The South Lakes
Sentinel
slsentinel@yahoo.com South Lakes High School (703) 915-4676 11400 South Lakes Dr. Reston, VA 20191
Time to hype up the Seahawk spirit by Melanie Jalim staff writer
During the varsity football scrimmage on August 21 against Woodson, the Hype Squad, led by senior Sean Shada, entered the stadium painted in green and blue along with the Seahawk painted sword. “The sword represents that we are warriors,” said senior Justin Atwater. “It represents that we are strong and can defeat anything with pride, spirit and hype.” Students, teachers and alumni all showed their support. The upcoming freshmen even showed their support. Even if they did not paint themselves head to toe, they wore the South Lakes colors loud and proud. The Hype Squad is made up of more than just seniors now. “The freshmen are a major part of the group,” said senior Brendan Galbraith. “It feels more like a family with them joining the Hype Squad.” Since then, more freshmen have involved themselves in the group and the upperclassmen have welcomed them kindly.
“I have school spirit,” said freshman Tope Olademeji. “I love South Lakes and all of the people who go here. I have Seahawk Pride.” On September 16, the football team played cross town rival, the Herndon Hornets. The Hype Squad filled the visitor side of Herndon’s stadium with blue, green and enthusiasm. “We were amazing,” said Galbraith. “Our spirit was at the highest level yet.” With the support of the Hype Squad, the Seahawk football team won 43-0. The McLean game on October 1 was nominated for the FOX 5 game of the week, as both schools were undefeated going into the game. Fans rallied and recorded 168,560 votes, beating out schools much bigger such as Lake Braddock and Robinson Secondary Schools. The Hype Squad met at South Lakes at 5:45 p.m. to paint and carpool to the game. As the Hype Squad painted each other with blue and green, they listened to music, danced, chanted, and fist pumped. This enthusiastic group man-
Hayfield to host college night this evening by Rachel Rogers staff writer
PHOTO BY KALEY DUNCAN
Senior boys rally to hype up the crowd at the beginning of the highly anticipated McLean game. As the game went on the Hype Squad leaders continued to stand in support of the varsity football team in an effort to change the outcome of the game.
aged to get airtime on Fox. “It was amazing,” said senior David Olden. “It was good to get our Hype Squad on TV.” The game ended in a 14-7 loss, but the Hype Squad was really supportive and plans to continue attending the games and cheer on the football team. “It was sad and upsetting,” said Atwater. “But no matter how we feel,
Hype Squad still supports the team.” The senior class is especially happy about the newfound interest of being hyped because it means that they were the class that officially turned the school’s spirit around and got more students involved. The Hype Squad has grown significantly since last year, and with homecoming week upon South Lakes, prepare for the excitement.
Pruess, Ramsey assemble SMART Board with Wiimote by Bethany Lowe managing editor One of the additions resulting from the South Lakes renovation, which ended in August 2009, involved technology upgrades in the building. Among the upgrades was the installation of projectors in all classrooms, some also equipped with a SMART Board. Each SMART Board costs between $3,000-5,000. However, Johnny Chung Lee, a Carnegie Mellon University graduate, has developed an inexpensive form of the SMART Board. This process requires the Wii game system accessory, the Wiimote, as the basic power behind the idea. “All you need to put together the inexpensive SMART Board is a Wiimote, infrared pen, projector, laptop, and free software, and it should be pretty easy,” said science teacher John Pruess. Pruess, a new teacher at South Lakes this year, decided to attempt reproducing the Wiimote SMART Board with a physics student, senior David Ramsey. “I want to work on this with Mr. Pruess because I think it would be fun and it’s a neat thing to work on,” said
PHOTO BY BETHANY LOWE David Ramsey attempts to calibrate the Wiimote SMART Board for the first time after school on October 8 in science teacher John Pruess’ classroom. This attempt was not successful but after trying a new form of pen Pruess and Ramsey hope to have the board fully operable.
See Inside
Ramsey. Ramsey was born in Egypt and lived there until two years ago when he moved to the United States. This is his first year at South Lakes. He does not know where he would like to go after graduation, but he has ideas for what he would like to do after college. “I actually would like to do something related to science or computer programs,” said Ramsey. Ramsey sees this project as a challenge technologically, while Pruess is inspired by his lack of a SMART Board. “Because we don’t have a board in our classroom I think creating one would be great because there is so much you can do with one,” said Pruess. “SMART Boards are beneficial because you don’t have to go back and forth between the computer and whiteboard. I could save things I write then add it to Blackboard for students to access, and I wouldn’t have to use dry erase markers.” Pruess plans to bring this idea to the Philippines one day. “I would really like to travel to the Philippines and bring second hand projectors to be able to add inexpensive technology to their schools,” said Pruess.
FCPS College Night, an event created to introduce students to different colleges throughout the country, is scheduled tonight from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Hayfield Secondary School. This event follows the FCPS College Fair which occurred last night at Fair Oaks Mall. Each of the approximately 400 colleges participating is represented by an administrator or alumni of the college who will be there to answer questions. College Night is geared towards all high school students. The purpose of the event is to explore college options and get specific questions answered. While some seniors may take advantage of the event, many already have an idea of what college they want to attend. “If they’re a senior and still undecided, it’s better for them to come visit me or their counselor,” said career specialist Karen Burke. On October 17th the sister event FCPS College Fair was held at Fair Oaks Mall. FCPS College Fair is the same as College Night, but doesn’t have the special events that make College Night useful for students. FCPS College Night has workshops and presentations that provide students with tips that will help them with college preparation. Topics include SAT preparation, college application essays and college readiness. “College night is more beneficial because of its sessions,” said Burke. Unlike the College Fair, a ticket is not needed for College Night. Any one who is unsure regarding college plans should attend. It will help students and parents gain more knowledge regarding the college process and what it will mean for each individual family.
see SMART Board, page 2
Centerspread
Page 8-9
Monday, October 18 2010 Volume 26, Issue 2
Flip to the centerspread to preview the rest of spirit week. Find out about all of the homecoming festivities that the week entails.
Focus
Seahawk Stories
Page 6 explains where to look for these three in every issue. Also, where should seniors be in the college application process?
Page 6
News 2-3 • OpEd 4-5 • Focus 6 • Student Life 7 • Centerspread 8-9
Page 12
The Freshmen class created a Relay for Life team for their fallen classmate, Amy Boyle, and plan to keep her spirit alive through future events.
• Style 10-111 • Seahawk Stories 12
• Sports 13-15
2
Monday, October 18, 2010
News
“If you’re going to take the
says.”
IB program, plan on having no social life and a lot of es-Fiona Hagengimana, junior
The South Lakes Sentinel
NEWS IN BRIEF .
Freshmen boys basketball interest meeting
There will be an interest meeting today in room 147 at 2:25 p.m. for any freshmen boys who are interested in playing basketball this winter. This meeting is mandatory.
Virginia Governor’s School interest meeting
There will be an interest meeting in room 414 for any sophomores or juniors who are academically or artistically gifted and are interested in Governor’s School. For more information see Mr. Campbell in the junior subschool.
Free and reduced lunch
All free and reduced lunch students who have not renewed their accounts need to apply for a renewal and get a letter of confirmation by tomorrow. All accounts will expire tomorrow if not already renewed.
IB diploma candidates take the school year one step at a time by Rachel Rogers staff writer
International Baccalaureate classes are the first step to achieving an IB diploma. For some students, this is the hardest step as the workload from multiple IB classes can easily pile up. The IB cirriculum is the most advanced program a school can offer and is a necessity for the IB diploma. These challenging courses are then meshed with community service hours, a 4,000 word essay, and the Theory of Knowledge class, leaving little time for anything else. “I don’t get to hang out with my friends as much as I would like to,” said junior IB candidate Molly Madison. Madison has a full roster of IB related classes, including a course called
History of the Americas, that sometimes is a challenge for students. At South Lakes, the most commonly avoided courses are in history, with large amounts of upperclassmen opting to take World History 1, normally a freshman course. “Some students come to World History 1 because they’re strengths lie in math or science,” said World History 1 teacher Judy Skirbunt. Approximately one-third of Skirbunt’s students are upperclassmen. The major problem with opting to take a non-IB class is that students cannot manage enough credits to recieve an IB diploma. This, of course, is fine for many students who instead decide to obtain IB certificates in their advanced classes. “I want to show that there are certain subjects that I excel at,” said
Publications place in VHSL championship by Rachel Rogers staff writer
Penny games
The penny games will continue in all lunches until Wednesday. Bring your loose change to lunch to support your class. Put pennies in your own class jar and silver coins and bills for the opposing classes.
Powder Puff game
The Powder Puff game is on Wednesday, October 20. The freshmen will play the sophomores at 6 p.m. and the juniors will play the seniors at 7:15 p.m. The annual bonfire will immediately follow the junior and senior game behind the tennis courts.
Homecoming parade
The Homecoming parade is on Friday, October 22. It will start in the Hunter’s Woods shopping center at 5 p.m. and will end at South Lakes High School. The parade committee is still looking for convertibles and nice-looking pickup trucks. Stop in room 136 during fifth period or see Mr. Astudillo with any information.
Homecoming dance
The Homecoming dance is on Saturday, October 23. It will be held in the gymnasium from 8 p.m. to midnight. Tickets are on sale for $15 during all lunches or at the door for $20. Students from other schools who are planning on attending must turn in forms in the subschool offices.
Fairfax County Youth Leadership Program
Any juniors who are interested in leadership training and oppurtunities to work with community leaders should see Mr. Harteis in room 215 for details. All applications are due by October 29.
sophomore Nici Garanzini. “I’m not going to try to force myself to do something I’m not good at.” IB certificates are sometimes the way to go for students who do not want to be burdened by the amount of extra homework and service hours. “It varies depending on the classes, but I know some students who do three hours of homework a night,” said IB coordinator Anne Stowe. Still, all the work isn’t deterring students, as over half the school is taking at least one IB, or IB related class. Some freshmen and sophomore students are actually looking forward to the intensity of the IB studies. “I want to get into a better college.” said freshman Joel Alexander. “The IB diploma is a challenge and colleges are looking for ways that you challenge yourself.”
PHOTO COURTESY OF FREEBIRD YEARBOOK
The 2009-10 literary magazine staff, under the leadership of adviser Margaret Ludlam and editors Jordan Clark and Rocio Safe, earned trophy class distinction in the VHSL regional championship for journalism.
The three student publications of South Lakes earned distinctions at the VHSL Regional Championship held at the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly on October 4. The literary magazine “Portfolio” was awarded Trophy class, the top honor given. The “South Lakes Sentinel” and the “Freebird” yearbook each earned first place. “To win an award for lit mag you have to have good writing and a good design,” said 2009-10 literary magazine adviser Margaret Ludlam. “The staff worked so hard and pulled the whole school into the process.” The other advisers of the winning publications are Phil Dignan of the “Sentinel” and Suzanne Abdelrazaq of the “Freebird”. “I am very proud of our recognition,” said Dignan. “Our staff basically had to learn journalistic writing techniques under the pressures of creating a publication for students. I expect this year’s staff to grow from last year’s experiences.”
PHOTO BY BETHANY LOWE
Pruess attempts to direct the Wiimote in the correct angle so the pen would pick up the infrared signal. The Wiimote must be the correct ratio away from the screen to be successful.
SMART Board from page 1
Ramsey has done most of the research, he has found the materials needed and the correct form of software for his computer. “David found infrared pens for $6 at RadioShack, which ends up being cheaper than making one out of the various parts,” said Pruess. Since the Wiimote can track up to four sources of infrared light, up to four pens with infrared led in the tip are used as the writing tools. After collecting materials, they began putting it together on October 8. They were not successful on this day but they continued working on this project last week.
Teacher Poll
Would you benefit from having a Wiimote SMART Board in your classroom? YES
NO
86% 14%
Based on 83 teachers surveyed
Students, staff members plan to attend Stewart, Colbert rallies by Lily Shtuhl contributing writer Following the recent political marches in Washington, DC, including the Glenn Beck rally geared toward supporters of the Tea Party movement, comedians Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert, both hosts of Comedy Central political parody programs, “The Daily Show” and “The Colbert Report”, will lead teasingly dueling rallies at the National Mall on Saturday, October 30 from 12-3 p.m. Tens of thousands are expected to attend these rallies. Los Angeles Times writer Matea Gold reported on September 22 that according to the Jon Stewart rally’s Facebook page, over 132,000 people planned to attend. Several stories report that travelers from throughout the country will converge on Washington, DC for the two events. Among the expected crowd will be students from South Lakes. “My dad wants to take me because he thinks it’s funny to mock Glenn Beck,” said junior Alex Tucker. “I am going because it is going to
be funny and I might be able to get on TV,” said sophomore Gabe Martinez. Some of the familiarity toward Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert could stem from classroom instruction. Government teacher Charissa West has used clips from “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” to reinforce lessons and adding a little humor to her lessons. “I’ll be out of town, but I think it will be very interesting,” said West. “I look forward to seeing it on television.” While the rally most likely will extend the humorous platform of the two shows, receptionist Liz Knapp feels that students attending the rallies will gain much politically from the experience. “I find them extremely funny, and I get more info from the shows than any other shows,” said Knapp. “I’m curious to see how they present their individual perspectives at a time when we need to reexamine how the political landscape can be manipulated.” Knapp plans to attend the rallies, weather permitting. School health aide Mary La Valley is also considering attending.
“I don’t know if I am going, but my children are going for sure,” said La Valley. “I would want to go because I support their liberal views.” Senior Katie Cunningham is looking forward to Colbert’s “March to Keep Fear Alive”. “I really like Colbert’s show and sense of humor.” Unlike Beck’s “Restoring Honor” rally, which created controversy by choosing the Lincoln Memorial and the exact spot of Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech to hold his rally, “Rally for Sanity” and “Keep Fear Alive” will be held at the east end of the National Mall, between 3rd and 7th streets. While the location is set, the plan for the rally is not. Guests have yet to be announced, but expect a light-hearted atmosphere. Associated Press reported that the rallies have earned the support of President Barack Obama. Stewart is encouraging his followers to donate to Trust for the National Mall, while Colbert’s focus is Donors Choose, an organization that helps schools with needed classroom supplies.
Rally posters for both the Rally to Restore Sanity and March to Keep Fear Alive are available on the shows websites. (used by permission of Comedy Central)
3 Teachers wear blue in support of “The blue shirts represent the teacher’s unity towards their pay. It may not be official, but they deserve a raise because they’re always here and work endless hours.” -Bruce Butler, Principal
Monday, October 18, 2010
News
The South Lakes Sentinel
Fairfax County staff solidarity by Bethany Lowe managing editor
On October 14, some South Lakes teachers were dressed in blue in support of the federal Education Jobs Fun to provide pay raises and replace cut positions. Over the summer, the National Education Association members put forth the effort to pass a bill that provides $10 billion to education. This money would be put towards creating or saving 160,000 teaching positions for the next school year. Virginia could receive $249.5 million and Fairfax County would receive $21.3 million. Members of the Fairfax Education Association hoped that if the employees showed their support by wearing blue, the fund would be used for its original purpose. The money would go towards rehiring former employees, providing teachers with a 2% salary increase, and reinstating custodial positions lost with last year’s budget cuts. Teachers have not had a raise in two years and student achievement has improved with test scores. The faculty believes it is time for a change.
“No one thinks teachers should get a raise,” said NEA building representative Wynndolyn Thompson. “Many people think that we do this job because we love kids and we don’t need a raise, but teachers have families too.” The national economy is not currently thriving and it has been reflecting on education. “Whenever the economy is bad, they tend to throw darts at education first,” said Thompson. The budget cuts made for the 2010-2011 school year included an increase in class sizes and a decrease in staff positions. “It is hard to give students the attention they deserve with less staff members and more students,” said English teacher Margaret Ludlam. “It is difficult to provide time for each of them.” Cuts for this school year failed to include an increase in pay for employees, but instead included the termination of programs in the elementary schools and the addition of many fees for students. Despite the two year salary freeze, teachers still keep their students as their primary concern. “The students have also been hit pretty hard,” said math teacher John
Schlosser. “Just look at the parking fees, IB and AP exam fees, and athletic fees. I’d like a raise, but I also do not want to take away from the students. The students come first.” Teachers aimed to make a statement by wearing blue and to have the FEA’s fund put in the right place. “Wearing blue shows support for teachers and shows I care about what is happening in educations and it’s in response to the budget cuts that Fairfax County has faced,” said German teacher Cheryl Finley. The reinstitution of 66 custodial positions lost in last year’s cuts is a possibility, which would relieve the duties of current custodial employees. “I wore blue to show solidarity not just with teachers, but all Fairfax County employees,” said Ludlam. While interviewed, Ludlam pointed out the efforts of custodian Blanca Cordova. “Blanca here picks up everything after us. So do the other custodians. The county has cut back on staff and they expect more from us while also cutting back our pay.” The School Board has proposed a raise in the next budget, but with $30 million in stimulus funding that expires soon
PHOTO BY BETHANY LOWE
Some of the teachers who participated in the day of blue gathered to take a picture to send to the FEA. Back Row: (left to right) Kathleen Schenker, Brian Vagts, Zachary Carter, Janet Croon, Bob Smith, Maria Harris Front Row: (left to right) Margaret Ludlam and Michael Agunsday. Many faculty and staff members participated including the custodial staff. and yet another decreased budget, teacher unions think the federal Education Jobs Fund is their best chance to get a raise. Board members have promised that teachers will receive a raise next year, but it is uncertain if they will follow through. “The Superintendent has said that it is his top priority to provide rais-
es to FCPS teachers,” said NEA building representative Bob Smith. “However, if the state doesn’t provide enough money to support the raises, we suffer once again because even if they approve the raises this year, next year they may cut them.” The Education Jobs Bill will be discussed tonight at the School Board’s work session.
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Monday, October 18, 2010
Op/Ed
“I think when people steal in the school and in general, it’s really wrong. It also makes the school appear way less respectable.” -Brandy Harrison, junior
The South Lakes Sentinel
The South Lakes
Sentinel
From the board
Guest editorial
Youth leadership teaches life lessons
11400 South Lakes Dr. Reston, VA 20191 (703) 915-4676 fax: (703) 715-4597 slsentinel@yahoo.com Managing Editors Alyssa Siqueiros Bethany Lowe Will Sweet Business Manager Julia Cockrill News Editor Kaitlin Welker
by Mina Fawze Fairfax County Youth Leadership Member
Features Editor Julie Thomas Sports Editor Emily Lipscomb Seahawk Stories Editor Rebecca Rosenman Photo Editor Kaley Duncan Staff Artist Cristian Bocanegra Circulation Manager Edgeri Hudlin Staff Writers Clint Bouttavong Kim Gyapong Leslie Hernandez Melanie Jalim Bryan Linsangan Rachel Rogers Adviser Phil Dignan
The South Lakes Sentinel is an open forum publication serving the South Lakes High School community. The Sentinel solicits letters to the editor. Letters must be signed. The editorial board reserves the right to edit such letters for grammar, usage, clarity, punctuation, and length. The Sentinel will publish no material, including advertising, that is libelous, obscene, or has a clear potential for disruption of the school routine, as has generally been determined by law. The Sentinel staff will make every effort to avoid conflicts of interest, to be fair and balanced in reporting, and to reflect the diverse population of South Lakes High School. The content of The Sentinel is determined by the editorial board. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the faculty advisor, administration of South Lakes High School, or Fairfax County Public Schools. The Sentinel is a member of the following scholastic organizations:
The Sentinel is printed by Silver Communications.
This Day in History
In1867, the U.S. formally took possession of Alaska after purchasing the territory from Russia for $7.2 million, or less than two cents an acre.
South Lakes deals with stealing among students “He that steals an egg will steal an ox,” goes the old proverb. Never before has that proverb been truer. Theft has never been more prevalent than it is today. There is no disputing that claim. In the past year alone, there have been countless cases of theft within and outside of South Lakes. Theft has turned the friendly confines of South Lakes into a target—a target of a systematic process of intimidation and manipulation perpetrated by troubled thieves. However, these bandits have not been restricted to South Lakes. When our highly esteemed volleyball team traveled to Wakefield High School, they had possessions stolen from them. One anonymous player had their wallet stolen. There was more than fifty dollars in the wallet when it was taken. Later, the wallet was found with no money in it. The notorious thieves of Northern Virginia had struck yet again. The issue of theft will never be nonexistent at South Lakes or in the community. There will always be cases of stolen wallets or iPods. But there are steps that
can be taken to limit such cases. There should be extreme punishments for those guilty of committing theft. The punishments should almost be too severe. A Zero Tolerance policy should be enacted with respect to theftrelated transgressions. Some might argue that Zero Tolerance policies are ineffective. That is true in that students are just further emboldened to adopt an anti-establishment mindset. Students like to stand up for their classmates. But nobody is going to stand up for a thief. A thief is the absolute worst kind of criminal and a thief commands no respect among his or her peers. South Lakes should offer seminars or roundtable discussions aimed at educating students on how best to prevent theft. A round table would offer more of an unceremonious mood for students to discuss their personal accounts of being a victim of theft. South Lakes is far from a perfect school, but it is a pleasant place to be during the day. Unfortunately, the rapidly escalating issue of theft has made South Lakes more of a shadowy place.
How much do you really know about local government and what it does for you? Becoming a part of the Fairfax County Youth Leadership Program, a program I had the privilege and pleasure of being a part of, is certainly a great way to find out. Originally founded in the 1999-2000 school year by the county as a way to educate students about our local government, the program was called the “Closest to the People” Program. Two years later, the program expanded to include middle school curriculums as well, and the addition of the Fairfax County Youth Leadership Program. As part of the program, monthly meetings were held, each one dealing with a different aspect of local government and the services local government provide. I have learned about our county’s health department, the poverty level in the county, the budget, the diversity within Fairfax County, all of the services Fairfax County provides, and, of course, the county’s educational system, along with so much more. Each meeting also provided the members with an assignment to be completed before the start of the next meeting, most memorable of which for me was
interviewing a member of the Board of Supervisors. I had the honor of meeting our very own Cathy Hudgins, representative of the Hunter Mill district, and was able to ask her any and all questions on my mind. Another aspect of the program is the completion of a three-week paid internship over the summer. For three weeks, I worked in the Fairfax County Health Department, in the Office of Emergency Preparedness, learning about the Medical Reserve Corps and what they do in the event of an emergency. Working at my internship was one of the most rewarding, enriching experiences I was able to undertake. My peers within the program share my sentiments, some working at the Sherrif’s Department, others at the animal shelter, some at community centers and senior centers, the fire and rescue department, and still more in other departments. We all agreed that receiving that check in the mail rewarding us for our hard work was great as well. Having the opportunity to be a part of this program has been extremely worthwhile, and I would recommend joining the program to anyone interested in learning more about local government in an interactive, engaging way. Application for the program begins in November and is available to high school juniors, with the program beginning in January of junior year and ending in December of senior year. If you are interested in applying for this great opportunity, do not hesitate to approach me or the teacher sponsor of the program, Mr. Harteis, found in room 217. It’s well worth it.
SEAHAWK
Talk
Do you believe the tardy policy is properly enforced?
“The teachers and administration are definitely enforcing the tardy policy, but I think the whole accumulative tardy thing is going a bit too far. I think that people are going to be late no matter what and not every day is the same. Teachers have to understand that. When they count the tardies accumulatively it’s way worse.” -Harry Wiese, junior
“I feel like the teachers are finally cracking down on tardies. I have a teacher that if you are late even by a second you’d get the door shut on you. I think the teachers should be a little more reasonable but they have definitely been enforcing the tardy policy.” -Maurees Wolo, sophomore
“I think that people are going to be late regardless of the tardy system because some people don’t care. So I think harshening the punishment and being stricter is not going to help, it’s just going to hurt the students when they call their parents or if they give them detention.” -Amir Syed, sophomore
“I think some of the teachers are enforcing the tardy policy alot and some are not at all. Some teachers are not enforcing the tardy policy because it’s unfair to the kids who don’t know their way around yet, which is good because they have a chance to adjust without the harsh punishment.” -Tyler Keeter, junior
Monday, October 18, 2010
Op/Ed
“The stink bugs are all over the place. They’re even on the lockers and it’s really gross. I don’t understand how they get inside and on the lockers though.” -Sarah Herring, junior
The South Lakes Sentinel Alyssa’s Editorial
Stink bugs take over
by Alyssa Siqueiros managing editor
As I was brainstorming ideas for my editorial, I asked the rest of the staff what has been annoying them most lately. The conversation went from 20th century topics, to the topic of college, and finally to the heated discussion of the ever so bothersome stink bugs that have been infesting our streets since the summer. I have absolutely no idea why the idea did not occur to me earlier, but that is not important now. They are perhaps one step down from the completely disgusting cicadas that plagued us just a few years ago. Everywhere I go, I’m pretty sure I have one attached to me at all times. Not only do they cling to me the minute I walk outside, they insist on coating my car and sticking onto my window for extended periods of time. How is that even possible? What do they even do in this world? what is their purpose in life? Do they even do anything to help the environment? I am almost positive
they have no function, except for the fact that they give off an odor when bothered. The rumor is that these repulsive bugs made their way from China. The first infestation of them was seen in New York, and soon made their way to us. Let’s list off all of the annoying qualities that stink bugs possess. First and foremost, they are absolutely everywhere, not just outside, inside houses too. Second, the minute you walk outside they adhere on to you. Third, they make a distinctly disgusting noise. Fourth, they fly around everywhere and run into you because they’re dumb. There are probably a ton more reasons to hate them, but I’m too enraged to think clearly. Now, you’re probably wondering why I’m so outraged at the moment. It’s because I just cleaned out my car and what do I find? None other than a handful of dead stink bugs that made their way into my vehicle. Not to be a jerk but, that’s what they get. It was particularly repulsive to say the least since I had the nauseating duty of picking them up and throwing them out. Anyways, I don’t think it would be too much to ask for these infuriating bugs to just disappear so if anyone has a way to do that, I would be eternally grateful.
What’s What with Will?
Opinion Spot Poll-
Do you involve Facebook in your daily life? Yes
No
83% 17%
Chris Ware illustration of Facebook cofounder Mark Zuckerberg. MCT 2010
Letters to the editor
Why so serious? The latest issue of the newspaper I found all rather serious, especially the story about the senior who died in a car accident. There was nothing about anything funny or unusual events that happen during the regular school hours. Everybody could use a good laugh once in a while. Also, give the freshmen a break once in a while, we never did anything to you and you were all once freshmen too. -Laura Downs, freshman
School freeezes students I would like to file an official complaint about the temperature of the school. In most rooms, the air conditioning is turned on too high, making it very cold. Even if I bring a jacket, it doesn’t help much, especially now that the weather is getting colder. The library in particular is freezing. Please consider turning the heat on instead, or at least turn down the air conditioning. I’m sure many students, including me, would appreciate it. -Emma Cahoon, freshman
Parking lot concerns continue The thing that annoys me most about the changes in our school is the new bus drop off in the student parking lot. It is annoying to have to sit there in such a long line, having not had any breakfast and sometimes unable to even eat breakfast because by the time we get inside the bell rings. Back when the busses dropped us off on the flagpole side of the school it was bad enough, now it is far worse. -Michael Neil Lanning Matthews, junior
Getting a feel for student morale What happened to recess? by Will Sweet managing editor I don’t get all the hoopla about “The Social Network.” I mean, if I was going to see a movie about a website, I would’ve rather seen one about eHarmony. That old guy in their commercials looks a lot more interesting than Mark Zuckerberg. I can just imagine him in his college days. He probably got dumped by a girl and wanted to get revenge, so he created eHarmony and matched her with all of these terrible guys. Hilarious! Actually, that’s not far off from what happened in “The Social Network.” Speaking of that movie, what’s the deal with Justin Timberlake? I bring up “The Social Network” because just as there are unresolved issues in the movie, there are unresolved issues at South Lakes. For example, why are the red lockers still red? I have eight cans of blue paint in the trunk of my car. I have more stored in the “China Shipping” crate by the softball field. All I need is the go-ahead and it would take me about five minutes to bestow upon those lockers an immaculate coat of beautiful blue paint. Sadly, I am inclined to believe that we will never see the days when
South Lakes’ lockers reflect its true colors because we live in an era when people don’t admit to making mistakes. Just the other day, I came across a freshman who pointed at me and said, “You look familiar. I remember you from teen camp.” That freshman was mistaken. I’ve never been to teen camp. I have no idea what goes on at teen camp. When I informed him of this, the freshman wore a blank expression and walked on. Did he admit he was wrong? No. It reminded me of how South Lakes hasn’t admitted to there being an issue with the red lockers. South Lakes can run from these issues all they want, but they won’t go away. They’re like Keanu Reeves in that way. Just when you think you’ve seen the last of him, he pops up in some travesty of a movie. Just when you think students have forgotten about these issues, they will get thrown in your face. I don’t want to rehash the same issues I’ve already covered at length, but I feel as if they are important to follow up on. I feel this way because it seems as if none of the issues I care about are being taken care of. I call for the color of the red lockers to be changed and nothing happens. I call for the elimination of rectangular tables from the cafeteria and nothing happens. I became involved in student government because I thought I could do something about these issues. Unfortunately, it looks as if these are the issues our generation will be forced to confront. I can only hope my generation is as eager as I am to tackle these problems.
I honestly think that we should have a free period where we can talk and catch up with friends so that school is not a total drag all day and less people are bored. If we had a free period, I don’t think kids would think school was such a waste of time. People wouldn’t be as mad all the time because they can’t see their friends that are not in their classes because they would be able to see them during the free period. If we did have a free period, it would be for 45 minutes just like a regular period so there would be enough time to have a full conversation and get to know new people and things of that sort. If you’re thinking like a kid and you want to know what would make us happy to come to school, then you should give us a free period because it would make school a way more fun place to be. -Gjayland Brown, freshman
More coverage on Villatoro needed I was deeply saddened by the minimal amount of care or attention in the Sentinel’s piece about the death of a student, Jose Villatoro. Although, as a junior, I never met or knew Jose, I was really hoping the Sentinel would explain more about his death, but more importantly about Jose as an individual. I do not think the short and abrupt piece gave enough information. More than that, there was no heart and soul incorporated into the work. Clearly the writer did not know the deceased individual and I think it would have been more more moving had it been written by one of Jose’s close friends. Also, other stories that seemed much less relevant, like Brad’s knee, received more print space. It disturbed me that the death of a fellow Seahawk received less attention than an injured Seahawk. -Amalia Harte, junior
Hey Seahawks!
Do you want your voice to be heard? Write a letter to the editor. It can be about the newspaper or any topic you feel needs to be addressed preferably in 200 words or less.
5
The South Lakes Sentinel Patron List The staff of the South Lakes Sentinel would like to thank the following patrons for their support of our publication.
Earl and Patricia Hudlin Elizabeth Knapp Chris and Patrice Welker Mike and Kathy Thomas Karla Chustz Alison Hansan Mark A. Penn Marge Carrico Sara Short Susan Heironimus Terrie Galanti Sherri Evans Mill Matey Sally Moran Anne McCloskey Andy and Teresa Mott Dr. and Mrs. William J. Smith Damian and Alessandra Del Toro Amy Saylor Yvonne Surrette Kathy Williamson Sarah Ladwig Karen Amster
PHOTO BY RACHEL ROGERS
Sentinel staff writer Clint Bouttavong makes the ultimate sacrifice by having part of his bangs cut off by receptionist Elizabeth Knapp. Because of this deed, Knapp became one of our patrons.
6Considering college careers Monday, October 18, 2010
Focus
“Given the economy, students need to do everything they can to make themselves more marketable and colleges really help with that.” -Karen Burke, career center specialist
The South Lakes Sentinel
Seniors prepare to choose their future
by Alyssa Siqueiros managing editor and Julie Thomas features editor
deadlines for each individual application. “Start on your applications early, so you’re not rushing to turn them in last minute,” said Burke. “Know all of the deadlines that apply to you, so you can turn in everything you need to on time.” Many students, however, struggle with procrastination during these months. “I have football every day until
though, and it is not that hard once you actually get started.” The one decision that students need to make while filling out applications is whether they will declare a major or opt to enter college as undecided. The majors that are popular among undergraduate students include the medical field and engineering. Another component of college applications involves getting letters
College. Between the applications, the recommendations, the essays, the test scores, the transcripts, and actually deciding which college to attend, there are many factors for high school seniors to consider. According to collegebound. net, there are close to 100 Student Pollcolleges and universities in Virginia alone. In the United States there are roughly 4,352 colleges and universities. Career center specialist, Karen Burke, advises seniors to plan accordingly for each of the three main types of schools. “Students should apply to no more than six schools,” said Burke. “Two safeties, two targets and two reach schools.” based on 206 seniors polled While some students have a hard time conjuring up six schools to even apply to, other students such as senior Victoria Sigle have a hard time at least November, and there is no of recommendation, if the college narrowing down the list. time to actually get my applications requests one. Students should “At the moment, I plan to apply done and write my personal request a letter from a teacher or to 11 schools,” said Sigle. “They statements,” said senior Yannick administrator that knows them don’t go in terms of safety, target, Faubert. personally. Using a teacher that is or reach, but they are based on “It has been hard to focus on familiar with the student, perhaps their locations.” doing college applications when I having taught the student for more Time management is a major have homework and an after school than one year, will be beneficial in part of the application process, as job,” said senior Michael Kojoyian. the long run. different schools have different “I have started one application With deadlines quickly
approaching, seniors should be well on their way with their applications. “Students should have started with their applications by now and be pretty far along,” said Burke. “They are pretty time consuming but fairly easy once you actually sit down and get started.” Another responsibility seniors have is turning in their college forms to their counselor, which allows the school to send out their transcripts to the colleges of their choice. These counselor forms, which students received during the senior class meeting, have many important papers that aid seniors and counselors through the application process. Seniors applying to college sometimes have the opportunity to apply either early action or early decision to certain schools. Early action is a non-binding application, whereas early decision binds the student to that specific school. After the application process is finished and all of the deadlines have been met, seniors will typically find out their fates in the early to mid spring. Once accepted to various schools on their lists, students must contemplate the choices and make the ultimate decision of where to attend college.
Have you started the college application process?
81% yes 19% no
Upcoming College Visits
October 19 University of Virginia Marymount University New York University George Washington University Kent State University Christopher Newport University October 20 University of New England James Madison University University of Maryland, Baltimore County East Carolina University October 21 University of Mary Washington October 22 Case Western Reserve University October 25 Shenandoah University Boston University October 27 George Mason University Swarthmore College November 3 Bridgewater College November 5 Radford University
Following the application process Throughout the school year, the Sentinel staff will keep track of these three seniors as they transition from high school to college. with Sean, Alexa and Brendan Sean Price Sean hopes to play football at the NCAA level. Sean is considering Old Dominion, Temple and Arizona State. Head football coach Andy Hill sent Sean’s game film to East Carolina, UNC, Duke, South Florida, West Virginia and Delaware. “It’s really hard to go through the recruiting process. It is one big stress ball.”
Alexa True Alexa is applying to a few 4-year schools, but is unsure where she wants to go. Alexa is applying to VT, JMU, Mary Washington and VCU. Alexa’s mom is helping her through the application process, as well as her mom’s friend who is a guidance counselor. “Applying to college is stressful, but once I get accepted, it will all be worth it.”
Brendan Galbraith Brendan has a pending lacrosse scholarship to Christopher Newport University. Applying to: VCU, VT, and West Virginia. Coach Lunde, the lacrosse head coach, and Ms. Trout are helping Brendan meet the NCAA requirements. “I don’t have to apply to CNU because the coach was interested in me and took my transcript to the application office.”
“I think clubs are an awesome way for people to get involved in not only school activities but other student interests as well.” -Brad Cohen, junior
Monday, October 18, 2010
Student Life
The South Lakes Sentinel
Seniors Abston, Turner discuss membership in GSA, its effect on their lives, and the community
Club News .
SLICE The South Lakes club for education and entertainment celebrates the school’s international diversity. The club welcomes new members. Coem cheer for SLICE at the Homecoming Parade on October 22. Contact Ms. Turner in Room 431 for meeting dates.
Interview by Lily Shtuhl contributing wrtiter
DECA This year, senior DECA member Brian McMillian is serving as the District 15 president. DECA encourages students to join, Contact Ms. Ricks or Ms. Schott for details. Ice Hockey Club Ice hockey club sponsor John Issigonis said, “Our club has staretd and is in full swing right now.” Issigonis will direct any student interested in joining to team organizers. Most practices and games are held at Reston’s Skate Quest. See Issigonis in room 228 for details. College Partnership Club Feeling stressed about the college application process? Join sponsors Karen Burke and Tracy Albert every third Wednesday of the month. Debate This year’s debate team, which will focus on Lincoln-Douglas and public forum competitions, began their season on October 16 at Yorktown. The resoultion for the competition is the NATO presence in Afghanistan. South Lakes debate will host a debate competition in january, hosting around 500 student debaters. Best Buddies The Best Buddies club, sponsored by special education teacher Rachael Crawford, will meet on designated Wednesdays beginning in November. Any student is welcome to join Best Buddies, but must sign up online at www.bestbuddiesonline.org. Science Olympiad This year’s Science Olympiad team, led by science teacher Bill Frozoco, meets the first Wednesday of every month. team members pick 2-3 science-related topics and prepare for the upcoming competition in January.The team is still accepting new members. FBLA Future Business Leaders of America have been congregating and displaying their business acumen. FBLA has begun the school year by maintaining its status as a top-flight program for those inerested in business-related activities.
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PHOTOS BY BETHANY LOWE
Top left: Junior drum major Blaire Brake conducts the band on October 6 as they run through formations and practice their performance. Top right: Senior drum major Ian Anderson waits for the piece to be over before stopping the metronome. Anderson is a musician twice over. He is an Orchestra student as well. Below: Senior Wesley Casson plays trumpet during Marching Band rehearsal on October 6. Casson is a fouryear member of the South Lakes marching band.hl
Drum majors: leading the band to perform their best
by Kaitlin Welker news editor While cross country is running and cheerleaders are cheering, the marching band is putting in countless hours to prepare for upcoming performances. The South Lakes marching band is an intense obligation that is often not given enough credit. “It’s four days a week, plus Saturdays which are almost all day,” said sophomore band student Jenna Anderson, “It’s kind of ridiculous.” Marching band is a commitment as it is, but there are a few students who have even more of a responsibility and those students are the drum majors. To become a drum major takes a lot more than just a few guidelines.
They require leadership and conducting skills. Such skills are needed to guide the band to perform their best. “There is a lot of discipline,” said drum major Blair Blake, “Being a drum major comes with a lot of responsibility. It’s different from marching because you have to be on top of things, get rehearsals started, and help people get better at the piece they’re working on.” Blake is one of the two drum majors in the band. She has been part of the Seahawk band family since the ninth grade but started playing in fourth grade. “I’ve just always liked [music],” said Blake, “and it’s interesting that people could come outside from other classes and play music.” The other drum major of the South
Lakes band is senior Ian Anderson. He too has been part of the South Lakes marching band since ninth grade, however he is in orchestra. “It’s just a lot of fun,” said Anderson, “You get to work towards a goal and when you achieve it it’s just great. I don’t even really play a band instrument, I play the cello.” To many students marching band is not seen as a respectable activity, but band is just like any sport in that it takes time and energy to thrive. “It’s not just a lot of geeks on the field doing a bunch of weird stuff,” said Anderson, “It requires a lot of mental focus. Marching band is a big melting pot of different entertainment, and it’s a lot of fun.” The next band competition is on Saturday, October 30 at South Lakes.
My biggest fear is... With Halloween just around the corner, students and teachers have been giving some thought as to what their biggest fears are. Here are a few fears that some Seahawks have.
Crossing the street- Alyssa Siqueiros, senior Throw up -Bethany Lowe, senior Being ambushed after elevator doors open- Will Sweet, senior Crossing big bridges- Phil Dignan, English teacher Losing my kids- Suzanne Abdelrazaq, English teacher Heights- Ali Fattahi, senior My family not getting into heaven- Tyrell Fitzgerald, junior Not making it anywhere in life- Sumiya Yates, junior Not living up to my expectations- Ken Robair, senior Being sad or depressed all the time- Dane Pepper, sophomore Riding on an airplane- Alexis Newsome, junior Riding rollercoasters- Brian Brinson, junior Roaches- Katie McDonald, English teacher
Alex Turner: I think GSA is a safe haven-type place where students can talk about things that they may not be comfortable discussing with friends. Linden Abston: It’s also not only serious stuff. We do a lot of fun things that aren’t necessarily related to GSA topics. Regardless of your sexual orientation, we are all inclusive. A pretty big majority of our members actually aren’t gay. Turner: A lot of people are thrown off and think GSA is for gay’s rights. It’s not. This year in GSA meetings, we’re hoping to get more guest speakers like last year. We also serve as a forum in our meetings. Abston: We also do a lot of fun things. For example, last year we went to D.C. for this social dance type event that was hosted by Lady Gaga. We don’t really participate in activism for equal marriage rights. We inform others of activist opportunities but we never pressure them into it. It’s a comfort level thing. I don’t necessarily think South Lakes High School is more open to gays than other places, but I think maybe our community is more open minded in general to differences among us. The school is more open to differences in culture, ethnicity, religion and really everything. Turner: The question of why a lot of the world is still homophobic in the 21st century is a really, really big question. I have often thought about this and we discuss it in GSA. One of my own theories is that people are just plain scared. Maybe scared of differences or just scared of what is unfamiliar. I have never felt blatantly discriminated against for being gay, although I think that I definitely have a heightened sensitivity to when it is weird for people and when I should keep to myself for a bit. Abston: I agree with Alex and I think it can be a bit awkward and uncomfortable-feeling at times. Being in GSA has exposed me to different opinions on different topics, not always related to being gay. It’s really interesting to hear everyone’s views and opinions. Turner: I don’t really identify myself as just being a gay guy. It’s a part of who I am, but it’s not significant enough that it’s something I would immediately associate with myself. Abston: I really love theatre, as does Alex. I hope to major in urban studies in college.
Seniors AlexTurner and Katherine Stosch listen in at a GSA meeting.
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HYPED Monday, October 18, 2010
Homecoming Court 2010
Princesses
Princes
2011 Morgan Alston Kari Cantwell Katie Cunningham Mary Davis Marwa Osman Maab Yasin
2011 Nick Guarnaccia Jon McCoy Sean Price Chris Seikaly Darius Smith Alex Turner
2012 Olivia Hill Katie Horlacher Abby Reed Erin Walker Sumiya Yates
2012 Dylan Clark Alex Graves John Oakes Chris Sheppard Aftab Shahzad
2013 Dory DeWeese Erin Flattery Becky Oswalt Erica Scully
2013 Scott Confer Alex Howard Peter Moran Eric O’Brien
2014 Mackenzie Evans Marika Ottman Allison Scheler
2014 Jordyn Moder Logan Nasr Carter Shultz
Homecoming king will be announced at halftime of the junior vs senior powderpuff game on Wednesday. The queen will be announced at halftime of the football game on Friday.
Spirit Days Music Genres Freshmen- Hip Hop Sophomores- Rock Juniors- Country Seniors- Techno
by Julie Thomas features editor
This year, the leadership class is planning one of the most eventful homecomings in recent South Lakes’ years. Homecoming 2010 will be taken to the next level as class rivalries and Seahawk pride are at a high point. School spirit has always been present at South Lakes, but this year with football doing so well, the Hype Squad has become a huge part of Seahawk culture. The Hype Squad, which has become a regular sight at Friday night football games, is preparing to take spirit week to the next level. Led mainly by a group of senior boys, the Hype Squad is encouraging every grade to be involved in order to make this year the best spirit week ever. “If every single person in the school will get involved, this week will be so hyped,” said senior David Odlen. Many of the seniors are excited to participate and try to win spirit week. “You already know that the seniors gon’ win, oh yeah,” said senior Brandon DiCarlo. “We want to go out with a bang.” New leadership teacher Mike Astudillo has encouraged the students to not only make this a good spirit week, but make it unforgettable for the students and teachers. Astudillo, who came from Chantilly earlier this year, expects the week leading up to the homecoming dance to be one of the best weeks ever. “I anticipate a lot of school spirit
Wear all of your crazy and mismatched clothes. Senior Kari Cantwell is wearing a dress with tights, lime green shorts, two different boots, and a bikini top.
Monday Wacky Tacky Day
The South Lakes Sentinel
about Homecoming 2010
9
Student leadership prepared for week of spirited activities
and energy from the student body,” said Astudillo. “I have seen and heard about how this school can get hyped.” In order to prepare for this one week, the leadership students have dedicated all of their class time to planning and getting organized. “We have been preparing since summer for homecoming and the
the student leaders at this school,” said Astudillo. Some of the changes from last year include having an activity for students to participate in during each lunch period. There was also a “pre-spirit week” last Thursday and Friday to raise money to fund all of the activities and games that are planned for the week.
Student Poll-
Will you participate in Spirit Week dress up days?
92% yes 8% no based on 385 students polled
events leading up to it,” said Astudillo. “The class has been broken into four main committees- parade, spirit week, pep rally, and homecoming court. Through class discussions and group work, we have come up with goals to make this homecoming a success.” The SGA officers and leadership students have directed all of their effort toward the success of spirit week. “I am very impressed with all of
The penny game, which started last Thursday and will continue until Wednesday, is a competition among all four classes to acquire as many pennies as possible. Silver coins and dollars are deductions of points, so those are to be added to other class jars. The class that has the most pennies with the least deductions by Wednesday will win spirit week points and be able to decide what charity the proceeds benefit. These activities are meant to get
students involved and excited about the spirit days. Today at lunch, students can participate in a “fashion show” to see who has the tackiest outfit. Teacher judges will score the outfits and determine a winner for each of the four lunch periods. Every day will have such an activity. “I think having activities and games during lunch will make spirit week even more fun,” said junior Katie Horlacher. Some of the mini games will involve fueling the class rivalries. On Class Color Day, which is on Wednesday, students can participate in a bean bag toss. The prizes for the bean bag toss will be pennies put into the winning class’ jar, or deductions to other grade levels. The bean bag toss during lunch is one way students can become more involved than last year. Although many of the leadership students from last year have graduated, there are a few returning members, such as junior Brad Cohen and senior Cristina Oancea. “Last year for homecoming week our class basically copied everything from the year before,” said Cohen. “This year, though, we are going bigger and better for every aspect of the week.” This new mentality of “bigger and better” can be attributed to Astudillo’s catch phrase, “get on the bus”. “Mr. A is a motivator and the driving force of our class,” said Cohen. “He has a way of inspiring people to want to lead.” The leadership students are hoping to have a successful week of fun and tasteful class rivalry.
Tuesday
Karaoke Contest during all lunch periods.
Wednesday
Last day of Penny Games. Bean Bag Toss Competition during all lunch periods. Powderpuff games begin at 6 p.m. Bonfire following Junior vs Senior game.
Thursday
Olympics during all lunch periods.
Friday
Pep Rally at 1:20 p.m. Parade at 5 p.m. beginning in Hunters Woods Shopping Center. Football game vs Dominion at 7 p.m.
Saturday
Tuesday Music Genres/Icon Day Dress like a celebrity icon or for any of the class music genres. Senior Katie Cunningham is dressed like a cowgirl for the country music genre.
Monday
Tacky Contest judged by teachers during all lunch periods.
Homecoming Dance in the gym beginning at 8 p.m. Tickets will be sold all this week for $15. Tickets will be $20 at the door.
Thursday International Day
Show your class spirit! Seniors Kelly Kolb, Julia Descamps, William Goswick and Nina Rodriguez demonstrate their excitement.
Wednesday Class Color Day
Dress like you’re from another country. Senior Morgan Alston waves the American flag proudly.
Go all out in blue and green to show your Seahawk spirit. Senior cheerleader Anndi Liggett shows her school spirit during a football game.
Friday Blue & Green Day
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Monday, October 18, 2010
Style
The South Lakes Sentinel
“My Toms are my favorite pair of shoes. I got them a long time ago and now everyone has them, which makes me quite happy.” -Katie Cunningham, senior
Current Fashion Trends
Pantsless remains fashion fad
Forget the purse, get a Nikon or a Canon CAMERA
MEGAPIXELS ISO RANGE
AUTO FOCUS
WEIGHT
LCD
CANON XS (1000D)
14.2
100 to 1600
7 17.7oz Static point (502g) 2.5in
10.1
100 to 11 17.8oz Static 12800 point (505g) 3in
http://www.digitalreview.ca/pics/XS/ Canon_XS_front.jpg
NIKON D3100
http://nikonrumors.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/nikon-d3100-official.jpeg
by Alyssa Siqueiros managing editor
PHOTOS BY ALYSSA SIQUEIROS
Girls have been seen wearing simply leggings along with a sweater or a loose button down and boots/Uggs. Now that it is getting colder, boys pair a simple hoodie and t-shirt with straight leg jeans or cords and Vans or Sperrys.
Perhaps the hottest accessory to have around your shoulder these days is a Nikon or Canon digital camera. Throughout the school, someone is always taking pictures. This is now the normal thing to see when walking through the halls and is not considered strange. This newfound phenomenon is wideley accepted and appreciated. “I really like that people have started taking pictures more and they bring their cameras to events,” said junior Sarah Delaney. “I am actually one of those people, I bring it everywhere.” What is it that makes these cam-
eras so desirable? Some students believe it is to capture the special moments of friends and the high school years. “I feel like high school has gone by so fast and I want to be able to remember all of it, especially since it’s my senior year.” This trend started popping up over the summer and by the time school started in September, it was hard to find someone that wasn’t carrying around a camera. Nikons and Canons are generally the preference of high school students. Different students want such high tech cameras for completely different reasons. Some IB students partake in IB Photo and need to carry around the cameras for educational
purposes. Others, such as Alston, just want it to document their high school life. The real question that is asked of most people that have these intense cameras is “why not just get a small point and shoot camera?” With a more expensive and technologically advanced camera comes a more high quality picture, which means more to some of these people than a price tag. High quality cameras can last a very long time and never tend to remain in style and up to date. Most people are probably asking themselves if they need a camera like this. There are so many different brands and models out there, it’s hard to find the right one for you, but Nikons and Canons are now in style.
Music Review
Asian group hits the charts by Clint Bouttavong staff writer
With the release of their new album “Free Wired”, the rap quartet, Far East Movement, have finally gained the recognition they deserve. The group has made history for being the first Asian American musical act to break through the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at number two. Considering how long Far East Movement have been around, it’s refreshing to see them finally burst out into the mainstream. Other Asian-American musicians now have the opportunity to follow in their footsteps and show the world what they are made of. The first track on the album “Don’t Look Now” is directed at the group’s female fan base. The lyrics show off a lighter side of the group, which will definitely gain them more female fans. The distinctive electro-pop/hip hop sound that Far East Movement has developed is toned down. Instead, they focus on their lyrics and the vocal parts of featured vocalist Keri Hilson. The track “2gether” is where the albums picks up pace. This is the kind of track that when played in a club, it gets the whole place jumping. With its fast paced beats and infectious grooves, this track will get you moving. The only thing negative about the song is the sampling of The B52’s “Love Shack” which sounds out of place in such a faced
paced track. Far East Movement once again slows down the pace with “White Flag”. It’s not the type of song you’d want to dance to, but it is a nice reprieve from the album’s usual hectic pace. It was a good choice by Far East Movement to place this track where they did. Featured vocalist Kayla Kai’s singing fits perfectly with the mood of the song. Her voice is different and very distinctive compared to other artists from her generation. “Like a G6,” the first single on the album, was the track that rocketed the group into the number two spot of the Billboard Hot 100. The track is backed by amazing beats that mesmorize the listener and won’t let go. It epitomizes FM’s “Free Wired” lifestyle, live fast, die young. The most distinct song on the album is “Rocketeer”, which will melt the hearts of women. The group’s raps show a more romantic side to the party animals that make up the group. This shows that they’re different than other artists of their genre, and that they’re not all about girls, booze, and money. This record is an instant classic and people will have to take notice of this phenomenal group. It’s so much more than a simple rap album. It’s the brain child of four young men who have pulled themselves up the ranks and are on their way becoming a common household name.
IT’S NOT TOO LATE to order your copy of the 2011 YEARBOOK!
Yearbook YBK with nameplate YBK with nameplate and one mark YBK with nameplate and two marks
$75 $80 $85 $90
Pick up an order form outside of your sub-school OR purchase with a credit card at 1.866.287.3096 or online at www.herffjones.com/theordercenter. Reference order number 13550. A $3.50 convenience fee will be added for credit card orders placed online or over the phone.
“I really enjoy being in the show and I have learned a lot from being around more experienced actors.” -Ariana Kruszewski, junior
Monday, October 18, 2010
Style
The South Lakes Sentinel
Kruszewski to perform in musical “Wonderful Town” at RCC by Alyssa Siqueiros managing editor
The Reston Community Players are a group of talented actors and actresses that work to put plays together for the community. They are considered to be Reston’s local community theater. Their current play that began showing October 15 is the Tony Award winning musical, “Wonderful Town.” The musical will continue to show through November 6. Every year the Reston Community Players put out numerous plays and musicals. This year they will be putting on “Wonderful Town,” “Twilight of the Golds,”
“25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee,” “Moonlight and Magnolias,” and also a new play project. The process of each play is grueling and requires auditions, call backs, weeks of practice and of course the plays themselves. To be included in such a project speaks very highly of someone’s on stage talent. One of South Lakes’s very own is participating in “Wonderful Town,” performing at the Reston Community Center’s CenterStage. Junior, Ariana Kruszewski’s involvement in the musical began with tryouts back in early August. Kruszewski is no stranger to the stage. She participated in the school spring musical “Les Miserables”
and earned herself a spot as an extra in the Broadway show, “The Sound of Music” that was performed at Wolf Trap over the summer. She took part in an audition in July where over 150 students tried out. She and nine other students were selected as extras. For her work in “The Sound of Music,” she has appeared in multiple publications, including the Washington Post. Her family plays a major part in her interest in musicals, “The Sound of Music” is one of their family’s favorite plays. Ariana’s brother, Alex is also into the theater scene and they have worked together on multiple projects. Alex will also perform in “Wonderful Town.”
Seahawk
Talk
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What is your favorite musical? What made it memorable for you?
“Spring Awakening” I loved it because the music genre was really different and interesting. -Aliya Ford, junior
“Sweeney Todd” There was a lot of dark nature and the music was really epic. -William Goswick, senior “Rent” It was right before it closed down and I had never seen it on Broadway, only the movie. -Caitlin Ryals, senior
PHOTOS COURTESY OF HOORI AHDIEH
Left: Ariana Kruszewski poses in front of the sign for “The Sound of Music.” Right: At the Wonderful Town run through, Kruszewski hangs out with a fellow cast member.
“Cats” The people were dressed up as cats. How could you not love it? The costumes and makeup were spectacular. -Brian Bixby, senior
12
Monday, October 18, 2010
Seahawk Stories
“Amy was just so strong and she deserved something in her name to be remembered for.” -Olivia Wolfe, freshman
The South Lakes Sentinel
Always Amy’s Amigos Freshmen continue to honor friend through Relay for Life by Grace Erard contributing writer
Amy’s Amigos, a successful Relay for Life team, was created in 2008 by freshman Olivia Wolfe. The American Cancer Society Relay for Life is an annual event that raises money for cancer research through a 24 hour relay. Wolfe created the team in honor of her friend Amy Boyle, who lost her battle with brain cancer later that year. Friends remember Amy as being an athletic and outgoing girl. “She was really fun to be around,” said Wolfe. “She loved to sing, especially one of her favorite songs ‘I Can Only Imagine.’” Freshman Kelsey Donnelly, Amy’s best friend, recalls her sense of humor. “Amy and I grew up together,” said Donnelly. “She was always laughing. Even during chemotherapy treatments, she always had a smile on her face. She always asked me to bring her Burger King when I visited her. That was something we joked about a lot.” When Wolfe found out that Amy had cancer, she was shocked. Wolfe’s mother had heard about Relay for Life, and suggested that she start a team. Wolfe liked the idea and decided to pursue it. She named the team Amy’s Amigos after Amy. “Our main goal was to show Amy that there were people who loved her, and who were there for her,” said Wolfe. “We also wanted to raise
This year, the staff of the Sentinel would like to invite students that have a story to tell to submit one to the staff. These stories may focus on first-person experiences and involve you, the writer, as part of the story. PHOTO COURTESY OF GRACE ERARD
Amy’s Amigos team captain, freshman Olivia Wolfe poses with three-year team member, freshman Lauren Horlacher. Wolfe organized her Relay for Life team in honor of her friend Amy Boyle who passed away in 2008.
money for cancer awareness.” Soon news of the team spread, and many people started signing up. “My friends were really supportive when they found out I was starting a team,” said Wolfe. “I was only expecting about ten or fifteen people to sign up, so I was surprised when we ended up with over fifty members.” During that first year, Amy’s Amigos raised $8,000 and won Top Youth Fundraising Group Award. The team has been participating
PHOTO COURTESY OF GRACE ERARD
The 2010 Amy’s Amigos Reston Relay for Life team.
Weird and Wacky Stories Three stories are true, one of them is false. Can you guess which one it is?
Carey Mitchell -- 12
“I’ve gotten my head stuck in the fence at the zoo. It was the camel cage.”
Kat Turk -- 11
“I flew a plane earlier this year.”
Alex Rosenman -- 11
“During the summer I went to a party with ten thousand people.”
Stephen Gurley -- 10
“I saw someone’s foot get cut off.” The answer will be posted next issue.
Welcome to The Sentinel’s first Seahawk Stories page!
in Relay for Life at South Lakes High School every year since then. Amy’s Amigos members camp out on the football field along with the other teams and take turns walking around the track. According to Relay rules, there must be at least one team member on the track throughout the event. One of the most moving parts of Relay is the Luminaria ceremony. Candles, which are lit inside bags filled with sand, line the track. Each bag bears the name of a person affected by cancer. Participants take a silent lap around the track and take time to honor those that have fought the disease. Another Relay tradition is the Miss Relay Pageant. Male participants, dressed in female attire, parade around the track and collect donations. They then go to the stage and are judged based on the amount of applause they receive. Amy’s Amigos members Josh Forrest and Scott Waters, also known as the Shimmy Sisters, are currently the undefeated champions. “The Miss Relay Pageant is definitely my favorite event,” said Amy’s Amigos member, freshman Charlotte Smith. “I love dressing
Josh and Scott up, and one year I was a Shimmy Brother. It was really fun.” In addition to participating in the annual Relay for Life event, Amy’s Amigos members have raised money for cancer research through a variety of fundraising activities. With the help of parent sponsors Mia Merin, Debi Scheler, and Jody Wolfe, the team formed an afterschool service club at Langston Hughes Middle School. The club organized garage and bake sales, sponsored kickball games, and sold candy. Wolfe plans to organize a triathlon this year. Many Amy’s Amigos members plan to make participating in Relay for Life a lifelong activity of theirs. “I’ve been a member of Amy’s Amigos since it first started,” said freshman Kacey Hirshfeld. “Participating in Amy’s Amigos is really important to me. It’s a great cause. It definitely makes me appreciate every moment because stuff like this is so unexpected and sad that you have to make the most of everything that you are given. I hope that through Amy’s Amigos we can make a difference and we can help to save lives.”
You may also send in a anecdote for the Weird and Wacky Stories, which will run each issue. Stories should be typed and sent as an attachment to slsentinel@yahoo.com. With stories, we also request 1-3 photos that relate to the story. If you have any questions, see Seahawk Stories editor Rebecca Rosenman or any of our three managing editors, Bethany Lowe, Alyssa Siqueiros, or Will Sweet.
Bolanos family and friends participate in Relay for Life to support other family members by Sara Bolanos contributing writer Relay for Life is an event to support a cure for cancer that takes place at the end of May each year. Rain or shine people are out to support a cure for their loved ones that affected by cancer. People have different reasons for coming out for the walk. For me it was that only a few months earlier I lost my grandmother to cancer and a few years before that I lost my grandpa and cat to the disease. Many of my friends have also experienced what it’s like for a loved one to have cancer. “My dad had thyroid cancer and my grandpa had colon cancer,” said
freshman Sarah Davidson. “They’re both okay now though.” “My nana has lymphoma which is a cancer involving cells of the immune system,” said freshman Allyson Paiewonsky. “Recently a doctor discovered melanoma, a form of skin cancer. They were able to completely remove the cancer, but unfortunately her eye area had to be reconstructed. That’s not what matters. What matters is that she’s better.” Walking for Relay for Life means so much to people. To me, it means finding a cure for a disease that has victimized so many people. I was walking for Grams and so were some of my friends. “Walking for the relay meant a lot to me,” said Paiewonsky. “That year at relay primarily meant one thing to
me, and that was supporting my best friend and her family whose family member recently lost their battle to cancer. It amazed me how many people were affected by cancer, and it made me want to do whatever I can to help the cause. Walking for 18 hours doesn’t nearly compare to everyday struggles of people battling cancer.” Walking in the relay for me was touching. It was fun but sad at the same time, knowing why all these people were out there. “It really moved me how many people were affected by cancer. It made me want to help more,” said freshman Carlie Sigle. Sigle said her uncle, grandfather, great-grandfather, her old neighbor, her mother’s friend, and dog all had cancer.
When a person participates in Relay for Life, they create memories they will never forget. During my grandmother’s funeral two months before Relay for Life, “Amazing Grace” was played on the bag pipes. During the Luminaria, a candlelight vigil held during Relay for Life, musicians unexpectedly played “Amazing Grace”, also on the bag pipes. As soon as I heard it, chills went down my spine. Luckily I had my friends there to comfort me. Relay for Life is an amazing experience that everyone should participate in at least once. I am definitely doing the Relay again next year, and so are my friends. “I will definitely participate in Relay for Life again,” said Paiewonsky.
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Monday, October 18, 2010
Sports
“Dance team is really fun and we need members to join. We do a lot of interesting things there.” -Erin Flattery, sophomore
The South Lakes Sentinel
Senior Night Recognition Field Hockey
October 15 Morgan Barlow, Amy Griffith, Vandriane Brown, Janette Saige, Gemma Whaley, and Jess Ehrhardt
Football
Dance team, new coach prepare for winter season by Emily Lipscomb sports editor
With a new coach this year, the dance team faces the struggle of rebuilding their program in time for the winter season as pressure of competitions loom around the corner. The fall season of dance is all about creating new routines and performing at halftime for the crowds at varisty football games. By the time winter season rolls around, the team prepares for tryouts to determine the team they’ll take to competitions starting January. “I think this season, performance wise, is going very well,” said sophmore dance team mem-
ber Erin Flattery. “But I know we all expect a few exciting additions this season and it’s going to be so much better.” One reason the team is looking forward to its next season is due to a new choreographor. “Our whole program is a little unorganized right now because of practice and coaching issues, but being able to choreograph our dances with ease will definitely take some stress out.” said sophmore co-captain Jacqueline Angel. According to Angel, the unorganization she talks about is mostly due to a lack in communication between the coaching staff and members of the team, but is balanced out by their attitude. “We have enough spirit and skill on our team,” said Angel. “It’s not
like we’re cheerleaders where all we do is stunt and yell. We have the potential to be good.” Dance team finishes out the fall season with their last performances at Homecoming on October 22 and on both the football and dance teams’ senior night on November 5. Captain Giselle Duran, the only senior on the team, will be recognized before the performance of the team at halftime. Tryouts for the winter season begin November 6 and current members are expecting a large turnout. “It’s an really an awesome team, and we need the help from people,” said Flattery. “Everybody is welcome to come out and show their support for the team.” PHOTO BY ALYSSA SIQUEIROS
Senior Mikey Bissonette in his jersey in anticipation for last week’s varsity game. Bissonette and the South Lakes football team took on Fairfax on October 15 and play Dominion on Friday, October 22.
November 5 Mikey Bissonnette, Sean Price, Casey Burkert, Brandon Harris, Andrew Goldberg, Darius Smith, Ja’Juan Jones, Garrett Davis, Deonte Harris-Stewart, Jacob Slover, Ken Robair, Deon King, Mazar Sayad, Yannick Faubert, Reed Wheeler, Marvin Campanilla, Mohamed Ali, Belmin Rivera, Raytwan Silva, and Devin Ambers-Blowe
Varsity football team prepares for homecoming game by Kaley Duncan photo editor
Dance team
November 5 Giselle Duran
Volleyball
PHOTO COURTESY OF LISA CLIMO
Ayrton Climo, number 77, competing in a recent race. Climo has raced in a variety of competitions in the Pennsylvania area for the past four years. Last month, he placed second in the Beaver Run championship.
Climo excels in unique sport by Edgeri Hudlin circulation manager
October 26 Kelly Kolb, Alyssa Siqueiros, Kaley Duncan, Bethany Lowe, and Julie Thomas
Cheerleading
November 5 Emily Harper and Anndi Liggett
Freshman Ayrton Climo participates in a fast paced and dangerous extra-curricular activity. Climo is a competitive “karts racer” and recently claimed second place in one of his races. “I have been racing for four years. I typically race in Pennsylvania, and I just recently got second place in the championship at Beaver Run in Pennsylvania.” Climo embarked on kart racing as a result of viewing a Formula One race which is similar to kart racing but much faster and more dangerous. “A Formula One car can get up to 123 miles per hour,” said Climo. “My kart can go about 60 to 70 mph.”
Climo said that there is much that goes into kart racing. “You have to be able to think quickly. The racing I do is left and right. I’m not saying NASCAR is easy but karting is hard.” Competitive go-karting is far different from amusement park go-kart racing. The vehicles go faster, are lower to the ground, and there are national competitors all hungry to win the race. “I race against national winning drivers,” said Climo. “You are literally an inch off the ground going really fast. It’s crazy.” Climo is in the junior division of racing, bringing intense racing which also creates danger. “Two weekends ago a kid hit me on the right side. My kart did a 360 spin and almost slipped.” Luckily, Climo’s kart skidded on its left wheel and fell back down
instead of flipping completely over and possibly causing severe injury. “You just can’t think about it. You just have to move forward.” Winning races is at the top of Climo’s list. “I almost won the Beaver Run Championship, but my motor failed and cost me the championship.” Even with the motor failure, Climo still managed to take second. Kart racing costs money to maintain upkeep. The kart has to be in top condition and the racer must be able to travel to various races in various locations. “I am looking for sponsors.” Climo takes much pride in kart racing and considers it a highly respectable sport. “It’s not like the stuff you go and do at the beach. It’s serious stuff.”
In October 2009 Dominion High School stunned South Lakes with a score of 46-20. DeAndre Reaves led the Titans with runs of 15, 30, and 50 yards and threw a 62 yard touchdown pass to Derrick Lewis. Reaves is a huge threat on Dominion’s team. He plays defense, offense, and special teams. Last year he proved to be a big talent that the Seahawks struggled to stop. “If we could set the defense to just a tackle Reaves we would, but football doesn’t work that way,” said senior safety Mikey Bissonette. This year, however, with new coach Andy Hill and improvements to the South Lakes team, varsity football believes they will have no problem defeating the Titans. “Let’s just say that Coach Hill has something special planned for DeAndre Reaves this year,” said senior wide receiver/defensive back Sean Price. The players see Reaves not carrying the whole team alone. “Don’t believe the hype of Reaves,” said Bissonette. “It’s real that Dominion’s whole team is big, and it will be a challenge, but we’ve work too hard to let them beat us,” said Bissonette. Dominion’s record as of October 15 was 3-3, compared to South Lakes 5-1 record . However, Dominion’s losses came against powerhouse teams such as state champion Broad Run and undefeated Ballou HS (DC). The football team plans to pull it out and take home the w for homecoming this year. With the new coach and newly refurbished team the teams’ outlook on the game is better than last year. “We will crush them,” said Price. REMAINING FOOTBALL GAMES Oct. 22 - Dominion Oct. 29 - @ Langley Nov. 5 - Stone Bridge
Monday, October 18, 2010
“We’re looking forward to a great year, going to the play-offs, and making history.” -Ray Terry, sophomore
Sports
The South Lakes Sentinel
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Volleyball team hosts Volleyboys, prepares for district game versus Langley tonight by Bethany Lowe managing editor
PHOTO BY BETHANY LOWE
Darnerien McCants giving senior Darius Smith advice during a water break on Wednesday, October 13 following their victory over Madison on Friday night. McCants was a professional football player for both the Washington Redskins and Philadelphia Eagles.
Former NFL player joins coaching staff
Throughout the month of September, the volleyball girls coached boys from their class, teaching them the skills of their sport. Volleyboys was held on September 27. Despite holding only three practices, the teams were ready to play. “Having three practices was definitely not a lot, but I we were obviously ready because we won,” said sophomore Alex Vagonis. The freshmen played the sophomores at 6 p.m. and the the juniors played the seniors at 7:15 p.m. The freshmen and sophomore game ended in a sophomore victory. With a close score of 25-23 in the first game, the sophomores felt threatened and came back to easily win the second game. The seniors beat the juniors 2515 in the first game but the juniors put up a fight in the second game putting up many more points. The senior boys decided they would throw the second game when the score was 22-20, but with encouragement from their coaches they decided not to risk it. Brian Bixby served for the final point defeating the juniors 25-22. This is the first year that
both teams won in two games. With the addition of the boys club volleyball team this year, competition in volleyboys was more intense. Some teams actually set positions and used official rotations and substitutions. “It was nice having boys this year that actually understood what to do because they play on the boys club team,” said senior Kelly Kolb. “We assigned the boys positions based on their specific skills and taught them a real rotation.” Volleyboys was a great success this year, raising over $1,400 for the volleyball program. There is discussion over whether or not do a spring event.
Varsity volleyball aims for districts
The Seahawk volleyball team had a district record of 1-3 going into their final four games of the season, including their game against Fairfax last Thursday at home. Head coach Cheri Hostetler has high hopes for the rest of the season. “I expect to do pretty well in districts,” said Hostetler. “We have four tough district matches coming up but if we work hard we expect and hope to do well.” The varsity volleyball team’s season record is 5-8 but the players and coaches do not feel this reflects their talent.
“I feel like we have been playing better than our record shows,” said Kolb. “It’s too bad that we can’t pull out a win more often.” Despite their record, the coach believes they have been trying their best. “We have a very hard working and talented team and we have been competitive,” said Hostetler. “Players have done everything we have asked of them.” Kolb and junior Christy Hoffman serve as captains. “Our libero Kelly Kolb has done a great job on our defense, and our setter Christy Hoffman has really done a great job running our offense,” said Hostetler The team’s offense is primarily driven by the attackers. “Hitters Bethany Lowe, Sarah Delaney, Cloe Traylor, Annemarie Bresson, and Dory DeWeese have all improved dramatically since last season and have given us the competitive edge we need,” said Hostetler. The volleyball program hosts district opponent Langley tonight. Freshmen team play at 5 p.m., JV at 6 P.M., and the varsity at 7:15 p.m.
by Kim Gyapong staff writer
This year at South Lakes, the football coaching staff revealed and introduced new varsity wide receiver coach Darnerien McCants. McCants attended Arundel High School in his home state of Maryland, where he launched the beginning of his football career. McCants led the Wildcats to county and regional championships. McCants was recruited by Delaware State University as a wide receiver and ended his senior year with 36 catches, 692 receiving yards, and 18 touchdowns. In 2001, McCants was drafted by the Washington Redskins where he stayed for four seasons. McCants was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles for the 2005 season. “It’s all about timing,” said McCants. “I didn’t plan to play profesionally and I didn’t plan on becoming a football coach, but I majored in education and I enjoy relaying what I learned to the boys so I enjoy it.” Having a pro football coach appears to be an exciting addition to the Seahawk varsity team. Wide receivers for the team share common thoughts about their new coach. “I think McCants is tight,” said junior Mohamed Khalifa. “You get to know more information about the game, and he wants our team to do better this year and win.” “I love him,” said senior Sean Price. “I think he’s a really great coach.” McCants is part of a new coaching staff that had the Swahawks going into the October 15 game against Fairfax with a 5-1 record.
PHOTO COURTESY OF NADA ADIBAH
Senior Sean Price sets up senior middle hitter Sean Shada in the Volleyboys game against the juniors on September 27. Juniors attempt to block Price leaving Shada with no block. The seniors won the game 2-0.
SEAHAWK
Talk Do you play a sport that is considered to be uncommon? What interests you about it?
“I started taking Kendo because I’m very dedicated to the martial arts. This is also how I channel my frustrations in a productive and positive way. I also think it’s a great way to relieve stress.” -Taylor Kerson, junior
“I love men’s volleyball. It rocks It’s an excuse to wear really tight shorts. It also gets really intense when everyone is into it.” -Aleksi Mowinski, senior
“I take Kendo because I though it looked very cool. Also, I figured I need action hours, which are a requirement for the IB program, so I signed up. The class is very fun and it also makes for great excercise.” -Alex Rosenman, junior
“I play ultimate frisbee, I love jumping really high in the air to grab the frisbee. And when you catch it, you feel so accomplished.” -Abby Student, sophomore
Sports
as a whole because we are already in the class colors. It would also be easier to go because parents realize it’s part of homecoming.” -Raven Rivers, junior
The South Lakes Sentinel
LOWE DOWN
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Monday, October 18, 2010 “If Volleyboys was during homecoming week it would make the school more spirited
by Bethany Lowe managing editor
FOX 5 brings large crowds and cameramen, but not a victory by Kaley Duncan photo editor The McLean football game turned out to be a spirited affair as Seahawk and Highlander fans earned enough votes to be the Fox 5 Game of the Week. Bottom Left: Brendan Galbraith leads part of the hype squad from the parking lot to the bleachers at the McLean football game. Even though the Seahawks lost, the hype squad
kept up the energy and cheered for the team throughout the game. Right: A FOX 5 cameraman records cheerleaders greeting viewers at home for the game of the week footage. The South Lakes’ mascot also joined in on the cheering. Above: Sophomore linebacker Kyle Savage and sophomore defensive back Raquan Terry pursue Mclean’s offense. The Seahawks kept the game close losing 14-7. PHOTOS BY KALEY DUNCAN
College scouts take interest in shot putter by Emily Lipscomb sports editor
Junior Sumiya Yates is in her second year of varsity track and field, but is already looking at future college prospects. Yates competes in the shot put and discus competitions in track and field meets . “Last year was my first year,” said Yates. “I was one of the only girls, but I think I’m good at it because I’m tall and strong. I have to admit being pretty strong helps.” Last season in district competition, Yates placed fourth in shot put and fifth in discus, barely qualifying her for the Regional competition. However, when Yates competed, nerves got the best of her. “I got there and the nerves just
kicked in,” said Yates. “I don’t know what happened, but I did not do my best by any means.” She says these events seem to come to her naturally but she didn’t do it by herself, Head
Ohio State University sent representatives to South Lakes on October 14 to promote their school programs and Yates was one student in attendance. “I pulled a few of the representa-
coach Scott Raczko and assistant coach Joseph Schuler have both helped Yates from the beginning. “Both of my coaches have been great,” said Yates. “I know they believe that I can go really far with this.” University of Alabama and
tives aside because I was interested in what type of track and field programs they had,” said Yates. “I told them my stats and how it was only my second year, and they were pretty impressed and interested.” Both universities have Division
“But wherever I go, I know what’s going to be important to me. Track and field is one of those things.” -Sumiya Yates, junior
I track and field programs, require a strong GPA, and demonstrate a substantial amount of school spirit. They also both include a wide variety of other sports, which according to Yates, is also a big part of her college decision making. “I’ll probably look at Old Dominion too,” said Yates. “Wherever I go, I know what’s going to be important to me. Track and field is one of those things.” Along with track and field, Yates is in her second year as an offensive and defensive lineman for the varsity football team and was on the junior varsity basketball team last season. “My favorite sport is track and field because I love doing the shot put. It’s something I enjoy doing, and I can see myself doing it in college.”
On September 27, the volleyball program hosted the annual Volleyboys game, three weeks before Homecoming week. Why can’t this game be during the Homecoming festivities? Freshmen played the sophomores and juniors played the seniors decked out in blue, green, yellow or orange, while the audience showed excitement in support of their class. I think this sounds exactly like a Homecoming event. The school showed great support for Volleyboys this year, raising the volleyball program over $1,400. Each class showed up with an enthusiastic hype squad showing a vast amount of school spirit. After the sophomore and senior victories, the exhilaration was put to rest during the three-week respite until Homecoming week, which is now finally upon us. Powderpuff will take place on Wednesday night, the Freshmen and JV football games on Thursday night, the varsity homecoming game and parade on Friday, and the dance on Saturday night. Although the week is already pretty full, Monday and Tuesday nights are free. Homecoming week is distracting for some people because there are already so many events throughout it and fall sports are still going on, so they may have games during the week. However, homecoming week is the best place for the Volleyboys game and it makes more sense than having it three weeks prior. The girls defend their class by fighting it out on the gridiron, so the boys should also have an opportunity. If Volleyboys were during Homecoming week, winning the game would earn the victorious class points towards the point tally during the week just like Powderpuff. Volleyboys is very similar to Powderpuff in many ways so South Lakes should start a new homecoming tradition by adding it in conjunction with Homecoming week. I understand that Powderpuff is customary for most schools in celebrations of homecoming, South Lakes should add Volleyboys and create a new tradition. That being said, congratulations senior Volleyboys on a great win. Now it’s up to 2011 Powderpuff team to dominate. With many talented seniors on the football team who have taken their time to coach the senior Powderpuff team, I would say that the junior and senior powderpuff game this year will be an exciting event.