The Tide - November 2014

News 2-4

No Shave November 5

Opinions 6-8

International 10-11

Center Spread 12-13

La Marea 14

Arts 16-17

A tale as old as time...

Features 18-19

Sports 22-24

PHOTOS © 2014 EYE ON THE BALL

Accompanied by stunning set designs and intricate costumes, the cast of “Beauty and the Beast” put on an electrifying performance in front of a record-breaking audience.

Black Maskers breaks records with Disney classic

by Will Green

For two consecutive weekends in November, the Black Maskers of Richard Montgomery delivered four exceptional performances of the Disney musical “Beauty and the Beast.”

Audiences came out in record-breaking numbers for the first two performances, with 526 people in attendance on Friday, November 14, and 624 on Saturday,

November 15. The previous record had been set by the “Chicago” show in the spring of 2011.

Seniors Alison Truland and Hannah Ferster led the production of the show as assistant directors, while senior Michelle Schrier and sophomore Noah Montemarano were cast as Belle and the Beast, respectively.

The show, however, consisted of far more than the actors on the stage. Crews responsible for costume design, set construction, makeup, lighting, sound, and

publicity combined to make the acts flow seamlessly with the pit orchestra‘s timeless soundtrack.

Here, we take a behind-the-scenes look at the production of the show and talk to the people who made it all possible. First, we sat down to talk to senior Michelle Schrier, who donned Belle’s famous yellow gown.

Q: Is there any particular scene you would love to go back and play just one more time?

M: Probably “Me.” It’s one of my favorite scenes from the show! It was always my favorite part of the show, and it’s my

favorite song from the show as well!

Q: What was your favorite part about this experience?

M: My favorite part has been working with such an amazing cast! I think that out of all the shows that I’ve done, especially at RM, this is probably one of the best casts that I’ve ever worked with. Everyone was not only talented, but friendly, humble and excited to be doing what they were doing.

More coverage of the show, with exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes coverage, can be found on page 12.

Rocket basketball shoots high

by Neil Duggal To open their 2014-2015 campaign, the Richard Montgomery boys basketball team will take the court against rival Rockville on Friday, December 5.

In a contest that promises to be close from the tipoff until the final buzzer, the Rockets’ sixth man will need to be loud, and the players are hoping that a big Twitter presence will help them #beatrockville.

After dealing Rockville a 59-54 defeat last year on the road, this year’s team hopes to follow up with another strong seasonopening statement in front of the home crowd.

Across town, the lady Rockets will be taking on the Rockville girls team, who they handily dismissed in last year’s opener.

The girls basketball program will look to start the season on a strong footing, and will need black and gold in the stands to help them bring home the win. Basketball is a game of momentum, and the positive energy of Rocket fans will help key the girls to victory.

While the Rockville games are worth the hype, both the girls and boys teams are geared for long-term success. Coach

Breslaw, a history teacher at Richard Montgomery, will be leading the boys varsity team in his third year as the Rockets’ varsity coach. English teacher Michael Oakes will be coaching the girls varsity team.

Though this will be his first year at the helm of the varsity team, his two years as JV coach have prepared him for the challenges at the varsity level. He has high expectations for the season, and knows his team has a solid base to build on. “One reason I am so excited for this season is because of our players’ tremendous commitment to our off-season program,” he said. “The girls participated in summer leagues and attending team camp at the US Naval Academy. This fall, the commitment has continued. I credit our seniors, Allie Parrish and Yajaira Rivas, for their outstanding leadership.”

The boys varsity team is also stacked with juniors and seniors, who have spent years training together and are now ready to close their high school careers on a strong note.“This is a really deep team,” Coach Breslaw emphasized. “I will have trouble getting it down,” he added, recognizing his need to trim the roster to only 15 players.

BASKETBALL cont. on page 23

Opinions, 6

International, 11

La Marea, 14

Arts, 16

Features, 20

Sports, 22

Funding for school clubs

Model UN thinks big

Catalonia independence

Marvel stays busy

Meet Olivia Newton

Rocket swim and dive

NEWS 2 The Tide SGA organizes No-Shave November contest for American Cancer Society

by Brittany Tabora Many men are setting aside their razors, and growing out beards and mustaches to raise awareness for cancer as part of the No-Shave November campaign This year at Richard Montgomery, the Student Government Association (SGA) organized a facial hair competition among staff and students to raise donations for the American Cancer Society.

At the beginning of the month, the 19 competitors, comprised of 12 staff members and seven students, were given donation boxes, or Beard Banks, and the task of growing the best facial hair that they could over the next couple of weeks.

The SGA has been monitoring the status of all the participants and posting updates and photos on RMBC and on Main Street. On November 21, contestants who were clean-shaven at the beginning of the month will gather and their beards will be measured for the “Longest Beard Competition.”

On November 24, they will gather again on Main Street for the “Best Styled Beard” to be judged and rated on a set of criteria by five staff members. The contestant who collected the most donations will win the “Beard Bank Competition.”

Each of the winners of these three competitions will receive a $15 gift card to Chipotle.

However, for some teachers, the competition matters little when set beside the actual cause.

“Cancer is prevalent in our area.

Almost everyone knows someone who has been affected by cancer,” said history teacher Robert Thomas whose father passed away from lung cancer.

Since all the donations go to American Cancer society, he believes that it does not really matter who collects the most money in their Beard Bank. Still, Mr. Thomas will be participating in the “Best Styled Beard” contest, sporting a pair of mutton chops.

“It’s a great cause that everybody can get behind. And it’s fun for students and staff to see all of us sprout some ugly beards,”

PHOTO BY RACHIT AGARWAL

Spanish teacher Aaron Trovillion took part in No-Shave November.

English teacher Joshua Klotz said.

Mr. Klotz joked that he is trying to grow his beard out like Fyodor Dostoevsky, the author of Crime and Punishment, which his class is currently reading.

Aside from the teachers, only seven students are part of this year’s competition.

“Most male students cannot grow a beard that would be competitive, including me. This was also the first year it was done as a formal competition, so some people did not know about it or did not understand it,” senior Nathan Poland, the SGA president, said.

In the future, Poland says the SGA will work to advertise more and ahead of time to get the competition organized and publicized.

“Hopefully this year we will have a positive response from the student body that will foster a fun tradition that will involve more students in subsequent years,” Poland said.

The official No-Shave November organization was started in 2009

by Rebecca Hill and Bret Ringdahl after Hill’s father passed away from cancer, in order to create a fun way for anyone to raise awareness for cancer.

“The goal of No-Shave November is to grow awareness by embracing our hair, which many cancer patients lose, and letting it grow wild and free. Donate the money you usually spend on shaving and grooming for a month to educate about cancer prevention, save lives, and aid those fighting the battle,” as stated on the NoShave November official website.

While growing out mustaches

and beards is a fun way to participate in a spirited competition, there is always the fear that No-Shave November will become more of a cultural event, rather than an effectiv way to raise awareness for a serious and pressing cause.

“Over time, as the two become more closely related, maybe NoShave November will be more effective. But right now, I don’t think it has that effect that many people would like it to,” Spanish teacher Aaron Trovillion said about the efficacy of the campaign.

Movember is another organization that raises funds and awareness for men’s health issues through fun facial hair like mustaches. The idea is that the mustaches can not only help to raise funds for men’s diseases, but also act as a segue into conversations about prostate and testicular cancer, raising awareness on a grassroots level.

Distinct from No-Shave November, Movember has a broader platform and also calls attention to men’s mental health issues like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, etc. Based on statistics collected by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, men comprise 79 percent of all US suicides.

“Men may not be able to recognize or confidently articulate the signs and symptoms they experience.

There is additional pressure due to associated stigmas (shame and embarrassment) preventing them from taking action and accessing mental health services,” according to the Movember website.

November/December

November 2014

NEWS IN BRIEF

MCPS removes religious references from school calendar On November 11, the Montgomery County Board of Education voted 7–1 to remove any reference to religious holidays on next school year’s calendar. While students will still have Christmas, Yom Kippur, Rosh Hashanah, and Easter off, the calendar will no longer reference the holidays by name.

The change largely stems from the debate of whether Muslim holidays, like Eid al-Adha, should be recognized by the county.

Under state and federal law, schools can only close for secular or operation issues, such as high absenteeism among students or staff.

This is the reason that MCPS gives for closing on the Jewish holidays since the 1970s. According to the Director of MCPS Public Information and Web Services, Dana Tofig, the absentee rate on Eid al-Adha, when it falls on school days, is not considerably higher or lower than the rate on any other day.

“What we’re asking for is... to also have both the Jewish holiday and the Muslim holiday Eid al-Adha both be recognized on the school calendar,” said Zainab Chaudry of the Council on AmericanIslamic Relations, in an interview with NBC Washington.

Next school year, Yom Kippur and Eid Al Adha will fall on the same date, September 23, 2015. Although Muslim students will be able to have their holiday off next year, removing the religious reference for all groups was not necessarily their objective.

By Brittany Tabora

Congratulations to RM teacher Dr. Perry on his new PhD Peter Perry, director of the RM instrumental music department, marching band, and pit orchestra, obtained his Doctorate of Musical Arts from Shenandoah University this past summer.

He is now Dr. Peter Perry. The entire dissertation, on the effects Computer Assisted Instruction (specifically Smart Music) and cognitive style have on the development of music performance skills in high school instrumental music students, took him two years.

He first researched and created his proposal, then defended it in front of a committee of professors and finished writing all five chapters of the dissertation. “I was able to gain a deeper understanding of my craft. Doing the research was actually quite exciting and fun for me. I am also excited about applying what learned to what we do daily in instrumental music at RM,” Dr. Perry said.

He is currently working on both a journal article of the study, and a book about using music technology in the performance ensemble. He will also sport the largest pink hood, the color that signifies the achievement of a doctoral degree in music, at graduation this year.

“I have been really touched by the support students and the RM family in general have had for me throughout the entire process,” Dr. Perry said.

By Grace Cheung

RM senior is national finalist in Siemens Competition This year, two RM seniors, Molly Zhang and Yizhen Zhang were semifinalists for the annual Siemens Competition. The prestigious competition provides opportunities for high school seniors to lead original research projects and to win scholarships from $1,000 to $100,000 for college expenses.

Research projects cover math, science, and technology topics, ranging from astrophysics to electric engineering, to nutritional science. There were three stages of the Siemens Competition: semifinalists, regional finalists, and national finalists.

In MCPS, 16 students from Montgomery Blair, Winston Churchill, Richard Montgomery, Poolesville, and Thomas S. Wootton high schools were named semifinalists. Molly Zhang was one of the two students in MCPS chosen as a regional finalist.

Her project involved the synthesis of golden bellflowers, which are potential applications for cancer treatment. She did her research at the National Institute of Health, using various scientific implements from the lab.

After competing in a regional event at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, she was also named one of six national finalists. The national competition will take place in early December.

By Brittany Tabora

November 26

Early Release Day Head home early for Thanksgiving weekend.

November 27

Thanksgiving Remember what you’re thankful for.

November 28

Holiday Tired of turkey? Sleep in and enjoy the long weekend.

December 10

UN Human Rights Day Support the basic freedoms of people around the world.

December 16

Beginning of Hanukkah Break out the dreidel and celebrate!

AWARDS

Congratulations to seniors Yizhen Zhang and Molly Zhang who were named semifinalists in the 2014 Siemens Competition. Molly Zhang was also named a national finalist.

Thirteen RM students progressed to the next stage of the University of Maryland High School Mathematics Competition.

Four RM juniors won third place in the Mass Driver Event at the county-wide Final Frontiers Competition at Wootton High School.

Congratualtions to junior Philip Colevas placed ninth in the Maryland State Golf Tournament.

Sophomore Rohann Asfaw was named part of the first AllGazette cross country team for Montgomery County.

Junior Daniel Feshbach received an Honorable Mention at the 34th annual Virginia Model United Nations Conference.

Congratulations to seniors Hannah Ferster and Nate Peterman, who performed with the Montgomery County Senior Honors Chorus, and to Michelle Schrier, who performed in Nashville with the National Honors Choir.

Congratulations to the RM Varsity Cheerleaders who placed first in their Division II Competition.

Senior John Jeang qualified for NCSA Junior Nationals.

NEWS

The Tide

November 2014

3

County intiatives add Chromebooks to classrooms all classrooms and waiting time is often weeks, if not months. “[Chromebooks] would reduce the disadvantage of students who can’t afford Montgomery County Public Schools computers so if everyone has one, it would (MCPS) is planning to buy 40,000 decrease the gap. They could do their Chromebooks and other digital devices homework at school and if it needs internet for students to enhance their learning or programs, they can have it,” sophomore experiences. The Chromebooks are new, Helen Zhao said.

Implementing Chromebooks into popular, and relatively inexpensive. All this is in response to the students, parents, classrooms would provide students and staff of MCPS, who have been asking without computers at home the opportunity to experience an enhanced for more modern technology education with technology. to be implemented in the “This technology initiative classroom. will enhance teaching and In order to fully transition learning and provide our to Maryland’s online educators with the tools they Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for Colleges Chromebooks for third, need to engage students and individualize instruction and Careers (PARCC) fifth, and sixth graders to meet their needs,” requirements, MCPS was Superintendent of MCPS required to have 20,000 new Schools Joshua P. Starr said. devices. In 2013–2014, nine The Chromebooks will district schools piloted this include Google Apps for technology to test out the whose word effects of having devices Chromebooks for high Education, processing, email, and other such as the Chromebooks. school social studies apps encourage cooperation On July 15, 2014, the board and collaboration between made a unanimous decision classes students and teachers. in favor of this program for “Google Apps for the 150,000 student district.

Education and Promethean MCPS hopes to provide 30,000 Chromebooks for third, fifth, and interactive whiteboards can work together sixth grade students as well as 10,000 seamlessly in many ways,” MCPS officials Chromebooks for high school social said in the 2014 Strategic Technology Plan. studies classes. As the program gains more Some interesting features are sharing publicity and attention, it will provide files, voting on ActivInspire flipcharts via Chromebooks, and displaying students’ more devices for other students.

“I think [technology] definitely helps us Chromebook screens on the Promethean learn. It makes a lot of things easier, more Boards. “[Promethean Boards] seem like they’re available, and quicker to do. Some things you can see that you really wouldn’t be a good use of the money to me because able to see otherwise without technology,” they’re not constantly updating in the same way that Chromebooks would,” junior freshman Judah Levy said.

Students would be able to research or Daniel Feshbach said.

Starting this year, teachers will begin type up documents in class and share assignments with teachers. While schools giving online assessments that align have laptops, they must be shared between with the Common Core State Standards,

by Jenny Chen and Maddie Liu

30,000 10,000

GRAPHIC BY ALBERT ZHANG

The Chromebooks include Google Apps for Education, which allow the devices to work with Promethean boards by sharing files and voting on ActivInspire flipcharts. rigorous education standards that establish a set of shared goals and expectations for students, through the new devices.

Additionally, MCPS plans on creating a secure and private environment that both follows MCPS privacy standards and federal regulations. Communication with non-MCPS users will not be allowed on the Chromebooks.

Students also expressed concern over the amount of money that would go into the Chromebooks, as many schools already have multiple technological devices.

“We don’t necessarily need the added expense of chromebooks, considering that we already have access to computer labs and laptops,” Hu said.

According to an article in Education Week, the funding for this program will come from a mix of operating and capital dollars and federal subsidies for wireless infrastructure.

In order to keep this program running for subsequent years, MCPS expects approximately $2 million per year from the

federal E-rate program, which helps cover school and library telecommunication costs. For the first 40,000 Chromebooks, MCPS will be using purchasing consortia which will help buy the new technology at discounted prices.

“Technology is a tool, it is not itself a solution to problems. I think we should avoid falling into the trap of ‘Oh it’s newer and shinier, therefore it’ll help us learn more!’ ,” Feshbach said.

This program is only one step towards MCPS’ goal of having full participation in technology-enriched learning that will inspire intellectual curiosity and prepare students for the always advancing digital age.

“This initiative represents the next big step in our effort to infuse more technology in the classroom,” Starr said. “We know that this technology, in the hands of a well-trained, highly motivated teacher, can make a huge difference in how we are preparing our students to thrive in their future.”

Vocational courses further high school experience

by Christina You and Julia Wang While the majority of students are sitting in classrooms taking tests for their education, other students in the vocational education program at Thomas Edison High School are building an authentic 2,684-square-foot house that will soon be on the market for $519,750. Through the assignment of building a house, the program aims to give students real life experience in real world jobs, such as construction, electricity, carpentry, interior design, architecture and plumbing.

Out of all the 45,277 high school students enrolled in MCPS, only 508 of them are a part of the eighteen career and technological programs offered by Thomas Edison High School. Every day, students split their time between their home school and Edison. The programs last four class periods, one provided for transportation to and from campus while the other three are taken up by classroom instruction time.

Thomas Edison is not just a supplementary educational program; it has practical uses for students. Every semester, students are able to earn one and a half high school credits, as well as professional certifications, licenses, and even, for

PHOTO BY BRITTNEY HEDETNIEMI

Some RM students go to Thomas Edison High School every morning to attend courses about construction, interior design, architecture, plumbing, and electrical engineering.

Thomas Edison High School of Technology is a technical vocational high school that provides part time courses ranging from cosmetology to medical training. Located in Wheaton, Maryland, Thomas Edison is tucked away from the eyes of most MCPS students.

some programs, college and university recognized credits. Their projects are hands-on, building a house being just one of many examples of the participation focused coursework in the program.

The coursework is designed to provide experience that will be useful to students

as they begin to search for careers. “I think that the program is good for those students who want to pursue a career in the technical field” freshman administrator Mark Brown said.

The program also gives students an advantage when looking towards higher education. “It actually will help me because the colleges I’m applying to have electrical engineering as one of their majors, so I feel like I already have a head start in that,” said senior Aleque Estrera, an RM student who is enrolled at Edison.

However, joining the program does not have to signify commitment to a future career.

“If they’re a student who doesn’t know just yet whether or not they want to go to college, then I think it would be advantageous for them as well because they can go to Thomas Edison and feel out some fields, get an area of expertise, and take advantage of it that way,” Mr. Brown said.

“Enrollment has stayed roughly the same in recent years and remains below the school’s capacity of about 760,” according to an article from The Gazette. There are more than 200 open spots.

RM administration is planning on increasing student awareness of the vocational courses by talking with the counseling department on how they typically advertise these programs.

“I would certainly, before, make sure all Richard Montgomery students had all the information they needed to make decisions on whether to apply or not,” principal Damon Monteleone said.

There are a few requirements to apply to the program. Thomas Edison High School of Technology accepts sophomores to seniors, and all students are required to write an essay for their application.

When courses are over-enrolled, selection is based off of the applicant’s academic performance, such as GPA, attendance, and teacher recommendations.

In order to capture the attention of those

interested in developing jobs in the fields taught at Edison, the school is working to rid the community’s belief that its vocational program is a pathway for high school students to forego college education and immediately join the workforce upon graduating.

“It’s a pretty hard course if you don’t have the right motivation because you have lots of homework to do, but it acutally pays and you learn a lot.”

-Dee-jayh Williams “It trains other students and gives them life skills that they can carry on after high school to just represent this school and community in a good way,” senior Joshua Dyson, an electrical engineering student, said.

Most of the RM students who attend classes at Edison are upperclassmen since they have more free space in their schedule.

“It’s a pretty hard course if you don’t have the right motivation because you have lots of homework to do, but it actually pays off and you learn a lot,” senior Dee-jayh Williams said.

“I actually really like Edison. I actually met new friends, and everyone is so nice and heartwarming. They welcome you once you enter. The teachers are really amazing. I learned a lot more than I expected,” said senior Jennifer Ortiz, who currently enrolled in Autobody classes at Edison.

“It really enriches you. Every program there… it prepares you for your life ahead,” Estrera said.

4

November 2014

The Tide

RM administration confronts school gun incident

by Ami Wong and Isabelle Zhou At the beginning of this month, Richard Montgomery staff and security were able to successfully navigate a serious crisis. On Wednesday, November 5, former Richard Montgomery student Aaron Anderson came to the school, but he left the premises immediately after being confronted by security. The following day, during open lunch, the security once again questioned the intentions of Anderson, who claimed to be picking up his girlfriend. Security team leader Mark Yantsos recognized him and alerted county police, Anderson was subsequently arrested on Monroe Street and found to be in possession of a stolen gun, hidden in a gym bag.

According to an article in the Washington Post, police arrested eighteen year old Anderson on the grounds of possessing a handgun under the age of 21, possessing a weapon on school grounds, and trespassing on school grounds; he is currently awaiting trial. In an interview with The Gazette, Rockville police Lieutenant Brian Paul stated that the gun was loaded.

Although several students were shocked upon hearing of incident during principal Damon Monteleone’s announcement the next day, the vast majority of students did not seem to be seriously disturbed by the incident.

“I was kind of shocked that anyone would be foolish enough to bring in a gun where there are kids, but I wasn’t really scared. I think the security guards handled it pretty well,” said freshman Heather Konan, who was unfazed by the incident. She had a few concerns, however. “They should really regulate the open lunch policy, because it is easy for a dangerous person to walk into the school while students are entering and exiting,” Konan said.

“I think it was handled well, but I don’t

think it would be difficult to sneak a firearm into the school if someone had the intention.” freshman Kevin Haeger agreed.

Indeed, a number of students believe that this event should become a conversation starter about school safety measures.

Senior Ankita Reddy is one of them. She thought the incident indicated the need for greater awareness about the topic, and that the nonchalance of many students was worrying.

“I was even more shocked by seeing how everyone else reacted. After the announcement, people just went on as if it never happened, which was bizarre. I think we need to have a conversation about this rather than just listening and forgetting about it,” Reddy said However, the administration took this incident far from lightly; they took immediate action.

Mr. Monteleone praised the security measures taken by staff, students, and the Rockville community during this incident.

“As soon as we thought we had a potential threat, we convened a special security meeting Thursday morning of the incident with our security team leader, administration, certain staff, and we choreographed what our plan would be that day,” Mr. Monteleone said. “We alerted Rockville city police about the

situation and coordinated with them as well, and it seems as if we did the right thing.”

Mr. Monteleone also quickly assured all people involved in the RM community that

GRAPHIC BY CYNTHIA SONG

appropriate actions were taken during and after the event. The next day, students were notified through the announcements before lunch, and the general community was sent an email; with these actions, the administration continues its goal of clear communication

with students, their families, staff members and the community at large.

The necessity of cooperation between the school and this community to resolve similarly major issues was a recurring theme after the incident.

“The only reason we were successful was because we had the full cooperation of the staff, students, and the Rockville city police,” Mr. Monteleone said. “There was no threat, there was no like, someone’s coming with a gun to shoot us, nothing like that. It’s just that we had information that someone who had a weapon may be near our campus so we acted in the most proactive way,” he said.

After the incident, many measures have already been taken to further augment student safety.

“We have an increased police presence at lunch in the neighborhood and in surrounding shopping and restaurant areas at lunch,” Mr. Monteleone said.

He also mentioned other new policies including new security measures, hall sweeps, and security cameras to ensure student safety.

Looking forward, while it is increasingly important to remain cognizant of such dangers, students should be assured of the security system’s effectiveness in confronting such important issues; as potential dangers arise, the administration demonstrate their capacity to handle such issues both quickly and effectively.

Treats for Troops drive gives back to US soldiers

by Dahlia Wilson Serving your country in the military could never be considered an easy feat, but American soldiers overseas tend to feel increasingly isolated because they cannot enjoy certain items they could find at home under normal circumstances.

During the first week of November, Richard Montgomery’s Student Government Association (SGA) sought to at least lessen this feeling of isolation by running the Treats for Troops Drive, collecting Halloween candy and letters to be donated to Operation Gratitude for American troops overseas.

This year, RM students donated 842 pounds of candy and over 30 letters schoolwide. The top-grossing classes, music teacher Ronald Frezzo and theater teacher Sara Liles’s fourth periods, donated 84 and 83 pounds of candy respectively. Since the difference in donations was less than one pound, both classes won pizza parties.

“Even doing something as small as bringing in leftover candy from Halloween can really make an impact.”

- Tara Bhardvaj The total amount of donations far surpassed that of previous years, by a difference of over 100 pounds, demonstrating the RM student body’s growing commitment to social and community outreach programs.

“Receiving packages with candy and other familiar essentials can help [soldiers] combat feelings of sadness and isolation,” the Treats for Troops organization writes on

its webpage.

Social media was inundated with student and faculty posts requesting students to bring in candy and write personalized messages to the troops.

Each letter a class donated counted as one pound of candy towards the competition.

“We were excited for this to be the first year we added personal letters to our candy donation,” SGA sponsor and social studies teacher Toni Kellinger said.

By adding the competition component to the donation drive, donating generously became much more of a personal goal for the students. Other donation drives in the school are run as competitions in order to foster student participation, such as No Shave November for cancer awareness or the recent canned food drive for Manna Food Center. During the canned food drive, another school-wide competition, social studies teacher Robert Hines’s first period class collected over 1000 cans to be donated.

“Even doing something as small as bringing in left-over candy from Halloween can really make an impact,” senior Tara Bhardvaj said. “It feels like you’re making a difference in these soldiers’ lives who risk everything for us.”

The organization running Treats for Troops, Operation Gratitude, will package and ship the candy RM collected to troops stationed overseas, along with the candy donated by other participating groups.

Operation Gratitude has sent over 1 million care packages to soldiers to date. Some of their other events include handcrafting bracelets and the Say Thanks campaign, where supporters are photographed holding up a sign that details what they are grateful for from their American servicemen and women.

The campaign has helped to raise awareness for the fact that American soldiers can feel great loneliness and homesickness while serving in a foreign country, and that too often they do not

receive adequate appreciation.

“Knowing that there is someone out there who appreciates the things I do truly makes my life easier,” one soldier said, according to the Operation Gratitude website.

“It’s not always easy to know how to give back to American soldiers, so it’s nice to know that donating some of my Halloween candy could potentially brighten their day,” junior Sebastian Smith said.

Students and faculty who personally know a soldier overseas can go on the Operation Gratitude website to sign up a service member to receive care packages.

Ms. Kellinger said that the SGA is planning on running the Treats for Troops Drive again next school year, so students will have another opportunity to show their gratitude for American soldiers and avoid consuming too many unhealthy sweets following Halloween.

PHOTO BY ANDREW DEL VECCHIO

RM students donate Halloween candy and letters to the annual Treats for Troops drive, in order to raise awareness and appreciation for overseas American troops.

The Tide

November 2014

No-Shave November

5

PHOTO BY RACHIT AGARWAL

Above: Sophomore Veeraj Majethia, the youngest contestant in this year’s competition, poses to show off his progress thus far.

Below: Senior Justin Nikakhtar shaved his “permanent beard” at the beginning of the competition, and has already grown it back.

PHOTO BY ANDREW DEL VECCHIO

Above: Seniors Dante Roncoli and Max Molot admire each other’s facial hair three weeks into the contest.

PHOTOS BY JUSTIN NIKAKHTAR

Above left: English teacher Joshua Klotz on the first day. Above right: Klotz after two weeks in the competition.

PHOTO BY ANDREW DEL VECCHIO

PHOTO BY RACHIT AGARWAL

Above: Biology teacher Stephen Wright is known for frequently morphing his mustache into a variety of designs.

Right: Social studies teacher Rob Thomas plans to style his facial beard into muttonchops for the styling competition.

has

PHOTO BY ANDREW DEL VECCHIO

“No Shave November” is a competition in which contestants grow out their facial hair to raise awareness for prostate cancer and funds to fight the disease. For more information about the event, see page 2.

6 The Tide

OPINIONS

Letter to the Editor: All clubs deserve support

by Sarah Flaherty and Lisa Mena Richard Montgomery High School has over 80 unique clubs spanning many different subjects and interests. Some clubs require outside funding; some do not.

Although a few clubs which do require funding can go to the school’s PTSA, many clubs within the school need funding but cannot obtain enough external aid. Robotics, sadly, is one of many that requires funding, but receives very little support from the school.

The robotics club has been a part of RM since 2010. Over the last four years the club has expanded from fewer than ten kids when it started to two full teams of fifteen now. Every year, the team strives to outdo itself, going from just barely qualifying to coming in second place at the 2014 FTC World Championship.

The most heavily-funded extracurricular activities in the school are the sports teams, which use the money for uniforms and transportation. The RMHS Booster Club works hard every year to raise money to help fund Rocket sports. In line with county policy, the Booster Club is only allowed to fund MCPSsanctioned athletic groups. As a result, clubs like Robotics have to support themselves financially.

The RM Robotics teams have expenditures comparable to those of sports teams, yet only a fraction of their financial support comes from the school.

The PTSA allocates funding to various clubs through small project grants. A few examples of these small projects grants from 2013 include: $400 to RM Robotics for registration fees and supplies, $300 to Model

UN for transportation costs, and $400 dollars to Fine Lines for publication costs. For many groups, the PTSA acts as the financial backbone of the club, shouldering the majority of club expenses.

But the PTSA simply cannot meet the needs of every club. Last year, with costs of over $3000 for both the JV and Varsity Robotics Teams, RM Robotics needed to reach out to local organizations, such as the Rockville Rotary Club, to meet its financial needs.

Other groups have had no choice but to find innovative ways to raise necessary funds.

The Black Maskers Drama Club, for example, created the annual One Acts Festival as a fundraiser to help supplement their main shows, such as the recent production of “Beauty and the Beast.”

Clubs also find ways to cut costs. Instead of attempting to rent the auditorium from the school, the Shakespeare Club rehearses at the director’s house. Last year, without teacher support,

the Robotics Club spent almost every after school meeting at the Rockville Library in Town Center.

While these clubs have found ways to survive with limited external financial support, internal fundraising is a temporary solution to a far more significant problem.

The officials and community members who craft the school budget need to recognize the important role clubs like Robotics fill in the school, and give these clubs their fair share.

Physical education is extremely important, but the county and school budgets appear to favor it at the expense of the 80+ clubs devoted to other areas of education.

This unequal support only makes it that much harder for new, nonathletic clubs to form and survive.

Although those clubs who have found ways to support themselves without the school have learned valuable lessons in fundraising and have shown admirable dedication, their efforts should not have been necessary in the first place.

Sarah Flaherty and Lisa Mena are presidents of the RM Robotics club.

This winter the SGA has decided that the time is ripe for a Sadie Hawkins dance.

This unique type of dance allows the guys to catch a break: girls will be asking the guys to the dance, and will have the option to pay for both their tickets.

Winter dances in general, however, are typically not nearly

Message from the

Administration Principal Monteleone: a worldly educator I grew up in Columbia, MD and played baseball and football throughout high school. I was inspired by my history teachers, who made me question the world around me. After graduating from college, I drove around the country before settling with some friends in Los Angeles.

One year later, I returned to the east coast to pursue a career in education which began as a special education teacher at Paint Branch before teaching Advanced Placement US History at Bethesda Chevy-Chase High School. While at BCC, I took a one -year leave through Fulbright to teach in Vienna, Austria. In 2002 I left the United States again to teach social studies at an American International School in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, where I met my wife, who is Venezuelan.

Upon returning in 2006 I served as Advanced Placement Program Coordinator and social studies resource teacher at Northwood High School before becoming an administrator at Paint Branch in 2010. I am so very proud and honored to now be your principal!

-Mr. Damon Monteleone, school principal

Ms. Heidler’s MCPS career comes full circle

PHOTO BY MONA LEE

The robotics team has already started working on this year’s design.

They will need funding for two teams to compete at nationals in 2015.

Poll of the month: Would you consider attending an SGA-organized winter dance?

by Steven Lu

November 2014

as popular as the larger dances, namely Homecoming and Prom, both of which benefit from being deeply ingrained in American culture as quintessential high school experiences.

Many have responded enthusiastically to the Sadie Hawkins dance.

Nick Jackson, a senior, appreciates the uniqueness of the idea: “It’s too stressful to ask a girl to the prom. Now, with the Sadie Hawkins dance, I don’t have to

Yes 36%

No 64% A sample of 668 students from all four grade levels was used to generate these results. This survey ran from November 14-19, 2014.

worry about that.”

Jackson also believes “that the dance is very different from other annual RM events and will add to the culture of RM.” Some, however, are a little more pessimistic about the dance.

Freshman Esika Savsani believes that she would go, but said, “the idea of a Sadie Hawkins dance is not ideal for me; I don’t want to pay for my tickets, or buy one for anyone else.”

Kevin Ying, a junior, noticed that “the idea comes up every year but is never really followed through with.”

However, this year, there is more momentum behind the dance than there has been in the past. “Many students in the SGA voted to hold such a dance, including me,” said SGA officer Sarah Eng. Although many students provide positive feedback when asked about the dance, others are quick to reject the idea of attending. But perhaps it is time for the SGA to start a new tradition. The winter dance will be a chance for students to partake in a unique Friday night activity. It could serve as a new, exciting part of students’ high school experience.

I moved to Maryland with my family when I was in the second grade and attended Frederick County Public Schools. I have taught pre-K through eleventh grade as well as adults. The majority of my time, however, has been spent teaching reading, math, and science courses at the secondary level, with chemistry being one of my favorites. Most recently I served as assistant principal at Benjamin Banneker Middle School before coming to RMHS. I was thrilled to be able to return to the Richard Montgomery cluster and serve as one of your new assistant principals. It was like coming home for me as I started my career in MCPS here and moved to Rockville a few years ago with my husband and two daughters.

On a more personal note I love the beach, traveling, spending time with family and friends, and anything sci-fi. Now that you know a little more about me, I hope you will stop and chat with me when you see me in the hall so that I can get to know you.

-Kimberly Heidler, administrator

Please send any comments as letters to the editor to tide.opinions@gmail.com.

Submissions may be edited for length and/or clarity.

The Tide

250 Richard Montgomery Drive Rockville, Maryland 20852 www.rmtide.com 301-610-8000 The Tide is the student newspaper of Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville, Maryland. The Tide is dedicated to keeping the Richard Montgomery school community accurately informed and to providing a forum for student expression.

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The Tide

OPINIONS

Black & Gold

November 2014 7

Student engagement techniques are prevalent in every department

by Ian McBain Whether they are calculating, computing, or solving, the math department at Richard Montgomery High School uses a wide range of techniques to ensure that students are actively engaged in class.

One of the math department’s major accomplishments is the “Math Groups” page on Edline for each individual math class. This page is home to all the handouts, solutions, and upcoming information about the classes, which helps students check their work and find additional practice in order to succeed in the classroom. I, like many others, find “Math Groups” particularly useful when I am absent or I lose a handout that my teacher gave out in class.

Math class is also the only subject that uses “little books” for test prep. These books, made of folded-up sheets of paper, summarize all of the material that was covered during the unit to help the students study for their major tests.

We students create our own books, which means we can focus on the concepts that we are having trouble with. Overall, this method proves to be so effective in math that sometimes students use it on their own for their other subjects.

Some math teachers, hard-pressed to finish all of the required course material on time, must resort to lecture-based classes.

Mrs. Goetz ezplained, ”If I’m teaching a harder math class like Calculus I’ve got to get the material down, but for a class like AAF I let the kids get up and move around because they should be interacting, since they’re only fourteen.”

However, she and other teachers in the math department use brightly colored, animated Powerpoint presentations to

engage students in what might otherwise seem like ‘another boring lecture’. Mrs. Goetz pointed out, “[Powerpoints] allow me to help individual students with their problems while not having to go back to the board every ten seconds.”

“Mrs. Goetz indicates prickly concepts with a “Dagger!” which has proved important for me during tests.”

As a student in her AAF class, Mrs. Goetz’ animations have helped me remember certain things to look out for on a math assessment. She indicates prickly concepts with a “Dagger!” which seems really silly at the time, but has proved very important for me and my classmates during the test.

It goes without saying that the math department does an extraordinary job at keeping math class interesting. Go math!

by Cindy Song Science is a fairly complex, yet fundamental subject that we all need in order to understand how our world works.

So how do we successfully learn about such an important subject?

Labs are an incredibly important part of the science learning experience. Some concepts, such as cell diffusion, are hard to picture, so labs give students a more concrete look at the process.

“We just did our baggie lab,” said biology teacher Cynthia Stevens, “which effectively demonstrates abstract concepts with everyday materials.” My group observed iodine and cornstarch permeate through a plastic bag. Because of this lab, my understanding of the cell membrane is now much more clear.

Although not all concepts can be illustrated through a lab, science classes have many alternative strategies for interactive learning. For instance, according to Mrs. Stevens, “To help students see what’s going on, we use cards that can be moved around to figure out the relationship between ideas.”

by Kyle Zhu History may seem to some students to be little more than memorizing laundry lists of information or a class to doze off in. However, although we may be able to complacently live our lives without paying attention to what has come before, we cannot read, write, and think at the highest levels without historical knowledge.

Here at Richard Montgomery, history is one of our most engaging classes. The teachers love the subject! As history teacher Toni Kellinger says, “With history, I love to think of different projects or lessons to get students involved in a certain topic or discussion.” In a typical lesson, she “loves to call on students to get them involved and to try different things.” She also uses a lot of primary sources to give her students first hand accounts and perspectives on what they read in the textbook.

After a quick lesson, students are able to split into small groups and discuss. In small groups, students can move around and the nature of their conversation is less rigid. I find it is sometimes easier for me to keep up in the informal group discussion than the typical lecture-based class.

History classes utilize a variety of projects to draw students in and allow them to actively participate in the classroom. There are debates about the concepts students are studying, such as about politics, as well as role plays and creative writings.

One role play about the Philippines Annexation, for which students got to dress up as characters from that time period, was, “exciting for everyone,”according to Mrs. Kellinger. These role plays draw students into that time period and thoroughly enhance their understanding of history.

Not all character are suitably transparent to this exercise, however, which limits it to certain classes or eras in history.

In another project in U.S. History, students read the book “Greatest Generation” and interview a veteran. This

GRAPHIC BY NANCY JIANG

Various teaching methods in different departments are reflective of the range of topics that students are engage in. This variety keeps students engaged and focused. was quite emotional and touching for many students as they got to look through the lens of one of the men and women who risked everything to defend our nation.

Then, students got the opportunity to write a chapter in the veteran’s life. This is not merely a history project; it is an opportunity for students to step into the shoes of our nation’s defenders and observe their courage, spirit, and heroism.

For the decades project, students choose a decade in the 40s, 50s, 60s, or 70s, and research the fashion and pop culture of that time period. People can immerse themselves in a topic of their choice, broadening their knowledge while having having loads of fun.

Of course, history must include some powerpoints and notetaking. This is necessary if we are to absorb certain concrete facts, such as dates or information about a time period. Only after grasping the underlying knowledge of a certain time period can we then delve into different activities. Students need basic comprehension before immersive projects will be useful.

One of the most oft-quoted arguments for history education is that “history repeats itself”. In order to learn from our nation’s past mistakes and make effective decisions in the future, however, students need to have deep knowledge of the nuances of our historical past. In this regard, the history department at RM is doing a fantastic and thorough job of preparing students.

by Shoham Ghosh Although all subjects taught at Richard Montgomery are given the utmost care and respect, the school’s English classes are undoubtedly the most engaging for the students. Unlike other classes, English is not simply a matter of absorbing and regurgitating information.

Every assignment in English class “forces you to be better as a thinker and as a reader and as a writer,” as said by English teacher Scott Bayer.

English is not always about looking at a piece of paper or listening to a lecture; teachers, in fact, try to instead encourage discussion so that students can gain better understanding of what they are learning in class.

My classmates and I find that interacting with the text is more effective than having information thrown at us with no real chance for interpretation.

A class where everyone is comfortable with one another is sure to work harder and smarter than a class where many students are reluctant to even speak. When working with other people, our peers contribute a variety of perspectives to the conversation.

In addition , most students prefer working with others in a social environment to listening the endless droning of a lecturebased class.

Although the primary text in English

The cards are a constructive method because they allows students to physically manipulate their study tools and learn key terms at their own pace.

I often find myself nodding away in front of a textbook. Memorizing confusing definitions out of a textbook is usually burdensome and tiring. The cards are much more engaging than an old textbook and a lot easier to carry around.

Another tool that is widely used by teachers is Powerpoint. Although Powerpoints can be boring because teachers frequently use it for lecture-notes, they are necessary for clarifying information students are unsure about.

I absorb much information from the textbook, but Powerpoints help reinforce and supplement my knowledge by presenting it in an alternate fashion.

Many teachers try to format their Powerpoints to best communicate the necessary information to their students.

Mrs. Stevens makes her Powerpoints engaging by adding “keywords the kids need to know” and “links to animations that help visualize the concept.”

For instance, she inserted a link in one of her Powerpoints to a cool animation that displays cell transportation. I spent quite some time clicking around the animation and seeing how foreign substances use proteins to access a cell membrane. Such animations provide a better understanding of the workings of scientific processes that cannot be seen with the naked eye.

RM’s science teachers do a great job of inspiring students, but they could do a better job easing students into this greater scientific community.

Labs are a great start, but including more opportunities like field trips or talks with real-life scientists can (literally) give students a closer look at life. class is always a book, teachers have the flexibility to use many other mediums to teach their lessons.

For example, English teacher Susan Leckie is “start[ing] a documentary film unit” in her 10th Grade English and AP Language classes.

Students learn how to construct and defend their arguments, and “at the same time, [they] are learning documentary film techniques and watching a movie which kids like.”

Most students would agree with Scott Bayer’s view that “Powerpoint is increasingly the most boring thing they can look at, because it’s static and mostly words.” Instead of having students just copy down information they see on a slide, English teachers often have students synthesize their own information.

In 9th grade English class, for example, we read Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave”.

Rather than just telling us what the allegory means, however, our teacher encouraged us to come to the conclusion on our own

“I’ve never given you guys a lecture. I don’t think it’s my place.

What we focus on really just comes down to one thing: thinking.”

-9th grade English teacher Scott Bayer by drawing large posters of the cave and visually deconstructing the allegory.

All these techniques make English class more exciting and enjoyable for teachers and students alike. In no other classes are relationships so quickly built, courses so free flowing, and ineffective demonstrations so easily bypassed.

8

OPINIONS

The Tide

November 2014

The Rocket Spectrum Is 75-hour SSL requirement beneficial to students?

The number of SSL hours required should either be a lot higher or nonexistent.

-Dahlia Wilson, senior

As is, SSL hours don’t benefit me. If activities with my sports team counted, I would be more motivated, since my friends would be with me.

-Alex Jiao, senior

SSL hours should be more like Creativity, Action, and Service hours required by the IB program.

-Sean Marlin, senior

SSL Hours devalue community service by turning it into yet another homework assignment. The ease at which they are acquired means SSL hours don’t provide an accurate depiction of students’ dedication to helping others -James Gordy, junior

No ,

My service has benefitted others, but not me.

-Simon Li, sophomore

not at all.

PHIC

GRA

I don’t know. I have learned from my service, but I think we have to do too many hours.

-Maria Petrova, junior

It has been an inconvenience, but people in my community enjoyed my service.

-Ethan Smith-Cohen, freshman

The things SSL Requirements make me do, I would do anyway.

It’s just more paperwork.

-Amit Koppel, sophomore

ANG

CY JI

AN

BY N

I think that SSL hours truly are beneficial because they help students to give back to their community and become more aware of the essence of unity.

-Heesu Park, junior

Yes ,

absolutely!

In middle school, I was part of the Difference Makers club. We raised money for large local and international issues like global water shortage. SSL gets students thinking about issues that teens wouldn’t normally think of.

-Yohanna Daniel, freshman

I suppose students can give back to the community through drives like the canned food drive or the book drive, but drives just aren’t as effective as SSL hours. They don’t get students as involved in the community.

-Hannah San Sebastian, freshman

Administration has responded suitably to rising alcohol concerns

by Anders Alilio and Sedef Berk I think we will all readily admit: some topics, like rape or in the case of this article, the use of intoxicants (drugs and alcohol), are a little difficult to speak seriously about.

In light of police in Prince George’s county having to warn parents about marijuanalaced trick-or-treat candy, however, it may be time to speak candidly about the issue

In 2013,18.0 percent of 10th graders and 22.7 percent of 12th graders used marijuana the past month. of intoxicants among students of our age, and specifically how our administration handles this issue.

Smacked, lifted, baked, blazed, faded, turnt - no matter what you call it, the figures do not lie: according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, “In 2013, 7.0 percent of 8th graders, 18.0 percent of 10th graders, and 22.7 percent of 12th graders used marijuana in the past month, up from 5.8 percent, 13.8 percent, and 19.4 percent in 2008.” The Center for Disease Control reported in a 2011 study that 39 percent of high school students had consumed alcohol at some point in their high school years.

Last year’s prom raised concerns about the relative ease with which alcohol was acquired and shared. While the users saw the drugs and alcohol as a way to relax after a grueling school year, it posed a

direct threat to other students once the students left the dance floor and began to drive to the bowling after-party. Several students testified to lingering behind between the events so that they could give the mentally-addled “a head start” before putting themselves on the road too.

Has the administrative response to alcohol and drug use been effective?

The answer, though trite, is that the administration is doing the best it can.

A variety of new measures have been implemented this year to deter drug use.

This year you may have noticed that the locker policy has become much more stringent - after a short period when students were assigned lockers, locks were placed upside-down on all empty lockers to prevent any unauthorized use, limiting a person’s ability to stash “contraband” (MCPS jargon for drugs and alcoholic beverages) in a random locker.

A zero-tolerance policy for sharing lockers has also been implemented by the administration to further limit the options of students who would try to hide their illicit materials in other students’ lockers.

The administration also put in place a no-backpack rule for football games and instituted random checks of pockets and purses at homecoming.

Well-intentioned, law-abiding students generally find it slightly ridiculous that not even water is allowed at football games or dances.

One football fan pointed out, “I shouldn’t have to spend money on water from the concessions stand if I get thirsty. What if my throat gets hoarse from all of the cheering?

What if someone gets dehydrated?”

The unintended consequence of this rule is that it penalizes both students who are out to do harm and students who are just out to have a good time.

Nonetheless, students were not deterred from attending the games altogether by this rule.

And, when the reasoning of this ‘nowater’ rule in particular is explained, most agree that forbidding water leaves no loopholes for alcohol to slip into these events.

The staff also seems to support the administration’s policies. John Fahrner, coach and physical education teacher, certainly does. “Whatever the administration is doing, I love it,” he said.

Referring to students under his supervision in detention for drug-related incidences, Mr. Fahrner stated, “Last year my gym was full of students. Now? Zero, sometimes. You think I don’t appreciate that? Yes sir!”

“There’s a new sheriff in town,” he added. “And you can tell.”

If there is anything I have learned from Mr. Fahrner’s health class it is this: ultimately, students old enough to drive and some even to vote must consider benefits, risks, and consequences of using drugs on their own.

The administration takes intoxicant use on school property seriously and by the letter of the law, but the reality is that this behavior overwhelmingly takes place off-campus, where it is beyond the administration’s — and sometimes even parents’ — power to prevent. After all, teachers and parents certainly are not going to be there to dissuade or prevent students from taking a hit at a party or having a beer on a Friday night.

The administration has done a commendable job of trying to stop alcohol and drug use of students.

Its policies have been by and large effective in reducing drug use in school, despite the unpleasant side effect of sometimes inconveniencing the law-abiding portion of the student body.

Our school’s administration, parents, friends, and even Mr. Fahrner have all weighed in on the issue. But regardless of what everyone else says, how you and you alone weigh in is what ultimately makes all the difference.

PHOTO BY RACHIT AGARWAL

The path near the cafeteria has been infamous for alleged marijuana use, but this year the administration hopes to change that by implementing new anti-drug measures.

The Tide

ADVERTISEMENTS

October 2014 9

10 The Tide

November 2014

INTERNATIONAL

Bienvenue à RM to French students

by Akanksha Girish and Kevin Liu This past month, Richard Montgomery students had the opportunity to collaborate with a school in Marseilles, France as part of an annual exchange program.

Students from France were able to experience life as American students as they followed students to their classes, visited Washington, D.C., and received countless insights into our culture.

The exchange program provided mutual benefits to all those involved, including the RM hosts. Although there were financial costs involved, they were offset by the educational and cultural benefits gained in interacting with their guests.

Mr. Letourneau, a French teacher at RM, praised the educational value of the exchange program. “This program was a great experience for both French students and our students. It allowed all the participants to develop a better

PHOTO COURTESY OF ALBERT PARK

Exchange students visited DC, saw the Capitol, and engaged in various local activities.

French exchange students spent understanding of the relationship between over a week with their individual host the two cultures.” families, giving the exchange students the However, Mr. Letourneau expressed opportunity to participate in a wide variety regret at the lack of a true “exchange,” as of activities after school.

RM students were unable return the favor For example, senior Albert Park and visit France themselves. showed his French exchange student, “Sadly, we don’t have the time or Arnaud, Rockville Town Center so that resources anymore to arrange for our Arnaud could better experience the life of a students to go to France and live with host typical Richard Montgomery student. families. Nowadays, a person outside the Apart from school, Park says that school staff is in charge of the program and the two enjoyed their time together by organizes the French students’ itineraries “shopping, just hanging out, and playing and who hosts them,” he said. tennis with some of [his] friends.”

Non-French speakers also took part in Even the simplest of activities proved the program. Junior Rebecca Stryer, who to be an entirely new experience and currently takes Spanish classes, looked culture shock for the French students. Yet forward to hosting a French student, the students also found many parallels despite the language barrier. between French and American life.

When Juliette was not with her fellow Junior Gayatri Girirajan learned from exchange students, Rebecca took her out her exchange student, Meryl Oliveri, that to see many places and landmarks in the French teens love American music.

Washington area . The two took a nighttime

tour of the monuments in Washington D.C., went to Georgetown, and saw “Evita” at the Kennedy Center.

Additionally, since Stryer had worked on Anthony Brown’s gubernatorial campaign, she had three VIP tickets to a campaign rally for Brown.

“We decided to go because it would be a very American experience and President Obama was set to speak,” Stryer said.

At the end of the campaign rally, they even had the opportunity to shake hands with the president himself. Juliette pushed her way to the front of the crowd and found herself face-to-face with the president.

Stryer described Juliette’s reaction during the campaign rally as one of sheer wonder and amazement. “In twenty years, she probably will not remember her favorite thing at the American History Museum or what the Capitol was like, but she will probably remember shaking President Obama’s hand,” she said.

Although other exchange students did not have the same experience, they still had fun during their time here.

Gayatri Girirajan took her exchange student, Meryl, who is a senior at her school in Marseilles, to Rockville Town Center, where they had plenty of fun exploring shops and enjoying the food in Rockville.

Much like Stryer, Girirajan described the reaction of her exchange student to the elements of American culture as one of pure awe. “My favorite memory is from going to Party City and looking at all the Halloween decor. She was really fascinated

by Halloween,” Girirajan said. In France, people only put up minor decorations for Halloween, and there is no established tradition of going trick-or-treating.

During their time here, the French exchange students were able to have many new and exciting experiences visiting places that they otherwise would only have seen in pictures. Likewise, the student hosts agree that the program was an invaluable experience in opening their eyes to the vast expanse of French culture.

Reflecting on his time as a host, Girirajan said, “The program was incredibly well -organized from start to finish. I thought it was great that an independent organization provided me with such a special multicultural opportunity.”

Given the program’s success this year, it is almost certain that the program will remain a success and continue to be so.

In Hong Kong, students lead protests

by David Zhang and Hayley Goddard In 1997, the British returned Hong Kong to Chinese control, under the condition that the city would retain certain liberties and freedoms that it had possessed under British rule.

This one aspect of Hong Kong has made it distinct from mainland China, with different lifestyles, economics, and legal systems among other cultural differences.

However, authorities in China seem to want this to change, and are beginning to exert more control on the small “special administrative region” (SAR).

The current Hong Kong protests are in response to Beijing’s recent demands that Hong Kong’s Chief Executive, the city’s top official, must be selected only from candidates approved by Beijing from 2017 onward.

Citizens of Hong Kong are viewing this action as a sign to expect more and more Chinese involvement in the future, and are thus actively protesting.

While the protests in Hong Kong may seem far away from most members of the

Richard Montgomery community, the protests are in fact an important indication to RM students that people their age have been able to do make their voice heard.

The organization of the major student protest group, called the Hong Kong Federation of Students, is extremely unique. Members of the group who were arrested at one of the early protests ranged in age from 16 to 35.

One striking aspect of the group is that the most prominent leader, Joshua Wong, who was arrested in the protests, is only 17 years old.

While members of the media have criticized Wong and claimed that he is simply a puppet, Wong does have the background to support his impressive title.

At the tender age of 15, Wong organized a group of over 100,000 people to challenge the government’s plan to introduce a more “patriotic” curriculum in public schools in Hong Kong.

When asked what they thought about Wong’s age and position, RM students were generally supportive. Junior Jeffrey Chang said, “I think that the age of Wong is irrelevant. If he is a good leader, then his age should not make a difference.”

The RM student body has had mixed reactions towards these protestors. Junior Sidd Nayak stated, “I don’t think it’s a peaceful protest.” He believes that because the protestors are deliberately interfering with the government’s processes, the government is justified in taking military actions against the protesters.

Regardless of one’s view of the protests, its young leaders deserve respect.

Junior Maeve Givens said, “I think they are courageous and justified to demand reform in their government and also that the protesters are smart to disrupt the economy because it gives them power over the government.”

On a similar note, junior Payal Arora said, “As long as they peacefully protest, the government should listen to what the protestors have to say. The fact that they are disrupting the local communities a little is justified because the government wouldn’t pay attention to them if they didn’t cause some disruption.”

With China, many questions remain.

Will Hong Kong shake off the grip of the Chinese government and prove once more that it is a stable, independent financial center for the world?

Brazil

Brazil is a good country to live in, but moving to the U.S. has given me many experiences that I would not have had in Brazil. My school in Brazil was so different.

There, we have one classroom that we stay in for the whole day.

We pass the whole year in the same classroom with the same people.

Our schedule is different too, because we do not have the same classes every day. Each day of the week has a different schedule.

The opportunity to live in the U.S. is nice because I can face a different reality and learn about a new culture.

- Natalia Faria

Indonesia

I am from Indonesia. I came to the U.S. one year ago because of my father’s job. Also, moving gave me the chance to know how it feels to live and study in the U.S. In my country, I liked to watch movies about America. I never thought living here would be so different from living in Indonesia.

The weather is especially different. I knew in the U.S. we would have four seasons, but I never imagined how these seasons would look and feel. My first day here was in summer 2013. It was hotter here than summer was in my country. Being outside at winter here feels like being in a refrigerator. The best part of winter is snow. In Indonesia, there is no snow, so I’m happy I can see and touch snow here. I love being here.

- Nur Rachmadiyanti

If you would like to share a story or provide background on another country, email tide.international.editors@gmail. com. We would love to hear from you!

The Tide

November 2014

11

Model UN brings down the gavel, thinks big at UVA

by Akanksha Girish and Kevin Liu After weeks of meticulous drafting and practicing, ­­­a select number of Richard Montgomery High School students traveled to the University of Virginia from November 7 through 9 to participate in the 34th annual Model United Nations Conference.

This conference is only one of many role-playing conferences of this type.

Dozens of events are held every year in colleges and high schools around the United States.

Model UN simulates the political environment of the world stage, allowing participants to learn about a wide variety of perspectives and worldviews.

RM’s Model UN team, currently led by senior Daniel Kipnis, goes to a few events every year, and VAMUN is only the first.

Kipnis believes it’s a great opportunity, saying that it is a chance to “foray into the world of diplomacy and international relations, to sharpen debate and public speaking skills, and to develop skills in technical writing.”

The participating students must figure out compromises to solve global problems with the often conflicting interests of the many countries at play.

This year’s VAMUN was planned slightly differently than many previous MUN events. Committee sizes were shrunk to increase the number of specialized groups instead of having larger bodies with broader topic ranges.

The organization also implemented a live Twitter feed to connect interested parties to what was happening on the floor.

Like most competitive team events, VAMUN required a strong level of commitment. Interested applicants had to first send in an essay on a pressing international issue and explain why they wanted to join. After the dust had settled, Richard Montgomery sent a total of 24 students to the VAMUN conference this year.

Before heading off to the conference, it is key that students thoroughly prepare their position papers to match the views of the nations they represent. The debated

PHOTO BY DANIEL KIPNIS

Richard Montgomery Model United Nations team members engage in public discourse and prepare resolutions on global issues. topics are usually ones that all nations present can have a say in, such as gender rights or environmental policy.

Model UN conferences have multiple committees, each of which represents a different body within the actual United Nations. All are competitive, and the conference as a whole can last up to 4 days. In between their events, attendees stay overnight in nearby hotels. This year, VAMUN lasted for three days.

RM students worked to pass resolutions on many topics put onto the floor.

According to Kipnis, there is a large focus to “form coalitions with other delegates known as caucus blocks and present their ideas through technical and goal-oriented working papers and resolutions.”

Like all MUN gatherings, there was a general assembly. It was split into three branches at VAMUN: the Food and

Agriculture Organization, the Millenium Development Goals, and the UN Trusteeship Council. They all focused on global development on particular issues, especially aid to nations in need.

One of the key features of VAMUN was the Wilson Global Systems Summit. Each of the six committees at this event was given broad, regional, and long-term scenarios.

Members were given the opportunity to take initiative themselves and actively vie for victory.

There were two specialized committees, three crisis committees, and even a press corps. This year’s focus was on issues such as organized crime in Latin America.

The most successful teams were fluid and ready to adapt to rapidly shifting situations, leaving those with more static preparations to fall by the wayside.

Another particular challenge is the

crisis committees, in which delegates must react to and attempt to solve an urgent, real-time event. Attendees of all events must work with topics of real concern, including cultural, technological, civil and political issues.

This year at VAMUN, Daniel Kipnis won the best delegate gavel for representing Taiwan in the Asia Cooperation Dialogue.

Daniel Feshbach also won an honorable mention for representing Taiwan in the UNESCO committee.

Richard Montgomery’s Model UN team has been actively participating in conferences for years now. In the past, they have attended NAIMUN at Georgetown and the Ivy League MUN conference at UPenn to name a few, with plans to continue well into the future, specifically the Cornell Model UN conference in Ithaca, New York.

As Ebola virus ravages abroad, fears grow at home

by Jamie Gordy Ebola is considered one of the gravest health issues affecting our world at the moment.

Over 5,400 people have died as a result of the most recent outbreak of the Ebola virus. However, only four people have been diagnosed with the disease in the United States, of which only two have died.

Richard Montgomery students, as well as all other MCPS students, received a letter about the steps Montgomery County is taking to ensure an outbreak does not

occur. The letter included information about the low threat levels, but nonetheless instructed students and parents to inform their schools and doctors about any recent travel to Ebola-affected countries.

A fever of 100.4 is the minimum threshold for a student to be questioned about their recent travel history. If the student, a relative, or close contact has traveled to West Africa recently, then the student will be isolated and tested.

Currently, the letter is only precautionary and no student has been isolated yet. The county placed emphasis on the fact that Ebola is hard to contract and that it is unlikely to become an epidemic in

GRAPHIC BY NANCY JIANG

The map above shows the most greatly Ebola-affected countries in Western Africa.

our school system.

Some students think that the current precautions will not be strong enough to stop Ebola if it appears in Montgomery County. “I think that they’re good precautionary steps, but probably won’t prevent anything,” said junior Vanessa Martinez-Penn.

However, other students do not believe that Ebola will truly present a threat to the county. “I don’t believe that Ebola is really going to spread in the United States, but if it does, the letters aren’t going to stop it.

We can’t even stop the common cold from spreading in our schools,” added MartinezPenn.

Ebola has a much larger presence on an international level. Travel restrictions preventing airplanes from West Africa to enter the United States have been proposed but the effectiveness of such measures has been questioned. A majority of travelers fly to America with a connecting flight in Europe, as was the case in Thomas Eric Duncan. An international measure would need to be coordinated in order to ensure the proper functioning of travel restrictions.

Many hospitals in America have been affected by Ebola despite not having a case.

Over 20,000 nurses staged a walk-off the job protest in California to highlight what they feel is a lack of preparedness for Ebola.

This is a major issue that will be affecting millions of Americans.

Ebola is also having an economic impact throughout Africa. The economic growth rate of Sub-Saharan Africa is estimated to have slowed by a full percentage point as a result of the outbreak. Fear of Ebola has led

to many companies cancelling investment projects and a major decrease in tourism.

This is in no way limited to the countries that have actually had cases of Ebola but rather is affecting countries that thousands of miles away. Additionally, many people who traveled to unaffected regions of Africa are still subject to a stigma now associated with Ebola.

Despite the dangerous nature of the Ebola virus, there have been some benefits of the virus. Many countries, including the United States have upped their disease preparedness and reimplemented many precautions against infectious diseases, something that has been of low priority due to vaccines.

Additionally, a vaccine to counteract Ebola has been rapidly developed, which may save countless lives in the future.

Some students and parents think that the focus on Ebola is ignoring bigger health and safety issues that may be threatening our students.

“There are currently no active infections in the country right now, and even if there were it is incredibly difficult to transmit, so the odds of it being an issue here now are infinitesimally small,” said junior Maxwell Frankfurter. One larger possible health concern locally is whooping cough, which has had nearly 20 reported cases in Montgomery County schools despite having a vaccine.

Even though students are unlikely to see Ebola in Montgomery County, it is clear that it will continue to have a far-reaching presence in the community, as fears and precautions grow by the day.

14

The Tide

LA MAREA

Noviembre del 2014

Estudiantes ayudan a pacientes enfermos de Daniela Rojas “Cada 4 minutos, una persona es diagnosticada con cáncer de la sangre.”

Este tipo de cáncer, también llamado leucemia, se caracteriza por una detención en la formación de las diferentes células sanguíneas, particularmente los glóbulos blancos, y una sobreproducción de células inmaduras las cuales pueden ser malignas para el cuerpo.

Esta formación de células cancerosas se origina en la medula ósea, la cual es la encargada de distribuir la sangre a todos los tejidos del cuerpo.

Es por esto que miles de personas que sufren de este tipo de cáncer necesitan un trasplante de medula ósea para poder sobrevivir; lastimosamente no todos logran conseguir un donador que sea compatible con ellos, en especial aquellas personas de origen mixto o minoría.

Usualmente dichos pacientes

buscan donaciones dentro de su círculo familiar pero cuando eso falla acuden a organizaciones que se encargan de conseguirles un donador compatible.

Una de estas organizaciones es Be The Match, una de las más grandes, diversas y eficientes en el mundo. Los requisitos para poder unirse al registro de donaciones son por un lado tener entre 18 y 44 años de edad y por otro tener buena salud y ningún tipo de enfermedades.

Estas personas necesitan de tu ayuda, no es fácil hacer este tipo de donaciones pero como ha dicho la Sra. Solernou, quien fue donadora durante muchos años, vale la pena porque estamos salvando una vida humana.

Ponte en la situación de una persona con leucemia, si tú estuvieses sufriendo a causa de una enfermedad tan crónica como ésta, de seguro quisieras que alguien te ayudara e hiciera este pequeño detalle por ti.

Como dice el eslogan de la organización, existe una cura, y esa cura puedes ser tú.

FOTO DE DARIAN GARCIA

Estudiantes y profesora de RMHS recaudan fondos para la organización “Be the Match,” que ayuda a pacientes enfermos de leucemia.

¿Cataluña debe ser país independiente, o no? de Sara Garcia-Beech Aunque los catalanes tienen muchas razones comprensibles para querer separarse del resto de España, en fin, eso solo causaría daño a España, Cataluña y hasta el resto de Europa. La economía sufriría, surgirían sentimientos nacionalistas de otras regiones españolas y europeas. El mejor curso de acción sería intentar reparar los malos sentimientos entre los catalanes y el resto de los españoles porque al final, las dos culturas no son tan diferentes en sí mismas.

Es correcto que Cataluña proporciona más a la economía española que cualquier otra comunidad autónoma, pero eso no quiere decir que separarse de España arreglaría sus problemas económicos.

Muchas compañías internacionales que invierten en ciudades como Barcelona se oponen a la independencia catalana, ya que también tienen contratos con otras partes del país, y en el caso de que si se separaran, esa inversión podría disminuirse.

“Yo entiendo las motivaciones por las cuales los catalanes quieren su independencia, pero al fin y al cabo, solo dañarían a toda la region.”

-Rosa Verchot Además, aunque Cataluña históricamente ha tenido problemas con el resto de España, este deseo para la independencia tan ardiente es una cosa que ha sido aumentado con la recesión económica española de estos últimos años. Muchos creen que la independencia resolvería todos sus problemas, pero no es tan fácil como así. Los problemas económicos son mucho más complejos que lo que una secesión podría resolver, mientras que si Cataluña siguiera unida a España, juntos serían más fuertes y más capaces de avanzar a un futuro mejor.

Por encima de todo, la Unión Europea, que ha estado dando mucha ayuda económica a España en estos últimos años, ha dicho que es muy poco probable que aceptaran que Cataluña entrara a la

Unión si se separase. El nuevo país estaría completamente solo, sin los tratados ya de Lisa Hernandez establecidos que otros países tienen con España, y sin la ayuda de la Unión. La El movimiento de independencia en mejora económicá sería improbable.

Rosa Verchot, una junior cuyos padres Cataluña, España es un gran tema de debate. vienen de Madrid, dijo: “Yo entiendo las Cataluña es un estado autónomo con una motivaciones y las razones por las cuales población de 7.5 millones, localizado en la los catalanes quieren su independencia, región nordeste de España. Por varios años ya, Cataluña pero creo que al ha estado fin y al cabo, solo proponiendo dañarían a toda la un voto para region” establecerse C a t a l u ñ a como país tampoco es la p r o p i o , única comunidad c i t a n d o autónoma que r a z o n e s ha querido su culturales, independencia.

El económicas y País Vasco, cuyo políticas. idioma y cultura son Cataluña aún más diferentes tiene su al español que el p r o p i a catalán, también ha l e n g u a , tenido sentimientos historia y separatistas, tradiciones, especialmente en los G R ÁF I C O D E H A N N A H S A L E M cosas que años ochenta. Había activistas pacíficos, claro, pero el grupo inculcan un sentido muy fuerte de orgullo más famoso fue ETA, una organización catalán en cada persona y con lo que los terrorista que mató a cientos de personas, españoles no pueden identificarse. Tal plantaron bombas y secuestraron a vez los argumentos más persuasivos inocentes para intentar convencer de para la independencia catalana son los forma violenta al gobierno que les dejara económicos, ya que Cataluña da mucho de su dinero al gobierno español y recibe a separarse.

Hoy en día, los sentimientos separatistas cambio tan poco.

Habiendo del País Vasco 47.27 millones han disminuido y de personas en ETA no es lo que todo el país, fue, pero siguen los catalanes permaneciendo. sienten que el La separación gobierno actual de Cataluña no está muy podría causar un pendiente de resurgimiento de las necesidades esto, un regreso a la únicas de ellos. violencia insensata Muchas de del pasado, un las personas pasado que mejor GRÁFICO DE ELLIN HU a favor de la deberíamos dejar independencia creen que las tradiciones atrás. Los catalanes no protestarían tan ruidosamente si no catalanas deberían ser tan celebradas como tuvieran quejas legítimas, pero separarse las tradiciones española.

Cataluña tiene su propia bandera y su no es la solución a sus problemas. Sí, su cultura y lengua son diferentes a la propio lenguaje. Los catalanes quieren castellana tradicional, pero eso tampoco tener un gobierno y un país en el que quiere decir que no tengan nada en común sentirse orgullosos de su identidad, algo que no puede ser posible bajo el gobierno con el resto del país.

Cataluña y España han sido el español. El gobierno no puede entender el mismo país durante quinientos años, y la orgullo que sienten ellos al poder llamarse temporada opresiva de Franco ha pasado. Catalanes.

Ser parte de España hiere la economía La recuperación económica de la región resultará si todos los españoles trabajan de Cataluña de una manera muy fuerte juntos en encontrar la solución, y en vez de según los balances fiscales publicados por el gobierno catalán en 2010. Cataluña paga pelearse entre ellos mismos.

61.87 mil millones de euros en impuestos cada año, pero recibe solamente 45.53 mil millones en servicios públicos de parte del gobierno español. Al tener esto en cuenta, se observa que Cataluña crea 19.4% de los ingresos españoles a pesar de que sólo representa 16% de la población y 18.4% del producto interno bruto.

De acuerdo a un artículo publicado por el periódico español, El Mundo, la economía española, baja el PIB catalán entre 3.2 y 14.4 millones de euros anualmente. Al tener su propia economía con un balance fiscal como el de España, Cataluña tendría

“El movimiento por la independencia no busca antagonizar a los espanoles, sino simplemente busca el derecho de todos.” un crecimiento económico anual de 13%. Segun un artículo publicado por El Guardián, Cataluña sería el séptimo país con ingresos más altos per cápita en toda Europa.

Tener el poder sobre su propia economía no afectaría sus relaciones de exportacion e importacion. Las relaciones comerciales con España y otros países se mantendrían, previniendo así un golpe a la economía española y catalana.

Las razones políticas para la demanda de la independencia tienen que ver con la falta de representación que sienten muchos catalanes. Ellos sienten que su voz política es silenciada por un gobierno que no les presta atención por no ser mayoría. Los catalanes creen que un gobierno catalán e independiente satisfacería sus necesidades y entendería sus deseos más que el gobierno actual.

La población catalana alzó su voz el domingo 9 de noviembre en un voto no oficial que dio un resultado de 80% de ciudadanos l favor de la independencia, de acuerdo con la revista de TIME. El gobierno español descartó este resultado, diciendo que no tiene un valor democrático y que aún no van a administrar un referéndum.

El movimiento por la independencia no busca antagonizar a los españoles, sino simplemente busca el derecho de todos a tener poder sobre el gobierno y su futuro.

Como la Señora Benito, una maestra de español en Richard Montgomery, dijo, ‘’la gente debe elegir lo que quiere.’’

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November 2014 15

16

The Tide

ARTS

November 2014

Emmanuel Porquin mixes athleticism with artistic ability

by Christa Karim If you have heard of senior Emmanuel Porquin, then you may know him as the guy who runs track. However, many people are not aware that his passions extend beyond the track; Emmanuel thrives in the world of art as well.

Emmanuel has been pursuing art since he was young, his sister Genisis Porquin being his inspiration. “When I was younger, I would always doodle characters and thought that if I honed my skills, I could be as good of an artist as my sister,” recalled Emmanuel.

Emmanuel is now in his second year of AP Studio Art here at RM, and usually works on one project every week to ensure he has enough pieces for his portfolio by the end of the year, increasing his chances of scoring a five on the AP test.

Emmanuel said, “It’s a tight schedule but I endure it, by the end of the year I have a portfolio filled with amazing work.”

The plethora of support Emmanuel gets from his teachers encourages him to do his best work and still get it in on time.

“My wonderful teachers Mrs. Stanton and Mrs. Posey give me advice on how to make a piece better or ideas on how to make the piece more complete.

I’m making progress at a rapid

pace but still Emmanuel dedon’t feel scribed, “The bold rushed enough lines and warm to just throw a colors of the hawk random piece stand out against together at the the soft space backlast minute.” ground, yet there However, is still a connection when Emmanbetween the two. uel works on a This connection piece at his own gives it a sense of pace, he can mystery and other spend up to a worldly vibe. It is month drawing a hawk entailed and revising his with a fierce spirit art before being that in a sense consatisfied. nects it to the highEmmanuel est heavens.” is drawn to Emmanuel is animals, and waiting to fill his PHOTO BY NANCY JIN portfolio up with thrives to present a different “Deficit Clock” uses a variety of artistic themes. his best work side of their characteristics people do not before he plans on selling anything. Until usually see. This is part of the reason his then, his pieces can be viewed whenever art form of choice is surrealism, a twentieth the AP classes have art shows, or possicentury art form in which an artist com- bly on an instagram account (@Emanzart) bines unrelated images or events in a very Emanuel has been contemplating making strange and dreamlike way. for his artwork.

Emmanuel said, “My concentration is Emmanuel is leaning towards going to based on spirit animals and connecting American University because of its exceltheir environment and characteristics to lent track program and its successful coach, those of a human. I am interested in that Matt Centowitz Sr. particular art form because it can tell a Because a lot of good art schools don’t variety of stories and each person can in- have Division One sports teams, Emmanuterpret the piece in their own way.” el struggles to find a balance between both “Space Hawk”, his fa- his athletic desires and artistic desires. vorite work of art that he However, Emmanuel said, “If I didn’t has created, took him two run track I would probably put all my atweeks to create, adding tention into art.”. feeling and meaning to Although Emmanuel is already an the piece with each pass- amazing artist, he still finds himself iming day. proving every day. “My favorite media “Space Hawk” is would be drawing because I have been told a drawing made with that I have good designing skills. But I’ve sharpies, pens, colored only been painting for three years and over pencils, and pastels. those three years I have seen my painting

PHOTO BY MADDIE FRANKE

skills improve.” said Emmanuel.

Looking at the artwork itself, however, it is almost impossible to tell that he has been painting for such a short amount of time. The talent evident in his works makes it seem like he has worked on his art for much longer time than expected.

Occasionally, athletes can be stereotyped as people without artistic abilities.

Emmanuel completely breaks that stereotype. Emmanuel mixes his athleticism with his artistic ability, and is determined to dedicate time to both his two passions.

Although a majority of Emmanuel’s time is dedicated to track, he still works incredibly hard on his art, and his efforts pay off in the overall quality of his work.

Emmanuel will probably be going to a school with a better track program than art program, as it is difficult to find a school that has equally challenging programs fit for such a many talented person as Emmanuel. However, he will still make an effort to put as much attention as possible into his art, and we will be seeing pieces by Emmanuel Porquin in many art shows in the future.

PHOTO BY NANCY JIN

“Space Hawk” uses a surrealist method.

Marvel’s success continues with announcement of Phase 3

by Jessica Ji and Stella Ho “I’m no prophet, but I’m guessing that comic books will always be strong,” stated Stan Lee, creator of Marvel Comics in an interview with Broadweek.

His guess proved to be true – his comic books have garnered worldwide fame and the Marvel Cinematic Universe movie franchise has grossed over $7 billion dollars since the release of “Iron Man” in 2008.

With the announcement of the next nine movies in the Marvel franchise, the comic book hype has never been greater.

“Iron Man” marked the beginning of a new era of superhero movies. Unlike previous movies, it had a unique blend of humor, action, and complex character storylines that kept critics pleased and audiences coming back for more, a trend that continues in all of Marvel’s subsequent big screen efforts.

“I love the dynamic character development in Marvel movies,” said freshman William Liu. With the commercial and critical success of “Iron Man”, Marvel was able to kick off Phase One of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which culminated in “Marvel’s The Avengers” in 2012.

For the first time, GRAPHIC BY NANCY JIANG superheroes from different movies - such as Captain

America, Iron Man, Black Widow, and the Hulk - were brought together as a team, generating excitement for casual movie watchers and comic book fans alike. The movie catapulted into the box office and into the hearts of audiences, cementing Marvel’s spot in the film industry for many years to come.

The movies in Phase Two, which commenced after the events of “The Avengers”, placed a focus on more relevant issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder in “Iron Man 3” (2013) and politics in “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” (2014).

“Captain America: The Winter Soldier” was also notable for its inclusion of Falcon, the first African-American superhero in the franchise.

The next film in Phase Two, “Avengers: Age of Ultron”, is slated for release on May 1, 2015. It will bring back together the same team of superheroes from “The Avengers”, but promises a much darker tone than its predecessor.

The film will feature Ultron, a villainous robot created by Iron Man himself, who plans to eradicate the human race as the Avengers struggle to stop him.

Two new characters, Pietro and Wanda Maximoff, will be brought into “Avengers: Age of Ultron” along with the original team. However, both Marvel and director Joss Whedon have been criticized for hiring white actors to portray these two characters, who are half-Romani and half-Jewish in the comics. The studio has heeded the call for increased diversity, and the nine films announced for Phase Three promise more racial and gender diversity.

Arguably one of the most important films announced was “Black Panther”, scheduled for a 2017 release. “Black Panther” marks the first Marvel movie with an

African American lead, breaking Marvel’s Marvel plans to split this installment current trend of hiring mostly white men into two parts, with part one slated for reto headline their films. The film promises to lease in 2018 and part two for 2019. Marinclude more diversity with the B l a c k vel’s biggest effort yet will be the climax Panther hailing from the of a storyline that has been set up since the fictional African nation of end of the “The Avengers”.

Wakanda.

Other movies that have been an The introduction of nounced include “Doctor Strange” (2016), this hero is a major posi“Guardians of the Galaxy 2” (2017), “Thor: tive development for MarRagnarok”, and “Inhumans” (2018). vel, who had previously It is inevitable that the universe will only cast African American expand beyond Phase 3, and Marvel characters in supporting Studios have already released teasroles. er trailers and exclusive The Black Panther is rescenes to generate hype portedly also going to make for upcoming projects. an appearance in the upcomBased on the perforing film, “Captain America: Civil mance of previous MarWar” (2016). In particular, this third vel films, the commerinstallment in the Captain America cial success of Phase 3 franchise has instigated much of the is almost guaranteed. hype, as it promises fans an exciting con“Marvel movies are flict of epic proportions between Captain a lot of fun to just America and Iron Man. watch with your Another important decision made by friends and have Marvel Studios was the announcement of a good time.They a “Captain Marvel” film, scheduled for redo have problems, lease in 2018. The introduction of Captain which can’t be igMarvel marks the first Marvel superhero nored, but the majormovie with a female lead. “I think this is ity of them are very really great news. It’s a huge step forentertaining and ward for Marvel,” said sophomore allow you to not GRAPHIC BY NANCY JIANG Erica Lin. think too hard The only major female superhero in while watching them,” said junior Matias the established Marvel Cinematic Universe Cardinale. thus far is Black Widow. “Captain MarThere are still many more of Stan Lee’s vel”, however, will promote the idea that comics to translate onto the screen, but for women are just as capable as men of saving now, Marvel knows how to keep their fans the world, and will help tear down the per- satisfied. “Honestly, I want them to keep ception that superheroes movies should be doing what they’re doing,” said freshman catered more towards men than to women. Ryla Cantergiani. Just like its superheroes, The third installment of the Aveng- Marvel Studios is always looking towards ers franchise was also announced, titled the future, giving viewers something to “Avengers: Infinity War”. watch, year after year.

The Tide

ARTS

November 2014

AFRO brings creative genius

by Kevin Ming Pan Today, most high schoolers are concerned with passing AP classes, getting a driver’s license, or doing well on the SAT. Many hope to pursue a profession with a college degree. Some view a fruitful profession in music as something too uncertain to try.

However, James Gutierrez is different.

At only 17, Gutierrez, under the pseudonym AFRO, has gone viral with his freestyle rapping skills.

AFRO, whose name stands for All-Flows-Reach-Out, first got into rap in

17

studio. “From his basement to the recording studio, AFRO’s music has definitely evolved, but you can tell that he loves what he’s doing. That’s why I like his music;” said sophomore Olivia Wang.

It wasn’t until age 17 that AFRO got his first opportunity. It started when he entered in the Definition of a Rap Flow contest hosted by rapper R.A. the Rugged Man. AFRO recalled, “RA was so impressed by my entry that he ended up calling me personally...and asking to meet with me.”

It was at that meeting that AFRO freestyled for R.A. while being filmed. The freestyle gained 100,000 views within hours. However, there were some people who were skeptical. R.A. then posted a sec-

GRAPHIC BY CYNTHIA SONG

Playlist of the month and article courtesy of Rocket Music Collective. To learn more about Rocket Music Collective and contibute, contact rocketmusiccollective@gmail.com.

PHOTO COURTESY OF AFRO

Up and coming artist AFRO poses with his long-time mentor, R.A. the Rugged Man. middle school. “I heard Rakim around 12 years old and I fell in love with hip-hop,” he said. “I developed freestyling when I would listen to Kool G Rap and Old Twista tracks and such.”

Three years later, at age 15, AFRO began recording music in his basement

ond video of another freestyle.

In this one, AFRO was forced to freestyle about objects being handed to him.

This was enough to silence the doubters, as well as make him go viral. Soon, sites such as Gawker, Huffington Post, and Hiphopdx all shared the video. The amount

of views tripled this time. Senior Peter Szwerc said, “I wasn’t impressed by AFRO at first, but his freestyle videos won me over.

He has a creative genius that is rarely seen anymore.”

Still in high school, AFRO is already a phenomenal lyricist. Instead of rhyming the last word of every other line, AFRO can rhyme almost every word in multiple lines, bringing a new approach to the genre. In addition to lyricism, AFRO also has an amazing flow. His intonations creates a unique sound. “The ability to rhyme is only half the game,”Afro said, “you gotta learn

how to connect all your words together.”

This is exactly what AFRO does. In every track he has released so far, it is evident that time was spent connecting each line with the next in order for it to blend into one smooth verse.

At just 17, AFRO has already achieved more than others his age. With a worldwide tour alongside of R.A. and a live performance on the Queen Latifah show on his resume, what happens next is only a guess.

No matter what, one thing is for sure: true, quality, hip hop music can always be expected from All-Flows-Reach-Out.

Competing through poetry

by Sophie Wan and Fonda Shen Imagine walking into an auditorium filled with hundreds of spectators. There is only one person standing onstage. Words are flowing from that person’s mouth, gliding, dancing off the tip of their tongue; something so human, yet simultaneously so deep and unreachable, is being conveyed.

Welcome to Poetry Out Loud, an annual competition open to students from grades 9-12. Competitors of Poetry Out Loud recite poems on stage in front of hun-

people at a time and you’re the only one speaking, you have to learn how to be confident. You have to believe that what you’re saying is important and that the people in the audience need to hear it,” she said.

Competitors must interpret their chosen poem in their own way, while simultaneously preserving its original essence.

Reciting the poem requires a combination of both personal and practical reflection, a task that can be overwhelming. However, arguably one of the toughest parts of the Poetry Out Loud competition is to actually find a poem to begin with.

Nevertheless, newcomers should not be intimidated by the daunting requirements

GRAPHIC BY NANCY JIANG

Dance club, breaking it down

by Katherine Wang and Kaitlyn Wang

PHOTO BY MADDIE FRANKE

Junior Kimmie Stamets recites her poem for the upcoming competition in December. dreds of people, all while being assessed by a panel of judges. Scores are based on criteria such as Physical Presence, Voice and Articulation, and Complexity.

Senior and veteran of Poetry Out Loud Blessed Sheriff maintained that though the competition may sound intimidating, it is actually an extremely gratifying and thought-provoking experience. “I think I definitely did change as a person after getting involved in this competition. When you’re on a stage in front of hundreds of

of Poetry Out Loud. During her sophomore year, Blessed placed second place in the national Poetry Out Loud competition.

However, she did not start participating in hopes of winning, or even competing, at a national level.

So why not give it a try? There is something beautiful about the idea of a person embracing a poem on stage. There is much to be said, much to be heard, and most importantly, much to be felt. Poetry is an art, after all.

In a dusty, crowded studio in the basement of Richard Montgomery, a single black mat lies in the center of the room, a spotlight waiting to be taken. As loud, hip hop music blasts in the background, girls dance in one corner while guys dressed in hoodies step and bob to the beat of the boombox, getting ready to burst out in breakdance.

Students in all grades are either chattering with each other or dancing around, concentrating on preparing their routines for events like International Night and Common Grounds.

This is the Dance Club, where aspiring dancers congregate in room 13 every Tuesday and Thursday to express themselves through the power of music.

Within the 49 minutes of lunch, club members attempt to recreate choreography from popular music videos, or simply design their own with breakdancing and “tons of body rolls”, as sophomore Hugh Le put it.

“We only became an official club this year,” said sophomore Sherman Lien, who along with other members like sophomores Thawng Thang, Hugh Le, and Marcus Su-

zuki, started organizing periodical meetings last year to dance, as an unofficial club.

They act as senior members of this year’s dance club, along with juniors Lilian Wang and Yi-Hsuan Rei. Together, they lead the exploration of a diverse range of dancing styles: popping, hip hop, korean pop, traditional, freestyle, and modern.

However, dancing experience plays a limited role in participation of the club.

“We all kind of teach each other things,” said Lien, “even though we’re made up of veterans and newbies.”

Fellow leader Lilian Wang believes the members’ different skill sets gives the club a unique diversity. “Everyone’s looking at each other’s styles and learning, so it’s very friendly,” she said, “we appreciate each other’s skills and what we can do.”

Even with the personal, individual expression usually involved with dance, members participate in a collective group effort.

“Everyone in the group helps each other out,” said Le, “whether its learning new things or improving or just watching each other dance.”

Dance Club offers an informal, yet energetic atmosphere, welcoming all that are willing to join, and making a devoted, tight-knit community out of a dusty, crowded studio.

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The Tide

FEATURES

November 2014

Student organizations trying to make a difference

by Alisa Gao and Irene Park As the holiday season rapidly approaches, people all over the world are getting into the spirit of giving.

Thanksgiving is meant for each of us to recognize and appreciate what we have, but what about those who are not quite as lucky to be able to afford three hot meals a day or proper housing?

In an effort to find a solution to this international issue, clubs and individuals at Richard Montgomery have been working assiduously to ensure that all who can contribute even a small portion of their fortune do so, allowing even more people to experience the amazing parts of our daily lives that many of us take for granted.

“1 in 10 Marylanders lived in poverty last year. “ According to the Progressive Maryland Education Fund, one in ten Marylanders were living in poverty last year—about 546,000 people. Think of ten people who are important in your life. Though this may not necessarily apply to you specifically, statistics state that one of those ten people is living in very poor conditions, unable to meet even their most basic needs.

However, Maryland’s poverty rate is still much lower than that of the United States as a whole, which had 15.4% of Americans living near destitution. Clearly, there are millions of people in the nation and in the world that need a helping hand, and it is up to us to give them the extra boost that they need.

Imagine the faces of disbelief, tears of

joy, and inexpressible feelings of gratitude as poverty-stricken families and individuals are finally given the opportunity to enjoy the holidays in the same way that many of us do annually.

One group trying to make a difference is the Student Government Association.

You have probably seen members of the SGA walking into fourth period classes asking for candy, and hopefully, you have had some to give to them.

To get rid of a few pounds of candy gained from trickor-treating on Halloween and to help a good cause, the SGA participated in “Treats for Troops,” an organization designed to collect and distribute sweets to the people who diligently serve our nation.

In addition, Key Club is a club dedicated to fundraising for UNICEF and raising awareness for Project Eliminate, which was created to combat the deadly disease of tetanus.

Along with these year-long activities, Key Club is often also involved with local charities such as the Helping Hands Shelter and the Interfaith Clothing Center.

According to Richard Montgomery Key Club’s six officers, “Donating and volunteering gives individuals the sense that they have made a positive impact on the community they live in, and can inspire a lifelong love for social service.”

To experience this beauty of giving, make sure to come to Key Club meetings and learn about current service activities

and propose your own ideas for helping our community through the committee system.

It is not too difficult to spend perhaps a couple dollars or hours in your life to help a cause. In our busy lives, this may seem like a huge deal because of the time lost, but giving a little piece of your life is

always worth it when helping to saving another. This “lost” time has a purpose, and that purpose is to make a difference in the world, one step at a time.

The reason that organizations such as SGA and Key Club exist and manage to flourish nationwide is because we are all taught at one point or another in our lives that we, both collectively and as an individual, are capable of changing lives.

To the majority of us, this sounds cheesy.

However, it could not be any more true.

You may have heard this tale before: A young man walking along the ocean sees a beach on which thousands and thousands of starfish have washed ashore. Further along, he sees an old man, walking slowly along the shoreline, stopping often in order to pick up one starfish after another and toss each one gently back into the ocean waves.

When told by the youth that doing hours of this strenuous work would not make a difference for there are miles and miles of ocean shorelines, the old man replies that though that may be true, it made all the difference in the world for that starfish.

Be the old man in this situation. Did you make the effort to take just a little bit from your life to brighten a day and create a smile?

If your answer is no, there is no need to worry.

November is bringing along more opportunities to provide Thanksgiving meals for low-income families or contribute money to staff and students participating in No Shave November.

Sure, we understand that your donation will not create a dramatic change internationally, but remember that it certainly will create a dramatic change in the life of one person that will be able to experience your generosity first-hand.

Think about how amazing you would feel if you were given the opportunity to share your favorite bits and pieces of your life with someone who has never been able to encounter them. Hold on to that feeling—it could change lives.

New ‘LETS’ club addresses mental health issues

by Sedef Berk and Victoria Priester

Looking for a new club to join or want to raise awareness for a pressing issue?

RM’s newest club, LETS, has the best of both worlds. The Let’s Erase the Stigma (LETS) Club is led by seniors Anna Wunsch and Connie Chen, and is committed to mental health awareness by fundraising for charities and mental health organizations.

The club also provides a safe environment where students can feel comfortable talking about mental illnesses, among people who will listen or are going through some of the same situations. Over fifty people signed up for this club at the club fair, a testament to RM’s concern and desire to learn more about mental health. It meets every other Monday in Room 341, thanks to Mr. Turner’s sponsorship and support.

As the witty name implies, the main goals of LETS, for co-president Connie Chen, focuses on raising awareness for mental illnesses as well as reducing the associated social stigma. “Through LETS, we hope to put an end to derogatory terms like “crazy” and “weak” in reference to people with mental illnesses,” said Chen.

Another goal is to reduce the difference in treatment between those with physical illnesses from those with mental or “invisible” illnesses. Chen said, “I remember seeing all these clubs for genetic illnesses and diseases, and wondering why there weren’t any for suicide prevention or mental health awareness. I think mental and emotional health are just as important as physical health, which is why I decided to found LETS.” What the co-founder points out is surprisingly true. Among RM’s exhaustive

PHOTO BY CONNIE CHEN

Selling “To Write Love on Her Arms” bracelets is a way for LEtTs to spread awareness. list of clubs, only one other club focuses on awareness for mental health illnesses.

A big part of the treatment of mental illnesses can be acceptance, support, and being able to talk to people who care.

Club sponsor, Mr. Turner, said “I think the club will benefit RM by giving students a space to come hear and be heard by other students going through similar situations.

It’s a place where you can be, and be accepted.”

When students feel comfortable and accepted, they are more likely to respond positively to treatment, and even help others get through some of the same things that they have experienced. Feeling loved and accepted is a big factor in helping people realize that while they may have a mental illness, it does not define them.

RM’s LETS club was also accepted to the Storyteller’s Project by To Write Love on Her Arms (TWLOHA), a ten-week fundraising project to sell bracelets to spread

awareness of the high rates of mental illness (depression, suicidal ideation, and self harm) among high school students. These bracelets are being sold for $3 each. The club’s serious commitment to the cause is clear due to the required application process to join this project and organization.

The club’s first meeting included sign ups for the Storyteller’s project as well as discussion of MCR’s mental health group,.

Both initiatives are possible steps to promote policy addressing mental health, and concerns about the nature of privacy and health. The club’s leaders say that they also welcome open discussion of a variety of personal experiences with anxiety, depression, and self harm.

LETS helps to connect students to other available resources whenever they need it.

Students can request in-school therapists, or just meet with their counselor about anything that may come up.

For more serious situations, the club

and teachers are required to report past and present threats to personal safety of an individual. With the help of Mr. Turner, the co-presidents have already set up a meeting with Mr. Randall, one of the RM counselors, to fully define the guidelines and parameters of their club.

RM’s LETS chapter has also already reached out to other high schools in Montgomery County such as Quince Orchard, Wootton, and Churchill who have a similar club. Chen said that one of her other goals for the club is that “we can work together collectively as a countywide group for the cause.”

Chen shared that LETS is working on other projects, including an open-mic night fundraiser in order to create a platform “for people to come and share their stories and inspire others.”

While statistics and facts can help people learn about mental health, some of the most effective ways to get people involved and more knowledgeable are personal stories. Shared experiences can help to connect with the people themselves and what they are going through, not just hearing a number.

LETS has also been participating in the MCR PSA Committee Contest to make a one to two minute PSA that draws attention to “the signs of depression, treatment of mental illnesses, and suicide prevention.” Everyone is encouraged to help and participate!

If you share LETS’ conviction to end the stereotypes and images that are commonly associated with mental illnesses, or want an accepting place to hear and be heard, come join in on all of the action! Contact Anna Wunsch or Connie Chen to find out how you can get involved.

Together, we can erase the stigma.

The Tide

I am thankful for the health of my family and the opportunity to be the principal of the best school in MCPS. Rocket on!

Damon Monteleone (Principal) I am thankful for all my weird, insane, awesome friends - Mia, The Snowman, Liz, Kemi, Alexa, Jeremy, Sam, Leigh, Johnny Appleseed, etc. <3 Also for not being dead in IB yet.

Liyanga de Silva (Grade 11) I am thankful for everything <333333 Elizabeth Crowne (Grade 11) I’m thankful for family and Bobby Shmurda Archie Carr (Grade 10) Thank you basedgod for making me the man I am today Ryan Liiva (Grade 12) I am thankful that 89.5% counts as an A. William Wang (Grade 10) The great RM students and Staff!

Mr. Garrick (Staff) I am thankful for RMHS Hockey. Go Rockets!

Eli Levine (Grade 11) I am thankful to all my friends who helped in making the production of Beauty and the Beast. Amazing. I am especially thankful for Oscar, Bella, and Tori for being great friends.

Riva Redding (Grade 11) Thank you Mr. Lum for saving our computer science class. #education Rachit Agarwal (Grade 11) I’m thankful for my family for supporting my decisions. And, my friends who always stand by me. The Drama Club members, who are always so nice to me.

Victoria Seo (Grade 9) I wanted to give a huge thank you to all of the building services staff who work so hard to keep the school clean everyday. Y’all are the real MVPs. Anonymous (Grade 11) I am thankful for Santa Claus. He brings us Christmas, which means Winter Break!

He brought me clothes when I didn’t do nice things.

Oliver Hu (Grade 11) I am thankful for everyone in my life that has impacted it positively. Also food :) Anonymous (Grade 10) I am thankful for food and friends.

Shelby Stevens (Grade 10) I AM THANKFUL FOR EMILY CONWAY GIVING ME SHARP CHEDDAR & OREOS AT LUNCH Sierra Longest (Grade 9) I am thankful for my fellow sports editors, Daisy and Andy, my amazing math team (and our jackets), and the existence of ice rinks.

Yueyang Ying (Grade 12) I’m thankful for all of my friends and my freedom. Most importantly, I’m thankful for pumpkin pie and the killing curse.

Isabel Knudson (Grade 10)

FEATURES

Tide Gives Thanks

I‘m thankful for my lovely co-editor, Michelle Wang, for being my shining knight in armour when it comes to InDesign & Photoshop struggles.Honestly don’t know what I would do without you! Go features!

Liz Choi (Grade 11) I’m thankful for my sports co-editors, Andy and Yueyang. Also I’m thankful for Thanksgiving because it means we have school off.

Daisy Grant (Grade 10)

The IB office for letting me live solely on Hershey kisses at times, and the Crack Table for keeping calculus entertaining when entertainment was urgently needed.

Eileen Moudou (Grade 11) I am thankful for my good friends, and the great sports section editors, Daisy and Yueyang.

Also, follow @barnsidedog on Instagram.

Murphy is the best dog.

Andy Kostka (Grade 11) I’m thankful for my amazing friends, for Mr. Chase and Ms. Shay for writing my recs, and for the Tide staff and Ms. Lyons for making this issue possible!

Catherine Wang (Grade 12) I am thankful to have Nick Peang-Meth as a role model.

Faaiq Zarger (Grade 10) I am thankful for all the sports I get to play with my friends.

Sarah Morgan (Grade 11) The little brushes on the escalators that clean your shoes. They are da bomb.com Matt and Hank (Grade 12) I’m thankful for Anna because she is beautiful and kind. I’m thankful for Matthew’s Korean and eye rolls.I’m thankful for Liz because she forced me to write this.

Rosa Jang (Grade 12) For my house Brooks Perks (Grade 9) I am thankful for my friend Michael Ding for keeping it real 365 days a year.

Julian Avenilla (Grade 11) We’re thankful for HORM (the Halls of RM) because of how truly eye-opening it is!

Andie Neufeld and Bailey Dinman (Grade 12) I am thankful for all of the months that are not November for not making me feel bad about not being able to grow facial hair without looking like a pizza boy.

Ross Berman (Grade 12) I am thankful for the friends that I have.

They are always so supportive and helpful!

Thankful for all the help that I have received from teachers . P.S. Potatoes are awesome :) Anonymous I’m thankful for my amazing friends and my BF for always being there for me even at my hardest moments in life. Love you guys so much and thanks for everything. :) Ciara Robinson (Grade 11) Thanks to Jefferson for being the man!

Enviro Crew (Grades 11-12)

I’m thankful for cows because milk is great.

I’m also thankful for my family.

Drew Byrd (Grade 10)

Dear Fab 5, I’m thankful for you guys. :-) Love, Jalen Kimmie Stamets (Grade 11)

I’m thankful for my family and my friends, even if they’re jerks.

Roman Zinnes (Grade 10)

Thank you Brendan for bringing Words with Friends back.

Alex Fehlinger (Grade 12)

Steak Carl Ostrenya (Grade 11)

Thanks to Alex Fehlinger for being himself.

Squad (Grade 12)

Dearest Editors & Writers, You come to 2-2-2 on Tuesday, even though you’re stressed, we wish you a happy Thanksgiving, thanks for always doing your best!

Tide EICs I’m thankful for my family, my friends, the people in French 7 (ft. Albert), gurknayshun, the lunch special at the sushi place nearby, and for the endless opportunities for success at RMHS. Also One Direction.

Hannah Salem (Grade 12) Everyone was encouraging and nice on RMGVS, and I can’t imagine a better team to play with.

Hannah Greco (Grade 10)

November 2014

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To Coach Fahrner, Thank you so much for another exciting season of Girls Tennis! Thanks for the car rides filled with Disney music and encouragement.

But most of all, thanks for the heart and soul you pour into our team -- we could never have done it without you!

RM Girls Tennis 2014 I’d like to thank Mr. Stillman, Mr. Turner, Mr. Hines, and Sra. Solernou, who have all made me love being at RM. Special thanks as well to the amazing editors and writers who work hard on every issue to keep The Tide great.

Matthew Zipf (Grade 12)

I’m thankful for Nick, Sindhu, Becca, and sixth period, who make getting up at 5:30 every morning that much less annoying.

David (Grade 10)

The Adventures of Mr. Martz Mr. Martz high fives Simon. The whole school is annihilated. Physics jokes.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Simon Liu (Grade 10)

I am thankful for the hardworking Tide staff and all my wonderful students! Thanks to the Social Studies department for being so awesome and supportive!

Mrs. Lyons (Staff)

I am thankful for my mother, who is my best friend, and will always be here for me and stand by my side whenever things get rough. She is one of the greatest blessing in my life.

Sophie Wan (Grade 10)

Mr. Mallory would like to thank all his students for their good behavior, their interest in science, and their effort in his classes this Fall. Keep working hard; and remember: Chem Is Try. Mr. Mallory (Staff) Thanks to my English Department colleagues for being a constant source of support and inspiration!

Mrs. Wilson (Staff) I am thankful for Laura Goetz and all that she does to support the Math department.

She is a great teacher and a wonderful person!!

Mrs. Chaney (Staff) Thank you to the main office secretaries!

You have been such a helping hand in my transition from my old position as Counseling Secretary to my new position as Admin Secretary. You ladies are rock stars and I am super thankful for your help, patience, and kindness. I know the school will cosign this with me. THANK YOU!!!

Miss Hermansdorfer (Staff) Thanks to Mr. Wes Wright and Ms. Laurie Brown for helping make Poetry Out Loud happen this year and in past years. Without your love for poetry, this event could not happen.

Davina Smith (Staff) I want to thank Furrlinger, Ms. Lyons, Sra. Hodges, and Mr. Evans for being great mentors to me, and a shoutout to Mr. Stillman and Mr. Vicari for those rec letters. And thanks to Nancy for giving me a reason to smile everyday :) Andrew Del Vecchio (Grade 12) I’m thankful for my wonderful wife and daughter who fill my life with love and laughter!

John Chase (Staff) I am thankful for having the comfort of my family during the cold winter.

Quang Nguyen (Grade 11) Grateful that it’s finally socially acceptable to get into the holiday spirit and start celebrating Christmas!!!! Also, Andrew for being perfect. Good TIDE-ings we bring.

Nancy Jin (Grade 12) Thank you Mrs. Reback for sticking with us these last three years (despite our zany antics), and Mr. G-K, Mr. Edelstein for sponsoring us and putting up with our zany antics.

Trinish, Farah, Sean, Sedef, Tara, Gabe, Ben (Grade 12)

Thanks to my family for being there for me no matter what, through thick and thin. Thanks also to my friend Shelby who laughs at my jokes even when they are terrible. Love you all lots.

Evelien (Grade 10) I would like to thank my students for taking risks even when they’d rather be comfortable, staying engaged even though they’re tired, and laughing even if they don’t feel like it.

Mrs. Shay (Staff) I would like to thank the Social Studies Department for adopting me as one of their own.

I love you all so much. Happy Thanksgiving from my family to yours.

Ms. Norris (Staff) Thank you to Cathy “Show No Mercy” Stec for helping RM staff get six-pack abs with her weekly “common core” exercise classes. All are welcome on Wednesdays starting at 3:00 in Room 33.

Mr. McDonald (Staff) I’m thankful for and inspired by everyone who cares about something, because there aren’t that many people who do anymore.

Darian Garcia (Grade 11) I’m thankful for my amazing co-editor Anna Lavrentieva for always putting so much effort into our layout! Go Centerspread!

Muye Wang (Grade 11) Thanks to my co-editor Muye for great ideas and food runs to Jumbo Jumbo! Go Centerspread Crew!

Anna Lavrentieva (Grade 11) I would like to thank my Dad, Mr. Fahrner for being the best Dad in the whole world and one of the coolest people I know! Thank you for always getting me to see the bigger picture and for coming to visit me in the main office. It’s the best part of my day!

I love you, Dad! Julie Swenson (Staff) I’m thankful for cleek for being the best friends ever and for NoPo Crew.

Myra Deng (Grade 12) I am thankful for RMXC laughs & memories, les grapes de francais 7, each and every one of my inspiring teachers, Mixtape Monday, and the writers, editors, and sponsor of my favorite newspaper.

Infinite brownie points to you all!! And, most important, thanks for the stars and arrows.

Rachel Gold (Grade 12) We are thankful for our amazing EICs and all the hard work they do to make our issues (well the two we’ve had) look wonderful.

The Tide Editorial Staff

20 The Tide

FEATURES

November 2014

Student Feature: Global citizen Olivia Norman

by Akanksha Girish and Cathleen Kong

Olivia Norman has lived overseas in more places than the typical teenager has ever traveled. She has lived in Uganda for six years, trekking on safaris while scoping out fascinating animals and experiencing huge torrential downpours.

She said of her time in Eritrea, “Since Eritrea was on the Red Sea, we used to go camping on deserted islands there.

There were lots of marine wildlife, such as dolphins, sting-rays, tropical fish, and eels.”

In addition to living in Eritrea for three years, Norman has lived in Pakistan for three years, Macedonia for one year, and Canada for three years. These journeys are intriguing, but Norman herself is even more fascinating.

“In other countries she has lived in, the weather is pleasant and tropical, so she had never been able to experience a white Christmas.“ Norman’s hobbies include swimming and reading, and she participates in a swim club outside of school, archaeology club, and Girls Learn International (GLI) club here at RM. Her favorite thing about RM is the variety of clubs, which appeals to a lot of different interests. She has noticed that RM has a very diverse student population like the other schools she has been too.

However, there are some interesting differences.

Most of the other schools she has attended are much smaller than RM. For example in Uganda, Norman’s school only had a total of 50 people.

In Uganda and Pakistan, all of the classrooms were single buildings spread over a large area of land. What might seem shocking to us, Norman has also been to schools where “the school buildings were in enclosed compounds with security guards.”

Norman is a junior in the IB Program here at RM, taking many challenging yet rewarding classes like IB Chemistry and IB Biology. Her favorite class is AP Government because it is something new and interesting that she has not been exposed to in countries. Learning the unique features of government in America allows Norman to make distinctive comparisons to the governments in the other nations that she has lived in.

In addition, studying government and the other IB core classes gives Norman a unique perspective into American culture.

This year, she is taking many challenging classes, including IB Standard Level Chemistry, IB Standard Level Biology, Theory of Knowledge, AP Government, Honors History, IB English, and IB Standard Level Mathematics.

Maryland in general is also very interesting to Norman. She enjoys the great facilities like schools, pools, and libraries.

Attractions in DC and beautiful parks nearby are on her to-visit list.

Norman said, “One of the big differences is that Americans have a strong sense of national pride, more than I’ve seen in other countries.” By visiting important landmarks in America and interacting with the locals, Norman has gained an interesting viewpoint into the American sentiment.

Another one of the main differences Norman has noticed between Maryland and other places is the weather. In other countries she has lived in, such as Pakistan, Eritrea, and Uganda, the weather is generally pleasant and tropical, so she had never been able to experience a white Christmas.

Norman said, “I’m pretty sure I am going to dislike the winter and cold when it comes, but I am looking forward to

Norman also visited tsunami affected areas in Indonesia and Tahir Square after the riots in Egypt.

Norman said that these unique experiences have helped her to fully “appreciate life and empathize with people who have many more challenges in life than most people that live in developed countries.”

However, Olivia feels some disadvantages to traveling.

For example, the language barrier is hard to overcome at first, but figuring it out is another thing Norman enjoys about travelling to new places.

As a result, Norman has learned basic greetings in many different languages.

She said, “it is always hard when you don’t speak the language but it is really satisfying when you figure it out all by yourself.”

Another disadvantage she feels is definitely the jet lag which comes from constant travel, which can be tough even for Travelling the most had its experienced perks, fliers.

PHOTO BY MADDIE FRANK like trying Olivia Olivia Norman has been able to experience many cultures. new foods, Norman has navigating, been able to live and visit more countries and indulging in the beautiful sights of than most of us combined, with her cities. experiences helping to shape her as a global Norman has also seen first-hand the student. As a result of moving around a challenges people in other countries face lot, she has to leave her friends in those on a daily basis. She was in Pakistan during countries and start over in an entirely new the 2005 earthquake and in Uganda during country. However, all in all, she feels very the riots of the 2010 election. fortunate to have this opportunity to travel. trying winter activities, such as skating and skiing, which I haven’t tried before.”

Now, you may ask, why all the travel?

Well, Norman’s parents both work in international development. Because of this, she is able to experience new cultures and customs.

Although she is Canadian by birth, Norman feels more like a global citizen with a mix of cultures. Through this, she is able to learn how important it is to appreciate and accept all cultures.

In addition to living in the previously mentioned countries, Norman did a lot of travelling when she lived overseas, visiting over 30 countries.

Olivia’s favorite thing about travelling is seeing worldf a m o u s attractions such as the Great Wall of China, t h e Pyramids of Giza, and the E i f f e l T o w e r to name a few.

RM students display stellar volunteering ethic

by Grace Sun November is the month of pumpkin spice, multi-colored leaves, and warm fireplaces. But most importantly, it is the month of Thanksgiving! The dreamy feast of turkey, gravy, cranberry sauce, and mashed potatoes is the highlight of the holiday.

However, do not forget the tender feelings of thanks and appreciation that tag along with the feast. Thanksgiving is a day of giving, hence the name. It is a time for strengthening the bonds between family, friends, and community.

That is why we must recognize the importance of volunteer service during November. Everyone at RM surely has heard of the minimum requirement of 75 PHOTO BY CONNIE CHEN Student Service Learning (SSL) hours in Jessica Kang caps off many years of service. order to graduate. Furthermore, there is the optional 260 SSL hours requirement handle stressful situations better.”

Secondly, she had fun while in order to earn a purple tassel on your graduation cap and a Certificate of volunteering! You may think volunteering is just working, but there are some jobs that Meritorious Service.

However, several of our very own can be entertaining, too.

Kang said, “When I volunteer at a students have exceeded 260 hours not just for the extra applause at graduation or a Saturday school I actually have a lot of fun fancy tassel on their caps. They strive to because I work with little kids like fourth help their community and develop special graders, and they’re really cool.”

Last but not least, Kang has helped her relationships through volunteer services.

Jessica Kang is currently in her senior community by performing these services, year. Having earned approximately 1000 and that should be the main reason why SSL hours, she has experienced work students volunteer. Colleges may like it in the fields of medicine and teaching. when you have a lot of SSL hours, but what Tutoring at Generation Z and working at is most important is that people who are the Montgomery Medical Center are just not as fortunate as you can benefit from your help, not the list of things you get to several jobs she took on.

You might be wondering, what could write on your college resume.

Another student who should be Kang have possibly gained by earning so many hours? Well first of all, she learned recognized for her volunteering service is sophomore Grace Lee. Lee is only in her more about work ethics.

Kang said, “It helped me to be more second year of high school, and yet she patient definitely because when you’re has already earned almost 400 hours. She working with people who are stressed at was able to earn her hours by working at the hospital or little kids, you learn how to a nursing home, tutoring younger children,

and attending school events.

Lee said, “Volunteering actually did benefit me. When I volunteered at the nursing home center, I realized the pain and social life styles of elders. Also...I was able to find out characteristics about myself, such as how I was surprisingly patient with children.” Not only did she benefit others by volunteering, she also learned more about herself.

In case you have not realized this before, helping others can result in feeling good about yourself. Warning: side effects may include a boost of self-esteem and maybe some arrogance. Do you ever want to pat yourself on the back for helping that lady cross the road? Or feel an indescribable warmth inside your heart after someone thanks you countless times?

Volunteering can bring a greater magnitude of that warmth by helping people in need. You would not even have to wear socks in November! Just kidding, make sure to wear your socks.

These are just a couple reasons why you should participate in volunteer services, but

trust me, there are more! SSL Coordinator Sylvia Costa said, “When you are applying for colleges, [volunteering] shows that you are involved in the community and gives you an opportunity to give back, so it shows that you care about the community.

Not to say that you should only do it for colleges, but you should want to help the community.”

Freshman Jack Liang said, “The only thing that would motivate me would be to help the community in an area that I have a passion in…I don’t like being forced to volunteer for things that I don’t want to do just because of the SSL requirement.”

Liang is right! There are plenty of volunteer services to choose from, and do not let the hours requirement push aside your volunteering goals.

However, some students need a little more motivation to volunteer. Sophomore Holly Shan said that she “would be motivated if there were scholarship programs for students who acquire a certain amount of hours.”

In addition, Junior Ninad Nirgudkar suggested, “If there were more opportunities to engage in specific ways that interested me like math or science activities, I would volunteer more.” These are both great recommendations, and hopefully future volunteering services will consider them.

However, there are upsides to the current program, too. If you check out the Montgomery County SSL Hours page, you will find countless opportunities to earn hours and experience new fields of work.

Remember, do not just find a job that seems convenient. Find something that you are interested in! You will enjoy it a lot more.

This year, instead of only thinking about celebration during November, take some time to thank your friends, family, and teachers. And do not forget to help your community by signing up for more PHOTO BY CONNIE CHEN Grace Lee has an impressive volunteer record. volunteer services!

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November 2014

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November 2014

SPORTS

Wrestling works to Hockey freezes competition fufill expectations

by Zack Khan

by Nick Jackson and Giovanni Marchand As wrestling season nears, there is nothing but glaring confidence from senior captains David Silverberg and Kevin Chatlin. Both of them have high expectations for the entire team.

Wrestling is unique in that the role of each athlete is to score as many points as possible; players must win their own matches to score points for the team. Thus, each member has a specific goal: to not just win the match, but obtain as many points as possible,

believes last year was only a small representation of the ability of the team, stating that “we are going to pick up where we left off.”

The departure of crucial wrestlers, notably Thomas Fitzpatrick, allows for a new crop of wrestlers to become leaders.

For a promising season, the team will have to step up as a unit; while seniors must prepare to fill in for the graduated wrestlers, underclassmen are expected to learn as much as they can from the seniors.

Some key returning wrestlers, such as senior Christian Valle, and juniors Luis Orellana, Leo Simon,

PHOTO BY RACHIT AGARWAL

The wrestling team endures intensive training during first practices. including avoiding any foul and Edgar Cruz, are expected to penalties that could cost points. pick up the load to get the team Senior captain David Silverberg rolling to their full potential this was very clear with his goals for winter. Valle recovered from a this season: “my role is to win,” torn meniscus and is looking he stated. Both Silverberg and forward to his last year wearing Chatlin will be viewed as leaders a Rocket singlet. He wants to for the new freshman wrestlers help in the development of the and the rest of the team. When younger wrestlers around him to asked about his role as a leader, give Richard Montgomery a jump Chatlin said, “I’m really excited start next year. for it. I’m going to have to hold These athletes are no longer myself to a higher standard and looking for average scores or stay intense.” winning individual matches; Upon being asked the same they want to win as a team. question, Silverberg had similar Silverberg, a two-time state motives about how to lead the competitor, wants to achieve his team, explaining that “as a ultimate goal of winning a state captain, [he must] make sure championship. He is not alone; the other wrestlers are working Chatlin envisions himself at Cole hard and doing the right things Fieldhouse this season, competing on and off the mat.” Chatlin for the state championship.

Finally breaking the ice, the ice hockey team is making its name known to schools across the county.

This year marks the second year of RM having its own team, competing against a more elite division. In past years, they were a member of the co-op team RMR, consisting of Rockville, Magruder and RM. Now, coming off of a 4-2 win against La Plata High School, the team has high spirits for the remainder of the season and is improving in every aspect.

Rather than suffering from a shortage of players like last season, the team now has enough players to make substitutions when needed, with the addition of six new freshman players. This relieves the stress for the more experienced players who need to take a breather.

However, the new freshman players do not simply bring strength in numbers; their individual skills contribute to the team drastically. Unlike other teams that place freshman behind upperclassmen in lineups, the hockey team embraces these new players, providing them with an opportunity to show their worth.

The new players certainly have the skills to back up their high spirits, evident from the game

PHOTO BY MONICA ROSE

The team congratulates one another following the La Plata victory. against La Plata, where freshmen Julia Kochman, Ryan Grossman, and Peter Jasperse scored all four goals. When asked about the teams recent victory, Kochman, who scored the first goal of the season, stated that she is "excited to see the team grow” and hopes to stay as a strong member of the team for the future.

Much of the team’s success so far can be attributed to their new coach, Dave Martella, who brings a whole new mindset to the table.

While winning is important, he prioritizes building a solid, resilient, and robust team for the future by focusing on the basic skills first, and incorporating new drills and techniques in practice.

The RM hockey team is more

Rockets Ice Hockey Schedule Date

Match-up

Location

Time

12/5

RM vs. Whitman

Rockville Ice Arena

6:00-7:30 PM

12/12

Sherwood vs. RM

Rockville Ice Arena

8:50-10:30 PM

12/19

RM vs. Churchill

Rockville Ice Arena

9:10-10:40 PM

1/9

RM vs. Wootton

Cabin John Ice Rink

8:00-9:30 PM

1/16

RM vs. Churchill 2

Rockville Ice Arena

6:05-7:45 PM

1/23

B-CC vs. RM

Rockville Ice Arena

6:00-7:30 PM

1/30

WJ vs. RM

Rockville Ice Arena

9:50-11:20 PM

2/6

Whitman vs. RM

Cabin John Ice Rink

8:00-9:30 PM

than just a team: it is a tight-knit family. The players share a bond that is present off the ice as well, always supporting each other no matter what.

Luckily, other players have stepped up to the plate, as junior Sarah Morgan played in goal last game. When asked about the teams performance this year, Morgan stated, “We’re finally taking those risky shots at the goal. We’re breaking out of our comfort zone, which is an amazing thing for us to do.”

The Rocket spirit runs strong as the team is constantly working to improve itself, and practices have only become more rigorous as the team begins to realize their potential. Junior captain Jack Blitz, one of the many star players of the team’s offense, summarized the teams emotions by exclaiming, “we are extremely excited for this upcoming season, because there is a new attitude surrounding our team with one end goal in mind... To win and make RM proud!”

As the team’s successes continue to grow, their fanbase has been expanding as well. The crowd plays an immense role in the morale of the team, so come out and cheer the RM hockey team as they continue to show off what it means to be a Rocket.

Swim team is determined to maintain state title

by Hoang Nguyen The Richard Montgomery swim and dive team enters the 2014 winter season as the reigning boys swimming state champions, with the girls team looking to maintain their prominent position in Division One. Last year’s prolific season still lingers in the minds of senior captains John Jeang, Ellie Sherman, Chloe Stavrianos, Graham Walker, and Peter Wang.

The Rockets hope to continue their tradition of dominance, as most of the members of the team look to transfer their club swimming experience and talent into titles for the school. Senior Peter Wang noted, “People become more committed to the school team and want to represent the school more to their best ability.”

The swim team’s coach, physical education teacher Aryn Wheeler knows how to get the Rockets going when it is really crunch time. Senior captain John Jeang recalled a stressful situation

during the state championship meet last year for the boys when a few heats did not go their way.

Jeang noted that “Coach Wheeler instantly turned on her game face and began telling us that we were going to have get our heads in the game.” The boys were facing the risk of losing the state championship due to a few bad races. From seemingly out of nowhere, the boys swimming team was in peril of being caught from behind by the boys of Broadneck High School from Anne Arundel County.

Behind the stern pep talk from coach Wheeler, the boys rallied to win Richard Montgomery’s first boys swimming state championship title in almost 20 years. The title was the perfect way to cap off a season with top five finishes at the annual Metros meet, state record-breaking relays, and great individual efforts.

Reflecting upon last year, both the boys and girls team are looking to continue their success.

The boys team lost two crucial seniors, Gregory Song and Anatol Liu, to graduation last year.

PHOTO BY LIFETOUCH PHOTOGRAPHY

The swim and dive team hopes to replicate last season’s successes.

Stepping up to replace them are Jeang, Walker, and Wang, who excel in a wide variety of events, allowing them build up points for the team. The captains are looking to finish out their career at RM while pursuing offers to swim at the collegiate level.

According to Coach Wheeler, in addition to graduation, the boys team also “lost key swimmers from last year to, of all things, foreign countries,” such as junior Juan Barrera and sophomore Steffen Buettner. Barrera and Buettner came from Mexico and Germany, respectively, to spend a year at RM. They were not just competitive additions to the team but great personalities as well.

The girls team lost captains Michelle Nguyen and Emily Ma to graduation but are being led this year by senior captains Ellie Sherman and Chloe Stavrianos.

Sherman is a serious competitor in the 100-meter butterfly and 200-meter individual medley events. The two are supported by a strong supporting cast of underclassmen, such as juniors Audrey Richter and Kelsy Song.

However, a key member

missing this year is junior Sophie El-Masry. El-Masry’s decided to not swim this year, so she could pursue her competitive streak in long-distance running for indoor track. As the season starts, her absence will be something with which the girls team must contend. Nonetheless, according to Sherman, the girls “are [still] looking to place high in the state meet and to win our division.”

Despite the changing roster of the team, Walker asserted that “we have a lot of young and fresh talent” this year that will hopefully be able to replace lost members.

The new crop of swimmers will face stout competition this year in the county’s Division I. Wootton, Churchill, and Walter Johnson are all dangerous contenders in the pursuit of the state title.

Remaining as state champs for the boys team is going to be a hard task this year. However, both teams are sitting at the head of the pack; the view from the top is a new perspective that they will have to get used to as they prepare for the winter season.

The Tide

SPORTS

November 2014

23

Basketball prepares for first tipoff of the year Basketball, cont. from page 1

The boys team has been working tirelessly to get ready for the season.

Senior Nick Jackson says, “sometimes you have to take it upon yourself... we know our responsibilities.”

Jackson referenced how he has played in two summer leagues for a total of around 30 games. A power forward/center, he has been working with a fitness trainer over the summer along with some of his friends to get ready for a season he hopes to make special.

“We didn’t come together last year, but I feel the team chemistry is probably the strongest part of us this year,” Jackson says.

He was quick to point out that the team hangs out together “full year round” and the team has formed a “band of brothers.”

Coach Breslaw is hoping to use that chemistry to build a strong team who plays good defense and has “good shot selection.”

Breslaw looks for players who have high discipline, have practiced before, are conditioned, and have a commitment to

“The team chemistry is probably the strongest part of us this year. ” the team. The Coach puts his team through two hour practices focusing on drills, “X’s and O’s” (studying plays), and weight room conditioning. “When I first saw some of the seniors play as freshman or even 8th graders, I didn’t think they would be on

the team or contribute a lot to it.”

Breslaw has been pleasantly surprised with players like Nick Jackson, Jimni Odunlami, and Tim Whaley who have developed over time.

Another thing Breslaw likes about his team is its high basketball IQ. Justin Nikakhtar, a senior guard, talked about basketball IQ in his interview: “I admire Tony Parker; his basketball IQ is great.” Parker, who was part of last year’s NBA champions, the San Antonio Spurs.

Parker is known for his crafty technique.

Jackson, on the other hand, remarked how he admired Tim Duncan, a power forward on San Antonio. Jackson and Nikakhtar both look up to these champions and hope to learn from them.

Tony Parker and Tim Duncan are known for their pick and rolls, which consequently Jackson and Nikakhtar have implemented into their style of play.

Over the season, the team does need to improve in certain areas like all teams do.

Free throw shooting, increasing shooting percentage, and rebounding are all things that Coach Breslaw and Nikakhtar mentioned need to be improved. The team will have to improve on these aspects in order to meet their high expectations. They hope to win their division and become a force in the region, and especially hope to beat their rivals Rockville High School and the other teams in their division.

Coach Oakes, leading his female troops, will be evaluating his players on his system. “We have developed a player evaluation system that scores all studentathletes on their dribbling, shooting, passing, defense, and rebounding abilities.”

Oakes hopes his team will try “to play an exciting brand of basketball that focuses on pressure

defense and fast break offense.

Leading the team will be seniors Allie Parish and Yajaira Rivas. The duo is hoping to lead by example and help the younger players learn from their experience. “We just have to keep a positive attitude. I used to get very emotional when I messed up in game,” Rivas says.

Umber is looking forward to getting more playing time and blossoming in her new role on the team.

Another player who will have to take up a new role in the team is junior Devon Goetz.

Goetz, who unfortunately tore her ACL earlier this year, will become the manager of the team.

Goetz has learned a lot from being on the sidelines with Coach Oakes. “He is really

supportive, h e teaches me the mental parts of the game.”

Goetz strives to get back to playing basketball and improving on the “finer parts of the game.”

She has already become a role model for others, which is what she said she was hoping to become for this season.

Parrish, like Rivas, is a senior on the team. As a guard, she has had to pick up her pace, as the game has gotten

much quicker for her. “The speed of the game is what is most different from JV,” Parrish says. She hopes to develop her offensive game this year and add it to her good defensive game.

Like the boys team, the girls team values good chemistry. “I work well with my teammates,” Parrish responded when asked what her some strengths are.

After hours of hard work in the gym and weight room, the basketball teams are ready to show that “Ball is life,” as Nikakhtar joked at the end of his interview.

For the boys and girls on the varsity basketball teams, ball really is life. They breathe, eat, and sleep the sport, and they are determined to live up to the high expectations that have been set for them this season.

Girls Schedule

Date

Match-up

12/05

RM @ Rockville

12/09

RM @ Wheaton

12/11

RM v Northwood

12/15

RM @ Northwest

12/17

RM v Clarksburg

12/19

RM @ WJ

Boys Schedule

Date

Match-up

12/05

RM v Rockville

12/09

RM v Wheaton

12/11

RM @ Northwood

12/15

RM v Northwest

12/17

RM @ Clarksburg

12/19

RM @ WJ

PHOTO BY © 2014 EYE ON THE BALL

Girl power shines through in Powderpuff games

by Anders Alilio A touchdown drive resulting from an interception in the endzone is what put the senior class’s ladies over the juniors in the annual Powderpuff game on November 13, hoested by the SGA. This intense ending is quite telling of the entire game itself: back and forth playmaking, defensive stops, and high scores.

The turnout, compared to that of years past, was considerable. Dozens of players’ family members and friends huddled in the cold and dreary Thursday rain, some

of the 24 minute games, where the seniors scored, then the sophomores retook the lead repeatedly. Eventually, the perseverant and energetic seniors wore down the sophomore resolve, and the game was decided by a NFL-worthy run by Sephora Grey to the corner of the endzone. The stage for the final was set: the upperclassmen were going to duel for the title.

In past years, the senior class has been the dominant force in the Powderpuff football scene. A combination of size, skill, and most importantly, spirit, has proven to be the ingredients to success.

However, the juniors, head-coached by Luis Orellana and Leo Simon, appeared to

PHOTO BY TOMI SONTAN

The senior team poses for a picture after their hard fought victory on November 13. even with blankets in hand. As the game progressed, the temperature in the air dropped, and there was even some snow, but the temperature on the field heated up.

The semifinals saw the juniors cruise easily past the freshman class, but the seniors did not have as easy of a task as they remained neck-to-neck with the relentless sophomore class until the very end of the game that would determine the finalist.

An exhilarating back and forth scoring explosion raged in the last few minutes

have a successful recipe of their own. After the senior’s scored on their initial drive, the junior class ladies were quick to respond.

The juniors had an excellent performance by running back and quarterback Christina Brown, and a couple great catches by Sophie El-Masry, despite an injury to her thigh. The team defiantly brought the game up to a 14-14 draw, which sent the game into overtime. With only ten yards or so needed to take the lead, Brown’s pass was read and intercepted, and the

seniors marched down the field with runplay after run-play, eventually finding their way to the endzone. Savannah Bailey scored the winning touchdown, and the entire senior team ran to the endzone and huddled around together in pure ecstasy.

“We just did what we do every year: dominate the game”, said an ecstatic senior Nick Jackson, a coach for the senior team. “We have so many playmakers on our team... that it was hard for us not to score, you know?”

And “playmakers” the seniors had indeed. Savannah Bailey had a terrific game, with great runs on multiple occasions. “Strapped” defense was provided by Stephanie Silverberg, with a few crucial tackles to end the junior’s hopes of resurgence.

The underclassmen showed up as well, and dismissed any notion that they were going out without a fight. All in all, “between the games and the practices, it was a really awesome experience. The girls learned [and improved] a lot”, remarked junior Jack Ramos, a coach for the freshmen class.

Ramos’s own sister took part in the freshman team. “I can’t wait to do this again next year,” Ramos concluded.

The Powderpuff football game was as much of an experience for the spectators as it was for the players and coaches themselves. The satisfying chill of autumn, the devoted and spirited fans, and the fast paced, high scoring football will always be some of the audience’s fondest memories here at Richard Montgomery.

Reflecting on his own experiences watching Powderpuff, Julian Avenilla remarks, “It’s a great experience to meet new people, and definitely strengthens the bond for each class.”

In fact, there is some overlap in these two benefits. The grades are expected to mingle, with one grade helping to coach another, as exemplified in Ramos’s case. All classes are exposed to people of different grades, presented with the opportunity to “strengthen the bond” not

only within your own grade, but with people younger and older than you as well.

Apart from seeing the watching the girls “glo up” on the field, as put by Avenilla,

“We just did what we do every year: dominate the game.” the proceeds from the Powderpuff game are going towards cancer research, and fans were encouraged to contribute at their own volition. The funds from both player fees and voluntary donations at the game raised a sizable contribution.

And where there are the Powderpuff teams, there is always the fabulous Boms Squad. Despite the near-freezing temperatures, the Boms showed up in force, cheering the senior class on.

Some members even managed to bear the cold weather and wear the signature booty-shorts in the process.

At half-time the Squad put on yet another stellar performance for the Powderpuff fans, one nearly comparable to that of the Poms Squad, showing that boys can excel in a predominantly female sport just like girls can excel in a predominantly male sport.

Each year when the football season comes to a close, there is always the consolation of the Powderpuff game to keep up the spirits of dedicated fans. This year, the teams did not disappoint. The weeks and weeks of practice paid off as all the teams were well-equipped and ready to play. For the seniors in their last year of eligibility for Powderpuff, the win may just be one of their fondest memories at RM.

24

The Tide

SPORTS

Athlete of the Issue

November 2014

In the paint and on the field, Renzo Farfan scores

by Evan Scheinberg and Katie Serway Clutch and hardworking.

Experienced and determined.

Mentally and physically strong.

It takes all of these qualities to be an incredible athlete and leader.

It takes guts and glory and what seems like never-ending training to compete in two seasons of sports, and even that never guarantees a successful outcome.

Is it just luck that both the Rockets football and basketball teams have been successful under one leader for four years? Definitely not.

That person who is leading both teams to glory is Renzo Farfan, star quarterback and shooting guard. Farfan has been an integral part of Rocket athletics for all four years he has been at Richard Montgomery.

“He never wants to come out of a drill, no matter how hard it is or how tired he is.”

Whether he is leading the football team down the field for a game winning touchdown or knocking down a clutch free throw or three pointers, Farfan is a big part of the Rockets’ climb to success.

When asked about Farfan’s leadership on the football team, junior wide receiver Daniel Alexander stated, “He was a great quarterback. He pushed the team to our greatest abilities.”

Junior linebacker Michael Silver said, “Renzo leads by example, more than by vocal. We all looked up to him.”

Concerning the Rockets’ start to the football season, including the loss to rival Rockville High 46-33, Farfan commented, ”When we started out, we had no chemistry.

But as the season went on, we gained more and more chemistry, creating a brotherhood of teammates.”

As quarterback, Farfan led the team to two wins, including a rout of Walter Johnson where he threw two of the touchdowns that sealed the deal. The losses were tough but they got through them as a unit.

Reflecting on his last senior game as a Rocket, Farfan said, “I was sad. Everyone was sad. It was a tough loss when they came back and beat us.

Knowing that I’ll never play on this field again was pretty sad.”

He definitely has the spirit of a Rocket and always shows it on the field.

Entering his senior basketball season, Farfan will be playing utility guard, which means he will be switching off between point guard and shooting guard. He is looking to go out with a finish that nobody will ever forget.

Seth Nosanchuck, a teammate of Farfan’s on the basketball team, elaborated on Farfan’s efforts: “Every single practice, Renzo is always giving 100%.

He never wants to come out of a drill, no matter how hard it is or how tired he is.”

Farfan says, “My expectations are high. All of the other

seniors on the varsity team is so strong, as they have all played together for years. They are all looking to end Farfan’s career in memorable fashion.

During his time at RM, Farfan has become both a component on which the team is built around, and a key player in Rockets

seniors, such as Milton Rivera, have high expectations, too.

We are looking to end our careers as players that nobody will forget.”

The seniors are looking to capitalize on their varsity teammates, such as junior J o n a t h a n Custodio, to win as many games as possible.

It is no surprise that the chemistry between t h e juniors and © 2013 EYE ON THE BALL

basketball.

He has been playing throughout his high school career, and has led the team to several incredible seasons. He even won “MVP” of the 2012-2013 JV squad, which won seventeen games with one loss.

Senior Milton Rivera s p o k e highly of Farfan when asked to describe what kind of player he is. He said

that, “Renzo is a very smart player. He has a great basketball IQ. He loves to have the ball in his hands. He not only makes himself better on the court, but also his teammates around him.”

Rivera went on to detail Farfan’s best abilities on the court, including “attacking the basket and being smart with the ball.”

He continues, “he rarely turns the ball over and never hesitates when he sees and open lane.”

Farfan is a dual threat on the court. He can both score and use his basketball knowledge to put his teammates in the spotlight.

As a senior, Farfan is looking ahead at his future, and trying to make plans. Farfan said,”Right now I am leaning towards playing college football because I have gotten more looks from schools for football than basketball at the moment. That could all change after basketball season because I may have a lot more options by the end of the season”.

There is no doubt that Farfan has left his mark on the athletic program at RM. Whether it is his on-field decisions in close football games or making great moves on the basketball court to excite the Rocket crowd, it is obvious that he will be missed as he takes the leap to his start his collegiate career.

Farfan’s Season Stats Basketball

Football

204 points

971 pass yds

66-97 FTM-A

11 pass TDs

Strong senior class leads handball to best season

by Sonia Postolache Team handball was only introduced as a varsity sport

by Montgomery County Public Schools in 2012, but for all three years that Richard Montgomery has had a team, Coach Schauer has been there to guide it. This season he has had a lot of help from his two senior captains: Shabaz Baig and Michael Karecki.

Team handball was introduced into the MCPS athletics program as a corollary sport, which is a sport that, according to Mrs. Green, the athletic director of Sherwood High School, is one that athletes “do not necessarily have the skills and/or desire to play at a highly competitive level.”

The Richard Montgomery handball team has proven that they have both the skills and the desire to take team handball to a competitive level. When asked what the best thing about handball, senior Michael Karecki responded “The competition. The games are crazy!”

The team began the year with a plan to tackle specific aspects of their game, in order to ensure a good performance during the season. They started practicing with defensive zones to optimize coverage, and they improved their breakaway plays and pick formations to have a more explosive offense. Their final change was to institute more

dribbling and passing drills to ensure quality ball control during games.

All the hard work paid off,

their opponent, Magruder, at less than 17 goals. As last year’s county champions, Magruder looked to be a formidable foe,

Coach Schauer says that the seniors were indubitably the “backbone of the team,” and that much of the development

© 2014 EYE ON THE BALL

Senior Jamie Deng fires a shot during a game against Quince Orchard, a game featuring 38 goals in total as the handball team ended this fall with their “best season yet,” as Coach Schauer states.

They had crushing wins against Clarksburg, Northwest, and Watkins Mill High School, but their game against Magruder stood out among the rest..

Never before in RM history has team handball made playoffs.

This year in order to reach their goal, the team needed to score at least 20 goals while keeping

but RM fought hard and came out successful.

Not only did they make playoffs, they even made it to semi-finals.

Sophomore Joey Moore enthusiastically calls the game an “amazing experience.”

Even towards the end of the semifinal match, the Rockets did not give up. Moore stated that “they really pulled together in the end” and despite the results he “couldn’t be happier.”

of the younger players should be attributed to the help from experienced team members.

Captain Michael Karecki was the team’s wall goalie who gave the team a sense of security on their defense, and senior captain Shabaz Baig was the top scorer for the team, scoring a goal in every single game.

Jamie Deng was noted with keeping the audience on the edges of their seats with “some

of the most creative jumpshots in handball history.” Seniors Saccit Gupta, Manjot Sawhney and Prith Vishwakarma modeled the exact explosive offense that Coach Schauer had been craving since the beginning of the season. Dong Luong anchored the defense until the game against Magruder, where the team needed him to move up to offense. Luong delivered by scoring the gamewinning goal, securing the team’s spot in the playoffs.

However, graduation will be taking away half of the team this year. Next year, Coach Schauer is looking to rebuild the team and bring it up to an even higher level.

To achieve that, the team will need “persistence, camaraderie, and sportsmanship,” according to Schauer.

It looks like they are on their way to that goal, as the younger players on the team have improved so much this year. The talent of the younger players on the team looks to help continue the legacy of RM team handball.

Sophomore Alec Hall stated, “Maybe we didn’t make it to the championship, but it was fun,” and Joey Moore voices his teammates’ excitement when he says that he “can’t wait till next season.”

Team handball at Richard Montgomery is quickly becoming the fastest growing varsity sport, and all the athletes look forward to continuing their winning tradition in the years to come.