The Viking / Issue II / October 2014

the

viking Loudoun Valley High School / Purcellville, VA / Issue II / October 2014

Sweet Success As fall sports come to a close, the teams look back on their victories and accomplishments.

VIKING

THE

Junior Alisa Moortgat passes during the game against Woodgrove. photo / Rachel Weinstein cover photo / Elizabeth Sikora

Newsmagazine Staff 2014-2015

Editor-in-Chiefs Brianna Jennings Henry Webster

Senior Managing Editor Emma Rodriguez

Managing Editor Leila Francis

Advertising Multimedia Editor Manager Sacha Gragg Jennifer Colantonio

Design Editor Elizabeth Sikora

Online Editors Claire Deaver McKenna Holtz

Writers, Photographers, Business and Promotional Staff Emily Baer, Carina Bucci, Christopher Cerne, Cassandra Good, Alexandra Krens, Benjamin Manning, Gonzo Ocampo, Dalton Smolens, Helen Sternberg, Tyler Valentine, Sean Webster, Rachel Weinstein

Letter

from the

Editors

Dear Vikings, The Viking is a completely student-run and student-funded newsmagazine, meaning that our staff is responsible for everything you see printed, unless otherwise credited. Our adviser, Ms. Cox, guides us through the process, but

Adviser Paige Cox thevikingnews.com | Twitter: @lvhsviking | Instagram: lvhsviking ultimately everything is produced and crafted by our student staff.

If there is something you want us to cover, let us know! Our goal is to serve the community around us, knowing what you all are interested in reading will help us reach this goal.

We are serious about our work and hope to bring national, global and local issues to light. However, we are also concerned about giving you, the student body, entertaining content each issue.

We do not tamper with interviews; the words you give us during an interview are what you will see printed unless you tell us otherwise. Our interviews are backed up via audio files, and we promise to never intentionally place your quotes out of context.

This issue covers a lot of different interests within the school: drama, athletics, student hobbies and field trips. If you feel your interests have yet to be covered, let us know!

Check out our online newspaper, twitter and Instagram for current news coverage with articles, photos and videos.

If you want an advertisment please contact our advertising manager Jennifer Colantonio at jnnfrcolantonio@gmail.com. We hope you enjoy this issue of The Viking.

Thanks, Brianna Jennings Henry Webster Editor-in-Chiefs

CONTENTS September 2014

4

Off With Your Head...phones

5

Chipotle vs. Moe’s

6

Tech Talk Senior Snapshots

8

Sweet Success

New rules cause debate among students and teachers.

Students share their opinions on two popular Mexican restaurants.

Players reflect on the fall season.

Broskevitch: 10 Adam Mushroom Hunter Freshman student participates in an unusual hobby.

12 Casting Call

Students find auditions to be a stressful, rewarding experience.

13 International Relationships Foreign students form friendships as they experience a new culture.

Crazy in

Love

14 Editorial: Crazy in Love

How Ray Rice brought important attention to the issue of domestic violence.

15 Inside Look: Marsh Madness A glance at the AP Biology field trip to Wallops Island.

Senior Jessica Kamienski runs during the championship. The meet took place at Woodgrove on October 1. (photo / Brianna Jennings)

OFF WITH YOUR HEAD...phones

The new policy banning headphones from the hallways has sparked a barrage of objections.

BY GONZO OCAMPO

A

s a new school year commences, new rules and changes have been enforced by administrators hoping to treat hallway discipline more seriously.

While these new rules have always been part of the Loudoun County school system’s policy, this is the first year they are being enforced.

In particular, something that bothered the students at Loudoun Valley the first few weeks of school was the “no headphones in the hallway” policy. For some students, this policy may not make a difference in their everyday life, but for others it’s a huge grievance.

While students try to get through the school day, the only way to unwind from class to class is by putting in their headphones and jamming out to their favorite music. On the other hand, students use their music to tune out of the social world. A few teachers at the school recognize this, so it troubles them to enforce it.

Vice Principal Sam Gross said that the headphone use in the hallway became “a concern developed county-wide.” Gross also stressed that communication in the hallways has been discussed by administrators and security staff, and that the staff feel it poses a minor danger if students cannot hear those around them.

Furthermore, Gross said, “the safety trend appears to be consistent with other school systems in the area as well,” but when a student at the neighboring high school Woodgrove was asked about the headphone policy at their school, they said that there was nothing restricting them from using headphones or electronic devices in the hallway.

“It’s not fair; music has been a huge part of my life.”

-Darius Degree

In a random survey of 10 students, eight of them said that the policy doesn’t make any sense, and that they don’t understand the reasoning behind it. They also believe that the policy is another way for teachers and administrators to have more control over them. While the two people that disagreed said that it didn’t matter to them, they think the policy doesn’t make any sense either, but they wouldn’t do anything about it.

On the opposition of the headphone policy is senior Darius Degree, someone who has been very fond of listening to music in the hallway since he was a freshman.

“It’s not fair; music has been a huge part of my life,” Degree said. “I have been

4 THEVIKINGNEWS.COM OCTOBER 2014

playing piano for 14 years, so taking away music from me means everything. It helps me get through each day. Most of us are young adults, but for some reason we continue to be treated like little kids.”

It seems that underclassmen aren’t as upset about this rule in comparison to the upperclassmen; the upperclassmen have been accustomed to being able to listen to music, be on the phone, etc. freely in the hallways for almost four years now.

Stripping seniors of these freedoms in their last year of high school is a serious dilemma.

Kimberley Vegliante, a Government teacher, and Campus instructor, gave her personal opinion on the matter. Vegliante said that the policy is in the students’ best interest and that she has witnessed from personal experience that students can’t hear when they have headphones in. Therefore, it is a safety hazard to the student themselves.

It seems that this new rule is here to stay. Gross said that they are not anticipating any change to the rule at any point, but, just like all the other policies and procedures, it will continue to be evaluated for its usefulness and effectiveness. Along with that, Gross also said “tweaks or a change to any rule is a possibility if a need arises.” layout / Claire Deaver, Helen Sternberg photo / Claire Deaver

CHIPOTLE VS. MOE’S

Students have strong opinions on their favorite Mexican food.

BY HENRY WEBSTER All teenagers have preferences. A taste or style specific to them. Coke or Pepsi. Apple or Windows. Currently, the discussion given the most attention among high school students is the argument of which popular Mexican restaurant chain is the best.

Chipotle or Moe’s.

With each restaurant offering unique styles of classic Mexican foods, usually one reason puts a person on one side of the spectrum. For example, Moe’s offers their famous queso (a must-have for some). Chipotle fanatics constantly preach their infatuation with the cilantro-lime rice. Interestingly, it is nearly impossible to find someone who is impartial to the dispute.

Everyone has a favorite. Which one’s yours? photos / Henry Webster layout / Henry Webster, Elizabeth Sikora, Claire Deaver

STUDENTS WEIGH IN “[I prefer] Chipotle; the ingredients are much more fresh and the meat is of a better quality.”

- Will Finn

“It [Moe’s queso] is good with literally anything you can get from Moe’s.”

- Erin Levinson

THE DEBATE

52% 48% PREFER CHIPOTLE

PREFER MOE’S

Statistics collected from a random sample of 311 Loudoun Valley students.

OCTOBER 2014

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5

Tech Talk

The Computer Programming club teaches important technological skills such as coding and cyber security.

BY CHRISTOPHER CERNE

The Computer Programming Club allows students to learn more about computer software. Club attendance doubled last year, which shows increased student interest. The Computer Math and AP Computer Science teacher Rodney Snyder sponsors the Computer Programming Club. Snyder’s classes also experienced an increased student enrollment.

“We have about 95 kids, which is the most, probably, ever,” Snyder said. “Last year we had about two classes, so probably about 50 [students enrolled].”

Computer programming provides a gateway to many opportunities for students in the future.

“It opens the door for a potential career. A lot of students who take the class… they recognize this as something they want to do for a job,” Snyder said.

Along with learning new programming techniques, the Computer Programming Club branches into something different— Cyber Patriot, a national program that allows students to find flaws in computer networking and fix them. This year, 25 technologyenthusiastic students joined Cyber Patriot in hopes to learn more about operating system technology.

Keefer Ellis works on securing an operating system in the Cyber Patriot group.

Although Cyber Patriot is a major part of the Computer Programming Club, the main focus of the club is to interest teenagers in computer programming. Last year, participants in the club learned about programming theory using a piece of software called Alice which allows the students to create 3D characters in a world. Senior John Bilderback recalls his experience last year with Alice.

“When you looked around, you just saw people playing around with graphic animation, where they’re moving these characters around,” Bilderback said.

As each year progresses, students learn more about computer programming and the cyber security field.

“The goal is to make it better every year,” Snyder said. photo / Christopher Cerne layout / Christopher Cerne

Senior Snapshots

As their high school career ends, senior pictures allow students to capture their experiences and showcase their passions.

BY HELEN STERNBERG For many, senior photographs are an important part of graduation. Although the school offers senior photos, the market for outside companies is growing.

“Senior photos commemorate a milestone in life—graduating from high school and moving on to college, a job or whatever is next,” senior photographer Ella Zangla said.

Zangla photographs many seniors in the Loudoun County area and believes that seniors should be able to express themselves through their senior photographs. Because of this, she recommends photo shoots that symbolize the students.

For those who don’t want a one-on-one photo shoot, the school offers senior photography services.

“To make senior photos as affordable as possible, each year we negotiate a $5 sitting fee for seniors…students may just show up without having to bring much with them,” Photojournalism teacher Martha Akers said.

The photo taken by the school is used in the yearbook, unless another company takes a similar photo. Most packages include touch-ups, but alternate poses and backgrounds are available for additional fees.

Some students even source photographers from out of state.

Senior Jordan Kittinger used a Utah-based photographer for her pictures. While this did require a raise in price, Kittinger believes it 6 THEVIKINGNEWS.COM OCTOBER 2014

was worth it.

“I think senior pictures are important because they are the last, real nice pictures your parents have,” Kittinger said. “You have some good pictures for you and your parents and family to look back on.”

Jennifer Anderson, Kittinger’s photographer, specializes in pictures of children and seniors.

“With my own children, I want to document every expression and hold those near and dear to my heart. My goal is to share those timeless, priceless expressions to my clients,” Anderson said on her website.

Senior pictures are more than just photographs; they represent the student. They can be some of the last professional pictures that a student gets, and many make an effort to source a photographer that can help them remember their high school experience.

“All the poses were really cute and I would love to do it again because it was so fun,” Kittinger said. photo / Sacha Gragg and Helen Sternberg layout / Christopher Cerne

OCTOBER 2014

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7

s

weet Success

As fall sports come to a close, the teams look back on their victories and accomplishments.

“In Cross County you are your own competition,” senior Levi Parker said.

The boys’ cross country team runs in a home tournament on Sept. 20. The girls’ team placed 26th and the boys’ team placed 44th.

“The cheer team has become really close this year and I think that’ll help us wanna do better at competitions and succed with everything we do,” junior Anna Guzzetta said.

The cheerleaders perform their routine at Spirit Fest, held at Loudoun Valley. The cheer team placed 7th.

8 THEVIKINGNEWS.COM OCTOBER 2014

Sophomore Darius Frasier and the dance team perform at a football game. The da of vibrancy to their performances, cheering on the team.

“Football this year has been amazing, even with all the outside noise. I feel like the team has been pulled together and is on the right track,” senior Sully Warner said.

Junior Jason Yoxthimer and senior Andrew Cordani defend the ball against James Wood High School. The game took place on Sept. 5.

“My favorite moment of the season so far was our first game when we beat Potomac Falls, because most of us didn’t really know how we were going to start off this season, since we only have three seniors, but we actually played really well as a team,” junior Hannah Ortmann said.

Junior Jordan Croson, junior Alisa Moortgat, freshman Sydney Hays, senior Sammy Iliff and senior Hailee Goolsby celebrate a score. The team beat Parkview 25-16.

“Golf is life,” senior Mikey Shouse said.

The golf team, including junior and state champion Brandon Weaver (second from right) pose with their second place state trophy. The competition took place on Oct. 14.

“I have a love-hate relationship with performing.

It gives you that rush, but you also want to pee your pants, until the music comes on, and then everythings good,” senior Kristen Denale said.

ance team brings an atmosphere

photos / Elizabeth Sikora, Henry Webster, Rachel Weinstein, and courtesy of Troy Mezzatesta layout / Alexandra Krens

OCTOBER 2014

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9

Adam Broskevitch: Mushroom Hunter Freshman Adam Broskevitch devotes his time to a fascinating yet obscure hobby, mushroom hunting, which offers a pratical side as well as an enjoyable outdoor experience.

By Sean Webster In their free time, students indulge in numerous hobbies, activities and passions. However, a new underground movement offers a pastime that allows people to find treasures in the most unexpected form, and a member of our student body has taken part.

It’s called mushroom hunting: groups of people go out into the wilderness to find edible mushrooms to cook into delicious meals at home. Like a combination of organic cooking and hiking, mushroom hunting offers a unique way to connect to the natural world. Throughout the country, mushroom hunters partake in the foraging of these hidden delicacies.

Freshman Adam Broskevitch is one of these hunters.

“It’s been a few years [since I started]. I have a friend…he’s more experienced than me and he really got me into it,” Broskevitch said.

Broskevitch seems like no ordinary teenager. His speech and mannerisms connote a knowledgeable mind and a quiet, pensive personality. Broskevitch offers up information on his unique pastime willingly. He discusses with whom he goes, when he hunts and his favorite mushrooms. He also recounts his favorite experience hunting for morels, a popular mushroom breed. “[My friend and I] only found three mushrooms. Then my friend went back soon after and found a lot more. I liked to see that dynamic play out, how time [can make a difference],” Broskevitch said.

However, he was not forthcoming with all of his information, like his favorite spots to go mushroom hunting.

“I would prefer not to divulge. Up in the mountains some…I don’t really want to say more than that,” Broskevitch said.

It is common practice among mushroom hunters to not reveal their favorite spots. After all, if other people knew, there wouldn’t be enough mushrooms for them. However, it isn’t hard to find areas where one can search for mushrooms.

This relatively new hobby is easy for a novice to pick up due to the surrounding region. The Appalachias are riddled with unexplored forests that are perfect for mushroom hunting. Despite the benefits of living in close proximity to a region that fosters mushroom growth, one still needs basic knowledge in order to begin their mushroom hunting experience, like which breeds are the most popular.

“As far as the edible mushrooms…the morel is probably the biggest one. They taste amazing,” Broskevitch said.

After picking, mushroom hunters take their findings back home to cook. However, identifying the breed is one thing; cooking and preparation is another. Simple recipes and meals can either be highly complex or very simple. Broskevitch discusses some of his favorite 10 THEVIKINGNEWS.COM OCTOBER 2014

Freshman Adam Broskevitch is one of a few people dedicated to the finding and consuming of wild mushrooms.

recipes for mushrooms that only take a few minutes to prepare.

“You can sauté and butter them. That works for a lot of mushrooms. The texture is quite unique and that’s what I like about them,” Broskevitch said.

However, mushroom hunting isn’t something that you can do whenever you want. The seasons and yearly weather patterns tend to limit the amount of mushrooms readily available. Broskevitch states that he is only able to hunt a few times a year.

“It’s hard because there are only certain seasons to hunt,” Broskevitch said. “Morels are probably my favorite mushroom to hunt and that’s a very selective time of year.”

Despite yearly limitations, mushroom hunting is very easy to pursue. Other than a guidebook, a person with experience and enough patience, no other materials are required. This allows interested people to get picking sooner and take part in this new trend. As mushroom hunting gains popularity, people will soon realize the value of knowing the origins of the food they consume and the natural world around them. photo / Elizabeth Sikora layout / Claire Deaver

Students who take dual enrollment:

• Earn higher high school GPA’s • Save money on their college degree • Get be=er grades in college • Finish college faster

Dual Enrollment guarantees college credit for passed courses—no separate test required.

Coming soon to LVHS OCTOBER 2014

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11

Casting Call As difficult and nerve-wracking as auditions can be, many students find them to be a rewarding experience.

By Ben Manning

A

uditions are a mixed bag.

There are those who take auditions very seriously and prepare for weeks, and then there are those who take them as a joke.

Auditions took place on Sept. 9-10 for both Comedy Cult and drama. Comedy Cult is Loudoun Valley’s improv troupe.

In Comedy Cult, once you make the team you don’t have to re-audition; however, since drama performs new plays every year with different parts and acts, auditions are required every year. This year, drama is doing the Addams Family, which started out as a series of comics and was adapted into television series, movies and appearances in other shows including Scooby-Doo.

Comedy Cult and drama are the two most prominent activities that hold auditions at the school. Auditions can be very important in a student’s high school career and nerves can often prevail.

“Everyone’s nervous, and they’re all dealing with it in their respective ways,” sophomore Dane Luckman said.

Preparation can often ease this tension, as is the case with junior Abby McDonough.

“I just listen to the song over and over again, and sing along with it a lot, and then once I get comfortable with it, I do some blocking,” McDonough said. Blocking is the movement and positioning of actors and actresses on stage for a performance.

Both Comedy Cult and drama have

open auditions, meaning that students perform in front of everyone who is trying out. Drama auditions are done in the auditorium on the stage and Comedy Cult holds their audition in the Black Box. “There are the eager people that want to audition first, then there are the people who are kind of shy and wait until the end,” sophomore Nick Aramayo said.

Although auditions can be very competitive, there is an encouraging and casual atmosphere.

“Everyone’s watching you and supporting you,” Luckman said. photos / Claire Deaver layout / Emily Baer, McKenna Holtz, and Emma Rodriguez

Top Right / Senior Emily Ratliff and junior Ben Testa rehearse the choreography for the upcoming play. Students must spend hours after school to master the dance moves necessary for each play.

Bottom Right / Senior Alex Poirier practices her role in the Addam’s Family play. Poirier holds a lead role as the charachter Wednesday.

Left / Senior Matt Merline and senior Alie Campbell rehearse for the Addam’s Family play. Both are singers who dedicate much time to zone in on their voice for each production.

12 THEVIKINGNEWS.COM OCTOBER 2014

International Relationships Every year, students from different countries throw themselves head first into a new environment to share their beliefs and absorb new cultures.

By McKenna Holtz

T

raveling away from your friends, your family and the country with all the customs you’ve grown up with to try and conform to a completely different society sounds terrifying. However, every year, foreign exchange students face these possibly distressing changes in their lives by coming to school in America and building relationships and memories with the students.

This year, there are three new exchange students: Danish Janjua from Pakistan, Lucas Jaulent from France and Chesron Rantwuk from Suriname. Each one has their own reasons for coming and each is eager to learn more of the English language and American culture.

“I wanted to learn English and discover another culture,” Jaulent said. “I also wanted a break with France, and I wanted to live in the USA.” Students form bonds with the foreign exchange students while they stay in America. This trend takes place every year. Last year, Ben Zickman from Germany became extremely involved in the school and created strong friendships, so strong that one of his friends, Alex Pasqualone, went to visit him in at his home in Germany this past summer.

“We became best friends around November last year and have been best friends ever since. We hung out last year about six days a week, sometimes seven,” Pasqualone said. “Some people would argue we didn’t have enough time to become that close, but I don’t think best friends are based on how long you’ve known someone but more of how well you connect with a person.”

This year, the new foreign exchange students intend to be just as involved in the school. They want to join sports teams and clubs that will connect them with the school and the students in it. The boys want to immerse themselves in the culture as much as possible.

“I will play soccer this year and I joined Model UN, LVSI, Spirit Club and Partners Club,” Janjua said.

So far this year, the exchange students have attended birthday parties for other students and taken trips to Washington, D.C. to learn more about America. Each is thrilled with the time they’ve had here and is looking forward to what they will get to do in the next few months. The students are here to spread their culture to others and help them understand what life is like in their home countries.

“I’m looking forward to the International Education Week where I will give presentations about my country,” Janjua said.

“I’m here to break stereotypes about Muslims and Pakistanis in particular.”

Top right / Foreign exchange student Danish Janjua was welcomed by his host family when he arrived. His host father and grandmother greeted him with a decorated poster.

Middle right / Foreign exchange student Danish Janjua poses for a photo with fellow foreign exchange students from Pakistan. They met at a conference in Washington, D.C. and wore their traditional attire.

Bottom right / Senior Alex Pasqualone stands with last year’s foreign exchange student Ben Zickman in Germany. The two spent three weeks together exploring German culture this summer.

photo / courtesy of Danish Janjua and Alex Pasqualone layout / McKenna Holtz OCTOBER 2014

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13

EDITORIAL

Crazy in Love

Footage of Ray Rice beating his then-fiancée unconcious has led to important conversations about domestic violence.

P

assionate discussions about domestic violence are echoing around the halls, fueled by footage from TMZ of football player Ray Rice beating his fiancée unconscious and dragging her from a casino elevator. Soon after the video was released, social media exploded, analyzing the situation and bringing more domestic violence cases to light.

These discussions raise more awareness than any campaign, and awareness is especially important to a generation heading into the 20-24 year age group, the window when domestic violence is most common.

One discussion that arose took place on Twitter using the hashtags #WhyILeft and #WhyIStayed, explaining the reasons behind some of the most personal choices victims ever make. In one poignant demonstration, @MasterPiece83 tweeted, “#WhyIStayed because I wanted my son to have a father, #WhyILeft because I wanted my son to have a mother.”

Everyone is a potential victim of domestic violence, especially women, who make up 85 “Even though he held those loaded percent of cases; after accidental violence, it’s guns to my head, pushed me the second leading cause down stairs, threatened to kill of death for women under 50, according to our dog, pulled the key out of the the Centers for Disease car ignition as I drove down the Control. Former abuse victim Leslie Morgan highway, I never once thought of Steiner, who has an myself as a battered wife.”

MBA in Marketing from the University of -Leslie Morgan Steiner Pennsylvania, described her experience as a domestic abuse survivor in a Ted Talk called “Why Domestic Violence Victims Don’t Leave.”

She explains that the pattern of domestic abuse begins with isolating the victim and introducing violence to see how they react. She also addresses two key questions: Why do victims stay, and why don’t they leave?

“Why did I stay? The answer is easy... I never thought of myself as a battered wife. Instead, I was a very strong woman in love with a deeply troubled man,” Steiner said. “Why didn’t I walk out? Because we victims know something you usually don’t: It’s incredibly dangerous to leave an abuser, because the final step in the domestic violence pattern is to kill her.”

The failure of the media to cover domestic violence directly contributes to its ubiquity. Perhaps the only good thing to come out of the Ray Rice scandal is the scandal itself, and the media coverage and discussions surrounding the incident. The fact is, one in every four women and one in every fourteen men will experience domestic violence; that’s 192 students currently at Valley. That’s your friends, your siblings, your classmates. And that has to stop. layout / Emma Rodriguez 14 THEVIKINGNEWS.COM OCTOBER 2014

21%

of violent crime is domestic violence.

1 in 4 24 2

women experience domestic abuse.

women per minute experience domestic violence.

times as many women killed by domestic as troops killed in Afghanistan.

1.3

million women are victims of domestic violence.

1 in 3

female homicide victims were killed by their partner.

Juniors Dexter Howard and Jackson Herwig march in to a marsh waist-deep.

Marsh

Madness

AP Biology students traveled to Wallops Island, Virginia to explore marine science through hands-on experiences, including collecting specimens from waist-deep water, trawling for fish and diving through putrid marsh mud.

Combined with laboratory lectures and opportunities to identify the various organisms, the trip was was both educational and action-packed. photo / Elizabeth Sikora, Suzanne Lohr layout / Elizabeth Sikora, Suzanne Lohr

OCTOBER 2014

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