Looking back on four years at Blair, there's a lot that this intrepid reporter has accomplished. There isn't much left to do before graduation… except…
Richard Montgomery sophomore Alan Xie defeated Damascus junior Nick Maggio in county-wide elections held this week for the position of 2010- 2011 SMOB.
March 23 - Governments at a United Nations (U.N.) wildlife meeting voted against eliminating sanctions on ivory sales. Environmentalists approved of the U.N. decision, expressing concerns that weakening the 21-year ban would contribute to an increase in poaching, which is already at a 15-year high.
Students across Montgomery County will make their voices heard on Election Day when they vote for their next Student Member of the Board (SMOB).
Silver Chips Online has somehow managed to recruit a number of renowned, self-certified experts in a variety of fields to write and edit for our paper. We are fortunate enough to have snoWatch specialists, pop culture pundits, auto-tune aficionados, match-making masters and alliteration all-stars.
It's been a pretty bleak winter. Gloomy and dirty gray snow still covers the ground. But the prospect of some Silver Chips Online manufactured young love will surely melt away any winter woes.
Standing calmly in the Media Center at the first Silver Quill Open Mic of the year, senior Michelyn Bouknight takes hold of the microphone. She stands tall with her shoulders thrown back, seemingly unfazed by the rows of expectant eyes staring up at her. With a guitar strumming gently in the background, Bouknight begins a soulful rendition of Alicia Keys's "No One."
Dec. 30 - British computer consultant Peter Moore was released after a two-year imprisonment in Baghdad. Moore, who had been abducted in May 2007, is believed to be the one remaining survivor of the five men who were captured in a raid outside of Iraq's Finance Ministry.
2009 has been quite a year/And the experts at SCO would like to share with our peers/Our wise predictions for what 2010 has to bring/So feel free to rejoice! Shout out, dance, sing!/With 2009 already halfway out the door/Check out The List and see what '10 has in store
English teacher Keith Anderson was presented with the Gazette's annual "My Favorite Teacher" award during a ceremony honoring him and the other winners held on Monday evening at the Rockville Hilton. Anderson was nominated for the award by a former AP Language student, senior Warren Zhang.
"We're about to embark on an exciting journey here in the city," D.C. Council member David A. Catania said. Addressing city council members in a packed room, Catania gave a voice to the hundreds of thousands of gay and lesbian Americans living in the District. And now, with one piece of legislation, Catania is giving them all hope.
It's game day and the stadium lights glow as the Blazers stand ready to step onto their turf. Fans are stomping their feet in the stands, decked out in red and white, cheering for their team. Across the field, Northwood students stand equally excited, waiting for the first whistle. Everyone knows that this match is much more than just another game: it's a battle.
It's dark and rustling leaves can be heard in the distance. Walking along the trail, an ominous feeling fills the air and suddenly something jumps out from the darkness. These spooky trails are so much fun, it's scary. SCO is here with the SCO-down on the best Halloween trails Montgomery County has to offer.
Smoke observed in the 270s hallway caused a school-wide evacuation today at 7:15 a.m. Students and staff waited outside of the school while fire officials cleared the area. The building was deemed safe to reenter and students returned to the school at 8:15 and proceeded to their advisory classes.
With the sweltering summer heat quickly approaching, it's hard to fight the urge to spend most of July and August plopped in front of the TV with the air conditioning turned on high. But even with the humidity, SCO has diSCOvered some hidden gems that will get you to enjoy all that D.C. has to offer.
The Student Government Association (SGA) announced on Wednesday during second period that junior Alex Bae will serve as school president for the 2009-2010 school year and announced today that junior Olayinka Oladiran won the race for the class of 2010 vice president.
As I listen to InfoFlow in the morning, I always hear about exciting upcoming events and new clubs being started by my own peers. But that's only when I listen to InfoFlow.
Every morning, Blazers stand in front of their closets, looking for the outfit that will express their personalities and outlooks for the day. The same can be said for Blair's teaching staff, who through rain or shine are proud to don sharp suits and bright colors to create outfits with classic class.
The Presidents' Council of Silver Spring Civic Associations (Prezco) will be holding a Safe Silver Spring summit this Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. in the Science North Building at Montgomery College's Takoma Park/Silver Spring campus.
After Blazers completed casting their votes for Student Government Association (SGA) positions on Tuesday and Wednesday, the new officers for the 2009-2010 school year were announced today during second period.
The weather's warming up, flowers are blooming and summer break inches closer. However, a far more exciting event approaches as well: the SAT. The dreaded Big Daddy of all standardized exams. The Smartness…. Answering…Test? It really doesn't matter what it stands for. What matters is that you're prepared.
Squeezed in a small cramped room are a sea of youth, varying in background, race, religion, age and beliefs. At a weekly Mixed Unity meeting, some people lean back in chairs encircling the room and others make do with a small area on the carpet, eager to listen to what each member has to say. For all the many apparent differences between them, something holds them together: the belief that people can come together and make change as equals, neighbors and friends.
The varsity baseball team faced a tough double-header on Friday and narrowly edged past the Springbrook Blue Devils in their second game of the night. After falling to the Wooton Patriots in extra innings during the first game of the night, the Blazers (7-5) hung on to defeat the Blue Devils, 15-12.
The varsity baseball team (3-1) dominated the seasoned Blake Bengals on Monday night. In their fourth game of the season, the team continued building upon experience and stepped up to blow past the Bengals, 11-2.
Anyone who's had an uncomfortable situation while meeting new people can appreciate the sheer awkwardness of "I love you, man." The realistic, palpable tension and uneasy interactions between characters will have audiences laughing and wincing.
The varsity baseball team (1-0) routed the Richard Montgomery Rockets Friday night in the team's first game of the season. Behind a two-hitter thrown by sophomore pitcher Peirce Marston and an error-less defense, the Blazers defeated the Rockets, 3-0.
Adrenaline buzzes through the air and bright lights glare against hopeful faces. They take their places on the court, on the mat or on the field. The sidelines and bleachers are filled with fans to watch the nation's best. Numerous Blazers work relentlessly to participate in these national competitions, preparing to play their hardest for a chance to be the best amongst the nation's most talented competitors.
When I was a kid, my celebrity hero was chef Julia Child. She was a WWII veteran and inspired my love of all cooking shows. She may have been old and her cooking styles may have been simple, but she was my hero.
With flashing lights, spectacular fashions and exhilarating performances paired with great enthusiasm, Blair's annual Magnet Arts Night (MAN) reverberated with all the makings of a great time. In front of a packed auditorium filled on Friday, members of the Blair Magnet program rocked the house with melodious musical performances inspired from backgrounds in India, China, Korea and the U.S. Already known for their mathematical and scientific prowess, Magnet students proved that they had even more to offer on the stage.
The girls' varsity basketball team (8-9) held strong against the Richard Montgomery Rockets (8-6) on Wednesday night. Holding the lead throughout most of the game and playing with aggression and determination, the Lady Blazers edged past the Rockets, 48-45.
As the election year dragged on, support for Obama was seen plastered all over backpacks, car bumpers and tons of other Blazer swag. Bumper stickers reading, "Got Hope?" summed up the spirit of the Blair population as election day inched closer. On Jan. 20, as millions flock to the National Mall to witness the inauguration, Blazers will be thinking, "yes we did."
The girl's varsity basketball team laced up their sneakers and stepped onto the court for their first game of the new year Wednesday night. Unfortunately, the Lady Blazers (4-5) were unable to keep up with the aggressive rallies of the Blake team (5-6) after the first half and fell to the Bengals, 48-72.
The musical genius who brought us meaningless yet extremely popular tracks like "Crank Dat (Soulja Boy)" and "Get Silly" brings the same lackluster approach to his newest album, "iSouljaBoyTellem." SouljaBoy amazingly manages to make each of the 16 tracks on "iSouljaBoyTellem" as mindless as the next. From the bouncy beat of "Rubberbands" to the ridiculous "Wit My Yums On," SouljaBoy has established himself as an artist that should never, ever win a Grammy.
Sometimes all you want from a movie are some corny, feel-good laughs. The newest Adam Sandler family flick, "Bedtime Stories," provides all that and more. With a creative storyline, great onscreen talent and wonderfully cheesy dialogue, this family film will please all audiences, regardless of age.
As fun as it is waiting in line for 35 minutes at The Gap to get your mom that cable-knit sweater that she already has in every other color, we at Silver Chips Online have created a holiday gift guide to make this festive season filled with creative and thoughtful packages.
A mouth-watering smell of turkey wafts out of the kitchen. A vibrant deep red cranberry sauce, concocted to sweet and sour perfection, sits ready to be gobbled up by guests. The oven opens to reveal a warm pumpkin pie surrounded by a golden crust.
Donning sneakers and crisp uniforms, they step on the court or the field and stand ready for another game. The stadium lights glare and the scoreboard is keyed up as fans wait anxiously for the first kick, the first serve or the first fight between two teams. Up front and center, they see every goal, every basket, every ace and every Blair victory. Witnesses to glory or to heartbreaking defeat, they are as influential a part of the game as Blazer athletes, and often, the fate of the game rests on their shoulders. Under the spotlight, referees make decisions that can either send stands erupting in cheers or fans reeling in frustration.
I remember where I was when I heard the news. It was a Thursday afternoon. I was doing math homework and sitting in the living room with the TV on in the background. Over all the shrieking and bubblegum pop music I heard it: "Total Request Live" ("TRL") would be airing their last episode ever in a matter of weeks.
If you could choose the two worst guys to mentor young children, who would they be? This seems to have been the driving question that inspired the latest buddy comedy, "Role Models." Packed with double entendres and perfect "that's what she said" moments, the film guarantees great laughs. However, what makes this movie memorable is that, unlike recent buddy films, it shines beyond the hackneyed cookie cutter format. The film is saved by its sensitive plot line and is sure to generate not only laughs from the audience, but a chorus of "aww" as well.
Every so often, I'll be a nerd and just perch in front of my computer, reading the latest national news and checking poll numbers. In an effort to avoid starting an essay, I wen on to FoxNews.com, wanting to see how Obama was faring in the election according to a media filter that was somewhat detached from reality. The latest updated article on Obama on the FoxNews site was a news story about how Obama had declared to Ellen DeGeneres that he was a better dancer than McCain. The first line in the article read, "They really will do anything to win."
Known for giving entertaining and creative performances, Blair's acclaimed a cappella group, InToneNation (ITN), is gearing up for several new projects that are sure to leave their audiences buzzing. New gigs, new members, new songs and a new CD are just some of the things in the works for the talented group of 16 Blazers.
The varsity field hockey team took on the Springbrook Blue Devils for their last game of their season on Friday afternoon. The Blazers (5-7-0) had a tough time keeping their heads and hearts in the game and suffered a 2-1 loss to the Blue Devils.
An unplanned fire drill at 6:55 a.m. on Thursday was triggered by faulty alarms in the school's fire alarm system, according to an announcement made by Principal Darryl Williams during second period. The administration found that the evacuation was not due to a fire or smoke, but malfunctioning alarms.
The girls of the Blair JV field hockey team stepped off of the field all smiles Wednesday afternoon, ending their season the same way it started – on the winning side. Making the best of their skill and aggression, the JV field hockey team dominated the Northwood Gladiators for a misrepresentative 1-0 win, finishing the season at 3-6.
After gearing up and stepping back onto their home field for the first time since last Friday, the varsity field hockey team suffered a disappointing loss to the Walter Johnson Wildcats. Hitting their stride too late in the game, the varsity team (4-6-0) fell to the Wildcats 1-0.
After 60 minutes of close calls, near misses and sharp hits, the varsity field hockey team (4-5-0) suffered a heartbreaking loss to the Churchill Bulldogs on Tuesday afternoon, 3-2. The Blazers played with great force and skill, even building a slight lead in protecting their home turf, but were not able to hold out against the experienced Bulldogs.
After having their third home game rescheduled due to rain, the varsity field hockey team geared up and stepped back onto their home field to take on the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Barons on Friday. Unable to muster up enough intensity or aggression early in the game, the Blazers (4-3-0) lost to the Barons, 7-0.
After two victorious and dominating games against Richard Montgomery and Rockville, the varsity field hockey team returned to their wet and muddy home field to play against the Poolesville Falcons. Plagued by horrible weather conditions and unable to match the Falcons in aggression or endurance, the Blazers (3-2-0) fell to Poolesville, 6-0.
A new administrative policy created by athletic director Dale Miller requires athletes without an eighth period class to attend mandatory study hall. The study periods are held in the health rooms located in the gym hallway from 2:15 - 3:15 p.m. after school.
If there is one message to be taken from "Lakeview Terrace," it is to never move in next to Samuel L. Jackson.
Twenty-eight Blazers have progressed to the finalist stage of the 2007-2008 Maryland Distinguished Scholars Award (MDSA). Out of those twenty-eight finalists, two seniors are finalists for the award in the Talent in the Arts category. These seniors will be awarded an annual $3000 scholarship for in-state higher education.
After coming off a dominating win over Einstein last Friday, the varsity field hockey team (1-1) found an aggressive opponent in the Damascus Hornets. Unable to overcome a lack of communication and slow transitions, the Blazers fell to the Hornets 3-0.
Forty-three Blazers have advanced to the semifinalist stage of the National Merit Scholarship (NMS) award, and three Blazers have advanced to the National Achievement Scholarship (NAS) competition. Blazers were notified of their success on Thursday.
The Bush administration and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have recently decided to postpone regulating greenhouse gas emissions until January 20, 2009, or more specifically, until the current President leaves the office. Rather than addressing the growing threats posed by global warming, the EPA, under the Bush administration, is instead choosing to seek out months more of public commentary before making changes.
Jasmine green tea, stacks of student papers and open textbooks surround Mary McManus on a covered desk in a hot computer room. McManus teaches a variety of classes ranging from Software Applications to Computer Programming in the Business and Computer Science Department.
Leave it to Disney to make a cold metal robot seem warm and lovable. The newest addition to the long line of adored Disney-Pixar film characters, including Marlin, an overprotective clownfish and Remy, a rat with enviable culinary talent, is Wall-E, a robot who's heart of gold outshines his rusty metal exterior. "WALL-E" is a fascinating little movie with a moral that reaches out to people of all ages.
Jenna's expression says it all.
Referees play a key role in Blazers' games, standing ready to make calls.
Members of the varsity team look on as smoke from a car fire engulfs the field.
After working as a computer programmer, Mary McManus is sharing her wisdom with her five computer programming classes.