The Tide - March 2014

News 2-4

Your Shot 5

Opinions 6-8

International 10-11

Center Spread 12-13

La Marea 14

Arts 16-17

Features 18-20

Sports 22-24

‘It’s not an actual town, technically... we’re just Almost.’

RM students perform ‘Almost, Maine’ Friday! ~By Julia Di

Performed in a series of nine vignettes, “Almost, Maine”

by John Cariani delves into the concept of love and all its layers: the deep, the superficial, the truths and contradictions.

The play opens Friday night at 7 p.m. Student tickets are $6 at the door, and adult tickets are $14. Audience members can also purchase tickets online for $1 less at http://richardmontgomerydrama.ticketleap.com/almostmaine.

Watch the show this Friday or Saturday at 7 p.m., or April 4 and 5 at 7 p.m.

ALMOST MAINE, cont. page 5 Seniors Hayley Abramowitz and Aaron Hwang were selected to help direct the play. Both students have participated in RM drama for four years. photo by Julia Di

Find out who won

Mr. RM 2014 on page 3 photo by connie chen

Opinions, 6

International, 10

Diversity in schools

Model UN travels

La Marea, 14

Lechecillas recipe

Should hockey be allowed to be a varsity sport?

by Jeremy Skaife

As both a student and hockey player at Richard Montgomery, I strongly believe MCPS should recognize ice hockey as a varsity sport.

I am not the only one.

As of today, 1,352 people have signed the petition I have created online to make ice hockey an official varsity sport in Montgomery County Public Schools.

Some may not realize it, but ice hockey is a major sport in our community. Local players in Montgomery County have gone

on to college and professional careers, proving that this sport should belong and be available in every Montgomery County public high school.

Currently, high school hockey teams in Montgomery County play in the Maryland Student Hockey League, outside of the public school system.

However, ice hockey clubs currently adhere to all official varsity rules and regulations held to other teams that are considered varsity. For instance, all hockey players must maintain a 2.0 GPA and attend school the day of a practice or game in order to be allowed onto the ice to play on that particular day.

HOCKEY, cont. page 8

Arts, 17

Features, 20

Sports, 22

Student art gallery

New Givology club

Track goes to nationals

2

NEWS

The Tide

Students save hundreds of lives at annual Blood Drive

by Claire Luo and Nikita Sardana

Richard Montgomery High School held its annual blood drive on Thursday, Feb. 27 in collaboration with Inova Blood Donor Services.

Organized by the Student Government Association (SGA), the event drew in an estimated 110 students and teacher participants.

The drive lasted the whole school day and required the expertise of not only the trained professionals at Inova, but also the dedicated student volunteers that walked the donors through every step of the donating process.

First, the potential donors were sat down and told to complete a medical history form. After finishing the form, the donors were weighed to ensure that they were above the 110 pound weight minimum and were led to talk to a medical professional. At this point, some were turned away for visiting certain prohibited countries and those remaining took a preliminary iron test.

While students were giving blood, SGA volunteers called “talkers” distracted them from the needles and calm them down.

After donating, they were offered food and encouraged to stay inside the gym for at least 15 minutes to regain their strength and energy before returning to class.

“The blood drive is supposed to, and did, work efficiently and safely,” said one of the talkers, junior Nathan Poland, who emphasized the success of the operation. “It seemed like that at any one time, there was always someone giving blood.

We were never completely empty and sometimes we were almost overflowing,” he said.

Senior Jennifer Vuong, who helped with registration, agreed.

“Overall, it was a very successful event with few problems,” she

said. However, Vuong pointed out the prospective dangers of giving blood and the measures taken in an effort to prevent the donors from such possibilities.

“We accompanied them during the donation and paid close attention to them. No donor was allowed to walk alone anywhere and the volunteers took it all very seriously.”

However, despite various

number of students blacking out afterwards, including myself,” she said, but added that, “there were many medical professionals present and students feeling negative effects were given juice, snacks, blankets, etc. by the staff to ensure their well-being.”

“Giving blood is a great way to help out people who need it, because you know it’s going to a good cause,” she added.

The Red Cross has recently suffered from a blood shortage.

Due to weather-related issues, many blood drives were canceled and many patients are in dire need of the fluid, according to The Rockville Patch.

Inova, in turn, is helping by making donating more accessible to students with its high school blood drives. Almost every week, Inova trained professionals arrive with their equipment to a high school, to facilitate the drawing of blood. High school donors account for more than 15 percent of all collected blood, which goes to those in need at 24 hospitals around the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.

This community service resonates with students and teachers alike.

“Each donation really counts; one day, if you were to get hurt, you would want this GRAPHIC BY CYNTHIA SONG blood to be available for you,” One hundred nine units were do- Poland said. He added that, as a Montgomery County student, nated this year, saving 327 lives. where community service is precautionary measures, some emphasized, volunteering at the donors did faint and experience blood drive resonated with him other difficulties after giving as a gratifying community effort blood. Ambulances were called that he encouraged others to when necessary and some participate in. students were sent to the hospital; “As someone who has others were treated in the nurse’s received two blood transfusions, office and in the gym, where the I can’t stress enough how blood drive was being conducted. important donating blood is,” Junior Anna Wunsch fainted said social studies teacher and and had a dangerously low blood event organizer Toni Kellinger. pressure after donating blood, “Every person who donates but was nevertheless content blood saves three lives. In seven with her decision to become a hours, RM students are saving donor. “I was aware of a fair 330 lives.”

March/April

March 27

Third marking period ends Only one more left!

March 28

“Almost, Maine” Opening Night Come support RM theater!

April 1

April Fool’s Day No school today. (Just kidding.)

April 12

ACT Study up!

April 14

First day of spring break Catch up on your sleep.

April 22

Back to School Everything good must come to an end.

March 2014

IN MEMORIAM

PHOTO BY LISA O’BRIEN

Teacher Diana Lovingfoss passed away on March 17, 2014 at the age of 61. Lovingfoss had been battling breast cancer up until her death. A member of the RM community since 2006, she served as the LAD Special Education Coordinator and IEP chair for the Special Education program.

English teacher Jaclyn Cular recalled the bond she shared with Lovingfoss in and out of work. Cular and Lovingfoss decided to get their first tattoos together as a sign of solidarity during Lovingfoss’s battle with breast cancer. Lovingfoss chose a pink ribbon as symbol, “so people knew what she was dealing with without having to ask,” Cular explained. Cular also remembered how she and Lovingfoss dressed up as matching bobby-socksers for decade day during last year’s spirit week.

Principal Dr. Nelson McLeod emphasized Lovingfoss’s dedication to her students and described her as “a true advocate for students.” McLeod also said that despite the health challenges she was facing, “Lovingfoss was a devoted and compassionate educator… [and] symbolized courage, compassion, and steadfastness.”

“Ms. Lovingfoss loved working with the students… despite the fact that she was quite ill, Ms. Lovingfoss would make the effort to come to school each day, whether it was with a pair of crutches, a walker or a leg brace,” added Cluster Coordinator Kristen Heyniger. “She will be in my heart for the rest of my life.”

NEWS IN BRIEF College Board announces redesigned SAT On Wednesday, March 5, College Board announced a redesigned SAT. Among other changes, the current maximum score of 2400 will return again to 1600, which was in place until 2005. Last year marked the first time that the number of students taking the ACT surpassed that of the SAT. In a press release, College Board president David Coleman expressed his fears that the test was losing its touch with modern high school education. He noted his desire to readjust the focus of the SAT to become more student-oriented.

The new SAT’s reading and writing sections will be combined into the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section. This section seeks to brush off obscure vocabulary questions and replace them with questions that would be more pertinent to students.

The essay will be optional as it is currently on the ACT. The math section will have limited calculator access and an algebraic focus. The change most students praise is the removal of the quarter-point deduction for wrong answers.

The SAT is also teaming up with the popular online tutoring site Khan Academy in order to provide free preparation for everyone. Coleman noted how the new SAT will echo the new Common Core Standards, which have been adopted in 45 states, to be more closely related to what students are learning in school.

The new SAT will take effect in early 2016.

By Eric Li

AWARDS Congratulations to senior Suzanne Xu for winning first place at the 2014 D.C. Regional Brain Bee. The RM Jazz Combo won third prize in the Student Combo Competition at the Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival.

Art teacher Mike McDermott was recognized at Montgomery College during the Montgomery Scholars Class of 2014 Capstone Colloquium because a former student nominated him as the person who had the most impact on her during her high school years Congratulations to the MCCPTA 2013-2014 Reflection Program Winners “Believe, Dream, Inspire.” The literature award winners of Excellence for Outstanding Interpretation were Julia Di, Jessica Li, and Victoria Priester. The photography award winner of Excellence for Outstanding Interpretation went to senior Julia Di. The RM Orchestra and Chorus received a score of all 1’s, the highest score available, at this year’s Festival.

Congratulations to the RM Mock Trial Team for winning the county championships.

Senior Savannah Du won a gold medal for a humor piece at the Scholastic Arts and Writing Competition.

Sophomore Rachit Agarwal, sophomore Devin Bajaj, senior John Matsen, and junior Shubhankar Viragi qualified for the DECA International Career Development Conference in Atlanta.

The Tide

NEWS

March 2014

Mr. RM dominated by sweaters ­— Ostrander wins

by Lipi Agrawal and Suzanne Xu With showtime quickly approaching, the backstage exploded into activity—contestants rehearsed their acts one last time and stage crews raced to move props into place. The audience chattered excitedly, the lights dimmed, and “It’s Raining Men” began to play. Then, the curtains opened to reveal all 16 of the contestants, marking the beginning of Mr. RM 2014.

The boys had trained since January under the watch of social studies teacher Toni Kellinger, the SGA, and members of the Student Leadership class. “[The boys’] progress from the first practice to the last practice is ridiculous. They have grown so much,” SGA student organizer Anja Aniere said.

The contestants rehearsed during lunch and, as the show approached, for five hours after school each day. For some, their dedication stemmed from senior year expectations. “It’s my last year and I just wanted to do something fun,” said senior Danny Flax (Mr. Flaximus Maximus).

The snow days posed a significant challenge to the show’s preparation. “We had two rehearsals that had to be cancelled” remarked senior Tony Sandoval, who competed as Mr. Queen T. After an exciting opening dance routine, the contestants received their individual introductions. Senior Calvin Chao (Mr. Chao Down) took the opportunity to act his imagined life story. Senior Davey Segal (Mr. Fluffy) zoomed around the stage as the emcees described his love of NASCAR. “The introductions gave more insight into the boys’ characters and provided a glimpse at their own humor,” senior Trisha Patel said.

This year’s show also displayed a wide

range of unconventional talents, including a cover of Beyonce’s Single Ladies dance

by Sandoval and a combination of Whitney Houston’s “I Have Nothing” and tae kwon do by senior David Song (Mr. Love Song).

Senior Brian Harrington’s (Mr. Hollywood) short video of how Hollywood’s movies would happen in real life seemed extremely realistic, especially the Forrest Gump short, which evoked laughter throughout the audience. Senior Camden Ostrander (Mr. Cosby) won smiles with his “My Sweata” rap and his sweater drive for the Interfaith Clothing Center.

“All of the talents were so unexpected and all the fun silly acts really brought the show to life,” sophomore Seema Snitkosvky said.

Next came the formal wear portion, with the contestants giving roses to their special someones. Senior Jinsol Kim (Mr. Gnarlee) danced with his mother while Flax, dressed in his marching band uniform, saluted to his friend and escort, senior Shaana Jhangiani.

The show took a brief pause from humor as a representative from the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society spoke about the importance of the funds from Mr. RM for raising awareness about the diseases and supporting research towards cures. Elementary school student Megan Avery, a cancer survivor and younger sister of former student Jessica Avery, presented her story and thanked RM for its support.

After the intermission came the pick up lines. Each contestant tried his luck at winning the girls’ hearts with his incredible wit. New and old pick up lines were heard to a mixture of laughs and good natured groans. Senior Brendan Luu (Mr. Comeback) innocently held out his hand, asking one of the girls if “they could hold it.”

The beachwear portion came next. All of the contestants dressed up in their swim-

suits, but there was a twist. Song waddled around in a duck floatie, while senior Jalen Jones (Mr. Fresh Prince) wore a bikini top paired with swim trunks. The contestants also played around with pool toys and beach balls, which added to the overall hilarity of the scene.

Then came the cuts. Instead of the regular five semifinalists, this year there were six because of a tie. They were: David Song (Mr. Love Song), Stephen Alexander (Mr. Irrelevant), Camden Ostrander (Mr. Cosby), Alan Murphy (Mr. Talanted), Eddie Miao (Mr. Scheme), and George Kyaw (Mr. Highrolla).

To narrow the competition down to the winner, each semifinalist answered one casual question and one that was more thought provoking. Their responses were quick and entertaining, ranging from books on realpolitik to stories of embarrassing moments.

After the events concluded, the judges first announced the results for Mr. Coingeniality, with Segal coming in first. For

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the main event, the runner-ups were announced first, with the fifth runner up receiving a $10 Chipotle gift card. The other runner-ups won Chipotle gift cards of ascending value as well.

When at last the moment had come to crown the winner, the judges pronounced Camden Ostrander as the new Mr. RM. The audience erupted with cheers and the other contestants lifted Ostrander up into the air.

“The moment was unbelievable, there is nothing like it. It was an amazing rush, and being up on stage with so many of my close friends at such a great moment was an unforgettable experience,” Ostrander said.

Overall, attendees enjoyed the show.

“It was a great way to see what the seniors were up to,” said sophomore Grace Cheung.

Mr. RM once again proved to be a success, raising money for a charitable cause and providing excitement to the student body. According to Ostrander, “I think we put on the best Mr. RM show of all time, and I am proud to have been a part of that.”

photo by connie chen

Camden Ostrander (Mr. Cosby) was crowned as the winner of the Mr. RM competition.

Nominating Convention answers student concerns

by Dahlia Wilson and Emily Zhang “Today is about selecting the SMOB candidates, but it’s also about students coming together to drive their voice in a world that usually only hears those of adults,” Carmen Huynh, president of the county student government association, (SGA) said at the annual Student Member of the Board of Education (SMOB) nominating convention.

Prior to the county-wide SMOB elections, in which every Montgomery County student casts a vote, a nominating convention of selective student government representatives narrows down the candidate list to two students. Clarksburg High School held this year’s convention, with a reported turnout of over 180 SGA

representatives.

Poolesville High School junior Calvin Yeh, Clarksburg High School junior Dahlia Huh, and Watkins Mill High School junior Stephan Fornah-Ovaa spent hours on stage answering student questions, proposing policies, and giving speeches as prospective SMOBs. Yeh’s platform emphasized redesigning the classroom to focus on social-emotional learning, which would cater to the individual needs and skills of every student.

He also expressed sincere concern over reducing student stress levels, high academic expectations, and tough competition in order to preserve students’ mental and emotional health.

In her introductory speech, Huh proposed class size reductions, further student involvement in policy decisions,

PHoto by dahlia wilson

Nominees for the Student Member of the Board are shown answering questions, proposing county policies, and giving speeches at this year’s Nominating Convention.

and full SMOB voting rights on the Montgomery County Board of Education.

Fornah-Ovaa spoke about school security, open dialogues between parents, teachers, and students and their respective student leadership, and his innovative online Pen-Pal program which would improve county-wide communication.

All candidates stressed the importance of listening to and acting on the needs of county students. They were also all in full support of widening the SMOB’s voting rights on the Board of Education, which would involve extending the vote to include county financial and budgetary decisions.

“It is important for students to have feet in the door when it comes to county decisions. It’s a lot easier for a student to approach another student, as opposed to the intimidating factor with adults,” Johnny Jung from Quince Orchard High School said.

Senior Jeffrey Chen from Quince Orchard High School also affirmed the virtues of having a SMOB. “The best part of a SMOB is to know that students themselves can make a change,” he said.

This year’s convention placed a special emphasis on the topics of representing students and effectively communicating with the Board of Education.

“It’s important to convince other members of the Board to vote a certain way. The SMOB brings unique student perspective to the board,” Yeh explained.

Current SMOB Justin Kim addressed in his speech the issues that his administration has already confronted during his one-year service on the Board. “By making a new roadmap for social-emotional learning, we’re creating students who are not just good test-takers, but good people with critical and emotional thinking too,” he said.

He also spoke of how MCPS is tackling the achievement gap by reducing class sizes and focusing special efforts towards the bottom ten lowest-scoring schools in the county.

In a speech given to the assembly, Shirley Branmen, an adult member of the Board of Education, explained her favorable experiences interacting with the SMOBs at the county level and their adept skill at dealing with county-wide policymaking.

“Student Members of the Board bring a unique perspective to a group of adults. They present appeals on things like discipline and punishment and really offer us the student perspective and what students think of the issues at hand,” she said.

During the question-and-answer session, students raised the issue of whether or not to close schools for religious holidays.

“MCPS is so diverse, and we want to make sure all students’ voices are heard,” Huh said.

“I expect a SMOB to listen to the opinions of all MCPS students; they need to represent the views of every different type of student,” Zach Williams from Northwest High School explained.

Among other things, students also raised the questions of device policies, free and open wifi, and college and career readiness, as well as open lunch on every school campus in the county. All three candidates expressed their willingness to converse with their student constituents on the issues and to do their best to enact those changes.

One student expressed concern over how much the SMOB could actually accomplish in the span of a one-year term.

Regarding implementation, however, the candidates simply stressed speaking with the Board about the issues and working as hard as possible to resolve the issues that are within their abilities.

By the end of the convention, the Special Election Administrator reported that Yeh and Huh received the amount of votes necessary to become the two SMOB nominees.Montgomery County students will cast their votes for the next SMOB on April 30.

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NEWS

The Tide

March 2014

Superintendent creates Cybercivility Task Force

by Rachit Agarwal and Emily Zhang In response to receiving harassing tweets regarding school cancellations this winter, Superintendent Dr. Joshua Starr decided to create a county-wide Cybercivility Task Force, asking MCPS students, staff, and parents to apply.

MCPS has had a total of nine snow days so far this year. Students often take to social media to express their emotions.

When there was inclement weather, they anxiously assessed the probabilities of snow days, complained about the lack of announcement, or even pleaded to school officials.

One day, however, these pleas began turning into threats on Twitter.

Superintendent Dr. Starr later reflected on the Tweets as being “offensive” and “disturbing.”

“I feel that the tweets made about snow

days highlight student ignorance and absurdity,” said senior Stephanie Moore.

Later, in an open letter to parents concerning the appropriate use of technology, Dr. Starr emphasized the issue of “cybercivility.”

“I think that [students] wouldn’t post such things if they understood the consequences of their actions,” he said.

Weeks later, applications were opened for a cybercivility task force. It is comprised of MCPS parents, students, and staff members promoting the positive and safe use of technology.

With no official definition, the term as well as rules of cybercivility are to be defined by the students.

“I see cybercivility simply as the application of real life etiquette to the digital world,” said sophomore Raja Ramesh.

Some students believe the task force is important in tackling the issue of cyberbullying.

“The cybercivility task force is a great

GRAPHIC BY CYNTHIA SONG

The Cybercivility Task Force was created after multiple incidents harassing the superintendent and MCPS staff about canceling school due to weather conditions.

initiative to address the issue of respect online. The issue of cybercivility seems to have been glossed over due to the rapid expansion of social media, and I applaud MCPS for taking the vital first step to solve this problem,” said junior Charlie Kang, who applied to be a part of the task force.

Others, however, doubt its effectiveness.

“The cybercivility task force is meant to raise awareness for cybercivility, but if people are able to be civil in person, they’ll be able to be civil online whether or not the task force exists,” sophomore Kevin Ying noted.

Nonetheless, cyberbullying continues to be a problem, especially with the rising popularity of social media. Websites like Ask.fm allow anyone to ask questions to a user and the answers are posted publicly on the user’s account page. Some of these questions can take the form of hateful, often anonymous, comments.

Last year, nine U.S. teens committed suicide after being bullied on Ask.fm, according to Business Now. On Twitter, popular school “truths” or “confession” accounts can feature offensive comments specifically directed at students or staff.

Since these accounts are anonymous, it is difficult for officials to find out which students are involved.

Some students, however, claim that they follow these accounts purely for entertainment, or shock value.

“Everybody is mature enough to not take it seriously,” a sophomore, who chose to remain anonymous, noted.

Last year, the Maryland General Assembly passed a law making cyberbullying a crime, with a punishment of up to a year in jail, according to ABC7 News.

“Students and young people have created a new and alarming way to torment people — the laws have just started catching

up,” said Steve Chaikin, a community prosecutor for the Montgomery County State’s Attorney Office, in an interview with The Gazette.

However, due to anonymous online accounts and harassment through private messages, cyberbullying has been difficult to track by law enforcement, weakening the effects of such laws. While some

“Students and young people have created a new and alarming way to torment people -- the laws have just started catching up.”

-Stephen Chaikin students believed Dr. Starr overreacted too personally to the tweets, MCPS spokesman Dana Tofig suggested otherwise.

“He doesn’t feel like he was cyberbullied. He never felt threatened,” said Tofig.

Moore agreed. “There is absolutely no way to overreact to something like that,” she said.

The task force is currently being formed as MCPS officials select applicants to join the effort. Individuals selected to participate in the task force will be notified promptly, as a delay occurred due to the snow days.

From March to August, the selected students, staff, and community members will meet once a month to discuss their progress with cybercivility and internet etiquette.

UMD offers Freshman Connection to spring admits “We hated having to turn [students] away, and this is a way for us to accommodate them,” said Gundy. “It’s sort of a win-win for the students and the University of Maryland, College Park university.”

(UMD) is Richard Montgomery’s top Senior David Song, who was admitted college. As an in-state university that is for the fall semester in the honors program, ranked 62 by US News, the university was drawn towards UMD for reasons attracts many applicants and attendees shared by most applicants: academic rigor, every year. However, the spring admissions proximity to home, relatively inexpensive program has grown in recent cost, and the fact that years as more students enroll several friends would be for the spring semester. attending.

The increase in spring History teacher enrollment is partially due to Robert Hines, who UMD’s fall extension program occasionally alludes to called Freshman Connection, RM students applied in UMD during some of which offers select classes to his classes, “learned to spring admits. like Maryland,” since his 2013 Approximately 4,000 children went there. He students were admitted for praised the university for the 2015 spring semester, in its diversity of available comparison to about 12,000 programs and “great students for the 2014 fall faculty who really help RM students admitted you find a job.” semester, according to The Washington Post. Of those Considering these admitted, about 1,100 enrolled qualities, many spring for the spring, and about 4,000 admits decide to take for the fall. advantage of UMD’s Last year at RM, 216 Freshman Connection RM spring admits students applied to UMD, 136 program. were admitted – 14 of whom As described were spring admits – and 69 in on UMD’s website, total enrolled.

Freshman Connection “is “Typically what happens is a fall-semester academic the college does not have enough space in program, administered by the Office of the fall, but they know there will be room Extended Studies, which allows [students] in the spring semester,” said RM Career to get on track to graduate in four years.” and College Coordinator Mary Hull.

The program offers certain university Since some fall students will drop courses to students admitted for the spring. out, transfer, or study abroad, admissions Freshman Connection courses are available staff fill empty seats and dorms, while only to students in the program, are taught increasing the accessibility of their selective by UMD faculty, and count towards university to second-tier students through graduation credits. spring admissions.

Differences lie in the fact that courses In an interview with the Washington are from a considerable smaller selection Post, UMD admissions director Shannon than those available to fall students, and Gundy said that spring entrants have usually take place in the afternoon and excellent academics and are qualified evening, from 3 to 9 p.m. applicants.

Senior Chao Liang, a spring admit, said

by Brittany Tabora

216

“at first, I was disappointed that I couldn’t get into fall. But then after I looked at what Freshman Connection provided, [I saw that] it was pretty much the same as regular admission to UMD.” Freshman Connection students have the same opportunities to participate in all university activities, except MD NCAA fall athletic teams. While there is some on-campus housing available for these students, they are not guaranteed housing, and most students choose to commute or live off-campus in a near-by apartment.

Liang plans to commute for the fall semester, and move on-campus in the spring.

However, not all spring admits choose the Freshman Connection program.

According to Hull, some students enroll at Montgomery College (MC) for a semester and then transfer to UMD, which is what senior Joseph Thomas plans to do.

“I chose MC over Freshman Connection because [the latter] is costly and expensive.

In Freshman Connection, I would have been living in off-campus rental housing, which kind of seems a little much for only a semester,” said Thomas.

Thomas also disliked that classes were mostly only available in the afternoon.

“It would be a lot easier for me to just commute to MC and transfer my credits that way. Plus, that way I can get a parttime job in the afternoon,” he said.

Either way, both Liang and Thomas will be joining the many RM students who

136 14

GRAPHIC BY KATIE ZENG

University of Maryland -- College Park is RM’s most popular college. The spring admissions program has expanded in recent years with 14 RM spring admits last year.

The Tide

Your Shot

March 2014

PHOTO BY MONA LEE

Behind the scenes of Almost, Maine

Above: Sophomore Nina Holtz, freshman Isabel Leiva, and other members of set decoration paint a section of the backdrop for the play.

Right: Junior Allie Murphy, a member of set construction, uses a power saw to cut wooden pieces for the set.

PHOTO BY DAHLIA WILSON

PHOTO BY DAHLIA WILSON

Above: Senior David Alcantara prepares power drills for set construction.

Below: Assistant Director Hayley Abramowitz coordinates team-building activities.

Left: Sophomore Mark Davie adjusts the sound for the actors as they prepare for rehearsal.

PHOTO BY CONNIE CHEN

PHOTO BY CONNIE CHEN

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6 The Tide

The Tide Editorial

OPINIONS

RM’s diversity is exceptional

by The Tide Editorial Staff As students at Richard Montgomery High School, it is easy to take for granted the diverse learning environment that we enjoy every day. After looking at our school in the context of other Montgomery County public schools, it is clear that our racial diversity is not only an anomaly, but also is a major asset to our learning.

It is rare to find a high school in Montgomery County that has a truly diverse student body. Often, the residential districts that a high school pulls students from heavily consist of one racial group. For example, Winston Churchill High School, in Potomac, has a student body that is 56.2 percent white, only 9 percent black, and only 8 percent Hispanic. Gaithersburg High School also has a similar imbalance of students: the high school’s students are 40 percent Hispanic, with a paltry 9 percent Asian population.

While schools like Winston Churchill and Gaithersburg have no control over which districts they pull students from, the fact remains that major ethnic groups are underrepresented in many of the county’s public schools.

However, within the context of Montgomery County, Richard Montgomery’s racial diversity is exceptional. With 25.8 percent Asian, 15.7 percent black, 22.9 percent Hispanic, and 30 percent white students, Richard Montgomery truly has a diverse and balanced student body. This diversity also extends beyond the racial make-up of our student body: student exchange programs, the IB program, and schoolwide events such as Common Grounds and International Night

also contribute to the spectrum of cultural perspectives that RM provides.

After years in these classrooms, diversity may seem like an inconsequential or overlooked part of our learning.

In fact, many RM students were not even aware that our school has such a unique racial make-up.

When informed of these statistics, students expressed surprise that the racial distribution of students was so evenly balanced. However, the impact that this diversity has is much more powerful than meets the eye.

First of all, the breadth of cultural perspectives that students are exposed to because of RM’s diversity teaches an invaluable lesson. Learning in a multicultural classroom broadens students’ knowledge of other cultures and teaches tolerance.

Students benefit when racial stereotypes, discrimination, and cultural misunderstandings are reduced.

The value of diversity is not exclusive to cultural education: it also extends t o academic

achievement.

Schools that are racially integrated help in closing the achievement gap in math and reading for African American and Latino children.

According to studies at the University of California, Berkeley, “disadvantaged children’s obstacles to achievement are exacerbated when these children are concentrated in racially homogenous schools.”

White students also benefit from diversity in schools. A recent research paper from the National Coalition on School Diversity demonstrated that white students in diverse classrooms “develop better critical thinking and problem-solving skills than their counterparts in racially homogenous schools.”

Clearly, RM’s diversity plays a role in the educational and personal development of its students. Although we may not always realize just how unique our diverse classroom environments are or notice their impact in our day-to-day classroom learning, RM’s diversity and multicultural study body certainly is a major asset to our education.

It is almost that time of year again! Time for break…or time for more work?

This year, Montgomery County students are about to experience one of the latest spring breaks in years—late enough to be just two weeks before AP/IB testing month.

What does this mean for the

Letters to the Editor Snow days create inconveniences Normally, I love snow days. I like the chance to take a break from school. But this year, I have found that too many days off may, shockingly, be a bad thing. I now have to make up the assignments from the snow days on top of my regular homework.

Also, as of now, our school year is getting extended. I would much rather have school on these “snow days” than school in the summer. While I enjoy a rest, I think that these days off are being thrown around at every chance of inclement weather, without consideration of the impact on the school experience.

-Daisy Grant, 9th grade

Refreshing changes coming to the SAT The 2016 SAT will no longer have a required essay, a muchneeded change for students who may or may not have succeeded in writing assignments in the boilerplate curriculum. It remains to be seen, however, how students throughout the nation will handle the newly refurbished exam. Personally, I find it inconceivable that a lion’s share of students would not opt to complete the optional essay portion in order to brandish their skills in the realm of the literary arts.

-Gabriel Guedes, 11th grade

Looking back on college applications I think the hardest part of preparing to apply to a college or university, especially if it is a competitive one, is staying true to who you are without losing yourself in the SAT or AP scores, or any ideal mold of the “perfect” student. The essay is my favorite part of the admission process because your writing can reveal more about yourself than the other parts of your application combined.

Also, to be honest, the first college acceptance and the acceptance from your top choice college are the two most exciting acceptances and the only ones worthy of a Facebook status or tweet.

-Mary Melati, 12th grade

PHOTO BY YUEYANG YING

A sample of any of RM’s students reveals a breadth of cultural and racial diversity, as evidenced by members of RM’s drama club (above).

This diversity would be difficult to find in other schools in the county.

Poll of the month: Are you planning to travel during your spring break this year?

by Jennifer Zhang

March 2014

break plans of our students?

Spring break’s usual ten day length is the perfect opportunity for many to relax and experience new destinations.

The vacation plans may be hard to pass, but for many, the impending stream of tests lurking around the corner take precedent over the glorious weather.

“I don’t plan on traveling during spring break,” said junior Jack Qian. “I’ll probably be bogged down by all the tests

Yes 51%

No 49% A sample of 160 students was used to create these results. Data was collected from RMBC on March 18, 19, and 20, 2014.

I’ll need to prepare for,” Qian continued.

Sophomore Kevin Ying is in a similar situation. “I don’t really have any plans for the break,” said Ying. “There’s always something more to do, and there are always AP tests to study for,” Ying admitted.

Some students are planning to take this time to wind down.

“My family is planning a trip to New York during Spring break for vacation,” said senior Chris Zhang.

Others however, are choosing to use this time to plan for the future. “During spring break, I plan to go on college visits,” said junior Justin Pan, “usually I just don’t have enough time to go on visits. I hope through my visits, I can narrow down the colleges that I will apply to.”

Although the intent of spring break is for students to take off from their stressful school life, it appears that many are choosing to use this time productively.

Regardless of the workload and the abundance of tests, we should all remember to take a break once in a while and enjoy the awesome weather!

We encourage you to please send any comments Pleasetosend any comments as letters to as letters the editor to tide.opinions@gmail.com. the editormay to tide.opinions@gmail.com.

Submissions be edited for length and/or clarity.

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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7 The Tide

OPINIONS

March 2014

Black & Gold

Do single gender classrooms help create a better learning environment?

Coed rooms simulate the real world

B

Black

by Zack Khan

Last year, thousands of American teens from around the country participated in the International Student Assessment (PISA).

The results were quite shocking: American students’ performance was significantly lower than the global standards in math, science and reading.

Researchers have been studying why American students are failing to live up to their educational expectations. Although some studies focus on gender-based performance, the majority show America’s education problem is caused by poverty, and not by coed classrooms.

Studies conducted by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) show that stereotyping and sexism are extremely common in single sex schools. When you separate two different types of people, thoughts that one group is superior to the other begin to develop within people’s minds. The same happened with racial segregation during the Reconstruction Era. Gender segregation constantly emphasizes to students how they are different from those of the other gender. It should not come as any surprise that this leads to gender stereotypes in teaching.

When asked about her opinion on single gender schooling, senior Maryam Ghaderi stated, “Gender stereotyping is already a huge problem that is often overlooked. Even looking past the academic disadvantages, single gender schooling

Single sex schools also restrict the opportunities available to students. An American Psychological Association article stated that boys in male-only schools are 50% more likely to pursue more careers in male-dominated careers such as math and science, because their education is more directed toward these subjects.

The same can be said with girls in female-only schools: they tend to pursue more careers in female-dominated careers, such as humanities and education.

In addition, there are no studies that show a clear link between single-gender schools and better education. Although data exists to support the claim that single gender classrooms raise test scores, the studies that yielded that data did not control for other variables that could have caused the improved performance.

Most of these schools are private schools that usually have more funding cater to students of a higher socioeconomic status. Public schools with similar benefits and integrated classrooms show similar test scores, which reveals that the effect of gender separation is negligible.

School does not exist simply to force students to memorize historical dates and mathematical equations; it exists to prepare children to become healthy, productive adults capable of functioning in modern society. And in modern society, adults are not separated by gender.

Therefore, single gender schools cannot effectively prepare students for the real world. How can boys and girls learn how to interact as equals in the workplace if

PHOTO BY RACHIT AGARWAL

In a coed classroom, students are exposed to a variety of perspectives and are able to interact with both genders, an opportunity that simulates real world workplace conditions.

will only exacerbate gender stereotyping and is not what society needs.”

According to the ACLU investigation, experts found that in female-only classrooms, girls were told to sit quietly at their desks and punished if they speak out of turn, the teacher talked in soft, soothing tones, and no role models were brought in.

On the other hand, in male-only classrooms, boys are encouraged to raise their voices and behave more violently toward teachers. Gender segregation clearly reintroduces antiquated and offensive stereotypes.

they have no experience interacting as equals in school.

Ultimately, single gender schooling is detrimental to student learning because it reinforces gender stereotypes and sexism, restricts the opportunities of students, and does not prepare them for the real world.

As Abraham Lincoln famously stated, “A house divided amongst itself cannot stand.” Dividing students by gender creates the same kind of dysfunctional environment as it ignores larger problems such as the income gap, teacher quality and technology that truly affect our education.

Single gender rooms stop distraction

G

Gold

by Farah Kabir and Nathan Li

Recently, more and more schools have begun offering separate classes for boys and girls. At first glance, singlegender classrooms seem like a backward institution. Why, after years of promoting equality between genders, would we suddenly opt for segregated education?

The simple truth is that boys and girls learn differently. Brain scans show that areas of the brain develop at different rates, according to gender.

Areas associated with language and verbal memory, like the hippocampus and regions of the cerebral cortex, develop earlier for girls, giving them a distinct edge in subjects like writing or vocabulary.

Likewise, in boys more of the cerebral cortex is dedicated to spatial reasoning and mechanical functioning, meaning they benefit from more visual or physically active learning experiences.

While these influences are especially apparent in elementary school, they are subsequently less noticeable as the students grow up. The difference in how society treats the two sexes, on the other hand, has a constant influence: both conscious and unconscious stereotyping of boys and girls also hinder their educational development.

Areas like math and science have traditionally been seen more as men’s subjects, resulting in a cultural stigma against women in these subjects that has not yet been completely removed. Girls with a knack for numbers may not fully take advantage of their abilities simply because it's not considered "cool" for girls to be interested in math.

On the other hand, the stereotype that girls are more intelligent than boys can be just as harmful to the education of young boys. Many elementary school boys may not be achieving their full potential because they feel academically inferior to their female counterparts, resulting in a selffulfilling prophecy of sorts.

These problems can all be significantly improved through the implementation of single gender classrooms.

Private, single-gender schools often list “distraction-free school environment” as a perk of attending such a school, and for good reason. Such a setting eliminates scenarios of boys trying to impress girls and vice versa during class time.

Some students may argue that paying attention and not being distracted by the attractive guy (or girl) across the room is a matter of self-control. But, by removing that attractive guy (or girl) from the room altogether, single-gender classrooms eliminate one more potential distraction.

Single-gender classrooms also foster a

certain solidarity between students of the same gender. Especially for high school students, strong single gender friendships are instrumental in preventing abusive relationships and teenage pregnancies or battling insecurities and depression.

As our society sees more and more of these problems, we should look towards preventative measures that attack the problem at its core. By developing stronger social bonds at a younger age, singlegender classrooms can potentially help

“The simple truth is that boys and girls learn differently.” combat these issues.

Private schools, however, tend to be accessible only to the wealthy. For those unable to attend private schools, single gender classrooms should be available as an affordable alternative.

A student from Gholson Middle School in PG County, one of the 500 schools nationwide testing this program, said her single gender classes help her “concentrate and learn more.” Test scores from Gholson corroborate her opinion, with 30 percent more students earning “proficient” scores on the MSA math in the last five to seven years as a result of the programs implementation.

Some opponents claim that separating the sexes would impede students’ social developments, creating a generation of students unable to function in a coed environment. The goal of single gender classrooms is not turning our schools into virtual nunneries and monasteries.

Unlike private schools, single gender classrooms have an added benefit: they allow male-female interaction in other inschool and after-school clubs and activities, so girls and boys are not completely isolated from each other as they would be in a single-gender private school. Just because little Johnny and little Suzy are not in the same classes, does not mean they cannot socialize during lunch or recess.

With this system, students will get an education better tailored to fit their biological differences, but will still receive the social interactions they need to be prepared for college and the “real world.”

The boy fidgeting after an hour sitting down and the girl bored to tears in an onlevel reading class both deserve educations that take advantage of their biological differences. Education is not, and never will be, one size fits all.

8

The Tide

OPINIONS

March 2014

Students are unique, so schools must recognize them in unique ways

by Trinish Chatterjee and Dahlia Wilson As the fifth highest-ranked high school in the state of Maryland according to U.S. News, Richard Montgomery has no shortage of high-achieving students.

These students deserve respect and encouragement -- that much is certain. Less clear however, is the best way to recognize them. Recently, Montgomery County has been forced to confront this question in the wake of controversy at a county middle school.

Earlier this year, Eastern Middle School in Silver Spring held a party exclusively for students who earned straight As during the preceding academic quarter.

Students who had B or C averages were allowed into the party several hours later, and others were not let in at all.

In an interview with NBC News, parent Karen Hanlon said, “My concern is about how this could open up bullying situations for children who are competitive for grades.”

At RM, the administration does nothing quite as extreme to honor our students’ achievements, and rightly so. Principal Dr. Nelson McLeod releases a quarterly list of honor roll students, which is placed on Main Street and publicized through various local media outlets.

In addition, students can be nominated as Student of the Month. Every month, the various faculties in the school come together to select the students who they feel are most exemplary in their specific subject.

In choosing students of the month, teachers make subjective decisions, based not on grades but on participation,

understanding, and growth, among other variables.

Such characteristics are not always reflected in more objective measures like test scores, but they are certainly to be commended. Student of the Month awards enable teachers to draw positive attention to the efforts of their students.

Each student has a unique set of goals and a unique path towards reaching them.

progress. Therefore, awards like exclusive pizza parties, which expect all students to reach the same standards neither reflect nor encourage students’ singular achievements.

Current scientific thinking holds that such parties and awards may not help to encourage students at all.

Researchers refer to parties and awards as “extrinsic motivators,” for they

PHOTO BY JENNIFER ZHANG

Students should be recognized for their individual efforts and successes. Junior Yueyang Ying holds an award from a contest in mathematics, a subject that interests her.

While some aspire to achieve straightAs every marking period, this benchmark is surely not the only indicator of success.

Equally deserving of respect is the student who invests time in studying, engages in class, and makes steady

encourage students to work only for the sake of earning a reward.

According to the Center for Teaching at Vanderbilt University, extrinsic motivators distract students from learning the material and do not hold up in the long term.

Common sense indicates that a student’s motivation should come from his or her own personal goals and not from pressure or competition.

Eastern’s pizza parties are a prime example of extrinsic motivators, as they lead students to believe that good grades are for the sake of a tangible reward.

It can be argued that Student of the Month certificates are equally extrinsic, but these awards differ in that they reward the hard work, dedication, and personal growth that are necessary for intrinsic motivation.

Part of the debate over Eastern Middle School’s pizza parties was due to the fact that many students with learning disabilities were not included.

Although this exclusion was not deliberate, the straight-A benchmark simply did not reflect the goals of much of the student population.

On the other hand, personalized recognition from teachers rewards students of all abilities and lets them know that their efforts are noticed.

Junior Logan Neufeld agrees that inschool awards should recognize individual achievement and progress. “Rather than being a part of a large group of people who all excel, a student should be recognized as one person who accomplished something in particular,” he said.

In all schools, the effects rewards have upon students should be kept in mind.

The school system should focus on fostering healthy internal ambition and drive in order to develop students who are engaged in and committed to the work they do during the school day.

Each and every student has reason to feel proud of themselves, and schools should strive to foster this pride.

Does hockey belong on the county vars ity l ineup?

The arguments countering hockey’s place on the varsity lineup are weak at best. Some argue there are no ice hockey facilities at schools. However, high school swimmers and golfers -- who are recognized as official varsity athletes -practice and compete off-campus, and hockey players would do the same.

Today, ice hockey clubs in the Montgomery Conference are open to both boys and girls. The same is true for sports like wrestling, which are open to any girl who wants to don a uniform. There would be no need to field separate varsity girls and boys teams.

Plus, while male players currently outnumber females on today’s hockey clubs, the number of female athletes could increase if hockey is officially sanctioned,

expanding the opportunity to play.

Another argument against recognizing hockey is that coaches are not under supervision of the county. Yet all coaches receive specialized training from USA Hockey before stepping foot on the bench.

These coaches are more than qualified to run a team.

Furthermore, students love hockey games. The large ice arena in which we play was throbbing with fans for many games this season. Despite the fact that ice rinks are off-campus and that games take place in the evening, crowds at our games often rival those at football games.

Yet since we are a club, the school does not sponsor spirit buses to our games and these games are not advertised on the school website.

Making ice hockey a varsity sport would raise our public profile, giving more students the chance to watch their classmates play the exciting sport of hockey during the winter months with their friends.

William Beattie, the school system’s director of athletics, said “A sport is either a sport that is under the auspices of the school system or is totally not under the auspices of the school system.”

The idea that MCPS cannot encourage or support ice hockey at all unless it is

completely funded and organized by the county is absurd. Hockey players are not demanding full funding. Athletes would still provide equipment and hockey would still need to be funded primarily by the athletes and their families.

This is not about the money. This is about fairly recognizing students on a high school team.

High school ice hockey players deserve to be treated like the student athletes they are. Every Friday in the winter months, I proudly put on my Richard Montgomery ice hockey jersey.

Three thousand dollars. That is how much it can cost for one player to be on a club ice hockey team, according to California Heat Hockey. It is indisputable that hockey is an expensive sport.

In a perfect world, I would love to see hockey included as a varsity sport in Maryland. But these high prices make school sponsored ice hockey better suited as a club than a varsity sport.

Another challenge presented by ice hockey is the lack of ice in this area. There simply are not enough ice rinks to host GRAPHIC BY KATIE ZENG

I am representing my school when I step out on the ice, and I work just as hard as athletes playing other sports.

I believe hockey will become a varsity sport. Maybe not today, tomorrow, or even in my high school career. One day, though, Montgomery County high school hockey players must play on an official varsity team.

-Jeremy Skaife

Varsity sports are important at any school, which is why RM’s very own Jeremy Skaife petitioned to have the ice hockey team added to the list of over thirty varsity sports in MCPS. The petition, which speaks directly to Superintendent Starr and other officials, asked the school system to provide support through announcements about upcoming games, varsity letters, and a “spirit bus” for the first game.

Montgomery County’s 25 high schools.

The county’s director of systemwide athletics, William Beattie, explained this limitation in an interview with The Gazette .

Paul Lofgren, longtime Richard Montgomery Club Ice Hockey coach, also agrees that ice hockey is destined to remain a club sport, at least for now.

In his interview with The Gazette, he notes that the state’s hands are “tied financially” and unable to devote resources to implementing a hockey program.

The exceedingly large amount of money already devoted to sports in Montgomery County takes away from funding for other extracurricular activities involving the many types of music, art, community service and STEM programs These opportunities engage students and add to the Rocket community.

We have a great drama program and a wide array of other clubs here at RM, all of which are equally deserving of funding.

In this era of tight budgets, there is simply no money to spare for a sport as expensive as hockey.

- Darian Garcia Asking MCPS to underwrite any hockey costs, let alone pay that for the twelve Montgomery County high school teams, would be unfair to the district. Any spare funds in the budget could go to uses that would help more people for longer periods of time, such as school resources and teacher pay.

Earlier this month, students, parents, teachers, and leaders from Montgomery County gathered in Annapolis to rally for more funds for our school buildings.

Old schools are only getting older, and overcrowding is becoming a major concern. With such pressing needs, allocating additional funds to sports is an excess we cannot afford.

In conclusion, while the dedication hockey athletes have demonstrated to their sport is admirable, there is no money or space to provide the players with the support they seek.

- Sedef Berk

The Tide

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March 2014 9

10 The Tide

March 2014

RM Model UN’s international spirit

by Akanksha Girish

PHOTO BY JESSICA KANG

A view out onto downtown Philadelphia.

Richard Montgomery is home to an extremely successful chapter of the Model United Nations (MUN) as a part of its extensive club portfolio.

Open to all students with a passion for global politics, public speaking, international relations, and resolution writing, MUN is a great opportunity to exercise students’ professional interactions with other schools in a business-like atmosphere.

The club’s main goal, as identified in its mission statement, is to rigorously prepare for annual conferences at esteemed universities. At the conferences, each student is assigned a country in a committee.

For example, a student may be assigned to represent Guatemala in the UN Development Programme. In committee sessions, delegates will face controversial issues that stimulate aggressive debate, requiring strong arguments from all sides.

The club’s sponsor, English teacher Allison Pinto, said the club “helps students

with public speaking, organization, and inter-personal relationships. The club is geared towards getting things done within a structure and teaches leadership skills.”

This past year, RM’s Model United Nations club attended the 33rd Virginia Model United Nations Conference (VAMUN).

The conference was held at the University of Virginia from November 8 to 10, 2013.

The most recent conference, The 30th Ivy League Model United Nations Conference (ILMUNC) was held at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia from January 30 to February 2, 2014.

There are three main committee categories; the General Assembly, Crisis Committees, and the Historical Committees. The General Assembly serves as the main representative body composed of large councils that address global issues in decisionmaking processes.

The committees in the Assembly debate and vote on various courses of action in remedying international issues. The Crisis Committees, which are far more dynamic, include historical committees that place delegates in the past as different diplomatic personas to address an issue from their character’s perspective.

The committee topics span a wide range of issues, so the club must assiduously prepare for all possible scenarios.

At the meetings in preparation for ILMUNC, “Training officers hold training sessions so people know what to expect and how to say their speech so people will listen.

There are many practice sessions to be in a committee so students can assert themselves and Notes from ILMUNC. learn how to respond to their peers,” said Mrs. Pinto.

However, all of the hard-work pays off at the conferences when Richard Montgom-

ery students receive the opportunity to participate with fellow delegates in fierce committee sessions. Sophomore Emily Zhang said, “The experience is anything you make of it. The atmosphere can be intensely cutthroat, but it can also be laid-back.” In light of students’ efforts, the results at the recent ILMUNC trip were phenomenal, including several awards that recognized certain delegates for their high-level of debate.

The conference schedule at ILMUNC was filled with activities and committee sessions. Besides the demanding committee sessions, the conference also hosted an opening ceremony, fairs, a delegate fest and dance, an exploration of the surrounding city of Philadelphia, and a tour of the University of Pennsylvania.

Kipnis said of his favorite memory, “For delegates in crisis committees, a fan favorite is always the midnight crisis—delegates are woken up late in the night, taken to committee, and forced to write directives dealing with high-pressure crises in the very early hours of the morning. This really highlights a delegate that can operate under pressure!”

The high-pressure spontaneous work definitely adequately prepares students for a future in law, politics, or debate.

For a chance to be a part of RMMUN and participate in the exciting conferences, stay tuned to RMBC for information on joining the next PHOTO BY JESSICA KANG club year.

Attend the meetings and practices for an opportunity to engage with other students at the eventful committee sessions.

Students interested in developing oratory, political, debate, logical, and/or writing skills are encouraged to join Model United Nations for a wonderful opportunity to interact with fellow peers around the world and participate in eye-opening conferences.

A look back at Sochi Winter Olympics venues and is already in the process of building the other eight. While South Koreans are excited for the upcoming Olympics, they are still deeply disappointed by the loss of the nation’s sweetheart Yuna Kim to Russia’s Adelina Sotnikova in the individual women’s figure skating event “As a South Korean, I was incredibly disappointed with the judging of Kim Yuna at the women’s figure skating event,” said junior Charlie Kang. “More stringent pre-

New York Times, Ahn decided to switch after the Korean Skating Union (KSU)

by Claire Luo blocked him from joining the national team while he was injured. He and his father The Sochi Games have been regarded Ahn Ki-won also blame the KSU for beas successful not only for the sentiment of ing riddled with factions and mistreating sportsmanship associated with the Olymathletes. Though Ahn faced sharp criticism pics, but also for the United States as a nafor leaving South Korea, he still triumphed tion. The country placed second in total and won three gold medals at Sochi. medal count with 28 medals, behind only Other South Korean athletes see Ahn’s the host country, Russia, with 33 medals. success and are following his footsteps.

Ahn’s younger brother Ahn HyunMost students were receptive to jin, a fellow speed skater, is also the event, even enjoying the events considering changing nationalities. during lunch periods on a projector However, despite the better treatin the library. “The pure athleticism ment that Viktor Kim has received, that all the athletes possess is so imAhn Ki-won still feels regret that pressive, and watching the best of his son is not competing for his the best compete at these games in home country. “It is South Korea so many sports was so much fun,” where he was born and raised and said sophomore Natalie Zhang, a skated,” said Ki-won, according to figure skater and student athlete.

Reuters.

However, the Games was not Still, excitement is already without its faults. The men’s ice building for the 2018 Winter Olymhockey event, where the US failed to medal, was unsatisfactory for pics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. many students. “It was gold or bust “I am very pleased that the Olymfor the US men’s team and it really pics will be in Pyeongchang,” said showed in the bronze medal game GRAPHIC BY AMY XIAO sophomore Elizabeth Choi. “South against Finland,” said senior Joe Russia emerged with a substantial lead at Sochi Olympics. Korea is my home country, so I will Bozzonetti, a member of the RM ice definitely be going.” cautions should have been taken in order hockey team.

Others, like Zhang, are interested in the The road leading up to the prestigious for all judges to restrict nationalistic bias.” sports themselves. “I am so excited to see Junior Yueyang Ying, a competitive ice what new sports will be added and how events had been tumultuous. Many had questioned Russia’s ability to host such a skater herself, agreed. “I felt that the Rus- sports will change in the next four years,” high profile event in the face of its geopolit- sians were majorly over scored and that she said. ical instability. The area around the hotels Yuna Kim, not Adelina, should have won,” Though Ying added that she thought was woefully unprepared for the flood of she said. Ying questioned the anonymous that the addition of a new team figure skatincoming tourists. According to the New judging system employed, where judges ing event was unnecessary, she agreed that, York Times, the Olympic Village was beset could exercise partiality covertly. regardless, the Olympics would be sucIn contrast to Kim, other South Korean cessful. “The Olympics are the Olympics,” with half-finished hotel rooms missing key necessities like lightbulbs, chairs, and even athletes are defecting to other countries. she said, explaining that “it doesn’t matSpeed skater Ahn Hyun-soo changed his ter where they’re held, as long as the basic doorknobs.

In contrast to Sochi, Pyeongchang al- name to Viktor Ahn and defected to com- sentiment of camaraderie is felt throughout ready has five out of 13 of its necessary pete as a Russian athlete. According to the the world.”

The Tide

March 2014

11

A global perspective on standardized testing

by Alexander Yu and Kevin Liu As standardized testing season comes upon RM students once again, we can perhaps take solace in the fact that students all over the world are also preparing for their own exams.

Here in the United States, standardized tests have been an important part of the school system, due to their consistency and the need to make fair comparisons between students or schools across the country.

Starting as early as elementary school, many states utilize standardized achievement tests to assess students’ proficiency at basic skills such as reading, writing, and mathematics.

The purpose of these state tests is not to measure the academic aptitude of specific individuals, but to gauge the performance of the school system as a whole.

However, as students move on to middle and high school, standardized testing takes on a more individual focus; students are competitively compared against each other to determine college readiness and academic merit.

Utilizing both multiple choice and free response formats, the SAT currently scores proficiency in reading, writing, and mathematics on a 2400 point scale. College Board, the organization administering the test, has recently announced a set of revisions slated to be put into effect in spring 2016.

Changes include making the writing section optional, simplification of vocabulary to more commonly used words, and elimination of the guessing penalty. This is intended to make the SAT more practical, as the current SAT places emphasis on memorizing obscure words and learning esoteric concepts which have little merit in the real world.

The newer ACT contains four multiplechoice sections on English, mathematics, reading, and science reasoning, plus an optional writing section. All four-year col-

leges and universities accept ACT results.

As a result, students are able to choose between either the SAT or ACT. Oftentimes, students take both exams and only send their higher scoring exam to colleges.

Another form of standardized testing is the Advanced Placement program, offering exams every May that score on a five point scale. These exams are different from the SAT and ACT in that they assess knowledge of specific subjects, such as physics rather than logic

Also unlike the SAT and ACT, AP exams are often tied to an equivalent AP class. However, because it is not necessary to take the class, many students choose to self-study on their own. Some colleges accept good AP scores for class credit, but many of the more prestigious universities do not accept them.

Standardized testing varies around the world. In Finland, students take very few standardized tests (unlike the US, where students are constantly bombarded with standardized tests).

Furthermore, those tests are low-stake, meaning that they are used as an indicator of student growth, never accountability.

Surprisingly, when the Finnish students took the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), they consistently

ranked near the top in mathematics, science and reading.

The French have in place standardized testing called the baccalauréat, or bac for short. The bac is a series of tests in various subjects at the end of students’ senior year, which are crucial to those who wish to be accepted into a top college. Simply getting a passing grade is not enough. Contrary to British A-level and AP tests, the bac cannot be obtained in sin-

gle subjects. Instead, it covers a wide range of subjects to show a well-rounded education.

IB programs exist all around the world, and are “standardized” programs where students learn the relevant knowledge they need to succeed in college, whether in their own country or abroad.

The many differing opinions of Richard Montgomery students on the merits of standardized testing reveal its controversial status. Criticism toward standardized testing often targets the College Board, due to the popularity of its AP and SAT tests.

Referring to AP exams, Junior Madhav Mathur said, “[they] seem like a bit of a racket for College Board…they’re worth the money because you have little other

choice.”

What started as an organization to help bring college education to more people has become a nearly $700 million a year privatized corporation, according to the Huffington Post. As a result, Mathur also noted that “although you may be book-smart, it doesn’t mean you are any more prepared to do your taxes or provide for yourself.”

According to the Washington Post, standardized tests have been criticized for promoting content memorization instead of the critical thinking and hands-on work increasingly encouraged by college professors.

Despite their flaws, standardized tests also have their benefits, chiefly ease of scoring and comparison.

Senior Jon Xia stated that they “are needed because colleges should have an objective, equal way of comparing students from different states, countries, backgrounds.” This idea aligns with the rationale for the creation of the original College Board and its SAT, where the creators sought to eliminate bias from students’ diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.

A further benefit of standardization is the minimization of grading bias (especially prevalent in free response type questions), allowing a test to be administered to a larger group of students while retaining a certain degree of fairness.

Since nonstandard testing often places emphasis on each grader’s judgement, bias can occur from simply having more than one grader.

On the other hand, standardized exams dictate a certain set of criteria that a testtaker’s answer must meet, providing for an easily repeatable method of grading.

While standardized tests have many controversies surrounding them, the fact remains that they continue to serve as an important way of measuring academic performance around the world.

North Korea to be tried before the United Nations

by Dahlia Wilson Tensions in North Korea have further escalated since the nuclear crisis of 2013.

The country’s dictator Kim Jong Un could be tried in front of the International Criminal Court (ICC) of the United Nations (UN) at a designated point in the upcoming year.

Kim Jong Un will be charged with systematic execution, torture, rape, and mass starvation. These allegations arose from reports of widespread human rights violations originating from within the country.

According to a UN commission recently published in Geneva after an inquisition into the country, “Kim Jong Un has committed the worst crimes against humanity.”

GRAPHIC BY JIM QIN

UN to try Kim Jong Un in front of ICC. The inquiry found evidence of between 80,000 and 120,000 political prisoners who remain in internment camps, in addition to the hosts of other victims of crimes that include rape, forced abortions, and enslavement.

In 2012, the strain between North Korea and the United States escalated after

the Asiatic country declared a United Nations armistice to be invalid and conducted three nuclear tests within its geographic area. After February 12 of that year, the UN was forced to increase its sanctions against North Korea in order to eliminate funding for the country’s nuclear arms program.

Though many agree that world powers should correct the humanitarian injustices in North Korea, some are skeptical that the US should become involved. “The US should not become the world’s police and it shouldn’t take matters into its own hands,” said junior Shubhankar Viragi.

“That power lies in the UN with the US following the UN’s orders.”

While Kim Jong Un’s administration has released consistently optimistic propaganda, North Korea is not actually undergoing a period of socialist prosperity, and much of the population is suffering, contrary to what his government issued statements suggest. The UN’s report, as researched by 12 different investigators, reveals atrocities that are on par with those the Nazi regime during World War II. Now that these crimes have come to light, many believe that international response is justified. “North Korea’s belligerent actions and its inhumane treatment of its citizens definitely call for the international community to respond,” said junior Charlie Kang.

“The UN is indeed justified in trying Kim Jong Un at the ICC, and unless North Korea tones down its aggressive and bellicose rhetoric, they will continue to further isolate themselves from the world.”

One blow against the investigation, however, occurred when Un barred UN’s investigators from entering his country.

Their testimony and evidence is derived from defectors who escaped to such varied cities as Seoul, London, and even D.C.

According to the report, one young witness, Jo Jin Hye, cried while speaking of the horrific scenes of her life in North Korea.

She described her family and their individual horrors - her father who had to march to a death camp, a sister who was forced into sex slavery in China, and her newborn brother who died due to a lack of milk.

After hearing of these witness’ testimonies, North Korea has publicly called all defectors and those who defame the country as “human scum,” according to the report.

The UN’s inquiry also found evidence of unfortunate tactics and treatment in China of those North Koreans who had managed to escape. The investigators found that the Chinese frequently traffic North Korean women into sex slavery or into arranged marriages. When Chinese authorities discover the North Korean women living in their country, they often forcibly repatriate them and kill their children to avoid the presence of mixed-race children in the country.

The international organization Human Rights Watch openly spoke out in favor of the UN’s human rights report, claiming that the international community, and even the UN, pays too much attention to the troubling North Korean nuclear armaments program and not enough on North Korea’s rampant human rights violations.

In order to avoid a reoccurrence of the torture seen at the hands of the Nazis, the UN commission is pushing forward to bring charges against Kim Jong Un and cease the inhumane treatment of his citizens.

But bringing a country to court which refuses to open its borders to any foreign citizens will prove to be a challenge for the UN, though hopefully this challenge can be surmounted before more lives are taken or destroyed.

NORTH KOREA STATISTICS Capital: Pyongyang Official Languages: Korean Government: Single-Party Hereditary Dictatorship Supreme Leader: Kim Jong-Un Borders: South Korea, China Population: 24.5 million GDP: $12.4 billion Literacy Rate: 99% Currency: North Korean “won” Military: 9 million active personnel Tourism and Trade: Highly restricted

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by The Centerspread Editors This spring break, back up from the Facebook, get up, and...go watch a movie. Here are some must-see flicks that you should watch this spring break!

“The Grand Budapest Hotel” A comedy-drama film directed by Wes Anderson that follows Gustav, a concierge at a legendary European hotel, who teams up with one of his employees to prove his innocence after he is framed for a murder.

This story involves the theft and recovery of a priceless Renaissance painting, the battle for an enormous family fortune, and the sudden upheavals that transformed Europe in the early 20th century.

Release Date: March 7 Currently, The Grand Budapest Hotel is only playing at the Bethesda Row Cinema and the Landmark’s E-Street Cinema in Washington D.C. “Divergent” This exciting dystopian film, based on the acclaimed novel by Veronica Moth, depicts a future Chicago divided into five factions based on character values. Amidst her decision to leave her family for the daring Dauntless faction and begin the grueling training, teenage heroine Tris Prior (Shailene Woodley) discovers a great secret about herself…a secret that could destroy her and the society around her.

Release Date: March 21 Find out what the craze is about as you catch up at any local movie theater!

“Captain America: The Winter Soldier” Captain America is back again! Two years after the events of The Avengers, Steve Rogers aka Captain America is living peacefully in Washington D.C., struggling to adapt to modern life. However, after a fellow S.H.I.E.L.D. member is attacked, Rogers becomes entangled in a web of mystery that may endanger the globe.

Together, he and the Black Widow must recruit the Falcon to uncover the whole scheme but find themselves up against an unexpected and powerful enemy – the Winter Soldier.

Release Date: April 4 This new blockbuster is available at any local movie theater.

March 2014

“Noah” Starring Emma Watson, Logan Lerman, and Russell Crowe, this movie takes inspiration from the Biblical story of Noah ‘s Ark by bringing it to life in epic proportions. With an A-list cast and heavy sound and visual effects, this movie promises to be something interesting.

Release date: March 28 This sci-fi/fantasy thriller is available at any local theater.

neighbor, Marcus, as they develop a sweet, wry, and utterly ridiculous friendship.

If you can’t drag yourself out of your house to the movie theater, worry not! Check out these films just released on Netflix.

“Modern Family” This hilarious sitcom following an extended group of three families on their smartly-written, crazy fun, and heartwarming adventures is wrapping up its fifth season.

“12 Years a Slave” In case you missed it the first time, here’s your chance to catch the blockbuster that won home Best Picture at the Oscars.

Featuring Brad Pitt, Michael Fassbender, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Paul Giametti, and Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o, this movie will bring some gravitas to your day.

“American Hustle” Another Oscar nominee, American Hustle tells the story of of con man Irving Rosenfeld (Christian Bale) and his cunning partner Sydney Prosser (Amy Adams) who are forced to work for FBI agent Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper) to avoid their prison sentences. In the operation to target prominent political figures, they are caught in the middle of Jersey powerbrokers and the mafia and must learn to survive while remaining undercover.

Spring break is the perfect time to catch up on all those TV shows you never had time to watch while you were busy trying to manage piles of homework. Check these out!

“Resurrection” Don’t miss this brand-new fantasy drama, which follows residents of Arcadia, Missouri as their deceased loved ones return from the dead and their lives are turned upside down. Catch this new series on ABC on Sundays!

“About A Boy” This new NBC sitcom follows two neighbors, successful songwriter Will Freeman and his goofy 11-year-old

“How I Met Your Mother” This hysterical and endearing CBS sitcom is finally coming to an end on March 31! For the past nine years, this lovable series has followed Ted Mosby and his friends in Manhattan as they experience the troubles and joys of everyday life. Be sure to watch the last few episodes.

“Once Upon A Time” This fairy-tale themed drama series, set in the fictional town of Storybrooke, Maine, follows characters from various fairy tales such as Snow White and Sleeping Beauty as they battle a curse that robbed them of their original memories.

The show just returned from its hiatus on March 9th.

“House of Cards” This hugely popular miniseries follows the story of Frank Arrwood, a democrat appointed to the position of secretary of state, who uses his power to exact revenge on those who have betrayed him. Season 3

began in early March; take time to catch up!

“Sherlock” The new modern version, which premiered earlier this year, is set in the 21st century and follows the adventures of the famous sleuth Sherlock Holmes and his partner Doctor Watson as they solve crimes around the city of London. The first two seasons are already out on Netflix.

“Game of Thrones” After the traumatic Red Wedding of the 3rd season, Game of Thrones is back with more drama with the season 4 premiere on April 6. The War of Five Kings is drawing to a close, but new intrigues and plots are in motion. The Lannisters’ hold on the Iron Throne remains intact, but can they survive the ongoing threats from the south, north and east?

The Tide

by Michael Khizgilov

Spring break is often viewed as a time to relax and rejuvenate with friends and family: a break from the daily hustle and bustle of school and other activities.

Many choose to travel over spring break, using the time off from school to catch with up with family.

Florida appears to be a popular destination; sophomores Sami Elmaani and Jack Blitz are both visiting the sunshine state. Blitz stated that he will, “visit Disney World and other theme parks,”

March 2014

while Elmaani will “visit the sunny beaches of South Florida,” and “use the time to spend time with family fishing.”

Senior Nashra Zaman will be visiting Miami because “[she has] extended family that lives right next to DisneyWorld,” but will also be visiting Philadelphia to “spend a weekend visiting an RM alumna at Drexel,” who said that she would help her “get a taste of that college life.”

Florida is not the only spring break escape: sophomore Nicole McNarama will “visit Arizona to preview her mom’s new job.” Sophomore Maddie Schuck will be ”visiting New York City.”

Senior Sophia Dellafiora will be visiting Charleston and Kiawah Island for the “best” Southern food, and to “swim, build sandcastles, bike, see the dolphins, and eat ice cream.”

Freshman Daisy Grant will be visiting Pennsylvania with her parents to “visit famous architecht Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater House. I’m excited because I’ve been interested in architecture for a while and it’s a unique location, and I don’t like to travel, so it’s good that it’s not far away.”

Many students, juniors in particular, will be spending spring break visiting colleges. Junior Katie Derkics explained, “My mom and I are going...to hit cities that have the highest concentrations of colleges. We’re going to Philly, Boston, and

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maybe a few other cities.” Some students opt to venture outside of the States. Junior Michelle Wang is going to Peru with her parents for a week. Commented Wang, “We’re going to climb Machu Picchu... hopefully I don’t faint from altitude sickness.” Senior Roy Liu intends to “[go] back to the People’s Republic of China on a spirirtual journey to find [his] roots.”

Senior Geena Lingberg is visiting Italy with her family to “see Italian stuff, drink coffee, and eat gelato.”

Senior Stephanie Moore will also be going to Italy for spring break “with [English teacher] Mrs. Smith and her husband Jack, planned through EF tours.”

Senior Davey Segal will also be going to Italy with EF Tours. Segal elaborated taht they would be “going to Sicily, Venice, Pompeii, and everywhere in between...I absolutely cannot wait!”

Moore, an EF Tours veteran who has traveled to London and Paris with the group, “[loves] taking trips with those two because of how many things they encourage us to take advantage of and sample.” Though she has never been to Italy, “I am beyond excited for Spring Break.”

While some will expand their horizons, others will use the time to relax and prepare for the tough last stretch of school between spring break and summer, or just to catch up on obligations the busier pace of the school year does not allow

for. Senior Matthew Daniels, for example, stated that he “[plans] on finally going to Driver’s Ed.” Sophomore Akanksha Girish commented, “I’ll be rigorously preparing for the upcoming AP season.”

In addition to preparation for standardized testing, spring break is a time to pursue hobbies. Junior Paul Moudoki stated that he would use the free time to “prepare for the SAT’s” and ”learn guitar and practice singing.” He mentioned that the time will allow him to, “pursue activities he normally doesn’t have time for.”

Similarly, Sophomore Andy Kostka will use the time to, “catch up on some lost sleep” and, “continue practicing for the RM baseball team.” He also expressed the possibility of ”visiting [his] grandmother’s beach house in Ocean City for a weekend,” though he noted that he might be “too busy,” for that to happen.

Busy spring break schedules are one of the key reasons why many students choose to stay at home. Another reason is that students often desire to use time to relax instead of hitting the road on a fun yet tiring vacation. Sophomore Aram Sahakyan exclaimed that he would rather use the time to simply, “hang out with friends,” and, “play soccer.”

No matter where in the world RM students are this spring break, the promise of free time and relaxation ensures fun for all.

by Cindy Zeufack

award, this production is a steal at only $15 per student ticket.

Don’t have the time or funds to travel far this spring? That’s okay! See the sights, taste the food, and experience the excitement at both quirky and traditional spring events happening not too far from Rockville.

March 20-April 13: National Cherry Blossom Festival Get an early start on the cherry blossom festivities with Fido at the Pups n’ Petals Dog Walk from March 30-April 13, or take a guided tour with a ranger from March 29-April 13 (tours begin at Lincoln Memorial).

April 5: Southwest Waterfront Fireworks Festival Missing the boom-crackle-pop of Independence Day? Take an early spring break with your friends and visit the Southwest Waterfront for a daylong festival of music, nautical adventures, and food!

Adnission is free.

April 9-May 4: “Sleeping Beauty: A Puppet Ballet” Come witness Pointless Theater’s whimsical interpretation of this classic love story. Awarded with the Capital Fringe Festival’s “Pick of the Fringe: Best Experimental S h o w ”

April 12: 10-12 p.m. - National Cherry Blossom Parade Enjoy the marching bands, floats, and live music performances from artists including Aaron Carter, Regina Belle, and Brandon James from America’s Got Talent.

10:30-6 p.m. - Sakura Matsuri Witness the largest Japanese Street Festival that includes food, art and culture, martial arts demonstrations, and J-Pop performances.

April 13: Walk for Wishes Do good this spring break and participate in this Make A Wish Foundation fundraiser between the U.S. Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial.

April 11-May 9: Truckeroo Fill your stomach at this food truck festival that showcases over 20 food trucks around the DC area and includes, live music all day, picnic tables, and games such as Cornhole.

April 17-April 21: Filmfest D.C. Appreciate art and film at this showcase of new films from over 30 different countries, ranging from documentaries and shorts to comedies and thrillers April 21: 136th White House Easter Egg Roll: “Hop into Healthy, Swing into Shape” Come out to the South Lawn of the White House to enjoy live music, sports courts, cooking stations, storytelling, and Easter egg rolling.

GRAPHICS BY SAVANNAH DU

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LA MAREA

Marzo del 2014

El Carnaval de México: el gran espectáculo que atrae a millones de turistas a México cada año por Cecilia Velarde De acuerdo con la definición de la Real Academia Española, el carnaval es una: “Fiesta popular que se celebra con derecho de mucha alegría y consiste en mascaradas, comparsas, bailes y otros regocijos bulliciosos.”

En México, como en otros países, el carnaval se celebra en los meses de febrero y marzo, antes de la cuaresma. Es una celebración llena de alegría y también es un gran motivo para salir a celebrar al ritmo de la música.

El carnaval también es una representación de la mezcla de culturas indígenas y europeas; su origen data desde el tiempo de las colonias, cuando los indígenas realizaban fiestas que satirizaban las tradiciones de sus patrones españoles como sus vestimentas y su forma de hablar.

Los carnavales que llaman más la atención en México son: el carnaval de Veracruz, el carnaval de Tlaxcala, el carnaval de Mazatlán, el carnaval de Campeche, el carnaval de Morelos, el carnaval de Mérida y el carnaval de Cuernavaca.

Cada uno de ellos tiene características distintas que los hacen especiales y muy

divertidos para el público.

Empezando por el carnaval de Veracruz, aquí la festividad comienza con la “quema del mal humor,” que es una ceremonia simbólica en la cual se viste a un muñeco como una figura política o cualquier figura pública que haya causado escándalos y luego se le prende fuego hasta que queda completamente incinerado.

Después de la “quema del mal humor,” se coronan a las reinas infantiles y así da el comienzo el desfile de los carros alegóricos del carnaval.

El carnaval de Veracruz es el que más atrae al público extranjero por su variedad de bailes, por sus trajes coloridos y por su ambiente musical y festivo.

Otro carnaval es el de Campeche, que es muy importante porque es el más antiguo de México. Al igual que el carnaval de Veracruz, incluye la “quema del mal humor.” Sin embargo, este comienza con el festival de las flores, un desfile de carros alegóricos especialmente decorados con flores de papel y otras decoraciones (Carnavales en México).

El estudiante Max Dominguez, nos dio su opinión acerca del carnaval y como lo celebran: “Hay distintas formas de celebrar el carnaval en México pero la más sobresaliente es de la Ciudad de México,

donde los hombres utilizan disfraces alusivos a personajes conocidos de la historia, algunos otros visten de mujeres utilizando ropa de sus hermanas, tías, amigas. El carnaval lleva un recorrido, por las calles estos personajes bailan al ritmo de la música de una banda que entona la música regional mexicana y la gente acompaña a esta banda y danzantes con sus aplausos y así festejan el carnaval.

GrÁfico por Katherine Zeng

El carnaval de Mexico es conocido por todo el mundo y atrae a muchos turistas con sus festividades extravagantes!

Al igual que México, otros países en Latinoamérica celebran carnavales como por ejemplo Argentina, Bolivia, Brasil, Colombia, Chile, Cuba, Uruguay,

Ecuador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Perú, República Dominicana, Venezuela, y El Salvador.

A pesar de que todos tienen algunas semejanzas, cada uno de ellos tiene su manera distinta de celebrarlo y todos lo celebran como una representación de su cultura.

El carnaval es una fiesta muy divertida para los mexicanos, y ellos la gozan mucho. Si entonces quieres ir a divertirte y disfrutar junto a las comparsas, te recomiendo que visites México durante la temporada de carnaval y te aseguro que la pasarás de lo máximo.

Otro país que celebra el carnaval de una forma interesante es el carnaval de Brasil. Allí ellos disfrutan de música buena y comida sabrosa. Siempre hay muchos bailando y cantando por los calles.

Es interesante de ver las diferencias de los carnavales en cada país.

Esto es seguro: el carnaval es un parte esencial de la cultura Latinoamericana. Su hermosura, riquezas, y espectáculos, son las cosas que atraen a muchísima gente cada ano. Espero que algún día, usted pueda ir a un carnaval. ¡Es una fiesta fenomenal para que lo disfrute cualquier persona!

Lechecilla: el delicioso Los Venezolanos postre Mexicano que te protestan la injusticia dejara queriendo mas por Max Berry

por Melissa Lipnick ¿Estás buscando un postre nuevo que preparar? Pues La lechecilla, un postre Mexicano es el postre ¡perfecto si buscas una receta fácil y deliciosa para hacer!

La lechecilla es un postre que se come mucho en México. Este poste se disfruta especialmente en Oaxaca, un estado en el sur de México.

La lechecilla es muy parecida a la crema catalana, y es un postre dulce y cremoso.

A pesar de que la Lechecilla se come mucho durante la semana santa, se puede comer durante todo el año, ya que es muy fácil y rápido de preparar.

Algo parecido, las empanadas de lechecilla, son también muy famosas por su dulce sabor.

La lechecilla es una crema de vainilla que se puede comer sola o se puede usar para rellenar un pan dulce. Sin embargo, la preparación es la misma.

Hasta si no tienes mucha experiencia cocinando podrás prepara este postre delicioso para comerlo con tu familia o amigos cercanos. Así se prepara este postre: Ingredientes y Materiales: - 1 cucharada pequeña de extracto de vainilla - Medio litro de leche - 1/3 de taza de azúcar - 1 raja de canela - 3 cucharadas de fécula de maíz - 1/2 taza de agua fría - 1 batidora - 8 yemas de huevo - 1 recipiente de vidrio - Varios recipientes pequeños para las mezclas de los ingredientes Instrucciones: 1. En una olla a fuego muy bajo, eche el litro y medio de leche, el tercio de taza de azúcar y la raja de canela

GrÁfico por Savannah Du

Este postre ha sido cocinado en México por muchos siglos. Se come principalmente durante la semana santa, pero se puede disfrutar durante todo el año también ya que es fácil y rápido de hacer!

2. Mezcle bien las 3 cucharadas de fécula de maíz con una media taza de agua fría y ponga la mezcla a un lado mientras que se prepara el resto del postre.

3. Lo siguiente es separar las yemas del huevo. Para hacer esto uno debe partir el huevo y usando las dos partes de la cascara, mover el contenido entre las dos partes hasta que solo quede la yema.

4. Una vez que la yema este separada, agregue las yemas a un recipiente con la cucharada pequeña de extracto de vainilla 5. Ahora debe batir la mezcla, e incorpore las yemas a la fécula de maíz 6. Poco a poco agregue la mezcla de yemas a la leche, con una pala de Madera.

No se puede dejar de revolver la mezcla hasta que espese y las yemas estén cocidas.

7. Al terminar de hacer esto, quite la raja de canela 8. El último paso es apagar el fuego y dejar que todo se enfríe 9. ¡Lo único que queda es disfrutar el postre!

Si siguen estos instrucciones, terminaran con una lechecilla perfecto; ¡tan rico como lo haría un Mexicano!

Todos, en México y también aquí, disfrutan de este postre. ¡Ahora usted puede disfrutar también!

A pesar de los intentos del gobierno Venezolano para ocultar lo que está pasando en Venezuela, la situación ha sido expuesta al mundo, y está causando mucha preocupación.

La población de ese país se encuentre desesperada por conseguir comida y productos de primera necesidad. Se encuentran esperando en colas largas todos los días para comprar cosas comunes como leche, huevos, y pan.

Hasta después de haber esperado en cola por varias horas, una vez que llegan a la tienda, encuentran que ya no hay más alimentos o productos.

Otro grave problema es la falta de seguridad. Venezuela está sufriendo de altos niveles de crimen últimamente, y todos los días hay robos y asesinatos en las calles.

Según CNN en Español, el año pasado, hubieron 25,000 muertos por crimen. Pero a pesar de la atención reciente a este dilema, estos crímenes han estado pasando hace mucho tiempo. Para muchos venezolanos, todo empezó solo unos años después de que Hugo Chávez entro al poder.

Durante 15 años, Chávez no supo hacer buenas decisiones políticas, y en vez, arreglo sus problemas internacionales regalando petróleo y usando el dinero de la gente. El desempleo se mantuvo a niveles altos, y no tenía casi nada de apoyo público.

Por estas y muchas otras muchas razones, los Venezolanos han decidido actuar. Lo único que quieren es ser considerados por su gobierno, y atraer la atención de no solo el gobierno de Venezuela, pero sino de todo el mundo.

A diferencia de la policía de Venezuela, los venezolanos involucrados en las protestas públicas quieren evitar la violencia.

A pesar de esto, Nicolás Maduro, el sucesor de Hugo Chávez, sigue mandando a la guardia Civil para reprimir a los manifestantes opositores. Sus acciones han tenido consecuencias graves, incluyendo la muerte de 28 muchachos, casi todos estudiantes.

GrÁfico por Valencia Fu

Muchos Venezolanos se sienten opresidos por su gobierno y fajen por la paz.

Desde hace tiempo en Venezuela, no hay libertad de prensa y recientemente se han eliminado ciertos canales de televisión, estaciones de radio y algunos periódicos.

Estas limitaciones han sido establecidas por el gobierno después de que muchas personas empezaron a usar redes sociales en el Internet, para informar al mundo sobre lo que pasaba en Venezuela.

Al eliminar tales páginas del Internet y muchas estaciones de noticias en la televisión, mucho de lo que pasa en Venezuela está oculto.

Audrey Ling, una estudiante del último año de la escuela piensa que la situación de Venezuela es desastrosa. Nos cuenta que “hay tanto peligro que nadie quiere visitar el país.”

Adrianis Espinosa, una venezolana y estudiante de la escuela también esta de acuerdo: “¡un país que estaba lleno de riqueza, ahora ya no tiene nada !”

Lamentablemente Adrianis tiene la razón. La economía del país está sufriendo.

Por la corrupción dentro del gobierno.

Por ahora, no hay mucho que se pueda hacer con respecto a lo que está pasando en Venezuela aparte de pasar la voz. Se espera que pronto todo esto se resolverá.

The Tide

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March 2014

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ARTS

March 2014

Jimmy Fallon takes center stage on new show

by Daisy Grant February 17 marked a new era for “The Tonight Show.” The show has seen many hosts, including the newest addition to its legacy, Jimmy Fallon.

Fallon, who has replaced Jay Leno on the show, is a well-known television host with experience in the business. He has years of practice from hosting the postprimetime show “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.” While he has moved to an earlier time slot, his premiere gathered over 11 million views, and his first week was met with many positive reviews.

The first week of the show was met with great enthusiasm, but his popularity has since leveled off. Some people who expected bigger and better segments were let down.

Freshman Taylor Balfour, a regular viewer of Fallon’s previous show and “The Tonight Show” said, “it just has a lot of similarities to when Jimmy Fallon was the host of ‘Late Night.’”

Whereas some people were expecting radical change, others like the consistency between his shows and agree with his decision to keep it relatively the same. Music played a big part on “Late Night,” and this spirit followed him to “The Tonight Show.”

The in-house band, The Roots, plays the opening song, as well as the bumper

music in and out of commercials. Fallon also frequently interacts with the band, and includes them in different bits.

Another popular part of his former show was the constant slew of special guests.

To grab his audience’s attention, Fallon made sure his first week was going to be especially star-studded. Will Smith, U2, Jerry Seinfeld, Lady Gaga, Michelle Obama, and Justin Timberlake all made appearances, and even starred in some bits.

Along with the guest appearances, his audience also enjoys segments such as “Thank You Notes,” where Fallon takes the time to sarcastically thank the little things in life, and “Hashtags,” where Fallon plays a game with his audience through Twitter.

This connection makes the segments relatable, and creates a type of humor that is universally appreciated. As sophomore Paige Leckie said, “I like when he turns real life into jokes.”

Aside from all of his funny bits, one of the biggest assets to Fallon’s career on “The Tonight Show” is his use of the internet.

“The Tonight Show” YouTube channel, updated every day, has most of the segments from the show, including monologues and interviews.

On the other hand, this may explain some of the show’s leveled ratings, because systems are often based off of the amount of views on the actual television.

Of course with Fallon taking over the

COURTESY OF NBC UNIVERSAL

New “Tonight Show” host Jimmy Fallon brings his best sketctes from “Late Night.”

“Tonight Show,” NBC needed a replace- will be better, and I hope he gets that time.”

Although his monologues are stiff, ment host for “Late Night.” Finally, they settled on Seth Meyers, the “Saturday and similar to some of his pieces on SNL, Night Live” (SNL) alum. The response to Meyers wins over guests and audience the transition has not been as amazing as alike through his easy, witty banter.

Fallon’s cheeky and lighthearted punch desired, but there is hope for the viewerline delivery of the punch lines makes “The ship statistics to rise back up.

Freshman Harry Deutsch commented, Tonight Show” a truly hilarious talk show “he’s kind of awkward right now, but I that continues to keep the audience enterthink Fred Armisen [and the band] really tained. His show airs weeknights at 11:35 help him settle down. I think after time he p.m. on NBC.

It’s no mystery: It’s worth reading

GRAPHIC BY KATIE ZENG

Netflix shows now compete with cable for viewership and Academy recognition.

Netflix original shows are shining

by Michelle Dubovitsky

2013 was, without a doubt, the year of Netflix Original Series. Shows like “House of Cards,” “Orange is the New Black,” and even a nostalgic return to the cult comedy “Arrested Development” have been dominating awards shows, and their success is likely to continue into 2014.

The second season of the political drama “House of Cards,” starring Kevin Spacey as ruthless politician Frank Underwood, premiered February 14, 2014, and has already been renewed for a third season.

The groundbreaking comedy-drama series “Orange is the New Black,” based on Piper Kerman’s memoir chronicling her experiences in prison, is also scheduled to release a second season June 6, 2014.

The fourth season of “Arrested Development,” which premiered May 26 of last year after it was canceled by Fox in 2006, has revived its dedicated fan base, and there is talk of a fifth season.

Although it enjoys three Primetime Emmy nominations, “Arrested Development” is definitely not what it used to be.

The show’s original three seasons told the story of how Michael Bluth (Jason Bateman), the only sensible person in a family of incompetents, must keep his family’s company afloat when his father, George Sr., is arrested on a variety of criminal charges.

What made the original “Arrested Development” so popular and so likable to viewers were the amazing running jokes, self-referential humor, and the outstanding collection of characters.

Each character had a distinct personality that remained consistent throughout the three original seasons, and the continuous and varied conflicts between them all formed the brilliant density and intricacy that allowed “Arrested Development” to develop such a large fanbase.

Some fans have been reportedly disappointed with the new format that the show has taken on. Although all of the cast members from the previous seasons have reprised their roles, many have other commitments and scheduling conflicts.

Because of this, the fourth season’s episodes are character-specific, with the full ensemble cast almost never appearing together. The members of the Bluth family, so lovably neurotic when assembled, prove to be much less likable individually.

Some of the episodes are markedly weaker than others, and the season presents a lot of highs and lows that is uncharacteristic of the show, considering how consistent it was in the past.

However, when ignoring the rough patches, the Netflix-run “Arrested Development” does present some great highlights.

The final four episodes end the season beautifully, with the finale leaving some questions that might need answering in a fifth season. All in all, the original “Arrested Development” established an almost unattainably high bar for itself, and understandably, the fourth season just could not compare to the brilliance of the first three.

on HBO and a radio series on BBC Radio 4. The HBO series incorporates some new

by Maddie Franke characters that are not featured in the books, but it captures the essence of the “The Number One Ladies’ Detective books nonetheless.

Agency” is the first book in a series of the The first book in the series is a personal same name by Alexander McCall Smith. favorite. The focus of the book is not so The book revolves around Precious much on the cases themselves, but on the Ramotswe, a fascinating woman living in characteristics and interactions of the peoBotswana. She decides to become a pri- ple involved. vate detective and start her own detective The one thing that really stood out agency. about the main characters was that they As the first female private investigator were all decent, good-hearted people. Prein Botswana, she has trouble getting cli- cious works as a detective to make things ents, but the ones she manages to get put right and just, not to punish people. her into some thrilling situations.

The majority of cases that Precious Although the series is called “The encounters have to do with cheating husNumber One Ladies’ Detective Agency,” bands and worried parents, but there are detecting and solving mysteries is not as some interesting ones. large a part of the books as you might exFor example, an exciting case in the first pect: much of the plot is dedicated to shar- book involves a missing 11-year-old boy, ing the experiences of various characters who is speculated to have run away from and their own home. The case personal probis inspired by the lems. ritual-based murThe best part der of Segametsi about reading Mogomotsi, an these books is actual murder the perspective that occurred it gives on Afriin Botswana in can culture. Mc1994. The case, Call Smith lived as portrayed in and taught in the book, is not Botswana and too interesting grew up in Zimat first, but bebabwe, which comes more so PHOTO BY MARK ECOB gives him as the book proSmith explores challenges faced by women. background gresses. The book on the culture there and makes the has received two Booker Judges’ Special books very realistic.

Recommendations and was voted one of His detailed, affectionate descriptions the International Books of the Year and the of Botswana show his passion and love Millennium by the Times Literary Supplefor the country and its people.He uses the ment. characters to display aspects of African I would recommend this book to anyculture and traditions. one who is interested in a uniquely devel“I enjoyed the way the culture was oped chronicle of a private investigator. portrayed by the author,” said freshman It is a fairly quick read, and is someTyler Hoffman. what slow-paced, but never gets boring.

The series’ popularity has led to vari- The charming story and characters make ous adaptations in the form of a TV series the book wonderful and pleasant to read.

ARTS

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March 2014

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Creative genius shines in student art gallery

“Watch the Date” by Haley McClelland

This past February and March, students from Richard Montgomery’s art classes displayed original works in the “Spectrum” gallery on Main Street. Shown here are some of our favorites, featuring up-and-coming artists.

“Daddy, Daughter” by Susanqi Jiang

“Skeleton” by Rovaniaiha Ramamomjisoa

“Art is an outlet for me to express my personal thoughts and beliefs and assert my individuality.”

- Susanqi Jiang “Under the Sea” by Jada Casey

“A Long Ride” by Taylor Arceneaux

Admittance is free, but the National Gallery of Art is priceless

by Mona Lee With a world class selection of priceless art, beautiful architecture, and free admission, the National Gallery of Art (NGA) is a must-see in the D.C. area. According to freshman Madeleine Cheng, the gallery is “one of the best art collections in the U.S., maybe even the world.”

With over 130,000 paintings, drawings, prints, photographs, sculpture, decorative arts, and furniture, the museum’s works range from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance to the modern era. In a sea of incredible art, some highlights include Vincent Van Gogh’s Self-Portrait, Claude Monet’s The Japanese Footbridge, and the only permanent Leonardo Da Vinci in North America, Ginevra de’ Benci.

In the West Building, after the gorgeous rotunda, there are many long corridors branching off into intimate paint galleries separated by age and nationality. The modern galleries are full of amazing work: a wall of Picasso from his early Blue and Rose periods, Alexander Calder’s delicate sculpture, many Degas paintings, Monet, as well as an amazing Singer Sargent.

An unknown treasure is “The Alba Madonna” by Marchigian Raphael. Slightly hidden, Robert Hines, history teacher and National History Club sponsor, said it is “the best in the west.”

The National Gallery of Art’s permanent collection is reason enough to visit,

but the mounted exhibitions make it even more imperative to see the museum.

Recently opened, the “Monument’s Men” exhibition displays pieces saved during World War II by American art historians, museum and art professionals, and archivists as part of the military’s Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives (MFAA) program. In conjunction with the new movie “The Monuments Men” directed by George Clooney, the exhibit offers a fascinating glimpse of the history that inspired the Hollywood film.

Appearing in both the movie and exhibit, one of the most interesting artifacts is a black-and-white photo of Neuschwanstein Castle, where the Nazis stashed much of their stolen art. This picture was given to James Rorimer by Rose Valland, a Parisian art historian who went undercover and recorded where the Nazis were concealing the hidden treasures.

In the movie, there is a compelling story in which Claire Simone, portrayed by Cate Blanchett as the movie’s equivalent of Valland, was able to learn where the Nazis were hiding the stolen art as a curator at the Jeu de Paume museum.

Another interesting exhibition currently on display includes “From the Library: Deforming and Adorning with Annotations and Marginalia,” displaying rare books unique not because of their content, but rather because of the markings and additions made by readers of the past.

The National Gallery Sculpture Garden, perfect for a stroll between museums, has

17 superb large sculptures from renowned artists like Roy Lichtenstein and Ellsworth Kelly, open lawns, and a glassed-in pavilion hosting a café with a panoramic view of the garden.

Every Saturday and Sunday, the film program at the NGA presents different classic cinema, documentary, and avantgarde films in the East Wing Auditorium.

These programs show unique films found only at the museum, and are also free of charge.

When visiting D.C., take the opportunity to visit the National Gallery of Art and see a wide variety of art from around the world, free of charge. Before you visit though, make sure to download the museum’s app!

PHOTO BY JESSICA KANG

The National Gallery is home to a variety of artwork from throughout history.

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FEATURES

March 2014

Take advantage of the warming temperatures

by Akanksha Girish and Cathleen Kong Despite all the snow we have been getting recently, it is March and spring is just around the corner! There are a multitude of fun activities to do this season, so shrug off those winter coats, grab your sneakers, and get going! Here are great outdoor events to get some fresh air while spending time with friends and family: -All it takes is a ride on the metro to the Smithsonian Station and a quick walk to the Tidal Basin before you find yourself at D.C.’s famous Cherry Blossom Festival.

Freshman Maddie Liu commented, “I love the pink and white flowers that fall beautifully.” Running from March 20 to April 13, different events are held each day like dance classes and paddle boating, all for free! Be sure to witness the stunning opening ceremony on March 22!

- If you are a fan of Hunger Games, archery ranges are close by, like the one at South Germantown Recreational Park.

Start practicing from 20 yards and master your skills until you can shoot a bulls eye!

Grab a friend and suit up with your own bow and set of arrows.

- From April 4-6, head down to our local county fairground for a wonderful time at the Sugarloaf Crafts Festival. Learn exotic skills, like copper spinning and making trendy jewelry. Stroll through the fairgrounds, listening to live entertainment and tasting gourmet foods like chicken pita and London broil.

- Get some fresh apricots and strawberries at your local farmers market

PHOTO BY MICHELLE WANG

Runners on the Track & Field team exercise daily, though there are many other ways of getting active after the long winter season. or the one in Rockville Town Center!

Grab your picnic basket and load it with homemade lemonade.

- Black Hill Regional Park is an enormous place for everyone to be out in the sunshine! This spring, do not miss out on a chance to play Frisbee, hike, have a picnic on the lawn, or even rent a boat.

- For a side of adventure, what about zip-lining? Right here in Rockville at Rock Creek Regional Park, try something new with the Go Ape Treetop Adventure, which includes six zip lines, rope ladders, a Twister, and two Tarzan swings. Skim over the trees as you soar over the forest canopy.

- Close to home, the Earth Treks Rockville Climbing Center is the largest indoor climbing wall in the nation. Junior Ryan Liiva exclaimed, “when you reach the top, you feel like you own it. Then your

heart skips when you realize you have to get down before the sun sets.” Never tried it before? The center has walls suited for different levels, so you can book parties and have a blast rock-climbing with friends!

- Hiking trails offer fresh air, exercise, and a chance to get in tune with nature.

Enjoy scenic views at trails all around the county, spending time away from your computer. Walking is not the only option; you can also bike leisurely through the breathtaking landscapes.

-Flipping mindlessly through television channels? Filmfest D.C., April 17 to 27 will get you off your couch! The festival offers an opportunity to watch new films and listen to music from all around the world.

-Grab your gear and fighting spirit to participate in a paintball game with friends!

There are games held at High Point Farms

in Clarksburg with different obstacles and walls for added fun. Try joining a paintball league and practice for tournaments!

-If you like science or math, the USA Science & Engineering Festival in D.C. is perfect for you! Highlights include presentations by notable authors, explorations of science careers, and even a chance to meet Bill Nye the Science Guy! -Take some time to relax on the White House lawn. The White House Easter Egg Roll is an annual tradition where you can enjoy sports, cooking classes, and live music performances!

After staying cooped up all winter, the warmer weather lets you enjoy nature and spend some time outside! Try something new or continue an old tradition this year to make the best of the sun before the weather gets too hot!

Cookies are a pot of gold S-no more snow in 2014

by Tara Bhardvaj

7. Then add the dry ingredients and mix on low until just blended.

8. Cover and refrigerate the dough for 1 hour.

9. To back use quarter cup scoops and then flatten the balls.

10. Place on cookie sheet with each cookie 2-3 inches apart 11. Bake about 10-12 minutes or until just set. The cookies should be a pale golden color.

12. Let the cookies cool on a wire rack.

What better way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day than with delicious snacks, since we obviously can’t celebrate with Guiness. These sugar cookies are chewy and sweet, and most importantly, they are easily personalized, so you can color and sprinkle them with a spirited Irish green.

There are a few easy ways to tweak this recipe. You can replace 3 tablespoons of sugar with hot cocoa mix and top it off Frosting with Nutella.

5 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted For the Cookies 1/3 cup unsalted melted butter 4 1/2 cups flour 1 Tbsp. vanilla extract 4 1/2 tsp baking powder 7-8 Tbsp. milk (plus more, as needed) 1 tsp salt Food coloring (optional) 1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) butter Sprinkles (optional) 1 1/2 cups sugar 3 eggs 5 tsp vanilla extract Directions: 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

2. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.

3. Whisk together the flour, baking powder and the salt until well mixed.

4. Beat butter and sugar together until the mixture is soft and fluffy.

5. Beat the eggs into the butter and sugar PHOTO BY LIZ CHOI mixture one at a time making sure to mix Directions: well.

1. Place confectioner’s sugar in a bowl.

6. Add the vanilla first.

2. Whisk in the butter and vanilla.

3. Whisk in the milk. If the frosting is too thick, add additional milk in 1 tablespoon increments.

4. Add food coloring if desired. Top with sprinkles. Store in an airtight container.

PHOTO BY TARA BHARDVAJ

This recipe does not have to be limited to St. Patrick’s Day; feel free to modify the ingredients to fit the occasion of your choice. Change the color of the frosting for Easter, Halloween, Christmas, etc, and these cookies are guaranteed to be a hit at any time!

by Anna Lavrentieva Waking up to a carpet of snow on the ground excites students everywhere for a very important reason: snow days!

With ten days off and over 30 inches throughout Montgomery County so far this year, no one should be complaining about a lack of snow this winter season.

While this school year’s snow days have given students a lot of mini-breaks (and teachers a lot of headaches), the state’s requirements for minimum days of instruction will not be met due to the missing days, meaning for now, school is to be extended until Wednesday, June 20.

According to the county’s informal expert’s “about” page, mocosnow.org is a website created by Roberto Clemente Middle School P.E. teacher Alex Tsironis to make predictions about snowy weather in the county and how it will affect school closing, using a rating system of one to five pencils for severity. The site has become a big part of many students’ pre-snow-day

routines as they check for weather updates.

Tsironis shared his insight on the snow this season. In terms of the weather and the snowfall, he said, “this winter was surprisingly average when it comes to snowfall totals. We just haven’t missed this many days of school in a while.”

To avoid extending the school year, the county applied for a state waiver, saying that it “would eliminate all but one of the snow days that need to be made up.”

However, Tsironis stressed that, “though waivers like this have been approved in the past, there is no guarantee.”

As winter fades out, we will start shifting our focus to the warmth spring is promised to bring. However, one thing can be said for sure: this winter was exceptional for snow days!

Spring into spring trends

by Victoria Priester What to wear? With spring fast-approaching, it is finally time to break out the pastels, brights, and florals. During winter, while we sported knitted sweaters, leggings, and boots, fashion experts travelled to cultural markets in warmer regions of the world to find inspiration for the spring’s new “in” colors.

But how do these colorful ideas get from the designer’s heads to the racks in retail stores? Designers often work hand-in-hand with retail store “buyers” (people who decide what items will be stocked in

their stores for the next season) to predict what consumers will want to buy. Designers may also have their own stores where they sell only their designs, or sell some of their products in certain department stores.

One thing all designers seem to agree on is the staple must-have for spring 2014: a bright, floral dress. Skirts and cropped tees with daisy prints have also been a popular statement. Stores have already started advertising their bright, patterned, and pastel spring merchandise, and coral seems to be the color that many stores are marking as “in” this season.

As freshman Becca Levy said, “I have so many sweaters from the winter - I can’t WAIT to hit the stores to buy more spring clothes!”

So, what are you waiting for? Start making your spring statement!

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FEATURES

March 2014

19

School walls undergo dramatic transformation

by Karen Lou and Hannah Salem

photo by MICHELLe Wang

The walls of Richard Montgomery High School are gaining new hues, shapes, and designs.

The bare, manila walls that once supplemented each dreaded hike to class are gradually being replaced by murals left and right. Students now walk past zipping, earth-bound meatballs, a classic scene from Finding Nemo (right), and more rousing quotes than anyone can count.

Most of the murals at Richard Montgomery are painted to correspond to a particular subject offered at the school. The science hallway, for instance, is swathed in murals that represent plant biology (left), astronomy, and physics. The math hallway has a vector of the integers of pi running across and above the lockers.

Each striking mural stands alone, but with the upsurge of different patterns and colors that engulf each hallway, students begin to wonder if there is such a thing as too much. Will there be a time when there is no more blank space left?

Junior Kelley Lou, who co-painted the Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs mural in the science hallway, stated that, “Although colorful murals are much more appealing than blank walls, I wonder if there will be room for future RM students to add their own touches to the school.”

During last year alone, the science department administered the commencement of over 15 new murals scattered along the columns in the hallway.

Though all of them turned out beautifully, a few of them were left unfinished by the artists. Due to the dramatic additions, there will soon be no more room for future RM students to paint anything dedicated to the school’s science department.

Meanwhile, the English hallway supervised the addition of several murals, inspired by opening quotes from classic novels, over the course of last summer. The entire collection was painted by one single artist, junior Rosa Jang. With her striking artwork stretching from one end of the hall

to the other, it might be difficult for other students to add more art to the hallway without making it feel chaotic.

Although Jang stated that “murals enable our school to show our diversity and many cultures,” she also admits that “at times they can be a bit cluttered.”

However, the majority of students and faculty at Richard Montgomery still support Richard Montgomery’s growing collection of murals.

Richard Montgomery has well over thirty murals in total, but some of them are more popular than others. For instance, the collage-inspired mural in the basement, streaked with vibrant pink and blue whirls, has been a favorite among RM students since it was first completed. Senior Michelle Dea remarked, “I like it because it looks like a cute cartoon, and the colors make it one of my favorite murals.” Painted by a recent RM graduate, this mural represents the entire art department, which occupies the school’s basement.

Whether a mural brings back happy memories of lunchtime with friends or serves as a good luck charm before a big math test, each mural in the school has something unique to offer.

To create a mural, ceramics teacher Amy Weaver explained that first, “you find a space for a mural and you fill out the paperwork.” The application form requires mural dimensions, an estimated schedule, and a few student reflections. However, the mural-making process is not solely the student’s job - the development of a mural necessitates dedication from both the student and a teacher supervisor.

According to Ms. Weaver, “when a student has an idea, they pitch the idea to the teachers who have classrooms in the area that they would like to put the mural in.” The teacher can offer suggestions, and should help keep the student on a predetermined timetable.

An overcapacity of murals could potentially be an issue in the future. Yet, for now, everyone can agree that the seven year old building has become a mirrored image of an amalgamation of RM’s history, culture and spirit.

photo by MICHELLe Wang

March Madness: Quirky holidays to celebrate

by Nancy Jiang For being named after Mars, the Roman god of war, the month of March sure does have its fair share of odd and fun holidays.

As spring finally arrives, thaw out by participating in these unusual celebrations!

4 - Mardi Gras French for “Fat Tuesday,” Mardi Gras marks the final day of feasting and revelry before the moderation, prayer, and fasting of Lent. Don the holiday’s traditional purple, green and gold to celebrate with costumes, parades, colorful beaded necklaces, and best of all, king cake.

8 - International Women’s Day First observed in 1911, this holiday commemorates the economic, social, and political achievements by women from all generations and backgrounds. Get inspired by family members, teachers, celebrities, and everyone in between.

14 - Pi Day The importance of the mathematical constant pi is indisputable: be sure to honor it, even if you are not a math enthusiast. It is also Albert Einstein’s birthday! Challenge yourself by memorizing some digits of this infinite number, or by calculating the area of your stomach after that pie-eating contest. Don’t forget to cheer wildly at 1:59 p.m.!

17 - Saint Patrick’s Day Originally a religious feast for the patron saint of Ireland, this holiday has become centered around celebrating Irish culture with plenty of clovers and green for extra luck. It is one of March’s most popular and well-known holidays.

Shamrock Shake, anyone?

18 - Awkward Moments Day We all know the feeling of being caught in an awkward situation, not knowing how to react without making it even worse. Instead of dying of embarrassment, embrace the moment and use humor and fun to cope with the uncomfortable situation! It might just make it a little less awkward.

GRAPHIC BY SAVANNAH DU

19 - Kick Butts Day Established to empower youths to stand up and speak out against tobacco, this day should be used to learn about and raise awareness of the problem of tobacco use among young people.

20 - French Language Day Parlez-vous français? Put in place by the United Nations, this holiday aims to celebrate and encourage cultural diversity.

Learn a few phrases from your Frenchspeaking friends and maybe get a taste of some French food while you are at it. Remember, if you’re learning a lesser language instead, March 20 is also the international day of happiness!

22 - International Goof-Off Day A day everyone can enjoy, no matter what age. This is the time to do everything and anything, except for what you should be doing.

26 - Manatee Appreciation Day Show your love for these marvelous marine mammals by raising awareness of their endangered status. Interestingly enough, it is believed that these gentle giants are responsible for sailors’ tales of mermaids and sirens at sea.

29 - Earth Hour Not to be confused with Earth Day, which is in April, Earth Hour is a movement aimed at uniting people to commit to protecting the Earth by switching off lights for one specified hour. This year, it will be held between 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. in your local time zone, so show your appreciation for our planet by participating!

Don’t get caught celebrating the same old holidays (such as St. Patty’s Day) every year; there are tons of bizarre and interesting holidays you can participate in. And if you find something worth celebrating take advantage of Make Your Own Holiday Day on March 26!

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FEATURES

March 2014

Learn to study hard and relax for the AP season

Study strategies: What to do and what not to do for your APs

by Sedef Berk With AP and IB exams right around the corner, RM students have been spotted cradling textbooks and review books already. But for more effective retention than just memorization, follow these easy steps from Test Taking Tips and psychological studies, and it will make the stress of May seem like a distant memory.

To start off, slowly start viewing the material as soon as possible--even the day you learn it! This will force you to read it again while it is still fresh, increasing the number of finer details remembered. Plus, it cannot hurt your success on short term quizzes and tests for quarter grades!

Along the same note, cramming in all the information the week leading up to the exam will only stress you out. Begin reviewing lessons as soon as possible, so all you have left at the end is a couple of practice tests and you will be prepared and more importantly, rested for the exam.

Taking a couple of practice tests before any standardized tests will always improve your score because you will be used to the type and style of the questions.

Most preparatory books for the SAT I

and II and AP tests have diagnostic and practice exams with explanations for the correct answer included.

Taking several tests as well as using several different review methods can significantly increase your confidence in the material. Try to either use different review books (Princeton vs Barrons) or a combination of flashcards and textbooks to compliment one another.

However, do not forget to give yourself breaks! It is not going to help at all if you study all day with no mental breaks from the textbooks and packets. How long you spend on the break is up to you, but make sure the activity requires a clear mind or full concentration so you will not be thinking of studying!

Psychologically, the brain remembers what you read at the beginning and end of a session more than what was in the middle due to the primacy and recency effects respectively.

To help with that, try to focus more on the middle chapters or units by rereading to make up the difference.

In the end, all of these tips can only help if you commit to them and believe in yourself. Most importantly, they require you to have the confidence that you can ace the exam or they will GRAPHIC BY AMY XIAO all be for naught.

Ways to take a break and relax while studying for the AP tests

by Liz Choi As evident by the massive blockages near the IB office recently, APs are just around the corner and it is time to start studying! APs are a stressful time of the year, but that does not mean you should strain yourselves over cramming material in the last minute or getting good scores on the exams. To help you guys out, here are some relaxing tips to not end up overworking yourself: 1) Take a 10 minute break every now and then (even more time if necessary) while studying. Too much studying can actually harm you and lead to important terms getting jumbled up in your head. It will be beneficial to take deep breaths and exhales during this break or stretch.

2) Run to the kitchen for some good old comfort food. Eating a favorite food brings happiness and a good mood for the rest of your studying days. However, don’t gorge yourself because that might make cause even more stress.

Consume a little snack and allow your mind to relax a bit before returning to work.

3) Sit down on a comfy couch and watch TV or even a movie. Since your brain has been working too hard, just looking

at a screen while being entertained takes your mind off everything that causes you anxiety. Getting absorbed into the movie does that to you. Lift that pressure off your shoulders and sit back and relax.

Some good TV shows for relaxing include comedies like Modern Family, New Girl, and Parks and Recreation.

4) Lay out a yoga mat and meditate or actually do yoga. Sometimes just clearing the mind and doing nothing is such a stress reliever. Stretching the body out can ease tight muscles or even better, go get a massage. It is great to just forget about everything for a moment and loosen up your body. Omm. 5) Hang out with friends. Friends bring about smiles and laughs. With the nice distraction from the AP work for a moment, soon, all the tension seems to disappear!

Ranting to friends about the stress is also effective or to any close person you can confide in.

Saying it is better than holding all that built up stress inside.

In the end, taking your mind off APs for a while is calming and it is good to give your brain a break.

Remember to stay healthy and focus on being happy while studying! AP studying should not take over your life during the springtime so be sure GRAPHIC BY AMY XIAO to have some fun!

RM Givology spreads quality education worldwide

by Nancy Jin Joining the plethora of clubs and student led organizations this year is Givology: a club dedicated to using the power of the Internet to support education grants and projects all over the world. The Richard Montgomery chapter, dubbed RMGivs, was founded by senior Wendy Risso and is a subdivision of the international nonprofit organization of Givology. Givology’s mantra is to have individual donors connect with students and communities around the world to education support and make quality education accessible for all.

For Richard Montgomery, this means sponsoring the tuition, textbooks, transportation, room & board, and other miscellaneous expenses of PuBa Li, a 19-year-old female living in YunNan, China. The RMGivs envision raising around $500 so that Li can afford a worthwhile education, amidst her family’s economic hardships. In the past two years, Li has received approximately $250.

However, her mother and father are both unskilled laborers and do not make much money. Additionally, the cost of student education has risen dramatically over the past years. Still, Li does very well at school, ranking at the top of her class and thoroughly enjoying school.

Givology stands out from similar organizations such as Adopt-a-child

because it directly connects donors with the sponsor students. The donors can track where their money is going, as well as communicate with the recipients themselves. Risso commented, “Givology lets you narrow your focus to one project, or even one student. In our case, it connected us to PuBa Li.” Givology is also extremely active in blogging and updating different chapters, keeping individual chapters posted. The blogs also can serve as advertisements, encouraging people to get involved in different activities, such as the “What Does Girls’ Education Mean to You” video, published on YouTube, in which members from Givology chapters around the world sent in clips about the importance of universal girls’ education.

Many chapters maintain blogs and share fundraising ideas and success stories through the Givology website so that individual chapters can glean information and inspiration from other chapters around the globe. At Richard Montgomery, the RMGivs have been working towards sponsoring PuBa Li’s education.

So far, there has been one bake sale, where they raised $180, and a “Race for the Brace” campaign where members of the club sold handmade bracelets for the holidays. The RMGivs plan on hosting a Holi Festival at Richard Montgomery where students would pay an entrance fee to throw paint powder and colored water at each other. They also plan on having a

PHOTO BY SAM CHAPLIN

The newly-formed Givology club meets in Mr. Goetz’s classroom, room 361 at lunch.

PHOTO BY SAM CHAPLIN

Members of Givology club hope to spread the gift of education to the less fortunate. bake sale in March and another towards the end of the school year.

Members of Givology have a variety of reasons for joining, but the central idea revolves around being able to spread this gift of education to those less fortunate. Junior Anne Kim said, “I joined Givology because education can change so many people’s lives. We have all these opportunities surrounding us because of our education, and we are in such a unique position to share these opportunities with other people.”

At the same time, being a member of Givology also requires a lot of dedication and constant vigilance: always being on the prowl for the next fundraising idea, or brainstorming ways of getting the school and community involved with what Givology is trying to accomplish.

Dedication and vigilance aside, the experience of being able to help another person in need is extremely gratifying experience. Junior Emily Shue said, “being a Givology core member this year has been a very rewarding experience so far. Not only have I been able to put my time into a cause that is very important to me, I have also been able to learn about what giving truly means.”

However active and involved the RMGivs were this year, there is always room for improvement. “I want to be more present online,” Risso related, “I think that we should blog more and communicate

more with PuBa Li, or whomever we are sponsoring.”

For next year, the RMGivs plan to have an official blogger to keep the Richard Montgomery chapter blog updated (found at https://www.givology.org/~RMGivs/), as well as be more involved in marketing and outreach in the community in order to get more people involved and interested in Givology’s mission.

To some people, Givology is just another charitable club thrown into the large selection of such clubs at RM. As Junior Justin Pan put it, “I don’t think I would want to join Givology.” While Givology does offer SSL/CAS hours to its members, it has an extremely specific goal in mind: the spreading of a quality education to every corner of the earth.

Kim expressed, “causes like hunger and homelessness are extremely important, but what happens after you take care of the people’s physiological needs? I think it is important to grant them with a way to provide for themselves, and this is achieved through education.”

Givology is dedicated to providing an equal opportunity for all people to make a living for themselves through a quality education. Nowadays, with standards in the job market being set higher, an education is indispensable for those competing for jobs.

Givology is trying to make sure everyone has equal footing to make their quality of life as high as possible, one child at a time.

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March 2014

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The Tide

SPORTS

March 2014

Boys swimming wins Md. state championships from Annapolis.

In the second half, the boys made a huge comeback with the later events and “at the end, we pulled through and won by over 40 points,” said sophomore David Zhang.

After the victory Song said, “Being

strong hopes of state champs, so it didn’t come as that much of a surprise.”

Regardless, the team is proud of its achievement and thankful to its coach, Aryn Wheeler.

Coach Wheeler was named Coach of the Year by The Gazette, a significant

Masry and Audrey Richter and junior Ellie Sherman all placing in individual events.

by Ly Do and Tiger Zhang Senior captain Michelle Nguyen said, “shout out to our relays,” which helped the After a long season of hard work, team finish in the top five since they placed the RM boys swim team took home the fourth in the 200 meter medley relay and Maryland State Championship title on third in the 200 meter freestyle relay.

Saturday, February 22 at the Outside of high school University of Maryland Aquatic competition, several Rockets Center. attended the National Club Heading into this winter, the Swimming Association Junior team knew that it had state-title Nationals meet in Orlando, potential, but to actually win, Florida the week of March 18. the boys had to train together to Seniors Anatol Liu and Gregory prepare.

Song swam there, along with Although the team was juniors Ellie Sherman and Peter balanced and had significant Wang. depth, in the words of senior Each of the swimmers captain Gregory Song, the team qualified based on their “lacked a ‘wow’ swimmer,” that individual times that were is, someone who could dominate under the cut-off time for the an event or two. competition.

Because of this, the boys team Looking ahead to next did not win many individual season, Zhang noted, “Though events. However, the boys were we still have a lot of talent, we’re able to enter several swimmers losing four key performers: in multiple events to finish in Gregory Song, Anatol Liu, Juan the top ten of each, thus gaining Barrera, and Steffen Buettner,” points. the latter two exchange students Additionally, the Rockets that will transfer back within the focused more on the team events, year. especially relays since these Despite these setbacks, Wang would earn a significant amount hopes to repeat the results of of points to put RM on top. this season by “winning states PHOTO BY ARYN WHEELER One of the Rockets’ greatest and getting Wheeler Coach of The RM boys swim team poses after winning the Maryland 4A-3A Swimming and Diving championship. rallying points was their spirit. the Year.” Next year, both teams The team’s trust and chemistry are optimistic of having another led the boys to victory, as they “encouraged champions feels fantastic. The boys haven’t accomplishment that is reflected in her successful season and will be led by rising and cheered for [their] teammates harder accomplished anything like this for such team’s performances. Senior captain Emily captains and current juniors Ellie Sherman, a long time and bringing the state trophy Ma gave “a huge thank you to Wheeler for Chloe Stavrianos, Graham Walker, Peter than any team did for theirs,” said Song. being an amazing coach. We wouldn’t have Wang, and John Jeang.

This positive energy helped the back to RM is just such an honor.”

Sophomore Oliver Hu had a different been able to do so well this year without boys overcome a deficit at the State Even though the team will lose some Championship meet, since at halftime the stance, and said, “It was cool that we won”, her.” standout seniors, the skill and prospect The girls team finished fourth overall at of fresh talent will undoubtedly drive the Rockets were down by over 30 points in but noted, “We all had high expectations a close race with Broadneck High School going into the season, and there were the state meet, with sophomores Sophie El- team to another great run.

Boys 4x800 meter relay team goes to Nationals

by Jennifer Zhang The indoor track season may have come to a close, but outdoor track has already begun. Rocket indoor runners make an easy transition into spring, while new faces start the tough workouts and endure bizarre weather conditions.

Freshman Bryony Hollingsworth described the beginning of her first season of track with excitement and said, “having people I know I can talk to has definitely helped me enjoy the start of the outdoor track season and made me want to work hard.”

A more experienced runner, junior Emmanuel Porquin, commented on the weather that has hindered winter practices and continues to pose a problem for runners in March. He said, “It’s really easy to lose focus when the conditions outside are almost impossible to train in. This is why it was so important that we made sure to do a number of circuit workouts to stay in shape.”

Junior Peter Szwerc said that for him, “the indoor season is about getting in shape to run the best times possible in the outdoor season.” Although junior Shema Mugabo took a three-week break after the indoor season, he is quickly getting back into shape. “I’m looking forward to building a strong squad for the upcoming school year, so that even after seniors leave, we’ll be ready contenders for the county championships and state championships,” stated Mugabo.

The boys 4x800 meter relay team, consisting of seniors Adam Jung and Stephen Alexander and juniors Emmanuel Porquin and Matt Agboola, did not have time to take a break since they contended at the New Balance Indoor Nationals on

March 15 in New York, placing fifth in the Emerging Elite section with a time of 8:00.81 minutes. This time qualified the Rockets for the Penn Relays, so now the boys can focus on individual races.

On the girls’ side, sophomore Sophie El-

also specializing in the jumping events, while Coach Jonathan Rogers will continue to head the distance team and train the hurdlers.

In the field, senior Ozioma Edokobi will be contending for an outdoor state title in both the discus and the shot and will be competing at the Penn Relays in April.

Edokobi won second place in the shot put at the State Championship meet in February. “I was ecstatic because I finally hit an acceptable mark for myself and a personal record for the season,” Edokobi reflected.

This year's practices have been more mentally rigorous than physically.

Edokobi said, “I’m not really trying to set on a distance, I’m more focused on trying to get mentally prepared to perform under pressure.” For her, “performing under pressure has been [her] biggest cripple in the past years.”

The energetic spirits from indoor season have not dwindled. “The best part of this is really hard to PHOTO BY LIFETOUCH PHOTOGRAPHY Junior Norman Grey sprints to the finish at the Maryland 4A West Indoor Regional Championships. describe— it’s the feeling of being victorious as a team,” Masry said, “There will be a major focus Similarly, Swerc said, “I can’t wait to see explained Mugabo. on qualifying in the 4x400 and potentially the sprint events this season; we have a ton With March 26 as their first meet, the the 4x800 for Penn Relays which will be of new runners on the team and I know outdoor track team members will have difficult because we only have two meets we'll put up some great relays.” to depend on continuous teamwork and to do so.”

Junior Zoe Williams also mentioned the persistent energy to achieve the success Additionally, this season both teams new addition of sprinting coach Antonio they are looking for. moved up to Division I, meaning they will Lumpkin, who has “motivated us through With a month of work under their belts now compete against Churchill, Walter some tougher workouts.” and two to go, runners, jumpers, and Johnson, Wootton, and BCC. This season, Coach Matthew Wheeler throwers alike have much to look forward With over one hundred runners turning will focus on overseeing the sprinters and to in the upocoming season. out for the outdoor season, senior Kayla Sukri noted, “There are a lot more girls running sprints [than during the indoor season] so it will be interesting how the team develops and improves, especially since many of them are very young.”

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SPORTS

March 2014

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Sochi 2014 wrap-up: Highlights and controversy

by Yueyang Ying and Natalie Zhang

Last month, spectators across America tuned in to NBC as the best athletes in the world gathered in Sochi, Russia to compete in the twelfth Winter Olympics.

These Olympics included 12 new events, according to NBC, among which ski and snowboard slopestyle and team figure skating quickly rose to popularity.

The United States produced a solid victory in men’s ski slopestyle as Joss Christensen, Gus Kenworthy, and Nick Goepper swept the podium.

Kenworthy and Goepper soon proved themselves as American sweethearts.

Kenworthy rescued stray dogs in Sochi, and Goepper became a heartthrob on social media through his hashtag “iwanttodatenick” competition.

In the debut of the team figure skating event, the United States made history by earning a bronze medal. However, this new addition to the Olympic sports received much criticism from viewers.

Some disliked that the long and short programs were weighted equally, since each are unique events. Others argued that individual skating does not show teamwork and should be replaced with a true team of synchronized skaters.

While ice hockey, garnered much anticipation and hope for the United States and Russia, but both teams were defeated by the Canadians. According to USA Today, the U.S. women’s hockey team started out in the lead for gold, but settled for silver when the Canadians tied

the score, and eventually won the game in overtime.

T h e U.S. men advanced to contend for bronze with Finland.

Although the game was tied through the first period, Finland soon crushed the United States by five goals, destroying U.S. hopes for a men’s medal.

In speed skating, the U.S. won only one medal.

According to the LA Times, t h i s

ice dancers Meryl Davis and Charlie White made history by earning the first United States Olympic gold medal in ice dance.

By skating

impeccably, they defeated long-term Canadian rivals, Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir.

Another memorable night was in men’s super-giant slalom, when American Bode Miller tied for a bronze medal. Earning a total of six Olympic medals in his career, disappointment Miller set a new U.S. may have been ski record, according to due to flawed suits and a USA Today. training location at a higher Miller’s altitude than that of Sochi. last Olympic Meanwhile, in men’s run sparked figure skating, Jeremy controversy Abbott seemed to disappoint Sochi 2014 mascot “the Leopard.” when NBC reporter, graphic by cynthia song the nation with a hard fall on Christin Cooper, a quadruple toe loop, sending him crashing badgered him about his deceased brother, into the rink walls. However, Abbott Chelone, after he won bronze, according to recovered to complete all his elements and an article from The Washington Post, and finished on time, receiving a well-deserved Miller began to sob on camera. This event standing ovation from the spectators. sparked an outrage on social media as fans In another discipline of figure skating, criticized Cooper for her insensitivity.

However, the largest controversy stirred by these Games was centered around women’s figure skating. Reigning “queen” Yuna Kim from South Korea skated a flawless program, but was defeated by 17-year-old Russian dark horse, Adelina Sotnikova who took home the gold medal.

Spectators were infuriated by the results and according to NBC, a petition on “change.org” followed suit, demanding re-judgment. In fact, the petition gained over a million signatures within 24 hours, causing the site to crash.

Sotnikova’s scores became the root of the debate. In the program components section, the judges rewarded her with scores equal to those of Kim, but many argued that Sotnikova’s skating lacked the quality and grace that Kim possessed.

Furthermore, in the “grade of execution” marks from the judges, Sotnikova and her teammate, Yulia Lipnitskaia, received twothirds of the highest “+3” marks, according to IceNetwork. Additionally, the champion made a visible mistake. She stumbled out of a jump combination, yet the judges scored her higher than the International Skating Union standards.

What about the judges? According to The New York Times, one was the wife of the Russian Figure Skating Federation general.

Another had a record for attempting to fix the score in the 1998 Nagano Olympics.

Regardless of the highlights, disappointments and controversies. Team USA walked away with nine gold, seven silver, and 12 bronze medals, placing second in the medal count, according to ESPN.

Spring athletes train throughout off-season

by Maddie Harlow Although spring sports are just starting, RM athletes have been working all throughout winter to get ready for this season. From baseball to lacrosse, athletes have been putting in extra hours since the end of last spring to prepare for even better results.

Junior Hunter Harrison on the varsity baseball team said, “Workouts help us get in shape and Coach George really emphasizes doing things in unison and with high intensity.”

Senior Ryan Mittl added that these workouts before tryouts even begin “help increase quickness and reaction speed. We go through different conditioning drills which focus mostly on quick feet and hand eye coordination.”

The Rockets hope to improve upon their 11-7 record from last season and will have to make up for the loss of seven starters, but the boys spoke highly of their Coach Bob George as Mittl noted, “He will put us in positions to win.”

Senior Sydney Koubek, a member of the girls varsity lacrosse team, said, “Off season workouts got me back into the lacrosse mindset and think[ing] about the season we have ahead.” Junior Lauren Sukri agreed, “Off season has helped me prepare for the season because it’s allowed me to get comfortable with my stick again.”

The girls are all looking forward to their season opener against Rockville, hoping to have a winning season. Junior Maylin Odenthal explained how the weather made practicing during the winter difficult but said, “We made the most of it by doing ab workouts and plyometrics” when practicing inside. Senior Elyse Wolin added that despite the cold, “Workouts really helped get me back into shape for lacrosse and forced me to remember how to run and throw and catch.”

With season schedules rotating every

two years, the girls lacrosse team will face new opponents this season. In response to this change Koubek said, “I think that will be a challenge, but we definitely have the skills and have gelled as a team.”

Wolin remained confident in the team and said, “I think this will be the strongest season so far of my four years because of the huge amount of returning players we have.”

As for boys varsity lacrosse, sophomore Nathan Serway is looking forward to the season because he said, “The off season builds strength and builds the family bond.

The season’s looking good [because] there are more than double the underclassmen compared to the upperclassmen.”

The boys have been especially focusing on conditioning this off-season. Junior Anthony Tedder added, “Workouts helped us get in shape to play a whole game without needing a sub because of the small roster this season.”

Tedder and Serway agreed that the talent on the team will speak for itself.

Tedder said, “Even without the numbers we usually have, the talent on the team is just as good as past years. We are looking forward to a winning season!”

As for softball, junior Julia Hamelburg agreed that off season workouts have been helpful in getting a head start and said, “Workouts gave girls a really great chance to get in shape for the season, and also let all of us bond as a team before the season actually started.”

Sophomore Devon Goetz added “I think we’re going to be good this year.

We’ve got our only senior, Caitlin Grieve, and I know she is going to lead us because she is backed by really strong juniors.”

Junior Allie Parrish agreed, “We have a lot of returning starters and some new players who will contribute a lot to our team.”

All around, RM’s spring sports teams have been putting in extra hours during the off season to ensure the best possible season yet. With games starting up in full swing, hopefully the extra work will pay off in the records.

photo by stephanie silverberg

Junior David Silverberg wrestles at the state championship, where he placed fifth.

Silverberg, Fitzpatrick wrestle at state meet

by Yueyang Ying and Natalie Zhang This year, Richard Montgomery’s wrestling team was represented by two members at the Maryland wrestling state championship. Senior Thomas Fitzpatrick, and junior David Silverberg both qualified for the State Championship meet on Saturday, March 8. After an undefeated season, Fitzpatrick finished in fourth place with teammate Silverberg finishing in fifth, each in his respective weight class.

Wrestling is often thought of as an individual sport but it still takes two to tango. Throughout the season, wrestlers try to maintain their weight, giving them the opportunity to remain in the same weight class during the entirety of the season.

They are given partners during practice which they wrestle with to strengthen their abilities and reactions, which help them to successfully take over their opponents

during the meets. However, the individual aspect remains as, “You get out what you put in,” said sophomore Luis Orellana.

Silverberg can relate, “To prepare I actually had to cut weight and diet this year and I lifted most of the off season,” said Silverberg. His dedication was well worth the effort as he placed second at counties, third at regionals, and fifth at states, finishing the season with a noteworthy 40-6 record.

Being on the mat in a match is a different feeling than practice. The stakes are higher, as each wrestler contends for a chance to move to the next round. The players are, “built in pride,” claimed Orellana.

This sense of confidence helped boost the Rockets into a successful season. “This season was awesome,” said Coach Godsey.

With two wrestlers who reached states and hopefully several more next year, Godsey is already looking forward to the future of Richard Montgomery wrestling.

“I’m already excited for next year,” said Coach Godsey.

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March 2014

Athlete of the Issue

Senior Adam Jung ends season as state champ

by Andy Kostka When he was a freshman, Adam Jung watched Richard Montgomery’s 4x800 meter relay team win the state championship and become All-Americans at the New Balance Indoor National Championships.

Four years later, he too has a state championship title under his belt and has competed at the New York Armory to place fifth in the Emerging Elite section of the 4x800 meter relay.

About a year ago, these goals started to seem attainable.

“During my junior year cross country season, we began to realize how good of a team we had,” Jung said, “[we] started to set some long term goals such as winning the State Championship the next year.”

This year, that dream became a reality when Jung, senior Stephen Alexander, junior Emmanuel Porquin, and junior Matt Agboola won at states.

Falling short of their hopes at States for cross country, the team went into the indoor track season hungry for victory.

“Our team was really motivated to continue the tradition this year,” Adam said.

Not wanting to fall through on what the team had put in mind for the season, the foursome focused specifically on training for the 4x800 during indoor track.

“While we weren't the top seed, we had beaten Paint Branch (the top seed) before and knew that our loss to them at regionals wasn't our best performance,” said Alexander, who ran the first

leg of the 4x800 relay.

The group ran a perfect race to win the State Championship, beating Paint Branch by almost a full second.

Although cross country ended in disappointment, the hard work from that season led them to a success in the indoor season.

all four years of high school.

Having been a part of the program for so long, Jung realized how close knit the team has become.

“I have learned from track that it is a lot easier to train hard and put effort into races when you care about your teammates,”

crucial part of what helped us win at states,” Porquin said.

Jung is equally complimentary of the other members of his squad; “The fact that the people on our relay team run for each other is what has made us so good,” Adam said.

Throughout his running

PHOTO BY MOCORUNNING.COM

Jung finishes the anchor leg of the winning 4x800 meter relay at the Maryland State Championships.

“Winning the 4x800 requires strength, a lot of which is gained during the cross country season, making all the work meaningful,” said Porquin.

Adam started running in sixth grade at Julius West Middle School. Recognizing his own talent and potential, he continued on at RM, running for both the track and cross country teams for

Adam reflected.

The beginning and the end of a 4x800 relay are often the key turning points of the event, so Coach Jonathan Rogers entrusted Alexander as the first leg and Adam as the anchor.

“Adam is an expert when it comes to running the 4x800, making sure that he holds off the other runners at the turns, it was a

career, Jung has been able to balance school, track, and Boy Scouts. With three seasons of running each year, he was still able to achieve the Eagle Scout rank, the highest achievement in Scouts.

“I think [Adam] has put his mind set in the right place, and just focused and worked, and it has paid off,” senior teammate

Ben Wright said.

As recognition of his hard work and exemplary work ethic, Adam was picked by Coach Rogers to be a captain.

“Adam is an excellent veteran presence on the team,” Alexander said, “When temperatures dropped near zero, Adam was one of the only guys willing to run outside. He gives 100% at practice and at meets, which shows the younger guys the result of steady, hard work.”

At the New Balance Indoor National Championships on Friday, March 15, the 4x800 meter relay team ran a personal best of 8:00 minutes flat, placing fifth in the Emerging Elite section.

With the outdoor season now in full swing, the boys will pursue another state championship and even a school record.

As Alexander and Jung bow out on top after winning at States, it will be up to the next group of kids to carry on the winning ways of RM track.

“It was fun being captain this year since there are so many committed people on our team who want to become faster,” Jung said. Hopefully the team’s commitment will pay off with future achievements at States.

The baton is being handed off again. Three years ago, a talented group of RM runners motivated Adam to become a successful runner. Their example and Jung’s hard work and determination paid off with another state track and field championship.

As Jung and other team leaders approach graduation, the team is looking at incoming freshmen and rising students for talent.

March Madness brings excitement for all fans

by Hoang Nguyen It is that time of year again, and it just so happens that daylight savings time coincides with one of the most watched sporting event in the world. During the month of March, College Basketball completely dominates the major TV networks and the lives of millions of Americans.

The NCAA March Madness tournament is the culmination of the Men’s College Basketball season. This year will mark the 76th anniversary since the tournament’s inception in 1939.

Since the first tournament, the amount of teams participating has grown from eight to 68 as the current number stands.

What is it about this particular tournament that makes it so exciting and suspenseful?

Unlike the professional National Basketball Association (NBA) playoffs, the tournament is single elimination, there are no series to determine the winner after of a best of five or seven games.

There is only one meeting between teams and each game is a must-win. With the introduction of “seeding” in 1979, the NCAA has taken the drama of the tournament to a whole new level The teams are divided into four regions: East, West, Midwest,

and South. The 31 conference tournament winners (and one team from the Ivy League) receive an automatic bid into the tournament. The remaining 36 teams are chosen by the Selection

GRAPHIC BY SAVANNAH DU

Committee. The Committee takes into account the teams’ in-season record and various other factors into their decision on Selection Day. The Selection Committee also determines the seed for each team from 1-68. Due to the 2011 expansion of the tournament to 68 teams, eight of the lowest ranked teams (four from automatic bids and four from at-large bids) coming into the tournament must play the First Four games to determine the final four spots in the Round of 64.

Once the field is set, the “madness” begins. During the entire month of March and into the first week of April, the teams go from the Round of 64 to the Round of 32, to the Sweet Sixteen, then the Elite Eight and finally the Final Four. The highlights

of the tournament occur when a lower seeded team is able to upset a much higher seeded team. So far though, no 16th (the lowest possible) seeded team has ever beaten a number one seeded team.

The drama unfolds on television this year from March 16 to April 7, the dates covering Selection Day to the National Championship game. The talent seems to be evenly spread out amongst the teams and no one team has emerged as a lock for the title. Here are the basics on who to watch for or root for during the tournament.

The story going into the tournament is about the Wichita State University Shockers and their perfect season. They went 31-0 in their regular season and are currently seeking the Missouri Valley conference title. Many critics discredit the Shockers’ success to an easy schedule, but it must be noted that Wichita State made the Final Four in 2013 and this year they are chasing a piece of history.

The other three number one seeds are most likely the University of Florida, University of Arizona, and Duke University.

The Syracuse Orange also had a chance at perfection before they fell to Boston College in a tough overtime loss. As usual, the field is stacked with traditional

powerhouses such as University of Kentucky, University of Kansas and University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. However, coming into the 2014 tournament there are still many underdog contenders that make the tournament so much more exciting to follow.

Wisconsin and Michigan are two great teams that haven’t had a great regular seasons but are definitely looking for a good showing in the tournament. Junior Brendan LaVigna, commented, “I really think Florida can win it all,” adding that he has family attending the school.

Closer to home, the University of Virginia (UVA) Cavaliers have had a great second half of the season with a notable win over Syracuse. The Cavaliers already won the regular season title, but are looking to secure a higher seed in the tournament by winning the ACC conference tournament.

Junior Peter Szwerc, who also has a sibling at UVA said, “They’re gonna make to the Elite Eight at least.”

March Madness also revolves around a fan’s creation of a bracket with their prediction for each game all the way up to the National Championship. ESPN is the leader in this bracketology hype and creating a bracket is easily one of the best ways to throw yourself into March Madness.

Even more incentive this year is billionaire Warren Buffett’s claim that he will give 1 billion dollars to anyone who fills out the “perfect” bracket.

The “perfect” bracket implies that someone has correctly predicted the winner in every single game from the Round of 64 to the National Championship.

Whatever your motivation for watching the NCAA March Madness Tournament this year, it is definitely going to be an exciting tournament.

2014 Men's March Madness Schedule: Selection Sunday: March 16 First Round: March 18-19 Second-Third Rounds: March 20-23 South Regional: March 27, 29 West Regional: March 27, 29 East Regional: March 28, 30 Midwest Regional: March 28, 30 National Semifinals: April 5 Championship game: April 7