Oreet Zimand


Name: Oreet Zimand
Position: Opinions Editor
Graduation Year: 2019
Hi! My name is Oreet and I am the 2018-19 Op-Ed Editor for Silver Chips Online! I enjoy figure skating, debating (anything with anyone at any time), and laying in the grass listening to Phil Collins's "In the Air Tonight" right before it starts to rain. If you tie my shoelaces together I will not notice and my friends are the best. Also I suck at Flamingo Fighting.


Stories (21)


How to avoid spoilers

By Oreet Zimand | June 6, 2019, 2:08 p.m. | In Entertainment »

A professional guide to not hearing things you don't want to hear

Students evacuated due to bomb threat

By Rebecca Wessel, Oreet Zimand | Dec. 6, 2018, 1:39 p.m. | In Local »

Students left the building at 1:07 p.m. after a fire alarm went off

Activities fair sets off the beginning of club recruitment at Blair

By Oreet Zimand | Sept. 24, 2018, 10 p.m. | In Local »

The event showcased the diverse passions of the student community

MoCo students participate in #National Walkout Day

By Absa Fall, Mahnaz Habib, Madeleine Tilley, Rebecca Wessel, Oreet Zimand, Amy Forsbacka | March 14, 2018, 10:47 p.m. | In Local »

Montgomery Blair High School students walked out of school to participate in #NationalWalkoutDay, joining students from across Montgomery County. The walkout culminated in 17 minutes of silence in front of the White House, after which they marched to the Capitol to listen to several speakers.

Anyone can earn it

By Oreet Zimand | March 12, 2018, 1:09 p.m. | In Op/Ed »

They hang off bulletin boards, sit on shelves or are worn with pride on the front of a jacket. Varsity letters are a symbol of athletic prowess, marking the idea that a student's hard work and achievement has earned them a right to represent their school.

Heating issues cause problems in the winter months

By Oreet Zimand | March 4, 2018, 12:29 a.m. | In Local »

Many classrooms in Blair, and other schools in Montgomery County, have reached extremely hot or cold temperatures in winter months due to faulty heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems. This creates an uncomfortable learning environment for both teachers and students.

MoCo students welcome students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School

By Rebecca Wessel, Oreet Zimand, Amy Forsbacka | Feb. 27, 2018, 9:59 p.m. | In Local »

On Monday evening, Montgomery Blair High School hosted a town hall meeting for Montgomery County (MoCo) high school students to meet and talk to students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, where the school shooting in Parkland, Fla. took place.

Blazers walk out in support of gun control

By Emma Markus, Rebecca Wessel, Oreet Zimand | Feb. 21, 2018, 4:03 p.m. | In Local »

Students from all across D.C. and Maryland participated in the "Enough is Enough: Students for gun control legislation" protest organized by Richard Montgomery High School student Daniel Gelillo today in Washington, D.C. to protest gun violence. This protest comes in the wake of the school shooting in Parkland, Florida last Wednesday that left 17 dead.

A shameful legacy

By Oreet Zimand | Feb. 15, 2018, 1:17 p.m. | In Op/Ed »

Legacy advantage is a practice used in the college admissions process which gives a boost to the applications of students who are related to alumni of that college or university. It is often claimed by admissions officers that legacy is only taken into consideration when choosing between two equally qualified candidates, as it says on Harvard's admissions website, "Among a group of similarly distinguished applicants, the daughters and sons of Harvard College alumni/ae may receive an additional look."

Part Three: What Happens Next?

By Rebecca Wessel, Oreet Zimand | Jan. 28, 2018, 11:49 a.m. | In Features »

Despite the increased media scrutiny of sexual misconduct in the workplace, several groups of people have gotten woefully less coverage of their experiences. This series of investigations reveals the unique struggles that teenagers face in reporting sexual misconduct by teachers and authority figures, and the ways in which their voices were silenced.

Blazers try new moves in dominant win vs Einstein

By Rebecca Wessel, Oreet Zimand | Jan. 23, 2018, 1:06 p.m. | In Blair »

The Blair Blazers (24-4) won handily over the Einstein Titans (0-10) 72-8 on Jan. 18 after the match was postponed from the day before due to the snow closure.

Part Two: What Happens Next?

By Rebecca Wessel, Oreet Zimand | Jan. 21, 2018, 1:09 p.m. | In Features »

Despite the increased media scrutiny of sexual misconduct in the workplace, several groups of people have gotten woefully less coverage of their experiences. This series of investigations reveals the unique struggles that teenagers face in reporting sexual misconduct by teachers and authority figures, and the ways in which their voices were silenced.

What Happens Next?

By Rebecca Wessel, Oreet Zimand | Jan. 21, 2018, 12:59 p.m. | In Features »

For Olivia, a Blair freshman, church has a powerful presence in her life. Her uncle is a priest and her mother is a well respected congregant. Yet, two years ago, the arrival of a new deacon changed her view of the church entirely.

I, Tonya strikes gold

By Oreet Zimand | Jan. 9, 2018, 10:10 a.m. | In Movies »

Nobody has thought about Tonya Harding in a while, which is not at all surprising. The scandal involving her and rival, Nancy Kerrigan, that captured national attention happened almost a quarter century ago. However, with the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, just around the corner it seems fitting to revisit the story of the embattled ex-figure skater. I, Tonya does exactly that, telling of the life and times of Tonya Harding entirely from her perspective for the first time.

Blair wrestling defeats Gaithersburg in a hard fought match

By Rebecca Wessel, Oreet Zimand | Jan. 5, 2018, 2:12 p.m. | In Blair »

In their first match back from winter break, the Blair Blazers (14-4) worked hard to take down the Gaithersburg Trojans (1-4) maintaining a lead throughout the event and eventually taking the night 53-15.

Blair wrestling stays undefeated with a blowout win over High Point

By Rebecca Wessel, Oreet Zimand | Dec. 21, 2017, 2:12 p.m. | In Blair »

The Blair Blazers (4-0-0) beat the High Point Eagles (0-1-0) from Prince George's County by a maximum possible score of 84-0 during their first home meet. Despite an unexpected number of forfeits by High Point due their small team, Blair came out with a determined mindset as they would for any meet.

Doug Jones wins Alabama special election

By Oreet Zimand | Dec. 18, 2017, 10:27 a.m. | In ‎Latest »

In an unlikely turn of events, Democratic candidate Doug Jones pulled out a win in the Alabama senatorial special election over Republican, and alleged sexual offender, Roy Moore.Jones was the first Democrat elected to the Senate by Alabama since 1992 and will fill the seat vacated by Jeff Sessions until 2020.

Screenagers doesn't keep audience engaged

By Oreet Zimand | Dec. 1, 2017, 8:11 a.m. | In Movies »

We've all heard it before. A parent thinks you're spending too much time with screens and launches into the same tired tirade: "nobody had a computer when I grew up" or "back in my day we used to make friends waiting around at a payphone."

Classes on race will help build bridges

By Oreet Zimand | Nov. 30, 2017, 8:58 a.m. | In Op/Ed »

Our laws illustrate our priorities. From the widest pillars of American democracy to the rules that are made for conduct inside a house, each statute gives information on our beliefs. The right to freedom of speech, for example, states that we believe a democracy can only function when people speak their minds. On the other end of the scale, the fact that you're not allowed to put your shoes on the couch says that your mom cares about keeping her furniture clean.

Excitement and obstacles in portable rollout

By Madeleine Tilley, Oreet Zimand | Oct. 16, 2017, 2:19 p.m. | In Features »

At the far end of Blair, past the SAC doors and the student courtyard, sit four brand new portables, a mass of beige and wood lazing in the afternoon sun. The portables, a result of Blair's expanding student population, are a new addition meant to help with the increasing Blazer population.

MCPS updates the Student Code of Conduct

By Oreet Zimand | Sept. 28, 2017, 2:56 p.m. | In Local »

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) has changed the "Academic Dishonesty" and "Bullying/Harassment" sections of the 2017-2018 MCPS Student Code of Conduct in response to new data from Montgomery County Public Schools, the state of Maryland and the wider MCPS community.