March 2016 by The Pack

THE HUSKY HEADLINE MARCH 2016 volume 6, edition 3

Not that you haven’t heard of him pg. 4

MEET WAYDE

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Letter rom the Staff Are we becoming too easily entertained?

7 Signs You’re a Senior by Megan Cohen

Students Say “Bonjour” to France

Special eport: The Face of loudoun County Wayde Byard reflects on his status as a local celebrity and how it has affected his job as a public information officer.

by Megan Cohen

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Making the

eam

A look at how Tuscarora Field Hockey originated.

by Emily Riley

Athlete to Athlete

Athletes share advice on balancing schoolwork and staying motivated.

by Alyanna Torres

Top Sports Tweets of the Spring Season

Tuscarora French students spend Spring Break abroad.

by Katie Stankard

Preview of

Life at

Wiz

by Anya Sczerzenie

“Stepping into the Spotlight” Tuscarora’s dynamic dance team electrifies the school.

by Sharon Shatananda

The Latest on U-Nite 2016 by Katie Stankard

by Alyanna Torres

onroe

Students get hands-on experience in the veterinary, culinary, and cosmetology.

by Ciara Reed, Delaney Casten, and Madeline Swank

Restaurant Review: Puccio’s

Why this local favorite has the sandwich that satisfies.

by Sara Koochagian

Photos by Megan Cohen and Sharon Shatanada. Courtesy of Shelby Deelsnyder, Britany Dowd, and Michala Pellegrino.

Editors-in-Chief Megan Cohen Features Editor Layout Editor Sports Editor Broadcast Editor Media Editor Staff Writers

Sharon Shatananda Ciara Reed Anna Shaw Delaney Casten Katie Stankard Madeline Swank Emily Riley Alyanna Torres Sara Koochagian Anya Sczerzenie

The Husky Headline is written, edited, and designed by students from Tuscarora High School. All opinions expressed in this publication are those of the individual writer. The views published in this newspaper are not necessarily those of the Tuscarora High School administration, faculty, staff, or the student body. We are committed to delivering relevant, accurate news - which means we want to hear from you! Opinions may be expressed in letters to the editor an can be sent to the staff at TheHuskyHeadline@gmail.com. Please include your name and class standing in all letters to the editor.

2 MARCH 2016

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AWARDS & ASSOCIATIONS Our student journalists are members of VHSL Activities (Publications), the National Scholastic Press Association, and the Columbia Scholastic Press Association. The Husky Headline has won various awards since its establishment in 2011.

2014 First Class - National Scholastic Press Association 2014 First Place - Virginia High School League 2013 First Place - Virginia High School League Tuscarora High School Chapter Quill and Scroll Society

HUSKYHEADLINE

Are We Too Easily Entertained?

I remember when Tamagotchi’s were the coolest thing to own. We bought tons of them, linked them all together on keychains, and carried them pridefully onto the playground like VIP badges. But after third grade, they got lost in a closet somewhere, and I didn’t see one again until last year. That’s when I noticed that the “graphics” were really just dark pixels, and that the most exciting game was nothing more than jumping from one block to the next. How were we entertained for so many hours by this toy? Seeing it made me believe that our sense of humor and standard for entertainment must

have grown since then. I mean, we’re practically adults, we surely have an incredibly sophisticated ideas of what’s funny now. As it turns out, I was wrong. Because what’s so sophisticated about a guy exclaiming about his friend’s white vans? Why do I laugh so hard when the once-honorable Mr. Moseby sings the cup song with full glasses of milk? How is the sound of Wayde Byard’s voice echoing through my house any more exciting than a simple DS game from elementary school? The answer is: it’s not. We’re just as easily entertained as we’ve always been, even if we pretend that technology

has somehow elevated past simple forms of entertainment. We still like things to laugh at, to relate to, or simply to be a part of. There’s nothing worse than sitting at a lunch table of friends referencing a vine you’ve never seen, and there’s nothing better than pulling out your phone and laughing at it together. These ultimately ridiculous videos, or “phenomenons” are just ways to relate to each other, just like you could use your Tamagotchi to “connect” to other kids on the playground. At the end of the day, we just want a quick and easy way to have a good laugh.

This past spring break, fourteen students from Tuscarora and Riverside packed their suitcases and headed to France. Each student traveler was paired with an individual host family, to improve their French, and immerse themselves in French Culture. The students stayed

with their host families in Aix-en-Provence for three nights before catching a train to their next destination. Over the next three days, the group traveled to Carcassone, Lyon and Annecy for sightseeing, and local food tastings. The students spent their last two days in Paris, visiting the

Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Sciences Po, Notre Dame and Arc de Triomphe. “I have always wanted to visit France, and this trip seemed like a great opportunity to travel,” said senior Sydney Haddon.

French Students Experience France

By Katie Stankard

7 SIGNS

YOU’RE A SENIOR BY MEGAN COHEN

1. Your post-grad plans are all you think about. No, seriously. You’re either wondering where you’re going, when you’re going, or what it’ll be like when you get there. Whether it’s college, the military, or a year abroad, you can’t stop thinking about it. 2. The late bell means nothing to you anymore. Class started five minutes ago? You’ll get there eventually. 3. You constantly look like you just got out of bed. There was once a time where you wore more than just sweatshirts. That time is no longer upon you. 4. Senioritis isn’t just a running gag. For years you’ve heard seniors complain about “senioritis” and always written it off as an excuse for not doing homework. Now you know it’s a serious problem that

may require medical attention. 5. Your family is being overly sentimental. It’s the last Superbowl you’ll watch at home, your last Earth Day in Leesburg. For your family, this is a year of lasts, and everything, no matter how small or insignificant, just reminds them of how close you are to leaving. 6. You’ve never hated second semester more. Normally, the second half of the school year means you’ll soon be out for the summer. For you, it also means that no matter how sick you are, you’re going to school. After all, you can deal with a headache and the occasional nausea if it means you don’t have to take a fourth quarter assessment. 7. The college e-mails never. Stop. Think the e-mails were frequent before? Wait until you actually get accepted.

Infographic by Sara Koochagian and Emily Riley

Letter from the Staff

MARCH 2016

THE FACE OF LOUDOUN COUNTY Get to know the man behind the voice. By Megan Cohen

n 2000, a new public information officer started working for Loudoun County Public Schools. His name was Wayde Byard, and he had no idea that he would later find himself on the rise to local fame. He had no idea that his face would be plastered across the internet, or that he would step into a high school gymnasium to be met with thunderous applause. He had no idea that every student in Loudoun County, whether a senior about to graduate or a kindergartener just learning to read, would know his name. Every Loudoun County student has heard the telltale ringing of the phone at least once. As soon as they pick it up and hear the words, “This is Wayde Byard,” they know they won’t be in school at nine. That simple procedure operated by the public information office escalated into something much more. “It all started when Liz Campbell created the ‘Friends of Wayde Byard’ Facebook page. After that, things just blew up,” explained Byard. “I thought it was surprising and amusing.” Campbell is a speech pathologist from Potomac Falls High School who started the page back in 2011. Since then, nearly 12,000 people have liked the page, and Byard’s fame has gone far beyond the realm of Facebook. Social networks

such as Twitter and Instagram now contain hundreds of edited photos of him. “I should have copyrighted myself,” Byard joked. “My favorite is the Dos Equis one: ‘I don’t always cancel a whole week of school, but when I do, I cancel exams, too.’” Another common trend on social media is tweeting out pleas for Byard to cancel school, as well as expressing

“

auctions. It’s turned into a regular gig,” said Byard. But the attention he garners isn’t reserved just for big events. “When I’m at restaurants, people are coming up and wanting to take pictures.” Though he’s certainly come to accept his role as a local celebrity, he still experiences the drawbacks. “I like to be able to do my job and cover events and

It’s not like I’m George Clooney, I’m just the guy who makes recordings.” Wayde Byard

disappointment when there are no results. But interestingly enough, though Byard makes the call, he isn’t the one to make the actual decision. “It’s just blatant public m i s i n f o r m a t i o n ,” explained Byard. “I’m just the person on the [phone].” It’s Dr. Eric Williams, the county’s superintendent who does. As a public information officer, Byard’s job is simply to relay the news of a delay or cancellation. Though he considers himself to be nothing more than the messenger, Byard has had no problem making various appearances across the county when asked. He even showed up to one of Tuscarora’s pep rallies back in September. “I’ve gone to Bingo nights, spelling bees, geography bees, and

”

go ‘incognito’ but that’s kind of over, to say the least. I don’t like to detract from events when I’m there, if there’s a performance or a lecture, people should be paying attention to that and not the fact that I happen to be there,” Byard explained. But in the end, after all these years, he still doesn’t understand the hype surrounding him. “People really get too excited. It’s not like I’m George Clooney, I’m just the guy who makes recordings. [The excitement is] very strange to me. But I’ve learned that once it passes a certain point, there’s no going back, so it’s okay.” One thing Byard wouldn’t mind achieving fame for are the thirteen original screenplays he’s written. “I wrote one

called An American Legend about the man who should have been Jackie Robinson in 1922. He was an AfricanAmerican player named Spottswood Poles who was going to break the race barrier. The screenplay won both Virginia and Maryland Screenplay of the Year. It also did pretty well in Austin. It’s never actually been produced, which is frustrating, but maybe one day. I’ve also written some sci-fi and a vampire movie―everybody has a vampire movie― and some small town comedies.” When he’s not writing the next Oscar-winner, Byard is continuing to work in the public information office, hoping to benefit students with more than just automated phone calls. As for what he wants the students of Loudoun County to know, he says, “Just remember that you shouldn’t get too excited about a day off because work just builds up. Don’t believe everything you see on the internet; as a communicator it bothers me that people take things for face value. And shovel snow on your days off. It’s a very zen-like experience that builds character. [Also] raise your expectations for excitement. I shouldn’t be a big deal, it’s not like the president is coming to your school, it’s just me.” ∎ Photos by Megan Cohen

SPORTS

Making the A-Team: The Origins of Tuscarora Field Hockey

Although Tuscarora offers a wide variety of sports, there are still people who play sports that Tuscarora doesn’t offer. Last year, a Tuscarora junior decided it was time for her favorite sport to become official, and she was willing to work her hardest to do it. Nicole Apintiloaiei has played field hockey since she was in sixth grade, and has spent a long time listening to friends on her travel team talk about playing for their schools. There are club field hockey teams at Briar Woods, Stone Bridge, and Dominion, but not Tuscarora. She felt like something was missing from her high school experience, so she decided to take initiative and make field hockey accessible for Tuscarora students.

In the spring of the 2014-2015 school year, Nicole started to advertise for a field hockey club. News of the club traveled fast; even to the point where girls who had never played field hockey were signing up. The club also opened up to middle schoolers, and members now range from 7th to 11th grade. Field hockey is generally played as a fall sport, (from August to November) but it can also be played as a spring sport. Some teammates also spend time offseason practicing and honing their skills in an indoor league. All this time and effort created a close knit group of girls who are completely there for each other. “The THS team is so supportive, we are always on

This Seasons’

Sports Tweets

Junior Nicole Apintiloaiei competes with THS’ newly sanctioned VHSL field hockey team. Apintiloaiei was an out-spoken advocate for creating the team. Photo courtesy of Chloe Mazer.

our feet even on the sidelines cheering, and we intimidate other teams [because of] our loudness,” said sophomore Sydney Jackson, who has been playing for two years. Even with all of the interest from Tuscarora and many other Loudoun County schools, establishing a real field hockey team is much harder than it may seem. For a club sport to transition to an official school sport, it must be approved by the school board. “All the teams all over Loudoun County asked their players to come out dressed in full

THS Track & Field @THSTF

Let’s blade huskies!!! It’s track tryout time! #THISISTHEGRIND

uniform to display the massive support for [field hockey]. A petition also circulated and received over a thousand signatures. At the meeting when they finally voted on the issues, many girls spoke, including myself,” explained Apintiloaiei. Loudoun County officially made field hockey a VHSL sport last May. It could either become a tier-one or tier-two sport, meaning either fully school funded or funded under the circumstances that students with economic troubles will not be required to

advice from Athletes to Athletes

Infographic by Sharon Shatananda

“Work as hard as you can “ALWAYS GIVE 100%. SOFTBALL and make sure you’re having fun while you play.” IS A GAME OF FAILURE SO YOU

WILL FAIL, BUT YOU SHOULD ALWAYS BELIEVE IN YOURSELF.”

Senior Michala Pellegrino, who will continue her softball career this fall at James Madison University.

Excited for the season to get started...Husky softball program is on a mission! #4321

THS Girls Lax @LaxTHS

Tuscarora Tennis @THSHuskyTennis Beautiful day for an intersquad scrimmage. Competition breeds success.

Compiled by Alyanna Torres. Infographic by Sharon Shatananda

6 MARCH 2016

By Emily Riley

Between juggling homework, clubs, and sports, being a student-athlete can become overwhelming. How do student athletes do it? Here’s some advice from upperclassmen on how to balance school and sports.

Coach Smith @SftbllBarbie

1st scrimmage of the season is in 5 days!!! Let’s kick the season off right, get ready to work during practice #fortunestrong #OneTeamOneGoal

pay. As of right now, students have to pay 30 dollars to play, and Loudoun County will decide its tier in April of this year when the school budget is decided. We tend to view other schools as our rivals, but these girls from all over Loudoun County have proven that when we really want something, we can come together as allies. It’s not an easy process, but who said working for what you want was ever easy?

Senior Sonali Dawar

“I advise [players] to attend as many preseason trainings as possible and to stick with it.” Junior Carder Saul, a varsity boys’ soccer captain

“TO EXCEL IN HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO PUT IN THE WORK OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL WHEN NO ONE IS WATCHING.” Senior Noah Lacy, who has committed to continue his baseball career at UVA-Wise.

HUSKYHEADLINE

ENTERTAINMENT

The Yellow Brick Road to Cappies: A Preview of The Wiz You may already know the story of Dorothy’s adventures in Oz. But this May, the Tuscarora drama department is putting on a jazzier twist on the original story of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz called The Wiz. When Dorothy is swept away by a storm, she must defeat a wicked witch named Evillene in order to get home to New York City. The story has been described as an “urban fairy tale” and is an upbeat musical with original jazz and soul songs. “The audience can expect a fun and entertaining performance,” said

Mr. Daniel, the head of Tuscarora’s drama department. In the past few months, Tuscarora’s drama students have been hard at work preparing for the show. “The experience has been a great one so far. It’s my first lead in a show,” said junior Kendall Guntner, who plays the starring role of Dorothy. “It’s a lot of work,” said freshman Luke Barbour, who plays a crow and is a pit singer, “I’m always practicing at home and thinking about the songs, but it’s also really fun.” The Wiz will also be

Cast & Crew work to produce the Wiz, the musical Tuscarora is putting on this coming May 5-8. Photos by Anya Sczerzenie

Tuscarora’s contender for this year’s Cappies, an inter-school theatre competition that includes musicals and plays from over sixty high schools in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia. “Nine student-critics from each school go to the other schools’ performances and write reviews for local papers, and rate

the performances in different categories, like the Tony awards,” explained Daniel. The categories for the Cappies awards include acting, choreography, costumes and makeup, set design, and more. “I expect this show to win Cappies for costumes, makeup, choreography, and creativity,” said senior Kyle Ebbets, who plays the Lion and

is the lead critic of the Tuscarora Cappies. The curtain will go up at 7 pm on May 5th, 6th, and 7th, and at 2:30 pm on May 8th. Tickets for the musical will be sold at the door, and online at sitstaywatch. org. “Bring your family,” said Ebbets. “It’s a very family-friendly show, and a lot of fun.”

upwards of five hours a week practicing choreography for hiphop, step, and poms routines. Head Coach Megan Carter generally spends Tuesdays and

since freshman year, has contributed heavily to the team’s step aspect, choreographing most step routines. “It all started in seventh grade when I was at

that’s their part of the project,” explained dance team sponsor, Tammy Carter. “[This girl] came to me and said, We need to start a step team.’ She had come from Fairfax, and they had a huge step program.” Since then, the team has grown and evolved, transitioning from an exclusive step team, to the dance-drill team it is today. Most recently, the team competed in at an open competition in Towson, Maryland, taking home a Judges Choice Award. The team holds tryouts after every season, and hopes to continue to grow the team in the coming years.

By Anya Sczerzenie

U-Nite is Tusca- THS Dance Team is “Stepping” into the Spotlight rora’s multicultural celebration that represents students coming together to share what makes them unique. The event will be held on April 25th, and will feature a multicultural food tasting, fashion and talent show. The National Honor Society is looking for roughly a dozen acts for the talent portion of the show, and students looking to share their heritage by participating in the fashion show portion. Auditions will be held April 4th after school in the auditorium, and students can sign up with Ms. Yacoub in room 405.

The music starts and every student in the gym knows what’s next. When the dance team struts to “center stage,”students leap to their feet. It’s actually difficult to hear the music over the eruption of cheering and applause that borders on chaos. The team is best known for these performances at pep-rallies with their step routines and roaring crowds. “It’s an adrenaline rush,” laughed freshman dancer Joelle Saliba. Dance team sponsor Tammy Carter agreed, saying, “This year was really good; we did a hip-hop routine and the crowd went really wild.” The team is made up of students ranging By Katie Stankard from freshmen to seniors, who spend

The dance team steals the show at the February pep rally. Photo by Shelby Deelsnyder

Wednesdays teaching steps, and then the team holds rehearsals on Thursdays. This year, senior Reston James, who has been with the team

Harper Park Middle School. I started doing step with a coach named Ms. Tammy,” James explained. “Step is usually done by the students because

By Sharon Shatananda

MARCH 2016

Students at Monroe Kickstart Their Careers

CUL INA RY By Ciara Reed

Senior Eddie Nolasco is enrolled in the culinary arts program, where he is able to sharpen his cooking skills and prepare for a future career as a chef. Nolasco decided to pursue his passion for cooking and started attending Monroe Tech this year. A normal day as a culinary student includes completing catering orders, doing bookwork, or learning new techniques. Their food is also served at events, parties, and staff lunches, allowing students and staff to actually taste their finished products. The catering opportunities give the students real life experience by understanding the pressures and demands a professional chef must overcome when under a time constraint. “I like being able to actually serve the food I cook to people when we cater,” Nolasco explained.

Since senior Sabrina Dyson was ten years old, she loved styling her own hair. To pursue her passion, she started taking the cosmetology course at Monroe during her junior year. “I wanted to go to Monroe because having more skills under your belt increases your chances on getting a job outside of college,” Dyson explained. Dyson’s daily routine at the cosmetology center includes a practice test for the cosmetology certification, and then practice time hair styling on mannequins. “I actually like the theory of cosmetology more than the hands-on stuff because the theory explains why and how cosmetology works, and the chemistry, biology, histology, etc that goes into it,” Dyson explained. In the fall, she will go on to attend Arizona State University, where she will be majoring in business. She hopes to one day own her own salon.

VET ERI NA RY

By Madeline Swank

COS MET OLO GY

By Delaney Casten

Senior Alexa Knoell has been a student at Monroe since her junior year studying veterinary science and biotechnology. “I chose to go to Monroe to see if I really enjoyed veterinary science and biotechnology before I go to college and spend a lot of money,” Knoell explained. “Monroe helps me with my future because when I get to college I will be a step ahead.” Many students interested in the medical field attend Monroe for either one or two years to either get a head start on their field of interest or ensure that medical career is for them. If you are a student who is ready to start taking classes in the area of your career, then Monroe might be a good option for you. “Monroe teaches professional skills in the workplace, you get hands on experience, and are surrounded with peers and adults who are excited about the sames you are,” said Knoell.

Puccio’s: The Sandwich that Satisfies By Sara Koochagian Looking for a place that serves great homemade sub sandwiches in Leesburg? Well, Puccio’s New York Deli is the place for you. The deli is located in their new storefront at 211 Loudoun St. SE in downtown Leesburg. They have a vast variety of subs, wraps, and salads, most of which are in the six to seven dollar range, with the specialty sandwiches being closer to eight dollars. You can eat at the restaurant, or, depending on where you live, they can deliver right to your door. Having been to the restaurant, I decided to try out the delivery service and order it online. I went on their website,

8 MARCH 2016

which was easy to use. It gave me prices for everything, along with options for things I would want on my sandwich like extra meat, cheese and more. They have a lunch, breakfast, beverages, homemade sides, soups, potato chips, and a dessert menu for ordering online, as well as a catering menu if I needed catering. The process was very easy, however there was a $20.00 subtotal minimum that I had to follow, but it wasn’t hard to reach with sides and drinks. Another thing to take into consideration is that depending on lo-

pop cult�re edition

LIFESTYLE 5. Do you watch Netflix? How often? “Yes, every few days, if not every day.” Layne Hubble, senior

6. Which TV show do you watch most? “Parks & Recreation.” Pamela Michel, senior 7. Which TV show do you need to catch up on? “Fuller House.” Sabrina Caceres, junior

1. What’s your favorite movie? “Harry Potter.” Kristina Woodward, junior

8. What kind of music do you listen to most often? “90’s Classic Rock.” Derek Carll, junior

3. Favorite book/

10. If you could meet any famous person, who would it be and why? “Leonardo DiCaprio because of his Oscar!” Joanne Kim, junior

2. Favorite book? “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams.” Kelly Kohler, freshman movie character? “Peeta from The Hunger Games.” Lauren Azie, sophomore

4. Favorite superhero? “Iron Man.” Cole Van Leliveld, junior

9. What’s the most overplayed song right now? “Anything from Frozen.” Julie De Angioletti, junior

By Anya Sczerzenie

cation, there can possibly be a fee for delivery. The order came on time, which took about 35 minutes to get to my house. I ordered the Italian sandwich and my sister ordered the famous SoHo. Both subs were toasted, and were piled with the works. The one downside was that the Italian dressing made the bread a little bit soggy, but not enough to make the crunch go away. The overall experience was very enjoyable with little hassle. Puccio’s really does have the sandwich that satisfies.

HUSKYHEADLINE