The sound of the 5A bell signals what should be the end of English teacher Sherelyn Ernst's instructional day. But 20 minutes after the end of the period, she hasn't even made it out of the classroom. With a stack of papers to grade waiting in her office and a mandatory meeting to attend, Ernst's day is far from over.
In 1999, Niels Hoven was a senior who'd never been on a date. His life consisted solely of school, swimming, playing the clarinet - and, of course, math team. In retrospect, Hoven admits that he was sort of, well, a dork. Fast-forward eight years, and Hoven has just starred in the third season of the CW's "Beauty and the Geek." The show, dubbed a "social experiment" by executive producer Ashton Kutcher, pairs eight young women who have relied primarily on their looks to succeed in life with eight young men who have relied primarily on their brains. The two-person teams compete in a series of challenges for a grand prize of $250,000. Although Hoven was eliminated from the show just before the finale, he says that the experience taught him more than just to wear his pants lower and not laugh in such a dorky way - he also gained a new perspective on life.
Imagine a school that admits students without regard to race or legacy and instead considers the educational facilities students have available to them — one that balances opportunities and results instead of unfairly favoring certain groups of students over others. It's not just everyone's dream college — it is Blair's own Math, Science and Computer Science Magnet Program, which just recently chose its class of 2011. Every year, the Magnet selection committee receives around 800 applications from students representing 40 to 50 middle schools across the county. Of these candidates, about one out of every eight students is accepted and only 25 to 30 are placed in a waiting pool, making it one of the most selective Magnet programs in the nation. Although one of the most competitive programs in the country, the Magnet has an admissions process that surpasses those of most top-tier colleges in equity and impartiality.
There's a special sort of magic that happens in public bathrooms. (No, not poop. That ceased being magical in fourth grade.) Perhaps it's the dank, fetid air, the flickering fluorescent lights, or the sense of anonymous camaraderie. Whatever the reason, wherever the bathroom, something about the toilet setting prompts individuals to relieve their thoughts onto the stalls and walls.
Last month, a group of Latino juniors and seniors boarded buses for the annual National Hispanic College Fair at Columbia Union College, expecting to learn about universities with special programs and scholarship opportunities for Hispanic students. Instead, they found a disappointing array of lower-tier trade schools, military organizations and community colleges.
Where only first names appear, names have been changed to protect the identities of the sources. Michael, who graduated from Blair last year, shuddered as he felt his grandfather's hand slide up the inside of his leg. Despite his grandfather's soothing words, assuring him that everything would be fine, Michael knew that things were not all right. As the hand slipped into his boxers, Michael, then in eighth grade, felt powerless to resist his grandfather's unwanted advances, which had become commonplace over the previous two years.
In the pleading words of Borat Sagdiyev, "Please come see my movie, if not success, I will be execute." It looks like Kazakhstan's sixth most famous man will be keeping his head.
This editorial represents the views of the Silver Chips editorial board. On the first day of school, senior Lauren Atha spent the better part of first period standing in line to receive her new white ID, only to be told that because she wasn't in the Magnet program, she couldn't keep it.
For 12 hours on Saturday, Sept. 23, the picturesque Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore was transformed into a stereo-pounding, crowd-surfing, body-pulsating celebration of music as Virgin Mobile kicked off its very first U.S. version of the massively successful U.K. Virgin Music Festival. As the product of ambitious Virgin Mobile Chairman Sir Richard Branson, the U.S. debut of V-Fest brought together over 40,000 people of all ages, races and creeds.
Winter is gone and your sweet tooth has been hibernating long enough — what better way to welcome summer than to indulge in frosty, frozen and oh-so-delicious ice cream? To celebrate the summer season, Silver Chips brings you a guide to the coolest spots for ice cream in the Washington, D.C. area. Because let's face it — we all scream for ice cream.
A year ago, junior Efrata Obsa feared the rigor of college courses. She had heard stories of students who were kicked out of college because they could not meet the strenuous academic demands.
In England, they're called "loos." In Canada, they're "washrooms." At Blair, they're a dwindling presence. Our bathrooms seem to be "out of order" on a daily basis.
Don't bother buying new snow boots for school this winter - you won't need them. Apparently, students aren't capable of getting to school in anything deeper than a quarter-inch of snow, or so it seems from the number of closures and delays given each year for less than inclement weather.
Sitting alone in the SAC eating the last of his french fries, senior Muhammad Waqar quickly dumps his lunch tray into the trash before heading off on what has become his usual lunchtime route: an occasional trip to the career center followed by a half hour in the media center.
Senior Robert Hendryx's bedroom is a Dallas Cowboys haven. His white walls are plastered floor to ceiling with pictures, posters and magazine cutouts of Cowboys football players. Framed photos, autographed footballs, Dallas jerseys, hats, flags, stuffed animals and trading cards adorn every corner of the room. Off on one side, a Cowboys bobble head bobs silently to the steady ticking of - yes - Hendryx's Cowboys clock.