Trades Provide New Options

by Holland McCabe ’11 As students walk across the stage at graduation, some look forward to college, others look to serve their country in the military and still others look to enter the work force as tradesmen. These students have decided not to pursue the college life and degree, and choose instead to pursue a career in the skilled trades like carpentry, mechanics, plumbing and electrical contracting. In choosing this path, they face many uncertainties, especially in this economy. However, this path also can lead to a rewarding and successful life.

Saturday School Combines Education, Volunteering

by Darby Whitehair ’12 It’s 8:30 Saturday morning, and the classrooms at Sherwood are not empty. Filling up the desks and classrooms are students of all ages, all there for one purpose: Saturday School.

Orndorff Retiring After Three Decades

by Sam Farrell ’12 Physical education teacher Gene Orndorff will retire at the end of the school year from a career that includes a 31 year involvement in Rock ‘n’ Roll. For a number of these years, he has been the show’s director and tech producer. Not only did Orndorff contribute much moral support to the hundreds, if not thousands, of students he has mentored over his three decades, he also has changed the aesthetic face of Rock ‘n’ Roll, and has contributed multiple ideas that have made the whole show more efficient.

Why Smart Kids Fail: Understanding the Underachiever

by Kendall Proctor ’11 One of Sherwood’s Guiding Principles, posted on the walls of many classrooms, states “excellence is achievable and always worth the investment.” Yet many students at school underachieve. Although an underachieving student may be intelligent, he or she may not put enough effort into schoolwork to reach his or her full academic potential.

MCPS Plans for Budget Constraints

    by Adam Kopp ’11   On January 28, Superintendent Jerry Weast released a list of 27 proposed budget reductions that would save the school system $48 million for the Fiscal Year 2012 (FY12). The proposal, which warns of “significant service reductions,” would warrant strong consideration should MCPS fail to receive adequate local funding, totaling $82 million, from the … Read More

College-Level Classes Intrigue Students

by Andi Hubbell ’11      As a part of its Seven Keys to College Readiness, MCPS recommends that students strive to receive a score of three or better on at least one AP exam during their high school careers. However, allured by the prospect of gaining extensive college credit during high school, many students resolve to go even further, tackling … Read More

What Egypt’s Revolution Is Going To Mean For …

U.S. Interests and Security The departure of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and the country’s shift towards democracy marks the loss of a key U.S. ally in the Arab world. Mubarak could be relied upon by the United States for cooperation in regional politics and counter-terrorism. So as odd as it may seem, democracy in Egypt may be a bad thing … Read More

One Life Unites a Community

by Ellen Kirkness ‘12 A life is not defined by the number of days one lives, but instead by the number of lives one touches with the days he is given. Alex Popeck, born September 28, 1993, spent exactly 17 years, three months and 10 days in this world and, in that time, impacted the lives of thousands. “Alex will … Read More

Sherwood’s Bands Play It Loud and Proud

by Katie Nolan ‘12 Hydra Kyll The summer of their sophomore year, seniors Zachary Moustafa, Rohan Mathur and Tim O’Connell decided to form a heavy metal band. After they recruited Sherwood graduate Michael Collins and senior Stephen Prentiss, Hydra Kyll was formed. “We play many different styles of heavy metal, whether it’s slow, Black Sabbath-type Doom Metal, to the speedy, … Read More

CON: U.S. Secrecy out of the Closet and into the Fire

by Brad Matthews ‘11 The international media has been swept up in recent months by the rise of WikiLeaks, which acquires diplomatic cables and classified documents (including those pertaining to our Mideast campaigns) and leaks them over the Internet for the entire world to see. WikiLeaks claims to be the final development in free speech and transparency, but one man … Read More