILA SOMESHWAR
Moses Ganya
Sally Tucker
Patrick Griffin
Ezra Roschu
Emily Courbron
Kendall Payton
Kassiah Drummond
K AT H L E E N S TA G -
GABRIELLA GARCIA-
Alice Umoh
Sandra Guevara
Tiara Royal
Sydney Crispin
ELODIE PEREIRA
Cameron Dubois
GERS
RUIZ
Jacqueline Villatoro
Hesu Ha
Aaron Rubinstein
Alexis De Bleecker
FRANCO POLAR
Mark Edquiban
Jasmine Stanton
Cindy Giang
Keri L Walker
ALEXANDRA HA-
Daniel Rushton
Chiara De Pascalis
Alec Pollard
Ashley Ennels
Jesse Stout
Daniel Goldberg
Kyle M Washington
DYKA
Christian Sabatino
Antonio Deik
Colby Potts
CHRISTINE EVANS
John Stout
Ariel Gomez
Darien L Waters
LILLIAN HALLMARK
Miles Sabin
Jessica Dekenty
Jacob Proctor
Fabrice Fonkou-Tchinda
ASHLEY STUART
Danasia Graham
Jasmin Waye
Bethany Hamson
Pierre-Michel Saint Amand
Brian Dennis
Maggie Prokop
Christiane Fotso
SAMANTHA STUART
Alyssia Graves
JORDAN WEBER
Stephen Han
KARA SAVERCOOL
Katherine Deosaran
SONALI RANASOMA
Laura Franklin
Laura Suarez
Elizabeth Gross
Chloe Wehling
Eric Hawkes Jr.
Connor Shaw
Ernest Doku
Abbie Rhodes
Hailey Fuqua
Dylan Taira
Benjamin Haley
Sydney Wolk
Asha Henley
Ashley Sheibaniagdam
Diamond Edmonds
Leila Riazi
Haley Gill
Julia Tallon
Elana Harris
Joan Wood
Rebecca Hill
Brianna Shifflett
Madeline Ellis
Erynn Richards
Andres Gomez
Maggie Tan
Markel Hawkings
Luis Zuluaga-Orozco
Kirsten Hines
Larson Shilling
Sheldon Ellis
Jordynn Richards
Daniel Gordon
Daniel Tanguilig
Sophie Hayman
12th grade
Cathleen Ho
David Shipler
Emmaleigh Emler
FERNANDO RIVERA
Marissa Guarini
Jack Tempchin
FRANK HEDGEPETH
Ruth Addisu
Thao Hoang
Margaret Simpson
LESLIE ENLOE
Phyllis Rivers
MONICA HALLMARK
Radhika Thakar
Timinia Hines
Ayodele Adesanya
Ashley Holmes
Sundeep Soni
Lalissie Eteffa
Hailey Russell
Linnea Hammer
CALLISTA TO
Mohamed Ibrahim
Michelle C Adompo
Alexis Hughes
Sophia Stanley
Janice Eveillard
JOEL SAMUEL
MELISSA HEWITT
Isatou Touray
Ashley Jackson
Alexis A Afamefune
George Hyde Jr.
Thomas Stanton
TEGWEN FELDBUSH
Sean Sarvi
ABIGAIL HINES
Kendall Toxie
Brandon Johnson
Meaza Akalu
Jacqueline Hyman
David Steele
Ashley Feng
Kristen Savary
Helena Ho
Sonny Tu
Grace Johnson
HASSEN ALAJMI
HYLA JACOBSON
Kenneth Stone
Michelle Finta
Anna Schiller
Joey Ho
SYONA TULADHAR
Cameron Jones
Claudia Alarco
Gabrielle Jones
Safra Tadesse
Delaney Ford
Alexander Serpas-Chavez
Karima Holland
Anagabriela Vargas
Chanson Jones
MARY ARONNE
DYLAN KAISER
NINA TAN
Sheryna Gandonou
Weston Sirk
Samantha Holley
STEPHEN VIA
Kaela Jones
Nicholas Aylward
Dong Kang
Caroline Tatnall
Elsa Garcia
Ellenor Smethurst
Rebecca Howell
Steven Vo
Colleen Kalkofen
Kyeong Bae
Bethel Kidane
FNU TCHIENGA
Jennifer Garcia
Brianna Smith
Elizabeth Iduma
Joshua Werfel
LEVKO KARMAZYN
Paule Bahi
Elyssa Kil
Melinda Tchokogoue
DREW GATLIN
NIARA SMITH
CHRISTINA IRISH
Veronica White
Feven Kassu
Krista Baker
Amanda King
Dianne Techwei
Gerorgianna Georgop-
Melanie Springer
Jeri Isabella
Dana Wilson
Paul Kennedy
Hunter Balog
Abey Kiros
Emily Temple
oulos
Sara Stanley
Chandra Jaggernauth
Kaylee Wong
Tsion Kidane
Tiffany Barrett
Jocelyn Ko
Jonathan M Tober
Janae Glover
Marlonna Stephenson
MICHAEL JENNER
Stanley Wong
Gemma Kim
Nicole Barriga
Alana Kominski
Marie P Toto
ERIC GONSKI
NICOLE STOCK
Thalia Jimenez
Andrew Woo
Samuel King
Zachary Bartlett
Emily Kong
Aboubakar Toure
Michael Griffin
Tiffany Su
Ireland Jones
MONIKA WRIGHT
Nikos Koufos
Gregory Bell
Megan Kong
Khryron Travers
Brian Gwak
Jordan Swarm
Nia Jones
Alexandra Young
Filip Laestadius
JULIA BELL
John Kos
Holly Tripp
Hye Rim Ha
Courtney Swartz
DELMAR KAISER
Jacob Zebrowski
Keenan Lo
Adam Beuttler
Alexandra Krackaur
Kelsy Turner
Christopher Haley
Tida Tambedou
MATHEW KENNEY
11th grade
Amanda Long
Rebeca Bonilla
Clauton Kum
Elaine Udell
Ryan Haynes
Anais Tana Nkot
Thomas Kirby III
MOHAMMED ABBAS
Samantha Lownethal
Sarah Bridegum
Zachary Kushner
Tracy Ukwu
Alexa Herrera
John Thomas
Nicole Kister
Vincent Abell
Samantha Luckert
Courtney Briscoe
Casey Lake
Morgan Ung
Scott Holmes
TONY TRUONG
SARA KOHORST
Oritsetsolaye Akuya
Michelle Markward
Torie Broer
GEORGIO LAMPTEY
Karley Valdes
John Huddle
Erik Umoh
HANNA KORYCINSKI
Troy Alexander
Wyatt McInturff
Niara Brown
Asia Law
Nivicar Valentin
Brian Hung
Michelin Vaughn
Ashly Kum
MAX ANDERSON
Ashley McLaughlin
Silvia Buglio
Cassie Le
Stephanie Van Albert
Waziri Ibrahim
ANNIE WARREN
Kevin Le
Peter Appiah Jr
Janelle McLaughlin
Kevin Bui
Gracia Le
Heather Veli
Naffie Jaiteh
Kristine Warren
Christos Lemberos
Kimberlyn Arevalo
Jordan McLean
Sherry-Mae Canoy Weller
Jamie Lee
James Vernon
Alexiana James
Christpher Wiggins
Catherine Leonard
Tiffany Azenon
Summer Meile
Jasmine Carter
ZACHARY LEE
Tan Vo
Petr Janda
Marley Williams
SORINO LIM
Monique Bediako
Kendall Meyer
MICHELLE CARTER
Theodora Lemberos
Peter Waldo
NEIL JOHNSON
Gabriel Wilson
Makayla London
Sage Bennett
Stephen Michur
Bradley Case
Nicole Lertora
Robert Walker
Lauren Jones
MATTHEW WILSON
JARED LOWRY
Zachary Berry
Carmen Moore
Justin Chan
Dominykas Lescinskas
Kayla Waller-LaRue
Alayna Jordan
Courtney Worden
Susan Luong
Zaynah Brooks
Kate Murphy
Ryan Chang
Christina Lim
Tanner Williams
ALEXIS JORDAN
Ornela Yossa-Nganpe
Maxine Vernice Macalino
Ayanna Brown
Citiana Negatu
Stanford Chang
DUNCHANDHN
Carolyn Worden
Amie Kargbo
Cesar Zavala Orozco
ZIA MAHMOOD
KATHRYN BROWN
Jamal L Nganga
Brandy Chau
LYONS
Kevin Wright
Haset Kassaye
Tyrone Zehring
ALINA MAJID
Nyrik Brown
Ornelle Ngouompemy
Shoshanna Chito
Mahdi Malik
SAMANTHA WRIGHT
Keshav Kaul
Bin Zhengs
Renee Malcolm
Jordan Browne
Chimi
ANN CIRINCIONE
Kevonn Martin
Fatou Yatassaye
Emily Keegan
10th Grade
Contessa Maltagliati
Zavier Norman Bryant
Tyler Nine
Bryan Citrenbaum
THEODORA MARTIN
Felicia Yau
Orbell Keshihi
Teajah Adams
Sydney Mann-Howard
John Bunke
Madeleine Noonan-Shueh
Matthew Clanton
Kristina McKenna
Michelle Yeung
Sofiya Kahn
Tayllor Afram
Caroline Manzo
Kate Campbell
Christopher Nugent
Casey Clark
TannerMedrano
Robert Zinnes