Saaraa Farooq
Name: Saaraa Farooq
Position: Online News Editor
Graduation Year: 2013
Stories (34)
Couch Potato: Beginnings and endings
By Saaraa Farooq | March 19, 2013, 10:11 p.m. | In Television »
Been waiting for your favorite TV shows to come back from their hiatus? Have you been dying to know what's going to happen during the finale of your favorite show? Well, you've waited long enough; SCO's here to fill you in on the shows you just can't miss.
Rockville upsets Blair in Md. Regional Science Bowl
By Saaraa Farooq | Jan. 28, 2013, 10 p.m. | In Local »
Three Blair teams competed in the Maryland Regional Science Bowl on Jan. 19 at Montgomery College. Teams A and B placed second and third respectively, losing to a team from Rockville High School. The competition comprised 45 teams from 25 schools in the region. Rockville will advance to Nationals, beginning April 25 in Washington D.C.
Blair welcomes new swim coach
By Saaraa Farooq | Nov. 29, 2012, 11:43 a.m. | In Blair »
This year, the Blair swim and dive team has a new co-coach, fine arts teacher Kelly Crowder, who began working with the swim team earlier this month, replacing government teacher David Swaney as biology teacher Charlie Demma's co-coach.
Montgomery County initiates pedestrian safety campaign
By Saaraa Farooq | Nov. 18, 2012, 1:17 p.m. | In Local »
Last week, Montgomery County Ride On buses started to display ads featuring pictures of Blair students' eyes as part of a Montgomery County campaign targeted at high school students in the Four Corners area to improve pedestrian safety in areas with the highest densities of collisions.
HealthChips: Balance your life
By Saaraa Farooq | Oct. 11, 2012, 5:36 p.m. | In Lifestyle Blog »
HealthChips is here to offer you tips on how to balance the many commitments you hold in your busy schedule, so that you don't have to sacrifice sleep, sanity or social life.
HealthChips: No more sleepless nights
By Saaraa Farooq | Sept. 6, 2012, 5:22 p.m. | In Lifestyle Blog »
School's back in session and summer's almost over. Let's face the facts, no more staying up until hours late at night expecting to sleep through the next day. Yes, we know, waking up early again is a pain while many still haven't gotten out of that wacky summer sleep schedule (nocturnal, anyone?). But don't fret, help is here!
Budget cuts beat progress
By Saaraa Farooq | May 25, 2012, 11:10 p.m. | In News Blog »
Substance abuse is a growing problem among adolescents and it needs immediate action for prevention and treatment. According to Teen Health, in the past year, 70.6 percent of high school students admitted to alcohol usage.
Juniors start yoga club to relieve stress
By Saaraa Farooq | May 21, 2012, 11:49 a.m. | In Local »
On May 11, Blair's new yoga club had its first introductory meeting. Junior Elizabeth Liu, the club's president, with the help of the vice president, Elena Polozova, and officers Charmi Patel, Carol Shou and Thomas McHale put the club in motion.
Northwest beats girls' lacrosse
By Saaraa Farooq | May 8, 2012, 8:51 p.m. | In Blair »
The Northwest Jaguars (7-5) beat the girls' varsity lacrosse team (8-4) with a final score of 20-11. Blair took the game slowly in the first half with Northwest scoring first, after a strong offensive attack in the first minute of the game.
EMS fee not worth the money
By Saaraa Farooq | May 2, 2012, 9:59 p.m. | In News Blog »
When people already have to pay for rising medical bills and ridiculous amounts of medication, adding another fee for emergency services would seem to be excessive. However, on April 17, the Montgomery County Council reintroduced executive Isiah Leggett's proposed legislation to establish an ambulance fee. He asked the Council to reconsider the fee because of state actions that have intruded on Council taxing authority and a possibility of a shift in half of teacher pension costs.
Blazers compete at hockey national championships
By Saaraa Farooq | April 22, 2012, 3:36 p.m. | In Local »
From March 28 to April 1, freshmen Max Kronstadt and Javier Lopez-Casterno competed in the Ice Hockey National Championships in Wayne, NJ, with their team, the Montgomery Blue Devils (U14). The team came within a point of making the quarterfinals at Nationals and finished the season with a record of 28-13-4.
Girls' varsity lacrosse defeats Trojans
By Saaraa Farooq | March 27, 2012, 6:54 p.m. | In Blair »
The girls' varsity lacrosse team (2-1) defeated the Gaithersburg Trojans (0-3) by a score of 14-4 in its third game of the season. The Blazers picked up the pace and built a lead before the first half was over.
Amazing movies require inspiration
By Saaraa Farooq | March 22, 2012, 10:37 p.m. | In Books »
After tonight, the "Hunger Games" books may be left in the shadows, but they will not be alone.
Global Culture club hosts fundraiser against human trafficking
By Saaraa Farooq | March 21, 2012, 9:49 p.m. | In Local »
The Blair Global Culture club's two week-long fundraiser to spread awareness about human trafficking will run until Friday.
Montgomery Serves Awards accepts nominations
By Saaraa Farooq | March 19, 2012, 10:04 a.m. | In Local »
County Executive Ike Leggett announced that the inaugural Montgomery Serves Awards Ceremony will take place on April 30 at Imagination Stage in Bethesda.
Where some win, others lose
By Saaraa Farooq | March 4, 2012, 9:10 p.m. | In News Blog »
New regulations for the gifted and talented education system will classify and track a child as young as three-years-old.
Legislators aim to update online harassment laws
By Saaraa Farooq | Feb. 8, 2012, 5:26 p.m. | In Local »
Several bills in the Maryland General Assembly are intended to expand the definition of criminal harassment to include forms of electronic messaging.
School bullying policy results in injustice
By Saaraa Farooq | Jan. 20, 2012, 8:52 a.m. | In Op/Ed »
The fact that Jacob Rogers had to take his own life to be heard and finally receive the attention he deserved, after years of bullying, is unacceptable.
The end of many eras: 2011
By Saaraa Farooq | Dec. 31, 2011, 4:13 p.m. | In Lifestyle Blog »
With 2012 peeking through the windows, we're looking back at everything that made 2011 what it was. This year has brought both epic and short-lived endings, tragedy, entertainment and success. Now, let's see what really defined 2011 as we greet the New Year.
MCPS posts additional $10 million surplus for fiscal year 2011
By Saaraa Farooq | Dec. 30, 2011, 10:57 a.m. | In Local »
On Nov. 21, the Montgomery County Public School (MCPS) system reported an additional surplus of $10 million from fiscal year 2011 (FY11).
Sweet tunes for the holidays
By Saaraa Farooq | Dec. 27, 2011, 5:51 p.m. | In Music »
Tracking pirates but losing the treasure
By Saaraa Farooq | Dec. 4, 2011, 1:01 p.m. | In Op/Ed »
People as young as teenagers go on the internet everyday and download free music. However, the teenagers aren't the whole problem, the problem goes back to pirates.
Blair initiates Science National Honor Society
By Saaraa Farooq | Dec. 1, 2011, 1:51 p.m. | In Local »
This November, Blair introduced its fifth honor society, the Science National Honor Society. Senior Sherman Leung created the chapter to recognize and honor students who excel in the sciences.
Family time before turkey time
By Saaraa Farooq | Nov. 23, 2011, 9:38 a.m. | In Entertainment »
While you all wait for that delicious turkey and pumpkin pie to finish cooking, we're here to recommend heartwarming, family classics to keep the holiday spirit up. These five Thanksgiving movies provide moments of loving family and the fully capture the spirit of the season.
Blair holds first Principal's Advisory Council
By Saaraa Farooq | Oct. 30, 2011, 10:33 a.m. | In Local »
On Oct. 18, Principal Renay Johnson held the first Principal's Advisory Council (PAC), in which handpicked Blair students met to discuss school issues and methods for improvement.
Ask Chips: The best article you will read on SCO. Ever.
By Saaraa Farooq, Valerie Hu, Liv Jacobson | Oct. 27, 2011, 1:10 p.m. | In Ask Chips »
Welcome to the first edition of Ask Chips (AC) for the 2011-2012 school year! As you may have noticed by the byline, we have an updated crew. The new girls in town are our beloved, stressed out news editor Valerie and our fresh meat Saaraa, who has an awesome name. And, of course, Liv (a.k.a. the funniest, most attractive and most entertaining member on staff) is still here to save you from all of your silly, mortal problems.
Blazers recognized in Siemens Competition
By Saaraa Farooq | Oct. 26, 2011, 12:19 p.m. | In Local »
The Siemens Foundation recognized six seniors as semifinalists in the individual division of the 2011 Siemens Competition. Maryland had a total of 10 semifinalists, six of whom are from Blair.
Playing by the rules pays off
By Saaraa Farooq | Oct. 25, 2011, 1:03 p.m. | In Connections Blog »
On Sept. 27, seven people were arrested in an SAT cheating scam in Long Island, NY after a 19-year-old sophomore at Emory University was arrested for accepting money to take the SAT for several students.
Fall Playlist: Getting out of that funky mood
By Saaraa Farooq | Sept. 26, 2011, 5:41 p.m. | In Music »
It's time to take a short study break and let loose with some energetic tunes and upbeat lyrics.
New athletic director restructures sports programs
By Saaraa Farooq | Sept. 23, 2011, 12:12 p.m. | In Local »
Blair's sports programs are being restructured in order to involve the program with the school community and encourage student participation.
Balancing outrage and accountability
By Saaraa Farooq | Aug. 6, 2011, 12:12 a.m. | In Op/Ed »
Although the opposition to the proposed curfew bill may be justified, parents must acknowledge that they are partly at fault for the issue at the heart of the proposal: a lack of control over their children.
An intergalactic battle in the west
By Saaraa Farooq | Aug. 1, 2011, 11:23 a.m. | In Movies »
The merging of two very different genres, a western and sci-fi adventure sounds suspicious when put into the three words "Cowboys and Aliens". But the director Jon Favreau does not disappoint with this strange mash up.
Local teacher publishes first young adult novel
By Saaraa Farooq | July 14, 2011, 10:36 a.m. | In Local »
On July 5, Little, Brown and Company published Eastern Middle School (EMS) teacher Michelle Ray's first young adult novel, "Falling for Hamlet."
Evidence over allegation
By Saaraa Farooq | July 12, 2011, 7:43 p.m. | In News Blog »
On July 17, Casey Anthony will be freed from jail just two weeks after she was acquitted on July 5 for various counts including first-degree murder in relation to her daughter Caylee Anthony's death.