Elaine Shuster Foundation Aims to Give Back

By Morgan Hill ’16 The Elaine Shuster Foundation, created by the family of sophomore Emma Shuster, is an organization dedicated to raising funds and awareness in order to give back to the educational community in Maryland. The foundation held a fundraiser on December 14 at the American Tap Room in Bethesda that included a silent auction and appearances by professional … Read More

College Board: A Look At Its Growing Influence

By Jacob Golomb ’16 College Board is a nonprofit organization that provides standardized testing and college-level courses to high school students. The organization was founded in 1899 to analyze and publish guidelines for subjects high school students should be taught before entering college. The College Board has since expanded to run the SAT and AP classes. The organization now spends … Read More

Choosing Not To Take the Class

By Maddie Peloff ’16 As students file into their respective classrooms on AP testing day, few are thinking about the questions College Board will ask them in the survey before they take the test. They worry about the test material, not about any personal information or questions regarding their actual class. However, to a select few students, these questions require … Read More

AP Classes Are Beneficial

By Sara Casareto ’16 The definition of “advanced placement” according to dictionary.reference.com is as follows: “the placement of a student in a high school course that offers college credit if successfully completed.” As a student who will have completed ten AP courses by graduation, I’ve realized that APs are worth more than the credit awarded. It’s important for students to … Read More

AP and IB Courses Have Considerable Differences

By Christopher Sung ’17 For years, AP classes have been considered the go-to option for many talented high school students looking for a challenging and rigorous course. However, an increasing number of American high schools are beginning to offer a new, demanding program known as the International Baccalaureate (IB). In Montgomery County, eight of the county’s 25 high schools offer … Read More

Let’s Make Dating a Key Part of Modern Relationships

By Ashley Nnabue ’16 Relationships. Many yearn for the feeling of commitment with a significant other. Why? For many, it is due to the longing of affection and companionship. However, there is a growing lack of trust among this generation that pushes individuals to avoid official relationships. Instead, people tend to “talk” with a potential boyfriend or girlfriend for an … Read More

Black Student Union Comeback

By Bryse Thornwell ’16 After three years of inactivity, the Black Student Union (BSU) is back. By their mission statement, the BSU is a club organization dedicated to “implementing a bond among one another and fostering a passion for success” within the school’s African American community. They strive to support one another in academic endeavors, mentor each other and stretch … Read More

Seniors Encounter Issues When Finishing College Applications

By Chase Wilson ’17 As senior year comes around and college application deadlines approach rapidly, student anxiety also is quickly rising, and for an understanbable reason. Perhaps unrealistically, seniors want the college application process to go perfectly. Any snag or delay has the potential to put a tense senior over the edge. Take senior Ade Adeola’s situation this year, for … Read More

Why You Don’t Step In: The Bystander Effect

By Samantha Schwartz ’16 On a daily basis a bully preys on an innocent peer in the crowded school hallways, picking on his or her glasses or the way he or she walks or some other outrageously unfair reason. And everyday students stand by, hesitating to act. As the bullying continues, they walk by and pretend nothing is happening. This … Read More

Self-Piercing Puts Parents on Edge

By Elizabeth Kronlage ’18 and Sammie Spillman ’16 A common trend among teenage girls is having multiple piercings in various places such as their ears, nose and navel. Some girls choose to get their piercings done professionally while others prefer to do it themselves or have a friend do it for them. There are different ways to self-pierce. Some who … Read More