THE SAXON

SCOPESEPTEMBER 2012

BYTE THE B00K

Global Outreach...Langley students lend a hand in Central America Page 10

Beyond Powder Puff...Freshman girl hits the turf

Page 13 Page X

London calling...Langley senior views the Sum-mer 2012 Olympics Page 15

M&Ms... A not so sweet start for the mentor program Page 4

Issue 1, Vol.48Langley High School

6520 Georgetown PikeMcLean, VA 22101

Langley shelves print textbooks, leaves students grasping for answers

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If we are on the line or out of the office, please leave a message. We will return your call.

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Sophomore Connor Kianpour talks about his new book

Published at 15

New teachers, new styles

OPINION

FEATURE

SPORTSNEWSIt’s a healthy girlAfter a long struggle with cancer, Gianna Hess is finally in remission

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Unsatisfied studentsMore and more students leave Langley each year for academic as well as social reasons

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contents September 2012 1

LHS shelves print textbooks

Ponytails and helmets

12Tech problems

13

Turf vs. grass 16Is turf the better decision?

Check outwww.saxonscope.com

want more?want more?

want more?

Going for the gold 15Today’s students, tomorrow’s Olympians

Meet Langley’s newest teachers

Grasping for e-Books 5 Freshman girl joins the football team

Be prepared, the Tech Age has arrived

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SEPTEMBER 20122 DEAR SAXONS, THE SAXON

SCOPE

The Saxon Scope serves students, faculty, and the Langley High School community. Editorials express the opinions of the editorial board. All by-lined editorials reflect the opinions of the reporters and/or artists. Students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to submit material for publication. The Saxon Scope, under the directions of the advisor, reserves the right to withhold or edit material submittedfor

publication. The Saxon Scope will not print material found to be in poor taste or detrimental to one’s character. Names may be held upon request. Letters may be placed in the Saxon Scope box in the office or brought to room 114. The newspaper is published monthly. Newspaper reporting, typesetting, layout, photography, and computer graphics designs are done by the journalism classes at Lang-

ley High School, 6520 Georgetown Pike, McLean, Virginia 22101. (703)287-2797. FAX (703) 287-2797 or e-mail saxonscope2013@gmail.com & saxonscopeonline@gmail.com.

Executive News Editor:

Amirah Ahmad

Blair PurdyExecutive Feature Editor:

Riley CosgroveExecutive Opinion Editor:

Emily FlessasExecutive Sports Editor:

Executive Design Editor:

Na He Jeon

Business Editor: Veronica Smith

Copy Editors: Neeka EghbaliAlex KrialKatherine RohloffMatt Smith

Staff Writers: Ben CrossSara GuglielmoAvani HedgeDaniel LevetownBilly OrmeTyler SeckerLizzy Weingast

Adviser: Jennifer McAdams

Editors-in-Chief: Aimee Cho Cathy Kiess

Also in this issue...

Mana AfsariBrandon ArcariBrendan CoffeyEllie CrossHaley CurtisAlex De ThierShrey DuaIlene GoudarziMicaela GrassiSabir HathiramAbdullah JamilSusie KimJoey MalpicaCayhan MovaghariChris NameOlivia SalamoneNate ShaferTaylor SnyderDaniel StoneBijan ToddGabrielle Wantula

Reporters:

Managing Editor: Harris LaTeef

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Welcome to another school year! As you’re set-tling into your classes, activities and sports,

we think you’ll agree that a school is only as good as its teachers. We can say with pride that Langley is one of the best schools in the area, thanks to the wonderful faculty who work hard every day to make sure we get a good education. We kept that in mind as we were starting to plan this first issue over the summer, which is why we decided to dedicate our center spread (page 8) to this year’s new teachers. With over 40 years’ experience between all of them, their commitment to their students is unbeliev-ably admirable. And that’s just the new staff! We’ve been learning first-hand how difficult a teachers’ job can be, through the new Peer Mentoring (M&M) program this year. As mentors to groups of three freshmen each, it was stressful making sure that our men-tees learned everything they needed to about high school – and like us at the same time. If being responsible for a group of three students was hard, we can’t even imagine what having five classes of 20 or more students each would be like! Here’s to another great year with our fabulous teachers. As always, thanks for reading, Saxons!

Cathy KiessEditor-in-Chief

Aimee ChoEditor-in-Chief

Stars in the Making, Page 7: The story behind the novel Heavy and the TV show Panic

Going for the Gold: Page 15 Langley athletes strive for the Olympics

Turning a New Page, Page 5: Students outraged at the requirement of online textbooks

The Saxon Scope staff of 6th and 7th period is made up of 45 members. All staffers report, take photos, and lay out pages for every issue, as the Saxon Scope is a solely student-run publication.

Summer Love...or Hate, Page 11: Students express their opin-ions on this year’s Langley Read

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Senior Staff Writers:

The National Student Press Association re-cently recognized the design skills in your

favorite newspaper- the Scope. In the category of newspaper page and spread, the Saxon Scope won an honorable mention. The design that won was a spread from Issue 1 of last year, which revealed the new design planned out for Langley’s renovation. The current editor-in-chief Cathy Kiess and executive design editor Na He Jeon created the page. Some members from the Saxon Scope staff will be traveling to San Antonio, Texas in November to accept the award. -Avani Hegde, Staff Writer

September 2012 3 news

revamping THe HallS of langley

gianna HeSS: Clean Bill of HealTH

Doing good deeds for others can pay off in the parking lot. Once a month,

teachers will nominate senior students who show good character, help with community service, have lots of school spirit and act as positive role models. A small committee will meet to read the nominations and select two winners. These “Senior Saxons of the Month” will get the privilege of parking in two reserved spots adjacent to the main gate.

SpeCial SeniorS

-Harris LaTeef, Managing Editor

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Gianna has made a full recovery after being diagnosed with cancer.

The senior parking spots were painted by Bre Della Corna (12).

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gianna Hess, daughter of Langley math teacher and head basketball coach Travis

Hess, is officially in remission and back to being a happy and healthy baby. Gianna was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called Hepablastoma in February 2012. She went through multiple rounds of chemotherapy, and frequently stayed overnight at the hospital. During this difficult time, the Langley community collected donations and planned fundraisers such as selling shoelaces and planning a 5K. Gianna still visits the hos-pital every six weeks for a checkup. But that’s all that remains of Gianna’s struggle for cancer. “I am extremely happy that Gi-anna is healthy again. I saw her and she seemed like a normal, bubbly baby,” said se-nior basketball player Nicky Guglielmo. Gi-anna is back to playing with her toys and running around, like any other little girl. “We are so thankful for all the people at school who helped Gianna, and are looking forward to life getting back to normal,” said teacher, coach, and father Mr. Hess.

-Sara Guglielmo, Staff Writer

look outside the window during Spanish class, and you can probably catch a PE class volley-

ing back and forth on the tennis courts. Or may-be during a math class, you can hear the hum of the buses as they pass by. But in four short years, these traditional sights and sounds of Langley will be no more. The construction process for Langley’s renovations will be starting in May 2014 and is expected to end around June 2017. The building will go from huge to humongous, with the new science wing reaching out all the way through the tennis courts. Each classroom will be expanding in size from 450 to 650 square feet and the band

and orchestra will have their own buildings. Classrooms won’t be the only expan-sion, however. Athletes will have their own locker room by the field. The buses will enter and exit on a route separate from the parking lot. And if that isn’t enough, the cafeteria will have counters and bar stools that look out into the courtyard. “It will be the finest school in Fairfax County. The students will be proud of Langley,” said an excited Mr. Tommy Meier about the upcoming renovations. -Li Chien, Senior Staff Writer

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NEWS SEPTEMBER 20124 REALITY OF M&M PROGRAM HITS HARDNOT SO SWEET

“ SAXONSPEAKHow do you feel about having an upper-

classman mentor?

“It’s pretty cool, I know some seniors and they are all pretty nice.”

“I’m fine with it. It’s helpful that there’s someone who isn’t an adult for you.”

“I feel like it’ll help students become a part of Langley much easier.”

“I don’t think it’ll help that much unless you become friends with them.”

”-Marcus Riddle (9)-Julia Peters (9)- Menual Saeed (9) - Justin Rose (9)

FRESHMAN

HARRIS LATEEFMANAGING EDITOR

-Executive News Editor Amirah Ahmad also contributed to this story

After living overseas for a year, I’ve moved back to America. And naturally, I

was worried about reconnecting with my freshmen friends – let alone upperclassmen. So when I received my M&M packet, I guess you could say I was somewhat excited. But this story starts about a week before that. My orientation group was taking the senior-guided tour around the school when Otto, the school mascot, decided to join us. Just being a typical freshman, I decided to talk to my friends instead of paying attention – until Otto suddenly grabbed my hand. After a few minutes (minutes that seemed like years), I tried to casually slip my hand out of his. Friendly, but still embarrassing, comments like, “Oh, you dissed Otto!” followed, and my face grew redder by the second. Fast-forward to today. I walked into room 207 with the hope that I’d make a better impression on the upperclassmen, something most freshmen secretly yearn for. I felt on top of my game and queen of the world, until I saw that my mentor was my tour guide from orientation! Talk about awkward. Thankfully, my fellow mentee,

my mentor, and I made some small talk despite the ever-present awkwardness in the air. But to the credit of my mentor Emma, we moved past it by the end of the session. She mentioned what happened at orientation, and we all just laughed at it, since by then it was a thing of the past. Now I’m actually kind of excited for our next meeting! For me, things are looking up in the M&M program, and I am so ready for

FRESHMAN TAKE

Minus the initial, always awkward

introductions and name exchanges, conversation was supposed to be flowing at the first meeting of the Peer to Peer Mentoring Program. Although there were high hopes for the program, also known as M&M, the first meeting did not get great reviews from the freshman mentees. E a c h freshman is assigned to one of 156 junior and senior mentors, and meets with his or her mentor once a month. U p p e r c l a s s m a n mentors underwent four hours of training over the summer, and are each assigned three to four freshmen mentees. A thirteen-member mentor board, consisting of students nominated by the Langley faculty, oversees the program. Many of the freshmen said they thought that when they attended their first meeting, things could have gone better. “It was awkward because we weren’t doing anything, and we were just sitting there,” said freshman McKenna Day. Kerry Bush, also a freshman, said that she “thought it was awkward because they didn’t have much to say.” Some mentors also found that there was nothing to talk about during the first meeting. “It was awkward because I was meeting a lot of new people all at once. We didn’t know what we all had in common,” said junior Jane Sevila, a mentor. However, mentors and mentees claim to have high hopes for their next

meeting. “In the future, it’ll be better because we’ll have scheduled activities,” said Sevila. Members of the board and coordinators of the program, however, said it’s too soon to make any assumptions. “It was the first meeting; it’s not going to be perfect. We have a lot of great ideas for this year, so it’s only going to get better,” said senior Riley Cosgrove, a member of the mentoring board. Co-coordinators of M&M Ms. Georgia McKain and Ms. Jennifer Baldesare, agreed. “It’s a year-long process. It’s just the beginning right now,” said Ms. McKain. Both counselors said they were aware of the potential “awkwardness” between mentors and mentees. “With the first meeting, the students are just touching base,” said Ms. Baldesare. Anything, however, is too soon to tell.

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Clockwise from above: Mentors Roxana Jahanbani (11), Julia Pierce (11) and Jackie Sammarco (12) with their mentees during their monthly meeting.

Spirits continue to run high. “Statistics prove that these mentoring programs are successful,” said Ms. Baldesare. She also mentioned that they hoped to hold a “Mentor/Mentee Field Day.”

MANA AFSARIREPORTER

SEPTEMBER 2012 NEWS 5

How many online textbooks do you have?

How many hours do you spend using online textbooks?

One (75%) Two (23%) Three or more (2%)

One (60%)

eText: out of reach

Two (33%) Three or more (7%)

Average cost of a print history textbook:

Average cost of an online history textbook:

$79.04 $57.65

From SmartBoards to laptops to online textbooks, Langley is constantly becom-ing more high-tech. But as the backlash against the new online textbooks may

show, more technology isn’t always better. Designed to make learning more con-venient and interactive, the new online textbooks appear to have made life harder-at least for some students. “I really don’t like the online textbooks. I wish we had a choice,” said sophomore Tali Champney. The online textbooks are part of a county-wide initiative by Fairfax County to “dif-ferentiate and enrich student learning, through highlighting, glossaries, videos and flashcards” according to the Fairfax County website.

Frustrated and Distracted One of the most common stu-dent objections to the new online text-books is the inconvenience caused by hav-ing to sit at a computer to do homework. This can be a hindrance for athletes, who are away from home for many hours each day. “I do the majority of my homework at practice or in the car. I find little time to use the computer,” said sophomore basketball player Ma-hir Ahmed. Junior Cori Ritchey added,“It’s not like you can just take the online textbook with you.” In addition, because the textbooks require Adobe Flash, they cannot be viewed on many types of smart phones and tablets. “My phone can’t access the textbooks,

and even some Internet browsers can’t either,” said senior Sid Venkatraman. Students weren’t the only ones unhappy with the shift to e-text. “Students weren’t the only ones unhappy with the shift to e-text. It is shock-ing that Fairfax County sends home forms to fill out if you are homeless or need free lunch, yet at the same time requires the use of a computer and the Internet to access your textbooks,” said Lang-ley parent Tina Cobb. Another common objection is the un-reliability of the online textbooks. “Issues with logging in have somewhat hindered my learning

process this year,” said senior Zack Dailey. Junior Justin Yi noted that the online textbooks often fail to load, or end up crashing his computer. The potential for increased distraction is yet another issue. “Facebook, Twitter and Tum-blr are literally one click away,” said sophomore Sean Herman. “How can a teacher expect me to focus when it’s easier to turn to Facebook than to turn a page in my online textbook?” Finally, health can be a concern as well. “The textbooks give me a headache. I hate the lights on the computer because they hurt my

eyes,” said sophomore Sepideh Behestian. “They have obviously not addressed pediatric ophthalmologists’ warnings about the dangers of too much electronic screen time to your eyes,” added Ms. Cobb.

Teacher response Teachers are acknowledging student frustrations, and are doing their best to be sup-portive of students. “I understand how diffi-cult access is. Teachers will help students with any problems they face,” said History Depart-ment Chair Steve Plunkett.

“It is a change to get used to the new textbooks,” added math teacher Richard Whitehead. “We all just want to be able to flip to the back of the book and check our answers.” “I personally prefer to hold an ac-tual book in my hands,” said history teacher Ryan Jackson.

What’s next? According to Principal Matt Ra-gone, Langley is required to implement what-ever online or hard copy texts the county ap-proves and purchases. Science will most likely be the next subject to have online textbooks. “The county has told us they will probably never buy another hard copy,” said Mr. Ragone. “My advice is to try to get used to this way of gaining information. Fortunately or unfortunately, this is not going away.”

I think they should be optional. They’re just tedious.

“” - Sierra Jeter (11)

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By Aimee Cho and Neeka Eghbali, Editor-in-Chief and Copy Editor

95% out of 100 students disapprove of online textbooks

“How can a teacher expect me to focus when it’s easier to turn to Facebook than

to turn a page in my online textbook?”-Sean Herman (10)

Additional reporting by Alex De Thier, Joey Mal-pica, and Justin Speros

Saxon Scope poll of 100 students

NEWS SEPTEMBER 20126 to lEavE or Not to lEavEALEX KRIALCOPY EDITOR

lIFE WItHoUt laNGlEY: StUDENtS lEavE aFtEr tHEIr FrESHMaN YEar

apparently, Langley isn’t for everyone. High school is a time for change, and many students

over the years have realized one thing: Langley may not be the school for them. Mostly because it’s so darn big, and pretty hard too. Seniors Tyler Fritz and Mike McCormick, who now attend Bishop O’Connell, found that Langley was simply not the right fit for them. “I felt like another number. I wanted to be more of a leader than a follower,” he said. McCormick discovered that the curriculum was too challenging. “O’Connell is not nearly as hard as Langley,” he said. Senior Tiffany Newman, who now

attends Paul VI Catholic High School (PVI), realized that after being in small elementary and middle schools all her life, her freshman year at Langley was “a drastic change for me…and too big.” She feels that her new school’s small size helps to encourage a “strong sense of community.” Many transferees said that the organization at their new schools was also a drastic change. As many of them opted out of Langley in exchange for a private education, they were shocked by the smaller class sizes and greater one-on-one time with teachers. Senior Mac Trainor, who now attends Woodberry Forest, said that his new school is “not as stressful because the amount of work is significantly less and the teachers are helpful and involved.” Fritz mentioned that at O’Connell, he does not miss the public school environment, and he is extremely happy with his decision. “I can honestly say that O’Connell has given me numerous opportunities to lead the school at pep rallies, sporting events, and clubs,” he said. Regardless of the school swapping, there are many aspects of Saxon Country that past students miss. An anonymous senior who left Langley misses “the variety in classes. There were lots of interesting classes at Langley I wish I

could take that are not offered at my new school.” Trainor noted that he missed Señora Behnke, Friday night games, cross country with Coach Krivak and weekends. “Socially, Woodberry Forest is not as fun as Langley just because there are no parties, and it is much smaller,” he said. McCormick and Newman said they were sad about leaving all of the friends they had made, and the anonymous senior commented that he does “miss the school spirit at Langley. It was fun to get a bunch of people at the football games.”

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Some students have found that Langley’s large student population and difficult aca-demics are not for them.

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7feature September 2012

SOMEBODY CALL 911SENIOR MORGAN LADD STARS ON A&E

As two children play on an icy reservoir, it starts to break. They both fall in and begin to drown.

A 15-year-old girl frantically calls 911 and then rushes to save them. After her grandfather revives one of the little girls, both children barely survive. Langley senior Morgan Ladd will be playing the part of the teenage girl, on the new TV show “Panic” (which is based on a true story) on A&E. According to Ladd, the show “reenacts real 911 phone calls. Each episode, they feature different scenarios, playing the actual 911 phone calls in the background while actors reenact the situation.” The rising actress tells the Saxon Scope about her experiences so far and of what is yet to come.

Saxon Scope: Who is your character on “Panic”? Morgan Ladd: For the episode I’m in, I play the lead part of a 15-year-old girl who calls the police after looking outside her window and seeing two little children drowning in the frozen over reservoir outside her house. (My little sister in real life got the role of one of the little girls who drowns!) I don’t ever speak in the episode, because the real 911 phone call of my character’s voice is playing in the background, but I act everything out.

SS: What was the audition process like? ML: I got a call from my agent about the audition, and drove up to the casting network’s headquarters in Silver Springs with my mom and my baby sister. First, I was put in front of a camera and a man asked me just to do facial expressions. Afterwards, I had to read lines from the actual 911 phone call (even though I wouldn’t actually be speaking at all in the episode) and act it out on camera. Finally, he filmed me just simply walking up and down a hallway. After that, my sister had her audition. They were looking for a pair of sisters, or girls that looked very similar to each other. The very next day, we got a call that we made it on the show.

When he was younger, he was just like most other kids: friendly, funny and well-behaved.

However, there was one thing that set him apart - his weight. Sophomore Connor Kianpour has been overweight his entire life. However, instead of letting his embarrassment get the best of him, this summer he decided to write a memoir about it. “When I was younger I didn’t even realize that I was different until I was told that being overweight wasn’t a normal circumstance,” said Kianpour. “Naturally, this kind of realization at such a young age took a toll on me, but I feel that it was for the best.” With only weeks left of summer, Kianpour wanted to make an impact on others. “For summer reading, we had to read “The Glass Castle.” That book had made such an impact on me that I felt I could at least attempt to do the same. So I wrote “Heavy” with the hope that I could be as impressionable as Jeannette Walls was in her memoir,” he said. “Heavy” only took Kianpour about six weeks to complete. When writing, he made sure that his story was relatable to all readers. “I could have very easily written all of my life experiences and published my book. But my message would not be

universal, and I felt it was important for the reader to relate to my experience,” said Kianpour. “I liked the fact that he got

personal, and wasn’t ashamed about his weight,” said sophomore Sarah Hague.

More than anything, Kianpour wants his readers to understand that it’s okay to be different. “I’ve decided to make some changes in my life. And I felt that the only way I could feel good about making those changes is if I brought to light the reasons I came to make those changes in the first place.” “Heavy” is available for purchase on Amazon.com as an e-book and a paperback.

HEAVY READINGLANGLEY SOPHOMORE GETS PUBLISHED NEEKA EGHBALICOPY EDITOR

BLAIR PURDYEXECUTIVE FEATURE EDITOR

PHOTO COURTESY OF KATHRYN KIANPOUR

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Morgan Ladd (12) sits on the set of the new TV show “Panic,” which will air on A&E around late October.SS: What was your favorite part of filming

the episode?

ML: My favorite part of filming the episode was definitely getting to see how different things are on set from what it looks like on TV. We didn’t go to a real frozen reservoir of water. We actually just went to someone’s backyard pool in Arlington. We used Plexiglas as ice, and we used a brown tarp to make the water look dark. They threw some leaves and branches into the pool, and that was it! It looked so ridiculous, but when I watched the footage from the shoot, it looked so real. It was

so interesting to see how they really do things. It also shows you why you should never believe half of the things you see on TV. About 99% of the time, it’s all fake.

SS: How do you feel about being a part of a show on such a well-known TV station? ML: It’s so nerve-wracking, but it’s such an amazing experience. It’ll be so weird watching myself on A&E, and knowing so many other people are watching me at the same time.

As Langley’s new band director arrives, new musical goals are being made. “I think the Langley band

program’s best days are still ahead of it. It’s going to be exciting and fun to see how far we can go together.”

Mr. Martin was the band director at Mount Vernon HS for four years and Stuart HS for nine years. He

also taught part-time at Annandale HS while he was getting his master’s degree at GMU. Beginning his

teaching career, he felt as if he didn’t have a choice in the matter to pursue any other career. “I was the

beneficiary of so much great musical education that it just became obvious that I had to do it too,” he

said. Aside from his musical career, Mr. Martin is the father of an almost-three-year-old. “In my job, I get

to share great music with people. That’s it in a nutshell.”

FEATURE SEPTEMBER 20128 SEPTEMBER 2012 FEATURE 9

For Ms. Eppard, the most exciting aspect of teaching is the endless amount of possibilities that are present

each day for growth and change. She loves to discuss literature with her students and enjoys listening and

giving advice to her student’s perceptions about different texts. “I love discussing literature the most--

giving and gaining insights about different texts with students.” Ms. Eppard decided in her sophomore

year of college that she wanted to become a teacher. She taught at Chantilly HS for six years before

coming to Langley. In her spare time, she enjoys playing and watching sports, dancing and reading. “My

students are always being changed by their experiences and interactions with me and each other; we are all

changed by the things we read and see and discuss in the classroom.” Ms. Eppard is looking forward to

the challenge of teaching at a new place.

Growing up in an environment around teacher role models, Mr. Henry wanted to follow in the footsteps

of his mother and grandfather. Before moving to Fairfax County, Mr. Henry taught at Indian Valley High

School in Pennsylvania for several years. Since relocating to FCPS, he has taught at Rachel Carson Middle

School, Oakton High School and South Lakes High School. Mr. Henry is excited to work with students

about history and politics, both of which he is very passionate about. Mr. Henry has also been coaching

high school tennis for the past ten years and previously coached basketball. He loves “staying up-to-date

on what’s going on in our society and seeing the connections from history on our current events.” Outside

of the classroom, Mr. Henry likes to read, travel and watch the Green Bay Packers.

As a new French teacher at Langley, Madame Nichols is excited to be here. She “started taking French

in middle school and immediately fell in love.” Although she had grown up around a family that spoke

Italian, nothing could cease her love for French. Her favorite part about being a teacher is leaving an

impression on students. This summer, Madame Nichols was in line at Panera “when a boy in line started

talking to me in French. It took me a second to realize it, but this was a young man, 19 years old

studying at a local university, who recognized me from when I taught him in 7th grade. He told me how

my class inspired him and he went on to study French and remembered our class well.” In her free time,

Madame Nichols is very active in the lives of her two sons, Logan and Hayden, and enjoys photography.

Like many teachers, Mr. Laspe loves when students have epiphanies while learning lessons. He enjoys

teaching all types of history, although his favorite is public policy because it reveals how decisions of the

past have impacted Americans today. His interest in teaching began in high school; he later taught at

T. Wingate Andrews High School in High Point, North Carolina. “My style of teaching is student-

oriented. I enjoy teaching about complex topics in Social Studies and making them relevant to each

student’s life. I hope that at the end of my course, my students will become more informed and engaged

citizens.” Mr. Laspe is a huge Philadelphia sports fan and enjoys reading about current politics. He also

enjoys spending time with his twin brother and friends.

For Ms. Busath, being a part of that “aha” moment when a student finally understands a concept is the

best of all. At first, she studied Physiology, but her love for math was too strong to ignore. She got a job

at the math lab, helping people with questions on their homework. “No joke, one time in high school

I was mad about something, and the only thing that calmed me down was doing my math homework.”

Ms. Busath decided to switch her major to Mathematics Education, and she has never looked back.

The mathematics enthusiast taught 7th grade at Washington Latin Public Charter School and at Duke

Ellington School of the Arts, both of which are in DC. When she is not busily calculating exciting new

problems, she loves to run and be outside as well as sew and do crafts. “Math just makes so much sense

to me. I find it almost soothing. I love working through a problem and finding the answer – it’s like a

puzzle, and I think it’s really fun. It’s true, I’m a nerd.”

Angie EppardEnglish

“The most exciting aspect of teaching is the endless amount of possibilities that are present each day for growth and change.”

Joshua HenryHistory“I love staying up-to-date on what’s going on in our society and seeing the connections from history to our current events.”

Rachael NicholsFrench

“I started tak-ing French in middle school and immediately fell in love.”

Kyle LaspeHistory

“I hope at the end of my course my students will become more informed and engaged citizens.”

Jillian BusathMath“I love work-ing through a problem and finding the answer – it’s like a puzzle, and I think it’s really fun It’s true, I’m a nerd.”

“In my job, I get to share great music with people. That’s it in a nutshell.”

BandDoug Martin

The Saxon Scope reached out to teachers this summer to kickstart more regular coverage of the people who really set the tone for Langley-our teachers. This month we take a look at some of the newest faces you’ll see in the Saxon halls.

Neeka Eghbali and Katherine Rohloff

Copy Editors

Layout by Na He Jeon, Brandon Arcari, and Haley Curtis

FEATURE SEPTEMBER 201210 HERE And THERE, lAnglEy HAS gonE EvERywHERElAnglEy KIdS go on MISSIon TRIPS To HElP THE lESS FoRTUnATECATHY KIESS AND CAYHAN MOVAGHARIEDITOR-IN-CHIEF AND REPORTER

Guatemala This summer, I traveled to El Salvador for a week’s worth of work with orphans and

the homeless. It was easily one of the most powerful experiences of my life. Our youth pastor called the effect the trip would have on us “heart surgery.” Though I found this a bit dramatic at first, in the end my team emerged with our emotions slapped across our faces. In a land of plenty, it is easy for us to isolate ourselves from the poverty and need that is so apparent in today’s world. But this summer, Langley students took the road less traveled

Jessica Weaver (12) worked in schools and orphanages in the Dominican Republic.

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old children acting as caretak-ers for an infant.”

-Jessica Weaver (12)

Olivia Brodnax (11) and Emma Digiammarino (11) helped plant trees and construct cooking stoves in Guatemala.

The youth group at Great Falls United Methodist traveled to Guatemala this summer to an inland village, in order to construct 16 cinder block stoves for families in the outlying areas of the capital city. The team spent time planting trees, and “interacting with the natives; learning about Guatemalan culture,” according to senior Zack Dailey.“The stoves really changed these women’s lives because cooking over open

flames is unhealthy and really unsafe,” said junior Olivia Brodnax. H o w e v e r , the Guatemalans’ lives were not the only ones changed.

Brodnax said that her world view was altered, as she witnessed the lives of those in developing countries and “how little they have compared to us.” She added, “They are not constantly complaining about what they do not have, but are very happy when they receive something so life changing.” For Dailey, the most meaningful part about the trip “knowing that we really made a lasting impact on the lives of the Guatemalan families we visited with the stoves we constructed.” “I would do it all again in a

Senior Jessica Weaver had a similar experience, traveling with her church, McLean Bible, to Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic. Their goal was to share the Bible with the children there, in both orphanages and schools. “I had never been inside a home where a family lived on dirt and, if they were lucky, had some walls and a tattered mattress to share for an entire family. I had never seen eight-year-old children acting as caretakers for an infant,” Weaver said. Taking a little bit of the Dominican Republic back with her, she was given the opportunity to sponsor an eight-year-old girl. “I

heartbeat; I walked away from this summer with a true sense of accomplishment and purpose in my life,” said senior A.J. Scalia.

am so excited to welcome her into my family and to be able to write to her and pay for her needs.”

When done badly or awkwardly, a love story can make you so confused you don’t even know what to feel. The major problem

with TFIOS isn’t that it’s poorly written. The problem is that hard-ly anyone at Langley can relate to Hazel Grace or Augustus Waters. Augustus Waters and Hazel fall in love with each other at first sight. This doesn’t happen in the real world. Did you fall in love with that girl/guy in your math class im-mediately after you saw them? Chances are you didn’t. Second, the many complicated exchanges of words between the two lovebirds are also unrealistic. The point of a Langley Read is to have students read a book over the summer that they’ll still be talking about until next June. Take “Unbroken” by Lauren Hillenbrand, last year’s Langley Read, for example. Teachers were putting up posters on their doors with inspirational quotes from the book, and the assembly last December about the wounded soldier sparked a connection between the students and the soldier standing up on stage. With the “Fault in Our Stars”, however, all I’ve heard was that it was a good book. Nothing else. There are countless books that are “good,” but few that can inspire. Langley Reads need to be the ones that inspire.

September 2012 11opinion FaultS in the Fault in our StarS? Four StuDentS DeBate the lanGleY reaD

i am not a huge reader. I can prove this to you by admitting, honestly, that TFI-

OS is the only Langley read I have read. Before I abandoned ship on “Unbro-ken,” last year’s Langley Read, I struggled

page by page much like Louis Zam-perini struggled during his time as a Japanese POW (I Googled this). However, TFIOS was a differ-ent experience for me. First off, John Green writes for a teenage

audience. Green uses slang, curse words and popular culture references that make me feel like the book was written for me to actually want to read it. I’m not saying that I enjoyed the book just to pick up chicks (but if anyone wants my number, you can find me in room 114 sixth period). I actually think that there is a lot to be learned from the story and from the way that Green writes. Despite cancer, Hazel and Augustus are still normal teenagers. Challenges come up in life that cannot be overcome sometimes, and the main characters accept this. I know a lot of guys didn’t read the book, and I get it. But I think that aside from the girly romance parts, it is a good book. And it will help you pick up chicks. Mention the name Augustus and you’re set.

the fault in “The Fault in Our Stars” was evident as soon as I finished the first chapter. The book was obviously written for female readers.

From the moment Augustus walked into the support group and Green described him as a “hot guy,” I could tell where this was headed. Of course Hazel and Augustus were going to wind up together, of course they would get the trip of their dreams, and of course one of them would die, only to leave behind a note just for their loved one. That’s the predictable genre of romance, with all of its sappy kisses and hugs. I don’t have a problem with a little romance seeping in, but I couldn’t stand an entire 313 pages of a rewritten Cinderella. I also felt that the author could’ve gone more

into the struggle with cancer and how it affected Hazel’s life, or at least another topic that’s appealing to both boys and girls.

I appreciated his attempt to draw guys with few pages about video games, but in the

end, when everyone was sobbing their eyes out, his effort was to no avail. I’m not a heartless monster, but it was predictable in the sense that I might as

well have started tearing up right when Augustus was introduced into the story.

Surrounded by a sea of used tissues and ice cream, I finished the Langley read, John Green’s “The

Fault in Our Stars”. I cried for Hazel and Augustus and for myself because of how perfect and fictional the character of Augustus Waters is. Will my Prince Charming come running (er, limping) to sweep me off my feet? No. Would I be able to live normally and accept the reality of death as a teenager? No. At first glance, Hazel and Augustus seem to be impossibly ficti-tious characters. But as I have not had to face death or to deal with a terminal illness, who am I to judge whether these characters are unrealistic when I do not know what realistic in these circumstances is? The plot of the Langley Read does not need to directly relate to the student body. Who among us has ever been lost at sea for months like Louis Zamperini in “Unbroken”? However, the message within the novel does need to relate in some way to all of us, and I think it does. The main idea in the novel is that we are all dealt a specific hand of cards in life, some good, some bad. What you do with the cards you are dealt is your choice, but the dealing is absolute. I think all of us at Langley can relate to this message of being cursed, or blessed, with certain challenges, and being forced to make a decision: to live the life you’ve been given, or to fight it unsuccessfully.

loVeD ithateD it

Amirah Ahmad

Riley Cosgrove

Abdullah Jamil

Brendan Coffey

OPINION SEPTEMBER 201212 TECH IT TO THE NEXT LEVELBYOD: BRING YOUR OWN DEVICES

TYLER SECKARSTAFF WRITER

BACK TO THE BASICSCAUTION: ENTERING THE TECH GENERATION OF TEXTBOOKS

SARA GUGLIELMOSTAFF WRITER

The Bring Your Own Device program lets Langley students use their computers, iPads

and Kindles in class if the teacher allows it. A l t h o u g h bringing in technology can be useful if you’re staying after school and want to get a head start on homework, or you want to take notes faster in class, there are more negatives than positives to the policy. Ask yourself this question before you consider carrying a computer around school – How much does your backpack currently weigh? I carry approximately three binders, a

folder, pencil pouch and a three subject notebook. Carrying a computer or iPad is just going to add unnecessary weight to my daily load. Gym ended for me last year-- I’m not looking for a workout from Science to English. Theft can also be an issue. Bringing a

computer to school is going to give someone a good motive to search through your backpack when you’re not looking. I would also say that my backpack gets jostled around approximately 20 times a day, stepped on by passing teachers in all my classes and slammed down on the floor. Adding a computer or

another expensive device into the equation is just going to equal a shattered mess. Is

the risk of having to replace your damaged technology worth bringing it to school? Having a computer at school to take notes may sound like a good idea, but it takes away from the learning atmosphere that is experienced when coming to school. The same kind of hands-on learning that paper notes provide isn’t quite the same as typing notes into a computer. While this new program has good intentions and opens opportunities for students, I think it creates more problems than solutions. We need to hit “backspace” on the Bring Your Own Device program and return to last year’s policy.

I have been using print textbooks ever since I was seven. So when I was informed that I would only

be getting online textbooks for US World History and Pre-Calculus this year, I was not happy. These two subjects are both challenging courses that require us to depend on the textbook, which forces me to sit at a computer with Internet in order to do my homework. For math, I have to look at the screen, put the problem on loose leaf paper, do it, then start another problem. History is even more difficult because I have to type my homework, which means I have to keep clicking back and forth between Microsoft Word and the Internet. Some people believe this technological alteration is a step towards the future. They see the benefits of increased accessibility from all types of technology (such as cell phones and tablets). It seems that the kids at Langley are very technologically advanced, but that does not mean we need online textbooks. While some people may see online textbooks as more accessible than print books, I disagree. I have tried to access both of my online textbooks from my phone and iPad and it hasn’t

worked. You need to have certain software on your tablet/phone that allows you to access the actual text. I play field hockey and lacrosse for Langley, and I often have games that run to nine P.M., which is why I often bring schoolwork and textbooks to do when I have time to kill before and after the games. With the online textbook I would have to bring my laptop, which could get damaged during the school day or on the bus to away games. Other people say you can print out the pages to complete the homework. Do they know how much ink costs? (I’ll give you a hint: a lot). One black ink cartridge costs upwards of twenty-five dollars. I also have a brother who uses online textbooks, which means my family would go through ink cartridges twice as fast. My generation spends enough time watching TV, going on Facebook and Twitter and playing on their phones or tablets. I spend enough time looking at screens during school and in my free time, but now I will be forced to look at a screen for at least seven more hours per week. Online textbooks may be more

technologically advanced, and usually I’m all for the next best and fastest thing, but not when it comes to my schoolwork. I don’t like to study, but given the choice, I’d much sooner pore over a print textbook than squint over one online.

Though online textbooks are advanced, their in-compatibility with devices like the iPad and iPhone makes them difficult to use.

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- Students may use laptops, netbooks, tablets, smart phones, etc. during the school day, with teacher permission- Students must register their devices with the school- Devices can be used for research, ac-tivities, homework and collaboration- FCPS is not responsible for broken or stolen devices-BYOD is an optional program; stu-dents are not required to use devices

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And one important thing to understand is that Schulman had to actually become a member of the team. She is on the roster, she is in the team picture, and she will wear her jersey to school on game days, but that alone doesn’t build a bond with her teammates. Schulman says that at first it was awkward, but gradually over time she started to feel like any other football player. Schulman insists that she is part of the team, and even thinks that if a player from another team hit her, her own teammates would definitely stand up for her. Many other girls out there like Schulman and I are not playing on all

-boy teams for the attention or for the looks we get when we strap on the pads. We are playing these sports for the pure love of the game. Schulman thinks that trying out for football is one of the best decisions she had ever made. She went through grueling summer tryouts, and hard practices not to be known as “the girl on the football team,” but rather because she loves to play football. Schulman has big dreams of playing varsity when she is older, and she doesn’t care if you approve of this or not. And more power to her.

SEPTEMBER 2012 OPINION 13

Cayhan Movaghari REPORTER

GlamOr ON the fIeld

SaXONS SUr[PaSSING] the COmPetItIONGreateSt ShOw ON tUrf

GIrl PrOVeS that fOOtBall ISN’t JUSt fOr GUYS

LiZZy WEingaSTSTAFF WRITER

Mollie Schulman might be the only girl on the Langley football team, but she practices just like one of the boys.

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when you go to the freshmen football games this year you might notice a long

blonde ponytail sticking out of a helmet. That long blonde hair belongs to ninth grader Mollie Schuleman who is kicker for the Langley 2012-2013 freshman football team. Many might be asking “Why”, “Why would a girl want to play football?” But after years of being the only girl on the Langley boys hockey team, I have an answer. Schulman doesn’t really care what other people think. Schulman has been playing soccer since she was three. One day, she decided to kick a football, which caused her to consider trying out for the football team. Not only does it take guts to try out for a team with fifty boys, but it also takes an extreme amount of dedication. From training with her father to working out in the gym, Schulman spent most of her summer perfecting her kick. I know firsthand that being part of a team full of boys is easier said then done.

above: The Langley varsity football team defeated the Marshall high School Statesmen. Top right: The Saxons face off against Chan-tilly high School.

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It has been the same game plan for many years for the Saxon football team: a run-heavy, smash-mouth

type of game led by Head coach John Howerton. Injuries caused an eventual shift in game plan last year that in turn was needed. The change from a mobile quarterback to more of a pocket passer occurred when Austin Vasiliadis went down due to injury and sophomore Nick

Casso was called into the spotlight. In order to win games you need to score points, and an unsuccessful run game was not good enough to win down the stretch last year. Constant running up the gut of the defense was not ideal and did not work against the stronger teams in our region. The idea of all run, no pass was not good enough and proved so after an early playoff dismissal left the Saxons bitter

and anxious for more this season. Off to a 3-1 start after dismantling both Herndon and Marshall, the highly potent offense seems to be unstoppable. Not to mention that their one loss came at the hands of football power house Chantilly, off a botched extra point that left the Saxons upset but optimistic about the game. The sheer talent is on both sides of the ball this season. Senior Phil Novacki makes an impact whenever he is on the field. Whether on offense or defense, his presence is felt all across

the board. With a star-studded line backing corps, the Saxon defense is always penetrating the offense as well as making plays in the secondary. With a high flying offense and a star-studded defense, the Saxons hope to win out the regular season and head into the playoffs with great momentum and hopefully an eventual district title. With a lot of seniors on the team this year this may be our best chance at a title. With no title many would be walking away empty handed leaving a dissappointed senior class and a football team as a whole. More dissappointing seasons like last year may leave some coaches on the hot seat because no one’s job is safe in any sport.

the idea of all run, no pass, was not good enough last season.

OPINION SEPTEMBER 201214 Three classes aT ONce?advaNced classes suffer frOm chrONIc schedule cONflIcTs

aIrbrush me beauTIful WheN IN dOubT, PhOTOshOP IT OuT

NA HE JEONExEcutivE DEsign EDitor

The facTs-No elective course change requests will be accepted-core courses that can be changed include aP classes, World languages, math, sci-ence, english 9-12, Wh1, Wh2, us history, and Government-schedule change packets became avail-able on the lhs website on sep. 24 -course change requests will be accepted starting sep. 28

RILEY COSGROVEExEcutivE oPinion EDitor

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The graphic above was made by the Saxon Scope staff using Photoshop to enhance a photo of a staff member, synonymous to pho-toshopping in magazines.

befOre

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I was having a great time with my family over the summer in the rocky Mountains

when i got a call from my counselor telling me that i had a schedule conflict. According to her, i had absolutely no chance of taking my Latin class. i later found out that my AP humanities classes are split as well, which means i won’t be able to fully enjoy the perks of a linked humanities system.         unfortunately, i am not the only one with schedule conflicts. Jason cui, the Junior class President found out that Leadership, Band, and Multivariable calculus were all in 6th period. He had played Band for two years. He has to be in Leadership as a class president. The only way to physically take Multivariable calculus other than in 6th period was to drive to Mclean High school every other morning. The episodes i just mentioned are just a few of the countless schedule conflict cases. it is not likely to

have a schedule conflict when someone is taking popular classes like Biology 1 or AP us History. But there are the so called “singleton” classes, classes which have only one or two class periods.         usually those “singleton” classes are AP courses like AP Economics, AP calculus Bc or AP chemistry. Few people take them, so only one or two periods are assigned to the class.         Basically, kids who take a lot of advanced courses are the ones who end up with

the most schedule conflicts. And when they have those conflicts, they cannot erase the idea that the school system as a whole disapproves a rigorous course load.         since we are not in Harry Potter with

Hermione’s magic hourglass, we turn to technology for help. But technology isn’t so helpful either.         Whenever a student has a schedule conflict, they look up the online campus. However, the prospect is bleak; the student wants to take an advanced singleton class online, but the FcPs online campus doesn’t offer them. The highest math course offered online is AP calculus AB, and Precalculus Honors is not even offered. AP Physics c, AP Environmental science, and AP Biology are all absent. The

only world language classes online are Korean and spanish. now what are we supposed to do?         Jason cui decided to drop Band and take Multivariable calculus through a different online program (which is very expensive). My Latin teacher thankfully decided to tutor me at the Latin 3 level during an AP Latin class. And split humanities is fun in its own way. However, it would be better to have a solution where students don’t have to put up with these issues.

Basically, kids who take a lot of advanced courses are the ones who end up with the most schedule

conflicts.

Photoshop is God’s way of apologizing for giving some of us some awful looks. How can we ignore this gift bestowed

upon us?

If i were on the cover of seventeen magazine, i would want to be photoshopped. Photo-

shop is god’s way of apologizing for giving some of us some awful looks or imperfections. How can we ignore this gift bestowed upon us? in this age of “everyone is beautiful” and “born this way” gaga-isms, magazines are being attacked by progressive girls for too much photoshopping of models and cover stars. one in particular, Julia Bluhm, a teen-ager from small town Maine, started a petition for seventeen magazine to stop using photoshop on a portion of its images. Her petition soared in popularity and has, of late, gained over 75,000 signatures. Who are these 75,000 people, i have to wonder? speaking for myself, i am not in any way emotionally damaged by seeing magazines

full of edited photos. i think this is chiefly be-cause i read magazines fully aware of how un-real the photos are. i don’t see a picture of Kim Kardashian with a small behind (euphemism for “donk”) and slim hips and believe that’s exactly

what she looks like in person. instead of attempting the impossible and ultimately use-less goal of forcing large maga-zines to stop photoshopping, why not teach young girls how prevalent it is in public photos? comparing myself to celebrities and models is futile, and i ac-cept that no matter how much

i want to look like a sports illustrated model, i can’t, because these women aren’t real, and i am. That said, you can sign MY petition to put me on the cover of this year’s sports illustrated swimsuit edition. And always remember, girls, ev-eryone is beautiful...with Photoshop.

September 2012 15 sports FUTURE OLYMPIANSSTAR SENIORS PARTICIPATE IN OLYMPIC STYLE EVENTS

HURdLINg TO LONdON

As millions of Americans watched the 2012 Summer Olympics from their living rooms,

senior Jessica Stewart was in the stands in London, watching several track and field events live. In the same large venue as the opening ceremonies, Stewart saw women’s pole vault, shot put, 200-meter sprints, steeplechase and 400 meter hurdles take place, as well as men’s 400-meter hurdles. The Scope took a deeper look at her unique perspective on the games. Saxon Scope: What was your favorite event? Jessica Stewart: The hurdles were definitely my favorite event since I compete in them myself, so I was able to see the best of the best. SS: Did you see any world or Olympic records made? Did you get to go to any finals? JS: I didn’t see any records broken but I saw the finals of women’s pole vault, which the USA won, and the finals of the men’s 400-meter hurdles. The male hurdler from the Dominican Republic was bawling after winning gold and the crowd went crazy for him. SS: Did you like watching events live better than just watching at home? How was the experience different? JS: Watching the events live was so much better than watching them on the TV because the crowd is so enthusiastic for every athlete regardless of the country. SS: Was there anything you saw that surprised you that you don’t see on TV? JS: I later found out that the gold medalist for the women’s shot put was stripped of her medal because of steroid doping, which really surprised me.

A track and cross country senior, Jessica Miles’ ultimate dream is to make it to the Olympics. “I have always wanted to run in the Olympics ever since I was little; so running in Rio would be amazing,” Miles said. She will continue both her cross country and track and field careers through college by participating in “a program that will give me the best opportunities,” she said. This summer, Miles competed and placed in the Track and Field Junior Olympic Nationals. Her 1500-meter race time of 4:54.20 earned her third place overall and All-American Honors. Miles has several Olympian role models including Jim Thorpe, a 10K runner and football star, and Billy Mills, a Native American athlete who overcame many obstacles. “I’m looking forward to watching Jessica in the Olympics in 2016. Her running career will definitely take her far,” said senior cross country teammate Becky Powell.

AIMEE CHO AND EMILY FLESSASEDITOR-IN-CHIEF AND EXECUTIVE SPORTS EDITOR

Jessica Miles

Abi Speers (12) embraces her mother after swimming the 50 meter freestyle.

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Abi Speers Senior Abi Speers has never been one to follow expectations. Going into a qualifying meet for the US Olympic Swim Trials, she needed to drop 0.07 seconds – a huge amount of time in swimming. Against all odds, she made the time with 0.18 seconds to spare, earning herself a spot at the Olympic Trials. Much of Speers’ success is due to her determination and work ethic. “I’ve never liked being told I can’t do something,” she said. A freestyler who specializes in the 50-meter, she wakes up daily at 3:50 so she can practice before school. After school, she attends two more practices, for a total of 20 hours per week. Speers described the Olympic Trials as “truly incredible.” The week-long event was held in Omaha, Nebraska and was attended by about 17,000 people. “It was amazing to see swimmers and fans from all over the country show up to support the Olympic hopefuls,” said Speers. Of course, the trials weren’t all fun and games. “Competing was very stressful,” said Speers. “But I think in the end, my excitement outweighed my feelings of panic. I also knew I had so much support at home, which helped a lot.” While she didn’t make it to London this time, Speers remains optimistic for the years ahead. She is currently looking at college swim teams to find one that will be a good fit. “My plan is to work as hard as I can and see how far I can go,” she said.

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Jessica Stewart (12) in front of the 2012 London Olympic Track and Field arena.

-Blair Purdy and Daniel Levetown, Executive Feature Editor and Staff Writer

Jessica Miles (12) competes at the Burke Lake Invitational in August.

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For most Langley students, the 2012 London Olympics were simply a summer highlight.

Several Langley athletes, however, are training to compete in the games someday themselves.

SPORTS SEPTEMBER 201216 GOOdbye GRaSS, HellO TuRfSTudeNTS VOICe THeIR OPINION ON THe NeW TuRf

It has been a long time coming, but the turf field is now open for competition and a new

era of Langley athletics begins. First came the controversy, then the fundraising, then the installment, and finally, the unveiling. The new turf field, once a large 100-yard Bermuda grass field, is now the center of excitement for many Langley athletes and coaches. “I’ve been around watching some of the games, and the players seem to love it,” said Athletic Director, Jeff Noto. “There was an absolute downpour at the JV field hockey game against Oakton and

“ SaXON SPeaKWhat do you think about the new turf field?

“I probably won’ t use it.” - Ryan Riddle (9)

“I like it because turf is cool.” - Katie Sissler (9)

“I think it’s nice because it’s less work and nicer to play on.” - Abby Sprin (9)

“It’ll be easier to play sports.” - Nora Riley (9)

”

CayHaN aNd abdullaH TalK SPORTS:RGIII V.S andrew luck

the players went on with without any problem. That game would not have happened last year.” The turf field has also been surrounded by talk about which teams will be scheduled to use the field during practices and when. As they are scheduled now and for the rest of the year, teams will alternate every other day unless the other team happens to have a game the next day, in which case a team will use their normal practice field. Despite the general approval by many students, some don’t like the new change. “While it’s nice to know that the

turf will always be in the same condition, the old field just felt a lot better to play on,” said sophomore soccer player Patrick McCarthy. “It’s great that we got a

new field but from a dancer’s perspective, the old field was just a much better surface. It’ll take some getting used to, but I think most of the school will love it by the end of the year,” said sophomore dance team member Kylie Davidson.

Freshman students enjoy the new turf field during 7th block gym class.

Cayhan: This off season, a hot topic is the rookie situations regarding Andrew Luck and RGIII. Abdullah, if you were a NFL team with the first overall pick, who would you take? Abdullah: RGIII, without a doubt! He’s an explosive player and is a wise late round fantasy pick. In regards to fantasy, he will not only pick up points in the air, but also on the ground with his quick and mobile athleticism. I think he has the potential to be one of the best out of the pocket quarterbacks this league has ever seen. Cayhan: You’re being ridiculous, Andrew Luck is a much better quarterback overall and has perhaps the highest NFL IQ of a rookie quarterback ever. With a solid O-line he is far less prone to injury than the run and gun tactics of RGIII. In my mind, Andrew Luck is the most NFL ready quarterback in recent years, since John Elway of the mid 1970’s. Abdullah: I still think RGIII will have a far more productive year with many more to come. Once he gets a decent running back to cover for him, he can really flourish into his own with an already above average receiving core. Cayhan: Luck is the more reliable choice that will help the organization for not only this year, but in the future too. In my mind, there is no better player to fill the shoes of the great quarterback who came before him, Peyton Manning. Luck has great vision down the field as well as phenomenal accuracy to accompany his nearly flawless footwork. Abdullah: All these things are true, but without a good team around him, all his talent is going to waste. RGIII may not set as many records, but I believe he can lead the once great Redskins back to the playoffs and eventually send them to the greatest stage of all, the Super Bowl.

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Do you like the new turf?Do you like the new turf?

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Yes

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*Out of 100 students

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“I think most of the students will love it by the end of the

year.”-Kylie Davidson (10)

fReSHMaN

BEN CROSS STAFF WRITER

September 2012 17patrons How to become a patron: [1] Visit www.saxonscope.com [2] Go the “Subscribe” tab under “About”[3] Download the form and print it out[4] Fill out the form[5] Mail the subscription form along with a check made out to Langley High School to The Saxon Scope

Patrons are those who donate $75 or more to support the Saxon Scope.

A special thanks to:

Platinum $250: • The Shaw Family• The Mushtaq Family• The Malpede Family• The LaTeef Family• The Weingast Family• The Welch Family• The Rainey Family

Gold $200: • The Bollinger Family• The Talalay/Mora Family• The Dotson Family• The Aulisi Family• The Krial Family• The Todd Family

Silver $100: • The Guglielmo Family• The Albright Family• The Kiess Family• The McCausland Family• The Flessas Family• The Tucker Family• The Arcari Family• The Deese Family• The Eghbali Family• The McBride Family• The Cho Family• The Masters Family• The Nimick Family• The Dareikia Family• The Hodge Family• The Curtis Family• The Hielbrunn Family• The Bailey Family• The Kashani Family

Bronze $75: • The Gray Family• The Smith Family• The Devlin Family• The Novak Family• The Sterling Family• The McAuliffe Family• The Rohloff Family• The Sasser Family• The Davis Family• The Grems Family • The Kearney Family• The Bucy Family• The Mahoney Family• The Haupti Family• The Officer Family• The Abravanel Family• The Pungello Family

The Saxon Scope Supports

Community Spotlight

New to our program? Go to our website – www.mcleanbasketball.com – and learn more about the opportunities we offer high school students. Already a member? Tell your friends and classmates that it’s time for basketball. Go to the website and register for the activities that interest you.

McLean Youth Basketball is now accepting registra-tions for high school players, high school coaches, and high school referees for the 2012/2013 Winter basketball season. Get out of the house and into the gym to enjoy a great sport this winter.

PLAYERS - All skill levels are welcome. Regardless of your basketball experience, we have a place for you on a team in our House League. Stay fit and trim this winter while sharing the court with your team-mates.COACHES - Opportunities for high school students to serve as coaches in our House League. It is great community service and the chance to share your basketball skills with local children.

REFEREES - Step onto the court and apply your basketball skills and knowledge as a referee. De-velop your leadership and management skills, and earn some money while doing it.

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