At the end of last year, according to Blair financial secretary Donna Franklin, Blair underwent an internal audit conducted by the MCPS Internal Audit office, a subdivision of the MCPS Office of Shared Accountability. The auditors, according to social studies teacher James Mogge, have given Blair recommendations based on the audit, including suggestions for a more systematic method of organizing field trips, which has increased teacher preparation to arrange a field trip.
Some of the more observant readers of Silver Chips may have noticed a slight change in the staff box this cycle. Traditionally, the roles of Extras Editor and Newsbrief Editor are fulfilled by junior staffers and we are proud to announce that page editors Eli Okun and Philipa Friedman have stepped up to fill the roles of Extras Editor and Newsbrief Editor, respectively. This shift of power allows us to take a moment to reflect on these two sections and plan new ways in which Silver Chips can improve the quality of our reporting for future issues.
Security measures and enforcement on school grounds have increased after several incidents of student misconduct in the past few weeks, according to assistant principal Andrew Coleman. School security has focused on deterring students from going off-campus during the school day and preventing thefts within the building, he said.
After ending last season on a low note with a loss to Richard Montgomery, the boys' basketball team (0-3) was ready to redeem themselves. The Blazers suffered a tough loss to Clarksburg in their home opener, but had a promising performance against Paint Branch. What the team lacks in rebounding and shooting skills, they make up for in their athleticism. "Our defense looked good, but we hope that by getting more points in transition we will be able to score more points," said senior forward Ben Hukill. With the loss of six seniors, the team is relatively young but still equipped with the talent to have a winning season. "Our schedule looks good, I think that if we can win the next couple games and then at least go .500 in our division we should be fine," explained Hukill.
JV boys' basketball (1-2) opened an encouraging season with strong performances against Clarksburg on Dec. 4 and Kennedy on Dec. 8, but suffered a tough loss to Paint Branch on Dec. 11, according to head coach Richard Porac.
Every year, thousands of seniors spend countless hours agonizing over how best to make themselves stand out, show off their experiences and fluff themselves up like the peacocks on the Discovery Channel. Inevitably, we come face to face with the dreaded college essay.
They suddenly begin to laugh at themselves around the table. It's junior Sree Sinha's birthday, and her family is dining out in celebration. Though the meal is a common tradition, the Sinhas feel a bit ridiculous sitting in an upscale restaurant. "Why are we doing this?" her parents ask one another. "Neither of us has a job." But the moment of questioning passes, and the festivities continue.
The halls of Blair are dark and an eerie stillness has replaced the hustle and bustle that filled them during the school day. But the school is not completely empty. Amid the silence, his phone vibrates in his pocket as he glances at the clock. It's 9:00 pm, and he has been at school for approximately 15 hours. He flips open his phone to hear a fellow math teacher, William Rose, instantly ask "Hey Giles, are you still here, too?" John Giles smiles before saying yes, knowing he is not the only teacher at Blair who keeps unconventional hours.
When the Spanish conquerors defeated the Aztec Empire nearly 500 years ago, they brought back crops, spices and diseases to Europe. But it's less well-known that they also brought back a delicacy that continues to this day: hot chocolate. First made by the Aztec and Mayan peoples by grinding cacao beans into paste, steaming hot chocolate beverages now come in as many different types as there are drinkers. Whether with a shot of espresso, infused with hazelnut or topped with mounds of whipped cream and sprinkles, hot chocolate is delicious by any name. As the D.C. winter comes upon us, catching many in shorts and t-shirts by surprise, a trip to get some hot chocolate is the key to stay toasty and satisfy your chocolate cravings.
Sophomore Sara Sium wrote this letter to the editor in response to the Silver Chips article Is year-round schooling an effective alternative to the traditional calendar?
The Board of Education (BOE) has recommended restroom renovations for Blair in Fiscal Year (FY) 2016, according to Adrienne Karamihas, the capital budget manager for the MCPS Department of Facilities Management. The renovations are part of MCPS's Capital Improvements Program (CIP).
It's a device that can prevent hundreds of fatalities a year. A device that will alter the way we think about driving. It will not only change lives, but save them.
The numbers on teens' scales are gaining more weight on the minds of Americans - and for good reason. Across the nation, more teens are becoming obese, and Maryland is no exception. In 1976-1980, five percent of Maryland teens were obese, and in 2003-2004, that percent was up to 17, according to data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
Almost five years ago, sophomore Eni Bajrami left her childhood home in Greece and journeyed with her family overseas to a country she had only heard of in stories - the U.S. Like any immigrant, Bajrami had some initial anxiety about starting a new life in a completely foreign land. She knew nothing about what the future would hold for the prosperity of herself and her family.
"Blair's biggest rival is probably Northwood. When it comes to the "Battle of the Boulevard," everybody shows up for the games whether it's football or soccer. Blazers should come out and support our teams, especially during the playoffs." -senior Alex Bae
MCPS special education made headlines in 2005 during the landmark case Schaffer v. Weast, in which the Supreme Court ruled that the burden of proof is upon the party that files suit (usually the families of special education students) when the question exists whether a school district must compensate for private school tuition if the system can't provide for a student's special needs. Now, the Court has taken special education rights one step further with the recent ruling in Forest Grove School District v. T.A., an equally important victory for special education students, their families and the schools that serve them.
On Oct. 28, the MCPS Board of Education unanimously passed a motion to raise the minimum high school dropout age from 16 to 18. However, the hypothetical law wouldn't take effect until the state legislature enacts the directive as a law. This incentive is a necessary measure that recognizes the value of education in today's rapidly changing world, and would yield positive change in Maryland high schools.
It was the ultimate teenage experience. He and other members of the jock crowd strutted Blair's halls. He drove the cheerleaders around after his baseball and football games. He was a senior, and he felt unstoppable. After all, Pete Luces' 1976 AMC Matador was not just a car – it was freedom.
With the 2008-2010 teachers union contract to expire soon, the Montgomery County Education Association (MCEA), the official teachers union for MCPS teachers, is set to renegotiate their contract with the MCPS Board of Education (BOE). However, recent dealings with MCPS have left some MCEA members unsatisfied and could affect the upcoming contract negotiations between the two groups, according to MCEA Vice President Christopher Lloyd.
As much as we Blazers love to hear from our principal, Silver Chips needs to find new sources of information. In the last issue of Silver Chips, both MCPS public information representative Chris Cram and Principal Darryl Williams were quoted in multiple news stories. And they're not alone - various issues of Chips have had their share of repeated sources in their news sections.
Framed by the gleaming walls of Strathmore's reception hall, the scene could have been lifted from an upscale country club: Blair alumni, dressed to the nines in tailored suits and dresses stand in clumps, chatting over drinks and twirling on the dance floor to old hits like "Play That Funky Music" by Wild Cherry. But immersed in conversation with old friends and classmates, the former Blazers hardly seem to notice their elegant surroundings.
In his eyes, the once magnificent stage had been transformed. It was now a gloomy debacle strewn with trash and wires hanging precariously from the ceiling.
Starting this year, elementary school students will bring home report cards with more details than a NASA operation manual. In a time when education success is determined by test scores and GPAs, MCPS has gone too far with these new report cards. Though the cards were meant to help parents, they end up not delivering the important information and establish an emphasis on grades rather than learning.
At the end of September, President Obama and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan voiced their support for year-round schooling. They are advocating for schools nationwide to join the approximately 2,800 others who are already on this schedule. Instead of one three-month summer vacation and a few shorter breaks throughout the year, year-round schooling has school throughout the year with several shorter vacations.
Over 4,200 teens in the U.S. were killed in driving accidents in 2007. More than 400,000 teens were treated in emergency rooms for vehicle crash injuries the same year. And these already high numbers are on the rise.
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