March 2025 - Silver Chips Print

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March

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MARYLAND Montgomery Blair High School

BLAIR TURNS 100

Search for new principal resumes

By SATCHEL JELEN

On Monday, March 10, MCPS held a community meeting to discuss the selection process and gather community input for the next Blair principal. The meeting, which took place at 6 p.m. in the SAC, was the second step in a ninestep selection process expected to conclude in early May.

During the meeting, participants spoke in small groups about their personal preferences and then shared with the rest of the attendees. According to Yolanda Allen, director of the Blair and Damascus clusters in the MCPS Office of School Support and Improvement and a speaker at the meeting, the discussions were an important opportunity for community members to offer their opinions on qualities they hope to see in the next Blair principal. “The community meetings, the staff meetings, and the student meetings give us a list of

data, including the characteristics that you all want to see in your next principal,” Allen said.

Toi Esters, a parent of three Blair students who attended the meeting, said that she wanted the next principal to be equipped to handle the size of the school. “This is a very big job; [it’s] a big school,” Esters said. “So [Blair needs a principal] that has experience with large, diverse communities.” For Esters, being an active participant in the principal selection process was a priority. “The principal selection process is important,” she said. “The person that is selected is going to be the leader for my children’s education for the next three years.”

Allen explained that this year’s selection process had been changed to ensure more transparency and community influence. “We’re always reevaluating … whether [the selection process] is in line with

see PRINCIPAL page A3

Oh, the Places You’ll Go!

Students weigh political climate in college decisions

By ELORA DERBYSHIRE

“I don’t want to be in an area where reproductive rights are limited and gun rights are not limited,” Blair senior April Waltz-Chesnaye says. “I want to go to school somewhere I feel safe.”

For 76 percent of American high schoolers, campus political climate is a factor in their college decisions. With the number of students choosing colleges out of state increasing since the COVID-19 pandemic, high schoolers have to consider the values of their new home. “Students tend to stay where they go to college,” Jazmine Delos Reyes, Blair’s College and Career Information Coordinator, says. “So [they want] a lot of the values in their campus and even post-campus experience to be aligned with their values as well.”

In Northeast colleges, the vast

majority of students identify as liberal. In contrast, flagship universities in the South are often more diverse in terms of political ideology, with similar proportions of liberal and conservative-leaning students. This year, a quarter of students from both sides of the political spectrum have ruled out certain colleges because of state political climate or social policies, according to a survey by the Art & Science Group. The 2024 election played a major role in motivating these decisions, with significantly more students this year citing specific policy issues including reproductive rights, LGBTQ laws, and gun control as a rationale for the exclusion of certain colleges.

presidency I worry that [environmental science] might be more of a dwindling field, especially in the South,” she says. “[While] I did apply to college in North Carolina and South Carolina … I feel like I would be surrounded by more people who don’t have the same ideologies as me and my beliefs. I don’t think I would want to go to school there.”

Julie Blair Riekse, a college essay writing coach based in Dallas, sees students every year who want to flee Texas’ conservative political climate. These students tend to specialize in areas of study for which there are more opportunities outside of the South. “Every season I have a few what I think of as ‘political refugees,’” she says. “For example, I have public policy majors who don’t want to get a degree down here because they’re

For Waltz-Chesnaye, who plans to major in environmental science, Trump’s presidency may impact the educational opportunities that she has access to. “Under Trump’s see COLLEGE page D3

MONTGOMERY BLAIR HIGH SCHOOL Students pose for a photo during class at the old Wayne Avenue campus in 1935.

COLORIZED BY LUCIA WANG

PHOTO FROM THE NATIONAL PHOTO COMPANY COLLECTION

Compiled by ERIC YANG

MCCPTA pushes for school to start later

On Feb. 3, The Montgomery County Council of Parent-Teacher Associations (MCCPTA) enacted a resolution which would require high schools to start later in the day, beginning the 2027-2028 school year. To address concerns about secondary school students’ sleep deprivation and scientific evidence of teenage circadian rhythms favoring sleeping and waking up later, two bills were introduced in the Maryland General Assembly. House Bill 1015 was introduced by Delegate April Miller and 16 bipartisan co-sponsors, along with the cross-filed Senate Bill 468 by Senator Joanne Benson. The bills would legally require middle schools to begin no earlier than 8 a.m. and high schools to begin no earlier than 8:30 a.m.

MCEA calls for “Away All Day” phone policy

The Montgomery County Education Association (MCEA) called for MCPS to implement a policy to limit cell phone use during instructional time. The resolution cites that personal mobile device (PMD) use during school negatively affects academic performance and student mental health outcomes. The resolution calls for a phased two-year approach to enforce the ban: in the 20252026 school year, the plan would completely ban PMDs during the school day for elementary and middle schools, including lunch and transitions, and encourage all high schools to prepare for a full PMD ban by 2026-2027.

Changes to six MCPS schools’ Title I status

MCPS’ new poverty calculation will result in two schools losing Title I status and four gaining it for the 2025-2026 school year. The four elementary schools to gain the status include Brookhaven and Strathmore, which will regain Title I status after losing it for the 20242025 school year, and Dr. Sally K. Ride and Judith A. Resnik. The two schools to lose Title I status, Meadow Hall Elementary and Benjamin Banneker Middle, will be designated as focus schools—affected by poverty but not the same way as Title I Schools. To qualify as Title I, schools must meet a minimum threshold of free lunch recipients—40 percent at the federal level, 43.8 percent for MCPS elementary schools, and 42.9 percent for MCPS middle schools.

MoCo offers aid to federal workers

Montgomery County has published a list of essential information and initiatives to aid federal workers impacted by workspace reductions under the Trump administration. This list included instructions to claim unemployment insurance, crisis intervention and health insurance resources, and links to various local and state officials offering their own support for federal workers. The county also implemented numerous training opportunities for federal employees, including a resume writing workshop being held on March 28 and April 16, as well as links to find new jobs in local, state, and federal government. Access MoCo resources at https://tinyurl.com/ fedworkerresources.

A conversation with the 2025 SMOB finalists

By MACKENZIE LYONS and PRIYA TAPIA-PEREIRA

Every year, MCPS students elect the Montgomery County Student Member of the Board (SMOB). Following the SMOB nominating convention on Feb. 19, Blair junior Anuva Maloo was chosen as one of the two finalist candidates, along with Northwest junior Peter Boyko. Both Maloo and Boyko sat down for interviews with Silver Chips to answer questions about their experience, their intentions for their time as SMOB, and more. These conversations have been edited for length and clarity.

As SMOB, how would you make the Board of Education more effective for people in MCPS?

Maloo: I think that the problem is that people have lost their faith in the SMOB being that bridge between the two communities. I think people are afraid of actually speaking to you and telling you their ideas. I have representatives from everywhere across the county: all high schools, all middle schools. I want to act as that bridge between [students and the BOE] by giving you guys the opportunity to talk to them firsthand.

Boyko: Although I am one out of eight full voting members on the board, I hope to share my seat with all 160,000 students. I hope to organize a SMOB advisory council, which is a group of students that advises the SMOB on

recognized the disconnect across the county of awareness within students.

Boyko: This is something I’ve been working toward for five years now, ever since I joined my school’s SGA in seventh grade. SMOB was always something I saw, and it was always there, but there was a moment this school year, a couple months before I filed for SMOB, where there was a very serious safety issue—where a student brought a gun to my school. It feels as if [Northwest] is not being prioritized as much as they should be. That was a huge moment where I was like, “Woah, school safety is an issue where students’ lives are on the line, and we don’t have any preventative measures in place.” It made me want to step up, because I know if I get this role, I will fight for students and their safety at school.

It made me want to step up, because I know, if I get this role, I will fight for students and their safety at school.

How has your advocacy experience in the past helped to qualify you to deal with the issues you’ve identified in MCPS?

Maloo: I’ve seen this fundamental problem, which I’ve seen with a lot of advocacy organizations, of

ernment and leadership on the school and county level. I’ve been SGA president of my middle school. I now serve as vice president for my high school, and I’ve been involved on the county level and [Montgomery County Junior Council], which is the county-wide SGA for middle schools.

What makes you a good representative for all MCPS students?

Maloo: I’d say my diverse perspective, and I’m also a very hard worker. If I say I’m going to make something happen, I will follow through with it no matter what, even if that takes me months, even if that takes me years, even if it doesn’t work with the Board of Education and I have to go outside of the Board of Education, work with other organizations, whatever needs to happen. If I say I want to make it happen, I will.

Boyko: I’ve experienced a lot of what our school system has to offer. I have my own experiences, but they can’t speak for all 160,000 students. I must reach out and get to know all 160,000 students. I want to get to know students on the vote. So it’s my biggest thing: reaching out to schools, to students, visiting schools, having an SMOB advisory council, maintaining an active presence on social media. All of that is how I plan to represent all 160,000 students.

What are your main policy positions that you plan to prioritize as a SMOB?

Maloo: One of them is menstrual products. I think that it’s something that is a necessity, and the county does not treat it as a priority. If they are stocked up, it’s out the next day. I would say the second thing is Narcan accessibility with fentanyl strips. We should give students the choice of, if anything does happen, and they are in a situation where they overdose, they have fentanyl strips and they have Narcan kits.

Boyko: It’s safety; we can’t wait until something devastating happens. We have to be proactive instead of reactive. So that is why as soon as I get sworn in I really want to start on school safety. I want to implement weapon detection systems at schools. I want

to increase our security guard trainings and make sure security guards aren’t playing favorites. I know they have a very important role, but I’ve heard from students that sometimes they play favorites with students. Then also better enforced ID policies at schools; all of that. School safety is my number one priority.

I think all of my experiences up until this point have made me who I am. I’ve been working toward this goal of creating a change in every single position I’ve been in.

What makes you stand out from past SMOBs? Why should you be elected as the next SMOB?

Maloo: If you look back on my first SMOB video when I announced it, I visited every single school in the video, and I made sure to record some parts of it to show that I am a SMOB that is for the people, no matter what. I think that the person I am, my personality, and the fact that I’ve grown up across the county makes me stand out. I know what it’s like, especially from the areas that are heard the least. I know how important their voices are and I know how much they are affected.

Boyko: My experience and my record of action. My past work includes going to board tables, going to governments ten times, and having multiple leadership roles and experience over the course of five years. I really try to showcase my drive and my passion, especially by bringing up my personal experiences. My personal experiences in addition to my five years of [student government] experience sets me apart and makes me stand out.

On April 23, SMOB election polls will be open at 7:30 a.m. for all students grades 6-12 in MCPS to vote. Polls will be accessible during the innovation period at Blair and will close at 3:30 p.m. Early voting is available for students who will not be present on election day.

PETER BOYKO

PHOTO COURTESY OF ANUVA MALOO

PHOTO COURTESY OF PETER BOYKO

Blair restarts nine-stage principal selection process

getting us the best possible candidate for a school,” she said.

This year’s selection process was the second for Blair in two years, after the school had to find a replacement for former Principal Renay Johnson, who retired.

“They were frustrated by the process last year,” Acting Blair Principal Kevin Yates said. “It didn’t work out.” In a statement on June 5, 2024, Area Associate Superintendent Sean McGee said that the process had been paused due to several sudden withdrawals. “We experienced multiple candidates who withdrew their applications, which caused delays with this pro-

cess,” McGee wrote. Although Yates had retired from Damascus High School in 2024, he agreed to come to Blair as an interim principal. “I’m here as a retiree—kind of like a contractor for the whole year—while MCPS looks for a permanent principal,” Yates said.

Outside of community meetings with students, staff, and parents, the selection process includes a school-wide survey and a selected community interview panel.

For the panel, the sixth step in the selection process, Allen explained that a diverse group of 15 to 20 Blair students, staff, and parents would be selected. The survey was released on March 11, and was expected to close on March 18.

While there were only roughly 10 participants at the March 10 meeting, students and staff still held a variety of opinions regarding the next principal candidate.

Cassie Lee, a CAP freshman, primarily hoped the next principal would be kind. “I definitely think kindness is important, since whomever it is is going to be working with students,” she said.

Marilyn Ramsdell, a sophomore, agreed with Lee. “I hope that the principal next year brings good energy into this school,” she said.

Another freshman, Henry Castanda-Fuentes, said that he wanted a principal who was involved in the Blair community. “I hope that [the next principal] focuses on helping

students out and actually being there,” he said.

For Manana O’Donovan, a Blair chemistry teacher, visibility was crucial. “Administrators should be in classrooms, in the hallways,” O’Donovan said. “They have to be known figures.” O’Donovan, who has been at Blair for 14 years under three different principals, said that previous administrations had proven effective at engaging with staff and students. “That’s how you send a message,” she said. “By modeling that your presence is there in the school.”

Yates agreed with O’Donovan on the importance of community involvement. “Seeing students in their element and thriving and having fun: that’s what high school is all about,” Yates said. Yates also hoped that the next principal would be attentive to the needs of the school. “You have to be a good listener,” he said. “You have to be able to listen to people: students, parents, and staff.”

At the meeting, Allen predicted that the selection process would take around two months to complete. But she also emphasized the difficulty of determining a specific end date. “We are hoping for the end of April, beginning of May,” she said. “But that’s with everything staying on schedule, and you just never know.”

In Class On Time: Blair implements new tardy policy

By DORIS WANG

On March 10, Blair principal Kevin Yates introduced a new tardy policy titled “In Class On Time,” which aims to decrease student tardiness by tracking and enforcing punishments for students who enter class after the late bell rings.

Under the new policy, tardy students must have their school ID scanned at designated hallway stations operated by security and administration to receive a pass.

Teachers have been instructed to not allow late students into class without a pass. The policy does not currently apply to the first block of the day.

When students first receive a pass, they also receive a warning. Afterward, any subsequent incidents result in lunch detention. Failure to report to detention three times results in one day of Inschool Intervention (ISI), in which a student is supervised by security and works on classwork for an entire day.

To enforce the policy, administrators, security, and other Blair staff members are stationed around the halls during class changes. They monitor hallways for the first and last ten minutes of class and are responsible for escorting any students in the hall during the first and last ten minutes back to class.

To further ensure class attendance, staff members also routinely survey hallways at the 45-minute mark.

Blair junior Aanya Garg stated that, while generally effective, she felt that this strict monitoring fails to consider student emergencies. “I think that it’s effective in decreasing the amount of kids that are late to class,” Garg said. “But I do think that it is unreasonable

at certain times where kids have emergencies and they can’t be in class on time.”

In the past, under MCPS’ loss of credit policy, students would lose course credit after a certain amount of unexcused absences and tardies. The policy was repealed following the COVID-19 pandemic. “Since then, we’ve noticed … a massive uptick in chronic absenteeism and tardies,” Yates said. “We’ve seen that here at Blair and in every high school.”

Before the new policy, staff efforts to decrease loitering in the hallways were ineffective, and students showed a general disregard for bell times. “When [the bell rang], students … [would] walk around the bottom floor a couple times and then go to class five, 10, or 15 minutes late,” Yates said.

After multiple reports of such instances from staff members, Yates presented a plan for a new tardy policy to the instructional leadership team. The plan was altered, presented to staff and SGA leaders, and saw a trial period from March 8 to 9 before its official implementation.

Student opinions were mixed and many felt that it was unduly strict. While Blair junior Amara Nwankwo expressed appreciation for the fact that it encouraged punctuality, she also noted that the lunch detention punishment felt strict. “If you’re getting detention for … something more serious, I feel like that’s what detention should be used for compared to being late,” Nwankwo said.

Blair freshman Caroline Growney agreed, expressing dis-

like for the policy. “I think it’s unnecessary and also very extreme,” Growney said.

Although some students criticized the policy, Yates believes that it is important for their learning. “I understand, [but] being the principal, part of my job is to make sure that education is happening … in every classroom from bell to bell,” Yates said. “The staff and I feel that in the big picture, this is in the best interest of all students.”

Yates hopes that the policy will increase learning and prepare students for their future. “[I hope] students learn the habit of being on time so that when they leave Blair and enter the workforce or college, they understand that being on time is important,” Yates said.

Compiled

by

RUTH WAJDA-GOTWALS

New administration imposes tall tariffs

On March 4, President Trump imposed a 25 percent tariff on most imports from Mexico and Canada and a 20 percent levy on Chinese goods. In response, Canada placed retaliatory tariffs on U.S. steel and aluminum and China placed retaliatory tariffs on U.S. agricultural products. Furthermore, Trump enacted an additional 25 percent tariff on all global steel and aluminum imports and threatened a 200 percent tax on alcohol from the European Union (EU) if they did not immediately remove their 50 percent tariff on whiskey. Economists have warned that risks of recession are rising as the result of his trade policies and escalation of trade wars.

Trump administration purges 83 percent of USAID programs

On March 10, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the Trump administration had cut 83 percent of U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) programs, a $54 billion cut. USAID received suspension letters for all projects in Equatorial Guinea, Iraq, and Ukraine, as well as Bangladesh, Colombia, Ethiopia, and Peru. According to The New York Times, a freeze on malaria, HIV, and tuberculosis aid will endanger millions of people throughout Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia. Because of USAID cuts in South Africa, models predict 500,000 deaths will occur in the country from HIV/AIDS over the next 10 years. USAID’s withdrawal from Ukraine will leave its energy grid vulnerable as it endures continued Russian assaults. The U.S. was previously the leading country for foreign aid, and these drastic changes will completely rework systems of humanitarianism across the globe, alongside thousands of federal workers losing their jobs.

Federal cuts leave hundreds of thousands jobless

On Feb. 11, Trump signed an executive order directing agencies to prepare for “large-scale” workplace reductions. Already, more than 103,000 federal workers have been laid off as part of the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) efforts to reduce federal spending. The Department of Education, Department of Veterans Affairs, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and Internal Revenue Service have been most severely impacted by DOGE’s actions. On March 11, the Trump Administration cut the Department of Education in half, with nearly 2,000 employees laid off. Speaking at a press conference on March 12, Trump said his goal was to give education back to the states, but this drastic cut will set forth consequences for children with disabilities, low-income households, and student loan borrowers. On Feb. 17, NOAA fired 800 employees, and according to CBS News, they may potentially cut over 1,000 more.

GRAPHIC COURTESY OF YOLANDA ALLEN

PHOTO BY RAFFI DIAMOND-BERMAN

Funding freeze puts NIH research on ice

Thousands of workers laid off

By LYDIA PASS and JESSICA ZHANG

Where only first names appear, names have been changed to protect the identities of the sources.

In the past two months, the Trump administration has made strides to freeze national funding for scientific research, detrimentally impacting the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other re search facilities. Significant funding cuts caused by this freeze have led to mass layoffs throughout NIH and the inability to obtain neces sary resources for scientific re search projects.

On Feb. 7, an announce ment issued by the NIH Office of the Director stated that NIH was lowering the maxi mum indirect cost rate research institutions can charge the government from the typical 50-60 percent to 15 percent. Indirect costs are administrative costs which include infrastructure and operating expenses that help research institutions complete NIH-funded work. In addition, from Feb. 20 to 23, more than 1,000 NIH workers were laid off.

COVID-19, cancer, and HIV. Alex, who assists with federal research grant review processing at NIH, described the importance of these grants for larger projects.

“Many grants that are reviewed are the type of science that would be difficult to fund on a private budget,” they explained. “It’s a very competitive process. These grants are focused on improving people’s lives in a tangible way.”

NIH, which is based in Bethesda, is funded by the federal government to conduct much of the nation’s public health research, including projects related to

Jonathan Fritz, a Blair teacher who has been a research scientist for over 40 years and has worked at the National Science Foundation as a program director for three years, discussed how researchers are now uncertain about the future of their projects due to the cap on the indirect cost rate for all existing and future NIH research grants. “This is pretty devastating, because what it means is that everything has been put on hold, so people who were relying upon funding for their projects have no money,” Fritz said. “Peo ple are worried about closing their labs; people are worried about having to fire graduate students or post docs who are working with them, and that life-saving research studies will have to be stopped.”

I have good friends that have been there forever, and because of a technicality … they [were] considered probationary, and after being there for ten years, they got let go—just like that.

PAT CURRAN

Waverly Ding, an associate pro fessor at the University of Mary land Smith School of Business, explained that she could not hire a promising post-doc toral research candidate due to similar cuts being made to the National Sci ence Foundation, which she had a grant for. “It has creat ed such uncertainty that I cannot move on with the hiring of person nel [whom] I need to join [my] research project,” Ding said. Fritz also described the impact of decreased funding on the scientific labor market. “What [this]

you’re taking essentially the next generation of scientists out of the picture, and that will have huge consequences,” he said. Not only have universities been affected, but workers within NIH are losing their jobs. Pat Curran, a biologist and researcher at NIH, described that coworkers around her were getting fired. “I have good friends that have been there forever, and because of a technicality … they [were] considered probationary, and after being there for ten years, they got let go—just

You’re taking essentially the next generation of scientists out of the picture, and that will have huge consequences.

For now, NIH researchers are continuing their work despite the freeze in funding. “We are still doing our jobs to the best of our ability, and everyone that I work with is more determined than ever to review these grants as fairly and efficiently as we would in any other time,” Alex said.

Alex described similar circum stances, explaining that researchers who had re cently advanced to high er positions had become probationary or been laid off because of their lack of time in that specific po sition, regardless of how long they were previously employed. “We had a lot of people who were promoted into a new position and had not been there for a year … these were people that had proven their service and were great employ ees, but were let go because they were promoted into a new position,” they said. Ding expressed concern about the future of scientific research. “The chaos created has such a lingering effect that people, particularly talents, are thinking about leaving. That departure can be in two forms,” Ding said. “[Some are] going to move to industrial firms … but more troublesome is that people are starting to talk about leaving the United States and then moving to Europe and Canada.”

Teachers call on County Council to approve FY26 budget

By TOMAS MONTICELLI

On Feb. 27, the Montgomery County Education Association (MCEA) sponsored a “People’s Press Conference” to urge the County Council to fully fund Superintendent Thomas Taylor’s proposed $3.61 billion FY 2026 operating budget.

The conference, which was the first of its kind, was motivated by the concern that the County Council might underfund the proposed budget as they did in 2024, when the Council approved $30.5 million less than was requested. This deficit led to MCPS cutting its online learning program and increasing class sizes. The list of conference speakers included MCEA President David Stein, Taylor, Board of Education President Julie Yang, Service Employees International Union Local 500 President Pia Morrison, Montgomery County Association of Administrators and Principals President Christine Handy, and Northwest student Heidi Kakan.

According to Blair teacher and MCEA board member Jodi Gil, the inclusion of local unions and community members was intended to convey the unified desire for full funding of the proposed budget. “It sent a great unifying message to the County Council. Of course, we will see … what the budget is going to look like,” Gil said. “But I think having the united front that we did and leaving it up to them … is go-

ing to really make them think long and hard about what they think is expendable at this point, which all of us think is what we need.”

The proposed budget represents an 8.97 percent ($298.7 million) increase from the FY 2025 budget. According to Stein, the proposed budget hoped to improve special education, increase teacher and paraprofessional salaries, ensure equitable school infrastructure, and promote equity. “We talked about special education, talked about attracting and retaining teachers by improving working conditions, and improving salaries … and we also talked about some of the building improvements,” he said. Stein added that there is no room for cuts in the proposed budget without sacrificing students’ education. “Last year, they cut $30 million from the budget, which caused a lot of problems, and so we need them to fully fund the budget [this year],” he said.

MCEA member and Blair music teacher Isabel Hernandez-Cata, who attended the event, agreed with Stein. “We imagine a budget that will truly reflect our growing needs as a school system and our growing population. We just want to put forth a budget that we feel reflects those things and that is realistic,” she said. “This is not the time for cuts. This is not the time for anything risking the quality of education in Montgomery County.”

The obstacle supporters face is the County Council. “Our county

executive has been very pro-teacher … so we want him to support … what we’ve proposed, [what] the collective superintendent [and] school board have all pushed on. So the fight is with and within the County Council,” Gil said.

The county executive, Marc El-

rich, submitted his budget proposal on March 14, in which he proposed an increase of $299 million, representing 99.1 percent of the Superintendent’s initial proposal. However, the final decision will be made by the County Council by June 1. Stein reiterated the need for the proposed budget to be approved. “We’ve [already] done a lot of cuts. There is nothing fancy in this budget; the budget is about meeting the basic needs that we have in MCPS,” Stein said.

JONATHAN FRITZ

LUCIA WANG

MCPS pumps the brakes on electric buses

Late deliveries, maintenance issues push Superintendent to terminate contract

By KIYA TIRUNEH and YONGLE XIN

On Jan. 31, Superintendent Thomas Taylor terminated a $168 million contract for 326 electric school buses from Highland Electric Transportation, citing late shipments and frequent mechanical issues.

The decision followed an investigation and report from the Montgomery County Office of the Inspector General (OIG) in July of last year that found Highland had consistently failed to deliver buses on time. “The investigation substantiated that all of the buses received during fiscal years (FYs) 2022-2024 were delivered beyond the contractually required date,” Inspector General Megan Davey Limarzi wrote in her report. The report also confirmed issues with the buses themselves. “We also found that mechanical failures with many electric buses rendered them inoperable for extended periods,” the report read.

In their contract with MCPS, Highland promised to provide the services of 25 electric buses by Aug. 1, 2022, another 61 by the same date in 2023, 120 in 2024, and 120 in 2025.

But Highland failed to deliver them on time. In 2024, only 37 of the electric buses arrived by the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30. 106 total had arrived by Dec. 31, and the other 14 were finally set to arrive on March 31, 2024, violating the contract. Other deadlines were also missed. In fact, of the 206 buses delivered from FY 2022 through FY 2024, none were delivered on time.

The buses and their charging infrastructure were also poorly maintained and frequently broke down. “Mechanical and/or charging infrastructure issues resulted in buses not being able to run routes on more than 280 instances from February 10, 2022, through March 31, 2024,” the OIG report read. Some of the issues could be attributed to the conditions MCPS needed the buses to run in. “[There are] some problems with buses when it gets really cold or certain buses are not able to run the route that we need them to run because they have to recharge,” Karla Silvestre, at-large Board of Education member, said.

Students have noticed these issues. Blair senior Alex Bidwell

often experienced problems with frequent hiccups and stoppages when riding on the electric buses. “[There were] issues related to our bus driver having trouble closing the door. There’s a lot of these small things that would cause delays, but there are bigger things that [are] a safety concern [like] actually just stopping in the middle of the road,” he said.

The buses encountered these problems regularly. “In terms of smaller issues, that would be maybe once every three or four days— fairly common. The bigger stuff like the bus stopping and not being able to work, not being able to start back up for a bit—that was every other week,” Bidwell recounted.

These issues were also not quickly resolved. “In more than 180 instances, repairs were not completed within the five working days (averaging 13 working days per bus) allowed by the agreement,” the report read.

As per their contract, MCPS was entitled to seek fees from Highland of $100 per inoperable bus per day, totaling $372,100 since the contract started, but the OIG found that the district made no attempt to claim those payments from the company. MCPS has yet to receive any money from those fees. The OIG called this wasteful. “MCPS’s failure to hold the contractor accountable to the terms of the contract and their decision not to include provisions to offset incurred expenses has led to millions of dollars in wasteful spending,” the report read.

Importantly, the deal did not

transfer ownership of the vehicles to the school system; it only contracted them as a service costing $38,500 per bus per school year, increasing by 2 percent for each year after. It would have given MCPS the largest electric school bus fleet of any municipality in the country at the time.

The original reason for the electric bus program was to reduce the county’s climate footprint. “We were interested in going into this new area that felt like the right thing to do environmentally,” Silvestre said. There were also other benefits to the switch, like saving on fuel and keeping students from inhaling toxic chemicals. “All those things were taken into consideration: the health of the students, the eventual cost savings,” Silvestre said.

To cover the gap in special education buses, MCPS purchased 90 special education diesel buses for $17.4 million on Oct. 12, 2023. “We have to transport kids, so we have to buy what’s available in order to do that,” Silvestre said. The county plans to continue those diesel purchases, and submit a request to the Maryland Board of Education to extend the service life of the county’s existing diesel bus fleet.

Highland Electric Transportation refused to comment to Silver Chips directly, citing a contract restriction. “We cannot provide commentary on this topic as part of our contract with MCPS,” Chris Orlando, senior manager of public relations with Highland, wrote in an email to Silver Chips.

Some good news

Compiled by LUCY HOLLAND

were gifted by the larger Sioux Nation. Bison hold significant meaning in Indig enous culture, and their return to native lands was met with celebration in the form of the traditional bison song, which takes the form of rhythmic chant ing accompanied by the beating of drums. The reintroduction of these bison came as a part of a bison species restoration effort between state, national, and Indigenous governments in both the U.S. and Canada, which is being met with resounding success: the previously critically endangered species is now thriving, with 25,000 bison roaming across approximately one million acres of land.

Degraded lands turned into new farmland

According to the Save Soil movement, 95 percent of American soil will be degraded by 2050. Degraded soil is soil that has been sapped of nu trients and is unusable in food production and agricultural processes. In response to this prediction, the movement to transform degrad ed land into new farmlands has ramped up. A farm er in Iowa developed a method using composting and cover crop ping—a means of farming where land is first used to grow crops such as clover and rye to balance the soil—to turn degraded and eroded lands into produc tive farms. Farmers in California have used irrigation to flush out ex cess salt from the soil that has left the soil unusable in the past. These in novations will help protect American farmland and food stability.

the study. The availability of their food sources has increased, indicating population growth in previously-depleted fish species. These findings also displayed the ability of humpback whales to adapt to changes in the ecological makeup of their food systems, which are fluctuating in increasing amounts due to climate change. This means that as these changes become more prevalent and drastic, humpback whale populations will be able to adapt and survive, preventing their species from extinction.

Removed dams restore natural water flow

After decades of protest from local Californian Indigenous groups, four dams owned by the hydroelectric company PacifiCorp were removed from the Klamath River near the California-Oregon border. This dam removal project, which restored the natural flow to nearly 400 miles of river habitat, is the largest in U.S. history. Built between 1911 and 1962, the dams were constructed with the purpose of generating hydroelectricity. The presence of the dams in the river, however, worsened the water qual ity and caused fish populations to drop by the tens of thousands. Since the removal of the dams, the last of which was removed in early October 2024, the fish popu lations have recovered, and reveg

Humpback whales are singing more

Recent findings from a six-year study conducted in Monterey Bay, Califor

ELECTRIC CHARGING STATIONS MCPS will no longer receive additional electric buses after the county terminated its contract due to late deliveries and mechanical failures.

PHOTO BY RAFFI DIAMOND-BERMAN

Blair graduation rate jumps 6.5 points

By ZACHARY KARP

The Blair senior graduation rate rose 6.5 percent in 2024 from the previous year, according to data from the Maryland State Department of Education. The Blair Class of 2024’s graduation rate was the highest of any class since the Class of 2003, which saw 96 percent—the highest rate ever recorded—of its seniors graduate on time.

93.8 percent of Blair seniors graduated in 2024, as opposed to 87.3 percent in 2023. Other MCPS schools saw similar increases in 2024; the overall MCPS average rose from 89.6 percent to 91.9 percent of seniors.

Blair Class of 2024 Assistant Principal Adriana Burgos-Ojeda said Blair’s higher proportional growth in graduate rate compared to the rest of the county was hard to attribute to a specific variable. She credited a multitude of factors for the increase, including students regaining interpersonal skills following the COVID-19 pandemic.

“For me, [the 2023-2024 school year] felt like the first year since returning from lockdown and distance learning during which the majority of students were available for relationship building and to make connections,” she wrote in an email to Silver Chips. “The social and self-management skills are coming back. All of that makes pathways for teachers, counselors, and administrators to work with their students and support them towards graduation.”

Students in some marginalized or disadvantaged groups saw the highest proportional growth. The percentage of Hispanic or Latino students who graduated on time

at Blair rose from 69.39 percent in 2023 to 86.64 percent in 2024—a surge of over 17 percent—and the percentage of students receiving services from MCPS’ Free and Reduced-price Meals (FARMS) program who successfully graduated increased from 82.18 percent to over 95 percent. Multilingual learners also saw an increase in graduation rate, rising from 61.49 percent of seniors to 80.65 percent. These data are consistent with county-wide trends.

The growth in graduation rates among students in marginalized groups could be attributed to stronger student support systems. “Our social worker, counseling team, school nurse, PPW [Pupil Personnel Workers], PCC [Parent Community Coordinators], Bridge to Wellness, and other community partners are making a huge difference for our students, and our systems for making referrals and connecting students to services are now well-established,” Burgos wrote. “I believe that contributed to the increased graduation rate, especially for our traditionally marginalized populations.”

Despite an overall increase across all students, some student groups fell in senior graduation rate. Students with disabilities graduated at a rate close to four percent lower than in 2023, falling from 90.16 percent to 86.36 percent of seniors, despite an overall county-wide increase. Resource teacher Michael Tomasulo, who manages special education programs at Blair, attributed the decline to increased withdrawal rates among students with disabilities.

MCPS instituted a policy in the 2023-2024 school year which stip-

ulated that students who miss 10 consecutive days of school without an excuse are withdrawn, meaning they are no longer enrolled in school. “[The withdrawal policy] negatively impacts some of our students [with disabilities]. They might struggle with coming to the building; they might have chronic absenteeism,” Tomasulo said. Students with disabilities are twice as likely to miss more than 10 total days of school than students without disabilities, according to a study by the Economic Policy Institute.

Tomasulo added that students with disabilities required more support after the COVID-19 pandemic. “COVID impacted … students receiving [disability] services a lot

more [than other students]. We’re seeing a real uptick in terms of students that are qualifying for services and students that need additional support,” he said. “That has an impact that we’re still seeing today.”

The graduation rate of students identifying as two or more races decreased from over 95 percent to 94.12 percent, consistent with an overall county-wide decline. Though the percentage of white students across the county who graduated fell by 0.6 percent from 2023 to 2024, this trend could not be evaluated in Blair statistics, as the state of Maryland does not record graduation rate percentages over 95 percent.

MCPS Superintendent Thomas Taylor said in a public statement that despite graduation rates increasing on average, MCPS still had progress to make to ensure all student groups could see the same growth. “While we celebrate the significant strides made, especially for our multilingual learners and Hispanic/Latino students, the declines we’ve seen in certain groups are a stark reminder that our work is far from over,” he wrote. “We are not just aiming for improvement; we are committed to ensuring that every student, regardless of their background or challenges, has the opportunity to thrive and graduate prepared for a future of success.”

GRAPHIC BY ZACHARY KARP DATA COURTESY OF MCPS SCHOOLS AT A GLANCE

OPINIONS

March 24, 2025

Measuring hours, not impact

MCPS must update the decades-old SSL requirement

By NEHA NARAYAN AN OPINION

For many Montgomery County students, the 75-hour Student Service Learning (SSL) requirement is less about making a difference and more about making a deadline. With hours logged and boxes checked off, the true meaning of community service and volunteerism has been lost. The requirement was introduced in MCPS in 1992 with a clear goal in mind: to ensure students not only excel academically, but also develop into responsible citizens. But while the initiative has noble intentions, the reality is that not every student embraces the program with the same enthusiasm or purpose. For some, SSL is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact. For others, it is just a number to reach before walking across the stage at graduation. So what gives?

Montgomery County Coordinator for Student Leadership and SSL Donna Kleffman explained that the goal of the SSL program is to teach students how to apply what they learn in the classroom to real-world issues, thus helping them to actively contribute to their communities. “The purpose of the program is really to say that we [do not] believe we are truly equipping our students to be college, career, and community ready unless they know how to be civically engaged and

contribute as active community members,” Kleffman said.

However, this well-intentioned idea does not always play out in practice. Kleffman noted the disparity in how different students engage with the SSL program. “There are definitely some students who go well above and beyond the minimum requirement, and there are definitely others who stop right at the 75 hours,” she said.

Blair Parent Community Coordinator Farzaneh Nabavian has seen firsthand the contrast between students simply looking for ways to complete their hours and others who are truly invested in their service. She works closely with Blair students through the Kindness Corner, a Blair-based volunteer initiative that allows students to help support their peers in need. “I think a lot of students think that just volunteering for the sake of it is enough, but the real value of SSL comes from learning how your contributions impact other people,”

Nabavian explained.

Blair senior and stage crew President Pine Hastings-Wilkins described that more hands-on opportunities are rightfully rewarded with hours. “We get SSL hours in stage crew because a lot of what we do is stepping outside of what we might be used to. It’s all about thinking about what goes into the show, and how to make it cohesive,” Hastings-Wilkins said. “It’s not just about standing there and doing only one thing that you’ve been assigned to.” Her point emphasizes the need for a shift in the way that students approach SSL: when students attempt to complete their hours through shallow, transactional tasks—like filing papers or simply attending a food drive without making a real effort to participate—they miss the opportunity to connect with the deeper, more fulfilling aspects of service. The truth is that most students focus on committing their time rather than committing their effort. If the SSL program is to benefit all students, they must strive to engage with their service. “When students come in and ask to volunteer in my Kindness Corner, I really try to stress how their help will be considered for its quality over quantity,” Nabavian expressed. “They could stay for three hours and do absolutely nothing, or stay for a half hour and really engage with the

Moore harm than good

process. That is worth so much more.”

I think a lot of students think that just volunteering for the sake of it is enough, but the real value of SSL comes from learning how your contributions impact other people.

A shift toward a truly transformative service learning program is within reach. The county needs to reframe the SSL experience as a self-and-community-improvement journey rather than just a requirement to meet so that students are more easily steered toward personally fulfilling opportunities. By allowing students to explore various avenues and discover where their interests intersect with the needs of the community, our county can move away from the generally apathetic view of volunteering that currently exists. As Hast-

ings-Wilkins noted, the deeper involvement she has found in stage crew is partially because of the opportunity to explore a more engaging form of service, where community impact is recognized immediately. “You’re really just diving into something that requires real effort and thought,” she said. This kind of engagement—where students feel challenged and valued for their work ethic—has the potential to lead to personal growth. At its core, SSL should encourage students to take ownership of their role as community members. To do so, Montgomery County must update the 32-year-old SSL requirement and shape the program into a powerful opportunity for students to drive real change.

Proposed budget cuts to disability services betray Maryland’s most vulnerable

By CASEY PENDERGAST AN OPINION

Chants of “Save our services!” echoed across the Maryland State House lawn from hundreds of outraged disabled Marylanders, their families, and advocates for accessibility. Some of these calls came from assistive communication devices, others from the voices of concerned parents, but all reiterated one common grievance: the state’s budget cannot be balanced on the backs of its most vulnerable population.

Governor Wes Moore’s FY 2026 Budget Proposal included a $200 million reduction to funding for Maryland’s Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA). DDA-provided services include life-saving medical and behavioral supports, Medicaid waiver programs, employment support, and the Low Intensity Support Services (LISS) grant program. Despite its deceptive name, LISS grants offer disabled individuals vital funding for countless supports, from assistive technology for people who struggle with communication to safety fences for individuals with dangerous elopement behaviors. The Maryland disabled community cannot afford to lose these supports.

Following Moore’s proposed slash to the DDA budget, The Arc Maryland hosted a “white-out” rally in Annapolis on Feb. 3 to draw legislators’ attention to affected families. The rally drew people from across the state, blocking off much of downtown Annapolis.

Constituents’ efforts proved effective, as many state legislators held town halls and committee meetings centered around the needs of disabled people. Among these legislators was Delegate Aaron Kaufman, a prolific disability rights advocate and the first Maryland legislator with cerebral palsy. “The community has done a great job contacting their legislators and sharing their personal stories,” Kaufman wrote in an email to Silver Chips. “They should continue to do so, as it is important for legislators to understand the harm the cuts can cause.”

Originally intended to dry up at the start of April, funding for the DDA was extended to July 1 as legislators continue to troubleshoot the issue. “The proposed cuts to DDA are very disconcerting to me, but every effort is being made to restore the [funding],” Kaufman wrote. “Restoration of the proposed cuts are a high priority for the House Democratic Caucus.”

Roughly 20,500 Maryland residents with developmental disabilities received state-funded services last year, predominantly through the DDA’s Medicaid waiver. The waiver allows a wide range of Medicaid-funded services to be administered in unconventional settings, a provision that is vital for many disabled individuals who require additional medical, communication, or safety support. Students with disabilities who receive 15 or more hours of MCPS-provided services per week are also eligible for the waiver. With Moore’s proposed cuts, students in the county will no longer have access to many of the supports they require outside

Feb. 3 to protest the proposed cuts to disability services.

of the school setting. “The budget would significantly impact disabled students’ ability to receive support at home and possibly at school as well,” Blair senior Ari Joshi wrote in an email to Silver Chips. “Disability services like special education are already struggling to provide enough support for students.”

Moore’s proposal to remove the LISS program from the FY26 budget also holds dangerous implications. “The LISS program provides up to $2,000 to eligible children and adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities to access services and goods that will improve the quality of their lives and promote their independence and integration into our community,” MoCo-based special education advocate Monica Martinez wrote in

an email to Silver Chips. “Families with whom I work have used LISS funds to pay for therapies such as speech and occupational therapy that may not be covered by insurance or exceed insurance limitations, or to purchase equipment essential to the child’s continued developmental progress that may otherwise be too costly for the family to afford.”

Martinez further explained that advocacy services like hers, sometimes paid for by LISS, can be used to ensure that students’ needs are met in their Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), enabling families to hire experts that will advocate for the rights of students. “Some of the families with whom I’ve worked have also used LISS funding to pay for my advocacy services,” Mar-

tinez wrote. “These funds have allowed families who otherwise would not be able to afford representation to level the playing field at the IEP table. The absence of LISS funding will perpetuate the imbalance of power in the IEP process.”

The risks posed by Moore’s plan drastically outweigh any financial benefits for Maryland’s government. Communication devices funded by LISS can save lives, often determining whether or not those who cannot communicate vocally are able to say “no” or call for help. Medicaid can fund behavioral support and evaluations that can make the difference between whether or not MCPS students are able to graduate high school. Treating these services as optional disregards both the immense needs of Maryland’s disabled community and their potential when such needs are met. “Disability is truly something that can affect anyone at any time; it’s a non-partisan issue,” Joshi wrote. “Having robust supports in place for disabled people can and will benefit anyone.”

While the decision is ultimately in the hands of Governor Moore and the state’s legislative body, disability rights advocates across Maryland have made it clear that if Moore does not stand up for them, they will not stand with him. “Cuts to DDA affect the most vulnerable members of our community,” Martinez wrote. “Marylanders served by DDA need more funding—certainly not less. Slashing funding to DDA will deprive many Marylanders of their dignity, which they and their families and caregivers have fought so hard to establish.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ARC MARYLAND

SAVE OUR DDA SERVICES Hundreds gathered in front of the State House in Annapolis on

Should MCPS reinstate class rankings?

MCPS should reward and encourage academic excellence by reintroducing class rankings in high schools.

High school graduation is a ceremony everyone is familiar with: the music, the photo-taking, the never-ending list of names. Then there are the speeches: one from a guest speaker, one from the student president, and one from the valedictorian. Or at least, that was how it used to work.

Today, the College Board estimates that only around half of public high schools use class rank, and more than 70 percent of colleges say it has either limited or no importance in their admissions. While class rank never was—and never should be—the sole factor in admissions, this is a great loss for the cause of promoting academic excellence. Switching away from class rank signifies our abandonment of encouraging students to always do better.

Competition, after all, is the driver of excellence. Emily Hangen, a professor of psychology at SUNY Brockport, said in an interview with Silver Chips that competition can motivate people to achieve their goals and attain personal satisfaction, especially those near the edge of a milestone like being valedictorian. With all the distractions facing the modern student, motivation might be exactly what they need.

Class rank is simply a good metric. A 2020 study led by Jeffrey Denning called “Class Rank and Long-Run Outcomes” where third grade students were ranked showed that students with better rankings had better long-term learning outcomes.

“Students with a higher third-grade academic rank … have higher subsequent test scores, are more likely to take AP classes, graduate from high school, enroll in and graduate from college, and ultimately have higher earnings nineteen years later,” the study said. It is reasonable to apply this to high schoolers as well. Students that are ranked higher simply do better.

Not only does class rank boost the outcomes of the students who do well, but when comparing students of different backgrounds, Denning’s study showed that “disadvantaged students,” or students who are of color or enrolled in a Free and Reduced-price Meals program, are significantly more affected by rank than their advantaged counterparts. Why this is is not clear.

“Anything that is a reaction to a student’s rank is a potential mechanism [for benefits] including student effort, parental investment, and teacher investment,” the study offered. But regardless, class rank works.

PRO CON

MCPS should reward and encourage academic excellence by reintroducing class rankings in high schools.

By JUSTIN ROSENTOVER AN OPINION

The problem is that ranking students also works to disadvantage those who do poorly. The argument then follows that class ranks punish people who also improve—education is not a zero-sum game after all—and they will do worse if they see their low rank. This is a fair objection in the abstract, but is easily solvable. It would be silly to tell bottom-ranking students they were ranked 432nd or 433rd, so class ranks do not have to. Just rank the top twenty students and congratulate them on their hard work. Even if some lower-ranked people miss out on the benefits of the system by not being ranked, class ranks have helped someone, and someone is better than no one. The beauty of just ranking the top students is that the school system gets all the benefits of class rank—valedictorians, constructive competition, and honorifics—without any of the shortfallings. In the real world, there are winners and losers. If you run the fastest, you win the race. However, with modern grade inflation, a high school diploma might as well be a participation trophy. We find such awards ridiculous for our Cross Country team, so we should find it ridiculous for academics. The same is true for the winners; it would be just as preposterous to have a race, but then refuse to announce who won first place. This is basically what MCPS does with academics. “You’re stealing information from [students],” Dr. Hangen said. Academics and the workforce are just as competitive as sports, so why should we treat them any differently? The world is a competition for people to do their best. Quantifying performance with class rank simply rewards the people who win. What is so wrong with that?

Class rankings neglect other contributions a student may have made for their school, are harmful to student mental health, and are irrelevant in modern-day college admissions processes.

By LUCY HOLLAND AN OPINION

Juggling work, life, and school in a world where a student’s worth is evaluated by a simple numerical value—their grade point average (GPA)—is a soul-wrenching proposition. High school students in Montgomery County work tirelessly every day, participating in clubs, playing for sports teams, and completing hours of homework every night. MCPS should not bring back class rankings, a system where students in a school are ranked based on their GPA, as the process fails to consider other school contributions, is harmful to student mental health, and has become ultimately irrelevant in modern-day college admissions processes.

Class rank is calculated based on either a student’s weighted or unweighted GPA. A weighted GPA takes into account whether a class is an honors or AP class when examining the scores a student received in that class, while an unweighted GPA calculates all classes on the same scale, regardless of rigor. Either way, a student’s grades are the only factor. This singular focus means that a student who is captain of the volleyball team and has hundreds of volunteer hours may ultimately be ranked lower than a student with no extracurriculars but a slightly higher GPA. As a result, the class ranking system pulls focus away from other enriching aspects of a student’s life, placing more stress on grades and making students less well-rounded.

In addition to failing to consider other facets of a student’s life, class rankings place an extra burden on already stressed-out high schoolers by putting them in direct competition with their peers. “I think [class rankings] can be beneficial if you’re the one being recognized, but to [most] people, it makes it more stressful to try to put that pressure on yourself,” Hope Connor, a junior at the Academy of the Holy Cross in

“I would not, because it would be very annoying to know that your friend is smarter than you ... I feel like it wouldn’t classify people correctly.”

“I think [it] should be brought back because it’s just a major accomplishment and it should be honored.”

JULIANA FAY C THOMPSON sophomore

Kensington, which has a class rank system, explained. In 2024, a staggering 30 percent of American high school students reported feeling sad or depressed due to excessive pressure, while 75 percent said they felt daily stress over homework. Excessive stress has negative side effects on both student mental health and physical health, leading to issues such as insomnia and chronic headaches. Introducing class rankings would only exacerbate this stress, adding an element of direct competition to already strained students. MCPS should aim to reduce stress, not enhance it by adding another arbitrary measure of worth.

I think [class rankings] can be beneficial if you’re the one being recognized, but to [most] people, it makes it more stressful to try to put that pressure on yourself.

This competition is also far from fair for schools like Blair, which has two magnet programs—the STEM Magnet (Magnet) and the Communication Arts Program (CAP). Magnet and CAP students are automatically placed in classes with higher weighting, giving their weighted GPA a boost that other students do not necessarily have the same access to. This system is also inequitable on a broader scale, because students with the ability to pay for a tutor and take extra time to study have an unfair advantage over those without the same access.

There is another glaring reason why class rankings should not be brought back: colleges simply do not care anymore. In fact, a recent report by the National Association for College Admission Counseling revealed that the majority of American high schools do not report on student rankings. College admissions officers are more interested in considering other aspects of students’ applications, such as their extracurriculars or essays, rather than a class ranking. Ultimately, bringing back class rankings would be a misstep because the system emphasizes GPA over extracurriculars, further strains student mental health, and is no longer important in modern-day college admissions. Evaluating a student’s worth by a single numerical value is an archaic system that is, and should remain, a thing of the past.

“I feel like Blair’s kind of competitive academically already ... so if they were to bring it back, that wouldn’t be beneficial.”

ARIANNA BANKS senior

“No, because here we have too big of a class ... having 900 different ranks doesn’t hold as much purpose as less than 100.”

All photos by MAZ OLSON

ALLISON LIN

PHOTOS BY MAZ OLSON

A policy of chaos

By THE EDITORIAL BOARD AN OPINION

For the last decade, nationwide per-pupil spending on education has continuously risen. The Department of Education’s budget went from an inflation-adjusted $13,952 per pupil in 2013 to $15,723 per pupil in 2019. In that same amount of time, National Assessment of Educational Progress scores have barely changed in both reading and math, even going down in some cases. Cutting the Department of Education workforce is unlikely to have a direct impact on most students. Even reducing education funding in general is unlikely to change much in our day-to-day lives. But the keyword is unlikely. The reality is that no one

combined with the reckless chain of never-ending unilateral decisions and reversals is a recipe for disaster.

Uncertainty is going to hurt, even if the actions themselves do not. If the cuts are made, MCPS is going to expend huge amounts of time and effort figuring out what to do about, and how to fight, the loss of the $107 million they receive from the federal government. That amount of money would fund three entire high schools for a year and that does not even include tax revenue lost from the firing of federal workers who live in Montgomery County. Maryland is already in a budget crisis—one that is about to get much harder to solve if they suddenly have to make up for $2.14 billion in K-12 federal funding from out of nowhere.

This federal funding comes

from high-income states to low-income states. But if the money they distribute is zeroed out, high-income states like Maryland, despite its $2.14 billion, won’t be the worst off in the long term. Instead, it is schools in low-income states that would be unable to afford air conditioning, music teachers, or a fiveday school week. “Where you have a state like Mississippi or Alabama that invests less in their children than we do in Maryland, the federal government can kind of even that out,” Paul Lemle, the president of the Maryland State Education Association, Maryland’s largest teachers union, said.

Even if all fired Department of Education employees are reinstated two weeks from now, as has already been court-ordered for at least six other agencies, thousands—most of whom live in D.C. and its suburbs—

The catch is that no one knows if that is what will happen. If the Department of Education is abolished, we do not know if the funding will go with it. What about the approximately 12,000 MCPS graduates, many of whom are looking to pay for college? They do not know if they will be able to get loans from the federal government. They do not know if the 529 college funds their parents invested in to pay for their education will have enough money left after the current stock market panic is over.

Every day the battles continue in the courts, every day Maryland does not know how much money to spend on schools, every day thousands of federal employees wake up not knowing if they have a job or not, we are wasting money and ensuring chaos. Policy can be debated; it can be argued with and amended and compromised

Teachers matter

Maryland’s cost-cutting educational reforms are unacceptable

By ETHAN DE BRAUW Ombudsman AN OPINION

On March 11, the Maryland State House of Delegates passed a bill to reform the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, the plan to guide and fund Maryland’s education system over the next ten years. The reform comes at a time when the state is facing a $3 billion shortfall for the fiscal year of 2026, overspending and deficits in nine out of the past 15 years and lagging economic growth over the same period. While the budget shortfall should be a serious concern that lawmakers are seeking to fix, the solution isn’t to take the money from the education system. The goal behind the Blueprint

for the Future is to expand access to Pre-K, recruit and retain high quality and diverse teachers, and prepare students for college and careers. Part of the program was to let teachers spend more time planning lessons, an increase in collaborative time from 20 percent to 40 percent. The proposed reforms would pause the increase in time teachers have to prepare their lessons going forward and save the state money in the process.

Cutting collaborative time for teachers would hurt students and educators alike, and is not the solution to Maryland’s budget shortfall.

The reform was originally proposed by Maryland Governor Wes Moore, and included a freeze in funding for community schools in low income areas and a lower increase in per pupil funding, as well as pausing the collaborative time program. The House scaled back Moore’s cuts, restoring the funding to community schools and the original rate of per pupil funding. The House did not fully restore collaborative time for teachers that Moore targeted in his cuts, and the reform has to pass the State Senate, where leadership has indicated they support the pause in collaborative time for teachers.

It makes sense that lawmakers would look to one of the state’s largest expenditures–education–for potential cuts. However, cutting collaborative time for teachers would hurt students and educators alike, and is not the solution to Maryland’s budget shortfall.

Teachers are overworked, to the point where many are considering other professions. 68 percent of teachers called their work overwhelming, and 84 percent of teachers say there is not enough time in the day to get all their work done. Three in ten teachers say they may look for a new job in the next year, with 69 percent looking to leave the classroom. All of this comes at a time when Maryland is facing a teaching shortage. In 2024, there were just under 2,000 unfilled teaching positions in Maryland, as well as more than 7,000 positions filled by teachers not fully certified for their positions. To bring in teachers while there is a national shortage of qualified personnel, Maryland needs to treat its educators better than other states. Lawmakers recognized this reality when they passed the Blueprint for the Future in 2021, ensuring teachers had the collaborative time they needed going forward. Now, when representatives need to cut funding, the first place they turn to are the programs necessary to make Maryland an attractive place to work as an educator.

While the solution might not be to pause parts of the Blueprint for the Future, Maryland is still facing a historically high deficit that needs

to be reduced. An alternative proposal that has already been floated in the House is a 2.5 percent increase in the business-to-business tax rate, which would be a step in the right direction. Another possibility would be a tax on Maryland’s relatively new sports betting industry, which Moore included in his 2025 budget proposal. Both of these options are better for the state than cutting support for overburdened teachers, and lawmakers should seek similar taxation measures if they want to protect the future of Maryland’s education.

If Maryland wants the very best for their students, lawmakers need to support teachers, even when it isn’t politically easy.

If representatives are serious about their desire “to transform public education in the state into a world-class education system,” as the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future says, we need to put our teachers first. Students can tell when teachers have been given the time and resources they need to plan lessons. If Maryland wants the very best for their students, lawmakers need to support teachers, even when it isn’t politically easy.

PHOTO BY KENEAN BIZUWORK

Editorial Cartoon

ALLISON LIN

Gutted

By CARINA NICODEMUS and AUDEN

It’s been one year since Rahman Culver was placed on leave from his role as Acting Assistant Principal. No, he wasn’t accused of misconduct. He didn’t break any school regulations. In fact, Culver hadn’t done anything wrong. Rather, after serving two years as a Blair administrator, he had yet to complete the state-mandated internship as a part of the standard administrator training. Despite his years of experience in the role of an assistant principal

and commitment to building diversity efforts in the Blair community, Culver was placed on involuntary leave after his position was abolished in the FY2025 budget. Not only did the county cut his job, but they informed him he was unable to reapply for administrator status. MCPS cannot afford to lose a passionate and institutionally knowledgeable administrator like Culver. In 1992, he was a student in the newly launched STEM Magnet program and graduated as senior class president in 1996. Culver then attended the University of Maryland, majoring in African

American Studies. After teaching in Prince George’s County for four years, Culver returned to Blair as a social studies teacher, working alongside some of his former teachers. After two years, Culver became the chair of Blair’s social studies department.

In 2022, Blair looked to add Culver to their leadership team given his perspective and experience in the Blair community. Culver says at the same time, MCPS was looking to increase the number of Black male administrators throughout the county via the Assistant School Administrator role, which allowed staff to complete their administrator certifications while working the job.

However, Culver’s case was unique. As soon as he began working as an Assistant School Administrator, in September 2022, Culver was asked to step up as an Acting Assistant Principal, filling the role of former Assistant Principal Winter Bingham who had been recruited to MCPS Central Office—a measure that MCPS seems to regularly engage in. After that year, Bingham’s role was permanently filled, but Blair faced another administrator vacancy when Lavina Carrillo became principal at Rock Creek Elementary. Culver stepped up again, continuing as an Acting Assistant Principal. Time after time, when Blair was in need, Culver was there.

Then, midway through the 2023-2024 school year, Culver received an email from the MCPS human resources department stating that his position as Assistant School Administrator had been

Green, but not clean

abolished. He was deemed ineligible by MCPS to reapply for an administrator role—one which he had already worked for two years—at Blair, because he had not yet completed a state-mandated internship. Culver’s predicament is one that could have been easily bypassed. The Maryland state requirements for an administrator allow the ASA position to qualify. “Practicum, internship, or a collaboratively designed and supervised experience by the local school system and institution of higher education,” the requirements read. But MCPS chose red tape over common sense, gutting a dedicated educator who had already proven his ability to lead.

Culver’s dismissal comes at a time when MCPS is facing considerable leadership turnover across all levels of the district. When there is a lack of continuity in school administration, connection is severed between leadership and students. With so much seemingly chaotic change, students are hesitant to trust that their new principal truly has their best interests at heart, or if they are just using the position as a stepping stone to a higher role in the central office. Last year, both principals and administrators left the district in high numbers. Some retired, while others cited a hostile working environment under former Superintendent Monifa McKnight’s leadership. Others still, such as former Walt Whitman Principal Robert Dodd, were recruited to central office positions.

For the 2024-2025 school year, there were 43 new (or new to their school) principals in the district, with 10 of them serving at the high school level. At Blair, the search to replace former Principal Renay Johnson was paused in early June after the listing was unable to draw enough qualified candidates. Assistant Principal Adriana Burgos-Oje-

Why MCPS needs to raise their standards for sustainability

By RAE FOSTER and RUTH WAJDA-GOTWALS

Thousands of students flank the hallways of Blair every day after lunch, discarding their garbage randomly in the trash and recycling bins. At the end of the day, building services will lightly sort through these hopelessly mixed bins— though this is not something they are paid to do. But regardless of its unproductive recycling, Blair will continue to re-apply and qualify for Maryland’s Green School Award program, per MCPS requirements.

Although the green schools program, implemented by the Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education (MAEOE), was created with good intentions to set high schools on an environmentally conscious path, its title does not hold the same significance that it once did. The standards for obtaining the green school title are too low, and individual Maryland high schools including Blair must prioritize finding solutions to the pressing environmental issues within their schools.

The Maryland Green Schools (MDGS) program was created by the MAEOE in 1999. MDGS works to promote sustainability within school culture. The organization represents one of Maryland’s most dedicated pushes for environmentally conscious schools, using sustainability project funding as incentive for schools. However, being qualified as a green school does not mean that a school has fixed all of their environmental

issues. That is certainly the case with Blair, which has been a green school since 2012 and most recently re-applied in 2023.

To become MDGS-certified, a school simply has to answer surface-level questions describing their “green culture” and meet a few sustainability requirements such as environmental instruction, waste reduction, and energy conservation. These criteria do not investigate the reality of sustainability in high schools and do not do enough to make sure that schools are consistently leaving a positive environmental footprint. Once a school becomes certified, they receive credibility and funding opportunities. While this incentive is beneficial for eligible schools, funding for sustainability is most important in schools that have made the least amount of progress. Sustainability funding should be standard in MCPS, and the county should be encouraging schools to do better, not just meet the bare minimum.

apply for—in more schools, which would save energy and money.

Lynne Zarate, the director of the MCPS Division of Sustainability and Compliance, explains that the MCPS Office of Facilities Management can install solar panels for eligible schools free of cost if the school has new roofing. “We work to host solar panels on schools that have new roofs, either after a replacement project or after new construction,” Zarate wrote in an email to Silver Chips. Currently, 17 of the 211 schools in MCPS have solar panel systems installed, and these solar panels save more than $300,000 each year.

The responsibility to promote eco-friendliness extends beyond MCPS to specific schools, like Blair. Some of the most urgent environmental issues that Montgomery County faces are pollution, excessive waste, and lost energy. Blair currently has a recycling program, but when any trash is accidentally mixed in a recycling load, the entire bin is redirected by county waste management services to a landfill. The general disregard for Blair’s recycling system among students does not help, and there is also a significant amount of trash that does not make it into trash bins or recycling at all. Blair science teacher Elizabeth Levien explained that effort from students is necessary for creating change. “It’s a tall order to get people to have ‘being sustainable’ on their bandwidth, but we need to,” Levien said. Littering and pollution are issues that can only be fixed if Blair students make the effort to dispose of their waste cor-

da served in the interim while former Damascus Principal Kevin Yates was convinced to come out of retirement and serve as acting principal. If all goes well in the search to replace Yates, Blair will have its fourth principal in three years. When there is this much turbulent change at the top levels of administration, the effects reverberate through the halls of the school. Teachers and students alike are impacted by the lack of consistent policy, environment, and expectations. The MCEA cry, “our working conditions are students’ learning conditions,” could not ring more true. The lack of connection, trust, and mutual support between administrators and teachers can make students feel unsupported and unheard.

Institutional voices such as Culver’s provide desperately-needed consistency and care to the school environment that people from outside the Blair community cannot offer. As a student, teacher, department head, and administrator, there is no perspective of the Blair experience that Culver has not experienced. Connection and dedication to the school one serves creates stable and trustworthy support that both students and teachers can rely on. We do not want and cannot afford administrators blazing through Blair to their next assignment.

On March 6, Culver received an email update about his job. He was reassigned to the role of a special education teacher at Clarksburg. Culver will serve this role and will likely not return to Blair for the foreseeable future. MCPS’ handling of Culver’s situation reflects the ongoing administration crisis that causes schools to miss out on dedicated and institutionally knowledgeable leadership that they so desperately need.

rectly.

Besides addressing recycling and littering habits, the Blair community must create more programs and initiatives to raise awareness and identify creative solutions for environmental problems in the building. For example, activities like Blair’s Green Club are taking the right step toward school sustainability. Club treasurer and senior Sydney Humpert explained the club’s impact at Blair. “It’s a student organization where we do things around the school to try to help the environment and also educate people on environmental issues,” Humpert said.

The Blair community also has other movements that are push-

ing for eco-friendly systems. Staff can get involved in a sustainability council that works to mobilize initiatives in the school, and art teacher Jacqueline Armstead-Thomas runs a yearly recycling drive. To strengthen these pushes, more staff and students must get involved and brainstorm more ways to make an impact.

Although Green Club secretary Thea Womack believes Blair has a long way to go until they reach effective sustainability, she has hope. “I don’t understand how we qualify [as a green school], respectfully, but we can definitely get there, and that’s our goal,” Womack says.

PHOTO BY RAFFI DIAMOND-BERMAN

PHOTO COURTESY OF RAHMAN CULVER

SEIGEL

PILED UP Blair trash accumulates before being picked up and disposed of.

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT Hip-hop and social studies teacher Kenneth Smith, former administrator Rahman Culver, and English teacher John Howard.

esquinalatina la

Representando la comunidad latinx desde el 2003

El camino hacia el sueño americano

Honrando las historias de viaje no contadas

Por SELVIN VAIL y MARIA ESPINAL

Nota: Los nombres de los entrevistados en este artículo han sido cambiados para proteger sus identidades.

Durante la primera campaña presidencial de Donald Trump, una de sus promesas fue construir un muro entre la frontera de México y Estados Unidos. Trump dijo reiteradas veces que México iba a pagar completamente por el proyecto que Trump ya había garantizado a la nación. Sin embargo, cada vez que Estados Unidos intentó llegar a un acuerdo con México respecto a la construcción del muro, Enrique Peña Nieto, el entonces presidente de México, rechazó completamente todo lo relacionado al tema. Peña Nieto grabó un video diciendo, “México no cree en los muros. Lo he dicho una y otra vez, México no pagará ningún muro”, respondiendo a la orden ejecutiva de Trump. Seguidamente, Trump respondió, “si México no está dispuesto a pagar por el tan necesario muro, entonces sería mejor cancelar la reunión prevista”, refiriéndose a una reunión que debía llevarse a cabo para llegar a un acuerdo y que nunca sucedió. Al final, Estados Unidos terminó pagando la construcción de 400 millas del muro que separa a México y Estados Unidos, según BBC Mundo.

En el 2023, la administración de Biden anunció que iba a continuar construyendo la barrera divisoria entre ambos países. La administración sufriría consecuencias políticas si no continuaba con la construcción del muro, especialmente después de un número récord de migrantes que cruzan la frontera. Por lo tanto, a pesar de haber expresado su oposición, Biden tuvo que continuar con la construcción para obtener el apoyo de diferentes partidos políticos. Actualmente, la frontera proviene desde océano pacifico y llega hasta la punta del sur de Texas, el doble de antes.

Según el Centro de Investigación Pew, cada año 11,000 migrantes dejan sus países natales y emigran a Estados Unidos buscando libertad y democracia, así como oportunidades de empleo, educación y más. Cada inmigrante afronta las dificultades de diferentes maneras. Jennifer Smith, una mujer mexicana que tuvo que dejar a sus dos hijos pequeños en su país, cuenta sus motivos para hacer el gran recorrido. Smith vino a Estados Unidos buscando trabajo y mejor calidad de vida. Su experiencia no fue nada fácil, como Smith explica, “separarse de los hijos fue lo que más le puede doler a uno como persona, para venirse a un país, para salir adelante”. Ella viajó desde Veracruz, México con destino a Maryland en los EE.UU, saliendo de Veracruz hasta Reynosa por autobús y después cruzó la frontera.

Durante el viaje, ella enfrentó muchos obstáculos, como viajar sola, temer por su vida y ser víctima de asaltos. Smith relata que “al momento de cruzar la frontera de México para Estados Unidos… nos asaltaron, bajando del autobús nos llevan corriendo con pistola, con puñal, lo amenazan a uno”. Al final, cruzó la frontera y por fin llegó a su destino. Smith ha vivido en los Estados Unidos por diecisiete años, conviviendo y adaptándose a nuevas

culturas. A pesar de la barrera del idioma, muchas personas de EE.UU le brindan el apoyo cuando ella lo necesita. Este tipo de viajes son particularmente amenazantes. De acuerdo con el Centro Mixto de Migración, el 58% de hispanos entrevistados dijeron que enfrentaron malas experiencias durante sus viajes hacia el norte. Muchas personas, como Nora Kingston, conocen los riesgos en carne propia. Durante su trayecto, guiada por un coyote, vivió todo tipo de experiencias, algunas sumamente negativas. El trabajo de los coyotes consiste en transportar a personas a través de la frontera de forma ilegal. Al no tener ningún tipo de regulaciones, su conducta cuenta con total impunidad, sumando una posible fuente adicional de estrés y sufrimiento para los migrantes.

Mientras viajaba con otras personas, Kingston expresó, “En Estados Unidos [estuvimos] dos semanas en el frío, en el cooler como lo llaman, y... sí, entonces fue duro porque llegamos y nos estafaron a nosotros, el coyote, como decirlo”.

Muchos centros de detención para migrantes han sido calificados como inhumanos. Algunos de los problemas en estos centros incluyen falta de atención médica necesaria y condiciones de detención indignas. Según el Centro Nacional de Información Biotecnológica, los abusos se ocultan al público y explica que “todavía las condiciones en los centros de detención son a menudo similares a las cárceles y la

prisión”. En algunos casos, los inmigrantes en centros de detención pasan días sin comer. “Mi sobrina que tenía dos añitos, lo sufrimos, porque al llegar a Cancún nos agarraron, migración y nos encarcelaron por dos días sin alimentos ni nada. Y teníamos una niña que estaba alimentándose, pero no nos daban nada de alimentos”. Kingston continúa diciendo, “La segunda vez cuando intentamos ingresar nuevamente, nos agarró migración nuevamente y nos querían deportar”.

En su política de “América primero”, Trump ha establecido la prioridad de reforzar la frontera y reducir el tamaño del gobierno y el gasto federal a través de la cancelación de programas sociales. Finalmente, fija como prioridad conservar los valores que Trump considera americanos. Una de las primeras órdenes ejecutivas de Trump consistió en fortalecer los refuerzos en el muro fronterizo, que cuenta con presencia militar, tanto como con agentes de ICE, agentes de aduana y patrullas fronterizas.

La frontera presenta varios frentes de peligro para los viajeros. Sumado a los problemas del posible abuso de poder por parte de los traficantes de humanos, más conocidos como coyotes, existen situaciones de abuso por parte de los agentes fronterizos. De acuerdo con la Coalición Comunitaria de la Frontera Sur (SBCC por sus siglas en inglés), “un total de 332 personas han muerto como resultado de un encuentro con agentes de Adua-

nas y Protección Fronteriza desde 2010. La cultura de abuso y uso imprudente de la fuerza de CBP ha llevado a la muerte de muchas personas, tanto ciudadanos como no ciudadanos, tanto en los puertos de entrada de Estados Unidos como en la región”. Se cree que esta cifra no cuenta a todas las víctimas, ya que de acuerdo con SBCC, “estas trágicas pérdidas de vidas representan sólo una fracción de las pérdidas por la militarización de la frontera, ya que no incluyen a los desaparecidos en la dura y mortal tierra salvaje por el derrochador muro fronterizo y agentes violentos, ni a los impactados por agentes fronterizos desplegados en otras partes del país”.

A pesar de esto, no todas las experiencias en la frontera son negativas. De acuerdo a Annie Collins, los agentes fronterizos “me trataron bien, o sea, me ayudaron bastante”. Ella explicó que se encontró con agentes de patrulla fronteriza durante su cruce a los Estados Unidos desde El Salvador, cargando a su hijo de dos meses de edad. A pesar de la mala reputación de los agentes fronterizos, existen aspectos positivos. Sin embargo, otra situación desafortunada durante tantos viajes al norte es que muchas familias son separadas por circunstancias fuera de su control. Algunas de estas circunstancias incluyen a los agentes de la frontera. Un salvadoreño, Joey Samuels, dice que su vida era conflictiva en El Salvador. Aunque disfrutaba mucho de los bailes

CINDIS HERNÁNDEZ

alegres, gastronomía nativa y temporada de mangos y jocotes, existía también un ambiente de miedo y temor. Como muchos persiguiendo el tan buscado sueño americano, Samuels fue trágicamente separado de su madre en su país. Muchas personas se separaron de miembros de su familia y más tarde logran ser reunidos son las excepciones. Según el Departamento de Seguridad Nacional, “hasta 1,360 niños nunca se han reunido con sus padres seis años después de que el gobierno de Estados Unidos los separara por la fuerza en la frontera de Estados Unidos”. La separación de familias viola los derechos humanos de las familias y a pesar de reconocer los daños que esta separación ocasiona, todavía existen estas políticas dañinas.

A pesar de todo, las oportunidades de lograr una mejor vida anulan los contratiempos. Muchas de las personas entrevistadas han vivido diferentes situaciones, pero todos comparten la misma meta, lograr un mejor futuro. Como dijo Kingston, “siempre llegamos con una meta y con un sueño aquí”. No obstante, hay que mantenerse consciente de los miles de riesgos y traumas que se pueden desarrollar en el trayecto para ingresar a la unión americana. Las personas que se embarcan en la travesía a Estados Unidos nunca pierden la esperanza de alcanzar sus objetivos y sueños de obtener un mejor futuro económico y social para sus familias.

Dulces sabores tropicales

del mundo

Por EMMY HENRIQUEZ y JONATAN LOAYES

A través de muchos países y culturas, las frutas tropicales han sido bien disfrutadas. En los Estados Unidos, más de 23.15 mil millones libras de fruta fresca fueron importadas en el año 2024, según un informe sobre las frutas y verduras frescas en los Estados Unidos por investigadores de la universidad de Texas A&M. La gran mayoría de estas comidas llegan de México, Guatemala, Argentina y varios otros países de clima cálido. Frutas como los mamones, pitayas, granadinas y varias más provienen desde el Caribe y Latinoamérica a los Estados Unidos.

La industria del transporte de frutas frescas del Caribe y América Latina sigue creciendo, consolidándose como un proveedor clave de frutas exóticas debido a sus condiciones climáticas ideales. A medida que los consumidores descubren sus sabores únicos y sus beneficios nutricionales, las frutas que antes eran consideradas raras ahora se encuentran fácilmente en las tiendas, y han ganado popularidad por su sabor y valor saludable.

Frutas como la fruta del dragón tienen varios nombres en diferentes países. Conocida como pitaya, también tiene otros nombres: En la República Dominicana se llaman limoncillos, en Ecuador son guayas

y en Puerto Rico son conocidos como quenepas. Sin importar el nombre, la pitaya o fruta de dragón, tal como la granadina (fruta de la pasionaria) se han vuelto cada vez más comunes en supermercados y mercados especializados.

En una serie de entrevistas realizadas, se invitó a varias personas a probar diversas frutas exóticas. Entre los participantes se encontraban Sheyli Gonzalez y Misael López, ambos estudiantes de grado 11 en Blair, quienes, junto con otros, tuvieron la oportunidad de degustar variedades como la pitaya, conocida también como dragón amarillo y dragón morado. “Nunca he probado la pitaya amarilla, solo la morada”, dijo Gonzalez. Ciruelas, kiwis, pitayas amarillas y moradas, tejocotes, manzanillas, carambolas, caquis, y varias más frutas fueron aprobadas por estos estudiantes. “Le doy un diez de diez a la pitaya amarilla”, dijo Lopez. Los estudiantes mencionaron que al probar manzanilla recordaban su niñez en Guatemala, especialmente porque esta fruta es bastante conocida allí.

Cada fruta exótica ofrece una combinación única de sabores, aromas y texturas que pueden resultar sorprendentes o, en algunos casos, desafiantes. Algunas, como el mangostán, se destacan por su dulzura y cremosidad, mientras que otras, como el durián, son reconocidas por su fuerte olor y su sabor

complejo. La textura varía considerablemente, desde la jugosidad refrescante hasta la fibrosidad o la gelatina. En conjunto, la experiencia de probar estas frutas se convierte en un viaje de descubrimiento culinario, lleno de curiosidad y asombro, que invita a explorar nuevos placeres gastronómicos, a veces con un toque de incertidumbre. Comer frutas de diferentes lugares nos expone a distintos tipos de culturas de variados países ya que se exportan de diferentes par-

Un fuego que causa furia

tes del mundo, especialmente del Caribe. Unos mangos de Filipinas no van a ser iguales a los de México por los diferentes tipos de clima, la contaminación en el aire, cómo se cosechan, nutrientes en el abono, y la evaluación entre las frutas. Los colores vibrantes de las frutas despiertan los sentidos de las personas que se sienten atraídas hacia las frutas. Cuando las frutas ya están listas para comer, el proceso inicia nuevamente a través de las semillas de las frutas y sucesivamente

sigue el mismo proceso comenzando la riqueza del sabor de todas las frutas exóticas que existen. Es fácil encontrar frutas tropicales a nuestro alrededor, especialmente en los Estados Unidos, ya que en cualquier tienda va a haber cantidades de frutas exóticas variadas. Ya sea gracias a una piña dulce o pitaya fresca o papaya madura de todo el mundo, todas estas frutas pueden hacer que tu día sea un poco más dulce.

Los incendios de Los Ángeles afectan a la comunidad latina

Por SHEILY RAYMUNDO y RICARDO VIGIL

El incendio en Los Ángeles, California que ocurrió entre el 7 de enero hasta aproximadamente el primero de febrero de 2025 y fue provocado por la rápida propagación del fuego que se debe a los fuertes vientos de Santa Ana, California. “Llegaron alertas [de evacuación] porque empezaron alrededor, un sonido que no venía de un solo lado sino que era alrededor de toda la ciudad de Los Ángeles entonces” dijo Judith Perez, residente de Los Ángeles, California.

Las altas temperaturas y falta de lluvia provocaron varios incendios por todo el estado de California, formando una caída de varios rayos que trágicamente causó 25 muertos. Los bomberos luchaban contra los incendios al mismo tiempo resistiendo todo el viento que llegaba desde el oeste de Los Ángeles, las tormentas, la ceniza en el aire y mucho más.

La temporada de lluvias, que generalmente abarca de octubre a abril, ha experimentado una insu

dios forestales ha sido alarmante. Vientos, que antes no se habían registrado con tal intensidad, han cambiado su dirección, soplando de este a oeste en lugar de dirigirse hacia el este desde el océano. Este fenómeno ha agravado la propagación del fuego, causando estragos a lo largo de la costa del Pacífico, con numerosas viviendas y edificios reducidos a escombros.

En varias partes en California, el cielo se quedó de color gris, mientras los bomberos trataban de extinguir los fuegos. “El aire estaba muy contaminado, el cielo se la pasó gris, gris, pero no gris en ese sentido de nublado, sino en ese gris de contaminado”, dijo la señorita Judith Pérez, residente de Los Ángeles. Continuó explicando Pérez, “En varias partes de California ni se puede respirar el aire por tan contaminado que está el aire. Tan siquiera, ir a la tienda para comprar la comida sin estar expuesto a la ceniza del aire”. De acuerdo con Accuweather, el costo total de todos los daños al estado de California está entre 250 a 275 mil millones de dólares. En

propensas a incendios forestales citando las pérdidas crecientes. Algunas casas en Malibú tuvieron la satisfacción de evitar el fuego. David Steiner es dueño de una casa en Malibú que escapó de un incendio de serias consecuencias. Su casa de tres pisos no tuvo ningún tipo de daño, a pesar de que varias casas a su alrededor sí se quemaron. “Yo digo que es buena arquitectura, bomberos valientes, y quizás un poco de milagro”, David Steiner le cuenta a The New York Post.

“Los recursos de Los Ángeles para ayudar a los vulnerables están muy bajos. Ya hay una crisis de casas y con tantas más personas sin casas ahora”. Dijo Emily Handkeith, habitante de Los Ángeles, California. Con varias casas y negocios que se quemaron, los habitantes de esta ciudad buscan la manera de ponerse de pie nuevamente, usando cualquier ayuda disponible del estado.

Asimismo, a lo largo de la autopista de la costa del Pacífico entre Malibú y Santa Mónica, decenas de casas han sido destruidas por los

la devastación. El Templo de los Ángeles permaneció encendido como un faro de paz y esperanza y se evacuaron a más de 50 mil personas de la ciudad. Lamentablemente las rafagas de viento de la ciudad lograron que los incendios sigan propagándose a otras zonas y todo seguía empeorando.

Las decenas de miles de evacuados por los incendios de Los Ángeles fueron informados un jueves de que no podrían regresar a sus hogares hasta dentro al menos una semana debido al riesgo de descargas eléctricas, desprendimientos de tierra o exposición a materiales tóxicos.

Además, debido a esta situación, varios actores famosos de Hollywood han perdido sus hogares evaluados en alrededor de 8,4 millones de dólares. Varias personas se mudaron a estados cercanos o a sus países natales ya que donde vivían perdieron todas sus necesidades y eso les llevó a tomar decisiones radicales en busca de seguridad y estabilidad.

Al haber perdido sus hogares, empleos y pertenencias en los in-

forestales puede ser menor comparado con otros estados. Otros decidieron regresar a sus países de origen, donde contaban con mayor apoyo por parte de sus familiares y mayor garantía de vida. La pérdida de empleo afectó a las personas sin hogar ya que el costo de las herramientas para reconstruir las viviendas aumentó. Por otro lado, estos incendios no solo dejaron sin hogar a las personas sino también a los animales. Varios equipos de rescate se organizaron para crear diferentes tipos de estrategias de búsqueda de rescate de animales de granja y de fauna silvestre que se encontraban heridos tras el paso del incendio. No solo fueron horas, fueron días para poder apagar el incendio, hubo 11 días de llamas donde el fuego no solo afectó el medio ambiente, sino también afectó el ecosistema y la economía.

La organización de Los Angeles Equestrian Center comenzó a resguardar a grandes animales como parte de los esfuerzos de evacuación, también habilitó un refugio para recibir y atender a los animales que han sido víctimas de la región. Con el apoyo de diferentes organizaciones, trabajaron vigorosamente en diversos puntos de la ciudad para rescatar a los animales. Finalmente, se formó la primera gran tormenta en la zona en unos meses, la cual dejó fuertes lluvias que contribuyeron a apagar los históricos incendios en cuya contención han trabajado miles de equipos de socorro desplegados entre las llamas. Tras esas lluvias se levantó la orden de evacuación, porque los incendios ya no suponían una amenaza.

MICHELLE NEE

MARIA ESPINAL

¿Celebrar o protestar?

Latinoamérica: Las mujeres ya no lloran, las mujeres luchan

Por CAMILA CHI y NATE VIECHNICKI

Durante la primera semana de marzo se celebró el Día Internacional de la Mujer, que se celebra anualmente el 8 de marzo. Grupos de mujeres en varios países latinoamericanos organizaron protestas en las últimas semanas para luchar contra los femicidios y la desigualdad de género.

El Día Internacional de la Mujer fue celebrado por primera vez en 1911, después de que el Congreso Internacional Socialista dedicara el día el año anterior. Históricamente, este día ha servido como un día para conmemorar la resiliencia que las mujeres han tenido para enfrentar la adversidad y discriminación. Durante el siglo XXI, las mujeres han visto el desarrollo de movimientos cibernéticos, protestas en capi-

HEAVEN MESKELU

tolios, y reforma de políticas. Alrededor del mundo la desigualdad de género sigue existiendo en cualquier parte demográfica. Por eso, muchos tomaron el día como una oportunidad para hacer demostraciones y protestas contra la injusticia. Mujeres en todos los rincones de Latinoamérica comparten sus perspectivas acerca de lo que sus países natales desarrollaron durante este día.

México es uno de los países principales del movimiento femenista en Latinoamérica. Después de elegir a la primera presidenta mexicana, Claudia Sheinbaum, el año pasado, organizaciones como la Coalición de Mujeres Feministas Mexicanas (CMFM) organizaron protestas de más de 180,000 personas en la Ciudad de México. Las mujeres protestaron por las víctimas del femicidio, que actualmente se considera un crimen de odio en México.

Una femenista mexicana, Adriana Dunaev, compartió su experiencia con las protestas en la capital. Su perspectiva es que algunas de las acciones tomadas por los protestantes dañaron la imagen pública del movimiento femenista. “Había más que nada el odio hacia, por ejemplo, a las instituciones religiosas, hacia las iglesias católicas y el hecho de que hagan vandalismo”, dijo Dunaev. “Entran y destruyen y ofenden tanto a las instituciones católicas, a las cristianas

e incluso a los comercios”.

Por lo contrario, en Colombia, el Día Internacional de la Mujer se considera menos como un día para abogar al gobierno, y más para agradecer a las mujeres por lo que hacen. Según la Directora de recursos humanos colombiana Sandra Campos, el enfoque de ese día es más parecido al día de la madre que a alguna protesta. “Es algo bien interesante, porque en Colombia, en el Día Internacional de la Mujer tú ves a los hombres celebrando a las mujeres, llegando con flores, regalos, chocolates en Colombia”, compartió Campos. “[Es] diferente que aquí en los Estados Unidos”.

Un movimiento nacional femenista que ganó la atención de la comunidad internacional por las protestas que ocurrieron fue Argentina. El presidente Javier Milei, quien ganó la presidencia a finales de 2023, anunció su intención de remover el crimen de femicidio del código legal argentino en enero de este año. Feministas argentinas marcharon en las calles para abogar contra la eliminación de este crimen. Según Al-Jazeera, ocurrieron 295 femicidios en Argentina el año pasado, y más de 120 protestantes argentinas fueron encarceladas.

Igual que otros países, Puerto Rico tomó el 8 de marzo como un día para mantenerse firme en apoyar movimientos feministas.

Una organización reconocida por sus trabajos y proyectos contra la injusticia en Puerto Rico se llama la Coalición 8 de Marzo (C8M). Este grupo trabaja mayormente para abogar por los derechos de las mujeres migrantes que emigran a los Estados Unidos y otros países. La terapeuta puertorriqueña Marie Malavé explica que [ella es] “de las que piensa que, como Martin Luther King, que las protestas pacíficas [son] mucho mejores que hacer protestas violentas. Pero también entiendo que dependiendo de la situación en que cada persona esté o en los países en donde estén protestando quizás no sea el estado de ánimo que tengan las personas cuando están en esa situaciones de protestas y armándolos”.

La señora Malavé cuenta que no estaba muy bien informada sobre las demostraciones que ocurrieron en el día internacional de la mujer, pero afirma que en años pasados “había notas en la programación de televisión o en periódicos, cosas así, pues, hacían mención de, pues, las muchas cosas que las mujeres hacemos en la sociedad y en la familia”. Alrededor del mundo hispano, el Día Internacional de la Mujer se ha celebrado en varias maneras. Desde flores y regalos en Colombia, hasta incluso protestas violentas en México, este día es un símbolo importante de la diversidad de las mujeres latinoamericanas y la lucha por sus derechos.

Preocupación entre inmigrantes de la comunidad

Inmigrantes temen a las deportaciones

Por JUAN DANIEL

QUIÑONES MONDACA y EMANUEL MORALES

Estrenamos el año y se auspicia un aumento en las deportaciones y violaciones de derechos humanos en medio de la segunda presidencia de Donald Trump.

Una fuente anónima se siente impotente frente a la actual realidad que lo rodea, “si deportaran a algún familiar mío ahora mismo, no podría hacer nada ya que no tenemos cómo defendernos”. Este comentario está cargado de tristeza frente a las nuevas rígidas políticas contra la inmigración en Estados Unidos. Estos temores incluyen ser deportados sin que consigan una defensa, que se les niegue el derecho de ir ante un juez y el nuevo miedo de ser deportados a un país desconocido.

Explica la señora Guerrido, profesora de Desarrollo de la lengua inglesa (ELD por sus siglas en inglés) de Blair, que “la política de Donald Trump [está] influenciada por un grupo de personas que crearon una política que se llama Project 2025. Y esa política ha influido en todos los cambios que están apareciendo ahora con la inmigración”.

Otra fuente anónima, un inmigrante salvadoreño, describe la odisea que representa el viaje a los Estados Unidos para muchas personas, “al salir de la casa para iniciar el viaje, uno siempre tiene en la cabeza a la familia, para tener más oportunidades y sacarlos adelante, pero algo para lo que uno nunca está listo es para darle cara al miedo, al miedo que provoca quedarse solo en el desierto, que los guías que te llevan por la frontera no te dejen tirado, o que las patrullas

fronterizas te encuentren”.

Desde El Salvador hasta los Estados Unidos el viaje por carretera involucra 3,418 millas y muchas veces este recorrido se hace a pie y con recursos escasos. Aun habiendo logrado llegar a los EEUU, no puede estar tranquilo aquí, debido a las nuevas políticas del gobierno estadounidense. “Pues esto realmente me agarró por sorpresa, no pensé que Trump ganara las elecciones ya que después de su candidatura pasada pensé que los inmigrantes ayudaríamos más a Kamala Harris”, explica otra fuente anónima. “Ahora mismo no podemos hacer nada más que unirnos y salir a protestar, pues si intentara hacer algo yo solo, me buscarán y me deportarán, ya que ni la escuela es segura”.

Según las noticias de PBS, con los nuevos cambios en inmigracion la policía ahora podría arrestar indocumentados en lugares que anteriormente estaban protegidos, como iglesias o escuelas, sitios que estaban cubiertos por ciertas protecciones legales que ahora, con la promesa de deportaciones en masa, podrían derogarse, así justificando el sentimiento de algunos migrantes que ahora se encuentran en riesgo de deportación. Como explica Guerrido, “que [ahora] está permitido tanto en hospitales, escuelas e iglesias tienen el permiso, la migra, de agarrar e interceptar migrantes”.

Muchos

NOTICAS BREVAS

Compilado por JASON YOUM

Nuevas tarifas

Desde que la administración de Trump llegó a la Casa Blanca en enero, el gobierno de los Estados Unidos ha declarado tarifas estrictas en una variedad de importaciones. Las importaciones de plantas, alcohol y repuestos, entre otros bienes que se originan de Norteamérica y la Unión Europea, han recibido impuestos masivos, algunos de los cuales superan el 200%. Uno de los países más afectados es Canadá, que fue golpeado con tarifas recientes en el acero y aluminio a 25%. De hecho, Trump amenazó con aumentar las tarifas al 50% en respuesta de las contra tarifas de Canadá, que impartió un recargo de 25% a las importaciones de electricidad a los Estados Unidos. Sin embargo, algunas relaciones comerciales están mejorando lentamente. El 6 de marzo, Trump emitió exenciones a los aranceles para una variedad de productos que ingresan a Estados Unidos desde México y Canadá. Se espera que esta guerra arancelaria continúe, lo que podría aumentar las tensiones entre países que tradicionalmente han sido aliados de Estados Unidos.

Inglés declarado como idioma oficial de los EE.UU.

también tienen falta de conocimiento respecto a los cambios en las políticas de inmigracion, por ejemplo hacia donde enviarán a los deportados que no puedan regresar a su nación, cómo legalizar sus papeles, cómo funcionan los procesos burocráticos o cómo son los procedimientos frente a las autoridades de inmigración.

Mucha gente desconoce cómo legalizar su estadía en el país. Algunos desconocen sus derechos o cómo actuar en ciertas situaciones. Aunque en la actualidad la información se puede encontrar inclusive en la palma de la mano, la cantidad de noticias falsas y desinformación es más abundante que nunca. Además, adquirir asistencia legal puede ser costoso e implica la necesidad de tener tiempo disponible, lo cual no siempre es factible.

El presidente electo ha amenazado a nuestras comunidades prometiendo “deportaciones masivas” de inmigrantes. Un método que la nueva administración podría utilizar es una expansión del programa de “expulsión rápida” (expedited removal en inglés), combinada con redadas en vecindarios y lugares de trabajo. Al utilizar la expulsión rápida, un oficial de inmigración puede deportar rápidamente a personas sin el debido proceso si el gobierno establece que entraron a los Estados Unidos sin documentos de inmigración y han estado en el país por menos de dos años. Las per-

sonas deportadas bajo expulsión rápida pueden ser detenidas y deportadas sin aparecer en frente de un juez.

Diferentes voces expresan una suma tristeza frente a las deportaciones masivas porque muchos son trabajadores que buscan sueños y metas que se ven rotos al ser deportados. Las nuevas leyes afectan a una gran parte de la población migrante en el país. Muchas personas temen salir a las calles. Como explica una fuente anónima, “afectaron todo porque los trabajos, algunas personas no van. Tienen miedo de salir de las casas”.

Continúa expresando que cuando ganó Trump se sintió aterrorizado porque iba a deportar a todos los inmigrantes indocumentados, empezando por los que continúan en el proceso de legalizar su estadía en el país. Explica que, para venir, tuvo que pagar más de 10,000 dólares y que extraña su país, su cultura, amigos y familiares. Quisiera que el Estados Unidos contara con menos delincuencia y con menos racismo. Sin embargo, la comunidad inmigrante se mantiene firme frente a la situación actual, juntos y determinados no solo para no ser deportados sino para demostrar que todos, no importa de donde vengan, son seres humanos. Como explica la profesora Guerrido, “[existen] derechos básicos que todo el mundo, no solamente las personas que son inmigrantes, sino que todo el mundo tiene¨. En las palabras de la fuente anónima, “Entiendo que todos deseamos que el nivel del crimen baje pero nosotros no somos ladrones, somos estudiantes, profesionales, amigos y familiares buscando encontrar la oportunidad para encajar”.

El primero de marzo, el presidente Trump emitió un decreto ejecutivo para declarar el inglés como el idioma oficial de los Estados Unidos. Esta designación es la primera en la historia de los Estados Unidos. “Un idioma designado a nivel nacional es el núcleo de una sociedad unificada y cohesiva, y los Estados Unidos se fortalecen con una ciudadanía que puede intercambiar libremente ideas en un idioma compartido”, dice la orden. Sin embargo, Estados Unidos continúa expandiendo su población inmigrante, muchos de los cuales no hablan inglés como primer idioma. Según el censo de los Estados Unidos en 2022, más de 10% de las personas que viven en los EE.UU. habla ahora un idioma distinto del inglés, un aumento significativo desde 3% hace medio siglo. Por lo tanto, mucha gente se ha opuesto a este decreto, citando que la primera enmienda de la Constitución no limita la libertad de expresión a solo un idioma.

La ceremonia de los Premios de la Academia, coloquialmente conocidos como los Oscars, fue celebrada por la 97a vez el 2 de marzo. El cineasta estadounidense Sean Baker sonrió brillantemente en el escenario cuando su película, Anora, ganó el primer premio cinematográfico. La actríz principal de la película, Mikey Madison, fue nombrada mejor actriz. Además, el actor Adrien Brody ganó el premio de mejor actor para la película dramática El Brutalista y dio el discurso más largo en la historia de los Oscars. Una historia admirable es la de Zoe Saldaña, que ganó el premio a mejor actriz de reparto por su rendimiento en la película Emilia Pérez. Con lágrimas rodando por su cara, Saldaña recordó los esfuerzos de los miembros de su familia que la apoyaron para ganar su premio. “Soy una orgullosa hija de padres inmigrantes... con sueños, dignidad y manos trabajadoras, y soy la primera estadounidense de origen dominicano en aceptar un Premio de la Academia, y sé que no seré la última”. Los Oscars

CASA Ayudando a Blair

Por KYARA ROMERO LIRA

Desde que el presidente Donald Trump anunció su campaña presidencial, la comunidad de la escuela secundaria Montgomery Blair ha estado intentando frenéticamente prepararse para lo que podría venir si Trump ganaba las elecciones. La mayoría de la gente en la comunidad estaba atemorizada, algunos preocupados por lo que podría pasar con la comunidad LGBTQ+ y sus derechos y otros preguntándose qué pasaría con TikTok. Lo que preocupó mucho a la comunidad hispana, no solo en Blair, sino en todo el país, fue qué le pasaría a la comunidad inmigrante.

Uno de los objetivos del primer mandato de Trump fue poner fin a los programas de la “era de Obama”, incluido el programa de “Acción Diferida

para los Llegados en la Infancia” (DACA) y Estado de Protección Temporal (TPS). Además, se enfocó en construir un muro a lo largo de la frontera con México, contratar a más agentes de ICE y de la Patrulla Fronteriza, crear un grupo de trabajo de deportación y aumentar los agentes y las estaciones fronterizas. Todo esto sacudió a las comunidades hispanas de los Estados Unidos durante los años del primer término de Trump. Durante la campaña de Trump en 2024, su objetivo era poner fin a la ciudadanía por derecho de nacimiento, organizar la mayor deportación masiva de la historia y revocar cuatro órdenes ejecutivas específicas de Biden relacionadas con la aplicación de la inmigración y los pedidos de asilo. Esto asustó inmensamente a la comuni-

dad inmigrante. Debido a todas estas amenazas, los maestros y profesores de la escuela secundaria Montgomery Blair entraron en acción para planificar el primer taller de “Conozca sus derechos”, presentado por CASA de Maryland. Este importante evento se llevó a cabo el sábado 14 de diciembre de 2024 en un aula de Blair. No solo los padres de la comunidad, sino también muchos estudiantes interesados en aprender sobre los derechos que tienen, no solo ellos, sino todos los inmigrantes indocumentados.

Todas las personas que asistieron a este evento lo consideraron extremadamente útil, ya que les informó y les otorgó el conocimiento de qué hacer en caso de una redada de ICE.

Anival, un miembro de la comunidad hispana en el condado de Montgomery, comparte que ha aprendido “que en cualquier momento en

El deporte florece

Emoción al aire libre en Blair

Por MANOOYEE FEDHAA y TOM SPARSHOTT

Con la llegada de la primavera, la nueva temporada de deportes comienza. Para los estudiantes del grado doce, esta será su última temporada jugando para Montgomery Blair. Después de muchos años de entrenamiento, competencias y relaciones de equipo, ahora estos atletas se están preparando para su futuro y sus metas antes de graduarse. Más que un simple juego, esta temporada es una oportunidad para liderar, disfrutar cada momento y dejar un buen recuerdo para sus compañeros más jóvenes. El inicio de la última temporada trae mucha emoción y determinación entre los atletas, quienes buscan cerrar el año con muchos logros y memorias inolvidables. Eric Stewart empezó lacrosse desde noveno grado cuando escuchó que sus amigos estaban interesados en jugar. Descubrió que era un de-

porte divertido y continuó jugando todos los años de escuela secundaria.

“Estoy emocionado por esta temporada con chicos que conocí hace cuatro años”, explicó Stewart, “tenemos un buen equipo, buen entrenador, y sí, ¡fue muy divertido!”

Para algunos, la temporada también trae grandes metas personales y el deseo de dejar una huella en la historia de la escuela.

“Mis metas son obtener un buen lugar en la competencia estatal en los 800 metros, para conseguir un récord personal y quiero establecer un récord escolar en los 800 metros, ¡que es de 21:62!” dijo Berfalk.

Emma Bergfalk es una atleta que compite en tres deportes, corriendo el campo a través, atletismo de pista cubierta y atletismo al aire libre. Empezó a correr en noveno grado con su amiga para participar más en Blair y cuatro años más tarde está encaminada a participar en atletismo en la Universidad de Col-

el que me detuvieran [puedo] tener el derecho de permanecer en silencio y no responder a ninguna pregunta que me hagan”. También le pareció tranquilizador que haya personas en la comunidad que estén aquí para ayudar y apoyar a la comunidad inmigrante. Anival afirma que no ha estado especialmente asustado con Trump. Sin embargo, Michael Burnell, profesor de Historia del Mundo de Blair, comparte su miedo a las incursiones inconstitucionales de Trump y la “idea de ir a escuelas, iglesias y lugares públicos donde se ofrecen servicios civiles y si la policía va a defender a estos individuos o si van a dejar que ICE continúe con sus redadas”. Aunque en el condado de Montgomery estos lugares se consideran una “zona sensible” donde los arrestos, entrevistas, registros y actividades de vigilancia normalmente no ocurren, esto no puede evitar completamente que los agentes de ICE ejecuten sus tareas. La política 10029.2, descrita como “las acciones de aplicación en o se centran en lugares sensibles”, establece que “esta política está diseñada para garantizar que estas acciones de aplicación no ocurran ni se centren en lugares sensibles como escuelas e iglesias, a menos que (a) existan circunstancias urgentes, (b) otras acciones de aplicación de la ley hayan llevado a los oficiales a un lugar sensible como se describe en la sección “Excepciones a la regla general” de este memorando de política, o (c)

se obtenga la aprobación previa”. Esta política fue otra de las preocupaciones de las escuelas públicas de los condados de Montgomery sobre los oficiales de ICE, que podrían intentar detener a los estudiantes.

Heidi Anderson, la presidenta de la Asociación de padres y maestros (PTSA) de Blair, comparte su preocupación y cómo, aunque este evento fue útil, la hizo sentir más preocupada que antes. “Como mujer blanca privilegiada, definitivamente soy ingenua y estoy aislada y tengo que educarme más y, por lo tanto, siento que ciertas poblaciones tienen que vivir con miedo todo el tiempo y estoy más preocupada después de hoy”. Aunque la Sra. Anderson no habla muy bien español, podía notar que la gente estaba muy comprometida y tratando de aprender las cosas que necesitaban saber en caso de que algo sucediera.

Tamara Castro Márquez, una abogada de CASA que ha hecho talleres para que los inmigrantes conozcan sus derechos, explica que “estamos mejor protegidos cuando estamos mejor educados y conocemos nuestros derechos. Creo que cuanta más gente pueda difundir la verdad en lugar de rumores con miedo, creo que es bueno porque empodera a las personas para que sean parte de su comunidad y compartan esa buena información para ayudar a protegerse unos a otros”.

gate el próximo año. Su arduo trabajo durante los últimos años le dio la habilidad para continuar practicando este deporte después de la escuela secundaria. Pero no todos los atletas quieren seguir esta ruta.

Después de la escuela secundaria, algunos estudiantes eligen la participación en deportes organizados en sus universidades. Pero los deportes universitarios usualmente toman mucho tiempo de entrenamiento y competición. Además, los equipos universitarios usualmente juegan a un nivel más alto y difícil que los de escuelas secundarias, por lo que puede ser más difícil entrar en un equipo universitario. Por eso, de acuerdo con estadísticas de la Federación Nacional de Asociaciones Estatales de Escuelas Secundarias y la Asociación Nacional de Atletismo Colegial, solamente el seis por ciento de jugadores de deportes en la escuela secundaria juegan en la universidad.

Sarah O’Connor ha sido una jugadora de sofbol desde tercer grado y ha jugado para el equipo de varsity en Blair por los últimos cuatro años. Aunque ha sido una jugadora por varios años, no tiene planes de continuar en la universidad.

“No quería jugarlo porque estás haciendo ejercicio cada día, es como seis o siete días cada semana en la universidad”, explica O’Connor, “Quiero enfocarme en la universidad porque eso ya es un gran cambio”.

Aunque la participación en deportes universitarios presenta dificultades, hay atletas que sí quieren continuar su carrera atlética en la universidad.

“Nunca pensé que iba a disfrutar tanto del atletismo,” dice Emma Bergfalk, “pero ahora quiero con-

tinuar y mejorar porque ha sido un gran parte de mi vida y quiero ver cuán lejos puedo llegar”.

Los deportes no solo se tratan de ganar, sino también de aprender a trabajar en equipo y enfocarse en el crecimiento personal. Las lecciones aprendidas durante los deportes se pueden usar el resto de la vida.

De acuerdo con un artículo en la Federación Nacional de Asociaciones Estatales de Escuelas Secundarias por el Dr. Steve Amaro, la participación en deportes ayuda en el desarrollo de empatía y crea un sentido de afecto entre los miembros del equipo. Además, fomenta una mentalidad de compasión por sus compañeros.

Durante los últimos dos años, Anthony Salvado fue parte del voleibol mixto. Primero, empezó para competir con su hermano y ser mejor que él pero continuó porque era divertido y por las lecciones que aprendió.

“La comunicación es muy importante. Si no, nada puede pasar. Esto puede ayudar en todas partes”, explica Salvado. Las habilidades que obtuvo du-

rante su participación con el equipo van a continuar ayudándolo en el futuro. También es así para Yanet Dessale, que jugó en el equipo de tenis de Blair todos los años de la escuela, jugando un total de 12 años. Ahora, ella es una de las capitanas y usa su experiencia para ayudar a su equipo. “El tenis requiere una cabeza equilibrada”, dijo Dessale, “necesitas mantener la calma aunque no estés demostrando tus mejores habilidades en el juego todo el tiempo, es necesario para asegurarse que el equipo está haciéndolo bien”.

Mientras la temporada de primavera avanza, estos atletas disfrutan cada momento con sus compañeros y buscan terminar el año con éxito. Ya sea que se trate de una despedida o el comienzo de un nuevo camino en su deporte, las experiencias y amistades que han formado van a seguir con ellos. Las próximas semanas serán un momento clave para que los atletas de doceavo grado dejen su huella en Blair, aprovechen cada partido y cierren esta etapa de la mejor manera: jugando con pasión y disfrutando del juego.

MARIA ESPINAL

Las flores

HORIZONTAL

3. una planta con flores brillantes que florece en la superficie de lagos y estanques 5. flor morada pequeña con flores y hojas comestibles; también el nombre de un color 6. usada muy frecuentemente en las bodas, esta flor es muy intrincada 8. la luz natural que las flores deben recibir para crecer

12. una flor muy bulbosa conocida por sus flores vibrantes en rojo, naranja, rosa, amarillo y otros colores

13. una flor amarilla y acampanada que nace de un bulbo y sale a comienzos de la primavera

14. la fragancia de esta flor pequeña y de color morado pastel se utiliza para perfumar jabones y perfumes 15. una flor, típicamente de color rosada, con pétalos delicados con flecos y fragancia; a menudo utilizada como ramillete 16. las plantas crecen lo mejor en este tipo de ambiente; el opuesto de artificial 18. la parte que da origen a una nueva flor; también fácilmente transportado por el viento 19. esta flor es la más popular; también el nombre de un color

LA ESQUINA LATINA

EDITORES-EN-JEFE

Kyara Romero Lira

Jason Youm

ESCRITORES

Camila Chi

Manooyee Fedhaa

Emmy Nicole Henriquez

Cindis Hernandez

Jonatan Loayes

Emanuel Morales

Ricardo Vigil

Selvin Vail

Juan Daniel Quiñones

Sheily Raymundo

Jassary Ruiz

Tom Sparshott

Priya Tapia-Pereira

Nate Viechnicki

EDITORES DE ARTE

Maria Espinal

Kim Solis

ARTISTAS

Sophia Benitez

Manooyee Fedhaa

Cindis Hernández

Angela Martinez-Gonzalez

Michelle Nee

Jose Ramos

ASESORA

Maria Eugenia Tanos

VERTICAL

1. el elemento colorido y decorativo de una flor

2. el proceso científico cuando una planta convierte el dióxido de carbono y el agua para crear la glucosa y el oxígeno

4. la parte subterránea de una planta

7. esta flor es la flor nacional de Colombia y Costa Rica

9. la gente deshoja esta flor diciendo “me quiere, no me quiere”

10. esta flor gira alrededor del sol

11. la sustancia polvorienta producida por plantas y árboles con flores; también es una causa de muchas alergias

17. la estructura alargada que sostiene hojas, flores y frutos en una flor

¡Para ver las respuestas, escanee el código QR aquí!

100 YEARS OF BLAIR

ery Blair was a politician and lawyer, representing Dred Scott in his famous 1857 Supreme Court case. He was also a close confidant of Abraham Lincoln, serving as his Postmaster General.

history race at blair and program diversity

Montgomery Blair High School was not always named Montgomery Blair High School. It began as Takoma Park-Silver Spring High School in 1925, accommodating 86 senior high school (grade 10-12) students on a 3.8-acre campus at the intersection of Philadelphia and Chicago avenues. The school was built to provide public education to the rapidly growing D.C. suburbs in the Silver Spring area. By 1934, Blair’s enrollment surpassed 450 students, which prompted the construction of a new facility.

The school made its first move in March of 1935, officially opening its doors on a 23.5-acre campus at Wayne Avenue and Dale Drive in Silver Spring. The project was originally named Eastern Suburban High School, but the school board eventually settled on Montgomery Blair— named after the son of Silver Spring’s founder. Montgom-

The 1935 relocation marked a significant expansion in Blair’s history, but the changes didn’t stop there. Blair quickly grew in size, with new wings and additions constructed in 1940 and 1942 along with two gymnasiums in 1936 and 1954. In 1969, the Elizabeth Stickley Auditorium opened, honoring a long-time teacher and librarian, and in 1973 an automotive shop was added to teach students technical skills. The school even featured a shooting range in the basement of one of the buildings where the Blair rifle team would practice.

By the 1990s, the student body was growing beyond the capacity of the Wayne Avenue campus, which was also falling into disrepair. Water leaks and asbestos plagued the building, while the temporary closing of Northwood and the introduction of magnet programs injected hundreds into the student body. Enrollment crossed the 2,000 pupil capacity of the campus, and portables were needed to keep up with the demand.

In 1992, to solve this problem, MCPS and the Board of Education decided to construct a new school on a 42-acre site where Blair still sits today. Located at the intersection of University Boulevard, Colesville Road, and the Beltway, the new site was then known as the Kay Tract. Built to accommodate 2,830 students, the new facility cost $52 million and took four years to build, opening in 1998. At the school’s dedication in September of that year, student guides led Blair area residents around the new building, showing off Blair Boulevard’s clock tower, the new media center and auditorium, and the novel TV studio. Principal Phillip Gainous was overcome with emotion at the sight of the campus, tearing up and forgoing his prepared speech.

Today, the Wayne Avenue campus is home to Silver Spring International Middle School and Blair is home to the largest student body of any high school in Maryland with over 3,200 students.

When first established in 1925 as Takoma-Silver Spring School, Blair was an all-white school. At the time, many schools in the area were segregated under the “separate but equal” doctrine of Plessy v. Ferguson. The school even hosted minstrel shows—racist comedy shows featuring performers in blackface. Silver Chips wrote in November, 1938, “The Minstrels are coming!! Dramatic Club President William Groff stated early today that the first of what is hoped will be an annual affair, an all Blair Minstrel Show, is on its way.”

But the school’s legal status changed with the Brown v. Board decision in 1954. Suddenly, every school in the nation was made to integrate, Blair included. With 25 Black students enrolling in 1955, Blair was one of the first to desegregate. The process drew the ire of many white students and their families. Many of those families moved away from the Blair area toward the suburbs out of their fear of what integration would bring. “You saw a very stark case of white flight in the entire community,” Rahman Culver, former Blair assistant school administrator and graduate, says.

As the school’s population declined, its minority enrollment percentage increased, growing to around 10 percent by 1971. Blair garnered a negative reputation, seen as dangerous and offering a poor education, to the point where some schools refused to play sports against Blair. “There were schools that wouldn’t play us at night,” Platky, who was on Blair’s basketball team, says. “There were schools that were afraid of Blair. I think that was largely racially motivated.,”

In response to national calls for support during World War II, Blair established its own Victory Corps, becoming one of the first public schools to do so. This organization grouped students into a battalion with platoons, squads, and companies along with a curriculum that called for an hour per day dedicated to military drills, calisthenics, and various military strategy courses. Beyond academics, students participated in community service, working in factories, stores, and restaurants, and even assisted as school janitors at Blair. With numerous students and faculty members being drafted daily, Blair turned to creative solutions to maintain educational standards. Students from the University of Maryland stepped in to teach classes and, in some instances, Blair seniors assumed teaching roles for underclassmen. Additionally, the school faced the somber reality of loss, with 23 reported Blair student casualties during the war. Blair Alumni Association President Mark Levin recalls ways in which these casualties were honored. “In 1998, they opened up this part of the library [on the SSI campus] only opened to seniors, called the Senior Corner, where they put up all these plaques with the names of Blair students who had died in action,” Levin explains. “Several of those seniors and even juniors who dropped out of Blair and joined the military, went after Pearl Harbor, and never came back.”

The conclusion of World War II marked a period of growth for Blair. The surrounding suburbs experienced significant population increases, with school enrollment rising from 714 in 1946 to 1,323 by 1951. This surge led to the conversation around campus expansions, and represented the school’s evolving role within the community.

Racial tension was not limited to the outside community, with pressure growing within Blair. A so-called “Black Christmas” play exposed simmering racial tension in 1970, with several incidents sparking outrage on all sides. The situation even escalated to violence at times. “There were fights and cops walking around the hallways,” Platky says. Blair’s minority enrollment percentage grew to 58 percent in 1982, butting up against the Board of Education’s recommendations. In the Washington Post, Eugene L. Meyer wrote at the time, “Blair advocates see this as ‘a slow death’ making the school a vulnerable target for closure in coming years, as the minority percentage exceeds the ‘acceptable’ level of 60 percent set by the board.” County officials suggested rezoning the school or even closing it altogether, but after pushback from students and staff, a new plan was adopted: Magnet programs to draw in gifted students, who were more likely to be white, from all over the county.

The Science, Mathematics, and Computer Science Magnet Program came in 1985 and the Communications Arts Program followed in 1988. They were considered successful, helping rehabilitate Blair’s image in the white community, and improve its enrollment. But the programs were flawed. Since they were designed to attract white students, they offered fewer opportunities to minority students. “Even to this day, if you look at those programs, yes, they are overwhelmingly [non-minority],” Culver says. The STEM magnet had 6.6 percent and 5.5 percent Black and Hispanic enrollment, respectively, in the 2020-21 school year.

Today, even as Blair is one of the most diverse schools in Maryland, with 77.61 percent minority enrollment, it still grapples with issues surrounding race and ethnicity, especially within the magnet programs. The solutions to today’s racial issues are not as obvious as abolishing segregation or stopping fights; they are systemic and the path forward is hardly established.

The Vietnam War left its mark on Blair students in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Robert Platky, a member of the Class of 1973, remembers that the impact of the war was felt acutely in the halls of Blair. “For a while there, you could be drafted to go to Vietnam but you weren’t old enough to vote or buy a beer,” Platky recalls.

The war fueled political engagement among students, with Blair’s halls buzzing with discussions of the war’s morality and implications. “We were concerned about the whole notion of why our guys were being sent to Vietnam in the first place,” Platky says. “We were questioning authority, questioning the system.”

For Platky and many students, the war was deeply personal. “One of my neighbors was killed in Vietnam. He was several years older. So there was a lot going on as we were hitting our time in high school,” Platky explains.

Some students even turned to forged draft cards. In 1967, Silver Chips reported that, “The Federal Bureau of Investigation is currently probing the illegal sale and possession of forged draft cards by Blairites. Begun three weeks ago, the case involves ‘about 20 students,’ according to Principal Dr. Williams F. Brennan.” Despite these attempts, students were still drafted.

One of Blair’s most distinguished alumni, Lieutenant Thomas Norris, serves as a testament to the sacrifices and heroism that defined the Vietnam War era. Norris, a former Navy SEAL, earned the Medal of Honor in 1976 for his rescue of two downed Navy pilots in North Vietnam.

“I just know Blair students connect so much with his story. I knew him personally, and I can say, ‘I know that hero,’” Levin says. At Blair, Norris’ achievements are remembered in a prominent display in Alumni Hall. “He has such a legacy there. He showed us what real courage looked like,” Levin says.

As the country entered the 21st century, another defining moment in U.S. history shook the nation and Blair—the 9/11 attacks. Montgomery County Councilmember Kristin Mink, who graduated from Blair in 2003, vividly remembers the impact 9/11 had on her generation, especially how it led to a more globally aware student body. “Students at Blair and even other schools across the county were way more politically aware and ready to take on issues that were maybe previously a little hard to talk about or even understand as high schoolers,” Mink says. “9/11 was a wake-up call for many of us.” In the immediate aftermath of the attacks, Blair students along with the rest of the country experienced a surge of patriotism and fear, and the rhetoric around the War on Terror shifted national discourse. “It was a challenging time for many of us as we tried to wrap our heads around the implications of the war and our place in it,” Mink

NOVEMBER 4, 1938 Blair’s Dramatic Club plans a large minstrel show.

STORY BY neha narayan

(capt.),

(capt.),

FEATURES

March 24, 2025

Students route north for values, south for financial freedom

from COLLEGE page A1

concerned that the Eastern and Western Seaboards where they would probably get jobs, that are interested in diversity, equity, and inclusion, won’t consider their college degree worthy.”

Everything that’s been happening recently has been motivating me to get away.

Conversely, Riekse sees a similar number of students who specifically choose Southern universities for economic reasons, mainly those who plan to major in business and related fields. “I would say my students from the Northeast who route south are looking for financial freedom,” she says. “They’re thinking about their future economic land-

scape as being more positive than it would be if they stayed on the Eastern Seaboard.”

Students also cite school spirit and a lively sports culture as their reason for going south. Within each graduating class at Blair, around 50 percent of students who apply to four-year colleges apply in Southern states, and around 20 percent apply only in the South, according to Delos Reyes.

Blair senior Liya Mehari, who committed to Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, focused more on the atmosphere of the city and the campus than the overall conservative climate of the state when making her decision. “I think being in a big city sort of makes up for being in the South,” Mehari wrote to Silver Chips. “I figured that since I’ll be spending most of my time on Vanderbilt’s campus, I’d still get a mix of perspectives and ideas being with other students from around the world.”

Seeking new experiences and lower tuition, a growing number

of American students are choosing to go to college abroad every year. According to Delos Reyes, of the over 500 Blair seniors who have applied to college this year, around 100 applied to international universities. For many students who were already thinking of going abroad, discontent with the Trump administration pushed them further on this path. “There’s a lot going on in the U.S. right now,” Blair senior May Carroll, who plans to go to McGill University in Montreal, Canada, says. “Everything that’s been happening recently has been motivating me to get away.”

Blair senior Brooklyn Brunson always wanted to go to the University of Toronto in Canada, but after the 2024 election, political climate became a more relevant factor in her decision to leave the country for college. “I just don’t think that the president [and] the way he runs things aligns with my values,” she says. “I believe that even though there are worries about the political situation in Canada, I think they’re

Keeping the streets safe

go

college pamphlets.

in a better spot than the U.S. is.”

For those who do attend schools far from home, where the political climate contrasts with their personal beliefs, feeling a sense of belonging can be a daunting task. “It’s the unusual student who emotionally

How the safety patrol program builds future leaders

By SENAYA ASFAW and KEELIN PEGG

Fifth grader Lily Seifu has a job to do. As a safety patrol captain at Pine Crest Elementary School, Seifu works to uphold school values and ensure that her fellow students are respectful, responsible, and safe. “I pledge to do everything in my power to make sure the children are safe because I like my job. That’s my responsibility,” Seifu says.

But keeping her classmates in check can be difficult. Seifu has to adapt often. One of the biggest challenges she faces? Stopping kids from running. She recalls multiple occasions when kids ran, fell, and got hurt. “We just don’t want that to happen,” Seifu emphasizes.

“I’ve tried to lessen the possibilities of running happening. I’ll give fist bumps out. I’ll give shout-outs.”

Like Seifu, thousands of students across the country have shared similar experiences as safety patrols at their schools. The program was created in the 1920s by Charles M. Hender, former president of the Chicago Motor Club, who developed a safety patrol program after witnessing a speeding car fatally run over several children at a pedestrian crossing. His early iteration of the program, called the School Boys Patrol, was further developed by the American Automobile Association (AAA). By the 1930s, AAA coordinated with the National Congress of Parents and Teachers and the National Safety Council to establish standardized rules and guidelines and expand

the program nationwide.

Safety patrollers sport Sam Browne belts, which are belts with a supporting strap over the right shoulder, along with badges that signify a student’s rank. Though the belt’s color has undergone significant change over the last century, from white to neon orange to today’s fluorescent green, the role of safety patrols has remained the same.

In Montgomery County, safety patrol programs take place in elementary schools. The AAA sets the base regulations and roles to ensure patrollers are safely directing kids and not traffic. These include patrols working in bus lines, car lines, or flag posts, while also having leadership positions like captains and sergeants. Despite AAA guidelines, the majority of roles are subject

to change depending on specific school requirements.

For Pine Crest’s safety patrol adviser Jeanni Merril, one of the highlights of her job is telling students that they get to be part of the program. “Some of the kids, when I tell them that they’re going to be a patrol—I’m getting the chills just thinking about this—sometimes their response is, ‘I’ve been waiting my whole life to be a patrol,’” she says. “It’s just a really good opportunity for kids to shine.”

Safety patrols at Pine Crest have taken the program a step beyond AAA recommendations. A few hallway patrols set up a system to reward kids who walk and do the right thing. “This was all [our safety patrols’] idea,” Merrill says. “They were like, ‘We want to give them tickets. We want to give them stickers.’” Patrols also speak on the morning announcements to give shout-outs to the kids that do a good job. “It’s been great to see [our safety patrols] be problem solvers, take ownership of a situation, and not look to adults to solve the problem. They’re solving the problem on their own,” Merrill emphasizes.

Kolit Wakweya, a fifth grade safety patrol at Charles R. Drew Elementary School, feels similarly to Seifu about her duty. “It’s an important role because it prepares students who are patrols to get ready to take responsibility for things. It also keeps others safe, so the teachers don’t have to do everything all the time,” she explains.

Like Wakweya, many students experience their first responsibilities as safety patrols. Administrators and teachers rely on patrols to take action and advise their peers.

Students like Wakweya take their roles seriously, even practicing before their duties begin. “Two weeks before summer break starts, there’s a patrol that trains us. The older

can handle a substantial change in zip code,” Riekse says. “It’s an unusual person that is able to meld into a very, very different culture than their own and enjoy the experience.”

patrols train us, give us all the information, tell us where to go, and do everything. But then in the last week, the old patrols are not patrols anymore, and we’re the new patrols,” Wakweya says. “Over the summer, I practiced getting my belt on and putting on my badge.”

It’s opened up my eyes to wanting to be a leader in school situations or just outside of school.

The lessons learned from the program continue to impact the lives of these students well past elementary school. Blair junior Kendra Gray explains the lasting effect being a safety patrol had on her.

“It’s opened up my eyes to wanting to be a leader in school situations or just outside of school,” Gray expresses. “I learned a little bit of interview skills and how to put myself out there to get what I want and to advocate for myself.”

Skills taught within these programs set students up for success by supplying them with the skills needed to lead projects and future initiatives. Notable patrol alumni include Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton. As the program continues to evolve, one thing will never change: young leaders will continue to grow and thrive while making a big impact across their school and community.

“I hear from other staff members what a great job [our patrols are] doing and how positive they are and how seriously they take their role,” Merril says. “It’s a community effort in the building. Everybody values the safety patrols.”

COLLEGE AND CAREER CENTER Blair senior Elliot Kleiner, who is still undecided on where he will

his next four years, looks through

PHOTO BY DANEEL KUTSENKO

PHOTO BY KAYLEE HOPKINS

KENDRA GRAY

ON

Sankofa takes flight

By ADANNA AKAMIGBO and LILA GROSKO

“Man, this school sucks. They only give us Shakespeare, Chekhov, Arthur Miller—I’m tired of white men and their stories. Where are our stories told by us?” senior Khadija Sesay says in character as Tony Mitchell in Sankofa.

Sankofa is a show put on by Blair students every February to celebrate Black History Month. This year’s performance centered around the theme “Young, Gifted, and Black.” The script was written by Blair senior, director, and lead actor Darryl Wormley, and was converted into a musical by seniors

Amy Turkson and Hannah Germain. As usual, this year’s Sankofa performance included a diverse blend of music, dance, and spoken word poems. The goal of Sankofa is to highlight African history and talent at Blair. The show generally features a step performance (a synchronized dance developed by African-American fraternities and sororities where the body is used as an instrument), an African dance, and a hip-hop number along with student-selected and written songs and poems.

Sankofa is a Ghanaian word and symbol in Akan that means to “go back and get it.” To Blair junior and Sankofa dance director Siri

Laney, the show’s symbol carries significance. “There’s a bird on the Sankofa logo. That bird is always there because Sankofa represents going forward to look back, which means in order to go forward as Black people, we must look back at our history,” Laney says. “The show is all about honoring and upholding Black talent and standards.”

Performed at Blair since the 1990s, Sankofa offers a unique opportunity for talented Black student artists. “I see people who I don’t see in the usual theater space, and they’re killing it, and I’m wondering why they weren’t there before,” Wormley says. “It’s because they did not feel that they had a space where they could put themselves out there and they would be accepted.”

Sankofa is an entirely student-led production. “All the dances were choreographed [by students]; the script was written by students; the poetry was written and chosen by students. Everything was student-led,” sophomore Sankofa dancer Toftaa Fedhaa says. Students also make up the pit orchestra and stage crew. Laney believes this student leadership fosters enthusiasm among performers who get to share their own experiences and voices on stage. “It brings a level of student excitement and involvement from groups that are usually feeling like they don’t have an input in things like the performing arts,” Laney says. “We have so much Black talent at Blair, and so [Sankofa] being student-run really gives us a chance to tell our stories using our music, songs, and [the] stories that are really important to us.”

The timeline for putting Sankofa together is particularly challenging, as it is placed in between the fall play and spring musical at Blair. This year, scheduling posed a problem, as several poorly timed

snow days and other conflicts disrupted the rehearsal process. This made it difficult for the cast to stay on track. “We had to keep making up for rehearsals by doing an extra weekend rehearsal as well as later rehearsals,” senior and Sankofa lead Susae Shiferaw Uzman says.

“During that, we would spend a good while trying to just get everything organized and get everyone [there] on time. So it was a very chaotic process, but then once we got the ball rolling and we started rehearsing, everyone really locked in.”

“It brings a level of student excitement and involvement from groups that are usually feeling like they don’t have an input in things like the performing arts.

This year’s Sankofa performance continued to impress regular audience members. “I’ve come since freshman year … and every

year I come, everyone is more and more talented. They build on it every single year. It’s just so amazing,” Blair senior Chloe Ciabotti says. Blair junior Aracelli Ramirez recalls this year’s Sankofa as well-put-together and better than other years. “I really liked the show, and all the students’ acting and singing was really good. This is probably my favorite out of all three years I’ve seen it,” Ramirez says.

Sankofa performers wanted the audience to come away with a better understanding of the show’s significance as a Black History Month showcase. “[The audience] should leave the performance feeling like they have seen all the work that kids have put into giving them a show that is not only fiction, but that also represents how we feel in the real world,” Fedhaa says. “We’re young, gifted and Black, and we expressed that in the show.”

The annual Sankofa performance is a testament to the resilience of Black Americans throughout history. “Black history is American history,” Wormley says. “And when we all come together and we express it, we give [our history] the respect that it deserves.”

Here to stay MCPS, Blair will maintain Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts

By ELORA DERBYSHIRE and PRIYA TAPIA-PEREIRA

“There is a lot of toxic misinformation that tries to suggest that the aspirations [of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)] are somehow inherently hurtful,” former Blair Assistant School Administrator Rahman Culver says. “Yet we are not going to abandon these principles and these values. And we’re going to continue to try to create a space that not only is safe, but actually encourages and empowers people to help push these things forward.”

DEI entails three connected practices that are implemented in workplaces and schools to remove opportunity barriers for underserved communities. Respectively, DEI involves the representation of all communities and identities, the fair and impartial treatment of all people, and the creation of spaces where everyone is recognized and valued. DEI initiatives have long been a subject of political controversy, opposed by conservative politicians who claim that members of marginalized groups are given opportunities without merit.

Within the first two days of assuming office, the Trump administration issued three executive orders triggering the mass elimination of federal-level DEI policies and programs and placing federal DEI employees on leave with the intent of laying them off.

For federal employees working under the umbrella of DEI like Blair parent Lacy Alison, the

Trump administration’s executive order has had repercussions on how diversity, equity, and inclusion is integrated into the workspace. As a program officer for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Sea Grant Office, Alison does service-based work to connect people and communities, offering grants to colleges to provide resources such as maps and access to storm tracking tools.

In light of the Trump administration’s executive orders, Alison will have to alter key aspects of her job, such as reframing how she advertises the National Sea Grant to colleges to exclude DEI initiatives. The process of adjusting to the newfound demands of the Trump administration has been arduous for her. “The ridiculous amount of work it takes to go through everything and change the language and move things … It’s just a waste of time,” Alison says. “We’re scrubbing documents and changing our performance plans and changing how we talk about things … It’s a rough time for a lot of people.”

While DEI is being eliminated at the federal level, Anthony Alston, director of the MCPS Equity Department, affirms that the county’s support of marginalized student groups will not end anytime soon. “When we don’t address diversity, we’re in essence ignoring some of our student population— some of the very families that walk through our doors,” he says.

The push for DEI at Blair began four years ago, when Culver was

appointed as the first school-level diversity specialist in the county.

“[Former Principal Renay Johnson] wanted to do something at Blair where we were being more intentional and more strategic … when it comes to serving our underrepresented communities, when it comes to providing equitable access to opportunities inside the school building and within the broader school community … making sure that we don’t have any situations where students … are being targeted unfairly,” Culver says.

Blair is a really great place because it’s so diverse, and you can find people with so many different backgrounds.

In the role, Culver focused on structural changes like the all-in honors initiative and the addition of Analysis of Identity, Equity, and STEM as a course. He also worked with the Athletics Department to combat de facto segregation in Blair’s sports and helped teachers create more inclusive lesson plans.

This year, in accompaniment with Acting Principal Kevin Yates, Darya Smith serves as Blair’s DEI coordinator. Coming into the role, Smith surveyed students and staff for their input on inclusion work

within the school. In her time so far at Blair, Smith has created eventfilled calendars for each heritage month to amplify student awareness of various cultures and connect the student community. This March, she planned a Women’s History Month calendar of spirit days and activities during lunch to celebrate women’s accomplishments and uplift women at Blair. A team of student DEI ambassadors works alongside her, meeting each week to create promotional content for these events. “Blair is a really great place because it’s so diverse, and you can find people with so many different backgrounds,” DEI ambassador and freshman Penny Anderegg says. “DEI is a way to promote that and to appreciate the inclusivity of Blair.”

Despite DEI initiatives making schools potential targets for the loss of federal funding, Smith finds that some people are more willing to participate in inclusive teaching.

For Women’s History Month, Smith reached out to NASA, who willingly offered to send a panel of female scientists to speak at Blair for free. “I think the intention [of the federal government] was to take something away, and because people recognize that, they’ve been more open and willing to say, ‘Hey, I’m willing to donate my time or to donate my resources,’” Smith says. Smith anticipates continued advocacy for diversity, equity, and inclusion in the Blair community.

“It’s a school full of activism,” she says. “So I don’t see all of a sudden the DEI initiatives going away …

This school would push too hard against the grain for what is right for the students.”

YOUNG, GIFTED, AND BLACK Susae Shiferaw Uzman, Cheyenne Roark, and Darryl Wormley (left to right) perform an act onstage at Sankofa.

PHOTOS BY MAZ OLSON

STAGE SPOTLIGHT A group of students sing together in harmony during Sankofa.

PENNY ANDEREGG

SIRI LANEY

Service employees union advocates for MCPS bus drivers

By CASEY PENDERGAST and KIYA TIRUNEH

MCPS bus drivers collectively transport students more than 112,000 miles per day. Through stormy early mornings and blazing hot afternoons, many of the county’s bus drivers are on the road before sunrise to ensure MCPS students make it to school safely. However, drivers feel that their pay and benefits do not support them enough to accommodate the rising cost of living and difficult working conditions. Through the Service Employees International Union’s (SEIU) Local 500, these drivers remain tireless advocates for improvements to their quality of life as MCPS employees.

We strive to promote justice and equity by engaging in political action and remaining true to our core values and vision for a better future by uniting workers that serve diverse workplaces.

SEIU Local 500 represents non-educator employees in school districts across Maryland and Washington, D.C. The union specifically represents over 1,400 MCPS bus drivers, bus attendants, and bus route supervisors. According to Chris Cano, SEIU Local 500’s director of political and legislative affairs, the union aims to advocate for wages, benefits, and work environments for public service employees. “Our mission can be summed up in the words, ‘Mak-

C-SPAN StudentCam Grand Prize Winner

ing life work for working families,’” Cano writes in an email to Silver Chips. “We do this by advocating for workers and fighting for better conditions through collective bargaining and representation. We strive to promote justice and equity by engaging in political action and remaining true to our core values and vision for a better future by uniting workers that serve diverse workplaces.”

and enjoy their jobs, it is difficult to sustain that attitude with their current working conditions. “We love what we do. The job is extremely rewarding. However, it is impossible to maintain the cheerful disposition needed for the job in these conditions. We deserve better from MCPS,” Brown said in an interview with MyMCMedia.

Due to days off from school and

As a result of low compensation, the county is facing a bus driver shortage, negatively affecting students and families who rely on the bus for the commute to school.

MyMCMedia writes in their 2022 article, “Brown also said some routes that aren’t covered due to a shortage of drivers aren’t always listed on the MCPS transportation website. Therefore, families are not

One of the core issues that SEIU Local 500 focuses on tackling is fair compensation, specifically for school bus drivers. Since 2022, SEIU Local 500 has made public complaints about bus drivers’ working conditions and pay.

Kevin Brown, former executive vice president of SEIU Local 500, noted in 2022 that while bus drivers are passionate about their work

the many hours drivers have to wait between pickup and dismissal, bus drivers are often met with inconsistent wages. “Bus drivers face many of the same challenges as other MCPS support staff,” Cano writes. “However, ‘No work, no pay’ days such as certain holidays and breaks affect drivers, [and] the nature of drivers’ hours does not accumulate to 40-hour work weeks like other staff.”

warned and don’t have time to develop alternate transportation.”

To implement change, SEIU Local 500 navigates advocacy in a variety of manners. They not only negotiate with county governments, but also push their agenda through political figures. “Winning elections, pushing pro-worker legislation, and negotiating with county governments is an important way that SEIU Local 500 is making life

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work for working people across our region,” the organization says on its website.

In 2022, Senator James Rosapepe and seven other co-sponsors introduced SB421 to the Maryland Senate, intended to “evaluate, study, and identify issues relating to wages paid and benefits provided to certain bus drivers,” which would then be utilized by Maryland school districts to inform hiring processes and wages for transportation employees. Though the bill died in chamber, it gained the support of many advocates within SEIU Local 500 looking to lower vacancy rates in bus driver positions and increase pay. “There is a shortage of qualified bus drivers, and that is harming our kids’ ability to get to school as well as creating stress for our current bus drivers and bus route supervisors,” President of SEIU Local 500 Pia Morrison writes in her 2022 testimony to the Senate Finance Committee. “Our county and our state are in desperate need for more truck, school, and municipal bus and equipment drivers.”

Currently, Cano says, SEIU Local 500 is negotiating with MCPS to ensure drivers have an average of 55 hours of work for every two weeks. Drivers have continued to push for improvements to the consistency of their hours and pay, which MCPS has taken into account. Ultimately, SEIU Local 500 advocates for bus drivers by pushing for budgetary changes which will benefit them in MCPS’ yearly operating budget.

“SEIU Local 500 is like any other union in that we build on improving working conditions with each subsequent contract negotiated,” Cano writes. “Our next best step to support our drivers and other support staff is to advocate for full funding of the MCPS budget from the Montgomery County Council.”

Pendergast,

Dermott Foley Leah Negash

Casey

Emme Brown, Ari Joshi, Ryan Leventhal

CHRIS CANO

LUCIA WANG

From the Archives...

Read past Silver Chips stories that tie to the photos on D1/D2

Vol. LXIV, No. 1 |OCTOBER 11, 2001

After Sept 11, school in shock

Scared students place calls, wonder if loved ones are lost; days later, Blair attempts to heal

By ELIZABETH GREEN

About five minutes after 9:38 a.m. on Sept 11, students in room 312 gathered around the windows lining the wall of their classrooms. In Arlington, Virginia, a Boeing 757 had just crashed into one of the world’s largest buildings. At Blair, students looked outside and saw a dark cloud of smoke rising beyond the Beltway.

Montgomery Blair High School is 14 miles from the Pentagon and 219 miles from where the World Trade Center once stood. On Sept 11, televisions screens brought images of these American monuments into classrooms across the school, leaving the building drowned in quiet shock. “You can go through the halls, you usually hear noise, [but this time]—silence,” describes senior Brian Drewry.

The attack on America shut down school for over a day; it rendered a Blair senior fatherless; it left at least 113 MCPS students and staff mourning dead or missing parents, spouses, cousins or other relatives; and, by many accounts it changed the lives of students forever.

“I’m not a speechwriter”

Principal Phillip Gainous walked into the attendance office a few minutes before 9:20 that morning to talk to attendance secretary Roxanne Fus. Gainous had just been beckoned from his own office by his secretary, who told him that there was something on the television he had to see—the World Trade Center had been attacked. Now he was hurriedly preparing Blair for its response. First order of business: inform the school.

Gainous asked Fus, the voice of public address, to make a schoolwide announcement about the attack. Easier said than done, according to Fus. “I’m not a speechwriter,” she says. “It was very difficult for me to formulate the right words.” About ten minutes later, after the Pentagon was hit, Fus says she realized that keeping her composure for the next “please pardon” would prove less easy. “I knew we had students and staff and family worked at the Pentagon,” she says. “Chills ran up my spine.”

Close to Home

Junior Carlyn Vieira is one of the students whose close connection to the pentagon tragedy unnerved Fus. After Vieira heard Fus’ second announcement that Tuesday, she broke into tears and walked out of her third period class. Vieira remembers counting off the people she knew who might have been in the Pentagon as she roamed the halls: a man who lives down the street from her house, a woman with two young sons, her father. “Thinking about the specific people,” she says, “made me think about the masses that were dying.”

Even students without direct associations to the pentagon say their horror was magnified Tuesday when they learned of the attack on

the nearby building. Senior Brian Matheron, whose mother works in D.C., says that when he heard about the second attack, shock turned to fear. “I thought, ‘She’s pretty close to the Pentagon; she’s in D.C.’” he recalls.

Like many Blair students, Matheron’s anxiety convinced him to find an out-of-sight spot where he could use his cell phone to contact his mother. According to an informal Silver Chips poll of 100 students on the week of Sept 24, 28 percent of students tried to contact their parents from school on Sept 11. Despite school policy, 14 percent of students calling used cell phones. The other used pay phones or phones in the classrooms and offices. “The pay phones were jammed,” remembers senior Andrea Perdomo. So much so, she says, that by the end of the day “no one had 35 cents for anyone to borrow.”

Perdomo, whose father works as a foreman for a construction project near the Pentagon and whose mother teaches occasional computer classes at the building, used her red Nokia to try to reach family and friends. “Anybody who had any information on where anyone was, I tried calling,” she remembers. Perdomo says that after she pulled the phone out of her backpack in English class third period, it didn’t leave her side nearly all day. In fact, as a friend drove her home from school, Perdomo held two phones to her ears—one her own and the other the driver’s.

When Perdomo finally did make contact, it came without the help of any telephone line. Her mother drove up to her house about half an hour after Perdomo arrived. When she saw the familiar car pull up, Perdomo ran out of the house to her mother—yelling at her through tears for not coming home more quickly.

Senior Farrah Farley says lack of contact with the outside world left her in a similar state of disarray. Although Farley was able to contact her mother from her cell phone during school that Tuesday, she was not initially able to access any information about the attacks beyond that given in Fus’ announcements. Her third period teacher, she says, refused, despite students’ requests, to turn on the class television after the two loudspeaker reports. Sitting dumbstruck as the teacher continued with lessons as usual, Farley broke down and cried. “It was upsetting,” she says.

So she left and headed straight for the media center, where Gainous had directed sets to be tuned to news coverage of the attacks. When she came back to class about 45 minutes later, her thirst for information satiated, Farley reports that, to her astonishment, her teacher was still standing in front of the class as before, lecturing.

“I feel so helpless”

After his initial shock and worry wore off, Matheron says he had a host of new emotions to deal with. Among them, the agony of inactivity. “I feel so helpless. I really can’t so anything,” he says. He’s

too young to enlist, something he says he would do “in a second” if he could. Age also kept him from joining the rescue efforts that followed the attacks. He says that, had it been logistically possible for him to do so, he would have “easily” risked his life to save another’s. But it wasn’t, and he was left with nothing to do but sit passively and watch. “It’s tough not to be able to do anything to vent anger or sadness,” he says.

SGA President Alfonso Rosales has been able to vent some of his feelings through action. Immediately after learning that the World Trade Center had been attacked, the senior’s first thought was of the best way to help students cope with the tragedy. Since then, the SGA raised two posters on the walls of Blair Blvd on which students were encouraged to record their actions. The SGA is also in the process of planning a permanent memorial to Sept 11. “Students here at Blair are living history; it’s something we need to leave a mark of,” Rosales says. “Not to leave something to have future generations reflect upon would be irresponsible.”

Similar to Rosales, music teacher Sara Josey wanted to give students in her digital music class an opportunity to record their sentiments. On the Thursday following the attacks, she assigned a longterm composition project to write a piece in reaction to the tragedy. “[The project] is a way to express your emotions,” Josey says. “I think music is a great way to do that.”

Junior William Campbell has already begun composing a song he calls angry but hopeful. He says the project has proved therapeutic for him not only because it offers a means of self-expression, but also because he hopes his writing it will benefit those who will eventually listen.

Senior Matt Ota also felt a strong desire to express himself after Sept 11. Especially because the terrorist attack left his friend mourning her father’s death, he says, he couldn’t allow himself to be an idle bystander—he had to act. When Ota recalled a story he once heard about a Hiroshima girl dying of leukemia in the aftermath of the atomic bomb, he knew what to do.

The story goes that the girl had committed herself to holding 1,000 paper cranes in order to receive a final wish before dying because, according to Japanese legend, a free wish is granted to anyone who performs this feat. But as it became clear that the likelihood of her making so many origami cranes was slim, her friends gathered together to finish what she had started. Finally in possession of her wish, the girl asked not for her own health but for world peace.

On Sept 12, Ota and his classmates committed themselves to folding 1,000 cranes for their bereaved friend. By Sept 14, they had made roughly 1,250 tiny cranes from colorful origami paper. The cranes filled many large paper bags and wicker baskets before they were sent to Ota’s friend; according to Ota, they also filled many

Dramatic Club Plans A Large Minstrel Show

The Minstrels are coming!!

Dramatic Club President William Groff stated early today that the first of what is hoped will be an annual affair, an all Blair Minstrel Show, is on its way. Rehearsals are scheduled to begin early next week under the direction of Miss Wood and Miss Bratt, dramatic club sponsors.

The forthcoming production will be an elaborate one. Songs by the school Glee Club, dances by various members of the student body, and comedy sketches have all been interpolated into the script prepared by Eleanor Kingston.

hearts. “There was a lot of love in that room [where we folded the cranes],” he says. “You could feel it.”

Ota says his gesture extended beyond one of support to his friend. “If the world had one wish,” he explains, “That wish would probably be the same wish the girl in Japan had. I think we all need to stand back, contemplate and wish for world peace.”

“This citation helps you transcend race and age and sex. You look at people as Americans.”

Organizing the crane project has helped Ota deal with his emotions. “I still don’t think I can put words to what I’m feeling. The thousand cranes say something more than I could ever say,” he declares.

Sophomore Kyle Cohen says he supports another cause: the United States military. Like many students on the first day back in school after a county-wide break, Cohen wore his patriotism on his chest.

The night after the attacks he transformed a white t-shirt into an emblem of spirit and nationalism. Across the top, Cohen drew the white-on-blue stars and red and white stripes of the American flag.

Below, amidst a dark green camouflage design, he scrawled the word “PRIDE” in black marker. That same night, he tore off two strips of fabric from a military jacket to tie around his wrists the next day. “I felt like I owed this to the people that died,” he says of his efforts.

Matheron, who also dressed in red, white and blue that day, says his patriotism has swelled since the events of Sept 11. “Before this, I detested our Republican government. But now I started to realize that no matter what their policies, their hearts are close to mine,” he says.

Gainous noticed another sentiment on display the first day back after the attacks: unity. “I’m so proud of our kids,” he says effusively. “Everybody was just looking out for each other. It was just unbelievably good.”

Perdomo was touched by a similar observation of Blazer unity. On Sept 14, the day President George W. Bush declared a national day of remembrance, she stood at the back of a crowded media center during her lunch period, moved by the ceremony on the screen before her. Particularly poignant, she says, were the moments when a speaker asked the audience to rise. “Everyone in the room stood up.” Perdomo remembers. “It made me feel proud. They really didn’t have to stand up, but they all did.”

Matheron says he has reaped the benefits of school unity. The tragedy, he says, equalized the playing field at Blair, enabling him and others to cross boundaries they wouldn’t otherwise cross. He points to a heated class dis-

The school orchestra of Montgomery Blair will also participate. Art classes, under the direction of Mrs. Bowman, are already drawing up plans for a modernistic backdrop to be used for the performances. The show is as yet uncast, but tryouts are being held now in the dramatic club during regular club periods. Miss Woods announced that all are welcome to participate.

The girls of Blair are expected to feature largely in the musical end of any show.

The Minstrel will be the first production of its kind to be seen at Blair in more than three years.

Vol XXIII, No. 8 | JANUARY 13, 1971

Racial tensions erupt; Blair seeks solutions

By SHERI HOLLI and JEFF JACOBS

A newly-created Student Affairs and Rumor Control Center is entering its second week of operation after racial incidents brought Montgomery County police to the halls of Blair. The incidents occurred after Black students of Mr. Jim Sylvester and Mrs. Phyllis Gottlieb’s second period English class staged Black Christmas, which depicted the Christmas of a poverty-stricken Black family.

The production was staged five times during the day, the first two without incident. After the first two performances some members of the audience began to heckle the actors.

The actors were further angered when one of the cast was tripped by a White student, whose legs were protruding into the aisle. After that point the cast began to ad-lib, adding to the original script extra lines which some students took as insults.

When the Black National Anthem was sung during the sixth period presentation, many students rose and attempted to leave the auditorium, but were stopped by other students at the doors.

According to Sylvester, the idea of the play arose because there was a feeling on the part of his students that nothing was being done at Blair to celebrate Christmas. The “intention of the play was not to confront anyone,” but to provide a Christmas assembly for the entire school.

Sylvester added that it was not until rehearsals began that the students realized the “dramatic possibilities of some things” in the play.

Dr. Paschal J. Emma believes that “school should be a place where kids can express themselves,” as long as they don’t hurt others. He said that Black Christmas was a case of “three hundred people who wanted to present a viewpoint,” and he felt that there was a great deal of “skill, talent, and energy put into the performance.”

Dr. Emma blamed the confrontations which occurred on a “lack of knowledge, that the (Black National) Anthem was a song of hope, not a rejection of the (American) National Anthem.” He felt that the play was an “enjoyable thing” for the majority of the audience.

Assistant Principal Dr. Robert E. McNelis felt that a lack of stage experience on the part of the actors contributed at least partly to the incidents which followed. He added that they “didn’t know how to react to a non-receptive audience.”

During the week before Christmas vacation there were “eleven or twelve scuffles,” but no one was seriously hurt according to Dr. McNelis. cerned about the physical... END OF EXCERPT

C U L T R

March 24, 2

Swiping left on real relationships

Teens ghost traditional dating

By ABIGAIL GREENBERG and THARAA IZUAGIE

A notification lights up the screen. A message arrives carefully worded, sent after hours of overthinking. Then, no response. In an era where social media keeps everyone within reach, high school dating has never felt more complicated.

For previous generations, dating often started with a nervous conversation by the lockers or a carefully folded note in class. Meeting someone required real-life interactions, whether through mutual friends, school dances, or simply bumping into each other at the mall. Those organic moments have been replaced by digital connections, shifting where and how often teens pursue romantic relationships.

As a result, fewer teenagers are going out on dates and having romantic relationships, whether they are long-term or casual. In 1991, 86 percent of twelfth graders had been on a date; by 2018, only 51 percent had.

The decline in dating is not just a result of changing attitudes toward relationships but also the circumstances that shape how teens socialize. University of Maryland, Baltimore County Associate Professor of Sociology Arielle Kuperberg explains that the lack of third spaces—social spaces other than home or school where teens can spend time together—causes them to turn toward the internet instead.

“There are less places for people to go and hang out. More and more people are going to the internet to hang out instead. There’s less opportunity to meet people or hang out in real life,” Kuperberg says.

With fewer third spaces, teens increasingly rely on social media as their default meeting ground for romantic connections. A 2015 Pew Research Center report found that 24 percent of teens with dating experience had dated or hooked up with someone they first met online. While technology has made

meeting people easier, maintaining relationships adds new complexities that did not exist before. Platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok double as dating apps, allowing teens to meet, flirt, and even break up all through a screen. Snapchat also allows users to see the locations of friends who are active on the app with a feature called “Snap Map.” Blair senior Alegria Martins explains the use of social media apps like Snapchat for hookups. “The main reason for Snap[chat] is to find people, and I think most people use it for hookup reasons. They just find random people and see off of the Snap Map how far away they are from them … [and ask] if they’re down to hang out or hook up. If not, then the person usually just unadds you or loses interest,” she says.

The convenience of social media comes at a cost. Relationships have become increasingly transactional, with social media dating culture normalizing behaviors that were once seen as rare or inconsiderate. Ghosting has become an easy way to cut ties without confrontation. Instead of an in-person breakup or a straightforward message, one person stops responding, leaving the other to wonder what went wrong. Breadcrumbing operates differently, but with a similar effect, keeping someone emotionally hooked through occasional attention while never fully committing. Then there is the rise of the “situationship,” a label that defines two people as more than friends, but less than an official relationship. Love bombing is also common, where overwhelming displays of affection create an illusion of deep connection, only for the interest to fade just as quickly. These behaviors allow people to avoid difficult conversations, which makes relationships feel disposable. It has become easiest to disappear, keep someone in limbo, or manipulate emotions to maintain control. This results in a dating culture where uncertainty is the norm and closure is often out of reach. “I think ghosting is an easy way

not made dating any less stressful. Anxiety levels among teens have climbed, with many citing social media as a source of insecurity.

The expectation of constant availability through social media and texting has made boundaries harder to establish. “There’s this expectation that we’re always available, and sometimes that can also make it harder to put boundaries up,” Towson-based therapist Christie Chorbajian explains.

In the past, communication required more deliberation; words had to be spoken directly, which encouraged more consideration of thoughts and actions. Loyola Marymount University Assistant Professor of Sociology Sarah Adeyinka-Skold says this shift to digital communication reduces accountability in relationships.“There’s something to be said about people having to be more intentional about their feelings and about their communication. Now I think it’s just easier to make connections and break them without really any kind of consequences. We’re not accountable to each other,” Adeyinka-Skold says.

Despite these challenges, Gen Z’s dating habits are not entirely negative. Traditional dating structures are shifting, emphasizing authenticity with oneself, emotional independence, and personal well-being. The process of forming deep relationships has become more fragmented, but that does not mean connection is impossible.

I think it’s just easier to make connections and break them without really any kind of consequences. We’re not accountable to each other.

out. Love bombing just sucks. It’s disappointing once you realize it, because you think that somebody loves you as much as you [love them], and then you find out that it wasn’t really like that in the end … it’s not beneficial whatsoever,” Martins remarks.

More and more people are going to the internet to hang out instead. There’s less opportunity to meet people or hang out in real life.

As commitment becomes more fluid, many Gen Z teens find themselves in a state of romantic limbo. Blair junior Joaquin Contreras-Rushing describes how the reality of brief high school relationships can lead to hookup culture. “A lot of people aren’t looking for a committed relationship because you’re going to have a committed relationship at some point in your life, so [it’s] just not necessary to have one in high school. There are a lot of other people who are into hookups, too,” he said.

Even hookup culture has evolved, introducing slang like “two-mans” and “four-mans,” referencing casual group meetups that blur the line between hanging out and hooking up. One person brings a friend and the other does the same, creating a low-pressure double date scenario. “It’s basically a double date, but ‘two-mans’ imply that something else will happen past the double date,” Contreras-Rushing explains. While this setup removes some of the pressure of a formal date, it also reflects the shift toward interactions that are often undefined and noncommittal.

Gen Z is more vocal about mental health than any previous generation, but that awareness has

This lack of accountability, combined with social media’s curated portrayals of romance, has created an environment where many teens feel lonelier despite having more access to potential partners than ever before.

Maryland-based couples therapist Richard Roth explains that having too many choices complicates commitment. “The more choices available, the harder it becomes to decide on just one. People hesitate because they think there might be something better out there,” he says. Idealized portrayals of relationships online reinforce this hesitation, making it harder for many to feel fulfilled in their connections, even with endless ways to stay connected.

“You never really slow down and say, ‘What’s best for me now?’ Instead you’re always looking outward, thinking, ‘I could do better,’” Roth adds. The possibility of finding someone “better” contributes to modern relationships feeling more temporary than ever before.

Although technology has made dating more complex, it has also created new opportunities to navigate love in ways that fit individual needs. For young people navigating relationships, Chorbajian emphasizes the importance of self-awareness. “Feel good and secure about who you are and what it is that you want, [and] be willing to express and identify what your boundaries are so that others aren’t able to take advantage or do harmful behaviors,” she says. “It goes both ways [in a relationship]. Always [move forward] with open communication and as much honesty as possible.”

ARIELLA KUPERBERG

SARAH ADEYINKA-SKOLD

VICTORIA ANGELI REGACHUELO

A slice of Maryland

By SATCHEL JELEN and ZACHARY KARP

A taste of home

“Maryland-style pizza” is traditionally four-sided with flaky crust, sweet sauce, and smoked provolone cheese. Since its inception at the original Ledo Pizza location in Adelphi, Maryland, in 1955, the dish has become an integral part of regional cuisine—something that, just like crab, any Marylander worth their Old Bay seasoning knows and loves. We visited three local Montgomery County restaurants to try their Maryland-style pizza.

Ledo Pizza

What better place to start our pizza-tasting journey than the birthplace of the Maryland style—Ledo Pizza? The Ledo Pizza in Wheaton is located on University Boulevard, and has been operating for over 25 years. The atmosphere inside is warm and inviting; it’s the sort of restaurant you could use for a Super Bowl watch party, as it his-

torically has been every February. Unlike many chain fast food restaurants, Ledo Pizza is designed for a dine-in experience—likely because, unlike its peers, the restaurant does not deliver.

The small, square, nine-slice pizza we had at Ledo was tidy and minimalist. While chains like Domino’s and Papa John’s are content to load their pizzas with dulcified flavors and ingredients in the pursuit of serving customers a consistent, agreeable, and boring pie, Ledo Pizza manages the first two qualities while forgoing the third. Our pizza was expertly crafted; exactly nine pepperoni slices were neatly distributed across the pie, one in the dead center of each square, and the dulcet flavor of the cheese was carefully balanced between the sweet sauce and dry crust.

With its unique, handcrafted style, it’s no wonder that Ledo Pizza leaves an impression on many of those who first try it as children. “If you grow up on it, you love it,” restaurant owner Jigar Sheth says.

“It has such a distinct taste that you can’t get anywhere else.”

Outside of its usual business, Sheth’s restaurant also sells concessions at Albert Einstein and Northwood athletic events. Next season, Blair may be added to that list. “It’s just better to have that local taste in the community,” Sheth says. “I’m hoping to continue to expand that [to more events].”

4 Corners Pub

Silver Spring’s 4 Corners Pub was nearly too good at selling Maryland-style pizza for us to review it. On our first visit, the restaurant was packed full of customers with an estimated 30-minute wait. It was only when we realized we had made the mistake of coming at 7 p.m. on half-price pizza Thursday that we could figure out why.

4 Corners Pub is another community institution: a decades-old tavern for weary teachers and Woodmoor residents alike. “It’s a part of the neighborhood,” owner Spencer Smith says. “[Neighbors] can hang out here and have beers with people that they’ve known forever, or get to see people they haven’t seen forever.”

Along with the Stained Glass Pub in Glenmont, the restaurant is one of only two inheritors of the original Maryland-style pizza recipe outside Ledo Pizza itself. The Pub serves its small pizzas in circles, and its mediums and larges in God’s intended form: a rectangle. We had no interest in coughing up an extra $5 for a medium pizza, so we bought a round pie.

The pepperoni pizza we tried was messy and greasy and delicious. The layer of cheese hung off the pie’s edge like the precipice of a waterfall, but that didn’t make each

bite any less buttery or appetizing. The large, saporific pepperoni circles littered across the pie provided brief respites to the endlessly slathered cheese, and gave the pizza a crunchiness that its bread otherwise lacked.

Stained Glass Pub

Traveling back to the Wheaton-Glenmont area, we arrive at the final destination on our pizza pilgrimage: the Stained Glass Pub. Sandwiched between Speedy Laundromat and the Glenmont Metro, the namesake colorfully tinted windows appear smaller in-person.

That is why entering the pub is so shocking—almost like entering an alternate universe. Bodies are everywhere; people pack the bar, the tables, even the entryway. To escape the noise, we order to-go, grabbing our pizza and leaving the Stained Glass Pub-goers to their Thursday trivia night revelry.

The Stained Glass Pub pizza is largely similar to the 4 Corners Pub

Goodbye canvas, hello walls!

Street art decorates the DMV

In Northwest Washington, D.C., a twenty-foot tall Ruth Bader Ginsberg smiles from a brick wall near the intersection of 15th and U streets. Over in Dupont Circle, an amber layer of paint coats a fire escape and merges with browns and whites to form poet Amanda Gorman’s likeness. Further up in NoMa, a myriad of colors form the perfect backdrop for a funkified George Washington. These are just a few examples of the artwork that decorates D.C. walls and streets. Taken together, these works stand as a symbol of the rise of street art throughout the District.

For Maryland-based artist Wesley Clark, the surge in murals in and around D.C. has been notable. “You would drive around D.C. and never see any murals on the wall. Or they’d be small,” he explains. “Now … you see them literally [everywhere].”

The rise in contemporary street art is credited to Banksy—an anonymous British street artist—and Shepard Fairey, who pioneered the OBEY Giant campaign. “The more contemporary form of street art that most people know and recognize to be street art really comes from the early 2000s,” Stefano Bloch, University of Arizona professor and author of “Going All City: Struggle and Survival in LA’s Graffiti Subculture,” explains. It was around this time that D.C. street art organizations such as MuralsDC and the D.C. Walls Festival were founded to support and fund the creation of public art around

the District.

Despite the recent uptick in popularity, street art is not a new concept. From prehistoric cave art to Roman bathhouses, the desire to display public art has existed for millennia. “It’s a modernist idea that the walls belong to people in power and that people who want to express themselves have to do it in the privacy of their own home. This idea has only been around since the Enlightenment,” Bloch says. “We as a capitalist, Western-developed, modernist world have decided that walls should be painted white or beige.”

Artists like Clark are part of a growing movement pushing back against this monotony; however, tedious legal processes remain. In Montgomery County, for instance,

there are two main routes for funding murals: private developers and direct county taxpayer funding. First, muralists can be contracted by private developers seeking “Benefit Points”—a program to incentivize developers to add amenities like garages, sustainability features, and public art to their project in exchange for certain project benefits like additional space. To incorporate specific art as a part of their project, developers must receive approval from the county’s Art Review Panel. Natasha Fahim, the coordinator for the Art Review Panel, explains the intricacies of getting art approved. “We ask them to go through the art review panels to make sure the art that they are providing is beneficial for the com-

munity and the public,” she says. “The art panel’s approval letter is attached to the memo that goes to the board, [which] then approves the project.”

In contrast, public projects funded by the county bypass this review process and are managed directly by the county or affiliated organizations.

As a result of these legal constraints, many public murals reflect not just the artist’s vision but also the priorities of their commissioners. For D.C. artist Rose Jaffe, the painter of the Ginsburg mural, this means working for organizations and clients that have a message she cares about. One of those organizations was the National Women’s Law Center, where she painted “Birth Control Way,” a sweeping mural that depicts the faces of several women with the statement “My freedom, my voice. My birth control, my choice,” etched underneath.

None of these murals are immune to the elements, both natural and manmade. Historic mural

“A People Without Murals are a Demuralized People,” which highlights Latino immigration and culture in D.C., has been restored multiple times throughout its 48year tenure in Adams Morgan, most recently after it was disfigured by a 2011 earthquake. In 2021, “Birth Control Way” was pocked with what looked like bullet holes, and the Palestine mural Jaffe painted outside of her studio has been vandalized multiple times.

“It’s part of the game when you are outside in public. [The mural] might get tagged over, it might get destroyed by the weather,” Jaffe

pie we tried. The slices are small— some fit in the palm of our hands— and cheese features prominently. But while the 4 Corners slices delighted, the Stained Glass Pub’s fell short. Much of the dough tasted undercooked, and the cheese was chewy, unmistakably reminding us of school lunch pizza. The sauce was the highlight of the pie: sweet and herby, with a hint of spice. But without a satisfactory crust or cheese, the holy trinity fell short. The Stained Glass Pub’s strength lies in its ambience. The allure of enjoying a boisterous night in the darkened dining room is far greater than the appeal of the pizza. Instead, Stained Glass Pub’s pies serve as a vehicle for human interaction.

Conclusion

As our pizza odyssey comes to a close, it is clear why so many Marylanders prefer this unique style. When you take a bite of Maryland-style pizza, you get the greasy, salty, unmistakable taste of home.

says, explaining that she takes negative responses in stride. “I feel like you are doing something right if people are engaging with it that way. Then more people are thinking and talking about it.” Like the ideas that accompany public works, street art can be controversial due to its affiliation with graffiti. As a result, some artists have distanced themselves from being dubbed street artists. One of those such artists is Clark. “I don’t really consider myself a street artist. I do public artwork, but I’ve never been one to go out and do graffiti, tagging, or large murals of that nature.”

My hope is for a continuously enlivened, interesting environment where people take it upon themselves to paint.

But regardless of whether murals are characterized as street art or public art, their impact is undeniable. For Bloch, who spent twenty years of his life as an active graffiti writer, the legal status of the artwork is secondary to its cultural significance. “My hope is for a continuously enlivened, interesting environment where people take it upon themselves to paint because I think that shows there’s still a spark of creativity, energy, and even iconoclasm left in people,” he says.

By SENAYA ASFAW and CHLOE PEGG

PHOTO BY MAZ OLSON

ADAMS MORGAN ‘The Mama Ayesha’s Restaurant Presidential Mural’ located on the side wall of Mama Ayesha’s was completed in 2009.

PHOTOS BY JONATHAN PETER BELLING

MARYLAND-STYLE At Ledo Pizza in Wheaton, Jigar Sheth offers an iconic taste of home.

SQUARE AND SWEET Maryland-style pies stand out with their signature square slices, biscuit crust, and sweet tomato sauce.

STEFANO BLOCH

Caffeine Craze Blazers run on Celsius

COFFEE

By EMILY KRETSCHMER

As I open the door and step inside, I immediately notice a soothing coffee scent wafting through the air. Around me, people catch up with friends, complete homework, and attend work meetings.

In Downtown Silver Spring, independent cafes are on nearly every block, offering exceptional brews, delectable pastries, and aesthetically pleasing interiors. It comes as no surprise that Silver Spring was recently named the Coffee Capital of Maryland by The MoCoShow, and with so many options available, I explored a few standout cafes.

My first stop was the Black Lion Cafe on 8240 Fenton Street. Their Silver Spring location opened on Jan. 25, 2023, though their original location is in Rockville.

The Black Lion Cafe offers a glimpse into not just the incredible coffee around Silver Spring, but also the importance of Ethiopian culture in the area. Ethiopia is widely recognized as the birthplace of coffee, and this, in combination with the nearly 16 percent of Maryland’s Ethiopian population living in Silver Spring, has helped bring aspects of Ethiopian coffee to several local cafes near Blair. Black Lion’s manager Neima Tahir tells me that although authentic Ethiopian coffee ceremonies cannot occur within a cafe, Black Lion offers high quality beans from four locations in Ethiopia: Yirgacheffe, Harar, Sidamo, and Guji. “They’re always fresh coffee beans that are roasted within that week,” she says.

Black Lion’s coffee beans are not the only high-quality aspect of the cafe. Within the cafe, hardwood floors, deep green hanging plants, and black lights dangling from thin rods create a serene, modern industrial space. The interior is a warm invitation to try the deliciously smooth coffee. At each cafe I went to, I ordered a latte and the server’s recommendation. At Black Lion, this happened to be their macchiato.

Tahir explains that the macchiato has been one of Black Lion’s most popular drinks, though it was not on their original menu. “We just started [making] a Black Lion macchiato about six months ago. That blew up a lot; a lot of people really like it. It is that macchiato that people usually drink in Ethiopia,” she says.

The Black Lion latte has a solid layer of dense milk foam and no bitterness at all. However, what really took me to coffee heaven was the macchiato, which had a spectacular taste and was on a completely new level from the latte, perhaps because the flavor was less diluted by milk.

Another cafe that offers Ethiopian coffee is Prime Coffee & Bakery on 930 Thayer Avenue, which opened at the end of 2024. The

bright-white tiled floor and marble tables starkly contrast the more rustic Black Lion Cafe. Though my experience was different, Prime’s coffee was also delicious. My latte had a thick layer of milk foam, expertly decorated with a heart, and the coffee itself was very enjoyable. When I asked the waiter what he recommended, he said his favorite is the iced caramel coffee with oat milk, but the barista jumped in, advising me to get an iced vanilla cinnamon shaken espresso. As somebody who adores cinnamon, this hit the spot.

Not far from the AFI Theater, nestled between Kao Thai and Fatty’s Tattoos & Piercings, is Sweeteria on 8646 Colesville Road. Colorful fairy lights glow around the entryway, offering a glimpse into the calming ambience that continues within the cafe.

The Thai-inspired menu is extensive. In addition to a section titled “Bakery Zone,” there are also loft, slice, and french toasts; roti; sparkling, frozen, and healthy drinks; coffee; and specialty milk lattes.

The calming ambience within Sweeteria left me feeling tranquil and refreshed. Cherry blossoms decorate the walls, red bows are tied on the golden light fixtures, and a mouth-watering sweet smell fills the air.

In addition to my classic latte, I tried the rose latte. A miniature rose floated on top of a stunning ombre of milk and espresso. The flavor of the flower was just perfect; it wasn’t too overpowering, and it went surprisingly well with the coffee. However, I was slightly disappointed by the thin layer of milk foam on the latte. I would definitely go back to Sweeteria for their specialty drinks, but I would stick with Black Lion or Prime for a classic latte.

These three cafes offer just a glimpse into coffee spots in Downtown Silver Spring that help connect customers and staff across countries and backgrounds. I would gladly visit these locations again not just for their excellent coffee, but also for their inviting environments—and, of course, for

By LILA GROSKO and SAHANA PARIKH

Crack. Hiss. A line of bubbles rises to the top of a freshly opened can of Celsius. It’s only 7:45 a.m., but students are already fueling up for the long day ahead. Across the hallway, steam drifts from cups of coffee clutched by tired hands. Just a few sips later, these students feel a familiar jolt of energy and alertness. Whether it is to make it through first period, to power through a tough game or race, or simply for the taste, caffeinated drinks are a daily staple for Blair students.

With hours of classes, homework, sports, and other extracurriculars, caffeine has long been a way for high schoolers to keep up with their demanding schedules. Studies show that 83 percent of teenagers ages 13-18 consume caffeine regularly. In recent years, energy drinks like Celsius, Monster, and Red Bull have become popular among high schoolers. Blair junior and weightlifter Connor Moody regularly consumes an energy drink before school in order to stay alert. “[When I drink caffeine] … I don’t feel as tired and I’m able to actually focus,” he says.

For many well-rounded students, staying on top of both extracurriculars and academics can be credited to regular caffeine consumption. “This year, with college apps and soccer and all the hard classes, I can only get … four hours of sleep. I need to run off of Celsius,” Blair senior Shyna Kashi, who has been drinking caffeine since freshman year, explains. Blair senior Sophia Ge also attributes her success in school in part to energy drinks and their ability to carry her through a long day. “I would drink the Celsius, and I would do okay on [an] exam. Then it would help a lot with tennis because it’s late in the day,” she says.

Kashi and Ge are part of a group that stocks a shared locker with Celsius, taking turns buying a dozen cans at a time. “When someone does replenish it … it’ll be gone within like three days,” Kashi says.

However, some students may not realize the potential consequences of drinking a seemingly harmless Celsius or Starbucks coffee daily. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the recommended serving size limit of caffeine for teenagers is 100 milligrams. A cup of black coffee, which is generally around 9 ounces, contains 95 milligrams of caffeine. In comparison, a 12-ounce can of Celsius contains around 200 milligrams. Written in small gray lettering on the back of every can of Celsius is a warning that reads, “Not recommended for children under 18.” The warning is there because of the high caffeine content and stimulants in the drink that contribute to Celsius’ adverse effects on teens’ developing bodies.

Despite this, Celsius remains popular among teens, who often overlook its effects. Elizabeth Stein, a pediatric nurse practitioner in Silver Spring, warns that excessive caffeine can interfere with students’ sleep schedules. “Once you get into those larger amounts [of caffeine], then it can trigger other things that are less comfortable and more bothersome like affecting your sleep, which [is] my biggest concern with teens and caffeine,” Stein says.

This year, with college apps and soccer and all the hard classes I can only get … four hours of sleep. I need to run off of Celsius.

SHYNA KASHI

Moody describes one instance where his caffeine consumption completely prevented him from sleeping. “The first time I [took pre-workout], I don’t think I slept at all that night. I had to get up for school before I was able to fall asleep,” Moody says. “That was when I really realized the extent to which [caffeine] could be abused.” Energy drinks like Celsius of-

PHOTO BY RAFFI DIAMOND-BERMAN

ten contain additional stimulants marketed as performance-enhancing. “[A] big difference is that the sugar content in a lot of those energy drinks is much higher,” Stein says.

The first time I took [pre-workout], I don’t think I slept at all that night. I had to get up for school before I was able to fall asleep. That was when I really realized the extent to which [caffeine] could be abused.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has banned most energy drinks due to their high caffeine content and stimulant effects, which can pose health risks and act as performance enhancers. Stimulants like beta-alanine, found in many pre-workout mixes, can have side effects when taken in high dosages. Moody explains one unfortunate incident with the chemical.

“I took scoops of pre-workout that you combine with water once before a lacrosse game. [My skin that was touching my pads] just started burning immensely,” he says. In extreme cases, energy drinks can cause heart complications. Heart health is a major concern as large amounts of caffeine can cause abnormalities in heartbeat and function, which can lead to cardiac arrest in the most serious of cases. Though concerns about caffeine for teenagers continue to grow, its consumption by high schoolers remains ever-present.

“The bigger focus should be on why people are needing caffeine, rather than blaming the kids for drinking it,” Moody says.

LUCIA WANG

CONNOR MOODY

THE CELSIUS LOCKER A group of upperclassmen share a locker which they routinely stock with Celsius, ensuring caffeine is readily at their disposal during the school day.

KATE McDONOUGH

More than TikTok talk

The minority groups behind social media slang

By CARMELLA BEACH and ERIC YANG

“Language is the foundation of culture, period,” Blair social studies teacher Kenneth Smith says. Due to social media, languages and slang are evolving more rapidly than ever. However, these words are not just trends, but markers of resistance, identity, and creativity. Many modern slang words, rooted in Black and LGBTQ communities’ histories, reflect the ever-changing dynamics of how marginalized communities communicate, challenge norms, and shape mainstream culture.

Language is a living system that changes over time. The specific words people use, and those words’ meanings and arrangement, are fluid. “A dictionary simply records meanings. It’s not a bossy tool,” Blair English teacher Kelly O’Connor says. “It just records usage, and words change meaning over time.”

Sociolinguist Erica Brozovsky describes this process. “It’s called semantic shift: where the word’s usage or the meaning changes from what [it] originally was,” she says. For example, the word ‘literally’ evolved from meaning in ‘a literal manner or sense’ to an intensifier like ‘really.’ Social media accelerates this phenomenon, as language features become associated with identities and communities. “You have a meme, and then you iterate on it. The whole point is to spread it, but you make it a little bit your own so that people [know] you’re part of this in-group,” Brozovsky says.

Each iteration adds new layers of meaning, reinforcing affiliation and belonging. However, not all slang terms originate online. Many have deep ties to marginalized communities such as African-American Vernacular English (AAVE), a group of English dialects spoken mainly by working- and middle-class Black Americans. AAVE began during slavery in America, when enslaved people spoke different languages from each other and their enslavers. This created a unique mix of white Southern English and African languages.

AAVE is largely misconstrued as an “improper” version of Standard American English (SAE); however, it has unique features that SAE lacks. “There’s this misconception that AAVE is a wrong or deficient version of Standard English, but that’s not the case at all. It is just a different variety,” Brozovsky says. “There are ways to use it correctly, [and] ways to use it incorrectly. There is very strict grammar, usage, and pronunciation, the same as there is in any other dialect of English.”

AAVE’s phonological features include th-stopping and th-fronting, where /d/, /t/, /f/, or /v/ replace the “th” sound. For example, ‘dis’ is pronounced instead of ‘this,’ and ‘nothing’ is pronounced as ‘noffing.’ Many AAVE words, like ‘aks’ in lieu of ‘ask,’ have gone through metathesis: two sounds switching, which has happened to Standard English words as well. AAVE can also achieve more precision with fewer words than SAE. “A lot of African-American vernacular tends to be shorter than Standard En-

glish,” Blair senior Meru Gopalan says. “For example, ‘I be doing this’ means ‘I am’ or ‘I’ve been doing.’ You can just omit the ‘have,’ which I think is interesting.”

Like Black Americans with AAVE, LGBTQ communities developed linguistic codes as well. “Lavender Language” is the language and slang used by members of LGBTQ communities to communicate secretly without revealing their identities. In the U.K., Polari, a slang type associated with the LGBTQ community, helped members identify allies and avoid persecution. LGBTQ slang has since evolved from protection and code to identity in places where LGBTQ rights have improved. Code words were also used when it might have been unsafe to say the real thing. Phrases like “Lily Law” and “Betsy Badge” helped gay men warn each other about police without attracting attention. Another form of Lavender Language, “she-ing,” playfully feminizes words to challenge societal ideas about gender and power. “It is the nature of queerness to have to create new ways to think about things and new language to match that new way to think about it,” Blair LGBTQ studies teacher Laura Contreras says. Unfortunately, in many instances, people ignorant of their history, power, and identity reduce words with deeply rooted history to “TikTok slang,” erasing the words’ importance, etymology, and meaning to marginalized communities. Social media has accelerated existing slang, allowing people to communicate and form communities

faster than ever before. However, it has also accelerated pipelines to misusing Black and LGBTQ slang.“[Slang words have] lost [their] meaning, and now [they’re] just an annoying word to people,” Blair senior Danielle Coly-Boateng says.

Blair sophomore Marilyn Ramsdell expresses frustration at the misuse of queer language. “I’m part of the LGBTQ community, andI don’t think it’s funny when a straight guy says, ‘oh slay queen,’ because I know that they’re not actually using it to support somebody else; they’re saying it to mock the community,” she says.

A Smart Approach to Real Estate EVADAMMANN

Currently, social media and short form content are affecting existing slang processes at an unprecedented speed. However, Coly-Boateng emphasizes the need to recognize where the terms come from, in order for its history to live on. “Sometimes you’re going to pick up words from other different people. That’s understandable. That’s how language works,” she says. “But you have to remember that this isn’t your culture and you have a responsibility to respect that as well.”

Linguistic intersectionality between different groups where slang originates can lead to careless adaptations. “A lot of icons in the gay community are Black. Sometimes white gays will feel like they need to overcompensate … they feel bad for it, which [they] shouldn’t,” Coly-Boateng explains. “And then they’ll dive headfirst into the culture and think that they’re appreciating it, when they’re just stealing all the bits of the [Black] culture.”

As a former educator and elementary school principal, I know that knowledge is power. I pride myself on educating my clients so they can make the best decisions for themselves when it comes to buying or selling a home.

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Guest essay: “Anora” and the American Dream

By SAM JOHNSON Guest Writer

Sean Baker’s “Anora” has, for the last seven months, been racking in quite the praise. This romantic comedy about a stripper from Brighton Beach was the first American film to win the Cannes Film Festival’s Palme d’Or since Terrence Malick’s “The Tree of Life” in 2011. The Palme d’Or, one of the most prestigious awards in the world of film, is an award whose repeat winners include such big serious capital-d Directors as Michael Haneke, Ken Loach, and Francis Ford Coppola. In addition, “Anora” now has won five of the six Academy Awards it was nominated for, including four of the Big Five: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, and Best Screenplay. So then, how did a little indie rom-com do all that?

“Anora” can be di vided fairly sharply into two parts and an epi logue. In the first part, Brighton Beach stripper Anora (played by Best Actress Oscar winner Mikey Madison) falls in love with and gets mar ried to the son of a Rus sian oligarch named Ivan (Mark Eydelshteyn), who asks for a stripper who can speak Russian. These 50-orso minutes comprise the whirlwind romance requisite for the rom-com form. The next 70 minutes comprise the second part: the romance falls apart, as the men assigned by Ivan’s parents to keep him out of trouble find that he has mar ried a sex worker. Ivan bolts, and his caretakers take Anora along in search of him. The final 20 minutes serve as an epilogue: Ivan’s parents come from Russia

to finalize their divorce, and Anora does some soul searching. Taken by themselves, the first two parts of “Anora” could pass fairly convincingly as nothing more than a well-written rom-com. The epilogue, however, gives up the game. Anora tries to put the pieces together with Igor, (Best Supporting Actor nominee Yura Borisov) attempting sex, and coming up with nothing. This probably goes without saying, but this is not normal. In a normal rom-com, all the reflection comes before the resolution, and that resolution is unambiguously happy. A normal rom-com character asks early on, “How do I better myself?” while Anora asks at the end, “What went

sex workers (in the case of “Anora,” both). As a social realist in the vein of Mike Leigh and Krzysztof Kieslowski, Baker’s bread-andbutter concerning subject matter is the downtrodden in our society, and in the sexually puritanical and all-too-often-xenophobic modern American society, there are very few groups lower in the social hierarchy than these. Now, the thing about “Anora” is that it is about what happens when a woman who is a member of both of these groups encounters an extraordinarily rich member of one of them.

We Americans have been told for over 200 years that we should fear cultural foreigners and immigrants. For just as long (if not longer), foreigners and immigrants have been told that America is the land of opportunity; they are told America is a place of prosperity where anyone who puts in the work can be rich.

what did go wrong?

Almost all of Sean Baker’s directorial output is either about immigrant diasporas in America or

silverpatrons

We have also been told for the last 45 years that greed is good, and that the greediest members of our society are in fact the best members of our society by virtue of the products of their greed, and of their parents’ and grandparents’ greed. Remember these points. I submit that this is what makes this film what it is: Anora did not fall in love with Ivan, but with what he represents. Ivan is a spoiled manchild living off of his parents’ fortune who sees Anora as a toy and a tool he can use to stay in America. But what

Anora sees is that she could be living the American Dream in Ivan’s fancy Mill Basin mansion, and it really is the American Dream she’d be living. To rise from obscurity and relative poverty to live a life of luxury is it, no question. Anora is—like many Americans—so blinded by the promise of comfort that she cannot see that her billionaire buddy does not care about her as a person, but as a means to an end. Once he reaches that end or gets bored with her, he’ll just find someone or something new. The shellshock of the final 20 minutes is her realization of this truth. We are experiencing her shame for having believed that things would genuinely be better. When we see Anora and Igor in the car at the end, we are affected because we, too, have fallen for a similar false hope.

“Anora” is about what happens when we buy too hard into the American mythology. We like to believe this nation belongs to cowboys and innovators, and sure, it’s an attractive idea, but keep in mind it was founded by a bunch of rich guys, and the cowboys were just searching for an escape from the broken systems out east (remember the Frontier Thesis!). The mythology exists as it is today because it is beneficial to those in charge. As much as it hurts to admit, we live in a hierarchical society that exists to keep the people at the top where they are. This is why the masses have repeatedly been lied to, whether it be through racist theories about foreigners and minorities or through the rich attempting to justify themselves. If you are the problem and can keep people from realizing it, you’re set.

In short, “Anora” has been such a huge success because it is not what it seems. It has the form of a comedy (this is what brings people into the theater), but it has the function of a socially responsible drama (which keeps people in the theater).

I realize this may make the movie seem rather joyless. This is not the case. As I said, it has the form of a comedy, and a remark-

ably good one, at that. It has some of the funniest and most original jokes to come out of Hollywood in quite a while (a choice example: answering the door while horny) told extraordinarily well and seamlessly integrated into the social commentary. This is what really makes this movie work. Good didactic art does not simply speak its commentary at you, but integrates its didacticism with its artistry. If it was just 140 minutes of Sean Baker talking at you about the problems with American capitalism, would you watch “Anora?”

In an era of Hollywood churning out endless sequels, remakes, and prequels, “Anora” is what popular film should look like: wholly original, yet playing with familiar structures; willing to go low, yet with a strong moral stance. Of course, the major studios will ignore it, as it hasn’t made a stupid amount of money and there’s no way for them to spin its true progressivism into a shiny virtue signal. But at the very least, “Anora” has most certainly provided the next generation of filmmakers with a reminder that new and intelligent things can be done with a form as old as the rom-com.

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Chips Clips

Sudoku Sort ‘em

Take these 16 words and sort them into four categories based on their similarities and common threads. There should be four words in each category.

Category One:

Category Two:

Category Three:

Category Four:

Spring Things

Across Cont.

42. Prefix meaning “one”

43. ___ Lingus

44. Self-satisfied

45. Endurance

47. Sault ___ Marie

50. Beast of burden

27. Goddess of the hunt

30. Yanks

31. 44th president

51. More sizeable: Abbr.

52. Mrs. Chaplin

54. Spring rain

60. Swedish furniture chain

61. Nary a soul

62. “Of ___ and Men”

65. Infamous Roman emperor 66. Piano technician 67. Actress Lena 68. Tacks on 69. Doers: Suffix 70. Antarctic sea

Down: 1. Tax pro 2. Director Jean-___ Godard

32. Baby-to-be

33. Pond dwellers

35. “Hamilton” Tony winner

Leslie ___ Jr.

36. Train unit

39. Digressions

40. Listens to the outrageous

46. Under the weather

47. Oklahoman

48. Tall buildings

49. Chemical suffix

53. Knight’s protection

54. Big Nate archnemesis

55. Squeezed (out)

56. Crunchy candy

57. New Mexico art colony

Leave out

in springtime 23. French roast

Andy Capp’s wife

Roll of bills 28. The Big Apple: Abbr.

Blast-off

Brain rot location

Not true in 2022 37. Lyft competitor

Highway

Melts

Cat, in Madrid

Contact Puzzle Editor Ethan de Brauw at silverchipsclips@gmail.com with the subject “Chips Clips March” with questions, comments, concerns, or any other feedback.

Pronto 4. Fan’s sound 5. Talkative 6. Countrified

7. ___ 500

8. Prohibition era rule flouter

9. Abolitionist Wendell.

10. Like molasses

11. Citrus fruit

58. Sharpen

59. Missile housing

63. Not trans

64. USNA grad

March Solutions

By MACKENZIE LYONS and TOMAS MONTICELLI

Where only first names appear, names have been changed to protect the identities of the sources.

From small wagers to huge bets, the widespread legalization of sports betting has allowed the gambling industry to flourish, even among underage bettors who face potential legal and personal consequences by taking part.

Prior to 2018, Nevada was the only U.S. state where sports betting was fully legal. On May 14, 2018, the Supreme Court struck down the Amateur Sports Protection Act, which prohibited sports betting in most states. Since then, 38 states and Washington, D.C. have legalized sports betting within their borders, including Maryland in 2021. In the five years since the 2018 decision, Americans have legally bet over $220 billion on sports.

We normally do [see an increase in calls] each year … [it starts] with the Super Bowl, and then we expect we’ll see [another] uptick in calls with March Madness.

DraftKings and FanDuel are among the most popular sportsbooks—companies that take in and pay out bets on sports—in America, allowing users to place bets like money lines: betting on which team or player will win; parlays: combining multiple bets into a singular wager; and over/unders: betting on whether a certain statistic will be over or under the value a sportsbook predicts.

According to Director of the Maryland Center of Excellence on

Problem Gambling Mary Drexler, since the legalization of sports betting in Maryland, calls to their hotline 1-800-GAMBLER have increased. “When mobile and online sports betting came into play … there was definitely a spike,” she said.

Certain sporting events generate far more bets than others. The Super Bowl garners the most bets of any sporting event in America, with last year’s event producing roughly $1.25 billion in bets. March Madness also attracts a significant number of bets, especially for higher-stakes games later in the tournament. In 2024, $2.72 billion was bet on the tournament. “We normally do [see an increase in calls] each year … [it starts] with the Super Bowl, and then we expect we’ll see [another] uptick in calls with March Madness,” Drexler said.

In Maryland, anyone who bets on sports is required to be at least 21 years old. Betting while underage can lead to serious penalties for anyone who takes part. According to Maryland Lottery’s Managing Director of Communications Seth Elkin, penalties are often decided upon by local law enforcement.

“It would be up to local states’ attorneys to determine whether to prosecute someone for underage betting,” he wrote in an email to Silver Chips.

Aside from the danger of legal penalties for those under 21 who bet on sports, there are further risks. According to Drexler, what starts as infrequent and harmless betting at a young age can easily develop into a gambling addiction. Drexler highlighted that the availability of sports betting through mobile apps only exacerbates this issue. “Since [sports betting] went mobile, we’ve seen a trend in the younger male demographic reaching out for health, or their parents being concerned,” she said.

In addition to the wide range of potential legal penalties, including fines and community service, for individuals who bet while under-

SPORTS

March 24, 2025

All on the line Students bypass gambling laws to sports bet

age, there are further risks for the companies involved if they allow it. “Sports wagering companies are subject to financial penalties for regulatory violations. If violations pose an imminent risk of harm to the integrity, security, or profitability of the sports wagering program, companies and their principal owners may be subject to sanctions, including the suspensions or revocations of their licenses,” Elkin wrote.

Despite the numerous consequences, many high school and college students continue to bypass safeguards and avoid legal penalties so they can bet on sports as they wish. A 2023 study conducted by the National Collegiate Athletics Association found that 58 percent

of respondents aged 18-22 reported placing at least one bet on sports at some point in their lives.

This trend is present in Maryland, with many underage Blair and University of Maryland students betting on sports. Students have found several different ways to avoid the legal barriers, including finding a bookie—a person who chooses the odds and takes and pays off bets—or betting under the name and information of a family member or friend who is of age. “I do a few [bets] with just my friends, just between us. Then I do a few [bets] on different apps,” Charlie, a Blair student, said.

Fliff is an app that allows many underage bettors to place wagers on different aspects of a sporting event. Fliff, sometimes referred to as the “teenage loophole” for sports betting, has minimal age restrictions and online barriers to underage bettors. “With Fliff, you get a few free Fliff coins, and you can also purchase more. Through that, you can bet on different sporting events and different stats, or whatever you want to do. If you win, you get more, so then at a certain point, you can transfer that into actual money,” Charlie said.

Because Fliff only uses in-game coins, which do not require ID to buy, people falsely claiming to be of age can freely gamble. To withdraw the winnings, however, bettors must submit an ID and live photo for approval, which can be done by using another person’s identification. Some people make bets and money in the form of Fliff coins while still underage, and wait until turning 18 or 21, depending on the state, to cash them in.

Another aspect that makes sports betting so appealing is the multitude of arbitrary bets one can make that are not just limited to the outcome of a game. Jordan, a student at Blair, bet on the length of the National Anthem during Super Bowl LIX, among other things. “I bet that the National Anthem

would be more than 120 seconds long, and it was. Then I bet that the coin toss would be tails, and it was. I bet that the first touchdown was going to be a running touchdown, and that the number of the person who scored it would be below 50. I lost money on that one,” they said. The majority of students lose more than they win. “Lately, I’ve been losing a lot … most of the time, I might’ve lost money overall,” Charlie said. However, oftentimes the financial strain from losing money is still not enough to show students the potential issues they may face later in life as a result of sports betting. In fact, some students still feel that the positives outweigh the negatives. “Obviously I just want to make money from it, but I [also] just have more fun following a sporting event if I have a bit of money on the line,” Charlie said.

It would be up to local states’ attorneys to determine whether to prosecute someone for underage betting.

Jordan, who was not originally interested in sports, believes that betting can invest students in events that they would not care about otherwise. “I [bet on sports] to make the games more interesting,” they said.

Student sports bettors can win big, but legal challenges and issues down the road can outweigh many of their short-term winnings. “If someone is starting gambling in high school or college, they’re apt to develop a problem later in their life,” Drexler said. “Most gamblers don’t go for help right away. It’s a hidden addiction.”

LUCA ESSER

SETH ELKIN

MARY DREXLER

Charging into the spotlight

A look inside Maryland’s state sport: Jousting

By JUSTIN ROSENTOVER and DIEGO SANTORO-VELEZ

The crowd erupts into cheers as the brave knights charge on their horses. Lances are drawn under the watchful eye of the King. This is the scene of the jousting tournament, once the preserve of medieval Europe and now the state sport of Maryland—except today, instead of riding with lances aimed at the shield of another knight, riders charge toward tiny wooden rings. A regular modern jousting

round for a rider consists of multiple runs through wooden arches, where small rings hang that the rider attempts to put their lance—a long, pointy stick—through. “We here in America will run through the track with three arches three times for a total of nine rings,”

Randall McGill, president of the Amateur Jousting Club of Maryland, said. The rider with the most rings wins the round. Any ties are resolved by decreasing the size of the ring.

Diane Sherwood, president of the Eastern Shore Jousting Association, said that these rings range

IN STRIDE Modern jousting rules require riders to aim their lances through inch-wide rings.

from an inch and a half to a quarter inch in size, depending on the experience of the rider and the number of rounds the joust is into the competition. “[Novices] start out at an inch and a half ring size [in the Eastern Shore], and each class drops down,” she said.

Ring jousting has been the state sport of Maryland since 1962. “Henry J. Fowler was on the Maryland legislature in the Senate, and he championed the induction of the sport,” McGill explained. “I like to tell people it’s the oldest organized sport in the country.” Fowler—whom the National Jousting Hall of Fame refers to as a “Knight of Mechanicsville,” his town of origin—was president of the Maryland Jousting Tournament Association (MJTA) and hosted a jousting tournament on his lawn every year.

Jousting technically shares recognition for Maryland’s state sport with lacrosse, the state team sport of Maryland. “They try to change it from time to time to lacrosse, and they have made lacrosse the official state team sport,” McGill said. “But we always show up down in Annapolis, and convince them that the state sport is still alive and well.”

The MJTA governs jousting throughout the state and works to keep it active. “[Our purpose is] to make every effort to keep alive the quaint, colorful, ancient traditions of the Age of Chivalry, which are associated with the sport, and to do as much as possible to make it unique in its own right,” its bylaws state. Sherwood’s club, the Eastern Shore Jousting Association, is a member of the MJTA along with 3 other clubs. “[MJTA is] what we call a mother club,” Sherwood said. The association runs several

tournaments itself like the Maryland State Championship Joust, which falls on Oct. 4 this year. The event is an opportunity for another knight or maid to join the 21 previous state champions, including Knight of St. Marks Mike Virts, who has won more than 20 times from 1972 to 2020.

Jousting is still prevalent in other parts of the state as well. The Maryland Renaissance Festival, which regularly has an attendance of several hundred thousand a year, holds jousting events, a mainstay of the festivities. “[Jousting] is kind of like the football team. Everyone wants to go to the game and see,” Jules Smith, the festival’s president, said.

The festival formerly hosted the state ring jousting tournament, but now performs a contact jousting show. The performers wear full armor and charge at each other in choreographed routines. “A lot of work goes into it. You [only] see four to six horses in a show, but they have 18 here,” Smith said.

While it may be more exciting, contact jousting is also much more dangerous. “When you have two riders closing at each other, it’s a 60 mile-per-hour collision … and dislocated shoulders are a normal occurrence,” McGill said. “I can tell you that anybody that does full contact jousting does not have their skills honed to the point where they can hit a quarter inch target at 30 miles an hour on a horse. It is a completely different animal.”

The first tournament coming up this spring is the Harry Brooks Memorial Tournament in Kingsville, Maryland on May 10, and the season ends on Oct. 11 with the National Championship Tournament

Passing the whistle Blair hires seven new coaches for spring season

After gearing up, junior varsity (JV) boys’ lacrosse players file into two lines on the 40-yard line.

Coach Brandon Shure stands between the two lines with a ball in his lacrosse stick. He rolls the ball onto the open field and blows his whistle, prompting the players at the front of each line to chase after the ground ball. Their sticks clash as they fight to scoop up the ball. Shure shouts out encouragement, motivating his players to win possession. After every couple of rounds, Shure gathers the team in a huddle to offer improvements.

Shure is one of the newly hired coaches for Blair’s spring season. With Blair’s 15 spring season teams, it can be a daunting task to find and hire the best coaches to make the season successful. It is Blair Athletic Director Rita Boule’s job to find and hire replacements when there is a coaching vacancy. Finding candidates is sometimes challenging because the time commitment and limited pay can hinder many people from wanting to become a coach. Despite this, Blair’s athletic department is able to find qualified potential coaches who go through a long training process before hitting the field or court. Seven new paid coaches and a few volunteer assistants have been hired to lead Blair’s teams this spring.

Athletic directors in MCPS are in charge of finding, hiring, retaining, and evaluating coaches. Blair’s athletic department announces job openings on the MCPS Careers website and waits for applicants.

However, Boule explained that sometimes they lack applicants for certain sports. “It is generally difficult, to be perfectly honest,” Boule said. “[There are] some sports where there’s just not a lot of applicants for it.”

During the hiring process, Boule interviews candidates for the position. Once selected, a candidate must fulfill county coaching compliance requirements, including attending the MCPS New Coaches’ Seminar and completing the online MCPS Compliance Training course and the Care and Prevention of Athletic Injuries course. However, Boule noted that the process is not always smooth and applicants may not follow through. “There’s all kinds of coach compliance that needs to happen …

sometimes coaches or new people don’t make it all the way through coach compliance for whatever reason,” Boule said. “They seek another job, they understand they can’t do it, [or] they take another position.” If the chosen candidate is paid and not a volunteer, they must also complete online National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) courses and be certified for CPR/AED.

If a coach is approved and hired, Boule starts the onboarding process with the new coach before the season starts. “I get them used to Blair Athletics and walk them through all the rest of it,” Boule said. The process has many layers, especially for completely new coaches. “For brand new people, it probably takes about a month, three to five

in Knoxville. In 2025, there are 25 jousting competitions scheduled in the Mid-Atlantic, plus numerous events, banquets, and exhibitions around the state.

They try to change it from time to time to lacrosse, and they have made lacrosse the official state team sport. But we always show up down in Annapolis, and convince them that the state sport [jousting] is still alive and well.

Even though jousting is still popular in its home state, it has suffered from declining membership in other regions. “At one time [jousting] was really [popular] in Virginia and West Virginia,” Sherwood said. “But [its popularity in] West Virginia has really declined over the years.”

According to Sherwood, despite its small size, the jousting community is incredibly close. “We’re like friends and family … It’s brothers and sisters and fathers and daughters and sons and mothers; everybody competes,” she said. McGill expressed the same sentiment.

“Everybody is giving everybody else tips and tricks … and literally everybody in the club wants to help everybody else.”

weeks … [and] we’re meeting throughout the season just to do check-ins and things like that,” Boule said.

This spring, there will be new coaches for girls’ varsity and JV lacrosse, boys’ and girls’ tennis, boys’ baseball, JV girls’ softball, and JV boys’ lacrosse.

Among the new faces is Shure, who became a coach after he played Division I lacrosse in college at Johns Hopkins. “Lacrosse is really fun. It’s just a good sport to be around,” Shure said. He looks forward to the new season and hopes to build supportive relationships within the team. “I hope that [the players] make lifelong friends with their teammates and they learn something from their experience that they can carry into their life outside of sports,” Shure said.

With multiple coaching changes come challenges. Senior girls’ lacrosse captain Katherine Somoza noted the difficulties with changing coaches throughout her years at Blair. Of the four years Somoza has played lacrosse, she has had three different sets of coaches.

“It’s a bit difficult having to change coaches every year because personally, I don’t like proving over and over again that I’m capable of being a good player,” she said. “I think having a consistent coach who

knows how you play is beneficial.” However, Somoza is still excited about this year’s new coach and hopes that the team can come together more effectively.

“[Last year] it was very much playing individually, so I hope this year we learn how to work together,” Somoza said.

With the new coaches for both tennis teams, boys’ captain Kevin Nguyen has high hopes for this season and the new leadership. “I think the coach is going to make a big difference. Ms. Boule did a very good job with hiring these outside coaches. They’re definitely very experienced. We should get a lot of good training done this season,” Nguyen said. As the spring season kicks off, Boule is confident in the new coaches and anticipates successful seasons for spring sports. “I’m really excited about the season and I’m really excited that [these new coaches are] coming to Blair,” Boule expressed.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MARYLAND JOUSTING TOURNAMENT ASSOCIATION

RANDALL McGILL

By SAHANA PARIKH and JESSICA ZHANG

GRAPHIC BY JESSICA ZHANG | DATA COURTESY OF BLAIR ATHLETICS

JASON YU

Swimming in success

BSAD drowns out competition

By JAY CLOUSE and RAE FOSTER

It was a crowded day on the pool deck at the University of Maryland’s Eppley Recreation Center on Feb. 22. Blair swimmers clustered around the pool, waiting for their races to start. The constant cheering and beep of the starting signal kept energy levels high. After a long and hard meet, the Blair women’s team placed second overall at States.

Blair Swim and Dive, or BSAD, is a group of individual athletes who compete separately but are all part of the same spirited team. BSAD is split up into swim and dive, which both have respective women’s and men’s teams. Although there are many divisions, the team is well-connected and supportive of each other. Blair junior and future swim captain Liahana King Cull explained the dynamic that swim being both an individual and team sport brings. “I think there’s probably a closer-knit group on BSAD than on other teams just because everyone’s pushing each other to be the best version of themselves, but they’re not relying on [their teammates] as much,” she said.

Many BSAD members also swim for a club team year round, but the individual times at school meets do not count for club leagues.

BSAD captain and senior Misha Kojanov explained how when racing in school meets, members are not racing for their fastest time.

“You’re not swimming for times, you’re swimming for places … [when] you’re swimming for places, you’re swimming for points, for the team,” Kojanov said.

The Blair Dive team is a part of BSAD, but is separate in its own way. Blair junior and dive captain Charles Pucci described Blair Dive as a team that strives for first place, but is supportive and enjoyable.

“We try to do well, but it’s also a

really relaxed environment,” Pucci explained. “You don’t have to worry about if you mess up or anything.” Dive also has a different set of rules regarding how their events are set up. Each diver is scored on a set of dives they have predetermined. A maximum of three male divers and three female divers are allowed to compete. They must perform six dives, with differing levels of difficulty. “There’s five different categories. There’s forward, back, inward, reverse, and twisters,” Pucci said. According to Pucci, divers have to include four different dives in their routine, which come from at least three different categories. A typical swim and dive meet starts off with the diving por-

tion, followed by swimming events, but sometimes there are separate meets altogether. Pucci described how this separation relates to the dynamic between Blair’s swim and dive team. “We practice separately, we’re on the other side of the pool. But in terms of community, we all stay together,” Pucci said.

BSAD has many traditions throughout the season that keep the team members connected. Blair swim sophomore and future captain Lucy Humpert described the team’s annual opening pasta party. “Toward the beginning of the season, there’s a team pasta party … and there’s normally some team bonding games and activities,” Humpert said. “It’s a good way for

everyone to meet the new people on the team.” In addition to the pasta party, there are weekly events that keep spirits high after each meet. “After every meet on Saturday, there’s always a team lunch or dinner out at a restaurant … those are really fun,” Humpert said.

The BSAD season consists of seven regular weekly meets from late November to late January, followed by a Divisionals meet, Metros—a meet for public and private school swimmers and divers in the Washington Metropolitan area— Regionals, and finally States. Athletes advance to postseason meets if they obtain qualifying times. Blair divers Aidan Lawlor and Jacob Snelgrove dove at regionals, and

BLAIR SPRING ATHLETICS

BLAIR SPRING ATHLETICS

19 Blair swimmers swam at States. Blair senior captain Misha Kojanov broke the state record for the 200-meter freestyle with a 1:35:85 time, and won a first place medal in 100-meter backstroke. The Blair women’s swim team placed second overall at States.

As a part of the postseason, Divisionals are an especially important meet. The team’s placement in Divisionals can determine their starting position for the following year. “There [are] four divisions. If you win … you go up a division; if you lose, you go down,” Kojanov said. Kojanov recounted Blair’s accomplishments at divisionals. “This year, our girls were undefeated, our guys lost one meet by just a little bit … our girls won divisionals, our guys got third, [and] combined, we won,” Kojanov said. “Next year, we’ll be in division one, so I feel like we did as well as we could have.” In Division I, Blair will face Walt Whitman, Bethesda-Chevy Chase, Winston Churchill, Walter Johnson, and Richard Montgomery.

In addition to having new opponents, Pucci, Humpert, Lindsay Young, Darya Zalalutdinov, Andrew Sutich, King Cull, and Ethan Hua will be the new BSAD captains. Pucci described the dynamic that a new set of captains will bring. “I think we’re gonna have a really strong team,” Pucci said. “We have a whole new roster of captains, which I’m really excited for, so it’s gonna be a nice change of pace.” BSAD ended on a good note this year, and future captain King Cull has an even better feeling about next year. “Hopefully, the incoming freshmen are fast, and we’ll be able to kick some butt at Metros and Regionals and States and have a good time,” King Cull expressed. “I have faith. I think we’re gonna do well next year.”

OUR UPCOMING SPRING SCHEDULE: Congratulations to our Winter Teams!!

OUR UPCOMING SPRING SCHEDULE: Congratulations to our Winter Teams!!

Boys Basketball (1st in Divisions, 2nd in Region, 11 senior graduates), Girls Basketball (Tied 1st in Divisions and 2nd in Regions, 10 senior graduates), Poms (Placed in all 3 invitations, 3rd in Counties- First time in 6 years), Boys Indoor Track (2025 County Champs 2025 4A West Regional CHamos 2025 4A State Champs, Quentin Braithwaite: 55m School Record, County Champs Record, MCPS Champs Record, 55m Regional Champs, 55m State Champs, 4x200 Quentin, Dejean, Cole, Evan, Jayden: #1 in school history, County Champs, Regional Champs, State Champs), Girls Track (6th in County, highest in school history, Abigail-Faith Mokosso: Long Jump School Record 18'1.25, 4x800 Lucy, Emma, Marcela, Julia, Aurora, Ingrid: County Champs, Regional runner ups, State Champs), Swim & Dive (Boys: Regular season 4-1, 3rd in Division, Regional Champs for 8th consecutive year and Girls: Regular Season undefeated, 1st in Division, 2nd in States, Regional Champs for 6th consecutive year), Wrestling ( 23-7 Record, Jaden Cheung and Daniel Wu broke 100 varsity win mark, Jadean broke school record with 114 wins, 6 individual at counties and 11/22 wrestlers placed), Bocce (1st in Divisional Championship, 3rd in County Championships)

Boys Basketball (1st in Divisions, 2nd in Region, 11 senior graduates), Girls Basketball (Tied 1st in Divisions and 2nd in Regions, 10 senior graduates), Poms (Placed in all 3 invitations, 3rd in Counties- First time in 6 years), Boys Indoor Track (2025 County Champs 2025 4A West Regional CHamos 2025 4A State Champs, Quentin Braithwaite: 55m School Record, County Champs Record, MCPS Champs Record, 55m Regional Champs, 55m State Champs, 4x200 Quentin, Dejean, Cole, Evan, Jayden: #1 in school history, County Champs, Regional Champs, State Champs), Girls Track (6th in County, highest in school history, Abigail-Faith Mokosso: Long Jump School Record 18'1.25, 4x800 Lucy, Emma, Marcela, Julia, Aurora, Ingrid: County Champs, Regional runner ups, State Champs), Swim & Dive (Boys: Regular season 4-1, 3rd in Division, Regional Champs for 8th consecutive year and Girls: Regular Season undefeated, 1st in Division, 2nd in States, Regional Champs for 6th consecutive year), Wrestling ( 23-7 Record, Jaden Cheung and Daniel Wu broke 100 varsity win mark, Jadean broke school record with 114 wins, 6 individual at counties and 11/22 wrestlers placed), Bocce (1st in Divisional Championship, 3rd in County Championships)

PHOTO BY RAE FOSTER

SWIM STATES Nineteen Blazers swam in the States competition on Feb. 22. University of Chicago swim commit Misha Kojanov broke the state record for the 200m freestyle.

Cradling a dream

New Women’s Lacrosse League makes history

By CARMELLA BEACH

Maryland Charm attacker Sydni Black calls out for a pass from teammate Grace Griffin. She receives the ball at the top of the eight-yard line and locks eyes with New York Charging midfielder Belle Smith. Black then pierces through the defense with two quick dodges, leaving Smith stumbling to recover. She winds up a firecracker of a shot, placing it just out of goalkeeper Madison Doucette’s reach, resulting in the first-ever goal for Maryland in the history of the Women’s Lacrosse League (WLL).

I was super excited [about the introduction of the league]; it was something I knew that they needed to do.

In November 2024, the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) announced the start of the WLL. Feb. 11, 2024—the date of the inaugural game between Maryland and New York—marked the beginning of the first WLL Championship Series.

The WLL is the biggest investment in women’s lacrosse to date, featuring four teams: the Boston Guard, California Palms, Maryland Charm, and New York Charging. Rostering star players including Charlotte North and Alex Aust Holman, the league allows for collegiate athletes to continue their careers at a higher level. “I’m excited to see [New York Charging attacker] Izzy Scane score goals!” ten-year-old Violet Snyder, an eager member of the audience, said.

The WLL was introduced four years ahead of the 2028 Summer Olympics, where lacrosse will be featured for the first time in eight decades. In preparation for the games, the WLL Championship Series followed the Olympic style of game called “Sixes.” Jeff Wagner, former lacrosse player at Brown University and founder of MoCo Lacrosse, an organization aimed to introduce lacrosse to students from underserved communities, described the style of the game. “[Sixes is] an easier [way] to understand [the] game for non-lacrosse players or non-lacrosse fans,” he said. Sixes, often compared to basketball, accelerates the pace of the game. Although it follows similar rules to traditional field lacrosse, some aspects are changed, including smaller fields, shorter quarters, no specialized positions, a shot clock, and a 6v6 format as opposed to the typical 12v12 for women’s lacrosse.

“[It would be] definitely exhausting to play,” Blair girls’ varsity lacrosse captain Katherine Somoza noted. Black agreed in an interview with Silver Chips. “Sitting there and watching when there isn’t a [shot clock] can get kind of boring, so I think [the new rules will] bring up the excitement,” she said. “I’m someone who likes to play very fast, so being able to be creative and dynamic while going at such a fast and hard intense pace is very freeing to me.”

Lacrosse, originating from indigenous tribes in North America, has deep ties to Maryland. With strong college lacrosse teams such as the University of Maryland, Towson, Johns Hopkins, Loyola College, and the Naval Academy, Maryland has made it to the National Collegiate Athletic Association tournament final more than any other state. In 2004, lacrosse became the official team sport of Maryland.

“There’s a lot of talent here … It’s really important to the community in Maryland, and it’s a big source of pride for guys in [Maryland],” Brian McGeeney, head coach for the Blair boys’ varsity lacrosse team, said.

Black said. Wagner, a native Marylander, reflected on his childhood and expressed the impact lacrosse had on him. “We had Little League, but Little League wasn’t baseball, Little League was lacrosse … in parts of Maryland, it was embedded into the culture.”

With the launch of the WLL across the country, hopes to ex-

option],” Lizzie Hardy, a current junior lacrosse player at the College of Wooster in Ohio, explained.

One of the most appealing aspects of the WLL is the opportunity for lacrosse athletes to play professionally after college. “It only makes sense to give everyone the chance to play professionally for a sport they love and grew up playing,” UMD men’s club lacrosse

Black emphasized her excitement to represent Maryland.

“When I found out that it was Maryland that I would get to play for, [I felt] a huge amount of pride. I know what it means to don the Maryland flag … across your chest,”

pand lacrosse to other states are high. “[The WLL will] help not only grow [lacrosse] in the Northeast … but it’ll help it grow [in other parts of the country], so when younger girls are picking their sport, [they will have lacrosse as an

graduate Sam Collins said in an email. Many current women’s college lacrosse players are eager for the chance to extend their play. “If I could get there, I would love to do that,” Hardy said.

“It’s Our Time” is plastered across the WLL website, indicating the league has been a long time coming. “I was super excited [about the introduction of the league]; it was something I knew that they needed to do,” Hardy said. Christopher Wilson, a curator at the Smithsonian’s American History museum and avid supporter of women’s sports, explained the cross-over between female athletes and his job recording history. “[We] document what has happened in our history, and so one of the things we are really interested in is showing how women’s sports have always been important, and how it is increasingly important for women and girls in our society and their development,” he said.

Blair girls’ varsity lacrosse senior May Carroll dedicated a club to supporting women’s sports at Blair called “Female Athletes at Blair.” She called for better access

to streaming women’s lacrosse after she had trouble finding it on TV.

“A big part of getting better at sports is watching it,” Carroll said. Somoza agreed, expressing that watching Charlotte North, a Boston College lacrosse alum and newly added player for the Boston Guard, motivated her to perfect her craft. “It inspires me to become a better player. I just want to do better, because I see her and I’m like, ‘I have that potential to be as good,’” she said.

With recent standout female athletes such as Caitlin Clark and Trinity Rodman drawing major attention to their sports, the same is hoped for the WLL. “Having these superstar role models, having these really powerful teams that have great stories behind them, and [having] this sort of following really becomes part of the cultural zeitgeist of the country,” Wilson said. Hardy wished she had the league growing up so she could have lacrosse role models to look up to.

“I didn’t really know any names of players [growing up], and I think if there was a professional league when I was younger, I would’ve definitely watched it and probably grown up knowing more [female athletes in lacrosse] and having those role models,” she said.

It only makes sense to give everyone the chance to play professionally for a sport they love and grew up playing.

Wilson also highlighted the importance of young girls seeing the strength and leadership of female athletes in team sports. “The idea of the strength of a team: that’s something that boys traditionally have gotten to experience more, and that power of teamwork and being part of something that’s bigger than yourself … is so important for women and girls to experience. It’s something that affects people for the rest of their lives.”

Although the WLL Championship Series is over with a win from the Boston Guard against the New York Charging, with a final score of 22 to 17, there are still opportunities to see WLL athletes in action.

Catch WLL All-Stars like Abby Bosco, Ally Mastroianni, and Lizzie Colson in Japan, Mar.

the

WLL

15, for

first

v. Sekaicrosse exhibition game.

MARYLAND CHARM VS NEW YORK CHARGING The Charging beat the Charm 14-13 in the inaugural Women’s Lacrosse League season on Feb. 11.

PHOTOS BY JONATHAN PETER BELLING

SAM COLLINS

LIZZIE HARDY