News
Entertainment
Homecoming Week
Upper 90 Pg. 5
OPINION
Sentinel Policies Pg. 3
FEATURE
School Changes Pg.4
DIVERSIONS
Senioritis PG.2
SPORTS
Football PG.7
CENTREVILLE HIGH SCHOOL
SENTINEL september 2011, volume 21, issue 1
Welcome Class of 2015! By Ryan Henson Welcome to Centreville High School, Class of 2015. High school will be four of the fastest years of your life. You have to remember to enjoy it and don’t get stressed out about unimportant things which are happening around you. High school will fly by and before you know it, you’ll start thinking about colleges and your future career. What you don’t want to do at all in high school is slack off because one bad quarter can ruin a year which can affect which colleges you’re considering attending. In order to make high school a little more enjoyable as the days just get all smutted together and everything
seems like a big blur, try joining a club or team. This will help you meet new friends who you can form bonds with throughout high school. It’s a good idea to take somewhat difficult classes but don’t overdo everything and end up staying up till 12 o’clock every night doing your homework while still exhausted from
practice or work. You can’t have fun when you go from school to practice to homework and get very little sleep for school the next day. But you don’t want to take the easiest classes and not be challenged at all. It is much more convenient if you take the back stairs on a daily basis because there is not as much of a rush
to get to class after the warning bell. It will get very easy after you get in a routine and know where all the classes are and you’ll know how much time you need to get to class. You don’t want to get caught in tardy sweeps which are supposedly going to happen more often; sitting in detention with nothing to do is no fun. You have four more years until you enter the real world and high school will certainly help get you prepared. Its going to be over before you know it, so enjoy every minute you have.
New windscreen on the practice field fence. (photo/Mac Cassells)
School Spirit High With Homecoming Week Approaching By Mac Cassells The staff and students of Centreville’s SGA have been quickly putting together plans for homecoming week, which is scheduled from Oct. 11-15 with Oct. 12 being only a half day because of PSAT testing. The week long list of events begins on Tuesday Oct. 11 with spirit days and concludes on Saturday night with the dance. The theme for this year’s homecoming is Around the World, and many of the spirit days reflect the theme. They will consist of camo day in which people will wear camouflage clothing or red, white and blue. Another day on the list is European workout day where the dress will be workout clothes that people wore during the 80’s. A new addition to the spirit week lineup is “Where’s Waldo” day, where everyone is asked to dress up like Waldo from the popular children’s books. This will also involve a school wide game on that day. In addition to spirit days, games will be played
the student body. Finally, Friday will be blackout day as always for the home football game against McLean that evening. Perhaps the two biggest days of homecoming week are Friday and Saturday. As previously stated, all students are encouraged to wear black on Friday, October 14 to support the football team as they take on McLean in the third home game of year. T-shirts sayPainted spirtday windows on the main stairwell. (photo/ ing “Beat McLean” Ryan Henson) will be sold in lunches for $10 on at each lunch between the classes to instill enthusiasm and spirit amongst Oct. 6, 7, 11, 12, 14, and 15. Dance tickets will also be sold on these days in all
Upcoming Events • • • • • • • • • • • •
1st quarter interims Sept. 30 Best Buddies Annual Matching Potluck Dinner Sept. 30 SAT Test Oct. 1 Homecoming Tickets go on sale Oct. 6 Transcript Request due date Oct. 7 PSAT Oct. 12 Taste of Centreville Oct. 14 Varsity Football vs. Mclean-Homecoming Game Oct. 14 Homecoming Dance Oct. 15 ACT Test Oct. 22 Varsity Football vs. Westfield Oct .28 Touching Bases Nov. 11
lunches for $20 each. The homecoming guest policy has changed a little bit from past years. If a student would like to bring a date that does not go to Centreville, the student must be a current high school student in good standing or they may be a Centreville graduate no older than 20 years old. No middle school students will be allowed to attend the homecoming dance. The student who goes to Centreville must pick up the guest request approval form which must be filled out and brought back to the SGA room (114) on Thursday, October 6 from 6-8 p.m.. Photos will be collected by Mrs. Banbury that evening in the SGA room. The full form and list of procedures can be found outside the SGA room (114) or by contacting Mrs. Banbury. After school, the annual parade will take place in Little Rocky Run and will conclude with “Taste of Centreville” back at school, featuring many local restaurants selling food in the parking lot near the stadium.
Undefeated Wildcats 4-0 By Phil Christophe The temperature is dropping, fans are searching for their cold gear, and football season has begun. Devoted fans of all ages come out every week to support and watch Centreville’s Varsity Football team play their next victim. With four weeks down and four wins so far, the Wildcats are ranked in the Top-10 throughout Virginia and are rolling through the competition. “A lot of people tell us how much pressure we are under, but we show everyone each game we are
a top team,” Matt Vlissides (12) said. “We have to go into each game thinking we are going to crush. Coach has had us work harder this year telling us things at practice like, you need to start playing like a top-10 team”, said Vlissides. It’s exciting; a lot of pressure, but it’s a lot fun. It’s exciting to have this good of a team your senior year,” Manny Smith (12) added. “Others on the team look for the journey down the road of the season. It’s cool to be top 10 ranked, but it doesn’t really matter until the playoff’s,” said Bret Fite (12). See page 7
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DIVERSIONS
Sept 30 2011
For Juniors, The Journey Is Just Beginning BY Elaine Edwards
Many assume that senior year is the most stressful year of high school but junior year can also come as a challenging one. As classes become more difficult and the college search begins, the full reality of imminent adulthood begins to sink in – but more so, the sheer amount of work required in getting there. However, when the right steps are taken, tackling the journey through junior year is not as bad as one thinks. The first step is mostly done through methods you’ve actually known (and been lectured about) your whole life: staying healthy by sleeping, eating, and exercising. Numerous studies show the benefits of eating breakfast in order to provide the fuel your brain needs to begin the school day with
energy. Even more emphasis is put on getting a full night’s sleep, with teenagers needing somewhere around nine hours to be fully rested. Finally, exercise helps increase blood flow to your brain, leaving it active enough to get through that challenging precalc homework later. Missing school for even a day can be disastrous, so if you follow these methods, keeping up with your assignments is sure to be a breeze. Other parts of the process are all about your individuality: how do you work best? There are methods for everyone, and all are guaranteed to produce fantastic results. “I color-code everything for my classes,” Jennifer Lee (11) said. “Staying organized is what helps me.” Jen-
nifer also attended an SAT Prep course for eight weeks during the summer. Other forms of SAT prep exist during the school year as well. “I signed up for the SAT Question of the Day. It’s really preparing me for the test,” Lauren Ierardi (11) said. College Board is a fantastic online resource that many students turn to during their junior year. Its forums provide students with answers to questions on applying for colleges, what to expect on the SATs, and numerous other subjects students might face during this time. Most importantly the grades you get in your classes can help determine your future in college. There are a variety of ways to keep your averages up. Among them: get
help when you need it; teachers are often more than willing to stay after school to help you out. This might also mean perhaps deactivating Facebook or locking your phone when you’re doing homework. Even through everything, though, don’t forget to take what time you have to relax – it’s important not to forget that this is all for a purpose, and enjoying a little time for yourself. Once you get through high school the rewards are endless. For now, take on the days as they come, and good things will be sure to follow. For Thomas Le (11), this means focusing regularly on thoughts of his life after the stress has calmed. “I imagine college in order to get myself to work,” he said. “I do what I have to, and focus on the future.”
Getting To Know Your High School Clubs And Its Benefits BY Candie He We wake up at 6 a.m. and leave school at 2 p.m. every day, of course the days can be repetitive and dull. One suggestion to help change up your high school routine can be by joining school clubs. There are many fun clubs to consider joining here at Centreville. They provide an opportunity to meet new people, try a new activity, and enjoy your school days. For the students who maybe aren’t so athletic and don’t want to join a sports team, remember this: that is not the only option. There are a variety of clubs that cater to students who love to write, improve leadership skills, care for animals, or who want to learn more about a certain culture or religion. Now is a chance to try something new and meet new friends. Keep in mind: every club you join is valuable experience to include in college applications later on. Anyone is welcome to join any club, although Honor societies have a requirement of a 3.5 GPA or higher and above grade 9. So what are you waiting for? This is your chance to get involved and try new things. The following clubs in school are:
Contact
Club Name
Description
Animal Welfare Best Buddies
Heather Scott A group that promote the treatment of animals. Students to form friendships with physically or mentally chal- Vicki Hudson lenged peers. Share their ideas about faith. Steven Mossholder For students who take an interest in the game of Chess. Alexis Wenzel Class members of each year. Brian Doyle Rob Ewing Karla Hogan Students who are interested in applying to college, scholarships. Nancy Schneider Student Activities Students who enjoy dancing. A career- oriented group that educates students about the mar- Morgan Spencer keting field. Mike Hudson Students who admire films adn the art of film-making. Mike Hudson Thesapians and admirers of theatre. Jeanne Kabulis Students who enjoy speaking or learning French. Students who take an interest in Frisbee Golf or Ultimate Frisbee Jarred Vallozzi Bryan Buser Future Business Leaders of America. A diverse group of students that appreciate learning about and John McLaren experiencing new cultures. Jean No Promotes community service and leadership activities. Amy Balint Students who enjoy Korean culture. Students who enjoy learning or speaking Latin and learning the David Campbell history of the language. Elise Fascik Students who enjoy speaking Spanish. Claire Leftwich Welcomes new students to CVHS by showing them around campus.
Catholic Chess Class of 2015 2014 2013 2012 College Partnership Dance DECA Drama Club Film Club French Frisbee FBLA International Key Club Korean Club Latin Spanish
Wildcat Welcomers
Noosh & Polly’s Corner Back For The Last Time: Your Senior Advice
BY NASHMIN BEHROUZI & PALLAVI SAINI Another year has begun here at Centreville High School and seniors already know what this is: the last time around until graduation. For many, “Senioritis” has already kicked in and the desire to leave high school is increasing day by day.”Senior year is like a mustache, it’s curvy but fun!” Angela Vibas (12) said. But the journey is not over just yet; there are some things seniors should keep in mind in order to be successful even after high school especially for the ones going right to college. Keeping up with grades is a major one. Many assume that once college applications are in they don’t have to worry about their grades; truth is, colleges that one has applied for may waitlist a person and check their final grades after senior year as well. Colleges also have a right to take back an acceptance once a student’s grade drops second semester, or if they fail a
subject at the end of the year. Another thing seniors should keep in mind is the process of applying to colleges. Most think that it is too soon to start applying now; truth is, the application process could take up to four weeks and applying to more than four or five colleges could take even longer. Each application would take about a minimum of fifteen school days. The money involved in applying to colleges is another major difficulty seniors should consider. Most college applications are around $50-$60 each, if applying to many colleges the application fee would be more than one may think, so save that money. Seniors should begin all this by looking up the deadline dates for their top college choices and begin to plan from there. Money is a major concern throughout senior year and obviously college. Seniors should pay their senior dues during fall as soon as they can because
the more time passes and we head towards spring, the senior due prices increase. To decrease the money burden start paying senior dues during first few months of school instead of having to pay double by the end of the year. Remember this, seniors: no matter
how much the senioritis kicks at you, dont forget to push yourselves just a little longer because in the end it will definitely be worth it. Make your four years of high school worthwhile and stay successful.
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Sept. 30, 2011
Opinion
Effects of Hurricane Irene Overblown?
By Jesse McCormack
A mere four days after Northern Virginia felt the effects of a 5.8 earthquake , so called “devastation” struck again, this time in the form of a hurricane named Irene. While the storm hit most of the eastern seaboard, even areas that do not normally get hit like our very own Northern Virginia, Meteorologists, who tracked Irene for weeks and predicted her to be the worst tropical storm or hurricane to hit our area since hurricane Isabel in 2003, seemed to think the storm would be worse than it actually was. “All the weathermen were saying it was going to be really bad. That people should stay inside, watch out for floods, and that everybody’s electricity was probably going to go out. Basically, just to prepare for the worst”. Said Senior Sai Thota, (12). Irene eventually hit Virginia in the early hours of August 27. A total of 5 people were killed, most of which
the result of downed trees. Numerous power lines, cars, homes, and roads were badly damaged due to the massive amounts of rain and flooding. Damages amassed over 1.2 million. One of the cities that feared the worst was New York. Many experts expected Irene to hit New York City badly, and that there would be massive damage and possibly even death, mainly in Lower Manhattan. However, although New York City was not saved altogether, it was not get the brunt of Irene, which hit further inland than many experts excepted. Now, even though it’s clear Irene took its took on the eastern seaboard, was the storm overblown by experts? “It really wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be.” Comments Junior Evan Fuller. “Everybody was freaking out, saying that all the houses and roads were going to be flooded and electricity was going to go out, but nothing really happened
too badly to my neighborhood.” In fact, Evan’s opinion was a common one throughout our community. After hearing about so many terrible things that were going to happen to
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our area by so called “experts”, and seeing what could most accurately be described as an exaggerated rain storm, Irene seemed kind of overblown, didn’t it?
Hurricane Irene hitting the Northeast. photo/NASA/NOAA.
Wait a Minute: You Call That an Earthquake?
By Matt Darling
fell over the dog gate trying to get out.” Said Cailey As summer came to a close and the excitement Powell (12). Other students such as junior Lindsay Egbers got of the season began to wind down the northern Vircaught in much more humorous situations when she ginia area was surprised to feel the ramifications of confronted the earthquake by “freaking out” from a 5.8 magnitude earthquake that had struck mineral Virginia on August 23rd 2011. I was overcome with surprise but, interestingly many students had drastically different views than I. The reactions of the student body fell over a broad spectrum which ranged from terror to complete dismissal. Garrett Leavitt feared the worst and considered the thought of a nuclear attack on the nation’s capital. Garrett became elated as the terror that had gripped him due to far reaching effects of a possible terrorist attack was replaced by the comparatively less serious implications of the earthquake. “I had thought that Washington D.C. may have been completely destroyed by a terrorists’ nuke at first.” Said Leavitt (12). Not only students reacted to the event Cleanup in Aisles 1,2,3,4,5 and 6.” The Rite-Aid in Arlington’s ,“My mom bolted out of the house in terror before Westover Village shopping center after the earthquake. (Amy GardI could realize what happened, leaving me to care ner - The Washington Post) for myself and my friend who was over. We almost
the isolation of a changing room at Tyson’s Corner mall. Some less fortunate students had to endure the earthquake in far more precarious environments. Senior Molly Donovan was at Virginia Beach staying in a hose that was perched atop stilts. Although she did not distinguish the quake due to the amount the building naturally swayed in the wind the danger of the situation was in no way lessened. Other students reacted to the earthquake as if it were a non-event. Senior Zach Sikora had just finished football practice as the quake began and didn’t even realize that there had been such an event until told about it later. Junior Kevin Murphy likewise failed to feel the earthquake over the rumbling of the lawn mower he was currently riding. However, I believe that the news networks may have underplayed the event to some degree due to the amount of property damage done and the people hurt even though most of the damage was done closer to the epicenter of the quake. However, it is my belief that it is not only the fault of the networks; they are at the mercy of ratings dictated by the short attention span of many Americans.
Sentinel Policy Invites Reader Comments, Thoughts By Joe Dell
The intention of this article is to educate Sentinel readers about the OpEd policy of our paper. Our goal in the Op-Ed section as is the case for the entire paper, is to engage the reader and at the same time follow a journalistic code of ethics. Op-Ed articles are the opposite of straight news stoires in that they are 100% opinionated. As Op-Ed editor, my goal here is to discuss not only the positive opinions of the students and staff at Centreville, but the negative ones as well. Last year, numerous editorials were written which included lunchroom behavior during the food fight, tardy problems, and other negative issues.
Other articles featured positive things such as popular movies and activities. Whatever the tone of the argument, it is valuable because it gives Sentinel writers, and more importantly the entire CVHS community, an opportunity to voice opinions.
the brilliant yellow pass system; however, students expressed a desire for that questionable system to be written about and it was. This year, we abandoned the yellow passes altogether. Unlike the majority of articles in a newspaper, what is written in the Op-Ed s e c tion is strictly opini o n . Everyo n e at CVHS is encouraged to submit letters to the editor if they are concerned about what is written in the Op-Ed section.
“The Op-Ed section is here so that the opinions of the Centreville staff and students can be reflected in a constructive manner,” said Editor-in-Chief Mac Cassells. Students wrote to us that they wanted some noise to be made about the tardy policy, and it was. It was uncertain why CVHS has abandoned
2011-2012 STAFF Editor-In-Chief: Mac Cassells Business & Advertising Manager: Courtney Burke Section Editors: Courtney Burke (Feature) Nashmin Behrouzi (Diversions) Ryan Henson (News) Joe Dell (Op-Ed) Phil Christophe (Sports) Layout Editors: Phil Christophe Courtney Burke Nashmin Behrouzi Pallavi Saini
Staff Writers: Nashmin Behrouzi, Courtney Burke, Mac Cassells, Philip Christophe, Matt Darling, Joe Dell, Elaine Edwards, Candie He, Ryan Henson, Erika Hubbard, Soo Lim, Jesse McCormack, Pallavi Saini, Erin Shin Advisor: Kathleen Willmann
SENTINEL Advertising Policy
Sentinel, a student written and edited publication of Centreville High School, serves the CVHS community. We accept all advertising relevant to the students, parents, and CVHS staff. We reserve the right to decline any advertising deemed in violation of the Students Rights and Responsibilities or inappropriate for a school setting. All comments or complaints should be addressed to the editorial staff.
Anything written in this section reflects the opinions of the writer or writers and as long as anyone who is critcized in an editorial remains anonymous, we protected under the First Amendment: Freedom of the Press. “The Op-Ed section is here so that the opinions of the Centreville staff and students can be reflected in a constructive manner, “ said Mac Cassells, editor-in-chief. The CVHS community is encouraged to contact me at facebook or tweet issues to me that they would like to see discussed in the paper. The Sentinel does not belong to the staff that writes it or even to the authority that publishes. It belongs to the readers. The objective of Sentinel’s Staff is to provide a student forum where information is provided and voices can be heard. Our mission is to provide the student body of Centreville High School an honest and accurate paper produced by the students, for the students. Our editorials represent the opinions of Sentinel’s Editors and always promote the opportunity for critique and response. Our opinion pieces reflect the view of the writer and the writer only, and are not printed to offend. This is a publication that maintains high standards and proper ethical conduct. All letters to the editor must be typed and signed. They can be dropped off at room 116 or placed in Mrs. Willmann’s mailbox. We reserve the right to edit the responses.
CVHSnews@gmail.com
Feature
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Sept. 30, 2011
Teacher Spotlight: Look at Andrew Tisinger’s Past by Erika Hubbard Most Centreville students know Andy Tisinger as the lovable, energetic earth science teacher down on the first floor, a hallway with the classroom full of eye-catching rocks and rolling chairs. While he is undoubtedly a popular teacher at CVHS, a lot of students are unaware that Tisinger lived in South America for 10 years, has coached 110 sports teams and has been teaching since 1972. As the son of an American diplomat, Tisinger was born in Washington, D.C. and grew up in three different South American countries including Chile, Peru, and Paraguay until he was in the seventh grade. He attended native schools and learned to speak Spanish by playing soccer in the streets with other kids in their bare feet. Growing up in this setting, Tisinger claims “It gave me a different perspective on life. I learned a little humility about discrimination after being called ‘the Gringo’ by the natives, which is not generally a complimentary term.” Tisinger then moved to the United States and attended Bishop O’Connell High School in Arlington, VA. While there he played a variety of sports including football and baseball, and attended The College of William & Mary on a football scholarship. He graduated with a B.S. in geology and in 1979 received his Masters in Administration from GMU. “I initially had no teaching plans. I spent three months working in the State Department but couldn’t stand
sitting behind a desk, so I contacted a high school counselor looking for guidance to choose a career. They gave me one of those vocational tests and that’s how I got into teaching,” said Tisinger. A job that ironically involves a lot of desk-sitting, Tisinger will celebrate his 40th year of teaching this Jan. 29. He is by no means bored of his job, however. “I love the kids I teach,” Tisinger said. “It’s all about the kids. I think they’re much easier to teach these days. I get along with them better than adults.” He has a lot of fun teaching geosystems because it’s an applied science, as well as oceanography which he also
By Courtney Burke While students were away on vacation tanning at the pool, playing sports, working, or completing those summer homework assignments, the school was undergoing a series of mini-makeovers. First, as everyone knows, a statue of a wildcat was placed out front last February. Now, according to Principal Campbell, when the students walk in the front doors on their first day of school they will see a large flat screen TV which was given to the school as the senior gift from the class of 2011. Also, the Academic Hall of Fame, which can be found on the pillar near the attendance office, has been upgraded.
Two brand new 70” flat screen TV’s have been placed in the cafeteria, one on each side, and it has been said they are going to be used for academic purposes. The doors leading from the cafeteria to the PE hallway have been redone so now the gate does not have to be pulled down anymore. To help those in wheelchairs or the handicapped, a ramp was originally placed from the stadium bleachers to the exit but also this ramp will be used to help ease the large traffic flow out of the stadium after the Friday night games. On a bigger scale, that empty space under the “Wildcat Hall of Fame” near the PE doors by the music hallway is finally going to be filled. There will be lockers with the person’s name on
Mr. Tisinger poses with his 7th period Honors Geosytems class. (photo/Erika Hubbard) teaches. And his students share his enthusiasm: “Mr. Tisinger likes to get everyone involved and he just sets up a fun learning environment,” Carlos Morrobel (12) said. “He’s funny, smart, and charismatic.” In addition to teaching, Tisinger has a long history of coaching a wide variety of sports. He has 17 years of experience coaching track at West Potomac (previously known as Fort Hunt) and Lake Braddock Secondary School. He has he also coached high school football and baseball. In the 21 years Tisinger has taught at Centreville, he has not coached for the high school but instead for various
youth teams. One of his most prided accomplishments includes founding the Women’s Track and Field Coaches Association which promoted women’s track and field. Years ago, the longest race for women was the 800 meter; Tisinger campaigned to allow girls to run cross country, indoor track, and gained the 1-mile and 2-mile races for girls’ outdoor track as a coach at West Potomac. Throughout his entire teaching career, Tisinger has lived in the same community he teaches in. He enjoys being close to his students and claims, “I have been really lucky…and I have the best classroom.”
them and things such as their jersey inside the lockers with the locker being enclosed by glass. These will be students and not just athletes who attended the school throughout the past 22 years. These changes have not been made yet, but they are in the plans for the future. That is not the only change that will be happening on that same wall. The parts which are not going to be used for the Hall of Fame will be used for brand new showcases and trophy cases to display all of the schools trophies
from the past 22 years and for all the future trophies to come. Now for the biggest change this year: a brand new gym floor and bleachers, both of which are now complete. In the center of the floor is the blue wildcat logo to match the one on the stadium grass. On the bleachers, one set will spell “CVHS” and the other set will spell “CATS.” “These are the most changes we’ve made in the 6 years I’ve been here,” said Principal Campbell.
Seniors Help Others in India, West Virginia During Summer Sapna Rao and Nahom Endrias, fellow seniors, spent part of their summer helping the less fortunate. Nahom traveled to the town of Man, a small town in West Virginia. He accompanied his church as well as other churches from the Arlington and New York areas. While there, they worked on a trail-
Sapna Rao (12) and Nahom Endrias
Entertainment
Score A Goal With Upper 90!
By Pallavi Saini
Summer Break Brings Many Changes to School
BY Courtney Burke
Sep. 30, 2011
er home by building steps, doing some underpinning and then adding the ceiling tiles. The home only had a wooden frame and there was no furniture inside. By working so closely with the family, Nahom said they “created a special bond,” and that doing this project has changed him as a person. “It shows that you can help a person without it having to be official and if you want to help you definitely can.” Sapna ventured all the way to India, where for six weeks she volunteered at an underprivileged preschool with her sister Sahana (9) and her family. She helped teach the kids basic English words and numbers as well as buying supplies for them. Working with these kids in a whole different country made her feel “very humbled and very appreciative of what she had.” When she returned home, she “wanted to take advantage of everything she had.”
The new gym floor and bleachers. (photo/Mac Cassells)
It all started long long ago...in a galaxy far far away...actually no, it started when Nick played a solo show at Jammin’ Java in Vienna and met Dario totally by chance. Shortly after that, they started jamming together and writing new music. The comfortable musical connection was obvious. Dario recruited his good friends Bobby and Jeramey while Nick recruited Seb, and now, we have Upper90! They all have their own influences but they have managed to blend them together to create something awesome. Keep an eye out for this band, especially at venues like Jammin’ Java in Vienna, Jaxx in Springfield and Epicure Cafe in Fairfax.
Cox Farm: Fields of Fear
By Elaine Edwards Pumpkins, raking leaves, apple cider, and…Cox Farms. For Northern Virginia, this fall festival is an event many have considered part of the sacred autumn tradition ever since its opening 39 years ago. Located on the outskirts of Centreville, the fun-for-all fair comes complete with hayrides, all of the best fall foods, slides, rope swings, animals, live entertainment, and more. On Sept. 24, it opened to the public for its annual month-long celebration, and will remain open until we say goodbye again on October 31st. Admission prices on weekdays are $9 for every person over the age of
Name: Sebastian Echeverri Occupation: Gutiar/ Singer High School:Centreville High School Favorite Artisit or Band: Blink 182- As I Lay Dying Something Funny About Yourself: I have scars from running into a pole a while ago. It’s a long story from a really long night.
Name: Dario Cueva Occupation: Shinedown What High High School: going to Oakton High School Favorite Artisit or Band: Song- Sound of Madness Something Funny About Yourself: I Fix My Hair A lot Quotes: Never give up on your dreams
Fields of Fear is something most students from Centreville look forward to every year. For the kids who are too old to go trick-or-treating, the scary corn maze and hayride provide an excellent scare. Looking for more? Special events include: Fields of Fear, the night-time terror event, every Friday and Saturday night in October from 7:30-11 p.m., and Pumpkin Madness on Nov. 5 and 6.
(Photo Credit: Coxfarm.com)
SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW: FALL By Elaine Edwards TV’S TOP PICKS It’s that time of year again. The beginning of autumn, besides being the time to return to school, it also marks the start of premiere season. The fall shows return from their summer hiatuses - and some are introduced for the first time. School is a lot of work, but as you settle into the new year, why not take some of that valuable free time to relax with a bowl of popcorn and the best of what TV has to offer? Here’s a look at the top upcoming seasons you do not want to miss.
Top New Show Pick: New Girl (Tuesday, September 20th, 9:00pm on FOX) Zooey Deschanel stars in the outrageous new comedy New Girl, slated to begin this September on Fox. It chronicles the life of Jess after she breaks up with her model boyfriend and finds a new home with three guys, Nick, Schmidt, and Winston. Hilarity ensues as they attempt to combat the wild whirlwind that is Jess, full of her awkward mishaps, dorky habits, and general insanity. Cute and funny with an all-star cast, Fox’s new show is sure to surpass all expectations.
Name:Bobby Fuchs Occupation:Bass High School:Oakton High School Favorite Artisit or Band: Breaking Benjamin Something Funny About Yourself: Jeramey (Lead Guitarist) and I have only had two classes together
Name:Jeramey Kwan Occupation: Lead Guitar/Back Up Vocals High School: Oakton High School Favorite Artisit or Band: Simple Plan “I’d Do Anything” Something Funny About Yourself: I’m half-Chinese and half-Irsih
two. Tickets on weekends go for $15 per person.
Visit www.coxfarms.com for more information.
(Photo Credit for ALL pictures- Jon Fleming)
Name: Nick Cabrejos Occupation: Lead Singer High School: Centreville HS Favorite Artist or Band: John Mayer, Boys Like Girls, The Maine, Something Funny about Yourself: I love salsa!
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FOX’s New Show, New Girl. (Photo credit/Fox.com)
Runner Ups: Ringer (Tuesday, September 13th, 9:00pm on The CW); Terra Nova (Monday, September 26th, 8:00pm on FOX)
Ringer on the CW (Photo Credit/CW.com) Top Returning Show Pick: House (Monday, October 3rd, 9:00pm on FOX) This return of America’s favorite snarky, abrasive doctor is scheduled to be the last - House is premiering this October on Fox for its eighth and final season, and it is going to be an epic finale. With the departure of Lisa Cuddy, the hospital – and the titular character himself – are sure to be reeling. Other than new management, new diseases and diagnoses continue to crop up, and viewers’ glimpses of the medical world get stranger and stranger. Relationships are as tangled and convoluted as ever. But through it all, Dr. Gregory House remains the same. Full of its old sharp wit, dark humor, and gripping storylines, this drama remains true to excellent form, and is sure to go out with a bang. Runner Ups: Modern Family (Wednesday, September 21st, 9:00pm on ABC); Nikita (Friday, September 23rd, 9:00pm on The CW)
Entertainment
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Sep. 30, 2011
Comedian Ray William Johnson: Hated or Loved By Cville? By Erin Shin
YouTube, a worldwide Internet phenomenon, in which users can upload, share, and view videos, is one of the most visited websites right beside Facebook. It is the source of many people’s media and everyday life, also causing many trends to occur on YouTube. Videos get shared and passed around, eventually reaching millions of views and capturing people’s attention. These viral videos come and go like trends, as new videos come into the mainstream and also become viral. Some videos stay viral and reach millions of subscribers as well, just like YouTube comedian Ray William Johnson, who is the number one most subscribed user at the moment with 4.5 million subscribers, 1.2 billion video views, and still counting. Ray William Johnson’s videos mainly consist of showing viral videos from YouTube, making comedic remarks on these videos, and presenting them in a more entertaining way to his audience. Considering his place in YouTube
Rise Against: Make it Stop
media at the moment, ironically, when Ray was mentioned, many students responded with eye rolls and annoyed expressions, specifically from girls. Students were asked what their thoughts were on Ray William Johnson and if his videos are truly worthy of being number one on YouTube. “I do not think he should be number one. He is mean, rude, not funny, and not positive at all,” Alexandra Frigerio (11) said. “Although his videos are really funny and entertaining, I feel like he’s only taking other people’s videos and making jokes about them,” Rebekah Lee (10) said. “I have nothing against him but he isn’t original like YouTube’s last number one, Nigahiga, whose videos were actually his creation and not others.” Another student agreed that Nigahiga definitely deserves to be number one. In response to these negative comments regarding Ray, another student expressed why she thought Ray was so famous despite the criticism he was receiving: “It’s a lot easier to
criticize things like videos, on the Internet, because nobody will judge you. And it seems to be a bit of a trend to make these cynical jokes about videos on YouTube,” another student answered. He has 4.3 million subscribers and 940 million video views, and still counting, making him second in the rankings but also not far behind Ray. Nigahiga’s videos consist of his own ideas presented creatively in video form, such as skits, rants, and music videos, and many times collaborating with other YouTube stars. Nigahiga is also a very notable YouTube comedian who started his own video channel. Male students also expressed their opinion on Ray William Johnson: “He’s really funny. His ideas aren’t very original, but he can take the simplest things and make them hilarious. I think he’s worthy of being number one on YouTube.” After having said this, the student’s tone brightened immediately. “He is funny sometimes, but at other
times feels like he’s trying too hard,” a sophomore (and fellow male) thoughtfully added. “I guess the pressure of being number one on YouTube comes with being expected to give the viewers as much entertainment as possible.” Commented a CVHS student. “I respect him for being able to put himself out there and show people who he is and how funny he can be. By doing so he was able to become number one on YouTube and I’m pretty sure he’s getting paid well.” He continued. Overall, a trend was noticeable: most females seemed to see Ray negatively and most males saw him in a more positive light. Even though YouTube star Ray William Johnson was met with divided opinions, one can definitely say that being number one on YouTube in itself is successful. As YouTube stars and other trends come and go, surely, there is more in store coming our way on YouTube, a significant part of students’ media here at Centreville High School.
Movies Coming Out in October
By Pallavi Saini
Gay Rights has been a sensitive topic in our community for a long time but Tim Mcllrath, the lead singer of the band Rise Against, takes a stand against bullying over sexual orientation. Back in September, 2010, about 10 suicides made headlines, all as a result of being bullied because of their sexual orientation. “The self-inflicted death rate for this group was about one in 10,300. That comes to roughly 4,000 suicides a year by those of teens-to-college age — a horrible figure.” Gregg Easterbrook said in his blog. In their new single “Make it Stop,” Rise Against is playing in a high school gym, with three gay/lesbian people as the main characters. It shows the hardships some people have to face in order to be excepted for who they love. “When the song says ‘Make it Stop’, it’s talking to the parts of society that would hide behind euphemisms like ‘family values’ to justify bigotry,” Mcllrath said in a letter sent to the Huffington Post. The lead singer isn’t afraid to single out members of his fan-base. The message is to “Let our own audience members know that if they would make a fellow concertgoer feel unwelcome at a Rise Against show, then perhaps it is they who are not welcome at [the show].” The It Gets Better Project is something people all over YouTube are answering to. People share their stories to tell others who are getting bullied because of their sexual orientation that everything after high school does indeed get better. Everyone should be educated about this issue, its just as important as drinking and driving and the SR&R we learn about each year. High school is the place where you learn about who you are and what you want to do with your life and when people bully you because of your sexual orientation it’s pretty messed up. Watch Rise Against’s new video, “Make it Stop” and educate yourselves. This is a favorite band of many students at CVHS and they’re speaking out against something they beleive in. Maybe one day everyone can be equal but until then, educate yourselves about these important issues. Everyone deserves to be loved.
October 7 Real Steel, Action
October 14 The Thing, Horror
Sept. 30, 2011
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Sports
Wildcats Ready for Hayfield Showdown By Phil Christophe
Continued from page 1 Westfield, another top 10 ranked team in the area, will play here at Centreville for senior night, which should be an exciting one. Fans are expected to go all out for the game with an energized crowd expected to prepare for the nail bitter. Westfield also managed a win over the former powerhouse team, Lake Braddock, just as Centreville did. This year is perhaps Centreville’s best chance to beat Westfield with multiple top region athletes on their team. ”No doubt we will win. We have days when we have the greatest practices and we know who we are preparing for down the road. We also have some of the top players in the Northern Region. This is our year,” said Vlissides. With six senior All Concorde District athletes returning (Chase Walter, Ken Ekanem, Manny Smith, Ken Ekanem, Matt Vlissides, Connor Coward) this might be Centreville’s year. Senior Chase Walter was confident enough to say, “We will win and I guarantee it. My prediction for the score is that we will win 35-14 over Westfield.” Players comment everyday how
much fan support has really helped the team get through those tough games. “It’s an amazing senior class this year. You guys are 110% better then last years class with noise, themes, and energy. The body paint looks insane from the field when we turn around. The chants are at opportune moments and it helps us turn our “game” on for the second half of the game,” Vlissides said. Starting quarterback Mitch Ferrick(12) stated, “It is great knowing even at a 10 a.m. games on a Saturday,
ly appreciate the time he puts into each game as well as the job he has done. After an embarrassing 3-7 record the Wildcats put up 2009 under Coach Pannoni, Haddock has taken over with great success having one winning seasons under his belt so far as the head coach. With their first bone-crushing victory over Lake Braddock, the Wildcats posted a score of 23-8. Other notable wins this season so far were over West Potomac 49-10, Mount Vernon 56-13, and Herndon 41-14. Centreville had to sacrifice a home game against West Potomac due to Tropical Storm Lee’s presence in the area. All grass fields were closed so the game was relocated to Westfield’s turf field. Centreville’s students showed their loyalty and pride to the team waking up early to make it to the West Potomac game. “It’s great when we have fans in the stadium at away games. It makes it a whole new game, and when you have an away game with no fan support behind you it’s not worth playing. When they all showed up it felt like the
“It’s great when we have fans in the stadium at away games.” Chase Walter, (12) our senior class will show up. It’s great knowing that when we have an away game people show up to give us more fans then the other team. Looking up from the field, it seems like a sea of black and blue has engulfed the fans.” Varsity coach Chris Haddock has done a great job turning this Wildcat team around the past two years making it to the Regional Semi-Final in the 2010 season. Fans as well as players seem to real-
whole school was behind us,” Walter said. The Wildcat’s next home game is against District rival Robinson on Thursday Oct. 6th. How does the team explain their four game winning streak and continued solid performances? Most players said that the current after school practices and the two-a-days over the summer is what has led to success. Players on the team had mixed feelings about the two-a-days. “They were the best two-a-days of my high school career. It wasn’t too hot at all, and we all got lots of rep’s in,” said Ken Ekanem(12). Not all agreed. “The worst, dreadful. Practice now is going great because it isn’t as hot as it was in the summer, and after school is the perfect time,” said Walter. “It helped us jump up to were we were at last year at week six. The Sophomores are really stepping it up,” Vlissides said. The Wildcats have six remaining games left this season. Only time will tell where they will end up at the end of the season, but for now, what fans have witnessed is bringing hope and remembrance back of the 2000 season. Note: The varsity travels to Hayfield tonight in a non-district matchup. (Below) Ferrick waits for the snap
October 14 Footloose, Dance
(Left) David Chenevey, Josh Smith, Nathon Milton, Brendan Willis, Connor Coward, and Scott Walter after the Lake Braddock game. (Photos/ David Chenevey)
Athletes of the Issue Ekanem and Donovan Lead Fall Sports October 28 In Time, Crime
October 28 The Rum Diary, Drama
October 28 Anonymous, Thriller
“For me, it should be comfortable and relax, it should be something that represents you as individual, and make you feel confidence. If you don’t feel good, then that wouldn’t be good to you.” Christina Griel (Teacher)
“Jeggings and boots are in right now. My style is lots of bling with whatever I feel comfortable in.” Alexandra F. (11)
What’s Centreville Wearing?
“Fashion is a lifestyle... it’s a choice, it’s a freedom of expression. You have to live it, you have to love it, and you have to breathe it. I took it from Christina Aguilera.” Ava Priscilla Donald (11)
before the season is over. This difficult goal seems to be very obtainable for Ken Ekanem (12), is a defensive Ekanem. threat to the opposing team. Ranked “The team being ranked number 2 one of the top 25 linebackers in the nain the Washington Post, a lot is expecttion, he hopes to improve even more. ed from our team and I think we can “My goal is to get 20 sacks (tackling do better,” said Ekanem. Starting the the quarterback before he throws it) season off with a 4-0 winning streak, the football team seems to be getting better each year. They have also been training very hard with the two-a-day practices in the summer. “The team goal for this season is to make it to states this year,” Ekanem said. The last time the CVHS football team has made it to states was in 2000. To prepare for a game, “I go to my girlfriend’s house, and then go to subway to get a good meal, and get pumped up Ken Ekanem in the Fairfax Times. Photo by Shamus Ian for the game,” said By Soo Lim
Fatzinger
Ekanem. The biggest threat to the team right now is the Westfield Bulldogs but the team believes that this will be the year that they can finally beat them and clear the losing streak against our rival. Molly Donovan (12), one of the captains of the Centreville field hockey team believes that the team will make it to states this year and have a great season. “We have good chemistry and are hard-working,” said Donovan. The field hockey team has been training hard and working on building a good relationship with each other and becoming a better team. “We each get ribbons for the game in which we wear in our hair all day and later tie onto our bags and carry around a Tiki statue signed by a former USA field hockey team to bring us good luck,” said Donovan. “We also have a “power breakfast” every morning in the SGA room before games so that we have energy for our games.” Coach Banbury, a previous statechamp field hockey coach, has taken on the role as the varsity field hockey coach for CVHS. “The new coach is
great and she is helping us become a better and stronger team,” said Donovan. Coach Banbury influences the team by giving them quotes to work hard in games. Though starting the season off with a rough with four straight losses, they hope to pick up their game and make it to the state championship.
Molly Donovan (12). Photo by Soo Lim
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Sept. 30, 2011