The Churchill Observer - March 2023

Fentanyl: the silent killer of Montgomery Co.

By Julia Levi Assistant Observations Editor

The growing epidemic of teen opioid abuse seems to be relentless and never ending. Within the past few months fentanyl has been rapidly circulating throughout MCPS, with 70% of overdoses in the county being related to fentanyl. Students have gotten access to fentanyl through counterfeit pharmaceutical pills laced with the drug. Ingestion of these pills, even in small doses, can result in death.

According to the Montgomery County Police, there were 11 fatal overdoses in 2022, compared to the fve in 2021. This number continues to escalate, as these synthetic fentanyl-laced pills spread. Many unwary and careless students may not realize just how harmful fentanyl is. Fentanyl is 100 times stronger than morphine and 50 times stronger than heroin.

“I am terrifed both as a parent and a high school RN [registered nurse],” WCHS nurse Kathryn Simpson said. “I have a daughter who is an MCPS high school student. I have personally known people who have lost loved ones to this drug. I wish I had the answer to scare students enough to not mess with any drug because you have no idea what is in it.”

It is important that WCHS

does its part to help limit fentanyl use among students, especially in the building where they may be more susceptible of getting in contact with the drug. Students must feel safe and heard in the school environment, which is why WCHS offers resources to allow students to anonymously report drug activity and safety concerns for other students as well as themselves.

“If you see something, say something,” WCHS Principal John Taylor said. “You may have noticed seeing the ‘Bulldog Cares’ signs around the walls with QR codes. Students can use the QR code and it will take them right to a form that they can fll out and say why they are worried about a student. They have the choice to give their name or not give their name.”

One step that all MCPS schools are taking to prevent overdoses is with Narcan. Narcan, otherwise known as naloxone, is an emergency medication that can reverse overdoses from fentanyl and other opioids. MCPS keeps Narcan in every school and is currently working to distribute larger supplies around the county.

“[Narcan] temporarily reverses and blocks the effects of opioids,” Simpson said. “One application can be administered directly into the nostril of the person. Then 911 needs to be called immediately after the frst dose is given. If

Counterfeit pills laced with Fentanyl can be di cult to distinguish from the authentic ones. ese fake pills tend to be light blue with “M” and “30” stampings.

after 2-3 minutes the person has not woken up a second dose can be given in the opposite nostril and wait for emergency responders to arrive. In an emergency, it is better to give [Narcan] than to not give it.”

Utilizing Narcan in schools serves as a practical and valuable way to save the lives of students endangered by synthetic opioids. WCHS is working toward giving all staff members the resources for administering Narcan within the building.

“We have already done Narcan training with all of our security and admin team and our school health nurses to make sure everybody knows how to administer it,” Taylor

said. “At this point all of our security is carrying Narcan. I have my own Narcan kit which all administrators will be getting so that we have them readily available and know what to look for as far as how to help students if they do overdose.”

On Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023, MCPS hosted a press conference where several county leaders, including MCPS superintendent Monifa McKnight, discussed the ongoing rise in illegal fentanyl use among students.

Elena Suarez, mother of WCHS graduate Collette Russ who died from an accidental overdose in 2019, was present at the conference.

“She was very funny,” Suarez said. “I miss our laughter. What you leave behind is a web of

Sumthing’s of: MCPS math levels decline

By Leah Kreisler Online Photo Manager

Starting in Kindergarten, students are continuously learning basic math concepts that allow them to move forward and comprehend more complicated ones. Multiplication and division lead to fractions and percentages. Algebra leads to trigonometry and then calculus. For years, this progression has moved students from primary and foundational concepts to complicated and hair-pulling logic. But what happens when that progression is interrupted and students are forced to skim or skip an entire year of math?

In late January, Maryland released the results of the Spring 2022 Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP), which shows that virtual learning

continues to have a devastating impact on students’ ability to learn math. The MCAP exams test students’ math and english language arts (ELA) learning profciency. Following the national trend of decreasing profciency levels in math after virtual learning, only 22% of Maryland third through eighth graders scored “profcient” in math, 11% lower than the 20182019 school year, the last time the test was taken. Similarly, 31% of third through eighth graders in MCPS scored “profcient” in math.

“Learning during virtual was a lot harder because you were at home with so many distractions,” WCHS sophomore Eva Linder said. “Also, it was a lot harder to learn because it’s hard to pay attention to teachers who are a little box on your screen.”

Discover March D.C. attractions you can explore this month!

grief and a life sentence for your families and your loved ones.”

There is no doubt that overdoses among young people are tragic. This is why not only staff, but students should take initiative when they can to help.

“The only right decision is to have a conversation with him/her and seek out help immediately,” Simpson said. “Fentanyl is highly addictive and as much as the person may want to stop taking the drug it may be hard for them to stop. Being a good friend is telling a parent/adult/healthcare provider/administrator/ neighbor. Anyone. Just do not keep this information to yourself. If they are using and fall unconscious or stop breathing, seek medical help immediately.”

Local organizations such as Montgomery Goes Purple and Surviving Our Ultimate Loss (S.O.U.L) represent community wide efforts to initiate prevention, treatment and awareness of opioids like fentanyl. Additionally, texting or calling 988 or visiting 988lifeline.org can allow one to easily access confdential and free support.

“It is hard to say no,” Simpson said. “Peer pressure is real. But the only way to truly be safe is to say no. I know it sounds trite but the decision to do so could save your life.”

like any other year. In a typical year, classes would begin by reviewing some key concepts that might have become foggy over the summer, but last year it quickly became apparent that these concepts were not just foggy; they were never learned. Missing past mathematical concepts hinder one’s ability to learn new ones, and it still affects students today.

“It was harder for me to learn stuff [during virtual learning] and I didn’t really fully understand it,” WCHS sophomore Julia Bloise said. “I’ve noticed that this has really impacted me this year because it’s really hard to remember the foundational stuff that I need for Algebra II;

The indoor track team claims win after win throughout the winter season.

WCHS clubs celebrte Women’s History Month.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ROSE AVE BAKERY.

WCHS sophomores Julia Bloise (left) and Eva Linder (right) do math homework during lunch in an efort to relearn Algebra I concepts that they learned virtually.

PHOTO BY LEAH KREISLER.

PHOTO COURTESY OF

PHOTO COURTESY OF PARTNERSHIP TO END ADDICTION.

As school transitioned back to in-person learning last year, they

were expected to continue with the next level of their progression, just

Struggling students leave MCPS in the minus

Jump from page 1.

just not coming to my brain. The teacher always says we should remember certain concepts, but I don’t because we learned it all virtually and half the time my connection was bad or I wasn’t paying attention.”

Typically taken by WCHS students in middle school, Algebra I is the frst high school level math class in the academic progression. Introducing algebraic concepts and logic sets the groundwork for all future math classes, yet only 20 percent of MCPS students scored profcient on the Algebra I test last year.

“I teach Algebra II and the kids who are taking this class this year were virtual during Algebra I. We saw the effects [of virtual learning] last year and it’s still having its rip-

ple effects this year,” WCHS math teacher Beth Meyers said. “Every student is going to have different gaps. We are having to go back and reteach things, or students have to go back on their own and make things up on their own. In Algebra II, we spent a while going back and reteaching Algebra I concepts at the beginning of this year. We kept having to insert Algebra I into Algebra II.”

Although the results showed a decline in math profciency, ELA profciency levels are back to pre-pandemic levels. According to the report released by Maryland, “the decline in middle school math profciency rates was 3-4 times larger than the decline in ELA.”

“Math is a progression. If you miss one year of math, it is so much harder to learn new math because you don’t know the foundation of the new concepts,” Bloise said. “You also start learning English when you’re young, but it’s something that you

have to constantly use in your life, so it’s so much easier to catch up. Also, we do similar things every year so even if they introduce new concepts, there isn’t a foundation that is missing.”

While the county has not disclosed whether they have a specifc plan to solve the pandemic learning gap, it is abundantly clear that the gap will continue to impact both students and teachers for years to come unless immediate action is taken to mitigate it.

“It is clear that the pandemic has resulted in a signifcant learning disruption over the past 18 months,” MCPS Superintendent Monifa McKnight said last school year. “This is really going to require being intentional and direct to know each learner, to know what their learning needs are and address them. That has to happen in every classroom, with every child in this system. That’s what we owe them.”

Lack of math profciency will become a greater issue as the kids impacted by the learning gap go into the workforce, where they may struggle to create accurate work.

School in need of repairs while soap thieves sink to new low

By Isar Uslu Staf Writer

Broken water fountains. Broken sinks. Stolen soap dispensers. HVAC that is scorching hot in some rooms and freezing cold in others. WCHS students face infrastructure issues everyday. But despite the frustration of students, teachers and administrators alike, addressing many of these problems can be more diffcult than one might think.

“[WCHS] needs to work on some of the facilities and other equipment in the hallways that are not working,” WCHS sophomore Collins Nnamdi said. “They don’t seem committed to replacing anything that’s been damaged, especially in the bathrooms. It’s been weeks, and there are still no hand wipes in the bathrooms.”

Nnamdi noticed the situation has not been particularly improving during his time at WCHS. However, he thinks that other than certain areas, the school runs fairly well as is.

“Except for the faulty equipment in the hallways and the bathrooms, they’re doing pretty good,” Nnamdi said. “The day to day operation of the school isn’t really affected by this, but it would be nice if they could be replaced.”

From stolen soap dispensers to a lack of paper towels, bathrooms are a frequent concern for many WCHS students. One student, WCHS junior Dan Harris, says that he actively tries to avoid using the bathrooms at WCHS.

“I have had to dehydrate myself so that I don’t have to use the bathrooms as much,” Harris said. “There is toilet paper and urine on the foors everywhere. One time, I saw Lakeshore headphones smashed into pieces and laid on the foor.”

Alongside the bathrooms, air conditioning is another common complaint of WCHS students. After coming back from online learning, parts of the building have suffered from HVAC issues that have left some rooms in sweltering heat and others in unbearable cold.

“It’s like a super sized version of Hot

Pockets,” Harris said. “Every bite is a different temperature, and here every room is a different temperature. One time, the air conditioner was broken for a week, and we were all sweating. Instead of actually fxing the air conditioning, they brought in portable fans.”

WCHS Principal John Taylor attests to the issues the building faces, but says that repairing the facilities at the school comes with their own challenges, like hiring qualifed professionals to get the work done.

“It’s very hard to hire people now; they can get jobs in other places, so they’re kind of struggling a little bit,” Taylor said. “What I think central offce maintenance is really trying to work on is professionalizing the teams that they have. For example, in HVAC, so it’s not just a maintenance guy who kinda sort of knows air conditioning. They’re hiring certifed experts in HVAC to work on our systems now to make sure they’re upgraded and kept nice.”

On top of hiring challenges, WCHS also faces the issue that they are technically not facing as bad of issues as other schools. Other schools in the county are afforded more attention because of their more critical state, leaving WCHS in the wait list for renovations.

“We are no longer a new school; our last modernization and complete refurbishment, where they added this whole new wing to the building, was in 2000,” Taylor said. “So we’re kind of slated to get a renovation [in] the 2036-2042 range. It’s going to be a while. There’s like 210 schools, they can only do so many at a time and they’re still building new schools in other parts of the county [and] going back and fxing up the old ones. I know we have our problems, but Odessa Shane didn’t have centralized air, it just got replaced 2 years ago. Cabin John, which got replaced in 2012, did not have centralized air for a long time; it just had window units until they replaced it.”

This means that schools like WCHS will often rely on preventative maintenance, which preserves what works until a renovation can occur. According to WCHS’s “Business and Operations Information” docu-

ment, which outlines the procedures to spend funds on the school, any emergency requests are handled by the Building Services Manager, while less urgent concerns require a Maintenance Request. Taylor says that these requested work orders can take months to be addressed.

“There is a whole system for putting in work orders, there are maintenance depots that come out and work with schools to do corrections and repairs,” Taylor said. “This year, our goal has been to work on [when] you’ll put in a work order, like [a] door lock doesn’t work, as an example, and it will kind of just sit there for a long time, and he’ll come and look at it and say ‘Oh, I need a part,’ and he’ll disappear for a while.”

Taylor has stated that measures are being taken to help with preventative maintenance. For example, WCHS uses software to keep up to date on what needs to be replaced, and staff have weekly meetings to

keep up on the condition of school infrastructure. He also says that WCHS makes sure to constantly remind maintenance depots of requests.

“We’ve changed a lot of our systems so that it doesn’t become lingering,” Taylor said. “A work order has been in for 372 days on a broken water fountain, when it’s been in for 14 days we’re calling them and [asking] ‘when are you coming?’”

However, until a major renovation can occur, WCHS must work with what it has. To this degree, respecting the infrastructure shared by all who use it is most critical to keeping it running for as long as possible.

“[Things like] making sure we’re not breaking the water fountain or dumping something in there that clogs it up,” Taylor said. “Those are little things that we all can do, that will actually help the system, help it last longer.”

PHOTO BY ISAR USLU.

A broken water fountain at WCHS gets taken out of service after being covered in scotch tape and a plastic water bottle.

Teacher of the Month: Amanda Marshall

By Caitlin Murphy Copy Editor

From telling stories about the robber barons of the Gilded Age in AP U.S. History to teaching students about checks and balances in Honors NSL, Amanda Marshall certainly brings social studies to life in her classroom.

To any student who has had the privilege of having Marshall, it seems as though she had been planning to teach social studies for her whole life because of her passion for and knowledge of the subjects she teaches.

However, Marshall had never thought about teaching until college. It wasn’t until one of her history professors suggested teaching that she considered pursuing it as a career.

“I had a world history professor who was very motivational and inspirational, and his love for history was so exciting,” Marshall said. “I started tutoring kids in the class and he asked me one day if I had ever considered teaching. When I said no, he told me I should really consider it. It was honestly his love for social studies that got me interested in teaching.”

While Marshall has taught a vari -

ety of subjects over the years from Sociology to AP Psychology, she is primarily known for teaching AP U.S. History, commonly known as APUSH. This course is infamous for being a challenging introduction for freshmen to AP classes. For Marshall, the challeng ing element of the course is one of the reasons she loves teaching it.

“For the frst time many of the freshmen are chal lenged in a way they have never been,” Marshall said. “Getting them to think more critically and not just for right or wrong is an important skill for life, so getting to introduce them to that is fun.”

While many teachers at WCHS spend most of class time lecturing information in front of a class of students, Marshall takes a differ ent approach to teaching.

“I try as much as I can to have the students do something with the information,” Marshall said. “I’d much rather give students resources and let them discover the informa tion and struggle a little bit, because

that’s an important part of learning. I want kids to get around the room, talk to other students and answer specific questions instead of just lecturing and hoping the information sticks in their brains.”

Throughout the year Marshall prioritizes getting to know her students beyond their academic performance on tests and assignments.

She tries to structure her class to meet the needs of her students and cater to their strengths and weaknesses.

Marshall’s dedication to making class both enjoyable and instructive is obvious to her students, which is one of the reasons so many of her students love having her as their teacher.

“Mrs. Marshall is an amazing, kind teacher who teaches the class so well,” freshman Danica Huang said. “She manages to be funny and make the class fun while covering all the content in an understandable way.”

Outside of teaching, Marshall is involved in a variety of different ways at WCHS from sponsoring

three different clubs to running Rho Kappa, the National Social Studies Honor Society. However, her biggest commitment is coordinating Student Service Learning (SSL) for all students at WCHS.

“[SSL] is very mindless in the sense that it’s just data entry,” Marshall said. “On a day that has been challenging, it’s nice to be able to just sit for a few minutes. It also puts me in contact with a lot more students, so I feel like I get to know the students a little bit better, as well as admin and counseling as we work through certain SSL issues.”

From sponsoring clubs to teaching countless different subjects over the years, Marshall has left her mark as a member of the WCHS community. However, what really makes Marshall stand out as a teacher is both her passion for the subjects she teaches as well as her dedication to help develop her students into stronger learners and more mature human beings.

“It’s amazing how freshmen mature so much from August to June, and just to feel like you helped them develop into good citizens and students is one of my favorite parts of teaching,” Marshall said.

Stronger app provides a new outlet to express issues

By Sneha David Assistant Online Editor

In the past fve years, MCPS has taken many new initiatives to improve students’ wellness, whether it be through programs implemented in the classroom or online resources. Partnering with past Montgomery Blair High School students, MCPS is now offering a new app, “Stronger Student.” The app was created to connect students with crisis support resources and an anonymous place where they can report bullying, harassment and hate bias.

“I think a lot of these new policies and statements about wellness are so important because it shows that the county is at the bare minimum aware of these issues and is putting in effort to address them,” WCHS junior Kanza Ishan said. “By implementing countywide statements that directly address wellness to said teachers, these policies are also helping to educate MCPS staff and adults about how to better take care of today’s students.”

The “Stronger Student” app was created so struggling students could get the help they needed confdentially. No data is collected, and MCPS has no identifable record of which students use the app, allowing students to reach out without fear of others knowing.

“This is very important because it provides students the ability to fnd resources and report incidents without feeling ashamed or embarrassed, yet receiving the services they may need,” WCHS mental health specialist Maria Bruno said.

Some resources “Stronger Student”

connects students to are various crisis hotlines, organizations and reporting forms. Students can use these forms to report incidents, whether it be racism, sexual harassment, child abuse or other areas of concern. While this form is not confdential and asks for personal information, it may eliminate students’ fears of reporting something in person.

“The app provides an easy to navigate platform to report incidents in one place without having to ask others directly, which could be diffcult depending on the situation,” Bruno said. “This app provides a very straightforward form to report bullying, which is streamlined from the regular written form. In addition, the form can be received by the ap-

propriate parties instantly.”

While there is always the option of reaching out to an adult at school to get help, MCPS wanted to make that easier with the “Student Strong” app. The list of resources online has made it much more accessible, as students can get help through their phones, rather than struggling to talk to others.

“Generally, students can ask an adult or administrative fgure about where they can fnd helpful resources,” Ishan said. “However, many students aren’t comfortable with doing that. Through the app, simply checking online can help kids become more aware of things they can do and use when they do need help.”

Although some believe the online resources are not benefcial, “Stronger Student” has received mostly positive responses from students. Many are more comfortable with the idea of an app making it more accessible and convenient to reach out for help on a variety of critical issues.

“This app does make it easier for students to reach out for help, especially because it can be done discreetly and on the student’s own time and capability,” Ishan said. “A lot of kids, including myself, refrain from receiving help/support on a mental issue solely due to the fear of confrontation or struggle to directly communicate the problem to an adult. Having a space where students can speak on their issues platform they’re comfortable with, their personal phones, without having to face someone directly defnitely makes reaching out for help much easier.”

PHOTO BY SNEHA DAVID.

Using the MCPS Stronger Student app, students are able to access various mental health resources through their phone.

Black Eyed Susan books promote new reads

By Rebecca Dean Staf Writer

One of the hardest parts of reading is getting started. Picking out a book to read can be overwhelming for many. Luckily, the WCHS media center has a selection of specially chosen books students can read and nominate for the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Award (BES).

The BES program begins when members of the Maryland Association of School Librarians(MASL) meet and read a series of potential book nominees. Then, they nominate 10 books for that school year’s BES Awards. The best part is that the students get to vote on what books will be awarded.

“What I love about the Black-Eyed Susan is that it’s the only award that I know that students get to decide what’s the best book for them, for teenagers,” Media Specialist Paige Pagley said. “All the other awards are where adults say what’s the best book; this [is] you guys voting.”

Besides just enjoying the BES books, students also have the opportunity to celebrate these awards with a party. If students read three BES nominees and fll out a short review for each of them, they get to attend the annual voting party towards the end of the year.

“We like to celebrate readers, and we try to make the Black-Eyed Susan voting a time to celebrate; it’s a time where students get to use their voice,” Pagley said. “We like to celebrate that, and we have always been fortunate enough to have pizza, prizes

and just a little bit of fun. We try to make it just a really fun day because our student readers deserve to be celebrated.”

Although many don’t know this, a lot of BES nominees are some of the most popular books at the time. For example, “Twilight” and “The Hunger Games” were BES winners. Currently, “The Inheritance Games,” a popular book among students due to its prevalence on social media, is a nominee.

“My favorite book I’ve read so far for BES is ‘The Inheritance Games,’ which is about a girl who surprisingly receives a huge inheritance from a dead philanthropist she doesn’t know,” WCHS sophomore Aida Sadjadpour said. “She spends the rest of the book investigating why. I enjoyed this book because it was suspenseful and I didn’t know what was coming.”

Even though the BES awards have existed since 1992, COVID-19 unfortunately disrupted them. With schools closed for a whole school year, it became impossible for librarians to host these awards ceremonies. Even in 2023, the BES awards are still suffering from the long-term effects of COVID-19.

“The number of students we have reading our Black-Eyed Susan books aren’t as robust as they were pre-COVID, but we are getting back to that number,” Pagley said. “So

WCHS sophomore Aida Sadjadpour picks which BES nominee she wants to read at the media center during lunch. Students who read and review three nominees get to participate in a voting party towards the end of the year.

probably next year, we’ll be back to those numbers. Like with anything, you kind of have to build back up.”

The librarians are working hard to do just this. This year, they have put up a big display at the front of the library advertising BES nominees to help encourage students to start reading. Not only that, but they have updated the WCHS

website to make a list of nominees and their synopses easy to fnd.

“I would say to anyone interested in participating that they should come into the media center and grab a book,” Pagley said. “We’re happy to show you where you need to go and where our Black-Eyed Susan books are. Come on in, we’re happy to have you.”

WCHS club sheds light on mental health and wellness

By Cecilia Bernstein Photo Manager

Almost one in three high school students experience persistent feelings of hopelessness and depression, according to the Center for Disease Control. As students confront these new emotions caused by school, social issues and other problems, solutions are hard to fnd.

To fll the void, WCHS’s Umttr (You Matter) Club has stepped in, devoted to suicide prevention and mental health resources.

Umttr, an organization founded at WCHS after the tragic suicide of student Evan Rosenstock in 2013, was designed to create a compassionate culture where students feel safe.

“We always have a lot of students who show up to our monthly meetings, which is great to see,” sophomore and club president Kai Zou said. “It is inspiring to see how many students care about the mental health and well-being of themselves and their peers.”

In addition to the club’s monthly meetings, it hosts events throughout the year, including raffes, games and fundraisers. The money earned has been donated to various suicide prevention charities, such as the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

“All the events that Umttr hosts are always really fun since I get to show my support for the club through fun events,”

The ambassadors of the Umttr club at WCHS pose in front of their poster on club day on Nov. 11, 2021. The ambassadors were recruiting people for their club and gave all students the opportunity to join.

WCHS sophomore and club member Aleeza Ali said. “Entering raffes is probably my favorite type of activity because I get a chance to win prizes and help a cause that I care about.”

Each monthly meeting is flled with new content for club members, who get to hear about monthly

events and educate themselves on the mental health resources available at WCHS. Umttr, with recognition of the struggles of the WCHS community, has created a safe and caring space in the building.

“The ambassadors work hard to plan their meetings, and it shows when every

person attending is interested in the topic,” Ali said. “I have not missed a meeting yet this year and I don’t plan to miss any for the remainder of the year.”

Umttr is a member of the Change Direction movement, a group that came together to reduce mental health stigma. Launched by First Lady Michelle Obama in 2015, the group has taken off ever since.

“Change Direction has changed the lives of so many people, and I am so glad Umttr stands with them,” Zou said. “Everyone is devoted to the same cause: caring for the mental health of teens.”

On Jan. 9, the club brought in guest speaker Anthony Sartori to speak to the members about improving their mental health by connecting with their peers. The program lasted three lunch days, and Sartori inspired the students.

“The other ambassadors and I were really glad to get a speaker like Anthony in to talk to the members,” Zou said. “Sometimes hearing from a person like that can resonate with people.”

When Umttr was created, the founders focused on ensuring a safe and compassionate environment for students , and, so far, the club has achieved this goal. Crowds of students have joined the cause with many more expected to come.

“Umttr will always be an environment of people I know caring for me and my wellbeing,” Ali said. “I will forever be grateful for the people and the club.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF KAI ZOU.

PHOTO BY REBECCA DEAN.

Has indie gone past the point of no return?

By George Chang Arts Editor

Jan. 26th, 2010, from Paste Magazine: “Is Indie Dead?” Jan. 16th, 2012, from The Guardian: “Indie rock’s slow and painful death.” Oct. 25th, 2017, from Vox: “The life and death of the indierock heyday.”

For the past decade or so, music journalists have been lamenting the rise and fall of indie, writing away on their offce computers as they reminisce about the good ol’ days of the charming jangle pop of The Smiths, the sprawling guitar solos of Built to Spill, the shoegaze dissonance of my bloody valentine, etc. Particularly, there seems to be a fxation over the genre’s loosening grip on the cultural zeitgeist. After all, they reason, poptimism and identity-commodifcation as a response to the corporatization of the music industry must mean indie artists are receiving the short end of the stick. However, by overemphasizing its place in pop culture, they are confating the traditional business defnition of indie with the ethos typically associated with the musical style.

As a refresher, “indie” music is short for independent music, which removes infuence from commercial record labels and gives it to the artists. While they can be signed under independent record labels, these distribution companies seek to differentiate themselves from major labels such as Warner Music Group or Universal Music Group through interest in a specifc genre or holding

anti-establishment sentiments. Similarly, these concepts—independence, aesthetics, community—trickle down to the art produced under this business model. That is why there are so many subgenres under the signifer; regardless if it is indie pop, indie rock or indie hip-hop, they all share common traits in their willingness to break from the mainstream, whether it is a daring production choice or an experimental approach to songwriting.

Through this understanding, it is clear that fears of an indie-doomsday situation are not only unfounded, but actually go against the very founda-

tion of the genre. Established simultaneously in the United States and the United Kingdom during the 1960s and further revitalized during the punk era of the 70s, the revival of music based on authenticity and accessibility was spurred by a litany of social changes during this time period, ranging from a growing antiwar attitude to a newfound sense of bodily liberation. Regardless, it is paradoxical to zero-in on charts and monetary fgures, when the very point of indie music is to transcend capitalism’s chokehold on the industry.

The other argument for the death of indie centers around commercialization

and identity. With all artistic movements and their underlying subcultures, there’s a self-inficted othering that gatekeeps their ‘radical’ or ‘inspired’ ideas from the layman. This was a prevalent discussion within the 70s punk community (accusations of being a poseur were constantly thrown around), and it is a prevalent discussion now (see the backlash when a previously underground artist starts to rise in acclaim and exposure). However, concerns over the pureness of the genre is antithetical if their goal is to keep indie alive. Semantic squabbles over the meaning of indie—or, if it has simply been torn into another empty buzzword—are interesting philosophical questions, but fall fat when considering its role in our culture. Music is such an integral part of adolescent development, and exploration of identity through the formation of personal taste should be rewarded instead of shunned, even if it comes with a period of obsessive posturing.

It’s interesting, though, that indie music can both be viewed as sales poison to music executives and over commercialized to the point of parody. Simply put, their worries fall fat in the face of reality. Indie is not dead: it is thriving and continuously expanding to greater and radical heights. Take a quick glance on Bandcamp or go to the show of a local band and it will be obvious that there are hidden gems everywhere, begging to share their thoughts and stories and ideas to anybody who is willing to listen.

Dr. Suess must be reframed for his previous racist work

By Abbas Yazdi Assistant Opinions Editor Graeme Finley Promotions Manager

March 2nd marks the birthday of one of the most well-known and infuential authors of all time: Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss. Throughout the early to mid 1900s, Dr. Seuss created some of the most memorable and imaginative characters and stories in the history of children’s literature. Seuss’ unique style of storytelling, playful rhymes and whimsical illustrations have captivated generations of readers and continue to do so to this day.

However, in recent years, a number of Dr. Seuss’ cartoons have resurfaced in a negative light due to racist and offensive content. Despite writing lots of books that resonate with so many children, should Dr. Suess still be remembered positively?

Throughout his career, Dr. Seuss wrote and illustrated more than 60 books, many of which have become classics. His stories often contained important lessons about individuality, acceptance and the power of imagination. Suess’ stories continue to be entertaining for readers of all ages. In reality though, if even a small minority of his books promote racism and discriminatory ideas, that leaves a permanent mark on his legacy and his famous children’s books.

Despite paving the way for his later success, Suess’ frst book, “And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street,” has been subject to harsh controversy and criticism regarding its several examples of intolerable racist depictions. One ap-

Theodor Suess Giesel, also known as Dr. Suess, is shown next to his two books, “And To Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street” and “If I Ran The Zoo.” Both well-known books have been included on an updated list of six banned Dr. Suess books, deemed too ofensive for publication.

palling example from the books is when Suess depicted a character in his book as Chinese and drew them with yellow skin and a queue hairstyle, as well as slanted lines for eyes. Although it may seem painfully obvious that this is explicit anti-Asian racism, this book was published more than 80 years ago, and people are just learning about this now. Regardless of generational fame, it is unacceptable for someone who was so openly racist to still be shown to children in the same light as they once were. No child should read a book that shows those of any race in a discriminatory fashion, or a book from an author that

holds such stereotypes in the frst place. That is simply setting a poor example for our youth and the next generation and feeding into harmful, divisive thinking.

Dr. Seuss began his career as a cartoonist and illustrator for magazines and advertisements. He also made cartoons for fun, where many more of his offensive cartoons are apparent. Suess infamously depicted AfricanAmericans, Asian-Americans and Jewish people in a demeaning manner in various racist advertisements and political cartoons. The same man who wrote and drew “The Cat in The Hat” and “One Fish, Two Fish” to entertain

children used his talent to produce antiJapanese-American cartoons and racist pesticide advertisements to entertain other bigots. Scary.

Supporters of Seuss may point to the fact that he was also a prolifc artist and philanthropist. Later in life, he established the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden in his hometown of Springfeld, Massachusetts and the Dr. Seuss Foundation, which supports literacy programs and other educational initiatives. Quite on the contrary, Suess’ personal life is much darker than it seems.

Dr. Suess notoriously had an affair when his wife, Helen Palmer-Geisel, fell awfully ill. As Palmer-Giesel was suffering from partial-paralysis and eventually cancer, Suess ruthlessly announced his affair with Audrey Stone Dimond, showing no signs of remorse. PalmerGiesel ultimately committed suicide because of Suess’s ruthless decisions, later discovered in her suicide note.

On top of that, according to a Sep. 2015 article from Daily News, it was disclosed by Dimond to PBS that Suess didn’t like children, and often questioned their thought-processes. Odd for a children’s author.

Back in March 2021, President Biden left a mention of Dr. Suess out of his speech on Reading Across America Day, and rightfully so. Dr. Suess was probably one of the most successful authors when it came to pleasing young audiences, but as society and universal beliefs have evolved, Dr. Suess is no longer ft to be the idolized author he once was and should not be projected as one of the main historical fgures in children’s book authors and literature overall.

There are numerous ways of listening to and exploring indie music, whether it be through earbuds or streaming services. For example, Spotify is a great vehicle to get personalized music recommendations for every genre.

PHOTO COLLAGE BY CAROLINE HARLESS/CREATIVE COMMONS.

PHOTO BY GEORGE CHANG.

The Churchill Observer Staff

Editor-in-Chief Jordan Pashkof

Ryan Weiner

Copy Editor Caitlin Murphy

Online Editor-in-Chief

Rachel Mattison

Online Editor Collin Chen

Vaughn Malamut

Assistant Online Editor Sneha David

Kendyl Groisser

News Editor Jeremy Chung

Assistant News Editor Clara Young

Observations Editor Caroline Harless

Assistant Observations Editor Julia Levi

Opinions Editor Liam Klein

Assistant Opinions Editor Abbas Yazdi

Features Editor

Melissa Redlich

Ha-Yeon Jeon

Assistant Features Editor

Ananya Pandit

Arts Editor George Chang

Kalena Yee

Sports Editor

Michael Demske

Justin Greenzaid

Social Media Manager

Jack Gans Paige Tasin

Photo Manager

Cecilia Bernstein

Diya Kachoria

Online Photo Manager

Leah Kreisler

Advertising and Subscrip-

tions Manager

Brianna Frank

Tafa Nutakor

Promotions Manager

Graeme Finley

Nate Levine

Naomi Wright

Internal Communications Manager

Nataly Behnia

Isabella Ngwana

Adviser

Laura Zitnik

Observer Opinion: Driver’s Ed must be accessible

By Kalena Yee (on behalf of the Observer Staf) Arts Editor

Beep beep! Getting a driver’s license is arguably one of the most defining moments in a high schooler’s life. Although it may seem like just a plastic card to some, a driver’s license gives students a sense of independence and is the frst step into the world of adulthood. While this experience is new and exciting, driving with caution and knowing the rules of the road are vital to preventing accidents and creating a safe environment for other drivers and pedestrians.

In order for minors to obtain a provisional license, applicants are required to participate in and successfully complete a driver’s education program.

According to Maryland’s Motor Vehicle Administration, this includes completing 30 hours of classroom learning and six hours of behind-the-wheel instruction that guides students through driving basics, road rules and safe driving information.

Up until the 1990s, MCPS offered driver’s education with health as its semester counterpart. While MCPS stopped the program, neighboring counties like Fairfax County and Loudoun County continue to offer it. Information taught from the driver’s education curriculum

is proven to be benefcial for drivers and the environment around them. According to the AAA Foundation, a non-proft organization dedicated to traffc safety research and education, driver’s education is associated with a lower incidence of crashes and convictions, reducing crashes by 4.3% and convictions by 40%. To ensure that all students have the opportunity to drive and are being taught effectively, driver’s education should be re-integrated into the MCPS curriculum as a required course.

Driver’s education is currently offered by many private driving schools in Maryland like Greg’s Driving School and iDrive Smart. With so many different companies, it is hard to measure how well the curriculum is taught. Since the content in driver’s education is crucial to students’ safety on the road, there needs to be assurance that the information is being taught effectively and correctly. Integrating driver’s education into schools would guarantee that a universal curriculum is taught across the county.

In addition, the cost for private driving instruction ranges from $300-650 depending on whether one is purchasing

classroom instruction, behindthe-wheel training or both. This can be extremely expensive for lower income families, which would hinder some students’ abilities to get a license. Incorporating driver’s education in school would eliminate the cost, so students from all income level families would be eligible to obtain their license without the fnancial burden.

Private driving schools can not only be expensive, but also inconvenient for already busy students. Classroom instruction involves ten consecutive days of learning with each class session running three hours long. In addition to a seven-hour school day, extracurricular activities and piles of school work, these sessions can be extremely tiring and time consuming, which can impact students’ stress levels. Including driver’s education as a class would stretch out three hour sessions into around 45 minute class periods during the school day, making the course more manageable and less overwhelming for students.

Driver’s education offered online by private companies has become a more popular option for students since the COVID-19 pandemic hit. However, the convenience of

distance learning may not be effective. WCHS students who took driver’s education classes online reported that staring at a screen for such a long period of time made it diffcult to learn and retain the new information. Structuring driver’s education as an in-person academic class would make students more willing to pay attention and learn through graded assignments and quizzes.

Some may argue that including driver’s education into the MCPS curriculum would be too costly: paying for instructors, cars, gas, etc. may not be within MCPS’s budget. A solution to this would be offering driver’s education as an optional elective or only requiring the inclass instruction to keep costs under control while keeping the accessibility of driver’s education for students across the county.

Whether including driver’s education as a mandatory class or elective, MCPS needs to prioritize access to and the quality of driver’s education for all students. It is important for students to know the rules of the road in order to drive responsibly for their safety and those around them.

Mary Jane is one friend no student should have

By Jack Gans Social Media Manager

Teenage years are the main time for young people to explore and make mistakes along the way. However, one of those mistakes should not be smoking marijuana. Marjuana is a huge issue globally for teens and goes by many street names such as “weed, hash, pot, mary jane and grass”.

These names may sound cool, but the drug is not and is especially damaging for teens. This is because the brain is not fully developed until mid to late twenties, and marijauna reduces cognitive performance.

This means marijuana use has the effects of reducing memory, learning, attention, decision-making, coordination, emotions and reaction time in those who use it. These are some of the most vital functions of your brain, and its long-term effects on one’s life are not worth the high.

It is said that over 30% of teens in highschool have smoked marijuana before, however the survey that stated this data is outdated and took place before the legalization of marijuana in many states across the nation. This number most likely has increased with the recent law changes.

Although this means marijuana is more accessible, at least

it is safer than marijuana on the street. Yet, this does not mean that legal marijauna is safe for teens as it can also lead to risk of addiction and major mental health issues.

Many teens resort to edibles infused with THC to take away the damaging feeling in their lungs of smoking. But, this is not any better as the THC enters their bloodstream and moves up to their brain’s receptors. These receptors are impaired causing a “high,” but instead of this impairment going away once the high is over, it subtly lingers for days after.

There even has been studies of teen’s IQ dropping largely when they used marijuana as a teen which correlates to the long term effects this drug can

have. Just like adults, there are the additional long term effects of lung cancer, heart attacks and even possible pregnancy complications.

Additionally, marijuana is known to be a “gateway drug,” meaning that it often leads to the use or addiction of harder drugs that can be severely damaging in adults and especially kids, with some being possibly deadly.

Marijauna can come in the form of dab pens, wax pens, bud and edibles. This does not mean all of the chemicals in the product are THC. Recently there has been a rise in fentanyl lacing drugs like marijuana, and even a grain of it can cause an overdose and even die. It is not very noticable and one

may not know your source of marijauana was laced until you are dead, which is a massive concern.

With all of these teens around the world smoking marijuana, it is a large concern that should be spoken about. Many kids can die from a little mistake of buying unsafe edibles while also damaging themselves regardless of marijuana not having a positive effect on underage teens or most people in general. For teens who want to quit smoking marijuana, it is similar to caffeine withdrawal, and therefore the best way to handle it is by staying busy through physical activity and/or new hobbies.

PHOTO COURTESY OF UNSPLASH STOCK.

At The Observer, we aim to inspire curiosity within our student body and challenge the norms of our society.

A teen drug setup displays many sources of marijuana that have a chance of being laced with fentanyl .Marijuana use can lead to major long term efects including lung cancer, heart issues and reduced cognition.

From high to middle school halls, Taylor does it all

By Caroline Harless Observations Editor

As students pass through school going from class to class every day, it is not uncommon to see a familiar face in the hallways: Principal John Taylor. From catching up with students to meeting with staff, Mr. Taylor does way more than sit at a desk all day.

However, towards the end of second semester, that well-known face was missing. Now that Mr. Taylor has returned, many have wondered: Where has he been?

“The internship program for Mr. Bilock was from the beginning of December to the end of January,” Taylor said. “While he was in charge of WCHS as the visiting principal, I was the visiting principal at Parkland Magnet Middle School for Aerospace Technology (PMMS). During that time, I was the seventhgrade administrator at Parkland, which was very exciting for me.”

Mr. Bilock, as many may already know, is the principal intern at WCHS. With the internship program, Mr. Bilock took over as the principal of WCHS in late 2022, and Mr. Taylor went to PMMS. Being a magnet school, PMMS had some signifcant differences from WCHS.

“The biggest difference between Parkland and WCHS is that Parkland is a magnet middle school,” Taylor said. “Because Parkland is in the Downcounty Consortium, it’s different from WCHS as kids apply to be in the magnet program. It’s a very different feel because we’re a neighborhood school—everyone goes to WCHS because they live in this neighborhood—whereas Parkland has students from all over. Another difference was in the schedules. As Parkland is a science-aerospace school, students have eight periods with two science classes, compared to WCHS, where students have seven periods with all subjects. The structure at Parkland is very different from WCHS.”

Although a considerable change from working in a high school, Mr. Taylor was not ill-prepared for his temporary seventh-grade administrator position

at PMMS. From working in middle schools across MCPS for several years, Mr. Taylor knew what to expect.

“I have worked in middle schools for many years, so being at Parkland wasn’t that big of an adjustment,” Taylor said. “Over the years, I was a teacher and administrator at Cabin John, Neelsville, Roberto Clemente and other MCPS schools. Middle school is a unique time in everyone’s life when they’re fguring out how to be an adult and managing classes with different teachers. Hence, it was interesting going back to a middle school and working with seventh graders.”

Despite apparent differences between WCHS and PMMS, Mr. Taylor noted many similarities. Students at WCHS are very school-orientated, priding themselves on good grades and achievements. These studious habits were something Mr. Taylor saw

in PMMS students as well.

“Parkland is similar to WCHS in that there are a lot of students who are super motivated to do well in school,” Taylor said. “Being an aerospace magnet school, many kids are really into math and science and interested in engineering programs. I remember talking with students about their goals and interests and thinking they would ft right in at WCHS.”

While Mr. Taylor was at PMMS, he also learned new techniques and policies that can be applied to WCHS. Aside from just taking on a new role, Mr. Taylor had to adapt to how PMMS operated compared to WCHS.

Even with lots of experience, Mr. Taylor still found himself learning new approaches—which he now wants to implement at WCHS—that he had not thought of before.

“One of the things that struck me

was the highly systematic approach they have to collect student voices,” Taylor said. “Parkland has a large focus on getting students to give them feedback on specifc things they are doing as a school, then analyzing it as a whole staff. The system stuck out to me because here at WCHS we have many surveys, but not a systematic approach where we implement policies and then check in with students and staff. We’re not as good at that, and I think that’s an area we can improve upon, so I might borrow some ideas from Parkland.”

Like any principal leaving their school in the hands of others, Mr. Taylor worried about how WCHS would do without him. Despite his concerns, he knew that Mr. Bilock and the administration would do a great job running WCHS in his absence.

“When I left, I was confdent in the team and the staff we have here, but to be honest, I was also apprehensive,” Taylor said. “We did check-ins where we talked about what was going on, which allowed me to stay connected to WCHS. I bent the rules a bit and went to as many away games as possible to see some kids and ask parents how things were going. But Mr. Bilock did a great job handling the school, and everyone continued to do what they’ve been doing.”

Returning at the end of January, Mr. Taylor has now been back at WCHS for over a month. Upon his return, he was happy to see familiar faces and return to his normal routine.

As much as he enjoyed the experience, Mr. Taylor feels that WCHS is defnitely where he belongs.

“Being at Parkland was a great experience, but I’m thrilled to be back,” Taylor said. “Even just walking in the hallways and seeing students again was great. People were telling me how their winter break was because I didn’t get a chance to talk to them about it. Seeing the staff and talking with parents at different events was awesome. Being around my kids and my staff in our community again feels amazing. WCHS is a very special place to me.”

Taylor fans can’t “shake of ” Ticketmaster disaster

By Kendyl Groisser Assistant Online Editor

Many concert-loving fans have been recently outraged by one company: Ticketmaster. With constant freezes due to an overload of users, expensive prices and overall poor service, Ticketmaster is being smacked with lawsuits and angry customers screaming for refunds. As celebrities resume touring local venues, the process of buying concert tickets has frustrated many WCHS students.

The most recent outrage was caused when one of America’s most beloved artists, Taylor Swift, announced The Eras Tour for this spring and summer. With millions of fans trying to get tickets, Ticketmaster’s interface could not manage all of the enthusiastic fans in the queue. With both the presale and regular sale having countless anticipating fans, the site eventually crashed, disappointing all of the patiently waiting fans.

“I remember getting on the website for Taylor Swift’s concert at least 30 minutes before it opened to make sure everything was set,” WCHS junior Reagan Beardall said. “I was super frustrated when the number [in the queue] was not going down. When it fnally started to move and I got in to get the tickets, it kicked me out again.”

The race to get Taylor Swift tickets was on. With anxious buyers waiting in line, the Ticketmaster website could not hold all of the activity. Fans were shocked to see a reputable and reliable website shut down during one of their biggest ticket sales. Howev-

er, this is not the frst time Ticketmaster has had problems with selling tickets. WCHS junior Olivia Putnam expressed that Ticketmaster has continuously disappointed her through the numerous concerts she has been to.

“I’ve encountered many different problems when buying these tickets,” Putnam said. “I have sat in the queue line for hours trying to get tickets, and when I get close to the front of the queue it has kicked me out before making me restart in the back of the line.”

Ticketmaster has been consistently disappointing its customers because of how they handle tickets. When a buyer goes to checkout, Ticketmaster gives them an original price for the ticket they are purchasing. However, they also hike up the prices with service and convenience fees. These infated prices are very upsetting to paying customers because of the price they are initially promised at the frst glance of their seat.

The fans face more disappointment when the prices for presale shows are signifcantly lower than the regular sale because of resellers.

“I think Ticketmaster has a somewhat fair way of choosing who gets early access to tickets because people sign up their email and I’m pretty sure they choose randomly to offer those people with early access to get tickets,” Beardall said. “However, when Ticketmaster sells out the entire show to those with early access and leaves those who did not receive it without even having an opportunity, it is unfair.”

Taylor Swift fans were outraged by the error message received on Nov. 15, 2022 when purchasing their tickets for her “Eras Tour.” Fans were excited to buy their tickets, but the Ticketmaster website shut down and restarted the customers in the queue.

In addition to the prices, the way these pre-sale applicants are chosen, while supposedly random, can still be unfair to the Ticketmaster customers. The presale that Ticketmaster offers to its customers has proven to show more problems in the ticket purchasing process than what was expected. Once presale is over, there are not many open seats available for regular sale customers which makes it nearly impossible —and very expensive —to get tickets.

“I do not think Ticketmaster should be in business because they always do early access in order to get rid of bots, but it does nothing to help the issue. Additionally, any concert I have tried to get tickets for the website ends up freezing and causes so much stress,” Beardall said. “While I don’t know much about the lawsuit Ticketmaster is going through, I’m glad they are fnally doing something to resolve the issue.”

Mr. Taylor sits at his desk completing work on Feb. 14. After being away from WCHS for over a month, Mr. Taylor has returned to his normal routine.

PHOTO COURTESY OF REAGAN BEARDALL

PHOTO BY CAROLINE HARLESS.

Touchdown! Super Bowl dips are a fan-favorite

By Rachel Mattison Online Editor-in-Chief

113 million people uniting over one thing feels like a rare occurrence in this divisive world.

However, on Sunday, Feb. 12, that is the estimated number of viewers who tuned in to watch the Kansas City Chiefs play the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl, and many WCHS students were amongst that number.

In addition to the excitement of the game itself, the Super Bowl is a favorite American event for the food, music and gatherings it provides.

Many families have long standing traditions of who they watch with and how they choose to watch such as serving specifc foods like “7 layer magic bars” or the kids and adults watching in separate rooms. For some, it is less of a family event and more a time to gather with friends and celebrate together.

“I went to a party with all of my school friends this year,” WCHS freshman Jordan Cohen said. “We all crowded onto and around the couch together to watch the game. I am not super into football so it was fun that it was such a social experience.”

Those who watched got to see a great football game with multiple lead changes, dazzling touchdown passes, game defning calls by the referees and even some drama such as when KC QB Patrick Mahomes reaggravated an ankle injury.

“It was a really good game this year,” WCHS freshman David Hsieh

said. “Jalen Hurts (of the Eagles) and Patrick Mahomes (of the Chiefs) are two fantastic quarterbacks so it was cool to see them go head to head, and neither disappointed. Plus, it was close and competitive all the way until the near end.”

The football game itself was a draw to many, but the halftime show by Rihanna was also a heavy pull factor as well. The viewership numbers for Apple Music’s Halftime Show were 5.7 million higher than for the average of the entire game, showing just how popular components other than the actual game are to watchers.

“The halftime show was truly incredible,” Cohen said. “I had never seen anything like it, with the foating stage that she was moving up and down on a lot; I am sure that was hard to perform on. Also, Rihanna’s red out-

ft contrasting against the white outfts of the dancers made her truly pop. She also did it while pregnant, which is impressive.”

In addition to the game and halftime performance, another important aspect to the big game is the food. People plan out a menu perfectly composed of appetizers, mains and desserts to keep their guests satisfed. Finger foods are a popular choice and it is chicken wings’ largest selling weekend of the year with 1.45 billion estimated to have been consumed.

“I love all the food that is served for the Super Bowl,” Hsieh said. “I like all the dips that are served and there are also good desserts. Having a great game to watch while eating good food makes it even better.”

Some groups of friends took different spins for their party. With the Su-

per Bowl falling only two days before Valentines Day this year, one friend group decided to combine their Galentines Party and Super Bowl party.

“We had a party during the Super Bowl where we watched the game, but it was Galentines because we all brought Valentine’s themed treats and dressed in red or pink,” WCHS Junior Sophie Michnick said.

Choosing to combine the events did not take away from the fun of either. In fact, it enhanced both of them for the girls there.

“We celebrated these occasions together because we always have so much fun spending time with each other,” Michnick said. “It ended up being even more fun to have them together, because we probably would have gotten bored of the Super Bowl.”

No matter what students’ favorite element of the Super Bowl is, celebrating the championship game is a popular occurrence.

From spending time with friends to attending an intense watch party, the Super Bowl offers a time for all Americans to unite, watch sports and forget about the divisiveness that surrounds our country. And, the music, ads and food aren’t a bad complement to the game.

“The winter can be a less exciting time of year, but the Super Bowl is a fun activity to break it up,” Cohen said. “The only thing I think should be changed about it is that we should get the following day off of school.”

Shattering the glass ceiling in Women’s History Month

By Catherine Chan Staf Writer

Women belong in the kitchen. Women should obey the requests of their husbands. Women should not go to school. Women should not vote. In the 1900’s, these were all common stereotypical sayings about the role of women in society, but times have changed. Women are no longer confned to the kitchen and can go to school, vote and do whatever brings them happiness.

In March of 1987, Congress passed Public Law 100-9, designating the month of March as Women’s History Month. Women of the past and present are commemorated during this month for their bravery through challenging times and celebrated for their incredible accomplishments. At WCHS, clubs like Generation She (Gen. She) and the Feminist Literature club (Fem. Lit.) focus on empowering women all year round.

Gen. She is a club that encourages girls to pursue careers in the feld of business, leadership and entrepreneurship through workshops, speaker events and projects. Similarly, Fem Lit aims to encourage younger girls but instead through literature, as the club dives deep into analyzing previous and current examples of literary works surrounding feminism. Both clubs highlight the remarkable feats women have achieved, in addition to the challenges women face in society today.

“In our club meetings we have presented research regarding barriers that prevent women from pursuing business careers, such as cultural stereotypes and hiring biases,” WCHS junior, and co-founder of Gen. She, Catherine Nan said. “With that being said, we strive to develop confdence, leadership and real-world skills that will better help our members pursue opportunities in

the business world.”

Cultural stereotypes are the main factors as to why the business industry is male-dominated. Stereotypes involving a woman’s perceived inferiority and weakness compared to their male counterparts still arise during interviews, making it diffcult for women to succeed in getting management positions. However, some women challenge these stereotypes by using their confdence not as a shield for protection, but as a sword to fght for themselves.

“We hosted a speaker event that featured three excelling college students from NYU Stern and Southern Methodist University, discussing high school internships and advice from undergraduates majoring in fnance and other business felds,” Nan said. “They mentioned that while big businesses like Google might not be looking for high school business interns, you can try reaching out to startups and applying to summer programs at colleges.”

The speakers highlighted the idea of women putting themselves out there. Women and girls must take advantage of the opportunities that come their way and use each as a stepping stone to reach higher achievements.

“In the future, Gen. She is planning to host meetings about personal fnance and entrepreneurship,” Nan said.

In addition to speaker events and club workshops, WCHS clubs also like to hold fundraising events.

“We recently had a fundraiser in which we were able to raise just over $500 for the Maryland Book Bank, a charity that gives books to underprivileged kids,” WCHS junior and cofounder of Fem. Lit club Aliza George said. “While there were many kind people that donated, we were met with a surprising amount of rude and condescending comments, mainly directed at

the feminist ideals on our poster.”

Fundraisers are always a fun way to raise money for organizations. Individuals may encounter friendly, generous people along the way, but also people who differentiate from the goals of the fundraiser. In America, everyone can freely express their own opinions on a variety of topics.

“Someone walked by our stand and glared at our poster--squinting to make out the word ‘feminist,’” George said. “He snarled and asked if this was a liberal or conservative club. While we tried to come up with a pleasant response, he continued to stare us down with hatred. He did not donate.”

Feminism is still a controversial topic since some believe the movement as a whole is unnecessary, as they believe equal rights for women have already been achieved. George mentioned how many people view feminism as a sole voice advocating for equal rights between the two sexes. However, there are more nuanced perspectives on the

topic that Fem. Lit explores.

“During March, we’re planning to read infuential work of Angela Davis titled ‘Women, Race, and Class” and hold discussions on it,’” George said.

“Women, Race, and Class” is a collection of 13 essays about slavery and the women’s liberation movement from the 1960s and up. It unravels the importance of remembering those movements and to move forward from them. The deep analysis of the critical moments of time in women’s history this book offers for sure captures Fem. Lit’s goal of acknowledging feminism.

“We’ve been working towards creating a safe space in Winston Churchill High School where students can voice their opinions on feminism and all movements that relate to it,” George said. “We are very proud that so many people show up to our meetings and contribute to the helpful and inclusive environment that we strive to cultivate.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF ALIZA GEORGE.

WCHS Fem. Lit club had a fundraiser for the Maryland Food Bank organization in support of providing underprivileged children with literacy resources. They raised a total of $500 from selling baked goods.

PHOTO BY RACHEL MATTISON.

A pita chip gets dipped into spinach and artichoke dip that was offered as one of many food options at a Super Bowl party on Feb. 12.

By Ananya Pandit Assistant Features Editor

A knock is at the door, urging her to rejoin her peers during a dance rehearsal as she sipped water. She glanced at the clock, calculating the minutes she could spare. She put her hair behind her ears and armed herself with energy. For WCHS senior Valeria Lemos, every day and choice is critical to ensure the success of Blast 33.

“I am one of the company managers,” Lemos said. “I work with coordinating schedules, attendance and making sure people come to rehearsals, among other things.”

As old as the legacy of Blast itself is, the question buried among the many inside jokes shared between the participants of Blast, the mind-numbing task of explaining the production to those who are unaware still lives. Is it a concert? Is it a musical? Is it a play?

“Blast is a combination of student vocal and dance performances under a designated theme,” Lemos said. “Student leaders collaborate with participants, live accompaniment, as well as Blast staff to perform a collection of songs curated as a part of a theme.”

Lemos, in addition to performing in the numbers, bears a heavy duty as company manager. In her hands lies the outward image of Blast, in addition to each cast member’s own perception of the production. In addition to managing the many moving parts of the production, Lemos must cater to the specifc needs that arise throughout the process.

“A lot of my job is listening to people,” Lemos said. “Everyone’s opin-

ions and concerns must be heard and considered, especially since Blast is primarily student-led.”

Listening productively sounds easier than it is. Evaluating each concern and coming to effective conclusions is a daunting task, especially for a production of this scale where there are over one hundred participants. To thrive in her position, Lemos requires a high level of patience and empathy.

“It’s important to be particular about tracking who is coming to rehearsals and where the show needs some work when dealing with scheduling and

communication,” Lemos said. “But I also make sure that everyone is getting the help and accommodations they need to learn their parts and perform to the best of their abilities.”

These ideals of improvement, support and communication are central to Blast. Every individual serves a specifc purpose. Tech crew builds the set and helps with lighting and sounds. Costume crew creates outfts that embody each song and make everyone feel empowered in their performances. Vocal and dance captains help cast members perform to the best of their potential.

Every facet of Blast’s production help foster a community.

“My favorite thing about Blast is watching people involved become closer together and bond over tech week, tiring rehearsals and stressful experiences,” Lemos said.

Blast is a medium through which WCHS students express creativity and individuality. The stage, illuminated under the lights, is the perfect outlet to take control of one’s passions and live out dreams. In addition to cultivating self-identity, Blast allows students to try leadership roles to further explore performance and behind-the-scenes. But as the production is student-led, the expectations for leaders are demanding, though well-intentioned.

“Blast leaders are expected to unify everyone involved in the production, as well as set an example for good behavior and work ethic,” Lemos said. “We have to make sure that we are being inclusive because Blast should be a positive experience for everyone involved.”

For Lemos, despite having her sophomore production taken by the pandemic, growth, continuity and progress are all present and consistent through her Blast years. The production works to foster a community that enables creativity and expression.

“My freshman year, I felt fresh and welcomed, but when I became a leader during my junior year, the Blast experience was even more special because I got to spread the motivation and energy I’d felt during my frst year to others,” said Lemos. “The legacy of Blast is in the hands of the leaders.”

The rehearsal process of Blast is extensive and elaborate, but that does not stop Lemos and her fellow castmates from having fun on stage.

PHOTO COURTESY OF VALERIA LEMOS.

The “Word” is out: Spring into these D.C. events

By Ha-Yeon Jeon Features Editor

Compare the two choices: stuck inside all day long as various social media platforms endlessly clamor for your attention, or enjoying the fresh spring air while exploring the hidden gems of Washington D.C. As the frst offcial month of spring, March can serve as both a re-entry to the outside world for those who hid from the cold, or a transition into springtime explorations for the yearlong D.C. tourists.

As with all other months, every day of March is designated as a national, or even international, celebration of something unique. Although it is diffcult to celebrate every day, matching up special trips to D.C. with the corresponding celebration can make them all the more exciting.

March 2 - National Read Across America Day (Dr. Seuss Day)

What better way to celebrate National Read Across America Day than visiting a bookstore? Despite its humble roots, Second Story Books has grown to become one of the largest used and rare bookstores in the world. Located on Dupont Circle, it boasts a plethora of out-of-print, used and rare books in good condition that customers can buy for a fraction of the original price; this is the perfect place to strike the balance between the irresistible pull to buy new books and the average WCHS student’s limited budget.

Planet Word is another unique way to celebrate language on this day. The musem includes interactive exhibits such as “First Words,” which follows the process of how people learn their frst language and “Words Matter,” where visitors can share their story in a recording booth as well as listen to the language stories of others.

March 3 - Day of Unplugging

Although this day is not as well

known, it has never been more relevant than in 2023, a year of constant trends and online innovations. Take this day to unplug from all devices and enjoy the United States Botanic Garden, which has a combination of outdoor gardens where visitors can enjoy the sun and dynamic exhibits that educate on fascinating botanical topics. “Discover the World of Orchids” is a new exhibition that showcases the diversity of orchids worldwide, providing an unparalleled opportunity to connect with nature’s meaning.

For those who enjoy an intellectual challenge and the thrill of a riddle well solved, Labyrinth Games & Puzzles is a store that specializes in non-electronic games and puzzles. From classic and antique games to jigsaw puzzles, this cozy store may be just the right place to realize that entertainment can come from both offine and online places.

March 8 - International Women’s Day

Celebrated annually on this day, International Women’s Day celebrates

the women’s rights movement and spotlights important advocacy issues. The National Women’s History Museum is opening its frst physical exhibition, “We Who Believe in Freedom: Black Feminist DC,” this March. Its purpose is to show the role Black feminism in D.C. played during the civil rights and Black Power movements of the 20th and 21st centuries; visitors will leave empowered by the stories of these incredible female activists.

Although history is the place to start, there is no lack of opportunities to support women in the local community. Suited for Change is a D.C. organization that provides professional attire and coaching at no cost for women in need, and they are always looking for volunteers who believe in their mission of a supportive female community. Volunteers can work as stylists who help clients choose their work wardrobe, or lead coaching sessions on skills such as confdence.

March 18 - National Quilting Day

As another lesser known celebra-

tion, this is a day that might be thought to have a rather limited audience, but that could not be further from the truth. For beginners, this is the perfect day to dive into this hobby, and A Special Lee Sewing and Craft Cafe is the place to go. As a sewing studio that offers workshops for everything from machine embroidering to quilt design, all are welcome to come and learn.

For those who are not artistic themselves but appreciate a beautiful canvas, The Point of it All is a delightful needlepoint shop that sells handcrafted canvases, forals, signs and so much more. With designs that appeal to everyone, this store is the go-to for anyone who wants to add a hand-painted canvas to liven up their rooms.

March 20 - World Flour Day

The perfect conclusion to a busy day of wandering around D.C. is fnding a bakery that makes the world seem just a bit brighter and happier. Seylou Bakery, complete with a humongous oven from Spain and a mill that grinds their organic whole grain four, is one that stnads out from the crowd. Famous for its whole wheat versions of popular bakery goods, this is a favorite for many bakery hoppers.

For those seeking even more creativity, Rose Ave Bakery is an AsianAmerican bakery that puts an Asian twists on pastries. With items such as the black sesame donuts, mapo tofu tart croissant and injeolmi red bean cookies, their menu is bursting at the seams with sweet and savory goods that are guilty of making the customers themselves burst at the seams.

The main takeaway? This is not a month to waste. Around every corner is a different side to D.C., and celebrating the various days of March by visiting these different educational, fulflling and delicious attractions is certain to help relieve springtime school stress for WCHS students.

Ancient bronze exhibit deserves a gold star

By Clara Young Assistant News Editor

3500 years ago, the Bronze Age was at its peak: metals were, for the frst time, transformed into intricately detailed art. During this period, the Shang Dynasty was born. At the heart of the empire was Anyang, the capital city, where kings ruled over this dynasty. Its cultural impact was forgotten after thousands of years of progress, yet the National Museum of Asian Art (NMAA), located in Washington D.C., chooses to maintain its memory with a new exhibit. On Feb. 25, 2023, the NMAA, in celebration of its centennial, introduced the frst exhibit in the United States about the city—“Anyang: China’s Ancient City of Kings.”

“I think this exhibit is a great way to celebrate the museum’s centennial,” WCHS junior Kanza Ihsan said. “As the National Museum of Asian Art highlights a lot of modern, presentday installations from Asia, I think it’s valuable for its visitors to understand the heart and birthplace of this art.”

The NMAA started at the National Mall in 1923, meaning this year marks 100 years since its opening. Over the century, it has formed a reputation as a grand source of history. This exhibition, in particular, is a collection of artifacts that give insight regarding the cultural origins of other NMAA pieces.

“What this exhibit does is that it allows you to see just how artistically skilled society was,” WCHS AP World History teacher Christopher Forney said. “It allows you to be able to infer elements about the human experience around three thousand years ago.”

The exhibit gives its viewers a greater understanding of the workings of ancient human civilizations. Over time, society has vastly evolved by taking its origins and building upon them. By attending the Anyang exhibit, one can see how different the lives of ancient people were and their practices.

“The artifacts themselves are interesting from an artistic point of view; the raw traditional materials used to make them, the spiritual practices behind them and the meaning underlying every detail,” WCHS junior Mira Wedam said. “I’d love to look into these traits by attending the exhibition.”

The artifacts that take part in the exhibition are all unique and signifcant to understanding the Shang culture. The NMAA has stated that over 200 pieces will be at the exhibition: ceremonial weapons, oracle bone inscriptions, ritual bronze vessels and more.

“The oracle bone inscription pieces seem the most fascinating to me,” Wedam said. “The origin of languages and how each unique language has spread to connect populations of people is always diffcult for me to wrap my head around. To have frsthand evidence of what is likely the origins of the Chinese language, which is now spoken and used in the most populous country in the world, is amazing.”

According to Encyclopedia Britannica, the Shang dynasty was the frst Chinese dynasty to leave both written and archaeological records. By having these records, historians can understand the characteristics of these people and what kinds of accomplishments they had. One specifc accomplishment of the Shang dynasty was its formation of the Chinese language.

“Language is incredibly important for the advancement of a nation in terms of communication, scientifc advancement, maintaining social order,and countless more aspects of a society,” Wedam said. “Anyang’s role in the development of language is what allowed for China to develop into the infuential nation it is today.”

The Shang dynasty was a key contributor in building China’s cultural foundation. By being exposed to intricately designed artifacts from this time period, visitors can dive into the everyday lives of ancient civilizations.

“I think [the exhibition] has to be interesting as a glimpse into the past,” Forney said. “China is culturally really rich. The Shang Dynasty specifcally pioneered architectural style [and created] a written language that is going to be infuential across Asia.”

The impact of Anyang, and the Shang dynasty, is often overlooked. Even those who are art and history savvy, are less aware of ancient Asian history. The Anyang exhibit will give WCHS students, and other visitors, a better understanding of a culture that they are likely unaware of.

“The exhibition is important for students to enhance their understanding of the origins of East Asian culture and art, a subject much too often overlooked by the modern education system,” Ihsan said. “As an art history student, I would love to learn more about art from ancient Asian culture, but unfortunately, the course has a major lack of that. That’s why I feel that an exhibit that represents such a rich yet often unseen history and culture is very worthwhile to attend.”

The Planet Word museum ofers a unique and interactive way of examining the history of the written and spoken language.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SMITHSONIAN INSTITUE. The three bronze ritual wine pouring vessels will be featured at the new exhibition “Anyang: China’s Ancient City of Kings,” which will debut on Feb. 5.

PHOTO COURTESY OF PLANET WORD MUSEUM..

Stars align for WCHS theatre in lesser-known prequel

By Jordan Pashkof Editor-in-Chief

Ask anyone to name a few Disney characters and undoubtedly, many will say one of the iconic characters from Disney’s 1953 flm “Peter Pan.” Whether it is Peter Pan, Tinker Bell or Captain Hook, these characters were a part of everyone’s childhood. But, how did they get to Neverland? The answer can be found in “Peter and the Starcatcher,” the WCHS winter play.

Based on Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson’s book, “Peter and the Starcatchers,” “Peter and the Starcatcher” follows a nameless orphan called Boy and two other orphans as they meet the renowned starcatcher, Lord Aster’s daughter Molly. Together, they go on an adventure to keep the treasure chest of “starstuff” out of the hands of the evil Black Stache. Ultimately, Boy emerges in the “starstuff” giving him the ability to fy and turning him into Peter Pan, while Black Stache accidentally cuts his hand off and becomes the notorious Captain Hook. Filled with excitement, “Peter and the Starcatcher” is flled with twists and turns, making it fun for the whole family.

WCHS’s “Peter and the Starcatcher” was performed four times between Feb. 10 and Feb. 12 for an eager crowd. The production was run almost largely by students with the help of the director and teacher, Naomi Kieval.

“This show is a form of storytelling theater, where the ensemble comes together and devises their own spin on the show. What makes this show unique and joyful is the playful collaboration with my cast to help create the story,” Kieval said. “For most other

productions, I come into each rehearsal with a very specifc game plan, knowing what I want to see and have happen on stage. With this show, I came in with activities for the cast to do to see what they could come up with to tell the story.”

On top of acting, student leaders were in charge of tech, lighting, sound, choreography, set design and costumes, a feat that should not go unnoticed. Creativity shined through the costumes each character wore, whether it was Mrs. Bumbrake’s dress or the unforgettable mermaid outfts.

“Besides acting, I was also the choreographer for the show, so I created all of the movements and dancing in the fnale of act one, ‘Swim On,’ and the opening of Act II, ‘The Mermaid Song.’ I choreographed all of that and ran the rehearsals for them,” senior Aliyah Primich, who played the orphan Prentiss, said. “I was also on Cos-

tume Crew, where I was involved in helping create the inspiration for all of our characters. We rented a lot of our costumes for the show so I helped out a lot with costuming each of our individual characters in those pieces and making sure that they were cohesive with each other and with the group.”

Not only was this play captivating with phenomenal acting performances, but it was also visually appealing. Credit deserves to go to the tech crew for their hard work and impeccable execution on the set.

“I meet with our Master Carpenter, Karl Boehler, Painting Head, Elizabeth Seldin and Shop Managers, Owen Finke & Aidan Robertson, along with the Student Directors and Staff Directors. Everyone shares ideas for the set and sketches are drawn,” senior and Student Technical Director Spencer Swetlow said. “These plans continue to evolve until we all feel confdent that

we have a creative and innovative set that can also be built to be safe and effective for the show and its performers. The technical crew then follows the plans and builds the set.”

Speaking strictly on the performance, “Peter and the Starcatcher” hit all the marks. The show was fun for everyone in the audience. Whether sitting in the front row or in the back, laughter from the crowd could be heard throughout the show; all that could be seen were smiles and sheer excitement of family and friends. Not only did the audience enjoy the performance, but the crew got to see their hard work successfully excite the crowd.

“One of my favorite parts of being in the theater department is the excitement of designing the lighting and solving issues that arise in the execution of the technical plans,” Swetlow said. “It is very rewarding to watch the show come alive on opening night in front of an audience.”

A lot of work goes into these productions, and the entire cast earned a standing ovation for the work they put into the show. It is clear the cast built a friendship both on and off the stage by how well they work and act together. Watching the actors have fun on stage made the viewing experience even more enjoyable.

“The best thing about the play this year was the people. That’s the reason I come back to the shows each year,” Primich said. “Obviously, I love performing and I love being on stage so much, but what I love most about theater is the community and the people I get to hang out with every day. It’s so nice to just be able to hang out with them and have fun with them.”

What happens “After Hours?” for The Weeknd

By Liam Klein Opinions Editor

Abel Tesfaye, better known as The Weeknd, is one of the most prominent names in pop music. Recently, he has reached music stardom with his hit “Blinding Lights,” which became the most streamed song in Spotify history with over 3.335 billion streams. Along with this milestone, March 20 marks three years since the release of his most successful album, “After Hours.”

To celebrate this milestone, it only seems ftting to see how Tesfaye’s most iconic album holds up to some of his older works, such as “My Dear Melancholy,” which celebrated fve years since its release on March 30 and his latest record “Dawn FM,” which was released just over a year ago. Which of these three works —spanning multiple genres and themes—is the best?

One of the most important things to understand is that Tesfaye’s stage name is a double entendre. On the surface, it symbolizes the weekend: a time that he flls with drugs, partying, sex and indulgences to free his mind. But more signifcantly, it stands for “the weakend”: how his addiction and failed relationships leave him feeling.

“My Dear Melancholy,” is the oldest of the projects. As an extended play (EP), its six songs are a retrospective refection on the history of his past.

The frst—and the most popular— song on the album is “Call Out My Name.” It details the struggles and shortcomings of his most recent relationship. Although Tesfaye laments over the relationship, pleading with his partner to “call out [his] name,” he realizes that deep down, he was meaningless to her. With a mix of tempos and beats based around a simple piano chord, the song is catchy and the only true stand-out on the album.

This focus on the failure of past re-

lationships continues throughout the album. Tesfaye copes by resorting to drugs and alcohol. For example, his song “Privilege,” covers these themes. However, he now lacks sympathy for his past partners. The pinnacle of the song occurs in the chorus. Tesfaye has the choice to acknowledge his addiction and failures or continue down his destructive path of drug abuse.

While a very good EP, it lacks the depth and creativity that most of his other projects have.

Before the release of “After Hours,” Tesfaye went through a complete transformation, signaling the start of a new era. Following him through another failed relationship, the record tackles themes of loneliness, self-loathing, addiction and heartbreak. After running away to Las Vegas, he embarks on a drug-fueled journey of self-loathing until he becomes full of regret.

This is one of the most unique sounding records of the decade with infuences from R&B, rap, hip hop and more. Tesfaye uses an outstanding mix of synths, instrumentals and creative samples that highlight his vocal ability to make this album something special.

The album has amazing and emotional storytelling. This kicks off on

“Alone Again,” where Tesfaye mentions his newfond comfort in Vegas and addresses his substance abuse issue. The track ends with him asking his ex to come back and save him.

The theme of loneliness is what drove Tesfaye to leave Los Angeles. In the song “Escape From LA,’’ he recounts how the toxicity of Los Angeles seeped into his relationship, driving him to leave. He addresses his partner’s infdelity, blaming its failure on the fast-paced environment of the city.

This builds up to the most important part of the album, “Blinding Lights.” The track fnds Tesfaye in a state of dissolution, as he is blinded by the lights of Las Vegas and only fnds relief from a signifcant other and his drug use. He is unable to realize that the real problems lie within, and Vegas is only feeding into his behavior. The song is one of the best on the album and can best be described as atmospheric: the synths and fast-paced beat give the feeling of speeding down a highway.

“After Hours” is unlike any of Tesfaye’s other albums: there is no triumphant overcoming of heartbreak or happy ending. No, it is a tragedy that ends with the death of The Weeknd. “After Hours” is one of the greatest

albums in music over the last decade. Every aspect of it is outstanding. From the rollout, persona, music videos, songs and even the short movie that goes along with the album, everything is done with near perfect execution.

After the success of “After Hours” Tesfaye set the bar high. His attempt to live up to the success was “Dawn FM,” a companion album. Interestingly, the album is formatted as a radio broadcast with actor Jim Carrey as the host.

The album begins with tracks like “Gasoline” and “Sacrifce.” In “Gasoline,” Tesfaye is basking in self-loathing as he describes how he is using his relationship as a way to justify drug use. However, over the beginning of the album, and especially during “Sacrifce,” he seeks to break free of the things and begins to live again.

The second half of the album fnds Tesfaye growing from his old habits and building newer, healthier relationships, which is best encapsulated on “Don’t Break My Heart,” However, on the next track “I Heard You’re Married,” he fnds that all his love was for nothing, and the girl he desperately wants is taken. The album closes with him full of regret. He questions if his soul is in the right place and if he can ever return to the person he once was.

“Dawn FM” is one of Tesfaye’s riskier albums, as it strays from his previous recipes for success. While the album is conceptually interesting, not all of these risks work out. Furthermore, “Dawn FM” directly following “After Hours” does not help the perception of the album.

Although Tesfaye is one of the most notable fgues in music, he may have already peaked. “After Hours” is without a doubt The Weeknd’s crown jewel, and while he shows no signs of retiring, nothing will top “After Hours.”

“Peter and the Starcatcher” starts of the second act by transforming into mermaids as magic took over the water. Actors were able to have fun while wearing eccentric costumes and dancing.

PHOTO BY JORDAN PASHKOFF

“Dawn FM”, “After Hours” and “My Dear Melancholy” are three of The Weeknds most important projects. But which is the best out of the three?

PHOTO COURTESY OF APPLE MUSIC.

Indoor track builds track-ion towards victory

By Ryan Weiner Editor-in-Chief

Every day, students listen to the morning announcements during second period and hear various updates about the many sports teams at WCHS. Basketball won another game, swim is rolling through the competition at Regionals, baseball and lacrosse have tryouts. However, there is no team that gets more publicity each morning than indoor track, and the results show why.

Each meet, the team continues to blaze past old school records and run their way to victory. Additionally, they have continued to do this not just against local competition, but against teams from across the rest of the DMV. So, what has propelled this winning culture? Well, some members of the team believe it is due to the great chemistry the team has built throughout the season.

“This is one of the most tightly knit teams I have been on in my high school career,” senior runner Alec Lehtman said. “Everyone is super warm and welcoming and I think the team feeds off of that energy.”

Especially with many of the runners on the team coming off of a long cross country season and preparing for outdoor track in the spring, the indoor track season can be a grueling test of endurance. Granted, the cold weather certainly does not help either during practices. However, the team has found ways to overcome this adversity to continue on their path to victory.

“It’s easy to lose morale and motiva-

tion when we are all running outdoors throughout the winter season, but I think we are able to keep the energy and morale high through our connections with teammates because we keep everything lighthearted and work together to improve each day,” Lehtman said.

On the subject of community, the comfort experienced by each of the athletes all starts with the hard work of their coach, Scott Jacobson. The mutual respect the team has with him is also a catalyst for the success of the indoor track squad. Nowhere is this respect more evident than at practices.

“Having coaches that care about

you and put in the work like how Coach Jacobson does when he runs the workouts with us is super motivating,” Lehtman said. “The motivation he brings each day causes us to feel more comfortable at practice to compete and motivate each other consistently.”

The team also has plenty of meaningful traditions that have both prepared them for upcoming meets as well as provided them time to bond as a team. Whether this be extra unoffcial runs, team meals or in-race strategy, the indoor track squad has maintained these routines consistently for success.

“A day before the meet, we would plan a spaghetti dinner or some other

carb load meal for the team,” senior runner Ethan Yen said. “Then, on the morning of the meet, we have team breakfasts in Coach Jacobson’s portable that most of us go to for more carb loading and preparation.”

Due to all of this, the team has been incredibly successful this season. To name a few accomplishments, they have shattered school records in the boys (senior Bradan Welby) and girls (junior Hallie Muniz) 1000m, won county championships in the boys 4x400m and 4x800m and most recently won regional championships in a few events as well.

“The chemistry is off the charts and is probably better than most schools, which is why our 4x800 relay is frst in the region and the 4x400 is frst in the county,” Yen said. “That being said, part of this might also be from our race strategy, where we form a pack during races to help us run faster.”

While the winter season is coming to a close with the state meet looming in the near future, the team still has plenty of goals they want to achieve this season. But, this does not mean they have forgotten about the spring season ahead, and the team is also striving to keep their overall wellbeing in mind as well.

“With the state meet coming up, our 4x800 team is going for frst, and many individuals are chasing their own medals in various events,” Yen said. “However, we want our indoor team to be smart and stay healthy in order to prepare for the outdoor season and possibly win the whole state meet.”

Netfix springs into golf season with “Full Swing” series

By Collin Chen Online Editor

What word comes to mind when you think of golf and documentaries? You are probably thinking “boring.”

Well, Netfix combined the two to create a television series that will actually have viewers laughing, crying and possibly picking up the “boring” sport. “Full Swing” is Netfix’s newest documentary series that provides a fascinating behind-the-scenes window into professional golf from a player’s journey towards a major championship win to their unfamiliar lives off the golf course.

The show was brought to us by the same people who made the popular “Formula One: Drive to Survive” and tennis docuseries “Breaking Point.” The Formula One documentary transformed the spectator racing sport into a passion-driven soap opera that humanized the drivers and gave viewers insight into their characters. Already seasoned Formula One fans loved connecting with the drivers on a level that could not be possible through ESPN. The popularity of “Drive to Survive” brought millions of people of all ages and backgrounds to the sport, and, hopefully, “Full Swing” will do the same for golf.

Similar to “Drive to Survive,” viewers do not need to have any background knowledge of competitive golf to watch the new series. “Full Swing” does a fantastic job of explaining the rules and structure of tournament golf for general sports enthusiasts, such

as mentioning specifc tournaments and the scoring system. By combining dramatic competition with simple explanations, Netfix effectively hooks its audience into the golf world and exposes them to all its excitement. Although, for die-hard golf fans, much of the information will be repetition of what they already know.

As for the format of the golf documentary, it follows a similar characterled nature as the other two series, focusing on one player for each episode and highlighting specifc moments in the 2022 season that demonstrate their history and character. However, given there are many professional golfers, Netfix has signed only a few to star in their documentary. The cast includes

some well-known names such as Jordan Speith, Justin Thomas, Rory McIlroy, Collin Morikawa and other top players in the world.

The frst episode begins with Jordan Speith and Justin Thomas, and their relationship as best friends/rivals since they were 13. Viewers get to see a behind-the-scenes window into their preparations for the Professional Golf Association (PGA) Championships, one of the four major tournaments, and the struggles they faced along the way. The show’s dramatic cinematography and direct interviews with the two players capture the wild ride of emotions that occurred throughout the tournament, leaving watchers sympathizing over bad results and cheering

after a hard-fought victory.

“Full Swing” also exemplifes the mental hardships of the sport and how the real battle of golf is actually against the golfer themself and not so much the other players. Inexperienced watchers would not be able to understand the true challenges of golf without having played it, but the Netfix documentary does the next best thing by demonstrating it through professionals.

Nevertheless, nothing is perfect, and “Full Swing” is no exception. By not ordering the episodes chronologically, the show bounces around the PGA tour season recklessly. This deprives unfamiliar fans of the full story and what led up to the FedEx Cup, the last event of the season with an 18 million dollar payout to the winner. With that being said, not every competition should be highlighted in the next season, only the signifcant ones such as majors or ones relevant to players featured in the documentary. Also, more discussion about the LIV golf tour, a new golf league competing with the PGA, would spark more juicy drama between the athletes.

It is exciting to see golf receiving more coverage and recognition for the competitive sport it is. Casual golf fans and general sports fans will undoubtedly enjoy ‘Full Swing” more than the die-hards, but there is just about enough to keep the latter happy. But whoever the watcher is, they will laugh, they will cry and they will come away with more than they started.

A relay squad comprised of Nathan Encinas, Bradan Welby, Stepan Volkov and Grifn White (left to right) takes home a regional win after another dominant performance.

PHOTO COURTESY OF @dawgssports ON INSTAGRAM.

PHOTO BY COLLIN CHEN.

On Wednesday, Feb. 15, freshman Jaiden Chung watches the new Netfix documentary series “Full Swing,” while playing a round of golf at Bretton Woods Golf Club.

By Melissa Redlich Features Editor

The buzzer goes off and Welby sets off around the track. His feet hit the ground and his arms start pumping. He and his team have just won frst place in the Howard county winter festival 4x800m relay. No surprise though, since Welby and the WCHS track team are notorious for fnishing in frst.

Since elementary school, Welby has been competing in track competitions. However, in the past four years, things have shifted to become more serious.

“I started competing over COVID-19 when my frst track coach asked me to help come coach and train with her and her team,” Welby said. “Since then, it’s been such a great experience of training and competing.”

Welby owes a lot to running, given the large impact that it has had on his life.

“Over the last 6 years running has opened up new opportunities for me that have helped me grow into the person I am today,” Welby said. “Without running, I never would have met many of my closest friends or been a part

of one of the most incredible communities I could ever ask for.”

One of these track and cross country teammates is Colin La, a senior at WCHS and Welby’s friend on and off the track. He, like so many others, has always known Welby as a fantastic athlete and one-of-akind teammate.

“I loved watching him achieve some incredible things this season from breaking three school records to taking home two region titles,” La said. “He’s fought through some injuries in the past, so it’s really amazing to see him be able to put it all together when it matters the most. I think we’ve always seen the incredible potential given his talent, build, work ethic and relentless mindset, so I don’t think it’s really a surprise seeing all this success.”

Both as a teammate and a friend, Welby’s encouragement stands out. He is a great example for the younger runners, not only in his work ethic and competition, but in his leadership.

“Besides anchoring relays and being the team’s top scorer, he’s really made each guy on the team better by redefning what’s possible. He’s

almost never satisfed and is always pushing towards his next goal - which has set the tone for the boys team this

season and led to lots of team success as well,” La said. “I think we’ve all, especially the younger runners, beneft-

ted from chasing after him in workouts and chasing after his records.”

This drive and motivation were the catalyst for Welby being one of the top runners on XC and track this season. This determination led him to strive towards being better, leading to a ripple effect of positivity and strength on the WCHS team.

“My favorite memory of him is his comeback victory for our 4x800m relay early this February,” WCHS NSL teacher and XC coach Mr. Jacobson said. “He fought till the very end, and it ended up paying off.”

Fighting to the very end and giving it everything has always been Welby’s motto when it comes to running. He hopes to share this with all the younger runners, through his leadership and by example.

“The lesson I learned from running is there is truly no limit that cannot be broken,” Welby said. “Seeing the joy in someone’s eyes after achieving something that felt impossible during the race is a testament to their grit and hard work to break through the limit of how fast they thought they could go.”

Swim and dive makes a splash in local competitions

By Jeremy Chung News Editor

From the very frst meet of the season, the WCHS swim and dive team showcased their dominance in the pool, setting the tone for what would be a record-breaking year. With each competition, the team proved to be a force to be reckoned with, leaving their competitors trailing far behind. Their success is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the athletes, coaches and support staf, who have worked tirelessly to help the team achieve greatness.

We came in focused knowing that we have a huge opportunity to win,” WCHS junior and recent commit to Duke University for swimming, Samir Elkassem said. “So we went out and won four out of fve dual meets, divisionals, metros and regionals so far. We still got states next weekend which we know we got a big opportunity to win as well.”

The team’s success last season proved to many that this team was not messing around. So far, the season has highlighted an unprecedented win at Metros (a swim and dive competition hosting 22 of the metro area’s top public and private schools) and a divisional title. In the end, the team has been anxiously waiting since metros or regionals the defend their coveted state championship on Feb. 25.

“[Last season’s success] defnitely put a lot of expectations on our behalf,” Elkassem said. “It really boosted our confdence, es-

The WCHS swim and dive team celebrate after winning back-to-back metro titles, which is a competition that consists of the best public and private schools in the area. This success summarizes the overall success of the team this season.

pecially for this year, knowing we have an even stronger team.”

The 2023 season was met with some challenges. For one, expectations were high as the season marked the return of a team attempting to defend their championship titles, despite a new team and a new coach.

“I think the hardest challenge was how we got a new coach this year, especially since our coach has to fgure out what everyone swims and what events he has to put us in,” Elkassem said. “It was a little challenging, but it didn’t

take long to get to know Coach Dennis and we all love him. He came in knowing that we can win, so he gave us the motivation we needed.”

During the ofseason, Dennis Witol was named the new head coach for the swim and dive team. A former Division Two swimmer from Bentley University and former head coach of the Saint Vincent Pallotti High School in Laurel, M.D., Coach Witol understood from the start what he was undertaking and how to retain the same success as last year.

“As a coach, whenever you inherit a team coming of a championship, I was worried about that ‘championship hangover,’” Witol said. “But the team was never complacent and always respected me and the goals we set from day one.”

From the start, the boys team kicked it of with a decisive win against Blair in December, while the girls slowly found their momentum. In the end, the team reclaimed their metros title as well as a division and regionals win. They hope to win the state com-

petition at the end of February to bring home back-to-back championships for WCHS.

“The boys have met all expectations and in my opinion, the girls have had some amazing swims from both sides of the team, and the divers have been amazing this year,” Witol said. “Outside the pool, the culture of WCHS swimming is amazing; every teammate is supportive of each other, and it has blown me away.”

Another diference that helped the team this year was the student section. With the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions becoming lax, the team did not have to worry about having no fans in attendance, making this year’s dawg pound louder than ever.

“We were still recovering from COVID-19 [last year], and people were not allowed to come out and watch our meets and support us,” Elkassem said. “This year, though, many friends came out, and it really made a diference; it made us a bigger family.”

As the season draws to a close, the WCHS swim and dive team can look back with pride at all they have accomplished and look forward to even greater success in the future regardless of the upcoming hurdles.

“I am looking forward to having another great last season and winning everything,” Elkassem said. “Next season is going to be a very strong one as well. We are going to lose many good senior swimmers, but we will just become stronger.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF TIM HO.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BRADAN WELBY.

At PG sportsplex, Welby runs in the regionals 4x400m.