ANNANDALE HIGH SCHOOL

VOLUME #49 ISSUE 1 TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2003 703-642-4229

4700 Medford Dr. Annandale, VA 22003

BLASTInforming the Atoms since 1954Athe

Enrollment swells to over 2,500Freshman class raises the student body to its highest point ever

Year after year, it seems that the school population continues to grow, and this year is no exception. This year’s freshman class came in at 747 students, making it the largest class ever enrolled in school history. This poses many problems for students in the classroom, the lunchroom, and in the hallways.

“High school has a lot more people than in middle school,” said Grahm Prosch, a freshmen who attended Edgar Allen Poe Middle School. “It is a big step.”

Last year, a fourth lunch was added to accommodate the growing population at AHS. However, no such measures were taken this year. Some students are concerned with how the additional students will affect lunchtime.

“Last year was crowded enough, I barely had any time to eat my lunch because the lines were so long, and if this year is going to be even worse, then I don’t know what I’m going to do,” said senior Chris Evans.

AHS is also in its third stage of renovation, which means less

BY ALEX SILANO AND CAROLINE FRIEDMAN

Academics Editor and Managing Editor

room in the hallways and certain areas blocked off during the year.

The size of the incoming class was apparent during freshmen orienta-tion, held on August 29. This pro-gram let freshmen and new students experience AHS for the first time.

During orientation, guidance coun-selors and the administration were introduced. The band played a variety of songs, including the fight song. There

was also a skit performed by students demonstrating some of the scams that up-perclassmen try to play on the freshmen.

After a large assembly in the au-ditorium the freshmen broke up into smaller groups and were escorted to three other information sessions.

Leadership gave one of the sessions and they discussed character education

With the incoming freshman class of 747 students coming to AHS this year, teachers are in demand. For the past three years construction has expanded the school and created more space for classes of every subject.

Now these new classrooms need to accommodate more students than in the past with more teachers as well as more equipment and room.

Not only are more educators being hired, but the administration has also added members to its team. Overall, 32 new teachers have been employed as well as 13 other faculty members in-cluding a new principal Rodney Manuel and assistant principal Dave Tremaine.

Manuel expects to provide every student with the opportunity to suc-ceed and be a part of the community. Also he wants to instill pride in the school, with this year being especially significant due to the school’s 50th anniversary. He doesn’t expect to have a large impact in his first year at Annandale, but rather to assess

Increasing student population raises the demand for teachersBY ERICA SATTEN AND JULIE WOLF

Staff Writers

The school’s a mess. There is almost no furniture in the classrooms, the construc-tion has the school torn apart, and all the little necessities are nowhere to be found. Luckily for Principal Rodney Manuel, this wasn’t the case when he assumed the role of principal this year, but this chaotic situation was just part of the difficult job of getting the school ready to open in 1954 for AHS’s first principal, Ralph E. Buckley.

On August 12th Buckley returned to meet principal Manuel and to take a look around at the school that has changed so much since it opened 50 years ago.

“I had to order furniture, hire the staff and set up everything the school needed between June and the opening

By Paul GleasonCo Editor in Chief

Back to school after 38 years

Administrator and football coach James Carayiannis speaks to the rising freshman class during their orientation. The rising freshman is the largest class to date.

JV Softball coach Richard Razal Green, 53, died on July 5 in a car accident in Valdosta, Ga. on the way home from a vacation in Orlando, Fl. Green coached at AHS for two years and was dedicated to other activities in the community.

“He was a coach that knew the game of softball and was passionate about coaching at AHS,” said senior softball player Rebecca Freece.

Green was on the way back from a vacation with his family during the evening when the accident occurred. Green was a passenger of the car when the car merged onto the highway and another car hit theirs. Richard Green was not wearing his seat belt and flew out of the front passenger seat. Green died on impact.

Green was born on October 5, 1949 in the Philippines. He attended Washington State University where he played for the football team. Later in his life he went on to coach football for local clubs such as BRYC.

He was active in the Army for ten years and fought with the 101st Airborne Divi-sion and the Special Forces. He received many honors including a Purple Heart.

Green married Terry Calabrese on Sep-tember 8, 1984 and had two children, Amanda and Daniel. Amanda, senior, participates in softball as well as drama and band. Daniel is in eighth grade at Holmes Middle School.

Green worked for the Defense Department for 18 years and did communications work at companies such as Tracor Inc. and GTE. His wife works for St. John’s United Methodist Church where his memorial service was held on July 22.

On August 20 mold and mildew were found in Vir-ginia Crowley’s new classroom on books, desks, chairs and the walls. Mold, a brown and black substance, formed on the walls in patches that spanned three to four feet. The mildew was on the chairs and desks and was white and fuzzy and about 1/8 to 1/16 of an inch thick.

Crowley was scheduled to move classrooms as were other English teachers on the 20th, but the move was postponed due to the mold and mildew. The janito-rial staff took immediate action to clean up the mold and mildew with a combination of bleach and water.

“I will say that Mr. Manuel, Mr. Tremaine, and Mr. Campbell were very concerned and took prompt action,” said Crowley. “Also Mr. Cooley was the first one on the spot, and he canceled my move so that my stuff wouldn’t get all yucky.”

Crowley is one of many teachers who were shocked to find their classrooms and belongings covered in mold and mil-dew when they came back to school after the summer break.

The allergens formed because there was a rise in outdoor humidity, but the air conditioning in the school stayed the same. Therefore, there was too much moisture in the air. “It was the perfect envi-ronment for mold,” said Principal Rodney Manuel.

“Mold pops up from time to time,” said Manuel. “It was not one thing that caused it, it was a combination of little things.”

Among those little things was AHS’s continuing con-struction. There are more openings in the school and because of that, the humidity from outside can come into the school.

Posters from one of the bulletin boards in Antonio

day, which I’ll tell you was no easy task, especially without a secretary,” said Buckley.

Despite only missing 3 football games in the first 30 years, and living in close proximity to the school, about a mile and a half away, Buckley has rarely never seen much of the school from the inside. Parts of the school that are under construction for being too old are completely new to Buckley because of the many other renovations that have taken place since he left in 1966. “If I didn’t know where I was, I wouldn’t recognize the place,” said Buckley.

After meeting with Manuel and a few other the staff members, Buckley was taken around the school to all the new wings and renovated sections. While walking around the school he talked to many of the staff members, coaches, and student athletes,

Coach killed in car accident Approximately 500 people attended the funeral

service, including the AHS band, which played dur-ing the ceremony.

On August 3, a benefit was held at the Little Italy restaurant in Bradlick Shop-ping Center for the Green family. Other fundrais-ers were held to help the Green family through this time. The Green family was very thankful for the support from the community.

“It was very special to see the com-munity come together and help out they way that they have,” said Amanda Green.

The softball teams are planning to put a black “RG” on the uniforms in order to remember their coach this spring. Many members of the commu-nity, including the softball teams, were present at his memorial and know that the upcoming softball season will not be the same without him.

“Coach Green may have come across as grumpy at first, but once you spent time with him like we did on the team, you got to see that he really had a good sense of humor,” said sophomore and member of the JV softball team, Kristi Johnson. “He made

Recurring mold and mildew problems

BY CAROLINE FRIEDMANManaging Editor

Former principal Ralph E. Buckley tours the school looking at new renova-tions the school has undergone. “If I didnʼt know where I was I wouldnʼt recog-nize the place,” said Buckley.

BY ASHLEY JONESPhotographer

Softball coach Richard Green was recently killed in a car accident while returning from a family vacation.

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AHS starts off Atomversary celebration with Sock Hop

After the first home football game of the 2003-2004 school year, Fri. Sept. 5, the sophomore class will be holding a Sock Hop. Tickets are $4 pre-sale during lunch periods and $6 at the door.

Food and prizes will be available to everyone that attends. The Sock Hop will be the first of many dances, which will be held during the school year in celebration of AHS’s 50th Atomversary.

Atomversary TimeThe Atomversary is a year long celebration of AHS’s 50th year an-niversary. Pencils were given out to all students today during flex and the teachers received new red t-shirts with the logo, Atomversary, printed on the back.

Throughout the year dances will be held for different decades starting with 1950. Also, during the night of homecoming the first queen of AHS will be present and throughout the year other important figures of AHS’s past will come to visit their past.

During the weekend of June 5th there will be a weekend long celebration of AHS’s 50th year. This celebration will be compromised of a carnival as well as a dance.

All AHS alumni will be informed and encouraged to join AHS during this time.

Throughout the year “The A-Blast” will give more information of the upcoming Atomversary events.

SR&R Rules AmendedOn Thurs. Sept. 4 R1 flex will be held during first block in order for teachers to educate students on the Student Rights & Responsibilities (SR&R) changes and rules. Am SR&R video will be given to teach-ers to show students.The SR&R will be getting an update this year with a new language and new rules.The new rules include: • A stricter dress code

• The dress code will be updated following last year’s dress code confusion. Students will no longer be allowed to wear clothing “that exposes cleavage, private parts, the midriff or undergarments, or that is otherwise sexually provocative”.

• rules on hazing• rules on the right to distribute literatureNew language includes:• New wording for students re-sponsibilities to participate in the pledge of allegiance and the moment of silence.

• students are expected to say the pledge unless a parent/gaurdian objects and if students do not participate in moment of silence or pledge they must sit quietly and not interfere with others• students are allowed to carry cell phones and other “communi-cation devices” during school, but the must be out of sight and off during the school day.

These new rules are sure to elimi-nate some of last year’s confusion regarding the SR & R and should prove to create a more consistent set of rules.

CALIFORNIA EASY PLACE TO RUNEditorial finds that between Schwarzenegger and Flint going for office in Cal., that it seems just about anyone can run

2FIELD HOCKEY SCORES BIGLady Atoms start the year with a 5-0 win over Sidwell Friends

THE OLD AND THE NEWFirst AHS Principal Ralph Buckley and new Principal Rod Manuel meet for the first time

WITH SCHOOL COMES PRESSUREOverloaded students are un-able to enjoy their adolescence without great responsibilities

“Enrollment” continued on pg. 3 “New teachers” continued on pg. 3

“Green” continued on pg. 3 “Mold” continued on pg. 3

“Buckley” continued on pg. 3

32 4

N SEWS BRIEF

2 BLASTAthe Sept. 2, 2003EDITORIALS

Iraq war estimated to cost tens of billions

Editors in Chief: Paul Gleason Abby SegallManaging Editor: Caroline FriedmanNews Editors: Junaid Shams Kyle Smeallie Editorial Editors: John Bernhardt Maggie OwnerAcademics Editors: Laura Kelly Alex SilanoIn-Depth Editors: Erin O’ Brien Katie StantonFeatures Editors: Meg Nielsen Rachel SinaikoAtomic Articles Editor: Sabrina StacyPeople Editors: Andrew Menegat Sarah BizerCultures Editors: Kathy Ibarra Wided KhadouriSports Editors: Jared Smith Matt Weist Sports “Xtra”: Evan Rowland Amanda Sheaffer Atomic Athletics Editor: Erica SattenEntertainment Editors: Ben Berglund John ReissArts Editors: Kimiko Yerik Amy Suddarth

Weekend Editors: Laura Johnson Elizabeth Nowrouz Business Manager: Evan Ashe Ad Manager: Chris SopherCopy Editor: Julia SingerPhotography Editors: Morgan McEvilly Sean Sullivan-Writing Coach: Rebecca Kraushaar

Staff Writers/Photographers: Stacey Marin, Caitlin Beckett, Jo-eseph Buke, Shayna Dublar, Edward Gibson, Cristian Hernandez, Bilal Javed, Bridgette Kim, Amy Mathis, Molly Sterlacci, Mike Weist, Julie Wolf, Tina Dourourdian, Stuart Dubar, Jill Geurin, Matt Hubacher, Ashley Jones, Joe Wilbur, Alex Wahl, Chris Kallendar, Sohaib Khan

Videographers:Josh Lewin, Brent Sullivan, Oscar Ycaza

Web Design: Omar Nachanati

Adviser: Alan Weintraut

Gallup AwardQuill & Scroll

2000-2001

All AmericanNational ScholasticPress Association

2001-2002

Trophy ClassVirginia High School

2001-2002

The A-Blast is an award-winning newspaper that strives to inform, educate and entertain the stu-dent body and community. Published every three weeks. The A-Blast will not print any material that is obscene or libelous; or that which substantially disrupts the school day or invades an individual’s right to privacy. Unsigned editorials represent the staff opinions which solely represent the opinion of the newspaper staff. The A-Blast is an independent, open forum for discussion which is printed at the Springfield Plant of The Washington Post. Signed letters to the editor of 250 words or less may be submitted to room 216 or mailed to the school. The A-Blast reserves the right to refuse advertisements. All submissions become property of The A-Blast Copyright, 2003.

Annandale High School4700 Medford Dr.Annandale, Virginia 22003

Vol. 49 No. 1September 2, 2003

(703) 642-4229email: ahsablast@aol.comfax: (703) 642-4197

According to U.S. occupation coordinator L. Paul Bremer the Iraq war will cost tens of billions of dollars. The state department is expecting a “huge” supplemental spending bill from Congress. The figures are in addition to the current $4 billion Pentagon spends on the military each month.

Safety changes made after accident

SAT scores over the Metropolitian area have increased significantly since the previous year. The gains can be attributed to the increase in sandardized test participation. Fairfax County’s test raised 14-points from 1096 in 2002 to 1110 in 2003. Fairfax County’s test scores outranked the top score in Maryland, Howard County 1096 and the District’s adverage

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ATen Commandments removed

Fairfax County has best SAT scores

A legal dispute in Alabama over the separation of church and state has divide the public. Alambama Chief Justice Roy Moore illegally posted the Ten Commandments in the courthouse. Fortunately, the federal court ordered him to remove the Commandments. Moore was suspended for disobeying the law.

A After the space craft Columbia crashed on Feb. 1, NASA made several safety changes and tightened shuttle regulations. More photos will be taken of the ship after take off. It is conceivable that if more images were taken of the Columbia in space that its destruction might have been prevented.

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BY PAUL GLEASONCo-Editor in Chief

The recall of California’s Governor, Gray Davis, has gone from being the people exercising their rights, to a complete mockery of our voting systems.

Currently, the ballot holds 135 names for a position where only one can inevitably win the governorship. The recall is not the issue at hand, but that any Joe Nobody can get their name on the ballot with 10,000 signatures and a $3,500 fee. With a state population just beneath 34 million people, how can 10,000 signatures be a proportional voice to put someone

The crisis in Californiaon a ballot to be their governor.

A recall—part of the beauty of our political system—protects the people from being stuck under the leadership of an unpopular political official. Furthermore, a recall makes it possible for another person to come into office and better represent the

people’s voice. However in this case, this beneficial act is being abused by people who have no chance, and in some cases no intentions, of actually becoming governor.

The fact that anyone from any walk of life can become governor is a good thing, but the requirements to become elected should be stricter to weed out the candidates who truly intend to

become governor from those who are just running for the sake of running.

Realistic candidates, actor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R), Lt.

Governor Cruz Bustamante (D) State Senator Tom McClintock (R), and former b a s e b a l l commissioner Perer V. Ueberroth(R), would have no problem getting more than 10,000 signatures. If the number of signatures needed was raised candidates who are set on running for governor would better prove how they are worthy to put on the ballot. The higher number of signatures would deter candidates who wouldn’t put in the extra effort and those who aren’t actually politically sound enough to collect the number of signatures. This would only be preventing people from running who will most positively not end up as governor, thus saving

time and money. If one cannot collect the extra s i g n a t u r e s needed what would give them the idea that they can get the votes when it actually comes down to the election time?

For such an important role in government a candidate

should be required to have at least a two percent of the populations support to run (680,000 signatures in California’s case). This number of votes is just high enough to deter unwanted candidates, lower the cost of a recall for the public, prove a candidates commitment to pursue the governorship, and to give a proportional voice to the people.

Larry Flint of Hustler magazine is one many candidates for Governor.

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What are your goals?Our goals are to inform, educateand entertain the student body,faculty, and staff, as well as ourcommunity readers. We provide anopen forum for students to beexpressed, but writers of The A-Blastdo not necessarily representthe opinions of the entire staff, theadministration and/or the adviser.

How do you choose whatthe content of your paper

will be?The A-Blast staff determines thecontent and we welcome inputfrom readers. We choose thecontent based on timeliness,relevance to student life andentertainment value. The editorialboard meets before every issue andtakes into account upcomingevents and reader responses priorto deciding upon the content of thenext issue.

What is your policy oncontroversial issues?

Controversial issues will appear inthe paper, but not without carefulconsideration of the editorial board.We do not seek to create controversy,but we do recognize thatsome news stories are controversialand should not be avoided, butrather dealt with in a professionalmanner.

What do you do if youmake a mistake?

When either The A-Blast or itsreaders notice an error, we willprint a correction in the followingissue in a box on page two.

What is your policy onadvertising?

We will solicit advertisements frommerchants who sell products thatare legally available to the studentreadership.

What is your policy oneditorials?

Editorials relating to newsworthysubjects provide an analytical voiceto the paper. Unsigned editorialsrepresent the majority of opinion ofthe editorial board; signededitorials represent the opinion ofthe author.

What is your policy oncensorship and freedom of

the press?Although freedom of expression isa parmount right to be preserved,we will not publish anything(printed words, artwork, orphotographs) that invade anindividual’s right to privacy, or thatis obscene, libelous or slanderousas defined by state and communitylaws. Material that incites violenceor may cause a significantdisruption of the school day willalso not be printed.

Do you publish letters tothe editor and guest

editorials?Submission of letters to the editorand guest editorials are welcomed.Letters should not exceed 250words and editorials should belimited to 1,500 words. All worksmust be signed. Only “experts fromthe field” will be solicited for guesteditorials.

Under what circumstancesdo you print profanities?

Material considered profane bycommunity standards of the paperwill not be used unless the wordsthemselves have contextualrelevence that, when omitted,would significantly alter themeaning of the sentence and/orarticle. The full version of theeditorial policy is available in room229 and the main library.

How can I subscribe?Send in a check for $15 to The A-Blast,4700 Medford Dr.,Annandale, VA 22003.

You can almost feel the start of school in the air. Summer jobs coming to an end, the closing of pools, hot summer days fading away and friends calling each other to compare schedules.

However, school is just beginning and students are already feeling the pressure. Fall sports practices began weeks ago, and the past week has been filled with stress to complete numerous and burdensome summer assignments ( I myself had summer work in three classes and along with many other A-Blast staff members began working on this issue well before school started). School—in itself—is a good thing. It provides a certain stability and direction for kids who otherwise would waste their time. However, school is just one of a multitude of responsibilities that students take on.

Students are expected to balance sports, academics, family responsibilities, extracurricular activities, and sometimes a job. Too much emphasis is placed on the idea that students should try take the hardest classes, join multiple clubs, and strive to play varsity sports. With all of this comes insurmountable pressure from coaches, parents and teachers to succeed. Students are pulled in too many directions, and inevitably, are continually stressed out.

Some students I know tackle a full IB schedule (6 IB classes), are members of a number of clubs, and participate in athletics. In turn, they are up until the wee hours of the morning attempting to complete assignments for the following day. In another case, a student would go to school, come home after sports practice around

six, sleep until 2 or 3 a.m. in the morning, wake up and do her homework until it was time to go to school.

This is not the way to approach all the activities which are offered. You must pick and choose your classes

and activities carefully. Don’t try to take on the world. Only do what you can handle comfortably (this isn’t a statement to advocate laziness). There is a difference from slacking your way through school, and taking a couple of higher level classes that you can manage. You should enjoy the challenge of school, rather than overwhelm yourself.

It is alright to stay up late every now and then to complete a project—especially if you have procrastinated—but working past midnight on a regular basis

is unhealthy. I don’t take an overwhelming schedule, but rather one that contains some hard class, but at the same time, I can manage my time. If you know your limits, you can budget your time and have enough “down time” for yourself which is important.

High school is a time of personal and intellectual growth. It is important to challenge yourself, but set limits. However, during the high school years it is important to have time for yourself. It is good if you can just relax one day a week, rather than feeling stressed out about the upcoming school week. It is impossible to do everything. Know how much you can handle, go to that limit, but don’t leap over it. Participate in things most important to you and budget your time. Lastly, enjoy your time here.

“Students are expected to balance sports,

academics, family

responsibilities, extracurricular

activities, and sometimes a

job.”

For students, school starts and the stress begins

Goal and policies for The A-Blast

2003-2004

Sept. 2, 2003 3NEWSBLASTAtheConstruction continues FCPS excels

on SATsBY LAURA KELLY AND KYLE SMEALLIE

Academics Editor and News Editor

The SATs: The most feared test for high school students all over the country. This test causes more dread and stress than any other exam that high school students take. How could it not? The SATs are a major determining factor in the college admission process, along with GPA and course selection. However, according to a recent article from The Washington Post, Fairfax County students have scored higher than ever with a 14 point increase in the average SAT score from last year.

Since last year, Fairfax County’s average SAT score rose from last year’s 1096 to this year’s 1110 out of a possible 1600. While other counties have shown improvements, Fairfax is recognized as the top SAT county in the metro region. In Virginia, Arlington is a distant second with an average of 1072.

Annandale’s scores have shown much improvement over those of prior years. Last year, Annandale’s average SAT scores were 512 in math and 489 in verbal, with a total average of 1001. This year, the average math score went up 12 points and the verbal increased by 19 points the average scores for 2002-03 are currently a 524 for math, 508 for verbal with a total of 1032.

Some believe that this increase in scores is due to revenue brought in by the average house in Fairfax County. The median income of households in Fairfax County was $84,683 for the year 2001, making it the richest county in America. This allows select students to get private tutors or take independent SAT prep classes. For an SAT class from The Princeton Review one must pay $899 (with other popular SAT courses such as Kaplan not far behind), a price tag that middle class families can struggle to afford. However, because of the abundance of the affluent families, many FCPS students can afford these luxuries, which advertise a 100 point improvement or the opportunity to retake the class for free.

Steve Sengstack, head of the guidance department, said that the rapid increase in the SAT scores is probably due to the students who are taking the test. Since different students take the test every year, results may vary each year.

Preparation for the SATs also has helped increase scores. The PSATs are a practice SAT test for freshman, sophomores, and junior that is taken during the fall. “We started PSATs three years ago. Most juniors came to take them on Saturdays for practice. Now everyone takes them for three years,” said Sengstack. Sengstack also added that there is an SAT prep class that meets after school to go over test strategies.

Accident takes coach’s life

Mold found in hallwaysRivadenerira’s old room, Crowley’s new room,

and about six ninth grade literature books from the English storage closet had to be thrown away because of damage from the mold and the mildew.

Other than scrubbing the mold and mildew, the school has contacted the county environmental services, and according to them nothing more needs to be done.

However, many faculty members’ allergies have been effected with the growth of the mold and mildew.

“I take shots for allergies. I went to my allergist

AHS welcomes new teachers

BY LAELA SHALLALStaff Writer

Newly appointed Principal Rodney Manuel is optimistic about the new renovations at AHS. “I’m thrilled about the infrastructure being updated, having the latest technology and new classrooms to make for a more appealing learning

environment.” The renovation is slated to cost an excess of $14 million and will include such items as new computers, a state of the art culinary department, a brand new auditorium and a host of other infrastructure updates.

The renovation is in its third and final phase which will take approximately one to two more years. Seniors and juniors will not experience the full benefit

of the renovation because they will graduate by the time it’s completed. Manuel added that during the 2nd phase things slowed down but now things are right back on schedule.

There have been many difficulties in the process. For example during freshman o r i e n t a t i o n s this year the auditorium was out of commission. Therefore the orientation had to take place in the school gym which has limited seating and is far less

comfortable. Having the auditorium not be available will effect the drama and music departments.

Although the school administration and construction team is doing their best to minimize disruption, there’s bound to be unforeseen problems. Principal Manuel is asking students, parents, and teachers to be as patient as possible to keep things flowing smoothly.

Freshman tips given by guidance counselor Linda Wheeler

Q: When will students first be able to get their lockers?A: When students return their five important forms they will get their locker assignments. R1 Teachers should have locker assignemnts by the second day of school.

Q: When do late buses start?A: They start on the second week of school. They will be on Mondays leaving at 2:45, and Wednesdays at 3:30.

Q: How much are P.E. Uniforms?A: If the students want to purchase the shirt, the shorts, a lock and towel service it is $25.The shirt and shorts alone are $11.50 ($1 extra for XXL, and $2 extra for XXXL). Just towel service will cost $10. The locks are $3.50.

Q:Will the first day be any different?A: No, except for one extended R1 flex.

Q: Which classes have what lunches?A: Students who have R5/W6 as: business, family & consumer science, fine arts, science, or technology and electronics have A lunch; foreign language, marketing, or math have B lunch; basic skills, ESOL, leadership, or social studies have C lunch; English, performing arts, and P.E. have D lunch.

Former teacherʼs son dies in car accidentRobert Glenn Baucom, 32, of Herndon, VA, died August 10 in a single car accident on the Fairfax County Parkway. He is survived by his parents, Richard and Sharron Baucom of Dale City, his brother, CPT. Randall G. Baucom, USA, Camp Doha, Kuwait, his sister-in-law, 1LT Margaret Baucom, USAF, Kadena AB, Okinawa, Japan, his paternal grandmother, Lois Glenn of Soddy-Daisy, TN, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.His father, Richard Baucon, taugh social studies at AHS for several years in the 1980s.Glenn was born, October 28, 1970, in Washington, DC. He attended Prince William County schools and was a 1988 graduate of Gar-Field High School where he excelled in football and wrestling. He held both a BS and MSEd from Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA. He participated in the football program at Wake Forest University, played four years in the Mason Dixon Football League, played two years in the European Football League, and coached in the Swedish Super Football League. He taught and was on the coaching staff of Northampton High School for the 1997-98 school year. He was presently employed by the SB Direct unit of MCI as an account executive in the McLean, VA, office. He loved football and fishing.A graveside memorial service was held August 19 at Fairlawn Cemetery, Elk City, OK, where Glenn was interred between his maternal grandparents, William F. and Mabel L. Palmeter. Arrangements were by Mountcastle Funeral Home, Dale City, VA, and Martin’s Funeral Home, Elk City, OK.A celebration of Glenn’s life will be held at 4 p.m. on Sunday, September 7, 2003, at the Gar-Field High School stadium. Memorial contributions may be made to the Gar-Field High School Athletic Boosters, 1400 Smoketown Road, Woodbridge, 22193.

and what it takes to have a successful time at AHS.

Another session was given by physical education teacher, James Carayiannis on school pride and the positive aspects of AHS.

Largest enrollment in history

to get my shot the day after all of this happened. They said that the window blinds should be replaced. The county said that is not necessary,” said Crowley.

Due to the mold and mildew, Crowley has had to take extra shots, use a bronchial inhaler and take extra medication.

However, Crowley is upbeat. “Students will be perfectly safe,” she said. She also indicates that the administration handled the situation very well. “They have been to my room everyday since [it happened]. They were extremely responsible.”

First principal returns to AHS

The third session was put on by Peer Mediation about the top ten things to do at AHS, such as be organized and get involved. At the end of the Peer Mediation presentation the freshmen were able to ask questions about the peer mediation program, but

Due to the renovation in the auditorium, the freshman orientation was forced to the gym.BY

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Some of the new faculty members pose with new principal Rodney Manuel. There are 45 new faculty members at AHS.

telling them his memories of the school. “Back in my day all we had were desks and a black board in the classrooms,” Buckley commented after hearing that each classroom has a TV and that the ratio of computers to students is 1 to 7. “I wouldn’t even know how to work the computers.”

The first year the student body only had approximately a thousand students, but steadily grew to 2,100 students the last year of Buckley’s

“Buckley” from pg. 1

“Mold” from pg. 1

the school and build on the excellent foundation in which his predecessor, Don Clausen, had developed.

The 32 new teachers coming to AHS are scattered among numerous subjects. The math department received four new teachers along with the English department. Five new teachers are working in the science department as well. Foreign languages, ESL and Special Education each hired three teachers for the year. Seven new teachers have elective classes, making this the department with the most new teachers, while history added only one new teacher. Finally, a special new teacher will be working with the emotionally disabled children.

“Teachers” from pg. 1

playing softball fun.”A captain of the JV team last season, Marisa

Menezes, a senior, said,“He had such a

great presence and strong impact on our team. I know that even though he’s not going to be there this upcoming season, he’ll be watching us,” said senior Marisa Menezes, a captain of the JV softball team last spring.

“Green” from pg. 1

“Enrollment” from pg. 1

Math Verbal Total Fairfax County SAT Scores 2003

Mount Vernon

Falls Church

Lee

Edison

ANNANDALE

Hayfield

West Potomac

Jeb Stuart

Fairfax High

Westfield

Herndon

Centreville

South Lakes

Chantilly

Robinson

West Springfield

Marshall

Oakton

Lake Braddock

Madison

Woodson

McLean

Langley

Thomas Jefferson

FAIRFAX AVG.

495 482 977

516 491 1007

522 504 1026

527 502 1029

524 508 1032

518 514 1032

524 528 1052

531 519 1052

542 518 1060

540 526 1066

546 525 1071

551 522 1073

547 545 1092

561 539 1100

561 546 1107

570 553 1123

569 555 1124

574 550 1124

573 553 1126

582 564 1146

586 573 1159

603 557 1160

614 587 1201

748 730 1478

564 546 1110

also about other things at AHS such as flex and about late buses.

Freshmen orientation was an informative program that allowed the biggest class in AHS history to know what to expect when starting high school.

era. The 2,600 student body was not as shocking to Buckley as was the number of different languages and the diversity at the school. “When I was principal I can say about 95 percent of the student’s were native to America, but the diversity here is…just wow,” Buckley remarked as he looked at a sign above a classroom door saying welcome in a number of languages.

Buckley plans on making many more a p p e a r a n c e s throughout the year because of the 50th anniversary. He is planning on coming to many football games, especially during the homecoming c e r e m o n i e s .

It’s ironic how when Buckley first opened the school, the school was still being constructed, 50 years later when her returns, the school is still under construct ion . Ralph E. Buckleyʼs

portriat in the main office hallway. BY

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12 BLASTAthe Sept. 2, 2003NEWS

4 BLASTAthe Sept. 2, 2003SPORTS

VolleyballReturning Players: Carrie Horton, Elizabeth Gill, Megan Johnson, Kari WolfeSeason Outlook: “Considering last year’s dissappointment I feel we will be able to improve upon the winless season because of the size and the athleticism we gained in the offseason.” -senior captain Carrie Horton.Players Quote: “We’ve gotten a lot of taller players which makes us more effective on the front line.” -senior Elizabeth GillCoach’s Quote: “We’re more inexperienced but the girls have good spirit and have worked real hard, I expect to improve upon last year.” -Coach Ruth Johnson

GolfReturning Players: Chris Evans, Jim Philapy, KC Vandenheuvel, Ted Gibson, Mike WiestSeason Outlook: “We have our best team in fifteen years. I think we can finish second in the district since we’ve already beaten Lake Braddock.” -Coach Richard McCormickPlayers Quote: “The team is playing well. We’ve put our all into the season so far. Big ups to the team.” -senior Chris EvansCoach’s Quote: “We’ve beaten Lake Braddock for the first time in fifteen years, we’ve tied West Springfield, and we have one of the premier golfers in the district in Chris Evans.” -Coach Richard McCormick

Cross CountryReturning Players: Lauren Edwards, Katie Littlefield, Brandon Flowers, Brian PlunkettSeason Outlook: “Most difficult district in the northern region. Our best hope is to be as competitive as last year and take some teams by surprise.” -Coach Robert ChristiePlayers Quote: “We have a young team, but there’s lots of potential.” -junior Brandon FlowersCoach’s Quote: “Lean and mean. Tear injuries could become a factor. We cannot afford to lost anybody to injuries.” -Coach Robert Christie

Girls TennisReturning Players: Stephanie Lugar, Erica Satten, Laura Johnson, Season Outlook: “It’s going to be a tough season, we are hoping to pull out a winning season because weve worked hard over the summer.” -senior Stephanie LugarPlayers Quote: “This will be a fun but challenging season. We have some big matches and we will try our best to win.” -senior Stephanie LugarCoach’s Quote: “We are learning how to compete with the big schools. I have no expectations as of now as we evaluate our players more I will know how far our team will be able to go.” -Coach Mark Bogar.

Fall Sport PreviewsA first hand look at the fall teams and athletes at Annandale

Upset of the WeekThe Maryland Terrapins national title hopes are already over and it’s only Labor Day. The Terps lost their opener to the Northern Illinois Huskies in OT 20-13 last Thurs. night. The Huskies tied the game late in the 4th quarter with a field goal and won it in OT after intercepting Maryland QB Scott McBrien.

SPORTS NEWS

Fractured HopesAtlanta quarterback Michael Vick and New York Jets quarterback Chad Pennington both suffered fractured bones in the preseason. Pennington fractured his wrist and Vick his right fibula. Both quarterbacks will miss significant time in the regular season due to the injuries. So the question remains should the NFL shorten the length of the preseason.

Labor Day weekend, fall is in the air, its time for college football. As another season opens the big questions are up in the air, who is the best player in the nation, and who will be in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 4, 2004. The obvious contenders are near the top of the polls to start the season, defending champs Ohio St., perennial powerhouses Miami, Oklahoma, and Texas top the list. But this is a year of change in college football Miami has lost its quarterback, Ohio St. has lost its running back for at least half the season and Texas and Oklahoma will beat each other up in Austin on Oct. 11. So who’s left to win the title? The Kansas St. Wildcats will emerge this year from the Big 12 title game and earn their trip to New Orleans on Jan. 4. Quarterback Ell Roberson is emerging as a Heisman frontrunner in his senior season and his third year as the Wildcats starting quarterback. And running back Darren Sprolles bolsters an offense which will overpower opponents this season. In the Wildcats opener last week, in which they steamrolled California 42-28, Sprolles rushed for 175 yards and one touchdown and Roberson rushed for 145 yards, threw for 257 yards and scored four overall touchdowns giving the nation a taste of what is to come this year from Kansas St. The other surprise team which will emerge this year are the Virginia Tech Hokies. The Hokies are plagued every year because they are in the same conference as the Miami Hurricanes but this year the Hokies will be 7-0 going into their game against the defending Big East champion Hurricans on Nov. 1 in Blacksburg. After they beat the Hurricanes for the first time in 4 years they will have an easy road to the Sugar Bowl as they finish with games against Temple, Boston College, and Virginia. Leading the Hokies this year is Heisman candidate tailback Kevin Jones and versatile quarterback Brian Randall who will both be returning for their second seasons as starters. Another player to watch for is all around- player DeAngelo Hall. Head coach Frank Beemer is planning on using Hall as a three way player, getting 30 snaps at wide receiver, 30 snaps at cornerback, and he will also handle the punt returning duties. Another story to watch this year is the emergence of the wide receivers, especially the Williams trio. Roy Williams of Texas, Reggie Williams of Washington, and Mike Williams of USC. Roy Williams has been at the top of the receiving class since he entered Texas three years ago but will no be as productive as last year because of the graduation of Chris Simms, the same will be said for Mike Williams of USC who bursted on to the scene last year with 80 receptions in his freshman year but with Carson Palmer in Cinncinnati he will have to be more effective as a route runner this year to put up similar numbers. The real standout this year will be Washington’s Reggie Williams. He has one of the best quarterbacks in the nation throwing to him in Cody Pickett and with all five offensive linemen returning the Huskies will have a big year offensively which could lead to their first Rose Bowl birth in four years.

College Football PreviewBY JARED SMITH

Sports Editor

Field hockey set to face off against W&L

Atoms will be looking to control the offensive end of the field. “I think the team has a lot of potential because we work really well together,” said senior captain Stone. Sophomore Natalie Gilbert is “looking forward to a successful season, and having a lot of fun with teammates.”

The Atoms have many reasons to be pumped about this season. The biggest reason being they are eager to avenge two of their losses last year to district rival Lake Braddock, losses that ended up costing the Atoms the district championship.

This year, the format of the schedule has changed. The Atoms will only face thier district rival once along with every other district opponent instead of the twice as in the past. This means no rematches until the district tournament, which takes place in the middle of October. The Atoms though will have a tough road road back to the district championship. Their non-district schedule is looking tough this year. They face teams such as Washington and Lee,

is being played at Virginia Beach. Their first game is their home opener

against Washington and Lee on Wednesday followed by the annual statewide tournament in Albemarle, in which Annandale will compete with teams from elsewhere in Virginia. The Atoms begin district play on September 18 at home against T. C. Williams.

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Over the past several seasons, the Atoms field hockey team has done well in the Patriot District. Hopes are high that this season will be no different.

At a scrimmage on August 27 against Sidwell Friends, the Atoms routed the opposition 5-0, with goals from senior captain Julie Stone, juniors Diana Hollingsworth, and Caroline Norton, and two assists from sophomore Amy Novak.

“The defense played really strong even though the offense was able to keep the ball on the attack. The defense had some big stops, which kept the Atoms in control,” said Stone.

Despite the graduation of much of last year’s defense, head coach Cindy Hook is looking forward to key performances this year from Stone, senior midfielder Erin O’Brien, senior forward Amanda Sheaffer, and Novak.

With eight returning seniors, the

Centreville, and a very strong Oakton squad. In spite of the tough schedule Hook has high expectations from the field hockey team. She hopes to build on last year’s success when they advanced but fell in the district championship which resulted in a second place finish in the district. “I would really like to be at the beach in November,” said Hook. This year the Virginia State Championship

Junior Amy Suddarth tries to advance the ball at the Atoms ̓scrimmage against National Cathedral on August 28. The Atoms played hard in the scrimmage, but no official score was kept. The Atoms won their first scrimmage against Sidwell Friends last Wed. 5-0. Their home opener is against Washington & Lee tomorrow.

BY MIKE WIESTStaff Writer

Few Atoms will forget the night of September 21, 2001, where Annandale battled the Westfield Bulldogs in an epic contest that would produce an unlikely rivalry between teams in different districts. Going into that night’s game, no one expected what was about to happen. However, several hundred yards, 135 points, and five overtime periods later, the Atoms came back to Annandale with a 68-67 victory under their belts. Such is the style

that all Atoms would like to kick off a new season, and the season opener this Friday will give the Atoms exactly that as they will play their cross-county rivals Westfield.

Although Westfield is certainly on the top of the Atoms’ list of priorities, it is by no means their only concern, as this year’s schedule may prove to be among the toughest in recent years. Perennial powerhouses Westfield and Centreville mark the first two weeks of the schedule, followed several weeks later by a talented West Springfield Spartan team. Following these is a tough

The Atoms open their

season on Fri.

at home against

the No. 2 Westfield Bulldogs.

nondistrict foe the Chantilly Chargers, then the Atoms finally cap off the regular season with a game at their district rivals, the Robinson Rams.

“We have a tougher schedule this year,” said Coach Dick Adams, “but we have a fair amount of talent. It all depends how hard [the team] will work.”

Some of the key players on this year’s varsity squad include Julio Villatoro, Noah Crowley, Drew Evatt, Kelly Beam, Eric Ober, Nate Williams, and Corey Daise. However, success in this season, like any, will necessitate production from the entire team.

BY MATT WIESTSports Editor

Football prepares for WestfieldPreparations for this season

include scrimmages against Thomas Jefferson and Stonewall Jackson on Aug. 23 and 30, respectively. The coaching staff is enthusiastic about the opener against Westfield and expectations remain high as the Atoms enter regular season play.

A victory over Westfield could give the Atoms all the momentum they need for a strong season.

“Our goal is to make it into the playoffs this season,” said Adams, “we’ll just need to find a way to do it.”

Football: 9/5/03 Fri. vs. Westfield home @7:00 9/12/03 Fri. vs. Centreville home @7:00 9/19/03 Fri. vs. J.E.B. Stuart home @7:00 9/25/03 Thurs. vs. T.C. Williams home @7:00

Field Hockey: 9/3/03 Wed. vs. Wash. & Lee home @7:30 9/5-9/6/03 Fri. & Sat. Albemarle Tourney 9/8/03 Mon. vs. Westfield away @7:30 9/10/03 Wed. vs. Jefferson home @7:30 9/15/03 Mon. vs. Centreville away @7:30

Volleyball: 9/4/03 Thurs. vs. Wakefield away @7:15 9/8/03 Mon vs. T.C. Williams home @7:15 9/10/03 Wed. vs West Springfield away @7:15 9/16/03 Tues. vs. Hayfield home @ 7:15

Cross Country: 9/6/03 Sat. Monroe-Parker Invit. @Burke Lk. 8:00 9/13/03 Sat. Lake Braddock Invit. TBA 9/16/03 Tues. Patriot All Comer West Pot. Pk. @5:00 9/20/03 Virginia Tech Invit. Blacksburg, VA. 9/25/03 HF,TC,WP @Fort Hunt Park 5:00

Golf: 9/8/03 Mon. T.C. Williams Army-Navy CC @4:00 9/17/03 Wed. West Potomac Army-Navy CC @4:00 9/24/03 Wed. Hayfield Pohick CC @4:00 9/29/03 Mon. Districts (9/29-10/2) TBA

Girls Tennis: 9/5/03 Fri. West Potomac away @4:30 9/9/03 Tues. Lake Braddock home @4:30 9 /11/03 Thurs. Robinson away @4:30 9/15/03 Mon. T.C. Williams away @4:30 9/17/03 Wed. West Springfield home @4:30

Fall sports schedule