A bill to increase Maryland's minimum wage above the federal level from $5.15 to $6.15 an hour is currently under review by Governor Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. If approved, the legislation would take effect Oct. 1. The last time the federal wage was increased was in 1997.
Joshua Gilmore and Monique Eldridge were named Mr. and Ms. Blazer in the annual competition held during Blair Fair on April 22. The act drew a large, supportive audience interested in viewing student talent.
The annual Blair Fair drew in staff, students and parents along the school's main hallway on April 22. Blair's many organizations advertised the successes of their programs by exhibiting student work and achievements.
The senior class and SGA sponsored Spirit Night to raise money for the class on Thursday. The event was co-hosted by HOT 99.5 and gave students the opportunity to show off their entertainment skills.
The Senior Class and the SGA are sponsoring Blair's first ever Spirit Night, which will take place this Thursday, April 7, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the gym. Tickets are $3 for seniors and $5 for underclassmen with IDs.
Montgomery County Executive Douglas Duncan announced his $3.6-billion Fiscal Year 2006 budget on March 15 which supports MCPS' Board of Education-approved proposal of a $1.7 billion operating budget. This budget would reduce the maximum class size guidelines for the first time in 20 years. The County Council will vote on both budgets in the near future.
The highly anticipated Oprah Winfrey presentation of Zora Neale Hurston's "Their Eyes Were Watching God" aired on Sunday, March 6, at 9 p.m. on ABC and received mixed reviews from Blair staff and students.
The MCPS Superintendent's Leadership Program (SLP) invites rising high-school seniors to apply to participate in its humanities-oriented, year-long honors internship. Applications require three short essays, an official transcript and two letters of recommendation, which are all due by March 15.
Immediately following the labor movement of the early twentieth century, Asa Philip Randolph became a prominent figure in the fight for civil rights. He was raised in Crescent City, Florida, but moved to New York City in 1911 and studied at City College while working during the day. He was extremely interested in the works of economic and political writers such as Marx and through such works, believed that the black working class was the hope for black progress.
The University of Maryland, College Park's Anwar Sadat Chair for Peace and Development invites Maryland high school students to discuss their thoughts concerning peace in the Middle East and throughout the world in essay form. Entries should be postmarked by March 18.
Maya Angelou is an accomplished author, poet, historian, songwriter, playwright, dancer, stage and screen producer, director, performer, singer and civil rights activist that is best known for her autobiographical novels. She was born Marguerite Johnson in St. Louis, Missouri on April 4, 1928 and since then, has been recognized as a notable literary figure.
Josephine Baker was the first black female entertainer to transcend race in both the United States and Europe. She began her career as a singer, dancer, actress and comedian at the age of 13 when she appeared on Broadway and went on to perform for 50 more years, becoming one of the most prominent artistic figures of the early twentieth century.
Television talk-show host, actress and producer Oprah Winfrey defied the odds when she became the first black female billionaire in the U.S., despite enduring a troubled adolescence.
Denzel Washington is an accomplished actor, director, husband and father. He is known for both his great success in the film industry, as he has won several awards for his memorable roles, as well as for his good looks and charm.
In a 50-minute speech that he delivered in May 2004, comedian and actor Bill Cosby criticized the black community for being unappreciative of the accomplishments of their great leaders and urged them to stop blaming the white race for their circumstances. In a later speech, he criticized black youth of today for their public demeanor and urged parents to take responsibility for their kids' behavior. Cosby's willingness to speak out reflects the personal role he has taken throughout his career in being an influential and memorable figure in history.
Madame CJ Walker became one of the first American women millionaires when she developed hair care products for black females. She developed a treatment conditioner for straightening hair in 1905, set up a factory to produce her cosmetics in 1910 and by 1919, was one of the most successful business executives in the early twentieth century.
Richard Wright, an author best known for "Native Son" and "Black Boy," was born on Sept. 4, 1908 in Natchez, Mississippi to his mother who was a schoolteacher and his father, an illiterate sharecropper. Wright was exposed to racial hatred at an early age when his uncle was lynched by a white mob.
Throughout history, there have been many great men and women who sacrificed their lives for a cause in which they strongly believed. Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. is no exception to this fact, however his achievements are unique because he not only fought for civil rights and equality; he preached nonviolence and the importance of community service. This holiday, take the time to read about King, one of the greatest figures of the 20th century.
Each year, every third Monday in January is a day set to honor Martin Luther King, Jr. and his dreams of freedom and equality for all people, his goals of service and his message of change through nonviolence. This year the theme for Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, set for Jan. 17, is "Remember! Celebrate! Act! A Day On, Not A Day Off!"
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is welcoming students with a 2.0 GPA or higher to participate in its Ninth Annual Educational Contest by submitting an essay or pictorial concerning the topic, "If money and time were not a factor, what would you do to make the world a more peaceful place?"
Seated in a swivel chair in one of the few offices behind the TV studio, photography teacher Paris Bustillos, the newest addition to Blair's Fine Arts Department and Communication Arts Program (CAP), reflects on his days in grade school.
Scores by Blazers on October's Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) improved from last year's results.
The University of Maryland, College Park's (UMCP) Priority Decision application deadline of Wednesday, Dec. 1 has been postponed to Wednesday, Dec. 8 due to heavy traffic on the online application.
On Sat., Nov 20, I awoke at 7:00 a.m. and met up with several of my fellow W.E.B. Dubois Honor Society members an hour later to participate in the 17th annual Help the Homeless 5K Walkathon, which took place in Washington, D.C., around the National Mall.
The 17th annual Help the Homeless 5K Walkathon will take place this Saturday, Nov. 20, between Fourth and Seventh Streets NW on the National Mall beginning at 7:00 a.m. Registration is $25 for adults and $15 for participants 25 and under.
The AIDS Walk Washington, a 5K fundraising walkathon, will take placethis Saturday, Oct. 23 beginning at Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C.from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
The Mitchellville-Bowie chapter of the National Council of Negro Women, Inc. (NCNW) is hosting its first college expo this Saturday, Oct. 23, at Eleanor Roosevelt Senior High School in Prince George's County from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
The college application process is being made easier for seniors thanks to TCCi Family Connection, a program personalized for each student and programmed with data specific to Blair.
The Black College Expo will take place this Saturday, Sept. 18, at the Prince George's Sports and Learning Complex from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Tickets for the program are $5 and will be sold at the door.
Being aware of my heritage has never been a problem for me. My ancestors were never slaves; no matter how much stories of the Slave Trade cause me to shudder with disgust, they never truly hit home. My parents have always been able to pass down ancient family traditions and share tales of life as a colonized peoples. However, I never truly understood what it meant to belong to a country of people until I visited my place of heritage, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The Ethiopian Club presented their sixth-annual Ethio-Show in the auditorium on Friday, May 28 to a crowd that shared their heritage.
Physical Education teacher Peggy Cameron has been teaching at Blair since 1980 and has decided to leave Blair for personal reasons.
Blair's fourth-annual Ethio Night, organized by the Ethiopian Club, will be held this Friday, May 28, from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. in the auditorium. Tickets will be $6 with a student I.D. and $10 for adults.
The Diva Dancers and Blair's other performing groups presented their choreographed routines before a large and eager audience on Friday, May 21 at 7:00 p.m. in the auditorium for the Dance Showcase. Friday marked the last night that the Divas would ever perform.
Montgomery College, Takoma Park campus, is inviting all graduating seniors to apply for a summer program in which participants can earn college credit. The program dates are from June 14 to June 25 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. each day. The application deadline is May 28.
Blair's Diva Dancers will perform along with other clubs at a Dance Showcase that will take place this Friday from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the auditorium. Tickets for the event will cost $2 with a student ID or $5 without an ID.
Silver Chips Online talked to long-time Blair teachers about their opinion of the changing conditions in public schools since the pro-integration ruling in Brown v Board.
The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History will be opening its Separate is not equal yearlong exhibit to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the Brown vs. Board of Education court ruling with a celebration on May 15 from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Two Blair students won first and third place at the annual Maryland SkillsUSA Championships, a competition that involves more than 600 participants around the state.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) will be holding its fifth annual free health and fitness expo "Share the Health” on Sat., April 24 from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Blair, where scientific posters by Blair and Takoma Park Middle Schools students will be displayed.
Blair's premiere Ms. Blazer competition delivered an evening of talent to an interested and supportive crowd in the auditorium around 6 p.m. on April 16.
Blair's sixth annual Blair Fair began promptly at 5p.m. and lasted well into the evening, as it attracted students, staff, families and friends to take part in the activities featured along the school's main hallway on April 16.
Blair's annual Mr. Blazer competition, along with the new Ms. Blazer competition, will take place this Friday evening beginning at 5pm. Admission is $5 and $3 respecutively, or $6 for both if purchased in advance at the SGA office.
National Youth Service Day (NYSD) 2004, an event that provides young people with the opportunity to serve their community, will take place from April 16 through 18. Youth in the area can participate in various projects in the Baltimore and D.C. area.
High school students, particularly freshmen and sophomores, are encouraged to apply to serve as youth member on the Commission on Children and Youth. The term would begin this Sept. and end in June of next year.
Inga Rundvold Hook Kuhn, a Blair graduate, television broadcasting pioneer and fashion model and columnist died at 83 on Feb. 4 in Richmond due to complications resulting from a stroke.
Blair's 2004 International Show was a night filled with dance as Blair's cultural clubs performed traditional pieces on March 5 to an eager crowd in the auditorium.
Maryland legislators proposed bills modifying the state's juvenile justice system in hopes that such moves will motivate Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich to push for reform. Delegates are pressing for legislation that will begin the process Ehrlich outlined in a 40-page blueprint during his 2002 campaign, which includes building new, smaller detention centers and creating a fifth school district designed especially to educate young offenders.
There are plenty of ways to commemorate Black History Month this year. Listed below are a few ways in which you can make your celebration worthwhile and learn more black history.
Montgomery County's Multicultural Voter Outreach and Education Committee is requesting bilingual residents to volunteer at the upcoming elections to accommodate the growing diverse community. Volunteers will be taught how to use voting machines, help recruit bilingual workers, and explain voting procedures.
Blair will hold a meeting for parents interested in discussing student performance and the School Improvement Plan this Thursday at 4 p.m. in the media center.
The Montgomery County Board of Education (BOE) recently recognized the Student Advisory Committee and the Student Member of the Board (SMOB) as legitimate advisory panels that will voice student concerns on Board policies and issues.
For Mamma Lucia, the saying " don't judge a book by its cover " doesn't apply. The restaurant's pleasant appearance and cozy-looking atmosphere is enough to judge (and not simply hope) that the food will be good. From the warm environment to the broad range of dishes displayed fashionably in a glass case, Mamma Lucia in downtown Silver Spring makes sure you'll enjoy every minute of your stay.
Silver Chips Online is the winner of the 2003 Marylander Award for online publications given annually by the Maryland Scholastic Press Association (MSPA) to one high school in the state. This is the third year the online publication received this honor.
The Class of 2009 will be the first class required to pass standardized tests before they can graduate and receive one of five newly proposed diplomas.
Twenty-six Blair music students were accepted into the All County and/or All-State instrumental ensembles this fall after completing a highly competitive audition process.
Three Blair students will perform in the Kennedy Center's Youth Orchestra Day on Thursday at 6 p.m. with members of the National Symphony Orchestra.
For many across the US, Oct. 31 marks a day of dressing up in costumes trick-or-treating, and consuming tons of candy. This is not the reality for me, however, or the countless other people that don't join in on the day's celebrations. Instead of going door to door this Friday evening, I'll most likely be at church, watching a film that explains the meaning of the occasion and explains exactly why I won't celebrate Halloween.
Blair had the most finalists and third most semifinalists in the county in the Maryland Distinguished Scholars program.
The sounds of Kofi Olomide and Papa Wemba resonate from a TV set at the front of the tiny dining area in Roger Miller, greeting diners as they swing open its door and expect something out of the ordinary. Located in Downtown Silver Spring, the restaurant's small settings and comfortable surroundings give the promise of an enjoyable dining experience. Customers here won't be disappointed.
Fifty-four Blair students have been named semifinalists in the 2004 National Merit Scholarship competition, an increase from last year's 31.
Blair's 3,400 student population exceeds the 2,700 student limit for which the new building was built, causing overcrowding and frustration among students.
Charlie's beloved angels are back again for another adventure in Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, the perfect summer flick jam-packed with kick-butt action, sexy felines, and lots of sensuality. However, even with the film's wittiness and fun moments, Full Throttle lacks the substance and meaning of its predecessor, Charlie's Angels.