media

Getting the upper hand in the standardized test system

By Maggie Shi | June 3, 2011, 11:42 a.m. | In Print Features »

With the onset of summer, students are dreaming of lazy days by the pool and warm, homework-free nights. But standing between them and the bliss of summer vacation is a formidable obstacle to overcome: exams.

Representation hindered by miscommunication

By Maggie Shi | June 3, 2011, 11:39 a.m. | In Print Opinions »

Whenever someone at Blair says "student government,” it usually comes with an acknowledgment of the irony of calling it a "government.” The administration knows, the teachers know and the students know that in the end, the adults are the ones in control.

Johnson named new Blair principal

By Stella Bartholet, Maureen Lei | June 3, 2011, 11:35 a.m. | In Print Features »

The MCPS Board of Education (BOE) confirmed Renay Johnson, the current principal of Takoma Park Middle School (TPMS), as the new Blair Principal on May 23.

Long-serving Blair teachers to retire

By Maggie Shi | June 3, 2011, 11:33 a.m. | In Print News »

Six teachers, each of whom has worked over 20 years in the school system, across several departments will be retiring from Blair after the 2010-2011 school year.

Starr signs MCPS Superintendent's Contract

By Maureen Lei | June 3, 2011, 10:09 a.m. | In Print News »

Joshua Starr was officially appointed the next MCPS Superintendent by the MCPS Board of Education (BOE) on May 10. Starr visited Montgomery County to sign the Superintendent's Contract on May 11. According to BOE President Christopher Barclay, Starr will begin his tenure as superintendent on July 1. Starr will replace Jerry Weast, the current MCPS Superintendent.

Award program terminated

By Srividya Murthy | June 3, 2011, midnight | In Print News »

Maryland General Assembly will not offer the Maryland Distinguished Scholar award for the high school class of 2012 and beyond, but will continue to fund recipients in the class of 2011 and those who are already enrolled in college.

Kids Ride Free program reinstated

By Srividya Murthy, Maureen Lei | June 3, 2011, midnight | In Print News »

Beginning in July, MCPS students will have free access to Ride On and Metrobus services on weekdays between 2 and 7 p.m. The Montgomery County Council passed the Kids Ride Free program on May 26 for Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 after suspending it for FY 2011.

Pro/Con: Weast's Retirement

By Simrin Gupta, Claire Koenig | June 2, 2011, 11:30 a.m. | In Print Opinions »

Summer Sounds

By Simrin Gupta | June 2, 2011, 10:57 a.m. | In Print Entertainment »

With school finally winding down and summer right around the corner, some of the hottest artists are busy prepping for some sweet summer shows. If you're sticking around this summer, quit looking for ways to beat the heat - listen to some great beats instead. Some scorching tours are happening close to home.

University System of Maryland to consider linking College Park and Baltimore campuses

By Maureen Lei | April 14, 2011, 5:16 p.m. | In Print News »

The University System of Maryland (USM) Board of Regents will consider merging the University of Maryland College Park (UMCP) and the University of Maryland Baltimore (UMB), as proposed in a bill introduced by President Thomas V. Mike Miller (D-27) on March 21. The bill is currently in the Conference Committee and has been approved by both the House and Senate, according to USM Chancellor William Kirwan.

Outside the lunch box

By Claire Boston | April 14, 2011, 12:35 p.m. | In Print Features »

For Blazers, a lunch period is much more than just time to eat. It's 45 minutes of nearly complete freedom; a time when students are free to do almost anything they please. It might be a time to catch up with friends, review class notes or just relax and take a break from the monotony of classes. While it's common to see students in the SAC, along Blair Boulevard or outside as the weather gets warmer, students spread all across Blair, forming pockets of culture as they pursue their activities of choice.

The truth behind the challenge

By Maggie Shi | April 14, 2011, 11:27 a.m. | In Print Opinions »

As students, we have certain key numbers that seem to sometimes define our lives. We spend endless hours studying obscure words to try to boost our SAT scores, taking endless practice AP tests, or trying to edge our way closer to (or at least not get farther away from) that golden 4.0.

Blair faces staff cuts

By Maggie Shi | April 14, 2011, 11:20 a.m. | In Print News »

Blair may face possible staff reductions for the 2011-2012 school year.

Witnessing devastation at home, Japanese Blazers remain strong

By Srividya Murthy | April 14, 2011, midnight | In Print Features »

They watched it happen nearly 7,000 miles away. A 9.0 magnitude earthquake, accompanied by hundreds of aftershocks, brought entire buildings to the ground, flooded the land with several tons of seawater and expunged thick, dark smoke into the air. They saw an earthquake, a tsunami and nuclear plant explosions taking place in Japan and finally absorbed the heartbreaking reality: This was happening to their home.

Blair improves recycling initiatives

By Srividya Murthy | April 14, 2011, midnight | In Print News »

Student members of the Green Club are currently collaborating with building service workers to reduce recycling contamination, an issue highlighted by this year's School Energy and Recycling Team (SERT) inspection. Recycling contamination occurs when trash is mixed with recycling and damages the recycling, causing Blair's recycling to be discarded with trash, according to SERT's recycling manager, Richard Benjamin.

Unfair testing fees hinder education across the board

By Claire Boston | March 10, 2011, 2:50 p.m. | In Print Opinions »

By most students' junior year, the bills begin to pile up. It usually starts with $13 for the PSAT. A couple months later, it might be $47 for the SAT, then another $18 to see a score report that's more than just three numbers out of 800. Factor in $21 for SAT Subject Tests, and in May, throw in a couple of Advanced Placement (AP) exams at $87 each. In a single school year, a student may shell out over $500 to the College Board, all in the name of college preparedness.

Power to the people

By Maggie Shi | March 10, 2011, 2:41 p.m. | In Print Opinions »

Pepco. It's remarkable how a single word, especially mentioned at a time of particularly tumultuous weather in Maryland, can spark fits of rage from citizens all across the county. Mention Pepco at a social gathering, and you will surely be bombarded with complaints and horror stories – power going out for no apparent reason, fallen trees that leave entire neighborhoods in the dark for days and dreadfully slow response times.

Middle East Watch

By Biruk Bekele | March 10, 2011, 2:39 p.m. | In Print News »

When senior Nadia Kadry arrived home from school on Feb. 11, she walked right into the middle of a party. Like her relatives on the streets of Egypt, Kadry's parents were celebrating the sudden fall of a dictator that ruled for the last three decades.

Get to know the SMOB candidates

By Philipa Friedman | March 10, 2011, 2:36 p.m. | In Print News »

In this year's election for the 2011-2012 Student Member of the Board, the competition has been narrowed down to two contestants: incumbent Alan Xie and newcomer Hal Zeitlin, both juniors. We asked them about their positions on key issues for the upcoming year and a little about their qualifications. Stay tuned for the "Meet The Candidates" TV show, which will air on the MCPS cable channel beginning March 21.

A zero-sum game of zero tolerance

By | March 10, 2011, 2:33 p.m. | In Print Opinions »

This article was written by the Silver Chips Print Editorial Board and is intended to represent the official views of the newspaper. Schools throughout the country base drug discipline policies on the idea that all drug-using teens are unmotivated and lazy people who consistently break rules. But this was not true for Nick Stuban, a 15-year-old student from Fairfax County who was caught buying JWH-018, a legal drug with marijuana-like effects. Before the incident, Stuban was a model student in academics, athletics and attendance. But all this changed when his school suspended him and later transferred him to a different school under their strict discipline policy. After months of emotional stress, Stuban committed suicide on Jan. 20.

Supporting the speech, opposing the message

By | March 10, 2011, 2:29 p.m. | In Print Opinions »

This article was written by the Silver Chips Print Editorial Board and is intended to represent the official views of the newspaper. As the dark train of cars inched along the rural Maryland road, the gloomy atmosphere belied the family's pride. The son they were burying had died honorably in combat. But one thousand feet away, dogged protesters screamed obscenities and defamed the fallen soldier.

Teaching in tune

By Stella Bartholet | March 10, 2011, 12:23 p.m. | In Print Features »

Many students who have Karen Collins' for their 3D Computer Graphics class describe her as introverted and quiet - hardly the type of person they would expect to sing in honky-tonk, country and Cajun bands.

Keeping choice in abortion universal

By Larisa Antonisse | March 10, 2011, 12:18 p.m. | In Print Opinions »

Babies are cute with their smiling faces, soft skin and tiny toes. But motherhood is not always so easy; it can be tiring, expensive and requires serious dedication. The U.S. Supreme Court decided in the 1973 Roe v. Wade case that all women have the right to choose whether to enter the life-long commitment that begins with childbirth. Legislation introduced in Congress in January would threaten this right, especially for low-income women, and would damage our nation's progress toward universal health insurance.

Community input considered in superintendent search

By Maureen Lei | March 10, 2011, 12:14 p.m. | In Print News »

The Montgomery County Board of Education (BOE) and Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates (HYA), the search firm assisting the BOE with the superintendent search, released the Leadership Profile Assessment on Feb. 17. The assessment identifies the characteristics that community members would like to see in the next MCPS superintendent, according to HYA President Hank Gmitro.

Media center addresses missing Promethean board tools

By Maggie Shi | March 10, 2011, 12:13 p.m. | In Print News »

Frequent Promethean board misuse by outside groups has prompted concern among Blair administration and Media Center specialists. Business Manager Jim Funk sent out an email to Blair staff members on Feb. 11 regarding the issue.