EDITORIALS
FEATURES
FOCUS
ENTERTAINMENT
SPORTS
Virginia’s Kings Dominion Law should be repealed. — See page 3
Mrs. Corbin displays her love of jewelry. — See page 5
Learn about students who train and ride horses. — See pages 8-9
Read a review of the new film “Chronicle.” — See page 11
Read about the district, regional and state placings of various teams. — See page 15
Valor Dictus James W. Robinson Secondary School 5035 Sideburn road, Fairfax, VA 22032
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Volume 41 Issue 6
Bravely speaking to the Robinson community valor-dictus.com
SGA calls attention to stress, depression
Winter Champs
SMART Week brings awareness to little-known, prevalent issues
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BY HAILEY METZGER
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Photo Editor
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3 Photos courtesy of: Megan Green, Cory Bowersox, Tristian Crenshaw and Amanda Famiglietti
1. Gymnastics earns the Concorde District title with a 138.25 score. 2. Senior Megan Green wins first team All-District, second team All-Region honors 3. Boys’ basketball wins the Concorde District title with a 62-60 win over Westfield. 4. Senior Cory Bowersox breaks his own state diving record with a score of 551.
SGA’s SMART Week, which took place the week of Feb. 13-17, presented the student body with opporutnites to improve their health, mentally and physically. “We were brainstorming ideas that the whole entire school could benefit from,” senior Caroline Pearson said. “We took the Play 60 and put our own spin on it, and made it into our own event.” SMART, or Students Making Attempts to Recharge Their lives, brought to light different issues students may deal with on a daily basis. “We wanted to encourage healthy and active lives for the students,” Pearson said. “Each day represented a different problem we wanted to target.” Senior Ray Skaddan said he did not think the week was effective because it was too short.“Trying to change people’s lives by spending one day
Thursday’s anti-stress promotion on each idea was pointless,” Skaddan entailed the SGA passing out tea and said. Through the week, SGA members stress kits with squeezable stress balls led activities onstage during lunch for to students during lunch. Lastly, on Friday, the SGA promotstudents to partake in, helping them learn more about what it means to be ed fitness, and encouraged students to healthy and how to improve personal get outside and exercise to stay active. “We had an early release, so we health in the process. “On Tuesday, the SGA wanted to encouraged people to go outside and promote healthy dating, and with it be healthy,” Pearson said. “It was our version of a kick being Valentine’s start to spring.” Day. we thought Skaddan said it worked out he thinks the conperfectly,” Pearcept of SMART son said. We wanted to encourage Week was inOn Tuesday. deed smart, but the SGA hosted healthy and active lives for thought students speed-dating dur- students. Each day could have taken ing lunch, which represented a different more away from gave students the chance to meet problem we wanted to target. the event. “It was a good different people Caroline attempt, but they in a stress-free Senior Pearson needed to expand and appropriate it to maybe like a environment. SMART Month, Wednesday’s with each week a special activity from SGA was the distribution of in- different issue so that students can reformation sheets covering depression, ally understand what SGA was trying while members spoke to students to convey,” Skaddan said. Pearson said the committee in about how to be stress-free. “With our school being an IB charge of planning this event wanted school, students deal with tons of to bring a higher level of health to our stress and pressure,” Pearson said. school. Pearson said, “Instead of the nega“Stress also has many bad consequences, such as sickness, so we are trying tive things, we put a positive light on everything.” to prevent it.”
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School Board approves five new honors classes for ‘12-’13 curriculum FCPS to add English, Social Studies honors classes as options BY IAN CRIMAN Staff Writer
Ever since honors classes were removed from the school’s class list, students have had to choose between IB/AP and regular classes. In the near future, this may change. According to the honors resolution Fairfax County School Board members passed Jan. 26, “the description for these five honors courses shall be based upon FCPS existing standard level courses, with increased depth and rigor.” Social Studies Department Chair Eileen Hoppock said the overall goal was to offer students a challenge in an upper-level course outside the IB program. “What I’m concerned about is how it’s going to be implemented; I don’t want it to be hashed out in a rushed manner, but we also have to make sure that we meet the deadline set,” Hoppock said.“I think that’s why a lot of people are concerned about this, just the timing.” Hoppock said people are scrambling to fig-
ure out the dynamics of the new decision be- dents. However, in AP schools in our area, cause catalogs and the master schedule for the such as Lake Braddock, there are really only upcoming year have already been made. The two choices offered. Students could choose new decision could also affect the standard from AP classes that are college level, or regular classes that would classes. not present as much “I’m concerned of a challenge. about the impact this “Parents wanted might have on stana middle ground bedard-level classes; if tween the two opyou add another tier, tions,” Green said. then some kids are “I think it would regoing to opt for the ally hurt our school, advanced classes and • English 11 Honors because we already some students are gooffer many different ing to remain in the classes for students.” lower classes,” Hop- • English 12 Honors Grenn said, for pock said. “On the example, juniors flip side, you might have the option beend up with an un- • World History 2 Honors tween IB English HL, motivated class beIB English SL, and cause the students • Government 12 Honors regular English. If a that are going to push fourth tier was addthemselves could go • U.S. History 11 Honors ed here, it would be to the middle tier.” very crowded. Hoppock said History teacher having challenging, but reasonable standard level classes would Michael VanWambeke said he thinks the idea help alleviate some of the need for a third tier. to standardize the classes across the board IB Coordinator Lisa Green said this new with the county was solid, but the overall ruling does not significantly affect to our implementation of it is in question at the moschool at the moment, because there are al- ment. As of right now, given the newness of the ready many different options offered to stu-
Planned Classes:
decision, the county and our school is still currently figuring everything out. The new changes will probably affect our school in two or three years. “The caution with this is that there may be too many options for students to try and decide what course is best for them,” VanWambeke said. “When you can choose from going the IB course, the AP course, or somewhere in between, it can be sometimes a challenge figuring out what the best path is, especially if you want to do something in the middle.” Donna Piscitelli, Director of Student Services, said juniors and seniors at our school already have honors classes available to them in the form of SL classes. With the SL classes, students can take a challenging middle course, and get a 1.0 bump in their GPA. Piscitelli said students might not be very enthusiastic about having another tier, when they already have a lot of variety. “What we really have to ask ourselves is, ‘are we really meeting the needs of the students?’” Piscitelli said. “I feel like we are at the moment.” Piscitelli said it is always important to constantly meet the needs of the students at our school. Piscitelli said, “That’s what school is really about, filling the needs for students and what comes after high school.”
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Valor Dictus February 28, 2012
Science Fair Spotlight
News
Student scientists make advancements Team projects boost two student pairs to regional competition
Senior Patrick Spahn received a first place ranking for his non-slippery foot experiement this year.
Q: Why did you enter the science fair?
A: I was running in regionals junior year, ranking in third place and I slipped a lot and got thirteenth place.
Q: How did you come up with your experiment? A: I was interested in finding a solution to my slipping problem while running at Burke Lake.
Q: Did you expect to win? Why or why not? A: I had no idea that I would actually get a first place rank, but I was just planning to make it to regionals
Q: Are you excited for regionals? Why or why not? A: Yes; my sister, Cindy Spahn, went all the way to ISEF a few years ago, and if I could follow that, it would be amazing.
Q: What was the best part of the process? Why? A: Creating my “left foot,” which is what I used to test my shoes with because I enjoy engineering and putting together the entire machine.
BY BAILEY HAASE Staff Writer
For science fair coordinator Steve Bartlett , science fair is the best time of year, because he said it is so much fun to host, as well as to see what all his students, and other participants, come up with. The science fair was held Feb. 8 and Feb. 9 in the cafeteria at our school. The judging took place on Feb. 17, and the awards were held on Feb. 18. Bartlett said the science fair was a way for students to display their scientific creativity in a productive way. The science fair was judged on a 35 point rubric; Bartlett said only the first two winners of the science fair move on to the next level of the competition. Juniors Neema Laheri and Yashu Sampathkumar, and senior Chris Ahn and junior Chris Watson created the two winning projects. “The standards for being able to win the science fair are that the project must have fol-
Photos courtesy of Laurie Redfern Senior Patrick Spahn speaks to the judges about his project, giving them his reasoning behind coming up with a non-slippery shoe, which he intends to wear in the future.
lowed the scientific method, and you must be able to explain the project,” Bartlett said. Only two pairs were successful enough to move on to the regional competition. Their next competition date has yet to be determined. “Yashu and I actually went all the way to the UMBC Organic Chemistry lab and
used all the high tech science materials there,” junior Neema Laheri said. Some participants scored higher than they had expected to place. “I think it was a great experience; my partner and I learned a lot about the science fair process and also proteins,” Laheri said. “I would definitely do it again.”
Singles mingle at speed-dating BY SHARON CORISH Entertainment Editor
Love is in the air, thanks to the SGA and their Valentine’s Day speed-dating program. The organization sponsored a speed-dating event during all lunches in room E109. Students signed up on stage the day before, Feb. 13. The next day, boys and girls gathered for a chance to make new friends, and possibly even spark some romance. “It was not so much speed-dating, but getting to know new people,” senior Courtney Hafner said. Hafner said she believes the event provided students with a chance to meet people they did Hailey Metzger not know before. SGA hosts speed-dating Feb. 14 — During all lunches on Valentine’s Day, students were able to go to the SGA The SGA spent over a month planroom to take part in a speed-dating luncheon. Students had to sign up in advance before they were able to take ning the event, starting after Winter part in the activity. Speed-dating gave the students to get a chance at ‘love’ on Valentine’s Day. Break. They brainstormed questions for participants to start conversation, an area for speed-daters to sit, and food for the guests to eat. Students in charge of
Staff impressions of speed-dating The Valor Dictus staff sent a male and female writer to see how effective the speed dating was and detail their experience at the event.
Q: Describe the dating process. Was it effective? B: Single girls sat in an inner circle of chairs, while guys
rotated around the outer circle. Each person had 30 seconds to get to know each other; while this allowed for the exchange of one-liners, it did not lead to any bonds. G: This process was not particularly effective. The SGA did a good job of setting up the process to keep things from being too awkward, but nothing can really completely eliminate the awkwardness of speed-dating.
Schools donate lunch leftovers to local organizations in need
Lunch leftovers now have a second life, due to Virginia representative Frank R. Wolf’s legislation. Wolf is joining with Food and Nutrition Services to develop a partnership between schools and local food banks to provide school lunch leftovers to food banks and shelters. According to the Letter of Understanding, “The Food and Nutrition Services’ ultimate goal is to support the school systems’ efforts to inspire, enable, and empower students to meet high academic standards, lead ethical lives, and demonstrate responsible citizenship.” The Letter is a formal document program officials for each school must sign to instate this program. This new program will not only benefit the community and food banks greatly, but will also reduce waste, and therefore help the environment. In addition, this program will inform students about new ways they
Q: Did the SGA create a comfortable speed dating environment? If so how? B: The SGA’s formation of chairs created a somewhat intimate environment for each ‘couple,’ while the serving of pizza allowed for additional bonding time between participants. G: The SGA did succeed in doing everything they could to make the experience as comfortable as possible, by providing participants with a questionnaire sheet of creative, fun, and thought-provoking questions.
Q: Was the activity helpful for those looking to date? For those looking to meet new friends?
B: Judging by the event’s format, it was never the SGA’s intention to play matchmaker and create new couples, but to bring together people who would rarely interact otherwise. They accomplished this rather effectively. G: No, this event was not particularly helpful. Most of the people attending were already good friends. While some people that were not friends did get a chance to share 30 seconds of conversation with someone new, no new friendships or relationships sparked.
the event, such as Hafner, were members of the seven person committee on relationships for SMART week. The boys were each given a list of thirtysix questions to ask each girl they met with. Senior Kyle Jenkins said the event was well-planned and well-attended. While he said he thinks some students came for more serious matters, he admits he just came to have fun and meet new people. Some students who participated said they disagreed with parts of the event. “It was interesting, but it wasn’t really like speed-dating,” senior Kelly Lohrmann said. “It was as effective as it could have been, but it was a bit too fast.” Each ‘couple’ was given 30 seconds to speak with each other. Speed-dating offered a fun and new type of activity for students this past Valentine’s Day. “Speed-dating was enjoyable,” Lohrmann said. “It made my Valentine’s Day interesting.”
can take small actions to make a big difference in the community. A parent or volunteer, such as the PTA staff, will be chosen to run this program, and the principal will coordinate this decision. To become part of this program, each school must have its principal, volunteer, food bank representative and food services representative sign the Letter of Understanding. Our school is not yet a part of this program, but six FCPS schools have already begun participating since the implementation of this program in December. “If done correctly, it is beneficial,” said Food Service Specialist Jan Girard. Food and Nutrition Services Director Penny McConnell also believes this program is very supportive, and hopefully this program will continue to spread to more schools across Virginia and the country in the future.
— SHARON CORISH Graphic by Nikki Robinson
Editorials Valor Dictus February 28, 2011
Volume 41 Issue 6 Bravely speaking to the Robinson Community 3
Sukriti Adhikari - Editorials Editor
In this section:
On page 4 read some mixed feedback on SMART Week.
Hannah Bunting - Editorials Editor
On page 4 read an opinion about parking pass injustices.
On page 4 weigh the pros and cons of adding honors classes.
Valor Dictus
ABOUT US Valor Dictus is a student-run newspaper that serves the Robinson community. All bylined articles, editorials, columns and letters are the expression of the writer and not necessarily that of the staff or the adviser. Unsigned editorials represent the majority opinion of the staff. ADVERTISEMENT POLICY Email letters to Valor_dictus@yahoo.com. Acceptance of an ad is not an endorsement of the product or services of the advertisers. Information concerning policies and advertising can be obtained by calling (703) 426-2285 or emailing Valor_dictus@yahoo.com
Cartoon by Sharon Corish
King’s Dominion Law needlessly hinders high-achieving students staff editorial While King’s Dominion itself provides a thrilling experience, the law it keeps in existence creates unnecessary obstacles for testtaking students. The King’s Dominion Law requires all FCPS schools open after Labor Day, which serves to keep the number of visitors to the theme park high during the holiday. Without the law, schools would be free to start school before or after Labor Day, which impacts how early summer begins. At the end of January, the Virginia Senate voted nine to six to turn down three bills in favor of repealing the Law. Although, according to a Washington Post article, there are still approximately a dozen bills supporting its removal, the Senate would
have to approve them before they could be passed, which appears unlikely. This is unfortunate, considering an earlier start to the year could benefit students, especially those studying for major exams. Starting the year slightly earlier in late August gives students several extra weeks to prepare for grueling IB exams and SOL tests. The exams are always taken around May, so an earlier start to the year provides several weeks longer to cram in material. Although students may complain about having less summer vacation time, this is a misconstrued mentality, considering an earlier start leads to an earlier end to the year as well. Starting summer near the beginning of June contains the additional benefit of aligning with the last days of most other schools in the nation. The primary reason the King’s Dominion
Do you support the removal of the King’s Dominion Law? “I would much rather have it where it is now, because I like labor day weekend.“ —Kyle Lynch, 12
“My friends go to a private school and I don’t get to see them, so it’ll be good for people with friends in private school.” — Geri Makinen, 12
“It should stay normal. Sometimes, it takes a while to get into summer, and that’s when camp starts.” —Gwendolyn Apgar, 11
“Keep it as it is; most people travel in August because it’s cooler.” —Nicky Solares, 10
“Yes, because by the end of August, I usually run out of things to do, and in the beginning of June, I want to leave school.” —Brittany Henry, 10
“I like school starting later, because that’s what I’m used to.” —Jimmy O’Hara, 9
what the
Law still exists is because its titular park benefits from students who pay to visit during their last week of summer. Prioritizing the law, which serves a business, over student education is not only selfish, but completely unnecessary. Because the length of summer vacation will not change in the law’s absence, King’s Dominion makes an identical amount of money over a slightly earlier time frame. That senators have been unable to see this in the past is absolutely appalling. As college admissions become more and more competitive, it is more important now than ever for students to squeeze as much as they can out of every test. While repealing the King’s Dominion Law may have little effect on the park, it can make a big difference for studious youth. A stellar IB grade will surely satisfy students as much as a ride on the Dominator.
photos and interviews by Stefanie Chae, Betsy Berenback-Gold, and Mary McGrath
“I’m behind it one hundred percent, because it’s a good idea and it has strong fundamentals.” —Kenny Fannon, 11
“Yes; I’d like summer to start earlier, because it gives the illusion that you have more summer.” —Jonathan Tran, 10 “I don’t want school starting in August, because it’s the best time to go on vacation. “ —Amelia Jindra, 9
kids in the hall
are saying
EDITORIAL POLICY Valor Dictus welcomes student opinion as an open forum. All opinion pieces must be e-mailed to valor_dictus@yahoo.com. Letters or columns must be signed. That is, they must contain a name, and a title All content received by the paper is subject to editing. Letters must be around 100-200 words. Guest columns must be 500 words or less. Valor Dictus reserves the right to withold the publication of letters and guest submissions.
2011-2012 Staff: Editor-In-Chief: Thomas Friestad Production Editor: Shelby Gee Business Managers: Kate Monick Jason Focarino Copy Editor: Faith Schweikert Kids-in-the-Hall Editor: Stefanie Chae Photography Editor: Hailey Metzger Editorials Editors: Sukriti Adhikari Hannah Bunting Focus Editors: Betsy Berenback-Gold Jenny Shin Features Editors: Christine Yumping Anagha Srikanth
Entertainment Editors: Sharon Corish Danielle Nelson News Editors: Nikki Robinson Tim White Sports Editors: Lindsay Webb Chase Bailey Online Editor: Megan Lin Staff Writers: Hiba Ahmad Roz Allen Simran Badwal Jack Connors Ian Criman Bailey Haase Owen Joyce MK Koszycki Mary McGrath Reem Nadeem Nick Runkel Joe White Adviser: Laura Brockman
CORRECTIONS From January Issue: - Rex Boateng’s name was mispelled, page 8 - Rex Boateng was not born blind, page 8 - Michelle Sparling is a teacher, page 9 - Rob Pillow is pictured on the left while Tristian Crenshaw is on the right, page 16
To submit a letter to the editor, e-mail a signed, 100-200 word letter to valor_dictus@yahoo. com or drop it off in room 503. Check us out online at www.valor-dictus.com
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Editorials
Valor Dictus February 28, 2012
What do you think about the effectiveness of SMART week? “I don’t think this was a good idea because the SGA had no control over us. It was free advice. “ — Sidney Randolph, 12 ”I don’t think anyone was
aware of what they were doing. So it wasn’t incredibly effective.”
.
“No, it shouldn’t have been a week, it should be a lifestyle. ” — Mohammad Aarij, 10
what the
kids in the hall are saying
TIM WHITE Stress. The word brings understanding to some and discontent to others. To address the growing stress level in students, the SGA came with SMART Week. The aim of this week was to bring awareness to the hardships teenagers face in their lives. While the principle and goals of SMART Week were solid in foundation, the execution of the program was lackluster. Starting with the positives of SMART Week, the SGA brought attention to a gen-
erally overlooked high school issue. Sure, everyone knows about stress, but very few are aware of the damage stress, anxiety and depression can cause. Some teachers and parents tend to prioritize grades and work over caring for students’ mental health; this is not wrong, it is their job. Therefore, the SGA did an adequate job bringing attention to mental health issues. Not only did they address stressed students, but they brought up the issue before teachers too. Teachers now can understand the damage stress can cause on a student’s health and well-being. On the negative side, for one, the week was much less advertised than it should have been. There were no ads on GMR to promote its activities and only a few posters advertised it in the halls. Not only did the promotions fail to advertize the event or even tell what it was about, but they lacked in creativity and effort. The timing of the event was questionable as well. The SGA chose to hold SMART
Happiness makes for healthier students
SHELBY GEE With winter coming to a close and the long haul of the third quarter still dragging on, it is more important than ever for students to remain optimistic and enjoy the little things in their lives. Not only is smiling more fun than stressing out, there has been research to prove it can help physically. Two professors from the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville conducted an experiment on first year law students, with results showing that those who were more optimistic about their futures at the school tested with a larger immune response to illness. In the winter, when colds and flus run rampant, opti-
. .week
good idea, inefficient planning
— Marissa Kleiman, 11
“It was good but it would have been better if they got more involved with the kids” — Erica Schulz, 9
.
.
mism could be the easiest way to ward off disease. Along with the immunity factor, if students are happy and do not let the little things stress them out, it will help with maintaining a healthy diet. Stress can lead to weird eating habits, and could lead students to reach for more chocolate over vegetables. And a healthy diet, once again, will make them feel healthy inside-and-out. Of course, remaining optimistic when faced with three tests, two IAs and readings galore is easier said than done, but there are some quick fixes for these problems. The first thing to do is to prioritize. Students should make sure to leave time for homework and studying in their hectic schedules. Going into school prepared for the day is the best way to lift a weight off their shoulders, literally. In addition, going into a test with a positive attitude is known to improve test performance. Though working hard is important, it is key for students to balance their schedules. It is important for students to plan their days so there is a chance for downtime as well. A little block to do what they enjoy could be just the remedy for the
&
Comparing
third quarter blues. Whether this involves watching their favorite TV show or going to Pinkberry with friends, the important thing is for them to do what they want along with what they need to do. Students should reward themselves as well. If they do well on a big test; they should treat themselves to an extra outing with friends. If students get all their work done during the weekthey can spend Fridays however they want. One evening a week without work is a great way to unwind and stay happy. Above all, students should remember to sleep. Not even the happiest person is positive after two hours of sleep. Getting a good eight hours as often as possible will help keep things looking up. It is important for students not to let the stresses of school get them down. Following these quick steps will help to maintain a positive attitude and get through the remainder of the quarter healthy and happy. Turn that frown upside down and not only will life be more enjoyable, but students might find their grades and their tissue box es thank them as well.
Contrasting
Two writers debate the benefits and drawbacks of the new honors classes being added to the course options in the near future The Fairfax County School Board’s recent decision to add more honors courses to the available high school curriculum is a waste of school funds, especially during times of budget cuts. The county does not have the means to provide for the training of the teachers these classes will require, and these classes will serve as nothing more than a façade on the transcripts of students who do not want to take the extra step to enroll in an AP or IB course. By adding these new courses, the School Board is neglecting to look at the teacher training which will be required, the money needed to provide this training and the possibility of schools having to hire new teachers. Due to the current state of the economy, the School Board cannot afford to waste money on unnecessary classes. These funds would be better used on improving existing programs, or to giving current teachers bonuses. Moreover, the classes will not act to improve the level of knowledge the students will retain from the class, but instead will only serve as a class for students to take without appearing as if they are taking the bare minimum. The classes will attract students who do not want to commit to the work needed to complete an IB or AP course, and will defeat the purpose of having an honors course. Not only will this in turn be a waste of money, but it will not serve to benefit the students who would actually be interested in enhancing their knowledge through taking the honors course. The quality of the class will be weighed down with the students who take the course solely for its appearance on their transcript. The School Board should reevaluate their decision to offer these honors courses at future meetings and should weigh whether they are worth the cost and actually will be effective.
—LINDSAY WEBB
During a Fairfax County School Board meeting held Jan. 26, it was decided the county will offer five new honors classes in the near upcoming school year. Two English and three history courses will be added to the list of potential class options for the upcoming school year. These new courses allow the selection of classes to be more diverse, which will encourage students of all various learning abilities to challenge themselves. For non-IB diploma candidates, the work of an IB course can seem unnecessary because students are not actually working toward earning the diploma with their assignments. With AP exams, there is often pressure put on the student to pass the rigorous exams to obtain college credit. By forming a new curriculum for honors History and English, students who wish to work hard and challenge themselves are given an opportunity to do so without being forced to complete unnecessary coursework. However, to make an impact, these classes must be properly executed. It could be easy for the classes to be almost exact copies of IB or AP courses but without the exams. On the other hand, the honors courses could turn into replicas of standard courses but with more books to read or exams to take. Neither scenario would solve the problem. There is a growing group of students who wish to take higher level classes without the stress or pressure of preparing for a nationwide exam or completing lengthy internal assessments. With five new classes, the county has the perfect opportunity to bridge this gap. Our school needs classes that are manageable but challenging, engaging but not impossible. Students have lives and responsibilities outside of school to their families, jobs, religious groups, and sports. By offering honors courses to upperclassmen as a sort of middle ground, the county could help students be one step closer to achieving balance, challenging themselves, and ultimately succeeding.
—MK KOSZYCKI
Week right in the middle of Valentine’s Day week. While the rest of the school was dreaming of candy and love, the SGA was preaching the signs of depression. While the issue is important, bringing up stress anytime around Valentine’s Day is a bad idea. Students simply do not want to hear about the negative attributes of high school the same week they are planning dates and presents. A better idea for SMART Week would have been to hold it the following week. This would have led to a more efficient teachings of stress. All in all, the intentions of SGA’s SMART Week were solid. SMART Week brought attention to a typically hushed issue in high school. Hopefully our school will learn from SMART Week and be more stress-aware in everyday lives. However, the next time SGA attempts to plan an event, the event should be thoroughly advertised and well-planned. Not every event is homecoming and some must be advertised more than others.
Undeserved parking pass seizure needs evaluation BY MICHEALA WRIGHT Staff Writer
From the beginning of the school year, students who drive to school and arrive only one or two minutes before the tardy bell, find a school security officer waiting to take away their parking pass. Despite the legitimate excuses of several students, parents must take time to phone Mr. Meier to get the school to return their child’s pass before the one week sentence. The school’s seemingly random pass confiscation as the security staff implements it is unjust and ineffective There are many reasons why haphazard confiscation of parking passes is bad, but the most important is the essentially unjust nature. The randomness of the checks ensures the punishment is completely disconnected from student records and punishes anyone who is present, regardless of their circumstances. Instead of targeting students with a bad habit of arriving late, the policy often pounces on students who may have simply had a bad morning. The random selection is in no way a fair implementation of the school’s tardy policy. Additionally, students who are in possession of a pass have paid the hefty sum of $200 to have the ‘privilege’ of parking on school grounds. The school is fully justified to confiscate passes with reasonable cause, as it should be; however, one single tardy is under no circumstances a reasonable cause for any length of confiscation. Like a poorly planned law, the policy is now working counter to its purpose of keeping students in class, as students have found ways around it. Now contradictory to its purpose, several students have confessed, if they know they will be cutting it close to the bell, they will wait to come into school even later to avoid pass confiscation. This prolongs the time students spend missing class from several minutes, to up to 10 or 15 minutes. Outside of the issue of unsystematic confiscation, the situation raises the question of how harshly the school should punish insignificant morning tardies when unexcused absences and mid-afternoon tardies better reflect the attendance issues plaguing the school. Kids who arrive late to third or fourth periods because they were socializing indicate a much more noteworthy show of irresponsibility than a student who accidentally overslept. To resolve this issue, the school needs to change their tardy mentality. An improved proposal might involve the school cracking down on students with real tardy records, rather than indiscriminate drivers, and shift more resources to solve genuine tardy issues. The school simply must address the unreasonable nature and failure of its policy or risk losing credibility while continue to ineffectively punish any student with a parking pass.
Features
Valor Dictus February 28, 2012 Volume 41 Issue 6 Bravely speaking to the Robinson Community 5
Anagha Srikanth - Features Editor
In this section:
Christine Yumping - Features Editor
On page 6 read a food review on Jersey Mike’s.
On page 6 read about how students are coping with senioritis.
On page 7 read about the school’s technological advances.
Another side to Corbin BY STEFANIE CHAE & MARY MCGRATH Staff Writers
Photos by Hailey Metzger Guarding jewels of another kind — Security Guard Sandra Corbin arranges jewelry middle schoolers crafted after school in the Gold cafeteria, pursuing a hobby that comes as a surprise to many students accustomed to her securing the hallways.
ever young 4 Feb 29
26 27 28 1
26 27 28 29 1
Students have varying impressions of security guard Sandra Corbin, whether they are of her ensuring hallway lurkers have a pass or giving a friendly ‘hello’ to passersby. However, these outside appearances hide one of Corbin’s afterschool passions. Every Monday after the final bell, anyone can find Corbin in the Gold cafeteria, advising the Middle School Jewelry Club. Corbin said she did not initially have an interest in making jewelry, but began the hobby when a relative invited her to participate eight years ago. Afterward, she began to take classes in the art. “[Making jewelry] becomes addictive,” Corbin said. Corbin said she started the club for middle school students as a way to get them involved in different extracurricular activities. “I think it is great that she has a jewelry club because it is something for the middle school students to do that they haven’t done before,” security guard James Harrison said.
Last fall, the Jewelry Club sold its signature pieces for the first time at the Robinson Marketplace. Corbin said the club plans to sell at future school events, and possibly on the stage in the cafeteria or after school. Eighth grader Sylvia Dahlhauser said Corbin is a great security guard, and that she is surprised she runs a club dedicated to creating and selling jewelry. Dahlhauser said this is a side she did not expect Corbin to have. “I wouldn’t say what I do is teaching,” Corbin said. “The girls are all very creative; they all have their own style and they do their own stuff. I mainly supply them with the materials.” Seventh grader Kristen Bellinghoven said Corbin introduced her to a new skill while making a necklace, and now, she can make them and give them as gifts to her friends and family. Bellinghoven said attending the Jewelry Club has taught her new skills and knowledge about jewelry, and has saved her both time and money. “[Jewelry making] is relaxing,” Corbin said. “You get immediate results from your work; instant gratification.”
Q & A
Every four years is a leap year, when one extra day is added to the calendar to account for the difference with the astronomical year. To most students, Feb. 29 is just another day, but for sophomores Michael Ruggio and Andrew Ridenour, it is the day they turn four years older. What is it like having a leap year birthday? I like it because it is special. My mom thought it was awesome, but my grandma was really upset because she thought I would hate it. But, I really do like having a leap year birthday. —Ruggio I like having a leap year birthday because it is unique and different then other people’s birthdays. —Ridenour What did you think when you first found out your birthday only came every four years? I thought my birthday was more special than everybody else. —Ruggio How do you celebrate your birthdays differently on leap year days? I celebrate at better restaurants. On the Feb. 28 birthdays, I eat at Olive Garden, but on the Feb. 29 birthdays, I go to places like Macaroni Grill or other nicer restaurants. On the Feb. 29 birthday, a lot more family comes down to visit. —Ruggio On my Feb. 29 birthday, it is a bigger event, because it is my actual birthday. —Ridenour What do you usually hear from other people about your birthday? When people find out about my birthday, they either say “that’s cool” or “that sucks.” But most people just think it’s different. Sometimes, they make fun of the fact that I’m four years old, even though I’m technically sixteen. —Ruggio People usually just think it is cool and like unique. –Ridnour What’s the best birthday gift you’ve received? One year, I went to Disney world. —Ruggio
Andrew Ridenour Michael Ruggio
Infographic by Betsy Berenback-Gold and Anagha Srikanth
Photo by Sukriti Adhikari Don’t wave and drive - Peter Patchan waves a sign alongside Ox Road to attract attention and potential customers. He said his brand of advertising attracts all sorts of personalities and experiences.
Liberty Tax exercises freedom to wave BY SUKRITI ADHIKARI Editorials Editor
As the winter comes to an end, cheerful wavers dressed as the Statue of Liberty have now begun spreading cheer around different locations in Fairfax and Burke. While driving through Fairfax Station, near Gold’s Gym, one can often see the wavers smiling at passersby while jumping or doing something distracting, but funny. These wavers work for Liberty Tax, a company located in Fairfax Station. Every year, locals go there to file their taxes. Chuck Stout, manager of Liberty Tax, said he has seen people go the the company after a positive experience with the wavers. “Their job is to go out there, be energetic and friendly and make eye contact with people driving,” Stout said. “We give rewards if someone drops by and says ‘I saw the waver and came in.’” Cody Williams, graduate from our school, is among the company’s wavers. Although he has only been working as a waver for the last three weeks, he
said he has gained a lot of experience. While recalling an awkward moments during his job, he said, “One day, the landlord came by and I didn’t know he was the landlord. We had two flags outside the store and we had put them in buckets. Apparently, we were not allowed to have anything at the sidewalk. He gave a nasty look and threw the flag at the ground.” While trying to get drivers’ attention, Williams said he usually jumps and waves his board. “Sometimes, they smile or wave back, and sometimes they even honk,” Williams said. “One time, this guy flicked me off.” Waver Peter Patchan has also been working in Liberty tax for the last three weeks. “I like making people happy and I wanted a job that didn’t make me sit in a table so I started this job,” Patchan said. Sometimes, he said he plays music while working. While working as a waver can seem quite intimidating, it also has his positive aspects since one can work independently and let their personality shine.
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Features
Valor Dictus February 28, 2012 Get it again!
Ram Rating:
Average
Trash it
Grilled Veggie Wrap Rating:
Environment Rating:
Jersey Mike’s Location: 10394 Willard Way Fairfax, VA 22030
Jersey Mike’s Subs is a fast food chain restaurant located in Fairfax City, in Courthouse Plaza. The beach-themed decorations and contemporary background music give the small restaurant an appealing and casual feel. Because of its location in a strip mall close to school, it is a great place to stop a grab lunch or even a quick snack.
Hours: Mon-Sun: 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Service:
We sampled numerous dishes at Jersey Mike’s Subs, located in Courthouse Plaza. This restaurant specializes in fresh Northeast Style Sub Sandwiches. Read on to learn what to order and what to avoid.
Rating:
Because Jersey Mike’s is a fast food restaurant, the workers prepare the food right when it is ordered. The line was generally short when the restaurant was visited. Because of this, the food was prepared and ready within minutes. The workers were friendly and patient when asked about the menu.
The grilled veggie wrap is a great alternative to the traditional sandwiches offered at the restaurant. The wrap contains grilled green peppers and onions, melted swiss and provolone cheese, lettuce, tomatoes and a homestyle ranch dressing. All the ingredients come together to provide a refreshing flavor and a staisfying meal. Price: $6.95
Turkey Breast Sandwich Rating: The turkey breast and provolone sandwich in the regular size is a good lunch option. Served the ‘Mike’s Way,’ the sub was dressed with onions, lettuce, tomatoes, spices and a red wine vinegar and olive oil blend. The turkey is freshly sliced right before the sub is prepared, but the amount of cheese seemed too much. Price: $5.95
Tuna Fish Sandwich
Rating:
The Jersey Mike’s Tuna Fish sub in the mini size is a solid choice for those craving a classic tuna sandwich. The bread on which it is served is crisp, and the tuna itself is soft yet crunchy due to chopped vegetables. However, it is not something original or unique to the store. Price: $4.75 Graphic by Anagha Srikanth Photos and information compiled by Christine Yumping and Jenny Shin
Fernandez off to help from the start New school counselor, Fernandez, shares his thoughts, experiences making the transition BY ROZ ALLEN&SIMRAN BADWAL
“I think he is very efficient and always sends out emails about the schedules and to get back to him if we had any questions,” juCounselor Enrique Fernandez has recently nior Gwen Dolin said. made a move from Marshall High School to Fernandez said he work at our school. This is his first year being would like to continue a counselor, although he previously worked as his career here because, an intern at Marshall. Now fully transitioned through doing so, he will into his new job, he has all of his supplies be able to get to know his ready, such as laptops, schedules and meeting sophomores and juniors dates. a little better. He said “I came here he is also from Marshall familiar High School, and with this as soon as I walked county, so into the buildhe knows ing, I was amazed I enjoy working, interactwhere evat how big it was ing with and helping out erything compared to Maris. students. It is also a good shall,” Fernandez “He is learning experience. said. a graduGiven that ate from there was a job Counselor Enrique George Maopening at our son,” counFernandez school, Fernandez selor Jim said he decided Carter said. “I to work here behave seen him cause he would be able to interact with more work well with the students than he could at Marshall. He said students and he does changing jobs when he did was smart, because a great job at it. Also, it is tough to find a job in the middle of the since he is younger, he school year. can better relate to the “I wanted to become a counselor because students more.” I enjoy working, interacting with and helpFernandez said, aling out students,” Fernandez said. “It is also a though transitioning good learning experience.” from one of the smallest It did not take long for students to seek schools in the county Fernandez’s assistance. On his first day here, to one of the biggest a few students asked him to help out with the was no small feat, he Latin American Student Association. Fernan- is eager to continue dez said he was delighted to aid the club, as he interacting with his Photo By Roz Allen is Latin American himself. students.
Staff Writers
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Photo Illustration by Hiba Ahmad
Seniors struggle to strike a balance
Seniors battle to find balance between school work and time to relax in their final year BY HIBA AHMAD Staff Writer
After the college acceptance letters begin to arrive, many seniors start slacking on their attendance and grades. This is a condition commonly known as senioritis. “Senioritis is sort of like a phase seniors go through during the second semester after having your final grades sent off to colleges, applications turned in and finals assessments like IAs completed,” senior Amen Berhanu said. Many college admission boards encourage students to continue to work hard until the end of the year to keep their grades up. However, many seniors have the tendency to slack after even the first semester draws to an end. However, students who take part in the IB curriculum do not always have the chance to
enjoy the benefits of senioritis. Regardless of whether they have been accepted into college, they are unable to enjoy the relaxation and laziness accompanying senioritis. Regardless, many have lost some of their motivation to finish their work. Senior Faustine Chau is an IB diploma candidate who has been accepted into Virginia Tech. She said she does not have the motivation to do her assignments ahead of time anymore, but she still completes them to keep her grades up. “After my acceptance, teachers are still piling on the work; I definitely have senioritis, but it’s pretty difficult being an IB student,” Chau said. After almost four years of pulling all-nighters to finish reports and hours of studying for final exams, it is understandable for seniors to want their eight hours of sleep back. However, disregarding school completely may come with its consequences.
Features
Valor Dictus February 28, 2012
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Teacher alumni reflect Technology: on technology changes In Out Learning and teaching styles change as school evolves through technology adjustments over the past years BY IAN CRIMAN Staff Writer
Texting. Twitter. Facebook. All of these methods for communication were not available ten years ago for students. English 12 teacher Katy Kownacki said, when she attended high school here, pagers were all the rage. “Nobody had cell phones, and if some people had phones it was for emergency reasons,” Kownacki said. “Texting only became popular around 2007, and before that, it was AIM instant messenger.” Kownacki said she believes the new technology has made life easier for students. “We didn’t have a block schedule and because of that, I had a lot more homework every night when I went to Robinson,” Kownacki said. “It seems easier now; people can get to information for papers a lot more efficiently.” Cara Patno, a current English teacher who also attended our school during the renovation period, agreed with Kownacki and said technology has changed significantly. “When I went to Robinson, people generally didn’t have phones, and people generally only had them in case of an emergency,” Patno said. ”Technology is great normally, but
occasionally people almost hide behind it; sometimes, it’s better to just be able to sit down and work in class the traditional way.” AP Government teacher David Hemenway said, in the 1990’s, teachers used a massive 16mm projector, but new devices have teaching classes easier for him. “The increased technology has made it a lot easier for me to teach my class, because if there is an important event going on in politics, it can be accessed more easily than before,” Hemenway said. “Students had to search through magazines, books, and encyclopedias to find information for projects.” Hemenway said the school was initially constructed as a part of the open school concept. Schools had everything more accessible than they currently do. As a part of the original school, prior to renovation, each subschool featured a different media center. The classes in the middle of the subschools did not exist. “This was extremely difficult to manage, because if you wanted a book in one library, and the other libraries did not have the book, it would be hard to do whatever you were working on; the media center now has a lot more books and information than the separate ones did,” Hemenway said.
Principal Dan Meier said the increase in technology in the past years has been an added bonus to our school, but it comes with a cost. “It’s a real challenge, keeping up with the increased demands of keeping up with all of the new technology,” Meier said. “The change in technology happens very fast, and we’re constantly trying to keep up with those demands.” Meier said the administration has to keep an open mind about all of the new technology because it can make everything relevant for students. “Incorporating the new technology into the education process is extremely important for everyone,” Meier said. “We have to be openminded about this stuff and realize that the world is changing and we constantly have to be adapting to keep up with the challenges of adding more and more technology.” Meier said students also take online courses, and many classes are using online textbooks to enhance the learning process. Meier said, “All of the technology is great, but we have to make sure that it’s being used for good purposes and to enhance the education process, and not to potentially take shortcuts on anything that matters.”
Smart phones High Definition TVs Twitter and Facebook Texting XBOX 360, PS3, Wii
Flip phones and pagers Standard Definition TVs Myspace Instant Messenger XBOX, PS2, Gamecube
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Focus
Valor Dictus February 28, 2012
BY MK KOSZYCKI Staff Writer
Daycoordinator.SideWalker.HorseLeader.Thesearejustsomeof the titles belonging to Megan Pearson, Northern Virginia Therapeutic Riding Program (NVTRP) volunteer and sophomore. Since last year, Pearson has been volunteering at the program, located in Clifton, VA, which offers services, programs and lessons to a wide range of participants. NVTRP’s services include hippo-therapy, a specialized type of therapy which uses the horse as a tool to achieve therapeutic goals, riding therapy and community lessons for participants who simply wish to learn more about horseback riding. According to its website, the North American Riding Association has recognized and accredited the center on a national level. “The goal [of therapy] is to allow kids to be independent,” Pearson said. “We use the horses as a tool to do this.” Although the types of therapy vary, it can improve everything from speech and motor skills to confidence, depending on the individual’s circumstances. NVTRP Program Director Maryrose Bornhorst said the ultimate goal of any type of therapy at NVTRP is to work hard on focusing on a rider’s abilities, not just their disabilities. “Therapy helps riders understand how to follow directions,” Bornhorst said. “It works on their core strength, and it gives them body awareness.” While the services NVTRP offers are meant to benefit those participating in the therapy sessions, Pearson said they have helped her as well. “I got involved because it was a good opportunity to volunteer and work with horses,” Pearson said. “The first time I helped in a hippo-therapy lesson, I was a side walker. It was hard at first, but then got a lot easier as I figured it out. I really liked how rewarding it was to help a kid get out of a sitting wheelchair position to riding backwards, even kneeling on the horse’s back. It’s amazing to watch how far a person can go in just an hour of therapy.” Pearson and sophomore Hannah Swenson, a fellow volunteer, wears many hats while working at NVTRP. Swenson listed her duties as including everything from moving horses, mucking stalls and walking aside the horses in lessons. Volunteers at NVTRP must learn all aspects of running a specialized riding program to create a unique and helpful environment for the riders. Linda Aikey, Director of Volunteer Services, said volunteers with no horseback or therapeutic riding experience are accepted as long as they are at least 14 years of age. Then, they must attend
Valor Dictus February 28, 2012
introductory training, orientation and safety classes, as well as learn how to positively interact with disabled individuals. “Our volunteers have a great attitude,” Aikey said. “We ask a lot of them, and we know that.” Pearson is also involved in Squire Roses, a Catholic girl’s leadership organization that works on projects to benefit charities. Pearson brought NVTRP to the attention of the other girls in the group, who liked the idea of working with a local organization. Along with Pearson, the Roses worked on various projects to support NVTRP throughout 2011, such as holding a bake sale, planting a carrot patch and sponsoring a horse. Like Pearson, the Squire Roses who volunteered enjoyed the time spent working on the farm and with the horses. “I was there for most of the process and it was really cool to see the way NVTRP is run and how to take care of the horses,” said junior Emily Jaumillot, secretary of the Squire Roses. “It was also eye-opening to hear about the benefits that the horses bring to the kids, and all the technical details that are required to letting a mentally disabled child ride a horse to make sure they are safe.” Chief Squire Rose and senior Catherine Ly was also very involved in the campaign to help NVTRP. She said physically volunteering at the farm gave her a new appreciation for the time and money that goes into running the program. “I think planting the carrot patch was the most surprising though,” Ly said. “I never would have guessed how much work goes in to planting. It was quite humbling listening to the volunteers talk about the horses and the riding program they run, and definitely rewarding knowing all our work was going to a worthy cause.” Regardless of volunteer status, helping out at NVTRP has its challenges. Big and small jobs can create difficult situations for those lending a hand in the ring or on the grounds of the farm. “Planting the carrots was hard job because the area we planted in was so messy and filled with weeds,” Jaumillot said. “But once we cleared it out and planted everything, going back and seeing it all grown and feeding some to the horses was really rewarding.” Although technical difficulties, long days and tough situations abound, Pearson said she keeps a positive perspective on her volunteer job. “It is a huge difference between sitting at home or doing any other sport because I can help other people and get things done that mean a lot more to me than some things I do at home or school,” Pearson said. “Horses can have good and bad days, just like people. It can be hard to overcome frustration when a horse is bad or when a rider is nor listening, but it can be peaceful and I feel accomplished when working there. Everything about being a volunteer is therapeutic.”
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Photos courtesy of Caroline and Katie Pearson
Photo courtesy of Meredith Holley
COMMON VOCABULARY Photo courtesy of Emily Hertig
Photos courtesy of Emily Hertig Photo courtesy of Cary Horton
Page created by Betsy Berenback-Gold and Jenny Shin
Photo courtesy of Emily Schlosberg
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Valor Dictus February 28, 2012
Entertainment Valor Dictus February 28, 2012 Volume 41 Issue 6 Bravely speaking to the Robinson Community 11
Danielle Nelson - Entertainment Editor
Sharon Corish - Entertainment Editor
In this section:
On page 12 read a review of scary movie ‘The Woman in Black.’
On page 13 read about two albums to purchase.
‘Chronicle’ empowers audiences ‘Chronicle’ offers viewers new vision of the hero genre. Prior to the award show this past Sunday, Students were polled during all lunches and at valorDictus.com on who they would pick for the main awards
Staff Writer
Best Film
Photo courtesy of AllMoviePhoto.com Three teens — Steve Andrew, and Matt enjoy life with their newfound powers, as they embark on a journey of excitement and rergret.
88 minutes
Hang up the phone and come hang out at... Fairfax Corner
Fair Lakes Shopping Center
University Mall
General Overview: Fairfax Corner is a fairly new and upbeat social hotspot for anyone looking for a fun place to live, work, dine or shop. Fairfax Corner is family friendly, and is a great place for any time of the year and any time of the day. It provides the always entertaining movie theater, as well as the Main Street themed shopping of such chain shops as Chico’s, Plow and Hearth and REI, as well as local boutiques. Fairfax Corner is a great place to get together with some friends, or to go for a night out on the town. It offers a variety of dining options like Potbelly’s, California Pizza Kitchen and Coastal Flats. During the cold winter months, it provides a cozy atmosphere to enjoy a warm drink with some friends at Starbuck’s, while in the middle of summer, is provides a great way to cool off with its ground fountain for kids to play in. Hangout or Date Night? Fairfax Corner is a great place for a date night. The lit-up central area is very nice for a classy and romantic ambience. Fairfax Corner works well as a casual place to get together with friends, or a fancy place to take out that special someone. Ideal Consumer: People interested in buying unique styles and looking for a hip and trendy place to spend the afternoon.
General Overview: Fair Lakes Shopping Center is like a large strip mall, but it offers the luxury of being a great hangout spot. It has a huge array of shops and eateries from Target and Michael’s, to Chipotle and Starbucks. Fair Lakes also offers seven miles of nature trails, as well as basketball, tennis and volleyball courts. Whether looking for a fun place to buy a new outfit or a great place to get some exercise with friends, Fair Lakes Shopping Center is a must-see. The best part of the Fair Lakes Shopping Center is how much variety it has. There are so many different stores, like PetSmart, Home Goods, Target and Walmart, Ulta, Best Buy and so much more. With so many choices, there is bound to be a shop for anyone who comes to Fair Lakes. Hangout or Date Night? Fair Lakes Shopping Center is a great casual place to go shopping with friends. It is great for picnics with its miles of natural landscape, and it is perfect for a day of running errands. It also has potential as a date night spot, with restaurants such as Red Pepper and Olive Garden. Ideal Consumer: People looking for the practicality of a shopping center and the versatility of the outdoors.
General Overview: University Mall is a very popular hangout spot among teenagers and college students. It offers a theater with great prices on movie tickets and snacks, as well as a huge array of restaurants and eateries. Such places as Brion’s Grille, McDonald’s, Josie’s and Dunkin Donuts. There are also quite a few shops at University Mall. There is a florist, a comic book store and a Giant grocery store. From stopping in to buy groceries, to spending a night out with friends, University Mall is a great choice when one is looking for something to do. It is also very close to our school, and thus very convenient. Students looking for a great place to meet with other local students should pay a visit to University Mall for a fun time catching a movie and grab bing something to eat. Hangout or Date Night? University Mall is a great spot for hanging with friends and having casual fun. However, it does offer some classier options for a date, such as Brion’s Grille and Cafe Ima. Ideal Consumer: People interested in hanging out with friends while grabbing a bite to eat on any occasion.
Information compiled by Sharon Corish, infographic and artwork by Sharon Corish.
s
Run-Time:
PG-13 for intense action and violence, thematic material, some language, sexual content and teen drinking.
Actre s
MPAA Rating:
Best Actor
“Spider-Man” series and many other popular super hero films. Though it is not perfect, “Chronicle” is still an excellent movie and well worth the price of admission. “Chronicle” is currently regarded by critics as one of the top films in this late winter rush of movie releases and this is the case for a reason. It is a solid film with superb action scenes, an intruiging narrative and strong acting.
“Mone
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”
Bra
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Roon ey
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Best
While there are a lot of positive things to say about the film, there are also some glaring negatives. While these cons do not ruin the film, they hold it back from its full potential. One of these negatives was the camera work. It was very shaky and at times seemed amateur. The home video style camera work has become popular due to films like “Cloverfield” and the “Paranormal Activity” series. However, it became irritating here and it makes it harder to see and appreciate a lot of the special effects. This film could have been improved had they used a more provfessional style of camera work. This makes the film feel more like an hour and a half YouTube clip rather than a major motion picture. Another problem with the film was the premise. While the premise of “with great power comes great responsibility” is a good one, it felt completely derived from the
Jonah Hill
Melissa McCarthy
ss Actre g in t r uppo Best S
With all the new and exciting film releases in February and film releases coming up in the spring, a movie must stand out and set itself apart from other films to become relevant. When previews were first seen for “Chronicle,” people were excited because the film looked unique, and it appeared to be a film which would put a new spin on the superhero genre. Though the film does not live up to all the hype, it is still entertaining and is a great way to spend a night at the theater. The movie is about three high school students who discover a substance that gives each of them powers. As they learn to use their powers, they try to govern themselves to make sure they use them appropriately. The teens continue to face temptation in a never-ending battle between right and wrong, and learn that with great power comes great responsibility. The acting in this film is excellent. The characters act appropriately for high school students and maintain the awareness that their powers are dangerous. The excellent acting in the film helps viewers bond with the characters, so viewers will find themselves emotionally invested in the film. The pacing of the film is also stellar. It got right into the action and juicy part of plot without talking away enriching scenes which add to the story. This makes the film easy to understand and keeps viewers from becoming bored. The special effects are also incredible and are heavily used in the wild tangents of action constantly breaking out in the film. Between the explosions and objects moving freely in the air, the special effects make the show much more dramatic.
Best Supporting Actor
BY JOE WHITE
“Kung Fu Panda 2
Best Animated Film
Photo reprinted courtesy of individual production companies, Graphic by Shelby Gee
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Entertainment ‘Woman in Black’ terrifies movie-goers
Valor Dictus February 28, 2012
Your guide to new music coming out this March March 13: One Direction ‘Up All Night’
The British boy band were finalists in the British talent competition, “The X-Factor” back in 2010. Their first single, “What Makes You Beautiful” has become somewhat of an anthem, similar to “Just the Way You Are” by Bruno Mars in that it tells a girl she is beautiful the way she is. Even if one is not a fan of the boy band sound, circa The Jonas Brothers, One Direction’s songs are ridiculously catchy pop confections ready-made for radio play. Something about One Direction that sets them apart from other boy bands is their ability to accomplish different sounds within the pop genre, from slow ballads to anthem tunes and even to club-hit type songs that verge on dance. It helps
BY FAITH SCHWEIKERT
all five vocalists are talented singers in their own right. Their debut album, “Up All Night,” has been selling millions of copies worldwide since November, and now it is finally reaching North America, where it is sure to be popular especially since the band is touring with fellow boy band Big Time Rush in the states. The album features thirteen original songs. Some tracks to keep listeners’ ears peeled to include “One Thing,” “More Than This,” “I Wish,” “Taken,” “I Want” and “Same Mistakes,” as they are the strongest vocally and lyrically. For some extremely catchy tunes, check out “What Makes You Beautiful” and the title track.
—SHELBY GEE March 13: The Ting Tings ‘Sounds from Nowheresville’ Listeners might remember the Ting Tings from their annoyingly catchy single “That’s Not My Name” off of their debut album back in 2008. If they were fans of the band’s catchy chants and electronic melodies off of that record, “… Nowheresville” will not disappoint. The first single off of the band’s second album, “Hang It Up” in fact sounds very similar to their sound back in 2008, minus the chants of various girls’ names. In total, the album has ten new songs, ranging from upbeat pop dance songs like the first single to trance-like ballads, such as the second single, “Silence.” The band never strays too far from the quirky yet catchy sound they are known for, but they do a better job on this album than
they did on their first at making interesting songs. The best tunes are those that sound a little different, such as “Silence” and “Hit Me Down Sunny.” Songs like “Give It Back” and “Guggenheim” are worth skipping on the album. The prior is simply a boring track, while, on the contrary, “Guggenheim” is perhaps the band’s most annoying song—yes, more than “That’s Not My Name”—when it gets to the chorus. Instead, go for tracks like “Hit Me Down Sunny,” “Soul Killing” or “One by One.” And the best song is by far “Day to Day,” which veers more towards poprock a la Avril Lavigne in her debut album.
—SHELBY GEE
Copy Editor
Photo reprinted courtesy of Sony Music
Backstreet Boys
Jonas Brothers
Photo reprinted courtesy of Columbia
‘Great DJ’
‘That’s Not My Name’
‘Survivor’ one whirlwind of tension and energy BY THOMAS FRIESTAD Editor-In-Chief
Far from last year’s superfluous Redemption Island twist, “Survivor” has returned for its twenty-fourth season with a more creative spin on the game. For the first time, the two tribes of contestants will inhabit the same beach. In addition, “Survivor: One World” marks the third time in the show’s history that the two tribes will be divided along gender lines. The tribes’ coexistence at a single camp created an eventful first two episodes and the interactions between the men and women provided plenty of entertainment. The close proximity of the genders led to frequent friction as the contestants bartered for items such as captured chickens and palm fronds. Eventually, such juvenile actions as an offhand comment from the men about the women pole dancing in exchange for their flint fueled the figurative fire between the groups. As sleep deprivation and hunger takes its toll on contestants in the future, the competition will only
“A film to make you afraid of the dark” is how Daniel Radcliffe described his first post-Potter film, “The Woman in Black.” The film stayed true to Radcliffe’s word, as the scares did not end until the credits finished rolling. This old-fashioned horror film for twenty-first century viewers is based off the popular 1983 novel by Susan Hill, “The Woman in Black.” It follows the widowed Arthur Kipps (Radcliffe) when he encounters the vengeful ghost of a woman haunting the village. The English countryside, especially at night when most of the film is set, somehow makes the already eerie scenes even more so. The isolated mansion has cobweb-lined staircases lit only by candlelight, complete with squeaking floor boards, so every noise seems like it will end in disaster. Though it is not completely black and white like the traditional old-fashioned horror films, every scene and every object has a sepia, melancholy look to it. While some argue they were unable to forget Radcliffe’s past Harry Potter role, others could not have disagreed more. He portrays the depressed, determined father and widower as well as an actor twice his age would. Radcliffe credits his ability to channel his fatherly role to Misha Handley, who plays his son Joseph in the film. However, in real life, Misha is his godson and said that kind of bond was already there. The greatness is in the suspense and the anticipation of what the audience knows is going to happen next. Though the audience can tell when the next scare is coming, it does not matter because
continue to heat up. Although the show is quick to remind viewers the women’s tribe is suffering from infighting, a tribe swap could leave the title of Sole Survivor in any competent player’s hands. The first two episodes showcase the improvement of all aspects of the show from last year. In an unpredictable and dramatic turn of events, a contestant fractured her wrist after falling 25 feet onto a rope net. Her unfortunate removal from the game was an indication of this season’s challenges being more difficult than tossing a coconut onto a colored tile. The absence of returning players is also forcing the contestants to develop their own strategies to advance, rather than following along. Most refreshingly, the airtime is more balanced between contestants, all of whom are developing smoothly into their onscreen characters; plus, when the most featured contestant is a gay Republican superfan, the show is bound to be compelling, if head-scratching at times. The previous two men vs. women seasons set a high precedent for “Survivor: One World,” and judging by the first two episodes, it is likely to meet it.
Photo courtesy of allmoviephoto.com Leaving the mansion— Arthur Kipps defies the villiage and visits the mansion of the Woman in Black against their wishes. He should have listened.
even the slightest noise or movement causes the viewers to scream with fright after such long periods of silence. The typical “blood and guts” type films cannot compare to how frightened the film leaves its viewers when it is finished. “The Woman in Black” is executed fantastically and is definitely worth seeing. Though it may seem scary, remember it is the suspense which makes it wonderful. So movie go-ers, do not shield your eyes the whole time, because the music, or even the lack thereof, will still make you scream along with everyone else. MPAA Rating:
PG-13 for thematic material and violence/disturbing images 99 minutes Run-Time:
Photos curtosy of CBS.com
’Vow’ fails to impress BY DANIELLE NELSON Entertainment Editor
Director Michael Sucsy attempts to bring to life a storyline worthy of a Nicholas Sparksesque film in his latest box office hit, “The Vow.” Unfortunately, the hit is a miss. “The Vow” is the story of a young married couple living in Chicago. Paige (Rachel McAdams) is an aspiring sculptor and her husband, Leo (Channing Tatum), owns a recording studio. When they suffer a car accident one night, Paige suffers from severe head trauma, which results in the loss of the last five years of her memory. The predictable events of the movie are a sore spot with the general audience. Though the storyline is original, viewers can tell what is coming around every turn. Even when events are thrown in to shake things up, they are resolved rather quickly, allowing the main events to retake their obvious course. The film also does a poor job of using its time effectively. Several of the hospital scenes after the accident occupy a large amount of time in the movie. Though some of the scenes are necessary to explain Paige’s condition,
many of them are redundant. The excessive focus on this portion of the movie took valuable time away from its lackluster climax. Sucsy effectively portrays Paige and Leo’s relationship realistically, compared to the majority of romances depicted in many Hollywood films. The cute idiosyncrasies they have as a couple help to convince the audience their relationship is a plausible one. The lack of resolution at the end of the movie is also aggravating, to say the least. The movie ends at a point where the viewers are forced to make their own assumptions on what happened to the main characters, not unlike “Inception.” However, “The Vow” lacked the quizzical quality “Inception” held throughout the movie. Unfortunately, this leads to viewers leaving the theater annoyed, rather than engaging in friendly debate amongst themselves. “The Vow” is, like the last five years of Paige’s life, forgettable. MPAA Rating:
PG-13 for an accident scene, some sexual content, partial nudity, some language 104 minutes Run-Time:
Photo curtosy of allmoviephoto.com Staring into each other’s eyes — Leo and Paige share a moment together as a married couple before Paige’s accident during which she loses her memory.
Entertainment
Valor Dictus February 28, 2012
Hear Me Out
In review
13
Read about some interesting new albums and whether or not they are download-worthy. Sleigh Bells- “Born to Lose” Tennis- “Cape Dory”
10. 4.
2.
5.
6.
Across 3. This is a male name, but also of the highest award for films. 5. This spooky bag of bones is on the cover of the Ting Tings new album. 6. How many directions a hot new band has. 8. Daniel Radcliffe’s son...in “Woman in Black” 9. Students voted, and this movie hits the best film category out of the park. Down 1. If a girl crashes in this, she might just forget her husband. 2. Fairfax _______ 4. The name of the new movie about boys who acquire fun powers. 5. This adventurous reality television show is featured in the heart of the South Pacific. 7. He wants his wife to remember their “vow” in this new film. 10. If Daniel Radcliffe sees a woman in this color, he had better run away.
Crossword by Sharon Corish, infographic by Danielle Nelson and Sharon Corish.
Sleigh Bells made quite the entrance into the music world in 2010. With rough, rhythmic tracks like Infinity Guitars circulating around the Internet at light speed, the duo quickly caught the attention of M.I.A., who signed them to her label N.E.E.T. Next was the debut album, “Treats.” This record proved itself to be both a perfect soundtrack to the likes of both parties and cell phone commercials. Sleigh Bells crossed the coveted bridge from indie darlings to alternative stars, garnering praise for their abrasive vocals and school yard stomps, among other things. Fast-forward to the release of Sleigh Bells new album, “Reign of Terror.” This album title is a misnomer. This sophomore release is anything but terrifying; in fact, it’s rather boring. Everything that catapulted Sleigh Bells to their popularity is gone- the disheveled sound has been polished up and toned down. While the band’s new calm is not necessarily bad, it is definitely disappointing. In a word where all musicians seem to be copies of copies of copies, Sleigh Bells brought a fresh new sound to the scene. However, it appears they could not avoid the dreaded sophomore slump. Even though the softer side of Sleigh Bells may appeal to fans who liked the earlier material’s softer side (Rill Rill, anyone?), the youthful, visceral noise of the debut has matured into a gloomy and forgettable new release. Rating: 5/10 Download: Born to Lose, D.O.A.
A new producer can give a band a whole new lease on life. Such is the case with Tennis, a Colorado band consisting of husband-and-wife duo Alaina and Patrick Moore. Their debut effort, 2011’s “Cape Dory,” saw the band illustrating their experiences living on a boat with songs about high tides and beaches, complete with finger-snapping and plenty of fuzzy, distorted production effects. Enter Patrick Carney, drummer of the Black Keys. Carney has left his bluesy mark on this well-executed album, tightening up the instrumentation and only using fuzzedout guitars where appropriate. Carney and the Moores are quite the dream team, because the album manages to sound more mature than “Cape Dory” while maintaining Tennis’ beach-pop appeal. The blues rock keyboards featured on several of the stronger tracks adds a touch of sophistication to the general whimsy of the songs. The vocals are cleaner, the lyrics are grown up, but the album still manages to be fun. As long as Tennis has Carney to orchestrate this perfect balance, they should be able to appeal to a wide range of musical tastes instead of polarizing their audiences with childish lyrics and guitars that are distorted to the point that the song itself is hard to enjoy. The new, mature version of Tennis surprisingly makes for a much better album. Rating: 8/10 Download: Origins, Deep in the Woods Information compiled by MK Koszycki.
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Valor Dictus February 28, 2012
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Sports
Valor Dictus February 28, 2012 Volume 41 Issue 6 Bravely speaking to the Robinson Community 15
Chase Bailey- Sports Editor
sports briefs Winter Sports Success on the board and in the pool
The swim and dive team competed at states Jan. 17 and 18 at George Mason University. Senior Cory Bowersox won the state dive competition, breaking the Virginia State dive record, with 551 points. “I’m proud of the way we performed individually and in our relays, but I feel like we don’t have as much depth as we used to have,” senior Sarah Walden said. The girl’s and boy’s swim team finished twelfth and thirteenth in the state, respectively. “Most of the team had had really good times at states, and a lot of people did as well as they have ever done,” freshman Mackenzie Schuler said. “We had several relays and individuals make finals.” Junior Paul Betzold said he feels this year’s team was really talented, but the team next year will have more depth. Betzold said, “I think we will have more people place in states next year as we get more depth; we were pretty young this year. ”
– IAN CRIMAN
Photo by Nick Runkel Celebrating state title— Senior Santiago Valdez jumps into the air after beating his Grassfield opponent for the state title.
Martino wins second title, Valdez first This past Presidents’ Day weekend, our school hosted the state wrestling tournament. Our school brought seven wrestlers overall to the competition, and out of this group, seniors Brooks Martino, Santiago Valdez, Jonathan Simmons and sophomore Jake Pinkston made it to the semifinals. Martino, Pinkston and Valdez all made it to the finals, where Martino won in a three to two decision to become the state champion for his second year in a row in the 145 pound weight class. Valdez also won in a five to four decision, giving him his first state championship title. Pinkston came in second overall in the 285 pound final. Simmons finished fifth overall, with freshman Austin Riggs finishing seventh overall and junior Grayson Olimpio not placing. Our school finished second in the entire tournament, losing only to Colonial Forge High School.
– OWEN JOYCE
Gymnastics third in Northern Region The gymnastics team started its postseason off in a dominant fashion, defeating rivals Westfield and Chantilly to win the Concorde District title. “We made it to Regionals because we beat Chantilly for the first time since we joined the district,” sophomore Kelsey Koo said. They finished third in the region, coming in behind McClean and Washington-Lee, the number two team in the state. The team had proven to be strong all around, especially on the beam. Despite a strong performance, the team only had one gymnast move on to states. Senior Amanda Famiglietti finished in the top eight in the region for beam and qualified for states. “I didn’t like being the only one on the team there; I wish my teammates were there,” Famiglietti said. Famiglietti scored a 9.1 on the beam, but did not place in the state tournament. Cox Highschool won the competition, while Regional foe Washington-Lee came in second.
– JOE WHITE
Lindsay Webb - Sports Editor
In this section:
On page 15 read about the winter sports teams at states.
On page 16 read the staff predictions for the spring sports season.
On page 16 read a spotlight on tennis player Katie DePaolis.
Clinics help young athletes Softball team holds free clinics to improve young players’ skills BY OWEN JOYCE Staff Writer
Preparation: one word which can either make or break a season. For the softball team, this means getting players ready even before they enter high school. “We have a clinic for grades three through eight for 10 weeks where we teach the girls the basics: hitting, catching; we teach the game of softball,” head coach Barry Gorodnick said. The players got to know other members of our school’s softball community at the clinics. “It was a good practice where we got to know the coaches and the players better,” senior Kelsey Rooney said. The players would learn what they would need from themselves physically, and how they need to perform. “We came on Sundays and learned hitting and catching, and we put in a lot of conditioning, which puts you in better shape for the season,” Rooney said. The clinics also have some girl advisors from our school who help the coaches to teach the players. “I definitely would take more advice from actual softball players more seriously than the advice from the male coaches,” sophomore Hailey Clements said. The clinics did not just develop technique; they were also enjoyable for the players. “I definitely had a lot of fun doing it, I love doing it,” Clements said. Gorodnik said he believes softball is not as beloved as it once was, and the clinics help with the popularity of the sport. “The clinics create more interest for the game; it is not as popular as it once was,” Gorodnick said. “It creates more awareness in the younger girls about the game.” The girls who are participating in the clinics are usually all future students at our school. “Most of the girls who do the clinics are from the
Photo by Owen Joyce Rooney uses her skills to her benefit at tryouts — Senior Kelsey Rooney still uses the skills she learned at the softball clinics when she was young as a veteran player.
Robinson feeder schools, Oakview, Laurel Ridge, Bonnie Brae, but occasionally we get a couple from outside those schools,” Gorodnick said. Gorodnick said he believes the players who do attend our school’s clinics will be better off when they play for our school. “I think that we are a lot more hands on; we don’t just set up stations, we actually teach them about the way they are supposed to be playing,” Gorodnick said. The players who went to our schools clinics also learned about the coaches’ expectations. “I think it definitely gives you a leg up, because when you play, you know exactly what the coaches want, and you can play that way,” Rooney said. The clinics help prepare the players for the high school team, as well as the aspects which come with high school play. “The clinics do a lot helping out the players prepare for high school softball; we teach them all the aspects of the game,” Gorodnick said.
The coaches also sort the players based on age to have more of a competitive edge. “We sort the groups by the year they were born; that way, the clinics can become more competitive and the players will push each other,” Gorodnick said Rooney said she believes that it is good to get to know the coaches from the clinics. “I think that it’s good to know the coaches; it’s better for when you want to try out,” Rooney said. Coach Gorodnick is not the only coach who runs the clinics; he said he has help from other coaches outside of our school. “There is myself a lot of BRYC Stingray coaches; they are a travel softball team, and they help me run the clinics,” Gorodnick said. The coaches do not get paid to run these clinics; they do them to help the players. Gorodnick said, “One thing people do not realize is that we do the clinic for free; the coaches at the clinic do not get paid, but are willing to help out
Durand runs in preparation for third half marathon Afterschool jogs create healthy outlet, training time, Durand says BY HAILEY METZGER Photography Editor
With only three weeks left until the DC Rock ‘n’ Roll half marathon March 17, English and ToK teacher Ami Durand continues to prepare for her third race. She said this is the first year the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series will be held at the Nation’s Capitol. “I got into running just for fun during college because I was broke and it was free; all I needed was a pair of sneakers,” Durand said. Durand said running is an outlet for her to get lost in her thoughts, and she really enjoys it. She said, at this Rock ‘n’ Roll half marathon, a band will be performing at every mile, making this race much different than ones she has run in the past, along with her competing alone. “This is my first half marathon I’m doing by myself; my first one I ran with Katherine Naughton,” Durand said. Durand said she and Naughton run after school as much as possible and have been running together for seven years now. “We run campus laps, in the surrounding neighbor hoods and, if the weather is nice, we go to Burke Lake to run,” Durand said. “The time
Photo reprinted with permission of Ami Durand Another one for the books — At the finish line of a previous race, Ami Durand (center) celebrates with friends and fellow teacher Naughton (far right).
goes by much faster, and it makes it more fun.” Durand said running with a partner holds her accountable on the days when she does not feel like going out. However, Duran said, sometimes finding the
time right after school is harder now, since she has to pick up her kids after school at three. “I feel selfish after working all day then going out for a run when I should be hanging out with them,” Durand said. To create a happy medium between her hobby and family, Durand involves her kids while she runs by pushing one of them in a stroller. “My son Noah, who is three, will sometimes ask to go for a run,” Durand said. “He likes to go on Saturday mornings, and he tends to fall asleep during the run.” Jamie Durand, Ami Durand’s husband, said he supports his wife’s running because it is good for her and the kids as well. “Ami’s running helps the boys by getting them fresh air while she runs,” Jamie Durand said. “Ami would run pushing the boys in a race stroller, but they do not allow that.” Jamie Durand said he also benefits from her running because it provides him with additional father-son time. “It helps me by having more time with the boys while she is running the races because I get to spend the day watching the boys,” Jamie Durand said. Jamie Durand said, eventually, he will take his sons to support Ami at the races once they grow older because it will be easier to bring them along for the ride. Jamie Durand said. “I do plan to go to the races to cheer her on, but a lot of the races are in the winter and sitting with the boys in the cold is no fun. One day family and friends will be there on almost every race to support Ami.”
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Sports
Valor Dictus February 28, 2012
Athletic boosters seek to improve sports’ facilities
Spotlight on
Katie DePaolis
Class/sport: Sophomore/Tennis The tennis team’s performance last season: “The team worked really hard. We didn’t reach our highest goal, which was to win districts.” Future plans: “I will definitely play tennis all four years at Robinson, and hopefully play in college.” Team Chemistry: “Our team is really close and we support one another. We have to work together to succeed.” Favorite memory: ”As a 12-year-old, I got to experience playing at the 16u level, which helped me develop my tennis skills.”
BY NICK RUNKEL Staff Writer
Zero turf fields to three all-weather turf fields: this the goal of the school’s Capital Improvement Program for the upcoming two years. According to the Robinson Athletic Booster website, the Capital Improvement Program is a comprehensive program to improve our school’s athletic facilities, to keep pace with the expected growth of Fairfax County. The initial portion of the program, expanding the track and adding a volleyball court, was completed in the summer and winter of 2011. The addition of the three turf fields and the restroom facilities for the stadium will comprise the second part of the program. “Our focus for the next year has become the completion of three turf fields and the addition of restroom buildings,” said Jeff Ferrell, Director of Student Activities. “That is what the Boosters have told us is going to happen in the next years.” This roughly follows the timeline the Athletic Boosters released
at the beginning of the program. Ferrell said the county has mandated the school must have at least one turf field as soon as possible. “Having a turf field will help us greatly because we won’t have to change our practice or game schedule because of adverse weather,” head football coach Trey Taylor said. The addition of the restroom facilities in the stadium will address a need that has arisen over the past few years. “Having indoor restrooms will be a huge improvement; those port-a-potties are disgusting and they make that whole part of the stadium stink,” junior Pedro Guerrero said. According to the Robinson Athletic Boosters website, fundraising has begun for the program and a goal of $1 million has been set. Ferrell said, the athletic department is looking for a user group, or user groups, to help defray the costs of the turf fields, which can cost up to $800,000. Ferrell said, “We are ready to move to the next step, the turf fields and the restrooms, the rest is part of our future vision.”
Capital Improvements Projected Timeline
Photo by Owen Joyce
Winter 2012- Concessions and ticket entry Winter/Summer 2012- Stadium Completion Summer 2012- Wall/Walk of Champions Winter 2013- Auxillary Field House Winter 2014- Barn #1 (Indoor turf facility) Spring 2015- Hardwood floor for gymnasium Spring 2016- New baseball and softball fields Winter 2016- Barn #2 (Indoor turf facility)
Sophomore Katie DePaolis has been on the varsity tennis team for one year and hopes to have a successful sophomore campaign. DePaolis said, with strong team unity, girls’ tennis hopes to achieve their goal of a district title. Information compiled by Owen Joyce
The sports editors analyze and offer their bold predictions for the upcoming spring sports season.
The athletic department hopes to install these facility upgrades in the upcoming years. They hope to install three turf fields in 2012. Illustration by robinsonboosters.com
Spring sports commentary
Boys’ Soccer
Girls’ Soccer
Boys’ Tennis
Girls’ Tennis
Head Coach: Jac Cicala Strengths: The team has a knack for scoring and has a good amount of experience. Weaknesses: Defensively, the team must step up to win games. Key Players: Senior Sam Yardley, senior Ben Gomez, senior Josh Penn, junior Evan Christian Prediction: The team reunites a strong group of guys and has a strong offensive team. If the team continues their offensive success and stays strong definsively, they will do well in the district and advance well into the playoffs.
Head Coach: Jim Rike Strengths: Strong offensive and defensive play, as well as great experience will carry this squad. Weaknesses: They only have eight college soccer recruits... Key Players: Senior Ashley Booth, senior Barbara Platenberg, senior Lindsay Mondloch, junior Haley Roberson Prediction: The team is very strong this year and will certainly make a big splash in the District. Experience will carry them to a dsitrict title and strong playoff performance.
Head Coach: Paul Fisher Strengths: A strong singles depth chart will be key for the team this year. Weaknesses: Loss of key seniors will provide trouble for the team. Key Players: Sophomore Aaron Christian, senior David Weinberg, senior Ted Diamond, senior Dayton Landew Prediction: The tennis team will continue their regular season success and will win a district title this year. They have not had a strong showing in regionals, though they could make a run this year.
Head Coach: Jeff Jones Strengths: A strong group of veterans will give the team experience this season. Weaknesses: In the past ,when the playoffs began, they have struggled to hit their stride and have been eliminated early multiple times. Key Players: Senior Faustine Chau, senior Monica Ghadiyaram, sophomore Jackie Callo, sophomore Katie DePaolis Prediction: The team will put together a stong regular season performance and will advance far into district play.
Previous regular season record: 6-4-4
Previous reguler season record: 8-3-3
Previous regular season record: 10-0 Previous Record
Previous season record: 9-2 Previousregular Record
Predicted regular season record: 12-2
Predicted regular season record: 8-2
Predicted regular season record: 9-1
Predicted regular season record: 9-4-1
Baseball
Softball
Boys’ Lacrosse
Girls’ Lacrosse
Head Coach: John James Strengths: The team returns a strong pitching staff, arguably the best staff in the Concorde District. Weakness: The team’s offensive game is questionable; to win big games they will have to string together more hits. Key Players: Senior Denis Mikush, senior Patrick Baker, senior Matt Spaulding, junior Chase Bailey Prediction: The baseball team’s strong pitching staff will carry them far into district and regional play; they will experience more success if they hit well.
Head Coach: Mitch Hughes Strengths: The team unites a strong pitching staff this season, along with good offensive play. Weaknesses: They face a strong district and will have to deliver defensively. Key players: Senior Clare McGowan, senior Lauren Stapleton, junior Laura Turkekul Prediction: The team will have a strong regular season record and their pitching will carry them into the playoffs. Look for the softball team to be a presence in the region this season.
Head Coach: Matt Curran Strengths: The team has a strong attack and solid defense as well. Weaknesses: The team will have to fill multiple holes with the loss of some key seniors. Key Players: Senior Clarke Pietruska, senior Alex Barber, senior Louis Lukaczyk, junior Connor Lloyd Prediction: A district title is not out of reach if the team fills the necessary holes well and play well defensively. The offense will also have to come up big this season.
Head Coach: Liz Case Strengths: The team has great experience with a larger number of returning varsity players. Weaknesses: They have a new system to adjust to (new coach), and have had some preseason injuries. Key Players: Senior Campbell Collier, senior Katie Mchugh, senior Devin Schircliff, junior Megan Barlow, sophomore Maggie Hyland Prediction: If the team adjusts well to the new system, a Concorde District championship is not out of the question, and a possible visit to states is in the picture.
Previous regular season record: 8-12
Previous regular season record: 12-10
Previous regular season record: 8-3
Previous regular season record: 7-4
Predicted regular season record: 13-7
Predicted regular season record: 11-11
Predicted regular season record: 7-4
Predicted regular season record: 9-2