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It takes two: when clubs work together, everyone benefits

By Claire Koenig | Nov. 17, 2011, 11:45 a.m. | In Print Opinions »

It's in the symbiotic give-and-take of the natural world and the mutually beneficial handshake-deals executed in thriving businesses. In the bonds of a healthy marriage and the well-tuned chords of a veteran rock band. Cooperation works - just ask a few of Blair's clubs.

Charter Schools send educational reform off-course

By Puck Bregstone | Nov. 17, 2011, 11:36 a.m. | In Print Opinions »

The United States education system is in turmoil. Other industrialized countries are outstripping the U.S. in almost every aspect of education. In a desperate move, the U.S. Department of Education has poured $4.35 billion into an unexplored, costly and unnecessary alternative: the charter school.

Black friday tips and tricks

By Ruth Aitken Helen Bowers | Nov. 17, 2011, 11:18 a.m. | In Print Entertainment »

Streaming floods the net

By Puck Bregstone | Nov. 17, 2011, 11:05 a.m. | In Print Entertainment »

Initiatives aid freshmen

By Srividya Murthy Maureen Lei | Nov. 10, 2011, 3:57 p.m. | In Print News »

This year, Assistant Principal Dirk Cauley and the ninth grade team began collaborating on a new series of initiatives to decrease academic ineligibility, and strengthen leadership and anger management skills in the freshmen class.

SGA raises social awareness

By Josh Schmidt | Nov. 10, 2011, 1:21 p.m. | In Print News »

The Blair Student Government Association (SGA) held a two week canned food drive and a homeless walk in order to raise social awareness in the Blair community.

Blair's athletic culture gets a required monetary revamping

By Claire Sleigh | Nov. 10, 2011, 12:38 p.m. | In Print Sports »

It is the mission of the new athletic director, Rita Boule, to help foster an inclusive athletic community in the school. By encouraging an overall athletic culture, Boule will help the school grow and define itself as a well-rounded and exciting place to be.

Accurately depicting the nuances

By Claire Sleigh | Nov. 10, 2011, 12:25 p.m. | In Print Opinions »

It takes practice and dedication to incorporate the many layers of a story into a seamless piece, and when this is not done properly some points of view are compromised. Sometimes little details or nuances slip through the crack, and even the smallest of word choices can completely spin meaning in the wrong direction.

Maryland BOE refines graduation rate

By Srividya Murthy | Nov. 10, 2011, noon | In Print News »

Beginning with the Class of 2011, the Maryland Board of Education (BOE) will calculate graduation rate using a new formula that will comprise all four years of high school and account for transfer students and student deaths.

Girls' cross-country qualifies for States

By Claire Sleigh | Nov. 10, 2011, 11:58 a.m. | In Print Sports »

The Blazers edged out Churchill by a mere two points to take 4th, in what was one the team's most successful meets of the season. Despite a muddy course, the Blazers were able to pick up traction, and two girls were even able to PR.

Jolting juices and energy elixirs for sleep-deprived Blazers

By Helen Bowers Simrin Gupta | Nov. 10, 2011, 11:47 a.m. | In Print Entertainment »

Two acts of danger, daggers and desire

By Simrin Gupta | Nov. 10, 2011, 11:22 a.m. | In Print Entertainment »

Blair's production of the classic 'The Three Musketeers' is chock-full of sword fighting, swashbuckling and surrender. The play is an action-packed masterpiece featuring plenty of pranks and riotous banter. The production has a lot to live up to, seeing as director Paul Anderson released a major motion picture adaptation only two weeks ago, but then again, it's not being performed by your average high school theatre group.

Blair students named Siemens semifinalists

By Hannah Weintraub | Nov. 10, 2011, 10:17 a.m. | In Print News »

Six Blair seniors were named semifinalists in the 2011 Siemens Competition in Math, Science and Technology.

Councilmembers introduce anti-loitering bill to counter youth curfew

By Maureen Lei | Nov. 10, 2011, 10:08 a.m. | In Print News »

Montgomery County Councilmembers Phil Andrews (D-Dist. 3) and George Leventhal (D-at large) introduced Expedited Bill 35-11 on Oct. 25, a piece of legislation that would allow police officers to question individuals who appear to be loitering or engaging in unlawful behavior. According to Andrews, 35-11 is based on existing laws in Florida, Georgia and Wisconsin.

Federal law will eliminate Takoma Park's immigrant sanctuary laws

By Sebastian Medina-Tayac Maureen Lei | Nov. 10, 2011, 9:58 a.m. | In Print News »

Takoma Park's sanctuary laws protecting the identities of undocumented criminals from the federal government will be overridden by a new federal policy, Safe Communities, which allows the Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency to gather data on undocumented immigrants from municipal police records.

Purple Line chugs along

By Hannah Weintraub | Nov. 10, 2011, 9:47 a.m. | In Print News »

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) authorized the Purple Line for the preliminary engineering stage of development which could make construction possible by 2015 and service possible three to five years later. The proposed, 16 mile railway will connect New Carrolton, Takoma Park, Silver Spring and Bethesda with a total of 21 stops according to the Maryland Transit Association (MTA).

Country in profile: Eritrea

By Adam Kadir | Nov. 7, 2011, 1:14 p.m. | In Print Features »

Exchange student compares his time in Eritrea, Germany and the United State

Pro/Con: Should Montgomery County enact a night time curfew for youth under 18?

By Ruth Aitken Leah Muskin-Pierret | Oct. 30, 2011, 2:08 p.m. | In Print Opinions »

Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett drafted a youth curfew bill in July. The curfew would prevent youth under 18 from being out between midnight and 5am on weekends.

Red dead addiction

By Sarah Wilson | Oct. 28, 2011, 11:41 a.m. | In Print Features »

Link began his quests at Death Mountain in 1986 when he first rescued Princess Zelda from Ganon, the Prince of Darkness, and saved the Kingdom with a Silver Arrow, but most video-gaming Blazers began their quests in a basement with a GameCube ten years ago. It's more or less the same story for junior Fen Kemp and senior Jack Vaughan as they discuss their experiences playing "The Legend of Zelda" over lunch.

New attendance policy: recycled and unimproved

By Claire Koenig | Oct. 28, 2011, 11:31 a.m. | In Print Opinions »

False names, masked intention, danger disdained - the circular sweeping of a school system remembering the steps to a waltz they left behind.

Athletic Director brings new workout to Blair sports

By Emma Bergman | Oct. 28, 2011, 11:27 a.m. | In Print Sports »

It's the first inning and Blair's new athletic director, Rita Boule, has proven to be a real all star as she finds new ideas for change in Blair sports.

For larger schools, one size does not fit all

By Maggie Shi | Oct. 27, 2011, 9:22 p.m. | In Print Opinions »

The term "Support” has become synonymous with "trivial” or "secondary.” But support positions are anything but trivial — without them, a school, like a building, can crumble.

Keeping autonomy and reputation

By Claire Sleigh | Oct. 27, 2011, 2:47 p.m. | In Print Opinions »

Silver Chips' autonomy could be in question because of recent leadership changes at Blair. The new administration has the power to take the school in a new direction, and with this they also have the power to take Silver Chips in a new direction.

The Secret Life of the Average Blazer

By Simrin Gupta | Oct. 26, 2011, 11:10 a.m. | In Print Entertainment »

Teen pregnancy, coming out stories, fashionistas, relationship drama, crazy parents and bullying. Though it may not seem like they have much in common, they're part of the secret formula writers use when they pitch the average high school TV show. Now there's no denying that every high school has its fair share of drama so in a school as diverse as Blair, one would think that we would be able to relate to all of this, right? I think we can all agree that Blair may get a little crazy at times, but we can consider ourselves lucky that it's not as crazy as some shows make it out to be.

Fall Sports Update

By Josh Schmidt | Oct. 25, 2011, 2:32 p.m. | In Print Sports »

High expectations and a decorated history follow varsity girls' soccer. Blair has averaged 12 wins per season over the past four years and has consistently been a top contender in the county. The team had a tough starting schedule and are 4-2-2.