What is your new teacher like? “Mr. Martin is very good at getting the point across, he doesn’t belabor anything.”
—Katie Payne senior
“Mrs. Vandervort is great because she teaches in a way that keeps your attention throughout the period.”
—Charlie Dickinson senior “My biology teacher Mr. Robinson’s enthusiasm during class makes learning a better experience.”
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Sept. 30, 2003
Manuel gets adjusted to AHS BY SOHAIB KHAN Staff Writer Every morning, Rodney Manuel walks into AHS and meets new students, faculty and staff. He is polite and friendly and aims to help all the students do well academically as he offers the best he can in his power to try and make AHS the best high school in Fairfax County. Having to face obstacles such as getting to know the building, talking to teachers and helping the students out in his first month as a principal, Manuel has had his hands full juggling meetings and the social aspects of school. When asked about his goals for the students Manuel said, “When I was in high school I did good academically and was connected to school through clubs and sports, which I hope to see that in every student at AHS.” Manuel took charge of AHS on July 1 after being the assistant principal and associate principal at Lake Braddock Secondary School. He replaced Don Clausen after his nine years of service. The diversity of AHS is some-
thing that Manuel has not faced in his career in education. Manuel is focused on improving AHS academically and getting the student body connected to the school through sports, clubs, and studies, regardless of their background. “It is good to see people from different ethnic backgrounds walking together without having the thought of who is walking beside them,” said Manuel. Manuel, born in 1963 at Fairfax hospital, and spent most of his life in northern Virginia. He attended Lake Braddock High School where he also met his wife, Gail. He graduated in 1981, and received his undergraduate degree from George Mason University. He went further at Baylor University in Texas, receiving his master’s. Influenced by a teacher and a coach, Manuel further went to the University of Virginia to get his degree in administration. Manuel got his first job in education as a driver’s education teacher at Thomas Edison High School, where he also coached baseball and football for seven years. He later became assistant principal at Mark Twain Middle School,
where, because of the students’ impact, he decided to come back to his home school, Lake Braddock Secondary School. There he became the assistant principal and then the associate principal. In comparison to Clausen, Manuel’s love for his students was clear. “He is similar to Clausen in seeing the light side of the things. They both have a great sense of humor and both have high expectations from the student body,” said
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I want all students, and all parents to have a great experience at Annandale ...
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—Rodney Manuel Principal
Assistant Principal Jon Fredrickson. His colleagues enjoy working with him and hope that he will bring constructive changes to AHS. “I like working with
him. We don’t expect huge changes, but it is a matter of time going by and looking forward to what he has to offer,” said his administrative assistant, Geri Lee. One of Manuel’s primary goals for the year concerns AHS student attendance. Recently, Manuel has been analyzing test data, and has determined that attendance is a factor in the test scores. For this reason, Manuel would like to see an improvement in student attendance. He would also like to increase administration involvement in extra-curricular activities throughout the school. Manuel is focused on continuing on the foundation that Clausen has already established at AHS. He is committed to achieving his goals of making improvements academically, celebrating the school’s diversity, working on character education and assisting the students in becoming better citizens. “I want all students, and all parents to have a great experience at AHS, so that when they leave AHS whether they graduate or move to another school, I want them to look back and say, what a great experience that was,” said Manuel.
LEFT TWO BY ASHLEY JONES; RIGHT PHOTO BY PAUL GLEASON
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PEOPLE
—Krista Silano freshman
“Mr. Diamond is really funny and enthusiastic. I think I’ll learn a lot from him this year.”
Principal Rodney Manuel thumbs through paper work at his desk during school.
“My Algebra teacher Ms. Furlong is really nice and gets everyone involved in the class. And the homework isn’t that bad.”
—KC Vandenheuvel junior
Celebrity Birthdays
Emeril Lagasse
OCTOBER 1
Jimmy Carter, 79
2
Sting, 52
3
Gwen Stefani, 34
4
Susan Sarandon, 57
7
Yo-Yo Ma, 48
8
Matt Damon, 33
9
John Lennon, (deceased)
10
Brett Farve, 34
11
Luke Perry, 37
12
Marion Jones, 28
13
Ashanti, 23
14
Ralph Lauren, 64
15
Emeril Lagasse, 44
16
Suzanne Somers, 57
17
Eminem, 31
19
Omar Gooding, 27
21
Judge Judy Sheindlin, 61
23
“Weird” Al Yankovic, 44
25
Bobby Knight, 63
27
Kelly Osbourne, 19
28
Bill Gates, 48
31
John Candy, 53
Ashanti
Manuel and Assistant Principal Dave Tremaine eat with students during D lunch.
Principal Rodney Manuel stands with AHS sfirst principal, Ralph E. Buckley, in front of the school.
Getting to know Dave Tremaine the principal’s style. Tremaine primarily transferred because he likes diversity and wanted an opportunity to be part of one of the most diverse schools in the Coming in at 6’ 5 1/2”, Dave Tremaine is the tall- nation. “[So many different cultures] provides the est of the new staff members to AHS this year. He students with a much better overall experience.” Although Tremaine is happy with the status of comes from an instructor’s family: his mom was an elementary school teacher, his wife, Robin, currently is the school as it is, he is determined to help the school an elementary school teacher, and his brother, Jeff, di- succeed at an even higher level, focusing primarily rected Jackass: The Movie. He currently has two kids, on SOL scores. Another goal of his, as well as the Samantha, 8, and Grant, 5, with one more due Oct. 22. entire administration’s, is to increase hall supervision. Previous teaching experience includes being a “This year we are trying to be very visible in the hallfourth grade teacher at Dranesville Elementary ways during all class changes,” when most disputes School, and seventh and eighth grade science teacher between students begin. He spends most of his day at Luther Jackson Middle School, and an adminis- making sure the English and IB programs are organized well, but also works on the trator at Westlawn Elementary business, auto tech, and library School, Glasgow Middle School, departments, and is the sponsor and most recently Lake Bradfor the freshman class. His pet dock Secondary School. “I have I have always thought of peeve is disrepect towards others. always thought of myself as myself as someone who can In his spare time, he enjoys someone who can connect well spending time with his famwith kids,” said Tremaine. connect well with kids ily in the outdoors. Some of Tremaine graduated from the the activities he enjoys include University of South Carolina’s undergraduate program, and re-- Dave Tremaine taking nature walks, playing ceived his master’s degree locally Assistant Principal tennis and basketball with his kids and visiting the reptile from George Mason University. exhibit at the National Zoo. He Despite many rumors, Tremaine said his simultaneous transfer from Lake calls himself an amateur herpetologist (one who Braddock with principal Rod Manuel was purely studies reptiles) and has passed on some of that to coincidental. He did add, however, that it definitely his daughter, who has a corn-snake and a tortoise. helps to come into a new school and already know Along with their fish, a basset hound named CupBY JOE WILBUR Staff Writer
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Who am I? • I was a freight agent for a railroad; newspaper circulation district manager; sales representative; teacher. • For the past 22 years I have been a school administrator, the last 13 years at AHS. • My interests are architecture, travel, and reading. • In high school I played basketball and tennis and ran cross country. • I played Frank Burns in the AHS student/faculty producion of M*A*S*H. Some people say I was type-cast. • In my spare time I make golf clubs for friends and myself. • I had a collie; German shepherd; two cats named Elvis and Perry; and two ducks named Abercrombie and Fitch. • My favorite parts about my job as an administrator are: visiting classes and activities, and getting to see the many talents and interests of AHS students. I also enjoy participating in AHS events such as M*A*S*H, Laugh-In, and being in one of the videos in the AHS film festival. • Teaching wasn’t my first career choice. I wanted to be a pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
• My pet peeves are: Inconsiderate and insensitive people; loud music in restaurants; SMOKING. • My favorite food is seafood, especially lobster and shrimp. I also enjoy prime rib and pizza. • I received my B.A. in Government from the University of Virginia; Master of Arts in Teaching from Miami University (Ohio); and a Master of Education in School Administration and Supervision. If you submit the correct answer to the “Who Am I,” come to the A-Blast room (233) to receive your prize.
BY JILL GUERIN
—Jeff Newman sophomore
Assistant Principal Dave Tremaine gets to know the student body a little better during lunch, as he humors students with a joke.
cake and a German shepherd named Luther, the Tremaines practically run their own zoo in their house. In addition to spending time with his family, Tremaine likes going out to film with his brother. In Jackass, Tremaine would help his brother in any way he could, and get to watch the actors perform before the editors viewed it. He also enjoys reading, mainly science fiction, with authors like Robert Heinlein on the top of his list. When it comes to food, “I’m easy to please.” Thai food is one of his favorites, with sea-food close behind. In addition, he is a self-proclaimed “big mollusk eater,” and advises students with last names Sane-Z that if you get into trouble, bring in some raw oysters to get him in a good mood before discussing their punishment.
The chemistry of Krywy BY STUART DUNBAR Staff Writer The People editors randomly selected new teacher Matt Krywy for an interview. Krywy revealed his history along with his reasons for coming to AHS. Q: Why did you decide to teach at Annandale? A: I wanted to leave New Jersey and move to Virginia. I also knew that Fairfax County had a great school system, so I chose Annandale. It is also similar to my old school. Q: What made you decide to be a teacher? A: Actually, it was an accident. Originally I was supposed to attend medical school. The first year out of college I became a teacher to earn some money and waste time before medical school. I ended up liking it and stayed. Q: Did you have an academic position at another school before coming here, and if so, what school was it? A: I taught science for five years in New Jersey. The schools I taught at were Bayonne H.S., Our Lady of Good Counsel, and Saint Al’s Academy. As an extra-curricular, I coached track in New Jersey. Q: Have you ever taught or wanted to teach another subject? A: I tried to teach Spanish one time. I taught math one year at a private school in
Newark. I was also asked and considered teaching music. Q: Where did you go to college and what was your degree? A: I attended Holy Cross for four years, where I received a bachelors degree in Spanish. I also received a masters degree in School Administration at Saint Peters College. Q: How do you feel about the diversity at Annandale? A: The mix here is really good. It provides a great school atmosphere. Q: What is your favorite class that you have taught and what was your favorite class as a student? A: My favorite class to teach is chemistry and my favorite class as a student was music. Q: What grades have you taught? A: I have taught ninth grade, tenth grade, eleventh grade and 12th grade. Q: Have you had any other jobs besides teaching? A: As a summer job I was a boy scout director. I was also a water safety patrol, where I trained lifeguards. Q: What makes teaching at Annandale diffrent from the other schools you taught at? A: The schools I taught at are all very similar, there’s not much difference. One thing different is the block schedule. It used to be 40 minute classes. Basically, the only other difference is that it is in Virginia, not New Jersey.