features
Being the Blazer
By Alisa Lu | Feb. 8, 2008, midnight | In Features »
When former Olympian Dominique Dawes and then-Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Kennedy Townsend visited Blair on March 25, 2002, they were greeted by a red creature with black hair and silver horns — the Blazer. Luckily for the young gymnast, the figure in the Blazer suit was trying to flirt with her. But unfortunately for social studies teacher Lansing Freeman, men with red tails and horns probably were not her type.
Mourning those so far yet so close
By Anika Manzoor | Feb. 6, 2008, midnight | In Features »
Sophomore Nicolette Harley was playing cards with her brother when she heard the news. "Did you hear what happened?" her mother asked a bemused Harley, who replied, "No, what?" Hesitantly, her mother told her the news - Harley's all-time favorite actor had just been found dead. After checking CNN for verification, she found out that on Jan. 22, Heath Ledger had passed away from an overdose of drugs, leaving fans across the world heartbroken.
Underground sport on the rise
By Ya Zhou | Feb. 1, 2008, midnight | In Features »
Junior Aaron Kozloff zeroes in on the 13-foot wall before him. His eyes strain towards the obstacle and he hesitates momentarily. With a final resolve, Kozloff runs up the barrier in order to vault himself over the top ledge, but narrowly misses. "Only half-an-inch more," the four others surrounding him say encouragingly.
Silver shiver
By Josie Callahan | Jan. 15, 2008, midnight | In Features »
With holiday festivities past and exams upon us, the urge to roll out of bed and begin the trudge to school without changing out of those cozy sweat pants may be overwhelming. But despite the cold, many Blazers are still sizzling in the latest fashions, which will keep you toasty and trendy through ice, snow and scantrons.
The sounds of the musically talented
By Anika Manzoor | Jan. 13, 2008, midnight | In Features »
The cacophony of guitar strings and gossip suddenly ceases as music teacher Paul Newport holds up a hand for silence. Then, only harmonized voices and suppressed giggles can be heard as Newport runs through scales with the choir, occasionally making jokes and replacing the standard "fa-la-la-la-la" with names of students in the room. Conversation rises up again as Newport stops to tune the guitars but quiets once more as he holds a finger to his mouth and says, "Can you do this for me, everyone?"
Blair alumna moves into "Hillaryland"
By Greg Kohn | Jan. 11, 2008, midnight | In Features »
When 2003 Blair alumna Nora Toiv was in the fifth grade, she got to visit the White House on "take-your-daughter-to-work" day. Her dad, Barry Toiv, who was Deputy Press Secretary during most of the Clinton Administration, took Nora on a special tour through the different-colored rooms and past the security guards to the Oval Office, where he introduced her to the president at his desk.
Ballot basics
By Sophie Schwadron | Jan. 7, 2008, midnight | In Features »
Young people en route to the real world are inheriting a country that faces a number of challenges. Voting is "one of the big steps to taking responsibility for the society you live in," according to State Senator Jamie Raskin, who represents Takoma Park and part of Silver Spring. "Many of the great social movements in American history were led by young people."
What money can't buy
By David Zheng | Jan. 4, 2008, midnight | In Features »
Behind a small counter, a student furiously fills in paperwork as more is passed up. Another student digs through mounds of forms and records information on a deposit log-sheet. Money passes through hands and makes its way securely into a cash box. As the first student completes the paperwork, a teacher in the background gives an approving nod.
Year in Review
By Bryan Huang, Elsi Wu | Jan. 1, 2008, midnight | In Features »
With the minutes ticking down in 2007, SCO takes you through the unforgettable stories that made the year. From Blair's changing of the guard to Hillary's presidential run to the New England Patriots' crack at NFL history, take a walk down memory lane with SCO's collection of Blair-related, national, local, entertainment and sports stories posted this year.
Crossing the finish line
By Alisa Lu | Dec. 30, 2007, midnight | In Features »
Senior Javier Vaca spotted the imposing white-columned Kennedy center after running for 10 miles, jogged past the limestone-and-marble Lincoln Memorial after 11 miles and passed the domed US Capitol after 13 miles. Tired, sore and with a cramp in his leg, when Vaca finally reached the finish line 13.2 miles later at Hains Point, he decided that finishing the 2007 Marine Corps Marathon was worth the endless effort and hours of training.
Making air waves
By Anika Manzoor | Dec. 16, 2007, midnight | In Features »
Juniors Sam Barth, Greg Friedman, Peter Myers, Russell Ottalini and Joe Gilbert emerge on-stage to enthusiastic applause, ready to spread Christmas cheer in this year's SGR Spectacular. While they set up, it becomes apparent that the boys are not equipped with any musical instruments or even microphones. And as the Christmas song "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town" begins playing in the background, "pianist" Ottalini emphatically mimes the action and other group members begin imitating other instruments. These boys are in an air band, known as "Action Jackson and the Go Getters."
Calling all beasts, teacups and candlesticks
By Josie Callahan | Dec. 13, 2007, midnight | In Features »
Each year, director Kelly O'Connor challenges young thespians to assume alternate identities. After months of rehearsal, the ordinary student may change their mannerisms to channel the inner princess, cowboy or pirate that the director is coaching her to embody onstage. In the coming months, students throughout the school will take on the demeanors of lively teapots, flirty feather-dusters and playful foot-rests.
YouLearn
By Josie Callahan | Dec. 10, 2007, midnight | In Features »
Fighting off the "Z"s during first period is a challenge many students have sought to master over the years. If a good breakfast won't help, then a cup of Starbucks coffee must. But for students in Robert Gibb's first period, staying awake is not a problem. No heads are on their desks in this Modern World History class, as every eye is glued to the projector screen where a Roman battle scene rages. After several minutes, the YouTube clip concludes and Gibb continues lecturing his students, who are now eager, awake and experiencing a rejuvenated interest in the Roman Empire.
De Paraguay, con amor
By Kathie Arana-Mejia | Nov. 30, 2007, midnight | In Features »
Muchos jóvenes no pueden esperar el momento en el cual se escapan de sus padres. Gabriela Formento, una estudiante de tercer año en Blair, está a más de 4,500 millas de los suyos- pero no para escaparse de ellos.
The rainbow connection
By Brittany Allen | Nov. 30, 2007, midnight | In Features »
While the trudge up to room 243 for the last forty-five minute chunk of the school day is no stranger to Communication Arts Program (CAP) students in Kevin Shindel's eighth period research class, a gang of less than twenty kids, the hall is abuzz on this Tuesday. Shindel stands outside as the final bell rings, to motion groups of stragglers into the room. Inside, the desks are arranged in a wide square. The tables sit in the middle. The room is crawling with students from every year and every dynamic. The class has visitors.
Viviendo la vida loca
By Selene Tituana | Nov. 29, 2007, midnight | In Features »
Cuando Elissa Fischel, estudiante del duodécimo grado, entró el primer día de la escuela en el amplio y extendido edificio de la escuela secundario, era obvio que ella resaltaba en un mar de estudiantes. Siempre que ella caminaba por los largos pasillos, los estudiantes se paraban y la miraban fijamente. Fischel no tenía una señal pegada en su espalda ni nada parecido; ella era distinta porque era estadounidense, una extranjera en Brasil.
Learning in translation
By Jon Kesten | Nov. 25, 2007, midnight | In Features »
For senior Danielle Tarr, every day at school is a trip around the world and a mouthful of dialects. She is greeted first period with "Assalam alaikum," fourth period with "Hello," sixth period with "Konichiwa" and seventh period with "Salve." Tarr takes four different language classes – Arabic, English, Japanese and AP Latin – two of which, Arabic and Japanese, are being offered for the first time this year.
Legend comes to life on the Blair stage
By Johanna Gretschel | Nov. 24, 2007, midnight | In Features »
Sweeping across the stage, she recalls the first time she met Arthur Miller - the playwright responsible for "The Crucible" - and the way she was ignored for the likes of Winona Ryder and Daniel Day-Lewis. But at the read-through for the 1996 movie version of the renowned play, she summoned her annoyance from her earlier dismissal to deliver a spitfire, passionate rendition of Tituba opposite Miller himself, who decided to read the part of Reverend Parris. Later that day, Miller visited her trailer, proclaiming, "Oh my god, you are Tituba!" In her trademark feisty manner, she simply replied, "No, I'm Charlayne Woodard."
Blazers mean business in the big apple
By Sophie Schwadron | Nov. 19, 2007, midnight | In Features »
The bus stops, and the scrambling starts. Forty-eight students file out with one thing on their minds – money – and, of course, not getting lost amidst thousands of bargain hunters crowding the messy streets of New York City's wholesale district. Four and half hours later, the students will be back on the bus, their wallets a little lighter, and the negotiations will begin.
Muchas Maneras de Decir "Hola"
By | Nov. 15, 2007, midnight | In Features »
En todo el mundo, hay muchas maneras en que se puede decir "hola," pero probablemente les sorprendería aprender que hay muchas maneras diferentes de decirla en Blair mismo. Los hispanohablantes dicen "Hola," mientras personas que hablan francés dicen "Bonjour." Hawaianos dicen "Aloha," que también significa adiós. Mucha gente dice, "Kelou," que es un saludo igbo, o "labas," que es lituano. En la lengua yoruba, hay 15 maneras de decir "hola."
Log on, make right
By Sophie Schwadron | Nov. 11, 2007, midnight | In Features »
In real life, freshman Eric Ruggieri may not actually have 509 friends. But one aspect of his Facebook page rings true – he doesn't want his Shetland sheepdog to be used as live shark bait. Below his "Top Friends" list appears a small box labeled "Causes," where the group "Stop using live dogs for shark bait" shows Ruggieri's avid support for animal rights.
War games
By Brittany Allen | Nov. 10, 2007, midnight | In Features »
It's a weekday in the SAC and the whole room is abuzz with excited chatter. Several crude but enthusiastic posters, the spitting image of Spirit Week propaganda, are slung across the backs of chairs. People file in slowly and sit with their friends and acquaintances, but this isn't a typical lunch period — this motley crew of excited constituents, all hailing from the fourth voting district in Prince George's and Montgomery counties, are here at Blair to hear a debate between the candidates for the Democratic nomination to Congress for the upcoming Congressional election.
Ready, set, film
By Jenny Williams | Nov. 3, 2007, midnight | In Features »
The rules are simple – one weekend, one crew and one final film production. At 7 p.m. on Friday Oct. 19, a crew of 13 Blazers and 1 student from Kennedy High School embarked on the race to create a film in 72 hours for the National Film Challenge.
Everybody dance now...or not?
By Susie Branson | Oct. 31, 2007, midnight | In Features »
Like bugs to a light, a swarm of girls gather around a bonfire nibbling on pizza and roasting s'mores. Giggles and guitar melodies combine with smoke swirling through the air as they zip up their jackets against the brisk fall breeze. Engulfed by the relaxing warmth and glow of the orange blaze, these seven girls decided to spend their Saturday together instead of attending Blair's annual homecoming dance.
Silver shriek!
By Brittany Allen, Josie Callahan | Oct. 30, 2007, midnight | In Features »
So maybe the little old lady who hands out quarters instead of Halloween candy gave you an odd look last year when you arrived at her door with a trio of pals scrunched into your Disney Princess costumes from fifth grade. Perhaps you felt a flush of shame when that jerky pack of Power Rangers giggled at you from behind their little orange buckets of Junior Mints and Twizzlers. You know what they're all thinking: Aren't they a little old?
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