features
New Year, New Classes
By Reethi Padmanabhan | March 8, 2018, 10:36 a.m. | In Features »
A closer look at the most recently added elective courses at Blair
Dedication to animation
By Absa Fall Madeleine Tilley | March 3, 2018, 11:43 p.m. | In Features »
Behind the scenes of films such as Mulan, Toy Story, and Coco, there is a team of artists who put their noses to the grindstone in order to achieve the animated prowess displayed in these films. Even the lighting of a candle requires tedious work and close attention to detail. Animating a flame to look even somewhat realistic is a skill that few people have as it is not easy to master, and requires a lot of time and devotion in order to become proficient.
Losing Lockers
By Tiara Oldfield | Feb. 24, 2018, 9:32 p.m. | In Features »
As the number of students at Blair is expected to surpass 3,000 students next year and the overcrowding problem is anticipated to grow throughout MCPS, it is clear that the schools must clear the space that lockers take up and use it in a more productive manner.
Seven fun ways to spend Valentine's Day if you're single
By Arthi Thyagarajan | Feb. 14, 2018, 6:55 p.m. | In Lifestyle »
For those in love, Valentine's Day is a time to embrace your relationship and reflect on all the reasons why you love one another. But for some of us single people, there's no better holiday to get us bummed out about being alone. Even if you're not doing that great in the romance department this year, that doesn't mean you can't go out and enjoy yourself!
Snowy solutions
By Tiara Oldfield | Feb. 14, 2018, 6:48 p.m. | In Features »
While snow falls and students are sound asleep, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) administrators are up at 3 a.m., racing around and checking the weather forecasts. The seemingly small notification that pops up on the MCPS website before school starts has a big decision making process behind it, and even wider impacts on the community.
The backbone of Blair
By Mahnaz Habib | Feb. 12, 2018, 8:02 p.m. | In Features »
"I think sometimes students think they have to do it alone now that they're in high school, or their friends are the only one they can go to. But there's a reason that they have a support system, we're always here to help," says Ms. Binnick, one of the many counselors at Blair, here to provide that extra support that everyone sometimes needs.
DMV athletes to compete in the 2018 winter Olympics
By | Feb. 4, 2018, 12:25 a.m. | In Features »
The weather is chilly, snow is falling and the Winter Olympics are back. This year they are being held in Pyeongchang County, South Korea, from Feb. 9 to Feb. 25. Sports such as bobsled, hockey and short track speed skating will be a part of this worldwide sporting event, featuring some athletes from the DMV.
Part Three: What Happens Next?
By Rebecca Wessel Oreet Zimand | Jan. 28, 2018, 11:49 a.m. | In Features »
Despite the increased media scrutiny of sexual misconduct in the workplace, several groups of people have gotten woefully less coverage of their experiences. This series of investigations reveals the unique struggles that teenagers face in reporting sexual misconduct by teachers and authority figures, and the ways in which their voices were silenced.
Blazer Social Media Stars: Youtube Edition
By Eric Feigen Nene Narh-Mensah | Jan. 25, 2018, 9:43 a.m. | In Features »
Diane Dao bobs her head as she listens to BTS. She ponders possible dance routines in her head over and over for her next video. Meanwhile, Ayse Erbas, junior, sits on her bed and considers different challenges she could do for her next video and who to collab with.
Stepping up the game
By Mahnaz Habib | Jan. 24, 2018, 6:54 p.m. | In Features »
Sophomore Justin Haddad comes home on a Friday afternoon, packs his fencing gear, and hops on a plane to Portland for his next competition.
Part Two: What Happens Next?
By Rebecca Wessel Oreet Zimand | Jan. 21, 2018, 1:09 p.m. | In Features »
Despite the increased media scrutiny of sexual misconduct in the workplace, several groups of people have gotten woefully less coverage of their experiences. This series of investigations reveals the unique struggles that teenagers face in reporting sexual misconduct by teachers and authority figures, and the ways in which their voices were silenced.
What Happens Next?
By Rebecca Wessel Oreet Zimand | Jan. 21, 2018, 12:59 p.m. | In Features »
For Olivia, a Blair freshman, church has a powerful presence in her life. Her uncle is a priest and her mother is a well respected congregant. Yet, two years ago, the arrival of a new deacon changed her view of the church entirely.
Lifting for the thrill
By Sneha Ojha Madeleine Tilley | Jan. 2, 2018, 2:50 p.m. | In Features »
Greer walks into the store. She looks around, scouting for security cameras and roving employees. When she's sure that nobody is looking, she shoves three tubes of lipstick and a bottle of nail polish into her purse, then walks out of the store.
Prime real-estate at Four-Corners
By Rebecca Wessel | Dec. 1, 2017, 9:40 a.m. | In Features »
A new school supply is becoming essential in many classrooms and offices at Blair. It often sits on the floor under desks and near crevices, but some are found higher up in cabinets or by sinks. They come mainly in the form of a wooden rectangle, with a spring loaded wire and a tasty treat placed just in the right position. In some cases, they're activated and the treat is gone, replaced by a once-hungry critter who was hoping to get a bite to eat.
On the other hand
By Emma Markus | Dec. 1, 2017, 9:13 a.m. | In Features »
Freshman Nicole Frank takes ambidextrousness to a completely new level. Frank is such a skilled violinist that you wouldn't notice the difference between her left hand and that of the other violinists in Blair's Symphonic Orchestra at first glance. However, Frank was born with very short fingers, often referred to as "nubbins," on her left hand. "Many people tell me they look like toes," Frank says.
An assist to El Salvador
By Rebecca Wessel | Dec. 1, 2017, 7:52 a.m. | In Features »
For many Salvadorans, soccer is much more than a hobby, it's a lifestyle. After a long day's work, it's customary to meet up with friends and family at la cancha , or the field. Unlike in the United States, most people stay on their community teams well into adulthood. And if people don't play, they certainly go to watch the games.
A Lively performance
By Eric Feigen | Nov. 30, 2017, 8:01 a.m. | In Teacher Feature »
Engaging high students is one of a teacher's greatest challenges. Robin Lively, the latest addition to the Blair math department, uses acrobatics as way to motivate her class and foster good study habits in and out of school. If all of her students receive a least C on a major assignment, Lively performs a cartwheel as a reward for the class' hard work.
Weird and wacky phobias
By Mahnaz Habib | Nov. 29, 2017, 9:36 p.m. | In Features »
Senior Moira Johnson walks through Blair Boulevard along with hundreds of other students rushing to get to class. Suddenly, she feels a soft, plush texture brush against her arm and can't help but shriek.
Spitting out family history
By Rebecca Wessel | Nov. 27, 2017, 4:54 p.m. | In Features »
After rummaging through old sepia toned photographs, connecting the branches of extended family trees and reading old letters from relatives from generations past, many questions about ancestry still remain unanswered. The secrets hidden even beyond extensive searches through old family documents can be found in the contents of a couple teaspoons of saliva.
What happens next door
By Absa Fall Arthi Thyagarajan | Nov. 27, 2017, 2:30 p.m. | In Features »
Typically people imagine firefighters sitting in a circle with their legs propped up on a table, playing cards or checkers, waiting to be sent out for the next fire. However, the reality is that firefighters have an intense workload and are expected to maintain their composure, multi-task, and think on their feet in life or death situations.
The freaky fashions of Blair
By Nene Narh-Mensah | Nov. 13, 2017, 7:55 p.m. | In Features »
Halloween. A time when youth and adults alike across the nation dress up in their scariest, most "out-there" costumes. Blair's Costume Day on Oct. 31 drew in plenty of students sporting Halloween attire. Amidst all the spider-people and cats, skeletons and fairy varieties, these Blazer Halloween 'fits were the best of the best.
Best bathrooms at Blair: Girls' Edition
By Sneha Ojha | Nov. 13, 2017, 2:07 p.m. | In Features »
The Blair bathrooms: something that every girl has used.
Tracking the Trend of Anonymous Apps
By Nene Narh-Mensah | Nov. 7, 2017, 2:02 p.m. | In Features »
Who makes you laugh the hardest? Who's always scheming? Who is most likely to win an Oscar? These are now all questions that can be answered with complete anonymity on the popular new app To Be Honest (TBH), the latest addition to the anonymous app market.
Pulling together in a time of distress: Harvey and Irma
By Mahnaz Habib Nobline Yoo | Nov. 3, 2017, 2:17 p.m. | In Features »
Hurricane Harvey and Irma struck the United States with raging winds up to 150 mph and angry floods. However, they were not just distant events; they affected the heart of Blair. This is the story of how they shook the Blair community.
A passion for fashion
By Absa Fall | Oct. 20, 2017, 1:36 p.m. | In Humans of Blair »
"When I was five I wanted to be a fashion designer, but that changed when I came to America. I want to study astronomy and be an astronomer but I am thinking of getting a minor in fashion design."
We found 784 results.