Former Montgomery County Council member Ike Leggett spoke to about 20 Young Democrats today, May 17, at 3:00 p.m. in room 134 about his upcoming campaign for County Executive and the importance of youth political activism.
The State Highway Association (SHA) has recommended that new countdown crossing lights be installed for the safety of pedestrians at the intersections of University Boulevard and Colesville Road and University Boulevard and Lexington Drive. These new signals will be installed within the next 12 to 18 months.
As a winner of the AOL Aspires program, Blair received its final grant of $2500 this year, which in addition to the $15,000 it has received in the past two years, has significantly contributed to the funding of programs and instructional materials and the Connections classes.
Professional storyteller Noa Baum, born in Jerusalem, Israel came to Blair on Thurs., April 14, to tell her story of Israel and Palestine, "A Land Twice Promised," to some CAP and social studies classes.
Five Blair students received writing honors from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA) and the Alliance for Young Artists and Writers for their original poetry, features, opinions and reviews.
The 14th annual YMCA Healthy Kids Day was held at Blair on April 2 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the SAC. The free event featured different organizations promoting different aspects of health to the community, including the importance of exercise, diet, safety and hygiene.
Magnet senior Justin Kovac placed seventh in the 2005 national Intel Science Talent Search (STS) for his project "The Effects of Warm Core Rings on Hurricane Intensification in the Gulf of Mexico," according to a press release dated March 15. Ten national winners were chosen from a group of 40 finalists, among whom were four Blair students.
When looking for a restaurant that matches both their wallets and their schedules, teenagers often find themselves continually visiting fast-food restaurants, where the food is cheap and good but often lacks any kind of nutrients or variety. Tex-mex fans who have exhausted their Chipotle sprees may wish to consider a smaller Tex-mex chain that has kept the feel of an independent restaurant without increasing prices too much or reducing the menu options.
Over 4,000 students and youth from across the nation rallied at the White House and Capitol on Feb. 26 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. to demand decisive legislation to end AIDS. The Student March Against AIDS, in addition to a series of other weekend events such as youth seminars and lobbying, was a part of a Global Day of Youth Action to end AIDS.
An assembly to promote breast cancer awareness was held today, Feb. 16 in the auditorium during third period for females in eleventh and twelfth grade.
A press conference on the clean cars initiative was held at Blair today, Feb. 14, at 10 a.m. The Maryland Public Interest Research Group (MaryPIRG) held the press conference, with the support of Maryland Delegate Bill Bronrott, Senator Sharon Grosfeld, Montgomery County Councilman George Leventhal and other public interest environmental groups to push Maryland to adopt the stricter California standards for vehicle emissions.
There's nothing particularly special about the exterior of the Red Tomato Café, located near the corner of St. Elm Street in Bethesda. However, after entering the tiny, tucked-away restaurant and spotting the topping-laden pizzas as they are pushed into the crescent-shaped brick oven, it's clear why the Red Tomato was named a "best eat" by Washingtonian magazine.
Around the winter holidays, many Blazers and their families look for a fun and exciting outdoor activity on the local ski slopes of the area. However, as a result of the recent plight of warm winter weather and daily showers the Washington area has been experiencing this winter, skiers have been forced to either endure slushy slopes or to find an alternative activity.
BNC will host the annual Semester Shakedown on Jan. 28 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. in the SAC. In addition to Blair students, students from Northwood, Wheaton, Einstein and Kennedy High Schools have been invited to attend the dance.
Sophie Kinsella's Confessions of a Shopaholic has been named a New York Times Bestseller and has found its way into the hands of millions of adolescent and adult females, who so far, have done nothing but sing its praises.
Author J.K. Rowling announced on her fan club website on Dec. 20 that she has finished writing and editing the sixth Harry Potter book, entitled Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
The annual Eastern Middle School (EMS) Main Event wrestling competition took place in Blair today, Dec. 21. The P.E. hallway and the area surrounding the gym were closed to Blair students from the beginning of 5A lunch until the end of the day to accomodate participating students.
Three professional days have been cut from the 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 MCPS calendars and have been replaced with 24 hours of paid teacher professional time, where teachers will collaborate with each other outside of the regular school day.
The Board of Education (BOE) unanimously approved a new video on condom usage on Nov. 9 that will be incorporated into MCPS Health classes this spring. Board members also passed a pilot program that will include homosexuality in the Family Life and Human Development unit.
A group of Blair peer educators attended the AIDS Day Symposium at Georgetown University Medical Center (GUMC) yesterday, Dec. 1, as a part of the activities celebrating World AIDS Day.
Sue Monk Kidd's first novel, The Secret Life of Bees, is a wonderful coming-of-age story filled with imagery and stunning metaphors set in the turbulent and racist climate of the south during the 1960s. Although The Secret Life of Bees has been heralded by readers and publications as "an absolute joy to read," it often disappoints readers by resolving situations too easily.
The Board of Education (BOE) unanimously approved a video on condom usage on Nov. 9 that will be incorporated into county health classes this spring. Board members also passed a pilot program that will include homosexuality in the Family Life and Human Development unit.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have created an ethics panel to help clearly define which high-risk patients will get the flu vaccine and to decide how to cope with the possibility of future epidemics, according to The Washington Post.
This year, one third of all voters will use electronic voting systems to cast their ballots, causing critics of the system to voice the concerns about software reliability, its ability to recount votes and the competency of local election administrators to handle the technology, according to The Washington Post.
The Blair flu shot clinic, originally scheduled for Nov. 3 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., was canceled along with most others across the nation, according to school nurse, Mazine Loften.
The PTSA Minigrant Program will give away $7,000 to educational programs initiated by students, staff and other adults in the community. Applications for large-scale and small-scale grants are due on Oct. 27.
The Powder Puff game has been postponed until Oct. 19, making this year the third consecutive year organizers have failed to hold the annual girls' football game before homecoming.
The Washingtonian listed Blair as the biggest and most diverse school in their report card of 101 public and 21 private high schools in the Washington area in the October 2004 edition. Blair also ranked highest in performance on the Advanced Placement (AP) tests.
"Hold up! I got a game to win!" says Brook Franceschini as she slams a tennis ball towards two of her students on the tennis courts during sixth period. Dressed in athletic gear from sunglasses to Nike Shox, Franceschini is the epitome of a sports enthusiast. Franceschini's passion for health and athletics has led her to become one of Blair's newest Physical Education teachers.
Former mayor of D.C. Marion Barry, defeated incumbent Sandy Allen in the Ward 8 City Council race on September 14, according to The Washington Post. Two other incumbent members of the D.C. Council were defeated by large margins as well.
All Blair students interested in winning $100 are encouraged to enter the annual summer reading poster contest. Entries should be submitted to the student's English teacher by Sept. 13.
The counseling office did not promptly send letters to juniors who received a high-index score on the PSAT/NMSQT, failing to inform them of the possibility of returning a questionnaire to the College Reporting Service before the deadline. The questionnaires were due on May 17; however, the guidance office did not send the letters until after that date had passed.
After teaching for 19 years at Blair, ESOL Algebra I teacher Barbara Hofman will retire next year in order to see the world.
The annual Spring Sports Awards Banquet was held yesterday at 6:30 p.m. in the SAC. Four different awards were presented by each team; Most Valuable Player (MVP), Most Outstanding Senior (MOS), Most Improved, and Sportsmanship (also known as the Coach's Award). In addition to being recognized for their athletic achievements, 170 students were also named scholar athletes for receiving at least a 3.25 unweighted GPA, including 34 students who received all A's.
Juniors and seniors will not be allowed to bring a guest to after-prom, which will take place on May 30 from 1 a.m to 5 a.m., unless they bring their guest to the prom.
Blair juniors who are financially independent and who have not applied for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) can participate in a paid research study from May 14 to May 18.
The Blair Science Bowl team took fourth place in the 2004 National Science Bowl at the National 4-H Center in Chevy Chase on May 3.
The total amount of youth homicides in the District so far this year have surpassed last year's total after the fatal shooting of 8-year-old Chelsea Cromartie in Northeast Washington on May 3. Thirteen children have suffered fatalities, even as crime and homicide rates have continued to decrease, according to the Washington Post.
Stacy London and Clinton Kelly of TLC's What Not to Wear will be choosing one junior from Blair and two other local juniors to participate in a Back to School episode in September. Applications are due to Assistant Principal Linda Wolf in room 340 by May 3.
The Blair Physics Team competed in the University of Maryland Physics Olympics and the statewide DestiNation Imagination (DI) tournament on April 17. Team members took home three first-place and two second-place awards at the Physics of Olympics and one first-place award at the DI tournament.
The Washington area and 29 other states failed new standards EPA air quality standards. Regions not in compliance with the new standards received a three-year deadline to create plans to reduce emissions, according to The Washington Post.
Pete Lafen, the PTA president of Pine Crest/Montgomery Knolls Elementary Schools, is looking for high school volunteers for the annual Mayfair, which will take place on May 1 from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Pine Crest Elementary School.
The Washington Post Magazine featured Blair in the article
The 92nd annual Washington D.C. Cherry Blossom Festival will take place from March 27 until April 11 at the Tidal Basin and surrounding areas.
The Blair ice hockey team received the high school academic team championship award for having the highest team GPA in Maryland. The award was presented on March 15 at the Maryland Scholastic Hockey League's academic all-star game.
A teenager who received a fatal gunshot wound to the head was discovered on the property of a vacant school in Northeast D.C. on March 9, according to the Washington Post.
A group of five Blair students placed first in the Maryland Regional Science Bowl competition on Feb. 28, qualifying them for the national competition.
Unlike many other high schools in the state, Montgomery County high school courses are organized by semester. After they return from finals, students receive a new schedule, with new courses and teachers. However, creating classes lasting only one semester is disruptive and confusing to students.
On Feb. 3 the federal court system charged the Environmental Protection Agency with failing to enforce the standards set by the Clean Air Act.
Tracy Chevalier has returned to the literary scene with another look into the past through her newest novel, The Virgin Blue. Hailed by book clubs around the nation, Chevalier's novel is called
It's a miracle. In mid-December the Brookside Gardens in Wheaton are in full bloom. Lush bunches of grapes hang from the arbors. Large bountiful flowers bloom on the trees. Woodland creatures have emerged from their warm winter beds. And a beautiful rainbow has emerged following a light shower.
Maryland Governor Robert Ehrlich said on WTOP radio on November 20 that he disagreed with the Massachusetts ruling legalizing homosexual marriages and promised that the same ruling would never take place in Maryland. Ehrlich further stated that he would support the legislation banning recognition of these marriages in other states, according to the Washington Post.
April Burns (Katie Holmes) is the first pancake, the black sheep, the screw up. When she was little, she cut her brother's bangs with a lighter. She lit matches and threw them at her sister. Her frequent run-ins with the police for drug abuse, shoplifting, and skipping school have left her mother, Joy Burns (Patricia Clarkson) without a single good
Ancient legends, cryptic messages, a spellbinding treasure hunt and a quest for the Holy Grail. Described by New York Times #1 bestseller author Nelson DeMille as
The weeks before October 31 are a whirl of confusion as children nationwide take part in the biggest scavenger hunt of the year- the search for a perfect costume. The final discovery of a costume brings excitement and apprehension similar to the day-before-school jitters, as children count the hours until they can call out "Trick or Treat!” Halloween is a children's holiday that has been celebrated in the United States since the 1950s, full of fun and games, and for many, remembrance.
The Maryland Scholastic Press Association (MSPA) awarded Silver Chips second place in the 2003 Publications Contest with an accumulative score of 95 points. Blair's literary magazine, Silver Quill also placed fourth in its division, with a score of 93 points.
President Bush recently suggested that the United States spend $87 billion for the reconstruction of Iraq and Afghanistan. Democratic candidates criticized Bush's proposition yesterday in Detroit, many arguing that the amount was excessive.
Washington Adventist Hospital, part of the Adventist Health Care System, recently agreed to work with the neighborhood citizen association, Sensible Hospital Growth, by looking for an off-campus location for their new medical center.
Opening six days late due to technical problems at a show in Atlantic City, New Jersey, the Justified/ Stripped Tour landed at the MCI Center on August 25, promoting pop idols Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera. The show started off with a few disappointments, but ended with a bang.
A spin off from an amusement ride at the Disneyland theme park in California, The Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl could have bombed from its attempt to incorporate too many genres. However, actors Orlando Bloom and Johnny Depp teamed up to make 134 minutes of hard-core sword clashing, ghost hunting, and treasure stealing rush by faster than the HMS Interceptor, the fastest ship in the Caribbean.
Lindsey Palmer, a child life intern at Holy Cross hospital shows her display board
Customers of all ages enjoy meals at California Tortilla.
Senior Greg Breads holds up a sign at the student AIDS march on Saturday, Feb. 26, in Washington, D.C.
Students march in front of the Capital on Feb. 26
Breast cancer survivor Mary Livingston speaks to junior and senior female students during a third period assembly on Feb. 16.
Judy Macon of Suburban Hospital answers questions about breast cancer during an assembly on Feb. 16.
Construction on Colesville leaves one lane open going northbound. The two right lanes have been closed since Tuesday, Dec. 14.