Katherine Zhang


Name: Katherine Zhang
Position: Page Editor
Graduation Year: 2005
Katherine Zhang likes French baguettes, Pyotr Tchaikovsky, bookmarks, fresh boxes of rosin, Brad Meltzer novels, and of course, "JAG." In her free time, Katherine enjoys knitting, playing the violin, and reading - especially legal thrillers and books about people in faraway places and long-ago times. One day, Katherine will visit Paris, Naples, Berlin and Hong Kong.


Stories (46)


Administration discourages Senior Skip Day

By Allison Elvove, Katherine Zhang | May 2, 2005, midnight | In Print »

Seniors who exceed the allowed number of unexcused absences because they skip school on Thursday, May 5, the Class of 2005's Senior Skip Day, will not be able to appeal their loss of credit. Furthermore, only notes written and signed by a doctor saying that the student was seen that day will be accepted, according to Attendance Secretary Roxanne Fus.

"Miss Congeniality 2": armed and very, very fabulous

By Katherine Zhang | March 30, 2005, midnight | In Print »

Rare is the sequel that lives up to the original. "Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous" had every right to fail horribly. It could have been two hours of overused humor spewed out by a bunch of overexcited characters – could have been, but wasn't. Instead, "Miss Congeniality 2" is every bit as hilarious and enjoyable as its predecessor. After all, failure is not a word in Special Agent Gracie Hart's vocabulary.

Ask Chips: lucky number 13

By Allison Elvove, Ely Portillo, Katherine Zhang | March 18, 2005, midnight | In Print »

Julissa Roger (jurogers@MBHS.edu) asks: "Hi I will like to know why the bathroom never have soap or paper to dry your hands. How come the bathroom are never clean. Can we get some one can help use about that Thank You?" Don't complain to us. There's nothing we can do. Better start your own clean-up team, best named Teen Tightyupems. You'll all have super powers. Like one person can turn into a ghost and walk through walls and inspect how rotten it is in there. Also, for all those people who like to lock bathroom stalls to make people crawl under and open the door, Ghost Teen Tightyupem will just walk right on through. Invisibility Teen Tightyupem and Telekinesis Teen Tightyupem are the most useful perhaps. You could just remove all the nasty paper towels from the ground…with your mind! No pick up necessary.

Ask Chips 11: as juiced as MLB

By Vivek Chellappa, Allison Elvove, Katherine Zhang | Feb. 15, 2005, midnight | In Print »

Several issues ago, we asked our readers for nominations to make our list for the best teachers at Blair. We received over 30 nominations for teachers, and excited at our newfound power, we set off to root out the unworthy to find out who would crack our list. We decided upon three tough questions to test our teachers' mettle: Why do you think you deserve to be on the Ask Chips list of best teachers, why do you think you are better than all other teachers, and what are your best two qualities? We started with Mr. Honigsberg, of the foreign language department. Mr. Honigsberg jumped right into the top spot on our list with an unabashed proclamation.

Expansion of Silver Chips Online continues

By Ely Portillo, Katherine Zhang | Feb. 1, 2005, midnight | In Print »

The year 2004 was a year of unprecedented growth and expansion for Silver Chips Online, as readership averaged 37,412 visitors a month and surpassed a total of 30,000 comments.

The hilarious return of "Monk"

By Katherine Zhang | Jan. 23, 2005, midnight | In Print »

His list of phobias is a mile long. He drives everyone around him up the wall, makes even his therapist crazy and doesn't do well in the social department. But he just happens to be a brilliant detective with a knack for solving the most puzzling homicides. His name is Adrian Monk, and he's returning for an all-new season on the USA Network.

Blair places third in international competition

By Katherine Zhang | Dec. 10, 2004, midnight | In Print »

Two dozen upperclassmen are gathered in the first few rows of Blair's auditorium on Dec. 8, eyes glued to a projector screen on the stage and brains holding tight to the all the trivia they've garnered over the years. The room fills with echoes of "B!", "A!", "C!" as Blazers yell out answers to the multiple-choice questions that appear on the screen.

UPDATE: Pentagon Metro Station reopened after two-hour closure

By Allison Elvove, Katherine Zhang | Dec. 6, 2004, midnight | In Print »

The Pentagon Metro Station reopened at 12:20 p.m. today, Dec. 6, after being shut down for more than two hours following an alleged hazardous materials (HAZMAT) situation. HAZMAT experts were called to the station to investigate but found no traces of dangerous substances.

Blair graduate interviewed by The Washington Post as student poll worker

By Katherine Zhang | Oct. 31, 2004, midnight | In Print »

Blair graduate Cori Cohen, class of 2004, was featured in the Metro section of The Washington Post today, Oct. 31 as one of the 140 University of Maryland students who will be working at the polls on Tuesday.

Blair experiences computer blackout

By Ely Portillo, Katherine Zhang | Oct. 29, 2004, midnight | In Print »

Blair lost computer service for the beginning of first period this morning, Oct. 29, due to a significant power surge during the night. Service has since been restored, although individual computers may still experience power problems.

Rumors of a new school uniform policy are completely false

By Katherine Zhang | Oct. 22, 2004, midnight | In Print »

A story circulating in the Blair community that announces that the administration is planning to implement a new uniform policy for Blazers is completely false. The story was used as a classroom debate topic for freshman Connections classes and contains no valid facts.

English department hosts annual contest

By Katherine Zhang | June 7, 2004, midnight | In Print »

Blair's English department is hosting its annual Book Review and Poster Contest to promote summer reading. The contest is open to freshman, sophomore and junior students currently enrolled in Blair.

From Queen Bees to Mean Girls

By Katherine Zhang | May 26, 2004, midnight | In Print »

When she was 22 years old, Washington, D.C., native Rosalind Wiseman founded the Empower Program, an organization created to address the issue of violence and bullying among teens. Her work with the program eventually led to the publishing of her book, Queen Bees and Wannabes. On April 30, the messages and lessons from Wiseman's book appeared on silver screens throughout the United States – in the form of the blockbuster hit Mean Girls.

Learning in the real world

By Katherine Zhang | April 27, 2004, midnight | In Print »

Eight-year-old Olivia Maky, wearing goggles to protect her eyes and an apron to protect her clothes, fits right in with the twenty or so Blair freshmen in the room, similarly dressed and bent over pipette tubes and flasks of vinegar. The students carefully drip droplets of a clear liquid into their flasks, waiting for the solution to turn pink. After watching the lab being carried out for the third time, Olivia knows exactly what the students are doing: they're using sodium hydroxide and titration methods to determine the concentration of vinegar. For Olivia, becoming familiar about the lab is all in a day's work – on Take Our Daughters And Sons to Work Day, that is.

SMOB Profile: Amanda Lee

By Katherine Zhang | April 23, 2004, midnight | In Print »

Blair junior Amanda Lee has always had a strong interest in politics and particularly education. In addition, Lee has wanted to become more active in the community. "I was really looking this year to be more involved in the policy making decisions,” she says, adding that she wished to see more communications with students. These interests and concerns led Lee to pursue a position as Student Member of the Board (SMOB).

13 Going On 30 garners success

By Katherine Zhang | April 22, 2004, midnight | In Print »

Never underestimate the power of wishing dust. A little sprinkle, a bit of wishing, and voilà – a teenager's dreams come true. So begins the sweet, witty movie that is 13 Going On 30.

Blair teacher and student published in The Washington Post

By Katherine Zhang | April 19, 2004, midnight | In Print »

Journalism teacher John Mathwin and junior Roxana Hadadi both had letters to the editor published in The Washington Post in April.

Blazers win awards in media festival

By Katherine Zhang | April 1, 2004, midnight | In Print »

Several Blazers won awards for their work in the annual Montgomery County Schools Media Festival, which took place at the AFI Silver Theater in Silver Spring on March 30.

Blair Robotics Team named "Regional Champions"

By Katherine Zhang | March 26, 2004, midnight | In Print »

Blair's Robotics Team was among the three teams that won the title "Regional Champions” in the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Chesapeake Regional robotics competition, which took place at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis from March 18 to March 20.

Of Mice and Blazers

By Katherine Zhang | March 23, 2004, midnight | In Print »

Alfonso lives in the Foreign Language office. He is quite petite and has a fondness for hiding behind file cabinets. Alfonso first made his home in the Foreign Language office last year, and according to Spanish teacher Dora Gonzalez,

Mr. and Miss Blazer competitions to take place

By Katherine Zhang | March 10, 2004, midnight | In Print »

The Mr. Blazer competition, an annual fundraiser sponsored by the senior class, is scheduled to take place on April 16. In addition, the senior class is also hosting a Miss Blazer competition for the first time.

Northwest Branch, Anacostia River experience pollution problems

By Katherine Zhang | March 6, 2004, midnight | In Print »

The Northwest Branch, a large tributary that flows from northern Montgomery County to meet the Anacostia River in D.C., replaced Sligo Creek as Blair's backyard stream after the move to Four Corners. Unfortunately, the Northwest Branch is one of the major contributors to the pollution in the Anacostia River, which, according to a recent Washington Post article, could be one of the most polluted rivers in the nation. Several area organizations are working to alleviate the problem, and among the solutions is a cleanup day scheduled for April 3.

Marylanders demand funding for public education in Annapolis rally

By Sheila Rajagopal, Katherine Zhang | Feb. 13, 2004, midnight | In Print »

Thousands of students and teachers gathered in Annapolis on Feb. 9 for a rally sponsored by the Maryland Association of Boards of Education and other organizations to demand full funding for the Bridge to Excellence in Public Schools Act, commonly known as the Thornton Commission.

Junior killed in school shooting in D.C.

By Katherine Zhang | Feb. 4, 2004, midnight | In Print »

A junior at Ballou Senior High School in Southeast Washington, D.C. was fatally shot in the school on Feb 2, according to the Washington Post. Another student suffered a graze wound to the leg.

General Wesley Clark

By Katherine Zhang | Feb. 2, 2004, midnight | In Print »

General Wesley Clark, Democratic candidate for President, was born in Chicago in 1944. In 1962 he entered the United States Military Academy and launched a 38-year military career that included participation in Vietnam, command of the Army's National Training Center during the Persian Gulf War, efforts to end the war in Bosnia, and positions as the Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Southern Command and Supreme Allied Commander of NATO, among other achievements

Senate launches D.C. voucher program

By Katherine Zhang | Jan. 25, 2004, midnight | In Print »

The U.S. Senate passed a bill on Jan 22 allocating $14 million for a federally funded school voucher program that will give a number of D.C. students the opportunity to attend private schools, according to the Washington Post. President George W. Bush is expected to sign the bill into law.

Win a Date with Tad Hamilton is a winner

By Katherine Zhang | Jan. 9, 2004, midnight | In Print »

Win a Date with Tad Hamilton. A small-town girl does just that, only to promptly find herself caught in a love triangle between her all-time favorite actor and her lifelong best friend. While the movie doesn't win any points in the creativity department, it does feature numerous lovable characters, plenty of heartwarming romance and loads of humor-filled scenes, the formula for the perfect romantic comedy.

Blair's It's Academic team places second in international competition

By Katherine Zhang | Jan. 7, 2004, midnight | In Print »

Blair's It's Academic team recently placed second in the international Knowledge Master Open (KMO) competition. In addition, the team defeated teams Lake Braddock and Wootton High Schools in a taped tournament that aired on NBC on Dec 27.

Saddam Hussein captured in Iraq

By Katherine Zhang | Dec. 14, 2003, midnight | In Print »

U.S. troops captured former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein near his hometown of Tikrit, according to an article by the Washington Post.

Board of Education to change attendance and loss of credit policy

By Katherine Zhang | Dec. 12, 2003, midnight | In Print »

The Montgomery County Board of Education (BOE) recently rejected the recommendations suggested by a work group convened to draft a new policy regarding student attendance and loss of credit.

Silver Quill to hold beneficiary concert

By Katherine Zhang | Dec. 11, 2003, midnight | In Print »

Blair's literary arts magazine, Silver Quill, is planning a beneficiary concert for Friday, Dec. 12. The event is scheduled to take place from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. in the SAC.

Rabbits, respect and reservations

By Katherine Zhang | Nov. 26, 2003, midnight | In Print »

Sophomore Sheena Campbell smiles as she reveals the details about her heritage. She describes the respect for animals and nature, the rituals and dances, the medicines and foods and the traditions and legends. With light blonde hair and an easygoing smile, Campbell does not stand out in any way among fellow classmates. However, she belongs to a group that is a vast minority at Blair; she is part Native American.

Notice on Pentagon website sparks rumors of draft

By Katherine Zhang | Nov. 20, 2003, midnight | In Print »

A routine notice from a Pentagon website advertising the need for volunteers to serve on the draft board created a rumor about the reinstatement of the military draft, according to an article in the San Francisco Chronicle .

Joan of Arcadia is simply divine

By Katherine Zhang | Nov. 12, 2003, midnight | In Print »

CBS kicked off the fall season with a thrilling new drama, Joan of Arcadia. There are no crazy teenagers, no superheroes, no complicated love triangles and no paranormal activities. There is only Joan Girardi, her family, some friends and God, and yet, Joan of Arcadia contains immeasurable amounts of drama, intrigue, and innovation.

Metropolitan area observes American Indian Heritage Month

By Katherine Zhang | Nov. 12, 2003, midnight | In Print »

Organizations in the Montgomery County area are hosting celebrations in honor of National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month, observed every year during November.

Staff and students prepare for FIST Conference

By Katherine Zhang | Nov. 6, 2003, midnight | In Print »

Magnet staff and students have been making preparations for the annual FIST conference, to be held at Blair this year on Nov 8.

"Virtual PE" is successful in Florida

By Katherine Zhang | Oct. 29, 2003, midnight | In Print »

Educators and students in Florida have been pleased with the success of the online physical education classes that were offered to Florida high school students, according to an article from USA Today.

Blair fails to make "Adequate Yearly Progress”

By Katherine Zhang | Oct. 21, 2003, midnight | In Print »

Blair failed to meet the 2003 standards set by the No Child Left Behind Act in Special Education and Limited English Proficient for reading, according to the 2003 Performance Report released by the Maryland State Department of Education.

Good Boy doesn't quite make the concept of "good"

By Katherine Zhang | Oct. 14, 2003, midnight | In Print »

Imagine a bunch of excited talking dogs, a lonely but amiable little boy, some more talking dogs, and more talking dogs, and you've got Good Boy, a movie with the best of intentions which doesn't click.

ACE Mentoring Program to be set up in Montgomery County

By Katherine Zhang | Oct. 10, 2003, midnight | In Print »

Directors of the ACE Mentor Program, a non-profit organization that provides vocational and educational guidance for high school students, are working to bring a chapter of the program to Montgomery County. The directors hope to have the program set up by the end of this month.

Adamson, Vickie

By Katherine Zhang | Oct. 10, 2003, midnight | In Print »

Vickie Adamson smiles as she remembers the secondary school teachers that inspired her. Ever since she was a child, Adamson had always known that one day she would teach.

Hurricane Isabel causes school cancellations

By Katherine Zhang | Oct. 1, 2003, midnight | In Print »

MCPS lost two of its four allotted snow emergency days for the 2003-2004 school year because of school cancellations caused by Hurricane Isabel.

Army extends tours for National Guard, reserve soldiers in Middle East

By Katherine Zhang | Sept. 17, 2003, midnight | In Print »

The U.S. Army has extended the service of many National Guard and Army Reserve soldiers, including several local units, in Iraq and surrounding countries, according to the Washington Post.

Oodles of delights at Michael's Noodles

By Katherine Zhang | Sept. 16, 2003, midnight | In Print »

The soothing sound of trickling water from a feng shui set greets diners as they step into the eatery. The tranquil murmur is an introduction to a restaurant full of pleasures at Michael's Noodles, a Chinese restaurant whose grand opening recently graced the Travilah Shopping Center in Rockville.

Unpaid obligations still a problem at Blair

By Katherine Zhang | Sept. 5, 2003, midnight | In Print »

Nine hundred twenty-three students owed Blair over $63,000 for IDs and unreturned textbooks from the conclusion of the 2002-2003 school year.

Legally Blonde 2: More like Legally Bland

By Katherine Zhang | July 8, 2003, midnight | In Print »

There is nothing as torturous and tiring as sitting through Legally Blonde 2: Red, White and Blonde. Watching this film is so tiring, in fact, that it could be considered cruel and unusual punishment. The movie is a mumble-jumble of everything pink, silly, and ditzy, minus all the elements a good movie and a good comedy needs.